DeMarcus Cousins Contract: Latest News, Rumors on Negotiations with Kings
January 7th, 2017 by Mike Chiari No comments »
Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is the constant subject of trade rumors and speculation, but a Saturday report suggested a deal to remain in Sacramento over the long haul is a possibility.
Continue for updates.
Report: Kings Considering Huge Contract Offer
Saturday, Jan. 7
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, sources said the Kings are hoping to take advantage of the designated-player rule to offer Cousins a $200 million extension.
Cousins is in the midst of another dominant season, as he is averaging a career-high 28.5 points to go along with 9.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
The two-time All-Star has put up at least 22 points and 11 rebounds per contest in three consecutive campaigns, establishing himself as one of the NBA's elite big men.
That hasn't led to team success, though the 15-21 Kings entered play Saturday in a virtual tie with the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth and final playoff spot ...
NHL Players Most Likely to Be Moved Before the Trade Deadline
January 7th, 2017 by Lyle Richardson No comments »
The NHL's March 1 trade deadline is less than two months away. Players who've become frequent topics of trade speculation, such as Tampa Bay Lighting goaltender Ben Bishop and Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene, could be with new teams by then.
Some, such as Bishop, could be dealt because of their eligibility for unrestricted free agency. Others, such as Duchene, belong to struggling teams in need of a shake-up.
This slideshow lists the NHL players most likely to be dealt by the trade deadline. We'll examine their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the clubs that could pursue them in the trade market.
Feel free to weigh in with your opinion on this topic in the comments section. Begin Slideshow
Brook Lopez Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation Surrounding Nets C
January 7th, 2017 by Adam Wells No comments »
Brook Lopez has seemingly been on the trade block since signing his latest contract in 2015, though at least now it appears the Brooklyn Nets have set a price for teams to bid on the veteran center.
Continue for updates.
Nets Set High Price for Lopez
Saturday, Jan. 7
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Nets are seeking two first-round draft picks for Lopez.
Lopez's stats have dipped slightly this season. He's averaging 19.9 points and just 5.2 rebounds per game, but he is making up for that with a career-high 2.6 assists per game.
The 28-year-old has also added range to his game, shooting 36.1 percent from the three-point line. He once seemed to be an injury risk but played 145 games over the previous two seasons and has appeared in 32 of 35 games so far this season.
Per Spotrac, Lopez has a steep $21.2 million salary this season and $22.6 million salary next ...
Draymond Green Comments on Warriors Offense After Loss to Grizzlies
January 7th, 2017 by Mike Chiari No comments »
Following the Golden State Warriors' 128-119 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at Oracle Arena, Dubs forward Draymond Green was critical of the team's performance late in the game.
According to ESPN.com's Chris Haynes, the All-Star was especially unhappy with how Golden State played offensively in the fourth quarter.
"Our fourth-quarter offense has been atrocious, and I don't know if you could see. Everyone only notices in losses, but I actually pay attention to things when we win also," the 26-year-old said.
The Warriors led by as many as 24 points at home, but the Grizzlies outscored them 32-13 in the fourth quarter and 17-8 in overtime to drop them to 31-6 on the season.
Per Haynes, Green believes the loss could prove to be a positive lesson for the 2014-15 NBA champions moving forward:
I'm actually happy we lost today because there's some things that we need to correct in order ...
Carmelo Anthony Injury: Knicks Star Reveals He’s Playing with Injured Shoulder
January 7th, 2017 by Tim Daniels No comments »
New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony revealed after the team's victory over Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night that he's been playing through a shoulder injury for nearly a month.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News passed along comments about the ailment from the 32-year-old forward, who said the issue stems from suffering a bruise on his shooting shoulder Dec. 11. Ever since, it's required constant attention and can often flare up during games:
It's bad. You know what it is, it's an adjustment that you have to make on the fly. Like some days it feels good, some days it's tight. Throughout the course of the game, certain shots, certain moves, you feel like the strength isn't there. So it's just a matter of figuring out how to play through it. What's working? What's not?
It feels good during the game. And then you irritate it. And then you kind of ...
