Hornets

Jason Kidd has been here before in his first season as coach of the Mavericks, down 1-0 in a third consecutive NBA playoff series. 
The Bay Area native is looking for another bounce-back from Luka Doncic and company in his first trip to the conference finals as a coach, which just happened to start in San Francisco.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/basketball-dallas-mavericks-milwaukee-bucks-kobe-bryant-nba-a6934fb817052fb13539d1d0bc4c2f31">Kidd is guiding the franchise</a> that was his first home away from home nearly 30 years ago, and is this deep in the postseason for the first time since Kidd was the point guard on the Dirk Nowitzki-led team that won the 2011 title.
“There’s a team out there that’s won a championship starting the same way, losing the first game,” Kidd said after Wednesday's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dallas-mavericks-phoenix-suns-golden-state-warriors-nba-sports-8d9a4604e727cdb17fb6bc6e394e1a06">112-87 loss to Golden State in Game 1</a> of the Western Conference finals. Game 2 is Friday night.
Kidd has kept the conversations on championships since replacing his coach from that 2011 title year, Rick Carlisle. In this case, he could have been referring to those Mavs, who beat Miami in six games after losing the opener.
With a steady hand as the coach, Kidd has help Dallas rally from a 16-18 start to finish in the top four in the West for the first time since 2011. 
The Mavericks started the playoffs without Doncic following <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dallas-mavericks-san-antonio-spurs-nba-sports-jason-kidd-619222aa783a75cdbff2b01bf986cedb">Kidd's questionable decision to keep him in a regular-season finale</a> that had clearly become meaningless before the young superstar strained his left calf.
Kidd rejected the idea that he should have pulled Doncic, then the Mavericks won their second game without their All-Star against Utah and did it again when the first-round series moved to Salt Lake City. Dallas eliminated the Jazz in six games, with Doncic returning for the final three.
After losing the first two games at top-seeded Phoenix, neither of which was particularly close, Dallas won four of the last five, capped by a 33-point Game 7 victory. It was the only victory for the road team in the series.
“Coach did a good job of getting everybody to buy in,” Dorian Finney-Smith said. “He's the only person in the locker room who's been in this situation. He's always got a cool, calm, collected attitude, and I think we take that from him.”
Kidd has acknowledged learning lessons from taking a hard-charging approach to his second job as a head coach in Milwaukee, where he was fired in the middle of his fourth season after the Bucks gave up draft picks to get him from Brooklyn.
There was an unflattering anecdote in a book about Giannis Antetokounmpo released shortly after the Bucks won the title last year, describing a grueling practice on Christmas Eve when Kidd was upset over a loss.
Dallas guard Sterling Brown, who played for Kidd in Milwaukee, has suggested his current teammates are seeing a different version of Kidd. What matters most, of course, is his relationship with Doncic — which appears to be all good so far.
“I think we’re a way better team now,” Doncic said during the season. “He’s been great for us. He communicates with the players. He’s just been great, helping not just me but everybody, just to see a better picture.”
The picture has developed into the best one in a decade for a franchise still led by a European star. Doncic, from Slovenia, is a year ahead of Nowitzki (Germany) in getting to the conference finals — both in age (23 vs. 24) and seasons (four vs. five).
Kidd, drafted second overall by Dallas in 1994 before getting traded 2 1/2 years later and returning to win his only title, reached the NBA Finals with each of the three teams he went this far with during a Hall of Fame playing career.
To do it again, his team will have to beat coach Steve Kerr and Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, both of whom faced Kidd on the court.
“The way he conducted his teams from that point guard spot, coaching seemed like a perfect fit,” said Kerr, whose final season as a player was with San Antonio when the Spurs beat Kidd and the Nets in the 2003 NBA Finals. “But you never know; a lot of superstars don’t go into coaching. I’m glad he went down this path. He’s done an amazing job with Dallas.”
Curry's overlap with Kidd was four years, capped by Kidd's final season as a player with the New York Knicks in 2012-13.
“My favorite memory of him is all the reactions and mannerisms he had when he was on the bench in New York and I was going off,” Curry said.
Kidd wasted no time getting into coaching, joining Brooklyn immediately upon retiring and leading the Nets to the second round in 2014. He couldn't repeat that with the Bucks, losing in the first round twice. 
“I love the chess aspect of the game,” Kidd said. “I love the mental aspect of the game. I love helping players achieve their goals — financially or winning. As a player, I played to win. As a coach, you play to win. Your impact is a little bit less, but you’re here to help guide the guys to achieve their goal.”
His Mavericks will have to dig out of another hole to do it.
___
AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.
___
NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a>

Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks are hoping for a bounce-back game against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the WCF.

Kidd, rekindled Mavs on familiar turf down 1-0 at Warriors

During the first season-and-a-half of Jalen Smith&rsquo;s NBA career, he rarely saw the court with the championship-hungry Phoenix Suns, who were in win-now mode after acquiring Chris Paul.
Smith, the former No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was never able to crack the rotation in Phoenix. Not only was Deandre Ayton already the entrenched long-term answer down low, Dario Saric and JaVale McGee were both above Smith on the depth chart as well.
In a shocking turn of events, the Suns declined Smith&rsquo;s third-year team option; it&rsquo;s a rarity for that to occur for any first-round pick, let alone a lottery pick who was just drafted a year before. When Smith had his few opportunities to make an impression on the Suns&rsquo; front office, he never really popped in emphatic fashion. In NBA Summer League, Smith didn&rsquo;t dominate like a former top-10 pick. And during Smith&rsquo;s rookie season, the Suns simply didn&rsquo;t have the time to develop a relatively raw prospect as they chased the Western Conference&rsquo;s top seed.
Entering the 2021-22 season as seemingly a sunk-cost asset for the Suns, everyone knew that Smith wasn't in the Suns' long-term plans. This became abundantly clear once they decided to decline his team option. On an expiring contract as a second-year player &mdash; which made it impossible for the Suns to keep him over his $4.7 million cap number &mdash; Smith became trade bait. In the end, it netted Phoenix a reunion with versatile forward Torrey Craig. The Suns sent Smith and their 2022 second-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for Craig, who still has another year remaining on his contract.
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Smith was a low-risk, high-reward throw-in for the Pacers, a team that was clearly a seller as the trade deadline approached. Indiana had little to no expectations upon Smith&rsquo;s arrival. What&rsquo;s occurred since has been awesome to see from a player-development standpoint, and the 21-year-old big man is earning himself a lot of money as an upcoming unrestricted free agent.
Since joining the Pacers three weeks ago, Smith is averaging 13.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in eight games. What makes those numbers even more impressive is that Smith is only clocking 25.1 minutes per game with Indiana.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has deployed Smith as a lanky stretch-4, which was the Suns&rsquo; original idea with Smith. A versatile defender who can shoot threes at an above-average clip, Smith hypothetically would've been a strong fit within the Suns&rsquo; rotation as someone who could actually play spot minutes alongside Ayton when necessary. In Indiana, Smith is showing that he can thrive in this role that Suns GM James Jones initially envisioned him playing.
Smith is firing away from deep with the Pacers, attempting 3.9 threes per game and hitting them at an eye-opening 45.2% clip. And from an overall efficiency standpoint, Smith is carrying an elite 70.2% True Shooting percentage since leaving the Suns.
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With so many players trying to find their footing in the Association, a lot of confidence comes from getting an opportunity. That was never going to happen in Phoenix, which is why Smith&rsquo;s agent (Mike Kneisley) helped Phoenix along the way in finding a new home for the former Maryland Terrapin. Both sides knew that this wasn't a good fit, so moving the big man and giving him a fresh start somewhere he could play more was best for both parties.
Smith is certainly taking full advantage of what&rsquo;s been provided to him on the Pacers, a team who has blown it up by trading away Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb. Focusing on a more long-term approach with internal development, and building an enticing young core of players, Smith has a long runway to make an impression on his new team.
Indiana isn&rsquo;t prioritizing wins right now. All the franchise cares about at the moment is higher lottery odds and finding out which pieces fit into their puzzle past this season. Smith is forcing his way into the conversation, but the Pacers may be in a serious pickle if they want to keep him around this summer.
The most money Indiana can offer Smith on a multi-year deal as an upcoming free agent is what his salary would&rsquo;ve been next season. As a former lottery pick entering free agency in his third year, the team who currently has him under contract is placed within these capped rules. Anyone else with cap space around the league can sign Smith to a deal higher than Indiana&rsquo;s ceiling limit. It&rsquo;s not fair for the Pacers, but they were the ones with no expectations on Smith when he first arrived anyhow.
What Smith is doing right now is making himself some serious cash, entering a historically bad crop of free agents. The 2022 class is shallow on game-changing talent, to say the least. As a blossoming prospect who seems poised for a full-fledged breakout in his next stop, Smith could be doubling his annual salary once he signs the dotted line on a new contract in July.
Simply speculating, Smith&rsquo;s value might end being in the range of what Zach Collins earned from the San Antonio Spurs after an injury-filled first NBA chapter with the Portland Trail Blazers. If Collins can earn $7.3 million per year on average, so can Smith, as his stock continues to soar heading into the tail-end of his sophomore campaign.
Many were quick to throw the &ldquo;bust&rdquo; label on Smith after his stint in Phoenix turned into a worst-case scenario from an on-court perspective, but he&rsquo;s shutting down that noise as of late. Smith is showcasing true two-way potential with an ascending value on the court... and in his bank account.
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Jalen Smith is shining with the Pacers after a midseason trade, which shows that all the second-year big needed was a real chance.

Jalen Smith is shedding the 'bust' label with the Pacers

Nekias Duncan thoroughly grades every NBA trade from 2022 Deadline Week.

Grading every move from 2022 NBA trade deadline week

NEW YORK (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 32 points, Mitchell Robinson had a season-high 19 and the New York Knicks snapped the Dallas Mavericks' six-game winning streak with a 108-85 victory Wednesday night.
Robinson threw down three dunks in a powerful third quarter for the Knicks, who won for the fourth time in five games and returned to .500 at 21-21. He shot 9 for 10 from the field and had 10 rebounds.
“I thought RJ, monster game. Mitch, monster game,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “That may have been the best game of the year for our starters. Really played hard and played well.”
The Knicks said Barrett, 21, became the youngest player in franchise history with consecutive 30-point games. He was 9 for 11 for 21 points after halftime.
Julius Randle finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Booed in the last game after holding his thumb down to the crowd last week, he gave fans nothing to be mad about with a strong all-around game.
The Knicks started 5-1 after returning to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2013. But they hadn't been .500 since a Dec. 7 victory at San Antonio left them 12-12, until their current stretch of seven wins in 10 games.
“I think we’re going to find success if we continue to do the little things and just continue to work and be consistent throughout the rest of the season,” Barrett said. “As long as we do that, we’ll put ourselves in a good position.” 
Luka Doncic had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, who had won six straight for the first time since 2016 and were looking for their longest winning streak since an eight-game run in their 2010-11 NBA championship season.
But after ending Chicago's nine-game win streak in their last game, the Mavericks clanged their way to an 8-for-37 night (21.6%) from 3-point range. Doncic had only five assists, in part because his teammates missed so many open looks behind the arc — though he was only 1 for 9 there himself. 
Dallas remained without coach Jason Kidd and former Knicks All-Star Kristaps Porzingis because of health and safety protocols. 
“Their 3-point shooting for the whole game and Barrett the way he played in the second half was tough on us,” acting coach Sean Sweeney said. 
The Knicks opened an 11-point lead in the final minute of the first quarter after consecutive baskets by Barrett and that was still the margin when they took a 56-45 lead into halftime.
With the Knicks leading 58-51, Robinson dunked home an offensive rebound and then scored on another follow shot. A 3-pointer by Barrett was followed by another dunk by Robinson before Randle's three-point play capped the 11-0 run and made it 69-51.
It wasn't really close again. When Dallas got within 14 in the fourth, Robinson turned another offensive rebound into a three-point play and he followed with yet another dunk that made it 95-76.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Dallas was led by an acting head coach for its second straight visit to Madison Square Garden. Last April, it was Jamahl Mosley, now coaching Orlando, stepping in for Rick Carlisle. ... Jalen Brunson had 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists. 
Knicks: Kemba Walker missed his sixth straight game with a sore left knee, with Thibodeau again saying the point guard was close to returning. ... Evan Fournier scored 13 points.
PLAN FOR PLAYING
Though Walker hasn't played since appearing in both ends of a back-to-back on Dec. 28 and 29, Thibodeau didn't rule out Walker playing two straight nights in the future. He said that will be determined with input from the player and medical staff.
“I think they’ll approach it the same way. They’ll talk to him to see where he is and if he can go, he’ll go, and if he can’t go and it’s smarter to give him that game off, give him that game off. So, right now we’ve got guys back, so we have good depth.”
FAMILIAR FACES
Besides Porzingis, the Mavs' Tim Hardaway Jr., Frank Ntilikina, Reggie Bullock, Trey Burke and Theo Pinson are all former Knicks.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit Memphis on Friday. 
Knicks: Visit Atlanta on Saturday.

The New York Knicks got back to .500 after earning a win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Knicks end Mavericks' 6-game win streak with 108-85 victory

