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Magic

For a third of the NBA, summer break comes early.&nbsp;
Though 10 teams didn't make the playoffs, it's not all doom and gloom. Several NBA bottom-feeders took tangible steps forward in their rebuilding efforts, while others &mdash; well, they're not supposed to be here.
Every franchise enters the offseason with summer plans. As teams get eliminated from the postseason, I'll be rounding up every team's offseason outlook and posing one question they must answer over the summer. You'll see each squad's 2022 NBA Draft chest, plus their potential free agents, along with the central question.&nbsp;
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Let's get started!
DETROIT PISTONS 
Draft assets: First-round pick (14.0% chance at No. 1), Second-round pick (via Brooklyn)
Potential free agents:&nbsp;Marvin Bagley III (restricted), Cory Joseph (player option), Hamidou Diallo (team option), Frank Jackson (team option), Luka Garza (team option), Carsen Edwards (team option), Rodney McGruder 
Central question: How do the Pistons build an offense around Cade Cunningham?
This was a pretty solid season for Detroit as far as rebuilding efforts go. Cade Cunningham emerged as a Rookie of the Year front-runner and two-way centerpiece who has fans ecstatic about his ceiling. The Pistons finished a solid 10-14 after the All-Star break, and have shown flashes of an improving defense. They did still finish with the 28th-ranked offense, per Cleaning the Glass, and one of the worst shooting rates in the NBA.
Cunningham had to carry a ridiculous offensive load in the latter stages of the season. Detroit has the power to change that in 2022-23, starting with its high draft pick. Maybe Jabari Smith's lights-out scoring means he's an ideal secondary option? Perhaps Paolo Banchero thrives as an additional creator, or maybe Chet Holmgren makes sense as a finisher and spot-up threat? The fun part about Cunningham is that his versatility creates so many pathways for the Pistons in the draft &mdash; whether or not the ping pong balls fall their way.
Detroit wields a cap hold of approximately $28 million on Bagley, and once that lifts (either via a new contract or letting him walk), the Pistons should have a solid chunk of cap space to add to the supporting cast.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Draft assets: First-round pick (14.0% chance at No. 1), better of Brooklyn/Miami first-round picks
Potential free agents: John Wall (player option), Dennis Schroder, Bruno Fernando (restricted), Jae'Sean Tate (team option), Anthony Lamb (qualifying offer), Trevelin Queen (qualifying offer)
Central question: How patient is the front office willing to be?
Houston's 2021 draft strategy of "draft talent, figure out the fit later" appears to be working out. Jalen Green demonstrated an Anthony Edwards-esque leap post-All-Star break, Alperen Sengun is already one of the NBA's best passing bigs, and guys like Josh Christopher and KJ Martin routinely hinted at upside. Houston gets another prime shot at a franchise cornerstone this draft cycle. We're approaching Stage 2 of the strategy, though: figuring out how the pieces fit.&nbsp;
The Rockets were one of two NBA teams with bottom-five ratings on offense and defense. They led the league in rim frequency and were fourth in three-point frequency, but posted mediocre shooting clips. Houston evokes memories of the rebuilding Nets, who played a similarly extreme brand of ball for a few years as the team slowly reshaped into a fun playoff squad. Does the front office have the foresight to let head coach Stephen Silas work things out with his roster of young guns?&nbsp;
INDIANA PACERS
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How is there a &ldquo;rebuild&rdquo; to afraid of if it isn&rsquo;t a rebuild? <a href="https://t.co/0pDD7E6Mss">pic.twitter.com/0pDD7E6Mss</a>
&mdash; Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) <a href="https://twitter.com/C2_Cooper/status/1512127632758001664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Draft assets: First-round pick (10.5% chance at No. 1), First-round pick (if 15-30, via Cleveland), Second-round pick (via Houston), Second-round pick (via Phoenix)
Potential free agents: Ricky Rubio, T.J. Warren, Jalen Smith, Lance Stephenson, Nate Hinton (restricted), Oshae Brissett (team option)
Central question: How extreme is the incoming rebuild, and what veterans mesh with the future vision?
Notably unlisted among the potential free agents are Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield and T.J. McConnell. All range from solid starters to rotational complements, and 3 of the 4 (not Turner) will be 30 next season. The Pacers are clearly retooling, as evidenced by their trade-deadline fireworks and Tyrese Haliburton's subsequent high usage. They also have publicly flip-flopped regarding the direction of the team; see the above Tweet.
Indiana doesn't have the pure depth of talent to straddle the line. The Pacers can trade many of these talented players and build up a chest of draft picks and young pieces, or they can charge ahead, turn their picks into win-now players and hope Haliburton is ready for the playoff push. But a middle ground doesn't exist in an Eastern Conference where just about every team has solidified its direction.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Draft assets: None
Potential free agents: Russell Westbrook (player option), Kendrick Nunn (player option), Austin Reaves (team option), Stanley Johnson (team option), Carmelo Anthony, Avery Bradley, Wayne Ellington, Dwight Howard, Kent Bazemore, Malik Monk, D.J. Augustin, Wenyen Gabriel, Mason Jones (restricted)
Central question: What does team-building around two injury-prone superstars look like?
LeBron James <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lebron-james-i-dont-have-a-cap-on-how-long-i-want-to-play" target="_blank" rel="noopener">turns 38 next season</a>, and has played 60-plus games just once in the past four seasons. Anthony Davis has now missed more than half the season in back-to-back years. Sure, the Lakers were a mess regardless of their stars' health, but going forward, is pursuing fits next to James and Davis even worthwhile if the two won't consistently be on the court?
With just three players under contract (the aforementioned stars, plus Talen Horton-Tucker), the Lakers enter another offseason of a roster overhaul. This time, I'd recommend almost entirely forgetting about James and Davis when building the squad and simply try to assemble units that make sense together.&nbsp;
NEW YORK KNICKS
Draft assets: First-round pick (2.5% chance at No. 1, could change based on Play-In results), Second-round pick via Boston and Charlotte (if 56-60)
Potential free agents: Mitchell Robinson, Ryan Arcidiacono 
Central question: What's going to happen with the veterans?
The top six moneymakers for the Knicks next season are all 27 or older, and I think many fans would say that out of the group, only Julius Randle should have started &mdash; and he seriously regressed this season. The young Knicks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/explain-one-play-young-knicks-playing-chess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clearly showed they're ready to take the mantle</a>.
So what happens with Randle, Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Kemba Walker? Is Tom Thibodeau prepared to reduce their (their meaning Burks specifically in this case) minutes and usage, will trades be coming, or will Madison Square Garden burn when Immanuel Quickley opens the season by playing 16 minutes off the bench? New York has drafted extremely well in recent seasons, but the ceiling of the young core is capped if these youngsters don't get a chance to prove themselves in meaningful situations.
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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 
Draft assets: First-round pick (12.5% chance at No. 1), First-round pick via Clippers, First-round pick via Phoenix, Second-round pick
Potential free agents: Derrick Favors (player option), Mike Muscala (team option), Lu Dort (team option), Isaiah Roby (team option), Melvin Frazier (restricted)
Central question: What is the pathway in the frontcourt?
I've stanned Sam Presti's team-building strategy for years now, and I still think it's on track for a serious payoff. Josh Giddey slots in somewhere on your All-Rookie ballot, and draft classmates Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins flashed rotation-caliber play as well. It is simply a joy to watch a random young player have a breakout game on any given night, and OKC has already shown the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-oklahoma-city-thunders-emerging-defensive-identity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early stages of a prominent defense</a>.
Next up: Capitalize on a draft loaded with intruiging frontcourt players. Banchero, Holmgren and Smith are obviously the best of the best. But even if the Thunder slide in the lottery, they could pounce on an athletic shot-blocker like Jalen Duren, or use one of their later picks on a center like Mark Williams. I'm just spit-balling, but the point is that OKC has plenty of chances to find its big-man anchor and further flesh out its core.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Draft assets: First-round pick (14.0% chance at No. 1), Second-round pick, Second-round pick via Indiana
Potential free agents: Gary Harris, Robin Lopez, Bol Bol (restricted), Ignas Brazdeikis (restricted), Admiral Schofield (restricted)
Central question: How do the offensive pieces fit together?
Orlando quietly logged a 17th-ranked defense this season, and an 11th-ranked unit since Feb. 1. A dismal offense ultimately doomed the Magic, who were riddled with inconsistent shotmaking and poor team efficiency marks throughout the half-court. We don't need to sound any player alarms; it takes time for young guards in particular to grasp the responsibilities of running NBA offenses.&nbsp;
But what if I told you Orlando has wielded bottom-10 offensive ratings every season for the last decade?&nbsp;
Change can start in the draft, again with some of the top offensive forward options like Banchero or Smith. Adding another ball-dominant guard in Jaden Ivey might be overkill, but AJ Griffin and Bennedict Mathurin feel like good wing fits at first glance. Spotrac estimates the Magic could have up to $30 million in practical cap space, leaving plenty of room for veteran players to accentuate the young talent.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
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THE D IN DREW STANDS FOR DUNK DO NOT GOOGLE THIS <a href="https://t.co/2AojdAskYV">pic.twitter.com/2AojdAskYV</a>
&mdash; Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1508636734900166659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Draft assets: First-round pick (9.0% chance at No. 1), First-round pick via New Orleans (if 5-14), Second-round pick, Second-round pick via Memphis
Potential free agents: Joe Ingles, Jusuf Nurkic, Ben McLemore, Anfernee Simons (restricted), CJ Elleby (restricted), Elijah Hughes (restricted), Keljin Blevins (restricted)
Central question: Is Portland actually trying to win "now" or win soon?
Some really great development happened for the Blazers during the "wash" portion of the season in the form of players like Trendon Watford, Keon Johnson and Drew Eubanks. Add them to Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little and the incomng draft picks, and Portland suddenly has... kind of a sneaky-deep prospect pool? There's real potential to mold this group into a rotation cast that gives Portland one of its deepest rosters in years.
That's why these <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jerami-grant-trade-rumors-portland-is-still-the-frontrunner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jerami Grant trade rumors concern me</a>. Giving up a possible lottery pick to try and piece together a short-term playoff team risks too much and keeps the Trail Blazers in the limbo they have lounged in for several years. Understandably, the franchise wants to build a contender while Damian Lillard is invested and in his prime. With some patience, Portland can without sacrificing sustainibility.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Draft assets: First-round pick (7.5% chance at No. 1), Second-round pick, Second-round pick (via Chicago)
Potential free agents: Jeremy Lamb, Josh Jackson, Damian Jones, Donte DiVincenzo (restricted), Neemias Queta (restricted), Trey Lyles (team option)
Central question: How does Sacramento turn into a competitive NBA defense?
The Kings have trotted out lackluster defenses for as long as I can remember. In fact, they haven't ranked above 20th in Defensive Rating since 2005-06 &mdash; notably, the last time they made the playoffs.
And that didn't change under interim head coach Alvin Gentry. (Gentry will not return as head coach next season, but is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/shams-alvin-gentry-no-longer-interim-coach-of-the-kings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in talks for a front-office role</a>, per ESPN.) However, the on-paper roster actually shines some hope. Davion Mitchell made highlight reels out of his "Off-Night" defense. Justin Holiday is a solid individual defender, as is Harrison Barnes, and even De'Aaron Fox has his sporadic moments.&nbsp;
Can Sacramento find a head coach who turns a group of intriguing players with defensive potential into even an average squad? What draft and free agency options exist? Of course, the Kings would like to end their NBA-leading playoff drought. That'll come with changing the culture on defense.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Draft assets: First-round pick (2.5% chance at No. 1, depends on Play-In results), Second-round pick (via Dallas)
Potential free agents: Bradley Beal (player option), Thomas Bryant, Raul Neto, Tomas Satoransky, Anthony Gill (restricted), Cassius Winston (restricted)
Central question: What style of guard play is a feasible best fit?
Okay, so obviously the biggest question mark surrounds Bradley Beal's free agency. But from a conceptual standpoint, Washington has tried and failed over the past few seasons to find Beal's best-fitting partner in crime. John Wall, Russell Westbrook and Spencer Dinwiddie were each supposed to provide the downhill juice Beal lacks. The Wizards either did this at serious expense of another skill area (Wall, Westbrook), or it just didn't translate their at-rim ability (Dinwiddie). All battled injuries as well.
"I think we need bigger guards," <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/bradley-beal-outlines-what-wizards-need-build-contender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beal said in March</a>. "We need more guys that can get in the paint for us, more ball-handlers, more guys that can really create and get two feet in the paint, but also who can knock down threes."
I mean, Beal's needs make total sense. The problem is that every other basketball team on Earth also wants this type of guard.
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Ethan Fuller sets the offseason stage for each team that missed the NBA playoffs.

