Lions

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is entering Year 21 in the NBA, becoming just the sixth player in league history to play 21 seasons &ndash; joining Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Willis and Robert Parish. Carter currently holds the record for most seasons played with 22. 
With James still performing at an unprecedented level for someone his age, coupled with recent reports of his desire to still play several more years and his public goal of playing with his McDonald's All-American son, Bronny James, he certainly seems like a lock to tie, if not break, Carter&rsquo;s record.&nbsp;
James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar&rsquo;s all-time scoring record earlier this year in February, adding a major accolade to his G.O.A.T. argument. With the seasons-played record in sight, let&rsquo;s take a look at how &ldquo;The King&rdquo; has accumulated arguably the greatest legacy in NBA history over the last two decades.
The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted the kid from Akron with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. James was the talk of the country at the time, being dubbed "The Chosen One&rdquo; and dawning the cover of Sports Illustrated at just 18 years old. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, basketball fans waited in anticipation to see if James could possibly live up to the expectations.
The young phenom did not waste any time. Debuting against the Sacramento Kings, James would go on to score 25 points while adding 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. The King would not slow down, averaging 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds in his first NBA season.
LeBron would spend the next six seasons in Cleveland, winning back-to-back MVP awards in his last two seasons with the team, while reaching the playoffs five times and the NBA Finals once in 2007. With no championship after seven seasons with the Cavs, the two-time MVP became a free agent in the summer of 2010 and infamously decided to &ldquo;take his talents to South Beach,&rdquo; joining forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form the &ldquo;Big Three&rdquo; on the Miami Heat.&nbsp;
The decision by James, which happened to be made on live television on an ESPN special dubbed &ldquo;The Decision," sparked outrage amongst Cavaliers fans. Videos spread online of fans burning the once-hometown-hero&rsquo;s jersey, rooting for his failure in Miami. While James was used to feeling pressure, this was different; James was receiving backlash from a fanbase that once loved him, and a growing population of people were actively rooting against him. This brewing tension had fans waiting in anticipation, this time to see if LeBron could overcome the weight of the world once again.&nbsp;
In LeBron&rsquo;s quest to do the impossible again, a trip to Cleveland brought The King back to the scene of his crime in a game against the Cavaliers in December of 2010. The fans in then-named Quicken Loans Arena brought their all that night, booing LeBron from the moment he was introduced and whenever he touched the ball on offense. However, this just seemed to add more fuel to the fire for James, as he went on to score 38 points en route to a 118-90 blowout of his former team.&nbsp;
This marked a new era for James, and he would embrace his role as the &ldquo;villain&rdquo; of the NBA. Fan perception was one thing, but with James&rsquo; new team came a new energy. Now, he was a proven veteran and he was coming into his own as a player, adapting this almost meticulous style and pace of play alongside his new All-Star-caliber teammates in Wade and Bosh. James would go on to win back-to-back MVP awards again in 2012 and 2013, and the trio would prove to be a problem for the league, with the Heat even going on a 27-game win streak in 2013. During his time in Miami, James would evolve as a player, bulking up and playing more minutes down low at power forward and even center.
The bonafide &ldquo;super-team&rdquo; would spend four seasons together, reaching the NBA Finals in all four. Winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, with LeBron winning Finals MVP of both, the stars' decision to team-up was a success and ushered in a new era of player movement and empowerment.
The kid from Akron would then shock the world in the summer of 2014, with James departing the Heat and returning home to rejoin the Cavaliers. The two-time champion had some unfinished business and was determined to bring a championship to his city.&nbsp;
LeBron brought his adapted and seasoned style to his former team. His impact extended into the front office, as he now had significantly more say in roster decisions. He wasted little time and used his newfound influence to encourage the Cavs to trade their No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins, for a proven star: Kevin Love. Suddenly, James was part of another Big Three, this time with rising star Kyrie Irving and Love.
In Year 1 of LeBron&rsquo;s return home, he led the Cavs back to the NBA Finals, where they faced off against the Golden State Warriors, led by league MVP Stephen Curry. While LeBron led Cleveland to a 2-1 series lead over Golden State, Irving and Love both went down with injuries. This proved to be too much for LeBron to handle, and the Warriors would defeat the Cavaliers in six games. James failed in his mission, but the wait would prove to be worthwhile the following season.
The 2016 season would see a rematch of the Cavaliers and Warriors in the NBA Finals. Curry was coming off of his second-straight MVP award &ndash; becoming the first unanimous MVP in history &ndash; and the Warriors achieved an NBA-record 73 wins that season. The odds were stacked against LeBron and the Cavs, and it only got worse when the Warriors took a 3-1 series lead. Teams in the NBA Finals were 0-32 when facing a 3-1 series deficit. Once again, LeBron was trying to do the impossible.&nbsp;
Once again, The King responded.&nbsp;
Dropping 41 points in both Game 5 and Game 6, James led the way in tying the series at 3-3. In Game 7, the Cavaliers would go on the road and defeat the Warriors, becoming the first team in NBA history to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy after falling behind 3-1. This was a storybook ending, and James became emotional during his postgame interview, shouting, &ldquo;Cleveland! This is for you!&rdquo;&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
"CLEVELAND, THIS IS FOR YOU!" That line still sends chills down our spine as LeBron James and the Cavs overcame a 3-1 deficit to claim their first ever NBA championship on this day in 2016 👑🏆<a href="https://t.co/WzMtg5kj5Z">pic.twitter.com/WzMtg5kj5Z</a>
&mdash; ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1670774843518664705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

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The three-time champion would spend two more seasons in Cleveland, reaching the NBA Finals both seasons, where the Cavs would ultimately lose to the Kevin-Durant-led Warriors. When James decided to leave Cleveland in 2018, his second departure was well-received, with fans thanking him for bringing a championship to their city. The next chapter of James' career would take place in Los Angeles with arguably the most storied franchise in the NBA, the Lakers.
James&rsquo; first year under the bright lights of Los Angeles was less than ideal, as injuries plagued the roster and the Lakers' young core didn't seem ready to compete at a high level. That would quickly be forgotten, as the Lakers would trade three of those core players (Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart) and the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for superstar Anthony Davis, whom LeBron asked the organization to acquire.&nbsp;
That trade would kick off the LeBron-AD era in Los Angeles. The duo would win a championship in their first year together in 2020, with James adding a fourth championship and Finals MVP to his resume. The team has had some misfortune since, as they haven't been back to the Finals and they even missed the play-in tournament in 2022. While injuries have bothered LeBron in recent years, the four-time MVP has yet to slow down, leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals last season. While the Lakers were ultimately swept by the eventual-champion Denver Nuggets, their postseason run was impressive.
Now, we arrive at the present day. As James enters his 21st NBA season, he has 19 All-NBA selections, 19 All-Star selections, 10 NBA Finals appearances, four championships, four Finals MVPs and four regular-season MVPs. After surpassing expectation after expectation throughout his career, LeBron will be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer when he walks away from the game. However, he's not done playing just yet, as he hopes to play with his son and win at least one more championship before he retires.
LeBron&rsquo;s current contract has a player option for next season, so this could potentially be his final year with the Lakers (if he decides to opt out next summer). With LeBron still performing at a superstar level and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/which-nba-teams-are-under-the-most-pressure-entering-202324-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facing pressure to lead his team to a title</a>, all eyes will be on The King yet again this season.

As LeBron James becomes just the sixth player in NBA history to play 21 seasons, Jack Maguire looks back on his legendary career.

Revisiting LeBron James' legendary NBA career as he enters Year 21

MEXICO CITY (AP) &mdash; A reggaeton song by Puerto Rican artist Daddy Yankee is blasting through the Arena Ciudad de M&eacute;xico with the lights out while fans wave their cell phones and dance to the rhythm of the music.
Then comes a drumbeat followed by a loud &ldquo;Ca-pi-ta-nes, Ca-pi-ta-nes&rdquo; chant.
Welcome to NBA G League action in Mexico City. And if fans get their wish, the atmosphere at Capitanes&rsquo; games will become the staple for home games of an actual NBA team in the city. It&rsquo;s a longshot but that hasn&rsquo;t dampened the optimism.
When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver visited Mexico in December, he said the Capitanes would give the league a great opportunity to see if Mexico could be considered for a franchise in the future.
So far, it appears the organization is on the right path.
Though the Capitanes lost a three-way tiebreaker and missed the G League playoffs &mdash; the finals begin Tuesday &mdash; they provided some answers to off-court concerns in their first season in Mexico City.
Following their inaugural G League season in Fort Worth, Texas, due to the pandemic, the Capitanes settled into the state-of-the-art Arena Ciudad de Mexico &mdash; a glass-clad facility located in the north part of the city that cost $300 million to build and opened in 2012.
Attendance was a concern, but team president Rodrigo Serratos said the Capitanes top the G League in selling individual tickets and rank fifth in total attendance despite their home arena not being located near downtown Mexico City.
&ldquo;We have a big arena, so we are working with a small set-up, but we have been averaging around 65% of its capacity,&rdquo; Serratos told The Associated Press. &ldquo;So far, it&acute;s been pure magic.&rdquo;
There also are safety concerns about having a permanent team in Mexico City. As recently as Monday, four people were killed in what is believed to have been drug gang-related violence. The killings came less than a week after a U.S. tourist was shot in the leg in the nearby town of Puerto Morelos.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert last month warning travelers to &ldquo;exercise increased caution,&rdquo; especially after dark, at Mexico&rsquo;s Caribbean beach resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum, which have been plagued by drug gang violence in the past.
Alfonzo McKinnie, who played for four NBA teams before coming to the Capitanes, had said before the season ended that he feels comfortable in the city.
&ldquo;Everybody I know from players to family and friends asked me about safety, but we live in Polanco one of the nicest parts of Mexico City and I tell them we are as safe as one can be,&rdquo; McKinnie said.
Several players live in Polanco, one the wealthiest neighborhoods in Mexico City with some of the best restaurants, luxury hotels and expensive condos. The area is also one of the safest in the capital, with a strong police presence day and night. It is where NFL, MLB and NBA teams stay whenever they visit Mexico to play regular season games.
Serratos said McKinnie, along with Kenneth Faried and Gary Clark, are enjoying their experience with the Capitanes while hoping for another NBA opportunity.
&ldquo;All the American players said that they did not expect to find a country like this. The feedback that we are getting from them is that they are very happy and want to keep playing here,&rdquo; said Rodrigo Serratos, the team president. &ldquo;The city offers a lot of things; we are a rich country in experiences for foreigners.&rdquo;
Since 1992, when the Houston Rockets played the Dallas Mavericks, Mexico has hosted 30 NBA games out the 117 that the NBA has played outside of the U.S. and Canada in its history.
Silver has said having a G League team in Mexico City gives the league an opportunity to better understand the challenges that come with dealing with the local culture, a different language and all the other circumstances around possibly having an NBA franchise in the city one day.
Soccer is still king among sports in the country, but there are more basketball courts than soccer fields in Mexico and the fans have shown in the past how loyal they are. Before the Capitanes, the Mexico City Aztecs played in the defunct Continental Basketball Association in 1994 and averaged 9,000 fans a game.
&ldquo;You can call it love, passion or solidarity &mdash; any of those adjectives describe what the basketball culture in this country is, and that is what the NBA has found here,&rdquo; said Raul Zarraga, the director of the NBA office in Mexico.
Besides the reggaeton music that booms during game breaks, there is a fan who brings a drum to cheer for the Capitanes. &ldquo;The Mexicans are very passionate with sports; they are very involved and noisy,&rdquo; Serratos said, adding that the team had to get a special permit from the NBA for the fan&rsquo;s drum. &ldquo;It is a different atmosphere here than in any other G League venue.&rdquo;
Despite the early success of the Capitanes, fans should not expect to see an NBA expansion team in Mexico City anytime soon. The last time the league expanded was in 2004 with a franchise in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before that, the league expanded in 1995 with two teams in Canada.
Other cities, including Las Vegas and Seattle, also could be ahead of Mexico City when and if the NBA considers an expansion in the future.
Until then, fans can continue to party with the Capitanes.

if fans get their wish, the atmosphere at Capitanes’ games will become the staple for home games of an actual NBA team.

NBA in Mexico: G League Capitanes hope they're laying foundation

It&rsquo;s reasonable to think Chet Holmgren will be an NBA All-Star one day. He was a highly recruited high school player whose one year at Gonzaga was stellar enough for Oklahoma City to make him the No. 2 pick in last year&rsquo;s draft. He&rsquo;s an obvious talent, an enormous talent.
And it&rsquo;s terrible that Holmgren got hurt last summer and will miss the entirety of this season.
But evidently, his rehab has been going extremely well &mdash; since four NBA players say he should start next month&rsquo;s All-Star Game.
That&rsquo;s right. When NBA players were asked in recent weeks who should start their All-Star Game in Salt Lake City on Feb. 19, four of them said that Holmgren should, even though he has yet to make his NBA debut.
So, congratulations to everyone involved. It&rsquo;s a new record: 330 different NBA players got a vote &mdash; either from themselves or their peers &mdash; saying they should be an All-Star starter. That&rsquo;s 20 more than the number of players who got votes in 2021.
Keep in mind only 10 people will start the All-Star Game. There might be, at the most, 20 legitimate candidates for those starting nods. OK, let&rsquo;s say it&rsquo;s 30 players, even. That&rsquo;s 300 less than the number of people who received votes.
That means a ton of votes were wasted, unserious, a joke.
This all started seven years ago, after almost 800,000 people stuffed the ballot boxes and nearly made Zaza Pachulia an All-Star starter. So the NBA changed the rules, going to a weighted formula &mdash; 50% is determined by fan votes, 25% by media votes, 25% by player votes.
The fans pretty much got who they wanted, as should always be the case. LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum were the top seven fan vote-getters; they all were announced as starters when the list was revealed Thursday night. So did No. 9 Kyrie Irving, No. 10 Donovan Mitchell and No. 12 Zion Williamson.
No. 7 Joel Embiid didn&rsquo;t make the cut, nor did No. 11 Anthony Davis.
Player votes were a big reason why Davis wasn&rsquo;t a starter. Only 30 players voted for Davis among Western Conference frontcourt players, while 80 voted for Williamson. That made the difference.
But many of the 375 ballots returned by players were puzzling.
Chicago&rsquo;s Lonzo Ball got four votes. Miami&rsquo;s Omer Yurtseven got three votes. Jae Crowder, who is still a member of the Phoenix Suns in name only, got two votes. Denver&rsquo;s Collin Gillespie and Portland&rsquo;s Ibou Badji each got one vote.
Here&rsquo;s what they all have in common: Like Holmgren, none has played this season.
There were other interesting &mdash; a polite way of saying odd, in this case &mdash; trends within the data. Only Jokic (58.7%), Antetokounmpo (58.7%) and James (51.5%) appeared on more than half of the All-Star ballots cast by NBA players this year.
The Phoenix Suns were hoping that guard Devin Booker would get consideration as a starter. He wasn&rsquo;t close, probably in large part because he&rsquo;s missed some time this season with injury.
&ldquo;We know and the league knows and the players know,&rdquo; Phoenix coach Monty Williams said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s the best (shooting) guard in the game and one of the best players in the game.&rdquo;
Perhaps the players don&rsquo;t know: Only 8.5% said Booker should be a starter.
Milwaukee&rsquo;s Grayson Allen got four votes, which is one more than reigning NBA defensive player of the year Marcus Smart of Boston received. Yes, Allen has been a contributor to what the Bucks have done so far this year. He&rsquo;s had his moments. He&rsquo;s hit big shots. But it&rsquo;s not a fine line between solid player and All-Star starter &mdash; it&rsquo;s more like a crater.
There certainly could be a year where the irresponsible voting really costs somebody a spot. It won&rsquo;t be this year. Certainly, arguments could be made for other players &mdash; Embiid, Domantas Sabonis, Ja Morant, Lauri Markkanen, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander &mdash; as candidates to start.
They&rsquo;ll all probably be All-Stars anyway.
The coaches will now decide the reserves; the votes for the starters no longer count for anything. Only the coaches&rsquo; ballots count toward the last seven All-Stars selected from each conference. And if someone has to bow out of the game because of injury, Commissioner Adam Silver chooses a replacement.
But hopefully, there will soon come a time when the players take the voting more seriously. If not, maybe the NBA needs to consider taking their vote away.
___
Tim Reynolds is a national basketball writer for The Associated Press. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org

Despite not playing one minute this year, four NBA players say Chet Holmgren should start next month’s All-Star Game.

