Royals

The NBA today announced Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of December.&nbsp;
Antetokounmpo is being recognized for his efforts throughout Season of Giving &ndash; an annual five-week celebration beginning in mid-November that runs through December when NBA teams and players give back by supporting and uplifting youth, families, and organizations in their communities. Antetokounmpo will receive the David Robinson trophy and the NBA will donate $10,000 to the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation.&nbsp;
Throughout December, Antetokounmpo hosted special events to give back to Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. On December 14, he hosted 100 youth from the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee for a special movie night and holiday shopping experience. Antetokounmpo provided transportation, food and beverages and rented two movie theaters for a screening of the film &ldquo;Wonka." After the movie, each child received a gift card to Target to spend on gifts for themselves and family members. Antetokounmpo spent time shopping with the children and helping them pick gifts for their loved ones. He also helped to provide basic clothing, winter accessories and other household items for the youth. More than 90% of the children from the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee qualify for free or reduced lunch, furthering Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s passion to provide a special experience that many kids could not typically afford. On December 16, Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks hosted seven youth from Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, with three families coming from Greece to meet him. As part of the experience, the youth signed one-day team contracts with the team, watched practice and met Antetokounmpo prior to the game.&nbsp; He signed jerseys, shoes and basketballs for all the kids from Make-A-Wish.
Also in December, Antetokounmpo and his family hosted their third annual Christmas event, where the family hosted 300 Milwaukee foster families for a night of holiday cheer and celebrations. Children in foster care were able to enjoy an evening of balloon artists, face painting, dance parties and other games and crafts. Each child received a photo with Santa and the Milwaukee Bucks mascot, Bango.&nbsp; The foster parents were also able to visit a holiday gift shop to pick out toys and clothes for the children.&nbsp; Volunteers helped wrap presents so each family could go home with wrapped gifts to put under their Christmas tree.&nbsp;
In addition to Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s Season efforts throughout December, he tipped off Season of Giving with his family by spending Thanksgiving Day serving dinner to 86 men living in shelter at Guest House Milwaukee. The family paid for a catered meal and served dinner to the residents. Antetokounmpo also ensured each resident received new blankets and socks, which are critical necessities for individuals in shelter as they face winter in Wisconsin. In October, Antetokounmpo hosted The Big Give Back, a diaper and fundraising drive for the Milwaukee Diaper Mission. The Big Give Back raised over $180,000 and provided more than 10,000 diaper donations.
&ldquo;I am fortunate to be in a position where I can give back to the communities that have raised me,&rdquo; said Antetokounmpo. &ldquo;Building my legacy on the court has been fun these past 10 years, but being able to take the next step in my career and build a legacy of giving back with my family is what has been truly rewarding.&rdquo;
Antetokounmpo will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during pre-game of the Jan. 27 Pelicans-Bucks game. Bucks General Manager Jon Horst and Bucks and Fiserv Forum President Peter Feigin will present him with the David Robinson trophy.
The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity.&nbsp;
Each monthly winner receives the David Robinson trophy and the NBA makes a donation to the charity or foundation of the player&rsquo;s choice.&nbsp;

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of December.

Giannis Antetokounmpo wins Bob Lanier Community Assist Award for December

Throughout NBA history, there have been plenty of supremely talented teams. However, only a select few managed to string together multiple championships, revolutionize how the game is played and dominate to the point that they defined their era.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s extremely difficult to create a dynasty, but these six teams earned that distinction.
Boston Celtics (1957-1969)
While it&rsquo;s difficult for today&rsquo;s NBA fans to fathom, the Boston Celtics managed to win 11 championships in just 13 seasons. Celtics head coach and general manager Red Auerbach pulled off a draft-day trade in 1956 that changed the franchise forever, with Boston acquiring No. 2 overall pick Bill Russell in exchange for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley. Russell would become one of the most dominant defenders and rebounders of all-time, and when paired with Bob Cousy, John Havlicek and Sam Jones among others, the Celtics became an unstoppable force.&nbsp;
Today, winning three-straight championships is considered an astonishing feat, yet these Celtics managed to win eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966 &ndash; a record that is virtually impossible to break. While it was certainly a very different era of basketball, Boston deserves a ton of credit for revolutionizing the game and sustaining that level of dominance for more than a decade.
Los Angeles Lakers (1980s)
The 1980s belonged to the "Showtime" Lakers, a dynamic and star-studded team led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Under head coach Pat Riley's leadership, the Lakers thrilled fans with their fast-paced style of play. From 1980 through 1991, the Lakers won five championships and made nine NBA Finals appearances.
Magic&rsquo;s unparalleled playmaking abilities and Kareem&rsquo;s automatic skyhook made these Lakers nearly unstoppable on the court. The Lakers&rsquo; rivalry with the Celtics (and Magic Johnson&rsquo;s personal rivalry with Larry Bird) added another layer of excitement to the NBA, culminating in memorable NBA Finals matchups and moving NBA playoff games to live broadcasts rather than being on tape delay.&nbsp;HBO&rsquo;s show &ldquo;Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty&rdquo; has introduced the Showtime era to a new generation of fans.&nbsp;
Chicago Bulls (1991-1998)
On June 19, 1984, the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. It didn&rsquo;t take long for Jordan to make his mark on the league, as he won Rookie of the Year and became a household name. Jordan was the lynchpin of the Bulls&rsquo; dynasty and became the biggest sports star that the world had ever seen. Coached by Phil Jackson, MJ and Scottie Pippen led the Bulls to six championships in eight years, thanks to two different three-peats. In the 1995-1996 season, the Bulls amassed a record-setting 72 wins, solidifying their status as one of the greatest teams in NBA history (although the record would later be broken by another team featured on this list).&nbsp;
These Bulls teams captured the imagination of fans worldwide. The Bulls&rsquo; dynasty and Team USA's "Dream Team" (which featured Jordan and Pippen alongside other NBA superstars like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley) deserve a lot of credit for making basketball popular across the globe. Just as &ldquo;Winning Time&rdquo; is bringing the Showtime Lakers back into the spotlight, ESPN&rsquo;s docuseries &ldquo;The Last Dance&rdquo; became a huge hit and showcased Jordan&rsquo;s dominance and popularity to younger fans who never got a chance to watch him play live.
San Antonio Spurs (1999-2014)
The San Antonio Spurs, guided by the steady hand of coach Gregg Popovich, enjoyed an extended period of excellence. By now, you&rsquo;re probably realizing that dynasties tend to start when a team drafts a special player. For the Spurs, that player was Tim Duncan, who is often regarded as the greatest power forward in NBA history. While Duncan wasn&rsquo;t a flashy player, he was incredibly consistent and capable of taking over games offensively and defensively.&nbsp;
Duncan and Popovich captured five NBA championships between 1999 and 2014. They managed to win across different eras, first with David Robinson, Avery Johnson and Sean Elliot, then with Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen, and later with Kawhi Leonard, Parker and Ginobili among others. The Spurs' success was built on fundamentals, exceptional team chemistry and a selfless approach to the game. Their sustained success over more than a decade solidified them as a modern NBA dynasty.&nbsp;
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Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002)
The Lakers of the early 2000s were an unstoppable force, combining the dominant inside presence of Shaquille O'Neal and the scoring prowess of Kobe Bryant. Coached by the legendary Phil Jackson, this superstar tandem led Los Angeles to three consecutive NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Teams had to pick their poison against these Lakers, as Shaq and Kobe were nearly impossible to defend one-on-one. Shaq dominated with his imposing size and physicality in the paint, while Kobe made teams pay with his unmatched scoring ability and constantly evolving skill-set. Together, they formed one of the most formidable duos in NBA history, complementing each other's strengths on the court (while often butting heads off the court). Who knows how many more championships the Lakers would have won if Shaq and Kobe managed to get along and make things work in L.A.&nbsp;
Golden State Warriors (2014-2022)
The Golden State Warriors' dynasty has been a breathtaking display of offensive brilliance and finesse. Led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the Warriors revolutionized the game with their three-point shooting, fast-paced style of play and small-ball lineups. Head coach Steve Kerr, who won five championships as a player with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs dynasties, helped the Warriors capture four NBA championships in eight years (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022).&nbsp;
The Warriors won 73 games in 2016, breaking the previous record set by the Bulls. And as if this team wasn&rsquo;t already scary enough, Golden State signed Kevin Durant and became even more unstoppable. Even after Durant left in 2019, the Warriors managed to win another championship, beating the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals last year. The Warriors revolutionized the modern NBA, and their dynastic run may not even be over. After all, Curry, Thompson, Green and Kerr are still around and the team recently added veterans Chris Paul, Cory Joseph and Dario Saric in hopes of chasing a fifth ring.

Alex Kennedy looks back on six of the most unstoppable dynasties throughout NBA history.

Exploring the most dominant dynasties throughout NBA history

After monitoring the NBA awards races all season, Nekias Duncan shares his final selections for DPOY, ROY, MIP, 6MOY and more.

Nekias Duncan's 2022-23 NBA award selections: DPOY, 6MOY, MIP, more

Many college students &mdash; even Division I basketball players &mdash; have a window of time around Christmas to travel home, see their families and press pause on the motion and stress of life at school.
Baylor freshman Jeremy Sochan did not have that luxury.&nbsp;
Sochan's mother, stepfather and brother live in Milton Keynes, a medium-sized city in the United Kingdom. Between the short break (Baylor men's basketball played on Dec. 20 and Dec. 28), the long flight and the surging COVID-19 pandemic, a homecoming simply was not feasible.
Instead, the highly-touted prospect bought a ticket to finally see his first NBA regular-season game, tagging along with Baylor assistant coach Bill Peterson and a couple of Peterson's friends to watch the Dallas Mavericks host the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 23.
The freshman was enthralled. He lingered in the American Airlines Center well after the game ended, soaking up the atmosphere.
"Afterwards he just kept saying, 'Coach, I can't thank you enough,'" Peterson told BasketballNews.com in a phone interview. "He just had a different appreciation for it. Because he was from another country, going to an NBA game wasn't something he did all the time."
Soon, Sochan will live those moments almost every day. The 6-foot-9-inch forward is headed to the 2022 NBA Draft as a sure-fire first-round pick and a possible lottery selection. Sochan's journey to June 23 includes crisscrossing the globe for basketball, and in his NBA Draft Combine interview, he aptly proclaimed himself a "citizen of the world."
"My family's from all over the place &mdash; Poland, America, and I lived in England most of my life &mdash;&nbsp;and it's hard to answer the question when someone says: Where are you from?" Sochan told BasketballNews.com over the phone. "Because you don't really have one specific place. So I try and explain it that way."
In the past five years alone, Sochan has suited up for five different elite basketball programs, beginning from his home in England and traversing through Poland, the United States (twice) and Germany. But the takeoff started in his hometown of Milton Keynes, where Sochan grew up after being born in Oklahoma and living briefly in Southampton.
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Where it all started 💙 <a href="https://twitter.com/ItchenBball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ItchenBball</a> <a href="https://t.co/MIZHcS6llo">pic.twitter.com/MIZHcS6llo</a>
&mdash; Jeremy Sochan (@SochanJeremy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SochanJeremy/status/1455881532934086658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2021</a></blockquote>

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After playing for his local club, the Milton Keynes Trojans, Sochan spent one season at Itchen College in Southampton as a high-school-age freshman. (Sixth-form colleges in the UK are somewhat like private high schools in the U.S.). Sochan adamantly states that basketball is on a serious rise at the youth level in England, and he might be right.
According to an article from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/author/vithushan-ehantharajah">Vithushan Ehantharajah</a><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport/nba/british-basketball-teams-players-b1825787.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;of The Independent</a>,&nbsp;basketball ranked as the second-most popular sport at the recreational level behind only soccer, and over 1.3 million people said they hooped at least once a week in a study between 2018 and 2019. Per the same 2021 article, the United Kingdom is ninth in the world and first in Europe for NBA League Pass subscriptions.
In Sochan's estimation, the problem is a lack of funding that limits the ceiling of player development. It's part of the reason he moved on from UK programs.
"Unfortunately, I feel like it's not funded well enough, and there's not a lot of exposure or resources for basketball," Sochan said. "So at times, it's difficult. It's difficult to rent a court. It's expensive, and you'd have to have a massive group of people... But there's a lot of potential, and it's a country with a lot of immigrants [and] a lot of people around the world. So if they put money in it, and resources, it's gonna be a great place for basketball, for sure."
As Sochan made waves in England, his mother, Aneta Sochan, was leveraging her connections abroad. Aneta is Polish and played Division II basketball at Oklahoma Panhandle State University before her own professional stint with Polonia Warszawa in Poland. She moved to England with Sochan's late biological father, Ryan Williams, as Williams pursued a professional career, and later settled in Milton Keynes with her current partner, Wiktor Lipiecki. Sochan's holidays were typically spent with Aneta's extended family in their home country.
Aneta sent emails and film to the Polish Basketball Association, looking for inroads for her son. Eventually, they came in the form of development camps in Poland and Spain, and persuading Dawid Mazur to allow him to compete for a spot on the Poland U16 National Team.
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Sochan exploded in his second year with the program. He put up 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 3.0 assists per game in the summer of 2019, leading Poland to the European Class B title and winning MVP honors in his tour de force through the continent.
Sochan had proven himself on one of the largest European stages. But as his name reached scouting circles in the United States, Sochan transferred to La Lumiere High School, a national powerhouse program in Indiana. It featured a loaded roster that fielded some of the country's top prospects, including draft classmate Jaden Ivey and Louisville commit Kamari Lands. Sochan's third high-level team in three years &mdash; and three countries &mdash; tested his resolve as a young talent.
"It was interesting because I feel like there's differences, of course, between European basketball and American basketball," Sochan said. "In America, I feel like the players are a lot more confident... just more confident and free, and at first, it was a little bit difficult for me to understand that. But I feel like as time went on, [me] building confidence and my teammates believing in me, it got a lot easier."
A barrier to entry exists whenever an athlete joins a new team. For international players like Sochan, that barrier can feel thicker and taller, particularly with the stereotypes that persist surrounding European hoops.
Later on at Baylor, Peterson wanted Sochan to challenge the narrative.
"I would joke with him a lot about [how] one of the monikers in the NBA is that European guys are soft, or they're wusses. That goes around the NBA," Peterson said.
"So he would say to me, 'I do not want to be a wuss. I'm not a wuss,' he would always say, and I said, 'I know.' Sometimes when guys hit you, you gotta hit 'em back. You gotta stick 'em on an offensive or defensive boxout. You gotta hammer 'em on a screen. It sends a message."&nbsp;
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Time and again, Sochan demonstrated his physical toughness and determination. He did it by solidifying himself as a four-star high school recruit at La Lumiere in 2019-20, becoming the youngest player in Poland men's senior national team history in 2021 and smothering opponents with the Bears in 2021-22. Sochan also charted his own course when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his basketball plans.
Sochan returned home for school vacation in the spring of 2020 as a high school junior at La Lumiere. Then, the school told Sochan to stay in Milton Keynes for an extra week as activities paused. One week became two weeks, then a month. Sochan ultimately never returned. As the United States reeled from the impact of the virus, Sochan pivoted back to Europe and settled on Orange Academy, a development program under German pro team Ratiopharm Ulm.
"Germany was pretty good with the COVID situation, and also, they were one of the only clubs to offer me no contract, so I could be eligible for college," he said. "So it was a great opportunity."
Sochan verbally committed to Baylor in the summer of 2020 before he headed to Germany. But the pandemic and travel hurdles kept him from visiting campus after he committed; all of his conversations with coaches came via phone and Zoom. And after never seeing his family while at La Lumiere, Sochan had to leave them again for another year when he took off for Orange Academy.
"Of course it's difficult; you can be a little homesick," Sochan said. "But I think, as of an early age, I always used to go to camps in Spain and Poland on my own. It was an easy adjustment for me. Personally, I am confident, just knowing the reason I'm leaving home. [It] helped me stay on course and keep on working every day. I'm doing this for my family, of course, and myself &mdash; to get better. I feel like that motivated me to keep on going,"
Peterson recalls receiving a video from Sochan while the then-17-year-old was at Orange Academy. It was 30 seconds of Sochan alone on an outdoor court in Germany, laughing and smiling while drilling himself on ball-handling exercises that Peterson had recommended.&nbsp;
"Coach, I'm working on this. How do I look?" Sochan would ask him. "Am I getting better?"
The grind has powered Sochan through those lonely nights away from home. He celebrated his 19th birthday on May 20 with dinner at an Italian restaurant &mdash; and by working out in front of teams on the final day of the Combine. Though he may be surrounded by new teammates, new coaches, new audiences and new cultures, he knows he has two constants: family and basketball.
"I feel like it's just understanding where you came from &mdash; your family &mdash; and just being able to stay present," Sochan said. "Just being able to get better every day is what I feel like grounds me. And I think it's important for me to just get better every day and just keep on learning &mdash; whether it's through basketball on the court, off the court, mentally, physically."
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Many Polish goods, are things that I will be missing on the 24th for the 3rd time in the row. More importantly I will be missing the physical presence of my family, I&rsquo;ve had it far from perfect but nobody has so I&rsquo;m just like you. We all sacrifice something for the greater good. <a href="https://t.co/KmlRBIVmG7">pic.twitter.com/KmlRBIVmG7</a>
&mdash; Jeremy Sochan (@SochanJeremy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SochanJeremy/status/1474444438042783744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2021</a></blockquote>

