Kram Session: The Suns Finally Rise, a Fake Knicks Trade, and an All-Star Fix
The Phoenix Suns are on a seven-game winning streak and have a 26-18 record, tied for fifth in the West.
The Suns' surge is attributed to the return of their three stars, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, who have given the team the highest offensive ceiling in the NBA. [ more ]
Durant reflects on his time with the Brooklyn Nets and acknowledges that the trio of Durant, Irving, and Harden didn't have enough time together.
Durant emphasizes that he enjoyed playing for Brooklyn and representing the community, regardless of the challenges and changes that occurred during his tenure. [ more ]
Should the Heat give up Tyler Herro in a Bradley Beal trade?
Tyler Herro is younger and cheaper than Bradley Beal, but should the Miami Heat trade him to make the most of Jimmy Butler's window anyway?Another summer, another round of trade rumors involving Bradley Beal and Tyler Herro.Both guards have been the subject of trade chatter for the last several years but, this time, it appears a move is likely to happen.
A brief history of Bob Myers' biggest moves as Warriors GM
SAN FRANCISCO Bob Myers is using the final month of his contract to decide if he wants to return to Golden State as head of basketball operations or leave.It looks like Myers has a foot out of the door, according to The Athletic.The report indicates that Myers and Warriors ownership are far apart on contract extension talks and that Myers may not seek a similar position elsewhere in the league.
LeBron James appears to fire back at Mike Malone, Nuggets in Instagram post
During the course of celebrating their first NBA championship in franchise history, the Denver Nuggets have made a habit of bringing up LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, who they swept in the Western Conference Finals en route to the title.Ahead of their championship parade on Thursday, head coach Mike Malone went on ESPN and cracked jokes about retiring, a not-so-subtle shot at James' post-loss retirement comments.
3 stats that explain why Miami Heat are on brink of elimination in NBA Finals
The Miami Heat's magical run could soon come to an end.After Friday's Game 4 loss in Miami, the Heat face a 3-1 deficit to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.The odds for a comeback are slim as the series heads to Denver for Monday night's Game 5, as the Heat would have to win each of the next three games to win the organization's first championship in a decade.
2023 NBA Draft according to YODA: First round centers
In this part of the 2023 NBA Draft according to YODA (short for Ye Olde Draft Analyzer), I'm looking at the centers.Previously, I wrote about first round guards, wings and forwards.To reiterate (for those not interested in clicking into one of the other articles), I think there are four meaningful NBA positions:
Guards - traditional point guards and shooting guards who don't have the size to play traditional small forward (think Bradley Beal, Monte Morris, Jordan Goodwin) Wings - traditional SGs and SFs who don't have the skills/aptitude of a PG but aren't big enough to tussle with the big boys (think Corey Kispert, Will Barton) Forwards - traditional PFs or SFs but aren't full-time centers (think Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura) Centers - the big guys who patrol the paint and protect the rim but generally not quick enough to defend the perimeter or keep up with wings and guards (think Daniel Gafford, Kristaps Porzingis)
For the uninitiated, YODA is my stat-driven prospect evaluation system that uses only publicly available information.
Damian Lillard's comments are more proof the Bulls need to blow it up
Over the past 20 years, the Eastern Conference has been substantially weaker than its Western Conference counterpart.Whether this was a result of teams ducking LeBron James, or just plain coincidence, it's hard to say.One thing's for sure though, the East made a comeback in a big way this season, and the Chicago Bulls were just one of many victims who suffered from an increase in the quality of competition.
Long before we had the current iteration of the Knicks, one with draft picks and young assets, New York often preferred to take the approach of star hunting, even when they were well past their prime or were plagued with injuries, in hopes that it would lead to instant success.That strategy lead to multiple head-scratching contracts, losing picks, and ignoring the development of what young players they did have, and as it so often has for other franchises, it failed the Knicks and set them back multiple years.
Former Knicks head coach David Fizdale takes Suns assistant job; Jeff Van Gundy might coach in Dallas???
While Tom Thibodeau's name continues to be a hot topic among Knicks fans for a myriad of reasons, it was two former Knicks coaches that found themselves being in the news this week.First off, it was David Fizdale, who was recently hired by the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach.Fizdale coached what was a pretty subpar roster during his time as a Knicks coach and went 21-83 in 104 games between 2018 and 2019.
Raptors: Chris Paul news make Fred VanVleet to Suns more likely
Even though NBA free agency is under a month away, it doesn't stop the rumor mill from churning.News broke that the Phoenix Suns and Chris Paul are discussing Paul's future with the franchise.The discussions include a trade, a stretch and waive, or waive.You might be wondering what does this have to do with the Toronto Raptors?
