For the older cousin of Houston Rockets guard Josh Christopher, Nicodemus, journaling has been a part of his routine ever since becoming the youngest strength and conditioning coach in the Power 5 with Tennessee at 23 years old. 

Having since founded his own wellness and lifestyle consulting agency while working with NBA athletes and C-suite executives, Christopher has been on a multi-year journey deciphering the effect of order and how journaling can lead to fulfillment. 

“Knowing that I’ve always had a love for helping people add value to their lives, I quickly came to realize that my role is to help people become the best version of themselves,” Christopher tells SLAM.

After seven years of research, self-reflection and scrawling 1,000s of pages of notes, Christopher now presents his first-ever book; Out Of Order.

Centered on the “7 Key Areas of Well-Being” Christopher leads the reader through 100-plus pages filled with contemplative questions and guided journaling exercises. However, the goal of achieving self-order isn’t awarded once you reach the back cover. Rather, the journey one takes throughout each chapter is the true takeaway. 

Garry and Nicodemus Christopher have held a passion for sports since a young age, but Nic knew early on that athletics wasn’t necessarily his gift. “But I appreciated the work ethic. I appreciated the skill and the talent behind the game,” he says.

Inseparable since their youth, the Christopher brothers both attended Baylor University with their eyes set on impacting the world through the healthcare industry. Garry was in school to become a neurologist while his younger brother Nic was eyeing a career as an anesthesiologist. Yet at the start of Nic’s junior year, his older brother came home and hung up the scrubs for resistance bands and gym shorts. 

“I’ll never forget, my brother came back to our apartment. And he said, ‘Bro, I don’t want to be a doctor anymore. I want to be a strength and conditioning coach.’ And I’m just like, You want to be a what?” Christopher remembers. 

“For both of us, we thought being doctors was the only vehicle of change to help people change their lives and to save lives. But you look up 20-plus years later, we realize now that there are so many different vehicles that you can use to impact and change lives. So that was our defining moment for us. And we haven’t looked back ever since.”

While Garry currently resides as the Director of Performance for TCU, Nic’s decade-long journey leading the weight room has taken him from Purdue to Tennessee to Cal and Missouri. 

Spending thousands of hours surrounded by plates, machines and student-athletes, the close-knit relationship between trainers and players was one Christopher thrived in. Although, the connection wasn’t instantaneous. 

Nic describes the first and biggest mistake in his newfound career field as being too invested in the analytics of his profession. Obsessively tracking calorie counts, reps and devising a different number of sets for each individual on the roster, Christopher realized he had neglected the young men he was empowered with uplifting.  

“I realized that I have a unique opportunity to meet these guys where they are in life. What you’re going through, I either was just going through or am going through it so we can just remove the veil and be transparent,” Christopher tells SLAM.

“I see the potential in you (them) to be a husband and a father. And once they knew that they could come to me on that type of time and have those types of conversations, when we got to the weight room and I’m like, ‘do four sets of six with a slow eccentric,’ it’s like ‘oh, I gotchu coach, it’s nothing.’”

Around 10 years ago Nic’s morning routine went something like this: wake up at 4:35 am, watch or read a devotional/sermon and then immediately journal his thoughts and experiences heading into the morning. 

The recurring routine and dedicated time with pen and paper quickly became his release. His everyday sounding board. And then, the swiftness of life sent him a hurdle.

While serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the Cal Berkley program, Nic’s grandmother—who lived in Arkansas—traveled to visit the family in LA. At the time, Nic was in the throws of the offseason, priding himself on being available at a moment’s notice for any member of the team. Knowing the best opportunity to catch his grandmother was that weekend, Nic instead stayed behind on campus fearing a player would inevitably hit him up to get into the gym. 

His grandmother passed away the following Monday.

“I’ve dealt with that regret for the longest time because I felt like I could have at least said goodbye or kissed her before she left, but I chose this profession. My identity was too caught up in what I was doing and it wasn’t based off of who I was created to be or who I was,” says Christopher.

Guilt and resentment for his decision permeated. But the experience additionally served as an informal wake-up call, harkening Christopher to the next purpose in his journey. 

“Life happens and it’s like an overflow of all these experiences and everything that had taken place,” Christopher tells SLAM. “And my cup was full to the point where I had to pour this somewhere. And it just came into my heart, write the book. I have to pour this stuff into these pages.”

After coming to the understanding that order was a prerequisite to peace, Christopher began analyzing completeness, wholeness and tranquility. For 40 days and 40 nights, he partook in the daily exercises that became the exoskeleton of the book. Coming out of the experience with a true understanding of what peace both looked and felt like, Nic began crafting the official beginnings of Out Of Order. 

“It was probably one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done in my life,” Christopher explains of writing the book. “Because of the introspection, the self-examination, the vulnerability that I had to have with myself, and then I had to present it to the world.”

The expedition towards holding a hardcover novel inscribed with his own name has been years in the making. And now that it’s here, he’s discovered the next throughline in his life that’s connecting him to his next purpose—helping others formulate chaos into fulfillment. 

Every chapter in Nic’s personal story has expanded his ability to add value to the lives of individuals. Whether that be Michael Porter Jr. in his lone season at Mizzou or leading pastors and Fortune 500 CEOs through exercises derived from the book, Christopher thrives in the space of wellbeing. 

The post Nicodemus Christopher’s New Book ‘Out of Order’ Looks to Impact the Youth appeared first on SLAM.

In Friday’s loss to Boston, Porter only had seven points and four boards in 25 minutes on 30 percent shooting. Porter held himself accountable and apologized to his team, and pledged to be better on his next outing. In last night’s win over Chicago, MPJ made good on his pledge. He finished with 31 points on 68.8 percent from the field. He hit six of nine threes and was +23 in his 24 minutes. 

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“That, in and of itself, is maturity,” head coach Mike Malone said. “That, in and of itself, is ownership.”

Porter cashed jumpers from all over the court and engaged on both sides of the ball in the Nuggets’ dominant win. The Nuggets moved to 9-4 on the season, good for the second seed in the Western Conference as of today. 

When the Denver Post asked MPJ about accountability and self-growth, he said, “You gotta grow. You can’t always blame other people. Sometimes, you’re the common denominator, so I’m always trying to see what I can do to grow.”

Porter is averaging 18.0 points, and 6.4 rebounds per game through twelve games played this season. If his look in the mirror continues to reap these kinds of rewards, those stats will only improve. His next opportunity to continue his excellent play will be Wednesday night against the New York Knicks. 

The post Michael Porter Jr. Says ‘You Gotta Grow’ After Dropping Season-High 31 Points appeared first on SLAM.

Porter Jr. has had a tough stretch of NBA seasons so far, as yet another lower-back injury caused Porter to miss out on yet another season of action. After just signing a five-year $207 million extension with the Nuggets the previous year, many had begun to question if Porter could stay healthy.

Coach Michael Malone recently commented on Porter and said his main hope is that the Missouri product “stays healthy and gets through the season.

“The one priority for Michael is to hope that he stays healthy and gets through the season,” Malone said. “If he does that offensively, we know how gifted he is. The guy can score from all over the place. He is such a threat and weapon on the offensive end of the floor.”

In Porter’s recent preseason outing versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, Porter seemed to be clicking offensively, dropping 12 points on 5-7 shooting from the field in just 14 minutes of action. When MPJ was questioned about where he feels physically, he said he feels “really good right now.”

“I feel really good right now. I feel just as good as I have since I’ve been in the League. Still a lot of things I want to improve on, get better on, but I feel like, for now, it’s going to be steps up. Keep going up, keep going up until I keep reaching those goals, helping my team win, things like that. I kind of figured out the back thing, Lord willing. I think I kind of figured that out. So, now I can just keep growing and growing. I spent a lot of my offseason just getting back on the floor. So now, to be back where I’m on the court, I just feel like I can grow from here.”

MPJ was also asked if his confidence was back.

“It doesn’t leave me. My confidence in my game doesn’t leave me. But confidence in movement, I’m still working through all that. But I’m good. I feel really good. My balance is getting there. It’s coming along. That’s the last thing, the last pop, the last bit of explosiveness is kind of what you wait on the most. But it is getting there, for sure. Every week, every month, it’s getting better and better.”

Seeing Porter back on the basketball court after dealing with such severe and nagging injuries is genuinely remarkable. Heading into this new NBA season, Porter will also be joined by another sensational talent in Jamal Murray, who the Nuggets missed last season due to injury. With those two back, the Denver Nuggets have a huge opportunity to make a deep playoff run and possibly even win the championship.

With the Nugget’s season set to tip off tonight against the Utah Jazz, their journey begins to see if they can achieve those goals.

The post Michael Porter Jr. Opens Up About His Confidence Within His Body and Game appeared first on SLAM.

His imminent return alongside Jamal Murray and back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic has made the Nuggets a threat to win the 2023 NBA Championship. However, Nuggets Coach Mike Malone still thinks Porter Jr. has room to improve. 

“I think if you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse,” Malone said. “I really feel that way. You never say the same, any of us. So for Michael, yes, he’s dealt with the injuries but understanding that for him, it’s a discipline within his offensive spacing. Get to the corner. Getting to the corner is not stopping above the break. He’s not a good; he’s a great corner three-point shooter. Well, have the discipline to get there every time.” 

Porter has averaged 14.1 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game over his four-year career. In his most productive season as a professional, the 2020-2021 campaign, Porter Jr averaged 19 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game on 54.2 percent shooting from the field and 44.5 percent shooting from the three-point line. 

Malone says the former lottery pick must also work on his off-ball awareness.

“Moving without the ball and spacing off the ball. He has the tendency, sometimes, to gravitate to the ball. Trust me, man, the ball is gonna find you. That’s the way we play.” 

Despite playing in 125 of 309 possible regular season games in his four-year career, MPJ earned a five-year contract extension last summer. The Nuggets will look for him to take another jump after he competed in only nine games last season before being sidelined by injury. 

The post Coach Mike Malone Hoping to See More ‘Discipline’ From Michael Porter Jr. appeared first on SLAM.

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

The back-to-back MVP and the Nuggets agreed to a five-year $264 million supermax contract extension. The Joker reportedly also has a player option worth $60 million for the 2027-28 season. The 27-year-old center has led the Nuggets to the playoffs each of the last four seasons, including a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2020.

This last season, Jokic led the Nuggets to a 48-34 record and a sixth-place finish in the Western Conference playoffs while Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. missed most if not all of the season due to respective knee and back injuries. The Joker averaged 26.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game on 57.5 percent shooting from the field. Jokic also led the League in player efficiency for the second year in a row.

“I would like it, of course, but it’s not something that I’m deciding,” Jokic said, per Sam Amick of The Athletic when asked about winning another MVP. “I think of course if it’s offered—if (the) offer is on the table—of course, I’m going to accept it because I really like the organization and really like the people who work here.”

Amick reported that Denver was expected to offer Jokic a five-year, $254 million extension that would make him the highest-paid player in the game. Assuming Murray comes back near his top form, Porter Jr. is healthy, and Jokic continues to play at a high level, the Nuggets could be a significant playoff threat next season.

The post Nikola Jokic Signs Richest Contract in NBA History appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 8, 2022

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

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 6, 2022

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

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 5, 2022

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

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 5, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 5, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 5, 2022

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

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 4, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2022

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

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) July 4, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

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

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) July 1, 2022

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

— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) July 1, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

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

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) June 30, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 30, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2022

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

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

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) June 30, 2022

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

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

Portis has early bird rights in Milwaukee.

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

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

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 28, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2022

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

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

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 28, 2022

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

Count Coach Doc Rivers amongst the masses, the 76ers coach advocated for his MVP candidate Joel Embiid to be the winner of the prestigious award.

“I don’t know if I could’ve done more than he did this year, play without the second-best player all year. Listen, his resume was great. I’m not taking anything away from Jokic either because he’s a hell of a player. I do think this whole analytic-drive society world is out of control at times with some of the measures that they use. Like, watch the dang game and decide is what I’ve always said.”

“But at the end of the day, if Joel had won, which I thought he should have, there would have been criticism that way if Giannis (Antetokounmpo) had won. Only one guy could win, unfortunately.”

Doc Rivers on the MVP race: “I do think this whole analytic-driven society, world is out of control at times with some of the measures that they use. Like, watch the dang game and decide is what I’ve always said.”

Full quote below. pic.twitter.com/3gWVQBvmAA

— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) May 10, 2022

The case for Jokic is that he put together a historically great season this season without Jamal Murray (torn ACL) and Michael Porter Jr. (lower back) by his side for most if not all of the regular season. Jokic finished the 2021-22 campaign, averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game on 58.3 percent shooting from the field. He also led the League in PER (32.8), win shares (15.2), box plus/mins (13.7), and value over replacement player (9.8).

The Joker also became the first player in NBA history to hit 2,000 points, 1,000 boards, and 500 dimes in a single season.

For Embiid, he led the Sixers (51-31) to a tie with the Bucks and Celtics for second best in the Eastern Conference while becoming the first center since Shaquille O’Neal to lead the League in scoring with 30.6 points per game. Embiid also finished fifth in rebounds (11.7) and played in a career-high 68 games this year. All without his All-Star partner in crime Ben Simmons.

Embiid has finished as the runner-up twice in a year now, both times to Jokic, who completed both seasons with historical numbers. Jokic becomes the first player since Russell Westbrook to win MVP with the sixth-best record in their conference. Brodie won the MVP after becoming the first player to average a triple-double since Oscar Robertson.

The post Doc Rivers on Joel Embiid’s MVP Snub: ‘Only One Guy Could Win, Unfortunately’ appeared first on SLAM.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for a second consecutive season, sources tell ESPN. A formal announcement is expected this week.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2022

The League will make a formal announcement sometime this week, according to Woj. The Joker became the 14th player in League history to win back-to-back MVPs and the first since Giannis Antetokounmpo did it in ’19 and ’20. Stephen Curry went back-to-back in ’15 and ’16.

Jokic put together a historically great season this season without Jamal Murray (torn ACL) and Michael Porter Jr. (lower back) by his side for most if not all of the regular season. Jokic finished the 2021-22 campaign, averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game on 58.3 percent shooting from the field. He also led the League in PER (32.8), win shares (15.2), box plus/mins (13.7), and value over replacement player (9.8).

The Joker also became the first player in NBA history to hit 2,000 points, 1,000 boards, and 500 dimes in a single season.

Denver posted a 48-34 record for the year, good for sixth in the Western Conference, with Jokic guiding the Nuggets’ sixth-ranked offense in the League.

The other finalists for the MVP were Giannis Antentokounmpo and Joel Embiid.

The post REPORT: Nikola Jokic Wins Second Straight MVP appeared first on SLAM.

While there’s been optimism all season that Denver could get one or both of these guys back for the playoffs, those hopes are starting to fade. 

As first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, Murray and Porter Jr. will both miss the final game of the regular season and are “unlikely” to return during the postseason. 

Despite being without these two key pieces for nearly the entire season, the Nuggets have played very well. Entering the final day of the regular season, they’re tied for the fifth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 48-33. 

Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has once again been spectacular this season, carrying Denver throughout the season as they played shorthanded.

Anytime Jokic is on the floor, Denver has a chance to win. As such, the Nuggets are a team nobody should want to play in the first round of the playoffs. 

The post Denver Nuggets Could Be Without Two Key Pieces In Playoffs appeared first on SLAM.

NBA HISTORY

(Stat via @NBABlackburn) pic.twitter.com/hXmrp1wgKs

— x – Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 8, 2022

Joker was serenaded with “M-V-P” chants after scoring a fourth-quarter bucket to become the first player in NBA history to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season. Jokic also became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to register at last 35 points and 12 rebounds in five straight games.

We liking the headband ? The Joker always has something up this sleeve.

(via @nuggets) pic.twitter.com/Ukl8VQbqae

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 8, 2022

The only other player who’s come close to accomplishing the same combination of stats was Wilt Chamberlain during the 1967-1968 campaign when he led the League in assists but came up eight points short of 2k. However, Wilt the Stilt won his third straight MVP that season. It remains to be seen if Jokic will. He’s in a tight race for the award with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.

“I mean, it’s cool,” Jokic said per NBA.com. “I like it. Hopefully, I can do it a couple of more times.”

To top off all the good news, the Nuggets (48-33) clinched their fourth straight playoff appearance after beating the Grizzlies, 122-109, led by Jokic’s 35 points, 16 rebounds, and six assist double-double performance. If they beat the Lakers on Sunday and the Jazz suffers two more losses against the Suns and Trail Blazers, the Nuggets can win the Northwest Division, their third divisional title since 2019.

Jokic has averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 boards, and 7.8 dimes per game this season while leading the Nuggets to a sixth-place finish in the always-packed Western Conference without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. by his side. When it comes to winning a second straight MVP award, Jokic says, ‘if that’s enough, it’s enough. If not, you cannot control that.”

