This story and so much more sneaker coverage is included in latest issue of SLAM KICKS 27. Grab your copy now.

First Team

DeMar DeRozan

No one else has the range that DeMar possesses when it comes to Kobes. This has been firmly established, especially on our page. And if we’re being real, DeMar’s collection on its own is enough to make this list year after year. The 1s, 6s and 9s all made their expected appearances, but it was seeing the Kobe 10 Elite HTM and the return of the Kobe A.D. from his Spurs days that cemented his status, yet again.

P.J. Tucker

In a reality where the grails of 10 years ago are being re-released every few months, P.J. Tucker remains pulling up to arenas with unspeakable colorways in tow. Nike KD 4 samples and Off-White Kobe customs should paint the range that the man displayed night after night. 

Devin Booker

A storyteller, a tastemaker and a sneaker historian. Devin Booker proved to be all those and more with the debut of his first signature sneaker. Colorways honored the Beaverton brand’s past icons and Booker’s own memories. Appearances were mapped out with a thematic-level of care. Documented and televised, the Nike Book 1 not only laid the foundation for Booker’s line, it set the standard mad high. 

Stephen Curry

When you’ve spent 11 years with one brand like Stephen Curry has, you get to dip back into the archives as much as you want to. Especially when all of your models have been updated so you’re floating on Flow cushioning. From headlining the Curry 11 to the Anatomix Spawn FloTro and the Curry 4 FloTro, the 2023-24 season saw the best shooter on the planet merge the stories of today with the silhouettes of years past.

Tyrese Maxey

The tides of opportunity turned to Tyrese Maxey all season long as the 76ers point guard of the future. But it was his diverse rotation of New Balance TWO WXY v4 colorways that cemented Mad Max’s first-ever First Team selection. From dollar bills with his face to revealing his own logo, the Boston brand isn’t pulling any punches with the rising star.

SECOND TEAM

LeBron James

The LeBron 21 got funky when it came to colorways. Shaggy suedes, pearlescent oranges, glossy metallics; even a second layer to the silhouette was revealed in clad grey. The extent of the experimentation culminated in the return of Deion Sanders’ Nike Air DT Max ’96, revealing a hybrid sneaker slashed by the football trainer’s iconic claw marks. The sandbox remains full of opportunity.

Paul George

When one door closes, another opens. In Paul George’s case, at least a dozen did. A stream of Kobe 4s, 8s, PG 1s and 2s all flowed through in his second season removed from his signature deal with Nike. And if you thought we saw the “Philly” Kobe 4 a lot last year, just wait until 2024-25 season.

Malik Monk

When you have an arsenal of Kobes like Malik Monk, balance might be the last thing on your mind. But the Kings guard has proven to be tasteful in his on-court output, shifting between his own PEs, original colorways and the recently updated run of Protros without leaning too far one way or the other. 

Jayson Tatum

From “Taco Jay” and flavored lemonades to wavy denim treatments, Jayson Tatum already has a thoroughly thought-out roster of colorways. The Jordan Tatum 2 extended the efforts of his first signature and established a lengthy connection to the brand’s wider athletes, from the WNBA to the League’s rising stars.

Trey Lyles

Let’s be real, no other big man in the L is putting it on like Trey Lyles. The Kobe aficionado has been well recorded on our socials and his collection of 4s through 9s remained in peak form this season. Toss in a duo of Yeezy and Mambacurial-inspired customs and you’ve got a second-straight Second Team selection for the Sacramento forward. 

MVP: P.J. Tucker

We’ve been over it before and we’ll say it again, P.J. Tucker is not the sneaker king, but he is the MVP of the 2023-24 SLAM KICKS Awards. Kicking it in the Nike Kobe 3 and Mookie Betts’ Air Jordan 11 PEs puts him in a tier of his own. But it’s the stories behind the likes of his own Nike Air Flight ’89 and exclusive Nike Book 1 colorways that remain at the heart of P.J.’s continued sneaker excellence. 

Most Improved Player: Devin Booker

After years featuring an assortment of sleek, Suns-appropriate Kobe PEs, Devin Booker was handed the keys to his own signature series. He’s not just the face of the silhouette, he spearheaded every part of the process, from its shape and color blocking to the eventual releases. An exclusive rotation of orange, black, purples and greys shifted to reach every corner of the color palette as tasteful colorways arrived in droves from October to April.

Rookie of the Year: Victor Wembanyama

The Nike Air Zoom GT Run was Wemby’s running mate all season long. Block after block, one jaw-dropping display of indescribable basketball artistry after another, the alien moniker has become more than fitting. Self-drawn extraterrestrial doodles served as his stamp of expression until the arrival of his own GT Hustle colorway at NBA All-Star Weekend. Sporting a sea of galactic imagery, the Swoosh doubled down with the reveal of Wemby’s own logo chiseled into a corn field. If anything, this is just the beginning of Wemby’s ascension in the sneaker space.  

Photos via Getty Images.

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Our minds change when we travel. Being given time and space to think while up in the air allows ideas to form. The shifting time zones and landscapes brings wondrous feelings of inspiration. In these busy, busy days, we sit in our seats, look out or look up, and our minds wander. We’re blessed to have physical transportation further our emotional transformations. Journeys to different places make us into different people. Creativity flows and new art emerges. 

With all these years of adventuring, P.J. discovered a way to communicate his long-winding story. 

The “Sky Blue” Nike Air Flight ’89 is inspired by the countless flights that he’s taken. “Flight PJ17” is on the heel because this specific colorway takes its cue from the Boeing 777-300er that flies through the heavenly blue sky where metamorphosis occurs on the daily. P.J. took it even further by only making 472 pairs of these, a direct callback to the exact number of seats on a 777-300er. 

P.J. knows all about the sky, just like he knows all about sneakers. Picking the Air Flight ’89 for this colorway illustrates just how much he cares about staying true to his passion of rocking kicks that he personally loves. With a massive supply of more popular silhouettes at his disposal, he went with a deep cut—straight from the feet of Scottie Pippen. 

Originally known as the Nike Air Flight Low, this silhouette dropped back in 1989. Some will say it’s related to the Air Jordan IV because of its nearly-identical outsole and lace-locking system. Also, Tinker Hatfield (no stranger to long flights either) designed this pair, as he did the AJIV. But whether or not it’s actually related to the IV, it goes down as a important piece of Nike Basketball lore. Full-grain leather sits on the upper, while an encapsulated forefoot Air unit and a visible heel Air unit cushioned Pip’s landings from those acrobatic forays to the skies of the Chicago Stadium. 

Back in August, we released P.J.’s KICKS 26 cover story. It’s an appropriate time to bring back this quote from him: “Sneakers help me emotionally through everything. Just the love for shoes keeps my mind off of a lot of bullshit that I could be thinking about and dealing with. The love and the job, especially now just because we got so much going on within sneakers, culture, fashion and everything. It’s something that gives my mind a break off of everything else that’s going on around me. And I think different people have different things in their lives that, over years, they kind of figure [themselves] out, you know, things that make you happy. You know, you build a garden in your backyard, whatever it is. Wednesday night bowling with your boys. Everybody has something, and sneakers [have] always been my kind of release of everything where it’s just natural and I just love it.”

The post Inside the Inspiration: P.J. Tucker x ‘Sky Blue’ Nike Air Flight ’89 appeared first on SLAM.

This story and so much more is featured in the latest issue of KICKS 26. Get your copy here.

First Team

P.J. Tucker

As sure as the sun rises in the eastern sky, P.J. Tucker is back on our First Team. There’s nobody in the League more versed, more versatile and more willing to play in any pair. He cemented himself long ago on this list, yet he keeps on proving himself over and over.

James Harden

James Harden is a fairly uncommon human being in general. He did, after all, help to rewrite the NBA rule book with his singular style of play. His seventh signature silhouette, the best of the 2022-23 campaign, is particularly exceptional. It’s got a funky shape, it’s got an upper that looks like a puffer jacket, it’s full of the best tech the Stripes has to offer and it had incredibly hard colorways throughout the season. 

DeMar DeRozan

It’s not a shot at P.J. to say with confidence that DeMar DeRozan has the best Kobe collection in the League. As has been printed in these pages many times, he’s played in every Nike Kobe silhouette throughout his career and continues to add Kobe PEs that look more like art pieces than sneakers to his collection.

Ja Morant

Before his signature sneaker debuted on Christmas Day 2022, Ja Morant had been hooping in high quality Kobes and original versions of the early Kyries. Then he stomped into the signature game with a handful of unique colorways. And because he moves differently than just about everybody in the League, there’ll be more originality in his future.

Stephen Curry

The best shooter ever had variety in 2022-23. Curry 10s, FloTros of the 1 and 2, some sprinkling of the 4 FloTro all got court time with No. 30. There aren’t many others who tell stories with their footwear like Stephen. His nonstop commitment to the underrated and underrepresented often gets communicated through his footwear. 

Second Team

LeBron James

Flavor after flavor after flavor. LeBron James’ 20th season will be remembered for the multitude of colorways he played in. Both the Nike LeBron 20 and the Nike LeBron NXXT Gen appeared under the bright lights in equally subtle and outrageous makeups, night after night. 

Paul George

Even though his signature line has wrapped up, Paul George didn’t miss a step. Each game brought a new chance for him to show off his unexpected appreciation for basketball sneakers, like, for example, wearing the “All-Star” Nike Kobe 6 while playing in the City of Angels. You get the connection?

Malik Monk

Malik Monk very much understands how to properly apply hues to footwear. All of his Kobe PEs, be it 5s or 6s, are consistently fire. None of them are really that similar, either. There’s a ton of variation from pair to pair, with browns and blues and purples and blacks and pinks
showing up throughout his stable. 

Trey Lyles

Look, let’s be honest here, yeah? Kobes are this generation’s Jordans. Trey Lyles has a stockpile of rare heat that he’s amassed over the years and most of them aren’t protros. He’s on this list because he consistently hoops in heavy hitters from the game’s most cherished line, oftentimes reminding people about pairs or colorways they’d previously forgotten. 

Jayson Tatum

Another visual storyteller, Jayson Tatum started the season with many versions of the Air Jordan 37 and Air Jordan 38 Low that let the public in on what matters most to him. Once ASW rolled around and he got to unveil his first signature with Jordan Brand, the storytelling door flew clean off the hinges. Tatum tells us a whole lot about himself without ever saying a word. 

MVP: P.J. Tucker

LeBron James only has four MVPs. Michael Jordan only has five MVPs. What in the hell is good with that? That’s not the truth. Both deserve a minimum of 10. In the context of basketball sneakers, P.J. Tucker is LeBron. He is MJ. In our pages, he will continue to get his shine until he hangs up his sneakers for good.

We’ve called him a lot of things over the years, like the Michael Jordan of wearing Jordans. We’ve compared his conquering of basketball footwear to passages in Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. Now that we’ve finally gotten him on the cover and had a chance to listen to him speak openly about sneakers, he’s the MVP because he loves it all more than anyone else. We hear you, P.J. 

Rookie of the Year: Jalen Williams

The list of Stripes silhouettes that Jalen Williams played in is mighty long. It includes the Harden Vol. 7s, Crazy 97s, Dame 5s, Top 10 2000s, D.O.N. 4s, Agent Gils, Harden Vol. 4s, D Rose 1.5s and Dame 8s. 

Williams maintained a steady rotation throughout the season, varied with many colors. He seems to be a student of the sneaker game. He joined the likes of Tracy McGrady, Nick Young and Jaylen Brown when he rocked mismatched adi joints. The young star popped out to All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City with one white Harden Vol. 7 and one pink Harden Vol. 7. His name will most definitely show up again in these pages next year.

Most Improved Player: Paul George

The Swoosh decided to end Paul George’s signature line at the PG6. It went out with a bang, concluding after the drop of his collab with Hot Wheels. 

The ending of one thing is the beginning of another. Freed up from being required to play in his latest signature model, PG hit the ground running by wearing Kobe 4s, Kobe 5s and Kobe 6s. He dug into the closet for the return of the PG1, the PG2 and the PG2.5. Strategically, he secured this spot when he played in the “Draft Day” Kobe 4s in Charlotte. That was a wakeup call signifying there was another knowledgeable sneakerhead ready to show out. 

LeagueFits Arrival Sneaker of the Year: Russell Westbrook

Michael Jordan’s retirement in 1998 gave the first class of Brand Jordan athletes the full sneaker spotlight. They were getting to play in retro colorways made just for them. Guys like Ray Allen, Derek Anderson, Vin Baker, Eddie Jones and Michael Finley are the reason every sneakerhead knows what PE (player exclusive) stands for. Retro PEs continued for the next couple of Jordan athlete generations, with guys like Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson gaining fame for their heat. 

But Jordan Brand changed up the overall thought process a few years back. Retro PEs are far more rare now. 

Their scarcity is why Russell Westbrook’s Air Jordan III colorway is getting the nod for the LeagueFits Arrival Sneaker of the Year. Seeing these IIIs in the wild is like seeing the Loch Ness Monster finally reveal itself. 

Best of the Brands:

Curry 10

adidas Harden Vol. 7

Jordan Tatum 1

New Balance TWO WXY v3

Nike LeBron 20

PUMA MB.02

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The post The 2022-23 KICKS Awards: First Team, MVP and MORE! appeared first on SLAM.

“My life always revolved around basketball since I gained my first thoughts,” P.J. Tucker says. “My mom put a ball in my hand at 3 or 4 years old. It was a Michael Jordan basketball goal with the backboard. I just remember being in Germany and playing and the joy that playing basketball has brought me for 34 or 35 years. If somebody could see it through my eyes, the love and joy for the game and everything that kinda revolves and shapes the game…The game has been my life since I can remember, and that love and joy for it—just playing basketball—would be so crystal clear to people of why I play like I play and why I do what I do.”

P.J. Tucker is not the Sneaker King.

P.J. Tucker is a basketball player who loves sneakers. But he is not defined by sneakers. 

He is defined by passion. 

P.J. Tucker loves basketball. He loves everything that comes with it, too. But he does not love all of it more than he loves the game of basketball. 

A scorching hot day at The Better Generation in Houston is the backdrop for Tucker’s long-overdue KICKS cover shoot. There is a big picture to capture here. TBG is the sneaker store he co-founded and co-owns with Brandon Davis. We’ve shut it down for the day so that a Bentley Continental GT V8 could roll into the store’s front yard. 

Tucker knows cars, planes and trains very well. He’s hooped all over the globe. The son of Raleigh, NC, has played for six NBA teams. Though he was the 35th overall pick in 2006, he didn’t find a steady job in the League until 2012. Those years in between were spent playing overseas. 

As a world traveler, he has many stories to tell. Much to his delight, we give him a task to sketch out the connection between stories, hoops and sneakers. P.J. excitedly maps out his basketball career by highlighting the sneakers he most associates with each stop on his worldwide tour. 

Raleigh, NC, Enloe High School Eagles, Class of ’03

“Space Jam” Air Jordan XI

“Ohhhhh, I got my ‘Space Jams’ on going to New Bern Cook Out. We have a game that night. After the game, we go to Sheryl’s where the party’s at. It’s a hair and barbershop school. The lady’s [who owns it] son is our age and he threw parties, and he threw them at his mom’s spot. And then afterward, we going to Cook Out on the way home. My order, back then, I was all about the grilled chicken tray. Cajun grilled chicken sandwich. Lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, cajun fries.”

Austin, TX, University of Texas Longhorns, 2003-06

Reebok S. Carter 

“I was coming with it in Austin. In Austin I’m rocking the Sean Carter Reeboks. ‘S. Dots’ with a polo and jeans on. Killing them. You know they was a [size] 40, bro. You know they was a 40 with a belt. We’re going to The Drink. The Drink is the spot, that’s the stomping ground. Me, Vince Young and the crew. Everybody knows the basketball players and football players were at The Drink. The line is around the corner. You’re not getting in. We walking straight in, straight to the upstairs and it’s shut down. It’s over. We ain’t dropping a dime. Behind the bar pouring, bro…that’s different. Hook ’em.”

Greektown, Toronto, Ontario, Toronto Raptors, 2006-07 

“Brown Crocodile” Nike Air Force 1 Low

“Toronto, we’re going to Cactus Club. Vibes. I got on the ‘Brown Crocodile’ Air Force 1s. Yes, I got those on for sure. 100 percent. 100 percent. Oh my God. I had just started getting NBA checks. Them joints was $1,500, bro, retail. $1,500? In ’06? Cactus Club is a vibe, bro. It’s a restaurant-turned-speakeasy type. It’s four levels, [with] a rooftop…The lights on, going crazy, going crazy. You getting me hype over here.” 

Broomfield, CO, Colorado 14ers [D-League], 2006-07

Nike Air Force 1 Low 

“I was rocking all white Air Force 1s and I took no good clothes. It was, like, team sweats. I was out of my body because I really, like…it was probably one of the lowest points of my life when they sent me down. Oh man, it was bad. My swag was at an all-time low in Broomfield, Colorado.”

Holon, Israel, Hapoel Holon Tigers, 2007-08

Nike Air Yeezy 1 & Nike Air Huarache 2K8

“Finals MVP, a championship. Knocked off Maccabi for the first time in 30 years. Going crazy. One of my favorite years—entirely—in my career, NBA included. Top three for sure. But that was 2007-08. You know what dropped in ’08? They came out in Tel Aviv. If you don’t know what they is, [in] 2008, Kanye West released a shoe. That’s all I can tell you. He released a shoe. Oh man. I got them in Tel Aviv, dog. In Tel Aviv. I got two colorways in Tel Aviv. I got the gray and the tan. That was a year, dog. Happiness, playing basketball again. Because Toronto was a total…Toronto tore me down, and Tel Aviv brought me right back. Back falling in love with the game because I was able to play [again]. I only played 17 games in Toronto. That’s why my number is 17. So, it was like Tel Aviv brought me life back. And then I didn’t realize how much fun I was going to have playing in Europe. And it was like, Oh yeah, this is it. Listen. Huarache ’08. Top five basketball shoes ever to me. The white/blue/green pair. Oh my God. That year I hooped in those all year.”

Donetsk, Ukraine, BC Donetsk Tigers, 2008-10

Louis Vuitton Jaspers 

“I got the Louis. They just came out. The all white on white, the black high top, the gray with the pink bottom. I got all three in Kiev, Ukraine. All three. Walked right in the store. They was just right there. I need a 12. LV 12. [They reply] One second. All three pair. Oh my God. Mind you, I’m paying a lot more because the euro was kicking the shit out of the dollar back then. So we used to get paid and be like, Yo, give me some euros and…ah, it was bad. But it didn’t matter. They had all three in store. It was crazy. By myself. In Ukraine they speak no English. I had a translator that was with me, like, 80 percent of the time that the team paid for because nobody spoke English. And a driver and all that. But sometimes we landed in a city, like, good cities, I just dip out, all the good cities, and go shopping. It’s what I do. That’s like prime [Kobe] because Ukraine was Kobe 3 and 4. Ukraine was all Kobe for me. It was nothing else. Like, iDs crazy. Those were the years of iD crazy. And this is the most money I’ve ever made. I’m getting, like, $800,000 a year tax free. We’re going crazy. So I’m buying 10 pair of iDs at a time. You got nothing to do in Ukraine, so I’m just on my laptop making iDs, sending them to my mom’s house. My mom boxing them up, putting my cereal boxes [in them], my little stuff for me to eat and sending boxes at a time. Oh, the care packages are footwear. The food is additional. Throw some Cinnamon Toast Crunch in there for me, you know what I’m saying?”

