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Kings

This article is part of a two-part series preview for the upcoming 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs.
With the 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs starting, all eyes will be on all teams competing for the championship as fans and players look on for a taste of postseason action. As eight playoff teams in each conference gear up for what promises to be an intense battle for the title, each team faces its own set of unique challenges. In this article, we take a closer look at the biggest question facing each Eastern Conference team heading into the playoffs, from injuries and roster changes to key matchups and strategic decisions.
<h3>Boston Celtics - Who&rsquo;s stopping them?</h3>
The Boston Celtics have been the best team in the regular season as evidenced by their 64-18 record. They have also been one of the most dominant regular season teams of all time, having the third-highest net rating in NBA history (11.8) which would rank just behind the 1996 and 1997 Chicago Bulls. If it were of any significance, those Bulls teams had 72-10 and 69-13 records and won it all in both years.
It&rsquo;s all written on the wall &ndash; the Celtics are in title or bust mode, which even just a conference finals appearance would probably be marked as a disappointment. Considering how dominant they have been throughout the season, a Finals appearance would be the minimum achievement.
This team is built almost as completely as they could ever be &mdash; offense, defense, bench, two stars that lift each other&rsquo;s game up, roster construction of players that complement them, and even the fans that are some of the most passionate in the league. These are things that are all you could ask for in a championship team, and with that being said &ndash; the pressure is on for Boston.
A big possible answer to that question is whether the Celtics would be the only ones who&rsquo;ll stop themselves from achieving and realizing their full potential &ndash; and there&rsquo;s only one way to find out.&nbsp;
The playoffs are a different story and looking at what we&rsquo;ve seen over the years, the Celtics have tendencies to underperform in the playoffs. With a new supporting cast featuring 2021 champ Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, a question lingers on the team: will it be different this time around?
They have had a history of flaming out in the past, and whether or not that continues this season remains to be seen. Time is the ultimate truth teller, and these Celtics hope to exercise their playoff demons when the time comes and their opportunities present themselves.
Will they be able to capitalize on a dominant regular season and take on the task at hand once and for all? They certainly hope with all the pieces they have now, they have enough to close it out and take it all the way and finish the job this time around to end the allegations against them once and for all.
<h3>New York Knicks - How far will they go without Julius Randle?</h3>
As we all know by now, health is the biggest factor in the playoffs. You always want to be complete and your best players to be healthy and ready to go when it matters most.
Unfortunately, this will not be the case for the New York Knicks this season, after losing all-star Julius Randle to a season-ending surgery to his injury.
Randle has been the Knicks&rsquo; best player for the past 3 seasons (before Brunson&rsquo;s ascension to King Knick this year). He brings that size and physicality along with that sneaky speed at the 4. On offense, Randle is a secondary creator and playmaker who can make plays for himself and his teammates. His improving three-point shot is now a weapon for teams not to sag off of him as much which could only help the Knicks in the playoffs.
Simply put, Randle is a matchup problem against traditional power forwards. Without him, the Knicks would not be able to tap on another gear that would only be possible with Randle out there on the floor.
Now, all eyes will be on Jalen Brunson as he tries to carry New York all by himself. It will be expected to see all possible defensive schemes thrown against him to try and contain the all-NBA caliber player in this season that he is.
<h3>Milwaukee Bucks - Can they hold the fort without Giannis?&nbsp;</h3>
The hits just keep on coming for the Bucks. After starting the season 30-13, they fired their head coach Adrian Griffin, and replaced him with Doc Rivers. They&rsquo;ve had their fair share of struggles with Rivers, losing to lottery teams like the Wizards, Grizzlies, and Raptors in one stretch, and they&rsquo;ve finished only a disappointing 19-20 the rest of the way to end the season.&nbsp;
Just recently, they received brutal news that superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the beginning of their series against the Indiana Pacers after injuring his left calf with three games left in the regular season. The upstart and young Pacers have been 4-1 against them during the year and it will be a tough battle without one of the five best players in the world playing. Will Damian Lillard and Co. step up to the plate?
<h3>Cleveland Cavaliers - Is this the &lsquo;last hurrah&rsquo; for Donovan Mitchell as a Cavalier?</h3>
All eyes are on the Cavaliers&rsquo; playoff run this season to gain ground after a disappointing finish last year. Can they keep soon-to-be free agent Donovan Mitchell happy enough? Or will another disappointing playoff exit lead him to bolt out of town to find another opportunity to win elsewhere?&nbsp;
Much of this will be attributed to the growth of their current core to gauge their improvements from last season. Will Darius Garland have enough juice to handle the scoring load outside of Mitchell as well as holding his own defensively? Will Evan Mobley display or unlock another offensive level in his game to be able to contribute on the offensive end to complement his defensive capabilities? Will Jarett Allen beat the allegations of lights were too bright in the playoffs in his second time around and bounce back from what has been a bad series against the Knicks last year? And is Max Strus the answer for the Cavs to advance into the second round with his spacing and shooting at the wing to give space for Mitchell to attack?
With his impending free agency, Donovan Mitchell has a big decision to make during the offseason. Will he stay and extend with this Cavaliers team who gave up assets for him? The Cavaliers have made some strides from being a young team with potential to a top 4-5 team in the East when they acquired Donovan Mitchell two years ago from the Utah Jazz. Since then, Mitchell has elevated their play and in turn, they got back to their first playoffs without LeBron James on the team.
However, rumors have been swirling that Mitchell wants to achieve postseason success, whether in this team or not. Some of these reportedly said that if the Cavs do not make the Finals this season, he might find another home elsewhere to chase that goal. Throughout his career, Mitchell has been to the first round multiple times but has been in the second round just twice. He has yet to make a conference finals appearance, and this postseason with the Cavs will determine if he falls short of that goal again.
Helping Mitchell this time around are shooters that the Cavs lacked a year ago, with Max Strus, Sam Merill, and Georges Niang now in the fold for the team. Cleveland got exposed by New York in just five games last year and it was basically because of their inability to space the floor around Mitchell and point guard Darius Garland. Now with an improved Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen all having a year to work on their games for this stretch, the Cavs aim to make the conference finals &mdash; before Mitchell&rsquo;s impending big decision in free agency.
<h3>Orlando Magic - How far can their youth and inexperience take them in the playoffs?</h3>
Being the youngest playoff team in the East's playoff field, the Magic come in with no expectations at hand. This young group has overachieved for the season having the fourth-best defense despite them being the 4th youngest team in the league. Making the playoffs has already been a huge accomplishment, but winning a series would not be so bad and would be a welcome sight for the team.&nbsp;
Nobody expected them to be in the hunt for the top seeds in the East, but here they are in their first playoff experience as a group as the fifth seed. This is only year 2 and 3 for young stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and they could only get better as years progress. This is only the beginning for Orlando and they could be a difficult fixture in the East for years to come.
<h3>Indiana Pacers - How big of an impact will Pascal Siakam be in the postseason?</h3>
Right after the trade to bring Siakam to Indiana, fans and basketball analysts alike mentioned how the trade was a win for Indiana and that Siakam&rsquo;s value would be seen through in the playoffs. When the game slows down and teams are more equipped and prepared for their defenses, teams would need solid execution on their half-court offense.
This was where Siakam was supposed to come in, and now that it&rsquo;s here, will he be able to step up and lead the Pacers to a series win? The 2019 champion with the Raptors has played 41 games with Indiana this season after the trade, and he has averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 55/39/70 shooting splits and he has given the Pacers a new dimension on offense. The Pacers who will go up against the Bucks for their first-round playoff series, have gone 4-1 against them &ndash; but it was all without Siakam. The question for them now is, how will they maintain the level of success they had vs the Bucks now that Siakam is in the rotation? Will Siakam end up being the ceiling-raiser for the postseason for them? Or could he end up disrupting the rhythm that the team had in the regular season vs the Bucks?
<h3>Philadelphia - Is this finally the year they advance with Nick Nurse at the helm?</h3>
The Sixers have had a lot of heartbreak over the years, from not being able to make the Conference Finals in Joel Embiid&rsquo;s career to choking multiple times in the playoffs, it's just disaster after disaster when it matters the most in the City of Brotherly Love.
However, they hope the outcome is going to come out differently this year due to one factor: Nick Nurse.
The 2019 champion coach has given the Sixers a lot to hope for with a breath of fresh air surrounding the team on offensive and defensive execution. This year, with Embiid being better than ever (being even better than last year&rsquo;s MVP campaign) and with the help of Nurse&rsquo;s diverse offensive sets, the Sixers&rsquo; title chances have increased significantly. Coach Nurse having the ability to make adjustments on the fly and push the right buttons will be a major weapon for the Sixers for their upcoming playoff run.
When healthy this year, Embiid has had one of the most dominant regular seasons in NBA history, averaging 34.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. The Sixers have a 31-8 record when he plays, which would equal the best win-pace mark in the league. He now has a dynamic sidekick in Tyrese Maxey who has been named an all-star this year, and general manager Daryl Morey has surrounded them with capable role players to complement their skill sets. Will Nurse be the final piece that puts all of the Sixers together?
<h3>Miami Heat - Can they rediscover their old magic against the Celtics, but this time without Jimmy Butler?</h3>
At this point, people got to understand and realize that playoff Jimmy is a real thing. The dude just turns it up when it matters the most and the lights are at their brightest, and has carried Miami every time in the postseason.
However, this year figures out to be an entirely different scenario with Butler being out with an injury. According to reports, Butler could be sidelined for multiple weeks due to an MCL sprain &mdash; devastating news for Miami ahead of their upcoming playoff matchup vs Boston.&nbsp;
The Heat have faced the Celtics three times over the past four seasons, and they have beaten them twice. All those games and series featured a lot of Butler carrying them to wins.
Without Butler though, things have changed dramatically fast. Now, the question stands: will they have enough to defeat their old nemesis (who&rsquo;s become the most dominant team in the league) sans their best player?

