Sportsnet.ca http://sportsnet.ca/author/steven-loung/feed/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:27:25 EDT en-US hourly 1 Darron Cummings/AP Purdue center Zach Edey NCAA Men’s Tournament Preview: Top-seeds Purdue, Houston face tough roads Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:04:23 EDT Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:05:40 EDT Steven Loung The brackets are all set for the 2023 NCAA Men’s Division I basketball tournament and all that’s left to do is wait for the madness to begin. Here’s a look at what you need to know in each of the four regions in advance of the big dance.

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The brackets are all set for the 2023 NCAA Men’s Division I basketball tournament and all that’s left to do is wait for the madness to begin.

Here’s a look at what you need to know in each of the four regions in advance of the big dance.

South Region

Favourites to watch for

Going chalk isn’t exactly original, but the top three seeds in the South Region all have legitimate cases to make a run to the Final Four.

The No. 1 overall seeded Alabama Crimson Tide are a complete-looking team, capable of dominating games on both ends of the floor, ranking 19th and third overall in offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively, according to the KenPom rankings.

No. 2 Arizona features a prolific offence thanks to the many skilled veterans the Wildcats boast. With junior big man Azuolas Tubelis nearly averaging a double-double this season — 19.8 points and 9.1 rebounds — Zona could make some serious noise in the tournament, as long as its middling defence and the team’s lack of depth outside of a core group of seven doesn’t come back to bite them.

The third-seeded Baylor Bears are led by dynamic freshman guard Keyonte George and feature the No. 2 ranked offence according to KenPom. This is a team with lots of depth, especially on the offensive end, and features a three-point attack that rivals that of Alabama’s with junior and senior guards LJ Cryer and Adam Flagler capable of lighting it up from distance. Compared to other top teams in the field, the Bears’ defence leaves a lot to be desired, but their offence is capable of completely burying opponents.

Big storyline

The big storyline to watch in this region, and probably the entire tournament, is the handling that Alabama has done with top NBA draft prospect Brandon Miller, whose name has been connected to the shooting death of Jamea Harris in Tuscaloosa in January. Dismissed Tide player Darius Miles has been charged with capital murder in the case and police allege Miller delivered the gun used in the shooting to Miles, who then allegedly provided it to another man.

Miller hasn’t been charged with a crime yet. However, the optics of the situation appear questionable and has led some to wonder why he’s still playing when there’s still an ongoing investigation into a serious matter that he is alleged to have been involved in.

It’s a cloud that will hang over Miller, Alabama and the entire tournament for as long as the Crimson Tide stay in it.

Potential upset

If you’re looking for a first-round upset to try for on your bracket in the South you may want to give No. 13 Furman knocking off No. 4 Virginia a try.

The Paladins broke a 43-year tournament drought claiming both the Southern Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles largely on the strength of their offence. Ranked 33rd in KenPom, there’s potential for Furman to knock off the Cavaliers because there’s a real possibility that Virginia simply won’t be able to keep up with the Paladins’ attack.

NBA prospects to watch

The biggest prospect to watch in the South Region is Miller on Alabama. A possible top-three pick in the draft, Miller is a three-level scorer with length, athleticism and shooting ability, making him appear to be a prototypical NBA wing.

Fellow Tide freshman Noah Clowney also looks like someone to watch as a six-foot-10 energy big with the potential to grow into a player who could stretch the floor with more work as a shooter.

Other NBA prospects to watch in the south include Tubelis (Arizona), George (Baylor), Arthur Kaluma (Creighton) and Terquavion Smith (NC State).

East Region

Favourites to watch for

Led by Toronto native Zach Edey, the No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers look to have everything going for them as they enter the tournament. They feature the Big Ten Player of the Year in Edey, won the Big Ten regular season title and also went on a run to win the Big Ten Tournament and now enter the big dance with plenty of confidence and momentum on their side.

Additionally, Purdue features a top-10 offence, according to KenPom, largely thanks to Edey, who at seven-foot-four and 305 pounds is all but unstoppable if he can get the ball in a good post position.

The No. 2 Marquette Golden Eagles are also a strong team on a hot streak, closing the regular season on a six-game winning streak to win the Big East title and then going on to win the Big East Tournament. With star point guard and Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek running the show, Marquette has become one of the best offences in college basketball.

Other teams to watch for in the East Region are the blue blood programs with No. 5 Duke peaking at the right time having won nine straight, including its run to the ACC Tournament title, as well as Nos. 6 and 7 Kentucky and Michigan State.

This was a pedestrian year for the Wildcats and Spartans by the standards normally set by them but they made it in, and you should bank against two legends like John Calipari and Tom Izzo at your own peril.

Big storyline

The East Region features a number of hot teams right now that look like they’re heading for a collision course with one another — including a potential Sweet 16 matchup between No. 1 Purdue and No. 5 Duke on the horizon. If momentum really is a thing from game to game we could be in for a potential instant classic during the second week of the tournament.

Potential upset

Looking at a 4-13 matchup again, there’s big potential with No. 13 Louisiana taking down No. 4 Tennessee and the reason is very simple, the Ragin’ Cajuns will have the best player in that game in six-foot-11 senior forward Jordan Brown.

A former 2018 McDonald’s High School All-American and five-star recruit, Brown has bounced around college basketball, first playing for Nevada before transferring to Arizona where he won Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year in the 2020-21 season and then transferring again to his father’s alumni where he’s since stuck.

As a 23-year-old senior the sheen on Brown has left as a surefire NBA prospect, but he’s been averaging 19.4 points per game on 57 per cent shooting this season and knows how to pass out of double teams effectively. A signature moment for him like leading a program to its first NCAA Tournament win since 1992 could get him back on the NBA’s radar.

Another upset team to look out for is No. 9 Florida Atlantic. Though the nature of the 8-9 matchup is a toss-up, it’s likely not a lot will be known about the Owls, who are making just their second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. No. 8 Memphis has a lot more name recognition, but Florida Atlantic isn’t to be underestimated with bench dynamo Johnell Davis leading the way.

NBA prospects to watch

Despite all the accolades, Edey’s NBA draft stock looks relatively low, probably because men his size just don’t play well in today’s NBA. With that said, however, he is the prime attraction on one of the top teams in the tournament so he’s a possible pro prospect worth keeping an eye on.

Other potential NBA guys to watch for in the East Region include Julian Phillips (Tennessee), Kyle Filipowski (Duke) and Cason Wallace (Kentucky).

Midwest Region

Favourites to watch for

The No. 1 seeded Houston Cougars are the top-ranked team in the KenPom rankings and there’s a case to be made that they should’ve been the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament over Alabama, but their loss to Memphis in the AAC Tournament likely prevented that from happening.

The Cougars do have some concerns as AAC Player of the Year Marcus Sasser missed the championship game with a groin strain, but this is such a deep and balanced team they could still make a big run without him. The squad also boasts AAC Freshman of the Year and surefire lottery pick Jarace Walker, whose size and athleticism could very well overwhelm opponents and take over games.

Two other teams to keep an eye on are Nos. 3 and 4 Xavier and Indiana, respectively.

The Musketeers were one of the best teams in the Big East this season, both finishing second in the regular season and losing in the conference championship game to Marquette. They pass the ball exceptionally well and play efficiently on offence, two factors that will take them far in the tournament and could help mitigate the inevitable dry spell on offence that every team experiences during a game.

As for the Hoosiers, freshman point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino lived up to his five-star billing, being named Big Ten Freshman of the year, while senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis is among the best players in college basketball right now. The college game usually doesn’t come down to individual talent, but tournament games can be won by individuals taking over moments, and Indiana has a couple of guys that can steal that spotlight.

Big storyline

As good as the Cougars are, it would seem the selection committee didn’t think to honour that very much because they have a rough road to make it to the Final Four, where they would be playing at home.

Before that, however, on their side of the bracket there’s danger in the form of potentially having to go through No. 9 Auburn in Birmingham in the second round, then Sweet 16 matchups against the likes of Miami or Indiana, and the Elite Eight could see the Cougars need to get past a tough Xavier squad or even a balanced No. 2 seed Texas.

It’s a tough path for Houston to make it to the Final Four, but if they can do it then they should be well prepared to win it all.

Potential upset

Looking at a classic 5-12 matchup upset here, No. 12 Drake has a real shot against No. 5 Miami.

As good as the Hurricanes were this season — ACC regular-season champions — they look like they could be vulnerable with the injury to starting forward Norchad Omier, the team’s third-leading scorer (13.6 points per game) and top rebounder (9.7 rebounds per game).

This could open the door for the Bulldogs, led by their sophomore scoring machine Tucker DeVries. Son of Drake head coach Darian DeVries, Tucker is averaging 19 points per game and at six-foot-seven with range from all over the court Miami will have a tough time trying to stop him, especially if he expands his game by going inside — something that could be there if Omier is out.

Ultimately, the Hurricanes probably have the best player in the game in ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong, but DeVries has had some big nights before this season, and there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again.

NBA prospects to watch

With the injury to Sasser, this could be a big tournament for Walker to assert himself as a top-10-or-better draft pick by taking the reins of the Cougars and leading them on a deep tournament run.

Listed at six-foot-eight and 235 points, Walker is the ideal size for the modern NBA combo forward and has the athleticism and strength to be a Swiss Army Knife player who can do just about everything on a basketball court.

Sasser also looks like a lock as an NBA pick in this coming draft, but his range appears to be more in the late first round, early second round.

Other names to be on the lookout for in the Midwest Region are Colby Jones (Xavier), Hood-Schifino (Indiana), Jackson-Davis (Indiana) and Kris Murray (Iowa).

West Region

Favourites to watch for

The defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks are back in the dance as a No. 1 seed and are looking to be the first team to defend the title since Florida went back-to-back in 2006 and 2007.

Though a much different team than last year, Kansas still won the Big 12 regular-season title and Jalen Wilson, a returning player from last year’s championship squad, was named Big 12 Player of the Year.

Following Kansas is another blue blood program in No. 2 UCLA. The top-ranked defence in college basketball, according to KenPom, this is a veteran group with players like Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell keeping the ship steady enough on offence to allow its stingy effort on the other end win ball games. Getting stops is always important in the tournament, and just about no one does that better than the Bruins. As such, they look like very tough competitors, especially because they’ll be starting their tournament in California.

And rounding out the top three seeds of the West division is the now-perennial powerhouse Gonzaga Bulldogs. Though coming close many years in the past, Mark Few’s team has still yet to get the job done, but this year’s edition could just be the one.

Led by program legend Drew Timme, the Zags are the top-ranked offence in college hoops this season, according to KenPom, and even scored a signature win this season against Alabama.

Big storyline

The prospect of Gonzaga, the best offence, versus UCLA, the best defence, in the Sweet 16 is extremely enticing and one everyone should be cheering for.

Other than that, the West appears to be a relatively cut-and-dried bracket where going chalk will likely end in good results.

Potential upset

Yet another 4-13 matchup for you, this time it’s the No. 13 Iona Gaels possibly knocking off No. 4 UConn.

With rumours swirling that Rick Pitino would be making a return to the Big East, this matchup has a great backdrop to it in addition to the fact the Huskies could be in for a tough matchup stylistically.

Iona defends well, particularly the three-point line, while much of UConn’s offence is predicated around taking threes.

If Pitino really is making a return to the Big East, then scoring an upset win over one of the conference’s top teams would be a great way for him to re-introduce himself.

NBA prospects to watch

If you’re an NBA fan, the team you should be watching is the No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks and their dynamic freshman guard duo of Nick Smith and Anthony Black.

Smith is a lightning-quick ball-handler with scoring instincts while Black is a big guard (six-foot-seven, 200 pounds) with great vision and defensive chops.

Both players are in the Nos. 5-10 range of the NBA Draft but could solidify a possible top five or top six billing for themselves with a good showing in the high-pressure situation they’re about to face.

More names you should look out for in the West Region are Gradey Dick (Kansas), Wilson (Kansas), Jaquez (UCLA), Julian Strawther (Gonzaga), Timme (Gonzaga), Jordan Hawkins (UConn), Andre Jackson (UConn), Adama Sanogo (UConn), Terrence Shannon (Illinois) and Coleman Hawkins (Illinois).

Final Four Prediction

The Final Four we’re predicting will see Alabama emerge from the South to take on Marquette from the East, while the other side of the bracket will have Houston survive the gauntlet in the Midwest to face Gonzaga from the West.

The National Championship Game will feature Alabama facing Gonzaga with Few and the Bulldogs finally breaking through to win it all.

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durant NBA Notebook: As Durant era begins in Phoenix, expect Suns to shine Wed, 01 Mar 2023 08:56:17 EST Wed, 01 Mar 2023 09:02:32 EST Steven Loung Kevin Durant is making his much-anticipated Suns debut on Wednesday, the Lakers could be finished and it looks like the NBA could be heading towards continued labour peace. Here’s our weekly tour of the league.

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Kevin Durant is making his much-anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers could be finished and it looks like the NBA could be heading towards continued labour peace.

Here’s a look at what’s happening around the Association right now.

How the Suns might best utilize Durant

Durant will suit up as a member of the Suns for the first time since he was stunningly traded from the Brooklyn Nets during the wee hours of the trade deadline Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets on Sportsnet ONE and SN NOW.

Durant can do just about everything on a basketball court, on both ends of the floor, but what has always made him truly great is how malleable he’s been throughout his career.

Dating back to his days with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and especially with the Golden State Warriors, Durant has been able to fit in and flourish with other exceptional talents around him because he almost always makes the right decision while out on the floor.

