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Pelicans

The hallmark of an Erik Spoelstra-led defense is being able to dictate terms. The personnel has changed during his tenure &mdash; heck, the league has changed during his tenure &mdash; but Spo teams generally make you beat them their way.
The core tenet of Spoelstra has been taking away shots at the rim. It's been done in multiple schemes, with their own unique twists.
It's been Dwyane Wade flying around as the league's smallest weak-side helper &mdash; the Heat ranked second behind the Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic in opponent rim rate during the 2009-10 season, per Cleaning The Glass, with Wade averaging 1.1 blocks per contest.
The Heat bltized and trapped like crazy during the Big Three Era when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the party. The post-Big Three, pre-Jimmy Butler era was the heaviest dose of drop coverage we've seen under Spoelstra, headlined by Hassan Whiteside.
(The gust of wind you just felt was the collective shudder from Heat fans.)
The Heat are switching a ton these days, a shade below Boston's rate this season, but they're showing plenty of help from the strong-side corner and the free-throw line area whenever a mismatch is given. Again, it's the Heat saying one of two things: you're flat-out not getting shots here, or you're gonna have to work to get there.
And if all else fails &mdash; or even when it doesn't &mdash; Spoelstra has had various zone looks he can sprinkle in to force an offense to work more east-west than north-south.
That leads us to this series, where the Celtics are dictating terms on offense. More specifically, the Celtics with a healthy frontcourt are doing the job.
The playoffs are about poking and prodding for a weakness you can repeatedly exploit. At the very least, teams have to live with something while hoping they can create enough goodness elsewhere to compensate. With Al Horford and Robert Williams on the floor together, the Heat haven't been able to thread that needle.
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There aren't many similarities between Horford and Williams.
There's an 11-year age gap, on top of a massive difference in athleticism (advantage Williams) and scoring ability (advantage Horford). The two traits they do share &mdash; an ability to facilitate offense above the break and their sense for cutting off windows defensively &mdash; make them a fun pairing. A versatile pairing. A nearly impenetrable pairing when they're upright.
The Heat, known for toggling schemes and assignments on the fly, are boxed in when Horford and Williams share the floor. Because of the threat Williams poses as a lob-catcher and putback merchant, Miami can't comfortably stash a wing on him to free Bam Adebayo, the team's Defensive Player of the Year candidate, to defend either of the Jays.
But because of Horford's ability to get busy on the block, wings aren't really safe on him either. PJ Tucker is the lone player aside from Adebayo who can defend bigs or forwards with the same confidence, if not effectiveness, altogether. The issue there, of course, is that Tucker has the Jayson Tatum assignment.
Letting Adebayo and Tucker handle the frontcourt means Butler can only take Tatum or Jaylen Brown. Whoever's left has his choice of a fine-but-flawed defender in Max Strus, or an undersized-and-hampered Kyle Lowry.&nbsp;
This is the conundrum the Heat are faced with before even getting into what the Celtics are actually running. Their spacing. Their improved tempo in the half-court over the last two games.
To that point, the Celtics have posted a 115.8 Offensive Rating &mdash; the equivalent of the NBA's second-best offense if extrapolated over the course of a season &mdash; with the Horford-Williams duo on the court over the last two games, per Second Spectrum.&nbsp;
In Game 4, you saw the issues Williams could cause if Adebayo wasn't attached to him. Adebayo drew the Horford assignment, which left a smaller player on Williams. There just wasn't a match for his blend of size and vertical pop.
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In Game 5, the Heat were diligent about Adebayo getting the Williams assignment. Naturally, the Celtics parked him at the dunker spot (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dunker-spot/id1547857052" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subscribe!</a>) and went to work elsewhere.&nbsp;
Inverted ball-screens were a flavor the Celtics enjoyed last night. It was a way for Tatum to further pick out a favorable matchup, then dare the Heat to help their way out of trouble.&nbsp;
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Lowry and Tucker botch the coverage, opening up a slip from Derrick White. Butler is one of the best helpers from the nail in the entire league, but he offers no support since he has the Brown matchup. Adebayo doesn't even fully help on the White drive; he simply lunges and retreats back to Williams, an admission that stopping the lob is of more importance than a White push shot.
Horford himself got involved as a screener. He set 11 screens while sharing the floor with Williams, and the Celtics scored well over 1.3 points per possession on those trips, per Second Spectrum.
Between Horford's skill set and the fear of Williams at the rim, the Heat were consistently in pick-your-poison situations. If Horford (or Williams) weren't open, driving lanes were clearer for their teammates.
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And then, there's the defense.
Frankly, the Heat haven't had a good time. Dealing with Boston's quartet of high-level on-ball defenders &mdash; Marcus Smart, White, Tatum, Brown &mdash; is enough to keep you up at night. Add in the versatility of Horford and Williams, and it's easy to see why the Heat haven't scored in bunches.&nbsp;
(Oh, since they won't say it: Most of Miami's top scorers and shooters dealing with some sort of physical ailment makes the job even more difficult.)&nbsp;
Beck to the on-court product, the blend of elite personnel, scheme versatility and Miami's own shortcomings have made for tough sledding in the half-court. Most of Miami's pet actions can be switched on the perimeter.
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There have been small pockets to attack when Boston's in drop coverage, but that's exactly the point. Aside from Game 1, the pockets have been small, man. It's been pull up or bust for the most part, and the Heat haven't made them pay.&nbsp;
The Heat have mostly tried to engage Horford on that front. I'd assume it's because Horford's drop has been a little steeper, giving ball-handlers more of a runway to drive or pull-up into. Unfortunately for the Heat, they haven't been able to take advantage of that space.
If a Heat ball-handler is able to gain an advantage, his options are to pull up against a solid contest or drive deep enough to force a peel switch with Horford. Running a high enough screen to shake the perimeter defender and&nbsp;beat Horford hasn't really been a thing, and all that does is engage Williams &mdash; often playing&nbsp;way off of Tucker &mdash; as the actual last line of defense.
It's led to pick-and-roll possessions like this:
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And this:
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And this:
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I hope you're getting the points, because the Heat sure aren't.
How about this stat from Second Spectrum: Miami possessions featuring a pick-and-roll, while Horford and Williams share the floor, have generated 0.5 points per possession over the last two games. 50 points per 100 possessions. That is not a typo.
Trips featuring a dribble handoff haven't fared much better (0.74 points per possession), and collective size and active help have made Miami's split action from the post much less effective than it was in the regular season.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the Heat's half-court offense has been woeful over the last two games. A 61.9 would be a fantastic round of golf; a 61.9 ORTG in the half-court probably has Dr. James Naismith rolling over in his grave.
All isn't completely lost for the Heat. Spoelstra expressed optimism about Miami's half-court process after Game 5, saying a lot of the shots the team took (and missed) were more "in our wheelhouse." They've shown counters against Boston's drop, like this flip-it-and-reverse-it action for Duncan Robinson:
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But ultimately, the margins are incredibly small. Though their shot quality improved in Game 5, they had to work so. freaking. hard. to. do. it.
It's a testament to how locked in Boston is defensively. They've pulled a Heat on the Heat, walling off the paint &mdash; only 26.3% of the Heat's shots have come at the rim over the past two games &mdash; and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-stats-notebook-this-wacky-celticsheat-series-by-the-numbers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">daring them to win from outside</a>.
On the other side, Boston has slightly bumped up its rim rate &mdash; 30.9% over the past two games, and&nbsp; 31.6% overall in the series compared to 30.6% during the regular season.
That paint dominance begins with the Horford-Williams duo.
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Nekias Duncan breaks down how the Al Horford-Robert Williams frontcourt is causing problems for the Heat on both ends.

The Heat have a big-big problem on their hands

With the 2022 NBA Draft less than a month away, BasketballNews.com will have you covered from top to bottom. Last week's NBA Draft Combine began the pre-draft process for a number of hopeful prospects as they try to break into the league.
I had the opportunity to catch up with Alabama guard <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-nba-mock-draft/players/keon-ellis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keon Ellis</a>, who averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game for the Crimson Tide this past season. We discussed his path from JUCO to Alabama, his game and last week at the Combine.
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Prior to your time at Alabama, you had deep Florida roots. Could you start off by giving us an idea of what your childhood was like growing up there?
Keon Ellis: "Growing up in Florida was pretty smooth. I mean, it was me, my three siblings and my mom. So we were all we had in that sense. I looked up to my older brother, a lot. You know, he kind of led the way for a lot of things; I wanted to be like him and play sports like him. I&rsquo;d say he&rsquo;s the reason I found out that I liked playing sports.
"After playing sports for a minute, I realized that I was actually kind of good. But I figured if I was going to do anything serious and in a sport, it was going to be basketball. So, I quit the football side of it and tried to focus on basketball, and I became pretty good. I played AAU for Team M.O.A.M. and we were under the radar as an Adidas Silver team, then ended up going to JUCO, made my way to Alabama, and to now to here (at the Combine)."
When you opted to go the JUCO route, what was the biggest takeaway from your time there, about that level of basketball?
Ellis: "It's definitely not what everyone thinks it is. When people hear 'JUCO,' they think it&rsquo;s a bunch of unorganized basketball or the kind of guys who aren't really skilled or good enough. JUCO definitely taught me a lot. I built some great relationships and am happy that I actually went that route. I learned a lot from that."
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When you decided to play for Nate Oats and Alabama, what was it about the program, or him, that enticed you to go?&nbsp;
Ellis: "Honestly, it didn't take much from the coaching staff. Alabama was my favorite school growing up. So once I got the offer from them, I knew I was going there because I mean, it's my favorite school. That was all the motivation I needed."
With your first year at Alabama being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, how did that season compare to your expectations?
Ellis: "It was the opposite of what I expected. I thought COVID-19 was going to go away a lot faster than it did and things were going to be normal. I didn't expect us to have the amount of team success we had in that first year. From the amount of success we had as a team, to the fans not even being in the stands, those were two things that were opposite of what I had imagined."
For those who haven't seen you play, how would you describe your game?
Ellis: "I describe myself as a 3-and-D player. I think I can do more than what people see. I&rsquo;m just trying to buy into a role and, you know, not play outside of what I can do."
What are some things that you worked on during your time at Alabama? And what other things are you improving in your game right now?&nbsp;
Ellis: "The biggest things that I worked on at Alabama were my three-point shooting, shooting off of moves and off screens. Handling the ball, making decisions with the ball as a primary ball-handler, making the right reads and my decision-making with the ball."
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What short-term or long-term goals do you have for yourself?
Ellis: "Well, short-term goal, obviously, I just want to land somewhere in the NBA. Get my feet in the door and start somewhere. A long-term goal is to sign that second contract. I think that's a goal for a lot of people."
What does your day-to-day routine look like right now as you're preparing for the draft?
Ellis: "Day-to-day routine, it kind of varies. I've been on the road a lot lately. On a regular day, if I'm back home training, I probably wake up to get some breakfast, go to the gym for a morning workout and lift after that. Then, get some food and refuel from that; then, I'd take a nap. Then, I&rsquo;d have a shooting session again and be done for the day."
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How has your week in Chicago gone? 
Ellis: "It's been good. I've seen a lot of players that I've played against, and now some of them are on my team. It&rsquo;s been good to get a new experience, as it&rsquo;s my first time ever in Chicago. All the stuff that I've been put through, like our stations, media training, whatever it's been. I think it's definitely a good experience to be a part of this journey."
What did you think of the scrimmage?&nbsp;
Ellis: "I think it went well. My team, obviously, got the win by a large margin and that&rsquo;s all I cared about coming in. A lot of the scouts already know what you do as a player. So in this setting for me, it&rsquo;s about coming in and doing what I'm capable of, doing what I will be expected to do. I'm just happy that my team got the win."
Who is one player, past or present, that you model your game after?
Ellis: "I wouldn't say I model my game after one player specifically. I try to pick up things from a lot of different players because different players do things differently, or better, than others. So I try to pick things from a lot of guys."
Alright last question, one you've probably been asked quite a bit here in Chicago. 
You're in an elevator with a general manager or decision-maker for a team, and you've got one 20-second pitch as to why you are their guy in next month's draft. What are you telling them?
Ellis: "I&rsquo;ll tell them that no one plays harder than me. I&rsquo;m a great 3-and-D player. I think every team needs that. No problems off the court &mdash; you will never get a late-night phone call about me. I&rsquo;m about the right stuff. I&rsquo;m a great locker room guy and willing to buy into the team's success."
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Derek Murray speaks with Alabama guard Keon Ellis about his start in basketball, his skill set and preparing for the 2022 NBA Draft.