As eight playoff teams in each conference gear up for what promises to be an intense battle for the title, each team faces its own set of unique challenges.

2024 Eastern Conference Playoffs: Each team’s biggest question heading into the playoffs

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference, winning 14 of their last 15 games. The Cavs are currently 32-16, which is their best record through 48 games in five years.
With Monday night&rsquo;s win over the Sacramento Kings, the Cavaliers have climbed past the Milwaukee Bucks for second place in the Eastern Conference standings and first place in the Central Division. They are now just five games behind the Boston Celtics for first in the East.
This is somewhat uncharted territory for &lsquo;The Land&rsquo; as they have not been on any kind of streak like this before. Since 2024 began, they have the league&rsquo;s best record at 15-2 to surpass the franchise record for the best start to a calendar year. LeBron James&rsquo; 2008, 2010 and 2016 Cavaliers teams previously held the record with 12-3 marks.
Two of those James-led teams lost to the Finals-bound Celtics (2008 and 2010) while the 2016 squad won it all, which bodes well for this version of the Cavaliers with championship aspirations.
Their next 10 games to close out February include six teams below .500 and two games against a Philadelphia 76ers team without reigning MVP Joel Embiid, meaning this hot streak could continue. Their upcoming schedule is at Washington, at Brooklyn, at Toronto, vs. Philadelphia, vs. Chicago, vs. Orlando, at Phildelphia, at Washington, vs. Dallas and at Chicago.
The key to Cleveland&rsquo;s hot streak has been their main cog, Donovan Mitchell. Recently named to his fifth straight All-Star Game, the 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 28.2 points, 6.4 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game this season. The superb Mitchell has been willing the Cavs to win. What&rsquo;s more impressive is that Mitchell started this hot streak without fellow centerpieces Darius Garland and Evan Mobley in the lineup (although they have since returned from injuries).
Now, with Garland and Mobley back in the fold, the Cavaliers are even more lethal offensively and defensively as they look to contend in the Eastern Conference. Mobley&rsquo;s return has been impactful for Cleveland as they are tied for the best defense in the league in 2024, having a defensive rating of 105.4 along with the new-look New York Knicks.
The Cavaliers also filled a big need in the offseason by adding shooters Max Strus and Georges Niang in free agency. In last year&rsquo;s playoffs, they were exposed by the Knicks as they lacked outside shooting to complement Mitchell and Garland&rsquo;s drives and pick-and-roll actions with non-shooting big men Mobley and Jarrett Allen.&nbsp;
This season, the Cavs&rsquo; offseason signing of Strus has been huge, with the 6-foot-6 wing providing the necessary spacing. Strus was immediately inserted into the starting lineup over mainstays Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro and it has done wonders for Cleveland.
Off the bench, Niang also provides the same threat from outside in certain situations. The Cavs also rewarded Sam Merrill with some playing time, and he&rsquo;s been balling and shooting the ball at a high clip as of late, helping the team go on this amazing run.
Speaking of LeVert and Okoro, both wings have made noticeable improvements from last season with each playing a specified role suited to their strengths. LeVert comes in as a secondary playmaker and shotmaker to ease the burden on Garland and Mitchell, while Okoro plays lockdown defense on the opponent&rsquo;s best perimeter player as well as providing timely cuts to the rim and knocking down the occasional three-pointer.
Moreover, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has found his ideal rotation now that they&rsquo;re fully healthy again. Garland, Mitchell, Strus, Mobley and Allen are the team&rsquo;s usual starting five, and then off the bench comes Dean Wade, Okoro and LeVert. The Cavs always leave one big on the floor at all times (either Mobley or Allen) when the bench players come in while Garland and Mitchell&rsquo;s minutes get staggered in the middle of quarters. Niang and Merrill are their ninth and 10th men, providing a deep bench whenever they need extra shooting on the floor or when Strus struggles from outside.
Now, the Cavaliers will try to finish the season strong and hope that their regular-season success will translate to the postseason.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference, winning 14 of their last 15 games.

The Cavs are playing their best basketball of the Donovan Mitchell era

Blake Stern previews the NBA's Central Division, breaking down each team's projected lineup and burning question entering the year.

NBA Central Division Preview: Burning questions, rotation projections

The NBA recently announced the top performers at this year's NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, headlined by Summer League MVP Cam Whitmore of the Houston Rockets.
Whitmore was widely projected to be a top-10 pick entering the 2023 NBA Draft, but he ultimately slipped to No. 20 overall. Houston jumped at the chance to add Whitmore to their talented young core.
Whitmore averaged 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per game and showed plenty of flashes throughout Summer League.
The league also announced the All-Summer-League Teams, which can be found below. (Some of the most recognizable names didn't earn a spot on either team since they were shut down early.)
All-Summer-League First Team:
&bull; Keyonte George, Utah Jazz &bull; Sam Merrill, Cleveland Cavaliers &bull; Orlando Robinson, Miami Heat &bull; Hunter Tyson, Denver Nuggets &bull; Cam Whitmore, Houston Rockets
All-Summer-League Second Team:
&bull;&nbsp;Max Christie, Los Angeles Lakers &bull;&nbsp;Javon Freeman-Liberty,&nbsp;Chicago Bulls &bull;&nbsp;Xavier Moon, Los Angeles Clippers &bull;&nbsp;Emoni Bates, Cleveland Cavaliers &bull;&nbsp;Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets &bull;&nbsp;Jalen Wilson, Brooklyn Nets
Due to a tie in voting between Christie and Moon, both players were added to the All-Summer-League Second Team.

The NBA recently announced the top performers at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

NBA announces Summer League MVP and All-Summer-League teams

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Evan Mobley had 26 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 35 points off Charlotte turnovers to beat the Hornets for the second time in three days, 120-104 on Tuesday night.
Cedi Osman scored 24 points off the bench and Caris LeVert added 22 points and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who played without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell (sprained finger) and center Jarrett Allen (eye contusion).
Darius Garland chipped in 19 points for the Cavaliers, who entered the game in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers. The Cavs have won five of their last six games.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re ready for that playoff basketball mindset,&rdquo; said Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens, who got the start at the 4 spot and finished with 11 points. &ldquo;We are ready for whatever is up next. I think we are really connected and focusing on the details to get us to where we want to go and to make a big run later in the playoffs. So we need big games like this.&rdquo;
Kelly Oubre Jr. had 28 points and Terry Rozier added 22 points and 10 assists for the Hornets, who have lost three straight and fell to 11-27 at home.
The Hornets never looked in sync offensively. Charlotte turned the ball over 22 times in all &mdash; many of those self-inflicted &mdash; while Cleveland had just nine turnovers leading to six points for the Hornets.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a reason why they&rsquo;re the best defensive team in the NBA &mdash; they create a lot of turnovers, they&rsquo;re physical, they have size,&rdquo; Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. &ldquo;When you get behind, it&rsquo;s hard to come back. We had 10 more (turnovers) in the second half. You&rsquo;re just not going to win&rdquo; playing that way.&rdquo;
The Cavaliers needed to erase a 16-point second-half deficit on Sunday to beat the Hornets 114-108, getting 28 points from Garland.
They didn&rsquo;t need a comeback Tuesday.
The Cavaliers jumped out to a 63-48 lead at halftime after scoring 25 points on 15 Charlotte turnovers, while only turning the ball over once themselves. The Cavs stretched the lead to 22 late in the third quarter, and at one point had outscored the Hornets 31-0 off turnovers.
&ldquo;Understanding the value of every possession, that&rsquo;s one of the things that we&rsquo;ve been talking to the guys about is as the games become bigger, more critical, every possession matters,&rdquo; Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. &ldquo;Being able to get a shot on goal matters. When you have guys who can create, who can score, it&rsquo;s important to put it up on the rim, at least give yourself a chance.&rdquo;
Charlotte never challenged in the second half and Clifford subbed out his starters with four minutes to play and his team down by 19.
ALLEN IS DAY TO DAY
Allen missed his second straight game with a right eye contusion he sustained in Friday night&rsquo;s loss to Miami, and the Cavaliers are taking things &ldquo;day to day&rdquo; with their 6-foot-9 center, Bickerstaff said.
&ldquo;With Jarrett it is just a matter of how quickly it recovers,&rdquo; Bickerstaff said. &ldquo;With eyes it&rsquo;s difficult to put a timetable on it.&rdquo;
The 2022 NBA All-Star is in the midst of another strong season averaging 14.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 64.9% from the field.
Mitchell is expected to play Wednesday night versus Philadelphia as his absence was more about injury maintenance.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Signed&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/cavaliers-nba-merrill-8b9995607e3553727efdb569665d1ac0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guard Sam Merrill to a multi-year contract</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 197-pound Merrill signed a 10-day contract with the team on March 3 and appeared in one game for the Cavaliers.
Hornets: Dennis Smith Jr. had a flying one-handed dunk over Dean Wade off a baseline drive late in the third quarter. ... Center Mark Williams missed his fourth straight game with a sprained thumb.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Host Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Hornets: Host Philadelphia on Friday night.

