Kings injury update: How is Harry Giles? Will he be ready for the opener with the Suns?
The Kings have had several days since their last preseason game to cure injuries and other ailments as they prepare for Wednesday’s season opener against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.
Kings coach Luke Walton said center Harry Giles III participated in the noncontact portion of practice and everyone else was a full participant Monday. Giles, who had been held out since the third day of training camp due to left knee soreness, ran the floor during warmups and fast-break drills, Walton said, but he will not be ready to start the season.
“He looked good,” Walton said. “We’re excited as a coaching staff because we got him out here on the court today. He’s been on the court doing individual work, but to have him with the team – his teammates love him, so it was kind of nice just to have him back out there with us for a little bit.”
Point guards De’Aaron Fox and Cory Joseph, forward Trevor Ariza, center Dewayne Dedmon all missed preseason games due to minor injuries. Joseph, a key free-agent acquisition, appeared in only one game before sitting out with a sore right calf. Joseph said he also suffered from illness last week.
“It’s been tough,” Joseph said. “It’s been probably my first preseason where I didn’t get to play a majority of the games or all the games. People who know me know I don’t like to spend time away. I’m getting back in the swing of things now, so I should be ready to go.”
Walton said he isn’t worried about getting Joseph acclimated with his teammates and the new wrinkles the coaching staff implemented while he was out.
“He’s a pro,” Walton said. “He knows what he’s doing. He knows how to handle himself.”
Roster moves
The Kings had until 2 p.m. Monday to cut their roster down to 15 players on standard contracts and two players on two-way contracts. They did so with a flurry of moves over the last two days.
The Kings waived Tyler Ulis and Hollis Thompson on Sunday. Then on Monday they converted two-way player Wenyen Gabriel to a standard NBA contract, signed undrafted free agent DaQuan Jeffries to a two-way contract and waived Tyler Lydon, according to various reports.
Gabriel signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Kings last season after going undrafted out of Kentucky in 2018. He averaged 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game in the preseason, logging most of his minutes at small forward.
Sacramento Kings upcoming schedule
Oct. 23 at Phoenix Suns
Oct. 25 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Oct. 26 at Utah Jazz
Oct. 28 vs. Denver Nuggets
Oct. 30 vs. Charlotte Hornets
This story was originally published October 21, 2019 at 3:14 PM.