2022 NBA Draft Q&A: Alabama's Keon Ellis on path from JUCO, his game

We have reached the point where Stephen A. Smith is conjuring up the narrative that Zion Williamson is holding back the New Orleans Pelicans from contending for a title.
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When did we get to this part of the Twilight Zone, I need to get out 😭😭😭 <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PelicansNBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/sOnggL7FYf">pic.twitter.com/sOnggL7FYf</a>
&mdash; Devonte Graham Bricks (@Marvason) <a href="https://twitter.com/Marvason/status/1521244564966756359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Let's not discuss that clip any further besides pointing out how dramatically <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wednesday-was-a-celebration-of-how-far-the-pelicans-have-come" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Pelicans changed course and captured the respect of the national basketball audience</a> this season. Stephen A.'s rant is less relevant for its substance and more noteworthy because ESPN is&nbsp;still talking about the Pelicans even after they were eliminated from a hard-fought, first-round series. New Orleans started 1-12 (!!) and turned into one of the NBA's true darlings in a matter of months &mdash; all without its most marketable star.
Brandon Ingram asserted his star status, averaging 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game (27.0/6.2/6.2 during the postseason) while taking a leap as a playmaker. CJ McCollum fit right in as a "1B" creator and microwave shooter after the trade deadline. Herb Jones is the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/reassessing-herb-jones-upside" target="_blank" rel="noopener">certified steal of the 2021 NBA Draft</a>, and undrafted rookie Jose Alvarado isn't too far behind.
There is no hyperbole fit to describe the sheer joy I had watching the Pelicans through the wins and losses of this season, and if you followed along, you recognize the progress that far exceeded the record and results.
Perhaps the best part is that New Orleans remains built for the future.
Only three players hit free agency this offseason: Tony Snell, Jared Harper and Gary Clark. Everyone else is under contract for 2022-23 &mdash; no team options, no restricted free agents and no partial guarantees, per Spotrac. On the signing front, Zion is the biggest domino, as he'll be eligible to sign a rookie extension before hitting restricted free agency in summer 2023. At least publicly, he is giving positive indications:
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I asked Zion Williamson if offered an extension this summer by the Pelicans would he sign it? His answer. &ldquo;Of course, I couldn&rsquo;t sign it fast enough.&rdquo;
&mdash; Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) <a href="https://twitter.com/FletcherWDSU/status/1520095546752516096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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However, Williamson has now missed a whopping 141 games in his NBA career. Even if he inks a max extension, which Dan Feldman of NBC Sports says <a href="&ldquo;Obviously,%20that%20conversation%20is%20going%20to%20be%20one%20that%20will%20be%20a%20challenge,&rdquo;%20Griffin%20said.%20&ldquo;When%20it&rsquo;s%20time%20to%20have%20that,%20we&rsquo;ll%20have%20it.%20And%20right%20now%20what%20we&rsquo;re%20focused%20on%20is%20him%20being%20healthy,%20and%20(being%20in)%20kind%20of%20elite%20condition%20to%20play%20basketball%20and%20we&rsquo;ll%20start%20there.&rdquo;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">could be worth well over $180 million</a>, Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin implied that talks might be complicated.
&ldquo;Obviously, that conversation is going to be one that will be a challenge,&rdquo; Griffin said. &ldquo;When it&rsquo;s time to have that, we&rsquo;ll have it. And right now what we&rsquo;re focused on is him being healthy, and (being in) kind of elite condition to play basketball and we&rsquo;ll start there.&rdquo;
Ultimately, Williamson's health and wealth are the rudder of the Pelicans' ceiling. But Griffin still has much to address on other fronts.
New Orleans has the Lakers' first round pick with zero protections &mdash; an exciting opportunity given that pick has the eighth-best lottery odds. At the very least, the Pelicans get a free chance to add another young talent to the rotation, and if things break right, they could add another franchise cornerstone.
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Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock projects New Orleans to pick Duke freshman AJ Griffin in <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our latest mock draft</a> if they remain at No. 8. Griffin is a high-upside choice as one of the youngest players in the draft class. A long, 6-foot-6 wing, he's returned from injuries in high school and at Duke, and flashes traits of a dynamic three-level scorer and creator.
The Pelicans send their first-rounder to Charlotte as part of last summer's Devonte' Graham trade. But they still hold their own second-round pick (No. 41 overall) and a pick from Utah (No. 52). Babcock has Kentucky center Oscar Tshiebwe and Villanova guard Collin Gillespie mocked to New Orleans in the second round.
Even with a packed roster and their draft picks, the Pelicans still have assets to get frisky in free agency. They'll have $10.2 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to use on a free agent along with a $4 million bi-annual exception. More notable is their $17 million trade exception generated from trading Steven Adams to the Memphis Grizzlies. New Orleans could absorb a player into that exception with some financial flexibility.
But how much should the Pelicans shake things up? Since Jan. 1, they sported the 17th-best offense and defense, according to Cleaning the Glass, and were still only the ninth seed in a deep Western Conference at season's end. Yet we saw other young prospects &mdash; most notably Jaxson Hayes and Trey Murphy III &mdash; visibly develop as the year moved along. The five-man unit of McCollum, Ingram, Jones, Hayes and Jonas Valanciunas played 294 possessions after the trade deadline and was a solid plus-7.1 points per 100 possessions.
New Orleans receives one of the NBA's biggest boosts if Zion Williamson comes back healthy to open 2022-23. Willie Green gets a summer to prepare after a stellar first season as a head coach. The Pelicans have a bright future ahead, and this offseason should purely be icing on the cake.
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The Pelicans surprised everyone with their run to the NBA Playoffs, and have only just begun an exciting trajectory.

2022 NBA offseason preview: What's next for the New Orleans Pelicans?

During the regular season, Ja Morant was one of the league&rsquo;s most prolific and productive downhill adventurers.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/drives/?Season=2021-22&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;sort=DRIVES&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He averaged 20.9 drives per game</a> (third-most in the NBA) and shot 51.0% on those drives. Despite playing just 57 games, his 828 points resutling from drives led all players.
Once he mounted a head of steam, containing his powerful acrobatics was an incredibly arduous task for defenses. That prowess fueled Morant's scoring leap, as he averaged 27.4 points on 57.5% True Shooting en route to winning the Most Improved Player award.
Yet from Games 2-4 in the Memphis Grizzlies&rsquo; first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Morant&rsquo;s profits attacking the rim dried up, which subsequently hampered his overall scoring numbers.&nbsp;
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During that span, <a href="https://streamable.com/me9rj6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morant thrived as a playmaker</a>, delivering 35 assists to 11 turnovers and amplifying the divergent off-ball scoring chops of <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/brandon-clarke-is-slipping-through-the-cracks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brandon Clarke</a> and Desmond Bane. But Minnesota&rsquo;s tactic had clearly flustered his individual success.
In those games, Morant averaged just 16.7 points on 45.9% TS and shot 38.7% on 62 drives. After 20 free-throw attempts in Game 1, he had just 17 total over the ensuing three outings. Halfway through Game 5, Morant had 6 points and 7 dimes (although, an uncharacteristic 2 of 7 showing at the line helped stymie him as well). Another pass-heavy approach was percolating.&nbsp;
With the Timberwolves loading help in the paint and at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2013/12/19/5227374/nba-defense-breakdown-nail-spurs-pacers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the nail</a>, Morant&rsquo;s passing grew in importance, and his scoring suffered. They sagged off Memphis&rsquo; cast of generally timid, unthreatening floor-spacers, and directed focus to the star guard in front of them.&nbsp;
On most of his drives, a defender confronted Morant at the nail as three, sometimes four, bodies awaited him near the rim. Stunts from the strong side (usually a no-go for defenses) were commonplace. His once-dynamic finishing was better classified as erratic.
The Grizzlies ranked just 28th in three-point rate (.346) and 17th in percentage (35.3%) in the regular season. So, Minnesota dared them to convert beyond the arc and refused to offer Morant runways for his trampoline-bounce to shine.
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Pause those clips above. Process the positioning of Minnesota&rsquo;s help defenders and how much room Memphis&rsquo; shooters are granted. On the final play, both Anthony Edwards and Jarred Vanderbilt tag the roller, likely in case Morant wiggles around Karl-Anthony Towns&rsquo; hedge and explodes to the hoop. That&rsquo;s a whole lot of attention on one dude.
To Memphis&rsquo; and Morant&rsquo;s credit, Game 5 was full of experimentation to open driving lanes for him. Whether he initiated offense from different spots (top of the key vs. the wings), he began possessions off the ball to operate as a screener/second-creator or the floor-spacing was rearranged, everyone involved worked to find him some breathing room.&nbsp;
In the second half, those efforts were rewarded and the dam broke, particularly amid Memphis&rsquo; fourth-quarter, 13-point comeback. Morant scored 24 points after intermission, including 16 over the final seven minutes, when the Grizzlies closed with Morant, Bane, Clarke, Tyus Jones and Dillon Brooks once Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out.
That lineup didn&rsquo;t record a single minute together in the regular season and debuted for two minutes in Game 4. By surrounding Morant with four ball-handling/play-finishing threats, Memphis provided him with more space and complicated Minnesota&rsquo;s "contain Ja at all costs" approach.&nbsp;
When bigs like Jackson or Xavier Tillman occupy the dunker spot, the Timberwolves are content helping off because neither is a particularly adept scorer around the basket. When Clarke is there, abandoning him to help on Morant is riskier, given Clarke&rsquo;s premier finishing and Morant&rsquo;s interior passing genes.
Minnesota has also routinely aimed to avoid involving Towns in ball-screens against Morant, which continued in the fourth quarter. That strategy gave Morant increased space as a driver and cleaner finishing angles over the top, while also forcing the Timberwolves&rsquo; defense into rotation more often.
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Small-ball was not the Grizzlies&rsquo; only avenue to springing free Morant and their collective offense. They really emphasized emptying the wings to muddle Minnesota&rsquo;s aggressive stunt-and-recovers. Rotating to the nail/elbows is much tougher when someone&rsquo;s assignment is stationed in the corner.
They also utilized double ball-screens for Morant out of a Horns alignment. Doing so removed a big man from the dunker spot altogether, and empowered Ja to work off the ball rather than needing to spearhead every action. Without help looming around every ball-screen, the third-year guard slalomed into the paint and gained traction to bring his squad a crucial Game 5 victory.
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By night&rsquo;s end, Memphis was plus-14 with the Morant-Jones-Bane-Brooks-Clarke quintet on the court. Morant scored 16 of its 21 points, headlined by a 9 of 10 performance at the free-throw line in the fourth.&nbsp;
Both in the half-court and transition, he repeatedly shimmied downhill and scored or drew fouls. His driving acumen also repopulated. Across his 45 minutes, he tallied 31 drives, shooting 50.0% (7 of 14) on them, taking 10 free throws and scoring 19 points. His pair of assists post-halftime were also emblematic of renewed scoring comfort.
Aside from Game 2, Memphis and Minnesota have been tangled in close battle after close battle. Morant&rsquo;s struggled in certain aspects throughout these contests and amended his approach to still fashion positive contributions. On Tuesday, though, the team amended its approach to unlock the effervescent 22-year-old.&nbsp;
Now, the Grizzlies sit one win away from their first playoff series victory since 2014-15, with their franchise star guiding them and enjoying his finest stretch of postseason basketball this year.
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Jackson Frank analyzes how the Grizzlies were able to get Ja Morant going on offense after struggling to find scoring comfort.