Summer plans for the NBA's 10 non-playoff teams

Darius Garland had 25 points and 12 assists, leading Cleveland to a 107-101 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night in a game in which the Cavaliers lost rookie big man Evan Mobley to a sprained left ankle.
Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick, landed on the foot of Franz Wagner while defending under the basket in the second quarter. He limped to the locker room after briefly laying on the court and did not return to the game.
Lauri Markkanen scored 20 points, Kevin Love had 19 points and seven rebounds, and Isaac Okoro added 11 points for the Cavaliers, who snapped a three-game losing streak and remained seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 42-33 record.
Magic power forward Wendell Carter Jr. had 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, Ignas Brazdeikis scored 13 points and Wagner had 10 points and six assists. Orlando has the worst record in the East at 20-56.
The Cavaliers clinched their first winning season in four years. It is the first time they will finish above .500 without LeBron James on their roster since 1997-1998.
Mobley is averaging 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, placing him squarely in the Rookie of the Year race with Toronto&rsquo;s Scottie Barnes and Detroit&rsquo;s Cade Cunningham.
Brazdeikis&rsquo; layup gave Orlando a 92-90 lead midway through the fourth, but Markkanen and Garland combined to score the next 12 points, putting Cleveland in front for good. It was capped by an alley-oop from All-Star point guard Garland to Markkanen.
All-Star center Jarrett Allen (left middle finger fracture) missed his 11th straight game for the Cavaliers. Point guard Rajon Rondo (right ankle sprain) has not played since March 12, and shooting guard Collin Sexton (left knee surgery) is out for the season.
Love had eight points in an 18-3 run to start the second that extended Cleveland&rsquo;s lead to 45-25. The Magic answered with a 20-4 spurt, fueled by six points from Carter to pull within two. Cavaliers carried a 60-53 lead into the break.
COMING UP EMPTY
The Cavaliers lost their two most important games of the season to date, 117-104 at Toronto and 98-94 to Chicago in a three-day span. As a result, Cleveland slipped to seventh in the East and now trails both teams. &ldquo;It was the magnitude of the moment and the (limited) experience level of our guys,&rdquo; coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. &ldquo;It hurts. It&rsquo;s painful. But you have to go through it and you have to take some lumps.&rdquo;
Four of the Cavaliers&rsquo; final seven games are on the road.
TIP-INS
Magic: Coach Jamahl Mosley watched the Oscars with Bickerstaff at his house. &hellip; Wagner, Detroit&rsquo;s Saddiq Bey and Phoenix&rsquo;s Mikal Bridges are the only NBA players to start every game this season. &hellip; Rookie G Jalen Suggs (right ankle bruise), the No. 5 overall pick, last played on March 13 against Philadelphia. &hellip; C Bol Bol (right foot surgery) and C Jonathan Isaac (left knee rehabilitation) are out for the season.
Cavaliers: Mobley needs one point to become the eighth rookie in franchise history with 1,000. &hellip; F Dean Wade (right meniscus tear) will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Wade, who made 28 starts, averaged 5.3 points in 51 games. &hellip; C Moses Brown&rsquo;s second 10-day contract runs through March 30. &hellip; Cleveland took a 59-58 lead in its series with Orlando, which entered the NBA in 1989.
UP NEXT
Magic: Visit the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
Cavaliers: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

The Cavs clinched their first winning season in four years, and Evan Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick, didn't return to the game.

Cavaliers beat Magic 107-101, lose Mobley to sprained ankle

Are we absolutely sure that Greg Monroe should&rsquo;ve been&nbsp;out of the league&nbsp;prior to Monday night?
May 12, 2019 is the last time we saw Monroe in an NBA game, when he logged fewer than two minutes of play in the Philadelphia 76ers&rsquo; Game 7 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. And while he only logged 9.0 minutes per contest in Philly's 12-game playoff run that spring, he had&nbsp;just&nbsp;been signed on April 4, and played three regular-season games to end the season. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywCh-CFaW2c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He played pretty well, too</a>.)
But despite averaging 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 51.4% shooting from 2010 to 2019 in 632 career NBA games, Monroe found himself out of the league for over two-and-a-half years until the Minnesota Timberwolves signed him this week. And fresh off the flight, he put up an 11-9-6-2-1 line against his former Boston Celtics.
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The vet hasn&rsquo;t lost a step! Greg Monroe went for 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in his <a href="https://twitter.com/Timberwolves?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Timberwolves</a> debut. This was his first game in the NBA since 2019. 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBACallUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBACallUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/XAiJh53Tw7">pic.twitter.com/XAiJh53Tw7</a>
&mdash; NBA G League (@nbagleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1475679537065349122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Monroe, by the way, doesn&rsquo;t turn 32 until June, and when we last saw him, he was one month away from turning 29.&nbsp;
On opening night, the average age of an NBA roster&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/lakers-oldest-nba-teams-entering-season/1gvfecopluvy71rmj43y8ezgtf">for 2021-22 was 26.1</a>. Though the number precedes what we&rsquo;ve seen regarding roster reshuffling due to COVID and injuries, the 26.1 median age is the youngest the league has been this century. It&rsquo;s also roughly where we&rsquo;ve been&nbsp;for at least a few seasons.
Ten seasons ago, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2012.html">the average age was 26.7</a>. In 2001-02,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2002.html">we were at 27.4</a>, with five teams hovering around 30 years old on average and only two leveling at 25 or under. Entering the new millennium, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2000.html">the average was up at 27.8</a>.
Over the last several years, we&rsquo;ve also experienced <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/16/21566647/nba-undrafted-alex-caruso-duncan-robinson">a boom in undrafted talent making NBA rosters</a>. Many four-year college players are entering the league between the ages of 22 and 24, occasionally older, which &mdash; along with the continual record amount of one-and-dones &mdash; contributes to what generally is a less-experienced league than what we&rsquo;ve seen previously.
Think about this: You already can&rsquo;t have a &ldquo;Greatest Undrafted NBA Player of All-Time&rdquo; discussion without mentioning Fred VanVleet. And he&rsquo;s one of the many reasons NBA teams keep trying to find those possible diamonds in the rough instead of signing a 30-year-old veteran who's been around. The VanVleet revelation doesn&rsquo;t happen often, and he&rsquo;s also a Toronto Raptor; they don&rsquo;t exactly suck at development. Nevermind that a VanVleet or a Wesley Matthews is rare; if the Sacramento Kings had scooped up Gabe Vincent in 2019, he might be guarding Shane Larkin in the EuroLeague right now instead of Tyrese Maxey or... *checks Dec. 26 notes* ... Hassani Gravett. 
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It&rsquo;s something that magnifies an even larger societal complication &mdash; eliminating much of the middle class in any profession. We&rsquo;re increasingly watching decision-makers seek to hire fewer advanced and/or experienced employees in favor of entry-level labor, or shapeshifting transactions with those of the one percent with little in-between. It has long been reported on, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/03/18/the-pandemic-stalls-growth-in-the-global-middle-class-pushes-poverty-up-sharply/">the gap is continually increasing</a>. The NBA, as a business, isn&rsquo;t much different. Look up your favorite team and see how many guys are on minimum deals or minimum-adjacent (think rookie-wage scale) contracts.
No one with Monroe&rsquo;s career production and resume should&rsquo;ve been out of the whole-ass league by age-29. It&rsquo;s not to say he should&rsquo;ve been on a contender&rsquo;s starting five, or even in a playoff rotation, but out of the NBA entirely? Forced to play (<a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/greg-monroe-1.html">and play well, by the way</a>) elsewhere? In his case, he had been productive in the EuroLeague since leaving the NBA.
(As an aside: In Europe, it&rsquo;s harder to score, rotations are deeper and you don&rsquo;t play as much, so numbers will be lower. Look at <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/luka-doncic-1.html">Luka Dončić&rsquo;s MVP 2017-18 season</a> or <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/barcelona/2021.html">Liga ACB champion FC Barcelona&rsquo;s 2020-21 stats</a> for example.)
Jeremy Lin ranted about this last season where, after averaging 19.8 points and 6.4 assists on 51/43/88 splits in the G League during a shortened season, he was the only top-10 G League scorer to <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3161207/coronavirus-omicron-spreads-global-gloom-over-new-years-celebrations?module=perpetual_scroll_2&amp;pgtype=article&amp;campaign=3161207">not earn an NBA 10-day contract</a> last season. The players who did include Henry Ellenson, 24, Justin Harper, 23 at the time, Tyler Cook, 23, Oshae Brissett, 22, and Ignas Brazdeikis, 22.
Lin, 32 then, 33 now, never received an offer, he said.
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❤️ <a href="https://t.co/7socHMLMkH">pic.twitter.com/7socHMLMkH</a>
&mdash; Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLin7/status/1394798832542699521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2021</a></blockquote>

