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Lakers

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

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

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

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

The Los Angeles Lakers intend to waive Trevor Ariza and use roster spot to convert a young player prior to Sunday&rsquo;s deadline to sign a player, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1512172315957727238" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic</a>.
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The Los Angeles Lakers intend to waive Trevor Ariza and use roster spot to convert a young player prior to Sunday&rsquo;s deadline to sign a player, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAthletic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAthletic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Stadium?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Stadium</a>. Open roster spot now provides flexibility to add to roster.
&mdash; Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1512172315957727238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2022</a></blockquote>

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ANALYSIS:&nbsp;This shouldn't shock anyone seeing how the Lakers have already been ousted from playoff contention. Odds are, the spot will be used on Wenyen Gabriel, who was one of the team's few bright spots this season.

The Lakers are waiving Trevor Ariza to convert a younger player's contract to play for them next season.

Shams: Lakers to waive Trevor Ariza, convert younger player's contract

TORONTO (AP) &mdash; LeBron James scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, Russell Westbrook had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Raptors 128-123 on Friday night.
Avery Bradley hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 32.5 seconds left in the extra session, putting the visitors up 125-123, then added a pair of free throws after a turnover by Toronto rookie Scottie Barnes.
Wenyen Gabriel scored 17 points, Bradley had 14 and Austin Reaves 10 as Los Angeles avenged Monday&rsquo;s home loss to the Raptors and ended Toronto&rsquo;s winning streak at five.
James shot 15 for 26 and went 2 for 7 from 3-point range. He had nine rebounds.
Barnes had 31 points and 17 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr. scored 23 points and Fred Van Vleet 20.
Precious Achiuwa scored 18 points, but made a costly turnover in the final seconds of regulation that led to Westbrook&rsquo;s tying 3 with less than a second to play.
Toronto looked to have the game won after Trent hit a go-ahead 3 with 25 seconds left, and James and Westbrook both missed from distance at the other end, with Trent grabbing the rebound on Westbrook&rsquo;s shot.
Los Angeles got a break when Achiuwa turned the ball over with 5 seconds left and Westbrook hit a tying 3 with less than 1 second remaining. Toronto couldn&rsquo;t get a shot off on its final possession, sending it to OT.
The Lakers made their first six field-goal attempts of the game, including three from long range, to lead 15-5, but Toronto reclaimed the advantage with a 18-3 spurt. Making his first start for Los Angeles, Gabriel shot 6 for 6 in the first quarter and scored 14 points as the Lakers led 33-30 after one.
James scored 12 points in the second. Los Angeles led 59-55 at the half, but Barnes had 12 in the third as Toronto took an 89-88 lead to the fourth.
LOCOMOTIVE LEBRON
Beforehand, Raptors coach Nick Nurse said he hasn&rsquo;t seen James slow down any with age.
&ldquo;To me, he&rsquo;s got the freight train game going,&rdquo; Nurse said. &ldquo;He gets in transition, and you&rsquo;ve got to be a man to stand in there and get in the way to slow him down.&rdquo;
GOOD WEEK FOR A.D.
Injured Lakers forward Anthony Davis tested his sprained right foot by taking some shots on the court before the game. Davis sat for the 12th straight game, but Lakers coach Frank Vogel said the star big man is making progress in the intensity of his work.
&ldquo;Anthony has had a good week,&rdquo; Vogel said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s had a productive week.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Lakers: G Talen Horton-Tucker sat because of a sprained left ankle. F Carmelo Anthony and G Wayne Ellington were both sidelined due to a non-COVID illness.
Raptors: F OG Anunoby (fractured right ring finger) will be reevaluated in a week, Nurse said. Anunoby has missed the past 13 games. &hellip; Siakam scored 17 points.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At Washington on Saturday night.
Raptors: At Philadelphia on Sunday night.
&nbsp;

LeBron James scored 36 points and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors 128-123.

