Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls have reached an agreement with point guard Lonzo Ball on a two-year, $20 million contract extension, as reported by NBA reporters Shams Charania and Chris Haynes.&nbsp;
The deal, accordingly, includes a club/team option for the second year.&nbsp;
Ball, 27, returned to action this season after missing over two years due to multiple knee surgeries. He made his season debut in October but was sidelined for 15 games due to a sprained right wrist. Since rejoining the starting lineup in late January, Ball has averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over eight consecutive starts. Overall, he has contributed 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 30 games this season.&nbsp;
This extension comes amid trade rumors surrounding Ball. Notably, the new contract structure could either make him a more attractive asset in potential trade discussions or a nice piece for the rebuilding Bulls squad on a relatively cheap contract.
Nevertheless, this is a feel-good moment for Ball after making a successful and productive return this season after being away from the game for two whole seasons due to a nagging knee injury.&nbsp;

The Chicago Bulls have reached an agreement with point guard Lonzo Ball on a two-year, $20 million contract extension.

Bulls, Lonzo Ball agree to two-year, $20 million extension

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?

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

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

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

This article was initially published by Basketball News on Nov. 4, 2020.
Every NBA team approaches their search for a head coach differently, and no two searches are the same. Here are a few things to consider or put into perspective when it comes to NBA teams&rsquo; coaching searches.
Some teams ask you to draw up plays you&rsquo;d run for their team on a chalkboard in the room before you even sit down. In some interviews, they just want to talk about your philosophies (as far as basketball and life in general). They might ask you what changes can be made to the roster. It all just depends on that team&rsquo;s way of doing things.
My interview with the Chicago Bulls was much different than my interview with the Los Angeles Clippers. They were totally different situations, and other interviews I&rsquo;ve been in were completely different than those. You&rsquo;re never sure what&rsquo;s going to happen until you walk into the interview. Sometimes, you don&rsquo;t even know who&rsquo;s going to be interviewing you.
Sometimes, it&rsquo;s just the front-office staff. Other times, the owner will be very involved. Some teams bring in their team psychologist, and they have a whole list of questions to ask you. They&rsquo;re going to want to know what kind of leader you are, and they&rsquo;re going to want examples -- not just of your successes, but of your failures as well. How did you adapt to change in these particular situations? How do you drown out the media noise? How will you work with the players and management? What is your overall level of commitment?
But it&rsquo;s not just the decision-makers that you have to sell yourself to, it&rsquo;s the players too. And you have to do that 24/7. You have to sell them on what you believe in if you want that give and take and if you want them to buy in. Also, you have to make them understand the standards that you&rsquo;ve set for the team.&nbsp;
Not every job is for every coach. Every coach has different standards, beliefs and teaching styles, and the team you&rsquo;re interviewing with might not share the same philosophy. You really have to know what you&rsquo;re getting into.&nbsp;
When you&rsquo;re interviewing for a head-coaching job, you talk about the roster and you have your own questions that you want answered too. Are they trying to build around a certain player? Are they willing to go into the luxury tax? How much will they involve their head coach in draft and free-agency decisions? For example, some teams want their coach to be very involved and present for every draft workout; others don&rsquo;t want them to focus on that at all.&nbsp;&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s way more research that goes into preparing for an interview than most people can even begin to imagine. You have to know as much as possible about the team. The more details you have, the better. Not only are you doing your homework about the roster, you&rsquo;re looking at how the team is situated going forward too. How many draft picks do they have in the years ahead? What does the team&rsquo;s cap situation look like? You have to research all pertinent information about the roster and the team&rsquo;s flexibility moving forward.
Also, it&rsquo;s important to understand the team&rsquo;s expectations (in the short-term and long-term). Continued team improvement is paramount. Does the team believe they can realistically contend for a playoff position that season? Is there a certain future championship window (depending on all of the talent assembled)?
<img src="https://basketballnews-media.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/story/body/vinny_d_lg.jpg" alt="" width="711" height="AUTO" />
Once a coach does get the job, that&rsquo;s when the real work starts. It&rsquo;s very difficult to win at a high level, and it&rsquo;s extremely difficult to win at a high level consistently.&nbsp; You have to lead, and not all personalities are the same or mesh well with certain leadership styles.&nbsp;
Everyone throws around the word &lsquo;culture&rsquo; like it&rsquo;s easy to create. The teams that have been able to create a consistent culture do so from the ownership to the front office, all the way down to the end of the bench.&nbsp;
The biggest keys to success in winning are talent and consistency. When you look at all of these winning organizations, what do they all have in common? They were all consistent with their decision-making. They may have been fortunate with draft picks that turned out much better than they expected or free agents that just needed a fresh start, but that&rsquo;s only part of the equation. 
You need to have a vision for how all of these players are going to fit together. Each player is a piece to the puzzle, and you&rsquo;re trying to emphasize the player&rsquo;s strengths and work with them on their weaknesses. The staff is always working on player development and focusing on the fundamentals, while also learning each player&rsquo;s personality and skill sets to put them in the best position for success. Building relationships with players is always the goal, which allows you to improve players&rsquo; skill sets and ensure that the work they&rsquo;re putting in is not only helping the team but also their individual career.
You can&rsquo;t let rumors about your team, your job security or yourself cloud your vision. You walked into that interview room with a plan and a goal, and you can&rsquo;t let anything or anyone distract you from it. However, it&rsquo;s also vitally important to be flexible and open to making adjustments as you move forward and receive new information.
You have your standards. You have your vision. And you have to be yourself.&nbsp;
Finally, here&rsquo;s something that I&rsquo;ve learned after being around the NBA for many years (as a player, executive and head coach): The most important thing for a coach is time. The more time a coach has, the more they can learn about their team - from knowing everyone&rsquo;s strengths and weaknesses to figuring out people&rsquo;s tendencies to seeing how certain guys play well together. Over time, a coach will build strong relationships with the players as well as others throughout the organization. Trust and loyalty is earned and, if earned, must be reciprocated. And everyone has to be pulling in the same direction in order to exceed expectations and align with the standards set forth.&nbsp;
Time is a coach&rsquo;s best friend.&nbsp;

Former NBA head coach Vinny Del Negro provides a behind-the-scenes look at the interview process for NBA head-coaching jobs.

An inside look at the interview process for NBA head coaches

The trade deadline is fast approaching and the Memphis Grizzlies have to make an important decision.
Grizzlies general manager and executive vice president Zach Kleiman has been doing his best Marvel impression by living in a multiverse, attempting to walk out two timelines: contending and developing.
The core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane is in its third year together and, when healthy, is one of the top trios in the entire NBA. More importantly, only Jackson is beyond his rookie contract, as Morant and Bane are both still on rookie deals. This fact has led to a polarizing debate surrounding the Grizzlies.
When Memphis knocked the Golden State Warriors out of the first NBA Play-In Tournament, everyone raved at the "ahead-of-schedule" nature of this team. Last season, the team traded away Jonas Valanciunas for Steven Adams and a shot at developing Ziaire Williams and Santi Aldama. Kleiman was trying to develop ancillary pieces while still putting a competitive product on the floor.
Morant and the Grizzlies surprised everyone, finishing with the second-best record in the league and pushing the eventual-champion Warriors to six games in arguably Golden State's toughest series last year. The "ahead-of-schedule" Grizzlies were still given a pass because they were young and overacheiving.&nbsp;
Memphis is still the second seed in the Western Conference despite losing eight of their last nine contests. Injuries have been a huge factor as Jackson (17 games), Bane (22), Adams (10) and Morant (8) have all missed time due to injury. With the NBA trade deadline on Thursday, the question is whether Kleiman will push the chips in and go for a title piece this year or continue on his multiverse timeline.
Re-signing Adams and Tyus Jones suggests Memphis is interested in contending. Trading away De'Anthony Melton, who struggled mightily in the postseason, suggests the same. Playing Ziaire Williams, David Roddy and Jake LaRavia is the organization attempting to sneak in development. It makes sense, as you have to find the right role players on affordable deals (in this case, rookie contracts) who can have winning impact around your big three.&nbsp;
But even if it makes sense, there is also the flip side. At some point, you are no longer ahead of schedule and overachieving. At some point, the schedule and timeline eventually readjust to the progress that has been made, and a new schedule begins. The Grizzlies are no longer up-and-coming. They are here and the league has adjusted, and so must Memphis.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
There have been social-media posts circling that the Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans both do not want their counterpart to land O.G. Anunoby, and that Memphis would be a perfect fit for OG. This Grizzlies front office has historically moved in silence, and nothing suggests it will overpay in a bidding war for a player who might&nbsp;move the needle toward a title.
Over the next few days, Kleiman will have to decide what is most important for the franchise entrusted to his leadership. The Grizzlies clearly need shooting (still) and perimeter defending &mdash; two things every team is looking for at all times.&nbsp;
Morant, Bane and Jackson are non-starters in any trade conversation (as they should be). They are a core that meshes beautifully. It's the pieces surrounding them that Kleiman has to be willing to part ways with.
One of the most polarizing players in the NBA is Dillon Brooks; you either hate him or you love him. He is on an expiring contract, with his days in Memphis possibly winding away. Brooks' antics on the court and refusal to accept his spot in the pecking order offensively at times have led many to wonder whether he is a long-term fit with the Grizzlies.
With Bane due for a near-max payday, Brooks could be traded at the deadline for assets or given the Kyle Anderson treatment, using his contributions for this run and letting his deal expire at season's end.
Then, there is Jones, who is often lauded as the best backup point guard in the NBA and basically a health-insurance policy for Morant. Memphis needs to send Tyus somewhere he can start and bring in a bigger combo guard who can help Bane run the non-Morant minutes.&nbsp;
Adams and Danny Green are the veterans on the roster who also have extremely tradeable contracts if Kleiman were to do some type of big-game hunting. Adams' presence has allowed Jackson to develop into the Defensive Player of the Year candidate he has become, but at some point, JJJ needs to become the full-time starting 5.&nbsp;
Williams and Xavier Tillman are pieces that Memphis should be willing to include to upgrade their roster. And as well as Memphis has done drafting the last few years, they should now be at the point in this process where first-round picks are on the table.&nbsp;
OUTLINING POTENTIAL TRADE IDEAS
I'm no trade-machine guru, but something along the lines of this framework makes sense for both teams:
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/fanspo-nba-trade-machine-snap_2-6-2023_1-05-25pm.png" alt="" width="685" height="337" />
Memphis gets to keep its primary defender in Brooks while adding a 24-year-old scorer to come off the bench. If the Toronto Raptors begin a fire sale, they get an expiring contract, two second-round picks (<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=2ahUKEwjg0d7A8oP9AhVuFlkFHQ-iAGkQFnoECEQQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fhoopshype.com%2F2023%2F02%2F03%2Fgary-trent-jr-s-trade-value-at-a-protected-first-round-pick-or-two-good-second-rounders%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw2EDYmp9Yp1qneXxEEdRIt_" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trent's reported projected value</a>) and a player who fits their mold of lenghty wings.
The Grizz bench unit is currently 12th in the NBA in scoring at 35.5 points per contest, but is a minus-313 in scoring for the season. They are also 25th in three-point percentage (32.4%) in the league. Adding Gary Trent Jr. could bolster a glaring weakness if Memphis is to be a legitimate contender.&nbsp;
In the interest of getting assets in return for Brooks, Kleiman would likely be choosing to remain on the course of developing players, as Morant, Jackson and Bane are not yet in their primes. Memphis can recoup cheaper, more controllable assets by moving Dillon:
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/fanspo-nba-trade-machine-snap_2-7-2023_8-25-52am.png" alt="" width="686" height="275" />
In this scenario, Memphis takes a shot on Cam Reddish while finding the eventual Jones replacement in Immanuel Quickley. The Knicks get a perfect-fit player to go with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle in Brooks as they attempt to make a run in the Eastern Conference this postseason, plus a lottery-protected first-rounder from the Grizzlies via the Warriors (from the Andre Iguodala trade in July 2019.)
Speaking of replacing Jones, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins could use a defensive upgrade in the backcourt as well someone with a little more size:
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/fanspo-nba-trade-machine-snap_2-7-2023_8-55-00am.png" alt="" width="686" height="275" />
The Chicago Bulls are at a crossroads, and if they decide to start rebuilding the makeup of their roster, bringing in Jones as their starting point guard would not be the worst idea. The Grizzlies get two combo guards in Alex Caruso and Coby White in this trade framework.
White is playing the least amount of minutes of his career this season, and could afford a change of scenery. Caruso is a perfect fit for Memphis, as an athletic guard who can defend on the perimeter. This move also fits Kleiman's desire to flirt with two timelines.
These three trades could be a sequence of moves done at once, but there's a next-to-zero chance Memphis makes multiple moves at the deadline, if any. However, there are peripheral moves to be made for Memphis because it seems clear that standing pat and riding it out is no longer the right choice for this franchise.&nbsp;

Justin Lewis explains how the Grizzlies have to move ahead with contention and suggests three possible trades that could help.

