Golden Panthers

CHICAGO (AP) &mdash; Arturas Karnisovas just about slammed the door on a total teardown for the Chicago Bulls following a disappointing season.
The team&rsquo;s top basketball executive didn&rsquo;t completely rule out anything. But he made it clear a complete overhaul is unlikely.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s been thrown around all this season,&rdquo; he said Saturday. &ldquo;Blow up, rebuild. It&rsquo;s not on our minds.&rdquo;
The Bulls have some big issues to address after finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference and missing the playoffs. They went 40-42 and won a play-in game at Toronto before getting knocked out at Miami on Friday.
For a team that came in thinking it was poised to make a jump in the East and a run in the playoffs, the season was a big letdown.
The Bulls were hit by injuries, with point guard Lonzo Ball missing the season because of a knee injury, and never really developed the rhythm they anticipated. It didn&rsquo;t help that Zach LaVine was slowed by a knee issue early on and that DeMar DeRozan dealt with a quad problem over the second half.
The Bulls really haven&rsquo;t been whole since the first half of the 2021-22 season, when they were among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. But even if they had all their key players, whether a team with a &ldquo;big three&rdquo; of LaVine, DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic can overtake teams like Milwaukee, Boston and Philadelphia is another issue.
Karnisovas talked about building around the core and improving the team&rsquo;s 3-point shooting. But to do that could mean going into luxury-tax territory.
Vucevic is due to become an unrestricted free agent, and guard Coby White is set to be a restricted free agent. Throw in the uncertainty over Ball after he missed the season because of his left knee injury, and the team&rsquo;s top basketball executive has a big job ahead of him.
&ldquo;My responsibility is to look at everything,&rdquo; said Karnisovas, Chicago&rsquo;s executive vice president of basketball operations. &ldquo;At the end of the day, to be a .500 team is not good enough. It&rsquo;s not good enough for this organization. It&rsquo;s not good enough for the fan base. They deserve better. So I&rsquo;m going to have to look at everything &mdash; how I can help this group to do better. We have to move forward. But I&rsquo;ll be open to do anything.&rdquo;
BIG DECISION
Vucevic said he&rsquo;d like to remain in Chicago, though he plans to explore the market. The two-time All-Star averaged 17.6 points and 11 rebounds in his second full season with the Bulls.
&ldquo;The Bulls will have priority,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I would like to stay here. But that&rsquo;s on the front office to decide and work with my agent on the contract part.&rdquo;
BALL&rsquo;S FUTURE
Karnisovas said he expects Ball to play again. He&rsquo;s just not sure when.
&ldquo;I have confidence that he&rsquo;s going to come back. In terms of timeline, I don&rsquo;t have that timeline right now,&rdquo; Karnisovas said.
Ball hasn&rsquo;t played since Jan. 14, 2022. He had a cartilage transplant in March, his third operation on the knee in a little more than a year.
ON POINT
Whether he remains with the Bulls or signs elsewhere, White said he would like to be a starter. He made two starts this season.
&ldquo;I think it definitely could be a conversation and figure things out from there,&rdquo; White said.
NO SHOT
The Bulls were last in the NBA in 3-pointers made and attempted.
DEROZAN DEAL?
With one year left on his three-year, $85 million contract, DeRozan could be in line for an extension.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m never worried about that,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Never mention it, never talk about it. I even hate hearing it at time. I let my job, everything I do, take care of itself.&rdquo;

Arturas Karnisovas just about slammed the door on a total teardown for the Chicago Bulls following a disappointing season.

Bulls exec Arturas Karnisovas all but slams door on total teardown

SAN ANTONIO (AP) &mdash; Tari Eason matched his season high with 20 points and the Houston Rockets ended an 11-game losing streak, beating the San Antonio Spurs 122-110 on Saturday night.
Alperen Sengun had 16 points and K.J. Martin and Josh Christopher each added 14 points for the Rockets in the opener of a home-and-home series. Last in the NBA at 14-49, they hadn&rsquo;t won since Feb. 1.
Devonte&rsquo; Graham had 28 points to lead San Antonio. Zach Collins added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The teams will play again Sunday night in Houston to close a back-to-back set.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and lead assistant Brett Brown returned after missing the Spurs&rsquo; game Thursday night against Indiana because of non-COVID illnesses.
The Spurs are still without Keldon Johnson, however, and Devin Vassell sat out after playing Thursday following a 25-game absence.
Vying for the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, San Antonio entered having won two straight after losing a franchise-record 16 straight. It is 4-24 in 2023. Houston is 4-23 in 2023.
TIP-INS
Rockets: San Antonio honored former Rockets and Spurs guard Mario Elie following the first quarter. Elie won three NBA titles during an 11-year career, helping San Antonio capture its first championship in 1999. The tribute is part of the Spurs&rsquo; season-long 50th Anniversary celebration. &hellip; Jae&rsquo;Sean Tate was held out for injury management following a sprained right ankle. &hellip; The Rockets&rsquo; last victory over the Spurs was Jan. 12, 2022, in San Antonio.
Spurs: Johnson missed his second straight game with a sprained left foot. Johnson has missed eight games this season while leading the Spurs in scoring at 21.8 points per game. &hellip; Vassell sat out for injury management after playing for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic left knee surgery on Jan. 11.

Tari Eason matched his season high with 20 points and the Rockets ended an 11-game losing streak, beating the Spurs 122-110.

NBA-worst Rockets beat Spurs to end 11-game losing streak

CLEVELAND (AP) &mdash; All-Star Donovan Mitchell scored 19 of his 29 points in the second half and Jarrett Allen had 23 points and 10 rebounds, rallying the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 97-89 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
Mitchell added 10 rebounds and Darius Garland scored 19 for Cleveland, which trailed 61-48 in the third quarter before unleashing a 43-17 run to go up by 13. The Cavaliers won their sixth straight and are 24-6 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
&ldquo;This was a big-time win for us,&rdquo; Mitchell said. &ldquo;We were getting good looks early and making the right plays, but the shots weren&rsquo;t falling. Once we started hitting them, we know it&rsquo;s tough to play here because of our fight and our fans.&rdquo;
Zach LaVine scored 23 points, Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and All-Star DeMar DeRozan had 16 points and six assists for the Bulls. Chicago was outscored 20-4 to start the fourth and dropped its third in a row.
The Cavaliers were playing the second half of a challenging back-to-back set, arriving in Cleveland at 4 a.m. following their 118-107 win in New Orleans. That nationally-televised game tipped after 10 p.m. Eastern.
&ldquo;To find the fortitude to grind this one out, that&rsquo;s special,&rdquo; Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. &ldquo;The mental toughness the guys showed when things weren&rsquo;t going our way, you talk about growth, that&rsquo;s what this was.&rdquo;
Evan Mobley had 14 points and Garland dished out seven assists, helping Cleveland extend its lead over Brooklyn for fourth place in the Eastern Conference to 2 1/2 games. The Cavaliers swept their four-game season series with Chicago.
The Bulls committed 23 turnovers, were 5 of 21 on 3-pointers and only managed 60 points over the final three quarters.
&ldquo;We just shot ourselves in the foot an enormous amount tonight,&rdquo; Chicago coach Billy Donovan said. &ldquo;A lot of it is the team learning how to stop the bleeding. Everyone is trying their best, but we&rsquo;re not getting the results we want.&rdquo;
Cleveland&rsquo;s reserves missed 18 of their 19 field goal attempts, including all 13 3-pointers, with Ricky Rubio coming up empty on six tries and Dean Wade missing his five shots.
Mitchell scored a franchise-record 71 points in the teams&rsquo; previous meeting Jan. 2, a 145-134 overtime win at home by the Cavaliers. It tied for the eighth-most points in a game in NBA history and was the highest total in the league in 17 years.
EYES WIDE OPEN
The Bulls are in the thick of the battle for a play-in tournament spot in the East. Chicago hasn&rsquo;t made a roster move since mid-December, but that could change soon as vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley are actively looking at contract-buyout possibilities around the NBA.
&ldquo;There have definitely been discussions and we have talked some names, but obviously, I can&rsquo;t say who they are,&rdquo; Donovan said. &ldquo;You would take a good player who we would all feel confident could help us.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Bulls: G Lonzo Ball (left knee surgery), who has not played in a game since Jan. 14, 2022, will have his status updated by Karnisovas following the All-Star break. Ball has been able to dunk in recent weeks and could be nearing a return. &hellip; C Andre Drummond averaged a franchise-high 12.9 rebounds over two seasons with Cleveland, leading the NBA in 2019-2020. &hellip; Chicago wrapped up a three-game trip.
Cavaliers: G Dylan Windler (right ankle sprain) was in uniform for the second time, but did not get into the game. The 2019 first-round selection has missed the entire season after experiencing multiple setbacks. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s been tough because there have been random bumps in the road that you can&rsquo;t account for,&rdquo; Bickerstaff said. Windler has only appeared in 81 games as a pro. &hellip; Cleveland has sold out all 30 home games.

Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points in the second half, helping rally the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 97-89 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Mitchell nets 29 as Cavs rally past Bulls, win streak hits 6

HOUSTON (AP) &mdash; Franz Wagner scored 25 points, rookie Paolo Banchero had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic overcame a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 116-110 on Wednesday night.
The Magic took their first lead when Cole Anthony, who finished with 15 points, drilled a 3-pointer to make it 96-95 with 7:11 remaining. Orlando has won seven of eight since beginning the season 5-20.
&ldquo;It felt like we were up for a while before then, because I thought we were outplaying them,&rdquo; Anthony said of his big shot. &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t even looking at the scoreboard.&rdquo;
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 31 points for the Rockets, who dropped their fourth straight. Jalen Green had 21 points and eight rebounds, Kenyon Martin Jr. scored 18 points, and Alperen Sengun had 13 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.
Houston led 64-54 at halftime and 77-62 with 8:24 left in the third quarter before Orlando began its rally. The Magic pieced together a 17-2 run capped by a dunk by Wagner that tied the game at 79-all with 2:59 left in the period.
Orlando switched to a zone defense in the second half.
&ldquo;Our coaches did a great job of recognizing we needed to change something up,&rdquo; Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. &ldquo;Going into the zone, I think was a great change up to just give a different look. Our guys understood that we just had to get some energy and momentum going, and that gave us what we needed.&rdquo;
Porter said the defensive switch shouldn't have rattled the Rockets.
&ldquo;We just got static, that zone, it really wasn&rsquo;t anything,&rdquo; Porter Jr. said. &ldquo;It was kind of like a man zone where you get the ball in the middle and they flare out and man up. We knew exactly what they were doing, we just weren&rsquo;t moving fast enough. We were too slow when they got in that zone.&rdquo;
Leading 102-100 with 4:08 left in the game, the Magic went on an 8-2 run capped by a 3-pointer by Wagner. Banchero later had an emphatic one-handed slam to make it 114-108 with 48 seconds left. It was his 20th game scoring 20 points or more, the most among rookies, and his sixth double-double.
Moritz Wagner chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds and Markelle Fultz scored 11 points for the Magic.
&ldquo;We weren&rsquo;t switching up into guys, they were making more 3s, they were attacking us one-on-one, getting to mid-range shots that were partly contested,&rdquo; Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. &ldquo;But it wasn&rsquo;t necessarily hard on them to score in the second half.&rdquo;
QUESTION ANSWERED
Franz Wagner, who scored 12 of his points in the third quarter, had been questionable to play with a sprained right ankle.
&ldquo;We talk about his competitive nature and his edge. He wants to get things done,&rdquo; Mosley said.
TIP-INS
Magic: Chuma Okeke (left knee) had arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. &ldquo;I do feel for Chuma and he&rsquo;s going to do a great job getting himself back to the court,&rdquo; Mosley said.
Rockets: Jae&rsquo;Sean Tate (ankle) and Garrison Mathews (illness) were out. ... After going 8 for 53 from 3-point range the last two games, Houston hit 17 against Orlando.
&nbsp;

Franz Wagner scored 25 points, and the Orlando Magic overcame a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 116-110.

Magic rally past Rockets 116-110 for 7th win in 8 games

According to a source, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has no interest in acquiring Russell Westbrook and his expiring contract, even if it means adding draft picks.
Source: <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-saturday/2022/12/9/23502072/bulls-slow-start-organization-in-the-rumor-mill-crosshairs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Cowley/Chicago Sun-Times</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;The Bullls have struggled to a 10-14 start this season, leading to speculation about the long-term future of Chicago's core. However, it looks like any potential blockbuster with the Lakers would have to be separate from a potential Westbrook trade. Westbrook is averaging 14.6 points, 7.5 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game this season.&nbsp;

The Bullls have struggled to a 10-14 start this season, leading to speculation about the long-term future of Chicago's core.

Report: Bulls have 'no interest' in Lakers trade involving Russell Westbrook

MIAMI (AP) &mdash; LaMelo Ball is finally back with the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets&rsquo; point guard &mdash; an All-Star a year ago &mdash; made his season debut Saturday night at Miami and was in the starting lineup. He was inactive for each of Charlotte&rsquo;s first 13 games because of a sprained left ankle, an injury that occurred in the preseason.
Ball finished with 15 points, six assists and six rebounds in 28 minutes, making his season debut after missing the first 13 games with a sprained ankle. He shot 6 of 17, 1 for 9 from 3-point range, in Charlotte's 132-115 loss to the Heat &mdash; but insisted rust wasn't an issue.
&ldquo;I feel straight. We're going to be straight," Ball said. &ldquo;More games, it'll get easier. I think I'm in a good spot."
Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.6 assists last season for Charlotte, becoming an All-Star in just his second NBA season. A season earlier, he averaged 15.7 points and 6.1 assists on his way to winning rookie of the year.
&ldquo;He did a bunch of good things and he'll play better and better as we go here," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.
The Hornets are on a league-worst eight-game losing streak and have been gutted by injuries. Ball had yet to play this season, and Saturday&rsquo;s game was the sixth consecutive contest that forward Gordon Hayward was missing with a left shoulder contusion.
Still, Charlotte believes it can turn things around.
&ldquo;We're getting people back now," Ball said. &ldquo;We're finally getting on the road."
Forward Cody Martin played 56 seconds in the season-opener against San Antonio, left that game with a quadriceps injury, hasn&rsquo;t played since and likely won&rsquo;t play for at least another month following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday.
And Ball returned as the Hornets lost another point guard. Dennis Smith Jr., who started in Ball's spot for 11 of Charlotte's first 13 games, was sidelined on Saturday with a sprained left ankle. Smith got hurt in the overtime session against Miami on Thursday night; Clifford said he wasn't expected to miss significant time.
Ball said if Smith was able to play Saturday, he would have likely sat one more game. Clifford said simply having Ball at shootaround Saturday morning provided a lift.
&ldquo;When a player of his caliber comes back, it makes the game easier for everybody," Clifford said.

Ball finished with 15 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds, making his season debut after missing the first 13 games with a sprained ankle.

Hornets' LaMelo Ball is back in action, scores 15 in season debut

After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle in May, Seth Curry is hoping to return in time for the Brooklyn Nets' season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 19.
Curry dealt with ankle soreness throughout last season, causing him to suit up in just 23 games for Brooklyn (including the playoffs). Last year with the Nets, Curry averaged 14.9 points, 3.1 threes, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals on .493/.468/.857 shooting splits.
&ldquo;Getting closer every day. Doing a little bit more and more every day. I&rsquo;m trying to be smart about it. Pass all the tests I need to pass and get ready to go, and stay mentally engaged at the same time to be ready for the season,&rdquo; Curry said. according to <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/10/02/seth-curry-hopes-to-be-ready-for-nets-opener-amid-vague-rehab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brian Lewis of the New York Post</a>. &ldquo;[I&rsquo;m doing] full individual workouts&hellip; a bit of everything except playing five-on-five. That&rsquo;s pretty much where I&rsquo;m at.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Curry estimated that he's at 85-90 percent healthy, and head coach Steve Nash is holding out hope that he could return for the Nets' preseason finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 14.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;d be ideal. Can&rsquo;t guarantee it. Whenever he&rsquo;s ready, he&rsquo;ll be ready. To be determined,&rdquo; Nash <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/10/02/seth-curry-hopes-to-be-ready-for-nets-opener-amid-vague-rehab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to monitor his progress every day and see how it progresses.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The Nets should be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference once their core is healthy.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be great," Curry <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/10/02/seth-curry-hopes-to-be-ready-for-nets-opener-amid-vague-rehab/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> of the Nets finally being at full strength. "I feel like I had a great year last year. [I] was banged up but I could be even better healthy, add even more to the team. Not just me but everyone coming back healthy with a good fresh mindset is going to help this team a lot."

After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle in May, Seth Curry is hoping to return in time for the Nets' season opener.

