This year’s voting style for the All-star League Fits was unique by mirroring the NBA’s voting process, with the ballot being split up by conference *and* frontcourt/backcourt. In the East, layering has been a critical style choice for stars like the Jays and Tyrese Haliburton while wearing many hats: beanies, fitted’s, and cowboy hats. Meanwhile, in the West, stars like SGA and Jordan Clarkson have been showing out in the tunnel, as they always do, with their effortlessly cool style, bold accessories, and choice of shades.

Here’s this year’s LeagueFits All-Stars:

That’s back-to-back starting selections on the LeagueFits All-Star teams for Jaylen Brown.

Is there anyone in the League whose outfits are more talked about more than Tyrese Haliburton’s? He’s in a class of his own right now.

Who said there’s no waves in Philadelphia? The first-ever LeagueFits MVP snags a starting spot on this year’s starting 5.

Sometimes less is (a lot) more. Jordan Poole led the entire Eastern conference in votes this season.

Jayson Tatum led the Eastern frontcourt in voting (and by a lot, too).

Save any and all other nicknames, after back-to-back style All-Star selections, he’s officially Thanasfits Antetokounmpo.

Aesthetic this, aesthetic that, nobody’s aesthetic is as defined and consistent as Bruce Brown’s. (Who says cowboys can’t come from Massachusetts?)

Nic Claxton’s consistently been NYC’s best-dressed player despite being nearly 7-feet tall. Well deserving of his first LeagueFits All-Star selection.

Buddy Hield’s been consistently throwing fits for a few seasons. Excited to see it continue in Philly.

Once upon a time, Kyle Kuzma was the first-ever LeagueFits Rookie of the Year. He clearly hasn’t slown down at all since then.

Y’all know scary Terry was the first box checked on my ballot.

A guy who dresses how he’s feeling, there’s few guys in the league with the same variety and range as Myles Turner.

It’s been a season of straight heaters since Bol Bol arrived in the desert. (Oh, and he’s been putting in work on the court since the turn of the new year, too).

The Alexander’s are officially the LeagueFits royal family. Nickel Alexander-Walker joins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a western conference starter, beating out an absolutely stacked ballot feat. Two former LeagueFits MVP’s. 

 Yeah, nobody had more votes than this guy. It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s world and we’re all living on it.

It’s not easy to get dressed night in and night out when you’re a 7-footer with the largest sneaker size in the association, but Karl Anthony Towns has managed to do it. Shout out to the on and off-court All-Star.

Jalen Williams is the THIRD member of the Oklahoma City Thunder to be voted a LeagueFits All-Star, and the second to be voted onto the starting lineup. S/O dub.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone as consistently dressed as Devin Booker.

The host of last year’s on-court All-Stars is back. No LeagueFits discussion is complete without Jordan Clarkson in the conversation.

The first (of many) LeagueFits accolades for Lu Dort. One of the best-dressed players on the league’s coolest team.

The only thing better than winning your first ring is being voted as a LeagueFits All-Star for the first time.

LeBron’s in the GOAT conversation. He’s a business mogul. He’s a husband and father. He’s maybe the busiest basketball player ever, and he’s still found time to craft the best slate of pregame style we’ve ever seen from him in his career.

Jarred Vanderbilt made our All-LeagueFits first team last spring, it’s not a surprise that Los Angeles’ best-dressed added another style All-Star to his resume.

Russell Westbrook’s wardrobe is gonna be carved into the NBA style Mt. Rushmore when he retires. In the meantime, tho, he has more fits to get off (and create).

The post The 2024 LeagueFits All-Stars: Full List appeared first on SLAM.

Trent is averaging 16.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on 43.0 percent shooting from the field and 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. His gradual improvement since he was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers in 2018 will help him earn a solid second contract. However, Scotto believes that the Raptors aren’t keen on committing to Trent long-term.

“According to numerous NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype at the G League Showcase, the top Raptors trade candidate is unanimously Gary Trent Jr.,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported.

“The current belief from those executives is Trent Jr. will opt out of his $18.8 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency this summer. Two executives told HoopsHype they believe Trent could earn $20 million or more if he entered unrestricted free agency. There’s skepticism amongst several front offices across the league that Toronto would be willing to retain Trent Jr. if he eclipses the $20 million annual range.”

The Raptors acquired Trent in the middle of the 2020-21 season after trading away Norman Powell for the former Duke Blue Devil. In the 112 games Trent has played for Toronto, he’s averaged 17.7 points per game. Because of that production, it’ll be difficult to let Trent walk, but the Raptors are in the middle of being a playoff threat while they are fighting off being a high-draft pick team or tanking.

Toronto (13-18) will look to break their six-game losing streak against Cleveland (21-11) on Friday.

The post REPORT: Gary Trent Jr. Expected to Opt-Out of Player Option appeared first on SLAM.

The team has relied on Max Strus and Duncan Robinson to handle the load at the power forward slot, but the team looks to be losing hope in their defensive powers as reports suggest the Heat are looking at trade suitors.

“Kyle Kuzma and Taj Gibson aren’t the only potential moves that the Heat have been linked to recently,” according to Heavy.com’s Thomas Darro. “Link them to PJ Washington from the Charlotte Hornets, as well as finalizing a reunion between Crowder and the Heat. But another has been Bojan Bogdanovic from the Detroit Pistons and Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz.”

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Kuzma of the Washington Wizards is off to a fantastic start to the young season as he’s averaging 19.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and a staggering shooting at 46.5 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. His size and length could turn him into a problem under the talented Heat coaching staff, but Heat President Pat Riley always keeps the door open to other options.

Washington is a restricted free agent this upcoming off-season due to the inability to negotiate a contract extension. The Hornets may be focused on providing their star point guard LaMelo Ball an enormous deal for the 2024 season, leaving little cap space to work for Washington.

The Heat wouldn’t mind one-year rentals, especially when there’s a lot of talent that needs to be proven out of the group. The 24-year-old would add the floor spacing, agility, and defensive intangibles that much up well against star rivals like Jaylen Brown, Khris Middleton and Demar Derozan.

Finally, the reunion Heat fans would welcome with open arms. Not too long ago, Phoenix Suns’ Jae Crowder was part of the resilient 2020 Heat squad that, as a 5th seed, went six games against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The chemistry on display, both offensive and defensively, is in no way bound to be lost in just the two seasons apart.

With this possibly being his 10th straight playoff appearance, a reunion with the Heat opens the door to a final run at a championship.

The post REPORT: Heat Linked to Kyle Kuzma, P.J Washington, and Jae Crowder appeared first on SLAM.

Though many believe the acquisition of the former MVP has yielded disastrous results, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green thinks it’s just a matter of time until Westbrook returns to form and contributes to an 18th banner.

“Who wouldn’t ask for Russell Westbrook?” Green said, per the Checc’n In Podcast, after being asked whether he believes LeBron James asked for Westbrook to be traded to the Lakers. “You’d be out of your mind not to ask for Russell Westbrook.”

Westbrook, who is due $47 million this season, has been involved in many trade talks just one year after being sent from the Washington Wizards for Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and the No. 22 overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft from the Lakers. The deal hasn’t worked out thus far, but Green believes the reason for that is because of how on-the-ball dominant each of the three superstars is.

“I 100 percent think the fit is terrible,” said Green. “I don’t think you could talk to Russell Westbrook right now, and Russell Westbrook wouldn’t think the fit is terrible — just, because the fit is terrible, don’t mean you don’t go for it. Because guess what, if you go for it and it works, then you got a championship.”

The star power of the Lakers is undoubtedly one of the best in the League, but the Lakers finished 33-49, 11th in the Western Conference. Many Lakers fans worry Westbrook’s turnover issues and inability to hit shots at the rim will hold back the Lakeshow.

Health issues were also a more significant issue last season. James and Davis missed a significant amount of time sitting on the sidelines last season, missing a combined 68 games without one of them appearing on the court.

Meanwhile, Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists last season, per ESPN. Coach Darvin Ham has confirmed that he thinks Westbrook “has a ton left in the tank” and that he has a “wholehearted plan” to utilize Westbrook to the best of his abilities. Davis, James, and Westbrook also chopped it over the phone to reconfirm their commitment to each other as well

Green may be a rival, but he certainly notices the potential this squad has. With former MVPs and defensive player of the year caliber players, the Lakers are expected to make a playoff run this upcoming season, but if all fails again this season, the NBA world will likely call for the Lakeshow to move on from Westbrook and trade him elsewhere.

The post Draymond Green Defends Lakers Trade for Russell Westbrook: ‘Who Wouldn’t Ask?’ appeared first on SLAM.

While it helps, you don’t have to win a championship to be on this list. There were some pretty incredible NBA teams that fell short of championships but were still so far ahead of the rest of the League (besides the champion) that they deserve to leapfrog some actual champions. 

This week, we’re unveiling who we think deserves to be included on this list, which is featured in our SLAM Presents TOP 75 NBA Teams of All Time special issue. Here’s our top 65-55:

65. 1983-84 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Pat Riley

Record: 54-28

Roster: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper, Calvin Garrett, Magic Johnson, Eddie Jordan, Mitch Kupchak, Bob McAdoo, Mike McGee, Swen Nater, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, Larry Spriggs, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy

The Lakers would have to wait one more year to finally beat the Celtics when it mattered most. Led by Kareem’s 26.6 ppg and 8.1 rpg in the series, the Lakers forced a Game 7 on the road. But whether it was the mystique of Boston Garden, that famously tricky parquet floor or simply a deep and talented Celtics team that had the benefit of homecourt advantage and League MVP Larry Bird, L.A. couldn’t quite vanquish its franchise kryptonite.

64. 1976-77 Philadephia 76ers

Coach: Gene Shue

Record: 50-32

Roster: Jim Barnett, Henry Bibby, Joe Bryant, Fred Carter, Harvey Catchings, Doug Collins, Darryl Dawkins, Mike Dunleavy, Julius Erving, World B. Free, Terry Furlow, Caldwell Jones, George McGinnis, Steve Mix

This Sixers squad might be best remembered for a roster that included future coaches (Doug Collins, Mike Dunleavy) and the fathers of future All-Stars (Joe Bryant, Harvey Catchings, Henry Bibby). Of course, Philly also had Dr. J in his first NBA season after a legendary five-year ABA run, and second-year big man Darryl Dawkins, a few years shy of his Chocolate Thunder prime. A fascinating roster, but no match for Bill Walton and the Blazers in the Finals.

63. 1967-68 Philadelphia 76ers

Coach: Alex Hannum

Record: 62-20

Roster: Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Costello, Billy Cunningham, Ron Filipek, Johnny Green, Hal Greer, Matt Guokas, Luke Jackson, Wali Jones, Bill Melchionni, Jim Reid, Chet Walker

Philly finished with the League’s best record, eight games clear of the Celtics in the East, thanks to balanced production from future Hall of Famers Hal Greer (24.1 ppg), Billy Cunningham (18.9 ppg), Chet Walker (17.9 ppg) and of course, Wilt Chamberlain, who put up 24.3 points and pulled down 23.8 boards per. The Sixers didn’t lose more than two straight all season…until the East Finals, when they blew a 3-1 lead against Russell, Havlicek and the eventual champs from Boston.

62. 2001-02 Sacramento Kings

Coach: Rick Adelman

Record: 61-21

Roster: Mike Bibby, Chucky Brown, Doug Christie, Mateen Cleaves, Vlade Divac, Lawrence Funderburke, Bobby Jackson, Scot Pollard, Brent Price, Jabari Smith, Peja Stojakovic, Hedo Turkoglu, Gerald Wallace, Chris Webber

For Kings fans, it is still a crime, the grandest larceny ever. Game 6 of the Western Finals against the Lakers was flat stolen from Sacramento. Missed calls. Allegations of referees fixing the proceedings. It was ugly, nasty business. And it robbed the team with the NBA’s best record, the one with Chris Webber in charge down low, Peja Stojakovic shooting from everywhere and a deep supporting cast of a title. It’s that simple. And that outrageous.

61. 1995-96 Seattle Supersonics

Coach: George Karl

Record: 64-18

Roster: Vincent Askew, Frank Brickowski, Sherell Ford, Hersey Hawkins, Ervin Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Nate McMillan, Gary Payton, Sam Perkins, Steve Scheffler, Detlef Schrempf, Eric Snow, David Wingate

What happens when one of the greatest teams in franchise history meets the greatest team in NBA history? Well, you can figure it out. The Sonics won the Pacific by 11 games and had a star-studded lineup with ferocious Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton on the perimeter, talking junk and stealing everything, smooth Detlef Schrempf all over the place and Hersey Hawkins shooting the lights out. Seattle was great. Really great. Unfortunately, the Bulls were greater.

60. 1956-57 Boston Celtics

Coach: Red Auerbach

Record: 44-28

Roster: Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Dick Hemric, Jim Loscutoff, Jack Nichols, Togo Palazzi, Andy Phillip, Frank Ramsey, Arnie Risen, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, Lou Tsioropoulos

The birth of a dynasty. Led by the in-their-prime backcourt of Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, and the frontcourt pairing of rookies Tom Heinsohn and Bill Russell, the Celtics made the franchise’s first Finals appearance in the spring of ’57. St. Louis took Boston to double OT in Game 7, but Heinsohn (37 points, 23 boards) matched Bob Pettit (39 and 19), and Russell went for 19 and 32 to help the Celtics claim the first of their 17 banners.

59. 2017-18 Houston Rockets

Coach: Mike D’Antoni

Record: 65-17

Roster: Ryan Anderson, Trevor Ariza, Tarik Black, Bobby Brown, Markel Brown, Isaiah Canaan, Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, Gerald Green, James Harden, Nene, RJ Hunter, Aaron Jackson, Demetrius Jackson,  Joe Johnson, Luc Mbah a Moute, Chinanu Onuaku, Chris Paul, Zhou Qi, Tim Quarterman, PJ Tucker, Briante Weber, Troy Williams, Brandan Wright

Unfortunately, these Rockets, which featured the dynamic backcourt of James Harden, Chris Paul and Eric Gordon, won’t be remembered for their NBA-best record or high-scoring ways. They will be remembered for that 25-point second half in Game 6 of the Western Finals against Golden State and then a homecourt loss two days later that ended the series. Houston played fast, used Clint Capela to handle the rough stuff inside and still wonders what might have been.

58. 2004-05 Phoenix Suns

Coach: Mike D’Antoni

Record: 62-20

Roster: Leandro Barbosa, Zarko Cabarkapa, Steven Hunter, Jim Jackson, Casey Jacobsen, Joe Johnson, Maciej Lampe, Shawn Marion, Walter McCarty, Steve Nash, Bo Outlaw, Smush Parker, Quentin Richardson, Paul Shirley, Amar’e Stoudemire, Yuta Tabuse, Jake Voskuhl, Jackson Vroman

These Suns didn’t care much about defense, and they flamed out in the Western Finals against San Antonio, despite having the NBA’s best record. But what a fun team to watch. Led by League MVP Steve Nash, Phoenix pushed the tempo feverishly and featured a talented collection of scorers. Nobody could dunk like Shawn Marion, unless it was Amar’e Stoudemire. Joe Johnson was deadly from three, and Quentin Richardson shot from everywhere. Good times.

57. 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Frank Vogel

Record: 52-19

Roster: Kostas Antetokounmpo, Avery Bradley, Devontae Cacok, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Quinn Cook, Troy Daniels, Anthony Davis, Jared Dudley, Danny Green, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, JaVale McGee, Markieff Morris, Zach Norvell, Rajon Rondo, JR Smith, Dion Waiters

One year after failing to make the playoffs, the Lakers won it all in the COVID-19 bubble. Anthony Davis joined LeBron James in a formidable pairing, and the duo combined for 51.4 ppg. The Lakers lost only five games in their four playoff series. James led the NBA in assists, the supporting cast handled its roles without complaint and the Lakers won it all in a season they dedicated to the late Kobe Bryant.

56. 2009-10 Boston Celtics

Coach: Doc Rivers

Record: 50-32

Roster: Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis, Michael Finley, Kevin Garnett, JR Giddens, Eddie House, Lester Hudson, Oliver Lafayette, Marcus Landry, Kendrick Perkins, Paul Pierce, Nate Robinson, Rajon Rondo, Brian Scalabrine, Henry Walker, Rasheed Wallace, Shelden Williams

The Celtics’ Big Three led the squad on another trek to the Finals that included an Atlantic Division title. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were again the engine on an Eastern Conference title team, with help from point man Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins, while Rasheed Wallace provided support up front. Boston led the Lakers, 3-2, in the Finals, but ultimately lost a seven-game decision.

55. 1996-97 Utah Jazz

Coach: Jerry Sloan

Record: 64-18

Roster: Shandon Anderson, Antoine Carr, Howard Eisley, Greg Foster, Jeff Hornacek, Stephen Howard, Adam Keefe, Karl Malone, Chris Morris, Ruben Nembhard, Greg Ostertag, Bryon Russell, John Stockton, Brooks Thompson, Jamie Watson

The Jazz had plenty of great seasons during the Karl Malone-John Stockton years, but this might have been the best. Malone was League MVP, and Utah set a franchise record for wins that still stands. Stockton once again ran the show and set up everyone, while Jeff Hornacek and Bryon Russell were valuable on the perimeter. The Jazz looked good, but as usual, the Bulls looked better, taking the Finals in six.

Read here to find out who made the No. 75-66 spot on the list.

Get your copy of SLAM Presents TOP 75 NBA Teams Of All Time

Photos via Getty Images.

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“It’s going to mean a lot. Me and Kuz are already trying to picture what it’s going to be like,” Caldwell-Pope told NBA.com. “We know it’s going to be a lot of emotions because of the championship run we had with the team and our friends that are still there. There’s going to be a lot of emotion and a lot of fun.”

Since moving to Washington, Kuzma has become the third leading scorer on the Wizards, averaging 17.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the field. He’s looked at several times to be the Wizards’ second-best player after Bradley Beal. KCP has continued to thrive in his usual role as a Three-and-D threat, scoring 12.3 points per game on 39.1 percent shooting from deep.

“The team and organization really lean on me,” Kuzma said. “Everyone respects my basketball acumen here with being able to win a championship and to have winning habits. People respect that. On top of that, everybody believes in me. They really allow me to be myself. They want me to impact the game by doing it all. Having that confidence from everybody makes it easier for me.”

At this point of the season, the Wizards (29-35) and the Lakers (28-37) are fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament. Neither team expected to be in a position so late into the season after the Wizards were thought to be a playoff threat after GM Tommy Sheppards’ masterful orchestration of a Westbrook trade and acquiring Kuz KCP, Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell, and Aaron Holiday.

However, all but KCP and Kuz were moved at the deadline.

For the Lakers, they were believed to be a championship contender after acquiring Westbrook. The season has been full of drama and disaster as the Lakers have struggled just to stay at .500, let alone be a guarantee for a playoff spot. Blame has been spread everywhere to coaching, the front office, and the players themselves.

With all that being said, Kuzma described the return game as “we have to win that game” Kuzma also depicted the end of the LA trip as an “exciting time.” and Caldwell-Pope admitted he would have “some extra juice” when they play the Lakers on Thursday.

“I don’t really play the ‘what if,'” Kuzma said. “I’m cemented as a winner, and I’m cemented as a Lakers champion. For me, it’s not about ‘what if.’ It’s time to move on. It’s time to improve my game.”

“No hard feelings. I’m at peace,” Caldwell-Pope added. “I’m happy where I’m at.”

The post Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Have ‘No Hard Feelings’ About Trade to Wizards appeared first on SLAM.

During a call with media on Thursday, Wizards beat writer Ava Wallace reported an exciting response from Beal when she asked if he’s leaning towards re-signing with the Wizards this summer.

Bradley Beal will be eligible to sign a 5-year, $246M deal with Washington, if he declines his player option on 2022-2023. https://t.co/W9VidgGA5y

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 3, 2022

During the 2021-2022 campaign, Beal averaged 23.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Although his scoring dropped from a career-high 31.3 points per game last season, he did put up a career-high mark for assists while he emerged as a lead playmaker for the Wizards.

