Category: Reporting

Aaron Rodgers’ replacement as Jets captain after injury, revealed

September 29, 2023

After his season-ending (maybe?) injury in Week 1, Aaron Rodgers was replaced as New York Jets starting quarterback by Zach Wilson. Now, three weeks later he has been replaced as one of New York’s team captains.

But Wilson, a captain last season, didn’t get this call.

Instead, coach Robert Saleh announced Friday that All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will join linebacker C.J. Mosley and special teams ace Justin Hardee as captain.

Saleh explained that Williams finished fourth in captain’s voting prior to the season opener and had a “significant” vote total. That was good enough for the coach to have him replace Rodgers, even though it means the Jets do not have a captain on offense.

“After just thinking about it, I was like, ‘Why not?’” Saleh said. “The guy’s such a vocal leader on this team. He says all the right things, he does all the right things. He stands for everything we believe in.”

Williams, a first-round pick by the Jets in 2019, had a breakout season in 2022. He had 12 sacks and was named First-Team All-Pro. The 25-year-old then landed a massive new contract this summer.

Though he doesn’t have a sack yet this season, Williams has 12 QB pressures and has been a force against the run and pass, often taking on double teams. Williams is extremely respected by his teammates on both sides of the ball.

The Jets do select a different player each week to be the fourth captain. Williams was the Week 1 selection, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Saleh chooses an offensive player regularly so that part of the team is represented each week. Young star Garrett Wilson would appear to be in line for that opportunity, as would veterans Tyler Conklin, Randall Cobb, Laken Tomlinson and Connor McGovern.

And if Wilson can straighten out his game, it would be a natural fit to have the QB be a captain, at least once.

The post Aaron Rodgers’ replacement as Jets captain after injury, revealed appeared first on ClutchPoints.

EXCLUSIVE: Kevon Looney details rise to becoming backbone of Warriors’ dynasty

September 29, 2023

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have been the faces of the Golden State Warriors for quite some time. Very few organizations have been able to turn a championship or two into a dominant dynasty throughout the history of the NBA, yet this is exactly what the Warriors have achieved. As good as these three future Hall of Famers are, they oftentimes overshadow the rest of the greatness that lies on this roster, most notably Kevon Looney.

You may not always hear his name come up in terms of scoring and you may not see him on the nightly highlight reel either. This doesn’t mean Looney isn’t impactful, as everyone within the walls of the Warriors organization knows that the big man is just as important as Steph, Klay and Draymond, including Curry himself.

Looney has been with the organization since he was drafted in 2015, winning three titles and putting his fingerprints all over the Warriors’ success. Well, his fingerprints are actually all over the basketball, as he’s truly one of the best rebounders in the league today.

Looney, who faced a ton of adversity when he first entered the league due to hip surgeries and the center position changing, has helped redefine what it means to be a big man in the NBA. Curry and Thompson are arguably the greatest shooters of all time and Green sets the tone for this team defensively, but Looney has been the guy to fill in all the gaps for this championship organization.

With the 2023-24 season right around the corner and training camp set to begin, the Warriors’ focus is once again fixated on having a chance to play in the final series of the year. This past season ended in disappointment for Golden State, which is why their redemption arc and quest to keep the dynasty alive is about to begin.

From going home to do work in his community to traveling overseas with his teammate to soaking in what his journey with the Warriors has been like, Looney had himself a very busy offseason. With training camp days away, ClutchPoints had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Golden State’s big man in an exclusive interview about his basketball journey, as well as how adversity has built not only his career, but the dynasty he will forever be connected to.

ClutchPoints: Every summer, you go back to Milwaukee in order to give back to the community you grew up in. Aside from seeing your friends and family, what’s the best part about the camps and events you represent in the area?

Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors

(Photo credit: @ShootsbyRuss)

Kevon Looney: Just to get and see the up-and-coming kids. Seeing their love for the game brings me back to how I was as a kid. I still love the game very much, but there’s something about a kid’s love for the game that resonates with me as a professional basketball player. I remember being that small and going to camps in the area run by Brandon Jennings and Devin Harris when they were with the Bucks. Remembering how much being able to go to those camps meant to me, I’m glad to be able to give back to the next generation.

It really means the world to me and it provides me that juice I need before the new season. The youth of the community has a strong connection to the game I’m fortunate enough to play every day, so doing these camps and seeing these kids makes me excited to go back and do what I love with my teammates.

CP: Tell me about the Running Rebels Community Organization and what your main goals with the organization are.

Looney: I started doing stuff with the Running Rebels through basketball, but they do so much more. They help out local schools with different programs and they help underprivileged kids by giving them the resources to live out their dreams. Whether it is playing basketball, getting involved with music, attending college, the Running Rebels have a program to help people out. My role with them is to help take over the AAU program that I played for. I sponsor the team and whenever a kid needs help with training or they just need some advice, I try to be there for them.

It goes both ways as well, as the Running Rebels help me put on the great camp for the kids in Milwaukee every year, so those are the people that really taught me what it means to give back. I’ve been using the Rebels to help give back to the community and they’ve helped me become a better man. They’ve been great mentors to me for years, so I try to follow in their footsteps to be the perfect mentor for the next generation.

CP: What’s been easier for you, winning those championships with the Warriors or managing the hundreds of kids at your basketball camp every summer?

I would actually have to say winning with the Warriors is easier than dealing with the kids sometimes! [Kevon laughs] All those excited kids running around freely at the camp, they don’t always listen like we do at the professional level. It’s always a lot of work, but it’s always rewarding and a ton of fun at the same time. The kid’s view on basketball and view on life is a lot different from mine. It can be a nice refresher at times, but I don’t know, I find it easier being next to Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] and the guys in the locker room than the kids sometimes.

CP: While we are on the topic of your championship runs, I can’t not mention that you are a three-time champion, just one of eight active players to have three rings. I am sure you can name some of the others seeing as most of them are your teammates. Out of the three championship runs you’ve personally been a part of, which one was the most special to you?

Looney: I think I would have to say the most previous one in 2022. All that adversity that we went through as a team by not making the playoffs the two seasons prior and then Klay coming back from injury, we had a whole new group totally… just so many people doubted us. All of us in the locker room were the only ones who knew we could win another title. Personally, I feel like that was one of my best seasons overall. I was able to play a big part on that team. That’s not to say I didn’t during the other two championship teams, but I played limited minutes and was just kind along for the ride playing my role then.

The championship we just won, I felt like I was an integral part of the success and one of the true leaders of the team. Everything just kind of fell the right way, which is why the last one was the most special to me.

CP: Out of those championship teams, which one was the best in your mind?

Looney: The first one for me was definitely the greatest. That was the 2016-17 team, Kevin Durant’s first year with us. I truly think that is one of the best teams ever in league history. We went 16-1 in the playoffs, the only loss coming in the Finals. That year, we were playing some of the best basketball I have ever seen. I didn’t get a lot of minutes, but I got to sit up close and watch it. There aren’t too many other teams who could keep things close with that team. We were special.

CP: You’re surrounded by sure-thing Hall of Famers every year on the Warriors, yet you may just be their most impactful player. What makes you such a unique talent for your team?

Warriors, Kevon Looney, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson

Looney: Being there for so long and understanding my role, understanding what our team needs at different times in the game, I take pride in being able to take pressure off of some of those guys. Klay, Steph, Andre [Iguodala], Draymond [Green]… All of those guys have a lot of responsibilities on the floor and for me being that fifth guy sometimes, I’ve tried to be that guy who can do just about anything. I’ve been here a long time now, so I know the system. My ability to adapt in any situation also makes me unique.

