Los Angeles Clippers

We may be entering uncharted waters regarding the James Harden situation in Philadelphia.&nbsp;
The 10-time All-Star spoke at an Adidas media event in China earlier today and had some choice words about 76ers president Daryl Morey.
&ldquo;Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he&rsquo;s a part of," Harden said. "Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he&rsquo;s a part of again."
This comes in response to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38180876/76ers-ending-trade-talks-james-harden-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski's report</a> on Saturday that the Sixers were <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-sixers-ending-trade-talks-involving-james-harden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taking Harden off the trade market</a> and expecting Harden to show up for training camp.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
James Harden: &ldquo;Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be part of an organization that he&rsquo;s a part of. Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be part of an organization that he&rsquo;s a part of again.&rdquo; 😳 <a href="https://t.co/r2Gv07wAH7">pic.twitter.com/r2Gv07wAH7</a>
&mdash; Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/1691039621776379904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>

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

The root of Harden&rsquo;s displeasure with Morey and the front office comes from the team&rsquo;s unwillingness to offer him a long-term maximum-level contract extension, according to Wojnarowski.&nbsp;
The Sixers had preliminary conversations with the Los Angeles Clippers, Harden&rsquo;s desired destination, but no deal came close to materializing. This was partially due to the Clippers' unwillingness to part ways with Terance Mann as well as Morey's insistence in getting a star-level return for a player of Harden&rsquo;s caliber.
Despite being reportedly taken off the trade market, Harden&rsquo;s desire to play elsewhere has not changed, and he still does not plan to report to training camp, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/4771337/2023/08/12/james-harden-sixers-trade/?access_token=126038&amp;redirected=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic&rsquo;s Sam Amick</a>. Given his recent comments, one would certainly not expect Harden to change his mind anytime soon.
Harden has already shown his ability to &ldquo;stir the pot&rdquo; when it comes to forcing his way to a new destination. In 2020, Harden requested a trade from the Houston Rockets and when they didn't deal him prior to the start of the season, he responded by showing up late and out-of-shape to training camp and making disparaging comments toward his teammates once the season started. These actions ultimately led to the Rockets dealing the star guard to Brooklyn, where he asked out again just a year later.
However, Harden&rsquo;s request out of Philadelphia differs for two main reasons: his contract and Morey.&nbsp;
In June, he unexpectedly accepted his $35.6 million player option for the 2023-24 season and, in turn, asked to be sent elsewhere. Under this contract agreement, Harden is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. If the star guard is adamant about not playing again for the Sixers, he may face some challenges in holding out of training camp.
As relayed by <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1691064721825513474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN&rsquo;s front office insider Bobby Marks</a>, the NBA&rsquo;s Collective Bargaining Agreement has specific guidelines for players withholding their services in the final year of their contract.
&ldquo;Withholding services: A player who withholds playing services called for by a Player Contract for more than thirty (30) days after the start of the last season covered by his Player Contract shall be deemed not to have &lsquo;complet[ed] his Player Contract by rendering the playing services called for thereunder,&rdquo; Marks <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1691064721825513474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conveyed</a> on Twitter. &ldquo;Accordingly, such a player shall not be a Veteran Free Agent and shall not be entitled to negotiate or sign a Player Contract with any other professional basketball team unless and until the Team for which the player last played expressly agreed otherwise.&rdquo;
In simpler terms, if Harden chooses to hold out for more than 30 days into the regular season, he will no longer be able to hit free agency next summer because he would not have completed the terms of his contract (unless the Sixers let him). Not to mention, the star guard would incur a significant amount of fines if he has a lengthy holdout. To my knowledge, this clause has never needed to be applied in NBA history to this point.
Harden may have no choice but to show up for training camp due to these restrictions. But would the Sixers even want him at camp if he is going to be a nuisance, much like he was in Houston back in 2020? Just two years ago, Philadelphia had to deal with the Ben Simmons situation, where he created a toxic atmosphere that led to the organization sending him home until his trade request was met later that season.&nbsp;
However, the reason Simmons&rsquo; trade request lasted all the way through the 2021-22 trade deadline is because Morey insisted on a star-level return for the young three-time All-Star. The trade just so happened to reunite him with his old colleague from his days in Houston: James Harden.
Morey and Harden&rsquo;s relationship dates back to when Houston acquired Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer of 2012. The two were able to reach two Conference Finals during their run together and were presumed to have a good working relationship. Morey even acquiesced to Harden&rsquo;s request to trade for his former OKC teammate Russell Westbrook, a move that did not prove to be successful.
When Harden was brought to Philadelphia, he worked with Morey to sign a team-friendly contract during the summer of 2022 to leave room for the team to sign valuable pieces like PJ Tucker and Danuel House. As part of this deal, it has been suggested that the team gave Harden a &ldquo;wink-wink&rdquo; deal on a new long-term contract that would&rsquo;ve been extended this past offseason (which might explain Harden's comment).
Given the lack of any talks on a long-term deal, the relationship has since soured to the point of Harden directly calling Morey a liar. But that shouldn&rsquo;t stop Morey and the Sixers from trying to bring Harden back into the fold.&nbsp;
The only solution for Philly if they wish to compete for a championship in 2023-24 is bringing Harden back. The trade market has made clear that a Harden return package would not meet either of the Sixers' desired outcomes of keeping them in title contention or keeping cap flexibility for next summer. If they let Harden hold out, triggering the Withholding Services Clause or even allowing him reach free agency next summer, they would relinquish much of their cap flexibility that they hope to have next offseason.
We would be remiss if we didn&rsquo;t mention the other domino in the City of Brotherly Love: Joel Embiid. If the 76ers pull the trigger on a Harden deal, they may have to waste a prime year for Embiid, which will only stretch his patience to win a title in Philadelphia thinner. Remember, earlier this offseason, Embiid <a href="https://twitter.com/ajtorres1230/status/1680762456082202624?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>: "I just want to win a championship, whatever it takes. I don't know where that's going to be, whether that's in Philly or anywhere else, I just want to have a chance to accomplish that."
Lastly, anytime a player bashes a front-office member in a very public way, the league office should take notice. Expect them to monitor this situation closely to see if there were any possible under-the-table discussions, promises or agreements that violated league rules, similar to <a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/nba-joe-smith-illegal-contract-timberwolves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a situation that occurred in the early 2000s with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Joe Smith</a>. If the NBA discovers there was any kind of agreement on a future long-term deal between Harden and the Sixers prior to him signing his team-friendly deal in 2021, then Philadelphia could face serious punishment.
Overall, this situation has become an absolute mess. Both sides have some form of leverage over the other, and neither seems to be in the &ldquo;right.&rdquo; The NBA seemingly never sleeps, and it seems as though we will have to keep an eye on what Harden or the 76ers' next moves might be.&nbsp;

Blake Stern examines a specific clause in the NBA's CBA and how it may throw a wrench in James Harden's plan to holdout.

Examining what the CBA says about James Harden's plan to holdout

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; Luka Doncic finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists just hours after his most recent technical foul and one-game suspension were rescinded Monday by the NBA and led the Dallas Mavericks past the Indiana Pacers 127-104.
The Mavericks snapped a four-game losing streak and remained in contention in the race for one of the final two play-in spots in the Western Conference. Kyrie Irving added 16 points and six assists for Dallas.
Indiana was led by Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 22 points, and Andrew Nembhard, who had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists on a night the Pacers were missing three starters and a key backup. The Pacers have lost three straight and six of eight as they move closer to locking up a lottery pick.
Doncic had picked up his 16th technical that was rescinded on Sunday in the team&rsquo;s second loss to Charlotte. The technical came with 7:51 remaining in the third quarter of a 110-104 loss when Doncic argued a no-call after missing a shot on a drive to the basket. Crew chief Kevin Scott said in a pool report after the game that Doncic used &ldquo;a profanity directed at the officials in protest to a no-call that was correctly judged in postgame video review.&rdquo;
TIMBERWOLVES 119, KINGS 115
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) &mdash; Jaden McDaniels scored 20 points and Minnesota spoiled Sacramento&rsquo;s bid to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2006, the longest playoff drought in NBA history.
The Timberwolves won their fourth straight and completed a sweep of a back-to-back set at Golden State and Sacramento to tie the Warriors for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race.
Naz Reid scored 18 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the win.
De&rsquo;Aaron Fox scored 29 points and Domantas Sabonis added 24 points and 10 rebounds for Sacramento, which shot 5 of 26 from 3-point distance.
The Kings will look to clinch a playoff berth when they travel to Portland for two games, starting Wednesday.
CLIPPERS 124, BULLS 112
LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; Nicolas Batum got all of his season-high 24 points on eight 3-pointers, and Eric Gordon added 22 points as Los Angeles beat Chicago.
Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points as the Clippers rebounded from an embarrassing loss to New Orleans with 20 3-pointers in an impressive outside shooting display led by Batum.
Russell Westbrook had 12 points, 10 assists and five rebounds as Los Angeles (40-36) kept hold of fifth place in the Western Conference standings and moved a half-game behind fourth-place Phoenix.
Zach LaVine scored 23 points and Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who followed up their impressive win over the Lakers on Sunday with a dud.
NUGGETS 116, 76ERS 111
DENVER (AP) &mdash; Nikola Jokic recorded his 29th triple double of the season and Denver beat short-handed Philadelphia in a game Joel Embiid sat out with a sore right calf.
That scuttled the highly anticipated showdown between MVP front-runners that many felt could have decided whether Embiid, the runner-up the last two years, denies Jokic a third consecutive award. With Embiid in the locker room, Jokic scored 25 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and dished out 12 assists.
Tyrese Maxey scored 23 of his 29 points in the first half as the Sixers dropped their third straight.
PELICANS 124, TRAIL BLAZERS 90
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) &mdash; Brandon Ingram scored 29 points and New Orleans routed short-handed Portland.
CJ McCollum, who played nine seasons with the Blazers before he was traded to the Pelicans last season, added 17 points. Jonas Valanciunas finished with 10 points and 21 rebounds, and New Orleans led by as many as 36.
Keon Johnson had 20 points off the bench for the Blazers, who have lost nine of 10 and will, in all likelihood, miss the playoffs for the second straight season &mdash; although they have not been mathematically eliminated. Most of their regular starters were out with injuries, including top scorer Damian Lillard (right calf), Jerami Grant (bruised left quad), Jusuf Nurkic (right knee) and Anfernee Simons (right foot).
SUNS 117, JAZZ 103
SAT LAKE CITY (AP) &mdash; Devin Booker scored 24 points and Phoenix reserves sparked the decisive run in a win over Utah.
Deandre Ayton had 14 points after missing four games with a bruised hip. But a trio off the bench was pivotal for Phoenix: Terrence Ross had 13 points, Cameron Payne added 12 and Bismack Biyombo scored 11.
The Suns (40-35) had lost four in a row on the road. But with this victory they sit more securely in the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race &mdash; which would give them home-court advantage in the first round.
Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points for Utah, but shot 6 for 22. Walker Kessler had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz (35-40), who have lost four straight. Kessler also matched a career high with seven blocks.
KNICKS 137, ROCKETS 115
NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 40 points and Julius Randle had 26 as New York snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Houston.
RJ Barrett added 19 points, Obi Toppin had 15 and Quinten Grimes scored 14 for the Knicks.
Quickley connected on 14 of 18 shots from the field and added nine assists. He started in place of Jalen Brunson, who missed his second straight game with a bruised right hand.
Kevin Porter Jr. led the Rockets with 26 points. Jalen Green had 19 and Kenyon Martin Jr. added 18 as Houston dropped its sixth straight game.
BUCKS 126, PISTONS 117
DETROIT (AP) &mdash; Khris Middleton scored 34 points against the team that drafted him and Milwaukee beat Detroit without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee improved to an NBA-best 54-21 despite the absences of Antetokounmpo (knee) and Jae Crowder (calf). Goran Dragic made his Bucks debut after signing with the team on March 4, but didn&rsquo;t score in nine minutes.
Brook Lopez had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Bobby Portis added 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Jevon Carter scored 22.
The Pistons got 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists from Jaden Ivey, but lost their sixth straight game and 17th of 18. They are 1-13 against Central Division opponents.

A recap of Monday's slate of NBA games includes Doncic keeping the Mavs playoff hopes alive and a fourth straight Wolves win.