Herzliya, Israel, Bnei Herzliya Basket, 2010

Nike Kobe 4

“Herzliya is crazy. We’re going to Herzliya Mall. Herzliya is on the water. They got the mall on the water. The mall is literally on the beach. Incredible. They had a Nike Store. You already know…”

Thessaloniki, Greece, Aris Basketball Club, 2010-11

Nike Kobe 5 

“Me and Bobby Brown used to go crazy at Thessaloniki. Kobe 5 year for sure. We had the all gold uniforms and that year the white/gold/black 5s [came out]. Had about 20 pairs of those. And just ran through those. Ran through ’em. Because everywhere you go, you gotta think, like, we got to Athens, Go to Nike Store. They got stores here? We go to the store. They got my size, I’m buying it every time. That way you can have them on time. Playing in your league, like, playing in Barcelona, Moscow. Nike stores. All these prime Kobe years, though, are the easiest because…making all those iDs to match the uniforms, shit used to be fun.”

Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, Piratas de Quebradillas, 2011

Nike Air Force 1 Low 

“We’re going to Isabella Beach. That was heavy Air Force 1. Puerto Rico, my Air Force 1 game there was crazy. Every day, Air Forced out. I’ve always been a big, big Air Force 1 [fan]. Where I’m from, that’s, like, the No. 1 shoe. You know the beach, all white on whites. It was a clean, fresh pair. That was all about that.”

Montegranaro, Italy, Sutor Basket Montegranaro, 2011

Nike Kobe 5 

“All Kobe. Italy was all Kobe.”

Bamberg, Germany, Brose Bamberg, 2011-12

Nike Kobe 8 

“Alright, so Bamberg is Kobe 8 and I would say my No. 1 Kobe. Crazy, because at the time I thought the 8 was the best ever. I just went crazy with the Kobe 8. And our colors were red, gray, black and white. And the Kobe 8 was just so perfect for the iD, dog. We just went insane with those. When I think of that, other than winning MVP, winning championships and doing all that, it was like, yo, the Kobes that year were insane. Playing in EuroLeague that year, everybody was wearing Kobe 8s, bro. Even when I look at pictures from back then, everybody was wearing Kobe 8s. It was like Kobe took over the world that year with that shoe.”

Phoenix, AZ, Phoenix Suns, 2012-17

“Olympic” Air Jordan VI and Amar’e Stoudemire Nike Air Max2 CB ’94 PE 

“[I always ate at] Matt’s Big Breakfast during the season in Phoenix. I was wearing a lot of heat during that time. That was the first big multi-year deal I signed. That was, like, filling in the blanks in my collection. I started getting a lot of stuff I wanted that I didn’t have. I just started going crazy. There was a store in Phoenix that was unbelievable during that time. Pound For Pound. Jay [Gaspar] had a pair that he had signed for him. And I was like, Jay—Jay is the equipment manager for Phoenix. He’s been there since he was, like, 6 years old. He was a ball boy at 6. He’s an OG equipment manager. One of my favorite people in the world. He’s the best. And he has Shaqs, Steve Nashs… And he has these white, gray and orange [Barkleys]. Ah, they’re beautiful. With the S.T.A.T. on the side. So that was a mission of mine to find those and I did. And the black, purple and orange. And the all-purple.”

Milwaukee, WI, Milwaukee Bucks, 2021

Nike Boots and Timberlands 

“Nah, listen, Steny’s was the spot [where I hung out]. And they’re big, big Milwaukee-everything fans. Milwaukee’s a bar town so all those kinda dive bars, local people go there every day for their drink after work. It’s that vibe of Milwaukee and why the love of Milwaukee is so crazy. Because these people are like, if they love you, they love you. I can’t buy a drink there. And you know the wild part, when I go back, I’ll sneak in and just surprise everybody. Like, all the locals, the people that go there every day. And it’s still, like, same shit. It’s dope.”

Miami, FL, Miami Heat, 2021-22

Nike Air Max 1 

“Here we go, here we go! I’m wearing heat in Miami. I’m wearing runners a lot in Miami. That’s just kinda the vibe. The Air Max 98 or 95 with my little Nike running sets. It’s so hot and chill. That’s just the everyday kinda uniform. Tank top, running shorts, Air Maxes. That’s just my everyday there. Air Max 1s. I would say Air Max 1s because that’s my favorite Air Max ever, and I wore Air Max 1s to death in Miami.”

Philadelphia, PA, Philadelphia 76ers, 2022-23

Air Jordan I 

“In Philly I wore a lot of Jordan Is, like, the normal brown Travis. I got a pair of ’85s and ’94s that I wear, the ones I wear wear. ‘Chicagos’ and ‘Breds’ both. And they’re my go-to pairs. Every time I wear those shoes, I wear those pairs. Even though I got a lot of ’85s and ’94s. They’re broken in perfect. They’re super comfortable. They’re, like, molded to my feet. They’re my shoes. They’re super worn down, but they look good.”

The Better Generation is shaped like a container. It’s a wide and narrow store. Walk in through the front door, turn left and P.J.’s section comes to life. A floor-to-ceiling display case of his Sixers jersey, game-worns and Kobe-signed pairs are the greeting. An impressively extensive collection of clothing follows. Two little seating pods close it out, resting underneath a “17” made out of moss. 

Seated under the 17, Tucker is fully engaged. He’s talking sneakers in a way that he doesn’t often get to talk sneakers. His high level of animation is a welcome surprise. He’s having a good time. Why doesn’t he share this side of himself more often?

“It’s not that many that [have] really, really been in it and been doing it and really understand it,” he says. “I almost tell them I don’t want to talk about shoes anymore because they don’t know. People don’t know, right? I’m not mad at them, I’m just tired of answering the same questions. Sneaker King, how are you—blah. Like, bro, you have no idea what any of this is about.”

He details how there are so many people out there who view him as the “Sneaker King.” They only know one thing about him. There’s much more to him than sneakers. It’s a constant in his life he can’t escape. People expect the anointed Sneaker King to behave a certain way. He doesn’t wear sneakers for the public’s approval, though. He does it out of the love that’s been mentioned. That love is threatened at all times by the uninitiated. His work to protect the pure nature of his passion is a daily commitment. 

“It gets ruined a lot,” Tucker says about his passion for sneakers. “There’s other things that bring it back. This [conversation] is bringing it back, 1000 percent. This is making me go back and think about my original love and why I do it and how it came to be. But even still, there are so many other things that tear it down and all the people that don’t really love it. They just kill it and destroy it. But that’s what makes me keep going, too. Regardless, I can’t let them take the shine away from what we love. All the things that make it what it is. It’s like, fuck that.”

He rolled up to this shoot with approximately 30 pairs in two giant bags, including the famous 24-pair holder that longtime followers of P.J. will know. Time unfortunately ran out and not every pair could be photographed. They were all hitters. Every single pair. Hype and resell value all through the roof. That’s not the best part. The best part is that all of them were worn. Every outsole showed clear signs of wear. And this is some stuff that’s so nice that it’s actually dumb. Dumb nice. Stupid nice. Crazy nice. 

“Kyle’s Wedding” Kobe 4s. “Board of Governors” XVIs. “Cactus Jack” IVs. “Pigeon” Dunk Lows. The Mags on the cover. Dumb, stupid, crazy nice pairs that 99 percent of people would never even put down on a carpeted floor in their own house. But Tucker wears all of them. He wears many more, too. He spent a few minutes during the shoot showing off photos that aren’t part of his Getty Images history, flicks from his days overseas. In real time, when the most hyped-up pairs of Kobe 4s-8s were getting released, he was playing in them. He wasn’t holding them for later. He was making memories with them on his feet. Even while at Texas, there are photos of him hooping in Air Jordan XIVs, Nike Air Penny 4s and Air Jordan IIIs.

Footwear has always been about memories and stories for Tucker. He doesn’t chase hype. He chases the indescribable feeling that sneakers give him. 

“It means something,” he says. “It puts you in a place and a time. And it gives you that feeling. And that feeling, like, there is nothing like that. 

“I can’t,” he responds when asked to verbalize the sensation. “It’s hard to put that feeling into words. It’s one of those things that only you know in your heart, like, how that shit makes you feel. No one else will ever understand it.”

KICKS 26 is OUT NOW!

He’s been communicating with everyone for years. What he’s saying in this interview has been said without speaking many times before. There’s another layer he mentioned about people not understanding him for who he is. Eagle-eyed Instagram followers will see beyond the sneakers and the cars and notice that a majority of Tucker’s captions have to do with mental fortitude and emotional evolution. He’s on a journey of betterment and the sneakers are part of it. 

“Sneakers help me emotionally through everything,” Tucker says. “Just the love for shoes keeps my mind off of a lot of bullshit that I could be thinking about and dealing with. The love and the job, especially now just because we got so much going on within sneakers, culture, fashion and everything. It’s something that gives my mind a break off of everything else that’s going on around me. And I think different people have different things in their lives that, over years, they kind of figure [themselves] out, you know, things that make you happy. You know, you build a garden in your backyard, whatever it is. Wednesday night bowling with your boys. Everybody has something, and sneakers [have] always been my kind of release of everything where it’s just natural and I just love it.”

There is an intensely deep connection that Tucker feels with the game and with what surrounds the game, including sneakers. And then there’s basketball itself. 

Tucker’s career arc hasn’t been easy. He was a beast at Enloe High, a man playing against little boys. He averaged more than 16 points a game in his junior year at Texas. He was a scorer while he was on the way up the ranks. But then he had to switch it all up. Like he said, the Raptors humbled him as a young pro. When he went over to Europe, he was a scorer again. He was a Finals MVP, a champion, a go-to guy. The man. But his goal was to make it back to the NBA. Change was nonstop. He had to continue to adapt.

Always evolving. 

At this point in 2023, his reputation as an NBA player was set in stone a long time ago. It’s a beautiful role. The 38-year-old is the last of a breed that went extinct a long time ago. He will do whatever is needed to win. Nothing better illustrates his desire for glory than Game 6 of the 2021 Finals. He played 36 minutes of extremely physical hoops and only took one shot. But his effort didn’t diminish at all. He had the best plus-minus of anyone in that game. Defense, hustle, energy, heart—raw passion. Good luck finding anyone else in the League right now whose effort wouldn’t go down if they couldn’t shoot the ball. Passion is the only way that a performance like that is possible. 

“[Desire to win] kind of built, even though I’ve always been like that, it made it through the roof of honesty with myself,” Tucker says. “With the ‘humble, hungry,’ like, all that. But it’s more understanding self. Understanding success, what it takes to be successful and how much you’d rather win than have individual success. Then once you figure out that people care about winners and not actual people, then that changes your whole trajectory, too. Everybody wants to win, but everybody wants to win the way that they want to win. They want to win being the man. They want to win with everybody saying their name. They want to win with everybody showing their highlights on ESPN and their friends being all happy, that kind of thing. But who wants to just fucking win, right? Who is like, I just want to win! I want to stand at the top of the mountain no matter what my stats are, no matter what happens. It ain’t a lot. I’ll tell you that right now. And to change your whole shit to be one of those people to not really care, to not care…Just to win.”

He says that things started to click for him when he made it back home from his overseas adventures. 

“There, I was the man,” he says about playing abroad. “I’m the guy, right? But then that’s how I learned to be a role player in the NBA. From being the man in Europe, I learned to be a role player because I know what I needed. I know what I needed guys to do. In Israel, I had my boy Chris Watson. Every rebound, he’s running down 50-50 balls. I can count on him. I knew what I was going to get from him. But it’s the self reflection of I’m not him and I’m not trying to be him. I’m not trying to fight him for a position. I don’t want to be James Harden. I’m P.J. What do you need me to do for you to be successful for us to win? I’m P.J. and I’m fucking the best P.J. there is in this fucking game. And nobody can do what I do on a nightly basis.”

His playing style and his playing style are both completely unique. And passion for both games drives it all.

“My love for basketball created my love for sneakers,” Tucker says. “I didn’t just [say] like, Oh, I like shoes. My first pair of shoes ever was a pair of Jordan Is in ’85. That was my mom. I didn’t pick that. But I did watch Michael Jordan and fall in love with the game and love what he was wearing. Then from that it was like…boom.” 

Portraits by Atiba Jefferson.

The post P.J. Tucker is NOT The Sneaker King… He’s Much More appeared first on SLAM.

Crowder hasn’t played this season after he told the Suns he wanted out of Phoenix. Crowder is in the final year of his current deal.

“According to someone who has spoken to the Heat’s front office, the Heat remains interested in Jae Crowder, but only in a buyout situation, barring Phoenix shockingly taking a bad contract off Miami’s hands,” per Jackson.

The Heat is still looking to regain the identity that helped them make a run to the 2020 NBA Finals and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance against the Boston Celtics. As of Tuesday, Miami (20-18) has the seventh-best record in the East. They could use some depth at the forward position after P.J. Tucker left for the 76ers in free agency.

The Heat have also dealt with an avalanche of injuries to their core players.

When Crowder last played, he averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from the three-point line. Crowder has developed a reputation as a three-and-D wing that’s value due to his playoff experience and timely shooting.

Crowder last played for Miami during their run to the 2020 NBA Finals. His familiarity with their system could help negotiations if the Suns and Heat agree on a buyout. He appeared in 20 games that season and averaged 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 44.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The post REPORT: Miami Interested in Buying Out Jae Crowder appeared first on SLAM.

The former Kansas Jayhawk posted a career-high 59 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and seven blocks in 36 minutes to lead the 76ers to a 105-98 win over Utah. Embiid also scored 26 of Philly’s 27 points in the fourth quarter, plus five of his seven blocked shots over the final frame on 7-8 shooting from the field.

The only shot Embiid missed was a turnaround from three that Embiid admitted was a heat check after a brilliant fourth quarter of play.

59 POINTS FOR JOEL EMBIID.

He also had 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks. pic.twitter.com/qEnxTTrmCT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 14, 2022

Coach Doc Rivers, who’s coached or played in nearly 3,000 regular-season and playoff games, said he’s “never seen a more dominating performance” from a two-way perspective. Postgame, Embiid credited his teammates for feeding him the ball and his coaching staff for putting him in prime scoring positions.

“This is not about me,” Embiid said, per ESPN. “We did it as a team. Obviously, the coaches put me in those positions, and my teammates fed me the ball.

“I thought we had great spacing around everything we were doing — Like I said, all the credit goes to my teammates.”

Joel Embiid is up to 54 points tonight. 20 of the Sixers’ 22 in the 4th. (via @sixers) pic.twitter.com/t14wh4dexW

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 14, 2022

Embiid’s elite two-game stretch set the following records, according to ESPN:

• He became the first player with at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks in a game since blocks became an official stat in 1973-74.

• He became the first player to register at least 20 points and five blocks in a single quarter in the past 25 seasons.

• He became the first player to outscore both teams by himself in a fourth quarter (26-21) since Tracy McGrady in 2006.

• He became the fourth player — along with Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Bradley Beal — to score at least 100 points across a back-to-back since the NBA-ABA merger, and the first center to do so since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967.

Embiid’s teammates applauded his monstrous two-way performance. P.J. Tucker believes that Embiid’s effort on the defensive end was “bigger than all the points he scored.” Tyrese Maxey recalled that when Embiid really had it going, he told Rivers that the 76ers should simply “get the ball to (Embiid)” instead of running a pick-and-roll.

The 76ers have now won two games in a row and are looking to extend that win streak to three when they host the Bucks on Friday.

The post Doc Rivers on Joel Embiid’s ‘Dominating Performance’ Against Utah appeared first on SLAM.

While Vanderbilt has been productive on the glass and in the scoring department, his versatility and ability to defend multiple positions make Miami interested in the 23-year-old.

“They hoped to get Utah to give up Jarred Vanderbilt—they want defense at that spot,” said the executive to Heavy Sports.” They want to see what they have with guys like Caleb Martin, see how he handles that spot.”

Losing P.J. Tucker during the offseason was a significant loss for the Heat, and not bringing in any critical players on top of that did not help their case either. Tucker’s absence is starting to show after Miami opened up the campaign with a disappointing 2-5 record. 

Adding Vanderbilt to this struggling roster can work wonders, and it may just be what this team is missing. The young forward has even shown signs of his new and improved three-point shot, shooting it at a career-best 42.9 percent. Undoubtedly, he would adapt nicely alongside Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt, which operates mainly in the paint. Nevertheless, the Heat have time to make this call. The NBA trade deadline is on Feb.9.

Miami is back in action on Nov. 1 when they take on the defending champs, the Golden State Warriors.

The post REPORT: Miami Interested in Acquiring Jarred Vanderbilt appeared first on SLAM.

As the starting point guard of a 76ers team looking to feed MVP candidate Joel Embiid and as the mentor of a rising star in Tyrese Maxey, Harden will have a chance to dispel those misconceptions while looking to make Philly a championship contender. On Monday, Harden told The Athletic that he hadn’t been given the proper credit for taking a $14 million pay cut so that the 76ers could build a title-threat roster around him and Embiid.

“Nope, but guess what? I don’t care,” Harden said when asked, shaking his head for emphasis. “There’s like a stereotype (of Harden) where people always want to talk. People don’t really know me, so they feel like they can just say anything. One thing I won’t do is give them any attention. I won’t say anything, media-wise, publicly. I don’t care because I’m comfortable, and I’m confident in the things I do on and off the court.”

what’s @JHarden13 listening to?

wrong answers only! | @SociosUSA pic.twitter.com/jOhQZVr3fj

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 10, 2022

what’s @JHarden13 listening to?

wrong answers only! | @SociosUSA pic.twitter.com/jOhQZVr3fj

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 10, 2022

Harden called his new contract “the right decision not only for myself but our organization, giving us a really good chance of putting the right pieces together.” The 2018 MVP can opt out next summer and look for a bigger payday with the Sixers or leave.

Last season, Harden averaged 22.0 points (lowest since his third year in the League), 7.7 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game on 41.0 percent shooting from the field and 33.0 percent from deep, the worse of his career. His dip in scoring led to Embiid saying that this current version of Harden is “more of a playmaker.”

“You do things, handle business on the court and off the court, and the money will always come back,” Harden said. “So, I’m fortunate and blessed to be in the position I am, and I’ll just continue to be me.”

top of the three. pic.twitter.com/UHQKSIqv75

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 11, 2022

Coming off a rough regular-season and postseason, Harden’s choice to take a pay cut helped Philly acquire P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr. to their bench. The 76ers are now a deep team with a dangerous lineup headlined by Harden, Embiid, Maxey, and Tobias Harris. Embiid will be looking to exercise his MVP demons this season and could make a compelling case after losing the reward to back-to-back MVP winner Nikola Jokic.

