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Heat Notes: Herro, Lowry, Roster, Swider

October 3rd, 2023 at 2:25pm CST by Luke Adams

While Tyler Herro recognized that the Heat had every right to trade him this summer, he admitted on Monday that the uncertainty of his situation wasn’t easy to deal with throughout the offseason, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.

“There was a little bit of frustration,” Herro told reporters. “But at the end of the day, it’s a business. I understand that. I would just like some clarity. I feel like I’ve gained enough respect around here to know what’s going on a little bit, whether my name is involved or not. That’s really it. I want to be involved. I feel like I gained the respect and I put the work in.”

Herro has seen his name pop up in trade speculation multiple times since arriving in the NBA in 2019, but said this year’s rumors felt “more real” than past ones. He went on to say that he simply wants to play where he’s wanted and that he understands why Miami might have considered moving him in a package for Damian Lillard.

“I don’t think I’m not wanted here. There’s a great player who was on the market at the time,” Herro said. “Whatever happens happened and we’re now in this situation. I’m excited to be back and ready to play. Like I said, I’ll play here or somewhere else. It doesn’t matter to me.”

Appearing later on ESPN 106.3 FM (Twitter video link via Clutch Points), Herro addressed the offseason reports suggesting the Trail Blazers didn’t have much interest in him, offering a spicier take when asked if he’s excited to face the Blazers this season.

“I’m ready to just play (against) the best,” Herro said. “Portland ain’t the best, so I’m not really worried about Portland.”

Here’s more on Herro and the Heat:

Although Herro was activated for Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June, he said on Monday that he wasn’t actually healthy enough to return from his broken hand until about a month after the Heat’s season ended, tweets Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Kyle Lowry was moved to the bench during the second half of the 2022/23 season, but with Gabe Vincent no longer in Miami, he expects to returning to the starting five this fall, according to Winderman. “I don’t expect to come off the bench,” Lowry said on Tuesday, noting that he feels great physically. “… I’ll do whatever it takes for my team to win basketball games, but I expect to be the starting point guard.”
Asked about Lowry’s assertion, head coach Erik Spoelstra was noncommittal, indicating that he hasn’t made a decision yet: “That’s what camp’s for. That’s what preseason’s for. And I love that Kyle thinks that way. A lot of guys are thinking that way and we’ll figure out the best lineup.”
While a segment of the Heat fanbase is clamoring for a roster move after the team missed out on Lillard and Jrue Holiday, Spoelstra said on Monday that he likes the current group and isn’t looking to make changes, per Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
The Heat’s impressive track record of developing undrafted prospects swayed Cole Swider when he became a free agent this summer and was considering his options, Jackson writes for The Herald. “The biggest thing everyone has told me about coming to the Heat [is] every person in the building has scouted [you] at a very high level,” Swider said. “There’s a reason you’re in the building. Maybe some other teams are bringing you in on their G League team or giving you a quick look and ship you somewhere else.” Swider is currently on an Exhibit 10 contract, but could be a candidate for a conversion to a two-way deal if he impresses in camp.

James Harden Expected To Join Sixers For Training Camp

October 3rd, 2023 at 1:23pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran guard James Harden didn’t show up for the Sixers‘ media day on Monday in Camden, N.J. and wasn’t in attendance for the club’s first practice at Colorado State University on Tuesday.

However, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link), Harden is expected to arrive in Colorado and join the 76ers for training camp soon — perhaps even later today.

The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement states that a player is in violation of his contract and can be prevented from becoming a free agent if he withholds his services for more than 30 days during the final year of his deal.

It doesn’t appear Harden intends to test that CBA clause. According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, when he met with league officials during the NBA’s investigation into his public comments calling Morey a “liar” in August, Harden indicated that he planned to fulfill his contractual obligations to the Sixers if the team didn’t end up trading him.

Still, the fact that Harden intends to report to the team doesn’t mean that he’ll withdraw his trade request or that the standoff between him and the Sixers has been – or will be – resolved. While Wojnarowski’s latest report doesn’t include any additional details on Harden’s mindset, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told reporters on Monday that the former MVP continues to seek a change of scenery, as Bontemps details.

