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  • ‘Can’t carry on’: Fear Spurs will ‘turn’ on Ange; secret behind Reds re-boot: PL Talking Pts

    ‘Can’t carry on’: Fear Spurs will ‘turn’ on Ange; secret behind Reds re-boot: PL Talking Pts

    The Premier League is just over a quarter of the way through the 2024/25 season, and it’s been a mixed bag so far.

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    Arne Slot has his Liverpool outfit firing, and they’re fixed atop the ladder after 11 games, while their rivals Manchester United are rebuilding with a new manager, again.

    Elsewhere, Ange Postecoglou’s up and down campaign is continuing, while Manchester City slumpt to a career first under Pep Guardiola.

    Read below for the biggest Premier League Talking Points!

    ANGE’S SPURS ROLLERCOASTER CONTINUES

    It’s been and up and down season for Spurs, seesawing between brilliant victories and horror defeats, with the latest coming against Ipswich Town.

    Ange Postecoglou’s men conceded two first half goals and failed to chase down their opponents, despite Rodrigo Bentancur netting in the 69th minute.

    The defeat resulted in ugly scenes post-match, with Postecoglou stopping in the tunnel after a fan was said to have yelled at him, however it’s unclear what was said.

    Regardless, it’s a sign of a fan base that’s beginning to become frustrated, and in true Ange fashion he put the onus on himself.

    “It’s just down to me. I’m not getting consistent performances from the players,” he said to BBC post-match.

    “It’s something I need to address. I’m the person in charge so that’s usually the way it goes. I take responsibility when their performances don’t meet the levels that they should.”

    He also labelled his team “passive”, an interesting word considering the high line press that’s instilled by the manager, which sees his players constantly on the move.

    “There are different reasons (to why we lost). Today was a bit different to other times. We were way too passive.

    “If you give the opposition that much of a head start it takes a lot to claw it back.”

    What made Spurs’ loss even worse was it marked Ipswich’s first win upon return to the Premier League, their first victory in the top flight in 22 years.

    Tottenham have now lost five of their first 11 Premier League games, and went down to Galatasaray in their most recent Europa League tie.

    It’s fair to say Tottenham are out of the running for the title, sitting 12 points behind Liverpool despite Postecoglou’s success in second seasons at his past clubs.

    Spurs are yet to win two games in-a-row in the Premier League, and their season has been a true rollercoaster.

    For former midfielder Jamie O’Hara, there’s potential for the fans to begin to feel sour around Postecoglou’s position at the club, despite the red-hot start they enjoyed last season.

    “Spurs are all over the place at the back… defenders crossing over, not tracking runners,” he said on Sky Sports.

    “You watch it and go, so easy, so easy. That can’t carry on. Eventually the fans will turn. OK, we like exciting football, but we don’t want to come back from 2-0 down every week.”

    Tottenham fans will be desperate to finish in the Champions League placings, but their next run of five games will be a big test.

    Postecoglou’s men face Man City, Fulham, Bournemouth and Chelsea in the league before facing off against Roma in Europe.

    To stop his runaway train, Postecoglou will be desperate to some strong wins, and City could spark what could be a monumental comeback for his out of sorts outfit.

    EPL Wrap: Ipswich sink Ange’s Spurs | 02:55

    ARE ARSENAL OUT OF THE TITLE RACE?

    Over the past two seasons, it’s largely been a two-horse title race, with Manchester City the frontrunners and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal trailing closely behind.

    However, with the emergence of Arne Slot’s Liverpool, and a horror run of results, the Gunners are quickly slipping out of contention.

    Arsenal are without a win in their last four Premier League games, dating back to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

    They’ve also drawn with Liverpool, which could be considered a decent result, while going down to Newcastle and also sharing the spoils with Chelsea in their most recent fixture.

    Arsenal sit in fourth on the ladder, on 19 points equal with Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Brighton — tallying five wins and four draws.

    At the same time last season, having played 11 games, Arteta’s side had won seven and drawn three, with only a single loss and five more competition points.

    They trailed eventual premiers City by only three points. This season they’re behind current leaders Liverpool by nine, a margin that could be considered a mountain too high.

    So where’s it gone wrong for a team that showed so much promise in their development towards a title? They have struggled to score goals without Martin Odegaard, who is clearly their most creative player in midfield.

    Injuries, namely to Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, have also played a part alongside disciplinary issues including red cards to Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard.

    Odegaard’s been sidelined since September, and only returned against Chelsea over the weekend, having scored only five goals across their last five Premier League games, whilst also conceding six.

    For former Bright boss Graham Potter, Odegaard’s presence is a huge bonus for Arteta’s side.

    “Especially with Odegaard missing, problems with centre-backs, build-up not as clean, Odegaard is huge miss from creative aspect,’ he said.

    “It’s not as simple as him being fit and playing 90 minutes but he gives confidence to everyone else.”

    Arsenal have also had the most red cards by a considerable margin since Boxing Day 2019, with 18 players being sent off.

    The next most being Wolves and Everton who have received 13 red cards each.

    But outside of those issues, after a horror run of results, former Premier League striker turned pundit Troy Deeney believes one more loss and the Gunners can kiss the title goodbye.

    “Lose one more time and I think Arsenal are out of it. They are going to have to beat Liverpool home and away and beat City as well,” he said.

    Arsenal’s Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard reacts after missing a late chance during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on November 10, 2024. The game finished 1-1. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP).Source: AFP

    HOW ARNE’S ‘SLOT’TED RIGHT IN

    It’s a tale as old as time itself. A new manager joins a Premier League club, struggle in their first season before the game plan embeds itself into the squad and they see the fruits of their labour.

    But not for Arne Slot, who has begun life at Liverpool with a bang and the Dutch manager is priming his side for a title charge in his first season in Merseyside.

    Liverpool are sitting five points clear of title favourites Manchester City after 11 games, winning nine and only losing once so far.

    In fact you have to go back to September 15th to find their last loss, going down to Nottingham Forest, who are having quite the season themselves.

    That result is the only time they’ve tasted defeat since the Premier League began, also enjoying a faultless Champions League campaign, having only conceded a single goals in ties with Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzeg, Bologna and AC Milan.

    So what’s the secret? Because Manchester United will be desperate for their new manager to have even half the success Slot’s had at Anfield so early in his tenure.

    For Slot, he believes his tactical approach wasn’t too far removed from Jurgen Klopp, the man who led Liverpool for a decade.

    “My expectations were not about the amount of wins or those kinds of things. When you come into a new club you want the team to play, as soon as they can, to the standards you want them to play, getting across your ideas as soon as possible,” Slot said on TNT Sports.

    “I inherited a team that did really well last season and for so many seasons before, so there was not a reason to change lots of things, just keep the things they do really well.

    “In general, I think the things Jurgen likes his team to do, and I like my team to do, is press really high. Sometimes in different formations, but the idea is the same – and we both like to score goals.”

    Liverpool were clearly a tasty outfit to take over, and the former Feyenoord boss has a staggering amount of talent at his disposal.

    Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are world class, while the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahim Konate, Luis Diaz, Alexis MacAllister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota are top tier Premier League players.

    However, each and every one of those were players signed by Klopp, and it’s often the case a manager wants to stamp his mark on his new club with signings.

    But instead, Slot’s used what he had at his disposal and Erik Ten Hag could potentially take some notes.

    No manager has won more points than Slot after their first 11 games, and Liverpool have only equalled their current total once. That year, the 2019/20 season, they won the title.

    Is that a sign of things to come? It sure looks that way.

    Liverpool’s Dutch manager Arne Slot (L) congratulates Liverpool’s French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate (C) after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 9, 2024. Liverpool won the game 2-0. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP).Source: AFP

    CITY’S WOES CONTINUE… BUT CAN THEY BOUNCE BACK?

    Manchester City are one of the most dangerous teams in world football, and in recent years have been the most dominant force in England.

    But now Pep Guardiola’s men have lost fair games in-a-row. It’s the first time this has happened since 2006.

    That was two years before the club’s financial takeover and 10 years before Guardiola stepped foot in England as manager of the blue portion of Manchester.

    But what’s more is it’s the first time in the history of Guardiola’s career he’s lost four games on the trot. That’s quite staggering.

    Their most recent loss came against Brighton, while the remaining three saw the City powerhouse go down to Sporting Lisbon, Spurs and Bournemouth.

    All four teams are solid in their own right, but should have been light work for a team of City’s quality.

    Following the loss to Sporting, Bernardo Silva said his side were in a “dark place” and now

    Guardiola has been asked if the dynasty has came to an end.

    “It’s what the people want, right?” he said. “That’s normal — we won a lot. I would just like to have all the squad (available).”

    But City’s problems could simply come down to injuries, and the sheer amount of football they’ve played so far this year.

    Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is sidelined with an ACL injury, and he’s pivotal in the defensive midfield role.

    Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake were all also unavailable against Brighton, while Jeremy Doku, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb and Kevin De Bruyne have also spent time sidelined.

    With that amount of key players injured, any team in almost any sport would hit a rough patch.

    “We cannot do it every three days, three days, four days, three days with the (injury) situation we have,” Guardiola said, before adding: “I would love to have the players (back).”

    Dias, Stones, Walker, Doku and Grealish are all due to return in the coming weeks, while De Bruyne’s fitness will only build after the Brighton tie.

    So with a host of big names nearing a return, City should be able to turn their current mess around. However, they’ve now got a five-point buffer to claw back on current ladder leaders Liverpool.

    Brighton comeback sinks Man City | 00:50

    HAVE CHELSEA FOUND THEIR SWEET SPOT?

    Chelsea have been a peculiar outfit for a number of years now, purchasing a host of players for big money whilst not being able to deliver.

    But now, under new manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues finally looked to have found a clear path and direction.

    Chelsea have lost only one of their last 10 games and sit in third on 19 points, and Maresca has done what his predecessors have been unable to do.

    He’s locked down a group of players he believes are his best, using them strictly in the Premier League and important games while youngsters and fringe players have been injected into their remaining Caraboa Cup and Conference League games.

    Instead of chopping and changing, and attempting to keep everyone happy, he’s stuck to his guns and players like Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Nicolas Jackson and Wesley Fofana.

    Throw in the mix Cole Palmer, who is arguably the most in-form player in all of world football, and there’s finally some stability at Stamford Bridge after a long period of uncertainty.

    “When you look at that squad, you’re thinking how are they going to get any continuity?” Former Liverpool gun Michael Owen said on Optus Sport.

    “But he really has stuck to his guns, stuck to a group of players and he’s been pretty consistent with who’s been playing.

    “That’s exactly what the doctor ordered for Chelsea at this moment of time so it’s been impressive so far, the stability he’s brought, it’s exactly what Chelsea needed.”

    Meanwhile, club legend and former legend Frank Lampard also weighed in on Maresca’s tough stance, sticking with his group of preferred players.

    “I worked with that squad for a short time when I went back and they had 30 players which you would call frontline players, internationals, and it’s harder when you try and juggle it,” Lampard said.

    “You’re trying to keep everyone happy. Sometimes you do have to be a bit brutal and I think they got to a tipping point in the summer of, ‘this is the direction’.

    “Now the players that are the strong core of this team, I think now are going to develop without that problem.”

    Chelsea’s Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) shoots to score their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on November 10, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) /Source: AFP

    UNITED’S SHOPPING LIST IN AMORIM REVOLUTION

    Ruben Amorim is the man tasked with turning around Manchester United’s fortunes, and he is set to arrive at Old Trafford this week amid problems with his working visa.

    During his tenure at Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese manager has implemented a 3-4-3 formation, but players are given a chance to roam.

    While his striker is the main man, the wingers outside of him are given a pass to slot in behind and fill gaps, becoming makeshift attacking midfielders.

    For goalkeeper Andre Onana, he believes his squad have what it takes to adapt to Amorim’s high intensity style of play.

    “It’s a different system but my teammates are all pragmatic. I think everyone here is capable of playing in each system so I don’t think this will be an issue for us,” he said to the BBC.

    “We have big players, they will step up.”

    Amorim himself also said: I know how I am going to play in the beginning, because you have to start with a structure that you know.

    “Then you will adapt with the players that you have, some injuries, or no injuries, what kind of players have the abilities to defend, attack, I will discover that in the next few weeks.

    “We don’t have a lot of time to train, so I have to show something that I know very well. You can take whatever you want from that.”

    So it’s fair to say Amorim will be implementing his tried and tested game plan, with Bruno Fernandes a perfect man to find gaps as his key No.10.

    Another position that Amorim will desperately need to strengthen is the right wing slot, considering how important his wingers are in his formation.