Luka Doncic powers Mavericks to 127-104 win over Pacers

MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Brook Lopez had 24 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high nine blocks and the Milwaukee Bucks outlasted the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 118-113 on Thursday night.
The&nbsp;nine blocks&nbsp;are most by an NBA player this season.
&ldquo;It was a close game, and he made the plays that made the difference down the stretch,&rdquo; Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
Bobby Portis added a season-high 28 points to go along with 13 rebounds to
help the NBA-leading Bucks win for the 19th time in 20 games.
The Bucks were missing two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for a second straight game. Antetokounmpo didn&rsquo;t play due to a sore right hand after sitting out a&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/bucks-magic-72ccee8edeee63e7f642260a674a91b8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">134-123 victory at Orlando</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday night because of a non-COVID illness.
Brooklyn&rsquo;s injury situation was worse.
The Nets didn&rsquo;t have Nic Claxton (right thumb sprain/left Achilles tendinopathy), Spencer Dinwiddie (rest), Cam Johnson (right knee soreness), Royce O&rsquo;Neale (left knee soreness) and Ben Simmons (left back/knee soreness).
Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith were the only Nets available who started in their&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/mikal-bridges-spencer-dinwiddie-nets-rockets-c8bb43a13b7f594ce3042c6ccfc0e38e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">118-96 victory at Houston</a> two nights earlier. Neither of them played more than 12 minutes as Nets coach Jacque Vaughn opted to limit their workloads.
The Nets still made this one competitive, clawing back after the Bucks went 12 of 21 from 3-point range in the first 15 minutes to take a 46-24 lead.
&ldquo;We picked up the energy,&rdquo; said Cam Thomas, who scored 21 for Brooklyn. &ldquo;We started getting on the glass and getting stops. That was the main key - getting stops, getting down and running and playing faster.&rdquo;
Patty Mills led Brooklyn with 23 points. The Nets also got big contributions from Dru Smith and David Duke Jr., who are both on two-way contracts that shuttle them between Brooklyn and the NBA G League.
Smith had 17 points in his 10th career NBA game. His previous scoring high was five. Duke had a career-high 13 points.
Brooklyn trailed 99-97 and appeared to have a chance to tie it after officials ruled Lopez fouled Day&rsquo;Ron Sharpe on a dunk attempt with 4:31 left.
But the Bucks challenged the call, and replays determined it was a clean block. Portis scored 15 seconds later to start an 8-2 run that extended the Bucks&rsquo; advantage to 107-99 with 2 1/2 minutes left.
&ldquo;Great job by the arena, the guys in house putting it up on the board, because our bench didn&rsquo;t have a great angle,&rdquo; Budenholzer said. &ldquo;It looked &mdash; obviously, it was successful so I feel fortunate &mdash; but it looked like it was clean up top. It looked like Brook went up and got all ball.&rdquo;
Brooklyn cut it to 112-110 on Thomas&rsquo; driving layup with 46.7 seconds left, but Lopez delivered a putback of Jrue Holiday&rsquo;s missed 3-point attempt with 30.6 seconds remaining.
Lopez then blocked Duke&rsquo;s driving layup attempt to set up Jevon Carter&rsquo;s basket with 16.1 seconds remaining.
&ldquo;Brooklyn was out there shooting the ball,&rdquo; Lopez said. &ldquo;They were doing a great job shooting the ball, and so just in that last possession or those last couple possessions, they were doing a great job of sending those guys downhill. When they kind of give them that one option, I&rsquo;m able to make the read and time it. If he&rsquo;s going downhill with a full head of steam, I can time that pretty simply to get there at the right time.&rdquo;
Mills made a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left before the Bucks sealed the victory with a pair of free throws from Grayson Allen, who had 19 points.
TIP-INS
Nets: Nerlens Noel was in the starting lineup in just his second game with the Nets. He signed a 10-day contract Monday. The Nets also started Bridges, Finney-Smith, Joe Harris and Seth Curry. ... They opened the second half with Duke, Mills, Sharpe, Smith and Thomas on the floor.
Bucks: Lopez spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Nets. ... Carter shot 2 of 12 and had just five points. He had scored at least 20 points in each of his last two games. ... Wesley Matthews missed an eighth straight game with a strained right calf.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Minnesota on Friday night.
Bucks: At Golden State on Saturday night.

Brook Lopez had 24 points, 10 boards and a career-high 9 blocks as the Bucks outlasted the short-handed Nets 118-113 on Thursday.

Brook Lopez comes up big, Bucks edge short-handed Nets 118-113

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) &mdash; Damian Lillard had 42 points and 10 assists, Anfernee Simons added 26 points and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-112 on Wednesday night.
Jerami Grant had 18 points in the first half, before leaving because of concussion symptoms. Portland outscored Memphis 38-22 in the fourth quarter to win for the fourth time in five games.
&ldquo;I think we&rsquo;ve had a couple of quality wins,&rdquo; Lillard said. &ldquo;This was the best team we&rsquo;ve come up with a win against, especially as of late.&rdquo;
Portland was able to rally late despite losing two starters &mdash; Jusuf Nurkic and Grant &mdash; to injuries in the first half. There were key stops down the stretch, and the Trail Blazers defense kept the Memphis shooting at 39%, including converting only 1 of 7 shots in from 3-point range in the fourth quarter.
&ldquo;I knew I needed to be a little more aggressive just to give ourselves a chance,&rdquo; Simons said. &ldquo;Everybody else played well and everybody was ready to play.&rdquo;
Ja Morant had 32 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points and six blocks, and Desmond Bane had 17 points.
Lillard, who had five games of at least 40 points in January, continued the trend, converting 11 of 22 shots and 5 of 13 3-pointers. He also missed only one of his 16 free throws.
&ldquo;They just found a way to get open shots,&rdquo; Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. &ldquo;... I thought our guys competed. You&rsquo;ve just got to tip your hat. Lillard&rsquo;s on a roll right now, and we were on the wrong end of that.&rdquo;
The teams were tied at 109 with two minutes to play, but Lillard&rsquo;s 3-pointer and Simons&rsquo; layup was good on Morant&rsquo;s goaltending. When Drew Eubanks converted a three-point play on a dunk, Portland led 117-109 with just under a minute left.
Lillard scored 17 points in the third quarter, but Morant countered with 16 points in the period and Memphis took a 90-84 lead into fourth before the Portland rally completed the comeback.
&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t play good enough defense on Lillard,&rdquo; said Memphis forward Dillon Brooks, who had the defensive assignment most of the night on Portland&rsquo;s top scorer. &ldquo;He started hitting shots. Even though they were tough shots, I&rsquo;ve got to do something to contest. Do something to discourage him from shooting when he started getting hot.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Nurkic left early in the first quarter with left calf soreness and did not return. Nurkic was listed on the pregame injury report with the same injury. ... Lillard has at least 25 points in 12 of his last 13 games.
Grizzlies: C Brandon Clarke was 3 of 6 from the field and has made 24 of his last 35 shots.
ALL-STAR LOBBYING
Portland coach Chauncey Billups said he has filled out his All-Star ballot and acknowledged that he received some calls from other coaches lobbying for their teams. And maybe a bit more. &ldquo;Definitely, there&rsquo;s some bribery going on,&rdquo; Billups said with a smile.
GREEN&rsquo;S RETURN
Memphis guard/forward Danny Green, who missed the first 50 games of the season, saw his first action, playing 10 minutes and scoring three points, hitting one of his four 3-pointers. Green, acquired by Memphis in a draft night trade, spent the first part of the season rehabbing a knee injury he suffered in last year&rsquo;s playoff when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers.
&ldquo;It felt good,&rdquo; Green said. &ldquo;Game obviously moved fast, so I had to slow it down a little, but it was good to get out there.&rdquo;
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: At Washington on Friday night.
Grizzlies: At Cleveland on Thursday night.

Damian Lillard had 42 points and 10 assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-112 on Wednesday

Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons lead Blazers past Grizzlies, 122-112

This isn't the Boston Celtics offense that many have come to know and, at various points, loathe.
The Celtics wield the best offensive rating in basketball. They're off to a 10-3 start this season and have scored 110 or more points in 11-of-13 contests. And most impressively, in a year where transition play is on the rise and the leaguewide halfcourt offensive rating is actually down from the past two seasons, Boston has been historically unstoppable.
According to Cleaning the Glass, the C's are averaging 107.6 points per 100 possessions of halfcourt offense. That would be by far the highest number in the history of the site's database, which tracks back to 2003-04. The gap between Boston and second-place Dallas (101.7) is equal to the gap between the Mavericks and the 14th-place Chicago Bulls.&nbsp;
The Celtics are shredding opponents nearly every single night, even as their top-ranked defense from last season is still working out early-season kinks.&nbsp;
It's not like Boston completely overhauled its roster. Malcolm Brogdon was a key offseason signing, as was Sam Hauser (we'll touch on both of them), but the core of the rotation is the same. Payton Pritchard, the best shooter on last year's team, no longer receives regular minutes.&nbsp;
As far as passing &mdash; the Celtics hand out 275.5 passes per game, which ranks tied for 22nd in the NBA, according to Second Spectrum. They average 3.18 seconds per touch (ranked t-15th) and 2.41 dribbles per touch (ranked t-10th). So the ball isn't constantly buzzing around the court &mdash; instead, the Celtics are emphasizing purposeful ball movement with their spacing and driving.
&ldquo;We want to put pressure on the rim, we want to finish at the basket,&rdquo; Al Horford said <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/11/11/sports/celtics-set-tone-early-wire-to-wire-win-over-nuggets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after Friday's win against the Denver Nuggets</a>. &ldquo;At the same time, we have to have good spacing around [Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown] in case that doesn&rsquo;t happen. We play inside-out. We get those threes. It&rsquo;s just the way our lineups are. We have five shooters out there, so we&rsquo;re really spreading it out.&rdquo;
The success obviously starts with Jayson Tatum's career year. The 24-year-old is in the midst of his most efficient season ever, averaging a career-best 132.1 points per 100 shot attempts to power his 31.4 points per game. He's shooting 38.7% from long range and decreasing his turnover rate despite being a notoriously slow-starting player.&nbsp;
Tatum's most eye-popping statistic so far is his absurd 79% finishing rate at the rim. Most of those buckets are self-created, where he has taken yet another step forward as a decisive driver while adding hints of a floater game. However, I'd like to steer over to his assisted attempts at the basket. Tatum is 25-for-29 (86.2%) on shots within 10 feet where he held the basketball for less than two seconds. That's unsurprisingly a career-high, per PBP Stats, and it also comes on his highest frequency of attempts in the last four seasons.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/seac2c" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It is always easier to accelerate without dribbling a basketball. Boston has used that knowledge by giving Tatum off-ball screens to let him loose and having him surprise teams with delayed cuts (Adam Taylor of CelticsBlog <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/11/9/23448847/why-the-boston-celtics-utilized-delayed-cuts-against-the-memphis-grizzlies-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown?_gl=1*dkhxh0*" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote a nice article about those</a>). You'll also see him work as a screen-and-slipper in the above reel.
The goal is to either manufacture a driving lane for Tatum or force a switch onto a bad matchup in bad positioning. Jaden Ivey doesn't stand a chance in his effort against a speeding Tatum. Help defenders aren't even prepared to rotate in some of the other clips.
You'll notice one possession where Marcus Smart feeds a cutting Tatum out of a post-up &mdash; leading us to the next hidden offensive development.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Marcus Smart up to 48 assists and just six turnovers in his last five games. Easily the best stretch of his career on that front.
&mdash; Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianTRobb/status/1591619131719270400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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

Smart's point guard wizardry has been on full display this season. Quietly, he's also become a post hub for the Celtics. According to Second Spectrum, Smart is posting up 1.6 times per game this season. That might not seem like much, but it it's actually 44th among all NBA players and second among all guards. Also, it's close to double his volume from 2021-22.&nbsp;
What's happening on those plays? In 21 total post touches, Smart has converted 6-of-8 shot attempts, passed the ball 11 times for four assists, and coughed up a single turnover. His 19.0% assist rate out of the post is third among all players with at least 10 total post-ups this season.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/l4en1g" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Smart knows when to bully his way to the basket against weaker guards. He can then finish through them or turnaround and hit short jumpers. He's also more of a quarterback out of the post, directing cutters and disguising his true intentions, as shown when he hits Horford and Jaylen Brown for assists.&nbsp;
Speaking of Horford &mdash; his own marksmanship has made some of the spacing he spoke about particularly effective. He's taking over half of his shots from behind the arc and drilling them at a 48% clip. And, after scarcely shooting corner threes for most of his career, the 36-year-old has exploded to start the season:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">Year</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">Corner 3PT Frequency</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">Corner 3PT%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">2018-19 (Celtics)</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">3%</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">29%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">2019-20 (76ers)</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">5%</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">2020-21 (Thunder)</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">5%</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">22%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">2021-22 (Celtics)</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">13%</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">2022-23 (Celtics)</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">27%</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698433420366%;">48%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
According to PBP Stats, the Celtics lead the NBA with 13.5 three-point assists per game. Horford headlines the beneficiaries. &nbsp;
&ldquo;Mentally, I&rsquo;m getting in that mindset of I&rsquo;m shooting more threes and that&rsquo;s just what it is," Horford told Bobby Manning of <a href="https://www.clnsmedia.com/al-horford-thriving-in-shooting-role-as-celtics-offense-soars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLNS Media</a>. "The game continues to change, and for me, it&rsquo;s just trying to find a way that I can change too.&rdquo;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ymroem" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Boston's five-out sets turn Horford into a lethal corner weapon. The Celtics use guard and wing screens frequently (exemplified with Smart in the first clip) that give a plus passer the space to make reads in the middle of the floor. Defenses have to collapse to some degree, which means Horford gets more space.&nbsp;
Then, you have dynamic individual drivers like Tatum, Brown and Brogdon who can fold defenses on their own and make corner kick-outs to Horford. Even Tatum's off-ball gravity pays off for Horford; look at how he makes a mid-air exta pass off of his designed play to a Horford three-pointer in the third clip.
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Horford's success is a testament to Boston's ability to create open looks for their center, as well as his own improved consistency from long range. Brogdon's addition has helped generate those chances for Horford and others.
When the Celtics acquired Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers this summer, his swing skill for the franchise was his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/news/authors/ethan-fuller?page=4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unstoppable driving prowess</a>. The trait has blended seamlessly into Boston's new-look offense. Brogdon leads the team in drives per game and is shooting a strong 53.8% on driving shot attempts. His 14.0% assist rate on drives places him eighth among 64 high-volume drives in the NBA (with at least eight drives per game).&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/dk3tcf" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In these two examples, Brogdon draws in&nbsp;three&nbsp;Memphis Grizzlies defenders before making the appropriate kick-out. His physicality and ball control almost guarantees a paint touch. Then, he can get all the way to the basket if he has a lane, or send a pass back to the perimeter. Or option three: the Celtics continue to move well off the ball and he finds a cutter, like so:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Malcolm Brogdon automatic paint touch ✔️ Jaylen Brown read and react cut into a lane ✔️ This is what the Celtics should love to see <a href="https://t.co/KRebKViDXE">pic.twitter.com/KRebKViDXE</a>
&mdash; Ethan Fuller (@ethman43) <a href="https://twitter.com/ethman43/status/1589010044456079360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Brogdon and the rest of Boston's attacking players need perimeter threats to make a driving, swinging offense hum. Grant Williams is a surefire sharpshooter at this point, and guys like Tatum, Horford and Derrick White have also started hot. But the latter three have a streaky history and are likely to cool off.
Sam Hauser might just be legit.
The second-year forward was a two-way player for Boston who primarily spent last season with the Maine Celtics (long live the Red Claws!). The franchise expressed confidence throughout the offseason that he could make the leap, though, and he slid right into the rotation spot that would have presumably been occupied by Danilo Gallinari.&nbsp;
Hauser has silenced all doubters so far. He's hitting 45.6% of his three-pointers, good for 15th in the NBA, and has canned some spectacular difficult shots. One of the key weaknesses Boston stumbled upon in last year's playoffs was that, despite Grant Williams shooting the lights out, defenses rarely keyed in on Celtics role-players beyond the arc. No one threatened enough to pull attention from Tatum and Brown.&nbsp;
This year, Hauser can build a resume worthy of defensive attention.&nbsp;
The 24-year-old is averaging 1.54 points per possession on spot-up plays this season, which slots him seventh among 220 qualifying players. Hauser exudes confidence, barely appearing to think before he pulls the trigger (in a good way):
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/ride0j" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
He's not really a Duncan-Robinson-type who flies around screens or a Payton-Pritchard-type who steps into pull-ups. Hauser just constantly relocates and capitalizes on the space he receives while Boston's other players bend the defense. Notice how several of these attempts are open &mdash; for now, defenses still would rather contain Boston's star drivers instead of Hauser's three-ball.
That's going to change if he keeps lighting up the arc. If Hauser can remain a playable defensive piece and be enough of a threat to attack closeouts, in addition to his volume and efficiency from deep &mdash; look out. Defenses will have no choice to play the numbers game and focus more on Hauser, and that will in turn make driving the ball easier for the Celtics.
Boston ultimately has so many critical offensive developments compounding on top of each other. The Celtics' juggernaut vibe exists because the players recognize each other's strengths and have learned how to reverberate off each other. It's still very, very early; defenses will build up a film database and send counters, and the true test for this team will be how it adapts throughout the year.&nbsp;
But a hot start under a new coach is always welcome, and the stampede of complementary successes makes this Celtics offense appear built for the long haul.
THE OUTLIERS (a.k.a. other random interesting numbers I found in the void):
<ul>
<li>I barely even mentioned Grant Williams! He deserves a shout-out because he is averaging a ludicrous 155.7 points per shot attempt, according to Cleaning the Glass. That's the best mark among 229 NBA players who have logged at least 200 minutes this season.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Yesterday, we ran a stats-based check-in with our followers on Twitter, offering up neat numbers for players who have not received enough love this year. Here are two highlights:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Romeo Langford is crushing it in the short mid-range 🔥 He&rsquo;s taken 28% of his shots there and made 62% of them. Both rank in the top 10% among wings, per Cleaning the Glass. <a href="https://t.co/Jp2csrcbnB">https://t.co/Jp2csrcbnB</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1591442747948515329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
46 NBA players have self-created over 50 shots within 10 feet of the basket, per PBP Stats. De&rsquo;Aaron Fox is the only one making more than 70% of those attempts 😳 <a href="https://t.co/0mrPzObsVl">https://t.co/0mrPzObsVl</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1591443447755726849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Check out <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-stats-notebook-the-sun-is-still-rising-on-anfernee-simons-portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last week's NBA Stats Notebook about Anfernee Simons' hot start</a>!&nbsp;

