Brooklyn Nets

The trade rumors for Michael Porter Jr. have intensified by the day, and several accounts online have pointed out the Golden State Warriors as the favorites to land the Brooklyn Nets forward.
Porter Jr., who is having a career season this year after being traded from the Denver Nuggets, presents as a trade target for many contending teams in the league. A 6-foot-10 forward that can shoot over opponents and offers length on the defensive end at the forward spot, Porter Jr. is the kind of player that teams covet - and it&rsquo;s no surprise that the Warriors have inquired for his services.
In exchange for Porter Jr., the Warriors are reportedly offering young forward Jonathan Kuminga who has fallen out of the rotation for the squad. Kuminga presents a lot of potential as a scoring forward, and he would be likely on the Nets&rsquo; radar with their emphasis on getting younger and developing young talent for their future core.
If the Warriors end up completing this move, Porter Jr. will greatly help with spacing the floor alongside Stephen Curry. He will give Golden State shooting and length at the forward spot since their 2022 championship days, when they still had another Porter, Otto Porter Jr. in the lineup.
Porter Jr. and Curry alongside Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler will form one of the more potent lineups in the league with the fit and playstyles each of them will be providing, and that could push the Warriors to contender status.

The trade rumors for Michael Porter Jr. have intensified, with Golden State being viewed as a potential landing spot.

Trade rumors for Michael Porter Jr. intensify; Warriors viewed as landing spot

The success of men&rsquo;s basketball in the 2024 Olympics has opened the eyes of many fans to the fact that there are great teams and players across the planet. While Team USA swept to the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/team-usa-defeat-hosts-france-to-claim-olympic-gold-medal">gold medal</a> with a win over France in the final, maybe you were impressed by some of the tournament&rsquo;s best non-NBA players and wondered whether they might end up in the American league.
<h2>Willy Hernangomez - Spain</h2>
&nbsp;
At 7-foot tall, this center is an imposing physical presence in the Spanish team. He broke through at Real Madrid and joined the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2015 NBA draft before being traded to the New York Knicks. His time playing at Madison Square Garden appeared to start well and was Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month early in his career as he led rebounding for newcomers to the league. He ended his first season in the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Willy then bounced around a few American teams without realizing his obvious potential. In 2023, he signed a three-year deal with Spanish team FC Barcelona. He was recently reported to be dissatisfied with his role at Barcelona and will have been disappointed that the highly-rated Spanish team dropped out of the Olympics in the qualifying round. Will Willy return to the NBA at some point? After seven years in the American league, he stated that he was happy with the <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-197125-willy-hernangomez-havent-felt-this-much-support-in-all-my-years-in-nba.html">support he received</a> on his return to Spain, so it seems unlikely at the moment.&nbsp;
<h2>Bruno Caboclo - Brazil</h2>
This 28-year-old power forward from Brazil started his career with Pinheiros before joining the Toronto Raptors in the 2014 NBA draft. This selection is still best remembered for Fran Fraschilla saying that he was "two years away from being two years away" when reporting it. Bruno never quite made the breakthrough expected of him in the NBA and returned to Brazil, where he was more successful.
After moving around a few teams in different countries, he joined Partizan Belgrade of the Serbian League in 2023. He averaged 9.4 points over the 2023-24 season, which was ultimately unsuccessful for the team. Given his globe-trotting career to date, it would be easy to imagine Bruno being interested in a move back to the US, but the latest news reports suggest that he is <a href="https://www.nbamaniacs.com/en/nba-rumors/bruno-caboclo-receives-an-offer-from-israel/">considering an offer</a> from Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv. At the Olympics in Paris, his 33 points vs Japan was one of the top individual performances.
<h2>Wenyen Gabriel - South Sudan</h2>
Wenyen was born in Sudan but moved to the US as a youngster. His college basketball was played for the Kentucky Wildcats, and he was one of the country&rsquo;s most highly-ranked young players at one point. Despite this, he went undrafted in 2018 but then joined the Sacramento Kings to play in the Summer League. After briefly joining the Portland Trail Blazers, Wenyen moved to the New Orleans Pelicans followed by the Brooklyn Nets and other US teams.
He then went to Puerto Rico with the Vaqueros de Bayam&oacute;n and it was recently announced that he&rsquo;s signed for Maccabi Tel Aviv to play in the Euroleague and the Israeli Basketball Premier League. If you want to follow his career, you can now easily find online content for foreign basketball leagues and stream games. You might also want to check the current <a href="https://www.bodog.eu/sports/basketball">basketball odds</a> for leagues around the world. You&rsquo;ll see live betting odds as well as the numbers for upcoming games. Choose from options like moneyline, spread, and total bet when looking for games to bet on in the Euroleague and elsewhere.
<h2>Carlik Jones - South Sudan</h2>
Carlik was born in the US and grew up in Ohio, becoming one of the highest-rated college players while performing for the Radford Highlanders and then the Louisville Cardinals. He went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft but then joined the Dallas Mavericks to play in the NBA Summer League. After moving around a few teams, he was named as the NBA G League&rsquo;s Most Valuable Player in 2022 while playing for the Chicago Bulls.&nbsp;
The point guard played in China and was rumored to be moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv this season but surprised everyone by signing for Partizan Mozzart Bet of the Serbian league instead. Carlik revealed after the World Cup that he had some offers from the NBA but that the move to Serbia felt right and that Partizan appears to be the ideal team for him. At 26 years old, he might still have time to move back to the American league in the future.
<h2>Summary</h2>
At the moment none of the non-NBA players who performed well in the 2024 Olympics seems set to join the American basketball league. Yet, some of them have already played here before heading abroad to try their luck elsewhere, so it wouldn&rsquo;t be a major surprise to see one or more players from this list reaching the NBA at some point. &nbsp;

The success of men’s basketball in the 2024 Olympics has opened the eyes of many fans that there are a lot of great teams and players.

Which Olympic Basketball Stars Could Join the NBA?

Spencer Dinwiddie will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic's Shams Charania</a>.
Dinwiddie and his agent, Jason Glushon, attended last night's Lakers game and sat with general manager Rob Pelinka, sparking rumors that the 6-foot-5 guard was close to joining Los Angeles.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
LA native Spencer Dinwiddie watching the LAL-NOP game with Lakers vice president of basketball ops &amp; GM Rob Pelinka👀 Dinwiddie is a free agent after being waived by the Raptors. He also met with Mavs' Mark Cuban yesterday. <a href="https://t.co/e1jt7Tr05b">pic.twitter.com/e1jt7Tr05b</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1756176155798118500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2024</a></blockquote>

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Dinwiddie, 30, was recently traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Toronto Raptors for Dennis Schroder but was subsequently waived. He&rsquo;s currently averaging 12.6 points and 6 assists in 48 games for the Nets.&nbsp;
His free-agency decision came down to the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
Signing Dinwiddie makes sense for the Lakers, who are looking for additional guard play with reserve point guard Gabe Vincent still out. Dinwiddie&rsquo;s playmaking and secondary scoring will help Los Angeles as they look to make a playoff push.

Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers.

Spencer Dinwiddie to join Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers

DALLAS (AP) &mdash; Kyrie Irving sat for the last two games as part of a plan by the Dallas Mavericks to get back a draft pick sent to the New York Knicks in a trade four years ago.
Now they wait to see if the eight-time All-Star will re-sign in free agency, or be a failed two-month rental from a&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-dallas-mavericks-nba-sports-disaster-planning-and-response-7749902360cabe682d60dd63e8b16786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blockbuster deal with Brooklyn</a>.
&ldquo;I think I said this before, he&rsquo;s at peace,&rdquo; coach Jason Kidd said, striking an optimistic tone after Irving declined to meet with reporters for a season-ending interview. &ldquo;He likes it here.&rdquo;
The Mavs sat Irving and five other regulars in a meaningless, reserve-filled finale against San Antonio on Sunday, losing 138-117 to Sandro Mamukelashvili and the Spurs.
Irving and fellow All-Star Luka Doncic were among those who didn&rsquo;t play with&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/mavericks-playoffs-nba-investigation-tanking-7ac5f76590adafd9df1c7c590a78d346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dallas being investigated by the NBA</a>&nbsp;for similar roster decisions two days earlier against Chicago.
The Mavericks still had a shot at the final Western Conference play-in spot before blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Bulls.
The Spurs sat nine players, but they&rsquo;ve been out of contention for months and were already locked in to the best draft lottery odds at 14%, along with Detroit and Houston, in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.
The loss gave Dallas the 10th-worst record and lottery chances of 4.5%, which is part of the reason the NBA opened an investigation when Doncic was pulled early and Irving and four other regulars didn&rsquo;t play at all against Chicago.
The Mavs and Bulls were tied for the 10th-best record going into the game. Dallas gets the pick if it&rsquo;s in the top 10, but otherwise surrenders it to the Knicks from Dallas&rsquo; 2019 trade for Kristaps Porzingis.
The pick would give Dallas a bit of collateral if Irving decides not to re-sign.
The mercurial Irving said when he was introduced in Dallas after the trade that he didn&rsquo;t want to talk about his future until after the season. When that time came, he still wasn&rsquo;t talking.
The Mavs were in the middle of the playoff race when they created the first pair of All-Star starters in franchise history, but Doncic and Irving were just 5-11 together with both missing multiple games because of injuries.
Dallas won its first two games with Irving but went 7-18 the rest of the way, missing the playoffs for the first time since Doncic&rsquo;s rookie year in 2018-19 after reaching the West finals last season.
&ldquo;I know you guys will talk about the record, which is fair and not fair, between the two players of Luka and (Irving),&rdquo; Kidd said. &ldquo;But there&rsquo;s also other participants. So let&rsquo;s put everybody in that fish bowl, not just those two. He&rsquo;s excited to work with Luka. He believes that we have a chance to win.&rdquo;
Doncic has three years remaining before the player option on the $215 million rookie max extension he signed two summers ago. He said he wants to see where the superstar pairing can go.
&ldquo;I wish we could continue that chemistry, relationship,&rdquo; said Doncic, who finished second in the scoring race at a career-best 32.4 points per game. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not going to happen in a day, in a week. It&rsquo;s a building process.&rdquo;
Mamukelashvili had 23 points. Dominick Barlow scored 21 points, and Malaki Branham added 20 for the Spurs.
Rookie Jaden Hardy led Dallas with 25 points, and Theo Pinson had a triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
The Spurs ended a seven-game losing streak against Dallas, leading by as many as 31 points in the first half.
The Mavericks started three players for the first time this season, with the other two having just eight starts between them. Of the 17 players in the game for both teams, 15 scored in double figures.
TEXAS 3 MISSTEP
The Dallas loss to Chicago clinched the first NBA season in which all three Texas teams missed the playoffs. The Mavs were the last of the three to join the league, in 1980-81.
Houston and San Antonio were buried at the bottom of the West standings for months. The Spurs missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season after qualifying the previous 22 years. The Rockets are on a three-year drought.

The Mavs will now shift their focus to Kyrie Irving's free agency and whether he'll re-sign in free agency or be a failed two-month rental from the Nets.

Mavs turn focus to Kyrie Irving after reserve-filled loss to Spurs

BOSTON (AP) &mdash; The Boston Celtics have operated at their best when All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both being playing their best basketball at the same time.
Whether that partnership can endure long enough for them to lead the franchise to an 18th NBA title has been the persistent question surrounding the Celtics each of the past two seasons as rumors have swirled about Boston&rsquo;s willingness to possibly trade Brown for more high-profile stars.
It included this past offseason when reports surfaced about possible trade discussions between Boston and Brooklyn after Kevin Durant levied a trade request.
Brown has been consistent in saying he has not let any of the rumors be a distraction for him on the court, as evidenced him averaging career highs in points (26.7) and rebounds this season. He had 27 points and seven rebounds in the Celtics&rsquo; 120-95 win over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, helping Boston stay in the hunt to catch Milwaukee for the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
But he also acknowledged in a recent interview with The Ringer that he was bothered enough by the most recent Durant trade chatter that he was compelled to reach out to both Tatum and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens in a conference call.&nbsp;
Tatum confirmed that detail after Friday&rsquo;s win, saying that he and Stevens let Brown know in that call that he was a valued member of the organization.
&ldquo;Just reassuring the obvious &mdash; that we need him,&rdquo; Tatum said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a big part of this team, this franchise. Without him, we can&rsquo;t reach our goal. You guys know that. The world knows that. The team knows that. We need him to be the best version of ourselves.&rdquo;
Though Brown maintains a mostly calm demeanor on the court, he said Friday that he tries to be upfront about things when he feels it&rsquo;s necessary.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a type of person that likes to let people know how I&rsquo;m feeling about certain things and certain situations,&rdquo; Brown said. &ldquo;And sometimes when I don&rsquo;t speak, people speak for you. And sometimes things get taken out of context and gets lost in translation. I mean, those things happen.
&ldquo;But I pick and choose my spots. Obviously, I&rsquo;m not going to overcompensate myself and just speak on everything and just let everybody know how I feel about everything because sometimes it ain&rsquo;t everybody&rsquo;s business. &hellip; In a sense I do enjoy using my platform to speak on certain topics.&rdquo;

The Celtics have operated at their best when All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both being playing their best basketball.

Tatum: Celtics need Brown to be ‘best version of ourselves’

When you hear "security blanket" within a sports context, you might think of a tight end in football.
A quarterback has his top target. A speed demon on the outside like Tyreek Hill; a route technician like Stefon Diggs; a YAC (yards after catch) machine like AJ Brown; a "Yes" build like NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson.&nbsp;
But then, there's the check. Your hot read. Your if-all-else-fails option if the primary or even secondary look isn't there. That guy can be your running back, but my mind goes to the tight end. Releasing to the flat in play action. Sitting down in the middle of the zone for the eight yards you need on third-and-six.&nbsp;
In all the ways I thought about breaking down Kevin Durant's fit with the Phoenix Suns, whenever he makes his return following an MCL sprain, I kept coming back to the tight-end angle.
Durant is Phoenix's very-large, very-skilled, frankly-overqualified security blanket.
(Is the upcoming Super Bowl, particularly the participation of the Philadelphia Eagles, a factor in why I landed on a football analogy? Who's to say, really. But we rally on, friends.)
If we're extending the analogy, it's worth reiterating that Durant is overqualified for this. He is more George Kittle or Travis Kelce than he is [insert run-of-the-mill possession tight end here]. You can build the boat around Durant much like you can with those two.
On the field, their teams enjoy deploying them all over the place. On the line, split out wide, in the slot. Their presence alone forces the defense into checks; demands a level of attention that is both necessary and uncomfortable in light of the talent around them.
Durant will be moved all over the chess board, used in a multitude of ways.
Directly, he can operate as the screener or ball-handler in pick-and-rolls. He will be a hub in the middle of the floor, as part of their Elbow sets &mdash; read a detailed breakdown <a href="https://thefourpointplay.substack.com/p/vol2-iss8-the-peoples-elbow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> &mdash; or the recipient of clear-outs following an off-ball screen.
I can't emphasize how important Durant's screen work will be, and how seamless of a fit he'll be in the Suns' offense because of it.
His off-ball work is the stuff of legends. Guys his size shouldn't be able to navigate traffic the way he does. Throughout his career &mdash; in Seattle (RIP), Oklahoma City, Golden State and Brooklyn &mdash; Durant has made a living flying off screens and raising up for easy (for him) ones.&nbsp;
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Pick-and-rolls involving Durant, on either side, have been dominant. Possessions featuring a Durant-led pick-and-roll are generating 1.12 points per possession (PPP) this season, which ranks second behind Luka Doncic (1.123 PPP) among 76 players who have received at least 500 on-ball picks this year, per Second Spectrum.
With Durant as a screener in pick-and-roll, that mark drops to 1.09 PPP, which is "only" a top-10 mark in the NBA among 150 players who have set at least 200 picks. A majority of those were screens set in the half-court, with the purpose of forcing a mismatch before going one-on-one.
A fun wrinkle to keep an eye on with Durant: drag screens in early offense or transition, especially when set for Chris Paul.
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Mikal Bridges would set-and-slip those suckers as a way to draw the eyes of defenders. If it was played poorly enough, Paul (or Devin Booker) could slip a pass to Bridges for a paint touch &mdash; something the Suns don't generate all that much. This is&nbsp;a team that has ranked 30th, 30th and 29th (this year) in rim rate during the Paul Era.
Durant set them in Brooklyn, but not only were those instances less frequent, he'd also fade to the perimeter or simply cut his path short to set up a mid-post touch. Much like the screens set in half-court situations, he'd operate in a way to help set up his jumper.&nbsp;
Here's an example from Bridges. He doesn't get the ball on this rep, but peep his path after the slip, how open he is, and the attention he draws from the weakside corner defender because of it. This is the threat those screens can pose.
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And now here's a rep from Durant. Again, it's less about the result and more about Durant's ideal pattern and how he reacts to openings.
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It'll be a fun dichotomy to keep track of. On one hand, you could see even more of a dip in paint pressure with Durant in the fold. If those slips turn into isolations, the pace could also drop further; <a href="http://stats.inpredictable.com/nba/ssnTeamPoss.php?season=2022&amp;po=0&amp;frdt=2022-10-18&amp;todt=2023-02-10&amp;view=off&amp;sort=aotopdr&amp;order=ASC" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per Inpredictable</a>, the Suns rank 19th in seconds per possession (14.6), and that falls to 26th (11.6) on trips following a defensive rebound.
On the other hand, the degree of difficulty may be lowered. Paul or Booker hitting Bridges on those slips are impressive. Fruitful, even. You still have to wait for the window, get the right angle and hit Bridges in the pocket &mdash; early enough to where Bridges has time to gather the pass and make a decision, but not too early where the defense has time to load up in front of him.&nbsp;
With Durant, you have a 7-foot target &mdash; a security blanket, if you will &mdash; to toss the ball to before getting the heck out of the way. During his Nets tenure, possessions featuring a Durant isolation generated 1.1 PPP, putting him in a virtual tie with Doncic. On post-ups, he was even more effective (1.13 PPP).&nbsp;
Beyond that, think about how teams have tried to stifle the ball-screen brilliance of Booker and Paul over the past two seasons. I've <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/explain-one-play-how-the-suns-create-without-chris-paul" target="_blank" rel="noopener">written about</a> Booker's need for growth when seeing traps. Paul pick-and-rolls are being switched at a higher rate than they've ever been, per Second Spectrum &mdash; part of why Paul has passed the ball on a career-high 59.1% of his PnRs this year.
Can you afford to trap Booker if Durant is the screener? Do you want to switch Paul-Durant ball screens?
On the Paul front, I think about how teams have felt increasingly comfortable putting size &mdash; sometimes 4s &mdash; on Paul so they can switch the Paul-Ayton pick-and-roll. The Warriors have thrown Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins at him. Ben Simmons got the Paul assignment earlier in the week.&nbsp;
What does that gambit look like with Durant in the fold?&nbsp;
Also, Durant doesn't just provide safety on the offensive end.&nbsp;
Defensively, Durant is &mdash; or I guess, "was" before the injury &mdash; arguably in the midst of his best defensive season. He's <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defensive-impact?CF=PLAYER_NAME*E*durant&amp;Season=2022-23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">challenging more shots</a> at the rim than he ever has, holding opponents to roughly 56% shooting inside, and blocking 1.5 shots per game to boot.&nbsp;
Among the 50 players to defend as many isolations as Durant has this season (125), only six of them &mdash; headlined by OG Anunoby (0.81 PPP allowed) and Patrick Williams (0.69 PPP) &mdash; have been stingier than Durant (0.88 PPP), per Second Spectrum.
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The amount of ground Durant covers is so important to this group. While not the perimeter defender Bridges is, he can approximate some of the off-ball danger he poses. Durant's arms are hard to avoid when sinking down to help on a drive; they're even harder to avoid when attempting a shot inside.
Oddly enough, the Suns may have gotten a little worse on the perimeter while becoming&nbsp;better&nbsp;equipped to deal with some of the mismatch hunting Paul has dealt with the past couple of seasons. At the very least, they can afford to get more aggressive.
Think back to the second-round loss the Suns suffered at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks last year. Bridges got the primary assignment on Doncic, but didn't guard him as long as he probably could've. The Suns would sometimes switch Bridges out of the assignment when Doncic called for a screen, only to have Bridges zone up and provide (the illusion of) relief afterwards.
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There are subtleties to keep in mind here. The Mavs didn't just go after Paul; they made sure Bridges had to navigate a screen first. Throwing him off balance early made it easier for him to concede the switch later.&nbsp;
Bridges was navigating that screen because 1) he's really freaking good but 2) Ayton was in a deep drop. Of the 150 instances Ayton was involved in a Doncic-led pick-and-roll, he hedged or blitzed on five of them, per Second Spectrum. Five! The switch count was barely above 20.&nbsp;
And this is what interests me about the Durant move: The Suns may be willing to ramp up the pressure in a series like this, against mismatch hunting like that, with Durant capable of patrolling a back-line.
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It could be Ayton playing closer to the level or blitzing more often. It could be as simple as the help defenders themselves &mdash; namely the defender one pass away from a Doncic or Kawhi Leonard isolation &mdash; getting more aggressive, knowing they've got reliable backup behind them.&nbsp;
That's certainly the case through the lens of rim protection, but it also tracks in terms of rebounding. The Suns should be better at it with Torrey Craig and Durant on the floor more than the Bridges-Craig duo. That's important considering they've fallen to 22nd in defensive rebound rate this season.
Durant is one of the most versatile superstars the NBA has ever seen. An elite scorer. Elite shooter. Opportunistic playmaker. Post hub. Isolation specialist. A walking mismatch. A 7-foot-0 backspace button on the defensive end.
You simply can't cover him. But most importantly for the Suns, Durant provides so much cover for their roster shortcomings.

How does Kevin Durant fit with the Phoenix Suns? Nekias Duncan examines Durant's film and what to expect from the new-look Suns.

How Kevin Durant provides cover for the Phoenix Suns

All eyes are on the Toronto Raptors as Thursday's NBA trade deadline approaches. The rest of the league is waiting to see whether they'll be a buyer or seller (or simply stand pat).
If they decide to sell off certain assets, they'll have no trouble finding a taker for O.G. Anunoby.
There are quite a few teams expressing interest in the 25-year-old, including the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets, according to <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/toronto-raptors-appear-to-remain-at-center-of-trade-market-170154598.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports</a>.
The Raptors' asking price for Anunoby is "quite steep," which is understandable. Toronto reportedly wants multiple first-round picks for the elite defender, and it remains to be seen if a team will meet that demand.
Fischer notes that some teams may be hesitant to give up that many assets for Anunoby when Kevin Durant could potentially be available this offseason (if he once again requests a trade from the Brooklyn Nets).&nbsp;
This season, Anunoby is averaging 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 threes, 2.1 steals and 0.8 blocks, while shooting 45.7% from the field, 36.6% from three and 82.1% from the free-throw line.&nbsp;
The Raptors are currently 25-30, which is the 11th-best record in the East. Toronto has the NBA's 14th-ranked offense (scoring 112.0 points per 100 possessions) and 20th-ranked defense (allowing 112.3 points per 100 possessions).

There are quite a few teams expressing interest in Raptors wing O.G. Anunoby.

Raptors' O.G. Anunoby drawing trade interest from 8 teams

After trading Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and picks over the weekend, the Brooklyn Nets aren't done wheeling and dealing.&nbsp;
The Nets continue to explore their trade options and they have had numerous conversations with the Toronto Raptors, according to multiple reports. While Fred VanVleet and O.G. Anunoby have been linked to Brooklyn lately, another name has also come up in the trade talks: Pascal Siakam.
According to <a href="https://hoopshype.com/2023/02/06/sources-nets-raptors-trade-talks-involve-pascal-siakam-ben-simmons-nic-claxton/">Mike Scotto of HoopsHype</a>, Brooklyn has tried to pry Siakam away from the Raptors, offering Ben Simmons and several first-round picks for the 28-year-old forward. Scotto also notes that Toronto covets Nic Claxton, who could potentially be included in a package for Siakam.
Siakam is averaging 24.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.3 threes on .469/.315/.766 shooting splits this season. If the Raptors make Siakam available, there will be plenty of interested teams.
All eyes are on the Raptors as Thursday's trade deadline approaches, as it's unclear whether they'll be a buyer or seller (or simply choose to stand pat). Many rival executives are hoping that Toronto decides to sell off pieces like Siakam, Anunoby, VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr.
Brooklyn has been communicating with Kevin Durant about possible moves as they try to keep him happy and keep the team in contention.
The Nets are currently 32-21, which is the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn has the NBA's fourth-best offense (scoring 114.2 points per 100 possessions) and 10th-best defense (allowing 110.2 points per 100 possessions).
The Raptors are currently 25-30, which is the 11th-best record in the East. Toronto has the NBA's 14th-ranked offense (scoring 112.0 points per 100 possessions) and 20th-ranked defense (allowing 112.3 points per 100 possessions).

While Fred VanVleet and O.G. Anunoby have been linked to the Nets, Pascal Siakam has also reportedly come up in trade talks.

Nets have discussed Pascal Siakam trade with Raptors

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) &mdash; Kyrie Irving hadn&rsquo;t arrived yet and Luka Doncic was out, so it was time for the Dallas youngsters to shine.
Josh Green and Jaden Hardy each scored career highs of 29 points and the short-handed Mavericks stunned the Utah Jazz 124-111 on Monday night after completing a trade for Irving.
&ldquo;Luka (and Irving) are going to have their amazing nights, but if we want to be a championship team it&rsquo;s about the rest of us being able to step up,&rdquo; Green said.
The Mavericks acquired the eight-time All-Star along with Markieff Morris from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and two future second-round picks.
Irving and Morris arrived in Dallas on Monday to undergo physicals and were not available for the game. But their new team rallied behind Green, who averages 8.1 points, and Hardy, who scores 5.6 per game.
&ldquo;We believed we could win this from before the game even started,&rdquo; Hardy said. &ldquo;The Jazz didn&rsquo;t seem like they were taking it seriously. They came out late before the game to warm up, all nonchalant.&rdquo;
When Green was on the court, the Mavericks outscored the Jazz by an astonishing 39 points and won their first game in eight tries without Doncic, their leading scorer with 33.4 points a game.
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&ldquo;The guys believed and Josh set the tone,&rdquo; Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. &ldquo;He understands how to play and he&rsquo;s not afraid of the moment.&rdquo;
Doncic (heel bruise) missed his third game in 10 days. The Jazz beat the Mavs 108-100 on Jan. 28, when the Slovenian star was out with a sprained ankle. This time the Mavericks bested the Jazz in nearly hustle category, including a 49-37 advantage on the boards.
&ldquo;It was exemplified when (5-foot-11) McKinley Wright was boxing out (Utah&rsquo;s 7-foot-1 Walker) Kessler. The physicality for us tonight was high, no matter how small we were out there,&rdquo; Kidd said.
After scoring 12 total points over six games, Hardy broke out for his career night and Dwight Powell added 12 points and a career-best 16 rebounds.
&ldquo;It was super fun,&rdquo; Hardy said twice with a smile that didn&rsquo;t leave his face for a long while.
Jordan Clarkson paced Utah with 26 points on 7-for-19 shooting and Lauri Markkanen added 19 &mdash; the first time he has failed to reach 20 points in the last 21 games.
&ldquo;They played better than us. They played harder than us. Give credit to them, but I don&rsquo;t think we were ready to play,&rdquo; Markkanen said.
The Jazz are now 7-5 on a stretch where they&rsquo;re playing 11 of 13 games at home, when they hoped to gain ground on teams like Dallas, but are now two games behind the Mavs.
The Jazz struggle when their 3s aren&rsquo;t falling and they often fail to get back on defense. The upstart Mavs led the Jazz 27-4 on fast break points.
&ldquo;This is the first game all season where I just feel disappointed in our focus,&rdquo; Utah coach Will Hardy said. &ldquo;We just did not have the necessary focus and attention to the little things. They had 27 points in transition and 24 second-chance points and that&rsquo;s how we lost the game.&rdquo;
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As could be expected with different rotations and the end of the bench getting significant minutes, the Mavericks looked out of sync at times. But they started running at every opportunity and went on a 23-6 run bridging the second and third quarters to take a 75-66 lead.
The Jazz trimmed the lead to a single possession in the fourth quarter but could never catch the Mavs.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Wright finished his first start with a career-high 10 points. &hellip; Davis Bertans (left calf strain) and Maxi Kleber (right hamstring tear) were out. &hellip; Dallas outscored Utah on second-chance points, 24-12
Jazz: Jarred Vanderbilt, the subject of persistent trade rumors, missed his second game with back spasms. &hellip; Mike Conley, who had a game-high 11 assists, turned his ankle in the fourth quarter but continued to play after a timeout. &hellip; Utah went 6 of 31 from 3-point range but had a 62-42 edge in the paint.
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Josh Green and Jaden Hardy each scored career-highs of 29 points and the short-handed Mavericks stunned the Utah Jazz 124-111.

Green, Hardy help Mavs surprise Jazz 124-111 without Doncic

Trust me, I know.
Following the blockbuster trade that <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/mavericks-owner-mark-cuban-breaks-silence-on-kyrie-irving-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks</a>, much of the conversation surrounding the deal focused on risk &mdash; how Irving's presence may affect the Mavericks' locker room, and especially, Luka Doncic; how the Mavericks would (struggle to) pivot if Irving were to walk in the offseason; how Kevin Durant is feeling in Brooklyn, seeing his co-star total drop from two to zero in a calendar year.
All of those concerns are valid.
There's a reason we immediately got a report from Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes saying the Phoenix Suns &mdash; who offered a package headlined by Chris Paul for Irving &mdash; are ready to push their chips in for Durant if he becomes available again.
The Mavericks absolutely should be keeping an eye on Doncic's long-term happiness. And with Irving, he hasn't been the beacon of reliability or availability. (That's putting it conservatively, for the sake of this piece and this piece only.)
Let's put that to the side for just a moment.&nbsp;
From an on-court perspective, the Mavericks have added a really good basketball player. The entire reason they made this gamble is because of the ceiling-raising that Irving's talent signifies. Let's take a look at what things could look like.
ON-BALL USAGE
Frankly, this should be pretty seamless.
Irving is one of the best isolation scorers of the modern era. His free-verse handle allows him to get wherever he wants to, whenever he wants to get there. He's quick enough to speed past off-balanced defenders, mixes in deceleration to keep defenders off balance (and flow into pull-ups on a dime) and has the body control and dexterity to create finishing angles out of mid-air.&nbsp;
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Over the past four seasons, trips featuring an Irving isolation have generated 1.12 points per possession (PPP). That's first in the NBA among 38 players with at least 1,000 isolations during that time frame. Drop the requirements to 500 isolations, expanding the field to 81 players, and Irving barely trails Zion Williamson (724 isolations, 1.123 PPP) despite having 463 more reps.
This season alone, trips featuring an Irving isolation have produced an absurd 1.21 PPP &mdash; third in the NBA among 88 players with at least 100 clear-outs under their belt. It's worth noting that the two players ahead of Irving &mdash; Lauri Markkanen (1.22 PPP) and D'Angelo Russell (1.213 PPP) &mdash; have combined for 214 isolations, while Irving is at 328 by himself.&nbsp;
I start with pure isolations because that's what the Mavericks have leaned into this season. They lead the NBA in isolations in whatever way you'd like to measure it: Total (1,397), per game (25.8) or per 100 possessions (26.9). Naturally, Doncic paces the league in total isolations (673) on elite efficiency to boot (1.14 PPP).
Even if you project this to be the most blatant my-turn-your-turn pairing in the leauge &mdash; and I don't, but we'll get into that shortly &mdash; these two are good enough to make that offense fruitful.&nbsp;
Irving's scoring chops also help him in ball-screens. Drop coverage is untenable because of his ability to chew up space. He's also, quietly, a pretty creative interior passer. Diverting too much attention to him can lead to a nice mix of pocket passes, dump-offs and lobs.
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Irving made sweet music with Nicolas Claxton in pick-and-roll this year (1.09 PPP). There shouldn't be a steep learning curve receiving screens from Dwight Powell or Christian Wood, assuming the latter is on the roster.&nbsp;
Also, prepare yourself to watch Doncic screen for Irving sometimes. Doncic is setting nearly three on-ball picks per 100 possessions this year, a career-high for him, though pretty low overall. If I had to guess, that number should perk up.
On-ball screens from Doncic have mostly been used to manufactor favorable matchups. That was more of a given when screening for Spencer Dinwiddie since they're close to the same size. Switching was, per Second Spectrum, easily the most common coverage that two-man pairing saw.&nbsp;
With Irving, that could shift a bit. Irving's defenders tend to be smaller than Dinwiddie's; this is an imperfect measure, but per NBA.com's matchup data, Irving has been <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/202681/by-position?Matchup=Offense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended by guards</a> roughly 69% of the time, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/203915/by-position?Matchup=Offense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slightly higher</a> than Dinwiddie's 61.8% clip.
At almost 6-foot-6, it would make sense that teams would feel more comfortable stashing wings and forwards on the latter. While throwing size on Irving makes sense in theory, even asking traditional wings to navigate screens or mirror Irving in space is a tall task.
(Yes, the joke was intentional.)
By the way, it's worth keeping an eye on how Irving deals with blitzes. To say he gets overwhelmed is overselling it, but there can be a bit of catch-hold-read-then-pass to those situations that may not vibe well with how slowly the Mavericks play. The short-roll playmaking on this roster continues to be a subplot worth following.
Because Irving can generate high-level offense, the Mavericks should be able to breathe easier in non-Luka lineups. Prior to the trade, the Nets were outscoring opponents by 44 points (plus-4.2 net rating) in the 676 minutes Irving played without Durant this season, <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy/nba?Season=2022-23&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;TeamId=1610612751&amp;Type=Team&amp;0Exactly1OnFloor=202681&amp;1Exactly1OffFloor=201142" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per PBP Stats</a>. The Mavericks have <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612742&amp;Season=2022-23&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203915,1629029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost the Dinwiddie on/ Doncic off minutes</a>, though you can shoot some bail based on the sheer volume of talent missing in some of the games Doncic hasn't been available.&nbsp;
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OFF-BALL VALUE
This is where the on-court hand-wringing begins offensively, and honestly, I'm not sure where the major concern comes from.
It's very much true that Irving and Doncic like the ball in their hands. It's especially true for Doncic, who <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches?CF=GP*GE*30&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=TIME_OF_POSS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in average time of possession (9.6 minutes) and seconds per touch (6.39), ranks second to Trae Young in dribbles per touch (5.59) and fourth in touches per game (90.5) overall.
Irving isn't close to any of those marks. Would it shock you to learn that the Dribble Gawd himself ranks 22nd &mdash; in a tie with Dinwiddie, oddly enough &mdash; in time of possession (5.7), 41st in seconds per touch and 53rd in dribbles per touch (3.77)? You're welcome, friends.
But seriously, it feels like people are extrapolating some of Irving's iso exploits and turning him into a heliocentric nightmare that can't fit alongside Doncic. It couldn't be further from the truth.
On a basic level, Irving's ability to shoot &mdash; and opponents treating him like a top-of-the-line threat, which can't be said for Dinwiddie &mdash; should open up the floor for other Mavericks.&nbsp;
Jason Kidd isn't the NBA's Andy Reid, nor should he be confused as such; he won't be drawing up fancy screen designs to confuse defenses. It became a running joke in Dunker Spot watch parties (<a href="https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rock with us, folks</a>) that fan pleas for more off-ball movement led Kidd to essentially respond with, "Here's a stagger for Tim Hardaway Jr. &mdash; enjoy!"
As bland as the movement stuff for Dallas can be, Irving can operate within those concepts. The Mavs love "Chicago" action, a common set in the league where a player receives a pindown before flowing into a handoff.
Josh Green misses the assignment in the first clip, but you can see the Nets run it for Irving in the second.
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That basic stagger for Hardaway? They'll run it for Dinwiddie too, in order to get him a head start downhill. With Irving's downhill funk and pull-up chops, it's easy to envision him cooking more in that setup.
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What stands out about Irving is how smart of a cutter he is. That bodes well considering the amount of double-teams Doncic draws in the post. But even in off-ball actions designed for him, he's fine going off script to find a better opening.
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And speaking of Doncic: Get ready for Irving to set screens for Doncic too, particularly during clutch time.
Irving has plenty of experience screening for bigger ball-handlers. He's done so for LeBron James during their Cleveland years together. The Nets were generating good looks out of the Durant-Irving inverted ball screen this season, even if the numbers behind it (0.88 PPP) were underwhelming. Screening for Doncic should be money.
As mentioned earlier, Irving likely being defended by smaller players may make it less enticing for defenses to switch that action. If teams opt to throw two defenders at Doncic, that'll open up short-roll opportunities for Irving. That doesn't seem ideal.
Off rip, Doncic is a&nbsp;much&nbsp;better passer than Durant, meaning Irving should have earlier, more fruitful short-roll opportunities than he saw in Brooklyn. Beyond that, Irving's best traits &mdash; pull-up mid-range shooting, rim finishing, dump-off passes &mdash; are highlighted in this setup.
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Have fun dealing with that.&nbsp;
The cloud hovering over all of this is, of course, how often we'll see Irving, period. Beyond that, it's fair to wonder what the defense will look like.
Irving is a more stout on-ball defender than Dinwiddie by my eye, though that isn't the highest bar. For whatever it's worth to you, Irving grades out as a slight positive (plus-0.2) according to DunksAndThree's Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM) metric, while Dinwiddie is firmly negative (minus-1.9). The size difference may hurt, especially once teams get into mismatch-hunting mode as the postseason nears.&nbsp;
But in a Western Conference that feels up in the air, I understand why the Mavericks made the gamble. When examining the on-court fit, I'd argue it's a pretty good one.

