Stephen Curry

Western Rumors: Mitchell, Payton II, Lillard, Bryant

July 1st, 2022 at 7:49pm CST by Rory Maher

Rudy Gobert‘s impending trade to Minnesota, in which Utah will receive multiple unprotected first-round picks, and a separate trade sending Royce O’Neale to Brooklyn for another first-round pick, could be seen as an indication that the Jazz might be rebuilding.

In an appearance on NBA Today, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said (video link from Talkin’ NBA) the league is preparing for Jazz star Donovan Mitchell to request a trade, noting that O’Neale was one of Mitchell’s closest friends on the team.

“If you’re Donovan Mitchell and you see two trades like this that are designed to save more than $100MM and get first-round draft picks, that doesn’t inspire confidence,” Windhorst said. “And talking to league executives who saw some of this coming, they think it would be abnormal for Donovan to not want out at this point.

“Now, they obviously have the option to use these assets to trade something to put around Donovan, and that may be what they’re trying to sell him on. But right now, there are teams out there that are revving up the possibility of calling Utah and seeing what it’s going to take to get Donovan Mitchell, because they’re not going to be done. This is not a team that needs Mike Conley. This is not a team that needs Bojan Bogdanovic. This is not a team that needs Rudy Gay. All of these guys who have long-term money who have value to other places, I would suspect, are going to potentially be on the trade market and the Jazz are going to get calls.”

When the Gobert news broke, both ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tony Jones of The Athletic said the Jazz planned to retool the roster around Mitchell rather than move him.

However, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune hears (Twitter links) that it’s not a lock that the Jazz will keep Mitchell, saying there’s been some “push back” on those reports. The Jazz plan to keep their options open for all possibilities, according to Larsen, who notes that Mitchell could be a fallback option for the Heat if they’re unable to land Kevin Durant.

Here are a few more rumors from the Western Conference:

A source tells Sam Amick of The Athletic that both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green pitched Gary Payton II on sticking with the Warriors, but Golden State’s reported offer — two years for about taxpayer mid-level exception money — was substantially less than he received from the Trail Blazers (three years, $28MM). Losing Payton will surely sting for the Warriors, as he was a fan favorite and an excellent defender, Amick observes.
As Amick relays, it was assumed that Damian Lillard would be a lock to sign a two-year, max extension shortly after free agency opened, which has yet to transpire. The deadline won’t pass until the start of the regular season, but Lillard may still needs some convincing to sign the deal, a source tells Amick, who says the star guard wanted the Blazers to have a strong offseason to prove they could build a contender around him. According to Amick, adding Payton will surely help matters. Not only does the team need perimeter defense, which Payton provides, but there are a couple other ties between the two players. Payton’s father, Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton, has been a mentor to Lillard, and all three are represented by agent Aaron Goodwin.
Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times hears (via Twitter) from sources that the Lakers are very interested in a reunion with center Thomas Bryant, who is an unrestricted free agent. However, the Lakers can only offer a veteran minimum deal, so Bryant is in search of a better offer. The Raptors are also pursuing Bryant, per Turner.

Warriors Notes: Championship, Lacob, Veteran Core, Offseason

June 17th, 2022 at 9:09am CST by Luke Adams

The Warriors‘ championship this year vindicated the belief of team management and ownership that the team could build a “two-timeline” roster, using its lottery picks in 2020 and 2021 on young prospects rather than in trades for win-now help, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

As Slater details, president of basketball operations Bob Myers and owner Joe Lacob believed the roster was talented enough to contend for a title without having to trade those picks. Golden State ultimately opted to draft and develop James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody while continuing to lean on veterans like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins.

“They were doubted,” Lacob said on Thursday night, referring to the Warriors’ veteran stars. “But these guys are not 40 years old. We believed in that core. Not many teams have a core four. A lot of people say core three. I say core four. We’re spending the money to do that. Then, we supplement and surround that team.

“I know some people thought we could’ve done more, got another star. But who were we going to get? Who was available that would make a difference? We didn’t think there was, and we really wanted these young guys to be developed and learn from these guys. They have learned. We are going to be even better as a result of that in the years going forward.”

