On June 30, the night NBA free agency began, a black SUV with tinted windows rolled up to Udonis Haslem’s vacation home in Orlando, FL. 

“That s**t almost got shot up,” Haslem said on teammate Duncan Robinson’s podcast, The Long Shot. “It’s creeping and it’s slow, I’m like, Who the f**k is this?!”

To his surprise, a delegation of six Miami Heat employees got out of the car. It was 6 p.m., the literal minute free agency began, and they were there to make a personal pitch for the big man to come back for his 20th season—tied for the second-longest tenure with any one team.

Usually, this type of pitch is reserved for high-profile targets. Haslem, on the other hand, has only played in 58 regular season games the last six seasons. So why the royal treatment? 

UD’s impact within the organization is undeniable. He was a key player on all three of their championship teams. He’s the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder. And when his number was called last year, he stepped up.

On the other hand, a roster spot is a valuable thing. After all, an NBA team only has 15 of them. Haslem’s critics say that spot should be used for an up-and-coming player, a new free agent or more. So why use it on a 42-year-old power forward? 

Well, the Heat clearly know the answer. His teammates know. And you can be sure that UD knows. And he was kind enough to sit down with SLAM and tell us. 

SLAM: We heard your interview on Duncan Robinson’s podcast this summer. You said: “Another misconception is I take up a roster spot…People are so focused on my age and why I’m here. There’s a reason why I’m f***** here.” So, what’s that reason?

UD: I mean, for me, there’s very few people, at any level, that can pay attention to every single detail, and that can actually do it consistently. I’m one of those people. I’m anal that way. But it doesn’t always translate when it comes from a coach to a player. But when it comes from player to player, it translates differently. 

I raise the level of everything. Not just on the court. I raise the level off the court, I raise the level of the organization. I’m raising the level of the trainers, I’m raising the level of Pat [Riley] when he’s sitting there watching. I raise the level of everything around me. I am the Heat way. We’ve rotated players, but it doesn’t matter. Regardless of who’s come here or who’s left, I remain here, and I am the Heat way. And it rubs off on others.

But every year, I have to earn the respect. Nobody’s given me s**t. Every year these guys are walking in here saying, This old motherf***er back again, and I gotta earn the respect of the new guys. The guys that have been here, they know. They understand. But I gotta earn the respect of the new guys that come in. And then I’ma show you. I’ll go out there and I’ll play. And I’ll do what I have to do. 

SLAM: Speaking of leadership, ownership is something you’ve aspired to. Could you talk a little about that? 

UD: My influence is very, very strong. And the only way I can maximize that and use it in the right way, for the Miami Heat and for myself, is to be in the highest level of leadership, and that goes in ownership. 

But I have influence around this entire NBA, as the OG. A lot of guys look up to me. A lot of guys reach out for advice. And I appreciate that. You lose those relationships if you step into a coaching situation. But I think when you step into a leadership role of an owner, and somebody who guys have trusted as a player, I think it just maximizes the power that you have and for the organization that you’re working for. 

SLAM: It seems you do have a gift, or a knack, for impacting these younger guys. I mean, the Heat have turned into this elite developmental organization for undrafted players.

UD: I call them “My Undrafted Minions.” I love those dudes, man. Those dudes, man, they got my heart. Max [Strus]. Gabe [Vincent]. Duncan [Robinson]. Caleb [Martin]. Dewayne Dedmon. 

SLAM: Why is that?  

UD: Because I understand, man. It’s such a short leash when you come here in that situation. There’s no room for error. And odds are literally stacked against you. They probably got a guy that they drafted that plays your position, or another guy that came from another team that plays your position. I just understand the pressure of that situation. If you can come through that and be out on top, and not just be on the team but be actual rotation players and guys that actually move the needle? All these guys have added years onto their career, have gotten their money…these guys have literally beat the odds.

But I don’t think people really understand the work I’ve put in to be able to impact these guys. I can’t just show up and smoke cigarettes and throw s**t at the walls and see if it sticks. 

SLAM: The only way to tap into these younger guys is to show it and to earn it. 

UD: Yeah, and I have to earn it every year, bro. I have to earn it every year. I can’t take a summer off. As soon as the season’s over, I give myself a week or two and I’m back at it. That’s how it has to be. 

SLAM: It’s amazing you’ve continued for this long at such a high level. When those guys come in, day one, the Undrafted Minions, what do you say to them?

UD: Follow me, I f**k with you. Off the top. I don’t know you, I know nothing about you. I know your situation, and based off your situation, you my brother. You’re not just my teammate. Based on your situation, you have now become my little brother. 

SLAM: Still, though, it’s one thing to say you enjoy someone else’s success, but it’s another to actually embody it. 

UD: It’s very hard. I had to learn some of these things the hard way. When you get to a point in your career and the organization starts to make a shift toward younger players, you have a choice. You can bitch and moan and complain, get shipped out or go somewhere else, or you can settle into your situation and figure out how to make the best of it. And how to win. And any situation I’ve been put in, I’ve just said, F**k it, I’m not gonna whine. Whine? How can I win in this situation? Whatever it is, whatever you put me in, how can I win here? And that’s all I’ve done. 

And oftentimes you can’t control the situations you’re in. You ask these guys around the League, there’s maybe 10 guys around the whole League that actually play the role that they want to play. Everybody else, you’re in the supporting cast. Everyone else is in the supporting cast. So, how can you star in that role? 

SLAM: It definitely takes a humbling. How do you do that? 

UD: There’s been the dark nights. You don’t wanna get out of bed, you’re in the dark all day. You’re frustrated. You don’t understand. But it’s the nature of the business. It can be nothing that you’ve done wrong.

And for me, yes, I could’ve left a long time ago and went and played somewhere else. But would my heart have always been in it? No. It’s not all about the money, it’s not all about playing. I’ve always had a long-term goal. My long-term goal was to be part of this organization for my whole career, and then from that, impact the city. I’ve always had a bigger vision.

SLAM: You’ve gone toe-to-toe with so many guys. You’ve been the enforcer, holding them accountable. What makes you so fearless? 

UD: My pops. I remember I thought he was nuts. I couldn’t imagine a man that wasn’t afraid of anything. But now that I got older, I appreciate that. My pops never thought anybody was better than him. He never thought he could lose. And you believed that if you had him on your side, you had an army with you. I just kind of inherited that. It wasn’t always like that, but I inherited that. 

That’s something I’ve been able to give to my guys. Because I do believe in each and every one of them. Even if they have doubt, I’m gonna look them in they f**king eye and tell them, I believe, so you better! You better, because I do! I don’t give a damn if you’ve been drafted 1, I don’t give a damn what school he went to. I believe in you. Kick his ass! 

SLAM: You’ve won championships. You’re in the Heat history books. You’ve got the respect. At this point in your career, what brings you joy? 

UD: Watching these dudes come in here, man, and getting their money. Getting their recognition. Watching Caleb Martin get paid this summer. Watching Duncan Robinson get paid a few years ago. Watching James Johnson get paid his $66 million when he was here. Dion Waiters getting paid his $60 million when he was here. Hassan Whiteside getting paid his max contract when he was here. That is what I enjoy. 

All those guys that I named that have gotten their money, gotten their contract, resurrected their careers, have come here on their last leg when nobody else believed. Like Omer Yurtseven. You know how much of an ass kicking I had to do with O last year? And to watch O get out there, when Bam was out, to have all those double-double games? That’s it, bro. That’s it. That’s what I need. That’s all I need. Don’t waste my time. When those guys listen, and those things manifest for them, I’m happy. 

Photos from Getty Images.

The post Udonis Haslem Has Lasted 20 Years in the NBA, and the OG Did it His Way appeared first on SLAM.

Entering the game, the Mavs knew they’d be without their best player in Luka Doncic. However, even without their star they nearly beat the Jazz. 

 “Hopefully he gets healthy,” said Jazz coach Quin Snyder. “You always want a great player to get the opportunity to play, whether he’s on your team or the other.”

Utah ultimately won Game 1 by a final score of 99-93. It was a contest in which scoring wasn’t plentiful, but also didn’t lack excitement. In a game of runs, it truly came down to the final minutes to determine a winner. 

When it came down to it, the size difference between the two rosters was the primary factor. The Mavericks lack a dominant 7-footer, as Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber (both 6-foot-10) filled out the center rotation on Saturday afternoon. 

That’s simply not enough size to match up against the Utah centers in Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside, who are both 7-foot-1. Additionally they’re both traditional bigs that are great on the glass. This proved to be a key differentiator, as Dallas was outrebounded 53 to 34. 

“We’ve just gotta rebound the ball, especially playing small. It’s just something we’ve gotta get better at,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd postgame. 

Regardless of when Doncic comes back, the battle on the boards is going to continue to be important. This series could ultimately come down to the style of play. If the Jazz continue to outmatch the Mavs with their size, they’ll have a huge advantage. On the flip side, if Dallas can have success with its small ball lineups and play Gobert and Whiteside off the floor, things could swing in the favor of the Mavericks. 

Both teams failed to score 100 points in Game 1, so every bucket really mattered throughout the contest. It was a tale of two halves for the Jazz, as Bojan Bogdanovic carried the offense in the first half while Donovan Mitchell shouldered the load in the second. 

Of the 45 points Utah scored in the first half, Bogdanovic account for nearly half with 20. In the second half, Mitchell produced 30 of his 32 points on the afternoon. 

While the Jazz didn’t have a consistent primary scorer across the entire game, they got the points they needed in bunches from two of their best offensive players. Gobert finished with just five points on one field goal attempt, but made his impact on the glass and on defense. 

“We had a chance, held them under 100 points. That was tough,” said Spencer Dinwiddie after the loss. 

Although Utah came out on top in Game 1, Dallas should feel extremely optimistic. Without their best player, the Mavericks legitimately had a shot to win. You could argue that when Doncic comes back, the Mavs should be favorites the rest of the way.  

The guard duo of Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson combined for 46 points, but will need to be more efficient moving forward. Those two took a total of 39 shots to produce those points. 

The Mavs started hot from beyond the arc, but cooled off as the game went on. They finished 9-of-32 (28.1%) from deep on the afternoon. If just a couple more of those shots would have gone down, the outcome of this game could have easily been different. 

The Jazz got the win, but it wasn’t necessarily convincing against a shorthanded Mavericks team. This series could still go either way. 

“We’ve got to do a better job of making the easy shots,” said Brunson looking ahead to the next matchup. “We missed a lot of easy shots. Gotta follow our game plan and stick together.”

Game 2 will take place in Dallas once again on Monday evening. 

The post Jazz Win Game 1 With Size, Mavericks Feel Optimistic Moving Forward appeared first on SLAM.

The Rumble Kong League features a collection of 10,000 programmatically designed NFTs called Kongs. Collectors include a slew of NBA players: Stephen Curry, Paul George, Tyrese Haliburton, Andre Iguodala, Josh Hart, Hassan Whiteside, Gary Payton II, Cole Anthony, Damion Lee, JaVale McGee and Malik Beasley.

RKL is distinguishing itself from other NFT projects in the mainstream by rolling out ambitious experiential opportunities for Kong holders: Players will be able to compete in leagues and tournaments for cryptocurrency prizes, own and manage teams, purchase fashion collectibles for their Kong to wear, train their Kong to level up statistics, and breed their Kong to create new NFTs. The video game itself hasn’t launched yet, but when it does Kong holders will be able to participate in all sorts of ways; the game will launch in 2022 and is expected to feature 3-on-3-style gameplay.

The visual traits of the Kongs come in varying degrees of rarity. Each Kong is also randomly assigned Shooting, Defense, Vision and Finishing statistics that will guide each Kong’s on-court potential. 

As holders wait for gameplay to be released, the Kong community continues to grow. The @RumbleKongs Twitter account now has over 40,000 followers. Dating back to the collection’s June release, Kong trade volume is now over $55 million. Lots of your favorite athletes and entertainers are repping Kongs—beyond the NBA guys mentioned above, holders include Ja Rule, La La Anthony and Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt. RKL’s merch has been spotted on NBA players both in the tunnel and at post-game press conferences.

On the funding front, CAA Sports and Paul George backed the project to accelerate game development. The first major partnership included Under Armour Basketball and Curry, who will bring a digital sneaker into the game. 

“Our goal is to provide a truly unique and memorable experience for sports fans within the Rumble Kong League,” said Marcus Bläsche, CEO of the Rumble Kong League. “NFTs and the Metaverse are making a huge impact in the gaming world and we aim to build the go-to sports ecosystem and push the boundaries of what is possible within the web3 space.” 

Meet Le’Jon LaMon aka Sickpencil, the man behind the Rumble Kong League’s electrifying visuals.

The post The NFT Project Storming the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Fortunately for Portland — who has managed to notch a 22-16 record (sixth in the Western Conference) in the absence of McCollum, Nurkic, Zach Collins and Harry Giles — All-Star point guard Damian Lillard will have his backcourt mate back soon.

As first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, McCollum will return to the Blazers’ lineup on Tuesday as Portland faces off against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Additionally, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, Nurkic intends to return to the team in “approximately two weeks.”

Prior to his foot injury, McCollum was having a career season, averaging 26.7 points, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting .441 from deep. In 12 games, Nurkic was averaging 9.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per contest in what was a down season but still one in which he demonstrated his versatility..

With the addition of McCollum and Nurkic, a steady Portland squad has a chance to surge up the Western Conference standings as their starting lineup and bench will improve significantly.

The post Blazers Starters CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic Nearing Return appeared first on SLAM.

The team could look even scarier if Marvin Bagley takes a step forward in his own progression and if Hassan Whiteside carves out a meaninful role on the new squad.

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

Kyle Guy	5.0p, 2.0r, 1.0a
Harrison Barnes	13.8p, 8.3r, 3.8a
Cory Joseph	8.5p, 2.0r, 2.3a	–
Richaun Holmes	11.3p, 8.5r, 1.3a
Justin James	0.0p, 0.0r, 1.0a
De’Aaron Fox	20.3p, 2.8r, 6.8a
Marvin Bagley III	13.8p, 7.8r, 0.8a
Buddy Hield	16.3p, 4.0r, 2.3a
Nemanja Bjelica	9.3p, 3.3r, 1.8a
Glenn Robinson III	4.0p, 2.0r, 0.5a
Hassan Whiteside	6.0p, 6.0r, 0.5a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Sacramento Kings appeared first on SLAM.

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

Biggest Questions

• Is this the year Marvin Bagley stays healthy and takes the Kings to the next level? He’s got the potential to be one of the best bigs in the entire NBA but hasn’t been healthy enough to contribute towards a successful season in Sacramento.
• What is Buddy Hield’s future with the team? His name was thrown around all offseason when it came to trade talks. Additionally, the Kings used their recent lottery pick on a combo guard in Tyrese Haliburton who projects to be the guard that plays alongside De’Aaron Fox long-term.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Sacramento Kings: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

The biggest question mark coming into this season is the health of Marvin Bagley. Although he has been viewed to this point as the sidekick to De’Aaron Fox, he has the talent to be the best player on this entire Kings roster. If Bagley, Fox, and the rest of this Sacramento core can stay healthy for a full season, they could have a shot at ending their playoff drought.

Kings Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Hassan Whiteside: When it comes to bigs in the NBA, Whiteside’s name isn’t mentioned enough. While he has his flaws, Whiteside is extremely productive when it comes to scoring and cleaning the glass.
• Tyrese Haliburton: While they lost Bogdan Bogdanovic in free agency, the Kings have no room to panic with Haliburton entering their locker room. Considered one of the best guards in the entire 2020 draft class, he will be excellent now and in the future alongside Fox in the backcourt.

Kings Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Bogdan Bogdanovic: One of the most underrated guards in the league, Bogdanovic is a pure scorer. While the guard rotation seemed crowded the past few years with both him and Buddy Hield, losing Bogdanovic for nothing in return isn’t ideal.
• Harry Giles: His numbers don’t jump off the page, but Harry Giles has an extreme amount of potential and is still only 22 years old. While he was never a huge part of the Kings’ rotation, they could look back in a few years and wonder why they let him walk in free agency.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Sacramento Kings: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

Over the past few weeks, Portland has been making some of the most impressive offseason moves. Putting an emphasis on adding wing defenders, their new-look roster looks to be improved in comparison to last season.

Trail Blazers Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• Robert Covington: Long wings who can defend at a high level and shoot a respectile clip from beyond the arc are becoming extremely valuable in the NBA. Covington is one of the better two-way wings in the league at this point, which is why teams have been willing to give up assets to acquire him over the past few seasons. He will instantly improve Portland’s defense as well as give them more space on offense with his ability to stretch the floor.
• Harry Giles: Still just 22 years old, Giles is younger than some of the guys who were drafted just a few weeks ago. Although he has a history of injuries and hasn’t been great to this point in his career, he might have been the most attractive free agent when it came to age and untapped potential.

