Lakers guard Avery Bradley has opted not to participate in the NBA’s restart this summer, and now the Western Conference’s No. 1 team will have to wait to see if any other players follow suit. Veteran big man Dwight Howard, like Bradley, has talked this month about not wanting the resumed season to draw attention away from social justice movements, but hasn’t yet confirmed his plans for the summer.
Addressing Howard’s status in a conversation with Harrison Sanford on the Inside The Green Room podcast (video link), Lakers guard Danny Green suggested that his teammate is going through personal issues unrelated to social justice, including the recent death of his six-year-old son’s mother.
“There’s just some things that are bigger than basketball,” Green said. “You never know what’s going on with guys’ families. And just hearing the background of what Dwight is going through, I understood fully (why he’d consider not playing). … There’s more than just one issue, more than one thing that’s going on in his life besides the protests… There’s a lot of other things that are going on behind the scenes that people don’t know about.”
Green added that he does still expect Howard to participate in the restart this summer, but stressed that he and his teammates would have the veteran center’s back if he decides against playing.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- In an Insider-only ESPN.com article, Kevin Pelton examines how the Lakers will deal with Bradley’s absence in Orlando, suggesting that Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could assume some of his defensive responsibilities, with Alex Caruso perhaps playing a larger role in the backcourt as well.
- With the Kings looking to play more small ball, a veteran swingman like Corey Brewer – who spent time with the team last season – is a good fit, writes Jason Jones of The Athletic. Jones notes that Brewer probably won’t play a major role this summer, but suggests the 34-year-old will give the team a reliable perimeter defender off the bench.
- Although there’s only a 14% chance that the Warriors will get the No. 1 selection in this year’s draft, they’re better positioned than any other team to get a top pick. With that in mind, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Mike Schmitz, and Bobby Marks (Insider link) consider which prospects Golden State should be targeting and what trade options the club might have with its top-five pick.
Warriors targeting swap picks And
Bulls Lauri Markkanen
Knicks 2021 pick
Pistons Kennard
Warriors are willing to add assets to make the trade work
If Warriors win top pick its rigged to continue there dominance. If Knicks win it’s there dumb luck a year too late.
You know it’s rigged, why are you questioning it? The Warriors had their Run so they won’t get the top pick. Maybe number 3 or most likely 4. Cleveland and Minnesota had recent high pics so I think it’s Atlanta’s turn.
It’ll be:
Atlanta
Detroit
Cleveland
Golden State
Minnesota.
Two more thoughts. 1) If the Warriors get the number 1 or 2 pick it’ll be to trade the player for future or current improved assets. That’s a for sure thing.
Number 2) if the Warriors get a high pick, the draft is either A) not rigged at all and simply was a chance. This scenario I highly doubt because there’s millions and billions of dollars involved so it has to be B) the league makes a ton of money when the Warriors succeed. The Bay Area is such a hotbed of technology and money and Global interest that it behooves the league for the Warriors to be successful.
I think the NBA would want all major markets successful and they’d be willing to help the Knicks but their owner and management is not capable right now.
Which member of this year’s draft is even close to being another Zion? It’s very unlikely that anyone drafted by the Warriors is going to make enough of an impact to put them back near the top of the standings in the West. Their current depth is nowhere close to being what it was during the 2014-2019 dynasty. It’s naive to think that the Warriors will be anything close to what they were during that time.
Who said anything about being close to that generational Dynasty? 28 year old Steph Klay Draymond Kevin Durant Andre Iguodala? People were handing them championships and they only won two together. Goes to show how tough it is.
But I think the Warriors have a lot to prove next season. They realize this is their last dance the next 2 seasons. They’ll surprise you. Shooting doesn’t go away as you age in fact it improves LOL. We’ll see how it plays out. I’m excited about it
The last time Warriors won the lottery, it was slim pickings and drafted Joe Smith. Before that, they had a chance to draft Ewing but we’ve all heard the rumors at what happened. Also, before that, the Celtics swindled them in giving up Chief and the McHale pick and got Joe Barely Breathing Carroll and Ricky Brown.
For them getting the first pick is actually a good sign that the lottery is not rigged. The past two decades, the Cavs got 4 first picks. It would be a shame for them to get a fifth. Even if the Warriors doesn’t get the first pick, I’d rather see other teams get a chance at getting the first such as the Hawks.
Stage is set for the CARU-SHOW!!!
If Howard decides to join Bradley and sits out as well, then Caruso will be forced to play a lot of minutes. They would probably start LBJ, AD, Kuzma, KCP, and Green with Rondo, McGee, Caruso, and Markieff coming off the bench. Perhaps they could also add JR Smith or Waiters to the mix as well.
I think they still go with McGee to start- Hes always started the 1st and 3rd qrters neways-
There will be more mins for Kuzma def
Green will need to do more
Caruso will have a nice opportunity I think he has earned moving forward-
I do see Jr being signed along with another big body if Howard elects out