Community Shootaround

Community Shootaround: Who Can Take Down Boston In The East?

September 1st, 2024 at 4:29pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Celtics seem well-positioned to repeat as NBA champions in 2024/25.

After posting a league-best 64-18 regular season record, Boston blitzed the competition in the playoffs, going 16-3 en route to the franchise’s record 18th championship.

The reigning champs have retained all of their top rotation pieces, extending Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser this summer. In fact, 12 of Boston’s top 13 players from its 2023/24 vintage are back on this year’s roster. The only exception? Free agent forward Oshae Brissett has yet to sign anywhere, but has alluded to a possible Celtics return.

With a focus on vanquishing Boston, several other Eastern Conference contenders retooled significantly during the offseason.

The Sixers are of course the headliners of the offseason, having almost completely reconfigured their roster around incumbent All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Although Paul George was the big addition on a four-year, $211.6MM deal, Philadelphia president Daryl Morey also made some savvy role player signings, including forward Caleb Martin. But both Embiid and George have had some uniquely underwhelming postseason performances in recent years, and both are on the wrong side of 30 with growing injury histories. Can they keep it together in the playoffs when it matters most?

Last year’s No. 2 seed, the Knicks, saw their playoff run hampered by escalating injuries to much of their rotation. Although New York lost starting center Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder in free agency, the team made its own splash with a blockbuster trade for former All-Defensive swingman Mikal Bridges, acquiring him from the Nets.

Despite frequent trade rumors, the biggest offseason change for Cavaliers happened on their bench. Cleveland president Koby Altman jettisoned now-former head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after two consecutive playoff seasons as a top-four seed, replacing him with former Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson. The team is hoping for internal development from its four stars and more cohesion out of its other pieces.

As the No. 3 seed heading into the playoffs, the Bucks may have been upset by an Eastern Conference Finals-bound Pacers squad in the first round. But Milwaukee has a key asset Indiana does not: All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, still very much in his prime. After trading to acquire All-Star point guard Damian Lillard late in the 2023 offseason, Milwaukee struggled to build out its depth around a pricey top six and underwent a mid-season coaching change. This year, however, the Bucks added several ring-chasing veterans on below-market deals. Will it be enough to get them deep into the playoffs again?

Indiana, to its credit, played the hand it was dealt, riding some injury luck to its first East Finals appearance in a decade. After an underwhelming Olympics run, wherein he did not play in Team USA’s gold medal game, could All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton be due for a leap? Could newly re-signed forward Pascal Siakam develop more chemistry with the team’s longer-tenured stars after his first full offseason in Indiana?

We want to know what you think. Can anyone among the aforementioned crop best Boston and emerge out of the East? Will a spoiler with present talent and the assets to make a trade — perhaps the Magic or Heat — make a surprise run? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

Community Shootaround: Bulls’ 2024 Offseason

August 28th, 2024 at 10:43pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

This summer, the Bulls finally, officially stopped pretending they were close to competing for anything but a play-in tournament berth.

Three years after offloading major draft capital in the hopes of becoming Eastern Conference contenders, Chicago waived the white flag. The Bulls’ front office moved probably two of its three best trade chips in two-time All-Defensive Team guard Alex Caruso and six-time All-Star small forward DeMar DeRozan. The third, 24-year-old emerging point guard Coby White, remains on the roster after a breakout individual season in 2023/24.

DeRozan agreed to a three-year, $73.7MM deal with the Kings as part of a three-team sign-and-trade with the Bulls and Spurs. San Antonio netted an unprotected first-round pick swap, as well as the contract of 3-and-D combo forward Harrison Barnes. Chicago, despite moving by far the best player in the deal, only nabbed two second rounders and reserve shooting guard Chris Duarte.

Caruso was shipped out to the Thunder in exchange for point guard Josh Giddey, who by the end of this spring’s playoffs was a barely-used eighth man, averaging just 12.6 minutes per game in Oklahoma City’s second-round series to the Finals-bound Mavericks. Giddey’s missing-in-action jumper and poor defense made him a liability in his postseason debut. Luckily for the 6’8″ Aussie, he’s not in danger of making the playoffs again any time soon.