Hence, any hand-wringing over whether he’ll be able to get his game off while playing with another surefire hall-of-famer in Chris Paul as well as superstar guard Devin Booker is foolish. Durant’s game is built off of efficiency and smart decision-making.

As such, it’s in coach Monty Williams and his staff’s best interest to utilize this trait to its fullest and not look to force many sweeping changes in what the Suns already do best.

Durant will adapt to the circumstances and find a way to thrive.

With the way Phoenix’s offence is structured with two mid-range assassins in Paul and Booker, adding a third one in Durant shouldn’t change much. It should open up even more opportunities for Paul and Booker to attack because Durant will be the main focal point of opposing defences.

So the best thing Phoenix can do for Durant, really, is just stay out of his way. He’ll figure it out.

LeBron’s injury couldn’t come at a worse time

LeBron James is expected to miss at least two weeks with a right foot injury, with likely more missed time to come.

The timing of this injury couldn’t be worse for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Not only is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer enjoying yet another fabulous season in Year 20 — averaging 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game — the Lakers made moves at the trade deadline to keep the competitive window open for this season.

The Lakers are currently just one game back of 10th in the Western Conference, for the final play-in spot, and only three games back of the No. 6 seed, where they’d avoid the anxiety of the play-in tournament altogether. But with only 20 games left, they’re quickly running out of time to make a move up the standings.

Those moves the Lakers made to bring in the likes of D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba at the deadline to help James out don’t mean a whole lot if James isn’t there to lead the charge.

Given the reported timeline, at minimum, James will miss seven games — contests that could very well determine Los Angeles’ post-season fate.

And while it’s true that Anthony Davis is among the very best in the NBA, he isn’t James and doesn’t have the kind of track record that James has had in the past of making magic happen in tight situations like the Lakers find themselves in right now.

A new CBA looks like it’s on the way

Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that the NBA and NBPA “are progressing in talks on reaching a new collective bargaining agreement.”

According to Charania, the two sides have a March 31 deadline to reach a new agreement.

This is great news for NBA fans.

Of the topics being discussed, a major focus has been new luxury-tax tiers. Both sides are negotiating a means to increase the lower tier, incentivizing teams to spend more into the tax.

The sides also are talking about once again lowering the age of NBA draft eligibility to 18, opening up the old preps-to-the-pros path.

Additionally, of interest to Toronto Raptors fans, loosening contract extension limits is being tabled as well. The sides have reportedly discussed increasing a player’s salary by 140-150 per cent in the first new year of an extension, up from the current 120-per-cent limit.

O.G. Anunoby could be impacted by this increase as extension talks with him will likely be a talking point this summer and into next season. Anunoby can become a free agent in the summer of 2024.

Dame’s 71-point masterpiece may have been the greatest scoring performance in NBA history

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard notched the second 71-point performance in the NBA this season on Sunday, continuing a trend of supernova scoring seen across the league.

Many adjectives can be used to describe Lillard’s performance, but the best one is probably “historic.”

This is because of the 13 NBA performances that saw a player score 70 points or more, none were as efficient as Lillard’s.

Sure, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game — a record that feels like it will stand the test of time — but he took 63 field-goal attempts and 32 free-throw attempts to make it happen.

Kobe Bryant went for 81 against the Raptors, but needed 46 field-goal attempts and 20 free-throw attempts to get there, while getting uncommonly hot from three-point range, going 7-for-13 from deep.

These are the two highest scoring performances of all time, but there’s an argument to be made that what Lillard did was even more impressive.

He took just 38 shots on his way to 71, taking only 14 free-throws and needing just 39 minutes of work to get the job done. By contrast, Chamberlain played 48 minutes and Bryant 42.

Most recently, Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell exploded for 71 but while he attempted fewer shots than Lillard (34), he needed 25 free-throw attempts, 50 minutes of floor time and an overtime to make it happen.

Thanks to his sharpshooting from three-point range, going 13-for-22 from distance, Lillard accomplished something that was nearly impossible by putting up 70-plus in less than 40 minutes.

At the very least, that should warrant what Lillard did as at least one of the greatest scoring performances of all time.

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(David Zalubowski/AP Photo) trae NBA Notebook: Hawks need Young to step up; final moves in the buyout market Fri, 24 Feb 2023 13:10:15 EST Fri, 24 Feb 2023 13:10:16 EST Steven Loung With the trade deadline far behind us and the all-star break also in the rearview, the 2022-23 NBA regular season is heading into the stretch run before the post-season, with no shortage of storylines to monitor.

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With the trade deadline far behind us and the all-star break also in the rearview, the 2022-23 NBA regular season is heading into the stretch run before the post-season, with no shortage of storylines to monitor.

Here’s a look at what’s happening around the NBA right now.

Impact moves in the buyout market

The last major deadline to watch in regards to roster building this season is March 1, as players waived after that date won’t be playoff eligible.

It’s common practice every season to see veteran players get bought out and waived after the trade deadline and then sign as free agents – usually with contenders for cheap – as teams look to load up for the post-season.

With March 1 closing in, a few impact moves have already been made. Russell Westbrook reunited with former teammate Paul George on the Los Angeles Clippers, Kevin Love is heading to the Miami Heat and former Raptor Terrence Ross joins a contender again, making the move to the Phoenix Suns.

Additionally, the moves that saw Reggie Jackson sign with Denver Nuggets, Patrick Beverley to the Chicago Bulls and Danny Green to the Cleveland Cavaliers could be impactful as well.

Looking at the Westbrook, Love and Ross signings, however, these look to have the largest ripple effects from what we’ve seen in the buyout market so far.

Though Love was playing on a good Cavaliers team, his spot in the rotation began to fade. He now gets a chance to continue playing for another hopeful contender in the Heat, where his outside shooting will likely be welcomed by Miami.

Ross looks like a solid depth piece for the Suns. He’s a strong three-point shooter, meaning opposing defences will have to stay at home with him, opening up the mid-range and paint for superstars Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Devin Booker. He could also add a boost to Phoenix’s secondary and tertiary lineups given his ability to create his own shot off the dribble if needed.

As for Westbrook, his fit with the Clippers isn’t quite as apparent because he’s an aging point guard who turns the ball over too much and can’t shoot. With that said, he has a strong relationship with Paul George from their time together on the Oklahoma City Thunder, and his ability to get into the paint and either find open shooters or attack the rim is still elite.

For better or worse, Westbrook landing with the Clippers is going to make headlines and will be something the entire league will be eagerly observing.

There are still names left on the buyout market to be had before March 1, such as John Wall, Serge Ibaka, Will Barton and Bryn Forbes. All of these players have reportedly either already been waived or are expected to be waived.

Eyes will be on Trae Young following Nate McMillan’s firing

The biggest news around the NBA right now is probably the surprise firing of Atlanta Hawks head coach Nate McMillan.

The Hawks were 29-30 and sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference when they decided to make the move, relieving the 58-year-old of his duties.

McMillan was brought on as the interim head coach in 2021 after the Hawks fired Lloyd Pierce mid-season, leading them on a run to the conference finals. Atlanta then rewarded McMillan with a four-year contract but they were unable to replicate the success the following season and got bounced in the first round of playoffs. They’ve since followed it up with this season’s struggles and led Atlanta general manager Landry Fields to make the decision to fire McMillan.

In light of this move, there’s a lot of attention being put on Hawks star guard Trae Young, who reportedly butted heads with both Pierce and McMillan, and subsequently, has seen the only two NBA coaches he’s had get fired mid-season.

Young is an outstanding talent, but now in his fifth NBA season, it would appear he still has a ways to go as a leader. In the first media availability after McMillan’s firing, Young was nowhere to be seen, leaving the new Hawk Dejounte Murray and John Collins – the Atlanta player seemingly always on the trade block – to pick up the slack.

Dodging the media may not seem like that big a deal, but as the team’s franchise player, Young should have extra responsibilities that go beyond what he does on the court. Stepping up as a leader and perhaps answering a few hard questions every now and then comes with the territory.

The Hawks are reportedly targeting former Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder to take the reins. If Snyder does get the job and word gets out that he and Young end up clashing with each other as well, don’t be surprised if Atlanta’s star begins to forge a reputation of becoming something of a coach killer.

Durant likely to make Suns debut March 1

The NBA world is waiting with bated breath for the return of Durant – now with the Phoenix Suns.

Out since early January with an MCL injury, Durant was shockingly traded from the Brooklyn Nets to Phoenix during the wee hours of the trade deadline morning.

The 13-time all-star is widely expected to make his Suns debut Wednesday in a road game against the Charlotte Hornets.

As ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported, Durant scrimmaged with his new team in Phoenix’s first team gathering since the all-star break Thursday.

Sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference and only four games back of the second-place Memphis Grizzlies, with the addition of Durant to their lineup, there’s plenty of expectation that the Suns will shoot up the standings and be among the stronger title contenders this season.

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siakam NBA All-Star Takeaways: That might have been ‘the worst basketball game ever played’ Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:48:02 EST Mon, 20 Feb 2023 01:09:25 EST Steven Loung Even with the astronomical scoring, the NBA All-Star Game was boring to watch. It should be back to the drawing board for the NBA next season, because another snoozer could spell trouble for the event.

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum scored an All-Star Game record 55 points on his way to earning MVP honours as his Team Giannis rolled over Team LeBron 184-175 in the 72nd edition of the NBA’s mid-season showcase on Sunday night.

As has been in the case in recent years, the All-Star Game saw the teams captained and picked by the Eastern and Western Conference’s top vote getters – Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. Additionally, the four quarters were like their own contained games with the winner of each quarter earning money for the respective charity it was representing.

The fourth quarter was played without a game clock and instead tasked the winning team to reach a final target score of 182.

Team Giannis entered the fourth quarter leading 158-141 and came away with the win as Damian Lillard drilled his eighth three-pointer of the night to put an end to the game and give a James-captained team its first-ever loss in an All-Star Game.

Unfortunately, unlike before, the final target score didn’t make for a very competitive final frame and there was an apparent aversion to defence from start to finish.

Such is the way, sometimes, with all-star games.

Here’s a look at a few more takeaways from Sunday’s NBA showcase.

Jayson Tatum put on the perfect MVP showing for this high-scoring season

The 2022-23 NBA season has been defined by high-scoring individual performances, where it’s become almost expected that we’ll see a player go for 50 or more at least once a week.

Well, this week that player was Tatum, who went for a double nickel in the all-star game, breaking Anthony Davis’s previous record of 52 from 2017 to win the game’s MVP honour.

The Boston Celtics star went 22-for-31 from the field and shot 10-of-18 from three-point range, while also adding 10 rebounds and six assists.

There really wasn’t much of an attempt to prevent Tatum from going off from anyone on Team LeBron, but his display of shot-making – especially in the third quarter when he scored an all-star record 27 in the frame – was a sight to behold.

Playing in his fourth All-Star Game already at age 24, the performance Tatum put on has firmly established him as one the game’s true superstars.

Uncompetitive sports aren’t very fun to watch

Back to the general problem with Sunday’s game. While Tatum and many others had remarkable performances that leap off the box score – Donovan Mitchell had 40 points, Lillard scored 26, Jaylen Brown went for 35 points and 14 rebounds and Kyrie Irving had 32 points and 15 assists – it wasn’t anywhere near as fun to watch as seeing such incredible feats in an actual game because the All-Star Game, ultimately, is just an exhibition.

Players don’t want to get hurt – such as Antetokounmpo and James, who both exited early nursing injuries – and they don’t want to hurt each other in such a low-stakes environment. I think we all get that.

However, even with the astronomical scoring, the game was boring to watch. To quote Team LeBron head coach Michael Malone, “that was the worst basketball game ever played.”

No argument here, coach.

We watch pro sports because we want to see remarkable feats of human athleticism done in a high-pressure environment. The Elam Ending target score has been the saving grace of the All-Star Game the last few years, but that motivation is no longer there.

It should be back to the drawing board for the NBA for next season, because another snoozer could spell trouble for the event.

The live draft was great fun

Unlike the actual game, doing the draft live was a ton of fun.

From James bringing out a piece of paper with his prep work and Antetokounmpo using a notebook for his, to the Greek superstar prematurely selecting Ja Morant (starters weren’t eligible to be selected when he was called) only to be able to get him later and Nikola Jokic ensuring he wouldn’t be taken last overall, the live draft was a solid addition to the game, and was probably the evening’s highlight.

In case you were wondering, here’s a look at the teams the two captains drafted:

At first glance, James’s squad probably looked better from a balance standpoint, but the shot-making prowess of Tatum, Mitchell and Lillard – and the fact Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was coaching Team Giannis and probably wanted to give his guy a bump – proved to be the difference in the game.

Regardless how the game turned out, the live draft deserves a big thumbs-up.

Pascal Siakam had himself a good all-star weekend

Another positive from the entire all-star weekend, in general, was the amount of fun Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam seemed to be having.

Accompanied the whole way by his trusty camcorder, Siakam was a big viral hit taking in the Mac McClung dunk show on Saturday night, and was seen having a blast while both introducing and vibing along to the Afrobeats-centric halftime show with artists Burna Boy, Tems and Rema.

Siakam had a solid performance in his second all-star appearance, scoring 12 points and adding seven rebounds and four assists on 6-for-8 shooting from the field.

Considering the All-NBA kind of season Siakam’s been enjoying for the Raptors, he was among the big initial snubs before he was rightfully added as an injury replacement.

That initial slight didn’t seem to bother him this weekend.

Tatum vs. Brown was the coolest moment of the game

The one-on-one exchange between Celtics teammates Tatum and Brown to end the third quarter was a highlight.