Trail Blazers Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Hassan Whiteside: Whiteside had a great year with the Trai Blazers last season, pulling down the most total rebounds and scoring the third-most total points on the season. With Jusuf Nurkic healthy once again, Whiteside did become less valuable late in the season. However, his ability to stuff the stat sheet will be missed.
• Trevor Ariza: While Ariza didn’t have the best year of his career in Portland, he was still one of their more important pieces last season. Now in the final years of his career at age 35, Covington will look to play a similar role, while also having the ability to be even more productive than Ariza was.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Portland Trail Blazers: Offseason Summary 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

The deal is for the league minimum, according to NBC Sports’ James Ham.

Whiteside, 31, began his NBA career with the Kings, who drafted him 33rd overall in the 2010 Draft. After appearing in just 19 games during his first two seasons, Whiteside was waived before the 2012-13 season.

Last season with the Blazers, Whiteside averaged 15.5 points, 13.5 boards and a League-leading 2.9 blocks in 30.0 minutes. During Portland’s first-round matchup against the Lakers, his numbers plummeted to 6.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 21.2 minutes.

The post Hassan Whiteside, Kings Agree To 1-Year Deal appeared first on SLAM.

While no moves can be made official until Nov. 22, it’s rare that deals that have been agreed to fall apart, so that means this list of the best players still available should be mandatory reading for anybody looking to make sense of the rest of the offseason.

For a recap of all the signings that have already gone down, hit our archive. Note that I’ve also been updating our original feature breaking down the free agent class with signings and agreements as they’re reported.

Top 2020 NBA Free Agents Remaining

The post Top 2020 NBA Free Agents Remaining appeared first on SLAM.

After arriving in South Beach as part of the Hassan Whiteside trade, Leonard averaged 6.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in his first season with the Heat.

Leonard’s new deal will start at $9 million, Reynolds reports, while providing the Heat with the opportunity to rid themselves of the cap hit before the anticipated 2021 free agency period.

More to come.

The post Meyers Leonard to Re-Sign with Heat appeared first on SLAM.

With the five-time All-Star now 30-years-old and his backcourt mate (McCollum) now 29-years-old, Portland’s window to win it all with Lillard is steadily shrinking. Consequently, the next two to three seasons will be key forecasting whether or not Lillard can ever get over the Conference Finals hump with the Blazers.

Related: Full Portland Trail Blazers 2020 Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Blazers Draft Needs

Last season, poor perimeter defense is what plagued the Blazers, as they gave up 116.1 points per game (26th in the NBA), allowing teams to shoot .383 from 3-point range. Portland also had issues with keeping opposing teams off the offensive glass and getting more from their bench unit.

Lockdown defenders and monster glass-cleaners may not be the sexiest prospects to pick in the draft but the Blazers don’t need ‘sexy,’ they need a practical solution to their problems. Drafting for fit is the pragmatic approach that Portland, a perennial playoff contender, should adopt ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Furthermore, two of the Blazers’ major players — Anthony and Whiteside — will be free agents this offseason. Both have readily recognizable flaws and holes in their game but they’re not going to be easy to replace.

While they may be able to find the type of defender they need in the second-round of the draft, their first-round pick should be used on a player who can somewhat replicate the production of Whiteside or Melo.

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The post Portland Trail Blazers: 2020 NBA Draft Preview 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

• Will Portland bring back Trevor Ariza or waive him for just $1.8M? Ariza’s absence was felt when the Trail Blazers needed a bigger 3&D forward. He’s a nice fit alongside Portland’s stars because Ariza doesn’t need the ball, but can knock down shots. The Blazers aren’t so tight to the tax this year, so expect him to be back.
• Is Zach Collins worthy of an extension? Portland would love to get Collins locked up on a team-friendly deal. But it would have to be very team-friendly for it to be worth it for them. Expect Collins to bet on himself and then hit a better restricted market in 2021.

Projected Team Salary

$156,602,865

For the first time in a while, the Trail Blazers aren’t dancing around the luxury tax line. They could even have some cap space, if they chose to clear their books of all their non-guaranteed salaries. As it stands though, Portland will probably stay over. With the ability to use the full Non-Taxpayer MLE, and maybe even the Bi-Annual Exception too, the Blazers should be able to rebuild their depth. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$47,462,865 (20^th out of 30). $25,291,417 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

The post Portland Trail Blazers: Salary Cap Space 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

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

Blazers NBA 2K21 Ratings

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

The post Portland Trail Blazers: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

Nov. 20 Update: The Top 2020 NBA Free Agents Available, 24 Hours In

Rather than focus on specific rankings for players, a process limited by the fact that a given individual’s value fluctuates based on the needs of each team, I’ve broken down the league’s available free agents into general tiers.

Not all of the players that you see listed here will end up hitting the open market. Any team with (player) or (team) next to them has an option built into their contract. If that option is picked up, they’re immediately under contract for a pre-negotiated amount in 2020-21.

Players with (restricted) next to their names are restricted free agents, meaning the teams that they currently play for hold the right to match any contract that they’re able to draw from outside organizations.

The actual date for the start of NBA free agency is unknown but it stands to reason that the official negotiation period will fall after the now locked in Nov. 18, 2020 NBA Draft. Earlier this summer, the league had floated a potential Oct. 15 draft with free agency set three days later. The October dates are moot now but the three-day buffer could still apply.

While I stayed away from floating any potential contract figures for these pending free agents, the tiers were constructed under the assumption that the 2020-21 NBA salary cap would fall in line with what it was in 2019-20 ($109 million). Originally it was set to increase but the league’s economic forecast is less optimistic than it was pre-pandemic.

The exact cap number will impact how teams approach free agency but the value of the players available remains relative. Scroll through the complete list below but remember that different teams will prioritize different tiers depending on where they are as an organization.

The Pre-Packaged Superstar Tier

• Anthony Davis (declined PO)
• Brandon Ingram (restricted)

There are two players in this year’s free agent class that you could envision as the No. 1 option on an NBA playoff team. Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram are, all things being equal, players that a front office could legitimately plan their offseason strategy around. In reality, it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Anthony Davis leaves the Los Angeles Lakers given the trouble he went through to get there, even if that means he turns down his player option and signs a new deal. Ingram bet on himself in 2019-20 and fortified his case for max money. If such a deal doesn’t come from the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of free agency, it’ll certainly come via restricted free agent offer sheet, even if the 2020-21 salary cap remains right where it was this season.

The Established Star Tier

• DeMar DeRozan (exercised PO)
• Andre Drummond (exercised PO)
• Gordon Hayward (declined PO) -> Agreement with Charlotte
• Danilo Gallinari -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Mike Conley (declined ETO)

There won’t be too many teams lining up to poach an established star in or at the end of their prime this offseason, even if they come with the All-Star resumes and accolades that this lot comes with. Without question, these are the types of players that could make good teams great but that’s not much help if the price point isn’t feasible for the teams that need them. With a shortage of cap room around the league this year, expect most of the players in this group to exercise their player options. If they do end up on the market, as both DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond have at different times implied, their best bet may be to trade a pay cut in the short-term for a longer duration deal like Al Horford and Jonas Valanciunas did last season.

The Emerging Star Tier

• Fred VanVleet – > Back with TO
• Montrezl Harrell – Agreement with Lakers

Both Fred VanVleet and Montrezl Harrell have made their names providing immense value in supporting roles for teams with first-class championship aspirations. As a result, fans and opposing teams alike have no shortage of chances to see what they’re capable of. What nobody truly knows, however, is how either of these teams would fare as a primary or secondary option on another squad, the type of role that comes with max or near-max money. Both Toronto and Los Angeles are well positioned to give their guys a substantial pay raise and keep them in town but things could get complicated in a hurry if outside teams hungry for assets they can grow with start to court them. 

The Brimming with Potential Tier

• Davis Bertans -> Back to DC
• Christian Wood -> Agreement with Houston
• Malik Beasley (restricted) – > Back in Minny

In certain offseasons, teams flush with cap space would be happy to throw money at players who’ve shown the glimpses of high ceiling potential that this group has. This year though, with a shortage of spenders and much of the league’s financial outlook still uncertain, things are different. While all of these particular individuals had shown promising signs with other teams, it wasn’t until they landed on their current squads that they started to truly gain momentum as potential long-term building blocks. For that reason, any outside team eager to pluck one would likely need to spend more on a relatively unproven commodity than they’re comfortable with. That’s a risk that may seem especially hard to justify in 2020, leaving incumbent teams in prime position to bring them back.

The Proven Impact Player Tier

• Serge Ibaka
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (restricted) -> Offer from ATL expected
• Jordan Clarkson -> Back in Utah
• Goran Dragic -> Back in Miami
• Otto Porter Jr. (exercised PO)
• Carmelo Anthony – > Back with Portland
• Evan Fournier (exercised PO)
• Aron Baynes
• Derrick Favors -> Agreement with Utah
• Marc Gasol -> An “option” for Lakers
• Jerami Grant (declined PO) -> Agreement with Detroit

This group of starting caliber impact players can be one of the most interesting to monitor every offseason. None of the players will command max money or even a featured role in any new team’s offense but they can immediately tilt the scales for whichever franchise they land with. These players are safe, often nomadic, with a track record of performing consistently. If the fit and the price are right, it’s a perfect marriage with postseason implications.

The Elite Role Player Tier

• Tim Hardaway Jr. (exercised PO)
• Joe Harris –> Back with Nets
• Marcus Morris -> Back with Clippers
• Paul Millsap -> Back with Denver
• Kelly Olynyk (exercised PO)
• Dario Saric (restricted)
• Dwight Howard -> Agreement with Philly

While these players may not have the luxury of demanding heavy usage wherever they go, they’re capable of specifically thriving in certain ideal situations. Fit is key with these players and that can completely shift the narratives that follow them around for the rest of their career. There’s a thin line between heroic supporting veteran and onerous contract and it usually depends on how competitive the team ends up being after they’ve signed them.

The Re-Purposed Veteran Tier

• Tristan Thompson
• DeMarcus Cousins
• Isaiah Thomas
• Austin Rivers (declined PO)
• Enes Kanter (exercised PO)
• Jeff Teague
• Hassan Whiteside
• Bobby Portis (declined TO) – >Agreement with Milwaukee

This group of players with histories of featuring heavily into team rotations will always garner interest because of their track records but they may be forced to accept reduced roles if they’d like to play meaningful basketball come playoff time. Alternatively, they could opt instead for larger, albeit temporary, roles with developing programs in need of starters.

The High Ceiling Rotation Piece Tier

• De’Anthony Melton (restricted) -> Back with Memphis
• Harry Giles
• Jakob Poeltl (restricted) -> Back with Spurs
• Svi Mykhailiuk (exercised TO)

Teams looking to stockpile assets that they can grow and work with will always have an interest in this mid-level group. Inevitably, these players appeal more to teams with room and patience to focus on player development since there’s no guarantee that they’d be able to consistently excel on a team contending for a title. Not all will blossom into major rotation pieces down the road but they’re simultaneously capable contributors in the short-term and low-risk investment opportunities in the long term.

The Veteran Support Tier

• Jae Crowder -> Agreement with Phoenix
• Nerlens Noel -> Agreement with New York
• D.J. Augustin -> Agreement with Milwaukee
• Mason Plumlee – > Agreement with Detroit
• Nicolas Batum (exercised PO)
• Reggie Jackson
• Kyle Korver
• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
• Avery Bradley (declined PO) -> Agreement with Miami

Teams less inclined to take on development projects may prefer mid-rotation pieces that they can plug into their lineup without stress. None of these players are going to move the needle for a team on a season-to-season basis but they can still make a difference from game to game. Given that they wouldn’t likely yield big contracts, they’re the perfect building blocks to slide into contending rosters to fortify already impressive lineups.

The Mystery Value Tier

• Rodney Hood (declined PO) -> Back in Portland
• Kenrich Williams (restricted)
• Josh Jackson -> Agreement with Detroit
• Jevon Carter (restricted)
• Juan Hernangomez (restricted)
• Mario Hezonja (exercised PO)
• Chris Boucher (restricted)
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
• Allonzo Trier
• Chandler Parsons

Whether a team is ready to compete now or still in the rebuilding phase, they’ll need to fill out the middle portion of their rotation with reliable players. This particular group would appeal more to teams still developing their core as the players within it have room to grow on a personal level. The fact that a young team could commit now and groom a potential long-term supporting cast member carries a lot of weight. The fact that they could settle on a contender and then blossom into something more is scary.

The Veteran Reinforcement Tier

• Andre Roberson
• Alec Burks -> Agreement with NY
• Langston Galloway
• JaVale McGee (exercised PO)
• Michael Carter-Williams ->. Agreement with ORlando
• Kent Bazemore
• Markieff Morris
• Matthew Dellavedova
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
• Maurice Harkless -> Agreement with Miami
• Pat Connaughton -> Back with Milwaukee
• Marco Belinelli
• Frank Kaminsky (declined TO)
• Meyers Leonard -> Back in Miami
• Justin Holiday -> Back with Indy

While unlikely to grab many headlines, these veterans are necessary components of the NBA workforce. Equally equipped to slot in as prominent bench players for contending teams or help guide a developing team through a rebuild in more of a leadership role, there’s an impressive amount of flexibility here. They’ll get minutes wherever they end up and can be some of the most affordable sources of value in the league.

The Low-Risk Gamble Tier

• Kris Dunn -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Rajon Rondo (declined PO) -> Agreement with Atlanta
• Evan Turner
• Torrey Craig
• Thon Maker
• Stanley Johnson (exercised PO)
• Bryn Forbes
• Jonah Bolden
• Dragan Bender

Teams don’t necessarily go looking for prominent contributors at the bottom of their rotation but these are players that could start there and work their way up. These players aren’t so much budding prospects as they’re veteran players capable of more if things break right. So long as the price is right, these are low-risk gambles with intriguing rewards.

The Dormant Game Changer Tier

• Shabazz Napier
• Cameron Payne (declined TO)
• JaKarr Sampson
• Anthony Tolliver
• Marvin Williams -> Retired
• Raul Neto -> Agreement with Washington
• Mike Muscala (exercised PO)
• Garrett Temple (declined TO) -> Agreement with Chicago
• Wesley Matthews (declined PO) -> Agreement with Lakers
• Bismack Biyombo
• Brandon Knight
• Robin Lopez (declined PO) -> Agreement with Washington
• J.J. Barea
• Iman Shumpert

It’s unrealistic to expect a deep rotation piece to be able to produce above their weight class consistently but any time a utility player can step up as an injury replacement or even just flex a unique skill set, it provides additional value for the team. These players may slide by undetected in the box score on most nights but are capable of much more.

The Depth on Depth Tier

• Gary Payton II
• Emmanuel Mudiay
• JaMychal Green (declined PO) -> Agreement with Denver
• DeMarre Carroll
• Jeff Green -> Agreement with Brooklyn
• Dwayne Bacon -> Agreement with Orlando
• Wilson Chandler
• Chris Chiozza
• Glenn Robinson III
• Derrick Jones Jr. -> Agreement with Portland
• Wes Iwundu -> Agreement with Dallas
• Treveon Graham
• David Nwaba (exercised TO)
• Wenyen Gabriel (restricted)
• C.J. Miles
• Dion Waiters
• James Johnson (exercised PO)
• E’Twaun Moore
• Solomon Hill
• Isaiah Hartenstein
• Tim Frazier

What can make or break a season is the depth at the bottom of the roster. There are no shortage of quality hoopers in this world who can fill in at the end of the bench for an NBA squad but if those players have the skills, experience and gravitas to make the most of the fleeting action they do get, the sky is the limit. These players won’t demand consistent court time but they’re a luxury to have at the bottom of a rotation.

The Scrapping for Opportunities Tier

• Damyean Dotson (restricted)
• Skal Labissiere (restricted)
• DeAndre’ Bembry (restricted)
• Ian Mahinmi
• Corey Brewer
• Yogi Ferrell
• Caleb Swanigan
• Kyle O’Quinn
• Hamidou Diallo (exercised TO)
• Patrick Patterson -> Back with Clippers
• Willy Hernangomez
• Denzel Valentine (restricted)
• Shaquille Harrison
• Bruno Caboclo
• Alize Johnson (restricted)
• Noah Vonleh
• John Henson
• Frank Mason (restricted)
• Jahlil Okafor -> Agreement with Detroit
• Frank Jackson (restricted)
• Sterling Brown (restricted)
• Tyler Johnson
• Kadeem Allen

Securing a consistent job in the NBA is incredibly difficult, leaving this group the most susceptible to churn as 60 new rookies enter the league every offseason. These players will have their work cut out for them landing new roles and some could even spend time on the outside of the league looking in if they don’t find a good fit. We’ve seen time and time again examples of players that left the league only to return after a brief hiatus in the G League or overseas.

