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‘My mindset is there is definitely a chance’

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Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari suffered a left ACL tear while playing for Italy in the FIBA World Cup qualifying game in August. The 14-year veteran was originally diagnosed with a meniscus tear, though, an MRI revealed ligament damage. This was classified as a non-contact injury.

However, the 34-year-old has made fine progress the last couple of months. Now, there’s a chance Gallinari could make his season debut in the coming months. “My mindset is that I want to play, and that I’m going to play at the end of the season,” Gallinari told Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.

Upon further review of some NBA betting sites, Danilo Gallinari and the Celtics are clear-cut favorites to win the championship. A few sportsbooks are still giving the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets favorable odds.

“I want to play in the playoffs. So that’s the mindset that helps me every day get better and motivates me even more,” added Danilo Gallinari. “My mindset is there is definitely a chance. So, when I think about the season, it’s definitely not a lost season for me.

“So, we’ll see. That’s the mindset that helps me and pushes me to get better every day. If it happens, it’s going to be great. If it doesn’t, I’m looking forward to next season.”

Celtics wing Danilo Gallinari hopes to return from ACL injury by end of season, shows signs of progression

During this past offseason, the forward signed a two-year, $13.3 million deal with the Celtics. He’s earning $6.479 million this season and has a $6,802,950 player option for the 2023-24 season. Of course, his 2023-24 player option deadline is June 29.

After surgery, an ACL injury for a person living a sedentary lifestyle requires at least three months to heal. However, most professional athletes need six to nine months to fully recover. If the Celtics return to the NBA Finals, maybe he’ll make his season debut then.

Additionally, Danilo Gallinari spent his previous two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. Last season, in 66 appearances, the wing averaged 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest. Plus, he shot 43.4% from the field and 38.1% beyond the arc.

On March 20, 2022, in the Hawks’ 117-112 loss versus the New Orleans Pelicans, the Italian baller logged a season-high 27 points in 42 minutes as a starter. He finished 11-of-21 (52.4%) shooting from the floor and knocked down three 3-pointers.

In June, Atlanta traded Gallinari and four first-round draft picks (2023, 2025–27) to the San Antonio Spurs for Jock Landale and Dejounte Murray. Landale was then dealt to the Phoenix Suns in July for cash considerations. Danilo Gallinari was waived by San Antonio four days before inking a deal with Boston.

Forty-nine games through the 2022-23 season, the Celtics have a league-best 35-14 record. They remain three games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference standings. While Boston is not desperate for help offensively, Gallinari would still bolster the team’s frontcourt.





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Terquavion Smith To Enter 2023 NBA Draft

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North Carolina State basketball star Terquavion Smith announced that he will be forgoing the rest of his college eligibility and entering the 2023 NBA Draft.

A projected first-round pick, Smith is the No. 30-ranked prospect on ESPN’s Top-100 list.

“I’m forgoing my college eligibility and going all the way in,” Smith said. “I’m thankful for everything the NC State coaching staff and fans have done for me. This is the right decision for me to take care of my family.”

Smith entered the 2022 NBA Draft and likely would have been selected but elected to return to NC State for his sophomore season. He averaged 17.9 points and 4.1 assists per game and finished his career eighth all-time in school history in career points per game (17.1).

Projecting Where Terquavion Smith Will Be Drafted

Smith is projected to go towards the bottom of the first-round but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the NC State guard fall in the draft.

The 20-year-old faces stiff competition at the guard position from a handful of one-and-done prospects but isn’t as polished as one might expect despite having an extra year of college experience.

While the NC State product is expected to have his name called on draft night, NBA scouts do have some concerns regarding his game.

First off, Smith is a smaller guard, who could have some difficulties defending at the NBA level. He has elite quickness and athleticism but has a tendency to play erratic at times.

Smith needs to improve his decision-making with the basketball and his shot selection needs some work, but overall, he’s a gifted scorer and a player that has the potential to make an impact on both ends of the floor. The sophomore guard averaged 2.2 turnovers per game and finished with an assist-to-turnover ratio of fewer than 2-to-1.

Smith also struggled at times with his shot this season, shooting just 38 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from 3-point range.


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Isaiah Collier is recruiting Bronny James

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Bronny James’ recruitment is still open for business, according to USC Trojans commit Isaiah Collier.

Collier, the No. 3 player in ESPN’s top-100 rankings, used his time at the McDonald’s All-American Game to recruit James to join him in the Trojans’ backcourt.

James is one of the nation’s top remaining unsigned recruits. On3.com gives Ohio State a 95 percent chance of landing James but Collier has a better pitch than landing at his father’s former top school.