Ethan Fuller breaks down some of the statistics behind the Boston Celtics' league-leading offense.

NBA Stats Notebook: A deep dive into the Celtics' dominant offense

The Portland Trail Blazers already had enough questions entering the 2022-23 season.
Having missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years, they lost Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little to injuries for large chunks of last season &mdash; and traded CJ McCollum.
To counter, the franchise geared up with some notable summer moves. They traded for versatile forward Jerami Grant and selected the 2022 NBA Draft's biggest unknown in Shaedon Sharpe with the seventh overall pick. Fast forward to Nov. 4 &mdash; Portland's injured players have come back healthy (though Lillard is now dealing with a calf injury), and the team has gotten off to a stellar 6-2 start.
Somewhat lost within the offseason retooling is that Portland's plan to replace McCollum was as critical of a question as any other pressing need. Anfernee Simons has been a gamble since he was a rare prep-to-pro draft pick from IMG Academy in 2018. Now, the Blazers are pushing their chips in with Simons, hoping the breakout he started in the lost 2021-22 campaign carries over to major minutes on a playoff contender.
So far, that bet is paying off.&nbsp;
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Simons is averaging 36.7 minutes per game &mdash; a season-by-season career-high and also more than any individual month from 2021-22 &mdash; and putting up a career-high 22.0 points as both a backcourt partner for Lillard and as the primary guard since Dame went down with his injury. Simons' base scoring efficiency numbers are about the same as last year and slightly down in some areas, such as his 37.1% three-point clip (down from 40.5%).
At first glance, Simons doesn't appear to have gained or lost much as a scorer from last year, and one could argue that's enough of a positive. But a closer look shows the 23-year-old has improved in important areas, and if sustained, he could be growing into more than a perimeter bucket-getter.
Historically, Simons has not been much of a rim-pressure threat. According to Cleaning the Glass, that's started to change during this (admittedly tiny) seven-game start to the season. 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">Year</td>
<td>Rim Frequency</td>
<td>Percentile Rank</td>
<td>Rim Accuracy</td>
<td>Percentile Rank</td>
<td>Short-Mid-Range Freq.</td>
<td>Percentile Rank</td>
<td>Short-Mid-Range Acc.</td>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">Percentile Rank</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">2020-21</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>8th</td>
<td>57%</td>
<td>38th</td>
<td>10%</td>
<td>15th</td>
<td>24%</td>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">8th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">2021-22</td>
<td>17%</td>
<td>25th</td>
<td>55%</td>
<td>37th</td>
<td>16%</td>
<td>39th</td>
<td>48%</td>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">79th</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">2022-23</td>
<td>21%</td>
<td>52nd</td>
<td>60%</td>
<td>48th</td>
<td>12%</td>
<td>18th</td>
<td>50%</td>
<td style="width: 9.297486945169712%;">70th</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
(Scroll right to view full table)
Simons is taking just over one-fifth of his shots within 4 feet from the basket, which is a noteworthy jump up from his prior two seasons, and he's been more proficient in that range. That's come with the trade-off of fewer demonstrations of his high-level touch in the short-mid-range &mdash; but that's fine if it means getting to the basket.
His improvements near the hoop actually carry even more significance than this one table shows. To explain this, we're going to use the findings of Darryl Blackport and PBP Stats.
One of the subscriber features of PBP Stats includes a comparison tool that measures how a player is faring in different scoring ranges relative to their efficiency numbers from the past two seasons, as well as the league-wide average efficiency for the player's shot diet. In short: Is Player X shooting better in a space than he usually has, and is he shooting better in a space than the league usually does?
To this point, 137 NBA players have attempted at least 30 shots within 10 feet of the basket. Simons is making 54% of those shots in different contexts; according to PBP Stats, that's a whopping 11.4% better than expected given his last two seasons. The difference ranks third among the aforementioned 137 players, behind only Bobby Portis (13.6%) and De'Aaron Fox (15.9%).
Simons is also performing 5.8% more efficiently in this zone relative to the league-wide expectation &mdash; not quite as jarring of a difference, but a respectable one that ranks 36th out of 137.
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So what's been working?
Despite Lillard's presence in five of seven games, Simons has actually seen his frequency of self-created attempts close to the basket rise up. A career-high 22.2% of his field goal attempts are shots within 10 feet where he holds the ball for at least two seconds. Amazingly, he's making 60.7% of those looks, which shatters recent seasons.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/w9y6fr" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
He's not a downhill athlete or an ankle-breaker. Simons has instead found comfort with his snappy ability to change speeds, often using some sort of in-and-out dribble, and then gliding to the basket. He's bouncy enough and strong enough to separate from even the best NBA defenders (take a look at Anthony Davis here) and layup shots with his arms extended well away from his body.&nbsp;
Simons also has some seriously impressive touch on his floater. This one came outside the 10-foot radius, but it's an example of what the young guard can do as he scans the floor and seeks out space.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/lc7aqe" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Several of these clips include straight ball-screen actions. Interestingly, Simons has struggled as a pick-and-roll ball-handler; Synergy says he's averaging just 0.79 points per possession and shooting 37.7% from the field.
However, a lot of these are actually plays where Simons is pulling up from long range. He hasn't shot the ball particularly well as a three-point creator and is generally much better off the catch. In fact, Simons is making a career-low 29.6% of his self-created three-point attempts so far this season. His catch-and-shoot rate is 43.6% &mdash; a stellar rate that is still actually low for him, and that includes three dud outings in seven games that undoubtedly affect a small sample.
When Simons can use ball screens to give himself space to probe, or when he finds a tasty 1-on-1 matchup, he continues to achieve more success getting to the basket. He's not an elite finisher by any means, but the numbers and tape show Simons is improving. A healthy Lillard return should only help his young partner find easier perimeter chances off the ball and more freedom in the open court.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/fquv80" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Look at what Simons can do as he flies around screens and shoots in the face of some tough contests. In fact, according to Synergy, Simons is third across the entire NBA in points per possession coming off of ball-screens. Defenders definitely key in on Simons as a shooter at this point, but with Lillard running the offense, they'll never be able to shift their entire focus to either player.&nbsp;
Simons is somehow in his fifth NBA season and still just 23 years old. He has a lot of growing left to do &mdash; we didn't talk about passing or defense at all here. But Blazers fans should feel optimistic. Simons is turning his tools and flashes into production while his team is winning, and this start is just another chapter in the young guard's ascension.&nbsp;
THE OUTLIERS (a.k.a. other random interesting numbers I found in the void):
<ul>
<li>A mind-boggling stat from our own Nekias Duncan in his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-celebrating-bol-bol-start-to-the-season-orlando-magic-jamahl-mosley-anthony-davis-giannis-antetokounmpo-oregon-ducks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis of Bol Bol's breakout start</a>: Among 77 players that have defended at least 75 shot attempts, Bol's contest rate (92.59) ranks 12th on the list, per Second Spectrum. That puts him right behind players like Anthony Davis (93.59) and slightly ahead of guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo (92.51).</li>
<li>Always interesting to see how this levels out, but SIS Hoops reports that the general vibe around some impressive individual shot-making this season is backed up by data:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
So far, league-wide shotmaking is up year-over-year vs. last season. Early season blip or a relevant trend? <a href="https://t.co/KvSC7TMdMI">pic.twitter.com/KvSC7TMdMI</a>
&mdash; SIS Hoops (@SIS_Hoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/SIS_Hoops/status/1587843980229738496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote>

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<ul>
<li>Andre Drummond is apparently on pace to break our brains as a rebounder:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Andre Drummond has been inhaling rebounds this season. <a href="https://t.co/6XGU9llHLM">pic.twitter.com/6XGU9llHLM</a>
&mdash; Todd Whitehead (@CrumpledJumper) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrumpledJumper/status/1587646063174856704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Ethan Fuller breaks down how Anfernee Simons is faring as Damian Lillard's backcourt partner.

NBA Stats Notebook: The sun is still rising on Anfernee Simons

MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Brooklyn coach Steve Nash wasn&rsquo;t around to watch Giannis Antetokounmpo finish picking the Nets apart.
<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1585443231952646144" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nash was ejected</a>&nbsp;for the first time in his coaching career after arguing that Antetokounmpo should have been called for an offensive foul against Patty Mills while bringing the ball up the court in the third quarter.
Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks dominated the rest of the way in a 110-99 victory Wednesday night.
&ldquo;I was just standing up for our guys,&rdquo; said Nash, who was ejected twice during his 18-season playing career. &ldquo;I thought Patty took a forearm in the throat from Giannis right in front of the ref. I didn&rsquo;t feel that was fair. I don&rsquo;t think I was overly demonstrative. I was upset I got the technical.&rdquo;
Antetokounmpo had 43 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. He scored 34 points in the second half.
That performance three nights after he scored 44 points and shot 17 of 21 in a 125-105 rout of the Houston Rockets, marking just the fifth time in NBA history a player had scored at least 44 points while playing less than 28 minutes.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been working a lot over these few years and this summer and just so anxious to prove to myself that I can do what I&rsquo;ve been working on, and sometimes I think I play not (to) my strength as much,&rdquo; Antetokounmpo said. &ldquo;I kind of scratched that, and in the second half, I was just, &lsquo;OK, I&rsquo;m going to be myself and be OK with it&rsquo; and just tried to drive as much as I can and find my teammates and get in the paint.&rdquo;
The Nets led 70-66 with about 4 &frac12; minutes remaining in the third quarter when Nash received a technical foul and then yelled his displeasure as assistant coach Jacque Vaughn and forward Royce O&rsquo;Neale held him back. Nash&rsquo;s heated reaction resulted in a second technical that got him ejected.
Milwaukee outscored the Nets 44-29 the rest of the way.
After shooting just 3 of 10 in the first half, Antetokounmpo went 13 of 15 the rest of the way. He scored 34 points in the second half as the Bucks outscored the Nets 67-44 over the final two periods.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s vintage Giannis,&rdquo; Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s probably about the best &mdash; he&rsquo;s had a lot of great performances &mdash; tonight that second half, he did everything. He was phenomenal.&rdquo;
<div class="CardHeadline Component-cardHeadlineContainer-0-2-52">
<div class="Component-headline-0-2-56" data-key="card-headline">Bobby Portis had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, and Jrue Holiday added 15 points.</div>
</div>
<div class="Article" data-key="article">
Kevin Durant scored 33, Kyrie Irving 27 and Royce O&rsquo;Neale 12 for the Nets.
Irving scored 11 straight Brooklyn points and sank a jumper that tied the game at 83 with 10:09 remaining, but the Nets went scoreless for the next 5&frac12; minutes as Milwaukee built a 10-point lead.
Durant finally ended Brooklyn&rsquo;s drought by making a driving layup with 4:37 remaining, the first time any Net other than Irving had scored since free throw by Day&rsquo;Ron Sharpe with 3:02 left in the third period.
TIP-INS
Nets: Brooklyn played a second straight game without Markieff Morris, out for personal reasons. Seth Curry (left ankle) and T.J. Warren (left foot) still haven&rsquo;t made their season debuts. Nash said before the game that Curry will practice with the team&rsquo;s NBA G League affiliate Thursday. ... Nash said before the game he wanted to see Ben Simmons recapture &ldquo;that joy of playing the game&rdquo; as the three-time All-Star returns after missing the entire 2021-22 season and&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-ben-simmons-james-harden-c10991637d3e8705102f377d3b02a5e0">undergoing back surgery.</a>&nbsp;Simmons had four points, five rebounds and nine assists Wednesday. He hasn&rsquo;t scored more than seven points in any of Brooklyn&rsquo;s first four games.
Bucks: The Bucks continue to play without Khris Middleton (wrist), Pat Connaughton (calf) and Joe Ingles (knee). ... A moment of silence was observed before the game to honor&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1562849859530502144" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keith Carrington,</a>&nbsp;who had been a lead supervisor for Fiserv Forum event security since 2018. Carrington died during the offseason.
UP NEXT
Nets: Host the Mavericks on Thursday in the first of four straight home games.
Bucks: Host the New York Knicks on Friday in the third game of a season-high six-game homestand.
___
More AP NBA:&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a>
</div>

The Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Brooklyn Nets, 110-99.

