The Miami Heat have returned to the NBA Playoffs for the fifth-straight season, sealing the eighth seed with a comfortable 112-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
They now face the no. 1 seed Boston Celtics in the first round of the Playoffs, a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals where the Heat won in seven, earning revenge for a 4-3 series loss the season prior.
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat celebrates scoring a three-pointer against the Chicago Bulls in the third quarter.Source: Getty Images
It is the second straight season that Miami have earned the eighth-seed spot via the play-in tournament and they will play the Celtics for the fourth time in the last five post-seasons.
“They’re obviously the best team by numbers, statistically, in the league. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us,” Herro said of the Celtics.
Butler suffered a sprained MCL knee ligament injury in Wednesday’s defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers and faces several weeks out.
The 34-year-old has led the Heat to two NBA Finals including last year’s run which included an Eastern Conference Finals win over the Celtics.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had insisted that his team had the personnel to cope with the loss of their talisman and they illustrated that in a convincing home win.
Point guard Tyler Herro was the main man with 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists but he was well supported by rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr and veteran Kevin Love.
Jaquez put up 21 points with six rebounds and six assists while Love coming off the bench, made 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Australian veteran Patty Mills played just three minutes but managed an assist in the victory.
The Heat were also without point guard Terry Rozier, who remains out with a neck injury, but they stormed out in the first quarter putting up a 19-0 run ending the opening period 34-17 up.
It was a lead they never relinquished with a 14-0 run in the second helping them reach a half-time lead of 47-37.
Demar DeRozan top scored for the Bulls with 22 points but Chicago never truly threatened to turn the game around in the second half.
Miami were on fire.Source: AFP
Herro said he had set to emulate Butler’s all-round contribution for Miami.
“There are a lot of people who try to determine the outcome of a game by how many points someone scores and I think Jimmy Butler does the opposite of that,” he said.
“He impacts the game in so many different ways, sharing the ball, making the right plays for his team-mates and I tried to be as much as I could of Jimmy tonight, just trying to make the right play, give my guys shots and not force anything,” he said.
“Obviously it was a great team win for us overall, I’m just excited to be back in the playoffs, healthy and ready to roll,” he said.
The Celtics will start as strong favorites however against Miami with Boston having won a league-high 64 wins this season.
Later on Friday, the last spot in the Western Conference playoffs is decided when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Sacramento Kings.
The news was first reported by ESPN and later verified by The Miami Herald, with Mills adding more guard depth to the Heat’s roster ahead of the post-season.
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At the start of the season Mills may have actually been looking at consistent playing time with a Miami team that didn’t have much guard depth but that is no longer the case, meaning minutes are still going to be hard to come by.
Mills joins Terry Rozier, who Miami traded Kyle Lowry and a lottery-protected first-round pick for, and Delon Wright, who the Heat added on the buyout market, in the guard rotation.
That is, of course, along with starters Tyler Herro and Josh Richardson, although both are currently injured which factors into the decision to add Mills.
The signing of Mills gives the Heat a back-up option at guard with Richardson to miss his eighth straight game on Wednesday with a dislocated right shoulder.
Getting playing time ahead of the Olympics will be key for Mills. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Miami’s other starting guard, Herro, will be sidelined for his fifth game in a row on Wednesday with a right foot injury.
Elsewhere, the Australian’s arrival will see guard Dru Smith, who tore his ACL in November, cut by Miami to free up a roster spot.
Mills had played just 19 of 58 games for Atlanta before being waived and even when he saw time on the court it wasn’t much, prompting concerns the veteran guard could be underdone as he prepares to lead the Boomers at the Paris Olympics later this year.
Australian basketball great Chris Anstey, for example, had suggested a stint in Europe may be the best next move for Mills in the wake of news of his departure from Atlanta.
“This could be a really interesting few months for Patty Mills,” Anstey said on social media platform X.
“Taking a high level, high opportunity European contract to finish the European season could be the best preparation for his final Olympic Games.”
Instead, Mills offers Miami a dependable depth option to call on in the post-season if needed as the Heat look to replicate last year’s run to the NBA Finals.
Miami currently sits seventh in the Eastern Conference, just 1.5 games back from the No. 4 seed Knicks, who are dealing with a mounting injury toll.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder was full of praise for Mills when asked about the decision to part ways with him last week, adding it had been “an absolute pleasure having the chance to coach him”.
“He’s someone you’re glad your paths crossed,” Snyder said.
“I’ve been a fan of his from afar, a fan of the Boomers because of Joe Ingles, and I’ve followed him for a long time.
“Patty’s the type of professional that you point to for how you handle everything across the board — the good times, the bad times, the successes, the failures.”
“We’re grateful that we had a chance to have him here for a short time and we wish him all the best.”
Suns superstar and Team USA rival Kevin Durant, meanwhile, was asked about his former teammate at the NBA’s All-Star Media Day last month and described Mills as a “flat out legend”.
“He’s been a constant for that program since I’ve been in the league and they play with such a toughness and you know that comes from their best player, which is Patty,” Durant said.
“And then I had an opportunity to play with Patty for two years at Brooklyn. I see why he’s become such a legend over there.
“He’s so passionate about where he’s from, he’s so passionate about just the culture itself and basketball and he’s an extremely hard worker whose journey should be spoken about with some of the best.”
LeBron James, Stephen Curry and reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid were named among a 41-strong player pool for the USA’s 2024 Olympics basketball roster this week.
The star-studded roster will be whittled down to a 12-man squad for this summer’s Olympics in Paris, where the US will be chasing a fifth consecutive gold medal.
The provisional player pool contains 28 players who have represented the USA at an Olympics or FIBA World Cup, with 23 gold medals between them.
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LeBron James and Kevin Durant have both been named in the2024 Olympics USA extended squad (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
The 39-year-old James will be chasing a third gold medal in what will be his first appearance at an Olympics since the 2012 London Games.
“The United States boasts unbelievable basketball talent and I am thrilled that many of the game’s superstars have expressed interest in representing our country at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games,” USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill said in a statement.
“It is a privilege to select the team that will help us toward the goal of once again standing atop the Olympic podium.
“This challenging process will unfold over the next several months as we eagerly anticipate the start of national team activity.” Philadelphia 76ers star Embiid is set to play for the United States for the first time after pledging his allegiance to the squad last October.
The Cameroon-born superstar was eligible to play for the country of his birth, France and the United States, but opted for a US squad which will enter the Olympics as overwhelming gold medal favourites.
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The team will be coached by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, with Gonzaga University’s Mark Few, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acting as assistants.
USA Basketball also announced plans for pre-Olympic Games in Las Vegas and London.
The US will play Canada in Las Vegas on July 10, before exhibition games against South Sudan on July 20 and Germany on July 22 at London’s O2 Arena.
USA basketball 2024 Olympics player pool: Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, De’Aaron Fox, Paul George, Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Jrue Holiday, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson Jr., LeBron James, Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and Trae Young.
The Miami Heat have taken a swing in a bid to get back to the NBA Finals, trading Kyle Lowry and a 2027 protected first-round pick for Charlotte Hornets star Terry Rozier.
That is according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who broke the news of the trade in the early hours of Wednesday morning [AEDT].
Rozier is currently having one of his best seasons in the NBA, averaging 23.2 points and 6.6 assists — both of which are career-highs for the 29-year-old, who played four years with the Celtics before being dealt to the Hornets ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Rozier was traded to Charlotte as part of the sign-and-trade that saw Kemba Walker sent to Boston.
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BEST OF EMBIIDS 70-POINT EPIC VS WEMBY | 02:15
Rozier won’t have the same burden on the offensive end at Miami, instead operating as more of a complementary creator and scoring option to ease the pressure on the likes of Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Add in sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, who is shooting 41.1 per cent from deep and averaging a career-high 13.7 points, alongside impressive rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Miami, despite sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference, could yet again push for another deep playoffs run.
Rozier will also offer much-needed experience for the playoff stretch, something Lowry would have offered but the veteran guard is on the decline and on an expiring $29.6 million contract, making him a valuable asset to move before the deadline.
Lowry, a six-time All-Star and NBA champion, is unlikely to stay put either given he doesn’t offer the rebuilding Hornets much value right now or into the future.
Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Hornets will look to move Lowry before the deadline but otherwise he could become a buyout contract candidate.
Wojnarowski also reported the Hornets are weighing up deals on other veteran players on the team ahead of the deadline as they look to continue to build around LaMelo Ball and rookie Brandon Miller.
Giddey hits WILD behind-the-back pass! | 00:18
“I want to thank Terry for all his efforts since coming to Charlotte,” Mitch Kupchak, general manager and president of basketball operations, said in a statement confirming the trade.
“On the court, he was a true professional and a great competitor who set a positive example for our young players. He also made himself a staple of the Charlotte community with his commitment to giving back. We wish him all the best in the future.
“The acquisition of a future first-round pick provides us an asset as we look to build long-term sustainable success around our young core of talented players. We believe adding this future pick and the additional financial flexibility from this trade will be beneficial as we continue to build our team moving forward.”
What are the Power Rankings? This is our attempt to rank every NBA team from best to worst. We take wins and losses into account, but also the quality of opposition faced and whether teams are likely to get healthier or improve going forward. It’s a little bit ‘who’s hot and who’s not’; part predictive, part analysis of what’s happened. If Team A is above Team B, we’d probably tip A to beat B at a neutral venue.
