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Frank Kaminsky And Dan Dakich Had A Massive Twitter Fight

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Dan Dakich is known for being bombastic on Twitter and is willing to mix it up with pretty much anyone. On Thursday he tangled with current Charlotte Hornets and former Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky, and it got pretty pointed.

It started with Dakich throwing shade at Kaminsky’s former teammate Nigel Hayes and escalated from there:

At this point Kaminsky decided to walk away and leave the fight where it was. Still that was a pretty nice, heated back-and-forth. I have Kaminsky winning on points. There were a few haymakers mixed in but no knockout blows.


Wise Sage Dwight Howard Teaching the Hornets to Throw Alley Oops

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At 31 years old and on his fifth NBA franchise (the Charlotte Hornets), Dwight Howard has lived and he’s learned, but at the end of the day, these youngsters just need to start throwing more lobs.

“I’ve been showing those guys how to throw that pass,” he told the Charlotte Observer, “and when it can be most effective.”

According to Howard, this has caused problems for opponents, who have not been prepared to handle a maneuver of such skill and daring.

Walker and Howard connected on two lob passes in the first half Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Howard immediately noticed the reaction from Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau.

“I saw coach Thibs saying, ‘You’ve got to get in on the roll!’ and guys were saying, ‘Oh, man, you throw the ball that high and he jumps, what are we supposed to do?’ Howard said.

By the Observer’s count, the Hornets have completed 10 alley-oops already this year, putting them on pace to shatter last season’s mark of 17.

Guard Kemba Walker reportedly described the plays as “really exciting.”

Here's Dwight Howard Making an Obscene Gesture at Cleveland Cavaliers Fans

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Dwight Howard is playing for the Charlotte Hornets this season. Charlotte is his 4th NBA stop since leaving the Orlando Magic in 2012. Dwight turns 32 in two weeks and is the oldest player on the Hornets. He’s averaging 15.5 points and 12.9 rebounds and even inspired profiles of maturity and redemption before the season.

Here he is making an obscene gesture at the fans in Cleveland last night.

[UPDATE: Dwight was fined $35,000.]

The Cavaliers beat the Hornets, 100-99. Dwight had 20 and 13.

How the Knicks Could Land Kemba Walker

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The NBA trade season is here, and the #WojBombs have started.

I started thinking of potential trade partners for the Charlotte Hornets once that tweet by Adrian Wojnarowski dropped this morning, because we all know Woj doesn’t mess around.  On a side note, #WojBombs and #ShamWows (Shams Charania) alerts get me so excited, but that is neither here or there.  Anyways, trading Kemba Walker makes a lot of sense right now for this Hornets team. The worst thing the Hornets can do is stay stuck in NBA hell (mediocrity), and lose Kemba for nothing when his deal is up.

So who is the perfect trade partner for the Hornets? Well, the New York Knicks, that’s who! Kemba would get to go back home (Bronx native), and in case you forgot, he loves playing at Madison Square Garden. Kemba has had a lot of highlights at MSG, but here’s one of my favorites:

Once I worked out the deal in my head, I had to make sure it was realistic money-wise. I got the seal of approval after plugging it into ESPN’s Trade Machine.  This Trade is Successful!

Charlotte would get:

Frank Ntilikina (4 years, $3.5 million)

Ron Baker (2 years, $4.3 million)

Kyle O’Quinn (2 years, $4.0 million)

Knicks 2018 draft pick (likely in the 14-20 range)

 

New York would get:

Kemba Walker (2 years, $12 million)

This deal or any variation of it, would be a win-win for both teams. Charlotte would win in 2 ways.  Not only would the Hornets get a young PG in Ntilikina and a future 1st that they could build around, but they would immediately become much worse without Kemba, thus improving their own pick next year.

The Knicks would be giving up their 1st round pick from this year, but the trade would make them better right away, and potentially for the future. Kemba is still a relatively young PG (27) on a nice contract ($12 million/year), and why wouldn’t he want to stay in New York if things go well?  The Knicks would be able to pair Kemba Walker and Kristaps Porzingis together for a sweet 1-2 punch for years to come, and have a great core to build around.  Now the only thing left to do, is for MJ to pull the trigger on this deal.

 

Five Potential Trade Destinations For Kemba Walker

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Kemba Walker is the hottest name at this year’s trade deadline, as the Charlotte Hornets are reportedly willing to discuss moving their star point guard. While Michael Jordan has claimed he doesn’t want to trade Walker, you know the Hornets will be listening to offers.

Walker was an All-Star in 2017, and is having another solid season in Charlotte despite his team’s struggles. The 27-year-old is currently averaging 21.8 points, 5.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 34.7 minutes per game.

His numbers aren’t the only value Walker brings to the table, he’s also ridiculously cheap. He’s under contract through next season for just $12 million and that’s what makes him so valuable. Whichever team trades for Walker will have him through next season at a ridiculous discount.

What follows are five trades (yes, they’ve been checked with the trade machine) that could get done and help both teams involved. The Hornets will be looking for youth, draft picks and/or expiring contracts.

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks would be a perfect fit for Walker, who is from the Bronx and has history within Madison Square Garden. As we posted last week, a deal between the two teams is possible, but I’d go in a different direction than the deal we posed.

In this scenario, I’ve got the Knicks landing Walker in exchange for Frank Ntilikina, Ron Baker, a 2018 first-round pick and the Chicago Bulls’ 2018 second-round pick.

The Knicks would get a star to pair with Kristaps Porzingis, while the Hornets would get a young, exciting point guard (Ntilikina), a first-rounder and what could be a decent second-rounder, while Baker would be a decent bench piece under contract through 2019.

New York gets: Kemba Walker

Charlotte gets: Ron Baker, Frank Ntilikina, 2018 first-round pick, Chicago’s 2018 second-round pick

PM Roundup: Jodie Comer; Jaren Jackson To The NBA; Latest NFL Rumors

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The Big Lead’s PM Sports Roundup, which is taking Villanova and the points.

Jodie starring in new series: British actress Jodie Comer is starring in “Killing Eve” a new drama on BBC America called that I can’t stop seeing ads for.

Instagram Photo

Jackson headed to the NBA: Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr. is headed to the NBA after a really impressive freshman year.