Nekias Duncan analyzes how Kyrie Irving will mesh with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks following the trade from Brooklyn.

Examining Kyrie Irving's basketball fit with the Dallas Mavericks

On Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Dallas sent Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and multiple second-round picks in exchange for the eight-time All-Star.
In his first comments since the trade, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spoke to Basketball News about how Luka Doncic and Irving will fit together.
"I think this is going to be great for both of them," Cuban told Basketball News. "They can play off of each other and given that both can get where they want on the court, it's going to put a ton of pressure on defenses."
The Mavericks were determined to get a star running mate for Doncic &mdash; someone who can help carry the offensive burden. Doncic and Irving should form one of the most entertaining one-two punches in the NBA.
Doncic and Irving were both named All-Star starters recently. Doncic is averaging 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.8 threes and 1.5 steals on .504/.353/.728 shooting splits, while Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game on .486/.374/.883 shooting splits.
The Mavericks are 28-26, which is the sixth-best record in the Western Conference. Dallas boasts the NBA's eighth-best offense (scoring 113.3 points per 100 possessions) and 23rd-best defense (allowing 112.6 points per 100 possessions).&nbsp;
After acquiring Irving, the Mavs' championship odds went from 33/1 (eighth in the West) to 10/1 (second in the West, trailing only the Denver Nuggets), according to <a href="https://www.betonline.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/nba-futures/championship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BetOnline</a>.

In his first comments since the Kyrie Irving trade, Mark Cuban spoke to Basketball News about how Irving will fit alongside Luka Doncic.

Mark Cuban breaks silence on Kyrie Irving trade, fit with Luka Doncic

The 2023 NBA trade deadline is just a few days away!
Teams have between now and Thursday at 3 p.m. ET to wheel and deal. For some teams, there's a bit more urgency to make a trade. We asked our Basketball News writers:
Which NBA team desperately needs to make a trade?
Alex Kennedy: The Toronto Raptors have been one of the biggest disappointments this season, as they are currently 24-30 (which is the 12th-best record in the Eastern Conference). They have a number of talented individuals on their roster, but the pieces just aren't fitting together. Recent reports have indicated that Toronto isn't sure whether to be a buyer or seller prior to the trade deadline, but it's clear that standing pat isn't an option.
Will the Raptors part ways with O.G. Anunoby, who's been one of the top players surfacing in trade rumors? Will they move Fred VanVleet and/or Gary Trent Jr. before they can opt out and hit unrestricted free agency this summer? Will Masai Ujiri try to restart talks with the Brooklyn Nets on a potential Kevin Durant blockbuster? All eyes will be on the Raptors over the next few days.
Nekias Duncan: I think the Toronto Raptors are the obvious answer here, so I&rsquo;ll set them to the side. It&rsquo;d be nice if the Miami Heat could do something here. It may not be big-game hunting &mdash; they&rsquo;ve been mentioned on the periphery of the Kyrie Irving sweepstakes &mdash; but more reliable depth would help them.
Caleb Martin is in the midst of a career-year, but it hasn&rsquo;t hit like it could because he&rsquo;s a bit overtasked at the 4. The depth behind Bam Adebayo has been shaky; I&rsquo;ve liked the play from Orlando &ldquo;Big Lando&rdquo; Robinson, but his play being *this* important underscores how dire it&rsquo;s been for the Heat. Any deal that could land them a bigger 4 could balance things out, especially if that 4 could moonlight as a 5 in small-ball lineups.
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Brian Fritz: Despite LeBron James continuing to play at an unbelievable level at 38 years old and in his 20th NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves at No. 13 in the Western Conference standings with a 25-29 record. Everyone knows that this team desperately needs to make a trade. The Lakers need to do something &ndash; anything &ndash; or else they are just wasting another season of LeBron&rsquo;s greatness. And he&rsquo;s starting to voice his frustrations again; after a recent loss, James said, "Playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA.&rdquo; Even if it's just a deal to improve around the edges, something needs to be done.
Ethan Fuller: The Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors are probably popular answers here, so I'll throw in the Portland Trail Blazers as well. Damian Lillard is leading the league in scoring since January 1 (34.9 PPG) and is playing absolutely out of his mind right now. But Portland is only 7-9 in that span and continues to be weighed down by its atrocious defense, even with some capable individual pieces.
The West is wide open and ripe for a team to capitalize. This is less about keeping Lillard happy (just take him at his word, please) and more about maximizing a career-year from a 32-year-old, high-usage point guard. If the Trail Blazers can rally and form something near a league-average defense, their chances to make a surprise postseason run suddenly skyrocket.
Spencer Davies: The Dallas Mavericks desperately need to get Luka Doncic another ball-handler and/or a better shooter. It is clear and obvious that Jalen Brunson's departure has made things twice as difficult on the Slovenian sensation, yet he's still delivering. I previously mentioned Terry Rozier, DeMar DeRozan, Fred VanVleet, D'Angelo Russell, Kyle Kuzma, Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson as possible targets. Now, Kyrie Irving is also a potential solution to Dallas' biggest problem.
The Mavericks have contracts to float around, none more obvious than Tim Hardaway Jr.'s &nbsp;deal. They could also fetch a valuable player with Dorian Finney-Smith's four-year, $55 million extension that is in Year 1. In addition, Reggie Bullock is another veteran option who's earning $10,012,800 this season and $10,489,600 next season. And if you need a filler for a bigger contract coming back, Davis Bertans is making a boatload on money ($16 million, then $17 million and an ETO in 2024-25).&nbsp;
[UPDATE: <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/mavericks-acquire-kyrie-irving-from-nets-in-blockbuster-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving shortly after this was published</a>.]
On Thursday, the Basketball News staff will be reacting to every rumor and completed trade during our 2023 NBA Trade Deadline Show! Tune in from 1 p.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET!

Which NBA team desperately needs to make a move before the Feb. 9 trade deadline? We asked our Basketball News writers to weigh in.

NBA roundtable: Which team desperately needs to make a trade?

Kyrie Irving, who was just named an All-Star starter for the Eastern Conference, shocked the NBA world this week when he reportedly asked for a trade. He informed the Nets that he prefers to be traded ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline or he will plan to leave via free agency in July, causing Brooklyn to lose him for nothing.&nbsp;
This trade demand was reportedly prompted by the fact that the two sides were unable to agree to the terms of a contract extension.&nbsp;
The Nets reportedly offered an extension to Irving; however, it included unprecedented &ldquo;guarantee stipulations&rdquo; tied to the team winning an NBA championship, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1621650393083281408" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report</a>. This appeared to offend Irving and his camp, thus resulting in the trade demand.&nbsp;
This trade demand has been met with much criticism throughout the entire NBA world.&nbsp;
While discussing Irving&rsquo;s trade request with Malika Andrews on NBA Today, Stephen A. Smith <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2023/02/04/kyrie-irving-trade-request-stephen-a-smith-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> Kyrie &ldquo;idiotic&rdquo; and added that &ldquo;he cannot be trusted; he just reminded the basketball world of that.&rdquo;
Kendrick Perkins <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2023/02/03/kyrie-irving-kendrick-perkins-comments-nets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went on a tirade</a> on ESPN when asked about the situation.
&ldquo;This is Kyrie Irving, a guy that you cannot trust,&rdquo; Perkins said. &ldquo;Didn&rsquo;t Kyrie Irving just say that Kevin Durant was his best friend? Right? So where is the loyalty? Right? If that&rsquo;s your best friend, I don&rsquo;t want that. Give me an enemy. For the simple fact that when you look at how Kevin Durant has been riding for Kyrie Irving since they arrived in Brooklyn&hellip; standing behind him through whatever his beliefs were, whatever he was doing, riding with him over James Harden.&rdquo;
I caught up with Caleb from <a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynNetcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brooklyn Netcast</a>, a site dedicated to covering the Nets, to discuss this situation, how the Nets handled this, the media backlash toward Kyrie and much more.
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Etan Thomas: I appreciate your content. I was one of the former players who retweeted your tweets after this story broke. You all do a great job of covering the Nets. To your knowledge, can you explain what exactly led to this trade request from Kyrie irving?&nbsp;
Brooklyn Netcast: I think it&rsquo;s more of a leverage move than anything. Mostly what led up to it were disagreements in the contract extension and certain details not being agreed upon as well as guaranteed money being a big issue in this whole thing. Chris Haynes reported yesterday about how there was a championship stipulation &mdash; like if you win a championship, then you receive X amount of dollars &mdash; and that&rsquo;s really where the disagreements and feeling of disrespect came. I definitely don&rsquo;t think there is a shared respect overall between Joe Tsai and Kyrie Irving and [there are] ethical disagreements, which is another huge issue that is being glossed over, as a point of contention between the two.&nbsp;
Etan: A few months ago, Joe Tsai and Kyrie Irving had the sit down and Tsai came out publicly and said, &ldquo;No, Kyrie is not anti-semetic, he&rsquo;s not a horrible person, etc.&rdquo; But do you think there was still friction between the two behind closed doors and that statement was mostly for show?
Brooklyn Netcast: There is definitely quite a bit of friction behind the scenes. I would say that it&rsquo;s a bit for show. I do believe that Joe Tsai and Adam Silver were both 100% correct when they said that Kyrie was not anti-semitic, but there is definitely a lot of friction that still exists between the two as far as values, who they are as people and, of course, the contract.&nbsp;
Etan: It was reported that the Nets wanted Irving&rsquo;s contract to be tied to winning a championship, and I don&rsquo;t know if I&rsquo;ve ever really heard a stipulation like that before in an NBA contract. So, he will only get X amount of money if they win a championship? To my knowledge, that&rsquo;s really unprecedented.
Brooklyn Netcast: I haven&rsquo;t seen any specifics, but just seen reports that this was a point of contention for Kyrie and his team. There are leaks coming from both sides and it&rsquo;s hard to see the exact details of what exactly was disagreed upon because there are so many different leaks and takes. But it is clear that it does center around guaranteed money and that a championship would bring a substantial amount of money into the picture, and that&rsquo;s not something that Kyrie or his representatives feel is fair because a championship is a team achievement. Hypothetically, Kyrie could average 40, 5 and 5, but if they lose in the playoffs, then he wouldn&rsquo;t receive whatever amount of his contract? I don&rsquo;t see how any player would agree to something like that.&nbsp;
Etan: One of the tweets that I retweeted from Brooklyn Netcast, and again you all have done a great job in covering this, was: &ldquo;The annoying part too is the media is just gonna paint Kyrie Irving as the bad guy here while Marks and Tsai don&rsquo;t get trashed at all.&rdquo; And that&rsquo;s exactly what happened.
Brooklyn Netcast: It&rsquo;s important to note that Kyrie has had some things happen off the court in the past; you can go into the whole documentary thing and missing time throughout the years, so there is already a lot stacked against him and who he is. I think it&rsquo;s abundantly clear right now that Kyrie Irving is a very good person, and a charitable and giving human being, but for some reason the media as a whole consistently ridicules and demonizes Kyrie. But they don&rsquo;t even loosely examine or question the character of someone like Joe Tsai. They would rather attack Kyrie&rsquo;s character, but that shows the bias of many in the media.&nbsp;
And the media only tells one side of the story. They focused on, &ldquo;Oh, Kyrie requested a trade,&rdquo; or, &ldquo;Kyrie wants out,&rdquo; or, &ldquo;Kyrie is abandoning KD,&rdquo; or, &ldquo;He said he would never leave his friend,&rdquo; and they frame it as if it&rsquo;s all Kyrie&rsquo;s fault. But they won&rsquo;t go into the details of the insulting championship stipulation the Nets put in the contract.&nbsp;
Etan: Stephen A. Smith jumped out and his response to Kyrie requesting a trade was that he is &ldquo;idiotic&rdquo; and &ldquo;cannot be trusted&rdquo; and that he &ldquo;reminded the entire basketball world of that.&rdquo; I responded:
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No Stephen A Smith smh It&rsquo;s simple, if you feel you&rsquo;re not being paid what you&rsquo;re worth at your current place of employment or you&rsquo;re being disrespected, it&rsquo;s time to move on. Just like when you voiced that ESPN wasn&rsquo;t compensating you properly. It&rsquo;s not &ldquo;idiotic&rdquo; just business <a href="https://t.co/k08L7SL8hr">pic.twitter.com/k08L7SL8hr</a>
&mdash; Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) <a href="https://twitter.com/etanthomas36/status/1621889146368266241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote>

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And that&rsquo;s how I look at this situation. It&rsquo;s just business. It&rsquo;s not Kyrie being a &ldquo;diva,&rdquo; which many have called him, or him being &ldquo;idiotic.&rdquo; They didn&rsquo;t want to give him the number that he felt he had earned as an All-Star, and they added stipulations that he wasn&rsquo;t happy with such as the championship stipulation &mdash; which, again, I don&rsquo;t recall ever being done in the NBA &mdash; so he wanted to look for other options. But the media, people like Stephen A. Smith for example, immediately went to bashing Kyrie before they even knew the details.
Brooklyn Netcast: I agree with everything you just said. I wasn&rsquo;t surprised to hear Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins and so many others in the media jump to bash Kyrie. I know Stephen A. says that he is a fan of Kyrie&rsquo;s, but there has been a consistent bashing of Kyrie that he does and it seems almost personal and definitely unprofessional. This summer, Kendrick Perkins said he would not bash Kyrie as long as he was in the media, and he went back on his word is less than a few months. Dave Portnoy, who is a member of the media, <a href="https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1621585952752672768" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>: &ldquo;You can make a legit argument Kyrie is the worst pro athlete who ever lived and top 100 worst human.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Etan: Lou Williams responded, &ldquo;Nah, we don&rsquo;t agree with you,&rdquo; and I retweeted that.
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Na. We don&rsquo;t agree with you. <a href="https://t.co/WyfQ17ODst">https://t.co/WyfQ17ODst</a>
&mdash; Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamLou23/status/1621620298532495363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Brooklyn Netcast: Right! I saw that, and I&rsquo;m glad Lou Williams did that. That was really a disgusting tweet. Requesting a trade because of a contract dispute makes you the worst human being to ever walk the planet? And the amount of people who agreed with his asinine statement is just crazy. But yeah, that shows how Kyrie has been consistently painted as this horrible person by the media, and that&rsquo;s just irresponsible.&nbsp;
Etan: What are you hearing about the Brooklyn Nets and how they view Kyrie? I&rsquo;m sure some of the fans are split &mdash; some love Kyrie and some hate Kyrie, some are swayed by the media and some see through how the media portrays him &mdash; but what are you hearing from the team as far as their reaction to this? And I ask because I noticed that after the recent suspension, it seemed as though the team supported him &mdash; or at least didn&rsquo;t publicly bash him. I saw people in the media trying to almost coerce the players into ridiculing him. I saw them try to get Nic Claxton to say they were better off without Kyrie, and they tried to get KD to express frustration with Kyrie. It was like they went down the list, but none of them took the bait. Where do you think they are with Kyrie and if he were to come back &mdash; say they don&rsquo;t trade him &mdash;would they welcome him back with open arms?&nbsp;
Brooklyn Netcast: That&rsquo;s tough to say. I feel like it would vary from player to player. I&rsquo;m sure they understand the business aspect of this all and they don&rsquo;t look at this as a personal abandonment of the team or anything like that. I do think they are all well aware that their chances of being successful greatly diminish if Kyrie is not on the floor. But at the same time, from what I&rsquo;m hearing, or at least what they are expressing publicly, is that they understand that this is a business. But they know at the same time, they need him to be successful.&nbsp;
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Etan: I want you to expound on the media coverage of Kyrie. And of course not all media are covering him the same way, but I will say that there are quite a few in the media who are really taking turns bashing him. Do you feel that it&rsquo;s a little bit unfair or unwarranted or unprofessional? (Besides Stephen A. Smith; in his case, it definitely does appear to be just that). How would you describe the majority of the media&rsquo;s coverage of Irving?
Brooklyn Netcast: I think that a lot of it is personal and a lot of it is a collection of how they feel about past events, and that taints how they examine this current event. They aren&rsquo;t separating the two. For example, when James Harden asked for a trade, he didn&rsquo;t get bashed as heavily, and his was more of a giving up on the team. He had gained weight, was playing very bad basketball at the time and reportedly never wanted to be in Brooklyn in the first place as his first choice. Kyrie&rsquo;s request was definitely covered differently, and he has a valid financial reason to want out, in my opinion at least. And there have been other players who were just disgruntled or just unhappy with the system or not [getting] enough shots or playing time who asked for a trade, and they weren&rsquo;t bashed anywhere near as much as Kyrie. But like I said, a lot of that has to do with past situations that many people are lumping in with this situation, and one has nothing to do with the other. I&rsquo;m hoping the media, later on after he has retired, will look back and say, &ldquo;You know what, this was unfair treatment of a player and we viewed him incorrectly.&rdquo;
Etan: Yeah&hellip; I would say don&rsquo;t hold your breath on Stephen A. Smith or Charles Barkley ever coming to that realization.&rdquo;
Brooklyn Netcast: Oh, well not those two (laughing).
Etan: Oh ok (laughing), you just mean the media as a whole.
Brooklyn Netcast: Yeah, just collectively. But no, those two are probably not going to come to any realization.
Etan: I couldn&rsquo;t agree more. There is nothing wrong with having a professional critique of an athlete. I have no problem with that. But often, Stephen A. Smith&rsquo;s comments about Kyrie Irving are nothing more than personal attacks and attempts to disparage his character. He lobbies for him not to be signed to a long-term deal and puts notions out there that he can&rsquo;t be trusted. It comes across as a personal vendetta instead of a professional critique. And although my friend David Aldridge didn&rsquo;t agree with me when I debated him and Marc Spears about the impact of what the media says, it&rsquo;s been confirmed to be true.
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What the media says does affect the business side for players when it&rsquo;s time for teams, GMs, presidents, etc. to sign them &mdash; whether those notions are accurate or not. It&rsquo;s not about &ldquo;hurting a player&rsquo;s feelings.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s about having a direct impact on their professional career. I actually <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/former-nba-gm-confirms-false-narratives-hurt-kwame-brown-others" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviewed a former NBA GM, Pete Babcock</a>, who confirmed that false narratives put out by the media and Stephen A. Smith, in particular, did in fact hurt Kwame Brown financially. He discussed how NBA executives were, in fact, influenced by those narratives.&nbsp;
But thanks again for your content and covering this in a way that is different than many others in the media. This was a good discussion.
Brooklyn Netcast: Thanks for having me.

Etan Thomas examines how the media has covered Kyrie Irving's trade request from the Brooklyn Nets.

After trade demand, media bash Kyrie Irving but silent on management

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Kyrie Irving sat out the Brooklyn Nets&rsquo; come-from-behind win over Washington on Saturday night,&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/exploring-trade-destinations-for-kyrie-irving-nba-trade-rumors-lakers-mavericks-nets-heat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a day after he told the team he would like to be traded</a>.
The Nets said Irving&rsquo;s absence was due to right calf soreness, adding him to the injury report for their game against Washington. Irving had not been listed on the report Friday night or Saturday morning.
Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said after the Nets&rsquo; 125-123 win that Irving did not attend the game and that the player&rsquo;s absence was excused.
&ldquo;We were all in agreement on him not being here tonight,&rdquo; Vaughn said.
Vaughn said before the game that he was unsure if Irving would be at Barclays Center. He did say Irving &ldquo;was not at the walkthrough.&rdquo;
He wouldn&rsquo;t speculate if Irving would be available for the Nets&rsquo; two remaining games before the trade deadline Thursday afternoon.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m just going to be concerned about (the Wizards),&rdquo; Vaughn said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to complicate this thing at all.&rdquo;
Irving asked the Nets for a trade Friday, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press. The All-Star has been frustrated that the Nets have thus far refused to give him an extension on his contact that expires after this season.
Vaughn said he spoke with Irving and the rest of the team Friday, prior to the star guard&rsquo;s trade request becoming public. However, it was not a topic of conversation between the coach and his team.
&ldquo;Our conversations were more than basketball,&rdquo; said Vaughn. &ldquo;Life, checking in on them. I never want to speculate how a player feels. Their feelings are their feelings. And I&rsquo;ll always validate that. ... So I won&rsquo;t speculate.&rdquo;
Kevin Durant is still sidelined because of a sprained knee ligament, and Ben Simmons and T.J. Warren will each also miss their fourth straight game with left knee soreness and a left shin contusion, respectively. Simmons was downgraded after previously being listed as questionable. Warren was initially listed as doubtful, which changed to out about an hour before gametime.
&ldquo;Just trying to get to a level &mdash; T.J. and Ben &mdash; where they&rsquo;re comfortable getting back on the court and playing,&rdquo; Vaughn said.
When asked if he had received a timetable when to expect Simmons to be able to play, Vaughn said, &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re inching toward that way. It&rsquo;s really day to day. He&rsquo;ll get back on the court tomorrow. Hopefully he feels a comfort level and responds to the work tomorrow to get him close to playing these next two games.&rdquo;

Kyrie Irving sat out the Nets’ come-from-behind win over the Wizards on Saturday, a day after he told the team he would like to be traded.

Kyrie Irving excused from Nets-Wizards, one day after trade request

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; The short-handed Brooklyn Nets lost guard Seth Curry and forward/center Markieff Morris to injuries during their game against the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
Curry suffered a left adductor injury during the third quarter, and Morris had a sore left knee. The Nets announced neither would return to the game.
Curry and Morris joined Kevin Durant (right knee MCL sprain), T.J. Warren (left shin contusion), Ben Simmons (left knee soreness) and Kyrie Irving (right calf soreness) on the sideline.
Durant has missed 12 consecutive games, while Simmons and Warren have each missed four straight.
<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/exploring-trade-destinations-for-kyrie-irving-nba-trade-rumors-lakers-mavericks-nets-heat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Irving&rsquo;s injury came one day after requesting a trade.</a>&nbsp;He&rsquo;s upset with contract proposals that the team has put forth. Irving is scheduled to be a free agent after this season.
The injuries left Brooklyn with eight available players for the remainder of the game.

The short-handed Nets lost Seth Curry and Markieff Morris to injuries during their game against the Wizards on Saturday night.

Short-handed Nets also lose Seth Curry, Markieff Morris to injuries

On January 15, after a 112-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving was asked about Kevin Durant's absence. More specifically, he was asked how the circumstances (and the locker room) differ from last year. This is what he had to say.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Kyrie on why KD's absence is different this year: "Well I'm consistently in the lineup, that helps. We also don't have anyone who is halfway in in the locker room."
&mdash; Alec Sturm (@Alec_Sturm) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alec_Sturm/status/1614805186589110277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

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There was a hint of irony to the response in light of his&nbsp;absence for large portions of last season due to New York's vaccine mandate, as well as the suspension he served this season due to sharing antisemitic content. Secondarily, it felt like a clear shot at former Nets guard James Harden, who ultimately requested a trade before last year's deadline.&nbsp;
On January 15, Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10063026-ball-is-in-the-nets-court-as-kyrie-irving-seeks-long-term-extension" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relayed word from Irving's agent</a>, expressing their desire to reach an agreement on a long-term extension in Brooklyn. From the piece:
<blockquote>
"Around Kyrie and staying with the Nets? I have reached out to the Nets regarding this," his agent Shetellia Irving told Bleacher Report. "We have had no significant conversations to date. The desire is to make Brooklyn home, with the right type of extension, which means the ball is in the Nets' court to communicate now if their desire is the same."
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It would appear the desire isn't mutual. With no extension agreed to, Irving has reportedly requested a trade from the Nets ahead of the February 9 trade deadline.
Zooming out, that's three separate trade requests the Nets have received from stars over the past calendar year. And before digging into potential destinations from Irving, it's worth taking the step back to acknowledge how wild things have been in Brooklyn during the 7/11 Era.&nbsp;
(Also, the clock is going to start back ticking on Durant, no? Irving requesting the trade now is unfortunate timing. Depending on what they could get back, this deal could take the Nets out of the contention conversation through absolutely no fault of Durant's. Considering Irving's role in Durant's trade request in the summer &mdash; he wants, or wanted, his guy there with him long-term &mdash; it would be understandable if he got antsy again.)
Irving has been tremendous on the court this season, averaging 27.1 points (career-high 56.9% on 2s, 37.4% on 3s), 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds. His blend of ball-handling, pull-up shooting and finishing is almost unrivaled in the league &mdash; and in league history. And to Irving's credit, his buy-in on the defensive end is as consistently high as it's ever been in his career.
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Irving's availability and contract status &mdash; he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer &mdash; will complicate his trade value. The receiving team, if he's moved, will have to be confident in retaining Irving long term. And from there, they'd have to be confident that Irving, who hasn't appeared in 70 games since the 2016-17 season, will be consistently available. His injury history and off-the-court controversies in back-to-back seasons make that a tough bet on the surface.
Of course, the bet being tough &mdash; and likely untenable for some franchises &mdash; doesn't mean it won't be made at all. There will be teams that check in on Irving and push their chips to the middle of the table.
We have to start the conversation with the Los Angeles Lakers. They were linked to Irving in the summer, when it felt like both Durant and Irving could be moved. There's an obvious link between Irving and LeBron James. The two played in Cleveland together for three years, winning a title in 2016. LeBron also stood up for Irving during his suspension earlier this season.
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💭 I told you guys that I don&rsquo;t believe in sharing hurtful information. And I&rsquo;ll continue to be that way but Kyrie apologized and he should be able to play. That&rsquo;s what I think. It&rsquo;s that simple. Help him learn- but he should be playing. What he&rsquo;s asked to do to get back on
&mdash; LeBron James (@KingJames) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1590781218790211584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2022</a></blockquote>

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We don't have to spend much time here. The Lakers would build a package headlined by Russell Westbrook and one or both of their future first-round picks (2027, 2029) for Irving. That doesn't mean the Nets would get Westbrook; three-team frameworks would likely be discussed, and it's worth noting that Haynes reported earlier on Friday that the Lakers and Utah Jazz <a href="https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/10064005-nba-insider-buzz-lakers-know-they-need-another-trade-jazz-enter-westbrook-chat.amp.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">re-engaged in talks surrounding Westbrook</a>.
Beyond the Lakers, there are a few teams that come to mind that make on-court &mdash; and I stress on-court &mdash; sense for the star guard.
Priority number one for the Dallas Mavericks, for example, is finding a legitimate co-star to pair with Luka Doncic. He's clearly good enough to handle a gargantuan offensive load; he leads the NBA in points (second in scoring average, 33.4) and ranks fifth in assists (8.2). Only the Cavs play at a slower pace than the Mavericks this season, mostly due to Doncic's surgical cadence in the half-court.&nbsp;
Spencer Dinwiddie and Christian Wood (when healthy) have filled in well as secondary scorers. Dinwiddie is averaging nearly 18 points a game while bombing away from three (40.3% on a career-high 6.4 attempts). Wood's inside-out dynamic has helped him become the second half of the NBA's most prolific pick-and-roll duo, per Second Spectrum tracking.
Neither of them garner the same defensive attention that Irving does, nor can they take over games in the way that Irving can. A framework built around former-Net Dinwiddie and currently-in-the-rumor-mill Dorian Finney-Smith could intrigue the Nets.
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The Miami Heat were reportedly on Irving's summer list of teams he'd be okay getting signed-and-traded to, per ESPN's Adrain Wojnarowski. A certified third star alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo could lift their ceiling, especially one as dynamic offensively as Irving. As of writing, the Heat rank 25th in overall offensive rating, excluding garbage time, and 22nd in half-court offense.
While Tyler Herro has taken steps as a creator and first-time starter &mdash; 20.3 points (49.9% on 2s, 37.3% on 3s) and a career-high 4.4 assists is nothing to sneeze at &mdash; his ability to generate traction downhill and deal with in-your-jersey defenders on an island pale in comparison to Irving. Among teams that may show interest in Irving, Herro may be the best young piece that could be offered in a deal &mdash; though his inclusion would be complicated due to the <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2018/10/hoops-rumors-glossary-poison-pill-provision.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"poison pill" element</a> of his current contract status.
Because Herro's rookie extension (4/120) hasn't kicked in yet, the Heat and Nets would be dealing with different cap numbers in a potential trade. For the Heat, they'd be sending out Herro's current-year salary ($5.7 million). The Nets (or a third team receiving Herro) would be accounting for $25.1 million &mdash; the average of Herro's total salary owed.
Without Herro, Miami would likely try to use Kyle Lowry as the headliner to a package. With <a href="https://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Heat.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">somewhat limited pick ammo</a> and young prospects -- how much would Nikola Jovic appeal to this version of Brooklyn? -- the Heat feel more like a long shot compared to Los Angeles and Dallas.
STRAY THOUGHTS
<ul>
<li>The Suns and Nets were linked during the Durant Sweepstakes, but I wonder if they'd check in on Irving. This would be a deal centered around Chris Paul, which begs the question: how much more would Brooklyn want? Would a Paul + Cam Johnson package appeal to both parties, in light of Phoenix's need for half-court scoring?</li>
<li>The Clippers will always &mdash; or at least should &mdash; be mentioned in these kind of conversations. Their roster is littered with quality players on mid-level salaries, making them an appealing keep-us-competitive option for the Nets.</li>
<li>I'm sure the Knicks are content with Jalen Brunson, but hey. Just ... hey, I'm sure they'll think about it. Even if the answer is ultimately, "Nah, we're good", I find it hard to believe they wouldn't think about it.</li>
<li>Normally there's a "won't happen, but these pieces make sense" team to choose from in trade discussions like this, but I'm struggling with this one. Would the closest be something surrounding an Irving-Zach LaVine swap? Like, sure?</li>
</ul>

Kyrie Irving has requested a trade from the Nets. Nekias Duncan looks at which teams make sense as a possible landing spot.

