Have the Indiana Pacers already gone as far as they can go with this roster? It’s a question overlooked with all the big moves being made this offseason in the Eastern Conference, and the Central Division in particular. A quick synopsis, for those who watched the World Cup and forgot about basketball since the Finals ended: Cleveland signed LeBron James, drafted Andrew Wiggins and could trade Wiggins to Minnesota in a blockbuster deal for Kevin Love. Chicago got rid of Carlos Boozer and
LAS VEGAS- When the Atlanta Hawks sent Lou Williams to Toronto for John Salmons in a salary dump earlier this month, former first-round pick Lucas Nogueira was involved in the trade to the Raptors as well. Throw-ins in minor trades usually aren’t profiled, but what about a seven-foot 21-year-old who can block shots and fun the floor? Nogueira, born in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, was the 16th pick of the 2013 draft, taken by Boston and sent to Atlanta on draft night. Nogueira
LAS VEGAS- Here at the Hard Rock Hotel, the Milwaukee Bucks are 250-1 to win next year’s NBA title, the longest odds in the league. They even surpass the tank-to-the-bank Philadelphia 76ers, whose top draft pick may sit out the entire regular season for the second consecutive year. But for people not named Jason Kidd, the Bucks aren’t playing for next season. With a pair of 19-year-old kids oozing with potential, showing their natural abilities on the UNLV campus, it’s easy to
LAS VEGAS – In his first Summer League, it seems like the weight of the world has been lifted off Anthony Bennett’s shoulders. In the city he once called home and the arena he once shined so brightly that the Cleveland Cavaliers made him the unexpected top pick of the 2013 NBA draft, Bennett is playing loose, having fun and suddenly showing the athleticism and versatility that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place. After scoring 15 points and
LAS VEGAS – Writers and team officials called for a running clock or the Mercy rule Monday afternoon at the Cox Pavilion when the New York Knicks opened up a 73-33 lead over the Charlotte Hornets. The 95-72 final score pushed the Knicks to 3-0. The team’s play has been an endorsement of the triangle offense Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher are implementing in New York. Players are sharing the ball and fluidly moving the ball to the open man, which
LAS VEGAS- Shabazz Napier has a set of skills you all know about; the slick handle, the pick-your-pocket defense and the winning pedigree with UConn’s national championship in April as Napier’s collegiate capstone. The other skills he needs to pick up as his rookie season approaches will help determine how well the Miami Heat can fare in South Florida’s post-LeBron James era. With James gone, Napier is now a much more important part of the team than Miami management imagined. [Read
The pursuit of free agent Carmelo Anthony has reached a fever pitch on both coasts, with the Knicks and Lakers both having reportedly offered max contracts to the superstar scorer in hopes of luring Anthony to their respective franchises. But the money should not be the top motivating factor in Anthony’s decision, according to New York Knicks legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. “Everyone’s throwing a lot of money at him,” Monroe told SheridanHoops in a one-on-one interview Monday morning. “It should be about
Free agency began at midnight Eastern time today, and the rumors and reports will come in like an avalanche on the Internet and social media. But how much guaranteed money does your team actually have on its books for next season? You can find out in this trusty little chart right here: [Read more…]