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

2022-23 NBA Season Preview: Pacific Division

The 2021-22 NBA season is right around the corner. One month from now, training camps will get underway. This season, BasketballNews.com will be covering the NBA from every possible angle, including ramped-up sports-betting content.
After providing some <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/5-best-bets-on-future-nba-awardwinners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interesting future bets on the NBA award races</a>, let's take a look at the 2021-22 playoff odds. Many teams went all-in this offseason, determined to make the playoffs and go on a run.
After examining the 2021-22 playoff odds, seven teams stand out as worthy fliers. Let&rsquo;s dive into which organizations have intriguing odds that you can capitalize on before it&rsquo;s too late.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: +575 odds to make playoffs
Realistically, the team that could make you a lot of money by the end of the regular season resides in Minnesota. Although the Western Conference is still loaded &ndash; with as many as 12 teams having realistic playoff aspirations &ndash; don&rsquo;t sleep on the Timberwolves finally making a push.
Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the most gifted scorers in the Association and a consistent 40% three-point shooter. Last year's No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/basketball-news-will-anthony-edwards-surge-lead-to-nba-rookie-of-the-year-award-minnesota-timberwolves" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made a leap in the second half</a> of his rookie season, averaging 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.9 threes and 1.4 steals in 36 games after the All-Star break. He should build off of that during his sophomore campaign, and he could crack 25.0 points per game. D&rsquo;Angelo Russell has struggled with injuries during his year-plus stint in Minnesota, but he&rsquo;s another offensive weapon that Minnesota can utilize. The Timberwolves&rsquo; roster features a lot of youth and a lot of subpar defenders, but a whole lot of points will be scored. Minnesota is hoping to out-race teams in "track-meet" style matchups where reaching 130-plus points each night is the primary objective.
Here's another underrated reason why you should take a flier on Minnesota at +575 playoff odds: the Ben Simmons rumors. Minnesota is reportedly the one team who has continually kept a dialogue going with Philadelphia. Now, after acquiring big expiring contracts in Taurean Prince and Patrick Beverley this offseason, the Wolves can make a deal work cap-wise while also throwing in a sweetener like up-and-coming prospect Jaden McDaniels. Philadelphia&rsquo;s asking price is absurd, but Minnesota can offer picks plus Prince, Beverley, McDaniels and Josh Okogie to make the salaries work. The Sixers will likely want a third team to get involved to create a more appealing package, but don&rsquo;t rule out Minnesota as Simmons&rsquo; eventual destination. If that happens, you&rsquo;ll be lucky to have chased these +575 odds before they might break even within a few months time.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS: +500 odds to make playoffs
The 2021-22 season may be the Wizards&rsquo; last chance to impress Bradley Beal. Entering the final year of his contract, Beal could become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. The Wizards will <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/bradley-beal-will-be-eligible-extension-wizards-offseason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> offer him to a max extension this summer, but it remains to be seen if he's interested in signing it.
Regardless, give Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard some credit. Once Russell Westbrook asked out, he retooled Washington&rsquo;s roster on the fly and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wizards-retooling-led-to-a-competent-roster-surrounding-bradley-beal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">built a competent rotation</a> best suited to fit Beal&rsquo;s special skillset. Spencer Dinwiddie is the perfect backcourt partner alongside Beal. Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope add more scoring punch. Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert are talented prospects who provide versatility. Davis Bertans should have a bounce-back season beyond the arc and provide elite shooting. Daniel Gafford, Montrezl Harrell and Thomas Bryant is an intriguing trio of big men. Overall, Washington now has a deeper rotation that should fit together better than last year's group.
If everything clicks for the Wizards, they should push for a playoff spot (perhaps with a second-straight appearance in the play-in tournament). Although Westbrook is gone, Beal should be able to lead a more well-rounded roster to a record above .500. If that&rsquo;s the case, betting on Washington right now at +500 odds seems like a smart investment.
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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: +200 odds to miss playoffs
Damian Lillard seems to have one foot out the door in Portland. Fed up with the Blazers&rsquo; <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-which-nba-team-had-the-worst-offseason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lack of urgency to build a contender around him</a>, nothing has really changed since he vented about how additional changes were needed. GM Neil Olshey re-signed Norman Powell (who fits well alongside Lillard) on a five-year deal and added Cody Zeller, Tony Snell and Ben McLemore to improve Portland's second unit. The Blazers also traded Derrick Jones Jr. and a future lottery-protected first-round pick to bring in Larry Nance Jr., who is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/what-larry-nance-jr-brings-to-the-portland-trail-blazers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a perfect complementary piece that should help on both ends</a> of the floor.
Aside from Nance, the additions are pretty underwhelming, and the team lost Carmelo Anthony, Enes Kanter and Zach Collins. Considering what's at stake, it's surprising that the Blazers didn't make more moves to show Lillard that the organization is committed to winning. Olshey and Co. are playing a very dangerous game here, especially if the Blazers stagnate in the standings next season.
If teams like Minnesota, New Orleans and Memphis see a big leap from their young cores, Portland could find themselves outside of the playoff picture. And if that&rsquo;s the case, Lillard will be gone next offseason.
At +200 odds to miss the playoffs, it&rsquo;s a worthy gamble when you realize the Lillard situation hangs over the organization. If the Blazers get off to a slow start, could Lillard ask out mid-season? At the moment,&nbsp; it's hard to feel comfortable about Portland&rsquo;s playoff hopes.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS: +175 odds to make playoffs
Charlotte <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/hornets-ready-to-fly-up-standings-following-strong-offseason" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quietly had one of the best offseasons</a> in the Association. Not only did they re-sign Terry Rozier on a four-year deal, they also brought in Kelly Oubre Jr. to add some more scoring potency off their bench. Mason Plumlee, who has been a steady starting center over the years, was acquired pretty much for free. Add in the draft picks of James Bouknight and Kai Jones, and Charlotte will be one of the most fun teams to monitor throughout the 2021-22 season.
LaMelo Ball is poised to take another leap in his sophomore campaign, which should help bolster Charlotte&rsquo;s playoff probabilities even further. The Hornets&rsquo; rotation is now 10-11 players deep, which hasn&rsquo;t been the case in years. With a nice blend of win-now veterans alongside promising high-upside prospects, Charlotte could be one of the best bets to make off this list.&nbsp;
Gordon Hayward&rsquo;s health will also play a factor here. The Hornets were above .500 before Hayward went down with a season-ending injury. Despite Hayward's injury and Ball being sidelined for a significant stretch, the Hornets still earned a spot in the East's play-in tournament last year. If Hayward can stay healthy throughout the regular season and their offseason additions fit in, Charlotte could comfortably finish in the East's top-eight for the first time since 2015-16.&nbsp;
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NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: +170 odds to make playoffs
It's always fun to bet on Zion Williamson, who has already reached superstardom. After averaging 27.0 points during his sophomore season, Williamson could realistically average 30.0 or more now that the new-look Pelicans will have better floor-spacing. A smart head-coaching hire (Willie Green) and roster upgrades around the margins should lead to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/by-making-zion-williamsons-job-easier-the-pelicans-should-finally-have-real-playoff-potential" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a boost in performance from New Orleans</a>.
Brandon Ingram is flying under the radar as well. If Ingram continues to be one of the most promising two-way wings in the Association, New Orleans is cooking with gas in 2021-22.
It will be tough to break through in a loaded Western Conference, but Williamson is a generational talent. If the Pelicans find success early in the regular season, they could ride that wave of momentum toward a play-in appearance. With Williiamson in a win-or-go-home situation for a playoff spot, I&rsquo;m betting on New Orleans.&nbsp;
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INDIANA PACERS: +145 odds to miss the playoffs
Everything went wrong for the Pacers last season. Nate Bjorkgren was an awful head coach who failed to relate to players and whose scheme didn&rsquo;t match the roster. Rick Carlisle&rsquo;s return to Indiana is a huge deal for an organization that <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pacers-face-makeorbreak-202122-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">needs to succeed in a make-or-break 2021-22 season</a>. If the Pacers fail to make significant headway, big changes are in store for this roster.
Again, the Eastern Conference looks to be very much improved. Chicago may have leapfrogged Indiana in their division. Charlotte and Washington might be doing the same thing with solid rosters that could immediately fit together well. Meanwhile, Indiana has questions. Will Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/can-rick-carlisle-make-a-domantas-sabonis-myles-turner-pairing-work-for-the-pacers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">find success with their jumbo-sized frontcourt</a>? Will T.J. Warren <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/a-100-million-payday-awaits-tj-warren-if-he-continues-to-silence-the-critics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stay healthy in a contract year</a>? What can we expect from the backcourt of Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert, which barely played together last season due to separate injuries?
On paper, the Pacers have a solid squad. However, if they get off to a slow start, they could be one of the teams ready to sell-high around the trade deadline. They have a number of attractive pieces and rival executives have been circling like vultures for a while (just look at how often Turner has surfaced in trade rumors). At +145 odds, this seems like a flier worth taking.
NEW YORK KNICKS: +125 odds to miss the playoffs
After a really solid offseason, it's clear that the Knicks are banking on continuity. Also, bringing aboard Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker should help bolster a rotation that was already impressively deep. However, could the Knicks be the team that regresses the most in 2021-22? It&rsquo;s a realistic possibility, especially with how many young squads in the Eastern Conference are on the rise.
What if Julius Randle stagnates and doesn&rsquo;t improve? They'll need him to continue playing at a high level, while R.J. Barrett, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley and their 2021 rookie class must hit the ground running early in the regular season too.
New York finished as the No. 4 seed last season, but for the first time in years, there will be real drama surrounding the East's playoff picture.
Tom Thibodeau helped the Knicks overachieve last season. The question is, can this team do it again? It's possible they take a step forward and once again earn homecourt advantage in the playoffs. But it truly could go either way for the Knicks, making this a worthy bet at +125.