I like to say I’m a utility guy in a way and I learned that from both Draymond and Andre. My rebounding, size, and strength are the three best parts of my game. As far as our team goes, my ability to switch screens and guard any position on the floor really helped us grow into the championship-caliber team we are now. By watching the guys before me and learning from them, I’ve tried my best to take us to that next level each and every year.

CP: Aside from going back to Milwaukee this summer, you also spent some time vacationing with Klay Thompson overseas. Take me through this trip and the experience of being with Klay overseas.

Looney: We went to China and visited a few different cities. We also went to Manila in the Philippines. I wouldn’t call it a vacation, though, because dealing with Klay can be a handful! We worked really hard putting on three or four different camps in each city. It was a lot of fun and the biggest surprise to me was how much they love basketball out there. I went to China once before, but it was definitely a different experience being able to share this time with Klay and going to promote my shoe brand. Every city and all the fans showed us a lot of love and I felt like a rock star out there. This was an experience I will never forget.

CP: What was the best part of this trip?

Looney: Just seeing the fans react to us landing in the airport and stepping off the plane. They were all there waiting on us. Going to the events at the mall was madness, especially when they started breaking all the barricades down just to be able to get close to us and take pictures. You forget how much people around the world love the game of basketball. I hadn’t been there in a long time and Klay hadn’t been there in like five years, so they were so excited to be able to see us.

The love they showed us was definitely my favorite part because I love interacting with them and seeing the smiles on their faces. I also have to say, playing the one-on-one game with everyone watching was like playing in the Finals!

CP: Did you and Klay have a bunk bed type of situation going on out there or how did that work?

[Kevon laughs]

Looney: Nah, nah I’m not doing that with Klay, I want my own room! They legit treated us like kings out there. We stayed in one of the nicest hotels I have ever been to. They had private planes and rides ready for us. They treated us right out there.

CP: You know, every player in the league always has nicknames listed on Basketball-Reference, yet all they have for you is “Loon.” The guys in the locker room definitely have something better for you, right?

Looney: I get a lot of names through the fans, the players, even out there in China. I’ve been called Loon, Loon Dog, I’ve had Oloonjawon, Moses Maloon, they called me Loo in China. I’ve got a lot of different names. I kind of get caught off-guard when people call me by my first name actually.

CP: Klay had a pretty good nickname for you during the playoffs the last couple of years: Kevon Looajuwon.

Looney: Yeah, that’s pretty dope. Getting a compliment like that on an all-time great from a future Hall of Famer like Klay, that’s just amazing. It’s tough to live up to, but when I have those 20-rebound games and help us win, I feel like I live up to that nickname. My dad made me watch Hakeem Olajuwon growing up, so it’s pretty dope to get that nickname.

CP: You had 22 rebounds in Game 6 of the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals against Memphis, then 18 rebounds in Game 5 of the 2022 Western Conference Finals against Dallas. This past year against Sacramento, you had 21 rebounds in Game 7. I know we talk about “Game 6 Klay” all the time, but what should we start calling you for your performances in closeout games?

Looney: I don’t know to be honest. [Kevon smirks] I think I am going to need another series of doing this in order to get a nickname on the same level as “Game 6 Klay.” I live for those big moments. Guys like Steph, Klay and Draymond set the standard so high. When you see them giving their all, it makes you want to play better and have special performances of your own. They impact the game in so many different ways and for me, it’s all about finding a way to make them and the team better.

Grabbing rebounds is my way of impacting the game and it helps change the momentum and flow on the court. It’s special to put up numbers like that and receive the kind of recognition I do from the fans. Hopefully I can have a couple more memorable playoff moments so I can get a nickname like Klay!

CP: What goes into these massive playoff performances for you and how have you been able to dominate the glass in the biggest games of the season?

Looney: As easy as this answer sounds, it’s just a mentality going into each and every game. Understanding what is at stake and what the team needs of me. I hold myself to a very high standard and tell myself I can always get every single rebound that presents itself. Sometimes, people say they can do this, but I have reached a level in my game where I understand where I need to position myself in order to get every rebound. The attention that Steph draws also makes it even easier for me to play behind in the dunker spot and control the glass.

Sometimes, rebounding is all our team needs to be successful, even though everyone pays attention to the threes and high-level scoring. As the big man at the center position, I feel like my job is to set the tone in terms of physicality and attacking the glass. As well as watching my own film and the success I have rebounding, I also watch others around the league and those who have retired. You can learn a lot of little things by watching the success of others. It takes a lot to win a championship and everyone needs to play their role to perfection to achieve this end goal.

CP: Let’s go back to that Game 7 against the Kings this past year. You had battled it out all series long with Domantas Sabonis, who ranked first in the league in rebounding over the course of the regular season, but you just dominated the paint in this game. What was your mindset and what went into this special 21-rebound performance.

Looney: We kind of had a letdown at home the game before and felt like we should’ve closed that series out in six games. Steph brought us all in after this game and basically told us if we get on that bus to Sacramento, we are going to win. I mean, just look at what he did in that game by scoring 50 points. His speech, his leadership kind of motivated all of us to have the mindset of not leaving him out there by himself.

We lost games in this series because we were beat up on the glass. I knew that in order for us to win, I had to have a special game and really control the paint by setting the tone of physicality early. You can just get into a zone sometimes, similar to how shooters like Steph and Klay get in the zone. Where they feel like they can’t miss, I get the feeling like every rebound is coming my way. In this game I felt like I was coming up with the ball every time I got a single finger on it. It was a special night for me to have a performance like that in Game 7. It’s something you dream about as a kid. It’s one of those games I’ll never forget.

CP: Steph’s 50-point game obviously helped you guys get past Sacramento too, right?

Looney: What Steph did against the Kings in Game 7 was special. He’s just one of those players you have to admire when he takes the court because they don’t make them like him anymore. That’s a special guy both on and off the court.

CP: Are you just numb by now to how special of a player Steph is or are you like all of us, constantly shaking your head at some of the things he does every single night?

Looney: That’s a good question. Sometimes we just get used to him scoring 30 or more points because that’s what he does. His crazy threes and all that are normal for us until you go play with other NBA guys in the summertime. They’re all good players and special in their own way too, but then you realize that Steph is an all-time great for a reason.

A lot of times, we take what he does for granted. When he gets it going, though, and puts us on his back by scoring 50, or deciding we aren’t going to lose a game, you can feel it in the moment that he’s not just one of the best players in the league, but that he’s one of the greatest players of all time. I am just fortunate to be able to see these games up close and call him both my teammate and friend.

CP: The career you’ve had with the Warriors so far is the perfect example of a player in this league earning everything he’s accomplished. At what point in your career did you fully understand the opportunity and role that presented itself with Golden State?

Looney: I’d have to say Year 3 in the league. That’s when I realized that the opportunity of being with a team that is one of the best ever was an opportunity I couldn’t take lightly. I knew my number would be called at some point and I just kept myself ready for the moment. That time came when we played Houston. Andre got hurt and I was put in the starting unit. It was a tough series and we went on to win Game 7.