Prior to Wojnarowski’s report on Tuesday, one person who knows Harden well told Yaron Weitzman of FOX Sports, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he returns and is destructive.”

Here’s more on Harden:

Although the Clippers are still Harden’s preferred destination, there has been no traction on a deal between Los Angeles and Philadelphia, according to Wojnarowski, who hears from sources that the Sixers’ asking price remains high and L.A. isn’t eager to bid against itself.
Harden has already received 50% of his $35.64MM salary for the 2023/24 season, sources tell Bontemps. The star guard received a 25% payment on July 1 and another 25% by October 1. If he were to hold out, the Sixers could withhold future payments or seek to recoup some of the money Harden has already been paid.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Morey responded to Harden’s assertion that he’s a “liar,” explaining why he hasn’t addressed those comments until this week. “I haven’t responded to that because I think it falls flat on its face,” he said, per Bontemps. “In 20 years of working in the league, always followed through on everything. Every top agent knows that. Everyone in the league knows. You can’t operate in this job without that. So, you know, privately I’ve appreciated all the key people in the league reaching out to me and knowing obviously that’s not true. But like I said before, obviously it was disappointing that he chose to handle it that way.”
Weitzman’s full story on the relationship between Harden and Morey and how they got to this point is packed with interesting tidbits and is worth checking out in full.

Celtics Notes: Holiday, Tatum, Mykhailiuk, Porzingis

October 3rd, 2023 at 12:49pm CST by Luke Adams

The last-minute trade for Jrue Holiday ahead of training camp upended some of the preparations that Celtics players had made for the coming season, notes Brian Windhorst of ESPN. As Windhorst writes, Derrick White had spent time with assistant coach Sam Cassell in Colorado this summer getting ready to become Boston’s new starting point guard, but Holiday figures to take on that role now.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis had spent a couple weeks before training camp getting to know Robert Williams and assessing how the two big men might play together. Porzingis will no longer get the opportunity to play with Williams, who was sent to Portland as part of the package for Holiday.

“I already could see how Rob is that charismatic guy for this group,” Porzingis said on Monday. “So it definitely hurts for this organization that he’s not here anymore.”

Still, the Celtics’ players, coaches, and executives alike are excited to get the opportunity to add Holiday, who is one of the league’s mostly highly regarded teammates and defenders.

“There’s a list of guys in the league that you always think you’ve never had a real chance to get that you think are perfect fits,” president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said on Monday, per Windhorst. “And Jrue is one of those guys.”

Here’s more on the Celtics:

Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe has more reactions and quotes from media day following an offseason of change that also saw longtime Celtics like Marcus Smart and Grant Williams head elsewhere. “I played together with Smart for seven-plus years, with Rob for (five-plus), so it’s like you grew up with these guys,” Jaylen Brown said. “For them not to be around is a little bit weird, but everybody has a journey and I know those guys are going to do great.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Jayson Tatum explained his decision to forgo surgery on a left wrist issue during the offseason.“I just got a bunch of second, third and fourth opinions (and) surgery wasn’t a common one,” Tatum said, per Windhorst. “I wasn’t all the way certain about it, but did all the right things this summer, took all the right measures, I guess, to make sure I was healthy and prepared to come into the season with no distractions.”
Svi Mykhailiuk could have signed a more lucrative contract to return to Europe as a free agent this summer, but opted to accept a one-year, minimum-salary offer from the Celtics that only includes a $200K partial guarantee. “Just being a part of something special,” he said on Monday in explaining his decision to remain stateside (Twitter link via Jared Weiss of The Athletic). “… I still feel like I’m an NBA player and I belong in the NBA and to keep on my journey.”
Porzingis said on Monday that he’s feeling great and will have no limitations in training camp after dealing with plantar fasciitis this summer, tweets Weiss. “Medical staff did a great job of loading up slowly and now as I’m getting close to training camp, we start tomorrow and I’m totally fine, ready to go,” Porzingis said.
Fellow big man Al Horford said he has been impressed by what he has seen from Porzingis so far in workouts, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “When you really see a guy like that — he’s really 7-3, maybe even a little taller — just the way that he moves, his feel for the game, and some of the things he brings, I’m just really excited,” Horford said of his new teammate.

