When the NBA’s incoming rookie class got together last month for rookie orientation, they were polled about a number of things — including which of them would be named the Rookie of the Year. The winner was Stanley Johnson, who went with the No. 8 overall pick to the Detroit Pistons. What are the Pistons getting from the PAC-10 Player of the Year out of Arizona who won four consecutive state titles at Mater Dei H.S. in California before doing his one-and-done?
Elsewhere on this site, veteran NBA experts are breaking down the real-life winners (and losers) of last night’s NBA draft. Here in the fantasy corner, it’s never too early to plan for next season. All rookies have a learning curve. Some need extra time — third-year players can be undervalued in Roto and Head-to-Head drafts. From our perspective, opportunity matters most. Minutes, touches, fit with the system and depth of the organization are all factors. While there won’t be any Daily Fantasy Sports action on pro
Based on conversations I had with multiple people around the league at last week’s combine in Chicago, this draft sounds like it will be known as the Karl-Anthony Towns draft– and the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to get him. Barring an injury issue similar to what Joel Embiid had last year, Towns is all but certain to be the first player to shake hands with Adam Silver on draft night and become the third straight No. 1 pick to wear a Minnesota
Have you been watching the Knicks and Lakers this season? Yes, it’s hard. Two of the NBA’s biggest spenders in the league’s two biggest markets are playing awful basketball, and it doesn’t look like either one has the personnel or the sense of purpose to turn things around. Both teams will miss the playoffs and land in the draft lottery, again. There’s good news for the Knicks. They were somehow smart enough to keep their first-round pick and should have a chance
With this year’s draft being so juicy, you almost feel bad for peeking at the talent of the 2015 draft. But once you do, it’s hard to stop, as the high school kids made a hell of a splash this year. Here is a quick take on six of them, just to get us started. [Read more…]
You’ve heard the saying: “The kids are alright.” Well, these kids are more than alright. As the NBA’s ever-evolving landscape of perimeter-oriented and multifaceted skill sets take the basketball world by storm on a nightly basis, the youth who aspire to compete against their heroes (in 2015 or beyond, thanks to the one-and-done rule) have keenly paid attention to the changes in the game and what they mean for their own personal development as players. SheridanHoops caught up with nine of the 24
The NCAA early signing period for basketball ended Wednesday and the big winner was Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils landed three of the top 15 players in the Class of 2014 and three players pegged to go No. 1, No. 11 and No. 15 in the 2015 NBA draft, according to DraftExpress.com. With the additions of 6-10 center Jahlil Okafor, 6-1 point guard Tyus Jones and 6-5 wing Justise Winslow, as well as 6-4 shooter Grayson Allen, Duke now
The NCAA early signing period for basketball ended Wednesday and the big winner was Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Blue Devils landed three of the top 15 players in the Class of 2014 and three players pegged to go No. 1, No. 11 and No. 15 in the 2015 NBA draft, according to DraftExpress.com. With the additions of 6-10 center Jahlil Okafor, 6-1 point guard Tyus Jones and 6-5 wing Justise Winslow, as well as 6-4 shooter Grayson Allen, Duke now