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At Baylor, Sochan and Peterson developed a bond over their travels. The 65-year-old Peterson made several stops at the college and NBA level before arriving at Baylor in 2017. He served as a player development coach and scout for the Dallas Mavericks from 1999-2000, coached six seasons as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2007-13 and spent three seasons at the helm of the Erie Bayhawks in the G League (formerly known as the D-League). With those positions, plus other coaching roles in the collegiate ranks, Peterson collected experiences and stories from his trips across Europe and China.
The two met frequently for lunch around the Baylor campus. They'd chat about Premier League soccer (Sochan is a noted Arsenal fan) and EuroLeague basketball. Peterson learned that Sochan's grandmother lived about an hour from a clinic he once hosted in Poland.&nbsp;
"It was fun because he could relax and realize, 'Hey, Coach Peterson has been over there and kind of knows where I'm from [and] some of my background anyway, because he's traveled there a lot more than maybe some of the other coaches on the staff,'" Peterson said.
As Sochan acclimated to his fifth elite program, his confidence started to shine. He formed close friendships on the Baylor team, specifically with fellow draft prospect Kendall Brown and promising injured freshman Langston Love. Fans saw Sochan's energy radiate from his colorful hairstyles and powerful slam dunks. Meanwhile, in practice, he wowed Peterson with his quick and willing inclination to move the ball around, displaying the court awareness of someone who had played with and against veterans &mdash; which Sochan had, of course, in Poland.
"He has a great understanding of how to play for a kid [who's] 18 years old &mdash; like, really understands offense, how to move the ball and make the next pass, and do it in limited dribbles," Peterson said.
"He plays like a pro. I mean, he plays like a guy that's 10 years older than his age."
If a teammate withheld a pass, Sochan wasn't afraid to call him out or ask the coaches about the play afterward.&nbsp;
"Occasionally he'd go, 'Hey, come on, man. Let's move the ball.' You would expect a senior to be saying that, not a freshman," Peterson said. "He has that instinct about him to feel that and help that happen on the floor."
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Along with his quick processing on offense, Sochan's defensive toughness and versatility have not just pushed back on his European stereotypes &mdash; they've become hallmarks of his game and a sales pitch as a prospect. BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock remembers watching Sochan on Jan. 29 against Alabama, when the forward posted 17 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals for the Bears.&nbsp;
"During that game, Sochan displayed his defensive versatility and potential," Babcock said. "He also showed flashes as a player that could stretch the floor and be an effective slasher."
Sochan has steadily risen on draft boards throughout the spring; Babcock most recently slotted him in at No. 15 overall to the Charlotte Hornets in his latest <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com NBA Mock Draft.</a>&nbsp;Babcock said that the lottery is definitely within reach for Sochan, and that he likely won't stick around past the teens of the draft order. He noted that, in addition to wielding an archetype built for today's NBA, Sochan carries a journey that should favorably position him for the professional lifestyle.
"Similar to the advantages that experiences on the court create, off-the-court experiences also provide learning opportunities. It's all a part of growing up, and from the sounds of it, Sochan has seen and done a lot, which I think will help him transition to the NBA," Babcock said.
Peterson believes that playing for five programs in five years doesn't just help Sochan on the court; it also teaches him how different team cultures can each be uniquely successful.
"If you work at IBM, and everybody in IBM wears a suit and coat and a tie, and then you move and you go work for a grocery store chain [like] Kroger, H-E-B or whatever, and everybody there just wears a polo shirt and nice slacks, you're not going to keep wearing suits when you go work at Kroger or you're gonna look like an idiot," Peterson said. "That's not the culture they have. You have to adjust somewhat to what their culture is and what their program's about. And he's had to do that five different times."
The NBA has a small but noteworthy history of English and Polish talent. James Donaldson, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Michael Olowokandi and OG Anunoby are players with English ties who have played over 300 games in the league. Marcin Gortat is the lone Poland native with over 100 appearances.
Sochan aims to be a beacon for both countries.
"I think it's really exciting," he said. "I think it's a great opportunity for me, personally, to connect these communities to the NBA again."
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Jeremy Sochan speaks with Ethan Fuller about his twisting, turning, worldwide basketball journey heading into the 2022 NBA Draft.

Jeremy Sochan, a 'citizen of the world,' sets course for the NBA

BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock presents a series that will peel back the curtain from his time as a sports agent, giving a glimpse at some of his personal experiences working in the sports agency business for over a decade.
In the second entry of the series, Babcock outlines his summer internship at high-powered sports agency Wasserman Media Group before the 2006 NBA Draft. 
When I was 22 years old, I was an intern at Wasserman Media Group's sports agency in Los Angeles, California. The internship not only had me doing typical intern-type tasks, but most importantly to me (because I had ambitions of being a coach), it had me working on the court daily with the company's newest clients &mdash; Shelden Williams, Brandon Roy, JJ Redick (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-dunker-spot/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-105-young-man-the-three" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who guested on The Dunker Spot this week</a>), Jordan Farmar and Joel Freeland &mdash; as they prepared for the 2006 NBA Draft. It was an exciting summer!
At that time, I was admittedly horrible with basic tasks in the office that were typical responsibilities asked of interns. Besides being a ball boy, working basketball camps and helping out at the NBA Draft Combine a few times, I had never had a real job before, as I'd always been busy being a basketball player. Anyway, my low-point while at Wasserman as an intern was being made responsible to send basketballs via FedEx for the agency's players and designated coaches to use at a pro-day workout in Florida that NBA scouts would attend.
I sent the basketballs out just fine. However, I sent them "ground," and they didn't arrive until days after the workout had happened. Greg Lawrence, who was in charge of managing the interns at Wasserman, had every reason to let me have it on that one, but fortunately for me, he didn't &mdash; thanks, Greg! In all honesty, I had some growing up to do. Luckily I did, eventually.
Despite my challenges in the office, I was right at home on the court, which was the main reason I was there from my perspective. I assisted Dave Joerger in working out and preparing all of Wasserman's new clients for the NBA pre-draft process. (Joerger was a D-League head coach at the time and eventually became the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings. He's currently an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers).
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Former NBA player and current Wasserman agent BJ Armstrong (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rex-chapman-show/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-41-episode-40-bj-armstrong" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who was recently a guest on The Rex Chapman Show</a>) also worked with the players occasionally. Darren Erman volunteered to help us with the workouts as well. (Erman, a corporate lawyer at the time, went on to have a successful career as an NBA assistant coach, and he is currently an assistant coach for the New York Knicks). An impressive group of coaches &mdash; I was lucky to have had the opportunity to work with them.
I worked on the court with the coaches and players a lot, but I spent a lot of quality time with the players off the court too. We routinely had lunches and dinners, and watched NBA playoff games together. I became close with Shelden, "B-Roy," and JJ; I got along with Jordan Farmar too, but because he had already lived in L.A. &mdash; being from there and attending UCLA &mdash; he wasn't around as much as the other guys, so I didn't get to know him quite as well. But, all in all, we had a great group of guys, and we had a good time together.
After 15 seasons in the NBA, JJ concluded a successful career and is now a rising star in the media. But in 2006, his fame was at its peak. A star at Duke, JJ generated a ton of media attention and was even on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He was treated like a rock star anywhere he would goShelden (JJ's teammate at Duke) once told me that fans would regularly avoid getting autographs from him and his teammates if JJ had already signed the item. Supposedly, if anyone else would sign the memorabilia, it would decrease the value. Think about that for a minute. Shelden was a consensus first-team All-American and one of the top NBA prospects in the country while at Duke!
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While in Los Angeles, JJ and I had a couple of nights out on the town (with the approval of his agents and my bosses, of course). One night, we went to an exclusive nightclub in Hollywood. We stood in a long line just like ordinary people; me, who was not famous, and JJ, who looked like the typical college frat boy. After standing in a hopeless line, I decided to talk to the bouncer to see if I could somehow get us in; I told him I was with JJ Redick. Within moments, we were taken into the club and seated at a table next to reality TV star Kristin Cavallari and former boxer and heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Hanging with JJ was a lot of fun.
After a month or so of us establishing a steady daily routine with the players, agent Thad Foucher let Coach Joerger and I know that he had a client named Joel Freeland from England who would be joining our workouts. Thad decided to have Joel enter his name in that year's draft. We needed to get him polished up for a showcase workout that we would be hosting the following week &mdash; every team in the NBA would be in attendance.
Every player we worked with up to that point was well-known. Joel was from England and played for a small team in Spain, so he was virtually unknown by NBA folks. However, at 6-foot-10, Joel was athletic and skilled for a player his size. After working with him, Coach Joerger and I agreed that he was a worthy prospect. Thad knew this already, of course; he wouldn't have signed him otherwise. We thought Joel might make a big splash at the showcase workout, and he did.
Following the workout in front of the entire NBA, Thad called me into his office and explained that Joel's draft stock had suddenly erupted, and he had more teams wanting to bring him into workout than days left until the draft. Therefore, he needed to be aggressive in organizing his schedule. It was the first time Joel had visited the United States, so Thad asked me to accompany him as he traveled around the country visiting different NBA teams. I essentially served as Joel's manager from that point until draft night. I remember vividly walking out of Thad's office to call my dad to tell him the good news. I was so excited to get that opportunity.
Before I knew it, Joel and I were off to Portland for his first team workout with the Trail Blazers. Joel and I shared a hotel room, and the team gave him per diem to cover his dinner. We ate at the hotel that night and had breakfast there the following day. While Joel was at the Blazers' practice facility for his workout, I stayed at the hotel killing time because the team didn't allow me to attend. Following his workout, we flew back to L.A. for one day so Joel could work out for the Lakers. Altogether, the trip to Portland was pretty uneventful for me. However, our journey was just getting started. Our next stop was Phoenix.
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When we landed in Phoenix, we were greeted by a car service: a gentleman in a black suit and tie with a fancy black car. He took us to the hotel, where Joel and I were given our own rooms at The Ritz Carlton. I felt like I was big time. Upon settling into our hotel rooms, the Suns' director of player personnel at the time (and current executive vice president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans), David Griffin, called to invite Joel and I to dinner at a steakhouse within walking distance from the hotel. He also asked me to attend the workout the next day. I must say that I am very appreciative of the first-class treatment David and the Suns gave me considering I was just a young guy trying to find my place in the business. "Griff" is undoubtedly a class act.
After a terrific trip to Phoenix, Joel and I continued our hectic travel, making stops in Houston, Dallas and Memphis. Aside from the Suns, no other teams allowed me to attend the workouts. Although it was perhaps a bit overzealous, it didn't stop me from trying.
While we were in Memphis, I casually walked into the practice gym with Joel and quietly took a seat, hoping no one would take too much notice of me where I could watch the workout. Shortly after I sat down, Ryan West, a scout with the Grizzlies and the son of the general manager and Hall-of-Fame player Jerry West, told me he wasn't sure if I'd be able to stay for the workout, but that he'd check.
Ryan and I were friends, and his dad and my uncle Pete had a close relationship, so I thought maybe I'd get the Griff/Suns treatment. The next thing I knew, Jerry was making his way toward me. My heart began to race; it wasn't that big of a deal to me whether I watched the workout or not, but the fact that "The Logo" was about to speak to me &mdash; that was a big deal!
As he approached me, he stuck out his hand and introduced himself; a really classy man with such an incredible presence. I'm not even entirely sure what I did or said. I'm not even sure if I responded at all initially. Ironically, I choked when meeting "Mr. Clutch." Anyway, the rest of our brief conversation went something like this:
Jerry West: Matt, would you like to watch the workout?
Me: Yes, I would like to, but it's not that big of a deal if it's an issue.
Jerry West: Do you speak to your father? (My dad worked for another NBA team).
Me: Well, of course, I do but...
(And before I could finish&hellip;)
Jerry West: It's nice to meet you, but we will have to ask you to wait for Joel in the locker room.
And that was my experience meeting Jerry West.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/aldridge_roy_freeland_lg.jpg" alt="" width="390" height="585" />
Following the Memphis trip, we made our way to New York so Joel could work out for the Knicks the morning of the NBA Draft. Because I planned to pursue coaching jobs for the following season, the NBA Draft was when my internship would wrap up, as I prepared to attend Summer League in Las Vegas to hunt for coaching opportunities in July.&nbsp;
So just like that, my time with Wasserman was suddenly coming to an end &mdash; but first, we needed to see how the draft unfolded.
Although I was just an intern who had only known these players for a few months, we collectively put some real work together and created a bond. I cared about those players &mdash; I was invested. I especially cared for Joel, who quickly became like a little brother to me during our travels together as he chased his dream to play in the NBA.
So, our moment of truth was upon us. NBA Commissioner David Stern approached the podium, and the NBA Draft began. I anxiously watched, waiting to hear our guys' names called. Here's how it played out:
<ul>
<li>Shelden Williams &mdash; drafted No. 5 overall by the Atlanta Hawks</li>
<li>Brandon Roy &mdash; drafted No. 6 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded to the Portland Trail Blazers</li>
<li>JJ Redick drafted No. 11 overall by the Orlando Magic</li>
<li>Jordan Farmer drafted No. 26 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers</li>
<li>Joel Freeland drafted No. 30 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers</li>
</ul>
All of our players were selected in the first round (yes, even my "little brother," Joel Freeland)! I couldn't have been happier for all of the guys, especially for Joel, who played in the NBA for several years and had an incredibly successful career overseas.
The night of the 2006 NBA Draft, Shelden Williams, Brandon Roy, JJ Redick, Jordan Farmar, Joel Freeland, their families, the Wasserman agents and I celebrated the fruits of our labor. It was undoubtedly a great night and a terrific summer, which I will never forget.&nbsp;
Little did I know at that time that it was just the beginning of my involvement in the sports-agency business.
Stay tuned for the next entry of this series: "My past life as a sports agent: The 2006 NBA Draft." 
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/my-past-life-as-a-sports-agent-going-to-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the last entry of this series</a>: "My past life as a sports agent: "Going to California."
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.babcockhoops.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BabcockHoops.com</a>.
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Matt Babcock recounts his summer internship at high-powered sports agency Wasserman Media Group before the 2006 NBA Draft.