Analysis: It may be time to re-think NBA All-Star voting

Nobody can be certain how the Boston Celtics will perform under their <a href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-celtics-nba-sports-basketball-ime-udoka-fce31147438f281ce1900637d0a8e2a0">third coach in three years</a>, or whether James Harden can flourish in Philadelphia alongside Joel Embiid, or if Ben Simmons' first season playing with the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-kevin-durant-dab19fb9bb2ded9be5462eb893903bdc">Brooklyn Nets</a> is already the last chance with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Talent is spread all over the Eastern Conference. So are the question marks.
It's easy to see any of those teams, along with Milwaukee, Miami and perhaps others, finishing atop the conference. It's also easy to see some of them derailed by drama.
For now, everybody is looking at the positives.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of good teams, a lot of talent in the East, but once the games are being played, that&rsquo;s when you&rsquo;ll declare who the best team is,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;I think obviously first third of the season, halfway through, you&rsquo;ll start to figure it out, but everybody feels great about their team around this time.&rdquo;
Durant didn't feel great over the summer, telling the Nets he wanted to be traded. At the same time, the Nets were declining to give Irving a contract extension after he was unavailable for so much of last season because he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
But the Nets' problems were old news by the time the Celtics, coming off an NBA Finals appearance, suspended coach Ime Udoka just before training camp for at least this season for multiple violations of team policies involving a woman in the organization. Assistant Joe Mazzulla takes over for Udoka, who just finished his first season after replacing Brad Stevens.
Despite that, 76ers coach Doc Rivers still looks at the Celtics, along with the Bucks, as teams that start 2022-23 in a strong spot. While his team strives to get the best out of former MVP Harden, who was swapped for Simmons at the February trade deadline, the top players on rival squads (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday in Milwaukee; Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Al Horford in Boston) have played plenty of big games together.
&ldquo;I think as a coach, when you look around, you look at teams that have been together and teams that have an advantage there,&rdquo; Rivers said. &ldquo;Milwaukee. Boston, they&rsquo;ve made some changes, but they still have their core guys, they&rsquo;re still moving that core around. So those are the teams that a team like us, or teams that have made a lot of changes, you have to put a lot of work in. You have to put more work in, because they do have an advantage.&rdquo;
A look at the East, in predicted order of regular-season finish:
PLAYOFF BOUND
1. Milwaukee &mdash; The Bucks should be driven to get home-court advantage after their title defense ended with a Game 7 loss at Boston in the second round.
2. Boston &mdash; The coaching situation is an unknown. The players are not.
3. Philadelphia &mdash; The 76ers will hope for more than the 21 points Harden averaged for them last season.
4. Miami &mdash; Had the East's best record and was a game away from the NBA Finals last season.
5. Chicago &mdash; Bulls were in great shape last year until injuries to Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball.
6. Cleveland &mdash; Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the backcourt with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley up front should be good enough for a team that just fell short of the playoffs last season.
INTO THE PLAY-IN
7. Brooklyn &mdash; Too explosive to be stopped. Maybe too small to stop others.
8. Toronto &mdash; Needs good bench play to keep the key starters from wearing down.
9. Atlanta &mdash; With Dejounte Murray joining Trae Young, guard play won't be a problem in Atlanta.
10. New York &mdash; Jalen Brunson takes over at the point and tries to get the best out of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett.
FACING LONG ODDS
11. Charlotte &mdash; Coach Steve Clifford&rsquo;s second stint depends, as with recent Charlotte seasons, on the health of LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward.
12. Washington &mdash; The potential is there, as long as Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis are on the court together enough.
13. Indiana &mdash; Rick Carlisle for so long had playoff teams in Dallas. He doesn't in Indiana.
14. Detroit &mdash; With Cade Cunningham, No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey and other young talent, Pistons won't be in this position in a few years.
15. Orlando &mdash; No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero is the latest good piece to join Magic's youth movement.
NEWCOMERS OF NOTE
Besides Mitchell, the All-Star guard who was traded from Utah to Cleveland, key additions in the East include Murray (traded to Atlanta from San Antonio), Malcolm Brogdon (Boston) and Brunson (New York).
SECOND-YEAR STARS
Toronto's Scottie Barnes edged fellow forward Mobley of Cleveland by 15 points in voting for Rookie of the Year, the closest finish under the current voting format that began with the 2002-03 season. Throw in Detroit's Cunningham, the 2021 No. 1 pick, and there's some potential sophomore sensations in the East.
BALL BROTHERS
Both LaMelo and Lonzo Ball are battling injuries headed into the regular season. LaMelo, the former Rookie of the Year, has a sprained ankle that has his availability in question for Charlotte's opener. Lonzo won't be ready in Chicago after another procedure last month because he still experienced pain in his left knee after having surgery last season, when he didn't play after Jan. 14.
TOUGHENING UP
Players arriving to add some needed physicality to contenders include P.J. Tucker in Philadelphia, Markieff Morris in Brooklyn, Andre Drummond in Chicago and Robin Lopez in Cleveland.

It's easy to see any of these top East teams finishing atop the conference. It's also easy to see some of them derailed by drama.

NBA's Eastern Conference has many contenders, many questions

Nekias Duncan thoroughly breaks down all five teams in the Central Division ahead of the 2022-23 season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Central Division

As the Kevin Durant saga reaches its latest chapter, both sides are digging in for what could be an even more drawn-out process. He's already told Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai to either trade him or fire head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks, so his desires to leave Brooklyn are clear.
There's a lack of trust in the organization&rsquo;s direction moving forward, but the Nets already have shown they won&rsquo;t bend to every demand the future Hall-of-Famer makes.
But unless Brooklyn eventually lowers its asking price &mdash; which is presumably what many interested teams are betting on &mdash; there&rsquo;s no reason to believe this process won&rsquo;t drag into the regular season. If so, the next step will be Durant sitting out games away from the team until his next destination is found.
From the beginning, Durant&rsquo;s desired destination was the Phoenix Suns to team up alongside Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Six weeks later, we don&rsquo;t know whether Durant has backed off that stance. If not, that could be the reason why this is dragging out even longer. Phoenix is seemingly falling off many radars, but we shouldn't rule them out of the sweepstakes just yet. Brooklyn holds power, but so does Durant to keep this tug of war going as long as possible.
As the Suns' noise quieted down, new suitors emerged &mdash; the Miami Heat and, most recently, the Celtics. SNY&rsquo;s Ian Begley mentioned the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers as new choices atop Durant&rsquo;s updated wishlist.
&ldquo;Our front office and coaching staff have my support,&rdquo; Tsai wrote on Twitter in response to his meeting with Durant. &ldquo;We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.&rdquo;
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Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.
&mdash; Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) <a href="https://twitter.com/joetsai1999/status/1556791235427405824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></blockquote>

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With Tsai picking his side, we'll all wait to see what offers are truly in the best interest of the Nets&rsquo; murky long-term outlook. In the meantime, it&rsquo;s hard not to let the mind wander on what that could entail.
What if the Nets look back upon the Pacers&rsquo; situation with Paul George in 2017, taking the best offer on the table for their disgruntled superstar in a non-preferable destination? While it seems far-fetched, anything at this point seems possible within this ongoing battle at the bargaining table for who gets what in the end.
When it was over, Indiana acquired two blossoming All-Stars in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, even when it felt like leverage wasn&rsquo;t on its side. George wanted to go to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Pacers stood firm on getting a proper return for their star forward.
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Who could come out of nowhere and surprise us all as the Nets' possible trade partner a la the Thunder to the Pacers five years ago? Excluding the known top contenders for now &mdash; Phoenix, Miami, Boston and the Toronto Raptors &mdash; let's try to find a potential team lurking in the shadows who would also check off both parties' boxes.
Philadelphia 76ers
This all comes down to the possibility of including Tyrese Maxey. If you&rsquo;re in the position of Sixers president Daryl Morey, with your chips already all-in on winning a championship with Joel Embiid and James Harden, Durant certainly makes you think for a moment. Knowing Morey&rsquo;s aggressive nature, a blockbuster centered around Maxey for Durant works well within their win-now time frame. The allure of Maxey is there (only 21 years old and blossomed upon Harden&rsquo;s arrival midseason), but this is arguably the greatest three-level scorer ever we&rsquo;re talking about.
Forming a trio consisting of Durant, Embiid and Harden is simply unfathomable to envision. The possibilities are endless, and hopefully the third time would be the charm when it comes to the former Thunder teammates reuniting less than a year removed from their split.
Philadelphia can quickly make salaries work for Durant by adding in Tobias Harris, who reportedly has been on the trading block since Morey&rsquo;s arrival. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Brooklyn&rsquo;s asking price for Boston was a young player on a star trajectory (Jaylen Brown), a solid starter (Marcus Smart), another role player and multiple draft picks. The Sixers check every box in that scenario, which should automatically make them a viable dark-horse candidate.
Would a package centered around Maxey, Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Philadelphia&rsquo;s 2029 first-round pick with little to no protections be enough for the Nets to accept? For the Sixers, there&rsquo;s a real pathway to getting a top spot at the table once the dust settles sometime on Durant.
New Orleans Pelicans
In any superstar-type trade rumor, the Pelicans tend to pop up one way or another because of their newly assembled war chest of assets. Following the Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday trades, New Orleans sits on a treasure trove of draft capital spanning the next five years.
At any point, Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin could decide to cash in on the last piece of the Pelicans&rsquo; puzzle to become the next version of the Suns &mdash; acquiring an established veteran star to take a talented young core over the top. CJ McCollum could qualify as such following the Pelicans&rsquo; deadline move for him, but what if Durant was intrigued enough to play alongside Zion Williamson in the Bayou?
Boston putting a player of Brown&rsquo;s caliber on the table makes this debate even more interesting. In my opinion, Brandon Ingram would be a better return in comparison to Brown for Durant. Both are on the same tier, but Ingram gets the slight edge for me. Witnessing his ascent on the postseason stage, Ingram is poised to take another step forward in his rapidly climbing career.
If the Nets desire a player who meets or exceeds Brown in trade talks, Ingram is the one who'll get the job done. The question in the end, of course, would be Durant&rsquo;s blessing. If Durant doesn&rsquo;t want to play the next four years in New Orleans, these thoughts would quickly dissipate into fantasy.
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However, you can&rsquo;t deny the Pelicans as a legitimate jaw-dropping destination because they have the list all checked off for Brooklyn&rsquo;s needs as well. Ingram is the young star, and Larry Nance Jr. qualifies as the ideal veteran role player. Maybe New Orleans would have to throw in either Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III on top of draft picks too. It's a massive asking price, but one that would be necessary to make something like this go down.
Until the Pelicans eventually cash in on what they've worked so hard to build, they will always be a sneaky contender for any eventual disgruntled superstar. And if the Pelicans rise as expected in 2022-23, they will become a destination anyway for win-now veterans.
Chicago Bulls
Outside of Philadelphia and New Orleans, we now reach the organization that would truly shock everyone. What about the Bulls? Would they be willing to throw an All-NBA player into another superstar deal?
DeMar DeRozan is only 11 months younger than Durant, but he is the best chip they could bring forward to Brooklyn. On top of DeRozan &mdash; whose salary wouldn&rsquo;t be enough in a straight-up swap &mdash; Chicago would presumably include a key piece of its young core. The obvious candidate is Patrick Williams; the former No. 4 overall pick flashed promising two-way potential before sustaining a wrist injury early last season, reentered the fold in late March and became a crucial component in the postseason. Then, Chicago would probably need to throw a solid role player into the mix. Either Lonzo Ball or Alex Caruso fit the Smart type of role we discussed previously.
Although Chicago gutted its draft capital in separate deals for DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, the organization still owns a future pick from the Portland Trail Blazers that could convey as early as next season. The Bulls&rsquo; next eligible draft pick that can be included in a trade is their own 2027 first-round selection.
As I wrote earlier this offseason, the Bulls feel one big splash away from truly taking the next jump in the Eastern Conference. Rudy Gobert made so much sense to complete their defensive overhaul, but Durant represents a roster upgrade of seismic proportions &mdash; a bump that might be necessary to become a Finals contender the next few years. Why not push the chips in and see what happens with Durant and Zach LaVine as a 1-2 punch?
For a team that has to remain in win-now mode because of its draft picks being sent elsewhere, Brooklyn might be intrigued enough to listen to something centered around DeRozan, Williams and other assets.
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Atlanta Hawks
Fresh off making their own blockbuster trade to improve before the new league year, could the Hawks make sense as a Durant out-of-nowhere landing spot? There are very slim odds on that possibility, but it's a scenario worth exploring because Atlanta's roster still feels a move or two away.
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray will bring fireworks to the Hawks' backcourt on a nightly basis, but is the core right now strong enough to take the necessary steps forward in the reloaded East? We know at this point what John Collins and Clint Capela bring to the table. Bogdan Bogdanovic is a solid third guard for Atlanta, but injuries have become a problem as of late.
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Atlanta's young collection of players is what makes this thought interesting, at least for a moment. Would the Nets be intrigued by De'Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu, A.J. Griffin and one of Collins, Capela or Bogdanovic to make salaries match? Compared to the other known suitors and ones already listed, it really isn't in the same stratosphere unless Brooklyn bets big on Hunter taking a huge leap. Based on Hunter's postseason performance, don't rule out the 24-year-old becoming more of a two-way focal point in Atlanta.
It might not be enough to be a real threat to swoop in for Durant, but it'd be wise to keep an eye on the Hawks as we get closer to February's trade deadline. If the Young/Murray backcourt gets off to a hot start, maybe Atlanta will go for broke and decide the time is now for a Finals push.
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee is not a destination market for superstars, but Giannis Antetokounmpo brings enough pull to make it such. Giannis is nowhere close to escaping the prime of his career, but could you imagine him playing next to Durant? My goodness, that's basketball heaven right there.
Before we go too deep down that rabbit hole, though, it feels almost impossible regarding the actual odds of this happening. Not only are the Bucks starved of draft capital because of the Holiday trade, but Brooklyn would need to believe Middleton could replace Durant long-term. Only a few years younger than KD and deserving of a max contract next offseason, it might not make much sense for either side to even explore this potential thought.
For the Bucks to even bring a respectable offer to the table compared to everyone else, they would likely have to include Middleton and Holiday in a massive blockbuster that sends back both Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Yeah, that's for sure fantasy land right there, but I do appreciate the few minutes we had talking about Durant and Giannis playing on the same basketball team.
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With no end in clear sight right, who knows how long this standoff between Durant and the Nets lasts? As time continues to drag on, maybe some front office executives from teams we're not even thinking of decide to call Brooklyn to inquire about an all-time great.
George wanted the Lakers, but he ended up in Oklahoma City. Kawhi Leonard's desired destination was Los Angeles upon asking out of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, but he was sent packing to Toronto instead. There is a precedent where a superstar doesn't get what he wants in the end, but a player of Durant's caliber takes it up a whole new level.
The best interest of the Nets might not be what Durant wants, and vice versa. The next steps are falling into place regarding how this could all end, and a new pseudo deadline of training camp looms around the corner.
Whether Kevin Durant remains in Brooklyn by then remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: The NBA has shown us time and again that anything is possible when it comes to superstar movement.

As the Kevin Durant trade saga reaches six-plus weeks, could teams come out of nowhere in potential negotiations? Evan Sidery dives in.

Identifying 5 sleeper NBA teams to trade for Kevin Durant

Is the NBA ready to add an expansion team? Evan Sidery explores what kind of team you could build in a present-day expansion draft.

NBA Expansion Mock Draft: What would a new expansion team look like?

