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Kings

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.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
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.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
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.

2020 NBA Draft: Recapping the second round's best value picks

If the kiss of death in the NBA is being under 6-feet tall, Markus Howard of Marquette is a dead man walking. 
No matter that he led the NCAA in scoring last season at 27.8 points per game, or that he finished last season with five-straight games scoring at least 30 points, or that he dropped 51 on USC last Thanksgiving and had two other games with at least 40.
He measured just 5-foot-9 &frac12; without sneakers and weighed 170 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, which hurts his stock because NBA scouts shy away from little guys.
Howard is currently ranked No. 62 on ESPN&rsquo;s latest draft board, which means he could go undrafted on Nov. 18. If so, that would make it two years in a row that the NCAA&rsquo;s leading scorer was not selected.&nbsp;Last year, Chris Clemons from Campbell University was not drafted, but he was signed afterward by the Houston Rockets and eventually had his two-way contract converted into a regular NBA contract.
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Trae Young of Oklahoma was the last No. 1 NCAA scorer to get drafted, going fifth overall to the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. He finished last season as the No. 4 scorer in the league (29.6 PPG), and he is the most untouchable player on Atlanta&rsquo;s roster -- despite being 6-foot-1, short by NBA standards.
James Daniel III led the nation in scoring as a junior at Howard in 2016. He transferred to Tennessee, but got injured, went undrafted in 2018 and ended up playing professionally in Cyprus.&nbsp;
As we count down the days to the 2020 NBA draft while simultaneously <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-news-nbpa-players-association-executive-director-michele-roberts-2020-2021-season-collective-bargaining-agreement-cba-revenue-meetings-black-lives-matter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wondering what the 2020-21 season will look like</a>, front-office executives around the league are in the difficult position of having to make judgments on players without seeing them at an in-person NBA Draft Combine (as they would under normal circumstances).&nbsp;
That makes most of the mock drafts we are all seeing even more of an educated guessing game than usual, and more astute front offices are seeking diamonds in the rough who will drop lower than they should, often for fairly benign reasons (like not being 6-feet tall).
Simply being able to put up points is not enough when it comes to playing in the NBA, where what you can do defensively is almost as important as what you can do offensively. And if a first-rate scorer is someone an opponent is going to exploit on the other end of the court, the guy will probably end up eating pasta (basketball parlance for playing professionally in Europe) before too long.
We are now in early November, and there will be more than two weeks of risers and fallers in a variety of mock drafts found on the Internet, some better than others. (Our Matt Babcock, for example, knows what he's doing and posted his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-2020-draft-rumors-mock-draft-projection-top-pick-trade-matt-babcock-anthony-edwards-lamelo-ball-timberwolves-warriors-hornets-bulls-cavaliers-hawks-lakers-pistons-knicks-lottery-analysis-select" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest mock draft today</a>). But keep in mind that front offices often leak misinformation to draft pundits in order to confuse opposing teams. If "Team X" is said to be especially intrigued by "Player Y," take it with a grain of salt.
With that being said, here are three players that NBA consultant Ryan Blake of "Marty Blake and Associates" believes may be undervalued on draft night. All three players will have their phone ringing off the hook with training-camp invites right after the draft if they are not selected 1-60.
Markus Howard, Marquette
He spent four seasons at Marquette, and his junior season included a 53-point night against Creighton, and 45-point nights against Kansas State (ranked 12th at the time) and Buffalo (ranked 14th at the time). He also went for 38 points against 14th-ranked Villanova. The prior season, as a sophomore, he had a 52-point game against Providence.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s an unbelievable athlete, has a fire in his belly and plays hard on both ends of the floor,&rdquo; Blake said of Howard. &ldquo;He has a fearless mentality, and scouts will not ignore that. 
"He shot over 42 percent for his career in a big-time conference, but he is going to have to prove that he can defend NBA guards and is not prone to turning the ball over.&rdquo;
Babcock&rsquo;s prediction: Drafted in the 50s or undrafted. 
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Sam Merrill, Utah State
As somewhat of a combo guard for the Aggies, Merrill started all 32 games and averaged 19.8 points while shooting 41 percent from the three-point line. A four-year starter, he led the Aggies in assists all four seasons and was named &ldquo;Best Defender&rdquo; by his teammates as a freshman. Merrill also won Mountain West Tournament MVP in back-to-back seasons. A graduate in business administration, he has been married for two-and-a-half years and spent two years in Nicaragua as a Mormon missionary.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He has a calm intensity, which is sort of an oxymoron, but you watch for someone like this who truly competes for 40 minutes whether his team wins or loses," Blake said. "Coaches know he wants the ball in his hands at the end of games and will either shoot or make the right play."
Babcock&rsquo;s prediction: Drafted in the low 50s or undrafted. 
Paul Reed, DePaul
Coming out after his junior season, the 6-foot-9 power forward averaged 15.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and nearly three blocks per game for the Blue Demons. Reed shot nearly 52 percent from the field while also averaging almost two steals per game. 
&ldquo;He makes a huge impact at both ends of the floor, although he didn&rsquo;t shoot it great from deep (30.8 percent),&rdquo; Blake said. &ldquo;But he made plays for others and defended, and he just crashes the glass. But he can immediately come into the league and make an impact, because everyone knows you can&rsquo;t play NBA basketball if you can&rsquo;t play defense. He has an awkward jumper, but he can become a better shooter in time because he has the work ethic. And at 22 years old, he is mature.&rdquo;
Babcock&rsquo;s prediction: &ldquo;A good intangibles guy. A motor guy. I have him going No. 45 (to Orlando)."

Chris Sheridan takes a look at three undervalued NBA Draft prospects that could be picked late or go undrafted in 2020.