    Erik Ten Hang signed Brazilian Antony to fill that slot, however he’s endured a tough time at Old Trafford.

    According to Teamtalk, United are keen on the services of Lisbon’s rising star Geovany Quenda who has been a revelation under Amorim.

    Multiple clubs are also keen on his services, however the link to his former coach could be a crucial factor in any potential move for the 17-year-old.

    However, the incoming coach has poured cold water on any moves in January for Sporting players, despite also hinting Pedro Goncalves could be another target.

    The midfield gun has been a crucial figure under Amorim, and played a major role in the club’s pair of titles in recent years.

    United have also been linked with Swedish marksman Viktor Gyokeres, however he’s also a target of a whole host of worldwide big hitters.

    On the defensive end, reports emerging from Italy have claimed Amorim wants to recruit current Juventus captain Danilo, whose contract expires at the season’s end.

    He’s on the lookout for a new club, and the Italian giants could be enticed to sell him to get a return before his time ends.

    However, with Lenny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt being big money defensive signings this season, it remains to be seen whether more centre backs will be recruited.

    Sporting Lisbon’s Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim gestures during the Portuguese League football match between SC Braga and Sporting CP at the Municipal stadium of Braga on November 10, 2024. (Photo by Miguel RIOPA / AFP)Source: AFP

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  • Patty thrills! Boomers legend explodes to snap out of worrying slump, inspire win over Serbia

    Patty thrills! Boomers legend explodes to snap out of worrying slump, inspire win over Serbia

    After Australia’s 98-92 loss to Team USA in an exhibition game on Tuesday morning, Boomers great Andrew Bogut declared: “They’re going to need more from him”.

    Him being Patty Mills, who had gone 2-for-8 from the field in the defeat after a similarly concerning two warm-up games against China.

    And while there is danger in reading too much into just one performance, Mills needed a game like the one he had on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.

    The 35-year-old, who is set to play in his fifth Olympic Games, made a statement early and then came up clutch down the stretch to inspire the Boomers to a 84-73 win over Serbia.

    Mills had 28 points after going 7-for-13 from the floor, hitting four 3-pointers to go with a pair of rebounds, five assists and two steals.

    Patty Mills bounced back in a big way. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The game was in the balance late in the fourth quarter when Mills checked in, with six minutes left and Serbia leading 67-66.

    But it was Mills magic from that point forward, with the veteran guard scoring six points to go with two rebounds, an assist and a steal to seal the win.

    First, Mills drove towards the rim to collapse the defence with the shot clock ticking down and then kicked it out to an open Dyson Daniels who drained a deep 3-pointer.

    Mills then sunk one from the mid-range and later forced a turnover from Ognjen Jaramaz, drawing a foul and converting both free throw attempts to put Australia ahead 73-67.

    Mills missed his next 3-point attempt but flew to secure the offensive rebound, which later was converted into a Nick Kay triple, and then also hustled on the following possession for the defensive board.

    The Mills-inspired flurry had the Boomers leading 76-67 and then an emphatic Exum jam extended the difference beyond double digits and Australia didn’t look back from that point.

    Exum was also impressive off the bench with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Josh Giddey scored 13 points but turned the ball over six times.

    Elsewhere, after playing just a few minutes on Tuesday, Duop Reath didn’t see any playing time against Serbia and looks set for a very limited role in Australia’s Paris campaign.

    Why Thybulle is out and Delly is in | 03:40

    The Boomers jumped out to an early 8-4 lead as Mills put his shaky past few games behind him to catch fire.

    Daniels once more looked confident and composed, finding a cutting Giddey with a nice pass as the Bulls guard drew the foul and made two free throws.

    Mills then made his first two 3-point attempts while Serbia largely struggled to get its shots falling early.

    Vanja Marinkovic made Serbia’s first 3-pointer to help close the gap as the Boomers fell behind 9-8, but it was short-lived as Australia quickly regained the advantage to go up 14-9.

    Exum was injected into the game after just five minutes in place of Giddey and made an immediate impact, first driving to the rim and setting up Daniels for the flush before Mills dished it off to the Mavericks guard for the layup.

    Aussies will struggle to medal in Paris? | 03:20

    The next string of changes saw Josh Green and Jack McVeigh enter the game for Kay and Daniels and while McVeigh missed his first two 3-point attempts, he showed no signs of hesitation as he drained a catch-and-shoot triple to put Australia ahead 17-11.

    The Boomers finished the first quarter on top 20-15, impressing with their physicality and active hands on the defensive end to force turnovers and spark fastbreak opportunities.

    That will continue to be a key part of the team’s identity and indicator of its success given the length and athleticism Australia boasts across the board.

    Brian Goorjian went back to his starting line-up to open the second quarter before giving Matthew Dellavedova early minutes, having only put him into the game late against Team USA.

    Josh Giddey had another solid game. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP

    But no matter who was on the floor, there was seemingly little the Boomers could do to slow down Nikola Milutinov as the Serbian big man used his 7-foot-frame to his advantage on the inside with a quick eight points and four rebounds in a matter of minutes.

    A Dellavedova turnover then gave Serbia the lead and while Australia was quickly able to jump back ahead, it didn’t take long for the pressure to ramp up once again as Jokic came back into the game.

    The reigning NBA MVP immediately found Fililip Petrusev with a masterful lob pass and in general Serbia’s ball movement was much-improved with the Nuggets superstar on the floor, drawing level with the Boomers at 32-32.

    Mills then splashed another triple before an aggressive Giddey earned an and-1 to put Australia ahead by six points.

    But that lead evaporated by halftime as a sloppy finish saw the Boomers commit back-to-back turnovers, gifting Serbia a 40-39 lead after easy buckets in transition.

    Australia responded early in the third quarter to regain the upperhand, with Giddey involved on both ends while Jock Landale drained a triple for his first points of the game.

    Nikola Jokic passes the ball. (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    However, the seesawing nature of Wednesday morning’s game continued as the Boomers struggled to find answers for dealing with Serbia’s size in the paint.

    Giddey, who showed more confidence in his mid-range game on Wednesday, pulled up to knock down a jumper to close out the quarter and give Australia a 62-59 lead.

    Serbia took the lead right back to open the fourth through back-to-back Aleksa Avramovic buckets before Joe Ingles, who saw his first minutes midway into the third, found a cutting Landale for the finish.

    It should have been a second assist for Ingles as that two-man game with Landale continued to develop but the Boomers big man missed the open dunk, with Serbia capitalising on the other end with a highlight Nikola Milutinov alley oop.

    Turnovers were only making it harder for Australia to get into any sort of offensive rhythm, but it was the experience and composure of Mills down the stretch that turned the game.

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  • ‘Got to be excited’: Giddey stars, Boomers’ weapon emerges as Aussies give Team USA big scare

    ‘Got to be excited’: Giddey stars, Boomers’ weapon emerges as Aussies give Team USA big scare

    The Boomers have given Team USA a big scare, rallying back from a 24-point third-quarter deficit to go down 98-92 in the early hours of Tuesday morning (AEST) in Abu Dhabi.

    Australia was behind 65-41 early in the third and even trailed by as many as 18 points in the fourth but refused to go away, fighting until the very end.

    Josh Giddey was a standout with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and as the game went on he developed a strong connection with Boomers big man Jock Landale, who was arguably Australia’s best with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

    Will Magnay, meanwhile, appears to have the jump for the back-up big man role after a strong showing while both established and emerging Boomers shone as Dyson Daniels and Matthew Dellavedova impressed.

    Watch the Boomers take on Serbia LIVE on ESPN via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

    Josh Giddey caught fire in the second quarter and didn’t look back. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP

    Australia started the game with Giddey and Patty Mills sharing the backcourt, with Daniels, Nick Kay and Landale rounding out the line-up.

    Meanwhile, Team USA, who was without Kevin Durant (calf), started Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and Joel Embiid.

    Landale set the tone for what was a busy opening from the Boomers big man as he hustled on the boards for the first bucket of the game before James drained an open look from deep.

    Landale though responded with a 3-pointer of his own as both teams found plenty of success from downtown early, with Edwards hitting his first three attempts of the game while Daniels even confidently sunk a triple.

    Australia was well and truly keeping in touch with Team USA at that point, trailing 14-13 as Brian Goorjian made his first changes of the game, bringing in Josh Green, Dante Exum and Magnay for Daniels, Mills and Landale.

    It was a well-deserved breather for Landale, who had seven points and four boards at that point, while it was notable that Magnay was the first big to come off the bench ahead of Duop Reath, with the JackJumper impressing in his minutes.

    Meanwhile, Edwards continued to be lightning in a bottle for Team USA as he crossed over Magnay and then splashed the stepback 3-pointer.

    That brought up 11 early points for Edwards and had Team USA ahead 19-13 as Goorjian called a timeout.

    Team USA got a scare. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP

    The Boomers responded with a 6-0 run to tie up the game as Exum fed Magnay in the paint for back-to-back buckets before Giddey drove towards the rim to score on Anthony Davis for his first field goal.

    It didn’t take long for Team USA to re-establish its lead, kicking back out to 32-21 by the end of the first quarter as Australia’s offence struggled to get anything going late after going scoreless on six of its last seven possessions.

    A lot of that came back to dealing with the combination of Bam Adebayo and Davis, who were menaces on the defensive end.

    Jack McVeigh saw his first minutes early in the second quarter as Daniels produced a great backdoor cut for the finish to score Australia’s opening bucket of the quarter.

    If there was one highlight to come out of the quarter, it was the way Giddey was aggressively driving towards the rim and finding plenty of success, scoring on back-to-back possessions while also crashing the glass on the defensive end.

    As much as Giddey is obviously a gifted passer, the 21-year-old’s driving ability is also one of his biggest strengths as the 6-foot-8 point guard developed an effective two-man game with Landale.

    Will Magnay was solid. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP

    Elsewhere, while McVeigh wasn’t the same outside shooting threat as he was in the warm-up games against China, he found other ways to get involved as he cut to the paint to cap off what was a 7-0 run for Australia.

    Team USA still was up 39-30 at that point and quickly added to that buffer with a Steph Curry 3-pointer, going on to take a 53-37 lead into halftime.

    Those early 3-pointers for Landale and Daniels were Australia’s only successful attempts of the half, with the Boomers otherwise going 2-for-11 while Team USA made eight of 19 shots from deep.

    Australia did have the clear advantage in the paint (28-10) but had only nine bench points compared to 20 for Team USA, which is to be expected given the star-studded depth Steve Kerr has to work with.

    Goorjian opened the third quarter by going back to the line-up that started the game as Daniels continued to be a shining light.

    First, Giddey found a cutting Daniels for the first bucket of the period before the Atlanta Hawks guard came up with a steal on Davis to dunk it home on the other end.

    Mills scored his first bucket of the game a few minutes into the quarter before fellow Boomers veteran Joe Ingles entered the action for the first time in a line-up that included Landale, Exum and Green.

    Still, at that point Team USA still didn’t look threatened and led 67-45 before Australia went on a 10-0 run to wrestle back some momentum, with Magnay and Exum heavily involved.

    Dyson Daniels made an impact on both ends. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source: AFP

    A sloppy USA team made back-to-back turnovers which the Boomers turned into quick points as Exum first found Magnay in the paint with a pass before the big man dunked home an Exum miss soon after.

    Magnay then outhustled Curry for a loose ball to score his third-straight bucket and cap off the run.

    Australia was able to close the gap to 76-61 entering the final quarter and then got within 11 points of Team USA as Giddey scored six quick points, again relentlessly driving to the rim.

    “If there are Chicago Bulls fans watching this game, they’ve got to be excited about Josh Giddey,” play-by-play commentator Jason Benetti said.

    “He has been willing to put his body into Team USA all day.”

    Dellavedova also saw his first minutes of the game in the opening stages of the fourth and operated as the primary ballhandler with Giddey off the court, making an immediate impact as he found Mills for a 3-pointer before forcing a steal that turned into a Daniels bucket.

    Suddenly, the Boomers were in business with Team USA only leading 86-80 after missing its last seven shots, but a Tyrese Haliburton 3-pointer helped re-establish their cushion.

    Australia then turned it over on the next possession after committing a shot clock violation before Haliburton knocked down another triple to put Team USA ahead 92-80 with just over two minutes left.

    It looked like it was essentially game over at that point, although there were still a few final highlights — and reminders of what is to come — as Giddey first found Landale with a precision pass and then with a pinpoint inbounds pass.

    The Boomers fought until the very end and while they came up just short, there will be plenty to take away ahead of Wednesday morning’s (2am AEST) game against Nikola Jokic and Serbia.