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COVID accelerated and exposed <a href="https://time.com/5888024/50-trillion-income-inequality-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">much of the nationwide economic imbalance</a>, but a deep dive on that is for another discussion. (Etan Thomas, if you&rsquo;re reading this...)
One of the only good things to come from this particular COVID surge is the temporary <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-four-10day-veterans-who-can-revitalize-their-nba-careers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revitalization of some NBA careers</a>. It includes James Ennis, Lance Stephenson, Joe Johnson, Langston Galloway and Monroe, along with Alfonzo McKinnie (<a href="https://www.latinorebels.com/2021/12/06/prosportslatinamerica/">Mexico&rsquo;s own &hellip; kinda!</a>), who is the first 10-day to full-timer this season.
In more recent days, <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/10daytracker">we&rsquo;ve seen Al-Farouq Aminu, Brandon Knight and Darren Collison get deals</a>, too. But plenty of the guys we&rsquo;re seeing get these calls probably should&rsquo;ve been in the league longer than they were over some of the undrafted guys who probably aren&rsquo;t true NBA players. Even if they don&rsquo;t play much, the locker room presence and leadership, if you find the right veteran, is priceless.
But hey, <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/12/salaries-for-10-day-contracts-in-2021-22.html">it saves a billionaire money</a> to go entry-level instead, and I&rsquo;m over hear bitching about it on the internet during the holiday week while trying to recover Dr. Dre&rsquo;s phone in the new GTA V: The Contract, so what do I know?

Bryan Fonseca dives into how veterans should hold more importance in the NBA over younger players on smaller contracts.

NBA teams need to show more respect to veterans, and we're seeing why

The NBA uses player-tracking technology to find out interesting info like a player's total distance traveled, average speed and more.

Fred VanVleet leads NBA in miles run per game for second-straight year

The Orlando Magic plan to sign forward Ignas Brazdeikis to a two-way contract, The Athletic has learned from a league source.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/status/1425282859275722752" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Robbins/The Athletic</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Orlando added the 6-foor-6 wing to its roster late in spring 2020-21. Through eight regular season games with the team, Brazdeikis averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting 40.7% from beyond the arc. He contributed 12 points and four rebounds in Orlando's opening contest at NBA Summer League.

Brazdeikis contributed 12 points and four rebounds in Orlando's opening contest at NBA Summer League.

Magic plan to sign Ignas Brazdeikis to two-way contract

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid and the 76ers are happy to have earned home-court advantage for the playoffs — but they are a long way from their goal.
Seth Curry scored 20 points, Embiid had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Philadelphia clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 122-97 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
Ben Simmons added 13 points and nine assists to help the 76ers improve to 48-23. Philadelphia could’ve clinched earlier this week, but lost at Indiana on Tuesday and at Miami on Thursday. Embiid didn’t play against the Pacers due to illness and logged just 25 minutes against the Heat while still looking sluggish.
But he was more engaged in the second quarter against the undermanned Magic, helping Philadelphia outscore Orlando 39-19 in the period to take firm control. Embiid showed the edge that has made him arguably Philadelphia’s most-loved athlete when he picked up a technical for a confrontation with Shane Bacon with 3:16 left in the period.
“I’m happy about what we accomplished, but we have a long way to go,” Embiid said. “Now’s the time to lock in and go get the whole thing.”
Philadelphia fans reigned down “M-V-P!” “M-V-P!” chants on Embiid in the first half. And those cheers will get even louder in the postseason, as the city announced this week that the 76ers’ home arena can have 50 percent capacity when the playoffs begin. That will mean about 10,000 fans can be in attendance, or about double the current allowance.
The 76ers improved to 28-7 at home.
“Home-court advantage helps a lot,” Embiid said. “We’ve been dominant at home; we barely lose here. It means a lot to have the No. 1 seed.”
Embiid, Simmons and the rest of Philadelphia’s starters relaxed on the bench in the fourth quarter with the 76ers up big.
“I told our guys to enjoy the second,” coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s not what we want, but it’s part of what you can get on your way to what you want.”
Ignas Brazdeikis scored 21 points for the Magic. They have lost six straight.
“They’re great, they’re an elite team, championship level, ton of talent,” Magic coach Steve Clifford said. “That game was important to them. The second quarter when they really turned up the defense, it was a struggle.”
The 76ers last took the top seed in 2001 when Allen Iverson won the MVP, Larry Brown the Coach of the Year and Aaron McKie the Sixth Man award. That team reached the NBA finals before losing to Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers in five games.
Philadelphia has made the playoffs 10 times since, but hasn’t gotten close to the finals. The club started from scratch under former GM Sam Hinkie, famously rebuilding beginning in 2013-14. The 76ers won just 47 games over the first three seasons of The Process before using high draft picks on Simmons and Embiid helped turn things around.
They will enter the playoffs for the fourth straight season, but the hope of a Process-produced championship has remained elusive. Philadelphia hasn’t even reached the conference finals during the recent stretch, and last year’s first-round playoff exit cost former coach Brett Brown his job.
Now, Rivers and GM Daryl Morey, Hinkie’s ex-boss in Houston, will try to help bring Philadelphia its first championship since 1983. The 76ers will begin that quest on May 22 and have home-court advantage as long as they stay alive in the East. They’ll start with a series against the No. 8 seed, which will come by way of a play-in tourney between the No. 9 and 10 seeds.
“We did it as a group, felt like everybody contributed,” Embiid said. “Great coaching staff, great front office, the group we’ve had this year has been exceptional. As good as we were in the regular season, I think we’re going to be even better in the playoffs.”
SHOT-CLOCK MALFUNCTION
The shot clock didn’t work at the start of the second half. The public-address announcer called out when there were 15 seconds and then 10 seconds remaining before counting down the last five seconds.
TIP-INS
Magic: Mo Bamba returned after missing the last two games due to illness. … Fell to 10-25 on the road. … Were without Michael Carter-Williams (sprained left ankle), James Ennis III (sore right calf), Markelle Fultz (torn ACL left knee), Jonathan Isaac (left knee rehab), Chuma Okeke (sprained left ankle), Otto Porter Jr. (left foot pain) and Terrence Ross (back spasms).
76ers: Matisse Thybulle (swelling left hand) missed his third straight contest. … Backup center Dwight Howard served a one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical of the season on Thursday against the Heat.
UP NEXT
The teams wrap up the regular season in a rematch on Sunday night in Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid and the 76ers are happy to have earned home-court advantage for the playoffs — but they are a long way from their goal.

Curry, Embiid help 76ers top Magic, clinch top seed in East

The Orlando Magic have signed forward Ignas Brazdeikis (IG-nuss bruzz-DAY-kiss) for the remainder of the season, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.&nbsp;
Source: <a href="https://www.nba.com/magic/orlando-magic-sign-ignas-brazdeikis-remainder-season-20210512" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orlando Magic Press Release</a>
ANALYSIS: Ignas Brazdeikis, who signed a 10-day contract with the Magic on May 2nd, has averaged 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds. and 1.8 assists in 28.3 minutes per game with Orlando. Brazdeikis is a former second round draft pick from the 2019 NBA Draft.
&nbsp;

The Orlando Magic announced they have signed forward Ignas Brazdeikis for the rest of the season.

Magic sign forward Ignas Brazdeikis for rest of season

The Orlando Magic have signed Ignas Brazdeikis to a 10-day contract.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1388865830880940039" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Stein/The New York Times</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Brazdeikis has only suited up for five contests in 2021 with the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers, scoring two points and grabbing four rebounds in 15 combined minutes. The 22-year-old is a 2019 second round draft pick and makes sense as another young flier option for the rebuilding Magic.

Brazdeikis has appeared in 15 total minutes with the Knicks and 76ers this year.

