The lottery determined Tuesday that the Pelicans will receive the No. 1 overall pick, shocking nearly everyone. Here are three takeaways from the lottery results: Things could be turning around for the Pelicans New Orleans had a 6% chance to win the lottery and beat the odds to come out on top. The Pelicans have an opportunity to draft this year’s top prospect, Zion Williamson, with the first overall pick....
The former Duke standout would prefer to drop past the Grizzlies, who hold the No. 2 pick, and get selected by either the Knicks (No. 3) or the Lakers (No. 4), according to the New York Post, which cited an unidentified league source. Barrett’s preferred destination could work out in his favor as the universal belief is the Pelicans will take Zion Williamson out of Duke at No. 1. Additionally, ESPN reported earlier this week that the Grizzlies are “locked in” on former Murray State guard Ja Morant....
That’s as true as ever heading into a 2020 NBA Draft without a ton of consensus on who the best players are and with some doubts about the overall upside of this draft class. Normally the draft would’ve taken place in June and rookies would already be playing their first season, but COVID-19 has provided months to speculate on who might bust without much added evidence to make those calls any clearer....
“This is a powerful asset for us,” Pelinka said, per the team’s website. “Our focus right now is going to be on doing all we can to have an incredibly successful year next year.” Los Angeles was originally expected to fall out of the top 10 and held just a 9.4 percent chance to move as far up as it did. Pelinka said the jump will impact the Lakers’ mindset and they will focus on how much they can get with a draft pick in the top five....
Before we break down all of our picks, here are the most notable scoring rules for DraftKings contests: Made three-point shot (+0.5 points), rebound (+1.25 points), assists (+1.5 points), steals and blocks (+2 points), double-double (+1.5 points – max one per player) and triple-double (+3 points – max one player). Saturday night’s NBA DraftKings Picks: NBA DFS lineup for GPP tournaments Saturday main slate, $50,000 budget PG Darius Garland, Cavaliers @ Timberwolves ($7,600)....
We're all well aware Anthony is one of the NBA's foremost scorers, but can he lead a team to an NBA championship? The answer was clear when Anthony played for the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference. His team made it to the Western Conference finals once in eight years. Now, as the leader of the Knicks, it appears Anthony is on the same tract. MORE: Carter: Howard is a big ‘crybaby’ | Cavs, Bennett struggles continue | DraftStreet: Play daily fantasy...
After staying alive with victory in Toronto on Monday, the Warriors saw their bid for a third straight title end in front of their own fans with defeat in an eventful Game 6 of the Finals. Already without Kevin Durant after he ruptured an Achilles in Game 5, Golden State’s bid to level the series on Thursday was further hampered by the loss of Klay Thompson, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee late in the third quarter....
It was June 5, 1991. The Chicago Bulls were down 1-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers in their first-ever NBA Finals appearance. MORE: 2016 NBA Finals photos | West weighs in on LeBron’s critics The young Bulls were led, of course, by Michael Jordan. He was spectacular in Game 1, scoring 35 points and dishing out 12 assists, but missed a 17-footer that could have tied the game as the Bulls lost 93-91....
LeBron James will take us all through the grind of another “Decision,” Kevin Durant and Chris Paul likely will re-up with their teams quickly and Paul George is somewhat in limbo. There’s not much for serious star power beyond those four players, though the decisions of DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan will have ramifications. In all, we looked at the 10 best players at each position, covering where they stand among their peers and what might happen to them in the coming days and weeks....
Utah is expected to pursue Tobias Harris in free agency, according to a report from The Athletic, which cites unidentified league sources. The team “would have at least a fighting chance” to sign him if he decides to leave the 76ers, the report says. Harris was sent from the Clippers to Philadelphia in a blockbuster deal before the trade deadline. In total, he averaged 20 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2....
After signing with the Clippers just two years ago, Kawhi Leonard could once again become an unrestricted free agent and send NBA Twitter into a frenzy. He has a player option for the 2021-22 season, but he could decline that option in order to sign a new contract. The most likely scenario is Leonard reaching some sort of agreement with Los Angeles as he continues to recover from an ACL injury he suffered during the 2021 playoffs, though no one truly knows what he will do....
The 17-year veteran is destined for the Hall of Fame. He’s been named to the all-star game 10 times, and won an NBA championship without the elite athleticism of many of his contemporaries. Instead, he’s relied on his competitive guile and an old-man game replete with a nifty step-back jumper and enough head fakes to keep defenders clueless as to when he’ll release his shot. Everyone’s favorite basketball impersonator Brandon Armstrong (@BdotAdot5) gave Pierce the royal treatment in his latest YouTube clip, nailing his classic elongated follow through....
Sefolosha suffered a fractured fibula early Wednesday morning while being arrested outside a club in New York. Police said Sefolosha and teammate Pero Antic, who was also arrested, were interfering with a crime scene and resisting arrest after Pacers forward Chris Copeland was stabbed outside the club. MORE: Rubio to undergo ankle surgery | Cousins, Gay done for season | Who should coach Magic? A video obtained by TMZ shows an officer swinging a baton at Sefolosha’s lower body after other officers have taken the player to the ground....
Several member of the squad are huge basketball fans, but none more so than Neymar, who was delighted that the five-time NBA champion and 2008 MVP took some time to visit the Ligue 1 leaders. Indeed, the striker, who took in Game 2 of the NBA finals last season, had few words when he posted on social media about the event, simply branding Kobe a “legend”. Kylian Mbappe offered a similar thought on his Instagram page....
Every member of the Lakers, Clippers, Jazz and Pelicans on Thursday evening knelt for the national anthem, following the main template for athlete protests in the U.S. that began in the NFL with Colin Kaepernick in 2016. Players on each team also donned messages on their jerseys supporting equality and societal improvements. Phrases included “Education Reform,” “Say Their Names” and “Black Lives Matter.” Utah’s Donovan Mitchell also wore “Black Lives Matter” shoes....
USA Today Sports reported the National Basketball Players Association plans to announce the “2015 Players Choice Awards.” The report cites an internal memo saying votes will be made anonymously and the winners will be announced this summer in Las Vegas. MORE: Durant criticizes media influence | Linesmakers: Curry is MVP front-runner Durant, who won the 2013-14 NBA MVP but has missed most of this season with a foot injury, has been highly critical of media members voting on NBA awards....
The public first took notice when the backup quarterback sat during the singing of the national anthem prior to kickoff of the 49ers’ preseason meeting at home against the Packers late last month. The next game, his teammate safety Eric Reid, a Baton Rouge, La. native who was deeply touched by the murder of Alton Sterling at the hands of law enforcement officers, joined him in taking a knee. NFL players, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall and Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster soon followed suit, kneeling on the sideline while the “Stars Spangled Banner” played Week 1....