Every NBA team analysed in our Power Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS
1. BOSTON CELTICS (14-4)
Who else but? Continuing on from last campaign’s dominant regular season, the Celtics appear to have gotten even stronger with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Integrating such key pieces to a rotation can take time for teams to adjust, but not Boston, having posted a top eight offensive rating and top three defensive rating. Still undefeated at home, the Celtics’ +9.6 point differential is the best in the league. Not only do they have top-line stars, most notably Jayson Tatum, who’s having another MVP-calibre season, but Joe Mazulla’s rotation is arguably the deepest and most talented in the NBA. It’ll help them mitigate injuries (provided they don’t come at the business end of the season). Can anyone stop them? The clear best team in the league right now.
2. DENVER NUGGETS (13-6)
The reigning champs have been in cruise control in the early parts of the season, while Jamal Murray has been limited to eight games due to a hamstring injury … yet they still sit second in the West standings at 13-6 and have a top 10 offensive and defensive rating. It included a particularly strong start to the season before the Nuggets hit a lean patch, dropping four of five games as their less experience and depth compared to last season showed. But a road win over the Clippers on the second half of a back-to-back without Murray, Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon displayed championship DNA at its finest and would build huge belief in the second unit and team as a whole. Jokic remains out-of-this-world good as the current frontrunner for the MVP in what’d be his third overall. Oh and they’re also the only other team still unbeaten at home.
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3. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (13-4)
One of the big surprise packages so far, Minnesota is emerging as a legitimate contender before our eyes. In fact, it’s the Wolves we thought we were getting last season after three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert joined the team, as his twin tower frontcourt pairing with Karl Anthony-Towns is starting to flourish. Sitting first in the West with the best defensive rating in the entire NBA – built around Gobert, and great size and flexibility that’s really troubled opposition – the Wolves have taken the leap into the top tier of teams. Then there’s the Anthony Edwards piece, with the star guard evolving into a MVP-level superstar that plays both ends of the floor and has a certain dog and killer instinct about him that reminds you of some of the game’s all-time greats.
4. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (13-5)
The new-look Bucks are starting to figure things out – and that’s a scary prospect for the rest of the NBA. After a slow start, Milwaukee has won eight of its last nine games and is beginning to live up to the hype after recruiting Damian Lillard to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo and create one of the most dominant one-two offensive punches in the NBA. Though the Bucks have the fourth-best offence in the league, there’s still issues at the other end of the floor, with a bottom 10 defensive rating. Brook Lopez is starting to rediscover his dominant defensive form from last season, but misses having Jrue Holiday out on the perimeter, while Khris Middleton is still ramping up to full health after off-season knee surgery. If they can make improvements on the defensive end to at least be middle of the road, the Nuggets showed last season you don’t necessarily need to have an elite defence to win it all. Could they simply score their way to a title?
5. PHILADLEPHIA 76ERS (12-6)
Couldn’t have navigated the James Harden trade saga much better. It was addition by subtraction for the Sixers, with Harden’s departure paving the way for Tyrese Maxey to evolve into a superstar – even if he’s cooled off from his epic early-season heights – while Joel Embiid continues to do Joel Embiid things. The star centre has also improved as a facilitator, averaging a career-best 6.6 assists per game. Philly also added a host of handy role players in the Harden trade plus assets it could use to recruit another star by the trade deadline. They sit top four in the East and have the second-best points differential (+8.7) in the NBA, having shown a ruthlessness to really crush teams. Nick Nurse’s team has the second-best offence – playing with more movement and freedom than last season – to go with a top 10 defence. A team with all the tools to make another deep playoff run.
6. ORLANDO MAGIC (13-5)
The other shock riser – and this one has been even more unexpected – including riding a current seven-game winning streak. Orlando was seen as a fun, budding team on the rise, but not many could’ve predicted Jamahl Mosley’s side would be this good, this fast. The Magic have the third-best record in the East and their improvement has largely come behind a more robust defence – currently the second-best in the league. They simply have guys who compete hard every game like Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony, while Paolo Banchero has taken his game to new heights alongside co-star Franz Wagner, an elite running partner who’s still somehow underrated. Joe Ingles has also provide invaluable leadership and stability off the bench. The Magic, who’ve taken down arguably the best two teams in the NBA in Boston and Denver, have done all of this with Markelle Fultz missing most of the season with a knee injury!
Booker torches the Garden with dagger 3 | 00:37
7. PHOENIX SUNS (11-6)
The Suns are coming. Despite Bradley Beal being restricted to three games due to a back issue and Devin Booker also battling injury, they’re still sitting in the upper echelon of the always competitive West. Kevin Durant has wound the clock back to look like… well, prime Kevin Durant, while Booker too has had some monster performances top really ascend his status to the top-line superstars. What’s also been encouraging is how recruits Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen have stepped up with more opportunities and Jusuf Nurkic might have found his perfect landing spot. It’s the defensive end of the floor where there’s still some issues, but sitting 11-6 despite their new big three having never played together yet and there’s huge reason for optimism in the Valley of the Sun.
Giddey starts for OKC amid investigation | 00:50
8. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (11-6)
Another big improver and team that looks genuinely ready to contend, perhaps slightly ahead of its time. OKC is ranked top seven both offensively and defensively and doesn’t seem to fear anyone. The impact of former Pick 2 Chet Holmgren has been significant, with the gun big man emerging as the unlikely frontrunner for Rookie of the Year over Victor Wembanyama, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be crazy good to back up his breakout 2022/23 season. Mark Daigneault is generally getting better production across the board from the likes of Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe, allowing him to be more flexible with his line-ups. The hovering allegations about Josh Giddey have been the only real downside amid an indifferent start to the season for the Aussie, but there’s so much to like about what the Thunder are doing. And all of this with a mountain of draft picks at their disposal to upgrade the roster when they see fit. Look out.
9. DALLAS MAVERICKS (11-6)
The forgotten contender in the arms race following last season’s big disappointment, even after they acquired Kyrie Irving. But Luka Doncic looks like a man on a mission – with a better roster around him including a barrage of three-point shooters. It’s the offensive end of the floor where Dallas has really excelled – boasting the No.3 offensive rating – while they do have a ways to improve defensively to be taken more seriously as a legit contender. But the Doncic-Irving duo has proven to be a real handful, plus in Dereck Lively II the Mavericks have a promising big man for the first time in several years. It’d be nice to see more consistency from Josh Green, though the Aussie remains an important member of the rotation and has had some bright moments.
Kings topple Warriors for Group C throne | 00:57
10. SACRAMENTO KINGS (10-7)
The beam is starting to come alight. After a 2-4 start to the campaign where the Kings looked like a big regression contender, they’ve rediscovered their spark, going 8-2 over their last 10 games including 4-2 over a recent road trip. The offence from last season is starting to come back too, led by De’Aaron Fox amid a spectacular start to the season from the star guard, who’s averaged a career-best 3.1 three-pointers per game. And Mike Brown’s team has improved at the other end of the floor to become middle-of-the-road defensively. Keegan Murray hasn’t quite taken the second-year leap in what could really propel the Kings to another level, which might be more likely to come in the forward’s third season.
11. LA LAKERS (11-8)
It’s been an up and down start to the season for the Lakers — and perhaps they’re ultimately not the contenders we thought they were amid a host of other Western Conference sides improving. While it’s still early days, LA has had issues at both ends of the floor — mainly the offensive end (ranked bottom three in three-point shooting) — as Darvin Ham works through finding his best line-ups after a few off-season changes to the roster. They’ve also been affected by injury and have struggled on the road (3-6). Beyond Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who’s still freakishly good at near age 39, there’s a lack of other consistent production, even if D’Angelo Russell has bounced back from a disappointing playoff series, while Austin Reaves hasn’t had the breakout season come expected in year three and has been moved to the bench.
LeBron suffers WORST loss in NBA career | 00:51
12. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (10-8)
The Cavs have overcome a slow start to the season to get on a roll in recent times, having won six of their last eight games. We frankly haven’t seen Cleveland at full strength enough yet this season to get a real grasp of where this team is at – a team that finished top four in the East last season. The core remains as talented as some of the top sides and the addition of Max Strus has been a big win to add much-needed three-point shooting on the wing. The Caves don’t really want for anything, though there’s question marks of whether the Even Mobley-Jarrett Allen frontcourt is viable long-term given the spacing issues. It comes in an important juncture and season at large for the franchise as it’ll be hoping to convince Donovan Mitchell to stick around long-term, in one of the potential trade narratives to keep an eye on.
13. NEW YORK KNICKS (10-7)
When it’s all clicking for the Knicks, they’re a strong unit. Jalen Brunson proved last season was no aberration, backing up his breakout campaign to again lead this team, while Julius Randle and RJ Barrett haven’t been quite as consistent even though the latter has shown an improved three-point stroke. New York does have a top-five ranked defence and the 11th-best offence, but Tom Thibodeau’s squad has struggled against the best teams in the league. From that perspective, how far can a Brunson-Randle-Barrett trio go — even with an improved roster around them? Might be one big move away from seriously contending.