Bradley Beal's been taking notes on the Black Mamba's bag I see. (via @WashWizards) pic.twitter.com/9SnS2RcNDn

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 6, 2021

Beal shut down his season in February after he decided to undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. The decision came as the Wizards had faltered after becoming an early-season darling, briefly owning the top record in the Eastern Conference before their defense failed them and their offense started to stagnate.

Bradley Beal is like that.

(via @WashWizards) pic.twitter.com/02y1Rdg21r

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 19, 2021

Heading into the season, Beal told reporters that he wanted to play for a winner, and Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard attempted to build a winning team around him after flipping former MVP Russell Westbrook for Spencer Dinwiddie, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Hope, and used the Lakers 22nd overall pick to acquire Aaron Holiday.

Sheppard had a fire sale at the trade deadline, trading Harrell to the Hornets for Ish Smith and Vernon Carey, and moved Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans to the Mavericks for Kristaps Porzingis.

On Friday, the Wizards (28-33) are set to play the Hawks (29-32) at Capital One Arena.

The post REPORT: Bradley Beal Eligible For Five-Year Supermax Deal appeared first on SLAM.

There’s no myth or magic to Evan Mobley’s game. He does what he does. After sweeping nearly every postseason conference award during his lone-season at USC, including Pac-12 Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft says he came into the League with the goal of finding his rhythm and making an immediate impact. “I just wanted to come in and get acclimated as quick as possible,” he says over Zoom. “I feel like I’ve been getting better and better every game and feel like I still have a little bit to go. But I feel like it’s been good so far.”

A few games into the regular season, Mobley soon realized that he could hold his own in the Association, playing against the very same stars he watched growing up. “You start seeing that they’re players just like you, and you don’t have to look at them as anything more than [what] you are because you’re in the same position,” Mobley says. “I try to go out there and trust in what I’ve been doing my whole life.”

SLAM Presents All-Star Vol 2: The Land is available now!

Now, those same players around the League have started taking notice of Mobley, including the King himself. “He’s going to be a damn good basketball player in this League,” LeBron James said back in October after the Cavs played the Lakers. Mobley finished with 23 points that night. 

Added Anthony Davis: “His game is going to progress. He’s going to keep getting better and better. You see the potential to be a three-level scorer, watching film on him a little before the game.”

Against the Wizards, Mobley dropped 21 points and impressed Kyle Kuzma so much with his up-and-under finish at the rim that Kuz dapped him up right after the play. “You damn right I’m going to dap him up. I just saw the closest thing to George Gervin in the flesh!!!” Kuzma tweeted.

So yeah, Mobley really is that guy. And the Cleveland Cavaliers really are that team again—by the time we went to press, they’re sitting at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference. They’re young, hungry, and equipped with a standout rookie who can hold it down on both ends of the floor—from finishing at the rim like a guard to snagging his own offensive rebounds to dishing out some assists, and against the Bulls, a notching a career-high 5 blocks, which was a first for any rookie this season and the first time a Cavaliers rookie has had 5 blocks since LeBron James in ’04. 

“I felt like coming in, my defense was going to be a strong attribute that I have just because of my length and agility. That’s what I normally just rely on, and depending on who I’m guarding, I’ve just tried to play him differently—if it’s, like, a guard, [I] give him a little bit more space, so I can react in time. And then if it’s a big, press up a little bit more [and] just use my length at the end of the shot and contest all shots. And if not contest, block it. Coming in, that was what my mindset was: to have a strong defensive presence.”

As of this writing, Mobley is ranked No. 6 in the League in blocks and No. 27 in defensive rebounds. He’s also leading all rookies in rebounds (8.1) and blocks (1.7) per game and sitting at No. 3 in field goal percentage (50.5). 

“It’s great, but I feel like I’m not satisfied,” he says when asked what it’s like to see his name at the top of the statistical leaderboards. “I still feel like I need to get better in certain areas, so I’m gonna still keep working, get better at those things and hopefully keep making a big impact on my team and keep winning.”

When asked to elaborate on what he wants to work on, he says: “[Be] a little bit more attack-minded offensively, and then defensively, just maintaining what I’ve been doing and gradually getting better throughout the years and learning new things, because, I mean, you can always get better at something.”

He credits his teammates for helping with his transition from college to the NBA, specifically vets like Kevin Love, as well as the young core guys like Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland—both of whom were also on the same Zoom call when we caught up with Mobley back in early December. 

When asked what advice they’ve given their new rook, Garland and Allen both harped on the fact that it’s a long, 82-game season. “Keep working,” Allen says. “This is a long season, there’s gonna be ups and downs. But, [when] Evan came in, he blew away all of our expectations. Like, man, does he really need our advice? You know, he’s already coming out here and killing it.”

“I was the same way, just telling him that it was going to be a long season and just enjoy it,” Garland adds. “I mean, it really goes by fast. I only have three years in it, but [they] went by super quick. Just enjoy the process and have fun with it.”

With his name among the top candidates in the Rookie of the Year conversation and with a pivotal starting role on the team, Mobley says he doesn’t feel any added pressure this season. He’s just out there hoopin’ with his teammates and posterizing his opponents along the way. 

“I just go out there, have fun with my guys and play the game. I feel like they’ve helped me not feel pressure because they believe in me. Same with the coaching staff, they all believe in me and put trust in me to do the right things. And they believe that I’m a good player. So there’s no pressure when I go out there. I just go out there and play.” 

Portrait by Jimmy Longo/Cleveland Cavaliers.

The post Rookie Sensation Evan Mobley is Putting His Own Stamp on the Association appeared first on SLAM.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal will miss the next two games with a sprained left wrist, team says.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 31, 2022

Beal averages 23.2 points, a career-high 6.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and a career-worse 30.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Beal’s numbers are down across the board after averaging career-best numbers as a scorer after the scoring load has become more balanced following a revamping of the roster from the Wizards moving Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and acquired Spencer Dinwiddie in a five-team trade as well.

Real Deal Beal is also embroiled in free agency drama around whether or not he will resign with the Wizards this summer. The 28-year-old superstar will reportedly be opting out of the final year of his extension and can enter free agency as an unrestricted free agent in the ’22 offseason.

It remains to be seen what Beal will do regarding his future in the nation’s capital. Until then, the Wizards will play the defending champion, Milwaukee Bucks (31-21), on Wednesday without their three-time All-Star teammate.

The post Wizards Announce Bradley Beal Is Out With A Sprained Wrist appeared first on SLAM.

Hachimura has not played a competitive game in seven months after stepping away from the team during training camp due to personal reasons. When he made his return, the third-year forward declined to go into detail about his absence per the Washington Post but did allude to needing a break after a hectic 18 months.

“I’ve been doing OK. It was personal stuff. I’d rather not talk about it. But it’s been great with the team, with everybody understanding my situation.” Hachimura said per The Athletic.

“I just needed time off,”

Since debuting in 2019-2020, the forward out of Gonzaga played in the NBA Bubble, played a quick turn-around 2020-2021 season, and then played for Japan in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, leading the country to their first national team appearance since 1976. Not to mention all the duties he had to fulfill as a media darling in Japan, leading the country’s athletes into the opening ceremony as a flag-bearer

The 23-year-old finished with six points, three rebounds, and an assist on 2-8 shooting in 14 minutes. Hachimura recorded his first points of the season at the free-throw line and logged his first field goal while crushing the rim with a two-hand slam in the opening frame of play.

Hachimura showed a bit of rust and his conditioning will improve over time. After all, his return was delayed after entering COVID-19 protocols, and he didn’t get any chance to play five-on-five in practice. However, that didn’t deter first-year Coach Wes Unseld Jr. or Hachimura at the slightest. If anything, the former ninth overall pick of the 2019 draft looked engaged and appeared to be making sure he was clear on his defensive responsibilities.

Unseld Jr. seemed to be encouraged by Hachimura’s play, who played Hachimura interchangeably at power forward and center.

“He was aggressive,” Unseld said per The Athletic. “I think he gives you that physicality that we lack at times. His size, his ability to play off the bounce (are valuable). He missed a couple open shots I think he’ll make, but they were great looks for him. So I’m excited to see how this unfolds.”

Heading into the 2021-2022 season, Hachimura was expected to play a vital role for a Wizards team determined to make a big leap after firing former coach Scott Brooks and hiring Unseld Jr. WIth the emergence of Kyle Kuzma as possibly the second-best player on the Wizards and a logjam at the forward-center spot, it appears that he will be competing with Montrezl Harrell, Deni Avdija, and Davis Bertans for minutes.

Not to mention Thomas Bryant, who is still rehabbing from a torn ACL, suffered early last season.

The Wizards have Monday off before playing the Thunder at home on Tuesday.

The post Rui Hachimura Makes His Season Debut Against Magic appeared first on SLAM.

DeMar DeRozan became the first player in NBA history to knock down game-winning 3 point buzzer-beaters in consecutive games. The first buzzer-beater was on Friday after shaking off a rough shooting night to nail a fadeaway three-pointer off the wrong foot as time expired.

DEROZAN CALLS GAME pic.twitter.com/CXMrUSk9N3

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 31, 2021

In their following game Saturday against the Wizards, DeRozan responded to a late triple from Kyle Kuzma with his second consecutive buzzer-beater, leading to the Bulls escaping Capital One Arena with a 120-119 win, extending their win-streak to seven games.

DEMAR DEROZAN.
FOR THE WIN.
AGAIN.

He’s hit back-to-back game-winning triples for the @chicagobulls. This is unreal.#TissotBuzzerBeater #ThisIsYourTime pic.twitter.com/6SuVbhLptq

— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2022

“Just to hit a buzzer-beater, in general, is amazing, especially when you do it on the road,” DeRozan said postgame via ESPN. “I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m dreaming. If it’s real right now.”

“It’s just an honor to be trusted in the fourth quarter. Whether things are going good or going bad, my team, teammates always leaned on me to be that calm presence to bring us home. I always bring that calm presence as much as I can in the fourth quarter, letting guys understand, as long we got time we got a chance.”

DeRozan has a chance to extend this streak of buzzer-beaters against the Orlando Magic on Monday.

The post DeMar DeRozan Reflects on His Buzzer Beater Moments Making History appeared first on SLAM.

“I am honored to represent this organization and tremendously grateful for the opportunity to continue building this team in order to use what we accomplish both on and off the court to uplift the community,” Sheppard said per ESPN. “Our staff, and their dedication to working together, has been essential to our success, and we will continue to work hard, follow our plan and make our fans proud of the team we put on the floor.”

Sheppard is in his 19th season with the organization. Before being named GM, he started as Vice President of Basketball Operations from 2003 to 2013, and then he became Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations from 2013 to 2019.

The Wizards are currently on a 10-4 start to the 2021-22 season, their best since the 1974-75 season when the then-Bullets made their first NBA Finals appearance but got swept by the Warriors.

The Wizards were one of the busiest teams in the offseason, hiring Wes Unseld Jr. as their new head coach and flipping Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and signing Spencer Dinwiddie.

The post Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard Earns Contract Extension After Team’s Fast Start appeared first on SLAM.

The improved record compared to the teams 3-8 start at this same point last season is primarily due to first-year head coach Wes Unseld Jr. bringing out the best of the Wiz on defense—they rank fourth in the League in defensive rating—and a balanced supporting cast and bench mob that looks to have made life easier for Bradley Beal.

One other significant factor in the Wizards’ fast start is the play of Kyle Kuzma, who is averaging 14.1 points and 9.1 boards on 43.4 percent shooting from the field. 

During Wednesday’s 97-94 win over the Cavaliers (7-5), Kuzma played a significant role in the victory, scoring 22 points and grabbing five rebounds. Kuzma made his biggest contributions in the fourth quarter, knocking down four three-pointers, including a wide-open bucket from the corner to cement the Wizards dub.

Kyle Kuzma’s 4th three of the 4th quarter WINS IT for the @WashWizards! pic.twitter.com/T4MhNm71se

— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2021

Not only did the Wizards forward have a memorable performance, but he also made time to clap back at a Cavs fan who held up a sign that read: ‘LeBron Won Kuzma His RIng.” The trolling sign was apparently enough to poke the proverbial bear and seemed to have provided some motivation for Kuzma who was the subject of the Cavs fans jaw jacking.

“There was some hecklers during the game talking to me,” Kuzma said via CBS Sports. “… They had a sign that said ‘LeBron won Kuzma his ring.’ I said ‘without LeBron, Cleveland wouldn’t be sh–.’ They choose violence, I just kept going. They were talking too much. Unnecessary.” 

pic.twitter.com/p26dEu3nTT

— TO (@Tommy_Olesky) November 11, 2021

The Wizards and Kuzma are thriving beyond the expectations of many with a stellar record, and return to the court Saturday on the road against the Magic (3-9).

The post Kyle Kuzma Claps Back at Troll After Lifting Wizards to Win Over the Cavs appeared first on SLAM.

The NBA lockout was in full effect and there was no end in sight. Inside the legendary Palestra, players were gathering for the love of the game in front of their adoring fans. The players included a two-time NBA MVP, two top-10 all-time leading NBA scorers, 
one top-five all-time NBA assists leader, one NBA Rookie of the Year, three NBA and NCAA champions and four Olympic Gold medalists. The Nike mantra of “Basketball Never Stops” was alive and on full display. 

The summer/fall of 2011 was like getting multiple releases on the Snkrs app for a basketball fan—a remarkable, rare occurrence. While the owners and players union were debating over finances, the stars of the League made sure they filled their fans’ thirst for affordable, high-level action across the country in DC, L.A., Baltimore, Oklahoma, New York and Philadelphia.

“That is what made the lockout games so great,” says Jamar Smiley, Director of Player Relations for BDA Sports Management. “The everyday fan was able to see [the stars] play without sacrificing a day’s pay.” 

The idea for the game in West Philadelphia started with some territorial trash talk between Carmelo Anthony and Hakim Warrick about which city, Baltimore or Philly, had better players. The two were teammates on Syracuse in 2003, when the program won a national championship. 

The vision started to become a reality on the night of Saturday, August 20, on the drive home from watching The Capital Punishment game in DC, where the Goodman League, led by Kevin Durant and John Wall, faced off against the Drew League, featuring James Harden and DeMar DeRozan. 

I contacted Skinny [Hakim Warrick] via Facebook messenger, who then put me in touch with Smiley. Smiley and I spoke, and roles began to be defined. I would handle the logistics of the game, Skinny and Melo would be team captains and oversee coordination with the players, and Smiley would be my day-to-day contact.

Once the team captains committed and the $25,000 contribution to their designated charities was confirmed, it was time to get to work. We had to secure the venue and an insurance policy, get product for the players and advertise for the game.

The first task was locking down the historical Palestra arena, which sits on the Ivy League campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The Palestra is considered the Cathedral of College Basketball, and legendary players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have all stepped foot on its court.

“From our first conversation, the game had to be at The Palestra; there was no second option,” Warrick says. “Plus, it is right around the corner from where I grew up in the Bottom West Philly.”

I called Philadelphia basketball icon, two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and UPenn head coach Jerome Allen, who has known Skinny and I since we were both young.

Allen arranged for a series of meetings between the Palestra’s facility director, UPenn’s athletic director and myself. Penn administration met the idea of the game with skepticism, due to the uncertainty of when the lockout would end. I assured them the game would happen because there was no end in sight for the lockout. I was confident, since I had daily communication with Smiley, who worked for one of the most prominent NBA agents in Bill Duffy, who represented numerous NBA stars including Steve Nash and Yao Ming.

Other parts were moving outside of the UPenn meetings. Nike had confirmed that they would be the official product sponsor for the game, outfitting all the players. Urban retail store DTLR Sneaker Villa would pay for all the radio advertisements, along with acquiring the insurance policy. Ten days after the initial meeting with Penn’s administrators, a deal was put in place for the Palestra to host the game.

Once these parts were solidified, the announcement to the public was made, and interest for the game exceeded all of our expectations.

Streaming is a standard tool of viewership nowadays, but back in 2011, it was something new. The Basketball Channel, a new company, approached me about the idea of streaming the event via the internet using their partnership with Sports Illustrated. The event was now going global.

“The game became bigger than what we expected,” says Warrick, a 13-year NBA vet and the Team Philly captain. “This was before the explosion of social media. Between the venue and streaming, this wasn’t no pickup game at the rec.”

The date and time were picked based on the fact that the hometown Philadelphia Eagles were playing their NFC East rival New York Giants that afternoon at 1 pm. Our game was scheduled to start at 6. I knew this would be a dream sports day for Philly fans. The Eagles versus the Giants at 1. The lockout game at 6 at the Palestra. It doesn’t get any better.

It was a warm, fall day, with temperatures in the 60s, but inside, the Palestra was humid and hot like a summer barbeque in the middle of the afternoon. “You had a three-piece suit on,” Smiley says, laughing, remembering the day. “I don’t know how you did it; I had to take my rugby shirt off.”

Members of the Philly team started to arrive around 4:30. As Hakim Warrick, Lou Williams, Kyle Lowry, Flip Murray, Wayne Ellington, Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, Mark Tyndale, Mardy Collins, Dionte Christmas and Aaron Owens began to take the court to warm up, a buzz started growing. Only three members of Team Melo were on the court: Donte Greene, Josh Selby and Gary Forbes.

The remaining players were still nowhere to be seen or found as it approached 30 minutes before tip-off. Fans were beginning to worry if the game was even going to happen.

I wasn’t worried at all. I was in contact with Worldwide Wes [William Wesley, current Executive Vice President for the New York Knicks] the entire time. Melo, Bron and CP3 were at the Eagles-Giants game, and Wes had arranged for them to have a police escort to the arena.

At 5:45 pm, my BlackBerry rang. It was Worldwide Wes asking, “Where do we pull up at?” I instructed them to go through the back entrance. A fleet of black SUVs pulled up. First Chris Paul jumped out, then Carmelo, then LeBron. All three of them entered the Palestra and walked under the stands to the locker room. When the fans caught a glimpse of the trio, the arena erupted.

Finally, as the clock hit 6:15, legendary Philadelphia referee Keith “Showtime” Saunders tossed the ball up for the opening tip. Players on both teams competed as if it were Game 7 of the NBA Finals, with Team Philly winning, 131-122. But to basketball fans, there were no losers.

For those lucky few who got inside the hallowed halls of the Palestra, watching all of those future Hall of Famers—watching history—it was a once in a lifetime event. 

Rahim Thompson is the founder of The Chosen League, the Philadelphia-based high school summer basketball league whose alumni include Kyle Lowry, Gerald Henderson and Kyle Kuzma. His book, Choose Wisely, is available at nomattertheodds.com.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Hunter/The Chosen League.

The post How LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul Linked Up to Play in the Legendary Battle of I-95 Game appeared first on SLAM.

Rui Hachimura will miss the start of training camp due to personal reasons. Hachimura’s absence has been excused and the team will provide further updates when appropriate. pic.twitter.com/vQEFf8Yz1c

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) September 25, 2021

Hachimura averaged 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds last season in 57 games while shooting 47.8 percent from the field. He averaged 13.5 points as a rookie in 2019-20. The Wizards have projected him to start and will be counting on him to take a step forward in his third season after watching him play well with Team Japan during the Tokyo Olympics over the summer.

In Hachimura’s absence, the Wizards have options with newly acquired Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell from the Lakers along with Deni Avdija, Davis Bertans and Anthony Gill.

The Wizards open the preseason Oct. 5 at Houston. Their regular-season opener is at Toronto on Oct. 20.

The post Rui Hachimura Gets Excused Absence From Training Camp appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with Fubo Sports, Kuzma says he was “shocked” to be traded to the Wizards and thought for sure he was about to be traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Kuzma thought he was getting traded to Sacramento

(via @fuboSports) pic.twitter.com/HwB1jE739k

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 6, 2021

“I was kind of shocked, because I thought I was going to [Sacramento],” Kuzma said. “Like the Sacramento deal with Buddy Hield, that s*** was done. So I’m thinking in my head, like, ‘OK, [Sacramento], 45-minute flight. That’s not bad, I can go to Napa.’”