As we begin to officially put the finishing touches on &ldquo;Bet Week&rdquo; here on BasketballNews.com, NBA over/under win total projections have been released for every team.
Which numbers stand out most to hammer one way or another from a betting perspective? In this piece, I unveil my over/under predictions for every team in the Eastern Conference. All odds are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Boston Celtics: Over 54.5 (-130)
The defending Eastern Conference champions headline the best win total of any team in the league on DraftKings, checking in at an impressive 54.5 projected wins. Boston not only improved its roster following a Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors, but the team added some real contributors who will hold immense value with Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari. Also, Robert Williams staying healthy all season long would be a huge boost for an already elite defensive unit.
We&rsquo;re hammering the over here because the Celtics have all the necessary ingredients in place to finish with 55 or more wins. Not only can their rotation easily go 10 players deep, but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are two dynamic stars at the most important position on the court. Even if the Celtics were to swing a jaw-dropping trade sending out Brown for Kevin Durant, this team should be in a magnificent spot to hit this projected mark with ease.
Milwaukee Bucks: Over 52.5 (-115)
It&rsquo;s never wise to bet against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. More often than not, they always hit their overs when the roster is fully cooperating from a health perspective. Giannis is a player I&rsquo;ve highlighted over the last week who is in prime position to make a serious push for multiple awards like Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. If that indeed comes to fruition and Giannis sets a rampage throughout the NBA, Milwaukee will be one of the most dangerous teams entering postseason play.
The Bucks&rsquo; team-building job is a lot easier with Giannis onboard, but Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are bona fide sub-stars who showed their true value during the team's 2020-21 title run. Also, re-signing Bobby Portis to a long-term deal was huge for the Bucks because he fits so well alongside Giannis as their complimentary stretch big.
Once more, I love the over to hit here at -115 odds on DraftKings. If Giannis stays healthy, the Bucks should cruise to 50-plus wins while posing a real threat to upend Boston atop the East standings.
Philadelphia 76ers: Over 49.5 (-140)
Joel Embiid and James Harden joining forces was always Daryl Morey&rsquo;s dream vision in Philadelphia. Following a rough and quick postseason exit, it feels like the light finally turned on for good with Harden. All offseason long, Harden has reportedly stayed in shape while re-signing a team-friendly, one-plus-one contract, and two of his former teammates in Houston have joined the fray.
The Sixers signing PJ Tucker, albeit at age-37, is a massive move to bring aboard much-needed physical toughness to a roster sorely lacking it. Danuel House Jr. will also provide some two-way versatility off Philadelphia&rsquo;s bench. Also, the draft night trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for De&rsquo;Anthony Melton continues to be overlooked. Arguably the perfect complementary third guard to place alongside Harden and Tyrese Maxey, Melton should thrive within this role, as he mastered it next to Ja Morant.
Health is a huge question mark when examining the long-term gains of this over/under of 49.5. Will Embiid play most of the season? If so, this is another simple nod to the over. However, with an already deep history of injuries, tread lightly here on Philadelphia. Rolling the dice, I&rsquo;m taking the over while praying Embiid puts together another fully dominant campaign.
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Miami Heat: Over 48.5 (-125)
As always, the Heat are flying under the radar entering another season. It was an offseason filled with little to no activity for Miami outside of re-signing Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin. Plus, they seem like massive long shots to ever enter the potential trade race for Durant after originally being a preferred destination alongside the Phoenix Suns.
Miami is returning a loaded rotation, although losing Tucker to a conference rival will sting a little bit. This is an over/under bet where you simply trust the system in place. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are top-30 players in the Association. Tyler Herro is an emerging young star who is the betting favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year in consecutive seasons. Erik Spoelstra remains one of the game&rsquo;s elite-tier tacticians too.
Add it all together, and Miami should flirt with a 50-win season in 2022-23. Trust the process and &ldquo;Heat Culture&rdquo; for the team to slide its way into a top-three seed in the East.
Atlanta Hawks: Under 46.5 (-105)
What a splashy offseason it was for Atlanta following its embarrassing postseason exit at the hands of Miami. The Heat exposed the Hawks&rsquo; lack of ball-handling help to take pressure off superstar point guard Trae Young. Now, with an all-in move for Dejounte Murray, Atlanta wants to surge up the East ladder. Can the Hawks recapture the 2020-21 magic with an All-Star backcourt pairing? Paying the heavy price the team did for Murray, Atlanta better hope this meshes as well as it looks on-paper.
For our projection, though, we&rsquo;re going with the under at a slight underdog value at -105. Similarly to the Western Conference, the East is setting up to be a war, so the top eight could all be mixed together by season&rsquo;s end. Teams such as Atlanta could be the prime example here, because 46.5 wins truly feels right on the money. In the end, a 45 or 46-win season for the Hawks would be a success, while also cashing plus money for those who bet the under.
Brooklyn Nets: Under 45.5 (-105)
I truly have no clue how this team should be viewed right now. With Kevin Durant still holding firm on his trade request, the 45.5 number here just feels like too much. If Durant is off the Nets anytime soon, Kyrie Irving would probably soon follow him out. It&rsquo;s a ticking time bomb right now, so avoiding this bet entirely is the smartest play possible.
Brooklyn did a fantastic job outside of the Durant and Irving fiasco to add more depth to a team ready to push for a title. However, because of all the uncertainty, getting the under on 45.5 wins at plus money odds is simply too good to pass up.
Toronto Raptors: Over 45.5 (-110)
One of my favorite teams projected to take a massive leap forward in 2022-23, the Raptors finished the regular season off strong before their postseason exit against Philadelphia. Scottie Barnes established himself as a true building block. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are entrenched core pieces. With OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. as the team's fourth and fifth-best players, it goes to show how loaded Toronto can become. The Raptors added more depth and remain a top contender to secure Durant&rsquo;s services, if the Nets indeed decide to trade him.
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Whether Durant comes to Canada or not, I absolutely love the Raptors as a team who should be pushing closer to 50 wins compared to 40. Hammer the Raptors over here to oblivion as they establish themselves as a real Finals threat this season.
Chicago Bulls: Under 43.5 (+100)
As I wrote earlier this offseason, Rudy Gobert felt like the missing piece to the puzzle for the Bulls to become a real threat in the East long-term. Now, with Gobert on the Minnesota Timberwolves, where does Chicago realistically go to pivot? It&rsquo;s hard to see a clear answer right now, which is concerning over an extended window. The Bulls backed up the Brink&rsquo;s truck for Zach LaVine, who definitely deserved the lucrative payday. LaVine and DeMar DeRozan form a dynamic scoring combination, but who else can help take this team into another tier?
Patrick Williams is a potential name to watch develop, but the real questions loom in the backcourt, for me. Goran Dragic signing in Chicago was very interesting, because the team already has a glut of guards on its roster: Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry. With Ball&rsquo;s shoulder sidelining him last season, how concerning is that moving forward? For those wanting to monitor the betting lines for Chicago, Ball is an underrated piece to its early-season success as a connective two-way presence.
With the East even tougher, plus some looming concerns in the short and long-term view, I&rsquo;m hammering +100 value on the Bulls to finish as a Play-In Tournament team vs. being a playoff lock.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 42.5 (-135)
Similarly to Toronto, this is another squad I'll love to slam the over on. The 42.5-win number here is too small for Cleveland, especially with its young core jelling together even further. Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen make up one of my favorite young trios in the Association, and I&rsquo;m betting big on the three taking another huge step forward.
Don&rsquo;t forget, the Cavaliers were rolling before injuries to countless rotation members begin to be too much to overcome. Caris LeVert, a midseason acquisition, should look much more comfortable in J.B. Bickerstaff&rsquo;s system. Collin Sexton&rsquo;s status remains unclear, but he&rsquo;s a spark-plug scorer who would take immediate pressure off Garland.
Las Vegas is leaning towards projecting the Cavs as a playoff team, and I&rsquo;m siding with them as well.
New York Knicks: Over 39.5 (-110)
Just like their cross-town rivals in the Nets, betting on a Knicks over/under win total right now isn&rsquo;t smart. Wait to see how the dust settles for Donovan Mitchell in Utah first before deciding upon any Knicks-related props.
However, for my projection on Aug. 8, I&rsquo;m betting on Mitchell to eventually land in New York before the regular season begins. With Mitchell, New York feels like a real playoff contender. However, even after signing Jalen Brunson, this Knicks team feels rather incomplete compared to other squads.
This one is simple: If Mitchell arrives, it&rsquo;s a yes on the over. If not, stay away and hit the under instead.
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Charlotte Hornets: Under 36.5 (-105)
Here's another organization that feels incomplete at the moment, especially with the ongoing legal situation surrounding Miles Bridges. As currently constructed, the up-and-coming Hornets feel further away than they did last season. Although Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier are solid veterans for Charlotte, I don&rsquo;t put them on the same tier as the Cavaliers or Knicks. LaMelo Ball is approaching full-blown superstardom, but who else around him will be able to help consistently? This may be a hot take, but it might be in the Hornets&rsquo; best interest to bottom out for a year hoping to land a top pick for a stacked 2023 NBA Draft.
If there&rsquo;s one team poised to regress from Play-In contender to lottery team, Charlotte certainly stands out, and I&rsquo;ll take the under at plus value.
Washington Wizards: Under 35.5 (-115)
Are the Wizards in win-now mode? It certainly seems that way after Bradley Beal signed the dotted line on a supermax deal. The time to put together a winner in D.C. is throughout Beal&rsquo;s hefty contract, but this team still isn&rsquo;t close to being a real threat. In my opinion, Washington continues to stand out as the premiere &ldquo;blow it up&rdquo; squad because of Beal&rsquo;s uncertain status. Now, with a no-trade clause, Beal pretty much runs the entire show now.
Washington added a starting point guard in Monte Morris, but that&rsquo;s not enough to really make a sizable improvement unless Beal bounces-back with authority. The team's young players also need to take much-needed steps forward. At this moment, I&rsquo;m betting against all of that occurring next season. As a slight favorite, feel comfortable selecting the under on the Wizards.
Detroit Pistons: Under 28.5 (-105)
It&rsquo;s hard to argue against the Pistons possessing one of the most promising young cores in the East. Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren are ideal pieces to put alongside former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, who began to flash superstar potential during the second half of his rookie season.
While the Pistons added foundational pillars this offseason, the team is still ripe with inexperience. The rebuild remains ongoing in Detroit, but the exit signs are approaching. In the meantime, the young core is prioritized over wins this upcoming season.
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Although a 30-win campaign sounds fun, another top selection in 2023 could really take this team to heights it hasn't experienced in decades. Bet on the under here, especially as the tank race hits overdrive post-All-Star break.
Orlando Magic: Over 26.5 (-120)
Paolo Banchero brings an alpha mentality that&rsquo;s been missing forever in Orlando. The No. 1 pick has the ultimate runway to produce immediately, which is why he&rsquo;s the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/best-bets-on-202223-nba-rookie-of-the-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year</a>. Banchero could be a 20-plus point scorer right away, but don&rsquo;t forget about some other enticing young talent in Orlando. Franz Wagner established himself as a core piece, producing excellent all-around numbers. Wendell Carter Jr. is a double-double machine with playmaking chops for a big man. Jalen Suggs hit the rookie wall, but if he can round into form it'll add another aggressive scorer to the equation. Plus, there's the returning Markelle Fultz as well.
Orlando owns one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, but it consistently showed heart by keeping a lot of games close. If Banchero&rsquo;s adjustment is smooth, I actually like betting the favorite option here on the over. Something along the lines of a 27-55 season feels spot-on for Orlando.
Indiana Pacers: Under 24.5 (-115)
Rounding out the East&rsquo;s over/unders list is the Pacers, who are now creating a noticeable difference at the bottom. With two games separating Indiana from Orlando, it shows how little faith Vegas has in this team winning a lot of games next season.
Tyrese Haliburton is the face of the franchise in Indiana now, as the team begins a rebuild over 30 years in the making. Bennedict Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, brings a score-first approach that should mesh seamlessly in the backcourt next to Haliburton. Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith are two young bigs who have flashed two-way potential in addition.
Outside of that, trade rumors are the main subject ongoing in Indiana. According to The Athletic&rsquo;s Bob Kravitz, Indiana would prefer to trade Myles Turner and Buddy Hield this offseason. Neither player fits the organization&rsquo;s new timeline, and the Pacers should be able to fetch some real value in return.
Indiana is a team that really stands out as a prime contender to enter a full-on tank. For an organization that has never drafted No. 1, it would change everything for the Pacers to have some good fortune. Finally embracing a rebuild, maybe lady luck is finally on their side for good.
With that being said, my most confident play is the Pacers under 24.5 wins cashing.

Evan Sidery goes over win totals for the Eastern Conference. Who stands out?