How the Grizzlies helped Ja Morant find himself as a scorer in Game 5

For the first time since the 2017-18 season, and just the second time since 2003-04, the Minnesota Timberwolves are in the NBA playoffs.
In a raucous game at Target Center in Minneapolis, the Wolves came back from down double-digits early in the fourth quarter to gut out a defensive showcase down the stretch in a very fun (but also <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1514071151890386947?s=20&amp;t=cOTx5ha_fVET44iT43U6Yw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">very weird</a>) game.
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I added the Remember The Titans music to The Wolves winning the game. (Sound on) <a href="https://t.co/nYF9q9igAK">pic.twitter.com/nYF9q9igAK</a>
&mdash; Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) <a href="https://twitter.com/jga41agher/status/1514110660636033024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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First and foremost, celebrating is a good thing! I don't intend to straw-man; I'm sure it's a smaller group that's being vocal about the Wolves' post-game excitement, but it's worth hitting on. No, this team didn't win the NBA Finals and they're not on the way to doing that, but that loses the plot here. Other than maybe the Sacramento Kings, has there been a more frustratingly beleaguered franchise since the turn of the millenia?
Every turn this team has taken, including their one playoff appearance outside the Flip Saunders era, has come with consequences or at the expense of their future. I'm not a fan of the Timberwolves (or any team), but it's just awesome to see a team that has been resilient all year find their way and take the steps to be a solid team.
That's been special.
We don't need an entire halftime or postgame show clowning a team for enjoying themselves, rehashing history and talking about why a player wouldn't "make it in the 90s."
The game is different. What if we spent time talking about&nbsp;how the Los Angeles Clippers got Karl-Anthony Towns off his game? Or how KAT and the Wolves could scheme differently in the second half? I acknowledge that the TNT halftime show is not intended for me, and it did its job by drawing engagement, but if it's at the expense of the product they're dragging, what are we doing here?
JJ Redick gets it.
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Where&rsquo;s yours?
&mdash; JJ Redick (@jj_redick) <a href="https://twitter.com/jj_redick/status/1514118211674988546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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The 109-104 final score is unsuitable as a descriptor of what this game was.
Let's dive in.
PATRICK BEVERLEY'S IMPACT
Early in the game, Kevin Harlan slid in that Patrick Beverley is "the most impactful player" for the Wolves right as the TNT broadcast went to commercial. I had to rewind to make sure I heard that right!
While I have to disagree with Harlan at large, my God, Pat Bev sure as heck made his case throughout the course of action.
There's a small handful of players who supersede the cliche "he-brings-energy-and-toughness-and-grit-that-can-change-the-game," emotional tropes, and Beverley continues to assert himself to that group. He does every little thing that can be done on the margins with consistency, and in a way that breeds both admiration and contention alike.
Timely tie-ups and steals, hounding switches, flying all over the place on close-outs. It cannot be undersold the amount of energy this man expended playing defense last night.&nbsp;
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He even had a momentum-saving block after a missed dunk that could've shifted the game.
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And he hit perhaps the most insane "WTF" shot I've seen from a non-star player in a while. Like, what is this?! A one-legged three while falling backwards as the shot clock expires is just nutty. In an elimination game!
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That was just a special special game from Beverley last night.&nbsp;
Whether he's the most impactful is up for debate (and probably wrong), but the impact he's had on this group is palpable and last night was a microcosm of his presence this season.
TAKING OUT TOWNS
As good of a game as it was from Beverley, it was the opposite for Karl-Anthony Towns, who fouled out with a little over half the fourth quarter remaining.
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The Clippers were 3-1 against the Wolves this year and they did the same things that allowed them to win the season series, putting a smaller player on KAT and bringing help late at the rim with Ivica Zubac. It's not fully on Jarred Vanderbilt, as he still played a pretty good game (particularly on defense), but part of the difficulty of having a player whose gravity comes from attacking the cracks of a defense is what happens when those gaps are tightened.
If he's in the dunker spot and KAT is driving the lane, the Clippers are okay helping off of him and mucking things up at the rim. It's also worth noting that Towns found Vando on a dump-off later in the game, and that's been part of their offense all season. This is going to be one of the very enticing chess matches to watch during the series with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Back to KAT: the Clippers played him well, but he also got in his own head and got out of his game, which was incredibly frustrating from a bystander and analysis perspective. He forced some of his attempts from outside and on drives. He felt rushed. He played into offensive fouls.
 It's okay and healthy to be emotional. Every person handles things in their own way. But teams have consistently used KAT's frustration against him. Towns has really put things together this year and shed a lot of those tendencies this season, but last night was a reversion to past years. He's the best player on this team and integral to their success, so they really need him to maintain composure again moving forward. Trying to replicate these kind of contributions up and down the roster going forward is asking for a lot. This single game is not a referendum on KAT, as he's a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/selecting-the-2021-22-all-nba-teams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deserving All-NBA</a> performer. Let's save the rash takes. Criticism for last night is warranted, but the overarching narratives are not.
D'LO AND ANT
D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards were fantastic last night in so many facets.&nbsp;
The Wolves came out extremely erratic and it seemed like the moment was too big for them to start the game. Their pace was quick but out of control. The defense was flying around, but almost too much.
The Clippers' defense struggled late as their offensive stagnation carried over, but the polarity of D'Lo and Ant gave the Clippers headaches throughout the night.
Russell's pacing was exquisite last night. It was by far one of the best games I've seen from him with regards to seeing the floor, picking his spots and attacking a defense. It felt like he hit every tough shot and pull-up last night, routinely never gaining separation, but it just didn't matter.
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Down the stretch, he masterfully pulled Los Angeles' defense apart, using some of their switching against them and orchestrating effective offense.
While Russell picked apart with pace and rhythm, Edwards was the overhand right coming off a jab. He set up his game early with a fluid contact finish over Marcus Morris and routinely found his way into the paint last night. Clippers defenders gave him an extra foot of space to try and wall off drives annnnd it was too much.
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He got to the line six times, nailed 5-of-11 threes, and hit shots off the bounce inside the arc if given the space.&nbsp;
When he doesn't make mistakes with the ball, it is so hard to defend Anthony Edwards. Do you give up the jumpers if he's hitting them at a high clip? Do you let him glide to the rim and hope help can bother him? It's a conundrum that many teams are finding harder and harder to solve as his game rounds out. He came ready for the moment last night off rip.
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"No one can guard him, and I keep preaching that to him" Patrick Beverley credits Anthony Edwards for his patience and hard work after the T-Wolves win to advance to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> presented by Google Pixel. <a href="https://t.co/SwD25thKCO">pic.twitter.com/SwD25thKCO</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1514117290803052546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Pat's whole rant on Ant is awesome, but Ant nodding his head the whole time in agreement like, "Yeah, I know. They can't guard me," is just priceless and awesome.
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When the lights come on, I show up. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thurskii?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thurskii</a>
&mdash; Anthony Edwards (@theantedwards_) <a href="https://twitter.com/theantedwards_/status/1514120995669524480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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QUICK-HITTERS
Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaden McDaniels were so vital last night. The individual defense they played on Paul George was tremendous. He still got to his spots, but everything was well contested for the most part. He got to the line a good deal, but that happens against star players.
Last night, the Clippers were 12-of-28 in the paint with only 16 at-rim attempts and a large deal of that credit goes to that dynamic duo and their ability to crowd drives. By preventing full-on penetration, they were able to make some of the backline rotations just a little easier and cleaner for the Wolves. They went to a frontcourt of McDaniels and Vando at the 4 and 5 for a small stretch late in the game (which is not something that happened much this year) and they were able to hang tight before they brought in a true big. That was a really fun performance from them, and I can't wait to see how they perform in the playoffs.
The Clippers versus either the Pelicans or Spurs should be a fun match-up, and I can't wait to see that as well. The playoffs are almost here, and the postseason is already off to a fantastic start.

The Wolves are in the playoffs for the second time since 2004, earning their postseason trip after a terrific play-in performance.

NBA Play-In Tournament: Takeaways from Wolves-Clippers

With the 2021-22 NBA regular season in the books, let's examine the numbers and hand out some hardware to the cream of the fantasy crop.
Fantasy MVP: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
In regards to the NBA's actual Most Valuable Player award, a strong case could be made for several players (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-mvp-rankings-jokic-edging-out-embiid-antetokounmpo-chasing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as I detailed two weeks ago</a>). However, in the fantasy-hoops universe, Nikola Jokic reigns supreme for the second-straight season. And it wasn't particularly close.
Not only was the Joker durable, appearing in 74 games, but he was remarkably efficient (shooting over 58% from the floor and 81% from the charity stripe). His all-around statistical production was mind-boggling, as he became the first player in NBA history to tally more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in the same season. As a cherry on top, Jokic saved some of his best work for the fantasy playoffs. Over his last five games, he averaged 37.8 points, 16.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.2 steals (joining Karl Malone as the second player in league history to record five-straight double-doubles with 35+ points in each game). Whether you played in a head-to-head or roto league, nobody was more valuable than Mr. Jokic.&nbsp;
Fantasy Rookie of the Year: Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Detroit's Cade Cunningham, Orlando's Franz Wagner and Cleveland's Evan Mobley all posted impressive numbers in their rookie campaigns, but Barnes wins this race by a nose. Scottie appeared in 74 out of 82 games and became the only rookie since Luka Doncic to average at least 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a steal in their first season. Barnes is also the first rookie in Toronto's franchise history to record 1,000+ points, 500+ rebounds and 250+ assists. He finished the season ranked 66th overall in nine-category roto formats.&nbsp;
Most Improved Fantasy Player: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
This is another award that could go to a bevy of deserving players (such as Darius Garland, Jordan Poole and Ja Morant); however, in my opinion, Maxey gets the nod. Due to the drama and uncertainty surrounding Ben Simmons coming into this season, some fantasy pundits pegged Maxey as a late-round sleeper, but nobody could have expected Maxey to step in and step up as he did.&nbsp;
As a rookie in 2020-21, ​​Maxey averaged a modest 8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 15 minutes a night while shooting just 30% from downtown, which resulted in him ranking 330th overall (behind players such as Edmond Sumner, John Konchar and Dean Wade) in nine-category fantasy leagues. Yet, as a starter out of the gates this season, Maxey averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 dimes, 3.2 boards and 1.8 treys, while converting 48.5% of his field goal attempts and 42.7% of his triple tries (including 48% from deep over the second half of the season). He finished the 2021-22 season ranked 35th overall in total fantasy value (ahead of fantasy stars such as Khris Middleton, Kristaps Porzingis and Domantas Sabonis). &nbsp;
Fantasy Coach of the Year: Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves 
On Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced that they signed Finch to a multi-year extension. And many fantasy GMs surely applauded the decision. The Timberwolves led the NBA in pace (101.47), which is the way into the hearts of fantasy folks. The Wolves also led the league in points per game (115.9) for the first time in franchise history, made three-pointers (1,211) and turnovers forced (1,339). Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, D'Angelo Russell and even Patrick Beverley benefited statistically from Minny's up-tempo offense.&nbsp;
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Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
For those of us who invested in JJJ on draft day the last few years, he finally rewarded us with a monster campaign in 2021-22. Jackson was able to stay healthy (making 78 appearances), and not only did he lead the league in blocked shots per game (2.3), he also averaged just shy of one steal and six rebounds. Factor in his effectiveness and efficiency from behind the arc (he knocked down 128 triples), and it's easy to see why Jackson returned fourth-round fantasy value this season.&nbsp;
Biggest Bust: Tie between Russell Westbrook and Julius Randle
After Randle finished in the top-40 overall in 2020-21, Knicks fans and fantasy GMs who drafted him back in October were hoping the burly power forward would be able to replicate his shockingly impressive production. Yet, although his counting stats were solid, Randle's field goal percentage dropped from 45.6% down to 41.1%, his three-point percentage tumbled from over 41% all the way down to below 30.8% and his free throw percentage dipped from above 81% to 75.6%. Randle also tied his career-high in turnovers (3.4). Due to the poor shooting numbers, turnovers and lack of defensive stats, Randle ranked 127th overall (or just behind Bruce Brown in per-game value).&nbsp;
Westbrook also badly burned fantasy GMs in 2021-22. Russ racked up plenty of points, rebounds and assists (18/7/7) but didn't come close to matching the 22/12/11 he averaged with the Washington Wizards the year before. In addition, Westbrook's extraordinary inefficiency and high turnover rate ruined many a fantasy matchup for GMs who rostered Russ.
Pickup of the Year: Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Jones, the 35th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, was a complete unknown to the vast majority of fantasy hoopers heading into the 2021-22 season. He went undrafted in even the deepest of leagues and went scoreless in just three minutes of action in the Pels' season opener. However, due to his defensive tenacity and efficient offense, Jones carved out a role in New Orleans and began being scooped up off of waiver wires nationwide. He had earned a spot in the starting lineup by late November and never relinquished it.
Jones finished the season averaging 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks. He led all rookies in total steals with 130 (50 more than Scottie Barnes, who ranked second) and was third in blocks. According to Basketball-Reference, he is the only rookie in New Orleans' franchise history to tally more than 125 steals and 50 blocks (and just the seventh rookie in NBA history to do so, joining Michael Jordan, Nerlens Noel, Ron Harper, Ben Simmons, Willie Anderson and David Robinson). Of those seven, Jones is the only one to commit 100 or fewer turnovers. Jones finished the season ranked 77th overall in nine-category formats.&nbsp;
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With the 2021-22 NBA regular season in the books, Tommy Beer hands out some hardware to the cream of the fantasy crop.

2021-22 Fantasy Basketball Awards: MVP, ROY, Most Improved and more

In today's NBA, we&rsquo;re seeing more and more second-generation players. Stephen Curry is probably the most notable example, but Jerami Grant, Jalen Brunson and Jaren Jackson, Jr. are also the sons of former NBA players. And there&rsquo;s a lot more of them out there.
Throughout the course of NBA history, there have been a lot of basketball dads, including some who were able to coach their sons. Doc Rivers coached his son, Austin, and George Karl coached against his son Coby.
However, there&rsquo;s something we&rsquo;ve never seen before, and that&rsquo;s a teammate dad.
During All-Star Weekend, LeBron James admitted that he wants to become the first dad to play alongside his son, Bronny, and I'm hoping that we can witness that.
LeBron teaming up with his son would be a completely different level of accomplishment. And yes, it would be an accomplishment.
As athletes (especially NBA players) trying to win championships, we know that there&rsquo;s only so much we can control. We can eat right, have the best habits and act as great teammates and good coaches. Winning is hard, succeeding is hard, and doing so for 20 years is damn-near impossible.
LeBron has done it, though.
A lot has to line up for that to potentially happen. LeBron is 37 years old and much closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but that&rsquo;s why this is an incredible accomplishment and why it&rsquo;s worth pursuing.
LeBron came into the league and fulfilled every expectation people ever had of him. He&rsquo;s been so good for so long that, even at this point in his career, any team in the league would want to have him. He&rsquo;s been so good for so long that he was able to have a son, help raise him into a young man and help put him in a pretty good situation, all while still being arguably the best player in the league.
For Bronny, the NBA is the goal, and it&rsquo;s not too far off.
If things continue to play out the way they have been, LeBron sharing an NBA floor with his son may actually be a reality one day. That&rsquo;s not something that anyone could have ever imagined being possible, probably not even LeBron himself.
I also am a very proud basketball dad. My son Jace is about Bronny&rsquo;s age, and as he&rsquo;s grown up, Jace and I have had plenty of competitions, teaching moments and conversations about the chase to be great. Some of my fond memories from coaching in Cleveland are flashbacks of Jace and Bronny as young kids playing pickup and doing their own shooting drills in our practice gym. They were more interested in playing and getting better than they were watching us, so much so that they would be in the practice gym even while we had games going on.
I know what it feels like to watch your son grow up and try to follow in your footsteps. I also know that, for our children, it&rsquo;s not easy.
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If you <a href="https://twitter.com/james_posey41" target="_blank" rel="noopener">follow me on social media</a>, you&rsquo;ve probably seen me retweeting things about Jace. Even though I want him to stay grounded, I also want him to know that I&rsquo;m his biggest supporter.
As a basketball dad, I have to walk a fine line between being my son&rsquo;s biggest motivator and his biggest critic. On one hand, as a former pro player, I feel like I can help to guide him and develop him, but on the other, I want him to understand that being a pro player's son is a bit of a burden that he&rsquo;ll carry whenever he laces up his sneakers.
When Bronny, Jace and other players' children walk on the court, they may as well be wearing a target on their back. There are young, hungry players out there who look at kids like Jace and Bronny as opportunities to get some shine. That&rsquo;s something they've got to be ready for.
At the same time, people are going to have high expectations for these young players, because if their dad played professionally, they'll be expected to have similar abilities. But not every kid can handle that, and a lot of them decide not to follow in their dad&rsquo;s footsteps for that exact reason.
So, yeah. Tough love.
To this day, Jace hasn&rsquo;t beaten me in a pickup game, and I&rsquo;m damn sure never going to take it easy on him because I know nobody else competing against him will. I want him to stay humble and realize that the work never stops, and that just because he&rsquo;s my son, it doesn&rsquo;t mean things will be handed to him. If anything, it means he&rsquo;s going to have to work that much harder.
Bronny's experience must be magnified by 1,000. To be honest, I can&rsquo;t even imagine what it must be like for him. Imagine being the son of the world&rsquo;s most famous basketball player. Imagine what it must be like for everyone out there to want to bust your ass so they can say they got the better of LeBron&rsquo;s son.
Jace faces that as my son, and there&rsquo;s really no comparison between LeBron and me.
Like I said, tough love.
When I watch Jace play, I try to make sure I never get too hyped up or too excited about the things he&rsquo;s able to do on the court because I want him to maintain his edge and never be satisfied. That&rsquo;s a challenge that we as basketball dads have &mdash; we&rsquo;re constantly coaching and criticizing but always trying to stay positive and encouraging.
Why am I even saying all of this? Because basketball dads, particularly those who played in the NBA, have a unique perspective. When Jace picked up a basketball at 4 years old and decided he wanted to shoot hoops like his daddy, I couldn&rsquo;t imagine being able to play with him as a pro. Part of that is because when Jace was born, I was about 10 years older than LeBron was when Bronny was born, but another part of it was that I just can&rsquo;t say I envisioned being able to have the will, desire and good fortune to last in the league for as long as it would have taken.
Truth be told, it was probably hard for LeBron to imagine that too, which is probably why this has only become a conversation in the very recent past. But, because &lsquo;Bron is still playing at such a high level, it feels like it&rsquo;s close. How can we not be intrigued?
As a dad, there&rsquo;s no better feeling than watching your child set a goal, commit to it and accomplish it. That&rsquo;s not just in the world of sports, but in all walks of life. But man, I remember seeing Greg Anthony shed tears when his son Cole Anthony was drafted by the Orlando Magic, and I know that every other NBA dad felt the same way when their sons made it. They all know what their kids had to go through to get to that moment.
I can&rsquo;t even begin to imagine what Bronny has had to overcome. I&rsquo;m pretty sure LeBron knows, just like LeBron knows what he&rsquo;s had to do to maintain his status as one of the top players in the league for so long. If the day comes where those two share an NBA court &mdash; and it&rsquo;s obviously no guarantee &mdash; they will share one of the most incredible accomplishments the league has ever seen.
I, for sure, am rooting for it to happen.
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LeBron James could someday play alongside his son, Bronny James. Fellow NBA dad James Posey is rooting for it to happen.