Bucks use lopsided run after Nash ejected, beat Nets 110-99

Is the NBA ready to add an expansion team? Evan Sidery explores what kind of team you could build in a present-day expansion draft.

NBA Expansion Mock Draft: What would a new expansion team look like?

The NBA's free-agency period tips off today at 6 p.m. ET! Who are the top players available? Here's a look at 15 notable players who could be on the move.
Check out <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-free-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews' 2022 NBA Free Agency page</a> for our complete rankings, the latest rumors, a glossary of relevant terms and more.
ZACH LAVINE, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Zach LaVine bet on himself instead of signing a four-year, $105 million extension last offseason, and the gamble has certainly paid off. He averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 made three-pointers while shooting 38.9% from downtown and a career-high 85.3% from the free-throw line. Steph Curry is the only player in the NBA to match or exceed LaVine in those statistical categories last season. With LaVine playing at such a high level, he'll want a max deal that pays approximately $200 million over five years. The most any other team can offer LaVine is around $160 million over four years. LaVine is expected to return to the Chicago Bulls when all is said and done.
JAMES HARDEN, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
James Harden declined his $47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season and he's now an unrestricted free agent. However, all signs point to Harden remaining with the Philadelphia 76ers on a new deal. The 32-year-old struggled during the playoffs, especially in the second round when he averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 turnovers and 2.5 threes, while shooting 40.4% from the field, 33.2% from three and 76.1% from the free-throw line. Harden turns 33 years old in August and he seems significantly less explosive. Harden is&nbsp;
BRADLEY BEAL, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
In February, Bradley Beal underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. Prior to the injury, Beal's scoring average had dipped dramatically (from 31.3 points per game in 2020-21 to 23.2 this season), and he was shooting just 30.0% from downtown. However, the three-time All-Star averaged a career-high 6.6 assists. Beal declined his $36.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season, but he's expected to re-sign with the Washington Wizards barring a sudden change of heart.
DEANDRE AYTON, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Deandre Ayton is the crown jewel of this year's free-agent center crop. Although the Phoenix Suns surprisingly chose not to offer him a max extension last offseason (worth approximately $173 million over five years), Phoenix can match any offer the former No. 1 overall pick receives this summer. However, an up-and-down postseason has raised questions about the 23-year-old&rsquo;s future with the team. In Phoenix&rsquo;s embarrassing Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Ayton had just 5 points and 4 rebounds, leading Monty Williams to bench him after only 17 minutes. Ayton is a young, improving player and he's widely regarded as one of NBA's best young centers. If the Suns don&rsquo;t want to give Ayton the max, they may weigh their sign-and-trade options.
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MILES BRIDGES, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Charlotte reportedly offered Miles Bridges an extension worth $60 million over four years this past summer, but he rejected it. With Bridges exploding this season &mdash; averaging a career-high 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 threes and 0.9 steals &mdash; the Hornets' front office likely regrets not upping that offer, as the stud forward is now in line for a massive pay raise. He is one of only five players in the NBA this season who knocked down at least 125 three-pointers while also averaging at least 20-7-3. The other five players? LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns. It's worth noting that Bridges was arrested for domestic violence on the eve of free agency, which could impact his negotiations.
JALEN BRUNSON, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Jalen Brunson took a significant step forward during the 2020-21 season, averaging 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 threes in 25.7 minutes, while shooting 52.3% from the floor and 40.5% from downtown. The Villanova product continued to improve in 2021-22, averaging career-highs in points (16.3), assists (4.8) and rebounds (3.9). Brunson also showed he could shoulder increased responsibility by stepping up when Luka Doncic missed time during the regular season and playoffs. In the first round, Brunson helped Dallas Mavericks eliminate the Utah Jazz despite being without Doncic for the first three games of the series. In six games against Utah, Brunson averaged 27.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.0 threes and just 0.7 turnovers on 48.1/32.9/84.8 shooting. The New York Knicks are currently the front-runners to add Brunson.
ANFERNEE SIMONS, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Anfernee Simons increased his value a ton with his play during the 2021-22 season. After averaging a modest 7.8 points per game during the 2020-21 season, Simons averaged 17.3 points last year, which was the largest year-over-year leap in the NBA last season. He also chipped in 3.9 assists, 3.1 threes and 2.6 assists, while shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc. In the 30 games he started, he was even more productive &ndash; putting up 22.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.1 threes and 2.8 rebounds on 45.2/41.5/87.1 shooting splits. The 22-year-old has a bright future in the NBA. One of the primary reasons the Blazers traded away CJ McCollum, Norman Powell and Robert Covington prior to the deadline was to clear up cap space to give Simons a big payday, so it would be very surprising to see him change teams.
JUSUF NURKIC, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
After a disappointing 2020-21 campaign, Jusuf Nurkic bounced back impressively last season, averaging 15.0 points, a career-high 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 53.5% from the floor. Nurkic&rsquo;s season ended early due to plantar fasciitis. However, he'll likely be ready to return by the start of training camp in September. Due to Nurk's tight bond with Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, many pundits expect Portland to re-sign the big man to a multi-year deal.
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COLLIN SEXTON, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Collin Sexton injured his left knee in early November, and an MRI revealed a torn meniscus. He had surgery a week later, sidelining him for the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign. It will be <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumors-offseason-free-agency-examining-potential-destinations-collin-sexton-cleveland-cavaliers-washington-wizards-san-antonio-spurs-dallas-mavericks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fascinating to see what offers he receives on the open market</a>. During the 2020-21 season, Sexton averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists while shooting 47.5% from the floor, 37.5% from downtown and 81.5% from the free-throw line. However, he struggled defensively, and the Cavs registered a league-worst 60-159 record over the first three years of his career. With Sexton out of action this season, Cleveland went 44-38 and made the Play-In Tournament. Darius Garland emerged as an All-Star in Sexton&rsquo;s absence. Because he is a restricted free agent, the Cavs can match any offer he receives this summer.
BOBBY PORTIS, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
With Brook Lopez sidelined for most of the 2021-22 season, Bobby Portis stepped up for the Milwaukee Bucks, starting 59 games. He averaged career-highs in scoring (14.6 points), rebounds (9.1), blocks (0.7) and made three-pointers (1.8). Portis declined his $4.6 million player option for the 2022-23 season, and he is expected to search for a significant raise.
BRUCE BROWN, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
If you want to find a truly "positionless" NBA player, look no further than Bruce Brown. The 25-year-old shifted fluidly between roles for the Brooklyn Nets &mdash; the textbook glue guy that any playoff contender would love to have. In 22 games after the All-Star break, Brown averaged 14.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 threes on 53.0/47.2/77.5 shooting splits. During the Nets' first-round series against the Boston Celtics, he continued to produce at this level, averaging 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 threes, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks on 56.8/42.9/80.0 shooting splits. Brown proved he can be an initiator, a connective passer, a multi-faceted off-ball player and a primary defender, so he is due for a payday.
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MITCHELL ROBINSON, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
The New York Knicks technically have until June 30 to ink Mitchell Robinson to an extension worth up to $48 million over four years. However, the two sides have not yet reached an agreement, so it appears Robinson will be able to test the market. While he has flashed All-Defensive upside in short spurts throughout his four-year career, Robinson has battled numerous injuries and baffling inconsistency. His regression at the free-throw line (shooting below 50% in each of the past two seasons) is worrisome as well. Nevertheless, few big men can supply the type of high-flying athleticism and rim-protection he brings to the table. Robinson is expected to re-sign with the Knicks, but <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-free-agency-rumors-examining-potential-destinations-for-mitchell-robinson-new-york-knicks-chicago-bulls-pistons-trail-blazers-magic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">we'll see if any other team can make things interesting</a>.
LU DORT, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Lu Dort established himself as one of the league's elite young defenders early in his career. Last season, he proved that he is also capable of putting up points on the offensive end. Before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, Dort was averaging 17.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.5 made threes. Over his final eight games, he averaged more than 23.0 points per game. Dort has one of the biggest bargains in the NBA, as he earned $1,782,621 last season. The Thunder decided to decline his team option, making him a restricted free agent.&nbsp;
TYUS JONES, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Tyus Jones has proven to be a reliable, efficient backup point guard. Last season, he averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 threes, 0.9 steals and 0.6 turnovers on 45.1/39.0/81.8 shooting splits. However, he has also shown that he can step into the starting lineup and take on more responsibilities. In 23 games as a starter, Jones averaged 12.7 points, 6.6 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 threes and 1.1 steals on 45.0/39.6/83.8 shooting splits. He turned heads at times during the playoffs too. In Memphis' Game 6 win over the Warriors, he posted 21 points, 9 assists, 4 threes, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block and 0 turnovers (on 66.7/57.1/100.0 shooting) in just 24 minutes.
MO BAMBA, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
After struggling over his first three years in the NBA, Mo Bamba just enjoyed the best year of his pro career. He became the first player in Magic franchise history to average more than 1.5 blocks and 1.0 made three-pointers per game over an entire season. However, it remains to be seen if Bamba has a long-term future in Orlando. The Magic just selected Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Also, Orlando inked center Wendell Carter Jr. to a four-year, $50 million contract extension back in October (and lineups with both Carter and Bamba have not performed well). Orlando didn't extend a qualifying offer to Bamba, making him an unrestricted free agent.
&nbsp;
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<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-free-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here for BasketballNews' complete free-agency rankings</a>. And check out <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-nba-draft-rumors-live-notebook-all-the-latest-news-trades-and-intel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our NBA rumor tracker</a>, which we'll continue to update throughout free agency.
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The NBA's free-agency period tips off today at 6 p.m. ET! Who are the top players available?

2022 NBA Free Agency: The top 15 players who are available

Bookmark this page and we'll keep you up-to-date on every NBA rumor. We'll continue updating this tracker over the next 24 hours.