James scores 35, Lakers beat Raptors in OT, snap 3-game skid

The Los Angeles Lakers intend to waive DeAndre Jordan and sign free agent guard DJ Augustin, sources tell The Athletic and Stadium. Lakers are bringing in a veteran, accomplished shooting PG to back up Russell Westbrook.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1498452182865223680" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: Jordan has been out of the Lakers' rotation for a while now, and he will become an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers. Jordan could draw some interest from playoff teams looking for frontcourt depth as the postseason nears.
<a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1498459756217913344" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN</a> noted that "the 76ers have been in the market for a backup center and will be aggressive in pursuit of DeAndre Jordan &mdash; either placing a waiver claim or working to sign him as a free agent should he clear waivers."
Charania added: "The Lakers also intend to sign forward Wenyen Gabriel on a two-way NBA contract." Gabriel had stints with the Nets, Clippers and Pelicans this season and will now get an opportunity with the struggling Lakers.
&nbsp;

According to Shams Charania, the Lakers will waive DeAndre Jordan and sign guard DJ Augustin.

Lakers to waive DeAndre Jordan, intend to sign free agent DJ Augustin

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

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

How are NBA teams using the hardship exception?

Looking around the NBA, there are quite a few teams with a talented, up-and-coming nucleus. But of all these teams, which franchise has the best young core? We asked our BasketballNews.com writers to share their thoughts.&nbsp;
Which NBA team has the best young core?
Alex Kennedy: Give me the New Orleans Pelicans' young core. Zion Williamson (20 years old) and Brandon Ingram (23) are both All-Stars with insane upside. Williamson could become the face of the NBA if he realizes his full potential. Lonzo Ball (23) is another franchise cornerstone who continues to make huge strides. However, this young core is also deep, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker (22), Jaxson Hayes (20), Kira Lewis Jr. (20), Naji Marshall (23), Wenyen Gabriel (24) and Didi Louzada (21). Steven Adams (27) and Josh Hart (26) aren't as young as the others, but they are great complementary pieces. The Pelicans project to have a top-10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, so they'll likely add another top prospect to this core; plus, they'll receive multiple first-rounders from the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks over the next few years (due to the Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday trades).
Nekias Duncan: I&rsquo;d go with the Phoenix Suns, narrowly edging out the Memphis Grizzlies for me. Devin Booker is a foundational talent. Mikal Bridges is one of the best wing defenders in the league, while also providing value as a shooter and cutter. Deandre Ayton has serious two-way potential. Those three plus Cam Johnson give you a pretty darn good quartet under 25.
Spencer Davies: If we&rsquo;re talking about the here and now, my answer would be the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young, De&rsquo;Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins (if he returns) is a solid core and they're about to get their first taste of playoff basketball. They&rsquo;re all guys with four years of experience or less. This goes without mentioning Cam Reddish, a defensive-minded wing with size who was out for a good part of this year with an injury, and Onyeka Okongwu, the No. 6 overall pick from this past draft who has shown signs of his development with big second-unit minutes. Even Clint Capela just turned 27, and he was one of the most underrated centers in the NBA this season, serving as a perfect partner for Young on lobs and a menace on the glass.
Ethan Fuller: The Oklahoma City Thunder, without any hesitation. OKC has already locked in a surefire star in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The franchise boasts budding role-players and specialists (Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams, Theo Maledon, Svi Mykhailiuk), athletic upside swings (Darius Bazley, Isaiah Roby, Moses Brown) and one player who's in his own tier due to his game-changing potential in Aleksej Pokusevski. That doesn't even account for the 2021 NBA Draft; the Thunder could nab a top prospect with their own pick, and then get another if Houston's pick lands outside the top-four. This is a masterclass in asset accumulation.
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Sharon Brown: Memphis. I believe this team hasn't quite tapped into its potential just yet. Granted, they have exceeded expectations for two years in a row. But I believe veteran leadership on the roster -- plus another go-to player to complement Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr. -- could put them over the top in the tough Western Conference.
Moke Hamilton: For the sake of this question, I am going to define &ldquo;young&rdquo; as 25 or under. So Joel Embiid (27), Nikola Jokic (26) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (26) don&rsquo;t factor in. I boil this down to the Celtics and Pelicans, and although New Orleans failed to qualify for the postseason, I'll take them. That does assume they re-sign Lonzo Ball this summer, which is no certainty. With Ball, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, you&rsquo;d be hard-pressed to find another trio that&rsquo;s this young and has that high of a ceiling. The Celtics get an honorable mention here, with Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams giving me similar feels, but New Orleans is my easy pick.&nbsp;
Chris Sheridan: If 28 if not considered "old," I will give it to the Atlanta Hawks, whose only 28-year-old player is Bogdan Bogdanovic. Younger than him are Clint Capela (27), John Collins and De'Andre Hunter (23), Kevin Huerter and Trae Young (22), and Cam Reddish (21). They will get their feet wet in the postseason against a decent New York Knicks team with a similar lack of playoff experience among young key players, and it'll serve them well going into next season.
Jonathan Concool: The Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis has the league&rsquo;s youngest team and they have essentially closed the door on the rebuilding process after competing in the league&rsquo;s play-in tournament for the second-consecutive year. With a young core of Ja Morant (21 years old), Jaren Jackson Jr. (21), Brandon Clarke (24), Desmond Bane (22), Dillon Brooks (25), De'Anthony Melton (22), Xavier Tillman (22) and more, Memphis fans must be feeling pretty optimistic about the future. The Grizzlies have nailed their past three draft classes (with some help from the lottery, of course). But finding Bane in the late first round and Tillman in the second round of last year's draft were big wins for the Grizzlies. Memphis finished 38-34 this season, beating out their Vegas win prediction for the second-consecutive year.