Latest NFL rumors: The latest NFL rumors and some focus on the quarterbacks in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Tweet of the Day:

In Case You Missed It on The Big Lead:

Ranking the 55 Quarterbacks Taken in the First Round Since Start of BCS Era

Geno Auriemma Once Subtweeted Arike Ogunbowale About Announcing Her School Choices

Bill Belichick Is A Problem, And His Players Are Finally Sick Of It

Josh Rosen is Driving Football People Insane

Around the Sports Internet:

Overreactions from Major League Baseball’s first weekend

The Charlotte Hornets have reportedly offered their GM job to Mitch Kupchak

Women apparently don’t want to be NBA officials

Key questions for Monday night’s national championship game

Song of the Day:

Re-Draft of the 2017 NBA Lottery Picks…How Far Down Does Markelle Fultz Fall?

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There’s always something for everyone when it comes to the NBA Draft. If your team stinks or is tanking, the Draft gives you hope. And if you are an NBA prognosticator, you want to be the guy who says “I knew that guy was going to be great,” or “I told you that foo was going to be a bum!”

While it’s been fun researching the players in the upcoming 2018 draft, I thought to myself what if teams had another shot at the 2017 draft? Which rookies would go at the top? Who would fall out of the lottery?

After taking into account talent + team needs, here’s my top-14 draft board for a do-over of last year’s picks:

1. Philadelphia 76ersJayson Tatum (actual selection: 3)

2. Los Angeles LakersDonovan Mitchell (actual selection: 13)

3. Boston CelticsLauri Markkanen (actual selection: 7)

4. Phoenix SunsLonzo Ball (actual selection: 2)

5. Sacramento KingsMarkelle Fultz (actual selection: 1)

6. Orlando Magic – Dennis Smith Jr. (actual selection: 9)

7. Chicago Bulls – Kyle Kuzma (actual selection: 27)

8. New York Knicks – Josh Jackson (actual selection: 4)

9. Dallas Mavericks – De’Aaron Fox (actual selection: 5)

10. Portland Trailblazers – Jonathan Isaac (actual selection: 6)

11. Charlotte Hornets – John Collins (actual selection: 19)

12. Detroit Pistons – Josh Hart (actual selection: 30)

13. Utah Jazz – Jarrett Allen (actual selection: 22)

14. Miami Heat – Bam Adebayo (actual selection: 14)

3 top risers: Kyle Kuzma +20, Josh Hart +18, Donovan Mitchell +11

Dropping out: Frank Ntilikina, Zach Collins, Malik Monk, Luke Kennard

Just missed: Luke Kennard, Dillon Brooks, OG Anunoby, Jordan Bell

PM Roundup: Jana Kramer; Five Top Nike Execs Out Amid Harassment Probe; Hornets Set To Hire James Borrego

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The Big Lead’s PM Sports Roundup, which had its Met Ball invite get lost in the mail for the fifth year in a row.

Jana opens up about fragile marriage: Jana Kramer opened up about her husband cheating on her with multiple women. She’s still with him though. So there’s that I guess.

Instagram Photo

Five Nike execs out: An inquiry into workplace harassment at Nike has led to the departure of five more of the company’s top executives.

Hornets to hire Spurs assistant: The Charlotte Hornets are reportedly on the verge of hiring top San Antonio Spurs assistant James Borrego as their new head coach.

Tweet of the Day:

In Case You Missed It on The Big Lead:

Johnny Manziel Hospitalized, Agent Blames Change in Prescription Medication

Former ESPN President John Skipper Has a New Job

The Raptors Would Be Crazy To Fire Dwane Casey

The Idea of Russell Westbrook Being Traded by Oklahoma City is Gaining Momentum

Around the Sports Internet:

Ben Roethlisberger and the other franchise quarterbacks who need to stop whining

Kurt Warner was considering an NFL comeback…for this season

Mookie Betts and Meghan Markle are actually distantly related

Rodney Hood refused to play in the fourth quarter of the Cavs’ Game 4 blowout of the Raptors

Song of the Day:


2018 NBA Mock Draft, Post-Draft Lottery: DeAndre Ayton Goes to Suns, Trae Young to Mavericks

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With the lottery complete and the draft order set, here is the Big Lead’s 7-person staff mock draft.

The participants in our mock draft were:

Ryan Phillips: Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers

Bobby Burack: Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets

Jason McIntyre: Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards

Vik Chokshi: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks

Henry McKenna: Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz

Ryan Glasspiegel: Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs

Jason Lisk: Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers

#1 Phoenix Suns – DeAndre Ayton, C, Arizona – The Phoenix Suns are a mess. DeAndre Ayton is the best player in the draft, has the most upside, and alongside Devin Booker can finally give the Suns the one-two punch they have needed.

#2 Sacramento Kings – Marvin Bagley III, PF, Duke – Bagley is super athletic, made for today’s NBA, and has All-Star potential written all over him.  He is ready to contribute right away after having a monster freshmen season at Duke, averaging 21.0ppg and 11.1rpg last year, all while shooting 61.4%.  The Kings add one of the best players in the entire draft to their already promising young core.

#3 Atlanta Hawks – Luka Doncic, G/F, Slovenia – An absolute gift for the Hawks landing arguably the best prospect in the draft. In the new wing-heavy NBA, Doncic can play SG or SF, and with Taurean Prince and John Collins, they’ll have three tough players.

#4 Memphis Grizzlies – Mohamed Bamba, PF, Texas – Bamba and Marc Gasol would give Memphis a formidable frontcourt. He will need to develop more as a scorer to merit this level of pick in the draft, but the Grizzlies are still at least another year away from being any good so this is a place where he will have time to grow.

#5 Dallas Mavericks – Trae Young, PG, Oklahoma – The Mavericks need a scorer after they finished last season with the third fewest points per game in the NBA. Young provides an immediate offensive injection as a distributor and sharp-shooter.

#6 Orlando Magic – Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama – The Magic went upside last year with Jonathan Isaac, so they make the sensible pick here and fill their biggest need. This might be high for Sexton but the team has a ton of wings and big men, it desperately needs punch on the perimeter. If things play out this way, don’t be shocked if Orlando trades out of this spot.