Oklahoma City gave up a pair of second-round picks to obtain Gordon Hayward in a trade deadline trade. Caruso, on an expiring $9.9MM sweetheart deal, is one of the league’s elite defenders, and surely could have netted some level of first-round equity. The Bulls reportedly received offers along those lines but preferred to acquire an established young veteran in Giddey.

Two more veteran former All-Stars remain very available on the trade market. But the Bulls can’t seem to give away either shooting guard Zach LaVine or center Nikola Vucevic, both of whom are on far-too-generous multiyear contracts.

Armed with a core of DeRozan, LaVine, Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, Caruso and White, the Bulls went a combined 125-121 across three seasons. Chicago did make the playoffs once, during this group’s first year together in 2021/22, but was quickly eliminated in the first round and hasn’t survived the play-in tournament since.

The team has been stubbornly resistant to making significant moves to improve its defense or long-range shooting since Ball went down with a left knee meniscus tear in January 2022. He’s currently rehabbing after his third surgery, and hoping to make a comeback in the final year of his contract.

The Bulls selected intriguing young G League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis with the No. 11 pick in this year’s poorly regarded draft. The 6’10” pro was an underwhelming floor-spacer in the G League, making just 27.3% of his 3.4 three-point tries, but flashed encouraging finishing ability and athleticism during his Summer League games with Chicago.

Chicago’s only major free agent addition thus far is ex-Pacers reserve big man Jalen Smith, who signed a three-season, $27MM deal. At 24, the 6’10” Maryland alum could conceivably grow along with the rebuilding Bulls.

The Bulls also re-signed restricted free agent forward Patrick Williams to a generous five-year, $90MM new deal. The 23-year-old incurred a left foot injury in January that required season-ending surgery. Due to minimal frontcourt size elsewhere, the 6’7″ wing has often been miscast by Chicago head coach Billy Donovan as a power forward, but his skinny frame has impeded his ability to get much offense cooking against opposing defenders.

Across 43 games last season, Williams averaged 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with a shooting line of .443/.399/.788. Those numbers are more or less the same as his rookie season output (9.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, .483/.391/.728 shooting). Though he has improved defensively during his four pro seasons, the Florida State alum has been a developmental dud on the other end, hampered by a slow release on his jump shots.

We want to hear from you. Did the Bulls get enough back in their deals for DeRozan and Caruso? How should they handle the contracts of Vucevic and LaVine? Will Ball even vaguely resemble his pre-injury self? Was Buzelis the right draft pick, or will he eventually go down in Bulls history as a lottery misfire? How much more leeway should owner Jerry Reinsdorf give team president Arturas Karnisovas, who has underwhelmed during his tenure with the team thus far?

Let us know how you feel in the comments section below.

Community Shootaround: Best, Worst Big-Money Offseason Signings

August 26th, 2024 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Since the 2024/25 league year began, six free agents have signed contracts that are worth $100MM or more. Here are those six players, with their accompanying contract details:

OG Anunoby (Knicks): Five years, $212.5MM (fifth-year player option)
Paul George (Sixers): Four years, $211.6MM (fourth year player option)
Tyrese Maxey (Sixers): Five years, $203.9MM
Pascal Siakam (Pacers): Four years, $189MM
Immanuel Quickley (Raptors): Five years, $162.5MM (includes $12.5MM in unlikely incentives)
LeBron James (Lakers): Two years, $101.4MM (second-year player option)

On top of that, another 10 players have signed contract extensions exceeding $100MM in total value. Those 10 players – whose extensions will take effect in 2025/26, with one exception – are as follows:

Jayson Tatum (Celtics): Five years, $313.9MM (fifth-year player option) *
Scottie Barnes (Raptors): Five years, $224.2MM *
Cade Cunningham (Pistons): Five years, $224.2MM *
Evan Mobley (Cavaliers): Five years, $224.2MM *
Franz Wagner (Magic): Five years, $224.2MM *
Lauri Markkanen (Jazz): Four years, $195.9MM (includes an additional $24.1MM applied to 2024/25 cap hit, for a total of $220MM in new money)
Bam Adebayo (Heat): Three years, $165.3MM (third-year player option) *
- Note: Extension begins in 2026/27.
Jalen Brunson (Knicks): Four years, $156.5MM (fourth-year player option)
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers): Three years, $150.3MM (third-year player option) *

Contracts marked with an asterisk (*) include projected salary figures based on 10% cap increases for the next two seasons. Barnes’, Cunningham’s, Mobley’s, and Wagner’s contracts could be worth up to as much as $269.1MM if certain Rose Rule performance criteria are met.

Even with the NBA’s salary cap set to continue increasing at a pretty rapid rate in the coming years, these deals represent massive significant investments for their respective teams.

In some cases, those commitments were no-brainers. Maxey, for example, is 23 years old, made his first All-Star team last season, and was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. Paying him big money for his prime years was an easy decision for the Sixers.

Brunson’s $156.5MM contract with the Knicks is well below the maximum he could have earned if he had waited until free agency to sign a new deal. And after finishing fifth in MVP voting last season, the veteran point guard appeared to be on a maximum-salary trajectory, so New York presumably didn’t hesitate to sign off on that extension.

Some other deals on these lists carry more risk. Anunoby and George have worrisome injury histories, and George is 34 years old. Quickley, Cunningham, Mobley, and Wagner have never made an All-Star team (neither has Anunoby). James is turning 40 later this year, though he has shown no signs of slowing down and his two-year contract is the shortest-term deal in this group.

We want to know what you think. From a team’s perspective, which of these nine-figure contracts would you feel most comfortable carrying? Which one would make you the most nervous?

In two years, will any of these players find themselves in a situation like Zach LaVine‘s in Chicago (ie. a trade candidate whose contract is too onerous to move)? Or will some of these deals look like smarter investments in two years than they do now?

Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts on the most lucrative contracts of the 2024 offseason!

Community Shootaround: Kings’ Offseason

August 25th, 2024 at 8:25pm CST by Dana Gauruder

One of the surest things in major professional sports was a losing season for the Kings.

After making the playoffs eight consecutive seasons during the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Kings were annual visitors to the lottery. They missed the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons, finally ending that drought during the 2022/23 campaign.

Sacramento was eliminated in the opening round by the Warriors but failed to build off that breakthrough season. The Kings were relegated to the play-in tournament last season, knocking out the Warriors before getting bounced by the Pelicans.

Expectations of a major roster shakeup this offseason were quickly squashed. Instead, the Kings essentially settled for the status quo, save for one big addition. They acquired DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade and dealt away Harrison Barnes in the process.

DeRozan slots in to the small forward spot and, at least from an offensive standpoint, the Kings should pack plenty of punch. DeRozan, perhaps the league’s most noted mid-range scorer, averaged 24.0 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Bulls last season. He turned 35 this month but he remains an offensive force.

He joins a lineup that features De’Aaron Fox (26.6 PPG, 5.6 APG) and Domantas Sabonis (19.4 PPG, 8.2 APG). Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter round out that unit and Sacramento also shelled out big bucks (four years, $78MM) to retain sixth man Malik Monk.

Sacramento made relatively minor additions to its bench, picking up Jordan McLaughlin, Jalen McDaniels and Orlando Robinson via free agency or trade. The Kings suffered a tough blow when first-round pick Devin Carter suffered a severe shoulder injury that could keep him out for most or all of his rookie season.

The Kings were among the top 10 in scoring and field goal percentage last season, though oddly at the bottom in free throw percentage. What held them back was a defense that ranked 21st in field goal percentage and second-to-last in 3-point percentage.

That brings up to today’s topic: Where do you think the Kings rank in the Western Conference pecking order? Did the acquisition of DeRozan move them into the top six in the conference? What else do they need to do to become serious contenders?

Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.

Community Shootaround: Best Two-Way Contract Players

August 20th, 2024 at 9:33pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Every year, several two-way contract players outperform their current deals and wind up playing more minutes than expected for their respective organizations. However, two-way players are limited to 50 games on their contracts and aren’t eligible for the postseason.

Once top two-way players approach their 50-game limit or it’s clear they’re either a part of the organization’s future or making an immediate impact, a team will often convert their deals. Some teams have to wait longer than others due to financial reasons or a lack of roster spots, however.

Take the Heat, for example, who often begin seasons with 14 players on standard deals as opposed to the maximum allowable 15 due to their position against the tax. That’s what they did in 2021/22 when they had Caleb Martin on a two-way deal before signing him at mid-season, when his salary would be prorated and allow them to squeeze under the tax line.

Still, we’re almost certain to see several players converted from two-way to standard contracts this season. Last year, Vince Williams, GG Jackson, Keon Ellis, Craig Porter Jr. and Duop Reath were among impact players who were converted sooner rather than later. Martin, Aaron Wiggins and Sam Hauser are other good in-season examples for recent years.

The Heat could repeat history with a two-way player who may see minutes relatively early in the season with Keshad Johnson. Miami signed Johnson to a two-way deal right after the draft and he played well for the team this summer after ranking as one of the best undrafted free agents. With Martin gone, minutes are open along the wing and at the forward spot for the Heat and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Johnson fill in.

The Wizards have a roster glut to sort through before making any such move, but since they’re likely to be active at the trade deadline, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Justin Champagnie get brought up at some point. Champagnie has appeared in 56 NBA games and impressed in the G League.

The Kings may have one of the best trios of two-way players in the league with Mason Jones, Isaiah Crawford and Isaac Jones. The latter two players went undrafted in 2024 but were rated among the best available rookie free agents after June’s draft. Mason Jones, meanwhile, has impressed in the league before and posted a .502/.459/.833 shooting line in the G League last season. Sacramento could have an opportunity for minutes early with Devin Carter dealing with a shoulder injury and the team light on depth.

Cleveland has been filling out its two-way slots over the past week, bringing in JT Thor and re-signing Emoni Bates. Thor is still just 21 after having three seasons of NBA experience. Bates impressed last season in the G League, averaging 21.6 PPG and making 37.0% of his 10.5 three-point attempts per game. With the Cavaliers still having three open standard roster spots, it’s possible their rotation is a bit shallower to begin the year even if Isaac Okoro re-signs.

Utah is another team with several “veterans” on two-way deals between Jason Preston, Oscar Tshiebwe and Micah Potter. Tshiebwe, in particular, was the G League Rookie of the Year last season after pulling down 16.1 rebounds per game. The Jazz are a young team that could give minutes to as many young players as possible to see who sticks.

That brings us to our question of the day. Which player currently on a two-way contract do you see earning a promotion this season? Are there any players who you think are underlooked? Which players are primed to earn minutes right away?

Take to the comments to let us know. We look forward to your input!

Community Shootaround: Clippers’ Offseason

August 18th, 2024 at 7:19pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Clippers’ brand new arena, the Intuit Dome, opened this week. They were hoping that by the time the building was ready, they’d have a title in hand or at least a championship-caliber club to entertain their fans.

Those plans haven’t panned out. The Clippers have been bounced in the opening round of the playoffs the past two seasons and lost one of their superstars in free agency this summer.

Paul George‘s departure to Philadelphia left the Clippers scrambling to piece together a contending club. The front office didn’t replace George with another star player.

Instead, they signed a younger forward in Derrick Jones Jr., who has been utilized mainly as a defensive stopper since he entered the league in 2016. Jones appeared in 76 regular-season games, including 66 starts, for Dallas last season. However, he was a relative afterthought on the offensive end, attempting only 6.5 shots per game in 23.5 minutes. His modest 8.6 PPG scoring average was still a career best, mainly due to the fact he got more playing time than in any previous season.

