Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts says reserve guard Will Barton, a rookie out of Memphis, remains sidelined with a right hamstring injury suffered during the first week of training camp.
"He went the first half [of practice] but it was kind of still bothering him," Stotts said following Monday's training camp.
Asked if Barton would be available for Wednesday night's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, Stotts wouldn't commit either way, but didn't sound particularly optimistic.
"I don't know, we'll see [Tuesday]," Stotts said. "No timeline. He came in [Sunday] and got treatment. Tried to give it a go today. It was still irritating him. I haven't talked to the trainer yet. I don't know. I can't give you anything beyond that. I'm sure he'll get treatment. Whether he'll try to go tomorrow, I can't say."
Stotts was asked how deep he planned to go into his rotation on Wednesday. He may or may not have ruled out Barton in the process of answering the question, you decide.
"We've got 18 guys in camp," he said. "Will's hurt, so that's 17. I doubt all 17 will play [on Wednesday]."
The Blazers have not officially announced Barton's injury and Stotts wasn't even sure on Monday whether he wanted to call it a "strain," although he did confirm it was a right hamstring injury. One thing that was clear: Stotts wasn't going to attribute the injury, which occurred on the second day of workouts, to a lack of preparation by a young guard coming into his first training camp.
"I thought he was in good condition," Stotts said. "Will loves to play. In September, he was on the court, he was running up and down. He was in good shape. He's as frustrated as anybody."
If Barton can't go, the reserve two guard minutes will be filled by a committee of Nicolas Batum, Nolan Smith and Ronnie Price. Elliot Williams is not available after undergoing season-ending Achilles surgery.