Update #1, Sep. 17, 2020: Post updated with new NBA Draft date, additional free agents added to existing tiers.

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

The post Top 2020 NBA Free Agents List appeared first on SLAM.

A stress reaction can lead to a fracture if not managed carefully, so the Blazers will rest the four in hopes of stopping the problem before it gets worse.

Collins had become a reliable rotation piece for Portland after the hiatus. He missed the majority of the 2019-20 campaign before it, however, dealing with a shoulder injury suffered in October.

In eight bubble games, the seven-footer averaged 6.7 points and 7.3 rebounds.

The Blazers will likely turn to Hassan Whiteside for an increased role so long as Collins remained sidelined. The center looked solid for Portland in their Game 1 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

The post Zach Collins Out with Stress Reaction in Ankle appeared first on SLAM.

Damian Lillard, too, fresh off of a groin injury in February, was only just playing himself back into game shape when the hiatus began. Lillard’s March numbers (20.8 points and 6.0 assists) paled in comparison to the herculean effort he had posted previously (29.5 points and 7.9 assists).

With Lillard compromised, McCollum raised his own game in March, raising the 22.2 points and 4.2 assists per game he averaged before the month began to 25.8 and 5.6.

One of Portland’s hottest players at the time of the suspension, Trevor Ariza, won’t be with the team at all in Orlando. Ariza averaged 14.0 points per game in March, production that will now need to come from elsewhere. Bosnian Beast, anyone?

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 Portland Trail Blazers

CJ McCollum
Trevor Ariza
Mario Hezonja
Gary Trent Jr.
Hassan Whiteside
Wenyen Gabriel
Carmelo Anthony	–
Caleb Swanigan	–
Anfernee Simons
Nassir Little
Damian Lillard

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check (Hiatus): Portland Trail Blazers appeared first on SLAM.

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

Related: CBA Explained – Different types of NBA free agency

Denver Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

Oklahoma City Thunder

Portland Trail Blazers

Utah Jazz

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

The Pacers made a truly inspired comeback, at one point outscoring Boston 21-2, in order to make things interesting. But down the stretch, Marcus Smart converted a contorting layup, Victor Oladipo missed a 3-pointer, and the game slipped away.

Jayson Tatum (30 points) and Gordon Hayward (27 points) led the way for the Celtics, while Domantas Sabonis (28 points) and Oladipo (27 points) led the Pacers.

Wizards 122 (24-40), Knicks 115 (20-45)

Bradley Beal is on fire. amid a tough losing season in Washington, he’s done nothing but excel, and tonight was no different. Beal put up 40 points, 7 assists and 3 steals in the win.

The Knicks have very few bright spots nowadays (or ever), but Frank Ntilikina had 20 points, 10 assists and 2 steals on very efficient shooting. If he can figure out his offensive game, he’s going to be a problem.

Spurs 119 (27-36), Mavericks 109 (39-27)

This was a quality win for the Spurs, with their playoff chances on life support. LaMarcus Aldridge led the way with 24 points, 3 steals and 4 blocks, while six other Spurs reached double figures.

Luka Doncic’s 38 points weren’t enough for the Mavs.

Bulls 108 (22-43), Cavaliers 103 (19-46)

What Coby White has been doing deserves some more recognition. The rook is scoring like a vet, and while he had too many turnovers tonight, he dropped 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to take home the win.

Rockets 117 (40-24), Timberwolves 111 (19-45)

Good for the Rockets snapping their mildly concerning losing streak. Russ and the Beard were at the forefront as usual, combining for 64 points, 6 steals, 14 assists and 10 boards to seal the win.

Magic 120 (30-35), Grizzlies 115 (32-33)

In a battle of the current 8 seeds, The Magic’s bench pulled through, with Terrence Ross (24 points), Michael Carter-Williams (20 points) and DJ Augustin (16 points) all stepping up to beat the Grizzlies.

Trail Blazers 121 (29-37), Suns 105 (26-39)

The Blazers can still pop off with their healthy lineup. Unfortunately, they’ve not had that luxury all season due to injuries and trades.

Dame Lillard had 25, CJ McCollum had 22, Trevor Ariza had 22, and Melo had 21 points. Hassan Whiteside also chipped in with 16 points and 14 boards. That’s what you call a group effort.

Clippers 131 (44-20), Warriors 107 (15-50)

This was a demolition.

After losing to the Lakers last game, the Clippers took out their anger on the poor Warriors, ultimately winning by 24 points.

No Clipper overexerted themselves, and we glimpsed this gorgeous step-back jumper from Montrezl Harrell, who is adding more and more tricks to his offensive bag by the day.

Lakers, Nets

It was a close one down the stretch, with Anthony Davis draining a 3-pointer to tie the game. Then, Spencer Dinwiddie came back and brought the Nets up 2 with a smooth jumper.

Ultimately, Davis had a wide-open 3-pointer to win the game, and it rimmed out. After beating two of the league’s heavyweights in Milwaukee and the Clippers, it’s not surprising the Lakers dropped their next game.

The post Post Up: Brooklyn Nets Defeat Lakers in Close Game appeared first on SLAM.

Adebayo, 22, is enjoying a breakout season in Miami and earned his first NBA All-Star nod.

Bam has rewarded the organization’s faith in him after they traded away Hassan Whiteside.

Per The Athletic:

“It’s kind of like, it’s the hard work I put in in the summer and it’s my coach seeing how hard I work and it manifesting on the court. I’m able to thank them for putting me in the position to be who I am and who I want to become,” said Adebayo, who joined [Dwyane] Wade as just the second homegrown All-Star in Heat franchise history. “When the trade happened and it gave me an opportunity to really show my game and not have to have a shadow on my back. My first two years I was kind of timid where sometimes I didn’t want to mess up. Coach [Erik Spoelstra] is really letting me off the leash and letting me do my thing.”

Adebayo has been a stunning revelation this season, ascending from his role as a high-energy, change-of-pace performer off the bench to an essential bedrock of a contender.

This season has provided several “Bam, Oh, Bam” moments. He’s had three triple-doubles and 24 double-doubles, with four coming in the points-assist variety. But he’d put Sunday’s 27-point, 14-rebound, six-assist effort in Washington up with any of them — “my coming out party,” Adebayo called it — when he took over after fellow All-Star Butler and Goran Dragic left the game with injuries and scored or assisted on the Heat’s final 25 points.

“That’s what future max players do,” Butler said. “He’s definitely all of that and more. We’re glad to have him. Glad he’s the leader of this team.”

Related Gregg Popovich Told Bam Adebayo He ‘Wasn’t Ready’

The post Jimmy Butler: Bam Adebayo a ‘Future Max’ Player appeared first on SLAM.

Domantas Sabonis led the way with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists on 8-10 shooting as Indiana cruised to a win at home. Five other Pacers scored in double figures, including T.J. Warren (19) and Malcolm Brogdon (15). Myles Turner was dominant on the defensive end, finishing with a career-high 8 blocks. The Hornets were led by Miles Bridges who dropped 17 in the loss.

Bucks 108 (50-8), Raptors 97 (42-16)

In a much-anticipated battle between the top two teams in the East, the Bucks pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Raptors 34-19 en route to their 50th win of the season. Khris Middleton dropped a team-high 22, while Giannis stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 19 rebounds, and 8 assists. Eric Bledsoe added 17 and 7 rebounds, and Brook Lopez finished with 15 points and 5 blocks in the win. Pascal Siakam finished with 22 points and 5 3PM in the loss.

Thunder 124 (36-22), Bulls 122 (20-39)

It was a wild one in the Windy City. The Bulls erased a 24-point second half deficit to tie the game late. The comeback was led by Coby White (35 points, 6 3PM, 7 rebounds) and Zach LaVine (41 points). But big-time buckets from Chris Paul and clutch free throws from the entire Thunder team held off the Chicago surge and secured the road win. Danilo Gallinari finished with a team-high 24 points, and Dennis Schroeder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each dropped 21 in the win. CP3 added 19 points and 9 assists for OKC.

Nuggets 115 (40-18), Pistons 98 (19-41)

The Nuggets picked up their 40th win of the season, led by 29 points off the bench from Jerami Grant. Jamal Murray added 16 points and 8 assists in the win. For Detroit, Derrick Rose and Christian Wood each dropped 20 in the loss.

Celtics 118 (40-17), Trail Blazers 106 (26-33)

Boston also secured win number 40 on the road in Portland. Jayson Tatum was unstoppable, dropping 36 points, including a career-high 8 3PM to lead the Celtics. Jaylen Brown added 24 points, and all five Boston starters finished in double figures. Without Damian Lillard, the Blazers were led by CJ McCollum, who dropped 28, and Hassan Whiteside, who finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds in the loss.

Lakers 118 (44-12), Pelicans 109 (25-33)

It was the game every NBA fan had been waiting for: the first installment of LeBron vs. Zion. And it did not disappoint.

The Pelicans battled tough with the West’s top team, but the Lakers pulled away in the fourth, outscoring New Orleans 30-23 in the final frame. LeBron showed out, dropping a season-high 40 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the win. Anthony Davis finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocks, and Danny Green added 17 points on 5 3PM. Brandon Ingram led the way for New Orleans, dropping 34 points on his former team. In Zion’s first matchup with the King, he finished with 29 points, including 13-19 from the free throw line.

Kings 112 (24-33), Warriors 94 (12-46)

Harris Barnes and De’Aaron Fox each finished with 21 points to lead the Kings to the win on the road. Bogdan Bogdanovich dropped 17, and Buddy Hield added 19 off the bench in the win. The Warriors had all five starters finish in double figures, led by Marquese Chriss with 21, and Andrew Wiggins with 16.

The post Post Up: LeBron Drops Season-High 40 in Win Over Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

Memphis has come out of the break banged up and on a three-game losing streak. Jaren Jackson Jr. is down for at least two weeks due to a sprained knee and Brandon Clarke joined him on the shelf with a right quad bruise. Justise Winslow, who was acquired at the trade deadline for starting forward Jae Crowder, has yet to make his Grizzlies debut as he continues to deal with a back injury that has plagued him all season.

All of the injuries have left Memphis shorthanded up front and relying on backups to play key minutes.

To add to it, the Grizzlies have the NBA’s toughest closing schedule. Memphis’ opponents over their last 25 games have a combined .554 winning percentage. The stretch includes games against both the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers (the leaders of each conference), two games against the Toronto Raptors and a game each against the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

The young Grizzlies have been a surprise to this point in the season, but to hang on and make the playoffs might be an even bigger shock at this point.

Battling it out behind Memphis is a collection of teams who have been there before and a few who haven’t sniffed the postseason in years. There are five teams between 2.5 and 4.5 games back and all of them have 24 or 25 games left to play.

Despite a slew of injuries of their own, the Portland Trail Blazers have hung around and trail the Grizzlies by 2.5 games entering play on Tuesday night. Damian Lillard is out for a few weeks, and big men Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins still don’t have return dates, but Terry Stotts has kept the Blazers afloat.

C.J. McCollum is carrying the scoring load and Carmelo Anthony’s resurgence has seen him pick up a bigger offensive role over the last couple of weeks. Hassan Whiteside continues to play well as the only healthy center on the roster, and Trevor Ariza has added a defensive element since he was acquired in late-January.

Unlike the Grizzlies, the Trail Blazers benefit from their closing schedule. They’ve got the league’s fifth-easiest batch over their final 24 games. Portland has games against Golden State, Cleveland, Minnesota (twice) and Atlanta still coming. That’s a bunch of wins the Blazers should be able to bank.

Speaking of easy schedules, the New Orleans Pelicans have gotten back in the race behind the third-easiest schedule to close the season. Cleveland, two games apiece against Atlanta and Minnesota and one game against New York are on tap for the Pels.

In addition, no team has gotten more players back from injury than New Orleans has. Their entire roster is ready to go for this stretch run, including rookie sensation Zion Williamson. And if the Pelicans can snag the eight seed, they’d likely match up with the Lakers. Who wouldn’t like to see that in the first round?

Just behind the Pelicans are the San Antonio Spurs. Why should we keep monitoring the surprisingly underwhelming Spurs? Because they’ve made the postseason for a record 23 straight times.

The challenge for Gregg Popovich in extending that streak is getting production from someone other than LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan. It’s been a bit of a mixed-bag for San Antonio from night to night as to anyone showing up around two former All-Stars.

The Spurs will also benefit from an easy schedule to finish out the year as well, as they’ve got the sixth-easiest schedule. Much like their competitors for the last playoff spot in the West, San Antonio can feast on a couple of games against the Timberwolves, as well as two vs the Warriors. Unlike their peers, the Spurs have been mostly-healthy this season, so they really just need productive minutes from players who have been there, done that.

Two other teams have unexpectedly gotten themselves back in the playoff conversation: the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. The Kings recently said that they were making a playoff push. They’ve gone 6-4 over their last 10 games and also have an easy closing schedule. They’ve got the Warriors and Cavaliers two times apiece and a game against the Wolves.

Sacramento has worked around injuries all season, as they’ve rarely had their full rotation together at the same time. Luke Walton recently shuffled the lineup around by switching Buddy Hield to the sixth-man role and inserting Bogdan Bogdanovic in the starting group. That has brought some balance to both units. Bogdanovic gives the openers another player who can create offense off the bounce alongside De’Aaron Fox, while Hield is instant offense off the bench.

The Suns are no stranger to not having their full complement of players available. Monty Williams has mixed and matched around injuries and DeAndre Ayton’s 25-game suspension early in the season. Now that Phoenix is fully healthy, they’re playing some of their best ball of the year. Devin Booker has blossomed into an All-Star and Ayton’s improved defense is matching his terrific offense.

With solid veterans like Ricky Rubio and Aron Baynes, the Suns have players who know what it’s like to make a playoff push. The challenge for Phoenix, like Sacramento, is making up not only the 4.5 game deficit in the standings, but also climbing several other teams.

For a while it looked like the playoff picture in both conferences was locked in, minus seeding. With the precocious Grizzlies coming back to the pack and the teams behind them benefiting from schedules and better health, we might just have a real playoff race on our hands after all.

The post No. 8 Seed In The West Open As Playoff Race Heats Up appeared first on SLAM.

The 30-year-old collected 17 rebounds and added four blocks to go along with 16 points on Sunday in a victory over the Detroit Pistons.

In his first year with Portland, Whiteside has averaged a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game and 14.1 rebounds per game. The challenge is that those numbers are a part of the Blazers 27th-ranked defense.

Whiteside elaborated with NBC Sports’ Dwight Jaynes:

Rim protection is still important in this era of a long-distance shooting.

The Trail Blazers have struggled due to their injuries but Whiteside has provided their only rim protection on most nights.

“The team doesn’t get the award,” he said. “It’s a player award. And as far as blocking shots, there isn’t anybody even close.”

In addition to the lack of team success, however, is the fact that despite the gaudy block and rebound numbers, his advanced stats simply don’t back up a DPOY campaign.

While defensive rating isn’t a “be all, end all” stat, especially for an individual, it does help with guidance. Whiteside’s DR of 106 is easily the worst of his career. It’s also the first time he’s had a DR of above 100 since he became a regular rotation player in the NBA.

With the Trail Blazers struggling to get to .500 on the season, and Whiteside’s stats simply not holding up upon deeper scrutiny, it’s unlikely he’ll be an actual candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

But as Whiteside said postgame, “Let’s talk about it.”

It’s certainly worth some conversation.

The post Hassan Whiteside: ‘I Feel Like I’m Defensive Player of the Year’ appeared first on SLAM.

Toronto took the lead halfway through the first quarter and would not trail for the rest of the game.

Fred VanVleet dropped 16 points with 9 dimes and 8 boards. Pascal Siakam added a game-high 30 points.

Toronto has now won 10 straight games. Detroit has lost 5 straight.

Bulls 118 (19-32), Nets 133 (21-26)

Kyrie Irving needed just 23 shots to drop 54 points as he led the Nets to a much-needed victory.

Putting on an inspired performance in memory of his friend and mentor Kobe Bryant, Kyrie did not miss in the first half en route to his second 50-plus point game of the season.

Mavs 121 (29-19), Rockets 128 (30-18)

Houston built an 18-point lead late in the third quarter against the Luka Doncic-less Mavs and held on for the win.

James Harden dropped a game-high 35 points with 16 boards, 6 dimes and 4 steals. Russell Westbrook added 32 points with 9 dimes and 3 steals.

Grizzlies 111 (24-25), Pelicans 139 (20-29)

New Orleans, finally with its core players healthy, blew the game open during the third quarter, outscoring the Grizzlies by 17 points.

Jrue Holiday dropped 18 points with 6 dimes and 3 steals. Zion Williamson added game-high 24 points.