Coach Michael Malone wasn’t so subtle with his compliments on the Nuggets’ franchise cornerstone.

“The MVP isn’t even a competition,” Malone said. “There’s other great players. I’m not saying they’re not great players. But what Nikola Jokic has done this year — with this team — everything we’ve had to go through is just incredible. He was good last year, and he’s even better this year.”

The Nuggets can still win the Northwest Division with a victory Sunday night against the Lakers and two losses by the Utah Jazz (48-32), who finish up against Phoenix (63-17) and Portland (27-53).

The post Nikola Jokic First to Hit 2k Points, 1K Rebounds, and 500 Assists appeared first on SLAM.

With that in mind, there’s optimism that Murray has the change to get back on the court this season as he recovers from an ACL injury. Over the past several weeks, he has made strides towards getting back on the floor, increasing the amount of work he’s been able to do on the court in practice and training. 

However, Murray’s official return to action might still take more time. 

As first reported by Mike Singer of The Denver Post, Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned over the weekend that Murray is “not close” to returning to the lineup. 

Denver is set to make the playoffs and could use Murray if the team wants to make a splash. One of the best players on the team, he’s an elite creator and scorer. 

The now 25-year-old was great last season, when he averaged 21.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds per contest. Murray also converted on 40.8% of his 6.6 attempts from deep through 48 games last season. 

If he’s able to come back this season, Denver will be dangerous in the playoffs. If not, the Nuggets might struggle to compete with other teams that have fully healthy rosters. 

The post Nuggets Coach Michael Malone Says Jamal Murray Is ‘Not Close’ To Returning appeared first on SLAM.

According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, Michael Porter Jr. will head to the Nuggets G-League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, to practice and scrimmage sometime this week.

Singer also reported that Porter recently underwent his first 1-on-1 contact drills since his initial injury.

Porter has been out for the Nuggets for most of the season since undergoing what was initially thought to be season-ending back surgery in November of 2021.

However, more recent reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski indicated that Porter and fellow superstar teammate Jamal Murray could both return to play for the Nuggets before the start of the playoffs, with Porter potentially coming back as early as mid-March.

Murray has been out since April of 2021 after suffering a torn ACL in a game against the Golden State Warriors.

Porter struggled to start the season before being removed from the team due to injury, averaging 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on 35.9% shooting and 20.8% shooting from three in the nine games he played in Denver this year. Those numbers are well below those he put up last season when he averaged 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game on 54.2% shooting and 44.5% shooting from distance.

Despite the absence of two of the Nuggets’ best players, Denver has had a strong season sitting sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 36-25.

The post REPORT: Micheal Porter Jr. to Scrimmage With Nuggets G-League Team appeared first on SLAM.

Per Amick, Porter is set to return by mid to late March. The Missouri product was thought to be done for the season after undergoing his third back surgery in November.

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., is progressing to be cleared for on-court contact within the next week, freeing a path for him to return to the lineup sometime in March, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Story: https://t.co/kGgAmFvgZs

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 27, 2022

The 25-year-old guard has been out since April 2021, when he tore the ACL in his left knee. At the time, Murray averaged a career-high 21.2 points per game on career-best 40.8 percent shooting from distance. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the target for Murray is sometime in March as well.

Denver could potentially get back both Porter and Jamal Murray in the next month. They have the potential to be an extremely dangerous team come playoff time if they can get healthy. In a very brief sample last year, those two, Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon were dominant together https://t.co/h2vNimwKEV

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 27, 2022

Denver has seemingly been optimistic about Murray and Porter coming back since early February when team president Tim Connely told Denver sports radio that both franchise cornerstones could return “in the not too distant future.”

On Wednesday, the Nuggets (36-25) will play the Trail Blazers (25-36). The return of Porter in the coming weeks could provide a big boost for a Nuggets team that’s struggled with injury but stayed afloat because of another MVP-quality season from reigning MVP Nikola Jukic.

The post REPORT: Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. On Track to Return By Playoffs appeared first on SLAM.

Denver Nuggets rookie Bones Hyland has been selected as an injury replacement for the NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 17, 2022

Mitchell has ruled out the game due to right-hand soreness, which caused him to miss last night’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls in a 125-118 loss.

Hyland becomes the second-consecutive Nuggets player to be named to the Rising Stars after Michael Porter Jr. and Facundo Campazzo’s appearance last year in Atlanta. Appearing in 46 games in three starts, the 21-year-old from VCU is averaging 8.8 points, 2.7 boards, and 2.0 assists on 18 minutes per game. Over his last 10, he’s upped his averages to 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.

The 26th overall pick in 2021 ranks third amongst rookies in free-throw percentage (88.5), third in total threes (79), and 13th in points per game. Against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 15, Bones dropped a career-high 27 points, 10 rebounds, and two dimes while shooting 6-for-10 from distance, becoming just the third Nuggets player ever to post 27+ points and 6+ threes off of the bench, joining Wilson Chandler and Will Barton.

Hyland joins head coach Gary Payton’s team alongside LaMelo Ball, Scottie Barnes, Ayo Dosunmu, Chris Duarte, Scoot Henderson, and Jaden McDaniels in this year’s new format, featuring four teams of seven players.

The 2022 Clorox Rising Stars team rosters pic.twitter.com/d8d4jjpQ9s

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) February 4, 2022

The 2022 Rising Stars game will kick off All-Star weekend on Friday night.

The post Bones Hyland Replaces Injured Davion Mitchell in Rising Stars Game appeared first on SLAM.

Some good news coming from #Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, on @AltitudeSR, on the status of both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., saying he thinks they will physically cleared to return “hopefully in the not too distant future.”

— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) February 11, 2022

When Murray makes his way back to the court, it’ll be the first time he’s played for the Nuggets since tearing his ACL last April. Porter hasn’t played since undergoing surgery on his lower back in November.

Murray averaged 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists per game before getting injured. Porter played nine games before going under the knife and averaged 9.9 points, 6.6 boards, and 1.9 dimes per game.

The Nuggets are 30-24 under the MVP-led play of Nikola Jokic, sitting at sixth place in the always competitive Western Conference.

The post Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Close to Return appeared first on SLAM.

The 26-year-old center being so overlooked has riled up Nuggets Coach Michael Malone. During his postgame press conference with media following the Nuggets’ 87-85 to the Clippers, the veteran coach didn’t hold back on the perceived Jokic slander.

“I think he is one of the more disrespected reigning MVPs that I can think of in terms of the attention,” Malone said per ESPN.

“But if you open up the dictionary, look up the word consistency, there’s going to be a picture of Nikola there. That’s going back to the bubble, that’s going back to a 72-game season last year, and this year we knew Jamal [Murray] was going to be out for an extended period. When you add a Michael Porter, when you add a P.J. Dozier to that [injured] list, it even becomes more incredible what he’s doing.”

As of Wednesday, Jokic is putting up 25.7 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. As far as analytics goes, Jokic holds a 112.4 offensive rating, 103.6 defensive rating and leads the League in player impact estimate. The Joker is also in the top 5 for usage, assist percentage, defensive rebound percentage, and rebound percentage.

Compared to last season when Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists on 56.6% shooting, Jokic holds even more responsibility with Murray, Porter, and Dozier out with injuries. Like no other time during his Nuggets tenure, how Jokic goes is how the Nugget will go. The Nuggets are currently sixth in the West with a 20-19 record.

A big reason Jokic hasn’t been in the MVP conversation with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Nuggets’ record. The last MVP to win without having a top-three record was 2017 MVP, Russell Westbrook. The former Thunder guard won it after averaging a triple-double, the first since Oscar Robertson did it during the 1961-1962 season but didn’t win the MVP after guiding the Cincinnati Royals to a 43-37 record.

“I mean, Nikola Jokic is not sexy,” Malone said. “He’s just not. There is nothing about Nikola — his wife might disagree. But if you are a true student of the game, a coach, someone that loves the game being played the right way, then you appreciate him at the level that he should be appreciated at.

— But if you appreciate passing, IQ, reading the game, just what he does every night from a scoring, rebounding, playmaking standpoint, and finally, I am starting to hear that he is getting a little more credit as a defender, and it is well deserved.”

The post Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic: ‘One of the More Disrespected Reigning MVPs That I Can Think Of’ appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: Nuggets guard Austin Rivers has entered health and safety protocols and is expected to miss several games, including tonight’s game vs. Orlando. Another loss to the Denver lineup, now without Rivers, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 1, 2021

Rivers initially signed with the organization back in April to bolster the teams’ back-court depth. He re-signed with the Nuggets in September, agreeing to a one-year $2.4 million deal. The Nuggets, meanwhile, haven’t seen typical production from Rivers as of late, with the 29-year-old playing a limited bench role, averaging 3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game while shooting 34.6 percent from the field.

Rivers absence is the latest health and safety protocol domino to fall, with LeBron James entering protocols yesterday before the Los Angeles Lakers matchup with the Sacramento Kings and League insider Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that Bones Hyland will join Rivers in health and safety protocols.

The removal of Rivers from the lineup for the foreseeable future only intensifies the Nuggets’ lack of bodies with P.J. Dozier suffering a torn ACL, Jamal Murray continuing to rehab his torn left ACL, and losing Michael Porter Jr. to a back surgery indefinitely.

The post REPORT: Austin Rivers Sidelined After Entering Health and Safety Protocols appeared first on SLAM.

Nuggets F Michael Porter Jr., will undergo a surgical procedure on his lower back and miss an indefinite period, his agent Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. Bartelstein says Porter’s expected to make a full recovery; timetable on return will come after surgery.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 29, 2021

According to his agent, Mark Bartelstein, the operation will happen Wednesday, and Porter is expected to make a full recovery. League insider Shams Charania has reported that his sources said that Porter would be out for the remainder of the season. The Nuggets are reportedly taking a “big picture approach to his health” as his five-year extension begins next season.

Sources: Denver forward Michael Porter Jr. is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to back surgery. Tough blow, but with Porter’s five-year extension kicking in next season, he and the Nuggets take big-picture approach to his health.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 29, 2021

Porter will be undergoing third back surgery since 2017 when he experienced a microdiscectomy procedure of the L3 and L4 spinal disks during his freshman season at Missouri. His second came during his rookie season in 2018 when he had a “breakthrough surgery” to help alleviate his back issues.

The Nuggets are currently 9-10 and have been dealing with an injury bug with Nikola Jokic dealing with a wrist injury, Jamal Murray still rehabbing from his knee injury, and P.J. Dozier out for the season with a torn ACL.

Losers in their last six outings, the Nuggets look to right the ship Monday against the Miami Heat (13-7).

The post REPORT: Michael Porter Jr. Set For Season-Ending Lower Back Surgery appeared first on SLAM.

Denver Nuggets guard P.J. Dozier is feared to have suffered an ACL tear to his left knee, sources tell ESPN. More evaluation needs to be done today, but initial imaging late Tuesday in Portland suggested a possible end to his season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 24, 2021

Dozier only played four minutes before getting his legs tangled up with Cody Zeller’s while attempting a layup in the first quarter. He finished the night with two points and two rebounds.

another Nuggets injury, Dozier just tore his ACL pic.twitter.com/bfkwMM4Xkz

— Ted Buddy (@TedBuddy8) November 24, 2021

This injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Denver Nuggets, a team without Jamal Murray, who hasn’t suited up this season dealing with his own knee issues. Michael Porter Jr.’s back injury suffered a few weeks ago is still a significant topic of concern. Their reigning MVP center, Nikola Jokic, has not played in the Nuggets’ last three games with a wrist injury with no set timetable on his return to the lineup. 

P.J. Dozier averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds through the first 18 games of the 2021-22 season.

The post REPORT: Denver Nuggets To Lose P.J. Dozier With ACL Tear in Left Knee appeared first on SLAM.

Porter Jr. has been out since November 6 when he seemed to injure his back on a botched layup attempt against the Rockets. The incident looked to have worsened a back injury that Porter Jr. has been dealing with all season. An injury that looks like it played a role in his unexpected struggles scoring just 9.9 points and grabbing 6.6 boards per game on 21 percent shooting from deep.

“He’s 23 years old,” teammate Austin Rivers told the Denver Post recently. “He’s gotta take care of himself and get himself right physically, and that way mentally he can come to the court playing the way that we know he can play. He’s playing hurt this whole season. It’s hard to do that. Hopefully, he comes back soon because he’s a huge part of our team.”

Porter Jr. has had a long history of back injuries, going under the knife twice for back surgeries. The first time happened during his one-and-done season at Missouri that kept him out for nearly four months. The second came during his rookie season, a surgery that forced Porter to miss his entire rookie season.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told the Denver Post Sunday after a loss to the Suns that Porter is away from the team and in Florida; League sources told the Post he was seeking more opinions on how to treat his injury aside from the reported daily treatment Porter receives to strengthen his back.

The Nuggets signed Porter to a five-year max contract in late September. At least $145 million in the max extension is guaranteed.

The Nuggets are also awaiting the return of reigning MVP Nikola Jokic from a sprained wrist, Jamal Murray from a torn ACL, and Zeke Nnaji from a sprained ankle. The next time Denver plays is Tuesday against the Trail Blazers on TNT at 10 PM.

The post REPORT: Michael Porter Jr Dealing With Nerve Issue That Could End Season appeared first on SLAM.

“It’s an ongoing thing, trying to figure out what’s going on…” Malone said according to ClutchPoints. “I’d still say that Michael’s out for the foreseeable future. We’re trying to take it one day at a time with him and see what the best way to approach getting him back healthy is.”

“There’s no doubt, regardless of his mood, we all have to support Michael, just like we support Jamal [Murray],” Malone told CBSSports. “And again, Michael could be back in a week, it could be more than that. So when I say, ‘foreseeable future,’ I’m not really sure what that means, I just know that he’s not playing tonight.”

“This is a process where we’re being very cautious, talking to doctors, getting imaging all that kind of stuff,”

Porter Jr. injured his lower back on a play during the team’s win over the Houston Rockets missing a layup. A short time later he left the game and never returned.  

Michael Porter Jr. really missed this layup pic.twitter.com/kFlZ2zvUau

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 6, 2021

Michael Porter Jr. has had a tough start to his 2021-2022 campaign, averaging just 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds on 35.9 percent shooting from the field and just 20.8 percent from three-point range. Despite that, the Nuggets (9-5) have won five straight games in a recent homestand before losing to the Mavericks (9-4), 111-101, Monday.

The high-level play of reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has bought them time to figure out the severity of their young forward’s injury and the timeframe of his return but they will need a healthy Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray to be a true threat out of the Western Conference.

The post Head Coach Michael Malone on Michael Porter Jr.: ‘We’re Trying To Figure Out What’s Going On’ appeared first on SLAM.

Porter Jr. was going for an easy dunk in the first quarter during a Nuggets’ 95-94 win over the Houston Rockets (1-9) over the weekend. After gathering a loose ball near midcourt, the young forward somehow fumbled the play, readjusted for a layup, and smoked it.

Michael Porter Jr. really missed this layup pic.twitter.com/kFlZ2zvUau

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 6, 2021

Porter Jr. appeared to suffer the back injury on the play and attempted to fight through it but left for the rest of the game midway through the first quarter. The team described the injury as low back pain. An injury that held him out of practice and the next game against the Miami Heat (7-2) on Monday, according to Harrison Wind via HoopsHype.

Nuggets say Michael Porter Jr. (low back pain) is out for tomorrow vs. the Heat.

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 8, 2021

According to the Denver Post, Porter Jr. will be receiving ongoing treatment and could possibly miss the next several games as he recovers.

Porter Jr. and the Nuggets will look to be careful considering his history of back injuries dating back to his lone college basketball season at Missouri. The fourth-year forward had to sit out his entire rookie season recovering from back surgery.

The Nuggets signed Michael Porter Jr. to a five-year contract extension worth up to $207 million in the offseason. He’s struggled to start the season with averages of 9.9 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 35.9 percent from the field.

The post Michael Porter Jr. Out Indefinitely With Lower Back Pain appeared first on SLAM.

Sexton, whose name was swirling heavily in the rumor mill earlier this offseason with reports that the Cavs were looking to trade him, has had a roller coaster ride in his time in Cleveland. As a rookie, his teammates were reportedly frustrated with his play and, though some of the criticism was indeed valid, Sexton has steadily improved while becoming the team’s most consistent volume scorer since being drafted.

In fact, Sexton’s career scoring average (20.2) ranks third in his draft class (2018), only behind star guards Luka Doncic and Trae Young. His career 3-point percentage (38.5) ranks fifth in his draft class.

That being said, Sexton’s problem areas (passing and defense) have been a thorn in the side of Cleveland, a franchise already lacking consistent playmaking and perimeter defense.