“That’s what we’re going through right now,” said Harden, who finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes against Cleveland. “The world knows how dominant Joel is, how versatile Joel is, and I’m playing with a sense of not even scoring but making guys better, making guys’ jobs a lot easier. That’s what I’m here for, whether it’s Joel or Tyrese or Tobias or anybody on our team.”

The 76ers will open the season with a road game against the Boston Celtics.

The post James Harden Believes Signing Pay Cut Was ‘the Right Decision’ appeared first on SLAM.

During the 2022 free agency period, after former Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker opted-out of his player-option with Miami, he then, within just a few short minutes of being on the free agent market, had inked a three-way trade deal with the Sixers.

Tampering is something that the NBA does not tolerate, and teams found guilty of this action are either fined heavily or even end up losing future draft picks. The Sixers are not the only team this offseason to be investigated for tampering; the New York Knicks are also in the hot seat after the NBA announced they’d be looking at New York due to the circumstances surrounding their acquisition of Jalen Brunson before he officially signed with the Knicks.

At the recent NBA Board of Governor’s press conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver gave his thoughts and an update on both investigations.

“I think what prompted [the investigations] was sort of just the tick-tock chronology around sort of when the signings are permissible and the announcements of those signings and the information that came out about them,” Silver continued. “[That] was cause for the league office to investigate.”

Silver then wrapped up the topic by stating, “The statuses of those investigations are still ongoing,” and “Hopefully, they’ll be wrapped up in the next few weeks.”

The post NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Offers An Update On Free Agent Tampering Investigations appeared first on SLAM.

However, Coach Doc Rivers insists the team committed no sort of infraction. Rivers spoke with Vince Carter on ESPN’s “The VC Show” and addressed how he’s handling the allegations.

“You handle it because it’s not true,” Rivers said. “Honestly, when James [Harden] did this and said this — first of all, we didn’t know what we were going to do with the money we were getting. And listen, James won, too, because James could’ve opted into a one-year deal. Instead, we gave him three years. And so both parties won in a lot of ways. Listen, it worked out for us; it worked out for James.”

The League began investigating the Sixers after Harden took a pay cut to seemingly create salary cap space for Tucker and House Jr. Harden opted out of his $47.4 million player option and re-signed with Philadelphia on a two-year $68.6 million deal.

By re-structuring Harden’s deal, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was able to bring in Tucker and House Jr., both of whom played with Harden when Morey held the same position with the small-ball Houston Rockets.

Rivers claims Morey did not know what Harden’s status was regarding a new contract and never engaged in illegal talks with the 10-time All-Star.

“I guarantee you Daryl Morey had no idea what James was going to do,” Rivers said. “I remember talking to him on the eve of when James could opt in or out, and he was like, ‘We’ve got five hours left.’ I mean, that was Daryl Morey, so that tells you he had no idea — I really believed that James was not going to opt-in, that he was going to try to do a longer-term deal. But I didn’t know; I can tell you that. That’s for sure.”  

The League seems to be cracking down on tampering, as it is also investigating the New York Knicks for the same violation in the signing of former Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson.

The NBA’s investigation of the 76ers will likely conclude in the coming weeks, so only time will tell if Philadelphia will be penalized or not.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Doc Rivers Dismisses Tampering Allegation Against 76ers: ‘It’s Not True’ appeared first on SLAM.

Chris Haynes of YahooSports has reported that the NBA will open up an investigation on the Knicks for potential tampering. The belief is that the Knicks had contacted Brunson before the official start of the free agency period.

Brunson, who signed a four-year $104 million deal, was linked to the Knicks even before the playoffs had ended. Brunson had a breakout year, averaging a career-high 16.3 points and 4.8 assists on 50.2 percent shooting from the field. Brunson also averaged 21.6 points in the 18 playoff games he appeared in for Dallas.

Tim MacMahon had reported it was “widely anticipated” that the Knicks would offer Brunson a $100 million contract on June 28, two days before the NBA free agency had opened up.

The Knicks hired Jalen’s father, Rick Brunson, as an assistant coach under Tom Thibodeau’s staff this coming season. The League is also looking into the Sixers’ signing of P.J. Tucker and the re-signing of James Harden after he took a pay cut to remain with the team.

The post REPORT: NBA Investigating Knicks For Tampering of Jalen Brunson Signing appeared first on SLAM.

Harden was traded to the Sixers last year after he found the situation in Brooklyn not as ideal as he would have liked it to be. The transition to Philly has started well despite the team’s early exit into the playoffs. A full year as a 1-2 punch with Joel Embiid will be an interesting test to see how far the Harden-Embiid combo can take the 76ers.

“This is where I want to be. This is where I want to win, and I think we have the pieces to accomplish that goal,” said Harden via team statement. “From my first day with the 76ers organization, the team and the fans have helped me feel at home here in Philadelphia. I’m excited to build off of last season, and I can’t wait to get out on the court with the guys and start this journey.”

Following his trade from Brooklyn, James Harden spent the final 21 games of the 2021-22 season in Philadelphia, where he averaged 21.0 points and 10.5 assists on 40.2 percent shooting from the field. The Sixers would go 13-8 in the 21 games that Harden played with the team last year and went down in six games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Miami Heat.

The organization has mutual feelings with bringing Harden back, especially Sixers head coach Doc Rivers.

“I couldn’t be happier with James’ decision to commit to our organization,” Coach Doc Rivers said of Harden’s new deal via CBS. “Over the last two years, we have taken significant steps toward our ultimate goal of becoming champions.

The Sixers believe that Harden is the missing piece that can get them past the second round of the playoffs, something the team hasn’t done in 20 seasons. The Harden-Embiid pairing will now get an entire season together, and the Sixers hope that those two can one day deliver a championship to the organization.

The post James Harden On Re-Signing With the 76ers: ‘This Is Where I Want to Win’ appeared first on SLAM.

So far we have seen the Knicks land, Jalen Brunson, on a massive four-year deal, and Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns have re-signed to their teams on supermax deals. Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal will remain with the Bulls and Wizards respectively after signing max deals. Young All-Stars like Ja Morant, Darius Garland, and Zion Williamson have also signed max extensions with their teams.

The Warriors will also look to be putting a different bench mob on the court this coming season after they let Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., and Juan Toscano-Anderson walk away in free agency. The decision seems to imply that the Warriors will invest 100 percent into their win-and-develop model as they keep their championship core intact while empowering Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, and Moses Moody.

Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber is finalizing a three-year, $33 million contract extension, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Kleber was entering the final year of his deal, now under contract through 2025-26.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 8, 2022

Montrezl Harrell is headed to Philly after a tumultuous offseason where he dealt with some legal troubles surrounding marijuana trafficking that was later reduced to misdemeanor possession in a Madison County (KY) courthouse. The charge will be expunged from his record in 12 months if Harrell doesn’t get in any more legal trouble.

James Harden recruited Harrell due to their relationship as teammates on the Rockets. Harrell is expected to bring some toughness and grit to a Philly team that needed a backup big man behind two-time MVP runner-up Joel Embiid.

ESPN Sources: Free agent C Montrezl Harrell is signing two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, including a player option. Harrell brings more toughness to a team searching for it this offseason. He was Sixth Man of the Year with Doc Rivers/Sam Cassell in 2019-2020 w/ Clippers.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 6, 2022

Sources: The Toronto Raptors signed Thaddeus Young to a two-year, $17 million extension, which includes player incentive bonuses and a $1 million partial guarantee for the 2023-24 season, @hoopshype has learned.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 5, 2022

Gary Harris’ two-year extension with the Orlando Magic is flat $13M each season. The second season is fully non-guaranteed, a league source told @spotrac.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 5, 2022

Sumner is fully recovered from a torn left Achilles that cost him the entire 2021-2022 season. He had been coming off his best NBA season with the Pacers prior to the injury, and now he’ll join the Nets’ backcourt rotation. https://t.co/5HfzZmkDZN

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2022

Free agent TJ Warren has agreed to a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 5, 2022

Free agent center Gorgui Dieng has agreed to a one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 5, 2022

Cole Swider signed a two-year Two-Way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, a league source tells @spotrac.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 4, 2022

Free agent center Serge Ibaka has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2022

The Brooklyn Nets signed Wake Forest Alondes Williams to a 2-way deal.

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) July 4, 2022

Dragic is signing a one-year, $2.9M deal with the Bulls, sources said. https://t.co/f6VK9np1cf

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2022

Free agent Josh Okogie has agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2022

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has agreed on a five-year, $193 million designated maximum rookie extension that could earn him as much as $231 million, CAA Sports’ Co-Head of Basketball Austin Brown tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/z4lnVLD1GM

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

Restricted free agent Cody Martin has agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal to return to the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2022

Free agent G Eugene Omoruyi has agreed to a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, his agent Mike George of @OneLegacySports tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland has agreed on a five-year, $193M maximum designated rookie contract extension that could be worth as much as $231M, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. It is the largest deal in franchise history.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

Free agent guard Damion Lee has agreed to a one-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

Free agent Donte DiVincenzo has agreed to a two-year, $9.3M deal with the Golden State Warriors, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Free agent guard Raul Neto is signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

Free agent center Kevon Looney has agreed to a three-year, $25.5M deal to return to Golden State, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Free agent forward Derrick Jones Jr. has agreed to a two-year, $6.6 million deal to return to the Chicago Bulls, with player option in second season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

Free agent center Robin Lopez has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Free agent F/C Drew Eubanks is returning to the Portland Trail Blazers on a one-year deal, his agent James Dunleavy of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

John Wall officially agrees with the Clippers on a two-year deal for the taxpayer midlevel. https://t.co/5yCuV4cePg

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 1, 2022

Free agent C Jusuf Nurkic has agreed on a new four-year, $70 million deal to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6vmHrdOZI3

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

NBA All-Star Zach LaVine has agreed to a five-year, $215.2 million maximum contract to return to the Chicago Bulls, with a player option in Year 5, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

The defending champs lose another valuable two-way star after Otto Porter Jr. signed with the Raptors on a two-year deal that has a player option.

Free agent Otto Porter Jr. — vital member of Golden State Warriors championship team — reached an agreement with the Toronto Raptors on a two-year deal with a player option, league sources tell @YahooSports. https://t.co/ck81fptKZh

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2022

Free agent G Theo Pinson is returning to the Dallas Mavericks on a one-year deal, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Free agent Aaron Holiday has agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

Free agent center Mitchell Robinson has agreed on a new four-year, $60 million contract to stay with the New York Knicks, his agents Thad Foucher and Joe Smith of @Wassbasketball tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/dnKtVQmln9

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Bruce Brown has agreed to a 2-year, $13M+ deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN.

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) July 1, 2022

#Pistons to re-sign Marvin Bagley III, add Kevin Knox as free-agent frenzy begins: https://t.co/WVHahAmeKR

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) July 1, 2022

Ricky Rubio played an integral part in the Cavs’ resurgence to the playoff scene last season before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in December. Rubio was traded to the Pacers near the trade deadline but the Cavs and Rubio were mutually interested in bringing back the former lottery pick point guard.

Free agent guard Ricky Rubio is nearing a deal on a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Zion Williamson, the 2021 All-Star phenom, has locked in on signing a max extension deal with the Pelicans. Williamson missed all of the 2021-2022 season while he recovered from foot surgery. The deal keeps Williamson in New Orleans through 2027-28.

Williamson said after the season ended, “I couldn’t sign it fast enough.” Indeed, the All-Star locks in commitment to New Orleans.

The deal is expected to include protections that both sides were sorting through overnight and will finalize, sources said. https://t.co/n0hyRwRk9e

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

The Golden State Warriors lose one of their best and most versatile defenders after Gary Payton II decided to head towards playing for the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year deal. Payton led the League in steals per 36 minutes.

Warriors were unwilling to meet that high of a price tag (and resulting tax spike) for Gary Payton II and have now lost their defensive ace off the bench to the Blazers. He led the NBA in steals per 36 minutes last season. https://t.co/iaY6xmUrG7

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 1, 2022

Free agent center Andre Drummond is finalizing a deal with the Chicago Bulls, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

Free agent Kevin Knox has agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

Free agent Kevin Knox has agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

Free agent JaVale McGee has agreed to a three-year, $20.1 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks, with player option for third season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Ja Morant is locked in with the Grizzlies after his agent told Woj that he signed a five-year max extension to lead Memphis as its lead guard for the foreseeable future.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has agreed on a five-year, $193M designated rookie maximum extension that could become worth $231M, his agent Jim Tanner of @_TandemSE tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Karl Anthony-Towns has reportedly agreed to a four-year super max extension per his agent. KAT’s contract will begin during the 2024-2025 season.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns has agreed on a four-year, $224M super max extension, his agent Jessica Holtz of @CAA_Basketball tells ESPN. Deal begins with the 2024-25 season and delivers Towns’ total contract value to six years and $295M.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Jalen Brunson has reportedly agreed to the four-year deal that the Knicks offered him. Woj reported that the near-max deal includes a player option on its final season.

Free agent guard Jalen Brunson has agreed to a four-year, $104 million deal with the New York Knicks, his agents Aaron Mintz and Sam Rose of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN. The deal includes a player option on the final season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

The Wizards have added three veteran guards to join Bradley Beal in recent days — Will Barton, Monte Morris and now Delon Wright leaves the Hawks for Washington. https://t.co/4YFMxR2o7Z

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Kyle Anderson has agreed to a two-year, $18M deal to join the Timberwolves, his agents Thad Foucher and Joe Smith of @wassbasketball tell ESPN. https://t.co/fWzhFhVfkx

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris has agreed on a two-year, $26 million contract extension, his agents Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

Anthony Gill is signing a two year-deal with the Washington Wizards, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Restricted free agent C Nic Claxton has agreed on a two-year, $20 million deal to return to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Free agent Troy Brown Jr. has agreed to a minimum deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Lonnie Walker IV is signing a one-year, $6.5M deal with the Lakers, sources said. https://t.co/7xBnStLWfo

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Rockets restricted free agent Jae’Sean Tate has agreed to a three-year, $22.1 million deal to return to Houston, his agents E.J. Kusnyer and Jordan Cornish of @beyond_am tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent center Dewayne Dedmon has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal to return to the Miami Heat, agents Mike Silverman and Brandon Grier of @steinbergsports tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent Davon Reed has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Denver Nuggets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent guard Jevon Carter has agreed to a two-year deal to return to Milwaukee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent Wesley Matthews has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent G Trevelin Queen has agreed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Free agent F Nic Batum has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Free agent G Lu Dort has agreed to a five-year, $87.5M deal to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder, his agent Thad Foucher of Wasserman tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Chris Boucher is returning to the Toronto Raptors on a three-year, $35.25M deal, his agent Sam Permut of @RocNationSports tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Jones’ agent, Austin Brown of @CAA_Basketball, tells ESPN the second year is a player option.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Amir Coffey has agreed to a three-year, $11M deal with the Clippers, his agents Bill Duffy and Marlon Harrison of @BDA_Sports and WME Sports tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Free agent G Tyus Jones is returning to the Memphis Grizzlies on a two-year, $30M deal, his agent Kevin Bradbury of @REP1Basketball tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Free agent Danuel House has agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent Bobby Portis has agreed to a four-year, $49 million deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Deal includes a player option in Year 4.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent PJ Tucker is finalizing a three-year, $33.2 million fully guaranteed deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, his agent Andre Buck (@andrebuck14) told @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent Victor Oladipo has agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal to return to the Miami Heat, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein has agreed to a two-year, $16 million-plus deal with the New York Knicks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Fully guaranteed deal for Hartenstein.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Free agent center DeAndre Jordan has agreed to a deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Sources: Malik Monk is signing a two-year, $19M deal to join the Kings. https://t.co/spgbvRZspx

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns have reportedly finalized a four-year supermax extension that he will likely sign sometime next week. Shams Charania reports that he will be the cover athlete for NBA 2K23.

The Phoenix Suns and All-NBA guard Devin Booker are finalizing a four-year, $214 million supermax contract extension that he’s set to sign as soon as next week, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

Booker will also be the cover athlete for NBA 2K23, per sources.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Nikola Jokic has reportedly signed the richest deal in NBA history after signing a supermax contract extension with the Nuggets on Thursday.

Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has agreed to a five-year, $264 million supermax contract extension with the Denver Nuggets, the richest deal in NBA history, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Fifth season (2027-28) will be a player option at $60M.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Bradley Beal will stay in the Nation’s Capital after he reportedly signed a five-year max deal.

All-Star guard Bradley Beal has agreed to a five-year, $251 million maximum contract to stay with the Washington Wizards, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons has agreed on a four-year, $100 million contract extension, his agent Bill Duffy of @BDA_Sports + WME Sports tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

The Spurs are pulling the qualifying offer on Lonnie Walker IV, making him an unrestricted free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Expect a strong market for Walker immediately.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

Jalen Brunson is headed to New York after Shams Charania reported that he intends on signing a four-year deal with the franchise.

Free agent Jalen Brunson intends to sign a four-year, near $110M deal with the New York Knicks in free agency, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Mavericks never received chance to make offer, sources said.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

According to Alex Schiffer of The Athletic, P.J. Tucker will be pursued by Atlanta, Minnesota, Brooklyn, Chicago. and Philadelphia during the free agency period of the NBA offseason. Furthermore, Schiffer reports that Tucker is unlikely to return to South Beach.

Multiple teams — including Atlanta, Minnesota, Brooklyn, Chicago and Philadelphia — are expected to compete for PJ Tucker in free agency. All are expected to offer the full mid-level/TPMLE exception. He is unlikely to return to Miami, per sources.

— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) June 30, 2022

Trent Forrest will be an unrestricted free agent after the Jazz decided not to extend a qualifying offer to the point guard out of Florida State.

The Utah Jazz will not extend a qualifying offer to point guard Trent Forrest, making him an unrestricted free agent, League Sources tell The Athletic. There is interest in working something out during free agency. Forrest was a member of the rotation this past season

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) June 30, 2022

Per Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, Juan Toscano-Anderson will be an unrestricted free agent once the free agency period of the NBA offseason begins on Thursday. The 29-year-old became the first Mexican-American to win an NBA title after the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals.

“I got a championship with my hometown team,” JTA told Thompson during a phone interview Wednesday night.

“I’m stamped in the Town. I’m stamped in my country. That shit can’t nobody take from me. You’ve got to give a little to get a little. And I gave up playing time to, you know, become a legend. I’m a legend in the Town. I’m a legend in Mexico. And I’m not saying that myself. It’s showing, know what I mean?”

Juan Toscano-Anderson is at peace with leaving the Warriors.

“I’m stamped in the Town. I’m stamped in my country. That shit can’t nobody take from me.”

It’s time for the next chapter of his storybook journey.https://t.co/m94B7ILm2u pic.twitter.com/5OxoGWXG6P

— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) June 30, 2022

According to Tim Reynolds, the Heat does not have a meeting scheduled with restricted free agent Jalen Brunson on Thursday.