Nuggets 127 (34-15), Bucks 115 (41-7)

Denver shot 22-44 from three as they snapped the Bucks’ 9-game winning streak.

Will Barton dropped a team-high 24 points (6-9 3FG) with 8 dimes and 7 boards.

Thunder 111 (30-20), Suns 107 (20-28)

Down 7 with 4:10 remaining, the Thunder battled back for another important road victory.

Chris Paul dropped 20 points with 10 dimes and 3 steals. Danilo Gallinari added a game-high 27 points.

Blazers 127 (22-27), Lakers 119 (36-11)

Portland thwarted the Lakers on an emotional night that paid tribute to fallen legend Kobe Bryant.

Damian Lillard continued his scorching hot play, dropping 23 of his game-high 48 points in the third quarter. Hassan Whiteside added 30 points with 12 boards and 5 blocks.

The post Post Up: Lakers Honor Kobe in First Game Since Fatal Helicopter Crash 💜 appeared first on SLAM.

With Damian Lillard facing a double-team, Anthony stepped up and drilled the clutch bucket.

Melo says the victory was a “a big confidence booster” for the Trail Blazers.

Per The AP:

“A guy with his type of ability, it’s just a matter of opportunity,” Lillard said. “He had one guy guarding him and he got to his spot. Once he got to his spot and I saw him raising up, I thought it was going in.”

Anthony scored 28 points, Lillard had 20 and Hassan Whiteside added 14 points and 16 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double as the Trail Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak in Toronto and won for the second time in 10 meetings with the defending champion Raptors.

“This is a big confidence booster for us, a big morale boost,” Anthony said.

Related Post Up: Melo’s Game-Winner Lifts Blazers Over Raptors

The post Carmelo Anthony: Game-Winner vs Raptors a ‘Big Morale Boost’ appeared first on SLAM.

It was the Melo show in Toronto tonight. He dropped a season-high 28 points on 10-17 shooting, including a game-winning pull-up jumper with 3 seconds left to lift the Blazers to the impressive road win. Damian Lillard added 20 points and Hassan Whiteside finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds for Portland. For the Raptors, Kyle Lowry dropped 24 in the loss.

Pistons 115 (14-24), Cavaliers 113 (10-27)

Detroit outscored Cleveland 31-18 in the fourth quarter, and Derrick Rose hit a smooth go-ahead floater with 26 seconds left to secure the win on the road. The bucket gave Rose 2 of his team-high 24 points, and Andre Drummond was a monster again, finishing with 23 points and 20 rebounds. Kevin Love led the Cavs in the loss, dropping 30 points on 12-15 shooting.

Thunder 111 (21-16), Nets 103 (16-20)

After Chris Paul tied the game with a pull-up jumper, Spencer Dinwiddie missed a free throw in the final seconds, sending the game to OT. The Thunder outscored the Nets 10-2 in overtime, giving struggling Brooklyn their 7th straight loss. CP3 was awesome, dropping 20 of his game-high 28 in the fourth quarter and OT. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued his stellar play, dropping 22 for OKC. The nets were lead by Taurean Prince, who finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Caris LeVert, who dropped 20 off the bench.

Grizzlies 119 (16-22), Timberwolves 112 (14-22)

The Grizzlies scored 37 fourth quarter points to secure their third win in a row. Memphis was led by Ja Morant, who finished with 25 points (12-18 FG) and 7 assists, and Dillon Brooks, who dropped a game-high 28 points. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 points in the win. For Minnesota, the rookie Jarrett Culver finished with a season-high 24 points on 8-11 shooting.

Kings 114 (15-23), Suns 103 (14-23)

The Kings stormed back late to beat the Suns, winning the fourth quarter by a score of 36-16. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 27 points and 6 assists, and Nemanja Bjelica added 19 points and 7 rebounds. For Phoenix, Devin Booker dropped 34, his seventh straight game with 30+ points. Deandre Ayton added 21 points and 9 rebounds in the loss.

Lakers 117 (30-7), Knicks 87 (10-27)

The Lakers dominated the Knicks throughout to pick up their 30th win of the season. LeBron James led the way, finishing with 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Anthony Davis left the game in the third quarter after a scary fall, but x-rays on his lower back were negative. For the Knicks, RJ Barrett dropped a team-high 19 points.

The post Post Up: Melo’s Game-Winner Lifts Blazers Over Raptors 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 Blazers 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

• Damian Lillard
• Carmelo Anthony

Neither Damian Lillard nor Carmelo Anthony are eligible to be traded this season. Lillard inked his extension earlier this year and Anthony signed his deal partway into the 2019-20 campaign. Neither player signed up to be on a lottery team, expect the Blazers to look for trades that upgrade the talent around them.

Biggest Name Available On Market

• C.J. McCollum

For years, the major storyline out of Portland was whether the team should break up its backcourt. After the Blazers reached the conference finals last spring, those talks have quieted down. That said, while there’s been no recent reports of Portland listening to offers for McCollum, it’s fair to wonder whether the front office will ponder deals once the shooting guard is eligible to be dealt on Jan. 30.

McCollum just signed a massive extension with the club, which keeps him under contract through the 2023-24 campaign. Betting on him remaining in Portland through that deal isn’t a safe bet, though the odds of him staying put through Feb. 6 are an attractive proposition.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Kent Bazemore
• Hassan Whiteside

Kent Bazemore is on an expiring deal worth $19.3M. Should Portland make a major trade, he’s more likely to be on the move than any of the team’s other big contracts. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports recently went so far as to say that he’d surprised if Bazemore (or Hassan Whiteside, for that matter) remained on the roster through the deadline.

Both Bazemore and Whiteside landed in Portland after trades in the offseason. The latter, with an expiring $27M contract, has looked particularly sharp in a contract year. The 30-year-old has averaged 15.9 points and 13.9 rebounds per game as one of the few healthy bodies in Portland’s frontcourt.

Trades Are Possible

• Jusuf Nurkic
• Rodney Hood
• Zach Collins
• Skal Labissiere
• Anfernee Simons
• Nassir Little
• Mario Hezonja
• Anthony Toliver
• Gary Trent Jr.

Jusuf Nurkic is still recovering from a leg injury and it seems unlikely that the Blazers will trade him given Whiteside’s pending free agency. Rodney Hood tore his left Achilles and is out for the season. He has the right to veto any trade due to signing a one-year deal with an option this past summer. Zach Collins, who is out with a shoulder injury, appears to be in the team’s long-term plans and hopes to return to the court before the end of the season. The Blazers had the ability to sign Skal Labissiere to a rookie-scale extension this summer and failed to do so. Anfernee Simons, whom the team picked up with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2018 draft, is Portland’s leading candidate for its most improved award. Nassir Little, who was selected with the No. 25 overall pick in the latest NBA draft, hasn’t had much of an opportunity in limited time this season. Injuries have forced coach Terry Stotts to rely on Mario Hezonja more than originally anticipated. He has a $2.0M player option on his deal for next season. 34-year-old Anthony Toliver, who is on the veteran’s minimum this year, has started eight games for the Blazers so far. Gary Trent Jr. is hitting .390 from behind the arc. When McCollum recently missed a game, Stotts opted to start the former second-round pick at the shooting guard spot.

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Portland Trail Blazers appeared first on SLAM.

The Celtics did not miss a beat without star guard Kemba Walker, as they defeated the Hawks to bring their home record to an admirable 14-2. Jaylen Brown was excellent, scoring 24 points on an efficient 8-13 shooting with 10 rebounds and 2 steals. Marcus Smart, back from a recent eye infection, stuffed the stat sheet as usual, and even though he only scored 15 points, he made his presence felt with 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. If I’m in the playoffs, I want him on my team.

For the Hawks, Trae Young was marvelous, with 28 points, 10 assists and some jawdropping long-range bombs, but this game showed exactly why the Hawks were reportedly targeting Andre Drummond. They lost the rebounding battle 42-54, and the Celtics had twice as many offensive rebounds. Bring on the trade rumors.

Magic 106 (16-19), Heat 85 (25-10)

Remember when 85 points was a normal score? Nowadays, if a team scored that many, it usually doesn’t end well. Despite a valiant effort from star Jimmy Butler (23 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals), center Bam Adebayo was the only other player to reach double-digit points.

Thanks to 25 points on a scorching 6-10 from deep from Terrence Ross, the Magic were able to take advantage of Miami’s off night. They also got this wild dunk from renowned leaper Aaron Gordon:

Blazers 122 (15-21), Wizards 103 (10-24)

The Blazers easily handled the Wizards thanks to their core four. Damian Lillard dropped 35 points, CJ McCollum contributed 24 of his own, Hassan Whiteside had 23 points, 21 rebounds and 5 blocks, and Melo had a sweet put back jam to go along with 16 points on 7-9 shooting

The Wiz can take solace in an unexpected 35 points from reserve guard Jordan McRae at least.

Rockets 118 (24-11), 76ers 108 (23-14)

James Harden broke out the braids, and the results were fantastic as usual. The braided Beard dropped 44 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a convincing win over the inconsistent 76ers. Clint Capela also exploded for 30 points and 14 rebounds on 80% shooting.

Sure, Ben Simmons had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, but it simply was not enough.

Suns 120 (14-21), Knicks 112 (10-25)

The Suns got to throw out their original starting lineup of Ricky Rubio, Devin Booker, Kelly Oubre, DeAndre Ayton and Aron Baynes for the first time in a while, and the result was a victory. Sure, it was against the Knicks, but it was a victory nonetheless.

Booker was fantastic per usual, with 38 points and 7 assists; it was his fifth straight game of 30 or more points. Oubre continued his phenomenal season with 29 points on 11-16 shooting and Ayton added a double double and 5 assists.

Lakers 123 (28-7), Pelicans 113 (11-24)

It was a big reunion night for all involved from the blockbuster Lakers-Pelicans trade this summer. Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball combined for 45 points, but it was not enough against the rolling Lake Show.

AD was out for vengeance, exploding for 46 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals, while LeBron supplanted a modest 17 points with a monster 15 assists. Danny Green also splashed home six 3-pointers for 25 points.

The post Post Up: The Braided Beard Handles 76ers in Primetime appeared first on SLAM.

Utah battled back from a 12-point third quarter deficit to get their fifth straight win.

Rudy Gobert dropped 17 points (6-9 FG) with 19 boards and 3 blocks. Bojan Bogdanovic added a team-high 26 points.

Hawks 112 (6-24), Nets 122 (16-13)

Brooklyn turned it on after falling behind by 18 points in the third quarter, eventually winning by double-digits.

Spencer Dinwiddie dropped 16 of his team-high 39 points in the fourth and became the first Net in over 10 years to drop 30+ points in three straight games.

Atlanta has now lost 7 straight.

Wizards 108 (8-20), Sixers 125 (21-10)

After taking the lead 2:34 into the game, Philly would lead the rest of the the way. Joel Embiid dropped a team-high 21 points with 13 boards.

Isaiah Thomas was ejected in the fourth quarter for going into the stands to confront a heckler (who was later escorted out of the arena). Listen to what IT had to say about the incident:

Bulls 119 (12-19), Pistons 107 (11-19)

Chicago outscored the Pistons by 18 points in the second half to secure the dub.

Zach LaVine dropped a game-high 33 points with 5 dimes.

Bucks 123 (26-4), Knicks 102 (7-23)

Milwaukee led for the entire game, and by as much as 29 points during the third quarter.

Giannis Antetokounmpo needed just 22 minutes to record a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 11 boards and 10 dimes. Khris Middleton added a game-high 23 points.

Kings 115 (12-17), Grizzlies 119 (11-19)

Memphis took the lead at the end of the first quarter and led for the rest of the game.

Jaren Jackson Jr dropped a team-high 18 points with 4 blocks and 3 steals.

Clippers 134 (22-9), Spurs 109 (11-17)

Kawhi Leonard captured his first win in San Antonio, dropping a game-high 26 points with 9 dimes, 7 boards and 4 steals in just 27 minutes.

The Clippers would outscore the Spurs by 16 points in the third quarter and go up by as much as 33 points during the fourth.

Rockets 139 (20-9), Suns 125 (11-18)

Houston outscored the Suns in every quarter, leading to a 20-point cushion during the fourth quarter.

James Harden went off for a game-high 47 points (15-27 FG) with 7 dimes. Russell Westbrook dropped 30 points with 10 dimes.

Phoenix has now lost 6 straight.

Wolves 106, Blazers 113 (-6)

Minnesota kept it close, but the Blazers pulled away in crunch time.

Hassan Whiteside dropped a historic line of 16 points, 22 boards and 7 blocks—the first Blazer to ever do so. Damian Lillard added a team-high 29 points with 7 dimes.

Minnesota has now lost an abysmal 10 straight games.

The post Post Up: Clippers Rout Spurs in Kawhi Leonard’s First Win in San Antonio appeared first on SLAM.

Sometimes, the Cavaliers can be very competent. John Henson (remember him?) swatted 7 shots, Jordan Clarkson exploded for 33 points on 12-17 shooting, and Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love both recorded double doubles in a solid victory.

Meanwhile, even though they lost, Ja Morant was this close to smashing home the dunk of the century.

Pacers 119 (20-9), Kings 105 (12-16)

What the Pacers are doing is so admirable. They play team ball, no one is selfish and you don’t hear a peep from them about how much they miss star Victor Oladipo, who is still recovering from a quad injury. By dismantling the Kings, Indiana just won their fifth game in a row, with all starters and two bench players hitting double digit points. Just imagine this team when Oladipo is back out there wrecking poor fools.

The Kings are slowly getting back their injured young guns De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley, and they’ll have to sort out a crowded front court when everyone is back to full strength.

Celtics 114 (19-7), Pistons 93 (11-18)

The Celtics keep on rolling, this time with a dub over the middling Pistons sans Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each had 26 points, while Enes Kanter gobbled up 18 rebounds and rookie Grant Williams had a career-high 18 points off the pine.

Thon Maker was the Pistons’ highest scorer with only 15 points. Yup, it was that kind of night for Detroit.

We were also treated to some Tacko Time, and the fans in TD Garden gave his a standing ovation as he entered the game.

Raptors 122 (20-8), Wizards 118 (8-19)

You simply have to tip your cap to the Raptors. In the past few days, they’ve lost Marc Gasol, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell to injuries, and they’ve already withstood injuries to Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka. But nonetheless, the wins keep coming. Lowry had 26 points and 9 assists, VanVleet had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, and Ibaka added 23 points, 10 caroms and 3 blocks.

Meanwhile, Bradley Beal continued his phenomenal season with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Also, shoutout Ish Smith for dropping 26 on 9-9 shooting. That type of efficiency deserves to be appreciated.

Heat 129 (21-8), Knicks 114 (7-22)

The Heat are now 12-1 at home after easily dispatching the Knicks. It goes to show how deep they are when seven players hit double digits and Jimmy Butler wasn’t even one of them. We were treated to a fantastic Derrick Jones Jr dunk and a smooth Goran Dragic between the legs dime.

Mavericks 117 (19-9), 76ers 98 (20-10)

Kristaps Porzingis is starting to shake off his post-ACL rust and the result is terrifying. The Unicorn recorded 22 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks to crush the 76ers at home. Tim Hardaway Jr also lit it up from deep, with 27 points and seven 3-pointers.

Other than a touching Boban reunion with their former beloved role player, the 76ers did not bring it. Joel Embiid was the only player to show up, with 33 points and 17 rebounds, but when the rest of the starting lineup manages only a combined 38 points, that is…not good, chief.

Thunder 126 (14-14), Suns 108 (11-17)

The Thunder have won 9 of their past 13 games, and it’s pretty great to see a team so at peace with themselves. For a franchise that has been worrying about superstar departures for the past few years, it must be refreshing to be thriving amid small expectations while potentially cultivating their next star…Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:

Nuggets 109 (19-8), Timberwolves 100 (10-17)

Someone help the Wolves. Losers of nine in a row, they have to pick up the intensity to prevent a lost season.

At least Nikola Jokic has broken out of his slightly underwhelming start to the season. He dropped a 22-10-10 triple double with 2 blocks and has looked much more engaged recently. The league is better off when the Serbian Star is pleased and balling out.

Blazers 118 (13-16), Magic 103 (12-17)

It was a vintage Blazers backcourt game. Dame Lillard did his thing, with 36 points and 6 assists with 7 treys, while CJ McCollum dropped 31 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to handle the Magic. Hassan Whiteside also chipped in 17 boards and 5 blocks.

The Magic were outmatched, but Nikola Vucevic had a vintage game with 23 points, 12 rebounds and an impressive 6 steals.

Markelle Fultz also unleashed this vicious dunk:

Warriors 106 (6-24), Pelicans 102 (7-23)

Behind 25 points and 7 assists from D’Angelo Russell and 20 points from Damion Lee, the Dubs squeezed out the win against the pesky Pelicans.