It’s times like that where I realized I had a chance to hold a big role on this team moving forward and be a part of a dynasty. It makes you raise your level of play, it makes you raise your level of focus, and, most importantly, your level of commitment. Of course you’ve got to be ready to play in games, but you also have to be ready to practice. If your head isn’t in it for practice, then guys will run you off the court. You learn quickly how to be a pro. How to be a winner. When I learned that I had a chance to etch my name in history with a team like this, I raised my game to another level and fully locked in.

CP: I say all the time that you have to be one of the best “glue guys” in the entire league because you truly hold the team together with all the little things you do to set the team up for success. Do you feel like you have helped change the way the center position is played?

Looney: I do. With me and the way we sometimes play small ball with Draymond, I think our Warriors system as a whole kind of changed the way teams evaluate the center position and how they want their big guys to play. There are still those lob threats and big bruisers in the paint, but now, most teams want guys who can be mobile and guard multiple positions. They want great passers, great screens, guys who can play inside and outside of pick-and-roll sets. These are all things I learned from Draymond, as well as Andrew Bogut earlier in my career, as he was such a good passer for a big guy.

We both helped change the center spot because now, if you can’t guard multiple positions, you won’t play. I’ll give Draymond a lot more of the credit because he was one of the first smaller guys to be viewed as a valuable option at center. Now, there are so many guys who play that type of style. Domantas Sabonis and Bam Adebayo do everything for their team, and Nikola Jokic is probably the type of center everyone wants for obvious reasons. I think we definitely changed the position and I think it’s going to continue to evolve even after we are gone.

CP: Coach Kerr always has nothing but high praise for your work ethic and way you approach life. Tell me about the special relationship and connection you have with him.

Looney: I have a great relationship with Coach. You know, he believed in me when a lot of the fans and even other training staff and players maybe didn’t. He gave me an opportunity when I probably didn’t deserve it when I was coming off injury and had a lot to prove. He always had a lot of trust in me and put me in spots where I had to either sink or swim. Luckily, I found a little bit of success early on and was able to earn more trust. I think he believed in me and what I could do when I didn’t even believe in myself, so I truly have a special level of respect for him.

Coach Kerr is always there to give us advice and even outside of basketball, he’s someone we can count on. When I was dealing with being injured and going through that dark time, he was always someone I could talk to about life. He was a guy trying to figure his way out in the NBA early in his coaching career too, so we kind of related to one another in that way. Now, people are talking about him as one of the greatest coaches ever. It’s great to have him in my corner and we share a really strong connection with one another.

CP: Let’s go back to 2015 when you were preparing for the NBA Draft. Was there a specific team that you thought was going to take you in the first-round?

Looney: I really didn’t know to be honest. I worked out for over half the league and everything went really well during the pre-draft process. I thought I would wind up going in the 15-24 range of the draft and I even got invited to the green room. Some injury concerns did make me a little skeptical of things, so I didn’t really know what was going to happen. I did not think for a second I would drop to 30th overall and I didn’t even talk to or work out once for the Warriors before the draft. Ultimately, this has been a blessing in disguise. I found the perfect fit for myself, I was surrounded by some of the best medical professionals I could have in my corner, and I learned how to play basketball the right way. It all worked out for the best.

CP: You ultimately ended up going 30th overall to the Warriors and you had to battle through adversity with hip injuries and surgeries. Tell me about the journey you went on as a young player just wanting to be on the court, but having to constantly rehab and go through conditioning to get your body right instead.

Looney: It was really tough. There wasn’t any blueprint to follow for my hip injuries. It wasn’t like, “Alright, these guys get hip injuries every year, here is what you should expect.” I had double hip surgery and there wasn’t anyone I could really call for advice. There were a lot of guys that had one hip surgery and didn’t make it back to the NBA, so this is where doubt set in for me early on. It was definitely tough and it killed my confidence. Already having a major injury, I had to figure out my body again and figure out how to play in the NBA at the same time.

Despite all the hardships, it was worth it because I really learned how to be a pro during this time and I understood how much I really love this game. Having the time to develop as a young player and man during rehab helped prepare for times like this. Growing up, I never really got hurt and I never had to sit down to rest. That really killed my inner confidence early in my career, so that’s why I take a lot of pride in playing in every game now. I hate to have that label of “soft” or “injury-prone” or “being fragile.” That’s something I never liked and it’s a big slap in the face to me. To be healthy and available for my team is at the top of my list in terms of importance.

CP: You’ve had a lot of veteran voices on the roster through the years. Who would you say really helped you as a mentor and had the biggest impact on helping you get to be the player you are today?

Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors, Warriors Kings, NBA Playoffs

Looney: I’ve had a lot of great vets and I am extremely fortunate for all of them. If I had to name the two best, I’d have to say Andre and Draymond. That’s not to say others weren’t super impactful to me as a player and a man. I spent a lot of time with Shaun Livingston, David West, Andrew Bogut, Zaza Pachulia, and even Anderson Varejao when he was with us. The things I learned from them about being a big man in the NBA today is why I’ve found success. Setting screens the right way and doing small things even like standing in a particular spot on the floor while the play is happening – these are small details you can’t learn by just playing. A lot of the lessons I got from them early in my career, I still utilize in my game today and even try to mentor the youth on our team since I am now the aging veteran!

I give a lot of credit to the vets I had when I entered the league because they poured a lot into me. They were the perfect role models for me and they truly don’t understand the great impact they’ve had on me. I’m forever in debt to all those guys.

CP: Every player has their own pregame routine and ritual before tip-off, I always see you at the scorer’s table with the chalk laid out and you playing the piano. How did this come to be?

[Kevon laughs while shaking his head]

Looney: So growing up, I was always watching NBA games. I saw Michael Jordan with his chalk routine before the game, I saw LeBron James throwing the chalk in the air, and I saw all the great players had their own little routine. I decided then that I would have my own pregame ritual as well. I always used chalk before games to get my hands ready, but I knew I had to come up with something different, something unique.

This was my shining moment, so I decided I was going to mess around and play a fake piano at the scorer’s table one night. The rest is history I guess! It gets me amped up, my teammates love it, and I feel cool having my own little routine people are noticing. [Kevon smiles]

CP: Your team made some pretty big changes this offseason. Mike Dunleavy Jr. took over the front office and Jordan Poole was traded for Chris Paul. What was your initial reaction to this trade and how will Paul be able to fit in with the way you all play?

Looney: I was shocked when I saw this. I didn’t really know this was happening. You know, there’s always trade rumors out there during the offseason, but I didn’t know Chris Paul would be the guy we would get. You know, he’s always been like our No. 1 enemy in the playoffs and a guy we’ve always had to get past during our championship runs. When I heard about it and realized he was going to be on our team now, I immediately thought it was a dope opportunity. Being able to play with another Hall of Fame point guard is going to be amazing.

Chris is a guy who knows some much about the game and a guy who every big that plays with him winds up having their best season ever, so I’m excited to get the chance to play alongside him. I think he’s going to fit in really well. We’ve all gotten the chance to know him a little bit during the summer and he’s truly excited for this next chapter in his career. He fills a key need for us next to Steph and he will help solve some of the turnover issues we had a season ago. The sense of calmness in his game will be refreshing and he’s another leading voice in the locker room that we need. I’ve already learned things I would never think of from him, so I am genuinely looking forward to this season. We have a chance to do something special.

CP: What’s your message to all the doubters claiming the Warriors won’t win another title and that the dynasty is over?