The Heat are not planning to meet with Jalen Brunson today, and they did not have such a meeting scheduled, per league source.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 30, 2022

The Cavs are reportedly expected to match offers given to restricted free agent Collin Sexton. Multiple reports say Sexton wants a “starting guard” extension. The Alabama product is coming off a season-ending torn meniscus.

Cavs Expected To Match Outside Offers For Collin Sexton – Hoops Wire https://t.co/9k5zuRmUAd

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 30, 2022

The Jazz won’t extend a qualifying offer to forward Eric Paschall, sources tell @Tjonesonthenba.

He will become an unrestricted free agent.https://t.co/fcOCtqEmMN pic.twitter.com/ok07Xpx9Dr

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) June 30, 2022

Kemba Walker and the Pistons have reportedly agreed to a contract buyout. Walker will be a free agent after he clears waivers. Walker last played for the Knicks last season before he was traded to the Pistons as New York clears space to sign fellow free agent Jalen Brunson.

Four-time All-Star guard Kemba Walker and the Detroit Pistons are finalizing a contract buyout, sources tell ESPN. Once Walker clears waivers, he’ll join free agency.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

Per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the Heat have guaranteed the contracts of Max Strus, Gabe Stevenson, and Omer Yurtseven as of Thursday morning.

Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Omer Yurtseven are still on the Heat’s roster this morning, which means their full $1.8 million salaries for next season are now guaranteed. This was seen as a formality. Carry on.

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) June 30, 2022

The Sacramento Kings are exercising the option on PF/C Chimezie Metu for the 2022-2023 season, sources tell ESPN. Metu averaged 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 21 minutes a game for the Kings last season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Patty Mills will be exploring his options on the free-agent market after declining to sign his player option with the Nets on Wednesday afternoon.

Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills declined his $6.2M option and will become a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

The Kings won’t be offering a qualifying offer to Donte DiVencenzo, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The Sacramento Kings are declining to offer Donte DiVencenzo a qualifying offer, which will make him an unrestricted free agent, sources tell ESPN. There will be significant interest in DiVencenzo on the open market.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Lu Dort will be a restricted free agent after the OKC Thunder decided to not sign Durt’s team option for the 2022-23 season, per Shams Charania.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are declining the $1.9 million team option on froward Lu Dort for 2022-23 season, which makes him a restricted free agent and allows sides to negotiate a new deal in free agency, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2022

James Harden will hit the free-agent market for the first time in his career but he is likely to re-sign with the 76ers.

ESPN Sources: 76ers star James Harden has declined his $47.3M option and become a free agent. He keeps real the possibility of negotiating a new deal that would deliver the Sixers roster-building flexibility in free agency – including use of the full $10.5M exception.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Bobby Portis told the Bucks that he’ll decline his player option and will instead become a free agent.

Portis has early bird rights in Milwaukee.

The maximum that he can sign for is 4 years/$49M.

The contract has to be for a minimum of 2 seasons and cannot include an option in year 2. https://t.co/Nu5KC9G8D9

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 29, 2022

Bradley Beal has made his long-awaited decision and will become a free agent for the first time in his career after declining his player option.

Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has declined his $36.4M option and become a free agent, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Beal is eligible to sign a 5-year max to return to Wizards – or sign elsewhere on a 4-year deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Jae-Sean Tate will be a restricted free agent after the ROckets declined his team option for the 2022-23 season. Shams Charania reports that Houston and Tate are mutually interested in signing a new deal once free agency begins on Thursday.

The Houston Rockets have declined forward Jae’Sean Tate’s $1.8 million team option for next season, making him a restricted free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Rockets and Tate have mutual interest in discussing new deal in free agency beginning Thursday night.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2022

The Cavaliers have reportedly elected to not offer Moses Brown a qualifying offer to Moses Brown, per Michael Scott of the Hoopshype. The decision allows Brown to enter the free-agent market as an unrestricted free agent.

Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers won’t tender a qualifying offer to center Moses Brown, @hoopshype has learned. The 7-foot-1, 22-year-old center will become an unrestricted free agent. Brown could be an intriguing development option for NBA teams around the league.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 28, 2022

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Taurean Prince and the Timberwolves have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension.

Minnesota Timberwolves F Taurean Prince has agreed on a two-year, $16 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Ivica Zubac and his reps have reportedly agreed to a three-year extension with the Clippers, per Woj. The Clippers declining to sign his team option led to the agreement with Zubac.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac has agreed on a three-year, $33 million extension, his agents Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman of @excelbasketball tell ESPN. The Clippers declined his $7.5M team option for 2022-2023, clearing the way for Zubac’s new deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2022

Tony Bradley is reportedly opting into his player option and will remain with the Bulls next season, per Woj.

Chicago Bulls center Tony Bradley is exercising his $2M player option for next season, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2022

The post 2022 NBA Free Agency Tracker appeared first on SLAM.

PJ Tucker does have an expiring contract this coming free agency period and was one of the critical role players for Miami. His contract has expired, and Tucker is set to be an unrestricted free agency on Thursday at 6 p.m.

According to Marc Stein, rival teams are ‘convinced’ that Tucker will sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The deal would reportedly be worth up to three years, $30 million earning $10 million per season with the team. Tucker made seven million this past year with the Miami Heat and has a $7.3 million player option after signing a two-year, $14 million contract with Miami last summer.

The Heat faced the 76ers in the second round and eliminated Philly in six games. Tucker averaged 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, on 52.5 percent from the field and 43.7 percent shooting from three.

The post REPORT: Rival Teams ‘Convinced’ PJ Tucker will Sign with Philadelphia appeared first on SLAM.

Per Tim Reynolds, Tucker’s decision was expected, but it’s “like Heat will fight to keep him.” Tucker also let it be known within the locker room that he would like to return to Miami.

P.J. Tucker deciding to opt out was 100% expected. This does not mean he’s leaving Miami, source reiterated to AP. It’s likely Heat will fight to keep him, and Tucker made clear to teammates when season ended that he would like to be back.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 20, 2022

Tucker is coming off a solid season, which saw the 37-year-old shoot 41.5 percent from behind the arc and average 5.5 rebounds per game. One of the game’s most coveted role players, Tucker was a crucial cog in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 NBA title run and most recently helped Miami reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

A rugged defender who contributes on both ends of the court, Tucker played overseas for five years after a 17-game rookie season with Toronto in 2006. He returned to the NBA in 2012 and became a valued presence on multiple playoff teams. Tucker averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season with the Heat.

If Tucker picked up his option with Miami, he would have received a $350,000 pay increase for next season. Instead, the veteran entering his 14th NBA season will test the free-agent market and likely look to join another contender.

The post REPORT: P.J. Tucker to Opt-Out of Player Option and Hit Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

The Heat scored just 11 points in the first quarter and immediately found themselves down 18 at the end of one. Miami then went on to only reach 33 points at the end of the second quarter and was down by 24 points at halftime.

Heat star Jimmy Butler scored just six points on 3-for-14 shooting as Miami’s starters scored a combined 18 points in an underwhelming performance.

“This is part of the playoffs; there are these extreme highs and lows,” Coach Erik Spoelstra said, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “We’ve proven that we can find solutions offensively in a lot of different ways.”

The Heat is struggling with multiple injuries, as Butler (knee inflammation), point guard Kyle Lowry (hamstring), and power forward P.J. Tucker (knee contusion) are all playing through nagging injuries. Tyler Herro, the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year winner, is also hobbled and missed Game 4 with a groin injury.

“We are not making any excuse,” Spoelstra said. “We can do it in the mud. We can win it ugly. We can win it when the floodgates come open, hitting threes. We can do it with Jimmy taking over a game. We can do it when he’s facilitating. We have the mental fortitude and the collective toughness to be able to embrace what we have. It’s just a very competitive, good series.”

“No excuse for how I played tonight. It don’t got nothing to do with my knee,” Butler said. “I’ve just got to be better. I will be better. I’m not too worried about it.”

On the other side, Boston star Jayson Tatum scored 31 points on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III combined for 22 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Both teams will look to take a 3-2 advantage as the series heads back to Miami for an 8:30 tip-off at FTX Arena Wednesday night.

The post Erik Spoelstra On Game 4 Performance: ‘We Are Not Making Any Excuse’ appeared first on SLAM.

#MIAvsBOS INJURY UPDATE: Tyler Herro (groin) has been ruled out of tonight’s Game 4 vs the Celtics.

Jimmy Butler (knee), Kyle Lowry (hamstring), Max Strus (hamstring), Gabe Vincent (hamstring) & P.J. Tucker (knee) will all warm up with the intent to play.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 23, 2022

The injury preventing Herro from playing is a groin injury. The Heat also announced that Jimmy Butler (knee), Kyle Lowry (hamstring), Max Strus (hamstring), and P.J. Tucker (knee) would warm up and likely play, barring any setback.

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has averaged 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game during the Eastern Conference Finals. He finished the season averaging 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 dimes per game.

The post Miami Heat Announce Tyler Herro Will Miss Monday’s Game 4 appeared first on SLAM.

The Heat have thrived in the regular season, the No. 1 seed in the East with a 53-29 record, and have made it to the ECF due to their veterans ensuring that the teams’ most significant strength is their communication with one another. Vets like Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker, Jimmy Butler, and Udonis Haslem have made sure that the Heat has held each other accountable while also letting each other know something they noticed on the court.

Having a team with solid veteran leadership makes life easier for you guys like Max Strus or Bam Adebayo, who is coming into his own as a veteran voice on the team. Haslem encouraged Adebayo to be more aggressive on Game 3, leading to the former Kentucky Wildcat scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds on a career-high 15-22 shooting from the field.

Strus (16 points on 4-7 threes) knocked down a clutch triple with two minutes left in Game 3 to stretch Miami’s lead from one point to four moments after Lowry suggested Coach Erik Spoelstra should run a play for Strus.

“To me, it’s a good thing everyone has an opinion instead of Spo always doing the talking and trying to figure everything out,” Adebayo said per the Miami Herald.

“It’s good that we have four or five guys communicating and talking about schemes so we can all get to a comfortable place where we can all agree on [things].”

Lowry has also been a critical mentor for backup point guard Gabe Vincent (11.3 points per game in the ECF). Vincent said Lowry has made sure to speak with Vincent about what he see’s on the court as an OG lead ballhandler and encourages him to maintain Miami’s preferred pace of play.

Spoelstra has solidified and encouraged the Heat’s culture of players leading the players. According to Tucker, Spoelstra permits his veteran circle so much leeway to speak up because they are high IQ players with substantive ideas to contribute to the game. Tucker further gave Spoelstra credit for not being “the dictator-type that he expected.”

“It’s about smart guys respecting each other, knowing what each other brings, and being able to bring that out of each other,” Tucker said. “Each of us calls each other out for not doing something right[but then] respect [each other] and keep going and not take it personally.”

Second-year center Omer Yurtseven summed up the Heat’s leadership structure as so: Tucker is the defensive guy, being more vocal on that side with some bits and pieces for the offense. Lowry is “very detail-oriented and very smart — he will see something and relay it to the team exactly, a clear picture.” Butler and Adebayo are vocal on both ends, and Haslem is “always talking, especially during timeouts.”

Having too many cooks in the kitchen could be a problem for some players. However, according to Strus, it helps “having a lot of guys that keep us stable.”

“All our veterans are really great about that,” Spoelstra said. “You can develop young guys all that you want, and we do — But what really kicks into another gear is just the veteran leadership of infusing confidence. That’s what Kyle has done the entire year.”

The Heat and Celtics will play Game 4 on Monday night, with Miami looking to leave Boston with a 3-1 series lead and home-court advantage heading back to FTX Arena.

The post Miami’s Veteran Voices Power 2-1 Series Lead in Eastern Conference Finals appeared first on SLAM.

The disappointing, shocking third quarter led to Marcus Smart laying into his teammates. Smart missed Game 1 due to a right mid-foot sprain he suffered during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy used the break going into the fourth quarter to ignite the fire within his teammates, reportedly pounding his chest and challenging his teammates to give more.

“Just have heart,” Smart said, according to Payton Pritchard.

“He was just telling us to compete, get after it,” Pritchard added. “We were kind of playing soft there for a little bit.”

This isn’t the first time Boston has suffered similar losses due to disastrous quarters. The Celtics lost the ECF to the Heat in the Orlando Bubble because they weren’t physical enough, poised enough, or together enough to work through what Miami was putting the Celtics through. The 25-point deficit Miami created ranks as the second-worst quarter in Celtics playoff history.

According to Coach Ime Udoka, Boston spoke about how Miami would look to ramp up their physicality to impose their will after the break. Despite knowing that Boston still failed to meet the moment and matched Miami’s intensity. One play illustrates just how much more intense and powerful Miami was in Game 1.

On the first possession of the second half, Jimmy Butler (41 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, three blocks) caught the ball in the paint, spun through four Celtics defenders, and drew a foul. The next time the Heat touched the ball, P.J. Tucker missed a corner 3-pointer, but Bam Adebayo (10 points, four boards, four blocks) crashed the glass hard enough to force Grant Williams to foul him.

Had Williams not fouled Adebayon, the play could’ve resulted in a Butler bucket after he beat Jaylen Brown to a rebound anyway.

“Got out-toughed, out-physicaled,” Udoka said. “They looked like they came out in the second half and wanted to up their physicality and aggression on both ends, and they did that. I don’t think we obviously responded well on either end of the floor. We had eight of our 16 turnovers in that quarter, played in the crowd on offense, and got sped up. And then defensively, offensive rebounds, getting muscled around in the post. Some poor fouls got them to the free-throw line. (The game) flipped very quickly, and (we) just lost our composure.”

The destructive third-quarter outing was punctuated by the Celtics not scoring a field goal for the first seven minutes of the second half. Not to mention Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for all eight of Boston’s third-quarter turnovers. In fact, Boston finished the third frame with as many turnovers (eight) as buckets (two).

The moment is here now for Boston to learn from the failures of the 2020 ECF and Game 1 of the 2022 ECF. Boston lost in six games two seasons ago despite outscoring Miami by one point. However, they lost because they didn’t respond when it mattered the most, allowing the Heat to go on big runs during the fourth quarter.

“Throughout the course of the playoffs, we’ve done a great job of responding to runs after calling timeout, things like that,” Tatum said. “But for whatever reason, we didn’t today. I’ll be the first one to say I’ll take the blame for that. I’ve got to lead better. I’ve got to play better, especially in those moments.”

Maybe Boston’s Game 1 was due to coming off an emotionally challenging seven-game series against the 2021 NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics had just one day off between ending their second-round series and beginning the Eastern Conference Finals. Missing Smart and Al Horford (virus protocols) certainly didn’t help either. Regardless, Boston can’t afford to repeat the same mistakes of 2020.

The revenge tour Boston has been on since the 2022 playoffs began has gone well so far; in order for that to happen, the Celtics will have to respond to the Heat’s intensity and physicality and play with a next-man-up mentality until Smart and Horford return., Tatum and Brown need to cut down on turnovers and to respond better to the rough play of the Heat when the two stars have the ball in their hands.

The post Marcus Smart Calls on Boston to ‘Just Have Heart’ appeared first on SLAM.

Butler’s 41-point effort is his fifth of the postseason. He is the second player in franchise history to record five 40+ point efforts.

Jimmy Buckets enacted an all around MasterClass.

41 PTS
9 REB
5 AST
4 STL
3 BLK
63% FGM

: @MiamiHEAT pic.twitter.com/2R7iyMoMTQ

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 18, 2022

Coming out of the break, Boston was up by eight; just three minutes into the third quarter, Miami took a lead they would never surrender after Butler knocked down a put-back layup. The lead-changing layup was a part of a game-changing 22-2 run punctuated by back-to-back-back steals from Max Strus and Butler to take a 10-point.

That double-digit lead eventually grew to 20 points after Tyler Herro hit three free throws a 1:15 into the fourth quarter after getting fouled on a three-point attempt.

“Keep the game easy,” Butler said about what was said in the locker room during halftime. “Simple. We gotta learn how to capitalize off of their mistakes, and we gotta get back. I think that’s what changed in the second half.”

Masterful in the midrange.
(via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/Q57Dh8Pgtx

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 18, 2022

Butler was the catalyst for Miami imposing their will in the second half. The Marquette alum scored 27 points in the second half, along with three assists, three steals, and four rebounds (two on the offensive glass).

When Boston tried to capitalize on a 10-0 run that cut Miami’s lead to nine points with 7:35 seconds left on the clock, Miami continued to impose their will, silencing Boston each time they made it a single-digit game with triples from P.J. Tucker and Strus.

Their job on Jayson Tatum illustrated Miami’s second-half effort. Miami held the Duke alum to eight points after Tatum scored 21 in the first half, tied for a career-high in the first half. The defensive intensity on Tatum was highlighted by Butler blocking Tatum on a three-pointer from the left corner pocket. Miami also forced the St. Louis native to turn the ball over seven times.

“Contesting every shot,’ Butler said about Miami’s key to defending Tatum in the second half. “Try not to foul; he’s crafty as hell and just putting multiple bodies in front of him.”

Jimmy Butler is everywhere.
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/d8eKSNt2CK

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 18, 2022

Boston will look to tie the Eastern Conference Finals when they face Miami on Thursday’s Game 6.

The post Miami Heat ‘Keep the Game Easy’ in Game 1 Win Over Boston appeared first on SLAM.

The Heat had seven scorers in double-figures, led by Jimmy Butler (23 points), Max Strus (19 points, and Gabe Vincent (15 points). Victor Oladipo scored 13, followed by a 12-point effort from Bam Adebayo and 10 points apiece from Tyler Herro and P.J. Tucker.

Jimmy Buckets.

23 PTS
9 REB
6 AST

(via @MiamiHEAT) pic.twitter.com/Q07uFchjN7

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 11, 2022

Defensively, the Heat held the Sixers to 36.5 percent shooting from the field and 28.1 percent from beyond the arc. As for the superstars of the Heat, Joel Embiid was held to 17 points (7-12 shooting) and five rebounds, while James Harden contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 5-13 shooting 2-6 from the three-point line.

BAM JAM!

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/hzLqkmDuvb

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 10, 2022

The 76ers had a rough night; overall, Miami came out firing on all cylinders, outscoring Philly in all four quarters. Miami shut the door on any comeback hopes immediately in the fourth quarter when they went on a 12-0 run powered by a 7-0 spurt from Herro and Struss, who scored five straight points to open the fourth frame. Adebayo stretched the lead to 25 with a three-point play, forcing Coach Rivers to sub out Embiid since Game 5 was no longer in question.

“We did what we were supposed to do once again,” Butler said during his postgame interview with Chris Haynes of YahooSports. “We won at home, we’re a different team when we make shots, and I don’t like that. I want us to be able to get spots no matter what, and then we worry about making shots. Right now, we’re cool.”

This interview is gold

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/RlR8OdXRsd

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 11, 2022

The post Jimmy Butler on Miami’s 120-85 Win in Game 5: ‘We Did What We Were Supposed to Do Once Again’ appeared first on SLAM.

#ATLvsMIA INJURY UPDATE: Kyle Lowry (hamstring) has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Game 5 vs the Hawks.