Best Bets: NBA Eastern Conference over/under projections

At the beginning of the 2021-22 season, it was a foregone conclusion Zach LaVine would eventually re-sign with the Chicago Bulls on a max contract. However, over the last month or so, there&rsquo;s been buzz about LaVine potentially taking his talents elsewhere.
Does it actually make sense for LaVine to leave the Bulls, an infrastructure well built to accentuate his strengths? If LaVine bolts the Windy City for greener pastures, the fit, not market size, should be of the upmost importance.
The market will be robust for LaVine as an upcoming unrestricted free agent, slotted at No. 1 overall on BasketballNews.com's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-free-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free Agent Rankings</a> page. LaVine joining a contender would instantly vault its status amongst the Association&rsquo;s elite.
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Without further ado, let&rsquo;s go ahead and try to figure out the best logical fits for LaVine away from Chicago via sign-and-trade.
Miami Heat
Bulls receive: Tyler Herro, PJ Tucker
Heat receive: Zach LaVine
Pacers receive: Duncan Robinson, 2023 first-round pick via Heat (lottery protected)
Miami&rsquo;s dire need for another aggressive scorer to pair alongside Jimmy Butler was showcased on the biggest possible stage. The usage on Butler&rsquo;s plate is simply too much, and Kyle Lowry has proven to taken a step back on the offensive end as well.
LaVine alongside Butler, Lowry and Bam Adebayo would be a dream scenario to unfold for the Heat. This offseason feels like the perfect time to make that all-in move with this core, especially with future draft picks available in deals.
Herro is the crown jewel of this deal for the Bulls, so it all depends how they view him. Tucker going back to Chicago also adds even more toughness on the defensive end with Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso.
For contenders, pulling off a sign-and-trade to acquire LaVine is a little tricky. A third team would need to be involved to make salaries work; in this instance, that franchise takes on the bloated salary of Robinson and is rewarded with draft compensation for its participation. Look for teams with cap space that are rebuilding (Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, etc.) as potential dance partners under any sign-and-trade involving LaVine to a Finals contender.
Projected Starting Lineup: Kyle Lowry, Zach LaVine, Max Strus, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo
Atlanta Hawks
Bulls receive: Kevin Huerter, Onyeka Okongwu
Hawks receive: Zach LaVine
Pacers receive: Danilo Gallinari, 2023 first-round pick via Hawks (lottery protected)
Could you imagine the fireworks on the scoreboard with Trae Young and LaVine sharing a backcourt? That&rsquo;s more than worth the price of admission for Hawks games, and it helps elevate their core to being a legitimate contender immediately. LaVine and Young being flanked by endless amounts of defensive versatility and length is a recipe for success.
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What makes the Hawks&rsquo; sign-and-trade more realistic is Gallinari&rsquo;s contract, which only has $5 million guaranteed. Atlanta would surely cooperate for draft compensation in order to bring LaVine aboard.
Chicago receives a promising three-level scorer in Huerter, plus a much-needed rim protector with Okongwu. This feels like a strong return for the Bulls under this scenario.
For Atlanta to make this work, a third team has to get involved that can absorb Gallinari's $21 million salary. Luckily, again, only $5 million is guaranteed, so the third team can easily get off his contract. The Pacers are mentioned here once more because I expect them to operate in a Thunder-like manner this offseason, as they really kick off their full-scale rebuild. Expect to see Indiana take on contracts for future draft capital, which would help project the rebuild timeline more clearly.
Projected Starting Lineup: Trae Young, Zach LaVine, De&rsquo;Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela
Dallas Mavericks
Bulls receive: Jalen Brunson, Josh Green
Mavericks receive: Zach LaVine
Trail Blazers receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., 2025 first-round pick via Dallas (top-8 protected)
Luka Doncic needs help in Dallas for championships to be a realistic aspiration. Doncic is already one of the best players in the league at 23 years old, but how will the Mavericks further construct the roster around him? If Dallas is indeed going to make a splash, going for LaVine compared to a big man like Rudy Gobert is the smarter play. Doncic and LaVine would be a deadly backcourt duo that could go toe-to-toe with any team in a more perimeter-oriented NBA.
The Bulls receiving Brunson back in a double sign-and-trade would be a huge win, allowing his game to further blossom alongside an elite wing scorer like DeMar DeRozan. Brunson helps keep Chicago afloat in the Eastern Conference, while also presenting an enticing long-term piece to its core.
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While Brunson would need to sign off on this, as would LaVine, I think he would gladly pursue this idea. Operating as the No. 2 scoring option alongside DeRozan, Brunson will be able to further blossom his all-around game for a win-now contender in the East. Adding Brunson alongside Ball and Caruso also takes playmaking pressure off Brunson, which allows him to continue mismatch hunting in 1-on-1 situations.
If the Bulls are on track to lose LaVine, finding an even more motivated Brunson as the return compensation is a massive win for them.
The third team getting involved to take on Hardaway's remaining salary is Portland, who needs to find any sort of scoring help it can alongside Lillard. Hardaway certainly wouldn't be a splashy transaction for the Blazers, but his added offensive punch in the starting unit or off the bench would be a welcome sight. Trying to find a taker for THJ will be tough, so offering a future lightly protected first-round pick probably is the going cost.
Projected Starting Lineup: Luka Doncic, Zach LaVine, Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber?
San Antonio Spurs
We&rsquo;ve now reached the portion where a team can outright sign LaVine without having to maneuver a sign-and-trade. How ironic would it be for LaVine to go join DeRozan&rsquo;s former team alongside fellow Pacific Northwest resident Dejounte Murray? That&rsquo;s a very strong complementary backcourt, but is it enough in the Western Conference to make a serious jump forward? We all know Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich would be all aboard a win-now idea at this stage of his career as well.
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For the Spurs, they need to find that final piece to an already intriguing core. Murray and LaVine leading the Spurs' youth movement forward towards realistic playoff contention each year would be a much-needed step forward. LaVine's arrival would take ample pressure off Murray, plus the latter's defensive presence helps further optimize the former.
Projected Starting Lineup: Dejounte Murray, Zach LaVine, Josh Richardson, Keldon Johnson, Jakob Poeltl
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland could be under new ownership, and the frontrunners as of Thursday indicate it could be a huge win for the organization. Nike founder Phil Knight and Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinisky are leading the charge, so we&rsquo;ll see if that occurs soon.
On the court, Damian Lillard would love having a player like LaVine. A modern three-guard starting unit consisting of Lillard, LaVine and Anfernee Simons would simply be unfair trying to contain for all 48 minutes.
The Blazers would still need to make more roster moves &mdash; maybe <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/breaking-down-4-hypothetical-trades-for-the-blazers-firstround-draft-pick" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shipping off their No. 7 overall pick for Detroit Pistons wing Jerami Grant</a> &mdash; but adding LaVine would signal they&rsquo;re finally ready to go for it. In order to keep Lillard around past next season, making an all-in move for LaVine wouldn&rsquo;t be surprising one bit.
Let's say Portland pulls the trigger for an aggressive draft-night move involving Grant or Raptors wing OG Anunoby. If that occurs, it's the Blazers signaling to the NBA that they're ready to have a very aggressive offseason. Retooling on the fly and forming a deadly backcourt combination would quickly put Portland back on the map in the West.
Portland would need to gut their entire roster outside of Lillard and Simons to make an Anunoby/LaVine scenario possible under the salary cap. It's a lot of transactional work, but the end result for the Blazers would be an instant threat to make a deep postseason push with Lillard, LaVine, Simons and Anunoby.
Projected Starting Lineup: Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Zach LaVine, Jerami Grant/OG Anunoby?, Jusuf Nurkic?
Less than a month away from the NBA&rsquo;s legal tampering period opening, LaVine will become one of the hottest commodities available. Unless LaVine believes the Bulls are not real contenders, it would make the most sense for him to return on a new long-term deal. If it gets to the point we&rsquo;ve discussed, the Bulls will be okay extracting heavy amounts of value for a player on the way out.
NBA free agency was expected to be quiet, but, as we all know, the game never sleeps. Anything can happen, and this offseason is shaping up to be another wild one with star movement soon on the horizon once more.
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Zach LaVine enters this offseason as the top NBA free agent. What could LaVine's market look like if he leaves the Bulls?

Examining potential destinations for Zach LaVine

After looking at how to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/betting-the-west-why-the-suns-being-heavy-favorites-makes-sense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bet the Western Conference</a> in the forthcoming NBA Playoffs, we now turn our attention to the Eastern Conference. Parity is of the essence atop the East, which includes five teams with a legitimate argument to win the conference and make a run to the NBA Finals. From a betting perspective, sportsbooks are all over the place when it comes to forecasting what&rsquo;s next in the East. How should the conference be divvied up before the postseason? Let&rsquo;s dive into the odds.
Tier 1: Milwaukee Bucks +270, Brooklyn Nets +330
I have this weird feeling building we&rsquo;re going to get Suns vs. Bucks Part II in a few months with another championship on the line. As of late, Milwaukee is finding a groove and rounding into form for their title defense. Giannis Antetokounmpo can break any defense apart, so another dominant run could cement his overall legacy. Considering the Bucks have such a strong rotation, the safest bet right now is to repeat last year&rsquo;s Finals matchup.
The one X-factor in the East has to be Brooklyn. Although James Harden is no longer there, Brooklyn still has two stars in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving who can push an elite team like Milwaukee to the brink. As we&rsquo;ve seen this season, the Nets are nearly impossible to stop when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both going off offensively.
Last season saw Durant nearly beat the Bucks by himself in the Eastern Conference Finals. If Irving stays healthy, the main theme of top teams repeating could circle back around for an epic early-round clash.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Highlights from last night's OT WIN vs. Nets. ⚡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/we_energies?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@we_energies</a> ⚡️ <a href="https://t.co/A8gHaMibWs">pic.twitter.com/A8gHaMibWs</a>
&mdash; Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1509923795028615197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Tier 2: Miami Heat +425, Boston Celtics +430, Philadelphia 76ers +500
Kudos to BasketballNews&rsquo; own Spencer Davies, because he called it on the first &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; podcast episode previewing the 2021-22 season. He said that Miami was going to surprise some people and was right on the money. Miami has the two-way versatility to compete with the East&rsquo;s elite. The leaps from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have taken pressure off of Jimmy Butler, and it always helps to have a soothing veteran point guard presence in Kyle Lowry.
Miami has shown lockdown potential on both ends of the court, so if they have a hot shooting series, they can go toe-to-toe with anybody.
Losing Robert Williams due to injury is going to hurt Boston in the short-term, but this team has been scary good since the All-Star break. Jayson Tatum is one of the best scorers in the NBA, and Jaylen Brown is finding his spots within the flow of the offense. Any concerns related to Tatum and Brown&rsquo;s on-court fit have fizzled out. Boston has the star power to win big, but they also have some veterans who can be key in postseason pushes.
If I wanted to throw a dart at any of the odds presented on the board, Philadelphia gets my attention. The odds at +500 are simply too good to pass up. Betting on a historic postseason from Joel Embiid and James Harden, who continue to build chemistry together, has an extremely high ceiling. Tyrese Maxey has also begun to blossom, helping form a fun long-term trio in Philadelphia. I wouldn&rsquo;t be stunned if we saw the Sixers make the Finals, and I still feel there&rsquo;s a real shot there.
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Tier 3: Chicago Bulls +2700, Toronto Raptors +3000, Cleveland Cavaliers +5500
Unlike the Western Conference&rsquo;s top Tier 3 team, the Utah Jazz (+950), Chicago kicks it off at +2700 odds. It&rsquo;s been disappointing to watch the Bulls lose steam over the last few months because the early potential was off the charts. DeMar DeRozan is a perfect fit within the Bulls&rsquo; system alongside Zach LaVine, but losing Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso for the majority of the regular season were massive blows. Maybe the Bulls can surprise in the first round, but betters shouldn't expect much beyond that, especially now that Ball is officially out for the season.
Second to Philadelphia on my favorite odds out East, Toronto at +3000 is very tempting to hammer. The Raptors have caught lightning in a bottle for a while now, and their blend of win-now veterans and exciting young players is fun to watch. Pascal Siakam deserves an All-NBA spot, and the trio of Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby provide ideal two-way balance. Versatility is off the charts in Toronto, and there&rsquo;s a reality where they could be playing in the Eastern Conference Finals. Don&rsquo;t sleep on the Raptors because they&rsquo;ve been quietly impressive since February.
In the opposite direction of Toronto, Cleveland checks in with long +5500 odds. The Cavaliers were rolling behind their dynamic young trio of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley. When Allen, their two-way All-Star anchor, went down it knocked the wind out of Cleveland&rsquo;s surging sails. Garland taking the leap could help Cleveland become a frisky opponent out early in the postseason. I&rsquo;m excited to see what happens this offseason for a team ready to take another huge leap forward in 2022-23.
Tier 4: Atlanta Hawks +10000, Charlotte Hornets +18000
In Tier 4, the odds are bordering on impossible for an NBA Finals run. Atlanta has been one of the NBA&rsquo;s most disappointing teams this season after their surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. Trae Young is doing his best to carry a consistently short-handed Hawks squad, which is leading to some absurd individual numbers along the way. Maybe Young can help Atlanta push a team in the first round, but betting against another surprise run shouldn&rsquo;t be off the table.
Charlotte is one of my favorite teams to watch this season when they get humming offensively. LaMelo Ball running the show is so entertaining, plus they have a plethora of high-volume three-point shooters. Miles Bridges&rsquo; leap in a contract year makes him a pillar piece to Ball in Charlotte. It would be fun to have the Hornets in the postseason, but it may be a very quick exit for them. If Charlotte can add one more game-changing piece in the offseason (Myles Turner, perhaps?), they could take a huge leap in 2023.
Analyzing the betting odds in the Eastern Conference, the possibilities are endless. Five teams sit within the first two tiers of Finals probabilities, and it wouldn&rsquo;t be surprising to see a team with longer odds (Raptors, Hawks, etc.) make a surprise push further.
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With the NBA postseason drawing near, which teams have the best odds to come out of the Eastern Conference?

Betting the East: Possibilities are endless for NBA Finals contenders

The NBA learning curve is different for everyone.
It took Giannis Antetokounmpo four years to win the Most Improved Player award that signaled his rise to stardom. Cameron Payne was all but finished in the league before he signed with the Phoenix Suns and emerged as a key contributor in the team's run to the NBA Finals last season. Andrew Wiggins is an All-Star and a core piece for the Golden State Warriors; he needed six years and two changes of scenery to get there.
Development takes time. And while those trendy, eye-popping "leap" moments are exciting, the blossoming often overshadows the buds that precede. Watching a young player start to fit the pieces together before the final puzzle takes shape is one of the true joys of being immersed in basketball.
Dozens of NBA talents are in the budding stage. Three have caught my eye on the spreadsheets and on the screen, and I'd like to highlight their promising growth while they still fly under the radar.
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JONATHAN KUMINGA, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
When the Warriors drafted Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody in the lottery, I (and likely several others) presumed the latter would be the first to stamp his presence in the rotation. Moody is showing promise in the G League, but it's Kuminga who has made the leap so far. He's quite literally cutting open his niche on one of the league's best teams.
Since Feb. 1, the No. 7 overall pick has averaged 14.6 points in just over 25 minutes per game. He's been a terror inside, making 73.7% of his shots within 5 feet of the basket. Those looks typically come off some spectacular cuts and finishes.
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Jonathan Kuminga is really showing his smarts off the ball. You can see him recognize Anthony Davis is going to rotate over as the pass to Kevon Looney goes up and then he immediately cuts hard. Being able to read and react this quickly is awesome <a href="https://t.co/hyWmii8vp0">pic.twitter.com/hyWmii8vp0</a>
&mdash; Ethan Fuller (@ethman43) <a href="https://twitter.com/ethman43/status/1493254240252346370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

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According to Synergy, 13.6% of Kuminga-involved plays include cuts. He's making an impressive 70.5% of his cutting field goals. The spatial awareness and timing on some of these are simply jaw-dropping for a rookie in an offense that requires constant off-ball focus. Kuminga is a simply nasty dunker too.
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The thunderous dunks and full-speed finishes make up most of Kuminga's rookie highlights. However, he's quietly hitting a respectable 37.9% of his catch-and-shoot threes over the past month as well. He's not nearly a polished offensive player yet; Kuminga has logged more turnovers than assists in every month this season, and isn't a pull-up threat. However, his NBA-ready cutting and finishing already make him an asset off of the Warriors' top creators.
Kuminga's game was supposed to be a long-term investment. He doesn't turn 20 until October, and appeared extremely raw in his first pro stint with G League Ignite last season. For him to already be a rotation-caliber contributor is just one of the many pleasant surprises with this year's Golden State squad.
ALEKSEJ POKUSEVSKI, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Aleksej Pokusevski might have been the single worst NBA player in 2020-21. His season was extremely poor on both ends, and outside of a couple of late-season outliers, Pokusevski rarely looked poised doing much of anything on the court.
Prior to February, the 20-year-old had been in and out of the active rotation this season with similar struggles, and spent time with the G League affiliate OKC Blue &mdash; where he still didn't play well.
That's what makes the past month so interesting. In 10 contests since Feb. 1, Pokusevski is averaging 10.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game while shooting 40.0% from long range. It's been by far the best 10-game stretch of his young career.&nbsp;
There are a few layers to his improved efficiency. Pokusevski has made 38.7% of his catch-and-shoot threes and appears in rhythm off the catch. However, per Second Spectrum tracking data, he's also 9 of 16 (small sample size alert) on shots where he's taken 3-to-6 dribbles. He's finishing 62.0% of his attempts at the rim, per Cleaning the Glass; while it isn't anything to write home about, it's also 10 percentage points better than his rookie year.
In this reel alone you will see:
<ul>
<li>A one-dribble, deep, pull-up triple</li>
<li>A slip to an and-one finish</li>
<li>A wacky dribble drive to a pull-up from the elbow</li>
<li>A hesi into a lefty finish</li>
<li>A sweet backdoor cut</li>
</ul>
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Whew.
Since Feb. 1, Pokusevski has logged a 12.8% turnover rate (about league average), down from a ghastly 16.4% rate up through the end of January. He's also logged a 2.6% block rate on defense, which ranks in the 80th percentile among bigs, and a 1.6% steal rate (78th percentile). Pokusevski still has defensive lapses, but the activity appears to be way up, and he scarcely commits fouls.&nbsp;
We're setting some low bars with Pokusevski, and that's okay. OKC is playing the longest of long games by developing an extremely skinny, 7-foot microwave playmaker. Year 2 was about seeing if he could turn flashes into NBA-caliber skills, and over the last month, Pokusevski seems to be catching up. He still doesn't turn 21 until December. The Thunder have plenty of time to be patient with their super-ceiling prospect as he works through the complexities of the NBA.
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COBY WHITE, CHICAGO BULLS
White appeared to have been <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/breaking-down-6-nba-players-whose-roles-may-be-diminished-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost in the Bulls' radical offseason upgrades</a> with Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan joining the fold. Where would the 2019 seventh overall pick fit in as a score-first guard on a roster with at least four other guards and wings ahead of him in the pecking order?&nbsp;
But the 22-year-old has not only settled &mdash; he's thriving with less pressure to lead the offense. White's usage rate is a career-low 20.1%, per Cleaning the Glass, but he's averaging 116.5 points per 100 shot attempts &mdash; in the 83rd percentile among combo guards.
White has been on a heater since February, making a scorching 48.7% of his threes with a 62.4% True Shooting percentage. Despite moving in and out of the starting lineup as Chicago battles injuries, he's appeared unflappable. White is drilling 42.3% of his catch-and-shoot threes this season, up 6% from last year, and taking more of those shots than ever.
The synergy is palpable between White and DeRozan. Per the NBA's tracking data, White received 13.6% of his passes from the new Bulls star in February (second-most on the team behind Nikola Vucevic) and knocked down a whopping 63.6% of his three-pointers that came off a DeRozan dish.
His job is straightforward: get in an open spot on the perimeter, be ready when DeRozan draws help and make the shot. Some of these plays might look simple, but notice how DeRozan doesn't hesitate to dish it off when he sees defenders collapse away from White, and White doesn't hesitate with his quick trigger.
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Chicago has lessened the creation burden on White; 64.7% of his made field goals have come off an assist this season compared to just 50.7% in 2020-21. It's resulted in a serious efficiency boost.&nbsp;
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 103.872%; height: 134px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 44px;">
<td style="width: 10.6475%; height: 44px;">Season</td>
<td style="width: 14.2863%; height: 44px;">%Rim FG AST</td>
<td style="width: 10.2221%; height: 44px;">Rim FG%</td>
<td style="width: 11.1617%; height: 44px;">%3PT AST</td>
<td style="width: 7.6912%; height: 44px;">3PT%</td>
<td style="width: 12.1899%; height: 44px;">Touches/Game</td>
<td style="width: 9.36222%; height: 44px;">USG%</td>
<td style="width: 9.61922%; height: 44px;">TOV%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 10.6475%; height: 22px;">2020-21</td>
<td style="width: 14.2863%; height: 22px;">32.0</td>
<td style="width: 10.2221%; height: 22px;">51.4</td>
<td style="width: 11.1617%; height: 22px;">78.5</td>
<td style="width: 7.6912%; height: 22px;">35.9</td>
<td style="width: 12.1899%; height: 22px;">66.3</td>
<td style="width: 9.36222%; height: 22px;">23.8</td>
<td style="width: 9.61922%; height: 22px;">13.1</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 10.6475%; height: 22px;">2021-22</td>
<td style="width: 14.2863%; height: 22px;">47.8</td>
<td style="width: 10.2221%; height: 22px;">58.3</td>
<td style="width: 11.1617%; height: 22px;">88.0</td>
<td style="width: 7.6912%; height: 22px;">40.2</td>
<td style="width: 12.1899%; height: 22px;">48.2</td>
<td style="width: 9.36222%; height: 22px;">20.1</td>
<td style="width: 9.61922%; height: 22px;">9.0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
(Scroll right to see full table on mobile)
White is trending away from being that prototypical lead guard fans may have expected when the Bulls initially selected him; there's nothing wrong with that. He's showing that he's still a valuable piece to Chicago's long-term future by blending his offensive game with the stars on the roster.
THE OUTLIERS (a.k.a. other random interesting numbers I find in the void):
<ul>
<li>Mark Cheung made <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkC_NBA/status/1498757470625271809?s=20&amp;t=zYh59ymyGPfQy5v1F_cDfA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this free, insightful app</a> that compares how 2-man duos fare in their shot and assist location spreads when they share the court. I highly recommend messing around with it.</li>
<li>SIS Hoops has started rolling out some of its data from the season, and this one caught my eye. DeMar DeRozan is an absolute monster.</li>
</ul>
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Connecting on difficult shots is an invaluable skill in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA</a>. Here&rsquo;s a look at the league&rsquo;s deadliest marksmen on heavily contested jumpers: <a href="https://t.co/vcCEXHiTJO">pic.twitter.com/vcCEXHiTJO</a>
&mdash; SIS Hoops (@SIS_Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/SIS_Hoops/status/1498350909843292162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2022</a></blockquote>

