And-Ones: O. White, T. Black, Trail Blazers

Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv appears to be eyeing free agent NBA big men as it looks to fill out its roster for the 2018/19 season. A rumor last week indicated that former Heat and Cavs power forward Okaro White may be nearing a deal with Maccabi, but such an agreement is unlikely to happen, according to Orazio Cauchi of Sportando.

Cauchi reported last week that the Israeli club had interest in former Rockets center Tarik Black, who remains an unrestricted free agent. However, despite rumors that the two sides are closing in on a deal, Black’s agent denies that his client has any sort of agreement in place with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

As we wait to see what’s next for Maccabi, White, and Black, let’s round up a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world….

• In the latest installments of their Summer Forecast series, ESPN’s panel projects the Eastern and Western Conference standings and champions for the 2018/19 season. While the teams at the top of those lists aren’t surprising, the playoff predictions in the West are noteworthy — ESPN’s panelists have the Spurs and Trail Blazers outside the top eight.
• The Trail Blazers also show up in Matt John’s list of teams that could regress in 2018/19 in his latest piece for Basketball Insiders. John suggests that the Rockets, Timberwolves, and Sixers could also take a step back.
• After several years at Yahoo Sports, top NBA reporter Shams Charania is headed to The Athletic. Paul Fichtenbaum of The Athletic conducted a Q&A with Charania about his own free agency decision.
• Spencer Davies of Basketball Insiders weighs in on some of the best one-year contracts of 2018’s free agent period.