My past life as a sports agent: The 2006 NBA Draft

Is every NBA individual award still up for grabs?
Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo seem to one-up each other every single night in the MVP hunt. Suns head coach Monty Williams might be the front-runner for Coach of the Year, but Taylor Jenkins, Erik Spoelstra and Ime Udoka surely have cases. The battle for Most Improved Player is as wide-open as the criteria for the award itself. Perhaps the only trophy settled is Sixth Man of the Year, with Tyler Herro's latest 35-point outburst on Tuesday hammering another nail in the coffin.
Then, there's the Rookie of the Year race. The general consensus is that Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham have separated themselves from the pack. Yet, the factions for and against each rookie are building their walls as the three continue to raise their games in the spring.
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If you find yourself facing some overblown talking points about your favorite Rookie of the Year candidate, I've rounded up some numbers to help you oust and dispel some discourse circling around NBA conversations.
SCOTTIE BARNES, TORONTO RAPTORS
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Just thought we'd leave this highlight reel of the ROTY here 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/ScottBarnes561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottBarnes561</a> <a href="https://t.co/rSIUQjOZFs">pic.twitter.com/rSIUQjOZFs</a>
&mdash; x - Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/1509956966675890178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2022</a></blockquote>

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The narrative: Is his role big enough?
This is some garbage of a narrative anyway, but it feels like Barnes' case gets dimished because fans view him as a cog of the Toronto Raptors rather than a pillar. No, Barnes is not a one-way engine like his award competitors, and yes, he plays on a team with a superstar in Pascal Siakam, an All-Star in Fred VanVleet and a rising star in OG Anunoby. But Barnes' role in Toronto's surge to the Eastern Conference's top-six has been instrumental.&nbsp;
Since the All-Star break, Toronto has a clear Big Three in terms of passes per game: VanVleet (57.2), Siakam (55.6) and Barnes (54.2). Barnes ranks third among all rookies in passes per game on the season and first since the break &mdash; even ahead of Cunningham. 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 186px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 76px;">
<td style="width: 9.25957%; height: 76px;">Category</td>
<td style="height: 76px;">Touches/Game (Season)</td>
<td style="height: 76px;">Touches/Game (post-ASB)</td>
<td style="height: 76px;">Passes/Game (Season)</td>
<td style="height: 76px;">Passes/Game (post-ASB)</td>
<td style="height: 76px;">
Mins/Game (season)
</td>
<td style="width: 4.63117%; height: 76px;">Mins/Game (post-ASB)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 9.25957%; height: 22px;">Number</td>
<td style="height: 22px;">66.8</td>
<td style="height: 22px;">72.4</td>
<td style="height: 22px;">49.8</td>
<td style="height: 22px;">54.2</td>
<td style="height: 22px;">35.5</td>
<td style="width: 4.63117%; height: 22px;">35.7</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 44px;">
<td style="width: 9.25957%; height: 44px;">Raptors Rank</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">3rd</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">3rd</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">3rd</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">3rd</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">4th</td>
<td style="width: 4.63117%; height: 44px;">3rd</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 44px;">
<td style="width: 9.25957%; height: 44px;">Rookie Rank</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">3rd</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">2nd</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">3rd</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">1st</td>
<td style="height: 44px;">1st</td>
<td style="width: 4.63117%; height: 44px;">1st</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
(Mobile users scroll right to view the full table.)
Though Barnes has a comparatively low usage rate (18.8%) to his peers, this metric doesn't fully capture his involvement in the offense because it only incorporates play-ending events: shots, assists and turnovers. Furthermore, Evan Mobley is the only other rookie in a similarly-significant role for a playoff contender.
Then, on defense, Barnes takes on some of the heaviest loads of any player in basketball. In fact, he has the single-highest <a href="https://www.bball-index.com/defensive-versatility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">positional defensive versatility</a> score of any player in BBall Index's database for this season.
The No. 4 pick contests over 37% of opponents' at-rim shot attempts when he's on the court; that ranks in the 89th percentile at his positional group. BBall Index lists his most frequent opposing matchups as "versatile bigs," "off-screen shooters," and "slashers." Barnes is integral to a Raptors defense that is top-10 on the season, and per Cleaning the Glass, it's No. 1 over the past two weeks.
Has he been as good of an individual defender as Mobley? No, but he's been pretty darn good for a rookie with a serious burden.
Barnes'&nbsp; impressive counting stats &mdash; including 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game with six double-doubles since the All-Star break &mdash; and Toronto's team success have put him in the race. His high-level finishing and rebounding rates give him another boost. Don't paint his success as a product of Toronto's balanced lineup, because that tosses aside the huge responsibility on the young forward's shoulders.
CADE CUNNINGHAM, DETROIT PISTONS
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
CADE CUNNINGHAM EYE MANIPULATION 🔥🔥🔥 I wish we had this from the bench view but COMPLETELY moves Brunson out of the way to get Stew an easy dunk <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pistons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pistons</a> <a href="https://t.co/aggrjsYtlY">pic.twitter.com/aggrjsYtlY</a>
&mdash; Motor City Hoops (@MotorCityHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/MotorCityHoops/status/1512064643283312644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2022</a></blockquote>

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The narrative: Does he impact winning enough?
Well, the Pistons are 10-12 since the All-Star break, and 8-11 in those games when Cunningham plays with a young, poor-shooting, inexperienced roster, but let's add some more proof.
I'm generally not a huge impact-estimator fan, so we're going to skip the PERs, VORPs and Win Share stats of the world. What I do trust as noteworthy is that the Pistons are 5.5 points per 100 possessions better with Cunningham on the floor this season, per Cleaning the Glass.&nbsp;
Cunningham has created 27.8% of his team's assists, which is in the 99th percentile at his position. Approximately 13.3% of his passes have become assists; this ratio is 44th among 282 NBA players and in the ballpark of guys like LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Fred VanVleet and Nikola Jokic. That assist-to-pass ratio is up to 15.0% post-break, putting Cunningham 31st out of 331 qualifying players. Both rates are second among rookies behind only Davion Mitchell.
The top pick carries a ridiculous amount of weight as a creator in Detroit's offense. Cunningham is averaging 16.2 drives per game this season. Only 23% of his made field goals have come via assists, and only 37% of his total shots were assisted &mdash; both in the 97th percentile or higher at his position.&nbsp;
Even with his efficiency peaks and valleys, Cunningham has massively catalyzed one of the worst-shooting squads in the NBA and helped them reached competitive play. And if folks are still hung up on Detroit's overall record, remember that 2 of the last 12 ROTY winners have been on teams over .500.&nbsp;
EVAN MOBLEY, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Evan Mobley.... wtf man <a href="https://t.co/uvUACdY48C">pic.twitter.com/uvUACdY48C</a>
&mdash; Mark Schindler (@MSchindlerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSchindlerNBA/status/1503022995417280512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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The narrative: Was his second half good enough?
Mobley was the a clear-cut best rookie through the first half of the season, so critics have resorted to focusing on his second half. And we don't need to sugarcoat that Mobley has struggled relative to his first half, plus he's missed the last five games with an ankle injury. However, he's still been a phenomenal rookie and overall player without his partner in crime, Jarrett Allen, for a large portion.&nbsp;
Since the All-Star break, Mobley has contested a whopping 9.2 shots within 6 feet of the rim, second only to Nikola Jokic. Opponents are shooting 61.8% against him &mdash; tied for 34th among 68 players (and second among rookies, behind Cunningham) &mdash; contesting at least five such shots per game. Is it a downturn from his 49.1% opponent clip (second in the NBA) from before the break? Sure, but it's still a very solid number for a rookie, and again, Mobley has had to take on different roles without Allen.
On the whole this season, opponents are 4.7% less efficient at the rim when Mobley is on the floor. That drop-off puts him in the 91st percentile among bigs, per Cleaning the Glass. Since Feb. 1, Mobley has a 2.2% block rate (74th percentile among bigs) and 3.2% foul rate (79th percentile among bigs).&nbsp;
His post-break per-game counting stats include 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Mobley is receiving 8.4 paint touches per game, good for ninth in the league, and shooting 68.8% in the paint. These numbers aren't like the massive improvements we've seen from Cunningham and Barnes, but they're still very healthy totals.
To say that Mobley's late-season challenges have taken him out of the race is both untrue and lacking context. He's been tasked with so much more on a Cavaliers team that has struggled on the whole, and Mobley's still treaded water. Plus, it makes little sense from a philosophical standpoint to apply more weight to his "second half" (which isn't truly a half of the season) more than his dominant first half.
THE OUTLIERS (a.k.a. other random interesting numbers I found in the void):
<ul>
<li>Speaking of rookies: Keon Johnson has been fantastic recently. His jump shot was a major question mark on draft night, and it's looking phenomenal. I'll be tracking his growth in Portland.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
We gotta talk about how Keon Johnson is hitting half of his pull-up threes post-ASB and 38.2% of his total threes with the Blazers. Shot is looking very very good <a href="https://t.co/IDZgtnVaXI">pic.twitter.com/IDZgtnVaXI</a>
&mdash; Ethan Fuller (@ethman43) <a href="https://twitter.com/ethman43/status/1511091211846750211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></blockquote>

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<ul>
<li>This is just a wild stat for the Tyrese Maxey agenda:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Best single-season 3P% by player 21 or younger (min 290 3PA) per <a href="https://twitter.com/Stathead?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stathead</a> <a href="https://t.co/m2S0Ei4xaC">https://t.co/m2S0Ei4xaC</a> <a href="https://t.co/06hxAdZ6fO">https://t.co/06hxAdZ6fO</a> <a href="https://t.co/I80kF36kQ5">pic.twitter.com/I80kF36kQ5</a>
&mdash; Mike Lynch (@SportInfo247) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportInfo247/status/1511703177078398984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
<ul>
<li class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">This is not a stat, but I wanted to sneak in my Rookie of the Year pick: I'm going with Scottie Barnes.</li>
</ul>
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Ethan Fuller has numbers to rebuke perceived weaknesses in the NBA Rookie of the Year race.

NBA Stats Notebook: Fighting narratives in the Rookie of the Year race

I can only speak for myself, but it's a little difficult to&nbsp;feel&nbsp;basketball right now.&nbsp;
The game itself has seemingly improved &mdash; there's somehow more physicality&nbsp;and a better game flow &mdash; but that progress has been derailed by absences. The injury bug has affected a multitude of stars this year. COVID has run roughshod through the league, with rosters looking like they've been through fantasy drafts.
With these circumstances, you have to find joy where you can. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a consistent source of that, with their 19-12 start being one of the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/from-lovable-underdog-to-unforgiving-bully-how-the-cavs-got-here" target="_blank" rel="noopener">great surprises of the early season</a>.&nbsp;
They've zigged while the rest of the league has zagged, notably starting a trio of bigs to help spearhead an elite defense. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have been the linchpins, with their combination of length and lateral quickness allowing them to execute multiple schemes and cover an incredible amount of ground.&nbsp;
But if there's a player on the roster that exudes joy &mdash; heck, exudes&nbsp;fun &mdash; it's Darius Garland. The third-year guard has taken full control of the offense. That's partly due to the absence of backcourt mate Collin Sexton, but it's mostly due to Garland taking a leap in his own right. He's turned himself into one of the most dynamic guards in the sport, one worthy of strong All-Star consideration.
RUTHLESS AGGRESSION
Saying that Garland has been much more aggressive seems curious on the surface. His shot attempts have marginally improved from last year (14.9 to 15.1); his attempts per 100 possessions have actually decreased (22.1 to 21.7).&nbsp;
But you watch him, and there seems to be less indecision. Less fruitless probing. "Take what the defense gives you" is a boring cliche, but it applies to Garland. That evolution has been more apparent in his pull-up shooting.&nbsp;
Nearly half of Garland's shots came from outside of 10 feet last season; that number has risen to 67%, mostly off the strength (and willingness) of his pull-up trigger.
And consider this stat: among 78 players that have taken at least 100 pull-up jumpers this season, Garland ranks No. 7 in Effective Field Goal percentage (52.4%). That puts him right below Chris Paul (53.0%) and slightly ahead of Kevin Durant (52.1%).
Seems like pretty good company, IMO.
Garland's three-point volume has skyrockted (4.9 to 6.7) while roughly maintaining his efficiency from last season (39.5% to 39.2%). On <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1629636/shots-dash/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pull-ups specifically</a>, Garland has nearly doubled his volume (2.4 to 4.1) while knocking those attempts down at a higher clip (35.7% to 37.8%).
In years past, teams could get away with ducking under the occasional screen against Garland in pick-and-roll &mdash; not because he couldn't shoot, but because he'd be hesitant to do so.&nbsp;
That's no longer the case. Give Garland a sliver of space, and he'll light you up from deep.
Drop coverage is untenable against him at this point. Bigs have to play at the level of the screen or higher, and even then they run the risk of Garland stringing out the play before flowing into a pull-up. Switches have to be quick and physical; leaving a gap is daring Garland to pull.
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Though Garland isn't getting to the rim as often as he did last season, he's been much more successful when he gets downhill. He's converting a career-best 64.8% from inside of three feet, an improvement of 6.2 percentage points.&nbsp;
He's not a Ja Morant-like high flyer; more craft is needed for Garland to win inside. Luckily, he's able to combine an ever-shifting gear with sublime touch and impeccable footwork. He has Nash-ian scoops in his bag to go along with arrhythmic gathers. Despite the height disadvantage Garland often operates with, defenders can't get a read on what Garland's doing until it's too late.
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What's been fun to track is Garland's aggression off the ball. Chilling off the ball when the action doesn't involve you is an easy trap for young guards to fall into. Not only does head coach J.B. Bickerstaff discourage that sort of malaise, Garland himself recognizes the importance of reading the floor and staying active.
"The best point guards in our game are valuable in all three phases of the [shot] clock," Bickerstaff told <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinDavies/status/1470485876354555906?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our own Spencer Davies</a>.&nbsp;
"We talk about [Garland's] walk-up threes early in the clock, and the pressure it puts on defenses to get back, to pick him up higher, and open up gaps for other people. There's the middle-of-the-clock pick-and-rolls that we run, where he's isolated with Jarrett [Allen] or Evan [Mobley] and he's making the lob, the floater, or the kick-out. And then there's the late clock &mdash; our "butter" situations &mdash; where his ability to get the ball and just beat his guy and get a shot [is important]. All those point guards have the ability to do that, but you just have to have the aggressiveness. Obviously, Darius has taken that step to be aggressive in that mold."
Who are the point guards that Garland has studied?
"I've watched Steph [Curry] a lot," Garland says. Because of course he has.
"Steph, Dame [Lillard], CP [Chris Paul]. I think those are the guys that are really good at relocating and getting their shots or getting their teammates involved."
He notes that his personnel allows him to flourish off the ball. Ricky Rubio is a phenomenal passer; Allen, Mobley and Kevin Love are all plus-passers in the frontcourt. Garland has the awareness to find spaces to flash into; his teammates have the vision to thread the needle.&nbsp;
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SHARING IS CARING
Because Garland has become a more willing scorer, his passing ability has been enhanced. Bigs are a little more antsy; the help has to pull in a step further, a beat earlier.&nbsp;
If you want to talk about joy, watching Garland use that level of fear to his advantage is pretty high on my list. The yo-yo handle combined with the footwork, combined with the shooting prowess, combined with his actual passing bag, culminates into an absolutely filthy lead guard.
And that bag runs&nbsp;deep.&nbsp;Corner skips. Lay-downs. Wrap-arounds. Off-hand shovel passes. Lobs disguised as floaters, a rising tool in the bag of young initiators (hi, Tyrese Haliburton).
Garland's been able to build solid downhill chemistry with Allen and Mobley. Love and Lauri Markkanen have been able to pick-and-pop their way into success playing off of Garland. The Cavs smartly spam actions with two screeners &mdash; either out of HORNS or with double drag looks in early offense. The Cavs are generating nearly 1.09 points per possession when two of Allen/Mobley/Markkanen/Love screen for Garland, per Second Spectrum.
The Garland-Mobley combo in particular has been darn-near impossible for defenses to figure out. On top of Garland being as dynamic as he is, Mobley brings his own diverse skill set. He's a mix of his other frontcourt parters: the vertical terror of Allen combined with Love's quick processing and passing ability. The shooting isn't as lethal as Markkanen's, but it's reaching "the defense has to account for it" levels.
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The Garland-Mobley dance isn't just effective among young duos &mdash; it's an elite two-man action, period. Per Second Spectrum, the Cavs are generating north of 1.17 points per possession when those two are involved in ball screens. Only Trae Young and John Collins have been more effective among high-volume pairings.
Put the scoring and passing together, and you have a young guard averaging 21 points and 7 assists since Sexton went down. The Cavs are outscoring teams by <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/vs/advanced/#!?TeamID=1610612739&amp;VsPlayerID=1629636" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 10 points per 100 possessions</a> with Garland on the floor this season; since Sexton has been unavailable, that number has <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/vs/advanced/#!?TeamID=1610612739&amp;VsPlayerID=1629636&amp;Season=2021-22&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=11%2F10%2F2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">actually improved to 12.7</a>.
Garland has the ball on a string, and the offense in his hands right now. He's thriving, the Cavs are thriving. With this sort of leap and team success to complement it, it's hard not to view Garland as an All-Star this season.