[Kevon smirks]

Looney: I feel like we’ve been over this multiple times in the previous years. We have a great team and you should never doubt the heart of a champion. When you got guys like Steph, Klay, CP3, Draymond – they are all Hall of Famers for a reason. They’re winners for a reason and I really believe we still have a lot left in the tank. Losing last year was not ideal, but it has helped us refocus on our main goal of keeping things going. This year is going to be special. To everyone doubting us, just be ready because we know we are still champions.

CP: Draymond recently went on social media backing a claim that you should have your jersey retired when you are ready to call it quits with the Warriors. What would it mean to you to have your number hang alongside that of Steph’s, Klay’s, Draymond’s and other Warriors greats one day?

Looney: Wow… Just thinking about that brings an amazing feeling. [Kevon looks off in thought] As a kid, you don’t even dream of something like that, your only goal is to make it to the NBA. To actually think about having your number put up in the rafters and have your legacy cemented forever next to some of your teammates… that’s special. That’s amazing.

I still have a lot of work to do and it’s something I can dream about. Hopefully, if I can help us win a few more championships, I can get up there. That would just be such an amazing honor to be next to all of those Hall of Famers. It wouldn’t just be amazing for me, but for my family and my city. One day when I have kids, I would be able to show them that I was actually good at this game, so that would be something. [Kevon laughs]

CP: Building off of this, you have one more year left on your contract after this upcoming season. Do you envision yourself remaining with the Warriors for the remainder of your career?

Looney: That’s the goal. I’m on this team and Steph, Draymond, and Klay have been here their whole careers. If I can be another guy to be here for the whole ride, that would be amazing. Basketball is a business, though, and things happen fast. Trades happen, injuries happen; you just never know what is going to happen. We are fortunate enough to have a lot of talented players on our team, so there are always money things that happen too.

I’d love to be here my whole career. It’s a goal of mine. My family loves it out here, my girlfriend loves it out here, and I love it out here. All the fans and people in San Francisco treat me like their own family. I got here when I was 18 and I’ve become a man in this city. It’s a part of my life history. Outside of Milwaukee, all I know is the Bay Area. You never know what can happen, but my intentions are to stay with the Warriors.

CP: When all is said and done and you are ready to hang up your jersey in the locker room for the final time in your career, what do you want people to look back on and remember you for? What do you want fans of the game to remember when your name is brought up in conversations?

Kevon Looney, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Looney: I want them to say that I was one of the best rebounders in the league. I want them to say I was the best offensive rebounder in the league and one of the toughest players in the NBA, period. I take pride in being tough and doing all the small stuff. This is something that was instilled in me back home, as I feel like Milwaukee is a blue-collar city. I was always taught that I need to be tough and be the first player to dive on the ground for the ball, do all the dirty stuff to help your team win. The champions and the celebrations are great, but it would be a dream come true for people to acknowledge my toughness and rebounding skills when I am ready to call it quits.

Hopefully, that won’t be for a long time, so my fans have nothing to worry about there!

The post EXCLUSIVE: Kevon Looney details rise to becoming backbone of Warriors’ dynasty appeared first on ClutchPoints.

3 burning questions Celtics must answer heading into 2023-24 NBA training camp

September 29, 2023

The start of NBA training camp is less than a week away, and the Boston Celtics still have some work to do.

It’s been a busy offseason for the C’s, as they traded away key players like Marcus Smart and Grant Williams while acquiring a big name in Kristaps Porzingis. They also focused on retaining their stars by signing guard Jaylen Brown to the richest contract in league history.

Yet, with a lot of shakeup this summer, Boston’s roster isn’t quite finalized. So, ahead of Celtics training camp, here are three burning questions the C’s must answer before tipping off their 2023-24 season.

3. Who will win the Celtics’ final starting spot?

In his last two seasons as a Celtic, Smart started every game he played in. However, it’s a new day in Beantown, as the former Defensive Player of the Year is now in Memphis and a starting spot is up for grabs.

Assuming everyone remains healthy, guard Derrick White should be in a prime position to fill that vacancy. The 29-year-old had a stellar sophomore season with the C’s in which he played all 82 games and averaged 12.4 points per outing.

As for the rest of the starting five, Jaylen Brown and fellow star Jayson Tatum will undoubtedly lead the charge as they have for most of their careers. Porzingis, one of the newer faces in Boston, should start too if he can avoid the injury bug he’s been previously plagued with.

The fifth and final spot is less clear. Although that role could be reserved for veteran big Al Horford, he’s now 37 and entering his 17th season in the league. On the other hand, there’s shot-blocking center Robert Williams III, who’s rarely been healthy enough to solidify a starting spot. The younger center did get the starting job a few times in the 2022-23 postseason though, so if Boston wants to hand the reins over to the next generation, perhaps Williams earns the nod on opening night.

Either way, the Celtics will roll with a formidable starting five that has no shortage of star power.

2. Who’s going to step up as the next leader?

The Celtics have plenty of talented players, but do they have an established leader? Before, that was undoubtedly Smart’s role, yet he’ll now try to assume that position with the Grizzlies. Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla is still pretty new to manning the helm, so someone will have to step up for the C’s and become the team’s next leading voice in the locker room.

Horford has the years under his belt to become the de facto leader, yet he might not be in the NBA for much longer. Perhaps Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown can fill the absence left by Smart, as they’ll hopefully stay in Beantown for the long haul. In addition, they’re the go-to guys for the Celtics and it’s rare (but not impossible) to see a team led by anyone outside of their marquee players.

Tatum and Brown have always had youth on their side, but they’re now more than six seasons into their respective professional careers. It could finally be time for them to lead the Green Team on and off the court.

1. Is Jrue Holiday coming to town?

The most urgent question surrounding Boston’s roster revolves around former Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday.

The current Portland Trail Blazer was a major piece in Milwaukee’s trade for seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard. However, he’s reportedly not staying in Oregon for long, as the Blazers could swap him for draft capital and more. The C’s are one of several teams in the mix for Holiday, but can they even do it?

Holiday is due to make around $37 million next season, meaning Boston would likely have to match his salary with multiple players. That would mean a potential package would have to include some combination of Williams, White, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, and maybe more.

Since Portland is rebuilding, its front office will also demand valuable picks. The C’s have some first-round selections to offer which allows them to seriously inquire about Holiday, but any deal for the 2021 NBA champion will come at a significant cost.

Do Brad Stevens and company want to drum up trade rumors just ahead of training camp? It could be risky given the near-trade that almost sent Brogdon to Los Angeles this offseason. If the Celtics are serious about Holiday, they’ll have to sacrifice any future financial flexibility and potential team chemistry and go all in for Banner No. 18.

The post 3 burning questions Celtics must answer heading into 2023-24 NBA training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ prep, D’Angelo Russell’s role, and other takeaways from Lakers’ preseason press conference

September 29, 2023

Ahead of training camp, beginning with Media Day on Monday, Los Angeles Lakers general manager and vice president of operations Rob Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham addressed the media at the team’s practice facility on Thursday.

Over the course of an hour, Pelinka and Ham hit on a bevy of topics, including LeBron James’s preparation, Anthony Davis’ contract extension, Austin Reaves’ increasing role, and D’Angelo Russell’s place in the backcourt hierarchy.

“It’s October to June. That’s a long stretch,” said Ham. “So, everyone has to come in with that daily, being-in-the-moment mentality of trying to get better, not just individually but collectively at something each and every day. I’m excited. We were laughing upstairs, like, ‘people talking like now you got expectations.’ Well, since I was five, six years old I had expectations. You wanna be a fireman when you grow up? There’s your expectations. Now they’re gonna expect something of you. Or a doctor, or a lawyer. No matter what route you choose in life, you’re going to have expectations. To me, that’s living. You don’t have any expectations around you, you’re just existing. I want to live. I came here for those expectations.