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2021-22 NBA playoff odds: 7 teams worth betting on

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NBA Sour Rankings: Life After a Blockbuster

With the 2020 NBA Draft just two weeks away, our Matt Babcock updated his mock draft and provided his thoughts on each player. Some of the risers include Kira Lewis Jr. (Alabama) and Zeke Nnaji (Arizona), while some of the fallers include Aleksej Pokusevski (Olympiacos) and Leandro Bolmaro (FC Barcelona):
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
At 6'5" and a strong 225 pounds, Anthony Edwards has perhaps the most upside in this year's draft. Edwards' raw talent was on full display at the Maui Invitational in November when he scored 33 points in one half versus Michigan State. Although he has significant room for growth in regards to his overall maturity as a player, his uncanny ability to hit tough shots from all over the court gives him the potential to be a special player.
2. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
Although James Wiseman is 7'1" and 240 pounds with an impressive 7'6" wingspan, he should not be considered a throwback, big-bodied center (which is somewhat of a dying breed). Instead, Wiseman is extremely athletic for a player his size. He also has an underrated skill level, and he can be a major contributor for a team right off the bat. That&rsquo;s why he is the first big man off the board.
3. Charlotte Hornets: Onyeka Okongwu, C/PF, USC
Commonly referred to as the "Big O," Onyeka Okongwu had a terrific freshman campaign for the USC Trojans, averaging 16.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He's an undersized center that can serve as a defensive anchor for a team. He's also a legitimate scoring threat who's capable of displaying fancy footwork and a soft touch with both hands around the rim. He's extremely strong and explosive, which allows him to be an effective rim protector and powerful finisher. Comparisons to the Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo have been drawn regularly for good reason.
4. Chicago Bulls: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
The youngest brother of the Ball family, LaMelo comes to the NBA with lofty expectations. At 6'7", Ball has terrific size for a point guard. He has the ball on a string and a knack to make spectacular plays. Despite concerns of immaturity, Ball's talent is undeniable -- look for him to be the first point guard taken in the 2020 NBA Draft.
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5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton
After not receiving an invite to the NBA Draft Combine following his freshman season, Obi Toppin returned to Dayton for his sophomore year and he put on a show from start to finish, subsequently being named the National College Player of the Year. At 6'9", Toppin is a high-flyer who throws down jaw-dropping dunks reminiscent of former NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire. He's also a capable outside shooter, as he shot a stellar 39% from three-point range. Already 22 years old, Toppin is probably the most NBA-ready player in the draft and could be considered an early favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
6. Atlanta Hawks: Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
A product of the famed Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, Deni Avdija has already gained valuable professional experience in the Euroleague (the best league in the world outside of the NBA). At 6'9", Avdija is extremely versatile as a hybrid forward and he's also a capable ballhandler and playmaker who is deceptively athletic. In a draft with significant international talent, Avdija is certainly the cream of the crop.
7. Detroit Pistons: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
After entering his freshman season at Alabama as the second-youngest Division-I player in the country (at 17 years old), he returned for his sophomore season and did not disappoint. Perhaps the fastest player in the draft, Lewis Jr. averaged 18.5 points and 5.2 assists per game this past season for the Crimson Tide. Comparisons have been drawn to former NBA player Darren Collison.
8. New York Knicks: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn
Perhaps the best overall athlete in the entire NBA draft, Isaac Okoro steps into the NBA from Auburn with a reputation of being an exceptional defender that's capable of defending multiple positions effectively. Although he possesses a relatively simple game on the offensive end, he does have a good feel for how to play. If he is able to improve his outside shooting, watch out; Okoro could end up being a big-time player.
9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, SG/SF, Florida State
Devin Vassell is a long wing that is capable of playing the shooting guard or small forward positions, effectively. On the offensive end, he reminds me of Jeremy Lamb of the Indiana Pacers. He's a capable shooter from outside, has a good mid-range game, and can finish around the rim as well.&nbsp; On the defensive end, he uses his length and instincts to be a high level defender. Overall, Vassell is a solid, well-rounded player, that does not make many mistakes. He would be easy to plug into just about any team's roster.
10. Phoenix Suns: Killian Hayes, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm
After playing in France for years, Killian Hayes decided to move to Germany this last year to play for Ratiopharm Ulm - a decision that certainly paid off, as Hayes took a major step in his development, progressing as a playmaker and scorer. With good size for a point guard at 6'5", whichever team lands the left-handed Hayes should be able to pencil him in as their point guard of the future. If he's able to continue to develop his outside shooting, the future could be extremely bright for Hayes.
11. San Antonio Spurs: Patrick Williams, PF/SF, Florida State
Patrick Williams had somewhat of an up-and-down freshman year for the Florida State Seminoles, but the hybrid forward oozes talent and upside. He's a capable shooter from outside, a strong finisher at the rim and a versatile defender. Williams fits the modern style of basketball, as he's able to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions. It remains to be seen if he will be able to contribute at a high level early on in his NBA career, but if he develops properly, he could be one of the better players in this year's draft in a few years.
12. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Nesmith, SF/SG, Vanderbilt
Aaron Nesmith is likely the best shooter in this year's draft. Prior to a season-ending foot injury in January, Nesmith dazzled with his shooting performances, averaging 23 points per game while shooting 52.2% from three-point range in 14 games for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He's from the same high school as NBA All-Star Khris Middleton in Charleston, South Carolina.
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13. New Orleans Pelicans: Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG, Iowa State
After averaging 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game for the Iowa State Cyclones this past season, Tyrese Haliburton will look to contribute right away in the NBA. At 6'5", Haliburton is capable of playing on or off the ball effectively. He has an extremely high basketball IQ and simply does not make many mistakes. Although he shoots the ball with extremely unorthodox mechanics, he knocks them down from deep at a high rate, shooting 41.9% from three-point range last year. He certainly needs to get stronger, as he is only a thin 175 pounds. But he should be a solid NBA player, at the very least.
14. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Stewart II, C/PF, Washington
At 6'9" and 250 pounds of muscle with a 7'4" wingspan, Isaiah Stewart II is a physical specimen and a brute. He would (and could) run through a brick wall, if needed. In his lone season at Washington, he averaged 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Despite being utilized purely as a low-post scorer this past season, he has shown signs of having the potential to shoot the ball well from outside - a much desired attribute in today's NBA. One example: He shot 77.4% from the free-throw line.
15. Orlando Magic: RJ Hampton, SG/PG, New Zealand Breakers
After skipping college to play for the New Zealand Breakers, R.J. Hampton enters this year's draft as one of the players with the most upside. Although not a finished product, Hampton has the burst and athleticism that's seen in many star players. If he is able to develop his point guard skills, outside shooting and overall feel for the game, he could end up being a steal for whichever team selects him.
16. Portland Trail Blazers: Saddiq Bey, SF/PF, Villanova
Jay Wright's list of Villanova alumni who have had productive NBA careers continues to grow and Saddiq Bey seems to be the next in line. He's a 6'8" forward that is well-rounded, dependable and, most importantly, a high-level shooter, which was on display during his sophomore season when he scored 16.1 points per game while shooting 45.1% from three-point range. He also defended the opposing team's best player on a regular basis.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Zeke Nnaji, PF/C, Arizona
In his lone season for the Arizona Wildcats, Zeke Nnaji posted an impressive 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, earning First Team All-Pac-12 and Freshman of the Year honors. At the Combine, Nnaji measured in at 6'10" without shoes and 247.8 pounds, with a 7'2" wingspan and a 38" max vertical. Nnaji <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-draft-prospect-zeke-nnaji-arizona-wildcats-q-and-a-pac-12-basketball?fbclid=IwAR3LerQY7oOuFEQ0ZLYNmkus_sSxCYphs2l0TzJqc69ymtcZmrdWKZDpOPo">recently spoke with BasketballNews.com</a> about his game, his regimented lifestyle, why teams should pick him, his off-court interests and more.
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18. Dallas Mavericks: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
Initially, Precious Achiuwa was expected to play the majority of his minutes at power forward alongside big man James Wiseman. However, when Wiseman left the team, Achiuwa took over the big man duties and delivered. The chiseled Achiuwa averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals per game, earning him AAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.
19.&nbsp;Brooklyn Nets: Jaden McDaniels, SF, Washington
Possessing terrific length for a wing at 6'9", Jaden McDaniels' versatility and playmaking abilities on both ends of the court are extremely intriguing. If he is able to get stronger and mature properly, he could be well-worth the risk, as his upside is nearly as high as any other player in the draft.
20. Miami Heat: Malachi Flynn, PG, San Diego State
After transferring from Washington State to San Diego State, point guard Malachi Flynn led the Aztecs to a spectacular 30-2 record. After averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game, Flynn was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Flynn <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-2020-draft-malachi-flynn-san-diego-state-aztecs-matt-babcock-analysis-interview-chris-paul">recently spoke with BasketballNews.com</a> about his game, his collegiate career, his goals, the NBA players whom he&rsquo;s modeled his game after and more.
21. Philadelphia 76ers: Cole Anthony, PG/SG, North Carolina
The son of former NBA player Greg Anthony, Cole entered North Carolina for his freshman season with lofty expectations after being touted as one of the top players in his high-school class. Despite an up-and-down season, Anthony is an aggressive and dynamic scorer, which he displayed by averaging 18.5 points per game in 22 contests for the Tar Heels.&nbsp;
22. Denver Nuggets: Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland
At 6'10" with a 7'2" wingspan, Jalen "Stix" Smith does two things very well: he blocks shots and shoots the ball from outside -- certainly a unique combination, which has NBA teams intrigued. After returning to Maryland for his sophomore season, he averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting 36.8% from three-point range.
23. Utah Jazz: Elijah Hughes, SF/SG, Syracuse
An unheralded recruit out of high school and a subsequent East Carolina transfer, Elijah Hughes emerged as a star player for the Syracuse Orange during his junior season. Possessing solid size for a wing and the ability to make shots from all over the court as well as put the ball on the floor, Hughes should make a smooth transition to the NBA.
24. Milwaukee Bucks: Cassius Stanley, SG/SF, Duke
After playing as a combo guard in high school, Cassius Stanley was asked by Coach K to fill a more limited role during his freshman season at Duke, utilizing his electric athleticism in transition and focusing on spreading the floor as a spot-up shooter. His combination of elite athleticism and the ability to make shots off catch-and-shoot opportunities make him an intriguing option as a role player in the NBA (at the very least). If he develops when it comes to creating off the dribble, his value could increase dramatically.
25.&nbsp;Oklahoma City Thunder: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF/C, Olympiacos
Having displayed an incredibly high skill level this past season with the junior team of Greek powerhouse Olympiacos, Aleksej Pokusevski has caused quite a stir among NBA scouts. Standing 7-feet tall and a frail 200 pounds, "Poku" is the youngest prospect in this year's draft (and younger than many high-school seniors) at just 18 years old. He is certainly a player who falls into the category of "high-risk, high-reward," which is why he's somewhat of a polarizing prospect in terms of his draft value.
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26. Boston Celtics: Tyrese Maxey, SG/PG, Kentucky
A top-10 RSCI prospect, Tyrese Maxey was Kentucky's second-leading scorer with 14.0 points per game. At 6'3" and 200 pounds, he has a well-developed frame, although he's a bit undersized for a shooting guard. Still, he was solid at getting to the rim. He struggled from three-point range (relative to expectations) at 29 percent.
27. New York Knicks: Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
After being ranked 88th in his high-school class, Tyrell Terry surprised everyone by posting an impressive freshman campaign at Stanford and subsequently declaring for the NBA draft. Considered to be one of the best shooters in this year's draft, Terry converted 41% from three-point range this past season. His high skill level and ability to shoot the ball has generated quite a buzz among scouts; however, due to his thin frame and lack of physicality, some concerns and questions have been raised as well.
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Green, SG/SF, Arizona
A top recruit coming out of high school, Green is a plus athlete and defensive stopper with good size for a wing. In his freshman year at Arizona, he averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
29. Toronto Raptors: Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
Although a bit of a throwback as a big-bodied center at 6'10" and 270 pounds, Vernon Carey Jr. had an effective freshman season for the Duke Blue Devils, as he averaged 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Some questions have been raised about his inconsistent motor. However, his talent remains intriguing.
30. Boston Celtics: Leandro Bolmaro, SG/PG, FC Barcelona
After logging legitimate Euroleague and ACB minutes this past season with FC Barcelona in Spain, the 6'7" Argentinian guard has slowly but surely moved up draft boards. Although it is unlikely that he will be coming to the NBA right away due to him extending his contract with his current club, Bolmaro could still get consideration from teams selecting in the first round.
Matt Babcock is the owner and founder of <a href="babcockhoops.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Babcock Hoops</a>, which features in-depth scouting reports, prospect interviews and more. He is also a contributor for BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/news/authors/matt-babcock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out more of his 2020 NBA Draft coverage here</a>.
Also, tune in to BasketballNews.com's Virtual Watch Party on the night of the 2020 NBA Draft (Nov. 18). Our live-stream will feature top analysts, NBA players and more special guests!

