Coming into the 2014-15 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder figure to continue to be one of the league’s true title contenders. What’s different? A big free agent signing, the continued development of young talent, and finally a change in the starting lineup. Should everything work out, this could be the strongest Thunder team ever. Hovering over this potential perfect storm is a world of doubt. The Thunder have remained contenders for three or four years now but still have little hardware
Seven years ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded their prized power forward (Kevin Garnett) across conferences to the Boston Celtics. This Eastern Conference squad had made headlines a few weeks earlier, acquiring a superstar wing (Ray Allen) to accompany the team’s lone All-Star (Paul Pierce). This summer, the Timberwolves traded their prized power forward (Kevin Love) across conferences to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This Eastern Conference squad had made headlines a few weeks earlier, acquiring a superstar wing (LeBron James) to accompany the
The Atlanta Hawks offseason has been marred by emails and scouting reports flush with racial overtones, the results of which have led to majority owner Bruce Levenson announcing that he will sell the team and general manager Danny Ferry taking an indefinite leave of absence and attending sensitivity training. The court of public opinion has been a mixed bag as far as Ferry is concerned, with many outside of the NBA calling for his job while a number of people within
Talk about a fresh start … When the freshness starts in the ownership suite — or his courtside seat, as may be the case here, it is truly a new beginning. After a determined and gutty yet ultimately unsuccessful run in the 2014 postseason, the Los Angeles Clippers entered the offseason with a ton of questions regarding the future of their franchise. Although the Donald Sterling story died down a bit nationally a week or so after the initial TMZ audiotapes were released in
The most intriguing team in the NBA this season is unquestionably the Cleveland Cavaliers. And the secocnd-most intriguing team in the NBA this season may be the Chicago Bulls. This summer, the Cavaliers remade themselves from a laughingstock to a legitimate contender with the additions of LeBron James and Kevin Love. Meanwhile, the Bulls are hoping the return of Derrick Rose and the addition of Pau Gasol puts them in the championship chase as well. And both teams play in the Central Division,
In 2011, Tyson Chandler won his first career NBA championship as the defensive anchor for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2012, Chandler took home the Defensive Player of the Year award for the first time in his career as the leader of the New York Knicks. As Chandler prepares to hit the reset button, one thing keeps him from escaping the past: a somewhat controversial exit from the Knicks. Under the guidance of new president of basketball operations Phil Jackson, New York traded Chandler and Raymond
The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly will offer Phoenix Suns restricted free agent guard Eric Bledsoe a maximum four-year, $63 million contract. According to Fox10 in Phoenix and ESPN, the offer is designed to engage the Suns in a sign-and-trade for Bledsoe, by far the best remaining free agent on the market. However, the report did not say that Minnesota had formally made the offer, because the Timberwolves cannot. They are $6 million over the salary cap and would have to trade enough players to get
HOUSTON — After being unexpectedly jilted by Chris Bosh, the Rockets found themselves in a precarious spot this summer. They are now hoping that Jason Terry, who just turned 37, can be a small part of the solution. General manager Daryl Morey has said since January that Houston needs to acquire the “third-best player on a championship team” to align with established stars James Harden and Dwight Howard, implying he did not believe that player would be found internally on the current