The 2021 NBA Draft class has come out of the gate red hot, as there’s been a number of rookies who have shined with their performances on the court. Last week’s Rookie of the Year power rankings featured the debut of Orlando Magic rookie Franz Wagner in the top five. Let’s take a look at the movement in the power rankings for this week’s installment. #5 Josh Giddey Previous week’s NBA ROTY Power Ranking - #4...
The UCLA product could become a free agent in the offseason but has an $11.6 million player option for the 2021-22 NBA season. According to a report from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau wants Norman Powell on his team. Fisher wrote: The New York Knicks are gunning for their first postseason appearance, with Thibodeau and All-Star forward Julius Randle leading the way. No matter how far they go in the postseason this year, assuming they get there, the Knicks have already stunned basketball minds with their performances so far this season....
Irish book Paddy Power has released odds on the three events, with the Skills Challenge the most wide open. Stephen Curry has already dropped from +170 to +130 to win the three-point contest, which he won last season. Minnesota’s Zach LaVine is the only odds-on favorite in any of the events at -300. But will he have enough new moves left to win in back-to-back years? MORE: Ranking every player in the NBA All-Star Game...
The Raptors have failed to break 100 points during their consecutive defeats, and Joel Embiid is continuing to demonstrate why he is among the NBA’s most dominant players. The 25-year-old controlled Game 3, recording 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while also connecting with 75% of his three-point attempts. Meanwhile, the Raptors continue to rely too heavily on Kawhi Leonard, and Pascal Siakam has failed to recapture the form he produced during Toronto’s round one series win over the Orlando Magic....
Technically you’d need to enter “FreeHongKong” as “Free Hong Kong” (with spaces) exceeds the 12 character limit on customized jerseys. But the overall point was that it seemed as if the NBA was censoring the Hong Kong independence movement. This follows a discussion started by a tweet Rockets owner Daryl Morey sent last year, and a PR email sent by Sen. Josh Hawley last week. Hawley argued that one of the approved social justice messages for players on the back of their jerseys should have been “Free Hong Kong....
MORE: NBA Mock Draft Lonzo completed his predraft workout in $140 Adidas Harden Vol. 1 “Disruptor” sneakers instead. According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, the $495 ZO2 sneakers aren’t available because they are still being made. MORE: LaVar Ball banned from Lonzo’s workout with the Lakers When the ZO2 sneakers were unveiled in May, the Big Baller Brand website said the shoes wouldn’t be shipped until November.
Junior guard Kyle Guy announced his decision to leave the Cavaliers early, just a couple weeks after the team won its first NCAA Tournament. “I set a goal with my brothers when we committed to UVA. Three years later we accomplished that goal of winning a National Championship,” Guy said in a statement. “I also set a goal for myself to play in the NBA. “(Tuesday) I will be declaring for the 2019 draft and signing with an agent....
NBA FREE AGENCY TRACKER: Latest news, signings of top available players The fact the Celtics didn’t come away with either Jimmy Butler or George in the last four months is a source of great frustration for folks in New England, and team president Danny Ainge has been lampooned locally and nationally for it. The Celtics’ stockpile of assets was supposed to lead to the acquisition of a star player, but those pursuits have continually come up empty....
The 6-foot-7 Blair averaged 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 78 games in his only season with Dallas. He spent his first four seasons with San Antonio and has career averages of 7.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. Dallas obtained the rights to Emir Preldzic in Tuesday’s trade. The 6-9 Preldzic was selected by Phoenix with the 57th overall pick in the 2009 draft.
It was also the worst of a five-year stretch from 2008/09-2012/13 in which the Raptors failed to make the playoffs with just 22 regular-season wins that season. Those days are long forgotten at the moment as the past six years have been a treat for Raptors’ fans to live through culminating in the Toronto franchise winning its first-ever NBA title in 2019 just two months ago. There have been a few players who have been key factors in lifting the Toronto franchise out of the pathetic state it once was into and making them the reigning and defending NBA Champions....
Jackson, 37, last played for the Clippers during the 2013-14 season. MORE: Mark Cuban goes on a killing spree | The newest Lakers haven’t heard from Kobe yet The 6-8 swingman enjoyed some success during his playing career, averaging 15.1 points per game with seven different teams, and won a championship with the Spurs in 2003. But he’ll best be remembered for his antics away from the court, and, one time, in the stands....
In recent weeks, injuries to the likes of Joel Embiid and LeBron James have allowed other players to gain ground, as the likes of Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets have embarked on hugely impressive runs during this period. During the same period, the LA Lakers have continued their recent struggles, with both Anthony Davis and LeBron James out for the time being. James’ injury, in particular, has allowed other players to overtake him in our latest NBA MVP Power Rankings....
2020-21 NBA MVP: February Power Rankings The NBA MVP usually comes from one of the top-seeded teams in the league, although some circumstances and special achievements by a player during the regular season could change that. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has won the last two NBA MVPs and is having another great year. However, he may struggle to repeat his win, as three consecutive MVPs for the same player is not a common occurrence in NBA history (only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird have done it before)....
With LeBron James signing with the Lakers, an injured DeMarcus Cousins signing with the reigning champs on a discount and of course Paul Geroge staying in Oklahoma City, this past offseason has been no disappointment by itself. But there’s no debate about the fact that it falls short in comparison to the impact the free agency moves and trade deals that went down in the summer of 2017. Nonetheless, other than the month of August, the league is more often than not, never short of rumors, possible trades, and interesting announcements....
Meanwhile, experienced individuals such as Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith remain available as free agents, and it possible that a team could bring them in after training camp. So, with the potential for plenty to happen over the coming weeks, here is all the latest NBA news you need to know for September 27th. #1 Washington Wizards believe Bradley Beal is still committed to the team The Washington Wizards offered Bradley Beal a new contract extension earlier this summer, although the All-Star recently revealed that he ‘hasn’t even thought about’ re-signing....
NBA News Roundup: James Harden arrives in Houston, Stephen Silas responds According to ESPN’s NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Rockets’ superstar James Harden landed in Houston today, and underwent the COVID-19 tests as per league’s protocol. Harden will be expected to attend the ongoing Houston Rockets training camp now, which he had snubbed earlier in favour of travelling, as documented in recent NBA news. Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Making a case for and against the Golden State Warriors acquiring Derrick Rose with their Disabled Player Exception...
NBA News Update: Steve Nash optimistic on the Brooklyn Nets’ chances in the next season The superstar duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is back and is expected to play a key role for the Brooklyn Nets in the upcoming season. Managing the egos of the two superstars could be one of the biggest challenges for Steve Nash as a coach of the Nets. The Brooklyn Nets guards like Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie could particularly benefit from the arrival of a legendary figure like Steve Nash, though....
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