Believe it or not, in the NBA, the league&rsquo;s Coach of the Year Award has become more like a kiss of death than a badge of honor.
On Tuesday night, by virtue of their 121-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the New York Knicks managed to climb back to the .500 mark at 12-12.
There are worse things than being a .500 team in the NBA, but coming off of their 41-31 campaign last season, with the additions of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier and the return of Mitchell Robinson, Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks hoped to be better.
Over the past 20 years in the NBA, we&rsquo;ve witnessed the increasing disposability of the head coach. When things go wrong, the finger is usually pointed at the bench boss. Over in Los Angeles, the exact example is happening to head coach Frank Vogel, whose Lakers are having a tough time in the early going of the season.
And while preexisting relationships with the front office in New York are expected to provide Thibodeau with at least some semblance of security, the Knicks' struggles highlight an interesting trend: COY winners' teams struggling almost immediately after winning the award.
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The league began naming a Coach of the Year in 1963 and last season, Thibodeau became just the ninth coach in league history to win the award multiple times. He previously won the award as head coach of the Chicago Bulls following the 2010-11 season, and it was shortly before then that a rather interesting trend became clear.
Since the 1999-2000 season, the award has been given out 22 times to 17 different coaches. The exhaustive list, beginning with that campaign, is as follows: Doc Rivers, Larry Brown, Rick Carlisle, Gregg Popovich, Hubie Brown, Mike D&rsquo;Antoni, Avery Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Byron Scott, Mike Brown, Scott Brooks, Tom Thibodeau, George Karl, Mike Budenholzer, Steve Kerr, Dwane Casey and Nick Nurse.
Popovich, Kerr, Casey and Nurse are still employed by the franchises with which they won the award; Popovich and Kerr are each notable for being the longest and third-longest tenured head coaches in the league. Now in his 26th season, Pop has patrolled the sidelines for the Spurs since 1996. Kerr assumed the helm for the Warriors just prior to the 2014-15 season, making this season his eighth. But they are the exceptions.
On average, since the 1999-00 season, the other winners coached their teams for an average of just 2.36 more years after winning the award. For the Oklahoma City Thunder, Scott Brooks had the longest post-award tenure of five years.
The shortest tenures following their COY award-wins belong to Hubie Brown of the Memphis Grizzlies and George Karl of the Denver Nuggets. Brown won the award in 2004, but resigned from the Grizzlies about six months later. He cited health concerns regarding his resignation, though there was speculation that some of the team&rsquo;s players soured on him.
Karl was a part of a very interesting offseason in Denver. The Nuggets traded Carmelo Anthony away in 2011, but overachieved. Together with Masai Ujiri, Karl led the Nuggets to a 57-25 record in the first full season (post-lockout in '11-12) following Anthony&rsquo;s departure. As a result, Ujiri was named the 2013 NBA Executive of the Year while Karl was named Coach of the Year. Within months, though, neither would be employed by the franchise.
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Ujiri received a lucrative offer to take over the Toronto Raptors' front office &mdash; he obviously accepted. Karl, who had one year left on his then-current deal was unhappy with Nuggets management for not rewarding him with an extension, and the franchise decided to relieve him of his duties.
Karl, unbelievably, was a reigning Coach of the Year who didn&rsquo;t even make it through the offseason.
Although the tales of Brown and Karl are interesting in the modern history of the award, neither&rsquo;s brief tenure &mdash; six months for Brown and 29 days for Karl &mdash; were factored into the earlier reported average of 2.36 years.
Of the aforementioned winners, four coaches lasted one season or less with their club after being named COY: Rick Carlisle (Detroit Pistons, 2002), Sam Mitchell (Toronto Raptors, 2007), Byron Scott (New Orleans Hornets, 2008) and Mike Brown (Cleveland Cavaliers, 2009).
Larry Brown and Avery Johnson each got two seasons (or parts thereof), while Doc Rivers, Mike D&rsquo;Antoni and Mike Budenholzer (with the Atlanta Hawks) each got three seasons. With the Chicago Bulls, Thibodeau got four more years, while Brooks, as previously mentioned, got five from Oklahoma City.
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It&rsquo;s ironic: Coaches usually win the Coach of the Year Award for defying expectations and leading their teams to better-than-expected results. But one can only wonder whether the endeavor is self-defeating.&nbsp;
Both the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns are considered, by some, to have overachieved last season, but in the NBA, what goes up... must stay up. As a community, we would be quicker to consider the Hawks and Suns as failures if they weren&rsquo;t able to replicate last season&rsquo;s results. The bar has been raised for them, and front offices have shown a propensity to judge their head coaches based on the highest watermark.
In New York, specifically, it is the front office that should carry the cross; neither Walker nor Fournier have translated well for the team, with point guard continuing to be one of the team&rsquo;s biggest areas of need. At this point, one can only wonder what the Knicks could have looked like had they instead managed to sign DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball instead of the duo ending up as teammates in Chicago.
It&rsquo;s too early for the Knicks to panic, and way too early to consider that Thibodeau may not be the man for the job.
But all things considered, it&rsquo;s at least interesting to take note of the fact that the NBA&rsquo;s Coach of the Year Award may be the ultimate embodiment of a tangible irony.
Badge of honor? Or kiss of death?
There&rsquo;s a clear trend that simply can&rsquo;t be ignored.

Moke Hamilton delves into the surprisingly unfortunate history of the NBA Coach of the Year award.

Tom Thibodeau isn’t the only reigning Coach of the Year to struggle

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-suns-shining-during-winning-streak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. 
The Warriors are still sitting atop our updated power rankings, but the red-hot Suns are coming for the No. 1 spot!
1. Golden State Warriors (15-2) &harr;️ Last Week: 1
How special has Steph Curry's start to this season been, you ask? Consider this: During the 1985-86 season, Larry Bird led the NBA in made three-pointers, knocking down 82 triples that year. Curry made 85 three-pointers over the first 15 games of this 2021-22 campaign. And, even when he has an off night (as he did Sunday, scoring just 12 points), the Warriors still spanked the Raptors behind 33 points from Jordan Poole and 32 points from Andrew Wiggins. Oh, and if that already wasn't enough offensive firepower, we learned last week that Klay Thompson has been cleared for full practices and is "<a href="https://theathletic.com/news/warriors-klay-thompson-cleared-to-practice-fully-could-return-within-week-of-christmas-sources/iEKeYCOtl4px/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trending toward</a>" a return the week before Christmas.
2. Phoenix Suns (14-3) 🔼 Last Week: 3 
The Suns knocked off the Spurs on Monday night to notch their 13th consecutive victory. That's tied for the third-longest winning streak in Suns history. The all-time franchise record for Phoenix is 17 straight victories, which they accomplished during the 2006-07 season.&nbsp;
3. Brooklyn Nets (13-5) 🔽 Last Week: 2
Kevin Durant returned to action Monday night after missing one game with a sprained right shoulder, and he scored 27 points to help lead the Nets to a victory over Cleveland. Brooklyn also got an excellent lift from LaMarcus Aldridge (21 points and 11 rebounds off the bench) and first-round pick Cam Thomas, who scored a career-high 11 points vs. the Cavs.&nbsp;
4. Miami Heat (11-6) 🔼 Last Week: 6
The Heat have won 4 of their last 5 games, and have been efficient all season on both ends of the floor. They rank in the top-five in both Offensive Rating (scoring 111.7 points per 100 possessions) and Defensive Rating (allowing less than 105 points per 100 possessions).
5. Milwaukee Bucks (10-8)&nbsp;🔼 Last Week: 13 
The Bucks whooped the Orlando Magic on Monday night, entering halftime with a monstrous 77-36 advantage, the largest halftime lead in franchise history. The Bucks have won four in a row and remain undefeated this season (6-0) when Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are all healthy and active.&nbsp;
6. Chicago Bulls (12-6) 🔽&nbsp;Last Week: 4
Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan have carried the Bulls offensively this season. They both scored at least 25 points 11 times over the first 15 games of 2021-22. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, DeRozan and LaVine are the fastest pair of teammates to record 10 or more 25-point games since Elgin Baylor and Jerry West did so in 11 games for the LA Lakers back in 1962-63.
7. Washington Wizards (11-6) 🔽 Last Week: 5
Washington is struggling of late, having lost 3 of its last 4 games. However, the Wizards will get some reinforcements up front in the near future, as both Rui Hachimura (personal) and Davis Bertans (left ankle sprain) were assigned to the team's G League affiliate Capital City Go-Go on Monday. Hachimura, who missed training camp and has been sidelined for the Wizards' first 17 games for unknown personal reasons, has been doing individual work at the Wizards' practice facility since early October and is inching closer to a return. (For what it's worth, I was tempted to knock the Wiz a bit further down the rankings due solely to the oversized sweater Kyle Kuzma wore to Monday's game, but decided to hold off.)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
When you're off to one of the best starts in franchise history, you get to wear whatever you want😂<a href="https://twitter.com/kylekuzma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kylekuzma</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCAboveAll?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCAboveAll</a> <a href="https://t.co/2drVu8PpGg">pic.twitter.com/2drVu8PpGg</a>
&mdash; NBC Sports Washington (@NBCSWashington) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSWashington/status/1462916705387175947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

8. Utah Jazz (11-6) 🔼 Last Week: 9
Utah had won three in a row before blowing a lead in the closing seconds to the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night. Fortunately for the Jazz, they have three winnable games this week, as they play the Thunder on Wednesday and host the Pelicans for a pair of games this weekend.&nbsp;
9. Charlotte Hornets (11-8) 🔼 Last Week: 16
The Hornets have won 6 of their last 7 contests, thanks largely to the production from sophomore star LaMelo Ball. Over the team's past eight games, Ball is averaging a whopping 19.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.6 made three-pointers.&nbsp;
10. Los Angeles Clippers (10-7) 🔼 Last Week: 12 
With Kawhi Leonard (ACL surgery) out indefinitely, Marcus Morris Sr. sidelined by a knee issue of his own and Nicolas Batum placed into health and safety protocols for at least 10 days, Paul George has put the Clippers on his back this season. He's averaging 26.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.1 made triples. He's currently on pace to join James Harden (2016-17) as just the second player in NBA history to average more than 26 points, 7 boards, 5 dimes and 3 treys per game over an entire season.&nbsp;
11. Boston Celtics (10-8) 🔼 Last Week: 17
It appeared the Celtics were teetering and in some trouble early in the season, but Boston has won 8 of their last 11 and is currently riding a three-game win streak. Jayson Tatum has scored at least 30 points in each of his last four games, and is averaging 33.5 points, 8.5 boards, 3.8 assists and 4.0 made treys during this four-game span. However, Boston is about to enter a brutal stretch. After hosting the division-leading Nets on Wednesday, the C's play 6 of their next 7 games on the road.&nbsp;
12. Philadelphia 76ers (10-8) 🔽 Last Week: 12
Despite being forced to play without Joel Embiid (Health and safety protocols), Ben Simmons (personal), Tobias Harris (left hip) and Seth Curry (back tightness), the Sixers were still able to beat the Kings Monday night in Sacramento. Tyrese Maxey has been a beast for Philly of late, averaging 25.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 three-pointers over his last seven games, while shooting a blistering 53.2% from the floor, 41.9% from downtown and 93.9% from the free-throw stripe.
13. Dallas Mavericks (9-7) 🔽 Last Week: 7
Luka Doncic has missed three straight games because of a sprained left knee and ankle, but the Mavs are hoping he'll be able to return to action Tuesday vs. the Clippers. Encouragingly, Kristaps Porzingis has been playing much better. Over his last five games, KP is averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 2.5 made treys while slashing 52/40/92%
14. Denver Nuggets (9-8) 🔽 Last Week: 8
The Nuggets have lost four straight games, with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic missing each of the last two contests due to a sprained right wrist. Worse yet, Mike Singer of the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/michael-porter-jrs-season-in-jeopardy-due-to-potential-nerve-issue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denver Post reported</a> on Monday that Michael Porter Jr. is dealing with a nerve issue that could potentially require another back surgery, which would sideline him for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-9) 🔽 Last Week: 11
After a terrific start to the season, the Cavs have now lost four straight games. And things won't get any easier this week, as they host the scorching-hot Suns on Wednesday night and then embark on a three-game road trip next week against three teams with winning records (Heat, Wizards and Mavs).&nbsp;
16. Memphis Grizzlies (9-8) 🔼 Last Week: 18
The Grizzlies notched one of their most impressive victories of the season Monday night by beating the Jazz in Utah. Desmond Bane poured in a career-high 28 points vs. the Jazz to go with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 triples, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 26 points, including a game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds. On the season, Memphis is 7-2 when JJJ scores more than 13 points; conversely, the Grizz are just 1-5 when Jackson scored 12 points or less.&nbsp;
17. Portland Trail Blazers (9-8) 🔼 Last Week: 19
The Blazers have won 4 of their last 5 games, including three consecutive victories at home last week. After a slow start, Damian Lillard is heating up. Just named as the Western Conference Player of the Week, Dame is averaging 28.3 points and 8.3 assists while shooting over 39% from downtown during this three-game stretch. He has made all 22 of the free throws he's attempted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Damian Lillard is named Western Conference Player of the Week! 28.3 PPG 8.3 APG 2.7 RPG 1.7 BPG 48.4 FPPG <a href="https://t.co/uNZ3ytGfbz">pic.twitter.com/uNZ3ytGfbz</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1462891134162808835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

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18. Los Angeles Lakers (9-9) 🔽 Last Week: 15
The Lakers have lost 3 of 4, and will have to play without LeBron James on Tuesday night vs. the New York Knicks after he was suspended for one game due to hitting Isaiah Stewart in the face last Sunday.
19. Atlanta Hawks (9-9) 🔼 Last Week: 21
It turns out all the Hawks needed to get healthy was some home cooking. Atlanta capped a perfect five-game homestand with their fifth straight victory Monday over OKC. On the season, the Hawks are 8-1 at home and just 1-8 on the road.&nbsp;
20. New York Knicks (9-8) 🔽 Last Week: 14
After a 5-1 start, the Knicks are just one game above .500, and RJ Barrett's nasty slump is a primary reason. Over the Knicks' last eight games, Barrett is attempting more than 13 field-goal attempts per contest, but is shooting a paltry 28% from the floor and 17.5% from three-point territory. Of the 215 players with more than 50 field-goal attempts over their team's last 10 games, Barrett is the only player in the league shooting below 32% from the floor and below 21% from downtown.
21. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-9) 🔼&nbsp;Last Week: 25
At this time last week, the Wolves were languishing with a 4-9 record. However, Minnesota has reeled off four straight wins. Unsurprisingly, Karl-Anthony Towns has led the way. Over his last four games, KAT is averaging 26.2 points (on 55.4% shooting), 9.2 boards and 3.0 dimes.&nbsp;
22. Indiana Pacers (8-11) &harr;️ Last Week: 22
By following up a blowout victory over the Pels this weekend with another lopsided win over Chicago Monday night, it looks like the Pacers are starting to get on track. "It feels like we're getting our footing," Pacers coach <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401360081" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rick Carlisle said</a> after beating the Bulls. "We're a team that's not going to get any free lunch from anybody. We've got to embrace that fact, and it's got to be something that brings us closer and closer together."
23. Toronto Raptors (8-10) 🔽 Last Week: 20
The Raps are just 2-7 in their last nine games, due in large part to their surprisingly sieve-like defense. Toronto is allowing more than 116 points per 100 possessions during this nine-game stretch. To put that in context, no other team in the NBA is giving up more than 114.7 points per 100 possessions.&nbsp;
24. Sacramento Kings (6-12) 🔽 Last Week: 23
The Kings fired head coach Luke Walton on Sunday. Alvin Gentry, who most recently served as head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans, has stepped in as the interim coach. The Sixers spoiled Gentry's debut Monday night. Interestingly, Marvin Bagley III has logged double-digit minutes in 4 of the Kings past 5 games.&nbsp;
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (6-11) 🔼 Last Week: 26
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first game of the season Monday night due to a sprained right ankle. OKC ended up losing in Atlanta, but rookie Josh Giddey was impressive, stepping in for SGA as the team's primary playmaker, as he nearly triple-doubled; Giddey finished with 15 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks.
26. San Antonio Spurs (4-12) 🔽 Last Week: 24
The Spurs, who have lost five straight, are just 2-8 over their last 10, and have lost 12 of their first 16 games in a season for just the second time in franchise history. One bright spot for San Antonio has been Dejounte Murray, who recorded his third triple-double of the season Monday night, tallying 18 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals with just one turnover in a close loss to the Suns.
27. New Orleans Pelicans (3-16) 🔼 Last Week: 28
The Pels are already 13 games under .500 and about to enter a tough stretch in their schedule. They host the Wizards on Wednesday, and they play a back-to-back in Utah on Friday and Saturday before heading to Los Angeles. Hopefully, we get some good news about Zion Williamson (right foot surgery) sooner rather than later.&nbsp;
28. Detroit Pistons (4-12) 🔼&nbsp;Last Week: 29
The Pistons blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead to the Lakers on Sunday night. Still, Detroit fans did get to enjoy a breakout performance from No. 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham, who racked up 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to become the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/cade-cunningham-becomes-youngest-piston-to-record-triple-double" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youngest player in Pistons franchise history to record a triple-double</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
5 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pistons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pistons</a> scored in double-digits in last night's home game against the Lakers. <a href="https://twitter.com/JeramiGrant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JeramiGrant</a> recorded his 2nd 30+ performance of the season &amp; a season-high 5 from beyond the arc. <a href="https://twitter.com/CadeCunningham_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CadeCunningham_</a> achieved his 1st triple-double in his 11th career game (13 PTS, 12 REB, 10 AST). <a href="https://t.co/zNNBpGm5zt">pic.twitter.com/zNNBpGm5zt</a>
&mdash; Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) <a href="https://twitter.com/DetroitPistons/status/1462805678007930884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote>

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29. Orlando Magic (4-14) 🔽 Last Week: 27
After an impressive victory over the Knicks at MSG last Wednesday, the Magic lost three straight games to Eastern Conference powerhouses Brooklyn and Milwaukee. Cole Anthony, who is enjoying a breakout season and is the team's leading scorer, has missed two straight games. Unfortunately, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said there is "no timetable as of right now" regarding Antony's return to action. "We're just going to keep seeing how he progresses as he goes through rehab," Mosley said Monday.
30. Houston Rockets (1-16) &harr;️ Last Week: 30
The Rockets are reeling, having lost 15 straight games. Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, the only longer losing streak in the NBA belongs to... last season's Houston squad, which lost 20 consecutive contests.&nbsp;

Tommy Beer checks in with an installment of BasketballNews.com's NBA Power Rankings.