Though Sexton’s work ethic and improvement to this point could make nearly anyone believe in him, from purely a business perspective, finding the exact amount that Sexton should be paid could come down to what they see from him during their 2021-22 campaign.

Fortunately for Sexton, players like Michael Porter Jr.—another player valued for his offensive contributions with work to put forth in other areas of the game—have received max contracts that should give him a reasonable case to expect the same.

If Sexton has improved as a ball-mover and savvy defender, chances are that he’ll command top dollar regardless.

The post REPORT: Collin Sexton Fails to Reach Extension with Cavs, Will Become RFA in 2022 appeared first on SLAM.

In an interview with DNVR’s Harrison Wind, Nuggets guard Austin Rivers said that he thinks Porter Jr. is in for an All-Star season.

“I think Michael Porter Jr. will be an All-Star this season,” Rivers told DNVR. “We’re still working with him defensively. He’s putting the effort into that. But he’s going to be an All-Star. 6-10, top-2 or 3 jump shooter in basketball. It’s hard to see a guy like that who we’re going to be featuring on offense not making the All-Star game. He’s too good, man. He’s just too good.”

Rivers also took time to defend Porter from some of the criticism he has faced over the past few years.

“You should be allowed to be human. Unfortunately, in our sport, sometimes you’re not allowed to be human. You make a couple mistakes, and you’re a bad guy. It’s hard to change in the league. It takes years and years to get people to see who you are and understand the type of guy you are. It’s been a process, and I’m still working at it now, honestly.”

Rivers is clearly not the only one who believes in Porter, as the Nuggets in recent days signed him to a five-year $207 million extension, money you only give the best players in the league.

Looking at MPJ’s numbers in his first couple of seasons, it’s easy to see why he is held in such high regard. In just his second season in the NBA, he averaged 19 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting an outstanding 44.5 percent from three point range.

The Nuggets will be looking to improve on their excellent season from last year, where they finished third in the Western Conference but lost in the second round of the NBA Playoffs to the Phoenix Suns.

The post Austin Rivers Anticipates All-Star Season for Michael Porter Jr. appeared first on SLAM.

Per Wojnarowski, Porter’s deal is worth $172 million and must make an All-NBA team in order to reach the designated max criteria.

Last season, MPJ had a breakout season for the Nuggets after averaging 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 44.5 percent from deep in 61 games played. He got the chance to take on more responsibility with point guard Jamal Murray suffering a significant injury following the trade deadline and responded by averaging 23.9 points per game in April (21.0 points per game in May) .

It’s been well-documented that the Nuggets took a risk drafting Porter with 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

However, although he missed a significant amount of time due to his back injury, sitting out of what would have been his original rookie season, he’s routinely flashed the shooting potential that made him such an enticing prospect prior to his indoctrination into the NBA.

Now, he’s a major factor in Denver’s championship aspirations, and his extension serves to highlight his importance. Furthermore, with this agreement, the Nuggets now have their core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Porter all locked up long-term.

The post Michael Porter Jr. Agrees to 5-Year, $207 Million Max Extension with Nuggets appeared first on SLAM.

Gordon was traded to the Nuggets ahead of the 2021 NBA trade deadline, promptly finding a fit with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic the Western Conference contenders after spending the beginning of his career as the face of the Orlando Magic.

The fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and three-time Slam Dunk Contest participant, Gordon has become more known for his high-wire act than his proficiency as a basketball player.

However, Gordon’s defensive pressure and his diverse offensive skillset allow him to be a significant piece of the Nuggets’ rotation, as evidenced by the team winning their first seven games with him on the roster and 12 out their first 15.

Gordon has also struck up a close friendship with Denver’s youngest star, Michael Porter Jr., another player deemed to be key to the Nuggets’ championship hopes. While less of a factor than his overall fit with the club, this also likely played a part in Denver’s decision to extend Gordon’s contract, particularly with them currently working on a contract extension for MPJ.

Now approaching his eighth season in the NBA, Gordon holds career averages of 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.

The post REPORT: Aaron Gordon Agrees to Four-Year, $92 Million Extension with Nuggets appeared first on SLAM.

With that in mind, Porter Jr. is eligible for an extension prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, contract negotiations between the Nuggets and his agent Mark Bartelstein are going smooth and a the direction Porter Jr. is happy about. 

Last season in a breakout year, Porter Jr. averaged 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 44.5 percent from deep. Still just 23 years old, he’s clearly one of the most intriguing young players in the entire league. 

Especially in the modern NBA, a guy who’s able to shoot as well as Porter Jr. does at 6-foot-10 is extremely rare. If he’s able to continue to make his game more well-rounded, he truly has a superstar ceiling. 

The post Michael Porter Jr. Is Optimistic About Contract Extension With Nuggets appeared first on SLAM.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Denver Nuggets’ associate head coach Wes Unseld Jr. has emerged as the likely candidate to fill the role, with Unseld gaining steam in Washington’s coaching race over the past week.

Unseld — and his family — have deep roots in Washington. His father, Wes Unseld Sr., was an electrifying player for the Washington Bullets, his storied career eventually culminating in a Hall of Fame nomination and his number 41 being retired by the organization. The younger Unseld spent 15 years working for the Wizards organization, starting as a scout in 1997 and eventually became an assistant coach with Washington in 2005, where he would remain until the 2011-12 season.

From there, Unseld Jr. then spent one season as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors and three seasons with the Orlando Magic before landing a role as the associate head coach of the Nuggets.

Unseld Jr. is known for his defensive acumen — especially with his work in helping turn the Nuggets (with players like Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. who are known more for their propensity to score rather than defend) into a serviceable defensive team.

Per The Athletic’s Charania and Fred Katz, one person who worked closely with Unseld said, “You got guys like [Jokic], Jamal Murry, Michael Porter Jr., where their strength is not defense. … The fact that he makes them even average defenders in this league is an impressive feat.”

With the Wizards, Unseld will inherit a veteran, albeit disjointed team in the Wizards; one coming off a 34-38 season that ended in a first-round playoff exit to the Philadelphia 76ers. The franchise has not finished inside the top-10 in points allowed since 2015, and their veteran stars Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook have not figured out yet how to operate as a cohesive unit.

Unseld has the ability to rejuvenate this team and turn them into a defensive-minded squad. Nonetheless, their success will still largely revolve around the play and drive of their star backcourt.

The post Wes Unseld Jr. Emerges as Frontrunner in Wizards Head Coaching Search appeared first on SLAM.

The Phoenix Suns are heading to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years after their 125-118 win over the Denver Nuggets; completing the series sweep.

The maturity and veteran leadership of Paul combined with Booker’s elite shooting arsenal have coalesced into a unique and more than effective backcourt for the Suns in their seventh straight playoff win, a franchise record.

“A couple years ago they were writing me off. This ain’t about me. It’s about us,” Paul said.

Billed as the ‘Point God,’ CP3 shut the door on father time as he became the oldest NBA player to ever record 25+ points and 10+ assists in a playoff series. The 36-year-old also dished out 41 assists in the series, while only turning the ball over 5 times.

You in deep trouble when CP3 starts laughing like this. (via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/E471BvCjnc

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2021

Paul dragged defender after defender off a ball screen to his sweet spot – the right elbow – putting up a high-arching middy while fading to the baseline. The shoulder injury he suffered in the first round seems to have subsided as Paul shot 22-for-34 from the midrange during the series.

The barrage of mid-range jumpers allowed Paul explode for 37 points, 7 assists and 2 steals while shooting 14-for-19 in the Suns 125-118 win. Booker poured in 34 points and 11 boards.

After knocking out the defending champions (the Los Angeles Lakers) in the first round, the Suns dismantled a hampered Nuggets squad that lost reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic in the third quarter to a Flagrant 2.

Jokic becomes the first MVP to be swept in a playoff series since Magic Johnson in 1989.

The Nuggets sorely missed their star point guard Jamal Murray as the rest of the team grappled with making up his production on the scoreboard. However, by the end of what turned out to be a hard-fought contest, Will Barton scored 25 points, while Michael Porter Jr., added 20, Monte Morris dropped in 19 and Facu Campazzo added 14 points off of the bench.

It just wasn’t enough.

This is for YOU, Phoenix!#RallyTheValley pic.twitter.com/SpQBZqXjeW

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) June 14, 2021

The Suns will get more than a weeks worth of rest and hold home court advantage for the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, where they will face either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Utah Jazz.

The post Chris Paul, Devin Booker Dismantle Nuggets in Series Sweep appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down both of Sunday’s games here.

No. 2 Nets 96, No. 3 Bucks 107

Series tied 2-2

The one thing that could hold the talented Brooklyn Nets down in the postseason was injuries. After losing James Harden early in this series, Kyrie Irving’s status is now in question after leaving Game 4 with an ankle injury. The Milwaukee Bucks have taken full advantage, winning their last two games against the Nets and tying the series after being down 2-0 last week. 

Kevin Durant struggled from the field (9-for-25) but still finished with a team-high 28 points. Irving, who played just 17 minutes, was the only other member of the Nets to score in double digits. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with 34 points and 12 rebounds while Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday combined for 33 points and 17 assists in the win. With the series tied up, anything could happen with the Nets facing major injuries. 

No. 2 Suns 125, No. 3 Nuggets 118

PHX wins series 4-0

After making the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, the Phoenix Suns have now made their way to the Western Conference Finals. After taking down the Los Angeles Lakers with ease in the first round, they swept the Denver Nuggets in round two. Behind brilliant performances from Devin Booker and Chris Paul, the Suns made a statement to the rest of the NBA on Sunday night in the sweep. 

Unfortunately for the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Cameron Payne in the third quarter, leaving Denver without their League MVP down the stretch of Game 4. Will Barton led the Nuggets with 25 points while Michael Porter Jr. and Monte Morris scored 20 and 19 respectively. Booker and Paul combined for 71 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.

The post Post Up: Bucks Top Injured Nets and Suns Complete Sweep appeared first on SLAM.

The Nuggets, running out of steam in the desert in Game 1, had the opportunity to even the series after a disappointing opening game.

Would a hobbled Michael Porter Jr. and the return of Will Barton be enough to help newly crowned MVP Nikola Jokic take control of Game 2?

No. 2 Phoenix Suns 123, No. 3 Denver Nuggets 98

PHX leads series 2-0

Early on, there was a similar feel to the Nuggets’ performance against the Suns in Game 2 after their Game 1 letdown. While they played a more competitive first half in Game 1, Denver entered halftime trailing just 10 points despite poor shooting from MPJ and Monte Morris.

However, the second half was a much different story, with the Suns jumping to a 20-point lead almost immediately. With the Nuggets’ playing passively on offense and lacking the defensive wherewithal to hold up on the other end, Denver entered the fourth quarter trailing 19 points.

Quite frankly, by then it was already over.

The Suns starting lineup brought their A-game on Wednesday night, with all of them scoring in the double-digits.

“Point God” Chris Paul led the way with a 17-point, 15 assist double-double, failing to turn the ball over a single time.

Franchise pillars Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton each recorded double-doubles of their own, with Booker having a team-high 18 points and 10 rebounds and Ayton chipping in 15 points and 10 rebounds. 3-and-D specialists Jae Crowder (11), Mikal Bridges (16) and Torrey Craig (10) all finished with double-digit scoring numbers as well.

While Porter, who played with a back injury, had a poor game with 11 points on 3-for-13 shooting from the field, the Nuggets’ backcourt was mediocre for the second consecutive game.

Denver’s guard play has clearly been a step behind Phoenix’s, with starting point guard Facundo Campazzo tallying three points on 1-for-7 shooting, starting shooting guard Austin Rivers scoring six points on 2-for-5 shooting, backup guard Monte Morris ice cold with three points on 1-for-7 shooting and rookie guard Markus Howard scoring six points on 2-for-6 shooting.

The Nuggets’ guard rotation combined to score 18 points, as many as Booker had in the entire game for Phoenix.

The lone bright spot for Denver was the aggressive playmaking from Jokic and Barton. Jokic had a game-high 24 points to go along with 13 rebounds and six assists, while Barton (who hasn’t played since April) managed 10 points and three assists in just 16 minutes.

Now trailing 2-0, the Nuggets will have to rebound quickly as the series shifts to Denver for Game 3 on Friday, June 11. The Nuggets will need a healthy Porter and Barton to have a chance to compete on Friday.

Otherwise, it may already be too late.

The post Post Up: Suns Take Down Nuggets Thanks to Second Half Surge appeared first on SLAM.

The early evening game saw a chance for the Milwaukee Bucks to rebound after a disappointing loss to the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1, while the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns kicked off their first game of their semifinals series to end the night.

No. 2 Brooklyn Nets 125, No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks 86

BKN leads series 2-0

Milwaukee struggled to deal with the Nets’ offensive weapons in Game 1 but longtime head coach Mike Budenholzer and the Bucks looked no more prepared in Game 2.

By the end of the first quarter, Brooklyn had already jumped to a 36-19 lead, and at no point for the rest of the game did the Bucks ever look like they had a chance. The ever-lethal Kevin Durant was automatic for Brooklyn, scoring 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting while chipping in six assists. Kyrie Irving ended the night with 22 points (on 9-17 shooting) and six assists, and fellow starters Joe Harris and Bruce Brown each had 13 points apiece.

The Nets also get big minutes from their second unit, getting 38 points from seven different players on their bench (including 23 combined points from Landry Shamet, Nic Claxton and Mike James).

Despite Brooklyn not having All-NBA guard James Harden, Milwaukee still couldn’t find an answer on either end of the floor. No Bucks player scored at least 20 points, and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo finished his night with a team-high 18 points (on 8-15 shooting).

Though the Greek Freak was efficient, Milwaukee had another poor shooting night from distance, knocking down just 29.6 percent of their 3-point attempts in the game. All-Star forward Khris Middleton struggled the most, going 7-20 from the field and committing a game-high five turnovers.

The Nets, on the other hand, lit it up, going 21-for-41 from deep and took care of the ball, with just eight team turnovers to the Bucks’ 16.

Now down 2-0 against a team looking like the favorites to come out of the East, Milwaukee will have to find a way to close the gap before heading back home for Game 3 on Thursday night.

No. 2 Phoenix Suns 122, No. 3 Denver Nuggets 105

PHX leads series 1-0

The Nuggets and Suns kicked off their first game of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday, and though the Nuggets did lose by a double-digit deficit, it was a closer game than its predecessor for the majority of the contest.

In fact, Denver entered the half with a 58-57 lead over the Suns but Phoenix shut down the Nuggets’ star frontcourt in the second half, allowing just 47 points over the last two quarters. Four players finished with at least 20 points for the Suns in Mikal Bridges (23), Chris Paul (21), Devin Booker (21) and Deandre Ayton (20) as Phoenix picked apart Denver’s defensive strategy.

The Nuggets got uncharacteristically poor shooting nights from their two stars; Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr.

Jokic had a team-high 22 points but got there on 10-for-23 shooting, including 3-12 shooting in the second half. Porter, who would leave the game with a back injury, had 15 points on 6-for-13 from the field but shot just 1-5 from the field in the second half.

Monte Morris had a solid series against the Portland Trail Blazers but it would be a game to forget for the Nuggets fan favorite, who played 23 minutes and scored two points on 1-for-10 from the field. A 47.9 percent shooter for his career, Denver will certainly be looking for more from Morris and company with a chance to even the series on Wednesday night.

The post Post Up: Are the Playoff Nightmares Back for the Bucks? appeared first on SLAM.

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

No. 3 Nuggets 126, No. 6 Trail Blazers 115

DEN wins series 4-2

While the Nuggets struggled early overall, Michael Porter Jr. kept the team afloat with 22 first quarter points. From there, MVP-favorite Nikola Jokic finished the job with a final line of 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Monte Morris continues to fill Jamal Murray’s void as well as Denver could ask, finishing with 22 points and nine assists off the bench.

For Portland, there will be decisions to be made this offseason as the duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum once again fall short in the playoffs. After the best postseason game of his career earlier this week, Lillard finished with just 28 points in this elimination game, although he dished out 13 assists. The Nuggets will take on the Phoenix Suns in round two of the playoffs.

No. 2 Suns 113, No. 7 Lakers 100

PHX wins series 4-2

Although Anthony Davis returned in Game 6 for the Lakers, he re-aggravated his groin within five minutes of the game and would not return. Devin Booker set the tone early, scoring 22 first-quarter points while the Lakers scored only 14 points as a team in the opening frame. Los Angeles clawed back into the game late, but Phoenix held on.

This marks the first playoffs series win for the Suns in 11 years. It’s well deserved, as Chris Paul and Devin Booker are the perfect duo for the biggest of stages. LeBron James and the defending champion Lakers will head home, as there will officially be a new NBA champ this season. The Suns will take on the Denver Nuggets in round two of the playoffs.

The post Post Up: Lakers, Trail Blazers Eliminated appeared first on SLAM.