Knicks stun Heat with comeback in NY | 01:16
14. INDIANA PACERS (9-7)
With Tyrese Haliburton in this kind of form, anything might be possible. Haliburton is putting together an All-NBA level season, averaging stupidly good numbers across the board (25.9 points on 51 per cent shooting, 3.8 triples and 11.9 assists per game). It’s been key to the team’s promising 9-7 start to the season, with claim to the league’s No.1 offensive rating while averaging 127 points per game. It’s completely opened the Pacers up defensively though …and where’s Haliburton’s help coming from? Myles Turner’s minutes are down, while Rick Carlisle seemingly can’t decide if he wants to develop Benedict Mathurin as a starter or just play veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield heavy minutes, with the latter more of a win-now move. Bruce Brown has been a handy addition, but he’s more a role player than anything. Another team to watch ahead of the trade deadline.
15. MIAMI HEAT (10-8)
Another team that’s hard to figure out, albeit hampered by injuries, As if coming off an NBA Finals appearance as the eighth seed didn’t already make it tricky enough! The Heat have at least navigated the majority of the opening weeks without star guard Tyler Herro, who looked set for a huge breakout season as Miami’s leading scorer, and they’ve clearly missed his offence. The good has been good — including a seven-game winning streak and Bam Adebayo rolling in a career-best season to take on the mantle as Miami’s alpha. But the bad has been bad — opening the campaign 1-4 and currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, while there’s question marks of the team’s depth.
16. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (10-9)
One of the biggest enigmas in the NBA … are still an enigma? There’s been some good and some bad — including a five-game losing streak — and they’ve all-round just been an average side. It’s a somewhat disappointing return for a franchise that spent parts of last season as the No.1 seed in the West and could be so much more with Zion Williamson. But the former No.1 pick hasn’t yet lived up to expectations and has appeared frustrated at times with how the team is going and his role. Frankly, we haven’t seen Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum on the court together enough to get a proper gauge of how good they can be. McCollum’s lung injury did open the door for Dyson Daniels to play more minutes though and show a glimpse of the Aussie young gun’s promising future.
17. LA CLIPPERS (8-9)
Still adjusting to life with James Harden, the Clippers might’ve worked things out. After starting the Harden era 0-5, Tyronn Lue’s side has since won five of its last seven games as it starts to move up the West standings. There were always to be growing pains with Harden and a need to fine-tune rotations, which has ultimately seen Russell Westbrook move to the bench. Well, over their last six games, the Clippers have the best defensive rating in the league, while Harden is coming off his best game yet as a Clipper with a season-high 26 points, five triples and five steals. Paul George’s hot start to the season hasn’t been talked about enough too amid the team’s struggles.
18. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (8-10)
It’s hard to know what to make of Golden State at times and how much we judge Steve Kerr’s team on reputation. Some predicted the addition of Chris Paul would take the Warriors to the next level, but right now they’re sitting just inside the Play-In qualification. It’s been the same story as last season — they rely too much on Steph Curry, Klay Thompson has been inconsistent and unreliable, Draymond Green has been engulfed in drama and the young players haven’t stepped up (but haven’t necessarily had opportunities to). Andrew Wiggins has meanwhile fallen off a cliff to leave a big scoring void, but Kerr doesn’t quite seem prepared yet to pass the baton to the next crop. They’ve gone 2-8 in their last 10 games and Paul has already suffered his first injury setback of the season.
Curry tops Wemby in battle of the stars | 01:11
19. HOUSTON ROCKETS (8-8)
Ime Uodka has done some sort of job in his first 16 games as Rockets coach. A team considered a potential improver looks like a genuine playoff team. It’s been a bit of a seesaw — with revolving winning and losing streaks — but this team is highly disciplined defensively, helped by the addition of Dillon Brooks, is deep and has beaten reigning champion Denver twice. Having an established point guard in Fred VanVleet has provided more overall structure and Alpereen Sengun looks like a mini Jokic in a brilliant breakout season from the 21-year old centre. And to think the Rockets tried — and failed — to land Brook Lopez in the off-season in what would’ve almost certainly prevented Sengun from doing what he’s doing now. A really impressive start in H-Town in a big tick overall. Now just to replicate their home form (8-1) on the road (0-7) — and more Jock Landale too please!
20. ATLANTA HAWKS (8-9)
One thing you can count on with Atlanta — it’s going to score in bunches. The Hawks have the No. 5 offensive rating this season while averaging 122.5 points per game — trailing only Indiana — driven by Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Jalen Johnson’s emergence has offset John Collins’ departure, and so the forward’s injury leaves a big hole in Quin Snyder’s streamlined rotation — that has featured Patty Mills for all of five total minutes this season. After a promising start to the season, the Hawks have gone 2-5 over their last seven games, so they have a few things to figure out ahead of tough upcoming schedule including playing Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Denver in their next five games. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu remain locked in a minutes split at centre, but you sense it’s only a matter of time before Okongwu is given full rein.
21. BROOKLYN NETS (9-8)
The Nets have managed to keep their head above water despite battling a host of injuries to the likes of Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas. Considering the amount of changes to the line-up, Brooklyn would be happy to currently be sitting ninth in the East including currently riding a three-game winning streak. The team has also had the sixth-toughest schedule in the league, according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, while Mikal Bridges hasn’t quite had the breakout season some anticipated yet. With all that in mind, there’s a fair bit of upside when — or if — the Nets get fully healthy.
22. TORONTO RAPTORS (9-10)
Offence has been the main concern for the Raptors — in particular their bottom-five ranked three-point shooting. As good as Scottie Barnes has been in a breakout season from the forward, it’s hard to get a grasp of this team’s identity. One game it’s Barnes leading the charge, the next it’s Pascal Siakam, while OG Anunoby has struggled amongst it all and Jakob Poeltl has been used sparingly despite costing the team a first-round pick and getting a juicy contract extension. Could they be sellers at the deadline? Dennis Schroder has at least enjoyed a strong season as the team’s new point guard to get back to some of his best form of years past.
23. UTAH JAZZ (6-12)
Lauri Markkanen is doing everything he can, but fair to say this season hasn’t started nearly well as last for the young Jazz. You could see it going either way in Utah — but it’s been tough goings for Will Hardy and company. After struggling in the opening games before getting injured, Walker Kessler now finds himself coming off the bench, though that should change soon, while Keyonte George has moved into the starting line-up in Hardy’s bid for more playmaking and movement in that opening five. The Jazz however still have major issues at both ends of the floor, and at some stage, they’ll need to commit to a path of either competing for the playoffs or rebuilding, as right now it feels like they’re trying do both but failing to achieve anything.
24. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (5-11)
Just when the Hornets were starting to turn their season around, the near worst possible thing happened – LaMelo Ball suffered another setback to his troublesome ankle that required surgery earlier this year. At full strength, Charlotte has a solid roster that could contend for the playoffs, but it hasn’t had all its key pieces on the floor together at once, with Ball central to everything. Controversial forward Miles Bridges has taken no time to get up to speed since returning from suspension, and now he and Terry Rozier in particular will need to take on a much bigger load with the Hornets’ franchise superstar sidelined for the next several weeks.
25. CHICAGO BULLS (5-14)
If it wasn’t already clear, it’s time to blow it up. Things are a mess for the Bulls right now — a team built to win now is a ways off and is sitting all the way down as the Eastern Conference 13th seed amid a five-game losing streak — including dropping eight of their last nine. If Chicago’s situation doesn’t improve, which, right now, it’s hard to see how it does, expect one — or both — of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to be wearing a different jersey by the trade deadline. At least then Chicago can start building with a new nucleus, because the current one is stuck in NBA purgatory — where no team wants to be.
26. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (5-12)
Going according to script after the Damian Lillard trade as the Blazers prioritise developing their emerging crop of youngsters including Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, who should eventually take over the starting point guard job. Portland recently snapped an eight-game losing streak, with its offence the key area letting it down. Anfernee Simons having only played one game due to a thumb injury clearly hasn’t helped. Elsewhere, Aussie duo Matisse Thybulle and Duop Reath are getting more opportunities in the rotation to show their worth, with the former’s defensive prowess again proving valuable.
27. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (4-13)
When is Ja Morant free to return again? It’s the question the Grizzlies would be repeatedly asking themselves amid a grim 4-13 start to the season as perhaps the most disappointing team. Because sure, having no Morant for over a quarter of the season is significant, but the Grizzlies have looked like a lottery team without him. It includes the Griz being ranked dead last in three-point shooting with the second-worst rated offence. Unlike Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. has struggled to step up with extra offensive opportunities. And as if it couldn’t get any worse, Marcus Smart is now sidelined for the next several weeks after suffering a nasty ankle injury. They did finally end their 0-8 winless drought at home — the last team to do so — after beating Utah on Thursday.
28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (3-14)
The Spurs are probably lucky they’re not even lower (not that there’s much scope). But it’s been the very definition of growing pains and teething issues for the rebuilding team in welcoming Victor Wembanyama into its young core despite the No.1 pick’s sensational start to his career. San Antonio is in the midst of a 12-game losing streak to sit dead last in the West, while its -12.9 point difference is the worst in the NBA. Maybe expectations were simply set too high amid the hype around ‘Wemby’ — but just because they’re not playing well doesn’t mean their future isn’t bright. The Spurs are simply in experiment and trial and error mode — so even a Play-In appearance feels unlikely right now. Devin Vassell missing five games due to an adductor injury hasn’t helped their cause.