Why teaming up with Bronny could be LeBron’s greatest accomplishment

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) &mdash; Ja Morant had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Utah Jazz 119-109 on Friday night.
It was the highest-scoring triple-double in franchise history and the fourth overall for Morant, Memphis&rsquo; third-year point guard who was named an All-Star starter on Thursday. He scored at least 30 points for the fifth consecutive game.
&ldquo;I think the win was more important, but I guess the triple-double was needed to get the win,&rdquo; Morant said. &ldquo;All in all, it was a good night.&rdquo;
Brandon Clarke added 22 points for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 18 points and matched his season high with six blocks. Desmond Bane added 17 for the Grizzlies.
Morant hit Clarke for several alley-oops in the third quarter as Memphis extended its lead.
&ldquo;(Clarke) is super athletic,&rdquo; Morant said. &ldquo;All I know is if I&rsquo;m on a break and he&rsquo;s running that wing, it&rsquo;s pretty much just try to make the defender commit to the ball and just throw it in the air. I know he&rsquo;ll go get it.&rdquo;
Danuel House Jr., on his second 10-day contract, led the short-handed Jazz with 21 points, while Mike Conley finished with 15 points and six assists. Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson had 13 points each for Utah, which lost its fourth straight and 10th of 12.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re playing with much a more urgent mindset,&rdquo; Conley said. &ldquo;Playing harder. Guys are giving everything we&rsquo;ve got with who we&rsquo;ve got out there. At some point, we're going to break through. Things are going to start falling our way.
&ldquo;We feel like we are getting closer and closer to being back to who we are.&rdquo;
The Grizzlies maintained their hold on third place in the Western Conference, moving 3 1/2 games in front of the fourth-place Jazz.
Memphis led by as many as 14 points before its advantage began evaporating midway through the fourth quarter. The Jazz moved within 105-101 when Royce O&rsquo;Neale connected on a 3-pointer with 4:40 left.
But Utah got no closer as Memphis built its lead back to double digits.
Utah was missing Donovan Mitchell (concussion) and Rudy Gobert (left calf strain). The pair averages a combined 41.5 points and 19.1 rebounds.
&ldquo;We competed our tails off,&rdquo; Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. &ldquo;There was a lot of size on the floor, and we didn&rsquo;t have a lot of it. We battled. ... We&rsquo;re right there. And that was after being down double digits at various times. These guys are leaving it out there, and that&rsquo;s what we want to do.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s going to help us get better. And when guys come back, they have to be just as competitive. We played like a hungry team.&rdquo;
CONLEY ON GRIZZLIES
Conley played his first 12 seasons for Memphis and has seen noticeable improvement in the Grizzlies since last season, when Utah eliminated Memphis 4-1 in the opening round of the playoffs.
&ldquo;I think maturity is playing a part in it,&rdquo; Conley said. &ldquo;I think them getting a taste of what it&rsquo;s like to play at that level, allowed them to go into the summer understanding what they needed to do in order to be back and competitive in that nature. ... They&rsquo;re for real, and they&rsquo;re going to be a tough team.&rdquo;
LAST WORD
Asked his reaction when Morant was announced as an All-Star starter, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins replied: &ldquo;I yelled out &lsquo;Yes, yes, yes,&rsquo; multiple times.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Jazz: Four years after leaving Memphis, Conley still is beloved in the city. After the fans cheered Conley during introductions, they immediately resorted to boos for Joe Ingles. ... Mitchell missed his sixth straight game and Gobert his third.
Grizzlies: Jackson also had six blocks against San Antonio on Wednesday and has 45 over his last 11 games. ... Memphis hadn&rsquo;t won a home game over the Jazz since Jan. 15, 2019. ... A video celebrating Morant&rsquo;s first All-Star selection drew a standing ovation during the first timeout.
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UP NEXT
Jazz: At Minnesota on Sunday.
Grizzlies: Host Washington on Saturday.

Ja Morant had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Grizzlies pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Utah119-109.

All-Star Morant has triple-double, Grizzlies beat Jazz

Last month, as COVID-19 ravaged NBA rosters, a record number of G League players were called up and veterans who hadn&rsquo;t put on an NBA jersey in several years were signed.
It seemed like the perfect opportunity for Joe Young to make his NBA comeback and get the second chance that he&rsquo;s dreamed about for four years.
After being drafted No. 43 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Young spent three seasons with the Indiana Pacers, but he hasn&rsquo;t been on an NBA roster since the 2017-18 season ended. Instead, he's been putting up impressive numbers in the G League and Chinese Basketball Association.
This season, Young is thriving with the Birmingham Squadron, averaging 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 threes and 1.1 steals on .473/.353/.931 shooting splits. He recently turned heads with a 42-point, 8-assist, 7-three, 3-steal, 1-turnover performance against the Stockton Kings.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Sign that man!&rdquo; his former Pacers teammate Myles Turner pleaded <a href="https://twitter.com/zapearsonNBA/status/1479417688216768513" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Instagram</a>.
However, even when nearly 150 players were sidelined due to the league&rsquo;s health and safety protocols in late December, Young still didn&rsquo;t get called up.
Young admits that it was hard for him to watch so many other players get the NBA call that he&rsquo;s desperately waited for.
&ldquo;It was very frustrating,&rdquo; Young told BasketballNews.com in an exclusive interview. &ldquo;You know me: I'm all for anybody. I don't hate. A lot of those guys that got called up are from my draft class, and they're my friends. Of course, when I saw it happen, it hurts a little bit inside, man. Because I&rsquo;m a guy who gets up every day and kisses his kids goodbye at 5:45 a.m. to work out and better myself. I really take pride in this game. I love this game. I think about the game all day, every day. The game is all I know. That's my profession, so I try to perfect my craft."
Squadron head coach Ryan Pannone wanted some answers. Last month, at the NBA G League Showcase in Las Vegas, Pannone asked a number of NBA executives about Young, and they all said the same thing: They weren&rsquo;t interested because of concerns about his maturity and character after hearing stories from his Pacers days.
This frustrated Pannone, since he has grown close to Young this season and couldn&rsquo;t be happier with the 29-year-old&rsquo;s leadership, maturity, coachability, work ethic and effort.
&ldquo;Everyone has the right to grow up, and your past mistakes don&rsquo;t define who you are today," Pannone told BasketballNews.com. "But they can help shape and mold you into a better person and father, and that is what Joe Young has done."
Young has made huge strides since his last stint in the NBA, but the mistakes he made in his early-20s have haunted him and affected how he&rsquo;s perceived now. Young knows this, and he&rsquo;s the first person to admit that he was immature while in Indiana.
When the Pacers assigned him to their G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the then-rookie Young got upset. And after a few games with the Mad Ants, he pushed back on his G League assignment, telling the Pacers&rsquo; decision-makers that he didn&rsquo;t want to be demoted again. When Pacers head coach Nate McMillan decided to decrease his playing time midseason, Young admits that he grew frustrated and stopped working as hard.
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Now, these are some of Young&rsquo;s biggest regrets and he cringes when talking about the mistakes he made seven years ago.
&ldquo;I'm a changed kid. I've grown up; I'm older,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;The things I did that weren&rsquo;t mature, I was 21, 22, 23 years old. Now, I'm 29. It's a whole other mindset. I come in and try to bring as much leadership as I can to a team. I feel like that's what a professional is; I come to work, do my job at a high level, work hard, lead &mdash; and I&rsquo;m professional on and off the court.
&ldquo;I didn't know [how to act] in an NBA scene. I&rsquo;d come down the middle, dunk on a player and start yelling in his face. Then, they&rsquo;d say, &lsquo;He's immature.&rsquo; It's the little things like that. When I came into the league, I was very confident. I was playing great basketball in practice. Coach Nate commended me and said I [was] doing good. But it was just my maturity level. I&rsquo;d do good, and Coach didn't play me, and I started slowing down because he didn't play me. But that's not what a professional does. A professional gets up every day even though he's not playing and he gets his work in because he never knows when his name might get called.&rdquo;
Prior to joining the Squadron, Young was candid about his past with the team&rsquo;s decision-makers.
&ldquo;Before we drafted Joe, we called him to communicate our situation and style of play, and in that first conversation, without being asked, he was very honest and upfront about the mistakes he made with the Pacers &mdash; his attitude, his entitlement and [the lack of] professionalism that he displayed with them,&rdquo; Pannone said. &ldquo;He told me that he was ready to do whatever was asked, be a leader and a veteran who could help younger players not make the same mistakes that he made.&rdquo;
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Marc Chasanoff, the Squadron&rsquo;s general manager and the New Orleans Pelicans&rsquo; senior director of basketball operations, says that Young has been a pleasant surprise.
&ldquo;Entering the G League draft, we didn't have a first-round pick; we were sitting there with two second-rounders and he was at the top of our board,&rdquo; Chasanoff told BasketballNews.com. &ldquo;We were connecting with Joe leading up to the draft, and you got a sense of maturity and growth from his standpoint. He talked about how he made mistakes in the past and how he could have handled things differently. From day one, he was just looking for an opportunity. And that's what the G League is about; it should be a second chance. From day one with us, he's carried himself with the utmost professionalism and has been great with our group. He's one of the pillars of the culture that we've built. Over the past three years, we've really prided ourselves on finding high-character people and high-quality people and he fits that from our experience, for sure.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Young believes that getting married and starting a family helped him mature.
&ldquo;I've matured to a whole &lsquo;nother level, man,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;I'm married now, I&rsquo;ve got my kids that look up to me and I&rsquo;ve got a lot of responsibilities. When I got married and had my kids, it just changed my perspective; every time I step on this court, I'm doing it for my family. We work so hard for our kids and family. At the end of the day, I want my son to be like me or even better than me. And I just want my kids to grow up and see that I didn't give up; I continued to fight. I want my family to see me get back into the NBA. I want them to see what they should've seen when I first got to the league.&rdquo;
For the first time in three years, Young&rsquo;s family has been able to watch him play regularly, which has meant a lot to him. That wasn&rsquo;t the case when he was in China.
Young could have continued playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, where he was an All-Star. Over his three seasons abroad, he averaged 33.2 points, 5.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 threes and 1.9 steals. Had he stayed in China, he would&rsquo;ve made considerably more money than a G League team can offer, but he was determined to chase his NBA dream. He came to this decision after an emotional conversation with Stephon Marbury, who was his head coach with the Beijing Royal Fighters last season.
Marbury knows all about the politics of the NBA and how a series of mistakes can change the way you&rsquo;re perceived around the league. Few people can relate to what Young has been through, but Marbury absolutely can.
During their exit meeting last year, both discussed Young&rsquo;s future and how you can&rsquo;t control how people perceive you. At one point, Young and Marbury &ldquo;shed tears together,&rdquo; and Marbury said something that has been stuck in Young's head ever since.
&ldquo;I don't want to see you back in China next season,&rdquo; Marbury said, as recalled by Young. &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t belong here; you belong in the NBA. It's not going to be easy, but if you keep fighting and keep doing what you're doing, you&rsquo;ll get back to the league. Don't give up, even when it gets hard. [When you&rsquo;re doubted], that should make you go harder. Go get what you deserve."
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At that point, Young knew he had to return to the NBA G League and pursue a call-up.
&ldquo;I keep that in the back of my mind,&rdquo; Young said of Marbury's advice. &ldquo;Ever since, I&rsquo;ve been trying to do what he told me. I've been working my tail off ever since I got back from China."
Young is grateful that he got to play for Marbury and learn from him last season. He also believes playing in China helped him become a better leader and learn what it takes to run a team.
&ldquo;Playing for him was amazing, man. I could really tell he cared about me as a person and as a player,&rdquo; Young said of Marbury. &ldquo;That's big bro. He helped elevate me as a player and as a person. We won some games that they&rsquo;d never won before. And I used my time in China to better myself. [I thought], &lsquo;If I keep working here, I can take this mentality and bring it back to the U.S. and get back in the league.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Young started applying what he'd learned in China as soon as he joined the Squadron. On the first day of Birmingham&rsquo;s training camp, Young took the entire team out to Ruth&rsquo;s Chris Steak House so everybody could get to know each other. He&rsquo;s put together several of these team dinners throughout the season. Pannone says he has emerged as a terrific leader and mentor, telling the younger players about his mistakes and passing on lessons that he learned the hard way.
&ldquo;He is an asset to a winning culture," Pannone said. "Who Joe has become as a person, what he has done as a leader and his openness about his past mistakes with our players helped cultivate our culture off the floor, which has carried over to our success on the court. Even when we lost five games in a row, the bond that was built with our team led to an environment of togetherness, fun and work with a focus on the process and not the outcome.&rdquo;
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&ldquo;Joe sets the tone with his work ethic; I wish the guy slept more,&rdquo; Chasanoff added. &ldquo;He's a 5:45 a.m. guy; he gets up, does treatment, gets a lift in and gets a sweat in before other guys even get to the gym. But he also takes the time to get the team together, organizing team dinners. Obviously, he's in a different financial place than a lot of other people in the G League, but I've rarely heard of players organizing team dinners like that, and he's done it three different times. He takes guys under his wing and he's very open about the mistakes he's made in the past and how he&rsquo;s trying to grow from them. He&rsquo;s been great for our culture.&rdquo;
When speaking with his younger teammates, Young keeps his advice simple.
&ldquo;Don't let them say you don't work hard, don't let them say you aren't on time and don't let them say you have off-court issues. Do everything like you're supposed to,&rdquo; he explains. &ldquo;That's what I tell the younger kids. And it's not about just getting there; it's about maintaining and staying [in the league], and that was what I had to figure out myself. When you get that opportunity, don't mess it up because you don&rsquo;t want to be fighting like I'm fighting [to get back].&rdquo;
At one point, Birmingham's coaches had to tell Young to rest more because they were concerned he was pushing himself too hard ahead of a six-games-in-10-days stretch.
&ldquo;He was coming into the gym with our assistant coach Perry Huang at 8:15 a.m. to shoot and work out, and then he would turn around and be ready to practice hard (including twice a day in the preseason),&rdquo; Pannone raved. &ldquo;He allows us to use him as an example by coaching him hard and correcting him. When you can hold accountable and coach hard the player who has the most NBA experience and has made the most money, it helps set the tone for the on-court culture you want to build.&rdquo;
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Chasanoff believes that Young deserves another NBA opportunity, and he&rsquo;s hopeful that the 29-year-old will get a chance to show an organization just how far he&rsquo;s come.
&ldquo;I think Joe deserves the opportunity. He's done everything you could've asked,&rdquo; Chasanoff said. &ldquo;Obviously, he's grown from his past in the NBA. He's matured, he's put in the time from a work-ethic and a character standpoint. I would vouch for him. From a player standpoint, he's bought into the team concept. It's a very unique concept. The G League is the only league in the world that people sign in to leave. You sign in to get the NBA call-up or a better deal overseas. A lot of times, it could be a high-agenda [situation], especially someone in his position &mdash; a former NBA guy who&rsquo;s trying to get back.
"But he bought into the team concept. He hasn't been out there hunting for stats. He bought into the coaching staff. His coachability and work ethic have been very impressive, and he's helped contribute to a very successful team. I think he can help on the NBA side as well. He&rsquo;s looking for a second chance; if and when it comes, I think he can take full advantage of it.&rdquo;
Young appreciates that Pannone and Chasanoff are vouching for him and pushing for him to get called up, which means they&rsquo;d be losing one of their key players.
&ldquo;It means a lot,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;That really means a lot. I really appreciate Marc and Ryan and the New Orleans Pelicans organization for helping me get back on track and really believing in me in this process. From the first day to now, they've just been like, &lsquo;Wow, we're shocked.&rsquo; Coach is letting me lead this team. The dinners we had together and the unity is why we won seven in a row. When we lost five in a row, we didn't argue; we stuck together and that came from the dinners and us hanging out. We're a new team, but we feel like we&rsquo;ve been playing together forever.&rdquo;
Young is hopeful that an NBA team will give him a chance to prove that he&rsquo;s changed, just like Pannone and Chasanoff did at the G League level. And he wants every NBA front office to know that they&rsquo;d be getting a player who&rsquo;s extremely hungry, who won&rsquo;t take his roster spot for granted and who will do whatever it takes to stick in the NBA this time around.
&ldquo;I'm ready to show that I'm an NBA player off the court and on the court,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;I'm very mature. I will do anything that I need to do to get back to where I belong. I can lead a team, I can apply pressure 94 feet, I can play any role. I can do anything a coach asks me to do on the court and off the court to make a team better.
&ldquo;They're going to get high intensity on the defensive end, and leadership. Someone who will control the team as a point guard and make sure I get everyone in their spots. I&rsquo;ll control the game when I get in, like a point guard should do. I&rsquo;ll control the tempo on the offensive end and, on the defensive end, I&rsquo;ll pick up the point guard full-court and make sure they can't get into their offense. Just bring energy and be annoying. I just want to be that annoying guard where my coach is like, &lsquo;Joe, go in there and give me some energy.&rsquo; I'll go in there and pick them up 94 feet for two minutes, if I&rsquo;ve got to. Those are the little things that I want to show that I can do.&rdquo;
Young has been waiting four years for this opportunity, and he&rsquo;s not giving up anytime soon.
&ldquo;I feel like I'm going to get back in. I'm not going to give up because I know I belong in the league,&rdquo; Young said. &ldquo;I put the work in and I'm mature about it. I'm just ready to get back in, man. Once it happens, I'm going to be shedding some tears, I promise you. And I'm ready to shed some tears.&rdquo;