With the 2020 NBA Draft just two weeks away, Matt Babcock shares his updated mock draft. Find out who's rising and who's falling!

Matt Babcock's updated 2020 NBA mock draft (11/3): Who's rising?

PHILADELPHIA (AP) &mdash; The Big 5 is no more.
Well, at least not the incarnation most fans of the famed Philly basketball series remember from its heyday, when the Palestra was packed, fans hurled colorful crepe streamers on the court after the first basket and student signs known as rollouts poked fun at the other schools.
And when the Palestra, the basketball cathedral on Penn&rsquo;s campus, was sold out, someone would always say, &ldquo;corners,&rdquo; meaning even the cheap, angled seats in the corners were filled. As college hoops evolved, the Big 5 was dying on the vine in Philly, so after years of traditionalists squawking &mdash; and attendance and interest waned and teams outside of the Main Line saw their programs sink &mdash; the time was ripe for a change.
Oh, it&rsquo;s still the Big 5 by name. The brand still means something in college basketball.
Only Penn, La Salle, Temple, Saint Joseph&rsquo;s and Villanova will be joined by Philly&rsquo;s sixth Division I program, Drexel. Gone is round-robin play. Schools instead will be split into three-team pods with games played at on-campus arenas, with the teams then seeded for a Dec. 2 tripleheader at the Wells Fargo Center that will crown the Big 5 champion.
&ldquo;We all have to promote Philadelphia basketball more than we do,&rdquo; La Salle coach Fran Dunphy said Tuesday at the arena.
The Big 5 &mdash; the name was coined by Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer Herb Good &mdash; was officially formed in 1954, and the schools started round-robin play for &ldquo;City Series&rdquo; bragging rights in 1955. The first game was 68 years ago when Saint Joseph&rsquo;s beat Villanova 83-70 on Dec. 14, 1955, in front of 2,636 fans at the Palestra.
Nationally televised conference games, destination-site November tournaments, March Madness and a brief abolition of round-robin play in the 1990s chipped away at the Big 5&rsquo;s national importance.
On a local level, the schools did little to keep the rivalries alive. Students lost interest and fewer star players on each team were from the Philadelphia area. For all its charm and history, the Palestra isn&rsquo;t equipped with modern amenities such as suites, convenient parking, a variety of concessions and other revenue-generating staples found at a modern arena such as the Wells Fargo Center, home to the 76ers and Flyers.
Villanova&rsquo;s rise as a national power under Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright &mdash; who championed the changes to the Big 5 &mdash; came at the expense of its city rivals. The Wildcats won a series-record 25 straight games from 2012 to 2018, and most of them weren&rsquo;t close.
The other programs slumped and when Villanova did this year, too, under first-year coach Kyle Neptune, Philadelphia failed to place a team in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977.
The Big 5 tried to reignite interest in November with a doubleheader at the 8,700-seat Palestra and it was a disaster. The games were played with almost no student sections and only about 3,000 fans total. While not necessarily the catalyst for change, schools knew at that point there was little risk in throwing out the staid format and starting fresh.
Without a gamble that the revitalization attempts will work, the Big 5 was at risk of fading away.
&ldquo;We were kind of at an inflection point with Big 5 basketball, with the national landscape of NCAA sports, what can we do to perhaps infuse some energy, some life and protect our brand of basketball,&rdquo; Drexel athletic director Maisha Kelly said.
And no, Kelly said, Drexel didn&rsquo;t want a series name change like some had suggested to the City Six.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s the brand. It&rsquo;s Philadelphia. It&rsquo;s the Big 5,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s part of our story and history. So 100 years from now, when people say, why is it Big 5 when there are six institutions, we get to tell the first 68 years of the story of what it was and in 2023 it was Drexel arriving.&rdquo;
In the new format, Temple, La Salle and Drexel are in one pod; Villanova, Saint Joseph&rsquo;s and Penn are the second pod. Those games will be played in November.
There are still some kinks to work out, such as which teams get home games, and how a tiebreaker would be settled. The women will join the field &mdash; though those games will not be played at the Wells Fargo Center &mdash; in 2023-24. TV rights are still to be decided. And the tripleheader is not expected to be included in a team&rsquo;s season-ticket package.

Penn, La Salle, Temple, Saint Joseph’s and Villanova will be joined by Philly’s sixth Division I program, Drexel in the Big 5 city tourney.

Say goodbye to tradition: Philadelphia’s Big 5 gets facelift

Since the Portland Trail Blazers waved the white flag and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/blazers-guard-damian-lillard-ruled-out-for-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shut down Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season</a>, they have shifted their focus to developing rookie Shaedon Sharpe and the rest of the young players on their roster.
Lately, Sharpe has been playing significantly more minutes and handling way more responsibilities than at any other point this season. The 19-year-old still has a lot to learn, but he's making the most of this opportunity.
On Wednesday, the Blazers had just seven players available as they faced the Sacramento Kings, and Sharpe responded with his best game of the season. With a chance to carry the scoring load, Sharpe finished with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 threes while shooting 46.2% from three-point range in the losing effort.
"We take it personal," Sharpe said. "Us young dudes don't really get the playing time that we want, so when we get an opportunity, we go take it."
Over the last five games, Sharpe is averaging 23.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.6 threes, 3.2 assists and a steal, while shooting 45.7% from the field, 45.0% from three and 81.0% from the free-throw line. This stretch is huge for Sharpe's confidence, and it gives him something to build off of entering next season.&nbsp;
"Just getting more comfortable (in the NBA) and getting used to the play style and how dudes like to play,&rdquo; Sharpe said. &ldquo;But I feel like it all comes down to film. We do a lot of film (study) behind the scenes, so I feel like it comes down to the film and knowing what guys like to do and how they like to play.&rdquo;
On the season, Sharpe has appeared in 75 games and has averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 threes and 0.9 assists on .474/.369/.707 shooting splits.
"He's seeing so many new things every single night,&rdquo; Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups said. &ldquo;He's going to be fine. He learns things so quickly. We'll go over (things) and watch film and talk about what we need and, boom, right away he knows how to do it. He's doing good."
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Billups pointed out that Sharpe needs to get better at passing and making reads, but he also acknowledged that those struggles are to be expected for a raw rookie who's still a teenager.
This hands-on experience is important for Sharpe, who attended the University of Kentucky but never suited up for the Wildcats. Sharpe was the No. 3 high-school recruit in the nation and the fact that he didn't play college basketball didn't scare off NBA teams, as the Blazers selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Shae has come in and it&rsquo;s been a tough game for him to learn, you know? He never really even had a chance to learn the college game and then all of a sudden, boom, he&rsquo;s thrust into learning the NBA game,&rdquo; Billups told BasketballNews earlier this month. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a lot. It&rsquo;s a lot of things to study, a lot of things to watch, but he has taken that task very seriously. Now, he&rsquo;s starting to understand what we want as a team and what his role is and what we need from him every single night.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s always going to have those &lsquo;wow&rsquo; moments because that&rsquo;s just the type of beautiful athlete that he is. But it&rsquo;s the simple things that he&rsquo;s really starting to pick up, and guys can start to gain more and more trust in having a young guy out there.&rdquo;
As Billups alluded to, Sharpe has had plenty of ridiculous dunks throughout his rookie season. That&rsquo;s one area where his lack of experience hasn&rsquo;t limited him, as he&rsquo;s already one of the NBA's best high-flyers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Shaedon Sharpe is different. Here are ALL of his dunks so far this season: <a href="https://t.co/txcCyaYgHs">pic.twitter.com/txcCyaYgHs</a>
&mdash; Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsherNBA/status/1638979007369842688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a></blockquote>

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While Sharpe is still a "blank canvas," as Billups puts it, this stretch has allowed him to showcase different aspects of his skill set. Given his upside and athleticism, it&rsquo;s easy to see why the Blazers fell in love with him during the pre-draft process. He could be a special player if he realizes his full potential.
&ldquo;He is up and down like a teenager usually is,&rdquo; Billups <a href="https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/2023/03/07/trail-blazers-shaedon-sharpe-chauncey-billups-growth/">added</a> earlier this month. &ldquo;He plays good sometimes, but sometimes he struggles with our coverages, our concepts and just staying locked in long enough. &hellip; That is something, if you&rsquo;re a coach playing young players, that I have to live with. But for the most part, overall, I think Shaedon is coming along very nicely.&rdquo;

Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe has a lot to learn, but he's showing why Portland fell in love with him during the pre-draft process.

The sky is the limit: Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe making strides

A list of 12 of the top talents in modern NBA history to have never appeared in an All-Star Game.

The 12 best modern-history players to never make an NBA All-Star team

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) &mdash; To Ja Morant, the answer was a slam dunk. His ferocious jam Saturday night was his best one yet.
&ldquo;Yeah, easy,&rdquo; he said, because of its difficulty, when asked if it topped his rapidly expanding collection of sensational slams. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s what everybody has been waiting for. I finally made it.&rdquo;
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EVERY ANGLE OF JA MORANT'S UNBELIEVABLE DUNK OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE 😱📽️ <a href="https://t.co/8u1j6ZNH3F">pic.twitter.com/8u1j6ZNH3F</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1614446093181358080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Morant's dunk came in the third quarter of the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/memphis-grizzlies-indiana-pacers-nba-sports-desmond-bane-4aa8484c4ee0401ae087331e18dd4a8e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Memphis Grizzlies' 130-112 victory</a> over the Indiana Pacers. He drove left into the middle of the lane, put the ball in his right hand and pulled his arm far back to easily throw it down over leaping Pacers big man Jalen Smith.
Teammates jumped off the bench in excitement and reaction followed quickly on social media, with Morant admiring his work with his own tweet &mdash; and warning to fellow players &mdash; following the game.
&ldquo;Jump with me if you want to go viral,&rdquo; <a href="https://twitter.com/JaMorant/status/1614471648983535618?s=20&amp;t=53EfwHHZqyb-TxbyOiLbCw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he wrote</a> over a tweet from the NBA's account showing multiple angles of the dunk.
The No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft quickly emerged as one of the NBA's highest flyers and has gone on to become one of its best players. The 2020 Rookie of the Year was a first-time All-Star last season and was voted the winner of the Most Improved Player player.
He would seem a shoe-in to win another award, the trophy for the slam dunk contest, if he ever entered the event at the NBA's All-Star weekend.
Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell, the 2018 winner, called on Morant to show his skills in Salt Lake City with a response to Morant's tweet.
&ldquo;Bruh just do the ... <a href="https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1614473365670043653?s=20&amp;t=53EfwHHZqyb-TxbyOiLbCw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dunk contest</a>,&rdquo; he wrote.

Ja Morant says that Saturday's monster dunk against the Indiana Pacers was his best yet.