NBA Power Rankings: Bucks jump into top-5, Suns still streaking

The Sacramento Kings became the first NBA team to fire their head coach this season, relieving Luke Walton of his duties after just 17 games due to the franchise's 6-11 start.
Which head coach will be fired next?
<a href="https://www.betonline.ag/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BetOnline</a> recently released odds on who will be let go next, and oddsmakers think Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey (2/1), Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel (3/1), Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas (5/1) and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green (6/1) have the hottest seats.
The coaches least likely to get canned are Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (300/1), Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder (250/1), Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams (250/1), Washington Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. (200/1) and San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (200/1).
Here are the full odds:
Dwane Casey, 2/1 Frank Vogel, 3/1 Stephen Silas, 5/1 Willie Green, 6/1 Mark Daigneault, 10/1 Nick Nurse, 11/1 Taylor Jenkins, 12/1 Nate McMillan, 18/1 Ime Udoka, 20/1 Jamahl Mosley, 20/1 Mike Budenholzer, 22/1 Rick Carlisle, 25/1 Chauncey Billups, 28/1 Michael Malone, 33/1 Chris Finch, 40/1 Tyronn Lue, 40/1 Doc Rivers, 50/1 Tom Thibodeau, 60/1 James Borrego, 66/1 Jason Kidd, 75/1 Steve Nash, 80/1 JB Bickerstaff, 125/1 Erik Spoelstra, 150/1 Billy Donovan, 200/1 Gregg Popovich, 200/1 Wes Unseld Jr., 200/1 Monty Williams, 250/1 Quin Snyder, 250/1 Steve Kerr, 300/1
They also released odds on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/kenny-atkinson-terry-stotts-have-best-odds-to-become-kings-coach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who the Sacramento Kings will hire as their next head coach</a>.

Which coach will be fired next? BetOnline's oddmakers are looking at Dwane Casey (2/1), Frank Vogel (3/1) and Stephen Silas (5/1).

Which NBA coach gets fired next? Casey, Vogel, Silas have best odds

It&rsquo;s time to unveil our daily picks for Fridays&rsquo;s seven-game slate on <a href="http://BasketballNews.com">BasketballNews.com</a>'s &ldquo;Nothing But Bets&rdquo; podcast. We were scorching hot last night, finishing 5-1 and boosting our total record up to 21-15. Will the streak of good fortunes continue? Let&rsquo;s dive into our predictions, with all odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
<iframe src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=BNI9673934002" width="100%" height="200" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
Toronto Raptors (-8) vs. Orlando Magic
Toronto has been a little inconsistent this season, but in a matchup at home against Orlando I love the Raptors' chances here. OG Anunoby continues to prove he&rsquo;s on the fast track to being a top contender for Most Improved Player, while No. 4 overall pick Scottie Barnes is adjusting quicker to the NBA than expected. With this exciting duo on the wing, it&rsquo;s going to be tough sledding for the Magic to get much of an offensive rhythm. I&rsquo;m rolling with the Raptors, but not confident enough to cover the 8-point spread due to their inconsistencies. Hammer the Raptors&rsquo; -365 moneyline, plus Anunoby to score 20+ points to create a same-game parlay at +155 odds.
Brooklyn Nets (-8.5) vs. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are on the early fast track of once again missing the playoffs. Whether it be injuries hurting the team once again, or an inability to stop high-octane scorers, Indiana is digging itself into a deep hole it will need to climb out of. Although Chris Duarte has been an awesome rookie to watch, it&rsquo;s fair to wonder whether Myles Turner is in the team's immediate plans. After scoring 40 points in the Pacers' second game of the season against the Wizards, Turner has been benched in every single fourth quarter. That shows to me that Rick Carlisle doesn&rsquo;t believe in the jumbo big pairing of Turner and Domantas Sabonis. So, keep an eye on Turner potentially being moved. Anyways, back to tonight&rsquo;s pick. I love the Nets&rsquo; moneyline odds at -380. With Malcolm Brogdon out tonight, expect a big James Harden bounce-back alongside Kevin Durant scoring in bunches as well. For our same-game parlay, let&rsquo;s roll with the following at +300 odds: Nets ML, Durant 20+ points, Harden 20+ points, Sabonis 15+ points, Duarte 12+ points, Harden 2+ threes, Durant 1+ threes, Duarte 1+ threes. It&rsquo;s a big one, but could be a huge payout potentially in store.
Miami Heat (-5) vs. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have been so fun to watch early on this season, but this feels like a real mismatch heading down south to face Miami. The Heat have the best defense in the NBA, so it&rsquo;s going to be very tough sledding for the young Hornets to generate a rhythm. Add on top of that Jimmy Butler being extra motivated for the challenge to halt Miles Bridges, and this could be a night where it&rsquo;s not close in South Beach. I&rsquo;m emphatically hammering Heat -6 as one of my best bets of the night, plus Butler sending a statement to Bridges in the process. Here&rsquo;s a fun SGP to tail at +320 odds: Heat -6, Butler 20+ points, Bridges under 20 points.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings (-1.5)
I love the home underdog here in the Bayou. After the Pelicans recently notched their first win in the Willie Green era, I&rsquo;m rolling with them to get the job done against Sacramento. The Kings are riding high off an impressive road win against the Phoenix Suns, but I have this feeling we'll see big outings from Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas. At +310 odds on DraftKings, you can lock in this very realistic same-game parlay: Pelicans ML, Ingram 25+ points, Valanciunas 14+ points. Although the Kings have gotten off to a hot start early on in the 2021-22 campaign, I think they'll head home with the loss after visiting New Orleans on Friday.
Portland Trail Blazers (-3) vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The last time these two teams faced off in Los Angeles, it was a rout in favor of the Clippers. This time around in Portland, I&rsquo;m rolling with the Trail Blazers to even the season series. These two teams are very evenly matched up, so the home team should get the job done. Also, Damian Lillard has gotten off to a cold start. I predict tonight is the night Lillard finally snaps out of that funk with a fun duel against Paul George. Hammer the Blazers&rsquo; spread at -3, plus Lillard and George to both score 20+ points. That&rsquo;s a +150 odds boost on a DraftKings same-game parlay.
Denver Nuggets (-2) vs. Dallas Mavericks
Even with Nikola Jokic&rsquo;s status for tonight&rsquo;s game up in the air with a knee injury, I&rsquo;m stunned Denver is the favorite here. This feels like another opportunity where the underdog pulls off the W. Jokic could play, but I&rsquo;m leaning towards not with how cautious the Nuggets&rsquo; medical staff usually is with injuries. Luka Doncic should be in for a huge night in Denver, which is what I&rsquo;m parlaying into my same-game parlay for this one. Give me the Mavericks&rsquo; +110 moneyline to pull off the upset, plus Doncic to score 25+ points. If that happens, the odds of it hitting are currently at +180.
Los Angeles Lakers (-7.5) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
This line was originally at -9, but it&rsquo;s moved down almost two points since this morning. There&rsquo;s not a lot of faith in the LeBron James-less Lakers right now for good reason, especially when they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder and barely beat the San Antonio Spurs. If LeBron can't give it a go, expect Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook once again to carry the load for Los Angeles against a surprisingly tough out in the Cavaliers. This one could go either way for me, quite honestly, but I love the Lakers&rsquo; moneyline odds at -310. For a fun same-game parlay at +190 odds, all you would need is the Lakers to win plus Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook to both score 20+ points.
Recapping our picks for an awesome seven-game slate tonight in the NBA: Raptors ML, Heat -5, Nets ML, Pelicans ML (+1.5), Blazers -3, Mavericks ML (+2), Lakers ML.

Alongside our "Nothing But Bets" podcast on BasketballNews.com, our daily picks will be posted each day.

Nothing But Bets: NBA Projections for 10/29/21

Before every season, I do my best to predict how I think the season will unfold &mdash; where teams will finish and who&rsquo;ll win each individual award. Heck, I even try my hand at predicting the All-NBA/Rookie/Defensive Teams.
Those efforts are generally meaningless; you can never truly account for injuries or transactions, for example, which makes it nearly impossible to truly nail these things down. Still, it&rsquo;s incredibly fun to take a look at the landscape of the league and make educated guesses.
Normally, I&rsquo;d thread my predictions on Twitter since it&rsquo;s a quick and easy way to get those thoughts out into the world. The issue is explaining controversial picks with a character limit; if you&rsquo;ve been on the app for any amount of time, you know how quickly discussions can go left.
Instead, I&rsquo;ve turned my predictions into an article. It&rsquo;ll be easier to track my predictions, and I have the space to explain my reasoning in a more thorough manner.&nbsp;
Without further ado, here&rsquo;s how I see things going this season.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
DPOY: Bam Adebayo (MIA)
ROY: Cade Cunningham (DET)
6MOY: Patty Mills (BKN)
MIP: OG Anunoby (TOR)
COY: Ime Udoka (BOS)
- Giannis is, at worst, a top-three player in the league right now. I don't think he's three or two. He'll put up crazy numbers, do so efficiently, and prove All-World defense in most of his minutes. Easy pathway for him to make a run at another MVP.
- I'm not sure this should classify as a hot take considering Adebayo is one of the six or so best defenders on the planet, but it'll probably be viewed as such. No biggie. The award is oddly perimeter-averse, so Adebayo represents the best blend of interior defense and perimeter versatility. The Heat project as an elite defensive unit; if that holds true, Adebayo will be the reason why. Keep an eye on Draymond Green for similar reasons.
(I'd also add that there will probably be a little bit of voter fatigue and postseason bias with Rudy Gobert that may hurt him. I'm not saying that's fair or right, but it factors into my calculus here.)
- ROY is a stat award. I think there's a strong case to be made for Jalen Green; he should have quite the greenlight in Houston. Ultimately, I land on Cade who is 1) better, in my humble opinion, and 2) should have better all-around numbers.
- A lot of this depends on what Steve Nash does with the rotation. And that will largely depend on what the heck Kyrie Irving decides to do. If Irving is back, or if Nash decides to start with a bigger lineup, Mills should be in line to get plenty of bench buckets for an elite team.
- Boston should see a pretty solid boost in wins from last season just by virtue of being healthier. A stingier defense and more fluid offense under Udoka could make the case even stronger.
TEAM AWARDS
ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM: Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic
ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM: Trae Young, James Harden, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid
ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM: Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Paul George, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo
ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM: Jrue Holiday, Matisse Thybulle, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo
ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM: Mikal Bridges, Jimmy Butler, OG Anunoby, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert
ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Scottie Barnes, Alperen Sengun, Evan Mobley
ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM: Davion Mitchell, Jalen Suggs, Chris Duarte, Josh Giddey, Trey Murphy III
- For the All-NBA Teams, apologies are due, but not limited to: Jimmy Butler (rest days, deep class), Rudy Gobert (deep class), Karl-Anthony Towns (record, deep class), Devin Booker (deep class), Khris Middleton (deep class), Zion Williamson (missed time, record), Bradley Beal (record), Julius Randle (deep class), Jaylen Brown (deep class), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (record).
- On a related note, I have no idea what to do with Ben Simmons right now. There's no telling if Simmons will play in Philadelphia. If he does, there's no telling how long he'll be there. There's also no telling what kind of effort we'll see from him, and how voters may view this whole situation. I'm leaving him off of everything, but we know Simmons is an All-Defensive First Team mainstay under normal circumstances.
- Simmons' departure, whenever it comes, should lead to more Thybulle minutes. He's an absurd perimeter defender with plenty of first-team selections coming his way, starting with this season.
- It'll be a year too late, but hopefully another successful season in Phoenix for Bridges, and an MIP campaign for Anunoby lead to them getting the recognition they deserve.
- The All-Rookie first team seems pretty straightforward. I like Murphy III snagging serious rotation minutes in New Orleans and providing value with his floor spacing. A second-team spot shouldn't be out of the equation.
- Chris Duarte as the Doug McDermott replacement in the Pacers' rotation makes sense. Add that to the injury concerns that come with some of their guards (Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert), and the path to more-than-expected minutes is there.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
TOP SIX
<ol>
<li>BROOKLYN NETS</li>
<li>MILWAUKEE BUCKS</li>
<li>ATLANTA HAWKS</li>
<li>MIAMI HEAT</li>
<li>PHILADELPHIA 76ERS</li>
<li>BOSTON CELTICS</li>
</ol>
- The Sixers are the biggest wild card in the group for, uh, rather obvious reasons. They still have an MVP candidate and a strong defensive infrastructure to lean on. The slide shouldn't be too steep from them.
- I kept going back and forth between the Hawks and Heat. I eventually settled on the Hawks because of their superior depth. I probably feel a little better about the Heat in a playoff setting, though.
- I've been pretty high on the Celtics coming into this season, so of course we've already gotten COVID cases and a random Marcus Smart suspension before the season starts. They should still be a playoff team if the Jays are healthy.
PLAY-IN TERRITORY
<ol start="7">
<li>NEW YORK KNICKS</li>
<li>CHICAGO BULLS</li>
<li>INDIANA PACERS</li>
<li>WASHINGTON WIZARDS</li>
</ol>
- The Knicks are too deep to be in danger of missing the actual playoffs. I have some scheme concerns for them defensively, but they're a solid team in my view.&nbsp;
- I've warmed up on the Bulls. The offense looks good on paper, and flowed a little better than expected during the preseason. Patrick Williams being back already makes me feel a little better about their defense, though I'm still a bit iffy on it. We'll see if the preseason dominance (!?) on that end translates to being an average-ish group.
- l want to like the Pacers &mdash; deep roster, heck of a head coach in Rick Carlisle &mdash; but I just have no earthly idea of who's going to be available for them, or for how long.
THE REST
<ol start="11">
<li>CHARLOTTE HORNETS</li>
<li>TORONTO RAPTORS</li>
<li>CLEVELAND CAVALIERS</li>
<li>DETROIT PISTONS</li>
<li>ORLANDO MAGIC</li>
</ol>
- The more I've sat on it, the more I've found it difficult to trust the Hornets defense during an 82-game marathon.
- Toronto has the best chance of proving me wrong. I believe in Anunoby as a leap candidate, like the defensive infrastructure, but I have too many questions about their half-court offense as a whole to predict the playoffs/in for them.
- I entered the offseason ready to fire off a "Cavs make the play-in" take depending on how it went. Swapping out Larry Nance Jr. for Lauri Markkanen is just... man, I really worry about this defense.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
TOP SIX
<ol>
<li>UTAH JAZZ</li>
<li>LOS ANGELES LAKERS</li>
<li>PHOENIX SUNS</li>
<li>DENVER NUGGETS</li>
<li>GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS</li>
<li>DALLAS MAVERICKS</li>
</ol>
- There's a chance the Jazz take the Bucks' path and use the regular season as an experiment, but they have the talent, system, and continuity to run through the West.&nbsp;
- The Lakers are funky &mdash; they have quite a bit of lineup stuff to figure out &mdash; but their top-end talent should be enough to rack up wins if healthy.
- I've already changed my mind from the <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1447935841565806599?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pacific Division pod</a>. Warriors over the Clippers if they're really going to lean into more small-ball this year.
PLAY-IN TERRITORY
<ol start="7">
<li>PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS</li>
<li>LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS</li>
<li>MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES</li>
<li>MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES</li>
</ol>
- You have to be careful with preseason takeaways, but it's pretty concerning that the Blazers' defense looked&nbsp;that&nbsp;bad. If that's any indication of what they're going to look like this year...
- Still curious about how the Clippers' offense is going to flow, but I like them.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. got himself&nbsp;paid.&nbsp;Here's hoping he's able to put things together on both ends of the floor.&nbsp;
- The Wolves have the offensive talent &mdash; Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley &mdash; and an offensive mastermind on the sideline to make things click. The defense will probably be bad still, but it's encouraging they've <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-preseason-musings-early-trends-that-may-matter-later" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taken a literal step</a> in the right direction.
THE REST
<ol start="11">
<li>NEW ORLEANS PELICANS</li>
<li>SACRAMENTO KINGS</li>
<li>SAN ANTONIO SPURS</li>
<li>HOUSTON ROCKETS</li>
<li>OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER</li>
</ol>
- I already had questions about the Pelicans' defending well enough to make a real push, and now their offensive centerpiece is missing the beginning of the year recovering from a foot injury. This freaking sucks.
- Like last year, the Spurs are the team most likely to prove me wrong if they get one of their young guys to pop. Let's see what the next step from Dejounte Murray is.
EAST PLAYOFFS
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
Bulls &gt; Knicks for 7th.
Wizards &gt; Pacers for 9th.
Knicks &gt; Wizards for 8th.
- Honestly, give me a late-game shot-making fest for the 7-8 game in MSG. Both teams are a step above their play-in counterparts anyway.
FIRST ROUND
(1) Nets &gt; (8) Knicks in 4.
(4) Heat &gt; (5) Sixers in 6.&nbsp;
(2) Bucks &gt; (7) Bulls in 5.
 (3) Hawks &gt; (6) Celtics in 7.&nbsp;
- Again, the Sixers' projections could swing pretty wildly depending on what happens with the Simmons ordeal. I think the Heat have an overall late-game edge in shot creation, even if Embiid is the best singular talent here.
- Young and Tatum duking it out in a Game 7 is the stuff that dreams are made of.&nbsp;
SECOND ROUND
(1) Nets &gt; (5) Heat in 5.
- There's a slight pathway to the Heat pulling this off &mdash; Adebayo and Butler owning the paint (and free throw line) to a degree that makes the Nets uncomfortable &mdash; but the Nets have too much offensive firepower. Even with Kyrie Irving's status up in the air, the Heat seem to be a wing defender short for this matchup, at least.
(2) Bucks &gt; (3) Hawks in 6.
- An ECF rematch in the second round? Sign me up. Ultimately, I just don't think the Hawks have a real answer for Giannis. Poor Clint Capela is going to have his hands full.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
(2) Bucks &gt; (1) Nets in 6.
-&nbsp;Yell at me if you'd like. I trust the Bucks owning the interior &mdash; paint baskets, free throws, rebounds &mdash; and defending at a high enough clip to win Part Two of this budding rivalry. Put another way: I'm a believer in Giannis dictating the terms of this series.
WEST PLAYOFFS
PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT&nbsp;
Blazers &gt; Clippers* for 7th.&nbsp;
Grizzlies &gt; Wolves for 9th.&nbsp;
Clippers* &gt; Grizzlies for 8th.
- The wild card here is a potential Kawhi Leonard return. If he's healthy by the time the playoffs roll around, I think they beat the Blazers for the 7th seed (and become the scariest low seed in the postseason).
FIRST ROUND
(8) Clippers &gt; (1) Jazz in 7.
(4) Nuggets &gt; (5) Warriors in 7.
(3) Suns &gt; (6) Mavericks in 6.
(2) Lakers &gt; (7) Blazers in 5.
- I would love every one of these matchups. I also spent way too much time going back and forth on all but the Lakers series.&nbsp;
- The Jazz probably win in 6 if Kawhi is out for the series. If he's back, I'm down with an 8-1 "upset" that isn't really an upset.
-&nbsp;I'm siding with Jokic in a home Game 7, but that series would truly be a coin flip. Steph may break Synergy with the pick-and-roll numbers he'd put up in this matchup.
SECOND ROUND
(4) Nuggets &gt; (8) Clippers in 6.
(2) Lakers &gt; (3) Suns in 6.
- I trust the Nuggets creating efficient offense a little more than the Clippers, and they at least have bodies to toss on the Clippers' wing combo.
- The Lakers get their revenge if healthy, owning the paint on both ends of the floor.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
(2) Lakers &gt; (4) Nuggets in 6.
- The Lakers have the collective size to at least bother Jokic. God bless Aaron Gordon, but I'm not sure he's equipped for a LeBron or Davis matchup &mdash; and he can only defend one of those guys.&nbsp;
NBA FINALS
(2) Bucks &gt; (2) Lakers in 6.
- This series could be decided by each team's big-star-at-the-5 lineup. I trust Milwaukee's configurations a little more. Bucks repeat, with Giannis (further) establishing himself as the league's best player.

