2 weeks Ago By Ryan Wolstat
Article content There might still be a little over a week remaining in the Raptors schedule, but don’t expect to see two of the team’s most talented offensive players until next fall. Prized acquisition Brandon Ingram continues to progress and is getting close, but the problem is he should be ready to play just when the regular season concludes so there’s no point in the Raptors rushing at this point. “I don’t know if it’s going to be realistic to see him playing, but he’s trending really well,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said pre-game Friday before Toronto hosted the Detroit Pistons.
“We’re very hopeful that next week that he’s going to be able to go through full contact and full practice with us. At the same time, we are aware that we’re running out of time over here with the end of the season coming soon. So we are really looking forward to see him in our play groups and practice and building toward the summer,” Rajakovic added.
Ingram has not played since badly spraining his ankle on Dec. 7 while still a member of the New Orleans Pelicans. The news was even worse on sophomore wing Gradey Dick.
Dick has missed 17 straight games and Rajakovic said his season is over due to a right bone bruise. Dick also hurt his hand earlier this season, a second NBA campaign that started out extremely strong, before his play tailed off significantly. Dick did average 14.
4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists, but shot just 41% from the field and 35% on three-point attempts while struggling mightily defensively.
“His symptoms are improving, (but) right now he’s not doing much. He’s really focusing on lifting (weights) and working on improving his body,” Rajakovic said of Dick. “And with that being said, we can pretty confidently say we’re going to shut him down for the rest of the season here.
” That wasn’t it for injury news, though, with Rajakovic adding that star forward Scottie Barnes would miss Friday’s game after playing the night before in a loss against Portland. Barnes has been battling a hand injury that has impacted his shooting “Scottie is going to take a night off today. So he’s not going to play, and we’re going to reassess for the next game, see where he’s at,” Rajakovic said.
“And again, the good thing is that his legs are feeling great. He wants to be in these games. He wants to compete.
He’s aware that he missed quite a bit of time last season with injuries. So he wants really to try to push through it and and finish the season with the team.” Toronto plays at Brooklyn on Sunday, hosts Charlotte Wednesday, then finishes the season in Texas with weekend games in Dallas and San Antonio.
Barnes will need to play in each of the remaining games to reach 65 games played, the minimum required to be eligible for a supermax contract boost worth an additional $45 million U.S. in the highly improbable event he makes an All-NBA team.
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