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

No. 2 Nets 123, No. 7 Celtics 109

BKN wins series 3-1

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

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

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

DEN leads series 3-2

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

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

No. 2 Suns 115, No. 7 Lakers 85

PHX leads series 3-2

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

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

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

Randle has been named the 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Improved Player this season. In one of the more heartwarming scenes, Randle was presented his award by his young son, Kyden.

Who better to present Julius with the award than the only and only, Kyden! pic.twitter.com/bM2jlQGYEh

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 25, 2021

Randle became the first New York player to win the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award with 98 first-place votes, totaling 493 total points. Detroit Pistons forward, Jerami Grant was the only other player to receive a first-place vote (2) finishing second with 140 points.  Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. finished in third place with 138 points. 

Randle set career highs for averages in points and assists with 24.1 points and 6.0 assists while matching his career-high in rebounds with 10.2.  

The 6-9 power forward is only the sixth player in NBA history to average at least 24.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a season, joining Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Nikola Jokić (who did so this season), Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.

Before signing as a free agent with New York back in 2019, Julius played four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and one season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Randle has career averages of 17.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

This award was designed to honor up-and-coming players who has made significant progress over the previous season or extended career.

The New York Knicks are counting on award winning numbers from Julius Randle to even their first round series with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

The post Knicks’ Julius Randle Wins 2020-21 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award appeared first on SLAM.

After teammate Jamal Murray suffered an unfortunate season-ending injury back in April, Porter—outspoken, confident and arguably the team’s most naturally gifted talent—knew he needed to step up. He was expected to.

And, as we’ve seen over the past few months, when the moment has called upon MPJ to help lead his team, he’s answered right back.

“At first, I was playing more off-ball. Playing off of Jamal and [Nikola] Jokic on the weak side, getting wide-open threes and driving closeouts,” Porter tells SLAM. “But when Jamal went down, more was expected of me and my role expanded.”

Was it difficult, I wondered, for Porter to compensate for Murray’s absence when given more opportunities within the offense?

“To be honest,” Porter says, “it wasn’t difficult because it’s something I’ve done my whole life.”

That being said, despite his confident nature weathering stormy stretches over the past two seasons, it does appear that Malone’s holistic and structuralist philosophies have rubbed off of Porter.

“It’s about roles,” Porter would insist when asked about a heftier workload being placed on his shoulders. “I’m still playing plenty off-ball.”

However, while his role as a secondary scorer or rebounder may be the first thought many have when assessing Porter’s performance as of late, it appears that it’s actually the intangibles that have been at the forefront of Porter’s mind during Murray’s absence.

“When Jamal went down, my mentality had to switch to more of a leadership role. Being a consistent leader with my energy and my consistency.”

In that aspect, Porter has learned plenty from Jokic. While some may scoff at the notion of the understated Jokic being a leader, Porter has developed plenty of respect for the face of the Nuggets, paying close to attention to how the MVP candidate improves every day.

“First off, Joker’s not even from here. So he’s not going to be the most vocal. But you don’t have to preach and tell people what to do to be a leader; you can lead by example.”

Jokic’s leadership, “his consistency [and] how he takes care of his body,” haven’t just rubbed off on Porter though. They’ve become formulas for him to be just as successful as the Serbian center, both individually and for the Nuggets.

In a similar vain, Porter can also reflect on conversations he’s had with veteran guard Austin Rivers, invaluable lessons from a player who went from a lottery pick to almost out of the league in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

Rivers, who signed a rest-of-the-season contract with Denver on April 30, is a player Porter has long been fond of.

“He has one of the best high school mixtapes ever,” Porter exclaims. “But even though you want to be this—you want to be an All-Star—it’s about what’s best for the team.

“It’s about roles,” Porter says.

While Jokic and Rivers have all played the part of the veteran mentor, Porter really has to look no further than close friend Aaron Gordon for an example of why roles may be the most important factor in a players success.

Gordon, whom Porter calls “one of the coolest people that he’s met in the NBA” because of how well they click off the court and their similar interests, was acquired by the Nuggets back in March while they looked to shore up their frontcourt defense.

The former fourth overall pick had been miscast in a two-way role in Orlando that did a disservice to his elite athleticism and defensive versatility. Finally, after seven-plus seasons with the Magic, the 25-year-old requested a trade that eventually led him to Denver.

No longer tasked with being a go-to scorer, Gordon hasn’t looked back, reveling in his role as a defensive specialist while the Nuggets have looked the part of a legitimate championship-contender ever since.

The same level of peace appears to be on the horizon for Porter, whose desire to develop to be a complete player doesn’t have to come with the same level of burden that was cast upon Gordon.

All because Porter has bought into a role and because his organization understands the importance of them.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, who has had somewhat of a contentious relationship with Porter at times, has probably been the largest catalyst for MPJ’s shift in mindset though.

Discussing his coach’s approach and the growth in their relationship following a record-setting victory over the Toronto Raptors on April 30, Porter candidly notes how “growing up you play for certain coaches that literally let you do whatever and you develop bad habits.

“I was lucky enough to have some coaches that didn’t do that. They knew my potential, so they were super hard on me. Coach Malone is no different.”

A five-star recruit who played under former NBA star Brandon Roy at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle, Porter is still only a few years removed from leading his teams to state championships (2016, 2017), being named the McDonald’s All-American MVP (2017), or being named as the National High School Player of the Year (2017).

In fact, considering that his rookie season in the NBA is the only time in his basketball career that Porter wasn’t looked at as a go-to player, it shouldn’t be surprising that he needed time to adjust to a tertiary role.

A role that he excelled in but one that truly has expanded over the past couple of months.

The numbers themselves only tell part of the story, with Porter averaging 23.5 points per game on a blistering hot .560 percent shooting from the field and .489 percent from 3-point range since April 14.

A three-level scorer who can make tough shots look like run-of-the-mill acrobatics, Porter operates as pressure relief valve for Jokic and the Nuggets, especially when he’s dotting i’s from behind the 3-point line.

Blessed with as pure a shooting stroke as you’ll find, Porter’s 6-10 frame and shooting touch have all but prevented Denver from missing a beat, with the Nuggets going 13-5 (in the regular season) following Murray’s injury.

Still, for a player who once made headlines by suggesting that he—then a rookie—needed more touches for his team to play up to its potential, Porter’s elevated mindset can only be attributed to the leadership found in the Mile High.

Not that Porter wasn’t on the money when he advocated for greater ball-movement and a few more touches during the 2020 NBA Playoffs. His soundbite simply led many to wonder—and not quietly—whether MPJ was a team player.

Yet here Porter is, reveling in the fact that he’s part of a system rather than the face of it. In a year’s time, that type of evolution isn’t unprecedented, but it’s certainly fascinating. The evolution has even been televised.

With the Nuggets set to embark on their most promising postseason journey since 2009, facing the Portland Trail Blazers (and former franchise cornerstone Carmelo Anthony) in the first round will be a test that determines the true identity of the Nuggets.

Regardless of their showing in these following weeks, Porter’s transformation into a sagacious sharpshooter appears to have the same level of solidity as Jokic’s standing as an elite player.

The show has already started, but the best has yet to come.

—

Photos via Getty Images.

The post It’s Showtime: The Evolution of Michael Porter Jr. appeared first on SLAM.

Playoff seeding came down to the wire, with a play-in tournament deciding the final two seeds in each respective conference. In a season where things seem wide open, nearly every series should be competitive.

With the playoff matchups finally set, let’s take a look at each Western Conference series in the first round. Our Eastern Conference series preview is available here.

1 Utah Jazz (52-20)
8 Memphis Grizzlies (38-34)

The Memphis Grizzlies, although finishing the regular season with the ninth-best record in the West, won two games in the play-in tournament to capture the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. After beating the San Antonio Spurs, the Grizzlies beat Steph Curry and the Warriors in overtime on Friday night to secure this spot.

Now, Memphis will take on the Utah Jazz, who finished the season with the best record in the League. Ja Morant is the clear player to watch for the Grizzlies in this series, as the rising star will make his playoff debut. For the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert will look to show exactly why they both signed massive contracts last offseason. In the regular season, Utah won all three matchups against the Grizzlies and will look to continue that trend in the postseason.

2 Phoenix Suns (51-21)
7 Los Angeles Lakers (42-30)

After a season full of injuries, the Lakers fell in the standings late in the year and were ultimately part of the play-in tournament. In an absolutely exceptional game, the Lakers beat Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors to claim the seventh seed in the Western Conference and a series with the Phoenix Suns. On the back of a LeBron James’ game-winning three, both he and Anthony Davis will look to defend their title.

In three matchups this season, the Suns got the best of the Lakers, winning the season series 2-1. However, the Lakers were without one or both of James and Davis in all three games. Although Phoenix was excellent in the regular season, they’re going to face one of the most talented No. 7 seeds we’ve seen in the last decade or more. With veteran point guard and a future Hall of Famer at the helm, an overall young Suns team will need him to help navigate the playoff waters. One key storyline to watch will be Devin Booker and his first ever playoff appearance.

3 Denver Nuggets (47-25)
6 Portland Trail Blazers (42-30)

Unlike last season, there was a pretty significant drop-off between the top and bottom halves of the Western Conference playoff race. Although just a few seeds apart, the Nuggets finished the shortened regular season five games ahead of the Trail Blazers. Although they lost their starting point guard in Jamal Murray late in the season, Denver finished the season as strong as anyone could have expected.

The Nuggets won the regular season series against Portland 2-1, proving to be the better team. With that in mind, both teams will look a bit different in this series. Denver made a significant move at the deadline acquiring Aaron Gordon, while the Blazers made a splash bringing in Norman Powell. Nonetheless, the question for the Nuggets will be where their ceiling is without Murray. Although they’ve got the projected NBA MVP in Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. will need to continue his dominance to keep their offense alive.

4 LA Clippers (47-25)
5 Dallas Mavericks (42-30)

In one of the most anticipated matchups of the first round, the Mavericks will take on the Clippers for the second-straight season. The only first round rematch in Western Conference year-over-year, Dallas will hope for a different result this time around. This is yet another series in which the seeding is close, but five games separate the two teams.

After being knocked out in the first round by the Clippers last season, Dallas took the regular season series 2-1 during the 2020-21 season. This included hem coming out swinging in 51-point win early in season after their first matchup since the 2020 playoffs. In their last playoff series, Kristaps Porzingis missed the final three games of the series due to a knee injury and will likely be the X-factor of the entire series this time around. If he can stay healthy and contribute on both ends of the floor, him and Luka Doncic have a real chance at a first-round upset.

The post 2021 NBA Playoff Matchups: Western Conference appeared first on SLAM.

MVP FINALISTS:

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The MVP race will be a tight one, with three very deserving finalists. Stephen Curry ended the season as the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 32 points per game this year while shooting 42.1 percent from three-point range on over 12 attempts per game.

Nikola Jokic, the favorite for the award, played in every game this season and averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Joel Embiid had an incredible season and is averaging 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

DPOY FINALISTS:

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Defensive Player of the Year may be less of a mystery, with Rudy Gobert, who is averaging 13.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, is the runaway favorite. Ben Simmons, who is averaging 7.2 boards and 1.6 steals per game, and Draymond Green (7.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals) both had excellent seasons on the defensive end as well.

SIXTH MAN FINALISTS:

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The sixth man of the year will come down to a pair of Utah Jazz players, Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles, and Derrick Rose. Clarkson has been a scoring machine all year, averaging 18.4 points per game.

As for his teammate, Ingles has a well-rounded case and is averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. Rose has been no slouch either, with his time with the Knicks proving crucial to their success and averaging 14.7 points per game to boot.

ROY FINALISTS:

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Rookie of the Year is down to three young guards. Anthony Edwards put up gaudy scoring numbers all season, averaging 19.3 points per game, while LaMelo Ball’s 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game for a near playoff team is hard to ignore. Tyrese Haliburton is a distant third in this race, but he had a very respectable rookie season for Sacramento.

MOST IMPROVED FINALISTS:

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The Most Improved Player Award is another one where little debate is needed. Julius Randle has had an unbelievable season for the Knicks, going for more than 24.1 points per game on the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference while being named an All-Star.

The two other finalists are one current Denver Nugget, Michael Porter Jr., and one former Nugget, Jerami Grant. Porter Jr. took a huge step in his second season, averaging 19 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent from three-point range. Grant went from averaging no more than 14 points per game at any point in his career to averaging 22.3 points per game.

COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

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Quin Snyder and Monty Williams will both have excellent cases, leading their teams to first and second in the Western Conference, respectively. Tom Thibodeau has a great case himself, taking a Knicks team that finished 12th in the Eastern Conference last year and pushing them to fourth in his first season.

The post NBA Announces Finalists for End of Season Awards appeared first on SLAM.

However, since he went down with the ACL injury that would keep him out for the remainder of the year, thee Nuggets are 9-1, and have jumped to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. 

Battling through adversity, Denver’s MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic has stepped up in a huge way. Additionally, Michael Porter Jr. has emerged as the second-best player for the Nuggets in Murray’s absence. In the ten games since his injury, Porter Jr. has averaged 25.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest on .513 from deep. 

Although they’re without their superstar point guard heading into the playoffs, the Denver Nuggets look like they’ll still have the talent to make a deep playoff run. 

The post Nuggets Continue To Have Success After Jamal Murray’s Season-Ending Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Currently 42-21, the Nuggets have won eight of their last nine contests, all of which came after Murray tore his left ACL in mid-April.

While the production of Jokic and Porter has allowed Denver to dominate, it’s been the performances of their recent signings that’s prevented the injuries of players like Murray, Will Barton and Monte Morris from being bigger obstacles to their success.

This includes veteran guard Austin Rivers, who the Nuggets signed to a 10-day contract shortly after Murray’s diagnosis.

Rivers, 28-years-old, has averaged 5.2 points, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 24.2 minutes per game while playing for Denver.

Most notably, Rivers has been playing strong defense, holding opponents to .313 percent shooting from 3-point range (per NBA’s Advanced Stats) while with the Nuggets have allowed opponents to shoot .361 percent from 3-point range throughout the season.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Denver is now planning to sign Rivers for the remainder of the season.

The Nuggets are the sixth franchise that Rivers has played for and, while he has appeared to enjoy his time in the Mile High, minutes would be scarce for the heady guard with a fully healthy roster.

That being said, with Denver set to embark on yet another trek through the Western Conference Playoffs, having Rivers on board can only help the Nuggets reach their ultimate goal.

The post Nuggets Plan to Sign Austin Rivers for Remainder of 2020-21 Season appeared first on SLAM.

According to Mike Singer of The Denver Post, Barton is expected to miss a “handful” of games with a right hamstring strain. While there’s no timetable for his return, Nuggets Head Coach Mike Malone said that Barton felt something pop in his hamstring. 

Luckily for the Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. has picked up the slack offensively where Denver has lost scoring due to injury recently. He’s averaging 23.1 points per game in the month of April. 

While it’s unclear when Barton will return, the Nuggets will need him back as soon as possible. In 56 games this season, he’s been a primary starter, averaging 12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest. 

The post Nuggets’ Will Barton Out Indefinitely After Knee Injury appeared first on SLAM.

Although Murray will miss the remainder of the season, Michael Porter Jr. still has the same goals in mind. When speaking to Mike Singer of The Denver Post, he emphasized that winning an NBA title is still his main focus.

The goal’s the same. That’s a championship.”

Even without Murray, the Nuggets will still be a solid team the remainder of this season and into the playoffs. Especially with the performance he had in the playoffs last season, it will take a team effort to fill his void.

While their ceiling was lowered following this devastating injury, Denver still needs to look forward. The Nuggets still remain one of the most talented young teams in the NBA, especially after acquiring Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline.

With 17 games remaining for the Denver Nuggets this season, they currently hold the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 35-20.

The post Michael Porter Jr.: ‘The Goal’s the Same. That’s A Championship’ appeared first on SLAM.

Gordon, 25-years-old, is averaging 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.8 blocks per game this season while shooting a career-high .368 percent from 3-point range. The fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, his current contract is set to expire after the 2021-22 season.

Denver has interest in Orlando forward Aaron Gordon ahead of next Thursday’s trade deadline, league sources told The Denver Post, and the Nuggets need to assess on-court fit and whether he’s a player capable of vaulting them past some of the other Western Conference powers.

Singer adds that the Nuggets completing a trade for Gordon is unlikely given that the deadline is just around the corner. That being said, teams looking to add Gordon are expected to surrender at least young one player and a draft pick.

If it was March Madness, the Nuggets would have been one of the Cinderella teams of the 2020 NBA Playoffs with their historical comeback performances against the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in consecutive rounds.

This season, the Nuggets’ have achieved national relevance only to get off to a slow start that highlighted their offseason loss of forward Jerami Grant while putting their burgeoning Big Three of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. in the spotlight.