Orlando Magic sign Ignas Brazdeikis to 10-day contract

Bradley Beal is currently leading the NBA in scoring, with Stephen Curry having a chance to catch him when the Golden State Warriors face the resurgent Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.
Beal, who plays tonight at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, has a slight lead over Curry, 31.4 points per game to 31.2. That race figures to go down to the wire, at which point we will start hearing about David Thompson vs. George Gervin on the final day of the 1977-78 season.
The rebounding (Clint Capela), assist (Russell Westbrook), block (Myles Turner) and three-point titles (Curry) are all but decided. But we still have the scoring title to keep us riveted.
Because of COVID protocols and rules as well as a plethora of injures, a total of 529 players have suited up for NBA teams this season. Let's take a look at some of the stat leaders:
<ul>
<li>Clint Capela leads the league in offensive rebounds (261), followed by Enes Kanter of Portland (257) and Steven Adams of New Orleans (212). </li>
<li>Russell Westbrook (11.0) is averaging the most assists per game and it isn&rsquo;t particularly close; runner-up Trae Young (9.6) won&rsquo;t be able to catch him. </li>
<li>Jimmy Butler has the most steals per game (2.1), but T.J. McConnell has the most total steals this season (101). Butler has 95 total steals. </li>
<li>Rudy Gobert leads the league in total blocks (168), with nine more than Turner. However, Turner is averaging 3.4 blocks to Gobert&rsquo;s 2.8 because he&rsquo;s played 13 fewer games. </li>
<li>Danilo Gallinari of Atlanta (.935) is one of nine players shooting 90% or better from the free throw line. Until last week, Jordan Clarkson of Utah (.924) was leading the league in free-throw percentage, but he has dropped to fourth;. Chris Paul of Phoenix is second at .929. </li>
<li>Joe Harris of Brooklyn has taken over the three-point accuracy lead (.481). Joe Ingles of Utah, the leader last week, is now third at .477. Bobby Portis of Milwaukee is in second (.479). </li>
<li>Rudy Gobert leads the NBA in field-goal percentage (.676) by a large margin. Runner-up Richaun Holmes is shooting 64.4%. Kelly Olynyk leads the NBA in two-point field goal percentage (.688). </li>
<li>DeAndre Jordan leads all players in true shooting percentage (.753) and effective field goal percentage (.779). Rounding out the top-three in both stats are Robert Williams and Ingles. </li>
<li>Nikola Jokic leads all players in field goals (625), win shares (13.3), win shares per 48 minutes (.298) and Value Over Replacement Player (7.3). </li>
<li>Julius Randle of the Knicks ranks first in minutes per game (37.5) and second in defensive win shares (3.7).</li>
</ul>
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A few other distinctions:
<ul>
<li>Montrezl Harrell of the Lakers has attempted the most three-pointers without a make. He is 0-for-10, while the Lakers&rsquo; Andre Drummond and the Nets&rsquo; Theo Pinson are each 0-8. Last season, Harrell went 0-18 from three-point range. </li>
<li>Dillon Brooks of Memphis and Jae&rsquo;Sean Tate of Houston have the most personal fouls (195). </li>
<li>In addition to leading the NBA in assists, Westbrook also leads all players in turnovers (272). </li>
<li>Dwight Howard of the 76ers leads the league in technical fouls (15). His next one will draw an automatic suspension and a $5,000 fine. Luka Doncic and Westbrook are tied for second with 13. </li>
<li>J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cavaliers leads all coaches with 8 technical fouls. </li>
<li>Howard, C.J. McCollum and Alex Len are tied for the league lead in flagrant fouls (4). </li>
<li>No player has drawn more than one flop violation; LeBron James, LaMelo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, D.J. Augustin, Gary Trent Jr., Kristaps Porzingis and Mason Jones each received a warning.</li>
</ul>
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There are eight players who have played this season without scoring a basket: Jared Harper of the Knicks, Kris Dunn of the Hawks, Ashton Hagans (who was cut by the Timberwolves), Will Magnay (who was cut by the Pelicans), Ignas Brazdeikis (who was cut by the 76ers), Anzejs Pasecniks (who was cut by the Wizards), Noah Vonleh (who was cut by the Nets), and Greg Whittington (who was cut by the Nuggets).
Hagans, 21, appeared in two games and played two minutes while recording one lone statistic: a turnover. He spent two seasons at Kentucky before going undrafted in 2020, then was waived by the Wolves in February for violating the G-League&rsquo;s COVID protocols. His rookie season will end with all zeroes except for that lone turnover (unless someone takes a chance on the Kentucky product who earned the SEC&rsquo;s Co-Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019).
A total of 21 NBA players are averaging less than 1.0 point per game, the oldest being Jared Dudley of the Lakers.
There are 39 players averaging between 1.0 and 1.9 points per game, including:
<ul>
<li>Last season&rsquo;s NCAA scoring champion, Markus Howard of the Nuggets (1.1 PPG).</li>
<li>Cristiano Felicio of the Bulls (1.1 PPG), who is on the final season of a four-year, $32 million contract.</li>
<li>Jahmi&rsquo;us Ramsey of the Kings (1.4 PPG), who has played five games and was perfect from the field (1-for-1) in three of them.</li>
<li>Rodions Kurucs of the Bucks (1.5 PPG), who has the distinction of being involved in both the trade for James Harden (going from Brooklyn to Houston) and the trade for P.J. Tucker (going from Houston to Milwaukee).</li>
</ul>
The season is far from over, and while 529 players have suited up thus far, that number is likely to increase as more players are signed.

Chris Sheridan takes a look at the NBA's stat leaders, as well as some other interesting numbers from the 2020-21 season.

A deeper dive into the NBA's interesting statistics

A bunch of really good players got traded to really good teams at the NBA trade deadline, and some of them are doing better than others.&nbsp;
Why is that?
...Dare we quote Allen Iverson?
Chatter around the NBA includes complaints that teams do not have enough time to conduct practices regularly, in part because they spend so much time adhering to COVID protocols and being tested. The condensed schedule doesn't help either.&nbsp;
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said teams have practiced anywhere from 15-to-40 times, declining to be more specific. It varies from team to team.&nbsp;
The Dallas Mavericks have practiced 25 times, spokesman Scott Tomlin said.
When asked how often the team has practice, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said, "Rarely.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Mostly because of the schedule -- 29 some games in 30 or so days is hard," Cuban added. "So any days off are needed rest days... But sometimes you have to force-fit a practice. It's not that we can't. It's just that the physical toll of the schedule and the need for recovery by players make it difficult.&rdquo;
For teams that made midseason moves, it's tougher than ever to get new players acclimated. &nbsp; The Mavs acquired JJ Redick from New Orleans, but he has not yet played for Dallas, who had won five games in a row before dropping a 102-93 decision against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
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The best player in that game was Kelly Olynyk of Houston, who was acquired from Miami and is arguably Stephen Silas&rsquo; best or second-best player these days. Olynyk has averaged 17.4 points on 59.7% shooting since the trade.
But this column is about teams that are either in the playoff picture or in the hunt, so let&rsquo;s start with the best teams (listed by winning percentage), the player(s) they acquired and how things have been going since the March 25 deadline.&nbsp;
UTAH JAZZ (39-13): Acquired Matt Thomas from Toronto for a future second-round pick, but he has only seen spot minutes in four games and has done nothing of note.
PHOENIX SUNS (36-15): Acquired Torrey Craig from Milwaukee for cash, and he has been getting regular rotation minutes off the bench and scored in double figures in three of 11 games. He shot well, but was a minus-10 in 12 minutes in the Suns&rsquo; overtime victory over Utah on Wednesday.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers (35-16): Acquired George Hill from the Thunder and Ignas Brazdeikis from the Knicks. Hill has yet to play because of a thumb injury, but conceivably will help in the playoffs; Brazdeikis was waived Thursday. He played just eight minutes in one total game and missed all three of his shots.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (35-18): Acquired Rajon Rondo from Atlanta for Lou Williams and two second-round picks. Prior to going for 15 points and nine assists (and a plus-24) in 19 minutes against Phoenix last night, he had taken seven shots in two games and made two of them. But he plays that way from time to time every regular season, and then the playoffs come -- and we all know what happens. That&rsquo;s why he is known as &ldquo;Playoff Rondo.&rdquo; Nobody ever had that nickname, not even Robert Horry, so stay tuned.
DENVER NUGGETS (33-18): Acquired Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark from the Magic for Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton and a future first-round pick; landed JaVale McGee from the Cavs for Isaiah Hartenstein and a future second-rounder. The Nuggets have not lost since Gordon arrived, and he has moved into the starting lineup in place of Paul Millsap. He has not been quite as proficient as teammate Michael Porter Jr., but he is shooting nearly 61% from the field while averaging 12.5 points. He was averaging 14.6 points in Orlando on 43.7% shooting. McGee has appeared only briefly in two games. Clark was waived on Thursday following the team's two-way contract signing of Shaq Harrison.
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MILWAUKEE BUCKS (32-18): Acquired P.J. Tucker and Rodions Kurucs from Houston for D.J. Augustin and D.J. Wilson, with some first-round picks and swaps changing hands, too. Tucker played in only three games, making one of four shots, before suffering a strained left calf that has sidelined him since March 24. Kurucs has not played.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (30-21): Acquired Norman Powell from the Portland Trail Blazers for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood. Powell was playing like the best player on the Raptors for all intents and purposes, and with Portland, he is logging heavy minutes as a starter and had a 32-point game in a loss to the Clippers on Tuesday night. Terry Stotts has a heck of a starting lineup, but in the end, it will all come down to the Blazers&rsquo; defense, as it always does. The Jazz outscored them 40-19 in the third quarter last night.
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CHARLOTTE HORNETS (26-24): The best team that nobody ever talks about (especially given the fact that LaMelo Ball went down) acquired Brad Wanamaker from Golden State for a second-round pick, and the Danny Ainge castoff has been solid (8.2 points, 3.2 assists), if not spectacular as the backup point guard in his 20-plus minutes per game.
ATLANTA HAWKS (27-25): They are 4-1 with former Sixth Man Award winner Lou Williams coming off the bench, and he has shot 60% from three-point range in 24 minutes per game. The Hawks gave up 131 points to the Memphis Grizzlies, which is not the sign of a good defensive team, but Lou was not acquired for his &ldquo;D.&rdquo; And the Grizzlies have been playing well lately.&nbsp;
MIAMI HEAT (27-25): Acquired Victor Oladipo from Houston for Olynyk, Avery Bradley and a pick swap; landed Nemanja Bjelica from Sacramento for Moe Harkless and Chris Silva; picked up Trevor Ariza from Oklahoma City for Meyers Leonard and a second-round pick. The East&rsquo;s most confounding team not named &ldquo;Celtics&rdquo; is 5-3 since the deadline passed, having just beaten the Lakers. Oladipo has shot only 23.5% from three-point range and has contributed relatively little. Now, Oladipo will miss the Heat's four-game road trip due to a right-knee injury. Ariza has moved into the starting lineup and has been hot and cold like a leaky faucet; and Bjelica has played six games, with his best performance coming in a win over the Cavs when he had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
BOSTON CELTICS (26-26): The team that got nothing in return for Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford picked up Evan Fournier from Orlando for Jeff Teague and two second-round picks; they also landed Moe Wagner and Luke Kornet from the Bulls for Daniel Theis and Javonte Green. The Celtics sit at seventh in the East. Fournier had an inglorious debut in green, going 0-for-10, but had a couple of very nice games since then, going a combined 11-for-16 from three in his two most recent games. He averaged 3 points in his first two games and 20 points in his next two. Kornet has proven serviceable, and Wagner has started in a game.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (24-25): Acquired an injured Marquese Chriss from Golden State, presumably so that somebody down the line could replace LaMarcus Aldridge (who eventually was bought out and signed with the Nets). This sinking ship has lost four in a row, including a 24-point defeat at the hands of the JuggerCavs; Chriss was released to make room for Gorgui Dieng, who they signed off the buyout market.&nbsp;
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CHICAGO BULLS (22-28): Acquired Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and a pair of first-round picks; landed Daniel Theis, Javonte Green and Troy Brown Jr. from Boston and Washington in a three-team trade. These moves made Billy Donovan the winner of the &ldquo;Figure It Out On The Fly&rdquo; award. Vucevic, an All-Star, has adapted quickly, going for 32 points and 17 rebounds against the Pacers on Tuesday; Aminu and Green have not been rotation players. Theis was okay before going for 14 points and 10 rebounds on Thursday, and Brown has come off the bench and provided depth as a defense-first, playmaking forward. Arturas Karnisovas perhaps earned the &ldquo;Executive of the Year&rdquo; award for getting Vucevic, who will be the best player on the court in every play-in game he participates in.&nbsp;
Donovan will eventually have to acclimate the new Bulls with the old Bulls through practice, and it&rsquo;ll be up to him how to make that happen.
Yes, Mr. Iverson, we are talkin&rsquo; about practice. NBA teams are averaging about 1.8 practices per week this year. Last year (pre-bubble), it was 1.9, and the year before it was 2.0.
Practice makes perfect, and nobody in the NBA is unbeaten. But somebody is going to emerge as a champion by the end of the season, and how to get there is every team&rsquo;s ongoing challenge.