Seth Curry hopes to return in time for Nets' season opener

NBA Media Day is typically a wellspring of optimism and excitement for teams across the Association. But in Boston, Celtics players have simply been trying to collect their bearings.
Ime Udoka's sudden one-year suspension as the team's head coach has rocked the organization and sent unprecedented questions toward a roster trying to rebound from falling two wins short of an NBA title. While Monday's press conference still included on-court questions, most of the dialogue revolved around Udoka, interim head coach Joe Mazzulla and the players' ability to even process this past week.&nbsp;
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Here's what we did learn about the Celtics' muddled circumstances, plus some unanswered questions that will hopefully be answered before the season:
WHAT DO THE PLAYERS KNOW ABOUT IME UDOKA'S MISCONDUCT?
Based on their answers, very little.
Jayson Tatum said he found out about Udoka's suspension on Twitter. Grant Williams said he learned "same as everyone else." <a href="https://theathletic.com/3617945/2022/09/22/celtics-ime-udoka-discipline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of&nbsp;The Athletic</a>&nbsp;reported that members of the Celtics franchise first learned of Ime Udoka's relationship with another woman in the organization in July.
Marcus Smart said that Udoka visited him and other players in Los Angeles over the summer, and he noticed nothing unusual about the suspended head coach.
"I think that's why (the news is) so off-guard for us, because everything just seemed so normal," Smart said.
Since the announcement, the players have obviously met and had conversations. But several indicated that, as of Monday, the players don't know much more information than the public. Tatum has not spoken with Udoka since the suspension.
"It's been hell for us, caught by surprise. Nobody really knows anything. So we're just in the wind just like everybody else. So the last couple of days, as far as this, have been confusing," Smart said.
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"It's been hell for us... these last couple days for us have been confusing." Marcus Smart reacts to Ime Udoka's suspension, and Joe Mazzulla stepping in as interim head coach <a href="https://t.co/IwD4YJCDco">pic.twitter.com/IwD4YJCDco</a>
&mdash; Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSCeltics/status/1574455058460282880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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"I wish we had more details," Jaylen Brown said. "From what we know, it's hard to make a decision based upon whether it's consensual or not in the workplace or whatever is going on &mdash; which we've known has happened before in the workplace &mdash; but I guess there's more to it possibly, which we don't know. I don't know. I don't have all the details; [they're] not being shared with me. So it's hard to really comment on something that you're not filled in with all the details. So I don't really have a feeling or comment on my emotions about it because I don't have the details."
Celtics players generally seemed to understand that legal and privacy reasons have slowed the information process. That doesn't mean it's easy being left in the dark on the full story.
"If you read the statement, and if you watched the press conference [Friday], obviously, apparently there's a lot of things that they can't, can't speak about," Tatum said. "So I think I'm kind of in the same boat, as &mdash; I don't know. So it's hard for me to answer if things were handled the right way [or] if they weren't because I guess for a lot of reasons, I don't know all the details."
Added Smart: "We don't know what the organization knows. So it's kind of hard to say that &mdash; we don't know what they know, so we don't know what they are supposed to tell us or what we're supposed to know. And I think this is where this is at and why it is what it is, because literally, no one knows anything. We're still waiting just like everybody else. As a player, you would like it to be known, but at the same time, that's none of our business. It's their lives. It's the people involved, it's between them, you know, and we should respect their privacy and we understand, just like we want our privacy respected. So, although, as a player, you would like to know, like I said, it's it's not an obligation."
DOES JOE MAZZULLA HAVE THE BACKING OF THE PLAYERS?
Like <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/celtics-udoka-suspended-for-multiple-policy-violations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brad Stevens and Wyc Grousbeck did on Friday,</a> the players gave positive reviews of Mazzulla. The 34-year-old was hired as an assistant on the C's staff in 2019, and is a holdover from the Stevens coaching era.
"He knows and understands us as players. He's built relationships with us. So we love Joe; we're excited to be able to work with him in this opportunity that he has," Smart said.
Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser have both played under Mazzulla when he was at the helm of the Summer League Celtics.
"I think he's gonna be an unbelievable coach," Pritchard said. "He's intelligent, he knows the game and I think he is the right amount of, like, pushing players, but also understanding [them]."
"I think he is a hard-nosed type of coach," Hauser added. "He kind of says it how it is, but he also really cares about you as a person &mdash; not only a basketball player, but he really cares about the off-the-floor stuff. I'm excited for Joe, and I can't wait to see how he takes advantage of this opportunity."
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Malcolm Brogdon certainly didn't expect this past week to happen when he <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-malcolm-brogdon-qa-fit-boston-celtics-basketball-without-borders-africa-camp-egypt-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-danilo-gallinari-ime-udoka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined Boston as a high-profile trade acquisition</a>. Brogdon said the Indiana Pacers gave him a few options for trade destinations, and he picked Boston because, "I want to win."
In his short time knowing Mazzulla, Brogdon has admired his discipline. Mazzulla often lifts weights with Brogdon early in the morning. One time he approached Brogdon, who was doing a breathing exercise, and started explaining the theories behind different techniques. Brogdon has also heard of Mazzulla's reputation for putting together quality opponent scouts.
"He's a guy that is so detail-oriented; I am like-minded with people that are detail-oriented, that care about the small things, the little things that get you through the day," Brogdon said.
WHAT WILL MAZZULLA CHANGE FROM UDOKA'S SYSTEM?
Of course, the Celtics have all the on-court pieces to replicate and even improve upon last season. Mazzulla does not want to drastically change course from Boston's success under Udoka.&nbsp;
"It's about carrying on the identity of our players," Mazzulla said. "We had our struggles early last season, but at our best, we knew what our identity was. It was our defense, it was our buy-in from a defensive standpoint, and then it was sharing the ball and moving quickly on the offensive end. So as much as we can stick to the things that we were great at last year, and then find small areas to improve in, is the right way to go."
The Celtics' coaching staff now has two openings with Udoka's suspension and Will Hardy's departure for the Utah Jazz head coaching gig. Mazzulla has not thought about replacements yet and would work with Stevens on filling out the bench. He believes the foundation of existing relationships should help the Celtics build solid chemistry early in the season.
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Joe Mazzulla talks about the strong endorsement he received from Brad Stevens for interim head coach <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a> <a href="https://t.co/hCuynuUdoR">pic.twitter.com/hCuynuUdoR</a>
&mdash; Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSCeltics/status/1574435350465990657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CENTER ROTATION WITH ROBERT WILLIAMS III OUT?
Amidst the off-court bombshell, the Celtics also announced that Robert Williams III will miss 8-to-12 weeks as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery. This puts additional strain on an already-thin big rotation for a Boston team that sent Daniel Theis out in the trade for Brogdon this summer.
Luke Kornet could step into major minutes. The 7-foot-2 center spent most of last season with the Maine Celtics in the NBA G League, but has four seasons of experience at the top level. Kornet said that with the door for minutes certainly open, his mindset naturally changes, but not his approach to the game.
"There definitely is a bit of a switch in that, but in terms of still being a basketball player and conditioning and [wondering] how am I going to help this team do the best they can &mdash; a lot of those things stay the same. But there's some change," Kornet said.
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A larger burden falls on Al Horford, now age-36 and older than his head coach, to shoulder some of the two-way responsibilities Rob Williams wields.
"For me, I have to step up a little more, Grant's gonna have to step up a little more, Luke, whichever one of our bigs, we just have to step up and do a little more," Horford said. "Even some of our guys, whether it's you know, [Tatum] playing more at the 4 or whatever it may be, I'm not sure about all that. But we all just have to do more until he gets back."
Williams, meanwhile, will start a road to recovery that began as he battled knee injuries throughout last spring's playoffs. Despite eventually needing surgery, he doesn't regret playing through the injury to compete in the NBA Finals.
"I'm playing the Finals, you know what I'm saying?" Williams said. "You win some you lose some, but I don't regret my decision at all. I was 24 years old, my dream was to play in the Finals, dawg. I can't regret that sh**."
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
What is the extent of Udoka's misconduct? &mdash; Ultimately, the players and public need more details as to the forces behind a year-long suspension and potential firing. Grousbeck said Friday that Udoka committed multiple violations of multiple team policies, suggesting the punishment came down for much more than the singular act of being in a workplace relationship. While the woman's privacy must be respected, there must be some level of clarity on the wrongdoing.
What has Mazzulla done to atone for his past arrests?&nbsp;&mdash; Mazzulla answered two questions relating to <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/celtics/2022/09/22/joe-mazzulla-boston-celtics-new-coach-ime-udoka-suspension/8087114001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multiple arrests between 2008 and 2009</a>, including a domestic violence charge in '09. Here were his quotes:&nbsp;&nbsp;
"Listen, I've made mistakes. I'm not perfect. I've hurt people, and I've had to use the situations I put myself in as a younger man, I've had to use to learn from and to become a better person," Mazzulla said. "And that's what I've tried to focus on is: 'How can I recreate my identity as a person? How can I rely on my faith? And how can I just have a positive impact on the people around me?' And I've always had good people around me...
"...I can't talk about specifics of [the incidents]. But what I can talk about is: I'm not the same person that I was, and I think as you grow as a person, you're constantly having to build an identity, and you know, I didn't have an identity at a certain point in my life for whatever reason. And I think it's [about]: 'How can I develop an identity? How can I find a foundation which for me, is my faith, and then, how can I impact people positively around me? And that's something that I really learned throughout my life.'"
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&ldquo;That made him who he is today&hellip; I&rsquo;ll be the first to tell you, I believe in him.&rdquo; Brad Stevens on Joe Mazzulla after being asked about Mazzulla&rsquo;s domestic battery charges from his college days. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abc6</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bleedgreen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bleedgreen</a> <a href="https://t.co/s5ia1rYvnY">pic.twitter.com/s5ia1rYvnY</a>
&mdash; Ian Steele (@IanSteeleABC6) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanSteeleABC6/status/1573338669007704064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Mazzulla did not dodge any questions and he did acknowledge his past wrongdoing. But he also did not explain what led to his behavior, what in his faith prompted the change and how he has shown other people he has progressed.
Player and front-office endorsements are not enough in an NBA that has hired at least two other coaches with domestic-violence and sexual-assault histories in the last year-and-change &mdash; not to mention the recent reminders of troubling workplace environments in Boston and Phoenix. We need more assurance that this behavior does not have a tolerable place in the league.
How will Mazzulla manage his starters in the early goings of the regular season? &mdash; Among the many, many questions Mazzulla will face as he acclimates to the head-coaching gig is the impending usage for Tatum, Brown and others. Tatum played through a fractured wrist down the stretch of the postseason (he said he feels good on Monday).
Can Mazzulla give the high-usage players more rest to hopefully prepare them for another deep playoff run? Or will the Celtics have to go all-out just to stay on top of a stacked Eastern Conference?
ADDITIONAL NOTES
<ul>
<li>Brown's name popped up in trade rumors surrounding Kevin Durant this offseason, and the 25-year-old said he discussed those rumors with members of the Celtics, but did not elaborate.</li>
</ul>
"I've talked to my teammates, I talked to ownership, the organization, etc. I'll keep those conversations between us," Brown said. "All I can say is now that I'm here, I'm ready to play basketball. I'm in great shape, probably the best shape of my life. So I'm excited to start the journey."
<ul>
<li>With Brogdon bolstering a stellar guard rotation, his addition leaves room to wonder about Pritchard's playing time. Pritchard is embracing the competition for minutes in training camp.</li>
</ul>
"Obviously, we have a lot of tremendous players. But I don't go through all summer and all year working on my game to just ride the bench," Pritchard said. "So for me, I'm just looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and compete, and earn minutes and see where that lies. Ultimately, we just want the team success though."
<ul>
<li>Grant Williams will soon be eligible for a contract extension, but said he hasn't let that distract him. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
"When it comes to that, I just let my agents and everybody handle it, because if you become too overwhelmed or concerned with it, that's when you start focusing on your play or you start doing things that aren't necessarily characteristic of yourself," Williams said. "For me, my number one focus and goal is allowing and helping this team to win a championship. Everything else takes care of itself."

Celtics players addressed the upcoming season and head coaching change on Monday at Media Day.

2022 Boston Celtics Media Day Notebook: What did we learn?

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) &mdash; James Harden leaned into a microphone and deadpanned that he lost 100 pounds over the summer. Joel Embiid&rsquo;s summer vacation &mdash; at least, according to the NBA scoring champion &mdash; was spent entirely in bed.
And what of that NBA investigation into the Philadelphia 76ers for possible tampering in offseason free-agency moves?
&ldquo;The league office does an amazing job,&rdquo; basketball President Daryl Morey said.
Well, that seems settled.
But for a franchise that has seen a smattering of tumultuous issues and confusing players over the last decade, the 76ers enter the season at peace. The Sixers enter training camp this week at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, without a significant injury or a holdout or a trade demand or any kind of distraction that could derail them from a serious championship run.
Harden has snapped out of the &ldquo;tough times, lot of dark moments&rdquo; that plagued him the last couple of seasons as he dealt with injuries. Embiid is recovered from hand injuries that cost him playoff games.
&ldquo;I believe this, this is the best talent I&rsquo;ve had since I&rsquo;ve been here,&rdquo; third-year 76ers coach Doc Rivers said at team headquarters in New Jersey.
Harden and Embiid can make a dominant pair. And Tyrese Maxey flashes smiles as wide as his potential, seemingly on the brink of a breakout season.
After the Sixers were eliminated in the second round by the Heat, Embiid said they needed more tough guys like P.J. Tucker. So Morey signed him away from Miami on a three-year deal. Tucker, though, did say Monday he underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee about six weeks ago but was already cleared to return.
Harden, officially listed at 220 pounds, does look more in shape and doesn't have the hamstring issues that bothered him for parts of last season. The 33-year-old is starting his first full season with the 76ers, and credits his physique transformation to a healthy diet, proper rest, strengthening his muscles and summer workouts with his teammates in Los Angeles.
And, yes, Embiid shook out of his so-called summer slumber and joined the pickup sessions.
&ldquo;We know what we&rsquo;ve got to do,&rdquo; Embiid said. &ldquo;We kind of know what it takes to win, so we&rsquo;ve got to go out there and do it.&rdquo;
Harden&rsquo;s return triggered the only minor hiccup in the offseason. The 10-time All-Star declined his $47.4 million player option, instead agreeing to a new two-year deal that will pay him $32 million in 2022-23. Harden said his decision was meant to give the 76ers the flexibility they needed to go after other players, such as Tucker and Danuel House.
&ldquo;Thanks to James for what he did. Without him it would not be possible, all these additions,&rdquo; Embiid said.
So did Harden actually encourage the new teammates to join the 76ers?
&ldquo;The role he played was nothing because he didn&rsquo;t really call me,&rdquo; House said.
The Sixers also added backup center Montrezl Harrell, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2019-2020. Again, Harrell said he made up his mind to join the Sixers without any input from Harden.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what you&rsquo;re talking about, man," Harrell said. "I think that&rsquo;s called tampering.&rdquo;
Mum&rsquo;s the word these days in Philly, including from Harden about his mental state from dealing with injuries.
&ldquo;You want me to tell you how I was feeling,&rdquo; Harden asked. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to tell you how I was feeling.&rdquo;
But he was honest about what he wants to achieve in Philly.
&ldquo;Win as many as championship as I can,&rdquo; he said.

