Because we are a competitive species, everything gets ranked and graded in perpetuity. There is no “just being,” things need comparison against each other — especially in basketball. As such, the NBA trade deadline comes with winners and losers. Parsing out which teams won and lost with their moves at the trade deadline comes with
After a 16-game absence due to injury, Chris Paul is making his return to the Houston Rockets to provide some much-needed help for James Harden. As much fun as it can be to watch James Harden essentially perform as a one-man basketball team, it hasn’t been good for the Houston Rockets. They are lucky enough
Even with increased 3-point shooting leaguewide, the Houston Rockets have continued to stand out for their frequent attacks behind the arc. For the second consecutive season, they have taken roughly half of their field goal attempts from downtown, outpacing their closest competitor (the Milwaukee Bucks) by about 10 percentage points and exceeding the NBA average
1:47 AM ET PHOENIX — For the second straight season, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James used the first pick in the All-Star draft to select Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant for his team. For the second straight year, Durant wasn’t surprised at all. “What else is he supposed to do?” Durant said after
After going all in with last week’s Kristaps Porzingis trade, the New York Knicks top the lottery in our latest 2019 NBA Mock Draft. As always, projected standings are based upon FiveThirtyEight’s CARM-Elo rankings. This version of the mock uses projections as of Feb. 3, with Atlanta separating itself from the pack and leaving four
Remember when the consensus with the NBA Trade Deadline was that it was going to be pretty boring with more buyers than sellers? Those were some good times, because a lot has changed since then. Suddenly, the Grizzlies decided to end their golden age of basketball, Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks divorced and rumors are swirling
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 17: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies during an NBA game at ORACLE Arena on December 17, 2018 in Oakland, California. The basket gave Curry 15,000 points for his career. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or
If you asked me to, off the top of my head, name the top 3 scariest sights for an NBA defender, it would probably go something like this: Steph Curry sprinting to the corner following an offensive rebound James Harden rhythmically dribbling and rearing back at the top of the arc LeBron James cocking back
9:59 PM ET Michael C. Wright NEW ORLEANS — All-Star Anthony Davis, making his return to the Pelicans’ lineup after nine games with a finger injury, was featured prominently on the scoreboard in the middle of the team picture when the Pelicans first came out of the tunnel Friday night. Last week, following his trade
PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 18: The New Orleans Pelicans all walk onto the court during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 18, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the
The 2019 NBA Trade Deadline has passed, but that doesn’t mean teams are done adding to their roster as some key buyout candidates become available. Everyone gets into a frenzy over the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline, and that was undoubtedly the case in 2019. With rumors swirling regarding a superstar like Anthony Davis, other big
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 22: Thon Maker #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on prior to the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 22, 2018 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
The Bucks traded for Nikola Mirotic, shoring up a playoff rotation that now should be aiming for the Finals. The story of the trade that sent Nikola Mirotic to Milwaukee unfolded strangely over the span of just a few short minutes. First, we found out that Mirotic was going to Milwaukee. There were speculations that
1:02 PM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN Guard Wayne Ellington is closing in on a commitment to sign with the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell ESPN, league sources told ESPN on Friday. Phoenix, which has been seeking a guard for a while, has acquired Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington from the Heat in exchange for Ryan Anderson.
Remember when the consensus with the NBA Trade Deadline was that it was going to be pretty boring with more buyers than sellers? Those were some good times, because a lot has changed since then. Suddenly, the Grizzlies decided to end their golden age of basketball, Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks divorced and rumors are swirling
The Nuggets are a team still in search of its best self. Amid constant injuries, shifting rotational patterns and the night-to-night variance that tends to plague young teams, it could be understood if Denver’s adjusted plan was simply getting by. Instead, they excelled, finding consistent rhythm when it had good reason to go missing. Losing
MEMPHIS, TN – JANUARY 28: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets speaks with the media after the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 28, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and
9:32 PM ET Let’s revive an old Grantland tradition and ask who’s on notice after the whirlwind of the last 48 hours. The top of the East Assuming Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Boston and Toronto all advance, I’m not sure there will have ever been a playoff round with more potential to swing superstar free agency than
The 2010s have brought us a rarity in the modern world of sports — all four major sports leagues have had a dynasty team in this decade. Creating a professional sports dynasty is a one of a kind achievement, especially in today’s world. With the way professional sports leagues are designed in the modern era
The NBA’s dramatic trade deadline festivities kicked off a week early, when on Thursday afternoon the New York Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, not two hours after it was reported that the 23-year-old expressed concerns to management over the franchise’s direction. The Knicks will receive DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, some assets have to be used now or they lose significant value. The Harrison Barnes trade was two teams swapping that kind of asset. The Dallas Mavericks, cashing in on an asset while they still can, sent Harrison Barnes to Sacramento, getting Zach Randolph (who they may waive) and
5:48 PM ET The Boston Celtics traded guard Jabari Bird and cash to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, sources confirmed to ESPN. After a flurry of trades, which teams are looking worse and which ones got stronger? Anthony Davis is still a Pelican, but big names like Marc Gasol and Markelle Fultz are on the
While the Reggie Bullock trade is a marginal win for both teams, the two franchises involved are looking for more than just marginal wins. The Lakers, with Anthony Davis seemingly off the table, elected to bring in a role player for the short term instead, by sending Svi Mykhailiuk with a second-round pick for Reggie
Remember when the consensus with the NBA Trade Deadline was that it was going to be pretty boring with more buyers than sellers? Those were some good times, because a lot has changed since then. Suddenly, the Grizzlies decided to end their golden age of basketball, Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks divorced and rumors are swirling
The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t going to win a bunch of games this season, but the Cavs have some fun wings that could net them assets in the trade market. The Cleveland Cavaliers did something they haven’t done much this season on Wednesday night when they won a game against the New York Knicks. Cleveland is
Ironically, the Cleveland Cavaliers had one of the worst rebounding games in NBA history to commemorate Tristan Thompson’s return to the lineup. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a bad rebounding team this season. The Cavaliers are 19th in the NBA in rebounding percentage and 25th in rebounds per game. It isn’t surprising that Cleveland would
The King stays The King. You came up with a clutch performance in the draft and put together a winning squad. Now, can you do the same in free agency in July? The King stays The King. You came up with a clutch performance in the draft and put together a winning squad. Now, can
The Rockets were looking for help and it appears they’ve found it, looping in the Cavaliers and Kings for a three-team trade. The Houston Rockets are getting some wing help, having acquired Iman Shumpert in a three-team trade with the Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets will
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 21: Houston Rockets Forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks on before a NBA game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers on October 21, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Eagles fans, don’t overthink the Carson Wentz report by
One day before the NBA trade deadline, longtime Wizard Otto Porter has at last been shipped out of the capital city. Throughout the week leading up to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 7, much of the discussion has been about whether or not Anthony Davis would dealt out of New Orleans, as he requested.