Nekias Duncan analyzes Darius Garland's breakout season with the Cavs and why he has a real case as an All-Star.

Darius Garland exudes fun, and is making the All-Star leap

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

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

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

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

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

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

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/damian-lillard-saying-no-to-lebron-james-could-be-the-biggest-mistake-of-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Sometimes, a player&rsquo;s loyalty to his team can also become his weakness. Damian Lillard chose to stay in Portland, and in the process, might've rejected a chance to compete for the NBA title this year. He had an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers but said no to LeBron James. Time will only tell if he'll regret that decision later on.&nbsp;
LeBron James, Anthony Davis tried to recruit Dame to L.A.
Dame was in L.A. in the offseason to shoot his music video for an upcoming album. He and James met at a WNBA game, and sensing it could be an excellent opportunity to discuss some things with the Blazer star, The King invited Dame to come to his mansion for lunch. When Dame arrived, Anthony Davis was there. At that time, everyone knew at the table that it wasn&rsquo;t just going to be a simple lunch, but a recruitment discussion.
As Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo! Sports</a>, James talked about how things would go if he were to join them with the Lakers. But Dame didn't feel that joining a super team was right.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was just saying, I don&rsquo;t know if this is the route I wanted to go,&rdquo; Lillard <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/amid-chaotic-offseason-damian-lillard-meeting-lebron-james-decision-loomed-sealed-recommitment-trail-blazers-200041277.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>. &ldquo;And that was pretty much how the conversation went.&rdquo;
Lillard&rsquo;s loyalty could haunt his career&nbsp;
Lillard has given his all to his city and his team. At this point, if he were to request a trade, fans would almost feel sorry about him asking for one too late. After losing to a Denver Nuggets team without Jamal Murray in last year's playoffs, Dame realized the Blazers could not compete for a title seriously.&nbsp;
So Blazers general manager Neil Olshey hired a new coach in Chauncey Billups, hoping the former NBA champion could inject some fresh ideas and convince Lillard to stay. Things have not happened according to plan thus far, as Dame has struggled to get his rhythm early in the season. The six-time All-Star is shooting 35.3% from the field and 23.4% from the three-point line to start the season. Fans know he needs to get out of his slump to keep Portland's playoff dreams alive.
If Dame accepted LeBron and AD&rsquo;s invite to come and play in L.A., it could have changed the landscape of the NBA. In that case, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony would likely not be playing for the purple-and-gold this year.
Opportunities like this don&rsquo;t happen often, so Lillard is courageous for passing it up. At the same time, by rejecting LeBron&rsquo;s offer, Dame might have said goodbye to winning a title in his career. &nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

According to Yahoo Sports, Damian Lillard was recruited by LeBron James and Anthony Davis to join the Lakers over the offseason.

Could saying no to LeBron be Damian Lillard's biggest career mistake?

Etan Thomas has a direct message for Ben Simmons, who hopefully will have an opportunity to shut up his critics.

An open letter to Ben Simmons from Etan Thomas

Lou Dunbar is a Harlem Globetrotters legend.&nbsp;
A showman who has been with the organization since 1977 &mdash; as a player, coach and director of player personnel. Dunbar, a college All-American at the University of Houston, is often considered a precursor to Magic Johnson, because of his size &mdash; 6-foot-10 and unique ability as a ball-handler.&nbsp;
Over 79 career games with the Cougars, he scored 1,765 points.&nbsp;
Dunbar played a year of pro basketball abroad before calling it quits on a &ldquo;straight&rdquo; basketball career. He was working at a jewelry story in Houston, when he signed a free agent deal with the Rockets. It was a deal that ultimately didn&rsquo;t lead to an NBA career, but it did open the door to the Globetrotters.&nbsp;
Nicknamed "Sweet Lou" as a Globetrotter, Dunbar has a gregarious presence that radiates, even over the phone. When he tells a story, he often punctuates it with an infectious chuckle. Separate from our conversation regarding <a href="https://www.independent.com/2021/10/15/the-day-santa-barbara-police-racially-profiled-three-harlem-globetrotters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being racially profiled by Santa Barbara Police</a>, here's a look into a talk we had recently:
Who were your basketball heroes growing up?
Lou Dunbar: My first one was Wilt Chamberlain. Coming up I wore the number 13 because of Wilt &ndash; I loved Wilt. Going into high school, Elgin Baylor. I switched my number to 22 because of Elgin Baylor.&nbsp;
Did you ever meet Wilt?
Dunbar: My coach, Tex Harrison played with Wilt; they were roommates. I met him through Tex Harrison in Hawaii &ndash; he used to live over there. We went out for lunch or dinner. From what I saw, Wilt was a great guy.&nbsp;
Why do you think that generation of players is so overlooked or forgotten today?
Dunbar: Nobody knows who they are. You have to be a student of the game. You can&rsquo;t just be a student of this era. Everything they told Wilt he couldn&rsquo;t do, he did it. Look at the record books, he&rsquo;s in every category &ndash; then you have guys like Oscar Robertson. Back then they played real basketball, wasn&rsquo;t none of that crying. You come to the well, if you want to drink, you better be ready to drink.&nbsp;
Even guys like David Thompson who came out when I came out; David Thompson was something special; but you don&rsquo;t hear people talking about him &ndash; David Thompson was a beast, man. He invented the alley-oop &mdash; he and a little guy, Monte Towe. My senior year of college we went on an All-Star tour; every game we played, David Thompson got an alley-oop the first play of the game &ndash; he was great at going backdoor, he&rsquo;d fake up top to the free throw line and go backdoor and Monte Towe would throw that alley-oop.
Who were the guys that showed you the ropes when you first became a Globetrotter?
Dunbar: My first year I played with Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal. I tell these young guys today the opportunity they have is so much different than when I came up. They used to use my young legs for the first dunk of the game and then after that I&rsquo;d sit and watch like I had bought a ticket.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Meadowlark gave me one of the greatest compliments I had being a Globetrotter: he said I picked this up better than anybody who ever played with him &ndash; I knew all the positions on the floor.&nbsp;
My second year I played with Geese Ausbie and Marques Haynes.&nbsp;
As far as being a showman, Meadowlark was guy who did stuff by timing. Every show, you know Meadowlark was about to do this, or that. Geese, we never knew where he was &ndash; he was spontaneous, I loved that about Geese. He was hilarious; he just went off the cuff. I picked up a little of everything from both of those guys.&nbsp;
What made you come back to the Trotters year after year?
Dunbar: This is not for everybody. Tex Harrison used to say that all the time. Nobody travels like the Globetrotters: most of time we play seven days a week and sometimes twice on Saturday and Sunday. It&rsquo;s not an easy gig so you have to have some love for the game and this organization to be able to do it day in day out.&nbsp;
Regardless of how many games we played a week I loved what I did. I had the best job in the world. It was kind of like Santa Claus. We put smiles on people&rsquo;s faces every day. A lot of people get up and say man, I don&rsquo;t want to go to work.
You are a Houston guy. Did you ever play at the Fonde Rec Center?
Dunbar: Come on man. You can&rsquo;t come to Houston and not do that. Once we got off the road that&rsquo;s where we went to play. I recruited Moses Malone coming out of high school, he was down there. All the pros &ndash; John Lucas &ndash; everybody; whose who in the game of basketball and they went to the Fonde Rec Center.&nbsp;
I still play downtown.&nbsp;
With the Globetrotters, we do fool around a bit, but when we come back home, we go to Fonde and get it on.
How do you think you&rsquo;d have been as an NBA player?
Dunbar: I don&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;d have been bad. I went that route and was tired. I played a year in Europe &ndash; came back signed a free agent contract with the Houston Rockets and was in LA in the summer pro with those guys. They would play me sparingly. I thought I did alright when they played me.&nbsp;
There comes a point in your life when you have to move on.
People from the Globetrotters asked me to come to training camp and everything else is history. I&rsquo;ve enjoyed what I have done. I think I left a stamp on some people&rsquo;s lives.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s been a good run. It&rsquo;s like everything else you have your good times you have your bad times. I can tell you the good outweigh the bad. I&rsquo;d never trade it for anything in the world.

Nicknamed "Sweet Lou" as a Globetrotter, Dunbar has a gregarious presence, that radiates, even over the phone.

Q&A with Harlem Globetrotters legend 'Sweet Lou' Dunbar

Phil Jackson sat atop his perch and preached the gospel of Tex Winter.
The triangle offense, Jackson steadfastly declared, was not obsolete.
Truth it may be, in his final act as the chief of the New York Knicks, Jackson ultimately made the decision to cut against the grain from within his own scouting department and opted to select Frank Ntilikina with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Malik Monk &mdash; the prospect favored by more than one of the team&rsquo;s front-office members &mdash; believed he was bound for New York, but Phil obviously had other ideas.
Today, it&rsquo;s easy to look back at the draft and lament the fact that the Knicks didn&rsquo;t end up with Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Kuzma or even OG Anunoby.
But it&rsquo;s easier to look back at Ntilikina&rsquo;s tenure with the organization and realize that the Knicks, not even under Leon Rose, are yet fully worthy of the benefit of the doubt.
Slowly but surely, over the past 30 years, the only constant in New York has been the lack of the type of developmental culture that the league&rsquo;s more successful organizations seem to have. That didn&rsquo;t begin with Ntilikina; his struggles just further highlighted this weakness.
As his time with the organization has come to an end, the French guard was nowhere near an impact player, and it would be unfair to not lay at least a bit of blame for that fact on the Knicks themselves.
&ldquo;There was a fair amount of reluctance in making him the pick,&rdquo; one source who was familiar with the Knicks&rsquo; plans heading into the 2017 NBA Draft told Basketball News.
&ldquo;[Ntilikina] obviously had the physical gifts to be an impact player in the league, but there were two or three other guys that got support because they seemed much safer.&rdquo;
The operative word there being safe.
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At the NBA level, in the majority of instances, impact players are not born, they&rsquo;re developed. Except in the rare and obvious cases &mdash; LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Zion Williamson, for example &mdash; players arrive to the league as lumps of clay. Player development personnel, analytics staffers, assistant coaches and members of team scouting departments come together to analyze, critique, tear down and build up the neophyte chasing stardom. Their job isn&rsquo;t only to find the player, their job is to chisel and sculp them.
Lumps of clay. Blobs of potential. Frank Ntilikina came into the league as cake batter. It was the organization&rsquo;s job to whisk him and bake him thoroughly.
But like way too many before him in New York, it didn&rsquo;t happen. So now, the question becomes whether Ntilikina isn&rsquo;t an NBA player simply because the Knicks said he isn&rsquo;t.
Like every other rookie who showed flashes of potential in New York, he built a strong following among Knicks fans, many of whom are disappointed that the team decided it would be better off without him.
&ldquo;I was honestly surprised,&rdquo; one of Ntilikina&rsquo;s former teammates with the Knicks told Basketball News. &ldquo;He struggled a bit with his confidence, but most of us thought he would figure it out. But he never really had the chance to make mistakes, and every player needs that.&rdquo;
Said a bit differently, in four years, the young guard had four different coaches. The expectations placed upon him and his place in the rotation varied quite a bit, so it&rsquo;s not a complete surprise that he never found consistency while playing in New York. At the same time, he didn&rsquo;t exactly take advantage of the opportunities he was given, either by David Fizdale or Tom Thibodeau.
There&rsquo;s more than enough blame to go around.
Still, as recently as the beginning of last season, teams were registering interest in the defensive specialist. According to one league source, the Detroit Pistons made more than one attempt to trade for Ntilikina, while the Orlando Magic were believed to have been enamored with his potential.
One former front-office staffer in New York told Basketball News that Ntilikina&rsquo;s name would come up in trade discussions multiple times per season, but that the team never received an offer for him that included a future first-round pick. That was believed to be the asking price from the team&rsquo;s current front office. It obviously never materialized, and somewhere along the way, the Knicks believed that its roster spot and/or the cost of re-signing Ntilikina outweighed the benefit he could provide a roster that suddenly has other talented players competing at his position.
Based on what we&rsquo;ve seen and heard, the now-23-year-old seems to have been perceived as having too much potential for him not to find a new home in the NBA.
The question is whether he wants it.
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Once upon a time, Danny Green wasn&rsquo;t thought to be an NBA player, neither was P.J. Tucker. Both became lynchpins on championship teams. Teams like San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Miami have had success with reclamation projects and in developing young players, and Ntilikina has at least shown the potential to give a team some meaningful minutes.
As an on-ball defender, his timing and instincts are world-class, and while he received drastically reduced playing time last season, he at least showed the ability to be a respectable shooter from deep (he only took 48 attempts in 33 appearances, but connected on 23 of them &mdash; 47.9%).
But he wouldn&rsquo;t be the first player to decide that they&rsquo;d rather return home to play in Europe rather than continue to pursue their career in the NBA.
Two well-regarded Spanish guards &mdash; Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez &mdash; once made that choice, while the Serbian-born Milos Teodosic and Lithuania legend Sarunas Jasikevicius did as well.
Nobody would have confused any of the four for a perennial NBA All-Star, however, fact is that not every player is happy having to constantly fight to earn his keep in the NBA. Especially when richer paydays, more notoriety and comfort await back home.
While the 2019-20 season was objective evidence of the Leon Rose-Tom Thibodeau marriage being a step in the right direction for the Knicks, the organization will only truly turn the corner and earn the respect of the league at large when it finds a way to develop its players. R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and even Mitchell Robinson will figure into that equation, as will the trio of young players with whom New York walked away from the 2021 NBA Draft.
Like every possession in a basketball game, young prospects have a shot clock. If the buzzer goes off before their perceived potential yields real-life impact, they may end up being squeezed between the margins and on the outside looking in when it&rsquo;s all said and done.
Conveniently, Phil Jackson can be blamed for the Knicks selecting Ntilikina in 2017 in the first place, but not finding a way to at least get a return on his perceived potential falls directly at the feet of those currently at the helm for the Knicks.
Time will tell whether Ntilikina was never fit to be an NBA player in the first place, but even in a sea of otherwise good moves, his departure from the organization &mdash; and nothing in return to show for it &mdash; is unfortunately reminiscent of the way business has been done in New York for far too long.
Hopefully, for the sake of those who wish to see the Knicks succeed, this kind of outcome becomes ancient history, much in the way that Malik Monk&rsquo;s hopes of hearing his name called eighth by Commissioner Adam Silver have.

How much of Frank Ntilikina's failure should the Knicks organization take responsibility for? Quite a bit, writes Moke Hamilton.

