#superstar scottie barnes

[xariarte]

[199degrees]

not to be that person but i literally knew scottie barnes was gonna be a lil superstar since he was drafted to the raptors since i saw his outfit at draft night ☺️⭐

[ibestofthewestblog]

Team Profile:

Sierra Canyon Trailblazers

CIF-Southern Section 

Coach: Andre Chevalier

Last season: 32-3 (CIF Open Division State Champions)

Cassius Stanley after Sierra Canyon dismantled University School (Florida) in the Les Schwab Invitational Final, a team that included Duke’s Vernon Carey and FSU commit Scottie Barnes

The Skinny:

The ESPN High School Showcase released their roster of games they will be spotlighting this season, as ESPN will be the home of games between top ranked teams across the country.  Upon release of the schedule, one can clearly see that the showcase favors one program over others: the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers.  The school in Chatsworth, California show up a whopping fifteen times on the showcase, which in itself is clearly a record since the series has been developed.  This is due in part of the Trailblazer’s history to accumulate superteams even in the wake of graduation.  In 2017-2018 it was the trio of Cassius Stanley, KJ Martin, & Scotty Pippen, Jr and this season calls for the ridiculous combination of Ziaire Williams, BJ Boston, Shy Odom, Bronny James Jr., & Zaire Wade.  Ziaire Williams & BJ Boston are atop of the ESPN 100 rankings for top ranked seniors as they are supported by the already stacked cast at Sierra Canyon.  They return TCU bound Terren Frank, super sophomore Amari Bailey, & big man from China, Harold Yu.  On paper, the Blazers look like the a top-ten team in the nation but this season they will be tested as they play a national schedule, competing against top competition with little rest in between tournaments and showcases.

ESPN High School Showcase Games:

11/21 vs. Montgomery (California) ESPN3

11/22 vs. St. Augustine (California) ESPN3

11/23 vs. Cathedral Catholic (California) ESPN3

12/7 at Millenium (Arizona) ESPN3

12/14 vs. St. Vincent St. Mary (Ohio) ESPN3

1/03 vs. No. 4 The Patrick School (New Jersey) ESPN2

1/04 at No. 20 Minehaha Academy (Minnesota) ESPN3

1/11 vs. No. 18 Rancho Christian ESPN3

1/18 vs. Dominican (Wisconsin) ESPN3

1/20 vs. No. 12 Paul VI (Virginia) ESPNU

1/28 at Campbell Hall (California) ESPN3

1/31 at Brentwood School (California) ESPN3

2/04 at Paraclete (California) ESPN3

2/07 vs. Gil St. Bernard’s (New Jersey) ESPN3

2/08 No. 9 Long Island Lutheran (New York) ESPN3

Potential Line-up:

Big bodied Harold Yu will make big strides this season

BJ Boston - high-flying all American opted to transfer from Norcross (Georgia) in search of spotlight and hardware.  Played for Nike EYBL AOT (Athletes of Tomorrow) alongside multitalented point guard Sharife Cooper (McEachern HS, Georgia).  Committed to Kentucky.  Working on tool-box as far as outside game goes, will have a Cassius Stanley like impact.

Ziaire Williams - perhaps the most polished of the group as he showcases the true ability to score from all three levels.  Transferred Notre Dame HS (Sherman Oaks, California).  Played for Nike EYBL Oakland Soldiers and stole the show last spring as he showed all high majors on why he should be considered on the list.  Early to tell, but looks to be the alpha dog for Sierra Canyon early in the season and down the stretch.

Amari Bailey - sophomore originally from Chicago plays hard on every possession, very fluid and hard-working athlete that skies from nowhere on possessions to rebound, block shots, and dunk it on unsuspecting defenders.  Crafty ball-handler that has a variety of moves down the lane.  Can knock down the open jumper.  Add this with the fact that he is only a sophomore and you have a truly scary player over the years.  Played for Nike EYBL Mac Irvin 15U (Chicago, Illinois) last spring.

Terren Frank - Terren is a name that not all are familiar with, for he plays more of a six man role, but is capable of anything on the court.  He is a stretch four, as he can knock down shots from anywhere on the floor as well as has handy moves inside the post.  He has faced injuries in the past two years, but when he was on the floor he was effective as ever.  Overall team player that will do anything to win.  Was a part of the Nike EYBL Finalists Team Why Not.

Harold Yu - big and imposing center originally from China, Yu transferred last season in hopes of getting Division 1 exposure.  He got way more than he bargained for, as he picked up an offer from Cal in his first week playing, got an CIF Open Division State ring, amongst other accolades.  The 7’2” big man is a physical specimen, has a nice touch for a big man, and looks to continue to develop and learn the game as a junior.

How Will They Be Tested:

St. Augustine’s Chibuzo Agbo was a mere freshman when they took down Sierra Canyon in the 2017 CIF Open Division Playoffs

The Trailblazers waste no time at all and begin the season on ESPN, as their games during the San Diego Tip-Off Challenge will be shown on television 11/22-11/24.  There, they will meet Montgomery, St. Augustine & Cathedral Catholic, all San Diego teams.  St. Augustine is an interesting match-up, as the two teams matched up last year in a blowout for Sierra Canyon.  However, interestingly enough, the last time Sierra Canyon lost in the CIF Open Division State Playoffs was to St. Augustine, when they had Marvin Bagley and Cody Riley.  St. Augustine is a tough team led by Coach Mike Haupt, who has a reputation for putting together tough teams and getting the most out of his players.  St. Augustine is led by Texas Tech commit Chibuzo Agbo and Luke Haupt, whom played for Team Why Not.  On another side note, Cathedral Catholic defeated Sierra Canyon in the year before that in the 2016 CIF State Open Division Playoffs, that year they were led by Brandon McCoy (Wisconsin Herd).  San Diego teams have proved difficult for the Trailblazer, so they will be tested right off the bat.

On 12/14 on what is a truly engaging match-up, the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers will meet LeBron James’ alma mater, St. Vincent St. Mary’s (OH) in the Hoophall Classic.  In the 2002-2003 season, LeBron James led the Irish to a national title where his own games were nationally televised on ESPN.  In a truly coming of age tale, Bronny James Jr. will play against his father’s school on ESPN.  

On 12/18, they will travel to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic, where they will play more out-of-state talent.

12/26, they will see a homecoming trip where they will in the Damien Classic in a field that includes Rancho Christian, whom they will surely be seeing a few times in the season.

1/03 they will play The Patrick School (New Jersey), alma mater of NBA superstar Kyrie Irving.  St. Patrick is headed by top 2021 player Jonathan Kuminga, who is being recruited by virtually every school in the school.  This game will be on big-time television on ESPN2.

1/04 will pit them against Minehaha (Minnesota) which has the talented tandem of Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren.  Jalen Suggs is ranked as the sixth best prospect in the class of 2020 according to ESPN and is ranked within the ESPN 300 as a dual-threat quarterback as well.  Chet Holmgren is a versatile 7-footer that can dribble like a guard and take it down the middle and jam it on a defender.  Both played on the Underamour Association for Team Sizzle. 

Who Will Stop Them in State?

California has traditionally been amongst the tougher states to claim a state title, as one has to place well in their city championships to claim a good seed in State, not only win their region, but play the Socal/Norcal winner in the State Title game.  More often than not, the Southern California teams claim the title, as there are generally more talented teams in the SoCal area.  Teams that will give Sierra Canyon trouble down the road as State comes include:

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) - every season you hear about the Monarchs, as they are led by veteran coach Mary McKnight, whom is no stranger to winning himself.  His accolades include one national title, eleven State titles, sixteen SoCal regional championships, and 23 CIF-Southern Section titles.  This season, Mater Dei hosts a slew of talented, headlined by Devin Askew (Kentucky commit) & big man Wilhelm Breidenbach.  Askew is a silky smooth guard with deft balling handling skills, a perfect shot, as well a bulldog demeanor on the court.  Breidenback is a blue collar post who has shown range and ability to rebound and matches Askew’s fire on the court.  The two were a tandem on the Nike EYBL Team Why Not team that made it to the finals.

