Lonzo Ball’s second made three-pointer of the evening, at 6:22 in the fourth quarter, erased Detroit’s slender lead – one they jostled for throughout – as Chicago executed plays better down the stretch and earned a 94-88 road win in their season-opener. It reinforced the belief the Pistons desperately need top draft pick Cade Cunningham (ankle sprain) to return and quickly. Continue reading
Category: NBA
Orlando Magic’s rebuild begins here, armed with a motivated first-year head coach
After seven years as an assistant for the Mavericks, overseeing the development of franchise star Luka Doncic and others, first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley is among contrasting surroundings in Orlando this term. Having traded away their best players, there are seemingly no expectations but that doesn’t concern him with an ambitious group at his disposal. Continue reading
Naive or not, Kevin Durant’s visualisations of Kyrie Irving are echoed by many
Kyrie Irving’s public anti-vaccination stance has caused tension aplenty, especially as the New York laws require him to get a shot if he wants to participate in home practices or games this season. Kevin Durant admitted his visualisations of his All-Star teammate may be naive, but they represent a belief echoed by many with the new campaign less than two weeks away now.
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Phoenix licked their Finals wounds, but now signals time for more work
All-Star guard Devin Booker had the uneviable task of travelling with two newly-crowned NBA champions en route to the Tokyo Olympics, his head coach Monty Williams was in reflective mood after watching the Bucks blast back from 2-0 down while star PG Chris Paul shunned other offers to agree an expensive extension in the desert. So, what’s next for the Suns? Continue reading
NBA news round-up: Shock Timberwolves sacking, Bulls contract extensions and more
With NBA practices starting next week ahead of the new season on October 3, there has been brief news updates aplenty across the league’s 30 teams. Players, coaching staff and front offices are making moves hoping to get incrementally better in a field of fine margins…
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New home: Lauri Markkanen joins Cleveland Cavaliers in three-team sign-and-trade
In a three-team trade that has left critics with multiple questions, the Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Chicago’s wantaway RFA PF Lauri Markkanen. They send PF/C Larry Nance Jr to the Portland Trail Blazers, while small forward Derrick Jones Jr will depart Rip City for the Bulls, alongside two future draft picks (2022 first, 2023 second-round). Is this a good move all-round? Continue reading
Veteran sharpshooter JJ Redick to bypass training camp, assessing options
After an abrupt and messy departure from New Orleans saw him traded to the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline last season, veteran shooting guard JJ Redick revealed he wouldn’t be participating in training camp on his own podcast – so will likely bide his time waiting for the right opportunity before agreeing terms with a team at some stage for the 2021-22 season. Continue reading
Warriors, Nets interested in signing Paul Millsap; Klay Thompson injury update
After four seasons with the Denver Nuggets, veteran power forward Paul Millsap is expected to agree terms to join the fourth NBA team of his 15-year career this offseason and remains an available free agent. Golden State and Brooklyn have both been linked with the 36-year-old, while an update on five-time All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson’s status has been issued. Continue reading
No Kemba? No problem for Celtics’ second-year guard Payton Pritchard
Ahead of the new season, Boston are outsiders to emerge from an Eastern Conference boasting the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, a determined Brooklyn Nets team stacked with an All-Star trio as well as Philadelphia – who agreed new terms on a max contract extension with MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid earlier today. Second-year PG Pritchard wants to bridge that gap. Continue reading
Spurs coach Becky Hammon hopes it’ll be normal for women to get NBA jobs
Entering her eighth season as an NBA assistant coach with Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, already interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs, the 44-year-old – who played 15 years in the WNBA – still awaits a first opportunity to be the first woman to lead a NBA team after being a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers job, which went to Chauncey Billups this past offseason. Continue reading
76ers’ guard Tyrese Maxey focused on making incremental improvements
Even with a Ben Simmons-shaped cloud hanging over the Sixers, there are positives for them to take into training camp next month. Coming off a promising rookie season where he played 61 games for Doc Rivers’ Philadelphia 76ers team, shooting guard Tyrese Maxey is focused on making developments to get 1% better everyday ahead of his second season in Philadelphia.
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Multiple NBA teams targeting wantaway Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen was tipped to be a future All-Star after an impressive first two NBA seasons. If that’s still to be the case, the Finnish power forward will do it away from Illinois as multiple teams – Boston and Dallas among them – are keeping a close eye on his deteriorating situation. Continue reading