Which NBA team has the best young core? BasketballNews.com's writers share their thoughts.

Roundtable: Which NBA team has the best young core?

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

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

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

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

NBA rosters feature 107 international players from 41 countries

Paul Watson Jr. has been here before. He&rsquo;s played in front of empty crowds, while the walls of isolation felt like they were steadily closing in around him. He&rsquo;s stepped off the team bus at hotels filled to the brim with fellow players, some he knows, some he doesn&rsquo;t - the air thick with excitement and anticipation. He&rsquo;s seen firsthand the way a change in environment can alter a team&rsquo;s chances of winning, where an upset becomes the norm. He has sat patiently, waiting for his number to be called and wondering if any of this was even worth it.&nbsp;
Though years removed from the circuit, Watson&rsquo;s arrival in the NBA bubble was immediately met with the sense of nostalgia that smelling your grandmother&rsquo;s cooking would bring.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It gave me a lot of AAU vibes,&rdquo; Watson told BasketballNews.com. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s like going to camps when I was a kid. Being around everybody everyday and going to practice in the hotel, it definitely felt like AAU all over again. It felt like a giant tournament.&rdquo;
Teams that were usd to only seeing their opponents before the initial whistle blew were now sharing elevators, meals and living quarters. There was no escape from a team that may have shaken you the night before, or from a team keen to prove that they too belong in the bubble.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was actually pretty chill and laid back,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;Everybody was like, &lsquo;We&rsquo;re here, so let&rsquo;s just do our thing.&rsquo;&rdquo;&nbsp;
Watson may be quiet in nature, but underneath his shy exterior is a man with an ability to find the positive in every situation, which is rivaled only by Wenyen Gabriel <a href="https://lebronwire.usatoday.com/2020/08/19/wenyen-gabriel-couldnt-believe-lebron-gave-him-his-first-nosebleed/">ecstatically announcing</a> that LeBron James gave him his very first nosebleed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I stuck to myself a little bit and hung out with Oshae [Brissett] a lot,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;There were a few guys I knew (from) before that were already in the league and I would catch up with them. But for the most part, I kept to myself and hung around the (Toronto) guys.&rdquo;
Perhaps his time overseas better prepared him for a secluded playing atmosphere than that of his straight-to-the-NBA counterparts? He described his four-month stint in Germany as &ldquo;a big culture shock.&rdquo; He recognizes that, although the circumstances were different, the insulating feelings were the same.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There were similarities in having to adapt to a new situation, something that&rsquo;s never been done before, and just trying to perform under weird or different circumstances,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;The city that I was in, they were really big on their basketball. It was almost like a college-town environment. They really value basketball in the city that I was in.&rdquo;
Eating, sleeping and breathing in constant, close proximity to your teammates is the norm in the G League, with players often residing in the same condo and sharing rooms on the road. Some NBA players take their five-star hotels and personal space for granted, but not Paul, who finally landed in the NBA after his three seasons in the G League.
The unusual circumstances forced those unfamiliar with them to adapt. For a newcomer like Watson, it was an opportunity to bond with his teammates and get to know them.
&ldquo;I got to talk with guys a lot more,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Before this happened, I was only up with the team so many times before the whole pandemic happened. I definitely learned some new things about guys and they definitely learned a lot about me. They kind of figured out that I&rsquo;m not the most talkative person, I&rsquo;m pretty kept to myself. They got me to open up a little bit more and got to learn more about me as well.&rdquo;
Not only had the G League prepared Watson for the close proximity in which he would live with his teammates, but for the empty arenas at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Raptors 905 are one of the best-selling franchises in the developmental league, but their attendance is a drop in the bucket compared to that of Scotiabank Arena, where their parent-club Raptors sell out every single home game.&nbsp;