    Speaking of which, here are some quick hitters on what we learned from the loss to Team USA.

    SOME QUICK TAKEAWAYS…

    GIDDEY-LANDALE COMBINATION FIRES

    The 3-point shots weren’t falling on Tuesday but if there was one consistent source of offence for the Boomers it was through the Giddey-Landale pick-and-roll.

    Landale was the early standout and while Giddey only really started to heat up in the second quarter, it was noticeable when he did.

    Simply, he looked more confident driving towards the rim instead of always looking for the pass first, although when it presented itself — especially in the form of Landale — Giddey found him.

    Otherwise, Giddey was also looking comfortable looking for the finish himself and while it didn’t always come off it was good to see the 21-year-old leaning into that part of his game.

    Landale’s absence was felt at last year’s World Cup but with the Boomers big man healthy and Giddey firing in his Olympic debut, Australia looks to have found a key part of its offensive identity.

    PATTY MILLS DOES NOT

    Obviously Australia’s poor 3-point shooting is not down to Mills alone but if the veteran guard is to have a significant role in Paris, he desperately needs to find his shot.

    Mills made one 3-pointer late in the piece on Tuesday but otherwise struggled, going 1-for-5 from deep and 2-for-8 from the field to finish with five points and just as many turnovers.

    What makes Mills’ performance particularly concerning though is the fact it isn’t a one-off. He wasn’t able to get into any sort of rhythm in the warm-up games against China too.

    If the shots aren’t falling for Mills, it is hard to see him playing a significant role in Paris and instead it may end up making more sense for him to get limited minutes off the bench.

    DYSON’S DEFENCE IMPRESSES

    The young Atlanta Hawks guard was one of the bigger surprises to come out of Tuesday’s game.

    We all know Daniels has the tools on defence to make an impact but he was also getting involved on the other end of the floor, making an early 3-pointer and cutting to the basket to finish the game with 14 points.

    Now, Daniels’ ability to get stops (three steals) and spark transition buckets could once again pose the question as to why Matisse Thybulle was left out given he has similar strengths that would have been valuable to the Boomers in their Paris campaign.

    But regardless, it was promising to see a more confident and composed Daniels impress in his first significant minutes under Goorjian, who was reluctant to play him at last year’s World Cup.

    MAGNAY THE BACK-UP BIG?

    That is what it looks like if you consider the fact it was Magnay and not Reath who replaced Landale when the Boomers’ starting big man got his first rest.

    Now, that would not have been set in stone had Magnay not put in the performance he did, scoring eight points to go with three rebounds, two steals and a block.

    That was just in 11 minutes too. The hustle and willingness to fight for every possession and take it to a physical USA team packing plenty of size was noticeable.

    WHAT ROLE WILL INGLES AND DELLY HAVE?

    For Ingles, it looks like Goorjian is definitely not compelled to guarantee the Boomers veteran much playing time unless the 36-year-old is absolutely needed, giving him just three minutes on Tuesday.

    Dellavedova only saw four minutes but he made the most of his short stint in the fourth quarter, running the team with Giddey on the bench and adding a much-needed spark on both ends of the floor.

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  • The biggest winners and losers from Boomers’ Paris squad… and key questions yet to be answered

    The biggest winners and losers from Boomers’ Paris squad… and key questions yet to be answered

    This round of cuts was always going to be tricky but few people were expecting Matisse Thybulle to be one of the unfortunate players to miss out as Brian Goorjian finalised his 12-man Boomers squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

    But that is exactly what has happened according to multiple reports on Friday, with Thybulle one of five players to be cut as attention now turns to what Australia’s starting line-up and rotation could look like moving forward.

    Here, foxsports.com.au looks at some of the winners and losers from the squad cut along with some key questions that will be answered in the coming weeks before Paris.

    Watch the Opals’ Olympic warm-up game against China on Friday at 7:30pm AEST, on Foxtel and Kayo via ESPN. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

    Aussies will struggle to medal in Paris? | 03:20

    WHY NO THYBULLE?

    Let’s start with the most controversial omission.

    It was widely assumed Thybulle would be on the plane to Paris because why wouldn’t he be?

    Sure, Thybulle was uncharacteristically quiet at the FIBA World Cup but you only have to look back to the Tokyo Games to see how lethal he can be on the defensive end, teaming up with Dante Exum to help lock down Luka Doncic in Australia’s bronze medal win.

    There is an argument to be made that the Boomers already have athletic, defensive-minded wings in Josh Green and Dyson Daniels so to some extent there is too much of a crossover in skills, especially when you consider how important shooting is in contrast in FIBA games.

    But Thybulle had improved as a 3-point shooter in his past season at Portland and given the Boomers seemingly want to play a fast-paced, up-tempo offence at Paris, you would think getting stops on the defensive end will be important to realising that goal.

    A guy like Thybulle will do just that. Even if you account for the shooting concerns, Thybulle is also further along in that regard than Daniels.

    Although given Daniels is considered a key part of the Boomers’ long-term plans, maybe it was a case of sacrificing some shooting to give the 21-year-old an opportunity to grow with an eye to future tournaments.

    Boomers legend Andrew Bogut said on the first episode of NBL Media’s ‘The Gold Standard’ podcast this morning that leaving out Thybulle was an “interesting” call.

    “He’s arguably the best defender on that squad and one of the best defenders in the NBA,” Bogut said.

    “I think his shooting and the ups and downs of his shooting was a concern and how I think in the last campaign I wouldn’t say he disappeared but he struggled with that when his shot wasn’t falling.”

    Matisse Thybulle was left out. Picture: Adam HeadSource: News Corp Australia

    HOW ABOUT XAVIER COOKS?

    It wasn’t as big a shock to see Cooks left out, although there was certainly an argument that could be made that he should have definitely been in the squad if you left Thybulle out.

    Both Bogut and Brad Newley said on ‘The Gold Standard Podcast’ that they would have had Cooks in their 12-man squad irrespective of whether Thybulle was selected.

    But without Thybulle, you would have thought the Boomers would have put more value in someone like Cooks with his athleticism, versatility and defence.

    It definitely would have been a particularly tough call for Goorjian to leave him out given how much the Boomers coach praised Cooks at last year’s FIBA World Cup while he is also going to be Cooks’ coach at the Kings next year.

    Again, maybe it was a case of Australia prioritising Kay’s shooting, although he was hunted defensively in switches at the World Cup, so the Boomers will need a plan to combat that.

    Bogut said he thought Cooks had “outplayed” Kay “a little bit” during his time at Boomers camp.

    “A lot of people will say this is Sydney Kings bias. I was at the camps. I like to think I’m not biased, I call it how I see it and I thought he outplayed Nick Kay a little bit,” he said.

    “But Kay’s got the shooting arm over X. But then you’re taking Jack McVeigh so I thought that would nullify bringing in a Nick Kay and maybe going with an X because I think X did a great job at the five spot, grabbing the rebound, pushing it up… creating a lot of crossmatches.”

    ‘He looks old’ – Patty shouldn’t start?! | 02:43

    HARD LUCK FOR GOULDING

    Ultimately, it looks like this was a case of there only being space for one of Jack McVeigh and Chris Goulding, with the Tasmania JackJumper winning out.

    There isn’t much more Goulding could have done, going 8-for-12 from deep during the warm-up games against China, making it easy to visualise how he could fit into this Boomers team, launching corner 3s.

    McVeigh’s versatility likely won him the role in the end, although you could make an argument Australia needs all the shooting it can get and so there could have been space for both players.

    “Chris is as good a shooter as anyone on the planet. He’s proven that throughout his career,” former teammate Newley said.

    Chris Goulding did all he could. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    DELLY THE ‘BOLTER’ THAT JUST WON’T GO AWAY

    One of the best stories to come out of this squad is Matthew Dellavedova forcing his way back into the picture after missing out on selection for the World Cup last year.

    If there is one word to sum up Delly it is scrappy, fighting every inch — whether it is for a ball that seems destined to go out of bounds or, in this case, another shot in the green and gold.

    You only have to look at what Dellavedova did in the lead-up to the World Cup last year when he found out he wasn’t even part of Goorjian’s 17-man squad.

    Speaking on his Rogues Bogues podcast at the time, Bogut said he heard Goorjian told Dellavedova over the phone he would not be part of the pre-tournament Cairns camp.

    “I heard that Delly was actually told not to come to Cairns camp,” Bogut said.

    “… The conversation, with whoever called him to make that call, I think it was Brian Goorjian, and Delly was like ‘nah f*** that, I’m coming to the camp’.

    “And they were like ‘no, you’re not in the squad’ and I guess there was a back and forth and Delly was just like ‘you’re going to have to look me in the face and cut me’. Basically, ‘I’m going to prove you wrong’.

    “People will look at that like ‘what the hell’. I loved it. Obviously, there isn’t (sic) a lot of people with the currency to do that. If you’re a fringe guy that’s never made the national team, you can’t be doing that.

    “But it was probably a tough thing for (Dellavedova). He’s been an integral part of the national team.”

    Matthew Dellavedova forced his way back into the team. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Just one example of the never-say-die attitude that has Dellavedova back in Goorjian’s plans, capitalising on a standout season with the Melbourne United in the NBL to suit up for his fourth Olympics.

    Newley described Dellavedova as the “bolter” in this year’s squad, adding that the competitive fire he brings on and off the court will bring the most out of his teammates.

    “He’s made the team and that guy did everything he could to make it,” Newley said.

    “He carried us to a Finals campaign last year. Just to see him back in the line-up… hats off to him, what a warrior.

    “Delly is the surprise packet… he bleeds green and gold and they might have missed that in the last campaign. He’s definitely going to bring that to this one.”

    Bogut, meanwhile, revealed that from what he saw and heard at Boomers camp, Dellavedova left Goorjian with no choice but to recall him.

    Matthew Dellavedova is all effort. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “People will look at that and say how did Delly make it? How did he get back in? His squad didn’t lose a practice,” Bogut said.

    “The team that he was on over the three or four days, even before I arrived, they said that his team was winning 90% of the drills and the five on fives and all the stuff that they were doing.

    “… All reports were he was locked in from day one and that energy is infectious. He picks up full court, he’s talking, he’s vocal and he’s a guy that you don’t have to worry about as a coach that he’s gonna complain and mope that he’s not getting minutes two games into a campaign and perhaps not play that well or not be locked in.

    “He’s gonna be locked in every minute of the game whether he’s getting a DNP or playing minutes. So I think it’s well deserved for Delly.”

    Dellavedova will likely not see many minutes in Paris and, as Bogut alluded to, could even be a DNP for a few games but the great thing about the veteran guard is the fact he will always be ready if his name is called.

    Boomers beat China in final home game | 02:18

    ANOTHER BIG WIN FOR THE JACKJUMPERS

    First, they defended the island and won their first NBL championship.

    Now they have two Boomers after both Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay earned selection in Goorjian’s 12-man squad.

    For McVeigh in particular it is reward for perseverance, having rebuilt his career after being benched in his third year of college basketball at The University of Nebraska, going to carve out a solid career in the NBL before really breaking out in his past season with the JackJumpers.

    McVeigh averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 assists per game, going to another level in the Championship Series on the way to being named MVP and was later rewarded with a new contract that will keep him in Tasmania until the end of the 2027 season.

    McVeigh, who put on a shooting clinic in the first warm-up game against China, sacrificed honeymoon plans in Bali in the hope of instead booking a ticket to Paris.

    It was a sacrifice worth making in the end.

    McVeigh will be a key spark plug off the bench while Magnay likely won’t see many minutes.

    He will instead probably be a match-up specific big for Goorjian, who can help fill in if either Jock Landale or Duop Reath run into foul trouble while he is also an insurance policy of sorts after Australia’s lack of size was exposed at the World Cup last year without Landale.

    Jack McVeigh shot the ball well. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    THE BIG ‘QUESTION’ HANGING OVER INGLES

    It always seemed like Joe Ingles was going to feature for the Boomers in what will be his fifth Olympic Games, although things will still be different for the veteran this time around.

    It is hard to see him in the starting line-up while minutes in general may be restricted to make the most of the 36-year-old’s strengths without stretching him too far to the extent that he becomes too much of a liability on the defensive end.

    Ingles sent Goorjian a reminder of his value as a playmaker running the second unit in Thursday’s warm-up game against China and should be valuable in that connective role off the bench at Paris.

    Obviously he is also a key locker room voice and leader who was part of Australia’s historic bronze medal triumph in Tokyo too, so Ingles will be an important member of the squad in that respect too.