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<ul>
<li>I think the Celtics have the makings of a great basketball team, but even I've been surprised at how highly some models out there feel about their title odds. Zach Kram wrote a phenomenal article at <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/3/1/22955727/nba-boston-celtics-championship-odds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Ringer</a> about why the numbers love Boston and what they could be overlooking.</li>
</ul>
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Jonathan Kuminga, Coby White and Aleksej Pokusevski are the subjects of Ethan Fuller's latest Stats Notebook.

Stats Notebook: 3 NBA prospects who are quietly figuring things out

It was all good just a year ago.
Last season, by the time the calendar turned to March, at 18-17, the New York Knicks had spent a better part of the season meandering around the .500 mark. They were far from world-beaters, but caught fire late and managed to reel of an impressive stretch that saw them end the season at 41-31.
Improbably, they&rsquo;d risen to fourth in the Eastern Conference.
This year, they haven&rsquo;t exactly looked like a club ready to launch a takeover. Far from it, in fact.
While DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball signed with the Chicago Bulls, and Kyle Lowry and Russell Westbrook changed addresses last summer, the Knicks instead opted for Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. Neither have helped the team&rsquo;s cause.
And with Sunday&rsquo;s 125-109 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden, the team fell to 11 games below the .500 mark &mdash; bad news considering the club will now embark on its longest road trip of the season.
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Starting Wednesday &mdash; the second anniversary of Leon Rose being named team president &mdash; the Knicks will play seven consecutive games away from the comfy confines of Madison Square Garden. They won&rsquo;t be the home team again until March 16, when they host the Portland Trail Blazers.
Realistically speaking, in order for the Knicks to make a run to the eighth seed, they&rsquo;ll probably have to go 15-6 over their final 21 games.
Even with the Brooklyn Nets&rsquo; loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, New York will have to make up six games in the loss column. The Charlotte Hornets, who currently hold the 10th seed, have three fewer losses than New York. That&rsquo;s a more manageable deficit to make up, but considering what lies ahead, it won&rsquo;t be easy.
For New York, 12 of the remaining 21 games are on the road, and 5 of the 9 home contests are against the Bulls, Nets, Raptors, Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers. There aren&rsquo;t many "gimmes" in that stretch.
In fact, according to <a href="http://tankathon.com">Tankathon.com</a>, the Knicks have the fifth-toughest schedule remaining, with only the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Bulls having tougher opponents.
Conversely, the Nets&rsquo; schedule ranks as the 19th-most difficult (or 11th-easiest). Unlike the Knicks, though, things are looking up for Brooklyn. It would appear that Kyrie Irving could soon be permitted to play at Barclays Center (although <a href="https://twitter.com/malika_andrews/status/1498324410041655308?s=20&amp;t=DZL71Kaap1UvPvRmHm9kjA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not a guarantee</a>), while Kevin Durant and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lest-we-forget-ben-simmons-is-a-great-basketball-player" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons figure to return to the floor</a> within the next few weeks.
Unless something crazy happens, assuming the Knicks don&rsquo;t pull off the improbable, after two years on the job, the challenge for Leon Rose will be to admit mistakes and learn some lessons. Ditto for Tom Thibodeau.
Walker was not the answer at point guard, and upgrading that position has to be the team&rsquo;s No. 1 priority moving forward.
RJ Barrett probably <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-rj-barretts-recent-scoring-surge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deserves more repetitions</a>. 
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RJ picking up where he left off. <a href="https://t.co/RqQQKdmB5P">pic.twitter.com/RqQQKdmB5P</a>
&mdash; NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1497394685748391936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Julius Randle <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/as-a-franchise-player-julius-randle-has-left-a-lot-to-be-desired" target="_blank" rel="noopener">probably doesn&rsquo;t</a>.
Truth be told, no player should be considered untouchable if the likes of Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard or Donovan Mitchell happened to find themselves on the market &mdash; because as currently constituted, the Knicks simply can&rsquo;t compete with the conference&rsquo;s playoff contenders, much less its upper-echelon. They need to be honest about that truth and confront it.
New York is nowhere near the likes of a Sixers team that has one player who won MVP and another who might win it this season, and it showed on Sunday.
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers might even have a theory.
Rivers coached the Boston Celtics to a 66-16 record in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen&rsquo;s first season there and won the 2008 NBA Finals. That team had it.&nbsp;
His Los Angeles Clippers teams that couldn&rsquo;t get over the hump? Not so much.
After his Sixers beat the Knicks on the front end of their home-and-home series on Sunday, when asked what changed for the Knicks since last season, that was the first thing Rivers brought up.
&ldquo;When you make changes, sometimes that goes well for you and sometimes it doesn&rsquo;t,&rsquo;&rsquo; the coach said <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/02/27/doc-rivers-gets-to-heart-of-knicks-struggles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to the New York Post</a>.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Chemistry is a very fickle thing, as we all know. When you have it, you want it. Sometimes you don&rsquo;t even know why you have it, but you know you want to try to protect it. And when you lose it, you don&rsquo;t know why you&rsquo;re losing it sometimes.&rdquo;
In other words: Doc can&rsquo;t help but to look at this year&rsquo;s Knicks and wonder what happened.
At 11 games below .500 and with the odds of qualifying for the postseason seeming quite remote, in that regard, he certainly isn&rsquo;t alone.&nbsp;
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Moke Hamilton looks at the difference a year has made for the Knicks, and what the team needs to pull off to reach the Play-In.

Knicks' playoff hopes hang by a thread as club begins 7-game road trip

Tommy Beer is back with his latest version of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings. To read last week's version, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-power-rankings-sixers-and-nuggets-on-come-up-nets-sliding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics (thanks to their dominant defense) are three of the big climbers this week, while the Nets continue to head in the wrong direction.
1. Phoenix Suns (44-10) &harr;️ Last Week: 1
Despite posting the NBA's best record, the Suns are reportedly looking to upgrade their roster. <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumors-james-harden-ben-simmons-caris-levert-collin-sexton-malik-beasley-thaddeus-young/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype</a>, Phoenix is one of two teams (the Minnesota Timberwolves being the other) that have expressed interest in trading for San Antonio Spurs veteran Thaddeus Young.
2. Golden State Warriors (41-13) &harr;️ Last Week: 2
It appears Klay Thompson is finding his groove, which is bad news for the rest of the NBA. Klay has scored over 20 points in back-to-back games and is averaging 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 made treys (while shooting 42.9% from downtown) over his last five contests. &nbsp;
3. Memphis Grizzlies (38-18) &harr;️ Last Week: 3
The Grizz just keep on winning. They've won 6 of their last 7 games and 19 of their previous 23. Memphis has not lost consecutive contests since before Christmas. Over their last 20 games, Ja Morant is averaging 29.9 points (while shooting over 51% from the floor), 6.7 dimes, 6.3 assists, 1.6 made triples and 1.1 steals. Those are jaw-dropping numbers for any player, let alone a 22-year-old kid in just his third pro season.
4. Milwaukee Bucks (35-21) ⬆️ Last Week: 9
Interesting statistical factoid from the Bucks 137-113 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. In that game, Milwaukee became the first team in NBA history to have each member of its starting lineup score at least 15 points, grab at least 5 rebounds and knock down at least 2 three-pointers.
5. Miami Heat (35-20) &harr;️ Last Week: 5
When the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night, Miami clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference through the end of last week, which means Erik Spoelstra and his staff will head to Cleveland later this month to coach Team Durant in the All-Star Game.
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6. Chicago Bulls (33-21) &harr;️ Last Week: 6
The Bulls, playing without two of their best perimeter defenders in Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, have lost 3 of their last 4. However, after playing Wednesday in Charlotte, Chicago begins a six-game homestand that wraps around All-Star weekend. Following the matchup with the Hornets, the Bulls don't play on the road again until Feb. 28.&nbsp;
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (33-21) ⬆️ Last Week: 8
The Cavs acquired Caris LeVert from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for injured point guard Ricky Rubio and three draft picks over the weekend. "Very excited to add a dynamic young player of this caliber and experience," Cleveland president Koby Altman told reporters. "LeVert fits uniquely into our culture, and his Ohio roots bring an immediate connection to our community. We look forward to seeing what type of impact he can make on this roster." It's an excellent addition for the Cavs to supply them with the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/reaction-caris-levert-fills-blended-need-for-cavs-as-pacers-reset" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scoring wing they were looking for</a>, making Cleveland that much scarier come playoff time. LeVert is expected to be active for Wednesday's game against the Spurs.
8. Philadelphia 76ers (32-22) ⬇️ Last Week: 4
The Sixers are 10 games over .500 and Joel Embiid is doing much of the heavy lifting. Over his last 10 games, the big man is averaging 36.0 points, 12.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists. In the process, he may have established himself as the odds-on favorite to take home the MVP award entering the All-Star break. &nbsp;
9. Dallas Mavericks (32-23) ⬆️ Last Week: 10
Reggie Bullock tallied 22 points (on 8 of 14 shooting with 6 made three-pointers), 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. He's been a big part of the Mavs success of late. Over Dallas' past seven games, Bullock is averaging 17.9 points (while shooting 50.0% from the floor), 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 treys, 1.3 steals and just 0.6 turnovers.
10. Utah Jazz (33-21) ⬆️ Last Week: 11
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Donovan Mitchell sealed the win for the <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@utahjazz</a> with 3 fourth-quarter steals, after GOING OFF for 21 points in the first half! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeNote?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TakeNote</a> 🕷 <a href="https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@spidadmitchell</a>: 32 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 4 STL <a href="https://t.co/IiPsFfYDIu">pic.twitter.com/IiPsFfYDIu</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1490927965319970816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Donovan Mitchell racked up 32 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in Utah's victory over the Knicks on Monday night. Rudy Gobert (left calf strain) did not play in the win, but the Jazz are hoping he is cleared to return to the action later this week. They also just acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nickel-alexanderwalker-on-the-move-again-as-blazers-jazz-spurs-complete-threeteam-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a three-team deal</a> to add some youth (and depth) to their backcourt.
11. Denver Nuggets (30-24) ⬇️ Last Week: 7
Nikola Jokic was at it again Sunday, registering another triple-double in Denver's 124-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The Joker finished with 27 points (on 12 of 15 shooting), 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals and just 2 turnovers in only 30 minutes. This one (his NBA-leading 14th triple-double) was notable because it was the second time in Jokic's career he's recorded a 25-point triple-double while also shooting above 80% from the floor. Wilt Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history with more than one such game.
12. Toronto Raptors (29-23) ⬆️ Last Week: 14
The Raptors, who are currently riding a six-game winning streak, have discussed a trade that would send Goran Dragic (and his $18 million expiring contract) to the Hawks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2953236-nba-trade-intel-cj-mccollum-has-become-best-player-likely-dealt-at-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report</a>.
13. Boston Celtics (31-25)&nbsp;⬆️ Last Week: 15
The Celtics have posted a 13-4 record dating back to New Year's Eve, and it's their defense that has turned Boston's season around. Over this 17-game stretch, the C's are allowing just 101.5 points per 100 possessions. To put that number in context: No team in the NBA other than Boston is allowing fewer than 106.5 points per 100 possessions over the past six weeks. Boston ranks first in Net Rating in 2022 as well. As usual, Marcus Smart has led the charge (pun intended) on the defensive front. He leads his team in pass deflections (64 more than any other Celtic) and charges drawn.
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (29-25) ⬆️ Last Week: 17
In the 18 games this season in which Minnesota has been able to roll out its preferred starting five of D&rsquo;Angelo Russell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt and Patrick Beverley, the Wolves are 13-5.
15. Brooklyn Nets (29-25) ⬇️ Last Week: 12
The Nets have lost nine straight games. They are 12 games under .500 dating back to late December. Kevin Durant is still weeks away from returning to action after spraining the medial collateral in his left knee last month. James Harden looks puffy and is nursing a hamstring injury. Joe Harris suffered a setback in his recovery from left ankle surgery in late January and reportedly could need a second surgery. Of the 27 games remaining on the Nets schedule, 14 of them are on the road. However, four of those contests are against either the New York Knicks or Raptors, which means Irving will only be able to suit up for (at most) 10 games. But, yeah, other than that, everything is all good in Brooklyn.&nbsp;
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16. Charlotte Hornets (28-27) ⬇️ Last Week: 13
Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2953236-nba-trade-intel-cj-mccollum-has-become-best-player-likely-dealt-at-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> this week that the Hornets are one of several teams that have expressed interest in Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl. The Bulls and Raps have also been rumored to be interested in Poeltl.
17. Atlanta Hawks (26-28) ⬇️ Last Week: 16
The Hawks were just 1-3 in their previous four games prior to Tuesday (although that one win was impressive &mdash; a victory at home over the Suns last Thursday, which snapped their 11-game winning streak). Atlanta took advantage of a reeling Indiana Pacers squad Tuesday night, beating them 133-112.
18. Los Angeles Lakers (26-29) &harr;️ Last Week: 18
Over the Lakers' last four games, Russell Westbrook is shooting a putrid 27.5% from the floor, 15.4% from downtown and 55.0% from the charity stripe. Late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's victory over the Knicks, when Westbrook was alone with the ball in the corner, the home crowd shouted at him not to shoot. When New York forced overtime, head coach Frank Vogel benched Russ for Talen Horton-Tucker. Westbrook was also benched for the final 14 minutes in Tuesday&rsquo;s loss to the Bucks. Will the Lakers admit they made a mistake before the deadline and reroute Russ out of Los Angeles?
19. New Orleans Pelicans (22-32) ⬆️ Last Week: 23
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
🔥 Brandon Ingram WENT OFF for 17 points in the 3rd quarter on his way to 33 points and the <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PelicansNBA</a> win! <a href="https://twitter.com/B_Ingram13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@B_Ingram13</a>: 33 PTS, 12 AST, 3 STL <a href="https://t.co/3uT1ocPpgg">pic.twitter.com/3uT1ocPpgg</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1490683017949552641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2022</a></blockquote>