Joe Young wants to return to the NBA, but he had to prove that he's matured since his Pacers days. In the G League, he's done just that.

Matured Joe Young determined to make NBA comeback: 'I'll do anything'

At 17 years old, Scoot Henderson is making history. Spencer Davies spoke with the prodigy and those close to him to find out how.

NBA G League star Scoot Henderson's aspirations far exceed the hype

As COVID-19 continues to rip into NBA rosters, more and more teams have been forced to look outside their organization to simply fill out minutes on the court.
You've probably been seeing your NBA notifications blowing up with transactions recently. Franchises can take advantage of the "hardship exception" in the NBA's by-laws, which state that if four or more players on the active and inactive rosters are dealing with injuries and illness, a team can sign and substitute a player. Since so many franchises are dealing with COVID-induced absences that typically last about 10 days to two weeks, dozens of free agents are inking 10-day deals to jump in for the short-term.
Meanwhile, for better or worse, the regular season chugs along. The pop-up signings can end up making an impact on rebuilding teams or playoff contenders. With some rotations pushed to the brink, hardship-exception signees might find meaningful minutes right away.
With that in mind, how are NBA teams approaching who they sign, and what types of players have been called into action?
Most of the additions have some level of NBA experience. Of the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-covid-fallout-lance-stephenson-isaiah-thomas-tyler-johnson-among-list-of-players-on-10-day-contracts/">over 35 players (and counting)</a> who have signed recent 10-day contracts, only a small handful have never appeared in a regular-season game before this season. This includes: Ade Murkey (Kings), Tyler Hall (Knicks), Aleem Ford and Hassani Gravett (Magic), Mac McClung (Bulls) and Malcolm Hill (Hawks). All but McClung turned pro at some level before 2021.
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The other end of the spectrum is also limited. Though Isaiah Thomas and Lance Stephenson might be the biggest names among hardship deals, they're two of the older players signed to date. The oldest player currently added is 34-year-old CJ Miles, who joined the Celtics after having recently signed with the G League Ignite, and last played with the Wizards in 2019-20. Miles, Thomas, Stephenson, Ersan Ilyasova, Tim Frazier and James Ennis are the hardship players to date over age-31.
Interestingly, teams have thus far been averse to adding bigs, even if they've become thin at the position. The only true centers who have been reportedly signed are Wenyen Gabriel (to the Nets), Luke Kornet (Cavaliers), Marquese Chriss (Mavericks) and Freddie Gillespie (Magic).&nbsp;
Chriss and Raptors signee Nik Stauskas are the highest former draft picks to be signed; both were selected No. 8 overall. They're also the only two former lottery picks that teams have inked deals. So, no, front offices are not using the hardship exception as some kind of way to take a swing on a castoff top selection.
What does appear to matter, however, is recent production. Thomas obviously got his shot with the Lakers after a 42-point outburst in his first G League appearance with the Grand Rapids Gold.
Others have used a longer stint in the G League Showcase period to audition. Five of the top-10 G League Showcase per-game scoring leaders have signed contracts this month: BJ Johnson (Magic), Justin Jackson (Celtics), Trevelin Queen (two-way deal with Houston), Stauskas and Jared Harper (Pelicans). Four of the other five already have their rights held by NBA franchises. Let's see who signs Kyle Guy.
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The Nets and Raptors make good example cases. Brooklyn has added four players as of this writing. Langston Galloway and James Ennis are two steady veterans who contributed to NBA teams last season, and can both bring an instantly-translatable skill with their shooting. Gabriel is averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a physical presence in the G League. Then there's Shaquille Harrison, one of the peskier defenders in pro hoops, period. All of them are low-usage, specialist contributors with multiple year of pro experience.
Toronto, meanwhile, has safety blankets for others on the roster should they enter league protocols. Tremont Waters and Brandon Goodwin are steady facilitating guards; Fred VanVleet and Malachi Flynn are reportedly now ineligible. Stauskas can replicate Svi Mykhailiuk's role to a degree. Juwan Morgan is a hybrid forward in the same vein (at least positionall) as Precious Achiuwa. The moves make sense.
My general conclusion seems to be that NBA teams are largely playing it safe with their hardship signings. Few franchises appear to be using this circumstance as a chance to swing for the fences on a young player or a comeback veteran. Most simply want to patch holes.
And though the NBA is obviously in a confusing, frustrating, possibly dangerous situation with the pandemic, it will be interesting to see who capitalizes on their small window of opportunity.

NBA teams have had to dig into 10-day signings with COVID-19's impact on rosters.

How are NBA teams using the hardship exception?

It's a new NBA season, which means the Sour Rankings are back!&nbsp;
Unlike the typical "power rankings" that repeat themselves throughout sports media, Sour Rankings are a bizarro-world counter. These rankings highlight the top-10 most frustrating NBA franchises throughout the season, and they will be updated every week to match the twists and turns of the league.&nbsp;
This is not merely a bottom-10 of your typical best-to-worst power rankings. You will see championship contenders and playoff hopefuls mixed in with struggling squads. Teams well-under .500 may never touch the Sour Rankings because they are on track with their respective processes. Injuries, drama, transactions and general underwhelming play will all be considered.
The central question is ultimately this: How good should you feel about the direction of each franchise? Some teams value wins this season and paths to a title, while others are looking down the road at long-term pieces.&nbsp;
This week is not a "preview" installment; it is rather a barometer of the general vibe around a franchise as things get underway. The NBA preseason is generally filled with optimism; 10 teams make the Sour Rankings, but that doesn't mean they're all in dire straits, as I'll note.
So without further ado, let's get to it!
10. Washington Wizards
Given the circumstances, the Wizards had a satisfactory 2021 offseason. They returned three rotation-caliber players from the Russell Westbrook trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, and then went out and found a strong backcourt partner for Bradley Beal in Spencer Dinwiddie.&nbsp;
Washington could be a very solid team on paper with improved depth &mdash; but is that enough to make considerable playoff noise in the Eastern Conference? Beal's looming 2022 free-agent status shines a harsh spotlight on the current Wizards. Their star has stuck it out through multiple years of mediocrity. Maybe he'll re-up with the team that drafted him, but Beal would undoubtedly appreciate some serious postseason contention before having to decide.
9. Indiana Pacers
The injury bug simply will not let go of the Pacers. T.J. Warren still appears to be a ways off from recovering from a foot injury that held him to just four games last season. Caris LeVert will <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/10/16/pacers-caris-levert-getting-closer-but-miss-first-four-games/8489876002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly miss at least the first four games</a> of the regular season as he works to return from a stress fracture in his back. These are two top-scoring options out of the short-term picture.
Indiana largely opted to stay the course in a suddenly crowded East. The Pacers can't afford to fall behind early, and these absences certainly won't help.
8. New Orleans Pelicans
Another team hampered by health, this ranking is entirely due to Zion Williamson's injury status. The superstar forward has suffered a sprained knee, torn meniscus and foot fracture in the past years, and is now without a return timetable as he recovers from that foot surgery. Without Williamson, the Pelicans are nowhere near the playoff sleeper they could be &mdash; even with a new head coach and some positive roster moves. They need their centerpiece, and his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/we-should-be-worried-about-zion-williamson-ability-to-stay-healthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developing pattern of injuries is concerning</a>.
7. Phoenix Suns
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Mikal Bridges on being there for Deandre Ayton after not signing a new contract: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s way more mature with everything. He has great people around him. I try to do the best I can to clear his mind, but it&rsquo;s tough. .. Being around him every single day, I don&rsquo;t want to lose that.&rdquo;
&mdash; Evan Sidery (@esidery) <a href="https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1450186692871135232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Three hours before writing this, I would not have remotely considered the Suns to be in the Sour Rankings. But the rookie extension deadline has passed without Deandre Ayton securing a long-term deal, the first No. 1 pick since Anthony Bennett not to do so.
Suns general manager James Jones did not negotiate a maximum contract extension with the Bahamian big man, perhaps at the direction of team owner Robert Sarver &mdash; but the team did agree to a 4-year, $43 million extension with draft classmate Landry Shamet. As Evan Sidery <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/news/authors/evan-sidery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote in regards to Ayton</a>, that's blasphemous, and it could fragment an extremely fun, likable Phoenix squad.
6. Sacramento Kings
Your 2021 Las Vegas Summer League champs are back to fight the longest postseason drought in the league. The Kings are making strides with their young talent, highlighted by the preseason success of No. 9 overall pick Davion Mitchell, and retained a core piece in Richaun Holmes.&nbsp;
But does it feel like Sacramento is any closer to the playoffs? Buddy Hield was all-but-traded to the Lakers, and his future is now uncertain as the Kings see if a De'Aaron Fox-Tyrese-Haliburton-Mitchell lineup has potential. What about 2018 No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III, who was not extended at Monday's deadline? He's as big of a question mark as one can exist among young prospects league-wide.&nbsp;
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
There's definitely reason for optimism with the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards had a phenomenal second half to the 2020-21 season and an overall stellar rookie year. Karl-Anthony Towns can be rid of the awful, awful year-plus he has endured personally. D'Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley can get buckets, Jaden McDaniels and Jarred Vanderbilt are intriguing defensive pieces and Chris Finch had a summer to prep for all of this as head coach.&nbsp;
But the Gersson Rosas firing and fallout feels all too Timberwolves-y. It's yet another reset for Towns, who was vocally frustrated at training camp. Is the front office in position to guide the team with the season about to start?&nbsp;
4. Portland Trail Blazers
Larry Nance Jr.'s acquisition partially salvaged what was a wildly terrible offseason in Portland between the Chauncey Billups hiring and the Damian Lillard trade rumors. It appears Lillard is content to stick with the Blazers this season and see how the team operates under its first-year head coach. That's admirable, but it also means the entire season will be laced with tension.
Portland should run back a fun, high-scoring offense. Will the defense improve with Nance in the frontcourt? That's the big question. If not, the Blazers will return to playoff mediocrity and potentially push Lillard closer to the exit door.&nbsp;
3. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks were one of my picks for the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-which-nba-team-had-the-worst-offseason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worst NBA offseason</a> (Jackson Frank also picked them), and nothing in recent weeks has made me feel any better. Mark me down as adamantly opposed to the Jason Kidd hiring. Reggie Bullock is a fine individual player; he is not going to dramatically alter things on the offensive end. Plus, Dallas recently released 2020 draft pick Tyrell Terry, and we haven't seen much of 2020 first-rounder Josh Green. Where does the optimism come from outside of Luka Doncic?
2. Brooklyn Nets
I'm not going to get deep into the Kyrie Irving situation from a public health perspective, celebrity responsibility perspective or general common sense perspective. I don't have anything major to add to those discussions, other than to reinforce that Irving is carelessly and dangerously misusing his power as a public figure.&nbsp;
This section is about the Nets, who are paying the price for Irving's choices. The NBA title should have traveled through Brooklyn and its Big Three, and the Nets are still an elite basketball team with improved depth. But, remove an All-NBA-caliber player and the ceiling significantly lowers. Instead of being the overwhelming favorite, the Nets have become just another contender.
1. Philadelphia 76ers
Ben Simmons has given us the Hollywood trade drama we had missed since, well, last winter. Simmons was <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ben-simmons-thrown-out-of-practice-suspended-philadelphia-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tossed out of practice and suspended Tuesday</a>, so the months-long firestorm appears to still be getting hotter. But while that's a win for NBA/TMZ crossover fans, it's a serious loss for the 76ers, who now have to take this show into the regular season.
Joel Embiid has never played more than 64 games in a season, and is coming off of two shortened offseasons sandwiching an East Finals run. That should cause concern. The backcourt is fun, but nowhere near close to replicating Simmons' impact. Maybe Simmons actually does suit up in games &mdash; will he bring a positive on-court presence to a team that has publicly denounced his game?
Until Philly finally makes a trade &mdash; and who knows when it could happen &mdash; the Sixers' season could range from awkward to disastrous.