Spurs fall short despite Wemby heroics | 00:51
29. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (3-15)
Not that the Wizards were expected to be any good this season, but it’s probably been even worse than imagined, with Kyle Kuzma the sole shining light. It took for Washington to play the Pistons to end a nine-game losing streak and pick up its fifth overall win nearing the quarter-way mark of the season. Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones have underwhelmed, though neither have played big minutes amid some curious rotation decisions from Wes Unseld Jr. Ranked bottom 10 at both ends of the floor, the Wizards are officially in all-out tank mode and could be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
30. DETROIT PISTONS (2-16)
Perhaps the most alarming thing is that the Pistons started the season 2-1 and looked like a sneaky improver! Well, they’ve since lost 15 on the trot to hold the worst record in the NBA, with the eighth-worst defence and fourth-west offence. This is a team some thought could start climbing the standings after spending years going to the draft. But Detroit is still behind newer rebuilding teams like Portland, San Antonio and Washington, while Monty Williams can barely figure out his rotation and which players will help take this franchise forward. Having Cade Cunningham back has been important and rookie Ausar Thompson and second-year centre Jalen Duren have both impressed, but it looks set to be another long season in the Motor City — even if Bojan Bogdanovic’s imminent return will help.
Oklahoma City dealt shorthanded Golden State a fifth straight NBA defeat Thursday, the Warriors unable to contain the explosive young Thunder side in the absence of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points to lead the Thunder and Isaiah Joe added 23 off the bench as six Thunder players scored in double figures in a convincing 128-109 victory.
That included Aussie Josh Giddey, who found his shooting range from deep to hit 3/3 triples – and even had a commentator label him the “Aussie assassin”.
Giddey is not known for his three-point shooting, having made none of his six attempts in the last five games and just 4 of 21 for the season (19 per cent) before today.
He finished with 19 points, six rebounds, an assist and two steals.
Giddey said: “We’ve got a lot of guys can do a lot of things and when we’re playing the way we did tonight, it’s a lot of fun. Everyone’s involved … That’s the best way to play.”
The Warriors had seven players score in double figures, with Jonathan Kuminga leading the way with 21 points and six rebounds.
But sharpshooter Klay Thompson made just one of his 11 shots from the floor on the way to five points.
Warriors star Curry was again sidelined with a troublesome knee while Green was serving the first game of his five-game suspension for grabbing Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert around the neck during a loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters before the game that Green, who was ejected after throwing an arm around Gobert’s neck and dragging him across the court, “definitely took it too far.”
Kerr said he had no objection to Green reacting to Gobert’s contact with Golden State’s Thompson — after Thompson tangled with Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels — but he said Green crossed a line.
“He hung on for six, seven seconds. It was a terrible visual for the league, for Draymond, for everybody,” Kerr said. “Draymond was wrong, he knows that, it’s a bad look. The five games is deserved. We move forward.”
But without Green the Warriors defence was clearly lacking against a young, hungry Thunder team.
Joe connected on seven of seven attempts from three-point range on the way to his season high in scoring.
Josh Giddey added 19 points, rookie Chet Holmgren chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds in his fourth career double-double and the Thunder notched their fifth win in six games.
Oklahoma City led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter. Golden State trailed by nine entering the fourth, when the Thunder outscored them 34-24 to roll to victory.
Butler brings seventh straight Heat win | 00:52
‘WHATEVER IT TAKES’: BUTLER GOES OFF
In the day’s only other game, Jimmy Butler scored 36 points to help the Miami Heat shake off a slow start and beat the Brooklyn Nets 122-115, pushing their winning streak to seven games.
The Heat, with Tyler Herro still sidelined by injury, missed 10 of their first 11 shots, but the Nets couldn’t build a lead of more than six points in the first quarter.
By halftime the Heat were up 60-52, and Butler scored 18 in the third quarter as Miami pushed their lead to double digits, never trailing in the second half.
Butler connected on 12 of 19 shots from the field and added five rebounds with three assists and three blocked shots.
“Whatever it takes to win,” Butler said. “I think we did a good job in the second half of guarding. I was very, very, very proud of us for that.
“I don’t think we rebounded as well in the fourth quarter, but overall we played some great basketball.
Duncan Robinson scored 26 points for Miami and Bam Adebayo chipped in 20. Mikal Bridges and Lonnie Walker IV scored 23 points apiece for the Nets, whose November 1 victory over last year’s Eastern Conference champions had pushed the Heat to 1-4.
Miami haven’t dropped a game since and have climbed to third place in the East, 1.5 games behind leaders Boston.
While we may only be a couple of weeks into the new season, there’s enough data points to make (unnecessarily early) takeaways from what we’ve seen so far.
And so foxsports.com.au has below dived into some bold predictions, hot takes and general overreactions for the marathon season ahead.
A team built to win now is nowhere near it and currently closer to the other end of the standings at 3-6.
In fact, the Bulls are probably the most disappointing team in the NBA so far for that reason, with sides below them either sitting where they’re supposed to be or with a valid reason to be struggling.
Caught in basketball purgatory — where no team wants to be — Chicago isn’t contending nor rebuilding as one of the league’s most confusing sides.
And so it’s time to trade Zach LaVine, who’s contracted until 2028, while the 28-year old guard still holds value.
But where could he land?
Philadelphia looms as a potential landing spot — or at least have the assets to make a deal — loaded with draft picks and expiring contracts after trading James Harden to the Clippers.
Could LaVine get traded? (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
LaVine would slot in as Philadelphia’s third star alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and help give it the firepower top contend with Boston and Milwaukee in the East (despite sitting above both right now), while the Bulls commit to a regenerating their roster and bringing in young talent.
Of course, the Sixers might be happy to stay put, and you could argue they got better from last season with Nick Nurse at the helm and the Harden dark cloud lifted — sitting first in the East with the NBA’s second-best record at 6-1. But there’s also a fair argument they’re one more major piece away from being formidable.
They could simply wait to lure a star free agent next off-season for no cost from a trade perspective, though would ultimately want to do something before Maxey is due to sign a max contract extension.
Could say an OG Anunoby be a better fit?
As for the Bulls, don’t be shocked if DeMar DeRozan and/or Nikola Vucevic followed LaVine out the door, too.
JOKER ADDS THIRD MVP, NUGS GO BACK-TO-BACK
As much as things change, they stay the same — Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are still really freakin’ good.
Jokic has been at his dominant best, if not better. The superstar dual MVP winner has averaged a career-high 29.1 points to go with 12.9 rebounds and eight assists, recently moving past LeBron James with the fourth-most triple-doubles in NBA history.
You have to wonder if Jokic missing out on MVP last year, then leading the Nuggets one of the most dominant title runs in recent memory, will earn him sympathy votes in this year’s ballot for the game’s top individual unless there’s another clear standout player on a top side.
The Serbian centre has powered the Nuggets to an NBA-best 8-1 start to the season, with the reigning champs ranked second in the league in offensive rating and ranked seventh in defensive rating.
Nuggets withstand Warriors to top group | 01:34
The Luka Doncic led-Dallas Mavericks look much improved and the Golden State Warriors will always be a force with Steph Curry, but no other team in the West has looked on the same level as Denver through the early part of the season.
While Jamal Murray will miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, the Nuggets have the depth to cover the star guard, getting solid production from the likes of Reggie Jackson, Christian Braunn and PJ Watson off the bench as well as rookie Julian Strawther.
It’s why losing gun sixth man Bruce Brown last off-season and not adding — or having the flexibility to add — any other meaningful pieces to their roster hasn’t been as dramatic a loss.
Scary times for the rest of the league.
WOLVES ARE LEGIT CONTENDERS
Minnesota is ready to swim with the big boys.
The 5-2 Timberwolves look like one of the most improved teams in the NBA this season that’s capable of making a deep playoff run, with everything starting to fall into place for this budding side.
They did of course end both Denver and Boston’s unbeaten runs and have a certain killer instinct about them.
Anthony Edwards just keeps getting better and is worthy of at least being in the MVP discussion, with the former No. 1 draft pick averaging a career-best 27.9 points per game.
The Karl Anthony-Towns-Rudy Gobert twin tower frontcourt pairing is finally beginning to work as intended, helping the Wolves post the No. 1 defensive rating.
The Wolves have started the season hot (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
Towns still isn’t quite performing at his best individually — or at least to the level of a second star on a genuine contender — but there’s time to figure that out and even potentially deal him for another valuable piece.
The Wolves otherwise have great size and flexibility — including one of the game’s premier defenders in Jaden McDaniels — and depth at every position.
Minnesota ultimately doesn’t really want for anything, and if it can improve a touch offensively, has all the tools to contend with Denver in the West.
BUT LAKERS AREN’T A LOCK
It was easy to be a Lakers believer this season.
After going on an epic surge in the second half of last campaign all the way to the conference finals, LA arguably got better over the US summer by topping up its roster with Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish and re-signing Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.
But just like last season, LeBron James and company have started slow out of the gates at 3-5 and have one of the worst offensive ratings in the NBA.
This isn’t to write the Lakers off in any way shape or form — and seeding and regular season form isn’t necessarily the priority — but are we sure they’re a certainty to again go deep in the playoffs?
‘Psychologically warped’ Smith slams LBJ | 02:13
Despite nearing 39, James is ageing like a fine wine, but is still ageing, with Darvin Ham admitting he’s likely to be managed more this season. Anthony Davis has already had his first setback of the season, and the health of he and James is clearly central to LA’s success, which has been hard to rely on.
This speaks more to the fact that several teams in the West appear to have gotten stronger including the Mavericks, Timberwolves, Warriors and Thunder, plus Phoenix hasn’t had its new big three share the court together yet this season.