Exploring possible trade destinations for Nets' Kyrie Irving

According to multiple reports, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets before the Feb. 9 deadline. Shams Charania of The Athletic was the first to report the stunning news.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league 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>. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline &ndash; or will leave in free agency in July.
&mdash; Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1621582468762460161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Per Charania, if Irving doesn't get moved by the deadline, he will leave the Nets in free agency and the team will have lost him for nothing. The Nets and Kyrie have been unable to reach an extension agreement to this point, with Irving's agent <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10063026-ball-is-in-the-nets-court-as-kyrie-irving-seeks-long-term-extension" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shetellia Riley Irving saying recently that</a> "the ball is in the Nets court."
Substack's Marc Stein adds that the Nets' strategy to this point is to focus on playing out the season. The organization believes that Irving likely needs a sign-and-trade in the summer to get to a favorable destination.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
The Nets' strategy to this point, as I reported earlier this week, has been to focus on playing out the season without extending Kyrie Irving's contract ... believing Irving likely needs a sign-and-trade in the summer to get to another destination he likes. Kyrie's counter today: <a href="https://t.co/ZusHGodbRE">https://t.co/ZusHGodbRE</a>
&mdash; Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1621584779580772355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Irving was named an All-Star starter one week ago to represent Brooklyn. The 30-year-old is having an incredible season, averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game on .486/.374/.883 shooting splits. He's helped guide the Nets during Kevin Durant's absence, as the team boasts a 31-20 record and sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
&nbsp;

According to multiple reports, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets before the Feb. 9 deadline.

Kyrie Irving requests trade, to leave Nets in free agency without deal

The Los Angeles Lakers franchise never seems to have a dull moment, and you can bet the roller coaster will continue in 2023.
With another year gone by and 2022 officially in the rearview mirror, it&rsquo;s time for the purple and gold to look ahead. Similar to the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumors-7-possible-deals-for-the-los-angeles-lakers-charlotte-hornets-washington-wizards-indiana-pacers-san-antonio-spurs-pistons-magic-knicks-lebron-james-anthony-davis-rob-pelinka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seven trade scenarios we looked at in last week's article</a>, I've decided to predict five things that could happen with the Lakers in the new year.
Let's take a look.
LeBron James will break the NBA's all-time scoring record sooner than expected
The Lakers season has been underwhelming so far, but LeBron has not been as he continues to play at an ultra-high level even in his 20th season. And now, he&rsquo;s on the verge of making history by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA&rsquo;s all-time leading scorer.
The question wasn&rsquo;t if he would break the record this season, but when. LeBron has stayed healthy for the most part this year (only missing a handful of games so far) and finds himself just 484 points away from Kareem's mark of 38,387.
If James' scoring binge continues &mdash; he&rsquo;s averaging 36.6 points per game since Christmas, and Darvin Ham has said he will continue to ride him until Anthony Davis returns from injury &mdash; LeBron is going to top Kareem BEFORE the All-Star break.
Here are two dates to target, with both games at home:
<ul>
<li>Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 7</li>
<li>Milwaukee Bucks on Feb 9.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The Lakers finally make a trade... just not the big one
Going back to before the season started, Lakers' fans have been clamoring for Rob Pelinka and the front office to make a deal. And while LA has talked to a lot of teams, the franchise has yet to pull the trigger.
That will change before the Feb. 9 trade deadline, but it won&rsquo;t be that big, potential-game changer that some are hoping for.
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The Lakers have been clinging onto their oh-so-precious, tradeable 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, and the team doesn&rsquo;t seem anxious to include either in a deal at this point. Instead, they&rsquo;d rather count on good returns for minimum-contract players like Dennis Schroder and Thomas Bryant, and the return of Anthony Davis before the end of January.
LA will do something, but it will be around the edges that will involve the expiring contract(s) of Kendrick Nunn ($5.2M) or Patrick Beverley ($13.0M) and some second-rounders. Think of Josh Richardson, Cam Reddish, or Mason Plumlee &mdash; players who can help now, but also are on expiring deals so the team can preserve its cap space and reset the repeater luxury tax (something owner Jeanie Buss loathes to continue paying).
The Lakers will get into the Play-in Tournament
Somehow, someway, this team will get into the postseason. Right now, LA sits at 17-21, but is just one game back of the sliding Utah Jazz &mdash; losers of five straight &mdash; for the 10th spot in the Western Conference.&nbsp;
The schedule is tough, and they'll need LeBron and Davis to stay/get healthy, but this group won&rsquo;t melt down the stretch like last season; they&rsquo;ll find an avenue into the Play-In. Maybe the Lakers could get as high as the No. 9 spot if things break their way, but that&rsquo;s probably their ceiling at this point. From there, they&rsquo;ll cross their fingers and toes that the LBJ-AD combo can do some damage. Good luck.
LeBron will remain with Lakers next season and beyond
Sure, LeBron is a bit frustrated with this season, and he already sounded off on his &ldquo;playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA&rdquo; salvo. And it&rsquo;s not wrong to think that he could get fed up with the situation in La La Land and demand a trade after the season.
(Remember, he cannot be traded during the season because he signed an extension in September and cannot be moved for six months, which is after the trade deadline.)
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
lebron james is shooting 72.7% on drives&mdash;and 84.9% at the rim&mdash;since the anthony davis injury <a href="https://t.co/ji0u4Wt2kY">pic.twitter.com/ji0u4Wt2kY</a>
&mdash; Dan Favale (@danfavale) <a href="https://twitter.com/danfavale/status/1611105868736614426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote>

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LeBron has every right to be upset. Anyone would be, especially a 38-year-old, still-near-his-prime superstar who is chasing one more ring to tie him with Laker greats Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.
With that being said, he&rsquo;s not going anywhere. His sons Bronny (18) and Bryce (15) are entrenched at Sierra Canyon High School, his off-the-court businesses have thrived since moving to California and his family really enjoys the west-coast lifestyle.
LeBron doesn&rsquo;t seem interested in moving his family or being away from them during an NBA season. While he&rsquo;ll continue to put pressure on the front office when it comes to the roster, the bet here is that he&rsquo;s not going anywhere. Well, at least not for the next few seasons.
LA goes big-name hunting and lands one
Nothing says &ldquo;Lakers exceptionalism&rdquo; like the team always looking to add another superstar. And unless the organization makes a trade taking on salary for future years (don&rsquo;t hold your breath), LA is set to have around $30 million in cap space this upcoming offseason. That&rsquo;s not enough to get a star on a max deal, but it could be enough to get a distressed one.
I give you Kyrie Irving.
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While Irving has been a big part of the Brooklyn Nets turning their season around &mdash; now in the No. 3 position in the Eastern Conference at 25-13 &mdash; he&rsquo;s a free agent at the end of the season, and the Nets would still have to make a commitment to him. That could come down to how far they go in the playoffs. Even then, Nets governor Joe Tsai and general Sean Marks could decide they&rsquo;ve had enough of the Kyrie experience.
Of course, the Lakers wouldn&rsquo;t shy away from Irving despite the off-court attention that comes with him. LA is desperate for another big name player. He&rsquo;s probably a much better fit that Russell Westbrook. He definitely is a better long-range shooter. But will his actions off the court get him in trouble? That&rsquo;s a big gamble for most teams.
The Lakers aren&rsquo;t one of them. They embrace chaos. LeBron has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYeEyAqkw_c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly already indicated he would welcome playing with Irving again</a>, and the <a href="https://www.nj.com/nets/2023/01/how-has-kyrie-irvings-recent-stellar-play-with-the-streaking-nets-impacted-his-free-agency-situation.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feeling seems mutual</a>. Despite his sometimes jaw-dropping offensive talent, most teams will steer clear of him. That would allow the Lakers to offer him a good, but less-than-max deal of around two-years, $62M.
Is that enough for Irving? It might be the best deal he gets offered.

Brian Fritz predicts five scenarios that could happen regarding the Lakers in the new year.

Making 5 predictions for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023

Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins is expected to miss at least two weeks due to a sprained left ankle, sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1598468835350564864" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic's Shams Charania</a>. 
Collins suffered the sprain on Wednesday night when the Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic, 125-108.
This season, Collins is averaging 12.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 48.4% from the field, 21.9% from three-point range and 84.5% from the free-throw line.
Collins' name has surfaced in trade rumors over the last year, and the Hawks recently "opened preliminary trade discussions" involving him, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3910489/2022/11/18/hawks-suns-john-collins-jae-crowder-trade-talk-shams-inside-pass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Charania</a>. 
The Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams that have reportedly expressed interest in the 25-year-old. (Our Nekias Duncan <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumors-report-utah-jazz-have-interest-in-atlanta-hawks-forward-john-collins-lauri-markkanen-kelly-olynyk-mike-conley-malik-beasley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broke down the Jazz rumors</a> and how Collins would potentially fit in Utah).
Atlanta is 12-10, which is tied for the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks currently have the NBA's 10th-ranked defense and 19th-ranked offense.
&nbsp;

Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins is expected to miss at least two weeks due to his left ankle sprain.

Hawks' John Collins to miss at least 2 weeks with sprained ankle

During a <a href="https://youtu.be/qbDecaf0X1Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new episode</a> of &ldquo;Back On the Record with Bob Costas,&rdquo; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers opened up about coaching (and trading) his son, Austin Rivers, and son-in-law, Seth Curry.&nbsp;
"I'm the only coach that have ever coached my son in the NBA and my son-in-law,&rdquo; Rivers told Costas. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m also the only coach that have traded my son and my son-in-law. Now, trading the two is a little more difficult."
Rivers admitted that he initially didn&rsquo;t want to coach Austin, but several members of the Los Angeles Clippers&rsquo; front office &ndash; including former general manager Dave Wohl &ndash; pushed for it.
&ldquo;It was hard. [With] Austin, Dave Wohl and a couple other guys thought it would be a good idea; I did not like it. I just thought, 'It's just too hard,'&rdquo; Rivers said. &ldquo;This is what you want: if you want to coach your son in the NBA, he&rsquo;s gotta be the best player by a long shot or the worst player by a long shot. Being in the middle makes it hard, because the guy behind him thinks he should play in front of him, and the guy in front of him who he's pushing thinks there's favoritism. So you really gotta walk a fine line.
"It was difficult in a lot of areas. Austin and I were really close and he would come over, but [when I coached him], he didn't want to come over because, you know&hellip; It&rsquo;s a lot of little things like that. But at the very end of it, it was awesome.&rdquo;
While it was challenging, Austin played the best basketball of his NBA career while in Los Angeles. During the 2017-18 season, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.0 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.2 threes and 1.2 steals in 33.7 minutes per game (all of which were career-highs). Then, on June 26, 2018, the Clippers sent Austin to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Marcin Gortat.
&ldquo;When we decided to trade him, I called him and I was emotional, you know? I'm trading my son. And he saved me,&rdquo; Rivers said. &ldquo;He saved me. He was like, 'Dad, I'm all good. I had my best year of my career last year under you. We got to do something that no one else has done! Whether it worked or not, Dad, when we look back on that, who cares? I was coached by my dad in the NBA!&rsquo; And that was cool.&rdquo;
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In Philadelphia, Doc had the opportunity to coach his son-in-law, Seth Curry. Seth also had a career-year under Rivers (putting up almost the exact same stats as Austin), averaging 15.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 threes per game.&nbsp;
Last season, the 76ers dealt Curry to the Brooklyn Nets (along with Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks) in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap. Rivers&rsquo; daughter, Callie, wasn&rsquo;t as understanding as Austin when she heard the news.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Trading Seth, I had to deal with my daughter... who had two young babies. That's a completely different thing,&rdquo; Rivers explained. &ldquo;The night before, because there was a rumor it was going to happen, I get a call from my daughter. 'Listen! Are you gonna do it or not?!&rsquo; And I said, 'You know, Callie, I can&rsquo;t&hellip;&rsquo; [She says], &lsquo;I&rsquo;M YOUR DAUGHTER!&rsquo; I said, 'Well, Callie, I don't know. I can't...' 'I'M YOUR DAUGHTER!' That was a tough one.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Well, she ended up in Brooklyn and she is the happiest ever. And for me, I can still get in my car and in 90 minutes, I can be in Brooklyn, so it turned out okay.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Doc Rivers discussed what it was like coaching (and trading) his son, Austin Rivers, as well as his son-in-law, Seth Curry.

Doc Rivers opens up about trading his son, Austin: 'I was emotional'

Over the last week, I have been very active on social media voicing my views on the Kyrie Irving situation, which prompted quite a few active NBA players to reach out to me privately to express that they too shared the view that the six requirements laid out for Irving to end his indefinite suspension were not only way over the top and excessive, but insulting.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s do a quick recap of the events that have led us to this point.&nbsp;
Irving shared a link to the documentary &ldquo;From Hebrews To Negroes: Wake Up Black America" without context, which caused a firestorm, as many viewed this as an endorsement of the film.&nbsp;
At his initial press conference, he expressed his reasoning for sharing the doc, saying, &ldquo;When I post, it does not mean that I support everything that&rsquo;s being said or everything that&rsquo;s being done or [that] I&rsquo;m campaigning for anything. All I do is post things for my people and my community.&rdquo;&nbsp;
He also said:&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a divisive person when it comes to religion. I embrace all walks of life. You see it on all my platforms. I talk to all races, all cultures, all religions. And my response would be, it&rsquo;s not about educating yourself on what antisemitism is. It&rsquo;s really about where the root words come from and understanding that this is an African heritage that is also belonging to the people. Africa is in it, whether we want to dismiss it or not. So the claims of antisemitism; who are the original chosen people of God? And we go into these religious conversations and it&rsquo;s a big no-no, I don&rsquo;t live my life that way. I grew up in a melting pot, and I say a melting pot of all races: white, black, red, yellow, Jewish, Christian, Muslim. You see the way I live my life now, I&rsquo;m not here to be divisive."
This was prior to his spat with ESPN's Nick Friedell.&nbsp;
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This was met with criticism, condemnation and accusations that Kyrie was antisemitic, since people felt he was endorsing and promoting antisemitic propaganda (which he said wasn&rsquo;t his intention).
The media as a collective began taking turns bashing Kyrie, attributing beliefs to him that he did not express, and since he didn&rsquo;t vehemently denounce these ideas, many took that as an endorsement. It's not uncommon for athletes to be attacked by certain media talking-heads who shall remain nameless, but what we saw was a unified, non-stop, public lashing of Kyrie across the board.&nbsp;
He deleted his tweet. Then, during another press conference, he was asked if he was antisemitic and his answer was, "I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from." He also explained that he meant no harm, while adding that he wasn&rsquo;t the one who made the documentary.
This drew the ire of Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai, as Irving was swiftly suspended for a minimum of five games and given six steps that had to be completed before he would be allowed to return.
The Nets released a press release that stated: "We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity &mdash; but failed &mdash; to clarify. Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets."
Many people (including some who strongly condemned Kyrie for posting the link to the documentary) viewed this as a blatant attempt to emasculate and dehumanize Irving in front of the entire world.&nbsp;
Irving eventually posted <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckhj8iIu0HN/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a lengthy apology</a> to the entire Jewish community on Instagram.
As I voiced my personal disproval of the six steps he had to complete to return &mdash; which is unprecedented for an NBA suspension &mdash; that&rsquo;s when I started receiving messages from active players who were also outraged by the treatment Kyrie was receiving. However, they didn&rsquo;t feel comfortable saying anything out of fear that a similar outrage would be directed toward them or that an objection to Kyrie's punishment would be interpreted as supporting him posting the movie. They didn't want to be lumped in with Kyrie and face the same backlash. Their apprehension was very understandable.&nbsp;
This caused me to ponder the question: what if this Kyrie backlash causes athletes to go silent again? After all, besides Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Craig Hodges, athletes were pretty quiet back in the 1990s. That continued through my era in the early 2000s. Only recently, since Colin Kaepernick's protest, has there been a resurgence of athletes using their platforms and voices, and it&rsquo;s been beautiful to see. But it&rsquo;s also important to note that since Kaepernick took his stance, he has not played a single snap in the NFL. In addition, all of the protests have stopped and, for the most part, NFL players speaking out has significantly reduced almost to a whisper. Could that happen in the NBA?&nbsp;
Over the last 24 hours, both NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Joe Tsai said that they have met with Kyrie and can report that, in their opinion, he is not antisemitic, which has led many to believe that Irving will be returning to the court soon. But has the damage already been done?
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/emerald1.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="402" />
I reached out to Emerald Garner, the daughter of Eric Garner who has a newly-released book that I co-wrote called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Finding-My-Voice-Grieving-Pushing/dp/1642598313/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=163ffcc0-f0f3-4ecf-b8fa-907636f54c3f" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Finding My Voice,"</a> to discuss this situation. We talked about what it meant to her personally when athletes used their voices and platforms to support her family and whether the Kyrie backlash might scare players into being silent going forward.
Etan: Do you think the backlash that Kyrie Irving is currently receiving has the potential to silence athletes?&nbsp;
Emerald: "I hope not. Listen, I don&rsquo;t know anything about the film, and don&rsquo;t support antisemitism in any form or fashion, but I didn&rsquo;t actually hear Kyrie say anything antisemitic. And correct me if I&rsquo;m wrong, but he didn&rsquo;t produce the documentary, did he? They&rsquo;re acting like it&rsquo;s his film."
Etan: No, he didn&rsquo;t produce it, but to be fair, he did share it without context. But he also cleared up his reasoning for sharing it in his initial press conference. He said he was just sharing it for the information and wasn&rsquo;t endorsing or promoting the film.
Emerald: "So, he apologized and deleted it, right?"
Etan: Yes, he did.
Emerald: "But he still has to go through all of these hoops before he gets to play again?"
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Etan: Yes, the six steps he has to complete are:
1) He has to apologize and condemn the film
2) Make a $500,000 donation to anti-hate causes
3) Complete sensitivity training
4) Complete antisemitism training&nbsp;
5) Meet with the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish leaders
6) Meet with Joe Tsai to &ldquo;demonstrate an understanding of the situation.&rdquo;
Emerald: "Wow, that&rsquo;s really a lot. So let me say it like this: officer Daniel Pantaleo murdered my father in broad daylight on video and he didn&rsquo;t have to do anything before he returned to active duty. I wrote about it in my book how traumatizing it was to see him laughing and joking with other cops on the street like nothing happened. He didn&rsquo;t have to do anything. He didn&rsquo;t even have to apologize to the family of the man he murdered. But they&rsquo;re gonna make Kyrie do all this before he can play basketball?"&nbsp;
Etan: Wow, that&rsquo;s a great point.
Emerald: "Listen, Kyrie and LeBron and all of the players on the Brooklyn Nets at the time and Kobe and all of the Lakers team supported my family after my father was choked to death by the NYPD. Back then, every time I turned on the TV, all I saw were people justifying his murder and saying why my father deserved to die. I will forever be thankful to him and all the athletes who stood with us for that."
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/kyrie111.png" alt="" width="651" height="380" />
Etan: Yeah, a lot of people were quiet then, but athletes weren&rsquo;t. That started a new boom of athletes using their voices and platforms. That&rsquo;s why I wrote my book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Matter-Athletes-Activism-Sports/dp/1617755915/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=3aa7746c-b367-4e3f-b314-48164e0e4144" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"We Matter: Athletes And Activism"</a> and interviewed so many athletes and impacted family members. I wanted to encourage the next generation of athletes to continue to use their voices and show the impact it has. My fear now is that after this, athletes may start being quiet again or people may advise them to be quiet again in fear of the Kyrie Irving treatment.
Emerald: "And that would be tragic. You have done an amazing job promoting that concept and, yes, there is great power in their voices. When I turned on the TV and saw all of the NBA players wearing 'I Can&rsquo;t Breathe' shirts&hellip; I&rsquo;m getting emotional right now..."
Etan: I&rsquo;m sorry, I don&rsquo;t want to trigger you.
Emerald: "No, it&rsquo;s ok. You know I always get emotional when we talk, and we talked about this in my book, but when I saw them wearing those shirts, it made me feel seen. That someone actually cared about what happened to my father. It didn&rsquo;t feel like anyone cared. The police definitely didn&rsquo;t show any remorse. They all stood around and watched as Officer Pantaleo choked my father to death, then they all supported Pantaleo, not one of them condemned anything. So many people supported Pantaleo like they always do when the police murder someone. But it was Kyrie and NBA players who supported me. And my father loved basketball. He loved every New York team that existed. Even sports he wasn&rsquo;t even that into, if they were [a team in] New York, he supported them. He would&rsquo;ve been so proud how they all supported him. I can see his big smile now. I can&rsquo;t tell you how much I miss seeing that big smile of his."&nbsp;
Etan: It&rsquo;s so important that people know this, and understand this. I&rsquo;ve gone on multiple programs recently and said that silencing athletes that you disagree with isn&rsquo;t the answer. Instead, have an actual dialogue. And I really believe that.
Emerald: "Listen, we have done enough speaking engagements for me to fully understand and be a supporter of dialogue. Of course it&rsquo;s important. And not lectures but actually listening to because, correct me if I&rsquo;m wrong, but I didn&rsquo;t hear Kyrie say anything bad or anti-anything. He said I love everyone, I respect all religions. It&rsquo;s like they&rsquo;re trying to make him believe things that he didn&rsquo;t say he believed. At least that&rsquo;s how I see it."
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Etan: I definitely agree. I didn&rsquo;t hear him actually say anything antisemitic. I&rsquo;m just worried about the effect it will have on athletes moving forward. When I was playing, I had so many people warn me to be careful (including David Stern). I had other people who literally said you don&rsquo;t want to get done like Craig Hodges or Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. I heard Shannon Sharpe initially say that on his show "Undisputed." I see people putting that notion out there.
Emerald: "Well, that would be tragic if athletes did 'shut up and dribble.' I&rsquo;mma be honest, I didn&rsquo;t realize the impact y&rsquo;all have until I started working with you and talking to other impacted families who had athletes stand up for them. How Russell Westbrook spoke up for Terence Crutcher, how Stephen Jackson spoke up for George Floyd, how LeBron speaks up for a lot of families, how the whole Milwaukee Bucks [team] spoke up for Jacob Blake, how the whole NBA spoke up for Breonna Taylor and I can go on and on and on. It&rsquo;s important. Take it from me, it means everything."

Could this Kyrie Irving situation silence athletes going forward? Etan Thomas discusses this with Eric Garner's daughter, Emerald.

Emerald Garner hopes Kyrie Irving backlash doesn’t silence athletes

WASHINGTON (AP) &mdash; Kevin Durant said Friday the Brooklyn Nets could have handled this tumultuous week a bit differently &mdash; a week in which his coach was fired and teammate Kyrie Irving was suspended for posting a link to an antisemitic work.
Then Durant clarified on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/1588549639191818240?s=20&amp;t=WSOsLWtBWyk3WhGm45cMyw">that he doesn't condone hate speech</a> and &ldquo;is about spreading love always.&rdquo;
Durant spoke Friday at the Nets' shootaround in Washington ahead of the evening's game against the Wizards. When asked what he thought of Irving&rsquo;s recent conduct, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-basketball-9967fe0a7d519ec88bb69653903269a3">which landed the guard a suspension of at least five games</a>, Durant said: &ldquo;I ain&rsquo;t here to judge nobody or talk down on nobody for how they feel, their views or anything. I just didn&rsquo;t like anything that went on.
"I felt like it was all unnecessary. I felt like we could have just kept playing basketball and kept quiet as an organization.&rdquo;
Within an hour, Durant followed up <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/1588549639191818240">via a tweet</a>.
&ldquo;Just wanna clarify the statements I made at shootaround, I see some people are confused,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t condone hate speech or anti-semetism (sic), I&rsquo;m about spreading love always. Our game Unites people and I wanna make sure that&rsquo;s at the forefront.&rdquo;
Irving did apologize in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckhj8iIu0HN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">an Instagram post</a> for not explaining the specific beliefs he agreed and disagreed with when he posted about the documentary.
Nets general manager Sean Marks said Friday that the team has had some dialogue with Irving, but not enough given the circumstances.
&ldquo;The organization has made multiple attempts to get with Kyrie and his representation and to have them clarify his feelings and put out a sense of remorse for this, and that obviously didn&rsquo;t happen, and he refused to disavow that until his tweet last night,&rdquo; Marks said.
Marks said Irving&rsquo;s apology was a step, but actions will speak louder than words. He also said the team is not considering releasing Irving at this time.
&ldquo;There is going to be some remedial steps and measures that have been put in place for him to obviously seek some counseling ... from dealing with some anti-hate and some Jewish leaders within our community,&rdquo; Marks said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s going to have to sit down with them, he&rsquo;s going to have to sit down with the organization after this, and we&rsquo;ll evaluate and see if this is the right opportunity to bring him back.&rdquo;
Irving's reluctance to apologize came hours before the FBI said it had <a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-new-jersey-46e3d27517e58fffb3ec446e8cbf2d88">received credible information about a &ldquo;broad&rdquo; threat</a> to synagogues in New Jersey, Irving&rsquo;s home state.
In Florida on Saturday, the phrase &ldquo;Kanye is right about the jews&rdquo; was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kanye-west-aaron-donald-brooklyn-nets-new-england-patriots-nfl-b77fc5d2a9196b3b9f5992f139d4915a?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=AP_Sports&amp;utm_source=Twitter">projected on the outside of one of the end zones</a> at the TIAA Bank Field stadium in Jacksonville during the Florida-Georgia football game &mdash; a reference to recent antisemitic comments that the music mogul formerly known as Kanye West has made on social media and in interviews. The incidents come four years after the deadliest attack on American Jews, when 11 people were <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kanye-west-entertainment-music-religion-dfaf38656f6e50469d353c8af10e4b41">killed at a synagogue</a> in Pittsburgh.
The Nets also parted ways with coach Steve Nash this week and despite the star tandem of Durant and Irving, the team has a 2-6 record. Durant said the team has the ability to tune out all the turbulence.
&ldquo;It's just the way of the NBA now. So many outlets now and their stories hit pretty fast now. That's where all the chaos is coming from," he said. "Everybody's opinions, everybody has an opinion on the situation, we're hearing it nonstop, but once the ball starts bouncing and we get into practice, none of that stuff really seeps into the gym.&rdquo;
___
Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister

Durant clarified on Twitter that he doesn't condone hate speech and “is about spreading love always.”

Durant: Nets 'could have kept quiet' about Irving, tumult

I'll open with a bit of transparency: I don't know if I'll have more fun writing a piece than I will with this one.
It's easy to get lost in Xs and Os talk, rotation suggestions, or transaction rumors. It can be easy to be bogged down by off-court nonsense &mdash; looking at you, Josh Primo, and the Brooklyn Nets, as a concept. But there are certain teams, certain players and certain stories that bring me back to the ground floor.&nbsp;
At its core, basketball is a beautiful game. It is art; it is music. It's poetry. It's freakin'&nbsp;fun,&nbsp;man. Watching players make the impossible look mundane is what drew me to the sport. I wouldn't care about the intricacies of Spain pick-and-rolls without having "whew, what a fun/easy bucket" as my foundation.&nbsp;
There isn't a player in the league that breaks my "whew" scale &mdash; or makes me laugh uncontrollably &mdash;&nbsp; quite like the Orlando Magic's Bol Bol does.&nbsp;
He's broken my brain virtually; you're not having fun in an online 2K league without having him on your roster. The flashes he showed at Oregon broke my brain in real life. A guy that tall isn't supposed to have the shooting touch and handle capabilities that he does.&nbsp;
There were always valid concerns. The frame was an issue, as were the injuries he's had to work through because of it. There were questions about the motor, among other things. He slid to the second round of the 2019 draft due to a combination of those questions.
But my word, the Bol Experiment may be working in Year 4.
Through eight games, Bol is averaging career highs in points (11.1), rebounds (7.4), and blocks (2.6, 4th in the NBA) in a shade under 22 minutes a night. This has been more than the occasional flash that I freak out about on Twitter; he legitimately looks like a productive rotation player.
Injury and opportunity have thrusted Bol into the Magic's starting lineup over the last three games. He's responded strongly, averaging 13.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in 29.1 minutes per contest.
HOW IT'S WORKING
Honestly, "opportunistic" may be the best way to describe Bol's play to kick off the year. He's averaging nearly 2 offensive rebounds a game. Overall, 48.5% of his two-point attempts &mdash; that he's converting at an absurd 71.7% clip by the way &mdash; have been unassisted. You can think a combination of putbacks and grab-and-go sequences for that.
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The grab-and-go possessions really stand out. One, it's just wild to see someone like him bringing the ball up. Beyond that, the drives have actually been fruitful. The sample isn't large; the good folks at Second Spectrum have him pegged for 17 drives on the season. But the Magic have generated over 1.3 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Bol drive.&nbsp;
The real fun is that the drives have featured some kick-outs. If he shifts from one-track minded to 1.3-track minded, you consider that a win if you're the Magic. These aren't Luka-like reads, but this is growth worth keeping an eye on.
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Defensively, I find myself in awe of Bol's length and range.&nbsp;
You will often see Bol in an off-ball role, either defending a weaker opponent or defending an area as part of Orlando's zone. If he isn't directly involved in the action, he's able to sink down to disrupt drives and spray back out to bother (or dissuade) catch-and-shoot opportunities. Even when he isn't in great position (more on that shortly), his massive wingspan allows him to alter or block shots anyway.
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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).
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Aside from the grab-and-go potential, the shooting was the primary calling card for Bol offensively entering his draft year. He hasn't knocked down triples at a high clip (33.3%) or with much volume (1.1 attempts).
To the volume portion, a lot of that is because of Bol's limitations. Because of his struggles to deal with physicality, opponents are comfortable stashing perimeter players on him. What would be pick-and-pop situations are typically switches, negating much of the benefits for Bol.
There's a ton of room to grow as a screener. Again, the frame limits him from being a Steven Adams-esque bully, but it still doesn't feel like he has a firm handle on timing or angles to pry guys loose. I've been on a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-screen-time-vol-1-steven-adams-best-worst-screeners-anthony-davis-fred-vanvleet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">screening kick lately</a>, and it should come as no surprise that Bol grades poorly in terms of contact rate &mdash; meaning how often he generates contact on his screens.
It's not a situation like Brandon Clarke, where he's good at screening but ranks low in generating contact because he's so good&nbsp;at slipping; Bol just has to get better at screening as a concept.
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If he's able to do that, more scoring opportunities should rise. Pick-and-pops will open up. The Magic could further explore his usage as a handoff hub if he generates contact better; he already has enough of a handle to fool opponents with fake handoffs. But before that can be a present threat, he has to be able to pry his handoff partner open and force rotations.&nbsp;
On the other end, Bol's spatial awareness still needs work. While his length can help cover his mistakes, it's still worth noting some of the mistakes he makes, particularly when he's tasked with tracking multiple actions at once.
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Bol is often stashed on weaker perimeter players, and that weakness speaks to that player's scoring prowess&nbsp;and&nbsp;literal strength. Bol simply doesn't have the strength to deal with 5s. Even some guards have been successful in getting into his chest on drives and pushing him backwards.
He still struggles sliding laterally, and has bigger issues flipping his hips and changing direction. That's led to some pretty ugly "contain" sequences from him. It's telling that he's among the league leaders in blocks, but opponents have converted nearly 67% of their shots at the rim against Bol to this point of the season.
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But for now, the positives are outweighing the problem areas for the first time in his career. The Magic have a plus-4.6 net rating in Bol's 173 minutes, and have been dusted (minus-13.8) in their 211 minutes without him. The split looks even better if <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612753&amp;Season=2022-23&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1629626&amp;Leverage=VeryHigh,High,Medium" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you remove garbage time</a>.
Cheers to Bol for producing, and an even bigger hat tip to him for being fun while doing it.

Nekias Duncan breaks down, and celebrates, the fun and productivity of Bol Bol with the Orlando Magic.

Magical start: Celebrating Bol Bol's early productivity in Orlando

Nekias Duncan previews the Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Spurs ahead of the 2022-23 NBA campaign.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Southwest Division

Nekias Duncan previews the Hawks, Hornets, Heat, Magic and Wizards ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Southeast Division

Nekias Duncan previews each of the Pacific division teams ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Pacific Division

Nekias Duncan thoroughly breaks down all five teams in the Northwest Division ahead of the 2022-23 season.

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Northwest Division

It's been more than a year since Ben Simmons last played in the NBA. He missed the beginning of the 2020-21 season with the Philadelphia 76ers while dealing with mental health issues and then was traded mis-season to the Brooklyn Nets. However, he was never able to play for them due to a back injury that he had offseason surgery on.&nbsp;
Simmons spoke at Nets' media day on Monday and was asked if he could play in the first few games of this season.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the goal; that&rsquo;s the plan," Simmons replied.
As for the trade rumors and contract negotiations involving Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Simmons brushed them off and stated that he was more focused on getting himself heathy.
"There was a lot going on but, for me, I&rsquo;ve got to focus on my health, getting back on the court," said Simmons. "So that was my priority. Besides that, I worry about what I can control and everything else, that&rsquo;s what is was. For me, I had to prepare for the team."
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Ben Simmons says he&rsquo;s feeling great physically, and expects to be ready to go for the opening games of the Nets&rsquo; season. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the goal; that&rsquo;s the plan.&rdquo; Via <a href="https://twitter.com/APOOCH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@APOOCH</a> ⬇️<a href="https://t.co/IMtN8hbTnc">pic.twitter.com/IMtN8hbTnc</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1574424688545202176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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After missing last season, Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons expects to be ready at the start of the 22-23 NBA season.