Despite the surprising move, Kuzma said he was happy to be heading to the Wizards and relished the opportunity to play with Bradley Beal.

Kuzma was part of a three-team trade that sent himself, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to the Wizards. In return, the Lakers received Russell Westbrook and two second-round draft picks.

Kuzma had a solid season despite the Lakers’ troubles, averaging 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game over the course of 68 games. He has played four seasons in the NBA, all with the Lakers, averaging 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

The post Kyle Kuzma Says He Was ‘Shocked’ to be Traded to Wizards appeared first on SLAM.

In what was a highly anticipated move, the Lakers will now have an offensive-minded forward more than capable of replacing the production Kyle Kuzma brought to the second unit.

Both on the scoreboard and the backboard, as Anthony averaged 14.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for the Portland Trail Blazers over the past two seasons (all while shooting 39.9 percent from 3-point range).

Anthony, who was selected two picks after LeBron in the historic 2003 NBA Draft class, is a 10-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA selection who has become one of the league’s most beloved figures over the past two decades.

With Russell Westbrook also joining the Lakers this offseason, Los Angeles will have as legitimate a chance as any to win the champion next season.

The post REPORT: Carmelo Anthony Joins Lakers on 1-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

Then later during the NBA Draft, it was announced that the Wizards dealt the first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for point guard Aaron Holiday. The Pacers used that pick to draft University of Kentucky forward Isaiah Jackson.

On Twitter, Westbrook thanked his former team and the city of DC for their support.

I’m blessed to have been a part of such a stand up organization. It didn’t take long to make a home in DC, and I will forever be grateful and appreciative of my experience with the organization. Thank you! #thedistrict

— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) July 30, 2021

The Lakers now represent the fourth team in as many seasons for Westbrook. He is set to be the fifth former MVP to suit up for four NBA teams in four years or fewer, accompanying Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Derrick Rose according to Elias Sports Bureau research.

The moment Russell Westbrook touches the floor for the Lakers, he will be the 5th former MVP to play for four different franchises in a span of four seasons or fewer joining Bob McAdoo, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Derrick Rose h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/NWAIK5FNF4

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 30, 2021

The post Los Angeles Lakers to Get Russell Westbrook in Multi-Team Deal appeared first on SLAM.

According to reports from Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Lakers “discussed” Kyle Kuzma and the No. 22 pick with the Indiana Pacers for the No. 13 pick and salary filler but were “turned down.”

Kuzma and the Lakers’ 22nd pick was also discussed with the Pacers. The talks centered around acquiring the 13th overall pick from Indiana and needed salary filler but was turned down, HoopsHype has learned.

J. Michael of the Indy Star confirmed the report due to the fact that TJ Warren was getting healthy and will be ready for next season.

This is accurate. TJ Warren is healthy so they declined Kuz. Lakers have been hustling to jump into the lottery to get ahead of the Wizards https://t.co/ozto9dFRAZ

— J. Michael (@ThisIsJMichael) July 27, 2021

It is unknown who the Pacers player would have been for a salary filler, however. Some believed it could have been Warren because the salaries matched, but that could be unlikely due to his performance in the NBA bubble in Orlando. Others believed it could be Jeremy Lamb, who Indiana is shopping around the NBA.

Kuzma averaged 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists a game for the Los Angeles Lakers this past season.

The post Lakers Reportedly Offered Kyle Kuzma, No. 22 Pick to Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

Charania initially reported that the Lakers are “pursuing a third stellar player who provides playmaking and shot creation” around their two bonafide superstars. In Sunday’s Inside Pass with Shams, the basketball world learned the Lakers and Sacramento Kings have engaged in trade talks surrounding Buddy Hield.

The Lakers and Kings have discussed a trade centered around Buddy Hield, per @ShamsCharania

Kyle Kuzma would likely be involved in any potential package. pic.twitter.com/r5PEFDVqia

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) July 25, 2021

The Lakers would be forced to trade forward Kyle Kuzma to get the deal done, a young scorer who has been thrown around in trade talks for weeks. However, landing Hield would certainly boost the Lakers overall playmaking potential and backcourt fire, with only 3-and-D wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope returning from last year’s roster.

Heading into his sixth NBA season, Hield is coming off a solid year with the Kings that saw him average 16.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 71 games.

The post Lakers and Kings Discuss Possible Buddy Hield, Kyle Kuzma Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Now, Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner links the Lake Show to both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

He reports:

“DeRozan, who starred at Compton High and USC, has interest in returning home to play for the Lakers, even if it is for less than the $27.7 million he earned last season in San Antonio, according to people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Though the Lakers didn’t acquire Lowry at the trade deadline, he remains interested in joining them, according to people with knowledge of his situation.

The Lakers made multiple runs at DeRozan in the past. In 2016, Los Angeles reportedly made a big offer only for DeMar to accept Toronto’s max deal. Lowry has been linked to the Lakers as far back as the trade deadline.

For the Lakers to get Lowry, it will have to come in a sign-and-trade with the Raptors centered around Schroder and others. The deal would eliminate flexibility from the team’s salary cap, leaving the only option of filling out the roster with minimum players.

The Lakers have six players under contract with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Marc Gasol and Alfonzo McKinnie (non-guaranteed). Montrezl Harrell has a player option for next season at $9.7 million, and he has a July 31 deadline to inform the Lakers.

The post Lakers Reportedly Have Interest From Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks explains that the offer for Horton-Tucker stands now at close to $1.9 million which makes him a restricted free agent. The offer now gives the Lakers the option to match any offer to retain the former 2019 second-round pick. Had the Lakers failed to extend an offer to THT, he would’ve become an unrestricted free agent and be eligible to accept an offer from any NBA team.

The Qualifying Offer for Talen Horton-Tucker is $1,897,476.

The Lakers have early bird rights and can sign him up to a contract that projects to start at $10.4M.

The contract must be for a minimum of 2 seasons.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 22, 2021

Talen Horton-Tucker averaged 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 65 games last season (four starts).

THT spent the majority of his rookie season in the G-League before earning some playing time in the bubble during the Lakers title run last year. He built on that momentum with a strong preseason that got him time in the rotation as a backup ball-handler.

At 6’4″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, Horton-Tucker’s ability to attack the made him one of the few bench players who could get his own shot without the constant assistance of LeBron James.

However, the qualifying offer could be a setup to a much larger deal to being in a superstar via trade. Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated linked Horton-Tucker to a potential trade with Russell Westbrook.

There have also been talks about Washington Wizards star Russell Westbrook being a potential candidate to move back home to Los Angeles in a sign-and-trade deal that could include free agent point guard Dennis Schroder, forward Kyle Kuzma and guard Talen Horton-Tucker, sources said.

The Lakers do have the option to rescind the offer (although highly unlikely) if they so choose. A few years back, they did so with Julius Randle after they signed LeBron James to his first contract.

The post Lakers to Reportedly Extend Qualifying Offer to Talen Horton-Tucker appeared first on SLAM.

“Get back to work. I ain’t retiring…”

Chris Paul after losing Game 6. pic.twitter.com/exjHrES5BP

— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) July 21, 2021

Now that the Finals are over, Phoenix’s offseason will be very busy working on rookie extensions for Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. Suns backup point guard Cameron Payne will be a free agent as well. But Phoenix’s priorities start with the upcoming decisions of their starting point guard, Chris Paul. Paul can opt-out of $44.2 million player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent.

CP3’s averages of 16.4 points, 8.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds for the Suns during his All-Star season helped Phoenix end a playoff drought that lasted a decade. He now has until August 1st to decide whether to opt-in and sign an extension once the free agency moratorium is lifted on August 6th or pursue other options like requesting a sign and trade. If he signs with Phoenix, he can only extend his contract for two years due to the NBA’s “Over 38” rule.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson shared his opinions on Chris Paul’s next move on Twitter.

If Chris Paul opts out of his contract with the Suns, his first call should be from his best friend LeBron James and the Lakers.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 21, 2021

According to ESPN’s The Undefeated, the Los Angeles Lakers have been on the hunt for a replacement for Dennis Schroder and Paul is on the short list. Rumors also link Wizards star Russell Westbrook being a potential sign-and-trade deal that may include Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker.

To get Chris Paul in a Lakers uniform, it would likely take a sign-and-trade with the Suns. The most money the Lakers can offer otherwise is a $9.5 million taxpayer midlevel exception. But the opportunity to chase his first championship with LeBron James and Anthony Davis will keep the rumors alive until August.

The post Retirement Not in Plans for Chris Paul, Reports Claim Lakers Are Interested appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Tyler Conway, Kuzma says that he “definitely” believes he has All-Star talent.

“I definitely can. I definitely believe that, too. I don’t really care what nobody thinks or says. I know myself, and I know my ability. It’s hard to be consistent in an inconsistent role. I’m excited for a more consistent space next year,” Kuzma said.

Since being drafted in 2017, Kuzma has shown flashes of All-Star scoring numbers, but they haven’t been consistent up to this point of his career. In four seasons with the Lakers, Kuzma is averaging 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

As the Lakers improved, Kuzma’s role and scoring numbers diminished somewhat. After averaging 18.7 points per game in his second season, Kuzma only averaged 12.8 points per game the next two seasons.

The Lakers may need Kuzma to take a step as well, as the 2020-21 season didn’t go as plan for Los Angeles. The Lakers finished seventh in the Western Conference, just barely sneaking into the playoffs only to lose to the Phoneix Suns in the first round.

The post Kyle Kuzma Confident in All-Star Ability appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down each of the Tuesday’s matchups below.

No. 2 Nets 123, No. 7 Celtics 109

BKN wins series 3-1

While it wasn’t surprising, the Brooklyn Nets were able to finish the Boston Celtics off on Tuesday night in Game 5 of the series. Without a handful of key pieces, the Celtics were just no match for the most talented team in the NBA.

Jayson Tatum continued his hot scoring streak with 32 points on the night, but was matched by James Harden who put in 34 points of his own. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant also combined for 49 points to help the Nets move to the second round with ease.

No. 3 Nuggets 147, No. 6 Trail Blazers 140

DEN leads series 3-2

In a contest that went into double overtime, Game 5 of Nuggets/Blazers was the game of the night without a doubt. In fact, it might go down as the best game of the entire first round. Damian Lillard went off for 55 points and ten assists, including two shots that sent the game into the first and second overtime periods respectively.

Nikola Jokic continued to impress and led the Nuggets with 38 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists while Monte Morris had a huge night with 28 points, 23 of which came in the second half. Michael Porter Jr. knocked down a huge three in the second overtime and finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Lillard broke the NBA playoff record for most threes made in the game with 12, but it wasn’t enough in this instant classic.

No. 2 Suns 115, No. 7 Lakers 85

PHX leads series 3-2

Without Anthony Davis on Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers looked lost. LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers struggled tremendously and were out of the game early on. Down by 30 points at half, Los Angeles only scored ten points in the second quarter and never recovered.

LeBron James finished with only 24 points, seven assists and five rebounds while Kyle Kuzma was the only other Laker who showed up offensively, finishing with 15 points. Phoenix looked excellent, with Devin Booker leading the charge offensively with 30 points. Cameron Payne continues to be a huge spark plug off the bench, finishing with 16 to lead the reserves. If we learned anything as the Suns took the series lead, it’s that the Lakers need Anthony Davis back as soon as possible.

The post Post Up: Nets Advance While Suns Take Series Lead and Lillard Has Career Night appeared first on SLAM.

However there is some bittersweet news coming out of Lakers Nation concerning starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Caldwell-Pope is slated to undergo an MRI, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin,  after a left quad contusion forced him to leave and not return in the third quarter. He sustained the injury colliding with Suns All-Star Devin Booker while playing defense.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will undergo a MRI on Friday to have his left quad examined, sources told ESPN. Game 4 of Suns-Lakers is Sunday at Staples Center.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 28, 2021

The Lakers shooting guard scored five points on 2-4 shooting and was effective on the defensive end.

Defense leads to offense.

(: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/gn7SDcXArl

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 28, 2021

After the game, KCP said that he was doing well and would use the time off to heal up before Game 4.

If Caldwell-Pope is unable to go, the Lakers will have options to fill KCP’s spot in the starting lineup. Wesley Matthews played strong defense on Devin Booker and provided two huge 3-pointers in the final quarter to give the Lakers enough cushion to withstand a late Phoenix run. His play was impressive enough that LeBron James mentioned that he deserved the “game ball”.

Other options to get Caldwell-Pope’s minutes are Kyle Kuzma and late-season addition Ben McLemore.

KCP has been struggling from deep in this first round series, shooting only 1-13 from 3-point range in the Lakers first three games.

Los Angeles leads the best-of-seven series with the Suns, 2-1, with a pivotal Game 4 set for Sunday at 3:30 pm EST on ABC.

The post Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Undergo MRI on Quad After Sustaining Injury in Game 3 appeared first on SLAM.

The NBPA x Five-Star Virtual Summer Basketball Camp, powered by NBA2K22, Champion Athleticwear & Proskills Basketball, has been announced for July 19-21. Five-Star and the NBPA joined forces in 2019 to continue bringing world-class instruction and experiences to grassroots basketball. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBPA has been able to connect with over 2,000 youth basketball players across 66 different countries by building high-quality virtual training sessions. By finding the basketball industry’s best partners, the NBPA leaves campers with tangible gifts on top of the wisdom that camp awards them. This year, exclusive NBPA kits will include branded NBPA masks, SLAM Magazines, and NBPA x Five Star uniforms presented by Champion Athleticwear. Additionally, camper scholarships & prizing will be provided by NBA2K22. NBA player appearances include Kyle Kuzma, Buddy Hield, and John Wall.

Founded in 1966, Five-Star has always maintained an emphasis on education at its basketball camps. Five-Star’s late and great founder, Howard Garfinkel, would be pleased to see training stations and NBA star lecturers at today’s camp sessions. Since partnering with the NBPA, lecturers have included Tobias Harris, Cole Anthony, Bam Adebayu, and James Wiseman—to name a few. Garfinkel was recently added to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2021. 

Camp will run for about two and a half hours per day and is open to boys and girls ages 9-17. Follow the signup link below to learn more and enroll!

https://nbpa.leagueapps.com/camps/2339301-2021-nbpa-x-five-star-virtual-basketball-camp-powered-by-pro-skills

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Last night, before their matchup against the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers had the chance to remind everyone who the true champions were. Finally unveiling their 17th championship banner from last season’s sensational postseason run, sweet glory filled the arena for the historic franchise and its fans.

“We had our ring night; we wanted you guys there, but we wanted to make sure we saved the banner for y’all,” said Lakers superstar LeBron James.

It looks like the ceremony made the team even more hungrier than before, especially noting that they’re still able to clinch one of the top-six seeds in the playoffs, avoiding the play-in tournament!

*Wipes sweat from forehead*

This feat would definitely make late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant proud.

The Lakers took advantage of the night and grabbed a two-in-one, defeating the Rockets (124-122) in the process. Talen Horton-Tucker had himself a night, finishing the game with 23 points and 10 assists, to go with Kyle Kuzma’s 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Veteran center Andre Drummond pitched-in and had 20 points with 10 rebounds.

Los Angeles will face the Indiana Pacers on May 15 at 1:00 PM (EST).

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Following a Thursday night victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, the MVP gauntlet wasn’t quite the topic of conversation after James impressed with a stat line of 37 points, eight rebounds and six assists but another, well-discussed discourse was.

Per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma would say that while “NBA MVP is a very political award,” James “should have been the MVP eight, nine, 10 times.”

A sentiment shared by Lakers head coach Frank Vogel, once a constant opponent of James as head coach of the Indiana Pacers.

“It’s a mistake on the voters’ part to go season after season without voting the best player in the league MVP,” Vogel said. “You know what I mean? That’s the simplest way to put it. There’s been other players that have been deserving, but he’s been the best player in the league for as long as I can remember.”

James is known to have dismissed the relative importance of the award as it relates to his goal of winning championships and performing well in the postseason as he gets older.

However, not having won a regular season MVP award since 2013 (when he was 29-years-old) despite being considered as the best player in the NBA for much of the time since does raise questions about how James doesn’t have more hardware to add to his trophy collection.

In James’ opinion, he “should have more than four.”

“But … I don’t sit around thinking about it or crying about it, or whatever the case may be. I just try to come in the next season and be the MVP and be talked about [for] it again. I bet a lot of the greatest that played this game feel like they should have more as well, if you ask any one of those guys.”

While it’s difficult to make an argument for James from 2016 to 2019, with Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo deserving in each of those season, the surrounding seasons have presented more favorable MVP arguments for the Chosen One.

Now in his 18th season, James is averaging 25.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting .514 percent from the field and .367 percent from 3-point range. As he continues to be the league’s standard bearer for excellence, t he future Hall of Famer may finally capture what’s been an incredibly elusive fifth MVP award.

The post LeBron James: ‘I Should Have More Than Four’ MVP Awards appeared first on SLAM.

While LeBron James and Anthony Davis may not be as productive as they were last season through their first few games, the Lakers have looked just fine and know those two will do what’s needed when the stage gets bigger.

For more information about the numbers behind our Heat Check series, hop over to our main Heat Check 2020-21 post.

Talen Horton-Tucker	7.3p, 1.5r, 1.3a
Dennis Schroder	17.6p, 5.2r, 5.2a
Kostas Antetokounmpo	0.0p, 4.0r, 0.0a
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	9.8p, 1.4r, 1.4a
Kyle Kuzma	12.0p, 3.2r, 1.8a	–
Jared Dudley	1.0p, 1.7r, 0.0a
Markieff Morris	4.6p, 4.8r, 1.2a
Wesley Matthews	5.2p, 1.0r, 1.0a
Alfonzo McKinnie	3.7p, 1.0r, 0.0a
Quinn Cook	2.0p, 0.3r, 0.5a
Alex Caruso	5.3p, 1.7r, 1.0a
Montrezl Harrell	14.0p, 6.6r, 1.8a
Marc Gasol	4.6p, 5.8r, 2.2a
LeBron James	23.4p, 7.0r, 6.8a
Anthony Davis	19.8p, 8.3r, 3.8a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Los Angeles Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

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

Biggest Questions

• Was Kyle Kuzma’s recent extension a move to keep him around long-term, or make him more attractive on the trade market? Although he was great in his first couple of NBA seasons, his production really dipped last season with James and Davis running the team. 
• Can Marc Gasol play big minutes? The Lakers went all in on Gasol as they lost both JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard this offseason. Gasol is excellent but is almost 36 years old and past his prime.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Los Angeles Lakers: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

As first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Kuzma agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal that will keep him in Los Angeles potentially through the 2023-24 season. In that final year of his deal, Kuzma will have a player option which would allow him to test free agency in the summer of 2023 should he choose.

Kuzma, the No. 27 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, has spent his entire career with the Lakers, starting in 114 games while averaging 16.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest.

They Lakers have now locked up LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma to long-term deals this offseason. Not only are the reigning champions going to be great this upcoming season but are positioning the franchise for success over the next several years as well.

The post Lakers Extend Kyle Kuzma on Three-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

This is, in part, because LeBron will be turning 36-years-old shortly after the start of the 2020-21 season. It’s also because every single rotation player the Lakers had last season outside of LeBron is currently set to become a free agent by 2021.

There’s a definite possibility that they’re simply trying to position themselves to make a splash free agent signing in 2021 though, as that’s the offseason that will see the contracts of players like Giannis Antetokounmpo expire. Even without making a single blockbuster move, they would have the financial flexibility needed to reassemble a championship-level roster.

That said, the Lakers do have a first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft that will aid them in both maintaining financial flexibility and adding young legs to an older team.