Chris Paul Passes Rod Strickland for 10th on the NBA’s All-Time Assist List
January 7th, 2017 by Daily Facts No comments »
Fact: Chris Paul had 12 assists in the Clippers' 106-98 win over the Kings on Friday night, passing Rod Strickland (7,987) for 10th on the NBA's all-time assist list.
Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Facts of the day, presented by Coors Light.
Source: B/R Insights
Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
New Rivalries Getting Better in the 2016-17 NHL Season
January 7th, 2017 by Carol Schram No comments »
When it comes to rivalries in the National Hockey League, it's all pretty clear, right?
The Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the Philadelphia Flyers. The Boston Bruins vs. the Montreal Canadiens. The Chicago Blackhawks vs. the St. Louis Blues. Emotions have been running high between those teams for decades. All that long-simmering hate leads to some awesome on-ice action.
But it doesn't end there. The NHL is an ever-changing entity, with new relationships evolving all the time between various teams.
Here's a look at some rivalries to pay attention to as we head into the second half of the 2016-17 season. The origins of these conflicts are all over the map. Some have their roots in history, and others are just getting started.
Let us know whether you see other teams developing that certain sort of snarl when they face a particular opponent.Begin Slideshow
Grizzlies vs. Warriors: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2017 Regular Season
January 7th, 2017 by Alec Nathan No comments »
There are meltdowns, and then there's what the Golden State Warriors (31-6) experienced Friday night.
Although they once appeared destined for an easy win after leading by 24 points in the third quarter, the Warriors suffered an epic fourth-quarter collapse and fell to the Memphis Grizzlies, 128-119, in a nervy overtime thriller at Oracle Arena.
The Warriors—who didn't make a field goal in the fourth quarter until there was 3:14 remaining—were outscored 32-13 in the final frame and watched Mike Conley drill a game-tying jumper to force the extra session with 7.4 seconds to go in regulation, via the NBA:
According to ESPN Stats & Info, NBA teams had lost 662 straight games when trailing by at least 19 points entering the fourth quarter before Memphis' comeback.
Conley and Zach Randolph dropped 27 points apiece in the win, while Marc Gasol added 23 as the Grizzlies improved to 2-0 against the Warriors this season.
Speaking of which, the ...
Goran Dragic, Jordan Clarkson Ejected After Confrontation: Details and Reaction
January 6th, 2017 by Alec Nathan No comments »
Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic and Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson were ejected following a heated confrontation during the third quarter of Friday night's game at Staples Center.
The incident started when Dragic went to set a screen on Clarkson near the free-throw line, at which point Clarkson shoved the Heat floor general. Play continued after the initial contact, but the two proceeded to clash below the basket before Clarkson appeared to catch Dragic with a forearm above the neck.
"The heat of the game and stuff happens through the game," Clarkson said after the Lakers' 127-100 win, according to the Los Angeles Daily News' Mark Medina. "We're not going to back down from guys."
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra saw things a bit differently.
"It's really shameful, disgraceful that Goran Dragic got thrown out of that game," Spoelstra said, per the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. "Gets an elbow to his face, ...
Cavs Have Bolstered Roster for Finals Run Before, May Not Be Done This Season
January 6th, 2017 by Jesse Spector No comments »
BROOKLYN, New York — The Cleveland Cavaliers are not satisfied.
They're the NBA's defending champions, they sit in first place out East at 27-8 following Friday's 116-108 win over the Brooklyn Nets, and they're not sitting back wondering if their roster is good enough as-is to compete for another title.
Hence the trade for Atlanta Hawks swingman Kyle Korver, which the Cavs hope to complete by Saturday, according to ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin and Marc Stein.
But anybody surprised by Cleveland's aggressive pursuit to further enhance a squad that already qualifies as "championship-caliber" shouldn't be. This is the same team that sent away longtime Cavaliers staple Anderson Varejao to acquire lights-out-shooting big Channing Frye last season—someone who has a pretty good idea how Korver might be feeling right now.
“It made me think, 'Holy s--t, I’m on a contender now,'” Frye said Friday, reflecting on his own transitional experience a year ago.
“Then, at the beginning, it’s ...