This has to be the millionth time these two have gone o

ne-on-one with each other, but it’s the first time it’s happened in an NBA game – with millions watching.

The moment was cool because the two actually appeared to be guarding one another to some degree.

This, sadly, was probably the most defence played in the entire game.

Another cool moment was, this Lillard shot from beyond half court.

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(Rick Bowmer/AP Photo) mac NBA All-Star Saturday Roundup: G Leaguer McClung soars to new dunking heights Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:42:46 EST Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:51:35 EST Steven Loung What started out as a quiet Saturday in Salt Lake became one of the more memorable All-Star skills days in recent years, punctuated by G Leaguer Mac McClung nonetheless.

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NBA All-Star Saturday night can be a hit-or-miss event on a year-to-year basis.

When we get one that hits, however, the events of the evening are ingrained in your brain for the rest of your life. 2000 in Oakland with Vince Carter stealing the show or 2016 in Toronto with the memorable battle between Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine come to mind.

The 2023 edition of All-Star Saturday night was one such spectacle.

Here’s a look at the seven best moments from the night.

The Mac Attack saves the dunk contest

Earlier this week, G League guard Mac McClung signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Known primarily for viral videos of his dunking exploits in high school by only hardcore hoops heads, on Saturday, McClung introduced himself to the greater basketball world. He likely also saved the reputation of the event for years to come with four absolutely jaw-dropping slams, earning him a perfect score for all but one dunk and was crowned the 2023 dunk contest winner.

In case you haven’t seen these things yet, here’s a look at all four of his attempts in order:

Over two people, tap off the glass, reverse

Two-handed 360 windmill

Double-pump reverse after jumping over a man

The 540 and Vince Carter “It’s over!”

More than anything, the measurement most remarkable about McClung’s performance on the evening was the reaction of his NBA peers.

The looks of complete awe and incredulousness seen from stars sitting courtside such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donovan Mitchell – two athletic freaks in their own right – are all you need to know about how mind-blowing the stuff McClung did was. Add on the fact he nailed all his jams on the first attempt and it was an easy victory for him.

Most importantly, for the NBA, McClung’s prodigious performance may have saved the event after quite a few dull years and calls, perhaps, for its abolishment.

There’s no doubt the NBA has a problem with the dearth of stars not wanting to participate in the dunk contest – why haven’t Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, two of the NBA’s brightest young stars and highest of flyers, taken part in the event yet? However, with McClung, the NBA has a participant that people want to see in the contest and is willing to do it again, as he confirmed during his post-victory speech on the TNT broadcast.

That’s something. And is at least a little more than what we had before.

Other dunk contest highlights from the night

There were other dunk contestants on the night besides McClung – three more to be exact.

In case you were wondering what they did, here’s a look at the best ones from the rest of the field:

Trey Murphy III and Jose “Grand Theft Alvarado” team up for a cheeky lob

It took him a few attempts, but this was nice from Kenyon Martin Jr.

Two-handed elbow dunk by Jericho Sims

Wicked reverse from Murphy

Pascal Siakam having a grand old time with his camcorder

There were no Toronto Raptors taking part in All-Star Saturday night, but Pascal Siakam, who will be playing in Sunday’s big game, was still a major part of the event’s festivities thanks to an older piece of tech he brought with him.

Channeling Shaquille O’Neal in 2000, Siakam brought out an old-school camcorder, to the delight of many.

The Raptors star teased that he would be bringing out the heavier hardware earlier in the day, but it was still very fun to actually see it.

Dame finally gets it done in his alma mater’s backyard

In his third time competing in the event, Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard finally won the three-point shooting contest. He did so in clutch fashion, hitting the final shot to put him just one point ahead of then-leader Buddy Hield for the win.

For extra sentimental value, Lillard did so while donning a Weber State uniform in honour of his old alma mater.

Lillard was famously only lightly recruited out of high school but found a home in Ogden, Utah playing for the Wildcats of Weber State. He became a legend there and grew his stock en route to becoming the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 draft.

With the all-star game back in Salt Lake City, just about a 40-minute drive away from the Weber State campus, the seven-time all-star wanted to make a kind gesture admiring his roots.

Julius Randle’s son is every Knicks fan

Of the other three-point shootout participants, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle had one of the worst showings, putting up only 13 points and failing to advance to the final round.

Randle’s son, Kyden, had a priceless reaction to the less-than-inspired performance from his old man.

Like a Knicks fan at the draft, Kyden appears to be fitting in just fine with the rest of the New York faithful.

Not many skills, but plenty of challenges to open the night

Though the night turned out great, it got off to a rough start after a terrible skills competition.

The format was bizarre with three rounds of uninspired competitions, and the talent on display was less than stellar, with the shooting skills part seeming almost ironic.

In the end, the Team Jazz group consisting of Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton won the event, beating out Team Rooks’ Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey and Jabari Smith Jr., and Team Antetokounmpos’ Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday – who subbed in for the injured Giannis.

In actuality, though, as the Jazz players were hoisting the trophy, the audience was the true winner because it meant the disaster of an opening act was finally over.

Nav Bhatia still believes

The only “highlight” of the skills competition was probably the sight of Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia speaking to Giannis courtside.

The two-time MVP won’t be a free agent until the summer of 2025 at the earliest, but there’s no harm in trying to keep the dream alive.

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(AP Photo/Marc Lebryk) Mathurin Barnes, trio of Canadians headline players to watch at NBA’s Rising Stars Game Fri, 17 Feb 2023 10:57:52 EST Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:29:00 EST Steven Loung The NBA All-Star Rising Stars game will see 28 of the world’s best young basketball players go head-to-head on Friday night. Steven Loung takes a look at some of the players who could shine, including Scottie Barnes and a trio of Canadians.

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The NBA All-Star Rising Stars game will see 28 of the world’s best young basketball players set the table for the festivities to come in Salt Lake City as part of the NBA’s annual All-Star Weekend. 

The 28 players will be broken up into four different teams, each coached by a former notable NBA player with Pau Gasol, Deron Williams, Joakim Noah and Jason Terry.

The four former players held a draft before the event and have a roster locked in, highlighted by Gasol taking Orlando Magic rookie Paolo Banchero No. 1 overall.

The format of the Rising Stars game will see two semifinal games playing to a target score of 40 and a final between the winners of the first two contests trying to hit a final score of 25.

Like last year, this year’s Rising Stars game features players made up of NBA rookies, sophomores, as well as NBA G League players.

Here’s a look at a few players to watch during the game.

Scottie Barnes

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is a Rising Star for the second consecutive year, adding another accomplishment to what has been a strong start to the 21-year-old’s NBA career so far.

However, after a very encouraging Rookie of the Year campaign last season, there was, understandably, greater anticipation and, perhaps, even expectation from fans and the media alike that Barnes would take a greater leap in his sophomore year.

Through 55 games of his second season, Barnes has looked a lot like the player from last season, averaging 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game on 45.7 per cent shooting from the floor this season, numbers very similar to the 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 49.2 per cent shooting he put up in 74 games last season that won him top rookie honours.

Frustrating though it may be to not see Barnes take the kind of leap that players like LaMelo Ball or Ja Morant took in their respective second years, there has been an apparent improvement from Barnes this season, and the Rising Stars game could be an excellent place to showcase it.

Barnes has acted as a ball-handler and offence initiator far more this season than last and has been improving in this regard with every rep he gets. Considering the dearth of shooting the Raptors have, however, many of Barnes’ passes that could have gone for baskets have rimmed out, making his playmaking look not as impactful as it actually is.

In an all-star game format like the Rising Stars game is, with loose defence being played, Barnes’ natural ability to pass the ball and make plays for others could make him shine brightly in the game.

Canadian contingent

Two potential beneficiaries of Barnes’ playmaking on Team Pau will be Indiana Pacers rookies Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard.

The Canadian pair have been two key reasons for all the optimism around Indiana this season. The Pacers got off to a hot start and have since cooled down, but the impression that Mathurin and Nembhard have left around the league has been lasting thus far.

Mathurin is in the running for rookie of the year and could even push for sixth man of the year, averaging 17.2 points per game as one of the most lethal bench scorers in the league right now.

Nembhard, on the other hand, doesn’t have as impressive counting stats but has already earned a starting spot alongside Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana’s backcourt as his defence, playmaking and overall basketball smarts has made him a favourite of Pacers coach Rick Carlisle quickly.

Over on Team Jason, a third Canadian player was selected as a Rising Star. 19-year-old Leonard Miller of G League Ignite was named to the game as a deserving up-and-coming player.

The Scarborough, Ont., native is averaging 15.3 points per game in 27 G League games this season and will likely go in the first round of this year’s draft as a versatile six-foot-10 combo forward with plenty of upside on both ends of the floor.

Paolo Banchero

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 draft, Banchero has lived up to his top-billing reputation thus far as this season’s Rookie of the Year frontrunner, leading all rookies in scoring, averaging 19.9 per game. Banchero may also be the best player on the young Orlando Magic at the moment, leading them in scoring, rebounding and assists per game, to boot.

The numbers Banchero’s putting up, combined with the fact he’s helping make the Magic a lot more competitive than many thought has him way out in front of the pack for top rookie honours this season, something that he’s likely aware of and will likely be looking to solidify with a strong showing in the Rising Stars event.

Scoot Henderson

If you’ve been paying any attention to basketball recently then you’ve more than likely heard of Victor Wembanyama, the seven-foot-two French wunderkind who is all but guaranteed to go first overall in the 2023 draft.

The player who most expect to go No. 2, however, is Henderson, and he looks like he could be one hell of a consolation prize to Wembanyama.

Henderson is a six-foot-two point guard with explosive athleticism and the kind of strong frame that have many comparing him to the likes of Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook in their primes.

He’s averaging 18.9 points per game across 17 G League games this season.

Don’t be surprised if you see Henderson steal the show during the Rising Stars showcase. He has lots of incentive to try to impress and further improve his draft stock with the NBA world watching.

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Hakim Wright Sr./AP durant_kevin1280 NBA trade deadline winners and losers: Suns put league on notice with Durant trade Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:10:32 EST Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:56:53 EST Steven Loung The 2023 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and with it, the league has shifted vastly thanks to one earth-shattering move taking place in the wee hours of deadline day itself. But who were the big winners and losers? We take a look at five of each.

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The 2023 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and with it, the league has shifted vastly thanks to one earth-shattering move taking place in the wee hours of deadline day itself. 

Here’s a look at five winners and losers from the big event.

Winners

Phoenix Suns

Just a little past 1:00 a.m. ET, when most sane people would be fast asleep, the NBA world came alive as word broke that the Phoenix Suns had managed to swing a blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant – and T.J. Warren.

The cost was steep, with the Suns giving up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four unprotected first-round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027 and 2029, plus a 2028 first-round pick swap.

Those unprotected picks could certainly come back to bite Phoenix in the butt down the road, and Bridges and Johnson are quality players whose talents are still ascending, but none of that matters because the Suns landed, arguably, the greatest basketball player playing today to add to a core that includes a fellow surefire Hall of Famer in Chris Paul and superstar guard Devin Booker.

With one move, the entire Western Conference has been put on notice and the Suns now look like the favourite to emerge as the West’s Finals representative.

Durant is still out with a knee injury, and will miss next weekend’s all-star festivities because of it, but while he was healthy this season, he put up MVP numbers to the tune of 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game on shooting splits of 55.9/37.6/93.4.

There’s no reason to suggest that once he’s back in the lineup he can’t continue to play just as well as he did before and there should be no worries about him possibly being unable to fit in with his fellow stars in Phoenix as he thrived as a member of the Golden State Warriors, helping them win two championships.

Say what you will about Durant’s mercenary-like career, his ability on a basketball court is undeniable. Because of this, the Suns are the biggest winners of the deadline.

Brooklyn Nets

Considering what‘s transpired over the last six days to the Nets, you might think them being up here is a mistake.

Losing both Kyrie Irving and Durant is not exactly a good thing, but, all things considered, Brooklyn’s come out of this not as terribly as you might imagine.

In the Irving deal with the Dallas Mavericks, that took place a few days before the deadline day, the Nets brought back good players in Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith and in the Durant deal, the aforementioned Bridges and Johnson aren’t any slouches, either.

It may not be the most talented roster in the league but the team Brooklyn’s assembled at the moment could be among the deepest.

As the Nets stand right now, they have a projected starting lineup of Ben Simmons, Dinwiddie, Bridges, Johnson and Nic Claxton, with names like Patty Mills, Seth Curry, Cam Thomas, Joe Harris and Finney-Smith coming off the bench.

All of these guys can play, and with Brooklyn still locked into a playoff spot, there’s a chance it could remain there.

Having a team full of good, winning players who can be used in future deals to help augment any future building plans with all the picks the Nets have amassed at this deadline is some good work.

LeBron James

The Los Angles Lakers, as a whole, improved over the deadline period, beginning with their low-key move to acquire Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards in late January.

Then, the night before deadline day, they made their big move by trading Russell Westbrook in a three-team blockbuster with the Utah Jazz that saw them land former Laker D’Angelo Russell and solid role players Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Afterwards, the Lakers offloaded Thomas Bryant to the Denver Nuggets and found his replacement Mo Bamba in a deal with the Orlando Magic that saw them ship off Patrick Beverley.

In less than 24 hours, the Lakers had transformed their roster, but not at the expense of giving up LeBron James or Anthony Davis.

This could be a big win for the Lakers if it all works out for them, who knows? But there is a certainty that this is a win for James. At 38 years of age, James continues to play like an MVP, averaging 30.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game this season, but it was looking like it would have been all for naught with his team playing poorly all season long.