There’s plenty of blame to go around for Frank Ntilikina’s failure

Are the New Orleans Pelicans finally ready to ascend up the Western Conference standings?
With an enticing young core led by Zion Williamson, who&rsquo;s on the brink of superstardom (if he&rsquo;s not there already), New Orleans could easily become this season's surprise breakout team. In addition to Williamson&rsquo;s freakish talents, New Orleans has Brandon Ingram, who made his own leap to near-star status after the Pelicans acquired him as the centerpiece of the Anthony Davis trade.
Williamson and Ingram form a terrific one-two punch and they should have the Pelicans competing for a playoff spot. However, put quite simply, New Orleans hasn't been able to construct a roster around their young duo that is best suited to their strengths. With a lack of spacing &ndash; a death sentence in today&rsquo;s NBA &ndash; the Pelicans clipped their wings and were unable to fly towards legitimacy. Also, last season, the coaches didn't connect with the young core. Stan Van Gundy was a fun idea on the surface, but his old-school ways didn&rsquo;t fit with the Pelicans&rsquo; roster and there was <a href="https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_f8018c0c-bb0b-11eb-a5ee-e3ae926a7b70.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> <a href="https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_a42c8c30-c970-11eb-80a3-4317f063a7bb.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tension</a> behind the scenes. That&rsquo;s why hiring former Phoenix Suns lead assistant Willie Green as their new head coach is significant.
Green was an integral piece to the Suns&rsquo; puzzle over the last two seasons, serving as head coach Monty Williams&rsquo; right-hand man. The former NBA veteran was tasked with running Phoenix&rsquo;s defense and helping as a primary player development assistant. Green thrived in both roles, helping the Suns go from a completely undisciplined squad on the defensive end to one of the NBA's best with the flip of a switch.
Meanwhile, key pieces of the Suns&rsquo; young core such as Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson improved their all-around games under Green&rsquo;s tutelage. Even NBA castaway Cameron Payne <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/cam-payne-ready-for-next-chapter-of-improbable-journey-lifes-crazy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revived his professional-basketball career in the Valley</a> after joining the Suns right before the Bubble. Now, given what the team needs from their new head coach, Green and the Pelicans are a perfect match. Not only will Green have New Orleans&rsquo; key players hustling on both ends (and likely improving their 23rd-ranked defense), he'll be able to connect with the young core and help them reach their full potential while also providing a calm, relaxing presence since he's seen just about everything at the NBA level.
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While Green seems like a perfect solution to the Pelicans&rsquo; on-court issues from a schematics standpoint, how did GM David Griffin do from a roster-construction perspective? Acquiring Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams last offseason was a mistake, but Griffin seemingly owned up to that by sending them packing this summer in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Although the Pelicans gave up the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft (which became Ziaire Williams) in the deal, they only moved down seven spots and obtained Jonas Valanciunas to replace Adams. And with the No. 17 pick, New Orleans selected sharpshooting wing Trey Murphy III, who's widely regarded as one of the most high-character, NBA-ready prospects in the entire draft and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/trey-murphy-iii-is-showing-why-hes-a-perfect-fit-for-the-pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exactly what the Pelicans needed</a>. Valanciunas is a smoother fit next to Wililamson compared to Adams since he provides a bit of extra spacing. While Adams didn&rsquo;t have any range (making just one three-pointer throughout his career), Valanciunas will at least keep defenses honest at times since he shot 35.8% on 1.1 three-point attempts over the last two seasons. During NBA Summer League, Murphy showed that he's already too good for that stage, so he may be poised for a 20-plus-minute-per-game role right out of the gate in New Orleans.
The Pelicans&rsquo; biggest blow this offseason was losing Lonzo Ball to the Chicago Bulls in a sign-and-trade that saw them acquire veteran guards Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple. Ball and New Orleans were ready to move on from one another, as the former No. 2 overall pick wanted a fresh start and the organization didn&rsquo;t feel comfortable paying him over $20 million annually on a new deal. Valanciunas, Satoransky and Temple will provide veteran leadership to a young locker room in desperate need of it.
To offset the loss of Ball in the starting lineup, New Orleans hoped to sign six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry, but he opted to join the Miami Heat. Instead, the Pelicans made their most interesting offseason move: dealing a future protected first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets as part of a sign-and-trade for Devonte&rsquo; Graham. In Charlotte, Graham's ceiling was capped after LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier thrived last season and the Hornets drafted James Bouknight at No. 11. In New Orleans, Graham should slide right in as a starting guard who provides even more floor-spacing value for Williamson and Ingram. Graham&rsquo;s offensive profile is unique and rather inefficient &mdash; 37.6 FG%, 36.4 3PT%, 53.4 TS% &mdash; however, he won&rsquo;t be asked to do anything but provide a little playmaking and stay beyond the three-point line.
Last season, Graham&rsquo;s three-point attempt rate was at 71.3%, which is well above-average and a significant jump from his 60.7% rate in 2019-20. If Graham shoots 8-to-10 threes per game at a near-40% clip, he will have done a fantastic job for the Pelicans.
This offseason, New Orleans' main focus was to ease the scoring burden for Williamson, who just averaged 27.0 points per game in his age-20 season. The only players in NBA history to score at least 27.0 points per game before turning 21 years old are LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Williamson. That&rsquo;s legendary, best-player-in-the-world company for Zion.&nbsp;
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And as he began to get even more comfortable in the second half of the 2020-21 campaign, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/zion-williamson-is-breaking-basketball-nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Orleans made him a point-forward and ran the offense through him on every possession</a>. Despite Williamson&rsquo;s youth, that&rsquo;s absolutely the right decision because he could become a LeBron-esque bully in one-on-one situations driving towards the rim. Williiamson flashed that potential during his lone collegiate season at Duke, and he&rsquo;s already doing this on a regular basis in the NBA, taking veterans' lunch money in scoring situations.&nbsp;
The Pelicans set out to make Williamson&rsquo;s job easier, which in turn should help everyone around him as well. Now, there&rsquo;s real potential for Williamson to average around 30.0 points per game this season, which could lead to some <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/5-under-the-radar-mvp-candidates-for-the-202122-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dark-horse MVP discussion</a> if all goes well for New Orleans and they take the next step as a team. Add in Ingram&rsquo;s ascension as one of the best young wings in the NBA and New Orleans just needs their new additions to play their role to the best of their abilities in order to climb the standings. If that occurs, the Pelicans should (at the very least) fight for a spot in the play-in tournament. And if Williamson makes an even bigger leap and becomes a top-10 player in the league (which could actually occur given his insane ceiling), New Orleans could comfortably make the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
Entering the 2021-22 season, here&rsquo;s a look at the Pelicans&rsquo;&nbsp; projected rotation:
Starters: Devonte&rsquo; Graham, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas
Reserves: Kira Lewis Jr., Tomas Satoransky, Josh Hart, Trey Murphy III, Jaxson Hayes
With all the youth New Orleans has added in recent years, this is a team that is just now turning the corner and cracking open their contention window. Led by Williamson, who's poised to be one of the faces of the Association for the next decade-plus, the Pelicans seem to have aced this offseason after being rightfully questioned at various points.&nbsp;
By adding the right complementary pieces around their superstar and hiring Willie Green to help the young core continue their development, the Pelicans seem to be pushing all of the right buttons.

After putting the right complementary pieces around Zion Williamson, the Pelicans seem poised to contend for a playoff spot in 2021-22.

Led by Zion Williamson, new-look Pelicans may have playoff potential

Mikal Bridges is ready to ascend up the ladder of the best two-way wings in the NBA. In order to reach that high benchmark, Bridges must undergo an offensive metamorphosis.
The No. 10 overall pick from the 2018 NBA Draft is already one of the best defenders for his position. Bridges was robbed of an NBA All-Defensive Team spot due to name notoriety, as Kawhi Leonard earned the final wing spot over the lanky 24-year-old.
Speaking of that length, Bridges has become a weapon in knowing how to use it. Possessing a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Bridges harasses lead ball-handlers off the point of attack and players who try to find openings around the perimeter. Entering the league from Villanova &mdash; a factory for producing NBA-ready prospects &mdash; Bridges immediately made an impact for Phoenix as a high-IQ defender who knew how to produce efficient looks on the offensive end. Already a supreme cutter, Bridges capitalized on knowing when to dive towards the basket when his matchup least expected it.
One point of contention for Bridges that stunted his early professional development as a three-level scorer revolved around a hitch in his shot, which was tweaked during the pre-draft process. Bridges&rsquo; mechanics looked nothing like the buttery-smooth, rapid-fire motion on display at Villanova. Instead, Bridges would slowly load up and bring his elbow in front of his face and crank it like a catapult. It was an ugly form, but Bridges&rsquo; tireless work ethic helped get rid of the issue midway through his sophomore campaign. For over a year and a half, Phoenix was waiting for "Villanova" Bridges to arrive.
In 2020-21, that version of Bridges returned full-time with a vengeance, averaging 13.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks. Notably, he converted on 42.5% on three-pointers at high volume, a massive jump as a perimeter scorer from 33.5% in his rookie season and 36.1% the year after.
Bridges was always built to play on a winning team that sustained success for multiple years. He showed it at Villanova, and now, with the Suns, he's repeated history with the team making an NBA Finals appearance in its first playoff berth since 2010. Devin Booker and Chris Paul are the pistons that keep the Suns&rsquo; engine running. Deandre Ayton is the group of tires keeping it on the road as an interior force on both ends of the court. Meanwhile, Bridges is all the safety features in the vehicle.
He helps cover up problems when they arise, or helps avoid them altogether. With an extremely savvy ability to read the game, Bridges is Inspector Gadget-like with his freakish wingspan, making sure everything goes off without a hitch. As he showcased throughout last season, Bridges <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-mikal-bridges-phoenix-suns-breakout-season-three-point-shooting-pick-and-roll-defense-deandre-ayton-turnover-percentage-monty-williams-chris-paul-villanova-jay-wright-ashley-howard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is an underrated piece to the Suns&rsquo; puzzle</a>. Moving forward, entering his age-25 season, Bridges figures to play an even more prominent role over the next few years as Paul ages falling back further into a secondary action.
(Editor's Note: BasketballNews.com's Spencer Davies <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-mikal-bridges-phoenix-suns-breakout-season-three-point-shooting-pick-and-roll-defense-deandre-ayton-turnover-percentage-monty-williams-chris-paul-villanova-jay-wright-ashley-howard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke with Mikal Bridges early last season</a> to discuss his potential as a player and Phoenix's long-term picture.)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Mikal Bridges STEPPED UP tonight for Phoenix 🗣 27 points 7 rebounds 8/15 FG 3/9 3PT 8/8 FT Difference maker. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Suns</a>)<a href="https://t.co/b5MqMB4tO1">pic.twitter.com/b5MqMB4tO1</a>
&mdash; Overtime (@overtime) <a href="https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1413341093203267592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2021</a></blockquote>

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

Bridges is projected to be a restricted free agent after next season, but Phoenix will hammer out extensions with its franchise-altering 2018 draft class before the regular season begins. There&rsquo;s no way either one of Ayton or Bridges will even sniff the potential of restricted free agency. Phoenix will pay the young duo on potential, banking on an even more fruitful run throughout the 2020s and beyond.
Ayton is set to receive a five-year max extension, while Bridges figures to make between $20-to-$25 million over a new four-year deal. For Bridges, that number may be viewed as too high on the annual value spectrum, but the Suns&rsquo; starting small forward is just now beginning his evolution as a more aggressive basketball player.
Bridges brings the tenacity each game as a defender, but too often will he disappear into his own shell. The 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks showed the best example of Bridges&rsquo; somewhat frustrating offensive flow. In Game 2, Bridges scored a playoff-best 27 points on 15 field goal attempts. Then, in Game 3, Bridges went 2-of-4 for four total points. Far too often right now does Bridges rely on others to help him create opportunities on the offensive end. Last season, 85% of Bridges&rsquo; shots were assisted, per Cleaning The Glass. Throughout Bridges&rsquo; career, that number has been above 80%, showing that he knows how to flow within an offensive structure and his role, but not really knowing when to assert his own shot flow. As a low-usage player, Bridges doesn&rsquo;t need many chances to impact the box score, which is fully on display with his elite defensive tendencies.
However, if the Suns end up coughing over a $100-plus million extension to Bridges prior to the 2021-22 campaign, he will need to become a more well-rounded offensive player who can impact games outside of structure when necessary. For the Suns, Bridges being aggressive has shown magnificent success. Last season, Phoenix was 34-7 when Bridges attempted at least 10 shots in a game. Over an 82-game sample size, that&rsquo;s a dominant 68-14 record. Aggressive Bridges is the unlocking point for the Suns becoming an even more impressive team following their surprising rise up the Western Conference standings last season.
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Bridges is just now scratching the surface of his offensive outlook. Only seven wings averaged at least 10 points, 1 steal and shot 40% on three-pointers during the 2020-21 campaign: Paul George, Khris Middleton, Gordon Hayward, Bojan Bogdanovic, Norman Powell, Evan Fournier and Bridges. That&rsquo;s a super impressive list to be a part of, and it gets even more promising for Bridges&rsquo; future scoring ceiling when you factor in wings under age 25 to do this over the last decade: Wesley Matthews, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Bradley Beal, Middleton, Fournier, Otto Porter Jr., Gary Harris, Jayson Tatum and Bridges.
At the moment, Bridges&rsquo; game best mirrors Porter off the players mentioned. Both players are plus-40% three-point shooters that provide ample defensive versatility. Bridges right now is a better, more well-rounded version of Porter. However, both players struggle to create their own shot consistently. Washington matched a four-year, $106 million offer sheet from Brooklyn in restricted free agency on Porter in 2017. Quickly, the Wizards offloaded Porter&rsquo;s contract to Chicago when they realized his offense wasn&rsquo;t going to leap forward to an even higher level.
Phoenix hopes that isn&rsquo;t the case for Bridges, and he&rsquo;s shown already exactly what a future could look like with him being more of a primary option offensively. Bridges will always be the third option in Phoenix behind Booker and Ayton, but he&rsquo;s absolutely perfect in that role while maintaining All-Defense production on the other end of the court.
If the offense eventually clicks for Bridges, he has all the makings of a Middleton-like player &mdash; someone who can drop 18-20 points on any given night while holding up defensively. Middleton showcased in the Finals what Bridges&rsquo; ceiling could eventually be.
If Bridges ever reaches those levels as a scoring threat, Phoenix is going to become a juggernaut that rules the West for the next decade. Bridges is the lynchpin to how high the Suns&rsquo; eventual ceiling could truly become.

Mikal Bridges is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA. If he takes a scoring leap, the potential is sky-high for the lanky forward.