NBA Rumor Tracker: Compiling the latest news and intel

It&rsquo;s Christmas in late June for NBA fans.
The 2022 NBA Draft is hours away, and the rumor mill is churning. BasketballNews has compiled every major rumor to keep you up-to-date on the latest rumblings around the Association.
If you missed yesterday's NBA Rumors Notebook with updates on Malcolm Brogdon, John Collins, Gordon Hayward and more, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumors-draft-2022-news-reports-atlanta-hawks-malcolm-brogdon-new-york-knicks-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check that out here</a>.
Without further ado, let&rsquo;s jump into the juicy intel.
Kevin Durant will request trade if Kyrie Irving leaves Nets
On Wednesday, ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped this blockbuster nugget in his <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/34130810/how-kyrie-irving-contract-talks-change-kevin-durant-long-term-commitment-brooklyn-nets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN+ story</a> detailing the the uncertainty surrounding the Nets and Kyrie Irving. Woj said that the star point guard has a huge leverage play in negotiations: Irving knows that if the Nets refuse to sign him to a long-term extension, Kevin Durant will soon follow him out the door in Brooklyn. Wojnarowski said the Nets are aware of this situation, so their front office is trying to walk this tightrope.
Longtime NBA insider Marc Stein <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/kyrie-irving-latest-more-trade-talk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added on Substack</a> that he&rsquo;s heard Irving and LeBron James have been in contact recently, potentially about reuniting on the Los Angeles Lakers. Wojnarowski relayed on NBA Today that the Lakers are considered "the biggest threat" to acquire Irving outside of Brooklyn too. Also, Stein said don&rsquo;t rule out the Miami Heat as a possible suitor via sign-and-trade.
The Irving drama has already created a negative impact on the Nets&rsquo; free-agency plans. Wojnarowski said on NBA Today that Brooklyn is having a hard time retaining their own free agents, plus Durant isn&rsquo;t recruiting potential names to the Nets as well.&nbsp;
"In previous offseasons, rival agents and players would tell you of Durant's eagerness in talking to potential free agents. So far, that hasn't been the case with him, sources say," Wojnarowski <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/34130810/how-kyrie-irving-contract-talks-change-kevin-durant-long-term-commitment-brooklyn-nets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote on ESPN+</a>.
Durant has also been putting pressure on the Nets to sign Irving long-term, per Wojnarowski.
All of a sudden, the possibility of the Nets breaking up feels very real. Could we actually be looking at a scenario where Durant is requesting a trade over the next few weeks? If Irving's contract situation isn&rsquo;t resolved soon, it sure feels like it.
OG Anunoby joining Jerami Grant in Portland?
According to <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1539759808907284480" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo Sports&rsquo; Chris Haynes</a>, the Portland Trail Blazers aren&rsquo;t done trying to make massive moves to improve their roster. After acquiring Jerami Grant for a bargain price on Wednesday, Haynes relayed that Portland is offering the Toronto Raptors the No. 7 overall pick in today's NBA Draft in exchange for versatile wing OG Anunoby.
There has been persistent smoke surrounding Anunoby in trade talks over the last few weeks, and now things have kicked into overdrive.
If the Blazers are able to land Anunoby alongside Grant, it&rsquo;s a dream wing pairing to place alongside the high-usage backcourt of Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. Assuming Portland also re-signs Jusuf Nurkic, they could become a playoff contender once again.
Deandre Ayton, Suns heading for a split?
Deandre Ayton may have played his final game with the Phoenix Suns. Even though things seemed to be heading in this direction after the Suns' shocking postseason exit, Wojnarowski confirmed Wednesday on NBA Today that the organization doesn&rsquo;t view&nbsp; their former No. 1 overall pick as a max-level player. Woj added that Phoenix plans to engage in serious sign-and-trade discussions surrounding Ayton.
Keep an eye on the Detroit Pistons as a potential landing spot for Ayton, especially after the Grant trade went down. The Pistons now have more than $40 million in cap space, which means they can offer Ayton a max contract without any hiccups. According to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3379072/2022/06/22/jerami-grant-blazers-pistons-deandre-ayton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic&rsquo;s James Edwards III</a>, Detroit is &ldquo;heavily expected&rdquo; to pursue Ayton.
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Will James Harden opt in?
Wojnarowski mentioned on NBA Today that James Harden was likely to exercise his $47 million player option for next season and sign a short-term extension with the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden&rsquo;s new deal with Philadelphia will come in at a figure slightly below the max, as Woj relayed on ESPN2. This lines up with <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10038916-latest-nba-intel-sources-say-james-harden-will-sign-short-term-extension-with-sixers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a recent report</a> from Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
Philadelphia has <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumors-draft-2022-news-reports-atlanta-hawks-malcolm-brogdon-new-york-knicks-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">already been linked to Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker</a> this offseason, so we'll see if the 2018 Houston Rockets are planning a reunion. Would adding Gordon and Tucker be enough to put Philadelphia over the top in the Eastern Conference?
The Sixers are also shopping the No. 23 overall pick, Matisse Thybulle and Danny Green, per <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10038916-latest-nba-intel-sources-say-james-harden-will-sign-short-term-extension-with-sixers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fischer</a>.&nbsp;
Thunder planning blockbuster trade to move up draft?
<a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/34121058/2022-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-58-picks-based-latest-intel-scouting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to ESPN&rsquo;s Jonathan Givony</a>, the Oklahoma City Thunder are aggressively trying to trade up from No. 12, with their primary targets being Purdue&rsquo;s Jaden Ivey and Kentucky&rsquo;s Shaedon Sharpe.
The Thunder are hoping to come out of this draft with two of the top prospects; OKC also has the No. 2 and signs seem to point to them taking Chet Holmgren.&nbsp;
Could you imagine Oklahoma City trotting out a core that features Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Holmgren and either Ivey or Sharpe? That&rsquo;s simply unfair.
Hawks pursuing Dejounte Murray trade?
<a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039635-latest-nba-offseason-rumors-san-antonio-spurs-discussing-dejounte-murray-trades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Bleacher Report&rsquo;s Jake Fischer</a>, the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks have discussed a deal that would involve swapping Dejounte Murray and John Collins. Fischer noted that the price for Murray to leave San Antonio would be &ldquo;Jrue Holiday-like&rdquo; in terms of the return. If that&rsquo;s the case, the Spurs would likely have to part with multiple first-round picks to land the versatile guard.
The Athletic's Chris Kirschner joined BasketballNews' Twitter Spaces last night and confirmed that these talks are ongoing, but added that a deal isn't close. He has also heard that the asking price for Murray is significant.
With this coming out of nowhere, it wouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise to see the Spurs be a very aggressive team during tonight's NBA Draft.
Knicks all-in on Jalen Brunson?
Stein <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/kyrie-irving-latest-more-trade-talk?sd=pf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Wednesday that the New York Knicks are viewed as a real threat to sign Jalen Brunson, if they can clear the necessary cap space. The Knicks are trying to offload the expiring contracts (if you count their 2023-24 team option) of Alec Burks, Kemba Walker and Nerlens Noel. Wojnarowski added later in the day on ESPN2 that New York will be aggressive in clearing said space.
Stein dropped another Knicks-related note involving underrated rim protector Mitchell Robinson. <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/nba-draft-forecast-trades-aplenty?sd=pf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Stein</a>, the Knicks are expected to re-sign Robinson, which may close the door on potential draft options like Memphis&rsquo; Jalen Duren or Duke&rsquo;s Mark Williams at No. 11 overall.
Yesterday, ESPN&rsquo;s Brian Windhorst mentioned on NBA Today that New York has been unwilling to include No. 11 in any trade talks involving Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon. The availability of Brogdon continues to be a hot topic, which included <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10038623-latest-nba-intel-sources-expect-zach-lavine-to-re-sign-with-chicago-bulls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fischer reporting</a> that league executives believe Brogdon is the Knicks' backup option after Brunson.
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Pacers accepting rebuild?
On ESPN's NBA Mock Draft Special on Tuesday, Wojnarowksi said that the Pacers plan to reshape their roster and move toward a rebuild under head coach Rick Carlisle. Woj added that Indiana is hopeful to add a second lottery selection since there are multiple prospects they like in that range.
The full expectation is that Brogdon will be moved soon. However, when it comes to Myles Turner's future, the Pacers may wait for better offers or hold onto him long-term. Both Brogdon and Turner have constantly popped up in trade rumors, and that likely isn't changing until there's a resolution.
Indiana deciding on a full-scale rebuild opens up a lot of roster possibilities, and it further suggests that Brogdon, Turner and maybe even Buddy Hield could be on the move. Leading up to the draft, Indiana continues to be one of the most active teams on the trade market.
<a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039635-latest-nba-offseason-rumors-san-antonio-spurs-discussing-dejounte-murray-trades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fischer mentioned on Wednesday</a> that the following teams have shown interest in a Turner trade: the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets.
D&rsquo;Angelo Russell staying in Minnesota?
Speaking of the Timberwolves, another interesting tidbit was shared on Wednesday morning by <a href="https://theathletic.com/3363956/2022/06/22/dangelo-russell-future-timberwolves/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic&rsquo;s Jon Krawczynski</a>: Minnesota has not come close on any potential trades involving D&rsquo;Angelo Russell or any other players. Russell is on the final year of his contract, but his season ended with some fourth-quarter benchings in favor of Jordan McLaughlin during the playoffs.
Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1539694720108085248" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a> on Wednesday that the organization is &ldquo;super open&rdquo; to trading the No. 19 pick. Connelly added that they would welcome a win-now piece in exchange for the top-20 selection.
Cavs open to trading back?
According to <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2022/06/cleveland-cavaliers-getting-trade-offers-for-the-no-14-pick-in-2022-nba-draft-sources-say.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com</a>, the Cleveland Cavaliers are open to trading back from No. 14 overall. This lines up with what <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumors-bradley-beal-bobby-portis-nicolas-batum-lakers-nets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported</a> earlier this week. Scotto added that the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks have called about the No. 14 pick.
Holding the final pick in the lottery, Cleveland could fetch a solid return on the trade market. The Cavs are reportedly hoping for a future first-round pick, but they&rsquo;re open to adding a win-now role player in a trade-back scenario as well.&nbsp;
If the Cavaliers are able to move back while also improving the top of their rotation, it would be a huge win for the up-and-coming team.
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Suns shopping Jae Crowder?
<a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039635-latest-nba-offseason-rumors-san-antonio-spurs-discussing-dejounte-murray-trades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Fischer</a>, the Suns have reached out to rival teams to gauge Jae Crowder's trade value. Over the last two seasons, Crowder has played a pivotal role in the Suns&rsquo; historic turnaround. However, with a looming extension for Cameron Johnson, it could make sense to clear more playing time for he and Mikal Bridges on the wing.
Phoenix has no picks tonight, but they are rumored to be interested in getting into the draft. While they have looked into buying a second-round selection, perhaps trading Crowder could get them into the first round.
If the Suns send Crowder to Philadelphia for the No. 23 pick and Danny Green&rsquo;s non-guaranteed salary, would that make sense for both sides?
Wizards listening on Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
<a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039635-latest-nba-offseason-rumors-san-antonio-spurs-discussing-dejounte-murray-trades" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Fischer</a>, the Wizards are open to discussing Kuzma and KCP in deals. Earlier in the week, Wojnarowski listed Washington as one of the most active teams in trade discussions.
After a strong season with the Wizards, Kuzma could provide a strong return. KCP&rsquo;s expiring contract would be a strong match with Indiana for Malcolm Brogdon, which has been rumored for several days.
Blazers, Pelicans draft preferences
Closing out the notebook, here are two draft-related notes. First up, if the Portland Trail Blazers stay put at No. 7, they are reportedly fans of Dyson Daniels and Shaedon Sharpe, per <a href="https://theathletic.com/3377254/2022/06/22/nba-mock-draft-trades-rumors-news/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic&rsquo;s John Hollinger</a>. Both Daniels or Sharpe could be real complements on the wing alongside Lillard, Grant and Simons. If Portland nails their lottery pick, they are set up to potentially rebound in 2022-23.
The New Orleans Pelicans&rsquo; top choices at No. 8 are Daniels and Arizona&rsquo;s Bennedict Mathurin, per <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/please-dont-aggregate-this/id1618992995" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fischer on his podcast</a>. If neither Daniels nor Mathurin are on the board, New Orleans would be more inclined to listen on potential trade-back scenarios.
Buckle up, folks, as this is going to be a crazy day! BasketballNews will keep you updated on all the latest NBA news and rumors.
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The 2022 NBA Draft is hours away, and the rumor mill is churning. Here are all of the latest rumblings from around the Association.

NBA Rumors Notebook: Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Deandre Ayton, more