Ja Morant says sensational slam in Indy was his best dunk yet

Multiple teams have had interest in Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins, including the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, and Phoenix Suns, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3992371/2022/12/12/bojan-bogdanovic-jae-crowder-shams-charania-inside-pass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic</a>.
"Meanwhile, the Hawks have had several teams in the Collins market, such as Utah, Washington, Brooklyn&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="ath_autolink" href="https://theathletic.com/nba/team/mavericks/">Dallas</a>, sources said. Atlanta has not shown interest so far in a potential framework that would contain Brooklyn&rsquo;s&nbsp;Joe Harris, those sources said. Phoenix has a desire for Collins but does not appear inclined to take on the forward, who is in the second season of a five-year, $125 million pact," Charania said.
ANALYSIS: It seems Collins is being phased out from the Hawks between the improved play of Clint Capela and continued ascension of Onyeka Okongwu. While Collins is definitely good enough to take a flyer on, his expensive contract may turn off interested teams from giving up anything of value. If the Hawks are serious about winning now as well as trading Collins, their focus should be on getting players who fit better around Trae Young and Dejounte Murray above all else.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, multiple teams are interested in John Collins, including the Nets and Mavericks.

Shams: Nets, Mavericks among teams interested in John Collins

The Lakers are looking into acquiring more shooting, so they have discussed acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic, among others, on the trade market, according to <a href="https://theathletic.com/3992371/2022/12/12/bojan-bogdanovic-jae-crowder-shams-charania-inside-pass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic</a>.
"The Lakers are prioritizing shooting in their conversations with teams, and have discussed packages including salaries and a protected first-round pick for Detroit&rsquo;s&nbsp;Bojan Bogdanovic, league sources, who were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely, tell&nbsp;The Athletic. They&rsquo;ve also discussed concepts involving New York&rsquo;s Cam Reddish and Evan Fournier," Charania said.
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;The Lakers have managed to elevate themselves past being the trainwreck they were last season, but not much else. They currently rank 28th in three-point shooting percentage, so getting a sharpshooter like Bogdanovic or taking flyers on Fournier and Reddish could pay dividends for them. It would all depend on what they could send back since Russell Westbrook has found himself.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that the Lakers have discussed acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic, among others, via trade.

Shams: Lakers eyeing Bojan Bogdanovic, others in trade market

Virginia hasn&rsquo;t won an NCAA Tournament game since its 2019 national title and failed to even make the field last season.
The return of five starters should enable the Cavaliers to change that trend.
&ldquo;This probably is the oldest team maybe that I&rsquo;ve had,&rdquo; coach Tony Bennett said as he enters his 14th season at Virginia.
Virginia is 18th in the Associated Press preseason Top 25, making the Cavaliers the highest-ranked team that isn&rsquo;t coming off an NCAA Tournament berth.
The Cavaliers went 21-14 and reached the NIT quarterfinals last season. That followed a 2020-21 season in which Virginia earned a No. 4 seed in its region but lost to Ohio in the opening round of the tournament.
Virginia has the pieces in place to make a deeper run this season.
The Cavaliers return three double-digit scorers from last season in preseason second-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection Jayden Gardner (15.3), Armaan Franklin (11.1) and Kihei Clark (10.0). Clark and Gardner are graduate students, while Franklin is a senior.
Virginia also brought in Ohio transfer Ben Vander Plas, who had 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds for his former school last season. Vander Plas scored 17 points in Ohio&rsquo;s NCAA Tournament upset of Virginia two seasons ago.
&ldquo;Last year our depth wasn&rsquo;t great and we probably didn&rsquo;t shoot the ball at the level we needed to, so we tried to improve in those areas,&rdquo; Bennett said. &ldquo;But experience is golden, I think, in college basketball. And we have that.&rdquo;
Some other programs that have reason to believe they can get back into the NCAA Tournament in March after failing to make it last season:
No. 24 DAYTON
2021-22 record: 24-11 (14-4 Atlantic 10); NIT second round
Notes: Dayton is ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 for just the third time in program history. The Flyers return all five starters, including 2022 Atlantic 10 rookie of the year DaRon Holmes II. Dayton failed to reach the NCAA Tournament despite beating eventual national champion Kansas during the year.
FLORIDA STATE
2021-22 record: 17-14 (10-10 ACC)
Florida State had advanced to at least the Sweet 16 in three straight NCAA Tournaments before struggling through a disappointing 2021-22 season. The Seminoles return their top two scorers from last season in Caleb Mills (12.7) and Matthew Cleveland (11.5). They also brought in three top-100 recruits, though 6-11 freshman center Baba Miller will miss the first 16 games of the season for a travel payment that was ruled an NCAA violation.
No. 21 OREGON
2021-22 record: 20-15 (11-9 Pac-12); NIT second round
Notes: Will Richardson is back after scoring 14.7 points per game and earning second-team all-Pac-12 honors last season. Other returning starters include Quincy Guerrier and N&rsquo;Faly Dante. The Ducks are hoping that experience helps them avoid a repeat of their late slide from last year, when they dropped eight of their final 12 games.
SAINT LOUIS
2021-22 record: 23-12 (12-6 Atlantic 10); NIT first round
Notes: Yuri Collins led all Division I players with 7.9 assists per game and can distribute to a couple of talented scorers. Gibson Jimerson ranked third in the Atlantic 10 with 16.3 points per game last season. Saint Louis also welcomes back Javonte Perkins, who had 17.1 points per game in 2020-21 before missing last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
TEXAS A&amp;M
2021-22 record: 27-13 (9-9 SEC); NIT runner-up
Notes: Texas A&amp;M coach Buzz Williams criticized the selection committee last season after his team got left out of the field. The Aggies won&rsquo;t have to sweat out Selection Sunday if they can build on the momentum they established late last season, when they won 11 of their final 13 games. They return two double-figure scorers from the 2021-22 team in Henry Coleman (11.0) and Tyrece Radford (10.9).
XAVIER
2021-22 record: 23-13 (8-11 Big East): NIT champion
Notes: Xavier played its way out of NCAA Tournament consideration last year by dropping six of its last seven games before the bracket announcement. The Musketeers then bounced back by winning five straight to claim the NIT title. Colby Jones was named the NIT&rsquo;s most outstanding player last season. Jones and teammate Jack Nunge received preseason first-team all-Big East honors from the league&rsquo;s coaches.

Virginia is 18th in the AP preseason Top 25, making the Cavaliers the highest-ranked team not coming off an NCAA Tournament berth.

