Pacers coach Rick Carlisle wants TJ Warren (foot) to proceed with caution

After the Pacers’ practice in Denver on Tuesday, coach Rick Carlisle said he was aware of the chatter swirling around TJ Warren and insisted that everyone needs to pump the brakes. Warren has not played this season due to a left foot injury and missed all but four games of last season’s abbreviated 72-game regular-season schedule as he dealt with the same issue.

On Monday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that “there’s optimism” the 6-foot-8 forward could return “in late December or January.” Carlisle would rather keep Warren’s season debut more open-ended.

“I know that there’s some stuff out there that’s talking about a timeline for him to return possibly late December or January,” Carlisle said. “I haven’t been told that that’s an impossibility, but I would caution everybody, and I just don’t like there being an undue pressure, you know, of a timeline on this. This has turned into more of a long-term thing. I just think it’s unfair to an athlete, you know, to be put up against a timeline like this. He’s doing phenomenally well compared to where he was nine or 10 weeks ago.”

Warren, who is in his eighth NBA season and third with Indiana, is averaging 15.5 points per game in his career. He scored a career-high 53 points in a win over the Sixers in August 2020 when the NBA resumed its 2019-20 season in the bubble.

Carlisle, as he mentioned last week, said Warren is out of a walking boot and “doing some light shooting in shoes.” He added that Warren has been upbeat as he continues working his way back.

“(It) would be a real stretch if he were able to play in December,” Carlisle said. “I would love to see it. I would love to see him progress that way, but you know I just really don’t want him to feel any undue pressure there. And that said, we’re extremely optimistic that he will be back.”

More: Unforgettable Cleveland Harp, from Attucks to Globetrotters to Pacers usher, dies at age 87

Malcolm Brogdon’s return

Carlisle also provided an update on guard Malcolm Brogdon, who missed the past two games with a non-COVID-19 illness. Carlisle said Brogdon practiced Tuesday and would return Wednesday at Denver.

“Having Malcolm back is gonna be a plus for us. He’s one of our guys that has a great knack for attacking angles, drawing contact, getting and-1s and getting to the free-throw line,” Carlisle said.

The Pacers have juggled lineups throughout their 4-7 start to the season because of injuries or illness. Jeremy Lamb was sidelined for three games with a sprained left ankle before returning in Sunday’s victory at Sacramento, which was also the team’s first road win of the season. Lamb said Tuesday that his ankle “is feeling good.”

As the Pacers try to shore up their rotation, save for Warren, they’ll take on a Denver squad which could be without reigning league MVP Nikola Jokic on Wednesday. After being fouled hard by Miami Heat forward Markieff Morris on Monday night, Jokic violently shoved Morris in the back and sent him to the floor. Both players were assessed flagrant 2 fouls and were ejected from the game, and Jokic may be suspended.

Carlisle said he would let the league sort out the Jokic situation, and forward Torrey Craig said the team’s preparation hasn’t changed much.

“No matter what, we gonna keep our same principles and defensive schemes, whether he plays or not,” Craig said. “Obviously he’s a great, great player, MVP of the league last year. But no matter what, if he plays or not, we gonna be prepared.”

Homecoming

Wednesday’s contest will be a homecoming for Craig, who began his NBA career with Denver in 2017-18. He spent three seasons with the Nuggets, including two playoff appearances.

“When I first came in (as a rookie), man, I just made up my mind I was gonna play hard every possession. Make everything tough for every guy,” Craig said. “I used to have a competition in practice, guarding Jamal Murray and telling him I will lock him up and things like that. And that helped me along the way to become a better defender.”

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers: Rick Carlisle wants TJ Warren foot injury return open-ended