Now 24-16, tied for the fifth-best record in the Western Conference, Denver has caught it’s stride in recent weeks thanks to the improved play of Murray and Porter. Adding Gordon, who could replicate Grant’s 2019-20 role as a tertiary scorer and versatile defender, may be what puts the Nuggets over the top during the second half of 2020-21.

The post Aaron Gordon on Nuggets’ Radar Ahead of Trade Deadline appeared first on SLAM.

The U.S. Team will be headlined by LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) — four potential superstars with flair to match their talent. The quartet will be joined by James Wiseman (Golden State Warriors), Michael Porter Jr. (Denver Nuggets), Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento Kings), De’Andre Hunter (Atlanta Hawks) and Keldon Johnson (San Antonio Spurs).

The World Team will be comprised of R.J. Barrett (New York Knicks), Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards), Facundo Campazzo (Denver Nuggets), Luguentz Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder), Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (New Orleans Pelicans), Deni Avdija (Washington Wizards), Theo Maledon (Oklahoma City Thunder), Precious Achiuwa (Miami Heat) and Mychal Mulder (Golden State Warriors).

As with the 2020-21 NBA All-Star rosters, there has been rapid response and passionate debates about whether any players were left off that should have been in. Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose game is easy on the eyes and has been productive for an improved Cavs team, is one such player.

However, while those players may not have received the recognition they (or their fans) desired, those that were awarded the honor of being on the Rising Star were undoubtedly deserving of their spots.

Traditionally, the Rising Stars Game would be played during All-Star Weekend but this year, there won’t be a physical game. The 2020-21 All-Star Game, Skills Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest will all take place on Mar. 7 and aired on TNT.

The post 2020-21 Rising Stars Roster Unveiled by NBA Top Shot appeared first on SLAM.

There is, however, another star two-guard who had caught the Nuggets’ eye.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, the Nuggets had seriously considered bringing The Beard to Denver for him to play alongside early-season MVP candidate Nikola Jokic.

The Nuggets may be kicking themselves for not pouncing on that move, as rising star Jamal Murray has been inconsistent while battling through injuries this season and the promising Michael Porter Jr.’s playstyle often leads to frustration from his coaches and teammates. Sitting at 15-11, Denver is currently just seventh in the Western Conference standings.

As the Nets are just 17-12 themselves (though third in the Eastern Conference standings), it remains to be seen if Denver was better off not making a move for Harden.

Nonetheless, while his foul-baiting isn’t aesthetically pleasing to many fans, the Nuggets would have been hard-pressed to find another trade target as talented, decorated and available as the 2018 NBA MVP.

Harden is averaging 23.9 points. 11.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game this season.

The post Nuggets Had Considered Trading for James Harden appeared first on SLAM.

Source: NBA considering a 7 to 14 day pause amidst the growing rate of positive cases within the league. The NBA brass & GMs will meet virtually today or tomorrow to reconsider safety protocols. The league wants to avoid a pause but it is on the table. @kron4news

— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) January 11, 2021

NBA spokesman Mike Bass commented on the situation, stating that: “[they] anticipated that there would be game postponements this season and planned the schedule accordingly. There are no plans to pause the season, and we will continue to be guided by our medical experts…”

It should be noted that Bass’ insistence that there are no plans to pause the season doesn’t contradict Dumas’ assertion that a plan to halt play is on the table. However, considering that the League indeed opted to release the schedule in two parts, it’s clear that the NBA was prepared for the possibility that COVID-19 cases would increase at some point; especially with games no longer being held in a bubble.

More than 117 players have contracted COVID-19, per NBC Sports’ Dan Feldman, including marquee players such as Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant.

Miami Heat stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, Boston Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and Denver Nuggets rising star Michael Porter Jr. are among the players who have been listed out due to the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols.

The NBA announced that 48 of 546 players have tested positive “since testing resumed last week.”

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the “NBA and NBPA are currently working through a minimum two-week window of protocol tightening,” such as enforcing coaches and players on the bench to wear masks and restricting social-interaction and hugging amongst players during games.

Also, sources say: More enforcement of mask-wearing, including coaches during games and players on bench. https://t.co/HgcEghtIYQ

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021

The post NBA To Consider Halting Play For 7-14 Days Due To Number Of COVID-19 Cases appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down the early returns from all players through the end of Wednesday night’s action, highlighting players who have exceeded their 2019-20 production, and broken them off into 30 team-specific tables. You can access any of the league’s squads in the grid below.

Beyond this team-by-team grid is a break down of the process we used to highlight the season’s early surprises and a quick look at some of the players, league-wide, who’ve taken the biggest strides so far in 2020-21.

Team-by-Team Breakdown

2020-21’s Early Risers

Darius Garland (CLE) – The hits keep coming for the second-year guard out of Vanderbilt. After a relatively quiet rookie campaign – his first full season back after a significant injury that prematurely ended his college career – Garland has thrived in Year 2. Garland averaged 12 and 4 in 2019-20 and has pushed those numbers up to 19 and 7 so far this season.

Christian Wood (HOU) – If you’re surprised that Wood has put on a clinic in his first three games with the Houston Rockets, you weren’t paying much attention at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. Wood, with averages of 27 and 8 and an equally dominant preseason showing, has long been the king of producing when given an opportunity. He got that opportunity for a few months in Detroit but has never been as permanent of a situation as he’s in now on a three-year, $40 million contract.

Michael Porter Jr. (DEN) – Porter Jr. showed flashes of what he was capable of during his first year with the Nuggets and then took his game to a new level in the bubble. For that reason, it’s not exactly groundbreaking that the 22-year-old has already shown he’s capable of 20 and 7 production in Year 2. The key thing to watch as MPJ develops in front of our eyes on a legitimate title contender, is how meshes with and without ball dominant guard Jamal Murray.

Nikola Jokic (DEN) – If Jokic’s Wilt Chamberlain-esque turn at the start of 2020-21 isn’t one of the key stories of the new season, I don’t know what is. Through the first four games of the season, Jokic has put up assist numbers of 12, 18, 10 and 14. He’s just toying with teams now. Still, while his 25, 12 and 14 stat line is mind altering, you know the big man would rather have his team at least above .500.

Jerami Grant (DET) – The Denver Nuggets were ready to spend big in order to retain versatile wing Jerami Grant this offseason but opted not to when it became clear that they couldn’t offer him a similar role in 2020-21. That role, apparently, is as a elite-level scorer. Grant, whose high water mark for points per game was 13.6 before this season, has averaged nearly 23 points per game through four early contests – and that includes a nine point showing dragging down the overall.

Victor Oladipo (IND) – Surely you didn’t write Oladipo off after two injury plagued seasons beyond his control, right? That must have been somebody else. Oladipo has looked strong in 2020-21 with a familiar 21, 5 and 5 stat line, and is ready to silence the naysayers that forgot just how much of an impact player he can be at full health.

CJ McCollum (POR) – We may never fully see what McCollum is capable of at full throttle given the impressive chemistry he’s formed with backcourt mate Damian Lillard over the course of the past half decade but he’s done a fine job of pushing the ceiling so far in 2020-21. The 29-year-old may not hit 28 and 6 over the course of a full season but don’t think for a second that he isn’t capable of doing it if he needed to.

Julius Randle (NYK) – No stranger to oddly dominant stat lines, Randle has taken his game to new heights in New York. The big man has thrived as a distributor with the Knicks this season and is sporting a 25, 11 and 8 stat line heading into the new year.

Josh Jackson (DET) – After a humbling year in Memphis, Jackson has returned to his home state of Michigan. The 23-year-old fell into a great opportunity with the Pistons and has made the most of it with a 17 and 6 stat line out of the gates.

Darius Bazley (OKC) – The not-so-secret sleeper has lived up to the hype through the first few games of the regular season and the Thunder clearly have a valuable young building block in 20-year-old Bazley. The former New Balance intern has put up 10 and 9 so far this season and we can’t wait to see what else he’s got in store.

Jaylen Brown (BOS) – Brown’s slow burning development has been key to the consistent threat that the the Celtics have posed on the Eastern Conference and early returns suggest that he isn’t finished yet. If Brown can keep putting up 28 points per game over the course of the season, what does that mean for Boston’s title hopes?

Dejounte Murray (SAS) – Murray is another player that you ought to have known was in store for a bigger year. Still, it’s always nice to see those glimpses of potential translate into more consistent success. The rebounding guard has averaged 19, 8 and 7 in his fourth season and will be a major part of the Spurs heading forward.

Luguentz Dort (OKC) – Um, if Dort can fill the stat sheet on offense, what on earth does that mean for this young, asset-loaded Thunder squad? The 21-year-old bruiser known largely for his presence on the defensive end has averaged 19 and 4 so far this season. If he keeps it up, OKC looks considerably scarier in the short and long term.

How It Works

Understanding that there’s no consensus way of quantifying the contributions that hoopers bring to the table on a nightly basis, let alone the intangible impacts they have on winning, we’ve measured each NBA player’s 2020-21 production against their 2019-20 numbers.

The results reveal early trends that could end up being significant parts of each team’s narrative throughout the season. Some players have thrived because of work they put in over the summer, some are filling up the box score simply because they’ve landed in a better situation.

In other scenarios, we may just be seeing statistical aberrations that won’t hold up over the course of a larger sample size, hit us on Twitter if you see anything that stands out.

Regardless, seeing which players have shown signs of taking a leap forward in 2020-21, is something that die hard fans, fantasy basketball players and casual viewers alike can get value out of.

In the team tables you’ll see players listed in order of how much more productive they’ve been, with corresponding emojis indicating whether they’ve exceeded or fallen short of their 2019-20 numbers.

You’ll also see each player’s points per game, rebounds per game and assists per game for good measure. Keep in mind that the overall calculation used for player impacts includes more than just those basic stats and does incorporate things like shooting percentages and basic defensive stats.

You can further click each player URL for a more conventional break down of the player’s early 2020-21 stat line and their game log.

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Players Who Have Thrived Out of the Gates appeared first on SLAM.

Michael Porter Jr. has proven he is capable of being a star in this league at some point with his ability to score from any level. Nikola Jokic has continued his excellence, as we all expected. However, Jamal Murray hasn’t been able to get things going offensively, especially in comparison to how he played in the Orlando bubble.

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

Michael Porter Jr.	19.5p, 6.8r, 1.8a
Nikola Jokic	24.5p, 11.5r, 13.5a
Monte Morris	12.8p, 2.0r, 3.3a
PJ Dozier	6.3p, 4.0r, 1.0a
Isaiah Hartenstein	5.0p, 3.8r, 0.5a
Gary Harris	9.3p, 1.8r, 1.5a
Vlatko Cancar	0.0p, 0.0r, 0.0a
Paul Millsap	12.0p, 3.8r, 1.5a
Jamal Murray	17.7p, 4.7r, 2.0a
Will Barton	12.3p, 3.8r, 2.0a
Bol Bol	0.0p, 0.3r, 0.0a

Team-by-Team Breakdown

The post Heat Check 2020-21: Denver Nuggets appeared first on SLAM.

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

Biggest Questions

• Can Michael Porter Jr. be a legit number three option? He’s shown flashes of absolutle greatness early in his career. If he is able to take another step towards being a consistent offensive threat, Denver’s offense will be dangerous.
• Will the Nuggets be able to roll out lineups playing big? The Lakers had a ton of success in the playoffs with their size against Denver. Can the Nuggets match their size going forward?

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

The post Denver Nuggets: Projected 2020-21 Depth Chart appeared first on SLAM.

To get past the Lakers and other contenders who improved this offseason, the Nuggets had to make a few moves of their own to stay in the race. Between the draft and free agency, the Nuggets have some fresh faces to fill the voids of some of the players they lost.

Nuggets Roster Additions

Biggest Acquisitions

• RJ Hampton: When it comes to athletic guards, Hampton is among the best in the 2020 draft class. Spending a year overseas playing professionally rather than taking the traditional college route, many thought he had the talent to go in the lottery. Denver was able to pick him up late in the first round,which is yet another great pick from their front office.
• Markus Howard: Howard went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, but he still was one of Denver’s top acquisitions, especially when it comes to how they got him. The fact that they were able to sign Howard without using any draft capital is incredible. He was the NCAA’s leading scorer last season, producing 27.8 points per game while also shooting .412 from deep. Although he wasn’t drafted, we could look back on this offseason and consider Howard the Nuggets’ best acquisiton.

Nuggets Roster Subtractions

Biggest Losses

• Jerami Grant: Grant played just one season in Denver before having the ability to walk in free agency. After a breakout season, he earned a major payday, worth $60 million over three-years. When it was all said and done, Denver was able to facilitate a sign-and-trade for Grant to create a TPE, rather than him just walking outright as a free agent.
• Torrey Craig: Denver loves to play long, athletic guards. Craig fit this mold perfectly, which is why he flurished in the system. Throughout his three years in Denver, Craig rotated between starting and coming off the bench, meaning the Nuggets lost a key piece.

All NBA Team Offseason Summaries

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The Green signing helps Denver fortify their rotation in the wake of Jerami Grant’s departure to Detroit.

Green won’t be a one-to-one replacement for Grant but he’s a versatile, experienced forward that can slot into Denver’s rotation without limiting the development of Michael Porter Jr.

Green averaged 6.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Clippers last season. He had inked a two-year, $9.8 million deal last summer.

The post Nuggets Agree to Two-Year Deal with JaMychal Green appeared first on SLAM.

“The simplicity of it,” Anthony says about his favorite part of the game. “How 99 percent of the time, the more simple something is, the more effective it is,” he continues. “A lot of times, people get caught up in overcomplicating stuff, doing 100 moves. Shoot, even I can get caught up in that sometimes. I’ll be the first to admit it. But at the end of the day, shoot, the more simple you are, a lot of times it’s more effective. I really appreciate small aspects of the game like that. At the end of the day, it’s a super high-level, super highly talented game, but just how simple it can be sometimes.

“It’s just something from years of playing the game,” he says. “You watch a lot of basketball, you play a lot of basketball, it’s something you learn. Shoot, look, I’m still learning. I even struggled with it a lot this year. I tried to overcomplicate things a lot. That’s why I struggled, realistically. Just getting back to that mode of not overcomplicating the game. I think that’s what’s going to help me ultimately succeed.”

Anthony is, of course, being overly critical. The 6-3 freshman point guard played in 22 contests for the Tar Heels, putting up a strong line of 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4 assists. He had at least 20 points in nine of those contests, led by a 34-point outburst in a win against Notre Dame. There were four games where he hit double-digit rebounds and two outings that saw him grab four steals. Anthony’s skillset is built on raw athleticism, at least to the untrained eye. But the way he finds gaps in the paint with consistent footwork, the high-arching ascension of his follow-through on his jumper and the low-angle pocket passes he throws out of the pick-and-roll all point to an understanding of basketball’s smallest minutiae. And in those moments where it’s all going right, where the fine points of basketball are all in-tune, that’s where Anthony finds his zone, even if he doesn’t show it.

“When everything’s going right, honestly, no emotions,” he says. “I play best and I’m at my best when I’m in a super calm and zen mode. I’ve learned I don’t like to get super hype before a game. I’m not going to listen to Chief Keef or something. I’ve got to be in a super calm mode because when I show no emotion is when I play my best.”

He’s on his way to the League now, with an abundance of those no-emotion modes in his rearview.

“I’ve always been in love with the game of basketball,” he says. “That’s been one thing I’ve never had to question. I’ve always had love, always had passion, always been super competitive. Since I was a child. My mom has this photo of me when I think I was about nine months old of me just throwing a basketball in a hoop. It’s been love ever since then.”

In the nearly 20 years since that photo was taken, Anthony’s basketball journey has twisted and turned from New York to Virginia to North Carolina. It’s even landed him on the cover of SLAM. The dedication to the game, no matter what team name was on the jersey, has been consistent. On a walk down memory lane, two moments stick out to the former McDonald’s All-American.

“My favorite game was my freshman, going into my sophomore year, of high school. AAU. Semifinal game. Peach Jam.”

There’s a rhythm to him. Each declarative part of that introduction brings him closer and closer to entering that game mode even on a cross-country Zoom call.

“It was me, Quade Green, Mo Bamba, Brandon Randolph, Hasahn French,” he continues. “We had a little squad. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t remember all the music, all the shoes, all that. I just remember the game. I just remember us struggling early in the game. We go down 22 at halftime. We ended up, second half, coming back. Quade went crazy. We just ended up somehow winning that game against Team Penny. That was wild. I remember trying to dunk on PJ Washington, getting my dunk blocked. Quade actually posted this picture a few days ago. Quade hit an and-1 three. And I went and rushed on him to pick him up. I’m kinda, like, screaming in his face, he’s screaming in my face. That’s a legendary picture right there. We were all hype. I just remember the gym was electric. And we were all just, like, hype.”