Chris Sheridan checks in on the players who were dealt at the NBA trade deadline and how they've performed with their new teams.

How recently-traded players on good teams are faring

The Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly waiving forward Ignas Brazdeikis.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1380169508476874753" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/Twitter</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;The second-year forward came to Philadelphia from the Knicks as part of the three-team trade deadline deal that also netted the 76ers George Hill. Brazdeikis showed flashes of promise with the Knicks as a rookie, but played only nine games at the NBA level in 2019-20 and five games this season. In the G League, Brazdeikis averaged 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists across 12 games with the Westchester Knicks this season.

Brazdeikis was traded to Philly from New York at this year's deadline.

Sixers to waive forward Ignas Brazdeikis

Nekias Duncan dissects every detail of the moves that went down at Thursday's NBA trade deadline and gives them grades.

Grading every move from the 2021 NBA trade deadline

In addition to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., MVP favorite Nikola Jokic now has Aaron Gordon flanking him, and the Denver Nuggets are better than they were a year ago when they went to the Western Conference Finals.
They got JaVale McGee, too, which means Mike Malone can give The Joker a breather and not have to hold his breath, and so we put the Denver Nuggets squarely in the winners column of today's NBA trade deadline results.
The Portland Trail Blazers did well Thursday, too, acquiring Norman Powell from the Toronto Raptors as an eventful day went down without Kyle Lowry or Andre Drummond or Hassan Whiteside being dealt, although there were teams that were trying.&nbsp;
The Miami Heat kept their cap space for the summer and added Victor Oladipo and Nemanja Bjelica, and the Atlanta Hawks will be the newest place where Lou Williams will continue his illustrious career, joining a young group that has turned things around under new head coach Nate McMillan.
The Chicago Bulls not only landed Nikola Vucevic, but also Boston Celtics big man Daniel Theis and Al-Farouq Aminu from the Orlando Magic, as Arturas Karnisovas aced his first trade deadline. Even if they stick in 10th place and are a play-in team, Vucevic is an All-Star who will give them a puncher&rsquo;s chance should they make it out of the play-in and go up against one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Their fans finally have hope.
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The Magic basically traded every good player they had on their roster, but does that necessarily make them losers? Once Markelle Fultz went down in the first month of the season, that franchise quickly came to realize it had topped out at the end of last season. The Jonathan Isaac injury made this year an exercise in futility, and general manager John Hammond did what he had to do -- get whatever he could for the three best players on his team in Vucevic (sent to the Bulls), Gordon (sent with Gary Clark to the Nuggets) and Evan Fournier (sent to the Celtics).
Hammond and Orlando received keepers in return, like Gary Harris, Wendell Carter and R.J. Hampton, so that grade is &ldquo;incomplete" because it was necessary. Perhaps more importantly, the Magic got a top-five protected 2025 first-round pick from the Nuggets, two first-round picks from the Bulls ('21 top-four protected, '23 with light protection) and a pair of second-rounders from the Celtics.
Boston was dealing from a position of strength because nobody else had the cap space (via the Gordon Hayward trade exception) to absorb Fournier&rsquo;s contract. We shall see if Moritz Wagner and Luke Kornet in the middle will be better than what they had in Theis. It could also mean more playing time for Robert Williams III.
Fournier gives the Celtics another player who gets the job done on both ends of the floor, and the core of his team (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart) is a proven commodity -- no matter what their record says. If Boston can gather a head of steam heading into the postseason, it will not matter what their seed is. So Ainge goes into the winners column, tentatively.
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The same goes for Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson and the Dallas Mavericks, who got themselves a pair of shooters in JJ Redick and Nicolo Melli, who can knock down threes when Luka Doncic drives and dishes. Redick is one of the strongest character guys in the league and a huge locker room voice. This trade is sneaky good.&nbsp;
The Philadelphia 76ers picked up George Hill from the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving them a veteran point guard to add to a rotation of a team that has somehow stayed atop the East throughout Joel Embiid&rsquo;s injury absence. And Daryl Morey and Doc Rivers did not have to trade Mike Scott, who was the only rotation player mentioned in pre-deadline trade possibilities. It appears we are down to Rivers vs. Monty Williams for Coach of the Year. (Sorry, Thibs)
We have to have some losers in this, don't we? By default, that distinction includes the New Orleans Pelicans, who were unable to find a taker for Lonzo Ball by virtue of the fact that he is going to be a restricted free agent in the offseason. Once the Bulls were out of the picture following the Vucevic trade, the team best equipped to give something up for him -- the New York Knicks -- made the wise decision to wait until free agency to see if they can get him that way. All that Leon Rose surrendered were spare parts in Austin Rivers and Ignas Brazdeikis; the Knicks will roll the dice in the postseason with Julius Randle doing everything in the meantime and Tom Thibodeau game-planning for whatever opponent they end up going up against.
It would be easy to throw Toronto into the losers column because they did not get much for Powell or Matt Thomas (Gary Trent Jr. could potentially bolt as a free agent, and they did not get anything for Kyle Lowry, who stayed put. But giving away a player of that caliber for less than a fair price represents Masai Ujuri standing his ground in the face of what he felt were subpar offers from the Heat, Sixers and Los Angeles Lakers. A sign-and-trade could be an option over the summer, and Lowry may even decide to stay with the Raptors.&nbsp;
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The thing about the trade deadline is that it is only one of three key transactional periods &ndash; draft night being the second, and the opening days of free agency being the third.
The Blazers have been a sleeper all season and now have Powell, a 27-year-old averaging nearly 20 points per game, who can continue to send out Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in the years ahead. Neil Olshey did well. Trent and Rodney Hood were superfluous.
By the end of the season, it&rsquo;ll be interesting to see whether Powell to the Blazers or Gordon to the Nuggets ended up being the better trade. Both of those West contenders got a heck of a lot better, and the Lakers are clearly on notice with a bunch of teams gunning for them -- and that includes the Los Angeles Clippers, who cut bait with Lou Williams and will take their chances with Rajon Rondo.
New Orleans can still move Ball in a sign-and-trade, so the runaway winner of the loser portion is the Houston Rockets, who turned Victor Oladipo into Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley and a potential ability to swap 2022 draft picks.
Let&rsquo;s not forget that Rockets general manager Rafael Stone could have kept Caris LaVert and Jarrett Allen from the Brooklyn Nets, or received Ben Simmons from Philadelphia earlier this season -- before the James Harden trade turned into a four-team deal. Instead, now with Oladipo off to Miami, the Rockets ended up with pennies on the dollar for a guy who may end up winning an MVP award and an NBA championship, depending on how the Nets do in the playoffs.&nbsp;
We shall wait and see if the Clippers join that column. What remains to be seen is whether Kawhi Leonard decides to exercise his player option over the summer. If he declines, he can go to the Heat (who did not take on any long-term contracts) or New York to write the next chapter of his career.
But for now, the winners outnumber the losers, and that makes this a good trade deadline day.

Chris Sheridan recaps a busy day in the NBA with who performed the best and who performed the worst at the 2021 trade deadline.