It may not work, but at least the Lakers’ front office has made an attempt to help James out here, something that wasn’t looking guaranteed to happen.

East’s top three

The top three teams in the Eastern Conference – the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers – all made small improvements to their already formidable rosters on deadline day.

The Celtics added sharpshooting big man Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bucks landed Jae Crowder shortly after he was traded to Nets as part of the Durant blockbuster and the 76ers nabbed Jalen McDaniels from the Charlotte Hornets.

None of these players will have the impact that a true star will have on a team, but Muscala provides additional floor spacing for an already potent Boston offence. Crowder is a proven veteran for the Bucks, the only concern will be how much rust he may have after sitting out the year so far. However, his defensive chops and timely three-point shooting will fit with what Milwaukee wants to do well. Finally, even though it probably felt painful for Sixers fans to see Matisse Thybulle go, McDaniels is an easier offensive fit.

All three of these teams are already good enough to legitimately compete for a title, so a deadline that just saw them augment around the edges makes a lot of sense.

Eric Gordon

After two and a half seasons of being trapped in Houston, Eric Gordon was finally freed when he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gordon was a consummate pro during the last few years of his time in Houston in the aftermath of James Harden’s departure, but now it looks like he’ll finally get another shot at competing for a championship again with a Clippers side that was quite busy at the deadline.

The Clippers managed to snag promising second-year point guard Bones Hyland from the Nuggets for only a pair of second-round picks and also added Mason Plumlee from Charlotte for Reggie Jackson to help backup Ivica Zubac.

With Jackson no longer there, the Clippers only really have Hyland who can naturally play point guard, which could be problematic, but that isn’t Gordon’s worry.

He managed to get out of Houston and should be glad for it.

Losers

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors were supposed to be a major player at the trade deadline with valuable assets such as O.G. Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. at their disposal to help kick start what many assumed would be the beginning of a rebuild.

Instead, Toronto only made one move, a trade to re-acquire Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs for Khem Birch, a first-round pick in 2024 only protected from picks Nos. 1-6 and a 2023 and 2025 second-round pick.

So, instead of being these great, alleged sellers at the deadline, the Raptors ended up being buyers – and the reason why is confounding.

Given the way the Raptors laid out the protection on the first-round pick, Toronto is likely banking hard on being a good team so that it conveys next season outside of the lottery. That’s a lot of confidence in a group that’s still clinging to a play-in spot at the moment.

But even more problematic, is if the Raptors are going to accomplish this goal then they’re going to need their best players to make it happen, which brings forth the problem the team will have will three pending unrestricted free agents who will all be looking for raises in the off-season.

Poeltl is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and it’s likely that both VanVleet and Trent Jr. will opt out of the final year of their respective deals to become free agents as well. If the Raptors want to re-sign all three – which would be ideal if the goal is to keep winning next season – then Toronto will almost assuredly dip into the luxury tax.

But would paying the tax really be worth it when you consider this team has already proven itself to be an underperformer for much of this season?

Additionally, the Raptors will have to worry about Anunoby’s impending free agency at the end of next season as well. Had they not been gun shy when it looked like his value was at its highest during this whole trade deadline period, they likely would be facing easier decisions.

Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat

Both the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat decided to stand pat at the deadline and you have to wonder why?

The Bulls have had a season similar to the Raptors where they’ve appeared to be stuck in the doldrums, and while they can’t actually tank because their first-round pick this season belongs to the Magic, it’s clear that the status quo isn’t working for them, so why not go ahead and use a name like Zach LaVine or a DeMar DeRozan to try and shake things up on the team and inject some life into what has been lost season so far?

As for the Heat, they shipped out Dewayne Dedmond and a second-rounder just for some cash, but didn’t do anything to improve themselves, even a little, like the other Eastern Conference contenders did. Sure, there’s always the buyout market, but will bargain hunting really help them out much?

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors could’ve re-signed Gary Payton II in the off-season, but opted to let him walk and saw him sign with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Flash-forward a few months and now Payton is back with the Warriors, but he comes at the expense of former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman – and Payton is earning the raise he was looking for in the first place.

This isn’t to say that Wiseman is a great player or anything, but he’s still only 21 and was never been given much of an opportunity with the Dubs. His move to the Detroit Pistons could see him finally fulfill some of his potential – something that wouldn’t look great for Golden State as Payton, while a decent player, will never be a star.

Russell Westbrook

There was much rejoicing among Lakers fans when it was announced that they managed to trade Westbrook and his colossal salary.

Westbrook is a flawed player. An athletic super freak in his prime capable of putting up MVP numbers despite a poor jump shot because of his physical gifts. Now, at 34, that athleticism has dwindled, and with it, the weaknesses in his game became that much more glaring – especially as he attempted to play alongside James and Davis.

He’s now a member of the Jazz but is widely expected to be bought out with the Heat and Clippers as possible suitors. If it doesn’t work out there, then this just might be the last we see of Westbrook in the NBA.

A nine-time all-star and one of the most dominant players of the last decade, who will potentially exit the league with a whimper.

Kind of sad to think about.

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raptors ujiri pensive (1) NBA Trade Deadline Recap: Raptors add Poeltl, hold on to core players Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:55:19 EST Thu, 09 Feb 2023 16:58:05 EST Steven Loung After months of anticipation about Fred VanVleet, O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. possibly being on the move, the Raptors didn’t become sellers. In the end, their biggest move was adding Jakob Poeltl.

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After months of anticipation about Fred VanVleet, O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. possibly being on the move, the Toronto Raptors didn’t become sellers. In the end, their biggest move was adding Jakob Poeltl.

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Basketball NBA sn-article
Marta Lavandier/AP vanvleet_fred1280 NBA Rumour Roundup: Anunoby, VanVleet, Lowry among top trade targets Wed, 08 Feb 2023 11:19:12 EST Wed, 08 Feb 2023 11:19:40 EST Steven Loung With the NBA trade deadline coming at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT on Thursday, some familiar names are in the rumour mill. Here’s a look at some of the buzz.

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The 2023 NBA trade deadline is just a day away.

With the deadline coming at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT on Thursday, here’s some of the latest buzz circulating around before the big day.

Raptors maintaining steep asking price for Anunoby

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports is reporting that the Toronto Raptors “have communicated asking prices that rival front offices think quite steep” around forward O.G. Anunoby, maintaining what has appeared to be the status quo ever since reporting first come into focus regarding the possibility that Toronto could be looking to deal Anunoby back in December.

This likely means the Raptors are still looking for multiple first-round picks (preferably without any protections attached, or at least limited protections) along with a promising young player or two for the two-way stalwart.

It’s understandable why teams would be reluctant to make a move for such a high asking price, especially knowing now what the Brooklyn Nets were willing to accept from the Dallas Mavericks for Kyrie Irving, but Toronto should still maintain its position for as long as possible because it looks like Anunoby is garnering a lot of interest.

According to Fischer, the Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers have all been connected to Anunoby recently.

If this is true, then a bidding war of sorts could start – or might already be in the process – for Anunoby’s services.

VanVleet another Raptor primed to be dealt at deadline

In that same Fischer story, the Yahoo reporter says Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet is “the most likely Raptor to be traded ahead of Thursday’s deadline.”

Unlike Anunoby, VanVleet is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer as he’s expected to opt out of the final year of his deal for next season. This makes him a high-powered rental for many teams and/or a long-term solution for a club that’s looking to acquire him now and have a longer negotiation window with him when he hits free agency.

Fischer reports that the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Lakers and Suns have all expressed interest in VanVleet.

The Suns are the most intriguing team to hear about as they already have a Hall of Fame point guard running things for them in Chris Paul. However, as Bleacher Report and TNT reporter Chris Haynes has said, the Suns actually dangled Paul in a bid for Irving, so they may be a team looking for a successor to Paul in order to keep their championship window open with Devin Booker just beginning to hit his prime.

Teams told no plans yet for a Durant trade

In the wake of the Irving deal to Dallas, the biggest question in Brooklyn was the potential status of Kevin Durant and whether he might be made available before the trade deadline.

That likely won’t be the case, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Nets don’t have any plans to deal Durant before the deadline, according to Wojnarowski, despite the obvious interest in the star forward from around the league with teams such as the Suns and Raptors being linked to him last off-season when he reportedly made a trade request of his own.

As part of his report about Anunoby, Fischer mentioned that front offices around the league are preparing for an off-season Durant trade, something that could hurt Anunoby’s market at the deadline.

Heat could look to trade Lowry

The Miami Heat are willing to trade veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, Fischer reports.

Lowry has previously been linked to the Clippers but, according to Fischer, there was resistance to the idea of dealing Lowry previously. However, the Heat may be more open now as the 36-year-old has missed many games this season dealing with a nagging knee injury.

The former Raptor great is in the midst of one of his worst career seasons, averaging 12 points and 5.3 assists per game on poor 39.6 per cent shooting from the field and a 33.3 per cent mark from deep.

Jazz, Knicks discussed Vanderbilt deal

The Utah Jazz and New York Knicks have had discussions around a potential deal that would see New York acquire Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley, while Utah would see Obi Toppin and Evan Fournier heading their way, according to ESPN’s Tim McMahan.

Such a deal looks like it could come to fruition, especially given all the rumours that have been swirling around lately involving Vanderbilt and Beasley, and the Knicks’ willingness to move just about every piece on their roster not named Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson.

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Frank Gunn/CP anunoby_og1280 NBA Trade Rumour Roundup: Raptors’ Anunoby drawing plenty of interest Fri, 03 Feb 2023 11:31:27 EST Fri, 03 Feb 2023 11:31:34 EST Steven Loung As the NBA’s trade deadline approaches, Steven Loung takes a look at the latest surrounding the Raptors’ O.G. Anunoby and other candidates to be on the move before Feb. 9.

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The NBA’s trade deadline is less than a week away, and as the Feb. 9 date continues to creep up, so, too, does the hot-stove rise in temperature with it.

Here’s a look at some of the latest buzz around the league:

Anunoby drawing plenty of interest

Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby is garnering a lot of interest as the deadline approaches.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that “the Raptors are taking calls on Anunoby,” mentioning that the New York Knicks would be willing to give up multiple first-round picks for Anunoby and that the Phoenix Suns have come into the picture as well.

Additionally, Michael Sotto of HoopsHype said that the Memphis Grizzlies could be a team taking a run at Anunoby, a report supported by TNT and Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes on his new podcast, where he mentioned both the Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans as teams interested in Anunoby mainly because neither team wants to see the other acquire him.

It’s understandable that Anunoby is drawing many suitors. He’s one of the best defenders in the NBA, capable of guarding all five positions on the floor and is among the most deadly corner three threats in the game today, connecting on 44.4 per cent of his looks from those spots this season.

These skills can help every basketball team on the planet and are highly valued in the NBA. The fact that he’s still only 25 years old and has at least one more season on a very team-friendly contract left is just icing on the cake.

If the Raptors are looking to trade Anunoby, then waiting until the very last minute makes the most sense to try to extract as much value out of the leverage they hold as possible.

Raptors, Celtics among teams increasing pursuit of Poeltl

Charania is reporting that the Raptors are among teams increasing their pursuit of San Antonio Spurs centre Jakob Poeltl.

Poeltl is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is enjoying a strong season for the Spurs, averaging 12 points and 9.1 rebounds per game on 62.3 per cent shooting.

Originally drafted by the Raptors with the ninth-overall pick in 2016, the 27-year-old spent his first two seasons in Toronto before he was traded in the summer 2018 as part of the blockbuster deal that brought Kawhi Leonard over from San Antonio.

Charania also mentioned that the Boston Celtics are pursuing Poeltl, a club that would fit Poeltl’s desire to play for a contender better.

Lakers, Jazz discussing Westbrook trade

Haynes is reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz have had exploratory talks around Russell Westbrook.

This doesn’t mean a deal is imminent, though, as the Bleacher Report reporter also mentioned that Los Angeles was “said to be in communication with most teams” about Westbrook.

The 34-year-old Westbrook is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The former MVP struggled mightily to begin the season but graciously took a role to come off the bench, where he’s become a leading candidate for sixth man of the year, averaging 16 points, 7.8 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game in 47 games as a reserve.

By adding Westbrook this season, Utah would open up a ton of cap room to help with the team’s rebuild.

And in other Utah news, The Portland Trail Blazers could be looking to trade for Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt, according to Charania.

Charania said it’s “increasingly likely” that the 23-year-old will be dealt at the deadline.

The Blazers lack depth at the four and five spots, so bringing in a still-developing, young big man like Vanderbilt would make sense.

Looks like Pistons are more interested in keeping Bojan Bogdanovic

The Detroit Pistons have been rejecting offers for sharpshooting veteran Bojan Bogdanovic, according NBA insider Marc Stein.

Bogdanovic, 33, is having a career year, averaging 21.4 points per game while shooting 41.6 per cent from three-point range.

Those numbers, combined with where Detroit is in the standings, have made Bogdanovic a hot commodity around the league but, according to Stein, the Pistons might even reject an unprotected first-rounder for Bogdanovic, who has become an important leader for the youngsters on Detroit both on and off the floor.

As far as players the Pistons actually might trade, Stein mentioned that Detroit could be looking for draft capital for the likes of Alex Burks and Saddiq Bey.

According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks are a team that have shown interest in acquiring the third-year forward.

Hawks lower asking price of John Collins

The Atlanta Hawks have decreased their initial asking price for forward John Collins, Sam Amick of The Athletic is reporting.