&ldquo;At first, it was a little weird, but then once the ball is rolled out there and you&rsquo;re just playing, you don&rsquo;t really pay attention to it,&rdquo; Watson said of the lack of fans. &ldquo;Everything you&rsquo;re focused on is what&rsquo;s going on on the floor and what needs to be done and what needs to be executed.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The inability to feed off of the energy exerted from the crowd seemed to affect some players and teams more than others.
&ldquo;Home-court advantage plays a big part in a lot of things,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;Just being at home in general and having that fan base, I think that plays a huge part in how things can go. I think everybody is looking forward to going back to somewhere, a better life, when we have those fans in our home arena. It goes beyond basketball and is what everybody wants and is looking forward to.&rdquo;
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Watson was as surprised as anyone at the NBA Finals matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. Or rather, he was shocked at the teams that failed to live up to expectations.
&ldquo;Obviously I expected us (Toronto) to be there. I expected probably us and Milwaukee, and probably the Lakers and the Clippers, honestly,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what I figured. But like I said, it&rsquo;s a new environment, new situation, changes, anything can happen, and that showed (in) this whole playoffs.&rdquo;
The time between Watson&rsquo;s last game -- a 19-point, four-rebound performance in a victory over the College Park Skyhawks on Mar. 11-- the go-ahead from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBPA to resume the season was months of stagnant development. He had the itch to play the game he loves, but he couldn&rsquo;t scratch it.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I feel like we had a little bit more knowledge about what could potentially happen before anyone else, but it was a lot of unknowns and [things were] up in the air for us as well,&rdquo; Watson said.
When the plan for an NBA restart was finally set in stone, Watson, like he had been in every way leading up to his Toronto Raptors debut, was ready.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was down to finally get to go play basketball, get an experience with the team, learn as much as possible,&rdquo; he said.
The rumblings of understandable discontent from players who were hesitant to restart the season were at the forefront of every article, but in the bubble -- and the days leading up to it -- the general consensus was to play.
&ldquo;For the most part, everybody was pretty much on board with it and ready to go play ball. After a while of just being in the same area and same situation and just seeing the same things, it can wear on you mentally,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;But for the most part everyone was pretty sane.&rdquo;
Still, Paul doesn&rsquo;t blame any player who was hesitant to make the journey to Orlando.
&ldquo;I can say that everybody is different,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Everybody is going to react to things a certain way. Some guys need their space. Everybody has their own life off the court and how to unwind, whether that&rsquo;s just kind of getting away to clear their head or doing something. Everybody is different.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t necessarily say that being around each other is healthy. There are definitely some benefits to it, but everybody is different and everybody is going to react to it differently.&rdquo;
The Raptors were the first team to arrive in Orlando; though as prepared as they could be, they began to feel the loneliness that anyone removed from their loved ones would feel.&nbsp;
&ldquo;After a while, it got to that point,&rdquo; Paul admits. &ldquo;A big thing for me, and I think a big thing for everybody that helped, was that after a while, family [and close ones] were allowed into the bubble. So I was allowed to bring my girlfriend out and spend time with her -- that was big for me. She helped me stay focused, and it was kind of refreshing to see new faces and new life.&rdquo;
The comfort that the arrival of family into the bubble brought was quickly draped in a fog of helplessness as the NBA -- a league that had promised to use its platform to highlight the fight against racial injustice and the treatment of Black men and women by law enforcement officials -- learned of yet another instance of police brutality. The shooting of Jacob Blake by Rusten Sheskey, a police officer in Wisconsin, had many players questioning their decision to play.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was kind of weird,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t necessarily know what was going to happen or what was going to go on. Everything kind of hit at once, and the world was just kind of in shock. It was a little strange. It was kind of like, &lsquo;We&rsquo;re just kind of hanging out right now and we&rsquo;ll see where things go.&rsquo; That&rsquo;s the only way I can describe it -- weird.&rdquo;