#7 Chicago Bulls – Michael Porter Jr., SF, Missouri – If Porter Jr. didn’t sustain his back injury, he would’ve been a consensus top-3 pick in this year’s draft.  The Bulls roll the dice here and get a guy that can flat out score if healthy.  At his size, he will create mismatches as he has the ability to score facing up or off the dribble.  His 3-point shooting abilities would also fit Hoiberg’s offense. Another interesting tidbit is that the Chicago-based firm of Priority Sports and Mark Bartelstein represents him.  Bartelstein is a family friend of Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and has had a good working relationship with the Bulls as he reps current Bull Bobby Portis, and former Bulls Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott, among many others. Hopefully the Bulls can get some inside “intel” in regards to Porter’s back thanks to their relationship. Everything coming out of that camp says his back is looking good, but of course they are going to say that.  A healthy MPJ would give the Bulls a nice, young core to build around.

#8 Cleveland Cavaliers – Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Michigan State – The Cavs go best available and highest ceiling at No. 8.  JJJ can already stretch the floor and guard multiple positions at just 18 years old. If LeBron stays, he can come in and contribute right away on the defensive end.  If LeBron does indeed leave, the Cavs would be able to rebuild by pairing another lottery pick with JJJ next year. His offense will improve.

#9 New York Knicks – Mikal Bridges, SF, Villanova – The Knicks get a player that can come in and play right away in Bridges.  While he does not have that high of a ceiling, his floor is pretty solid thanks to his shooting.  Bridges shot 43.5% from three-point land last season, and can defend multiple positions.  His game should translate well at the next level.  With the Knicks probably tanking again next season, Bridges will be a nice piece to pair with Kristaps Porzingis when he is back, and their future lottery pick.

#10 Philadelphia 76ers – Miles Bridges, SF/ PF, Michigan State – There is no way of knowing where Miles Bridges will fit into the rotation until it is known whether or not the 76ers can add a big-time free agent, but that will be no problem. Bridges will be able to perform any role needed. The two-way wing could add to the potential nightmare the 76ers could become to defend.

PM Roundup: Gigi Hadid; Belgium Bounces Brazil From World Cup; Tony Parker To The Hornets

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The Big Lead’s PM Sports Roundup, whose pick of France to win the World Cup is looking mighty good right about now.

Gigi isn’t happy: Gigi Hadid is upset about…something. I don’t know, I stopped reading after a few sentences.

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Belgium is through!: Belgium knocked out World Cup favorite Brazil on Friday, setting up what should be an amazing semifinal matchup with France.

Tony to Charlotte: Tony Parker is leaving the San Antonio Spurs to sign with the Charlotte Hornets. Parker has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Hornets after 17 seasons with the Spurs.

Tweet of the Day:

In Case You Missed It on The Big Lead:

Stephen A. Smith Predicts Lakers Will Fire Luke Walton, Hire Phil Jackson

Michelle Beadle Unloads on “Obnoxious Diva” Kawhi Leonard

Trae Young Has Had a Horrific Start to Summer League

Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson Match-play Would be Wonderful for Golf Fans

Around the Sports Internet:

Cristiano Ronaldo’s rumored move to Juventus has lead the Italian club’s share prices skyrocketing

Carmelo Anthony and the Thunder will part ways, they just have to figure out how

Kyrie Irving didn’t ever want to play with LeBron James

The latest NBA trade rumors

Former Warriors first-round pick Clifford Rozier died of a heart attack at just 45 years old

Song of the Day:

NBA Eastern Conference Over/Under Win Totals: Kawhi, Toronto Raptors Will Disappoint

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The NBA season is less than a week away. If the bettors are looking to make the most effective over/under win total bets, here are write-ups for the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference.

All totals based on Westgate Current via Action Network.

Boston Celtics – Over 59 wins

Even though this total has been set high, I have the Celtics winning 60+ games this season. The C’s won 55 games last season, passing their expected win total of 53. They did so with Kyrie Irving out injured for half the season and Gordon Hayward out for all of it. Adding those two stars to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the rest of the Boston squad that experienced the playoffs, will make this team even better this season. Danny Ainge also has a ton of assets that he might be able to flip, so the possibility of improving even more with a mid-season acquisition exists as well. Lastly, they have the man, and my favorite coach in the league, Brad Stevens. He will make sure they are prepared night in and night out, and more importantly, help them rack up wins vs. a weak Eastern Conference.

Toronto Raptors – Under 55.5 wins

While most are bullish on the Raptors due to the Kawhi Leonard acquisition, I’m going the other way, as there are just too many question marks going into the season. Will Kawhi be locked in, or is he looking forward to free agency? If he isn’t, will the Raptors trade him at the deadline? Another reason for the Raptors regular season success the past few years was their great team chemistry, especially between Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozen. With the departure of DeRozen, will this team as a whole still have that chemistry? Will their bench be as good as it was last year? Will they be able to stay as healthy as they have been the past few years? Lastly, they have a new head coach in Nick Nurse. Can he coach and manage these egos? If any one of these go sideways, 56 wins will be hard to come by.

Philadelphia 76ers – Under 54 wins

I love the 76ers and can’t wait until they face off vs. the Celtics in the playoffs. That being said, I am taking the under. They are bringing back their two stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, but lost Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova, both of whom were big cogs during their 16-game winning streak towards the end of the season. On top of that, they missed out on all of the big free agents, and their 1st round draft pick Zhaire Smith suffered a fractured foot. Granted Simmons, Embiid, Saric, and Co. should improve internally, and getting Markelle Fultz back will be like gaining a another lottery pick, but this number is inflated. Then there is also the case of Joel Embiid’s health. It sucks to talk about, but if he does miss some time, or they rest him to be safe, that can have an adverse affect on their season total as well.

Milwaukee Bucks – Over 48.5 wins

The Bucks finished with 44 wins last year, but got much better at one key position, head coach. Mike Budenholzer is a huge improvement over former Bucks coaches Jason Kidd and Joe Prunty. He understands the modern NBA and utilizes spacing, ball movement, and shooting. Speaking of shooting, I love the offseason they had in picking up Brook Lopez, Ersan İlyasova, and Donte DiVincenzo. Why? All three can space the floor. Malcolm Brogdon was having a great season before he got injured, and should return back to form. Don’t forget, Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton are both going into contract years, so you know they will ball out. This will all maximize Giannis Antetokounmpo’s true potential. The King of the East should have an even better year, which should tip them over the 48-win mark.