Evan Mobley had 26 points and the Cavs beat the Hornets 120-104 on Tuesday — Cleveland's second win over Charlotte in three days.

Cavaliers defeat sloppy Hornets again without Mitchell, Allen

CLEVELAND (AP) &mdash; Darius Garland had 21 points and seven assists, Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers led by 35 points in a 114-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.
Evan Mobley had 16 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots, Jarrett Allen scored 15 points and Caris LeVert had 11. The Cavaliers are fourth in the Eastern Conference with 16 games left.
All-Star starter Mitchell, who sprained a finger on his left hand in the third quarter, and Garland only played 24 minutes apiece as the Cavaliers swept the four-game season series with Detroit. The Pistons were held below 95 points in each.
Cleveland is 40-26 and leads surging New York by 1 1/2 games for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Marvin Bagley III had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Detroit. The Pistons have the second-worst record in the NBA at 15-49 and are 0-11 in the Central Division. They have lost seven straight overall and seven in a row on the road.
Detroit played without four starters in center Jalen Duran (bilateral ankle soreness), forwards Bojan Bogdanovic (bilateral Achilles soreness) and Isaiah Stewart (right hip soreness) and guard Cade Cunningham (left tibia stress fracture).
Neither team led by double-digits until Mobley made a floater to open the third quarter, putting Cleveland up 56-45.
Ricky Rubio&rsquo;s 3-pointer early in the fourth gave the Cavaliers their largest advantage at 102-67.
Pistons rookie Buddy Boeheim &mdash; the son of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim &mdash; scored his first NBA points on a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. He only played one minute without taking a shot in his one previous game.
CHANGE OF SCENERY
Pistons center James Wiseman has seen his playing time double since being acquired in a Feb. 9 trade with Golden State. The second overall pick in the 2020 draft averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 24.7 minutes over his first five games with Detroit. &ldquo;I love him, I think he&rsquo;s a sponge,&rdquo; coach Dwane Casey said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s just raw and we have an opportunity to be patient with him, which Golden State didn&rsquo;t.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Pistons: Duren is averaging an NBA rookie-high 8.7 rebounds. The Memphis product has missed four straight games. &hellip; F Isaiah Livers (left ankle sprain) returned from a one-game absence. &hellip; F Eugene Omoruyi, who made two starts and played in 23 games with Oklahoma City this season, signed a 10-day contract.
Cavaliers: Mitchell and C Jarrett Allen both appeared in their 400th NBA games, while F Isaac Okoro played in his 200th. &hellip; Garland committed four fouls in the first half. &hellip; G Sam Merrill signed a 10-day contract to fill the roster spot that was held by F Kevin Love before his release. Merrill was averaging 16.4 points with the Cleveland Charge of the G League, setting a team record with 10 3-pointers against Greensboro on Feb. 22.
UP NEXT
Pistons: Host Portland on Monday night.
Cavaliers: Host Boston on Monday night.

Darius Garland had 21 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers led by 35 points in a 114-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

Darius Garland scores 21 points, Cavaliers rout Pistons 114-90

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

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

Milwaukee Bucks guard Grayson Allen has agreed on a two-year, $20 million rookie extension, his agent tells ESPN.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1450208004121370626?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnaroski/ESPN</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;This Bucks traded Sam Merrill to the Grizzlies as part of deal for Allen this offseason. The sharpshooting guard was originally the No. 21 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft to the Utah Jazz. Allen averaged 10.6 points per game in Memphis last season while making 39.1% of his threes.

The Bucks traded Sam Merrill to the Grizzlies as part of deal for Allen this offseason.

Bucks, Grayson Allen agree to 2-year, $20 million extension

The Grizzlies will have to find a way to get players off the roster, potentially by buying players out, trading or waiving them. Will Rajon Rondo be part of the team at the season&rsquo;s beginning? Probably not. What about Sam Merrill? Seems unlikely.
Source: <a href="https://dailymemphian.com/section/sportsmemphis-grizzlies/article/23623/memphis-grizzlies-more-buyouts-may-loom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drew Hill/The Daily Memphian</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Rondo was acquired by the Grizzlies, along with Patrick Beverley (who has since been dealt to Minnesota), in a trade that sent Eric Bledsoe to the Clippers. Merrill, meanwhile, was the return in a deal sending Grayson Allen to Milwaukee. Both are entering the last years of their respective contracts.
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Both Rondo and Merrill are entering the last years of their respective contracts.

Rajon Rondo, Sam Merrill unlikely to be with Memphis for 2021-22 season

The Memphis Grizzlies have gone to the playoffs only once in the past four years, winning just a single game &ndash; their opener against the Utah Jazz in the 2021 postseason.&nbsp;
The team's acquisition of Patrick Beverley on Sunday night could very well change that, and it is time to give props to general manager Zach Kleiman and team president Jason Wexler for pulling off this deal with the Grizzlies&rsquo; old rival, the Los Angeles Clippers.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/clippers-trading-rondo-beverley-oturu-to-grizzlies-for-eric-bledsoe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memphis acquired Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu</a> from the Clippers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe. The deal saves the Clippers $30 million in luxury tax payments for the upcoming season, but takes away their best perimeter defender. Paired with Kawhi Leonard recovering from surgery on a partially torn ACL and the team uncertain whether he can play in the upcoming season, this trade calls into question their commitment to competing in the upcoming season. Are the Clippers going to mail in the year ahead and focus on 2022-23 as their next championship window opportunity?
After defeating Dallas and Utah &ndash; the latter of which came with the biggest second-half comeback in NBA playoff history &ndash; but falling to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals, the Clippers may just have gone into pause mode with this move. The Clippers have not been forthcoming with details about the severity of Leonard&rsquo;s injury and exactly what his timetable is for returning, but it is fair to assume (based upon other players&rsquo; recovery times for similar injuries) that we will not see him on the court until the latter part of the upcoming season at the earliest. Bledsoe, if he stays in Los Angeles, will presumably split time at point guard with Reggie Jackson.
As for the Grizzlies, their offseason of activity has given them: a new center in Steven Adams; a top-10 draft pick in Ziaire Williams of Stanford; a new shooter and emergency ball-handler in Sam Merrill; and an intriguing overseas prospect in No. 30 pick Santi Aldama, who had his first good summer league performance on Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls. In addition, second-year shooting guard Desmond Bane is currently ranked third in Summer League scoring (24.0 points per game) despite playing only two games in Las Vegas while handling point guard duties.
The question now for Memphis is whether the team is ready to move forward with the roster as it is now, or if further moves will be made to continue building the supporting cast around Ja Morant. The Grizzlies have 17 fully guaranteed contracts, so paring down the roster will happen one way or another.
Still, with a projected starting five of Morant, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Adams, this will be one of the biggest mystery teams in the Western Conference. They finished 38-34 and defeated Golden State in the play-in tournament to earn the right to face the Jazz in the playoffs, but their Game 1 success against Utah did not carry over, as they lost their first-round series in five games.
The Grizzlies have traded away Jonas Valanciunas (he went to the Pelicans in the deal that brought in Williams and Bledsoe) and Grayson Allen (he went to the Bucks in the deal for Merrill), so head coach Taylor Jenkins will be tasked with making a leap forward with a lesser center but a better backcourt, especially now that Beverley is on board. His defensive talents are not easily quantifiable in terms of win shares or efficiency ratings. He just knows how to be a terrific on-ball defender; anyone who watched Jrue Holiday put on a clinic in the NBA Finals and/or the Olympics can appreciate that skill.
Many Clippers fans considered Beverley the heart and soul of the team.
Now, that designation is TBD in L.A. but not so much in Memphis &ndash; as long as the Grizzlies plan to keep Beverley. If they do, their chances of playoff success increase exponentially because they now have someone who can defend any opponent&rsquo;s best backcourt player. Those types of players are extraordinarily tough to find.

Chris Sheridan reacts to Memphis trading for Patrick Beverley and how it helps the team moving forward.