Darko Rajakovic hired as Toronto Raptors' new head coach | CBC Sports
Changing the Toronto Raptors' culture will be an everyday project, with every player and member of the organization having to buy in.New head coach Darko Rajakovic knows that level of commitment has to start with him.Rajakovic was officially named the 10th head coach in the Raptors' history on Tuesday, ending days of speculation that the former Memphis Grizzlies assistant coach was coming to Toronto.
Pros and Cons of Raptors making a run at signing Chris Paul
The Toronto Raptors, like the rest of the NBA, had to be stunned when they saw the latest transaction hit the waiver wire.Chris Paul, who was projected to be a member of the Phoenix Suns' push for yet another championship run, could be looking for work.According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Suns will either try to find some sort of trade for Paul or waive him as they try to start from scratch around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
The following is part of Raptors Republic's series of pieces reviewing the season for the Toronto Raptors.You can find all the pieces in the series here.Toronto's most accomplished player and go-to guy, Pascal Siakam.Although it wasn't the greatest season for the Raptors as a team, it was yet another successful year individually for Spicy P as he set multiple highs and was given his second berth as an All-Star.
Nick Nurse hired as Head Coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
This offseason marks the end of many eras for the Toronto Raptors, one in particular being the Head Coaching tenure of Nick Nurse.After five seasons, a championship, a tenure in Tampa Bay, a couple of Canadian TV spots, and countless jam sessions, Nick Nurse was let go by the Toronto Raptors after the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.
Top Raptors head coach candidate might take a season off
One of the few coaching candidates that just about all corners of the Toronto Raptors' fanbase have been very excited about is former Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams.All Williams has done in the last three seasons in Phoenix is get them into the second round of the postseason while making a Finals run in 2020-21 Williams, who was let go by Phoenix after losing to the mighty Nuggets in the playoffs, has been targeted by the Raptors as well as fellow Eastern Conference movers and shakers like the Bucks.
Isiah Thomas' Advice to Jaylen Brown on Celtics Contract Extension: 'Take the Money'
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images If Jaylen Brown is soliciting advice on what to do about his future, Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is here to offer a take.Speaking to Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com,Thomas said the Boston Celtics forward should "take the money."Bulpett did note Thomas, who has been a mentor to Brown throughout his career, made the comment with a laugh.
Is there a 'Taylor Swift curse' in the NBA playoffs?
Joe DeMartino, ESPN EditorJun 4, 2023, 09:20 AM ET
Close General Editor Joined ESPN in 2006 Massachusetts native, Northwestern graduate
Taylor Swift is at the height of her powers -- and when you're a music demigoddess, sometimes mere mortals find it difficult to function in your presence.
Bruce Brown Praises James Harden, Calls Him 'One of the Best Teammates I've Ever Had'
Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images The Brooklyn Nets' short-lived experiment with James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving didn't end well, with all three eventually parting ways and getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.But Bruce Brown said Harden was an excellent teammate, on and off the floor.
The Wizards' hiring of Michael Winger is a sign of good things to come
After a month-long wait and speculation regarding the new front office structure, the Washington Wizards finally have their guy.As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, former Los Angeles Clippers General Manager Michael Winger has agreed to become the president of Monumental Basketball, giving him full leadership of the Washington Wizards.
The case for the Raptors hiring Steve Nash as head coach
The Toronto Raptors might be on the verge of doing something unthinkable, as the latest reports from all over the basketball world confirmed that Steve Nash interviewed with the team for their head coaching vacancy.By all accounts, Nash ended up impressing the team in an interview.Replacing Nick Nurse with Nash would be a serious system shock for this fanbase, especially after he is coming off one of the most disappointing tenures in recent league history as coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
Mikal Bridges Rumors: 'Nets Aren't Interested' in Blazers Trade After Draft Lottery
Sarah Stier/Getty Images The Portland Trail Blazers may want to get help for Damian Lillard this offseason, but it doesn't seem like a Mikal Bridges trade is going to be an option for them.Per The Athletic's Alex Schiffer, the Nets "aren't interested" in dealing Bridges to Portland even after the results of the 2023 NBA draft lottery.
Kevin Durant's relationship with the Nets has been complicated since the start, with his decision to join the team before free agency officially opened and without meeting with team officials.
Durant's time in Brooklyn has been filled with strange circumstances, including a near-empty debut during the pandemic, injuries to key players, and off-court controversies. [ more ]
Suns shocking decision to waive Chris Paul could save the Bulls
I can't say I expected to be writing this tonight, but as of a few short minutes ago, the Phoenix Suns have officially decided to waive Chris Paul and allow the guard to hit unrestricted free agency this summer.While our minds may still be processing this information, I think now is the time for the Chicago Bulls to put their foot on the pedal and progress with a plan to secure their starting point guard for the 2023-24 campaign.
Disastrous decision to give Beal a no-trade clause is hurting the Wizards
Last July, the Washington Wizards signed Bradley Beal to a whopping five-year, $251 million contract extension.More shocking than the salary was the no-trade clause included in the deal.This made Beal the only player in the league to have veto powers on any trade involving him.How disastrous this decision was is even clearer today as the Wizards are actively trying to shop Beal.