Ethan Fuller ranks the top-10 most frustrating NBA franchises ahead of the season.

NBA Sour Rankings: Chaos among the contenders?

A little over a year ago, Paul George was &ldquo;in a dark place.&rdquo;
While in the NBA Bubble in Orlando, George admitted that being away from his family and friends and focusing on work around the clock was affecting his mental health.
"I underestimated mental health, honestly," George told reporters during the 2020 NBA Playoffs. "I had anxiety, a little bit of depression. Just being locked in here, I just wasn't there. I checked out... The Bubble got the best of me.&rdquo;
His off-court struggles impacted his on-court production, as his averages dipped and he became the first NBA player since 1960 to shoot below 25% from the field in three-straight playoff games.&nbsp;
The internet had a field day, posting memes and dubbing him &ldquo;Pandemic P&rdquo; &mdash; a play on the &ldquo;Playoff P&rdquo; nickname that George gave himself in 2018. The criticism and jokes clearly bothered George, who tried to block everything out by disabling his Instagram comments. Teammates <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29739362/nba-playoffs-origin-playoff-p-where-paul-george-takes-next" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told him</a> to stay off of social media and just focus on the next game, and George started seeing a psychiatrist in hopes of ending his slump. 
While George&rsquo;s play improved during the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets, &ldquo;Pandemic P&rdquo; kept trending on Twitter. In addition to fans roasting George, some commentators and media members chimed in too.
"You can't be calling yourself 'Playoff P' and then lose all the time!&rdquo; Charles Barkley <a href="https://youtu.be/eHAzaInzbsA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &ldquo;You don't see me walking around saying I won the championship when I didn't win it; they don't call me 'Championship Chuck' when I walk around here!&rdquo;
The Clippers ended up getting eliminated in embarrassing fashion, blowing a 3-1 lead to the Nuggets. George&rsquo;s critics suddenly had even more ammunition. Even after George disclosed that he was dealing with mental-health issues, he continued to be ridiculed and criticized.&nbsp;
George has said that he's never experienced anything like the vitriol he received in the last year. Returning home from the NBA Bubble seemed to really help George, who was more motivated than ever to produce on basketball&rsquo;s biggest stage and silence his doubters.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m coming back with vengeance,&rdquo; George <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30721377/being-seen-weak-playoffs-fueled-me" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in January. "I didn't like, not so much of the noise and everything around [the way last season ended], but just the fact that people saw weakness. And I had to address that. I had to answer that. That fueled me. That put me in a place where I wanted to come back and be myself again."
George responded in a major way.&nbsp;
Last season, he averaged 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 3.2 threes and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.7% from the field, 41.1% from three-point range and 86.8% from the free-throw line.
During the playoffs, he took his game to another level, averaging 26.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.7 threes and a steal on 44.1/33.6/84.4 shooting splits.&nbsp;
When Kawhi Leonard suffered a partially torn ACL during Game 4 of the Clippers' second-round series against the Utah Jazz, it was George who stepped up. The very next game, George led the Clippers to victory behind a 37-point, 16-rebound, 5-assist, 3-triple, 2-block performance. In Game 6, he dropped 28 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 threes and a block to help Los Angeles advance.
One year removed from holding the Clippers back, he was now putting the team on his back and lifting them to the Western Conference Finals. While the Clippers ultimately lost to the Phoenix Suns in six games, George averaged 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.7 threes and 1.2 steals per contest. In a Game 5 win, he absolutely dominated to the tune of 41 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 treys and 3 steals while shooting 75% from the field, 50% from three and 100% from the free-throw line.&nbsp;
&ldquo;[He was] just being one of the top players in the league; I think we saw that in the playoffs last year when Kawhi went down,&rdquo; Clippers head coach Ty Lue said of George. &ldquo;PG was having a great playoffs anyway, but once Kawhi went down, to step up and beat the No. 1 seed in Utah in the last two games &mdash; Games 5 and 6 &mdash; and to play the way he did throughout the playoffs, [that was special]. He's carried teams before. He's a great player. He's been a top player in this league. This year, we need more from him &mdash; more leadership and to continue to play the way he played last season.&rdquo;
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&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t imagine any other locker room I would want to be a part of than this group right here.&rdquo;<a href="https://twitter.com/Yg_Trece?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Yg_Trece</a> on heading into the 2021-22 season. <a href="https://t.co/aI3EqBQQdF">pic.twitter.com/aI3EqBQQdF</a>
&mdash; LA Clippers (@LAClippers) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/1442644797605384193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

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&ldquo;I mean, he finished it off great,&rdquo; Leonard added. &ldquo;He gave it all he had that last playoff run. It was even hard to watch them, just being hurt. But they did their thing. Everybody stepped up, played in a great way, did a good job. This season, it's going to be different. I'm not there to really start training camp, but I think he's motivated enough and knows what he can do. He's been proving himself over the years in this league, from becoming a [top] defender to a leading scorer to a two-way player. But he's going to do good&hellip; It's all about him and his mindset. It doesn't matter what I think he should be doing or how he should play, I'm going to definitely give him feedback to help him get better, but it's all based on him.&rdquo;
Entering the 2021-22 campaign, George seems to be in a much better place mentally.
&ldquo;The whole year was a lot of ups and downs and just a lot of moving pieces, coming into last year. Now, this year, there's a lot of consistency, just in my life alone, in my approach,&rdquo; George said. &ldquo;There's a lot of consistency. I know what I'm doing, I know what I'm getting into, I know what I'm facing. So, it's night and day. Night and day. I feel like I'm a lot more clear-headed, a lot more focused, and just sharper coming into the situation... I'm just ready. I'm ready for this in whatever capacity it is; I'm ready for the challenge.&rdquo;
With Leonard out indefinitely, the Clippers will only go as far as George takes them. After seeing how the team fared without Leonard in the playoffs, George is confident that this group can still make some noise without their best player.
&ldquo;Coming into this year, I saw what I needed to see, and I think this group proved what we can accomplish being down Kawhi,&rdquo; George said. &ldquo;That was enough, going into this summer knowing what I need to bring, what I need to add, what I need to work on. I'm ready. I'm ready for the fight this year. Like I said, I saw what I needed to see.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We trust one another. Honestly, [in] Year 12, I couldn't imagine any other locker room I would want to be a part of than this group right here. Now, it's just about putting it to the floor.&rdquo;&nbsp;
This team's core pieces have trained together at times throughout the offseason. While the Clippers were competing in the NBA Summer League, George, Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann also traveled to Las Vegas to support their young teammates and train together. The trio worked out at Impact Basketball, with Coach Lue and his staff in attendance as well.
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&ldquo;I thought last year we achieved some things we wanted to achieve, but our common goal is to win a championship here,&rdquo; Lue said. &ldquo;But our guys really did a great job last year of just building each month, each game, and getting better and better. With the status of Kawhi, we don't know. We'll let him take his time and continue to do his rehab. When he's ready to come back, he'll come back. We've got to coach the season like we don't have him and just continue to keep building from there... He went down and we won Games 5 and 6 against Utah, the best team in the NBA at that point in time. We've just got to keep competing, keep preparing, and every day get better and better, and we'll live with the results at the end.&rdquo;
For George, one of his goals is to be even more well-rounded and fill the stat sheet this season.
&ldquo;I'm looking forward to taking on all facets &mdash; whether it's scoring, defending, playmaking... I'm looking forward to taking on [every] facet of the game,&rdquo; George said. &ldquo;I'm really going into this year [in hopes of] this being one of my most complete seasons as far as doing a little bit of everything. I just want to take on everything head-on and kind of just do everything on the floor.
&ldquo;I think I proved it and showed it to myself during the playoffs in that run, that stretch against Phoenix &mdash; whether it was rebounding, pushing the tempo, playmaking, scoring the ball. That really just fed my appetite even more.&rdquo;
Since George has been a number-one option before, he knows what to expect entering this season. His past experiences in Indiana will help him as he leads the Kawhi-less Clippers.
&ldquo;I think the biggest thing you take away from being the number-one guy is just how to control the game,&rdquo; George said. &ldquo;That's the only thing I can apply from being the number-one guy [in Indiana]. I mean, I've seen it all from doubles, traps... You name it, I've seen it. What you do take away from being the number-one option on a nightly basis is how [to] control the game and impact the game and play the game and slow the game down, [so it goes] how I want it to go. So, that will be my approach. How can this game be a Paul George game? How do I help my teammates? How do I make them better? How do I be a good teammate? But I think mostly, it's just how I can control the tempo and the pace of the game.
&ldquo;I've been in this position, so it gives me a level of comfort being the number-one guy to start, and I'm ready to lead.&rdquo;

One year ago, Paul George was "in a dark place." Now, he's coming off of an impressive playoff run and ready to lead the Clippers.