Rockets Notes: VanVleet, Brooks, Bullock, Udoka

October 3rd, 2023 at 12:05pm CST by Arthur Hill

Structure, stability and order will be the emphasis for a Rockets team that lacked all three during its rebuilding process, writes Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Sporting a roster filled with young players, Houston ranked 27th and 26th in points per possession during the past two seasons, and Iko notes that former coach Stephen Silas’ philosophy of giving his guards the freedom to improvise didn’t work out the way he hoped.

Rockets management signaled an end to that approach by replacing Silas with Ime Udoka and offering big money to free agent Fred VanVleet, who is one of the league’s most efficient ball-handlers. At Monday’s media day, VanVleet said he wants his professionalism and work ethic to become “contagious” with his new teammates.

“A lot of that comes down to systems and schemes, seeing what sets we’re going to run, how coach puts us out there and who’s gonna do what,” VanVleet said. “But ultimately, it’s just having that poise and presence to slow things down and get guys where they need to be. It’s time to rein it in and get some structure and figure out how to maximize these guys’ potential. I think I can be key there.”

There’s more from Houston:

Dillon Brooks, the Rockets’ other significant addition in free agency, mentioned “baby steps,” “learning lessons” and “slow process” when talking about revamping the team’s defense, Iko adds in the same piece. Brooks, a second-team All-Defensive selection with Memphis last season, also vows to be a “second voice” to emphasize the messages delivered by Udoka. “You always need a second voice after the first voice commands it,” Brooks said. “I’m gonna do everything I can on the defensive end — if it’s guarding the best player, diving on loose balls, getting physical with another player. I’m about all of that. … I’m just a competitor. I love to compete at a high level. I just feel like a lot of guys want to play in their bubble, and then when the heat gets turned up, they start feeling a way. I do everything to get into a player’s head, make him tired. I’ve been pretty good at it, been working that trade for a while.”
Reggie Bullock should have a “significant role” in Udoka’s rotation after reportedly committing to the Rockets following a buyout with San Antonio, Iko states in another story with Shams Charania. Houston has been looking for more shooters, especially with Kevin Porter Jr. unlikely to return, and Bullock is a proven three-point threat.
The main message coming out of media day is that rebuilding is finished and it’s time for the team to be competitive, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Houston made several veteran additions in the offseason to try to speed up the process, but Udoka said the most important factor will be progress from the young core. “Internal growth is going to be the biggest step for us,” Udoka said. “The guys that have been here and have gone through the rough times, we need to see growth and improvement from them.”

Celtics Sign Wenyen Gabriel

October 3rd, 2023 at 11:32am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

OCTOBER 3: Gabriel’s signing is official, the Celtics announced in a press release.

OCTOBER 1: Journeyman power forward/center Wenyen Gabriel is signing with the Celtics, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

With Robert Williams III now en route to the Trail Blazers, the Celtics have acted quickly to shore up their frontcourt depth. Charania notes that Gabriel will hope to carve out rotation minutes off the bench with Boston. He will play behind expected starters Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

The 6’9″ big man out of Kentucky spent the past two seasons as a springy reserve with the Lakers.

In 2022/23, Gabriel was mostly employed by head coach Darvin Ham as a small-ball five. Across 68 contests with Los Angeles, the 26-year-old averaged 5.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.5 BPG and 0.5 APG in just 15.1 MPG. He largely fell out of the team’s rotation during its run to the Western Conference Finals this spring, as his shooting deficiencies and inability to guard true centers made him something of a liability.

Charania tweets that Boston had brought in Gabriel for workouts recently as the club looked to fill out its roster. Gabriel helped his native South Sudan nab its first Olympic berth ever during the FIBA World Cup this summer. He averaged 9.2 PPG and 6.8 RPG during the tournament, Charania notes.

Gabriel has also played for the Kings, Trail Blazers, Pelicans, and Nets during his four-year NBA career.

Raptors Notes: Rajakovic, Lillard, Siakam, VanVleet

October 3rd, 2023 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

The arrival of new Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic looks like a reason for optimism in Toronto, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca, who says that Rajakovic is bringing a “people-first” approach to his new role and appears to be connecting quickly with his players.