Proposing 3 potential trades that could spark the Memphis Grizzlies

Could Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine be the next star who becomes available?
Just months after the Bulls signed LaVine to a five-year, $215 million extension, rival executives get the sense that LaVine "isn't considered off the table" in trade talks, according to <a href="https://action.onelink.me/eqFB/qy6dqcj4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Moore of The Action Network</a>.
Chicago would want "star assets" back for LaVine, but it sounds like he could be had for the right offer.
The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks (prior to the Kyrie Irving trade) are among the teams that have expressed interest in LaVine, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35589656/the-bulls-enter-nba-trade-deadline-crossroads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamal Collier of ESPN</a>.
While Collier notes that the Bulls have shown little interest in moving LaVine before the deadline, perhaps this is a situation worth monitoring going forward.&nbsp;
LaVine has acknowledged the trade rumors, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35589656/the-bulls-enter-nba-trade-deadline-crossroads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling ESPN</a>: "Team's not playing well, so you're always going to hear those stories." He added that he signed an extension with the Bulls because he wanted to stay in Chicago and that hasn't changed.
This season, LaVine is averaging 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.8 threes and a steal, while shooting 46.4% from the field, 37.7% from three-point range and 84.3% from the free-throw line.
This season hasn't gone as planned for the Bulls. Chicago is currently 26-27, which is the ninth-best record in the Eastern Conference. They have the NBA's 11th-best offense (scoring 112.3 points per 100 possessions) and 12th-best defense (allowing 110.6 points per 100 possessions).&nbsp;
While the team has struggled, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan isn't ready to blow up the roster.
"I'm not at a point to say, 'OK, this just can't work,'" Donovan said, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35589656/the-bulls-enter-nba-trade-deadline-crossroads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per ESPN</a>. "I think there's too much substance of guys that are good guys who want to do the right things and care. But ... we don't have any margin for error at all."

Just months after the Bulls extended Zach LaVine, rival teams get the sense that LaVine "isn't considered off the table" in trade talks.

Report: Zach LaVine not off limits in trade talks with Bulls

CHICAGO (AP) &mdash; Zach LaVine scored 36 points, DeMar DeRozan had 27 and the Chicago Bulls topped Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers 129-121 on Saturday night.
Nikola Vucevic added 23 points and 11 rebounds as Chicago won for the third time in four games, erasing a 17-point deficit in the second half. Ayo Dosunmu had 13 points, including a key 3-pointer in the third quarter.
Lillard scored 40 points for Portland, and Anfernee Simons had 27. But the Trail Blazers looked a little tired in the second half of their third game in four nights.
Portland had won five of six, including a 124-116 victory at Washington on Friday night after trailing the Wizards 69-51 at halftime.
Lillard and Simons took advantage of the absence of Alex Caruso, Chicago&rsquo;s best perimeter defender. Caruso sprained his right foot during Thursday night&rsquo;s 114-98 victory over Charlotte.
Portland trailed by one with 8:07 left, but Chicago put it away with a 12-0 run. Vucevic made two foul shots to give the Bulls a 117-104 lead with 5:13 remaining.
Portland opened an 80-63 lead on Lillard&rsquo;s fourth 3-pointer with 6:38 left in the third quarter. But Dosunmu responded with a 3 on the other end, sparking a 24-4 run for Chicago.
LaVine converted a three-point play, a conventional 3-pointer and two foul shots to give the Bulls an 87-84 lead with 1:47 left. Andre Drummond&rsquo;s foul shot sent Chicago into the fourth with a 92-87 advantage.
Lillard started heating up in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star went 7 for 7 at the line while scoring 19 points in the period, helping Portland to a 70-59 lead at the break.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and coach Chauncey Billups said his playing career comes in handy this time of year. He was often the subject of trade rumors. &ldquo;You have to learn how to handle that,&rdquo; Billups said, &ldquo;and how to continue to keep playing and not even worry about it.&rdquo; ... F Justise Winslow remained sidelined by a left ankle sprain. He hasn&rsquo;t played since Dec. 21.
Bulls: Coach Billy Donovan said Caruso felt much better Friday morning, but there hadn&rsquo;t been a lot of change since then. &ldquo;Still having some discomfort, but not at the level it was after the game,&rdquo; Donovan said. ... F Patrick Williams played more than 31 minutes after he tweaked his right ankle against the Hornets.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night in the opener of a five-game homestand.
Bulls: Host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.

Zach LaVine scored 36 points, DeMar DeRozan had 27 and the Bulls topped Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers 129-121 on Saturday night.

Zach LaVine scores 36 points as Bulls beat Blazers 129-121

"We're a championship team."
That's what Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said, as <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2023/02/03/nuggets-jamal-murray-championship-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">part of a larger answer</a> about the team's prospects after Thursday night's 134-117 win over the Golden State Warriors. Murray was a big part of the win, scoring 33 points (9-of-12 from two, 3-of-11 from three), dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds in a little over 30 minutes.
"All that stuff, not being happy, has gotta go out the window or else we&rsquo;re not going to win," Murray said. "It&rsquo;s nice to have a coach that knows that and knows what we&rsquo;re trying to accomplish.&rdquo;
There are a couple of ways to decipher the rest of Murray's words. You can take the "duh" approach and leave it there. Any team with title aspirations &mdash; and the Nuggets, headlined by MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic while boasting the West's best record, certainly fit the bill &mdash; needs buy-in. Beyond the Xs and Os and rotation decisions, a head coach's primary responsibility is to get buy-in from its players.&nbsp;
Michael Malone has appeared to get that for the most part. You can see that most blatantly with the Nuggets' defensive performance. Per Cleaning The Glass, they're up to 16th in defensive rating on the year, excluding garbage time. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-examining-the-denver-nuggets-poor-defense-nikola-jokic-michael-malone-bruce-brown-michael-porter-jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In early December</a>, I wrote about how pourous their then-ranked 27th defense was; Coach Malone seemingly lamented it every other game.
If you read a little deeper into Murray's reminder for connectivity, you could interpret it as a message to second-year guard Bones Hyland.
Hyland didn't appear in Thursday night's game. He only played four minutes in Tuesday's win over (what's left of) the New Orleans Pelicans. In fact, here is Hyland's minute count over the Nuggets' past 10 games: 8, 15, 18, 8, 11, 0 (inactive), 24, 21, 4, 0 (DNP).
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There have been reports of Hyland and Malone not seeing eye-to-eye. It would make sense; young players &mdash; especially young guards &mdash; have to do a lot to earn Malone's trust on both ends of the floor.
Hyland is a microwave scorer, unafraid to pull from 30 feet if he's feeling it. He's drained nearly 38% of his threes on high volume (5.7 attempts in 19.5 minutes) this season. He's also, at this stage of his career, a harmful defender due to his off-ball awareness and shaky screen navigation. Those are hard sells for Malone fundamentally, even while acknowledging how talented Hyland is.
But with the relationship appearing to deteriorate, trade rumors have <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-bones-hyland-is-one-of-the-most-likely-players-to-be-dealt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued to swirl</a>. Most recently, ESPN's Tim MacMahon essentially called a Hyland trade an inevitability. Brian Windhorst didn't go that far, but it seems the writing is on the wall in Denver.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&ldquo;Bones Hyland is getting traded. It&rsquo;s a matter of where and for what.&rdquo; (via <a href="https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn_macmahon</a>) <a href="https://t.co/JlUJQI7YnW">pic.twitter.com/JlUJQI7YnW</a>
&mdash; The Trade Deadline (@_TradeDeadline) <a href="https://twitter.com/_TradeDeadline/status/1621550941500473348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Beyond the intrigue of the Nuggets potentially moving Hyland this early, figuring out who they'd actually pursue is also challenging.
It's easy to look at the roster and pinpoint&nbsp;what&nbsp;they should pursue. Finding a bigger, more reliable two-way presence on the perimeter would be at the top of the list. As it stands, rookies Christian Braun and Peyton Watson are the only "3s" between 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-8 on the roster. Braun has been in and out of the rotation this season despite his positive flashes, and we've seen virtually nothing from Watson.
If they land on another guard to directly replace Hyland, that player would need to hold their own defensively &mdash; and likely be capable of punching above their weight &mdash; while being able to toggle between on and off-ball duties. Murray has been commanding the second unit when staggered away from Jokic; ideally, you'd want to take some of that creation burden off of him.
The "who" of it is what makes this tough. Hyland isn't just a young trade chip &mdash; he might be the&nbsp;trade chip for the Nuggets considering their first-round pick situation. <a href="https://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Nuggets.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Due to prior trades</a>, the earliest available first-rounder they can move <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/2023/1/10/23547887/the-denver-nuggets-trade-deadline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is their 2029 first</a>. Cashing in Hyland for a veteran could still be the move, but it'd be beneficial to add a vet who could move the needle this year and&nbsp;next year, at the very least.
No team wants to "lose" a deal obviously, but there's heightened importance in nailing a trade involving Hyland because of it.
For that reason, I'd imagine the first call would be to the Chicago Bulls. Alex Caruso doesn't fit the wing-with-size archetype, but he doubles as one of the NBA's stingiest and most versatile perimeter defenders. He is one of the best screen navigators in the sport, possesses quick hands that allow him to pester ball-handlers and restrict passing lanes and has the strength and guile to defend bigger wings or forwards when called upon.
A fun stat, per Second Spectrum: Over the past two seasons, possessions featuring a post-up defended by Caruso have garnered just 0.82 points per possession (PPP). Among the 114 players who have defended at least 75 post-ups in that time frame, that mark ranks 11th. Players ahead of him include Pascal Siakam (0.74 PPP), Draymond Green (0.75 PPP), PJ Tucker (0.76 PPP), Onyeka Okongwu (0.78 PPP) and Jayson Tatum (0.8 PPP).
Any questions concerning Caruso come on the offensive end of the floor. He's currently shooting 40.2% from deep, but is only attempting 4.3 threes per 100 possessions, the second-lowest clip of his career. Because of his infrequent trigger &mdash; with more infuriating catch-and-holds sprinkled in this season &mdash; defenses are okay defending him conservatively on the perimeter.&nbsp;
Caruso remains a smart cutter and a tough-as-nails screener, making him an ideal partner for Nikola Jokic whenever they play together. His cross screens consistently help Nikola Vucevic establish deep post position; it's easy to see him doing the same for Jokic. There's also room for him to act as a brush screener whenever the Nuggets want to utilize Jokic as the pick-and-roll ball handler.
Per <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-nba-trade-winds?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=99187151&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Stein of Substack ($)</a>, the Bulls reportedly want two first-round picks in a deal for Caruso. Would the Bulls consider Hyland as a first-rounder, and would the 2029 first the Nuggets could actually offer be enough to entice them? If so, Hyland, Jeff Green, Ish Smith and the 2029 first is a package that could get the ball rolling.
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(There would be haggling, of course. The Nuggets would rather add second-rounders &mdash; they have six, including two this year. If they do include the first-rounder, I'm sure they'd ask for protections &mdash; or explore what it would take to get the Bulls to include Andre Drummond in the deal as well. In short, there are conversations to be had here.)
If not the Bulls, the Nuggets should check in with the Washington Wizards again. They just did business over the summer with the wing room; why not see if they could pry Delon Wright out of there? It would take one of Green or Smith along with Hyland for salary-matching purposes. Because of the age gap and team control aspect, the Nuggets may be able to ask for minor draft compensation.
Among available forwards, I wonder if they'd call the Phoenix Suns and check in on Jae Crowder. Because of Crowder's contract status &mdash; he's set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer &mdash; the Nuggets likely wouldn't have to think about including a future first. The Hyland-Green-Smith triumvirate would work salary-wise for Crowder and a minimum piece (maybe Jock Landale or Josh Okogie).
STRAY THOUGHTS
<ul>
<li>If the San Antonio Spurs didn't already have multiple guards they're somewhat invested in, a Hyland-led package for Josh Richardson would be something worth exploring.</li>
<li>Same guard-heavy issue with the Utah Jazz, otherwise a Jarrod Vanderbilt deal would be at the top of the list for me.</li>
<li>The Sacramento Kings and Warriors have reportedly been linked to Matisse Thybulle. The Nuggets have the offensive infrastructure to slot Thybulle in as a cutter and occasional screener. How would we feel about a Hyland/Green for Thybulle/Shake Milton swap? Feels like a third team would be needed to balance things further for the Sixers, but I'd be intrigued.</li>
<li>Hyland for Cam Reddish is the "Man, everybody would hate this" trade that I can't push in good faith.</li>
</ul>