Both James Harden and Joel Embiid enter the new NBA season healthy, giving the Philadelphia 76ers hopes for a championship.

76ers' Harden, Embiid healthy, happy and chasing a title

BOSTON (AP) &mdash; Celtics center Robert Williams III is expected to miss at least two months after undergoing surgery Friday on the left knee that caused him to miss time during Boston's NBA Finals run last season.
The team said the arthroscopic procedure to remove loose bodies and address swelling was a success. He is expected to resume basketball activities in 8-12 weeks.
Williams had surgery in March to repair torn cartridge in the same knee. He missed seven playoff games while rehabbing from that procedure, and after experiencing soreness in the knee and later sustaining a bone bruise.
The fifth-year big man and defensive stalwart averaged a career-high 10 points and 9.6 rebounds last season. But those numbers dipped to 7.6 points 6.2 rebounds during the playoffs.
Forward Danilo Gallinari also had surgery on Friday. Gallinari, who signed as a free agent in July, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Italy during a FIBA World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
Gallinari tore the same ligament in 2013. The Celtics didn&rsquo;t provide a timeline for his return. But such injuries typically involve a recovery process of up to a year, meaning it would be unlikely for the veteran to play this season.

The fifth-year big man and defensive stalwart averaged a career-high 10 points and 9.6 rebounds last season.

Robert Williams III out 8-12 weeks after latest knee surgery

Robert Williams will have an arthroscopic procedure on his knee this week, which will force him to miss training camp, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanDeveney/status/1572287638446510080" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean Deveney of Heavy</a>.
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A source tells <a href="https://twitter.com/HeavyOnSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HeavyOnSports</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celtics</a> C Robert Williams will have an arthroscopic procedure on his knee this week. More:<a href="https://t.co/dhHmSq3Gcx">https://t.co/dhHmSq3Gcx</a>
&mdash; Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanDeveney/status/1572287638446510080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2022</a></blockquote>

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ANALYSIS:&nbsp;This could be a problem for the Celtics since they've already lost Danilo Gallinari for who knows how long from an ACL tear. With Williams out. With those two out, Boston's big rotation consists of Al Horford, Grant Williams, and Luke Kornet. They may have Mfiondu Kabengele and Noah Vonleh, but those two are far from proven. Don't be shocked if they add another center in the meantime.

Robert Williams III will undergo a knee procedure that will force him to miss training camp.

Robert Williams III to have knee surgery, miss training camp

CHICAGO (AP) &mdash; The Chicago Bulls made it clear re-signing Zach LaVine and locking in the two-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist for years to come was their top offseason priority.
It is officially a done deal.
The Bulls announced Thursday they re-signed LaVine, after the high-flying guard agreed to a five-year max contract worth about $215 million last week.
LaVine had said he wanted to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time after eight seasons in the NBA and five with the Bulls. If he went shopping, it was a quick trip. He announced his decision about 18 hours after the free-agent negotiating period began.
&ldquo;We are pleased that Zach remains with the Bulls. His work ethic and character have helped him to become one of the top players in the NBA,&rdquo; executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. &ldquo;We look forward to more great things from Zach, as he helps lead our team, both on and off of the court.&rdquo;
LaVine&rsquo;s arrival from Minnesota as part of a 2017 draft-night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves kicked off a rebuilding effort by the previous management regime of John Paxson and Gar Forman. His decision to stay means a core that led Chicago to the playoffs for the first time in five years remains intact.
LaVine averaged 24.4 points in the final season of a four-year, $78 million deal. He made the playoffs for the first time, with the Bulls losing in the first round to Milwaukee in five games.
It wasn't an easy season for LaVine. He dealt with a thumb injury early on and was in and out of the lineup the final few months because of a left knee injury that required frequent treatment and, ultimately, arthroscopic surgery in May.
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But Chicago took a huge step, winning 46 games with LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic leading the way. The Bulls enjoyed their best record in seven years and will try to build on that in the upcoming season.
Besides keeping LaVine, they added depth in the backcourt and up front by agreeing to deals with veteran guard Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond to help the team take another step.
The 36-year-old Dragic agreed to a $2.9 million, one-year contract last week. The team had not announced that deal as of Thursday evening.
Dragic averaged 13.7 points and shot 36.2% on 3-pointers over 14 seasons with Phoenix, Houston, Miami, Toronto and Brooklyn. From Slovenia, he made an All-Star team with the Heat during the 2017-18 season and helped them advance to the 2020 NBA finals.
Dragic averaged 7.5 points while shooting 25.4% from beyond the arc last season for Toronto and Brooklyn. Though the Bulls ranked fourth in the NBA in 3-point accuracy, they were last in attempts.
The Bulls announced Drummond's signing on Wednesday.
The two-time All-Star and four-time rebounding champion had a strong second half for Brooklyn last season after being traded in the deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia, averaging 11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in 24 games for the Nets. Drummond has averaged 13.8 points and 13.3 rebounds over 10 seasons with Detroit, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

The Chicago Bulls officially re-signed Zach LaVine, locking up the two-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist for years to come.

Bulls finalize max contract with two-time All-Star Zach LaVine

The Chicago Bulls remain hopeful All-Star guard Zach LaVine will choose to re-sign with them rather than join another team as an unrestricted free agent.
Executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas has been consistent in saying publicly the organization wants to keep LaVine. And he did it again on Monday.
"We hope Zach is here for a long time, and nothing changed,&rdquo; Karnisovas said at a news conference to introduce first-round draft pick Dalen Terry.
LaVine&rsquo;s situation is obviously the biggest story hovering over the Bulls, with the free-agent negotiating period opening Thursday evening.
Karnisovas wants to keep intact a core that helped Chicago reach the playoffs for the first time in five years.
LaVine averaged 24.4 points and made his second straight All-Star team last year. It ended with his first trip to the playoffs in his eighth year as a pro. The Bulls lost in the first round to Milwaukee in five games.
LaVine&rsquo;s four-year, $78 million contract is up and he said after the season that he plans to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career after five years in Chicago. He did not rule out returning to the Bulls, who can offer a max contract worth about $212 million. The most he can get from another team is approximately $157 million over four years.
How comfortable the Bulls are about offering a five-year deal is another question. Karnisovas played it coy when asked.
&ldquo;I'm confident. I'm confident in approaching this free agency the next couple days, sitting down with our group, looking at a lot of things,&rdquo; he said.
The past season wasn't exactly an easy one for LaVine. He dealt with a thumb injury early and was in and out of the lineup the final few months because of a left knee injury.
LaVine had platelet-rich plasma therapy, a cortisone injection and fluid drained from his knee in Los Angeles before the All-Star break. He had arthroscopic surgery on it last month.
&ldquo;I think he's gonna be healthy,&rdquo; Karnisovas said. &ldquo;I think he's now progressing great.&rdquo;
The Bulls went 46-36 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2017 following a major makeover, with DeMar DeRozan and LaVine leading the way. Chicago got off to a big start and finished with its best record since the 2014-15 team went 50-32 in former coach Tom Thibodeau&rsquo;s final season.
The Bulls also went from leading the Eastern Conference to finishing sixth, losing 15 of their final 22 regular-season games. They dealt with a long list of injuries, making it tough for them to develop continuity and compete with the best teams.
&ldquo;This group has been here only since October,&rdquo; Karnisovas said. &ldquo;We're still trying to get used to how to play with each other.&rdquo;

LaVine’s situation is obviously the biggest story hovering over the Bulls, with the free-agent negotiating period opening Thursday.

