Each week, four of Basketball Insiders’ top writers will break down the latest news and notes surrounding the 2019 NBA Draft. With every new version, you’ll see an updated mock draft that reflects how each writer sees the draft landscape based on the latest news, workouts, and information from the pre-draft process as well as
8:21 AM ET It has been a popular parlor game among league executives all season: How good will the Golden State Warriors be if Kevin Durant leaves? You can’t draw a direct line from the 73-win Warriors — the last pre-Durant version — to the theoretical 2019-20 team. Harrison Barnes is gone. Andre Iguodala, dunking
It seems that the first two picks in the NBA Draft are set, which leaves plenty of possibilities for R.J. Barrett. Where would he fit best? R.J. Barrett came into his freshman year as one of the most highly touted recruits in the country. His impressed in several areas during his one season at Duke
After the most convincing win and significant momentum shift of the Conference Finals, the Toronto Raptors look the part of an NBA Finalist. When the Raptors fell behind 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, all evidence from the regular season looked to have been confirmed. The Bucks were the best team in the NBA all
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 03: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics in action against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on April 03, 2019 in Miami, Florida. 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 the
2:53 AM ET MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks had been shading Kawhi Leonard for days, taking away the largest, strongest and most decisive right hand in basketball. But with his Toronto Raptors trailing by a bucket inside of nine minutes remaining in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals that’s knotted at 2-2, Leonard got
Each week, four of Basketball Insiders’ top writers will break down the latest news and notes surrounding the 2019 NBA Draft. With every new version, you’ll see an updated mock draft that reflects how each writer sees the draft landscape based on the latest news, workouts, and information from the pre-draft process as well as
4:44 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The three finalists for the NBA MVP award — Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Paul George — led the balloting for the All-NBA teams, announced by the league Thursday afternoon. Milwaukee’s Antetokounmpo and Oklahoma City’s George were named to the two forward spots on the first team; Stephen Curry of
With the Toronto Raptors scoring a massive 18-point victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night in Toronto, the Eastern Conference Finals are now tied up at two games apiece. For a matchup between the two top seeds in the Eastern Conference, a tight series isn’t necessarily a surprise, but perhaps a little unexpected is
12:32 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS are on the clock. While things seem great in Milwaukee at the moment, greatness is fragile. Yes, the Bucks posted the best record in the NBA this season, are set to play a pivotal Game 5 in the Eastern Conference finals tonight, and have a young team
As the Memphis Grizzlies look at add a notable piece, here are five targets for them in the 2019 NBA Draft. If anything, a surprising 12-5 start to the 2018-19 season seemed to rob the Memphis Grizzlies of the chance to get one of the top picks in June’s NBA Draft, and they were still
As the NBA’s postseason continues and the crowning of a champion in the Finals draws nearer, the rest of the league’s attention is set on June 20, the date of the 2019 NBA Draft. Last Tuesday in Chicago, the results of the draft lottery determined the first-round order of the top selections in the field.
9:36 PM ET The NBA has made a last-minute decision to cancel the NBA Global Camp, a showcase for draft-eligible prospects from outside the United States that was scheduled for May 30-June 2 in Monaco. “We have cancelled the NBA Global Camp 2019 due to logistical issues and other contributing factors that jeopardized our ability
RJ Barrett’s high school coach went on the record to say that his former player should have gotten a lot more attention at Duke. When RJ Barrett put his name on the dotted line to play his freshman year at Duke, he knew that he would play Robin to Zion Williamson’s Batman. If he wanted
The Drake curse is real, and it is alive and well. But the famed Toronto rapper is figuring out how to use it to his advantage, and he proved it Sunday night. It’s widely known that if Drake backs a team for a big game, they’re toast. It’s been proven on many occasions before. Well,
Golden State won game one of the Western Conference finals against Portland by 22. Yet in a sense, the Blazers being here is already a victory. For five years, Golden State’s shadow has stretched across the league, dimming a number of teams’ willingness to compete. Once Kevin Durant came aboard, conventional wisdom held it was
5:49 PM ET Drake clearly has been enjoying Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s struggles during the Eastern Conference finals, but the superstar rapper’s antics are rubbing some people the wrong way. A senior executive for Octagon, the agency that represents Antetokounmpo, tweeted Wednesday that he has “never seen anything as disrespectful” as Drake’s repeated trolling of Antetokounmpo and
2:15 AM ET TORONTO — In the parlance of the Toronto Raptors, it’s called Drive-Kick-Swing. Though it’s a mainstay in the Raptors’ playlist of practice drills, Drive-Kick-Swing was on full display under the bright lights of Scotiabank Arena in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night. In the third quarter, Kawhi Leonard
The FanSided NBA Network Mock Draft has become a yearly tradition, with our site experts from each of our NBA blogs sharing their team-focused expertise and making draft selections for the teams they represent. This year, we’re adding a twist with the picks being announced daily leading up to the draft and experts announcing each
The Raptors put forth their best effort of the series in Game 4, keeping the Bucks off rhythm and evening up their series 2-2. The Raptors needed overtime to beat the Bucks in Game 3, potentially exhausting what already appeared to be a fragile and shallow rotation struggling to match up with Milwaukee’s depth and
2:15 AM ET TORONTO — In the parlance of the Toronto Raptors, it’s called Drive-Kick-Swing. Though it’s a mainstay in the Raptors’ playlist of practice drills, Drive-Kick-Swing was on full display under the bright lights of Scotiabank Arena in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night. In the third quarter, Kawhi Leonard
PORTLAND, OREGON – MAY 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers in game three of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Moda Center on May 18, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or
PORTLAND, OR – MAY 20: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the national anthem before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals on May 20, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,
5:44 PM ET Associated Press DENVER — The prospects of a return home to Washington and the Wizards were undeniably appealing to Tim Connelly. But not nearly as alluring as finishing what he’s started with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets’ president of basketball operations elected to stay in town even with the Wizards calling. The
Subtract Kevin Durant and much of the talk surrounding the Golden State Warriors is about how the “Splash Brothers” can rewind time. How Steph Curry can re-shatter the 3-point field goas records. How Klay Thompson can regain a secondary-scoring role, heating up enough to perhaps score 30-plus in a quarter. Less conversation, then, is given
In a world were television series often end with much to be desired, let’s take a moment to appreciate those rare NBA seasons that left us all feeling good. On Monday morning, I awoke to find 81 new text messages on my phone. As one-third of a text chain with two buddies who don’t sleep
4:52 AM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — There is no award for most valuable player of the conference finals. If there were, there’s a good chance Draymond Green would’ve won it for his play with the Golden State Warriors in their sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers. His defense was just sensational. His playmaking was at
With a pair of top-10 picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Hawks have a variety of options. Which players should be at the top of their draft board? The Hawks finished an exciting season, watching Trae Young emerge as a future star and validate his primacy in their rebuilding plans. Taurean Prince took another
On Friday, Grant Williams made the most important decision of his young career. After a strong three-year stint at Tennessee, Williams has elected to remain in the selection pool, a choice that will undoubtedly culminate in celebration next month at the 2019 NBA Draft. At 6-foot-7, Williams effortlessly presents the type of well-rounded skillset that
Joel Embiid was visibly sobbing after losing Game 7, and no one should come remotely close to trolling him about it. Playoff basketball creates some of the most exciting endings in all sports. The last few seconds of a close basketball game can feel like a lifetime, and one shot can change the destiny for