Grizzlies get backcourt boost by picking up defensive-minded Beverley

After a pandemic-induced hiatus, the NBA&rsquo;s Las Vegas Summer League returns. And with that comes the most electric small sample of inconsequential games on the league calendar.&nbsp;
The 2021 draft class will don NBA jerseys for the first time, and most of the 2020 class will finally receive a real training ground after missing out last season. With so much young talent descending on Las Vegas, every single team has multiple storylines to follow.
But fans also have the final few weeks of their summer to savor. So while I'll surely be watching as many games as possible, what teams should be considered appointment television? What rosters are chock full of prospects and intrigue?
Below are the eight "must-watch" teams of 2021 MGM Resorts Summer League, with a complete schedule included&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2021/vegas/schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Detroit Pistons
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Here&rsquo;s the Pistons&rsquo; Summer League roster <a href="https://t.co/oDl06KKiEF">pic.twitter.com/oDl06KKiEF</a>
&mdash; James Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLEdwardsIII/status/1423370122199248902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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As with every year of summer league, the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft immediately grabs headlines as a player to watch. And&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;expects big things from Cade Cunningham, who is largely considered to be one of the more polished prospects in recent memory.&nbsp;
However, it's not just Cunningham who makes this an exciting roster. Second-year forward Saddiq Bey joins the squad after landing on the All-Rookie First Team last season. Saben Lee turned heads as a second-round rookie. Killian Hayes is out to prove himself after injuries hampered the seventh overall pick of the 2020 draft. Sekou Doumbouya has some asserting to do as well, having yet to make a major leap since being drafted 15th overall in 2019.
You won't see Isaiah Stewart, Isaiah Livers or Chris Smith in action; they're&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/detnewsRodBeard/status/1423371634967257090" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly not playing due to injuries.</a>&nbsp;But there's simply so much talent and intrigue, even without those three. This could be a rare summer league team that could both win games and introduce the masses to some notable young players.
Houston Rockets
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🚀 Summer League roster is here! More info: <a href="https://t.co/nDED5Tfu0M">https://t.co/nDED5Tfu0M</a> <a href="https://t.co/q2wnObZApV">pic.twitter.com/q2wnObZApV</a>
&mdash; Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1423752361252728835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Until July 29, the Rockets had not made a first-round pick in the NBA Draft since selecting Sam Dekker all the way back in 2015. This year they picked not once, not twice, but four times in the first 24 selections.&nbsp;
All four choices &mdash; Jalen Green (the No. 2 overall pick), Alperen Sengun (No. 16), Usman Garuba (No. 23) and Josh Christopher (No. 24) will suit up in Vegas. They represent the future of the franchise and the first first-round picks by general manager Rafael Stone.&nbsp;
Don't forget about uber-athletic K.J. Martin, son of NBA veteran Kenyon Martin, and his quietly-successful rookie season, either. He could make some of the highlight-reel plays of the tournament.&nbsp;
Memphis Grizzlies
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/memgrizz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@memgrizz</a> today announced their 17-player roster for MGM Resorts <a href="https://twitter.com/NBASummerLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBASummerLeague</a> 2021 in Las Vegas. <a href="https://t.co/rJ0HBn26Lf">pic.twitter.com/rJ0HBn26Lf</a>
&mdash; Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrizzliesPR/status/1424099014979555328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Grizzlies might be my early pick as Las Vegas Summer League champs. Desmond Bane is frankly too good to be here. After making the All-Rookie Second Team last season and emerging as one of the better shooters in the entire league, Bane could eviscerate the younger opponents he'll face.
He'll be joined by three other 2020 draft picks in Xavier Tillman, Killian Tillie and Sam Merrill, who was recently acquired in the trade that sent Grayson Allen to Milwaukee. As far as summer league goes, this should be one of the more experienced squads in Las Vegas.
Toss in two first round picks in Ziaire Williams (No. 10) and Santi Aldama (No. 30) as well. Both were picked at least six spots higher than BasketballNews.com draft analyst Matt Babcock&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicted</a>&nbsp;before draft night. Time will tell if they were the right choices, but both can make a strong first impression at summer league. If undrafted rookie Yves Pons is doing&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/1423792346123145218?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stuff like this</a>, he's another one to watch.
Orlando Magic
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As expected, the Magic&rsquo;s NBA Summer League roster will include second-year guards Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton in addition to rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner. <a href="https://t.co/lyACl7whtD">https://t.co/lyACl7whtD</a> <a href="https://t.co/q6aPtdx7vG">pic.twitter.com/q6aPtdx7vG</a>
&mdash; Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/status/1422196207372361740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Orlando was one of two teams with multiple lottery picks in this summer's NBA Draft. Both Jalen Suggs (the No. 5 pick) and Franz Wagner (No. 8) will make appearances as two potential cornerstones for the franchise.
Suggs in particular should garner interest because he joins a crowded lineup of young, exciting guards in Orlando. Viewers will see two of the others in Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton. How will the Magic balance minutes in the early going? Will any of the three separate themselves from the pack? How often will Orlando try a three-guard lineup?
Those are just some of the questions that first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley will eventually have to answer.
Golden State Warriors
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Warriors announce updated Summer League Roster ahead of the team's five-game slate at the MGM Resorts Summer League 2021 in Las Vegas: <a href="https://t.co/E1CKLAyd1I">pic.twitter.com/E1CKLAyd1I</a>
&mdash; Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/WarriorsPR/status/1424098129180123138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Are Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga ready to join a rotation with win-now expectations? That's the central question for Golden State ahead of summer league. Both prospects had rocky-yet-promising debuts in the California Classic. Moody dropped 19 points (7-for-18 shooting) to go with seven rebounds, while Kuminga logged 18 points (7-for-14 shooting) and three rebounds against six turnovers.
As the No. 7 pick, Kuminga is theoretically a long-term upside play. Moody (No. 14 pick) is typically viewed as a safer, more NBA-ready prospect, but he too is a one-and-done wing. Even as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green push for a championship, these two shouldn't be forced into action. They'll grow at their own paces; summer league serves as a starting point.
Gary Payton II is the third player to focus on. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/what-andre-iguodalas-warriors-return-could-mean-rest-roster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drew Shiller of NBC Sports</a>, the Warriors have until Aug. 11 to waive the guard before guaranteeing $659,000 on his contract. We'll see how that plays out as Payton goes through the next 10 days.&nbsp;
Charlotte Hornets
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The Charlotte Hornets&rsquo; summer league roster featuring James Bouknight, Kai Jones and LiAngelo Ball, brother of Hornets star LaMelo Ball. More NBA from me: <a href="https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP">https://t.co/LGN9cVpeGP</a> <a href="https://t.co/keKAzpdc9O">pic.twitter.com/keKAzpdc9O</a>
&mdash; Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1422248415778455557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Hornets garnered widespread praise for their 2021 NBA Draft. Charlotte came away with a dynamic scoring guard in James Bouknight at No. 11, and then grabbed two high-upside talents in Kai Jones (at No. 19) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jt-thor-could-be-2021-nba-draft-diamond-in-the-rough-auburn-tigers-prospect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JT Thor</a>&nbsp;(who is not in the above graphic but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article253197298.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will play</a>) at No. 37.
I'll be especially intrigued in seeing just how NBA ready Jones and Thor appear to be. The Hornets don't have to rush either prospect and could opt to send them down to their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. If they do flash skill at summer league, though, they could eventually become exciting targets for LaMelo Ball.
And speaking of Ball, his brother LiAngelo will probably have his best shot at making the NBA this week. His name alone creates another storyline to follow, as LiAngelo hopes to follow his two brothers into stardom in the Association.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavs</a> have announced their Summer League roster. <a href="https://t.co/4rAzBB6KmZ">pic.twitter.com/4rAzBB6KmZ</a>
&mdash; Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinDavies/status/1422347397154344965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Cleveland is the only team in the NBA carrying two top-5 draft picks into summer league. Evan Mobley &mdash; a unique blend of size, speed and skill and this year's No. 3 pick &mdash; is certainly the headliner. Mobley has a ceiling as high as any in this draft class, and this week will give the first glimpses at how Cleveland looks to optimize him.
The other is Isaac Okoro, who started all 67 of the games he played last season. His usage rate was low, though, and the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft struggled with shooting efficiency as a rookie. He made just 29% of his three-pointers and had a true shooting percentage of just 51.4, which is relatively poor. He can demonstrate improvement in this setting while getting more touches and the chance to showcase his defensive prowess.
One other player I'd keep an eye on is Mfiondu Kabengele. The Cavs signed him outright in May after playing through two 10-day contracts. Kabengele is a 2019 first-round pick who never clicked with the Clippers, so this could be a good place to start fresh.
Toronto Raptors
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Raptors Summer League roster below! Moses Wright will no longer be with the Raptors in Vegas. Became uncertainty as other moves were made and he'll opt for a different situation. (Not uncommon.) <a href="https://t.co/lRcbGUWYrL">pic.twitter.com/lRcbGUWYrL</a>
&mdash; Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeMurphyODC/status/1423298986606223365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Kyle Lowry's departure signals a new era in Toronto -- one currently centered around Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby. Though they've graduated from summer league reps, fans will get to see three more key pieces that could define the franchise's future.
Toronto caught most draft analysts off guard by selecting Scottie Barnes with the fourth overall pick, but make no mistake, Barnes is a versatile forward whose combination of athleticism and processing speed will be on full display in Las Vegas.
Though Precious Achiuwa is not listed above, the second-year center will <a href="https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2021/vegas/team/1610612761/raptors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also be with Toronto</a>&nbsp;after coming over from Miami in the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade. Although the league has reportedly opened a tampering probe against the Miami Heat, at this time, there&rsquo;s no reason to believe that Achiuwa won&rsquo;t be in uniform for Toronto.
Fellow 2020 first-rounder Malachi Flynn will likely run the summer league offense in hopes of staking his claim as the Raptors' third guard in the rotation.&nbsp;
Newly-extended Masai Ujiri will surely keep a close eye on the three prospects as he ponders the identity of Toronto's next iteration.
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After a one-year hiatus, it&rsquo;ll be nice to have summer basketball back. And without question, these are the teams that I&rsquo;ll be keeping a close eye on.