NBA trade deadline winners and losers

LaMarcus Aldridge&rsquo;s time in San Antonio is over.
With the second half of the season underway, and the trade deadline approaching, the Spurs and Aldridge have <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-san-antonio-spurs-lamarcus-aldridge-mutually-agree-to-look-for-opportunities-elsewhere-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mutually agreed to part ways</a>.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s been a great teammate. There&rsquo;s no problem there,&rdquo; said Gregg Popovich. &ldquo;We just think this is a win-win for the club.&rdquo;
According to ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Spurs have been &ldquo;engaged on several fronts&rdquo; for an Aldridge deal. They&rsquo;d obviously prefer to move him for something -- a draft asset, &nbsp;a young piece, or at least a competent role player to complement the youth -- rather than agree to a contract buyout.
WHAT&rsquo;S THE SCOUTING REPORT ON ALDRIDGE?
Aldridge is a shell of his All-Star self, which is to be expected at this stage of his career. There is utility present; he&rsquo;s drained roughly 38 percent of his threes over the past two seasons on modest volume. He&rsquo;s converted around 46 percent of his two-point jumpers over that same stretch, <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/season-stats/nba?EntityType=Player&amp;EntityId=200746" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per PBP Stats</a>.&nbsp;
Even at this stage, Aldridge can serve as a relief valve against drop coverage due to his ability to space the floor.
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The regression is also visible on both ends. He isn&rsquo;t able to establish the sort of deep-post positioning that helped him complement his turnaround jumpers with effective jump hooks. To that point, Aldridge&rsquo;s post-up efficiency has declined in each of the past three seasons, per Synergy.&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/aldridge-fail-vs-xts.gif" alt="" width="704" height="AUTO" />
Defensively, Aldridge is sound in theory but not in practice. Put another way: he knows where he&rsquo;s supposed to be, but isn&rsquo;t physically capable of getting to those spots on a consistent basis. The team that acquires him will likely be hamstrung to a deep drop coverage; strong perimeter defenders will be needed to help limit his responsibilities.
That leaves Aldridge as a player that can only help in certain contexts. Add in his $24 million salary -- though teams only need to hit around $19 million to complete a legal trade, <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1369817550117277699?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per ESPN&rsquo;s Bobby Marks</a> -- and it&rsquo;s easy to see why trade options may be a bit limited.&nbsp;
There are teams that make sense for his services, however. Let&rsquo;s take a look at three of them.
Note: All trade ideas have been checked on <a href="https://tradenba.com/trade-machine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TradeNBA.com</a>.
TRADE TARGETS
CHICAGO BULLS
Even after a loss to the star-less Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night, the Bulls find themselves firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. At 16-19, they&rsquo;re tied with the 10th-seeded Indiana Pacers, and are only two games out of the No. 4 spot. If a playoff push is in the cards, they could talk themselves into a frontcourt upgrade.
Sam Amico of FortyEightMinutes.com <a href="https://fortyeightminutes.com/heat-bulls-lamarcus-aldridge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has linked the Bulls to Aldridge</a>, and mentioned a potential expiring swap between him and Otto Porter Jr. The money matches up pretty cleanly, and the on-court case is clear.&nbsp;
The Bulls would get a stretch big that could absorb the Luke Kornet minutes, and would make it easier to ease Lauri Markkanen back into the action. The Spurs would get a true, high-volume shooting threat at the 4 that would allow them to maintain their uptick in pace and switching.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks are ahead of schedule right now, currently sitting at No. 7 in the East with a 19-19 record. They&rsquo;re headlined by a top-five defense and held back by a bottom-10 offense.&nbsp;
Aldridge represents a near-perfect storm as a potential trade target: he&rsquo;s a name, fills a need (frontcourt spacing), wouldn&rsquo;t cost a core piece, wouldn&rsquo;t cut into future cap space and could make life easier on the young players that matter.
An idea worth exploring: a Nerlens Noel/Aldridge swap. The Knicks would have to add slight filler to make things work -- Ignas Brazdeikas&rsquo; $1.5 million would do -- but that shouldn&rsquo;t be difficult to accomplish.&nbsp;
Aldridge would operate as the back-up 5, spacing the floor and allowing rookster Obi Toppin more room to flourish as a roll threat in pick-and-roll. Giving RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley a pop threat would make their lives so much easier in the half-court.&nbsp;
There would be a hit defensively, at least in the short term. Aldridge isn&rsquo;t in the same galaxy as Noel on the interior or perimeter, but the hope would be to mitigate that gap in a bench role once Mitchell Robinson returns. Robinson has matured on that end, chasing blocks and fouling at a much lower rate than seasons past. You can live with, say, a 30/18 minute split at the 5 between those two.&nbsp;
MIAMI HEAT
The Heat are in the market for frontcourt depth; the jury is kinda out on what type of frontcourt depth they&rsquo;d prefer.
They&rsquo;ve been linked to bigs like Nikola Vucevic and Aldridge, both of which profile as 5s that can space the floor for All-Star Bam Adebayo. They&rsquo;ve also been linked to PJ Tucker and Aldridge&rsquo;s teammate Rudy Gay, both 4s that would allow the Heat to maintain their switching principles.
The common denominator is an ability to shoot, and Aldridge can do that. The Heat have enough mid-tier salaries to cobble together a multi-player, flip-them-later-if-you-want package -- think Meyers Leonard (who would certainly be waived), Avery Bradley (could be rerouted), Mo Harkless and the rangy ball of clay known as KZ Okpala.&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s also room to go simpler by swapping out Bradley and Leonard for Andre Iguodala. The Spurs could then use Iguodala as a glue guy and mentor for their wing department, or reroute him elsewhere -- Boston has a hefty trade exception, for example.
In Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, the Heat have the sort of defensive star power to help cover for some of Aldridge&rsquo;s limitations. Head coach Erik Spoelstra isn&rsquo;t just one of the most effective defensive coaches in the league, he&rsquo;s among the most versatile. He won&rsquo;t mind getting wonky -- mixing in zone principles, for example -- to make the Aldridge minutes work.

Nekias Duncan takes a look at three teams that could make sense for LaMarcus Aldridge and what the veteran big man can offer.

Examining potential landing spots for LaMarcus Aldridge

The NBA is ultimately a pass-fail league. The postseason finishes with a champion, and everyone else fails.
OK, that&rsquo;s a little harsh. Failure is relative, and there are some teams that entered this season with their expectations managed. The Oklahoma City Thunder, for example, are passing the rebuilding test as they figure out what players such as Darius Bazley can do when given a chance. The 20-year-old went for 21 points and 16 rebounds last night against the Lakers, playing against a guy, LeBron James, that Bazley used to watch when he was still in diapers.
But you get the point. The regular season is a journey to the postseason for 20 teams this year instead of 16, and a journey to the lottery for the other 10. Today, we will give out team-by-team trimester grades for the 15 Eastern Conference teams, and we&rsquo;ll circle back tomorrow with the West teams. After the next third of the season is complete, we shall do this again.
So, without further ado&hellip;
PHILADELPHIA 76ers (17-7) &ndash; Doc Rivers has them atop the Eastern Conference and has Joel Embiid at the center of the MVP discussion, and Embiid is taking to social media to scold those who cannot quite comprehend how Ben Simmons is contributing to victories on nights when his box-score line leaves something to be desired. When Embiid has played, the Sixers are 14-4, and he clearly spent a bunch of his pandemic isolation time working on his conditioning. Philly has the NBA&rsquo;s best fourth-quarter offense, outscoring opponents by 112.4 points per 100 possessions. Shake Milton is contributing along with imports Danny Green and Seth Curry, and the Sixers have the league&rsquo;s best home record (11-2).
GRADE A-
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (16-8) &ndash; Let&rsquo;s face it, they spoiled us last season. After 24 games a year ago, they were 21-3. What&rsquo;s important to note with this year&rsquo;s team is that there was going to be a learning curve with Jrue Holiday taking over from Eric Bledsoe at the point, because chemistry takes time to build. Khris Middleton continues to do what Khris Middleton always does. Bobby Portis has been a very good free-agent addition (11 points, 7.4 rebounds), as noted in <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-bobby-portis-spark-plug-off-bench-milwaukee-bucks-mike-budenholzer-donte-divincenzo-khris-middleton-dj-augustin">this recent profile by colleague Spencer Davies</a>, and Donte DiVincenzo is doing a bit of everything as a full-time starter, shooting above 40 percent from three-point range.
GRADE: B+
BROOKLYN NETS (14-11) &ndash; Well, they have certainly been intriguing. The James Harden trade may have provided us with the most signature moment of the season, and Kyrie Irving has kept things interesting while being polarizing. The Kevin Durant situation last Friday gave everyone a better idea of how hard the NBA is working to contain the spread of the coronavirus, and although the league&rsquo;s methods can sometimes be maddening and isolating, we are not seeing the number of infections that we were seeing a month ago. A backup big man remains a need, and we shall see beginning tonight if Noah Vonleh is the answer. They are all-in on offense, but we all know that defense wins championships, so Sean Marks&rsquo; roster remains a work in progress.
GRADE: B
BOSTON CELTICS (12-10) &ndash; Danny Ainge has been quiet&hellip; too quiet. And the Celtics have been too mediocre. Part of that is caused by Kemba Walker being unavailable for 13 of the 22 games, and Marcus Smart&rsquo;s injury hurts more than some may realize. In a league where elite on-the-ball defenders are hard to come by, Smart is one of the best in the business. He will be back by the end of the month, and his absence is providing everyone with a longer look at rookie Payton Pritchard. Jayson Tatum remains a stud player, but one has to wonder whether big men Tristan Thompson and Daniel Theis are championship material. Let&rsquo;s not forget that Andre Drummond is on an expiring contract in Cleveland, and Boston might be a perfect fit. Stay tuned.
GRADE: B-
INDIANA PACERS (12-12) &ndash; The acquisition of Caris LeVert did not exactly go as expected, but the Pacers saved the kid&rsquo;s life. He is expected back on the court in March. Myles Turner&rsquo;s broken hand was a setback, but Domantas Sabonis is having his best season statistically and is a lock to be an All-Star, and the Malcolm Brogdon-T.J. McConnell point guard duo may be the East&rsquo;s best. (Both are among the league&rsquo;s Top 15 in assist-to-turnover ratio). There is no official timetable on T.J. Warren&rsquo;s return from surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot. New coach Nate Bjorkgren has had to mix and match lineups, but if all goes well health-wise, he could have his full roster playing together over the final third of the season.
GRADE: C
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CHARLOTTE HORNETS (12-13): LaMelo Ball is starting to run away with the Rookie of the Year award, and Michael Jordan&rsquo;s team has quietly won five of seven, a stretch that began with victories over the Pacers, Bucks and Heat. These guys have spent exactly two days over .500, but they seem like a sort of sneaky good team when at full strength (Devonte&rsquo; Graham is currently out, and Cody Zeller has missed half of their games.) Sixth place in the conference is not a bad place to be, and let&rsquo;s see what a full season of Gordon Hayward acclimating to his teammates leads to. Lest we forget, it&rsquo;s still somewhat early in the season.
GRADE: C+
ATLANTA HAWKS: (11-12): Trae Young is an All-Star and Clint Capela is leading the league in rebounding, and you can&rsquo;t help but wonder what that record might look like if Bogdan Bogdanovic had not fractured his knee. They have seven guys averaging double figures in points, and come playoff time, Danilo Gallinari and Rajon Rondo will provide them with what they&rsquo;ve been missing in seasons past. They are the East&rsquo;s biggest sleeper team.
GRADE: C+
TORONTO RAPTORS (11-13): Nick Nurse&rsquo;s ejection last night gave him the league-lead among coaches in technical fouls, and Kyle Lowry leads the league in flagrant fouls. So, that&rsquo;s really not a bunch of great stuff to write home about from Tampa. Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam have had their moments, as has Chris Boucher, and they are working their way back from a 2-8 start with wins in four of their past five games. They get a lot of sympathy points here for playing an entire season on the road, for all intents and purposes. But sympathy points mean nothing in the standings.
GRADE: C-
NEW YORK KNICKS (11-14): Tonight, we get to see whether Derrick Rose reuniting with Tom Thibodeau is the secret sauce, and the roster is a work in progress as we discussed yesterday in exploring <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-jj-redick-trade-rumors-david-griffin-new-orleans-pelicans-frank-ntilikina-ignas-brazdeikis-new-york-knicks-tom-thibodeau-derrick-rose-ny-playoffs">the possibility of a J.J. Redick acquisition</a>. After 25 games a season ago, they were 5-20 and beginning the Mike Miller era, back when Leon Rose was still an agent and Thibs was wondering where his next paycheck would come from. This particular rebuild should allow for a playoff spot that ends a seven-year drought, and progress at MSG will take years, not months. Their cap flexibility going forward is huge.
GRADE: B-
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (10-15): Getting Jarrett Allen from the Nets gives them a third young player to build around, joining Darius Garland and Collin Sexton (AKA the NBA&rsquo;s speediest backcourt). Can they get anything out of Kevin Love, either on the court or in the trade market? That is a major question. They have (what one would think is) a solid trade asset in Andre Drummond, although we were saying that about the Pistons a year ago when they had Drummond and they got very little back for him. It&rsquo;s too harsh to say they are two years away from being two years away, but you get the picture.
GRADE: C
CHICAGO BULLS (9-14): On the bright side, they have the same record as Miami. If you predicted that particular fact in the preseason, please provide MegaMillions advice. Not having Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter and Wendell Carter has crippled them, but Thaddeus Young has stepped up (trade asset at deadline?). Coby White and Patrick Williams are getting trial by fire, and Billy Donovan is figuring out which of the young fellas are keepers moving forward. One would think Tomas Satoransky has some trade value.
GRADE: D+
MIAMI HEAT (9-14): The NBA&rsquo;s biggest mystery team. What the heck happened to the guys who went to the NBA Finals last season? Duncan Robinson and Precious Achiuwa are the only players who have appeared in all 23 games, so you cannot really say that this has been a collective failure. But the &ldquo;next man up&rdquo; thing has not produced anyone who is manning up in a major way, and no matter how miserable you may feel on any given day, Pat Riley has you beat. 
GRADE: D-
ORLANDO MAGIC (9-15): Losing Markelle Fultz two weeks into the season was a kick in the head after they started 6-2, but Fultz then joined Jonathan Isaac on the out-for-the-season list. Over the past two weeks, they have been getting routinely trounced, and their point differential of -7.2 is the East&rsquo;s worst and the second-worst in the entire NBA thanks to the Timberwolves. Nikola Vucevic may still get an All-Star spot, but that is not as much of a lock as it seemed back in mid-January. This was a playoff team last season.
GRADE: D
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (6-15): Russell Westbrook sat out last night&rsquo;s back-to-back, which is frustrating. Basketball players get paid to play basketball, and once upon a time there was a commissioner, David Stern, who insisted that basketball players play basketball. At least these guys have Bradley Beal to make them watchable.
GRADE: D-
DETROIT PISTONS (5-18). The crazy thing is that they beat the Lakers once and almost beat them twice, losing last weekend in a double-overtime game in which the Pistons climbed back from a 17-point deficit. They also defeated the Sixers for one of their five victories, so go figure. It should not go unnoted that rookie Deividas Sirvydis has a PER of -26.69, which Hollinger himself cannot explain.
GRADE: D-

