While their return is not quite yet imminent, LaMelo Ball and Malik Monk continue to make progress toward getting back on the court for the stretch run for the Hornets.
Both Ball, who is rehabbing his fractured right wrist, and Monk, who is recovering from a sprained right ankle, took part in on-court workouts on Monday but were unable to participate in live, on-court practice, head coach James Borrego said on Monday afternoon. Despite their different injuries, both are on similar timetables and will progress together this week.
“Both guys, they didn’t go live and have contact today, but they were on the floor,” Borrego said. “They got workouts in, both of them. I think the next step is really getting some live play for both of them. We’re not there yet so we have some time and hopefully the sooner the better for both of them. They’re kind of in the same range right now. Different injuries, obviously, but we’re hoping to get some live play for both of them in the next couple of days. There’s no guarantee of that happening tomorrow or Wednesday but that’s the hope. That’s the next step for both players.”
Ball’s injury occurred on March 20 against the Clippers while Monk’s injury came roughly two weeks later in Brooklyn. In the 13 games without both, the Hornets are 6-7 following back-to-back wins over Cleveland and Boston over the weekend.
Though Monday afforded Charlotte a rare opportunity to practice, the Hornets dive right back in with a doubleheader against the Bucks and Celtics on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. While the Hornets will admittedly have to get creative to get live action for Monk and Ball, another two-day break on Thursday and Friday could be particularly helpful.
“We can do some scenarios, 2-on-2, 3-on-3,” Borrego said. “We have some bodies that we’ll work out against. Like today, the group that didn’t play yesterday – Vernon (Carey), Nick (Richards), Caleb (Martin), Grant (Riller) – that group played with some of our video guys out there on the floor. So, we’re able to put a group out there that can play some live either before a game, at practice time or shootaround. We’re going to get creative to find time to do that.
“I think what’ll be important is the transition from Wednesday’s game to Saturday’s game. We have a couple days there to kind of figure out where we’re at, so that’ll be important for us. I don’t know what those two days will look like but I think that’s a positive break in our schedule to see what these two young men look like and what they can look like this weekend.”
After Thursday and Friday’s off days, the Hornets have another back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday, which currently seems like the most likely tentative target dates for the return of both Ball and Monk.