“You don’t run from it. You just embrace it.”

Here were the key takeaways from the presser.

Year 21 LeBron

LeBron capped his 20th season by publicly floating retirement (after playing 48 minutes in Game 4). He’s entering his 21st season as invigorated as ever.

“I would answer that with one word: preparation,” Pelinka responded when asked about LeBron’s replenished fire. “It’s staggering for a player who has 20 years under the hood already and is preparing for 21 like he’s a rookie. He’s been doing 6 a.m. workouts. Probably been in our building as much as any player this offseason. Been in the weight room as much as any player.”

(Rui Hachimura has been joining LeBron for the morning workouts. LeBron has been calling Rui his “understudy”, per Ham.)

Ham believes “the continuity of building a well-balanced roster” will be critical to the soon-to-be-39-year-old’s durability.

“Now that we have, top to bottom, what we feel like is a highly, highly balanced, skilled, athletic, younger team of guys who logged a ton of NBA minutes, we can surround both he and AD with these players who are coming in eager to contribute, eager to show that they can impact winning. That’s going to allow us to be able to be more efficient with his game-to-game minutes, the big picture, month-to-month, different sections in the calendar. He was grandfathered in by the rest rules, so I was happy to see that.

“The pieces that we have in places, those guys are going to step up and do a lot of heavy lifting early.”

“We were very intentional about the versatility this roster has, the depth that the roster has,” piggy-backed Pelinka. “There’s upgrades of spacing and shooting … That was all done … knowing that LeBron’s going into the 21st year. We have to partner with him to help him get all the way to the end because that’s his goal.”

Anthony Davis, Face of the Franchise

Last month, the Lakers — as soon as they were allowed — committed to AD as the franchise’s cornerstone for the post-LeBron era, in the form of a record contract extension.

Davis, 30, has never played more than 62 games in Los Angeles. However, Pelinka said AD’s “character” was the driving force behind the Lakers’ decision.

“Character, character, character,” stressed the GM. “We as an organization, Jeanie, Darvin myself, we believe in the character of Anthony Davis. Just the person he is. Nobody in life can prevent health stuff from happening unexpectedly. We’re all human, we’re all subject to that. But we can carry ourselves with character and Anthony Davis stands for that.”e

A few days after Austin Reaves provided an encouraging update on the state of AD’s jumper, Ham and Pelinka lauded the big man for his summer regimen. They professed zero qualms about his ability to validate his elevated stature.

“When AD came up for the extension, Darvin and I had great interactions with him,” said Pelinka. “And the theme was, ‘We want to commit to you, but we want you to commit to us.’ And one of the aspects that we addressed with him in that exchange was becoming a leader and being the hardest worker, and he really did that this offseason. … He knows that when the franchise invests in him, like we did this summer, he’s gonna return that.”

“He came back leaner, stronger, quicker, more explosive,” noted Ham. “… There’s a huge, huge road still ahead of him in how he can lead this franchise and hopefully put some more banners up here. … Everyone in this building and team and all of his teammates, they want him to be that guy. Including LeBron. … There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be returning in even better form to sustain the heavy load.”

(As for Davis’ preference for the Lakers’ to deploy more two-big units in 2023-24, Ham said the Lakers will be experimenting with all sorts of lineup combinations throughout camp.)

Austin Reaves has the “Mamba gene”

Ham didn’t waste any time declaring Reaves’ the starting shooting guard (they’ll also use him at point — his preferred, lifelong position — in certain big lineups). No suspense there.

Pelinka even alluded to a legendary Lakers shooting guard (and Reaves’ childhood hero) when characterizing the artists formerly known as Hillbilly Kobe.

“I think his core qualities line up with the tenants of the ‘Mamba gene,” expounded Pelinka, Bryant’s former agent. “We all got to see Kobe’s career and what he stood for — and no player can be compared to Kobe Bryant — but I think players today can carry genes of what he represented. And I think Austin does. He is no nonsense. He comes in the gym, he’s about the work. He’s straightforward with his teammates he’s all about winning.”

“He’s not getting caught up in media rumors about who he’s dating,” Pelinka cracked.

Starting Point Guard D’Angelo Russell

How the backcourt rotation shakes out — and specifically, who will start at point guard — was expected to be a storyline to watch throughout training camp.

Nvm. Ham put a rest to any speculation on Thursday.

“At the end of the day, we don’t get to where we got to without D’Angelo Russell. He’s our starting point guard. … I’m going to encourage him to be assertive. He’s a highly intelligent basketball player who’s coming back with a chip on his shoulder. He chose us, we believe in him and he’s one of those guys who has a ton of pride and passion about not only his individual performance, but those of his teammates, as well.”

Russell was always the favorite to land the gig. He’s a prideful ex-All-Star who cares about starting (and a possible trade chip.) Gabe Vincent is accustomed to a reserve role.

Who closes games — and how Russell performs in the postseason, should he still be on the roster — will ultimately be the more important development. Vincent and Max Christie should see opportunities.

The pursuit of Christian Wood

The Lakers opted for talent over (obvious) need by using their 14th roster spot on Wood. The seven-footer is a deeply talented offensive player  — and underrated rim protector — who can credibly stretch out to the 3-point line (18.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 38.1% from 3 since 2021). On the other hand, his inconsistent defensive effort and purported locker room issues have caused him to bounce through seven teams in seven NBA seasons.

Pelinka and Ham offered insight into their summer-long communication with Wood (confirming his account).

As for why the Lakers didn’t pursue a Dwight Howard-esque big to deal with Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, etc? Ham cited the roster’s versatility and surplus of large wings.

“Having those type of players is definitely a really nice resource to have. But if your roster is not constructed that way, then it’s also good to have a guy like AD, who, when he’s out there and doing what he does, he’s probably arguably one of the top five best defensive players, two-way players, but specifically defensive players in our league the way he can cover ground, stay in front of smalls, block shots at the rim. Jaxson Hayes … he’s also fast, athletic, he can protect the rim. Christian Wood, a natural at blocking shots and protecting the rim. If you don’t have those big girthy guys like that, maybe you just get one nice-size guy and put a bunch of athletic 6’7 to 6’9 players around him to build sort of fortress.”

The post LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ prep, D’Angelo Russell’s role, and other takeaways from Lakers’ preseason press conference appeared first on ClutchPoints.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ prep, D’Angelo Russell’s role, and other takeaways from Lakers’ preseason press conference

September 29, 2023

Ahead of training camp, which begins with Media Day on Monday, Los Angeles Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach Darvin Ham addressed the media at the team’s practice facility on Thursday.

Over the course of an hour, Pelinka and Ham hit on a bevy of topics, including LeBron James’s preparation, Anthony Davis’ contract extension, Austin Reaves’ increasing role, and D’Angelo Russell’s place in the backcourt hierarchy.

“It’s October to June. That’s a long stretch,” said Ham. “So, everyone has to come in with that daily, being-in-the-moment mentality of trying to get better, not just individually but collectively at something each and every day. I’m excited. We were laughing upstairs, like, ‘people talking like now you got expectations.’ Well, since I was five, six years old I had expectations. You wanna be a fireman when you grow up? There’s your expectations. Now they’re gonna expect something of you. Or a doctor, or a lawyer. No matter what route you choose in life, you’re going to have expectations. To me, that’s living. You don’t have any expectations around you, you’re just existing. I want to live. I came here for those expectations.

