ORLANDO, Fla. — One game after making his return to the floor, the Nets’ Caris LeVert sat out Monday’s loss. But it was a planned precaution, with the guard expected back Tuesday versus the Thunder.
“He will be available [Tuesday],” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I just think he’s been out for a long time. It’s understanding how to manage a player for the long term. Collectively, we decided it was the best thing, but he will play [against the Thunder].”
LeVert missed 24 straight games due to thumb surgery before returning Saturday. With that the first of three games in four days, he was held out of the middle game. But when he faces OKC, his minutes will not only go up, but he might not be consigned to the bench.
“Yeah, we’ll bump him up a little. It’s like we’ve always done — an incremental minutes and build him up and hopefully after a short period of time he’ll be ready for a full-on,” said Atkinson, who hasn’t ruled out starting LeVert. “Haven’t decided. With a little more minutes, we’ll look at it. Talk to the coaches, see what we can do.”
The Nets added wing Justin Anderson on a 10-day deal. And with their raft of injuries, he could have a chance to stick around.
They could’ve signed him to a 10-day on Sunday, but waited until Monday. That maximized their window to look at Anderson, with six games before his deal ends Jan. 15. They could give him a second 10-day as well.
If the Nets upgrade Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to a standard contract, Anderson could earn a chance to stick on a two-way.
“He’s a guy I always liked when I watched him play, especially in Philly. … Definitely we’ve got to get to know each other. But sure,” Atkinson said. “Will he have an opportunity? Most likely. He’ll have a chance. You hate to bring a guy in for 10 days and not see him. He’s definitely got to go do a quick learn and understand what the heck we’re doing.”
It’s a prospect Anderson — an ex-UVA teammate of Joe Harris — would love.
“Yeah, absolutely. Just hearing so much about the organization, seeing what they’re trying to do, you want to put yourself in a position to be here longer,” Anderson said. “But the nature of the situation is all I have is 10 days, and then there’s a potential second 10-day and then you can sign for the rest of the year. But all that’s out of my control.”