P.J. Tucker (calf) and Caleb Martin (ankle) are questionable.

Gabe Vincent (toe) is probable.

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 25, 2022

Miami also stated that P.J. Tucker and Caleb Martin were questionable for Game 5 due to calf and ankle injuries, respectively. Gabe Vincent is probable to play on Tuesday as well.

It will be Miami’s second straight game without Lowry in the lineup after the 2019 champion missed Game 4 due to the same hamstring issue. He initially suffered the injury during Game 3.

The Heat is up 3-1 in their first-round series with the Hawks.

The post Miami Heat Announce Kyle Lowry Out For Game 5 appeared first on SLAM.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Tucker is drawing interest from several teams around the NBA this offseason.

In addition to his current team, franchises that Fischer has linked Tucker to include the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz, each team an NBA Finals contender when healthy.

Tucker will hit free agency following the end of the 2021 NBA Finals and, as a 36-year-old role player, it’s surprising for Tucker to have this much interest across the NBA on the surface. However, his locker room impact and notable defensive performances have allowed him to remain a hot commodity.

Acquired by Milwaukee prior to the trade deadline, Tucker has been instrumental in the Bucks playoff run, playing 29.5 minutes per game and starting 17 of the 21 contests.

The Bucks are currently tied 2-2 in the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns, with Game 5 taking place on Saturday night in Phoenix.

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However, feeling physically healthy and getting a confidence boost from his performance in San Juan, IT appears to have his most legitimate shot in months. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams interested in signing Thomas should he return to the NBA (per The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski).

During the week-long continuation of the FIBA AmeriCup 2022 Qualifiers, Thomas led the team in scoring over two games while averaging 14.0 points and 2.5 assists per game and shooting .435 percent from the field (.500 percent from 3-point range).

As he averaged 12.2 points and 3.7 assists in 23.1 minutes per game for the Washington Wizards in 2019-20 (40 games) while shooting .408 percent from the field and .413 percent from 3-point range, his numbers from the AmeriCup Qualifiers do seem translatable.

Thomas may find a strong fit with the Bucks, who are currently 26-14 and third in the Eastern Conference standings. After trading away backup point guard D.J. Augustin this week in their deal for veteran forward P.J. Tucker, could use an additional ball-handler and a savvy veteran like IT could be right up their alley.

Meanwhile, although LeBron James and Dennis Schroder operate much like a dual-guard offense, the Lakers point guard options off the bench are dwindling. In addition, fan favorite Alex Caruso continues to exceed expectations as the backup point guard.

However, prior the playoffs, teams will often try to top off the talent on their roster with fringe rotation players that have had productive career. That’s what allows the Lakers, the reigning champions, to remain a viable option for Thomas.

The post Lakers, Bucks Among Teams Interested in Adding Isaiah Thomas appeared first on SLAM.

The 30-year-old Craig, who’s in his fourth NBA season, signed a one-year minimum deal with the Bucks in November after a successful three-season stint with the Denver Nuggets.

A defensive-minded wing, Craig only appeared in 18 games for Milwaukee, playing a career-low 11.2 minutes per game.

While the Bucks already have their replacement for Craig in Tucker, the Suns make an under-the-radar move that should only help their vaunted defense. Set to make their first playoff appearance since 2009-10, Craig’s combination of toughness and postseason experience will also be invaluable for a young team that will be met with a type of adversity they’ve yet to encounter.

In the short-term, Craig can help Phoenix manage without defensive standout Cam Johnson, who has been out since Mar. 2 due to the league’s health and safety protocols.

The post Suns Acquire Torrey Craig from Bucks for Cash Considerations appeared first on SLAM.

The Rockets will receive point guard D.J. Augustin, forward D.J. Wilson and an unprotected 2023 first-round pick, as well as the rights to swap picks with the Bucks in the upcoming draft (barring it being a selection in the top-9).

Tucker, 35-years-old, is a versatile defender who Milwaukee has had their eye on for months as they look to improve the personnel for a defensive scheme that requires a lot of switching. Already a legitimate NBA Finals contender while led by superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, this move by the Bucks is a small but smart move on their pursuit of an NBA championship.

With Houston expected to make plenty of moves ahead of next week’s trade deadline, Augustin and Wilson may eventually be re-routed to another franchise.

However, should they remain with the Rockets, the 33-year-old Augustin is a savvy veteran that can produce as well as help an emerging talent in Kevin Porter Jr., who is learning the point guard position after starting his career on the wing.

Wilson, a first-round pick in 2017, is an athletic and skilled frontcourt player but unproven in the NBA. With the rebuilding Rockets, Wilson could get an opportunity to display the same dominance as he has at the G League level.

The post Rockets Trade P.J. Tucker to Bucks for D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson appeared first on SLAM.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, league executives believe the Miami Heat have emerged as the leaders for Tucker.

Tucker has been praised for his defensive skills over the last decade, providing the type of defensive pressure and versatility that’s needed in an increasingly positionless league that’s lacking stout defenders.

Aside from Tucker’s on-court abilities and intangibles like toughness, experience and charisma, it’s clear why the Heat are interested in acquiring the North Carolina native. A team looking to make another deep playoff run after reaching the 2020 NBA Finals, Tucker would provide much-needed depth for Miami’s weakest position group.

Furthermore, while Heat stars Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler have both missed time this year, veteran Andre Iguodala has struggled to be consistent this season.

The Heat aren’t the only team interested in Tucker’s services, as The Athletic’s Sam Amick reports that 70 percent of league is interested in adding him to their stable of talent.

Tucker has been sitting out of recent games while he waits for the Rockets to trade him ahead of the Mar. 25 trade deadline.

The post Rival Executives Believe Heat are Favorites to Land Rockets Veteran P.J. Tucker appeared first on SLAM.

According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the 10-year NBA veteran has singled out the Philadelphia 76ers as the team he would “relish” the chance to play with. The 76ers are currently run by former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who left Houston for Philadelphia shortly before the 2020-21 season began.

Tucker, whose physical profile is an anomaly in the NBA with his combination of strength and girth at 6’5,” has made a name for himself as one of the league’s best defensive players during his time with the Rockets.

With former franchise cornerstone James Harden requesting a trade to Brooklyn earlier this year, Tucker isn’t the only player rumored to be on the way out of Houston, as an assistant general manager tells Fischer that “Houston’s gonna burn the house down.”

The Rockets have already traded both Harden and Russell Westbrook in the past six months, while veterans like Tucker, John Wall and Victor Oladipo hearing their names in the rumor mill as well.

The trade deadline is on Mar. 25, giving the Rockets just over two weeks to negotiate potential trades.

The post P.J. Tucker Would ‘Relish’ Chance to Play for Sixers, Rockets Expected to Have Fire Sale Ahead of Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

As a result, Milwaukee has set their sights on Houston Rockets veteran forward P.J. Tucker as they attempt to revamp their once-vaunted defense, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor. Tucker, 35-years-old, is considered to be one of the most versatile defenders at 6’5″ and 245 pounds, able to guard both perimeter and frontcourt players effectively.

For a team that employs a heavy-switching scheme, Tucker’s fit is the definition of perfect. The only conundrum is for the asset-depleted Bucks to find the right offer for Tucker.

League sources told me in November that the Bucks were in pursuit of P.J. Tucker from the Rockets. Their interest remains today.

So much has happened in the NBA world over the past few months—like John Wall being traded to Houston, James Harden being traded to Brooklyn, or Russell Westbrook being traded to Washington—that the offseason’s biggest splash move has been all but forgotten.

Yet, it was only three months ago that the Bucks gave up a king’s ransom for Jrue Holiday in an effort to appease superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and make the allure of a supermax deal even more desirable.

While the Greek Freak would indeed sign a five-year, $228 million contract to remain with the Bucks, the Holiday deal hasn’t gone exactly as planned in Milwaukee. Not through any fault of Holiday’s, considering that he’s been turning in healthy averages of 16.4 points, 5.4 assists and a league-high 1.9 steals per game while shooting .502 from the field and .387 from 3-point range.

Nonetheless, the Bucks are 18-13, 3rd in the Eastern Conference. In a vacuum, Milwaukee’s win-loss record is nothing to frown at but considering that the Bucks only lost 17 games the entire 2019-20 season, it’s fair to question whether Milwaukee needs to make another move.

It appears they’ve long been considering it themselves.

Hopefully, for the Bucks, Tucker turns out to be the missing piece to their championship puzzle.

The post Bucks Have Their Eye on P.J. Tucker Trade to Bolster Defense appeared first on SLAM.

Teams inquiring about Tucker’s availability likely sense an opportunity to trade for the veteran due to the Rockets’ trading superstar James Harden—the face of the franchise for eight seasons—to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.

Due to his age and close relationship with Harden, trading Tucker could ultimately benefit both he and Houston, enhancing team chemistry while removing a potentially disgruntled player from the locker room.

A versatile defender with experience guarding players all over the frontcourt despite being 6’5,” Tucker can open up a plethora of small-ball opportunities for whatever team acquires him. While his strength and girth allow him to compensate for his lack of height, he’s developed into a reliable enough outside shooter to keep opposing defenses honest.

Tucker has averaged 5.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game this season while shooting a career-high .520 from 3-point range. He’s averaged 6.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting .373 from 3-point range since joining the Rockets.

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We broke down the Rockets’ depth chart for the 2020-21 season below. We’ve also previously published a summary of the Rockets’ offseason.

Biggest Questions

• What is James Harden’s future on this team? More importantly, what will Houston get in return for him if he is traded? Moving on from your franchise cornerstone is never easy, so the return for Harden will be one of the more pivotal moments in the franchise’s history.
• Was Christian Wood worth his contract? Wood was Houston’s biggest free agent acquisition this offseason. While he’s shown flashes of greatness throughout his career, the sample size is too small to feel confident that he’s a top big man in this league.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Houston Rockets: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

Their franchise cornerstone — James Harden — has remained unchanged since 2012. An analytics-based offensive philosophy has been a staple of the franchise for years.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, they’ve been unable to reach the NBA Finals and were once again bounced out of the playoffs in the second round last year.

Now, the Rockets find themselves without either renowned general manager Daryl Morey (who defected to the Philadelphia 76ers) or veteran head coach Mike D’Antoni (who joined the Brooklyn Nets’ staff as an assistant); two architects of Houston’s identity.

Everything feels as if it’s up in the air for the Rockets.

Related: Full Houston Rockets Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Rockets Draft Needs

The Rockets have been one of the top teams in the Western Conference for nearly a decade but they don’t have a solid mix of veterans and young players.

Although you’ll find a couple of rotation players in their mid-20s, half of Houston’s rotation is composed of players in their 30s: Harden, Russell Westbrook, P.J. Tucker and Jeff Green. Robert Covington will be 30-years-old at the start of the 2020-21 season.

Using the draft to add some youth won’t be what gets the Rockets past the Western Conference Finals but it could help them transition into a new era, where recently hired head coach Stephen Silas is expected to diversify Houston’s offensive approach.

The Rockets don’t currently have any picks in the 2020 NBA Draft but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them make a draft night trade that adds a skilled and mobile big man to the roster. They could also wait to see what prospects fall in the draft, scooping them up for a Two-Way Contract or a standard rookie deal.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

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In addition to a summary for each of the 30 teams (accessible in the link grid below), we’ve also tiered the top NBA free agents league-wide and published a general comparison of all teams’ cap space. Follow @SLAMnewswire on Twitter for constant offseason updates as we head into free agency.

Projected Roster Players

Projected Free Agents

Dead Money

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Exceptions Available

• Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception – $9,258,000
• Bi-Annual Exception – $3,623,000

Key Offseason Decisions

• How will being close to the luxury tax impact Houston keeping players? This comes into play most with Ben McLemore (non-guaranteed), David Nwaba (team option) and Chris Clemons (non-guaranteed). If the tax is an issue, expect at one or two of these players to be let go.
• Will Austin Rivers exercise his player option? Rivers could make more on the open market, but it won’t be much more. Rivers has also found a nice fit in Houston as a backup guard.

Projected Team Salary

$150,945,869

Houston has lots of roster spots to fill, but is right at the edge of the luxury tax. That’s the marker to watch for roster decisions for the Rockets. If the staying out of the tax remains a priority, expect Houston to move on from what players they can. That will free up enough room to fill out the roster with minimum signings, while staying under the tax. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$41,805,869 (15^th out of 30). $5,615,217 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

The post Houston Rockets: Salary Cap Space 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve listed the entire roster with comparisons to last year’s launch rating below. We’ve also identified some general NBA 2K21 ratings trends for the league as a whole.

Rockets NBA 2K21 Ratings

View the NBA 2K21 player ratings for other teams below.

The post Houston Rockets: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

Also included in the team-by-team breakdowns are all partial/non-guaranteed players for the 2020-21 season, essentially expanding the list to include any individual that could plausibly hit free agency this summer.

Related: CBA Explained – Different types of NBA free agency

Denver Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

Oklahoma City Thunder

Portland Trail Blazers

Utah Jazz

The post 2020 NBA Free Agents – Northwest Division appeared first on SLAM.

• Dallas Mavericks – Dallas is continuing to deal with injuries. Dwight Powell is out for the season, and now Luka Doncic (ankle) and Jalen Brunson (shoulder) are nicked up. For Doncic, it doesn’t seem serious, but it is a bit troubling that he continues to have ankle troubles. Brunson has a torn labrum in his right shoulder, but he’s a lefty and is planning to try to play through it. The Mavs have lots of guard depth, but getting healthy for the playoff run is key.
• Denver Nuggets – The Nuggets aren’t catching the Lakers for the top spot in the Western Conference, but they’ve been able to hold off the Clippers and Rockets so far. A big reason why is Denver is finally healthy. With their full roster, the Nuggets are legitimately 10 deep. Mike Malone can now use the rest of the regular season to figure out his playoff rotation.

• Golden State Warriors – One star back, one star out for the Dubs. Stephen Curry’s return is right around the corner, but Klay Thompson was ruled out for the season recently. Steve Kerr will get a look at how Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins can work together over the season’s final 20 games or so, and then Thompson will slide in as a plug-and-play addition next season. Golden State also continues to cycle through 10-day players, as Dragan Bender and Mychal Mulder have both signed on recently.
• Houston Rockets – Houston is fully committed to the small-ball style. Unless Tristan Thompson is shockingly bought out in the next couple of days, the Rockets will stick with a “center” rotation of P.J. Tucker and Jeff Green, the latter of whom will sign for the rest of the season. It’s worked so far, as Houston has won five straight games. One worry: Will Tucker have enough in the tank to make this a multi-month thing in a playoff run?
• Los Angeles Clippers – Doc Rivers and a handful of players have recently intimated that it’s time for the Clippers to figure out who they are. Due to injuries, load management and recent trades/signings, LA has about a month and a half to figure out their rotation. Sure, the roster is stacked with talent. But it’s up to Rivers to figure out how all that talent fits and time is starting to running out.
• Los Angeles Lakers – Markieff Morris is now in the fold for the Lakers. That might be the final move for Los Angeles, as the buyout market has really dried up. Morris gives the Lakers some additional depth up front, and that could be key down the stretch. LA hasn’t had a real backup for Anthony Davis, as Kyle Kuzma is more of a swing forward than a true four. With Morris, Frank Vogel can now spot Davis some rest days or keep him out when the inevitable bumps and bruises come. With a 5.5-game cushion in the standings, expect the Lakers to turn the focus to being healthy and rested for the playoffs.
• Memphis Grizzlies – Memphis’ Cinderella season seems to be closing in on midnight. The Grizzlies lead for the last playoff spot in the West is down to just three games, and five teams have closed to within 4.5 games. With Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Justise Winslow sidelined with injuries for at least a few weeks, it’s going to be tough for Memphis to hold off the charge.
• Minnesota Timberwolves – The Wolves hope at the trade deadline was to get their new additions on the floor with Karl-Anthony Towns and get a glimpse of their future. Now, Towns is out for at least a couple of weeks with a fractured left wrist. On the flip side, Malik Beasley is playing great since getting to Minnesota. He’s averaged 21.7 PPG on nearly 42% as a Timberwolf. D’Angelo Russell got the headlines as a trade addition, but Beasley may be just as big a part of the future in Minnesota.
• New Orleans Pelicans – Have you seen this Zion kid? He’s pretty good! In all seriousness, Williamson’s debut has jolted the Pelicans into the Western Conference playoff race. New Orleans is now just three games behind Memphis. And the Pels have a very easy closing schedule. Would you like to see a Lakers vs. Pelicans series in Round 1? Us too!

• Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder have gone from a nice story to a full-scale playoff team. Did you know OKC is only four games behind for the two-seed? Didn’t think so. And they’re getting some wings back, as Terrance Ferguson and Hamidou Diallo are both healthy now. Neither is a star, but for a team that needs wing depth, they’ll take what they can get.
• Phoenix Suns – Phoenix simply can’t have nice things. Deandre Ayton is back and dominating. Key veterans Aron Baynes and Ricky Rubio are healthy. Devin Booker is an All-Star. So, of course, they lose a key player to injury. Kelly Oubre Jr., who was having a career-year, suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and will likely miss the rest of the season. Oubre is seeking a second opinion, but the Suns are preparing for life without him.
• Portland Trail Blazers – Even without Damian Lillard, the Blazers have hung around the playoff race. Portland is three games behind Memphis and they have one of the easier closing schedules left. There is still no clear return timetable for Jusuf Nurkic or Zach Collins, but if the Trail Blazers can hang in there, they’ll add as much talent as anyone for the final playoff push.

• Sacramento Kings – The Kings are making an improbable run at the playoffs. Sacramento has gone 6-4 over their last 10 games to get back in the race. Luke Walton’s lineup swap of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Buddy Hield has worked as well. Bogdanovic has averaged 14.2 PPG as a starter, while Hield has been instant-offense off the bench at 20.2 PPG on 48.9% from behind the arc.
• San Antonio Spurs – San Antonio is scratching and clawing to extend their playoff streak to 24 years. They’ve been passed by New Orleans in the standings, which means the Spurs will have to pass the Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Grizzlies to get into the postseason. Gregg Popovich is leaning heavily on LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, but is finally getting improved play from the Spurs role players. It’s a tall task, but bet against San Antonio at your own peril.
• Utah Jazz – To put it simply, the Jazz are a mess right now. Utah has lost four straight games and this week Quin Snyder made a messy lineup shuffle. On Wednesday morning, Mike Conley was informed he’d go back to the bench and Royce O’Neale would open games again. By the time players showed up at the arena, Conley was back in the opening group and Joe Ingles was coming off the bench. That confusing back-and-forth sums up where the Jazz are at right now.

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The biggest name involved in the deal is Clint Capela but what’s most important about the pact is how four different teams with four different motives ended up checking off items on their wish list.

We’ll jump into the details of the still evolving deal below:

Atlanta Hawks

In: Clint Capela, Nene

Out: Evan Turner, BKL’s 2020 1st, GSW’s 2024 2nd

The Hawks were on the hunt for a long-term five and managed to get a highly respected one with an excellent contract and plenty of team control. Capela averaged 16.6 points and 12.7 rebounds per game last season, earns $14.9M this year and makes less than $20M per year through 2022-23.