Brandon Ingram and Jrue Holiday each had 25 points, while Lonzo Ball swiped 6 steals off the bench.

The post Post Up: Kristaps Porzingis Dominates 76ers in Convincing Victory appeared first on SLAM.

A standout game from Collin Sexton (23 points on 10-14 shooting) helped Cleveland secure the home win. Terry Rozier’s 35 points for Charlotte came up just short.

Raptors 112 (19-8), Pistons 99 (11-17)

Toronto enjoyed impressive scoring nights from their trio of Pascal Siakam (26 points), Serge Ibaka (25 points) and Kyle Lowry (20 points). Andre Drummond put up 22 points and 18 rebounds in the loss.

Bulls 110 (11-19), Wizards 109 (8-18)

Bradley Beal’s go-ahead jumper with 0.5 seconds left looked like the nail in the coffin. Then Zach LaVine hit two free throws and the Bulls prevailed in overtime. Lauri Markkanen led Chicago with 31 points and 9 rebounds.

Heat 108 (20-8), 76ers 104 (20-9)

The Heat are no joke. Rookie Kendrick Nunn led the team with 26 points in 41 minutes, while Bam Adebayo added 23 points to the winning effort. Joel Embiid contributed a double-double of 22 points and 19 rebounds.

Pelicans 107 (7-22), Timberwolves 99 (10-16)

Brandon Ingram continues to impress in a breakout year. The forward finished with 34 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points for the Wolves.

Grizzlies 122 (10-18), Thunder 126 (13-14)

At one point OKC trailed by 24, but the Thunder came roaring back to get the home win. Dennis Schroder led the way with 31 points and 7 assists. Grizzlies rookie Brandon Clarke paced the team with 27 points.

Magic 104 (12-16), Nuggets 113 (18-8)

Denver was led by its dynamic duo of Jamal Murray (33 points) and Nikola Jokic (18 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds). Nikola Vucevic put up 20 points for the Magic.

Celtics 109 (18-7), Mavericks 103 (18-9)

Boston had the offensive firepower with Kemba Walker (32 points), Jaylen Brown (26 points) and Jayson Tatum (24 points) pouring in buckets. Kristaps Porzingis registered a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

Warriors 112 (5-24), Blazers 122 (12-16)

Portland closed out Golden State thanks to big nights from Damian Lillard (30 points, 13 assists) and Hassan Whiteside (16 points, 23 rebounds). D’Angelo Russell scored 26 points for the Warriors.

The post Post Up: Kendrick Nunn and the Heat Hand 76ers First Home Loss appeared first on SLAM.

In an update to the list we published last summer, we’ve expanded our rankings of the top available free agents and removed all of the players that have since signed contract extensions.

Not all of the players you see in this list will be available come July, many have player options or team options, but that’s part of the fun as the offseason approaches and we get a better idea of the type of market that teams and players can expect.

The post 2020 NBA Free Agents: Newswire’s Top 50 appeared first on SLAM.

This was a really solid team effort by Charlotte, with all five starters scoring double digits, as well as Cody Zeller chipping in 14 and 10 off the bench on an efficient 5-6 shooting. Devonte’ Graham continued his absurd breakout season, scoring 29 points, dishing 6 assists and splashing 6 treys.

The Wiz kept it close, thanks mostly to Davis Bertans’ scorching hot hand from deep. The former Spurs forward hit 8-12 from three for 32 points and 9 boards off the bench. Dude is a certified sniper, and one of his threes had Rui Hachimura pretending to give CPR to Bradley Beal on the bench.

But it was not enough, as Miles Bridges drained a dagger corner 3-pointer to seal the win.

76ers 97 (18-7), Nuggets 92 (14-8)

The 76ers are an incredible 13-0 at home after narrowly defeating the Nuggets. Rookie Matisse Thybulle, already one of the stauncher perimeter defenders in the league, was an incredible spark plug off the bench, hitting three 3-pointers and recording a +20 plus/minus. Joel Embiid stuffed the stat sheet per usual, with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, as well as this acrobatic trick shot and subsequent shimmy.

The Nuggets lost Jamal Murray five minutes into the game, but all indications are the injury is nothing serious. Will Barton did an admirable job of picking up the slack, scoring Denver’s first 13 points of the game and compiling a fantasy player’s ideal stat line of 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks.

Heat 135 (18-6), Hawks 121 (6-18)

What a game. We had OT, the Heat going on a 22-0 run to bring their home record to 11-0, Duncan Robinson draining a career-high TEN 3-pointers and a Jimmy Butler cold blooded shot.

It was an awesome game, and the Heat have Robinson (34 points), Butler (20 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists), Bam Adebayo (30 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) and Kendrick Nunn (36 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) to thank. It’s rare when that many players have such ridiculous nights for the same team.

Blazers 115 (10-15), Knicks 87 (4-20)

Yup, David Fizdale really was the problem.

On a serious note, it would be pretty difficult for the best NBA coaches to field a winning record with a Knicks team that just dropped to 4-20 at the hands of the Blazers. It was a demolition derby out there.

Damian Lillard was his usual excellent self, scoring 31 points, dishing 6 assists and bombing 8 3-pointers, while Hassan Whiteside put together a busy stat line with 17 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks. Also, sweet revenge for Melo, who must have been enjoying himself.

The post Post Up: Jimmy Butler Ices Shot as Heat Best Hawks in OT appeared first on SLAM.

Carmelo Anthony (20 points), Hassan Whiteside (22), Dame Lillard (24) and CJ McCollum (33) led the way as the Trail Blazers shot a blistering 56 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep.

Portland improved to 4-3 since signing Anthony.

Warriors 91 (4-19), Hornets 106 (9-14)

Terry Rozier got the Hornets rolling early with 12 points in the first quarter and Devonte Graham finished the visitors off with 10 made 3’s en route to a 33-point night. Graham’s 10 3’s tied a franchise-record.

D’Angelo Russell scored 18 points in 25 minutes of action — his first game since Nov. 15 — but it wasn’t enough for the struggling Warriors.

Bucks 127 (19-3), Pistons 103 (8-14)

Giannis Antetokounmpo only needed 28 minutes to put up 35 points (4-for-8 from 3), nine rebounds and two blocks as the Bucks won their 13th straight contest.

Andre Drummond had the highlight of the night, dunking over Antetokounmpo and Robin Lopez. He finished the night with 23 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks.

Suns 114 (9-11), Magic 128 (10-11)

Aaron Gordon shot 5-for-5 from deep and 13-for-15 overall as he clocked out with 32 points, five assists and five rebounds. Evan Fournier added another 21 to help lead the Magic.

Frank Kaminsky scored 21 points in the first half for Phoenix, but he cooled off after the intermission, finishing with just 23.

Lakers 121 (19-3), Jazz (12-10)

There were complaints about the Lakers’ strength of schedule (or lack thereof) to open this season, but back-to-back wins over Denver and Utah have put doubts of Los Angeles’ legitimacy to bed.

Anthony Davis scored 26 on only 11 shots and LeBron turned in 20 points and 12 dimes in just 29 minutes. Rajon Rondo moved up to 17th all-time on the NBA’s assists leaderboard.

Nets 130 (11-10), Hawks 118 (5-17)

Taurean Prince shined against his former team, scoring 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting.

The Nets trailed be four to the end first quarter, but a second quarter surge made the difference in what was an otherwise close game the rest of the way.

Trae Young scored a game-high 39 points and dished out 10 dimes.

Heat 93 (15-6), Celtics (15-5)

Jimmy Butler followed up his triple-double from the previous night with a game-high 37; however, a combined 59-point outing from Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown was too much for his team to overcome.

Grizzlies 99 (6-15), Bulls 106 (8-14)

Zach LaVine continued to shine, scoring a team-high 25 points. All four other Chicago starters (Satoransky: 13 points, Kris Dunn: 10, Wendell Carter Jr.: 16, Lauri Markkanen: 15) scored double-digit points.

The Grizzlies struggled to get its backcourt going as Ja Morant missed his third game due to injury.

Pacers 107 (14-7), Thunder 100 (8-12)

Seven Pacers scored double-digit points as TJ Warren’s 24 led the way.

Steven Adams had 20 on 8-for-8 shooting to lead OKC.

Timberwolves 114 (10-10), Mavericks 121 (15-6)

Dallas’ bench got hot in the fourth quarter — Jalen Brunson was a team-best + 21 with 16 points — as the Mavs closed out the final period with 41 points.

Luka Doncic turned in 22 points, six assists and seven boards to keep the Mavs hot. Dwight Powell added 24 on 9-for-9 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points, nine boards and seven assists for Minnesota.

The post Post Up: LeBron, Lakers Blow Out Jazz, Bucks Win 13th Straight appeared first on SLAM.

After succumbing to a pre-Thanksgiving loss to the Celtics, the Nets roared back in their second consecutive game against Boston. Guard Spencer Dinwiddie was fantastic in Kyrie Irving’s absence, scoring 32 points, dishing out 11 assists and swiping 2 steals. Third year center Jarrett Allen continued his solid play of late, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 boards on 7-12 shooting.

The Celtics have played excellent ball recently, despite losing Gordon Hayward to a hand injury. Jayson Tatum has bounced back from his sophomore slump to take over the scoring reigns this year, and he scored 26 points, corralled 9 rebounds and collected 4 steals in the first game of Black Friday.

Raptors 90 (14-4), Magic 80 (7-11)

The Raptors just keep on winning. Amid a slew of free agent departures and injuries to Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, Toronto has kept on chugging. They can even sustain an off-night from Pascal Siakam thanks to Norm Powell exploding for 33 points and Fred VanVleet putting up 22 and 7 steals.

The Magic shot 34% from the field, and that’s really the only stat you need to know to get an idea of how their night went.

Hornets 110 (8-12), Pistons 107 (6-13)

PJ Washington has continued his impressive rookie campaign, scoring 26 points and grabbing 4 steals on an efficient 9-12 shooting performance.

It’s been an uninspiring start to the season for Detroit, but at least Derrick Rose has proven to be a spark plug off the bench. He dropped 23 points on 8-12 shooting, and also provided us this adorable moment with his son, PJ, before the game.

Bucks 119 (16-3), Cavaliers 110 (5-14)

Giannis set the tone instantly with a dunk on the first play of the game, as the Bucks won their 10th straight game to finish off the Cavaliers. The Greek Freak remains a beast, and it’s incredible that he makes 33 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks seem ordinary.

Even in defeat, the Cavs have been competent. Rookie Darius Garland showed out with 21 points, 6 assists and 5 three-pointers. Keep an eye on the rook, because he’s going to be a stud in this league for a long time.

76ers 101 (13-6), Knicks 95 (4-15)

The 76ers had a sluggish start, as they were outscored 18-31 in the first quarter, but they eventually got their act together to take care of business. Joel Embiid was fantastic, scoring 27 points (albeit on a subpar 7-19 shooting), corralling 17 boards and swatting 3 shots, while Ben Simmons brought the 76ers home with a late-game inbounds steal and score.

He also converted this acrobatic layup on the move.

Jazz 103 (12-7), Grizzlies 94 (5-13)

In perhaps the most visually appealing game this season (seriously, each team absolutely nailed their throwback jerseys), the Jazz were too much to handle for the young Grizz. Bojan Bogdanovic put up 33 points, Rudy Gobert chipped in a solid double-double and Donovan Mitchell added 20 points of his own.

Thunder 109 (7-11), Pelicans 104 (6-13)

The Thunder came back by outscoring the Pelicans 30-20 in the 4th quarter. Dennis Schroder led the way off the bench with 25 points and 7 assists, while Steven Adams finished them off with a thunderous (pun intended) slam dunk down the stretch.

The Pelicans are swill biding time before the Zion Williamson’s highly anticipated debut, but in the meantime, Brandon Ingram seems content to keep on cooking. He had the smoothest transition from spin move to dunk:

Heat 122 (13-5), Warriors 105 (4-16)

It’s so weird to see the record 4-16 next to the Warriors, but that’s what happens when Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston are absent.

The Heat have been one of the best stories of the young season, riding a new wave of their young talent (Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, Bam Adebayo and Justise Winslow) to supplement their veteran core of Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic and Kelly Olynyk. the team shot a blistering 52% from deep. Also, they never miss on the gorgeous Miami Vice city edition jerseys.

Spurs 107 (7-13), Clippers 97 (14-6)

The Spurs broke out of their surprising downward spiral by giving the Clippers their first loss when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both shared the court together.

For the Spurs, LaMarcus Aldridge had one of his most complete games of the season, going for 17 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 blocks.

Pacers 105 (12-6), Hawks 104 (4-15)

Despite a monstrous Trae Young performance (49 points on 16-28 shooting with 8 three-pointers and 9-9 from the line), the relentless Pacers pulled away in overtime. No other starter on the Hawks scored more than 7 points.

With Malcolm Brogdon back in the fold, Indiana has been rock solid this season. Every starter scored between 16 and 20 points; the epitome of a group effort.

Mavericks 120 (12-6), Suns 113 (8-10)

Luka Doncic went scorched earth all over the poor Suns. The Slovenian sensation dropped 42 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists in a convincing victory against the Suns. Tim Hardaway Jr also chipped in 26 points.

The Suns have slowed down a tad after an impressive start to the season, but a core four of Devin Booker, Aron Baynes, Kelly Oubre and Ricky Rubio has outscored opponents by 8 points per 100 possessions all season, and center DeAndre Ayton is set to return soon. The future is bright in Phoenix.

Blazers 107 (8-12), Bulls 103 (6-14)

Melo is looking like his old self, and every moment is beautiful to watch. He scored 23 points and grabbed 11 boards, while teammate Hassan Whiteside swallowed a Blazers franchise record 10 blocks to go along with 15 rebounds. Maybe he grew dissatisfied with his NBA 2K rating again.

For the Bulls, Zach LaVine led the way with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and so far, zero public disputes with Jim Boylen today.

Lakers 125 (17-2), Wizards 103 (6-11)

Well, that was certainly a blowout. The Lakers have been on fire this season and they showed no signs of letting up Friday at Staples. LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the way per usual, with commendable contributions from Rajon Rondo (who threw two beautiful alley-oops), JaVale McGee and Danny Green.

The post Post Up: Trae Young Drops 49 Points, But Hawks Succumb to Pacers in OT appeared first on SLAM.

Kemba Walker made his return to the court following a neck sprain sustained last week and he delivered. Walker registered a season-high 39 points as he scorched the Nets’ defense. Kyrie Irving was inactive for his return to Boston.

Pistons 101 (6-12), Hornets 102 (7-12)

Detroit failed to get a shot off as the buzzer sounded, losing this game by just one point. Charlotte meanwhile boasted six double-digit scorers, led by Bismack Biyombo (19 points). Blake Griffin put up 26 in the loss.

Magic 116 (7-10), Cavaliers 104 (5-13)

Orlando dominated in the second half to get win No. 7 this season. Evan Fournier led the team with 30 points. Collin Sexton scored 20 points for Cleveland.

Jazz 102 (11-7), Pacers 121 (11-6)

Indiana continues to turn heads as they keep the wins coming. The Pacers received big scoring nights from Domantas Sabonis (23 points), TJ Warren (23 points) and Malcolm Brogdon (22 points). Bojan Bogdanovic notched 30 points against his former team.

Kings 91 (7-10), 76ers 97 (12-6)

Despite the close score, Philly was in control throughout. Joel Embiid put up 33 points one game after going scoreless.

Knicks 98 (4-14), Raptors 126 (13-4)

Toronto scored 37 points in both the second and fourth quarters as they pulled away. Pascal Siakam scored 31 points in 30 minutes of action.

Heat 108 (12-5), Rockets 117 (12-6)

James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 61 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in the win. Heat rookie Tyler Herro contributed 22 points.

Clippers 121 (14-5), Grizzlies 119 (5-12)

Montrezl Harrell hit the game-winning tip-in layup with 2.3 seconds left to break the tie. Harrell co-led the team in scoring (along with Lou Williams) with 24 points.

Hawks 102 (4-14), Bucks 111 (15-3)

Giannis Antetokounmpo recored a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds in Milwaukee’s home win. Jabari Parker put up an impressive 33 points against his former team.

Timberwolves 113 (10-8), Spurs 101 (6-13)

The duo of Andrew Wiggins (26 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points) helped pace Minnesota’s scoring as they outlasted San Antonio. LaMarcus Aldridge notched 22 points in the loss.

Wizards 140 (6-10), Suns 132 (8-9)

Washington had the scoring edge thanks to Bradley Beal (35 points), Thomas Bryant (23 points) and Ish Smith (21 points). Devin Booker scored 27 points to lead the Suns.

