[h1]Warriors' Anthony Randolph suffers ankle injury[/h1]
By Marcus Thompson II
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Posted: 01/08/2010 09:50:57 PM PST
Updated: 01/09/2010 12:03:55 AM PST
Randolph sidelined with sprained left ankle
Forward Anthony Randolph suffered a sprained left ankle on the last play of the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night and never returned.
X-rays taken after the game showed a possible fracture, and Randolph is scheduled for a CT scan today.
After injuring his ankle, Randolph was down for a couple of minutes before being helped off the court by teammates Ronny Turiaf and Chris Hunter. Randolph kept his left foot off the floor as he was being assisted to the locker room.
Randolph played the entire first quarter, totaling six points, four rebounds and an assist. The 20-year-old was in the starting lineup for the third consecutive game and was coming off a 15-point, five-rebound, three-block effort Wednesday against Minnesota.
- Forward Corey Maggette was one of two perimeter players in the NBA averaging at least 18 points while shooting 53 percent or better from the field before Friday's game. The other was Phoenix's Steve Nash.
Maggette has been playing at a high level the last month or so. While that's good news for the Warriors on the court, it's even better news for them off the court.
With the trade deadline just over a month away, Maggette is giving general manager Larry Riley what he needs - a reason for a team to take on Maggette and the three years and more than $30 million left on his contract.
A couple of league executives and a Warriors source confirmed that Maggette's value is on the rise, thanks to his recent play. Teams in need of a veteran boost might be more willing to trade for Maggette, who is averaging 20.6 points on 55.1 percent shooting in 31.1 minutes since the start of December.
"He's been doing this all year," Warriors guard Monta Ellis said. "It's no surprise to me."
The Warriors are looking to add a difference-maker, either by the trade deadline or this offseason. This difference-maker will command a big contract, which means the Warriors will have to give up one of their big contracts in order to make any deal work. The team's three biggest contracts belong to Ellis, center Andris Biedrins and Maggette. The Warriors would rather part with Maggette than Biedrins - Ellis is as untouchable as they come now.
The Warriors are in a position to where they almost have to make a move. With Maggette playing the way he is, it helps Riley's chances of swinging a deal by the Feb. 18 deadline. The Warriors also have more than $10 million worth of expiring contracts to use in a trade, and some excess at a couple of positions.
- Marcus Thompson II