Atlanta acquired Evan Turner from the Blazers in the offseason for his $18M expiring deal. The draft pick they’re parting ways with is a top-14 protected pick from Brooklyn (via the Allen Crabbe trade that led up to the draft).

The move eats into Atlanta’s cap room this summer given that Capela is with them long-term and Turner wasn’t going to be but they’ll still have plenty of cash to play around with in a weak free agency class.

In order to execute the trade, the Hawks will need to first waive a player and free up the roster spot. They could also unload another player in the deal if they find a willing partner. (Edit: they waived Chandler Parsons)

Houston Rockets

In: Robert Covington, Jordan Bell, GSW’s 2024 2nd

Out: Clint Capela, Nene, Gerald Green, HOU’s 2020 1st

The Rockets have had some success with a super small-ball lineup of late and are now entirely committed to employing it full time. Houston will part with their only truly reliable five and hope that P.J. Tucker is enough to sustain them at the position.

Alas, Daryl Morey wouldn’t have parted with an asset without a reason and the club yields one of the game’s most respected perimeter defenders with three-point range in Robert Covington.

Don’t sleep on Jordan Bell as a contributor for a Rockets team that helped Kenneth Faried thrive in half a season last year.

Another significant part of this deal for Houston is the amount of money it will save the previously tax-bound squad. In one fell swoop, the Rockets have gone from over the tax threshold to roughly $6M under.

Minnesota Timberwolves

In: Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Jarred Vanderbilt, BKL’s 2020 1st

Out: Robert Covington, Jordan Bell, Noah Vonleh, Keita Bates-Diop, Shabazz Napier

The Wolves desperately attempted to get Golden State involved in this deal so they could land D’Angelo Russell but couldn’t offer an enticing enough package in time.

What they’ll get instead is a promising pending RFA in Malik Beasley, a substantial expiring contract in Evan Turner and a semi-decent first-round pick.

The Wolves may still attempt to persuade the Warriors to give them Russell and this trade could give them more flexibility in doing so but even if that doesn’t pan out, they’ve still converted a 30-year-old Covington into a 23-year-old Beasley, significant cap relief and a draft asset that could fall in the teens.

Denver Nuggets

In: Gerald Green, Keita Bates-Diop, Shabazz Napier, Noah Vonleh, HOU’s 2020 1st

Out: Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Jarred Vanderbilt

The Nuggets, blessed with considerable roster depth, were faced with the reality that it would be difficult to retain Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez, not just financially but logistically with a finite number of minutes available.

With this deal the Nuggets bring back several affordable deep bench pieces and a late first-round pick. The team may have been able to hold out for more from Beasley but they may not be done dealing.

Austin Kent is a News Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @AustinKent.

The post Breaking Down The Four-Team, Clint Capela Mega-Trade appeared first on SLAM.

In this post, just one of a series of 30, we’ll break down the reports that have started to trickle out about Rockets players that may or may not be on the move. While there’s no guarantee when it comes to a league as wild as the modern NBA, it doesn’t hurt to brush up on each squad’s roster as the deadline draws near.

Players Unlikely To Be Traded

• James Harden
• Eric Gordon
• Chris Clemons

Few players are safer bets to remain with their team through the trade deadline than James Harden. The Rockets have built their entire system around their perennial MVP candidate and while there’s no trade that general manager Daryl Morey hasn’t thought about making, Harden will be a Rocket on Feb. 7.

The team won’t deal Eric Gordon or Chris Clemons, as neither player is eligible to be traded before the deadline. Gordon signed a contract extension prior to the season and won’t be eligible to be moved until after the season. Same with Clemons, whose two-way contract was converted to a three-year deal in December.

Biggest Name Available On Market

• Russell Westbrook (maybe?)

The Rockets made a major investment to trade for Russell Westbrook this offseason, surrendering two first-rounders and Chris Paul in order to bring the former MVP to Houston. Marc Stein of the New York Times writes that it wasn’t a realistic option to keep Paul for another season due to the “irretrievably broken” relationship between him and the team. Morey needed to make a move, something that was difficult to do because of Paul’s inflated salary ($38.5M). While the deal reunited Westbrook with Harden – his former Thunder teammate – it arguably isn’t the most ideal fit.

This begs the question: Could the Rockets look to trade Westbrook before the deadline? There are people around the league that believe Westbrook is available, The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo claims on his podcast. Finding a taker for the point guard won’t be easy. Not because of his talent but rather his contract. Westbrook is making $38.5M this season (he’s owed roughly $85.6M over the ensuing two years of his deal and has a $47.1M player option for 2022-23). 

The Rockets have had four back-to-backs this season and they’ve rested Westbrook on each occasion. The strategy could be classified as simply maintenance, though if you’re a franchise looking to acquire the 31-year-old, this has to be something to consider. For teams that aren’t locks to make the postseason, those 8-10 load managed contests might actually matter and we haven’t even gotten into Westbrook’s lengthy injury history.

Still, this is a player as recent as last year who showed MVP flashes. This season, the fit in Houston has been awkward at times but the former No. 4 overall pick is still having an All-Star worthy season. He’s scoring 24.2 points per game, while dishing out 7.1 assists and grabbing 8.0 boards per contest. He’s got six of his signature triple-doubles so far this season. 

The Rockets don’t need to make a move, as opposed to how they felt with Paul over the summer. Keeping Westbrook, who has by all accounts a great relationship with Harden, is arguably more likely than any other scenario, though with Morey running the show, nothing can be ruled out.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Clint Capela
• Nene

Clint Capela was rumored to be available during the offseason and he’ll have no shortage of suitors should the Rockets look to make significant roster moves. The Celtics were eyeing the big man back in June. The Lakers met with Capela back when he was a free agent and the Kings had interest in the big man, though both California franchises have made significant changes to their frontcourt since the 2018 offseason.

Nene was signed to be traded, as the Rockets included “likely bonuses” that would allow his $2.6M base salary to rise to $10.0M and therefore allow the team to take back more salary in a trade. The NBA ruled that the contract circumvented the collective bargaining agreement. Nene, who remains away from the team, is eligible to be traded on Jan. 15 but now, his outgoing salary will only count for $2.6M.

Trades Are Possible

• P.J. Tucker
• Danuel House
• Austin Rivers
• Ben McLemore
• Gerald Green
• Thabo Sefolosha
• Tyson Chandler
• Isaiah Hartenstein
• Gary Clark

For how important 34-year-old P.J. Tucker has been for the Rockets this season (Harden is the only member of the Rockets with a higher TPA than Tucker), it would be surprising to see the team trade him unless it’s part of a bigger deal for a star. Nearly half of the team is making less than Danuel House’s $3.5M, which suggests that should the Rockets need to compile salary to acquire a mid-sized contract, House would likely need to be included. Austin Rivers, who has seen his minutes fluctuate this season, has the ability to veto any trade by means of signing a one-year deal with an option. Gerald Green, who hasn’t played this season because of a left foot injury, also has the right to veto a trade. Ben McLemore has had a mini-resurgence in Houston. His full $2.0M salary becomes guaranteed on Jan. 10 and his $2.3M salary for next year is non-guaranteed. Thabo Sefolosha became trade eligible on Dec. 23 and hasn’t played since. Tyson Chandler is on the veteran’s minimum and has played in just four of the team’s last 14 games, including the two where Capela sat out. Gary Clark and Isaiah Hartenstein will each see their contracts become fully guaranteed on Jan. 10. Clark has appeared in 18 contests and Hartenstein has appeared in 12 games for the Rockets, including a spot start for Capela.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Houston Rockets appeared first on SLAM.

Harden dismisses the idea as something better left in the college basketball ranks:

“I don’t really care,” P.J. Tucker said. “It’s like cup stuff. The NBA, I doubt they’ll ever get to that. We play for an NBA championship. I don’t want to play for anything else. There is nothing else. It’s like a consolation? I don’t know. We play for an NBA championship, period.”

Rockets guard James Harden was even more dismissive of the idea. “Are we in college?” he said. “Is this college?”

Harden (34 points) and Rockets teammate Russell Westbrook (27 points) led the way as Houston snapped a three-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 117-108 win against the visiting Miami Heat.

Per The AP:

“When those two guys get going downhill it puts a lot of pressure on a lot of people which causes me to be open-open,” [Daniel] House said after scoring a career-high 23 points. “So thank you Russ and James.”

Harden said House is getting better at taking advantages of opportunities when teams double him.

“He works every single day on his shot,” Harden said. “Those opportunities are going to come for him and the more confident he gets the easier those shots will be.”

The post ‘Is This College?’ James Harden Dismisses Proposed in-Season NBA Tournament appeared first on SLAM.

Below is a list of the contract types the Houston Rockets have heading into training camp. This resource will be updated as players are signed and waived. Check back often to see if your team’s roster configuration has changed.

Houston Rockets

-The Rockets cut William McDowell-White in order to sign Ryan Anderson. McDowell-White will have financial incentive to play for Houston’s G League affiliate.

For a complete list of all the NBA teams and links to each team’s roster breakdown, check out our 2019 NBA Training Camp Index. Follow the curators of this database, Chris Crouse and Austin Kent, on Twitter.

More NBA Training Camp Rosters

The post Houston Rockets Roster Count: 2019 Training Camp appeared first on SLAM.

Otherwise, “we probably aren’t going to win one in the next 10 years,” says Fertitta.

Fertitta adds that newcomer Russell Westbrook‘s athleticism is an element Houston was “a little short on,” and is confident he can happily co-exist with fellow superstar teammate James Harden.

Per Yahoo Sports:

“I think we put ourselves in the position that if we don’t win it in the next three or four years, we probably aren’t going to win one in the next 10 years,” Fertitta told Yahoo Sports in an interview to promote his debut book titled “Shut Up And Listen,” which hits all major bookstores on Tuesday. “This is our window, and we need to seize the opportunity.”

The Texas billionaire, who is also sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment, the restaurant giant Landry’s and the Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels, is running his NBA team in the same manner as his other business ventures: audaciously and unwavering.

“This is the time,” Fertitta told Yahoo Sports. “I just re-signed Eric Gordon who is 30 and I’ve got Russell and James and Eric and Clint Capela for the next four years. P.J. [Tucker] is 34 and our two stars are 30. So this is their window. Let’s seize the opportunity.”

Fertitta says he was never concerned about bringing in another ball-dominant guard to pair with Harden.

“No, because I can remember watching Russell Westbrook against us a couple of times last year and I saw how he ran up and down that court and how his athleticism was so superior,” he told Yahoo Sports. “And I think it’s one of the things that we were a little short on.”

Related Rockets Owner: Russell Westbrook and James Harden ‘Wanted to Play Together’

The post Rockets Owner: Title Window ‘Next Three or Four Years’ appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down the overall ratings for each player and sorted them by team so that you can see how your squad stacks up against the rest of the league.

Houston Rockets NBA 2K20 Ratings

This table is updated as of Nov. 22, 2019

Can’t get enough 2K? SLAM’s dedicated gaming channel, @SLAMftw, is blowing up. Hit us with your best uploads and watch our streams!

More NBA 2K20 Ratings

The post NBA 2K20 Ratings: Houston Rockets appeared first on SLAM.

Green was especially crushed after looking forward to watching Cousins “destroy everybody” this upcoming season.

Draymond, however, added that Boogie has made it out of tougher situations in his life.

Per ESPN:

“One of my goals coming into this season was for DeMarcus to destroy everybody and come back and show how great of a player he is and get what I think he deserves,” Green told The Undefeated’s Marc Spears. “I’m really at a loss for words about it. It’s one that really hurt me for sure.”

USA forward P.J. Tucker said the Cousins news was “heartbreaking.”

Green says that if anyone can overcome this series of injuries, it’s Cousins.

“He made it out of Mobile, Alabama,” Green said. “The NBA is tough, very tough to get to, very tough to stay in.

“But he made it out of Mobile, Alabama. If he can do that, he can do anything.”

Related DeMarcus Cousins: Los Angeles Lakers ‘Roster is Incredible’

The post Draymond Green at a ‘Loss for Words’ Over DeMarcus Cousins’ Torn ACL appeared first on SLAM.

USA Basketball will play its first official contest on September 1 against the Czech Republic. The team is coached by Gregg Popovich. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce, and Villanova coach Jay Wright will serve as assistants on his staff.

Many of the top American NBA players will not participate, as we previously detailed. Anthony Davis, James Harden, and Bradley Beal are among the stars who have decided they will not play.

Team USA needs to trim down their roster to 12 men before heading to China for the tournament. Here’s an up-to-date list of players who are still in the mix for a roster spot:

Kyle Lowry, who has yet to be medically cleared to return from a thumb injury, was expected to make the team but he opted to sit out in order to preserve his health.

Thaddeus Young and Bam Adebayo were cut from the team to make room for Derrick White and Marvin Bagley, each of whom had been practicing with the Select Team. Bagley has since dropped out of the competition.

De’Aaron Fox withdrew his name from consideration in order to focus on the upcoming NBA season, while P.J. Tucker was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury.

Kyle Kuzma injured his ankle in an exhibition with Australia and withdrew from the team.

The post Who Will Represent Team USA In The FIBA World Cup? appeared first on SLAM.

Anthony Davis, James Harden, Bradley Beal, and CJ McCollum are among the stars to withdraw from USA Basketball’s training camp. Damian Lillard, Tobias Harris, Kevin Love, Paul Millsap, and DeMar DeRozan have also decided against attending.

What we do know is that Gregg Popovich will coach Team USA. Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce, and Villanova coach Jay Wright will serve as assistants.

Donovan Mitchell, who is arguably the top player remaining on the Team USA training camp roster is committed to playing. Kemba Walker also has declared his intention to suit up for the team and Kyle Lowry plans to give it a go. Here’s a list of players who are attending training camp:

• Bam Adebayo, Heat.
• Harrison Barnes, Kings.
• Jaylen Brown, Celtics.
• De’Aaron Fox, Kings.
• Joe Harris, Nets.
• Kyle Kuzma, Lakers.
• Brook Lopez, Bucks.
• Kyle Lowry, Raptors.
• Khris Middleton, Bucks.
• Donovan Mitchell, Jazz.
• Mason Plumlee, Nuggets
• Marcus Smart, Celtics.
• Jayson Tatum, Celtics.
• P.J. Tucker, Rockets.
• Myles Turner, Pacers.
• Kemba Walker, Celtics.
• Thaddeus Young, Bulls.

Montrezl Harrell was among the late invites to camp, though he turned down the opportunity. J.J. Redick was also invited to attend but like Harrell, he turned it down. Andre Drummond recently turned down the chance to join Team USA at training camp, opening the door for Miami’s Bam Adebayo to secure an invite, as the organization’s website shows.

Julius Randle also dropped out of the competition. DeAaron Fox, who was previously on the Select Team, has been invited to participate with Team USA and the point guard has a good chance to make the team, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.

The FIBA World Cup has traditionally taken place every four years, alternating even-numbered years (2010, 2014) with the Olympics (2012, 2016), though it recently made the change to push it back a year and play a year directly before the Summer Olympic Games.

*This post has been updated.

The post Who Will Play For Team USA In The FIBA World Cup? appeared first on SLAM.

Jimmy Butler has scheduled meetings with two teams and will be pursued by several more. The swingman is being floated as a potential sign-and-trade chip as well as a coveted free agency target.

Below we’ve summarized and outlined various reports that have come in about the superstar’s potential landing spot. Other teams may be interested in Butler but these are the teams that we feel have the most traction.

As news breaks and we learn more about where Butler stands regarding free agency, we’ll update this briefing. Similarly, if other teams appear to gain ground in their own pursuit of Butler, we’ll add them here.

Philadelphia 76ers

Salary Cap Room: $0

The Sixers technically are over the salary cap thanks to the cap holds for Butler ($30.7M), Tobias Harris (22.0M), and J.J. Redick ($15.9M). If things go the way Philadelphia hopes, they’ll re-sign all three via Bird Rights (Early Bird for Redick; Butler and Harris with full Bird) and won’t have cap space at any point this offseason.

Both Butler and Harris are expected to garner max deals. The Sixers remain focused on bringing both players back, though competition for each players’ services will be fierce.

The fifth year on Jimmy Butler’s potential max contract could be considered to be a trump card for Philly. If the Sixers offer it, he signs or at least that’s what some within the league believe. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported in an Instagram story that Philadelphia may be hesitant on offering that final year and perhaps that is why Butler is meeting with other teams to begin free agency.

Miami Heat

Salary Cap Room: $0

The Heat are meeting with Jimmy Butler to open free agency and he is expected to tell them that he wants to play in Miami. If Pat Riley wants to welcome him into the organization, he’ll then have to work with the Sixers to find a sign-and-trade deal to their liking.

Philadelphia is open to a sign-and-trade should Butler choose a team without the requisite cap room to sign him outright and while it’ll be better for the franchise to get something in return for an outgoing player, the team isn’t going to simply take just any deal.

Josh Richardson is reportedly among the players on the table in Butler sign-and-trad scenarios. Miami is unable to trade their 2020 or 2022 draft pick, having already sent out its 2021 selection previously, so it might be difficult for them to dictate terms with Philadelphia.

Los Angeles Clippers

Salary Cap Room: $52,928,034

The Clippers are toying with the idea of adding Butler along with Kawhi Leonard if the Finals MVP decides to join Steve Ballmer’s team. Los Angeles appears to have some trepidation about adding Butler on a four-year max deal, though if Leonard joins him, the duo’s upside will be too great to worry about Butler’s age concerns on the back end of his max.

As we mentioned in Kawhi Leonard’s briefing, the Clippers have the ability to carve out max slots for two players, though they still need to make additional moves to do so.

Houston Rockets

Salary Cap Room: $0

Houston is another team needing the Sixers to play ball on a sign-and-trade in order to land Butler. General manager Daryl Morey’s Plan A is to convince Butler that playing with James Harden and Chris Paul is the best move for the four-time All-Star’s career.

The Rockets have reportedly put Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela on the table in potential sign-and-trades with the Sixers. Salary cap rules may prevent Philadelphia from taking more than roughly $20M back in such a deal and Houston is prepared for the scenario, already lining up a potential three-way deal with another team that sends them Capela.

Brooklyn Nets

Salary Cap Room: $32,655,942

Butler and Kyrie Irving, who will sign with the Nets, have previously been rumored to have interest in playing together. Kevin Durant appears to be the top target for Brooklyn’s other star spot, though if he chooses the Knicks or another team, I wouldn’t rule out Butler moving two hours north (on a good day of traffic).

As mentioned in Durant’s free agency briefing, the Nets do not yet have enough cap room to sign two max players, though they can easily make additional moves to get there. Butler will be an easier addition cap-wise than Durant, as the starting salary on his max comes in at $5.46M less than Durant’s.

Los Angeles Lakers

Salary Cap Room:  $  32,149,063

The Lakers are still in search of a third star to add to the LeBron James-Anthony Davis pairing and Marc Stein of The New York Times hears that the franchise will make an aggressive attempt to land Butler. Yet, as of this writing, the Lakers remain without a official meeting.

