Injury News: Ja'Kobe Walter OUT Indefinitely w/ Shoulder Injury

[WuTang_CMB]

That included first-round pick Ja'Kobe Walter, who provided more information on the sprained AC joint he suffered in his shoulder recently.

“I get out of the sling (Tuesday), and then I'll start my rehab, work on my movement stuff. So I should be back pretty soon,” he said. “Probably won't be doing anything on-court for this next week-and-a-half, for sure. But still, I'll be doing my strength and mobility work during that time. I should probably be back in, like, three weeks.”

Walter also told us how he injured the shoulder: On a Super Saiyan close-out from Scottie Barnes. As Walter told it, Barnes aggressively closed out in the air, and when Walter pump-faked, Barnes’s knee collided with Walter’s shoulder, causing the sprain.

At least the guys are working hard on defence even before camp begins.

To his credit, Walter’s taking a very positive and proactive attitude about the time he'll miss and how it may (and may not) put him behind the others.

“Of course, I can't forget it that I'm missing training camp,” Walter said. “I can look at it a different way. I can work on my left hand. I can watch a lot more film. I can still learn in a lot of different ways, and get better, that they're not doing while they're training, I can still be doing something else that they're not doing. So, I'll still try to find the light in it. So I still have the same mentality. Just come back and do what I was doing before.”

The reality is that Walter probably slides at least a little bit down the pecking order in the early guard rotation due to the missed time. Bruce Brown being sidelined at the same time will make those reserve guard minutes particularly fluid in the early weeks of the season. Those absences open up early opportunity for Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, D.J. Carton, and some of the wing-forward types to potentially carve out a backup role in the backcourt, and it makes the path to a starting spot less cluttered for a Gradey Dick or Ochai Agbaji, depending on which side of the ball the team prioritizes in that group.

[Scase]

That included first-round pick Ja'Kobe Walter, who provided more information on the sprained AC joint he suffered in his shoulder recently.

“I get out of the sling (Tuesday), and then I'll start my rehab, work on my movement stuff. So I should be back pretty soon,” he said. “Probably won't be doing anything on-court for this next week-and-a-half, for sure. But still, I'll be doing my strength and mobility work during that time. I should probably be back in, like, three weeks.”

Walter also told us how he injured the shoulder: On a Super Saiyan close-out from Scottie Barnes. As Walter told it, Barnes aggressively closed out in the air, and when Walter pump-faked, Barnes’s knee collided with Walter’s shoulder, causing the sprain.

At least the guys are working hard on defence even before camp begins.

To his credit, Walter’s taking a very positive and proactive attitude about the time he'll miss and how it may (and may not) put him behind the others.

“Of course, I can't forget it that I'm missing training camp,” Walter said. “I can look at it a different way. I can work on my left hand. I can watch a lot more film. I can still learn in a lot of different ways, and get better, that they're not doing while they're training, I can still be doing something else that they're not doing. So, I'll still try to find the light in it. So I still have the same mentality. Just come back and do what I was doing before.”

The reality is that Walter probably slides at least a little bit down the pecking order in the early guard rotation due to the missed time. Bruce Brown being sidelined at the same time will make those reserve guard minutes particularly fluid in the early weeks of the season. Those absences open up early opportunity for Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, D.J. Carton, and some of the wing-forward types to potentially carve out a backup role in the backcourt, and it makes the path to a starting spot less cluttered for a Gradey Dick or Ochai Agbaji, depending on which side of the ball the team prioritizes in that group.

Lol Scottie jumping out of the gd gym killing the rookie. Glad to hear it's nothing serious.

[DreamTeam09]

Kinda amped for him, he’s a movement shooter with a little pep in his step & seemingly the right attitude

[PhilBlackson]

Thank God it's not nerve damage or anything like that *phew*

I was worried that this could have the horrible downside of Fultz but just banging it into someone's knee for a sprain really should end up being anything serious. I was especially worried because JaKobe strikes me as a bit of a streaky shooter. Again I'm expecting him to end up a KCP type of player buuuut hope that they are doing their best to develop him in the mold of Booker (which I don't ever think he'll be to be clear). I just think given JaKobe's physical attributes and skills, Booker is the guy that he should look to pattern his game after. Even if he very likely never reaches that level. If he can add some of the stuff he does then he can of course become a really good player in the league.

I like the kid, have no real issue with picking him as most of the players I thought we're gonna be there were actually drafted already. At the time of the draft I did favour Holmes to add another big to stretch the floor (but obv can't complain since he unfortunately had that huge injury) or Collier as a back up/change of style PG. BUT Walter was arguably the highest rated prospect remaining at our pick so there's no complaints and I do believe he's gonna end up a player that everyone likes and really good rotation piece that may even push Gradey in the future for his spot. Although I do favor Gradey because I think he just seems like he's better at reading/reacting offensively and knows where to be for Scottie & IQ to find.

[DKB333]

If he is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 2.0 the Raptors would be getting a steal.