He’s got a big smile across his face even as he finishes that story by noting they lost in the championship to Trae Young and Michael Porter Jr. But as a basketball junkie, which Anthony is, that’s the stuff that he lives for. It’s been that way for years now.

“The first time he told me he wanted to take [basketball] serious, we were in a little league baseball game,” his father, Greg, told SLAM in 2018. “He had just finished fifth grade and was getting ready for sixth grade. He was playing baseball at the time. He had a good game and I’m there, excited and thinking, Well, maybe it’ll be baseball. At the time, he hadn’t really shown an affinity or any real ability in basketball. He came to me after the game and said, ‘Dad, I just want to tell you that I just want to concentrate on basketball. I don’t really want to play any other sports.’ It was a bit of a shock because at that time, he wasn’t really that good at basketball. I said to him that day, ‘Ok, if that’s what you want to do, these are the things that we’re going to have to do for you to get better.’ And I think it was when he took ownership at that moment that he started to get better as a basketball player. He started playing it more and his single-minded focus was just on playing basketball.”

“I think it was sixth grade nationals,” he begins of the moment he knew something big was in the works. “We went to the D1 Nationals. We weren’t really a team that was supposed to do that well. We ended up beating this team, Team Nelson, they were pretty good. I think they were from Jersey. I had 38 that game. And this is back in, like, fifth, sixth grade. Ain’t nobody getting 38 back then. I was like, ‘Woah!’ It’s funny. I didn’t even know. We was in practice the next day and our coach was talking to us. He’s like, ‘This is why Cole had 38.’ I said, ‘Wait.’ I said, ’38?’ I said, ‘What?’ He brings out his phone, starts passing it around to everybody. I’m like, ‘Yo, I had 38! That’s alright.’ So we won that game. Next game I came out and had 28. I was like, ‘Yo, I felt like I could really do something with this.’ So from then I just ran with it. Even now, I’m still uber-confident. The confidence level will never leave me.”

He doesn’t say it with any type of cockiness at all. It’s more like a realization, one that floods back with the story, making him clock how long he’s really been doing this.

“Hopefully whatever team drafts me, I’m going to bring that to them from day one,” he says.

So watch Cole Anthony play when he makes the League. Look out for a two-handed chest pass or a catch-and-shoot three where his mechanics are perfectly moving in concert. Pay closer attention to fully see the big picture.

—

Max Resetar is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @maxresetar.

Photos via Getty Images. 

The post My Time: Cole Anthony is Bringing His Basketball IQ to the League appeared first on SLAM.

Yet, it’s rarely discussed that as impressive as the feat was, barely surviving the first two rounds is evidence of how much further away the Nuggets are from reaching the NBA Finals rather than how close they are. Yes, Denver was missing at least one starter throughout the entirety of the postseason but the Nuggets clearly need more talent on both ends of the floor.

There’s going to be a quick turnaround for Denver this offseason but their additions in free agency and the 2020 NBA Draft could be pivotal to the team’s immediate and foreseeable future.

Related: Full Denver Nuggets 2020 Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Nuggets Draft Needs

Though there were a couple of veterans on the roster last season, the Nuggets are — for all intents and purposes — a young team. As a result, adding another young piece could extend or help maintain their championship window, allowing them to mimic franchises like the Golden State Warriors or the San Antonio Spurs.

That said, Denver’s lack of experience was problematic in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, with key players lacking necessary awareness and the team lacking players who were battle-tested.

It begs the question: do the Nuggets really need to add a rookie to their roster this offseason?

If Denver does try to draft a player that can provide immediate help rather than trading the pick or using it on a draft-and-stash product, there are a couple of interesting options for them in the back half of the first round. With the questions surrounding the free agencies of Jerami Grant and Paul Millsap, taking a power forward is the most practical option.

As the Nuggets were a middling team in terms of 3-point percentage last season, they could also look to add perimeter shooting.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The post Denver Nuggets: 2020 NBA Draft Preview appeared first on SLAM.

Cleveland can’t be faulted for lack of trying but a lot of their moves, up to this point, have felt lateral. Bringing in Larry Nance Jr., Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr. has provided the Cavs a nice element of youth and talent to surround veteran big man Kevin Love but Cleveland is longing for a homerun pick.

Like many other teams, the Cavs’ have key free agents to consider bringing back like Tristan Thompson and Matthew Dellavedova. Andre Drummond is still undecided on his future with the team after being dealt to the Cleveland at the trade deadline.

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Cavaliers Draft Needs

Whether or not they can find that future franchise cornerstone with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Cavs are in desperate need of a defensive improvement. Cleveland’s only two options with their lottery pick are to find a star player or to pinpoint the prospect that will help transform a pitiful defense into a feared one.

In their draft range, there’s a chance that the can get one or the other. They may even be able to get both.

However, there’s a question of fit, as plenty of the top prospects are backcourt players. That’s not to say that point guard Darius Garland, last year’s fifth overall pick, is a sure thing. Just that he deserves at least one more season to prove himself as the player the Cavs thought he could be.

Cleveland, not wanting to waste an asset and being one of the least attractive free agent destinations, may try to go for the safest pick rather than one with too much boom-or-bust potential. Especially as they only have one pick in the entire draft.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The post Cleveland Cavaliers: 2020 NBA Draft Preview appeared first on SLAM.

As ‘The House That Jordan Built,’ the Bulls are expected to be a far more competitive club than they have been since the end of the Derrick Rose Era. Yet, despite their collection of talent, they’ve been unable to get the results they want on the floor.

The fix could be simple though.

Offensively, Chicago needs to improve drastically, ranking 27th in points per game (106.8), 26th in field goal percentage (.447) and 22nd in 3-point percentage (.348) by the end of the 2019-20 season.

Related: Full Chicago Bulls Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Bulls Draft Needs

With the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Chicago isn’t in the best position; prospects between picks 3 and 10 having the look of high-quality starters but not of future stars and the latter may be what the Bulls need most.

Yet, Chicago will be able to find their point guard of the future in this draft, as many of the prospects projected to be selected in the top-10 are lead guards.

Although Kris Dunn did an admirable job as the starting point guard over the past few seasons, his throwback style doesn’t lend itself to the Bulls maximizing their scoring potential. White is the type of scoring guard that’s flourishing in the league but he has the look of a combo guard and sixth man for the foreseeable future.

Getting ‘the guy’ at point guard, one of the two most important positions in the league, should be Chicago’s main focus. From there, the Bulls should improve their frontcourt, looking to add a fluid athlete that complements Markkanen and Carter.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

What The Mocks Are Saying

Projected Roster

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview

The post Chicago Bulls: 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

2020 NBA Draft Picks

Exceptions Available

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

Key Offseason Decisions

• Will Jerami Grant opt out? Grant has gone back and forth since the season went on hiatus. Initially, it looked like Grant would take the security of opting in for $9.3M for 2021. After a terrific run during the restart, it now looks like Grant will opt out and test the market.
• Is Torrey Craig still part of the plans? The qualifying offer to keep Craig is a fairly small $2.5M. That’s probably still a palatable number for Denver if Craig simply signs it.

Projected Team Salary

$189,219,386

The swing point for the Nuggets is Jerami Grant. Even if Grant opts out, Denver will be over the cap. They’ll keep his free agent rights, as Grant is too important to let him walk away cleanly. Because of that, the Nuggets project to keep free agent rights for everyone else. Denver will also keep all of their non-guaranteed players, as each has value for the team. (@KeithSmithNBA)

Cap Space Forecast

-$80,079,386 (29^th out of 30). $25,827,221 under the Luxury Tax.

Team Salary Cap Outlooks

The post Denver Nuggets: Salary Cap Space 2020 appeared first on SLAM.

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

Regular Season Series

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

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

The Path Here

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

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

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

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

What to Watch For

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

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

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

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

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

The post 2020 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals Preview appeared first on SLAM.

We broke down Wednesday’s matchups below.

No. 2 Toronto Raptors 125 at No. 3 Boston Celtics 122 (2OT)

Series tied 3-3

It took nearly 54 minutes of play for Kyle Lowry to push the Raptors across the finish line in the second overtime of tonight’s Game 6, but he did it nonetheless. He got help from Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell, who contributed 21 and 23 points respectively but Pascal Siakiam struggled once again. Shooting just .263 from the floor, Siakam scored 12 points in 54 minutes of play. Kemba Walker struggled for Boston, producing only five points in a game where they needed him most. On the bright side, Marcus Smart notched a triple-double while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 60 points and 30 rebounds.

No. 2 LA Clippers 96 at No. 3 Denver Nuggets 85

LAC Leads Series 3-1

The Clippers jumped out to an early lead in Game 4 and held a 14-point lead after the first quarter. Denver did their best to chip away at the lead throughout the game but never really got within striking distance in this one. The Clips led for every minute of this game and were up by as many as 19 points. Kawhi Leonard led them in points (30), rebounds (11) and assists (9) as he nearly achieved a triple-double. Outside of him, nobody else scored more than 12 points for the Clippers in this low scoring affair. Of Denver’s 85 points, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Michael Porter Jr. scored 69, as the rest of the roster really struggled offensively.

• Sep. 7: Post Up: Clippers Dominate Late to Take Series Lead
• Sep. 6: Post Up: Khris Middleton Takes the Wheel
• Sep. 5: Post Up: Nuggets Cruise to Tie
• Sep. 4: Post Up: Rockets Over Power In Second Round Debut
• Sep. 2: Post Up: The Close-Out Closeout
• Sep. 1: Post Up: Nuggets Grind Through Game 7
• Aug. 31: Post Up: The Jimmy Butler Effect
• Aug. 29: Post Up: A Guard Duel For The History Books
• Aug. 24: Post Up: Thunder Rally Back
• Aug. 23: Post Up: Where Luka Happens
• Aug. 22: Post Up: Lakers Hit Next Level
• Aug. 21: Post Up: Kawhi Carries Clippers
• Aug. 20: Post Up: The Empires Strike Back
• Aug. 19: Post Up: The Cavalry Has Arrived
• Aug. 18: Post Up: Crazy Eights
• Aug. 17: Post Up: Donovan Mitchell Makes History

The post Post Up: Raptors Force Game 7 in 2OT Thriller 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.

Nuggets NBA 2K21 Ratings

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

The post Denver Nuggets: NBA 2K21 Ratings appeared first on SLAM.

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

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

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

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

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

Average Overall Rating By Team

Biggest NBA 2K21 Ratings Increases

Biggest NBA 2K21 Ratings Decreases

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

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.

This brings us to the second round, where every single game will feature a handful of NBA superstars. Only four teams remain out West with hopes of getting one step closer to the 2020 NBA Finals.

Let’s dive into both of these upcoming matchups in the Western Conference. If you want, you can check out our Eastern Conference Round 2 Preview, too.

No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers (52-19)
No. 4 Houston Rockets (44-28)

The Lakers really haven’t looked like what we expected them to in the playoffs. After finishing the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference, they looked rough on offense in the seeding games and then most of their first-round series despite beating the Portland Trail Blazers in five games.

If this continues, the Rockets will be in a good situation. As a team that shoots threes unlike any team we have ever seen, Houston scores the ball at a high level. If the Lakers come out flat offensively, it will be hard to keep up with the scoring of the Rockets.

Against the Trail Blazers in the first round, LeBron James made everything happen for the team offensively, averaging a triple-double. His 27.4 points, 10.2 assists, and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting .600 from the floor and .464 from deep has made him one of the most efficient players in the playoffs. Anthony Davis added another 29.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest in the first round, but outside of that the Lakers really struggled to score.

As good as James Harden’s numbers look, he had games in the first round that were slow on that end of the floor, especially Game 7 in which he finished with only 17 points. Russell Westbrook certainly had his own flaws in the three games against the Thunder in Round 1 but he should be able to turn things around as he shakes off rust and continues to recover from his quadriceps injury.

Defensively, the small ball Rockets will be facing an entirely different situation with the Lakers than they did the Thunder. LeBron James is obviously a mismatch nightmare but another player who has a great chance to shine in this series is Anthony Davis. Houston did a pretty good job of managing Steven Adams in their first-round series but Davis is at another level. With his ability to space the floor as well as score in the mid-range and the paint, the Rockets will have to limit his production to be successful.

One thing to watch for is how the Lakers come out early in Game 1 after being off for nearly a full week. At what point does being away from playing NBA minutes hurt them? Sure, having everyone healthy and fresh is great but as a collective unit this team hasn’t been great in the playoffs. Of any team that might have needed a longer first-round series to work out their issues, it’s the Lakers. It will be interesting to see how they come out against a Rockets team that had only one day of rest between their first two series.

This series probably comes down to the guys who aren’t superstars. We know James, Davis, Harden and Westbrook will be excellent. What will swing the series is how the supporting cast of each team comes to play.

No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers (49-23)
No. 3 Denver Nuggets (46-27)

The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks in six games in their first-round series. Although that sounds great, for the most part it wasn’t pretty. The Denver Nuggets, on the other hand, stormed back from down 3-1 to the Utah Jazz and won the series in Game 7.

For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard really has been the only consistent piece on offense. Paul George, who the the team will rely heavily on throughout the playoffs, played extremely poor the majority of their opening series. While this was manageable for a first-round series against the Mavericks, he will need to rise to the occasion against the Nuggets. Additionally, Lou Williams was streaky and had some less than impressive games, as well as Montrezl Harrell who seemed to take a while to get back into the swing of things after being away from the bubble.

The Nuggets, who have looked great as of late, have a blooming superstar in Jamal Murray. He poured in 221 points in their opening series while shooting .533 from deep. Denver also got solid play from Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Jerami Grant. As a team, they shot .421 from beyond the arc, second best of any playoff team. Their offense seemed to only run through Murray and Jokic for the most part but it was certainly clicking.

The Nuggets and Clippers matched up three times in the regular season, with the Clippers winning the season series 2-1. After coming back in their opening playoff matchup, the Nuggets have won three straight games. While this means they are hot and have momentum, it’s also fair to say that fatigue may be an issue. They will only get one day off between Game 7 of their opening series and Game 1 of their upcoming series. On the flip side, the Clippers finished their series earlier and have had a handful of days to rest, recover and get prepared.

The defense of the Clippers is one of the best in the league. They are well equipped to guard guys like Murray and Porter Jr. with the duo of excellent perimeter defenders on the roster in George and Leonard. Denver on the other hand posted the third-worst first round defensive rating of any playoff team. With the amount of offensive weapons the Clippers can throw at you, Denver will need to tighten up that defense if they want to make this a series. The Clippers are the better team in this series but will need to play their brand of basketball to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

The post 2020 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference, Round 2 appeared first on SLAM.

We’ve broken down each of Wednesday night’s matchups below. For a crash course on Tuesday’s games, when both conference’s No. 8 seeds slayed their No. 1 seeded opponents, click here.

No. 2 Raptors 104, No. 7 Nets 99

TOR leads series 2-0

The Nets came back swinging after getting punched in the mouth in their first-round opener and even started to pull away from the defending champions for a quick minute in the first quarter. As the Game 2 match progressed, however, the Raptors clawed their way back in front thanks to a 24-point, 10-assist showing from Fred VanVleet. Each of Brooklyn’s starters scored 14 or more points and that helped them play the Raps close until the bitter end but it wasn’t enough. All but 16 of Toronto’s 104 points came from VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell, indicative of the multitude of scoring options the Raptors bring to the table.

No. 3 Nuggets 105, No. 6 Jazz 124

Series tied 1-1

Donovan Mitchell followed up a historic playoff opener with a second star performance and while he topped out at 30 points in this one, his Jazz took and finished with a commanding lead on their favored opponents. Hired gun Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 26 points off the bench, leaving the Nuggets reeling and reconsidering their efforts on the defensive end. It was a night to forget for Denver’s starters, though Michael Porter Jr.’s 28-point showing, including six made threes, could be interpreted as a sign of hope for the future.

No. 3 Celtics 128, No. 6 Sixers 101

PHI leads series 2-0

The Sixers jumped out to an early lead in their second game against the Celtics but it wasn’t long before Jayson Tatum continued to evolve into a veritable superstar. The fearless 22-year-old shot 8-for-12 from beyond the arc, for a grand total of 33 points, and the Cs handled their business for the final three quarters of the game. Joel Embiid led all scorers with 34 but couldn’t prevent his squad from being simply outmatched.

No. 2 Clippers 114, No. 7 Mavericks 127

Series tied 1-1

The Luka Doncic show continued in the bubble but the best thing to happen to the Mavericks in their Game 2 bout with the Clippers came when he was sidelined with five fouls. The cavalry appeared for the Mavs and the glimpse of depth changes the forecast for the No. 7 seed. Former Michigan teammates Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke combined for 33 points in the win, while Boban Marjanovic wowed with 13 points and nine boards in his own nine minutes of action. The Clippers got little support outside of Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams.