Lakers 114 (16-2), Pelicans 110 (6-12)

Anthony Davis came up clutch in the final seconds, knocking down three free throws to steal the win in New Orleans. Davis finished with a monstrous 41 points against his former team. LeBron James made history as the fourth player ever to reach 33,000 points.

Thunder 119 (6-11), Blazers 136 (7-12)

Portland continues to click on all cylinders, getting their second win in a row. Damian Lillard led the team with 27 points, while the team also got key contributions from CJ McCollum (22 points), Hassan Whiteside (21 points) and Carmelo Anthony (19 points).

Bulls 90 (6-13), Warriors 104 (4-15)

Warriors rookie Eric Paschall gave the team a spark with 25 points and 7 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 36 points for the Bulls.

The post Post Up: Anthony Davis Comes Up Clutch in Return to New Orleans appeared first on SLAM.

RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Marcus Morris combined for 72 points in their Knicks debuts, but it wasn’t enough as San Antonio scored 37 in the final period to secure the win.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored a team-high 22 for the Spurs.

Mavericks 108, Wizards 100

Kristaps Porzingis (23 points) and Luka Doncic (34 points, nine rebounds) showed why they belong in the same conversation as the league’s most elite duos, leading Dallas to a chippy win.

Thunder 95, Jazz 100

Donovan Mitchell had an especially efficient night, scoring 32 points on 14-for-22 shooting and grabbing 12 boards as the Jazz earned the win.

OKC’s newest acquisitions shined as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 26, Chris Paul had 22 and Danilo Gallinari added 21.

Hornets 126, Bulls 125

Lauri Markkanen stole the show with 35 points and 17 boards, but a collective outing the Hornets’ PJ Washington (27 points), Devonte Graham (23) and Dwayne Bacon (22) sent the Bulls home with a loss.

Washington knocked down seven 3’s in his NBA debut.

Pistons 119, Pacers 110

Blake Griffin missed the season-opener due to soreness, but his frontcourt mate Andre Drummond held it down with 32 points, 23 rebounds, three steals and four blocks. The Pistons shot 45.8 percent from deep — Luke Kennard hit six from deep en route to 30 points — to hold off the Pacers.

Cavaliers 85, Magic 94

Neither team was particularly inspiring on offense, but Nikola Vucevic (21 points on 8-for-16 shooting) and Evan Fournier (16 on 7-for-13 shooting) were able to push their squad ahead.

Timberwolves 127, Nets 126

Kyrie Irving had 50 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and zero turnovers in his Nets debut, clocking out with a plus-minus of +18. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Timberwolves’ depth made the most of limited minutes to keep Minnesota ahead when Irving came out of the game.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 36 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

Grizzlies 101, Heat 120

Jimmy Butler didn’t make the game due to personal reasons, but undrafted Kendrick Nunn had no problem filling the void, scoring 24 points on 10-for-18 shooting to secure the W in South Beach.

Celtics 93, 76ers 107

Al Horford (16 points) got the W over his former team as every Philadelphia starter scored at least 15. Ben Simmons’ 24 led the way.

Kings 95, Suns 124

The Suns outscored the Kings 70-36 in the second half as the #ValleyBoyz took over the night — Devin Booker had 22 points and 10 assists, Kelly Oubre had 21 points and nine boards and DeAndre Ayton added 18 points, 11 boards and four blocks.

Nuggets 108, Trail Blazers 100

The Nuggets avenged last year’s playoff series loss to the Trail Blazers as Nikola Jokic stuffed the stat sheet with 20 points and 13 rebounds in just 24 minutes due to foul trouble.

Damian Lillard scored a team-high 32 and Hassan Whiteside had 16 points and 19 rebounds in his Portland debut.

The post Post Up: Kyrie Drops 50 in Brooklyn, Kristaps and Luka Shine in Dallas appeared first on SLAM.

Below is a list of the contract types the Portland Trail Blazers 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.

Portland Trail Blazers

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 Portland Trail Blazers Roster Count: 2019 Training Camp appeared first on SLAM.

Adebayo saw 22.3 minutes per game last season for the Heat but he is projected to take on a larger role in Miami now that Hassan Whiteside has been shipped to Portland. The 22-year-old center will have to compete with Meyers Leonard and Kelly Olynyk for minutes at the five though it wouldn’t be surprising if he leads the trio in minutes played this season.

Adebayo will make roughly $5.1 million during the 2020-21 campaign, which is now guaranteed. He is making approximately $3.5 million this season.

The post Heat Exercise Bam Adebayo’s 2020-21 Option 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.

Portland Trail Blazers 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: Portland Trail Blazers appeared first on SLAM.

Gasol will join a suddenly deep Blazers front court that already includes Jusuf Nurkic, Hassan Whiteside and Zach Collins.

Gasol, who turned 39 this summer, started last season with the Spurs but after agreeing to a buyout with San Antonio, he latched on with the Bucks. He missed Milwaukee’s postseason run as he was recovering from foot surgery. The big man is expected to be healthy enough to participate in training camp.

The post Pau Gasol Agrees To Deal With Portland Trail Blazers appeared first on SLAM.

Well, I hear that, and for that reason I give you permission to avert your eyes from the table below… if you must. Maybe go sit back and relax in a hammock or something. When you’re done, come back here and peep this early list of what we can expect from free agency next summer. This league…

This table could look significantly different come this time next year, not just because players’ values will fluctuate over the course of the 2019-20 campaign but because we might see some players avoid free agency altogether.

Players and teams can pick up options for the 2020-21 seasons and the two parties can even work together for contract extensions, as seems likely to be the case for Ben Simmons.

Disagree with this list? Weigh in with the comments below or find me on Twitter at @AustinKent. I’ll be the one in the middle of a 73-tweet thread about my love for Thomas Bryant.

The post The Top 25 2020 NBA Free Agents appeared first on SLAM.

Instead, Butler found his way to the Miami Heat via sign-and-trade, where he agreed to a four-year, $142 million deal.

The 29-year-old, four-time NBA All-Star averaged 18.2 points (19.4 in the playoffs) during his lone season with the Sixers.

Per NBC Sports Philadelphia and ESPN:

Butler’s trip to Miami was not a leverage play. A source close to the situation says Butler was indeed offered the five-year, $190 million full max from Philly, but Butler wanted to move on. And perhaps the Sixers put the offer on the table with the understanding that Butler wouldn’t take it.

The Heat are sending center Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers, guard Josh Richardson to the Philadelphia 76ers and a protected 2023 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers to secure the salary-cap flexibility to complete the sign-and-trade deal with the 76ers, league sources tell ESPN.

The Dallas Mavericks had interest in acquiring Heat guard Goran Dragic in a previous, three-team construction of the Butler sign-and-trade, but they “changed course,” Dragic’s agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN.

“In analyzing it, his salary was too high based on other things they’re trying to do,” Duffy told ESPN.

Related Jimmy Butler: ‘I Will Get a Max Contract Anywhere I Choose to Go’

The post Report: Jimmy Butler Turned Down the Sixers’ Max Offer appeared first on SLAM.

Portland traded away Maurice Harkless and Meyers Leonard earlier today, bringing in Hassan Whiteside. The move left the team thin at forward.

The 34-year-old combo forward will provide the team with shooting and depth. Tolliver played in Minnesota last season where he shot .377 from behind the arc.

The post Anthony Tolliver, Blazers Agree To Deal appeared first on SLAM.

The Clips will join the Heat, Sixers and Blazers in the elaborate swap.

In the sign-and-trade, the Philadelphia 76ers will bring back 25-year-old swingman Josh Richardson, a satisfactory consolation prize for the outgoing Butler.

The Miami Heat will get Butler, as well as Meyers Leonard and Maurice Harkless from Portland while sending center Hassan Whiteside out to the Blazers. Moe Harkless won’t remain with the Heat for long, however, as he’s L.A. bound.

The Clippers will take Harkless’ contract in exchange for a future first-round pick, which ESPN’s Bobby Marks figures could be their 2023 first.

The post Jimmy Butler Sign-And-Trade Evolves Into Four-Team Deal appeared first on SLAM.

The trade will give Portland a very capable spot starter while Jusuf Nurkic recovers from the drastic leg injury that cut short his 2018-19 campaign. Although his role has decreased in Miami of late, Whiteside remains one of the most productive rebounding bigs in the league.

In just 23 minutes of work last year, Whiteside averaged 12.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game and earlier this offseason he picked up his player option worth $27 million.

Eastbound in the trade will be roughly $22.8 million in combined salaries to Leonard and Harkless. The two role players could fit right in with Miami’s style of play but their may be subsequent moves after the trade.

According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel the deal could help alleviate the cap clearing issues that were preventing the Heat from completing their sign-and-trade for Jimmy Butler.

The post Trail Blazers To Acquire Hassan Whiteside In Trade With Heat appeared first on SLAM.

Update #1, July 1, 1:04 am: I’ve kept it there for posterity but Dallas’ involvement in this deal seems to be off the table. Tim Cato of The Athletic details the miscommunication between the parties. We will now wait for Miami to salvage this, either with Dallas or another third team.

The Miami Heat are finalizing a deal to acquire Jimmy Butler in a sign-and-trade, Shams Charnia of The Athletic reports. Headed to the Philadelphia 76ers in the swap is swingman Josh Richardson.

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Goran Dragic will be sent to the Dallas Mavericks in order to make the numbers work. Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News confirms the Dragic inclusion.

Contrary to previous reports, the Heat will not be sending Goran Dragic to Dallas. According the Times’ Marc Stein, the Mavs fear jeopardizing their flexibility later in the summer.

Heading to Dallas in the three-team swap will be Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones, Marc Stein of the New York Times writes.

We wrote in our free agency briefing that Butler was eager and ready to tell the Heat that he wished to play for their franchise earlier today, the only thing the Heat needed to do was work out a scenario with Philadelphia that would meet salary cap rules.

While Sixers fans will be sad to see the ultracompetitive swing take his talents to South Beach, they’ll add an underrated wing that averaged 15.6 points per game last season. The 25-year-old Richardson will earn $10.1 million.

The deal that Butler will take with him to his new squad is a four-year pact worth $142 million. That’s the max that a player signing with a new team is eligible to make. Even though Butler inked the deal with his incumbent team, sign-and-trade deals prohibit a player on the move from getting that extra year.

The post Miami Heat Finalizing Deal To Acquire Jimmy Butler In Sign-And-Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Despite concern over his role with the Heat over the past few seasons, Hassan Whiteside is expected to pick up his 2019-20 player option worth $27.1 million, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Whiteside continues to be one of the league’s most productive low-post scorers and rebounders but played just 23.3 minutes per game for the Heat last season.

Whiteside’s substantial cap hit will push the Heat over the luxury tax threshold but the center will technically become trade-eligible once he formally picks up the option.

Although Miami has welcomed the additions of Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk at the five over the past two seasons, Whiteside remains a productive player when at his best.

Whiteside signed a four-year deal with the Heat back in 2016 and quickly posted averages of 17.1 points and 14.0 rebounds per game.

Since then, of course, the value of big men limited to the post has changed considerably and Whiteside’s role has been shrunk accordingly.

The post Hassan Whiteside To Pick Up 2019-20 Player Option appeared first on SLAM.

The 33-year-old veteran will earn $19.2 million in the final season of the five-year deal he signed back in 2015. That cap hit will put pressure on the cash-strapped franchise to get creative if it wants to avoid the luxury tax next season.

While several teams have cleared an abundance of cap space for this summer it’s unlikely that the hardened vet would draw more than that on the open market. Dragic averaged 17.9 points and 6.3 assists per game for the Heat in 2018-19 but only played in 36 contests.

Dragic is expected to be joined by Heat center Hassan Whiteside next season as they take another stab at contending in the Eastern Conference with the same core of players that’s made the postseason in two of the past four years.

Whiteside is expected to opt into his own 2019-20 player option worth $27.1 million.

The post Goran Dragic Picks Up Player Option For 2019-20 appeared first on SLAM.

DeMarcus Cousins scored a season-high 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting and added 11 boards and three blocks as Golden State took care of business in Queen City.

Cody Zeller led all players with 28 points on 13-for-14 shooting from the field.

Trail Blazers 123 (37-23), Cavaliers 110 (14-47)

The Trail Blazers scored 71 first half points in a game that was never really close as CJ McCollum scored 35 points on a scorching 7-for-8 shooting night from deep.

Cedi Osman was a bright spot for the Cavs, scoring a team-high 27.

Pacers 109 (40-21), Pistons 113 (29-30)

Blake Griffin’s triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) led the way as the Pistons won their third game in a row. Andre Drummond had game-highs in points (26), rebounds (16) and blocks (3).

Suns 124 (12-50), Heat 121 (26-33)

The Suns snapped a 17-game losing streak as seven players chipped in double-digit points in South Beach — Devin Booker’s 20 led the way. The Suns outscored the Heat 72-58 in the second half to complete the comeback victory.

Hassan Whiteside had 29 points and 11 boards for Miami.

Bucks 117 (46-14), Bulls 106 (16-45)

Lauri Markkanen and Robin Lopez each scored 26 for Chicago to lead all scorers, but the Bucks’ collective effort without Giannis Antetokounmpo was too much to defeat.

Malcolm Brogdon scored 22 points and had a +25 plus-minus in 25 minutes of work for Milwaukee.

Hawks 111 (20-41), Rockets 119 (35-25)

The cellar-dwelling Hawks threw everything they had at the Rockets after falling behind early Trae Young scored a career-high 36 on 8-for-12 shooting from deep and dropped eight dimes.

James Harden’s streak of 32 straight games with at least 30 points came to an end as he scored 28 points on 7-for-21 shooting from the field. Chris Paul scored 20 for Houston.

Mavericks 112 (26-34), Clippers 121 (34-28)

Luka Doncic had 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 dimes as the Mavericks fell short in Los Angeles. Montrezl Harrell (32 points, 14-for-17 shooting) and Lou Williams (21 points, 10 assists) led the way off the pine for the Clippers.

76ers 111 (39-22), Pelicans 110 (27-35)

Tobias Harris continued to shine for his new squad, clocking out with 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting with 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis scored 18 points and three blocks in 21 minutes.

Lakers 105 (29-31), Grizzlies 110 (24-38)

The Lakers fell to 2-6 in the month of February as Mike Conley’s 30-piece led a shorthanded Grizzlies squad to a win at the FedEx Forum. Newly acquired Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points, 13 boards and two blocks in 25 minutes of work for Memphis.

LeBron James had 24 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. Kyle Kuzma (22 points, 9-for-15 shooting) and Brandon Ingram (32 points, 12-for-18 shooting) turned in strong offensive performances for Los Angeles.

Kings 105 (31-29), Timberwolves 112 (29-31)

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 34 points and grabbed 21 boards in his first game since a car accident forced him to miss two games of action. Derrick Rose scored 20 points off the pine as the Timberwolves made the race for the 8-seed in the Western Conference a bit more interesting.

Spurs 85 (33-29), Nets 101 (32-30)

DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge combined to score 49 points on 21-for-35 shooting, but it wasn’t enough as the rest of the Spurs shot just 34.4 percent from the field and just 4-for-23 from deep.

D’Angelo Russell scored a team-high 23 points and dropped eight dimes for Brooklyn while his All-Star Weekend companion Joe Harris scored 15 on 5-for-6 shooting from 3.

The post Post Up: Trae Young Drops 36, Boogie Cousins Scores Season-High appeared first on SLAM.

Down 20 in the third quarter, the Clippers rallied back to steal a dub in Charlotte.

Lou Williams caught fire late in the third and fourth quarters, dropping 15 straight points. He finished with 31 points off the bench and a +18 plus/minus.

Just hours before he was traded to the Sixers, Tobias Harris added a game-high 34 points (and the game-winner) against his former team.

Celtics 103 (35-19), Cavs 96 (11-43)

With Kyrie Irving out with a hip strain, Jayson Tatum went off for a team-high 25 points (on 13 shots) with 7 boards and 3 blocks.

It wasn’t Boston’s prettiest win, but they’ve now managed to win 10 of their last 11.

Lakers 94 (27-27), Pacers 136 (35-19)

The 42-point loss was the worst defeat of LeBron James’ career. Nuff said.

The game was competitive in the first quarter, but Indiana went on a run in the second to open up a 23-point halftime lead. Things got out of hand in the second half as the Pacer lead eventually reached 46 points.

Bojan Bogdanovic finished with a game-high 24 points and a +37 plus/minus.

Pistons 105 (24-29), Knicks 92 (10-43)

Detroit never trailed during the game, but never really was able to pull away with a commanding lead.

Blake Griffin finished with a game-high 29 points with 8 assists, 5 boards and a +24 plus/minus.

New York has now lost a miserable 14 straight.

Raptors 119 (39-16), Sixers 107 (34-20)

The game was marred by poor officiating, but Toronto once again looked like the superior team.