Related: Full Los Angeles Lakers Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Lakers Draft Needs

Adding youth to the roster with such a short turnaround between the 2020 NBA Finals and the 2020-21 season will be necessary, as older players like LeBron and Rajon Rondo may take games off early in the season for load management.

However, Los Angeles doesn’t need a prospect that plays any particular position, so they can enter draft night with a ‘best player available’ mentality and be better off for it. On a team with James as the centerpiece though, adding a prospect that thrives as a 3-point specialist, perimeter defender or shot-creator would be the best fit.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

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We compiled some of their best posts as they congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their historic win.

View this post on Instagram

We are so much stronger when our differences bring us TOGETHER rather than tear us apart!!! Congratulations to @joebiden & @kamalaharris – biggest voter turnout in American history!! Let’s keep the momentum going and shape a more inclusive and equal America

A post shared by Chris Paul (@cp3) on Nov 7, 2020 at 10:30am PST

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And she’s from Oakland. Congrats @kamalaharris

A post shared by Damian Lillard (@damianlillard) on Nov 7, 2020 at 11:01am PST

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#BidenHarris2020 @kamalaharris @joebiden

A post shared by Candace Parker (@candaceparker) on Nov 7, 2020 at 11:36am PST

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Mood

A post shared by Bradley Beal (@bradbeal3) on Nov 7, 2020 at 9:43am PST

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Leggoooo

A post shared by Angel McCoughtry #35 (@mccoughtry) on Nov 7, 2020 at 9:44am PST

The post NBA, WNBA Players React To Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Winning Election appeared first on SLAM.

Rose has one year, $7.7 million left on his team-friendly contract, making the 32-year-old a prime target for a win-now team like the Lakers.

Although they were reluctant to trade Rose before the deadline, the Pistons reportedly had interest in acquiring Flint-native Kyle Kuzma.

L.A. could be open to trading Kuzma, who will hit restricted free agency after next season. The Lakers hope to maintain enough cap space to make a run at Giannis Antetokounmpo or Bradley Beal in 2021 free agency, reports Deveney.

In 50 games for the Pistons last season, Rose averaged 18.1 points (49.0 FG%) with 5.6 assists.

The post NBA GM: Derrick Rose Trade To Lakers ‘Much More Likely Now’ appeared first on SLAM.

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 long of deal does Anthony Davis sign next? Almost assuredly Davis will opt out and become a free agent. The question then becomes how long of a max contract does he re-sign with the Lakers for? He’s not going anywhere for least a few more years, if ever.
• How do players handle their player options? Beyond Davis, Los Angeles has four players with player options for 2021. With the Lakers in the championship mix for the time being, it’s unlikely any will sacrifice their role on a title contender.
• Can LA sign Kyle Kuzma to a contract extension? Kuzma isn’t a no-brainer max candidate. Can he and the Lakers find common ground on a deal? Or will he play it out and become a restricted free agent in 2021?
• Will Quinn Cook stick for $3M? Los Angeles could flirt with the tax next season, but they are likely to be under. Do they really need to save $2M by letting Cook walk?

Projected Team Salary

$133,971,813

Anthony Davis will opt out, and then re-sign with the Lakers. That’s a certainty. Beyond that, it’s all about player options. The projection is for everyone to be back. Same with Quinn Cook, who should see his deal guaranteed. And Los Angeles will keep the rights to all of their free agents. Expect the Lakers to largely run it back with a very similar squad for 2021. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$24,831,813 (14^th out of 30). $18,444,019 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

The post Los Angeles Lakers: Salary Cap Space 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

According to Alex Caruso, it’s whoever has the open shot. After their Game 4 win over the Heat, he broke down this topic.

“Our third star is whoever has the open shot…tonight it was KCP…it’s just about being ready to shoot.”

In Game 4, it certainly was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored 15 points including several key buckets down the stretch in the win. However, he isn’t always the third guy. It’s been an inconsistent mix of himself, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Danny Green, Markieff Morris and Alex Caruso among others.

The issue is that nobody outside of James and Davis has averaged more than 10.5 points per game in the playoffs. It’s a shot in the dark each night as to who will be the team’s third leading scorer.

This doesn’t seem to be a huge concern for Lakers head coach, Frank Vogel. He commented on this after their Game 4 win when talking about Caldwell-Pope’s performance.

“We’re a team first team. We trust all of our teammates. We trust all five guys on the court to make big plays and that’s what happened tonight in the fourth.”

For the Lakers, clearly Davis and James have done enough in the playoffs, as they are currently up 3-1 in the 2020 NBA Finals. To finish strong, role players will have to step up like Caldwell-Pope did most recently. As Caruso said, whoever has the open shot will be the guy in that moment.

Special Offer: Click Here To Get 15% Off NBA Store With Code NBASLAM15

The post Alex Caruso: ‘Our Third Star Is Whoever Has the Open Shot’ appeared first on SLAM.

The team was very young, with guys like Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart shouldering a heavy load. James was a clear leader and was a huge influence on the young players on the team, whether good or bad.

Rajon Rondo spoke to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan about his challenge to LeBron this season to focus on his body language. Rondo reflected on how James’ teammates looked up to him last season:

“When guys are making the same mistakes over and over and over, it’s hard to bite your tongue but I tried to get [James] to focus on his body language…Those young guys were looking at everything he did. If they missed four shots in a row and LeBron was making a face, it was crushing to them. He was their Michael Jordan. They didn’t want to let him down. But if LeBron said one thing positive to Brandon Ingram or Kyle Kuzma, they immediately were back to their old selves.”

Whether James knew it or not, everything he did had an impact on the other members of the team. As a leader and mentor, his body language sometimes made a negative impact on his teammates.

Although many of those teammates were traded away in the Anthony Davis deal, Rondo wanted James to focus on this in the 2019-20 season.

Not only has Rondo had some exceptional games on the Lakers’ current playoff run, but it goes to show all of the little things he has done for the team off the floor this season. As a veteran, and someone James trusts, Rondo found ways to challenge his teammates to make them better in the long run.

The post Rajon Rondo Challenged LeBron James To Focus on His Body Language appeared first on SLAM.

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma told reporters on Wednesday that his team didn’t take any satisfaction in the Clippers getting eliminated.

“We’re not focused on the Clippers and we never really were,” Kuzma said. “It’s all about who’s in front of you. When you focus on other teams instead of taking care of your food, I mean shit happens like that.

“So for us, we’ve always focused on us, and then focused on Portland, focused on Houston and controlled what we can control as a team. Now our focus is on Denver.”

It seems as though the Lakers as a collective have been studying and staying focused on what matters most to them: the team.

Tonight, the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets will face off in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

—

Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Kyle Kuzma: Lakers Were ‘Never Focused’ on the Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Let’s dive into this upcoming Western Conference Finals matchup. You can also check out our Eastern Conference Finals Preview.

Regular Season Series

The Lakers dominated the regular season series against the Nuggets, winning three of their four matchups. Two of these wins came prior to the NBA hiatus and the most recent was in the bubble seeding games just a few weeks ago.

Although he wasn’t playing at the level he currently is in the playoffs, Jamal Murray was Denver’s best player in these four games, averaging 18.5 points. For the Lakers, LeBron James and Anthony Davis averaged 58.0 points as a duo in the regular season series. In the Western Conference Finals, this won’t matter all that much, as the Nuggets look like a completely different team than in the regular season.

The Path Here

The Los Angeles Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference. However, after entering the bubble, their offense struggled tremendously in their eight seeding games. Coming into the playoffs, their first round matchup was against a very hot Portland Trail Blazers team, although they had no problem winning that opening series in five games. In the second round, the story wasn’t much different. They beat a high-powered offensive team in the Houston Rockets in five games as well.

The Lakers offense has gradually gotten better as the playoffs have gone on, and their stars have been as great as expected. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, through their two playoff series thus far, have combined for an average of 54.2 points, 21.2 rebounds and 12.9 assists per game, while both shot over .370 from beyond the arc. With that in mind, their supporting cast hasn’t stepped up as much as they will need to going forward to continue to advance in the playoffs.

The Nuggets are the first team in NBA history to come back twice in the same playoff run from a 3-1 deficit. In fact, they are 6-0 in elimination games in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. They defeated the Utah Jazz in seven games in their first-round series behind an explosion of offense from Jamal Murray. In the second round, they shocked the LA Clippers in seven games, who were a title favorite.

The story for the Nuggets through two rounds has been Jamal Murray. After averaging 18.5 points per game in the regular season, he’s averaged 26.1 points per contest in the playoffs. This included two 50-point performances and a 42-point game. To complement him, NBA All-Star Nikola Jokic has also averaged 26.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. Rookie Michael Porter Jr. has been a spark on offense for Denver as well, producing 11.8 points per contest on the wing.

What to Watch For

The Lakers are likely the best of the four teams remaining in the playoffs. However, this Nuggets team can clearly not be counted out. Regardless of what happened in the regular season between these teams, much has changed for both squads.

The Lakers have struggled from deep in the playoffs, at .359 which is sixth lowest of the 16 playoff teams to this point. The Nuggets, on the flip side, are the best remaining three-point shooting team. Denver plays quite a few long, switchy wings that are able to shoot the ball. They’ve got eight players who shoot .300 or better from beyond the arc.

The rebounding battle will be something to watch in this series. Los Angeles has been the second-best rebounding team in the playoffs, while Denver has struggled on the glass. Michael Porter Jr. has shown flashes of being an elite rebounder, which will be something he will need to focus on if the Nuggets want to have success against the Lakers.

Los Angeles led all playoff teams in assists per game, which is interesting considering their lack of production outside of James and Davis. Outside of those two, no other player has produced more than 12.0 points per game. The Nuggets are in the same situation, getting a large portion of their offense from their top two players in Murray and Jokic. Just like the Lakers, they don’t have a third player who has averaged 12.0 or more points per game in the playoffs.

Just like in the Eastern Conference Finals, this is a matchup where it will come down to the role players. We know what we will get out of the two stars on each team, but what will the remainder of each team bring? Michael Porter Jr. or Kyle Kuzma stepping up would be a huge advantage to their respective team as a third option.

The post 2020 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals Preview 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.

Lakers NBA 2K21 Ratings

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

The post Los Angeles Lakers: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

This year’s version of the game faced unusual circumstances as the 2020-21 version of the game is technically dropping before the conclusion of the previous campaign. Such is life in the year 2020.

Without so much as a 2020 offseason, let alone a rookie draft, the rosters themselves in the launch version of NBA 2K21 are in line with where they were in the most recently updated patch of NBA 2K20 but discrepancies among the ratings still exist. The game is geared toward next season, after all.

We’ve rounded up and sifted through the team-by-team overall rating data below. It’s on you to hit us here or on Twitter with the decisions you think the 2K developers nailed – and where they struck out.

Below the team-by-team grid, we’ve broken down additional trends, so scroll liberally.

The average player ratings were down across the board compared to last year which could indicate a slight game-wide recalibration but the numbers are indicative of how the teams stack up from top to bottom. Any generic average that weighs every single player on a team equally will be flawed, so don’t read more into this than you should, but it’s interesting to note the relative differences between the teams. It’s also a good reminder of just how scary the Warriors and Nets can be when fully healthy.

Average Overall Rating By Team

Biggest NBA 2K21 Ratings Increases

Biggest NBA 2K21 Ratings Decreases

The post NBA 2K21 Ratings: Team-by-Team Lists appeared first on SLAM.

Those numbers didn’t come in meaningless games either as James and the Lakers notably knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers in the days leading up to the shut down.

Not all players were sailing quite as smoothly however. Anthony Davis’ production was typically excellent but both Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard saw reduced roles before the break as well.

There may come a time when James and Davis need to offensive support and in the bubble it’s very likely that comes from two perimeter threats that weren’t even on the roster in March: Dion Waiters and J.R. Smith.

SLAM’s Heat Check series compares each individual player’s personal production in the month of March with their production prior. The goal is to get a sense of the direction in which players were trending when the league stood still. For a more in-depth description, check out our Heat Check (Hiatus Edition) introduction.

Heat Check Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James
Avery Bradley
Kyle Kuzma
Anthony Davis	–
JaVale McGee
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Danny Green
Jared Dudley
Alex Caruso
Quinn Cook
Markieff Morris
Rajon Rondo
Dwight Howard

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check (Hiatus): Los Angeles Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

It’s a couple of days before the bubble is starting as I’m writing this. You’re from the future, so you know either what kind of miracle the bubble is or what kind of incalculable disaster it wound up being.

I am, at this moment, some naive idiot from July, before whatever third apocalypse came in August or September. Is it dinosaurs? Have dinosaurs come back yet? I’m betting the dinosaurs came back, with knives for hands.

So forgive me, but for the first time in months, I’m experiencing this foreign, potentially disgraceful feeling that was once known as hope. And I’m experiencing this because of—get this—a couple of Twitter accounts: @TheNBABubble and @NBABubbleLife.

Yesterday, I saw a post on @TheNBABubble. It showed Jamal Murray, shirtless, bombing a 3-wood on a driving range, then flexing like he just won the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

A couple of hours later, he was ruled out for the team’s scrimmage because of “golf-related fatigue,” and the Nuggets had to start three centers and two power forwards.

This is the sort of garbage and hijinx I live for, and the world has been severely lacking in it for the past six months, as our country has had a pandemic and a long-overdue reckoning with racist police violence to sort through.

I thank God every day for these NBA Bubble Twitter and Instagram accounts. I’m now living vicariously, from about 18 inches higher, through Tacko Fall and Boban Marjanovic.

It’s reminding me that I will one day, too, be holding up a 6-foot-wide replica marlin and pretending I caught it on a boardwalk, like Norm Powell just posted on Instagram.

This was part of the point, according to Drew Ruiz, who started the @NBABubbleLife Instagram with three friends and NBA media vets Nick DePaula, Travonne Edwards and Wells Phillips.

“Initially, it was something that was just between four friends, then it took off immediately. We just wanted to shed light on positivity, and the players’ posts on the pandemic and racial injustices,” says Ruiz. “It’s good just to see somebody having a good time, like they’re at a summer camp.”

The @TheNBABubble account is more of a DIY operation by Matt Krasuski, who is a student without a school to go to. He follows every NBA player on Twitter he can find and sifts through the good stuff.

It was an instant hit. JaVale McGee complaining about vegan food while telling Kyle Kuzma he looks like a pancake. JR Smith “having the time of his life,” Krasuski said, while reminding people to “stay woke” about tracking devices on his Instagram Live.

“I’m a full-time student, so I have a good amount of free time right now,” Krasuski says.

Both Drew and Matt have similar Bubble Life MVPs: Tacko, Tobias Harris, CJ McCollum, Jamal Murray, Boban.

And look, I know I’m over-philosophizing this picture of Boban I’m looking at right now, where he’s playing on a normal-sized Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine that looks like it could fit into one of the pockets of his XXXXL shorts, but all I see in these pictures is hope.

One day in the next year, we all, too, will go fishing and catch nothing at all, or go to a driving range and completely miss the ball. It’ll be perfect. Then I’ll check Instagram, and I’ll still be following Tacko and CJ, probably for the rest of my life, because they reminded me that the apocalypse wasn’t permanent, even when it felt like it.

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 228

Ben Collins is a writer and reporter for NBC News. He’s also a SLAM columnist and writes The Outlet, a monthly column in which BC muses on…well, whatever he wants. Follow him on Twitter @oneunderscore_.

Photo via Getty.

The post LIVE FROM ORLANDO: The Rise Of NBA Bubble Social Media Accounts appeared first on SLAM.

Four months after the NBA became the first North American professional sports league to close its doors as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Association is back. Despite the chaos of the times, the NBA and the players’ union agreed to reconvene at Walt Disney World for an eight-game addendum to the interrupted campaign, two potential play-in tournaments and a (relatively) traditional postseason.

A total of 22 teams saw their playoff aspirations renewed with the decision to return: the top 8 from each conference back when the League stood still and an additional half dozen that were within six games of sneaking in. The remaining eight teams will watch like the rest of us, from the comfortable confines of self-isolation.

The ambitious bubble plan, including a March Madness-esque carousel of games through the first two weeks of August, gives teams and players an opportunity to take care of their unfinished business. It gives the League a much-needed opportunity to recuperate lost television revenue, too, an essential component of the basketball-related income that benchmarks like the salary cap and luxury tax threshold are tied to.

The NBA’s return plan is experimental and unprecedented—we’re about to watch the biggest games of the season unfold without fans in attendance, across the backdrop of a global pandemic and a massive social justice movement—but basketball is back and that’s a small victory for everyone.

Questions About the Restart

How will playing in the bubble, with no fans or home court advantage, impact the games?

With no fans present in the bubble, home court advantage will be nonexistent in the 2020 NBA playoffs. The great equalizer—so to speak. If there is one team that probably benefits the most from this, it’s got to be the Los Angeles Clippers. If the brackets align the way they’re shaping up to, the Lakers and Clippers could meet in the Western Conference finals (ESPN’s BPI says there is a 31 percent chance of that happening). In a pre-COVID world, that’d mean all games would be held at STAPLES Center, where Lakers fans usually pack the house even when the NBA schedule officially has it down as a Clippers home game. After all, Southern California is predominantly Laker Nation. The Clippers would’ve never had a true home game in a series against the Lakers. The global pandemic may have tipped the scales.

How seriously will the bottom seeds take the Orlando format?

For the teams invited to the bubble without a realistic shot at making the playoffs, the goal will be to get experience for young players without risking injuries to their stars. Look for the Suns, Wizards and Spurs to treat the season resumption like an early Summer League. The Grizzlies, Pelicans, Blazers and Kings will be fighting for the 8-seed in the West, with Memphis having a 3.5-game head start. Portland is looking to salvage a disappointing season, while MEM, NOLA and SAC stand to gain valuable big-game experience.

What will be the effects of a four-month quarantine on the level of play?

There’s no denying that the layoff—a longer layoff than the typical offseason—will have a substantial impact on the basketball we see in Orlando. For the most part, however, the effects of the reduced training camp will be felt evenly across the board. Perhaps the energy level starts lower as teams play themselves into game shape in the seeding round. Some teams, nonetheless, will still come out ahead—like the Philadelphia 76ers now that Ben Simmons has returned to full health. Others, like the Washington Wizards, who lost Bradley Beal to lingering shoulder issues, will have to adapt to life without players that were otherwise available before the shutdown.

What is life in the bubble like for players off the court?

If you really want to know the answer to this question, follow guys like JaVale McGee and Matisse Thybulle, who have been vlogging their daily off-court experiences. We’ve also had multiple players take over SLAM’s Instagram account and give us a behind-the-scenes look at the Disney World campus. On social media, we’ve seen revamped hotel rooms, including elaborate video game set-ups and mini recording studios. Donovan Mitchell has already dubbed himself the “best ping pong player in the bubble.” Other available activities: swimming, golfing, fishing, bowling, tennis and bike riding. Keep your eyes peeled for more incredible content coming out of Orlando.

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Should the championship have an asterisk next to it?

Whoever ends up raising the Larry O’Brien trophy in October should have an asterisk next to their team name. Not because this title will be cheap or unwarranted; but because this will be, perhaps, the most difficult and trying championship race we’ll ever see. The dudes that earn the jewelry will have fought through a pandemic, social upheaval and the passing of a multi-generational basketball hero. So absolutely, throw an asterisk next to ’20 in the record books. This one’s reserved for the strongest group of players out there.

How will players use the platform of the NBA restart to advocate for social justice?

Avenues for change are numerous. And as they’ve proven time and time again, NBA players are leading the way. Some are replacing the names on the backs of their jerseys. Some are going to write messages on their sneakers. Some will undoubtedly use national media interviews as a platform to educate the masses. One thing’s for certain; these players will continue to speak up for what’s right and speak against what’s wrong.