Atlanta dropped the impetus for a first-round pick, Amick reported, and is now looking to land a contributing player or players to help salvage what has been a disappointing season for the Hawks after they went and leveraged much of their future in the off-season to acquire Dejounte Murray from the Spurs.

Collins is in the second year of a five-year, $125-million contract he signed in 2021. The 25-year-old is having his worst season statistically since his rookie campaign, averaging 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, shooting 51.3 per cent from the floor.

Kings, Warriors have interest in Sixers’ Thybulle

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are teams that are monitoring the potential availability of Philadelphia 76ers forward Matisse Thybulle.

Thybulle is sparsely used in Doc Rivers’ rotation and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

A defensive specialist, if he were to see more consistent floor time with either the Warriors or Kings, Thybulle would surely help shore up some of the holes of those respective teams’ middling defences.

Nuggets’ Hyland could be on the move

Promising young Denver Nuggets guard Bones Hyland could be on the move before the deadline.

According to Haynes, Hyland isn’t getting along too well with the Nuggets’ coaching staff and would like a larger role.

Haynes said the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets have expressed interest in the 22-year-old.

The Hornets are said to be shopping centre Mason Plumlee and forward Kelly Oubre Jr., according to Charania.

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(AP Photo/Adam Hunger) Siakam 2023 NBA All-Star Game: Will Raptors’ Siakam earn a reserve spot? Fri, 27 Jan 2023 08:59:26 EST Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:23:02 EST Steven Loung After the NBA All-Star Starters were announced on Thursday, who will fill our the rest of the roster? Here are some predictions.

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The starters for the 72nd NBA All-Star game on Feb. 19 were locked in on Thursday with Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward LeBron James being named an all-star for a record-tying 19th time and a captain for the sixth straight year.

Joining James out of the Western Conference will be two-time defending MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans high-flyer Zion Williamson, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic.

From the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is a captain for the third time and was followed by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets, the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.

Like always, there was controversy with some of these starter selections. Williamson has only played 29 games this season, Joel Embiid was left out as a starter despite being one of the four best players in the Eastern Conference (along with Antetokounmpo, Durant and Tatum) and Irving got the nod despite the controversy that followed him early in the season.

However, considering the fact that 50 per cent of the starters vote belonged to the fans, it’s tough to get mad at the results. All the players involved are putting up all-star numbers and these are players that many spectators want to see in an All-Star Game.

There are still 14 spots up for grabs now, too, with two guards, three frontcourt players and two players at any position left for the NBA’s 30 coaches to select from the two conferences. And this is where things get a lot more interesting.

The following is how this particular writer believes the reserves should be filled out for each conference.

Western Conference

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Guard: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Frontcourt: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

Frontcourt: Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Frontcourt: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Wild Card: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Wild Card: De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

For the most part, the West reserves should be a cut-and-dry affair to select.

Morant and Gilgeous-Alexander are locks in the guard spots because of how undeniable the numbers they’re putting up are and, in Morant’s case, how successful the Grizzlies have been once again under his stewardship.

The frontcourt spots are also relatively easy to choose with Markkanen and Sabonis both enjoying fabulous seasons and helping their teams to surprisingly successful years thus far.

The third frontcourt spot could go a number of ways with Paul George a very deserving candidate, but the idea is to go with Davis here because before he got hurt he was playing MVP-calibre ball. Additionally, Davis was actually ranked No. 3 on the fan vote for all-star voting, so he’s a player that people want to see. He should get the nod.

The wild card selections were the hardest to make with so many players putting up big numbers around the conference, like Anthony Edwards in Minnesota and Devin Booker for the Phoenix Suns.

However, leaving Lillard off the team was simply impossible to do as, like Gilgeous-Alexander, he’s averaging over 30 points per game – and just had one of the most efficient 60-point performances ever – while Fox is probably the Kings’ best player and, considering the fact they’re currently holding down a top three spot in the West, giving them a second all-star just makes sense.

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid (21) celebrates. (Adam Hunger/AP)

Guard: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Guard: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

Frontcourt: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Frontcourt: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

Frontcourt: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Wild Card: James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers

Wild Card: Julius Randle, New York Knicks

The Eastern Conference had some tougher choices to be made than out West, but there were some no-brainers to be had.

The reserve guards are obvious selections as Brown is the second-best player on the league-leading Celtics, putting up primary-scorer numbers and stellar defence to boot, and Haliburton has taken a star turn with the Pacers, leading them to surprising success this season.

Embiid is also an obvious selection as he’s playing like an MVP again and was only not named a starter because of the numbers game of having only three frontcourt players. His running mate in Philly, Harden, should also be a lock as he’s playing at an All-NBA level again as a perfect complementary piece alongside Embiid.

As for the other selections, no matter how mediocre the Raptors have been this season, Siakam’s been a shining light and should be rewarded for the monstrous season he’s been putting together. From there it feels like a toss-up between four players on the Heat and Knicks in Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Randle and Jalen Brunson.

The decision, ultimately, was to go with Adebayo and Randle because they’ve been the most impactful players on their respective squads this season.

The All-Star reserves will be announced on Feb. 2 and, in a new twist for this season, the All-Star draft will take place right before the game begins on Feb. 19.

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(Randall Benton/AP) CP25133007 NBA Rumour Roundup: Trade chatter heating up as deadline approaches Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:41:13 EST Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:41:41 EST Steven Loung With the NBA’s Feb. 9 trade deadline fast approaching, the rumour mill is swirling all around the league. Here’s a look at some of the latest going around the hot stove.

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With the NBA’s Feb. 9 trade deadline fast approaching, the rumour mill is swirling all around the league.

Here’s a look at some of the latest going around the hot stove.

Jakob Poeltl is a name to watch at the deadline

One of the biggest prizes to be had at the trade deadline this season is San Antonio Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl.

A former ninth-overall pick of the Toronto Raptors in the 2016 draft, Poeltl has played his last five seasons with the Spurs and has blossomed into one of the most productive centres in the NBA over the last two.

This season he’s averaging 12.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game on 63.4 per cent shooting from the field.

Poeltl is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, “the Spurs have had a standing offer to Poeltl for his maximum extension of four years and $58 million since before the season, but that has been declined.”

As Charania reported, the 27-year-old has drawn interest from the Raptors and Boston Celtics.

The Athletic‘s Jared Weiss is reporting that the Spurs would be looking for a couple of first-round picks in any deal for Poeltl.

Bojan Bogdanovic drawing plenty of interest

Another hot ticket at the deadline could be Detroit Pistons sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic.

According to Charania, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans and Raptors are all in pursuit of the 33-year-old forward.

Bogdanovic is enjoying the most productive season of his NBA career, putting up 21.2 points per game and shooting 41.5 per cent from three-point range on nearly six attempts per contest.

The fact Bogdanovic is putting up those kinds of numbers for a rebuilding Pistons team makes him a prime trade candidate, hence all of the interest.

However, he did sign a two-year extension with Detroit that will kick in beginning next season, meaning there’s some interest in keeping him as a productive veteran who can help shepherd the Pistons’ youngsters.

As The Athletic’s James Edwards III reported, Detroit is willing to listen, and if it can get an unprotected first-round pick out of a Bogdanovic deal, then it might be more willing to pull the trigger on a deal.

With decision looming on Russell, Wolves could move him

The Minnesota Timberwolves could trade former all-star guard D’Angelo Russell at the deadline, Charania is reporting.

Russell is on an expiring contract with $31.3 million this season and, according to Charania, there isn’t any sign of an extension heading his way.

In 43 games, Russell is averaging 17 points and 6.2 assists per game this season, but the Timberwolves have disappointed, barely clinging to a play-in spot, leading the team to potentially look for other options at point guard.

Clippers, Wolves expressing interest in Mike Conley

That other option Minnesota could be looking at is the Utah Jazz’s Mike Conley.

As Charania reported, the Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers have expressed interest in acquiring the 35-year-old veteran.

Trading Conley would open up the starting point guard spot for Collin Sexton in Utah and if the Timberwolves are serious about dealing Russell, bringing in Conley as his replacement seems logical given his wealth of experience.

As for the Clippers, long-time NBA insider Marc Stein first reported their interest in Conley with the injury to current backup point guard John Wall. Wall, however, could be included in a trade, according to Charania.

The latest with John Collins

Like every season since he’s been in the league, seemingly, John Collins is on the trading block and there are plenty of teams checking in on the talented 25-year-old forward.

As Stein has reported, the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards have all checked in on the current Atlanta Hawk.

Charania is reporting that the Jazz are actually the “most engaged team” on Collins trade talks, with Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt floated as potentially attractive pieces in a deal.

Collins is in the midst of his least productive season of his career since his rookie campaign in 2017-18, averaging 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game on 50.4 per cent shooting. With the arrival of Dejounte Murray in Atlanta, coupled with the continued high usage of Trae Young, he’s often been relegated to a distant third scoring option with the Hawks.

A change of scenery might restore his near-all-star form again.

Knicks looking to deal sparsely used Cam Reddish

The New York Knicks are looking to trade Cam Reddish, according to Stein.

Reddish, who has only played 20 games this season, has fallen out of Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s rotation and hasn’t seen any floor time in New York’s last 23 games.

Among the teams interested in dealing for Reddish, as Stein reported, are the Bucks, Lakers and Mavericks.

A highly touted former No. 10 pick of the Hawks in the 2019 draft, Reddish has struggled to find his footing in the NBA through four seasons in the league so far.

Wizards exploring trade discussions around Rui Hachimura

Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura, the No. 9 pick in the 2019 draft, is also on the trading block, according to Charania and Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

Hachimura is set to become a restricted free agent this summer. The qualifying offer is estimated to come in at about $8.4 million but with Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma locked into Washington’s forward positions, it isn’t very logical to look to keep Hachimura.

In particular, according to Charania and Robbins, while Kuzma has a player option for next season that he will likely opt out of and has garnered trade interest, the Wizards want to re-sign him. Thus, Hachimura is the odd man out.

Hachimura was a highly regarded player coming out of Gonzaga in 2019 but hasn’t seen his NBA career flourish the way many thought it would.

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(AP Photo/Duane Burleson) durant NBA Notebook: Nets can compete without Durant; Lakers should listen to LeBron Fri, 13 Jan 2023 09:23:38 EST Sun, 15 Jan 2023 11:53:36 EST Steven Loung The Nets look like they might be able to survive without their biggest star, LeBron rightfully wants help and the Dubs are back at full strength again. Here’s a look at what’s happening around the NBA right now.

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The Nets look like they might be able to survive without their biggest star, LeBron rightfully wants help and the Dubs are back at full strength again.

Here’s a look at what’s happening around the NBA right now.

Nets offer glimpse of life without KD

Around this time last season, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant went down with injury, dooming his team to just a seventh-seed finish and a first-round sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics after Brooklyn went just 5-16 in his absence, including an 11-game losing streak.

At the time of Durant’s injury, the Nets were 27-15, in second place in the Eastern Conference and playing well largely because of the immense talents of their superstar forward.

Flash forward to now and it looks like déjà vu all over again for Brooklyn.

On Monday, news broke that Durant had suffered a knee injury during Brooklyn’s 102-101 win over the Miami Heat on Jan. 8 — the Nets’ 18th victory in their last 20 games at the time — putting a serious downer on what was looking like a special Brooklyn season in the making.

Similarly to how things went last season before Durant went down, the Nets were 27-13 and second place in the East and now must navigate waters without him for at least two weeks.

On Thursday, Brooklyn played its first game without its MVP candidate, and actually looked alright in the process.

Yes, the Nets did still lose, 109-98 to the first-place Celtics, and yes, Boston was without Jaylen Brown, but there were flashes seen in that Thursday defeat to give reason for optimism if you’re a Brooklyn fan.

For one thing, Kyrie Irving had an off night, requiring 24 field-goal attempts to get his game-high 24. With the way he’s been playing of late — as both a healthy and seemingly more focused player — he’ll surely be more efficient and play better against other opponents.

Additionally, with Durant out, some of those shot attempts and scoring opportunities that were his can now be spread out more, to the benefit of players like T.J. Warren. After being forced to miss all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot, Warren’s been working his way back this season, trying to find some of that microwave scoring form he showed in the bubble. On Thursday, with more minutes to work with, he had 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting in 28 minutes coming off the bench.

It’s impossible to fully replicate what Durant brings to the table — particularly as a sniper from mid-range — but having an option like Warren will certainly make things easier for the Nets.

Life without Durant will be difficult for the next little while for Brooklyn, but this is a different team than last season’s with someone who appears to be able to weather adversity better manning the helm in Jacque Vaughn.

There’s good reason to believe Brooklyn can make it through this patch and remain in a strong position.

Catch the Nets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday on Sportsnet ONE starting at 6 p.m. ET.

LeBron wants help and he should get it

In a recent interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made it clear that he wants to see some upgrades to what is a largely old and talent-devoid roster.

“Y’all know what the [expletive] should be happening,” he told Amick. “I don’t need to talk.”

For what it’s worth, James did try to walk back his comments on Twitter, but the message seemed loud and clear.

At 38 years of age, James is still playing at an MVP level and yet finds himself on a Lakers squad that’s struggling to even make it into play-in game territory.

That just isn’t right.

When Anthony Davis first went down, the worst was feared for the Lakers, but thanks to James’ efforts, Los Angeles has managed to stay afloat. Davis has reportedly begun to ramp up for a return, meaning help is on the way, but it still might not be enough.

With the trade deadline coming up, the Lakers must do all they can to try to add reinforcements to give James at least one more kick at the can given how brilliantly he’s playing.