    But Bogut said on Friday that just how many minutes Ingles will get at Paris remains a mystery, especially when you consider the fast-paced style of offence the Boomers want to run.

    What role will Ingles have? (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “Are there minutes there for him? That’s my question,” he said.

    “Are there mass minutes for Joe Ingles? I don’t know, with the style of play they’re trying to take. They’re trying to go up-tempo.

    “I think where Joe was really good and has been really good for the Boomers and throughout his career is he’s a slow down pace where he can create out of the pick-and-roll and he comes out of it really slowly, he can find whoever he needs to find… is he going to have 15 to 20 minutes? I’m not sure.

    “He’s coming off the bench obviously but that’s the question. Can he be that guy off the bench that plays limited minutes at times and stays locked in as an older guy?”

    CAN THE BOOMERS AFFORD TO STAY PATTY?

    Bogut though was more firm in the fact that Patty Mills needs to come off the bench at this year’s Olympics.

    Mills will go down in history for his 42-point heroics in the bronze medal game against Slovenia, but at this stage it is hard to see him replicating that sort of production at this year’s Games.

    The veteran guard went 1-for-11 from the field in a worrying warm-up game against China on Thursday and also struggled to get his shots falling at last year’s World Cup.

    Considering Mills’ shooting is easily his biggest value add to this team, the Boomers better hope he finds his shot. Otherwise, he is another guy who could be reduced to limited minutes off the bench.

    “I think if you’re starting Giddey, I don’t think you start Patty,” Bogut said.

    “I think Giddey’s journey, his career’s going up, but he’s not there yet defensively. He probably needs some work on that end, and he knows that.

    “Patty’s not a great defender. So I don’t think you can start both of those two. I think we saw that at the World Cup, I just don’t think you can start those two and play them mass minutes together.”

    Patty Mills could come off the bench. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Bogut said he would prefer to see Mills come off the bench in a “gunning role” but also questioned how effective that will be if the 35-year-old can’t find his shooting rhythm.

    “It’s just looked forced and clunky at times trying to find it,” Bogut added.

    “He had a similar lead-up in the last Olympic and World Cup year… and then he popped up and had at least a great Olympics. But that is a concern.”

    Should Mills start off the bench, that leaves Giddey and Dante Exum in the backcourt with Jock Landale and Josh Green also locked into starting roles while the four spot is the only one seemingly up for grabs in that scenario.

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  • Brutal Boomers calls: The locks for Paris… and big questions to decide final Olympic spots

    Brutal Boomers calls: The locks for Paris… and big questions to decide final Olympic spots

    The Boomers cruised to comfortable wins in two warm-up games against China but now comes the most difficult part of the week for coach Brian Goorjian.

    He will be tasked with trimming Australia’s 17-man squad down to 12 players, although the process looks to have already started considering two absentees from Thursday’s game.

    Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down who has already punched their ticket to Paris and the tough calls Goorjian needs to make.

    Boomers vs China match wrap | 02:31

    WHO ARE LOCKS?

    There are seven players who will definitely be on the plane to Paris.

    Starting with Josh Giddey who, regardless of what you made of his final season at Oklahoma City, is clearly the face of the Boomers both now and moving forward.

    Sure, Giddey has his shortcomings on the defensive end and isn’t a reliable outside shooter just yet but Goorjian would have seen enough in last year’s FIBA World Cup to know this team is at its best when the offence is running through the 21-year-old.

    Now, while Giddey’s 3-point shooting remains a glaring weakness, that is obviously not going to be a crippling issue for the Boomers like it was in Oklahoma City, where the Australian was playing more of an off-ball shooter role anyway.

    For Giddey, the key is to be more aggressive in hunting mismatches as was the case in his best game of the World Cup last year against Japan, where he used his 6-foot-8 frame to his advantage to finish with 26 points, five rebounds and 11 assists.

    Josh Giddey will be the starting point guard. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Giddey will be the starting point guard. Who starts alongside him in the backcourt is up for debate, but you can also lock in Patty Mills for a spot in the 12-man squad.

    That is despite a less than ideal season in the NBA where Mills struggled for minutes at Atlanta before being traded to Miami, where he saw more game time early as injuries tested the Heat’s backcourt depth.

    Mills’ performances in the warm-up games have to be a cause for concern too, with the veteran going 1-for-11 from the field on Thursday night after eight scoreless minutes on two field goal attempts in Tuesday’s win.

    It follows a World Cup campaign where Mills also struggled to consistently find his shot.

    Still, if there is a major question mark over this Boomers team heading into Paris it is whether it has that one guy who is capable of consistently making buckets like Mills did with his 42-point heroics against Slovenia at the Tokyo Games.

    Is Patty still capable of that sort of performance? Maybe not. And he definitely didn’t provide the sort of consistent shooting the Boomers needed from him at the World Cup, especially when you consider the disadvantage Australia is at on defence with Mills and Giddey sharing the backcourt.

    Which is why four-time Olympian Shane Heal suggested in a column for news.com.au that Mills should start off the bench as more of a scoring spark plug.

    Either way, Mills will be on the plane to Paris.

    Patty Mills hasn’t found his shooting rhythm yet. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Moving onto the frontcourt, you can add Jock Landale and Duop Reath to the list of locks for the Boomers’ 12-man squad that is off to Paris.

    Landale was set to be a big part of Australia’s FIBA World Cup campaign last year before being ruled out with an ankle injury that ended up disrupting his pre-season at Houston.

    He will obviously be a welcome addition with his size on the defensive end while Reath will operate as a floor-spacing big for the Boomers, having flashed his potential in an expanded role last year with Landale sidelined before going on to really emerge in the NBA for the Trail Blazers.

    Reath averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in his rookie season in the league, shooting 35.9 per cent from downtown and made an immediate impact in Tuesday’s warm-up game against China on both ends of the floor.

    Reath will benefit from not having to shoulder so much responsibility given the Boomers didn’t have a back-up big to ease the pain of losing Landale on the eve of the World Cup.

    Then you have Australia’s versatile trio of Josh Green, Dante Exum and Matisse Thybulle.

    It will be interesting to see how Goorjian balances out Green and Exum’s minutes given they are right now less than a month removed from playing in the NBA Finals.

    If Goorjian ends up going in the direction Heal has suggested, that would likely involve starting Exum alongside Giddey in the backcourt.

    Although Exum was a real X-factor for Australia off the bench running the second unit at the FIBA World Cup.

    As for Thybulle, he was one of Australia’s standouts at the Tokyo Games but was relatively quiet by his lofty standards at the World Cup.

    Still, there is no doubting Thybulle’s place in the squad given his ability to impact a game on the defensive end with his length and athleticism, while the 27-year-old wing also had some hot shooting stretches at Portland.

    Obviously he’s never going to be a consistent, knockdown 3-point shooter but anything Thybulle can add on that side of the ball along with his elite defence is a bonus.

    WHAT ABOUT THE REST?

    So, this is where things get interesting because there are only five spots left and 10 contenders to fill those spots.

    Starting with Dyson Daniels, who was recently traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Atlanta Hawks.

    Daniels got little to no playing time at last year’s World Cup and while he has another season of NBA experience under his belt, the same logic applies to why you would and wouldn’t give him more of a go this time around.

    Daniels’ length and athleticism on the defensive end is obviously his biggest strength, with the Bendigo product establishing himself as one of the NBA’s best defenders.

    It is why he saw relatively consistent minutes in the New Orleans’ rotation, at least before the playoffs, because the 21-year-old is otherwise too limited on the offensive side of the ball.

    Dyson Daniels has room to grow. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

    The 3-point shooting isn’t there but the bigger concern is that Daniels still at times plays with too little confidence, not backing himself to be more aggressive and drive towards the rim to help open up his game more.

    At this stage Daniels looks likely to punch his ticket to Paris on the back of his defence, but Goorjian will have to be selective with the line-up he puts around the former No. 8 overall pick given his limitations on offence.

    Moving from a young emerging Boomer to a longstanding veteran, it will be particularly interesting to see where Goorjian lands on Joe Ingles, who on Thursday signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    Ingles won’t be starting but when it comes to sorting through his potential bench options, it is ultimately a case of what qualities Goorjian is looking for.

    With someone like Ingles, you are obviously getting a level of leadership and composure that comes with the 18 years of his experience he has playing in the NBA, NBL and Europe.

    The 36-year-old wing also still has the competitive fire and trash-talking to win the mental battle against some of the best.

    If Ingles can be solid enough on defence and make his 3-pointers when open, he is the right kind of connective piece with his shooting and playmaking to be a glue guy off the bench.

    He showed that on Thursday night too, dishing out three assists in a professional third-quarter cameo that had Andrew Gaze impressed.

    “There are some out there that have raised question marks… but in the last five minutes you have seen why he can be so valuable,” Gaze said in commentary.

    Ingles signs one-year deal with Wolves | 00:39

    Matthew Dellavedova is another veteran pushing for selection, although unlike Ingles he missed out on a spot in last year’s FIBA World Cup squad.

    But Dellavedova is as scrappy as they come and after a standout season in the NBL, the 33-year-old is in the frame for a bench spot.

    Dellavedova was productive off the bench in the first game, scoring three points to go with seven assists and four rebounds in just 14 minutes.

    The Boomers’ offence flowed nicely with the veteran running the point, pushing the pace in transition and making the right plays — even if they weren’t flashy ones — that come with the kind of experience he has built up.

    Dellavedova wouldn’t see extended minutes in Paris but Goorjian could strike the right kind of balance to get the most out of his energy and tenacity on both ends of the floor.

    That then moves us to the next group — Jack McVeigh, Chris Goulding, Nick Kay, Will Magnay and Xavier Cooks.

    McVeigh looked to have booked his ticket to Paris after a standout showing in the first game against China, where he went 6-for-8 from deep to finish with 24 points.

    Gaze said in commentary during that game that it would be hard not to pick McVeigh.

    Has Jack McVeigh secured his spot? (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “Jack McVeigh has just come in, been composed, taken what’s been given to him and been very, very crafty,” Gaze said.

    This Boomers squad is full of athleticism, length and versatility but lacks a genuine sharpshooter to take advantage of the open looks those kinds of versatile playmakers can create.

    Mills used to be that guy and still can be to a certain extent but McVeigh could be lightning in a bottle off the bench, plus he has the ‘chip on my shoulder’ mentality that makes him the perfect locker room presence.

    The big question for Goorjian is whether he feels like he can afford to carry both McVeigh and Goulding, who made four 3-pointers in the first warm-up game against China and then exploded for just as many triples in the third quarter alone in game two.

    There is an argument that the Boomers need all the scoring they can get and so Goulding and McVeigh can co-exist, especially given the way Tasmania’s Finals MVP impacted the game beyond just his 3-point shooting, also converting on a few mid-range looks as he drove towards the rim.

    It is something Gaze suggested in commentary on Friday night when considering the likely core of the squad as a whole.

    “I just think when you look at what this team needs — yes they are incredible athletes, yes they can get up and in and you can see the havoc they can cause on the defensive end,” Gaze said.

    “Defence is the foundation but you’ve still got to be able to put the ball in the hole. When you’ve got those moments where things are breaking down… you get it to Goulding and you feel really good about it when the ball leaves his hands unlike some of the other well credentialed players on this roster.”

    Boomers looking to build on bronze | 01:03

    The other dilemma for Goorjian is whether he carries a third big after Australia’s lack of size was exposed at the World Cup last year without the injured Landale.

    If Goorjian wants to play it safe and give himself some insurance, Will Magnay will be in the 12-man squad.

    Nick Kay is another option having been a mainstay in the Boomers set-up for a number of years now, with Goorjian consistently calling on him to match up against the opposition’s best wing or big.

    Kay saw significant minutes at the World Cup last year, obviously in part to Landale’s absence, but it still speaks to the confidence Goorjian has in the veteran to get the job done on both ends.

    Otherwise, the alternative is mixing in the small ball line-up with Xavier Cooks at the five, as was the case at the World Cup.

    Although given the fact that contributed to Australia’s early exit, perhaps Goorjian will opt to play it safe this time around to make sure the Boomers are covered and history doesn’t repeat.

    Speaking of Cooks, he stood out in a big way at the World Cup last year, scoring 24 points to go with 16 rebounds in a big win against Japan.

    Of course, there is only so much you can take from that game against an undersized Japan outfit that doesn’t accurately reflect what the Boomers are going to see in their group at the Olympics.

    But Cooks’ defensive versatility will always have him in the conversation for selection.

    Elsewhere, DJ Vasiljevic and Jack White did not see any playing time in Thursday’s game and at this stage look long shots to make the cut.