Kawhi Leonard scored a team-high 24 points (on 11 shots) with 7 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals. Serge Ibaka (20 and 10) double-doubled for the seventh straight game and finished with a game-high +24 plus/minus.

Wolves 106 (25-28), Grizzlies 108 (22-33)

With Marc Gasol sitting out due to a possible trade, Mike Conley went off for a team-high 25 points with 9 dimes, 3 steals and a +20 plus/minus.

With just nine players available, Memphis jumped out to a 19-point lead during the first quarter, only to see their lead dwindle to 1 in the second. The rest of the way was an up-and-down battle, but the Grizz were able to hold on.

Magic 122 (22-32), Thunder 132 (34-19)

OKC rallied back from a 12-point deficit in the third to take a 14-point lead of their own in the fourth.

Russell Westbrook had his seventh (!!) consecutive triple-double with 16 points, 16 assists and 15 boards.

Paul George put up a game-high 39 points with 8 boards and 3 steals.

Heat 118 (25-27), Blazers 108 (32-21)

Coming off of a three-game home losing streak, the Heat picked up a huge win in Portland.

Dwyane Wade had 22 points, 9 boards and 3 assists off the bench. Hassan Whiteside dropped a team-high 28 points (11-12 FG) with 11 boards, 4 steals and a +16 plus/minus.

D-Wade's midrange package is a thing of beauty (via @MiamiHEAT) https://t.co/mN5FieoiSB

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) February 6, 2019

The post Post Up: Heat Bounce Back With Crucial Victory in Portland appeared first on SLAM.

Indiana and Chicago played a wild game that just had to end in a crazy way. Victor Oladipo secured an inbounds that was possibly a backcourt violation, but the refs didn’t call it, and he stepped up to bank home the game-winner with .3 seconds left. Oladipo finished with 36 points.

VICTOR OLADIPO GAME-WINNER (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/62JgkB9wpp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 5, 2019

Jazz 117 (19-20), Cavaliers 91 (8-31)

Utah trailed 49-48 at halftime but outscored Cleveland 69-42 in the second half to grab the road win. Eight Jazz players scored in double digits, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 28 points.

#TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/3HDfEv1RFG

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 5, 2019

Mavericks 93 (18-20), Celtics 114 (23-15)

Boston led this one from start to finish as they were paced by Gordon Hayward’s near triple-double (16 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists). Luka Doncic had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Mavs.

Nothing but respect for @swish41 https://t.co/nu3zspt5r9

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 5, 2019

Wizards 109 (15-24), Heat 115 (19-18)

Miami enjoyed a monster effort from big man Hassan Whiteside, who contributed 21 points and 18 rebounds in the win. Bradley Beal dropped 33 points in the loss.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1081371800125272064

Nets 109 (19-21), Grizzlies 100 (18-20)

Brooklyn was led on the road by D’Angelo Russell (23 points, 10 assists) and DeMarre Carroll (20 points, five rebounds). Mike Conley scored 31 points for the Grizzlies.

CAN'T KEEP THE SCRUFF RIDER DOWN. pic.twitter.com/lS49E0PZS1

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 5, 2019

Magic 103 (17-21), Timberwolves 120 (18-21)

Minnesota took control in the second half thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 29 points and 15 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic put in 22 points for the Magic.

*Rick James voice*

CHARLIE MURPHY… what did the five fingers say to the ball?

SLAP!!! pic.twitter.com/09GewEuvOj

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 5, 2019

Hawks 112 (11-27), Bucks 144 (27-10)

Milwaukee outscored Atlanta 43-14 in the first quarter and just piled it on throughout the game. Eight Bucks scored in double digits, led by Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon each with 19 points.

Gimme that SHOT!! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Kzje05ZqTZ

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 5, 2019

Clippers 121 (22-16), Suns 111 (9-31)

L.A. got off to a hot start with 38 first-quarter points and didn’t let up. They were led in scoring by Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams, both of whom dropped 21 points. Devin Booker had 23 points in the loss.

GALLO TREZZ

| https://t.co/OF2GDMPCuv pic.twitter.com/3nkxrLOdwe

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 5, 2019

Knicks 119 (9-29), Lakers 112 (21-17)

New York snapped an eight-game losing streak thanks to a 33-point fourth quarter that held off L.A. for good. Tim Hardaway Jr. (22 points, six rebounds) and Enes Kanter (16 points, 15 rebounds) helped the Knicks to the win.

Put it @KevKnox pic.twitter.com/lodyzJYrDm

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 5, 2019

Thunder 111 (25-13), Blazers 109 (22-17)

Portland climbed back late in the fourth quarter, pulling within two points with under a minute left, but the Thunder managed to steal the road win. Paul George (37 points) and Russell Westbrook (31 points) put on a show.

PG to KIWI

VOTE for these guys

// https://t.co/Kx43zIm0fh
// https://t.co/zRCS018VwE pic.twitter.com/6SGLmM3o6A

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 5, 2019

RELATED:
Victor Oladipo Drops ‘Connected’ feat. PnB Rock

The post Post Up: Victor Oladipo Banks Game-Winner in Chicago 💰 appeared first on SLAM.

Langston Galloway and Spencer Dinwiddie have proven to be the most consistent this season when it comes to rocking customs and both showed out with their latest pieces. Galloway went with a Christmas theme as his design featured both Frosty the Snowman from the 1969 animated film and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from the 1948 classic. Dinwiddie went with a more modern approach as he rocked a Black Panther/Thanos number of his K8IROS Kronos.

Galloway and Dinwiddie weren’t the only ones flexing their custom might. Karl-Anthony Towns paid homage to Prince and “Purple Rain” with his Nike Hyperdunk X and Heat’s towering duo of Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo served up another pair of Miami-themed versions of the Air Jordan XIV Retro and Nike LeBron 12, respectively.

On the topic of Miami and LeBrons, Lauri Markkanen continued his LeBron parade with the grail-worthy “Miami Nights” Nike LeBron 8 V/2 Low. Over his last several games, Markkanen has made it abundantly clear that his ‘Bron sneaker collection is one of the best in the League. But Markkanen is going to have to keep it up if he wants to contend with Montrezl Harrell, who also went the LeBron route and wore a pair of the Nike LeBron 12 Low “LeBronald Palmer” in addition to the SneakersnStuff x Reebok Question “15 Stars” which released back in 2014.

And if that wasn’t enough, Kobe fans were treated to Tobias Harris’ Nike Zoom Kobe V “Lower Merion,” Trey Lyles’ Nike Zoom Kobe VI “Grinch,” DeMar Derozan’s Nike Zoom Kobe 1 FTB and De’Aaron Fox’s Nike Kobe 9 Elite “Christmas.”

For all these and more, make sure to peep our latest NBA kicks recap below.

Photos via Getty Images

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

After posting 22 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds, Ben Simmons joined Grant Hill as the youngest player in NBA history with that stat line (and zero turnovers) in Sunday’s win against the Cavs at Quicken Loans Arena. Joel Embiid scored 24 points and Jimmy Butler had 19 after missing two games with a strained groin.

22 points. 14 dimes. 11 boards.

Ben Simmons went to WORK in Cleveland! (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/NKpbf6D4LH

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 16, 2018

Nets 144 (13-18) Hawks 127 (6-23)

Brooklyn scored a season-high 144 points as D’Angelo Russell led the way with 32 points in a point guard duel with Trae Young. The Hawks cut the Nets’ 21-point lead to two, but Brooklyn went on an 11-5 run in the second half. Russell gets to go at his former team as the Lakers visit Barclays Center Tuesday.

Pacers 110 (20-10), Knicks 99 (9-22)

Victor Oladipo scored 26 points in the win over the New York. Myles Turner was the Pacers’ second-leading scorer with 24 points. Indiana had a three-point lead at the half but they extended the lead to seven in the second half.

Wizards 128 (12-18), Lakers 110 (18-12)

Despite everything that’s been said about John Wall and the Wizards in the media as of late, Wall made it sure to be known that he can still get buckets with the best of them.

He had a season-high 40 points, joining Gilbert Arenas as the only player in Wizards/Bullets history with multiple games of 40-plus points and 10-plus assists (he finished with 14 dimes.)

The Lakers looked every bit of a team that played a back-to-back and struggled to get into a groove during the whole game. LeBron James had a season-low 13 points in the loss.

John Wall dropped a season-high 40 points tonight in D.C. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/N9gux3ta1D

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 17, 2018

Kings 120 (16-13), Mavericks 113 (15-13)

De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield combined for 56 points as the Kings led the entire second half. Dirk Nowitzki also made his home debut after missing 26 games while recovering from ankle surgery. He scored three points in just eight minutes of play.

Swipa. #WhatYo1sLookLike (via @SacramentoKings) https://t.co/qp7j76dQUf

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 17, 2018

Heat 102 (13-16), Pelicans 96 (15-16)

Dwyane Wade (19 points) had a tear-drop with under a minute to go to extend the Heat’s lead to eight in The Big Easy. Josh Richardson led all scorers with 22 points and Hassan Whiteside had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Davis had a double-double of his own with 27 points and 12 rebounds.

Dwyane Wade still making big plays in crunch time. (via @MiamiHEAT) https://t.co/0HSh3WqH9S

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 17, 2018

Nuggets 95 (20-9), Raptors 86 (23-9)

Four Nuggets starters finished in double digits as Nikola Jokic was the leading scorer with 26 points. Jamal Murray had 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets went on a 23-2 run in the second half and shot 42 percent from the field at home. Kawhi Leonard had with 29 points and 14 rebounds.

The post Post Up: John Wall Goes Off for 40 Against the Lakers in D.C. appeared first on SLAM.

It was an ugly game for both teams, but the Pacers were able to outlast Chicago during the final minutes.

Myles Turner led the way for Indy, finishing with 18 points, 11 boards and 5 blocks.

After dropping their seventh game in a row, Chicago has tied the Nets for the League’s longest active losing streak.

Magic 105 (12-12), Heat 90 (9-14)

Miami had a four-point lead heading in to halftime, but they completely choked in the third quarter, getting outscored 30-12.

To add to chaos in Miami, Hassan Whiteside left the bench before the game finished and headed to the locker room. He was unavailable for comment after the game.

Aaron Gordon had 20 points, 13 boards and 5 dimes while Nik Vucevic had 19 and 10 to lead Orlando.

.@Double0AG combining power and finesse (via @OrlandoMagic) https://t.co/BCg3IVa6aY

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 5, 2018

Blazers 102 (13-11), Mavs 111 (12-10)

Dallas opened up a 14-point lead after the first quarter and maintained a double-digit lead until the Blazers rallied late in the fourth.

But the Mavs have 19-year-old Luka Doncic who lives for clutch moments. With 59 seconds remaining, El Matador drilled a step-back dagger trey to put the game out of reach.

Doncic finished with 21 points and 9 boards, and the Rookie of the Year award would be his if the season ended today.

Dallas has now won eight straight games at home.

Luka once again proving that ICE runs through his veins (via @dallasmavs) pic.twitter.com/xZ0PWlEhTt

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 5, 2018

Kings 122 (21-11), Suns 103 (4-20)

After the first quarter, Kings had a 36-9 lead.

During the second quarter, Sacramento led by 35 points.

It was certainly a game to forget for the Suns, who got embarrassed in front of their home crowd.

De’Aaron Fox had 16 points, 7 dimes and one nasty Shammgod during the second half.

Swipa with the pristine Shammgod (via @SacramentoKings) https://t.co/yMIRt59N2g

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 5, 2018

Spurs 105 (11-13), Jazz 139 (12-13)

Maybe it’s a coincidence, but on the night of Kyle Korver’s return to SLC, the Jazz set a franchise record with 20 made threes.

Korver himself contributed 3 treys in just 15 minutes of action.

The Jazz outscored the Spurs by 14 in the first quarter, and San Antonio just couldn’t stop the bleeding. The game quickly reached blowout status in the second half, as the Jazz eventually led by as much as 37 points.

HE'S BACK! Kyle Korver checks-in wearing a Jazz uniform in Salt Lake City for the first time since 2010 (via @utahjazz) https://t.co/nhgj6X6Bq4

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 5, 2018

The post Post Up: Luka Doncic’s Clutch Performance Thwarts Blazers Rally 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Kyle Kuzma (23 points) and LeBron James (22 points) were the Lakers’ leading scorers as the pair sat the fourth quarter in Sunday’s rout at home. Micheal Beasley, who’s been inserted into the rotation again, scored a season-high 14 points. Devin Booker left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.

Never gets old. (via @Lakers) pic.twitter.com/2Zj8txTzI4

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 2, 2018

Pelicans 119 (11-12), Hornets 109 (11-11)

Anthony Davis feasted in Charlotte with a near triple-double: 36 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists. Jrue Holiday chipped in 19 points and eight dimes as well, and Julius Randle dropped 13 points off the bench.

3⃣6⃣, 1⃣9⃣ & 8⃣

Anthony Davis COOKED in Charlotte. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/SnpwV8rCL9

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 3, 2018

Sixers 103 (17-8), Grizzlies 95 (13-9)

Every time they step on the floor, the Sixers are looking like one of the top favorites in the East with the addition of Jimmy Butler. Butler was the second-leading scorer with 21 points behind JJ Redick’s 24 in the home win. Ben Simmons (19 points, 12 rebounds) and Joel Embiid (15 points, 14 rebounds) posted double-doubles, respectively.

That’s toughhhhhhh, Jimmy. (via @sixers) https://t.co/bEjaUYIk6L

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 3, 2018

Heat 102 (9-13), Jazz 100 (11-13)

Late in the game with the game tied at 100, Dwyane Wade knocked down two free throws to give the Heat the two-point lead at American Airlines Arena. Hassan Whiteside had 23 points and 20 boards. Ricky Rubio was Utah’s leading scorer with 23.

Spurs 131 (11-12), Blazers 118 (13-10)

DeMar DeRozan erupted for a season-high 36 points in San Antonio, dissecting the Blazers’ defense in the mid-range area. LaMarcus Aldridge (29 points) and Rudy Gay (18 points) were the two other starters in double figures.

DeMar in the mid-range … yeah, that’s a bucket. So smooth. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/ytysq0p57w

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 3, 2018

Mavericks 114 (11-10), Clippers 110 (15-7)

Dennis Smith Jr., who lost a tooth in the first half, made a huge block on Tobias Harris in the fourth quarter. Harrison Barnes led all scorers with 30 and JJ Barea was huge off the bench to contribute 24 points.

Dennis Smith Jr with the block! Peep Luka’s reaction though. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/SlS64LB2j1

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) December 3, 2018

The post Post Up: DeMar DeRozan Scores 36 Points Against the Blazers appeared first on SLAM.

According to police reports obtained by WMEN 640 AM’s Andy Slater, Whiteside purchased the $50,000 gun along with a rifle bag, ammunition and silencer in Miami on July 5.

The rifle and ammunition were later recovered on July 23 in a stolen vehicle in North Miami. In a statement released on Thursday, Whiteside admitted that he should have better secured the gun.

“I have a license for the gun that was stolen from me over the summer,” Whiteside said. “I should have secured it better and I’m glad it was recovered.

“It won’t happen again. It is now locked in a safe and I only use it at the gun range.”

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The post Hassan Whiteside’s $50K Assault Rifle Was Stolen From His Unlocked Car appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve seen Montrezl Harrell step out recently in a variety of Reeboks and And 1s, but Trezz went hard with the customs tonight as he donned two fire Air Jordan creations. Working with artist All Shoes Matter, went next level as he took the floor in a pair of “Fear” Vs which were customized to all-black with a flame effect on the midsole, a light-up air bubble and – at least to our knowledge – the first ever sneaker to hit the NBA hardwood with a working LCD display on the tongue featuring the music video of Tupac’s “To Live and Die in L.A.” Trezz then followed that up with a Superman version of the Air Jordan III.

Miami’s Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo both rocked customs that tied back to the Heat’s City uniforms with Whiteside donning the Nike LeBron 12 while Adebayo went with an Air Jordan XI Retro “Space Jam” which featured a “Miami Vice” theme and the one of the marquee vehicles from the show, an 0ff-white Ferrari Testarossa.

Speaking of Off-White, Willie Cauley-Stein broke out his Off-White x Nike React Hyperdunk 2017s and the upcoming Nike Air Fear of God 1 was spotted on the feet of the Warriors’ Alfonzo McKinnie.

Make sure to peep all the aforementioned kicks along with Spencer Dinwiddie’s Prince tribute, Mohammed Bamba rocking Under Armour’s latest model, the M-Tag, and Klay Thompson’s “Veteran’s Day” Anta KT4s in our latest gallery below.

Photos via Getty Images

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

The Miami Heat big man recorded 29 points, 20 rebounds and 9 blocks (8 in the first half alone!) in a 95-88 win over San Antonio. Peep the highlights below:

We see you, Hassan!