Kawhi Leonard‘s three-year extension kicks in this season but there are major questions regarding his long-term health. He dealt with right knee inflammation late in the regular season and missed four of the Clippers’ playoff games against Dallas. Leonard was replaced on the Team USA roster just prior to the Olympics due to lingering concerns about his knee.

The team’s other star, James Harden, was retained on a two-year deal. Harden averaged 16.6 points last season, his lowest figure since he was a sixth man with Oklahoma City early in his career. He will probably have to take a bigger scoring load to make up for the loss of George.

Los Angeles added some veteran frontcourt depth by signing Mohamed Bamba and Nicolas Batum. They also acquired Kris Dunn in a sign-and-trade to fortify the backcourt.

Their most eye-opening move was signing Kevin Porter Jr. in free agency. The talented but troubled young guard could be a facing a league suspension over a past domestic violence case. He may be the team’s most significant addition if all goes well — in his last season with Houston, he averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists per game.

That brings us to our topic of the day: Where you feel the Clippers rank in the Western Conference? Can they still be considered a playoff team or do you feel they might end up on the outside looking in?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.

Community Shootaround: Christmas Day Schedule

August 17th, 2024 at 10:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

Once again, the NBA focused on big stars and big cities when compiling this year’s slate of Christmas Day games.

The league’s annual holiday showcase will start at noon Eastern Time and will feature five games stretching over more than 12 hours. Anyone who wants to spend part of the day with LeBron James, Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant will be delighted, although there seem to be a few glaring omissions, both among players and teams.

The day will tip off at Madison Square Garden with the Knicks hosting the Spurs. New York is an automatic selection for Christmas any time the team is half decent, and this year’s version looks like a title contender. After excelling in the Olympic spotlight, Victor Wembanyama will get his first Christmas game in the “world’s most famous arena.”

The action continues with the Timberwolves, making a rare Christmas Day appearance, traveling to Dallas to take on the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks. This rematch of the conference finals features two of the NBA’s top stars in Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic and could be important in the race for the best record in the West.

Next up, the Sixers and Celtics will renew their rivalry in Boston in a battle of two of the best teams in the East. Philadelphia added Paul George as part of an offseason roster overhaul and should be a legitimate challenger for the defending champs, who may not have Kristaps Porzingis available by December 25 following offseason surgery.

The Warriors will host the Lakers in the prime-time matchup, with James and Curry meeting for the first time since their Olympic heroics. Although these are still two of the league’s glamour teams and should draw a good rating, they combined for just one playoff win last season.

The day will end with the Suns hosting the Nuggets in the late game. Durant and Nikola Jokic were also outstanding at the Olympics, and Phoenix and Denver should both be in the midst of the Western Conference playoff race.

Even with an entertaining slate of games, there are many fans and players who feel left out. Being on the Christmas Day schedule is considered a sign of respect around the league, so it’s almost an insult to be overlooked.

The Thunder are the most obvious omission after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the West last season. Oklahoma City has the MVP runner-up in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with a talented young roster that looks ready to contend for years to come. OKC also upgraded during the offseason by trading for Alex Caruso and signing free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Bucks are typically a Christmas Day fixture, but they got passed over after losing in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard remain two of the league’s top stars and a strong argument can be made that Milwaukee should have been included.

The Pacers, who reached the conference finals and the in-season tournament finals, are an exciting young team in the East, as are the Cavaliers and Magic. Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero would all be worthy of Christmas games.

In the West, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies and James Harden and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers should also be in the conversation.

We want to get your opinion. What was the biggest snub on the Christmas Day schedule? Please leave your response in comments section.

Community Shootaround: Wizards Offseason

August 17th, 2024 at 9:59am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Wizards were one of the busiest teams of the offseason, bringing in first-round draftees in Alex Sarr, Carlton “Bub” Carrington and Kyshawn George. They also signed Jonas Valanciunas and Saddiq Bey in free agency while making other roster moves around the margins.