A third of the way into the 2020-21 NBA season, Chris Sheridan breaks down the state of each East team and grades their start.

Grading each NBA team's first trimester: Eastern Conference

Derrick Rose is now with the New York Knicks, where he will presumably provide a scoring punch off the bench as he is reunited with head coach Tom Thibodeau. The next thing the Knicks need to do is acquire JJ Redick, who wants out of New Orleans and will be accommodated at some point this season.
Redick, a 16-year veteran with 110 career playoff games under his belt, would give the Knicks a veteran presence in the locker room who would provide shooting off the bench and leadership in the locker room &ndash; two things New York will need if they want to make any noise in the playoffs.
And yes, the Knicks appear headed to the playoffs despite yesterday&rsquo;s 109-103 loss to the Miami Heat. With the postseason now expanded to 10 teams when including play-in teams, two-thirds of the NBA&rsquo;s 30 teams will be playing meaningful games in the spring once the regular season concludes and the postseason begins.
Thibodeau&rsquo;s rotation now includes possible All-Star Julius Randle (22.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists) as the offensive anchor, Mitchell Robinson as the shot-blocking center, Elfrid Payton as the savvy starting point guard, RJ Barrett as the up-and-coming shooting guard, Reggie Bullock as the sharpshooting small forward and an array of players getting varying amounts of playing time off the bench depending on the matchup. Immanuel Quickley has <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/Immanuel-quickley-provides-new-york-knicks-hope-leon-rose-scott-perry-obi-toppin-draft-rookie-pick-point-guard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had his moments</a>, but it is unlikely Thibs would heavily rely on him in the postseason.
Under Thibodeau, the Knicks are No. 1 in the NBA in three key defensive categories: Opponent points per game (104.1), opponent field goal percentage (43.5 percent) and opponent three-point percentage (31.6 percent). They are in the lower third of the league in three-point shooting, though, at 35.5 percent, and that is where Redick could help &ndash; especially in the postseason on a roster with practically zero postseason experience.&nbsp;
Payton has earned Thibodeau&rsquo;s trust, and he is expected to remain the starter with Rose as the backup. So Payton, on a one-year expiring $8 million deal, is not going anywhere. Thibs also values Bullock&rsquo;s toughness, so his expiring $4.2 million contract is not going anywhere.
A straight up Pelicans-Knicks trade could actually be two trades, as the Knicks have $15 million in cap space and could absorb Redick&rsquo;s entire $13 million expiring contract. But a league source said the Pelicans are determined to package Redick with other players.
New Orleans would presumably want a draft pick back in a deal with the Knicks, and New York is still sitting on Detroit&rsquo;s second-round pick in the upcoming draft, along with two future No. 1s from the Dallas Mavericks that team president Leon Rose does not want to trade &ndash; especially for a player such as Redick, who would basically be a rental.
But the Pelicans are also determined to trade Redick to a destination closer to his Brooklyn home, and the Nets do not look like a viable option because they emptied their draft pick cupboard in the James Harden trade. Boston and Philadelphia also do not look like viable options unless either would be willing to give up a frontline player for a package centered around Redick and Lonzo Ball, and neither the Celtics nor the Sixers are in the market for a point guard.
So the Knicks are the only &ldquo;destination&rdquo; team that would bring Redick closer to his family. Which begs the question: What would work in a Pels-Knicks deal?
Thibs also has an affinity for Taj Gibson, another player on an expiring contract. So the guys on the roster who are immediately expendable are Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox and Austin Rivers. Let&rsquo;s assume that Rivers and Knox are players the Pels would not want; the salaries of Ntilikina and Ignas Brazdeikis add up to $7.6 million (neither Bradzeikis nor Ntilikina are under contract for next season, as the former has a team option and the latter has a potential qualifying offer).
So if the deal is actually two deals (Redick into empty cap space being the first), what would New York get back for Ntilikina, Bradzeikis and some sort of sweetener?&nbsp;
That sweetener could be a future second-rounder, as the Knicks have extras coming from the Pistons (two of them, in 2021 and 2023), Jazz and Timberwolves over the next five years. It also could be cash, as teams can trade up to $5.617 million per season... and Gayle Benson likes cash. The French guard and Lithuanian forward <a href="https://tradenba.com/trades/5XEkj_URB">could get them Nicolo Melli and Josh Hart</a>, but that may be too much for Pels VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin to surrender without a first-rounder or the Pistons&rsquo; 2021 second-rounder coming back. 
There are other options, of course, including the Pels throwing in Willy Hernangomez (who becomes trade eligible on Feb. 20), Sindarius Thornwell (eligible on Feb. 28), or Wenyen Gabriel (cannot be dealt until Feb. 21).
The Knicks&rsquo; status as an under-the-cap team gives the two teams greater flexibility than what might normally be possible, and it is well-documented that Redick wants out and wants to be close to his family. The Pels respect Redick (whose endorsement of Stan Van Gundy was one of the reasons why they hired him as their coach) and want to get him to where he wants to go. The question is what price the Knicks would have to pay. With Redick and Alec Burks as their two best players off the bench, they might even be a threat to win a first-round series.&nbsp;
So stay tuned. The Rose deal (in which Charlotte&rsquo;s second-round pick is going to the Pistons) was not the last one the Knicks will make this season.
If they can turn Knox into a backup center (Willie Cauley-Stein becomes trade eligible March 1; Hassan Whiteside on Feb. 25), Thibs would have a nine-man playoff rotation of Randle, Bullock, Mitchell Robinson, Payton, Barrett, Redick, Burks, Gibson and the new center.&nbsp;
Remember, what the Knicks look like now and what they&rsquo;ll look like going into the playoffs are not necessarily the same thing. But it sure looks like New York&rsquo;s seven-year playoff drought will come to an end.

With the Knicks acquiring Derrick Rose on Sunday, Chris Sheridan believes New York should go after another veteran.

Sheridan: JJ Redick to Knicks? Leon Rose needs to do it

This year, there were 107 international players from 41 countries on opening-night rosters for the 2020-21 NBA season.

