A busy week in the NBA continues to get busier. As the draft boards and playoff scenarios continue to change, we’ll keep you updated every day at 6 O’Clock.
Here’s the latest news around the league:
Cody Zeller and Michael Carter-Williams among the latest to declare for the NBA
One day after his teammate, Victor Oladipo, declared for the NBA draft, Indiana sophomore Cody Zeller did the same. Zeller will forgo his junior and senior seasons in Bloomington and further his development at the professional level. More on Zeller’s decision from the Terry Hutchens of the Indianapolis Star: “Two seasons and 56 victories later, Cody Zeller has decided to leave Indiana and declare for the NBA draft. “The past two years have been probably the best two years of my life,’’ Zeller said. “It has been a great two years, but at this point in my life, I think it’s best for me to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA.’’”
More on Zeller: “Zeller, a second team All-America selection by the Associated Press, will leave IU 35 hours shy of graduating from the Kelley School of Business. He said he will complete his degree over the next two summers.The 7-foot center, who averaged 16.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in 72 career games, is projected by most experts as a lottery pick in the June 27 NBA Draft.”
Zeller wasn’t the only big name to declare on Wednesday, though. Michael Carter-Williams, who led Syracuse to the Final Four, will also take his chances in the NBA. More from Scott Gleeson of USA Today: “Carter-Williams helped guide the Orange to the Final Four as the team’s point guard, leading Syracuse in minutes per game (35.2). He finished fifth in the nation with 7.3 assists per game, while averaging 11.9 points per game.”
NBADraft.net has Zeller projected as the No. 8 pick and Carter-Williams as the No. 13 pick as of Wednesday afternoon.
LeBron James may join Dwayne Wade on the bench for the remainder of the regular season
Like his partner in crime, Dwayne Wade, LeBron is doing all he can to rest up for the NBA’s second season this spring. The only season that matters to the Miami Heat. While this may not come as a surprise, it will come as a disappointment to those who are expecting to see LeBron play in person in the next week. More from David Neal of the Miami Herald: “LeBron James said Tuesday morning he would be a scratch for some of the last six. Dwyane Wade will travel to Washington for Wednesday’s game, but is no lock to play. Center Chris Boshcalled in sick Tuesday and could miss Wednesday’s game at Washington, too.
“He has flulike symptoms, so unless he gets dramatically better [he won’t travel],” Heat coachErik Spoelstra said before Tuesday’s game with Milwaukee. “It’s something we talked about. I don’t know if we will bring him around everybody.”
Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson may return tonight against the San Antonio Spurs
Looking to secure the No. 3-seed in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets finally received some good news this week. Ty Lawson, who is absolutely essential to the success of the Nuggets, may return earlier than the team initially anticipated. That could be tonight against the Spurs. More from Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post: “Ty Lawson practiced Tuesday for Wednesday night’s game against San Antonio, except he looked like he did in the last game against San Antonio.”He was OK, nothing much more than OK,” Nuggets coach George Karl said of his point guard.”
More on Lawson: “I don’t think he took many chances, but he did run up and down the court,” Karl said. “He didn’t seem like he was confident. Knowing Ty, he probably wouldn’t try (overly aggressive play) until he’s in the game. If he wants to play, I’d probably give him a 15- to 20-minute window.”
Ben Baroff is a basketball journalist who blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter here.