SLAM’s Bubble Awards

*These award predictions are just based on performances in Orlando*

CHAMPS: Los Angeles Lakers

Yes, the Clippers are now well-rested, while the Lakers will be without a couple of their most important pieces—Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo (’til the end of August, at least). Then you got the Bucks, who are also among the favorites to win it all, according to Vegas. At the end of the day, though, a very eager LeBron James is not one to bet against. Despite being down a couple of players, the team still has plenty of championship experience on its roster. And LeBron has certainly done more with a lot less in the past.

MVP: LeBron James

It’s hard to imagine an athlete better equipped to handle the League’s unconventional return to action than LeBron James. Virtually every hurdle that could negatively affect player performance in the bubble doesn’t apply. James’ unparalleled physical conditioning leaves him particularly well-suited for the return and his years of playoff experience afford him the invaluable discipline to remain focused under such unusual circumstances. Scariest of all? He’s got every reason to be as hungry for a title as he was in March.

BEST NEW KICKS: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nike Zoom Freak 2

White columns twinkled with sunlight on a blazingly hot day in Athens back in June of 2019. Nike had taken over the Zappeion, a landmark in Greece’s capital, for the launch of the Zoom Freak 1, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s debut signature sneaker. Antetokounmpo, through an unbreakable smile, showed the world his kicks under an unforgiving sun. He’ll show the world his second sneaker, the Freak 2, under the bubble this summer. A decoupled outsole built specifically for his Euro Step highlights his sophomore silhouette, along with a forefoot Air unit, an exaggerated Swoosh and multiple callouts to his family.

BEST FITS: Kyle Kuzma and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

It’s not too difficult to predict who the NBA bubble’s fashion kings will be—it’s going to be the same guys who were getting fits off on their own in quarantine without the help of arena photographers. Kyle Kuzma and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t let the pandemic falter their Instagram grid—both of them might’ve actually posted more during quarantine. If there are guys comfortable with getting a fit off at any time and in any place, it’s these two.  Don’t count out Troy Daniels, though—he had two Instagram pictures up from the bubble (word to self-timer flicks) before any other player posted even once.

BIGGEST BREAKOUT: Bam Adebayo

Just this past season, Bam Adebayo became an All-Star and a SLAM cover star. Adebayo isn’t a breakout player candidate in the strictest sense—well-known among hoop fans since his days as a top-10 HS recruit—but Bam has a chance to boost his overall profile tremendously in Orlando. Since becoming a full-time starter, he’s taken on a larger role while remaining an efficient offensive player. He’s a good passer who fits perfectly in Miami’s dribble-handoff-heavy offense. He’s an excellent finisher and draws a ton of fouls but is still just scratching the surface of what he’s capable of offensively. Add the fact that Bam can legitimately lock down any position 1-5, and it’s easy to see why he’s become the fulcrum of Miami’s success.

UNSUNG HERO: Robert Covington

The Houston Rockets experimented with an unconventional small-ball lineup before the break and that hasn’t gone anywhere over the course of the hiatus. Foundational to Houston’s success using Mike D’Antoni’s latest concept roster is trade deadline acquisition Robert Covington. Covington’s defensive versatility allows Houston to get away with starting the 6-5 PJ Tucker at center, which opens the floor for James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The team’s superstar duo will dominate if the strategy works, but don’t sleep on the critical component that allows it all to happen.

SUBSTITUTE PLAYER MVP: JR Smith

Sharpshooter Jamal Crawford will definitely get his buckets for the Nets, but they aren’t likely to make any noise in the playoffs. The veteran Luc Mbah a Moute is a solid addition to Houston’s small-ball rotation. But we picked the Lakers to win it all, and we’re hoping for at least one JR Smith game on their journey to the top. With Avery Bradley opting out of the restart and Rajon Rondo sidelined due to injury, the road is paved for others to step up. JR hasn’t suited up this season but has experience playing alongside LeBron and can get hot in a hurry. Oh yeah, and he’s completely fearless. Let’s get it.

—

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Cover by Tyson Beck.

Photos via Getty.

The post NBA BUBBLE PREVIEW: Questions and Predictions for the Restart appeared first on SLAM.

Former Sierra Canyon hooper L Simpson, aka LBoogz, is the host of SLAM’s newest big production. Episode 1 (above) features Los Angeles Laker Kyle Kuzma and members of the USC basketball squad. Future guests include Gilbert Arenas, Yo Gotti, Montrezl Harrell and many more. Peep a trailer for the full series below:

Subscribe to the show here and stay tuned for the rest of the season!

The post Watch Episode 1 of THE SLAM SHOW, Featuring Kyle Kuzma + USC 🍿 appeared first on SLAM.

Kristaps Porzingis posted a season-high 38 points in the W, his third straight game with 20 or more points. Seth Curry was Dallas’ second-leading scorer with 27 points. Luke Doncic missed Sunday’s action with a thumb sprain.

Bucks 93 (52-8), Hornets 85 (21-39)

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored the last nine points for the Bucks, finishing the day with 41 points to give Milwaukee its sixth straight win. The Greek Freak also grabbed 20 boards. Brook Lopez added 16 points.

Clippers 136 (41-19), Sixers 130 (27-24)

The Clippers had four players who finished with 20-plus points as Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 30 points. Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, one of the L’s top 1-2 bench duos, finished with 24 apieces in L.A.

Nuggets 133 (41-19), Raptors 118 (42-18)

Nikola Jokic messed around and had a triple-double (23 points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists) on Sunday night. This was Jokic’s 43rd triple-double of the season. Jamal Murray finished with 22 points.

Kings 106 (26-34), Pistons 100 (20-42)

De’Aaron Fox sealed the game with a bucket down the stretch, scoring 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. Sacramento overcame a 17-point deficit in front of their home crowd. Buddy Hield put up 19 points off the bench.

Lakers 122 (46-13), Pelicans 114 (26-34)

It was one of those nights from LeBron James, who posted 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds against the Pelicans in the Big Easy. With no Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma filled in the void, scoring 20 points in the win. Averly Bradley and Danny Green had 10 apiece.

Wizards 124 (21-37), Warriors 110 (13-47)

Bradley Beal scored 22 of his 34 points in the first half. His streak of 25-plus point games is now at 18 (franchise record). David Bertans went 8-of-10 from beyond the arc and put up 29 points in 30 minutes.

The post Post Up: LeBron Posts Triple-Double in Win Against Pelicans 👑 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.

The post Newswire Notebook: Malik Beasley’s Emergence and More appeared first on SLAM.

With the game close down the stretch, Lebron James (29 points) hit a clutch turnaround to give the Lakers the lead as they escaped with the W on Sunday afternoon.

Anthony Davis finished with 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma was huge off the bench, scoring 16 points.

Raptors 127 (41-15), Pacers 81 (33-23)

Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 21 points, Kyle Lowry had 16 points and Serge Ibaka finished with 15 points to give Toronto its 17th of 18th win. Matt Thomas (17 points), Terence Davis (13 points) and Rodae Hollis-Jefferson (12 points) combined for 43 bench points.

Nuggets 128 (39-18), Timberwolves 116 (16-39)

Four of Denver’s starters finished in double figures with Paul Millsap scoring 25 points in 26 minutes. Monte Morris had 13 points off the bench.

Thunder 131 (35-22), Spurs 103 (24-32)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with a team-high 22 points, Steven Adams finished with 21 points and Luguentz Dort went 6-for-6 from the field, adding 15 points in the win.

Bulls 126 (20-38), Wizards 117 (20-35)

Zach LaVine put up 32 points in 36 minutes in the home win. Coby White had an impressive performance, too, scoring 33 points off the bench.

Pelicans 115 (25-32), Warriors 101 (12-45)

Zion Williamson scored 28 points, scoring 20-plus points for the eighth-straight game. Jrue Holiday finished with 23 points and dished out 15 dimes in the Bay.

Trailblazers 107 (26-32), Pistons 104 (19-40)

CJ McCollum had a 41-point performance in the W. Carmelo Anthony was the Blazers’ second-leading scorer with 32 points.

The post Post Up: LeBron Hits Clutch Basket to Lead Lakers Past Celtics 👑 appeared first on SLAM.

Only 12 players will be selected to participate in the actual games, so we’ll see a number of these players withdraw from consideration and then a select 12 hand-picked from those that remain.

A total of nine players represented the country at the Olympics four years ago in Rio de Janeiro and the only three from that squad not on this list are Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan.

All of the 12 players who represented America during last summer’s FIBA World Cup have been selected to participate in the preliminary stages of the Olympic roster selection process.

A total of five players have been selected from both the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

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The Los Angeles Clippers are finalizing a deal to acquire Marcus Morris from the New York Knicks in exchange for a package built around Maurice Harkless, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Also headed to the Knicks in the trade are a number of additional assets. Among the possibilities is a combination of Terance Mann, Mfiondu Kabengele, Jerome Robinson and L.A.’s 2020 first-round pick.

The Clippers beat out the Los Angeles Lakers in what was described as an arms race for the 30-year-old forward. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Knicks balked at the idea of a proposal without Kyle Kuzma.

More to come.

The post Clippers, Knicks Finalizing Marcus Morris Deal appeared first on SLAM.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported shortly after the dismissal that Morris was suddenly attainable with Mills out of the picture.

There hasn’t been a shortage of demand since seeing as the veteran has enjoyed one of the best campaigns of his career in 2019-20. Two early suitors are the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.

The two L.A. squads are in the midst of what Wojnarowski referred to as an arms race on ESPN, each intrigued by the prospect of adding wing depth but also the idea of keeping him away from a rival.

Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times tweets that if the Knicks sought to partner with the Lakers, they could try to get Kyle Kuzma back. To make the money work, they would need to bring Danny Green back as well, which isn’t a negligible addition.

Morris earns $15M this season, the one and only season on a deal he signed after an unconventional courtship last summer. Morris had a verbal commitment with the San Antonio Spurs but broke that when an opportunity in New York came available.

Turner also spoke of the Clippers, mentioning that they would be willing to part with Maurice Harkless in a potential swap but reluctant to include sophomore Landry Shamet.

The 30-year-old has averaged 19.6 points per game so far this season.

The post Marcus Morris Now Available, Coveted appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers dealt away nearly all of their young prospects in the Davis trade, sending former top-2 picks Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram along with Josh Hart to the Pelicans.

Isaac Bonga and Moritz Wagner received a trip to Washington in order to facilitate the deal but through it all Kuzma remained in purple and gold.

While it doesn’t seem like a third star is in the cards for Los Angeles before Thursday, the Kuzma trade chatter hasn’t ceased since the Lakers’ big offseason. 

Sacramento reportedly had interest in Kuzma, though it’s unclear where those talks currently stand. The Kings proposed an offer of Nemanja Bjelica and an additional asset while the Lakers were set on obtaining Bodgan Bogdanovic. 

The Knicks had exploratory talks recently with the Lakers over bringing Kuzma to New York. Perhaps Marcus Morris would intrigue the Lakers, though the two players’ salaries do not align and other pieces would need be involved.

The situation is worth monitoring given that Kuzma is represented by CAA and the Knicks have a long history of catering to the agency’s clients.

The Wolves have interest in the former No. 27 overall, though the team views pursuing D’Angelo Russell as a higher priority. Minnesota just agreed to a four-team trade that brought them an additional asset: a first-round pick, that the franchise would like to use in a deal for Russell.

While Kuzma’s 2019-20 numbers are down from last year when he was a more prominent part of the offense, the 24-year-old has had a consistent role off the bench for Los Angeles this season. He’s averaging 25.0 minutes per game off the bench for the ultra-competitive Lakers.

The post Kyle Kuzma Awaits Fate Ahead Of Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

In the first installment of Giannis vs. Zion, the Bucks took over in the third quarter, outscoring the Pelicans 42-24 en route to their 43rd win of the season. The Greek Freak went off for 34 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists on 12-17 shooting. Khris Middleton added 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in the win. New Orleans was led by Brandon Ingram, who dropped 32 points in the loss. After a slow start and a big fourth quarter, Zion finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Lonzo Ball added 11 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.

Rockets 125 (32-18), Hornets 110 (16-35)

James Harden went off for 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists as the Rockets cruised to the home win over the Hornets. Danuel House finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds, and Eric Gordon added 16 for Houston. Charlotte was led by Miles Bridges, who finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds in the loss. Terry Rozier added 20 points, and Malik Monk dropped 19 off the bench.

Nuggets 127 (35-16), Trail Blazers 99 (23-28)

The Nuggets outscored the Blazers 27-10 in the second quarter and built on their lead in the second half to pick up the easy win at home. Nikola Jokic dominated, finishing with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists in 31 minutes. In his first game back after missing the last 10 with an ankle injury, Jamal Murray dropped 20 points on 6-9 shooting. Denver was able to slow down the red hot Damian Lillard, holding him to 21 points and 9 assists.

Lakers 129 (38-11), Spurs 102 (22-28)

The Lakers went crazy for 42 points in the fourth thanks to LeBron James, who splashed 5 straight threes in the first 4 minutes of the quarter to blow open the Los Angeles lead. The King finished with a monster stat line of 36 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 3PM. Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma each added 18 points for the Lakers. San Antonio was led by DeMar DeRozan, who stuffed the stat sheet himself with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in the loss.

The post Post Up: LeBron, Harden, Giannis Each Have Big Nights in 3 Wins 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 Lakers 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

• LeBron James
• Anthony Davis

The Lakers worked so hard to get Anthony Davis, attempting to bring him on board at last year’s trade deadline before acquiring him over the summer. We can safely say there’s no chance of the team trading LeBron James or his running mate.

Biggest Name Available On Market

• Kyle Kuzma

The only real enticing prospect that the Lakers didn’t ship to the Pelicans in the Anthony Davis trade, Kyle Kuzma remains a Laker… for now. The Kings have been rumored to have interest. Surely Sacramento isn’t the only squad they have spoken to about the forward. Kuzma is just 24 years old and could be the key to bringing a major piece to Los Angeles.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
• Danny Green

If the Lakers are going to acquire a third star, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green will likely have to be included because of their mid-sized salaries. Caldwell-Pope is making $8.1M this season and technically has the right to veto any trade since he re-signed on a one-year deal with an option. Green is making $14.6M. Los Angeles making a major move is no certainty, though they can reasonably acquire a player on a large salary if they don’t include their two veteran wings.

Trades Are Possible

• Avery Bradley
• JaVale McGee
• DeMarcus Cousins
• Quinn Cook
• Alex Caruso
• Rajon Rondo
• Dwight Howard
• Troy Daniels
• Jared Dudley
• Talen Horton-Tucker

Avery Bradley is making $4.8M this season and many teams could use his services for that price. However, Los Angeles might need him more, so barring an overwhelming offer, Bradley seems likely to remain in town. JaVale McGee is making just $4M and with the emergence of Dwight Howard, who is on a one-year deal, he becomes expendable. Yet, the Lakers have a good things going with keeping both of their centers fresh. DeMarcus Cousins remains sidelined with an Achilles injury. He’ll be a free agent again after the season. Quinn Cook’s role has fluctuated this season. His $3M contract for next year is non-guaranteed. Alex Caruso is not an All-Star despite fans attempts at voting him in. He has been a nice contributor for the Lakers. Rajon Rondo has played in 33 games for the club. It’s hard to envision him playing major minutes in the playoffs at age 33. It’s also hard to envision him being traded, as he has the right to veto any deal. Troy Daniels is knocking down just 36.4% of his shots from three-point land. Tough for a guy that is a three-point specialist. Jared Dudley continues his pre-media career by playing sparingly for the Lakers. He’s seeing just 8.5 minutes per game. Talen Horton-Tucker is the only player Los Angeles netted in the 2019 draft. The rookie has just five minutes of NBA action.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Los Angeles Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

Four weeks later, the Pistons have stood pat on Drummond, reportedly unable to land the assets they hoped to acquire in exchange for their two-time All-Star on an expiring contract.

The lack of movement doesn’t mean that Detroit isn’t still interested in hitting the reset button on a roster frozen in mediocrity. In fact, The Athletic’s James Edwards writes specifically that the Pistons are still interested in that long-awaited rebuild. That may sound benign but its a notable confirmation during the Tom Gores Era.

With the takeaway of the fizzling of the Drummond-to-Atlanta talks that the Hawks were unwilling to part with a first-round pick that Detroit sought, we’ve gotten a better sense of the big man’s value – or lack thereof – given that there’s no guarantee he remains with any squad that acquires him when he turns down his player option this summer.

The general idea for a Hawks trade was that the Pistons would send Drummond to Georgia in exchange for one of Atlanta’s substantial expiring contracts and a first (most likely the top-14 protected pick from Brooklyn).

Complicating matters is that the Hawks have already dealt one of their expiring contracts that would have to have been Detroit-bound in order to make the money work; Allen Crabbe went to Minnesota in the Jeff Teague deal.

As Drummond speculation slowed, however, attention shifted to another intriguing Motown commodity; Derrick Rose. Rose has enjoyed a brilliant 2019-20 campaign, proving that his bounce back performance with the Wolves last season was no fluke.

Rose has averaged 18.5 points and 5.9 assists per game in an abbreviated workload with Detroit this season and has been every bit the passionate competitor his supporters saw early in his Chicago playing days.

An immediate thought for any trade deadline prognosticator is that the former MVP on a bargain two-year contract should be on any contenders’ shopping list but he won’t come cheap.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that the asking price for Rose is another first-round pick. Unlike in Drummond’s case, where the team seemed intent on taking back any first, Detroit is only interested in a lottery level first for Rose.

That’s an ambitious goal for a 31-year-old free agent addition with a history of injuries but Rose’s situation is uncommon if not unprecedented.

Edwards, in his own piece about Detroit’s deadline trade pieces, writes that the team would additionally be open to acquiring an intriguing young prospect.

Earlier this month I wrote about a Yahoo Sports report that the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers were interested in Rose but neither have lottery level firsts that would satisfy the Pistons. The former does, however, have a semi-available Kyle Kuzma and the Sixers have a trove of variously interesting assets depending on what they’d be willing to part with.

With six days left before the deadline, expect the Pistons to be active on the phones. They may end up needing to settle for less than they hoped in a Drummond deal or sitting on a Rose deal altogether but whatever they decide, they’ll be inching closer to the rebuild they’ve set their sights for.

After years of action and unwelcomed consequences during Stan Van Gundy’s tenure as general manager, Ed Stefanski and Arn Tellem haven’t been afraid to be patient in the past.

The post Rebuilding Pistons Seek Lottery Level First For Derrick Rose appeared first on SLAM.

Additionally, Haynes notes that the Los Angeles Clippers have done their diligence reaching out to the struggling Pistons for exploratory talks about the veteran.

Rose has averaged 18.4 points in just 26.0 minutes of action for Detroit this season and ensured that his solid 2018-19 campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves was no fluke. In 10 January contests, he’s averaging 22.8 points per game.

Despite Rose’s appeal as an affordable offensive weapon on a team looking to pivot toward the future, the guard inked a two-year, $15M pact with the Pistons last summer and may be content to see it through.

Chris Crouse of Hoops Rumors reports that Rose is happy with the Pistons and not looking to be traded. Of course that may not be enough to deter a team like the Lakers, eager to shore up their backcourt with a potent offensive weapon.

The Lakers could dangle a combination of Avery Bradley and draft assets (their 2020 1st, for example) but that may not be enough to convince the Pistons to part ways with their most valuable and reasonably available asset.

A package of Quinn Cook and Flint, Michigan native Kyle Kuzma would work financially, the latter of whom has emerged in trade speculation over the course of the past month, but that may lean too heavily in the opposite direction.

Finding a fit with the Sixers is perhaps even more challenging, especially without a potentially sending rookie standout Matisse Thybulle to the Motor City. If Philly was desperate enough to do so, then a package of Thybulle and former Michigan Wolvering Trey Burke would do the trick.

Speculation aside, the line that contending teams will need to walk is how much to give up in exchange for an elite reserve guard and spot starter.

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

The post Derrick Rose Draws Trade Interest From Contenders appeared first on SLAM.