Ben Simmons expects to be ready for start of season: 'That's the plan'

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; On nearly every basketball court around the world &mdash;from NBA arenas to elementary school gyms &mdash; you&rsquo;ll see players of all sizes regularly attempting long 3-point shots. There&rsquo;s one man largely credited with transforming basketball from a must-see above the rim game to box office-long range shooting: Stephen Curry.
But the Golden State Warriors megastar who broke the NBA&rsquo;s all-time 3-point record last season is now aiming at a different target: children&rsquo;s books.
&ldquo;This is our first project out and (we want) to hopefully reach the next generation of kids that are dreaming big, are going to be the next leaders and game changers,&rdquo; said Curry of &ldquo;I Have a Superpower&rdquo; illustrated by Geneva Bowers. &ldquo;We want them to be able to set their sights on what they want to accomplish in the world and really believe that it&rsquo;s possible.&rdquo;
The father of three says the book was partly inspired by his own children&rsquo;s love of reading.
&ldquo;You kind of have your kids in mind when you&rsquo;re talking about a book, and then you realize that this is kind of a universal opportunity to reach the next generation,&rdquo; explained the four-time NBA champion and reigning Finals MVP.
A member of the NBA&rsquo;s prestigious 75th Anniversary team and executive producer of the &ldquo;Holey Moley&rdquo; game show, Curry spoke with The Associated Press about empowering children and the upcoming NBA season. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
AP: What do you want young people to learn from &ldquo;I Have a Superpower?&rdquo;
CURRY: "We&rsquo;re all unique and we all have something to offer the world. And if you have a work ethic, if you have a belief and you feel like whatever that requires is already inside of you, then good things will happen."
AP: What would you tell parents who might say it&rsquo;s easy for you to tell kids &ldquo;just work hard?&rdquo;
CURRY: "You can always go back to when I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old &mdash; I first started playing organized basketball at 9. I was undersized, scrawny and never, ever talked about as being the greatest at anything. And (I) had to go through those experiences of trying and failing... I think that&rsquo;s something that most people will hopefully be able to learn from, connect with and be inspired by."
AP: You and your wife, Ayesha, are building a media brand with TV shows and books. Why choose the media space to make an impact?
CURRY: "There are a lot of different mediums to story-tell and to inspire. And publishing and writing this book is another example of ways to connect and kind of broaden your horizons... my wife showed me how it&rsquo;s done, so now I got to follow in her footsteps a little bit."
AP: Switching gears, most of this NBA offseason has been focused on the Brooklyn Nets drama with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving along with the Lakers daily soap opera. Are you aware that much of the talk has not been about the Warriors, despite being the defending champions?
CURRY: "We&rsquo;re aware of everything that happens in the League in terms of different storylines and rumors and all that. It is the best place to watch it all happen when you&rsquo;re holding the trophy and enjoying your summer and understanding, as the champs, you&rsquo;re the ones being chased again now.
"We don&rsquo;t need anybody to talk about us. We know what we accomplished; it&rsquo;s about getting ready for another run (and) we feel like we can do it again."
AP: Sports fans know that you&rsquo;ve probably transformed the way basketball is played forever. Are you personally aware of how you&rsquo;ve changed the game?
CURRY: "I&rsquo;m aware, but part of it is for me to keep doing what I&rsquo;m doing in my career and hopefully stay at this level for as long as I can. There is no sense that I&rsquo;ve hit my peak. I always feel like I can get better. So, I&rsquo;m motivated by how far I can stretch this.
"The biggest message for how I changed the game is that is possible, how I play is definitely possible&hellip; But it requires a crazy amount of work that I&rsquo;ve been doing since I was 9 years old. So, I don&rsquo;t want anybody to feel like they can skip steps to get there."

The Warriors star who broke the NBA’s all-time three-point record last season is now aiming at a different target: Children’s books.

Steph Curry aims to inspire with ‘I Have a Superpower’ book

We've waited, and waited, and waited for something to pop with Kevin Durant's trade request.&nbsp;
It's not usual for someone of Durant's caliber to become available via trade; it's rarer for someone of Durant's caliber and&nbsp;contract status &mdash; four flippin' years left on the deal! &mdash; to become available. But when the opportunity presents itself, you're somewhat obligated as an organization to check in and see what it takes.
The Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat were floated out early. The Toronto Raptors lurked on the edges. We heard noise about the Boston Celtics that continuously grew louder. There were more teams mentioned on the outskirts, most recently the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Understandably, offseason movement came to a screeching halt. You don't want to make a mid-tier trade or signing that would lower your chances to acquire someone like Durant. The Atlanta Hawks, for example, blew their pick load in their acquisition of Dejounte Murray, only for the Durant trade request to come out a short time later.
It's also understandable for free agents to be a bit annoyed with offseason movement coming to a screeching halt. Utah Jazz guard (for now, anyway) Patrick Beverly took to Twitter to speak on the uncomfortable dynamic.
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Yal can sit and don&rsquo;t say nothing but that ain&rsquo;t cool. It&rsquo;s dudes with families out here who haven&rsquo;t got a job because of this KD shit. And to be on and off ain&rsquo;t cool. Blessing Gang🙏🏾🏀
&mdash; Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) <a href="https://twitter.com/patbev21/status/1562101827646197760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote>

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It should come as no surprise that Durant had a <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/1562105392909275136?s=20&amp;t=t6uBMOw7JXSuIAPTlObO0w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">response of his own</a>, quote-tweeting Beverly's message with "#BLAMEKD."
Free agent guard Isaiah Thomas spoke the minds of many in his position.
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Finally lol. Can we sign now lol
&mdash; Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) <a href="https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas/status/1562095675948470273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote>

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That begs the question: Who are&nbsp;some of the free agents left that should get a look now? Here are a few players that come to mind.
CARMELO ANTHONY 
Key stats: 13.3 points per game on 52.1% from two (career-low 4.7 attempts) and 37.5% from three (5.8 attempts)
Quick: Did you know the Los Angeles Lakers were 7-4 in games where Melo scored 20 or more points?
Related: Are you more surprised by the record, or the fact that Melo accomplished the feat 11 times, all of which came from off the bench?
Melo was an occasional bright spot for a team that didn't have many of them last season. He's still a valuable off-ball threat.
In addition to knocking down 37.5% of his spot-up triples, Melo was able to beat closeouts with one- or two-dribble pull-ups. Per Synergy, Melo ranked in the 81st percentile (very good!) when taking dribble jumpers after spotting up. It's a far cry from the Melo that could boom on you during his Denver days, but his jumper remains an effective one.
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The defense will likely be a problem in high leverage moments, though Melo had some fun flashes as a backup 5 last season. A strong defensive infrastructure will be important if you want to get the most and best out of him. There's still enough juice in the tank for him to be a bench hub.
Ideal fits: Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers
HASSAN WHITESIDE 
Key stats: 8.2 points on a career-high 65.2% from two (career-low-as-rotation-player 5.1 attempts), 7.6 rebounds (2.6 offensive) and 1.6 blocks per game. 
Whiteside's career arc has been one of the weirdest ones in recent memory. He was a first-round talent that fell to the second round because of reliability concerns. He found himself out of the league pretty early on, only to make a 2K-esque splash with the Heat. He earned max dollars in 2016 and eventually lost his starting spot to a young Bam Adebayo in 2019, and has ridden the backup circuit since then.
Quietly, though, Whiteside has still been productive. He remains a monster on the offensive glass, and his length and timing as a shot-blocker still make him a solid drop coverage option. Per Second Spectrum, the Jazz allowed roughly 0.92 points per possession on trips featuring Whiteside in a drop last season &mdash; a top-10 mark among players to defend at least 500 picks.
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Of course, the issue has been that his box score numbers miss some of his weaknesses. He's a poor lateral mover at this stage of his career, a flaw on its own before getting into his&nbsp;unwillingness to move and make second efforts at times. Whiteside works in a drop, but it's a bit concerning that he's boxed into that scheme to a degree. A team acquiring him will need to have slithery screen navigators in front of him, or strong help defenders that can dig on drives and help restrict space.
Offensively, the screening has been hit or miss. The passing is too. He's improved enough to knock down a relief jumper or two, but it's important to let him indulge that part of his game too much.
Ideal fits: Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns
WAYNE ELLINGTON 
Key stats: 6.7 points per game on 38.9% from three (4.9 attempts); career-high 89% of shots came from deep.
It's easy to cite the becoming-old adage, but you can never have too much shooting. It's worth noting that Ellington isn't just a shooter &mdash; he's a moving target. Because of his understanding of spacing and angles, and his ability to balance himself in the air, he's able to free himself for looks whether a play is called for him or not. He isn't the best&nbsp;movement shooter in the NBA, but he might be my favorite one to watch.&nbsp;
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Ellington is dutiful in his movement patterns. Purposeful. He's someone that defenses have to pay attention to, and I love the way he weaponizes that. There really isn't a system he can't fit in. His shooting and off-ball randomness could add some juice to a contender's attack off the bench, or he could provide much-needed relief for young ball-handlers on rebuilding rosters.
Ideal fits: Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic
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STRAY THOUGHTS 
<ul>
<li>He hasn't been officially bought out yet, but Kemba Walker could be worth having as a veteran presence that can run some pick-and-roll for you. One anonymous executive <a href="https://heavy.com/sports/new-york-knicks/kemba-walker-suns/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently suggested</a> the Suns as a landing spot. A Hornets return would certainly make some sense; that locker room desperately needs veterans.</li>
<li>We have to see what <a href="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/06/13/montrezl-harrell-arrested-on-marijuana-charge-in-kentucky-after-traffic-stop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comes of his court case</a>, but Montrezl Harrell (13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds last season) is still a productive pick-and-roll partner. For a team that can use a roller, he's worth a call.</li>
<li>This has been discussed on The Dunker Spot, but it's wild seeing Dennis Schroder and Eric Bledsoe still on the market. The former had positive moments with the Houston Rockets after the All-Star break last season, while Bledsoe can still generate paint touches and defend at the point of attack pretty well. If either is willing to accept bench roles for the long haul, there's utility present.</li>
</ul>

Following the Nets' reconciliation with Kevin Durant, Nekias Duncan takes a look at some of the NBA free agents left on the board.

With the Kevin Durant saga over for now, who's getting signed?

It looks like all of the drama between Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets is over -- for now.
Nets general manager Sean Marks <a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1562092355754377219" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released a statement on Tuesday morning</a>&nbsp;that following a meeting between himself, team ownership, and coach Steve Nash along with Durant, everyone involved "agreed to move forward with our partnership."
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<a href="https://t.co/wQfhrKqUeM">pic.twitter.com/wQfhrKqUeM</a>
&mdash; Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrooklynNets/status/1562092355754377219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Durant will no longer be part of trade discussions going forward and he enters the first of a four-year contract with the Nets. The team looks strong on paper with the return of Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris coming back from injury, and the addition of T.J. Warren and Ben Simmons who the team traded for last season before the trade deadline. Simmons is progressing from a back injury and is expected to ready to participate in training camp.
&nbsp;

The Brooklyn Nets announced that the team and Kevin Durant have agreed to remain together and the star player will not be traded.

Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant agree to 'continue partnership'

The NBA released its full regular-season schedule Wednesday afternoon, and the collective public had absolutely no idea what games were coming!
*Aggressive winking*
The schedule release announcement had more leaks than a pre-Flex Seal screen boat. Now that the full picture is out in the open, we can break down the marquee matchups of the season and piece together a timeline of games to watch should injuries be avoided and fortune fall our way.
Opening night of the 2022-23 regular season is Oct. 18. It features an Eastern Conference showdown between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET, and kicks off a week where several different squads dot the national TV landscape.
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The first week of the season will feature 11 national television games across three networks, including two doubleheaders each on TNT and ESPN and three games on NBA TV. <a href="https://t.co/O9So5il0Cs">pic.twitter.com/O9So5il0Cs</a>
&mdash; NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1559979736125906944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
We already knew about many of these games, though, and we were already aware of <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2022-nba-christmas-day-schedule-lakers-vs-mavericks-warriors-vs-grizzlies-headline-five-game-holiday-slate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the loaded Christmas Day slate from prior reports</a>. I'm going to gloss over those and highlight some of the more recent takeaways from Wednesday's unveiling.
One of the primary areas of interest with schedule releases is the breakdown of nationally-televised games. Brett Siegel of SI Fastbreak tallied up the <a href="https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak/news/2022-23-nba-schedule-team-by-team-nationally-televised-games-lakers-warriors-nets-knicks-celtics-nba-schedule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national schedules for each team</a>, and I went back to <a href="https://uproxx.com/dimemag/lakers-most-national-tv-games-2021-2022-nba-season-schedule-release/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last year's count from UPROXX's Bill DiFillippo</a> to check out the shifts.
The Memphis Grizzlies have skyrocketed up the league market landscape. They're appearing in 28 national TV games, far more than double the 11 they had in 2021-22. Ja Morant's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ja-morant-has-been-playoffs-most-popular-player-across-nbas-socials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social-media impact is well-documented</a>, and it seems the NBA wants to put him and the exciting young Grizzlies in the spotlight.&nbsp;
Memphis saw the largest bump, but the Minnesota Timberwolves were close behind, quadrupling their national broadcast schedule with 16 games compared to four last season. It's understandable; Minnesota has a walking highlight player in Anthony Edwards, and the franchise made the largest addition to date this summer by trading for Rudy Gobert.
Also on the rise are the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their nine national TV games are small in the grand scheme of the league, but Cleveland only had four such appearances on last season's initial schedule drop and zero outside of NBA TV. This season, the Cavs add three showings on ESPN and two on TNT, and Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-jarrett-allen-qa-cleveland-cavaliers-offseason-basketball-without-borders-asia-camp-evan-mobley-darius-garland-robin-lopez-ricky-rubio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jarrett Allen</a> should make for some electric primetime showcases.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavs</a> have 9 national TV games: - 11/7 at Clippers (NBA TV) - 12/6 vs. Lakers (TNT) - 12/26 vs. Nets (NBA TV) - 2/2/23 vs. Grizzlies (TNT) - 2/10/23 at Pelicans (ESPN) - 3/1/23 at Celtics (ESPN) - 3/10/23 at Heat (NBA TV) - 3/15/23 vs. 76ers (ESPN) - 3/21/23 at Nets (NBA TV) <a href="https://t.co/5bSrq0AqSs">https://t.co/5bSrq0AqSs</a>
&mdash; Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinDavies/status/1559982279912558594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Meanwhile, the New Yorks Knicks' national schedule took a nosedive after they failed to back up a 2021 playoff appearance. New York has just 16 such games on the calendar right now vs. 29 of those contests a year ago. But one broadcast matchup has already captured attention &mdash; a Nov. 15 contest against the Utah Jazz on TNT. What's the implication of this scheduling given the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-jazz-knicks-reengage-in-donovan-mitchell-trade-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">swirling trade rumors around Donovan Mitchell</a>?
Speaking of the Jazz &mdash; Utah won't be on nearly as many screens around the country. The Jazz went from 28 national TV games in 2021-22 to four this upcoming season. Yeesh.
The Golden State Warriors earned a league-high 42 nationally-televised games, beating out the Lakers (39), Celtics (37), 76ers (34) and Phoenix Suns (34). Every team has at least one game on a national cable station this season after four squads were confined to NBA TV last year.
After another frenetic offseason, seeing stars face their former teams always makes for entertainment. Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves host the Jazz on Oct. 21, and they'll travel to Utah for the first time Dec. 9. New Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray will host the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 11 and visits the Lone Star State on March 19.&nbsp;
Folks are still waiting to see Ben Simmons return to Philadelphia (and an NBA court in general). The 76ers and Brooklyn Nets face off several times as divisional opponents: Nov. 22 (at Philly), Jan. 25 (at Philly), Feb. 11 (at Brooklyn) and April 9 (at Brooklyn). Feb. 11 will also mark James Harden's first game on the road against his former team in the Nets.
In a battle of this year's top-two draft picks facing off, Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic will hit the road to take on Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 1, and that game will be televised on TNT.&nbsp;
Lastly, travel is always a key component of understanding the league schedule. Every squad has between 12 and 15 total back-to-back situations this season, and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/nba-schedule-has-less-miles-and-lebron-chasing-more-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">teams will travel about 5% fewer miles than in 2021-22</a>. Here's a team-by-team breakdown from Ed K&uuml;pfer:
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NBA 2022-23: Miles to be traveled by each team <a href="https://t.co/WZ7UuNVlz5">pic.twitter.com/WZ7UuNVlz5</a>
&mdash; Ed K&uuml;pfer (@EdKupfer) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdKupfer/status/1560000305135321090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2022</a></blockquote>

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We still have two months to nitpick these schedules to infinity, but it's a good reminder that the NBA regular season is circling back around at a brisk pace.

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With the NBA releasing its schedule for the upcoming season, Ethan Fuller highlights the most notable matchups and moments.

Takeaways from the NBA's 2022-23 regular-season schedule release

As the Kevin Durant saga reaches its latest chapter, both sides are digging in for what could be an even more drawn-out process. He's already told Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai to either trade him or fire head coach Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks, so his desires to leave Brooklyn are clear.
There's a lack of trust in the organization&rsquo;s direction moving forward, but the Nets already have shown they won&rsquo;t bend to every demand the future Hall-of-Famer makes.
But unless Brooklyn eventually lowers its asking price &mdash; which is presumably what many interested teams are betting on &mdash; there&rsquo;s no reason to believe this process won&rsquo;t drag into the regular season. If so, the next step will be Durant sitting out games away from the team until his next destination is found.
From the beginning, Durant&rsquo;s desired destination was the Phoenix Suns to team up alongside Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Six weeks later, we don&rsquo;t know whether Durant has backed off that stance. If not, that could be the reason why this is dragging out even longer. Phoenix is seemingly falling off many radars, but we shouldn't rule them out of the sweepstakes just yet. Brooklyn holds power, but so does Durant to keep this tug of war going as long as possible.
As the Suns' noise quieted down, new suitors emerged &mdash; the Miami Heat and, most recently, the Celtics. SNY&rsquo;s Ian Begley mentioned the Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers as new choices atop Durant&rsquo;s updated wishlist.
&ldquo;Our front office and coaching staff have my support,&rdquo; Tsai wrote on Twitter in response to his meeting with Durant. &ldquo;We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.&rdquo;
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Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.
&mdash; Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) <a href="https://twitter.com/joetsai1999/status/1556791235427405824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2022</a></blockquote>

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With Tsai picking his side, we'll all wait to see what offers are truly in the best interest of the Nets&rsquo; murky long-term outlook. In the meantime, it&rsquo;s hard not to let the mind wander on what that could entail.
What if the Nets look back upon the Pacers&rsquo; situation with Paul George in 2017, taking the best offer on the table for their disgruntled superstar in a non-preferable destination? While it seems far-fetched, anything at this point seems possible within this ongoing battle at the bargaining table for who gets what in the end.
When it was over, Indiana acquired two blossoming All-Stars in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, even when it felt like leverage wasn&rsquo;t on its side. George wanted to go to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Pacers stood firm on getting a proper return for their star forward.
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Who could come out of nowhere and surprise us all as the Nets' possible trade partner a la the Thunder to the Pacers five years ago? Excluding the known top contenders for now &mdash; Phoenix, Miami, Boston and the Toronto Raptors &mdash; let's try to find a potential team lurking in the shadows who would also check off both parties' boxes.
Philadelphia 76ers
This all comes down to the possibility of including Tyrese Maxey. If you&rsquo;re in the position of Sixers president Daryl Morey, with your chips already all-in on winning a championship with Joel Embiid and James Harden, Durant certainly makes you think for a moment. Knowing Morey&rsquo;s aggressive nature, a blockbuster centered around Maxey for Durant works well within their win-now time frame. The allure of Maxey is there (only 21 years old and blossomed upon Harden&rsquo;s arrival midseason), but this is arguably the greatest three-level scorer ever we&rsquo;re talking about.
Forming a trio consisting of Durant, Embiid and Harden is simply unfathomable to envision. The possibilities are endless, and hopefully the third time would be the charm when it comes to the former Thunder teammates reuniting less than a year removed from their split.
Philadelphia can quickly make salaries work for Durant by adding in Tobias Harris, who reportedly has been on the trading block since Morey&rsquo;s arrival. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Brooklyn&rsquo;s asking price for Boston was a young player on a star trajectory (Jaylen Brown), a solid starter (Marcus Smart), another role player and multiple draft picks. The Sixers check every box in that scenario, which should automatically make them a viable dark-horse candidate.
Would a package centered around Maxey, Harris, Matisse Thybulle and Philadelphia&rsquo;s 2029 first-round pick with little to no protections be enough for the Nets to accept? For the Sixers, there&rsquo;s a real pathway to getting a top spot at the table once the dust settles sometime on Durant.
New Orleans Pelicans
In any superstar-type trade rumor, the Pelicans tend to pop up one way or another because of their newly assembled war chest of assets. Following the Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday trades, New Orleans sits on a treasure trove of draft capital spanning the next five years.
At any point, Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin could decide to cash in on the last piece of the Pelicans&rsquo; puzzle to become the next version of the Suns &mdash; acquiring an established veteran star to take a talented young core over the top. CJ McCollum could qualify as such following the Pelicans&rsquo; deadline move for him, but what if Durant was intrigued enough to play alongside Zion Williamson in the Bayou?
Boston putting a player of Brown&rsquo;s caliber on the table makes this debate even more interesting. In my opinion, Brandon Ingram would be a better return in comparison to Brown for Durant. Both are on the same tier, but Ingram gets the slight edge for me. Witnessing his ascent on the postseason stage, Ingram is poised to take another step forward in his rapidly climbing career.
If the Nets desire a player who meets or exceeds Brown in trade talks, Ingram is the one who'll get the job done. The question in the end, of course, would be Durant&rsquo;s blessing. If Durant doesn&rsquo;t want to play the next four years in New Orleans, these thoughts would quickly dissipate into fantasy.
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However, you can&rsquo;t deny the Pelicans as a legitimate jaw-dropping destination because they have the list all checked off for Brooklyn&rsquo;s needs as well. Ingram is the young star, and Larry Nance Jr. qualifies as the ideal veteran role player. Maybe New Orleans would have to throw in either Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III on top of draft picks too. It's a massive asking price, but one that would be necessary to make something like this go down.
Until the Pelicans eventually cash in on what they've worked so hard to build, they will always be a sneaky contender for any eventual disgruntled superstar. And if the Pelicans rise as expected in 2022-23, they will become a destination anyway for win-now veterans.
Chicago Bulls
Outside of Philadelphia and New Orleans, we now reach the organization that would truly shock everyone. What about the Bulls? Would they be willing to throw an All-NBA player into another superstar deal?
DeMar DeRozan is only 11 months younger than Durant, but he is the best chip they could bring forward to Brooklyn. On top of DeRozan &mdash; whose salary wouldn&rsquo;t be enough in a straight-up swap &mdash; Chicago would presumably include a key piece of its young core. The obvious candidate is Patrick Williams; the former No. 4 overall pick flashed promising two-way potential before sustaining a wrist injury early last season, reentered the fold in late March and became a crucial component in the postseason. Then, Chicago would probably need to throw a solid role player into the mix. Either Lonzo Ball or Alex Caruso fit the Smart type of role we discussed previously.
Although Chicago gutted its draft capital in separate deals for DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, the organization still owns a future pick from the Portland Trail Blazers that could convey as early as next season. The Bulls&rsquo; next eligible draft pick that can be included in a trade is their own 2027 first-round selection.
As I wrote earlier this offseason, the Bulls feel one big splash away from truly taking the next jump in the Eastern Conference. Rudy Gobert made so much sense to complete their defensive overhaul, but Durant represents a roster upgrade of seismic proportions &mdash; a bump that might be necessary to become a Finals contender the next few years. Why not push the chips in and see what happens with Durant and Zach LaVine as a 1-2 punch?
For a team that has to remain in win-now mode because of its draft picks being sent elsewhere, Brooklyn might be intrigued enough to listen to something centered around DeRozan, Williams and other assets.
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Atlanta Hawks
Fresh off making their own blockbuster trade to improve before the new league year, could the Hawks make sense as a Durant out-of-nowhere landing spot? There are very slim odds on that possibility, but it's a scenario worth exploring because Atlanta's roster still feels a move or two away.
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray will bring fireworks to the Hawks' backcourt on a nightly basis, but is the core right now strong enough to take the necessary steps forward in the reloaded East? We know at this point what John Collins and Clint Capela bring to the table. Bogdan Bogdanovic is a solid third guard for Atlanta, but injuries have become a problem as of late.
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Atlanta's young collection of players is what makes this thought interesting, at least for a moment. Would the Nets be intrigued by De'Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu, A.J. Griffin and one of Collins, Capela or Bogdanovic to make salaries match? Compared to the other known suitors and ones already listed, it really isn't in the same stratosphere unless Brooklyn bets big on Hunter taking a huge leap. Based on Hunter's postseason performance, don't rule out the 24-year-old becoming more of a two-way focal point in Atlanta.
It might not be enough to be a real threat to swoop in for Durant, but it'd be wise to keep an eye on the Hawks as we get closer to February's trade deadline. If the Young/Murray backcourt gets off to a hot start, maybe Atlanta will go for broke and decide the time is now for a Finals push.
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee is not a destination market for superstars, but Giannis Antetokounmpo brings enough pull to make it such. Giannis is nowhere close to escaping the prime of his career, but could you imagine him playing next to Durant? My goodness, that's basketball heaven right there.
Before we go too deep down that rabbit hole, though, it feels almost impossible regarding the actual odds of this happening. Not only are the Bucks starved of draft capital because of the Holiday trade, but Brooklyn would need to believe Middleton could replace Durant long-term. Only a few years younger than KD and deserving of a max contract next offseason, it might not make much sense for either side to even explore this potential thought.
For the Bucks to even bring a respectable offer to the table compared to everyone else, they would likely have to include Middleton and Holiday in a massive blockbuster that sends back both Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Yeah, that's for sure fantasy land right there, but I do appreciate the few minutes we had talking about Durant and Giannis playing on the same basketball team.
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With no end in clear sight right, who knows how long this standoff between Durant and the Nets lasts? As time continues to drag on, maybe some front office executives from teams we're not even thinking of decide to call Brooklyn to inquire about an all-time great.
George wanted the Lakers, but he ended up in Oklahoma City. Kawhi Leonard's desired destination was Los Angeles upon asking out of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, but he was sent packing to Toronto instead. There is a precedent where a superstar doesn't get what he wants in the end, but a player of Durant's caliber takes it up a whole new level.
The best interest of the Nets might not be what Durant wants, and vice versa. The next steps are falling into place regarding how this could all end, and a new pseudo deadline of training camp looms around the corner.
Whether Kevin Durant remains in Brooklyn by then remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: The NBA has shown us time and again that anything is possible when it comes to superstar movement.

As the Kevin Durant trade saga reaches six-plus weeks, could teams come out of nowhere in potential negotiations? Evan Sidery dives in.

Identifying 5 sleeper NBA teams to trade for Kevin Durant

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?

Another day, another report regarding the Kevin Durant trade market.
The latest comes from <a href="https://www.sny.tv/articles/sources-kevin-durant-celtics-landing-spot-marcus-smart-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ian Begley of SNY.tv</a> who reports that Durant sees the Boston Celtics as a "desired landing spot" and that Durant would like to play with Marcus Smart. <a href="https://theathletic.com/3446562/2022/07/25/celtics-offer-jaylen-brown-package-for-kevin-durant-the-latest-on-donovan-mitchell-and-more-inside-pass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic reported last month</a> that the Celtics had made the Nets an offer that included Jaylen Brown but that Brooklyn would also want Smart in any potential deal for the 12-time All-Star.
While the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors have been among the teams most linked to a Durant trade, <a href="https://www.sny.tv/articles/sources-kevin-durant-celtics-landing-spot-marcus-smart-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Begley added</a>&nbsp;that the Philadelphia 76ers is another preferred landing spot for Durant and that "there were high-ranking members of the Sixers who&rsquo;ve felt strongly about engaging with Brooklyn on a Durant trade".
Begley suggests that Philly would have to include Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris along with draft picks in any Durant trade.
This latest report comes after word that Durant met with Nets owner Joe Tsai over the weekend and reiterated his trade request while also giving the ultimatum of either trading him or firing head coach Steve Nash and GM Sean Marks.&nbsp;
Tsai tweeted on Monday night: &ldquo;Our front office and coaching staff have my support. We will make decisions in the best interest of the Brooklyn Nets.&rdquo;
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A new report states that Kevin Durant would prefer to be traded to the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers.