The 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas begins on August 8, and some teams qualify as 'Must See' TV.

Who are the must-watch Summer League teams in Las Vegas?

Memphis is trading guard Grayson Allen to Milwaukee for Sam Merrill and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1423719062677372937" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Allen took on a larger role with the Grizzlies during his third season, starting 38 contests and averaging 10.6 points per game. He makes sense as a win-now piece to add to the defending champions. In return, the Grizzlies get a similar sharpshooter in Merril, who canned 44.7% of his triples as a rookie, along with draft compensation.

Allen took on a larger role with the Grizzlies during his third season, starting 38 contests and averaging 10.6 points per game.

Grizzlies trading Grayson Allen to Bucks for Sam Merrill, two second-rounders

Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 33 points and the Milwaukee Bucks withstood Giannis Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s absence to beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 on Thursday night for a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
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Brook Lopez was a PROBLEM tonight 💪 33 PTS (Playoff career-high) 14/18 FG 7 REB 4 BLK 2 STL 57.4 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/XRanc9ltSo">pic.twitter.com/XRanc9ltSo</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1410797123520634881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Four Bucks with 20+ PTS tonight 🔥 Lopez: 33 PTS Middleton: 26 PTS &amp; 13 REB Jrue: 25 PTS &amp; 13 AST Portis: 22 PTS <a href="https://t.co/FDxN50yxlJ">pic.twitter.com/FDxN50yxlJ</a>
&mdash; NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1410796761006944258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Bucks are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974. They won their lone NBA title in 1971.
Four of their starters had at least 22 points: Lopez, Khris Middleton (26), Jrue Holiday (25) and Bobby Portis (22). Middleton also had 13 rebounds and eight assists. Holiday had 13 assists and six rebounds.
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Khris Middleton ONCE AGAIN leads all scorers in FPTS as the <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a> take a 3-2 series lead 🔥 26 PTS 13 REB 8 AST 2 STL 1 BLK 61.6 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/eqAiB9eNJk">pic.twitter.com/eqAiB9eNJk</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1410795279029264386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Game 6 is Saturday in Atlanta, with the winner of the series facing the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals.
Each team was missing its biggest star as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/basketball-atlanta-hawks-milwaukee-bucks-nba-sports-053f01bbc94e396fd7e7284a8dba5a26">Antetokounmpo dealt with a hyperextended left knee</a> and Atlanta&rsquo;s Trae Young sat out a second straight game due to a bone bruise in his right foot.
Young got hurt when he accidentally stepped on an official&rsquo;s foot along the sideline in Milwaukee&rsquo;s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-atlanta-hawks-nba-sports-37eb7f881094685957f5b06a465262ab">113-102 Game 3 victory.</a> Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly after trying to block Clint Capela's dunk attempt in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ga-state-wire-ca-state-wire-az-state-wire-trae-young-wi-state-wire-b0b348df20dcd781f18a93768aec26ad">Atlanta&rsquo;s 110-88 Game 4 triumph.</a>
Just as the Hawks&rsquo; role players stepped up with Young sidelined in Game 4, Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s teammates came through Thursday to help the Bucks overcome the loss of their two-time MVP.
Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Hawks with 28 points. Atlanta also got 19 points each from John Collins and Danilo Gallinari, and 17 from Lou Williams.
Portis took Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s spot in the starting lineup and had the Fiserv Forum fans chanting &ldquo;Bobby! Bobby!&rdquo; on multiple occasions, continuing something that started during <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wi-state-wire-atlanta-hawks-milwaukee-bucks-nba-sports-bb63038e9db97c93aa82d6150a33875f">Milwaukee&rsquo;s Game 2 blowout victory.</a> Portis' 22 points were a playoff career high.
The Bucks never trailed and led by as many as 20 in the first quarter, making most of their shots and getting second-chance opportunities on their rare misses. The game was nearly eight minutes old by the time Cam Reddish got Atlanta&rsquo;s first defensive rebound.
Milwaukee led 36-22 after a first quarter in which the Bucks outscored the Hawks 28-8 in the paint. Bogdanovic&rsquo;s 13 first-half points helped the Hawks close the gap to 65-56 at the break.
The Bucks needed that edge in the paint because they again couldn&rsquo;t connect from range, continuing a problem that has hounded them the entire postseason. After making their first two 3-point shots, they missed their next 12 attempts from beyond the arc.
Atlanta cut the lead to 65-59 when Bogdanovic hit a 3-pointer to open the third-quarter scoring, but that&rsquo;s as close as the Hawks would get in the second half.
This marked the second straight game in this series without any lead changes. The Hawks never trailed in Game 4.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Center Clint Capela was in the starting lineup after being listed as questionable before the game due to inflammation in his right eye. Capela took an inadvertent elbow to the face from Milwaukee&rsquo;s Sam Merrill late in Game 4. He had six points and eight rebounds. &hellip; The Hawks are 6-3 in road playoff games.
Bucks: During his pregame availability, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer offered no update on when Antetokounmpo might be able to return. Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo did some work in the weight room and training area but didn&rsquo;t wasn&rsquo;t with his teammates on the court Thursday morning. &hellip; The Bucks made their first two 3-point attempts but missed their next 12 and finished 9 of 29.

Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 33 points and the Bucks withstood Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence to beat the Hawks.

Without Giannis, Bucks beat Hawks 123-112 for 3-2 lead

The Atlanta Hawks are dealing with another injury that could affect their preparations for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final.
Clint Capela, the Hawks' top rebounder and one of the NBA's best defensive players, took an inadvertent elbow to the face in the closing minutes of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ga-state-wire-ca-state-wire-az-state-wire-trae-young-wi-state-wire-b0b348df20dcd781f18a93768aec26ad">a 110-88 victory</a> over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.
In a postseason filled with significant injures, <a href="https://twitter.com/i/status/1410079224212463616">Capela was struck</a> in the right eye by Bucks guard Sam Merrill on a play under the basket. The Hawks center left the court with a towel over his face and did not return.
After being examined shortly after the game by the team ophthalmologist and checked again after the team arrived in Milwaukee, Capela was listed as questionable for Game 5 with eye inflammation.
The Hawks evened the series 2-2 despite missing star guard Trae Young, who injured his right ankle in a freak accident when he stepped on an official's foot along the sideline in Game 3.
With veteran Lou Williams filling in for Young and scoring 21 points, the Hawks romped to a dominating win.
Young was also listed as questionable for Thursday's contest with a bone bruise. Coach Nate McMillan said a decision on whether the point guard can play would likely be made shortly before tipoff, just as it was when he was a late scratch for Game 4.
&ldquo;He didn't feel comfortable enough to put pressure on his foot," McMillan said. &ldquo;I'm sure he'll be a game-time decision.&rdquo;
The Bucks also are dealing with a troubling injury to one of their key players. Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was doubtful for Game 5 after going down in the third quarter Tuesday with a hyperextended left knee while trying to contest a dunk by Capela.
Atlanta has dealt with a rash of injuries all season, most recently losing De'Andre Hunter for the rest of the playoffs after he reinjured his right knee in an opening-round victory over the Knicks. Hunter underwent surgery for a torn lateral meniscus and is expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp.
Cam Reddish also missed much of the season with an Achilles injury, but he played a big role in Game 4. In just his second appearance since Feb. 21, the second-year player scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and had two steals and a block in over 23 minutes of playing time.
(Editor's Note: Nekias Duncan wrote an in-depth film breakdown on the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/cam-reddish-shines-in-game-4-victory-hawks-bucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impact Reddish had in Atlanta's series-tying victory</a>,)
&ldquo;You have to adapt,&rdquo; McMillan said. &ldquo;That's part of coaching. That's part of the NBA."
Before Capela was injured, he pulled off <a href="https://twitter.com/i/status/1410064848335953922">an amazing play</a> that sent social media into a frenzy. While falling out of bounds behind the basket, with the shot clock about to expire, he launched one over the backboard with 7-footer Brook Lopez in his face.
Nothing but net.
&ldquo;Sometimes there are plays in a game, either you make or your opponent makes, that you know it may be your night,&rdquo; McMillan said with a smile. &ldquo;I think Larry Bird shot a shot liek that, but it wasn't as deep as Clint's. Clint was out of bounds and fading away. You just felt like it was gonna be our night when that ball went through.&rdquo;

“You have to adapt,” Nate McMillan said of the Hawks' injuries. “That's part of coaching. That's part of the NBA."