Another game without a star (this time Paul George), and yet another win for the Clippers. Reaching win number 30 on the season was no breeze though, with the feisty Pelicans leading for a good chunk of the game. But ultimately, Kawhi Leonard was too much to handle. He had himself a phenomenal game, with 39 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. And who could forget Lou Will, who dropped a cool 32 points off the pine.

For the Pelicans, Lonzo Ball had a triple double, scoring 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing 11 assists. Derrick Favors was also excellent, scoring 22 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting along with 11 boards.

Bucks 117 (38-6), Nets 97 (18-23)

The Bucks just do not let up. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points and 12 rebounds in only 25 minutes, Khris Middleton had 20 of his own, and Brook Lopez did a fantastic job protecting the rim, notching 5 blocks.

The Nets were helpless against the brutal efficiency of the Bucks, and it showed with no player scoring higher than 17 points.

Suns 123 (18-24), Celtics 123 (27-14)

Fantastic win for the Suns beating Boston at home. Devin Booker went inferno, with 39 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Deandre Ayton backed that up with a monster 26 points and 15 boards.

Despite the loss, Marcus Smart went bonkers, with a career-high 11 3-pointers made for 37 points, 8 assists and 4 steals.

Pistons 136 (16-27), Hawks 103 (10-33)

It must have been very cathartic for Detroit to finally blow somebody out. Derrick Rose, recently inserted into the starting lineup to fill the playmaking black hole, was excellent. D Rose scored 27 points along with 9 assists and a plus/minus of +24. Andre Drummond also cleaned up as usual, with 16 points, 17 rebounds and 5 swipes.

76ers 90 (28-16), Knicks 87 (11-32)

A surprisingly close game, but all Philly should care about is getting the victory. Ben Simmons was fully in control, ending the game with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.

Raptors 122 (28-14), Timberwolves 112 (15-27)

The Raptors have been butchered by injuries all year, and they finally had their core group together again, and the results were excellent. Fred VanVleet (29 points, 4 steals, 7-8 from deep) barely missed a beat from his weeks-long absence. Kyle Lowry was great too, scoring 28 points, grabbing 7 rebounds and splashing 5 3-pointers.

Bulls 118 (16-28), Cavaliers 116 (12-31)

What an impressive win from the Bulls! Coming into the 4th quarter down a sizable 15 points, none other than Zach LaVine went off. The star guard had 42 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals for a wild performance.

Don’t blame the loss on Kevin Love though. He had a 29-5-6 line and the Cavs outscored the Bulls by 11 points when he was in.

Warriors 109 (10-34), Magic 95 (20-23)

Orlando may have a subpar record, but they’re long, athletic and make you beat them, making this a quality win for a youthful Dubs team. DLO had 26 points, 12 assists and 2 steals along with a beautiful 3 late in the game.

Also, let’s take a moment, even in defeat, to appreciate the comeback of Markelle Fultz. Dude has been a problem for defenses.

Lakers 124 (34-8), Rockets 115 (26-15)

No Anthony Davis and on the road against the Rockets…that’s a quality win right there, Lakers. LeBron was fantastic as usual. He put up 31 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all showed out as well.

For the Rockets, Russell Westbrook scored 35 points and James Harden scored 34, but no one else really stepped up.

Jazz 123 (29-13), Kings 101 (15-27)

The Jazz are rolling. Other than a slight hiccup against the Pelicans a couple of nights ago, they’ve been creaming everyone in their path and tonight was no different. Bojan Bogdanovic had a clean 30 points, Rudy Gobert had a monster 28 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Jordan Clarkson had another quality performance off the bench with 20 points.

Thunder 119 (24-19), Blazers 106 (18-26)

Chris Paul had 30 points and 7 assists on 11-15 shooting in just 28 minutes, while his protege and backcourt mate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.

For the Blazers, it’s unfortunately becoming a common trend to see Dame go off (34 points, 6 assists), but lose the game.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Pops Off for 39 Points to Defeat Pelicans 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 Suns 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

• Devin Booker
• Kelly Oubre
• Deandre Ayton
• Mikal Bridges
• Cameron Johnson
• Ty Jerome

No, the Suns are not going to trade Devin Booker for Kyle Kuzma despite Stephen A. Smith’s wishes. In fact, it’s unlikely the team moves its franchise shooting guard before the trade deadline regardless of how bleak the team’s playoff hopes look.

Kelly Oubre, who came to the Suns via a mid-season trade with the Wizards last year, is the team’s candidate for the Most Improved award and it would be surprising if the team moved him or any member of its young core (barring a blockbuster deal for a star of course).

Biggest Name Available On Market

• Dario Saric

Offseason addition Dario Saric hasn’t made much of an impact as Phoenix’s fifth starter this season. Prior to the contest against the Knicks, he hadn’t scored in double figures since the calendar turned to 2020. His usage rate has approached single digits on many nights and according to NBA Math, he’s a neutral presence on defense while only Tyler Johnson and Jevon Carter have been worse offensively.

Saric, who will be a restricted free agent after the season, arrived in Phoenix on draft night in a deal that saw Minnesota move up to No. 6 and nab Jarrett Culver. There’s been no reports of Phoenix shopping Saric but the power forward is surely available should a team have interest.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Tyler Johnson

Johnson is in the final year of a unique four-year, $50M deal he signed back in 2016. His $19.3M salary could be used to bring Phoenix a piece should the team go hunting for an expensive addition.

Trades Are Possible

• Ricky Rubio
• Aron Baynes
• Frank Kaminsky
• Cheick Diallo
• Elie Okobo
• Jevon Carter
• Jalen Lecque

After years of disappointing point guard play, the team ponied up for Ricky Rubio during the offseason and it’s hard to envision the team trading the veteran unless it was for a significant upgrade at the position. Aron Baynes is making just $5.5M in the final year of his deal, though he may seem like logical trade candidate, he’s simply been too important for this club to move. The Suns have even given the Baynes-Ayton combo significant run, hoping to find reasons to keep the Australian big on the floor. Frank Kaminsky is out indefinitely with a right patella stress fracture. He has a $5.0M team option on his deal for next season. Cheick Diallo has really only played when Baynes misses times, though he’s been stuffing the stat sheet on those occasions. Jevon Carter came to the Suns in the Josh Jackson trade over the summer. He has seen inconsistent minutes across his 25 appearances in Phoenix. Although he’s on a standard contract, Jalen Lecque has spent most of his time with the G League’s Northern Arizona Suns and only recently made his NBA debut.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Phoenix Suns appeared first on SLAM.

Houston won in a blowout despite 11 TOs from James Harden. The Rockets outscored the Wolves by 14 in the second quarter to take a 16-point lead into halftime, and led by as much as 41 during the fourth.

James Harden dropped a game-high 32 points with 12 boards and 8 dimes. Russell Westbrook added 30 points and 10 dimes.

Pelicans 105 (14-26, Celtics 140 (26-11)

Boston dominated from the first quarter, taking a 17-point lead into the second. The Celtics would grow the lead to as much as 37 points during the third quarter.

Jayson Tatum need just three quarters to drop a career-high 41 points on 16-22 shooting.

Bulls 108 (14-26), Pistons 99 (14-26)

After taking the lead with 4:36 left in the first quarter, Chicago wouldn’t trail for the rest of the game, eventually snapping a 6-game losing streak.

Zach LaVine dropped a game-high 25 points with 6 dimes.

Lakers 125 (32-7), Thunder 110 (22-17)

No LeBron, AD and Danny Green, no problem. The Lakers led the entire game, and by as much as 32 points during the third quarter.

Kyle Kuzma dropped a game-high 36 points with 7 boards. Rajon Rondo added 21 points with 12 boards and 8 dimes.

The Lakers have won 8 straight games.

Sixers 91 (25-15), Mavs 109 (24-15)

Dallas outscored the Joel Embiid-less Sixers by 27 points during the second half.

Luka Doncic dropped a team-high 19 points with 12 dimes and 8 boards. Dwight Powell added 19 points with 12 boards.

Cavs 111 (12-27), Nuggets 103 (26-12)

Cleveland blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead, but was able to hold on when it mattered most.

Kevin Love dropped 19 points with 15 boards. Collin Sexton added a game-high 25 points.

Bucks 122 (35-6), Blazers 101 (16-24)

Milwaukee took the lead with 6:25 left in the first quarter, and did not trail for the rest of the game. The Bucks would go up by as much as 25 points during the fourth quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped a game-high 32 points with 17 boards and 6 dimes. Khris Middleton added 30 points on 11-17 shooting.

The post Post Up: Lakers Rout Thunder Without LeBron, Anthony Davis appeared first on SLAM.

The Wiz have played admirably without star guard Bradley Beal. Jordan McRae scored 29 points, Troy Brown Jr chipped in 18 and 10 boards off the bench and Davis Bertans treated us to a surprising flush.

Pelicans 123 (14-25), Knicks 111 (10-29)

Watch out for the Birds. After a pitiful start to the season, they’re finding their stride, with an easy schedule and Zion Williamson on the horizon. In the present, Brandon Ingram went off for 28 points, Lonzo Ball had 11 assists and rookie Jaxson Hayes had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.

No matter how many starting lineups they try, the Knicks still find a way to lose. At least all five starters scored, and we glimpsed signs of life from the mysterious Frank Ntlikina.

Nets 117 (17-20), Heat 113 (27-11)

Spencer Dinwiddie is so under-appreciated. He’s kept the entire Nets boat afloat while Kyrie nurses a shoulder injury, and tonight was no different. Dinwiddie dropped 26 points and 14 assists to take down the Heat.

Pacers 116 (24-15), Bulls 105 (13-26)

Without arguably their best player Malcolm Brogdon (plus Victor Oladipo having missed the whole season thus far), the Pacers still took care of business against an inferior Bulls team. Center Myles Turner produced one of his best games yet, with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Bulls wasted a fantastic Zach LaVine 43-point scoring outburst (he scored 20 in a row at one point), and look poised for another year in the lottery.

Grizzlies 134 (17-22), Spurs 121 (16-21)

The new guard beating the old guard. There’s something symbolic about that, and Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson are the future, but the present is pretty damn good too. Jaren had 24 points on an efficient 8-11 shooting. Ja also had a complete game with 22 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds.

The Spurs had beaten the Bucks and Celtics in recent games, yet they succumbed to the pesky Grizzlies. DeMar DeRozan had a 36-9-9 stat line, but it was not enough.

Suns 98 (15-23), Magic 94 (18-21)

The Magic were leading the Suns 94-90 with less than a minute to go.

Then, Devin Booker happened. The star shooting guard drained a 3-pointer, then caught a steal on defense and came back down to splash another 3. Game, set, match.

Jazz 109 (26-12), Hornets 92 (15-26)

The Jazz are rolling. Trading for Jordan Clarkson has been a godsend, as the seemingly minor trade simultaneously excised poor, yet consistently injured Dante Exum and brought in a much needed bucket-getter. Clarkson scored 20 points on 8-15 shooting, while Rudy Gobert provided his usual dose of stingy defense with 5 blocks and a modest double-double. The Jazz have won 13 of their last 14 games.

Lakers 129 (31-7), Mavericks 114 (23-15)

LeBron James did LeBron James things with his superstar sidekick Anthony Davis sidelined. Bron dropped 35 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists to dismantle the Mavs, making him the first Laker to put up such stats since Shaq in 2003. Kyle Kuzma stepped into the starting lineup admirably with 26 points of his own.

Bucks 127 (34-6), Kings 106 (15-24)

Another day, another Bucks win while Giannis doesn’t even play 30 minutes. Khris Middleton (27 points, 11 rebounds) and Eric Bledsoe (24 points, 5 assists) led the way to crush the Kings, who actually stayed competitive through halftime.

De’Aaron Fox was phenomenal stuffing the stat sheet, with 19 points, 9 boards, 10 assists, 4 steals and even 2 blocks in the loss.

Clippers 109 (27-12), Warriors 100 (9-31)

The Dubs played them close, but the Clippers still took care of business even without star Paul George. Kawhi had a monster slam dunk, and 36 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Pat Beverley was one assist shy of a triple-double.

The post Post Up: Lakers Defeat Mavericks in Final Regular Season Meeting appeared first on SLAM.

Sacramento would need to include Bogdan Bogdanovic to make the deal palatable.

Kuzma, 24, told reporters that trade rumors are an accepted part of life when playing in Los Angeles.

Per The Sac Bee:

A league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings are unlikely to trade Bogdanovic for Kuzma. The Kings value Bogdanovic’s versatility and they are comfortable with having the right to match any offers for him if he becomes a restricted free agent this summer. Bogdanovic has missed six games due to hamstring and ankle injuries this season. The Kings are 0-6 in those contests.

The Kings have until June 30 to re-sign Bogdanovic, who is eligible for a four-year deal worth up to $51.4 million, or he will become a restricted free agent. Bogdanovic, 27, would likely attract bigger offers in free agency. The Kings would have the right to match any offers he receives.

Bogdanovic told The Bee in October the Kings offered him the maximum extension, but he has yet to accept their offer.

“I would like to stay,” Bogdanovic said. “Everyone knows that I love Sacramento. Everyone loves to be here. It’s a great group of guys. I’m happy right now and I was happy all these years, but I don’t want to rush anything.”

Related Kyle Kuzma Addresses Trainer’s Criticism of LeBron James

The post Report: Sacramento Kings Interested in Kyle Kuzma appeared first on SLAM.

But despite general manager Rob Pelinka’s ties to the former 27th overall pick, he has a mission to surround Davis and LeBron James with a strong enough supporting cast to contend for a championship this season and beyond.

A report from The Athletic’s Sam Amick suggests that the Lakers are willing to listen to pitches for the Flint native and it’s not hard to see why. While Kuzma has struggled with a number of injuries this season, he’s also been supplanted from the starting lineup and forced to adjust to a new role.

That new role – as a tertiary offensive option playing nearly 10 fewer minutes per game – isn’t likely to change so long as Davis and James are on the roster.

Kuzma is averaging 12.1 points per game this season, down from 18.7 in 2018-19 and some advanced metrics suggest that the club is better with him off the floor than on it.

Still, Kuzma is a tantalizing, young asset and that’s why, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, teams are doing their due diligence to gauge L.A.’s interest in a potential swap even if the Lakers are reluctant to make a major move.

Kuzma’s has two years left on his incredibly cheap rookie contract – he makes $2.0M in 2019-20 and just $3.6M next year – but it won’t be long before Pelinka and company need to start thinking long and hard about a potential extension. He’ll be eligible to sign one this summer.

Related: Kuz Addresses Trainer’s Criticism Of LeBron

The post Report: Lakers Willing To Listen To Kyle Kuzma Offers appeared first on SLAM.

Kuzma also spoke to his teammate about the social media incident, and told reporters he disagreed with the trainer’s opinion.

James said he “could care less” about the comments.

Per The LA Times:

Kyle Kuzma’s trainer, Clint Parks, posted messages on Instagram that were critical of James in comparison to Kawhi Leonard, whom Parks also trained. Social media buzzed with suggestions of a rift between the two Lakers. Kuzma approached James on Friday to distance himself from the comments.

“I just told him that I can’t control what another man says,” Kuzma said. “Obviously I don’t feel that way. Everybody knows that me and LeBron have a great relationship.”

James said of Parks: “I’ve never met the guy, I don’t know the guy, I could care less about the guy.”

Kuzma said multiple times Saturday morning that he didn’t care about all the chatter over the incident. On Saturday night, he produced a dominant first half, scoring 20 points, which he said had nothing to do with the social media kerfuffle.

Related Kyle Kuzma: ‘A Lot of People Are Probably Jealous of Us’

The post Kyle Kuzma Addresses Trainer’s Criticism of LeBron James appeared first on SLAM.

Denver led the entire game, and mostly by double-digits.

Nikola Jokic dropped a game-high 31 points with 10 boards and 10 dimes.

Raptors 113 (22-10), Celtics 97 (22-8)

Toronto successfully countered every Boston run to snap the Celtics’ 5-game win streak.

Kyle Lowry dropped a game-high 30 points with 7 dimes.

Pacers 98 (21-12), Pelicans 120 (10-23)

New Orleans outscored the Pacers by a combined 31 points in the second and third quarters.

Brandon Ingram dropped a team-high 24 points with 7 dimes.

Jrue, Aaron and Justin Holiday became the first trio of brothers to play in the same game.

Hawks 81 (6-27), Bulls 116 (13-20)

Chicago controlled the entire game against the Trae Young-less Hawks.

Zach LaVine dropped 19 points with 7 boards. Lauri Markkanen added a team-high 25 points.

Atlanta has now lost an abysmal 10 straight games.

Cavs 94 (10-22), Wolves 88 (11-20)

Cleveland led for the majority of the game against the Wolves, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Tristan Thompson dropped 12 points with 15 boards. Collin Sexton added a game-high 18 points.

Knicks 107 (9-24), Wizards 100 (9-22)

New York built a few double-digit leads only to see them disappear to the Bradley Beal-less Wizards. But they held on to the lead when it mattered the most during crunch time.

Julius Randle continued his strong play, dropping a game-high 30 points with 16 boards and 6 dimes.

Sixers 116 (23-12), Heat 117 (24-8) (OT)

Miami battled back from a 5-point deficit with 1 minute to play to take the lead on a clutch three-pointer by Tyler Herro. But the Heat fouled Josh Richardson with less than a second left. J-Rich intentionally missed his second free-throw and Ben Simmons got a putback to send the game to OT.

The Heat would hold on to improve to an incredible 6-0 in OT this season.

Jimmy Butler dropped a team-high 25 points with 9 dimes and 9 boards. Herro added 17 points (4-8 3FG) off the bench.

Miami has now won 5 straight.

Nets 98 (16-15), Rockets 108 (22-10)

Brooklyn battled back to take the lead in the fourth quarter after falling down by 18 points in the third. But the Rockets would pull away during the final minutes of the game.

James Harden dropped a game-high 44 points with 10 boards and 6 dimes.

Pistons 109 (12-21), Spurs 136 (13-18)

San Antonio would outscore the Pistons by 17 points in the third quarter and go up by as much as 29 points during the fourth.

LaMarcus Aldridge dropped 25 points (5-6 3FG) with 12 boards. DeMar DeRozan added a game-high 29 points.

Mavs 141 (21-10), Warriors 121 (9-25)

After going off for 30 points in the first half, D’Angelo Russell went down with a scary-looking shoulder injury with 5:20 left in the third quarter—and the Mavericks proceeded to blow open the game.

Luka Doncic dropped a team-high 31 points with 15 dimes and 12 boards as Dallas snapped the Warriors’ 4-game winning streak.

Magic 100 (14-18), Bucks 111 (29-5)

Even with Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) missing his second straight game, Milwaukee jumped out to a 12-point lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.

Ersan Ilyasova dropped 17 points with 14 boards and 5 dimes. Khris Middleton added a team-high 21 points.

Suns 112 (12-20), Kings 110 (12-20)

Phoenix blew a 14-point third quarter lead but held on to snap an 8-game losing streak.

Devin Booker dropped a game-high 32 points with 10 dimes.

Sacramento has now lost 6 straight.

Lakers 128 (25-7), Blazers 120 (14-19)

The Lakers looked sharp after their Christmas Day loss to the Clippers, snapping their 4-game losing streak.

LeBron James dropped 21 points with 16 dimes and just 1 TO. Kyle Kuzma added a team-high 24 points.

Jazz 120 (20-12), Clippers 107 (23-11)

Utah outscored the Clippers by 12 points during the fourth quarter to pick up a big road win.

Donovan Mitchell dropped a game-high 30 points with 9 dimes and 7 boards.

The post Post Up: Heat Defeat Sixers Behind Tyler Herro’s Clutch Heroics appeared first on SLAM.

The Raptors came out scorching hot, with Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry fueling a 10-0 run to start the game, but it was all green from there on out. The Celtics played a sound game, with all five starters scoring in double-digits and Enes Kanter coming in off the bench to put up 12 points and 11 rebounds in only 18 minutes. 