Nekias Duncan gives his predictions for the NBA season — standings, awards, and even playoff picks.

Nekias Duncan's 2021-22 NBA season and award predictions

Lonzo Ball looks good in Chicago. Kemba Walker has always looked good at Madison Square Garden.
One game into their preseasons, the Bulls and New York Knicks have to like what they see from their new backcourts.
Ball made a 3-pointer for Chicago's first basket and the Bulls kept rolling from there to a 131-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Walker also had the first basket for the Knicks in their 125-104 victory over Indiana, making it a happy homecoming for the point guard who grew up in the Bronx.
&ldquo;Just to see that New York across my chest, being from here, it&rsquo;s like a dream come true,&rdquo; Walker said in his postgame interview on the court.
Walker signed with the Knicks over the summer for a chance to play 41 games in the arena where he memorably led Connecticut to the Big East tournament title in 2011.
Evan Fournier, his teammate last season in Boston, is also a new Knick and they started together in the backcourt. Both finished with 12 points, delivering the improved scoring they hope to get after riding their defense to a surprising playoff berth last season.
The Bulls are hoping to get there this season after bringing in Ball from New Orleans, DeMar DeRozan from San Antonio and Alex Caruso from the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic already in place, the Bulls have the potential to make a leap up the Eastern Conference standings.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Forget the coffee... watch this video! Every single dunk from last night's W: <a href="https://t.co/88uxB3Ix9H">pic.twitter.com/88uxB3Ix9H</a>
&mdash; Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1445735602842972165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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LaVine scored 25 points, Vucevic had 10 points and nine rebounds, and the Bulls outscored the Cavaliers by 45 points while they were on the floor. DeRozan added 13 points, Caruso had 10 points and 10 assists, and Ball finished with eight points, five rebounds and five assists.
KNICKS 125, PACERS 104
Julius Randle had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, while RJ Barrett scored 17 points.
Taj Gibson scored 14 and Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin each came off the bench for 10 as the Knicks surpassed 100 points in three quarters.
Rookie Chris Duarte scored 15 points for the Pacers in their first game under new coach Rick Carlisle. Justin Holiday added 13, while Myles Turner and T.J. McConnell each had 10.
BULLS 131, CAVALIERS 95
Troy Brown Jr. and Javonte Green also scored 13 points in Chicago. Matt Thomas had 11 and Alize Johnson finished with eight points and 11 rebounds.
Collin Sexton scored 14 points and former Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen had 13 for the Cavaliers.
Evan Mobley, the No. 3 pick in the draft, had 10 points and eight rebounds. Ricky Rubio, acquired by the Cavs in the offseason, had 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.
ROCKETS 125, WIZARDS 119
Kevin Porter Jr. had 25 points, including five 3-pointers, and five assists in Houston.
Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall pick in July&rsquo;s draft, finished with 12 points and six rebounds but shot just 4 of 14 from the field and 0 for 6 from behind the arc.
Bradley Beal had 18 points to lead six Washington players in double figures. Aaron Holiday had 15 points, Spencer Dinwiddie &mdash; acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a five-team trade on Aug. 6 &mdash; finished with 14 points and five assists and Corey Kispert added 12 points. Kyle Kuzma scored 11 points and Daniel Gafford 10.
GRIZZLIES 87, BUCKS 77 (3 quarters)
Ja Morant had 27 points, six rebounds and four assists through three quarters to lead Memphis.
Morant was 11-of-18 shooting and threw down high-flying dunks in the first and third quarters before a fire alarm went off in his home arena at the end of the third quarter. Fans were evacuated and the teams were sent to their locker rooms. The game would eventually be called.
De&rsquo;Anthony Melton scored 14 points and Steven Adams had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies.
Jordan Nwora led Milwaukee with 16 points and Grayson Allen scored 13.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis and Jrue Holiday &mdash; all major contributors to Milwaukee&rsquo;s NBA title run this summer &mdash; did not play for the Bucks.

One game into their preseasons, the Bulls and Knicks have to like what they see from their new backcourts.