Scottie Barnes said on Monday that he loves the “energy” and “joy” Rajakovic brings to the job, while Gary Trent Jr. told reporters that the coach’s communication has been “great,” noting that Rajakovic is interested in talking to his players about topics beyond basketball.

“I’ve been in the NBA six years and I’ve had more conversations with him (outside of basketball) than with any coach I’ve ever had,” Trent said, per Lewenberg. “It’s been refreshing.”

The start of Rajakovic’s first NBA head coaching job has been marred to some extent by a lawsuit filed by the Knicks which claims that a former Knick employee shared proprietary information with Rajokovic and the Raptors after being hired by the franchise. The Raptors, who issued a statement in August disputing the claims in the suit, downplayed the case again on Monday, as William Lou of Sportsnet.ca writes.

“I know who I am. I know how my parents raised me. I know what I see in the mirror,” Rajakovic said in maintaining his innocence. “I cannot wait for this lawsuit to be over so everyone can see the truth.”

Here’s more out of Toronto:

Speaking to Danielle Michaud of Sportsnet, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster confirmed that the team’s interest in Damian Lillard was real. “You’d have to ask (the Trail Blazers),” Webster said when asked how close Toronto got to landing Lillard. “We were very aggressive. I’d say probably the biggest offer we’ve ever made for a player, but it’s up to them to accept it and so I think that’s, you know, you kind of never know what tilted a deal towards you or not. But maybe time will tell, we’ll find out.”
Pascal Siakam pushed back against any implication that he might have been one of the Raptors who played selfishly last season, as Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca relays. “I’ll speak for me, personally, I’ve never been a selfish player in my life,” Siakam said. “I’ve always played the game the right way and that’s from the first time I started playing basketball. I’ve always been a team player. All the things that I do on the basketball court is about the team and I’ve been like that my whole career.”
The free agency departure of veteran point guard Fred VanVleet was one of the topics Raptors president Masai Ujiri addressed on Monday, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. “Could we have traded Fred at the trade deadline? If that was a failure, we take responsibility for it,” Ujiri said. “Sometimes it depends on opportunity and respect (for) the player. We respected Fred. Fred decided to go somewhere, to better opportunities. It was good for him. Maybe it was good for us, too.”
The Raptors are one of five teams that John Hollinger of The Athletic is confident will beat their consensus over/under (36.5 wins) this season. While Hollinger acknowledges that going to VanVleet to Dennis Schröder is a downgrade at point guard, he notes that Toronto won 41 games in a down year last season, played better after acquiring Jakob Poeltl, and will have incentive to be as good as possible, since San Antonio owns the Raptors’ top-six protected 2024 first-round pick.

Jazz Notes: Point Guard Battle, Collins, Markkanen, More

October 3rd, 2023 at 10:08am CST by Luke Adams

Jazz head coach Will Hardy anticipates a “vicious” competition for the starting point guard job in training camp, likening the upcoming battle to “the Hunger Games,” writes Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. As Larsen notes, Collin Sexton, Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, Kris Dunn, and rookie Keyonte George are all expected to be in the mix.

“Those five guys are gonna go at it at training camp, and I love that. But we’ve got to make sure that it’s within a team construct,” Hardy said. “Individual motives are good and powerful, and we need to lean into those. But we also have to remember that we have 82 games coming, where we’re all wearing the same jersey.”

Many of the Jazz’s backcourt players aren’t traditional point guards, which Hardy says he’ll keep in mind when considering potential lineup combinations and backcourt duos.

“We have a lot of really good guards, and I don’t want to say, ‘You’re the point guard and you’re the (shooting guard).’ I don’t think that fits our group best,” the second-year head coach said. “It’s more about viewing them as pairs. I’m not relying on one person to bring it up each time and sort of initiate what we’re doing. That flexibility is going to be an adjustment for us.”

