Dennis Smith Jr., who suffered a sprained ankle less than two weeks ago, has been removed from the injury report and cleared to play in the Nets’ regular-season opener against visiting Cleveland on Wednesday night.
The veteran guard returned to practice on a partial basis on Sunday, participated fully on Tuesday and was trending toward being available. The injury report made it official.
“Dennis did participate. I haven’t been given the 100 percent that he’s in. It’s probably leaning toward that direction that he will be available [Wednesday],” coach Jacque Vaughn said before the injury report was released. “Maybe that’s me being extremely hopeful.”
It turns it Vaughn wasn’t being overly ambitious.
Smith had been signed on a veteran minimum deal to add defense and backup point guard play behind Ben Simmons and Spencer Dinwiddie.
He hurt his left ankle in an Oct. 12 preseason victory over Israeli second-division team Maccabi Ra’anana and hadn’t played since.
“When we talk about chip and competitive, he’s filling that bucket completely. He was able to play some preseason with us, and whether that was competing black versus grey, you heard Dennis. You felt Dennis,” Vaughn said. “So he brings a unique competitive about him where it makes the team better. And he’s able to give guys some of that juice that he has just because he does it every single day.”
The Nets have an open two-way spot, with Armoni Brooks and rookie Jalen Wilson the only ones signed.
They couldn’t give it to Darius Bazley — waived last Thursday — because it’s limited to players with up to three years of NBA experience, and he had four.
“Right now, we have an open two-way,” Vaughn said. “I think we have some flexibility, which is good. We’ll see what this team produces. I like where we are.
“I do think Darius Bazley will have a place in this league. I enjoyed coaching him. He’s still a young dude that can still play in this league and I was able to tell him that face-to-face. But I do love the fact that Harry [Giles] and Trendon [Watford] are with us. And I think they will be valuable, not only in the locker room, but you know how I am, they’ll get a chance to play.”
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