Bulls remain hopeful LaVine will choose to remain in Chicago

If the Utah Jazz want to keep Donovan Mitchell in Salt Lake City long-term, it seems more likely than not that Rudy Gobert will soon be shown the exit door. As the Jazz <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/an-awkward-offseason-looms-for-the-jazz-as-they-try-to-avoid-rebuild" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enter an awkward offseason</a>, the future of Gobert and Mitchell will be one of the NBA&rsquo;s top storylines until a resolution is finally reached.
If the Jazz want to build around Mitchell long-term and get younger, Gobert's days in Utah may be numbered. The Jazz identified Gobert's potential and helped him develop into a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, so parting ways won't be easy. However, it may be necessary in order to revamp the roster and best accentuate their other star player.
Gobert's value has taken a hit due to his recent super-max extension, which will pay him $169.7 million over the next four seasons. Although Gobert has an immense impact on the defensive end, there may be some executives who can't justify shelling out close to $200 million for him.
Gobert makes little to no sense on a rebuilding team or one that's just beginning their ascent up the standings. Instead, the market for Gobert will likely feature win-now organizations that believe he could be the final piece to the puzzle. And assuming Utah would prefer to move Gobert out of the Western Conference, the list of potential teams continues to shrink. If only there was an aggressive team that just took a major step forward and feels they are one piece away from contention entering this offseason...
&ldquo;The vision is to win the title,&rdquo; Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said a few weeks ago. "I realized last year, this historic club deserves a better team.&rdquo;
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Insert Gobert within the Bulls' current ecosystem and this organization could absolutely take another leap in 2022-23. Chicago wants to compete for a championship within the reloaded Eastern Conference that's headlined by the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors. The Bulls got off to a hot start this season, but eventually tailed off due to injuries and inconsistent play. In the end, Chicago was quickly dispatched in the first round by the Bucks &mdash; once again signaling that the time is now to make improvements.
&ldquo;The current situation is not enough, and we need to create something better,&rdquo; Karnisovas said.
According to Bleacher Report&rsquo;s Jake Fischer and The Ringer&rsquo;s Kevin O&rsquo;Connor, Chicago has already inquired about Gobert. For both Gobert and the Bulls, this fit makes way too much sense from a timeline perspective. Gobert is in his prime and Chicago has all the pieces necessary to make a run. Zach LaVine, who is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/fischer-zach-lavine-expected-to-resign-with-chicago" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected to re-sign with the Bulls</a>, and DeMar DeRozan form a strong scoring tandem. Add in Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso &mdash; who would be the best perimeter defenders that Gobert has played with &mdash; and now Chicago is cooking with gas. This is a team that would be ripe for a deep postseason run next season.
The question is: what is Utah's asking price for Gobert? Any deal would likely involve two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic. Fischer noted that former No. 4 overall pick Patrick Williams has fans in the Jazz&rsquo;s front office. However, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/fischer-bulls-eyeing-rudy-gobert-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Fischer</a>, "the Bulls do not appear willing to include Patrick Williams alongside Vucevic in a trade package for Gobert." Rightfully, Chicago should haggle over Williams&rsquo; inclusion and try to send out multiple draft picks instead.
However, if the Jazz are adamant that they need Williams back in order to deal Gobert to the Windy City, the Bulls should bite the bullet. A package centered around Williams and the expiring contracts of Nikola Vucevic and Coby White lines up almost identically salary-wise.
The time is now for this Bulls core to become a realistic title contender. With this current core centered around LaVine and DeRozan, Chicago&rsquo;s window to compete is over the next two or three years. Gobert would be a huge help against the East's giants such as Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Maybe Williams becomes a great player down the road, but it seems unlikely that this will happen within Chicago's current window to contend. And who knows if Williams will even realize his full potential? That's the risk in prioritizing a high-upside prospect over a win-now piece.
For Utah, this deal allows them to acquire an excellent long-term piece, shed a massive salary and add some expiring contracts (who could allow them to still be competitive next season). If the Jazz play their cards right around Mitchell in a post-Gobert world, they'd have an easy pathway to a max-salary slot too.
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We all know Gobert&rsquo;s immense impact on the defensive end, but his presence becomes an instant game-changer for the Bulls. Chicago already has a strong offensive core, so Gobert makes them a complete team that's very well-rounded. An elite rim protector anchoring one side of the court with two All-Star scorers keeping the offense afloat is a recipe for stacking up a lot of victories.
We saw it in Utah: a well-constructed team around Gobert can become a regular-season juggernaut. But the question becomes what happens during postseason play? Unlike the lack of defensive versatility surrounding him with the Jazz, Gobert would be playing alongside Ball and Caruso on the perimeter. It&rsquo;s easy to envision a scenario where the Bulls are a well above-average unit offensively and defensively with Gobert placed into the center spot.
Last season in Utah, the Jazz allowed 7.8 more points per 100 possessions in the minutes Gobert sat &mdash; a massive gulch that shows his transcendent ability to deter shots with ease. Gobert, Ball and Caruso will take pressure off of LaVine and DeRozan, allowing them to focus on the offensive end and be even more effective. The Bulls&rsquo; projected rotation with Gobert is eye-opening:
Starters: Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gobert
Second Unit: Ayo Dosunmu, Troy Brown Jr., Javonte Green, Marko Simonovic, Tony Bradley
Chicago knows that the time is now to push the right buttons in order to become a consistent threat in the East. Adding Gobert would give the Bulls a complete roster and thrust Chicago into contention in the East. Even if Chicago has to part with Williams, it&rsquo;s a necessary price to pay in order to maximize their window around LaVine&rsquo;s prime and DeRozan&rsquo;s final chapter of elite production.
In a perfect world, the Jazz don&rsquo;t make any changes and decide to make moves elsewhere on the roster in order to improve (such as moving Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Royce O&rsquo;Neale). However, the situation in Utah is far from perfect right now with their face of the franchise.
For a team like Chicago, they are well-positioned to pounce and become an instant title contender. As Karnisovas laid out, he realizes big changes could be necessary in order to return the Bulls to their glory years. Making an all-in move for Gobert could easily be the accelerant Chicago needs.
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Rudy Gobert seems poised to be traded this offseason. Evan Sidery explains why the Bulls should capitalize on this golden opportunity.

The Chicago Bulls should make an all-in move for Rudy Gobert

Does anyone actually think Kenny Atkinson deserved to be let go from the Brooklyn Nets when he was?&nbsp;
Sure, it was the first season after the &ldquo;<a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1145435852476243968" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clean sweep</a>&rdquo; in the summer of 2019, which immediately placed Atkinson under a national microscope. However, the spotlight wasn&rsquo;t then what it became the following season because Kevin Durant (torn Achilles recovery) hadn&rsquo;t been playing yet. Atkinson was in his fourth year leading the Nets in 2019-20. Kyrie Irving had been playing, albeit sparingly, and those times it was due to injury, not yet other stuff.
In any event, the Nets were still competitive. They were 28-34, COVID hit America just days later and the team subsequently finished 35-37, making the playoffs as the No. 7 seed &mdash; as they did this year &mdash; and were swept by the Toronto Raptors... as they were by the Boston Celtics this season.
Yahoo&rsquo;s Vincent Goodwill reported that <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/kenny-atkinsons-tenure-with-nets-comes-to-its-natural-conclusion-as-kd-kyrie-era-nears-014215773.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atkinson wasn&rsquo;t &ldquo;fond&rdquo; of coaching Durant and Irving</a>, Irving had &ldquo;soured&rdquo; on him and that Irving <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/kenny-atkinsons-tenure-with-nets-comes-to-its-natural-conclusion-as-kd-kyrie-era-nears-014215773.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wanted Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue to take over the team</a>. Ironically, L.A. is where Atkinson went last season before becoming a top assistant with the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors currently.
Atkinson <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34047327/charlotte-hornets-owner-michael-jordan-meet-head-coaching-finalists-mike-dantoni-kenny-atkinson-week-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is reportedly a finalist for the Charlotte Hornets' head coaching job</a>, and it builds as the perfect meeting between both sides from a basketball standpoint if they&rsquo;re on the same page otherwise. Having covered Atkinson during those Nets years, this potential pairing with the Hornets makes so much sense.
The pre-super-team Nets had a distinct charm about them, even though they sucked in the beginning by NBA standards. Atkinson was introduced in April 2016, two months after Sean Marks was announced as the team&rsquo;s new general manager.
Brooklyn surprisingly drafted a kid named Caris LeVert at No. 20 overall in the draft that June, a pick acquired after trading Thaddeus Young to the Indiana Pacers. Jeremy Lin and Trevor Booker were the big offseason signings, overshadowing lesser acquisitions at the time (like current longest-tenured Net Joe Harris). In December, the Nets controversially released Yogi Ferrell for Spencer Dinwiddie, whom Net fans didn&rsquo;t fully accept, especially after Ferrell showed up with the Dallas Mavericks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMQq3lmMUBM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and had a 30-ball on national TV</a>.
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Caris LeVert just shattered Wayne Ellington's ankles <a href="https://t.co/P8hJv0JK9J">pic.twitter.com/P8hJv0JK9J</a>
&mdash; The Crossover (@TheCrossover) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCrossover/status/824440554029195264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote>

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And even though it was a miserable 20-62 first campaign, you saw flashes from a team devoid of talent and saddled by injuries. Brook Lopez <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2017/3/16/14943966/changing-course-how-kenny-atkinson-turned-brook-lopez-into-a-three-point-threat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">became a three-point shooter</a>, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2017/4/21/15383034/rondae-on-playing-the-4-put-me-anywhere-ill-do-my-job" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went from a 2 to a 4</a>, Lin <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2017/3/17/14955954/the-difference-maker-jeremy-lin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was impactful in the 36 games he did play</a> (they only won 7 of the 46 games he didn&rsquo;t), and formally fringe guys like Harris and Dinwiddie appeared like they belonged, as did LeVert.&nbsp;
In 2017-18, they played even harder. And damn it, they had to. Lin ruptured his Achilles on opening night, never to play again for the Nets. Lopez turned into D&rsquo;Angelo Russell via trade, but he had arthroscopic knee surgery one month into the season, throwing off his rhythm. They again struggled with injuries, but more games were within reach.
Dinwiddie was a Most Improved Player candidate and kept hitting game-winners all season long. Hollis-Jefferson developed into a reliable, mid-range hitting (47.7% from 10-to-16 feet), two-way 4 with point-forward skills that his assist numbers will never do justice. LeVert remained healthy and showed high-level starter flashes.
Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll came from elsewhere, and bought in immediately while leading the team in minutes. A rookie and No. 22 overall pick named Jarrett Allen <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/making-the-nba-all-star-case-for-cavs-big-man-jarrett-allen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was just scratching the surface of what Atkinson saw as massive potential</a>. (He&rsquo;d probably still be in Brooklyn instead of DeAndre Jordan if Atkinson was. And if you don&rsquo;t believe that, look at who was starting at center before and after he was fired.)&nbsp;
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The Nets went 28-54 in the 2017-18 campaign, an eight-win improvement, and 15 of their losses came within 5 points or less.
The season following was when they shocked much of the NBA world.&nbsp;
Brooklyn had built a culture legitimately. They were, without their own first-round picks, manufacturing creative ways to add players who were viable and fit their desired mold. It included second-round castoffs like Dinwiddie and Harris, role players seen as salary dumps like Carroll and Crabbe and developing late first-rounders like Allen and Hollis-Jefferson. The organization found a new-home-needing future All-Star in Russell right before his ascent, surrounding youth with leadership in Jared Dudley and Ed Davis.
They hit all the right notes in 2018-19. There was a 14-win leap to 42-40, as the Nets <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2019/2/14/18224545/how-dangelo-russell-became-king-of-new-york-not-brooklyn-new-york" target="_blank" rel="noopener">manufactured an All-Star in Russell</a>, &nbsp;a fringe one in Dinwiddie <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2018/10/30/18040128/what-is-pressure-to-spencer-dinwiddie">who made another massive jump</a> and a possible one in LeVert, who was at that level before breaking his leg early in the season. No. 6-seeded Brooklyn even won a fun Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers before losing in a mostly completive five-game series to Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
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Why Atkinson works with the Hornets is simple: What Michael Jordan&rsquo;s team needs more than anything else from within is someone who emphasizes ball movement, playing in space and excels in player development (in particular, with guards, though he was clearly influential on Allen too). Watch what Atkinson did with Russell, Dinwiddie, and LeVert; now, picture that man, after an additional year under Lue and Steve Kerr, being responsible for LaMelo Ball&rsquo;s ascent in Year 3 and beyond.
Elsewhere on the roster, it&rsquo;s tough to say because, realistically, Ball seems to be the only untouchable Hornet this summer. Though, Charlotte should probably keep Terry Rozier since that combination of shooting and playmaking in the backcourt is tailor-made for Atkinson, who navigated a labyrinth of young, coachable talent in Brooklyn.
If pending free agent Miles Bridges is also retained this summer, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/free-agency-2022/hornets-intention-is-to-keep-miles-bridges-long-term" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which is the plan</a>, then that&rsquo;s even better. James Bouknight, Kai Jones (a University of Texas alum like Allen), JT Thor and Jalen McDaniels are among the young talents who need harnessing. It makes Atkinson the perfect fit to lead the Hornets back into the playoffs, where they haven&rsquo;t been since 2016, even after making the Play-In Tournament in two straight seasons.&nbsp;
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Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball combine for 60 points in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hornets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hornets</a> win! 🐝<a href="https://twitter.com/T_Rozzay3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@T_Rozzay3</a>: 32 PTS, 8 3PM, 2 STL<a href="https://twitter.com/MELOD1P?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELOD1P</a>: 28 PTS, 13 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL <a href="https://t.co/T3ldOUfAIH">pic.twitter.com/T3ldOUfAIH</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1463139199817818119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2021</a></blockquote>