It’s early days, but the Lakers might just feel the crunch of a stronger Western Conference.
PORZINGIS THE BEST OFF-SEASON ADDITION
Boston was bold in upgrading its roster in the off-season, and boy does it look like a force as a result.
Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have helped unlock a new level of the Celtics, who had the second-best record in the NBA last season, to now look stronger than ever before in the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown era.
Boston boasts the NBA’s sixth-best offensive rating and third-best defensive rating, with the addition of Porzingis in particular providing line-up flexibility lanes on offence Joe Mazzulla’s side didn’t have last season.
Porzingis has at times been maligned during his time in the NBA, so his move to the Celtics was arguably undersold amid a host of other blockbuster trades and signings.
Porzingis and Holiday have been strong additions to the Celtics (Photo by Maddie Schroeder/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
But it’s arguably gotten to the point where Porzingis is underrated, with the Latvian centre averaging 20.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this season to emerge as the most valuable addition for any side.
Chris Paul has been a significant upgrade for Golden State’s bench as perhaps the next best claim. However of the other big moves, there’s been defensive issues in Milwaukee integrating Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal has only played one game for Phoenix.
Plus all Boston gave up to get Porzingis was Marcus Smart, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscula and Pick 35.
It’s early days, and Porzingis does have a history of injury concerns, but the trade is so far paying dividends for the C’s.
HEAT’S DAME REGRET
While the Celtics are prospering from their big swing, the Heat missed a trick by not getting Damian Lillard.
The seven-time All-Star was there for the taking for the Heat as the team he nominated to join before talks with Portland ultimately fell through and Lillard instead joined the Bucks.
But with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in their primes and Miami coming off an NBA Finals appearance, what exactly are the Heat hoping to achieve by not getting Lillard?
If there was a time to strike and go all-out for a championship push, it was now, with Lillard’s trade request coming at the ideal time. If not, what are we doing here?
Bucks outlast Knicks in tight finish | 00:44
It still feels like Miami is another piece short, particularly after the top of the East got stronger in the off-season and it lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent.
Even if it meant parting ways with Tyler Herro, the Heat just had to pull the trigger on a Lillard trade. As exciting as Herro is, Lillard is a clear upgrade for a similar type of player, whereas the Bucks swapping out Jrue Holiday changes the dynamic and their identity as a whole.
Miami must’ve thought adding Lillard wasn’t the move that would’ve pushed it over the top and that it’d prefer to continue on the path of grooming Herro with Adebyayo. But even if Herro develops into the best version of himself, you’ve got yourself a Lillard.
Sitting 4-4 to start the season after overcoming a 1-4 start, Miami is going to have to again embrace the underdog tag, and wonder what could’ve been watching Lillard in a Bucks jersey.
SIMMONS IMPROVED … BUT TIME TO END ALL-STAR TALK
Both of these statements can both be true …
Simmons has gotten back to being a valuable player this season.
Simmons won’t ever be the All-Star Simmons of old again.
It seems every off-season we see the highlights video of a healthy Simmons working out and hype that he’ll get back to his dominant best in the forthcoming campaign.
That same story played out in recent months, and so far the results have been more promising than ever.
Simmons has looked better this season (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
The Aussie has averaged a career-best 10.8 rebounds per game to go with 6.7 assists, impacting the game in multiple ways like he’s made a career of — like something of a poor man’s Draymond Green — to be a strong contributor for the Brooklyn Nets.
But his days as an elite — or even solid — scorer have long gone, with Simmons averaging a career-worst 6.5 points per game. Not only does Simmons’ jump shot remain non existent, he’s not attacking the basket like he used to.
Health is clearly key for Simmons, so the 27-year old missing the Nets’ last game is of concern.
Perhaps with more continuity on the court and he can yet reach another level, but those still clinging to the idea he can be an All-Star again need to accept reality.
NOT EVEN JA CAN SAVE THE GRIZZLIES
We knew it was going to be tough goings for the Grizzlies to start the season sans Ja Morant.
But no one thought it was going to be this bad, with Memphis desperate to get its superstar guard back on the court (and so is my fantasy team).
The Griz the worst record in the entire NBA at 1-7 including losses to the lowly ranked Wizards, Jazz and Trail Blazers.
While Taylor Jenkins’ side’s defence has fallen away dramatically — ranked middle of the road after being ranked third last season — it’s the other end of the floor where it’s having major issues — ranked dead last offensively
The Grizzlies are desperate for Morant to return (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)125-85Source: FOX SPORTS
In the past Memphis, has gotten by without Morant just fine, but his absence has exposed other holes in their roster this time round. A season-ending knee injury to Steven Adams has clearly been a significant blow, too.
Part of the issue has been the void left by Tyus Jones, who’s historically provided elite level production when filling in for Morant or in general running the second unit, after he was traded to Washington.
Not a knock on Marcus Smart, it’s just an adjustment period for the Grizzlies playing with an entirely near point guard compared to the two they’ve had for several seasons.
Memphis will have December 20 firmly marked in its calendar for the date Morant is eligible to return, but even then there will be a ramp up period, and it’ll likely take some time for the two-time All-Star to hit his straps.
The Grizzlies just need to keep their head above water until them, but right now they’re sinking.
WIZARDS TO HAVE WORST RECORD
It’s going to be a long season in Washington (though by design).
After trading away Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis, the Wizards have made their intentions for this season clear even if they brought in useful pieces in Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole.
But the Wizards’ rotation thins out quickly including Daniel Gafford being their only capable centre, hence the team’s second-worst defensive rating in the NBA.
Outside of maybe Portland, who’s been competitive so far this season and has a solid spread of contributors, there’s no team better placed to finish with the worst record — and thus have the best lottery odds — than Washington.
NBA Wrap: LeBron’s Lakers fall short | 02:32
Fellow bottom dwellers like San Antonio and Houston seem to have gotten better, while Charlotte and Detroit have already gone to the draft and will also be looking to build.
And frankly, the Wizards need more young talent with a lack of exciting youth coming through.
It’s just unfortunate they got the tanking memo a year late.
WEMBY WINS ROTY, LEADS SPURS TO PLAY-IN
That leads directly into the next point, with the French phenom and No. 1 draft pick as good as advertised, if not better.
Wembanyama is simply doing things on the court we’ve never seen from a rookie, at least not in recent times. The 19-year old blocking shots all over the court with unprecedented defensive versatility and has incredible shooting range for a 7-foot-4 giant.
The Spurs sensation has been the clear premier rookie despite Chet Holmgren’s stellar form. Despite being eligible for Rookie of the Year, the Thunder big man is technically in his second season after missing the 2023/23 campaign through injury.
Wemby drops career high 38 against Suns | 00:58
And so Rookie of the Year is a clear two-horse race between the two, but the hype and excitement of Wembanyama should ultimately be overwhelming for the voters.
Wembanyama has averaged 18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest and led the Spurs to a solid 3-5 start to the season to have them in contention for a play-in appearance.
Something of a wildcard team going into the season, the addition of Wembanyama could literally be the difference between San Antonio making the play-in. Yes, he’s that good.
Sure, it’s going to be a bump road along the way, and winning games mightn’t be the Spurs’ main priority right now. But you sense they’ll be hovering around the 10 seed or close enough to for much of the season under the might of Wembanyama.
TIME TO MOVE WESTBROOK TO BENCH
The Clippers having four primary ball handlers — Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook and James Harden — in the one unit was always going to be the big question mark after Harden’s blockbuster move from Philadelphia.
And two games into the Harden era — for two losses — the Clippers clearly need to tinker with their starting line-up to get the best out of this roster.
While it’s too early to even overreact to what sort of impact Harden can have on the Clippers, it’s clear one of the team’s four stars needs to move to the bench — and the odd man out is Westbrook.
It shouldn’t be treated as a demotion, it’s just hard to see how a Leonard-George-Westbrook-Harden line-up can function with all four at their optimum.
Westbrook had success as the Lakers’ sixth man last season before being traded across town, and he and Harden in the same starting five just doesn’t make sense — nor did it work for Houston all those years ago.
Harden playmaking for Leonard and George then Westbrook coming on to run the second unit as a sparkplug seems more logical from an offence perspective, and that may well be the plan when Terance Mann returns from injury.
The Clippers paid up for Harden and have gone chips in with this roster, so they’ll be desperate to make it work.
Portland Trail Blazers training camp begins on October 3 and for the time being all attention remains squarely fixated on the future of superstar point guard Damian Lillard.
Lillard, who is still owed $216 million guaranteed over four years, requested a trade from Portland back in July after 11 seasons with the franchise.
While the seven-time All-Star is not expected to hold out or be a no-show for training camp, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups admitted the situation is “unsettling” in an interview with NBA.com.
The Heat have been linked to Lillard as his preferred trade partner, although there have long been doubts that Miami has the kind of package to entice Portland in a straight two-way deal.
When will Damian Lillard be traded? Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
In that sense, Portland has been said to be exploring potential multi-team deals and those talks have continued recently according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
“Portland is trying to put together a number of multi-team scenarios to see what they can get the assets back in a trade for Damian Lillard,” Wojnarowski said this week.
“They have been aggressive here in the last weeks… only because the league started up again. Labor Day comes, teams are engaging again. I do think they’re engaging. The question is do they find a deal in the next couple of weeks or do they have to bring Lillard back to camp?”
