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Blazers face backlash after firing broadcaster over teenage social media posts
The Trail Blazers’ decision to fire newly hired television play-by-play broadcaster Braiden Bell isn’t exactly receiving universal applause. In fact, quite the opposite. Portland announced Thursday night that it would not move forward with Bell after old social media posts containing racist and misogynistic comments surfaced. Bell had been announced as the team’s new television […] The post Blazers face backlash after firing broadcaster over teenage social media posts appeared first on Hoops...
Walker Kessler thinks new-look Lakers could be ‘nasty’ defensively
The Lakers changed plenty this offseason. Walker Kessler already has an idea of what their new identity might be. Nasty. Defensively, anyway. Kessler came away from the Lakers’ first training camp practice feeling awfully good about what he saw, particularly from the team’s revamped group of defenders. “Listen, I think we’re gonna be a nasty […] The post Walker Kessler thinks new-look Lakers could be ‘nasty’ defensively appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Blazers fire new play-by-play announcer after old racist, sexist posts surface
The Trail Blazers have fired newly hired play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell less than a day after announcing his addition to the broadcast team. Portland reversed course after racist and sexist posts from Bell’s social media account resurfaced, according to Sports Illustrated. “The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments,” the […] The post Blazers fire new play-by-play announcer after old racist, sexist posts surface appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Adam Silver admits Mark Walter’s quick Lakers sale caught him by surprise
NBA commissioner Adam Silver wasn’t particularly stunned by the Lakers’ latest $12.5 billion valuation. He was more surprised that Mark Walter was selling them at all. Silver addressed the stunningly quick ownership turnaround Thursday at Puck’s In The Arena conference, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “My initial surprise went less to price and […] The post Adam Silver admits Mark Walter’s quick Lakers sale caught him by surprise appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Jalen Duren, Pistons agree to five-year, $200 million contract
All that Jalen Duren drama has finally reached its conclusion. Duren has agreed to a five-year, $200 million fully guaranteed contract to remain with the Pistons, his agent, Chafie Fields of THE•TEAM, told ESPN on Wednesday night. The agreement ends a lengthy restricted free agency standoff that spilled into training camp. Duren skipped media day […] The post Jalen Duren, Pistons agree to five-year, $200 million contract appeared first on Hoops Wire .
New-look Lakers put Rob Pelinka’s future under microscope
It’s safe to say Lakers head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has a lot riding on this season. LeBron James is gone. New ownership will soon be settling in. Pelinka has reshaped the team around Luka Doncic. You can’t really question many of Pelinka’s moves this offseason. He landed Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, […] The post New-look Lakers put Rob Pelinka’s future under microscope appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Pistons’ JB Bickerstaff: Jalen Duren will be welcomed back with ‘open arms’
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff has been around the NBA long enough to know that not every financial matter goes perfectly. And that is where Bickerstaff’s team stands today with All-Star center Jalen Duren. At the moment, Duren and Detroit are in the middle of a contract situation. Duren didn’t show up at media day. He […] The post Pistons’ JB Bickerstaff: Jalen Duren will be welcomed back with ‘open arms’ appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Kenny Atkinson enters season with Cavs’ trust, and plenty of pressure
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was NBA Coach of the Year two seasons ago. Last year, plenty of people around the league seemed to question him. That doesn’t make those people right. Atkinson was the first coach to guide a non-LeBron James Cavs team to the conference finals since Lenny Wilkens in 1992. But this is […] The post Kenny Atkinson enters season with Cavs’ trust, and plenty of pressure appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama says he won’t ever promote gambling: ‘Absolutely not’
Victor Wembanyama is willing to sell some things, but sports gambling apparently won’t be one of them. The Spurs star was asked whether he would ever promote a sports betting or prediction-market company and left absolutely no room for interpretation, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. “Absolutely not,” Wembanyama said. “I will never do […] The post Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama says he won’t ever promote gambling: ‘Absolutely not’ appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Lakers reportedly had chance to trade for Buddy Hield, passed
Buddy Hield and the Lakers have been connected in trade rumors so many times that you almost expect him to eventually wind up there by accident. Well, it appears, they had another chance. Specifically, L.A. had an opportunity to acquire Hield in a consolidation trade this offseason but elected not to pursue the deal, according […] The post Lakers reportedly had chance to trade for Buddy Hield, passed appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell joins rare company with new Adidas deal
Donovan Mitchell signed one major extension with the Cavaliers this summer. Now he’s signed another one with Adidas. Mitchell has agreed to a new multiyear contract with the shoe company that will extend his signature line through the D.O.N. Issue 10, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The deal will make Mitchell just the seventh […] The post Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell joins rare company with new Adidas deal appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Lakers looking at Jalen Smith as answer to possible roster problem?
