Juan Pablo Vaulet hurts achilles in Argentine playoff game, is listed day-to-day

Juan Pablo Vaulet, the Argentine swingman drafted by the Nets in the second round of last year's draft, had to pull himself from a league playoff game Friday night after suffering what was described as "severe pain" near his left ankle.  One report suggested the injury was to his achilles, another suggested it was his ankle.

On Saturday, the Argentine media was reporting it only an inflammation his achilles tendon, about as good an outcome as could be expected. He is day-to-day and may even play Sunday. Vaulet is a possibility for the Argentine Olympic team. Preliminary roster for the national team will be announced in two weeks.

The 6'7" 20-year-old was playing for Bahia Blanca against Sinesis in an LNB playoff game when he went to the bench after 38 seconds of play in the first quarter..

JPV, as he's known in Argentina, has had severe ankle issues over the past three years, suffering fractures to both ankles.  He's had surgery on both and missed the first 19 games of this season after the Nets foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Martin O'Malley, performed surgery on his right ankle in New York last August.

Vaulet has spent much of this season rehabbing from that surgery, with minutes restrictions and a rehab regimen designed by the Nets training staff.  He's averaged 9.8 points this season to go long with 4.5 rebounds.  The Nets traded two second round picks in 2018 and 2019.along with $880,000 in cash to Charlotte for his rights.  He suffered a stress fracture to his right ankle days after the draft while playing the FIBA U19 championships in Greece.

Among the players taken after Vaulet in the 2015 draft were rotation players, Josh Richardson by the Heat, at No. 40, and Norman Powell by the Raptors at No. 46.