The post Post Up: The Cavalry Has Arrived appeared first on SLAM.

The forward’s right knee has bothered him since the team’s scrimmages before the restart and other areas of his body have additionally been impacted.

The loss is a significant blow for the Nuggets, who’ve had to get creative with their lineups while several players spent time on the sidelines. Barton averaged 15.1 points per game for the team this season.

Barton is considered out indefinitely as he seeks treatment on the knee. It’s possible that he returns to the bubble, although he’d be subjected to the standard quarantine protocols.

Michael Porter Jr. has started at the three in Barton’s place.

The post Will Barton Leaves Bubble to Address Knee Injury appeared first on SLAM.

The seeding games came down to the wire, with some teams relying on their final regular season game to earn a spot in the playoffs or jump higher in the standings. In fact, three Western Conference teams finished with identical records, meaning tiebreakers decided who was seeded where. Players will face off against former teams, rivalries will be showcased, and the best players in the game will square off with one goal in mind.

With the playoff matchups finally set, let’s take a look at each Western Conference series in the first round. Our Eastern Conference series preview is available here.

1 Los Angeles Lakers (52-19)
8 Portland Trail Blazers (35-39)

Upon entering the bubble, the Portland Trail Blazers were 3.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies for the final spot in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. After an incredible run behind 2020 Kia NBA Player of the Seeding Games, Damian Lillard, they took control of the No. 8 seed and won the play-in game to solidify their spot against the Lakers in the first round.

In three games head-to-head this season, the Lakers beat the Trail Blazers twice. As good as Lillard has been, it will take high-level play from the rest of his Portland teammates if they are going to challenge Los Angeles in the first round. Although LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the Lakers didn’t look all that great in the bubble, going 3-5, we all know that they will be ready to compete in the playoffs.

2 LA Clippers (49-23)
7 Dallas Mavericks (43-32)

The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers were first and second, respectively, in offensive rating this season. Both of these teams have a high-powered offense that can score points in bunches. The only issue here is that while Los Angeles has one of the best defenses in the league, Dallas struggles on that side of the ball. This is probably why the Clippers won all three of their head-to-head matchups this season.

While Dallas does have two young superstars in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, Los Angeles might be the best team in the NBA to defend them. Doncic will shine and show the world just how good he is, but with two elite wing defenders in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, nothing will come easy for him all series. The Clippers also have the most depth in the entire league, which gives them a huge advantage over the Mavericks whose bench will likely struggle to keep up. Regardless, this matchup should still be one of the most fun to watch in the first round.

3 Denver Nuggets (46-27)
6 Utah Jazz (44-28)

This series will feature a battle between two of the league’s best big men in Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic. While the No. 3 seed seems much higher than the No. 6 seed, Denver finished just 1.5 games ahead of Utah in the Western Conference standings, meaning these two teams are a very even match. One thing that sticks out in this series is that while the Jazz lost a premier scorer in Bojan Bogdanovic over the past couple of months, Denver found a premier scorer in Michael Porter Jr., who led the team with 22.0 points per game in the bubble.

The Nuggets beat the Jazz in all three of their regular season matchups, although just by a total of 11 points. While the battle between each team’s center will be important in this series, so will the guard play. To this point in the season, Mike Conley has been fairly underwhelming and he’ll now miss the first few games of the series to quarantine after leaving the bubble to attend the birth of his son. Both him and Donovan Mitchell will need to play well against Jamal Murray and the variety of long wings that Denver will throw at them.

4 Houston Rockets (44-28)
5 OKC Thunder (44-28)

Last summer, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets swapped point guards. Russell Westbrook would play for a new team for the first time in his career and Chris Paul would be moved to a team that nobody thought would be a playoff contender. Fast forward to today and these two teams have identical records as they match up in what might be the most intriguing first-round series. In three games played against each other this season, the Thunder took home the crown winning two of those three matchups.

There are two key injuries that could have an impact on this series. Russell Westbrook has a strained quadriceps muscle and is expected to miss at least the first couple of games against his former team and OKC’s lockdown defender Lu Dort is day-to-day with a knee injury. With a ton on the line, Chris Paul will look to prove to his former team that they never should have traded him away. It will be interesting to see how the small-ball Rockets fare in the 2020 playoffs.

The post 2020 NBA Playoff Matchups: Western Conference appeared first on SLAM.

Heading the first team is Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard, also named the MVP of the Bubble. Joining him are household names James Harden and Luka Doncic who helped steer their Western Conference powerhouses into the postseason.

Devin Booker, fresh off an 8-0 run with the Phoenix Suns, earned the nod, while T.J. Warren received praise for his star turn as an unstoppable scorer. Warren cracked 53 points once and averaged 28.0 per game.

Only three players were tabbed as unanimous first-team selections: Lillard, Booker and Doncic.

All-Bubble First Team

Michael Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert wasted no time taking advantage of their opportunities in the bubble and proved just how scary their teams can be if they end up consistently hitting their ceilings as players.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was the only second-team player to receive first-team votes. He was joined by All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Kristaps Porzingis on the roster.

All-Bubble Second Team

The post NBA Names All-Bubble First and Second Teams appeared first on SLAM.

Nikola Jokic saw his scoring output drop to 14.2 points per game (down from 20.8) and Michael Porter Jr. started to look mortal after some particularly intriguing prior performances in the campaign.

Gary Harris is the lone Nugget that saw a meaningful increase in his production and the club will welcome any and all additional contributions from their impressively deep core. Harris put up 13.0 points per game in March and can be a valuable perimeter threat on a team loaded with unconventional assets.

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.

DEN

Gary Harris
Jerami Grant	–
Paul Millsap	–
Jamal Murray	–
Torrey Craig	–
Mason Plumlee
Will Barton
Vlatko Cancar
Monte Morris
Nikola Jokic
Michael Porter Jr.
Troy Daniels
Noah Vonleh
PJ Dozier

Team-by-Team Breakdown

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Part and parcel with the league’s restart plan is the fact that players can opt out of the Disney World games without breaching their contract, but whether or not players will forfeit a prorated share of their contract when they opt out or not depends on whether they’re formally excused or not due to a medical issue.

Many of the players who will forego suiting up for the squads when the league resumes are facing the same injuries that they faced prior to the shutdown, most notably the likes of Kevin Durant and John Wall, who were expected to be out for the season regardless and will not alter those plans to take part in the unprecedented campaign extension.

Other players that have already revealed that they won’t participate at Disney did not appear on injury reports prior to the shutdown.

In addition to players who will sit out due to recent positive COVID-19 diagnoses – like DeAndre Jordan and Spencer Dinwiddie – there are players like Bradley Beal and Victor Oladipo who will take the opportunity to sit despite being active in mid-March.

To get a sense of where player’s stood when the league shut down in March, I’ve combed through the league’s final injury reports from prior to the shutdown, noting any instances where players were formally listed as “out”.

A total of 19 of the 22 Disney-bound teams had at least one such player in their most recent injury report prior to the shutdown. All told, 49 NBA players from those teams were listed as “out” on their team’s last injury report before the league ground to a halt on the night of March 11.

At least 11 of those players that were listed as “out” in March are not expected to play at Disney World. Many of the rest have long returned to health and will be active in Orlando later this month.

Out Then; Out Now

Of the 11 players that are expected to be out of action when the Disney World games tip off, three had missed the entire 2019-20 campaign. Not all players that spent the first seven months of the season on the sidelines will forego the return, however.

Jusuf Nurkic of the Portland Trail Blazers has been sidelined since breaking his leg in March of 2019 but has been cleared to suit up for his squad after the extended layoff.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson is another example of a player that could make his season debut at Disney. Roberson has been on the sidelines since January, 2018.

A grand total of 30 players that were “out” the day the league stood still are now at least reasonably expected to be back at full health on July 30.

Out Then; Available Now

Naturally, there are a number of cases where availability isn’t known or at least hasn’t been verified. This list could grow with confirmations that players like Nigel Williams-Goss or Justin James are deemed eligible.

In addition to those less documented cases, there’s no consensus yet that a player like Malcolm Brogdon, who has recovered from his right quad injury but now faces recovery from COVID-19, will actually suit up at Disney World, or if a late signee like Jontay Porter, who inked a deal mid-rehabilitation on March 10, will make his debut for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Other players like Memphis’ Grayson Allen and NOLA’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker, much like Roberson, could potentially be capable of returning but don’t yet have a formally revealed clean bill of health.

Additionally, not all players that were available in March are expected to suit up for their teams during the restart. I’ve published a dynamic list of NBA players who’ve voluntarily opted out of the Disney World games but these aren’t the players that I’m concerned about here.

Below is a list of the additional players that won’t play for medical reasons. For several of these players, the hiatus represented an opportunity to undergo surgery to treat nagging injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge of the San Antonio Spurs and Bojan Bogdanovic of the Utah Jazz elected to go this route.

Other players will sit out of the restart after testing positive for the coronavirus during the shut down. A trio of Brooklyn Nets players, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince, have done exactly that and this list may grow if more players see positive diagnoses closer to the July 30 tip off.

Available Then; Out Now

The post List of Injury Updates Ahead of NBA Restart appeared first on SLAM.

The Chicago Bulls have pegged Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas as the front-runner to lead their front office, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

The organization has brought owner Jerry Reinsdorf into the fold, who K.C. Johnson and Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports note typically gets involved when things are close to being finalized.

The Bulls sought to add a new top authority to replace the long-standing existing regime and didn’t waste time beginning their search. Previous executives John Paxson and Gar Forman could remain with the team in alternative roles.

Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports was the first to report that Karnisovas was the front runner in the process but other current and former league executives – like Bryan Colangelo and Danny Ferry – were considered for the job.

Karnisovas would join the Bulls after a successful run with a formidable Nuggets organization and he’s played a role in Denver’s acquisitions of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., all through the draft.

The Nuggets also have one of the league’s most highly touted international scouting departments, thanks in no small part to Karnisovas.

The post Bulls Hire Arturas Karnisovas, Fire Gar Forman 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

Dallas Mavericks

Houston Rockets

Memphis Grizzlies

New Orleans Pelicans

San Antonio Spurs

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

Porter played college basketball at Missouri like his older sibling but after a 2017-18 campaign in which he was named to the SEC All-Freshmen team, a knee injury derailed his NCAA career.

Porter didn’t play at all in 2018-19 and went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Porter’s deal is guaranteed for this season and comes with a team option next year, The Athletic’s Omari Sankofa reports, which gives the 20-year-old plenty of time to rehab with the organization with a goal of being healthy enough to participate in training camp next fall.

The post Jontay Porter Signs Multiyear Deal With Grizzlies 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 Nuggets 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

• Nikola Jokic
• Jamal Murray
• Michael Porter Jr.

Not many teams have a better franchise cornerstone than Denver does with Nikola Jokic and it’s highly unlikely that the team would let a rival general manager propose an offer for the big man before they hung up the phone. Jokic isn’t going anywhere and neither is Jamal Murray, who just signed a massive extension this past summer. Getting the Nuggets to part with Michael Porter Jr. isn’t going to be an easy feat; the forward has too much potential for Denver to deal him away.

Biggest Name Available On Market

• Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season after turning down a three-year, $30M extension from the Nuggets. Denver may have difficulties bringing him back this summer due to their salary cap situation, as the franchise could be facing luxury tax concerns. The Sixers have expressed interest in Malik Beasley and it may make sense for the Nuggets to get an asset for the shooting guard rather than potentially losing him for nothing.

Logical Trade Pieces

• Juancho Hernangomez

For the same reasons it makes sense to listen to offers for Beasley, the Nuggets would be wise to parse the market for Hernangomez. The Nuggets are a very deep, talented team (albeit injured at the moment) but they don’t have the financial capacity to keep all their pieces long-term. Hernangomez has appeared in 31 games for Denver and while he hasn’t had the best season for the club, he’s only 24 and could fetch an asset in a trade before the deadline.

Trades Are Possible

• Paul Millsap
• Gary Harris
• Mason Plumlee
• Will Barton
• Jerami Grant
• Torrey Craig
• Monte Morris
• Jarred Vanderbilt
• Vlatko Cancar

There remains no timetable for Paul Millsap to return to the court as he’s recovering from a left knee contusion. The power forward is making $30.4M this season and will be a free agent this summer. Gary Harris has dealt with minor injuries again this season, appearing in 40 games. He’ll make $19.2M next season and $20.5M during the 2021-22 campaign. Mason Plumlee is currently sidelined with a foot injury. He won’t be back until after the trade deadline. Will Barton has started 44 games for the club. He’s second on the team in win shares. The team gave up a first-round pick for Jerami Grant over the summer. He got off to a slow start but has proved his worth lately, filling in for the team’s injured players. Torrey Craig will be a restricted free agent after the season. He’s been a nice contributor for Denver, though his market shouldn’t be extravagant. Monte Morris has helped weather the storm while Jamal Murray sits on the sideline. His contract for next season is non-guaranteed. Jarred Vanderbilt’s contract for next season is also non-guaranteed. He’s seen just 25 minutes for the team this year. Vlatko Cancar checked into the game nine times this year for the Nuggets, seeing a total of 16 minutes. He’s 2-for-5 from the field on the year (also the same percentage as Ben Simmons from three this year).

The post 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer: Denver Nuggets appeared first on SLAM.

Bradley Beal (29 points) and Ian Mahinmi (21 points) helped Washington fend off the Pistons at home. Derrick Rose put up 21 points for Detroit.

Raptors 122 (29-14), Hawks 117 (10-34)

Despite 42 points and 15 assists from Trae Young, the Hawks fell short against the defending champions. Norman Powell led the Raptors with 27 points.

76ers 117 (29-16), Nets 111 (18-24)

Fresh off his Player of the Week win, Ben Simmons dropped a triple-double with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to beat the Nets. Spencer Dinwiddie registered 22 points and 7 assists in the loss.

Magic 106 (21-23), Hornets 83 (15-30)

Orlando’s scoring duo of Evan Fournier (26 points) and Nikola Vucevic (24 points) lifted the Magic over Charlotte. Malik Monk paced the Hornets with 20 points off the bench.

Knicks 106 (12-32), Cavaliers 86 (12-32)

Julius Randle and Marcus Morris each scored 19 points apiece as the Knicks came out with the road win. New York took over in the second, stretching their lead to as large as 21 points.

Kings 113 (15-28), Heat 118 (30-13)

Two crazy buckets sent this game to overtime, but the Heat prevailed in the extra period. Rookie Kendrick Nunn continues to shine, leading Miami with 25 points in 43 minutes.

Thunder 112 (25-19), Rockets 107 (26-16)

Oklahoma City came back from 17 down to steal a win in Houston. Dennis Schroder hit a step-back dagger to put the Thunder ahead for good; he scored 23 points, while Chris Paul led the team with 28 points.

Pelicans 126 (17-27), Grizzlies 116 (20-23)

Jrue Holiday tied his season high with 36 points in the road win. Brandon Ingram added 25 points and 6 assists. Dillon Brooks scored 31 points for the Grizzlies.

Bulls 98 (16-29), Bucks 111 (39-6)

Giannis Antetokounmpo notched his 10,000th point as the Bucks easily handled Chicago. The MVP registered a triple-double of 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

Lakers 107 (34-9), Celtics 139 (28-14)

Boston enjoyed 20+ points from Jayson Tatum (27 points), Kemba Walker (20 points) and Jaylen Brown (20 points) as they quieted the Lakers. JaVale McGee scored 18 points in 18 minutes for L.A.

Nuggets 107 (30-13), Timberwolves 100 (15-28)

Michael Porter Jr. came off the bench to provide a spark for Denver, contributing 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the road win. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 28 points.

Spurs 120 (19-23), Suns 118 (18-25)

Phoenix took the lead late, but San Antonio rallied to secure the victory. Derrick White (25 points) and Bryn Forbes (24 points) led the scoring charge for the Spurs. Devin Booker scorched San Antonio for 37 points but came up short of the win.

Pacers 88 (28-16), Jazz 118 (30-13)

Utah led from start to finish, growing their lead to as large as 30 in this smooth-sailing contest. Donovan Mitchell put up 25 points, while Rudy Gobert added 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Warriors 124 (10-35), Blazers 129 (19-26)

Damian Lillard had a career night for the second time this season. Lillard scored 61 points in a clutch and dominant performance to beat the Warriors in overtime. Alec Burks paced Golden State with 33 points.

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Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds as he picked up a win in the city that let him go a season ago. CJ McCollum and Dame Lillard combined for 49 points.

James Harden had a season-low in points, scoring 13 in 36 minutes.

Pistons 116 (15-27), Celtics 103 (27-12)

Sekou Doumbouya scored 24 points on just 13 shots and Derrick Rose added 22 as the Pistons picked up an upset win in Boston.