Indiana Pacers – Over 48 wins

After winning 48 games last season, the Pacers should take a step forward this year due in part to their off-season. They added some nice under-the-radar pieces in Tyreke Evans, Kyle O’Quinn, and Doug McDermott. Evans should be better than Lance Stephenson, O’Quinn is a good hustle guy off the bench, and McBuckets should be able to get a lot of open 3’s playing next to Victor Oladipo. Aaron Holiday was also a great value pick at 23, and should be able to contribute right away. Bojan Bogdanovic is just a monster, and Myles Turner will only get better now that he is eating well and practicing yoga. His body transformation is incredible, so look out. Either way, if the Pacers are going to get this over, they will need Oladipo to take yet another leap, and I am all aboard for the ride.

Best Bets for Monday's NBA Games: Celtics/ Pelicans and Other Against the Spread Picks

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The NBA season is back so let’s wager on these games! The lines we use are from The Action Network Sports Betting App. Make sure you shop around for the best price.

Smaller slate of games today, with only seven on the board. There are a few big games today, but the Boston Celtics at New Orleans Pelicans is tonight’s marquee game. Let’s go!

Vik (27-18-1): The Picks: Charlotte Hornets +4.5, Pelicans -2

Jason (29-42-1): The Pick: Houston Rockets -2.5

Ryan (21-26-1): The Pick: Utah Jazz -5.5

Best Bets for Saturday’s NBA Games: Gambling Picks for Rockets-Grizzlies, Celtics-Pistons, and More

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The NBA season is back so let’s wager on these games! The lines we use are from The Action Network Sports Betting App. Make sure you shop around for the best price.

Small slate today, with seven games on the card. We will go with the Los Angeles Lakers at Charlotte Hornets as our game of the night. Let’s go!

Vik (39-31-1) The Pick: Detroit Pistons +2.5

This is a great spot for the Pistons tonight. The Celtics are on a back-to-back and playing their third game in four nights. Meanwhile, Detroit comes into this game off a heartbreaking loss to the Hornets. 70% of the public is on Boston, making this a good fade as well.

Jason (47-57-1): The Picks: Boston -2.5, Spurs -11

Ryan (36-46-1): The Picks: Rockets -3.5, Suns +8.5

Best Bets for Tuesday’s NBA Games: Gambling Picks for Nuggets-Heat, Knicks-Warriors and More

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The NBA season is back so let’s wager on these games! The lines we use are from The Action Network Sports Betting App. Make sure you shop around for the best price.

Medium slate of games again today, with eight on the board. We will go with the Charlotte Hornets at Los Angeles Clippers as our game of the day. Let’s go!

Vik (51-51-3): The Picks: Heat -1, Suns +4

Jason (65-73-1): The Picks: Cavs 1st Quarter +3.5, 76ers -9

Ryan (54-54-1): The Pick: Knicks-Warriors over 230.5

Best Bets for Friday’s NBA Games: Gambling Picks for Hornets-Blazers, Bucks-Wizards and More

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The NBA season is back so let’s wager on these games! The lines we use are from The Action Network Sports Betting App. Make sure you shop around for the best price.

Almost a full slate of games today, with nine on the board. We will go with the Charlotte Hornets at Portland Trail Blazers as our game of the day. Let’s go!

Vik (54-53-3): The Picks: Bulls-Warriors Under 220, Cavs-Rockets Under 216, Hawks-Sixers Over 232

Jason (70-75-1): The Pick: Blazers -6

Ryan (56-55-1): The Pick: Bucks-Wizards Over 226


Miles Bridges And Frank Kaminsky Aren't Fond Of Dan Dakich

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Frank Kaminsky and Dan Dakich have had issues on Twitter before and on Wednesday, their feud popped up yet again. But this time, Kaminsky’s Charlotte Hornets teammate Miles Bridges joined in.

Dakich tweeted the following at 4:06 p.m. ET Tuesday night:

Kaminsky followed this up by allowing everyone to know he was muting Dakich’s commentary during Tuesday night’s Michigan State, Wisconsin matchup:

Bridges quickly agreed:

Then Dakich followed it up a few hours later with this:

Kaminsky then responded with the following tweet:

And Bridges piled on:

Then added the following:

I’d like to pause and set the record straight here: Dakich is not 50 years old. He’s 56.

10 Worst NBA Contracts Right Now

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The NBA season is winding to a close. While many are focused on the playoffs and what’s in store for the offseason, we think it’s worth taking a look at some of the worst contracts the league currently has to offer.

Here’s our list of the NBA’s 10 worst contracts right now.

Kevin Love

10. Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

After losing LeBron James to the Lakers this summer, the Cleveland Cavaliers splurged to retain Kevin Love long-term. The Cavs handed him a four-year, $120 million deal that won’t kick in until 2019. It was a terrible idea.

Love promptly got injured and has missed all but 21 games this season. The 30-year-old is averaging 17.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. His PER of 19.49 is at a three-year low. And his extension hasn’t even started yet.

The oft-injured forward will make an average of $30.1 million over the next four years. There’s no doubt this is an awful deal.

Final NBA Draft Lottery Odds

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The regular season has concluded, and just over half of the teams in the league will begin their preparation for what they hope is a long playoff stretch. The other half will look forward to June, when the NBA draft will determine the immediate and long-term futures of many franchises.

This year’s top prize is Zion Williamson, the standout athletic freak from Duke. But there are a few other game-changing players at the top of the draft that could make an immediate impact for their respective teams. With that in mind, the hopes of many a team will lie upon the NBA lottery, which will take place on May 14th. As a reminder, this is the first year of the new lottery rules, where the worst three teams have the same odds to get the No. 1 overall pick, as opposed to being based only on their final records. Here are the final NBA lottery odds, with their chances of getting the No. 1 overall pick in bold.

NBA Draft Lottery Odds

1. New York Knicks (17-65): 14%

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (19-63): 14% 

3. Phoenix Suns (19-63): 14%

4. Chicago Bulls (22-60): 12.5%

5. Atlanta Hawks (29-53): 10.5% 

6. Washington Wizards (32-50): 9.0%

7. New Orleans Pelicans (33-49): 6.0%

8. Dallas Mavericks (33-49): 6.0%

9. Memphis Grizzlies (33-49): 6.0%

10. Minnesota Timberwolves (36-46): 3.0%

11. Los Angeles Lakers (37-45): 2.0% 

12. Sacramento Kings (39-43): 1.0%

13. Miami Heat (39-43): 1.0%

14. Charlotte Hornets (39-43): 1.0%

 

Four Solid Trade Destinations For Clint Capela

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The Houston Rockets have been oh-so-close over the last two years to beating the Golden State Warriors. They never made it past the dynasty, though, and find themselves at a crossroads this offseason. Their cap situation is getting worse, James Harden and Chris Paul both have max contracts, and the path to improvement has never been murkier. On Wednesday, Adrian Wojnarowski reported GM Daryl Morey has made “all players” available in trade talks. Clint Capela is a name that’s been brought up as a strong contender to be traded.