7 teams who are seeking NCAA bids they didn’t get last year

The Syracuse men&rsquo;s basketball team kicks off the 2022-23 season Tuesday with an exhibition game against Indiana (PA) at the Carrier Dome. (I know it&rsquo;s technically now called the JMA Wireless Dome, but I&rsquo;m not ready to call it that yet, and not sure if I ever will be.)
Orange center Jesse Edwards made the tough decision against going pro and making the early jump to the NBA to return for his senior season. Before his junior year abruptly came to an end due to a wrist injury on Feb. 8 vs. Boston College, Edwards was averaging an impressive 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and ranked second in the ACC in blocks with 3.07 rejections per contest. He also was 12th in the nation in field goal percentage (69.5%).
I asked an NBA scout for his thoughts on Jesse Edwards:
"He&rsquo;s long, athletic, (a) shot-blocker, can run the floor, (has) great mobility for a 7-footer, (has the) ability to roll quickly out of the high pick and roll and finish or make the right play to avoid getting the charge," the scout said. "(He) has great touch around the basket and really good footwork. (He) needs to get stronger and improve (his) rebounding. His draft comparison would be a more offensively-skilled Rudy Gobert. (He) could definitely be a pro with longevity in the league."
The 6-11, 230-pounder from the Netherlands is poised for a dominant senior season for the Orange and has the potential to be one of the most offensively skilled centers in not only the ACC, but the entire NCAA.&nbsp;
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I caught up with Edwards to discuss his perseverance through his difficult early years under head coach Jim Boeheim, his progression, the upcoming season, the talented freshman class and much more.&nbsp;
Etan Thomas: How was your experience playing for the Dutch National Team?
Jesse Edwards: "It was a great learning experience because I got the opportunity to play with and against pros. I saw how they approached the game. It&rsquo;s different than teenagers in college; they approach it as their livelihood. It&rsquo;s all businesses. It was really a great experience."
Etan: This season, we have some young guns, we also have returning vets. Joe Girard, Symir Torrence, yourself, of course. What can 'Cuse fans expect this season?&nbsp;
Edwards: "Our practices have really been a lot of fun. We have six freshmen and a transfer. That&rsquo;s seven new people. And everyone is hungry. We really go at it in practice. Not to say we didn&rsquo;t do that before, but now, it&rsquo;s just different. It&rsquo;s a feeling that things are not as set in stone as they were last year. This season, it feels like playing time is really up for grabs, so the tenacity in practice is just really competitive. It&rsquo;s great."
Etan: A lot of fans are discussing how the team is going to look very different as far as style of play compared to last year. Do you think that as well?&nbsp;
Edwards: "For sure. Last year, we had fantastic scorers, top-tier three-point shooters. This season, we still have Joe, but we added a lot of athleticism to our roster. And Benny [Williams] will be playing a lot more, and he&rsquo;s as athletic as they come. So yeah, it will be a much faster pace this year. (It) will be fun to watch."
Etan: Now, you&rsquo;re coming into this season as one of the top big-men prospects in the country. People are really high on you now. People are complimenting your scoring ability, and Coach Boeheim even said something to that effect. How does that feel coming into the season for your confidence? It seems like people are finally recognizing what you can do on the basketball court.
Edwards: "It definitely feels good to get that recognition, for people to see what you&rsquo;ve been working on for the last few years. But for myself, I try to not put too much into what people say. I know how quickly what they say can change. I&rsquo;m just trying to continue working hard, getting better and doing the things that can help this team win. It&rsquo;s great to hear, don&rsquo;t get me wrong, but none of that is going to my head, trust me."
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/img_2998.JPG" alt="" width="515" height="644" />
Etan: That&rsquo;s a great mentality to have. So, I wanna go back now because it wasn&rsquo;t always like this &mdash; how you&rsquo;re regarded and people recognizing and acknowledging what you can do. You know, myself and Roosevelt Bouie, we&rsquo;ve been the founders of the Free Jesse Fan Club and the Feed Jesse Club, lobbying for you to get the ball more.
But explain the mental toughness and perseverance that it took for you to weather the storm during those tough years where you weren&rsquo;t getting to play, or you would get put in for a few minutes, then get taken right out. Or you would play really well one game, then wouldn&rsquo;t play for two games after. What did it take to mentally get through those tough periods?
Edwards: "Well, first of all, I know I&rsquo;ve said this to you and Rosie privately, but I want to say it publicly &mdash; I really want to say thank you for keeping my head up during those tough times you mentioned. The texts, the DM&rsquo;s, coming up to me after the game; that really helped me a lot, especially coming from you. And you always used yourself as an example saying, 'Yeah it was tough for me at first too, but it got better. Just hang in there.'
"I can&rsquo;t tell you how much that helped. That kept me on the right track, motivated, and you didn&rsquo;t let me get down. It was like you knew the perfect time where I needed some encouragement. I remember one time in particular, you listed all of the positive things I did one game, and it was a game I felt like I did nothing right."
Etan: Well, it's because I&rsquo;ve been there. And like I told you before, Roosevelt came to me while I was going through my tough times and did that same thing for me. He saw the potential in me just like I saw it in you. But I know what it feels like to not feel like you can do anything right in Coach Boeheim&rsquo;s eyes.
To have the entire halftime speech or postgame speech be focused on what you did wrong, and you&rsquo;re looking around like, "I only played 5 minutes, I couldn&rsquo;t have done all that in 5 minutes." I remember all that, and I know what it can do to a player&rsquo;s confidence, and I didn&rsquo;t want that to happen to you. So how was you able to weather that storm? Because it&rsquo;s not easy.
Edwards: "No, it&rsquo;s definitely not easy. I don&rsquo;t know. I just tried to occupy my mind by working hard. Going to the gym by myself or just getting someone to rebound for me and just workout and take my frustrations to the court. When you&rsquo;re in that situation, it&rsquo;s hard not to start doubting if it will ever change. But I didn&rsquo;t want to give up, or have my love for the game to be taken away, and that&rsquo;s one of the things you kept saying: 'Don&rsquo;t give him a reason to point to because if you start sulking, or not cheering on the bench, or not working hard in practice, or not coming in early and staying late, or not interacting with your teammates, they are going to use that as reasons to justify not playing you.' So I made sure I didn&rsquo;t do any of that. But to be honest, there were times I thought, 'Did I make the right decision coming here?'"
Etan: I&rsquo;m sure there were. I remember after my freshman year, I was this close to transferring. I doubled back to some of the colleges that recruited me.
Edwards: "Yeah, and that was back when it wasn&rsquo;t easy to transfer. Y'all had to sit out right?"
Etan: Yeah, you had to sit out a year. Let me tell you how frustrated I was, though. The rules were if you transferred in conference, you had to sit out two years. And I was still considering it! (Laughing)&nbsp;
Edwards: (Laughing) "Dang! That&rsquo;s crazy."
Etan: Man, listen, so when I would tell you I feel you, I meant it. But you battled through it, and every year, you added something to your game and it was great to see the development. And to hear the announcers start speaking highly of you and giving you the praise you deserved, it was great to see that. Specifically, your sophomore year, because there was a stretch where the media kept asking Coach Boeheim why you weren&rsquo;t playing more. Do you remember that?&nbsp;
Edwards: "Well, I remember you writing about it and tweeting it and then, more of the Syracuse media almost quoting you to Coach."
Etan: Okay, semantics (laughing), but Coach Boeheim would keep telling them, "He&rsquo;s not strong enough. He&rsquo;s too thin. He doesn&rsquo;t rebound well enough. I play the guys who play the best at practice," and his most consistent response: &ldquo;He&rsquo;s not ready.&rdquo; And yes, I wrote about when you was put in a few crucial games &mdash; after not playing for a few games and really getting inconsistent minutes even before that &mdash; and you shined against Georgia Tech. Then, you came back the next game against North Carolina and shined again. And I <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/syracuse-center-jesse-edwards-answers-critics-with-his-play" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote about it</a>.
But people don&rsquo;t understand how difficult it is to just &ldquo;stay ready." People use that phrase as a cliche, but they don&rsquo;t really understand how it feels if you haven&rsquo;t played in a few games, then you&rsquo;re thrown into an important game. Then, you know that if you don&rsquo;t play well, Coach Boeheim is going to say, &ldquo;See, that&rsquo;s why I can&rsquo;t play him because he&rsquo;s not ready.&rdquo; So all that is in the back of your mind, but you came in both times and played great. How were you able to do that?
Edwards: "Yes, exactly the way you described. It&rsquo;s so crazy. You check in, you&rsquo;re thinking, 'Okay, don&rsquo;t mess up, don&rsquo;t mess up' because you know (you make) one mistake and you are going to get snatched out the game. And people don&rsquo;t understand that feeling unless they have experienced it. There&rsquo;s no way they could understand.
"But I always come back to what you and Rosie kept telling me. Whether it&rsquo;s three minutes or 23 minutes, when you go out there, make something happen and get yourself going. Don&rsquo;t have the deer-in-headlights look. Understand what coach wants. Don&rsquo;t freeze up at any yelling from the bench. Like, shake it off immediately and keep playing. All that stuff helped. I don&rsquo;t want to keep thanking you throughout this entire interview, but I wouldn&rsquo;t have been able to do it without that advice. I was prepared, mentally prepared, which is really a large percentage of what you need."
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Etan: Definitely, and you really did a great job with that. So let&rsquo;s talk about last season. You&rsquo;re playing great. Everything was going well. Things were really turning the corner for you and the entire team. And then, you hurt your wrist and was out for the season. Talk about how devastating it was for that to happen right at that time when you were rolling.
Edwards: "Aw man, it was so devastating. The team was rolling like you said. We were all finally clicking. So to have it happen then, it really sucked. That&rsquo;s all I could say. But to watch the team almost pull off a crazy upset against Duke and how Buddy [Boeheim] was playing, I was really happy for him. But yeah, it was tough. I can&rsquo;t lie. But like you told me, injuries are part of the game. You get knocked down, you pick yourself back up and you work harder, and that&rsquo;s what I did this summer."
Etan: So coming into this season, all that&rsquo;s behind you. You&rsquo;ve weathered all the Syracuse storms, and now you&rsquo;re a senior, you&rsquo;re established. People recognize what you mean to this team. Your inside presence, scoring ability. You can even step out and hit the jumper. You can really score in a variety of ways. I love the drag screen in transition and how you attack the rim; you gotta stay outta foul trouble though because we need you on the floor, so don&rsquo;t go over any one&rsquo;s back fighting for rebounds and getting cheap fouls &mdash; but also, keep fighting for rebounds (laughing). I ain&rsquo;t telling you not to rebound now
Edwards: (Laughing) "Yeah, I hear you."
Etan: But you&rsquo;re one of the leaders on the team, and really, the sky&rsquo;s the limit for yourself and this super talented team.
Edwards: "I can&rsquo;t wait. This is really going to be an exciting team to watch. We have high-flyers, scorers. The defense is going to be better, we still have three-point specialists; (we have) young players who are all hungry and excited to play. We&rsquo;re really going to be fun to watch. I can&rsquo;t wait."
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Etan Thomas chats with Syracuse senior Jesse Edwards to discuss past criticisms, how he's grown mentally and this coming season.

Syracuse big man Jesse Edwards excited for upcoming season with Orange

CHICAGO &ndash; The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) and Intersport announced details for the inaugural Legends of Basketball Showcase, a college basketball quadruple header set for Dec. 17 at the United Center in Chicago.
As part of the four-game set, Northern Iowa will face Towson and Tulane will take on George Mason, while Dayton matches up against Wyoming and NC State will battle Vanderbilt. In the afternoon session, Northern Iowa will face Towson at Noon CT and Tulane will take on George Mason at 2:30 p.m., while the evening session will feature Dayton matching up against Wyoming at 7 p.m. and NC State battling Vanderbilt at 9:30 p.m. Television designations will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets for the Legends of Basketball Showcase, a college basketball quadruple header set for Dec. 17 at the United Center in Chicago, will go on sale Wednesday at 11 a.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting the United Center box office. &nbsp; Tickets, which start at $29, will be sold by session, and one ticket will be good for both games of a session.&nbsp;
Founded in 1992, the NBRPA serves former professional basketball players in their transition into life after basketball. &nbsp;The NBRPA is the only alumni association of its kind supported directly by the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
&ldquo;The NBRPA is thrilled to partner with Intersport to present the Legends of Basketball Showcase for the upcoming college basketball season,&rdquo; said Scott Rochelle, President &amp; CEO NBRPA. &ldquo;With NBRPA membership, including several executive board directors having deep ties to the participating college basketball programs, this event is a natural fit for us to bring to fruition. We look forward, to what promises to be an extraordinary day and night of top-notch college hoops entertainment.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Intersport is excited to partner with the NBRPA and help them extend their already well-established presence in the basketball community,&rdquo; said Mark Starsiak, vice president of basketball at Intersport, which will manage the event. &ldquo;As we continue to grow our robust portfolio of successful basketball events around the country, we are eager to create a major annual showcase event alongside another Chicago-based organization right here in our hometown.&rdquo;
The eight programs competing in the Legends of Basketball Showcase have produced a combined 204 NBA Draft selections, while several coaches participating in the event have connections to the NBRPA, and vice versa.
At the helm of Vanderbilt is 18-year NBA veteran Jerry Stackhouse, the former No. 3 overall draft pick and two-time All-Star who appeared in 970 games for eight teams. Wyoming assistant coach Shaun Vandiver is a former first-round pick (25th overall) by the Golden State Warriors in the 1991 NBA Draft. George Mason head coach Kim English was drafted in the 2nd Round (44th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons and Northern Iowa assistant coach Seth Tuttle played for the Miami Heat&rsquo;s Summer League team in 2015.
NBRPA Board Chairman Johnny Davis is a Dayton alum, leading the Flyers in scoring for three consecutive seasons (1973-76) before spending nearly four decades with the NBA as a player, front office executive, assistant and head coach. Additionally, two NBRPA Board Members are NC State alums. Thurl Bailey, who led the Wolfpack in both scoring and rebounding during the team&rsquo;s miracle 1983 NCAA Championship season before embarking on a 13-season NBA career, and Chucky Brown, who led NC State in scoring in 1988 (16.6 ppg) and rebounding in 1989 season (8.8 rpg).
It will be the first matchup between Northern Iowa and Towson and the third between Tulane and George Mason, with the teams splitting the prior two contests. Dayton and Wyoming have also met twice previously, with Dayton winning in December 2004 and Wyoming winning in January 2004. The contest between NC State and Vanderbilt will be the sixth all time, with the Commodores owning a 3-2 edge in the series. Each of the previous three matchups have been neutral site contests, with NC State winning the last matchup in 2018.

The inaugural Legends of Basketball Showcase will be a college basketball quadruple header set for Dec. 17 at the United Center.