“You don’t run from it. You just embrace it.”

Here were the key takeaways from the presser.

Year 21 LeBron

LeBron capped his 20th season by publicly floating retirement (after playing 48 minutes in Game 4). He’s entering his 21st season as invigorated as ever.

“I would answer that with one word: preparation,” Pelinka responded when asked about LeBron’s replenished fire. “It’s staggering for a player who has 20 years under the hood already and is preparing for 21 like he’s a rookie. He’s been doing 6 a.m. workouts. Probably been in our building as much as any player this offseason. Been in the weight room as much as any player.”

(Rui Hachimura has been joining LeBron for the morning workouts. LeBron has been calling Rui his “understudy”, per Ham.)

Ham believes “the continuity of building a well-balanced roster” will be critical to the soon-to-be-39-year-old’s durability.

“Now that we have, top to bottom, what we feel like is a highly, highly balanced, skilled, athletic, younger team of guys who logged a ton of NBA minutes, we can surround both he and AD with these players who are coming in eager to contribute, eager to show that they can impact winning. That’s going to allow us to be able to be more efficient with his game-to-game minutes, the big picture, month-to-month, different sections in the calendar. He was grandfathered in by the rest rules, so I was happy to see that.

“The pieces that we have in places, those guys are going to step up and do a lot of heavy lifting early.”

“We were very intentional about the versatility this roster has, the depth that the roster has,” piggy-backed Pelinka. “There’s upgrades of spacing and shooting … That was all done … knowing that LeBron’s going into the 21st year. We have to partner with him to help him get all the way to the end because that’s his goal.”

Anthony Davis, Face of the Franchise

Last month, the Lakers — as soon as they were allowed — committed to AD as the franchise’s cornerstone for the post-LeBron era, in the form of a record contract extension.

Davis, 30, has never played more than 62 games in Los Angeles. However, Pelinka said AD’s “character” was the driving force behind the Lakers’ decision.

“Character, character, character,” stressed the GM. “We as an organization, Jeanie, Darvin myself, we believe in the character of Anthony Davis. Just the person he is. Nobody in life can prevent health stuff from happening unexpectedly. We’re all human, we’re all subject to that. But we can carry ourselves with character and Anthony Davis stands for that.”e

A few days after Austin Reaves provided an encouraging update on the state of AD’s jumper, Ham and Pelinka lauded the big man for his summer regimen. They professed zero qualms about his ability to validate his elevated stature.

“When AD came up for the extension, Darvin and I had great interactions with him,” said Pelinka. “And the theme was, ‘We want to commit to you, but we want you to commit to us.’ And one of the aspects that we addressed with him in that exchange was becoming a leader and being the hardest worker, and he really did that this offseason. … He knows that when the franchise invests in him, like we did this summer, he’s gonna return that.”

“He came back leaner, stronger, quicker, more explosive,” noted Ham. “… There’s a huge, huge road still ahead of him in how he can lead this franchise and hopefully put some more banners up here. … Everyone in this building and team and all of his teammates, they want him to be that guy. Including LeBron. … There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be returning in even better form to sustain the heavy load.”

(As for Davis’ preference for the Lakers’ to deploy more two-big units in 2023-24, Ham said the Lakers will be experimenting with all sorts of lineup combinations throughout camp.)

Austin Reaves has the “Mamba gene”

Ham didn’t waste any time declaring Reaves’ the starting shooting guard (they’ll also use him at point — his preferred, lifelong position — in certain big lineups). No suspense there.

Pelinka even alluded to a legendary Lakers shooting guard (and Reaves’ childhood hero) when characterizing the artists formerly known as Hillbilly Kobe.

“I think his core qualities line up with the tenants of the ‘Mamba gene,” expounded Pelinka, Bryant’s former agent. “We all got to see Kobe’s career and what he stood for — and no player can be compared to Kobe Bryant — but I think players today can carry genes of what he represented. And I think Austin does. He is no nonsense. He comes in the gym, he’s about the work. He’s straightforward with his teammates he’s all about winning.”

“He’s not getting caught up in media rumors about who he’s dating,” Pelinka cracked.

Starting Point Guard D’Angelo Russell

How the backcourt rotation shakes out — and specifically, who will start at point guard — was expected to be a storyline to watch throughout training camp.

Nvm. Ham put a rest to any speculation on Thursday.

“At the end of the day, we don’t get to where we got to without D’Angelo Russell. He’s our starting point guard. … I’m going to encourage him to be assertive. He’s a highly intelligent basketball player who’s coming back with a chip on his shoulder. He chose us, we believe in him and he’s one of those guys who has a ton of pride and passion about not only his individual performance, but those of his teammates, as well.”

Russell was always the favorite to land the gig. He’s a prideful ex-All-Star who cares about starting (and a possible trade chip.) Gabe Vincent is accustomed to a reserve role.

Who closes games — and how Russell performs in the postseason, should he still be on the roster — will ultimately be the more important development. Vincent and Max Christie should see opportunities.

The pursuit of Christian Wood

The Lakers opted for talent over (obvious) need by using their 14th roster spot on Wood. The seven-footer is a deeply talented offensive player  — and underrated rim protector — who can credibly stretch out to the 3-point line (18.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 38.1% from 3 since 2021). On the other hand, his inconsistent defensive effort and purported locker room issues have caused him to bounce through seven teams in seven NBA seasons.

Pelinka and Ham offered insight into their summer-long communication with Wood (confirming his account).

As for why the Lakers didn’t pursue a Dwight Howard-esque big to deal with Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, etc? Ham cited the roster’s versatility and surplus of large wings.

“Having those type of players is definitely a really nice resource to have. But if your roster is not constructed that way, then it’s also good to have a guy like AD, who, when he’s out there and doing what he does, he’s probably arguably one of the top five best defensive players, two-way players, but specifically defensive players in our league the way he can cover ground, stay in front of smalls, block shots at the rim. Jaxson Hayes … he’s also fast, athletic, he can protect the rim. Christian Wood, a natural at blocking shots and protecting the rim. If you don’t have those big girthy guys like that, maybe you just get one nice-size guy and put a bunch of athletic 6’7 to 6’9 players around him to build sort of fortress.”

The post LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ prep, D’Angelo Russell’s role, and other takeaways from Lakers’ preseason press conference appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Deandre Ayton post goodbye to Suns after Trail Blazers trade

September 29, 2023

Former Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton’s time in the Valley ended Wednesday when the team traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Ayton was selected No. 1 overall by the Suns in the 2018 NBA Draft. He and the team reached the 2021 NBA Finals and won a franchise-best 64 games in 2021-22.

Ayton is 25 years old and has been a core piece to Phoenix’s success. However, he has been polarizing since his effort has been inconsistent and he never seemed to grow after Phoenix’s 2021 playoff run.

Now, Ayton is a Trail Blazer. The Suns acquired center Jusuf Nurkic in a deal that sent superstar guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Phoenix also acquired Trail Blazers wings Nassir Little and Keon Johnson and Bucks guard Grayson Allen.

Ayton posted a goodbye to Phoenix Thursday on X.