That means finding a suitor for the likes of Patrick Beverley, Russell Westbrook — despite how well he’s played off the bench — and anyone else besides Davis, really, in order to try to get help for James.

Be the team everyone thinks you are, Lakers, and just go out and bring in pieces, prices by damned.

The Lakers face off against the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday on Sportsnet ONE starting at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Curry’s return and other significant injury news around the league

On Tuesday, Stephen Curry returned to the Golden State Warriors lineup after an 11-game absence with a shoulder injury, scoring 24 points in a 125-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Despite the loss, news of Curry’s return is obviously good for the Dubs, who now, at last, have all four of their big guns back in the lineup with Canadian Andrew Wiggins making his return last Saturday. Now back at full strength, the Warriors should be able to focus on climbing back up the Western Conference standings after snapping a three-game losing skid on Friday against the lowly San Antonio Spurs.

Elsewhere around the league, Celtics star Brown, who missed Thursday’s game against Brooklyn, is expected to miss about 1-2 weeks with a right adductor strain, budding Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will miss at least two weeks with elbow and knee ailments and, in positive news, Washington Wizards all-star Bradley Beal has been cleared tor resume basketball activities, although it’s unclear when he may return.

As proven by their victory Thursday night, the Celtics can survive a few games without Brown and, while the pursuit for tops in the East is important, giving Brown extra time to get healthier for the playoffs may not be a bad idea as it appears to be championship or bust for Boston this season.

In regards to the Pacers, seeing Haliburton go down is terrible news for fans as he’s one of the most exciting young players in the NBA today, but for Indiana’s trade deadline strategy his absence may be a blessing in disguise. The Pacers weren’t supposed to be as good as they’ve been this season. But without Haliburton, a legitimate floor general, things could come undone quickly in Indiana, meaning the front office might become more comfortable with the idea of looking to trade both Buddy Hield and Myles Turner at the deadline — possibly to the Lakers.

And as for the Wizards, Beal’s impending return is a welcome one, of course. Whether or not it impacts Washington’s deadline strategy either way, though, is anyone’s guess.

Watch Curry and the Warriors go up against the Chicago Bulls Sunday on Sportsnet ONE starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Durant-Irving-Nets NBA notebook: Can anyone stop the Brooklyn Nets? Wed, 04 Jan 2023 09:32:02 EST Wed, 04 Jan 2023 10:12:37 EST Steven Loung Things are going good in Brooklyn and Dallas, the league’s flush with remarkable performances nearly every single night and the good times in New Orleans could be slowing down for a little while. Here’s what’s going on around the NBA.

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Things are going good in Brooklyn and Dallas, the league’s flush with remarkable performances nearly every single night and the good times in New Orleans could be slowing down for a little while.

Here’s what’s going on around the NBA.

The Nets look unstoppable


In case you haven’t been paying attention, the Brooklyn Nets have been on fire – in the good way – over the last seven weeks or so.

Since Nov. 20, the Nets sport an 18-3 record and have won 16 of their last 17 games, including a 12-game streak that’s still going strong.

During this 21-game stretch Kevin Durant has been simply spectacular, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game on 59.5 per cent shooting from the field.

This hot streak the Nets have been on has catapulted them up the Eastern Conference standings, where they now sit just a half-game back of the Boston Celtics for tops in the conference. Should they manage to keep up this level of play, combined with the numbers Durant is putting up, he could emerge as a strong MVP candidate again.

One factor that could play against Durant, however, is his mercurial teammate Kyrie Irving.

For all the trouble Irving appears to get both himself and those around him in when he decides to speak about his beliefs, he’s still among the most talented basketball players on the planet, and Brooklyn’s success over its last 21 contests has not-so-coincidentally coincided with Irving’s return from suspension after he posted a link to an antisemitic film.

Since his return, Irving’s averaged 25.9 points per game on 52.1 per cent shooting from the field and a 42.3 per cent clip from distance. The combination of him and Durant has oftentimes proved just too much for teams to handle down the stretch of games as their ability to create something out of nothing for both themselves and others might be the very best in the league.

When this incarnation of the Nets first came together in the summer of 2019 this was the original vision. A team with two of the game’s best all-around shooters, scorers and clutch performers that are nigh unstoppable in the closing moments of games.

It took a while, but that is exactly what the Nets are right now, and there hasn’t been anyone who can stop them in while.

Are the Mavericks finally putting it all together?


Over in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks are also streaking.

Winners of their last seven contests, the Mavs look to be finally fulfilling some of the expectations put upon them mainly because of who their top guy is.

Luka Doncic just might be the best player in the world and the run he’s been on during this Mavericks win streak is a good argument why.

The 23-year-old has been averaging 41.7 points, 11 rebounds and 9.9 assists while shooting 55.6 per cent from the floor and 40.7 per cent from three-point range. Included in this stretch, Doncic has had games where he’s scored 50, 51 and 60 points, and on New Year’s Eve, when he went for 51, he even showed his mastery of intentionally missing a free throw in Dallas’ sixth straight victory.

The caveat to all of this, of course, is that Doncic and the Mavericks haven’t exactly seen the stiffest competition during this streak, seeing the Houston Rockets three times and only facing one team with a record above .500 in the New York Knicks.

This is still NBA competition and what Doncic has been doing is nothing short of incredible. More importantly, this run may be exactly what the Mavericks have needed to believe in themselves again after a rough start to the season and adjusting to life without Jalen Brunson.

With Doncic anything is possible, and that includes a climb up to the top of the Western Conference standings.

Feels like there’s a 50-spot happening every night


On the topic of Doncic and his scoring, he isn’t the only guy who has reached the half-century mark recently – not by a long shot, actually.

We highly recommend you tune in to the NBA every single night because at the rate this season is going, odds are good you’re going to see a 50-spot from someone.

This week alone has already seen three 50-plus performances with Klay Thompson going for 54 in double overtime against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo going for a career-high 55 on Tuesday and, of course, Donovan Mitchell’s otherworldly 71-point masterpiece in Cleveland’s overtime win over Chicago on Monday.

In total, there have been 14 50-point games from players this season, with seven coming in the last two weeks alone. For further context, last season there were only 19 games that saw a player go for 50 in total.

What we’re seeing right now is an anomaly, but it’s been a really fun one and gives reason for people to check out the league more consistently during the regular season – something that might be needed because there is a school of thought that nothing in the regular season actually matters in the NBA.

The impact of Zion’s injury on the Pelicans


The New Orleans Pelicans could be in a lot of trouble over the next three weeks or so.

Star forward Zion Williamson is expected to miss at least that amount of time with a hamstring strain. With fellow star frontcourt mate Brandon Ingram without a clear timetable to return to action after he went down with a big toe sprain in late November, the Pelicans will be severely shorthanded as they try to keep pace as a top-three Western Conference team.

The initial injury to Ingram was bad, but New Orleans was able to keep up its strong play without him because of the season Williamson’s had, averaging 26 points and seven rebounds on 60.8 per cent shooting.

More importantly than just the counting stats Williamson puts up, he’s an integral part of what they do and their team identity. New Orleans averages 55.2 points in the paint per game – good for fourth best in the league – which makes up about 47 per cent of the Pelican’s 117.4 points per game they’re averaging. Williamson alone accounts for 19.1 points in the paint per game, so with him removed from the equation a massive part of New Orleans’ eighth-ranked attack will be neutered.

An injury is always bad news, but word of this injury to Williamson may be downright catastrophic for an ascending Pelicans team.

It’s also scary because of the bad injury luck Williamson’s had his entire career, including missing all of last season with a foot injury.

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Chris Young/CP Masai Ujiri Bold basketball predictions for 2023: Raptors make a splash as trade deadline buyers Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:59:37 EST Sat, 30 Dec 2023 09:14:04 EST Steven Loung What does the future hold for the Raptors in 2023? What about Canada Basketball? Here are four bold predictions.

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Another year of hoops is just about in the books and in many ways it was a return to normalcy for basketball.

The NBA playoffs had sold-out arenas, the Golden State Warriors once again won it all for their fourth title in eight seasons, the off-season was as chaotic as ever with a few big names changing teams, and though it’s still around, we didn’t hear nearly as much about health and safety protocols as we did the last two years.

Hopefully this forward momentum can keep going into next year with not only more of what was normal before but also some new, exciting twists (in a positive way) during the roundball calendar.

Here are four bold predictions for basketball in 2023.

Canada will medal at the FIBA World Cup and qualify for Olympics

Kicking things off with the international game, 2023 is a significant year for FIBA because the World Cup will play from Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

Canada has already qualified for the event, finishing atop its group during the qualifiers with a perfect 10-0 record.

The World Cup of Basketball isn’t the World Cup of soccer, which has far more prestige associated with it, but it’s still an important international competition, not only because it’s a world championship, but because the results can tie directly into Olympic qualification.

Specifically, in Canada’s case, two automatic Americas region berths into the Paris 2024 Games are on the line at the World Cup. The top two finishers from the Americas region will earn those automatic spots, and we say one of them will be Canada.

Led by legitimate star NBA talent in the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Jamal Murray, R.J. Barrett, Bennedict Mathurin and Shaedon Sharpe (and maybe even Andrew Wiggins), it’s hard not to get excited about what could be possible.

Yes, there’s always the issue with players committing to the national team, but Canada’s as talented a basketball nation as any country out there outside of the United States, so why can’t Canada hit the podium at the World Cup and use that as a launch pad to its first Olympic berth since the men’s program played in 2000?

It all starts with a little belief.

The Raptors will make a significant move as buyers at the trade deadline

Turning attention to something more immediate, the NBA trade deadline for the 2022-23 season is coming up on Feb. 9 and the Toronto Raptors figure to be a team of interest as the date draws nearer.

The Raptors appear to be a team stuck in the middle. They have talent, but it’s unclear if it’s actually enough to see them take that next step. And given where they are in the standings, while it might be too late to bottom out and make a run at Victor Wembanyama in the lottery, they could still get themselves into a better draft position and look towards the future.

On the other hand, it’s not a bad idea to look to reinforce the existing talent Toronto has on its roster right now. Making a push to improve this season isn’t out of the realm of possibility, either.

Both paths the Raptors are staring down are viable and the one Toronto will take is the latter.

Ignoring what it might take to acquire any of these guys, here are some targets the Raptors could consider to help themselves: Grayson Allen, Bojan Bogdanovic, Robert Covington, Jae Crowder, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jakob Poeltl, Duncan Robinson, Terrence Ross and Myles Turner.

None of these players are superstars but they can be impact pieces, which is what Toronto needs, particularly in terms of shooting and size.

With Pascal Siakam enjoying one of the best individual seasons in franchise history and competitors like Fred VanVleet still on the roster, management owes it to give these guys a chance by going out and adding a key piece at the deadline.

Nikola Jokic will win a third straight MVP

This doesn’t sound very bold, but when you consider the fact only three other players have accomplished this feat – Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Larry Bird – and names such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar haven’t, then you might see where we’re coming from with this.

Nikola Jokic has a very strong case to win MVP once again. He’s the best player on what could end up being the Western Conference’s best team, is scoring more efficiently than before and could average a triple-double this season.

At the rate he’s going, the only reason Jokic won’t win for a third straight time is because of “voter fatigue.” The intangible thing that probably cost Jordan, James and Abdul-Jabbar from making this exclusive list.

Voter fatigue shouldn’t exist, though. The MVP trophy – now named the Michael Jordan Trophy – should go to the most valuable player in the league.

His name is Nikola Jokic.

The Knicks will win a playoff round

Thanks to Julius Randle playing like an all-star again and Tom Thibodeau finding some magic with a shortened rotation, the New York Knicks have played pretty well so far this season.

We’re going to take it a step further and say the Knicks will play well the entire season and not only make the playoffs – as a No. 6 seed or better avoiding the play-in tournament – but win a round.

The scenario for this happening likely has New York as a scrappy sixth seed taking on its cross-town rival Brooklyn Nets. Obviously, Brooklyn is the more talented team, but the risk of injury or an off-court issue makes the Nets a veritable powder keg that’s more likely to explode when the pressure of the post-season hits. When it does, it’ll give an opportunity for the Knicks to steal the series.

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Matt York/AP CP151175428 NBA Christmas preview: Rematches, rivalries and gifts galore on this year’s plate Sat, 24 Dec 2022 10:42:31 EST Sun, 25 Dec 2022 15:11:05 EST Steven Loung As a gift to NBA fans, the biggest names and best teams always seem to find themselves playing on Christmas Day. Here’s a look at all five games scheduled for the 25th and what you can expect from each one.

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Merry Christmas everyone!

As is tradition, the holly jolly day will feature a full slate of hoops for you to feast on in between unwrapping gifts, drinking way too much eggnog and enduring enjoying the company of your in-laws.

This year’s offering will feature two rematches from last season’s playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics squaring off and the Memphis Grizzlies facing the Golden State Warriors. Additionally, all five members of the 2021-22 All-NBA First Team – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum – will be in action as you celebrate the holiday.

And, for those who care about all-star voting, any all-star vote that you decide to make on the big day will count for three.

Here’s a look at all five Christmas Day games and what you can expect from each one.

Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks – 12 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE

Yes, the Knicks got a Christmas Day game again – this will increase their record to 55 holiday games. Unlike in previous years, though, this seems like a deserving showcase nod.

New York has been one of the hottest teams in the league during the month of December and looks primed to make a proper run to the playoffs this season. The arrival of Jalen Brunson at the point has helped return Julius Randle to all-star form and has led Canadian RJ Barrett to play a more efficient game.

On the other side are the Philadelphia 76ers, who have also enjoyed a red-hot December.