That is consistent with reporting from Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, who said there “hasn’t been great traction” between the Blazers and other teams on a potential trade.
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“They are talking to other teams in terms of trying to find another team who might give them an offer for Lillard, two other teams who might get involved might have nothing to do with Miami in a trade,” Fentress said on the Blazer Focused podcast.
“And maybe Lillard goes to one of those teams that’s out there. I’m told that there’s not great traction in these areas, that they’re really not being wowed by anything that’s substantial.”
According to Phoenix sports insider and radio broadcaster John Gambadoro, there could be a resolution to the trade saga very soon though.
“Damian Lillard is going to get traded very soon… I’m expecting a Damian Lillard trade imminently,” Gambadoro said on Arizona Sports Radio.
“I would even say probably within the next 24 hours, I am expecting from what I’m hearing, a Damian Lillard trade.”
Any potential Lillard trade could also have a flow-on effect on the future of Suns big man Deandre Ayton, according to Gambadoro.
Gambadoro took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to clear up speculation surrounding Ayton’s future at Phoenix.
“Let me address some of the Deandre Ayton rumours. The Suns have not been willing to move DA all summer because they think he fits well and there were no offers that would change that. If Nurkic was on the table I would be surprised if the Suns didn’t look into it because an argument could be made that is an upgrade for Phx,” wrote Gambadoro.
“This would be contingent on Dame being moved. Portland has previously shown no interest in DA but that was with Dame staying. If they do not have Dame on the roster they could very well want a young 25-year old to build around Vogel needs a defensive minded Center to build his defence around and Nurkic does fit that Mold. This would be contingent on a Lillard trade and I do expect that to happen very, very soon.”
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It comes amid a report from Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports, claiming Phoenix has been described as a “dark horse” team to help facilitate a Lillard trade.
“While the Suns lack the assets and/or contracts to trade for Lillard or Harden themselves, one source referred to the Suns as a “mystery team” in regards to their potential involvement. Another called them a “dark horse” to help facilitate a deal as an additional party,” wrote Bourguet.
“Talks are heating up around the league with teams like Portland, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago and Toronto all very active right now. The Suns could be the mystery team needed to get some of these deals done per my conversations.”
ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said on Behind The Play that Portland is “trying” to strike a deal and that there has been more movement on the Blazers’ front in the past week or so.
“There is attempts to make something happen,” he said.
“I think they’re making an attempt to try to resolve this before training camp. They may get there, they may not. To me the unknown really is where Scoot Henderson is on [this], I’ve said I’m interested in hearing what he says from day one.”
CONTENDERS LINKED TO HIELD AFTER EXTENSION TALKS WITH PACERS STALL
Elsewhere, in a more recent trade development, the Indiana Pacers are looking to move Buddy Hield after extension talks between the two parties stalled.
“But it’s believed their proposal did not make the seven-year guard feel desired,” league sources told Charania.
While any potential trade is only in its early stage at this point, Hield would be a valuable addition to any contending team after shooting 42.5 per cent from downtown last season.
As Charania explained on ‘The Rally’, it is not just a case of Hield not getting the kind of extension he believes he deserves, with the 30-year-old also looking at a lesser role in the team.
“I think you look at any contending team,” Charania said when asked which franchises could show interest in Hield.
“The Lakers were long rumoured for Buddy Hield but you look at teams like Dallas, Philly, Milwaukee. Those are the types of teams that could definitely use a shooter like Buddy Hield and I think they’ve had a level of interest in him over the last several months. When you look at the Pacers’ roster… Kevin Pritchard said in April, ‘We might want to extend Buddy Hield’. He was really non-committal but a lot of it came down to role.
“They have Ben Mathurin, who they drafted last year in the lottery. He’s going to have a bigger role this year, might even begin the year starting and really become a full-time starter. “Andrew Nembhard, he had a great rookie year as well. He’s due for a bigger role in the line-up as well, so Buddy Hield is likely looking at a reserve role and we’ll see how that takes place and how impacts him, his role and his value. I think that’s why it’s likely going to go into the season in terms of Buddy Hield and his future in Indiana.”
The NBA Summer League is over, with the Cavaliers crowned champions as basketball fans got their first glimpse at Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller and a host of other stars on the rise.
Now attention turns towards another intriguing offseason, with potential James Harden and Damian Lillard trades on the cards.
Plus — the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns have emerged as big winners from free agency so far, while the Houston Rockets made some peculiar moves in the summer.
With all that in mind, here are a few key storylines to come out of the offseason so far.
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‘Bulls***’ – Landale gets trolled by dad | 00:24
WHAT HAPPENS WITH JAMES HARDEN?
Starting off with Harden, all signs point towards there being no trade on the horizon in the short-term at least, not that that is a surprise anyway with Daryl Morey in charge.
After all, Morey was more than happy to remain patient on the Ben Simmons trade front before eventually striking a deal to reunite with James Harden in Philadelphia.
Now it looks like Harden is heading for the exit door, reportedly unhappy with the way the Sixers handled his potential free agency.
That is according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, who wrote late last month that Harden was “extremely upset” and “made his dissatisfaction clear”.
It looked clear for a while though that Simmons’ days in Philadelphia were numbered, but that didn’t stop Morey from holding out for the best value before trading the Australian.
By all reports the Clippers, Harden’s preferred destination, could also be made to wait as Morey kicked off negotiations with an asking price which Adrian Wojnarowski described as “exorbitant”.
“Teams are not engaging the Sixers with the kind of asks that Daryl Morey is asking for James Harden,” Wojnarowski said during a recent appearance on ESPN’s ‘NBA Today’.
“That’s where Daryl Morey always starts in trade talks, really high. Over time, perhaps, you work him back down.”
James Harden wants to join the Clippers. (Photo by Adam Glanzman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
Although it is no sure thing at this point that Harden even ends up being traded, with rival executives telling The Athletic at Summer League that they are “universally convinced” Philadelphia is now trying to keep the 10-time All-Star.
That is consistent with reporting from Wojnarowski, who predicted the Harden talks will “linger into the summer” as the 76ers hold out hope of finding a potential resolution.
“But like Ben Simmons, there’s hope on the Sixers’ side that eventually, at some point, they can get James Harden on board about being in Philadelphia in the last year of this deal,” the ESPN insider said.
“This opt-in that he did at $35.6 million. Now they may get to training camp and it may look different in Philly. They may have a James Harden who is not as enthusiastic about his return as they are. And then maybe they get more serious about it.”
One name that is highly unlikely to be seriously considered by the Sixers in any potential Harden package is young guard Tyrese Maxey, who is widely seen as untouchable.
Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice reported late last month that the 76ers are not expected to sign Maxey to any extension this offseason.
However, as Neubeck wrote: “This is not viewed as a condemnation of Maxey or a reflection of how the team values him”.
Rather, the Sixers still see the 22-year-old as a key part of their future but are hoping to guarantee future financial flexibility for potential moves in free agency next summer.
Tyrese Maxey is the future in Philadelphia. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
AND WHAT ABOUT JOEL EMBIID?
Well, based on his recent comments, we will only be able to answer that question if Harden is traded.
Should his Sixers co-star be dealt to the Clipper as expected, whether Embiid stays or forces his way out will largely depend on what Philadelphia gets back in return.
“I just want to win a championship,” Embiid said last week.
“Whatever it takes. I don’t know where that’s going to be, whether that’s in Philly or anywhere else.”
Obviously losing Harden would be quite the setback to Embiid’s hopes of contending for a championship, so the Sixers are said to want an “All-Star level return” for the 33-year-old.
That is according to a report from Philly Voicein which Kyle Neubeck writes that the Sixers “would prefer to be able to make or keep the team as competitive as possible as soon as possible”.
That is consistent with comments from 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, who told 97.5 FM that the team is “attempting to honour” Harden’s trade request but only at the right price.
“If we don’t get either a very good player or something we can turn into a very good player, we are not going to do it,” Morey said.
For what it’s worth, Embiid’s comments aren’t an indication that he wants to be traded. Ian Begley of SNY reported as much this week.
Begley wrote that Embiid and Morey met in the wake of the former’s comments, with the Sixers superstar making it clear he wants to be in Philadelphia and deliver a title to the city.
“The Sixers have absolutely no plans to trade Embiid,” Begley added, per sources familiar with the matter.
Of course, this again could all change depending on a potential Harden trade but for the time being Sixers fans can breathe easy.
What happens with Harden could determine Embiid’s future. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
WILL DAME GET HIS WISH?
Philadelphia is not the only team expected to play the waiting game when it comes to a superstar trade, with Portland still yet to find a deal for veteran guard Damian Lillard.
Every man and his dog knows at this point that Miami is Lillard’s favoured landing spot, although the Heat’s potential best offer isn’t something the Blazers are willing to accept — for now.
Miami has three first-round picks it could stump up, although that would also require the Heat getting the Thunder to change the protection on their 2025 first that they owe them.
A third team could then add in another first-round pick while the Heat also have three first-round swaps they could add to the table.
Whether they are willing to part ways with all three remains to be seen and for now there is no real incentive to do so with other teams not posing too much of a threat.
The Blazers are reportedly after four first-round picks and a few young rotation players for Lillard, with Nikola Jovic and rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr. frequently mentioned in mock trades.
Veteran Duncan Robinson, who is owed $18.1 million next season and has three years left on his current contract, or Caleb Martin could also be dealt in a possible Lillard trade.