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New Orleans, who won just one of their first 13 games this season, is now riding a four-game winning streak and has jumped up into 10th place in the Western Conference. And on Tuesday, the team <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/why-the-pelicans-pushing-chips-in-on-cj-mccollum-was-a-wise-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added a stud scorer to its roster</a>. The Pels acquired CJ McCollum along with Larry Nance and Tony Snell from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jason Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada and draft compensation. I love this deal for New Orleans.&nbsp;
20. Los Angeles Clippers (27-29) ⬇️ Last Week: 19
Last week, the Clippers made a shrewd trade, sending Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a second-round pick to the Blazers for Norman Powell and Robert Covington. It will help not only help them make a playoff push this year, but will also <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/breaking-down-why-the-blazersclippers-deal-works-for-both-sides" target="_blank" rel="noopener">round out their roster next season</a> when they can count on both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George returning to full strength. Powell looked great in his Clippers' debut on Sunday, tallying 28 points on 9 of 16 shooting in just 24 minutes. He followed that up with a 16-point night in a lopsided loss to the Grizz.
21. Washington Wizards (24-29) ⬇️ Last Week: 20
After the 2021-22 season started with plenty of promise, the Wiz have lost 8 of 9 heading into Thursday's matchup with the Nets. They will likely look to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-trade-destinations-for-spencer-dinwiddie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade the struggling Spencer Dinwiddie</a> before the deadline arrives.&nbsp;
22. New York Knicks (24-31) ⬇️ Last Week: 21
New York has lost 10 of its last 12 games, but Mitchell Robinson had been playing some of the best basketball of his career before sitting out Tuesday's loss due to a back injury. Over the last month, Mitch Rob is averaging 11.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. During this stretch, the only other players in the NBA also averaging double-digit points and rebounds to go along with at least 1.4 blocks are Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
23. San Antonio Spurs (20-34) ⬆️ Last Week: 24
Spurs fans learned Monday that Dejounte Murray will make his NBA All-Star Game debut after being named an injury replacement by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Murray is averaging 19.6 points, 9.2 assists, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals this season, and has a chance to become just the third player ever to average at least 8 assists, 8 rebounds and 2 steals per game over an entire season.&nbsp;
24. Sacramento Kings (20-36) ⬆️ Last Week: 26
The Kings shook up the league Tuesday afternoon, trading Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson to Indiana for Domantas Sabonis, Jeremy Lamb, Justin Holiday and a 2027 second-round pick. It is stunning that Sacaremto would part ways with Haliburton. The 21-year-old has exceeded all expectations since being drafted in 2020. He is on pace to become just the second player in NBA history to average at least 5 assists and 2 made three-pointers per game while shooting over 40% from downtown in each of his first two pro seasons. (The only player to have accomplished this feat is Stephen Curry.)
25. Portland Trail Blazers (21-34) ⬇️ Last Week: 22
The Blazers made waves on Tuesday, trading away former franchise cornerstone CJ McCollum. It continued on Wednesday afternoon, as Portland rerouted Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Utah for Joe Ingles' expiring $14 million deal in a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nickel-alexanderwalker-on-the-move-again-as-blazers-jazz-spurs-complete-threeteam-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three-team trade</a>. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that "Portland plans to fully reshape the roster around Damian Lillard now... the plan is to pursue high-end talent now, not retreat." The team's also created a ton of cap space in the process and has a $21 million trade exception at its disposal.
26. Indiana Pacers (19-37) ⬇️ Last Week: 25
The Pacers, who are just 5-18 since Christmas, began breaking down their roster by trading Caris LeVert to the Cavs on Sunday, and then <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pacers-exit-blockbuster-trade-with-kings-as-huge-winners-thanks-to-tyrese-haliburton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shipped off Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento</a>, as noted above. As our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/bucks-interested-in-trading-for-myles-turner-pacers-may-keep-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alex Kennedy reported</a>, Myles Turner is "a big fan of Tyrese Haliburton's game and is excited about the possibility of playing with the young guard." It appears Turner may stay in Indiana.
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27. Oklahoma City Thunder (17-36) &harr;️ Last Week: 27
The Thunder lost to the Warriors on Monday night, but Luguentz Dort had another strong outing, tallying 26 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. In the three games OKC has played without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort is averaging 23.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 three-balls.
28. Houston Rockets (15-39) ⬆️ Last Week: 29
The Rockets would love to join this week's wheeling and dealing by exchanging veteran shooting guard Eric Gordon for draft capital. We'll see if they find a willing trade partner.&nbsp;
29. Orlando Magic (13-43) ⬆️ Last Week: 30
We know the Magic hope to flip Terrence Ross and Gary Harris in exchange for draft picks before Thursday's deadline. The question is whether they will also look to deal big man Mo Bamba. After struggling over his first three years in the NBA, Bamba is posting career-highs across the board this season. However, Orlando inked center Wendell Carter Jr. to a four-year, $50 million contract extension back in October. The Magic are reportedly willing to listen to offers for Bamba, who has a $10.1 million qualifying offer for 2022-23 and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
30. Detroit Pistons (12-42) ⬇️ Last Week: 28
Killian Hayes has played a bit better of late, but he has failed to live up to expectations since being selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. This season, Hayes is one of only two players in the NBA logging more than 20 minutes per game yet shooting below 38% from the floor and averaging fewer than 10 points per contest. For his career, he is just 50-of-179 from downtown (27.9%)... The Pistons have lost 9 of their last 10 contests.
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Tommy Beer checks in with an installment of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings.

NBA Power Rankings: Bucks back into top tier, Mavs vault into top-10

If there&rsquo;s one thing the Brooklyn Nets aren&rsquo;t short on, it&rsquo;s basketball talent. For the team, that&rsquo;s a good thing.&nbsp;
For Paul Millsap personally? Not so much.
Now in his 16th year, after just 24 games in Brooklyn, the 36-year-old veteran big man is looking for a new opportunity.&nbsp;
Since he signed on in Brooklyn last summer, the Nets have seen Nicolas Claxton and Day&rsquo;Ron Sharpe become reliable role players and LaMarcus Aldridge return from retirement. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Blake Griffin has maintained his place in the rotation, effectively leaving Millsap as the odd man out.&nbsp;
Of the five, he averages the fewest minutes per game (11.3 &mdash; a career low) and is the only one who hasn&rsquo;t started a single contest. Considering his pedigree, his unhappiness should come as no surprise.&nbsp;
Millsap effectively lost his job with the Denver Nuggets after the team acquired Aaron Gordon, and he chose to sign with Brooklyn because the team was perceived to have a shallow front court.&nbsp;
Surprisingly, though, it is Millsap who has drowned in the rotation.
With the NBA&rsquo;s Feb. 10 trade deadline approaching, there are a few teams which could both afford Millsap the opportunity to play meaningful minutes and contend for a championship. Whether the Nets trade him or buy him out, Millsap will eventually find a new home this season. If he&rsquo;s fortunate, it&rsquo;ll be with one of these clubs&hellip;
Milwaukee Bucks
After starting 70 games for the NBA champion Bucks last season, incumbent starter Brook Lopez hasn&rsquo;t appeared in a game since October. Currently recovering from back surgery, the Bucks are hopeful that Lopez can return before the playoffs begin, but as of now the team is rather thin up front.
Bobby Portis has filled in admirably since Lopez has gone down, and he&rsquo;s played well enough as a starter for head coach Mike Budenholzer to wonder whether Portis should retain the starting job even after Lopez returns. On the season, Portis is shooting a remarkable 41.4% from three-point territory. Although it&rsquo;s an appreciable decrease from the 47% he shot last season, that he&rsquo;s come close to maintaining his proficiency is an accomplishment, considering he&rsquo;s taking nearly twice as many attempts per game (4.5 this season compared to 2.4 last season).
It&rsquo;s not difficult to imagine a scenario where Millsap is able to give coach Budenholzer some minutes up front, especially considering the gaping hole that&rsquo;s been left in the team&rsquo;s rotation with Lopez&rsquo;s injury.
Phoenix Suns
Over the past 15 years, one of the constants in the NBA is that Chris Paul is going to find a way to maximize the players and the talent around him. We&rsquo;ve seen it since CP3 was suiting up in New Orleans, and we&rsquo;ve seen it most recently with Bismack Biyombo.&nbsp;
Unfortunately for the big man, Biyombo&rsquo;s career story &mdash; at least before arriving in Phoenix &mdash; has mostly been one about unfulfilled expectations. He was not re-signed by the rebuilding Charlotte Hornets after his contract expired last season and went unsigned for the first-half of this season.
Because of injuries to Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee, the Suns found themselves with a need in the frontcourt and, without fail, Biyombo has experienced quite the resurgence. Through nine games in Phoenix, he is averaging what would be a career-high 10.8 points per game on 70.2% shooting from the field. He&rsquo;s benefited greatly from playing alongside Paul, as well as with units that share the ball and play relatively fast.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, approximately 67% of Biyombo&rsquo;s field goal attempts come within three feet of the basket, with another 30% coming from 3-10 feet.&nbsp;
In other words, he&rsquo;s excelled by providing the team with an inside presence that the Suns are sorely missing without Ayton, and it&rsquo;s conceivable that Millsap could provide a similar interior offensive presence.&nbsp;
Dallas Mavericks
After hovering around .500 for the early part of the season, the Mavericks are 10-3 in 2022. Both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis have missed a fair share of games this season, but recent reports suggest that the Mavericks &mdash; who want to continue to build around their duo &mdash; are open for business.&nbsp;
In recent weeks, there have been reports citing Myles Turner and Dennis Schroder as players the Mavericks have some level of interest in, but Turner recently suffered a stress reaction in his left foot that may sideline him until after the trade deadline.
To make matters worse, Tim Hardaway Jr. fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot and is expected to be out for an extended period of time. Millsap won&rsquo;t necessarily help absorb any of the available minutes in the Mavericks&rsquo; backcourt, but he would help the team by providing another serviceable body who can help replace the 14.2 points per game they&rsquo;ll lose with Hardaway out of the lineup.
Along with Porzingis, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber have played most of the available big man minutes for Jason Kidd&rsquo;s team. It&rsquo;s difficult to imagine Millsap, even at 36 years old, not being able to provide value to a front line featuring those three.&nbsp;
With Turner potentially off the board and Hardaway on the shelf, Dallas will certainly have to find help elsewhere, especially with the team finally beginning to click after its season got off to a rough start.
Chicago Bulls
Patrick Williams was lost for the season back in October, and in January the Bulls have had players dropping like flies.&nbsp;
Zach LaVine only missed five games and returned to the lineup on Monday night after suffering a minor left knee injury, but neither Alex Caruso nor Lonzo Ball were as fortunate. Ball and Caruso will each miss the next 6-8 weeks, with Derrick Jones Jr. out for a similar time frame. Meanwhile, Nikola Vucevic is battling left knee soreness.
The Bulls need bodies, and it would help if they happened to be big.
Enter Millsap.
Although there probably won&rsquo;t be many shots available for Millsap, he would provide immediate help to a Bulls front line that ranks 28th in the league in rebounds.
DeMar DeRozan has spent some time at power forward for Chicago this season, which isn&rsquo;t ideal. DeRozan &mdash; who has slowed down in recent weeks after being mentioned among MVP candidates earlier this season &mdash; would be better served by having another big in the lineup.
Although Chicago will be without Ball and Caruso for the foreseeable future, the team will need another big body or two if it hopes to challenge the likes of Milwaukee and Brooklyn for the Eastern Conference. Millsap could help.
Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside have proven to be a formidable tandem patrolling the paint for the Jazz, and they&rsquo;ve also proven that a team can still find success in today&rsquo;s NBA by playing traditional big men.
Although Millsap wouldn&rsquo;t provide the same spacing as Bojan Bogdanovic or Rudy Gay, he would provide the team with some needed insurance in the event that Gobert or Whiteside went down for an extended period of time.&nbsp;
Aside from the fact that Millsap began his career in Utah, he would also facilitate some offensive balance for the team &mdash; according to NBA.com, the Jazz score 38.6% of their points from three-point territory, which ranks third in the league. With respect to points scored in the paint, they rank 16th, with just 42.4%.
Millsap still possesses a back-to-basket game and could help Utah in one of the areas they need to improve.
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Moke Hamilton examines some of the teams that should take a close look at acquiring Paul Millsap from the Nets.

