NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Nerlens Noel, John Wall and More
December 17th, 2016 by Andy Bailey No comments »
The further we get into the 2016-17 NBA season, the more the rumor mill seems to speed up.
The latest factor in accelerating the mill is that we've now passed an important date for trade rumors. After Dec. 15, teams are allowed to trade players they signed this past summer, which makes it easier to put together multiple-player deals.
With that being the case, it could now be easier to move guys who've been in the rumor mill for months. Take Philadelphia 76ers big man Nerlens Noel, for example. Everyone can see that Philly can't move forward with all of its big men, but it may have been difficult to assemble the right package with so many players off the table.
That's no longer an issue, but a new one may be creeping up in Noel's case.
Others who've recently found themselves as the subjects of trade rumors include the Washington Wizards' John Wall, ...
Stock Report for the Top 20 Names in the 2017 NBA Draft Class
December 17th, 2016 by Jonathan Wasserman No comments »
NBA draft discussion is heating up with conference play just around the corner.
We're at the point in the season where scouts are starting to get a strong feel for players.
The conversation already includes some good debate at the point guard position, while injuries have helped shake up projections. Future NBA lottery teams looking for wings should also feel good about their chances of landing a good one.
Our top 20 already looks significantly different from the preseason rankings, though nothing has changed regarding the No. 1 prospect.
Stats up to date as of December 16, 2016.Begin Slideshow
NHL Players Most Likely to Be Traded Due to the Expansion Draft
December 17th, 2016 by Lyle Richardson No comments »
With the NHL's Las Vegas expansion franchise unveiled as the Vegas Golden Knights, it remains to be seen which current NHL players will make up their inaugural roster.
Next June's expansion draft could force some teams to trade players they might otherwise retain. Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler could be among the notables to hit the trade block.
As per expansion draft rules, teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender or eight skaters total (forwards/blueliners) and a goalie. Players carrying no-movement clauses must be protected unless they waive their clause to become available in the draft. They could also be asked to waive their clauses to accept a trade to an existing NHL franchise.
Because teams can only protect one goaltender, the Penguins must convince Fleury to waive his no-movement clause in order to protect young goalie Matt Murray. The Ducks could be forced to trade Fowler ...
Rockets Made Most 3s by a Team in a Regular-Season Game in NBA History
December 17th, 2016 by Daily Facts No comments »
Fact: The Houston Rockets made 24 three-pointers in their 122-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, the most threes made by a team in a regular-season game in NBA history.
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
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Nerlens Noel Comments on Playing Time in Loss vs. Lakers
December 17th, 2016 by Tim Daniels No comments »
Philadelphia 76ers power forward Nerlens Noel expressed frustration with the team's frontcourt rotation after playing just 18 total minutes in his first two appearances of the season.
Noel, who missed the first quarter of the campaign following knee surgery, played only eight minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday after recovering from a minor ankle sprain. After the 100-89 loss, he told reporters: "I think I'm too good to be playing eight minutes. That's crazy. Need to figure this s--t out."
The Sixers are emerging from their extended rebuild with an overabundance of post players. Along with Noel, the roster features Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric, Ersan Ilyasova and Richaun Holmes in a fierce battle just to see the court.
The problem will become even more complicated when top overall pick Ben Simmons (6'10") makes his debut after recovering from a foot injury. He offers a unique skill set as a point forward, ...
Friday NBA Roundup: Are Lakers or Sixers Better Off in Rebuilding Process?
December 17th, 2016 by Josh Martin No comments »
The last time D'Angelo Russell and Joel Embiid were spotted on the same court, they were buried on the depth chart together at Montverde Academy in Florida.
"Our coach had guys in front of us," Russell told CSNPhilly.com's Jessica Camerato. "After the practices or games, we were always in the gym together. We spent a lot of time [there], if it was getting work or just messing around shooting crazy shots."