Here’s more on the NBA champions:

Lacob is confident that his club can continue to be a contender for years to come, as David Aldridge of The Athletic relays. “I intend to own this team for a long time and I intend to win as many championships as possible,” Lacob said. “It’s all about winning. That’s it. That’s all I care about. We’re going to do whatever it takes. The truth is, we’ve got really smart people who work in this organization, and we are, usually, going to figure it out and be real good.”
The Warriors’ fourth title in the last eight years left no doubt of their star trio’s place in NBA history, says Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. “Individually, we all do different, unique things to impact winning,” Curry said of himself, Green, and Thompson. “We all have a sense of humility about what it takes to win and knowing that we respect what every single one of us brings to the table. But there’s also an ego with that, too. So there’s a healthy balance. And the rest of it is trust.”
Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype looks ahead to the offseason decisions facing the Warriors following their championship run, while Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN revisits seven important moments from that run.
Oddsmakers and sportsbooks have made the Warriors the early favorites for the 2023 title, according to David Purdum of ESPN. Golden State is a little ahead of Brooklyn, Boston, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and the Clippers.

Warriors Win 2022 Title, Stephen Curry Named MVP

June 16th, 2022 at 10:49pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Warriors returned to the mountaintop on Thursday, closing out the Celtics in Game 6 of the Finals to secure their fourth championship since 2015.

Stephen Curry, a two-time Most Valuable Player, secured his first Finals MVP award with another clutch performance. He racked up 34 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in Game 6.

Curry’s 43-point outburst in Game 4 in Boston was a series changer. He received all 11 votes from a media panel, according to the NBA (Twitter link).

Kevin Durant was awarded the Finals MVP in Golden State’s last two runs in 2017 and 2018. Andre Iguodala was chosen in 2015.

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson also added a fourth championship to their résumés, as did head coach Steve Kerr (also a five-time champ as a player). Andrew Wiggins delivered stellar contributions, particularly on the defensive end, and Jordan Poole had some big offensive games after his breakout regular season.

All of those players are under contract for next season, though the Warriors have some key free agent decisions to make. Kevon Looney, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica and Gary Payton II will all be unrestricted free agents. However, Golden State’s younger players — James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody — figure to play bigger roles going forward. The Warriors also own their first-round pick at No. 28.

The Celtics came up just shy of their first title since 2008. However, they figure to run it back next season with most of the same players that carried them through the rugged Eastern Conference playoffs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will gain valuable lessons from their first Finals experience and it will surprise no one if they lead another Boston team to the Finals in the near future.

All of their rotation players are under contract for next season, though the Celtics may make some tweaks, particularly in the backcourt. Boston, which projects to be a luxury tax team, traded away its first-round pick to San Antonio.

With the Finals decided, the offseason is officially underway. The June 23 draft is just a week away, with free agency beginning the following week.

Warriors Notes: Thompson, Wiggins, Curry, GPII

June 14th, 2022 at 6:55pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson is trying to focus on the task at hand: winning his fourth NBA title. Three years removed from his torn ACL, and nearly two years removed from his torn Achilles, the five-time Golden State All-Star is prioritizing the present, writes Kendra Andrews of ESPN. The Warriors currently hold a 3-2 advantage against the Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals, which will resume Thursday.

“I never had such a severe injury, so I didn’t think it was that serious,” Thompson said of the ACL tear. “I thought I might have sprained something in my knee.” Thompson also noted that he generally does not dwell on the injury now: “I just want to frigging win.”

Across 21 games during this postseason run, Thompson is averaging 19.4 PPG on .440/.391/.867 shooting splits, along with 3.9 RPG, 2.3 APG and 1.0 SPG. Though he has not consistently looked like the perimeter defender he was in his prime, he has had standout moments of efficacy on that end while defending Boston guard Jaylen Brown.

There’s more out of Golden State:

Following a career night in Game 5, the Warriors are commending the fit of small forward Andrew Wiggins, per Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Wiggins scored 26 points while shooting 12-of-23 from the floor, pulled down 13 boards, and chipped in two assists, two steals and a block in a pivotal 104-94 Game 5 win. “We knew we needed his athleticism and defense and his versatility,” Golden State head coach Steve Kerr raved. “We had no idea that he would make this kind of contribution.” All-Star teammate Draymond Green also focused on how Wiggins, as a big forward with two-way ability and excellent athleticism as a finisher, found a way to slot in with the rest of the roster. “We looked at the trade [to acquire Wiggins in 2020 from the Timberwolves] like that is a guy who can fit next to a healthy group absolutely well,” Green said. “He’s continued to show that. He’s continued to get better. He’s taken on every challenge that we have thrown in front of him.”
Tim Kawakami of The Athletic reflects that Wiggins seems to be finally realizing his promise in the biggest possible moment for his club.
Warriors All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry had a low-scoring game by his lofty standards during the team’s Game 5 win over the Celtics, though he still was a key element of the offense in drawing plenty of defensive attention away from his teammates. Curry scored 16 points on 7-of-22 shooting form the floor, including a stunning 0-for-9 from deep. This marked the first time in 233 straight contests that he failed to connect from deep. Accordingly, Golden State anticipates that Curry will respond in a big way when the battle is joined again on Thursday for Game 6, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “He’s going to be livid going into Game 6, and that’s exactly what we need,” Draymond Green said.
Coming off his best performance in the Finals thus far, Warriors reserve guard Gary Payton II is looking to build on that with some championship hardware, writes Marc J. Spears of Andscape. In 26 minutes of action during Game 5, Payton tied a personal career-best in postseason points scored, notching 15 points while converting 6-of-8 from the floor. He also pulled down five rebounds and picked off three steals. After going undrafted out of Oregon State in 2016, Payton played for five NBAGL clubs and bounced around limited stints with the Bucks, Lakers, Wizards, and Warriors. This season, after some uncertainty about his roster status, the 2022 free agent eventually blossomed into a permanent part of the Golden State rotation.

Warriors Notes: Curry, Looney, Wiggins, Thompson

June 12th, 2022 at 9:19am CST by Arthur Hill

Friday night may have been the best performance of Stephen Curry‘s Hall of Fame career, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. With the Warriors in danger of falling behind 3-1, Curry delivered 43 points with seven three-pointers, 10 rebounds and four assists to pull out a victory in a hostile atmosphere.

It was a defining game for Curry, who has yet to win Finals MVP honors despite having three rings. More remarkably, it came two days after a foot injury that led to questions about how effective he could be for the rest of the series.

“Incredible,” Draymond Green said. “Put us on his back. Willed us to win. Much-needed win. Game we had to have. Came out and showed why he’s one of the best players to ever play this game, you know? And why … this organization has been able to ride him to so much success. It’s absolutely incredible.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

Kevon Looney was replaced by Otto Porter Jr. in the starting lineup for Game 4 as coach Steve Kerr focused on spacing, but Looney was able to exploit his size advantage when he checked in, observes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. After playing just 17 minutes in Game 3, the big man logged 28 minutes Friday night with six points and 11 rebounds. “Loon is just crucial to everything we do,” Kerr said. “He’s our best screener, our best rebounder. One of our smartest players. He’s always in the right spot. He made I thought the biggest bucket in the game after Horford made the 3 from the corner (late in the fourth quarter), Draymond made the pass out of the pocket to Loon, and he finished with that left hand (to put the Warriors back up five).”
Andrew Wiggins has transformed himself into an effective rebounder throughout this year’s playoffs and collected a career-high 16 in Game 4, Slater adds in the same piece. Wiggins has been criticized for his lack of rebounding during his eight NBA seasons, but he’s averaging 7.3 per game in this postseason as a small-ball power forward. “I want to win,” he explained. “I know rebounding is a big part of that. I just want to win.”
In an attempt to revive himself for the rest of the series, Klay Thompson went swimming Saturday in San Francisco Bay, per Ali Thanawalla of NBC Sports Bay Area. Thompson spent a lot of time on the water, especially in his boat, during his 31-month rehab after two serious leg injuries.

Warriors Notes: Green, Kerr, Curry, Kuminga

June 11th, 2022 at 3:51pm CST by JD Shaw

Warriors star Draymond Green made an impact in Game 4 despite continuing to struggle with his scoring, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports writes. Green has averaged 4.3 points per game against the defensive-minded Celtics so far in the Finals, scoring only two points on Friday and receiving more criticism from some fans.

What tends to go unnoticed is the impact Green made this season and in Game 4 despite his lackluster scoring. Green recorded nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals in the contest, helping the Warriors save points on the defensive end throughout the game.

When you factor in Green’s assists, he was responsible for roughly 20 points in the game. He averaged 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per outing this season, and that doesn’t include hockey assists, passes leading to free throws, and more.