Five teams that could benefit from a Paul Millsap trade

NBA Power Rankings: New Year's Resolutions for each team

&ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; is back to go over today&rsquo;s slate for a 10-pack Monday. Every day, &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; gives you the inside advantage before games begin. So far this season, we are carrying a 133-104-2 record (56.1%).
As always, our odds are provided by TwinSpires Sportsbook and over/under power play prop bets are provided by PrizePicks.
It&rsquo;s hammering time!
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets (-6)
Cleveland continues to hang tough in the Eastern Conference, but I was very surprised when I saw how low the line was for this matchup. Despite the impending returns of Lauri Markkanen and Jarrett Allen, there&rsquo;s still no Collin Sexton and Evan Mobley for the Cavaliers, so Brooklyn&rsquo;s offense should run wild here. Expect Kevin Durant and James Harden to plow through the Cavaliers&rsquo; defense en route to a comfortable double-digit victory. On PrizePicks, I&rsquo;m locking in this simple power play prop: Durant over 28.5 points, Harden over 22.5 points, Darius Garland over 18.5 points.
Washington Wizards (-4) vs. Charlotte Hornets
I can&rsquo;t wait to watch this game tonight. Both teams have high-powered offenses that should be able to effectively find their rhythm. Bradley Beal versus LaMelo Ball will be a fun backcourt battle as well. Washington has proven early on this season that it thrives in closely-contested matchups. For that reason, we&rsquo;re hammering the Wizards to win outright and cover the 4-point spread. Tail me on this enticing power play via PrizePicks: Beal over 24.5 points, Miles Bridges over 18.5 points, Ball over 7 rebounds, Spencer Dinwiddie over 5.5 assists.
Boston Celtics (-11.5) vs. Houston Rockets
This is a monster spread in favor of Boston, but I'm still easily hammering a prediction in the Celtics' direction. Houston is on pace to finish with one of the worst records in NBA history. I don&rsquo;t expect the funk in Houston stop anytime soon, as Jayson Tatum should carve up the Rockets&rsquo; inexperienced wing defenders. The Celtics are beginning to find their footing as well, even without Jaylen Brown. Boston should easily cover this 11.5-point spread, so we&rsquo;re picking that and loading up a fun power play on PrizePicks: Tatum over 25 points, Christian Wood over 16.5 points, Jalen Green over 13.5 points, Marcus Smart over 5 assists.
Atlanta Hawks (-12) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Originally opening as 10.5-point favorites, the line has risen further in favor of the Hawks. A perfect opportunity for a get-right game, Trae Young and Atlanta desperately need a dominant showing versus Oklahoma City. Honestly, I see them getting that, as the Hawks&rsquo; depth should overpower the young Thunder. Hammer the Hawks to cover the massive spread as one of our best bets of the night on &ldquo;Nothing But Bets." Plus, tail us on this PrizePicks power play: Young over 23.5 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 20.5 points, Clint Capela over 12.5 rebounds.
Chicago Bulls (-2) vs. Indiana Pacers
How is this spread not higher in favor of the Bulls at home? Chicago is so fun to watch right now, completely locked in on both ends of the court. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are a strong scoring duo, and Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso are All-Defense candidates. Everything is running smoothly for Chicago, and I don&rsquo;t see those winning ways ending on Monday against a division rival. Hammer the Bulls at -2, plus the following prop on PrizePicks: LaVine over 25 points, Domantas Sabonis over 15.5 points, Ball over 5.5 rebounds, Malcolm Brogdon over 4.5 assists.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (-3)
This is another matchup where it&rsquo;s hard to imagine the Pelicans pulling it off in the Bayou. When exactly is Zion Williamson returning for the Pelicans? Until then, it&rsquo;s just not smart to bet on New Orleans. Minnesota should be able to outpace the Pelicans in a high-scoring matchup, so I&rsquo;m locking in Timberwolves -3 and another enticing PrizePicks prop: Karl-Anthony Towns over 21.5 points, Anthony Edwards over 21.5 points, Brandon Ingram over 21.5 points, Jonas Valanciunas over 11.5 rebounds.
Milwaukee Bucks (-13) vs. Orlando Magic
This is going to be a blowout. I have no confidence in the Magic keeping this one close at all against Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are finding their 1-2 magic once again, which spells bad news for the Magic tonight. Although the spread is massive at -13, I&rsquo;m still going to smash that line with emphasis. The Bucks should roll and cruise to a 15-plus point victory. On PrizePicks, we&rsquo;re betting on a big scoring night from Milwaukee&rsquo;s duo: Giannis over 25.5 points, Middleton over 16.5 points, Mo Bamba over 8.5 rebounds, Jalen Suggs over 4 assists.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns (-5.5)
It feels like we&rsquo;re getting some real value with the spread only at -5.5 in favor of the Suns. Being winners of 12 straight on the second night of a back-to-back could feel like a trap, but, honestly, it&rsquo;s not. Devin Booker and Chris Paul sat for the whole fourth quarter Sunday night after crushing Denver in the Footprint Center. A well-rested Suns backcourt is a doomsday scenario for San Antonio. Confidently hammer the Suns to cover the 5.5-point spread, plus this strong power play prop on PrizePicks: Paul over 14.5 points, Dejounte Murray over 7 rebounds, Devin Booker over 4 assists, Doug McDermott over 1.5 threes.
Utah Jazz (-10.5) vs. Memphis Grizzlies
These are two teams going in opposite directions, and the stylistic matchup certainly favors the home team. Utah will be able to get up easy shots all game against the Grizzlies&rsquo; porous defense, and the Rudy Gobert effect will loom large on Ja Morant's drive attempts. I have a hard time seeing how the Grizzlies keep this one close, even when they're getting 10.5 points. Once again, we&rsquo;re locking in another double-digit spread to hit alongside a strong odds prop bet on PrizePicks: Donovan Mitchell over 24.5 points, Morant over 22.5 points, Gobert over 12.5 rebounds.
Sacramento Kings (-4) vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Luke Walton era in Sacramento is officially over after back-to-back ugly home losses. Now, are the Kings poised for an interim coach bump tonight against Philadelphia? An odd betting trend is when a coach is let go, the team usually bounces back with a new voice the first game after. Even though Philadelphia is shorthanded, I expect this game to be close throughout. With the Sixers still missing key pieces, we&rsquo;re locking in the post-Walton Kings to secure the victory in Sacramento. On PrizePicks, tail me on this fun power play structure: De&rsquo;Aaron Fox over 18.5 points, Seth Curry over 16.5 points, Tyrese Haliburton over 4.5 assists.
Recapping our picks against the spread for &ldquo;Nothing But Bets,&rdquo; here&rsquo;s what is being lock in for Sunday&rsquo;s slate: Nets -6, Wizards -4, Celtics -11.5, Hawks -12, Bulls -2, Timberwolves -3, Bucks -13, Suns -5.5, Jazz -10.5, Kings -4.
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Alongside our "Nothing But Bets" podcast on BasketballNews.com, our daily picks will be posted each day.

Nothing But Bets: NBA Projections for 11/22/21

&ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; is back to go over today&rsquo;s slate for an action-packed Sunday. Every day, &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; gives you the inside advantage before games begin. So far this season, we are carrying a 129-103-2 record (55.5%).
As always, our odds are provided by TwinSpires Sportsbook and over/under power play prop bets are provided by PrizePicks.
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It&rsquo;s hammering time!
Los Angeles Clippers (-3.5) vs. Dallas Mavericks
With no Luka Doncic still for Dallas, it&rsquo;s hard to envision a win for them on the road against a surging Clippers team. Paul George continues to play at a superstar level, plus role players continue to thrive with bigger workloads. I&rsquo;m leaning towards Los Angeles to win outright and cover the 3.5-point spread here. Expect a huge outing from George as the Clippers pull off the W at the Staples Center. Here&rsquo;s a fun over/under power play to tail on PrizePicks: George over 24.5 points, Ivica Zubac over 8 rebounds, Kristaps Porzingis over 7.5 rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. over 2.5 threes.
Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-7)
2021 No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham is starting to turn the corner in his rookie season, but it&rsquo;s not going to be enough against the start-studded Lakers. Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook should roll in this spot, allowing a comfortable victory for Hollywood&rsquo;s team. Hammering the Lakers to cover the 7-point spread is one of our best bets for Sunday&rsquo;s slate on &ldquo;Nothing But Bets,&rdquo; so we&rsquo;ll lock that in alongside an enticing PrizePicks power play: Cunningham over 15.5 points, Davis over 10 rebounds, Westbrook, Westbrook over 7.5 assists, Saddiq Bey over 2 threes.
Phoenix Suns (-8) vs. Denver Nuggets
There&rsquo;s not a hotter team in the NBA right now than the Phoenix Suns. Winners of 11 straight games, they&rsquo;re going for 12 tonight at the Footprint Center versus Denver. With Nikola Jokic expected to be sidelined once again, Phoenix should dominate from start to finish. The Suns are in an absolutely groove right now, showcasing their elite abilities on both ends of the court. Expect a huge all-around game from the Suns&rsquo; starting lineup as they cruise to a comfortable double-digit victory tonight. On PrizePicks, I&rsquo;m locking in this very realistic power play to potentially cash out big: Devin Booker over 22.5 points, Mikal Bridges over 11.5 points, Deandre Ayton over 11 rebounds, Chris Paul over 9.5 assists.
Chicago Bulls (-5.5) vs. New York Knicks
New York is in a major funk right now after a hot start to the 2021-22 season. They are barely beating the bottom-barrel teams, plus they continue to lose winnable outings. In Chicago against a very much improved Bulls squad, I&rsquo;m projecting a huge win for the home team. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are such a fun scoring duo. Also, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball are locking up perimeter players in the backcourt as well. Hammer the Bulls in this spot to cover the 5.5-point spread, plus the following over/under power play on PrizePicks: LaVine over 25.5 points, DeRozan over 23.5 points, Julius Randle over 19.5 points, R.J. Barrett over 1.5 threes.
Golden State Warriors (-9) vs. Toronto Raptors
Don&rsquo;t you dare bet against this Warriors squad right now. They are once again a juggernaut. Also, imagine how good this team will be once Klay Thompson returns to the starting lineup soon. Toronto is without OG Anunoby, which will be a huge issue against the high-powered offense of Golden State. Easily hammer the Warriors to cover the big 9-point spread, plus the following props on PrizePicks to bring home a big payday: Jordan Poole over 17.5 points, Scottie Barnes over 6.5 rebounds, Fred VanVleet over 5.5 assists, Stephen Curry over 5 threes.
Recapping our picks against the spread for &ldquo;Nothing But Bets,&rdquo; here&rsquo;s what is being lock in for Sunday&rsquo;s slate: Clippers -3.5, Lakers -7, Suns -8, Bulls -5.5, Warriors -9.
All users that deposit and use the promo code NEWS on Prize Picks will receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100! <a href="https://www.prizepicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up here</a>.

For an action-packed Sunday slate, "Nothing But Bets" provides their picks against the spread plus over/under power plays via PrizePicks.

Nothing But Bets: NBA Projections for 11/21/21

<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nothing-but-bets/id1589799249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo;</a> is back to go over today&rsquo;s slate on a loaded Friday in the NBA. Every single day, &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; gives you the inside advantage before games begin. So far this season, we are carrying a 120-94-2 record (56.0%) against the spread.
As always, our odds are provided by TwinSpires Sportsbook and over/under power-play prop bets are provided by <a href="https://www.prizepicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PrizePicks</a>.
It&rsquo;s hammering time!
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Detroit Pistons vs. Golden State Warriors (-2)
This spread is small, but the reason why is because the Warriors are giving Stephen Curry a well-deserved night off. Against the Pistons, it might not even matter if Curry sits. In this matchup, I still love hammering the lower point spread in favor of the Curry-less Warriors. Cade Cunningham could help keep this one close for a little bit, but expect Golden State to open the floodgates late, easily cruising to cover the 2-point spread in Detroit. On PrizePicks, tail me on this fun power play: Andrew Wiggins over 19.5 points, Jordan Poole over 19.5 points, Cade Cunningham over 14.5 points, Jerami Grant over 1.5 threes.
Charlotte Hornets (-1) vs. Indiana Pacers
I love this matchup in favor of the Hornets. Charlotte&rsquo;s pace-and-space style is a bad clash for Indiana, who continues to be so inconsistent opening up the 2021-22 season. Who exactly are the Pacers? Always dealing with injuries and not knowing what to expect almost every game, is it time to blow up some of this core? Personally, I think so. Stay tuned to <a href="http://BasketballNews.com">BasketballNews.com</a> next week on this, because my thoughts go very in-depth. In the meantime, hammer Hornets -1 and the following power play on PrizePicks: Malcolm Brogdon over 19.5 points, Miles Bridges over 18.5 points, Domantas Sabonis over 11.5 rebounds, LaMelo Ball over 6.5 assists.
Boston Celtics (-3) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
As long as LeBron James remains out, it&rsquo;s so hard to trust the Lakers from a betting perspective. In Boston, the same idea holds here because I'm actually wagering on Celtics -3 here. Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook should have solid outings, but I like a charged-up environment in Boston alongside a monster outing from Jayson Tatum pushing it in favor of the Celtics. On PrizePicks, we&rsquo;re locking in this power play to tail our prediction of Boston covering the 3-point spread: Tatum over 25.5 points, Davis over 19.5 points, Westbrook over 6.5 assists, Marcus Smart over 3.5 rebounds.
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Brooklyn Nets (-10) vs. Orlando Magic
No Kevin Durant, no problem for Brooklyn at home tonight against the Magic. Although Orlando continues to surprise on some nights, they tend to struggle mightily against the NBA&rsquo;s elite teams. Even without Durant, Brooklyn still qualifies thanks to a James Harden-centric system being put on display. Harden helps the Nets roll over Orlando, cruising to an easy double-digit victory. Smash the Nets to cover the 10-point spread, plus the following power-play prop on PrizePicks: Harden over 24.5 points, Cole Anthony over 17.5 points, Patty Mills over 13.5 points, Mo Bamba over 7.5 rebounds.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers (-4)
New Orleans is well within the NBA&rsquo;s abyss right now. How exactly will they escape? It&rsquo;s almost impossible to see how they can, even when Zion Williamson eventually returns from the foot injury he suffered during the offseason. The Pelicans are well on their way to a top lottery pick, and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pelicans-exec-david-griffin-on-hot-seat-after-slow-start-altercation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the seat is now getting warm for GM David Griffin</a> in the Bayou. Griffin&rsquo;s work in New Orleans has been very up-and-down, bordering on potentially squandering a rebuild attempt around a generational talent. You have to wonder if Williamson starts to seriously consider leaving the Pelicans relatively soon as well. For this matchup, though, let&rsquo;s hammer the Clippers to cover the 4-point spread. Betting against the Pelicans right now is an easy money-making exercise, so let&rsquo;s keep riding that train. On PrizePicks, lock in this power play: Paul George over 25.5 points, Brandon Ingram over 20.5 points, Reggie Jackson over 17.5 points, Jonas Valanciunas over 11.5 rebounds.
Milwaukee Bucks (-13) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
What a massive spread for this matchup, but that&rsquo;s not scaring me off here. I&rsquo;m taking the Bucks to easily cover the 13-point spread, because the trend of Oklahoma City not being able to hang with top-tier teams still holds true. Milwaukee is finally getting back to full health, so expect their starting lineup to feast against the inexperienced Thunder. Hammer the Bucks to cover, plus project a monster performance once again from Giannis Antetokounmpo. Let&rsquo;s lock in this fun power play on PrizePicks as well: Giannis over 24.5 points, Khris Middleton over 16.5 points, Josh Giddey over 4.5 assists, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 4 rebounds.
Denver Nuggets (-1.5) vs. Chicago Bulls
This is going to be the most entertaining matchup for Friday&rsquo;s slate, so make sure to tune into this one in Denver. Nikola Jokic is playing even better than he was last season as MVP, which says a lot about how incredible he's been. Meanwhile, the Bulls&rsquo; offseason retooling is paying huge dividends right now with all of their new additions thriving alongside Zach LaVine. And once Nikola Vucevic is back in the starting lineup, Chicago will be even better. Although I&rsquo;m so tempted to bet on the underdog here, I&rsquo;m siding with Jokic and the Nuggets to get the job done covering the 1.5-point spread at home. On PrizePicks, this is one of my favorite power plays to tail: Zach LaVine over 23.5 points, DeMar DeRozan over 21.5 points, Aaron Gordon over 6 rebounds, Lonzo Ball over 4.5 assists.
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Phoenix Suns (-8.5) vs. Dallas Mavericks
These two teams once again lock horns after a super entertaining comeback victory for Phoenix on Wednesday. This time around, we&rsquo;re betting once again on the Suns to cover the spread against the Luka Doncic-less Mavericks. Dallas led for most of the game because of super-hot, unsustainable three-point shooting. I&rsquo;m not projecting that will happen again, so, honestly, I expect the Suns to roll here and win by double-digits. The Suns are winners of 10-straight, and that streak should only continue as they continue to gain even more confidence. Phoenix is one of the most dangerous teams in the Association, so betting against them isn&rsquo;t a wise investment. Hammer the Suns at -8.5, plus the following power-play on PrizePicks: Devin Booker over 22.5 points, Mikal Bridges over 11.5 points, Deandre Ayton over 10.5 rebounds, Chris Paul over 8.5 assists.
Sacramento Kings (-3.5) vs. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors will be without OG Anunoby for an extended period of time due to a hip injury, which is a major blow because he&rsquo;s been showcasing why he&rsquo;s so important to their long-term future. However, even without Anunoby in Sacramento, I like the Raptors as underdogs to cover the 3.5-point spread. The heat is on for Kings head coach Luke Walton, and it&rsquo;s hard to envision how he survives the entire regular season. Give me the Raptors in this matchup on the road in Sacramento, thanks in large part to their reliable veteran combo of Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. On PrizePicks, I&rsquo;m locking in this intriguing power play as well: Siakam over 18.5 points, Scottie Barnes over 6.5 rebounds, VanVleet over 2.5 threes, Tyrese Haliburton over 1.5 threes.
Recapping our picks against the spread for &ldquo;Nothing But Bets,&rdquo; here&rsquo;s what is being locked in for Friday&rsquo;s fun slate: Warriors -2, Hornets -1, Celtics -3, Nets -10, Clippers -4, Bucks -13, Nuggets -1.5, Suns -8.5, Raptors +3.5.
All users that deposit and use the promo code NEWS on PrizePicks will receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100! <a href="https://www.prizepicks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up here</a>.