The Denver Nuggets may be on the verge of trading Bones Hyland. Nekias Duncan explores which landing spots make sense for Hyland.

Exploring possible trade destinations for Nuggets' Bones Hyland

We have an MVP on the move, folks!
There's been a ton of smoke surrounding the New York Liberty landing a superstar this offseason. To the surprise of many, Breanna Stewart isn't&nbsp;the player heading to the northeast.
That honor goes to Jonquel Jones.
<a href="https://twitter.com/RachGall/status/1614741260493000704?s=20&amp;t=OsIqYHBdRYlwRpzsvN8M3g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First reported</a> by Rachel Galligan of Winsidr, the Sun are trading the 2021 MVP to the Liberty as part of a three-team deal. Howard Megdal of The Next came through shortly after with the <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1614753296064942082?s=20&amp;t=OsIqYHBdRYlwRpzsvN8M3g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outline for the deal</a>.
Liberty receive: Jonquel Jones (CON), Kayla Thornton (DAL)
Wings receive: Natasha Howard (NYL), rights to Crystal Dangerfield (NYL)
Sun receive: No. 6 overall pick, Rebecca Allen (NYL), Ty Harris (DAL)
And before you could quizzically ask, "Wait, that's it?" about the Jones return for Connecticut, we got the she-asked-for-this nugget from ESPN's Alexa Philippou:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Jonquel Jones is being traded to the New York Liberty, sources confirm to ESPN. The 2021 WNBA MVP with the Connecticut Sun requested the trade specifically to NY.<a href="https://twitter.com/RachGall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RachGall</a> had it first
&mdash; Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1614753043949535235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>

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So, wow. Superstar trades are fun. Superstar trades before free agency begins are even more fun, and help set up a good deal of (potential) fireworks.
On the Sun's side, Jones' departure actually helps them retain their top free agent. Brionna Jones, two-time All-Star and reigning Sixth Woman of the Year, was set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. With Jones heading to the Liberty, the Sun plan to use the core designation on Bri Jones, giving them exclusive negotiation rights &mdash; and locking in a one-year max offer for Jones, unless her and the Sun agree to a long-term deal.
Beyond that, I like the pieces the Sun added, even if the return still falls short of Jones' status in the league.
Harris should give the Sun another steady hand at point guard, something they lacked with Jasmine Thomas missing most of last season due to injury. That placed a heavier creation burden on All-World forward Alyssa Thomas, who practically served as the de facto point guard. With Harris providing depth, the Sun should have an easier time building cohesion in the half-court.&nbsp;
For a team that didn't take many threes &mdash; the Sun ranked 11th in three-point rate (26.1% of shot attempts) but third in percentage (35.4%) &mdash; Rebecca Allen could be a godsend. She's drained 37.2% of his threes over the past three seasons, an impressive mark considering a dip in efficiency last season (31.3% on 3.3 attempts per game). She cares very little about shot contests, and has a knack for finding space off the ball. It's easy to envision her presence taking pressure off of others, particularly in the half-court.
(Are you sensing a theme here?)
The Wings being included as the third team was interesting. There have been rumblings <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about their own star talent</a> (Allisha Gray) potentially being moved over the offseason. For the Wings to land an actual All-Star in Natasha Howard was a pleasant surprise.&nbsp;
Howard's a versatile talent, able to pop or roll as the ball screener, put the ball on the deck against larger opponents, and bully her way to the basket against smaller ones. Her activity on the defensive end, notably her quick hands, allows her to play in &mdash; or quarterback the back end of &mdash; more aggressive coverages. That could become important depending on who her frontcourt partner will be this season.
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Former Rookie of the Year Crystal Dangerfield is a walking (running?) paint touch that could serve as a nice replacement to Ty Harris. She was able to find life as a complementary piece to Sabrina Ionescu last season, with her ability to pressure the rim helping to unlock Ionescu as an off-ball threat. She could provide similar value playing alongside Arike Ogunbowale or Marina Mabrey whenever the other is on the bench.
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Of course, the true winners of the deal are the Liberty.&nbsp;
Jones is, at worst, one of the six best players in The W. Even in a down year statistically &mdash; one that says more about the re-emergence of Alyssa Thomas, and a little bit about the inconsistent usage of Jones &mdash; Jones still earned All-WNBA and All-Defensive Second Team honors.
Players the size of Jones aren't supposed to be able to move the way she does, shoot the way she does or handle the way she does. That she can blend all of that together makes her one of the most difficult covers in the league.
On one possession, you can find Jones bullying some poor defender on the block. On another, you can find her spaced on the perimeter, one pass away from another post-up or a ball screen. A kick to her can lead to a three (that defenders have no chancd of contesting, thanks to her release point), or a catch-and-drive that most bigs in the league aren't equipped to deal with.&nbsp;
If you want to get fancy, you can run Jones off of screens. I don't mean simple cross screens to clear a side for a post-up or isolation &mdash; though you can obviously do that. You can run Jones off pindowns, off staggers, use her as the third&nbsp;screener in Spain pick-and-roll actions or anything else you can think of because of her footwork and ability to shoot off movement.
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And on other possessions, you don't even have to draw up anything. Because of her defensive prowess, she can kickstart her own offense by grabbing a board and pushing the ball in the open floor.
In short, Jones is an absolute monster.
Pairing her with Ionescu &mdash; one of the best pick-and-roll ball-handlers in the league to put it lightly &mdash; is patently unfair. Jones hasn't played with a ball-handler this dynamic; Ionescu hasn't a screening partner like this, and certainly hasn't played with a big who can clean up messes on the other end like (an engaged) Jones can.
But not only did the Liberty land Jones, but they were also able to snag Kayla Thornton from Dallas as well. The Liberty were a middling defense last season (No. 7 in defensive rating), but struggled on the perimeter. Adding Thornton, a multi-positional defender who can disrupt things on and off the ball, should help shore things up. Having Jones, Thornton and a healthy Betnijah Laney should give the Liberty a solid foundation.
There will be questions up and down the board. The Sun will need to nail the sixth overall pick if they keep it &mdash; much like they did with Jones in 2016 &mdash; to make the fan base feel better. You don't really replace an MVP, but it's hard to overstate just how much scoring gravity (and versatility) is walking out the door. Bri Jones can capture a good bit of the interior force, but shooting will still be a question mark overall.
Howard is certainly a talent upgrade, but it's worth wondering just how fluidly the offense will operate. Thornton is a lesser offensive talent, but her ability to fill gaps complemented the Ogunbowale-Mabrey backcourt. Howard will require more touches &mdash; obviously fine, but it's worth noting she isn't, say, Candace Parker as a high post passing hub. There will likely be some growing pains.
There's less to question on the Liberty front, but implementing Jones may not be an early slam dunk. Even with Ionescu shifting more off the ball in the second half of the year, she still finished in the top 10 in usage rate &mdash; and, if the tracking were available, I'd bet she ranked just as highly in touches per game. Jones wasn't always utilized as frequently as an MVP should be &mdash; something I imagine factored at least somewhat into her desire to be traded.
Still, it's hard not to be excited about &mdash; or terrified of &mdash; what the Liberty can become. Per Myles Ehrlich of Winsidr, the Liberty actually&nbsp;<a href="https://winsidr.com/2023/01/trade-report-jonquel-jones-to-liberty-in-a-three-team-deal-between-ny-connecticut-and-dallas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">created&nbsp;more cap space</a> with this trade. The rumors of Stewart in New York aren't dead.
And if the Liberty are able to land Jones and Stewart in the same offseason... whew, buddy, I don't know what you do with that kind of star power.&nbsp;

Nekias Duncan looks Sunday's three-team mega trade involving Jonquel Jones from all angles.

