Four more San Antonio Spurs players entered health and safety protocols Thursday, with Keldon Johnson, Derrick White, Devin Vassell, and Thaddeus Young going into protocols per the team injury report.
Lonnie Walker IV has exited protocols and is listed as questionable to play Friday in Philadelphia. Doug McDermott remains in protocols.
The Spurs currently have six players out with five in health and safety protocols and Zach Collins out due to injury. With more players going into protocols, the Spurs have used the NBA’s 10-day hardship exception to find some help for the team.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday the Spurs will be signing veteran guard Tyler Johnson and forward Anthony Lamb to 10-day contracts.
According to the NBA’s modified roster rules from mid-December to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak on rosters, each team is allowed to sign one replacement player for each player in health and safety protocols.
The Spurs initially signed Jaylen Morris to a 10-day contract on Saturday when four players were out in health and safety protocols.
Johnson was most recently on the Philadelphia 76ers on a 10-day contract back on December 22, 2021.
Johnson is in his eighth season in the league where he’s spent time in Miami, Phoenix, Brooklyn, and most recently Philadelphia.
He’s averaged 9.9 points per game for his career and shot 36% from three for his career. In his three games with Philadelphia this season, he logged 12.7 minutes per game and scored 3.7 points per game and shot 43% from three.
Lamb, a 6’6″ small forward, has spent one season in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. He was waived in October from the Rockets’ training camp.
In 24 games last season, Lamb averaged 5.5 points and shot 32% from three on three attempts from three per game.
The Spurs will have 10 players available for Friday in Philadelphia, and that number could go up to 14 if Walker IV and Devontae Cacok are available, and if Tyler Johnson and Lamb are signed and ready to play.
After ending a four game losing streak Wednesday in Boston, the Spurs are dealing with more players entering health and safety protocols.
So far this season 10 of the Spurs’ players on the 17-player roster from the beginning of the season have entered health and safety protocols at one point in the season.