NBA Preseason: Strong debuts for new backcourts in New York & Chicago

The next NBA season is drawing nearer, and 95% of the offseason business is complete. We still await news on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-potential-freeagency-destinations-for-lauri-markkanen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what team Lauri Markannen will play for</a>, and at a certain point, Sam Presti has to reduce his stockpile of draft picks over the next several years.
(The bet here is that he packages as many of them as possible to the team/teams most likely to be in the lottery next year, so that he can increase his chances of landing Gonzaga recruit Chet Holmgren with the No. 1 pick.)
With sports gambling now legal in roughly half of the United States, and coming soon to a bunch of remaining states, it is time for a look at what types of odds are out there on a bunch of different NBA wagers.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re going to take this team-by-team on this particular Monday, because summer is a time for hope, and hoping for the best is what gets us through all 30 in the NBA. So let's begin.
ATLANTA HAWKS: After the Hawks took a bow at Madison Square Garden following their takedown of the Knicks, we can only wonder what is next for Trae Young. His scoring average actually dropped last season by 4.3 points to 25.3 points per game, but we know he is capable of being a 30-point scorer. If he were to do that, and the Hawks were to improve significantly on last season&rsquo;s 41-31 record, the kid will be in the MVP discussion. Right now his odds range from (+1800) at DraftKings Sportsbook to (+2100) at FanDuel. Also, Nate McMillan is (+1500) to (+1600) to win Coach of the Year.
BOSTON CELTICS: With Brad Stevens now running the front office, Al Horford manning the middle again and Dennis Schroder coming in as a capable backup point guard &mdash; Marcus Smart reportedly is <a href="https://nesn.com/2021/08/celtics-reportedly-plan-to-start-marcus-smart-at-point-guard-and-they-should/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected to be the starter</a> &mdash; this is a transitional year for the Celtics, who are listed at 40-1 to win the championship after their .500 (36-36) finish last season. Ime Udoka has been named the 18th coach in the franchise&rsquo;s 75-year history, and coincidentally, he is 18-1 to win Coach of the Year. Jayson Tatum is among the MVP favorites, with the best odds (+3300) available at PointsBet.com.
BROOKLYN NETS: These guys are favored for just about everything, and with good reason. Kyrie Irving and James Harden are expected back healthy, Kevin Durant just won his third Olympic gold medal and Patty Mills has been brought aboard from the San Antonio Spurs. Steve Nash is the co-favorite along with Erik Spolestra for Coach of the Year, and Harden is favored to lead the league in assists. Cam Thomas, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/did-the-nets-get-a-steal-in-no-27-overall-pick-cam-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the co-MVP of Summer League</a>, has been added to the Rookie of the Year wagering slate with odds all over the board; 60-1 at FanDuel is quite enticing.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS: The team with the reigning Rookie of the Year, LaMelo Ball, had somewhat of a quiet offseason, but made a deal on draft night to acquire Mason Plumlee. The 31-year-old slots in as Charlotte's new starting center. Plumlee was under the radar last season playing in Detroit, but was ranked 64th in VORP (Value Over Replacement Player), just behind Kelly Olynyk and ahead of Jarrett Allen. The Duke grad averaged 10.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Plumlee is 200-1 at PointsBet to lead the NBA in rebounding, and despite the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr., PJ Washington can be found at 100-1 odds for Most Improved Player.
CHICAGO BULLS: We told you Saturday that <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/over-chicago-bulls-win-total-getting-most-action-at-draftkings-sportsbook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bettors are pounding the Bulls on the season win total Over/Under</a> like no other NBA team, because big things are expected from the team that acquired Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso. There are two enticing wagers here. Patrick Williams, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/chicago-bulls-evolved-patrick-williams-offensive-game-at-nba-summer-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entering his second season</a> after averaging 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a rookie, is 100-1 for Most Improved Player at PointsBet.com. And Billy Donovan, about to enter his second season at the helm, is 10-1 for Coach of the Year at DraftKings, putting him just behind Steve Nash and Erik Spoelstra (both 9-1).
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: Jarrett Allen ranked 13th in defensive rebounds and 10th in blocks last season. His defensive win share stats are low, but he will be playing a full season with the Cavs after signing long-term in the offseason, and a bump in rebounds from the 9.9 boards he averaged in 51 games for the Cavs last season could get him into the Defensive Player of the Year debate. He is 40-1 at PointsBet for Defensive Player of the Year and 30-1 to lead the league in rebounds.
DALLAS MAVERICKS: Perhaps Jason Kidd can find a way for Luka Doncic (the consensus MVP favorite) and Kristaps Porzingis to thrive together in a loaded Western Conference. Kidd is 15-1 to win Coach of the Year, but the most intriguing wager here is Moses Brown &mdash; who played with Oklahoma City last season before being traded this offseason to Boston and rerouted to Dallas &mdash; to lead the league in rebounding. Yes, Luka Doncic normally leads the Mavs in boards, so this is like the ultimate flyer bet. But if it hits, those who took Moses at (+7000) could name their new boat &ldquo;Mark Cuban bought me this yacht.&rdquo;&nbsp; (Clint Capela of Atlanta is the rebounding favorite, by the way). Doncic is second behind Bradley Beal to lead the NBA in scoring, and fourth behind James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Trae Young to lead the league in assists (+600).
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DENVER NUGGETS: Nikola Jokic is the defending MVP, but is not the favorite (Doncic is) to win Most Valuable Player this season. Michael Porter Jr. is the favorite for Most Improved Player; in my opinion, Porter should have received stronger consideration last year. If you like players with the same first and last name, Bol Bol is almost dead last on the futures page for Most Improved Player at PointsBet with odds of (+100000). Only Andrew Wiggins (+250000) has longer odds.
DETROIT PISTONS: For obvious reasons, Cade Cunningham is the top choice for Rookie of the Year. But that race is up for grabs, as a good young player on a terrible team can break out over the course of the regular season and outperform someone who was taken quite a few spots higher. This is one of the few awards where a team&rsquo;s final record plays little role in who wins the award. It is purely stat-driven. For that reason, look for players whose time on the floor is high. Signed by Detroit this summer, Kelly Olynyk was a beast for the Houston Rockets after they acquired him from Miami, and he should get lots of burn behind Isaiah Stewart at center and Jerami Grant at power forward. That makes him an enticing pick for Sixth Man of the Year at odds of 66-1 at PointsBet.com.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Before the NBA rechristened it Most Improved Player, the award was known as Comeback Player of the Year. And if that was still the case, all we would be discussing in this category would be Klay Thompson, who is two seasons removed from playing competitive hoops. None of the major U.S sportsbooks even list him in that category, but FanDuel has him at (+150000) for Most Valuable player. Nobody is listing odds on James Wiseman for Most Improved, and in Rookie of the Year odds, Jonathan Kuminga is listed highest at Fan Duel at (+3400). Moses Moody is (+6600) at PointsBet.com.
HOUSTON ROCKETS: Jalen Suggs is second behind Cunningham for Rookie of the Year, and Kevin Porter Jr. is on the board for Most Improved Player at various odds, the best of which are (+1400) at FanDuel and PointsBet. Christian Wood is (+9000) to lead the league in rebounding.
INDIANA PACERS: Rick Carlisle is the new head coach after the Nate Bjorkgren fiasco, and we shall see what he can do with one of the most underachieving teams in the NBA last season. He is (+1600) to win Coach of the Year, Domantas Sabonis is (+700) to lead the league in rebounding, Myles Turner is (+700) to win Defensive Player of the Year and Malcolm Brogdon is 130-1 for Most Improved Player at FanDuel. The best Rookie of the Year odds on Chris Duarte are (+4600) at FanDuel.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS: LeBron James did not receive any votes from his peers for best NBA player, so that may just fuel him. He is not a favorite anymore for MVP, and the best odds you can find on him in that category are (+1500) at DraftKings, where Anthony Davis is also listed at (+2500). Kendrick Nunn is (+2000) on the board for Sixth Man of the Year, and Frank Vogel is (+1400) for Coach of the Year at BetMGM. One of the biggest line disparities involves Davis for Defensive Player of the Year. He is the (+350) favorite at FanDuel and the fourth choice (+1000) at BetMGM.com.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: With Kawhi Leonard likely out for most of the season with an ACL injury, there is just not a lot of buzz around the secondary tenants at Staples Center. Paul George is going to have to be the leader of this team, and his MVP odds are alluring. He is (+4000) at Caesars/William Hill and lower everywhere else. Keon Johnson is (+6600) at PointsBet.com for Rookie of the Year, but much lower elsewhere.
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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: Theoretically, Memphis could do what Phoenix did last year and sneak up on everybody, and the Grizzlies are 50-1 to win the West. Individually, this very young team has one decent sleeper pick in Jaren Jackson Jr. for Most Improved after he played only 11 games last season. He is listed between 14-1 and 16-1 at various books. Ja Morant is in the 45-1 range for MVP.
MIAMI HEAT: We have already mentioned that Spoelstra is one of the heavy favorites for Coach of the Year, so if you really want an interesting flyer wager, you could do a lot worse than Jimmy Butler at 55-1 for MVP and Kyle Lowry at 300-1 &mdash; not a misprint &mdash; for the same award. The only player with somewhat of a chalk line is Duncan Robinson at 11-1 to lead the league in three-pointers made per game. (Steph Curry is a nutso favorite with a line of (-165)).
MILWAUKEE BUCKS: It is safe to say that Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the mix for a third MVP award if he can stay healthy and make free throws without setting the knee-knocking record, and he is on the board at odds of 8-1 pretty much everywhere. Defensive Player of the Year awards do not usually go to on-ball defenders, but we all got a close look at <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jrue-holiday-is-the-final-piece-to-any-teams-puzzle-nba-finals-2020-tokyo-olympics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how good Jrue Holiday is in that category</a> during the NBA Finals and the Olympics. Holiday is (+2700) in that category at FanDuel, and (+3000) everywhere else. Pat Connaughton, who had a nice postseason, is 100-1 for Sixth Man of the Year at PointsBet.com. Nobody has him listed for Most Improved.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: OK, we scrape the back of the brain for something nice to say. They did not have a first- or second-round draft pick, so Rookie of the Year is sort of out of the question. Karl-Anthony-Towns is (+9000) to win MVP, and that probably isn't happening unless he gets traded. And with that, we have run out of nice things to say.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: This revamped roster includes Devonte&rsquo; Graham as the team's new point guard, and if he gets extremely good at lobbing he ball to Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas &mdash; and finding Brandon Ingram &mdash; he might just lead the NBA in assists. If you think that is a realistic possibility, you seem to be alone. No sportsbook lists Graham among the contenders to lead the league in assists. The best you can do is (+6000) on him at PointsBet for Most Improved. Zion Williamson&rsquo;s MVP odds are 40-1 pretty much everywhere.
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NEW YORK KNICKS: Obi Toppin is coming off a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/new-york-knicks-youngsters-exceed-expectations-in-nba-summer-league-las-vegas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heck of a Summer League</a>, so he has to be in consideration for Most Improved Player if Tom Thibodeau believes in him. He was Player of the Year two years ago in college, so the talent is there. Problem is, the best MIP odds on him are nowhere to be found. He is not listed at any of the major U.S. sportsbooks. For true believers in the orange and blue, Kemba Walker is 400-1 for MVP at DraftKings.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may as well play 48 minutes per game and average 59 points per game until Sam Presti realizes he is damaging his tanking chances, he is a nifty flyer bet at 100-1 (DraftKings) to lead the NBA in scoring.
ORLANDO MAGIC: Do not bet on the Orlando Magic in the futures market, okay? Well, alright, we will give you one thing to consider. Markelle Fultz, back after missing all of last season, is (+8000) for Most Improved Player at DraftKings &mdash; though we'll see <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/breaking-down-6-nba-players-whose-roles-may-be-diminished-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what his role looks like</a> in a crowded backcourt.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers: A mystery team until we find out <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-potential-trade-destinations-for-ben-simmons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what they plan to do with Ben Simmons</a>. Joel Embiid was a worthy runner-up for MVP last season, and he is again atop the list of favorites. Curiously, Embiid is 25-1 to lead the league in rebounds while his backup, Andre Drummond, is 20-1. Seth Curry is 80-1 for Most Improved Player, but is not on the board for most three-pointers made per game.
PHOENIX SUNS: The second-place finishers in the NBA Finals are <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/suns-poised-to-be-one-of-the-nbas-best-teams-in-early-portion-of-202122-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">returning pretty much the same cast</a>, with Devin Booker (20-1) listed way ahead of Chris Paul (100-1) in MVP odds. One intriguing possibility is Deandre Ayton for Most Improved, because he did not receive enough of the credit last season for this team&rsquo;s success despite shooting 62.2% in his third NBA season. It's hard to see him improving on that percentage, but should Ayton get into the 70% territory (only Wilt Chamberlain, DeAndre Jordan and Mitchell Robinson have done so), Most Improved could be within his sights. The best odds on that are (+4500) at DraftKings.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: Chauncey Billups has the same odds (30-1) as Willie Green of the Pelicans to win Coach of the Year. Both are being put in charge of taking their teams to the next level, and Billups has the better team, in my opinion. Damian Lillard is a top-six choice for MVP everywhere except PointsBet, where he is eighth at (+1600). Robert Covington, the Patrick Beverley of forwards, is 100-1 to win Defensive Player of the Year.
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SACRAMENTO KINGS: Nobody places odds on the first coach to be fired. Richaun Holmes has the longest odds of anybody on the board at DraftKings for Most Improved Player at 150-1.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Gregg Popovich is 50-1 to win Coach of the Year. New Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. (45-1) and 22 other coaches have better odds. Thaddeus Young is a sneaky Sixth Man pick at 55-1 (provided he gets traded elsewhere).
TORONTO RAPTORS: Our staff loved <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/something-to-prove-og-anunoby-shot-creation-toronto-raptors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OG Anunoby</a> for <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-roundtable-which-player-is-poised-to-break-out-next-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">player most likely to have a breakout season</a>, and he is on the board at just 25-1 at PointsBet but 66-1 at BetMGM. Following the offseason moves that left them a long way from looking like the team that went to the NBA Finals in 2019, it is difficult to find any other members of the Raptors on the boards anywhere.
UTAH JAZZ: If they do what they did last year, Donovan Mitchell is going to get a lot more MVP consideration than he did last season, when these guys snuck up on a lot of people. He is 30-1 for MVP pretty much everywhere, and Jordan Clarkson is the favorite to repeat as Sixth Man of the Year; the same goes for Rudy Gobert with Defensive Player of the Year. Also, Quin Snyder is right up there with the favorites for Coach of the Year. With pretty much the same roster, is it a little surprising to see them listed behind the Lakers, Warriors and Suns to win the West.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS: The Wizards are another off-the-radar team following the trade of Russell Westbrook, but Bradley Beal is the favorite to lead the NBA in scoring and Kyle Kuzma is 40-1 for Most Improved. Curiously, PointsBet.com is the only book listing Montrezl Harrell for Sixth Man of the Year, where he is 20-1. He won the award two years ago and was sixth last season.

Chris Sheridan checks into the NBA's preseason odds and goes through the top wagers to make for all 30 teams.

Best bets: NBA team-by-team odds choices as 2021-22 season approaches

Chris Duarte's path to the NBA is one that's rarely traveled. Entering the league at age 24 &mdash; only seven months younger than Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker &mdash; Duarte had to work pretty hard to even get noticed on a national stage. Beginning his collegiate basketball career at Northwest Florida State, a junior college, Duarte was able to catch the attention of D1 programs and eventually landed at the University of Oregon, a long way away from his native Dominican Republic.
The Indiana Pacers fell in love with Duarte as both a prospect and a person and selected him with the 13th overall pick in this year's draft. On draft night, the 24-year-old Dominican wing accomplished one of his major goals. There were trials and tribulations along the way, though. Nowadays, it&rsquo;s rare to ever see a draft prospect like Duarte go from unnoticed in junior college to being a lottery pick.
Duarte&rsquo;s new journey is just now beginning, and the realization started to kick in of how far he&rsquo;s come during the MGM Grand NBA Las Vegas Summer League.
"It's amazing, man. It's amazing,&rdquo; Duarte said of reaching the NBA. &ldquo;I was just excited about coming to Indy. Just excited about getting drafted. So whatever happened, it happens, so that's the way I was thinking. I was just really excited about seeing my dream come true.&rdquo;
Before becoming one of the hottest names in the pre-draft process &mdash; rising from a late first-round pick to someone who garnered significant buzz from multiple teams in the lottery &mdash; Duarte shined in his final season at Oregon. He averaged 17.1 points, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting a blistering 42.4% from three-point territory. The 24-year-old do-it-all wing also became one of the NCAA&rsquo;s most efficient scorers, turning in a true shooting percentage of 65.7.
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For a team like Indiana &mdash; one that feels it's ready to win right now with a strong, well-rounded roster &mdash; Duarte fits into their culture seamlessly. New head coach Rick Carlisle, who returns to Indiana after over a decade with the Dallas Mavericks, feels Duarte has a role within their already deep rotation. After sharpshooter Doug McDermott&rsquo;s departure to the San Antonio Spurs in free-agency, Duarte figures to fill that role while also providing even more two-way versatility.
"He's a guy that we feel can play three positions &mdash; two, three and play some one,&rdquo; Carlisle said after the draft about Duarte. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a terrific offensive player. He's a terrific defender. And a guy that's very mature we feel like can help us now.&rdquo;
Duarte became regarded as one of the most NBA-ready prospects in the 2021 draft class. Now with the Pacers in Las Vegas, Duarte is proving those thoughts to be right on the money. Already, he looks the part of an instant-impact rotation player who is reaching the &ldquo;too good for summer league&rdquo; threshold. In Las Vegas, Duarte is averaging 17.5 points, 2.5 assists, two steals and one block while shooting an eye-opening 47.1% from three-point range.
Duarte&rsquo;s confidence is at an all-time high in Las Vegas, allowing the Pacers to experiment with other elements of his game. Although he figures to jump between shooting guard and small forward, there&rsquo;s untapped playmaking potential due to his extremely high basketball IQ. Based off Carlisle&rsquo;s post-draft comments, Duarte could see time as a tertiary playmaker who can create easy looks for others in certain situations.&nbsp;
"Coach Carlisle likes to have multiple ball-handlers,&rdquo; Pacers summer league head coach Mike Weiner said after Indiana's second game on Tuesday. "The league is going more skill-oriented and the more attackers and ball-handlers we have, the better. We feel Chris is going to fit in with that. We&rsquo;re putting him in different situations, wanting him to read the game, feel the game. A lot of the NBA game right now is feel.&rdquo;
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Duarte&rsquo;s feel for the game is already outstanding. Couple that with his pro-ready shooting and defensive versatility, and Indiana has a player poised to take on an important role in his rookie campaign. So far, the returns in summer league on the Duarte pick have been outstanding for Indiana &mdash; and there&rsquo;s no wonder why multiple teams tried to trade up on draft night for him.
"Well, that's me. I let the game come to me,&rdquo; Duarte said after his summer league debut. &ldquo;I don't force a lot of shots. And when I do, I just feel bad about myself, because that's not the right way to play basketball. I'm a team player. I try to make the simple play, so that's me."
Currently, outside of Duarte, one Dominican-born player is on an NBA roster: Al Horford of the Boston Celtics. Duarte is putting a whole country on his back with his strong professional debut in Las Vegas.
Moving forward, keep your eye on Duarte. He&rsquo;s already proving worthy of his lottery status with a well-rounded game that surprisingly has plenty of untapped potential.
Duarte has cleared a major hurdle in getting drafted by the Pacers, but he&rsquo;s not satisfied yet.

Chris Duarte was the oldest prospect in the draft. However, thus far, the Indiana Pacers look like they made a wise decision with their 13th pick.