He’s 25 and has four years left on a five-year, $90 million deal he signed last offseason. An athletic rim runner and solid rim protector, there will be a lot of teams interested in acquiring Capela. He has room to improve, and even if he doesn’t get better, a player who provides a consistent 16 points and 12 rebounds while protecting the paint is a sought-after commodity. Here are four teams that should consider reaching out to Morey to discuss Capela.

Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles is a bit of a disaster right now, in case you haven’t heard, but they need a reliable center, and Houston can provide. LeBron James would benefit from playing with a player with a strictly defined role like Capela, who would be the best pure center he’s played with since his first stint in Cleveland. The price for Capela may prove to be a touch high for LA, however.

They would have to trade one of Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, paired with Moritz Wagner or even Josh Hart, if the Rockets push them. The No. 4 pick in this year’s draft wouldn’t work financially, and it’s not the kind of asset the Rockets are interested in at this point in team building. But if they can come to terms, Capela in Los Angeles is as good a fit as you can find.

Dallas Mavericks

Kristaps Porzingis will likely be the Mavs’ stretch five when he returns from injury, but his timetable is uncertain and they certainly won’t be rushing back. Porzingis has a more natural feel for shot-blocking, but Capela has been more durable and can suck in a defense after setting a pick in ways Porzingis, as dangerous as he is, cannot. The Rockets don’t want to take on any additional salary if they do trade Capela, so a straight-up trade of Courtney Lee and a draft pick down the road could get the job done. If the Rockets are intrigued by Justin Jackson, a package of Lee and Jackson would give them a decent 3-and-D wing and a young player with room to grow, while only taking on an additional $2 million in salary. Mark Cuban would look into this as a way to round out his youthful core of Luka Doncic and Porzingis, as Capela would be the oldest of the trio.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Rockets would have to be desperate to accept a call from Cleveland, but if the goal is to get rid of Capela’s contract, the Cavs should jump in for a classic buy-low move. Cleveland has no less than six veterans making around what Capela makes, so Houston can have their pick of whatever player they’d like to acquire and then waive. Cleveland gets a young center who can continue to grow alongside their young talent and give Collin Sexton his pick-and-roll partner for the foreseeable future. The Cavs have been more than willing to be a salary dump hotspot for anyone and everyone as they continue their rebuild, and Capela is young enough to fit their timeline.

Charlotte Hornets

If the Hornets are determined to keep Kemba Walker around, they need to make moves before free agency to prove they’re serious about contending. Capela would be a step in the right direction. Capela would provide a foundational piece with Walker as a dangerous rim-runner and an agile enough rim protector to survive against any offense that doesn’t have Steph Curry. In an ideal world, Charlotte would send Bismack Biyombo to Houston for Capela straight-up, but the Rockets would need a sweetener, since Biyombo makes $4 million more per year than Capela, albeit for three less years. It would be an aggressive move on Charlotte’s front, but they’re reaching an organizational crossroads. If they want to win now and keep their franchise player, Capela should very much be in play.

The 2023 Hall of Fame Class is Stacked After Tony Parker's Retirement

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On Monday, Tony Parker announced his retirement from the NBA after 18 seasons in the league. A four-time NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs, Parker was a key member of their dynasty after getting drafted in 2001 as the last pick in the first round.

Parker announced his retirement in San Antonio, stating the reason he stepped away from the game is that he’s not the same player he once was. After spending just one season with the Hornets, don’t be surprised if Parker signs a one-day contract with the Spurs to retire as a member of the team he played 17 years for.

A sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer, Parker will join Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki in the stacked 2023 Hall of Fame Class. All three players were iconic members of the NBA throughout the 2000s and share eight championships between each other.

In order to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, retired players must fulfill a variety of requirements. First, a player must be retired for four full seasons. That means 2023 marks the earliest date that Wade, Nowitzki, and Parker can be inducted in the HOF.

Given their track record an enormous impact on the NBA, there’s no debate that Wade, Nowitzki, and Parker will be first-ballot Hall of Famers representing the stacked Class of 2023.

With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the accomplishments of the three headline players in the Hall of Fame class of 2023.

Tony Parker

Playing 18 seasons in the NBA, Parker was one of the best point guards in the league throughout the majority of his career. A four-time Champion with the Spurs, Parker was a Finals MVP in 2007, a six-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA Second Team member.

Outside of his career in the NBA, Parker had a strong presence on the French international team. Most notably, he was the MVP and top scorer of the 2013 FIBA EuroBasket tournament, helping France win their first Gold Medal in tournament history. He is widely regarded as the greatest French basketball player of all time. A champion both in the NBA and internationally, Parker has had success at every level of his basketball career.

Dwyane Wade

After 16-years in the NBA, Wade announced that the 2018-2019 NBA season would be his last. Although the 37-year old was accepting of his role off the bench, Wade still excelled, averaging 15 points, 4.2 assists and 4 rebounds per game in his final year. The former No. 5 overall pick was a three-time NBA champion, 2006 NBA Finals MVP, 13-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA First Team member. Outside of when he played with the Chicago Bulls for the 2016-2017 season and had a brief stint with the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2017-2018 season, Wade spent his entire career as a member of the Miami Heat. It was only fitting that the Cavs traded him back to the Heat, so he could finish where he started.

On the international stage, Wade was a member of the gold medal-winning Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Wade is regarded as one of the best shooting guards in basketball history and will cap off his illustrious career with a Hall of Fame induction come 2023.

Dirk Nowitzki

Announcing his retirement following the Mavericks’ final home game this season, Nowitzki will go down as one of the greatest shooting bigs in basketball history. Nowitzki was drafted No. 9 overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks and quickly traded to Dallas, where he spent the entirety of his 21-year career. A 2011 NBA Champion and Finals MVP, Nowitzki helped deliver Dallas their first NBA title in franchise history, when the Mavs toppled the Heat’s Big Three of James, Wade, and Chris Bosh.