Damian Lillard has requested a trade. (Photo by Carmen Mandato / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP
Of course, Tyler Herro is the other name at the centre of a deal with the Blazers but he would likely end up at a third team as opposed to being sent to Portland in a straight-up deal.
So, what is the latest on how close either side could be to a trade?
Well, according to Wojnarowski, there is no reason for the Blazers to speed up the process with no looming deadline they must make a move before.
“I think for the Portland Trail Blazers, they don’t want to rush into what they consider a bad deal,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s ‘NBA Today’.
“The Miami Heat, the team that is most motivated to trade for Damian Lillard, where Damian Lillard wants to end up, they don’t want to be in a situation where they’re bidding against themselves right now.
“They know that the market doesn’t love the idea of paying Damian Lillard a $60 million average at 35 and 36 years old, the last two years of that deal.
“There’s no rush for either side to be real aggressive in their conversations with each other, and for Portland, they’re motivated to wait this out and continue to see, ‘How do we get the most back for Damian Lillard?’
“They don’t see it as moving quickly on a deal unless Miami came with all of their assets, you know what they’re able to trade for Damian Lillard. They’re not motivated to do that now, they’d be bidding against themselves.”
Speaking of which, the Raptors look to be one of the more intriguing teams to follow this offseason with the potential for a few big moves still on the cards.
Miami is the ideal landing spot for Lillard. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
ARE THE LAKERS BIG WINNERS FROM FREE AGENCY?
The Lakers’ front office hasn’t exactly been the subject of much praise previously.
That’s what trading for Russell Westbrook does to you, although on a more broader note they made a big mistake in not better prioritising continuity in the aftermath of their championship run.
This summer though Rob Pelinka and the Lakers are getting their flowers, and rightly so.
The Lakers had already taken a step in the right direction before last season’s trade deadline, ending the Westbrook experiment and making shrewd moves to build around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
That saw L.A. make a surprise run all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where the Lakers fell short against this year’s eventual champions — the Denver Nuggets.
While the Nuggets will still be deserved favourites heading into next season, the Lakers have only built on that successful run with a series of clever calls this summer.
First and most importantly, they didn’t repeat the same mistake they made with Westbrook by shooting for the bigger name and sacrificing their depth in the process.
The Lakers added Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince and Gabe Vincent, with the latter offering a better option than the departing Denis Schroder.
Prince isn’t a bad 3-point shooter either, going 38 per cent from deep in his past three seasons and shaping as the perfect 3-and-D wing for the Lakers to fill out the second unit.
The Lakers have put the right pieces around LeBron James. (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP
Then, of course, there is the most impressive move of the lot — re-signing the rapidly improving Austin Reaves on a four-year, $54 million deal.
There was talk that Reaves could receive offer sheets up to $100 million this summer, with the Lakers so desperate to extend him that they were more than happy to match those figures.
Instead, Reaves returns to L.A. on a team-friendly deal after a breakout 2022-23 campaign that saw him emerge as the team’s third-most important player behind James and Davis.
Speaking on his ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcast, JJ Redick called the Lakers one of the biggest winners of the free agency period.
“Now, if you look and you’ve got Gabe Vincent coming, Taurean Prince coming on a very favourable one-year contract. Gabe Vincent is making 11 [million] — not even the full mid-level. You bring [D’Angelo] Russell back. You bring [Rui] Hachimura back, they’ve got a really good basketball team,” Redick said.
“So much of their success ultimately, in the regular season specifically, will be based on health… we’re talking about one of the best teams in the Western Conference for sure.
“… I think Hachimura signed for 17, Russell signed for 18.5 … there’s nothing against those guys at those numbers, but Austin Reaves at 12 starting out? Gabe Vincent at 11? “I cannot believe they got those two guys next season for about $23 million between them. You can make an argument that both those guys are worth $20 million a year. Just a fantastic value add with Gabe Vincent.”
Gabe Vincent is off to the Lakers. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
Whether it is enough to take the Lakers one step further next postseason, should they make it that far, remains to be seen.
But it is certainly a better position to be in than where the Lakers found themselves last summer.
As it stands, if anything, L.A. is still in need of a bit more depth in its frontcourt and Pelinka admitted as much earlier in the month.
The Lakers GM told reporters the team would be “actively in the market to add another big” with specific strengths.
“I think dimensional-izing the skills at that position would be important,” Pelinka said.
“So we don’t want to sign someone who replicates the skills that Jaxson Hayes has. So, if we can diversify the big position and have different looks, that would be good.”
Beyond Hayes, Pelinka said L.A. is “actively in the market to add another big,” and hinted that the Lakers would pursue a player with stretch 5 capabilities.
“I think dimensional-izing the skills at that position would be important,” Pelinka said. “So we don’t want to sign someone who replicates the skills that Jaxson Hayes has. So, if we can diversify the big position and have different looks, that would be good.”
That is at least according to the latest reporting from NBA insider Marc Stein, who reported in his latest Substack that: “League sources say Dallas has not ruled out participating in a sign-and-trade deal that lands Christian Wood with a new team if it is presented with such a scenario”.
Christian Wood is a Lakers target. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WHAT TO MAKE OF HOUSTON’S FREE AGENCY HAUL?
While the Lakers are one of the bigger winners to come from the free agency period so far, no one knows quite what to make of the Rockets after a few head-scratching moves.
Houston, who already had an impressive young core headlined by Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun, tasted early success at this year’s draft.
First, the Rockets took Amen Thompson fourth overall before snapping up Cam Whitmore after the high-upside the Villanova freshman dropped all the way to the No. 20 pick.
It was expected Houston would then be aggressive in the free agency period with nearly $61 million in cap space and an obvious need to add veterans to its young roster.
The Rockets did just that, making two of the biggest moves of free agency. Just who they signed and how much they gave up to get them, however, was a point of contention.
First, Houston agreed to sign Fred VanVleet to a three-year, $128.5 million max contract with a third-year team option before offering Dillon Brooks a four-year, $80 million deal.
These are two players who were two of the most inefficient scorers in the NBA last season, with Brooks taking 991 shots and making just 39.6 per cent of them.
According to The Ringer’s Chris Vernon, there was only one player in the league who took more shots and hit less: VanVleet.
Fred VanVleet is a leader. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP
That may be a concern given how much the Rockets paid to get the two players to Houston, although a struggling team is always going to have to pay more to land big-name free agents.
Plus, the hope for VanVleet would be that this was just an outlier for a guy who has plenty of other strengths that the Rockets actually need, including 3-point shooting.
For all the issues VanVleet had in his mid-range game, he still made 44 per cent of his open catch-and-shoot 3s and shot 34.2 per cent overall from deep.
In fact, VanVleet has made 37.0 per cent or more of his 3-pointers in five of seven seasons in the NBA. For context, Kevin Porter Jr. (36.6 per cent) was Houston’s best 3-point shooter last season.
Of course, VanVleet will also take up a prominent role on the ball in Houston’s offence as the team’s starting floor general after averaging a career-high 7.2 assists last season.
Meanwhile, his leadership is a value add for a young team while the 29-year-old is also disruptive on the defensive end having averaged the second-most steals (1.8) in the league last season.
As for Brooks, for all the concerns about his efficiency on the offensive end there is little doubting he will help address the issues Houston has on the defensive side of the ball.
Plus, the Rockets are banking on the addition of VanVleet opening the game up for Brooks — and all of their players — to be improved shooters in the 2023-24 season.
Houston beat writer Kelly Iko wrote in The Athleticthat Brooks told him at Summer League that he was confident VanVleet would bring the best out of him.
Dillon Brooks has joined the Rockets. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“When I spoke to Brooks in Las Vegas last week, one thing he noted was the impact the former Raptors point guard would have on his offensive efficiency, an area he’s fully aware he struggled with last season in Memphis,” Iko wrote.
“VanVleet is one of the game’s premier passers and has elite court vision. There’s a reason Houston’s brass felt it necessary to pay big money to land his services. VanVleet’s gravity and drive-and-kick ability are two much-needed lifts to this team’s floor and ceiling.”
In less high-profile but still important moves, the Rockets also signed Australian Jock Landale to a four-year, $32 million contract with only the first year guaranteed.
Jeff Green, meanwhile, will bring veteran leadership to the locker room after Houston signed the championship-winning forward on a one-year, $6 million deal.
As a whole, these moves make Houston better in the short-term and should give the team a proper chance to evaluate which of its young players are the best bets to continue building around.
It cost the Rockets a lot though and whether it will be worth it in the long run remains to be seen.
Houston was big winners at the draft. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
HOW DID PHOENIX MANAGE THAT?
And just quickly, while the Lakers emerged as one of the bigger winners from free agency, how about the Phoenix Suns?
Adding Bradley Beal alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant saw the birth of a new NBA superteam. But usually that comes as a cost, especially under the new collective bargaining agreement.
It meant the Suns had limited wiggle room as they tried to add some much-needed depth around their star-studded trio who, along with Deandre Ayton, are down to earn a combined $162 million next season.
As Phoenix is projected to exceed the $182.5 million second apron, it also meant they were unable to use the $5 million taxpayer mid-level exception to build their team in free agency.
Instead, the Suns were only able to offer veteran-minimum contracts. But instead of struggling to make any movements around the margins, Phoenix was able to bring back Josh Okogie and Damion Lee while adding Eric Gordon, Yuta Watanabe, Keita Bates-Diop, Drew Eubanks and Chimezie Metu.