Ahead of Friday' slate, "Nothing But Bets" shares their latest picks against the spread and over/under power-play props via PrizePicks.

Nothing But Bets: NBA Projections for 11/19/21

It&rsquo;s time for another installment of our NBA picks against the spread via &ldquo;Nothing But Bets.&rdquo; Every single day, &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; gives you the inside advantage on the slate of action before opening tip-off. So far this season, the results are in our favor carrying a 110-87-2 record (55.8%).
As always, our odds are provided by TwinSpires Sportsbook and over/under prop bets are provided by PrizePicks.
It&rsquo;s hammering time!
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Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers (-6.5)
Detroit is not a team you should feel comfortable picking to win, let alone covering the spread. In this matchup against Indiana at home, we&rsquo;re siding with the road team. Indiana has a serious size advantage down low, and I expect the team to abuse it throughout. Also, Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert should have their way on all three levels of the court. Outside of Cade Cunningham&rsquo;s improvement, there&rsquo;s nothing really interesting to follow along with right now in Detroit. Hammer the Pacers -6.5, plus the following over/under power play on PrizePicks: Brogdon over 19.5 points, Domantas Sabonis over 15.5 points, Sabonis over 10.5 rebounds, Cunningham over 13.5 points, Brogdon over 1.5 threes.
Charlotte Hornets (-1) vs. Washington Wizards
Climb back aboard the Hornets playoff train, folks. What an impressive win recently over the Golden State Warriors. Now, they face off against the very much improved Wizards in Charlotte. This is going to be a super fun matchup to follow along with, but it&rsquo;s hard not to roll the dice on the Hornets. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges make for such an exciting duo, while Gordon Hayward is the perfect third option. If defense ever clicks for the Hornets, which seems doubtful, watch out. I&rsquo;m locking in the Hornets to win and cover the spread, plus the following power play on PrizePicks: Bradley Beal over 23.5 points, Ball over 18.5 points, Bridges over 18.5 points, Ball over 6.5 rebounds, Ball over 2 threes.
Atlanta Hawks (-4.5) vs. Boston Celtics
Both of these teams have been so inconsistent kicking off the 2021-22 season, but expect each one to eventually round into form around the holidays. However, I&rsquo;m projecting the underdog Celtics to cover the 4.5-point spread tonight in Atlanta. In what should be a closely-contested battle throughout, Jayson Tatum vs. Trae Young is already enough reason to watch; hedge your lean towards Boston from a wagering standpoint. On PrizePicks, I&rsquo;m locking in this superstar power play with a strong possibility of cashing: Tatum over 24.5 points, Young over 23.5 points, Young over 7.5 assists, Tatum over 7 rebounds, Young over 2 threes.
Brooklyn Nets (-9.5) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Losing Evan Mobley for multiple weeks with an elbow sprain is a massive blow to the Cavaliers. Mobley has been instrumental to the Cavaliers&rsquo; rapid rise, especially on the defensive end. Even though the Nets are on the second night of a back-to-back following an embarrassing blowout loss to the Warriors, I&rsquo;m emphatically hammering them to cover the 9.5-point spread. Kevin Durant is going to have a field day against Cleveland, which is what we&rsquo;re parlaying into our prop bet on PrizePicks: Durant over 26.5 points, Durant over 7.5 rebounds, Harden over 7 rebounds, Harden over 8.5 assists.
Milwaukee Bucks (-9) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
I&rsquo;m living dangerously with this prediction, but let&rsquo;s roll with the Lakers to cover the 9-point spread as underdogs on the road in Milwaukee. This could easily burn me later on tonight, but the spread here for two inconsistent teams is too high. The Bucks still haven&rsquo;t found a groove, while the Lakers are a disaster without LeBron James. Anthony Davis vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to be a fun battle inside, but I like Los Angeles to keep this one closer than many expect. Lock in the Lakers +9 with the following AD and Giannis power play on PrizePicks: Giannis over 25.5 points, Davis over 23.5 points, Davis over 10.5 rebounds, Giannis over 10 rebounds.
Miami Heat (-8) vs. New Orleans Pelicans
What can we say about the Pelicans at this point? They&rsquo;re coming off a defeat in D.C. where they blew a 17-point halftime lead. It&rsquo;s incredible how New Orleans continues to lose games in this manner. I expect a similar tune tonight against the Heat. Even if the Heat are shorthanded, I think they roll against the Pelicans. This is one of my best bets of the night, with the Heat taking early control over New Orleans and not lettiing up throughout. Miami wins by double-digits, and we now pivot over to an enticing prop bet on PrizePicks: Brandon Ingram over 20.5 points, Kyle Lowry over 14.5 points, Jonas Valanciunas over 11.5 rebounds, Valanciunas over 0.5 threes.
New York Knicks (-12) vs. Orlando Magic
The last time these two teams squared off in Madison Square Garden, Orlando shocked the NBA world by defeating the Knicks outright. This time around, I&rsquo;m expecting the polar opposite result where New York rolls to the tune of a near 20-point victory, as Julius Randle and Co. dominate from opening tip. Orlando is so young and inconsistent that these types of matchups could get ugly quickly. Hammer the Knicks to cover the 12-point spread, plus the following PrizePicks props: Randle over 20.5 points, R.J. Barrett over 12.5 points, Randle over 8.5 rebounds, Randle over 4.5 assists.
Oklahoma City Thunder (-2.5) vs. Houston Rockets
Oklahoma City is on a roll when &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; wagers on them, so we&rsquo;re going back to that idea against the lowly Rockets. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is our cash cow tonight on PrizePicks as well, because our whole power play bet is centered around him dominating. (Be on the lookout for a Thunder story from yours truly this week on BasketballNews.com because they continue to impress me.) Surprisingly, OKC is closer than we all expected to taking a leap. Lock in OKC -2.5 at home, plus the following SGA props: Gilgeous-Alexander over 20.5 points, Gilgeous-Alexander over 4.5 rebounds, Gilgeous-Alexander over 4.5 assists, Gilgeous-Alexander over 1.5 threes.
Minnesota Timberwolves (-2) vs. Sacramento Kings
Kings head coach Luke Walton is already on the hot seat, which isn&rsquo;t a good sign for his long-term future in Sacramento. On the road in Minnesota, I&rsquo;m hammering the Timberwolves to cover the small 2-point spread. Minnesota almost dethroned the red-hot Suns this week, so projecting a bounce-back win with emphasis is a solid wager. On PrizePicks, here&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re rolling with for a realistic over/under power play prop: Karl-Anthony Towns over 23.5 points, Anthony Edwards over 22.5 points, D&rsquo;Angelo Russell over 19.5 points, Towns over 2.5 threes.
Portland Trail Blazers (-1.5) vs. Chicago Bulls
As a road underdog, Chicago has been crushing bettors this season. This time around, I&rsquo;m not falling for a projected loss. The Bulls winning outright and covering the 1.5-point spread in Portland is too enticing not to roll with here. Chicago has been so awesome to watch this season. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are a dynamic scoring duo. Meanwhile, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso are locking up the perimeter as two potential All-NBA defenders. Give me the Bulls at +1.5 against the Trail Blazers, plus the following power play on PrizePicks: LaVine over 23.5 points, DeRozan over 22.5 points, Ball over 5.5 rebounds, Ball over 4.5 assists, LaVine over 2.5 threes.
Phoenix Suns (-8.5) vs. Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic is out for tonight&rsquo;s game in Phoenix, so this game heavily leans in favor of the Suns. Kristaps Porzingis will have to carry the load for Dallas, which he&rsquo;s shown he can do more consistently recently. However, there are not many avenues in which the Mavericks can upend the Suns from winning their 10th straight game. Hammer the Suns to cover the 8.5-point spread at the Footprint Center, and tail me on this Suns-heavy power play on PrizePicks: Devin Booker over 22.5 points, Porzingis over 18.5 points, Deandre Ayton over 13.5 points, Ayton over 9.5 rebounds, Chris Paul over 8.5 assists.
Recapping our picks on &ldquo;Nothing But Bets,&rdquo; here&rsquo;s who I&rsquo;m rolling with for Wednesday&rsquo;s slate: Pacers -6.5, Hornets -1, Celtics +4.5, Nets -9.5, Lakers +9, Heat -8, Knicks -12, Thunder -2.5, Timberwolves -2, Bulls +1.5, Suns -8.5.
All users that deposit and use the promo code NEWS on Prize Picks will receive a 100% instant deposit match up to $100! <a href="https://app.prizepicks.com/sign-up?invite_code=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up here</a>.

Nothing But Bets: NBA Projections for 11/17/21

It&rsquo;s time for our latest picks against the spread with &ldquo;Nothing But Bets,&rdquo; our daily NBA betting show on the <a href="http://BasketballNews.com">BasketballNews.com</a> podcast network. Each morning, we provide you the edge for the Association&rsquo;s slate of action. Following our first 0-for this season, thanks in large part to the underdogs raining on the parade during Thursday&rsquo;s short three-game slate, it&rsquo;s time to drop off our latest predictions against the spreads.
As always, our odds are provided by TwinSpires Sportsbook and over/under prop bets are provided by PrizePicks. So far this season, &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; is carrying an 88-70-2 record&nbsp; (55.6%).
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It&rsquo;s hammering time, folks!
Charlotte Hornets vs. New York Knicks (-1.5)
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau lit a fuse under the team recently after benching the starters for the final 15 minutes of their loss against Milwaukee. I expect New York to come out here and play with an aggressive mindset, which doesn&rsquo;t bode well for the Hornets&rsquo; inconsistent defense. Hammer the Knicks to cover the 1.5-point spread, and tail me on the following over/under power play prop on PrizePicks: Julius Randle over 22.5 points, R.J. Barrett over 16.5 points, Randle over 9.5 rebounds, Randle over 5 assists.
Cleveland Cavaliers (-5) vs. Detroit Pistons
Even without Collin Sexton, who is sidelined with a torn meniscus, I don&rsquo;t expect Cleveland to no-show against a lowly Pistons team. Evan Mobley has been so fun to watch, forming a formidable frontcourt pairing with Jarrett Allen. Expect this jumbo-sized big man duo to feast against Detroit as the Cavaliers&rsquo; easily cover the 5-point spread. After the Pistons&rsquo; win against Houston on Wednesday, I&rsquo;m expecting a letdown here on their end. On PrizePicks, we&rsquo;re locking in this power play: Jerami Grant over 21.5 points, Mobley over 18.5 points, Allen over 16.5 points, Allen over 12.5 rebounds.
Boston Celtics (-5) vs Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo was a late scratch for tonight's game, so we're switching it up here for our pick and PrizePicks over/under power play. We're siding with the Celtics and a monster game from Jayson Tatum instead. With no Giannis, we'll see if the Bucks can win this one in Boston. In the meantime, here's our updated over/under on PrizePicks betting heavily on Tatum to carry the load for a Celtics victory: Tatum over 26.5 points, Tatum over 7.5 rebounds, Tatum over 3.5 assists, Tatum over 3 threes.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Brooklyn Nets (-8.5)
This line has jumped up a full point since we last checked on it, further driving home the point this game shouldn&rsquo;t be close. New Orleans is in a full-on tailspin right now, especially without Zion Williamson. Kevin Durant, James Harden and the veteran-heavy Nets should torch the Pelicans with relative ease. This one is locked in as my best bet of the 11-game slate for Friday. On PrizePicks, we&rsquo;re betting on Durant and Harden to go nuclear in the Bayou: Durant over 27.5 points, Harden over 20.5 points, Harden over 9 assists, Harden over 7.5 rebounds, Durant over 2 threes.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Phoenix Suns (-2)
The line for this one has moved significantly as well. Last night, Memphis was actually a 1-point favorite on TwinSpires. Now, the Suns have jumped to a 2-point favorite on the road. With the way Phoenix has been playing recently, this shouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise. Deandre Ayton is once again out with a leg contusion, but I&rsquo;m still leaning heavily in the direction of Phoenix here. Expect a big outing from Devin Booker with his fun matchup on tap against Ja Morant. We&rsquo;re locking in the Suns to cover, plus the following power play on PrizePicks: Booker over 24.5 points, Morant over 24.5 points, Booker over 5 rebounds, Booker 4 assists.
Houston Rockets vs. Portland Trail Blazers (-6.5)
I&rsquo;m surprised the spread is only at 6.5 here. Even though Portland is coming off a loss in Phoenix, Damian Lillard seems to have finally broken out of his season-long slump. Against the Rockets, we&rsquo;re all-in on the idea of Lillard going nuclear tonight. The Blazers covering the 6.5-point spread is another one of our best bets tonight, so lock that one in. On PrizePicks, here&rsquo;s a fun power play to tail: Lillard over 26.5 points, Jalen Green over 13.5 points, C.J. McCollum over 4.5 assists, Lillard over 4 free throws made.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Sacramento Kings (-4)
I&rsquo;m going to continue riding the hot hand and betting on the underdog Thunder. So far, OKC has won me a good amount of coin, so this trend isn&rsquo;t going to change until they lose on the spread. Give me the Thunder to cover the 4-point spread at home, plus a big outing from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In what should be a fun, back-and-forth contest, we&rsquo;re going to keep the train rolling in the direction of OKC. On PrizePicks, we&rsquo;re locking in the following power play: SGA over 23.5 points, De&rsquo;Aaron Fox over 22.5 points, SGA over 5.5 rebounds, Harrison Barnes over 2.5 threes.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks (-3)
Don&rsquo;t let me down, Luka Doncic. We&rsquo;re all-in on the idea of Luka going off against the Spurs on the road leading the Mavericks to victory. Every time Dallas and San Antonio have played this season, it&rsquo;s turned into a nail-biter at the end. Tonight should be no different, but I get the feeling Luka is going to have one of those special individuals performances. We&rsquo;re locking in Dallas to cover the 3-point spread plus a Doncic-related power play on PrizePicks: Doncic over 25.5 points, Doncic over 8 assists, Doncic over 7.5 rebounds, Doncic over 2.5 threes.
Denver Nuggets (-4.5) vs. Atlanta Hawks
Nikola Jokic is back from his one-game suspension, but I&rsquo;m favoring Atlanta in this matchup on the road. This is another game where it should provide plenty of offensive fireworks, though. Expect Jokic to go off in his return, but don&rsquo;t rule out an even more explosive outing from Trae Young. Give me the underdog Hawks to cover the 4.5-point spread, plus the following power play prop on PrizePicks: Young over 24.5 points, Clint Capela over 10.5 rebounds, Young over 8.5 assists, Young over 2 threes.
Golden State Warriors (-5.5) vs. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are back as a contender, but betting against the Warriors is a bad exercise to enact. With the way Golden State is playing, especially early MVP favorite Stephen Curry, always lay a wager down in favor of them. Expect a huge night from Curry in what should be a fun scoring battle against Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Nikola Vucevic is out due to a positive COVID-19 test, so his loss will be felt in this matchup. Hammer Golden State at -5.5 and this power play on PrizePicks: Curry over 30.5 points, LaVine over 26.5 points, Lonzo Ball over 5.5 rebounds, Curry over 5 threes.
Los Angeles Lakers (-2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
I&rsquo;ve been debating all day whether to wager on the underdog Timberwolves, but I&rsquo;m siding with the star-studded duo of Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook to get the job done. Anthony Edwards has been awesome for Minnesota, but in this one, I&rsquo;m envisioning a huge outing from AD. I&rsquo;m rolling the dice here on the Lakers to cover the 2-point spread and tailing a Lakers-heavy prop on PrizePicks: Davis over 24.5 points, Edwards over 23.5 points, Davis over 10.5 rebounds, Westbrook over 10.5 assists.
Recapping our picks here on &ldquo;Nothing But Bets,&rdquo; here&rsquo;s who I&rsquo;m rolling with for Wednesday&rsquo;s slate: Knicks -1.5, Cavaliers -5, Celtics -5, Nets -8.5, Suns -2, Trail Blazers -6.5, Thunder +4, Mavericks -3, Hawks +4.5, Warriors -5.5, Lakers -2.
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It's time to drop off our daily NBA picks against the spread via "Nothing But Bets." Who covers the spread, and which players go off on in our PrizePicks over/under projections?

Alonzo