NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz Surrounding Paul Millsap, Andrew Bogut and More
January 6th, 2017 by Rob Goldberg No comments »
The NBA season features plenty of time for a team to change its fortunes after a bad start, but most teams know what they have and don't have at this point in the year.
Almost halfway into the season, the contenders and pretenders are starting to separate themselves. Those who have disappointed to this stage can either start looking toward the future or find ways to upgrade the roster.
The Feb. 23 trade deadline is still over a month away, but it is never too soon to improve your team. Here are some players who could help out a contender in the coming weeks.
P.J. Tucker to the Knicks?
The New York Knicks are reeling with six straight losses to fall to 16-19 on the season. While there is talent on the roster, defense remains a major issue while allowing 108.4 points per game.
Head ...
Post to Post: Will Artemi Panarin’s Extension Kill the Bridge Contract?
January 6th, 2017 by Jonathan Willis No comments »
Any serious NHL fan likely knows all about bridge deals. When a good young player comes off his entry-level contract, his team has a choice: Either sign him immediately to a long-term contract at significant dollars that will take him into unrestricted free agency, or settle for a deal between one and three years at a lesser amount.
With Artemi Panarin’s recent contract extension, the Chicago Blackhawks got neither the security of a long-term deal nor the usual discount that comes with a short-term pact. The restricted free agent agreed to a two-year deal (upon the conclusion of which he’ll be an unrestricted free agent) at significant money.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had the details:
At first glance, it’s hard to justify a two-year contract that pays Panarin as much as players like John Tavares and Taylor Hall are earning on long-term deals. But there’s more to it than first glance. Unlike Hall and ...
NBA Trade Deadline 2017: Ranking the 10 Most Coveted Players on the Trade Block
January 6th, 2017 by Dan Favale No comments »
It's important not to waste time when journeying down trade-machine rabbit holes. Rather than randomly tinkering with the NBA's competitive landscape prior to the Feb. 23 trade deadline, you need to have a central focus.
Finding new homes for the league's most desirable chopping-block members is the best place to start.
These players aren't always, or ever, offloaded at steep discounts. But their names have been linked to credible reports and speculation.
Plucking out the most sought-after prospects is an all-inclusive project. Individual performance and production matter most, but age, contract status, annual salary, play style and asking price all have the ability to tip the scale. Those who grade out best in multiple areas are the hottest assets.Begin Slideshow
Thursday NBA Roundup: Westbrook’s MVP Chances Remain Strong, but Winning Matters
January 5th, 2017 by Adam Fromal No comments »
When the NBA names the 2016-17 MVP, a game from early January could loom large for James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
After all, the Houston Rockets' 118-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday was a triple-double away from serving as a microcosm of the race for the league's biggest individual award.
Houston's bearded point guard struggled with turnovers but finished with an efficient 26 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists. That line doesn't even include the brilliant play he made with the game on the line, pulling in multiple defenders during the final seconds and then slipping the ball to Nene, who drew a foul and took the lead at the stripe:
It does, however, include this beauty of a three-pointer:
Westbrook matched him step for step.
The dynamic floor general was a terror, recording 49 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals while shooting 16-of-34 from the field and making a career-high ...
World Junior Hockey Championship 2017 Final: USA vs. Canada Score, Reaction
January 5th, 2017 by Rob Goldberg No comments »
Tyler Parsons saved all five shot attempts he faced in the shootout to help the United States bring home the gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in dramatic fashion Thursday.
The United States overcame two different two-goal deficits to force overtime against Canada in Montreal, which wasn't enough to break the 4-4 tie. In a five-round shootout, Troy Terry scored the only goal, and Parsons took care of the rest in what went down as a 5-4 win for the U.S.
TSN provided a look at the final save:
Bryan Hayes of TSN had high praise for the battle:
Terry, who had the game-winning goal for the Americans in the semifinals against Russia, came through once again. Kieffer Bellows was big as well, recording two goals, while Parsons' work in the net kept things close with 46 saves.
Thomas Chabot was the best player for Canada, scoring one goal and garnering an ...
Kyle Korver Gives Cleveland Cavaliers Perfect Piece for Championship Repeat
January 5th, 2017 by Greg Swartz No comments »
In a move blessed by the basketball gods, Kyle Korver will now be firing catch-and-shoot three-pointers directly from LeBron James.
Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Vertical first reported the Atlanta Hawks would be sending the sharpshooting guard to the Cleveland Cavaliers, giving James and others yet another weapon on the perimeter. The Cavs, in return, are packaging small forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. and a 2019 first-round pick to the Hawks.
With starting shooting guard J.R. Smith sidelined until late March or early April following thumb surgery, Cleveland needed a shooter on the outside to fill his role. With the Hawks middling in Eastern Conference purgatory, their fire sale may just be starting.
After getting swept by the Cavaliers each of the past two postseasons, Korver now joins his former playoff foes in their quest for a championship repeat.
How Korver Fits
Cleveland loves shooting the three-ball, and Korver doesn't seem to mind, either.
The ...
Spurs vs. Nuggets: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2017 Regular Season
January 5th, 2017 by Scott Polacek No comments »
The San Antonio Spurs let the Denver Nuggets hang around during Thursday's Western Conference showdown at the Pepsi Center, but they unleashed their dominance in the second half of a 127-99 victory.
San Antonio outscored Denver 69-46 after halftime to secure a win that moved it to 29-7 overall and a head-turning 17-3 on the road this season.
The Nuggets, who dropped to 14-22 with their fourth straight loss, couldn't keep up with the combination of LaMarcus Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol.
Aldridge led all scorers with 28 points, while Leonard stuffed the stat sheet with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Parker just missed a double-double with 21 points and nine assists, and Gasol controlled the interior with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
The Spurs' perimeter defense also helped set the tone, holding Denver to 7-of-25 shooting from three-point range.
Despite San Antonio's strong effort on ...
Thunder vs. Rockets: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2017 Regular Season
January 5th, 2017 by Alec Nathan No comments »
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook erupted for 49 points and drained a career-high eight threes Thursday night, but the Houston Rockets (28-9) got the last laugh when Nene drilled a pair of free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining to snag a 118-116 win at Toyota Center.
NBA on TNT provided a look at the play that led to the decisive conversions:
In the last-second loss to the streaking Rockets—who have won six straight—the Thunder (21-16) watched Westbrook account for 42 percent of their points, while James Harden and Eric Gordon led Houston's balanced spread attack to a narrow victory.
Harden totaled 26 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds on a night when he was searching for his fourth straight triple-double, while Gordon racked up 22 points on 8-of-20 shooting (5-of-10 from three-point range) off the bench.
All five Rockets starters finished in double figures, and Nene came up large with 18 points ...
Blue Jackets vs. Capitals: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2017 Regular Season
January 5th, 2017 by Scott Polacek No comments »
The Washington Capitals put history on hold Thursday at the Verizon Center.
Washington ended the Columbus Blue Jackets' 16-game winning streak with a commanding 5-0 victory and prevented the visitors from tying the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins' NHL record of 17 consecutive wins. It was also a notable effort for the Capitals because they are chasing the Blue Jackets in the Metropolitan Division.
Washington now has 53 points after four straight wins, while Columbus remains at 58 points.
Daniel Winnik and John Carlson put the Capitals in control when they each scored a first-period goal, and Nate Schmidt and Andre Burakovsky essentially iced the win with a second-period goal apiece. Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled in the third period after Justin Williams added a fifth goal.
Bobrovsky saved 18 of 23 shots and was no match for his counterpart. Braden Holtby turned away all 29 of Columbus' shots and was the best player on the ice throughout the game.
It ...
Kyle Korver to Cavaliers: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction
January 5th, 2017 by Alec Nathan No comments »
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in need of reinforcements at shooting guard ever since J.R. Smith had thumb surgery, which is expected to sideline him for another few months. They made a major move Thursday when they acquired Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania.
Korver confirmed the move Thursday, per Justin Verrier of ESPN.com.
On Saturday, the Cavaliers announced the trade became official, as the Hawks sent Korver to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a future first-round pick, Mike Dunleavy and Mo Williams.
Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters on Saturday he does not expect Williams to be a part of the Hawks' future, and they traded for him to help make the deal work.
On Friday, Wojnarowski noted moving Williams as part of the deal saves Cleveland $5.4 million in salary and tax. Wojnarowski reported Thursday the Cavaliers and Hawks initially sought a ...