Rancho Christian (Temecula, California) - the Eagles are led by number one prospect in the country, Evan Mobley, who will join his brother at USC next season.  Evan Mobley is truly a video game character, while at 7-feet he can handle the ball, shoot, cut, just like a guard.  Now, his confidence and skills are at a peak and he is dunking on opponents at will.  This season he looks to win Gatorade Player of the Year as well as cap off his senior season with a State title.  Played for the Adidas Gauntlet Compton Magic, arguably the best program currently in AAU hoops.  Alongside Mobley, the Eagles costar Gonzaga commit Dominick Harris who is pound for pound one of the best players in California.  Harris is listed at 6’4” but can sky for dunks in addition to his overall ability to simple score anywhere on the court.  Look for Rancho Christian to duke it out several times with Sierra Canyon this season.  In fact, they have a date with the Trailblazers on 1/11 as a part of the ESPN High School showcase.

Why They Won’t Make It?

Although Sierra Canyon is not only returning CIF Open Division champs, but in fact back to back Open Division Champs (first time since the introduction of Open Division), they will face stiff competition not only in-state but out of state as well.  With everybody in the country knowing who the Trailblazers are, they will be on their tip-toes to try to put a dent to their name.  This team will be tested physically, emotionally, spiritually as they will play the best individual and team talent with little to no rest.  Although they will mature on the road and as the season progresses, the true question is how well can you mesh a team together for the short-term goal.  

Sierra Canyon has a history of melting teams together as for the 2017-2018 season Bagley skitched on for a ride and Cassius joined for the 2018-2019 season on the route to two State titles.  However, as history shows, there is never a dominant team in California that competes and dominates at the highest level for more than a year or two.  It even took Chino Hills several tries and it didn’t come together until Lonzo’s senior season with Lamelo skipping a grade to enroll earlier along with the other Division 1 talent surrounding them.  Also, the Trailblazers may suffer from too much depth, often times a team with too many all-star players can crash and burn due to little chemistry on the court.  In fact, there are rumors surfacing that with the surplus of talent on this team, they will go with a rolling line-up throughout the entirety of the season, experimenting with line-ups and rotations.  However, questions still stand for the Blazers this season.  Can Sierra Canyon deliver upon the pressures they put on themselves?  Is this the new formula for high school basketball, putting together an on the run team filled with five-star transfers?  Only time will tell.

Enjoy The Show:

Before the season began, Sierra Canyon has already put on a show for the country to follow.  With the blockbuster transfers coming in an alarming rate, the arrival of Bronny James, their own midnight madness, and all of the social media hype surrounding them.  But they are shown to be human, as they lost a fall season league game to Dreamcity Christian, a prep team led by five-star MarJon Beauchamp.  But that says something in itself that their fall season consists of opponents from prep schools, as they played Hillcrest Prep (Arizona) as well.  Right as Sierra Canyon puts together rosters nobody has seen before, with the trio of Bagley, Cody Riley, & Remy Martin, they reload to the tune of Stanley, Martin, and Pippen.  Now they have mixed the theme of five-star talents and sons of NBA players once again as the hoist together talents from all across the country in Boston and Odom.  Add in the cameras, light, and action in the form of the ESPN coverage and you have one of the most highly speculated high school basketball seasons in recently memory, perhaps ever.  Now we will have to see, as whether they deliver on their hype and mania in the form of a State championships, and perhaps number one national spot.  Stay tuned. 

[junker-town]

5 NBA stars who could be traded next

Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The NBA stars who could get traded next, ranked by how soon they might move.

The NBA never goes too long without a superstar changing teams via a trade. The summer of 2017 saw Jimmy Butler traded to the Timberwolves and Chris Paul traded to the Rockets. In 2018, Kawhi Leonard was traded from the Spurs to the Raptors while Butler was dealt again to the 76ers. In 2019, Anthony Davis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul George was traded to the Clippers, and Paul was traded to Oklahoma City for Russell Westbrook. Paul was on the move again to the Suns in 2020, while James Harden’s trade request hung over the season until he was mercifully sent from the Rockets to the Nets two weeks into January.

The biggest trade of this offseason so far is the five-team deal headlined by Westbrook’s arrival to the Lakers. Now that most of the player movement in free agency has settled, all eyes will again turn to the trade market as players consider their futures and teams assemble their best offers should a star fully hit the market.

Since star trade speculation is always one of the biggest topics in the league, here’s a look at the big names who are rumored to (maybe) be the next to move, and when it could happen.

5. Karl Anthony-Towns

When could it happen? Summer 2023 at the earliest.

There has been speculation that Towns wouldn’t sign a third contract with the Timberwolves from the moment he inked his super max extension in 2018. That deal has three years and $101.3 million remaining, and Minnesota remains far away from contention.

Can Minnesota build a winner before Towns is up for a new deal? For as promising as Anthony Edwards looked in his rookie season, the West remains a gauntlet and there isn’t a clear path for the Wolves to make a big jump up the standings. It isn’t hard to envision a scenario where Towns signals he’d like to change teams when his deal is up, and Minnesota not wanting to lose him for nothing.

Towns remains one of the best skilled offensive bigs in the league with the ability to unleash high volume and highly accurate three-point shooting from the center position. Even with question marks defensively, there’s no doubt the soon-to-be 26-year-old looks like he will eventually be in line for another max deal. He can’t become a free agent until the summer of 2024.

4. Bradley Beal

When could it happen? Summer 2023 at the earliest.

Trade rumors have swirled around Beal for years as the Washington Wizards have struggled to build a sustainable contender following John Wall’s Achilles tear. Washington swapped Wall for Russell Westbrook and earned the No. 8 seed in last year’s playoffs, and then flipped Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers for a bunch of depth pieces at the 2021 draft. Beal was reportedly considering his future with the franchise in the run-up to those moves, but Washington’s latest bold move of the offseason — a sign-and-trade for Spencer Dinwiddie — seems to have quieted speculation that Beal could be on the move soon.

The latest reports from insider Shams Charania said Beal now has no intention of leaving the Wizards, and is eyeing a five-year, $235 million max extension next summer.

While the Wizards still don’t look like a contender in the East, this report makes sense from two different angles: a) Beal wants to lock in his long-term money before seeking a new team, and b) he might be impressed with the way the front office has re-tooled the roster after the Wall trade. Washington still has lots of work to do, but it’s possible Beal is happy there for now. There will be plenty of interested suitors readying big trade packages if the Wizards ever do finally deal him.

3. Damian Lillard

When could it happen? Summer 2022 at the earliest.

Damian Lillard has been vocal about his loyalty to the Portland Trail Blazers over the years, but that might finally be changing as he enters his 31-year-old season.

Dame was vocal about his disappointment after the Blazers were knocked out in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs by a Denver Nuggets team that didn’t have injured star Jamal Murray. There was plenty of speculation Lillard could demand a trade this summer, but instead he’s made public comments pressuring the team to improve quickly. What happens if they don’t?

Portland re-signed Norman Powell to a $90 million deal, but otherwise their “big” free agent additions this offseason were Tony Snell and Cody Zeller. If Portland doesn’t make an all-in move before the season starts, it’s easy to envision a scenario where the team has another early exit in the playoffs and Lillard demands a trade in the summer of 2022.

A Lillard trade demand would likely be similar to Harden’s in Houston, with a list of preferences informing the market. The rest of the league will be waiting anxiously to see if the Blazers can fix things before Dame wants out.

2. Pascal Siakam

When could it happen? Any moment.

The Raptors won 50 or more games for five straight seasons before missing the playoffs (and play-in tournament) during a disastrous 27-45 season last year. Toronto had an easy excuse with the pandemic forcing the team to relocate to Tampa Bay for the season, but the loss of Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat this offseason has quelled any optimism that Toronto could be a contender again next season.