Inaugural Legends of Basketball Showcase set for Dec. 17 in Chicago

As we continue on through &ldquo;Bet Week&rdquo; on BasketballNews.com, we&rsquo;re combining two awards into one breakdown, as NBA Sixth Man of the Year and Coach of the Year go under the microscope next.
Which names stand out as the best bets? And what are some potential underdog fliers that could pay huge dividends at the end of the season? Let&rsquo;s dive into it with odds provided by DraftKings.
Sixth Man of the Year Best Bet: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat (+500)
Tied atop the odds leaderboard alongside Golden State Warriors breakout star Jordan Poole, Tyler Herro put together a very strong case to repeat in this category. Not only is Herro a key cog to the Heat&rsquo;s well-oiled machine, but he fits within his role off the bench so well.
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On his way to winning 6MOY last season, Herro averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists on a 56.1% True Shooting percentage. Herro not only took the needed steps forward in his own career trajectory, but he once again is a swing element to Miami&rsquo;s formula for success in 2022-23. With the Heat looking likely to run it back with the majority of their rotation, plenty of offensive burden remains on Herro&rsquo;s shoulders.
If the Heat finish near the top of the Eastern Conference standings as expected, Herro&rsquo;s opportunity to repeat is right there for the taking with maintained statistics.
Sixth Man of the Year Dark-Horse Bet: Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns (+2500)
Cameron Johnson was a finalist last season for this award, but it still seems like his impressive third-year campaign fell a little too far under the radar. Off the bench spelling Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder as Phoenix&rsquo;s third wing, Johnson averaged 12.5 points while shooting 42.5% from three-point range. A valuable marksman within the Suns&rsquo; formidable rotation, Johnson enters a contract year where a lot of potential scoring possessions will be available to the most aggressive player.
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Devin Booker and Chris Paul still control the offense in Phoenix, but who will step as the consistent third option? Deandre Ayton should be that focal point following a max contract, but Johnson has continuously shown he can pour in points when given the ultimate green light. Suns head coach Monty Williams values Johnson&rsquo;s underrated two-way game, so expect him to hover around starter-like minutes anyways.
Kevin Durant&rsquo;s looming trade saga plays a massive role here too. If Durant comes to the Valley, this is all for naught with Johnson likely off to the Brooklyn Nets. However, the longer this drags out, it feels inevitable that Phoenix runs it all back and sees what happens. If so, keep an eye on Johnson taking another step forward.
Coach of the Year Best Bet: Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics (+700)
Following a rough start, there&rsquo;s no denying Ime Udoka rallied this group together for a magical NBA Finals run. Now, with an even stronger roster, Boston is poised to stay atop the East standings. For Udoka, he already has support to be an easy, shoo-in COY favorite. If the Celtics can repeat their success while avoiding any costly injuries, Udoka&rsquo;s chances should be high.
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And a special kudos to former Celtics head-coach-turned-executive Brad Stevens, because he made Udoka&rsquo;s job so much easier with this projected rotation:
Starting Lineup: Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams
Second Unit: Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, Danilo Gallinari, Grant Williams
Health-permitting, Udoka and the Celtics own a realistic pathway to nabbing multiple season-ending awards.
Coach of the Year Dark-Horse Bet = Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat (+1400)
Similar to the argument presented for the favorite in Udoka, don&rsquo;t sleep on the Heat staying in the East&rsquo;s elite tier. Even without a potential Durant acquisition, Miami&rsquo;s roster is still fortified enough where 50-plus wins should be attainable.
Already known as one of the league&rsquo;s best tacticians, Erik Spoelstra leading Miami to the peak of the East standings would put him in a great spot to secure yet another COY honor. Miami is always a team that can sneak up on people, especially from a betting perspective. Don&rsquo;t let that happen with an underrated offseason wrapping up for the Heat, which, as shown, can propel them to multiple pole positions on awards.
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nothing-but-bets/id1589799249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For all the latest NBA betting trends, spreads, props and more, check out Basketball News' betting podcast "Nothing But Bets."</a>
Also, check out: "<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/best-bets-on-202223-nba-rookie-of-the-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Best bets to win the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year award</a>" and "<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/best-bets-to-win-the-202223-nba-most-improved-player-award-anthony-edwards-tyrese-haliburton-evan-mobley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Best bets to win the 2022-23 NBA Most Improved Player award.</a>"

Which names stand out most for award races involving NBA Sixth Man of the Year and Coach of the Year? Evan Sidery breaks it down.

Best bets: 2022-23 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Coach of the Year awards

The Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday announced plans to take the first steps toward building a privately-funded $1.3 billion sports and entertainment arena.
The team's managing partners, Josh Harris and David Blitzer, unveiled the creation of a new development company led by business leader David Adelman to create its future home in the city's Fashion District. They said the new arena, 76 Place, is anticipated to cost approximately $1.3 billion.
The location is a busy downtown area with lots of shopping and entertainment and it is near popular Philadelphia destinations such as the Reading Terminal Market.
&ldquo;The Philadelphia 76ers are a storied Philadelphia institution with a proven track record of investing in their community. That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;re committed to building a world-class home in the heart of the city and creating a privately funded arena that strengthens ties within the local community through investments that prioritize equity, inclusivity and accessibility,&rdquo; Harris said in a news release.
The site was selected primarily due to its access to transit, the release said. The team also cited the &ldquo;ability to redevelop an existing commercial space.&rdquo;
Groundbreaking is not expected for several years and the project is expected to be finished in time for the 2031-2032 NBA season.
The Sixers have called the Wells Fargo Center home since it opened in 1996. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had a terrific partnership with the Sixers for decades and look forward to hosting the team in this world-class facility until at least 2031,&rdquo; the arena's owner, Comcast Spectacor said in a statement Thursday.
The venue is also home to the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team, and hosts concerts.
Despite an ongoing $350 million project to renovate the arena inside and out, the Sixers are looking to go their own way.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re dedicated to making sure this development is a win for our fans and Philadelphia at large,&rdquo; said Adelman.

The 76ers announced plans to take the first steps toward building a privately-funded $1.3 billion sports and entertainment arena.

Philadelphia 76ers look to build new $1.3 billion arena

The Brooklyn Nets have made a move concerning a three-level scorer who can play either forward spot.
It isn't Kevin Durant, much to the chagrin of slop merchants waiting on a seismic shift in the NBA. Instead, former Indiana Pacers wing T.J. Warren is taking his talents to Brooklyn, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Nets, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/tj-warren-signs-with-brooklyn-nets-on-oneyear-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski</a>.
We haven't seen much of Warren lately. He logged just four games during the 2020-21 season with the Pacers before being shut down with a stress fracture in his foot. That recovery also held him out of the 2021-22 campaign.
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The last time we saw Warren fully healthy was in 2019-20 &mdash; a breakout campaign that saw him average a career-best 19.8 points while converting 57.5% of his twos and 40.3% of his threes. Since 2010, only six other players have averaged over 19 points while hitting those efficiency marks from two and three with that volume: Stephen Curry, LeBron James, current teammate Durant, Karl-Anthony Towns, John Collins and Michael Porter Jr. (Zion Williamson's 2019-20 campaign could've made the list, but he didn't even average a full attempt from three [0.6].)
That type of three-level scoring is hard to find. Warren has long been a tremendous finisher &mdash; a career 71.1% conversion rate inside of three feet &mdash; and an able bucket-getter in the mid-range. His combination of strength, touch and footwork have made him difficult to deal with.&nbsp;
It helps that Warren can be used in a multitude of ways. He ranked in the 60th percentile or better in eight different categories on Synergy during that 2019-20 season: spot up, transition, pick-and-roll ball handler, off screen, cut, hand off, offensive rebounds (putbacks) and miscellaneous.
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That ain't bad. The film ain't either.
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The three-point shooting is what's relatively new in Warren's arsenal. After taking 279 threes in his first four seasons, he took 406 in the following two seasons &mdash; knocking those down at a 41.4% clip. It stinks that he had a two-year heater from deep, then had his career halted by injury.
While it would be irresponsible to expect the 2019-20 version of Warren off of this prolonged layoff, his physical style of play should be a welcome addition in Brooklyn. The Nets ranked 29th in <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/drives/?sort=DRIVES&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2021-22&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drives per game</a> (37.8) and 23rd in rim rate. Having someone like Warren who can attack closeouts and bully his way inside should help.&nbsp;
For the Nets, this is an interesting flier regardless of what happens with the Durant situation. Warren can either serve as depth behind the MVP candidate, or someone who can play off him due to his improved shooting and closeout-attacking ability. If Durant is flipped, there should be plenty of usage for Warren to eat in order to work himself back.

Nekias Duncan reacts to the Nets' signing of T.J. Warren and how he fits in Brooklyn.

Why the Nets taking a flyer on T.J. Warren is intriguing

Bennedict Mathurin bet on himself entering his sophomore season at the University of Arizona.
As an end result, he&rsquo;s reaped huge benefits, with his stock now exploding going into the 2022 NBA Draft.
Mathurin helped lead the Wildcats to a resurgent season, as he averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game on a 57.6% True Shooting percentage. Mathurin&rsquo;s rise helped him earn Pac-12 Player of the Year honors, and along the way he displayed why he&rsquo;s such a perfect fit within today&rsquo;s modern pace-and-space game.
Offering endless versatility on both ends of the court with explosive athleticism, Mathurin&rsquo;s name is one of the hotter ones in the draft class right now. Mathurin met with the Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors at the NBA Draft Combine.
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Also, during Mathurin&rsquo;s Pro Day in Santa Barbara, California on Wednesday, all 32 teams were well represented. Amongst the flock of scouts, a number of names stood out with notable attendance: Washington Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. and president Tommy Sheppard, New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau and Chicago Bulls general manager Marc Eversley and vice president of player personnel Pat Connelly.
Mathurin&rsquo;s immense upside as a three-level scorer and lockdown defender has him slotted at <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft/2022-nba-mock-draft/players/bennedict-mathurin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">No. 7 overall to the Blazers</a> in BasketballNews.com's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest mock draft</a> via our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock:
<blockquote>
There is a lot to like about Bennedict Mathurin. At 6-foot-5 or so, he has a valuable combination of attributes. He has a sweet outside stroke, is a high flyer and is an alpha dog. He would have had a chance to be a first-round pick if he had declared to enter last year&rsquo;s draft. Instead, however, he chose to bet on himself and return to Arizona for his sophomore season. I expect Mathurin to be selected in the lottery on draft night, so it&rsquo;s looking like his decision to return to school is about to pay off big time.
</blockquote>
That alpha-dog mentality from Mathurin is what makes him stand out most, because those are the traits you want to bet on most in prospects. Taking developmental leaps in his game every season, Mathurin believes his shooting and defense are his true calling-card attributes.
&ldquo;I think my shooting is the biggest part of my game,&rdquo; Mathurin said. &ldquo;I think I&rsquo;m a two-way player. I think I&rsquo;m able to showcase to get a stop defensively. I give them 30 seconds and we get the (win) because I get a stop or offensively, because I&rsquo;m able to shoot the ball and just have an impact in both ways.&rdquo;
Another promising part of Mathurin&rsquo;s offensive development is being able to take pressure off the offense as a secondary playmaker. It wasn&rsquo;t displayed much throughout Mathurin&rsquo;s collegiate career, but he&rsquo;s eager to prove that it can quickly become a fortified tool in his arsenal.
&ldquo;Often, teams have been asking me what are things I wanted to showcase, and (playmaking) was definitely one thing," Mathurin said. "I feel the USC game (6 assists with only a single turnover) I think a lot of people started noticing I was able to pass the ball. We played in a different kind of system where we have guards &mdash; already one of my biggest strengths is to score the ball, so I just did what the team needed me to do in order for us to win.&rdquo;
There aren't many holes to poke in the game of Mathurin, which is why this late buzz around him is well-deserved.
Offering a tantalizing two-way package with much more room to grow physically, don&rsquo;t be surprised if Mathurin is a pick we look back on a few years from now as a home-run hit wherever he lands next month.
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One of the late risers in the 2022 NBA Draft process, Bennedict Mathurin's upside is immense thanks to his two-way profile.