Mikal Bridges' offensive metamorphosis could make Suns a juggernaut

In this series, Matt Babcock shares his experience growing up around the Milwaukee Bucks organization since his dad, Dave Babcock, has been an executive with the team for 23 years. He also provides an inside look at the rise and fall of the Bucks during the late 1990s and early 2000s. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/growing-up-a-buck-millewahque-milwaukee-bucks-nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For Part 1, click here</a>. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/growing-up-a-buck-george-karl-arrives-in-milwaukee" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> For Part 2, click here</a>. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/growing-up-a-milwaukee-bucks-its-reggie-miller-time-indiana-pacers-nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For Part 3, click here</a>.
After finishing the 2000-01 NBA regular season as the top team in the Central Division, the Milwaukee Bucks were headed to the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Thanks to my dad&rsquo;s job within the Bucks&rsquo; front office, I was lucky enough to be along for the ride. As a 16-year-old kid, I routinely shot around with the team before games, spent time in the locker room before and after games, and even traveled with the team. Of all my fortunate experiences with the Bucks during that time, nothing compares to the emotional roller coaster of the 2001 playoff run.&nbsp;
Here&rsquo;s how I remember it happening...
The Bucks' first playoff series that year was against the seventh-seeded Orlando Magic led by head coach Doc Rivers. The previous season, the Bucks and Magic played a &ldquo;do-or-die&rdquo; game on the last day of the regular season. The winner would secure a playoff spot, and the Bucks won in a nail biter. George Karl and Doc Rivers seemed to regularly take jabs at each other in the media during that time and the two teams had suddenly established a testy rivalry with one another.&nbsp;
However, the 2001 Orlando Magic team was a little different than the team the Bucks beat the previous season. The previous Magic team was led by a group of underdog journeymen, including Darrell Armstrong, Bo Outlaw, and Ben Wallace &mdash; they were a scrappy bunch of overachievers, which was their clear-cut identity as a team. Following the 1999-00 season, the Magic really opened up their wallets, signing superstar Grant Hill from the Detroit Pistons and young budding star Tracy McGrady from the Toronto Raptors. Their idea was, presumably, to have Hill be the leader and the face of the team as they slowly brought along McGrady. However, after signing that big contract, Hill only played four games that season as he battled ankle injuries &mdash; injuries that derailed the rest of his career, unfortunately. Subsequently, the idea of slowly developing McGrady was scratched and, suddenly, the Magic were dependent on the 21-year-old to carry their team.&nbsp;
However, McGrady did not have any problems stepping into this role, averaging 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game that season. In the first-round playoff series versus the Bucks, McGrady was outstanding, averaging 33.8 points, 8.3 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game &mdash; superstar numbers. He did all of this while also holding All-Star Glenn &ldquo;Big Dog&rdquo; Robinson to only 14.8 points per game and 34.8% shooting from the field, which were well below his normal averages. I also remember McGrady relentlessly trash-talking &ldquo;Big Dog,&rdquo; infamously calling him &ldquo;Puppy Dog.&rdquo; Following that series, McGrady quickly became well known within the basketball world, and I guess you could say &ldquo;a star was born.&rdquo; He was a long, 6-foot-8 scoring machine who could essentially do everything on the offensive end.&nbsp;
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However, in hindsight, based on what I saw from McGrady in that series, I don&rsquo;t think he maximized his full potential over the course of his career (although he was an all-time great player). Although not a bad defender, he had the potential to be elite. He could have had a Scottie-Pippen-type of career on the defensive end and become a two-way star, if he had really applied himself. This was an early lesson for me in evaluating players: just because a player has the tools to be a great defender does not mean he will be. Intent and effort are absolutely necessary for a player to be productive on the defensive end. Regardless, McGrady was great during that series and it is still one of the best individual performances throughout a playoff series that I have ever seen. Nevertheless, despite McGrady&rsquo;s impressive performance during that series, the Bucks far outmatched the Magic talent-wise. The Bucks beat the Magic 3-1, and I suppose &ldquo;Big Dog&rdquo; got the last laugh in that matchup.
And on to the next round the Bucks went&hellip;
In the second round, the Bucks faced the Charlotte Hornets, who were led by star player Jamal Mashburn and second-year point guard Baron Davis. The first two games of that series went as expected; the Bucks protected their home court and won the tough games. The next two games were played on the road in Charlotte and that was an entirely different story.
As I mentioned, the Hornets&rsquo; top player was Mashburn. Having had somewhat of a roller-coaster career up to that point, the 28-year-old had really come into his own as a player. The Hornets traded for him the previous summer and it clearly seemed to be a good fit. At 6-foot-8 and a strong 240 pounds, the small forward from the University of Kentucky was a handful for any opponent. He could shoot from outside, handle the ball, post up, and pretty much score from all over the floor. He was simply a matchup nightmare due to his strength and versatility. He <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-which-former-player-would-fit-perfectly-in-todays-nba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would be perfect as a combo forward in today&rsquo;s modern style of play</a>. In Games 3, 4, and 5 of that series, his value really showed, as he was the top scorer in each contest and led the charge for the Hornets to win three games in a row over the Bucks.
And like a whirlwind, the Bucks went from being up a comfortable 2-0 to down a terrifying 3-2. The tide had turned quickly, and the pressure was on the Bucks.
Despite the Bucks having gone to the playoffs the previous couple of seasons, the 2001 playoffs were my first real taste of how intense playoff basketball can be for everyone involved -- including the families of the players, coaches, and management. The NBA is big business, and when a team goes far in the playoffs, everyone wins on some level or another. Player values in free agency increase, coaches and management get raises or new job opportunities, and, of course, playoff bonuses get bigger with each round. The family room at the Bradley Center following a loss in the playoffs felt like a funeral. Needless to say, stress levels were high now that the team&rsquo;s back was up against the wall, down 3-2.
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Game 6 was played in Charlotte and it did not start off well. The Bucks went into the locker room at halftime down 10 points. However, in the second half, the &ldquo;Big Three&rdquo; of Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, and Glenn &ldquo;Big Dog&rdquo; Robinson lit it up. The Bucks outscored the Hornets 61-44 in the second half and won the game by seven points. Allen, Cassell and Robinson combined for 85 points. When it comes to perimeter shooting and scoring, they were probably the NBA&rsquo;s best trio at the time (and they&rsquo;re arguably one of the best ever). When Ray, Sam and &ldquo;Big Dog&rdquo; got hot, good luck trying to stop them!
That intense series would come down to one final deciding game. By that point, the Hornets had earned everyone&rsquo;s respect and in Game 7, Baron Davis put on a show. The 6-foot-3, strong, explosive point guard diced up the Bucks&rsquo; defense off the dribble, scoring 29 points. But that game was played in Milwaukee, in our house, the Bradley Center. The Bucks closed out that series, winning by nine points. &ldquo;The Big Three&rdquo; came through in the clutch again, as Ray and &ldquo;Big Dog&rdquo; combined for 57 points, and Sam chipped in 17 points and 13 assists.&nbsp;
The Bucks were moving on again. Now, to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they matched up against the Philadelphia 76ers, who were coached by Larry Brown and led by that season&rsquo;s NBA MVP Allen Iverson.
The 76ers had the best regular-season record in the East that year, so Philadelphia had home-court advantage. After a few bogus calls, non-calls, and just poor overall officiating at the First Union Center, the 76ers unfortunately pulled out a win over the Bucks in Game 1. The matchup between Allen Iverson and Ray Allen quickly proved to be entertaining in and of itself, as Ray scored 31 points and Iverson had 34 in Game 1. It was pretty evident that this would be a showdown we would all remember.
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/ray_ai1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="412" />
The officiating in Game 1 was bad, but the team had to move on and get a win in Game 2 to tie up the series before heading back to Milwaukee &mdash; and that&rsquo;s exactly what they did. The Bucks&rsquo; defense was able to hold Iverson to 5-26 shooting from the field and just 16 points. Just as important, Ray absolutely went off, netting 38 points and hitting seven three-pointers. Heading back to Milwaukee for Game 3, tied up 1-1 with the Sixers, the Bucks&rsquo; confidence was already high, but then the news came out that Iverson was not even traveling with the team because of a sore hip. Going into Game 3 without their star player, Coach Brown clearly instructed his 76ers to &ldquo;muck it up.&rdquo; The team was built around Iverson and his scoring ability; the rest of the roster was made up of tough defenders with relatively little offensive talent and &ldquo;glue guys&rdquo; -- players such as Eric Snow, George Lynch, Tyrone Hill, Aaron McKie, and veteran center Dikembe Mutombo. 
The Sixers&rsquo; plan to make it a physical, sloppy game worked, as both teams struggled to score. Although it was an admirable effort, the Sixers could not overcome the Bucks&rsquo; talent without Iverson. Milwaukee defeated Philly 80-74, taking a 2-1 series lead. At that point, I couldn&rsquo;t help myself from getting excited about the idea of traveling with the team to Los Angeles, where they would most likely face Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the sacred NBA Finals.
The Bucks needed to get past the 76ers first though, and with Iverson returning, that wouldn&rsquo;t be an easy task. Iverson returned from his injury in Game 4 as expected, and the Sixers won the next two games. The officiating continued to become more and more of a focal point in that series and the referees came under major scrutiny, especially after Game 4. There started to be a lot of chatter in the media about a conspiracy theory that the NBA and NBC did not want a small-market team like the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals. Needless to say, this series was quite dramatic.
The Bucks were up against the wall, again, and they needed to win two games in a row in order for my dream trip to L.A. for the NBA Finals to become a reality.
Down 3-2, the Bucks were facing elimination in Game 6 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Before that game, rumors circulated that a bellman at the 76ers&rsquo; hotel had found Iverson passed out drunk outside of his room earlier that morning. I&rsquo;m not quite sure if that story is true or not, but I do know that I watched Iverson drop 46 points on the Bucks that night! Still, despite Iverson&rsquo;s incredible game (in which he may or may not have been hungover), the Bucks won. This meant there would be a Game 7 in Philly &mdash; winner goes to the NBA Finals and the loser &ldquo;goes fishing.&rdquo;
Many fans in Milwaukee theorized that the NBA was trying to clear a path for Iverson and the 76ers to make the Finals. Then, the suspension of the Bucks veteran big man Scott Williams only added fuel to that fire. In Game 6, Williams, the &ldquo;heart and soul&rdquo; of that Bucks team, was called for a flagrant foul on Iverson. The day after the game, the NBA notified the Bucks that Williams would be suspended for Game 7, which was a huge blow.
Game 7 went on without Williams and Iverson was great again, scoring 44 points. The 76ers beat the Bucks, and just like that, the Bucks&rsquo; playoff run was over.
It was devastating...
The saddest part? I don&rsquo;t think that Bucks team was ever able to fully recover from that loss. Within a couple of years, Milwaukee traded Ray Allen (to the Seattle SuperSonics), Glenn &ldquo;Big Dog&rdquo; Robinson (to the Atlanta Hawks), and Sam Cassell (to the Minnesota Timberwolves). The team fired head coach George Karl, and general manager Ernie Grunfeld left to join the Washington Wizards. The Bucks went into rebuilding mode.
I really don&rsquo;t have any interest in debating whether that 76ers series was fixed; I sincerely hope it wasn't. However, there is no question that the poor officiating directly affected the results of that series. Years later, I&rsquo;m still left with a lot of &ldquo;what if?&rdquo; questions that send my mind spinning. If the officiating was better in that series, would the Bucks have beaten the Sixers? Could the Bucks have defeated the Lakers? Would my dad have a championship ring? Would that Bucks core have stayed together longer? Would Ray have retired a Buck and have his No. 34 retired in the rafters? What would Michael Redd&rsquo;s career have been like if Ray was never traded? What number would Giannis Antetokounmpo be wearing right now if No. 34 was retired? Would we even have Giannis? And on and on...
Despite the disappointing conclusion of that 2001 season, I can say, without hesitation, that from 1998 to 2001 were the greatest years of my life from a basketball perspective. I was an impressionable teenager going through a critical time in my life from a developmental standpoint, as a basketball person and as a young man. I was lucky enough to be able to experience the ins and outs of the NBA, learn the game from some all-time greats, make many lifelong friends, and create memories that now seem more like a dream than reality, memories that will certainly last a lifetime.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/growing-up-a-buck-from-ray-allen-to-giannis-antetokounmpo-dave-babcock-remains-milwaukee-bucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out Part 5 of this series, which fast forwards and looks at the present-day Bucks.</a>
Also, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out Matt Babcock's latest 2021 NBA Mock Draft here.</a>

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

Growing up a Buck: The 2001 Playoff Run

Two days removed from the NBA Draft, we have made it to free agency! At 6 p.m. ET tonight, the moratorium period officially opens, which means negotiations can begin between players and teams.
BasketballNews.com has ranked the top free agents available by position:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-point-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Point Guards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-shooting-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shooting Guards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-small-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Small Forwards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-power-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Power Forwards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-centers-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centers</a></li>
</ul>
Stay up to date with <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-2020-free-agent-agency-tracker-offseason-trades-player-movement-teams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's offseason tracker</a> for all player movement as well.
In this piece, we're going to rank the top-10 free agents overall.
10. Davis Bertans, Washington Wizards -- <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-free-agency-davis-bertans-agrees-to-five-year-80-million-return-washington-wizards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Back with Wizards</a> 
STATS: 15.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.6 OREB, 1.7 APG, 0.6 BPG 
Few players boosted their stock as much as Bertans did in his first season with the Wizards. Playing nearly 30 minutes per game for the first time in his career, he took advantage. A dead-eye shooter, the Latvian sniper has one of the quickest releases in the league and he made 3.7 three-pointers per game (while shooting 42.4 percent from long range). He has no problem pulling up on the break from any spot on the floor, which is his specialty. Good luck cooling this man off when he&rsquo;s hot.
9. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings -- Restricted
STATS: 15.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1 SPG, 37.2% 3P 
Well, we thought Bogdanovic was headed for the Milwaukee Bucks via a sign-and-trade, but that <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-free-agency-Bogdan-Bogdanovic-sacramento-kings-milwaukee-bucks-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">move is currently under investigation</a>. Reports suggest that he is entering restricted free agency as he planned before the supposed deal was struck this week. Since Bogdanovic joined the Kings three years ago, he&rsquo;s been the poster child of consistency. The Serbian guard has a quick first step and a tendency to create for his teammates. His three-point shooting is above-average as well. With Sacramento, he&rsquo;s done most of his damage with the second unit, but he always finishes games. In a dry free-agent class, a team could come with a significant offer. Luke Walton seems to like his game, though, so it&rsquo;ll be up to the Kings on whether to match a deal or not. 
8. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat -- <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-free-agency-miami-heat-goran-dragic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Back with Heat</a> 
STATS: 16.2 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.2 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 36.7% 3P
At 34 years old, Dragic is getting up there in age, but he produced exceptionally for the Heat. Unfortunately, he tore his plantar fascia in his left foot, so he wasn't able to make his usual impact in the NBA Finals. We'll see how that injury affects his status in free agency. But as a sixth man for the first time since the early part of the decade, the Slovenian vet accepted his role and thrived (and eventually regained his starting job). He establishes a strong rapport with everybody he plays with. He&rsquo;s difficult to defend as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations, either dropping the perfect pass to a rolling big, darting toward the bucket with conviction or jacking up a three to punish the defense. 
7. Danilo Gallinari, Oklahoma City Thunder -- <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-free-agency-Danilo-Gallinari-atlanta-hawks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agreed with Hawks</a> 
STATS: 18.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.1 BPG, 0.7 SPG
Perhaps the most overlooked player in the NBA, Gallo is always going to put the basketball in the bucket. As a three-level scorer, he can hurt you by penetrating the defense, getting to the free-throw line and, most noticeably, draining triples. What he lacks in lateral ability, he makes up for with his length as a defender. As somebody who&rsquo;s gone through a ton of injuries and trades in his life, Gallinari is a sure bet to stay the course and produce. Several teams tried to acquire Gallinari prior to this year's trade deadline, which was likely a preview of the interest he'll receive in free agency.
6. Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics -- <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-free-agency-gordon-hayward-charlotte-hornets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agreed with Hornets</a> 
STATS: 17.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.4 BPG, 0.7 SPG 
About three years after a gruesome leg injury left him on the sidelines for his debut season with the Celtics, Hayward returned to form and is confident in what he&rsquo;s doing on the floor. He&rsquo;s no longer hesitating to drive the lane, and he can take contact and finish as strong as he did pre-injury. He was super efficient this season, shooting 50 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line. And he was able to score all over the floor, with <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html#shooting::none" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impressive shooting percentages</a> whether he was finishing at the rim, shooting mid-range jumpers or attempting three-pointers. On defense, he held his own next to some of the best young guards in the league. It's unfortunate he missed a good chunk of the postseason with an ankle injury, but he bounced back nicely for Boston when he came back. Hayward ultimately decided to opt out and test free agency, leaving nearly $35 million on the table.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/usatsi_14791829-2-1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="860" height="AUTO" />
5. Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors -- Unrestricted
STATS: 15.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.1 OREB, 1.4 APG, 0.8 BPG 
While Ibaka&rsquo;s defensive prowess got him noticed early in his career, it's been his scoring uptick that should catch the eye of teams around the league now. He was a major cog in Toronto's playoff run, soaking up a lot of minutes in favor of Marc Gasol off the bench. The Raptors utilized his improved ability to stretch the floor and allowed him to fire up shots from distance, as he shot 38.5 percent from three this year. Additionally, he sets good screens and rolls to the basket well. 
4. Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers -- <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-free-agency-rumors-los-angeles-lakers-agree-two-year-deal-montrezl-harrell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agreed with Lakers</a> 
STATS: 18.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.6 OREB, 1.7 APG, 1.1 BPG 
At 6-foot-7 with a 240-pound frame, Harrell plays much bigger than his size. His nose for the ball is up there with anybody in the NBA, he knows how to find room to get into the paint and he uses his strength to his advantage. He was one half of the deadliest second-unit duo in the league with Lou Williams. Harrell won this year's Sixth Man of the Year award because of his terrific two-way contributions. Yeah, the NBA bubble didn't do him any favors -- and there were a number of factors that played into his struggles in Orlando -- but he's still at the top of the food chain among centers in this free-agent class. Harrell should still get paid handsomely.
3. Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors -- <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-free-agency-fred-vanvleet-agrees-four-year-85-million-toronto-raptors-return" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Back with Raptors</a> 
STATS: 17.6 PPG, 6.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 39% 3P
Can you believe the crown jewel of the 2020 point-guard class went undrafted four years ago? VanVleet might be the smoothest operator in the league at the one. You can credit smart decision-making, aggressiveness and stellar defensive IQ as the reasons for his rise to the top. Learning from one of the best in the league, Kyle Lowry, certainly didn't hurt, but VanVleet got here on his own volition. There's no question that he&rsquo;s been a key piece for last year's champions; he's incredibly consistent and he just does his job at an extremely high level. There&rsquo;s a good chance that some team is going to break the bank for VanVleet this offseason. Long-term security is going to be the key, and, despite his public desire to re-sign, that might hurt the Raptors&rsquo; chances of retaining him.
2. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans -- Restricted
STATS: 23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1 SPG 
Ingram adapted well to a change of scenery and found a niche with the fast-paced Pelicans, winning the Most Improved Player award. The 22-year-old quickly became the focal point of the team, notching magnificent performance after magnificent performance before ZionMania came around. He&rsquo;s put in the work to freely take looks instead of being timid to do so, improving his shot selection in the process. He effectively finds different angles to get to point-blank distance. A first-time All-Star, Ingram&rsquo;s development curve is rising quickly. It&rsquo;d be wise for New Orleans to match any offer that comes his way because we could be looking at a max-contract player.
1. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers -- Unrestricted
STATS: 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.3 OREB, 3.2 APG, 2.3 BPG 
Will AD stay or will he go? Well, he and LeBron James just led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship, so you'd think staying with the Lakers would be his top option. They&rsquo;re the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-best-one-two-punches-in-NBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most dangerous duo in the NBA</a> today. Davis can score from anywhere, and he's one of the nastiest finishers in the game. He&rsquo;ll take your lunch money on the defensive end too. When healthy, he&rsquo;s one of the best all-around players in the league. He declined Los Angeles&rsquo; max extension after the New Year and declined his player option recently in favor of earning a maximum contract offer this offseason. 
Head over to BasketballNews.com's offseason tracker for all of the latest player movement.
In addition, check out our ranking of the top <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-point-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">point guards</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-shooting-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shooting guards</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-small-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small forwards</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-power-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">power forwards</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-centers-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">centers.</a>&nbsp;Stay tuned to BasketballNews.com for in-depth coverage of the 2020 NBA offseason!