Report: Kevin Durant prefers Celtics and Sixers in trade

As we officially put the finishing touches on &ldquo;Bet Week&rdquo; here on BasketballNews.com, NBA over/under win total projections have been released for every team.
Which numbers stand out most to hammer one way or another from a betting perspective? In this piece, I unveil my over/under predictions for every team in the Western Conference. All odds are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Phoenix Suns: Over 52.5 (-110)
Even if the Suns don&rsquo;t acquire Kevin Durant, they remain in an advantageous position to finish near the top of the Western Conference standings. Phoenix still has a stacked rotation, with the biggest difference being Dario Saric&rsquo;s return to the backup big role in place of JaVale McGee. If Devin Booker and the Suns&rsquo; formidable young core continue taking steps forward, it&rsquo;s hard to envision much of a drop-off occurring in the win-loss column.
Phoenix&rsquo;s postseason exit was one of the ugliest we&rsquo;ve seen in recent memory, but a loss like that could rattle this group enough to come back similarly to the team's Finals experience in 2021. I&rsquo;m hammering the over here, as the Suns remain one of the most dangerous squads in the Association. If Durant comes, that&rsquo;ll be the ultimate cherry on top.
Los Angeles Clippers: Over 52.5 (-110)
A fully healthy Clippers squad with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will always stay in the conversation among the league's elite tier. Last season, we were all robbed of seeing this dynamic duo in action together, but all the time off leads me to believe we should see them play more than usual. If so, the over/under of 52.5 wins is one I&rsquo;m comfortable placing the over wager upon.
Los Angeles not only has a loaded rotation similar to Phoenix, but it has a historically potent wing tandem ready to go on a revenge tour. As one of my favorite bets in the West, lock in the Clippers&rsquo; over with the utmost confidence.
Golden State Warriors: Over 51.5 (-115)
The defending champions check in third in the West, which feels like an undersell of what they just accomplished. Stephen Curry is still playing at an all-time level, and Klay Thompson began to find his footing throughout the Warriors&rsquo; run to a championship.
Feeling confident in the over also has to do with the development of the team's younger, up-and-coming players. Though dependent upon how much more Golden State will go into the luxury tax long-term, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins look to be entrenched long-term pieces. Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman are the ultimate wildcards for Golden State. Even if only one takes off from a development perspective in 2022-23, 51.5 wins is a number to hit the over on.
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Denver Nuggets: Over 49.5 (-140)
Nikola Jokic enters this season as a trendy dark-horse selection for MVP as the back-to-back award winner, which is incredible to even think about. The Nuggets have stayed competitive amidst their countless injury issues because of Jokic&rsquo;s greatness.
Now, with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. eventually expected back at 100%, Denver is a team many bettors are hammering the over on with -140 moneyline odds on 49.5 wins. Frankly, I&rsquo;m in lockstep with the sportsbooks because Denver was a team that sneakily improved on the margins this offseason. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was an underrated acquisition from the Washington Wizards, and he&rsquo;s earned a new multi-year extension upon his arrival.
If Murray and Porter&rsquo;s health cooperate alongside the all-world talent that is Jokic, 50 wins for the Nuggets just feels right to say. Even above that mark is an appropriate projection, because Jokic elevates the floor that much on his own.
Memphis Grizzlies: Under 48.5 (+105)
Ja Morant qualified as our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/best-bets-for-202223-nba-most-valuable-player" target="_blank" rel="noopener">under-the-radar MVP selection</a> during &ldquo;Bet Week,&rdquo; but the loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. early on looms large for the Grizzlies. Although he flies under the radar a little bit too often, JJJ is an anchor to a defense that&rsquo;s done a complete 180 over the last year.
A lot will be on the plate of Morant, which he won&rsquo;t have a problem with, but what about the rest of the West? The Clippers and Nuggets are healthy now, plus the Suns and Warriors will remain in the title race as well. If Morant can carry the Grizzlies in similar territory without JJJ, his MVP argument could become very valid.
I&rsquo;m going to tread lightly on Memphis and select the under here with plus-money value. Morant will put up spectacular numbers once more, and Desmond Bane should continue to emerge in the backcourt. For my current projection, the Grizzlies will slot in as a No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Dallas Mavericks: Under 48.5 (-105)
The argument against the Mavericks is almost identical to the one I just presented for Memphis. Luka Doncic enters as the heavy betting favorite for MVP, but will he alone be enough to lift Dallas into truly elite territory? That&rsquo;s one of my biggest questions entering 2022-23, because players like Doncic and Morant fit the billing of talents who can lift teams all on their own.
Months away from it now, it&rsquo;s still stunning to think back to the Mavs&rsquo; Game 7 shellacking of the Suns in the West semifinals. Once Doncic figured out Phoenix&rsquo;s defense, it was game over. Could Doncic do this to the rest of the league? There&rsquo;s no doubt he will put up monster numbers, but the Mavericks fit into the same tier as the Grizzlies right now around 47-48 wins.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 47.5 (-140)
I&rsquo;ll continue to bang the Minnesota drum until proven otherwise because I&rsquo;m all-in on the Timberwolves taking a huge step forward. Anthony Edwards checks every box for a young superstar, and their new addition in Rudy Gobert will augment a talented rotation. Karl-Anthony Towns being flanked by Gobert makes up one of the most unique frontcourt combinations we&rsquo;ve ever seen in the modern NBA, but this type of move is a risk an organization like Minnesota must take. Towns and Edwards are ready to win big soon, so adding an elite rim-protector like Gobert allows those gifted scorers to focus on that end.
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Bookmark this if you want, but here&rsquo;s perhaps my biggest hot take: Minnesota will win the Northwest Division and become a top-four seed. With how everything stacks together for Minnesota, this is a team well-positioned to take a leap similar to the one we&rsquo;ve seen from Phoenix and Memphis in recent years.
Los Angeles Lakers: Under 45.5 (-105)
Unless Kyrie Irving is walking through the door anytime soon, I&rsquo;m taking the money and running as quickly as possible on the Lakers' under here. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will do their usual damage, but this roster is nowhere close to being finished. Also, there&rsquo;s no way anyone can truly believe the Lakers are a Finals contender with their ongoing saga surrounding Russell Westbrook. From the very beginning, Westbrook&rsquo;s fit was super clunky alongside LeBron and AD. Now, the triple-double king continues to be the main target of trade rumors, many of which are linking him to the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs as a pure salary-dump option.
Indiana is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lakers-would-be-foolish-not-to-accept-pacers-lifeline-to-extend-their-title-window" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offering the Lakers a lifeline to fix the Westbrook situation</a>. The Pacers are willing to take on the $47 million owed to Westbrook while also sending Los Angeles back two starters in Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. The current hold-up in trade negotiations reportedly is draft pick compensation. Los Angeles refuses to offer its 2029 first-round pick on top of the 2027 selection, which the Pacers believe is more than a fair price to pay.
In the meantime, I&rsquo;m going to take the Lakers under 45.5 wins while it remains at plus value. Until any resolution is reached on the roster, I&rsquo;m betting against L.A.
New Orleans Pelicans: Over 44.5 (-140)
Compared to almost any other team in the NBA, New Orleans projects supremely well long-term if Zion Williamson&rsquo;s health cooperates. Williamson and Brandon Ingram have each shown on separate occasions they can be the No. 1 option for New Orleans. CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas are ideal veteran pieces in the starting unit as well. Well-balanced on both ends of the court, the Pelicans have completely bought into what head coach Willie Green brought over from Monty Williams in Phoenix.
With Williamson, Ingram and McCollum, the Pelicans should be a team projected closer to 50 wins. I absolutely love the over here on 44.5 wins, so don&rsquo;t be surprised if New Orleans finishes as a playoff lock instead of a Play-In Tournament competitor.
Portland Trail Blazers: Under 40.5 (-110)
Kudos to Damian Lillard because he will not leave the Blazers hanging anytime soon. He&rsquo;s all-in on winning in Portland, which reminds me so much of Reggie Miller with the Pacers a few decades back. Portland re-signed Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons, but two notable splashes occurred this offseason. Jerami Grant is the Blazers&rsquo; first true wing threat in years, and the ultimate wildcard from the 2022 NBA Draft fell into their laps at No. 7 overall. What if Shaedon Sharpe hits his ceiling? That&rsquo;s something Portland has in their back pocket, because Sharpe&rsquo;s scoring prowess forecasts very well alongside Lillard. They'll just have to hope he can get healthy and stay healthy.
The West remains a tough customer though. So, with that being said, the Blazers fall into the category of a feisty team that&rsquo;s competitive most nights on their way to a sub-40-win campaign. It's certainly not the outcome Blazers fans hope for, but there&rsquo;s a large number of teams ahead of them at the moment.
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Sacramento Kings: Over 32.5 (-120)
The Kings actually had a good offseason. Yes, you&rsquo;re reading that right. Keegan Murray at No. 4 overall looks to be a lights-out scorer with an extremely high floor. Ideally, Murray can become the third piece to a long-term trio in Sacramento alongside De&rsquo;Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Also, don&rsquo;t forget about the Kings adding much-needed help on the perimeter with Kevin Huerter via trade and Malik Monk via free agency.
I had to double-take upon finding this fact, but the Kings have only exceeded 33 wins once over the last 14 years (2018-19 was that season).
Luckily for Sacramento, I&rsquo;m projecting them to finish with at least 33 wins for 2022-23. If the Kings underachieve once more, I wonder what the future looks like for an organization that stays in topsy-turvy mode.
Utah Jazz: Under 31.5 (-110)
Assuming Donovan Mitchell is eventually traded, this number will crumble down into the 20s. Utah is in the midst of a full-scale rebuild attempt for the first time in over a decade, and all signs point to Mitchell&rsquo;s exit soon enough from Salt Lake City. Gobert being dealt within the division to Minnesota for a historic amount of draft capital shook up the trade market for good, as it&rsquo;s holding up potential blockbusters revolving around Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Mitchell.
Moving forward, there&rsquo;s no reason why you should feel confident about betting the Utah over unless Mitchell keeps them above water staying around until February. If not, you&rsquo;re putting an awful lot of faith into the hands of Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson to carry the roster. (If they're there.)
The smart route is to go with the under for the Jazz. Lock in with extreme confidence that Jazz executive Danny Ainge eventually tears it all down within a few months.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Under 26.5 (+100)
Until the Thunder stop their tanking ways, I can&rsquo;t willfully bet an over on them. Following their aggressive draft night &mdash; obtaining three lottery picks headlined by No. 2 overall selection Chet Holmgren, who many viewed as the best overall player &mdash; maybe that "tanking" buzzword is in their rearview mirror.
OKC&rsquo;s roster is young, but the talent screams out as a team that could propel itself forward in a huge manner. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey profile as a super fun long-term backcourt pairing. Luguentz Dort is a pitbull defender who continues to improve his outside shot, which earned him a lucrative five-year extension.
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The Thunder could easily make me look foolish selecting the under, but something along the lines of 25 or 26 wins feels spot on. Can Sam Presti resist the temptation of not tanking for Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson in 2023?
Houston Rockets: Over 23.5 (-125)
The Rockets have one of the most interesting young cores to monitor heading into next season. Jalen Green began to turn the corner over the last month of the season, averaging 22.3 points on a 59.9% True Shooting percentage. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston&rsquo;s No. 3 overall selection from the 2022 draft, projects as a score-first wing/big hybrid who should excel alongside Green and Kevin Porter Jr. Alperen Sengun, a throwback Turkish big man, is an underrated prospect with an unlimited ceiling once the small aspects of his game are figured out.
Houston is nowhere close to being competitive, but that&rsquo;s totally okay. The team controls the Brooklyn Nets&rsquo; draft for the next season years, so the Rockets are set up arguably as well as anyone right now with the chaos surrounding that whole situation. If the youth jells together and the organization obtains another top pick in next year&rsquo;s draft, be on the lookout for this core to ascend.
For the over/under, 23.5 wins feels a little low, in my opinion. I&rsquo;m projecting the Rockets with 25 victories, so give me the over at -125 odds on DraftKings.
San Antonio Spurs: Under 22.5 (-110)
Once Dejounte Murray was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, it sounded the alarm that the Spurs are finally waiving the white flag on competing for wins effective immediately. San Antonio obtained three future first-round picks for Murray, a haul for a team pressing the reset button at the perfect time.
Las Vegas projects the Spurs with the worst over/under for next season, and there&rsquo;s no real reason to go against them there. Keldon Johnson will put up numbers following his long-term extension, but inexperience is the main theme for San Antonio. The Spurs should be on their way to 20 wins or less, so hammer the under.

Evan Sidery goes over win totals for the Western Conference. Who stands out?

Best Bets: NBA Western Conference over/under projections

As we begin to officially put the finishing touches on &ldquo;Bet Week&rdquo; here on BasketballNews.com, NBA over/under win total projections have been released for every team.
Which numbers stand out most to hammer one way or another from a betting perspective? In this piece, I unveil my over/under predictions for every team in the Eastern Conference. All odds are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Boston Celtics: Over 54.5 (-130)
The defending Eastern Conference champions headline the best win total of any team in the league on DraftKings, checking in at an impressive 54.5 projected wins. Boston not only improved its roster following a Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors, but the team added some real contributors who will hold immense value with Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari. Also, Robert Williams staying healthy all season long would be a huge boost for an already elite defensive unit.
We&rsquo;re hammering the over here because the Celtics have all the necessary ingredients in place to finish with 55 or more wins. Not only can their rotation easily go 10 players deep, but Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are two dynamic stars at the most important position on the court. Even if the Celtics were to swing a jaw-dropping trade sending out Brown for Kevin Durant, this team should be in a magnificent spot to hit this projected mark with ease.
Milwaukee Bucks: Over 52.5 (-115)
It&rsquo;s never wise to bet against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. More often than not, they always hit their overs when the roster is fully cooperating from a health perspective. Giannis is a player I&rsquo;ve highlighted over the last week who is in prime position to make a serious push for multiple awards like Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. If that indeed comes to fruition and Giannis sets a rampage throughout the NBA, Milwaukee will be one of the most dangerous teams entering postseason play.
The Bucks&rsquo; team-building job is a lot easier with Giannis onboard, but Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are bona fide sub-stars who showed their true value during the team's 2020-21 title run. Also, re-signing Bobby Portis to a long-term deal was huge for the Bucks because he fits so well alongside Giannis as their complimentary stretch big.
Once more, I love the over to hit here at -115 odds on DraftKings. If Giannis stays healthy, the Bucks should cruise to 50-plus wins while posing a real threat to upend Boston atop the East standings.
Philadelphia 76ers: Over 49.5 (-140)
Joel Embiid and James Harden joining forces was always Daryl Morey&rsquo;s dream vision in Philadelphia. Following a rough and quick postseason exit, it feels like the light finally turned on for good with Harden. All offseason long, Harden has reportedly stayed in shape while re-signing a team-friendly, one-plus-one contract, and two of his former teammates in Houston have joined the fray.
The Sixers signing PJ Tucker, albeit at age-37, is a massive move to bring aboard much-needed physical toughness to a roster sorely lacking it. Danuel House Jr. will also provide some two-way versatility off Philadelphia&rsquo;s bench. Also, the draft night trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for De&rsquo;Anthony Melton continues to be overlooked. Arguably the perfect complementary third guard to place alongside Harden and Tyrese Maxey, Melton should thrive within this role, as he mastered it next to Ja Morant.
Health is a huge question mark when examining the long-term gains of this over/under of 49.5. Will Embiid play most of the season? If so, this is another simple nod to the over. However, with an already deep history of injuries, tread lightly here on Philadelphia. Rolling the dice, I&rsquo;m taking the over while praying Embiid puts together another fully dominant campaign.
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Miami Heat: Over 48.5 (-125)
As always, the Heat are flying under the radar entering another season. It was an offseason filled with little to no activity for Miami outside of re-signing Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin. Plus, they seem like massive long shots to ever enter the potential trade race for Durant after originally being a preferred destination alongside the Phoenix Suns.
Miami is returning a loaded rotation, although losing Tucker to a conference rival will sting a little bit. This is an over/under bet where you simply trust the system in place. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are top-30 players in the Association. Tyler Herro is an emerging young star who is the betting favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year in consecutive seasons. Erik Spoelstra remains one of the game&rsquo;s elite-tier tacticians too.
Add it all together, and Miami should flirt with a 50-win season in 2022-23. Trust the process and &ldquo;Heat Culture&rdquo; for the team to slide its way into a top-three seed in the East.
Atlanta Hawks: Under 46.5 (-105)
What a splashy offseason it was for Atlanta following its embarrassing postseason exit at the hands of Miami. The Heat exposed the Hawks&rsquo; lack of ball-handling help to take pressure off superstar point guard Trae Young. Now, with an all-in move for Dejounte Murray, Atlanta wants to surge up the East ladder. Can the Hawks recapture the 2020-21 magic with an All-Star backcourt pairing? Paying the heavy price the team did for Murray, Atlanta better hope this meshes as well as it looks on-paper.
For our projection, though, we&rsquo;re going with the under at a slight underdog value at -105. Similarly to the Western Conference, the East is setting up to be a war, so the top eight could all be mixed together by season&rsquo;s end. Teams such as Atlanta could be the prime example here, because 46.5 wins truly feels right on the money. In the end, a 45 or 46-win season for the Hawks would be a success, while also cashing plus money for those who bet the under.
Brooklyn Nets: Under 45.5 (-105)
I truly have no clue how this team should be viewed right now. With Kevin Durant still holding firm on his trade request, the 45.5 number here just feels like too much. If Durant is off the Nets anytime soon, Kyrie Irving would probably soon follow him out. It&rsquo;s a ticking time bomb right now, so avoiding this bet entirely is the smartest play possible.
Brooklyn did a fantastic job outside of the Durant and Irving fiasco to add more depth to a team ready to push for a title. However, because of all the uncertainty, getting the under on 45.5 wins at plus money odds is simply too good to pass up.
Toronto Raptors: Over 45.5 (-110)
One of my favorite teams projected to take a massive leap forward in 2022-23, the Raptors finished the regular season off strong before their postseason exit against Philadelphia. Scottie Barnes established himself as a true building block. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are entrenched core pieces. With OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. as the team's fourth and fifth-best players, it goes to show how loaded Toronto can become. The Raptors added more depth and remain a top contender to secure Durant&rsquo;s services, if the Nets indeed decide to trade him.
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Whether Durant comes to Canada or not, I absolutely love the Raptors as a team who should be pushing closer to 50 wins compared to 40. Hammer the Raptors over here to oblivion as they establish themselves as a real Finals threat this season.
Chicago Bulls: Under 43.5 (+100)
As I wrote earlier this offseason, Rudy Gobert felt like the missing piece to the puzzle for the Bulls to become a real threat in the East long-term. Now, with Gobert on the Minnesota Timberwolves, where does Chicago realistically go to pivot? It&rsquo;s hard to see a clear answer right now, which is concerning over an extended window. The Bulls backed up the Brink&rsquo;s truck for Zach LaVine, who definitely deserved the lucrative payday. LaVine and DeMar DeRozan form a dynamic scoring combination, but who else can help take this team into another tier?
Patrick Williams is a potential name to watch develop, but the real questions loom in the backcourt, for me. Goran Dragic signing in Chicago was very interesting, because the team already has a glut of guards on its roster: Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry. With Ball&rsquo;s shoulder sidelining him last season, how concerning is that moving forward? For those wanting to monitor the betting lines for Chicago, Ball is an underrated piece to its early-season success as a connective two-way presence.
With the East even tougher, plus some looming concerns in the short and long-term view, I&rsquo;m hammering +100 value on the Bulls to finish as a Play-In Tournament team vs. being a playoff lock.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 42.5 (-135)
Similarly to Toronto, this is another squad I'll love to slam the over on. The 42.5-win number here is too small for Cleveland, especially with its young core jelling together even further. Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen make up one of my favorite young trios in the Association, and I&rsquo;m betting big on the three taking another huge step forward.
Don&rsquo;t forget, the Cavaliers were rolling before injuries to countless rotation members begin to be too much to overcome. Caris LeVert, a midseason acquisition, should look much more comfortable in J.B. Bickerstaff&rsquo;s system. Collin Sexton&rsquo;s status remains unclear, but he&rsquo;s a spark-plug scorer who would take immediate pressure off Garland.
Las Vegas is leaning towards projecting the Cavs as a playoff team, and I&rsquo;m siding with them as well.
New York Knicks: Over 39.5 (-110)
Just like their cross-town rivals in the Nets, betting on a Knicks over/under win total right now isn&rsquo;t smart. Wait to see how the dust settles for Donovan Mitchell in Utah first before deciding upon any Knicks-related props.
However, for my projection on Aug. 8, I&rsquo;m betting on Mitchell to eventually land in New York before the regular season begins. With Mitchell, New York feels like a real playoff contender. However, even after signing Jalen Brunson, this Knicks team feels rather incomplete compared to other squads.
This one is simple: If Mitchell arrives, it&rsquo;s a yes on the over. If not, stay away and hit the under instead.
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Charlotte Hornets: Under 36.5 (-105)
Here's another organization that feels incomplete at the moment, especially with the ongoing legal situation surrounding Miles Bridges. As currently constructed, the up-and-coming Hornets feel further away than they did last season. Although Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier are solid veterans for Charlotte, I don&rsquo;t put them on the same tier as the Cavaliers or Knicks. LaMelo Ball is approaching full-blown superstardom, but who else around him will be able to help consistently? This may be a hot take, but it might be in the Hornets&rsquo; best interest to bottom out for a year hoping to land a top pick for a stacked 2023 NBA Draft.
If there&rsquo;s one team poised to regress from Play-In contender to lottery team, Charlotte certainly stands out, and I&rsquo;ll take the under at plus value.
Washington Wizards: Under 35.5 (-115)
Are the Wizards in win-now mode? It certainly seems that way after Bradley Beal signed the dotted line on a supermax deal. The time to put together a winner in D.C. is throughout Beal&rsquo;s hefty contract, but this team still isn&rsquo;t close to being a real threat. In my opinion, Washington continues to stand out as the premiere &ldquo;blow it up&rdquo; squad because of Beal&rsquo;s uncertain status. Now, with a no-trade clause, Beal pretty much runs the entire show now.
Washington added a starting point guard in Monte Morris, but that&rsquo;s not enough to really make a sizable improvement unless Beal bounces-back with authority. The team's young players also need to take much-needed steps forward. At this moment, I&rsquo;m betting against all of that occurring next season. As a slight favorite, feel comfortable selecting the under on the Wizards.
Detroit Pistons: Under 28.5 (-105)
It&rsquo;s hard to argue against the Pistons possessing one of the most promising young cores in the East. Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren are ideal pieces to put alongside former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, who began to flash superstar potential during the second half of his rookie season.
While the Pistons added foundational pillars this offseason, the team is still ripe with inexperience. The rebuild remains ongoing in Detroit, but the exit signs are approaching. In the meantime, the young core is prioritized over wins this upcoming season.
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Although a 30-win campaign sounds fun, another top selection in 2023 could really take this team to heights it hasn't experienced in decades. Bet on the under here, especially as the tank race hits overdrive post-All-Star break.
Orlando Magic: Over 26.5 (-120)
Paolo Banchero brings an alpha mentality that&rsquo;s been missing forever in Orlando. The No. 1 pick has the ultimate runway to produce immediately, which is why he&rsquo;s the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/best-bets-on-202223-nba-rookie-of-the-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year</a>. Banchero could be a 20-plus point scorer right away, but don&rsquo;t forget about some other enticing young talent in Orlando. Franz Wagner established himself as a core piece, producing excellent all-around numbers. Wendell Carter Jr. is a double-double machine with playmaking chops for a big man. Jalen Suggs hit the rookie wall, but if he can round into form it'll add another aggressive scorer to the equation. Plus, there's the returning Markelle Fultz as well.
Orlando owns one of the youngest rosters in the NBA, but it consistently showed heart by keeping a lot of games close. If Banchero&rsquo;s adjustment is smooth, I actually like betting the favorite option here on the over. Something along the lines of a 27-55 season feels spot-on for Orlando.
Indiana Pacers: Under 24.5 (-115)
Rounding out the East&rsquo;s over/unders list is the Pacers, who are now creating a noticeable difference at the bottom. With two games separating Indiana from Orlando, it shows how little faith Vegas has in this team winning a lot of games next season.
Tyrese Haliburton is the face of the franchise in Indiana now, as the team begins a rebuild over 30 years in the making. Bennedict Mathurin, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, brings a score-first approach that should mesh seamlessly in the backcourt next to Haliburton. Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith are two young bigs who have flashed two-way potential in addition.
Outside of that, trade rumors are the main subject ongoing in Indiana. According to The Athletic&rsquo;s Bob Kravitz, Indiana would prefer to trade Myles Turner and Buddy Hield this offseason. Neither player fits the organization&rsquo;s new timeline, and the Pacers should be able to fetch some real value in return.
Indiana is a team that really stands out as a prime contender to enter a full-on tank. For an organization that has never drafted No. 1, it would change everything for the Pacers to have some good fortune. Finally embracing a rebuild, maybe lady luck is finally on their side for good.
With that being said, my most confident play is the Pacers under 24.5 wins cashing.

Evan Sidery goes over win totals for the Eastern Conference. Who stands out?

Best Bets: NBA Eastern Conference over/under projections

The Boston Celtics have emerged as a possible landing spot for Kevin Durant and they've been in "regular contact" with the Brooklyn Nets, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34291954/boston-celtics-teams-engage-talks-brooklyn-nets-possible-kevin-durant-deal-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski</a>.
The Celtics are the latest team to the join the Durant sweepstakes, joining the Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat.
Wojnarowski notes that there hasn't been any traction toward a deal, mainly because the Nets continue to ask for an unprecedented haul that could include "multiple unprotected first-round picks, pick swaps and impactful players."&nbsp;
While the Celtics have made Jayson Tatum untouchable in all trade talks, Wojnarowski <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34291954/boston-celtics-teams-engage-talks-brooklyn-nets-possible-kevin-durant-deal-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writes</a> that "Boston's ability to include All-Star forward Jaylen Brown as a centerpiece in offers does help to make the team formidable in its pursuit."&nbsp;
It remains to be seen if Boston is willing to deal Brown. If they are, the Celtics may have the best offer on the table.
"Boston is able to construct a package for Durant that could include Brown and as many as three unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027 and 2029) &mdash; and two pick swaps (2024 and 2026)," Wojnarowski <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34291954/boston-celtics-teams-engage-talks-brooklyn-nets-possible-kevin-durant-deal-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writes</a>.
Last season, the Celtics won 51 games and advanced to the NBA Finals (after sweeping Durant and the Nets in the first round). Boston came two wins short of a championship, losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Brad Stevens has <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/brad-stevens-deserves-massive-credit-for-the-celtics-success" target="_blank" rel="noopener">done an incredible job</a> since taking over as the Celtics' president of basketball operations. This offseason, Boston has been aggressive &mdash; <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-offseason-news-boston-celtics-malcolm-brogdon-fit-brad-stevens-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trading for Malcolm Brogdon</a> and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-offseason-news-signing-danilo-gallinari-fit-boston-celtics-brad-stevens-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-ime-udoka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signing Danilo Gallinari</a>.
Durant requested a trade on June 30, but the Nets haven't been in any rush to move KD or Kyrie Irving. Some NBA executives believe Durant and Irving may still be in Brooklyn when the 2022-23 season starts.

The Celtics have reportedly emerged as a possible landing spot for Kevin Durant, and they've been in "regular contact" with the Nets.

Report: Celtics emerge as possible trade suitor for Kevin Durant

LeBron James has once again caused a stir throughout the sports world.
No, I&rsquo;m not talking about his 42-point performance at The Drew League, or the rumors of him being in favor of a reunion with Kyrie Irving with the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead, I'm referencing the apparent outrage he caused for the city of Boston and its sports fan base
During the most recent episode of UNINTERRUPTED&rsquo;s The Shop, LeBron was asked, &ldquo;Why do you hate Boston?&rdquo; He responded, &ldquo;Because they&rsquo;re racist as f**k."
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Upon hearing news of LeBron&rsquo;s statement, many people didn&rsquo;t exactly consider this &ldquo;breaking news," as Boston has historically had a rich history of being exactly what LeBron described. However, there were a large amount of Boston fans who took to social media to take exception to LeBron&rsquo;s generalization of the entire city. But was he wrong?
You don&rsquo;t have to get Dr. Emmett Brown to fire up his <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjhoPPz5YL5AhUDhIkEHS9JCd4QwqsBegQIAxAB&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DI5cYgRnfFDA&amp;usg=AOvVaw3yzsh2Y3Z5nk0s22_1_2pU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DeLorean time machine with the 1.21 gigawatts</a> to revisit the 1960s, as Bill Russell has long described his racist encounters with Boston fans. And over time, plenty of professional athletes from every sport have made their racist encounters in Boston publicly known.&nbsp;
Let's look at some of those examples.
In his rookie season with the Celtics, Dee Brown was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/a34620ecfa0605c35908d7f1b858b427" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physically snatched out of his car and ordered to lay on the ground with a gun pointed at him by Boston police</a> while driving in a white neighborhood. The police later claimed that he &ldquo;resembled a suspect."
This falls right in line with <a href="https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/06/12/black-people-made-up-70-percent-of-boston-police-stops-department-data-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent data collected from the Boston Police Department</a> in June 2020. It unveiled that "70% of people stopped by Boston police officers through the department&rsquo;s 'Field Interrogation and Observation' program throughout were Black &mdash; even though Black residents comprise less than one quarter of the city&rsquo;s population."
In May 2014, Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban of the National Hockey League was vocal about <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/news/habs-bruins-denounce-fans-who-made-racist-comments-towards-subban-on-social-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">racist tweets and comments from Boston fans on social media</a> after his double-overtime game-winning goal in a playoff win over the Bruins. This wasn&rsquo;t a case of fans simply being upset that their team lost; these were racial epithets being specifically targeted against a Black player.
Over in Major League Baseball, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones told reporters in May 2017 that Boston fans <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/05/01/orioles-adam-jones-berated-racist-taunts-fenway-park-peanuts/101187172/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hurled racial epithets at him for an entire game</a>.
&ldquo;A disrespectful fan threw a bag of peanuts at me,&rdquo; Jones said via <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/05/01/orioles-adam-jones-berated-racist-taunts-fenway-park-peanuts/101187172/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA Today&rsquo;s Bob Nightengale</a>. &ldquo;I was called the N-word a handful of times tonight. It&rsquo;s unfortunate that people need to resort to those type of epithets to degrade another human being. I&rsquo;m trying to make a living for myself and for my family.&rdquo;
Former Celtic and current Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has been vocal about various encounters he has had with the fans of Boston. Irving didn&rsquo;t give any specific examples to reporters, but rather imported fans at TD Gardens to keep it &ldquo;strictly basketball."
Further, Celtics guard Marcus Smart seemingly supported Irving&rsquo;s comments. Back in October 2020, he <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/marcus-smart-nba-boston-celtics-covid-racial-injustice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">penned an article for The Players' Tribune</a>, detailing an encounter with a white woman in Boston.
Smart wrote about a time he attempted to be a good Samaritan and told a white woman, who was actually wearing a Celtics jersey, to be careful walking in the street as she was in the direct line of oncoming traffic. Instead of thanking him, the woman turned around and hurled a racial epithet directly at Smart.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve heard a couple of them,&rdquo; Smart <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj66pnd9IL5AhXskIkEHX_ECb0QtwJ6BAgcEAI&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DyE0VVQova78&amp;usg=AOvVaw0jg8MlJ31eU3VDMJsz0FAs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in the middle of the Celtics-Nets playoff series in May 2021</a>. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s kind of sad and sickening because even though it&rsquo;s an opposing team, we have guys on your home team that you&rsquo;re saying these racial slurs and you&rsquo;re expecting us to go out there and play for you.&rdquo;
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So to those who were unaware, yes, racism is definitely alive and thriving in the city of Boston &mdash; but is it fair to label the entire city of Boston as racist?&nbsp;
I interviewed Celtics legend Bill Russell for <a href="http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/we-matter-athletes-and-activism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my book</a>, "We Matter: Athletes And Activism," to try to answer that question, and this is what he told me:
"Well, one thing you have to always remember is that the majority of the country are decent folks. The majority of white people are decent folks. And I was always very careful not to stereotype people based on the actions of a few, or a little more than a few, as was the case in Boston," Russell said. "... A lot of the stuff that went on, I knew they were individual acts and not a reflection of everybody in Boston. I see many people today who who really believe that Black folks are responsible for all of the actions of other Black folks, and that&rsquo;s just ridiculous. And it&rsquo;s just as crazy for me to think that all white people were responsible for the ones that treated me and my family so poorly, broke into my house and destroyed my property for no reason at all...
"But just because I said that I don&rsquo;t put all white people in the same boat doesn&rsquo;t mean I don&rsquo;t still recognize that too many white people looked at me as less than, and no matter what they thought, I wasn&rsquo;t about to allow them to treat me as less than."
Powerful words by a giant in NBA history and one of the great athlete-activists the game has ever seen.&nbsp;
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown has addressed Irving&rsquo;s comments as well, but also brought light to the fact that racism extends far beyond the borders of athletics in Boston. During Brown&rsquo;s media availability prior to Game 3 against Brooklyn in May 2021, he <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31529162/boston-celtics-jaylen-brown-spotlights-systematic-racism-says-bigger-basketball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke about systemic racism in the city of Boston and, to Russell&rsquo;s point, that every Boston fan isn&rsquo;t racist</a>.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think we should have to put up with that, and I don&rsquo;t think that&rsquo;s okay," Brown said. "I think that racism should be addressed, and systemic racism should be addressed in the city of Boston and also the United States... The constructs of racism in our school system, inequality in education, lack of opportunity, lack of affordable housing, lack of affordable health care, tokenism &mdash; the list goes on.
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&ldquo;I know that every Celtics fan in our arena is not a racist. We have people of all walks of life, ethnicities, colors, that are die-hard Celtics fans. So I think painting every Celtics fan as a racist would be unfair. However, Boston, we&rsquo;ve got a lot of work to do, no question.&rdquo;
So, in conclusion, yes, Boston has a very long history &mdash; past and present &mdash; when it comes to racism, but it&rsquo;s not everybody.
Hopefully, the non-racist white people of Boston will be inspired to prove LeBron wrong, displaying the moral courage and feeling obligated to no longer remain silent in the face of being surrounded by prevalent racism (both systemically and on a personal level, such as Boston fans yelling racial epithets at players).
Hopefully, the non-racist white people of Boston will become agents of change, equality, justice and unity.
As Angela Davis said, &ldquo;In a racist society, it&rsquo;s not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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Etan Thomas reacts to LeBron James' latest comments on "The Shop" about city of Boston and its sports fan base.

LeBron isn’t wrong about Boston fans' racist history — past or present

Who is poised to become a free agent next offseason? Here’s a look at the top 40 NBA players who could be available next summer.

