Pacers Guard T.J. McConnell Out at Least Four Weeks; Kings Trim Roster; Bulls Await Coby White’s Return
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INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers backup guard T.J. McConnell is expected to miss a minimum of one month after straining his left hamstring during Tuesday’s preseason opener, head coach Rick Carlisle said. The 33-year-old veteran left the game in the second quarter and did not return.
Indiana’s backcourt was already thin. All-Star Tyrese Haliburton is sidelined for the season with the torn Achilles he suffered in the NBA Finals, and rookie Kam Jones will be out several weeks because of a back injury. McConnell appeared in 79 games last season, averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals in fewer than 18 minutes per night, production that closely matched his playoff numbers.
Carlisle added that newly signed guard Cameron Payne will handle reserve duties while McConnell recovers. “We’ve seen a lot of Cam the last two years with Milwaukee and New York,” Carlisle said, praising Payne’s speed and three-point shooting. The coach also confirmed the club released Delon Wright after the guard sustained head and elbow lacerations Tuesday. “It just didn’t work out with Delon,” Carlisle noted.
Kings Waive Dexter Dennis
Sacramento waived guard Dexter Dennis, the team announced. The 26-year-old had inked a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract late last month, positioning him for a likely return to the G League’s Stockton Kings. Dennis averaged 13.9 points and 3.9 rebounds last season for Stockton, helping the affiliate capture the G League championship. His deal includes an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends 60 days with Stockton this year. The move keeps the Kings at the 21-player training-camp limit.
Bulls Still Monitoring Coby White
Chicago guard Coby White remains out with a calf strain that has hampered him since August, head coach Billy Donovan told reporters. White has been running and shooting but experiences tightness when exertion increases. “It wasn’t pain, but every time they got to this threshold, he felt tightness, so they basically just shut him down,” Donovan said.
The Bulls are hopeful the 24-year-old will be available for their final preseason game on Oct. 16 or, at the latest, the regular-season opener six days later.
Source: Hoops Wire
