7:55 PM ET ESPN News Services Fred VanVleet said Sunday there is nothing more that the Toronto Raptors can do to convince Kawhi Leonard to re-sign with the team, but he and several teammates expressed their hopes that the NBA Finals MVP decides to return. Leonard, who led the Raptors to a six-game NBA Finals
In this week’s 2019 NBA Mock Draft, we break down the deal between Brooklyn and Atlanta and continue to give out final scouting notes. We also mock out another trade that seems exceedingly likely between now and draft night between Atlanta and Cleveland. Until the very end: Bruno Fernando C, Maryland One of the better
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 09: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts before a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Smoothie King Center on April 09, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting
5:28 PM ET Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse confirmed Sunday that he plans to coach the Canadian national team, starting with the World Cup this summer. At Toronto’s first media availability since winning the NBA Finals, Nurse told reporters, “I’m getting ready to take another situation soon because I think it’s going to make me
11:57 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Not long after learning his son Lonzo Ball will be part of a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis, LaVar Ball made his thoughts clear on what he felt the Los Angeles Lakers had just agreed to do. “I guarantee: Like I say again, it will be the worst move
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7 : Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 7, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 high-fives Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors during trophy ceremony after the game during Game Six of the NBA Finals 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
With Anthony Davis heading to the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans now in control of the No. 4 overall pick, we take stock of the 2019 NBA Draft. To recap the deal quickly: the Lakers get Davis, the Pelicans get Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, this year’s No. 4 overall pick
After years of hitting the same wall, the Toronto Raptors finally broke through behind the strength of their superstar and balanced collection of co-stars. It’s a novel idea that the Toronto Raptors could be NBA champions, but it shouldn’t be altogether surprising that they arrived here. The Raptors were among the league’s best teams all
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 13: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors shoots a free throw against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals 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
11:54 PM ET Last summer, the San Antonio Spurs thought they had the Los Angeles Lakers right where they wanted them. L.A. had the inside track to sign LeBron James as a free agent on July 1. But the belief around the league was that James wouldn’t come to the Lakers by himself and spend
Injecting youth into the frontcourt will be one of the most important tasks for the Boston Celtics in this year’s NBA Draft. The 2019 NBA Draft has been regularly described as disappointing after mega-prospect Zion Williamson, and that’s an understandable feeling — there aren’t many other players with well-defined paths to stardom to be found
With the NBA Draft less than nine days away, things in the NBA are starting to heat up as NBA teams zero in on trade scenarios and the players they will ultimately have a real shot at drafting. There is a very important disclaimer/concept worth re-stating. Rumors, like the ones we’ll dig into in a
6:12 PM ET Twenty players have received invitations to attend the 2019 NBA draft and sit in the green room, sources told ESPN. Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, Jarrett Culver, Coby White, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes received the first batch of invites on June 7, sources said, with an
TORONTO, CANADA – JUNE 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors talks to Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors after sustaining an injury during Game Five of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors on June 10, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and
6:39 PM ET OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers remains confident that the organization can retain Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant this summer. “There’s things I can say; there’s all these rules — but I would say that we value those guys at the highest level,” Myers said on Friday. “I
The NBA Finals ended with a timeout that wasn’t there, leading to a technical foul. Calling a timeout they didn’t have actually gave the Warriors one final fleeting hope, one dashed after Kawhi Leonard hit both free throws to clinch Toronto’s title. It was an odd end to a noble run: Golden State, already without
Masai Ujiri has accomplished quite a bit in his short time with the Toronto Raptors. Named Executive of the Year with the Denver Nuggets in 2013, Ujiri was shortly thereafter named General Manager of a Raptors team that looked destined for rock bottom. But, undeterred, Ujiri cobbled together a roster that ended a then five-year,
2:19 PM ET The NBA Finals had a wild impact on next year’s championship odds, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers as the favorites at some sportsbooks and the injury-riddled Golden State Warriors as second-tier contenders. The Lakers, at +400, are the favorites to win the 2019-20 NBA championship at Caesars Sportsbook, followed by the Milwaukee
Bol Bol’s draft stock is hard to pin down, and he could go anywhere in the 2019 NBA Draft. Here are the best five fits for him. Bol Bol is the most polarizing player we’ve seen in the NBA Draft in quite some time. You will see him all over big boards right now. He’s
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 10: Rapper Drake shakes hands with Commentator Michael Wilbon before the game between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals on June 10, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 17: The Cleveland Cavaliers logo on the uniform during the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of
1:55 PM ET OAKLAND, Calif. — Three years ago, as the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated the franchise’s first NBA championship on the Golden State Warriors‘ home court, Draymond Green sat at his locker and sent a text message to Kevin Durant. Green wanted to let Durant know that — even at his lowest moment, just an
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 18: Tobias Harris #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets during game three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 18, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges
With the NBA Draft less than nine days away, things in the NBA are starting to heat up as NBA teams zero in on trade scenarios and the players they will ultimately have a real shot at drafting. There is a very important disclaimer/concept worth re-stating. Rumors, like the ones we’ll dig into in a
8:51 AM ET Kyle Lowry‘s willingness to take a secondary role to incoming star Kawhi Leonard was a key first step in the Toronto Raptors winning their first title Thursday night. The July trade that brought Leonard to Toronto was among the topics the two players discussed with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols following the Raptors’ 114-110
Per the Boston Herald, Kyrie Irving is prepared to sign with the Brooklyn Nets when free agency opens next month. Representatives of his new agency, Roc Nation, told the Herald Irving intends to join the Nets. Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics have long been rumored to part following a tumultuous season that had the
The Toronto Raptors have captured their first NBA championship in franchise history and Twitter reacted to We The North toppling Dub Nation. The Toronto Raptors have toppled the Golden State Warriors dynasty. In a Game 6 that was thrilling from start-to-finish, the Raptors supporting cast helped Kawhi Leonard bring We The North their first championship
Kyle Lowry joined the Raptors in the summer of 2012 without many expectations. He had only started 139 games over his first six seasons with Memphis and Houston, and while perhaps there was some untapped potential there, few could have projected how quickly and how fully he flowered north of the border. Toronto only had
12:17 AM ET Golden State came up short in the NBA Finals and saw superstar Kevin Durant suffer a serious injury, leaving a question mark on what’s next for the Warriors’ dynasty. Yet, for now, the Warriors — not the champion Toronto Raptors — are the favorites to win next year’s title. Golden State, at