NBA

Rivers and Lillard play key roles as Gary Trent Jr signs one-year Milwaukee deal

Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors puts up a shot over Jae Crowder of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of their NBA game against the...

Gary Trent Jr will be reunited with former All-Star teammate Damian Lillard this coming season, after agreeing terms on a one-year deal to join the championship-contending Milwaukee Bucks following weeks of speculation about the now-former Toronto Raptors guard’s future. His new head coach Doc Rivers, who knows Gary’s dad Senior, flew to Miami to help recruit his services. Continue reading “Rivers and Lillard play key roles as Gary Trent Jr signs one-year Milwaukee deal”

NBA

Tatum shakes off illness in team effort as Celtics lead from start-to-finish vs. Bucks

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics greets fans after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 22, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston,...

After his season-high 45 points wasn’t enough to see them overcome Charlotte in a 121-118 overtime defeat early on Tuesday, Jayson Tatum played through illness and produced a decisive contribution during their narrow win over Eastern Conference rivals Milwaukee – the star forward is glad to be back home. Continue reading “Tatum shakes off illness in team effort as Celtics lead from start-to-finish vs. Bucks”

NBA

Embiid, Green and new head coach Nurse sing Tyrese Maxey’s praises before Year 4

Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 11, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in...

After averaging 20.3 points, 3.5 assists and 43.4% from three in 60 regular season games last term, Philadelphia 76ers’ shooting guard Tyrese Maxey has been tipped by many insiders to crack into the All-Star conversation in 2023-24. Judging by what his teammates and new head coach have been saying as the new season draws closer, him taking another leap shouldn’t be a surprise.
Continue reading “Embiid, Green and new head coach Nurse sing Tyrese Maxey’s praises before Year 4”

NBA

Nets’ Dinwiddie: Harden and Lillard’s unclear futures mean offseason isn’t over

Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles against James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of Game Three of the Eastern...

During a recent podcast appearance, Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie conceded uncertainty remains around the franchise, and leaguewide, until the respective futures of All-Star duo Damian Lillard and James Harden are resolved. Both made trade requests public in July and with a few weeks before training camp begins, multiple ball clubs are involved in potential scenarios. Continue reading “Nets’ Dinwiddie: Harden and Lillard’s unclear futures mean offseason isn’t over”

NBA

Giannis’ honesty sheds light on an insatiable goal NBA stars continue battling

Giannis Antetokounmpo calls the game as a referee during the game as part of a promotional event during his visit to China at Beijing Sport...

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s insistence he won’t agree terms on another multiyear extension in Milwaukee next summer, unless he feels everyone’s on the same page and still in championship contention, is another timely reminder that star players’ title window can quickly be rendered finite. The franchises and fans they play for, are more than aware of that – but navigating this is a tricky task. Continue reading “Giannis’ honesty sheds light on an insatiable goal NBA stars continue battling”

NBA

Lopsided 135-110 road loss to Portland proves this season centres around patience for Jokic and co

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets drives against Jusuf Nurkic of the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter at Moda Center on October 24,...

Fresh from their comeback win over the Los Angeles Lakers over the weekend, Damian Lillard and a masterful Anfernee Simons display helped Portland (4-0) maintain their unbeaten start to the new campaign. As for Denver, the manner of this latest defeat against a Western Conference rival reinforces the belief this term is all about patience as things settle into rhythm. Continue reading “Lopsided 135-110 road loss to Portland proves this season centres around patience for Jokic and co”

NBA

Adjustments, maintaining belief and new additions: Lillard-Simons duo headline newlook Portland

Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers talk with Head Coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game...

Armed with a new starting backcourt duo, offseason trade acquisition Jerami Grant, a promising first-round draft selection in Shaedon Sharpe among others from an eventful summer, the Portland Trail Blazers will be quietly hopeful they can settle quickly and vastly improve upon a dismal 27-55 record last season – their worst finish since 2005-06. Will they?
Continue reading “Adjustments, maintaining belief and new additions: Lillard-Simons duo headline newlook Portland”

NBA

Masterful or misguided? Beal and Lillard’s latest contract extensions predictably raise questions

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers look on during the first half at Capital One Arena on...

Bradley Beal became the 10th player in league history to receive a no-trade clause as part of his five-year, $251m max contract extension with the Wizards. Ten days later, another All-Star – Portland’s franchise star Damian Lillard – inked a two-year, $121m max vet deal to remain with the Trail Blazers, now under contract until the 2026-27 season. Will these decisions age well? 
Continue reading “Masterful or misguided? Beal and Lillard’s latest contract extensions predictably raise questions”

NBA

Pistons open up cap space and hint at big summer, after trading Jerami Grant to Portland

Jerami Grant of the Detroit Pistons shoots against Jusuf Nurkic of the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at Moda Center on November 30,...

It appears on the surface as though Detroit have settled with less than they could’ve got for a 28-year-old power forward who has been performing at an All-Star level these last two seasons. However, this move also frees up cap space ahead of an offseason packed with speculation insistent that upgrades are inbound: Suns’ wantaway big man Deandre Ayton among them. Continue reading “Pistons open up cap space and hint at big summer, after trading Jerami Grant to Portland”

Archives

Regret or satisfied? Bradley Beal hints at re-signing with Wizards this coming offseason

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards reacts during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on January 29, 2022 in Memphis,...

Three-time All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal acknowledged, when quizzed, that he’s leaning towards re-signing with the Wizards this summer. Turning 29 in June and eligible for a five-year, $246m extension if he declines next year’s player option, will the franchise star live to regret his indecisiveness or be truly satisfied with how things have unfolded in recent seasons?
Continue reading “Regret or satisfied? Bradley Beal hints at re-signing with Wizards this coming offseason”

Archives

CJ McCollum to the Pelicans: This exit from Portland felt inevitable, but also long overdue

McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on January 30, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO...

Midway through his ninth NBA campaign, after 564 regular season games and 57 more in the playoffs, Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum has been acquired as part of a seven-player trade package sending him to the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s the end of an era in Oregon for the 30-year-old, while opening up new opportunities elsewhere. But why now?
Continue reading “CJ McCollum to the Pelicans: This exit from Portland felt inevitable, but also long overdue”

Archives

Wizards’ Bradley Beal keeping all of his options open ahead of free agency

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards looks on during the game against the Detroit Pistons on December 8, 2021 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit,...

This coming offseason, Washington Wizards’ star shooting guard Bradley Beal is set to become an unrestricted free agent – which inevitably will see multiple franchises circling as they try convincing him to leave a market he’s remained in since he was drafted ten years ago. As far as he’s concerned, every option remains available to him as far as his next career step goes… Continue reading “Wizards’ Bradley Beal keeping all of his options open ahead of free agency”