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The Portland Trail Blazers will go into the 2018-19 season thin at the wing and forward positions.
Adding injury to imbalance, two rotation wing players have seen little-to-no preseason and scrimmage minutes, particularly Maurice Harkless, whose status has prompted more questions than answers.
Evan Turner also sat out practice on Monday to nurse a shoulder injury, with the team unable to confirm whether either player will take on the Suns at the Moda Center tomorrow.
According to Joe Freeman of the Oregonian, Harkless has been unable to provide an update to his condition, which now includes a twisted ankle to go with the lingering knee injury sustained towards the end of the 2017-18 season.
Harkless, who is yet to play in the preseason, declined interview requests on Monday after the ankle injury kept him out of Sunday’s game against Utah.
“Last week, Harkless said he hoped to play in at least two games before the regular season and, quietly, the Blazers were expecting him to see limited minutes in the final three exhibition games.”
In more positive news, Turner told Freeman he felt ready to go, but the team’s health and performance staff had recommended he sit out practice.
He suffered the injury during voluntary workouts in September while trying to get through a screen set by Caleb Swanigan.
“I want to practice, I want to be playing in games, to tell you the truth. I also want to make sure we’re totally, fully ready.”
Portland will play its last preseason game at the Moda Center against the Kings this Friday before the season opener against the Lakers on October 18.