WNBA trade: Connecticut Sun star Jonquel Jones heads to New York Liberty

This isn't how things were supposed to go in Detroit.&nbsp;
It was hard not to be excited for the Pistons heading into the year. Strong draft class, headlined by Jaden Ivey and the traded-for Jalen Duren. A Jerami Grant trade not only netted them a future first-rounder and other draft capital, it was a move made in part to clear some of the runway for Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey, the latter of which was expected to fill more of Grant's time at forward.
The shooting woes that hampered Detroit last season were somewhat accounted for; adding Alec Burks into the mix was supposed to help, and an offseason trade for sniper Bojan Bogdanovic was expected to be a big add to their offense.
Fast forward to now, and the Pistons are without Cunningham for the year, dealing with an uneven campaign from Bey, and ultimately find themselves percentage points away from the worst record in the NBA.
So much for the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-23-nba-season-preview-central-division-chicago-bulls-cleveland-cavaliers-detroit-pistons-indiana-pacers-milwaukee-bucks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">play-in ceiling</a>.&nbsp;
There have been bright spots though. Ivey and Duren have been as advertised; Ivey's going to make the All-Rookie first team, and Duren could make a push for it by the end of the season. Loyal listeners of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dunker-spot/id1547857052" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Dunker Spot</a> know how pleased I've been with Killian Hayes' growth this season.
On the veteran side, Bogdanovic has somehow been better than expected.&nbsp;
The initial plan was to spread the floor at a high level, and act as a security blanket so Cunningham (and Bey) wouldn't have to work as hard as creators. Instead, Bogdanovic has become the defacto top option.
Since November 11, kicking off the stretch without Cunningham for good, Bogdanovic is averaging a team-high in front-court touches (33.8), points (22.3), shot attempts (14.8), three-point attempts (5.6) and free throw attempts (5.8).&nbsp;
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The efficiency has been off the charts, with Bogdanovic converting a ridiculous 56.6% of his twos and nearly 41% of his threes.&nbsp;
League-wide, Bogdanovic is <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/shots-general?CF=FG3A*GE*5:FG3_PCT*GE*40:FG2_PCT*GE*55&amp;TeamID=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of five* players</a> converting at least 55% of their twos and 40% of their threes with high volume during this month-plus stretch, joining Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins and Lauri Markkanen. (*Wendell Carter Jr. is also on this list, but only has three games under his belt during this stretch. Please come back soon, Wendell. We miss you, and the Magic surely do.)
What makes Bogdanovic fun is the myriad ways he can be used. He's running nearly 15 ball screens per 100 possessions since November 11, and the Pistons are scoring roughly 1.04 points per possession (PPP) on those trips &mdash; a mark that ranks in the 72nd percentile, per Second Spectrum.
He's shooting most of the time (50.8%), with his scoring prowess popping against drop coverage or switches (1.08 PPP). Bogdanovic slow-probes his way to his spots, whether that's keeping his defender at bay when faced with drop, or picking out a matchup agains a (late) switch and posting up.
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There are still limitations. Mainly, Bogdanovic's handle isn't tight enough to access&nbsp;every&nbsp;area of the court on a whim. When faced with more aggressive coverages &mdash; hedges or flat-out traps &mdash; he's prone to retreating without taking full advantage of the numbers game ahead of him. Even when he isn't, navigating close quarters can be an adventure. He's up to 27 "lost ball" turnovers in 30 games this season (0.9), after racking up 48 of them in 69 games last season (0.7).
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Even with that uptick, it's hard to ignore the overall efficiency here. And it's especially impressive considering he's carrying a much larger offensive load than originally expected.
This isn't the first time Bogdanovic has had to scale up. He saw his shot volume increase by nearly three attempts between his first and second year in Indiana. In year two (2018-19), Bogdanovic averaged 18 points with shooting splits similar to what he's doing now &mdash; 53.8% on twos, 42.5% from three. That was a year where Victor Oladipo appeared in just 36 games.
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But this is different. Bogdanovic's 64.9% True Shooting clip is easily the higheest of his career, and a whopping 7.4 points above league average. It would behoove other teams to take notice.
The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly have, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3992371/2022/12/12/bojan-bogdanovic-jae-crowder-shams-charania-inside-pass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic's Shams Charania</a>. The Phoenix Suns were linked to Bogdanovic before he was dealt to the Pistons, and could probably use another shot creator in light of Chris Paul's decline in that area.
There are others, like the Atlanta Hawks, that could use the forward's blend of creation and outside shooting. Is there a conversation to be had around a package headlined by John Collins? It's certainly worth asking. <a href="https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rumors-lakers-knicks-john-collins-bojan-bogdanovic-free-agency-stock-watch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Scotto of HoopsHype</a> reported that the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks have also expressed interest.
That would track. The Mavs desperately need more creation to take pressure off of Luka Doncic. The Heat need more shooting &mdash; they rank 21st in three-point percentage despite ranking seventh in three-point rate &mdash; and could stand to upgrade at the 4, though Caleb Martin has played pretty well this season.
Of course, the Pistons don't have to cooperate. They recently extended Bogdanovic, and per James Edwards of The Athletic, the Pistons <a href="https://theathletic.com/3995150/2022/12/13/pistons-trade-scenariors-noel-bogdanovic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aren't eager to move him</a>. It would (rightfully) take a big offer to pry him out of there. But with the way he's playing, it's probably worth the swing.

Nekias Duncan breaks down the recent offensive explosion of Bojan Bogdanovic.

Good teams should be looking to trade for Bojan Bogdanovic

San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl is a name to watch as the NBA's Feb. 9 trade deadline approaches.
The 27-year-old center has drawn interest from a number of teams, with the Toronto Raptors mentioned often as a potential suitor, according to <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/emerging-spurs-big-man-jakob-poeltl-could-be-a-key-player-in-this-seasons-trade-market-005938316.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports</a>. Poeltl spent the first two seasons of his NBA career with Toronto, before he was traded to San Antonio as part of the Kawhi Leonard blockbuster.
The Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls have been linked to Poeltl in the past, but it remains to be seen if they are still pursuing the veteran shot-blocker.&nbsp;
It's also worth noting that Poeltl is set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. Fischer reports that Poeltl will "strongly consider" re-signing with the Spurs if he isn't traded, but since rival executives expect him to earn $15 million and $25 million annually, it remains to be seen if San Antonio is willing to pay that.
If the Spurs would rather move on and focus on their youth movement, perhaps it makes sense to move Poeltl now rather than letting him walk for nothing in July.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never been in this situation where unrestricted free agency is coming up. It&rsquo;s a cool situation for sure, because in the NBA, a lot of times you are &mdash; I don&rsquo;t want to say stuck &mdash; but it feels like you&rsquo;re a little bit of a pawn. They can just trade you around wherever they want,&rdquo; Poeltl <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/emerging-spurs-big-man-jakob-poeltl-could-be-a-key-player-in-this-seasons-trade-market-005938316.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Yahoo Sports</a>.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the mentality you should have while you&rsquo;re playing, but it&rsquo;s the reality of it. Your contract can get passed around, more or less, whenever and however they want. So it&rsquo;s nice to be in this situation where you can kind of decide your own fate and evaluate what&rsquo;s going to be the best situation for me.&rdquo;
This season, Poeltl is averaging 12.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 block and 0.9 steals in 27.3 minutes per game, while shooting 64.0% from the field. The Spurs currently have the worst record in the Western Conference at 9-19, and the fourth-worst record in the NBA.

San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl is a name to watch as the NBA's Feb. 9 trade deadline approaches.

Jakob Poeltl discusses future amid trade rumors, upcoming free agency

According to a source, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has no interest in acquiring Russell Westbrook and his expiring contract, even if it means adding draft picks.
Source: <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-saturday/2022/12/9/23502072/bulls-slow-start-organization-in-the-rumor-mill-crosshairs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Cowley/Chicago Sun-Times</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;The Bullls have struggled to a 10-14 start this season, leading to speculation about the long-term future of Chicago's core. However, it looks like any potential blockbuster with the Lakers would have to be separate from a potential Westbrook trade. Westbrook is averaging 14.6 points, 7.5 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game this season.&nbsp;

The Bullls have struggled to a 10-14 start this season, leading to speculation about the long-term future of Chicago's core.

Report: Bulls have 'no interest' in Lakers trade involving Russell Westbrook

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

NEW YORK (AP) &mdash; Jalen Brunson has the New York Knicks believing the search for a point guard is over at last.
Never mind that he was never even a full-time NBA starter until last season, or that the quest to find the long-term answer at point guard in New York seemingly never ends.
The former second-round pick has the keys at Madison Square Garden, and the Knicks appear sure it's going to be a smooth ride.
&ldquo;I think Jalen can provide whatever you need,&rdquo; coach Tom Thibodeau said. &ldquo;So if you need him to do more scoring, he can do that. If you need more playmaking, he can do that. If you need him to create pace and create movement, he can do that. You need a big 3, a big shot, he can do that. I love the way he can control and manage the game, and to me that&rsquo;s the No. 1 function of a point guard.&rdquo;
Thibodeau said all that after coaching Brunson for just one preseason game, though he had been building intel on the 26-year-old long before then. Brunson would visit the Knicks as a boy in the late 1990s when his father, Rick, played for the team and Thibodeau was an assistant coach. Thibodeau later followed Brunson's accomplishments in high school ball in the Chicago area, where he coached the Bulls, and then as a two-time national champion at Villanova.
So perhaps Thibodeau knew something when the Knicks seemed to lock in so early on Brunson as their priority in free agency, even before his strong playoff run for the Mavericks last season.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a winning player that would fit with any team, really, at any level,&rdquo; said Rick Carlisle, who coached Brunson in Dallas before moving to Indiana. &ldquo;He just figures it out and he&rsquo;ll be great here.&rdquo;
Brunson broke out last season after Jason Kidd replaced Carlisle, averaging a career-best 16.3 points. That number grew to 21.6 per game in the postseason, including a 41-point performance in a first-round victory over Utah, as the Mavericks made a surprising run to the Western Conference finals. The New Jersey native then left Dallas for a $104 million contract in New York.
Brunson &mdash; whose father is on Thibodeau's staff &mdash; will need help, though. RJ Barrett, rewarded with a big offseason extension, must continue the growth he showed last season. And Julius Randle has to play closer to his 2020-21 form, when he won the NBA's Most Improved Player award.
If so, the Knicks could challenge for a playoff spot after falling from the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference in 2021 to out of the postseason entirely last season &mdash; provided Brunson is everything they believe he is and the game manager Thibodeau thinks he can be.
&ldquo;It's a difficult job, but it's something that I think I'm capable of doing,&rdquo; Brunson said. &ldquo;I've been a leader my entire life and I lead by example, I lead vocally. It's not easy. I'm continuing to get better as a leader, so I still have strides to take in that category, but we're moving in the right direction.&rdquo;
LEFTY LOOK
With Brunson, Randle and Barrett, the Knicks will have three left-handed players in their starting lineup.
BARRETT BACK
Barrett was mentioned in trade rumors for Donovan Mitchell during the summer before the Knicks signed the the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft to an extension of his rookie contract. He averaged 20 points last season, the youngest player in franchise history to do so.
RETURNING ROSE
Derrick Rose is healthy again after being limited to just 26 games last season by ankle injuries, and the former NBA MVP figures to be Brunson's backup at the point.
SECOND UNIT STRENGTH
With Rose, fan-favorite Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley, joined by newcomer Isaiah Hartenstein, Thibodeau believes the Knicks can again get the bench boost that was a strength of their playoff team two seasons ago.
50-YEAR WAIT
This season will mark 50 years since the Knicks won their second and most recent NBA championship in 1973.

Jalen Brunson has the New York Knicks believing the search for a point guard is over at last.

