Why Devonte Graham won’t play vs. Spurs and Joe Chealey is back with Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets will be without point guard Devonte Graham on Tuesday at home against the San Antonio Spurs. He has a sore left ankle that he suffered Sunday in a collision with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Hornets downgraded Graham from doubtful to out, after Graham said at morning shootaround, “I don’t think so” regarding his ability to play. Graham sat out practice Monday with the injury.
Terry Rozier figures to move over from shooting guard to start at the point. With Malik Monk serving a suspension under the NBA’s anti-drug policy, the Hornets are particularly shallow at the point.
Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak signed guard Joe Chealey to a second 10-day contract Tuesday morning, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Chealey plays versus the Spurs. He has played point guard and is familiar with the system, having been on a Hornets two-way contract last season and playing for the Hornets’ G-League affiliate in Greensboro this season.
The Hornets had to sign a player to be in compliance with a minimum 14 under contract. Roster spots opened when veterans Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist took buyouts to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.
The Hornets allowed Chealey’s first 10-day contract to expire Sunday without re-signing him. After practice Monday, Hornets coach James Borrego said he planned to discuss point guard depth with Kupchak.
NBA teams can sign the same player to a maximum of two 10-day contracts each season. If the Hornets choose to retain Chealey beyond this current deal, he’d have to be signed for the rest of the season.
The Hornets chose not devote a roster spot to a veteran third point guard this season, as NBA teams typically do.
Tuesday will be just the second game this season Graham has missed. Borrego sat him out at Indiana on Feb. 25 to address how tired Graham appeared. He had shot 1-of-17 from the field in his prior two games coming out of All-Star break.
Graham has played 2,041 minutes this season, seventh-most among all NBA players.
Graham said of the collision with league MVP Antetokounmpo: “He just fell on it and kind of rolled over on my ankle. It was weird; I don’t even remember which way it twisted. I just remember feeling pain.”
This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 11:42 AM.