The Raptors drafted Scottie Barnes at No. 4 overall, re-signed Gary Trent Jr. and Khem Birch, and otherwise haven’t done much yet to reshape the roster. It’s hard to tell what the long-term vision for Toronto is right now, which makes the reports that Pascal Siakam is available on the trade market even more difficult to decipher.

Siakam trade rumors have been out there all offseason. A recent report from Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee states that the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly “enamored” with Siakam. The Warriors feel like the most tantalizing fit, with three lottery picks under 21 years old — James Wiseman, Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga — potentially fitting the bill if Toronto is looking to rebuild.

It’s possible Siakam could be on the move later this offseason if the Raptors want to fully commit to a youth movement. There really shouldn’t be too much rush for Toronto, though. Siakam is coming off an underwhelming year by his standards and is under contract for the next three seasons. It’s certainly possible he could raise his trade value during the upcoming season if Toronto holds onto him, and there’s a more robust market for him at the deadline or in the summer of 2022.

1. Ben Simmons

When could it happen? Any moment.

The NBA has waited with bated breath for a Simmons deal to finally come to fruition ever since his immense offensive struggles contributed to a second round playoff flameout for the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in June. Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid both appeared to throw Simmons under the bus after Philadelphia’s series-clinching loss to the Atlanta Hawks, setting off a wild summer of speculation about the 25-year-old All-Star’s future.

The draft came and went with Simmons still in Philadelphia. The Sixers didn’t do much in free agency, either, signing Andre Drummond and re-signing Danny Green but otherwise opting to keep the same team intact while they wait for the right offer for Simmons. What we appear to have now is an old fashioned standoff.

Simmons and agent Rich Paul reportedly want to be sent to a new team. Morey is asking for the world for Simmons at the moment. The real goal for Philly is likely to wait it out, let Simmons recoup some value, and then make him the centerpiece of a package for Lillard or Beal, should they ask out. Is the relationship between Simmons and the Sixers too broken to get that far?

The Simmons situation sure seems like it will be a major distraction if Morey lets it bleed into the season. At the same time, the team wants to make sure they can get the absolute best return for him. Until this is resolved, the Simmons trade rumors will remain one of the biggest stories in the NBA.

Wildcard: Zion Williamson

Williamson was reportedly a little bummed out that the Pelicans won the lottery when he was the clear No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft. There are already rumblings he isn’t happy in New Orleans only two seasons into his rookie deal. He hasn’t been shy about expressing his love for New York. The Pelicans’ offseason — whiffing on Kyle Lowry, letting go of Lonzo Ball, adding Devonte’ Graham and Tomas Satoransky as their headline acquisitions — hasn’t been super encouraging.

Williamson still has two years left on his rookie deal. Before his fourth season, he’ll be offered a max extension by New Orleans. If he doesn’t sign it, his only move is to play on the qualifying offer that would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent after his fifth season. It’s extremely rare for a superstar to turn down the money and play on the qualifying offer because of injury risk, and Williamson’s own extensive injury history would make that route an incredibly bold choice.

If Zion really does want out of New Orleans, his only move might be to publicly pressure the front office to trade him. The fanbase has been through this before with Chris Paul and then Anthony Davis, and will pray the Pelicans can take a huge leap up the standings before that happens. Williamson was amazing in his second season, and will only get better if he can stay healthy. For now, this is a situation to monitor even if Zion doesn’t have a lot of easy options.

[tkmedia]

2021 NBA Draft winners and losers: Magic accelerate rebuild with Suggs, Wagner

The 2021 NBA Draft has come and gone with a number of surprising selections and fun moments over the course of the evening.We won’t actually know how teams performed in this draft until years down the line, but in the immediate aftermath there appears to be some clear winners and losers from Thursday night. Winners Orlando Magic At the trade deadline this past season, the Magic went on a fire sale, trading away franchise cornerstones Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon. It was a deliberate move to try to tank for the No. 1 overall pick, something that didn’t pay off as they only ended up with No. 5 at the draft lottery. Coming into this draft, Orlando was likely thinking it would have to find a way to make Jonathan Isaac co-exist with Scottie Barnes. But then the Toronto Raptors ended up taking Barnes at No. 4, and with Jalen Suggs on the board suddenly the Magic had a no-brainer decision on their hands, taking Suggs with No. 5 to help accelerate their rebuild. Suggs is a natural-born leader and could be just what Orlando has been needing to help turn their sorrowfully mediocre culture around. Throw in Franz Wagner, whom the Magic got with the No. 8 overall selection from the Chicago Bulls as part of the Vucevic deal at the deadline, and Orlando had itself a hell of an evening. And a large reason for that was because of the Raptors’ decision to take Barnes. Houston Rockets Another team in the early phases of a rebuild, the Rockets got themselves a major boost by taking Jalen Green at No. 2 and then adding defensive stud Usman Garuba and ultra-athletic guard Josh Christopher later in the draft with the 23rd and 24th overall pick, respectively. These look to be three building-block pieces for a Houston team that’s basically starting from scratch now after the drama James Harden and his exit put them through last season. Green, in particular, appears to be a young man with a legitimate star quality to him. From the way his game projects at the NBA level, to the swagger he carried himself with on draft day he looks like he could be a real foundational piece for Houston moving forward. Charlotte Hornets The Hornets may have gotten the steal of the draft in dynamic UConn guard James Bouknight falling to them at No. 11. Originally projected to go within at least the first eight picks, Bouknight kept falling and falling until he fell right into the Hornets’ lap, where his potential as a legitimate three-level scoring threat could pair very well with LaMelo Ball, even if there might be some positional and role overlap down the line between Bouknight and Devonte' Graham. Additionally, the Hornets got Mason Plumlee, a very serviceable centre, and the No. 37 pick – who ended up being JT Thor from Auburn -- from the Pistons for just the No. 57 pick as Detroit was desperate to dump Plumlee’s salary. And to top it off, Charlotte made a move with the New York Knicks to trade up for athletic big man Kai Jones at No. 19, a prospect who offers tremendous upside down line, particularly as a lob threat from Ball. This was some good work from the Hornets. Canadian basketball On draft night, five Canadians made the league, three of whom were outright drafted. The list includes Josh Primo, Chris Duarte (if you’re willing to count him that is), Dalano Banton, Eugene Omoruyi and AJ Lawson. Primo was probably the biggest surprise pick of the entire evening as the Toronto native went No. 12 overall to the San Antonio Spurs, way higher than where he was originally projected to go. Immediately following up Primo was Duarte, who went to the Indiana Pacers at No. 13. Duarte was born in Montreal, but was raised in the Dominican Republic so he identifies as Dominican more than anything. However, the Canadian roots still remain. Omoruyi and Lawson have reportedly signed as undrafted free agents with the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat, respectively as well. But the biggest win for Canadian basketball Thursday night came from Banton, who made history as the first Canadian to ever get drafted by the Raptors. A tremendous moment. Losers Traditional positions in basketball We are in the era of “position-less” basketball and for proof of this you need look no further than what the Raptors did Thursday night. At No. 4 they had an opportunity to take Suggs, a more traditional point guard who could’ve seamlessly stepped in as Kyle Lowry’s heir apparent, but they instead went with Barnes and his Swiss Army Knife-like skillset. Then, at No. 46, the Raptors took Banton, another long, versatile player who figures to be able to play multiple positions. It’s clear that the Raptors like these long, athletic, multi-positional players because they now have four of them on their roster in Barnes, Banton, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. Whether or not they fit a traditional position on the floor seems irrelevant to the Raptors, as being as flexible -- both offensively and defensively -- is the name of the game these days. The Raptors aren’t the only team that thinks like this, either, they’re just the most apparent in pushing the idea of playing without actual positions. Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers are acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. It’s costing them a fair bit as they’re giving up Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell and the No. 22 pick in Thursday’s draft (who ended up being Kentucky big man Isaiah Jackson – whom the Wizards then flipped to the Indiana for Aaron Holiday), but the Lakers managed to land their man. With Westbrook in the fold the Lakers have a star trio of him, LeBron James and Anthony Davis that combine for 34 all-star selections and 30 All-NBA team selections. That’s some impressive stuff. It also does nothing to help shore up the Lakers’ needs. What Los Angeles needs is a guy who can help space the floor and give more room for James and Davis to operate around the basket. Westbrook is a brilliant talent who is the legitimate king of the triple-double, but he doesn’t do that for the Lakers and will, most likely, do the exact opposite of that for them as he wants to dive into the paint just as much as his new superstar teammates do. What’s funny is before this Westbrook deal came about there were reports about the Lakers looking to deal for Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Buddy Hield involving a similar package to the one they’re sending to the Wizards. Hield isn’t anywhere close to the star that Westbrook is, but his acquisition would’ve helped the Lakers more than this Westbrook one would have. “Expert” pre-draft analysis All of those mock drafts and big boards published in advance of the draft appeared to be for naught as this was a draft where it felt like teams were going off the board from all over. From the Raptors taking Barnes at No. 4, the Oklahoma City Thunder taking Josh Giddey at No. 6, Bouknight falling to No. 11 and Primo getting scooped up at No. 12, if you compare the actual draft results to the mocks from most of the foremost draft experts you’ll see a very different picture. It just goes to show, what media members value – even incredibly connected and informed media members – will differ to what actual team executive do. Read the full article