Can the Wizards capitalize on Phoenix Suns' interest in Monte Morris?
The Phoenix Suns' reported decision to move on from their All-Star point guard Chris Paul sent shock waves around the NBA.It is still unclear whether the Point God will be waived or traded -a decision that needs to be made before Paul's guarantee date of June 28- but the news already created ample trade speculations.
The Washington Wizards should consider adding Danilo Gallinari
With the Boston Celtics' season now over, a few more players are about to hit the NBA free-agent market.One of them could be power forward Danilo Gallinari.The Italian sharpshooter has a player option for $6.8 million for next season.Even though it is unlikely that he would decline that option considering he has missed the entire season with a torn ACL, Gallinari is still worth chasing via trade or free agency if he decides to opt out for a variety of reasons.
Michael Winger loves to build. He'll get his chance with the Wizards.
As Clippers general manager, Michael Winger, left, worked alongside Jerry West and others to oversee six consecutive winning seasons.(Scott Varley/MediaNews Group/Daily Breeze/Getty Images) (MediaNews Group/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images/MediaNews Group via Getty Images)LOS ANGELES - Whenever a Lego set shows up at his Manhattan Beach home, Michael Winger gets as excited as his 5-year-old daughter.
While the Miami Heat ultimately came up short in their heroic bid to land the franchise's fourth NBA title against the Denver Nuggets, they can still confidently look back at this season as a relative success all things considered.That being said, extending their championship window will require a lot of front office gymnastics to improve the roster.
What the Miami Heat can learn from the Denver Nuggets
Seven years ago, the Boston Celtics were said to be canvasing the league for trades using their third overall pick.Rumor has it that they approached the Denver Nuggets about a young Nikola Jokic, a second-round pick the year prior who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds as a rookie.The Nuggets allegedly said no, believing that Jokic could be an important part of a competitive core.
NBA Finals 2023 schedule: Heat vs Nuggets dates, times and how to watch
The Miami Heat were teetering on making the wrong kind of history but, in the end, they completed their unlikely run to the NBA Finals, where they'll play the No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets.On Monday, the Heat blew out the Celtics, 103-84, in Game 7 to become the first No. 8 seed in a full-length season to reach the NBA Finals (the 1999 Knicks made it in a lockout-shortened season).
Lalo Raises $10.1M for its Baby and Toddler Brand That Offers Thoughtfully-Designed and Safe Products
With the closing of Babies "R" Us and uncertainty looming for Buy Buy Baby with the bankruptcy of parent company Bed Bath and Beyond, there is a tremendous void for parents looking for trusted products for their little ones.Lalo is a modern, direct-to-consumer brand for baby and toddler products, offering a comprehensive line that's safe, aesthetically pleasing, and enduring products.
This offseason might be one of the most important in Raptors franchise history.Or it might just be yet another crossroad they seem to find themselves in every two or three years.Back in 2018, the team was coming off an Eastern Conference best 59 wins, but were swept in the second round by LeBron and his Cavs for the second year in a row.
The Toronto Raptors are in one of the worst places an NBA franchise can be: purgatory.At the moment, they lack any type of direction.The Raptors find themselves in a similar situation to other teams of being not good enough to win a championship, but not bad enough to be a top lottery team.However, unlike other top lottery teams teams like Orlando, Charlotte, and Detroit who are actively trying to rebuild through the draft, or teams that try to make trades to immediately contend, It seems as if they are unsure if they want to go down any of these paths.
Player Review: O.G. Anunoby finally receives the All-Defence recognition he deserves
O.G. Anunoby spent the 2022/23 NBA season at the front of everyone's minds.Whether you were the player he was defending, desperate to pass him or his teammates relying on his steady presence, or every GM in the league calling Masai Ujiri to see if he was available - Anunoby is finally the name everyone is bringing up.
Steve Nash surprisingly emerges as coaching candidate for Raptors
An offseason full of changes could be on the horizon for the Toronto Raptors.Their first step heading into the summer, however, revolves around finding a new head coach.After Nick Nurse was relieved of his duties a little more than a month ago, there have been many names linked to the Raptors' head-coaching job.
The global megachurch Hillsong was known for its hipster trappings, celebrity congregants and wildly popular worship music in the 2010s, but in recent years it has been more closely tied to a series of scandals, including the firing of its charismatic celebrity pastor, Carl Lentz, for moral failures.
Draymond Green Next Team Odds: Kings Are The Favorites
The Golden State Warriors have enjoyed one of the most successful runs in recent NBA memory, and forward Draymond Green has been a big contributor.But as the players age and the contracts balloon, we may have seen the last of him playing alongside Steph Curry and company.Kings The Next Team For Draymond Green?