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  • ‘Littered with landmines’: Brutal reality for LeBron’s son… and why he’s a prospect like no other

    ‘Littered with landmines’: Brutal reality for LeBron’s son… and why he’s a prospect like no other

    Bronny James is like few other NBA Draft prospects in recent memory. Why?

    Well, start by asking yourself which other projected second-round pick has had this much attention, arguably more than the potential No.1 pick, Zaccharie Risacher.

    Of course, the fact there is still some level of uncertainty as to who could go first overall, combined with the lack of superstar talent at the top of this year’s class, has only further thrust the 19-year-old into the spotlight.

    That is nothing new for Bronny though, being the son of one of the greatest NBA players of all time, heartlessly booed during road games for USC with Arizona State fans even chanting “overrated” after he missed a layup for the Trojans in January.

    Watch Live Coverage of The 2024 NBA Draft with ESPN on Kayo Sports. Thu 9:30am / Fri 6am AEST. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    LeBron James shouts to his son Bronny. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “He’s just a kid trying to live out his dream,” father and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron said on his ‘Mind the Game’ podcast with JJ Redick of the “hatred” and “animosity” towards Bronny.

    “You know, there’s a very small number of men and women that actually get to live out their dream of playing a professional sport. And we have grown … men and women out here doing whatever they can to try to make sure that does not happen.

    “That is the weirdest thing in the world.”

    The fact Bronny is even here, still on the court and now on the verge of being drafted into the NBA, is something worth celebrating in itself after he suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed at a July workout last year.

    For Bronny, his father’s name is both a blessing and a curse. But now, the 19-year-old is preparing to take the first step towards forging his own path in the NBA.

    That likely starts on Friday, or potentially Thursday, as he waits for his name to be called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver in either the first or second round of this year’s draft.

    Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down everything you need to know about Bronny ahead of the draft, from what NBA experts are saying about his potential to where he may land.

    BACKGROUND

    Bronny was a four-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles, where he missed the majority of his sophomore season with a torn meniscus in his knee.

    He really broke out as a senior, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals and was ranked as the No. 19 overall recruit in the 2023 recruiting class by ESPN at that point.

    Bronny went on to be named McDonald’s All-American, scoring 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting from downtown with four assists in the event, while also earning selection for Team USA at the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit.

    He had 11 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal in that game, not seeing a lot of playing time in the second half but coming up clutch when he was required in the fourth quarter as he drained a key 3-pointer and forced a turnover on the other end soon after.

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    ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the draft

    Bronny James talks to LeBron after the 2023 McDonald’s High School Boys All-American Game. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP

    Bronny considered USC before committing to play college basketball at USC, where his freshman season was interrupted after he suffered a cardiac arrest, which it was later determined was caused by a congenital heart defect.

    It put Bronny’s immediate playing future in doubt, although he later returned to the court after missing the opening month of the season to make his USC debut against Long Beach State.

    Bronny ended up playing every game for the rest of the season, although he only started in six of them and averaged 19.3 minutes, which ranked ninth on the team.

    It resulted in the 19-year-old posting underwhelming numbers, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals while shooting 36.6 per cent from the field and 26.7 per cent from deep.

    He also shot just 19.6 per cent on catch-and-shoot threes, according to Synergy Sports, which is particularly concerning if he is projected to be a 3-and-D guy who isn’t able to consistently create his own shot.

    Of course, that shot may come at some point but again, Bronny seems like the kind of player who is a few years away from being able to have a meaningful impact in the NBA.

    WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING?

    ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo described Bronny as an “explosive guard with strong defensive versatility” but questioned whether he has the offensive upside to contribute right away, adding he “is not a dynamic ball handler or shot-creator, lacking assertiveness at times”.

    “James made strides as a senior in high school and had impressive showings in the spring all-star circuit, but he had a difficult time finding his footing at USC, especially as a scorer,” they wrote.

    “His strong feel for the game, length, frame, budding shot-making prowess and competitiveness defensively give him plenty of things to work with in the long term if he can get back on the encouraging track he was on before his cardiac arrest.”

    The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, meanwhile, wrote in his very comprehensive draft guide — which is 122 pages long and available here — that Bronny is a “sharp team defender with a great feel for the game” but added that he worries the 19-year-old is “merely a good defender and not the kind of outlier great one he’d need to be to warrant being drafted on his merits”.

    Vecenie’s biggest concern though surrounded Bronny’s size and how that projects for his ability to be a 3-and-D role player in today’s NBA, stressing that the Trojans guard needs to improve his shot to be a genuine threat as an off-ball player.

    Bronny James could be drafted into the NBA. (Photo by David Becker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP

    More broadly, Vecenie wrote that Bronny would have been “much better served” spending another year playing college basketball to “get the reps he needs offensively”.

    “We need to be upfront about this: We would not be talking about James as an NBA prospect if not for his father. He is nowhere near ready for the NBA,” Vecenie wrote.

    “He’s at least two years away if every single thing goes right with his development in the next couple of seasons. For him to get the development he needs on the ball and to iron out his consistency as a shooter, he must spend the next two years in the G League. To me, that’s not a worthwhile investment given that his upside is something in the ballpark of a rotational 3-and-D guard. That upside is littered with potential landmines.

    “I couldn’t rank him outside of the top 75 on my board because he’s young, athletic and clearly has excellent basketball IQ in addition to a great motor on the defensive end at 19. If this goes right, you can see an outcome that is similar to Devin Carter.

    “Still, he is outside of the range of players whom I have two-way grades on in this class. I have an Exhibit 10 grade on Bronny and think he would have been much better served heading back to school to get the reps he needs offensively.”

    An NBA general manager had similar thoughts when speaking to The Ringer in April.

    “Bronny is nowhere near ready,” they said.

    “He should go back to school to develop at his own pace or he risks getting lost in the shuffle, whether or not he’s playing with his dad.”

    Bronny is greeted by LeBron after defeating the the Perry Pumas in the Hoophall West tournament at Footprint Center. (Photo by Christian Petersen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP

    WHERE COULD HE BE DRAFTED?

    Well, at this stage the two most likely landing spots appear to be the Lakers (No. 17 and 55) and Suns (No. 22), if you are going off who Bronny has worked out with before the draft.

    ESPN reported that sources from a half-dozen NBA teams said they had “difficulty securing workouts” with Bronny.

    His agent Rich Paul has been specific about which teams Bronny has worked out with, telling ESPN it is “nothing new” for him to “find a team that values your guy and try to push him to get there”.

    Paul also mentioned Dallas (No. 58), Minnesota (No. 27 and 37) and Toronto (No. 19 and 31) as other teams that have shown interest in Bronny, although the first two don’t make a lot of sense given they are both title contenders who should be drafting players that can contribute right away.

    Paul also confirmed to Bleacher Report that he has made it clear Bronny will not be signing a two-way contract, which gives NBA teams the opportunity to move developmental players between the NBA and G-League.

    You would think a player like Bronny would benefit from spending some time in the G-League working on his game, while ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski also flagged back in May that the prospect of the 19-year-old selling out G-League arenas would make him an attractive option for a broad range of teams.

    Gaze: Bulls a ‘better fit’ for Giddey | 00:59

    “Bronny James is going to have an impact for organisations not just on the basketball side but potentially on the business side,” Wojnarowski said on ‘NBA Today’ at the time.

    “He’s almost assuredly going to start in the G-league; he will pack G-league Arenas, merchandising all of those make him an attractive player whether it’s late first round or second round.”

    Of course, two months have passed since that point and with the way James performed at the NBA Draft Combine and then his Pro Day it is understandable that some teams may have changed their opinion on Bronny’s ability to produce in the NBA right away.

    But ruling out a two-way contract does limit the amount of teams that would be likely open to drafting Bronny, with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst describing Paul’s comments in the lead-up to the Draft as “very interesting”.

    “The fact that he’s turned down some workouts, which you don’t normally see from a second-round pick and also that he has very much made public that he’s not going to sign a two-way deal, that does indicate in a normal setting that a player is turning off some teams, closing the door on some teams,” Windhorst said.

    “I will say this though, when it comes to Bronny we are in a unique situation where we cannot compare him to other situations.”

    That is very true, especially when you consider the suggestions some teams could draft Bronny as a way of then giving themselves leverage in a potential play at LeBron in free agency.

    LeBron looks on from the stands towards Bronny during the first half against the Long Beach State 49ers. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Although recently, most NBA insiders seem to be leaning towards that no longer being at the top of mind for both LeBron and teams who may consider drafting Bronny.

    That is consistent with comments from LeBron himself, who has indicated playing with Bronny isn’t the priority it once was for him.

    With that being said, if Bronny is still available at 55th overall you would have to think the Lakers are locked in to take him given the message it would send LeBron if they didn’t.

    Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, for example, has Bronny going to the Lakers in his most recent mock draft, where he wrote:

    “Rival teams sound uncertain about Bronny James’ chances of getting drafted, though the Los Angeles Lakers remain the popular guess as to his most likely destination. If he’s still on the board deep into the second round, L.A.’s front office could feel pressure to select him, considering it’s essentially a risk-free pick that late, and passing at No. 55 would signal to LeBron how little the team thinks of Bronny.”

    Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, meanwhile, reported earlier this month that the Lakers are “widely expected to draft Bronny either with one of their own two picks (No.17 or 55) or by trading up in the second round.”

    Wojnarowski, however, reported the Lakers “are not considering” Bronny with their first-round pick, which makes sense given the team has other needs to address and can’t afford a luxury pick like Bronny at that price.



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  • ‘May never happen again’: How ‘special’ NBL sensation Alex Sarr could make NBA Draft history

    ‘May never happen again’: How ‘special’ NBL sensation Alex Sarr could make NBA Draft history

    Before Alex Sarr and the Perth Wildcats travelled to Las Vegas to play the G-League Ignite in a pair of exhibition games, the towering Frenchman was on the radar of NBA scouts.

    But being on their radar was one thing. Entrenching yourself as a top prospect with the potential of going first overall was another thing entirely — and that’s exactly what Sarr did.

    Of course, it helped that those two games came against another highly-rated player in Ron Holland, who at that point was a leading contender in the conversation for the No. 1 pick.

    For Sarr, it was a blessing, only putting more eyes on him as he put up a combined 43 points, 17 rebounds and 12 blocks in the two games.

    For other players though, it could have just as easily been a curse and it would be understandable for an 18-year-old to falter under that kind of pressure.

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    HUGE Furphy dunk gets scouts salivating | 00:26

    But sometimes it is easy to forget Sarr was only 18 years old when he made his Wildcats debut.

    Some of that obviously has to do with his 7-foot-1 frame. More of it though has to do with the maturity beyond his years; the self-awareness in the way he speaks and evaluates his game.

    As impressive as Sarr the person is off the court, the potential of the player on it is obvious.

    It is why Sarr went from being mocked at 19th overall to the Knicks by ESPN.com in June last year to fifth by the website in its first mock draft after the Frenchman’s standout showing in Vegas against Holland and G-League Ignite.

    ESPN.com draft expert Jonathan Givony said on ‘NBA Today’ at the time that it was an “eye-opener” while one general manager told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears that “he’s got some s*** to his game”.

    “You can look objectively at that game and say if those other two [Holland and Matas Buzelis] are supposed to be the top pick, Sarr was clearly dominant and right at, if not above their level, if we’re being honest,” another general manager said.

    For Liam Santamaria, Sarr’s standout showing in Vegas was just further proof of why he was the top addition to the NBL’s Next Stars program in the first place.

    “In that setting in an NBA style game with NBA spacing, Alex and his unique skillset was really able to shine so that was a fantastic launching pad and it stamped him as a genuine contender for the number one overall pick,” Santamaria, the general manager of Next Stars recruitment, told foxsports.com.au ahead of this week’s NBA Draft.

    “Then over the course of the NBL season as he continued to develop his game he went on to showcase his ability to be productive even as a young, raw player with a whole lot of upside on a competitive team in a tough league.

    “As a result, he’s been able to maintain that level of projection and now with just the draft a couple of days away he’s a chance to be, if not number one, selected pretty shortly thereafter.”

    MORE 2024 NBA DRAFT CONTENT

    FEATURE: The ‘coming out party’ behind Australian prospect’s stunning rise

    ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the draft

    Alex Sarr visits the Empire State Building to celebrate 2024 NBA Draft. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)Source: Getty Images

    At this stage, Sarr is projected to be selected at second overall by the Washington Wizards, although there is talk the Atlanta Hawks, who hold the No.1 pick, could also still take him.