With Jalen Brunson aboard, Knicks feel they have their point guard

Jae Crowder seems ready to begin a new chapter away from the Phoenix Suns, which shouldn&rsquo;t come as a surprise if you&rsquo;ve followed his social-media activity throughout the offseason. From openly mentioning that he wants a fresh start elsewhere to liking tweets about him joining the Miami Heat or Dallas Mavericks, Crowder&rsquo;s intentions have been out in the open for a while now.
This awkward tension potentially reached a boiling point on Friday night, less than a week from when Phoenix opens up training camp following their jaw-dropping postseason exit in the Western Conference Semifinals.
After the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin tweeted about how the position battle between Crowder and Cam Johnson would be a key storyline to watch during training camp, Crowder tweeted (then quickly deleted): &ldquo;99 WONT BE THERE!.&rdquo;
Phoenix has reportedly been shopping Crowder in recent weeks, including in trade discussions with the Utah Jazz as the Suns targeted Bojan Bogdanovic, who was ultimately dealt to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee. Arizona Sports 98.7's John Gambadoro reported that talks between the Suns and Jazz broke down over the potential inclusion of Jarred Vanderbilt alongside Bogdanovic, but the deal would&rsquo;ve involved Crowder heading out of the Valley.
With Crowder seemingly wanting to leave Phoenix, will a deal be struck before training camp opens on Tuesday? For a team looking to bounce back from postseason failure, it might not be the best idea to keep a disgruntled Crowder in the equation.
Although the veteran wing can be extremely volatile as an outside shooter, his winning tendencies and overall two-way presence would be a major boon for any contender around the Association.
Which teams make the most sense to pursue Crowder? Let&rsquo;s go ahead and dive into some potential destinations.
CHICAGO BULLS
Before injuries ravaged their roster last season, Chicago was nestled into the Eastern Conference&rsquo;s No. 1 seed thanks to their well-balanced attack on both ends. Now, Lonzo Ball's future up in the air due to a nagging meniscus issue, the Bulls need to find some more help defenders who can hold their own. Right now, Crowder could be the ideal remedy when forecasting all of the elite score-first wings in the East.
Bulls receive: Jae Crowder
Suns receive: Coby White, Javonte Green
Immediately, Crowder slides into an important slot for Chicago where he could benefit from a low-usage role similar to his current environment in Phoenix.
For the Suns, this type of haul should be the expectation in any potential Crowder-related transaction. If Bogdanovic was unable to net a first-round pick for Utah, it&rsquo;s hard to envision Crowder topping that barometer either.
With the inconsistencies of Cameron Payne plaguing the Suns&rsquo; guard play last season, especially in the playoffs, taking a flier on White for the price of Crowder makes sense. Meanwhile, Green is a smaller version of Crowder but someone who could play a role off the bench and produce when called upon.
It's possible that Chicago would want a pick back in this trade since they are parting with the No. 7 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft (who is still just 22 years old), which could become a sticking point in negotiations.
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TORONTO RAPTORS
If you&rsquo;re a capable wing, there&rsquo;s no doubt that Toronto will show some level of interest. The Raptors are building their entire identity around wings, and the results are really beginning to bear some fruit. Inserting Crowder within Toronto&rsquo;s rotation would be a huge win, especially as a veteran mentor for younger players at his position like OG Anunoby and reigning Rookie-of-the-Year Scottie Barnes.
Raptors receive: Jae Crowder
Suns receive: Thaddeus Young, Malachi Flynn
Phoenix has been interested in Young since last year, when a trade or buyout from the San Antonio Spurs seemed inevitable. Instead, Toronto acquired the veteran in exchange for Goran Dragic and a protected 2022 first-round pick. Young is a strong candidate to replace Crowder, because what he doesn&rsquo;t provide in shooting he offers in spades everywhere else. Within head coach Monty Williams&rsquo; &ldquo;0.5&rdquo; system, he would thrive as a pass-happy connecting 4 who could play alongside Deandre Ayton or Dario Saric.
Flynn has been unable to find his footing in Toronto, but could get a long-term look in Phoenix off the bench. After Payne&rsquo;s postseason woes, the Suns would be wise to find some competition heading into training camp.&nbsp;
It's possible that Toronto is content keeping Young, whom they just signed to a two-year extension. It all depends on how they value the 32-year-old Crowder and whether they think he's a big enough upgrade over Young to justify giving up Flynn.
MIAMI HEAT
Crowder&rsquo;s top choice seems to be a reunion with the Heat, but the Suns have no real value to extract there. It&rsquo;s doubtful that Miami would want to include Caleb Martin, who isn&rsquo;t eligible to be traded for another few weeks anyway. Instead, the Heat will have to get creative if they want to bring Crowder back into the fold and rope in a third team to facilitate.
Well, guess what? One organization has openly expressed a desire to do just that, as long as they get back an enticing young prospect or a draft pick. Say hello to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-indiana-pacers-enter-uncharted-waters-searching-for-longterm-sustainability-kevin-pritchard-chad-buchanan-tyrese-haliburton-bennedict-mathurin-myles-turner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Indiana Pacers&rsquo; new vision</a>. They are expected to be one of the Association&rsquo;s most active teams from now through February&rsquo;s trade deadline.
Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-indiana-pacers-enter-uncharted-waters-searching-for-longterm-sustainability-kevin-pritchard-chad-buchanan-tyrese-haliburton-bennedict-mathurin-myles-turner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently told Basketball News</a> that they want to keep stockpiling ammunition while taking advantage of their newfound salary-cap flexibility. Not many teams would be willing to take on Duncan Robinson&rsquo;s contract, but Indiana is in the position to bite the bullet for another pick.
Quickly cobbling together a three-team deal with the Suns, Heat and Pacers, here&rsquo;s a potential framework where all sides could potentially walk out happy:
Heat receive: Jae Crowder
Suns receive: Oshae Brissett, future second-round pick (via Miami)
Pacers receive: Duncan Robinson, future first-round pick (via Miami)
For Phoenix, landing Brissett from Indiana is the right kind of flier to take. Consistently showing an improved offensive game, Brissett could shine in the Suns&rsquo; system, spelling Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson off the bench. And with the Pacers wanting to have a large rotation to play as many young pieces as possible, Brissett&rsquo;s role could be slightly reduced heading into 2022-23.
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ATLANTA HAWKS
The Hawks have pushed their chips to the middle of the table this offseason when they swung for the fences by acquiring Dejounte Murray. With their star backcourt of Trae Young and Murray, Atlanta is in win-now mode so acquiring Crowder certainly makes a lot of sense. Not only would Crowder help take some pressure off defensively, he would be set up well by Young and Murray on the perimeter.
As evidenced by the Suns insisting that Vanderbilt be included alongside Bogdanovic in a potential trade with Utah earlier this week, it wouldn&rsquo;t be a shock to see them try a similar method here with Atlanta.
Hawks receive: Jae Crowder, Landry Shamet, two future second-round picks
Suns receive: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Justin Holiday
Instantly, the Suns upgrade their third guard spot with Bogdanovic, plus they add a hard-nosed, versatile wing as well. Who knows if the price would be a first-round pick, but maybe Phoenix could pull this one off with multiple second-round selections because of Bogdanovic&rsquo;s injury concerns over the past few years?
As ESPN&rsquo;s Brian Windhorst relayed earlier this week, the Suns are willing to take on salary past this upcoming season. Bogdanovic has an $18 million player option for 2023-24, but his fit within the Suns&rsquo; offense would be well worth the price.
Based on the other packages, this feels like the best bet for Phoenix leading into training camp, and Atlanta would welcome a win-now addition into the fold as well.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
All of the sudden, Cleveland looks like a real threat to make a deep postseason run. Thanks to the jaw-dropping addition of Donovan Mitchell earlier this month, the Cavaliers&rsquo; rotation is stocked to the brim going nine or 10 players deep. What about adding another piece like Crowder to bolster this strength even more?
Cavaliers receive: Jae Crowder
Suns receive: Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens
Crowder could slide into a starting role for Cleveland ahead of Isaac Okoro because of his shooting ability or headline the second unit alongside fellow veteran Kevin Love. Assuming Crowder jumps into a starting spot, which seems to be his desire, here&rsquo;s how the Cavaliers&rsquo; rotation would look:
Starters: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jae Crowder, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Second Unit: Ricky Rubio, Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Kevin Love
With a rotation like that, it allows Cleveland to offload Osman and save some money on the backend for 2023-24. In Phoenix, Osman and Stevens would find roles within the second unit and benefit greatly from the spacing provided. The Suns covet shooters, so it wouldn&rsquo;t be a surprise to see them utilize Osman off the bench, while Stevens plays a smaller role as wing depth.
Over the next 72 hours heading into media day and training camp, Crowder&rsquo;s seemingly uncertain future in the Valley will be a story worth monitoring. We shall see whether Crowder stays with the Suns or heads elsewhere when the dust ultimately settles.

Jae Crowder's days with the Phoenix Suns appear to be numbered. Evan Sidery breaks down five possible landing spots for Crowder.

Examining 5 potential trade destinations for Jae Crowder

The second domino in Utah has finally fallen.
After trading All-World center Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a league-shifting pick package, the Jazz followed suit by <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-instant-reaction-donovan-mitchell-cleveland-cavaliers-utah-jazz-collin-sexton-lauri-markkanen-ochai-agbaji-darius-garland-evan-mobley-jb-bickerstaff-koby-altman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trading star guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers</a>. Three unprotected first-round picks, two unprotected pick swaps and a multi-player package headlined by Collin Sexton was enough for the team to officially set off its rebuild.
The stars are gone, but there are vets still on the roster. Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Jazz aren't opposed to moving them if they're given more picks, young players or (ideally) both.
Chief among those vets is point guard Mike Conley.&nbsp;
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Conley is coming off one of his healthier campaigns, appearing in 70 games (72) for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Conley was steady, averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 assists (1.7 turnovers) while posting a 57.2% True Shooting percentage. He oscillated between diagnosing defenses as a pick-and-roll threat and spreading the floor for Mitchell to attack.
Coinciding with Mitchell's ascension, he's become more of a spacer than a focal point over the past two seasons. Conley's three-point rate &mdash; the percentage of shot attempts that come from deep &mdash; has hit career-high levels over the past two seasons (52.3). He's drained 41% of his threes on 6.1 attempts per game during that stretch; only three other players &mdash; Anfernee Simons, Zach LaVine and some Steph Curry guy &mdash; have hit 40% of their threes on 6 or more attempts on average (min. 100 games).
Don't let the off-ball focus fool you: Conley's blend of pull-up shooting, court vision and ambidexterity still makes him a valuable playmaker. Over the past two seasons, possessions featuring a Conley-led ball screen has generated 1.03 points per possession (PPP), a mark sandwiched between Damian Lillard (1.032 PPP) and James Harden (1.023 PPP).
Even at this stage, playing drop coverage against Conley is a mistake.
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Because Conley doesn't have the same burst anymore, he doesn't get two feet in the paint very often. His rim rate &mdash; the percentage of shot attempts coming inside of 3 feet &mdash; has dropped in each of the past five seasons. Only 7.5% of his attempts came at the rim last year, easily a career low.
He's been able to counter that by sprinkling in short pull-ups and floaters with either hand, but the threshold for bending defenses with those shots is pretty high.
Conley remains sound defensively. He's dutiful when navigating screens and still does a good job of reconnecting with ball-handlers. This might be my favorite stat find of the summer: Per Second Spectrum, among 165 players that defended at least 300 drives last season, only one player &mdash; Chicago Bulls rookie Ayo Dosunmu (13.97%) &mdash; was "blown by" at a lower rate than Conley (14.18%).
There's context to be added, like who Conley was directly matched up with, but that's a "he's typically in the right spot" stat if I've seen one.
Of course, Conley isn't perfect. There's only so much he can do as a shot-contester, even against his position, because of his size. While he's still a good screen navigator, his recovery speed isn't what it once was. If a screen nails him, you could be in some trouble.
Overall, Conley is still a good starting point guard with a game that can complement a high-usage star. If the Jazz are truly open to moving him, teams should come calling.
With a vet like Conley, finding a contending team for him is the likely priority. That makes trade talks tough since so many of the top teams either have (All-) star point guards already (Golden State, Phoenix, Milwaukee, etc.), younger players they're already invested in (Philadelphia, Denver), or vets they're okay with (Miami, Boston).
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The Dallas Mavericks may be the most realistic suitor within this lens. Conley could certainly slot into the Jalen Brunson-sized void that was opened this summer. Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract ($19.6 million in 2022-23) is enough to start the conversation, but you'd have to wonder if a middleground could be found from there.
The Mavericks owe a first round pick to the Knicks (top-10 protected through 2025) that you'd assume would convey this year, but that's off the table. Would the Mavericks be willing to throw in a later first-round pick instead? If not, is there a young piece on the roster (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/josh-green-impact-basketball-dallas-mavericks-playoffs-joe-abunassar-offseason-training-diet-nutrition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hello, Josh Green</a>) that they'd be willing to sweeten the pot with in lieu of the pick? It's hard to gauge.
I'd be intrigued by a trade centered around a Conley-D'Angelo Russell swap if the Minnesota Timberwolves were game.
(I don't think I'd be game if I were them. It'd have to be Conley and another player or two &mdash; Rudy Gay and Nickeil Alexander-Walker would get you there &mdash; since the Jazz are hard-capped. Beyond that, I'm sure they would've worked to include a Russell-Conley swap into the Gobert trade if there was real interest in that regard.)
There's been smoke, then fire, then smoke, then fog, then&nbsp;more&nbsp;smoke around Conley being featured in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for Russell Westbrook. Conley would certainly vibe alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis; I just don't know how likely it is that Westbrook is traded at this point, even if it might be best for everyone involved.
If it's not contender-or-bust for Conley, there are a couple of lottery teams I'd like to see throw their hats in the ring for him.&nbsp;
Depending on how you feel about the Kevin Porter Jr. point guard experiment, something I had my eye on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/something-to-prove-kevin-porter-jr-at-point-guard-houston-rockets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heading into last season</a>, there could be room for a half-season of Conley stability in the starting backcourt. Having a consistently-good decision-maker alongside Jalen Green could foster easier development for him.
There are things Green (or Porter, for that matter) could learn from Conley. My mind immediately goes to how patient Conley is against drop, and how good he is at snaking ball-screens and bending defenses. Green showed growth as his rookie campaign went on, but there's still room for improvement.
There's even a number for it. Per Second Spectrum, the Rockets generated a little over 0.67 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a ball-screen that Green snaked.
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Considering Eric Gordon's salary would likely be needed to make this work, a third team would make some sense here. An interesting framework would be sending Conley to Houston, Eric Gordon to New Orleans (I know, I know) and a combination of KJ Martin (if he <a href="https://theathletic.com/3373516/2022/06/20/houston-rockets-nba-draft-roster/?source=emp_shared_article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">still wants a trade</a> from Houston), Kira Lewis and more salary filler to Utah.
STRAY THOUGHTS
<ul>
<li>If Bradley Beal wants an even more dependable guard next to him than Monte Morris, Conley would make some sense in Washington. At minimum, the Wizards certainly have enough pieces to consolidate. I still don't know what to make of their forward room.</li>
<li>In light of the Lonzo Ball injury news, I can definitely see the use for a table-setter in Chicago. The Bulls may be content with Goran Dragic filling that void; beyond that, I'm not sure they could make the money work without getting ride of a core piece.</li>
<li>The Clippers would've been a fun team in here before <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-offseason-news-rumors-examining-john-wall-fit-with-los-angeles-clippers-houston-rockets-buyout-paul-george-kawhi-leonard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the John Wall signing</a>. I guess they could still be a dark horse if things don't work out, but I wouldn't bet on it.</li>
</ul>

Nekias Duncan analyzes the trade market for Jazz guard Mike Conley and which teams the veteran point guard could fit with.