Clear-headed Paul George eager to lead Kawhi-less Clippers

The GOAT argument has heated up in recent years, with a growing contingent claiming LeBron James over the incumbent greatest of all-time, Michael Jordan. But no matter if it&rsquo;s Jordan, James, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, championships are a prerequisite.
Of course, team success is predicated on talent, and in basketball, one player impacts outcomes more so than in football or baseball. Still, the idea that the best player ever should inevitably be a decorated champion is oversimplified.&nbsp;
Ultimately, I posit that great players can achieve only so much on their own. A great supporting cast is also necessary. And if you examine the GOAT list, it becomes clear that great supporting casts are also a prerequisite. And with that being said, let&rsquo;s identify the best supporting casts of all time.
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5. Boston Celtics, 1980-1988
Key role players: Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Cedric Maxwell, M.L. Carr, Danny Ainge, Nate &ldquo;Tiny&rdquo; Archibald, Dennis Johnson
Championships: 3 (1980-81, 1983-84, 1985-86)
These teams saw some turnover, but the core remained mostly intact throughout the '80s &ndash; Bird, McHale, Parish and Archibald or Johnson. The 1983-84 and 1985-86 iterations had five players average 30 or more minutes per game, and all three championship teams featured five players averaging double figures in points per game. They were incredibly role-oriented and players were intimately familiar with those roles. But ultimately, the main case for the Celtics is that they boasted three of the 50 greatest players ever for their entire run in the '80s.
Side note: Despite having a reputation for being banged up, Bird missed very few games in his prime, making it incredibly difficult to examine how the Celtics fared in his absence. In fact, between the 1980-81 and 1985-86 seasons, Bird missed only five regular-season games. While that&rsquo;s clearly a ridiculously small sample size, the Celtics were 5-0 in those games without Bird. It&rsquo;s not enough to make the case that the Celtics&rsquo; supporting cast achieved anything significant in his absence, but it&rsquo;s something.
4. Miami Heat, 2012-2016
Key role players: Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller
Championships: 2 (2011-12, 2012-13)
The Heat were a surprisingly deep team. All we really remember is the Big Three and Ray Allen&rsquo;s clutch three-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. But there was far more depth in Miami than we care to remember. Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Mario Chalmers, Chris Anderson and Norris Cole all played big roles for the Heat. While there was a high degree of turnover in Miami in the 2010s, the key contributors were mostly the same. And they utilized lots of players; the 2011-12 team played 12 guys for 13 or more minutes per game, and the 2012-13 squad did so with 11 players.&nbsp;
But clearly nothing was more important for Miami than the Big Three. James was obviously the team&rsquo;s engine, but Wade and Bosh were crucial to Miami&rsquo;s success. Wade averaged more than 21 points per game in both championship seasons, whereas Bosh averaged slightly less than 20 points per game while taking on significantly more defensive responsibilities than in Toronto. Wade and Bosh combined to make the best one-two punch of any of the supporting casts on this list, making their inclusion here obvious.&nbsp;
3. Golden State Warriors, 2014-2018
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Key-role players: Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Ande Iguodala, Shaun Livingston
Championships: 3 (2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18)
This team is the hardest to write about, mainly because calling Durant a role player feels like it's backwards. Durant has half as many MVP awards as Curry and more scoring championships. But the premise of the article is that the great teams have supporting casts and that great supporting casts support starts &ndash; and Curry is that star. He was in Golden State for their first championship without Durant, and he remains there following Durant&rsquo;s departure. In total, Golden State won three championships in a relatively short amount of time, and in the one year which they did not win the championship, they set a new single-season NBA win record (73).&nbsp;
But however you view this team, it accomplished a great deal &ndash; and it was not predicated on one star. On the contrary, the Warriors spread the wealth. The 2017-18 Warriors, for example, averaged 113.5 points per game, 73 of which came from Curry, Durant and Thompson. And everyone on this team felt like part of the supporting cast at times. Further, 14 players averaged 13 or more minutes per game &ndash; which is more than any other team on this list.&nbsp;
2. Chicago Bulls, 1995-1998
Key role players: Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, Toni Kukoc, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley
Championships: 3 (1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1997-1998 &mdash; six in total, but the teams and supporting casts are distinctly different, separated by Jordan&rsquo;s retirement)
Eras make a difference. And the 1990s Bulls, featuring Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, were just flat-out better than every other team in the NBA in the 1990s. Want proof? The Bulls were one of only five teams with two starters in the All-Star games in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Oh, and their second All-Star, Pippen, was second runner-up for MVP in 1993-94, leading the Bulls to the third-best record in the Eastern Conference in 1993-94 without Jordan. Ironically, Pippen was probably the most equipped to go head-to-head with Jordan.
Jordan, Pippen and Rodman brought unmatched defensive versatility, and Jordan and Pippen were unstoppable, thanks to an unprecedented combination of size and skill. Add in a 6-foot-6 point guard (Harper), a big, ultra-skilled wing (Kukoc) and a dead-eye shooter (Kerr), and it was just too much for teams in the 90s to handle. Bottom line: Jordan was obviously unstoppable. But one player can&rsquo;t do everything on his own, and the fact that this team is still arguably the best team ever more than 30 years since they were dismantled speaks to just how great their supporting cast really was.
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1) Los Angeles Lakers 1979-1988
Key role players: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Mychal Cooper, A.C. Green and Mychal Thompson.
Championships: 5 (1979-80, 1981-82, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88)
The Showtime Lakers are about as unique a team as you&rsquo;ll come across in basketball history. Their most important player was unquestionably their point guard, Magic Johnson, evidenced by his leading the Lakers to a championship as a rookie while filling in as center in a decisive game. Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA&rsquo;s all-time leading scorer and arguably, at his peak, the best player ever. James Worthy is also an all-time great, having been named a member of the NBA at 50&rsquo;s top 50 players of all time.&nbsp;
But nothing speaks to the team&rsquo;s versatility more than this &ndash; Byron Scott led the Lakers in scoring in 1987-88 (21.7 points per game) despite the presence and health of Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Worthy.&nbsp;
Great players are clearly the building blocks on which great teams are built. But great supporting casts are a necessary part of all dynasties, too. Without them, teams run out of gas and get out-maneuvered by complicated defensive schemes. At the end of the day, you need both &ndash; and sometimes more &ndash; to win championships in the NBA.

Drew Maresca takes a look at some of the best supporting casts around NBA GOAT candidates.

Which NBA teams had the best supporting casts of all time?

Alex Kennedy examines which NBA players could have played professional football if they had seriously pursued it.

Which NBA players could have realistically played in the NFL?

Sometimes, it feels like the reality of possessing cap space does not line up with the rainbows-and-unicorns world of possibilities that some people imagine.&nbsp;
Fans can daydream about their favorite franchise hunting for a star because they have enough cap space to offer a max contract. But even if their team is capped out, many fans still spend hours on their online trade machine of choice until the result pops up with a green "Success!" and they've cracked the financial code on a title-winning maneuver.
If every NBA team can still wheel-and-deal, what's the benefit to having cap space, especially with a free-agency class generally viewed as mediocre?
It helps a lot &ndash; and often in unsuspecting ways. Take a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have absorbed undesirable contract after undesirable contract to help add to their war chest of draft picks. Or the Brooklyn Nets, who kept their books clean enough to eventually pull off the James Harden blockbuster. Same with the Atlanta Hawks, who picked up some key depth pieces in 2020 free agency en route to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Teams get rewarded for being smart with their money. This offseason, eight teams will have an easy path to meaningful cap space while the rest would have to jump through more hoops. These squads range from playoff hopefuls to aggressive rebuilders. Who should capitalize with a spending spree or headliner trade, and who should wait for the longer-term future?
Let's break down each team's situation, using cap numbers provided by <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/">Basketball Reference.</a>
Charlotte Hornets &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $27.4 million
This estimate means the Hornets let Devonte' Graham and Malik Monk hit restricted free agency. They'll also have Cody Zeller, Bismack Biyombo and Nick Richards as unrestricted free agents &ndash; notably, all bigs. Graham is probably the most coveted of the five, and if the Hornets re-sign him, they'd have a pretty nice guard rotation between Graham, LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier.&nbsp;
Charlotte barely missed out on the postseason, and that was with a rookie leading the way and clear improvement areas inside. They can absolutely make the necessary depth moves (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/hornets-mavericks-expected-to-pursue-richaun-holmes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richaun Holmes?</a>) to get close to playoff contention, and they have the No. 11 overall pick to help as well. Outside of Gordon Hayward's $120 million contract, Charlotte isn't tied down to too many deals right now.
Should they spend?&nbsp;Yes.
Miami Heat &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $34.5 million
The Heat would currently be over the cap, but that's before making a decision on team options for Goran Dragic ($19 million) and Andre Iguodala ($15 million). Those should probably be declined, and if they also ditch Omer Yurtseven's non-guaranteed deal, that suddenly gives Miami a ton of space.
However, the Heat would also have just five players on the team. They have to make re-signing decisions on Victor Oladipo, Duncan Robinson (RFA), Kendrick Nunn (RFA), Trevor Ariza, Nemanja Bjelica, Dewayne Dedmon, Udonis Haslem and the aforementioned players (Dragic, Iguodala and Yurtseven).
Miami is in a tough position. The Heat should be increasing their threat level as a playoff team, but first they simply have to worry about keeping the roster intact.
Should they spend?&nbsp;Yes.
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Memphis Grizzlies &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $24 million
The Grizzlies are in fantastic financial standing. With this estimate including Justise Winslow's $13 million team option being declined, only two players (Jonas Valanciunas and Dillon Brooks) will be making eight figures. Memphis will have 13 players, plus the No. 17 and No. 51 overall draft picks, at its disposal.
At the same time, the Grizzlies have been on the doorstep of the playoffs in two consecutive seasons, despite boasting one of the youngest rosters in the Association. There's no need to make a move simply to make a move. Everything should be purposefully built around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. &ndash; even if that means politely passing on splurging this summer.
Should they spend?&nbsp;Probably not.
Toronto Raptors &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $22 million
Perhaps the single biggest offseason decision, outside of some superstar player options, is Kyle Lowry's unrestricted free agency. Does the face of the Raptors make sense on an expensive contract as he approaches age-35? Or do the Raptors sign-and-trade him and take that gut punch? They also have to think about paying restricted free agent Gary Trent Jr.&nbsp;
Toronto can get to about $22 million in room prior to those decisions by renouncing Rodney Hood and Aron Baynes. Considering they're still very much a win-now team with long-term commitments to Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, I think the franchise should pay up to keep both Lowry and Trent Jr. It's unlikely they can match that short-term value with another move.
Should they spend?&nbsp;Yes &ndash; to re-sign their own talent.
Dallas Mavericks &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $20.5 million
This is not a hot take by any means, but Luka Doncic desperately needs help on both sides of the ball. Dallas has to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/for-dallas-building-around-luka-doncic-is-only-going-to-get-harder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make something happen</a> after a pretty tumultuous start to the offseason. They get some space with Tim Hardaway Jr. and J.J. Redick hitting free agency.&nbsp;
While $20 million is not a max slot, it can assuredly net a secondary scorer or prominent 3-and-D player who can take some pressue off of Dallas' franchise cornerstone. The Mavericks should feel the most pressure to spend of any team here. Every season that they underwhelm, the "Free Luka" chants will get louder.
Should they spend?&nbsp;PLEASE Yes.
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Oklahoma City Thunder &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $38 million
Even with Kemba Walker getting $36 million next season, the Thunder are free and clear in cap contexts because their second-largest contract will be the approximately $6 million given to the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. That's simply amazing.
OKC should continue to lean on its staple move: taking on bad contracts paired with picks or prospects. The full-scale rebuild is still in effect, though pieces are quickly coming together. There's no need to get sidetracked with spending money when everything is going according to plan. With 11 current players and six picks in the 2021 NBA Draft (three first-rounders and three second-rounders), the roster will fill itself out.
Should they spend?&nbsp;No &ndash; except to take on contracts for young talent.
San Antonio Spurs &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $48 million
San Antonio is at a crossroads unlike any other team. Veterans DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills and Rudy Gay are unrestricted free agents, and the oldest player currently under contract is now 27-year-old Derrick White. After hanging on the fringes of contention since Kawhi Leonard departed, this feels like a real reset for the Spurs, who now have the <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs/cap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youngest roster in the entire NBA</a>.
They should keep things that way. The Western Conference is as loaded as ever and even play-in spots will be a battle. Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell lead an intruiging young core that still appears well away from the playoffs.
San Antonio has been winning for decades, but they should not shell out larger deals to keep the team afloat when they can focus on developing something bigger long-term.
Should they spend?&nbsp;No.
New York Knicks &ndash; Possible Cap Space: approx. $50 million
New York's playoff berth was <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-which-teamplayer-surprised-you-most-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the biggest surprise of the season</a>, so many people are forgetting that this was supposed to be a youth-focused team. But now that the postseason is the expectation, there's no turning back, and the Knicks have the potential to build out a deep roster without sacrificing young talent.
Assuming New York picks up Julius Randle's team option, they still have a ton of room to add better-fitting parts around Randle, R.J. Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Immanuel Quickley. The franchise can choose to retain or bypass unrestricted free agents Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Nerlens Noel, Elfrid Payton or Alec Burks. They will also be the easiest financial facilitator for any blockbuster trades.&nbsp;
Obviously, they shouldn't get reckless, and unless the perfect storm comes, they shouldn't part with their youth. But otherwise, go crazy, Leon Rose and Scott Perry.
Should they spend?&nbsp;Yes.

Eight NBA teams have an easy path to meaningful cap space this summer. Which franchises should splurge on free agents or trades?

Which NBA teams have cap room this offseason, and should they use it?

