Despite travel restriction and protocols due to the pandemic, the Raptors remain hopeful they’ll play in Toronto next season, Josh Lewenberg of TSN tweets. The organization has discussed several contingency options but it is not interested in moving games to Louisville, refuting a report earlier this week.
We have more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The league’s Board of Governors is pondering a Christmas-time start to next season and that could benefit the Hornets, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. The free agency period would be sped up and Charlotte, which will be significantly below the cap, could make bargain signings and acquire future assets while providing trade partners relief by taking on cumbersome contracts. The Hornets, who weren’t invited to the restart, would also like to get next season started sooner rather than later, Bonnell adds.
- Killian Hayes might be a great fit for the Pistons with their lottery pick, Matt Babcock of BabcockHoops.com tells Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. The overseas prospect is ranked No. 9 by ESPN and Detroit has the No. 7 pick but Hayes would fill a need at the point. “I think he’s a guy that could end up being sort of a lead playmaker, primary ball-handler and somewhat of a dynamic player,” Babcock told Sankofa.
- The Sixers own the No. 21 pick and Kentucky combo guard Tyrese Maxey could develop into a rotation player if he slips to that spot, according to Derek Bodner of The Athletic. Maxey projects as a jack-of-all-trades type of player but needs to develop his shot to be a factor. The shooting guard is currently ranked No. 15 by ESPN.
Sixers don’t need another dude that can’t shoot.
Sixers do need shooters. I agree strongly. With Embiid down low and Simmons driving. You need outlets who can knock them down.
TOR should play games in the Dominican Republic, as there are sooo many canadian expats living there… also many flights connecting Canada with their favorite Caribbean island! It surely beats playin’ in Louisville!
The NBA should start on Christmas with the uninvited 8 playing RS games. It’s okay if they play a longer schedule, if playoff seeding goes by win- percentage rather than games-back. Anyway a mixed GP is easier to fix, not that anyone in the league FO cares about archiving.
That gives the franchisees more games to make money without imposing on players who played so late in the year (due to Silver’s call, not covid reactions which did not change).
Dec.25 for 8, later for 22.
Late as need be, no need for MLK day to be a target, anymore than President’s or Valentine’s day, since the the bubble was already slanted so much toward blacks and basketball should not be a sport for race.
Maxey projects as a jack-of-all-trades type of player but needs to develop his shot to be a factor.
Have Simmons help him develop his shot
They would be quite the dynamic duo….GOAT
The other part of the problem is Colleges are no longer developing players, they are around for a year if that and then gone and then the NBA has to develop them and they can’t because NBA coaches aren’t paid to develop, they are paid to win
SMH
It’s not a college coach’s responsibility to develop players for the nba. I’m pretty sure they are also paid to win. One and dones help them do that. The ncaa is not the nba minor leagues. I think more of an emphasis needs to be put on the g league to get the type of development you are looking for.
BTW good job sneaking another jab in at Ben Simmons on an unrelated article, you got him so good!
Maxey is an excellent shooter, and I think his shot will translate well to the NBA. There are several issues with Maxey, starting with his ability to play the point. For him, the UK situation was not the best.
Hopefully free agency will start soon after the draft
They were planning to start it sooner, before the draft.
Philly has 4 picks in this draft. If they don’t make a major trade. They can get help from draft.
I’m starting to like Hayes more and more. Been watching lots of tape. Pistons is a good place for him. To me Hornets is best place for Wiseman. MJ needs a major talent and center. Just don’t see how Warriors pass on him.