2023 NBA Free Agency: Looking ahead to next summer's free-agent class

Restricted free agency can be a frustrating process for players, and Deandre Ayton is currently experiencing that firsthand. As Ayton continues to sit on the open market, his destination is seemingly tied to the ongoing Kevin Durant saga. Hours before the free-agency moratorium period began last week, Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, and the Phoenix Suns are reportedly atop his wish list.
Over the last 48 hours, the Suns have been the most active team in free agency, agreeing to terms with four minimum-salary players: Bismack Biyombo, Damion Lee, Jock Landale and Josh Okogie. Phoenix seems to be focusing on the bottom of its roster and preparing for substantial changes &mdash; regardless of whether the team acquires Durant.
Finding a sign-and-trade partner for Ayton sits atop the Suns' to-do list, as this could determine whether they land one of the greatest scorers in NBA history in Durant. Phoenix is currently the betting favorite to acquire Durant, but since Brooklyn reportedly has no interest in Ayton, the Suns must try to find a third team to help facilitate a deal, or flip their center for additional pieces that they can send to Brooklyn. It's worth noting that Ayton must agree to any sign-and-trade deal (giving him a lot of power in this situation).
It seems Ayton doesn't have a tangible market right now, which is truly surprising. Restricted free agency usually bogs down the bidders, but you'd think a player of Ayton&rsquo;s caliber would have multiple interested teams pursuing him. However, it's fair to wonder whether a robust market for Ayton ever existed.
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The Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs have been speculated as potential destinations, but it remains to be seen if either team has a real interest in Ayton. Both teams are entering a rebuild, and it's unclear if they're open to paying Ayton a max or near-max salary. Also, Indiana loves its young big-man duo of Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson (which is why the organization is making Myles Turner available in trade talks), while San Antonio has Jakob Poeltl manning the middle.
As the market begins to shift, let&rsquo;s look at which teams could still be an option for Ayton.&nbsp;
TORONTO RAPTORS
Toronto has been gaining steam in the betting odds for Durant over the last 48 hours, somehow jumping from +3500 to +250. It's no surprise that Masai Ujiri is trying to bring Durant to Toronto, but if he can't land KD, could Ayton be the Raptors' consolation prize? A three-team trade involving the Suns, Raptors and Nets could make an awful lot of sense for all sides.
It&rsquo;s well-known that the Raptors need a long-term answer at center. Ayton, the former No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, could be the perfect high-upside swing from Ujiri and Co. Placing Ayton alongside Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Fred VanVleet and either OG Anunoby or Gary Trent Jr. would give Toronto a very dangerous lineup in the Eastern Conference. And at this point, the Raptors could swoop in to land Ayton for way cheaper than expected if they were to help facilitate a Durant-to-the-Suns trade, which is reportedly KD's preferred outcome.
Crafting an Ayton-to-Toronto trade isn't too difficult. Trent or Anunoby would be the centerpiece with any small expiring salaries needed to make it happen. Also, the Raptors being able to snag Ayton for one player and perhaps a future pick is a home-run scenario.
Working with the Raptors&rsquo; player development program, Ayton would be in the perfect spot to reach his sky-high ceiling; that goes without mentioning that Deandre playing next to Siakam and Barnes in the frontcourt is a dream fit for all involved. You want the perfect defensive trio to stop superstars like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo? Look no further than Ayton, Siakam and Barnes.
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Ayton in Toronto can only happen if the Raptors are willing to part with Trent or Anunoby. If not, this is likely a non-starter in negotations unless they are willing to give up multiple future first-round picks and expiring salaries to help faciliate Durant to Phoenix. Maybe even young big man Precious Achiuwa could intrigue Brooklyn or Phoenix enough with the right amount of draft capital attached.
Don't rule out the Raptors being a sneaky candidate to swoop in for Ayton because their front office is known to move in silence with no leaks in advance of massive moves.
ATLANTA HAWKS 
The Hawks already pushed the chips all-in with the acquisition of Dejounte Murray, but could they be looming as a potential destination for Ayton? If you add up the pieces for the win-now Hawks, it makes a lot of sense. Adding Ayton into the Hawks&rsquo; ecosystem is a sure-fire bet to give this team legitimate NBA Finals aspirations.
A new big three in Atlanta consisting of Young, Murray and Ayton would make for nightly fireworks on the court; plus, it&rsquo;s a stable, All-Star-level foundation with youth that could grow together on the same timeline for years to come.
Atlanta also stands out as a strong Ayton suitor because of its available assets, even after coughing up draft picks to the Spurs for Murray. Clint Capela is an obvious candidate to be moved in any Ayton deal due to his salary and position. Atlanta also has other salaries that can work in multi-team frameworks such as the often-rumored John Collins as well as Bogdan Bogdanovic. And don't forget about the Hawks' underrated core of young talent: De'Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu, AJ Griffin and Jalen Johnson.
It's unlikely that the Hawks would make Hunter or Okongwu available for Ayton, but what about their recent first-round pick in Griffin? That's where it gets interesting, because a piece like Griffin can help accelerate a potential three-team deal between Phoenix, Brooklyn and Atlanta where the end result ultimately lands Durant alongside Booker.
The Hawks have extinguished most of their future assets for Murray, but they still have enough wiggle room to make another big splash. Ayton could be the final missing piece for Atlanta to become a real Finals competitor as early as next season. In addition, this would help the Suns land their ultimate prize.
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UTAH JAZZ
This was a surprise team that reportedly checked in on Ayton last week, according to Arizona Sports&rsquo; John Gambadoro. Shipping out Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves brought back an enormous return of draft capital, including three future unprotected first-round picks. As the Jazz aim to retool around Donovan Mitchell, Ayton actually checks a lot of boxes for them. Not only would he cost around $20 million less than Gobert annually, especially down the line, but Ayton is also on the same timeline as Utah's superstar shooting guard.
In order to appease Mitchell and prevent a trade request down the line, would someone like Ayton be a worthy gamble on a discount? Honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Assuming the Jazz send out more veterans and prioritize a youth movement around Mitchell in the short-term, they may very well become a real contender for Ayton out of nowhere.
Diving in deeper, Utah has the perfect amount of assets to sneakily make its move for Ayton. Bojan Bogdanovic's $19 million expiring salary is already enough to almost make salaries work. Throw in Jordan Clarkson, who no longer fits Utah's timeline and would be a huge bench upgrade for Phoenix, and that's where this gets serious. The Jazz also now have extreme amounts of draft artillery thanks to the Gobert trade pulled off last week by Danny Ainge.
Going off the assumption that Ayton will no longer be receiving a max-contract offer, Utah could quickly match the Suns' win-now timeline returning Bogdanovic, Clarkson and picks in exchange for Ayton. Those picks, alongside Bogdanovic's expiring deal in turn, could be flipped to the Nets in a three-team deal that lands Durant in the Valley.
For fun, here's a possible three-team trade involving the Suns, Jazz and Nets &mdash; a template where each side can say they exited in a better spot.
Nets receive: Mikal Bridges, Bojan Bogdanovic, Torrey Craig, Cameron Payne, 2023 first-round pick (via Suns), 2023 first-rounder (via Jazz), 2025 first-rounder (via Timberwolves), 2025 first-rounder (via Suns), 2027 first-rounder (via Suns), 2029 first-rounder (via Suns), rights to swap firsts in 2024, 2026, 2028 with Suns
Jazz receive: Deandre Ayton (four-year, $110 million sign-and-trade), Jae Crowder
Suns receive: Kevin Durant, Jordan Clarkson
Again, the Nets would secure a foundational building block with immense two-way upside in Bridges. Also, the $19 million expiring contract for Bogdanovic could be a huge trade chip for the Nets with their replenished box of assets.
Utah&rsquo;s added draft compensation via the Timberwolves helps facilitate this deal for Brooklyn and Phoenix, and it makes a strong return for the Jazz in the process. Crowder would immediately takes Bogdanovic&rsquo;s role in the rotation, as would Ayton for Gobert. Losing Clarkson is a tough pill to swallow for the Jazz, but if he were to be the price to pay for a former No. 1 pick, it&rsquo;d certainly be worth it.
Phoenix and Durant get their way in the end, and Clarkson&rsquo;s addition is the perfect cherry on top of a historic trade for the organization. Right off the bat, Clarkson could become the Suns&rsquo; sixth man and solidifiy their overall depth issues if this trade were to occur.
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It's rare to see the market swing the opposite direction so quickly, but that seems to be what's happening in real time with Ayton. The longer Ayton continues to sit out on the open market, the better the Suns' chances of acquiring Durant are.
As free agency has come to a screeching halt over the last few days due to the looming situation with Durant and the Nets, everyone is waiting for the domino to finally fall. Will Durant get his way and end up alongside Devin Booker and Chris Paul in Phoenix? That remains to be seen, but the exercise above really does show the Suns will have to get creative in order to get it done.
Deandre Ayton was the Suns&rsquo; first No. 1 overall pick in franchise history, and now he&rsquo;s the deciding factor to whether Kevin Durant eventually takes his spot as the final piece to their championship puzzle.

Evan Sidery explains how Deandre Ayton could assist the Suns in a Kevin Durant trade offer and outlines several destinations for Ayton.

How Deandre Ayton holds the key to the Suns acquiring Kevin Durant

Over the past few years, nobody has been more vocal about Kyrie Irving than Stephen A. Smith.
&ldquo;Kyrie Irving is saying basketball is not a priority to me&hellip;..Kyrie Irving until you want to play, you should retire," Smith <a href="https://youtu.be/z81VQBtWnYU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said on ESPN's First Take on Jan. 13, 2021</a>. "Forfeit every penny you make, retire and go do what you wanna do in regard to these issues that are clearly most important to you.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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&ldquo;We are witnessing one of the most delusional athletes in American history," Smith doubled down on April 29. "He&rsquo;s lost&hellip;What it comes down to Kyrie is you don&rsquo;t want to show up to work. You wanna do what you wanna do, when you wanna do it, how you wanna do it, and then you have your hand out for somebody else&rsquo;s money."
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These takes &mdash; which have been repeatedly expressed by Stephen A. and those of his ilk for the past few years &mdash; have sparked a nationwide demonization of Kyrie Irving.&nbsp;
To debate this and the ongoing rift between the NBA players and the media, I sat down with two media giants that I have a great deal of respect for in The Athletic's David Aldridge and Marc Spears of ESPN's Andscape. We discussed the contrast between the old media and new media, what the role of the media should be and what real effects talking heads like Stephen A., Skip Bayless, Nick Wright and those of their ilk have on the entire basketball world.
Although we disagreed for the majority of the discussion, this was a healthy debate with different perspectives presented &mdash; the way discussions/debates should be.
(Editor's Note: Watch the entire exchange below on BasketballNews' YouTube channel and subscribe to Etan's podcast "The Rematch.")
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Etan Thomas: I&rsquo;ll agree with both of you that the majority of the media, whatever bucket you want to include everyone in, does not conduct themselves like Stephen A. Smith, or Skip Bayless or Nick Wright or those of that ilk. But they are the loudest voices. And those are the voices that you hear everyday. And those loud voices drive not only the masses of sports fans, but it also impacts the way that journalists write their articles. 
Marc Spears: "Let me stop you right quick. You mentioned (Fox News) earlier &mdash; they present their misinformation as facts, whereas [Nick] Wright and [Stephen A.] Smith, they&rsquo;re just speaking on sports and giving their opinion."
Etan: But they are presenting their opinions as though they are facts. Honestly, Stephen A. Smith has the same power over the masses that Tucker Carlson has over the Right. They&rsquo;ll say all the time that Tucker Carlson is not a real journalist, he&rsquo;s not a real member of the media, but he still has the same media power over the minds of the masses&nbsp;
Spears: "Stephen A. doesn&rsquo;t conjur racism."
Etan: I&rsquo;m not talking about the topic, I&rsquo;m talking about the level of power and influence.&nbsp;
David Aldridge: "Etan for the sake of the discussion, I&rsquo;ll accept your comparison. If the argument is these people are on TV everyday (and) therefore, they have a lot of power, therefore, their opinions carry weight. But I will come back to again: With who? (Laughing) Who do they carry all of this weight with?"
Etan: With the entire sports world.
Aldridge: "But Etan, I would have to disagree with you because it&rsquo;s not the entire sports world. Because the entire sports world would include team owners, team general managers, head coaches, players. And nobody has gotten more bad criticism as of late than Kyrie. Let&rsquo;s use Kyrie Irving as an example.
"Kyrie just opted in for $37 million, and guess what? When he&rsquo;s a free agent next year, somebody else is going to give him a big contract. Might be Brooklyn, might not be. But somebody is going to give Kyrie some more paper to play."
Etan: You don&rsquo;t think the narrative that has been repeated by those like Stephen A. Smith and those of that ilk has hurt the entire image of Kyrie? Going from this past year, let&rsquo;s examine why he was sitting out. During the pandemic and he didn&rsquo;t want to take the vaccine. He was uncomfortable with the vaccine, which a large portion of the country was as well. I had a different conclusion than he had, but I respect his conclusion. Everybody was ok with it until... he started missing games. Then it was like, 'Wait a minute now, we can&rsquo;t have this.' Then, you had Stephen A Smith saying, 'Oh he doesn&rsquo;t want to play, oh he doesn&rsquo;t respect the game,' and that started creating a narrative where the entire pendulum started to shift completely on Kyrie. 
Aldridge: "Do you believe Etan, if I say I can agree with you on Stephen A. Smith voicing his opinion, do you think nobody on the Brooklyn Nets had the same opinion? Do you think the Brooklyn Nets were saying to themselves, 'Yeah, we would love for Kyrie to play, but we respect his position on the vaccine?'"
Etan: But nobody on the Brooklyn Nets was carrying the narrative publicly that he was abandoning his team. So once you have a Stephen A. Smith, who says that repeatedly, then you have journalists who start repeating what Stephen A Smith said in their articles. Then, you have an entire narrative that permeates throughout the entire country.
Aldridge: "Etan, I will humbly submit to you that there were a lot of people within the Brooklyn organization who had the exact same position."
Etan: I&rsquo;m not talking about that, I&rsquo;m saying they weren&rsquo;t saying it publicly.
Aldridge: "Their focus was they needed Kyrie to win. They were trying to win championships."
Etan: Of course. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Kyrie Irving is 100% correct and spot on with this and the media members who fall into this category will be quick to take offense because they know it applies directly to them <a href="https://t.co/ItgLF5N0eg">https://t.co/ItgLF5N0eg</a>
&mdash; Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) <a href="https://twitter.com/etanthomas36/status/1520000279747387392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Aldridge: "Okay, so that&rsquo;s my point. They didn&rsquo;t want to say it publicly, but that didn&rsquo;t mean they didn&rsquo;t have the opinion. The inference is that only journalists had this opinion (and that) not a lot of people had this opinion. (The talking heads) said it (publicly), yes, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean that other people didn&rsquo;t have the same opinion."
Spears: "A lot of people had the same opinion, I just think Stephen A. was just probably loudest with it."
Aldridge: "So if lots of people had the same opinion..."
Etan: I think you&rsquo;re still discounting the power of the pen, whether it&rsquo;s the power of the pen or the microphone that Stephen A. Smith and those of that ilk have. There is power in it, so when you repeat something over and over again, there is power in it.
Aldridge: "Okay there&rsquo;s power in it; I&rsquo;m saying the impact of the power I believe is far less. And look, we all love sports &mdash; we all make our living in sports, all of us love writing, talking, thinking about sports, we&rsquo;re all fans of sports. But, it&rsquo;s not the same... I don&rsquo;t believe the power of say, the political media, the political press to shape agendas, whereas a legacy media like the New York Times has an outsized influence on the way the rest of the political press covers things, because people still read the New York Times everyday.
"That&rsquo;s way different than, I would suggest, any talking head on one of the sports debate shows. Do they have influence? Yes. Do they have some ephemeral type of power and influence over a certain segment of the population? I would agree. I would again say, 'What is the impact of that power on a player?' I would say, 'Does it help shape perception of a player?' Yes it does. I would agree with you. It does help shape perception of a player."
Etan: But you don&rsquo;t think the perception of a player has any impact on a GM, or a President or a team? That&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;re telling me?
Aldridge: "I would ask you, if you were talking about who has the worst reputation in pro basketball right now &mdash; I don&rsquo;t have an answer, I&rsquo;m asking you. Based on the 'media&rsquo;s' shaping of their perception, who has the worst reputation right now? Kyrie? Maybe it&rsquo;s Kyrie. Let&rsquo;s say for the sake of the discussion it&rsquo;s Kyrie Irving, because of people have killing him because of the vaccine and a lot of other things.
"Let&rsquo;s just say Kyrie has the worst reputation right now in the NBA. He&rsquo;s going to be a free agent next year. I defy you to tell me that he&rsquo;s not going to get paid next year, regardless of this perception of him. If you&rsquo;re gonna tell me that Kyrie is going to have to take the minimum next year, I would tell you that you are incorrect. Kyrie will not be playing for the minimum."
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Etan: That's fair enough, but if you tell me that if he was an unrestricted free agent this year and the narrative that has been created around him wouldn&rsquo;t have impacted what teams sign him for, I would have to respectfully disagree.
Spears: "If he can play, he can play and will get paid period."
Aldridge: "Talent wins out Etan, you know that."
Etan: But listen, Stephen A. Smith has been drumming, 'Only sign him for a year, one year contract, don&rsquo;t sign him long-term, teams beware,' etc. So you&rsquo;re gonna tell me that if Kyrie was an unrestricted free agent after hearing this (hot take) constantly from people like Stephen A Smith, that teams would not be a little more hesitant to sign him for a long-term deal than they would for a year? (Which Stephen A. Smith has been repeating over and over and over again.) That&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;re telling me? It would have no effect whatsoever?
Aldridge: "At some point Etan, the player has to have some responsibility. Yes, it&rsquo;s the vaccine this time, and I&rsquo;m not questioning his motivation or reasoning, but let&rsquo;s be honest: He took off games the year before. He just took games off. Now, maybe he needed to; I&rsquo;m not saying he&rsquo;s wrong to do it. I&rsquo;m just saying in the middle of the season, he said, 'I need to take a few games off.' Okay, that&rsquo;s fine, but there is impact with that Etan."
Etan: But you do understand the double-edged sword here when you have an NBA who is embracing mental health in certain aspects&nbsp;
Aldridge: "I&rsquo;m not saying he was wrong to do it."
Etan: But this is what I&rsquo;m saying: There&rsquo;s a narrative that is created by the media. If the narrative created was that Kyrie was a champion for mental health, and why it&rsquo;s so important to take care of your mental health to continue the longevity of your (career)... if that whole narrative was pushed that way, then the entire perception would&rsquo;ve been different around the games that he took off because he said he needed a break.
Aldridge: "But it works both ways Etan. When Kyrie said that we shouldn&rsquo;t go to the (Orlando) Bubble, I think a lot of people in the media applauded him for that. A lot of journalists applauded him for thinking about something other than basketball. He was saying we should use this platform that we have in the wake of George Floyd, maybe we should use that for something else other than playing games. Now, I&rsquo;m not saying that everyone agreed with that, but a lot of people in 'the media' as you put it, applauded him."
Etan: But also, a lot of people in the media &mdash; and I actually <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-boycott-stephen-a-smith-espn-etan-thomas-protest-kyrie-irving-avery-bradley-dwight-howard-charles-barkley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote about this</a> &mdash; but a lot of media talking heads called Kyrie dumb (and) said it was the stupidest thing they ever heard. And this is exactly what the players' issue is when they say 'new media/old media. It&rsquo;s the specific language that is used in order to critique someone.
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The Athletic's David Aldridge and Andscape's Marc Spears and Etan Thomas on the media's perception of Kyrie Irving and its effect.

David Aldridge, Marc Spears, Etan Thomas on Kyrie Irving's demonization

Hours before the 2022-23 league year began, one of the greatest players in NBA history dropped a bombshell.
Kevin Durant officially requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, signaling that massive changes are coming for the organization. It appears that Durant is done dealing with the sinking ship in Brooklyn, spearheaded by the melodrama consistently surrounding his fellow superstar teammate Kyrie Irving. In the next chapter of his career, it feels as if Durant seeks to be part of an organization where he can settle into a situation and win, aging gracefully in the process.
Even with Durant turning 34 years old at the start of next season, and being just two years removed from a torn Achilles, teams are lining up to offer a package for this transcendent, franchise-changing player. Somehow, despite suffering what is usually a career-altering injury for most, especially high-usage superstars, Durant has looked like himself &mdash; and maybe better.
According to Yahoo Sports&rsquo; Chris Haynes, Durant&rsquo;s preferred&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1542665711172341761?s=20&amp;t=nBjRLktC_Se3VMRltaXoVQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">destination is in Arizona with the Phoenix Suns</a>. As ESPN&rsquo;s Brian Windhorst alluded to, Durant asked out hours before the start of free agency <a href="https://twitter.com/r0bato/status/1542608980123553795?s=20&amp;t=nBjRLktC_Se3VMRltaXoVQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to help the Suns</a> in potential Deandre Ayton sign-and-trade discussions. This was a calculated move on Durant's part, and he's had the Suns circled target as his top landing spot. From Durant&rsquo;s perspective, having Phoenix as his No. 1 choice makes too much sense from multiple angles.
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First, Durant views Devin Booker as one of the best young players in the NBA. For years, Durant has been impressed with Booker from afar. And as the young star continues to develop into a bona fide top-15 player in the NBA, Durant&rsquo;s praise has been heard every step of the way.
Only a few short months ago, Durant <a href="https://youtu.be/pXG-4Ne4kcs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke glowingly about Booker&rsquo;s game</a> on JJ Redick&rsquo;s podcast, "The Old Man and The Three."
&ldquo;He just has a pretty game for one, but I just think he&rsquo;s really mastering who he is right now," <a href="https://youtu.be/pXG-4Ne4kcs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Durant said of Booker</a>. "He&rsquo;s figuring it out, like how to play at an elite level but still win, because he was always scoring the ball. But he knows how to win.&rdquo;
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Kevin Durant a few months ago talking about Devin Booker on <a href="https://twitter.com/OldManAndThree?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OldManAndThree</a>: <a href="https://t.co/AtvP0QbpSw">pic.twitter.com/AtvP0QbpSw</a>
&mdash; Evan Sidery (@esidery) <a href="https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1542583804082065408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Durant and Booker have long had a mutual admiration for one another, but their bond began to blossom back in 2019 when both were in Las Vegas with Team USA.
A few years ago, a young, star-struck Booker told me that Durant was the one who approached him about wanting to develop their relationship even further.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty well, we&rsquo;re just fans of basketball,&rdquo; Booker <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2019/1/1/18162944/phoenix-suns-focus-kevin-durant-wish-list-destination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told me in 2020 about his relationship with Durant</a>. &ldquo;When you love the game and watch somebody with that much skill on both ends of the floor, you just have immediate respect for him. So, at USA [camp], he came to me like, &lsquo;Let&rsquo;s play one-on-one. We have always been at a distance... Keep going, you know, your game is really solid.&rsquo; And having that chance to interact with each other then, develop the relationship even more [was great]. One of my favorite players in the league to watch from a skill-set standpoint. He has it all.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Only two players under age 25 have carried 48/36/90 shooting splits + 60 TS% on high usage, per <a href="https://twitter.com/bball_ref?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bball_ref</a>: &bull; Kevin Durant (2012-13) &bull; Devin Booker (2019-20) <a href="https://t.co/Bo8RFhVAfw">pic.twitter.com/Bo8RFhVAfw</a>
&mdash; Evan Sidery (@esidery) <a href="https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1269723581568573441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2020</a></blockquote>

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Booker grew up idolizing Durant. (He even had a Fathead of the future Hall-of-Famer on his wall growing up.) Fast-forward to now, and this could be a full-circle moment for the 25-year-old All-Star; one of his idols seeking him out and wanting to play alongside him. Durant and Booker could be basketball nirvana on the court, but this relationship is also already one that's featured immense mutual respect for years.
Another reason Durant prefers the Suns is head coach Monty Williams, who coached KD for a short stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a lead assistant, plus he had multiple interactions with him during Team USA activities.&nbsp;
And the cherry on top? Chris Paul's elite point guard skills in setting up the offense.
Everything Durant craves is available to him in Phoenix. He'd have the stars around him to compete and go on multiple championship runs in the immediate future, as well as pre-existing relationships within the organization. The Suns have a win-now mentality, the right mix of star power and a front office willing to pay a hefty price to compete for titles.
The price Phoenix will need to pay for Durant is going to be astronomical. (Think about the Paul George trade to the Los Angeles Clippers or the Anthony Davis blockbuster to the Los Angeles Lakers.)
With the way draft picks are being moved around at the moment, Brooklyn should rightfully receive the maximum amount of compensation possible in regards to draft capital. Ayton will likely be out the door via sign-and-trade; whether he lands in Brooklyn is the biggest question. (The Nets reportedly aren't interested in Ayton, so the Suns may need to find a third team or separate deal.) Mikal Bridges and/or Cameron Johnson would also likely have to be included in a Durant blockbuster.
Is Phoenix truly willing to gut its entire young core and future in order to chase the organization&rsquo;s first NBA championship? The easy answer on that is yes, and Suns general manager James Jones is known to be passive in valuing the draft process anyways. Phoenix is probably more than willing to include whatever amount of draft picks necessary with the goal of creating the league&rsquo;s next super-team in The Valley.
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One full year after returning from his Achilles tear, Durant averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists on a ridiculously-efficient 63.4% True Shooting percentage. Durant is a basketball demigod &mdash; we all already know this &mdash; but within the Suns&rsquo; system, his own game would reach scary levels of effectiveness.
The ever-flowing gravity pull that Durant and Booker would have beside one another is truly unfair. Paul would be able to slide back into being the third or fourth option too, which is necessary at the twilight stages of his illustrious career. Having a foundation of Durant, Booker and Paul is already enough to be an elite team. After that, the next steps would be to retool around this trio, as the Suns&rsquo; roster will look completely different.
For the Nets, it will be very tough to find a realistic return package that can net them a &ldquo;win-now&rdquo; offer on top of recouping much-needed assets on the draft front. Sending out Ayton, Bridges and Johnson, plus whatever other picks and assets are involved, would be a monster haul for the Nets to fully reset. The Suns&rsquo; young trio paired alongside Ben Simmons would keep Brooklyn at least competitive for the postseason, which seems to be a goal for the Nets in trade negotiations.
It&rsquo;s not often you find two situations where the stars just align at the perfect time. That&rsquo;s exactly what&rsquo;s occurring between Durant and the Suns. Both sides want this to happen, and within the player-empowerment era, it seems very possible that this could come to fruition.
Durant bet on Irving and it blew up in his face. Instead, he wishes to pivot to an organization with newfound stability (thanks to Jones and Williams), a dynamic backcourt of Booker and Paul, and a sizeable championship window since the team projects to be a juggernaut in the Western Conference. Over the last two seasons, Phoenix has the most total wins in the NBA. Adding Durant to the already strong core of winning pieces in place presents the Suns with their best opportunity to hoist the Larry O&rsquo;Brien trophy.
Durant&rsquo;s arrival wouldn&rsquo;t be like Charles Barkley in 1992. This would be an entirely new level of relevancy coming to The Valley, as the Suns have already become title favorites in Las Vegas before a Durant deal has even occurred.
Phoenix wants to commit to an extended championship window centered around two of the greatest players in the NBA&rsquo;s modern era. Alongside them would be a young star in Booker who is showing to have real star-power pull.
Buckle up, because Durant has now singlehandedly changed the NBA landscape in one fell swoop. Now, the Suns are looking to soon pull off their biggest move in franchise history.
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Kevin Durant has requested a trade, with his preferred destination being the Suns. Durant's interest in Phoenix dates back a while.

Why Kevin Durant's attraction to the Suns should come as no surprise

Day 1 of the 2022 NBA free-agency period didn't disappoint, as there were plenty of agreements and surprises. However, a number of free-agency moves and potential trades are currently on hold thanks to one of the biggest bombshells in recent memory: Kevin Durant requesting a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
It remains to be seen how long Sean Marks and Co. will take to find a new home for Durant, but that will certainly have an impact on the rest of the league. Whenever there's a superstar available &mdash; either via trade or free agency &mdash; that tends to be what teams prioritize.
Still, it's possible we could see some more players come off the board on Day 2. Which notable free agents are still available? Here are some names to keep an eye on.
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 two sides are meeting soon to discuss what his new contract will look like, but it's reportedly expected to pay Harden somewhere around $35 million per year. 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. Perhaps Harden will bounce back and benefit from playing with several of his former Houston Rockets teammates again, but he turns 33 years old in August and seems significantly less explosive.
DEANDRE AYTON, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Things aren't looking great for Deandre Ayton. He was being linked to the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, but their interest seems to have cooled off. Once Kevin Durant requested a trade, some wondered if he would land in Brooklyn via a sign-and-trade, but multiple reports have indicated that the Nets aren't interested in the 23-year-old either. A return to Phoenix also seems unlikely given recent <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-nba-draft-rumors-live-notebook-all-the-latest-news-trades-and-intel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that both sides want to move on. What is the market for Ayton at this point? The Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves were mentioned by ESPN's Brian Windhorst as potential dark horses for Ayton, so perhaps one of those squads could emerge as a sign-and-trade partner. However, it's seeming less and less likely that Ayton will get the max deal that he and his camp have pushed for. Ayton is a young, improving player who is widely regarded as one of NBA's best young centers, so a team will be lucky to add him (especially if they can get him at a discount).
MILES BRIDGES, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Miles Bridges is coming off of a breakout season, averaging a career-high 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 threes and 0.9 steals. It seemed like the forward was due for a massive pay raise and Charlotte Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak even said that the team was going to re-sign him. However, that was before Bridges was arrested for domestic violence on the eve of free agency, which could absolutely impact his negotiations. Bridges' wife, Mychelle Johnson, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1542723880619581440/photo/4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke out</a> about Bridges' alleged abuse and documented her serious injuries. Not only will this situation likely scare teams away, it's also very possible that Bridges could be suspended by the NBA too.
COLLIN SEXTON, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Collin Sexton injured his left knee in 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 <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">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.
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MONTREZL HARRELL, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Montrezl Harrell is coming off of another productive and efficient season as a reserve, averaging 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23.1 minutes per game, while shooting 64.5% from the field. Harrell started the season with the Washington Wizards and then got traded to the Charlotte Hornets prior to the deadline. The former Sixth Man of the Year is <a href="https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article262474282.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facing felony drug charges</a> after officers said they found three pounds of marijuana in his car during a traffic stop back in May. It remains to be seen if this impacts his free-agency negotiations.
KEVON LOONEY, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Every coach would love to have a player like Kevon Looney; he knows his role, never tries to do too much and you never have to worry about his effort. Last season, he averaged 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 blocks and 0.6 steals while shooting 57.1% from the field. In the Warriors' Game 2 win over the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, Looney delivered the best game of his career with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists on 71.4% shooting. The Warriors are trying hard to retain Looney, but he's certainly attracting interest from rival teams as well.
T.J. WARREN, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
T.J. Warren was a beast in the NBA Bubble at the end of the 2019-20 season, when he averaged 31.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 threes. With that said, he played just four games during the 2020-21 season, and then he missed the entire 2021-22 campaign. He'll have to provide medicals to any team that&rsquo;s interested, but he's still just 28 years old. Some team will likely roll the dice on a one-year, make-good contract in hopes of Warren resurrecting his career. A return to Indiana remains a possibility too.
CALEB MARTIN, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
In his first season with the Miami Heat, Caleb Martin averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 threes, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steal, while shooting 50.7% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range. Martin is restricted, so the Heat can match any offer he receives.
THOMAS BRYANT, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Thomas Bryant inked a three-year, $25 million deal back in 2019 and played very well for the Washington Wizards during the first year of that contract, averaging 13.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in under 25 minutes per game. He also got off to an impressive start the following season before tearing his ACL in early 2021. Bryant returned to action in January, but saw his minutes reduced following Washington's acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis. Still just 24 years old, Bryant could be a worthwhile investment for a team in the market for a young big.
DONTE DIVINCENZO, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
After emerging as a key contributor for the Milwaukee Bucks in recent years, Donte DiVincenzo was traded to the Sacramento Kings as part of a four-team deal prior to last year's deadline. The 25-year-old averaged 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 threes and 1.5 steals in 26.6 minutes with the Kings. However, DiVincenzo and his camp reportedly felt that Sacramento cut DiVincenzo's playing time down the stretch in order to hurt his stock heading into free agency. The Kings decided not to extend a qualifying offer to DiVincenzo, making him an unrestricted free agent.
JALEN SMITH, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Jalen Smith was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but the Phoenix Suns decided to trade him after he appeared in just 56 games. The Suns dealt Smith and a future second-round pick to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Torrey Craig. The 22-year-old got a fresh start in Indiana, where he averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 threes, 1.0 block and 0.4 steals in 24.7 minutes per game. Smith scored in double figures in 18 of his 22 games with the Pacers. Now, after the best stretch of his young NBA career, Smith is an unrestricted free agent and it'll be interesting to see how teams value him.
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.
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Entering Day 2 of the NBA's free-agency period, which players are still available? Here are some notable free agents worth monitoring.

2022 NBA Free Agency: Which notable players are still available?

The NBA's free-agency period tips off today at 6 p.m. ET! Here's a look at some underrated players who could be on the move.
Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-free-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews' 2022 NBA Free Agency page</a>&nbsp;for our complete rankings, the latest rumors, a glossary of relevant terms and more.
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.
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.
MALIK MONK, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
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 averaged 9.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 233 appearances while shooting below 34% from three. As a result, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to ink him to a one-year contract at the veteran minimum ($1.7 million) last offseason. Surprisingly, Monk established himself as one of the Lakers' most consistent and effective players. In the 37 games he started this year, Monk averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.9 threes while shooting 47.8% from the field, 42.2% from three and 79.2% from the free-throw line. He will look to cash in and receive a significant pay raise in July.
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MARVIN BAGLEY III, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Getting traded from Sacramento to Detroit gave Marvin Bagley III an opportunity to revive his career. He scored in double-digits in 15 of his 18 games with the Pistons, and he finished the season averaging 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 55.5% from the field. If Detroit is sold on Bagley as a long-term fit (and vice versa), the two sides may be able to reach a multi-year deal. Perhaps a team will give Bagley a significant offer sheet after what he showed following the trade. Another option for Bagley is signing the one-year qualifying offer, which would make him an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023. However, since he failed to start 41 games or play 2,000 minutes this season, his qualifying offer decreased from $14.8 million to $7.3 million, making that option a bit less appealing.
JAE'SEAN TATE, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
After going undrafted in 2020, Jae'Sean Tate earned his way onto the NBA's All-Rookie Team by averaging 11.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals with the Houston Rockets. Despite logging fewer minutes last season, Tate increased his scoring (11.8 PPG), rebounding (5.4 RPG) and assist (2.8 APG) averages. The Rockets declined Tate's $1.8 million team option for the 2022-23 campaign, making him a restricted free agent. However, all signs point to the 26-year-old remaining in Houston.
VICTOR OLADIPO, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
After missing most of the 2021-22 season while recovering from surgery on his ruptured quad, Victor Oladipo returned to Miami's lineup for the final eight games of the regular season and averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 threes on 47.9/41.7/73.7 shooting splits. Oladipo had several impressive outings, including a 40-point, 10-rebound, 7-assist, 5-three, 2-steal performance in the regular-season finale against Orlando and an efficient 23-point, 3-assist, 3-steal outing in Miami's Game 5 win over Atlanta. Oladipo's days as an All-Star-caliber player are over, but the 30-year-old can still be a significant contributor and his flashes are bound to intrigue teams.
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NIC CLAXTON, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Nic Claxton has consistently impressed in limited playing time off the bench for the Brooklyn Nets. His per-36 minute averages last season were outstanding: 15.2 points (on 67.4% shooting), 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 0.9 steals. The Nets have limited depth due to the high salaries of their top players and billionaire owner Joe Tsai is unafraid of paying the luxury tax, so Brooklyn is expected to match any reasonable offer Claxton receives.
GARY PAYTON II, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
It's no surprise that Gary Payton's son is a terrific on-ball defender. After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Gary Payton II bounced around from team to team (including multiple G League stints) before finally sticking in the NBA. This season, he broke out with the Warriors, averaging a career-high 17.6 minutes and even starting 18 games (including the playoffs). He averaged 2.5 deflections and 1.4 steals per game, bothering plenty of opposing scorers. He earned just $1,669,178 this season, but he outplayed his contract and helped the Warriors win a championship. Now, a nice payday is imminent.&nbsp;
LONNIE WALKER, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Lonnie Walker averaged career-highs in points (12.1), assists (2.2), rebounds (2.6) and steals (.6) per game for the San Antonio Spurs, despite playing fewer minutes (23.0) each night. Teams will be <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lonnie-walker-is-surging-compelling-offseason-gamble-san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interested in the 23-year-old's potential</a>. Walker is a restricted free agent, so San Antonio can match any offer sheet he receives.
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CHRIS BOUCHER, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Chris Boucher just completed a two-year, $13.5 million deal that he signed in 2020. After averaging 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in 2020-21, his production and efficiency dipped in 2021-22. He shot 38.3% from downtown in 2020-21, but that number fell to 29.7% this season, and his scoring average dropped to 9.4 points per contest. However, it's worth noting that the Raptors allowed just 105.7 points per 100 possessions with Boucher on the floor, and that his net rating of plus-5.4 was second on the team (behind only Pascal Siakam&rsquo;s plus-7.4).
OTTO PORTER JR., UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Last offseason, Otto Porter Jr. shocked everyone when he decided to join the Golden State Warriors on a veteran-minimum deal despite receiving larger offers elsewhere. His gamble paid off, as he won a championship and now he's due for a nice raise. This season, Porter averaged 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 threes and 1.1 steals in 22.2 minutes per game, while shooting 46.4% from the field, 37.0% from three and 80.3% from the free-throw line. There's no question that producing as a key reserve for Golden State helped his stock, and it'll be interesting to see what kind of offers he receives this offseason.
T.J. WARREN, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
T.J. Warren was a beast in the NBA Bubble at the end of the 2019-20 season, when he averaged 31.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 threes. With that said, he played just four games during the 2020-21 season and he missed the entire 2021-22 campaign. He'll have to provide medicals to any team that&rsquo;s interested, but he's still just 28 years old. Some team will likely roll the dice on a one-year, make-good contract in hopes of Warren resurrecting his career. A return to Indiana remains a possibility too.
ISAIAH HARTENSTEIN, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
This season, Isaiah Hartenstein emerged as a multifaceted contributor for the Los Angeles Clippers and one of the best backup centers in the NBA. Hartenstein's bag of tricks as a passer and interior scorer make him an offensive weapon even without a viable jumper. On defense, he blocks shots and contests the rim with proficiency. This year, he averaged 8.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 block in 17.9 minutes per game.
CALEB MARTIN, RESTRICTED FREE AGENT
In his first season with the Miami Heat, Caleb Martin averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 threes, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steal, while shooting 50.7% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range. The 26-year-old has proven to be a reliable role player. Martin is a restricted free agent, so the Heat can match any offer he receives.
JALEN SMITH, UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT
Jalen Smith was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but the Phoenix Suns decided to trade him after he appeared in just 56 games. The Suns dealt Smith and a future second-round pick to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Torrey Craig. The 22-year-old got a fresh start in Indiana, where he averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 threes, 1.0 block and 0.4 steals in 24.7 minutes per game. Smith scored in double figures in 18 of his 22 games with the Pacers. Now, after the best stretch of his young NBA career, Smith is an unrestricted free agent and it'll be interesting to see how teams value him.
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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&nbsp;<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! Here's a look at 15 underrated players who could be on the move.