Magic 119 (20-21), Lakers 118 (33-8)

Aaron Gordon (21 points) put on a dunk show at the STAPLES Center and Markelle Fultz (21 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) came up big in crunch time to take down the No.1 team in the west.

LeBron James had 19 points and 19 dimes in the effort.

Nets 106 (18-22), 76ers 117 (26-16)

Tobias Harris scored a game-high 34 on 14-for-20 shooting and grabbed 10 boards to lead the Sixers’ scoring effort. Ultimately, Philadelphia’s defense secured the W, holding Brooklyn to 16 fourth quarter points after trailing at the end of the third quarter.

Wizards 106 (13-27), Bulls 115 (15-27)

Zach LaVine’s hot streak continued, and this time it got the struggling Bulls a win. The Seattle-native finished with 30 points, 7 boards and 7 assists as he went 6-for-11 from deep.

Spurs 100 (17-22), Heat 106 (28-12)

Kendrick Nunn dropped 33 on a blistering 13-for-18 shooting night to put Miami past San Antonio.

Mavericks 127 (26-15), Kings 123 (15-26)

Luka Doncic stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 17 assists and Seth Curry provided a spark off the pine with 21 points and five made 3’s.

Sacramento’s trio of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes combined for 77, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Dallas.

Hornets 86 (15-29), Nuggets 100 (28-12)

Michael Porter Jr.’s time to shine was well worth the wait. His energy off the bench (19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals in 28 minutes) led Denver past Charlotte.

Terry Rozier scored a game-high 20 for Charlotte.

Pacers 104 (26-15), Timberwolves 99 (15-25)

Domantas Sabonis scored 29 on 13-for-17 shooting and tacked on 13 rebounds and 6 dimes to lead Indiana. His plus-minus of +21 led all players in his 36 minutes of playing time.

Raptors 130 (26-14), Thunder 121 (23-18)

Oklahoma City cut Toronto’s 30-point lead down to just three in the fourth quarter, but the defending champs were able to right the ship in the game’s final minutes to escape with a win.

Norman Powell scored a team-high 23 for Toronto and OG Anunoby added 21 points, 5 boards, 5 dimes and 3 steals.

Dennis Schroder scored a game-high 25 off the bench for OKC.

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Cleveland and Charlotte went back and forth in the final minutes, but Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham hit the crucial go-ahead bucket that helped his team get the win. Graham finished with 16 points in 41 minutes, while Terry Rozier led Charlotte with 30 points.

Nuggets 124 (24-10), Pacers 116 (22-31)

It was a career night for Michael Porter Jr., who scored his most points in a game yet with 25 against the Pacers. Jeremy Lamb notched 30 points in the loss.

Raptors 76 (23-12), Heat 84 (25-9)

Miami gutted out the win in this low-scoring affair between two top Eastern Conference teams. Bam Adebayo led the Heat with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds.

Jazz 102 (22-12), Bulls 98 (13-22)

Five Utah players hit double-digit scoring, led by 19 points from Bojan Bogdanovic. Rudy Gobert added a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 26 points in the loss.

Warriors 84 (9-27), Timberwolves 99 (13-21)

Robert Covington and Shabazz Napier each contributed 20 points to Minnesota’s home win. Glen Robinson III led Golden State with 16 points.

Nets 111 (16-17), Mavericks 123 (22-12)

It was another night of MVP-level play from Luka Doncic. The forward registered 31 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists to propel the Mavs over Brooklyn. Spencer Dinwiddie notched 19 points for the Nets.

Thunder 109 (19-15), Spurs 103 (14-19)

OKC outscored San Antonio 35-27 in the final frame to steal the road win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander provided a spark with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. DeMar DeRozan put up 30 points for the Spurs.

Grizzlies 123 (13-22), Kings 128 (13-22)

Sacramento received the scoring edge from the duo of De’Aaron Fox (27 points) and Buddy Hield (26 points) to come back and beat Memphis. Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant led the team with 23 points.

Pistons 112 (12-23), Clippers 126 (25-11)

Six Clippers players scored 12+ points, led by Montrezl Harrell’s 23 points in 27 minutes. Lou Williams (22 points) and Kawhi Leonard (18 points) added to the offense as well.

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Undrafted rookie Kendrick Nunn continues to be an inspiration. Nunn led all scorers with 28 points on 10-15 shooting from the field. Jabari Parker scored 23 points for the Hawks.

Nuggets 107 (3-2), Pelicans 122 (1-4)

New Orleans enjoyed a trio of 20-plus-point scoring efforts from Jahlil Okafor (26 points), Brandon Ingram (25 points) and Frank Jackson (21 points). For Denver, the game was headlined by the debut of Michael Porter Jr.; he notched 15 points in his first game.

Spurs 97 (3-1), Clippers 103 (4-2)

Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 38 points against his former team. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 29 points.

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The 2018 lottery pick has played just 53 minutes of competitive basketball since leaving high school in the spring of 2017 and none since March, 2018. After an injury-shortened freshman campaign at Missouri, the tantalizing prospect entered the NBA Draft.

The Nuggets were happy to red-shirt Porter Jr. in 2018-19, giving him ample time to fully recover from his second of two back injuries prior to his first taste of competitive action in the NBA.

While Denver may have hoped Porter Jr. would get that first taste over the course of summer league play in Las Vegas, a knee sprain threw a wrench in those plans and the franchise opted to proceed with caution.

While Porter Jr. hasn’t had the chance to prove himself at the big league level, it’s important to remember that the 6’10 forward was considered a potential top-five pick as recently as the morning of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Later that evening, of course, he slipped to the formidable Nuggets at pick No. 14, setting the stage for what could end up being a considerable steal provided the 21-year-old can remain healthy.

“We love how talented he is, and we love the player he has a chance to become,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone told Singer.

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Zeller, who was the No. 17 overall pick back in 2012 out of North Carolina, started last season with the Hawks before finding his way to Memphis. He played in a total of six NBA contests during the 2019-20 campaign.

The team now is slated to bring 18 players to training camp. Denver has 14 players on guaranteed contracts with P.J. Dozier as the only player not on one. The team’s pair of two-way contracts are also utilized, though Zeller isn’t eligible to sign a two-way deal due to his career experience.

The Nuggets boast one of the deepest frontcourts in the league with Nikola Jokic, Paul Millsap, and Mason Plumlee among those in the rotation. Denver also has Jerami Grant, Juan Hernangomez and redshirt rookie Michael Porter Jr. are candidates to steal frontcourt minutes. Should Zeller make the team, it won’t be easy for the 29-year-old to carve out a role.

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Below is a list of the contract types the Denver Nuggets 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.

Denver Nuggets

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

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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.

Denver Nuggets 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

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While there’s nothing official yet, the decision to let Bol log time in the G League while rehabilitating from a foot injury sustained during his lone season at Oregon is an intriguing one. That would preserve Denver’s final 15-man rotation spot for another signee either now or during the season.

As Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors points out, no player drafted higher than 49th has signed a two-way deal, so the decision to develop Bol in this manner would be somewhat unprecedented. Bol’s unique combination of precarious health and high-ceiling talent, however, may demand an unconventional approach.

One significant wrench in the plans to develop Bol on a two-way deal, shuttling him back and forth between the big league squad and its affiliate with ease, is the fact that Denver doesn’t have one.

The Nuggets are one of two teams without a G League affiliate, meaning Bol would have to rehabilitate with a G League franchise affiliated with another organization.

While Bol would get to spend 45 days with the big league club on a two-way deal, that’s not the same as letting team doctors and team trainers monitor his health in team facilities all season long, as was the case for Michael Porter Jr. in 2018-19.

Regardless of where the 7’2″ big man ends up, he’ll have plenty of work cut out for him to prove that his foot concerns are a thing of the past. Bol did participate in some pre-draft workouts but was held out of Summer League to ease the strain on his troublesome navicular bone fracture.

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Kosmider relays that the Nuggets don’t believe the injury is anything serious but, given the long road to recovery that the 2018 lottery pick has been on since last June, they weren’t about to take any chances.

Porter Jr. has struggled to stay healthy dating back to his lone NCAA season but isn’t far removed from having established himself as one of the most intriguing high school prospects in the nation.

Porter Jr. was shut down in 2018-19 as he recovered from a lumbar spine surgical procedure, the second such procedure on his back in less than eight months. Since then the 21-year-old has worked dutifully to return to basketball activities.

As Porter Jr.’s expected return to the court drew near, he began itching to prove to the world and his teammates why he once was considered such a coveted prospect. Kosmider details the forward’s rehabilitation process and adds that he’s expected to be an impact player on the squad in 2019-20.

The post Michael Porter Jr. To Miss Summer League With Knee Strain appeared first on SLAM.

As we wrote about prior to the draft, Bol was sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot, a troubling sign for a young big man of his size. He’ll join a formidable Nuggets team that’s already waiting on another high profile prospect to make his debut.

Denver drafted Michael Porter Jr. in the 2018 NBA Draft but sat him for the season as he recovered from a back injury.

In exchange for the No. 44 pick, the Heat will receive a second-round pick in 2022 and cash considerations (per a team press release).

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has since clarified that the Heat received $1.2 milllion in cash and will get the lower of Denver and Philadelphia’s 2022 second-round picks.

The post Denver Nuggets To Acquire No. 44, Draft Bol Bol appeared first on SLAM.

Bol has spent the past five months recovering from a foot fracture suffered during his one and only season at Oregon.

While Bol’s ceiling is intriguing, his projected landing spot in drafts has fluctuated due to concerns over his health. A solid showing this week, even if it’s just to demonstrate that he’s back in a good spot physically, could bolster his stock.

Related: Injury updates for all projected lottery picks

Bol lived up to the hype during his small sample size of games at Oregon last fall. He averaged 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds , and 2.7 blocks per game in nine contests for the Pac-12 squad.

Bol has been on the NBA radar for several years now but teams would be wise to approach the center with caution given the troubling history of big men with foot injuries.

Potential bad news is that Joel Embiid missed two whole seasons prior to his NBA debut dealing with a stress fracture. Potential good news is, well… just that.

Embiid suffered a stress fracture prior to the 2014 NBA Draft and ended up missing his rookie and sophomore campaign but subsequently worked his way into the league’s elite upon returning to full health.

If Bol is in a position to show that his foot injury won’t be a black cloud hanging over the first few years of his career, his value would jump in kind.

Even if a team does decide to take a chance on the highly skilled pivot, however, there’s nothing preventing them from being incredibly cautious with his recovery early on as we’ve seen most recently with the Denver Nuggets and Michael Porter Jr.

The success of players like Embiid and Ben Simmons, who blossomed into stars after spending their first year on the sidelines, may embolden other teams positioned to be patient with young players.

The post Back From Foot Fracture, Bol Bol To Hold Invite-Only Workout On Wednesday appeared first on SLAM.

This rehab called for a full gutting—we’re talking new concourse layouts, new TopGolf suites, a new jumbotron roughly the size of Cobb County, new everything. There are so many changes to the former Philips Arena that, when an usher hands out souvenir programs, everyone excitedly grabs one for the map inside.

The team brought in a bright new face, too, and it belongs to Trae Young. In this rebuilding season—literally and figuratively—the super-gifted kid out of Norman, OK, is going to be responsible for some fun times around the gym. But he’s 20 and hasn’t met a 30-footer he doesn’t like, so there are destined to be a few frustrating moments as well. The Hawks know this. They only hope that the energy the fans show in the stands after a dope crossover doesn’t completely dissipate after a dumb turnover.

“I’m excited,” Young says of his rookie season during the Hawks’ media day Facebook forum with fans. “There’s a little bit of anxiousness, nervousness, a little bit of everything. I’m just ready to play. At this time, you’ve been through so much. You’re just ready to play.”

The whole organization knows what Trae means. Follow the aroma of grilled chicken and freshly baked brownies down to the sleek, floor-level Chef’s Club and you’ll run into Joe Schafer, the executive chef for the venue’s entire culinary program. This man leads a staff of hundreds for every State Farm Arena event, but even he knows that there’s another person in the building with much more on his plate these days.

“[Trae’s] amazing,” says Schafer, of the franchise-building point guard whose face is already plastered on billboards across the city and, of course, on the cover of tonight’s program. “He’s a little phenom. You never know what to expect in any sport when you draft. You never know what you’re going to get, but I’m excited.”

Everyone’s pumped. Until they aren’t.

At this point Young’s backstory is old news. Introduced to the masses last year at Oklahoma during a freshman campaign in which he showed the moves of Steph and the range of Sprint, Young literally did things previously unseen in college—like being the first player to lead the NCAA in points and assists in the same season. He had offensive outbursts of 43 and 39 before New Year’s Eve, but as defenders wised up, those numbers came down. Kinda hard to do your thing when you’re double- and triple-teamed every possession, right?

But even with the stats tapering off toward the end of the Sooners’ season, the Hawks never wavered in their feelings for Young. According to many reports, Trae was the guy that Atlanta wanted from jump—so, when the Draft came, the franchise had no problem with trading its No. 3 pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the No. 5 selection and a future first-rounder. The Mavs took Luka Doncic with the third choice.

“Two of our goals in the next few years is to accumulate as many assets as we can and to get as much talent as we can,” Hawks GM Travis Schlenk told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution before the season started. “Luka is a heck of a player; we were happy with him. Trae is a heck of a player; we are excited to have him. When the opportunity came to pick up a first-round pick from the Mavericks, it just kind of made sense to accomplish both goals with one move.”

Most of your favorite hoops bloggers said the Hawks royally effed up with the transaction. Doncic, a EuroLeague sensation, was deemed a once-in-a- generation talent. He was 18 giving 28-year-old vets 20 and 8 every night. How could Atlanta not stick with him?

When the NBA Summer League started, those rumbles only grew louder—even though Doncic sat out for the action. Young, on the other hand, was out there getting his every move dissected by analysts. He averaged 12.7 points on just 23 percent shooting in Utah. The haters couldn’t get to Twitter quick enough.

When he got to Vegas, however, Young’s game took off. He averaged 17 and nearly 7 assists in four games. The shooting percentage jumped tremendously, too. Things got quiet on the timeline.

By then, though, Young and his many supporters—one of the loudest in the camp was Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr., whose friendship with Trae goes back to their AAU days—were fed up with the jokes and negative jabs. Porter Jr told us followers to “keep that same energy” when Young inevitably took off; Trae rocked a hoodie that said “Keep that same energy” not long thereafter.

Everyone’s quiet. Until they aren’t.

It brings us back to the Hawks’ home opener. Of course, it’s vs. the Mavericks. Trae Young vs. Luka Doncic. The scheduling gods would not have had it any other way. Doris Burke and the ESPN crew are here. The Zac Brown Band is doing the national anthem. Future is performing at the half and postgame. Feels almost playoff-ish.

Trae started a little off. He’s handsy and anxious. Three fouls before the 10:00 mark in the second. He sat down with 5 points. At one point in the first half, the Hawks were down by 26. Doncic, on the other hand, was poised beyond his years. You can already see where this is going.

The Hawks’ first-year head coach, Lloyd Pierce, must have given a Rudy-esque halftime speech because his squad came out fired up in the second half. Taurean Prince and Kent Bazemore held things down in the third quarter while Young played with a sense of urgency in the fourth, showing off some zip with his passes and his underrated knack for drawing fouls in the paint. There was even a rewind-worthy moment when Dennis Smith Jr got all discombobulated during one of Young’s silly dribbling exhibitions. Doncic finished with 21 points. Young ended with 17 points and 5 assists and his Hawks got the comeback victory.

“People are going to look and say that [Doncic] scored 4 more points than me and that makes him better,” Young said after the game. “Well, I’m glad my team won. I’m glad our team came out on top. That’s the main thing for me.”

We won’t overly simplify things too much by calling the meeting a metaphor for Trae’s young career—a hype-filled start, shaky moments, strong comeback, eventual triumph—but you can’t help but recognize the resilience.

“Those first three quarters, when you’re in foul trouble, your rhythm isn’t going,” said Young, surrounded by local reporters. “It’s tough. Luckily, I have great teammates and veterans who just told me to stay the course. When the fourth quarter came, I knew I had to show up and play for my teammates.”

It’s no coincidence that new Hawks forward Vince Carter has a locker next to the celebrated rookie. From in-game inconsistencies to the post-game media smothering, the 21-year vet has seen it all before, so he’s taken it upon himself to help Young navigate through the clutter.

“We sit beside each other in timeouts or whatever,” said Carter about Young, who sandwiched that night’s performance between a rousing 35-point showing against Cleveland and a rough 3-12 effort versus Chicago. “I make sure we communicate. It’s something I want to do. He asks me questions and I enjoy that. That lets me know that he wants to get better. He doesn’t want the stage to get too big. He’s definitely humbled himself by saying, Hey, teach me the ropes. He’s going to put it together and mold into one great player.”