Breaking down the players who turned heads and improved their future NBA Draft stock at the FIBA U19 World Championships last week. The 2019 NBA Draft just ended, but the 2020 and 2021 NBA Draft scouting calendar is already underway, with the 2019 FIBA U19 World Championships taking place last week in Greece. The tournament
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to
1:00 AM ET LAS VEGAS — Zion Williamson took in the New Orleans Pelicans ‘ Monday night game from the sidelines, having been shut down after playing for just nine minutes on Friday night. The team said that he knocked knees with another player in Friday’s game and suffered a bruised left knee. “It was
Free agency is barely over, but it’s not too soon to look ahead at the ramifications this July could have on some of the NBA’s best players moving forward. NBA free agency is like that first boy-girl party in middle school when everyone goes into it hoping to get seven minutes in heaven but most
NBA Free Agency started six hours earlier than it has in years past in 2019, with a start time of 6 p.m. EST on June 30. And boy did it pay dividends for fans. Rather than staying up late or getting caught up on free agent happenings the first thing in the morning, fans were
TORONTO, ONTARIO – MAY 19: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates with teammates after scoring a basket to tie the game during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors in game three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Scotiabank Arena on May 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly
The Packers won the Super Bowl during the 2010-2011 season but since then, Wisconsin sports teams have looked like they’re cursed. So are they? Flashback to Feb. 6, 2011. The 6th seeded Green Bay Packers go on a spectacular run in the playoffs and end up defeating the Pittsburg Steelers in the Super Bowl. Aaron
4:11 PM ET For an illustration of how unexpected Paul George‘s trade request was for the Oklahoma City Thunder, look no further than Mike Muscala and Alec Burks. The Thunder reached agreements with Muscala and Burks to open free agency last week, but after George’s stunning trade to the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City granted
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s movement to L.A. was years in the making. Now the Clippers may have the piece to tip the scales in their direction. Kawhi Leonard has a habit of tipping scales of the NBA. He did so in 2014 as the skeleton key and LeBron James irritant of the Spurs’ last
The NBA Summer League is a chance for players you’ve never heard of to make a name for themselves. Can you pick those names from a list of characters from Louis L’Amour books? Louis L’Amour is among America’s most prolific writers, author of 89 novels, 14 collections of short stories and two other non-fiction books
1:22 AM ET Forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo has agreed to a two-year, minimum contract to join the Milwaukee Bucks, according to a report by Eurohoops.net. Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Bucks star and NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 33 games, including 26 starts, last season with Panathinaikos B.C. of the
NBA Free Agency started six hours earlier than it has in years past in 2019, with a start time of 6 p.m. EST on June 30. And boy did it pay dividends for fans. Rather than staying up late or getting caught up on free agent happenings the first thing in the morning, fans were
12:38 AM ET Restricted free agent Tyus Jones has agreed to a three-year, $28 million offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies, his agent, Kevin Bradbury of BDA Sports, told ESPN on Sunday. The Minnesota Timberwolves will have two days to match the offer sheet or Jones will be a member of the Grizzlies. Memphis is
The Oklahoma City Thunder may be ready to move Russell Westbrook, and these five teams could get a deal done. In concert with Kawhi Leonard deciding to sign with them, the Los Angeles Clippers have also acquired Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. That necessarily led to immediate questions about Russell Westbrook’s future with
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense against Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans on February 27, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 06: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2019 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bucks defeat the Celtics 113-101. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty
2:14 PM ET The San Antonio Spurs are signing free-agent forward Marcus Morris, his agency, Klutch Sports, announced via Instagram. According to The Athletic, Morris will receive a two-year, $20 million contract, with the second year being a player option. Morris was an unrestricted free agent after coming off a four-year, $20 million contract that
3:19 AM ET LAS VEGAS — Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says he understands why Kawhi Leonard decided to leave the team after winning an NBA championship, but admits being disappointed that Leonard and the rest of Toronto’s 2018-2019 roster won’t be able to try to defend their crown together next season. Leonard will join
Now that Paul George is gone to the Clippers, could the Oklahoma City Thunder trade their franchise star, Russell Westbrook, next? With Paul George now traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, there are some who believe that Russell Westbrook could be the next superstar out the door in Oklahoma City. Probably this summer. According to
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -APRIL 01: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 01, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
The newly-signed Malcolm Brogdon could make for an ideal running mate with Victor Oladipo, once the All-Star returns from a season-ending quad injury. The Indiana Pacers, of all teams, made one of the earliest splashes of free agency Sunday night, signing Malcolm Brogdon to a four-year, $85 million deal via sign-and-trade with the Milwaukee Bucks.
8:00 AM ET The third, and biggest, of the NBA’s summer leagues tips off Friday. Once again, the eyes of the NBA world cast their gaze upon Las Vegas, where all 30 NBA teams will be joined by national teams from China and Croatia to give you all the basketball you can handle over the
TORONTO, ONTARIO – JUNE 02: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Toronto Raptors in the second half during Game Two of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 02, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 2: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 2, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user
From referee bias to illegitimate MVP votes to careless reporting, the Rockets are fed up with the entire NBA. Maybe it’s time for them to think about leaving? What does Roxit mean? Roxit is used as shorthand by those within the Houston Rockets organization who believe the franchise is often undervalued or overlooked by the
3:25 PM ET The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent center DeMarcus Cousins, and have brought back point guard Rajon Rondo on a two-year deal, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. Agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports told ESPN that Cousins’ deal is worth $2.3 million. Cousins
He was meticulous about it, but in the end Kawhi Leonard will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. The wait is over. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Kawhi Leonard has told the other teams in the running that he will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. Those runners-up were, of course, the Toronto Raptors and
PORTLAND, OR – APRIL 16: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to an officials call during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2019 NBA Playoffs Moda Center on April 16, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won 114-94. NOTE TO
Kevin Durant has cut his list down to four teams. Will the Nets, Clippers, Knicks or Warriors end up signing the superstar wing? There’s a very strong chance that Kevin Durant won’t play a minute of basketball during the 2019-20 season. That isn’t stopping him from being one of the hottest targets in NBA free
4:42 AM ET Day 1 of the Las Vegas NBA summer league is in the books, and it was quite an entertaining one. These are the important notes I made in each game relative to the betting market, and how they can strengthen our betting process going forward. I also included a few of the