2022 NBA Free Agency: 15 sleepers who are available

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

Where will Deandre Ayton play next year? DraftKings suddenly has the Brooklyn Nets as a team to watch.
The Nets entered this past weekend at +6000 odds (29th in the NBA) to land Ayton, but Brooklyn's odds have since climbed to +700, trailing only the Phoenix Suns (+115) and Detroit Pistons (+225).
As the Nets prepare for a potential future without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, Phoenix becomes a very logical trade partner. Durant has long been a fan of Devin Booker's game, plus the Suns have the right amount of assets to make a deal happen.
Would Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson along with mulitple future first-round picks be enough to land Durant? For more NBA trade and free-agency rumors, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-nba-draft-rumors-live-notebook-all-the-latest-news-trades-and-intel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out our rumor tracker</a>!

DraftKings suddenly has the Brooklyn Nets as a team to watch in the Deandre Ayton sweepstakes.

Sportsbooks increase odds of Deandre Ayton going to Brooklyn

At first glance, the Boston Celtics seem gridlocked in their ability to bring an NBA Finals contender over the top for next season. The Celtics will likely reside as a luxury tax-paying team, meaning they're already out of room to sign players aside from a modest $6.3 million mid-level exception, and their entire main rotation is under contract for next season.
So what can Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens do in his role as lead team-builder? Stevens has a few more cards to play in the form of Traded Player Exceptions, commonly abbreviated as TPEs.
Boston has been a TPE merchant in recent seasons, and the franchise's salary-cap dexterity has allowed it to make impactful moves on the fly without raw cap space. The Celtics are Exhibit A of how these exceptions can keep contenders flexible. With well over two-thirds of the league filled to the salary-cap brim this summer, TPEs are like a secret staircase for teams as they try to ascend to NBA glory.
So how exactly do they work, and which squads can take advantage this summer?
Trades in the NBA don't go down with perfectly balanced salary scales. So if one team sends out more salary, under the collective bargaining agreement, the difference becomes a Traded Player Exception. Teams can then absorb future player salaries from future trades into the exception, bypassing any constraints from the salary cap boundaries.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.nba.com/news/trade-exceptions-what-they-are-and-why-they-matter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA.com's Steve Aschburner</a> compares the TPE to a gift card. The simile tracks in that TPEs can sort of "buy" player salaries, but they also expire one year after the trade initally creates them.
Here's a current example: Boston completed a sign-and-trade with the New York Knicks on July 18 of last summer, sending Evan Fournier to New York with a second-round pick in exchange for cash considerations. Because Boston traded Fournier's salary and received only the bag of cash back, it created a TPE that Spotrac values at around $17.1 million. The Celtics can now absorb a player (or multiple players) into that TPE via trade until July 18.
Seems like a smart move, right? Well, it is, but a TPE isn't just hacking the CBA. Rules and consequences exist. Here are some important ones (and check out a larger breakdown from <a href="https://www.sportsbusinessclassroom.com/listing-the-current-nba-trade-exceptions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eric Pincus</a>:
<ul>
<li>Teams cannot stack TPEs. For example, if the Celtics want to trade for LeBron James, they cannot combine all of their various exceptions into one super-TPE to absorb his salary. There is one trade exception per player salary.</li>
<li>TPEs do not supersede the hard cap (tax apron). This will particularly affect the Celtics because they are already approaching the hard cap, and might make the Fournier TPE, for example, less valuable than it's worth.</li>
</ul>
Though not a rule or a certainty, teams seeking to create a trade exception likely have to trade additional pieces to create it. The Knicks weren't going to simply let Boston make a TPE, so they managed to pick up an additional draft pick. Similarly, when Boston dealt Gordon Hayward to the Charlotte Hornets and created a massive, $28.5 million TPE, Charlotte also swiped two second-rounders from the Celtics.
Sometimes, trade exceptions are a natural byproduct of a deal. In other cases, they're the prize. Dozens of trade exceptions are littered around the league, but most are too small to be a realistic sponge for any player contract.
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Here are the teams with exceptions valued at over $5 million (figures provided by Spotrac), which could theoretically net a rotation-caliber player.
BOSTON CELTICS
So we've discussed the Celtics a bit already, but returning to the Fournier TPE, it's unlikely they use up the full $17.1 million (<a href="https://heavy.com/sports/boston-celtics/evan-fournier-trade-exception/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt John elaborated on this at Heavy.com</a>). It could still add a rotation player who fulfills needs such as movement shooting, center depth and bench scoring. The Celtics also hold TPEs valued at $6.9 million (from trading Juancho Hernangomez to San Antonio) and $5.9 million (from trading Dennis Schroder to Houston).
Boston pulled this stunt last summer where it traded Tristan Thompson for Kris Dunn in a three-way trade with the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics used a $5 million TPE to absorb Dunn's salary, thus creating a larger TPE from Thompson, which they then&nbsp;used to absorb Daniel Theis' salary. That's one example of them finessing the system. But again, when you're up against the tax apron, your options become limited.
BROOKLYN NETS
The Nets have two plausible TPEs to use. One is an $11.3 million TPE in the fallout of the James Harden blockbuster. Brooklyn also holds a $6.3 million TPE created when they dealt DeAndre Jordan to the Pistons.
Brooklyn has some time to use the Harden TPE; it expires in February 2023. But the Jordan TPE perishes on Aug. 19.&nbsp;
Obviously, Brooklyn's roster situation is in flux with the rumors flying around <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-potential-destinations-for-brooklyn-nets-kyrie-irving-nba-trade-rumors-offseason-los-angeles-lakers-la-clippers-new-york-knicks-wizards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyrie Irving</a> and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-kevin-durant-brooklyn-nets-possible-destinations-rumors-phoenix-suns-miami-heat-boston-celtics-new-york-knicks-memphis-grizzlies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Durant</a>. Should the Nets extend Irving, they'll likely be hard-capped out, and won't be able to maximize these exceptions. Sean Marks and the front office cap-crunching team have their work cut out for them.&nbsp;
CHICAGO BULLS
Chicago has one trade exception, valued at $5 million, from when it sent Daniel Theis to the Rockets. It's unlikely this TPE becomes an asset of significance, but if the Bulls want to use it, they must do so by July 7.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
By trading Josh Richardson to Boston last summer, Dallas created a trade exception worth just under $10.9 million. That could be a helpful tool for the Mavericks, but it's literally expiring today! The Mavericks are flirting with being a hard-capped team, so unless something changes within minutes of writing this, the TPE will not yield a player.&nbsp;
DETROIT PISTONS
Detroit is going to, very briefly, hold a $9.2 million TPE by trading Jerami Grant to the Trail Blazers, according to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/detroit-pistons-acquire-veteran-kemba-walker-york-knicks/story?id=85620180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Bobby Marks.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;However, Marks reports that Kemba Walker, acquired in the draft-night move that also landed Jalen Duren, will have his salary absorbed into that TPE before being bought out. That's some quick maneuvering by the Pistons to acquire an exciting lottery talent in Duren.
INDIANA PACERS
Here's an interesting case. The Pacers have two notable TPEs in their holster: a $10.5 million exception from trading Jeremy Lamb to Sacramento, and a $7.3 million exception from trading Doug McDermott to San Antonio. Indiana is projected to be a rare team with significant cap space this offseason, and as a will-they-won't-they rebuilding squad, they could take several pathways with these exceptions.
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Perhaps Indiana sees an opportunity to add two rotation players to the roster and make a push for the postseason. The playoffs feel unlikely with the current 2022-23 roster, but you never know, and Indiana does have a reputation for being stubbornly competitive.
Or &mdash; maybe the Pacers have a long-term vision and use these exceptions to take players on undesirable contracts, attached with draft picks or young players. It's a way for Indiana to build its draft chest without sacrificing flexibility. The McDermott exception expires on July 7, while the Lamb TPE poofs away in February 2023. I expect at least one, if not both, to be used.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers are another franchise that is essentially hard-capped out. But they do have two TPEs worth monitoring. One is a $9.7 million exception created in the Serge Ibaka deal this past February. The other comes from sending Rajon Rondo to the Memphis Grizzlies and is worth $8.3 million. Again, I'm skeptical of these being used, but they are worth mentioning for a playoff contender that won't be players in free agency for a while.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The Pelicans created a $17 million trade exception last offseason when they sent Steven Adams to the Grizzlies. They've already reaped the rewards with their acquisition of Larry Nance Jr. New Orleans absorbed his $10.7 million salary into the TPE when it traded for him this past season. There's still about $6.4 million remaining, though, so the team could use it to add another player.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
In acquiring Jerami Grant on his $20 million salary, Portland maximized its large TPE from the CJ McCollum trade. The Blazers still have one more $6.9 million exception that could be of use. They're projected to have some cap space to work with, so it might be an opportunity to take extra advantage.
TORONTO RAPTORS
The Raptors have a few smaller exceptions, with the most notable being a $5.2 million TPE stemming from the Goran Dragic trade. Toronto is over the salary cap, but might be able to squeeze in a player with these constraints while staying under the luxury tax apron.&nbsp;
UTAH JAZZ
Trading Joe Ingles to Portland gave Utah a $9.7 million trade exception. Given that they need to find a spark after yet another disappointing playoff exit, the Jazz should find a way to use this exception, ideally on a perimeter defender or frontcourt player behind Rudy Gobert.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Washington owns three trade exceptions ranging between $3-6 million. While they can't stack them, the Wizards could use the $5.2 million TPE (created in dealing Montrezl Harrell to Charlotte) to add some guard or wing depth. As long as Bradley Beal is around, this franchise is hunting the playoffs, and the TPEs can help them get there.
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Ethan Fuller breaks down which NBA teams hold significant trade exceptions entering the 2022 offseason.

How does a trade exception work, and which NBA teams can use them?

As the Atlanta Hawks try to retool around superstar point guard Trae Young following a very disappointing postseason appearance, they have been very aggressive in trade talks as of late.
&ldquo;With the Hawks, they&rsquo;re as motivated as any team in the league to make a significant deal or deals to improve their team and try to find a co-star for Trae Young,&rdquo; <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10039377-woj-hawks-as-motivated-as-any-team-in-nba-want-trade-for-co-star-with-trae-young" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN&rsquo;s Adrian Wojnarowski said last week on SportsCenter</a>. &ldquo;I think very likely John Collins is going to be part of any of those deals. I think he&rsquo;s very likely on the move somewhere this week as they try to do something big in Atlanta.&rdquo;
The Hawks were reportedly dangling Collins and Kevin Huerter to the Sacramento Kings in hopes of moving up to No. 4 in the 2022 NBA Draft for Purdue&rsquo;s Jaden Ivey, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/34121058/2022-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-58-picks-based-latest-intel-scouting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per ESPN&rsquo;s Jonathan Givony</a>.
Although Atlanta didn&rsquo;t move Collins on draft night, the athletic forward could be on the move soon. <a href="https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/2022-nba-draft-live/vwppvqcjn6UR/?source=nbatw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to The Athletic&rsquo;s Sam Amick</a>, Collins was also linked to the Kings in talks that didn't include the No. 4 pick, while also drawing interest from the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards.
Atlanta&rsquo;s desire to improve their roster isn't going unnoticed, and now there appears to be a golden opportunity for Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk. <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nba-draft-postmortem-and-fa-preview-with-seth-partnow/id1618992995?i=1000567653282" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As Bleacher Report&rsquo;s Jake Fischer originally reported</a>, the San Antonio Spurs are showing a willingness to trade All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray, but the price would be significant. It would take a &ldquo;Jrue Holiday-like&rdquo; package of three future first-round picks for San Antonio to even consider dealing Murray, and the Hawks might be a willing trade partner.
Fischer added this bombshell related to Murray and the Hawks on the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nba-draft-postmortem-and-fa-preview-with-seth-partnow/id1618992995?i=1000567653282" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest episode of Please Don&rsquo;t Aggregate This</a>: &ldquo;I know that Dejounte and Trae want to play together, or at least have interest in doing it."
It's worth noting that Murray and Young are both represented by the same agency, Klutch Sports. Suddenly, this starts to make a lot of sense from all angles.
Why would the Spurs be open to this? Murray&rsquo;s trade value is at an all-time high right now coming off a breakout season, and he has two years, $34.3 million remaining on his current contract. If the Hawks are willing to meet their asking price, the return package would be significant for San Antonio. It's possible the Spurs want to bottom out for potential generational prospect Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Murray averaged 21.1 points, 9.2 assists, 8.3 rebounds and a league-leading 2.0 steals per game for San Antonio during the 2021-22 campaign. In his first season with a usage rate above 25%, Murray thrived with more responsibilities on his plate. Murray, who doesn&rsquo;t turn 26 years old until September, is about to enter the prime of his career. It's very possible that he has yet to play his best basketball, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league.
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The right system could accentuate Murray&rsquo;s strengths. For the Hawks, Murray would be the ideal yin-yang combination alongside Young. With Murray&rsquo;s tenacious defense and ability to create havoc in all areas of the game, Young can conserve his energy and focus on running Atlanta&rsquo;s offense at an efficient rate. With an ability to get downhill better than most players around the Association, Murray would benefit immensely playing next to the gravity thief that is Young. In one-on-one situations, Young&rsquo;s floor-spacing acumen would make Murray&rsquo;s role so much easier.
Perhaps San Antonio had a realization about where they truly stand right now. After adding three first-round prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft &mdash; Baylor&rsquo;s Jeremy Sochan, Notre Dame&rsquo;s Blake Wesley and Ohio State&rsquo;s Malaki Branham &mdash; the Spurs are clearly committed to their youth movement. This rookie trio joins Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Josh Primo, Tre Jones and Romeo Langford as foundational pieces in San Antonio. Next year, the Spurs project to have 11 players who are age-22 or younger on their roster.
San Antonio seems focused on stockpiling prospects and developing their young core. There&rsquo;s no denying that Murray is a star-level player, but the two sides may be going in different directions soon enough. Since Murray is about to turn 26 years old and will want to be in a winning situation soon, perhaps he doesn't fit the team's timeline and that's why the Spurs are weighing their trade options.&nbsp;
The Hawks actually have a solid amount of assets that could be appealing and make the Spurs seriously consider dealing Murray. Collins would be the centerpiece of the package for salary purposes, but the Hawks also own two first-round picks in next year&rsquo;s draft along with all of their own first-rounders going forward. Even No. 16 overall pick AJ Griffin, who worked out for the Spurs during the pre-draft process, could be a potential trade chip used in a Murray blockbuster.
It's worth noting that Collins is a year younger than Murray, and San Antonio has been linked to him since last offseason when he was a restricted free agent.
&ldquo;The Spurs are definitely doing intel on John [Collins], like I know that,&rdquo; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nba-draft-postmortem-and-fa-preview-with-seth-partnow/id1618992995?i=1000567653282" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fischer said on the latest episode of Please Don&rsquo;t Aggregate This</a>. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re calling around, asking about him.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s rare to find a potential blockbuster where all the dots begin to connect in rapid succession. If the Spurs are serious about listening to offers on their All-Star point guard, the Hawks won't be the only team making an aggressive push for Murray &mdash; plenty of other star-starved organizations will do the same. Thanks to his versatile skillset, Murray is an elite connecting piece for any potential win-now franchise.
In Atlanta, one could argue that Murray would be in the best situation of his career. Forming a one-two punch alongside Young in the backcourt while also being flanked defensively by De&rsquo;Andre Hunter and Clint Capela, Atlanta would have the chance to make serious noise next season if this happens.
This could be a win-win trade, but we'll see if the Hawks are willing to meet the Spurs' asking price. But given the recent rumors, don't be surprised if Murray is playing in Atlanta by the start of next season.
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Could Dejounte Murray actually join the Atlanta Hawks soon? Evan Sidery says it makes a lot of sense after connecting the dots.

The Hawks are the perfect trade destination for Dejounte Murray

Free-agent guard Cam Thomas has agreed to a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, setting up a fresh chapter for the 24-year-old scoring guard after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets shortly after the 2026 NBA trade deadline, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.&nbsp;
Thomas, who averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds this season over 24 games before dealing with hamstring issues, became an unrestricted free agent after Brooklyn cut him when no trade materialized before the deadline.&nbsp;
Milwaukee moved quickly to secure Thomas, seeing an opportunity to add an explosive scorer to its rotation for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. Over the past three seasons, Thomas has averaged 21.4 points per game, showcasing lethal scoring ability &ndash; particularly in his early years with the Nets &ndash; and the potential to provide instant offense for a Bucks team still trying to climb into play-in contention.&nbsp;
After agreeing to terms, Thomas explained why he chose Milwaukee: &ldquo;I picked Milwaukee because they wanted me and they told me they&rsquo;ve been interested for years now,&rdquo; he said in comments to Marc J. Spears. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just hoping to meet everybody, get to know everybody and contribute as soon as possible.&rdquo;
For the Bucks, adding Thomas even on a short-term deal gives coach Doc Rivers another scoring option alongside stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and key backcourt pieces such as Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. It&rsquo;s a low-risk move that could pay off offensively if the young guard adapts well to his new role and finds efficiency with Milwaukee&rsquo;s spacing and playmaking.&nbsp;
After a split with Brooklyn, Cam Thomas gets a fresh opportunity in Milwaukee &ndash; a chance to re-establish himself as a dynamic scorer in a contender&rsquo;s rotation and potentially revive his free-agency stock ahead of the summer.

Free-agent guard Cam Thomas has agreed to a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets.

Cam Thomas signs with Bucks after being waived by Nets

The Memphis Grizzlies have sent forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz along with several other players in this season&rsquo;s first blockbuster trade, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.&nbsp;
Jackson Jr., a former NBA all-star still at his prime, will start a new journey in Utah alongside John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. In return, Memphis will receive from Utah Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, and 3 future first-round picks.&nbsp;
ANALYSIS: The Grizzlies commit to a full blown rebuild by trading away one of their franchise mainstays Jackson Jr., and netting more assets in the process. They will now have 13 future first rounders in their disposal, which is tied with Brooklyn and OKC for most in the league. It is widely believed that more moves will come next for Memphis, including moving franchise point guard Ja Morant to continue their rebuild.
Meanwhile for the Jazz, they move forward in their rebuilding process in acquiring a player like Jackson Jr. He can slot into the 4 position next to Walker Kessler, and star forward Lauri Markkanen can play the 3 and all three can play and fit next to each other.

The Memphis Grizzlies have sent forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz along with several other players.

Grizzlies send Jaren Jackson Jr. to Jazz in blockbuster trade

The NBA has officially announced the player pool for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Game, showcasing the league&rsquo;s top young talent as part of NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
The event, which is set for Friday, Feb. 13 at the Intuit Dome, will feature a mini-tournament format pitting future stars against each other in front of a global audience.&nbsp;
The 28-player pool consists of the brightest NBA rookies, sophomores, and G League standouts who will be drafted into four teams to compete in the Rising Stars showcase. Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady will serve as honorary coaches, while Austin Rivers will lead the G League squad.&nbsp;
Among the top young NBA talents included in the Rising Stars roster are:
<h3>Rookies</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sophomores</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kel&rsquo;el Ware (Miami Heat)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)</li>
</ul>
<h3>NBA G League Players</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Yanic Konan Niederh&auml;user (San Diego Clippers)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Alijah Martin (Raptors 905)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Format &amp; Details</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Rising Stars event will feature a four-team mini-tournament, with three teams made up of NBA rookies and sophomores and one team of G League standouts.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The draft to assign players to each roster will be televised live, with each honorary coach selecting their squad.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The tournament&rsquo;s semifinal games are played to 40 points, with the championship game played to 25 points, providing a fast-paced display of elite young talent.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Game promises to be a highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend, spotlighting the next generation of star talent &ndash; from high-impact rookies like Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe to emerging sophomores and G League standouts ready to stake their claim on the big stage.

The NBA has officially announced the player pool for the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Game.

NBA reveals 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Game roster ahead of All-Star Weekend

The NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will take part in the 2026 NBA China Games, with both teams set to play a pair of preseason matchups in Macao, China this October.&nbsp;
This announcement marks another step in the league&rsquo;s renewed focus on international outreach following successful exhibitions in the region, following a successful holding of the games last year between the Phoenix Suns and the Brooklyn Nets.
As part of the NBA China Games 2026, Dallas and Houston will face off in two preseason contests on October 9 and October 11 at The Venetian Arena in Macao&rsquo;s Cotai district. These games continue the league&rsquo;s commitment to bringing live NBA action to global audiences after a renewed relationship with Chinese fans and partners.
The week in Macao will go beyond just basketball, with the NBA and co-sponsor Sands China Ltd. planning a range of fan engagement activities, including NBA House events, fan clinics and community outreach programs. The league&rsquo;s presence aims to celebrate basketball culture while fostering deeper connections with fans and aspiring players throughout Asia.
For the Mavericks, the China Games represent an exciting opportunity to showcase their young core while for the Rockets, the trip carries added historical significance given the franchise&rsquo;s longstanding popularity in China dating back to the era of Hall of Famer Yao Ming.

The NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will take part in the 2026 NBA China Games this October.

Mavericks, Rockets headline 2026 NBA China Games in Macao this October

After becoming a champion in Denver, Michael Porter Jr. moves on to Brooklyn for career growth &ndash; and the Nets are letting him become who he was projected to be coming out of high school: a full-fledged star in the NBA
Michael Porter Jr. has never lacked talent. That was never the question &ndash; not in high school, not in college, not at the NBA level. The questions, instead, hovered around everything else: the injuries, the fit, the role, the contract, the playstyle, and the frustrating nights where the ball barely moved. Fair or not, the narrative around Porter Jr. has followed him for years.
But in Brooklyn, something is changing.
Porter Jr. has erupted for three straight 30-point games, playing perhaps his best basketball over the past three games and becoming the first player in Nets franchise history to record 30+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ threes in three consecutive outings. In a season that has felt like another learning experience and a transitioning year for the franchise, he has emerged as one of the bright spots in a tough season record-wise: a reminder of the player many once believed he would become.
It&rsquo;s easy to forget now, but before back surgeries derailed his trajectory, Porter Jr. was the top prospect in the 2018 class &ndash; ranked above Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, and even Luka Doncic on several boards. He was the long, fluid, three-level scorer every team coveted. He was billed as a franchise centerpiece, not a complementary piece.
That version of MPJ rarely had space to breathe in Denver. Playing alongside Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon meant living as a third or fourth option, functioning more as a floor spacer than a fully realized scorer. His job was to hit shots, run the floor, defend, rebound &ndash; not to dominate possessions or shape the offense.
The Nuggets needed role players around Jokic. And true enough, Denver traded Porter Jr. to Brooklyn this offseason in exchange for Cam Johnson. The move was framed more as a financial relief and role concerns. Porter Jr.'s contract was massive, and his perceived fit issues &ndash; amplified by statements around the league and online about him being &ldquo;Michael never swinging the rock Porter Jr.&rdquo; &ndash; made it somewhat with sense and drawn from something.
This was a change of scenery for Porter Jr., and a chance to show that he is skillful enough to be a first option in this league. The Nets saw something different in him: a big wing scorer just entering his prime age years, fully capable of putting pressure on defenses in ways few players his size can.
Now that they&rsquo;ve given him the keys, Porter Jr. is showing why it was worth the bet.
His scoring bursts aren&rsquo;t coming from chaotic, ball-stopping sequences. Instead, they&rsquo;re flowing inside a structure tailored to his strengths &ndash; quick-hitting pindowns, ghost screens, high flares, and mid-post touches where his high release point becomes unguardable. He looks confident. He looks free. He looks like someone playing without the weight of expectation for the first time in years.
A major piece of this resurgence is Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, whose steady grip within the organization amid all the losing has turned into one of Brooklyn&rsquo;s most important stories.
Porter Jr. called Fernandez a &ldquo;genius,&rdquo; indicating the head coach for putting him in a position to succeed as a scorer, and not just a catch and shooter. The tape supports it: Fernandez has built an offensive ecosystem that bends toward Porter Jr.&rsquo;s natural tendencies instead of demanding he mold himself into something else.
Brooklyn is putting him in spots Denver seldom did: early-clock actions where he gets a head start, mismatches in the mid-post, and movement threes that let him catch without thinking. For the first time in a long time, Porter Jr. isn&rsquo;t being told to adapt &ndash; and he has Fernandez to thank for that.
Perhaps there is a deeper significance to all of this. Porter Jr. has spent years hearing the critiques: doesn&rsquo;t pass enough, doesn&rsquo;t defend consistently enough, benefits too much from Jokić&rsquo;s brilliance, can&rsquo;t lead a team in scoring, can&rsquo;t justify the huge contract given to him.
This current stretch won&rsquo;t silence every doubter &ndash; and it shouldn&rsquo;t be expected to. But it does something just as important: it proves that when the opportunity is there, he can be a first option. He can generate efficient offense, and he can carry the load. He&rsquo;s no longer just the guy who fits around stars. He&rsquo;s capable of being the star.
And with Brooklyn in search of identity, direction, and hope, Porter Jr. has unexpectedly become a key asset for the franchise &ndash; a player proving he can be the version of himself the basketball world once saw early in his career.

The Nets are letting Michael Porter Jr. become who he was projected to be coming out of high school: a full-fledged star in the NBA.

Michael Porter Jr. discovers star path with Nets in a career resurgence

MACAU, CHINA &ndash; Devin Booker has seen every version of the Phoenix Suns since he was drafted in 2015. He&rsquo;s lived through the lottery years, guided the franchise back to playoff relevance, reached the NBA Finals, and helped redefine the Suns&rsquo; identity as an enticing star player destination. Now, entering the 2025-26 NBA season, Booker stands at the center of yet another chapter &ndash; but one that&rsquo;s less about contention and more about construction.
&ldquo;I always say we&rsquo;re all blessed to be in a position that we are &mdash; to play the sport that we love,&rdquo; Booker told BasketballNews.com in a postgame interview after their game vs the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025 NBA China Games in Macau. &ldquo;I just take it day by day, try to improve, try to learn, and give advice and lead at the same time. So, whatever situation that has been thrown at me, I just take it for what it is. I love the situation that we&rsquo;re in now, and we&rsquo;re building. We&rsquo;re building for the start of the season, and today was a good step forward.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s a fitting perspective for a player who&rsquo;s evolved as much as the franchise itself. Booker entered the league as a 18-year-old microwave scorer and has since become the longest-tenured Sun, the team&rsquo;s all-time leading scorer, and its emotional anchor. His growth mirrors the Suns&rsquo; decade-long climb &ndash; from rebuilding project to Finals contender to, once again, a team recalibrating its future.
From contender to transition
The Suns&rsquo; transformation over the past few months has been striking. After some seasons built around a star-heavy core of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Phoenix decided to reset. Durant was traded in a major offseason move, while Beal&rsquo;s contract was bought out. The organization also brought in new leadership, hiring Brian Gregory as general manager and Jordan Ott as head coach.
Phoenix retooled its roster with an eye toward the future &ndash; adding dynamic young talents like Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, while drafting rookie center Khaman Maluach. The changes signal a somewhat long-term vision rather than an all-in championship chase, but one thing remains constant: this is still Booker&rsquo;s team.
This summer, that commitment became official. The Suns signed Booker to a two-year, $145 million extension, keeping him in Phoenix through 2030 &ndash; a statement of belief in his leadership and loyalty.
Embracing the responsibility
Booker&rsquo;s tone in Macau wasn&rsquo;t that of a superstar frustrated by change, but of someone embracing it. His focus, he said, is on growth &ndash; both his own and that of the group around him.
That attitude could define the Suns&rsquo; season. With a new system under Ott and a younger supporting cast, Phoenix will rely heavily on Booker&rsquo;s leadership, consistency, and voice. He&rsquo;s been through the highs and lows, from the grind of early rebuilds to the heartbreak of losing on the game&rsquo;s biggest stage.
Now, his mission shifts: guiding the next wave of Suns through their own learning curve.
&ldquo;I just take it day by day,&rdquo; he repeated. &ldquo;Try to improve, try to learn, and lead at the same time.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Latest words for <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@basketbllnews</a>: Devin Booker has seen it all in Phoenix -- from rebuilding to Finals runs and now a new era. In Macau for the NBA China Games, he shares how he&rsquo;s embracing leadership and the challenges ahead. Read more here:<a href="https://t.co/py55gbaa5o">https://t.co/py55gbaa5o</a> <a href="https://t.co/RyRqsO37QJ">https://t.co/RyRqsO37QJ</a>
&mdash; Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorvalNBA/status/1976894437914820907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2025</a></blockquote>

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&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
The 2025 NBA China Games &ndash; the league&rsquo;s first trip back to China in six years &ndash; provided the perfect stage for this new-look Suns team to show early signs of progress. Against the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix displayed flashes of renewed energy and cohesion, with Booker setting the tone both on and off the floor.
For a franchise seeking to rebuild its foundation, the preseason trip offered something: a reminder that new beginnings often come with opportunity.
The regular season begins later this month, and expectations around the Suns are tempered. But for Booker, the focus isn&rsquo;t on predicting where Phoenix will finish &ndash; it&rsquo;s on building the right habits, fostering growth, and setting a standard for what&rsquo;s next.
Through all the changes from front offices, teammates, and coaching staffs, Devin Booker has remained the constant. He&rsquo;s carried the Suns from obscurity to contention, and now he&rsquo;s steering them into a new era with patience and purpose.
If the Suns&rsquo; future depends on leadership and belief, they have both in their cornerstone. &ldquo;Whatever situation that&rsquo;s been thrown at me, I just take it for what it is,&rdquo; Booker said. &ldquo;I love the situation that we&rsquo;re in now, and we&rsquo;re building.&rdquo;
In a time of transition, that&rsquo;s exactly the kind of message Phoenix needs from their bonafide franchise star.

Devin Booker reflects on his Suns journey, and embraces the challenge of leading Phoenix through a transition season.

Devin Booker embraces leadership role as Suns transition to new era

MACAU, CHINA &mdash; The NBA officially returned to China for the first time in six years, and the moment didn&rsquo;t disappoint. In a thrilling overtime showdown at the Venetian Arena, the Phoenix Suns outlasted the Brooklyn Nets 132-127 here in the first game of the 2025 NBA China Games, capping off a night filled with history
The atmosphere inside the 14,000-seat arena was electric, with fans witnessing not just the return of NBA basketball to Chinese soil, but also a matchup that had all the flair of a midseason battle. After a six-year hiatus following strained relations between the league and the country, the NBA&rsquo;s return marked a new chapter &ndash; and Macau&rsquo;s vibrant crowd made sure it was one to remember.
Several NBA legends also were in attendance, including Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal, Yao Ming, Vince Carter, Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade, Jeremy Lin, Shawn Marion, Deron Williams, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Stephon Marbury with special appearances from David Beckham and Jackie Chan.
Game report: Nets start hot before Suns find their rhythm, as Booker leads third-quarter surge and Goodwin seals it in overtime
Brooklyn came out blazing, storming to a 23-6 lead behind the hot hand of Cam Thomas, who poured in nine early points and looked unstoppable in isolation. The Nets were crisp and confident, converting tough looks while capitalizing on Phoenix&rsquo;s early turnovers and sluggish defense. The Suns struggled to find their footing initially, looking overwhelmed by Brooklyn&rsquo;s pace and pressure.
As the game wore on, though, the Suns began to settle in. They tightened their defense, slowed the tempo, and began finding their offensive groove. By halftime, Phoenix had clawed back into the game, their ball movement improving and their defensive rotations much sharper.
The third quarter belonged to Devin Booker, who caught fire after a quiet first half. The All-Star guard found his rhythm from midrange and from downtown and began orchestrating the Suns&rsquo; comeback. His leadership helped steady the team, and his ability to collapse the Nets&rsquo; defense opened the door for Phoenix&rsquo;s role players to step up.
In overtime, it was Jordan Goodwin who delivered the dagger &ndash; drilling a clutch three-pointer that sealed the Suns&rsquo; victory. Phoenix&rsquo;s bench outplayed Brooklyn&rsquo;s late, displaying poise and depth that underscored how balanced this Suns roster can be even in exhibition play.
Nets head coach Jordi Fern&aacute;ndez spoke about his young group after the loss, noting both positives and areas for growth.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very happy with them overall,&rdquo; Fernandez said, speaking about rookie PGs Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf. Traore finished the game with 6 points in 7 minutes, starting the game, while Saraf had 9 markers off the bench. &ldquo;I thought Nolan and Ben as point guards felt the real NBA pressure &ndash; and that&rsquo;s a good thing. That&rsquo;s a learning opportunity when you feel that pressure from a good defensive team. But 34 turnovers for 42 points? You&rsquo;re not going to win many games that way.&rdquo;
Fernandez also commended rookies Drake Powell and Danny Wolf for their energy and composure. &ldquo;Drake took advantage of his minutes &ndash; you can see his athleticism, how he pressures the ball, and plays on both ends. Danny had a good punch with that last group and made winning plays to help us take the lead.&rdquo;
For Cam Thomas, who finished with an impressive scoring and playmaking display with 22 points and 6 assists, the balance between aggression and facilitating remains a focus.
&ldquo;Me and Jordi always talk about it,&rdquo; Thomas said about him being a scorer and a facilitator. &ldquo;He knows I&rsquo;m a scorer, but it&rsquo;s about that fine line &ndash; being aggressive while creating for others. We&rsquo;re finding that balance this year, and it&rsquo;s trending up.&rdquo;
On the Suns&rsquo; side, head coach Jordan Ott highlighted the impact of rookie center Oso Ighodaro, who showcased his mobility and passing feel in the short roll.
&ldquo;The speed and aggressiveness early from the Nets did affect him,&rdquo; Ott said. &ldquo;But you saw how important Oso is to us. His third quarter really helped stabilize that group, especially against a team that pressures as much as Brooklyn. He&rsquo;s a pressure release for us &ndash; that short-roll decision making is big.&rdquo;
<h3>&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;</h3>
Beyond the box score, the night carried symbolic weight. The NBA&rsquo;s return to China &ndash; facilitated with lots of partnership including with Alibaba and Tencent &ndash; marks a rekindling of one of the league&rsquo;s most lucrative international relationships. The Macau crowd&rsquo;s energy underscored how much Chinese fans have missed live NBA action.