Chris Duarte showcasing NBA readiness with strong summer league debut

The biggest offseason domino yet to fall is Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons.
Coming off a forgetful playoff run where he seemed allergic to having the basketball in his hands late in games, Simmons and the Sixers are at a crossroads. Will the 25-year-old max All-Star stay in Philadelphia, or will he be shipped off elsewhere before the 2021-22 season begins?
Last season, Simmons averaged a career-low 14.3 points to go along with 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists. However, he's been a plus-defender his entire career; there&rsquo;s no denying the impact he has on that end of the floor. Coming off two consecutive seasons in which he was named to the All-Defense First Team, any organization should be able to utilize the jumbo-sized, uber-athletic point-forward on both offense and defense.
However, it&rsquo;s fair to wonder whether Simmons can reach his full potential in a Sixers uniform. With Joel Embiid, Simmons isn't utilized as a post-passing savant who can abuse mismatches against slower-footed bigs. In an offense built entirely around Simmons, he could flourish with more freedom.
Simmons is an interesting case study for star-caliber players on massive salaries. With his trade value at an all-time low, Philadelphia is still asking for an enormous return &mdash; four first-round picks and an All-Star has been reported. Nobody will give Sixers GM Daryl Morey that much value in any Simmons deal, so what makes sense in a potential package?
Let&rsquo;s go ahead and take a look, name some teams that should be calling Philadelphia and assemble some trade packages.
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SACRAMENTO KINGS
The pressure is on for Sacramento to finally field a winning team and snap their 15-year playoff drought. Whether it be Simmons or Pascal Siakam, I&rsquo;ve suggested that the Kings finally push their chips into the middle of the table for an aggressive win-now move.
Simmons would be the perfect piece to fit into their puzzle alongside De&rsquo;Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. The Kings&rsquo; backcourt duo had a positive net rating last season, and adding Simmons to the mix gives them a very fun playmaking trio that can play off one another.
Playing the four alongside Richaun Holmes provides little spacing, but Simmons could become the de-facto primary ball handler with Fox and Haliburton providing spacing around the perimeter. A potential starting unit featuring Fox, Haliburton, Harrison Barnes, Simmons and Richaun Holmes could hold up on both ends of the court.
Philadelphia receives: Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks
Sacramento receives: Ben Simmons
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
In a similar position as Sacramento, Minnesota could rise in the Western Conference with an impact move. Karl-Anthony Towns is a bonafide superstar, while Anthony Edwards has great potential. Tossing Simmons into the Timberwolves&rsquo; lineup would be exactly how they can become a more well-rounded team.
The question is, would Minnesota pull the trigger on trading Towns&rsquo; good friend D&rsquo;Angelo Russell? If so, Minnesota&rsquo;s new Big 3 would be outstanding.
Imagine the endless possibilities with Simmons flanking Towns and Edwards. The Wolves&rsquo; primary scoring duo could still have their way offensively, but Simmons would be the glue holding everything together from a playmaking and defensive standpoint.
Philadelphia receives: D&rsquo;Angelo Russell, Jaden McDaniels, future first-round pick
Minnesota receives: Ben Simmons
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
What exactly are the Spurs up to right now? Signing Doug McDermott and Bryn Forbes, San Antonio might be picturing a scenario where they are good enough to push for the playoffs. The strategy for San Antonio should revolve around tanking and focusing on the internal development of their young core.
However, if the Spurs want to make one more big push before head coach Gregg Popovich&rsquo;s presumed retirement, maybe a Simmons trade could go down.
San Antonio has a strong ecosystem in which Simmons could rebuild his value. Surrounded by plus three-point shooters, Simmons can reach his ceiling in a role where everything is built around his strengths.
Philadelphia receives: Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker, Thaddeus Young, future first-round pick
San Antonio receives: Ben Simmons
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Would the Warriors even be interested in Simmons? It&rsquo;s a real question to ask with Draymond Green already playing a similar role. However, as Green ages, he&rsquo;s the perfect mentor for Simmons to learn from.
Golden State has one big move left up their sleeve with Andrew Wiggins' contract and a lot of young prospects &mdash; James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Jordan Poole. Surely they have their eyes on All-NBA talents such as Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal, but Simmons could be the most realistic player to add with their current collection of assets.
Imagining Simmons flanked by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson is a fun exercise, too. Maybe down the line, this is the type of environment where Simmons could become a player where the offense is adequately spaced for him to feast on drives to the basket.
Philadelphia receives: Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, Jordan Poole, two future first-round picks
Golden State receives: Ben Simmons
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WASHINGTON WIZARDS
One team that has finally tried to build around their star the right way is Washington, which is set to give Bradley Beal a competent roster for the 2021-22 season. However, Beal is entering the final year of his deal.
Would Simmons work well alongside Beal? That&rsquo;s a legitimate concern, but a home run swing that could be necessary for Beal to commit long-term in the nation&rsquo;s capital.
Simmons and Beal flanked by shooters and prospects is a nice foundation for Wizards GM Tommy Shepard to build around for the next five-plus years.
Philadelphia receives: Davis Bertans, Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, two future first-round picks
Washington receives: Ben Simmons
TORONTO RAPTORS
Another team facing a fork in the road with their current roster construction, Toronto has to decide on what happens with Pascal Siakam. Will Toronto keep Siakam around with their young core, or flip him for more long-term value?
If the Raptors want to make an aggressive win-now push while also offloading Siakam, enter Simmons.
A potential lineup of Simmons with Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa sounds like something Toronto would love to try.
Is Simmons open to moving across the border? If so, this could be a win-win deal for both sides as they begin new eras for their respective organizations. Siakam and Embiid is a terrifying frontcourt for Philadelphia, and the duo would allow Tobias Harris to slide back into the small forward position. Meanwhile, Toronto brings Simmons aboard as their new face of the franchise with a solid young nucleus surrounding him.
Philadelphia receives: Pascal Siakam
Toronto receives: Ben Simmons
INDIANA PACERS
No surprise, Indiana is another team that could be staring down the barrel of important, franchise-altering decisions within a year. The Pacers have a great, well-balanced roster that&rsquo;s been plagued by injuries over the last few seasons. T.J. Warren, who broke out in a huge way during the Orlando Bubble, only played four games during the 2019-20 campaign. Caris LeVert missed time due to a cancerous tumor that was discovered after the James Harden trade. Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon continue to miss time here and there due to various injuries, not helping remove the "injury-prone" labels placed on them in the past.
Rick Carlisle is making a triumphant return to Indiana after more than a decade, and the Pacers feel a coaching switch and better health might be their best bet to jump up another rung in the Eastern Conference standings.
Indiana has sniffed around Simmons' availability already this offseason, though. Having a tough time being able to pitch top free agents on coming to Indianapolis, making an aggressive trade might be the only way for it to happen.
Although one of Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis would need to be moved to a third team in this hypothetical scenario, Indiana going star hunting could be the necessary tweak to change their long-term fortunes.
Philadelphia receives: Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb, two future first-round picks
Indiana receives: Ben Simmons
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
After drafting Evan Mobley No. 3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Cleveland has a bright, young core. Darius Garland, Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Isaac Okoro and Collin Sexton will be fun to watch, but do all of the pieces actually fit together? The Cavaliers have reportedly shopped Sexton this offseason with a big-money extension potentially waiting for him in 2022. Cleveland prefers Darius Garland, who has continued to develop in his first two seasons. Being able to play off the ball as well, Garland has already shown the ability to function alongside another primary ball handler.
Kevin Love is the odd man out of Cleveland right now, but a buyout doesn&rsquo;t seem to be on the horizon; he has two years remaining on his extension.
Could Philadelphia and Cleveland build a win-win package around Simmons for Love and Sexton? It&rsquo;s a long-shot, but one that might have already been explored. Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein mentioned earlier this offseason that Cleveland is another team who has previously expressed interest in acquiring Simmons.
A core in Cleveland consisting of Simmons, Garland, Mobley, Allen and Okoro is something that&rsquo;s at least intriguing on surface level.
Philadelphia receives: Kevin Love, Collin Sexton, two future first-round picks
Cleveland receives: Ben Simmons
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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
This is Portland&rsquo;s last chance to build a Finals contender around Damian Lillard. So far this offseason, they haven&rsquo;t come close. Re-signing Norman Powell was a necessary step, but retooling their bench with Cody Zeller, Tony Snell and Ben McLemore won&rsquo;t get it done.
The Blazers are stuck in the middle, which is the worst place to be. With that being said, it&rsquo;s time to finally break up the Lillard, C.J. McCollum backcourt. Whether it be Simmons or Siakam, Portland needs to finally make an aggressive push to appease their disgruntled superstar.
A deal revolving around Simmons and McCollum makes sense for both parties. McCollum can function as a score-first combo guard who can play well off Embiid, while Simmons provides a beautiful blend of playmaking and defense alongside Lillard.
Philadelphia receives: C.J. McCollum, Nassir Little, two future first-round picks
Portland receives: Ben Simmons
Simmons' future is the biggest question remaining in an already eventful 2021-22 offseason. Odds are, he'll be moved to the highest bidder. Perhaps it'll end up being one of the aforementioned teams.

Ben Simmons is the last big domino left to fall this offseason. Will he stay in Philadelphia? It's time to explore potential destinations.

Examining potential trade destinations for Ben Simmons

Arguably the best day on the calendar has officially arrived. Welcome to NBA free-agency, everybody. Today should be a huge news day, with a flurry of big-time moves occurring over the next 24 hours to open the moratorium period. There are already <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/heat-frontrunners-to-land-kyle-lowry-with-dragic-achiuwa-signandtrade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat is pretty much a done deal via sign-and-trade.
Outside of Lowry, one of the biggest names available on the open market who figures to be with a new team soon is DeMar DeRozan.
After being shipped from the Toronto Raptors to the San Antonio Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard trade, DeRozan has reinvented his game to become one of the better tertiary wing playmakers. Averaging only 3.1 assists over nine seasons in Toronto, DeRozan doubled that to 6.2 assists during his three-year stint with the Spurs.
DeRozan is also one of the best mid-range artists in the Association, able to get buckets at will from his hot spots.
Add those two factors together and DeRozan is a player who is well-deserving of a huge payday. Recently, DeRozan was linked to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, but now <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/demar-derozan-isnt-expected-to-join-lakers-on-a-discount-contract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that appears unlikely</a> since he (understandably) wants more than the mid-level exception. Wherever he lands, he could be the missing piece for a team looking to take a leap forward in 2021-22. Let's go ahead and dive into the possible destinations for DeRozan as free agency kicks off.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
After pivoting away from the Lowry sweepstakes, how will Dallas spend their $30-plus million in cap space? Mark Cuban would be wise to splurge on DeRozan, who fits very well alongside the Mavs&rsquo; inside-out duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
In order to make this happen, the Mavericks would need to renounce Tim Hardaway Jr.'s cap hold. Although Hardaway Jr. had a resurgent 2020-21 campaign, DeRozan takes much-needed pressure off Doncic as a ball-handler. During the Mavericks' first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, Doncic's usage rate was above 40. That can't happen long-term if Dallas wants to make deep playoff runs throughout Doncic's career.
Paying DeRozan $20-$30 million annually over the next three or four years is a gamble, but the disastrous Porzingis max contract has put the Mavericks in a tough spot to make significant splashes. DeRozan is probably their best shot in the near future.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks have been trying for years to woo superstars to the Big Apple, but every time, they've been left at the altar. With $50 million in cap space, will the Knicks go star hunting once again, or fill out the roster with a lot of win-now role players?
One underlying factor that should play into the Knicks' free-agency decisions is the future of Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard. So much smoke has billowed out of the Pacific Northwest already about Lillard being unhappy and the 2021-22 season potentially being GM Neil Olshey's last chance to build a title contender around the All-NBA point guard.
Right away, the Knicks were mentioned as a team that Lillard could be interested in joining in the near future. If things fall apart for Lillard and the Trail Blazers, New York is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-knicks-should-prepare-to-go-allin-for-damian-lillard-new-york-trade-rumors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set up to make a compelling offer</a> using some pieces from their young core (which includes R.J. Barrett, Obi Toppin, Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickley, Kevin Knox and Quentin Grimes among others).
With DeRozan on the roster, perhaps the Knicks become even more attractive to disgruntled stars since they would likely be closer to contention. Right away, DeRozan helps improve the Knicks' standing in the Eastern Conference, becoming a go-to scorer alongside Julius Randle. And we all know head coach Tom Thibodeau would love him as well.
Even if the Lillard sweepstakes never materializes in the near future, DeRozan gives New York a much-needed boost and helps them stay in the top half of the East over the next couple of seasons.
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NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The pressure is already on the Pelicans to improve drastically. Time is ticking with their young superstar Zion Williamson. There are already <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-patience-of-zion-williamsons-family-with-pelicans-wearing-thin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rumors</a> that some of Williamson&rsquo;s family members want him to change teams, and it&rsquo;s possible that Zion could look to leave if New Orleans continues to stagnate.
New Orleans needs shooting, and lots of it. DeRozan doesn't help them improve in that facet, but he's a win-now fringe star who can help push the Pelicans to the playoffs. A trio of Williamson, Brandon Ingram and DeRozan could be appealing and help Zion make his postseason debut.
If GM David Griffin is able to fill out the roster around Williamson, Ingram and DeRozan with sharpshooters, this has the makings of a playoff team in 2021-22 and beyond. The question is, does DeRozan want to roll the dice on a younger team like New Orleans?
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
DeRozan in Charlotte would be really, really fun. Imagine DeRozan in an up-tempo offense led by LaMelo Ball and surrounded by appealing prospects (such as Miles Bridges, James Bouknight, PJ Washington and Kai Jones). Add in Gordon Hayward and this is a team that&rsquo;s locked into a playoff spot for the next few years.
In order for the Hornets to fit DeRozan into their cap space, they would need to dump Terry Rozier's $17.9 million expiring elsewhere. And with all the guard-needy teams out there, Charlotte could surely find a suitor for Rozier quickly.
The Hornets are still three years away from Ball's big second contract filling up their books. Why not make a run for DeRozan on a three-year deal reaching upwards of $25 million per season? Like the surprising Hayward move last offseason, this is only the way top-tier free agents will consider signing with Charlotte.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies are another team with an intriguing young core that would have to jump through some hoops to make the money work in order to pursue DeRozan. Memphis received their first taste of the playoffs in the Ja Morant era, and they might be hungry for more now with their young star ready to continue his ascent.
DeRozan would fit perfectly into the Grizzlies&rsquo; starting lineup. Memphis needs an aggressive, score-first wing who can also take pressure off Morant. Enter DeRozan, who checks all of those boxes.
However, after Memphis&rsquo; pre-draft trade with the Pelicans that brought in Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams and the No. 10 pick, they&rsquo;d need to pull off some salary-cap magic to make this work. The Grizzlies would likely need to trade Bledsoe and Kyle Anderson's $9.9 million expiring contract. If those moves happened, Memphis would be at $29 million in available cap space.
DeRozan has mentioned he wants to win championships, so will he be interested in Memphis or any of the other young teams listed here that are still a few years away? That's the big question, but, as we all know, money talks.
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MIAMI HEAT
This is where things get really interesting. Pat Riley can recruit with the best of them, and Miami's win-now core has a multi-year championship window. Lowry is on his way to join Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in South Beach. Why not have Lowry's best friend DeRozan join them as well?
This is a lineup that completely ignores the modern importance of spacing. However, as we saw in the playoffs, having copious amounts of bucket-getters on the court simultaneously matters.
Miami has limited flexibility to make this idea happen, but it's certainly possible. In a sign-and-trade with San Antonio, Miami would send Duncan Robinson (whom San Antonio has reportedly shown interest in) and KZ Okpala. If the Spurs signed Robinson to a restricted deal around $20 million per year, this fairytale idea could grow some legs. According to <a href="https://twitter.com/5ReasonsSports/status/1421918275500453890" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ethan Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports</a>, Miami has tossed around the idea of Lowry and DeRozan as their big-fish acquisitions.&nbsp;
Never count out Pat Riley. We'll see if this type of situation bubbles to the surface here soon.
INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers are in an interesting spot. Do they run it back or blow it all up in the near future? Right now, Indiana seems <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-rick-carlisle-make-a-domantas-sabonis-myles-turner-pairing-work-for-the-pacers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stuck in the middle</a>, and that's not a good place to be. Hiring Rick Carlisle as their new head coach after the disastrous Nate Bjorkgren tenure, the Pacers might feel they can stand pat and see how this season goes before making big changes.
However, the Pacers would be wise to explore all options with their core players, sans Caris LeVert, T.J. Warren and Domantas Sabonis. Pacers owner Herb Simon is about to be 87 years old, so he likely wants Indiana to be competitive again.
If DeRozan intrigues Indiana, perhaps the Pacers can send the salaries of Myles Turner and Jeremy Lamb to San Antonio in a sign-and-trade scenario. Turner, who has been in trade rumors for years now, is also a player whom the Spurs could covet as a long-term piece.
Indiana has avoided paying the luxury tax during Simon&rsquo;s tenure as owner, and acquiring DeRozan doesn't change that. The Pacers would be able to bring aboard DeRozan, while also re-signing backup point guard T.J. McConnell on a long-term deal.
A win-now core for Indiana featuring DeRozan, LeVert, Sabonis and Warren is very intriguing. However, would DeRozan sign off on playing in Indianapolis for the next few years?
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Now we're starting to get crazy, but, again, it's possible. The Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard most of next season due to a partially torn ACL. Why not package together Luke Kennard and Patrick Beverley and scour the sign-and-trade market? Those two together equal out to $27 million. What about Kennard, Beverley and some second-round picks for DeRozan? Would that interest San Antonio?
Los Angeles would still be able to bring back Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum on team-friendly deals in this scenario as well, if Leonard waits to re-sign a big contract.&nbsp;
Imagine a starting lineup of Jackson, DeRozan, Paul George, Leonard and Ivica Zubac. That's a true threat to win multiple championships in the near future.
DeRozan has already expressed his desire to return home. With the Lakers making the Russell Westbrook trade, their assets and cap flexibility are limited. Enter the Clippers, who could make another shocking splash in free-agency.
Free-agency is here, so stay locked into BasketballNews.com for all the latest news and rumors.