[podcastpalace]

Ep 1596: It's The All-Blacks In The Quarter-Final, Sub-Two Hour Marathon For Kipchoge - 14/10/19 by The Second Captains Podcast .... Ireland beat Samoa on Saturday morning, but that never looked likely to be enough to get us top spot in the pool, and so it's New Zealand in a World Cup quarter-final next Saturday morning. Are there ANY grounds for optimism? Eoin outlines a few, and Gerry Thornley feels there's still enough quality in this Irish team to pull off a major surprise. New Zealand television superstar and friend of the show Scotty Stevenson gives us his impressions of an extraordinary night in Yokohama last night. We also talk to David Epstein, author of "The Sports Gene", about Eliud Kipchoge's sub-2 hour marathon in Vienna on Sunday morning, and Brigid Kosgei smashing the women's world marathon a couple of hours later. Plus there's Stuart Barnes and why the rugby world wants us to lose, sneakers, and a grandchildren to tell time moment.

[xariarte]

seventh season game WIN: Raps vs Spurs (123-116)

-I could not BELIEVE MY EYES at the Raptors winning this thing. They overcame a 22 point deficit and won in OT thanks to Scottie Barnes and O.G. Anunoby! 😱😳🔥

-The first half was MISERABLE. Terrible. I was so miserable that I simply stayed for Wemby. 😅

-Dennis Schröder was really great in the first half though. He was the only highlight for me in the first half. 💖

-SUPERSTAR SCOTTIE WITH THIRTY POINTS!!! 🔥🔥🔥

-Other highlights: Malachi Flynn with a splashy three pointer, Otto Porter Jr's lockdown defense, Dennis Schröder slicin' and dicin' through the Spurs offense in the second half. 😤

[199degrees]

they all stayed up to watch toronto raptors superstar scottie barnes in the asg last night which is why this game is like this

[gillespialfredoe01806ld]

2017’s Biggest Celebrity Real Estate Winners and Losers

Getty Images; realtor.com

The law of gravity dictates that what goes up, must come down—but the vagaries of celebrity real estate don’t always adhere to the letter of the law.

When it comes to luxury house hunters such as the Kardashians, Floyd Mayweather, and star couple JAY Z and Beyoncé, their property portfolios grew in 2017 with no end in sight. On the other side of the golden coin, the real estate holdings of Eminem, Lil Wayne, and Reba McEntire went south.

Then there’s “poor” 50 Cent, who’s in a class of his own. The longtime housing has-been is still looking for a buyer for his wayward Connecticut mansion. We’re looking forward to a time when the gods of real estate finally smile upon him, which didn’t happen in 2017.

Join us as we look back at 2017’s biggest booms and busts in the high-stakes world of celebrity real estate.

Winner: Beyoncé and JAY Z

After years of speculation, searching, and rental test drives of ultraluxe mansions, the A-list couple finally found a place to call their own in Los Angeles. Not only did they purchase a 30,000-square-foot estate with eight bedrooms, four pools, a 15-car garage, recording studio, basketball court, and views of the downtown skyline, they also snagged the Bel Air mansion at a $47 million discount. The asking price for the off-market property was rumored to be $135 million, but Bey and Jay offered only $88 million, and a deal was struck.

In addition, they purchased a stunning $26 million mansion in East Hampton, NY, in the exclusive Georgica Pond area. They also scored a deal on this seven-bedroom estate, which had been listed for nearly $29 million. So what’s a million or three when your estimated net worth is close to $1.3 billion?

Beyoncé and JAY Z’s East Hampton home

realtor.com

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Loser: Eminem

Rapper Eminem, aka Marshall Mathers, is making a triumphant comeback on the music scene, but he can’t claim the same victory when it comes to his real estate investments. He recently sold his 17,500-square-foot mansion in Rochester Hills, MI, for $1.9 million, which seems to be a fair price, considering that it was assessed at $1,763,160 in 2016. However, that sales price is less than half the $4.75 million he paid in 2003 for the five-bedroom, 10-bath property outside Detroit. That’s quite a loss!

At least the deal was quick, if not painless. The mansion was snapped up just a few weeks after it was listed at $2 million.

Eminem’s Michigan mansion

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Winner: Floyd Mayweather

The fighter’s real estate portfolio kept pace with his unblemished record in the ring. After handily dispatching Conor McGregor in late August, and pocketing an estimated $300 million, Mayweather picked up a recently renovated French modern–style estate in one of the most coveted pockets of Beverly Hills, CA, for $25.5 million. And he managed to jab the seller into a discount, since the massive mansion was originally listed for $28,950,000. Perhaps his penchant for paying in cash had something to do with the bargain he knocked out.

The boxer’s real estate portfolio also includes a $2.4 million condo at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in downtown Los Angeles, a penthouse and $7 million waterfront mansion in the Miami area, plus at least five homes in Las Vegas. He’s a champ in more than one arena.

Floyd Mayweather’s new Beverly Hills mansion

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Loser: Scottie Pippen

Retired NBA great Scottie Pippen has had not one, but two luxurious spreads on and off the market for years now, and he hasn’t been able to close a deal on either one.

The ex-Chicago Bulls superstar’s Highland Park property is a five-bedroom spread on 2.5 acres. It has an infinity pool, home theater, wine cellar, eight-car garage, and an indoor half-court featuring a rendering of Pippen’s No. 33 jersey. The mansion, which was listed for $3.1 million in June 2016, is currently available for $2,795,000.

Then there’s Pippen’s Italian-style waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The six-time NBA champ has been trying to sell the megamansion, known as “Villa del Lago,” since 2009. Priced at $16 million nearly a decade ago, it was recently languishing on the market for $10.9 million.

In September, Pippen put the place—featuring a 205-foot-long concrete dock and NBA-size basketball court—up for rent at $40,000 a month, hoping to appeal to a vagabond baller who’d rather rent than buy.

Scottie Pippen’s Highland Park, IL, home

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Winners: Kardashian-Jenner real estate empire

When it comes to keeping up with the Kardashians, their never-ending real estate deals are harder to follow than their complicated love lives. 2017 was no exception.

Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner recently purchased a brand-new, $10 million custom estate in the exclusive enclave of Hidden Hills, CA. The 9,400-square-foot, six-bedroom home sits on a 1.28-acre lot that’s a mere half-mile away from her current home, and it’s practically across the street from Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West‘s gigantic estate/construction project.