2022 NBA Draft: Bennedict Mathurin offers unique two-way ceiling

Cade Cunningham was one of the only players on the court more than an hour before a recent game, dribbling at different paces to practice moves to his right and left while pulling up for jumpers at varying distances.
Even though Cunningham's future with the Detroit Pistons is secure as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nba-basketball-nba-draft-detroit-pistons-bd83dcc8efc44bfa6a40a46683ed5f85">the No. 1 pick from the 2021 draft and as a leading candidate to win NBA Rookie of the Year, </a> he was breaking a sweat as if he was trying to keep his job.
Clearly, the 6-foot-6 guard knows he has a lot of work to do.
The three-time championship franchise does, too.
Detroit was 23-59 this season, finishing ahead of just Houston and Orlando at the bottom of the league standings. While the Pistons are mired in a rebuilding project that has lasted longer than a decade, picking Cunningham was a choice that has panned out and provided at least one reason for hope.
He overcame an ankle injury that stunted the start of his career to average 17.4 points to lead all rookies, ranked second in his class with 5.6 assists a game and fifth with 5.5 rebounds over 64 games.
The 20-year-old Cunningham became the sixth NBA player to have at least 1,114 points, 356 assists and 354 rebounds through 64 games, joining a short list that includes LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Luka Doncic, Oscar Robertson and Alvan Adams.
Cunningham's coach, Dwane Casey, vowed that the former Oklahoma State star <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-detroit-pistons-cade-cunningham-dwane-casey-c1ae51c2e42cf73af4a9bfe1dec3882f">would not be a bust</a> before the season started. The savvy first-year player proved his coach was right &mdash; and surprised him, too.
&ldquo;I knew he was a basketball junkie, but I didn&rsquo;t know he had the knowledge of what everybody was supposed to do on the court," Casey said.
Cunningham had a simple explanation when asked about the compliment, saying it was a relatively easy accomplishment compared to playing football.
&ldquo;As a quarterback, you have to know what 10 guys are doing," he said.
A GOOD SOURCE
Dallas Mavericks coach and former NBA point guard Jason Kidd marveled at the season Cunningham had in Detroit.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s done an incredible job in his first year,&rdquo; Kidd said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s probably the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. To be a point guard and do what he does on a nightly basis is impressive.&rdquo;
PIVOTAL PISTON
Jerami Grant scored 19.2 points per game, leading the team in scoring for a second straight season. The 28-year-old forward, though, was limited by injuries to just 47 games.
Grant is eligible for a contract extension, entering the last season of his three-year, $60 million deal. If the Pistons don't give Grant a new deal, they may want to trade him.
MAKING A MARK
Saddiq Bey, in his second year, broke a single-season franchise record with 211 3-pointers. The 6-8 forward made 20 more shots beyond the arc than Allan Houston did during the 1995-96 season. Bey was also the only player on the team to play in all 82 games, 11 more than center Isaiah Stewart.
TAKING A FLYER
The Pistons were pleased with Marvin Bagley III in the 18 games he played after acquiring him from Sacramento in a four-team trade two months ago. The former Duke star averaged 14.6 points with the Pistons, falling just short of his career high from his rookie year three years ago, along with 6.8 rebounds.
Detroit can make Bagley a restricted free agent by giving him a qualifying offer, and Casey sounds as if he would like the 6-11 forward to stay.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s a talent," Casey said &ldquo;He was drafted No. 2 (overall) for a reason and he showed all of that for us. His ability to score in the low post is uncanny."
BABY STEPS
The Pistons won just 28% of their games, barely improving upon last year&rsquo;s clip, but they were better over the last two months of the season. After starting 12-45, Detroit was 11-14 and that included a season-ending, three-game losing skid.

While the Pistons are mired in a rebuild that has lasted longer than a decade, picking Cade Cunningham was a wise choice.

Cunningham gives Pistons a building block in rebuilding plan

Time heals all wounds.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;ve been told, anyway.
Unfortunately, it would appear that Zion Willamson is testing the theory.
His massive stature is only surpassed by his incredible talent, but sadly &mdash; more than halfway through what should have been his third season &mdash; it&rsquo;s looking more and more like Zion is the second coming of Yao Ming.
On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_3452b938-8dd9-11ec-85bd-576e3c354632.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christian Clark of the&nbsp;New Orleans Times-Picayune</a> reported that Williamson may end up requiring a second surgery to repair a broken right foot that has derailed his third season. And at this point, we can&rsquo;t help but to point out the obvious as it relates to the young superstar &mdash; his body simply may not be able to stand up to the rigors of competing at the NBA level.
It certainly is a harsh consideration but, at this point, Zion has appeared in only 42% of the games that New Orleans has played since he was selected with the first overall pick in 2019.&nbsp;
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In fact, Zion has played in so few games, that it might be considered disrespectful of Yao Ming&rsquo;s career to mention the two in the same breath.
If you want to make anyone who&rsquo;s covered the game feel old, just tell them that Yao was drafted with the first overall pick by the Houston Rockets 20 years ago.&nbsp;
Indeed, way back in 2002, the Chinese phenom became the first international player who didn&rsquo;t play collegiately in the United States to be drafted with the first overall pick. He was the only man who ever made Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal look relatively miniature.
Those that knew Yao well and saw him up close often marveled at the power he seemed to have hidden in his legs. Despite his svelte frame, Yao&rsquo;s legs were like tree trunks. Although far from a high-flyer, at 7-foot-6 and playing between 305 and 310 pounds, he put significant stress on his lower extremeties and ultimately fell victim to it.
We may be witnessing the same thing happening to Zion.
With Yao, we found out the hard way that his body simply couldn&rsquo;t hold up. Most people&rsquo;s bodies simply aren't made to play 80-plus basketball games in the span of six months, which is exactly why so many players have only been able to do so with varying degrees of success (and availability).&nbsp;
After missing only two games his first three seasons in the league, things began to unravel for Yao in his fourth &mdash; he missed 25 games after undergoing surgery on his left big toe, and that was just the beginning.
He would miss 62 games over the span of his fifth and sixth seasons, before managing to play 77 games in his seventh. That seventh season ended prematurely, however, as he suffered a hairline fracture in his left ankle during Game 3 of the Rockets&rsquo; second-round playoff series against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Yao would miss the entirety of the enusing season in 2009-10. It should have been his eighth. He returned for the 2010-11 season, but five games in &mdash; despite being put on a 24-minute restriction &mdash; he developed another stress fracture in his left ankle.
He missed the remainder of the season before announcing his retirement the following July.&nbsp;
In the end, he played just 472 of a possible 738 games over his nine-year career.&nbsp;
Believe it or not, and despite all of that, in the three seasons spanning 2005-08, Yao&rsquo;s appearance rate of 65% was still much, much higher than Zion&rsquo;s (42%). And with Yao, it was particularly sad because he and the uber-talented Tracy McGrady were joined in Houston. A duo that had championship-caliber potential simply didn't have the health needed to get a real shot.
In his latter years, we spent more time wondering what Yao would look like with more development and at or near 100% effectiveness. Sadly, we never got to see.
We may never with Zion.
If the Rockets could do it all over again, they probably would&rsquo;ve tried to sell high (or, at least, sell at all) once Yao began spending more time in street clothes than in uniform. Players don't typically get healthier as they age.
Without a doubt, there would&rsquo;ve been at least one or two teams out there that would have been willing to roll the dice on Yao, just as there were teams willing to take chances on oft-injured players such as Amar&rsquo;e Stoudemire, Tyreke Evans and even Kristaps Porzingis.
As constituted, the Pelicans are a talented team, especially after having acquired CJ McCollum at the trade deadline. With Brandon Ingram and a few other capable players on the right side of 30 years old, the thought of cutting bait with Zion and taking advantage of another team&rsquo;s willingness to make him their problem wouldn&rsquo;t be absurd.
His value isn&rsquo;t nearly as high as it was one year ago but, if the Wizards were able to find a taker for John Wall, it's easy to imagine that there would be a market for Zion.
Sadly, at this point, he can only be fairly regarded as a big if, whether we like it or not. And continuing to count on him in New Orleans is a proposition that&rsquo;s looking less prudent with each passing day.
Truth is, we&rsquo;d be hard-pressed to find a player of his size and stature who overcame such a turbulent injury history so early in a career.
Perhaps Zion can be the first.
At this point, though &mdash; especially through the lens of the great Yao Ming &mdash; it's probably safe to say that history isn't on his side.
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Moke Hamilton discusses the career parallels of Yao Ming and Zion Williamson, with an eye on their unfortunate injury woes.

Is Zion Williamson the next Yao Ming?

Dayton, OH&nbsp; &mdash;&nbsp; In a game that came down to the final minute, the Flyers held on after a late surge by Rhode Island to win 53-51.&nbsp;
Toumani Camara led all players with 18 points and also added 10 rebounds. Makhi Mitchell led Rhode Island with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Flyers (14-7, 6-2 A10) are led in scoring by their two standout freshmen. DaRon Holmes II (6-10, 220) is ninth in the country in Box Plus-Minus among qualified true freshmen and has been impressive thus far, scoring 11.6 points to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Malachi Smith is scoring 10.3 points and adding 4.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists.
The Rams (12-7, 3-4 A10) are led by senior guard Jeremy Sheppard, who is averaging 10.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. The Mitchell twins, Makhel and Makhi, are a force on the inside. They combine to average 21.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks.&nbsp;
Dayton took a 29-25 lead into halftime behind Camara. The Georgia transfer had 14 points on 5 of 7 from the floor, leading all scorers. Makhi Mitchell led the Rams with 6 points.&nbsp;
Freshman Kobe Elvis started the second half with a bang for the Flyers by hitting three triples in the first six minutes, as they held a 45-40 lead at the under-12 minute TV timeout. The team would maintain a small lead until roughly the two minute mark.
Jalen Carey hit a triple to make it 49-45, Sebastian Thomas followed with a layup to cut it to 49-47. Malachi Smith and Mustapha Amzil finished the job with clutch free throws to ice it for Dayton. Final score, 53-51.
Holmes II played well again, posting 12 points on 5 of 6 from the floor. Elvis finished with 11 points. Carey played well off the bench for the Rams and finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.&nbsp;
Dayton keeps its eyes on No. 25 Davidson as the Wildcats sit atop the conference standings.
UPCOMING
Rhode Island visits Fordham on Wednesday
Dayton travels to VCU on Tuesday night.
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In a game that came down to the final minute, the Flyers held on after a late surge by Rhode Island to win.