    If not, there have also been “rumblings” according to NBA insider Marc Stein that the San Antonio Spurs could trade up to partner Sarr with French phenom Victor Wembanyama.

    Should Sarr be taken with the No.1 pick, he would become the first player from the Next Stars program to be recognised with that honour.

    Even if he is selected second overall as is currently tipped, Sarr would still be the highest-drafted player to come out of the program.

    Either way, he is expected to join LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, and Ousmane Dieng as players out of the program to be taken in the lottery, with eight in total drafted.

    When the NBL first communicated to teams that Sarr had genuine interest in coming to the league as a Next Star there was “a high level of interest” according to Santamaria.

    But it was the Perth Wildcats who got the first opportunity to pitch to Sarr and the highly-rated French prospect was so convinced by the presentation from coach John Rillie and general manager Danny Mills that he quickly decided he didn’t need to hear from another team.

    Gaze: Bulls a ‘better fit’ for Giddey | 00:59

    It also helped that the Wildcats had already built strong connections with Overtime Elite, where Sarr spent two years developing his game before heading to Perth, as well as his representation (WME).

    The fact he had his parents living with him also helped make the transition much smoother, allowing Sarr to put all of his focus onto making the most of his opportunity in the NBL.

    Which is a point that Mills stressed when speaking to foxsports.com.au from Brooklyn ahead of the draft.

    As much as Sarr had already put both his name and the club’s name on the map with his performances in Vegas, nothing was guaranteed once he arrived back in Perth.

    He had to earn his minutes like everyone else, and the 18-year-old did just that.

    “They’ve got to come in here and earn it because it is a professional environment and I think that’s where Alex excelled,” Mills said.

    “He bought into that. He didn’t come down being promised anything and earned everything he got with us, which ended up with him being a key part of our rotation in a really competitive team this year.”

    Perth embraced Sarr. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    As was the case with the exhibition games against G-League Ignite, it didn’t take long for Sarr to prove he belonged, draining two clutch 3-pointers late in a Round 2 win against Adelaide.

    It wasn’t just the fact Sarr made those shots but the fact four-time MVP Bryce Cotton trusted him to make them.

    “I think it gave his teammates a lot of confidence,” Mills said.

    “Like, ‘Wow, this kid’s obviously only 18, but he’s actually making shots in clutch moments and he’s not afraid to take them’.

    Sarr finished the season averaging 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds while establishing himself as one of the league’s most elite rim protectors with 1.5 blocks per game.

    The 18-year-old quickly emerged as a meaningful part of the rotation on a championship-calibre Perth roster and continued to generate interest from NBA scouts, with representatives from all 30 teams across the league making the trip to RAC Arena to watch him play.

    “He went from being a top-20 projected player at the start of the season to being the potentially number one pick as well as incorporating him into a winning NBL program, which is hard to do,” Mills said.

    But beyond the numbers he put up, more valuable than anything else was the lessons Sarr learned playing in a league that tested his physicality.

    “I think one of the questions for Alex in terms of his development in advance of going towards the NBA was his ability to play with and through a greater amount of physicality,” Santamaria said.

    “So coming into a big strong league like ours was always going to be attractive to him and his camp. You combine that with the ability to play in a, yes it’s a physical league, but it’s also up-tempo.

    “So all of that was very attractive for Alex.”

    Sarr said as much himself, declaring the NBL is “no-brainer the best decision” for any young players who feel they are “ready for a professional game”.

    Sarr impressed for the Wildcats. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “It’s a really physical league and you have to be ready for that,” he said at an exclusive pre-draft event with NBA legend Kenny Smith at The Edge in New York.

    For both Santamaria and Mills though, one of the most impressive parts of Sarr’s season with the Wildcats was the way he used his length in open space to keep up with guards and wings, especially when you consider how much that lifts his defensive upside in the NBA.

    “Where he has the potential to have an elite level of impact in the NBA is at the defensive end and his ability to rotate across and protect the rim,” Santamaria said.

    “For me, most impressively, at that size he has a remarkable ability to be able to switch onto guards on the perimeter, slide his feet and stay in front.

    “He had a couple of possessions where he showcased that against G-League Ignite against Ron Holland that captured a lot of people’s attention and I think that’s one of the skills that really separates him because at the NBA level they really like bigs to be able to switch and he can do that at a very high level.”

    While Sarr’s success is obviously an achievement worth celebrating on an individual level, for someone like Santamaria and the entire NBL it is also yet another reminder of the league’s growth on the international stage.

    ‘This is no indictment on Josh’ | 06:21

    The late Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams was one of the league’s greatest ambassadors, coining the now well-known phrase ‘this ain’t a cupcake league’ — although not everyone was convinced of that right away.

    “People laughed at first when I said it,” he told foxsports.com.au back in 2022.

    “But you are seeing it now, you are seeing the whole world take notice. You are seeing NBA teams down here more and more. You are seeing the Next Stars initiative take off and it has gone global. It has reached heights unknown and unseen before. This league is for real.”

    Williams said the arrival of Ball was the “catalyst in all of it”.

    Giddey, Dieng and now Sarr have followed suit, climbing up draft boards and helping lift the league’s international visibility in the process.

    “It’s viewed right around the globe now as a proven pathway to the NBA,” Santamaria said.

    “So if you’re a young elite NBA Draft prospect, the opportunity to come and play a season or so in the NBL on your way there is very attractive.

    “We’ve seen a number of guys now, LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, Ousmane Dieng, this year with Alex Sarr and others use the platform to launch their NBA careers and the opportunity to come and play in a really high quality league that plays a style of basketball that’s somewhat similar to the NBA in terms of the tempo that it’s played at.”

    Sarr made an early statement against G-League Ignite. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    It is as much who you are playing against as how you are playing too, with the opportunity to come up against established NBA veterans like Matthew Dellavedova and Denzel Valentine.

    “These are guys that are planning on and hoping to become NBA pros in the not too distant future, so coming into the NBA as part of the Next Stars program gives them the opportunity to practice that in advance,” Santamaria said.

    “They’re going to be training against pros on a daily basis, learning pro habits off experienced players, developing their game in that type of environment and then getting out there in the bright lights of game night and developing their game in the competition against genuine pros.”

    The likeliest outcome from Thursday’s draft is that Sarr will be a Washington Wizard. But Mills said the Frenchman will always be a Wildcat, having embraced the organisation, fans and city as a whole. The feeling is mutual too.

    “I think people were starting to see what a special and, I guess, unique opportunity this was for them to watch him,” Mills said of the way Perth embraced the potential No.1 prospect.

    “Obviously it’s an interesting situation bringing him down knowing he’s leaving after a year. It was never going to be second year, he was always going to be drafted and he was always going to the NBA.

    “So for us, I think people started to realise, especially when the projections started putting him in a top two or three peak range that ‘Alright, this is something unique that may never happen again, hasn’t happened before and may never happen again. So we’ve got to take advantage of it’.

    “I hope people, and I believe our fans do, appreciate the opportunity that they had to watch a young man like Alex develop under our Wildcats organisation and hopefully they’ll follow his NBA career and be lifelong Alex Sarr fans as I believe Alex Sarr will be a lifelong Wildcat.”

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  • The four words that prove Giddey trade is for the best … and why it may just be the start of changes in Chicago

    The four words that prove Giddey trade is for the best … and why it may just be the start of changes in Chicago

    “That’s who I am as a player and to do that is exciting.”

    While there was no guarantee Josh Giddey was going to be traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason, there was always a sense a fresh start was in his best interests.

    Giddey said as much himself, without actually saying that explicitly.

    That earlier quote came from the 21-year-old’s exit interview last month, where an honest Giddey opened up on how he handled his “rollercoaster” third year in the NBA.

    While the majority of the questions put to him that day centred around his playoff benching against Dallas and future in Oklahoma City, he was also asked about the upcoming Paris Olympics.

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    ‘This is no indictment on Josh’ | 06:21

    Specifically, one reporter wondered whether suiting up for the Boomers could help him build towards next season, although of course at this point it was in the context of playing for OKC.

    “It’s a different role,” Giddey said.

    “I’m going to have the ball in my hands a lot more with Australia, initiating the offence and setting guys up.

    “That’s who I am as a player and to do that is exciting.”

    That’s who I am. Those four words, even in the context of a question about the Boomers, were yet another reminder of why it didn’t work out for Giddey in what we now know was his final year with the Thunder, after being traded on Friday to the Chicago Bulls in a deal that sees Alex Caruso sent to Oklahoma City.

    That is who Giddey is and always was as a player. But he wasn’t that player in a Thunder team that was spoilt for choice when it came to playmaking options.

    When you combine Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rapid rise to superstardom with the emergence of Jalen Williams and rookie big man Chet Holmgren, Giddey was the odd man out — forced to play in a role that didn’t play to his strengths.

    Those same strengths which Giddey flashed in his Boomers debut at the FIBA World Cup last year, thriving in a more ball-dominant role as he finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists in a 98-72 win over Finland.

    Josh Giddey played a more ball-dominant role for Australia at the FIBA World Cup. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    With it, Giddey became the first player in the 21st century to have more than 10 points, five rebounds and five assists in their first World Cup game since, you guessed it, LeBron James.

    And Giddey was constantly rewriting the record books and putting his name among legendary ones like LeBron in his rookie year with Oklahoma City, again, when he was playing in a role that was better suited to his game.

    All of this is to say that as much as Giddey loved it in Oklahoma City and the Thunder loved him back, this was a move that had to happen for both parties.

    Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down what the trade means for both the Thunder and Bulls along with what Australian NBA fans can expect from Giddey in his first season in new colours.

    SO, FIRST OFF — WHO WON THE TRADE?

    Look, some trades that initially look terrible can look like masterstrokes in hindsight.

    The Bulls will be hoping this is one of those instances because even if Giddey goes back to playing the way he did in his first two seasons with OKC, this is a slam dunk win for the Thunder.

    That is not an indictment on Giddey as a player or his talent but on a Bulls front office that has seemingly come around to the realisation they need to re-tool an aging roster that has for a few seasons now not really been in a position to compete for a title.

    And yet, despite that glaring reality, Chicago continually ran it back and decided against making any major moves at the trade deadline in the hope of potentially becoming more than just a team that settles for making the first round of the playoffs.

    The Bulls haven’t really been going anywhere in recent years. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    But even that would be a win for a Bulls team that has only qualified for the first round once in the past five years.

    Instead, the introduction of the NBA’s play-in tournament has given Chicago an even lower bar to settle for, keeping the franchise stuck on a treadmill of mediocrity.

    What makes this trade particularly had for Bulls fans to take is reporting from Will Gottlieb of CHGO, who wrote earlier this week that the team had “received offers from multiple teams, consisting of multiple protected first-round picks ahead of the 2024 Trade Deadline”.

    So, why didn’t they take that? Well, a source told Gottlieb that such a move would mean immediately trying to find a replacement for Caruso, which would have been the logical next step if the Bulls were rebuilding.

    However, Gottlieb reported the source said there was a “mandate” from Bulls CEO Michael Reinsdorf to fight for the playoffs.

    Again, another example of the disconnect in the Bulls front office when it came to what they wanted this team to be and what it actually is.

    Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas appeared to signal after the team’s play-in tournament exit last season that reality had dawned on the franchise.

    “We aren’t here for the play-in,” he said.

    “It’s a team game and we have to make changes to fix things.”

    “Analysis will start right now and go into free agency,” he added when asked if a rebuild was a possibility.

    “I think we’re going to be pretty aggressive, the way we showed before going into the draft and free agency. We obviously can’t roll (out) the same team again and expect different results.”

    The Giddey move may just be the start, but you still have to question how the Bulls weren’t able to get more for a player of Caruso’s calibre, especially when you consider the multitude of picks Oklahoma City has at its disposal.

    ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks, for example, revealed that when the trade went down he received texts from two different general managers.

    Both asked the same question: what draft picks were involved? That says it all.

    Perhaps that says as much about Chicago’s confidence in Giddey’s potential as a primary ballhandler as it does the power of Thunder GM Sam Presti to get a deal done.

    Because for a guy who continues to impress with his shrewd decision-making, this is another home run swing for Presti and the Thunder.

    Alex Caruso is a great pick-up for Oklahoma City. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Caruso is the kind of high-level 3-and-D player that any contending team would be desperate to have and for the Thunder in particular it is a seamless fit.

    The 30-year-old is coming off a season where he had a career-high 120 steals and 70 blocks while shooting 40.8 per cent from downtown.

    Shooting and defence, on the other hand, were Giddey’s two biggest weaknesses and were exposed down the stretch in the playoffs.

