NBA Notes: Lakers, Christian Wood, Timberwolves, Thunder Predictions

Lakers

Center Christian Wood will miss the start of the season after having his knee scoped, the Lakers announced in a press release.

Wood is expected to miss at least eight weeks, meaning he may be out until around Thanksgiving. 

“In addition to Wood being out, Lakers wing and defensive stopper Jarred Vanderbilt could miss training camp and some (or all) of the preseason as he is not fully recovered from a mid-foot sprain suffered last February, reports Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet,” wrote NBC Sports. “Vanderbilt’s status seems more up in the air than Wood.”

The Lakers are entering their first season under coach JJ Redick, though the roster otherwise remains largely the same. They’re just one of three teams that haven’t signed an outside free agent to a standard contract (with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers being the others).

Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are signing free agent point guard Chasson Randle to an Exhibit 10 contract for training camp, per Michael Scotto of HoopHype.

Randle, 31, is 6-foot-2 and spent last season with Greek club AEK Athens. He has played in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Golde State Warriors, and Orlando Magic.

The Timberwolves already feature Mike Conley and rookie Rob Dillingham at the position, though most teams carry three point guards. So Randle will be battling for a full-time or two-way spot and you’d think he stands a chance to get one or the other.

Thunder

A lot of people are picking the Thunder to again finish with the best record in the Western Conference. That list includes us.

But who will be the top challengers? Well, according to a new post from the Sporting News, that would be none other than the Timberwolves, Mavericks and Nuggets (again, similar to our own list).

“While it remains to be seen whether or not Sam Presti‘s additions to the team will be enough to push Oklahoma City past the Mavericks, the Thunder certainly have a better chance at taking down Dallas,” wrote Randall Sweet of SI.com.

“Similarly, Minnesota’s size could create issues for OKC when Isaiah Hartenstein is off the court, in addition to being led by a superstar guard in Anthony Edwards and a strong team defense.

“While the Nuggets have lost a few key role players over the past few seasons, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic‘s size and talent is enough to give any team in the NBA a fight when Denver’s supporting cast plays well.