Here are some other notes out of Golden State today:

Head coach Steve Kerr subbed Green out as Boston went on a fourth-quarter run last game, David Aldridge of The Athletic notes. Green was replaced by Kevon Looney at the 7:32 mark. Green, re-inserted with 3:41 left in the game, then made some key plays down the stretch. Aldridge contends that Kerr’s gamble paid off — and when it happens during the NBA Finals, it’s often a matter of trust.
Stephen Curry showed how championships are won with an electric performance on Friday, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes. Curry finished with 43 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, helping the Warriors avoid a 3-1 deficit. The team now has home court advantage in a best-of-three series.
Rookie forward Jonathan Kuminga is a risky option against these Celtics, but it may be necessary down the stretch, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic writes. Kawakami’s article was published before Golden State’s Game 4 win, but Kuminga could still be used before the series ends.

Stephen Curry To Play Without Restrictions In Game 4

June 10th, 2022 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who injured his left foot in Wednesday’s Game 3 loss to the Celtics, went through shootaround on Friday and is feeling good, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters, including ESPN’s Kendra Andrews (Twitter link).

Curry, who had been listed as probable on the injury report for Game 4, will play on Friday and won’t be under any kind of minutes restriction, according to Andrews.

Curry came up limping with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter of Game 3 after Al Horford rolled onto his left leg while the two players battled for a loose ball. The two-time MVP was walking with a limp after the game and compared the injury to the left foot strain that cost him the final 12 games of the regular season, but said it was “not as bad” this time around.

With 31.3 points per game on .485/.486/.833 shooting through the first three games of the NBA Finals, Curry will have to play a key role if the Warriors hope to erase their 2-1 deficit and win their fourth championship in the last eight years.

Andre Iguodala (right knee inflammation) and Otto Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) are listed as questionable to play in Friday’s contest.

Stephen Curry Expects To Play In Game 4 After Injuring Foot

June 9th, 2022 at 1:43pm CST by Luke Adams

1:43pm: “We expect (Curry) to play tomorrow,” Kerr told reporters, including Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). Kerr added that the team won’t practice Thursday and will instead use it as a rest and treatment day, tweets ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.

“I’m going to play. That is all I know right now,” Curry said, per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk (Twitter link).

11:51am: The Warriors are optimistic about Curry’s status for Game 4, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Curry apparently has avoided a major injury, won’t need an MRI, and plans to attend practice Thursday afternoon, says Charania.

7:36am: The Warriors fell behind 2-1 in the NBA Finals after losing to the Celtics in Game 3 on Wednesday, but they may have a more significant concern going forward than that one-game deficit. Star guard Stephen Curry sustained a left foot injury late in the game and likened it to the one he suffered vs. Boston in March, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN.

Battling for a loose ball with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Curry dove to the floor and got tangled up with Celtics big man Al Horford, who rolled onto Curry’s leg (video link). Curry came up limping, though he was able to stay on the court for nearly two more minutes before being subbed out once the Celtics put the game out of reach.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Curry said the injury felt similar to the left foot strain he suffered when Marcus Smart fell on his leg on March 16. That foot strain sidelined him for the final 12 games of the regular season, but the two-time MVP said it’s “not as bad” this time around and he’s hopeful the injury responds well to treatment over the next couple days.

“Obviously, in some pain, but I’ll be alright,” Curry said, according to Andrews. “We’ll see how it responds. Not much other to say. I don’t feel like I’ll miss a game. Take advantage of these next 48 hours to get ready.”

Head coach Steve Kerr told reporters that the team would know more about Curry’s status on Thursday.

Although Boston’s defense has made Curry work hard for his points in the first three games of the Finals, he’s still the series’ leading scorer by a comfortable margin, having put up 31.3 PPG on .485/.486/.833 shooting.

“We need him if we want to win this thing,” Klay Thompson said after Wednesday’s loss, per Andrews. “I know Steph is going to do everything he can in his power to play. I am really hoping he’s OK because he’s our identity, and without him, it will be very difficult.”

Smart, who was involved in the play that caused Curry’s initial left foot injury in March, defended his teammate Horford after the game, dismissing the idea that Horford’s play was a reckless or dirty one.