Hawks dealing with injuries to Trae Young, Clint Capela in East Finals

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and Bryn Forbes led Milwaukee&rsquo;s scorching start from 3-point range as the Bucks trounced the Miami Heat 132-98 on Monday night to extend their lead in this first-round playoff series.
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Giannis things in the big <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a> Game 2 victory 💯 31 PTS 13 REB 6 AST 3 STL 65.6 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/73KdXC666x">pic.twitter.com/73KdXC666x</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1397016823804186626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Milwaukee shot 22 of 53 from 3-point range &ndash; including 15 of 29 in the first half &ndash; and never trailed while leading by as many as 36 points. The Bucks' 22 3-pointers were their highest total ever in a playoff game.
Forbes scored 22 points and went 6 of 9 on 3-point attempts.
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Giannis things in the big <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Bucks</a> Game 2 victory 💯 31 PTS 13 REB 6 AST 3 STL 65.6 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/73KdXC666x">pic.twitter.com/73KdXC666x</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1397016823804186626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Bucks own a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series as they attempt to oust <a href="https://apnews.com/article/toronto-milwaukee-bucks-jae-crowder-khris-middleton-miami-5e27a4ba85d538d27947524e463921a8#:~:text=The%20fifth%2Dseeded%20Heat%20finished,of%20a%20sprained%20right%20ankle.">the team that beat them 4-1 in the second round last year. </a> Game 3 takes place Thursday in Miami.
Milwaukee&rsquo;s two victories in this season couldn&rsquo;t have looked much more different.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-miami-heat-khris-middleton-nba-sports-3621663bc8134aee7111cb1a09f5ce41">The Bucks needed Khris Middleton&rsquo;s tiebreaking jumper with 0.5 seconds left in overtime to pull out a 109-107 victory in Game 1, </a> which neither team ever led by more than eight points. Milwaukee essentially put away Game 2 in the first quarter as its 3-point attack went from fizzling to sizzling.
Milwaukee had shot 5 of 31 from behind the arc and made its fewest 3-pointers of the season Saturday. The Bucks were 10 of 15 on 3-point attempts in the first quarter alone Monday.
The Bucks led 46-20 at the end of the first quarter and 78-51 at halftime as they posted the highest first-half point total in their playoff history.
The hottest shooter on the floor was Forbes, who signed with Milwaukee in November after spending four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. Forbes came off the bench to score 14 points in the first quarter while shooting 5 of 6 overall and 4 of 5 on 3-pointers.
Middleton finished with 17 points and Pat Connaughton had 15 while shooting 5 of 9 from beyond the arc. Antetokounmpo had 13 rebounds and six assists to go along with his 31 points.
Jrue Holiday's 15 assists were one off the Bucks playoff record that is shared by Paul Pressey and Oscar Robertson. Holiday also had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Miami's Dewayne Dedmon had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead the Heat in both categories. Goran Dragic had 18 points and Bam Adebayo added 16.
TIP-INS
Heat: Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn picked up flagrant-one fouls on separate plays in the third quarter. Goran Dragic received a dead-ball technical foul later in the period. Ariza&rsquo;s came after an unsuccessful attempt to prevent an Antetokounmpo layup. Both players fell to the floor on the play, and Ariza appeared put his hands Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s chest and waist area while getting up. Nunn&rsquo;s foul was against Middleton.
Bucks: Milwaukee's 10 3-pointers in the opening period tied a playoff record for 3-pointers in a quarter. The Cleveland Cavaliers made 10 3-pointers in the second quarter of a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/f744c2e4725c488e982cedb863a1d33f">123-98 victory</a> over the Atlanta Hawks on May 4, 2016. ... Milwaukee outrebounded the Heat 61-36. The Bucks had a 64-51 edge on the glass in Game 1. ... As well as the Bucks shot from beyond the arc Monday, this didn&rsquo;t approach their best 3-point performance against the Heat this season. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-milwaukee-bucks-miami-sam-merrill-houston-rockets-272c23ba558f9ae4495605628943d05f">They made an NBA-record 29 3-pointers in a 144-97 victory at Miami on Dec. 29.</a>
___
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___
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Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and Bryn Forbes led Milwaukee’s scorching start from deep as the Bucks trounced the Heat in Game 2.

Giannis, Forbes capitalize on hot start as Bucks roll past Heat 132-98

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The price the Bucks paid to add Jrue Holiday to their roster and the amount they invested to keep him underscores how much Milwaukee believes the guard can help them end a half-century of NBA postseason frustration.
Holiday gets his chance to hold up his end of the deal this weekend when the Bucks begin a first-round series with the Miami Heat, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/toronto-milwaukee-bucks-jae-crowder-khris-middleton-miami-5e27a4ba85d538d27947524e463921a8#:~:text=The%20fifth%2Dseeded%20Heat%20finished,of%20a%20sprained%20right%20ankle.">who eliminated them in the second round last year.</a>
“I think for somebody who just wants an opportunity to win and do the best they can, to come to a team like this and try to make something happen, I’m ready for this,” Holiday said. “I’m excited to get going.”
Milwaukee posted the NBA’s best regular-season record in 2018-19 and 2019-20 but fell short in the playoffs both times. The Bucks responded by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-milwaukee-milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-d33a37948c6526f18d0b9725cdc57e6e">overhauling their roster</a> and putting a new group around <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-milwaukee-bucks-hakeem-olajuwon-michael-jordan-nba-06ca728b06e0cef837c41592b7a41862#:~:text=LAKE%20BUENA%20VISTA%2C%20Fla.,season%2C%20receiving%20that%20award%20Friday.">two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo</a> and two-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton. 
No change was bigger than the addition of Holiday, who is playing for a legitimate title contender for the first time in his NBA career.
“It’s like a brotherhood,” Holiday said. “I want to be able to support my teammates and make them better just like they make me better.”
The Bucks gave up guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, first-round draft choice R.J. Hampton and two future first-round picks <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-milwaukee-bucks-new-orleans-pelicans-jrue-holiday-khris-middleton-71610073d85a7dbabd0347d282308dcc">to acquire Holiday </a> and Sam Merrill from the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a four-team trade. The Bucks also gave New Orleans the right to swap two future first-round picks.
Holiday, who turns 31 on June 12, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-jrue-holiday-giannis-antetokounmpo-6ad067b5c92a9ce87cac5013a81558ce#:~:text=MILWAUKEE%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Milwaukee%20Bucks,option%20for%20the%20final%20season.">signed a four-year contract extension</a> last month <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-milwaukee-milwaukee-bucks-jrue-holiday-a42289271de9c6b390a8e1ed15b9de49">that would be worth at least $134 million if he exercises his option for the final season. </a>
The Bucks say he’s been even better than expected.
“As the season’s played out, certainly we appreciate what he brings to the game on both ends of the court,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Just the more great two-way players you have, the better your team is going to be.”
Holiday missed 10 games this season due to COVID-19 but averaged 17.7 points, 6.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds while ranking fifth in the NBA in steals (1.63). He shot 50.3% overall and 39.2% from 3-point range - both career highs - and stepped up his play after the All-Star break.
“I knew he was a good and complete player,” Middleton said, “but I didn’t know he was this good.”
Holiday’s presence helped the Bucks average 120.1 points per game and become the first team since the 1984-85 Denver Nuggets to finish a regular season averaging at least 120 points. 
The Bucks believe they upgraded by having Holiday take over at point guard for Bledsoe, who performed well in the regular season but struggled in Milwaukee’s playoff losses.
Holiday is making just his fifth playoff appearance in 12 NBA seasons and never has advanced beyond the second round.
The Bucks expect much more that a second-round exit.
Milwaukee guard Pat Connaughton believes Holiday has a game ideally suited for the playoffs. Connaughton was playing for Portland in 2018 <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab4a4b8f31864599a6fff457e1ba2977">when his Trail Blazers were swept by Holiday’s Pelicans.</a>
“His ability to control the game offensively, always be in control on offense in attack mode but then defensively to take away another team’s best player, that’s what playoff basketball is,” Connaughton said. 
As he tries to help his new team win its first NBA title since 1971, Holiday already is making an impact in Milwaukee off the floor.
He donated part of his 2019-20 salary to form the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund with his wife, who won two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup as a midfielder with the U.S. women’s national soccer team.
While Holiday prepares for the playoffs this week, his family’s foundation s opening a second round of funding to provide up to $1 million in grant money to fund Black-owned businesses and Black-led organizations in the Milwaukee, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Los Angeles areas.
“My family and I are here to support my community and be able to give back as much as possible,” Holiday said. “It is really exciting. It’s just that I also have to lock into something else right now.”
At the top of that list is helping Milwaukee end its NBA title drought.
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___
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The Bucks gave up Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, first-round pick R.J. Hampton and two future first-round picks to acquire Holiday.