In further evidence that mother and daughter are practically joined at the hip, Kardashian West and Jenner just bought three brand-new units in a luxury development called Avanti in their beloved Calabasas. In an off-market deal, Jenner shelled out more than $3 million for two residences, while Kardashian West snagged one of her own for $1.6 million.

Kendall Jenner (Jenner’s younger daughter and Kardashian West’s half-sister) is also busy with real estate. She listed her corner condo in The Wilshire, a luxury building in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, for $1.6 million. Rumor has it that the 2,068-square-foot apartment didn’t have enough closet space.

Finally, makeup mogul Kylie Jenner (Kendall’s sister) went on a real estate rampage in 2017, selling two of the three homes she’d purchased not all that long ago. The first was a four-bedroom home in Hidden Hills, located right next to the home where she currently resides. She bought it for $4.5 million in June 2016, then turned around and sold it for $5,275,000 in August 2017. The second was a six-bedroom Tuscan-style home in the gated enclave of The Oaks, which she purchased in 2015 for $2.6 million. It went back on the market in June 2016 for $3.9 million, but she eventually let it go for $3.15 million.

Kylie Jenner’s home in The Oaks of Calabasas

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Loser: Reba McEntire

Country crooner and TV star Reba McEntire is singing the blues. She took a loss on the Nashville-area Starstruck Farm, which she put on the market in 2016 after splitting from her husband and manager, Narvel Blackstock. It turns out, the developer who bought the property is going to subdivide it and likely make a killing. Although McEntire originally listed the 83-acre farm for $7.9 million, the developer wound up paying only $5 million.

The developer received approval from the Wilson County Planning Commission to carve up this once-regal expanse of land into smaller lots on which he’ll build 15 homes. Meanwhile, a 10-acre parcel including McEntire’s former spread was put back on the market for $2.95 million. And that’s a great deal, considering it includes a five-bedroom, Colonial-style mansion, as well as a tennis court, eight-car garage, five-stall barn, and equestrian center. It’s just too bad McEntire couldn’t take advantage of the land rush her property wound up generating.

Reba McEntire’s former home.

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Winner: Angelina Jolie

When she bought one of the most iconic estates in Hollywood, Angelina Jolie didn’t stray too far from the Hollywood-area home she shared with Brad Pitt. In June 2017, she snagged the Los Feliz estate once owned by legendary director Cecil B. DeMille for $24.5 million. Rumor has it that her children liked it for its green, rolling lawns. We’re guessing Jolie appreciated the compound’s Beaux Arts–style mansion, which was built in 1913 and fully (and painstakingly) restored.

The 2-acre property includes a graceful pool with arched fountains, a pool house and a studio house, rose gardens, and dramatic views from the Griffith Park Observatory to the Pacific Ocean.

Angelina Jolie bought the Cecil B. DeMille estate.

realtor.com

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Loser: Lil Wayne

It took two years, but hip-hop star Lil Wayne finally unloaded his 15,000-square-foot waterfront mansion in Miami Beach, FL, for $10 million—which is $1.6 million less than what he paid for it, and a full $8 million less than the price he listed it for in 2015.

The initial listing price reflected the improvements the 34-year-old rapper had made, including a rooftop skate park, a lagoon with live sharks, and a recording studio in the guesthouse. Those kinds of perks don’t come cheap. The 15,000-square-foot main house, which is located on La Gorce Island near Miami, has six bedrooms, and there are three additional bedrooms in the guesthouse. While it was ideal for the rapper’s lifestyle, it wasn’t every buyer’s cup of juice.

Lil Wayne’s former Miami mansion

realtor.com

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Winners: The ‘Little Couple’ stars

TLC’s “Little Couple”—also known as Dr. Jennifer Arnold and her husband, Bill Klein—proved hugely popular with our readers in 2017. The duo haven’t sold their Houston home yet, but they were successful in scoring a gorgeous new home in St. Petersburg, FL. They and their family also managed to dodge the paths of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and neither of their homes was damaged.

Now that the list price on the plantation-style house in Houston was recently sliced, it’s sure to sell. We’ll let you know when it hits the win column.

The “Little Couple” stars’ new waterfront home in Florida

realtor.com

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Loser: 50 Cent

Year-end breaking news: 50 Cent has cut the price of his mansion—again! Relisted just this week for $5 million, the albatross on the rapper’s real estate portfolio won’t let go. The mansion with 21 bedrooms, 25 bathrooms, and one stripper pole has spent the past decade on and off the market.

He’s now lowered the asking price from $14.5 million to a paltry $5 million. At one point, an interested party reportedly wanted to turn the property into an assisted-living facility. Imagine the fun seniors could have with a helipad, nine kitchens, an indoor pool, and disco! The deal was obviously never realized.

Perhaps it’s the $67,000 in monthly maintenance fees that’s keeping buyers at bay. Whatever the case, we’re hoping 2018 is Fiddy’s year. We’d hate to have to write about him again.

50 Cent’s pad

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The post 2017’s Biggest Celebrity Real Estate Winners and Losers appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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Andre Iguodala Makes His Case for the Hall of Fame

Role players don't have legacies. That type of talk is typically reserved for superstars, the ones who will still get talked about and argued over years after they retire. Every once in a while, though, a great role player on a great team breaks through and cements his place in NBA history.

It takes a special set of circumstances and, critically, enough superstar teammates to earn a spot on the biggest stage. But make enough clutch shots once you get there and you can go from being Robert Horry to being Big Shot Bob. Do what Andre Iguodala did in the 2015 Finals, in last year's losing effort, and then again in this year's revenge-tinged triumph, and you are officially much more than a versatile fourth (or fifth) option.

The Golden State Warriors would not have gone to back-to-back-to-back NBA Finals, would not have won a record 73 regular-season games in 2016, would not have sandwiched that campaign with a pair of 67-win seasons, would not have won two titles in three years without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. And they may not have won this second title without Kevin Durant.

But it's also true that the Warriors would not have won these two Finals without Iguodala, a role player who is so superb in his specific role that he's more valuable than some stars, and whose particular skills and knack for the moment have helped him make star-level contributions when it matters most.

Drafted ninth overall by the 76ers in 2004, Iguodala spent the first eight years of his career causing the people of Philadelphia to wonder why he wasn't a bit more like that other A.I. After years of watching Allen Iverson's pathological devotion to carrying the entire Philadelphia offense on his back, Sixers fans could appreciate Iguodala's stellar defense and playmaking from the wing, but couldn't help yearn for him to be a bit more assertive.

He was a fine player, then as now—and delivered considerably above-average results for a No. 9 pick, too—but the Sixers won only 47 percent of their regular-season games during his eight years with the team, and got beyond the first round of the playoffs only once during that stretch. By the end of his Philadelphia tenure, most people blamed him for that.

The Sixers sent Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets the summer after his eighth season, in a deal that delivered them Andrew Bynum. Bynum never stepped on the court in a Sixers uniform. Philadelphia won 34 games that season, fired everybody involved, and then began their avant-garde rebuilding process.

Meanwhile, the Denver squad Iguodala joined saw its winning percentage shoot up from 0.575 (during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season) to 0.695—the equivalent of going from 47 wins in a full season to 57. They also improved from 19th to 11th in defensive efficiency, and this time it really was because of Iguodala. The Nuggets lost in the first round of the playoffs that year, to an upstart Warriors squad that discovered the beginnings of its eventual identity when an injury to David Lee forced them to start Harrison Barnes at power forward.

Iguodala was a free agent that summer during a time when he was also one of the most statistically rare players in league history: at that moment, he was one of just 12 players ever to average at least 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals over the course of his first nine NBA campaigns. The other guys on that list included a collection of one-namers (Michael, Magic, Larry, LeBron), Hall of Famers (Clyde Drexler and Frazier, Scottie Pippen, Rick Barry), a shoulda-been Hall of Famer (Grant Hill), a future Hall of Famer in Russell Westbrook, and, uh, Steve Francis. Those numbers also undersold Iguodala's actual on-court impact, considering they don't come close to capturing the value of his defense.

