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Three-and-a-half years removed from being the big acquisition in a bold trade from Chicago for All-Star big man Nikola Vucevic, Wendell Carter Jr enters Year 7 with a shiny $59m contract extension set to kick in next season as part of a youthful Orlando core hoping they can bridge the gap among their Eastern Conference rivals from plucky overachievers to genuine title contenders. Continue reading “Orlando lock up their immediate future after Carter Jr gets three-year, $59m deal”
There have been four coaching changes since late January and all in the Eastern Conference, but continuity is key for Orlando to fire on all cylinders with a young core growing together in the seasons to come. News of head coach Jamahl Mosley’s four-year extension this week only further reinforces that. Continue reading “Mosley’s new four-year deal comes with Magic quietly humming on all cylinders”
Disaster has already struck for OKC after news today confirmed their no. 2 draft pick, Chet Holmgren, will miss his entire rookie season with a Linsfranc injury to his right foot suffered in last week’s CrawsOver Pro-Am event. OKC’s GM Sam Presti told reporters this unwelcome blow will not impact the team’s competitiveness this coming season. But how does he know?
Continue reading “Chet Holmgren injury: OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti stresses team won’t tank after Lisfranc diagnosis”
After countless reports suggested Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr would be this summer’s top draft pick, the Orlando Magic presented the first in a night of surprises and trade moves aplenty by selecting Duke’s Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick – adding another talented youngster to an ever-growing core of players hopeful they’ll be nowhere near the lottery in the near future. Continue reading “NBA Draft: Orlando take Paolo Banchero with No. 1 pick, Holmgren to OKC and Smith Houston-bound”
Alongside Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren, the Duke power forward is widely touted to be a top-three draft selection next week. So, would you expect any less than these bullish comments from the 19-year-old after a memorable college season?
Continue reading “Staking his claim: Paolo Banchero believes he’s top player in this summer’s NBA draft”
Through four appearances to start the new season, Duke’s 6’10 power forward star Paolo Banchero is averaging 17 points on 62.5% shooting and 8.5 rebounds per game. Seeded ninth in the ACC, they are unbeaten (5-0) at the time of writing. But as they look towards an uncertain future in the months ahead, will their Seattle-born five-star recruit be allowed to flourish? Continue reading “Paolo Banchero, Duke and the all-important question still to be answered”
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