“It’s the Finals. You’ve got guys diving all over the place. Their guys are diving into us. We don’t say nothing,” Smart told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. “We’re getting hurt as well, but we continue to play. Nothing is intentional. It’s the Finals. We’re trying to win just like them. First one to the ball, as we all know, wins. They can complain all they want. It is what it is. There’s nothing dirty about it. It’s fair game. It’s fair basketball. It’s Finals basketball. … Nobody is out here trying to hurt anybody.”

Warriors Notes: Payton, Curry, Thompson, Assistant Coaches

June 8th, 2022 at 7:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

Gary Payton II has become a fan favorite in his first full season with the Warriors, writes Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. Some of the affection stems from his Oakland roots and some can be explained by the years-long struggle he had to make the league before earning a roster spot with Golden State.

Payton received a thunderous ovation when he entered Sunday’s Game 2, playing for the first time since fracturing his left elbow in the second-round series against Memphis. He consistently provides energy off the bench and fans have responded, putting him in the top five among team jersey sales since the playoffs began.

“So hard to make this league in general,” Stephen Curry said, “but even harder (to be an) NBA player’s son trying to follow in the dad’s footsteps. It’s a different challenge and journey for him coming out of college, trying to find his way, G League, training camp offers, bouncing around the league, all over the place, then finally finding a home. … I think he was on two-way last year. He was available but not really. Then knowing he could really help us this year, he’s actually proven to be an amazing difference-maker. I think fans really resonate with that.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

Curry is quickly shedding his reputation as a poor defender, according to Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle, adding that opponents are finding it harder to attack him on pick-and-rolls. “Teams used to try to call Steph into every action, and just try to pick on him, but that doesn’t work anymore,” Draymond Green said. “He’s able to hold his ground, so you’re not able to bump him off his spot, and that’s been huge for us. I’m not shocked he’s playing that type of defense.”
Klay Thompson has been watching online videos of his past highlights in an effort to break out of his shooting slump, Letourneau states in a mailbag column. Thompson shot just 4-of-19 in Game 2 and was 1-of-8 from three-point range. Letourneau expects coach Steve Kerr to run some early pick-and-roll action for Thompson tonight, noting that he was the team’s most efficient scorer from that set this season.
Former Lakers head coach Frank Vogel and assistant David Fizdale could be candidates to join Kerr’s staff next season, Letourneau adds in the same piece. The Warriors are already losing Mike Brown to Sacramento, and Kenny Atkinson is one of the finalists to be the next head coach in Charlotte.
Payton, Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr., who were all listed as questionable, will be able to play tonight, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Western Notes: Iguodala, Warriors, Thunder, Mathurin

June 5th, 2022 at 4:05pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Speaking to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Warriors veteran Andre Iguodala revisited the media’s decision to give him the NBA Finals MVP award over teammate Stephen Curry in 2015.

Iguodala won the award by a margin of 7-4 over then-Cavaliers small forward LeBron James. Curry, coming off a 2015 regular-season MVP award victory, did not receive a single vote. The Warriors won the series over Cleveland 4-2, with Iguodala’s two-way play while facing off against James proving a crucial component of Golden State’s win.

“Yeah, I think (the discussion) does a disservice to the game,” Iguodala said. “I’ve never said it was the wrong decision. Yeah, I think (Curry) should have won (at some point). But that’s not to say that you guys made the wrong decision.”

The Warriors won two other titles with Curry and Iguodala, though then-teammate Kevin Durant won Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018.

There’s more out of the West:

After surrendering a double-digit fourth quarter lead and losing Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals in stunning fashion, the Warriors have their work cut out for them on Sunday. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today opines that the club will need to improve its three-point defense, its offensive output, and the play of defensive anchor Draymond Green. In Game 1, Green scored just four points on 2-of-12 shooting from the floor, pulled down 11 boards, turned the ball over three times and fouled out.
Several of his former coaches discussed the potential fit of ex-Auburn forward Jabari Smith, expected to be one of the top three candidates in the 2022 draft, with the Thunder, writes Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. The Thunder have the No. 2 pick. The 6’10” power forward was a consensus second-team All-American while in school.
Former Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin is set to work out for the Trail Blazers today, per Aaron J. Fentress of the Oregonian (Twitter link). Mathurin is projected as the eighth pick in the draft, according to the latest ESPN big board. Portland possesses the seventh pick this year.

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