Here’s more on the Jazz:

Newcomer John Collins said on Monday that he has found the Jazz’s “lack of ego” and emphasis on playing team basketball “refreshing,” adding that he’s looking forward to getting a fresh start in Utah this season, Larsen writes for The Salt Lake Tribune. “In some ways, I feel like a rookie again,” Collins said. “To meet new staff, new teammates, this new environment … to get myself together in a new city.”
Utah added several new pieces to its roster this offseason, including Collins and a trio of first-round picks. It’ll be up to the coaching staff to determine how all those pieces fit together, as Tony Jones of The Athletic details. “I’m really excited to see how training camp plays out, because we’re going to have a lot of internal competition,” general manager Justin Zanik said. “I will say it won’t be all figured out by the beginning of camp. This group has a collective resolve to compete with each other but to also pull for each other and help each other improve and develop. And that will be a season-long thing. There has to be a culture of flexibility among the group, because we have a lot of depth and not everyone can play every night.”
In a separate article for The Athletic, Jones takes a closer look at Lauri Markkanen‘s experience completing his mandatory military service for his home country of Finland this offseason. Markkanen believes his time in the military made him more resilient, helped him deal with new situations, and could make him a better leader.
Jazz assistant Scott Morrison would be the next man up if Hardy is ejected from a game this season, according to Larsen, who adds (via Twitter) that Jeff Hornacek has remained in his role as a coaching consultant for the club.

Pelicans Notes: Medical Staff, Zion, Ingram, Gates

October 3rd, 2023 at 9:15am CST by Luke Adams

Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin, who spoke last month about having made player health a priority this offseason, said on Monday that the changes to the team’s player care and performance department were made after consulting with players, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com.

As Clark details, Aaron Nelson has been relegated to an advisory role, while physical therapist Amy Atmore was hired as New Orleans’ director of rehabilitation. Director of performance and sports science Daniel Bove and head athletic trainer Tom Maystadt will join Atmore in leading the medical staff, while general manager Trajan Langdon will replace Griffin as the front office executive with the most responsibilities in that department.

“I think we have been humble enough as an organization to make a lot of changes in the areas we needed to,” Griffin said, according to Clark. “One of those areas is Trajan is actually going to be the one on a day-to-day basis who is the key component to the medical team from our front office staff. He’ll be the one handling that.

“I’m already excited by the changes that have been made here because of it. I think when you have a former player, they bring a certain level of passion to it. A big part of that is listening a whole lot more and being less dogmatic and willing to be flexible.”

Here’s more on the Pelicans:

Zion Williamson, of course, has been the Pelicans player most impacted by injuries in recent years, but the former No. 1 overall pick earned praise on Monday from Griffin for the adjustment he made to his approach this offseason. As Andrew Lopez of ESPN writes, Williamson heavily invested in his personal training staff, according to Griffin. “Zion is obviously in good condition,” Griffin said. “The thing I think is important is CJ (McCollum) and Brandon (Ingram), throughout their careers, have always employed people to take care of their body, to take care of their nutrition. They are really invested in their profession. This was the first summer where we’ve seen Zion take his profession seriously like that and invest in it off the court on his own in a way that I think is meaningful.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ingram essentially confirmed a September report stating that he won’t pursue a contract extension prior to the season. Ingram could land a bigger payday by waiting until next year to extend his deal, especially if he makes an All-NBA team in 2024. “They handing a lot of people big money,” Ingram said, per Clark (Twitter link). “I’m trying to get some big money.”
Kaiser Gates‘ two-way contract with the Pelicans covers two seasons, running through 2024/25, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link) first reported the terms of Gates’ deal.
The Pelicans issued a press release announcing a series of promotions and new additions to their coaching staff and front office. In addition to confirming the hiring of James Borrego as associate head coach and Aaron Miles as an assistant coach, the club announced several changes to its video team and named Dominic Samangy its basketball analytics coordinator. In the front office, Adam Barnes has been named the general manager of basketball operations for the Birmingham Squadron, New Orleans’ G League team, while Alex Kaufman has been named the Pelicans’ manager of player evaluation and basketball operations.

Central Notes: Mitchell, Stewart, Holiday, Middleton, Hield, Edens, Cunningham

October 2nd, 2023 at 10:43pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has notified the front office he will not sign a contract extension before the season opener, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports.

“I still have the opportunity to sign an extension next summer,” Mitchell said. “My primary focus is this. Just trying to go out there and trying to be the best team we can be and bring a championship to the city and go from there. We added new additions. We obviously had a season that you could kind of rate went really well until it went really poorly. So, for us, that’s where all of our heads are at. That’s where my head is at.”

Mitchell’s current contract runs through the 2025/26 season, though the last season includes a player option.