Jrue Holiday eager to help Milwaukee take next step in playoffs

MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Jrue Holiday says it was an easy decision to sign a contract extension in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Holiday pretty much knew he wanted to stay in Milwaukee for years to come once he spoke to team officials shortly after they paid a steep price to acquire him. General manager Jon Horst made it apparent how much the Bucks valued the veteran guard.
&ldquo;I feel like you can tell when somebody&rsquo;s like super excited or happy about something, and you could hear it in his voice,&rdquo; Holiday said Monday, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-jrue-holiday-giannis-antetokounmpo-6ad067b5c92a9ce87cac5013a81558ce#:~:text=MILWAUKEE%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Milwaukee%20Bucks,option%20for%20the%20final%20season.">one day after agreeing to terms on a four-year extension </a> that would be worth at least $134 million if he exercises his option for the final season. &ldquo;At that point, I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Man, he really wanted me to be here.&rsquo;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really not the type to be wooed and all that. I don&rsquo;t need to be courted or whatever, but it felt good to be appreciated. It felt good to be wanted.&rdquo;
Under the terms of his new deal, Holiday receives base salaries of $30.1 million next season, $32.4 million in 2022-23 and $34.7 million in 2023-24. He also holds a $37 million option for 2024-25.
There are incentives that could push the total value of Holiday&rsquo;s deal to nearly $160 million.
The 30-year-old said his teammates reinforced his desire to stay in Milwaukee.
&ldquo;Not just on the court, but off the court, how my teammates, how they are, just great people,&rdquo; Holiday said. &ldquo;Made me feel like family. You want to be around them. You want to have that type of character around you and your family. They made it an easy decision.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-milwaukee-bucks-new-orleans-pelicans-jrue-holiday-khris-middleton-71610073d85a7dbabd0347d282308dcc">The Bucks acquired Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans </a> in November as part of a four-team trade.
Milwaukee gave up guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, first-round draft choice R.J. Hampton and two future first-round draft picks. The Bucks also acquired Sam Merrill and gave New Orleans the right to swap two future first-round picks.
The Bucks believe the 6-foot-3 Holiday has been worth the price.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think you can kind of appreciate the strength and physicality he brings to both ends of the court until you get to see it night in and night out,&rdquo; coach Mike Budenholzer said. &ldquo;What he does defensively, takes on different matchups, different-sized guys, you hear about it and everybody talks about it and everything, so you have this expectation, but once you&rsquo;re around it, it&rsquo;s even more impressive.&rdquo;
Holiday is averaging 17 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals this season. He was named the Eastern Conference player of the week Monday after averaging 26.8 points, 8.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals over his last four games, all on the road.
He&rsquo;s been an equally big contributor off the court. Holiday received an NBA Cares community assist award in January for his efforts to support people impacted by the pandemic.
Holiday agreed to his deal less than four months after the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nba-milwaukee-bucks-milwaukee-giannis-antetokounmpo-4064e58864446b2d55314713caea70b1">Bucks signed two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to a supermax extension</a>.
The franchise&rsquo;s investment in Holiday, Antetokounmpo and two-time All-Star Khris Middleton &mdash; even without incentives &mdash; adds up to $105 million in 2021-22 and $113 million in 2022-23. That figure would reach $120 million in 2023-24 if Middleton exercises an option he has for that season.
Holiday believes that commitment should enable the Bucks to contend for years to come as they chase their first NBA title since 1971. As the Bucks prepared to play at Golden State on Tuesday, Holiday compared Milwaukee&rsquo;s situation to how the Warriors assembled their championship teams.
&ldquo;They built together for so long and they won together for so long that I feel like it kind of came to a point where they were just this well-oiled machine and knew each other and knew how things were going to go,&rdquo; Holiday said. &ldquo;Yeah, I feel like that&rsquo;s what I want to be a part of.&rdquo;
NOTES: Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo practiced Monday after missing Saturday&rsquo;s game with a sore left knee. The 6-foot-11 forward&rsquo;s status for Tuesday&rsquo;s game remains uncertain. &hellip; Reserve forward P.J. Tucker didn&rsquo;t practice Monday. Tucker has missed six straight games with a calf injury.
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___
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Jrue Holiday explains why signing a four-year, max extension with the Milwaukee Bucks was a no-brainer.

Jrue Holiday says signing extension with Bucks was 'easy decision'

The Milwaukee Bucks and Jrue Holiday have reportedly agreed to terms on a maximum four-year, $160 million contract extension.
Source: <a href="https://theathletic.com/news/bucks-jrue-holiday-agree-to-160-million-max-contract-extension/y4DDn67nmN3B" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;The Bucks made a splash in the 2020 offseason by trading for Holiday, and now the franchise is committing to him long-term. The 30-year-old guard is averaging 17.0 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game with his new team. Milwaukee is 7.1 points per 100 possessions better when Holiday is on the court, and his sound decision-making and shooting efficiency (39 percent from distance) have proved beneficial.
The trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Holiday are outscoring opponents by 10.2 points per 100 possessions when they share the court.
AP Story
Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday followed up his biggest game of the season by making a long-term commitment to his new team.
Holiday agreed to a four-year contract extension that would be worth at least $134 million if he exercises his option for the final season. The Bucks announced the agreement Sunday.
&ldquo;I'm a Buck for life,&rdquo; Holiday said in a video posted on the Bucks' Twitter account. &ldquo;Just know that I'm glad to be a part of Bucks Nation. Let's do some big things, man. I'm really excited.&rdquo;
The announcement came one day after Holiday had a season-high 33 points as well as 11 assists and seven rebounds in a 129-128 victory at Sacramento. Holiday's performance enabled the Bucks to withstand the absence of reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat out with a sore left knee.
The move represents the latest step in the Bucks&rsquo; heavy investment in their trio of Holiday, Antetokounmpo and two-time All-Star Khris Middleton as the franchise chases its first NBA title since 1971.
The Bucks posted the NBA's best regular-season record each of the last two seasons but lost in the Eastern Conference finals in 2019 and in the second round of the playoffs last year. Entering Sunday, Milwaukee owned a 32-17 record and was two games behind Philadelphia and Brooklyn in the East standings.
"Jrue is one of the top guards in the NBA and we are thrilled to sign him to this extension,&rdquo; Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. &ldquo;Adding him to our team has made us better on both ends of the floor. He&rsquo;s an elite defender and an impactful offensive player with the ability to score, shoot and facilitate.&rdquo;
Holiday had a $26.7 million player option remaining for the 2021-21 season as part of the five-year, $126 million contract he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in July 2017.
Under the terms of this deal, Holiday declines that option but receives base salaries of $30.1 million next season, $32.4 million in 2022-23 and $34.7 million in 2023-24. He also holds a $37 million option for 2024-25.
There are incentives that could push the total value of Holiday's deal to nearly $160 million.
The Bucks&rsquo; investment in Holiday, Antetokounmpo and Middleton &mdash; even without incentives &mdash; totals $105 million in 2021-22, $113 million in 2022-23 and would be $120 million in 2023-24 if Middleton exercises a player option he has for that season.
The 30-year-old Holiday is averaging 17 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals this year in his first season with the Bucks. He ranks second in the league in steals per game.
He missed 10 games earlier this season after testing positive for COVID-19 but has come on strong lately.
Holiday has scored at least 22 points in four straight games. Since the All-Star break, he has averaged 20.8 points and has shot 54.1% overall and 44.3% from 3-point range.
The only other NBA players averaging at least 16 points, five assists, four rebounds and 1.5 steals this season are Miami&rsquo;s Jimmy Butler, Denver&rsquo;s Nikola Joki? and Toronto&rsquo;s Fred VanVleet.
Milwaukee paid a heavy price to acquire Holiday in the offseason as it attempted to strengthen the team in hopes of getting a long-term commitment from Antetokounmpo, who signed a five-year supermax extension worth a reported $228 million in December.
The Bucks gave up guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill, first-round draft choice R.J. Hampton and two future first-round draft picks as part of the four-team trade. They also acquired second-round pick Sam Merrill and gave New Orleans the right to swap two future first-round picks as part of the deal.
&ldquo;Them giving up all the pieces that they did, it really, really made me feel like they wanted me to be here,&rdquo; Holiday said shortly after the trade. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s always a good feeling.&rdquo;
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Holiday joined the team after being traded from the Pelicans in the 2020 offseason.