Ayton this past season averaged 18.0 points on 58.1 percent shooting and 10.0 rebounds. His role diminished once the Suns added forward Kevin Durant at the trade deadline. Ayton’s averages in the playoffs dipped to 13.4 points on 55 percent shooting and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Ayton’s motor was questioned by fans. He has refuted criticism of his energy and even said during the playoffs he runs on “Tesla battery.”

Now, his time in Phoenix is over.

The Suns are expected to have perhaps their best team in franchise history on the floor this season. They have Durant, superstar guard Devin Booker and now three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, who they acquired from the Washington Wizards in June.

The Suns dismissed former coach Monty Williams and hired Frank Vogel, who won an NBA championship in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Vogel has led teams to the top defensive rating three times since the 2012 season. He said upon his hiring he looked forward to restoring Ayton to an All-Star level player, but the chance never came.

The post Deandre Ayton post goodbye to Suns after Trail Blazers trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Jets’ Mecole Hardman gives Travis Kelce his Taylor Swift flowers ahead of Week 4 Chiefs battle

September 28, 2023

Mecole Hardman is going to have a few Taylor Swift questions for former teammate Travis Kelce when the New York Jets host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. The Jets wide receiver is admittedly among the curious about the Chiefs tight end and his budding romance with the pop star, who’s expected to be in attendance at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night.

“Trav! If anybody can do it, it’d be him for sure,” Hardman said Thursday, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. “Trav is a great guy. I love him to death. I haven’t asked him about that just yet. I think I’m going to have a conversation with him on the field and throw it out there like, ‘What’s going on? How’s it going?’

“But if anybody can pull that off, it’s definitely him, for sure.”

Hardman was Kelce’s teammate with the Chiefs the previous five seasons. He signed with the Jets as a free agent after winning his second Super Bowl championship with Kansas City last February.

Kelce has been receiving more attention of late for his rumored romance with Swift than his All-Pro level play. Swift attended the Chiefs’ 41-10 win against the Chicago Bears last weekend and was seen whooping it up after Kelce scored a touchdown.

A laughing Jets cornerback D.J. Reed said it was “no extra motivation” to shut down Kelce this week just because Swift might be there watching.

“Shoutout to Taylor Swift. I’m not a Taylor Swift fan, but it’s cool. I’m focused on football,” Reed said. “We just want to win.”

Swift does have some fans on the Jets, though, including injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who saw her perform in New Jersey this summer.

The post Jets’ Mecole Hardman gives Travis Kelce his Taylor Swift flowers ahead of Week 4 Chiefs battle appeared first on ClutchPoints.

How Sixers can offload James Harden, acquire Jrue Holiday following Damian Lillard blockbuster trade

September 28, 2023

The Milwaukee Bucks made things a whole lot more interesting heading into NBA training camp by landing Damian Lillard. This is bad, bad news for the Philadelphia 76ers, who now see one of their superior conference adversaries get even better. There is a way the Sixers can salvage the situation, though: bringing back Jrue Holiday.

Holiday was one of the players the Portland Trail Blazers received in the haul for Lillard. Portland will obviously look to flip him in exchange for more assets as they enter their Scoot Henderson-led rebuild. When that trade happens remains to be seen, though with the deal sending Lillard to Milwaukee already becoming official, the Blazers will start up a separate effort to trade away the All-Star and defensive extraordinaire.

The Sixers are reportedly interested in acquiring Holiday from Portland, though so are many other teams. Shams Charania said the Blazers will be active ahead of Monday’s Media Day in search of a new destination for the 33-year-old guard.

Jrue Holiday homecoming?

Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard

A homecoming with a former Sixer could cheer up a Philly fan base that’s downtrodden by years of playoff failures and another disappointing, uncertain offseason. Holiday was drafted 17th overall by the Sixers in 2009, became an All-Star in his fourth season and was traded to kickstart Sam Hinkie’s Process. All these years later, he remains a very good player.

Even as he gets up there in age, Holiday is a stellar defender and strong playmaker. The latter skill is of particular importance to Philly, who desperately lacks in that area without James Harden. He has been a very efficient scorer at the rim and in his three years playing with star-studded Milwaukee, he shot very well from deep, particularly from above the break, where he connected on at least 38 percent of such looks in each season. Holiday’s history as a very shaky scorer in the playoffs is one key blemish the Sixers will have to either work around of alleviate.

Tyrese Maxey taking pressure off Holiday as the lead ball handler can help him retain his effectiveness. Holiday’s woeful shooting percentages in the playoffs were partly the result of being on a Bucks team that struggled mightily with half-court offense (hence their desire to trade for Lillard). Joel Embiid and Maxey should make things easier for him there, both independently and together, as should the creativity in scheming from Nick Nurse. Even on the nights when Holiday can’t buy a shot, he’s still hustling, defending and making plays for others.

A Jrue Holiday-James Harden trade idea

James Harden, Sixers, Clippers, Heat

Harden remains on the roster, and it’s anyone’s guess as to whether he’ll show up for the team’s Media Day and training camp next week (it doesn’t seem like it). Philly would be wise to get rid of him before the season begins so that each side can finally get away from the other. Embiid may be okay traversing these rough waters for the time being, but nothing is going to change for the better barring a completely unforeseen change of heart from Harden or a trade that sends him away.

The Sixers now have another clear avenue to trade Harden should the Miami Heat feel the need to salvage their own situation after fumbling the bag on yet another star. But they could also use this as an opportunity to call up the Los Angeles Clippers, Harden’s destination of choice. While Harden’s desire to join LA hasn’t been reciprocated as heavily, adding a star playmaker alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George should be enticing to a Clippers team eager to make a deep playoff run.

The framework of a three-team deal that gets Holiday to Philly and Harden to Los Angeles could look like this:

  • Sixers get: Holiday, Robert Covington
  • Clippers get: James Harden, P.J. Tucker
  • Trail Blazers get: Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, 2028 first-round pick from Clippers, two 2024 second-round picks from Clippers

If the Sixers need to offer a second-round draft pick of their own instead of the Clippers since Harden’s trade value is tanked, so be it. But this structure or something similar should appeal to each team.

The Clippers would be giving up a significant amount of draft capital, including the nearest first-round pick they can trade, and land not only Harden but also Tucker, someone they were rumored to be interested in. Tucker gives LA a bigger forward to play alongside its two star wings and gives them the option to go super small.

The Sixers swap Tucker with another former Philly player in Covington who can play more like a prototypical wing than Tucker. While Tucker’s rugged size makes him useful in certain spots, Covington can allow Tobias Harris to take on bigger players, which he is better equipped for. At the very least, they could serve as a platoon for whatever the most demanding wing assignment is. RoCo is also a more valuable floor spacer since he is comfortable shooting above-the-break triples, which Tucker is not.

The Blazers keep the reunions coming by welcoming back Batum along with Morris, who could provide depth for them until they get flipped to another team themselves. At worst, Portland allows their contracts to expire at the end of the season. Since the Blazers targeted the Bucks’ picks in five or so years — a period of time when their window of playoff contention seems likely to be on the downswing — it stands to reason they would accept another similar pick.

Even if Holiday doesn’t work out like the Sixers want him to, he’s under contract for just two more seasons (with the second year containing a player option). Philly can move on and look to build a better using its cap space. Moving on from Tucker opens up even more room, though offloading Holiday and receiving significantly less money to retain space could be a mighty challenge.

The chances that Holiday works out that poorly are not very high, though. He is a tough-minded, versatile veteran who works with Embiid and Maxey and has something Philly values heavily: championship experience. Landing a player of his caliber would be the icing on the cake of a trade featuring the addition-by-subtraction element of ditching a frustrated Harden. The Sixers must act quickly.

