SH Blog: Rondo’s return might not be until December, says Sullinger

Happy Sunday night, everyone. We’re almost done with August.This time of year, a good chunk of the news is injury updates, and all the vagueness and headaches that come with them. Used to be you assumed players weren’t coming back until you heard they were a few weeks away, then eventually they’d be almost ready to play, and then they’d be back. Now? It’s a constant cycle of will-he-won’t-he, culminating in whatever that whole Derrick Rose thing was last year. Speaking of which, he’ll be on the court for the season opener, right? Please? I don’t know if I can deal with another year of Derrick Rose speculation.

If you’re not ready for injury updates, we’ve got plenty of other news, such as it is at the end of August. Here’s the latest from all around the NBA:

• Could the Cavs be a playoff team this year? One key will be Andrew Bynum’s health. Here’s Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on that topic: “Who knows if it will work, but Andrew Bynum is making a major effort to rehab from his knee problems. He has been at the Cavs facility virtually every day since signing six weeks ago. Bynum is still working on his cranky knees. He had surgery on both in March. He is working on losing the 20-some pounds that he needs to dump. He is doing what the doctors and trainers have asked. But he’s not close to being ready for full basketball activities. Training camp opens in five weeks. So we’ll see about Bynum’s progress, and the real goal is to have him ready for the regular season. That is Oct. 30.”
• Jay King of MassLive.com reports that Rajon Rondo might be delayed in his return from injury: “Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has stated publicly — several times — that point guard Rajon Rondo wants to return from ACL surgery by training camp and play on opening night. Yet while speaking with WSYX Columbus on Friday, teammate Jared Sullinger shared a different timetable for Boston’s four-time All-Star. “He’s back working out again and hopefully he’ll be back by December,” said Sullinger. Obviously we don’t know how much Sullinger knows, but he has hopefully (if you’re a Celtics fan looking for locker room camaraderie) stayed in contact with his longest-tenured teammate.”
• Keeping you updated on Jason Collins’ search for a team, here’s Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News: “Jason Collins, who would become the NBA’s first openly gay player the next time he plays, was a candidate to join Brooklyn’s roster, according to Kidd.  But the Nets passed on the 34-year-old center, who remains a free agent after playing with the Wizards last season. “He wants to play still. For that, there was talk (with the Nets),” said Kidd, who was teammates with Collins in New Jersey. “But we have 15 spots already filled. That was something that we did talk about in the summer. I think he can still play,” Kidd added. “His knowledge as a veteran. There’s always a veteran that can help a young team. I think he’ll find a job at some point here.””

• Talking to a close contact of Lamar Odom’s in NYC. Said while Lamar “is going through a lot in his personal life, he wants to be a Laker.”

  — Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) August 26, 2013

   

• Antawn Jamison is switching uniforms, but staying in LA, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com: “The Los Angeles Clippers are closing in on a deal with veteran forward Antawn Jamison, a source close to the situation told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Sunday. Jamison, 37, played for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. He has been unabashed in his desire to play for a championship contender in the final years of a 15-year career in which he has averaged 18.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. He will likely surpass 20,000 career points early next season. Jamison played through torn wrist ligaments for much of the second half of last season with the Lakers. He had offseason surgery and expects to be 100 percent at the start of the season.”

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Dan Malone is about to begin his fourth year as a journalism student at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and spent this summer as a features intern at the Cape Cod Times. He blogs, edits and learns things on the fly for Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.