Last season marked the worst in Washington franchise history, with the team registering a .183 win percentage that was about four percentage points worse than their previous low in the 1961/62 season. While the Wizards didn’t become overnight contenders, the general sentiment is they did well to continue infusing young talent and serviceable veterans.

Sarr had a bit of a tough Summer League, but he was neck-and-neck with No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher in the eyes of most talent evaluators for best prospect in the draft. In my view, Washington did well to surround him with veterans with differing skill sets who can help him as he rises through the ranks. Carrington enters the league as one of the youngest and most explosive guards and should have a runway to minutes relatively early in his career. George similarly has an interesting upside and brings both ACC experience (Miami) and international expertise (Switzerland).

Bey was a free agent move that fell under the radar but should help the team massively. Bey’s efficiency fell off a bit this past season but he shot 36.1% on three-pointers on 6.5 attempts in the first three years of his career. Once he recovers from his ACL surgery, should help a Wizards team that ranked 25th in three-point efficiency last season improve in that regard.

Another major area to watch out for is how Washington’s young players continue to grow alongside one another. Corey Kispert is 25 now but has steadily improved over the course of his three-year career. Meanwhile, Bilal Coulibaly showed immense promise last season and should only continue to improve as a scorer and defender. His upside and development are key to this current build becoming competitive.

Jordan Poole had a tough start to last season but he quietly averaged 21.0 points while making 36.4% of 8.9 three-point attempts per night in his last 24 games of the season. Maybe he and Kyle Kuzma (22.2 PPG on .463/.336/.775 shooting) don’t build on those numbers, but they could both be used to help supplement this young team. For what it’s worth, Kuzma has seemed to enjoy being a focal point in Washington.

The Wizards aren’t done making moves this offseason. They have 17 players signed to standard contracts and are one of the only teams who have to deal with that sort of roster crunch. While the club may just end up cutting both Eugene Omoruyi and Jared Butler, the team’s only two non-guaranteed salaries, we explained in July why it might not be that simple.

The Wizards seem to like Omoruyi, and Butler played well last season while also fitting a positional need at point guard. They could just cut other players on small standard deals, but it’s hard to pinpoint who exactly would be on the chopping block. The team re-signed Anthony Gill to a third contract with the team and clearly values him. Patrick Baldwin could be another option, but he’s still young and may have untapped upside. Washington could also address its roster crunch on the trade market — perhaps the team gives Johnny Davis a change of scenery.

Regardless of what other moves the Wizards make for the rest of the offseason, their young core is undeniably in a better place than where it was last season.

That brings us to our question of the day. How do you evaluate the Wizards’ offseason? Are you intrigued by their young players? What moves should they make to trim the roster? What’s next?

Take to the comments to let us know what you think. We look forward to reading your input.

Community Shootaround: Potential Rookie Of The Year Candidates

August 16th, 2024 at 9:27am CST by Luke Adams

As we relayed on Thursday, No. 5 overall pick Ron Holland recently expressed a desire to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2024/25.

On the surface, Holland looks like a long shot for that honor. He just turned 19 years old and struggled last season as a member of the G League Ignite with his outside shot (.239 3PT%), overall scoring efficiency (.682 FT%), and turnovers (3.5 per game). The oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag list Holland at +1800 for Rookie of the Year award, with 10 players ahead of him.

Still, it’s not an unreasonable goal for Holland. He should have an opportunity to earn minutes on the rebuilding Pistons, and this year’s Rookie of the Year race looks awfully wide open. A year ago, BetOnline.ag listed Victor Wembanyama as the overwhelming favorite (-150) for the award; this time around, the player with the best odds – Rockets guard Reed Sheppard – is at just +600.

Zaccharie Risacher of the Hawks and Alex Sarr of the Wizards were the top two picks in the 2024 draft, but neither player is expected to make the sort of immediate impact that Wembanyama – or even No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller – did. They’re listed as the third- and fourth-best bets for Rookie of the Year honors at +850 and +900, respectively.

