Kings mailbag: How will Luke Walton handle injury, illness and NBA bubble trouble?
The NBA bubble has been unkind to the Kings over the first few days of their stay at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.
Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Alex Len and Jabari Parker have missed time after testing positive for the coronavirus. Barnes is still stuck in Sacramento, Richaun Holmes has been locked in his room at the Yacht Club Resort all week after breaking COVID-19 protocols in the bubble, and now De’Aaron Fox is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Kings coach Luke Walton predicted a tumultuous return to play in the NBA before his team even left for Orlando, noting the potential for illness, injury and — because it’s 2020 — other unforeseen circumstances.
“It’s kind of the message we’ve been hitting since even before coming out here,” Walton said. “We’re going to go through a lot. Players are going to be joining us. Players are going to be unfortunately leaving us, and there are going to be so many unknowns that we have to be ready to react and adjust to everything.”
The Kings have questions and you do, too, as the team prepares for an eight-game Western Conference playoff race later this month. Let’s talk Kings Basketball and catastrophe in this week’s mailbag.
Note: Some questions have been lightly edited for clarity.
How bad is De’Aaron Fox’s injury?
@Jerichoooo asks: How does Fox feel with this injury compared to his last one?
Fox hasn’t spoken to reporters since he went down during Wednesday’s practice, but this injury is not believed to be as serious as the grade 3 left ankle sprain that caused him to miss 17 games in November and December. Fox recovered relatively quickly compared to some other players, but Dr. Mark Drakos explained how severe a grade 3 sprain can be.
This injury is to the same ankle, but the team’s medical staff is calling it a “mild to moderate” sprain. He will be reevaluated in 7 to 10 days.
Walton hopes Fox can return in time to resume the season against the San Antonio Spurs on July 31, but he said the team will be cautious with its dynamic young point guard.
“He’s young. He takes care of himself. He’s proven to be a fast healer,” Walton said. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to count on that happening again. We’re obviously going to be cautious with him. We know how important he is to our organization and to the success of our team. We’re hopeful that because he’s healed fast in the past he’ll do it again, but we’re definitely not going to rush him back.”
Can the Kings sign Isaiah Thomas?
@KingsForever94 asks: Can we call for Isaiah Thomas if Fox can’t come back in time?
Lots of fans are advocating for IT’s return, but at this point that is not likely. The Kings are already carrying the maximum 17 players and can’t add anyone to the roster at this time.
However, teams are allowed to replace players who have tested positive for COVID-19. Each player who contracts the virus is required to undergo cardiac screening two weeks after testing positive. The team then has seven days to decide whether to keep that player or sign a replacement, so it’s possible a roster spot could open up if Barnes is deemed unfit to return.
In terms of the point guard position, the Kings are hopeful Fox will return. In the meantime, they’ll turn once again to veteran Cory Joseph, who stepped in as the starter and helped the Kings go 9-8 in Fox’s absence earlier this season. Joseph was playing through nagging injuries before play was suspended in March due to the pandemic, but teammates say he has looked fresh and assertive in practice.
“Cory Joseph, he’s really running the team,” Kings guard Kent Bazemore said. “He’s really been good. He’s taking on a leadership role on the floor, getting guys in the right spots, being very vocal.”
More playing time for Kyle Guy?
@KeithJouganatos asks: What’s the rotation going to look like hypothetically if this drags on longer than expected? Does this mean solid playing time for Kyle Guy?
Walton indicated Guy and others on the back end of the rotation will get minutes during scrimmages against the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. Joseph said Guy and fellow rookies Justin James and DaQuan Jeffries are playing with increased confidence. Guy certainly seems to be enjoying his stay in Orlando. He said being back on the court with teammates “has brought joy to us all.”
If Fox is still out when seeding games begin, Joseph and Yogi Ferrell would likely handle most of the point guard duties, but nothing seems certain in the bubble environment. Guy and the other rookies have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.
“They’re with us, they’re with our group, they’re getting crucial reps in practice and most likely, at least in the preseason games, they’ll be getting some meaningful minutes,” Walton said. “… They’ve all done a nice job of working and improving, and are much better players right now than when we originally grabbed them.”
More Kings questions
@kntrlr31 asks: Do the Kings realize that losing just one piece of the puzzle to something selfish may be the difference in making the playoffs?
You’re referring to Mr. Holmes, I presume. Holmes’ mishap was a huge mistake that impacts his team’s playoff hopes — and potentially puts the entire NBA bubble at risk — but his momma raised him right and I believe him when he says he crossed the NBA campus line by accident.
We haven’t been able to talk to Holmes, who has five days remaining on his 10-day quarantine order, but Walton said the bubble’s boundaries were not well understood over the first few days.
“The borders are a little everywhere,” Walton said. “I almost walked out the first day I was here. The borders are a little challenging, but our guys know we need to stay in.”
@kntrlr31 asks: When is Len due back?
Len cleared COVID-19 protocols and was expected to arrive in Orlando on Thursday night, 23 days after testing positive for the virus. He will have to pass two COVID-19 tests over a span of at least 24 hours before he can leave his room. The Kings could get him into their ballroom training facility as soon as Saturday.
@CJ4011 asks: Does Walton run with a 10-man rotation? Who’s missing out on minutes?
Ten sounds about right, but so much of Walton’s rotation decisions revolve around Fox, obviously, and Barnes because of his ability to move from small forward to power forward in small ball lineups.
Right now I’d pencil in Fox, Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Bazemore, Holmes, Marvin Bagley III, Nemanja Bjelica and Giles if they’re all healthy when seeding games begin. Alex Len will join that group if he gets up to speed. Corey Brewer could get significant minutes if Barnes doesn’t make it to Orlando. The same would be true for Ferrell if Fox isn’t able to play.
@JeffDomingues asks: Is this finally the year Sacramento no longer needs to care about the lottery?
I wouldn’t bet on that at the moment. The odds are against the Kings making the playoffs, both because of the abbreviated schedule and the play-in format, and because they can’t stay healthy enough to establish continuity.
The Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers all have an easier path to the postseason, but a 6-2 record with two wins over the Pelicans would probably put the Kings in the play-in round against the Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed. A 5-3 record might be good enough depending on how many games the Blazers and Pelicans win.
At full strength with a second chance to conduct a good training camp, the Kings might have surprised some people as a dark-horse contender. But their odds of making the playoffs and missing the lottery aren’t good with Fox, Hield, Barnes, Holmes, Len and Parker all missing important preparation time.
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