We have more from the Central Division:

Pistons general manager Troy Weaver said character played in a role in the front office’s decision to extend Isaiah Stewart this summer, Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press tweets. “You always want to have a player or players on the team who are symbols for what you want to be about, and he’s that on and off the floor. Who he is as a person and what he brings to practice, what he brings as a teammate,” Weaver said. Stewart signed a four-year, $60MM extension despite only appearing in 50 games last season.
While the Bucks are thrilled that Damian Lillard is on their team, they admit it’s strange not to have Jrue Holiday around anymore, according to Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I had just got done with a workout (when he found out),” Khris Middleton said. “I would say just mixed emotions. First, knowing if it was really real or not because it came out of the blue. But then, it sucks to see our guy go. What he did for our organization, what he did for me as a person and my family. It was tough. It was tough to have that conversation and see him go the other way. But to get somebody like Dame in, you got to be excited for a guy like that.”
Buddy Hield came to Pacers camp ready to go, despite stalled extension talks, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star reports. “It’s basketball. It’s fun. I approach it as every training camp, especially like I did last year, coming focused and ready and just get the work in,” Hield said. “I’m excited to work with these guys. It’s a fun group of guys. There’s a lot of competition and it’s fun. We have a great coaching staff and great team that’s ready to put in the work and teammates that love each other. I’m excited and I can’t wait.”
Bucks co-owner Wes Edens says he’s fine paying the luxury tax for a championship contender, JR Ratcliffe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel relays. “We are absolutely in the luxury tax. I think we’re one of the highest luxury-tax payers in the league. For one of the smallest markets in the league, we are one of the biggest payers of the luxury tax,” Edens said. “From an economic standpoint, we can firmly say we are all in. The windows when you have a team the quality we have are relatively short, and we want to do everything we can to not take it for granted.”
Cade Cunningham made a strong impression playing for the U.S. Select Team this summer. The Pistons guard ready to break out his All-Star potential after undergoing shin surgery early last season, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. “What people saw (at USA Basketball camp, where Cunningham starred with the Select Team) this summer was Cade just being healthy,” Weaver said. “He didn’t do anything we didn’t think he couldn’t do. He was just healthy for the first time. He’s able to really explode off that leg and play with his mind free of not worrying about his leg. He’s the lynchpin of what we’re doing and we’re excited that he’s healthy.”

Southeast Notes: Preview, Kuzma, Poole, Avdija, Magic

October 2nd, 2023 at 9:25pm CST by Rory Maher

David Alridge, Eric Nehm and Josh Robbins of The Athletic recently previewed the Southeast Division. Both Aldridge and Robbins think the Wizards overhauling their front office was the most impactful move a Southeast team made this offseason, while Nehm thought the Hornets showing confidence in LaMelo Ball by giving him a max extension was arguably the biggest move.

As for decisions that might backfire, Aldridge questions the Magic selecting Anthony Black sixth overall in June’s draft. He wonders where another point guard will fit into Orlando’s rotation, especially one with a shaky jump shot on a team in need of floor spacing.

Nehm believes the Hawks might regret trading John Collins, as he’s a firm believer in the power forward’s talent and wonders if he was the right player to move. As for Robbins, he thinks the Heat got worse by not making a major trade while losing Max Strus and Gabe Vincent in free agency.

The three writers also chose breakout candidates for the division, with Aldridge selecting Hornets forward Miles Bridges, Nehm picking Magic forward Franz Wagner, and Robbins going for Magic point guard Markelle Fultz.

Here’s more from the Southeast:

How can Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole become All-Stars in 2023/24? Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network explores that topic, writing that the two Wizards will have to increase their scoring averages to 25-plus points per game, lead the team to a winning record at the All-Star break, and improve their statistics in non-scoring categories.
There were rumors during the summer that Wizards forward Deni Avdija was dealing with a hip injury. However, head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said Avdija will be a full participant in training camp. “He looks strong,” Unseld said, according to Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link). “I think he had a tremendous summer.”
Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel lists five Magic storylines ahead of training camp. Can reigning Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero improve his scoring efficiency and defense? Will the team attempt more shots and become more accurate from three-point range? Those are two of the questions posed by Beede.

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