The matchup also served as a wonderful national exposure for Jaylen Brown, and how much he has improved this season. Brown scored 30 points on an efficient 10-13 shooting with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, displaying his smooth handles on this sweet step-back jumper.

Sixers 121 (23-10), Bucks 109 (27-5)

In Philly’s first Christmas Day game in 31 years, Joel Embiid put up a triple-double (31 points, 11 rebounds) in the W. The Sixers caught fire from deep, knocking down a franchise-record tying 21 3-pointers, to go 16-2 at home. Tobias Harris was Philly’s second-leading scorer with 22 points.

Rockets 104 (21-10), Warriors 116 (8-24)

Golden State earned its first win of the season against a team over .500 thanks to a dominant fourth quarter against the Rockets. The Warriors boasted three 20-point scorers in Damion Lee (22 points), D’Angelo Russell (20 points) and Draymond Green (20 points). Russell Westbrook and James Harden combined for 54 points, but fell short of the Christmas win.

Clippers 111 (23-10), Lakers 106 (24-7)

The second Battle for Los Angeles lived up to its name as the Clippers overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to down the Lakers — the largest comeback win on Christmas Day since 2003.

Patrick Beverley — who was a game-high +26 for the Clippers — blocked LeBron James’ potential game-tying 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds to go. Kawhi Leonard scored 35 points on 11-for-19 shooting to lead all players. Kyle Kuzma had a team-high 25 off the bench for the Lakers.

Pelicans 112 (8-23), Nuggets 100 (21-8)

Brandon Ingram had a career night in the Mile High City, hitting 7 3s en route to a 31-point performance, as the Pelicans snapped Denver’s seven-game winning streak. Jrue Holiday was the Pelicans’ second-leading scorer with 20 points, JJ Redick had 15 and Lonzo Ball finished with 10 points.

The post Post Up: Kawhi Leonard Drops 35 Points in Battle for LA on Christmas Day appeared first on SLAM.

Having beaten racked up several impressive road wins, after enjoying a light early-season schedule, Los Angeles is now starting to crow about its League-leading play.

Led by Anthony Davis‘ season-high 50 points, The Purple and Gold moved to 10-2 at home (and 21-3 overall) with a 142-125 Sunday night blowout of the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.

Per The Athletic:

“Everybody is just going to say something about us just because we’re the Lakers and we’re winning,” Kyle Kuzma said. “A lot of people are probably jealous of us.”

As a reporter asked Kuzma whether that skepticism had served as motivational fuel for the Lakers, at the next locker over [Dwight] Howard grimaced and rolled his shoulders in a disbelieving shrug, as though to ask how that could even be a question.

“We’ve played a lot of teams. We played a lot of tough road games,” Kuzma said. “It’s tough to win in San Antonio, tough to win in Denver, tough to win in Utah, tough to win in Dallas.”

Things were supposed to get tougher. Not breezier.

“When you’re the No. 1 team in the league, people are going to find a way to come out and shoot a higher field-goal percentage than what they normally shoot, find ways to make plays, to get stops, play harder and we got to embrace that,” Davis said.

Related Kyle Kuzma: ‘I’m Still Going to Get My Game Off Regardless’

The post Kyle Kuzma: ‘A Lot of People Are Probably Jealous of Us’ appeared first on SLAM.

Bryant is said to have first experienced pain in the foot during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.

The diagnosis and treatment of stress reactions is key for athletes as they can be precursors to more serious fractures. A nagging stress reaction is what sidelined Kyle Kuzma during the FIBA World Cup and start of the NBA season.

Bryant has been solid in his second season with the Wizards. Through 18 games, the 22-year-old has averaged 13.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Bryant has developed a notable chemistry with star Bradley Beal that stretches back to last season and his ability to keep up with a fast Wizards squad has served the rebuilding team well.

According to Mike DePrisco of NBC Sports, Bryant is a part of two of Washington’s top three offensive lineups, including one with an offensive rating of 130.4 alongside Beal, Ish Smith, Jordan McRae and Davis Bertans.

The post Thomas Bryant Out Three Weeks With Foot Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet reports that the Lakers opted not to play Kuzma after he suffered the abrasion but notes that the medical team technically did clear him for a return if needed.

Kuzma took an accidental elbow directly to the right eye during during the team’s Tuesday night victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder and was bleeding around his eye and nose.

While there’s no official declaration about Kuzma’s status heading forward, the fact that he was technically cleared to return to the contest in which the injury occurred bodes well for Lakers fans.

Kuzma has averaged 13.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in the ten games since he returned from a stress reaction in his foot.

The post Kyle Kuzma Avoids Serious Damage After Eye Injury appeared first on SLAM.

T. J. Warren led the way with 23 points on 10-14 shooting as the Pacers cruised to a win in OKC. Malcolm Brogdon added 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

76ers 98 (7-3), Cavaliers 97 (4-6)

A clutch, go ahead dunk from Joel Embiid with 13 seconds left lifted the 76ers to the win over the Cavs. Embiid was a monster all night, finishing with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Kevin Love and Jordan Clarkson each dropped 20 in the loss.

Heat 117 (7-3), Pistons 108 (4-8)

The Heat held off a late surge from the Pistons to secure their 7th win of the season. Miami had 6 players finish in double figures, and Jimmy Butler led the way with 20 points and 13 assists. Luke Kennard finished with 22 points in the loss.

Bulls 120 (4-7), Knicks 102 (2-9)

It was the Coby White show in the windy city.

The rookie splashed a franchise record 7 threes in the 4th quarter alone and finished with a game-high 27 points. Zach LaVine shined too, dropping 25 points and 5 assists. For the Knicks, rookie RJ Barrett continued to impress, finishing with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Lakers 123 (8-2), Suns 115 (6-4)

The top-seeded Lakers took care of business on the road against the Suns, closing the game on a 12-2 run. Anthony Davis dropped a game-high 24 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Kyle Kuzma added 23 points, and LeBron stuffed the stat sheet with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Suns, who have been the surprise of the season thus far, battled till the end on the backs of Devin Booker (21p, 9a) and Ricky Rubio (21p, 10a).

Hawks 125 (4-6), Nuggets 121 (7-3)

Ice Trae continues to tear up the league.

He went OFF for a season-high 42 points, including 8-13 from three, and 11 assists to lead the Hawks to a big win in Denver. Trae became the first player in Hawks franchise history to record 30 points and 10 assists in three straight games. Nikola Jokic finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Jazz 119 (8-3), Nets 114 (4-6)

The Jazz continued their red-hot start to the season with a wire-to-wire win over the Nets. Donovan Mitchell shined, dropping a game-high 30 points. Rudy Gobert added 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 27 points and 5 assists.

Kings 107 (3-6), Blazers 99 (4-6)

The Kings outscored the Blazers 35-21 in the third quarter and held off the late comeback to pick up their 3rd win of the season. Bogdan Bogdonaovic led the way with 25 points and 10 assists off the bench. Portland’s elite backcourt showed out, with Damian Lillard dropping 27 and CJ McCollum adding 24 in the loss.

The post Post Up: Trae Young Drops 42 to Lead the Hawks to a Win in Denver appeared first on SLAM.

Afterward, the soon-to-be 35-year-old James poked fun at the suggestion that he’s anywhere near washed up.

Kyle Kuzma scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter for the 6-1 Lakeshow.

Per The LA Times:

“Just trying to be in the right place at the right time,” James said. “Being a triple-threat on the floor. I trust my teammates to make shots. I just try to put the ball on time and on target. They’ve been doing that.

“Defensively, trying to rebound as much as I can, even though I’m playing the point-guard position. And then scoring. Just trying to read the defense, pick my spots, and just trying to be aggressive.

“It comes with team success for me. Triple-doubles means absolutely nothing to me if it’s not in a win. This is three wins [in a row] for us, and I feel pretty happy about the way we performed.”

James, who leads the NBA with 11.2 assists per game, had five assists in the fourth quarter when the Lakers were putting the finishing touches on the Bulls.

“Obviously, we’re witnessing greatness on a daily basis and all of us, we just want to consume as much as possible,” [Quinn] Cook said about James. “He gives everything he has to us every single day. He’s the first one in the gym. He has a relationship with everybody on the team. He’s just the ultimate team player, the ultimate team leader. He gives us everything he has night in and night out.”

Related ‘I’m Playing Injury Free’: LeBron James Picked Up His Defense

The post #WashedKing: LeBron James Notches Third Straight Triple-Double appeared first on SLAM.

The Lakers have been without third-year forward Kyle Kuzma throughout training camp, preseason and the first week of the regular season. It’s possible, however, that the 24-year-old could return to action during the Lakers’ upcoming road trip.

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Kuzma could potentially return over the course of L.A.’s road trip scheduled from Friday to Tuesday.

Kuzma has been sidelined with a stress reaction in his left foot since FIBA World Cup play in the offseason and, as we wrote previously, the Lakers were wise to proceed cautiously. A stress reaction if left unchecked can turn into a stress fracture which would come with a significantly longer recovery timeline.

Kuzma’s return to action, whether that comes before next Tuesday or not, could push Danny Green from small forward to shooting guard and Avery Bradley to the bench.

The post Kyle Kuzma Returns From Stress Reaction In Foot appeared first on SLAM.

—

Gym Rat Award: Cole Anthony

Cole lived in the gym. He would put in 60-90 minutes on the court pretty much every day. Even when he was off, he would come by and observe guys like CJ McCollum and Donovan Mitchell work out. He really is a student of the game. He’s hungry.

Locked-In Award: D’Angelo Russell

During free agency, when D’Angelo didn’t know where he would be playing this season, we had some of our most intense workouts. I’m talking, some of the most intense workouts I’ve ever conducted. Some nights we would be on the court working from midnight to 2 a.m.

18 Minutes Champion: James Harden

One of my favorite workouts is an 18-minute shooting drill. It consists of 18 straight minutes of 3s. For nine of those minutes, the player is on the move; and for the other nine, they stand still. James Harden had the summer record with 265 makes. CJ McCollum finished second with 261. Those numbers are ridiculous!

Biggest Surprise: Ty Jerome

When Ty played in the Black Ops runs, he controlled the game. He was hitting threes from almost half court and also making his teammates better. One day, he won every single game (nine straight). Ty is going to have a big rookie year. 

Biggest Surprise, Non-NBA Player: J. Cole

J. Cole played in a handful of Black Ops runs, but one of the days was particularly memorable. Sharing the court with nine NBA guys, he hit 3 game-winners and shot 7-8 from deep.

Most Focused: Donovan Mitchell

Heading into Team USA tryouts, Donovan would come in the gym every morning with a chip on his shoulder. He logged double sessions a lot of days, too. He was extremely focused and pushed himself to be as ready as possible for USA. His work was rewarded by his great play in the World Cup.

What People Don’t Know: James Harden’s Work Ethic

James would work out daily and he’d run suicides on his own afterward. One day, following a tiring session with two other NBA players, James still got on the line and knocked out his suicides. Averaging 36.9 points per game doesn’t just happen. Tremendous work ethic is required.

The Mentor: Carmelo Anthony

Melo worked very, very hard this summer himself, but he also helped others get better. He did individual sessions and played one-on-one with Cole Anthony, Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, Donovan Mitchell and Terrence Clarke. He shared his knowledge and taught them how to do specific moves. Melo showed his maturity and his leadership qualities. He didn’t have to do those sessions. He did it because he wanted to pass on his wisdom to the next generation.

Best Duo: Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young

Imagine these two in the same backcourt. It’s a coach’s dream. It started in Louisville, when Mitchell and Trae worked out together and played pick-up against the Cardinals’ men’s basketball team. Then when we started the Black Ops games, they ran together and it was a scary site. They have great chemistry. 

Walking Bucket Award: TJ Warren

TJ played in a few Black Ops games and was unstoppable. He can score in a number of ways and he’s highly underrated on a national scale. 

NC Crew: Dennis Smith Jr, TJ Warren & J. Cole

The North Carolina crew is very close. Not only would they play on the same team during Black Ops runs, they would also work out together at night.

Most Viral Picture: Cole Anthony Putback Dunk

Wow Moment: Adrian Griffin Jr & Terrence Clarke

Adrian Griffin Jr was the youngest player to ever play in a Black Ops run. He was 15 years old and he was on fire. His first outing, he scored over 20 points and played like a grown man. Everyone left the gym impressed. Terrence Clarke also put on a show. His handle reminds me of Jamal Crawford and he’s very skilled. Kentucky got a great one.

Most Competitive Workout: Russell Westbrook & James Harden

James and Russell worked out together and I said, ‘First to win 10 drills wins the workout.’ It literally came down to the last shot. It was 9-9 and the last drill was 50 threes on the move. James got 35. Russ was at 34-49 and the last shot would have tied James to send the workout into overtime, but he missed it.

Any time Russ is on the court, he brings a whole different level of intensity. I love it.

High-Flyer Award: Kelly Oubre

Oubre really had 16 dunks in a single Black Ops run. And he had a beanie on when he did it, too. The internet ran with it. #BeanieKelly

—

Follow Chris Brickley on Instagram.

The post Black Ops Basketball: 2019 Summer Recap and Awards appeared first on SLAM.

If not treated appropriately, a stress reaction can turn into a stress fracture which would keep Kuzma out of action for even longer. For that reason, Kuzma will be shelved at the start of training camp and will undergo an MRI when the team returns from its preseason trip abroad.

The Lakers will return from China on October 13 and an MRI conducted then will reveal the next steps for Kuzma’s rehabilitation.

Kuzma averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Lakers last season and is intent on establishing himself as the deadly third option the team could benefit from behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

As Ganguli outlines in her feature, the Lakers were adamant about keeping Kuzma through the process of trading for Davis, it only makes sense that they’re being as cautious as possible when navigating this foot injury.

The post Kyle Kuzma Sidelined Through Mid-October With Foot Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Below is a list of the contract types the Los Angeles Lakers 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.

Los Angeles Lakers

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 Los Angeles Lakers Roster Count: 2019 Training Camp 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.

Los Angeles Lakers 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: Los Angeles Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

The forward from Flint, MI, scored consistently from all three levels during FIBA World Cup training and had strong performances in both exhibition matches.

Peep all of Kuz’s summer highlights with USA Basketball in the video above!

RELATED: Kyle Kuzma Opens USA Practice in his HOME Gym!

The post Kyle Kuzma Shows ELITE Potential at USA Training Camp! 🇺🇸 appeared first on SLAM.

O’Neal says he wishes Howard well, this despite their long-standing and mostly one-sided feud, and believes the 33-year-old has a chance to win a title with the Lakers next season should he “stop kidding around.”

Per The Dan Patrick Show (via USA Today):

“Listen, I wish him well,” O’Neal said. “My only advice to him is he needs to dig, dig deep. Really deep. I know he’s a big man, he’s worked hard, he wants to win a championship, and he can get it done.

” … My message to the great Dwight Howard is, I know everybody’s counting you out. I know everybody’s messing with you. But if you dig deep down and play with that anger, and play with that ferocity, and stop kidding around … Use LeBron [James] and Kyle Kuzma, because you’ve actually got a good team.

“In Miami, I was 34, same as Dwight. On my way out. People thought I was washed up when I left L.A., but I dug deep down. I said ‘you know what? I can do this.’ If he does everything like he’s supposed to do – focus, no joking, no playing – just dig deep down and really, really want it, they could possibly win.”

Dwight, meanwhile, believes Shaq’s words are “irrelevant” to what he’s trying to accomplish in his return to Los Angeles.

Per TMZ:

“It’s okay, I’m not here to talk about Shaq,” Howard said in an Instagram Live post late Wednesday. “What he said, what he did. It’s irrelevant to what I’m trying to do.

“So, don’t talk to me about what anybody else said about me. My focus is on one thing.”

Related Dwight Howard Reportedly Told the Lakers He Hit ‘Rock Bottom’ Last Season

The post Shaquille O’Neal: Dwight Howard ‘Needs to Dig, Dig Deep’ appeared first on SLAM.

After the National vs Select scrimmage, Walker went off during shooting drills. Peep all the highlights in the video above!

RELATED: Kyle Kuzma Opens USA Practice in his HOME Gym!

The post Kemba Walker Has a FLAMETHROWER! 🔥 Donovan Mitchell Takes OFF at USA Practice appeared first on SLAM.

“We’re all crushed for him,” Kerr said.

Video footage emerged of Cousins getting hurt, and the 29-year-old, four-time NBA All-Star appeared to suffer a non-contact injury.

Per SF Chronicle:

“I saw it; I’m devastated for DeMarcus,” Kerr said during a U.S. men’s national team practice Thursday. “I read it on the way to practice. It’s been a couple of years of hell for DeMarcus.”

Kerr highlighted the torn Achilles tendon that kept Cousins — now with the Los Angeles Lakers —sidelined for much of the 2018-19 season, as well as the quad injury that limited him in the postseason.

“I was really hoping that this would be [the] year for him, upcoming with the Lakers, where he could get healthy, get his rhythm, get his conditioning and really start his comeback,” he said. “We’re all crushed for him. Everybody in this gym, all these fellow players and coaches. This is a small community and so everyone’s been talking about and we’ve all reached out to him. We all just feel terrible for him.”

Cousins’ Lakers teammate Kyle Kuzma also weighed in on the injury after the Team USA practice.

“He was going to be a big part of what we’re going to do,” he said. “It’s no joke when you get injured. This is our livelihood and is something that we love to do. It’s super unfortunate for a guy like DeMarcus. You can tell how much he loves basketball through all these injuries — he’s fought back and tried to get back as early as possible. That’s kind of how the ball goes sometimes.”

Related Draymond Green at a ‘Loss for Words’ Over DeMarcus Cousins’ Torn ACL

The post ‘We’re All Crushed’: Steve Kerr Devastated for DeMarcus Cousins Over Torn ACL appeared first on SLAM.

Check out some more Team USA highlights below.

The post Kyle Kuzma Opens USA Practice in his HOME Gym! 🇺🇸 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.

Peep the video above for all the highlights. And be sure to check our Instagram video to watch De’Aaron Fox and Kuzma put on a dunk show!

RELATED: Donovan Mitchell Grabs HUGE Dunk!? USA Practice Gets HEATED

The post Anthony Davis Watches USA Practice in Las Vegas!? 🇺🇸 appeared first on SLAM.

Kuzma, 24, is determined to be “that third guy” for the Lakers.

The third-year forward has “high dreams” playing alongside LeBron James and fellow superstar teammate Anthony Davis.

Per The Athletic:

“Bench, whatever, I’m still going to get my game off regardless,” Kuzma told The Athletic. “My past two years, I’ve come off the bench every single year. I just proved myself and made it known that I’m a player. A coach’s job is always to put the best players on the court, and that’s what I’ve showed the past two years.

“I’ve started the year coming off the bench, and just prove myself. I’m always going to find my way no matter who’s on the court. I think every time I step on the court, I’m one of the better players on the floor. For me that’s always been my mentality. I’m never worried about things that I can’t control.

“My mindset develops every single day being around guys, having a relationship with LeBron. That gives me more confidence, the wisdom that he gives. Being around Magic Johnson and Kobe [Bryant]. Everybody. It grows and grows, matures and creates that mindset that defines you.”

Once Leonard decided he would not be part of a Big 3 with the Lakers, an opening emerged — for which Kuzma believes he has prepared himself.

“My motivation is there to be that third guy,” Kuzma said, “for the simple fact that playing with LeBron, with AD, I got high dreams for myself to do some pretty special things in my career. So that’s motivation in itself. It’s a testament to my work ethic and laying down the groundwork for my past two years being in the league. From an individual standpoint, I have to focus on myself. I’ve had a chip on my shoulder my entire career, so I’m ready just from that standpoint. It won’t change.”

Related Kyle Kuzma: ‘I Am Capable’ of Being Third Superstar for Lakers

The post Kyle Kuzma: ‘I’m Still Going to Get My Game Off Regardless’ appeared first on SLAM.