The decision to stop all games league-wide was not an easy one. Players were tired, both mentally and physically. Some wanted to carry on, while some didn&rsquo;t feel it was worth it. Ultimately deciding to resume play, the NBA, and Paul, persisted, though not without innominate emotions.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There was some tension, and there was some unity at the same time. It was a little of both,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;There were guys who felt certain ways about everything. Everyone was there for different reasons, but I feel like, at the end of the day, collectively, everybody was able to come together and be like, &lsquo;Look, this is what we need to do. This is what we need to get done, let&rsquo;s just go and handle our business.&rsquo;&rdquo;
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For Watson, an NBA rookie, handling business involved a lot of waiting, and even more watching. There was no frustration on the Phoenix native&rsquo;s part, as his career has taught him the importance of the journey before the destination.&nbsp;
Watching from the socially-distanced bench may wear on the players who, for the first time, are finding their minutes and roles reduced; but for Paul, the learning on the bench is on par with the learning on the court.&nbsp;
&ldquo;You kind of try to learn what to do and what not to do, what mistakes not to make and just where you can help,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;And when your time comes, just take full advantage of it. That&rsquo;s what I try to do.&rdquo;
Paul was not alone in living on standby, as former Raptors 905 teammate Justin Anderson was in a similar position. There was no love lost when the two met in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, there was a bond that could only be understood between previous teammates.&nbsp;
&ldquo;That was pretty cool. We would text back and forth and talk about what was going to happen in the series and how we both were on this stage and the hard work we&rsquo;ve each put in to get to this point, so it was pretty cool to have that experience with him and see him there too,&rdquo; Watson explained.
While Anderson had a few NBA stints before, this was Watson&rsquo;s first opportunity, and it almost didn&rsquo;t happen at all.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I kind of hit that low point after my second season,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;Things weren&rsquo;t really going the way I wanted them to. I really wasn't that happy with my situation in New York [on the Westchester Knicks]; I wasn&rsquo;t really getting the opportunity to show what I was fully capable of and I just really wasn&rsquo;t happy with how my season went.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s that stigma -- you [play] so many years in the G League and it gets harder and harder [to make it to the NBA], but I knew I just needed that chance to really show what I was capable of. That summer, I put in a lot of work. It was a little draining on me, wondering if I was going to get an opportunity and where it was going to come from. All of that unknown, it does kind of wear on you. But I stayed the course and tried to work, and it got me where I am.&rdquo; That opportunity, in Watson&rsquo;s case, didn&rsquo;t emerge because of NBA preseason games or G League scouting reports. Instead, it was thanks to his strong play in a country halfway across the world.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was in Uruguay with (905 head coach) Jama (Mahlalela) and (assistant coach Charles) Kissi and when I was down there, I did my thing,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I just hooped and that was really about it. Jama and Kissi took a liking to my game. I liked the system they ran; we ran the same thing in Uruguay that we did with the 905 and I really enjoyed the way they played and offense and stuff like that. After that trip, I got with my agent and he got (in touch) with 905 and we just kind of went from there.&rdquo;
He may have doubted his situation, but never himself.&nbsp;
&ldquo;At the end of the day, I trust my work,&rdquo; Watson said. &ldquo;I continue to just work on my game. I know it will get me where I want to be, and that&rsquo;s just continuing to grind and get a full-time roster spot. That's the way I look at it; there&rsquo;s never really any pressure. I just need to keep doing what I do at a high level and the rest will take care of itself.&rdquo;
Watson&rsquo;s path to the NBA, and his first season in it, may have been unusual, but his approach to it is a testament to a maturity that is beyond his 25 years. His ability to cut to the basket with ease has seen him realize his dream, but his patience, persistence and willingness to learn are what will keep him there.&nbsp;
In a league, and a world, where not much is certain anymore, Paul Watson Jr. is here to stay.&nbsp;

Toronto Raptors shooting guard Paul Watson Jr. opens up about his experience in the NBA bubble, the Finals match-up and more.