Undervalued Contributors, Calf Strain Concerns, and Overseas Moves for Beverley and Morris
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Seven budget-friendly difference-makers are drawing attention in John Hollinger’s latest column for The Athletic. The list focuses on high-energy players whose production outweighs their salaries.
Toronto Raptors reserve guard Jamal Shead tops Hollinger’s rundown. The 23-year-old earned minutes as a rookie with aggressive defense, but his offensive growth in his second season has secured a larger role. “It’s not always about scoring,” Shead said, noting he spent the offseason improving reads off ball screens. “Impacting defense is what I’m going to do regardless, but I’m impacting offense this year a lot more too.”
Hollinger also spotlights Jordan Goodwin of the Suns, Peyton Watson of the Nuggets and Moussa Diabaté of the Hornets, among others.
Calf Strains Under the Microscope
In a detailed piece for Yahoo Sports, Tom Haberstroh examines a noticeable rise in calf strains around the league. While high-profile cases such as Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton eventually led to Achilles tears, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Ellis of New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery emphasized that such progressions remain rare. “Nine times out of 10—actually, even more, 99 percent of the time—you don’t see anything structurally on an imaging exam of the Achilles before a rupture,” Ellis told Haberstroh.
Beverley Set for Greek Return
Veteran guard Patrick Beverley, who played in Israel last season, has agreed to join PAOK Thessaloniki, according to Nikola Miloradovic of Eurohoops.net. Beverley is expected to arrive in Greece on Saturday evening to complete a physical before finalizing the contract. The 36-year-old last appeared in the NBA with Milwaukee during the 2023-24 campaign. In November, he was arrested in Texas and charged with assault of a family or household member after allegedly punching and choking his sister.
Monte Morris Joins Olympiacos
Another experienced NBA guard, Monte Morris, finalized a deal with EuroLeague powerhouse Olympiacos last week. The former Pacer was introduced to Greek media, with Eurohoops.net sharing highlights from his introductory press conference.
Source: Hoops Rumors