Jrue Holiday inks four-year max extension: ‘I’m a Buck for life’

Bad news ruled the day Thursday, as the NBA universe once again mimicked the world at large. Klay Thompson is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-offseason-golden-state-warriors-klay-thompson-achilles-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out for another year</a>, and the long, dark winter that will include a lot of fresh faces in new NBA places will be proceeding without one of the league&rsquo;s best players.
The year 2020 has been unrelenting when it comes to unwelcome surprises, and the Golden State Warriors and their fans took one on the chin&nbsp;over the past 24 hours.
But while the Warriors were skirting the panic zone, it was safe to say the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks emerged looking a whole lot better after Wednesday night&rsquo;s NBA Draft and Thursday&rsquo;s transaction news. The unfortunates included television viewers who expected clarity over the course of draft night, along with the Milwaukee Bucks, whose deal for Bogdan Bogdanovic is in hiatus mode.
The NBA churned forward Thursday with the countdown to opening night now 33 days away, and the deadline for Giannis Antetokounmpo to accept or reject a supermax offer from the Bucks sitting at 31 days. Yes, Jon Horst is on the clock, and if pen does not meet paper on that supermax deal, let&rsquo;s just say we will have a new Most-Likely-To-Be-Traded candidate replacing Russell Westbrook.
A total of 11 trades were made over the course of the four-plus hour draft, and confusion reigned throughout the night on TV. It was best exemplified when Kentucky coach John Calipari came on the air after pick No. 25 was Wildcats point guard Immanuel Quickley and said, &ldquo;You guys realize he&rsquo;s going to the Knicks, right?&rdquo;
The pick had been made by the Thunder and was part of multi-team transactions involving New York, Minnesota and Oklahoma City. With so many moving parts and so many deals taking place simultaneously, it was not immediately apparent that New York emerged with the SEC Player of the Year, along with the consensus College Player of the Year, Dayton&rsquo;s Obi Toppin.
Leon Rose, William Wesley and Tom Thibodeau made more moves Thursday; they let go of Elfrid Payton, Taj Gibson and Wayne Ellington and declined the team option on Bobby Portis, setting themselves up for free agency as one of the handful of teams with a ton of salary cap space. New York and Atlanta are reportedly interested in Gordon Hayward, who declined his $34 million player option with the Boston Celtics this evening.
That put the Knicks the winners column along with the Sixers, both for what they did in the trade market and what they did in the draft. Early in the day Wednesday, new Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey dealt Al Horford and the $81 million remaining on his contract to Oklahoma City for Danny Green, then picked up Seth Curry (Doc Rivers&rsquo; son-in-law) from Dallas for Josh Richardson.&nbsp;
Then, with the 58th pick, Morey picked up a sleeper in DePaul&rsquo;s Paul Reed, and rest assured that Rivers went to sleep happier than he awoke. He now has two new shooters, two new defenders and a better chance of competing with the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets for an Eastern Conference title.
As for the Bucks, their <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-free-agency-Bogdan-Bogdanovic-sacramento-kings-milwaukee-bucks-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquisition of Kings forward Bogdan Bogdanovic is in jeopardy</a>. Bogdanovic stood to make $60 million over four years in a sign-and-trade deal, but wants to see if even bigger money is offered by one of the few teams with major cap space -- none of them contenders unless Miami loses Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder in free agency.
Milwaukee began the week agreeing to a pair of major deals to help ensure that Antetokounmpo stays around for the long term, but they may have to find another shooter elsewhere if the Bogdanovic deal dies. They may have found one with the 60th pick in the draft in Utah State&rsquo;s Sam Merrill, but Bogdan had a body of work that they clearly liked.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were a clear winner because they emerged not only with No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards, but also with a new starting point guard in Ricky Rubio (D&rsquo;Angelo Russell will probably be spending time at shooting guard next season). Along with two more first-round picks, they also brought in rookie building blocks with Jaden McDaniels (Washington) and Leandro Bolmaro (FC Barcelona), both of whom should be NBA-ready a year from now when Karl-Anthony Towns will be 26. Next up for Gersson Rosas is to find a power forward (he moved James Johnson&rsquo;s expiring $15.3 million contract to Oklahoma City today). The Wolves&rsquo; pick next season (protected 1-3) is owed to Golden State from the Russell acquisition.
Golden State, despite coming out of the draft with 7-foot-1 James Wiseman (best described as a mix of David Robinson and Chris Bosh), now must contemplate yet another season that may not include Thompson after the veteran sharpshooter tore his Achilles while working out in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Thompson has not played since tearing his left ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals.
With Thompson, the Warriors were regarded as a legitimate title contender. Without him, it is arguable whether they will be a top-six team and avoid the NBA&rsquo;s new play-in tournament involving the Nos. 7-10 seeded teams in each conference. However, Bob Myers was proactive and struck a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder to soften the blow, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumor-kelly-oubre-golden-state-warriors-okc-oklahoma-city-thunder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bringing the rising Kelly Oubre Jr. to the Bay Area</a> on Thursday.
The days ahead should be fascinating.Teams can made contact with free agents beginning at 6 p.m. EDT Friday (which is when BasketballNews.com's 2020 Free Agency Show will start). Stay tuned...

Chris Sheridan wraps up notable moments from the 2020 NBA Draft and the fallout going into free agency.

Bad news for Klay Thompson, Warriors overshadows post-draft elation

The 2020 NBA Draft forged ahead on Wednesday night with a rapid-fire second round that saw a bevy of smaller trades go down.
But one move stuck out from the rest. The Philadelphia 76ers dealt two-way wing Josh Richardson to the Dallas Mavericks, along with pick No. 36, in exchange for sweet-shooting bench guard Seth Curry. Dallas ended up with two picks in the 30s, leading off the round by drafting Stanford guard Tyrell Terry and then taking Colorado forward Tyler Bey at pick No. 36.&nbsp;
In a draft that lacked star power, but fields fantastic depth, franchises had plenty of chances to find quality rotation players in the second round. My five favorite selections, with a breakdown of their team fits, are below:&nbsp;&nbsp;
Pick 31. Dallas Mavericks: Tyrell Terry (G), Stanford
The Mavericks' next step to title contention is surrounding Luka Doncic with outlet sharpshooters. Frankly, Terry would have been a great selection at No.18 for the Mavs. Instead, they land him 13 picks later, making the Stanford guard a clear steal.
Terry drilled 40.8 percent of his three-pointers at Stanford and is one of the best pure shooters in the class. He'll play off the ball in the NBA, but Terry can make quality reads as a passer. Though he's undersized at 6-foot-3, Terry makes up for his slight frame with tenacious effort and awareness.
Pick 35. Memphis Grizzlies (from SAC): Xavier Tillman (C/F), Michigan State
Memphis now boasts a Swiss Army Knife of a frontcourt. The Grizzlies have a bruiser in Jonas Valanciunas, a lengthy shot-maker in Jaren Jackson Jr. and an athletic marvel in Brandon Clarke.&nbsp;
In his own dimension, Tillman brings defensive versatility, leadership and NBA-ready court awareness. Unlike most second-round picks, the Michigan State big man could feasibly bypass the NBA G League and earn a spot on the Grizzlies' roster right away. Memphis is nearing playoff contention, and the exciting young franchise needs steady basketball minds such as Tillman.
Pick 40. Sacramento Kings (from MEM) : Robert Woodard (F), Mississippi State
Everything about modern basketball is packaged into Robert Woodard. He possesses valuable physical attributes as a 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and underrated hops. Woodard also knocked down over 42 percent of his triples as a sophomore, albeit on a small sample size. He can realistically defend positions 2-through-4 at the NBA level and is the prototypical 3-and-D forward. Sacramento nailed this selection.
Pick 49. Philadelphia 76ers: Isaiah Joe (SG), Arkansas
At long last, the 76ers addressed their shooting woes with a venegance on Wednesday night. But the success extends beyond acquiring Seth Curry. Philly also nabbed a premier long-range threat in Isaiah Joe. Though he was less efficient as a sophomore, Joe lit up the arc for the Razorbacks, canning over 200 threes across two years.&nbsp;
The concerns with Joe center on his healthy and fragile frame at approximately 165 pounds. If he can put on more muscle, the young shooter can be a dynamic weapon for Ben Simmons and other Sixers' playmakers.
Pick 60. Milwaukee Bucks: Sam Merrill (PG), Utah State
Merrill fits seamlessly with what the Bucks have valued as guard sparks. He plays a similar game to Donte DiVincenzo; both can score are all levels, play with pace and hustle on both ends. Merrill may not have the upside to be a safety valve for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he can certainly come off the bench and give the Bucks an offensive boost.
The Utah State product has limited upside at age-24. But with the Bucks all-in on a title, Merrill is yet another roster-ready piece to bolster the team's depth.&nbsp;

A number of NBA teams found serious value in the second round, from Tyrell Terry to Sam Merrill.