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Brooklyn Nets 132–127 in Macau as the NBA returned to China for the first time in six years.

Suns edge Nets in Macau as NBA returns to China after six years

MACAU, CHINA &ndash; The Brooklyn Nets are entering another transition year, but this time, there&rsquo;s no drama, no headlines, and no superstars looming over the locker room. Just a group of players trying to build something sustainable from the ground up.
Gone are the days of the star-powered experiment that once featured Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden from three years ago. What remains are a few steady hands, players like Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas, who have seen both sides of the franchise&rsquo;s rollercoaster journey. As Brooklyn prepares to play two games in the preseason slate in Macau against the Suns, the two longest-tenured Nets reflect on what it means to lead the team into this next era.
For Nic Claxton, who&rsquo;s grown from a wiry second-round project into one of the NBA&rsquo;s most mobile defensive big men, every year brings new lessons and responsibilities.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m adjusting &ndash; I mean, you know, every year is different,&rdquo; Claxton said. &ldquo;You have a different set of goals, but at the end of the day, you wanna go out there and impact winning. That&rsquo;s my job, and we got a lot of younger guys on the team now, so I have to use my experience to help them out and continue to grow my game as much as I can as well.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s a mature outlook from a player who&rsquo;s quietly become one of Brooklyn&rsquo;s pillars. Last season, Claxton averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks &ndash; anchoring a defense that was often tasked with holding the line amid offensive inconsistencies. Now, under second-year head coach Jordi Fernandez, Claxton is being asked to take another step &ndash; not just as a rim protector, but as a leader in both tone and preparation.
And by his own account, he&rsquo;s ready for that challenge. &ldquo;My conditioning has been A1,&rdquo; Claxton said with confidence. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been practicing really hard, so I feel like I&rsquo;m in the best spot that I&rsquo;ve been in in my career right now with conditioning, for sure.&rdquo;
That confidence is timely, as the Nets&rsquo; new identity will revolve around toughness, defense, and effort &mdash; areas where Claxton naturally thrives. With Fernandez emphasizing pace and player development, Claxton&rsquo;s voice will be critical in setting the team&rsquo;s standard.
While Claxton leads the frontcourt, Cam Thomas continues to evolve as Brooklyn&rsquo;s go-to scorer. After averaging a career-high 24.0 points per game last season, Thomas proved he can fill it up against anyone. But as the 23-year-old enters his fifth NBA season, the challenge isn&rsquo;t just scoring &ndash; it&rsquo;s expanding his influence across a young locker room.
&ldquo;Just keep improving,&rdquo; Thomas said when asked about his expectations this year. &ldquo;Playing hard and being competitive, that&rsquo;s really the main thing. You win, you lose &ndash; whatever our coach wants &ndash; he always preaches to us it&rsquo;s not about the wins and the losses but it&rsquo;s about how we compete as a team and how we fight&hellip; just competing and fighting and the wins will come. So, I just wanna keep following the system and following what we do, and everything will work it out.&rdquo;
That philosophy fits perfectly with Fernandez&rsquo;s developmental focus. The Nets are chasing habits this year to hopefully build into the right step in the future.
Thomas&rsquo; scoring ability is well-documented, but this offseason, the guard also worked on becoming more of a facilitator &ndash; a necessity on a roster that added three rookie point guards. Still, Thomas expects to maintain his aggressive offensive role while taking on more leadership duties.
&ldquo;I think my role will be the same, nothing has changed really,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We got more young guys now, I think I would have the same role that I had last year, and just keep improving. Obviously just helping them get up to speed and help them to understand NBA games as quickly as possible,&rdquo; Thomas shared. &ldquo;My job is to try to get them up to speed as much as I can, and offer up help in any way I can for them. Definitely gonna be that leader in that aspect and I can&rsquo;t wait to get going.&rdquo;
That sense of responsibility represents another important shift for Brooklyn. With several veterans already leaving the team in seasons past, Claxton and Thomas now bridge the gap between the team&rsquo;s past and its future. Both have experienced the turbulence of constant roster turnover and now find themselves in positions to stabilize the franchise from within.
The Nets&rsquo; trip to Macau, part of the NBA China Games, gave the group a valuable early test of that chemistry. For a young team still finding its identity, dealing with long travel, jet lag, and quick turnarounds mirrors the grind of an 82-game season.
&ldquo;Just our ability to adapt,&rdquo; Thomas said about how they can use this experience for the upcoming NBA season. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re coming on a 17-hour flight, the time difference is crazy. We&rsquo;re not here very long to get acclimated as much as we&rsquo;d like, so we got two games in three days, so definitely different. But I would say the biggest ability is to adapt to any situation you can and be ready for back-to-backs in the NBA.&rdquo;
Adaptability might just become Brooklyn&rsquo;s defining trait. The Nets aren&rsquo;t expected to compete for a playoff spot immediately, but they have the right mix of youth and hunger to make things interesting. Fernandez&rsquo;s system &ndash; which emphasizes spacing, movement, and defensive effort &ndash; is built for players like Claxton and Thomas to thrive and lead.
Claxton&rsquo;s voice on the floor and Thomas&rsquo; scoring punch give Brooklyn a foundation to build on, even as they continue to retool. And for both players, Macau served as more than just a preseason stop &ndash; it was a reminder of how far they&rsquo;ve come/
As the Nets prepare for the 2025-26 season, the tone is different. No more quick fixes or blockbuster expectations. Instead, there&rsquo;s patience, growth, and players like Claxton and Thomas ready to lead the climb.
&ldquo;At the end of the day, you wanna go out there and impact winning,&rdquo; Claxton said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s my job.&rdquo;&nbsp;
For a team trying to rediscover its identity, that simple message might be exactly what Brooklyn needs.

From Macau, Claxton and Thomas discuss adapting, guiding young teammates, and shaping the team’s identity for the next NBA season.

Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas prepare to traverse new Brooklyn Nets season

In today&rsquo;s NBA, transition seasons come in all forms. Some teams tear everything down to the studs. Others try to retool around what&rsquo;s left of a former contender. This year, the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets find themselves on opposite sides of that spectrum &ndash; two franchises moving in different directions, both still searching for clarity after years of turbulence.
Phoenix: From championship chase to crossroads
For the Phoenix Suns, the 2025-26 season feels like a reset &ndash; not a rebuild, but something in between. Just a year ago, the Suns were all in, banking on the star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal to deliver the franchise&rsquo;s first championship. Instead, that vision unraveled under the weight of injuries, fit issues, and the unforgiving depth of the Western Conference.
Now, Durant and Beal are gone. The Suns have retooled, bringing in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks from Houston in what looks like a soft pivot rather than a full teardown. On paper, this is still a competitive team. Booker remains one of the league&rsquo;s purest scorers &ndash; a consistent 27-30 point threat who can carry an offense for the entire season. His leadership, composure, and playoff pedigree make him the unquestioned face of the franchise.
But the question is, for how long?
Booker has already seen one Finals run and several deep playoff pushes, but his prime years are ticking by without a true contender around him. The Suns&rsquo; front office faces a delicate balance: surround Booker with enough talent to stay relevant, or commit fully to a long-term rebuild that starts with the young players they&rsquo;ve drafted.
Phoenix&rsquo;s 2025 draft class has generated buzz, headlined by 7&rsquo;1&rdquo; South Sudanese big man Khaman Maluach, whose athleticism and defensive instincts could eventually anchor the team&rsquo;s frontcourt. Add sharpshooter Koby Brea and promising forward Rasheer Fleming, and the Suns suddenly have youth and upside they haven&rsquo;t had in years. Still, those prospects are developmental projects, not immediate answers.
And that&rsquo;s where the uncertainty lies. The Suns&rsquo; current roster feels caught between timelines &ndash; one led by a proven All-Star in his prime, and another still finding its footing. Jalen Green&rsquo;s arrival adds intrigue: a high-ceiling scorer looking for a fresh start, eager to rebuild his reputation after inconsistency in Houston. Dillon Brooks, meanwhile, brings defensive edge and intensity &ndash; the kind of grit the team lacked during its superstar-heavy era.
Yet even with those additions, the Suns face a brutal Western Conference landscape. Oklahoma City, Denver, Minnesota, Houston, Los Angeles, and Golden State all remain loaded. The margin for error is razor-thin. For Phoenix, the season might not be about contention but about definition,&nbsp; figuring out what kind of team they want to be, and whether Booker still fits and wants to be a part of that long-term vision.&nbsp;
Because in today&rsquo;s NBA, all it takes is one tough year, one frustrated superstar, for everything to shift. And if the Suns can&rsquo;t provide a clear path forward soon, speculation around Booker&rsquo;s future will only grow louder.
Brooklyn: Building from the ground up
If the Suns are hovering between two worlds, the Brooklyn Nets are fully embracing the rebuild. Gone are the days of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Gone are the shortcuts, the splashy trades, and the instant gratification. In their place, a patient, deliberate plan &ndash; a commitment to youth, draft capital, and development.
The Nets&rsquo; 2025 NBA draft haul was one for the history books: five first-round selections &mdash; Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, and Drake Powell. Each brings something unique: Demin&rsquo;s size, playmaking, and creativity, Traore&rsquo;s speed and quickness, Saraf&rsquo;s veteran-savvy and composure, Wolf&rsquo;s touch and IQ, and Powell&rsquo;s explosiveness and defensive versatility. It&rsquo;s a talent-rich group that gives Brooklyn multiple chances to uncover a future star.
And that&rsquo;s exactly what the organization needs. The post-superteam era has left the Nets without a definitive franchise player. Cam Thomas, now extended after hitting restricted free agency, has proven he can fill it up &ndash; a microwave scorer who can drop 30 on any given night. But whether he can lead a winning team remains uncertain. Nic Claxton, steady and efficient, remains the defensive anchor and emotional backbone of the roster.
The biggest wildcard, though, might be Michael Porter Jr., acquired in a trade that sent Cam Johnson out. For the first time in his career, Porter enters a season as the likely No. 1 option. Long known as a complementary scorer in Denver&rsquo;s system, he&rsquo;ll have the freedom and the responsibility to expand his game in Brooklyn. This is his chance to prove that he&rsquo;s more than a luxury piece on a contender.
The Nets&rsquo; long-term plan is clear: build through the draft, develop their prospects, and keep the books clean for the future. With three projected franchise-level talents &ndash; Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and AJ Dybantsa &ndash; expected to headline next year&rsquo;s draft, Brooklyn could be setting itself up for one of the league&rsquo;s most intriguing rebuilds.
In the meantime, expect the Nets to experiment. There will be growing pains, roster shuffling, and perhaps more trades to stockpile picks. But there will also be moments of discovery &ndash; glimpses of who might become the next face of the franchise.
Two paths, one lesson
In many ways, Phoenix and Brooklyn are mirror images in reverse. Both went all-in on superstar-driven eras. Both fell short. But while the Suns are clinging to contention through their remaining star, the Nets have chosen to start from scratch.
The Suns are trying to stay relevant while redefining themselves. The Nets are comfortable taking the long road back. Each path carries risk and each of them offer a different margin of error.
Phoenix may find itself in limbo if Booker tires of waiting. Brooklyn may struggle to turn its promising prospects into a real cornerstone. But both franchises, in their own way, are chasing something that every team eventually faces after their window closes: a new identity.
For the Suns, the question is whether they can build one fast enough to keep Booker from looking elsewhere. For the Nets, it&rsquo;s whether their patience will finally pay off.
Different timelines yet the same pursuit as the two teams on opposite ends of rebuilding transition trying to turn uncertainty into hope.

From reset to rebuild, the Suns and the Nets take different paths toward a new identity after their superteam eras ended.

Suns, Nets on opposite ends of rebuilding transition

The NBA has officially unveiled the groups for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup, its in-season tournament spanning all 30 teams. Group stage play will run from October 31 to November 28, with knockout rounds &ndash; including quarterfinals, semifinals (December 13), and the championship (December 16) &ndash; scheduled in Las Vegas.
<h3>Western Conference Groups</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group A: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group B: Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group C: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs</li>
</ul>
<h3>Eastern Conference Groups</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group A: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group B: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Group C: New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets</li>
</ul>
Each team will play four group games &ndash; two home, two away &ndash; on &ldquo;Cup Nights.&rdquo; The six group winners plus one wild-card per conference (top second-place team) advance to the quarterfinals.&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Star-heavy Group C in the West promises high-stakes matchups and early tests for contenders like Houston, Denver, and Golden State.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Eastern intrigue lies in Group A, where Cleveland and Indiana&rsquo;s clash may set an early tone for the East.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Prime Video broadcasting expands the Cup's reach, spotlighting the tournament&rsquo;s peak during December&rsquo;s Vegas knockout stages.</li>
</ul>
The Emirates NBA Cup offers midseason intensity, rewarding early cohesion and depth. With fierce competition and championship aspirations on the line, group dynamics will test contenders early and provide compelling basketball through the end of the year.
Full group breakdown sets the stage for a high-impact tournament &ndash; expect fierce battles starting October 31.

The NBA has officially unveiled the groups for the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup, its in-season tournament spanning all 30 teams.

2025 Emirates NBA Cup: Group stage draw revealed

It is official: Cooper Flagg has been selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, June 25, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.&nbsp;
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 wing out of Duke University from the US State of Maine, has been the consensus top overall pick for over a year, and he finally gets to hear his name called officially at the draft.
Flagg had a one-of-a-kind college freshman season at Duke, leading the team in every category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks). He also won the National Player of the Year award and led Duke to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament.
ANALYSIS: The Mavericks have lucked out on the chance to select Flagg after they had only just the 11th-best odds in the draft lottery. This also seems to be a blessing in disguise for Dallas after the fans&rsquo; outrage in February after GM Nico Harrison traded away franchise player and superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Now, Flagg lands in Dallas, bringing his winning mentality and the factor that stood out to most coaches and scouts: defense. This has been Harrison&rsquo;s blueprint for building a team around Davis, and Flagg immediately blends in with the team, complementing his versatile skillset on offense.

It is official: Cooper Flagg has been selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.

Dallas Mavericks snag Cooper Flagg as first overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has been completed, and the second round will tip off on Thursday, June 26 (8 ET, ESPN) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This will be the second time in NBA history that the draft will be held over two days, following its introduction over a year ago.
Here are all the first-round selections courtesy of the NBA: (article to be updated with the second-round picks)
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cooper-flagg">Cooper Flagg</a> (Duke) to the Dallas Mavericks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/dylan-harper">Dylan Harper</a> (Rutgers) to the San Antonio Spurs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/vj-edgecombe">VJ Edgecombe</a> (Baylor) to the Philadelphia 76ers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kon-knueppel">Kon Knueppel</a> (Duke) to the Charlotte Hornets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ace-bailey">Ace Bailey</a> (Rutgers) to the Utah Jazz</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/tre-johnson">Tre Johnson</a> (Texas) to the Washington Wizards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jeremiah-fears">Jeremiah Fears</a> (Oklahoma) to the New Orleans Pelicans</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/egor-demin">Egor Demin</a> (BYU) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/collin-murray-boyles">Collin Murray-Boyles</a> (South Carolina) to the Toronto Raptors</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/khaman-maluach">Khaman Maluach</a> (Duke) to the Houston Rockets &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/suns-rockets-trade-kevin-durant">Traded to Suns</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/cedric-coward">Cedric Coward</a> (Washington State) to the Portland Trail Blazers &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/memgrizz/status/1938089198935834700">Traded to Grizzlies</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/noa-essengue">Noa Essengue</a> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Chicago Bulls</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/derik-queen">Derik Queen</a> (Maryland) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/derik-queen-nba-draft-trade-forward-center-maryland-new-orleans-pelicans-atlanta-hawks-first-round-draft-pick-13">Traded to Pelicans</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/carter-bryant">Carter Bryant</a> (Arizona) to the San Antonio Spurs</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/thomas-sorber">Thomas Sorber</a> (Georgetown) to the Oklahoma City Thunder</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hansen-yang">Yang Hansen</a> (Qingdao) to the Memphis Grizzlies &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail-blazers-acquire-draft-rights-to-yang-hansen">Traded to Trail Blazers</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/joan-beringer">Joan Beringer</a> (Cedevita Olimpija) to the Minnesota Timberwolves</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/walter-clayton-jr">Walter Clayton Jr.</a> (Florida) to the Washington Wizards &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/utahjazz/status/1938070621159616606">Traded to Jazz</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nolan-traore">Nolan Traor&eacute;</a> (Saint-Quentin BB) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/kasparas-jakucionis">Kasparas Jakučionis</a> (Illinois) to the Miami Heat</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/will-riley">Will Riley</a> (Illinois) to the Utah Jazz &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/WashWizards/status/1938082193785397462">Traded to Wizards</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/drake-powell">Drake Powell</a> (North Carolina) to the Atlanta Hawks &ndash; <a href="https://x.com/BrooklynNets/status/1938071333008482655">Traded to Nets</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/asa-newell">Asa Newell</a> (Georgia) to the New Orleans Pelicans &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-acquire-the-draft-rights-of-asa-newell-the-no-23-pick-in-the-2025-nba-draft">Traded to Hawks</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/nique-clifford">Nique Clifford</a> (Colorado State) to the Oklahoma City Thunder &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-acquire-draft-rights-to-nique-clifford">Traded to Kings</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/jase-richardson">Jase Richardson</a> (Michigan State) to the Orlando Magic</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/ben-saraf">Ben Saraf</a> (Ratiopharm Ulm) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/danny-wolf">Danny Wolf</a> (Michigan) to the Brooklyn Nets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/hugo-gonzalez">Hugo Gonz&aacute;lez</a> (Real Madrid) to the Boston Celtics</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/liam-mcneeley">Liam McNeeley</a> (Connecticut) to the Phoenix Suns &ndash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/charlotte-hornets-agree-in-principle-to-acquire-the-draft-rights-to-liam-mcneeley">Traded to Hornets</a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nba.com/draft/2025/prospects/yanic-konan-niederhauser">Yanic Konan Niederhauser</a> (Penn State) to the Los Angeles Clippers</li>
</ol>

The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has been completed, and the second round will tip off on Thursday, June 26, still in Brooklyn.

2025 NBA Draft: Full results

In a major three-team transaction, the Boston Celtics have sent 7-foot-2 former All‑Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
It is a three-team trade and the Brooklyn Nets are also involved. This move underscores Boston's aggressive salary-shedding strategy following key injuries and a recent Finals win in 2024.
Porzingis, 29, averaged 19.5 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.5 blk in just 42 games last season and holds the potential to stretch the floor and protect the rim. With him, the Hawks acquire size and shooting necessary for their roster to flourish. Atlanta also adds a second-rounder and addresses its need for a frontcourt upgrade alongside Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu.
In return, Boston receives Georges Niang and a second-round pick, as the Celtics reduce tax burden clearing approximately $180 million in luxury-tax liabilities and dropping below the second salary-cap apron &ndash; a rapid teardown post-Tatum injury, who suffered a tear to his right achilles in their second-round loss to New York.
Brooklyn lands guard/forward Terance Mann and the Hawks' No. 22 pick, boosting their 2025 draft assets to five first-round selections and utilizing cap space for maximum flexibility. The Nets cashed in draft capital with this trade as they now own 5 first round picks in this year&rsquo;s draft.
The deal is expected to become official on July 6 due to salary-cap timing rules.
ANALYSIS: For the Hawks, this is a high-risk, high-reward move as Porzingis brings elite shooting and defense, though his health remains a concern. For the Celtics, the franchise gains cap flexibility to rebuild or pursue new core pieces after losing both Holiday and Porzingis. For the Nets, they continue accumulating draft picks and cap space, emphasizing long-term strategic positioning.
Atlanta is betting big on Porzingis upside to elevate its playoff prospects; Boston is resetting financially; and Brooklyn is poised for a draft-fueled offseason build. This is a monumental three-team shift that's reshaping Eastern Conference power dynamics.

In a major three-team transaction, the Boston Celtics have sent 7-foot-2 former All‑Star Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks.

Kristaps Porzingis traded to Hawks in strategic three-team deal

Cooper Flagg is now set to take his talents to the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks after the franchise won the NBA draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick on Monday night.
This is the first time the Mavericks have won the lottery in their 45-year history.
After losing franchise superstar Luka Doncic in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas will have an immediate replacement after lucking out with the 1st overall pick. The Mavericks entered the night with the 11th-best odds to land the No. 1 overall, at just 1.8 percent.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
COOPER FLAGG, YOU ARE A DALLAS MAVERICK. Dallas (1.8% chance) has won the 2025 NBA Draft lottery. 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/HzEIlg649i">pic.twitter.com/HzEIlg649i</a>
&mdash; BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketbllnews/status/1922070620168233131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>

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

The Mavericks are primed to almost certainly use the pick on Flagg, the Duke University freshman standout. The 6-foot-9 Flagg, who is regarded as one of the best prospects in recent NBA history, led the Blue Devils to a Final Four appearance in his lone college season and won the national player of the year award.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range, and 84% from the foul line. If the Mavericks end up drafting him, Flagg will join a core that includes Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and the injured Kyrie Irving.&nbsp;
San Antonio also moved up the draft boards to pick second, while Philadelphia and Charlotte rounded out the top 4.
Utah and Washington, which were tied with Charlotte with the best chances to land 1st overall with 14 percent, will pick fifth and sixth, respectively.
Full order of the draft lottery (according to the sequence announced by NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum)
14th pick - San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta Hawks)
13th pick - Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento Kings)
12th pick - Chicago Bulls
11th pick - Portland Trail Blazers
10th pick - Houston Rockets
9th pick - Toronto Raptors
8th pick - Brooklyn Nets
7th pick - New Orleans Pelicans
6th pick - Washington Wizards
5th pick - Utah Jazz
4th pick - Charlotte Hornets
3rd pick - Philadelphia 76ers
2nd pick - San Antonio Spurs
1st pick - Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg is now set to take his talents to the Mavericks after the franchise won the No. 1 overall pick on Monday night.

Mavericks earn 2025 NBA 1st overall pick, right to draft Cooper Flagg

When the New York Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets, the move was met with shock, skepticism, and scrutiny. Five first-round picks. For a player whose offensive role had diminished, whose stats were down, and whose place in a new system seemed more complementary than central.
It was one of the most bizarre returns for a player in recent NBA history, which is borderline unprecedented. Bridges was no superstar scorer, nor a perennial All-NBA selection. He had gone from being Brooklyn's first option to, arguably, New York's fourth. Questions swirled: Was this a reach and an overpay?
But New York seemingly knew what they were doing. They were reuniting Bridges with former college teammates at Villanova, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. All three won an NCAA national championship playing together, and the Knicks were hoping this could translate into a good winning culture in the NBA and eventually a title.
Then, as the Knicks stunned the defending champion Boston Celtics in back-to-back games to start their 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinal series, those questions disappeared. Because Mikal Bridges answered every single one of them.
People often forget that the Knicks didn&rsquo;t bring in Bridges to average 25 points a game. They brought him in to defend the NBA&rsquo;s biggest, strongest wings. They brought him in for this very moment.
The Celtics, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the charge on the way to their title last season, are the blueprint every other contender is trying to crack. Long, physical wings who can score from anywhere, who can switch everything, and who have been to the NBA Finals twice in the past three seasons. To compete with them, you don&rsquo;t just need offense. You need answers.
New York&rsquo;s answer? Stack the deck with perimeter stoppers. Bridges. OG Anunoby. Josh Hart. Two-way warriors with toughness and length. And in a matchup where margins are razor-thin, where late-game execution determines the outcome, the Knicks&rsquo; investment has already paid dividends.
With the game tied in overtime and the final seconds ticking down, the Celtics had the ball in Jaylen Brown&rsquo;s hands. But as Brown caught the ball on the left wing, Bridges was there to read the play and anticipate the move.
He ripped the ball from Brown&rsquo;s hands in one swift motion, wrestled it away as Brown scrambled to recover, and held on as the buzzer sounded. Ball game in Game 1, Knicks steal Game 1 in the Boston Garden.
Bridges didn&rsquo;t just make a great play &ndash; he made the play. The one that changes the conversation, and the one that likely swings a series.
Two nights later, the stakes rose again. Boston had a huge 20-point lead late in the third quarter, and New York was running on fumes. That&rsquo;s when Bridges flipped the switch, not just defensively, but offensively too.
He scored all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter alone, rallying the Knicks back into the game. It was the highest-scoring playoff quarter of his career. The energy inside the Boston Garden shifted, as if life were sucked out of the arena.
And with the Knicks clinging to a slim lead and seconds left, Jayson Tatum had the ball on the left wing. As he tried to make his move toward the baseline, he found himself trapped, smothered by both Bridges and Anunoby. There was nowhere to go.
Tatum tried to make the right play and pass out of the double. But Bridges read it. He stuck out his arm, deflected the ball, and threw the ball to the backcourt to a streaking Jalen Brunson, and it sealed the victory. Game over, Knicks 2, Celtics 0. The seemingly invincible defending champion Celtics looked every bit of human that they could be, dropping two straight at home on both comeback occasions.
Bridges&rsquo; role and the Knicks&rsquo; vision
Bridges&rsquo; offensive dip since arriving in New York has been noticeable. He&rsquo;s no longer the guy who averaged 26.1 points per game in Brooklyn post-KD and Kyrie. With Jalen Brunson scoring and orchestrating, Karl-Anthony Towns spacing, and OG Anunoby slashing, Bridges has often been the third option, sometimes fourth.
But that&rsquo;s not the full picture. Basketball is bigger than the box score. And Bridges, even in a quieter offensive role, is impacting winning at the highest level.
The Knicks gambled on a vision: a roster designed to slow down elite wing scorers in high-stakes games. And with just two playoff games against Boston, that vision has materialized.
They didn&rsquo;t need Bridges to carry the offense. They needed him to carry the moment, to guard the other team&rsquo;s best guy, and to make the winning play. And he did.
Bridges didn&rsquo;t ask to be traded. He didn&rsquo;t lobby for five first-round picks to be attached to his name. But he embraced the responsibility. He leaned into the expectations. And now, he&rsquo;s delivering on the biggest stage against the defending champions. He&rsquo;s defending like a star and playing like a closer, all while doing it without the spotlight demanding he score 30.
There&rsquo;s something poetic about a player making his greatest impact on the defensive end in a league that so often celebrates offense. In a series where Boston's stars were expected to take over, Bridges is writing a different script &ndash; one that says defense still wins games, and that the &ldquo;other guy&rdquo; can become the hero.
The job isn&rsquo;t finished, and Boston definitely isn&rsquo;t going away. They&rsquo;re too good and battle-tested. But with the Knicks up 2-0, the tone has been set for the rest of the series.
And if this series is the war New York built their roster for, then Mikal Bridges is one of their weapons to go to war with. Game 3 awaits. But you better believe the Celtics will be seeing No. 25 in their nightmares.

Mikal Bridges' two game-winning defensive plays vs. Boston proved his worth in the Knicks' stunning 2-0 series lead over the Celtics.

Mikal Bridges proves his worth with clutch defense late against Boston

In a remarkable turnaround, Kenny Atkinson has been honored as the 2024&ndash;25 NBA Coach of the Year, recognizing his impactful first season at the helm of the Cleveland Cavaliers.&nbsp;
Atkinson guided the Cavaliers to a 64&ndash;18 record, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference and marking the second-highest win total in franchise history.
The Cavaliers' season was highlighted by a 15-game winning streak to start the year, tying the second-best start in NBA history. Later, the team achieved a franchise-record 16-game win streak between February and March.
Atkinson's coaching prowess was further acknowledged as he received 59 out of 100 first-place votes from a global media panel, surpassing Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka.
This accolade places Atkinson alongside Bill Fitch and Mike Brown as the only Cavaliers coaches to receive the Coach of the Year honor.
Atkinson's previous head coaching experience includes a tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, where he led the team to a playoff appearance in 2019. He also served as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, contributing to their 2022 NBA Championship run.
Under Atkinson's leadership, the Cavaliers not only achieved regular-season success but also advanced past the Miami Heat in the playoffs with a record-setting point differential, before facing the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals.
Atkinson's Coach of the Year award underscores his significant impact on the Cavaliers' resurgence and his esteemed position among NBA coaching ranks.

Kenny Atkinson has been honored as the 2024–25 NBA Coach of the Year, recognizing his impactful first season with the Cavaliers.

Kenny Atkinson named 2024–25 NBA Coach of the Year

The Philadelphia 76ers have bolstered their backcourt by signing veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV to a two-year, $3 million contract, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
The 26-year-old guard, originally the 18th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, has also previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets. Over his NBA career, Walker has averaged 9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game across 322 appearances, including 88 starts.&nbsp;
Before joining the 76ers, Walker was playing for Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania's EuroLeague. His contract included an NBA opt-out clause, which facilitated his return to the league. Walker expressed his excitement about rejoining the NBA and contributing to the 76ers' success. He is expected to provide depth and experience to Philadelphia's guard rotation as the team aims for a strong finish to the season.&nbsp;
ANALYSIS: The 76ers currently hold a measly 20-34 record, tied with the Nets for only 11th in the East. This season, Philadelphia has been marred by a series of injuries to key players, including superstar center Joel Embiid, star free agent signing Paul George, and emerging rookie Jared McCain.&nbsp;
Walker's addition comes at a crucial time, as the team prepares for the final stretch of the regular season and try to make a push for the playoffs. They stand 1.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th and final play-in slot while being behind 6.5 games from the Detroit Pistons for the 6th seed in the East.

The Philadelphia 76ers have bolstered their backcourt by signing veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV.

76ers sign guard Lonnie Walker IV

Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat secured the 2025 NBA Three-Point Contest title Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco for the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend.
The 6-foot-5 guard scored 24 points in the final round to beat Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (19 points) and Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (23 points). Hield had a chance to surpass Herro&rsquo;s score by needing to make all 5 shots in the corner for his money ball rack but missed out on one shot, giving the victory to Herro.
Herro, Hield, and Garland qualified for the final round after finishing with the top three scores in the first round.
The full scores for the first round were as follows (in order of the shots taken):
Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets - 14 points
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers - 24 points
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons - 16 points
Norman Powell, Los Angeles Clippers - 14 points
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat - 19 points
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks - 18 points
Buddy Hield, Golden State Warriors - 31 points (ties Stephen Curry and Tyrese Haliburton for most points scored all-time)
Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks - 18 points
Herro expressed his delight after his championship win. &ldquo;I got lucky. I thought Buddy was gonna make all 5 shots in the corner, but I was lucky he missed. I&rsquo;m just happy to be here.&rdquo;
Herro joins the list of great Miami Heat shooters to have won a three-point shootout crown, joining Glen Rice (1995), Jason Kapono (2007), Daequan Cook (2009), and James Jones (2011).

Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat secured the 2025 NBA Three-Point Contest title Saturday night.

Tyler Herro secures 2025 NBA Three-Point Contest title

Ben Simmons has agreed to a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets, making him an unrestricted free agent. Following the buyout, Simmons intends to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to news broken by ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
Simmons would now join and be teammates with Clippers guard James Harden, the player for whom he was traded two years ago when he was with the Sixers.
Simmons' time with the Nets was marred by injuries, including back issues and surgeries, limiting his playing time to just 57 of 191 games since his trade to Brooklyn. This season, he played in 33 of 51 games, averaging 6.2 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.2 rebounds as a backup point guard.&nbsp;
The buyout is expected to free up a roster spot and cap space for the Nets, with the possibility of converting some of their players&rsquo; two-way contracts to&nbsp; standard deals.
Simmons signing with LA aims to bolster the Clippers' defense and playmaking capabilities as they pursue a playoff spot.

Ben Simmons has agreed to a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.