NBA rosters feature 107 international players from 41 countries

With the NBA&rsquo;s salary cap remaining at $109 million for the 2020-21 season, a $3-$12-million decrease from pre-COVID-19 projections, it is entirely possible that teams will be forced to look elsewhere when trying to improve their roster.
Travel restrictions limit the NBA&rsquo;s ability to scout overseas, as has been successful in previous years, and the NBA Draft may prove relatively fruitless since teams can't do many in-person workouts with prospects. The safest option for any team that's rebuilding or tweaking their roster would be to look right in their own backyard, adding players directly from the G League.&nbsp;
Created in 2001 under NBA Commissioner David Stern, the goal of the G League (previously known as the D-League or Development League) was to serve as a farm-team system while still remaining competitive. The G League has been successful in recent years, churning out players like Hassan Whiteside, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam (the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2019).&nbsp;
We have a free-agency date. We have a start date. We are finally approaching the finish line, or the starting line, depending on where you&rsquo;re measuring from. We have covered the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/g-league-could-be-answer-nba-salary-cap-decrease-eastern-conference-team-fits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eastern Conference teams and which G Leaguers could help them</a>; now, without further ado, here is the Western Conference:
Dallas Mavericks (43-32)
Problem: After experiencing injuries to both Kristaps Porzingis and Dwight Powell, it would be beneficial for Dallas to find a versatile forward who can improve their frontcourt depth and play multiple positions.
Solution: Justin Anderson, Long Island Nets
If you stumbled upon this article via my Twitter, then it will come as no surprise to see Justin Anderson on this list. The more surprising thing is that he wasn't selected as the best fit for every single team. Unfortunately, according to the rules that I made up myself, a player can only be suggested for one team. Because we cannot clone Justin Anderson (yet), the best-case scenario for him would be returning to the team that drafted him with the No. 21 pick in 2015.
Anderson is a powerhouse who already knows the Mavs' system and culture. A five-year NBA journeyman, he has proven that he can help in any position, on any team -- G League or NBA. Every teammate he has crossed paths with speaks highly of him, and he could provide some veteran leadership in Dallas.
Denver Nuggets (46-27)
Problem: Paul Millsap is an unrestricted free agent and Denver may not re-sign him. Also, Will Barton is dealing with ongoing knee injuries that could have him sidelined longer than would be ideal, so perhaps adding another forward would be beneficial.
Solution: Ignas Brazdeikis, Westchester Knicks
If Denver continues to build around Murray, as all signs point to them doing, inserting a teammate whom Jamal is familiar with iwould seemingly make a lot of sense. Ignas Brazdeikis, a fellow Canadian, is currently signed to a two-way contract with the New York Knicks. But if the Knicks don't re-sign him, the Nuggets do have the roster room and cap space available to rescue him from the clutches of James Dolan and Co. Like Murray, Brazdeikis is a graduate of Orangeville Prep Academy (Canada&rsquo;s highly-recruited basketball prep school), and as a 6-foot-6 small forward who averaged 20.9 points per game in the G League last year, he could provide a big return on a very small investment.&nbsp;
Golden State Warriors (15-50)
Problem: Recency bias has fans and teams alike forgetting just how great the Golden State Warriors were during their dynasty. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry are expected back this season, and if the Warriors are expecting to make another deep playoff run after a hiccup of a 2019-20 season, they will need a center or a small forward. Kevon Looney is great at what he does, but is constantly playing through injuries sustainable? Golden State has three players currently signed to max contracts and though the team has been open about shopping the contract of Andrew Wiggins, there are few teams that seem seriously interested. They don&rsquo;t need another scorer, as they already have two of the best in the NBA, but they need a defender who can screen for Thompson and Curry and hustle back after baskets.&nbsp;
Solution: Donta Hall, Grand Rapids Drive
Donta Hall has all of the accolades that should appeal to Golden State: G League All Defensive Team, G League All Rookie Team, and two-time SEC All-Defensive Team -- and he&rsquo;s only 23 years old. He is aware of his shooting limitations, and instead focuses on his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUJkEe5koto&amp;t=62s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interior impact and defensive abilities</a>.&nbsp;
Houston Rockets (44-28)
Problem: Daryl Morey and Mike D&rsquo;Antoni followed their hearts to greener pastures (in Philadelphia and Brooklyn, respectively), Russell Westbrook reportedly <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-russell-westbrook-trade-demand-deal-possible-destinations-houston-rockets-los-angeles-clippers-indiana-pacers-dallas-mavericks-charlotte-hornets-out-request" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wants out of Houston</a>, and PJ Tucker is allegedly furious about his contract situation. All signs point to Houston having a problem (that was funny, admit it), but luckily for James Harden, I have a solution!
Solution: Briante Weber, Sioux Falls Skyforce
Like Russell Westbrook, Briante Weber isn&rsquo;t afraid to shoot (from literally anywhere). He&nbsp;was named the Canadian Elite Basketball League&rsquo;s Clutch Player of the Year after his first season. He has the potential to become a key contributor should Houston decide to blow up their roster, and he would be <a href="https://twitter.com/Sir_deuce2/status/1290115168555261953?s=09" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extremely fun to watch</a> in the interim.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/usatsi_10777009-1_lg.jpg" alt="" width="860" height="AUTO" />
Los Angeles Clippers (49-23)
Problem: The saying &ldquo;don&rsquo;t cut off your nose to spite your face" has never been more relevant than it is when reflecting on the 2019-20 Los Angeles Clippers. They gave away nearly everything, including all future assets, in order to acquire Paul George, forgetting that they also needed a point guard.
Solution: Tyler Ennis, Raptors 905
This makes so much sense that it almost feels like I&rsquo;m doing the front office's job for them. Ennis has six years of professional basketball experience under his belt. Though the Clippers have been rumored to be interested in Russell Westbrook, they don&rsquo;t have the cap space available to take on his contract, and adding another massive personality to the team that is already bursting at the seams with bravado is basically begging for chaos.&nbsp;
Ennis has played with Patrick Beverley, he&rsquo;s played with Lou Williams and he&rsquo;s played with Montrezl Harrell. He led the entire G League in assists last season, and his calm-and-quiet leadership will be a perfect match beside the similar-in-demeanor Kawhi Leonard.&nbsp;Make good choices, Clippers.
Los Angeles Lakers (52-19)
Problem: The Lakers are fresh off of winning the NBA Finals, meaning that a number of their players with options will likely opt out in order to test the free-agent market and secure a long-term contract. Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, for example, have reportedly decided to opt out. They could re-sign their own free agents, but that isn't guaranteed.
Solution: Jordan Bone, Grand Rapids Drive
Jordan Bone is a fun, fast and crafty point guard. You don&rsquo;t really need anyone else when you have both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but he sure is fun to watch. And if the Lakers' bus leaves without Quinn Cook again, at least they'd have Bone to fill in.
Memphis Grizzlies (34-39)
Problem: The Grizzlies need a guard who embodies the Memphis culture and can play alongside Ja Morant while they make another playoff push.
Solution: Milton Doyle, Windy City Bulls
Milton Doyle is a great scorer, but an even better passer. His court vision allows him to pass through double teams, finding teammates in the least obvious of spaces, which is handy for a quick-and-sneaky player like Morant.
Minnesota Timberwolves (19-45)
Problem: The Timberwolves have two players on maximum contracts, and 33-year-old James Johnson will definitely opt-in to his nearly $16 million salary. Minnesota has made some questionable decisions in prior seasons, giving away both Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins to build around Karl-Anthony Towns.
Solution: Kyle Alexander, Sioux Falls Skyforce
If Minnesota plans to build its future around big men, a backup center or power forward would be the best bet. Kyle Alexander, a former Tennessee Volunteer, checks both of those boxes and averaged nearly a double-double in points and rebounds at 24 years of age in the G League.&nbsp;
New Orleans Pelicans (30-42)
Problem: The Pelicans have a new head coach who excels with young players in Stan Van Gundy, and they will need a youthful player that is always ready, calm, cool and collected.
Solution: Justin Reyes, Raptors 905
Reyes, a guard-forward hybrid, did not get a lot of minutes with the Raptors 905 due to being squeezed out of the rotation. But having had the privilege of watching him all season, I can confirm that he is the perfect fit for Van Gundy&rsquo;s Pelicans. His abilities extend to both ends of the floor, and he is a 25-year-old <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COHfVgBnBmA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swiss Army knife of fresh talent</a>.
Oklahoma City Thunder (44-28)
Problem: Getting rid of Chris Paul is not the answer, especially for a team that many (myself included) had zero expectations for after massive offseason trades. They have roughly a million future picks and one of the more well-rounded rosters in the league. Their best bet would be to run it back and bring in a backup for Steven Adams, who is somehow still only 27 years old.
Solution: Sir&rsquo;Dominic Pointer, Canton Charge
Though a year older than Adams, Pointer has some of the freshest legs ever witnessed for a 28-year-old forward. He was one of the players named to the G League All-Defensive team, and his four years of overseas experience would be an asset to OKC.
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Phoenix Suns (34-39)
Problem: With 12 of their 15 players expected to return, the Phoenix Suns don&rsquo;t have a lot of wiggle room. Their core is established around Devin Booker, although there have been <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-offseason-chris-paul-trade-talks-phoenix-suns-oklahoma-city-thunder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent rumors surrounding a trade for Chris Paul</a> in the past week.
Solution: Johnathan Motley, Agua Caliente Clippers
The Suns need a big man who can shoot and isn&rsquo;t afraid to do so. Insert Johnathan Motley, a two-way player for the Los Angeles Clippers (who could be available if the Clippers choose not to re-sign him). Motley excels on both ends of the floor, and his speed is remarkable for someone who's 6-foot-8. He can rebound -- evidenced by his 8 boards per game -- and he averaged 24 points per game too.
Portland Trail Blazers (35-39)
Problem: The Trail Blazers are not the Jail Blazers of yesteryear. Currently, they are entering the season without a power forward, and they need to find one who can coexist in the laid-back-but-still-flashy environment created by CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard.&nbsp;
Solution: Mfiondu Kabengele, Agua Caliente Clippers
With both CJ and Dame scoring primarily from the outside, a heavy paint presence would give them a relative boost on interior scoring and rebounding. As the 2019 ACC Sixth Man of the Year at Florida State, Kabengele was always ready off of the bench, and after being inserted into the starting lineup of the Agua Caliente Clippers, he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdgyqzrNzck" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proved he could succeed as a first option as well</a>.
Sacramento Kings (31-41)
Problem: Russell Westbrook's desire for a trade has dominated the basketball news cycle, but Buddy Hield has been rumored to be disgruntled in Sacramento too. Pile this on top of De&rsquo;Aaron Fox&rsquo;s looming player option, and the Kings may struggle with scoring should both of them exit.&nbsp;
Solution: Jaylen Adams, Wisconsin Herd
Jaylen Adams, in the absence of Fox and Hield, would be able to fill a scoring hole. Fifty-five percent of his 20.9 points per game came via two-pointers, and he shot 40 percent from deep as well. He isn&rsquo;t as fast as De&rsquo;Aaron Fox, but he is still able to get where he needs to be in a flash.&nbsp;
San Antonio Spurs (32-39)
Problem: The Spurs have a fairly balanced roster, but their starters are primarily in their 30s, and after landing in San Antonio as the result of a blind-side trade, DeMar DeRozan probably won&rsquo;t be re-signing with the Spurs once free agency begins.&nbsp;
Solution: B.J. Johnson, Lakeland Magic
WIth the hometown Los Angeles Lakers <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-los-angeles-lakers-san-antonio-spurs-trade-rumors-demar-derozan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apparently expressing interest in DeRozan</a>, the potential of losing him increases. Should that be the case, San Antonio will be without a shooting guard and will need someone to take over the mid-range shooting duties. It is entirely likely that the Spurs focus their attention on developing two-way player Keldon Johnson into a DeRozan prototype, restarting the circle of player development.
In a Gregg Popovich world, the Spurs will target a shooter who doesn&rsquo;t attempt many threes, but can still score. B.J. Johnson shot 150 threes with the Lakeland Magic throughout the entire season, which isn&rsquo;t many when you factor in that he played 36 minutes per game. Still, he managed to put up 23 points per game, making him the perfect Popovich player.
Utah Jazz (44-28)&nbsp;
Problem: If the Utah Jazz care at all about team chemistry, then one of either Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell will not be with the team come Dec. 22. Because Mitchell is still on his rookie-scale contract, and Rudy is commanding nearly $26 million per season, it is safe to assume that Mitchell&rsquo;s price tag -- and the fact that he did not cause a league-wide shutdown -- makes him the more enticing of the two.&nbsp;
Solution: Gabe Vincent, Sioux Falls Skyforce
Not only does Vincent average nearly 30 points per game, but at 24 years old, he could benefit from Conley&rsquo;s playmaking while simultaneously soaking up his basketball IQ like a sponge.

Kelsea O'Brien selects a G League player who could help each NBA team in the Western Conference.