When your on-court impact is high. Photo by Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

All of which is to say that Iguodala was coveted by most every team in the NBA, and for good reason. He wasn't viewed as a transformative superstar, but rather a chameleon-esque glue guy who could help a team get to the next level given the right set of circumstances. That wasn't wrong, exactly, but his decision to sign with the Warriors still changed the course of basketball history as we know it.

It took a year, a coaching change, and an injury to David Lee for it all to come together, but Iguodala's signing helped set the Warriors on the path toward becoming the unsolvable juggernaut they are today. As a result of that decision, Iguodala's career has changed, too.

Iguodala was a very good, very well-respected player through his first nine NBA seasons, but was mostly appreciated by NBA nerds. He was a late-lottery pick who spent most of his career playing for a middling team, didn't do much in the playoffs, and had few accolades—a First-Team All-Rookie nod, a single All-Defensive Second Team selection, and a lone All-Star appearance during his final season with the Sixers. In short, he was not the kind of guy people typically tell their grandkids about.

Four years later, he's something else. Iguodala is now one of the most celebrated role players in NBA history, and one who will be remembered as, if not the best wing defender of his era, then another link in the Cooper-Johnson-Pippen-Artest-Leonard chain.

His numbers in this year's Finals (8.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists) pale in comparison to those from his MVP win two years ago (16.3, 5.8, and 4.0). They don't even quite match his totals from last year's losing effort (9.1, 6.3, and 4.1). But they do undersell his impact.

Everyone loves a good defense. Photo by Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Whenever the Warriors needed him this year, Iguodala was there, time and again, with a timely bucket or a key defensive play. He stripped LeBron James at the end of Game 3 to secure a victory, getting just bit of karmic revenge for The Block. He canned two monster run-stopping three-pointers and slammed home a couple crowd-rousing dunks during the fourth quarter of the series-sealing Game 5 win, which he finished with a postseason-high 20 points. And the Warriors were once again brilliant whenever he was in the game: in a series where the final margin of victory was 34 points, Iguodala was plus-60 during his time on the floor.

The question about Iguodala's legacy now is not whether or not he'll have one, but whether it might eventually include his enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. The complete list of Finals MVPs who aren't overwhelmingly likely to be in the Hall of Fame essentially consists of just Cedric Maxwell and Chauncey Billups, and Billups is only on that list because of the "overwhelmingly" part; he's likely to get in eventually.

Iguodala is 33 years old. His career now includes more than 12,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 4,000 assists, and 1,500 steals. He'll get to 4,500 assists and possibly 500 blocks next year, and will likely pass 1,000 threes the year after that. Every single player in the 12K-5K-4.5K-1.5K club is either already in or likely to join the Hall of Fame. The only three players to add 500 blocks and 1,000 threes to those figures are three no-doubt future Hall-of-Famers: Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, and LeBron.

Toss in the fact that Iguodala was one of the most crucial players on a team that won two titles in three years, and that won more games in that three-year span than any NBA team has won in any three-year span in the history of the league, and it's awfully hard to make the case against Iguodala getting to Springfield one day. That was unthinkable just a few short years ago, but because Iguodala made the decision to sign with Golden State four years ago, it now seems like a real possibility, and a deserved one at that.

Andre Iguodala Makes His Case for the Hall of Fame published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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NBA mock draft 2021: Instant first round picks after lottery drawing

Here’s our first projection of the 2021 NBA Draft now that the order is set.

The Detroit Pistons are the lucky winners of the 2021 NBA Draft lottery. Detroit cashed in on a 14 percent chance to land the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. The Rockets will select second, the Cavaliers will pick third, and the Raptors will pick at No. 4.

This year’s draft class looks particularly strong within the top four. Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham has established himself as the consensus top player in the draft, and projects as an oversized ball handler who can hit pull-up threes and provide stout defense both on the perimeter and in the paint. The next three players off the board are expected to be USC big man Evan Mobley, Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs, and G League Ignite scorer Jalen Green.

The 2021 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, July 29 at the Barclays Center in New York City. With the draft order finally set, here is our instant projection of the first round.

1. Detroit Pistons - Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State

Cunningham is perfectly suited for the modern game as a 6’8 ball handling wing who can run pick-and-roll, hit pull-up threes, collapse the defense with his drives to the rim, and have a positive impact on the defensive end. The Pistons can give him the ball from day one and expect him to be the next face of their franchise.

Cunningham was projected as our top pick coming into the season, and maintained his status with a tremendous freshman year that saw him named as a consensus first team All-American. While he isn’t the most explosive natural athlete, Cunningham gets to his spots with strength and length (7-foot wingspan) and has the skill to finish from all three-levels. He answered pre-season questions about his shooting ability by hitting 40 percent of his threes, with a large percentage of them on difficult off-the-dribble attempts that mimicked the type of burden many of the NBA’s biggest stars must carry.

He’ll need to cut back on his turnovers and continue to refine his facilitating chops, but things should get easier as he finds a supporting cast with more shooting than Oklahoma State provided (the Cowboys finished No. 293 in three-point rate in DI). Cunningham’s versatile defense will also be an asset as the highest levels of the game, and only solidifies his status as the No. 1 prospect in this class. Even in a strong draft, Cunningham is the no-brainer top pick.

2. Houston Rockets - Evan Mobley, C, USC

Mobley is the rare big man prospect who combines elite rim protection and versatile pick-and-roll coverage skills on defense with plus passing and projectable shooting on offense. While he lacked an aggressive scoring mindset at USC, Mobley is the type of player who can quietly dominate a game on both ends of the floor while making life easier for all of his teammates. If the Rockets select him at No. 2 overall, they will be landing a player who would be talented enough to be the top pick in some drafts.

Mobley’s quick feet, 7’4 wingspan, and discipline to avoid fouling makes him the best defensive prospect in this class. His 8.8 percent block rate finished top-35 in DI, but his most impressive defensive moments often came on switches when he was able to stick with guards on the perimeter. Mobley lacks the bulk to match up with the NBA’s biggest behemoths in the middle (his high center of gravity is also a hinderance), but he is blessed with tremendous lateral quickness and athletic fluidity that feels like a perfect match for a league that demands its big men defend in space.

Offensively, Mobley had some awesome passing flashes and feels like the type of big who can pick apart a defense in a 4-on-3 situation if his point guard gets trapped. He’ll score on lobs early in his career, but there’s some real floor spacing potential here too down the road. If Mobley adds strength to his frame and hits his ceiling, he should be an All-NBA caliber big man who brings so much to the table on both ends while not having many major flaws in his skill set.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers - Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite

Green has basically been famous since he was a freshman in high school out of Fresno, CA who was drawing ambitious early comparisons to Kobe Bryant for his extreme explosiveness and scoring instincts. While that level of premature hype could have suffocated a lesser player, Green has mostly lived up to expectations as he bypassed college to become the big fish on the first ever G League Ignite team. Years later, Green has grown into his truly elite athletic traits and has started to turn himself into a bonafide shot-maker who can score from all over the floor.

Green feels like he was born to win an NBA dunk contest, but his outlier bounce isn’t the only thing that makes him special. Green has a lightning-quick first step that allows him to create separation against his man, and he’s started learning how to use hesitation crossovers and deceleration techniques that will only make him tougher to guard. He answered any questions about his shooting during his 15 games with the Ignite, hitting 37 percent of his threes and draining so many tough looks. For as wonderful as his scoring package is, Green still needs to make progress reading the floor and leveraging his own talent to make his teammates’ lives easier. There remain real questions defensively, as well. While Green might not be Kobe, becoming something similar to Zach LaVine would be a great outcome at this point for the Cavs. Don’t be surprised if this pick is in play for a trade.