Examining potential destinations for Mike Conley

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

There are championship teams, and then there are dynasties. The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s were the latter, a franchise that didn&rsquo;t just win titles but fundamentally changed the way the world understood professional basketball. In a candid conversation with veteran sports journalist <a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/03/from-chicago-bulls-last-dance-dynasty-to-deans-list-the-resilience-of-jason-caffey/">Brandon &ldquo;Scoop B&rdquo; Robinson</a>, former Bulls forward Jason Caffey pulled back the curtain on what it was really like inside one of the greatest teams ever assembled, revealing the tensions, the relationships, and the moments that defined an era.
<h2>The Jerry Krause Problem</h2>
Every dynasty has its fault lines, and for the Bulls, much of the internal friction ran directly through general manager Jerry Krause. Caffey didn&rsquo;t mince words when Robinson asked about the tipping point between players and the front office.
&ldquo;When I came into the situation, the guys NEVER got along with Jerry Krause. He was just a shrewd businessman. God rest his soul, but Michael would sit there on the bus and call him &lsquo;the sloop.&rsquo;&rdquo;
What followed those bus rides painted a vivid picture of a locker-room culture shaped from the top down or, in this case, from the back of the bus. When Michael Jordan set the tone on Krause, the rest of the roster followed suit. Scottie Pippen, still simmering over a contract that underpaid one of the best players in the world, added his own fuel to the fire. The result was a front office that existed in a kind of cold war with its own players, a dysfunction that somehow coexisted with six championship banners.
It speaks to the complicated legacy of that Bulls run. Chemistry doesn&rsquo;t always mean harmony. Sometimes it means a shared adversary.
<h2>Learning From a Silent Beast</h2>
If Krause represented the tension within the Bulls organization, Dennis Rodman represented something entirely different, a quiet, relentless standard of professional excellence that left a permanent mark on everyone around him.
Robinson asked Caffey about the mental preparation required to play alongside Rodman&rsquo;s unique and electrifying personality. The answer was both surprising and deeply instructive.
&ldquo;Dennis was a great guy to learn up under. He didn&rsquo;t say three words the whole year but, one of the first guys at practice, he&rsquo;s gonna ride the elliptical an hour before practice. He&rsquo;s gonna practice the ENTIRE practice.&rdquo;
Caffey, a young power forward trying to earn his place among legends, described practically having to beg Rodman to step off the floor so he could get reps with the first string. The image is remarkable, a future champion so consumed by preparation that his teammates had to negotiate for practice time. Rodman&rsquo;s silence wasn&rsquo;t disengagement. It was a focus.
Now 52, Caffey credits that experience directly for his continued commitment to physical fitness. The lessons absorbed from Rodman, Jordan, and Pippen didn&rsquo;t expire when the final buzzer sounded on the dynasty. They became a life philosophy.
<h2>The Trade That Stung</h2>
Perhaps no moment in Caffey&rsquo;s career carries more emotional weight than his 1998 trade to the Golden State Warriors, a move that arrived just before the Bulls pursued what would become their sixth and final championship of the decade.
What made the departure sting even more was what happened behind the scenes. Both Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman publicly advocated for Caffey to remain in Chicago, a gesture that clearly still resonates deeply with the veteran forward.
&ldquo;It was awesome that my teammates trusted me at that time and they wanted me on the team. For him to step up and speak on my behalf in a good manner really made me feel proud of myself.&rdquo;
In a dynasty defined by Jordan&rsquo;s will and Krause&rsquo;s calculated maneuvering, having the greatest player in the world go to bat for you meant everything. For Jason Caffey, that loyalty is the championship he still carries with him.

Jason Caffey reflects on his time with the Chicago Bulls, Jerry Krause, and the trade that prevented a third championship.

Jason Caffey on Bulls Dynasty & Costly Trade

There is something quietly remarkable about Gary Payton II. In a league where legacies are inherited as readily as surnames, he has spent the better part of a decade carving out something that belongs entirely to himself,&nbsp; a reputation built not on bloodline, but on relentless effort, defensive tenacity, and an unmistakable hunger to prove that he is more than a footnote to his father&rsquo;s Hall of Fame story.
In a recent interview with journalist <a href="https://scoopb.com/2026/03/id-request-a-trade-immediately-gary-payton-ii-on-a-seattle-sonics-return-the-1996-finals-against-mj-carving-his-own-path-beyond-the-gloves/">Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson of ScoopB.com</a>, Payton II pulled back the curtain on a childhood that was equal parts privileged and complicated, and a future that, if he has anything to say about it, might one day circle back to where it all began.
<h2>Growing Up Payton in Seattle</h2>
Robinson asked Gary Payton II what he remembers about his father&rsquo;s playing days, and his face likely lit up the same way it does when he&rsquo;s locking down an opposing guard on a big defensive possession. &ldquo;A lot of Seattle days,&rdquo; he told Robinson. His memories are vivid, warm, and tinged with the kind of wonder that only a child standing inside a professional locker room can fully understand.
Kevin Garnett is coming over for dinner. Allen Iverson and Vince Carter are dropping by. George Karl&rsquo;s coaching staff roams the halls of practice. For most kids, these names are posters on bedroom walls. For a young Gary Payton II, they were the men at his family&rsquo;s dinner table. It was an extraordinary upbringing, one that provided access few could imagine, while simultaneously placing expectations on his young shoulders that were nearly impossible to carry.
That duality, the gift and the burden of growing up a Payton, shaped the man he would become. By openly acknowledging the mental battles of his youth and the bullying that came with bearing a famous name, Payton II has done something that many sons of legends rarely do: he has been honest about the cost. His current success is not a product of entitlement, but of survival, persistence, and an internalized version of his father&rsquo;s legendary competitive fire.
<h2>Memories of the &rsquo;96 Finals</h2>
Even the most storied chapter of his father&rsquo;s career,&nbsp; the 1996 NBA Finals against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, lives in Payton II&rsquo;s memory not as mythology, but as lived experience. He was only four years old, and he&rsquo;s the first to admit the details blur. But certain images remain: the crackling atmosphere inside KeyArena, the electric energy of a city gripped by basketball fever, and the unforgettable moment of going to see Jordan after a game.
&ldquo;Just going up against Mike,&rdquo; he said, was the defining memory of that season. The SuperSonics may have ultimately fallen to Jordan&rsquo;s Bulls in six games, but for a four-year-old Payton, the Finals were not a loss, they were magic.
<h2>A Trade Request Waiting to Happen</h2>
Perhaps the most telling moment of the Robinson interview came when the conversation turned to the long-discussed prospect of Seattle reclaiming its NBA franchise. Payton II didn&rsquo;t hesitate. &ldquo;I would probably request a trade immediately,&rdquo; he said, laughing, but the laughter barely concealed something genuine underneath it. The desire to play for a Seattle team, to pull on a SuperSonics jersey before his career ends, is real and runs deep.
It is a sentiment that resonates far beyond one player. Seattle&rsquo;s NBA wound has never fully healed, and Payton II,&nbsp; son of its greatest player, serves as a living symbol of what the city lost when the Sonics departed in 2008.
<h2>A Legacy Distinctly His Own</h2>
What the Scoop B interview ultimately reveals is a player who has made peace with his name while refusing to be defined by it. Gary Payton II has secured a legacy built on lockdown defense, championship contributions, and a genuine love for the game that mirrors his father's yet remains independent of it. Whether or not<a href="https://landonbuford.com/nba-expansion-update-seattle-las-vegas-teams-targeted-for-2028/"> Seattle </a>ever calls him home, he has already answered the only question that ever truly mattered,&nbsp; and the answer, emphatically, is yes. He belongs.

Gary Payton II reflects on his Seattle roots, the 1996 NBA Finals, and the dream of a homecoming tied to the Sonics legacy.

Warriors' Gary Payton II on Seattle Roots & ’96 Finals Dream

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic added another historic achievement to his resume this week, passing NBA legend Oscar Robertson for the second-most career triple-doubles in league history. The milestone came during Denver&rsquo;s 136-120 road win over the Chicago Bulls, where Jokic logged a 22-point, 17-assist, 14-rebound performance, which was his 182nd career triple-double.&nbsp;
The triple-double not only powered the Nuggets to a win but also officially moved Jokic ahead of Robertson (181) on the NBA&rsquo;s all-time list.&nbsp;
Just recently today, Jokic logged another triple-double, this time against the Memphis Grizzlies. He had 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists for his 183rd triple-double, and 4th straight over the past 4 games.
Now only Russell Westbrook (207) sits ahead of him, meaning the only thing standing between Jokic and the most triple-doubles in league history is the former MVP himself.&nbsp;
Jokic&rsquo;s historic run this season isn&rsquo;t an isolated burst but it&rsquo;s part of a larger career narrative of all-around excellence. The three-time MVP and eight-time All-Star has been a constant triple-double threat, regularly affecting games with elite scoring, rebounding and playmaking from the center position, an uncommon combination in NBA history.&nbsp;
With continued high-level production, Jokic appears on track to make a legitimate push at Russell Westbrook&rsquo;s record of 207 career triple-doubles. Westbrook&rsquo;s record has stood as one of the NBA&rsquo;s most iconic milestones since he first surpassed Robertson&rsquo;s mark years ago.&nbsp;
By passing Oscar Robertson for second all-time in triple-doubles, Nikola Jokic further cements his place among the most versatile players in NBA history &ndash; and with Westbrook&rsquo;s record now clearly in his sights, this season could be another defining chapter in his Hall of Fame career.

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic passed NBA legend Oscar Robertson for the second-most career triple-doubles in history.

Nikola Jokic passes Oscar Robertson for 2nd All-Time in triple doubles

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a splash on trade deadline day, acquiring guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls in a multi-asset deal that also brings forward Julian Phillips to Minnesota. In return, the Bulls receive young guard Rob Dillingham, forward Leonard Miller and four future second-round draft picks.&nbsp;
ANALYSIS: Minnesota receives Ayo Dosunmu, a 26-year-old guard having a career-best season with averages around 15.0 points, 3.6 assists and strong shooting splits (51.4 % FG, 45.1 % 3-point) and Julian Phillips, a young wing who provides depth on the perimeter.&nbsp;
On the other hand, Chicago will receive Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, a young scorer with upside; Leonard Miller, a forward prospect with rotational experience and four second-round draft picks &ndash; significant draft capital for the Bulls to continue their roster overhaul.&nbsp;
The trade bolsters Minnesota&rsquo;s backcourt scoring and shooting as the Wolves push toward the Western Conference playoffs, giving them a proven guard who can contribute immediately next to stars like Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Dosunmu&rsquo;s ability to hit from deep and create offense fills a major need for a Wolves team that has struggled for consistent production outside its top stars.&nbsp;
For Chicago, the trade fits with a broader roster rebuild and teardown &ndash; parting with multiple core rotation pieces this week &ndash; and adds a mix of youth and draft assets as they look to retool their lineup for the future.