Philly is, of course, led by Joel Embiid, who is once again looking like an MVP candidate as one of the NBA’s premier scorers.

This will be a record 13th meeting on Christmas Day between the Knicks and Sixers.

Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks – 2:30 p.m. ET

If you were to just look at the standings, this game is an odd one for a Christmas Day slate, but considering the star power on both teams, most notably LeBron James and Doncic, it makes sense why the NBA booked this one.

This will be James’ 17th Christmas Day game, tying him with the late, great Kobe Bryant for the most in NBA history. A tremendous accomplishment, even if his team isn’t very good – particularly with Anthony Davis out at the moment with a right foot injury.

Davis was playing some of the best ball of his career before he got hurt, but alas, his unfortunate career trend of being sidelined has remained as steady as ever.

Looking at the Mavericks, Doncic, from a pure talent perspective, may be the best player in the world today.

He was out with an injury during last season’s Christmas Day spectacle but should be good to go this year.

If you’ve never had a chance to watch Doncic hoop, do yourself a favour and try to make time to tune in for a little bit. He always elevates his game for big occasions.

Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics – 5 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE

The marquee game of the day, and boy is it a doozy.

A matchup between not only two of the Eastern Conference’s, but the entire league’s best teams, and a rematch of last season’s instant classic seven-game Eastern Conference semi-final.

Moreover, the two sides faced off during the 2021 Christmas Day slate in a game that saw Milwaukee storm back from a 19-point deficit to win as Antetokounmpo went off for 36 points and 12 rebounds.

The Christmas Day game is usually viewed as a litmus test for elite teams with championship aspirations. Both the Celtics and Bucks fit that description this season. Given where they are in the standings and given the talent both teams boast, this game could be viewed as the unofficial opening salvo of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.

Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors – 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE

With the Grizzlies playing on Christmas this year, that leaves the Charlotte Hornets as the lone active NBA franchise to have never played on Dec. 25.

The Grizzlies are a very-deserving Christmas Day team. They feature, perhaps, the most exciting player to watch in all of basketball in superstar point guard Ja Morant. They’re among the best teams in the Western Conference with a young group of core players that should see them become a perennial power for years to come.

For added drama, their matchup with the Warriors is a juicy one with some bad blood between the two sides stemming from their second-round playoff series last season.

In that series, Mississauga-native Dillon Brooks got suspended a game for a dangerous foul he committed on then-Warrior Gary Payton II. Brooks’ on-the-edge playstyle appeared to get under the skin of the veteran Warriors. Morant was brilliant during the series, averaging 38.3 per game before a knee injury knocked him out of their final three games, directly helping Golden State survive what was looking like a rising tide coming from Memphis.

The playoff series these two teams played makes for a great backdrop for the Christmas game, so kudos to the NBA for identifying it and scheduling it. Unfortunately, however, injuries on Golden State’s side may derail a lot of the drama. Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins have been dealing with shoulder and groin issues respectively, though for Memphis, guard Desmond Bane came back from injury just in time for the holidays.

These are big names who likely won’t be playing during Christmas Day and that’s a shame. However, Morant and Brooks should be good to go for the Grizzlies, so there could be some pot stirring there with those two involved if you’re on the hunt for a little naughty on a day full of nice.

Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets – 10:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet ONE

The late-night game is a good one for those who haven’t passed out from all the turkey and eggnog that will surely be consumed.

Two of the Western Conference’s elite teams will square off in a game that could very well be a preview of the Western Conference Final this season.

The Nuggets are led by two-time defending MVP Nikola Jokic, who is making a case for a third straight with how well both he and his team are playing. Kitchener’s very own Jamal Murray is playing well once again after spending all of last season on the injured list recovering from ACL surgery. Additionally, Michael Porter Jr. — who also missed the majority of last season to injury — and Aaron Gordon have made for a solid frontcourt duo flanking Jokic.

On the other side are the Suns, who aren’t looking quite as mighty as they have in previous years but remain a title threat with Booker playing like an MVP candidate.

The last time these two teams met in late March last season, Booker went off for 49 points, leading Phoenix to a 140-130 win in Denver.

The Nuggets haven’t won a Christmas Day game since 1994 despite playing in five since then.

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Otto Porter Jr. 2 NBA Notebook: Breaking down the Top 10 newly trade-eligible players Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:55:52 EST Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:56:50 EST Steven Loung As the calendar changed to Dec. 15, the unofficial start to the NBA’s trade season began.

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As the calendar changed to Dec. 15, the unofficial start to the NBA’s trade season began.

Seventy-four players who signed new contracts in the off-season became trade-eligible, giving teams many more options as they look to build toward a championship – both now and in the future.

This doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a deluge of activity right away, but expect to see the hot stove heating up with rumour-mongering among more players as the Feb. 9 trade deadline draws even nearer.

The biggest name now trade-eligible is probably Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden. Don’t expect him to be moved, though, as he can veto any trade this season – to say nothing of the fact the Sixers likely aren’t looking to deal him.

Another notable name who can be traded is Bol Bol, who is blossoming in his first season with the Orlando Magic. Unlike Harden, he can be traded, but he looks to be an exciting building block for Orlando, so to see him get dealt would be a real shocker.

So, with that said, here’s a look at the top 10 players who are newly eligible to be traded this season as of Dec. 15.

Patty MillsBrooklyn Nets

Coming off a career year in 2021-22 that led to him signing a two-year, $14.5-million contract to remain in Brooklyn, Mills is having a rough time this season, averaging just 5.5 points in just 12 minutes per game. Making matters worse, he’s virtually out of the Nets’ rotation these days, not seeing the floor in eight of Brooklyn’s last nine games.

This all sounds bad, but there’s still value to be had in Mills, who’s shooting 38.1 per cent from three-point range on three attempts per game this season. He can help a team that needs shooting as a bench gunner still.

From Brooklyn’s perspective, if Mills is out of the rotation, it could look to deal him and add reinforcements to a team that’s found its stride of late, having won eight of its last nine games after beginning the season 9-11.

Goran Dragic/Andre DrummondChicago Bulls

Puttering along with an 11-16 record and sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls look like a team that needs to pull the plug on this season sooner than later.

As such, expect to hear DeMar DeRozan’s name pop up a lot as trade season gets going. And included in possible DeRozan packages should be one or both of Dragic and Drummond.

Though nothing like their former selves, both are still productive enough veterans who can come off the bench and contribute in meaningful ways. Dragic is shooting 39.7 per cent from deep on nearly three attempts per game in 25 games this season, while Drummond has played only 20 contests but is hauling down 7.5 rebounds per game.

John WallLos Angeles Clippers

After sitting out all of last season, Wall is back this season with the Clippers, not looking anything like his old all-star self, but not looking terrible, either.

Wall is averaging 12.3 points and 5.6 assists in 22.2 minutes per game as the primary backup point guard to Reggie Jackson. Like before, he’s still an above-average defender who can’t shoot. Unlike before, though, he lacks that game-changing burst that allowed him to get into the paint at will.

If you’re looking for a backup point guard, though, you could do far worse than Wall.

The Clippers might still want to look to deal Wall, however, because he’s on a relatively easy-to-move contract worth just a shade under $6.5 million this season with a club option for next season worth about $6.8 million.

The Clippers are jockeying for a playoff spot and will likely look to be buyers at the deadline. With Terance Mann on the roster, they have a player that could take Wall’s place in the rotation – and he’s a better shooter to boot – so using Wall’s contract as a means to grease the wheels of a bigger deal seems feasible.

Damian Jones/Juan Toscano-AndersonLos Angeles Lakers

Neither Jones, a 27-year-old reserve centre, nor Toscano-Anderson, a 29-year-old slashing wing, will move the needle for any team that might acquire them, but their value lies in how inexpensive their contracts are (approximately $2.3 million for Jones and $1.9 million for Toscano-Anderson), and how they may be used for the sake of salary matching for a potentially larger Lakers trade.

As mentioned before, DeRozan could be a hot commodity in the trade market and he’s a player who has long been connected to the Lakers. Could a package involving either Patrick Beverley or Russell Westbrook along with Jones and/or Toscano-Anderson and picks be enough to sway Chicago to part with its star guard?

Don’t be surprised if something like this happens.

Kyle Anderson/Bryn ForbesMinnesota Timberwolves

Unlike the pair discussed above, Anderson and Forbes bring some real on-court value to a team.

Anderson is a quality reserve forward who brings a wide range of skills that includes creative playmaking, toughness and solid defence. He’s not the greatest shooter, but he can knock down the occasional three if left alone.

Forbes, on the other hand, is a deadeye shooter. He’s shooting 41 per cent for his career from deep and can get hot in a hurry. At six-foot-two, he’s on the smaller side for two guards, but his stroke more than makes up for it.

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, though, Forbes has been uncharacteristically cold this season, connecting on just 23.1 per cent of his attempts from three-point range, something that might be indicative of the inconsistency Minnesota’s struggled with in general.

The Timberwolves are in the thick of the play-in/playoff hunt in the ultra-competitive Western Conference and making panic moves probably isn’t the right course of action for them, but between Anderson and Forbes there’s about $11 million worth of salary to use in a trade. Not an insignificant sum.

Otto Porter Jr.Toronto Raptors

Porter has only played eight games for the Raptors and is expected to be out for at least a month with a toe injury now.

In the few games he has played, he’s been moderately effective, averaging 5.5 points on 50 per cent shooting from the floor and 35.3 per cent from deep.

The Raptors could desperately use Porter’s outside stroke – he’s a career 39.7 per cent shooter from distance – as they’re among the NBA’s worst three-point shooting teams, but that just isn’t happening with him missing as much time as he has.

So, why not look to deal him? Or, at least, package him as part of a bigger deal?

From the Raptors’ perspective, though it’s not theirs or his fault, this signing hasn’t worked out. Porter’s contract is worth about $6 million for this season – very movable, especially if paired with another piece.

However, one complication the Raptors may find when looking for suitors is the fact that Porter has a player option for next season. Toronto’s front office likes to offer player options to free agents as a means to get a leg up on competition, but if it’s looking to move a player before he’s in that option year it could make doing so a little more difficult.

Collin SextonUtah Jazz

When the Jazz made the blockbuster Donovan Mitchell trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the off-season, the expectation was that Utah would be taking a big step back to rebuild with the slew of draft picks, along with young players Lauri Markkanen and Sexton.

Well, things have changed a bit. The Jazz got off to a 10-3 start to the season and now find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt in the West. Markkanen has been everything Utah’s wanted and more, looking like he should be a lock for his first all-star appearance averaging 22.1 points and 8.6 rebounds on 52.7 per cent shooting from field.

Sexton, who was looking like an ascending star during his four years in Cleveland, has taken a step back since his arrival in Salt Lake City.

The 23-year-old is averaging a career-worst 14.3 points per game, primarily coming off the bench, playing behind Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson.

Sexton is in the first year of a four-year contract worth $70.95 million. You normally don’t look to pay that kind of money to a reserve player, meaning he could be an interesting trade piece at Utah’s disposal – for either path it may wish to take.

Should the Jazz look to be buyers, using Sexton’s large contract could be useful for salary matching in order to chase to a high-profile, expensive player in a trade.

On the other hand, if they decide to go back to their original plan of bottoming out, they could look to acquire more future draft assets and young players for Sexton, who should still be a good player.

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hawks NBA Notebook: Hawks’ Young must grow as a leader, Jazz can’t get stops Wed, 07 Dec 2022 14:14:06 EST Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:49:16 EST Steven Loung The Atlanta Hawks appear to have gone through some leadership growing pains with their best player, the Los Angeles Lakers are hot, while the Utah Jazz are not. Here’s what’s happening around the NBA right now.

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The Atlanta Hawks appear to have gone through some leadership growing pains with their best player, the Los Angeles Lakers are hot, while the Utah Jazz are not.

Here’s what’s happening around the NBA right now.

Leadership issues in Atlanta?

The Atlanta Hawks have enjoyed a fairly successful season so far.

Sitting in a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 13-11 record and blessed with one of the most dynamic backcourts in the NBA led by the starting duo of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, the Hawks look to have a bright future.

The talent looks to be there for Atlanta to become a perennial power in the East, but there appears to be something that could hold back the Hawks from reaching their true potential.

Young missed Atlanta’s game Friday after a reported disagreement between him and head coach Nate McMillan. The Hawks listed his absence on the injury report as a shoulder issue, but it created a bit of a stir in Atlanta with both Young and McMillan forced to take questions about the matter in the aftermath.

Young ended up playing the Hawks’ next game on Monday as Atlanta fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-114. The team is attempting to move forward hoping this was just a small bump in the road, but the optics of the situation don’t look right.

Young is Atlanta’s starting point guard and best player. In his fifth season with the club, he should understand there should be more accountability for things he does and says — something that, if you’re a Hawks fan, you would hope he has learned about more from this incident.

If Atlanta is going to take another step as a contender, Young will have to grow as a leader. This could be an important step in his development in that area.

Are the Lakers contenders again?

The Los Angeles Lakers have won eight of their last 11 games, putting up 117.2 points per 100 possessions while giving up just 110.8 points per 100 possessions.

Put another way, the Lakers have played very well over their last 11 contests and it’s largely thanks to the play of Anthony Davis, who has been averaging 31.9 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game on 64.8/45.5/86.3 per cent shooting splits during this time period.

Los Angeles has seen poor competition during this stretch, playing the San Antonio Spurs three times, but can claim victories over the likes of the Portland Trail Blazers and Milwaukee Bucks as well, giving legitimacy to this Lakers turnaround.