DeMar DeRozan is one of the biggest free agents available. Where will he land? Evan Sidery examines all of the possible destinations.

Examining possible free-agency destinations for DeMar DeRozan

The NBA announced in a statement today:&nbsp;
Larry Brown, widely and highly regarded as one of the game&rsquo;s premier teachers, and the only coach in history to have won both an NBA and NCAA Championship, is the recipient of the 2021 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Basketball Coaches Association announced today.
&ldquo;Larry Brown has achieved coaching success at the highest levels of basketball in a career that began in 1965 as an assistant to Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina,&rdquo; said Indiana Pacers Head Coach and National Basketball Coaches Association President Rick Carlisle. &ldquo;Not only is he a Hall of Famer and the only coach to have won an NBA and NCAA Championship, he has won multiple Olympic medals and numerous Coach of the Year Awards. Larry&rsquo;s &lsquo;Coaching Tree&rsquo; is ridiculously wide-ranging and includes close to fifty current or former Head Coaches. Congratulations to Larry on this well-deserved and prestigious recognition.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I am honored to receive the Chuck Daly Lifetime Award for multiple reasons,&rdquo; said Larry Brown. &ldquo;Chuck Daly was a great coach and a great person whose work and legacy are appropriately celebrated with this award. To be mentioned in the same conversation with the previous recipients is truly humbling. I want to thank all of the Coaches with whom I coached and those I coached against, so many of whom are great competitors and friends. And thanks to the players I had the good fortune to coach. I am very proud of what my teams accomplished. Lastly, I want to thank the NBA Coaches Association and the Selection Committee for this honor.&rdquo;
Most coaches make their mark in either professional or collegiate basketball. Coach Brown made his mark wherever he coached. He began his coaching career in 1965 as an assistant to Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina, his alma mater. But, after two seasons, he still wanted to play, so he began a five-year playing career in the ABA. He was a member of the 1968-69 Oakland Oaks Championship team, a three-time All-Star and MVP of the 1968 All-Star Game.Brown returned to coaching in 1972 as Head Coach of the Carolina Cougars in the ABA.
For the next forty-seven years Brown enjoyed success in the ABA, NBA, NCAA, and international competition amassing over 1,700 total wins.In 42 seasons as a Head Coach, Brown won an NBA Championship (Detroit Pistons, 2004), an NCAA National Championship (Kansas, 1988), three ABA Coach of the Year Awards (Carolina Cougars, 1972-73; Denver Nuggets, 1974-75; Denver Nuggets, 1975-76), an NBA Coach of the Year Award (Philadelphia, 2001), an NCAA Coach of the Year Award (Kansas, 1988), a Big Eight Coach of the Year Award (Kansas, 1986), and was a ten-time NBA Coach of the Month.
He guided his teams to four ABA playoff appearances, eighteen NBA playoff appearances, eight NCAA tournament appearances, two Final Fours, three NBA Conference Finals, three NBA Finals, an NBA Championship, and an NCAA National Championship.Coach Brown is the only Head Coach in history to lead eight different NBA teams to the playoffs and is also the only Head Coach to have coached two different NBA teams in the same season, 1991-92 (going 21-17 with the San Antonio Spurs and 23-12 with the Los Angeles Clippers).
Coach Brown won a Gold Medal as a guard on the 1964 Olympic basketball team and as an Assistant Coach on the 2000 Olympic basketball team. He also won a Bronze Medal as Head Coach of the 2004 Olympic basketball team and Gold Medals as the Head Coach of the USA National Team in the 1999 and 2003 FIBA Americas Championships.
Coach Brown was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He is also in the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1990), the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2013) and the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2019).
&ldquo;Larry Brown&rsquo;s reputation as a teaching coach is well-known and well-deserved throughout the sport,&rdquo; said David Fogel, National Basketball Coaches Association Executive Director and General Counsel. &ldquo;He has improved his teams throughout his career and his successes at the professional, collegiate and international levels represent a lifetime dedicated to basketball. Congratulations to Coach Brown on an incredible career and the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.&rdquo;
The National Basketball Coaches Association&rsquo;s Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award honors the memory of Hall of Famer Chuck Daly, who, over an outstanding NBA coaching career, set a standard for integrity, competitive excellence, and tireless promotion of NBA basketball.&nbsp;

Brown was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Larry Brown receives 2021 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award

In this series, Matt Babcock shares his experience growing up around the Milwaukee Bucks organization since his dad, Dave Babcock, has been an executive with the team for 23 years. He also provides an inside look at the rise and fall of the Bucks during the late 1990s and early 2000s. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/growing-up-a-buck-millewahque-milwaukee-bucks-nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For Part 1, click here</a>. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/growing-up-a-buck-george-karl-arrives-in-milwaukee" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> For Part 2, click here</a>.
The 1998-99 NBA trade deadline was approaching, and the Milwaukee Bucks were in playoff contention after not having secured a playoff bid since 1991. At the time, the Bucks were built around two young, blossoming stars: 23-year-old Ray Allen and 26-year-old Glenn Robinson. However, the team&rsquo;s front-office brass questioned if the supporting cast was enough to elevate their team to being championship-worthy.
Subsequently, Bucks general manager Bob Weinhauer made two bold moves prior to that year&rsquo;s trade deadline. The first move: a three-way trade where the Bucks exchanged oft-injured point guard Terrell Brandon for Sam Cassell, the charismatic lead guard from the New Jersey Nets. The second move had Milwaukee trading power forward Tyrone Hill to the Philadelphia 76ers for a young developing forward, Tim Thomas, and veteran big man, Scott Williams -- two transactions that ultimately proved to be extremely fruitful for the Bucks.
With their core unit set, the Bucks went on to finish that lockout-shortened season with a record of 28-22, giving them the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference. After nearly a decade, the Bucks were headed back to the playoffs. In the first round, they faced a team that tied for the best record in the East, the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers were loaded with talent and experience, a tall task for a developing Milwaukee team, to say the least.
Due to my dad&rsquo;s position within the Bucks&rsquo; front office, I was given countless opportunities to be with and around that Bucks team during the late 1990s. I felt like I was part of that team, and one way or another, I was going to be in that arena for Game 1. I had traveled with the team earlier in the season, but I didn&rsquo;t go on the team plane for that trip. Don&rsquo;t feel too bad for me though... I was fortunate enough to be invited to fly with Senator Herb Kohl, the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks at the time, on his private jet.
Before I knew it, my dad and I were pulling into a private hangar and boarding Senator Kohl&rsquo;s jet. Onboard that flight was my dad, Larry Harris (who worked with my dad in the front office), Senator Kohl and myself. There I was, a freshman in high school, sitting with a US Senator and NBA team owner on his private jet, heading to my first-ever playoff game.
After a quick flight, we landed in Indy, and awaiting us was a car to take us to the arena. I learned quickly that the playoffs were completely different than the regular season. I vividly remember walking into the old Market Square Arena that night. I felt like my heart was going to pump out of my chest. Everyone from arena security to players to fans all had an extra pep in their step. Energy and excitement filled the arena. The intensity of the atmosphere was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and this was before the game even began. It was unforgettable!
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Once in the arena, I beelined to the court to find Coby Karl (the son of George Karl, Milwaukee's head coach at the time) so we could do our normal routine of shooting around with the players and hanging around the court before the formal warm-ups began. I remember being in awe watching some of the Pacers&rsquo; players.
To be able to see Chris Mullin do a shooting workout up-close was special. He is probably the most detail-oriented shooter I have ever seen. He would warm up doing a spot-shooting routine, where he would have five spots around the perimeter, which is typical. However, he would have to make a certain amount of shots in a row to move to the next spot and would not count the shot as a &ldquo;make&rdquo; if the ball even grazed the rim. That specific Chris Mullin workout has always stuck with me. That was one of my early lessons that elite shooters take a scientific approach to shooting and make a conscious effort to master their craft &mdash; going through the motions or just &ldquo;getting shots up&rdquo; is not enough to be elite.
The game was set to begin, but Coby and I didn&rsquo;t have assigned seats, so we sat on the court next to the Bucks' bench, as we usually did for away games. Aside from seeing Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team the year before, I had never been impressed by a team quite as much as I was by that Pacers team.
First of all, their head coach was my childhood hero, the legendary former player, Larry Bird, who had been the recipient of the NBA Coach of the Year award the previous season in '98. His top assistant coach was Rick Carlisle, who had been Larry&rsquo;s teammate when they both played for the Boston Celtics in the mid-1980s. It had been said that Carlisle was the actual technical mastermind behind that Pacers team, and that Larry&rsquo;s role as head coach was somewhat as a figurehead. Regardless of their coaching structure having been set up as a hierarchy or not, whatever they did, it worked. Carlisle went on to be one of the top head coaches in the industry. He has been a head coach for nearly 20 years now, and is back with Indiana for his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/indiana-pacers-hire-rick-carlisle-as-next-head-coach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second stint as the team's head coach</a>.
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That Pacers roster had so much depth, and it was filled with many accomplished veteran players. Their lead guard was Mark Jackson. He ran the show and controlled the tempo. He was a modest 6-foot-1 with a stocky build, and not very quick or athletic, but he was a magician with his playmaking. He was incredibly creative with his passing, and had an uncanny ability to see the floor to find shooters on the perimeter or big men around the basket &mdash; he had &ldquo;eyes in the back of his head.&rdquo;
In the middle, they had the &ldquo;Dunking Dutchman,&rdquo; Rik Smits, a huge, 7-foot-4, skilled center who could really score. Alongside Smits were two &ldquo;blue-collar&rdquo; big men who split playing time: Dale Davis and Antonio Davis. It was during an era of basketball when the common theme was &ldquo;no layups.&rdquo; The Davis duo, no relation, was the epitome of power forwards during that time as they were &ldquo;bruisers.&rdquo; Both of them were extremely physical and tough and they did all of the &ldquo;dirty work&rdquo; (perhaps somewhat of a lost art, in my opinion).
On the wing, the Pacers started Mullin, an aging star. He was not quite the player he had been when he was a perennial All-Star earlier in his career, but the guy just knew how to play. And although he wasn&rsquo;t moving all that well anymore, he could still shoot the lights out.
That Pacers team was so good that they had an emerging star, Jalen Rose, coming off the bench. Jalen&rsquo;s role was to come into the game and aggressively look to score. He had the full green light and would score in bunches. He was a 1-on-1 nightmare for whoever had to match up against him. A 6-foot-8 lefty, he had handles like a point guard, a sweet mid-range game, was extremely crafty and had an overall knack to score the ball.
The Indiana bench also consisted of shooting big man Sam &ldquo;Big Smooth&rdquo; Perkins, the defensively-versatile forward Derrick McKey and speedy scoring point guard Travis Best. (Ironically, I ended up coaching Travis Best years later in Italy when I was a young assistant coach for the team Virtus Bologna, and Travis was finishing up his playing career.)
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As if that Pacers roster wasn&rsquo;t enough to keep any opposing coach up late at night, those were just the complementary players to their main weapon: Reggie Miller.
Quite possibly the cockiest player the NBA has ever seen, Miller developed a reputation for being the ultimate villain when playing on the road. I remember watching him during pregame warmups wearing a Superman T-shirt. We&rsquo;ve all seen the highlights of the show he put on at the Madison Square Garden in 1995, where he hit all of those threes at the end of the game to come from behind and beat the New York Knicks &mdash; doing so as he relentlessly trash-talked Spike Lee, who had been sitting courtside. Miller even wrapped his hands around his neck to give Spike &ldquo;the choke sign.&rdquo; Reggie fed off negativity. He talked trash constantly. He was arrogant and abrasive. The more hostile the environment, the more he turned up his play. Heckling from fans only added fuel to the fire. I joined a large contingent of non-Pacers fans throughout the NBA that despised him. But now, after all of these years, I have to admit: Reggie Miller was incredible.
At 6-foot-7, a thin physical build, and an extremely unorthodox shooting release, Miller is arguably the best shooter of all-time. Of course, we have Steph Curry now and Ray Allen before him, but Reggie is the one that set the stage for them, in my opinion.
While I was a player in high school, I was fortunate enough to be able to have some of the Bucks coaches work with me on my game. I remember in one instance, Terry Stotts (an assistant for Milwaukee at the time) put me through a shooting workout, and I suppose that I impressed him with my shooting ability. I remember Coach Stotts telling me, &ldquo;Okay, you&rsquo;ve proven that you are a high-level shooter, but now we need to make sure you are able to get your shot off.&rdquo; The lesson he was trying to teach me is exactly where Reggie thrived. The NBA has had many capable shooters that could make open shots at a high percentage, but there has not been anyone that could shoot at an elite level while also being able to create an open shot for himself without the ball quite like Reggie.
During Game 1 of the playoffs versus the Bucks, I was able to watch Miller operate while sitting only&nbsp; steps away. I watched his method closely.
As Jackson would initiate the offense off the dribble, Reggie would take his defender deep into the paint -- under or around the basket -- and he would initiate contact with his defenders, many times by grabbing their jersey. He would take a couple of moments to set up his defender; then, at the right moment, he would take off, a lot of times beginning with a shove to his defender&rsquo;s chest. He would sprint toward one of the hammering screens that were to be set by Smits or one of the Davis&rsquo;; if the screener&rsquo;s defender didn&rsquo;t show, Reggie would turn the corner off those screens like a runner in baseball rounding third base going to home plate. Jackson would deliver a pass right into Miller&rsquo;s numbers as he would do a quick one-two step into his jump shot -- a high release and a high-arcing trajectory. When Miller would release a deep three, the Pacers' arena would have sound effects of a bomb being dropped while the ball was in the air, and when the ball would go through the net, it would have the sound of an explosion. The images and sounds of Reggie Miller coming off screens to bury deep threes are tattooed in my head to this day.
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Unfortunately, those sights and sounds were seen and heard routinely in that series, as the Pacers would go on to sweep the Bucks. Although the outcome was not what we had hoped for, it was nonetheless a great introduction to playoff basketball for me. The emotions I experienced during that playoff series were intoxicating. I was completely hooked and I wanted more.&nbsp;
Well, I got it.
The following season, 1999-00, the Bucks would go on to finish No. 5 in the Eastern Conference. They faced the Pacers, again. An improved Bucks team forced a deciding Game 5 versus the Pacers in an exciting and competitive series. I was there for the action, of course. Unfortunately, Miller and his Pacers were still too much for the Bucks. After defeating Milwaukee that year, the Pacers went on to the NBA Finals to face Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. They came up just short of an NBA title, as the Lakers defeated them in six games.
As for the Bucks, in retrospect, the two consecutive years of being defeated by the Pacers in the playoffs were just what they needed to prepare for what was to come&hellip;
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/growing-up-a-buck-the-2001-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read Part 4 of this series: "Growing Up a Buck: The 2001 Playoff Run." </a>
Also, check out Matt Babcock and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's latest 2021 NBA Mock Draft</a>.