The Timberwolves made a splash on trade deadline day, acquiring guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls for guard Rob Dillingham.

Timberwolves nab Ayo Dosunmu from Bulls for Rob Dillingham

Two young guards are set to transfer and call another city their new home after they got moved ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline: Sixers&rsquo; Jared McCain and Bulls&rsquo; Coby White.
<h3>Jared McCain traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder</h3>
The Philadelphia 76ers have traded second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2026 Houston Rockets first-round pick and three second-round draft picks, per ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.&nbsp;
McCain, the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, enjoyed a promising rookie season before injuries disrupted his development. This season, he&rsquo;s averaged 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting roughly 38.5 % from three, and OKC hopes his shooting and potential can help bolster its guard depth, especially with star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined with an abdominal strain.
Adding McCain gives OKC a young shooting guard with upside who can provide spacing and perimeter scoring in relief of its stars &ndash; an appealing low-risk, high-reward piece as the defending champions chase another deep playoff run.&nbsp;&nbsp;
For the 76ers, the deal brings significant draft capital and roster flexibility, helping them get below the luxury tax threshold and clear space for other backcourt pieces.&nbsp;
<h3>Coby White heads to the Charlotte Hornets</h3>
In a separate deadline move, the Chicago Bulls sent veteran guard Coby White (along with Mike Conley Jr.) to the Charlotte Hornets as part of a three-team trade.&nbsp;
Charlotte received White, currently averaging 18.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game this season, to upgrade its backcourt and add more offensive firepower.&nbsp;
Bringing in White gives Charlotte a proven scorer and playmaker to support its young core and push toward the play-in/playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.&nbsp;
In return, the Bulls acquired Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three future second-round picks, signaling a broader roster retooling as Chicago continues its rebuild.&nbsp;
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
As for the Sixers &amp; Bulls, both franchises gained future draft capital and flexibility as they adjust long-term strategies and balance present competitiveness with future building.

Two young guards are set to transfer and call another city their new home after they got moved: Jared McCain and Coby White.

A pair of guards on the move: Jared McCain to OKC, Coby White to Charlotte

The Boston Celtics made another notable roster move, acquiring veteran big man Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons and second-round draft pick assets,according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania. The trade comes with the 2026 NBA trade deadline looming and signals Boston&rsquo;s intent to bolster its frontcourt for a playoff push.&nbsp;
Vucevic, 35, arrives in Boston as a two-time All-Star and proven NBA scorer and rebounder, currently averaging about 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game this season. His addition gives the Celtics much-needed size and experience in the paint, rounding out a frontcourt that has relied heavily on younger centers like Neemias Queta and Luka Garza while dealing with injuries and lineup gaps.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Simons, 26, departs Boston after just part of a season in green. Acquired by the Celtics last summer in the Jrue Holiday trade with the Trail Blazers, he provided a capable scoring punch off the bench, averaging 14.2 points per game and showing the shooting ability that made him a valuable trade chip.&nbsp;
The deal also has financial implications for the Celtics&rsquo; cap situation. By swapping Simons&rsquo; larger expiring contract for Vucevic&rsquo;s smaller one, Boston significantly reduces its luxury-tax bill and moves closer to operating under the league&rsquo;s first tax apron &ndash; a strategic position that could give the team more roster flexibility as the deadline nears.&nbsp;
For the Bulls, acquiring Simons adds youth and shooting to a backcourt that has been reshaped this season, complementing other recent trades as Chicago pivots toward a younger core.&nbsp;
This deadline-week trade represents a practical move by the Celtics to address a long-standing frontcourt need with a veteran presence while managing their financial picture, and it gives the Bulls a dynamic scorer in Simons as they continue reshaping their roster.

The Celtics made another roster move, acquiring big man Nikola Vucevic from the Bulls in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons.

Celtics swap Anfernee Simons for Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic

The Chicago Bulls are receiving guard Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric, according to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.&nbsp;
Full trade details include Ivey and Minnesota&rsquo;s Mike Conley going to Chicago, while Huerter and Saric will go to Detroit. The Pistons are also reportedly receiving a 2026 first-round pick swap from Minnesota.
ANALYSIS: The Bulls and the Pistons address their positional need in this trade for guards. Chicago will acquire Ivey, a young guard with loads of potential who was drafted 5th overall in 2022, to add more talent around Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. The Pistons on their end, finally end a saga with Ivey as they try and compete for a championship this season. They get a sharpshooter in Huerter to help space the floor for stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
For the Timberwolves, this move represents a flexible one outside of another trade to create space around the 1st apron of tax as they are reportedly pursuing a certain superstar in Milwaukee who is available to be traded.

The Chicago Bulls are receiving guard Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric.

Bulls receive Jaden Ivey from Pistons for Huerter, Saric

The NBA&rsquo;s trade season is officially here.
In the first major move approaching this year&rsquo;s trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers have traded forward De&rsquo;Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for guards Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, as reported by ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
Furthermore, the trade will include the Chicago Bulls acquiring Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks.
ANALYSIS: The Cavaliers turned Hunter&rsquo;s slot for more guard depth by acquiring Schroder and Ellis. Schroder slots in immediately as the team&rsquo;s veteran backup point guard behind Donovan Mitchell, while Ellis is a stingy on-ball guard defender that can shoot the three, easily playing alongside Mitchell as well.
This move for Cleveland likely comes from the emergence of second-year forward Jaylon Tyson this season, who is currently averaging 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 51.4% shooting from the field and a blistering 46.3 percent from three.
This move should be a win-win situation as well for the Kings as they acquire a two-way forward on a relatively manageable contract with his current production in consideration. Hunter will join the Kings&rsquo; roster full of promising players around Domantas Sabonis, as they try to navigate this season and build winning habits while trying to secure a high draft pick in next year&rsquo;s draft.
Hunter will now be alongside players like Keegan Murray, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud with veterans DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Russell Westbrook, as the Kings&rsquo; roster is starting to take shape moving forward.

In the first major move approaching this year’s trade deadline, the Cavaliers have traded forward De’Andre Hunter to the Kings.

Cavaliers send De’Andre Hunter to Kings for Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis

The NBA has handed Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George a 25-game suspension without pay after determining he violated the league&rsquo;s Anti-Drug Program, the league announced Saturday.&nbsp;
The ban, one of the more significant disciplinary actions this season, will sideline the nine-time All-Star for roughly two-thirds of the regular season before he&rsquo;s eligible to return on March 25 against the Chicago Bulls.&nbsp;
According to official league releases, the suspension stems from a violation of the terms of the NBA/NBPA anti-drug policy. The NBA did not disclose the specific substance involved, which is standard in such cases under policy guidelines. By collective bargaining agreement rules, a 25-game ban indicates a first violation of the anti-drug program.&nbsp;
In a statement to ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania, George took ownership of the situation, explaining that he &ldquo;made the mistake of taking an improper medication&rdquo; while seeking treatment for a personal mental health issue and apologized to the team, organization and fans for his error. He said he plans to use the time away &ldquo;to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return.&rdquo;
George&rsquo;s absence will have a noticeable impact on the 76ers&rsquo; rotation. The 35-year-old has been averaging approximately 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season while serving as a key piece alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia &ndash; currently sitting in a playoff position in the Eastern Conference &ndash; now faces the challenge of maintaining momentum without one of its veteran contributors.&nbsp;
The suspension will also cost George around $11.7 million in lost salary, as he will not be paid for the games he misses under the league&rsquo;s disciplinary rules.&nbsp;
This development will sideline George, a cornerstone of the Sixers&rsquo; roster during a critical stretch of the season. While he&rsquo;s expected to come back for the final 10 games of the regular season, Philadelphia will need to adapt without his scoring and experience as it pushes toward the postseason.

The NBA has handed 76ers forward Paul George a 25-game suspension after violating the league's anti-drug policy.

Paul George suspended 25 games for violating anti-drug policy

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 Chicago Bulls officially etched Derrick Rose&rsquo;s legacy into franchise history, raising his No. 1 jersey into the rafters in an emotional ceremony on Saturday, January 24. For a city that lives and breathes basketball, it was a long-overdue tribute to a player who carried Chicago&rsquo;s hopes in the post-Michael Jordan era.
A true hometown hero, Rose was born and raised in Chicago before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. From the moment he arrived, he represented more than just a new face of the franchise &ndash; he symbolized belief. With his explosive athleticism, fearless rim attacks, and quiet confidence, Rose quickly became the centerpiece of a Bulls revival and a beacon of hope for a proud basketball city searching for its next star.
That belief reached its peak in 2011, when Rose delivered one of the most memorable individual seasons in NBA history. He became the youngest MVP the league has ever seen, leading the Bulls to a league-best record and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance as the No. 1 seed in the East. During his time in Chicago, Rose led the Bulls to the playoffs every season he was healthy, firmly reestablishing the franchise as an Eastern Conference power.
But Rose&rsquo;s story is inseparable from the adversity that followed. His devastating ACL injury during the 2012 playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers marked a turning point &ndash; not just for his career, but for an entire era of Bulls basketball. Despite relentless rehab and multiple comeback attempts, Rose was never quite the same physically. Still, his resilience, humility, and perseverance earned him admiration across the league.
Today, Rose remains one of the most beloved figures in Chicago sports history. His journey &ndash; from MVP to comeback trailblazer &ndash; inspired fans, teammates, and a generation of players who saw his perseverance as proof that greatness isn&rsquo;t only defined by longevity or statistics. With his jersey now hanging in the United Center rafters, Derrick Rose&rsquo;s impact on Chicago basketball is officially immortalized, right where it belongs.

The Bulls retire Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey, honoring the youngest MVP in NBA history and a hometown hero for Bulls basketball.

Bulls retire Derrick Rose’s no.1 jersey

Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan officially etched his name deeper into NBA scoring lore on Sunday, becoming just the 23rd player in league history to reach 26,000 career points in a regular-season game.&nbsp;
DeRozan reached the milestone during the Kings&rsquo; 111-98 win over the Houston Rockets, finishing with 22 points and crossing the mark in the second quarter.
The milestone places DeRozan among an elite group of all-time scorers &ndash; a remarkable achievement underlining his consistency and longevity across a long NBA career. Since entering the league in 2009, DeRozan has been one of the game&rsquo;s most prolific mid range shooters and a reliable scoring presence wherever he&rsquo;s played, including stops with the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and now the Kings.
At age 36, DeRozan&rsquo;s journey to the 26K club reflects more than just volume. He&rsquo;s been remarkably durable and consistent &ndash; attributes that have allowed him to rise up the all-time scoring list season after season. His performance on Sunday gave Sacramento its first victory in 2026 and underscored how even late in his career he can still impact games as a go-to scorer.
DeRozan&rsquo;s achievement also sparked praise from fans and peers alike, with many pointing to his underrated scoring prowess and mid-range mastery as reasons he continues to climb the historic leaderboard. Already a member of the 25,000-point club and a six-time All-Star, DeRozan&rsquo;s presence in the 26K club adds another major milestone to a Hall of Fame-worthy resume.

Kings guard DeMar DeRozan etched his name into NBA scoring lore on Sunday, reaching 26,000 career regular season points.