After everything the Brooklyn Nets went through this season, they still entered the playoffs with the third-best championship odds (+600), which is a testament to this team's talent on paper. However, though they were considered a favorite to hoist the Larry O&rsquo;Brien trophy and boasted the NBA&rsquo;s second-highest payroll ($174,811,922), the Nets failed to win a single playoff game. &nbsp;
Multiple players blamed Brooklyn&rsquo;s lack of continuity. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving played just 17 games together this season after playing only 27 games together last year. Irving couldn&rsquo;t suit up in home games until late March due to New York City&rsquo;s vaccine mandate. A number of key contributors were acquired halfway through the campaign, including Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic, making it even tougher for the team to get everyone on the same page.&nbsp;
Injuries also impacted the team&rsquo;s ability to play at full strength and develop chemistry, as Durant missed 27 games with a sprained MCL, Joe Harris suffered a season-ending ankle injury in November and Ben Simmons dealt with a herniated disc in his back after being traded to Brooklyn as the centerpiece of the James Harden blockbuster.
Now, after being swept by the Boston Celtics on Monday night, what&rsquo;s next for the Nets?
&ldquo;This summer is gonna be a very, very important summer for our organization,&rdquo; Durant said after the Game 4 loss. &ldquo;We'll see where we go next year."
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Durant is correct, as the Nets will be one of the most interesting teams to watch this offseason, and it&rsquo;s possible that their roster could look very different entering the 2022-23 season.
The Nets have only six players with guaranteed contracts for next season: Durant, Simmons, Harris, Curry, Cam Thomas and Day'Ron Sharpe. Brooklyn already has $144,555,667 in guaranteed money on their books for 2022-23. Next year&rsquo;s salary cap is projected to be $122 million and the luxury tax is expected to be $149 million, so they&rsquo;ll likely have one of the NBA&rsquo;s most expensive payrolls once again.
The Nets are already close to being a tax-paying team before factoring in any of their potential free agents such as Irving, Drummond, Dragic, Bruce Brown, Patty Mills, Nic Claxton, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kessler Edwards and David Duke Jr.&nbsp;
Irving has a player option worth $35,328,700. On Monday night, Irving was asked about his future and said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t really plan on going anywhere... There's no question where I'm going: I'm here with 7 (Durant)."
Either Irving will opt-in and cost quite a bit, or he&rsquo;ll opt-out and potentially cost even more if he signs a new, multi-year deal with the Nets.
Mills also has a player option, which is worth $6,184,500. He could opt-in, but it&rsquo;s also possible that the 33-year-old will prioritize his long-term security and try to ink a multi-year contract elsewhere. He's coming off a productive season, averaging 11.4 points, 2.8 threes and 2.3 assists while shooting 40.0% from three, so he will likely have other suitors.
Claxton and Duke will hit restricted free agency, assuming the Nets extend qualifying offers to both players ($2,228,276 for Claxton and $1,576,305 for Duke). Also, Edwards has a team option worth $1,563,518.
The rest of Brooklyn's players are unrestricted free agents including Brown, Drummond, Dragic, Aldridge, Griffin and Johnson.&nbsp;
Brown earned $4,736,102 this season, but he's going to get a significant raise after his career-year, averaging 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks on .506/.404/.758 shooting splits. He was one of the Nets' most dependable and versatile players all season long. He stepped up in the playoffs, averaging 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks on .568/.429/.800 shooting splits. This is a relatively weak free-agency class, so don&rsquo;t be surprised if some team makes a big offer to the 25-year-old.
When asked about the possibility of re-signing with the Nets, Brown responded, &ldquo;Yeah, hopefully. The season just ended. I&rsquo;m not thinking about it. If there's a chance to stay, we'll talk about it. But we'll see."&nbsp;
It remains to be seen if Drummond, Dragic, Aldridge and Griffin will return.&nbsp;
Drummond played well as the Nets' starting center, averaging 11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 block and 0.9 steals (while shooting 61.0% from the field) in 22.3 minutes per game. When Drummond signed a one-year deal last offseason, it seemed like he wanted to showcase his value and then ink a larger contract this summer, so if he gets the kind of offer he&rsquo;s anticipating, he&rsquo;ll likely be too expensive for Brooklyn to retain.
In a shockingly candid moment back in March, Drummond <a href="https://twitter.com/krisplashed/status/1506663720931500046" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a>: "If we're all being honest, I'm only here &lsquo;til the rest of the season. Who knows what&rsquo;s gonna happen in the offseason? So they need a guy like [Claxton].&rdquo;
Last season, the NBA world was outraged that a super-team like the Nets was able to add Griffin and Aldridge for nothing via the buyout market, putting them alongside their Big Three of Durant, Irving and Harden. At one point, Brooklyn&rsquo;s roster had a combined 41 All-Star appearances and 32 All-NBA selections. However, it didn't translate to postseason success. It remains to be seen if Griffin, Aldridge or Dragic will return. It&rsquo;s possible that Brooklyn will be able to attract other ring-chasing veterans to take their places.
After all, despite their first-round flameout, the Nets will once again enter next season as a top contender. If Simmons is able to return his All-NBA, Defensive-Player-of-the-Year-candidate form, it would be a huge addition that makes the Nets much scarier. And the more Durant and Irving play together, the more dangerous they&rsquo;ll become as a duo. Also, with Harris and Curry, the Nets will have two outstanding shooters to put around their Big Three. If this team is able to stay healthy and develop chemistry, Brooklyn has the talent to go on a deep postseason run.
Using the taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum deals, Brooklyn shouldn&rsquo;t have trouble surrounding its core with decent veterans.
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When asked specifically about who might be back and what the Nets need to add to their roster in order to contend, Durant shrugged.
"We just got done playing. You know I don't know the answer to that question right now,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;I don't know the situations with the contracts. I just don't know. Obviously when you lose in the playoffs, you&rsquo;re looking toward next year and who may be on the team, and there's a lot of high expectations around the Nets so people want to have some hope of what may happen in the future. But at this point, an hour after the game, it's hard for me to say.&rdquo;
Another avenue for the Nets to improve is through the 2022 NBA Draft, where they&rsquo;ll have the No. 23 overall pick via the Philadelphia 76ers. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's latest 2022 NBA Mock Draft</a>, Brooklyn is projected to take Jaden Hardy of the G League Ignite with its late-first-round selection.
The Nets can try to find a diamond-in-the-rough with that selection, or they can attempt to trade that pick for a win-now piece. Since the Nets will be above the luxury tax and the rookie will be a relatively cheap contributor, it may make sense to keep the pick. Remember, this year&rsquo;s roster featured four rookies: Thomas, Sharpe, Edwards and Duke.
In recent years, players such as OG Anunoby, Darius Bazley and Rodney Hood have been selected at No. 23 overall. Other notable players drafted at that spot include Tayshaun Prince, A.C. Green, Wesley Person, Wilson Chandler, Bobby Jackson, Trevor Booker, DeShawn Stevenson and Tyronn Lue.
While the roster could look very different, don&rsquo;t expect the Nets to make a coaching change. Steve Nash expressed that he hopes to return as the team&rsquo;s head coach, and Durant got annoyed and shot down a question about whether Nash is still the right coach to lead the Nets.
&nbsp;&ldquo;Come on, man. Yeah,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;Steve has been dealt a crazy hand the last three years. He&rsquo;s had to deal with so much stuff as a first-time head coach &mdash; trades, injuries, COVID, just a lot of stuff he had to deal with. I&rsquo;m proud of how he just focused and of his passion for us. We'll all continue developing over the summer and see what happens.&rdquo;
Durant did express that he wants to have some input over this offseason&rsquo;s personnel decisions.
&ldquo;Yeah, of course! I want to know who I'm playing with out on the floor. I want to know what we're thinking,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;[Nets general manager] Sean [Marks] and the front office, we all just talk basketball regardless because we all enjoy basketball; sometimes our team may come up and what we need and what I see from a player&rsquo;s perspective. We always have conversations and that&rsquo;s what makes great organizations.&rdquo;
Irving made it clear that he wants to be involved in &ldquo;managing this franchise&rdquo; as well.
&ldquo;When I say I&rsquo;m here with Kev, it really entails us managing this franchise together alongside [Nets governor] Joe [Tsai], Sean and our group of family members that we have in our locker room and organization,&rdquo; Irving said.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about me and Kev. We're cornerstones here, but we have Ben and a few other guys who are under contract [too]. I think we've just gotta make some moves this offseason and really talk about it and really be intentional about what we&rsquo;re building, and have some fun with it and make it enjoyable.&rdquo;
After a disappointing season, all eyes will be on the Nets to see how their decision-makers attempt to right the ship.
If the last year has been any indication, there won&rsquo;t be a dull moment.&nbsp;
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After getting swept by the Celtics, the Nets are poised for a very interesting offseason. What's next for the team?

2022 NBA offseason preview: What's next for the Brooklyn Nets?

Brooklyn Nets' guard Ben Simmons has filed a grievance to challenge the nearly $20 million of salary withheld to him by the Philadelphia 76ers this season, according to ESPN.
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Reporting with <a href="https://twitter.com/ramonashelburne?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RamonaShelburne</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BobbyMarks42</a>: Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has filed a grievance to challenge the nearly $20 million of salary withheld to him by the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Story soon on ESPN.
&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1510229709061251077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Simmons' grievance pits him and the National Basketball Players Association against the league in a dispute that is likely to have far reaching implication on how mental health is treated by NBA teams.
The 76ers claim that Simmons breached his player contract when he failed to show up for training camp and play in the preseason and regular season. Philadelphia claims that Simmons has no right to try to recoup any of his forfeited salary. Simmons asserts that mental-health issues led to his limited involvement.
Simmons' representatives and the 76ers tried to come to an agreement independently, but a decision will now be reached in arbitration. Ultimately, Simmons requested a trade and was the centerpiece of a package that sent him to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for James Harden.
Simmons remains sidelined with a herniated disc in his back.

Brooklyn Nets' guard Ben Simmons filed a grievance to challenge the salary withheld to him by the Philadelphia 76ers this season.

Ben Simmons files grievance to challenge salary withheld by 76ers

It&rsquo;s not every day that a defending NBA champion loses its starting center and doesn't miss a beat, but like its superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks have long proven to be successfully unorthodox.
From the drama surrounding Ben Simmons and James Harden, to the struggles of the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, there have been a number of interesting storylines to focus on this NBA season.
The defending champs not skipping a beat, though? It&rsquo;s not a headline that would necessarily sell newspapers or drive clicks, so the Bucks have managed to somehow fly under the radar.
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So has the team&rsquo;s acquisition of Serge Ibaka.
Ibaka is obviously still trying to find himself after undergoing back surgery last June but, thus far, the returns have been positive. The Bucks hope it only gets better from here.
Last season, Milwaukee found success with Brook Lopez serving as the team&rsquo;s starting center &mdash; he started all 70 of his regular-season appearances and each of the club&rsquo;s 23 postseason contests. He&rsquo;s missed all but one contest this season yet, somehow, Milwaukee arrived at the 65-game mark this season at 40-25, just one game off of last season&rsquo;s 41-24 pace.
Slowly but surely, Lopez managed to make the adjustment that bigs like Roy Hibbert and even Dwight Howard were unable to &mdash; he managed to maintain himself as a low-post offensive threat while becoming a willing and respectable floor-spacer. While it may not be imperative for a team in the NBA to have a center who can shoot, it sure makes it easier to create problems for opposing teams &mdash; particularly when the team features a slasher like Giannis.
Giannis is obviously an all-world talent and all-time great player, but nobody&rsquo;s betting on him to overthrow Karl-Anthony Towns as the reigning best shooter among the league&rsquo;s big men. Lopez figured out how to thrive alongside Giannis and executed his assignment nearly flawlessly. The same can be said of Bobby Portis, who has emerged as one of the league&rsquo;s feel-good stories.
At 26 years old &mdash; now in his seventh year &mdash; Portis is playing for his fourth team. He was a key reserve on the Bucks&rsquo; title team last season and has responded to being nominated as Lopez&rsquo;s replacement in the starting lineup by putting forth career-best numbers.
In 57 appearances this season (including 52 starts), Portis is averaging 15.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, both of which are career-highs. He&rsquo;s also connecting on 41.5% of his three-point looks. His mark from distance is less than last season&rsquo;s 47.1%, but due to his career-high 28.9 minutes per game (and the additional reps he&rsquo;s getting as a starter), his shot volume from deep has more than doubled.
That he&rsquo;s been able to almost maintain his efficiency on more than double the attempts is an accomplishment.
Whether Lopez is able to completely return to form remains to be seen, but Ibaka is a hell of an insurance policy in case he can't.
Ibaka is still busting off some of the rust that accumulated after he &mdash; like Lopez, coincidentally &mdash; underwent back surgery last June. However, there&rsquo;s reason to believe that, in the long run, Serge will be able to return to being at least a proficient version of his old self. From a basketball standpoint, he provides many of the same gifts as Portis and Lopez, so it&rsquo;s no wonder the Bucks had interest leading up to the NBA trade deadline.
In nine appearances thus far in Milwaukee, he has shown flashes. Whether he can fully regain his footing is a question that will certainly have implications for the Eastern Conference championship, but Serge was actually showing signs of life even before the Los Angeles Clippers dealt him to the Bucks.
Since Jan. 1, Ibaka has connected on 37.5% of his three-point looks and has recorded three double-doubles. He&rsquo;s only started seven games in that timeframe, though, and few teams would argue that a reserve big man with championship experience and those attributes wouldn&rsquo;t be an asset.
Milwaukee did give up three players to land Ibaka &mdash; Donte DiVincenzo, Semi Ojeleye and Rodney Hood &mdash; however, DiVincenzo became somewhat redundant with Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen each commanding playing time in the backcourt. (Connaughton suffered a significant injury after the trade, but the point stands). Neither Hood nor Ojeleye played heavy rotation minutes.
Together, none of the three necessarily addressed an area of need for the Bucks. The same couldn&rsquo;t be said of Ibaka.
In the end, the Bucks hope that they bought low as Serge rounds into form and channels the same energy he had as a member of the Raptors&rsquo; 2019 championship team.
Together, the hope is that he can help Portis and Lopez form a three-man platoon of veteran bigs who know what it takes to win a championship, but also possess the attributes necessary to excel alongside Giannis and Khris Middleton.
Thus far, in nine games, Ibaka is averaging 6.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in 20 minutes per game. More importantly, Milwaukee is 6-3 in those contests.
Through 65 games, although the personnel has changed a fair bit, the Bucks have pretty much looked like the team that they were last year. With Ibaka now in tow, they&rsquo;ve increased their odds of having this season end just as the last one did &mdash; with the Bucks on top.
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Moke talks about Serge Ibaka's likely fit with the Bucks, and gives his perpsective on the move.

Serge Ibaka: Underrated acquisition for the Bucks?