The Lakers have one guaranteed player too many. Perhaps Jalen Smith can help them solve two problems at once. Los Angeles has 16 players on guaranteed standard contracts and must get down to 15 before opening night. Bulls big man Smith has been mentioned as the type of player who could make sense in a […] The post Lakers looking at Jalen Smith as answer to possible roster problem? appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Warriors want Frank Vogel’s defense to ‘punch first’
The Warriors want to play better defense this season. Actually, they want to start punching people. Figuratively, we should probably emphasize. “We’re not being targeted, we gotta go target teams,” De’Anthony Melton said at training camp, according to Luca Evans of the San Francisco Chronicle. “So, we gotta go out there and play with that […] The post Warriors want Frank Vogel’s defense to ‘punch first’ appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Nuggets seemingly have already figured out bench bunch
The Nuggets changed much of their bench during the offseason. It doesn’t look like it’ll take them long to figure out what the new one looks like. During a starters-vs.-reserves scrimmage at training camp, Denver’s second unit featured DeMar DeRozan, Julian Strawther, Alpha Diallo, Spencer Jones and Marvin Bagley III, as Logan Struck of Sports […] The post Nuggets seemingly have already figured out bench bunch appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Grizzlies have roster crunch to solve before opening night
The Grizzlies have 18 players on standard contracts. They’re allowed to keep 15. You can probably figure out what comes next. Memphis is expected to waive three players with guaranteed salaries before opening night unless it can find a trade, with Micah Peavy, Jordan Hawkins and Kris Murray among those most vulnerable, according to Brett […] The post Grizzlies have roster crunch to solve before opening night appeared first on Hoops Wire .
NBA closes its only elite training academy in Africa
The NBA has closed its only elite training academy in Africa, ending an eight-year run for a program that helped develop multiple players who eventually reached the league. NBA Academy Africa in Senegal has shut down as the league consolidates its elite international development efforts into a new global academy in Abu Dhabi, according to […] The post NBA closes its only elite training academy in Africa appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Raptors, Jamal Shead agree to three-year, $24 million extension
The Raptors apparently have seen enough from Jamal Shead to know they’d like him to stick around. Toronto and the third-year guard have agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2029-30 season, his agent KJ Smith told Shams Charania of ESPN. Shead was entering the final […] The post Raptors, Jamal Shead agree to three-year, $24 million extension appeared first on Hoops Wire .
NBA execs think lottery change could make league more competitive than ever
The NBA spent years trying to discourage tanking. This season, it may finally find out whether it succeeded. With the league’s new “3-2-1” draft lottery system taking effect in 2026-27, executives believe the changes could produce a significantly more competitive regular season, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Under the new format, the NBA’s […] The post NBA execs think lottery change could make league more competitive than ever appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Zion Williamson knows you’ve heard it before: ‘I’m not where I want to be’
Zion Williamson showed up for another Pelicans training camp looking leaner, talking about his offseason work and hoping this season will finally be different. Yes, we’ve heard some version of this before. Williamson seems to understand that better than anyone. “I’m not where I want to be,” Williamson said at media day. “I’m just not […] The post Zion Williamson knows you’ve heard it before: ‘I’m not where I want to be’ appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Knicks apparently have $76 million problem with Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension from the Knicks. The Knicks seem to have another number in mind. A much smaller one. New York is “far more interested” in an extension closer to four years and $200 million, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, as relayed by RealGM. That leaves […] The post Knicks apparently have $76 million problem with Karl-Anthony Towns appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Kings may have decided Ben Simmons doesn’t really need a position
What position does Ben Simmons play for the Kings? Well, all of them, it seems. Sacramento has spent the opening days of training camp experimenting with Simmons in different roles, with the 6-foot-10 former All-Star handling the ball on offense and defending bigger players at the other end, as Brenden Nunes of Sactown Sports writes. […] The post Kings may have decided Ben Simmons doesn’t really need a position appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Donovan Mitchell: Cavs need to ‘double down’ after playoff disappointment
The Cavaliers have changed some pieces. Donovan Mitchell doesn’t think they need to change who they are. Speaking Wednesday after Cleveland’s first training-camp practice in Spain, Mitchell said the Cavs need to “double down on the habits” that carried them to the Eastern Conference finals last season, according to Cleveland 19 Getting there was progress. […] The post Donovan Mitchell: Cavs need to ‘double down’ after playoff disappointment appeared first on Hoops Wire .
James Harden says he’d ‘love’ to play in Spain someday
James Harden is in Spain with the Cavaliers. Apparently, he wouldn’t mind playing there, either. Harden told Spanish outlet Cadena SER after Cleveland’s first training-camp practice Wednesday that he would “love” to play in Spain someday, though the 37-year-old made clear his immediate priority remains trying to win an NBA championship with the Cavs. Harden […] The post James Harden says he’d ‘love’ to play in Spain someday appeared first on Hoops Wire .
NBA Trade Rumors: Ty Jerome, Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray, Daniel Gafford
Training camps have barely started, but it’s never too early for the NBA trade market to start taking shape. Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports put together an early look at players who could find their names circulating between now and the February trade deadline. Nothing here should be confused with an imminent deal, but several […] The post NBA Trade Rumors: Ty Jerome, Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray, Daniel Gafford appeared first on Hoops Wire .
NBA executive: Don’t assume Celtics looking to dump Paul George
The assumption around the NBA has been fairly easy to understand. The Celtics acquired Paul George in the Jaylen Brown trade, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they intend to keep him around. Maybe we shouldn’t be so sure. An NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports that George still has considerably more value around […] The post NBA executive: Don’t assume Celtics looking to dump Paul George appeared first on Hoops Wire .