Dayton defeats Rhode Island in a close one, 53-51

When looking through the NBA standings, one team continues to show no signs of slowing down as a team officially taking the leap forward to sustainable playoff contender. The Memphis Grizzlies are breaking through their ceiling ahead of schedule, thanks in large part to point guard Ja Morant taking the leap to superstardom in his third season.
Thankfully, basketball fans weren&rsquo;t robbed of what could&rsquo;ve been a special season from Morant early on in the 2021-22 season with what looked to be a more serious knee injury.
Six weeks ago, Morant landed awkwardly on his left knee resulting in a sprain. In real-time, it looked way worse when remembering catastrophic injuries in the past with lower extremities. Morant stutter-stepped on a drive to the rim, which caused a non-contact buckling of his knee. In his absence, Memphis stayed afloat in the Western Conference as their young core carried the burden, spearheaded by late first-round steal Desmond Bane, who continues to look the part of a perfect backcourt complement alongside Morant.
Memphis is 25-14, comfortably sitting as the No. 4 seed in the West. As Morant&rsquo;s ascension continues full steam ahead, it&rsquo;s time to realize how strong this Grizzlies team is positioned both now and long-term.
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Morant is the straw that stirs the drink on Beale Street in Memphis, but the Grizzlies are a team littered with enticing pieces fitting together seamlessly on the fly. Bane is averaging 17.4 points per game while carrying an above-average 58.5% True Shooting percentage, boosted by his three-point marksmanship.
Jaren Jackson Jr. is taking strides forward in Year 4 after losing a full season to his own knee injury suffered in the 2020 Orlando Bubble. He's averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
After a short stint with the Phoenix Suns, De&rsquo;Anthony Melton has found a home in Memphis as an energizer third guard who brings endless amounts of two-way versatility. Dillon Brooks still remains as a key cog in the Grizzlies&rsquo; machine when he&rsquo;s been on the court this season, averaging 19.3 points per game himself.
The Grizzlies&rsquo; front office has consistently taken flyers on productive, high-upside college prospects and maximized on signing castoffs. Case in point with former Minnesota Timberwolves lottery pick Jarrett Culver. Memphis has continuously hit on second-round picks as well, with Xavier Tillman and Killian Tillie carving out roles. Last summer's No. 10 overall pick Ziaire Williams is working his way into the mix and could be a future asset to the Grizzlies&rsquo; successful rise in the West.
Add it all together and the Grizzlies are nowhere close to a mirage. If anything, they are just now beginning their climb in the Western Conference for years to come. Aided by a superstar in Morant, a valuable collection of successful young role-players who can fill multiple avenues of on-court value, stabilizing veteran presences like center Steven Adams, Memphis has hit the jackpot.
Morant has been everything the Grizzlies hoped for when they found their own lottery luck and jumped up to the second spot in the 2019 NBA Draft. Morant was a fast-paced, jaw-dropping offensive engine who provided endless highlight reel moments during his two collegiate seasons at Murray State. A meteoric rise in his sophomore season led to some even debating him alongside surefire No. 1 pick Zion Williamson.
Morant immediately showed during his rookie season how special of a player he was. Fast-forward to now, though, he&rsquo;s beginning to really take hold of being one of the best young lead guards in the Association.
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Morant is averaging 25.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals while taking a superstar-esque jump from the perimeter, shooting 40.0% on three-pointers. It&rsquo;s resulted in Morant&rsquo;s True Shooting percentage skyrocketing to a career-best 57.7% this season. When Morant has been on the court, Memphis is 15-12. He&rsquo;s not only carrying this Grizzlies squad, but taking the leap in the process.
As a true three-level scorer with rare explosive burst to the basket, Morant is a gem in the backcourt. When comparing him around the Association, his unique scoring blend makes him a nearly unstoppable weapon to contain. After an adjustment period returning from his sprained left knee, Morant is averaging an eye-popping 33.2 points over his last five games.
The Grizzlies are winning with a superstar buoying their offense, but the defense is there in more consistent spurts as well. Memphis ranks No. 7 in offensive rating (111.7) while being smack dab in the middle of the league in defensive rating (108.7). It&rsquo;s a sustainable formula head coach Taylor Jenkins is firing off on a nightly basis, which makes Memphis a real threat to nab a top-five seed this season.
When the Grizzlies snuck into the playoffs last season after defeating Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, it provided much-needed playoff experience despite a quick first-round exit against the top-seeded Utah Jazz. Memphis not only came back stronger with internal development success stories across the board, but they found their weaknesses and turned them into passable grades.
It will be very interesting to see what the Grizzlies now do with a month left before February&rsquo;s trade deadline. Will they make a win-now move to further bolster their chances of securing homecourt advantage in April? It&rsquo;s a serious discussion to be had and could continue during the upcoming offseason.
Everything is falling into place for Memphis after a few down years following the successful Grit &rsquo;N Grind era. Now, a new era of Grizzlies basketball is thriving, with a completely different identity built around fast-paced play and relentless offensive firepower. They have a full-blown budding superstar in Morant alongside multiple young players who are taking leaps to serious starting quality as well.
Welcome back to playoff basketball, Memphis. You won't be leaving anytime soon.

After a few down years, a new era of Memphis Grizzlies basketball is taking the NBA world by storm with no signs of slowing down.

The Grizzlies are the NBA's latest rebuild success story

Free agent guard Isaiah Thomas plans to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell&nbsp;The Athletic.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1476261811427102730" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
ANALYSIS: The Lakers recently elected not to sign Thomas to a second ten-day contract, but he still played well enough for the Mavericks to take a flyer on him.
<div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1r5su4o">
<div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1awozwy r-18u37iz r-1wtj0ep">Thomas scored 32 points in his first two games with the Lakers, though just 5 points in the following two games.</div>
<div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1awozwy r-18u37iz r-1wtj0ep">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1awozwy r-18u37iz r-1wtj0ep">The 5'9" point guard dropped 42 points in a G League game before signing with the Lakers.</div>
</div>

Isaiah Thomas plans to sign with the Dallas Mavericks and is expected to join the team in Sacramento tonight.

Isaiah Thomas signs with Dallas Mavericks

I can only speak for myself, but it's a little difficult to&nbsp;feel&nbsp;basketball right now.&nbsp;
The game itself has seemingly improved &mdash; there's somehow more physicality&nbsp;and a better game flow &mdash; but that progress has been derailed by absences. The injury bug has affected a multitude of stars this year. COVID has run roughshod through the league, with rosters looking like they've been through fantasy drafts.
With these circumstances, you have to find joy where you can. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a consistent source of that, with their 19-12 start being one of the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/from-lovable-underdog-to-unforgiving-bully-how-the-cavs-got-here" target="_blank" rel="noopener">great surprises of the early season</a>.&nbsp;
They've zigged while the rest of the league has zagged, notably starting a trio of bigs to help spearhead an elite defense. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have been the linchpins, with their combination of length and lateral quickness allowing them to execute multiple schemes and cover an incredible amount of ground.&nbsp;
But if there's a player on the roster that exudes joy &mdash; heck, exudes&nbsp;fun &mdash; it's Darius Garland. The third-year guard has taken full control of the offense. That's partly due to the absence of backcourt mate Collin Sexton, but it's mostly due to Garland taking a leap in his own right. He's turned himself into one of the most dynamic guards in the sport, one worthy of strong All-Star consideration.
RUTHLESS AGGRESSION
Saying that Garland has been much more aggressive seems curious on the surface. His shot attempts have marginally improved from last year (14.9 to 15.1); his attempts per 100 possessions have actually decreased (22.1 to 21.7).&nbsp;
But you watch him, and there seems to be less indecision. Less fruitless probing. "Take what the defense gives you" is a boring cliche, but it applies to Garland. That evolution has been more apparent in his pull-up shooting.&nbsp;
Nearly half of Garland's shots came from outside of 10 feet last season; that number has risen to 67%, mostly off the strength (and willingness) of his pull-up trigger.
And consider this stat: among 78 players that have taken at least 100 pull-up jumpers this season, Garland ranks No. 7 in Effective Field Goal percentage (52.4%). That puts him right below Chris Paul (53.0%) and slightly ahead of Kevin Durant (52.1%).
Seems like pretty good company, IMO.
Garland's three-point volume has skyrockted (4.9 to 6.7) while roughly maintaining his efficiency from last season (39.5% to 39.2%). On <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1629636/shots-dash/?Season=2020-21&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pull-ups specifically</a>, Garland has nearly doubled his volume (2.4 to 4.1) while knocking those attempts down at a higher clip (35.7% to 37.8%).
In years past, teams could get away with ducking under the occasional screen against Garland in pick-and-roll &mdash; not because he couldn't shoot, but because he'd be hesitant to do so.&nbsp;
That's no longer the case. Give Garland a sliver of space, and he'll light you up from deep.
Drop coverage is untenable against him at this point. Bigs have to play at the level of the screen or higher, and even then they run the risk of Garland stringing out the play before flowing into a pull-up. Switches have to be quick and physical; leaving a gap is daring Garland to pull.
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Though Garland isn't getting to the rim as often as he did last season, he's been much more successful when he gets downhill. He's converting a career-best 64.8% from inside of three feet, an improvement of 6.2 percentage points.&nbsp;
He's not a Ja Morant-like high flyer; more craft is needed for Garland to win inside. Luckily, he's able to combine an ever-shifting gear with sublime touch and impeccable footwork. He has Nash-ian scoops in his bag to go along with arrhythmic gathers. Despite the height disadvantage Garland often operates with, defenders can't get a read on what Garland's doing until it's too late.
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What's been fun to track is Garland's aggression off the ball. Chilling off the ball when the action doesn't involve you is an easy trap for young guards to fall into. Not only does head coach J.B. Bickerstaff discourage that sort of malaise, Garland himself recognizes the importance of reading the floor and staying active.
"The best point guards in our game are valuable in all three phases of the [shot] clock," Bickerstaff told <a href="https://twitter.com/SpinDavies/status/1470485876354555906?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our own Spencer Davies</a>.&nbsp;
"We talk about [Garland's] walk-up threes early in the clock, and the pressure it puts on defenses to get back, to pick him up higher, and open up gaps for other people. There's the middle-of-the-clock pick-and-rolls that we run, where he's isolated with Jarrett [Allen] or Evan [Mobley] and he's making the lob, the floater, or the kick-out. And then there's the late clock &mdash; our "butter" situations &mdash; where his ability to get the ball and just beat his guy and get a shot [is important]. All those point guards have the ability to do that, but you just have to have the aggressiveness. Obviously, Darius has taken that step to be aggressive in that mold."
Who are the point guards that Garland has studied?
"I've watched Steph [Curry] a lot," Garland says. Because of course he has.
"Steph, Dame [Lillard], CP [Chris Paul]. I think those are the guys that are really good at relocating and getting their shots or getting their teammates involved."
He notes that his personnel allows him to flourish off the ball. Ricky Rubio is a phenomenal passer; Allen, Mobley and Kevin Love are all plus-passers in the frontcourt. Garland has the awareness to find spaces to flash into; his teammates have the vision to thread the needle.&nbsp;
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SHARING IS CARING
Because Garland has become a more willing scorer, his passing ability has been enhanced. Bigs are a little more antsy; the help has to pull in a step further, a beat earlier.&nbsp;
If you want to talk about joy, watching Garland use that level of fear to his advantage is pretty high on my list. The yo-yo handle combined with the footwork, combined with the shooting prowess, combined with his actual passing bag, culminates into an absolutely filthy lead guard.
And that bag runs&nbsp;deep.&nbsp;Corner skips. Lay-downs. Wrap-arounds. Off-hand shovel passes. Lobs disguised as floaters, a rising tool in the bag of young initiators (hi, Tyrese Haliburton).
Garland's been able to build solid downhill chemistry with Allen and Mobley. Love and Lauri Markkanen have been able to pick-and-pop their way into success playing off of Garland. The Cavs smartly spam actions with two screeners &mdash; either out of HORNS or with double drag looks in early offense. The Cavs are generating nearly 1.09 points per possession when two of Allen/Mobley/Markkanen/Love screen for Garland, per Second Spectrum.
The Garland-Mobley combo in particular has been darn-near impossible for defenses to figure out. On top of Garland being as dynamic as he is, Mobley brings his own diverse skill set. He's a mix of his other frontcourt parters: the vertical terror of Allen combined with Love's quick processing and passing ability. The shooting isn't as lethal as Markkanen's, but it's reaching "the defense has to account for it" levels.
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The Garland-Mobley dance isn't just effective among young duos &mdash; it's an elite two-man action, period. Per Second Spectrum, the Cavs are generating north of 1.17 points per possession when those two are involved in ball screens. Only Trae Young and John Collins have been more effective among high-volume pairings.
Put the scoring and passing together, and you have a young guard averaging 21 points and 7 assists since Sexton went down. The Cavs are outscoring teams by <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/vs/advanced/#!?TeamID=1610612739&amp;VsPlayerID=1629636" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 10 points per 100 possessions</a> with Garland on the floor this season; since Sexton has been unavailable, that number has <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/vs/advanced/#!?TeamID=1610612739&amp;VsPlayerID=1629636&amp;Season=2021-22&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;DateFrom=11%2F10%2F2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">actually improved to 12.7</a>.
Garland has the ball on a string, and the offense in his hands right now. He's thriving, the Cavs are thriving. With this sort of leap and team success to complement it, it's hard not to view Garland as an All-Star this season.

Nekias Duncan analyzes Darius Garland's breakout season with the Cavs and why he has a real case as an All-Star.

Dayton Flyers