Nowitzki finished his career as a 14-time NBA All-Star, Four-time All-NBA First Team recipient and was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in the league during the 2007 season. On the international stage, Nowitzki is a Three-time FIBA EuroBasket Top Scorer, Six-time Euroscar Player of the Year and Two-time FIBA Europe Men’s Player of the Year, representing Germany. Nowitzki was also the 2002 FIBA World Championship MVP and top scorer for his home country.

The 2023 Hall of Fame ceremony will be a must-watch event and a final farewell to some of the biggest legends in NBA history.

Best Father-Child Athlete Combinations of All-Time

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As Father’s Day arrives once more, it’s the time of the year to appreciate fatherhood throughout the United States. There’s nothing quite like the connection between a father and his child, and while athletes occupy a pantheon far above most normal people, they’re the same as us in that regard. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best father-child athlete combinations of all-time.

Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning

Probably the most recognizable family in terms of father-son professional athletes, the Mannings boasts three NFL quarterbacks. Archie Manning played his college days at Ole Miss, where he is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in school history. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1971 and spent over a decade there. On a horrendous Saints team, Manning endured nine losing seasons and was sacked a resounding 337 times.

The first Manning child to follow Archie’s footsteps in the NFL was Peyton in 1998. After enjoying a spectacular career at Tennessee, Peyton was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent fourteen seasons with the Colts, winning one Super Bowl before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2012. Peyton tacked on his second Super Bowl victory in 2015, which also marked his final game in the NFL, as he retired that offseason. The baby of the Manning family, Eli, followed his father’s footsteps and attended Ole Miss. Following a tremendous career at his father’s alma mater, Eli was drafted first overall in 2004 by the San Diego Chargers before promptly being traded to the New York Giants. In the NFL, Eli has experienced an up-and-down career filled with many highs and many lows. Not known for being a spectacular regular season quarterback, Eli has excelled in the postseason, beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots twice in the Super Bowl.

It’s hard to find a father-son combination as successful as Archie, Peyton, and Eli, making them one of the most recognizable and successful pairings on the list. It’s a shame that the eldest brother, Cooper Manning, was forced to retire the summer before he started at Ole Miss due to spinal stenosis. He was a highly recruited wide receiver out of high school and based on the Manning track record, you can only wonder what Cooper would have accomplished at the next level.

Dell, Stephen and Seth Curry 

Dell Curry enjoyed a solid 16-year NBA career, during which he spent the majority of his years playing for the Charlotte Hornets. Dell was predominately a role player, and averaged a career-best 16.3 points per game during the 1993-1994 season, earning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year trophy in the process. What Curry was best known for was his incredible shooting ability, which has clearly been passed down to both of his sons.

Steph Curry has enjoyed an exceptional NBA career with the Golden State Warriors. A three-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP, Steph is already regarded as the greatest shooter of all-time. On the other hand, Seth Curry didn’t have nearly the same path to the NBA. After going undrafted out of Duke in 2013, Seth has bounced between the G League and NBA before finding a permanent spot in the league the past few seasons. More of a role player like his father Dell, Seth averaged almost eight points per game this year on a Portland Trail Blazers team that lost to Steph’s Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Just like his father and brother, Seth is also known for his spectacular shooting ability.

One of the most famous families in the sport of basketball, the Curry clan is on top of the world right now. For Dell, it will be hard to find a better Father’s Day gift than having the opportunity to watch both of his sons compete in the 2019 Western Conference Finals. That’s when you know you made it.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Sr. played 19 seasons in the MLB, with the majority of his peak seasons as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Although he’s a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series Champion, I’m sure if you ask him what his favorite moment in his entire career is, his answer will be quick: playing on the same team with his son.

In 1989, Ken Griffey Jr. was drafted by the Seattle Mariners. In 1990, Ken Griffey Sr. joined the Mariners and played alongside his son before retiring at the end of the 1991 season. The Griffey’s made history with the Mariners, becoming the only father and son to play together on the same team. In one of the coolest moments in MLB history, the Griffey family hit back-to-back home runs during a game in the 1990 season.

After Griffey Sr. retired, Griffey Jr. enjoyed a Hall of Fame career. Griffey Jr. is regarded as having one of the purest swings in baseball history and finished his career with 630 career home runs, which currently seventh on the all-time list.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 and is regarded as one of the best auto racing drivers of all-time. His aggressive driving style helped earn him 76 Winston Cup victories throughout the course of his career. In 2000, Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his NASCAR debut driving alongside his father on the biggest auto racing stage in the world.

In 2001, tragedy struck at the Daytona 500 when Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed in a collision on the final lap. Since his father’s death, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has surely made his father proud. Before retiring in 2017, Earnhardt Jr. was consistently one of the best NASCAR drivers throughout the duration of his career. He ultimately finished with 26 wins in the Cup Series, which puts him in the top 40 in NASCAR history.

Karl Malone and Cheryl Ford

An NBA Hall of Famer, Karl Malone will forever be remembered as one of the best basketball players in league history. With the Utah Jazz, Malone was a two-time NBA MVP, 11-time All-NBA First Team member and 14-time NBA All-Star. Although he never won an NBA title (due in large part to the dominance of Michael Jordan), the mid-to-late 1990s Jazz are regarded as one of the best teams in NBA history.

After retiring in 2004, Malone enjoyed watching his daughter, Cheryl Ford, follow his footsteps and dominate the hardwood. Ford was a member of the Detroit Shock of the WNBA from 2003-2009. During this time, she became a three-time WNBA Champion and four-time WNBA All-Star.

Kemba Walker Rumors: Lakers Are Coming For Point Guard

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Kemba Walker is set to hit free agency for the first time on June 30 and the long-time Charlotte Hornets point guard should have plenty of suitors.

Here are the latest rumors concerning Walker’s free agency.

The Hornets can offer far more money

Charlotte is sitting in a great position for Walker, as they can offer him a super max deal of five years and $221 million deal. Other teams can only offer four years and $140 million. That’s a huge difference.

On top of that, Walker has even expressed that he might take less money to stay with the Hornets in order to help them add talent to the roster.

Lakers are hot on Walker’s heels

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly plan to go full-bore after Walker when free agency opens. He is shaping up to be their top target.

