The new NBA is fast approaching with some training camps opening in less than a week and preseason games starting in the first week of October. As such, teams are looking ahead to the new year, but some key players may not be available for the start of camp - and potentially longer. Here are all the latest news and rumors you need to know in today's NBA Rumors Roundup:
Michael Beasley says Knicks will be "five, six seed" in East this year
Beasley hasn't even been to training camp with his new New York Knicks teammates, but he already has high hopes for what the team can do this year. During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Beasley said that the Knicks will make the playoffs this season as long as they keep Carmelo Anthony.
“Tim Hardaway Jr., Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and myself — those are four guys that can score 25 points per game,’’ Beasley said. “Then you add in Lance Thomas, Kyle O’Quinn, Joakim Noah — let’s not forget about that All-Star. It’s up to us to put it together just like it was up to them last year. Whatever happened last year is what happened. But I’m here now, and I’m going to do everything I can to get everyone on the same page, even if that page is beating me up every day in practice.
“Do I see us better than a 30-win team in Vegas? Listen, I don’t even go to Vegas. So yeah, I do. I think we’ve got a position to be not only a playoff team, but a five-, six-seed team if we do it right.’
Vegas sportsbooks currently have the Knicks over/under win total set at 30.5.
The 6-foot-10, 235-pounder can play either forward position, giving New York more versatility in the frontcourt. Beasley will likely serve as Carmelo Anthony's backup.
Beasley averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 56 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, including six starts.
Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris may miss start of training camp due to trial
Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris and his brother, Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris, went on trial Monday facing felony assault charges stemming from a 2015 incident in which 36-year-old Erik Hood was beaten.
The trail is expected to last two weeks, which means that both players would miss the start of training camp on Sept. 26. If convicted, the Morris twins will face further discipline from the NBA - including a minimum 10-game suspension - and possible jail time.
Hood, who had known both players since they were teenagers, was assaulted by at least three people, and the trial centers around the involvement of the Morris twins. Defense lawyers say the twins did not participate in the attack, but prosecutors are arguing that they orchestrated and participated in the assault.
Markieff averaged 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season, while Marcus averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Detroit Pistons. Both were members of the Phoenix Suns at the time of the incident
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Patrick Patterson hopes he'll be ready for training camp
Another player who may miss the start of training camp is new Oklahoma City Thunder forward Patrick Patterson, who is still recovering from a knee surgery on Aug. 10. However, he said that he hopes to be ready but won't push himself too far.
Patrick Patterson (knee) on if he'll be ready for training camp: "I hope so. I would love to be out there on the court with my teammates" pic.twitter.com/DrwpPWbiNh
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) September 20, 2017
Patterson averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for the Toronto Raptors last season.
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