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All in all, Atkinson has shown enough to prove he&rsquo;s the guy to establish a legitimate culture and will develop your team &mdash; if allowed to do so &mdash; into a hard-charging pain in the ass who we&rsquo;d expect to be competitive next season.
Is he the desired coach for your super-team? With the Nets, it didn&rsquo;t appear so, but we also weren&rsquo;t allowed to find out. (By the way, with all due respect, is Steve Nash that guy? Or was he just chosen by the stars on that team, for better or worse?)
Just cross that bridge if you get there, Charlotte.
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Bryan Fonseca praises Kenny Atkinson for building the Nets' culture and reasons that he'd be a fit with the Hornets because of it.

Kenny Atkinson coaching the Hornets would make so much sense

Though he didn't rule out re-signing with the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine didn't slam the door on joining another team, either.
The two-time All-Star played it coy. And with that, the offseason took a dramatic turn in Chicago.
LaVine made it clear Friday he plans to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, calling it a &ldquo;big decision&rdquo; for him and his family. The high-flying guard insisted he is keeping an open mind, as much as he has enjoyed his five seasons in Chicago.
He indicated he intends to meet with other teams when free agency opens, saying: &ldquo;I plan to enjoy free agency. We're gonna have to experience A through Z without making any fast decisions. I think that's something me and (agent Rich Paul) are gonna go through and experience.&rdquo;
Are the Bulls the leader to sign him? LaVine was noncommittal.
&ldquo;You guys have been a really, really soft spot in my heart,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I have to do this as a business decision, as a man, to not just be viewed one way and be like I'm automatically coming back or I'm automatically leaving.&rdquo;
The Bulls got off to a solid start this season en route to a 46-36 record and their first playoff appearance since 2017. But they were hit hard by injuries, with LaVine and guards Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso and forward Patrick Williams missing significant stretches. They struggled down the stretch and got knocked out 4-1 by defending NBA champion Milwaukee in the first round.
LaVine averaged 24.4 points, made his second straight All-Star team and got his first taste of the playoffs in his eighth year. But it was hardly a smooth season for him.
He dealt with an early thumb injury and was in and out of the lineup the final few months because of a sore left knee. He had platelet-rich plasma therapy, a cortisone injection and fluid drained from his knee in Los Angeles before the All-Star break.
LaVine also missed the final playoff game after entering the health and safety protocols. He said he tested negative Friday after he &ldquo;felt terrible&rdquo; the first two days.
LaVine said he needs to get his knee back to 100% and he'll have it re-examined soon after he returns home to Los Angeles. As for his contract? The Bulls clearly want to keep him.
&ldquo;The thing is that we have a relationship with him, he knows exactly what to expect here,&rdquo; executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said. &ldquo;We have a really good relationship with him. The last two years have been the best two years of his career, so we'll see what happens.&rdquo;
Karnisovas said the knee problem won't impact negotiations. LaVine's four-year, $78 million contract is about to expire.
A supermax deal worth about $245 million over five years appears to be out of reach since he would need to be chosen All-NBA, MVP or Defensive Player of the Year to become eligible. The Bulls can offer a max contract worth more than $210 million over five years.
But LaVine didn&rsquo;t seem too inclined to give the Bulls a discount so they might have a little more salary-cap flexibility.
&ldquo;I think it's important to me you get paid what you're valued at,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I see myself as a top guy in this league. I think I've proven that over the last four years.&rdquo;
He also sees potential for the Bulls to become an elite team. Karnisovas has been aggressive in reshaping the roster since he was hired two years ago, acquiring Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan, Ball and Caruso as well as drafting Ayo Dosunmu and hiring coach Billy Donovan.
But the injuries last season made it difficult to develop the continuity they needed to compete with the NBA's best. That's a point the players as well as Donovan and Karnisovas mentioned the past two days. A major part of that would be re-signing LaVine.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think Rome was built in a year,&rdquo; LaVine said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think you can be a championship-caliber team right off the bat. Maybe some teams are. But it&rsquo;s tough. It&rsquo;s the first time a lot of us made the playoffs. I think it was a really good experience. And not all of us got to really play together due to circumstances of COVID and injury. I definitely think this is a good team and has the potential to be a championship-caliber team."
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Zach LaVine made it clear Friday he plans to explore the market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.

LaVine open to re-signing with Bulls, exploring free agency

Zach LaVine has an Olympic gold medal, All-Star selections the past two years and a pair of slam dunk contest championships.
When it comes to postseason appearances, his resume has a glaring omission. And with the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs, that's about to change.
&ldquo;About time,&rdquo; he said, laughing.
LaVine finally gets a chance to play in the playoffs with the Bulls set to meet Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending NBA champion Bucks. Their first-round series opens at Milwaukee on Sunday.
Chicago finished sixth in the Eastern Conference at 46-36 for its first winning record since the 2015-16 team went 42-40. The Bulls made the playoffs for the first time since a first-round knockout by Boston in 2017. And they ended a string of four consecutive losing seasons.
They also endured a COVID-19 outbreak along the way and a rash of injuries, including a sore left knee that left LaVine in and out of the lineup the past few months. But they come in on a 7-15 slide, a sour ending to a breakthrough regular season.
Even so, this is a big step for the Bulls &mdash; and LaVine. In his first seven seasons with Minnesota and Chicago, he never played on a team that won more than 31 games. But with the front office led by Arturas Karnisovas surrounding him with a competitive roster, that changed in his eighth year.
The arrival of All-Star DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso last summer, along with Nikola Vucevic from a trade prior to the deadline last year, altered the Bulls' direction in a dramatic way.
It led to LaVine playing on a winning team for the first time since his lone season at UCLA. The Bruins went 28-9 in 2013-14 under Steve Alford and lost in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament to a Florida team coached by Billy Donovan. Now, with Donovan in his second season in Chicago, they're on the same side.
&ldquo;Everybody&rsquo;s got to play the cards they&rsquo;re dealt,&rdquo; LaVine said. &ldquo;It just took me a little bit longer than anybody else. I didn&rsquo;t cop out and go to a different team.&rdquo;
LaVine, who came to Chicago in the 2017 draft-day trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, had a four-year, $80 million deal from Sacramento matched by the Bulls in July 2018. With his contract set to expire, he figures to land a huge deal in the offseason.
But there are more immediate issues at hand.
The closest LaVine has come to the court in the playoffs until now was as a spectator. He has attended a handful of postseason games, including some in the 2016 and 2017 finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s going to be extremely intense, especially in Milwaukee playing the defending champs at (their) home, Game 1,&rdquo; he said.
LaVine won a gold medal playing for the United States at the Olympics last summer. He followed that up by making his second straight All-Star team.
Though he averaged 24.4 points, LaVine was limited to 67 games. And he acknowledged he probably won't be completely healthy again this season.
LaVine has been using the time since he last played on April 8 to get as close to 100% as he can, participating in practices and getting treatment in his downtime.
&ldquo;It gets better with rest,&rdquo; he said of his nagging knee injury. &ldquo;Obviously, the more pounding and impact you put on it, it trends to get a little more tired, a little more sore. But it's good right now. It feels good.&rdquo;

Zach LaVine finally gets a chance to play in the playoffs with the Bulls set to meet Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.