The post How Sixers can offload James Harden, acquire Jrue Holiday following Damian Lillard blockbuster trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

How the Heat can still be involved in a trade for Damian Lillard

September 28, 2023

For decades, the Miami Heat have been a force in the Eastern Conference. This is mainly due to the fact that Pat Riley and their front office have been able to lure All-Star after All-Star in pursuit of championships. They did so with LeBron James and Chris Bosh during 2010 free agency, as well as in 2019 when they signed Jimmy Butler.

Even though they had to earn a spot in the playoffs via the play-in tournament last season, the Heat still proved to be title contenders. Coming up just short of winning their fourth title, it seemed destined that Damian Lillard would be heading to South Beach in what would have been the summer’s biggest trade.

Free agency came, then Summer League in Las Vegas passed, and then things were quiet across the league during the month of August. Well, it is now the end of September and we finally have answer on where Lillard will be playing during the 2023-24 season. Unfortunately for Heat fans, their dreams of Butler and Lillard chasing a championship were a mere fantasy.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was the Milwaukee Bucks that struck gold by convincing the Trail Blazers to trade their superstar. In a trade package revolving around two-time All-Star guard Jrue Holiday and draft compensation, the Bucks have now formed one of the league’s best trios with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Lillard. This massive trade also involved the Phoenix Suns and it’s a deal that has a lot of implications for the Blazers, Bucks and Suns.

Speaking of the Blazers, they enter what looks to be a daunting rebuild with young, athletic talents such as Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and rookie Scoot Henderson as their focal points. In South Beach, there are now questions being asked by Heat fans regarding Riley’s ability to still lead the team’s front office after failing to trade for Lillard, something that seemed like a given all throughout the offseason.

It’s clear to see why Miami’s fans would be so upset, as players like Lillard do not become available on the trade block every day. Seeing as he wanted to be traded to the Heat and no other team was able to strike a deal for months, this seemed like the organization’s war to lose.

Even though they have lost this battle for Lillard, the war to compete for a title is not over for the Heat. Butler still remains on this roster, as does All-Star center Bam Adebayo, and Riley may still have one trick up his sleeve to be involved in this Lillard blockbuster trade after all.

The Blazers traded Lillard to the Bucks and the Suns were also involved in this deal, sending former first overall pick Deandre Ayton to Portland to help facilitate the trade. As previously mentioned, the Bucks gave up Holiday in this blockbuster deal for Lillard and the veteran guard is the key to the Heat getting what they need this offseason.

Jrue Holiday on Miami’s radar?

Jrue Holiday, Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

The Heat have been searching for a new point guard this offseason after Gabe Vincent decided to depart for the Los Angeles Lakers. While they still have Kyle Lowry, he seemed to play a lot better in a sixth man role for the organization and has not looked like the All-Star Miami signed him to be a few years back.

It’s certainly a possibility for Lowry, or even Tyler Herro, to be the team’s starting point guard on opening night, but why not take a shot at an experienced, proven champion like Jrue Holiday? He can be a key secondary star on offense and on the defensive side of things, Holiday has been called the best perimeter defender by many across the league.

Regardless of who comes and goes every season, one thing that always remains constant about the Heat is their effort and intensity. They’ve always been a strong defensive team and Miami is very picky about who they add to their roster. The culture this organization has established through the years is amongst the best in the league, which is why they only pursue players who are willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team.

This is exactly who Holiday is, as he’s been willing to adjust his game in recent years in order to make his team as good as they can be. Holiday fit in perfectly alongside Giannis and Middleton in Milwaukee, which is why he would fit in well alongside Butler and Adebayo.

In fact, the Heat appear to be on the list of teams who could show interest in the veteran now that the Trail Blazers have the final say on his whereabouts. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, teams like Miami, the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors could all be suitors for Holiday in the aftermath of this blockbuster trade involving Lillard.

It’s worth noting that all three teams were said to be in the bidding for Lillard when he first requested a trade from the Blazers over the summer.

After not talking with Portland for numerous weeks leading up to Wednesday’s trade, could the Heat swoop in and actually add Holiday ahead of training camp?

How the Heat can pursue Jrue Holiday

Jimmy Butler, Jrue Holiday, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks

The path to the Heat potentially trading for Holiday is not simple whatsoever. There obstacles to tackle financially, as the veteran is set to make $36.8 million this upcoming season, and the Heat have not been on talking terms with the Blazers.

There was hardly any communication past July in terms of Miami pursuing Lillard and if they couldn’t put together a good enough trade package before, how could the Heat possibly do so now?

On the other side of things, Holiday’s contract is just about $9 million less than Lillard’s, plus the Heat can still deal some future draft assets to Portland. As a result of trading their 2025 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the earliest Miami could potentially send an unprotected first-round pick to the Blazers is in 2027, that is assuming their pick in 2025 conveys.

Obviously, either Kyle Lowry’s or Tyler Herro’s contract would need to be traded if the Heat were to acquire Holiday from the Trail Blazers. Keeping both players isn’t an option, as Miami would have to match Holiday’s contract in a trade. If they were to part ways with Lowry and draft compensation, this leaves about $7 million that the Heat would still need to try and move. Caleb Martin would seem like the obvious choice to be moved, but Miami has not shown a willingness to include him in any offers this offseason.

This leaves Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic and rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. as the team’s only other assets. Even if they are pursuing Holiday as their backup plan for missing out on Lillard now, the Heat are still running into the same problems of coming up with value in a deal.

Whether or not the Heat look to get involved in this blockbuster Lillard trade is yet to be seen. While adding Holiday would not form a flashy “Big 3” in Miami, they could instanly create the best two-way trio in the entire league with the former Bucks guard filling an obvious need for them at the point guard position.

The post How the Heat can still be involved in a trade for Damian Lillard appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Suns legend Charles Barkley issues eye-opening Deandre Ayton take after Damian Lillard three-team trade

September 27, 2023

Phoenix Suns legend and “NBA on TNT” analyst Charles Barkley weighed in on the team’s decision to trade former starting center Deandre Ayton to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jusuf Nurkic.

“Something was going on with Deandre Ayton,” Barkley said. “It goes back to there was an issue with Monty Williams and Deandre Ayton. Now clearly, it must have been something else going on in the organization. They clearly just wanted to get rid of him.”

Barkley later said he is “not upset” with the Suns’ choice to move Ayton and they are a top contender, in his eyes, in the West along with the Los Angeles Lakers. He sees the Milwaukee Bucks as the favorite to win the NBA championship after they acquired guard Damian Lillard.

The Suns could have their best team in franchise history on the floor this season. Phoenix acquired three-time All-Star Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards to team up with superstars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

The Suns hired an NBA championship-winning coach, Frank Vogel, who has led teams to the top defensive rating in the NBA three times since 2012. Phoenix also upgraded its bench and added several capable shooters, including former Brooklyn Nets wing Yuta Watanabe and former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Eric Gordon.

In the deal with the Trail Blazers and Bucks, the Suns also acquired Portland wings Nassir Little and Keon Johnson, who were each formerly five-star prospects, and Bucks guard Grayson Allen, who started 70 of 72 games played with Milwaukee in 2022-23.

 

 

 

 

The post Suns legend Charles Barkley issues eye-opening Deandre Ayton take after Damian Lillard three-team trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.