Playing time is no longer hard to come by for these two, though they've been butting up against minutes restrictions. Both young stars have found wins at the NBA level much tougher to find, though Russell's Los Angeles Lakers are already well ahead of Embiid's Philadelphia 76ers in that regard.
L.A. made that crystal clear from the get-go during a 100-89 win in Philly on Friday that snapped an eight-game skid.
Russell fueled the Lakers early. Within the first two minutes, the ...
Rockets Set NBA Record for Most 3-Pointers in Game vs. Pelicans
December 16th, 2016 by Joe Pantorno No comments »
The Houston Rockets proved Friday night that there is another team in the Western Conference that can shoot from deep like the Golden State Warriors.
Against the New Orleans Pelicans, Houston set NBA records with 24 made three-pointers, 31 attempts in a half and 61 attempts in a game, per ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins.
The Rockets showcased each of their 24 threes from Friday in what turned out to be a 122-100 win:
Six different players hit at least one three-pointer on the night as the Rockets shot 39.3 percent from deep for the game.
Coming off the bench, shooting guard Eric Gordon led the team with seven of them, while James Harden added six, and Trevor Ariza sank five. Both Gordon and Harden recorded game highs of 29 points.
They kept it late, but Ryan Anderson provided the record-breaker with 32.3 seconds to go, lifting the 2016 Rockets past the 2013 Rockets and 2009 Orlando ...
Lakers vs. 76ers: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2016 Regular Season
December 16th, 2016 by Adam Wells No comments »
Allen Iverson's party was spoiled by the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 100-89, on a night when The Answer was presented with his Basketball Hall of Fame jacket.
The Lakers, who entered Friday's road contest 0-8 in December, stormed out of the gates with a 13-0 run to open the game. They never looked back from that point, as Julius Randle led the barrage with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.
Randle showed off his defensive chops and highlight-reel skills on a single play right before the half, via the Lakers:
The previous two games were an epic struggle for Randle. He had a combined eight points on 3-of-15 shooting against the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets prior to finally breaking through against the 76ers.
Randle had some help from his teammates, though. Second-year guard D'Angelo Russell had 15 points and seven rebounds. Lou Williams was terrific off the bench ...
DeMarcus Cousins Confronts Reporter over Column on Nightclub Incident
December 16th, 2016 by Adam Wells No comments »
Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins confronted a reporter in the team's locker room following Monday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a column written on December 9 when the team was in New York.
Per Sacramento Bee executive editor and senior vice president Joyce Terhaar, Cousins got in the face of Andy Furillo.
On December 9, Graham Rayman of the New York Daily News reported the New York Police Department was nearing a misdemeanor assault charge and issuing a warrant for Matt Barnes' arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman at a nightclub.
Cousins was also under investigation but unlikely to be charged for allegedly sucker-punching the boyfriend of the woman Barnes is said to have assaulted.
Furillo's column for the Bee on that same day talked about the alleged incident in New York and referenced a TMZ Sports report in which the two-time NBA All-Star was involved in a nightclub confrontation in Tampa, Florida, that resulted in Cousins' brother being ...
Anthony Davis Injury: Pelicans Star Suffers Leg Contusion vs. Rockets
December 16th, 2016 by Adam Wells No comments »
New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis suffered a lower-leg contusion Friday.
He was injured during the first half against the Houston Rockets and briefly returned in the third quarter before leaving for good, per the Pelicans' public relations staff on Twitter.
Thankfully for New Orleans fans, Davis told reporters Sunday morning that he expects to play against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.
Davis suffered an injury midway through the preseason. He played just six minutes against the Rockets on Oct. 12 before going down with a sprained ankle that was expected to keep him out 10 to 15 days.
Fortunately, he's stayed on the court since. He is also playing a career-high 37.7 minutes per game, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Staying healthy has been a career-long problem for Davis. The three-time All-Star has missed at least 14 games in each of his first four NBA seasons, hindering the Pelicans as they try to gain relevance in the Western ...