11:51 PM ET Portland Trail Blazers fans fell in love all over again with their team this season, from the breathtaking performances of their star guards to the toughness of their role players to the mere presence of their wounded center in the playoffs. The end against the Golden State Warriors was bitter. Even as
Now that the Brooklyn Nets have been eliminated from the playoffs, they will look to meet their needs through some offseason moves. Not many people thought that the Nets would make the playoffs this year. Many thought that the they were doomed for another lowly season that would see them near the bottom of the
The Knicks have the opportunity to make huge changes this offseason. Which players should be at the top of their list of targets? As soon as they traded Kristaps Porzingis last February, the Knicks’ plan for this offseason became apparent — use their cap space to pursue two max free agents. New York hasn’t had
5:19 PM ET Oh Youngmisuk EL SEGUNDO — New Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel called new assistant coach Jason Kidd “an incredible asset” and said he’s not going to worry about looking over his shoulder. Vogel said that while the Lakers’ front office planted the seed of adding Kidd to his staff, he
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 7: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
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
7:59 AM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN Interim coach Ryan Saunders is finalizing a multi-year deal to become head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources told ESPN. The deal is expected to be completed soon, perhaps as soon as Monday, sources told ESPN. Saunders is working on a staff. New Timberwolves president of Basketball Operations Gersson
With the NBA Draft Lottery order set, teams can start scouting their prospects and thinking about potential trades. Here are a few that would be fun to see. The 2019 NBA Draft order was finalized on Tuesday evening, with the New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies both jumping up six spots to claim the top
It took 58 minutes of game time, but the Toronto Raptors have their first win of the Eastern Conference Finals, squeaking past the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3. More than once, it seemed like the Raptors would let Game 3 slip away. After managing just 38 points in the second half, their lead was whittled
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 14: Zion Williamson poses for a portrait at the 2019 NBA Draft Combine on May 14, 2019 at the Chicago Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Getty Images
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 14: Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks, David Griffin of the New Orleans Pelicans, Elliot Perry of the Memphis Grizzlies and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a photo on stage at the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery on May 14, 2019 at the Chicago Hilton in
1:27 AM ET Malika AndrewsESPN TORONTO — These are the nights when Giannis Antetokounmpo frets. Through the first three quarters of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, Antetokounmpo scored just six points and finished with 12 total. He missed two key free throws in the first overtime and fouled out less than one minute
And just like that, another NBA Draft Lottery came and went. But this one felt different. It felt strange for very obvious reasons. Tanking has always been an issue in the NBA and has only gotten worse with more and more bottom-feeder teams purposely losing games in order to move up in the draft order.
5:31 PM ET PORTLAND, Ore. — As the Golden State Warriors attempt to become the first team since the 1960s Boston Celtics to go to the NBA Finals for the fifth straight season, Warriors forward Draymond Green said the group is motivated to finish off the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the Western
Such a shot has never fallen for anyone in a Toronto Raptors uniform, at least not while wearing a Toronto Raptors uniform — until Kawhi Leonard. Perhaps on a night where his point total amounted to 41 such a shot should have been expected to fall. Then again, Kawhi Leonard had missed his previous shot.
Sunday’s DraftKings slate 7 p.m. ET: Toronto at Milwaukee My favorite plays of the day can be found on the following slides in FanSided’s DraftKings daily picks. Each day in order to offer a variety of price points at each position, you can find two slides for each position–one for high-salary options and one for high-value
MEMPHIS, TN – NOVEMBER 25: Assistant coach Juwan Howard of the Miami Heat smiles while watching the team warm up before a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum on November 25, 2016 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is
12:54 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN MILWAUKEE — It took all of 51 seconds for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to declare to the world — and, more importantly, to the Toronto Raptors — how Game 2 was going to proceed. A rim-rattling dunk of his own miss between two defenders. A vicious rejection of what looked
The New York Knicks may prefer Ja Morant over R.J. Barrett, but they’ll have to pray for a chance to get him at No. 3 overall in June’s draft. The New York Knicks and Zion Williamson seemed to be destined for each other, but it was not to be on draft lottery night as the
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
Milwaukee controlled its Game 5 blowout of Boston from end to end behind a galvanized team effort. The Bucks move onto the Eastern Conference Finals while Kyrie Irving probably played his final game as a Celtic. Only 11-of-249 teams dug themselves out of a 3-1 hole in NBA playoff history. That total wouldn’t grow to
7:36 PM ET The Houston Rockets are not renewing the contract of associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik, one of the architects of the team’s defensive turnaround this past season. “Jeff’s contract was up. It will not be renewed,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told the Houston Chronicle. “We’re looking for any way to improve. That
Tacko Fall measured as expected at the NBA Combine, but he also showed he’s got to more to offer. After the frenzy of the draft lottery Tuesday night, 60 aspiring NBA players attended the draft combine in Chicago. Tacko Fall entered the national spotlight when UCF nearly upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament, holding his
4:09 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN TORONTO — After dropping the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals, the Toronto Raptors returned home knowing the odds — at least historically — are against them in their matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks. But when told that 94 percent of the teams with 2-0 leads have gone
You all crowned me your king. I never wanted it. I never asked for it. But I accepted it because the North is my home! It’s part of me, and I will never stop fighting for it, no matter the odds! Being King of the North is a hard job. For one, the North is
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
7:25 AM ET Down 2-0 in the NBA Western Conference finals, the Portland Trail Blazers find themselves in a must-win predicament on their home floor Saturday night. One big reason the Golden State Warriors are in the driver’s seat: their ability to shut down Damian Lillard, who must get going if Portland has a chance
Now that the NBA Draft Lottery is over, the New York Knicks have many crucial decisions to make and many options to consider. The New York Knicks were so close to getting what they so desperately coveted. After the NBA announced that they had whittled down the last four finalists for the rights to Zion
MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 17: Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on at halftime of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Raptors on May 17, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 21: Head coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the first half against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 21, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and