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The post Hassan Whiteside Posts 29 Points, 20 Rebounds and 9 Blocks in Win 😳 appeared first on SLAM.

Once LeBron James put on the headband, you knew the game was going to be different. James helped the Lakers fend off the Wolves’ late comeback — led by Derrick Rose‘s two clutch buckets — finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Rose had 31 points and came up huge down the stretch, but ultimately fell just short.

LeBron. James. (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/SEsz5bmpCa

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 8, 2018

Raptors 114 (11-1), Kings 105 (6-5)

Kawhi Leonard returned from his ankle injury in style. He led Toronto with 25 points and added 11 rebounds. Serge Ibaka continues to build on a career season, putting in 14 points and 14 rebounds as well. Willie Cauley-Stein and Buddy Hield each had 24 points in the loss, but it was an encouraging showing from the Kings’ young core.

It's so fun to have Kawhi back (via @Raptors) https://t.co/cpEWQPL2LL

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 8, 2018

76ers 100 (7-5), Pacers 94 (7-5)

The Pacers wouldn’t go away in this battle of top Eastern Conference teams, but the 76ers were able to hold off their comeback attempts. Joel Embiid (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Ben Simmons (16 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) led their team to the win. Victor Oladipo’s 36-point effort came up just short despite 24 first-half points.

7'0" 6'10" https://t.co/Yt2wQy3X6S

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 8, 2018

Mavericks 102 (3-8), Jazz 117 (5-6)

Donovan Mitchell had been dealing with a hamstring injury over the last couple of games, but he made the most of his return, dunking anything and everything. He notched 23 points along with seven assists and five rebounds. Rookie Luka Doncic scored 24 points for Dallas.

This Donovan Mitchell dunk in those jerseys (via @utahjazz) https://t.co/Yah2KSguc8

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 8, 2018

Pistons 103 (5-5), Magic 96 (4-7)

The Pistons’ frontcourt duo of Blake Griffin (20 points, five rebounds) and Andre Drummond (23 points, 19 rebounds) was the difference in Orlando. Evan Fournier continued a hot stretch of play with 27 points in 31 minutes.

Blake dropped 'em on the pick, then got the poster dunk. He's a monster this year (via @DetroitPistons) pic.twitter.com/L10eYdv4vR

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 8, 2018

Knicks 112 (4-8), Hawks 107 (3-8)

The Knicks and Hawks played neck and neck for the majority of the game, each side unable to pull away easily. But Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 34 points paced New York to the win against his former team. Omari Spellman led Atlanta in scoring with 18 points.

We got a man down thanks to Allonzo Trier (via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/i2L9iLxv0c

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 8, 2018

Spurs 88 (6-4), Heat 95 (5-5)

Hassan Whiteside made his presence felt in Miami. The big man registered eight blocks in the first half alone; he eventually finished with nine blocks, along with a double-double (29 points, 20 rebounds). Patty Mills dropped 20 points off the bench for San Antonio.

EIGHT blocks for Hassan Whiteside at *halftime*. He's got a triple-double in sight with 18 points and 14 rebounds already (via @MiamiHEAT) https://t.co/oYq7NVOWzW

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 8, 2018

Nuggets 87 (9-2), Grizzlies 89 (6-4)

Nikola Jokic didn’t attempt a single field goal until the last shot of the game, a three-pointer for the win, but he missed. The loss was only Denver’s second on the season. Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. impressed for Memphis, notching 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Can't stop @jarenjacksonjr. Sorry, not sorry. pic.twitter.com/29qT3GMuao

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) November 8, 2018

Bulls 98 (3-9), Pelicans 107 (5-6)

There is no stop for Anthony Davis. The big man posted 32 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists on the night. Teammate Jrue Holiday got close to a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Zach LaVine had 22 points in the loss.

AD makes it look so easy! #DoItBig pic.twitter.com/pTHPq39yJA

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 8, 2018

Thunder 95 (6-4), Cavaliers 86 (1-10)

Dennis Schroder stepped up huge in the absence of Russell Westbrook, posting 28 points and seven rebounds in the win. Collin Sexton got his first start of the season and of his career, registering 15 points.

Terrance Ferguson claiming souls out here (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/ToReQR42fd

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 8, 2018

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The post Post Up: Headband LeBron James Leads Lakers to Close Win appeared first on SLAM.

Shooters shoot, right? Klay Thompson entered Monday night with just five 3-pointers made through the first seven games of the season, but he wasn’t afraid to unload the clip early and often in Chicago as he sank six in the first quarter. Thompson’s 10 3’s in the first half tied an NBA record for 3’s as he led the Warriors to a franchise-high 92 points in one half. It didn’t take long in the second half for Thompson to eclipse teammate Steph Curry’s single-game shooting record as he hit his 14th 3 with 4:53 to go in the third quarter. He checked out less than a minute later with 52 points in 27 minutes.

“COUNT IT UP, COUNT IT.”

Here’s all 1⃣4⃣ of Klay’s record-breaking 3-pointers. (via @SportsCenter) https://t.co/MRYb0F6Il4

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

Trail Blazers 103 (4-2), Pacers 93 (4-3)

No Blazer scored more than 17 points as a collective scoring effort in the second half led Portland to a comeback win over Indiana. CJ McCollum and Zach Collins each scored 17 while Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 21 for the Pacers.

Nuggets 116 (5-1), Pelicans 111 (4-2)

Nikola Jokic didn’t score a lot, but he didn’t need to in order to lead Denver to the W as the big man racked up 10 assists, nine rebounds and two blocks to go with his 12 points. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris took care of the scoring bulk as the backcourt mates each scored 23 and led Denver’s 64-point second half outing.

Anthony Davis didn’t play as Julius Randle scored a team-high 24 points off the bench.

Knicks 115 (2-5), Nets 96 (2-5)

Knicks coach David Fizdale undoubtedly raised a few eyebrows when he elected to move Enes Kanter and Trey Burke to the bench for the second-consecutive game, but their replacements shined as Frank Ntilikina had 16 points, five rebounds and four dimes and Mitchell Robinson had 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a game-high 25 points as the Knicks re-claimed the crown as New York’s best team.

Shabazz Napier had 12 points and was the only Net with a positive plus-minus as he turned in 19 minutes off the pine.

Hawks 92 (2-4), 76ers 113 (4-3)

The Sixers’ young core shined as Ben Simmons stuffed the box score with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine dimes and Markelle Fultz scored a season-high 16 points and dropped seven dimes.

Y’all thought Markelle was finished?

Lol. (via @sixers) https://t.co/vA9uFyAjJD

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1057083879151034370

Raptors 109 (6-1), Bucks 124 (7-0)

Giannis Antetoknounmpo had to sit out due to the NBA’s concussion protocol, but his squad was still able to leave the night undefeated as eight players scored at least eight points on the night. Ersan Illyasova had a team-best 19 points and 11 boards.

Toronto was without its star player, Kawhi Leonard, too, as it suffered its first long of the season despite 30 points and nine rebounds from Serge Ibaka.

Lakers 120 (2-5), Timberwolves 124 (3-4)

The Lakers received a boost as Brandon Ingram scored 24 points in 9-for-18 shooting in his return from suspension, but a lack of consistent defense cost Los Angeles another win as Jimmy Butler sank a dagger 3-pointer with 18 seconds to go to cap off a 32-point night. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points and 16 points for the Timberwolves.

LeBron  James continued to shine in purple and gold, racking up 29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.

LeBron throwing lobs to JaVale on the reg—2018 is wild. (via @nba) pic.twitter.com/jQfBkedYcp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

“YOU CAN’T WIN WITHOUT ME.”

Jimmy Butler is COLD-BLOODED. (via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/n3eK8BhUZT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 30, 2018

Kings 123 (4-3), Heat 113 (3-3)

There were plenty of buckets to go around for the fellas in purple as Willie Cauley-Stein (26 points), De’Aaron Fox (20) and Buddy Hield (23) each clocked out with at least 20 points apiece as the Kings shot 46.2 percent from behind the arc.

Josh Richardson continued to shine for Miami as he scored a game-high 31 points, but his supporting cast wasn’t able to keep up with Sacramento’s sharp night on offense. Hassan Whiteside racked up 16 points and 24 rebounds in 29 minutes.

Spurs 113 (4-2), Mavericks 108 (2-5)

Luka Doncic dropped a career-high 31 points, but three straight overtime buckets from DeMar DeRozan (34 points, nine assists, six rebounds, three steals) spoiled the rising star’s night.

Rudy Gay stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 11 rebounds and six steals to help seal the victory for San Antonio.

Dennis Smith Jr. had 22 points and DeAndre Jordan racked up 18 rebounds and eight points in the loss.

The post Post Up: Klay Thompson Hits NBA-Record 14 3’s in 52-Point Outing 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

Steph Curry made it his mission to dismantle Washington from beyond the arc, dropping 11 threes and notching 51 points, just short of his career high of 54 points. Curry even went with the Michael Jordan shrug at one point during the game. Kevin Durant added 30 points for good measure.

Like Mike (via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/w32uxaX1ja

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

Mavericks 104 (2-2), Hawks 111 (2-2)

The future of the NBA squared off in Atlanta with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks taking on Trae Young and the Hawks. Doncic scored more points (21) than Young (17), but the Hawks came out on top, thanks to Young’s clutch play down the stretch. Kent Bazemore also had a career-high 32 points in the win.

Trae Young got moves (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/MHJCUXOKNp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

76ers 108 (2-3), Bucks 123 (4-0)

Ben Simmons posted a triple-double in his return to the lineup but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bucks. Joel Embiid put in 30 points and 19 rebounds as well. Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double of his own, registering 32 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists in an absolute clinic.

That Giannis hammer is so beautiful (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/zo5zn6cYLj

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

Lakers 131 (1-3), Suns 113 (1-3)

The Lakers finally got their elusive first win of the season behind 23 points from Lance Stephenson and 19 points, 10 assists from LeBron James. Devin Booker (23 points) left the game late due to a strained left hamstring. Rookie Deandre Ayton looked strong with a 22-point, 11-rebound effort.

Lance to Lonzo off backboard … showtime (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/6hb0QnxYnX

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

Nets 102 (2-2), Cavaliers 86 (0-4)

A balanced attack from Brooklyn, led by D’Angelo Russell’s 18 points and eight rebounds, made easy work of the Cavs in Cleveland. Three-pointers set the Nets ahead, converting at a 41.2 percent clip; the Cavs, however, converted at a paltry 16.7 percent, dooming their offense.

A better look at that @CarisLeVert DIME from the first quarter https://t.co/dUffZyC5Ji

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 24, 2018

Knicks 87 (1-4), Heat 110 (2-2)

Miami turned up the heat in the second half, never letting up on their lead en route to an easy win. The Heat shot incredibly well (47.6 percent from the field) and were led by Hassan Whiteside’s 22 points. After the game, long-time friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh met up for some laughs.

6 seasons as teammates
2 rings together
And a relationship that'll always go beyond basketball @DwyaneWade @chrisbosh pic.twitter.com/AaruwLXxhp

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

Timberwolves 105 (2-3), Raptors 112 (5-0)

Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors continued their undefeated start to the season with a close win over the Wolves. Leonard’s 35 points dominated Minnesota while Kyle Lowry dropped 10 dimes on the night as well. Jimmy Butler scored 23 points in the loss.

Kawhi really stole the ball without looking at it … he really is a basketball robot (via @Raptors) https://t.co/hBLCQ4pnfw

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

Hornets 110 (2-3), Bulls 112 (1-3)

It was the Zach LaVine show in Chicago, with the guard dropping 32 points, hitting the game-winning free throws and throwing down a hammer two-handed dunk. Kemba Walker (23 points) did what he could, but Charlotte couldn’t close out the game.

Zach LaVine with the cross and BIG finish (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/UpiNEr9OcG

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

Jazz 100 (2-2), Rockets 89 (1-3)

In a battle of Western Conference heavyweights, Donovan Mitchell was the difference. The second-year guard dominated the Houston defense, dropping 38 points and seven assists. James Harden (29 points) and Carmelo Anthony (22 points) put in a strong showing for the Rockets, who dropped to 1-3 on the season.

VIDEO GAME MODE https://t.co/qdmMuJiMhp

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 25, 2018

Pacers 116 (3-2), Spurs 96 (2-2)

Seven Pacers hit double-digits, including four players off the bench. Victor Oladipo led the team with 21 points. Indiana as a whole shot a blistering 53.1 percent from beyond the arc (compared to just 31.6 percent for San Antonio). DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 18 points.

Baby Sabonis with the poster (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/ilJXJ6nN3b

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

Grizzlies 92 (2-2), Kings 97 (2-3)

Sacramento’s young backcourt led the way in this one, with Buddy Hield (23 points, seven rebounds) and De’Aaron Fox (21 points, eight rebounds and six assists) putting on a show. Mike Conley scored 27 points for Memphis in the loss.

"IF YOU DON’T LIKE THAT, YOU DON’T LIKE NBA BASKETBALL" Fox with the HUGE jam (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/JLorTpPagm

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) October 25, 2018

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On Sunday night, Dwyane Wade announced that he will be returning to the Miami Heat for one final season before retiring.

Here’s how the NBA brotherhood reacted to the news on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnz_vdABxmj/?hl=en&taken-by=jimmybutler

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnz0fOKnBiV/?hl=en&taken-by=waiters3

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnzq-B-hKrS/?hl=en&taken-by=hassanwhiteside

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzsJNinynl/?hl=en&taken-by=teamswish

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnzu6MeFKxY/?hl=en&taken-by=unclejeffgreen

Must watch video. Appreciate everything you’ve done for this game bro. It’s been a pleasure following your career. Neeed a signed pair in last game we play. #HallOfFamer https://t.co/tHd83y4AU3

— Devin Booker (@DevinBook) September 17, 2018

The Hall https://t.co/r2oAwyRaNg

— Shaun Livingston (@ShaunLivingston) September 17, 2018

He’s Back https://t.co/UrblXp9jiz

— Briante Weber (@Sir_deuce2) September 17, 2018

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The big fella is coming off a frustrating 2017-18 campaign, one marred by a knee injury and inconsistent playing time.

Heat's Hassan Whiteside looking forward to returning healthy this season https://t.co/HA2TeFm952

— Shandel Richardson (@ShandelRich) August 1, 2018

Whiteside, 29, reports that he recently had a trust-building chat with team president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra.

Per the Sun-Sentinel:

“I feel great,” Whiteside said, speaking on a conference call to promote an exhibition game in Africa. “I feel a lot better than I did during the season. I’m completely healed. I feel like my regular self again.”

Last week, Riley reconfirmed his trust in Whiteside, saying the organization still has confidence in him. The Heat have every intention of continuing forward with Whiteside, who is the team’s highest-paid player. He said he is confident his production and playing time will increase.

“We had a great talk,” Whiteside said. “I just think it’s trust on both sides. I think that’s the biggest thing … It was about a four-hour meeting. It was a lot about life. It was two hours basketball, two hours life. It was a good meeting.”

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The post Hassan Whiteside: ‘I Feel Like My Regular Self Again’ appeared first on SLAM.

Despite rumors to the contrary, and the big man’s frustration with his diminished role, Riley says Whiteside isn’t going anywhere for now.

Pat Riley: Waiters uncertain for camp; fences mended with Whiteside; Wade talks coming. https://t.co/iAnjcp6Y4H Heat president also discusses status of Ellington, Haslem, James Johnson, McGruder, Derrick Walton Jr.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) June 22, 2018

Riley pushed Whiteside and head coach Erik Spoelstra to settle their differences at season’s end.

Per the Sun-Sentinel:

Having spoken at season’s end of the need for an intervention between Whiteside and coach Erik Spoelstra, Riley said it is time to move on.

“Any time you lose in the first round, there’s a lot of emotion,” Riley said. “Whatever happened then was two months ago. You move on and you make the best of it. I think that’s where we are right now.”

He said Whiteside has not been offered in trades.

“I expect a lot of out Hassan, contrary to what people might think about us trading him,” he said. “We haven’t offered him to anybody, really, to be honest with you. So you go through an emotional period with a player and you deal with it and you come back and you work things out.”

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The post Pat Riley: Miami Not Shopping Hassan Whiteside appeared first on SLAM.

Whiteside’s play-by-play commentary included a not-so-subtle jab at his current employer, hinting that Heat coaches don’t allow him to shoot threes despite his ability to apparently make them.

Hassan Whiteside — "There's a difference between 'you can't shoot and you're not allowed’ [to shoot]" pic.twitter.com/vgQ9yiT3sJ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 23, 2018

“You don’t know I’ve got that jumper,” Whiteside says in the video.

“There’s a difference between you ‘can’t’ shoot and you’re ‘not allowed.’ “