There was an interesting detail in a lot of Phoenix’s free agency moves this summer though — the fact it signed six players to two-year contracts with second-year player options.
It is something that definitely didn’t go unnoticed by ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks while Brian Windhorst also pointed out another benefit of the kind of offers Phoenix made.
“They won battles for some of these guys that had two or three offers by being like, ‘Hey listen we’ll give a player option,’” Windhorst said on ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcast. “If you have a player option on a minimum contract, it means you can’t be traded without your permission. Functionally, Eric Gordon (and the others) has a no-trade clause.
“So, if the Suns come to him mid-season and say, ‘Hey we want to trade you to the Charlotte Hornets for so and so,’ he could be like, ‘Nope.’
“… If you’re trying to weigh where you’re going to go and you’re like, ‘Wait a minute I can go play in Phoenix for a title in good weather with two per cent state income tax, and I can block a trade,’ I could see the strategy [in] what they were doing. And it made sense to me and I respected it.”
Damian Lillard could only be patient for so long. Now it is Portland’s turn, although obviously it won’t involve waiting for over a decade.
But the Trail Blazers won’t be rushing into a deal anytime soon after the 32-year-old requested a trade earlier this month. There is no need to anyway.
With both the trade deadline and NBA draft now passed and free agency period already underway, there is no real pressure for Portland to accept any rival offers immediately.
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“I think what I’ve learned more than anything is patience is critical,” Blazers GM Joe Cronin said earlier this week.
“… We’re going to be patient; we’re going to do what’s best for our team. We’re going to see how this lands. And if it takes months, it takes months.”
That is especially true if you consider what the Miami Heat — the reported frontrunner to trade for Lillard — could hypothetically offer in a trade for the seven-time All-Star.
At best, Tyler Herro would headline a package that also sends veteran teammate Kyle Lowry, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., forward Nikola Jovic and two tradeable draft picks in 2028 and 2030.
Herro wouldn’t be that appealing for the Blazers anyway given young guards Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons are all expected to be given bigger roles over the years.
And then there is Jerami Grant, who the Blazers recently re-signed on a five-year, $160 million contract.
Eventually Portland could have to settle for less, as painful as it may be, although including a third team in the deal would be its best bet of getting a return that isn’t just adequate.
Which then begs the question: which team would be incentivised to get in on the Lillard deal? That is where the Brooklyn Nets and Ben Simmons come in.
The Nets had already previously been linked to Lillard since it emerged that he was looking to be traded by Portland, although the superstar guard is keen to land at a title contender.
Of course, Lillard will only have so much of a stay in where he ends up as he still has two years left on his contract with the Trail Blazers.
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Damian Lillard has requested a trade. (Photo by Carmen Mandato / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP
But trading for someone of Lillard’s calibre doesn’t really fit into Brooklyn’s current timeline anyway as the Nets navigate a rebuild of sorts after the failed James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant experiment.
A three-team deal though could offer the Nets an opportunity to help Miami facilitate a deal while getting something back in return, including young players like Jacquez Jr. and Jovic.
That would obviously be in addition to Herro who, alongside Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, gives Brooklyn a competitive, young core to build around in the short-term at least.
The chances of that happening would hinge on which players Portland want in return along with draft picks for moving Lillard to Miami.
That then brings us to the topic of Simmons, who still has two years and $78.2 million left on a contract which is considered one of the hardest to trade in the league right now.
Hard to trade for anything valuable in return at least. In fact, the Blazers — or any team by that matter — would likely want something in addition to Simmons to even take on his contract.
And for a rebuilding team like Portland, adding Simmons to the mix could be an unwanted distraction given the media circus that has followed him around in recent years.
There is no guarantee Simmons can get back to the kind of form that made him a perennial All-Star too, having struggled to assert himself on the offensive end in limited playing time last season.
Ben Simmons has struggled to stay healthy. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The elite defence and playmaking was still there though and the hope for the Blazers would be that Simmons can rediscover the rest with time — something Portland has plenty of right now.
They also, as already mentioned, have plenty of young talent in Henderson, Sharpe and Simons to focus on so Simmons wouldn’t need to be a focal point right away in the offence.
Although Simmons is the kind of player who needs his hands on the ball to make an impact, so the Australian may not be the right fit for what Portland is trying to build at this stage.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor though sees the value in the Blazers taking a swing on Simmons.
“As disappointing as Simmons has been in recent seasons, he’ll be only 27 next year and has just two years remaining on his contract,” wrote O’Connor.
“Simmons is the type of upside piece that could appeal to Portland if other picks are added.”
That is the issue for Brooklyn though. Surely it is worth seeing what Simmons has this season as opposed to dumping his salary for negative returns.
If it doesn’t work out, at least the Australian’s salary will be even more tradeable next season as his contract enters its final year.
“Across the league I think there is just a lot of scepticism that we’re going to see that guy [All-Star Ben Simmons] again and if that is the case that’s a lot of money to have invested in essentially a role player,” Beck said.
Not just that but, as Beck pointed out, for a team like the Nets that has multiple first-round picks up their sleeve it makes more sense to wait out for another name to hit the market.
Specifically, a younger name that better fits into their timeline as they look to remain both competitive in the short-term while building assets with an eye towards the future.
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“You’re looking out on the horizon and you’re saying, ‘Is Joel Embiid going to be available at some point?’, and the Nets have a boatload of picks to get involved in any of these,” Beck added.
“Again, this is why I think they’re going with the patient route. Maybe Giannis sours if the wheels fall off in Milwaukee. This is what the whole league is thinking by the way… you’re looking at Dallas and saying, ‘If Kyrie derails the Mavericks…’, or just keeping an eye on Luka.
“The whole league is looking at it this way. The Nets are one of the teams now that has a boatload of picks, and especially those Suns picks which will be highly valuable, and are thinking, ‘We’ve got to keep our powder dry and figure out when to go all-in’.
“I bring that up in relation to Ben Simmons because Ben Simmons is a negative asset and if the Portland Trail Blazers for instance were saying, ‘Hey, do you guys want to do Dame?’ and the Nets say, ‘Yeah, for salary matching purposes Simmons should be central to this deal’ and the Blazers would be like, ‘Alright, it’s going to cost you at least a first-round pick just to take on Ben Simmons’.
“He is a negative asset… and then more picks to make up for the Dame Lillard part of it. Is that the best way to spend a first-round pick or more, to use it to get someone to just take Ben Simmons when there is only two years left and since the Nets don’t have an urgency right now to win immediately?”
Ben Simmons still has plenty of upside if he can rediscover his old form. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
He’s right too. The Nets have the benefit of being able to wait it out and see what they have with Simmons, and GM Sean Marks certainly sounds optimistic there is still room for growth.
“Knowing that he’s mid-20s and he has still, hopefully, not reached his prime, we’re going to make sure he can get back out there and get back to that form,” Marks told reporters of Simmons this week.
“And hopefully, we see his game even evolve past that. But health is going to be key for him.”
As for the latest on the health front, the Nets are expecting Simmons to be healthy for training camp which is a relief — both if he stays put or is moved in a potential trade.
Nets teammate Spencer Dinwiddie told NBA TV that Simmons is an “All-Star, max-level guy” if healthy. It’s obviously a big if, but enough of an incentive for Brooklyn to keep the faith given what trading him would involve.
“He could completely change the complexion of our team and can make us a really exciting group, especially defensively,” added Dinwiddie.
The same, of course, goes for Portland where Simmons would team up with fellow Australian Matisse Thybulle and offer the Blazers versatility on defence.
Could Ben Simmons link up with Matisse Thybulle again? (Photo by Alika Jenner / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
The question marks on offence for both players aren’t a huge deal given the firepower Portland has on that end of the floor, as Bill Simmons pointed out on one of his recent podcast episodes.
“You have to ask yourself… is this a distressed asset who could actually become an asset for us? Let’s put him in a small market for a rebuilding team around a bunch of young players and just kind of unleash him and let him go,” Simmons said.
“It’s kind of what they need. They need a jack-of-all-trades defence, unselfish guy. There’s more than enough shots on that team already with Scoot and Simons and Grant. You don’t need more offence. Roll the dice with it.”
Heat insider Greg Sylvander though reported earlier this month that “one challenge in negotiations” between the Heat, Trail Blazers and Nets has been the fact Brooklyn is looking to move on Simmons as part of the deal.
“The sticking point being that no team is particularly interested in taking him so far,” a source told Sylvander.
And as mentioned by Cronin earlier, don’t expect the Blazers to rush into any trade anyway, regardless of whether Simmons is available or not.
ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter last week that he expects it to be a “very slow trade process” as the Blazers look to negotiate with the Heat.
Ramona Shelburne, meanwhile, reported on ESPN’s ‘NBA Today’ that she had been told by “two teams” that Portland risks be a repeat of the Simmons holdout at Philadelphia with Lillard.
“This guy’s [Lillard] got four years on his contract,” Shelburne said.
“They don’t have to do anything. They can take their time and let’s just see if he shows up for training camp. If they want to wait until February to trade him, they can.”
It is hard to see Lillard doing that though. It’s just not his style and unlike Simmons’ split with the Sixers, the 32-year-old’s exit from Portland appears to be mutually beneficial.
Either way, it is just a waiting game at this point — both for Lillard to get traded and for Simmons to get back on the court and work his way back to a good physical and mental place.