Sheppard will have to earn minutes in a crowded Rockets rotation, but he showed during his lone college season at Kentucky that he’s capable of providing the sort of outside shooting Houston could use — he made a whopping 52.1% of his three-point attempts in 2023/24.

Grizzlies center Zach Edey, who has the second-best ROY odds at +650, could be a compelling candidate. It remains to be seen how he’ll adjust to the speed and athleticism at the NBA level, but he has a path to playing time in a Memphis frontcourt that no longer features Steven Adams or Xavier Tillman. He also spent four years playing college ball and should be more NBA-ready than many of his fellow lottery picks. Plus, the Grizzlies arguably have more upside in 2024/25 than any other lottery team, so if the team wins 50+ games, that could help Edey in the end-of-season vote.

Spurs guard Stephon Castle (+900), Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (+900), Lakers sharpshooter Dalton Knecht (+1100), Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (+1200), Wizards guard Carlton Carrington (+1400), and Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (+1600) are some of the other first-year players viewed as Rookie of the Year candidates, but not all of them are locks to be in their teams’ rotations right away. Clingan, for instance, will have to battle Robert Williams and Duop Reath for minutes at center behind presumptive starter Deandre Ayton.

We want to know what you think. If you had to make a Rookie of the Year prediction today, which player would you feel most comfortable picking? Will there be several good contenders for the award or is there a particular rookie you expect to pull away from the pack?

Of the last 10 Rookie of the Year winners, five have been No. 1 overall picks and four others were selected in the top four. Will we deviate from that trend this year and get our first winner outside the top four since No. 36 overall pick Malcolm Brogdon won the 2017 award?

Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts on which of this year’s rookies will make the biggest first-year impact.

Community Shootaround: 2028 U.S. Olympic Team

August 10th, 2024 at 11:08pm CST by Arthur Hill

Mission accomplished for the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, which survived a few small scares and one really big one on its way to a perfect record in this year’s Paris Games. With a fifth straight gold medal, the Americans provided a reminder of their dominance in men’s basketball, although much of the world clearly isn’t far behind.

From the time this year’s roster was assembled, the focus was on NBA legends LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant teaming up for the first time in international competition. All three are well into their 30s and are approaching the end of their basketball careers, but it’s hard to picture the U.S. emerging from France with gold medals if they hadn’t been involved.

Assuming James, Curry and Durant are retired by then, there will be some mighty big sneakers to fill in 2028. They were the team’s top three scorers, with Curry leading the way at 14.8 PPG. James led in rebounds (6.8), assists (8.5) and efficiency (23.5) as coach Steve Kerr leaned heavily on his veterans whenever things got tough.

Apart from those three, most of the roster should still be in the mix for Olympic spots in 2028, assuming good health and continued production. Anthony Edwards could be the NBA’s next superstar by then, and he’ll almost definitely be part of the guard corps. Devin Booker will probably be back, along with Tyrese Haliburton, who should have an expanded role after not playing much this year. Jrue Holiday and late addition Derrick White are less likely to return.

Jayson Tatum didn’t see the playing time he expected, but he could be one of the team’s top forwards in 2028. Big men Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid and Bam Adebayo are all young enough to be back four years from now.

That leaves several open spots and plenty of good candidates to fill them. In the backcourt, it’s easy to picture Ja Morant returning to stardom if he can leave his legal issues and bad injury luck behind. Jalen Brunson should get serious consideration, and Tyrese Maxey is a rising star who will be in his prime by 2028. Other potential candidates include Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Trae Young, LaMelo Ball and Cade Cunningham.

After feeling slighted this year, Jaylen Brown should get an invitation in 2028. He and Tatum will likely be joined by Paolo Banchero if he continues on his current trajectory and Zion Williamson if he can overcome the injuries that have slowed his career. There are plenty of other strong candidates such as Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley.

And who knows how good Cooper Flagg or any of the highly touted rookies in the next two draft classes will become?

We want to get your feedback. If you were picking the 2028 team, what would it look like? Please leave your responses in the space below.

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