The Lakers sit 10-13 and given how little separation there is around the league it’s not out of the question to see them continuing to climb up the standings. However, in order for this to happen, Davis must remain healthy. The star centre left Tuesday’s game in Cleveland after playing just eight minutes with flu-like symptoms and will miss Wednesday’s contest in Toronto against the Raptors.

LeBron James (left ankle soreness) also will be out versus Toronto.

Jazz in decline

As the season started, the Utah Jazz were among the most pleasant surprises in the league, jumping out to a 10-3 mark as they leapt to the top of the Western Conference. Since then, though, they’ve won just four times and have plummeted down the standings to ninth place.

The dropoff Utah’s experienced isn’t all that shocking considering the fire sale the club held in the off-season with the expectation that this would be a rebuilding year, but considering how well the Jazz played to begin the campaign, the fall is a bit jarring.

The reason for this poor play is obvious when comparing one stat between the team’s first 13 games and its last 13.

During Utah’s 10-3 start, it boasted a defensive rating of 109.7. In its last 13, however, the Jazz have been giving up 117.6 points per 100 possessions. When you consider the team has consistently been putting up around 116 points per 100 possessions, the defensive struggles loom large.

New Jazz head coach Will Hardy has implemented new systems on both offence and defence. Clearly his offensive system is working but while there was early success with his defence to begin the season, it looks like it’s already being figured out. An adjustment should be made.

Unless, of course, the adjustment was made and the Jazz are now playing the way they always were supposed to, considering the talent to be had at the top of the 2023 draft.

Nike drops Kyrie

Finally, in news that was very unsurprising, Nike has officially parted ways with Kyrie Irving a month after it merely suspended its partnership with the Brooklyn Nets guard in the aftermath of him tweeting a link to a film containing antisemitic material.

Irving is now free to sign with another sports apparel brand, but considering the controversy he invites, it’s difficult to see him securing another shoe deal any time soon.

That said, his signature sneaker was a popular seller for Nike, so if he can keep his focus with the Nets on the court and avoid making headlines for the wrong reasons, you can never say never — even if that does feel very wrong.

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lakers NBA Notebook: Does recent success make Lakers consider a trade? Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:27:10 EST Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:27:12 EST Steven Loung The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly still believe they can make a deal to turn things around, Kemba Walker is now with the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs look like they’re gunning for another generationally talented big man.

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The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly still believe they can make a deal to turn things around, Kemba Walker is now with the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs look like they’re gunning for another generationally talented big man.

Here’s a look at what’s happening around the NBA right now.

Does a Lakers-Pacers trade still make any sense for either side?

The Los Angeles Lakers blew a 17-point lead fall to the Indiana Pacers 116-115 Monday night on an Andrew Nembhard buzzer-beating three-pointer.

The loss halted a small two-game win streak the Lakers were on, but, overall, the team has been playing better of late, having lost just twice out of their last seven games. Still, though, L.A. only sports a 7-12 record in a tie for 12th place in the Western Conference.

Hence why Monday’s game against Indiana was so intriguing. Since the off-season, the Lakers and Pacers have been reportedly connected in trade discussions with the idea that Los Angeles would look to acquire Myles Turner and Buddy Hield from Indiana for a package that would include Russell Westbrook and draft assets.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that L.A. actually backed away from such a deal in the off-season, though, saying that the Lakers believe they will be able to revisit the trade later in the season, in addition to having more options in a trade elsewhere from Dec. 15 onwards (when players who signed off-season contracts become trade eligible).

According to McMenamin’s report, there’s belief in the Lakers locker room that they’re only a couple of pieces away from turning their season around and becoming a title contender.

Belief in a locker room is never a bad thing, but it’s hard to think that Los Angeles’ front office might still think they could make a deal with Indiana anymore given the Pacers’ success this season.

While adding additional shooting and rim protection in the form of Hield and Turner makes sense for the Lakers, if you’re Indiana, why would you want to give up these pieces – especially for a deal that would see Westbrook coming back and might mess up the backcourt rotation that the Pacers have figured out between Tyrese Haliburton, Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin that is clearly working.

Yes, Westbrook has played a lot better since being converted into a sixth man for the Lakers, but that doesn’t mean he would work in that role everywhere else.

The bottom line is that the Pacers and Lakers and trending in different directions, and the pieces that many thought would be available in Indiana likely aren’t anymore because this is a team that, to the surprise of just about everyone in the league, looks legitimately good and has its sights set on a top three spot in the East now instead of trying to collect draft assets in a rebuild.

Kemba Walker is a Maverick, but Luka still probably needs a lot more help

The Dallas Mavericks are getting some reinforcements in the form of former four-time all-star guard Kemba Walker.

Though at the age of 32 and having gone through some tough injury luck, Walker still looks like a decent low-risk, possibly-high-reward pickup for the Mavs as he was signed by Dallas on a non-guaranteed deal after he was waived by the Detroit Pistons before this season began.

In theory, Walker will add additional ball-handling, playmaking, shot creation and scoring to help with some of the load that Luka Doncic must take on in those departments – kind of like what Jalen Brunson did a season ago.

The problem, though, is that Walker now isn’t the player he once was and isn’t who Brunson is now. Bringing in Walker looks like an act of desperation from the Mavs because they failed to re-sign Brunson, who was an excellent complement to Doncic.

Dallas appears to be in a similar situation to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the mid-to-late 2000s when they had a young LeBron James. When you have the best young player in the world on your roster, flaws in it are easily corrected because of said superstar’s inherent abilities, but when you look around at the supporting cast – the likes of Anderson Varejao, Larry Hughes and Daniel Gibson with James and Christian Wood, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kemba Walker with Doncic – it becomes apparent that there probably isn’t enough support there.

Put another way, for all the MVP talk surrounding Doncic, the Mavericks are only 10-10 in 10th place in the West. He needs more help.

How the Celtics have become an historically great offensive team

The Boston Celtics are playing the best offence the league has ever seen, putting up 120.9 points per 100 possessions, a mark that would trump the Brooklyn Nets’ 118.3 points per 100 possessions mark they set during the 72-game 2020-21 season be more than two full points per 100 possessions.

It’s a staggering a figure and, while conventional logic says the C’s will eventually slow down, given the way they’re going about this historic attack there should be belief they can keep up for a full 82 games.

As Bobby Manning of CelticsBlog has pointed out, interim head coach Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics have built on the foundation that Ime Udoka put in place last season, creating an offence built on reads the players make on the floor.

It was originally designed to open up the playmaking potential for players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but it’s now expanded to the entire team, leading to guys like Marcus Smart – who converted into a point guard full time last season – and Derrick White into becoming smarter, more dangerous shot creators for others as well.

This combined with the addition of Malcolm Brogdon running the second unit has turned the Celtics into a nigh-impossible team to guard because they don’t really run set plays. Everything is a matter of reading and reacting, which is much more difficult to prepare for if you’re an opposing team’s coaching staff.

This juggernaut Boston offence has catapulted the Celtics to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, despite the team playing only a middling defence.

The Spurs are making a real run towards the bottom

In Wemby Watch news, the San Antonio Spurs are making some real strides towards the bottom of the standings having lost eight straight and 13 of their last 14 games after beginning the season 5-2.

This plummet towards the bottom now has them just a half-game back (ahead?) from a bottom-three spot in the league, which gives them the best odds at landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft (14 per cent chance).

Given where the Spurs are, this makes a ton of sense to do, particularly when you think of all the success the team’s had before in draft years when generational-looking big men are up for grabs.

With that said, though, what of the ultimate status of Gregg Popovich? He’s in the final year of a three-year contract and there hasn’t been any word about an extension yet.

At 73 years old, five NBA titles, three coach of the year awards and the most coaching wins in NBA history, there really isn’t anything left for Popovich left to do, so this could very well be his last season coaching, and gifting the Spurs a shot at Victor Wembanyama would be a hell of a parting gift.

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Jose Luis Villegas/AP simmons_ben1280 NBA Notebook: Nets’ Simmons finally returns to Philadelphia Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:04:18 EST Tue, 22 Nov 2022 17:46:59 EST Steven Loung A rash of injuries to notable players around the league has been dominating headlines, a scoring burst from an unlikely source may have you re-evaluating what’s possible for the Nets, and the Kings might actually be good this season.

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A rash of injuries to notable players around the league has been dominating headlines, a scoring burst from an unlikely source may have you re-evaluating what’s possible for the Nets, and the Kings might actually be good this season.

Here’s what’s buzzing around the NBA right now.

Can the Nets turn this thing around?

After about two and a half years, Ben Simmons will play basketball again in Philly Tuesday evening, when the Brooklyn Nets visit the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons says he knows what to expect given the fact he never truly endeared himself to the Sixers faithful and his absence from the team – because of injury and otherwise – only cemented the disdain the fanbase has for him.

The boos will rain down on him steadily, but considering the way he’s played lately, there’s a chance Simmons will get to silence his former team’s passionate supporters.

Simmons has reached double-digit scoring in each of his last three games, including a 22-point outburst in Brooklyn’s 127-115 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, the first time Simmons has reached at least 20 points in scoring since he was a 76er in the playoffs against the Washington Wizards on May 26, 2021.

For an all-star calibre player like Simmons is, reaching 20 points doesn’t seem all that impressive, but his health problems (both physically and mentally) have appeared to rob him of his offensive skills, something that now could be on the verge of correcting itself.

If whatever block that was holding back Simmons’ game is now getting cleared up, it could be massive for the Nets. Simmons has scored 11, 15 and 22 points respectively in Brooklyn’s last three contests, shooting 22-for-26 from the floor, with 26 rebounds and 15 assists combined as the Nets have gone 2-1.

Kevin Durant remains as lethal as ever, averaging 30.4 points per game on 53.1 per cent shooting from the floor. The addition of a possibly revitalized Simmons would certainly raise the ceiling of a Nets team that’s sitting on an 8-9 record in 10th place in the East at the moment.

Simmons looking like he may have rediscovered his old form in addition to the return of Kyrie Irving – who has apparently done enough after his suspension from the team for posting a link to an antisemitic film – might allow Brooklyn to salvage what was looking like a lost season.

Injury news dominating the NBA

An unfortunately common thread just about a quarter-way through this NBA season has been the amount of injuries that we’ve seen piled up across the league to key players.

The Sixers have their three best players – Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey – all out, and the Toronto Raptors look to only have Fred VanVleet and O.G. Anunoby available to play now with the amount of injuries they’ve sustained.

Further, stars across the league such as LeBron James, Anthony Davis, LaMelo Ball, Paul George, Ja Morant, Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Mike Conley and Bradley Beal are all banged up and may or may not play their next games, respectively.

This is a bad look for a professional sports league that markets its stars greater than any other in the world.

Of course, there isn’t too much the league can do about this. Injuries do just happen. There are even larger gaps in the schedule for teams this season to try to help prevent this from happening, but the injury bug has still ravaged the league.

The argument will always be there to reduce the length of the regular season from 82 to try to ensure that the best product is always hitting the floor, but that’s a difficult conversation to have since it’s been established for so long already.

Something the NBA might want to reconsider, though, in light of all the injuries this season, is the mid-season tournament that’s supposedly projected to come to the league next season. Such an event would likely only add more games – or at least more high-impact games – to an already long, gruelling marathon of a regular season and post-season.

What is it about John Collins that the Hawks don’t like?

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly shopping John Collins – again.

A prescient question regarding this: Why?

Collins is in the midst of his worst season since his rookie year, but he’s still averaging 12.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game on 49.7 per cent shooting as he and the rest of the Hawks adjust to having Dejounte Murray on the team.

For his career, Collins has averaged 16.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest on 55.7 per cent shooting, meaning while he’s down now, odds are he’ll pick it up. Which is why it’s so confusing why the Hawks would want to trade him.

Collins is still only 25 years old and is one of the better roll threats in the league. His game pairs well with creative ballhandlers and passers like Trae Young and Murray and the Hawks’ 10-7 record to begin the season is thanks in part to contributions from him.

Collins is a solid player. Unless Atlanta’s getting back something comparable to him in exchange in a trade it seems bizarre that it wants to deal him. Then again, this isn’t the first time Collins’ name has been bandied about in trade rumours over the years.

There might just be something the Hawks don’t like about him, personally.

Return of the Kings

The Sacramento Kings are the hottest team in the NBA, having won six games straight as they’ve shot up the Western Conference standings, now sitting in fifth place.

This might seems like an early-season fluke, but when you consider the fact the Kings boast the league’s best offence, putting up 118.6 points per 100 possessions and boast the seventh-best net rating in the NBA, you have to consider that this is more than just a flash in the pan – despite being one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

The Kings are getting it done thanks in part to the off-season focus to add shooting in the form of a trade for Kevin Huerter from the Hawks, the free-agent acquisition of Malik Monk and the drafting of Keegan Murray No. 4 overall, complementing the playmaking skills of De’Aaron Fox and inside bruising from Domantas Sabonis.

Fox was recently named Western Conference Player of the Week as having an army of shooters to kick out to from his penetration has made him one of the most unstoppable players in the league this season.

Sacramento’s front office deserves praise for the job it did re-tooling the Kings into what they are today, especially after it was criticized for it’s trade-deadline deals last season, moving a package that included Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to the Indiana Pacers as it brought in a package highlighted by Sabonis.

The trade, as it turns out, has worked out for both sides. Sabonis has been an excellent screen partner with Fox as the Kings have turned their fortunes around this season and Haliburton, who was just named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, looks like a budding star with the Pacers who are sitting in fourth place in the East.

Both the Kings and Pacers have looked to have emerged as winners of that deadline deal.

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