The NBA will be back in 11 days.
Unfortunately, a few Jayhawks might not.
– **Xavier Henry** (Memphis Grizzlies) tore ligaments in his right ankle recently and will be out for two to four weeks, [according to The Commercial Appeal][1]. Henry was injured for a significant slice of his rookie season (sat out 44 games plus the playoffs, much of that time with a knee injury), and although [things were looking up][2], his second season isn’t off to a much better start.
– **Kirk Hinrich** (Atlanta Hawks) is recovering from a November shoulder surgery and might miss the first month or two of the season, [according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution][3].
It’s not all bad news for former KU players, though:
– **Nick Collison** (Oklahoma City Thunder) [told The Oklahoman][4] that he feels healthier at the start of this season than in years past.
– **Drew Gooden** (Milwaukee Bucks) is still dealing with some nagging pain but has lost some weight and, like Collison, also feels better this preseason, [according to this interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel][5].
In other notable news:
– **Brandon Rush** (Indiana Pacers) will not be the fourth ex-Jayhawk playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies [definitively said][6] they would not trade former USC guard O.J. Mayo to the Pacers, which rules out a reunion for Rush and **Darrell Arthur**, plus fellow Jayhawks **Xavier Henry** and **Josh Selby**. Don’t go abandoning the “Memphis Jayhawks” moniker yet though. The Grizzlies still roster a quarter of the league’s KU players.
– There’s still hope that **Sasha Kaun** (CSKA Moscow) might play in the NBA eventually. [According to the Columbus Dispatch][7], he “remains on the (Cleveland) Cavaliers’ radar.” Kaun’s draft rights were traded to the Cavs shortly after he was drafted in 2008.
– On Friday, **Brady Morningstar** (NBA D-League, Tulsa 66ers) scored 29 points (yes, 29… there’s even [8]). Morningstar hit five threes and 12 free throws, while recording three rebounds, two assists and a block. Two days later, on Sunday, he scored 14 points and passed out six assists. If you’d like to keep up with Brady’s stats so far in Tulsa, follow [this link][9]. *(And thanks to [ibrown3][10] for the tip)*
– **Jeff Graves** (NBA D-League, Erie Bayhawks) [was waived][11] by the Bayhawks on Tuesday. Graves is recovering from an ankle injury he sustained in the season opener on Nov. 25. He [played a total of two minutes][12] for Erie.
– USA Today put together [a nice feature][13] on rookie **Josh Selby** (Memphis Grizzlies). It sounds like he’s fitting in well with his new teammates, and it should be exciting for KU fans to see what Selby can do now that he’s healthy.
– And finally, from the Houston Chronicle, a look at how fellow rookie **Marcus Morris** (Houston Rockets) is hoping to earn playing time. [Hint: begins with de-, ends with -fense][14].
If you come across any other interesting reads, be sure to pass them along, either in the comments below or to ngerik@ljworld.com.
[1]: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/13/grizzlies-say-they-wont-trade-mayo-xavier-henry-in/
[2]: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2011-06-26-3959483899_x.htm-
[3]: http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2011/12/01/atlanta-hawks-hinrich-reportedly-has-shoulder-surgery-out-to-start-season/
[4]: http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook-new-deadline-for-russell-westbrooks-deal/article/3631145
[5]: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/bucks-power-forward-gooden-gets-spring-back-in-his-step-093e668-135551908.html
[6]: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/13/grizzlies-say-they-wont-trade-mayo-xavier-henry-in/
[7]: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2011/12/13/cavs-hope-varejao-holds-up-at-center.html
[8]: http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20111209/TULDAK/gameinfo.html
[9]: http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/brady_morningstar/game_by_game_stats.html
[10]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/hawks_nba/2011/dec/12/welcome-back/#c1881653
[11]: http://www.goerie.com/article/20111214/BASKETBALL05/312139884/Erie-BayHawks-waive-Graves-add-Stokes
[12]: http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/jeff_graves/
[13]: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/grizzlies/story/2011-12-04/josh-selby-memphis-grizzlies-12-4/51642650/1
[14]: http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Rookie-Morris-signs-with-Rockets-hits-the-court-2398641.php