    Add in the factor Caruso will earn just $9.9 million next season and the leadership he will bring to this young but emerging Thunder roster and this could be the move to help Oklahoma City take the next step towards title contention after coming up short in the Western Conference semi-finals this year.

    WHAT COMES NEXT FOR GIDDEY AND THE BULLS?

    Well, the move away from a 30-year-old win-now piece in Caruso to more of a developmental player in Giddey suggests there could be plenty more roster movement this offseason in Chicago.

    That is especially true when you consider the fact the only way Giddey will get his hands on the ball more is if the Bulls move on from either Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan, or potentially both.

    LaVine looks the most likely candidate to be traded, with NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reporting before the Giddey news that Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas has “floated as many as 15 proposals” around LaVine.

    It isn’t surprising to hear that sort of desperation coming from Chicago with the NBA Draft fast-approaching, where the Bulls should be targeting young players to bolster their frontcourt as well as size and versatility on the wing.

    While the expectation was that Chicago would have been able to get at least some draft compensation in a deal for Caruso, moving on from LaVine at least opens up another opportunity to do that before next Thursday’s first round.

    It will be hard to get much in return though given it is hardly a secret that the Bulls want to get off LaVine’s contract, with the 29-year-old still owed $138 million ($A207m) over the next three years.

    Zach LaVine could be moved. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    DeRozan, meanwhile, is off-contract this summer and the Bulls reportedly offered a two-year, $40 million extension to his management in April.

    Both parties seem to be interested in running it back but it may end up being a matter of how much the Bulls are willing to offer.

    Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, meanwhile, reported Chicago “appear willing” to part with Nikola Vucevic “for the right price”.

    And of course, outside of LaVine, DeRozan and Vucevic, then there is the matter of Lonzo Ball’s near two-year-long recovery from a knee injury.

    The move for Giddey indicates the Bulls are pessimistic, or at least covering their bases, given the uncertain nature of Ball’s timeline, with Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reporting the team expects him to return at some point during the 2025 season.

    “Team officials are confident Ball will play next season. They’re just not as confident about when,” Mayberry wrote, adding on Friday that a trade or buyout “could be likely”.

    Giddey can absolutely co-exist alongside breakout guard Coby White, who emerged as a key piece of Chicago’s future last season and is a solid off-ball shooter.

    Coby White emerged as a key piece of Chicago’s future last season. Jamie Sabau/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    It gives the Bulls a young backcourt duo to build around, should they find a trade partner for LaVine, while Ayo Dosunmu also flashed his potential last year in a bigger role.

    The main focus, outside of improving the frontcourt, should be on trying to put shooting around Giddey given White and Dosunmu were the only two players currently on the roster to make at least 100 3-pointers last season.

    The team, as a whole, ranked 25th and 26th in the league for 3-pointer attempted and made respectively.

    The other question is what happens with Giddey’s contract given the Australian is still eligible to negotiate a rookie-scale extension.

    If he can’t come to an agreement with the Bulls by the day before the start of regular season, when rookie-scale extensions must be signed by, he will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025.

    HOW WILL GIDDEY BE REMEMBERED IN OKLAHOMA CITY?

    Obviously that playoff series against the Mavericks isn’t the way Giddey would have liked to have ended his Oklahoma City career, but you have to remember two things.

    First, those 76 minutes were only a small fraction of what was otherwise a memorable first few years in the NBA for Giddey, who became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double and continued to break records in a rookie season that exceeded all expectations.

    Second, it is easy to forget Giddey is still only 21 years old, turning 22 at the start of next season in October.

    In other words, while he may currently have limitations on the defensive end and as a shooter, he still has plenty of time to develop his game in that capacity.

    “He’s 21, so 21-year-olds generally have up-and-down years,” Thunder GM Presti said of Giddey at his exit interview.

    “… But at 21 years old, he’s stubborn. When I say stubborn, I mean that in an endearing way. He’s confident. In the way that I think a lot of people would like to see him capitulate and give in, he’s not doing that.”

    Josh Giddey had a great rookie season with Oklahoma City. Dustin Satloff/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    And as much as commentary on Giddey in his final season at OKC focused on his shortcomings, there is a reason the Thunder drafted him with the sixth overall pick in a move that many people in NBA circles believed was a reach at the time.

    Obviously that all starts with the Australian’s unique court vision and playmaking, which again remains his greatest strength but wasn’t as necessary in this version of the Thunder.

    What makes Giddey a particularly intriguing player though is the fact you get that kind of playmaking from a guy who is 6-foot-8 and can rebound the ball the way he can.

    His basketball IQ is also far beyond his years, as is his emotional maturity, which the 21-year-old proved in his exit interview last month when discussing his benching against Dallas.

    You only have to compare the way Giddey reacted to the adversity, speaking about wanting to be a “better teammate”, with that of the more experienced Gordon Hayward, who bemoaned not being “given much of an opportunity” despite not really proving he deserved that.

    Or the fact Giddey was willing to help support a Thunder fan in need, even if that same fan was highly critical of him on social media during his turbulent third season with the team.

    While some people may look at Giddey’s limitations as one of the main reasons the Thunder fell short of competing for a championship, it is sometimes lost in the noise that he actually improved as a 3-point shooter on the season as a whole.

    Giddey had shot 26.3 per cent and 32.5 per cent from 3-point range in his first two seasons with the team and improved to a career-best 33.7 per cent.

    Meanwhile, Giddey was particularly effective across the board in March with Gilgeous-Alexander injured, again proving how good he can be when playing on the ball more.

    JOSH GIDDEY IN MARCH vs REST OF THE REGULAR SEASON

    Points: 16.3 vs 11.6

    Rebounds: 7.0 vs 6.3

    Assists: 5.5 vs 4.8

    FG%: 57.2 vs 44.4

    3P%: 41.4 vs 31.2

    And just a week before the start of the Western Conference semi-finals, Giddey was coming off a New Orleans series where he averaged 12.5 points and shot 50 per cent from deep.

    A limited sample size sure, but just another reminder of what Giddey can be when playing a confident and aggressive style of basketball.

    All of this is to say at just 21 years old and with the postseason experience he had at Oklahoma City, there is plenty of room for Giddey to grow.

    Like his early years with the Thunder, Giddey shapes as a key piece of a Chicago team that may be soon forging a new identity.

    But for Giddey, this move isn’t about finding his identity as a basketball player. It has always been there.

    Giddey knows who he is as a player. A fresh start will give him the opportunity to lean into that even more, as will be the case next month in Paris.

    As Giddey would say, “that is exciting”.

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  • How ‘high risk’ trade gamble and shameless $750k move sparked stunning NBA Finals charge

    How ‘high risk’ trade gamble and shameless $750k move sparked stunning NBA Finals charge

    It is funny how quickly things can change.

    Just over a year ago, the Mavericks were being investigated by the NBA after intentionally tanking to miss the NBA playoffs.

    The 115-112 loss to Chicago guaranteed Dallas had no hope of appearing in the play-in tournament, where it could have tried to go on an unlikely run to the NBA Finals.

    Instead, despite making a move for superstar guard Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline, the Mavericks made a clear concession that the team — as constructed in that moment — was not good enough to win a title.

    So, Dallas lost. But in reality, the Mavericks won in a big way.

    Get on Board the NBA Finals | Dallas Mavericks v Boston Celtics | Every game of the NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

    Doncic x Gafford combo sink Timberwolves | 01:00

    By throwing away the game against the Bulls, Dallas improved its chances of keeping its first-round pick in that year’s draft.

    Quickly for context, in case you have forgotten by now, the Mavericks still owed a first-round pick to the New York Knicks as part of the trade for Kristaps Porzingis in 2019 at that point.

    But if the draft lottery handed them a top-10 selection, they wouldn’t have to give it up. A lower finish in the overall standings, of course, gave them better odds of drawing a top-10 pick.

    The Mavericks were fined $750,000 after that league investigation was completed but it mattered little as they drew the No.10 pick, later trading back on draft day to select rookie big man Dereck Lively II at 12th overall.

    The same Lively II who has been a rookie revelation this season, exceeding everyone’s expectations — including his own — and developing an immediate connection with Luka Doncic.

    The same Luka Doncic who, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, had “publicly and privately expressed extreme frustration” during the 2022-23 season.

    Team sources told ESPN at the time a “fear” existed that Doncic “could consider requesting a trade as soon as the summer of 2024 if Dallas doesn’t make significant progress by then”.

    Again, it is funny how quickly things can change.

    Luka Doncic is through to the NBA Finals. David Berding/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    Now Dallas is just four games away from lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

    Doncic, meanwhile, is on the verge of joining the likes of Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo as recent NBA champions who could have so easily become the latest superstars to force their way out as part of the league’s player empowerment era.

    Instead they stayed patient. Instead, they trusted their front offices to do right by them.

    Now both have rings to show for it. Soon, Doncic could too.

    “He’d like to be here the whole time,” Mavericks co-owner Cuban told ESPN at the time.

    “But we’ve got to earn that.”

    Dallas did just that at this year’s trade deadline, making a pair of strategic moves to build around Doncic, having already put the perfect co-star next to him in Irving.

    But not everyone believed Irving was the ideal fit, with one ESPN writer giving the trade a ‘D’ grade — and Irving hasn’t forgotten it.

    The Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving partnership has paid off. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    There has been plenty written about the eight-time All-Star over the years and with time, Irving has found his own way of dealing with that reality.

    “All the stories and narratives are going to exist forever,” he told reporters after Dallas clinched its NBA Finals berth.

    “I’m sure I’ll hear it until I retire. But again, this is what comes with this industry.”

    It doesn’t mean Irving isn’t allowed to have a little bit of fun with it though. He has a folder in his phone, exclusively for memes — and there is one that is particularly satisfying to look back at.

    “ESPN gave us a grade D for the trade of me coming here,” Irving said after a 109-95 win over Atlanta, which secured Dallas’ spot in the playoffs.

    “I think us clinching a playoff spot and putting ourselves in a great position definitely answers some of those questions that were asked last season by some of the naysayers and all of that stuff.”

    Some of the naysayers pointed to on-court concerns, questioning whether Irving and Doncic would be just the latest example of two ball-dominant superstars failing to co-exist.

    Most, however, were more worried by the off-court distractions, cautious to completely buy into the idea of an Irving and Doncic backcourt given the way things ended in Boston and Brooklyn.

    And there was a chance things could end even more abruptly in Dallas given Irving was a chance of becoming an unrestricted free agent after just a few months with the Mavericks.

    In other words, Dallas were gambling on giving up Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick for a short-term rental.

    Trading for Kyrie Irving was a risk. David Berding/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    “This is a pretty high risk move for Dallas,” Trey Kerby said on the ‘No Dunks’ podcast for The Athletic at the time.

    “The Mavs could either have four seasons of the best backcourt in the league. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Are you kidding? That’s incredible.

    “Or they could have six months of that, flame out in the playoffs and then Kyrie goes to the Lakers.

    “Or they could completely alienate their star who is supposed to be the saviour of the franchise after Dirk Nowitzki left by bringing in a combustible second star who may not totally want to be there long-term, leaving Luka even more barren and alone in Dallas.

    “All three of those are really on the table here for Dallas.”

    Fortunately for Dallas, it ended up being the first option as Irving re-signed on a three-year, $126 million deal and formed what Stan Van Gundy described as “arguably the best offensive backcourt in the history of the NBA”.

    Irving has been the perfect sidekick, if that is even the right word for what he has been doing these playoffs, averaging 22.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 42.1 per cent from deep.

    He has been playing the best postseason defence in his career too and that has been bringing the best out of Doncic, who has also been much-improved on that side of the floor.

    Doncic stars as Mavs go 3-0 over Wolves | 00:50

    “Those two worked at it,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said.

    “It just didn’t happen overnight. That’s a beautiful thing. It’s alright to be wrong. We’re not always right. But it’s a beautiful combination.

    “Those two play off each other. You can see that they care about one another. They’re in competition with each other on who’s playing the best defence and that’s kind of cool to see because when you used to look at Kai and Luka, a lot of times we’re not known for our defensive guys but they’re competing.”

    More than anything though, even if it is a simplistic way of looking at it, the most important thing is that, finally, Irving is just playing basketball.

    And that hasn’t always been a guarantee with Irving, who was both a walking human highlight reel on the court and walking human headline off it during his time at Brooklyn.

    In his final season, it was the refusal to get vaccinated for Covid-19, which saw him miss two-thirds of the season, and the promotion of a video that shared anti-Semitic views.