“He’s a great shooter,” Collier said to 247Sports. “I feel like he’s one of the best all-around players in the country. So, he’s a great player and knows how to play the game, and he’s not going to overdo anything. … I’m looking forward to [playing with him], and I’m definitely trying to recruit him. I’m just telling him he can stay home, that’s all I’ve got say.”

Collier Expected To Step Into Starting PG Role At USC

USC will be in need of a point guard in 2023 and Collier is expected to step into the starting role right away.

The Trojans will be losing two seniors, Boogie Ellis and Drew Peterson, who accounted for 100 percent of the team’s minutes at the point guard spot, according to KenPom.com.

Collier is a natural lead guard, but at 6-foot-4, has the ability to play both the point guard and shooting guard spots at the college level.

That could open up the possibility for James to slide in alongside Collier in the Trojans’ backcourt for head coach Andy Enfield.

USC finished 22-11 with a 14-6 record in PAC-12 play. However, the Trojans suffered a disappointing end to their season, losing in the first round of the PAC-12 Tournament and the opening round of March Madness.

Will Bronny James Join Isaiah Collier In The Trojans’ Backcourt?

It’s interesting that Collier, a highly-touted prospect in his own right, would recruit Bronny to USC even though both play the point guard position.

Collier, the Gatorade Georgia High School Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 20.2 points, 6.8 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. He led Wheeler High School to a 26-6 record and defeated region rival Cherokee for the fourth time to win the Class 7A State Championship.

Paul Biancardi, National Recruiting Director for ESPN, had this to say about Collier’s game:

“Collier is the ultimate playmaker who shines when playing out of pick-and-rolls. He reads the floor and has excellent passing vision. A willing and accurate passer who now is dependable from deep, he’s special because he creates endless scoring opportunities for his teammates and, at the same time, can score big on his own when needed.”

To Collier’s credit, he’s welcomed the challenge of co-existing with James, who will be one of the most highly scrutinized players in college basketball next season.

The Wheeler guard believes that Bronny’s shooting and basketball IQ would ultimately make for a good fit alongside his natural play-making abilities.


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Dayton forward Mike Sharavjamts to enter 2023 NBA Draft

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Dayton forward Mike Sharavjamts is entering the 2023 NBA Draft, per sources. The 6-foot-8 freshman wing averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 23.1 minutes in 32 appearances with the Flyers this past season.

The Mongolia native shot 38.8% from the field, 31.5% beyond the arc, and 67.7% at the foul line. Sharavjamts ranked 16th in the Atlantic 10 in defensive box plus/minus (1.4), 20th in defensive rating (100.5), and 17th in assist percentage (21.5%).

Per a few college basketball betting sites, while Dayton never participated in the NIT or NCAA Tournament, No. 4 UConn is the favorite to win the national championship, followed by No. 5 San Diego State and No. 5 Miami (FL).

Sharavjamts was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Freshman Team, and he’s the first Mongolian citizen to earn a Division I athletic scholarship. The forward is also the fourth player to leave Dayton since the season came to a close on March 12, joining Richard Amaefule, Mustapha Amzil, and R.J. Blakney.

The Dayton forward cares about his future from a business standpoint as well. “Sharavjamts is keeping his options open as far as entering the NCAA transfer portal but is primarily focusing on professional opportunities. He signed with Scott Nichols of Rize Management,” reported ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Dayton freshman Mike Sharavjamts to enter 2023 NBA Draft, is first Mongolian citizen to receive a Division I athletic scholarship

In Dayton’s 79-75 win over BYU on Nov. 25, the forward scored a season-high 15 points in 34 minutes as a starter. He finished 5-of-11 (45.5%) shooting from the floor and 3-of-7 (42.9%) beyond the arc. Of course, in back-to-back wins against Western Michigan and Southeastern Louisiana, Sharavjamts logged a season-high eight assists.

Sharavjamts Tserenjankhar, Mike’s father, was excited to see his son play at the NCAA level and witness the City of Dayton honoring him on Mongolia Day. “This is a big surprise for me,” Tserenjankhar told Dayton Daily News. “I couldn’t imagine what one little boy could do. A freshman basketball player is now like a bridge between two countries.”

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, the State of Ohio, and the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton issued proclamations recognizing Mongolian Day as an official holiday.

Additionally, Mike Sharavjamts was a 4-star recruit during his high school years at Prolific Prep (CA) and International Sports Academy (OH). The standout ranked No. 93 in the nation, No. 22 at small forward, and No. 1 overall in Ohio.

Per 247Sports, Sharavjamts finished No. 115 in the nation, No. 27 at his position, and No. 2 in the state. Before committing to Dayton in December 2021, the recruit was considering offers from Eastern Washington, Providence, and Rutgers.


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