Malachi Richardson misses second straight game with ankle sprain
By Tyler Watts
Malachi Richardson missed the Jan. 30 game against the Pelicans with an ankle sprain. We examine what the injury means for his future.
Malachi Richardson sprained his left ankle, and it has caused him to miss two straight Sacramento Kings games. He was unable to play on Sunday against the Spurs and Tuesday in New Orleans. The details surrounding the injury including when it occurred, and the severity are still unknown. It would just be speculation mentioning when he returns, but the sprain could have a significant impact on his basketball future.
Staying in Sacramento
The NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT. A week from Thursday all deals have to be complete, and the Kings reportedly are considering trading Richardson. Why they would sell the 22-year-old is a bit of mystery, but this injury could kill those ideas completely. It would difficult for Sacramento to get any value back for an unproven second-year player. Add in the ankle injury and the Kings better plan on giving Richardson away if they must make a move. I suspect this injury plays a small role in keeping him in Sacramento. Hopefully, that turns into the correct decision as Richardson develops into a role player for the Kings shortly.
Final thoughts
Malachi Richardson missed his second consecutive game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 30. Consider him questionable for Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors and stay tuned for updates as they become available.
It will be interesting to see if Richardson gets more run when he returns to the lineup. His playing time has been sporadic this season, but with the shifting to youth, Sacramento would be wise to unleash Richardson. I still believe he can be a solid 3-and-D wing with the proper development.
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