With Bulls to face Bucks, LaVine finally gets playoff taste

NEW ORLEANS (AP) &mdash; Dejounte Murray could feel his annoyance building as San Antonio coaches repeatedly went back over video of the Spurs' blowout loss to New Orleans in the previous meeting between the two Western Conference play-in hopefuls.
Apparently, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, the NBA's all-time leader in coaching victories, knows something about using bad memories to inspire better performances.
Murray had 15 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, Keldon Johnson punctuated his 21-point night with a breakaway dunk in the final seconds and the Spurs bolstered their postseason hopes with a 107-103 victory over the Pelicans on Saturday night.
&ldquo;Our two meetings today, I kind of was mad that we kept watching the film of that last game because they beat us really bad from tip all the way to the end of the game,&rdquo; Murray said. &ldquo;We all took that personal.&rdquo;
The Pelicans nearly wiped out a 10-point deficit in the final 3:43 and had the ball, down 105-103, in the final seconds. But the Spurs sent multiple perimeter defenders at CJ McCollum, who opted to pass to Jose Alvarado on the left wing. Alvarado, an undrafted rookie who scored a career-high 23 points, missed his final shot for the lead from the 3-point line.
Jock Landale rebounded and got to the ball to Murray, who found Johnson with a long cross-court pass for the put-away basket in a victory that pulled San Antonio (30-44) one game behind New Orleans (31-43) for the final Western Conference play-in spot.
Pelicans first-year coach Willie Green said that although Alvarado had &ldquo;a good look&rdquo; at his last shot, the coaching in that situation could have been better.
"In hindsight, that's a situation where I probably need to take a timeout and get us organized," Green continued. &ldquo;That's an area where I probably have to get a little better.&rdquo;
Green also sensed the Spurs were playing with the emotion and purpose of a team seeking redemption.
&ldquo;They remembered what happened the last time we played them and you could see they came out with a different force,&rdquo; Green said, calling the Spurs' 16 offensive rebounds and 22 second-chance points &ldquo;the biggest factor&rdquo; in the game.
&ldquo;Normally teams don't rebound the ball like that against us,&rdquo; Green added. &ldquo;It sort of negates what we do well.&rdquo;
Josh Richardson scored 18 points for the Spurs, who trailed 92-90 with less than nine minutes to play before stringing together a pivotal 12-0 run during which Landale scored eight on a pair of 3s and a layup set up by Zach Collins' shot fake and pass from underneath the basket.
&ldquo;We kind of all understood what this game meant to our record and the chase with those guys,&rdquo; Landale said. &ldquo;There was a different level of intensity in the locker room and walking out on the court. ... It was just good to see it all come together down the stretch.&rdquo;
McCollum scored 32 and Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans, which led most of the first half. The Pelicans were up by as many as 12 when Larry Nance Jr., in his second game back from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, tipped in Devonte' Graham's missed 3 early in the second quarter to make it 34-22.
The Spurs controlled the rest of the quarter, however, thanks in large part to Richardson, who scored 11 of his points in a four-minute span in the middle of the period.
Richardson's three free throws after he was fouled on a 3-point attempt gave the Spurs a 50-46 lead with 4:30 left in the half.
New Orleans rallied to briefly take the lead when Herb Jones' forceful, fast-break two-handed jam and Alvarado's 3 made it 57-54. But Tre Jones' driving layup and Johnson's tip-in in the final seconds gave the Spurs a 58-57 halftime lead.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Jakob Poeltl and Jakob Primo each scored 12 points, while Landale and Collins each scored 10. ... Poeltl grabbed 11 rebounds. ... Made 22 of 25 free throws. ... Outrebounded New Orleans 49-42. ... Small forward Devin Vassell, who averages 11.9 points per game, was held out with a sore right Achilles tendon.
Pelicans: Brandon Ingram, who leads the Pelicans with 22.8 points per game, missed his 10th straight game with a sore hamstring after being listed as questionable coming in. ... Missed six of 19 free throws and missed 22 of 32 3-point shots. ... Pelicans forward Naji Marshall was called for a flagrant foul when his hand caught Collins in the face early in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Houston on Monday night.
Pelicans: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in the last of three straight at home.

Dejounte Murray had a triple-double as the Spurs bolstered their postseason hopes with a 107-103 win over the Pelicans

Murray's triple-double lifts Spurs over Pelicans 107-103

Before the national media cared about the other basketball team in New York City, the 2018-19 Brooklyn Nets were one of the dopest stories in the NBA.
They were a hard-working, culture-changing, overachieving, likable group who surprised many outside of (and within, if we&rsquo;re being honest) the New York Metropolitan Area by hustling their asses to a 2019 playoff berth. It was their first in four years, and marked the beginning of three consecutive postseason runs.
At the core of this period, there was an ongoing D&rsquo;Angelo Russell-Spencer Dinwiddie Twitter war that emotionally consumed much of the fan base, a more insulated type than the one that rages on today. In the 2017-18 season, Russell was the starting point guard, and Dinwiddie entered the season in the third string on the depth chart.
But after Jeremy Lin tore his Achilles on opening night &mdash; and with Russell needing arthroscopic knee surgery one month in &mdash; Dinwiddie stepped into a role that nearly landed him the league&rsquo;s Most Improved Player award.
The occasional Russell-Dinwiddie minutes shared? Notably not great, a trend that continued in 2018-19. Then-Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson would <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2018/11/3/18058490/inside-dangelo-russells-fourth-quarter-benching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">semi-regularly bench Russell for Dinwiddie</a> &mdash; the team&rsquo;s sixth man &mdash; to close games. <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2018/11/5/18063566/dangelo-russell-bounces-back-kenny-atkinson-offers-road-trip-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atkinson would be pressed, as a result</a>, especially on those occasions where it didn&rsquo;t work.
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The "Russell or Dinwiddie" talk extended to who should represent the Nets if they had an All-Star, and then, Dinwiddie tore his the UCL in his hand &mdash; <a href="https://twitter.com/realtuffjuice/status/1088550514432794624" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported by Caron freakin' Butler</a> (!!) &mdash; clearing the runway for Russell. He then became the replacement All-Star for Victor Oladipo, who tore his quad one day before Dinwiddie tore his thumb &mdash; but honestly, Russell was probably the most deserving of the three anyway.
(Go look back at Oladipo&rsquo;s season. He was good, but less so than you remember, primarily when held against his extraordinary 2017-18 campaign.)
You can draw a straight line from Russell&rsquo;s breakout near MIP-winning season in 2018-19 to watching Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving join the Nets later that summer. If not for Russell&rsquo;s emergence that helped put Brooklyn in position to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-brooklyn-nets-los-angeles-clippers-kawhi-leonard-paul-george-learn-mistakes-culture-kenny-atkinson-doc-rivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abandon their process to chase stars</a> &mdash; which landed him in Golden State in exchange for Durant &mdash; who knows if the Nets would've become what they have over the last three years?
Since then, in a crowded talent pool of All-Star level NBA point guards, Russell&rsquo;s kinda become&hellip; underrated.
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Congratulations to D'Angelo Russell for this amazing achievement 💯 <a href="https://t.co/vbvxkhzqsv">pic.twitter.com/vbvxkhzqsv</a>
&mdash; Timberwolves Nation (@TWolvesNationCP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TWolvesNationCP/status/1493966873427603459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Now, this isn&rsquo;t to say Russell is slept on like the way y&rsquo;all are sleeping on Top Boy, bison meat, Splinter Cell, Nas and Hit-Boy&rsquo;s Magic EP &mdash; or dipping your quesadilla in barbecue sauce &mdash; but D'Lo's impact is a tad underdiscussed. Russell, 26, is mainly overlooked in the way that a once-rising star who we believe to have plateaued could be easily forgotten despite remaining near his previous peak at arguably the NBA&rsquo;s deepest position. &nbsp;
To this point, Russell&rsquo;s been pretty durable, which is major since he&rsquo;s about to play his 46th regular-season game on Thursday, his most since that '18-19 run in Brooklyn. The 31-28 Minnesota Timberwolves are currently seventh in the Western Conference and are 15-8 since Jan. 3.
In their now 33-season history, the Wolves have secured only nine playoff berths, and just one since Kevin Garnett left (Jimmy Butler&rsquo;s only full season with the team). Even then, in 2017-18, Minnesota only finished eighth in the West &mdash; fourth at the time of Butler&rsquo;s late-season meniscus injury &mdash; so the team hasn&rsquo;t finished seventh or higher since the 2003-04 season. That was the only time the Wolves have ever gotten past the first round as a franchise.
It&rsquo;s fair to say that they&rsquo;re at least pretty, pretty, pretty good by NBA standards. There are still reasons to be skeptical regarding their legitimacy, but we&rsquo;re usually penciling them in for yet another lottery draft pick &lsquo;round this time of year. And look, they may still get one, but we&rsquo;re approaching March, and they&rsquo;re in games that matter. Russell deserves some credit for that, as he does for still producing since '18-19 and proving his breakout wasn&rsquo;t a fluke. 
The Timberwolves' &ldquo;quiet ass&rdquo; fans are apparently so stunned at their relative success that they&rsquo;re <a href="https://twitter.com/Dloading/status/1491095748934455304?s=20&amp;t=sv7cJecuhNpOmS0ql-nTUQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not cheering enough</a>. This is sh*t they ain&rsquo;t used to!
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(To be fair, D&rsquo;Angelo, on the night you called out your quiet-ass fans, y&rsquo;all were playing the Detroit Pistons and beat them by 13. My ass would be quiet if I saw my team semi-spank a Cade Cunningham-less skeleton crew led by 24 non-threatening Saddiq Bey points!)
To his credit, those quiet asses answered though!
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This season, Russell&rsquo;s averaging 18.8 points and 7.0 assists on .408/.351/.802 shooting splits. It doesn&rsquo;t wow you on the surface &mdash; not even when I tell you he&rsquo;s tied for 12th in assists per game this season (7.0) ahead of guys like LeBron James, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and his old teammate Dinwiddie.
Minnesota is third in pace, fifth in scoring, 10th in Offensive Rating and 14th in Net Rating as a result.
However, it's the Timberwolves' defense that has been, as local reporting out of Minnesota has put it this season, <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2021/11/30/quarterbacking-the-timberwolves-improved-defense-is-dangelo-russell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"quarterbacked" by Russell</a> &mdash; an area that has been one of the foremost knocks on him individually since entering the league. And D-Lo&rsquo;s grown into a leader in a locker room that includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards (and Patrick Beverley matters). &nbsp;
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Can't tell what I liked more here the nail help from D'Angelo Russell or the rotation from Jaden McDaniels. <a href="https://t.co/SkH6hP7lHX">pic.twitter.com/SkH6hP7lHX</a>
&mdash; Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevejones20/status/1493763756580425731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote>

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You watch Russell, and without question, save for his deserved All-Star season, he&rsquo;s playing his most impactful basketball to date. Currently, he has a career-high .105 win shares per 48 minutes and has been productive despite a 25.9% usage rating; it isn&rsquo;t low by any means, but it&rsquo;s the lowest since his rookie season. We&rsquo;re also seeing Russell at optimal usage, even if he isn&rsquo;t an All-Star anymore, and will have a hard time getting back there due to the depth at guard in #thisleague. (It&rsquo;s not completely impossible though.)
Russell is leading on both ends and ranks third in shot attempts behind Towns and Edwards, where he should be, and will have a $31 million expiring contract next season. So, yes, he&rsquo;s extension-eligible this summer. No, he shouldn&rsquo;t get a max, but why not ride this out if you&rsquo;re Minnesota? You clearly have something functioning at, for you, a high level &mdash; the highest you&rsquo;ve seen in five seasons and the second-highest since 2005. (Edwards turned four that year, fam.)
So, yes, Russell has earned his extension so far and is ideally the third option on a good team (as he is there), but is a primary playmaker (as he&rsquo;s been). Keeping a core together and continuing to progress is the Wolves' best bet, which is incredibly important in markets like Minnesota.
And, overall, we should commend Russell's sheer resiliency. Others may have gone in the tank while trying to reclaim All-Star status by now. He's out here helping a winner for a franchise that's seen so few.&nbsp;
Oh, and while we're here, happy 26th birthday, D&rsquo;Angelo.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
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Bryan Fonseca credits D'Angelo Russell for his role in the Wolves' success this season and feels he's been underrated.