DeMar DeRozan joins exclusive 26,000-point club in Kings victory

It&rsquo;s been a long time since Chicago basketball felt this good.
The United Center hasn&rsquo;t buzzed like this in years, and it&rsquo;s not because of a flashy superstar, a high-profile signing, or a sudden scoring explosion. It&rsquo;s because the Bulls &ndash; yes, these Bulls &ndash; are finally playing like a team again.
Through the first seven games of the 2025-26 NBA season, the severely underrated Chicago Bulls have stormed out to a 6&ndash;1 record, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. For a franchise that has spent much of the past decade searching for identity and direction, this early surge represents something far more meaningful than wins and losses.
It&rsquo;s about rediscovering what Chicago basketball used to stand for: toughness, selflessness, and unity.
A new identity, finally defined
For years, the Bulls&rsquo; offense revolved around Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan &ndash; two elite scorers whose individual brilliance often overshadowed the collective. They were both incredible in isolation, capable of creating something out of nothing, but their styles never fully meshed with what head coach Billy Donovan envisioned.
This season, the picture looks entirely different. Without LaVine and DeRozan, Donovan has reshaped the Bulls into a system-driven, motion-heavy team that thrives on movement, cutting, and passing. There&rsquo;s no ball-dominant alpha demanding touches. Instead, every possession feels deliberate, purposeful &ndash; a shared effort rather than a solo performance.
The Bulls are just playing basketball the right way, they are screening, cutting, and trusting each other. Everyone touches the ball, and everyone matters.
The Bulls may not have a top-tier offensive engine or a dominant space creator, but they&rsquo;ve replaced that with balance, energy, and discipline. The result is a brand of basketball that is winning, and one that is repeatable, although it remains to be seen if it is sustainable to get them to the playoffs.
The key players behind the surge: Nikola Vucevic and Josh Giddey
At the heart of it all is Nikola Vucevic, the steadying veteran whose game has aged like fine wine.
At 35, Vucevic isn&rsquo;t just surviving in today&rsquo;s pace-and-space NBA, he&rsquo;s thriving. He&rsquo;s averaging near a double-double once again, but it&rsquo;s his leadership that&rsquo;s had the bigger impact. He anchors Chicago&rsquo;s offense with smart positioning and inside-out passing as well as his elite floor spacing, while providing an example for the team&rsquo;s younger players about consistency and professionalism.
If Vucevic is the team&rsquo;s heart, Josh Giddey has become its brain.
After a tense summer restricted free agency saga, Giddey returned to Chicago with something to prove &ndash; and it shows. Fresh off signing a long-term deal, he&rsquo;s playing with an assertiveness and confidence that eluded him in previous seasons. Giddey has found his groove and his playmaking has been elite, threading passes and elevating the play of everyone around him.
More importantly, Giddey has found the balance between facilitating and attacking. His improved scoring aggression has kept defenses honest, opening up cutting lanes and rhythm shots for teammates. Early on, he&rsquo;s looking every bit like an All-Star &ndash; and the Bulls are reaping the benefits.
The potential of Matas Buzelis and the rise of Ayo Dosunmu
While Vucevic and Giddey set the tone, the Bulls&rsquo; most exciting storyline might be the emergence of Matas Buzelis.
The hometown kid &ndash; born in Chicago and drafted by his city &ndash; is coming into his own. Buzelis has been given the green light to learn, make mistakes, and grow, a luxury few rookies receive in a major market. His length, shooting touch, and versatility have made him a seamless fit in Donovan&rsquo;s system, and his elite athleticism and rim pressure allows him to have a consistent scoring bag.
For a franchise that&rsquo;s long searched for its next cornerstone, Buzelis represents hope &ndash; the possibility of a homegrown star who could one day carry the torch for the next great Bulls era.
Speaking of hometown pride, Ayo Dosunmu continues to be one of Chicago&rsquo;s unsung heroes.
Dosunmu, another Illinois native, has blossomed into one of the league&rsquo;s best 3-and-D guards. But this season, Donovan has asked for more &ndash; and Dosunmu has delivered. He&rsquo;s taking on bigger offensive responsibilities while still anchoring the perimeter defense. His energy, versatility, and unselfishness epitomize the Bulls&rsquo; identity: no ego, just effort.
Depth, Balance, and Belief
Even with Coby White sidelined, the Bulls&rsquo; depth has been a revelation. Role players like Isaac Okoro, Tre Jones, Patrick Williams, Kevin Huerter, and Jalen Smith have each embraced their roles with clarity and confidence.
Okoro brings defensive tenacity. Jones provides steadiness at the point. Williams has settled into a reliable two-way rhythm. Huerter adds spacing and shooting, while Smith has given valuable minutes as a stretch big. None of them are stars &ndash; but together, they&rsquo;ve formed a cohesive, balanced rotation that works alongside their core.
&ndash; &ndash; &ndash;
The city of Chicago has been waiting for a team to believe in again. Since the days of Derrick Rose&rsquo;s MVP run and Jimmy Butler&rsquo;s hope, the Bulls have cycled through rebuilds, retools, and false starts &ndash; flashes of potential that never quite materialized.
But this group is a fresh start. This team, defined by their collective purpose, embodies the city&rsquo;s blue-collar spirit. They may not have a global superstar yet, but they have something that&rsquo;s been missing for far too long: chemistry, identity, and belief.
Chicago knows greatness when it sees it. After all, it&rsquo;s the home of Michael Jordan &ndash; the standard by which all Bulls teams are measured. But even if this group isn&rsquo;t chasing banners just yet, they&rsquo;re chasing something just as important: respect, relevance, and revival.
For the first time in years, Bulls basketball matters again. And it&rsquo;s not because of who&rsquo;s scoring the most points &ndash; it&rsquo;s because they&rsquo;re doing it together.

The Chicago Bulls are off to their best start in years — not because of star power, but because of teamwork. Read more how, here:

Together again: How the Bulls’ collective identity sparked their strong start

The Chicago Sky don’t deserve Angel Reese. Read more why:

The Chicago Sky as an organization do not deserve Angel Reese

The Chicago Bulls have officially announced that they will retire Derrick Rose&rsquo;s No. 1 jersey next season.&nbsp;
The ceremony is scheduled for January 24, 2026, following a home game against the Boston Celtics at the United Center &ndash; a symbolic matchup, given Rose&rsquo;s impactful early playoff history against them.
Rose will join an elite list of Bulls legends whose numbers hang in the rafters: Michael Jordan (23), Scottie Pippen (33), Jerry Sloan (4), and Bob Love (10).
When the announcement was delivered, Rose was visibly moved &ndash; even brought to tears &ndash; underscoring how deeply personal this honor is for the former MVP, via TalksportWFNZ Radio.
As part of the season-long tribute, the Bulls are planning an immersive experience, including a&nbsp; postgame ceremony on January 24 which will officially raise the jersey, and special figurines celebrating different chapters of Rose's career will be distributed on four select home game dates.&nbsp;
This tribute isn&rsquo;t just about honoring a player &ndash; it&rsquo;s celebrating the legacy of a hometown hero. Rose revitalized the Bulls franchise at a young age, becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011 and reclaiming Chicago&rsquo;s relevance in the league.
Rose will be permanently immortalized alongside Chicago's pantheon of basketball royalty. It&rsquo;s more than a jersey retirement &ndash; it&rsquo;s a homecoming, a thank-you to a player who carried the city&rsquo;s hopes and earned his place among the all-time greats.

The Chicago Bulls have officially announced that they will retire Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey next season.

Bulls to retire Derrick Rose's no. 1 jersey

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

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets made waves with two notable offseason moves: Cleveland acquired Lonzo Ball, while Charlotte landed Collin Sexton, both swaps addressing team needs and future direction. Both deals were reported separately by ESPN&rsquo;s Shams Charania.
Cavaliers land Lonzo Ball
Cleveland secured Ball from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Isaac Okoro, aiming to boost their backcourt creativity. Ball, a former No. 2 overall pick, averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over 35 games last season after returning from extensive knee surgeries. His career averages &ndash; 11.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.8 apg &ndash; highlight his value as a versatile facilitator and defensive prowess.
Cleveland is taking a calculated risk on Ball&rsquo;s health, but his size, playmaking, and defensive upside fit neatly behind Darius Garland as a backup PG. Meanwhile, Okoro brings defensive energy and youth to the Bulls, who are currently rebuilding and are collecting young talent.
Sexton finds new home in Charlotte
Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets have added veteran guard Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz, sending Jusuf Nurkićand a 2030 second-round pick to Utah. Sexton averaged 18.4 points, 4.2 assists, and shot 40.6% from beyond the arc in 63 games, bringing proven scoring punch and his signature defensive, hustling game to a guard-heavy Hornets rotation.
The trade bolsters Charlotte&rsquo;s bench depth but tightens competition at guard, potentially impacting players they drafted in the recent draft, including Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley.
<h3>Trade Implications</h3>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Team
</td>
<td>
Gain
</td>
<td>
Loss
</td>
<td>
Key Impact
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Cavs
</td>
<td>
Lonzo Ball (playmaking)
</td>
<td>
Isaac Okoro (defense)
</td>
<td>
Enhanced ball-handling; health remains a concern
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Bulls
</td>
<td>
Isaac Okoro (young wing)
</td>
<td>
Lonzo Ball (injury-prone)
</td>
<td>
Youthful defense, salary matching
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Hornets
</td>
<td>
Collin Sexton (scoring)
</td>
<td>
Jusuf Nurkić + 2nd-round pick
</td>
<td>
Bench scoring boost, backcourt crowding
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Jazz
</td>
<td>
Jusuf Nurkić (frontcourt)
</td>
<td>
Collin Sexton + pick
</td>
<td>
More size inside, relief for guard development
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
ANALYSIS: Both moves reflect strategic recalibration: Cleveland boosts its offensive engine, Charlotte injects bench scoring, Utah shores up its frontcourt, and Chicago focuses on youth. These trades set the stage for a season defined by fit, health, and long-term planning.

The Cavaliers and Hornets made waves with two notable offseason moves, acquiring Lonzo Ball and Collin Sexton respectively.

NBA offseason moves: Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers; Collin Sexton to the Hornets

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

The NBA has officially announced the 2024&ndash;25 All-Rookie First and Second Teams, highlighting a season rich with emerging talent and international flair. Headlining the list is San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, who was unanimously selected to the First Team following his Rookie of the Year campaign. Castle led all rookies with 14.7 points per game and topped the class in total steals and three-pointers made, showcasing his all-around impact on the court.
All-Rookie First Team
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs) &ndash; The No. 4 overall pick from UConn, Castle averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds over 81 games, earning unanimous First Team honors.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) &ndash; The top overall pick in the 2024 draft, Risacher delivered multiple 30+ point performances, including a season-high 38 points, and received 99 of 100 First Team votes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies) &ndash; A second-round steal at pick No. 39, Wells averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, becoming the only second-rounder on the First Team.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies) &ndash; The 7'4" center provided a strong interior presence, contributing to Memphis becoming the first team since 2019&ndash;20 to have two All-Rookie First Team selections.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards) &ndash; The French big man averaged 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, becoming the first Wizard since 2012&ndash;13 to make the First Team.</li>
</ul>
All-Rookie Second Team
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls) &ndash; The versatile forward from G League Ignite made an immediate impact with his scoring and defensive versatility .</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bub Carrington (Washington Wizards) &ndash; Acquired via trade, Carrington played all 82 games, averaging 9.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds, and hit a game-winning shot to cap his season.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers) &ndash; The former UConn center averaged 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, anchoring Portland&rsquo;s defense in the paint.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Kel&rsquo;el Ware (Miami Heat) &ndash; Ware&rsquo;s athleticism and rim protection earned him a key role in Miami&rsquo;s rotation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Yves Missi (New Orleans Pelicans) &ndash; The Cameroonian forward provided energy and rebounding off the bench, solidifying his spot among the league&rsquo;s top rookies .</li>
</ul>
This year's All-Rookie selections underscore the NBA's growing international presence, with players from France and Cameroon making significant impacts. The Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards each had two players honored, reflecting successful draft strategies and player development programs.
The 2024&ndash;25 rookie class has set a high bar, and fans can look forward to watching these young stars continue to develop and shape the future of the league.

The NBA has officially announced the 2024–25 All-Rookie First and Second Teams, highlighting a season rich with emerging talent.

NBA unveils 2024–25 All-Rookie Teams

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.