For the first time in over a decade, the Boston Celtics enter an offseason without a clear point guard hierarchy.
Dating back to 2007-08, when Rajon Rondo broke out and helped the franchise earn an NBA title, Boston had an established line of clear-cut floor generals. Rondo carried the torch (albeit through some injury-shortened seasons) before Isaiah Thomas came along, and then Kyrie Irving, and then Kemba Walker.&nbsp;
All four were established starters and played signficant roles in the team's offense. But when newly promoted team president Brad Stevens sent Walker to Oklahoma City in the first major trade of the summer, the chain broke. Boston is in layers of unfamiliar territory this offseason -- new head coach, new general manager, new starting point guard -- and that's what makes this one of the more interesting offseasons in recent team history.
The point guard question isn't just about what name will appear on the jumbotron. It could challenge that bloodline of Celtics scoring guards and signal a shift to a different style of offense.
Does Boston's lead ball-handler need to be the point guard? Do Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need a third self-creator? What about the bench -- how do the Celtics resolve the revolving door at backup point guard and stabilize an inconsistent second unit? How many chips do the Celtics push in this summer with a potential spending spree looming in 2022?
Each answer changes depending on what avenue Stevens and head coach Ime Udoka choose. I'm just here to lay out the plausible options. Let's get started.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">In-House Solutions</h2>
The Celtics have five incumbent options to fill out the rotation. But according to Jared Weiss of&nbsp;The Athletic, two-way player Tremont Waters <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/tremont-waters-looking-to-leave-celtics-find-nba-rotation-role-elsewhere" target="_blank" rel="noopener">appears to be on his way out</a>. So that leaves four choices, with the most unproven player also being the only traditional point guard.&nbsp;
Marcus Smart is the longest-tenured Celtic. He's played seven seasons as a complement off the ball alongside all four of Rondo, Thomas, Irving and Walker. But Smart is&nbsp;different. Unlike the latter three in particular, he doesn't command touches or consistently make shots, but instead plays All-NBA-caliber defense and play-makes at an underrated level.&nbsp;
Despite what disgruntled Celtics fans might say about him hijacking possessions, Smart's usage rate has never exceeded 20%. He's a familiar fit next to Tatum and Brown, and could be the fuel that can jump start last year's disappointing defense.
Udoka sees it, too. He called Smart a <a href="https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2021/06/29/ime-udoka-invaluable-marcus-smart-celtics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'foundational piece'</a> back in June. If the Celtics re-sign Evan Fournier, Smart can focus on distributing to three solid scorers while setting the defensive tone. He's a capable starter -- even if his role looks different from Celtic point guards' past.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Great pass from Marcus Smart here. He's up to eight assists. <a href="https://t.co/hrQSmaEGl3">pic.twitter.com/hrQSmaEGl3</a>
&mdash; Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisgrenham/status/1389024830901604354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The experience level plummets after Smart. Payton Pritchard carved out a spot in the rotation as the 26th overall pick last season. The 23-year-old rookie made 41.1% of his threes and generally looked composed with the ball, but Pritchard has a ways to go as a defender and overall decision-maker.
Then, there's 2019 lottery pick Romeo Langford. The oft-injured guard may get some burn <a href="https://theathletic.com/2712647/2021/07/19/celtics-summer-league-roster-taking-shape-ahead-of-nba-draft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at point guard in Summer League</a>, and has shown glimpses of a versatile defender and attacker off the dribble. At this stage, though, Langford would be unprepared for a role he hasn't taken on since high school.&nbsp;
Carsen Edwards has yet to find consistency in his pro game and in the lineup. That leaves 21-year-old Israeli prospect Yam Madar -- the only player with a season of professional experience as a true point guard -- as a longshot option.
I'm as bullish on Madar's NBA future as anyone. At 6-foot-3, Madar's on-ball tenacity, athleticism and 40% three-point clip could shape up as a lethal combination. But it would be risky to even slot Madar in as a backup from the jump, much less put him in the starting lineup.
If the Celtics made no offseason addition, I'd expect Smart to roll as the starting "point guard." The position is in quotes because his role, and the position in general, lines up less and less with traditional responsibilities. Smart could be the "point guard," while Pritchard and Langford operate as backup "point guards," but Tatum and Brown will be just as important in setting the offensive table.&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Draft and Free Agency</h2>
Boston traded its No. 16 overall selection to OKC in the Kemba Walker deal. As things stand, Stevens only has the 45th pick to work with. If the choice is a point guard, that rookie is unlikely to be a Year 1 contributor. So we'll move on to free agent options.
The Celtics do not have cap space. They're actually $16.3 million over the salary cap, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/boston-celtics/cap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Spotrac</a>, and that's before potentially bringing back Fournier, who they can go over the cap to re-sign. Free agent signings will have to come via the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (worth about $9.5 million), the Bi-Annual Exception ($3.7 million) or veteran minimum contracts.&nbsp;
The pickings slim right down. I won't speculate on projected contracts, but consider that the Celtics signed Tristan Thompson to a similar deal (two years, $19 million) last offseason. Thompson was expected to be a borderline-starting player, and he more-or-less met that projection. Guards who could fit a similar tier include: Derrick Rose, T.J. McConnell, Reggie Jackson and Alex Caruso.&nbsp;
Boston signed Jeff Teague to a vet minimum deal last season. The move didn't pan out -- Teague was dealt at the trade deadline -- but he was brought in to be a steady, seasoned backup. Some names matching that description could be Patty Mills, Ish Smith or Langston Galloway.
Both pathways can infuse the rotation with quality players, but they likely won't be a long-term answer at the position. Plus, point guard isn't the only need on the roster, and the Celtics may find better value at another position. They shouldn't feel boxed in with these two avenues.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Trade Market</h2>
Do not expect Boston to swing another layered blockbuster this summer. If the salary cap sheets tell you anything, it's that Stevens is loading up to make a splash in 2022, when they have just three players locked down. The front office will bide its time until then.
The Celtics do have a whopping six trade exceptions at their disposal. Four of them are significant, worth approximately $11 million, $6.7 million, $5 million and $4.7 million. Teams cannot combine exceptions, so these would have to be used separately. But the $11 million TPE in particular must be used soon, or else it will expire on August 16.
What could the Celtics do with it? Potentially absorb a starting-caliber point guard, or package it with other players to make a more sizeable splash. For example, according to The Athletic's Zach Harper, both Dejounte Murray and Derrick White <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/dejounte-murray-derrick-white-could-both-be-gettable-in-spurs-trade-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are "gettable"</a> in trade talks. They haven't been linked to Boston, but Murray and White are two examples of players who could fit the rotation while being financially attainable in a trade.
Ultimately, I think there are three standout routes the Celtics can take without upending the roster.
Smart is going to be on this team barring an utter shock, and he should start -- but at point guard? I believe so... unless, in the interest of preserving the all-powerful 2022 cap space, the Celtics let Fournier walk. Then Smart could return to his usual role off-ball, and the starting point guard could be acquired via trade or the $9.5 million free agency slot.
At backup, I would predict a platoon of Pritchard, Langford and a veteran acquired with that $3.7 million Bi-Annnual Exception. Perhaps Madar breaks through, as well.&nbsp;
But the key takeaway should be that the point guard situation will differ from the past decade. Let's look back at the pipeline. Rondo's four highest seasonal usage rates of his career came in Boston. Thomas, Irving and Walker all logged usage rates of at least 26% in every season wearing green, per Basketball Reference.&nbsp;
Gone could be the days of the ball-dominant point guard in Boston. Whoever plays point has to facilitate, defend and find rhythm without extended touches. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the franchise's two faces, and every other player should be working off of the young stars.

The Celtics traded Kemba Walker this summer, creating a roster question mark. Ethan Fuller mulls Boston's options at point guard.

How can the Celtics build out their 2021-22 point-guard rotation?

In a <a href="https://theathletic.com/2660873/2021/06/19/an-inside-look-at-the-factors-that-led-to-the-inevitable-break-up-between-kemba-walker-and-the-celtics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">detailed story from Jared Weiss of&nbsp;The Athletic</a>, he reveals what factors led to coach-turned-president of basketball operations Brad Stevens trading Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday. While Walker's frustrating season played into the move, Weiss hinted that there was a general tensions surrounding the entire team, including relationships with Stevens and Marcus Smart.
According to the story, "At season&rsquo;s end, multiple sources close to the players said several members of the locker room were welcoming a coaching change, noting Stevens did not appear to hold key players accountable, with complaints he was favoring Smart over others." Smart has one year remaining on his current contract.
Weiss also said, "Smart has long been a favorite of both Stevens and predecessor Danny Ainge, even as Ainge was reportedly exploring trades for Smart. Despite the continuity in leadership, several team sources suggest the Celtics&rsquo; culture of competition is eroding &mdash; with more than one source pointing to the players&rsquo; perceived indifference toward Kyrie Irving stomping on the Celtics logo after the final home game of the season as a red flag they did not exhibit the same sense of pride in the organization that has been the Celtics&rsquo; calling card in years past."
The Celtics even had a chance to land Blake Griffin after he was bought out by Detroit this past season. But as Weiss writes, Griffin "was told not to come to Boston because of the apparent dysfunction."
As for Walker, Weiss reports that Boston had been attempting to move him throughout the 2020-21 season while the point guard worked his way back from a knee injury. But during this past year, the relationship between Walker and Stevens grew tense. In the report, Weiss writes that Gordon Hayward, before leaving the team, told Stevens to be harder on his guys.
"Several team sources felt Stevens was more aggressive with certain players this season, which included Walker, who was criticized for his defensive mistakes," Weiss wrote. "Those sources said Walker and Stevens began to butt heads, though the pair were considered to have a productive working relationship and mutual respect for one another."
It's an incriminating report for a team that is looking to keep young stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown around long-term. The Celtics lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs to Brooklyn and finished 36-36 in an underwhelming season.
In the weeks to follow, they have moved Stevens to the front office and opened up a search for a new head coach. Stevens has already shuttled Walker out to Oklahoma City, along with the No. 16 overall pick and future second-round picks, for Al Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-rounder.
We'll see how the Celtics look to further re-tool their roster -- and their image -- this offseason.

Kemba Walker and Brad Stevens reportedly developed a "tension-filled" relationship.

Report: Several Celtics 'were welcoming a coaching change' by season's end

A mere 236 days ago, the Los Angeles Lakers hoisted their 17th NBA title in Orlando. But fast-forward eight months later, and things feel hollow in Hollywood.
The No. 7 seed Lakers lost in six games to the Suns with the final dagger coming last night, and even with LeBron James on the court, yesterday's outcome never seemed in doubt. Phoenix led by as much as 29 points, and never let the margin slim to single digits in the second half.
Anthony Davis left early in the contest after <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/irresponsible-los-angeles-lakers-medical-team-anthony-davis-robert-griffin-iii-team-doctors-second-opinion-athlete-injuries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attempting to play through a groin strain</a>. James' impact waxed and waned throughout the night. L.A.'s supporting cast failed to step up. Now, for just the second time in 16 years, a James-led squad will watch the NBA conference semifinals from the couch.
Suddenly, the 2021 offseason looms large for a team hampered by injuries and inconsistency. Los Angeles must take stock of a number of key free agents, and decide whether to keep continuity or start fresh behind its two stars. Here's a quick primer on the Lakers' offseason itinerary:
<h3 style="text-align: left;">NBA Draft</h3>
The Lakers own the 22nd pick in the NBA Draft. As it stands currently, this would be the franchise's highest draft spot since selecting Lonzo Ball second overall back in 2017. L.A. hasn't made a pick in the first round since picking Moritz Wagner with the No. 25 overall choice in 2018.
Rob Pelinka and the front office will have to decide whether to use the pick on a rotation-ready player, a developmental talent similar to Talen Horton-Tucker or as a trade asset.&nbsp;
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Free Agency</h3>
With seven players entering unrestricted free agency and one restricted free agent, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/yearly/cap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Spotrac</a>, the Lakers are in a pivotal year for roster construction. Among the free agents are:
Talen Horton-Tucker (RFA) --&nbsp;The lone restricted free agent, Horton-Tucker showed flashes of a strong, versatile scorer in his second year. The 20-year-old averaged 9.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds across 65 contests as a bench piece. His best performance came May 12 against Houston, when Horton-Tucker put up 23 points and 10 rebounds in a victory. He's one of the few true "prospects" on the team, but could be in line for a serious pay raise if another team wants to squeeze the Lakers.
Dennis Schroder (UFA)&nbsp;-- Schroder averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 assists per game as L.A.'s starting point guard in the regular season, but went remarkably cold as the playoffs wore on. The 27-year-old reportedly <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2021/03/30/report-dennis-schroder-rejected-four-year-84m-contract-extension-from-lakers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">turned down a 4-year extension worth $84 million</a> back in March. It remains to be seen what Schroder wants as a free agent, and if the Lakers still wish to give him that kind of money in an extension.
Andre Drummond (UFA) -- As a prime buyout acquisition who fell out of L.A.'s rotation in the playoffs, Drummond sits in limbo. He's still one of the league's best rebounders (10.2 per game with the Lakers), but struggled mightily with efficiency and turnovers at the center spot. The team must decide if he's earned at least another offseason to help <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/andre-drummond-simplifying-the-game-producing-for-los-angeles-lakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acclimate with the roster</a>.
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16179256_lg.jpg" alt="" />
Alex Caruso (UFA)&nbsp;-- The 27-year-old emerged as one of the team's best 3-and-D complements. Caruso played in 61 games, made over 40% of his three-point attempts and was one of the few bright spots during some of L.A.'s rough patches in the spring. He made just $2.75 million this past season, and will assuredly receive more lucrative offers as a free agent.
Wesley Matthews (UFA) --&nbsp;Matthews helped the Lakers become the league's best defensive team with his chops on the perimeter. But a 51.7% True Shooting Percentage was a career low for the veteran shooting guard, and he made just 10 of 33 playoff field goal attempts. The 33-year-old made $3.6 million in 2020-21 and should be valued by contending teams.
Markieff Morris (UFA) --&nbsp;In his second year with the purple &amp; gold, Morris dealt with shooting inconsistencies, hitting on just 31.1% of his threes. He averaged 9.5 minutes per game in the playoffs, and made a tad over $1.6 million this past season.
Ben McLemore (UFA)&nbsp;-- The Lakers signed McLemore in April after he was waived by the Houston Rockets, and the former 2013 lottery pick mostly contributed as a bench scoring spark. He played only 36 minutes in the postseason, making two of his nine field goal attempts.&nbsp;
Jared Dudley (UFA)&nbsp;-- At this stage of his career, Dudley's primary value comes from his voice in the locker room. The 35-year-old played just 12 games in the regular season and five total playoff minutes as a reserve.
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Salary Cap Outlook</h3>
To be frank: the Lakers have no cap space. According to the <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/cap/2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data at Spotrac</a>, Los Angeles will be shelling out over $116 million next season to LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell (player option), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marc Gasol and Alfonzo McKinnie (non-guaranteed). And the franchise still has to pay Luol Deng $5 million in dead cap money after stretching his deal years ago.
Theoretically, the Lakers could nix McKinnie's non-guaranteed deal worth $1.9 million and hope Harrell declines his $9.7 million player option. That could put the team a hair under the estimated $112 million salary cap -- assuming they also renounce every other free agent mentioned above. The chances of all of those things happening seem pretty low, though.
Essentially, Hollywood cannot spend Hollywood money this year to mix up its roster. The Lakers will have to be cunning on the trade market, pick up veterans on minimum deals and navigate any mid-level exception contracts.&nbsp;
It's been a challenging year for the Lakers, who were faced with the shortest offseason in the NBA before opening 2020-21 as the defending champs.
But with the wound of a first-round loss still fresh, the hard work has only just begun.

The Lakers have eight potential free agents and the No. 22 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Ethan Fuller breaks down the decisions that must be made.

What do the Lakers have to address in the 2021 NBA offseason?

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.