While they can’t offer a super max contract, or even a regular max contract, the Lakers can offer the opportunity to play with two All-Stars. Suiting up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis would certainly enhance Walker’s profile in the NBA. But he’d have to give up a significant chunk of cash to do it.

Mavericks want Kemba too

The Dallas Mavericks intend to go after Walker hard when free agency opens, and will also be pitching Khris Middleton.

Knicks will make a run

Walker’s hometown New York Knicks are also interested in bringing him back to town, but they don’t have a ton of hope.


ESPN's Maria Taylor Reveals Her Wedding Album, Talks About Marriage

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ESPN analyst Maria Taylor recently revealed her wedding album and her new marriage to basketball agent Rodney Blackstock in a recent exclusive piece with The Knot.

Taylor, a host and reporter for ESPN and a recent guest here at The Big Lead, explained in the feature that she met Blackstock at a Charlotte Hornets game in September of 2014. When they first met he “was asking his friend whether (she) played in the WNBA. Or he thought maybe (she) was there to support one of the guys – (she) was the girlfriend of a player or something.”

They both met in the back room at the Hornets game that night and the rest is history.

Blackstock, a former player at UNC Greensboro during the 2003-04 season, is currently the Director of Sports Marketing at Q4 Sports in Southern California, according to his LinkedIn profile. He proposed twice. She said “yes” the first time, but with a month to go before their original wedding, the couple called it off. They believed it was too soon to get married. He then asked again and this time it worked out.

When they actually got married, Taylor and Blackstock exchanged vows at the oceanfront Hilton Sandestin in Destin, Florida. Taylor chose the venue because she liked the beach and the area from her time at that hotel for SEC coaches meetings.

You can read more about Taylor’s wedding and see the photos here.

Kemba Walker is a Perfect Fit With the Dallas Mavericks

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Kemba Walker is one of the most coveted free agents on the market in 2019. Since entering the league in 2011, the three-time NBA All-Star has emerged as one of the premier point guards in the world. Although Walker has played the entirety of his eight-year career with the Charlotte Hornets and has expressed interest in re-signing, it appears a variety of teams are hoping to lure him away.

According to New York Times NBA Columnist Marc Stein, the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are the two teams leading the charge to try and sign Walker away from Charlotte.

With Boston in disarray and the Hornets consistently failing to provide Walker the support he needs to succeed, the Mavericks are a perfect fit. They struggled to win games last season, finishing 14th in the Western Conference standings with a 33-49 record, but Dallas is poised to be a contender for the foreseeable future. After drafting 2019 Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic and trading for rising star Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas boasts an impressive young core. The one thing that is lacking on the current Mavericks roster? A true point guard. And in comes Kemba.

Although Doncic succeeded last season as a point-forward, the addition of Walker would move Doncic to the wing, providing the Mavericks the ability to give him more off-ball opportunities. This would give the Mavericks a true point guard in Walker while providing Doncic more flexibility in the offense. There’s no doubt that Walker’s arrival would diminish Doncic’s on-ball role he served last year, but it won’t completely eliminate it. Instead, Walker arriving in Dallas would balance out Doncic’s game, making him an equal threat both on and off the ball.

Throughout his NBA career, the Hornets have consistently failed to provide Walker with talent around him. With just two playoff appearances in the past eight seasons, Al Jefferson lays claim to the title of Walker’s best teammate after earning an All-NBA third team selection in 2014. In Dallas, Walker would play alongside two up-and-coming stars in Doncic and Porzingis.

The addition of Kemba Walker would create some variation of a starting lineup as below:

PG: Kemba Walker

SG: Tim Hardaway Jr/Courtney Lee (barring buyout or trade)

SF: Luka Doncic

PF: Kristaps Porzingis

C: Dwight Powell

Although the Hornets can outbid anyone on the market for Walker’s services, the Mavs could easily take a few steps to ensure they can offer Walker the most they can. $220 million is a lot of money to turn down, but the Mavericks provide him an opportunity to play point with a bright supporting cast that is set to contend for years to come. It’s a perfect match for both sides and one that needs to happen if Walker wants a chance at contending for a title.

Kemba Walker Rumors: Celtics, Mavericks, Hornets All Chasing Star Guard

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Kemba Walker is set to hit free agency next week and should be one of the most sought-after players available. Walker is coming off a career-year during which he set a career-high in points per game (25.6) and was named Third Team All-NBA.

Here are all the most recent rumors concerning his future destination.

Mavericks are chasing him

The Dallas Mavericks will reportedly be deeply in the mix for Walker and may actually land him. Our own Kevin Gamgort believes Walker is the perfect fit for the Mavs this offseason.

Dallas will obviously be building around Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis moving forward, but the Walker could step in as a veteran leader to guide them. It does seem like a really good fit if Walker wants out of Charlotte.

Celtics are in the running

The Boston Celtics are expected to go hard after Walker as well according to Marc Stein.

The Celtics will have the money to go after Walker if Kyrie Irving bolts. Boston would be able to offer a four-year, $140 million deal for Walker if they renounced the cap holds on their top remaining free agents. That includes Marcus Morris, Terry Rozier, Irving and Al Horford would all be gone.

Walker would be a solid fit in Brad Stevens’ system and would fill the hole vacated by the potential departures of Irving and Rozier.

He wants five guaranteed years from Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets want to bring Walker back and can give him a five-year, $221 million super max contract. That’s $80 million more than anyone else can offer. That’s a lot of cash and a big check in favor of Charlotte.

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer claims Walker wants all five years of that contract guaranteed, instead of the fifth season being partially guaranteed or a team option.

Walker repeatedly claimed he wanted to stay in Charlotte during the season. We’ll see if that changes when free agency opens.

New York Knicks Rumors: Dolan Wants Durant's Medicals, Julius Randle, Tobias Harris Still in Play

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The New York Knicks have a ton of cap space this summer to spent on free agents. There are a ton of rumors floating around about what they will do with that cash and which players may want to head to the big city.

Here are all the latest rumors surrounding the Knicks.

Durant prefers the Knicks

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have reportedly met several times to discuss playing together. Irving would prefer to team up on the Nets, while Durant prefers to play for the Knicks.

Meanwhile, Ric Bucher claimed Knicks assistant Royal Ivey could be a big part of luring Durant to New York. Bucher said he thinks all sings point to Durant being in New York next year. Obviously he’ll be sitting out the season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

James Dolan wants to approach the KD situation cautiously

Durant may be inclined to head to the Knicks, but New York won’t sign him on blind faith alone. Stephen A. Smith reports owner James Dolan has expressed “caution” to the front office in regards to Durant’s Achilles, and wants to see his medicals before any contract is signed.