Matt Babcock provides an inside look at the rise and fall of the Milwaukee Bucks during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Growing up a Buck: 'It’s Reggie Miller Time'

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) &mdash; The Portland Trail Blazers are compiling a list of possible candidates to replace coach Terry Stotts and general manager Neil Olshey said Monday that he hopes to start conducting a first round of virtual interviews this week.
Rumors swirled this weekend about possible candidates after Stotts was fired Friday, a day after the Blazers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs, but Olshey said the team is still preparing the list to give to team owner Jody Allen.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re running a very expansive, diverse search. We&rsquo;ll probably have anywhere from 20 to 25 candidates in there with biographical data, background, intel, impact studies, coaching records, playing records, etc., so that we all are speaking the same language as we vet these candidates,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I have not reached out to any teams or agents to request permission to conduct formal interviews until we&rsquo;ve had a chance to review all those materials.&rdquo;
Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd withdrew his name from consideration during an interview with ESPN after it was reported that Damian Lillard had endorsed him for the job. The names of other possible candidates also were bandied about over the weekend.
&ldquo;Rumors move fast but process moves slow,&rdquo; Olshey said.
Stotts coached the Blazers for nine seasons, taking them to the playoffs in the last eight. But Portland has failed to advance past the first round in four of the last five years.
The 63-year-old Stotts was the NBA&rsquo;s fourth-longest tenured coach in his current job behind only San Antonio&rsquo;s Gregg Popovich, Miami&rsquo;s Erik Spoelstra and Dallas&rsquo; Rick Carlisle. He went 402-318 in his nine regular seasons in Portland, with the eight playoff berths, and led the team to the Western Conference finals in 2019 &mdash; where the Blazers were swept by Golden State.
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He wrote a letter Saturday to fans thanking them, as well as everyone connected to the team, for his time in Portland.
&ldquo;Being the head coach of the Trail Blazers has been a life-changing experience,&rdquo; he wrote. &ldquo;There have been so many special memories that my wife, Jan, and I will always cherish; memories involving wonderful people and lasting friendships.&rdquo;
Olshey said one of the glaring issues for the Blazers has been defense. The team's defensive rating was 29th in the league.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not acceptable," he said. "At 29th, you are finishing below teams that are literally in rebuild.&rdquo;
The new coach will certainly be lured by the chance to work with one of the game&rsquo;s dynamic scorers in Lillard. Olshey said Lillard will have input in the decision.
Lillard fueled speculation about his own future in Portland following the elimination loss to the Nuggets. He posted a photo of himself in street clothes at the Moda Center. The caption that he added quoted the late rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle.
&ldquo;How long should I stay dedicated?&rdquo; he wrote. &ldquo;How long til opportunity meet preparation?&rdquo;
Lillard averaged a league-best 34.3 points and 10.2 assists in the playoffs, after averaging 28.8 points and 7.5 assists during the regular season.
A six-time All-Star, Lillard just wrapped up his ninth NBA season. The closest he&rsquo;s come to a title was that quick trip to the West finals in 2019.
Olshey responded to a question about his own job security, given his hand in building the team.
&ldquo;Well, I&rsquo;m running the coaching search. I have multiple years left on my contract. I think the feeling is that in this instance, while in the past there might have been questions, the first-round loss and the defensive rating at 29 was not a product of the roster,&rdquo; Olshey said. &ldquo;I will tell you that all of us, myself included, serve at the pleasure of Jody Allen and we will all be here for as long as she sees value in our contribution.&rdquo;
___
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General manager Neil Olshey said on Monday that he hopes to start conducting a first round of virtual interviews this week.

Blazers hope to begin coach candidate interviews this week

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) &mdash; No team in the NBA has a longer active streak of postseason appearances than the Portland Trail Blazers, who have gotten there in each of the last eight seasons.
That wasn&rsquo;t enough to save Terry Stotts, and Portland will have a new coach next season.
The Trail Blazers and Stotts parted ways Friday, ending a nine-year run that saw the team good enough to get to the playoffs &mdash; but not good enough to get past the first round in four of the last five seasons.
&ldquo;I have the utmost respect for Terry and what he has accomplished these past nine seasons,&rdquo; Blazers President Neil Olshey said. &ldquo;This was a difficult decision on both a personal and professional level but it&rsquo;s in the best interest of the franchise to move in another direction.
&ldquo;Terry will always hold a special place in the Trail Blazer family and the Portland community. We relied on the integrity, professionalism and consistency he brought to the job every day and we wish he and Jan nothing but the best.&rdquo;
It was being termed as a mutual decision. The move was made one day after Portland&rsquo;s season ended with a six-game, first-round ouster at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, a defeat that had Blazers guard Damian Lillard taking to social media after the game to indicate his frustration.
&ldquo;Just like at the end of every year, we are all evaluated,&rdquo; Stotts said after the season finale against Denver and as speculation about his status immediately started to grow. &ldquo;We will see what happens.&rdquo;
It didn't take long to get an answer.
Stotts, 63, was the NBA's fourth longest-tenured coach in his current job behind only San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, Miami's Erik Spoelstra and Dallas' Rick Carlisle. He went 402-318 in his nine regular seasons in Portland, with the eight playoff berths, and led the team to the Western Conference finals in 2019 &mdash; where the Blazers were swept by Golden State.
Well-liked throughout the league, Stotts was an assistant under Carlisle with the Mavericks for four years before taking over the Blazers. One of his most memorable seasons in Portland came in 2015-16, when the Blazers overachieved and went to the conference semifinals &mdash; despite losing starters LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez in the offseason.
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Rumors about Stotts' future with the Blazers began swirling last month, but the team's elimination by Denver sealed his fate. He had one year left on his contract in Portland.
Among the possible candidates that Portland may consider: Los Angeles Lakers assistant (and former Brooklyn and Milwaukee head coach) Jason Kidd, and ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy &mdash; whose last NBA coaching gig was with Houston in 2007.
&ldquo;He should (be at) the top of everybody&rsquo;s list who has an opening in the NBA," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said of Kidd earlier Friday, hours before Stotts' fate became known.
The new coach, whoever it is, will certainly be lured by the chance to work with one of the game's dynamic scorers in Lillard.
But Lillard fueled speculation about his own future in Portland following the elimination loss to the Nuggets. He posted a photo of himself in street clothes at the Moda Center. The caption that he added quoted the late rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle.
&ldquo;How long should I stay dedicated?&rdquo; he wrote. &ldquo;How long til opportunity meet preparation?&rdquo;
If he stays, Lillard will no doubt have input into who the Blazers choose to be their new coach.
Portland finished the regular season 42-30 and earned the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The team was riding momentum, having won 10 of its final 12 regular-season games.
The Blazers were also healthy, with both big man Jusuf Nurkic and guard CJ McCollum back from extended absences because of injuries.
But once again, the playoff trip was brief.
Lillard averaged a league-best 34.3 points and 10.2 assists in the playoffs, after averaging 28.8 points and 7.5 assists during the regular season.
He had 55 points, including a playoff record 12 3-pointers and 10 assists in Game 5 against the Nuggets, but Portland still lost, 147-140 in double overtime.
&ldquo;We've got to keep fighting, keep working and keep coming back to battle,&rdquo; Lillard said. "Regardless of how it ended, we are always going to have our heads held high, have class. They won, congratulations to them, but it&rsquo;s back to the drawing board to us."
A four-time All-Star, Lillard just wrapped up his ninth NBA season. The closest he's come to a title was that quick trip to the West finals in 2019.
&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t win a championship, so obviously where we are now isn&rsquo;t good enough,&rdquo; he said.
Nurkic, who averaged 11.5 points and nine rebounds but missed time with a fractured right wrist, has one year left on his contract &mdash; but only $4 million is guaranteed. He didn't sound committed to returning next season, explaining it had to be the &ldquo;right situation.&rdquo;
But when asked what the right situation would be, Nurkic replied: &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know. But it&rsquo;s not this.&rdquo;
McCollum, Lillard's backcourt teammate, averaged 21.3 points this season, his best since joining the league in 2013. But he missed games with a fractured foot.
Ten-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who filled a key role off the bench for Portland this season, will be an unrestricted free agent, along with Enes Kanter. Norman Powell has a player option for next season.
Stotts said he was proud of what Portland was able to accomplish, given the injuries and disruptions caused by the coronavirus.
&ldquo;What we did with CJ and Nurk missing games, I was proud of that,&rdquo; Stotts said. &ldquo;At the end of the season, to do what we did was pretty impressive."
In the end, it just wasn't impressive enough.
___
AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
___
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The Portland Trail Blazers and Terry Stotts parted ways on Friday, ending a nine-year run.

Neil Olshey discusses 'difficult decision' to part ways with Terry Stotts

Kawhi Leonard tied his playoff career high with 45 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 104-97 on Friday night, forcing a Game 7 in the first postseason series in NBA history with the road team winning the first six games.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
KAWHI GOES OFF 🤯 45 PTS 5 3PM 6 REB 2 STL 58.7 FPTS He wills the <a href="https://twitter.com/LAClippers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LAClippers</a> to victory, forcing a Game 7 back in LA! <a href="https://t.co/VlcObNavtp">pic.twitter.com/VlcObNavtp</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1401022135078883335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The Clippers won for the third time in front of a raucous Dallas crowd more than three times bigger than any during the regular season, this time in a tense finish after the first two LA road victories were by double digits.
The victory gives Leonard and Paul George their first chance to eliminate the team they beat in six games in the Florida playoff bubble last August. Game 7 is Sunday in Los Angeles.
Luka Doncic scored 29 points but was just 2 of 9 from 3-point range as the LA defense turned up the pressure in key moments and held Dallas to 29% shooting in the fourth quarter. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 23 points but missed a 3-pointer and a layup in the closing minutes.
After coming home with a 2-0 series lead and losing twice, the Mavericks lost a close-out game for just the second time in seven games under coach Rick Carlisle.
The Mavericks were down 90-88 when Maxi Kleber missed an open corner 3. Leonard scored the next eight LA points, including back-to-back 3-pointers for a 98-90 lead with 1:41 remaining.
A night after the other Los Angeles team was eliminated when LeBron James and the Lakers lost to Phoenix, the Clippers trailed for long stretches before going in front for good with six minutes left on a jumper by George, who had 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Reggie Jackson scored 14 of his 25 points in the first quarter to help keep LA close early, while Doncic's European sidekick, Kristaps Porzingis, was a nonfactor with seven points on just seven shots in 31 minutes.
The biggest lead for either team from the middle of the second quarter to the end of the third was a seven-point Dallas edge in the third.
The Clippers erased that deficit quickly with their best defensive intensity of the game to that point, sparking an 11-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Leonard.
LA left Dorian Finney-Smith open for a 3-pointer that helped Dallas go back in front, and the Mavericks later scored the final five points of the third for a 77-73 lead.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Serge Ibaka missed his fourth consecutive game with back spasms. The issue kept him out of 30 straight games in the regular season before he played the final two games leading into the playoffs and the first two in this series. Ibaka made the trip for Game 5 after staying in LA for the first two games in Dallas. ... After Leonard, Jackson and George, the next-highest LA scorer was Nicolas Batum with six.
Mavericks: Carlisle's only other close-out loss as coach of the Mavericks was in Game 7 at San Antonio in the first round in 2014, when the Mavericks weren&rsquo;t expected to last that long. ... Boban Marjanovich scored 12 points as Dallas went with a big lineup again.
___
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Kawhi Leonard tied his playoff career high with 45 points and the Clippers beat the Mavs 104-97 on Friday night, forcing a Game 7.

Clippers beat Mavs behind Kawhi Leonard's 45, force Game 7 in another road win

DALLAS (AP) &mdash; Asked about the decade without a playoff series victory since coaching the Dallas Mavericks to their only championship, Rick Carlisle quickly mentioned the rebuilding phase that accompanied the drought.
When a similar question came up a day later, the Dallas coach showed he might be ready to quit answering them.
&ldquo;I keep getting asked about is there pressure to advance, hell yeah there&rsquo;s pressure to advance!&rdquo; Carlisle said, his voice rising. &ldquo;But we&rsquo;re a championship organization. We&rsquo;re not just looking to advance one round in the playoffs.&rdquo;
Luka Doncic and the Mavericks will seek the franchise's elusive series victory starting Saturday at the Los Angeles Clippers in a first-round rematch from the Florida bubble last year, when <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-ca-state-wire-tx-state-wire-nba-c2b1424c622b6d11ca6d8e9ae83e8dec">Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and company</a> won in six games.
Dirk Nowitzki, Doncic's predecessor as the Euro superstar in Dallas, led a six-game series victory over Miami's LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the 2011 NBA Finals. Nobody could have imagined the franchise would go this long without at least returning to the second round.
First, owner Mark Cuban changed the makeup of the title-winning team significantly in the name of salary cap flexibility after the 2011 lockout. Three years later, a trade with Boston for Rajon Rondo blew up on the Mavericks.
It took a year, but the ill-fated Rondo deal triggered the rebuild. Dallas missed the playoffs three straight seasons after qualifying 15 of the previous 16. Hopes brightened after the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/bd42239ddd3e44478aaf06d699c57537">Mavericks traded up two spots to get Doncic</a> in the 2018 draft.
Dallas missed the playoffs with the 2019 Rookie of the Year, but his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz3TBKrBp5M">dazzling Game 4 buzzer-beater against the Clippers</a> last August was the most tangible sign that playoff success might be near.
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Now comes the rematch, with the fifth-seeded Mavericks as underdogs again.
&ldquo;It helps carry that momentum moving forward, not only in that playoffs,&rdquo; said Tim Hardaway Jr., one of four players on the roster to play for a team that won a playoff series. &ldquo;If you end up losing, carries that momentum into next season, knowing that your guys have expectations to move forward and be better.&rdquo;
If Doncic can get Dallas past the Clippers this time, he will match Nowitzki by getting his first playoff series victory in his third season. The comparisons will only grow from there.
Nowitzki's postseason debut with a first-round win over Utah in 2001 was the first of 12 straight playoff trips. Two years later, Dallas lost to San Antonio in the Western Conference finals before going the distance in 2006, losing in six games to Wade and the Heat.
&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re part of an organization like the Dallas Mavericks and there&rsquo;s a game scheduled, there&rsquo;s pressure to win that game,&rdquo; said Carlisle, in his 13th season with Dallas. &ldquo;When you come to work for this organization and you work for Mark Cuban, you&rsquo;ve got to be somebody that loves pressure.&rdquo;
Dallas hasn't had home-court advantage in the first round since winning the title. This year's seeding is the highest since the Mavericks were third in 2011. They've had five first-round losses: 2012, 2014-16 and last year.
The Mavericks missed out on the home court this season after a 9-14 start that included a COVID-19 outbreak sidelining four players at the same time.
By the time Dallas finally found momentum, the gap behind the top four in the West was too wide. The Mavericks finished five games behind the Clippers and Denver, which got the third seed on a tiebreaker.
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&ldquo;Regardless of what happened in the past, just to be able to battle through some of the adversity we&rsquo;ve had and the adversity we all shared collectively as a league, it&rsquo;s huge for us to be in the position we are now,&rdquo; Dwight Powell said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s doubly important for us to show up and compete at the highest possible level.&rdquo;
Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, his European sidekick, made their playoff debuts together last year. Porzingis missed the final three games of the series with a right knee injury sustained in the opener.
If they're going to build something similar to what Nowitzki started 20 years ago, beating the Clippers would be a solid foundation.
&ldquo;That would be huge step forward for us, especially against an experienced team like the Clippers,&rdquo; Porzingis said. &ldquo;We have the tools. We just don&rsquo;t have the experience yet. It&rsquo;s good that we had that first taste of defeat last season and we&rsquo;re looking forward to taking a step forward.&rdquo;
___
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Luka Doncic and the Mavericks will seek the franchise's elusive series victory starting Saturday at the Los Angeles Clippers.