4. Toronto Raptors - Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga

Suggs wasn’t quite as highly-touted as Cunningham, Mobley, or Green coming out of high school, but he now feels like the most well-known player in this draft class after a breakthrough freshman year playing for a Gonzaga team that finished one win short of a perfect season in the national championship game. The 6’3 freshman guard pushed his veteran supporting cast to the next level by supercharging their attack in transition and becoming an aggressive playmaker on both ends of the floor. He should fit nicely in the Toronto backcourt next to Fred VanVleet.

Suggs doesn’t have a signature skill, but he’s solid across the board both offensively and defensively. At the start of his career, he might be better used as an overqualified complementary guard who can impact the game in numerous ways rather than as a lead engine in the halfcourt. Suggs will be able to add juice to any transition attack, provide supplemental rim pressure as a driver, hit threes, and force turnovers. He may not have a superstar ceiling, but he’s the type of player that can turn a good team into a great one.

5. Orlando Magic - Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State

Barnes was considered a five-star prospect throughout his high school career who helped bring three gold medals to USA Basketball’s junior teams before arriving at Florida State. Barnes came off the bench for the Seminoles just like last year’s No. 4 overall pick Patrick Williams, but he remains one of the most intriguing prospects in the class after the top-four. Barnes is a huge forward at 6’9, nearly 230 pounds, and with a 7’2 wingspan, who combines an elite defensive motor with shockingly good playmaking for someone his size.

Barnes feels like a safe bet to be a very good NBA defender with terrific length, an impressive 3.4 percent steal rate, and the versatility to guard up to four positions. While Barnes doesn’t protect the rim defensively and has little vertical pop as a leaper, he does have all the makings of a change-of-pace small ball five who can play high against the pick-and-roll and switch most screens. Offensively, he finished with a 31.7 percent assist rate this season that led the ACC. Barnes always seems to know where his teammates are on the floor, and he finds a way to get them the ball. The question is how much of a benefit will his passing be if opposing NBA teams don’t respect his scoring ability. Barnes is a rough shooter — 27.5 percent from three on 40 attempts, 62.1 percent from the foul line on 66 attempts — and doesn’t yet have a ton of tricks around the rim to get a bucket in a pinch. While the scoring concerns are real, Barnes’ effort level, defense, and passing makes him the type of player you want on your side in a big game.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder - Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite

Kuminga was the No. 1 player in the high school junior class before deciding to reclassify and join Green in the G League rather than attend college. He arrived as a mystery box wing who had impressive physical tools but limited data on how he actually used them. After 13 games with the Ignite, it feels like Kuminga created more questions than answers.

Kuminga’s shooting touch looked brutal in the G League, as he hit under 40 percent from the field, under 25 percent from three, and under 65 percent from the foul line. He often appeared overwhelmed when he needed to make quick decisions with the ball that were more complicated than putting his head down for straight line drives. He didn’t showcase outlier lateral quickness to guard the perimeter, either. While Kuminga is undoubtedly rough around the edges, his combination of size, straight line speed, and strength gives him upside as a downhill attacker who can get to the foul line and mix in a poster dunk every few games. The Thunder have all the time in the world to be patient. Kuminga’s tools and positional archetype are enticing enough to gamble on over anyone else left on the board.

7. Golden State Warriors (via Timberwolves) - Jalen Johnson, F, Duke

Johnson was supposed to be Duke’s next one-and-done superstar, but he left an underwhelming team in mid-February to prepare for the draft. The talent that made Johnson a consensus top-10 recruit was on display at times during his brief college career, but Johnson still feels like one of the bigger wildcards in this class. Johnson thinks of himself as a 6’9 point-forward who can grab a rebound, push in transition, and finish above the rim himself or find a teammate. That works better on the break than in the halfcourt, where he’s not quite shifty enough to initiate offense. Johnson can make an impact on cuts and putbacks against a set defense, but he’s a shaky three-point shooter who can’t be counted on to space the floor.

Johnson is also interesting on the defensive end, where he put up an impressive six percent block rate and 3.1 percent steal rate thanks in part to a 7-foot wingspan. He can offer supplemental rim protection and get into the passing lanes while theoretically being capable of switching. The big swing factor for Johnson is how his three-point shot develops. While his game has obvious strengths and weaknesses, this feels like the right place to gamble on him for the Warriors.

8. Orlando Magic (via Bulls) - Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee

Along with Jalen Green, Tennessee freshman Keon Johnson has a case as the most explosive natural athlete in this draft class. The skinny 6’5 guard has been on a blistering developmental path since giving up baseball for basketball at the start of high school, blossoming into a no-brainer lottery pick whose ultimate outcome will likely be determined by how his dribble-pass-shoot skill set develops.

There were encouraging signs for the Vols this season, like mesmerizing defensive flashes (2.5 percent steal rate, two percent block rate) that contributed to a top-five defense in the country. Johnson also seemed to get more comfortable in his own scoring ability as the season went along, scoring 13 points or more in each of his last five games. Johnson needs to refine his three-point shot (27 percent on 48 attempts) and tighten his handle, but his ultra-quick first step and outstanding bounce around the rim can’t be taught. It would be nice if Johnson had a couple extra inches of height, or if he proved he could already thrive in transition instead of badly struggling (17 percentile, per Synergy Sports) in that area. He’ll need some time and training to develop, but Johnson’s rare gifts are worth taking a shot on for the Magic.

9. Sacramento Kings - Moses Moody, F, Arkansas

Moody brings length, perimeter defense, and projectable shooting to any team looking for a complementary wing. While the 6’6 freshman isn’t the most explosive natural athlete, he’s able to leverage his 7’1 wingspan to bother opposing scorers on one end while also shooting over the top of smaller defenders on the other. Moody’s defense should play anywhere as he continues to fill out his frame, but his offense is more of a wildcard. Moody likely isn’t going to be a high usage wing who creates for himself and others, but he can space the floor with a 36 percent mark from three-point range. For a limited athlete, Moody is also good at attacking closeouts with pump fakes and jab steps to set up his mid-range game.

If you think Moody is a safe bet to shoot it from deep, he warrants consideration as early as the fifth overall pick as the type of player who can have a positive impact on any game without needing to hold the ball for long stretches.

10. New Orleans Pelicans - James Bouknight, G, UConn

Bouknight is an indefatigable scorer who will whip around screens against a set defense until he finds an opening that will let him create an advantage. The sophomore guard started his rise into a potential lottery pick by hanging 40 points on Creighton in just his fourth game of the year, and he continued to get buckets all season.

While he’s not the type of guard who create opportunities out of thin air off the dribble, he feels like a nice fit in New Orleans as a supplemental scorer who can create chaos while Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram have the ball. He’ll have to better from three than he did in college (29.3 percent) to live up to type of draft status. For a detailed breakdown of Bouknight, read Mark Schindler’s piece at Indy Cornrows.

11. Charlotte Hornets - Franz Wagner, F, Michigan

Wagner is a 6’9 German forward who followed in the footsteps of his older brother Moritz Wagner by choosing to play for Michigan. While the elder Wagner entered the draft as a stretch big, the younger Wagner brings more versatility to the court starting with his terrific defense. Wagner has the size to defend at the rim and quickness to switch onto guards, posting a 3.2 percent block rate and 2.3 percent steal rate for the No. 4 unit in the country. Wagner is a sharp help defender who will earn his minutes on that side of the court while his offensive skills develop.

Wagner has good indicators as a shooter — 34 percent from three-point range on 102 attempts; 83.5 percent from the foul line — but it often looked like he lacked confidence in his shot. If he can get more comfortable as a shooter, he should be able to attack closeouts at the NBA level due to his comfort putting the ball on the floor and his developing passing ability. Wagner had a brutal last game for the Wolverines — 1-of-10 shooting in an Elite Eight loss to UCLA — but he has all the makings of a solid NBA role player if his shot improves.