Even after altering the Davis deal and getting him to waive his no trade clause, the team remains short of necessary cap space to sign Butler to a full max. However, Los Angeles can get awfully close to that figure and the lure of the Lakers should not be underestimated.

Related: 2019 Free Agency Briefing: Kawhi Leonard
Related: 2019 Free Agency Briefing: Kevin Durant

The post 2019 Free Agency Briefing: Jimmy Butler appeared first on SLAM.

On this fine evening, the night of the 2019 NBA Draft we’ve already seen a plethora of draft trades and you know as well as I do that Woj is just getting warmed up.

Below is a list of the draft results as we get them. We’ll be updating this list as journalists break the news, so don’t be alarmed if we end up getting a bit ahead of the live broadcast.

Peep the list, refresh the list, love the list, we’ll make sure to include any relevant reading or viewing material with the picks as we get them.

RELEVANT: Hit up SLAM Newswire’s running repository of NBA Draft content.

First Round

No. 1: New Orleans Pelicans – Zion Williamson
Must Watch: Zion Williamson is going to shock the world

No. 2: Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant
Must Watch: Ja Morant got it out the mud

No. 3: New York Knicks – R.J. Barrett
Must Read: R.J. Barrett is the most decorated prospect since LeBron James

No. 4: Atlanta Hawks – De’Andre Hunter
–The Hawks acquired this from the Pels in a pick swap prior to the draft (story).
–Previously the Pelicans acquired this from the Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade (story).
–Must Read: De’Andre Hunter has more to prove

No. 5: Cleveland Cavaliers – Darius Garland
–Must Watch: From injury to lottery pick

No. 6: Minnesota Timberwolves – Jarrett Culver
–The Wolves acquired this from the Suns in the Dario Saric trade prior to the draft (story).
–Must Watch: From slept on recruit to lottery pick

No. 7: Chicago Bulls – Coby White

No. 8: New Orleans Pelicans – Jaxson Hayes
–The Pels acquired this pick from the Hawks in a pick swap prior to the draft (story).

No. 9: Washington Wizards – Rui Hachimura
–Must Read: Gonzaga star about to make history

No. 10: Atlanta Hawks – Cam Reddish
–Must Read: Don’t sleep on killa Cam Reddish

No. 11: Phoenix Suns – Cam Johnson
-The Suns acquired this from the Wolves in the Dario Saric trade prior to the draft (story).

No. 12: Charlotte Hornets – P.J. Washington

No. 13: Miami Heat – Tyler Herro

No. 14: Boston Celtics – Romeo Langford

No. 15: Detroit Pistons – Sekou Doumbouya
–Must Read: Europe’s next elite NBA prospect

No. 16: Orlando Magic – Chuma Okeke

No. 17: New Orleans Pelicans – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
-The Pels acquired this from the Hawks in a pick swap prior to the draft (story).
–Previously the Hawks acquired this pick from the Nets in the Allen Crabbe trade (story).

No. 18: Indiana Pacers – Goga Bitadze

No. 19: San Antonio Spurs – Luka Samanic

No. 20: Philadelphia 76ers – Matisse Thybulle
-This Sixers acquired this from the Celtics in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 21: Memphis Grizzlies – Brandon Clarke
-The Grizzlies acquired this from the Thunder in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 22: Boston Celtics – Grant Williams

No. 23: Oklahoma City Thunder – Darius Bazley
-The Thunder acquired this from the Grizzlies in a pick swap during the draft (story).
–Must Read: From high school to the G League, Bazley is riding his own wave

No. 24: Phoenix Suns – Ty Jerome
-The Suns acquired this from the Celtics in a pick swap during the draft (story).
–Previously the Celtics acquired this from the Sixers in another pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 25: Portland Trail Blazers – Nassir Little
–Must Read: Continuing Carolina’s championship legacy

No. 26: Cleveland Cavaliers – Dylan Windler

No. 27: Los Angeles Clippers – Mfiondu Kabengele
–The Clippers acquired this from the Nets in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 28: Golden State Warriors – Jordan Poole

No. 29: San Antonio Spurs – Keldon Johnson

No. 30: Cleveland Cavaliers – Kevin Porter Jr.
–The Cavaliers acquired this from the Pistons in a pick swap during the draft (story).

Second Round

No. 31: Brooklyn Nets – Nicolas Claxton

No. 32: Miami Heat – KZ Okpala
-The Heat acquired this from the Pacers in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 33: Philadelphia 76ers – Carsen Edwards
-The Sixers acquired this from the Celtics in a pick swap during the draft (story)

No. 34: Atlanta Hawks – Bruno Fernando
-The Hawks acquired this from the Sixers in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 35: New Orleans Pelicans – Marcos Louzada Silva
–The Pels acquired this from the Hawks in a pick swap prior to the draft (story).

No. 36: Charlotte Hornets – Cody Martin

No. 37: Detroit PIstons – Deividas Sirvydis
–The Pistons acquired this from the Mavs in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 38: Chicago Bulls – Daniel Gafford

No. 39: Golden State Warriors – Alen Smailagic
-The Warriors acquired this from the Pelicans during the draft (story) .

No. 40: Sacramento Kings – Justin James

No. 41: Golden State Warriors – Eric Paschall

No. 42: Philadelphia 76ers – Admiral Schofield

No. 43: Minnesota Timberwolves – Jaylen Nowell

No. 44: Denver Nuggets – Bol Bol
-The Nuggets acquired this from the Heat during the draft (story).

No. 45: Dallas Mavericks – Isaiah Roby
–The Mavs acquired this from the Pistons in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 46: Los Angeles Lakers – Talen Horton-Tucker
-The Lakers acquired this from the Magic in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 47: New York Knicks – Ignas Brazdeikis
-The Knicks acquired this from the Kings in a pick swap during the draft (story).

No. 48: Los Angeles Clippers – Terence Mann

No. 49: San Antonio Spurs – Quinndary Weatherspoon

No. 50: Utah Jazz – Jarrell Brantley
-The Jazz acquired this from the Pacers during the draft (story).

No. 51: Boston Celtics – Tremont Waters

No. 52: Charlotte Hornets – Jalen McDaniels

No. 53: Utah Jazz – Justin Wright-Foreman

No. 54: Philadelphia 76ers – Marial Shayok

No. 55: Sacramento Kings – Kyle Guy
-The Kings acquired this from the Knicks during the draft (story).

No. 56: Brooklyn Nets – Jaylen Hands
–The Nets acquired this from the Clippers during the draft (story)

No. 57: Detroit Pistons – Jordan Bone
-The Pistons acquired this from Philly during the draft (story).
–Previously Philly acquired the pick from Atlanta during the draft (story).

No. 58: Utah Jazz – Miye Onei
-The Jazz acquired this from Golden State during the draft (story).

No. 59: Toronto Raptors – Dewan Hernandez

No. 60: Sacramento Kings – Vanja Marinkovic

The post 2019 NBA Draft Results: Your Pick-By-Pick Guide appeared first on SLAM.

A couple of Nike Hyperdunk X PEs were also in play with Eric Bledsoe rocking a yellow based number and teammate Khris Middleton rocking a lowtop PE version in a more subdued black and green color scheme. Draymond Green broke a Warriors PE which featured a funky blue and yellow outsole.

Check out aforementioned Kyries and Hyperdunks along with P.J. Tucker’s “Carpe Diem” Nike Zoom Kobe IV Protros and more in our latest NBA Playoff kicks recap.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Playoff Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Uncle Drew wasn’t the only one making sneaker waves last night as P.J. Tucker flexed with something old and something new. Tuck turned heads during shootaround when he took the floor wearing the upcoming “Orange Pulse” Nike Air Fear Of God 1. No official release for these have been announced, but a release this summer is expected. If pricing remains true to the original, then these should carry a box price of $350.

As for his something old, Tucker went with a vintage banger in the Nike Zoom Kobe VI “Barcelona” which, like many of Tuck’s gems, currently carries a hefty price tag on the secondary market.

Other notable kicks on the night included Kevin Durant’s Nike KD 12 which was inspired by notable 90s basketball movies Above the Rim and White Men Can’t Jump and Chris Paul’s Jordan CP3.XII which features inspirational words on the shoe’s heel from Eric Thomas, the Hip-Hop preacher.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Playoff Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

“They’ve got a lot of middle linebackers on that team,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters afterwards.

Kevin Durant, who finished with 34 points and 7 rebounds in the loss, says the Dubs are “excited” about Game 5 back on their home floor.

Per The AP:

“When you’re dealing with these guys, if you let Klay (Thompson) and Steph (Curry) run around and shoot 3s you don’t have no chance,” Harden said. “The only chance we have is to be in to their bodies and make every shot that they take contested.”

Golden State coach Steve Kerr was asked about the physical play of the Rockets, who have several players who are much stockier than his squad.

“They’ve got a lot of middle linebackers on that team,” he said. “They’re sturdy and we’re like volleyball players, long and lean … everybody tries to be physical with us because they should. That’s the best way to try to beat us.”

Eric Gordon added 20 points for Houston and P.J. Tucker had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

“We’ve got to be better,” Tucker said. “We’ve got to be more aggressive. We’ve got to pick it up.”

Related Kevin Durant: ‘No Lead is Safe’ vs. Houston

The post Steve Kerr: Rockets ‘Got a Lot of Middle Linebackers on That Team’ appeared first on SLAM.

We lead off in Boston where Uncle Drew debuted the “Galaxy” colorway of his Nike Kyrie 5. The shoe features an orange and purple upper with a wild multicolor outsole and speckled paint details throughout. Jayson Tatum got another wear out of his team colorway of the Nike Adapt BB and Marcus Morris stayed with LeBrons as he brought out the atmos colorway of the 16.

Kevin Durant played in his “University Red” Nike KD12, but prior to the game, KD did his shoot around in a clean new colorway of the silhouette. The latest 12 features grey tones with a fresh gradient Swoosh that pops off the neutral upper. Across the floor, Chris Paul debuted a new Jordan CP3.XII featuring a embroidered and printed slogans across the entire upper.

CP3’s teammate P.J. Tucker didn’t disappoint either as he brought out another “Aces” custom this time on the Nike Zoom Kobe IV Protro.

It was a pretty solid night of NBA playoff kicks so make sure you get caught up on the league’s best.

Photos via Getty Images

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Players who declared in time will be free to participate in NBA workouts and even perform at next month’s NBA Combine if invited, all while retaining the option to return to their NCAA club so long as they withdraw their name by May 29th.

Early entrants not concerned with their NCAA eligibility will have until June 10 to remove their name from the list of draftable candidates.

Below are some of the highest profile names to make themselves available as early entry draft candidates, a group headlined by unprecedented physical force Zion Williamson and mid-major point guard superstar Ja Morant.

Below is Tankathon’s current NBA Draft Big Board with links to SLAM Newswire posts that take a deeper look at the prospects and what they might be able to expect come June.

1. Zion Williamson
2. Ja Morant
3. Jarrett Culver
4. Brandon Clarke
5. R.J. Barrett
6. Cam Reddish
7. Jaxson Hayes
8. De’Andre Hunter
9. Bol Bol
10. Sekou Doumbouya
11. Coby White
12. Darius Garland
13. Bruno Fernando
14. Tyler Herro
15. Goga Bitadze
16. Romeo Langford
17. Grant Williams
18. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
19. P.J. Washington
20. Rui Hachimura
21. Nassir Little
22. Kevin Porter Jr.
23. Jontay Porter
24. Matisse Thybulle (senior, no need to declare)
25. Cameron Johnson (senior, no need to declare)
26. Talen Horton-Tucker
27. Keldon Johnson
28. Chuma Okeke
29. Shamorie Ponds
30. Ty Jerome

Related: Tie-breakers broken ahead of NBA Lottery

The post Early Entry Candidates For 2019 NBA Draft appeared first on SLAM.

Irving’s latest Nike Kyrie 5 was another tribute to Kobe and featured a snakeskin-like patterned upper along with a split logo on the heal featuring both his signature K.I. mark along with Kobe’s “Sheath” mark.

Tatum came out in a white-based colorway of the Nike Adapt BB with light green and black accents. Up to this point, the Adapt BB’s colorways have been limited to the original black colorway along with team colors on the heal so this latest iteration definitely turned heads.

Speaking of turning heads, PJ Tucker did just that with his pairs of KDs. Tuck came out in the vintage “Wanda Pratt” Nike Zoom KD4s and followed that with KD’s latest silhouette, the 12s, done in a red and white colorway with PJ’s initials on the heel.

Closing out, Langston Galloway continued his epic season of Q4 Specialist customs with another banger featuring character’s from Disney’s Aladdin.

Take a moment and peruse all the aforementioned kicks and a few more in our latest NBA playoff kicks recap.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Playoff Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Along with CP3, two more of the League’s superstar point guards wore notable kicks with Kyrie Irving breaking out a dope, cotton candy-like colorway of his Nike Kyrie 5 and Russell Westbrook coming through with his extra wild “What The” Jordan Why Not Zer0.2.

Make sure to check out the rest of Sunday’s NBA playoff kicks in our gallery below.

Photos via Getty Images

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“There’s only one thing left,” according to general manager Daryl Morey.

Houston is healthy and excited heading into the postseason, and head coach Mike D’Antoni likes his team’s chances.

Per The Houston Chronicle:

“We all need to win a championship,” Paul said. “I need to win a championship. Tuck needs to win a championship. That was the case last year. We’re competing. We want to win for no other reason but just to win.”

Just one word, really, jumped out as the Rockets’ veteran guard spoke for such members of his team — which opens the playoffs Sunday against the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center — as James Harden and P.J. Tucker and, even without mentioning them, for coach Mike D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey.

“Obviously, we’re one of the more veteran teams in the league,” Morey said. “The team has won every award, set every record. There’s only one thing left. They are extremely aware of that.”

Paul has an expression he uses often, his answer to those who want to characterize and label him and the Rockets by what they have not accomplished. He uses it often when asked about the pursuit of a championship.

“The story is not the story until you win it,” he said.

Related Austin Rivers: ‘If We Play Defense Like That, We Can Win the Title’

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We start in Minnesota where the Timberwolves all wore Kickstradomis designed custom kicks for Breast Cancer Awareness. All the sneakers worn on Sunday night were auctioned off via the team’s Fastbreak Foundation with proceeds going to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. The event was especially meaningful for Tyus Jones whose mother, Debbie, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. Jones’ custom Nike Kyrie 5 was the highest selling sneaker of the night raising $1,550 for cancer research.

The custom trend continued in Indiana with Spencer Dinwiddie paying tribute to Nipsey Hussle with a pair of K8IROS Kronos adorned with a portrait of the late rapper and the words, “Legends Never Die.” In Detroit, Frank Kaminsky made his fandom for Game of Thrones be known with a custom pair of Jordan CP3.XIs designed with portraits of the Night King on one shoe and Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen on the other. For the Pistons, Langston Galloway wore his Q4 Sports Specialist customs which honored Detroit’s 2004 championship team.

Wrestlemania 35 was held on Sunday night and Russell Westbrook made sure to let fans know who one of his favorite wrestlers was via his latest Jordan Why Not Zer0.2. Decked out in a tough black and red colorway with red stitch details on the toe box, the Brodie paid tribute to “The Devil’s Favorite Demon” himself, Kane.

While Russ was on his wrestling wave, LeBron James took in the Lakers’ dub over the Jazz in a pair of the Nike LeBron 16 “Remix” which seemed to have instantly sold out on Nike. Last, but certainly not least, Kyrie Irving was once again in his latest Kyrie 5 colorway, the “Mamba Day” which is slated to release on Saturday, April 13, at select Nike retailers.

We have over 50 of the night’s best NBA kicks so get comfy and make sure you rifle through our latest recap.

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Out in Miami, Kyrie Irving led the Celts to a dub while rocking a new colorway of his Nike Kyrie 5 and Dwyane Wade flexed in a sunny pair of Li-Ning Way of Wade 7s.

The tributes for the late Nipsey Hussle continued with DeMar DeRozan, Danny Green and Rudy Gay honoring the legend with hand written commemorations on their sneakers.

Check out the rest of the League’s kicks in our latest gallery below.

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While DeRozan broke out an exclusive for Manu, PJ Tucker rocked one of DeRozan’s old PEs in Houston’s tilt with Denver. Tuck sported the red and white Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro along with a pair of the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 FTB. Since debuting his Jordan CP3.XII, Chris Paul has been wearing some pretty wild colorways and his latest pair followed that tune as it featured a two-tone white and volt upper with red accents.

Montrezl Harrell is finishing the regular season strong as he brought out another two pairs of vintage Bron lows as he donned the “Multicolor” Nike LeBron 11 and “Red Plum” Xs. Out in Miami, Derrick Jones Jr flexed with the “Easter” Nike Zoom KD 4 and Dwyane Wade wore a custom pair of his Li-Ning Way of Wade 7.

Make sure to scroll through our latest NBA sneakers’ recap located right below.

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Like we’ve often done, we’ll start off with the League’s premier footwear kings, Montrezl Harrell and P.J. Tucker. Trezz went double-duty with a pair of the Air Jordan VII Retro “Marvin the Martian” and the funky Nike LeBron 11 EXT “King’s Crown.” For Tuck, another one of his March Madness favorites was on his feet, as he donned the classic Nike Air Force Max 93.

Nike Hyperdunks were once again a prominent wear and Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with two custom Hyperdunk X bangers including a Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 themed pair. Justin Jackson used his Hyperdunk X Lows to call attention to World Down Syndrome Day and Kevin Love wore a fresh pair of PEs that tied back to the Cavs’ City uniforms. On the vintage tip, Josh Richardson took it back with the “Puerto Rico” edition of the Hyperdunk ’08.

Plenty of newer looks were also on display as Jayson Tatum came with a new colorway of the Nike Adapt BB, Kyle Kuzma rocked a Lakers’ colorway of the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Protro, LeBron James went with another PE model of his LeBron 16s and Greg Monroe came with the “Cactus Jack” Air Jordan XXXIII.

With all of Tuesday’s heat rock around the League, make sure you get caught up on all the sneaker action below.

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The Nike LeBron models was also quite a hit Sunday night with no less than five colorways seeing the hardwood. Mason Plumlee donned the “Equality” 16 model, Malik Beasley rocked the “Orange Box” 15, Torrey Craig brought the “SuperBron” 16 and Montrezl Harrell wore the “King” 16 in addition to the “What The” LeBron 11. Rounding out the parade of 16s was the king himself as LeBron James wore an all-white colorway.

Other kicks of note included P.J. Tucker wearing another of his favorite March Madness sneakers in the Nike Air Max 2 Uptempo 94 OG, DeMar DeRozan in another new colorway of the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Proto and Kawhi Leonard steppong out in a new colorway of his New Balance signature, the OMN1S, which features a flip of the Jurassic Park logo.

Sunday was a pretty dope night in kicks so if you missed any of the action make sure you check our gallery below.