    Even on the court Irving wasn’t a stranger to drama, stomping on the Celtics logo in his second game back at TD Garden and flipping off fans who yelled explicit chants at him.

    “Kyrie Irving has been great. He came to Dallas and there’s no drama there. We haven’t heard anything out of him,” Dan Patrick said this week on his show.

    “And that’s good, because we do just want to see him play basketball. The other stuff, the off-the-court stuff, if he revisits that when he’s done, great.

    “I like to see a player who has that much talent to be back on the big stage again, and he’s been through an awful lot. But at 32, all the sudden you look around and go ‘this isn’t going to last much longer, how do I want to be remembered?’

    “Does he care about how he wants to be remembered? But when he does play, when he wants to play, he’s remarkable. Was Dallas desperate? Maybe.

    “But Mark Cuban was not afraid to take a chance. Kyrie had to respect Luka, had to respect Jason Kidd. He had to be willing to be a great team player and realise that you’re not going to be the guy.

    “He had to be a bit submissive to Luka, because it’s Luka’s team. And Kyrie has done a wonderful job.”

    Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have brought out the best in each other. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    A frank Irving admitted he “wasn’t my best self” during his time at Boston, but equally told reporters this week there could have been “a little bit more grace extended my way”.

    “Especially with what I was dealing with during that time as a human being,” he added.

    It also seems like Irving has come to terms with the fact that no matter what he does and no matter what he says, people are always going to have opinions on him — another sign of the 32-year-old’s growth since his Boston days.

    “When you’re in a professional environment such as this and you can only be judged by your on-court performances and what people say off the court, and they don’t know who you are, I think that’s a little unfair,” Irving said.

    “But that’s the life we live in and life is just not fair all the time. I just stopped being a kid towards this industry and just grew up and grew wings. I just developed a mentality to be able to brush off a lot of that stuff.”

    Celtics sweep Pacers to reach NBA Finals | 01:17

    Of course, as much as Irving has obviously helped lift the ceiling of this team, any discussion on Dallas’ charge to the NBA Finals has to involve the moves it made around the margins.

    Starting with the trade deadline acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, who bolstered the Mavericks’ frontcourt after an underwhelming start to the season.

    It can be easy to forget that Dallas had a 29-23 record before the deadline, ranking just 22nd in defensive rating, 12th in offence and 17th in net rating.

    A lot of that came back to Irving and Doncic not being healthy, missing 22 and eight games respectively.

    But either way, provided the superstar duo were on the court when it mattered most, it was still clear that the Mavericks needed more — especially on the defensive end.

    Adding Washington gave Dallas a disruptive defender and extra scoring option, with the former Hornet coming up clutch in the playoffs with a number of big-time shots in big-time moments.

    P.J. Washington has been a welcome addition. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Gafford, meanwhile, eased the pressure on rookie Lively II to perform right away while his effective rim protection proved particularly important against the Minnesota frontcourt.

    Beyond Gafford and Washington, Derrick Jones Jr. has proven a shrewd free agency pick-up after Dallas signed him to a veteran’s minimum one-year deal in the summer.

    Even coach Kidd, meanwhile, deserves plenty of credit after being questioned for his rotations in the regular season before finding a formula that helped Dallas to a 22-9 record after the trade deadline and, now, an NBA finals appearance.

    Of course, it goes without saying that the Mavericks wouldn’t be in this position without Doncic, who ranks first for points, rebounds, assists, steals, field goals, 3-pointers and free throws this playoffs.

    DOMINANT DONCIC (Playoffs)

    Points: 489 (1st)

    Rebounds: 164 (1st)

    Assists: 150 (1st)

    Steals: 28 (1st)

    FG: 166 (1st)

    3-pt FG: 57 (1st)

    FT: 100 (1st)

    But everyone already knew Doncic was good. He was never the one holding this team back. In fact, the conversation was always about how the Mavericks were holding him back.

    Now, nothing is holding Doncic and Dallas back from winning the team’s first championship in 13 years and like reigning champions Denver, there is something to be said about the way the Mavericks patiently waited, knowing with the right pieces, they could reach this point.

    It took a bit of time for the Doncic-Irving backcourt combination to flourish too but now, as Gafford put it after Dallas’ series-sealing win over Minnesota, we are witnessing “greatness”.

    “In all honesty, I’d say it’s the patience when it comes to just being around each other,” Gafford said.

    “When I was first seeing the trade when Kyrie got here, they said, ‘Oh, him and Luka is not going to work’. They’re working pretty good together right now, if I do say so myself.

    “So whoever said that, they obviously need to go get their eyes checked. Just watching it, to me, it’s just greatness.”



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  • Surprise Simmons link-up; move to unleash NBA giant: Giddey trade scenarios broken down

    Surprise Simmons link-up; move to unleash NBA giant: Giddey trade scenarios broken down

    There was a throwaway comment in Josh Giddey’s exit interview last week that didn’t generate headlines as the 21-year-old opened up about his “rollercoaster” third year in the NBA.

    It was a telling reminder that as much as Giddey struggled to live up to his potential with the Thunder this past season, he is still a very talented player.

    This season was just a case of Giddey being the victim of circumstance, forced to take on a role that didn’t play to his strengths as new emerging stars were born in Oklahoma City.

    “It’s a different role,” Giddey said when asked if suiting up for the Boomers at the upcoming Paris Olympics could help him build towards the 2024-25 NBA season.

    “I’m going to have the ball in my hands a lot more with Australia, initiating the offence and setting guys up.

    “That’s who I am as a player and to do that is exciting.”

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    Josh Giddey is looking forward to playing for the Boomers again. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    That is who Giddey is as a player but it is not who he was last season.

    He played more off the ball as the accelerated development of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren made Oklahoma City rethink the nucleus of its offensive identity.

    Sometimes Giddey made the new role work. He scored 21 points, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, as the Thunder took a 3-0 series lead against the Pelicans.

    The month of March also gave Oklahoma City a glimpse of what Giddey’s ceiling could look like when confident and comfortable in the role. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

    For the Thunder, that stretch and the series against the Pelicans, along with Giddey’s first two seasons in the league when playing a more ball-dominant role, show he still has some value in Oklahoma City, especially if Williams or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was to go down.

    But with Giddey extension eligible this summer, the question is how much he will be after and what sort of figure the Thunder will land on considering Williams and Holmgren will also soon be extension eligible, while Gilgeous-Alexander is a super max candidate.

    The other option for Oklahoma City is to trade Giddey this summer to land a player who is a cleaner fit on the roster.

    With that in mind, foxsports.com.au looks at four teams that could be potential landing spots for Giddey should a trade eventuate in the off season.

    SAN ANTONIO SPURS

    Fit-wise, this seems like the best bet because the Spurs need a point guard the offence can run through.

    Any potential landing spot for Giddey needs to surround him with shooting.

    However, like most of the teams that have a need at point guard, the Spurs aren’t a perfect option given they need shooters, too, having gone 34.7 per cent from three-point land in the past season.

    That ranked them third worst in the league, although the Spurs made the 16th most and attempted the 11th most, so there is some additional context to that initial number that doesn’t make the situation look as bad as it sounds.

    Celtics take game one in OT thriller | 01:38

    The broader point here is that San Antonio needs a ball handler who can play with and get the most out of Victor Wembanyama.

    Giddey could be the bigger playmaking guard to do just that for the Spurs, although they have also been linked with Atlanta’s Trae Young and could consider a move for Darius Garland if Cleveland extends Donovan Mitchell.

    San Antonio also has the fourth and eighth picks in this year’s draft, which it could instead use to select a point guard.

    Giddey’s deficiencies as a shooter and in defence are also weaknesses any team trading for him would consider, but at least at San Antonio it would be easier to try hide his flaws on the defensive end with Wembanyama lurking in the paint.

    Gregg Popovich is the right kind of coach to get the most out of Giddey defensively.

    UTAH JAZZ

    The Thunder can only dream of a trade with the Jazz that centres around Lauri Markkanen, who would be the perfect kind of player to complete Oklahoma City’s starting line-up.

    Markkanen is coming off another stellar year with the Jazz. For the second straight season he shot more than 39 per cent from deep, and averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds.

    He the shooting, rebounding and switchability to thrive in a Thunder team that has been purposefully built from the start to prioritise players with positional size and versatility.

    Unfortunately for Oklahoma City, it would take quite the haul to land Markannen considering the Jazz seems to view him as untouchable in trades, instead hoping to build around him.

    The Jazz does make sense as a potential Giddey destination given it also has a need at the point guard position considering 30-year-old Kris Dunn and the very raw Keyonte George are its two leading options.

    Could Josh Giddey end up in Utah? Joshua Gateley/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

    Dunn, having been in the league for eight seasons now, doesn’t really match its timeline if it is looking to build towards the future, while George profiles as more of a scoring guard than a pure point guard.

    If Markkanen is off the table, what would the Jazz have to offer that could be appealing to Oklahoma City?

    Maybe Walker Kessler as a back-up big, although if the Thunder moves on from Giddey it would also need to address the vacant starting power forward role, should Williams move to his more natural position at small forward and Lu Dort combine with Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt.

    Perhaps that could bring John Collins into the equation as a more affordable option for Oklahoma City?

    BROOKLYN NETS

    This would be an interesting scenario because it would result in Giddey teaming up with fellow Australian Ben Simmons, who has a similar issue when it comes to his shortcomings as a shooter.

    However, in the event that Brooklyn traded for Giddey you have to remember that Simmons is on an expiring contract so there is every chance he is either off the team at the end of next season or even before then, if the Nets find a potential trade partner at the deadline.

    In other words, trading for Giddey would be a long-term move even if the fit with Simmons on the court at the same time would be pretty awkward.

    In the short-term, Brooklyn could always find ways to stagger their minutes.

    Plus, you would have to think any involvement from Brooklyn in a potential trade would involve sending Nic Claxton to Oklahoma City and that takes one other non-shooter out of the equation.

    Although, that in itself poses another different question. Would the Thunder even entertain a trade with the Nets if it centred around Claxton?

    Could Nic Claxton be a target? (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    As much as the Thunder was urged to address its lack of size before this season’s trade deadline, Oklahoma City instead made a smaller move around the margins for Gordon Hayward.

    It didn’t work out but it spoke to the fact Oklahoma City isn’t going to make a move for the sake of it.

    Claxton offers rim protection and rebounding but isn’t an outside shooting threat, while his passing is also not as developed as some of the other bigs who could be available.

    Either way, Claxton is a free agent this summer so if Oklahoma City was to acquire him it would involve a sign-and-trade.

    As for Giddey’s fit at Brooklyn, the Nets have a need at point guard because Simmons and Dennis Schroder are their main options heading into next season.

    Schroder is also on a $13 million expiring deal, an attractive contract that makes him a potential trade asset in the near future.

    Giddey’s passing and vision would make him a nice fit in a Nets offence that thrived playing in transition last season.

    More than anything, though, having a real playmaker would help create opportunities for Cam Thomas and Mikal Bridges.

    Speaking of Bridges, he would be a great fit for the Thunder but it is hard to see the Nets giving him up without asking for a lot – and potentially too much – in return to justify it.

    Instead, a three-and-D specialist such as Cam Johnson may be the more realistic trade target.

    CLUTCH Brown makes sloppy Pacers pay | 01:08

    WASHINGTON WIZARDS

    If Washington was to make a move for Giddey, it would likely involve giving up Deni Avdija.

    But in turn, Oklahoma City would have to give up a whole lot more than Giddey, including a collection of first or second-round picks, to land the rising Wizards forward.

    Avdija placed sixth in Most Improved Player voting this year, having averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, and has the kind of well-rounded skill set that would make him a valuable asset now and into the future for the Thunder.

    Avdija can play at small and power forward, giving him the kind of positional versatility that the Thunder loves, while he also shot a career-high 37.4 per cent from downtown.

    While not a primarily playmaker, Avdija has the ideal mix of ball handling and passing that still sets him up well for more of a connective role in Oklahoma City’s offence.

    Really, for all the reasons above, you would think this trade would be a non-starter but it largely depends on the future of Tyus Jones.

    Jones is a free agent this summer and if he leaves, the Wizards will have a glaring hole at the point guard position and could do much worse than taking a gamble on Giddey’s upside given what he flashed in his first two seasons in the league.

    If Jones stays, it is unlikely the Wizards will be motivated enough to move Avdija unless they received a decent haul of draft picks in return along with the Australian.

    Even still, Avdija is also on a very team-friendly contract given his ascending value.

    He is set to earn $15 million, $14 million, $13 million and $11 million over the next four seasons.

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