Spencer Davies ranks his best available players in the 2020 NBA free-agent class.

NBA free-agent rankings: Top 10 players available in 2020

Editors Note 11-20-20: This article has been <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agents-agency-players-2020-offseason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">updated at a new link</a>
With the Los Angeles Lakers being crowned the 2019-20 NBA champions, it's officially the end of a twisting, turning season. That means it's time to look toward the offseason, a time when the league picks up steam with the NBA Draft and, afterwards, free agency, which begins on Nov. 20.
BasketballNews.com has ranked the top free agents available by position:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-point-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Point Guards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-shooting-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shooting Guards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-small-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Small Forwards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-power-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Power Forwards</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-centers-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centers</a></li>
</ul>
In this piece, we're going to rank the top-10 free agents overall.
10. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat -- Unrestricted
STATS: 16.2 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.2 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 36.7% 3P
At 34 years old, Dragic is getting up there in age, but he produced exceptionally for the Heat. Unfortunately, he tore his plantar fascia in his left foot, so he wasn't able to make his usual impact in the NBA Finals. We'll see how that injury affects his status in free agency. But as a sixth man for the first time since the early part of the decade, the Slovenian vet accepted his role and thrived (and eventually regained his starting job). He establishes a strong rapport with everybody he plays with. He&rsquo;s difficult to defend as a ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations, either dropping the perfect pass to a rolling big, darting toward the bucket with conviction or jacking up a three to punish the defense. 
9. Danilo Gallinari, Oklahoma City Thunder -- Unrestricted
STATS: 18.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.1 BPG, 0.7 SPG
Perhaps the most overlooked player in the NBA, Gallo is always going to put the basketball in the bucket. As a three-level scorer, he can hurt you by penetrating the defense, getting to the free-throw line and, most noticeably, draining triples. What he lacks in lateral ability, he makes up for with his length as a defender. As somebody who&rsquo;s gone through a ton of injuries and trades in his life, Gallinari is a sure bet to stay the course and produce. Several teams tried to acquire Gallinari prior to this year's trade deadline, which was likely a preview of the interest he'll receive in free agency.
8. Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics -- Player Option
STATS: 17.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.4 BPG, 0.7 SPG 
About three years after a gruesome leg injury left him on the sidelines for his debut season with the Celtics, Hayward returned to form and is confident in what he&rsquo;s doing on the floor. He&rsquo;s no longer hesitating to drive the lane, and he can take contact and finish as strong as he did pre-injury. He was super efficient this season, shooting 50 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three and 85.5 percent from the free-throw line. And he was able to score all over the floor, with <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haywago01.html#shooting::none" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impressive shooting percentages</a> whether he was finishing at the rim, shooting mid-range jumpers or attempting three-pointers. On defense, he held his own next to some of the best young guards in the league. It's unfortunate he missed a good chunk of the postseason with an ankle injury, but he bounced back nicely for Boston when he came back. (UPDATE: Hayward ultimately decided to opt out and test free agency, leaving nearly $35 million on the table.)
7. Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors -- Unrestricted
STATS: 15.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.1 OREB, 1.4 APG, 0.8 BPG 
While Ibaka&rsquo;s defensive prowess got him noticed early in his career, it's been his scoring uptick that should catch the eye of teams around the league now. He was a major cog in Toronto's playoff run, soaking up a lot of minutes in favor of Marc Gasol off the bench. The Raptors utilized his improved ability to stretch the floor and allowed him to fire up shots from distance, as he shot 38.5 percent from three this year. Additionally, he sets good screens and rolls to the basket well. 
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/usatsi_14672230-1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="860" height="AUTO" />
6. DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs -- Player Option
STATS: 22.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.3 BPG, 1 SPG 
Individually, year two in San Antonio went much better for DeRozan even though the team missed the postseason. He got back to his normal self, dribbling to the nail or the baseline and letting it fly from the mid-range with great success. He took the initiative to go to the cup with a full head of steam and play-make for his teammates. His willingness to get others involved has really made him a complete offensive player. Earlier in the year, <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-de-mar-de-rozan-intends-to-decline-277-m-option-if-he-cant-agree-to-extension-with-spurs-004545646.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported</a> that DeRozan plans on declining his player option to become an unrestricted free agent. (UPDATE: DeRozan decided to opt in, returning to the Spurs).
5. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz -- Early Termination Option 
STATS: 14.4 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 37.5% 3P
This season was Conley's first with the Jazz and while he got off to a slow start, he showed up to the NBA bubble with a vengeance. He can run a team with the best of them. He has a knack for facilitating, has a solid three-point shot and uses a unique right-handed floater when he gets into the paint. He has an early termination option that would allow him to hit free agency this summer, but considering how he and Donovan Mitchell worked in the backcourt (and how much money he's set to earn), it seems like he'll see things through. If he chooses not to exercise his ETO, he'll make $34,502,132 next season with Utah. (UPDATE: Conley decided to opt in and will return to Utah).
4. Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers -- Unrestricted
STATS: 18.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.6 OREB, 1.7 APG, 1.1 BPG 
At 6-foot-7 with a 240-pound frame, Harrell plays much bigger than his size. His nose for the ball is up there with anybody in the NBA, he knows how to find room to get into the paint and he uses his strength to his advantage. He was one half of the deadliest second-unit duo in the league with Lou Williams. Harrell won this year's Sixth Man of the Year award because of his terrific two-way contributions. Yeah, the NBA bubble didn't do him any favors -- and there were a number of factors that played into his struggles in Orlando -- but he's still at the top of the food chain among centers in this free-agent class. Harrell should still get paid handsomely.
3. Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors -- Unrestricted
STATS: 17.6 PPG, 6.6 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 39% 3P
Can you believe the crown jewel of the 2020 point-guard class went undrafted four years ago? VanVleet might be the smoothest operator in the league at the one. You can credit smart decision-making, aggressiveness and stellar defensive IQ as the reasons for his rise to the top. Learning from one of the best in the league, Kyle Lowry, certainly didn't hurt, but VanVleet got here on his own volition. There's no question that he&rsquo;s been a key piece for last year's champions; he's incredibly consistent and he just does his job at an extremely high level. There&rsquo;s a good chance that some team is going to break the bank for VanVleet this offseason. Long-term security is going to be the key, and, despite his public desire to re-sign, that might hurt the Raptors&rsquo; chances of retaining him.
2. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans -- Restricted
STATS: 23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1 SPG 
Ingram adapted well to a change of scenery and found a niche with the fast-paced Pelicans, winning the Most Improved Player award. The 22-year-old quickly became the focal point of the team, notching magnificent performance after magnificent performance before ZionMania came around. He&rsquo;s put in the work to freely take looks instead of being timid to do so, improving his shot selection in the process. He effectively finds different angles to get to point-blank distance. A first-time All-Star, Ingram&rsquo;s development curve is rising quickly. It&rsquo;d be wise for New Orleans to match any offer that comes his way because we could be looking at a max-contract player.
1. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers -- Player Option
STATS: 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.3 OREB, 3.2 APG, 2.3 BPG 
Will AD stay or will he go? Well, he and LeBron James just led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship, so you'd think staying with the Lakers would be his top option. They&rsquo;re the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-best-one-two-punches-in-NBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most dangerous duo in the NBA</a> today. Davis can score from anywhere, and he's one of the nastiest finishers in the game. He&rsquo;ll take your lunch money on the defensive end too. When healthy, he&rsquo;s one of the best all-around players in the league. He declined Los Angeles&rsquo; max extension after the New Year and seemed to be set on declining his player option in favor of earning a maximum contract offer this offseason. With the salary cap taking a hit due to the coronavirus, we&rsquo;ll see if that&rsquo;s still the case. Davis&rsquo; deadline to make his decision official is Oct. 14 (with the date subject to change). If he does decide to opt in, he would earn $28,751,775 next season. (UPDATE: Davis opted out.)
Check out our ranking of the top <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-point-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">point guards</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-shooting-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shooting guards</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-small-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small forwards</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-power-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">power forwards</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-centers-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">centers.</a>&nbsp;Stay tuned to BasketballNews.com for in-depth coverage of the 2020 NBA offseason!

Spencer Davies ranks his best available players in the upcoming 2020 NBA free-agent class.

