NBA Notes: Bulls, Nic Claxton, Sixers, Joel Embiid, Knicks

Bulls

The Bulls will have to wait a little longer for Nic Claxton’s debut.

Claxton is progressing from the hamstring injury that sidelined him throughout the preseason, but coach Tiago Splitter said Monday that the center will likely miss about two more weeks, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.

Splitter stressed that the timeline is an estimate, with Claxton continuing to be evaluated during that stretch. A return November 2 against the Sixers would mean missing Chicago’s first six games.

Acquired in an offseason trade, Claxton was expected to start at center. His absence has been complicated by a quad injury to Zach Collins, who also missed the entire preseason.

Collins offered some better news Monday, practicing without restrictions. He said he felt good afterward and hopes to play in Wednesday’s opener against the Raptors if that continues, per K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.

Without a doubt, getting Collins back would give Splitter an experienced option while the Bulls wait on their new starter.

Sixers

Having Joel Embiid healthy throughout training camp has allowed the Sixers to do more than monitor his progress. They’ve been able to practice the things they intend to run.

That’s helped Nick Nurse install offensive and defensive schemes while giving new teammates time to learn Embiid’s tendencies, writes Chris Hine of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“For him to be healthy throughout the entirety (of the preseason), you can put in more packages,” Tyrese Maxey said. “There’s been times when he hasn’t been healthy, and we get into the game, and now we’re trying to learn in the flow.”

Maxey already knows where Embiid wants the ball. For teammates still learning when to cut or move into an open space, those daily repetitions are valuable.

LeBron James and Embiid have also been working together before practices to develop their chemistry. They shared the floor during Team USA’s 2024 Olympic gold-medal run, but James said Embiid wasn’t consistently feeling his best that summer.

“He gave us everything that he had physically,” James said. “But there was times he felt great, times he didn’t feel great. That was just about him being healthy. But this summer he’s been the most healthy he’s been in a long time.”

Knicks

Andre Drummond walked into Knicks camp and found a team that needed very few introductions.

New York retained 10 of the 11 players who averaged the most minutes last season, with Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson all returning in free agency, writes Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News.

Drummond arrived to replace Mitchell Robinson, who signed with the Celtics. Clearly, joining a championship group with so much familiarity has been a different experience for the veteran center.

“This is the first time I’m the only new guy to a team, so it feels kind of weird. Like, an outcast trying to fit in,” Drummond said. “But the guys are very welcoming. They made me feel very welcome to be here.”

Sblendorio noted that Shamet, Alvarado and Clarkson likely could have found more money and larger roles elsewhere. Instead, they returned without assurances of consistent playing time.

Shamet said the willingness to accept that uncertainty helped make the group worth keeping together.

“If Jose’s got it going and my minutes are shortened, awesome, and vice versa,” he said. “From a backup guard position, that’s very rare, where no ego or ulterior motives get involved. That’s something special that you want to be a part of.”