Although some top-tier players who were expected to hit free agency this coming summer have already signed extensions, the 2022 NBA free-agent class will feature quite a few stars.
In particular, the crop of guards up for grabs is quite impressive, which is where we will begin this three-part ranking series.
1. James Harden &mdash; Philadelphia 76ers &mdash; Player Option
James Harden holds a player option worth $47.4 million for the 2022-23 season, and it was reported that Harden would exercise it in conjunction with his trade from Brooklyn to Philadelphia. Although he hasn't done so yet, Harden has said he plans to. Over the summer, the maximum offer the Sixers can present to Harden is a pact that would pay him up north of $270 million over the next six years, which ESPN analyst Bobby Marks declared would be the "worst contract in NBA history." Here's a look at what Harden's annual salary would look like:
2022-23: $47.4 million 2023-24: $49.7 million 2024-25: $53.7 million&nbsp; 2025-26: $57.7 million 2026-27: $61.7 million&nbsp;
2. Zach LaVine &mdash; Chicago Bulls &mdash; Unrestricted
Zach LaVine bet on himself instead of signing a four-year, $105 million extension last offseason, and the gamble has most certainly paid off. He's averaging 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.9 made three-pointers while shooting 40.0% from downtown and a career-high 85.7% from the free-throw line. Steph Curry is the only player in the NBA to match or exceed LaVine in those statistical categories this season. With LaVine playing at such a high level and the Bulls near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, Chicago is fully expected to offer him a max deal of five years at approximately $200 million. The most any other team can offer LaVine is around $160 million over four years.
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3. Bradley Beal &mdash; Washington Wizards &mdash; Player Option
The Wizards announced last month that Bradley Beal underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. Prior to the injury, Beal's scoring average had dipped dramatically (from 31.3 points per game in 2020-21 to 23.2 this season), and he was shooting just 30.0% from downtown, but the three-time All-Star was averaging a career-high 6.6 assists. Beal's player option for the 2022-23 season is worth $36.4 million.
4. Kyrie Irving &mdash; Brooklyn Nets &mdash; Player Option
It's been a tumultuous season for both Kyrie Irving and the Nets. Kyrie's refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 &mdash; which resulted in him being banished from the team for the first half of the year before Brooklyn welcomed him back to play in road games &mdash; reportedly was an important factor in James Harden's decision to demand a trade. In the preseason, the Nets were heavy favorites to take home the title, but find themselves below .500 and in ninth place in the East. Brooklyn is just 1-9 in the last 10 games Irving has appeared in. Considering all the drama (and the reports that Irving would consider retirement if he was traded), it seems safe to assume Kyrie will remain in Brooklyn. But when it comes to Mr. Irving (who has a player option for the 2022&ndash;23 season worth $36,934,550), making assumptions often proves unwise. Stay tuned.&nbsp;
5. Anfernee Simons &mdash; Portland Trail Blazers &mdash; Restricted
It could be argued that Anfernee Simons has increased his value more than any player in the league over the last five months. After averaging a modest 7.8 points per game last season, Simons is pouring in 17.3 points per game in 2021-22, which represents the largest year-over-year increase in the NBA this season. And his numbers are even more impressive dating back to the start of the New Year, when he was permanently inserted into the starting lineup.
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38 points (9 threes), 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 40 minutes. If you're not taking notice of <a href="https://twitter.com/AnferneeSimons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anferneesimons</a> yet, you should be! <a href="https://t.co/5IPvZXFvyo">pic.twitter.com/5IPvZXFvyo</a>
&mdash; Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1500324039100755972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Over the 27 games he's appeared in since the calendar flipped to January, the 22-year-old Simons is averaging 23.4 points, 5.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 4.4 made triples, while shooting 42.3% from downtown and 86.6% from the charity stripe. Simons leads the league in made three-pointers (119) in 2022. Yes, he's struggled on the defensive end, but one of the primary reasons the Blazers made multiple major moves before the deadline (trading away CJ McCollum, Norman Powell and Robert Covington) was to clear up cap space to sign Simons to a considerable extension this summer. They are not going to let him walk.
6. Jalen Brunson &mdash; Dallas Mavericks &mdash; Unrestricted
After two solid, if unspectacular, seasons to start his NBA career, Jalen Brunson took a significant step forward last season; he averaged 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 treys in 25.7 minutes per game, while shooting 52.3% from the floor and 40.5% from downtown. The Villanova product has continued to improve in 2021-22, posting career-highs in points (16.2), assists (5.3) and rebounds (3.7) per contest. Brunson also showed he could shoulder increased responsibility by stepping in and stepping up when Luka Doncic missed 14 of Dallas' first 35 games this season. Jalen played the best basketball of his NBA career over an eight-game stretch in mid-to-late December, when he averaged 22.4 points and 7.9 dimes a night. This offseason, Brunson reportedly will be seeking a four-year, $80 million deal. The New York Knicks are among the teams expected to express serious interest.
7. Collin Sexton &mdash; Cleveland Cavaliers &mdash; Restricted
Collin Sexton injured his left knee in a game in early November, and an MRI revealed a torn meniscus. He had surgery a week later, sidelining him for the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign. It will be fascinating to see what offers he receives on the open market. Last season, Sexton averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists while shooting 47.5% from the floor, 37.5% from downtown and 81.5% from the free-throw line. However, he struggled defensively, and the Cavs registered a league-worst 60-159 record over the first three years of his career. With Sexton out of action this season, Cleveland is 10 games above .500. Because he is restricted, the Cavs can match any offer he receives this summer.&nbsp;
8. Malik Monk &mdash; Los Angeles Lakers &mdash; Unrestricted
Mailk Monk, the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, failed to live up to expectations over the first four years of his career in Charlotte. He made just one career start as a member of the Hornets, and had averaged 9.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 233 appearances while shooting below 34% from downtown. As a result, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to ink him to a one-year contract at the veteran minimum ($1.7 million) for this season. Surprisingly, Monk has established himself as one of the Lakers' most consistent and effective players. In the 23 games he's started for L.A., Monk has averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists while posting a True Shooting percentage of 58.8%. He will look to cash in with a significant pay raise in July.&nbsp;
9. Russell Westbrook &mdash; Los Angeles Lakers &mdash; Player Option
Besides Monk's unexpected success and the MVP-caliber performance of the ageless wonder that is LeBron James, the 2021-22 Lakers season has been an absolute nightmare. L.A. is eight games below .500 and desperately fighting just to make the Play-In Tournament. And Russell Westbrook is the player <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/russell-westbrook-opens-up-about-shaming-from-lakers-fans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the public has pilloried and pinned the Lakers' failures on</a>. Russ has a player option for the 2022-23 season worth a whopping $47,063,478, so there is almost zero chance of him opting out. The Lakers will undoubtedly explore all possible trade scenarios this offseason.
10. John Wall &mdash; Houston Rockets &mdash; Player Option
John Wall showed flashes of his immense talent last season, when he averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists per game for the Rockets, but he hasn't set foot on an NBA court since April 2021. Wall will almost certainly exercise his player option for 2022-23 worth $47.4 million. At that point, he'll be on an expiring contract, which will make it far easier for Houston to move him.
Best of the Rest: Dennis Schroder, Patty Mills (player option), Kendrick Nunn (player option), Victor Oladipo, Gary Payton II, Gary Harris, Lonnie Walker IV (restricted), Tomas Satoransky, Ricky Rubio, Goran Dragic, Delon Wright, Lou Williams, Facundo Campazzo (restricted), Bruce Brown Jr., Donte DiVincenzo (restricted), Pat Connaughton (player option), Jeremy Lamb, Tyus Jones, Cory Joseph
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Tommy Beer ranks the top guards who could be available as part of the 2022 NBA free-agent class.

2022 NBA Free Agency Preview: Ranking the top-10 guards

MILWAUKEE (AP) &mdash; Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 38 points and the Brooklyn Nets stopped their recent slide Saturday night by winning 126-123 over the slumping Milwaukee Bucks.
Bruce Brown sank a 3-pointer to put the Nets ahead for good 118-116 with 1:38 left.
Brooklyn ended a two-game skid and won for just the third time in 16 games. Milwaukee has dropped four of its last five.
The Bucks had one last chance with 2.1 seconds and no timeouts remaining. Wesley Matthews threw a long inbounds pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had a clean look at a game-tying 3-point attempt that bounced off the rim.
Bobby Portis had 30 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo had 29 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Khris Middleton added 25 points.
Seth Curry scored 19 for the Nets. Andre Drummond had 17 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Brown had 15 points and LaMarcus Aldridge 11.
The Nets led 119-116 when Grayson Allen was fouled by Irving while attempting a 3-pointer with 14.6 seconds left, giving the Bucks a chance to tie the game.
Allen, who entered the day shooting 85.7% from the line, made his first attempt but missed his second before making the third to cut Brooklyn&rsquo;s lead to 119-118. Irving went 5 of 6 and Aldridge was 2 of 2 on free throw attempts the rest of the way to preserve Brooklyn&rsquo;s lead.
The Bucks led for much of the fourth quarter and appeared to extend their lead to 115-110 on a 3-pointer by Matthews with 3:18 left. But the basket was overturned after replays determined Matthews released the ball after the shot clock expired.
Brooklyn capitalized on the reversal as Irving responded with a 3-pointer that put the Nets ahead 113-112 with 3:08 remaining.
The lead changed hands a few times from there before the Nets finally pulled ahead for good.
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TIP-INS
Nets: Coach Steve Nash said <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-milwaukee-bucks-brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-8001ee23f5a3f8a748f0ed15415a259e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Simmons is dealing with back soreness </a> while preparing for his return to action. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not like an injury,&rdquo; Nash said before the game. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just kind of like as he&rsquo;s returning to play, his back&rsquo;s flared up a little. It&rsquo;s not like a long-term thing.&rdquo; Nash noted that when a player is coming back from such a long time away, &ldquo;as you ramp up, you&rsquo;re a little more susceptible to certain things, as you would be with muscle soreness or tightness." ... Goran Dragic made his Nets debut Saturday after signing with them on Tuesday. Dragic hadn&rsquo;t played a game for anyone since Nov. 13 with the Toronto Raptors. Dragic scored six points in 14 minutes.
Bucks: George Hill missed a 10th straight game with neck soreness. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to give him a little bit more time, I think probably a week minimum,&rdquo; Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll see how he&rsquo;s feeling after that and go from there.&rdquo; &hellip; Former Nets DeAndre' Bembry and Jevon Carter made their Bucks debuts on Saturday. The Bucks signed each of them after the Nets waived them. Neither player scored. ... The Bucks went just 25 of 38 on free throw attempts and committed 15 turnovers. The Bucks were outscored 27-9 in points off turnovers.
UP NEXT
Nets: Host the Toronto Raptors on Monday. The Nets have won both of their previous meetings with the Raptors this season.
Bucks: Host Charlotte on Monday. The Bucks have gone 1-2 against the Hornets this season.

Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 38 points and the Nets stopped their slide by winning 126-123 over the slumping Milwaukee Bucks.

Irving has season-high 38, Nets rally to beat Bucks 126-123

Nekias Duncan thoroughly grades every NBA trade from 2022 Deadline Week.

Grading every move from 2022 NBA trade deadline week

And here&rsquo;s the first pair of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=panEWmN28jM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mentos thrown in the Coke bottle</a> that&rsquo;ll set off the rest of the league.
The trade deadline isn&rsquo;t until February 10 but, as usual, teams are already completing deals. In this case, per ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Clippers are sending over a package led by Eric Bledsoe and Justise Winslow to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Norman Powell and Robert Covington.
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The Clippers are trading Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and future second-round pick to the Trail Blazers for Norman Powell and Robert Covington, sources tell ESPN.
&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1489681792881860620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2022</a>
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Clippers are sending Blazers a 2025 second-round pick via the Detroit Pistons, sources tell ESPN.
&mdash; Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1489683115077423106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2022</a>
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As of this trade, the Blazers are 21-31, 10th in the Western Conference, and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/whats-next-for-the-portland-trail-blazers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">still without Damian Lillard for at least a few more weeks</a>. The Clippers, even without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard &mdash; <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/02/latest-on-kawhi-leonard-paul-george.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neither of whom are guaranteed to return this season</a> &mdash; are 27-27 and eighth in the West behind the leadership of head coach Tyronn Lue.
If you recall &mdash; and, well, how could you not &mdash; the Clippers completed a 36-point comeback against Portland East, a.k.a., the Washington Wizards, one of <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2022-01-25/clippers-biggest-comeback-team-history-win-wizards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three comebacks of at least 24 points or more in a two-week span</a>. That in itself is a feat reached by the Clippers and no one else in the last 25 years.
ESPN&rsquo;s Bobby Marks lays out the contractual mechanics. This is important &mdash; otherwise, you&rsquo;d think the Clippers just jacked the Blazers, but that&rsquo;s not fully true. (We&rsquo;ll get to that later.)
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Here are the contracts: For LAC: 🏀N. Powell: $15.5M, $16.8M, $18M, $19.2M, $20.5M 🏀R. Covington: $13M (UFA w/bird rights) For POR: 🏀E. Bledsoe: $18.1M, $19.4M ($3.9M guaranteed) 🏀J. Winslow: $3.9M, $4.1M 🏀K. Johnson: $2.6M, $2.7M, $2.8M, $4.5M
&mdash; Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1489683749335973889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2022</a>
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The Clippers conceptually &ldquo;win&rdquo; the trade from the standpoint of fielding a better roster. Powell&rsquo;s been the Blazers third-leading scorer this season wiith Lillard and CJ McCollum out for extended periods, and the No. 1 option on numerous nights as a result. Powell extended with Portland over the summer for five years and $90 million, but it&rsquo;s an ascending contract that won&rsquo;t land him a salary north of $20 million until the last year of the deal. Powell gives the Clippers a No. 3 or even No. 4, ideally next to Leonard and George at some point, who can score efficiently and at-will in different facets of the game.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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In Portland, Powell averaged 18.7 points on 46/41/80 shooting splits and just 13.6 field goals per game. His field goal attempts are slightly over Anfernee Simons&rsquo; 12.9 attempts per contest, though he only averages 14.6 points by comparison &mdash; despite also shooting an efficient line, 44/40/90. Why the difference? Powell not only gets to the line five times per game, second only to Lillard on the team, but his .365 free-throw rate leads all non-centers on the roster. Additionally, Powell&rsquo;s been a quality pull-up shooter, ranking 16th in scoring efficiency, shooting with an Effective Field Goal percentage of 64% in spot-up situations and 56% in transition, <a href="https://twitter.com/SynergySST/status/1489684009454125062" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Synergy</a>.
All of which are great signs if you&rsquo;re 6-foot-3, which you can&rsquo;t say that often in this league.
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Moreover, adding Powell removes the offensive strain on other Clippers, like Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris and the emerging Luke Kennard especially &mdash; making them more potent on that end and, ideally, not putting them in positions where 24-point comebacks are all that necessary.
In theory, Covington will play a role on the Clippers, assuming he remains on the team, but it feels more like short-term insurance. And there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with that, but let&rsquo;s spell it out. Covington is on an expiring $13 million contract and will dive into unrestricted free agency in a few months. Positionally, as a theoretical stretch-four/three-and-D-wing, he has some duplication for this Clippers roster, mainly George, Leonard, Morris and Nicolas Batum.
Covington&rsquo;s statistically having his worst season since entering the league full-time, throwing out the seven games he played as a rookie in 2012-13. In 30 minutes per contest, and 40 starts in 48 appearances, Covington&rsquo;s averaging 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, shooting 38/34/83, and while the free-throw percentage is high, he&rsquo;s only taken 36 this season, and hasn&rsquo;t cracked 150 since 2016-17. Covington will split time with and see the floor beside other Clipper forwards, and just being on a better team with a better coach should help settle his role.
Let&rsquo;s also acknowledge that Covington could also be a part of this deal because the Clippers may move Morris and or Batum within the next few days. (Take it from me, Miami Heat fans are already trying to figure out how to get one of them. If the Clippers like Duncan Robinson &ndash; for Morris in particular &ndash; maybe they&rsquo;re in luck.) That&rsquo;d open things up for Covington, and Powell would replenish the scoring, albeit differently.
From a basketball perspective, the Blazers portion doesn&rsquo;t need an extensive breakdown, at least not on this piece &mdash; trust me, fam. Hell, the move itself isn&rsquo;t about their play as much as it is cap mechanics. But in summation, it isn&rsquo;t as bad as some tweeters are pondering, depending on what follows.
As Marks outlined earlier, around 20% of Bledsoe&rsquo;s $19.4 million salary next season is guaranteed, so the Blazers could easily move on from him. Winslow is only due $4 million next season, and Keon Johnson was just picked in the first-round, so he&rsquo;ll be cheap (by NBA standards) through 2025, assuming all his options are picked up. He&rsquo;s played 135 total minutes this season and won&rsquo;t turn 20 for another month, so we&rsquo;ll call him a project.
The move also places Portland under the luxury tax, per Marks, and it also creates a $6.5 million trade exception.
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The trade will put Portland under the luxury tax. The Clippers tax bill increases from $93.9M to $112.9M (+$19M). <a href="https://t.co/ZpEJfML8XM">https://t.co/ZpEJfML8XM</a>
&mdash; Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1489684937838059526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
The big question around Portland is, obviously, what happens to Lillard. Question No. 1A is McCollum, but freeing Powell&rsquo;s salary and adding a trade exception aids the mechanics of making future moves. The Blazers have short-term contracts to use &mdash; hell, they could even re-route Bledsoe&rsquo;s $18.1 million this season if they wanted, or keep him on the books to use after the season since his deal won&rsquo;t be fully guaranteed <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/09/clippers-notes-bledsoe-winslow-vaccinations-drame.html#:~:text=Bledsoe%20currently%20has%20a%20partial,offseason%20flexibility%20for%20the%20franchise." target="_blank" rel="noopener">until four days after the July moratorium</a>.
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Jusuf Nurkić at $12 million and Larry Nance Jr. at $10.6 million are also usable deals in trades to monitor, along with several draft picks. So, for Portland, this trade is about what&rsquo;s next more than anything else. Maybe we&rsquo;ll look back and say they got the shaft at some point, but it&rsquo;s too early to make that judgment. To some degree, it may be for the Clippers as well, but they&rsquo;re clearly trying to be competitive now, and this should help them get there.
These are two franchises going in different directions. The Clippers, if they get healthy before the playoffs, should be taken seriously as a contender, especially because there&rsquo;s a world where they get to the NBA Finals last season if Leonard doesn&rsquo;t tear his ACL in the postseason. For the Blazers, I mean &hellip; we&rsquo;ll see.
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Bryan Fonseca breaks down the deal between the Clippers and Trail Blazers, which sent Norman Powell to LAC.

