Northwest Division Roundup: Sandfort Signs With Thunder; Harkless Shines Defensively; Nuggets Weigh Rotation Changes; Wallace Produces; Avdija Upgraded
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Oklahoma City, OK — Newly signed two-way forward Payton Sandfort is expected to mesh quickly with the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Mark Daigneault said Monday. “He’s a great professional and a really good guy,” Daigneault told reporters, noting the 6-foot-7 shooter has missed much of the season with injuries but was highly regarded by team scouts coming out of college. According to Spotrac contributor Keith Smith, Sandfort’s deal spans two years.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two-way guard Elijah Harkless drew praise from Jazz head coach Will Hardy after holding Denver center Nikola Jokić to two points on Monday. “I think Elijah is our best defender,” Hardy said, stressing that Harkless’ physical play helps wear opponents down over the course of a game.
DENVER — The Nuggets dropped back-to-back contests to Oklahoma City and Minnesota before topping Utah, and assistant coach David Adelman indicated lineup adjustments may be coming. Denver was outscored while Jokić rested in both defeats, forcing extended minutes for the starters. “I have to find a unit that will actually do it, compete at a higher level,” Adelman said. “I can’t keep playing guys into the ground, especially with a dense schedule.”
OKLAHOMA CITY — Rookie guard Cason Wallace capitalized on an expanded role last month, averaging 14.6 points, 4.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. Wallace becomes eligible for a rookie-scale extension this summer. “You never know when a guy’s gonna pop,” Daigneault said, adding the recent offensive surge has been “really, really good and intriguing.”
PORTLAND — Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (lower back) has been upgraded to questionable for Wednesday’s matchup with Memphis. Avdija has not played since exiting 58 seconds into a Feb. 22 game.
Source: Hoops Rumors