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Pink was the theme for evening for Wes Iwundu and Derrick Jones Jr. as Iwundu wore an all-pink version of the Under Armour Antamoix Spawn 2019 while Jones Jr. took it back a bit a few years with the “Aunt Pearl” Nike KD V.

Also starring on the footwear stage Monday night were Luka Doncic’s custom “Dragon Ball Z” Nike PG 2.5, Dwyane Wade’s wild Li-Ning Way of Wade 7 and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot’s sick yellow and black Nike PG2s.

Check out the rest of the night’s NBA kicks right below.

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Back in Los Angeles, Montrezl Harrell did his sneaker thing as he broke out his own pair of ‘Brons, rocking the “Pure Platinum” Xs along with the “N7” Nike KD6 in the Clippers thrilling last-second win over the Nets. Fellow sneaker titan P.J. Tucker also went the KD route as he brought out a pair of KD4s in a sample colorway made for the 2012 Finals.

Another pair of Marquette Golden Eagle PEs made waves in the NBA sneaker world as Jimmy Butler rocked a wild pair of the Jordan Supreme Elevation. As y’all might recall, fellow Marquette alumni Jae Crowder wore a pair of the Jordan Jumpman Hustle PEs which we featured here just a few nights ago.

Several other pairs will definitely catch your attention so make sure you peruse the rest of our Sunday’s NBA footwear recap below.

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Bam Adebayo wore those sick futuristic-looking Nike Zoom Kobe IV Protros, but DeMar DeRozan showed why he’s the top Kobe collector in the League as he broke out the latest colorway in that style which featured an all-black base with bright contrasting color pops. Fellow Kobe aficionados Allonzo Trier and Tobias Harris wore vintage models. Iso Zo went with the Nike Zoom Kobe VI ASG “Orange County” and Harris donned the “Big Stage” Nike Zoom Kobe V.

In the evening’s craziest kicks, Jimmy Butler came with another sick pair of the Jordan Supreme Elevation as he donned an orange and green number in the 76ers win. Dwyane Wade went with a new Li-Ning Way of Wade 7 colorway which featured a leopard print over a multicolored upper.

Closing out, our P.J. Tucker sneaker watch continues and the League’s sneaker king showed pride in his alma mater as he wore a pair of “Texas Longhorns” Nike Zoom KD4 PEs.

Check out the rest of the league’s footwear game in our recap below.

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His name may not be synonymous with the League’s biggest sneakerheads, but Sam Dekker arguably had the sneaker of the night as he rocked the “Arthur” Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier XII. On the topic of the League’s biggest sneakerheads, it looks like P.J. Tucker almost had a sneaker malfunction in the vintage “Gold Medal” Nike Zoom Kobe 4 and Montrezl Harrell got in the St. Patrick’s Day mood early with a pair of the And1 Tai Chi Remix.

Make sure to check out the rest of the night’s best NBA kicks in our gallery below.

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In newer kicks, Devin Booker and Chris Paul both wore “All-Star” colorways with Book rocking the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Protro Paul wore his signature Jordan CP3.XI. Deandre Ayton continued the All-Star theme with his Puma Uproar and LeBron James also wore a mismatched pair as he brought out a Lakers PE of his Nike LeBron 16.

We’ve got close to 40 kicks from last night’s action so make sure you take a moment and check out the rest of the NBA’s best kicks.

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In OKC, the Thunder’s superstar duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George both notched triple-doubles in their signature models with the Brodie breaking out a black/red/elephant print Jordan Why Not Zer0.2 and PG hooping in another PE colorway of his new Nike PG3.

Malik Beasley has been rocking some gems this season and his latest wear didn’t disappoint as he rocked the KITH x Nike LeBron 15 “Closing Ceremony” while Langston Galloway continued with his cartoon tributes as he brought out a Rocket Power-themed Q4 Sports Specialist.

Peep all the kicks we just talked about along with the rest of the night’s sneaker heat in our recap below.

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D’Angelo Russell took the floor in Brooklyn rocking the BHM edition of the Nike PG 2.5, De’Aaron Fox gave his Kobes a rest in favor of a pair of vintage Nike Zoom KD IV “BHM” and Omari Spellman was one of several players wearing the Nike Hyperdunk X Low “BHM.” Kelly Oubre Jr. paid homage to jazz legend Louis Armstrong with a custom pair of the Nike Kobe A.D. Exodus while Josh Jackson honored African-American inventor Garrett Morgan, whose contributions included the gas mask and the traffic light, which Jackson portrayed on his custom Under Armour HOVR Havoc Low.

Other notable kicks on the evening included P.J. Tucker’s “ASG” Nike Zoom Kobe 3 and “Ohio State” PE Nike LeBron 15s, Taurean Prince’s PSNY x Air Jordan XII Retro, and sick NikeiD jawns in Stanley Johnson’s Kyrie 5s and Solomon Hill’s PG 2s.

Check out the rest of Monday’s best NBA footwork in our gallery below.

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OKC had several of the night’s best joints as Paul George gave his “NASA” Nike PG3s proper exposure with a big-time performance against the Bucks which included a thunderous dunk over the “Greek Freak” while Russell Westbrook debuted another multicolored iteration of his newest model, the Jordan Why Not Zer0.2. Dennis Schroder went with a vintage KD model as he rocked the “Liger” colorway of the Nike KD 6.

Speaking of KDs, Michael Beasley got another wear out of the same silhouette as he rocked the N7 edition and Trezz went even further back with his two pairs of KDs as he rocked the “Home” 3s and the “Gold Medal” KD 7 PRMs.

Kobes are always part of our daily recaps and Sunday was no different with a solid selection hitting the hardwood. Tobias Harris donned the “Pit Viper” Nike Kobe 8 System, Kelly Oubre Jr. went with the “Galaxy” Zoom 7s, De’Aaron Fox rocked the Nike Kobe 9 KRM EXT, Buddy Hield brought out the “Pain” Xs and P.J. Tucker wore the “Del Sol” Zoom 6 along with the Nike Air Max LeBron 7 “Hardwood Classic.”

Sunday’s NBA kicks were not to be missed so if you did, do yourself a solid and peep the League’s latest sneaker stunts.

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The Mecca saw P.J. Tucker square off against Allonzo Trier and both rocked some serious bangers. Tuck took the floor during warms up in another crazy exclusive as he donned the Air Jordan IV Retro “Sooners” PE. Showing his loyalty to his alma mater, Tuck playfully covered up the OU logos on the tongues with Texas’ UT and “Hook ‘Em” slogan before switching up to the Nike Zoom LeBron 3 “Superman.” Not to be outdone, Iso Zo rocked his own heater in the 2010 Nike Zoom Kobe V “Big Stage,” which Tucker also rocked just a few weeks ago.

Out in South Beach, Montrezl Harrell showed he was still in the holiday spirit as he brought out the “Christmas” Nike LeBron 9 as well as the Nike Zoom Kobe VI Supreme “Chaos.” For Miami, Josh Richardson played in a lesser known LeBron as he hit the hardwood in the Nike LeBron Witness III.

Trey Lyles and DeMar DeRozan easily have two of the sickest Kobe collections in the League and both continued to show their fandom of the line with Lyles bringing out the Nike Zoom Kobe IV Prelude while Deebo went with the Nike Zoom Kobe I Protro. Also getting in on the Kobe action was Chandler Hutchinson and Jonathon Simmons, who both wore the Nike Kobe 9 Elite with Hutch playing in the FTB and Simmons in the “What The” respectively.

There was quite an array of kicks on display around the League so if you missed out on any of the action, make sure you peep our recap below.

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This year’s motif features traditional African patterns across all models. Paul George got things started with a 31-point performance at Madison Square Garden in his “BHM” Nike PG3 while Russell Westbrook and Tim Hardaway Jr. showcased “Equality” colorways of the Jordan Why Not Zer0.2 and Jordan Jumpman Hustle, respectively. In Boston Kyrie Irving rocked his “BHM” Nike Kyrie 5 en route to a 25-point performance and a career-high eight steals to lead Boston to a victory over Miami. The Grizzlies tandem of Marc Gasol and  Jaren Jackson Jr. wore the High and Low models of the BHM Nike Hyperdunk X out in Memphis.

Langston Galloway donned another custom and his latest Q4 Sports Specialist paid homage to Dr. King with portraits of the man himself and his words painted prominently on the shoes.

P.J. Tucker continued to serve notice that his sneaker game is second to none as he brought out the “Superman” Nike LeBron 3 and an insane pair of custom Air Jordan IIIs made by The Shoe Surgeon.

Make sure to get caught up on the rest of MLK Day’s best NBA kicks with a quick scroll of our latest gallery below.

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Wednesday night saw the Swoosh debut its self-lacing Nike Adapt BB on the feet of two of the game’s rising stars, Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic. According to Nike’s presser, the foot can expand as much as a half-size during the course of the game so the shoe has been designed to allow the wearer to adjust the fit quickly either manually or via smartphone. Both players wore the initial “Black/White/Pure Platinum” colorway and fans can get their hands on the Adapt BB beginning on February 17. Retail for the futuristic model is set at $350.

In addition to the Adapt BB, Luka Doncic went in his bag and rocked two more pairs of Nikes as he went with the “Taco” Nike Kyrie 5 and the all-blue Nike PG 2. P.J. Tucker and Montrezl Harrell are both known for wearing multiple pairs in a game and both did it again with Tuck busting out the Sole Collector x Nike Air Penny 2 and another one of his own Nike Hyperdunk X Low PEs. Trezz went the KD rout bringing out the “Wheat” Nike KD VI EXT and the Nike Zoom KD V Elite.

During shoot around last night, DeMarus Cousins was spotted wearing his own Puma Clyde Court Disrupt PE with the tagline, “THE MARATHON CONTINUES” printed on the back heel. In Dallas, “King of Kobes” DeMar DeRozan wore another coveted model as he hit the hardwood in the “Mamba Day” Nike Kobe 11 Elite. And on the topic of Kobes, a bevy of of the A.D. Exodus was on display once again which you can see in below in our latest recap.

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P.J. Tucker was on his Jordan wave as he brought out the sick “Florida Gators” Air Jordan IV Retro PEs along with the more attainable classic, the Air Jordan VII Retro “Hare.”  Out in Los Angeles, Michael Beasley continued to rep his homie Kevin Durant as he rocked a classic KD colorway, the Nike KD6 “N7” from 2013.

Rookies also showed out on Sunday night with Luka Doncic filling up the stat sheet in an all-blue pair of Nike PG2s and Kevin Knox in his “Knicks” Puma Court Clyde Disrupt PE.

The rest of Sunday’s best NBA kicks is a quick scroll right below.

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Jimmy Butler took it back a couple of years and brought out the Air Jordan XXX “Cosmos” which released back in 2016. Also rocking with an older pair of Jordans was Chris Paul as he took in the action in the 2015  Air Jordan I Retro Pinnacle. Paul’s teammate P.J. Tucker continued to stoke the flames of his godly sneaker collection has he brought out a rare Nike Zoom Kobe VI PE as well as the “Lightning” Air Jordan IV Retro.

In Chicago, Cristiano Felicio took a page out of teammate Lauri Markkanen’s LeBron playbook and donned the Nike LeBron 10 XDR “Floridian.” Speaking of the king, LeBron James took in the Lakers game rocking the funky A-COLD-WALL* x Nike Zoom Vomero +5. On the custom front, Langston Galloway and Spencer Dinwiddie whipped out another set of sick creations with Galloway going with a Scooby Doo themed Q4 Sports Specialist while Dinwiddie paid homage to the baseball legend Jackie Robinson with his K8IROS Kronos.

And if all that wasn’t enough, DeMar DeRozan wore the Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro “81 Point Game” which is slated to release this January 22nd.

Peep the rest of the night in NBA kicks right below.

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On the night of the College Football National Championship, P.J. Tucker brought out an obscure, but appropriate, pair of Kobes as he rocked in the white colorway of the Nike Zoom Kobe V “Big Stage.” DeMar DeRozan filled up the stat sheet in the tough black/white Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro and the Bucks duo of Eric Gordon and Khris Middleton were back at it with their sick team colorways of the Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier XII and the Nike Hyperdunk X Low.

Peep the rest of Monday night’s NBA sneaker action in our latest recap below.

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Harden has scored at least 30 points in 10 consecutive games, averaging 40.8 points during this incredible stretch.

Rockets' James Harden on winning another MVP: 'I need it for sure. And I'm going to get it' https://t.co/mWhVzWxBHX

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 2, 2019

Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni says the superstar guard has taken his conditioning “to another level.”

Per the Houston Chronicle:

Asked if he is “hungry” to win the award again, Harden said, “I need it. I need it for sure. And I’m going to get it.

“Individually, I got to bring it every night and make sure the guys around me in that locker room are on the same level,” Harden said. “It’s a great feeling. Individually, I got to make sure I’m on my A game every night, and that’s not just scoring. That’s being a leader every night. That’s making sure I’m communicating with my guys and we’re putting ourselves in positions to win games.”

Harden comes in early to do extra lifting. He runs the arena stairs before video sessions. On game days, he has added a morning session of treatment and stretching. And when each practice ends, Harden joins teammates Gerald Green, Danuel House Jr. and P.J. Tucker for one-on-one battles, sparring sessions in which the sparring partners hit back.

“Every day, man,” Harden said. “I love doing it. I’m happy to be playing professional basketball and I would never take it for granted. So every day, I put the work in and I expect good results. And it’s happening.”

Related
‘It’s Coming Back’: James Harden Confident He’ll Be the MVP Again

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P.J. Tucker donned the Nike Zoom KD 4 “Weatherman” to headline the final night of NBA kicks in 2018. Russell Westbrook dropped a triple-double while rocking a pair of neon pink Jordan Why Not Zer0.1s while Jerami Grant continued with his carousel of Air Jordan Retros as he brought out the “Olympic” VIIs. Kyrie Irving showcased a new colorway of his Nike Kyrie 5 as well as another wear of the “Ikhet” Concepts collaboration.

With many of you celebrating New Year’s, there’s a good chance you missed out on last night’s action so make sure to get caught up with our gallery below. And of course, a happy and prosperous New Year to you all.

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After making headlines on Christmas Day with his “Stewie” Nike LeBron 6s, P.J. Tucker was back with another insane flex as he brought out the 2008 Nike Hyperdunk Supreme “Barcelona Ronaldinho.” Allonzo Trier, the current front runner for the NBA rookie sneaker crown, stayed in the holiday spirit as he rocked the Nike Zoom Kobe 8 “Christmas,” which originally released back in 2012.

Lance Stephenson showed South Florida some love as he donned the “Miami Dolphins” Nike Air Max Penny V while Courtney Lee kept the tropical vibes going with “The Academy” Nike PG 2. De’Aaron Fox welcomed the Lakers to town in the Lake Show’s team colored “Court Purple” Nike Kobe 9 Elite while Terry Rozier visited Houston while rocking a new colorway of the Puma Court Clyde Disrupt in a Rockets friendly color of black/red.

Peep the recap below and let us know your opinion on who had the best kicks in the comments.

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LeBron James had sneakerheads buzzing with the return of his #LeBronWatch as he donned the first pair in this year’s collection, the “SuperBron” Nike LeBron 16. They were inspired by the “Superman” Nike LeBron 3 PE, which debuted in 2005.

While ‘Bron went with the “something old, something new” theme, P.J. Tucker went straight vintage as he broke out the highly coveted “Stewie Griffin” Nike LeBron 6 and Allonzo Trier matched fire with fire as he broke out the KITH x Nike LeBron 15 Performance “King’s Cloak.” And if that wasn’t enough, Lance Stephenson stuck with the holiday theme as he rocked the “Christmas” Nike LeBron 10.

Keeping with the holiday, Stephen Curry debuted his “Christmas in the Town” Under Armour Curry 6 and Marcus Morris honored his son, Benji, with a pair of custom Nike Zoom Kobe 1 FTBs which featured both Benji and a mischievous snowman. Evan Turner had many of us reminiscing about childhood with his custom pair of Li-Ning YuShuai 12s that was emblazoned with a portrait of E.T. in a Santa hat.

In addition to all these kicks, you’ll also want to make sure you peep Kevin Durant’s “Scrooge McDuck” Nike KD 11 PEs, Kyrie Irving’s “IKHET” Concepts x Nike Kyrie 5 collaboration and Jordan Brand’s Holiday PE collection which features a blurred holiday lights theme on the Air Jordan XXXIII, Jordan Super.Fly MVP L and the Jordan Why Not Zer0.1.

Hope y’all had a Merry Christmas and if you were too busy celebrating, we got your backs with a recap of the NBA’s best kicks right below.

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Their was a 90s vibe in the air with Lance Thomas leading the way in the legendary Nike Air Max Uptempos. Thomas has lowkey been wearing some of Nike basketball’s classic kicks over the past few seasons including several models from the Penny line. Darius Miller continued the 90s trend with the recent retro release of the “Concord” Air Jordan XI, Jerami Grant rocked out in the Air Jordan VIII Retro “South Beach” and Thabo Sefolosha wore his flashiest pair of Nike Air Max 90s to date.

On the topic of wild sneakers, Clint Capela wore the craziest pair of the Nike Kobe A.D. Exodus to-date. The shoe featured a yellow, navy and red color palette and definitely was the most eye-catching of the Kobes that hit the floor last night. Red sneakers have been very popular around the League this year and several were spotted last night including the aforementioned Exodus, the Nike PG 2.5 and the P.J. Tucker’s Nike Hyperdunk X PE.

Make sure to peep all these and the rest of the night’s NBA kicks in our gallery below.

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Middleton wasn’t the only one wearing an exclusive Hyperdunk X Monday night. P.J. Tucker debuted his second PE colorway of the Hyperdunk X which was done in all-red with black accents and Tuck’s “PJ17” logo printed on the back heel. Sticking with the red/black color theme, Jimmy Butler wore the XXXs for the second night in a row as he donned the “Gym Red” edition while Lauri Markkanen went with the Nike LeBron 10s once again as he rocked the “Heat Away” version.

Several other bangers were spotted on the evening so make sure you check them out in our Monday night NBA kicks recap below.

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Jeff Teague has always had a solid sneaker game, but as the T-Wolves welcomed the Rockets and the sneaker king P.J. Tucker, it appears Teague went extra hard as he donned a trifecta of heaters. In pre-game, Teague shot around in the Nike Zoom LeBron II then took the floor in his familiar Nike Air Zoom Generation Retro before finishing up in the Nike Zoom Kobe 6 Prelude. Tucker went with a vintage KD model as he brought out the Nike Zoom KD II Supreme “All-Star” from 2010.

Other footwear highlights on the evening included Stanley Johnson going the vintage KD route as well as he wore the “Scoring Title” Nike Zoom KD IV, Markieff Morris got spicy in the “Habanero” Nike Air Foamposite One, John Collins went with the BAPE x adidas Dame 4 and both Montrezl Harrell and Jerami Grant both took the floor in the Air Jordan VI Retro with Grant rocking the “Tinker” edition and Trezz in a “Kids Next Door” custom.

With close to 40 kicks from last night’s NBA games, you won’t want to miss out on our latest recap below.