Randle, Knicks have mutual interest

Julius Randle is coming off a career-best season with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Knicks are interested in bringing him on board. The 24-year-old opted out of his contract with the Pelicans and will hit the open market next week. The player and team reportedly have mutual interest.

Randle set career-highs in points (21.4) and minutes (30.6) per game last season and posted a career-best PER (21.02). He’ll get a good deal from someone and the Knicks could snap him if if they act quickly.

Kemba not going home

Kemba Walker is one player who reportedly has no interest in going to the Knicks. Walker is a Bronx native but he doesn’t seem to care about going back home.

Walker is reportedly set to be pursued heavily by the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, while the Charlotte Hornets will attempt to retain him. Unfortunately for the Knicks, they are not expected to be in the mix.

Harris, Vucevic will both get looks

Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic are both hitting free agency. Both were with the Magic when current Knicks general manager Scott Perry was the assistant GM in Orlando. Perry will be going after both and is familiar with what they bring to the table.

Harris split his 2018-19 season between the Clippers and 76ers. He averaged 20.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 34.7 minutes per game. He hit 39.7 percent of his 3-pointers as well.

Vucevic made his first All-Star team this season after posting career-highs in points (20.8) and rebounds (12.0). Both Harris and Vucevic would be good fits in New York, if the Knicks decide to spend the money.

Knicks may punt if they don’t land a big fish

The Knicks still believe they could land a big free agent, like Kawhi Leonard, Irving or Durant. But if New York misses out on the big free agents, the franchise could opt to sit out this year’s free agent extravaganza.

Stefan Bondy is reporting the Knicks could punt their $70 million-plus in cap space over until next year. In 2020, Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Draymond Green, Ben Simmons and Pascal Siakam could all hit the market.

Kemba Walker Reportedly Set To Join Boston Celtics

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Kemba Walker is reportedly set to leave the Charlotte Hornets in free agency. On Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a bomb, claiming that unless something crazy happens, Walker will be joining the Boston Celtics when free agency opens.

Check it out:

Here’s the money quote:

“Barring an unforeseen change of events here, Kemba Walker is going to leave Charlotte. He’s going to head to Boston.”

That’s enormous news and the Celtics immediately have their replacement for Kyrie Irving. This is an ideal fit for Walker, who played college ball in the region at UConn.

With reports emerging that the Hornets were balking at giving Walker a full five-year, super max deal, they no longer have the upper-hand in negotiations. The lure to stay in Charlotte was the contract the franchise could offer him. He could have secured a five-year, $221.3 million deal, while competing teams could only give him four years and $140.6 million.

The 29-year-old Walker averaged a career-high 25.6 points, 5.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per game last season.

It’s worth noting that Walker led his UConn squad to an NCAA championship in 2011. In the final, his Huskies beat a Brad Stevens-coached Butler team 53-41. I’m sure that will never come up if Walker joins the Celtics and Stevens becomes his new head coach.

Kemba Walker Officially Joins Boston Celtics

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Kemba Walker is officially headed to the Boston Celtics. The 29-year-old was rumored to be heading to Boston over the past few days, but this news is now official.

Walker will give the Celtics a potent scorer at the point guard position, replacing what they had with Kyrie Irving. Unlike Irving, Walker has always been a team-first guy who will do whatever his squad needs.

During the 2018-19 season, Walker averaged a career-high 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 34.9 minutes per game. He was the clear leader and face of the Charlotte Hornets’ franchise.

Walker was selected by Charlotte with the ninth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and spent his entire eight-year career there.

The Celtics will be giving Walker a four-year, $141 million max deal.

Walker and Celtics head coach Brad Stevens are already familiar with each other. Walker led his UConn Huskies to the 2011 NCAA title against Stevens’ Butler squad. I’m sure that’ll never come up as a talking point during games over the next few years.

Biggest Losers From the First Day of NBA Free Agency

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NBA free agency opened with a crazy first day on Sunday. Huge contracts were handed out left and right and a ton of big names were taken off the board. More than $3 billion was spent in just a few hours.

Here’s a look at the biggest losers from the first day of 2019’s NBA free agency extravaganza.

David FizdalePhoto by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

New York Knicks

I mean, come on. The last few months have been packed with losses for the New York Knicks. On Sunday, it got even worse.

The Knicks tanked during the 2018-19 season hoping to win the draft lottery and land Zion Williamson. They failed. Then they traded Kristaps Porzingis to open up enough room to go after top free agents this summer. They failed. Yes, on Sunday the Knicks struck out on all of their top targets.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signed with the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard and others aren’t interested in playing at Madison Square Garden.

While missing on those guys, the Knicks instead gave Julius Randle $63 million over three years, Bobby Portis $31 million over two years and agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal with Taj Gibson. I’m sure Knicks fans will be just fine with those signings, right?

On top of everything, the Knicks will now play second-fiddle in their own town as the Nets become the dominant franchise in New York.


Biggest Losers in NBA Free Agency

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NBA free agency is now largely behind us and, hoo-boy, did it fundamentally change the landscape of the league. With all of the top players now under contract, here’s a look at the biggest losers from free agency in 2019. 

New York Knicks

I mean, this is almost too easy. The New York Knicks bet big on landing at least one star this summer and wound up with a bevy of mid-roster guys. A few months ago, the dream was for the Knicks to land Zion Williamson and match him with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. None of that happened.

Instead, the Knicks splashed money on a bunch of average players, with Julius Randle’s three-year, $63 million deal headlining the list. They also handed out two-year deals to Bobby Portis ($31 million), Reggie Bullock ($21 million), Taj Gibson ($20 million), Wayne Ellington ($16 million) and Elfrid Payton $16 million). None of those guys will move the needle a millimeter.

It appears the Knicks are setting themselves up to have a ton of cap space in two years. Basically, they’re psyching themselves up to miss out on Giannis Antetokounmpo in two years.

Meanwhile, the Knicks had to watch in stunned silence as the Nets became the glamour team in New York. Irving and Durant will now be playing just across the East River in Brooklyn while Madison Square Garden will remain a cocoon of sadness.

No matter how you spin this, it has been a disaster for the Knicks.





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