Share Video
Zeller (knee) will be available for Wednesday's season opener against the Bucks, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports.
Just days earlier, it looked like Zeller wouldn't be ready to for the start of the regular season after missing all of preseason play, but with the big man returning to full-contact practice over the past three days, he's apparently made enough progress in his recovering from a bone bruise on his right knee. Barring a setback at Wednesday's morning shootaround, Zeller should be part of coach Steve Clifford's Opening Night rotation, though it's expected that he'll be held to an undisclosed minute restriction. Roy Hibbert will presumably get the start at center, but Zeller should challenge for those duties once he regains conditioning, and profiles as the better long-term fantasy option of the two.