“I don’t feel no pressure,” says Kuzma, who averaged 18.7 points and 5.5 rebounds last season.

The third-year forward adds that he thinks Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram—both dealt to the Pelicans in the AD blockbuster swap—will “develop into the superstars they were supposed to be” in New Orleans.

Per ESPN:

“I don’t feel no pressure, but I believe that I am capable of being that superstar,” Kuzma told ESPN. “I put in a lot of work in. My progress through my journey shows that I can be there. I developed every single year, dating back to college and I don’t see that development stunting at all.”

Kuzma added, “Last year I didn’t shoot the ball well, and I still averaged almost 20. If I can shoot the ball well and keep developing the facets of my game defensively, I don’t see why I can’t [be that third star].”

Kuzma, who saw his 3-point shooting dip from 36.6% as a rookie to 30.3% last season, believes he fits in seamlessly alongside James and Davis.

“I’ve never been a ball-dominant guy,” Kuzma said. “I’ve always played off the ball. It is going to be a little bit easier, going to have a lot of open shots. It is my job to trust my summer workouts and what I’ve done. Just breathe, focus and knock those shots down, because I’m going to be open.”

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

The post Kyle Kuzma: ‘I Am Capable’ of Being Third Superstar for Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers

Milwaukee made the Eastern Conference Finals last season and Philadelphia was a Kawhi Leonard miss and an overtime win away from meeting Giannis & Co. there. The two teams are expected to top contenders in the east and December 25 could be a preview of the 2020 edition of the conference finals.

Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors

Fresh off a championship, the Raptors will play in their first Christmas Day game since 2001. Toronto no longer wields the same championship ceiling without Leonard, though the team should be competitive during the 2019-20 season. The matchup against Boston, led by new starting point guard Kemba Walker, should be a good one.

Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George vs. Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The Clippers supporting cast, whose strength and depth lies in the backcourt, against the talented, deep Lakers’ frontcourt that includes highflying Kyle Kuzma and former 2-time All-NBA recipient DeMarcus Cousins. Did we mention these teams are also competing for fandom within the City of Los Angeles? (Sorry, Lakers fans, it is a two-team town).

New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets

Imagine if a year ago, someone had told you that the Pelicans would trade Anthony Davis away during the offseason and still land a Christmas Day game. Unbelievable right? New Orleans’ quick turnaround fueled by hyped No. 1 overall pick Zion Williams and the team’s new young core brought in by new general manager David Griffin (not to mention “MVP Candidate” Jrue Holiday) has landed them a premier slot against the Nuggets, a team that flashed its potential last season before falling in seven games to the Blazers in the WC semifinals.

Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors

This matchup was highly anticipated heading into the 2019 playoffs where the Warriors with KD were able to knock the Rockets out of the postseason. Much has changed since then. Durant headed east. Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston both left California and D’Angelo Russell found a new home in Golden State (for now). Houston was able to add Russell Westbrook, pairing him with James Harden to form arguably the most dangerous backcourt in the league. Get your popcorn (or Christmas cookies) ready, it’s going to be an entertaining day.

The post The NBA’s 2019 Christmas Day Schedule Is Here 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.

Cousins, 28, inked a one-year, $3.5 million deal: he says the Lakers “look legit” on paper and should be NBA title contenders next season.

Boogie reports that his “quad is 100 percent healed,” and is especially thrilled to re-unite with Anthony Davis and join forces with fellow superstar LeBron James.

Per ESPN:

“That’s part of the reason why we wanted to become teammates again,” Cousins said of teaming up with Davis on a conference call with Lakers media Wednesday. “We realized how much better we made one another and how much we made the game easier for each other. We both appreciate each other’s presence.

“To add LeBron James to the mix, his résumé speaks for itself. One of the greatest players ever to play the game, added to that, it should be an exciting season.”

With the Lakers surrounding James and Davis with the likes of Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, Avery Bradley, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, [Rajon] Rondo, Quinn Cook and Jared Dudley, Cousins sees a powerful squad.

“The roster is incredible,” said Cousins, who could start at center with Davis at power forward. “I think we got a lot of talented pieces on paper. On paper we look legit, we look like we have a great chance of competing for a title. It’s obvious that the game isn’t played on paper. It’s our job to come together and mesh and get on the same page and build a chemistry and go out and win games. As far as on paper, we look great.”

Related Report: LeBron James to Play Point Guard for the Lakers

The post DeMarcus Cousins: Los Angeles Lakers ‘Roster is Incredible’ appeared first on SLAM.

It’s a proverb that rings its truth every day in the NBA.

Players around the League stepped up their game in the tunnel this season, so we added on a third team. It’s important to recognize progress, too, so we also mixed in a most-improved award to show love to the hooper who stepped up his tunnel walk the most in 2018-2019.

Anyways, we can skip to what you’re here for: This year’s LeagueFits All-Drip Teams and Awards.

THIRD TEAM: Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons, Dennis Schroder, Jordan Clarkson, Serge Ibaka

Three players made their All-Drip debuts in Dwayne Bacon, Ben Simmons and Dennis Schroder.

SECOND TEAM: Terry Rozier, Tobias Harris, Kevin Love, Kyle Kuzma, Mike Scott

Kyle Kuzma built upon his Rookie of the Year award from a year ago by making the jump to the Second Team. Tobias Harris and Mike Scott also made their All-Drip debuts.

FIRST TEAM: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kelly Oubre, PJ Tucker, Shai GIlgeous-Alexander

No surprises here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first rookie in LeaugeFits history to make an All-Drip Team.

MOST-IMPROVED: Dennis Schroder

One time for the #EuroDrip icon.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

No one rook should have all this power.

MVP: Kelly Oubre

Waves never die.

—

Ian Pierno is an Associate Social Media Editor and Drip Director at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Pat Bonoan is a Graphic Designer at SLAM. Follow him on Instagram.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 2019 LeagueFits All-Drip Teams are STACKED appeared first on SLAM.

Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka tried and failed to complete the move back in February, leading to Johnson’s sudden resignation as president of basketball ops and a very public falling out between the two former colleagues.

Magic gives team owner Jeanie Buss credit for convincing the New Orleans Pelicans to pull the trigger, and says the LeBron James-AD pairing has Los Angeles now back “in the championship hunt.”

Per The LA Times:

“Our leaders stepped up for the L.A. fan base and for LeBron,” Johnson said. “And despite what Rob and I have gone through, I want to congratulate him. He pulled off a major trade for the Lakers, and just congratulations to him. We’re back, we’re back, we’re back where we should be and in the championship hunt. …

“You got three starters for sure with [Kyle] Kuzma, LeBron and Anthony Davis. Now you can fill it out. I think when free agents saw this trade, they are going to want to come to Los Angeles now. I think this is exciting for all of us Laker fans, and it’s just the start of what could be a big, big summer, maybe the biggest summer in Laker history.”

Johnson said he texted Buss, Pelinka and Kurt Rambis, the Lakers’ special advisor, last week and implored them to get the Davis deal done.

“I’m still going to be right there and I’m still going to be calling and giving them notes,” Johnson said. “I told them that this trade could be great for the next 10 years for the Lakers. That’s what I sent in the note.

“Listen, all that stuff is past us. I have prayed on that and moved past being mad or upset. I want us to win, so that’s why I was sending notes. I wanted us to make this trade because I knew this was a great trade for both teams. The Pelicans got three young talented guys and they got a great pick at No. 4 and two other first-round picks so it was a great trade for them too.”

Related LeBron James: Magic Johnson Stepping Down ‘Was Just Weird’

The post Magic Johnson Says He Implored Lakers to Complete Anthony Davis Trade appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron James and teammate Kyle Kuzma would be the only two players remaining on the roster if Los Angeles is able to convince teams to absorb three unwanted contracts.

The Purple and Gold are said to be hunting second-round picks in Thursday’s NBA draft.

Per ESPN:

The Los Angeles Lakers are scrambling to reshape the parameters of the Anthony Davis trade with New Orleans and create the capacity for $32 million-plus in salary-cap space when the free-agent moratorium ends on July 6, league sources told ESPN.

The Lakers were engaging additional teams on Tuesday to take on the contracts of three of the remaining five players on the team’s roster — Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones — league sources said. Kyle Kuzma and LeBron James are the only other two Lakers remaining on the team’s end-of-season roster.

If Davis doesn’t waive his $4.1 million trade bonus, the Lakers-Pelicans trade wouldn’t be allowed even if Los Angeles finds a third team for the players not included in the original deal with New Orleans.

The Lakers would have to wait until July 30 to have the maximum cap space — unless they were willing to incentivize New Orleans to agree to delay the completion of the trade.

Related Report: Lakers to Pursue Kawhi Leonard in Free Agency

The post Report: Lakers Working to Create Another Max Salary Slot appeared first on SLAM.

A clarification to the report that we initially covered in our AD story provides extra insight into New Orleans’ haul and, quite frankly, makes this an even more appealing deal for the rebuilding franchise.

As Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times reports, the trade comes with reverse protection on that 2021 first-rounder, there’s an additional sweetener attached to the 2024 pick and there’s no outright 2025 pick swap.

Here’s a complete list of what the Pels will acquire:

• 2019 1st Rd. (No. 4)
• 2021 1st (if top-8, otherwise unprotected in 2022)
• The right to swap 1sts in 2023
• Unprotected 1st in 2024, with right to defer to 2025

Given the complexities involved, it’s easy to see how some of these concepts were miscommunciated on the day of the deal. Let’s hammer down on some more details about these picks.

The 2019 1st Rounder (No. 4 Overall)
Draft experts have operated under the assumption that the Lakers would be making this pick, as such Darius Garland was the expected pick here. Now that this pick belongs to the Pels (or any number teams showing significant interest in it) all bets are off. We wrote about how this trade shakes up this week’s NBA draft.

The 2021 1st Rounder (Reverse Protected)
When we see protections on picks, it’s usually to protect the seller. This reverse protection mechanic protects the buyer. The only way New Orleans will receive this pick is if the Lakers struggle in 2020-21 and this pick ends up in the top eight. You can imagine that the mood in Los Angeles will be quite sour if their second season of the AD-LeBron James pairing ends in a high lottery pick.

More likely, this pick will become an unprotected 1st in 2022 and that’s more appealing than it sounds. It’s a very distinct reality that the 2022 NBA Draft would be the first draft without the One-and-Done Rule. That means teams drafting will have two batches of classes to pick from, the 2022 high school seniors and the 2022 NCAA freshmen.

Even if all goes well for 37-year-old James and the Lakers, a 20th overall pick would be the equivalent to a 10th overall pick in a typical draft class.

The 2023 Swap Rights
By now, four years beyond the date of the trade, it’s difficult to project what the NBA power landscape will look like. Will a 38-year-old James and 30-year-old Davis be terrorizing the Western Conference? It’s not hard to imagine. That said, this is the NBA and things can change quickly. This time four years ago, Finals MVP Andre Iguodala had just led the Warriors to the first title of their dynasty.

The 2024 1st Rounder (Unprotected)
The Pelicans will have the option to take this pick or defer it until 2025. These will be James Age 39 and Age 40 seasons, if you haven’t been doing the math at home.

Yes, if there’s any human on the planet capable of dominating a professional spot into their 40s, it’s presumably none other than James but that’s just such a daunting concept.

While any natural regression shown by an aging James may be cancelled out by a mid-to-late prime Davis and 28-year-old Kyle Kuzma, David Griffin and the Pelicans have to be immensely pleased with the constant stream of perennial draft gifts they’ll inherit from this franchise.

The pressure, now, is on the Lakers to win and win consistently, lest this turn into the second coming of Brooklyn’s shortsighted decision to surrender their draft assets to Boston in exchange for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Suffice it to say, even if this gets ugly toward the back half of the deal, there’s no denying that a 26-year-old Davis is exponentially more valuable than the 37-year-old Garnett and 35-year-old Pierce that Brooklyn gambled for.

The post Everything You Need To Know About The Draft Picks In The AD Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Update #3, 11:08 pm: I’ve updated the body of the article with a number of details about the draft picks that the Pelicans will acquire. You can also read our complete breakdown of those draft assets New Orleans will acquire.

Update #2, 7:35 pm: Wojnarowski reports that Ingram is expected to be back on the court in July and a full go by training camp. Ingram’s 2018-19 campaign ended prematurely with deep venous thrombosis.

Update #1, 7:09 pm: The Pelicans have already received significant interest in the No. 4 pick, Wojnarowski tweets. The deal could essentially grow even larger.

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports. In exchange for the superstar the Pels will bring aboard Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and a bevy of picks.

The Lakers will send a total of three first-round picks to New Orleans, including the No. 4 pick in next week’s NBA Draft. They’ll additionally get the right to swap draft picks with the L.A. in two other years.

Tim Bontemps of ESPN has revealed that the Pels will get a top-8 pick in 2021 (it’s reverse protected), which would become unprotected in 2022 if it doesn’t transfer the first time through. They’ll also get an unprotected first rounder in 2024, when LeBron James is 39 years old.

Further, in 2023 New Orleans will have the option to swap first picks with Los Angeles and they’ll be able to defer their 2024 pick to 2025 if they so choose, giving the Pelicans as firm a grasp on the Lakers’ picks over the course of the next half decade as the Celtics had on Brooklyn’s when they acquired Kevin Garnett.

We wrote earlier this week about how Pels vice president of basketball operations David Griffin had wanted several days prior to the draft to scout potential candidates if they were to acquire a pick. Now they’ll have just that, which will help them scout prospective choices or work out another deal with a third party team.

Related: How this trade should shake up the draft

The trade cannot become official until July 6, ESPN’s Bobby Marks adds. Depending on when exactly they pull the trigger formally, however, will impact how much cap space the Lakers will have afterward. Marks tweets that L.A. could have either $27.8 million in room or $32.5 million in room, depending on timing and whether or not Davis waives his $4 million trade kicker.

The combination of Anthony Davis and LeBron James should make the Lakers an instant contender in an unpredictable Western Conference. Now, with just about enough cap space to sign another max talent, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets that the franchise is expected to make a run at Kemba Walker.

The young assets heading to New Orleans, conversely, give the Pelicans a multitude of high ceiling prospects to develop alongside projected 2019 first-overall pick Zion Williamson.

As we wrote about in another article earlier this week, the Lakers were intent on holding Kyle Kuzma back in any trade package for Davis. They managed to do so but the Pelicans seem to have acquired additional draft picks than what was initially floated.

At times throughout this process it seemed likely that a third team would have to get involved to appease the Pels but the haul they managed to nab from Los Angeles alone is a formidable one.

Ultimately the Lakers managed to convince New Orleans to pull the trigger. Marc Stein of the New York Times additionally tweets that the Boston Celtics refused to include Jayson Tatum in any AD offer.

Related: Where does Boston go from here?

The post Lakers To Acquire Anthony Davis For Package Including Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram appeared first on SLAM.

Additionally: Ganguli, along with Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times, writes that the Lakers could potentially keep the No. 4 if they parted with Kuzma.

Update #2, 4:34 pm: The Pelicans would like Kyle Kuzma in a trade package from the Lakers but Los Angeles has thus far been unwilling to deal him, Tania Gangulis of The Los Angeles Times reports.

Update #1, 4:28 pm: The Lakers have made available Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and the No. 4 pick to the Pelicans, Marc Stein of the New York Times reports. The Pelicans have made it known that they hope to include a third team to maximize their yield.

The Lakers and Celtics are engaged in separate trade talks with the Pelicans regarding Anthony Davis, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

While the news that all parties are interested in a deal isn’t exactly groundbreaking, the fact that the Lakers could be offering up their No. 4 pick as a means of helping the Pels land higher caliber talent in a multi-team deal is.

Still, Wojnarowski adds in a subsequent tweet, the Celtics and Lakers are both gunning to be the team that lands Davis, neither willing to cooperate to help the other team acquire him.

We wrote earlier this week about the trade haul that Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin reportedly sought in a Davis deal and there’s no guarantee that either Los Angeles or Boston would (or could) offer all of the assets necessary to get it done.

The Pels would like to land an All-Star, a young player with the potential to be an All-Star and a pair of first-round picks in exchange for their star center.

Wojnarowski clarified in another tweet that the Celtics remain interested in Davis despite Davis’ agent Rich Paul stating emphatically in a recent Sports Illustrated feature that his client will hit free agency in the summer of 2020.

The No. 4 pick that the Lakers are apparently making available in trade talks is the first pick in this year’s draft without a consensus player attached to it.

While several outlets suggest that the Lakers could use such a pick on point guard Darius Garland, the math may change if that pick were to end up in the hands of a different franchise. Garland, like Davis and Lakers star LeBron James, is a client of Paul’s.

Other players that could potentially go fourth-overall include the likes of Jarrett Culver and De’Andre Hunter.

The post Celtics, Lakers Engage Pels In Separate Anthony Davis Trade Talks appeared first on SLAM.

Oklahoma City took care of business against a Lakers team missing LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart.

Russell Westbrook (20 points, 21 dimes, 20 boards, +24 plus/minus) recorded the first 20/20/20 game in over 51 years.

The historic statline paid homage to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was a member of the Rollin 60’s Crips gang (20 + 20 + 20 = 60).

Hawks 111 (28-50), Spurs 117 (45-33)

In a close game with 24 lead changes and 15 ties, San Antonio was able to rally late in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

DeMar DeRozan dropped a game-high 29 points (7-11 FG) with 7 dimes, 7 boards and a +18 plus/minus.

Rockets 130 (50-28), Kings 105 (38-40)

Houston connected on 26 threes and led the entire game—going up by as much as 30 points in the fourth quarter.

James Harden scored a game-high 36 points with 10 dimes and a +29 plus/minus.

Nuggets 102 (51-26), Warriors 116 (53-24)

After Kevin Durant was ejected with 8:21 left in the third, Golden State responded by pushing the lead to 30 points by the fourth quarter.

DeMarcus Cousins dropped a game-high 28 points with 12 boards and 5 dimes.

The post Post Up: Russell Westbrook Pays Homage to Nipsey Hussle with 20/20/20 Line 💙 appeared first on SLAM.

Kyrie Irving dazzled with just seconds left, using a variety of fakes and dribble moves to free himself up for the game-winning layup. Irving finished with 30 points as Boston earned the home win over Indiana.

Both teams now share identical records in the fight for Eastern Conference playoff seeding.

Blazers 118 (48-27), Hawks 98 (27-49)

Portland pulled away in the second half as they earned their league-leading sixth straight win. Damian Lillard put in 36 points and seven assists for the Blazers. Trae Young scored 26 in the loss.

Warriors 130 (51-24), Timberwolves 131 (34-41)

Stephen Curry tied the game with just 0.5 seconds left in overtime but on the following inbounds, Kevin Durant fouled Karl-Anthony Towns, who made the game-winning free throw. Towns finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

Nuggets 115 (51-24), Thunder 105 (44-32)

Jamal Murray (27 points, nine assists) and Nikola Jokic (23 points, 16 rebounds) led the way as the Nuggets earned a win over another West team fighting for playoff seeding. Russell Westbrook had a near triple-double with 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

The win helped Denver tie Golden State for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 51-24 record.

Wizards 124 (31-46), Jazz 128 (46-30)

It was a battle of the shooting guards as Donovan Mitchell (35 points) and Bradley Beal (34 points) went toe-to-toe, but Mitchell’s team notched the win. Jae Crowder and Joe Ingles each added 18 points for Utah.

Hornets 115 (35-40), Lakers 129 (34-42)

LeBron James led the Lakers in scoring with 27 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 25 points and Kyle Kuzma added 20 points in the home win. Kemba Walker paced Charlotte with 24 points.

RELATED: Kyrie Irving: ‘I’ve Made A Lot of Mistakes That I Take Full Responsibility For’

The post Post Up: Kyrie Irving Drops 30 Points, Hits Game-Winner vs. Pacers appeared first on SLAM.

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.