Commending D’Angelo Russell for playing his most impactful basketball

When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/kings-making-buddy-hield-richaun-holmes-harrison-barnes-available" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seeing the report late last week</a>&nbsp;of the Sacramento Kings making Richaun Holmes available for trade, there should&rsquo;ve been several NBA teams channeling a 1980 Muhammad Ali saying, &ldquo;I want Holmes! I want Holmes!&rdquo;&nbsp;
(Couldn&rsquo;t find the clip, but I remember watching it long ago.)
Of course, Ali was talking about former World Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes, whom he lost to later that year &mdash; 42 years later, we&rsquo;re talking about an underrated Kings center, but the point stands. Nothing, not even 50-year-old <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFK9zh2yHO4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Johnny Knoxville being in this week&rsquo;s Royal Rumble</a>, is less surprising than the Kings looking to revamp their roster in some form. That basketball team in Sacramento rebuilds more often than Griselda releases music.&nbsp;
But, again,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/sacramento-kings/richaun-holmes-17865/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less than five months after signing a four-year, $46 million extension</a>, including a $12.9 million player option for 2024-25, Holmes is possibly available. At just $10.3 million this season, he&rsquo;s very affordable by NBA standards. Having turned 28 years old in October and playing in year seven, he&rsquo;s in the prime of his career. Given where he currently is, he might indeed be better off elsewhere.&nbsp;
Holmes has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings/richaun-holmes-commits-goggles-recounts-scary-eye-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">battled an eye injury</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256988807.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID</a> this season, but has been productive despite a drop in playing time, logging 25.8 minutes through his 32 games (all starts) compared to last year, where he was at 29.2 minutes. He&rsquo;s posting 12.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game this season while shooting a career-best 70% from the floor. Per 36-minutes, he&rsquo;s at 17.1 points, 1.5 blocks and a career-best 11.3 boards. Holmes is a distant first in win shares per 48 minutes at .179 (second is .111). He&rsquo;s also second in team box plus-minus (1.3) behind Tyrese Haliburton&rsquo;s 2.5 and ahead of Harrison Barnes&rsquo; 0.5; everyone else is in the negative. (Yes, that means De&rsquo;Aaron Fox, for whatever that&rsquo;s worth.)&nbsp;
Ideally, if you&rsquo;re the team making this move, you&rsquo;d look to solidify your center position while prepping for your playoff push. The good news is that all of the following teams are in the playoff hunt &mdash; so don't worry, my fellow rec spec-wearing friend, let's get you outta there.&nbsp;
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are (quietly?) 27-22 as of this writing, and are seventh in the Eastern Conference. At least they're quiet for a team run by a rising star in LaMelo Ball, his underappreciated backcourt mate Terry Rozier, Most Improved Player candidate Miles Bridges and steady swingman Gordon Hayward&nbsp; That&rsquo;s four-fifths of their starting five, with the center spot being occupied by Mason Plumlee. Kelly Oubre Jr. and PJ Washington play significant minutes off the bench, meaning the Hornets &mdash; who are 21st in rebounding and allow the third-most rebounds per game &mdash; are often playing small.&nbsp;
PJ Washington, in particular, is a&nbsp;<a href="https://hoopshype.com/storyline/pj-washington-trade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade piece that&rsquo;s been rumored to be available</a> and likely has to be included in the deal, since his minutes and production have declined since last season, where he was an everyday starter. It should be added that, entering the last of his rookie-scale contract next season, it&rsquo;s likely the Hornets won&rsquo;t extend him by 2023.&nbsp;
The trade logistically couldn&rsquo;t be PJ for Holmes straight up since Washington only makes $4.2 million this season. The Kings also are rumored to be shopping others on their team, so there&rsquo;s a potential for this to extend beyond Holmes arriving from Sacramento by himself in this hypothetical &mdash; your simplest route is to pair Washington with Plumlee&rsquo;s $8.1 million, which mathematically makes this work straight up. Plumlee has a partially guaranteed $8.5 million coming to him next season, and the Kings should also receive a couple of second-rounders or a first coming back to them, both of which the Hornets <a href="https://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Hornets.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have enough to entice with</a>.&nbsp;
A Ball-Rozier-Hayward-Bridges-Holmes lineup sounds fun as hell.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Richaun Holmes is dunking all over the Lakers 😤 <a href="https://t.co/y9fO2OprSI">pic.twitter.com/y9fO2OprSI</a>
&mdash; NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1465891771489996805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Dallas Mavericks
Between Dwight Powell, Moses Brown, Maxi Kleber, Willie Cauley-Stein, Marquese Chriss and Boban Marjanović, the Dallas Mavericks have had what&rsquo;s felt like a 💩 ton of bigs this season. Even so, as our Nekias Duncan wrote last week, without a true anchor, the Mavs have recently <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/how-do-the-mavericks-have-an-elite-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">become one of the league&rsquo;s best defenses</a>.&nbsp;
Still, on the roster, there isn&rsquo;t a clear long-term answer there as you continue to build this around the already extended Luka Dončić and, for now, the seemingly bought-in Kristaps Porziņģis. Enter Holmes, who is signed through at least the 2023-24 season. Powell and Kleber, who generally eat the lion&rsquo;s share of minutes next to KP, are both signed through 2022-23 before they&rsquo;d each become unrestricted free agents. Though Kleber makes $8.9 million this season and Powell is at $11 million, both work for Holmes mathematically straight up. Obviously, Dallas would attach at least one or two second-round draft picks, if not a protected first, to either guy (Powell more likely) and make it nearly a straight-up trade.&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s room to open this up further. Buddy Hield makes $22.5 million this season, and his contract descends to $20 and $18 million until it expires in the summer of 2024. Tim Hardaway Jr., who Dallas extended this past summer and <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33148625/dallas-mavericks-tim-hardaway-jr-ruled-game-left-foot-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is now out with a fractured left foot</a>, makes $21 million this year but is also on a descending deal that drops to $19.6, $17.9, and $16.1 million through the 2024-25 season. Both struggling shooting guards probably aren&rsquo;t long for their organizations, even as they were both recently extended. Hardaway Jr. was also moved to the bench for Jalen Brunson, who&rsquo;s facing a contract situation of his own given his pending free agency (keep him, Dallas).&nbsp;
So there&rsquo;s a path to this becoming a Powell and Hardaway plus draft picks for Holmes and Hield exchange. Holmes is the type of hustling, dirty-work, efficient and quality center that the Mavericks could use. Unlike in 2K, you can trade injured players in real life &mdash; sorry Tim. Just imagine the push shots off Luka feeds.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
death, taxes, and richaun holmes hitting 62.5% of his push shots (20-of-32) <a href="https://t.co/iGH0xuA7Gn">pic.twitter.com/iGH0xuA7Gn</a>
&mdash; Dan Favale (@danfavale) <a href="https://twitter.com/danfavale/status/1465715242952900614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Toronto Raptors
I mean, could you think of a more Raptor-ass center than Holmes? Who better be run with Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr.?&nbsp;
Now, how do you make this happen? First, with that being the Raptors&rsquo; starting five, where does Holmes fit? Well, it&rsquo;s really their starting five out of necessity because Precious Achiuwa hasn&rsquo;t had the second NBA season they&rsquo;d been hoping for. Ideally, you&rsquo;d still want an actual center in that mix as one of your top six minutes getters so that you have a bit more reliable size. The Raptors don&rsquo;t currently have a true center you could trust for extended periods, and Holmes fills that void.&nbsp;
Now, regarding trade pieces, Chris Boucher is on a $7 million expiring contract, and Khem Birch is on the first of a three-year, $19 million contract, which lands him at $6.3 million this season. Combining those two does work, and it would obviously have to come with considerable draft capital, but even the Kings would probably ask wtf are they going to do with that and have a point.&nbsp;
Remove Birch and insert Achiuwa? That works &ndash; would the Raptors already want to move off the centerpiece of their Kyle Lowry trade, who is just due $2.8 million next year with a $4.3 million team option the season after? I mean, maybe? It would certainly help preserve some draft capital in a hypothetical Holmes trade and, you figure, if you&rsquo;re acquiring a center Achiuwa would have a tougher time seeing minutes anyway. But that&rsquo;s generally what you&rsquo;d be looking at moving if you&rsquo;re Toronto: Boucher and Birch, Boucher and Achuiwa; Boucher, Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, along with some combination of picks or a first-rounder, for Holmes.&nbsp;
And if I&rsquo;m Holmes, I&rsquo;m down for whatever, as long as I could leave Sacramento.&nbsp;
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Bonus: Golden State Warriors
Okay &hellip; here we go.
There&rsquo;s really only one way to do this, and it&rsquo;s using James Wiseman&rsquo;s $9.1 million salary this season straight up. Y&rsquo;all could determine what picks may or may not go where, but these are the two names because the Golden State Warriors don&rsquo;t have much middle-class salary to use, nor do they probably want to shake up their roster a ton, including even this. But if they determine that Wiseman, who hasn&rsquo;t played since Apr. 10 of last year due to a torn meniscus that <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/warriors-james-wiseman-needed-additional-knee-surgery-in-december-sources/DyEHJgzTblrO/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">required additional arthroscopic surgery in December</a>, isn&rsquo;t worth waiting for, then there you have it.&nbsp;
Wiseman showed flashes, but struggled defensively as a rookie while only logging 39 games (though he posted 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds on 52% percent shooting in 21.4 minutes per contest). He&rsquo;ll turn 21 in March, and because of NCAA nonsense, we were only able to see him three times in college. Wiseman&rsquo;s due $9.6 million next year and will likely bank another $12.1 million, assuming his option gets accepted.
I&rsquo;m still a Wiseman stockholder, but I&rsquo;m also pro going for a championship now in this seemingly wide-open NBA season &mdash; an immediate upgrade at center might be what Golden State sees as a necessary step. It makes something like a possible Holmes deal reasonable to think twice about. Just sayin&rsquo;.
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Bryan Fonseca ponders a handful of teams who could be a good fit for Kings big man Richaun Holmes.

Arturo