Breaking down why the Blazers-Clippers deal works for both sides

With how they seem to be flying under the radar right now, you would have never guessed the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Finals last season. Checking in with a 28-19 record, Milwaukee is only two games back of the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The difference between the top six teams in the East is two-and-a-half games, and I&rsquo;m here to stake my claim as to why Milwaukee should still be the favorite among that group. Honestly, the Bucks would probably prefer to stay under the radar anyways, but they'll have everyone right where they want them once postseason play kicks off in April.
Milwaukee has operated all season long without Brook Lopez, the team's anchor on defense. However, the Bucks are actually carrying a better Defensive Rating compared to the last season (110.7), allowing opponents to score 107.6 points per 100 possessions. Lopez should actually be returning to the court soon for the Bucks as he begins to ramp up on-court activities. Once Lopez is officially cleared, Milwaukee will have another valuable weapon at its disposal in the playoffs.
On top of Lopez&rsquo;s lingering stint on the injury report, the Bucks have been battling similar issues all season long. Jrue Holiday has been in and out of the starting lineup with injuries, and Donte DiVincenzo recently returned from a long-term absence that extended throughout the Bucks&rsquo; championship run. Finally, though, that page is beginning to turn in favor of Milwaukee as it approaches a fully healthy rotation for the first time all season.
We saw a sneak peek of it during the 2021 NBA Finals, but Giannis Antetokounmpo has embraced playing more bully-ball this season. In place of Lopez, Antetokounmpo has logged plenty of minutes as a small-ball center, and the Bucks are more than holding their own with that.
Another underrated asset to the Bucks in their frontcourt has been Bobby Portis, who re-signed with Milwaukee on a two-year, $9 million deal this past offseason. Portis playing heavy minutes alongside Giannis has been a blossoming success story. In the 612 minutes Portis and Antetokounmpo have shared the floor, Milwaukee is outscoring opponents by 9.6 points per 100 possessions (113.6 ORTG, 103.9 DRTG). It&rsquo;s the best two-man lineup combination for the Bucks &mdash; a strengthened inside-out duo that really feeds off one another. As Giannis dominates around the basket, Portis optimally spaces the floor, hitting three-pointers at an elite clip of 42.9%.
Imagine all the possibilities for the Bucks when Lopez is back. This frontcourt trio will allow head coach Mike Budenholzer to mix and match how he pleases, presenting endless mismatches to the opposition.
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The Bucks lost some depth this offseason, especially with PJ Tucker going to the Miami Heat in free agency. However, they have made up for it by adding more floor-spacing acumen to boost their offensive ceiling around a generational talent in Antetokounmpo.
Grayson Allen has been an amazing boost for Milwaukee, purely from an offensive perspective. Allen&rsquo;s role in the offense is to make the right reads as a passer and splash threes at an above-average rate. Allen is accomplishing both for the Bucks, including a three-point percentage of 39.0% on 6.8 attempts per game.
Wesley Matthews returned to Milwaukee during the season, as well, after his one-year stint with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Matthews was another vital piece to the puzzle a few years ago, and he&rsquo;s seamlessly fit back into his role in Milwaukee.
Once DiVincenzo finds his rhythm, the Bucks will have a lot of guards who can make the lanes wider for Antetokounmpo to bludgeon defenses with nonstop aggressiveness.
Recently, we&rsquo;ve seen what could be the future vision for the Bucks come playoff time as it relates to their offense hitting peak levels of dominance behind their MVP winner.
Since Christmas, Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.3 blocks while carrying an outstanding 63.7% True Shooting percentage. Giannis&rsquo; usage rate has ramped up from that point as well, checking in at 37.1%. It&rsquo;s a lot on the Greek Freak's plate, but he&rsquo;s shown consistently throughout his reign of terror that he can singlehandedly put the Bucks on his back without issue.
The Bucks are still trying to gain a consistent rhythm from last season&rsquo;s championship run, the first Finals victory in 50 years for the organization. However, once the playoffs officially arrive, this team is set up to do some serious damage in a more revamped East hierarchy.
(It will also be very interesting to see what the Bucks do at this year&rsquo;s Feb. 10 trade deadline. With not a lot of assets to work with, maybe the Bucks view Lopez&rsquo;s eventual return as their big boost.)
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Yes, the Brooklyn Nets look legit as usual behind Kevin Durant, James Harden and a part-time Kyrie Irving when all healthy. The Chicago Bulls are now back in the mainstream with an outstanding season headlined by their dynamic duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Never rule out the Miami Heat either, who are beginning to turn their own corner as well.
Joel Embiid is putting up jaw-dropping numbers for the Ben Simmons-less Philadelphia 76ers right now, keeping them in the top-tier race of the conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers are right in the thick of it as this year&rsquo;s surprise team making the certified jump to legitimacy.
In the end though, the Bucks are where I lean regarding who eventually comes out of the East to get to this year&rsquo;s Finals. Whichever way you want to slice it, the Bucks are not a team to be underrating. If anything, when you dive deeper, they look to be even stronger for a deep postseason run.

The Bucks check in with a 28-19 record, but when you do a deeper dive, the defending NBA champions still look as dangerous as ever.

Giannis, suprisingly slept-on Bucks are capable of much more

Admittedly, it feels stupid to talk about trades right now amid the postponements caused by the Decepticon Variant, but so long as the season rages on &mdash; whether or not it should be is another conversation, one the NBA probably knows the answer to because of recent cancellations &mdash; I guess we&rsquo;ll keep talking about basketball.
Well, let&rsquo;s give this a shot, and hopefully, it&rsquo;ll provide a boost to your day...
We&rsquo;re gonna play Stay or Trade, which goes as it sounds, and it will involve four noteworthy guys who are now available to be dealt following Dec. 15. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-case-against-and-for-trading-will-barton" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I wrote about one of them already</a>, so no Will Barton talk today. Let's proceed with who we will discuss. 
Dennis Schr&ouml;der, Boston Celtics &mdash; $5.9 million expiring
Disregarding that even ESPN is using eyeball emojis in their YouTube video titles, Bobby Marks <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVL-QTZvdAQ">says he expects Schr&ouml;der to be traded</a>. On the most recent episode of The Dunker Spot, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-dunker-spot/episodes/basketballnews-com-episode-65-bring-i-t-on" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Jones Jr. and Nekias Duncan discussed Boston's needs</a>&nbsp;as part of their mailbag segment.&nbsp;
Schr&ouml;der was&nbsp;famously a mini-mid level signing&nbsp;after passing on a reported $84 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers,&nbsp;allegedly desiring for north of $100 million. At least he <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT2ibrTsWAK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=b9fddcbe-5a95-4f46-ab7e-d7494deca917" target="_blank" rel="noopener">let y&rsquo;all cook him for it</a>.&nbsp;
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The fit with the Celtics has been productive, but it&rsquo;s looking increasingly likely that it&rsquo;ll be short-term. Schr&ouml;der&rsquo;s producing and, as of now, is in line to recoup some&nbsp;of the money he reportedly turned down. Currently, he&rsquo;s averaging 17.1 points and 4.8 assists per game on 44/34/89 shooting splits, roughly on par with where he&rsquo;s been since his fourth season (2016-17). As Marks outlined, all signs point to him being on the move, and the Celtics, in theory, selling high.
Schr&ouml;der&rsquo;s $5.9 million could combine with, say, Josh Richardson&rsquo;s $11.6 million. For now, leave that to the side. Juancho Hernang&oacute;mez and his $7 million are sitting there, and he's averaging just 4.2 minutes per contest with another $7.5 million to come next year. If you pair him and Schr&ouml;der with Romeo Langford's $3.8 million, you&rsquo;re at about $17 million combined. 
From there, throw in however many draft picks it takes. Use those three contracts and your draft capital, and do what you can to convince the Toronto Raptors to bring in Fred VanVleet. Two unprotected first-rounders, at least; unless you make it Schr&ouml;der and Marcus Smart. Though, that would have to wait until the latter&rsquo;s restriction is lifted after Jan. 25. (None of this has to happen immediately, anyway.)
But if I&rsquo;m Toronto, I&rsquo;m mostly telling Boston to headbutt Trey Murphy&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="https://twitter.com/_Andrew_Lopez/status/1472321597415563265">dry ass chicken sandwich</a>,&rdquo; and get the f&mdash;outta here. Worth a shot if you&rsquo;re the Celtics, though.&nbsp;
Verdict: Trade 
Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks &mdash; $21 million 
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Hardaway's production is declining like his contract right now.
So far, through 28 appearances, he&rsquo;s at 14.4 points per game on 38/33/74 shooting splits. It&rsquo;s his worst scoring output since 2016-17 and among the worst splits of his career. His contract is outlined as follows, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardati02.html">per Basketball-Reference</a>:
2021-22: $21.3 million
2022-23: $19.6 million
2023-24: $17.9 million
2024-25: $16.2 million
We&rsquo;ve always said the same two things about the Mavs for at least two years now. The first is the constant questioning of Luka Dončić&rsquo;s fit next to Kristaps Porziņģis. The second is: How could the Mavericks get adequate shot-creation next to Luka?
Hardaway Jr.&rsquo;s contract would be a burden to move, but none of us expect him to finish all four years in Dallas, do we? We&rsquo;re just anticipating it&rsquo;ll be increasingly difficult to deal him in Year 1 of the contract.
Verdict: Stay (for now)
Kemba Walker, New York Knicks &mdash; $8.7 million
After being removed from the rotation, Kemba Walker returned on Saturday night well-rested against his former Celtics, netting a season-high 29 points while hitting 5 of 11 shots from three and converting 8 of 12 free throws. The 13-17 Knicks are 10-9 in games Walker plays this season, and were 2-8 following his benching. Their defense has taken a step back, and Walker&rsquo;s been partially to blame. Still, he was effectively scapegoated for a team-wide issue. Now, he&rsquo;s playing again because of a COVID outbreak in the organization that primarily hampered their depth at guard.
Walker&rsquo;s averages are at 12.6 points and 3.1 assists in 25.2 minutes per contest. The minutes and assists are the lowest of his career, and his scoring is only second to his rookie season of 2011-12. His 112 Offensive Rating is actually on par with where he&rsquo;s been since 2015-16, his breakout offensive season. His defense, well, is about what you&rsquo;d expect. But, for where the Knicks are, he can still be productive offensively and gives them their best shot-creator at the point guard position since... Raymond Felton?!?
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Walker is due $9.2 million next season, making him a trade candidate. But seeing as how the Knicks still might need him in some regard, honestly, they should just keep him around at this time. We&rsquo;ll reevaluate the situation next month or something.
Verdict: Stay (for now)
Kelly Olynyk, Detroit Pistons &mdash; $12.2 million
Kelly Olynyk is up to 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds (and 2.3 assists) on 46/34/60 splits. Olynyk is a nice player, and is apparently already being <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-ben-simmons-trade-rumors-james-harden-jerami-grant-20211118.html?utm_source=t.co&amp;utm_campaign=edit_social_share_twitter_traffic&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=&amp;int_promo=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thrown around in trade rumors</a>. Olynyk may or may not get attached in a trade to Jerami Grant&rsquo;s deal, but the Canadian 7-footer is bringing home $12.8 million next season and $12.1 million in 2023-24, so his deal is long-term in this climate.
Combining him with Grant puts you at $32 million of incoming salary. That&rsquo;s the Porziņģis, CJ McCollum, D&rsquo;Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Ben Simmons, K&mdash;sigh, Kyrie Irving, territory financially. None of that sounds entirely realistic except maybe Simmons since it was at least credibly reported as a possibility.&nbsp;
Otherwise, you&rsquo;re looking at sending Olynyk to a big-needy, playoff-worthy team, who probably wouldn&rsquo;t want a long-term commitment right now. This will probably be an easier process next season, save for adding to a Grant deal, but if you can make one, why not?&nbsp;
Verdict: Trade if you can, but not by himself

Bryan Fonseca looks at four veterans who are trade-eligible and debates whether or not their teams should deal them away.