Free-agent rankings: Top 10 players available in 2020

Where will Khris Middleton play next season? It might not be Milwaukee.
That is my personal opinion, but it is based upon conversations I have been having for the past several days with folks I know and trust. Disbelieve it if you want, but look at the facts.
The Bucks flamed out. Khris Middleton was not all that good in the postseason. And in order for Milwaukee to have a team capable of defeating the no-quit Miami Heat, the soon-to-be-healthy Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers&rsquo; Philadelphia 76ers and every other team in the East that is going to try to improve, the Bucks&rsquo; roster has to improve too.
This coming NBA offseason has thousands of unknowns, including whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will sign a super-max extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. He wants changes to the roster, one of which, the acquisition of Chris Paul, is a virtual impossibility.&nbsp;
But another change, dealing Middleton, is something the Bucks may take a long hard look at.
It is an open secret in the NBA that the Bucks are going to try to trade Eric Bledsoe, although no current trade discussions are taking place, a league source said on Thursday. What needs to be discussed in the days and weeks ahead is whether moving Middleton for a more proven playoff performer needs to happen, too. &nbsp;
Middleton didn&rsquo;t perform particularly well in the playoffs, as the Bucks lost to the Miami Heat 4-1 in the second round. What happens next is critical. Although Antetokounmpo and Middleton are close friends, the two-time MVP wants to win a championship and believes roster upgrades are necessary. However, he hasn&rsquo;t named specific players that he wants to see replaced.
Trade speculation about Bledsoe has been reported elsewhere, but the same cannot be said for Middleton, who is owed $146 million over the next four years. Middleton has not played well in each of the past two postseasons, as Milwaukee lost a 2-0 lead in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals against Toronto and then got knocked out this year in five games by Miami.
While the Bucks are kicking the tires on just about every potential move, it&rsquo;s difficult to find a player with a comparable salary who would appeal to Milwaukee. Middleton is due to make $33.051 million next season, roughly the same number as the following players who theoretically could be available: Tobias Harris, 76ers ($32.7 million); Kevin Love, Cavaliers ($28.9 million), Al Horford, 76ers ($28 million), DeMar DeRozan, Spurs (27.7 million); Andrew Wiggins, Warriors ($27.5 million), and LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs ($26 million) among others.
If you are the Bucks, do any of those players appeal to you? In my opinion, only one of them does: Love, if he&rsquo;s at full strength.
Love is three years older than Middleton and has played in 63 career postseason games, going to the NBA Finals three times. He is under contract for three more seasons, making $31.2 million each of the next two seasons and $28.9 million in 2022-23.&nbsp;
Whether Cleveland would be open to such a swap is unknown, but Middleton has been an All-Star each of the past two seasons, and the Cavs are now building around Andre Drummond, Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr. and an assortment of young players that soon will include the No. 5 pick in the draft. They had nine double-figure scorers last season, but nobody averaging the type of point production that Middleton is capable of.
Another upgrade option that the Bucks have to ponder is Jrue Holiday of New Orleans, who has been the subject of numerous trade rumors involving the Pelicans, who are changing coaches and looking to build around Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball and this past season's Most Improved Player, Brandon Ingram. Holiday was recently selected by his peers as the NBA's Teammate of the Year, a testament to his value in the locker room.&nbsp;
Pelicans general manager David Griffin has only $83 million in committed salary for next season with Derrick Favors and E&rsquo;Twaun Moore coming off the cap, so a potential deal with the Bucks would not have to include matching salaries.
Combining the salaries of Middleton and Wesley Matthews ($2.56 million this season, with a player option for $2.69 million next season) would enable the Bucks to bring back a second player who could replace Matthews as a perimeter defensive specialist. That could happen through a trade or through free agency. They can use up to $5.8 million of the mid-level exception, but going above that number would make them hard-capped.
It can safely be said that no team aside from the Los Angeles Clippers had a more disappointing finish to the season than the Bucks, and standing pat with the same roster would not seem to be an option.&nbsp; Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have to adjust their roster to defeat the Heat, who will be playing in Game 6 of the NBA Finals tomorrow night.
Antetokounmpo missed the final game against Miami because of a right-ankle injury, and his supporting cast underperformed. Middleton shot below 40 percent during the postseason while averaging 20.3 points, and Bledsoe averaged only 11.7 points and 5.7 assists in nine games, shooting 38.8 percent from the field.
The second-round exit has led to speculation that Antetokounmpo will turn down the $254 million super-max extension and bolt for a different market, and Milwaukee&rsquo;s front office is expected to be proactive in scouring the league for upgrades. Based upon that assumption, Bledsoe (owed more than $54 million over the next three years) and Middleton (owed $147 million over the next four seasons) would be the most likely candidates to be dealt, with Middleton having the higher trade value.
Acquiring Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder would be extraordinarily difficult, given the two years and $85.6 million remaining on CP3&rsquo;s contract. The only way a deal could be made would be through a third team that has major salary cap space (Atlanta, Detroit and New York have the most), but that is still very unlikely -- even with ownership telling Giannis that the team is willing to pay the luxury tax in order to keep the two-time MVP in Milwaukee. Giannis and Paul became close in the NBA bubble (particularly during the Bucks&rsquo; boycott), which is where this chatter originated.
The answer to many of the questions concerning the NBA is dependent upon what happens with the coronavirus pandemic, but starting the season in January (at earliest) now seems to be a virtual certainty, according to NBPA director Michele Roberts, who has been inside the NBA bubble since July.&nbsp;
&rdquo;Even before COVID happened, there was a conversation about starting our season later. Why compete with football in the fall? Why don&rsquo;t we start our season around Christmas? It may very well be that our regular schedule is going to change, not so much because of COVID, but because of the ability to experiment. I wouldn&rsquo;t bet on returning to the old normal,&rdquo; <a href="https://theathletic.com/2119417/2020/10/06/its-been-more-than-worth-it-michele-roberts-on-bubble-life-and-nbas-future/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roberts told The Athletic</a>, noting that projections of $8 billion in revenue for the 2020-21 season are expected to come up 40 percent short.
So the league and the Players' Association must first figure out what the salary cap will be next season, along with when the season will start and whether fans will be allowed into arenas. That is the reason why the Bucks are not actively trying to trade Bledsoe. They are in a holding pattern, like every other NBA team.
It was curious to see that Antetokounmpo unfollowed all of his Bucks teammates on Instagram after they were eliminated, and it would have been nice to be a fly on the wall for Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s three-hour lunch with owner Marc Lasry before he returned to Greece.
Here is the big thing for the Bucks: When you lose, you make changes. And when you want a super-max-eligible superstar to stay, you try to put the best players around him.
Without any changes, Antetokounmpo may elect to play out his contract, after which suitors will tell him that even though he likes Milwaukee and does not care about playing in a major market, the caliber of teammates he wants to play alongside&nbsp;do care about those off-court factors. Milwaukee is not an attractive city for the majority of NBA players, so making the best trade(s) is just about the only option general manager Jon Horst has in order to keep Giannis with the Bucks for the next six seasons.
Also, Antetokounmpo is not the type of person to get overly specific when he requests changes. He is counting on Bucks management to be able to read his mind to a certain degree, so do not expect him to say anything publicly about Middleton, Bledsoe or anyone else on the Bucks.&nbsp;
But Milwaukee needs a second decision-maker and another outside shooter who can also defend on the perimeter, and it will be up to Horst to decide whether to keep Middleton or find a better fit.
If he doesn&rsquo;t, Antetokounmpo can turn down the super-max and keep his options open. And the Bucks want to avoid that at all costs.
Stay tuned, but do not expect Milwaukee to stand pat. They were a combined 2-6 against Miami in the regular season and the playoffs. They need to get better, and a change at point guard is probably not the only thing they need. Middleton is their best trade asset, and I do not think he&rsquo;ll be around when next season starts. We shall see.

Almost everything should be on the table for the Bucks this offseason to improve their roster around Giannis, writes Chris Sheridan.

Will Milwaukee Bucks trade Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe this offseason?

The second round of the NBA playoffs is underway and a champion will be crowned in a month. After that happens, we'll transition into one of the most unique offseasons in NBA history. The NBA has announced that it will push back the start of free agency, but transaction season is still rapidly approaching. 
BasketballNews.com has sorted out the top-50 free agents position-by-position. We have ranked the top <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-point-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">point guards</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-shooting-guards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shooting guards</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-small-forwards-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">small forwards</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-top-10-nba-free-agent-centers-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">centers</a>. Today, we look at the power forwards.
Honorable Mention: Jabari Parker, Sacramento Kings -- Back with Kings 
STATS: 14 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.6 OREB, 1.8 APG, 0.4 BPG 
It&rsquo;s been tough sledding for Parker, to say the least. He&rsquo;s been looking for a home ever since his stint with the Milwaukee Bucks came to an end, and he hasn&rsquo;t had any luck. In every situation, he&rsquo;s given his all. Though he&rsquo;s not the athletic stud he was before the devastating injuries, Parker can use his size to bully his way to the bucket. He has a respectable mid-range game, too, and his best years should be ahead of him. Parker chose to stay put in Sacramento, opting into his $6.5 million player option. 
10. Harry Giles III, Sacramento Kings -- Unrestricted
STATS: 6.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.9 OREB, 1.3 APG, 0.4 BPG 
Whether it was due to Luke Walton&rsquo;s new system not being a fit or rotational strategy, many were curious when the Kings decided to decline Giles&rsquo; third-year option. What makes him such an attractive option is the spring in his step. There&rsquo;s a burst there, which, accompanied by his length, allows him to block shots and finish strong inside. Remember, this was a first-round pick whose status was affected by an injury in college at Duke. Being only 22 years old, Giles could easily be a diamond-in-the-rough find for a team.
9. Derrick Jones Jr, Miami Heat -- Unrestricted
STATS: 8.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.1 OREB, 1.1 APG, 0.6 BPG
The man they call Airplane Mode is so much more than just a ridiculous athlete who can leap to the moon and jam from unimaginable heights. He is a legitimate two-way player who shows his knack for baseline cuts, speed in transition to push it down the floor and utilizes the dribble drive from the perimeter to get to the cup. Defensively, although he's not the biggest guy, he uses his seven-foot wingspan to stay in front of his assignments and get deflections in passing lanes, which often results in points the other way. Despite still finding the feel for his three-ball consistently, Jones definitely made himself some money with his play in Miami these last couple of years. 
8. Dario Saric, Phoenix Suns -- Restricted
STATS: 10.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 OREB, 1.9 APG, 0.2 BPG 
Saric has emerged as a solid stretch-four. He&rsquo;ll hang out on the perimeter and occasionally find his way on the block to position himself down low. Production-wise, he consistently scores in the double figures and grabs six or seven rebounds per game. It is worth noting that he's shooting 47.6 percent from the field (which is a career-high). Even if Saric has a significant amount of suitors, the Suns will have the opportunity to match any offer.
7. Paul Millsap, Denver Nuggets -- Unrestricted
STATS: 11.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 OREB, 1.6 APG, 0.6 BPG 
There&rsquo;s going to be plenty of contending teams interested in adding Millsap. He&rsquo;s a smart player who brings veteran leadership. He won&rsquo;t try to do too much and he will scrap for you. He&rsquo;s a dependable shooter from any distance. He&rsquo;ll still sniff around the rim and get you easy points inside. The best thing about Millsap is he&rsquo;ll adapt to any situation he&rsquo;s in, which his executives and coaches appreciate.
6.&nbsp;Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers -- Unrestricted
STATS: 15.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.2 OREB, 1.5 APG, 0.5 BPG 
The rebirth of &lsquo;Melo has been an absolute pleasure to watch. Playing alongside Damian Lillard and company has truly given him a path to flourish the way everybody knows he can. He was playing within the flow of an offense and making sacrifices, and he&rsquo;ll be rewarded for it. Knocking down mid-range face-up jumpers is his calling card. He shot 38.5 percent from three-point range in 58 games with Portland too. Defensively, his effort has been superb. We don&rsquo;t know how long he plans on playing, but it&rsquo;s clear that he has plenty left in the tank if he wants to keep going.
5. Jerami Grant, Denver Nuggets -- Unrestricted
STATS: 12 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.8 OREB, 1.2 APG, 0.8 BPG 
The last two years of Grant&rsquo;s career have been his best. Be it as a starter or as a backup, he brings the same energy every time he steps on the hardwood. His versatility allows teams to slot him three through five, and he can guard every position. His impact comes as a defensive pest and, offensively, as an attacker and reliable weapon beyond the arc. Considering his success and the emergence of Michael Porter Jr., it would be surprising for him to pick up his option. Grant is a free agent now after opting out of his $9,346,153 player option. 
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/USATSI_14141936%281%29_lg.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="AUTO" />
4. Marcus Morris, Los Angeles Clippers -- Unrestricted
STATS: 16.7 PPG, 5 RPG, 1 OREB, 1.4 APG, 0.5 BPG 
Morris significantly helped his stock by putting on a clinic earlier this season with the New York Knicks. As the third or fourth fiddle in LA, his usage has taken a huge hit, so it isn't truly indicative of how dynamic of a player he is. As we've seen in these playoffs, he can be incredibly consistent with his production in any role. The veteran forward is as rugged as they come, yet he has a finesse feel on the offensive end. When he gets going, it&rsquo;s hard to stop him from deep. There&rsquo;s a reason the Clippers traded for him.
3. Davis Bertans, Washington Wizards -- Unrestricted
STATS: 15.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 0.6 OREB, 1.7 APG, 0.6 BPG 
Few players boosted their stock as much as Bertans did in his first season with the Wizards. Playing nearly 30 minutes per game for the first time in his career, he took advantage. A dead-eye shooter, the Latvian sniper has one of the quickest releases in the league and he made 3.7 three-pointers per game (while shooting 42.4 percent from long range). He has no problem pulling up on the break from any spot on the floor, which is his specialty. Good luck cooling this man off when he&rsquo;s hot.
2. Christian Wood, Detroit Pistons -- Unrestricted
STATS: 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.7 OREB, 1 APG, 0.9 BPG 
There wasn&rsquo;t a whole lot to be excited about when it came to Motown basketball this season. Wood was the exception. From the G League to the end of the teams&rsquo; benches to now, he has demonstrated a tremendous work ethic and it&rsquo;s paid off. Once Andre Drummond was traded away, Wood exploded onto the scene with some gigantic performances in the points and rebounds columns. And while that may be a small-sample size, it&rsquo;s not the first time Wood&rsquo;s done this when given an opportunity.
1. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers -- Unrestricted
STATS: 26.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.3 OREB, 3.2 APG, 2.3 BPG 
Will AD stay or will he go? Well, he and LeBron James have the Lakers in a prime position in the Western Conference. They&rsquo;re the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-best-one-two-punches-in-NBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most dangerous duo in the NBA</a> today. Davis is one of the purest shooters and nastiest finishers in the game. He&rsquo;ll take your lunch money on the defensive end. When healthy, he&rsquo;s one of the best all-around players in the league. He declined Los Angeles&rsquo; max extension after the New Year and seemed to be set on declining his player option in favor of earning a maximum contract offer this offseason. Davis did just that, making himself an unrestricted free agent.

Spencer Davies ranks his best available power forwards in the upcoming 2020 NBA free-agent class.

Free-agent rankings: Top power forwards available in 2020

Over the last month, many people have asked me, &ldquo;What&rsquo;s it like in the NBA bubble?&rdquo; The best way to describe this experience is that it feels like I&rsquo;m on a grown-up AAU team. Our Lakers team has been really close all season, but we&rsquo;ve reached a different level of chemistry recently.&nbsp;
For the most part, we are together all day, every day. We go to practice together. Then, we all go eat lunch together as a team. After that, we hang out at the hotel. Then, we go to dinner together. We&rsquo;ve been having Madden tournaments, watching other NBA games and checking out the Verzuz battles to pass the time. Sometimes, we&rsquo;ll all just sit around and share stories. I love hearing stories from my vets. Guys don&rsquo;t usually stop to appreciate their journey and what they&rsquo;ve accomplished in this league, but we&rsquo;ve got nothing but time in here. We&rsquo;ve also been discussing how we can help our communities and doing a lot of brainstorming.
Every NBA organization talks about developing chemistry and building a strong culture, but that&rsquo;s easier said than done. But with this Lakers team, it&rsquo;s a real brotherhood. There&rsquo;s a genuine family feel. This group has been through so much throughout this season, and there&rsquo;s no question that it has brought us even closer together. Usually, a team builds chemistry through big wins, tough losses, road trips and things like that. We&rsquo;ve experienced all of those things, but we&rsquo;ve also dealt with a pandemic, the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and, now, the strangest postseason in NBA history.
Strong leadership is always important, but it&rsquo;s even more crucial during a season like this. Our leaders, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, set the tone from day one. In September, Bron and AD organized a minicamp in Las Vegas where we all got together for the first time to work out and get to know each other. Not only are Bron and AD two of the best players in the world, they are also so unselfish and they always put the team first. They want to build everyone up and help their teammates. That&rsquo;s rare.&nbsp;
When you spend time around Bron, it&rsquo;s obvious why he&rsquo;s a legend. It&rsquo;s not a coincidence! He and AD are always the first ones in the gym. Bron shows up 2.5 hours before practice to work on his body and get shots up, and he gets to the arena 3-4 hours before each game. Both guys work so hard and they&rsquo;ve completely dedicated themselves to the game. 
When I was with the Warriors, I played against Bron during the 2018 NBA Finals and he was calling out many of our sets before they even happened. He&rsquo;s able to do that because he watches a ton of film and his attention to detail is incredible.
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/LeBron_Ad33_lg.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="AUTO" />
When your best players are showing up early, watching film non-stop and constantly going above and beyond, everyone else is going to follow suit. Bron and AD are willing to do whatever it takes to win and that attitude is contagious.
We have other great leaders too. During every film session, I sit next to Rajon Rondo just to pick his brain. His attention to detail is incredible as well. Jared Dudley doesn&rsquo;t get enough credit for being an amazing teammate and leader. Danny Green is a great glue guy. Honestly, everyone sacrifices for the greater good of the team. It really feels like an AAU team with how close we are as a team and how together we are. It&rsquo;s a very unique group of guys.
One special thing about this team is that we have a lot of championship experience. We have six players who have won a championship (including three who have multiple rings). Four of our coaches have won a title either as a player or as a coach: Jason Kidd, Lionel Hollins, Phil Handy and Mike Penberthy. Having that championship experience can only help us in the playoffs. Because we have so many past champions on the roster, everyone understands exactly what it&rsquo;s going to take to win it all this year.
We&rsquo;re banking on our pedigree and our chemistry this year. This team has a lot of guys who have done great things in this league. I think we&rsquo;re as talented as any team in the NBA, but we just have to keep building great habits and doing the little things.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s frustrating that we don&rsquo;t have home-court advantage in these playoffs. We all wish we were playing in STAPLES Center because Laker Nation gives us a huge advantage. But this is a weird year, so we&rsquo;re making the best of our situation in the bubble. I know Laker Nation will be rooting for us every step of the way from home. 
I&rsquo;ve been a Lakers fan for my entire life, so I know firsthand how passionate and supportive Laker Nation is. It&rsquo;s been a dream come true for me to play in front of these fans. They just did <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1295524878456512513">a mural of the whole team</a> in L.A. and it&rsquo;s amazing. Laker Nation is the best; there&rsquo;s nothing else to say.
We want to bring the Larry O&rsquo;Brien trophy back to Los Angeles for Laker Nation.&nbsp;

From the NBA bubble, Quinn Cook writes about the Los Angeles Lakers' chemistry, leadership and championship aspirations.