Posts

The veteran forward is set to be a free agent this summer after spending the last two seasons in San Antonio. Coach Gregg Popovich was asked when he met with reporters this week if the team was open to re-signing Gay. “We are hoping we can figure out a way to keep him here,” Popovich said at his end of season press conference, via the San Antonio Express-News. Popovich said Gay was a positive presence in the Spurs’ locker room....

The league’s annual spending spree is set to kick off Monday night with teams and players officially permitted to begin negotiations at 6 p.m. ET. (“Officially” being the key word, as discussions have undoubtedly already happened.) The biggest stars in this year’s class, Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul, may not truly be available, but there will be plenty of other useful players searching for new deals. Let’s take a look at the top targets and what makes them so attractive to general managers hoping to improve their rosters....

Wade, who recently reached a buyout agreement with the Bulls after one season in Chicago, is “leaning heavily” toward signing with the Cavs, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported late Sunday the Cavs, Spurs, Thunder and Heat would all be contenders for Wade’s services, but it appears Cleveland is now a strong favorite to sign the 12-time All-Star once he officially clears waivers. Wojnarowski followed up Tuesday afternoon with a report stating Wade is nearing an agreement with the Cavs and could sign as soon as Wednesday....

Indiana signed Jeremy Lamb to a three-year, $31.5 million contract and acquired Malcolm Brogdon from the Bucks in a sign-and-trade, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic, which cite unidentified league sources. The Pacers sent a first-round and a pair of second-round picks to the Bucks in exchange for Brogdon, according to ESPN. He then agreed to a four-year, $85 million deal with the team. Brogdon averaged 15.6 points, 4....

Growth and evolution have been common themes within the G League over the last several years, a span in which the overall product has continued to improve despite the complications that have come with navigating a global pandemic. Leading the charge of the recent evolution is G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who enters his fourth full season in the role after taking over in January 2019. In an exclusive interview, Abdur-Rahim provided valuable insight into the state of the league and the ever-evolving ecosystem that has fostered a symbiotic relationship between the NBA and the G League....

Miami (21-26 SU, 21-24-2 ATS) has struggled this season, partially due to its best player, Dwayne Wade, being hampered by injuries. In January, the Heat went 6-6 and have been unable to establish a winning streak. Line: Detroit -4, Total: 186 (Check our odds page for updated point spreads and totals) If there’s one role Miami has thrived in, though, it’s as a road underdog, as they’re 5-0-1 ATS when catching points away from home....

Following the news about the Bulls' star guard, NBA players quickly turned to Twitter to express sorrow and best wishes for Rose, who was still recovering from a left ACL tear that kept him off the court in 2012-13. Rose is out indefinitely and will not travel with Chicago for the remainder of its current road trip.

Underdogs are a combined 1-9 in these two series. Here are leans from The Linemakers on Sporting News: Pacers at Wizards (-4.5, 181), 8 p.m. ET, ESPN The Pacers are a perplexing bunch – who knows which team will show up? But they’re the better team than the Wizards, who have not been a profitable play at home this posteason (1-3 ATS). And why even consider the favorite in this series, as the dog is 5-0 so far?...

NBA FINALS: Schedule, dates, TV times for Cavs vs. Warriors III But don’t fall too deeply in love with this bunch. As the Celtics move forward in their efforts to catch the Cavaliers in the East, team president Danny Ainge figures to put this team through a makeover that could lead to the scuttling of some mainstay overachievers fans here appreciate while eventually upping the talent level overall. “It’s difficult every year whenever you don’t have guys back,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said....

Green is the top trash talker in the game today, and he is willing to verbally attack anyone who gets in his way. Green has thrown shots at Paul Pierce, called out the Hawks coaching staff and traded barbs with CJ McCollum during this year’s first-round series between the Warriors and Trail Blazers. But a lesser known Portland player has really felt Green’s wrath. MORE: NBA playoff scores | Monday’s schedule...

Thomas told reporters after the Celtics’ NBA playoff victory over the Bulls he’s “not here” mentally or emotionally, even though he has averaged 25.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the series. He credited his teammates’ support for his ability to play at a high level. MORE: NBA playoffs scores, schedules, news, updates “Being here is what makes me, I guess, sane, makes me feel somewhat normal through this tough time,” he said....

As the No. 2 seed, the Celtics will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. Boston has been riddled with injuries throughout the regular season and will be without two of its best players (Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving) as well as reserve big Daniel Theis for the entire postseason. In addition to the three season-ending injuries, Celtics reserve guard Marcus Smart is expected to be unavailable for at least the first two weeks of the postseason....

Philadelphia cruised to a dominant 116-95 victory over the Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center in Game 3 of their second-round series. The win put the 76ers ahead 2-1 in the series. Toronto failed time and again to slow down Philadelphia’s star-powered offense. The 76ers shot 51.2 percent from the field and knocked down 10 of their 23 3-point attempts. Here are three takeaways from the 76ers’ win: Joel Embiid bounces back That was a different Joel Embiid....

The Raptors point guard came off the bench Tuesday night to score 13 points and help Toronto defeat the Bucks, 120-102, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals and tie the series up. According to VanVleet, the birth of his son, Fred Jr., on Monday was instrumental in helping him get his groove back. “It makes you tired,” VanVleet said of welcoming a second child, via ESPN. “It gives you a little perspective, I guess, on life....

Toronto center Marc Gasol blamed himself for the team’s first quarter and eventual loss where the Raptors now trail the Bucks 2-0 in the series. Milwaukee started on a 9-0 run while Gasol went 0 for 4 to start. “The beginning (of the game) set us in a really bad spot,” Gasol said. “We couldn’t get a grip of the game early on, and I take full responsibility for that....

We all know that Giannis is amazing. Some of his areas of improvement haven’t gotten quite the attention they deserve, though. Here are some specifics on how he’s become an even more dominant player, and what he needs to continue to improve on. Passing The largest area of improvement in Giannis’ game has been with his passing. His 7.1 playoff assists per game are two full assists more than he had during last year’s Bucks championship run....

MORE: Watch the NBA live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers Monday, Jan. 15, at 8 p.m. on TNT The Warriors took a win in this modern-day NBA rivalry on Christmas, and the two teams meet again Monday. Steph Curry was injured and didn’t play in the Christmas Day meeting but is expected to play for the Warriors this time around. Could this be a preview of yet another Finals matchup between these two teams?...

The league revealed the full 2016-17 schedule Thursday night, and there are a few dates basketball fans need to have marked down on their calendars. Let’s take a look: MORE: 11 players ready to take over the NBA next season Opening Night (Oct. 25) Knicks vs. Cavs (8 p.m. on TNT): The Cavs get their rings and face off against the new-look Knicks. Yes Cleveland, those championship rings are real....

ESPN NBA writer Chad Ford stirred that pot Tuesday, saying the point guard is the Knicks' radar as they try to make a trade before Thursday's deadline. "We've heard about them going after a point guard (such as) Kyle Lowry, Jeff Teague. I know another guy they'd love to get their hands on right now, and that's Jeremy Lin," Ford said in a podcast segment with Bill Simmons. "And the question is, would Houston do it?...

Carmelo Anthony has not been moved from the Knicks despite the relationship with his employer being all but ruined after former team president Phil Jackson said he would “be better off somewhere else” along with months of rumors and speculation. Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported Wednesday the 10-time All-Star’s camp is “cautiously optimistic” a deal with the Rockets, Anthony’s team of choice, will be reached by Monday when the Knicks host their annual media day....