12. San Antonio Spurs - Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee

While Springer is typically projected to go outside of the lottery at this stage of the draft process, it feels like he could easily outplay that slot given his high school pedigree, aggressive point of attack defense, and scoring flashes. Springer was a takeover scorer at IMG Academy who rarely found easy offense on a Tennessee team that lacked spacing and creativity on that end. He was still able to manufacture looks for himself by bulldozing defenders with brute force to get near the basket.

Springer will have to learn scoring tricks around the rim and continue to develop as an outside shooter — he made 43.5 percent of his threes on only 46 attempts — but he can slot nicely into most team contexts as a combo guard who can run offense in a pinch, help get the team out in transition, and act as an off-ball scorer. As his offense develops, Springer should be immediately excellent against smaller guards on the defensive end. Springer may need a couple seasons to develop because he’s one of the youngest players in this draft — four full years younger than Baylor guard Davion Mitchell — but he’s worth betting on for San Antonio team that typically has a patient approach.

13. Indiana Pacers - Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor

Mitchell was the big winner of March Madness as he rose from a late first rounder to a lottery pick during Baylor’s run to the national championship. While he’s one of the smallest (6’1) and oldest (he’ll turn 23 before his rookie year) players to earn consideration in the first round, Mitchell’s blinding speed, aggressive individual defense, and improved three-point shot have earned him plenty of fans among NBA evaluators.

Mitchell shot just 32.4 percent from three on 105 attempts a year ago before blossoming into a 44.7 percent shooter from deep on 141 attempts this season. His 64.1 percent mark from the foul line this year feels like a red flag on the idea that he’s completely fixed his shot, but his ability to pressure the rim gives him another avenue for success on offense if the jumper isn’t falling. Mitchell has a tremendous first step that he uses to create separation and get to the basket. While not a brilliant passer, he did improve his assist rate from 22 to 27 percent this season and did well to find the Bears’ shooters on the perimeter after he broke the first line of coverage. Mitchell’s defensive versatility will be limited by his lack of size, but he should provide solid on-ball defense against smaller guards. For a Pacers team with a ton of question marks heading into the offseason, Mitchell could offer immediate depth to the backcourt with the upside to turn into something more.

14. Golden State Warriors - Josh Giddey, G, Adelaide (Australia)

Giddey is a 6’8 Australian point guard who exploded onto draft boards after a tremendous debut year in the NBL. Giddey profiles as one of the best passers in the draft thanks to his combination of size and preternatural feel that allows him to think two steps ahead of the opposing defense. While he’s unlikely to be a big-time scorer, Giddey also contributes on the glass and slowly improved his three-point shot (29.3 percent on 3.5 attempts per game) as the season went along.

Giddey has significant athletic and strength limitations and may need to be protected on the defensive end early in his career, but his size, intelligence, and growth curve (he doesn’t turn 19 years old until October) gives him a bright future. In a way, taking Giddey with this pick could help make up for the Warriors’ decision to pass on LaMelo Ball at No. 2 overall last year.

15. Washington Wizards - Kai Jones, C, Texas

Jones is a late-blooming big man who burst onto draft radars during his sophomore season because of his elite physical tools, burgeoning skill level, and ridiculous highlight-reel plays. Jones came off the bench for most of the season with the Longhorns and averaged only 8.8 points per game but his size and explosion jumped off the screen every time he took the floor. At 6’11, 220 pounds, Jones’ combination of impressive lateral quickness and vertical bounce makes him a rare athlete for a big.

While he’s currently unrefined as a defender, Jones has the ability to stick with guards on the perimeter and block shots at the rim. He’ll catch lobs on offense from day one, but he’s also showed flashes of three-point shooting — 38.2 percent on 34 attempts — and ball handling in transition. Jones is a bit of a wild card given his sudden rise and inconsistent production, but his upside is tantalizing enough to deserve looks in the top-10. He’d be a great addition to the Wizards’ front court if still available with the first pick after the lottery.

16. Oklahoma City Thunder - Ziaire Williams, F, Stanford

Williams has a case as one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in this class. The 6’8 wing looked like a tantalizing shot-maker coming out of Sierra Canyon High School, but his freshman year at Stanford was defined by injury and inefficiency. Despite having several great games as a shooter, Williams finished the year at 29.1 percent from three. Teams could pressure him out beyond the arc because they knew he couldn’t hurt them going to the basket due to a shaky handle and skinny frame. The Thunder are a perfect environment to give Williams the patience and long-term development he needs.

17. Memphis Grizzlies - Alperen Şengün, C, Beşiktaş (Turkey)

Şengün is already dominating one of the better professional leagues in the world at just 18 years old. The 6’10, 240 pound big man averaged 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in the Turkish Super League on remarkable 64.6 percent shooting from the floor. Şengün has great hands and soft touch around the rim on offense, while also showing an ability to find open teammates with his passing. He isn’t a three-point shooter to this point, but he’s been stretching out his jumper and is already at 81 percent from the foul line. Şengün isn’t super quick laterally and is a bit undersized for an NBA center, putting his NBA fit into question. The team that team takes him will bet on his incredible production against grown men at such an early age and figure out his fit in today’s NBA later.

18. Oklahoma City Thunder - Usman Garuba, F, Real Madrid (Spain)

Garuba has been a rising star in international basketball over the last few years, making his debut as a 16-year-old for Real Madrid in Liga ACB. The 6’8 big man isn’t a big time scorer, but rather a defense-first role player who has the quickness, length (7’3 wingspan), strength, and feel for rotations to turn into a potential stopper on that end. While Garuba’s perimeter offensive skill is rough right now, his ability to compete in one of the better leagues in the world at such a young age is a promising sign for his future. The Thunder would have the option of throwing him into the lineup immediately, or slow playing his development to work on his shot and handle.

19. New York Knicks - Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn

Cooper is one of the great shot creators in this class, but his arrival into the draft comes with questions about his size and shooting ability. Cooper’s freshman debut at Auburn was delayed by eligibility issues, but once he got on the court he put up the highest assist rate (51.2 percent) in the country. He was a master at drawing fouls (he went 18-for-21 at the line in a win over Missouri) and showed incredible creativity as both a passer and ball handler. Fixing Cooper’s three-point stroke (22.8 percent on the year) will be a massive undertaking, and he’s likely always a defensive liability given his size (6’1, 180 pounds). There’s no denying how uniquely talented he is at creating for his teammates, though, which gives him a great opportunity to outplay this type of draft slot.

20. Atlanta Hawks - Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga

Kispert saw his draft stock explode in his senior season playing for a powerhouse Gonzaga team that fell one game short of an undefeated season. The 6’7 wing is arguably the best shooter in this draft class, hitting better than 43 percent of his threes on high volume for the second straight season. Kispert isn’t going to create off the dribble and will have to prove himself defensively, but it’s easy to envision him slotting into a bench shooter role from day one. The Hawks would likely be elated if he was somehow still on the board at No. 21. This pick was originally set to be Baylor guard Jared Butler before Tuesday’s news that he’s yet to be cleared by the league due to a heart issue.

21. New York Knicks - Chris Duarte, G, Oregon

Duarte spent a couple years at the JUCO level before transferring into Oregon and establishing himself as one of the better three-and-D prospects in this class. The 6’6 wing hit 42.4 percent of his threes and 63.1 percent of his two-point attempts this season while shooting 81 percent at the foul line. Duarte also a sky-high 3.2 percent steal rate and 2.8 block rate while showing impressive perimeter mobility for the Ducks. He’s already 24 years old and will be the oldest player drafted in this class, but his easy projection to an NBA role makes him a worthy option in the late first.

22. Los Angeles Lakers - Cam Thomas, G, LSU

Thomas is a 6’4 guard who has never seen a field-goal attempt he didn’t like. The freshman put up big scoring numbers at LSU (23 points per game) even if his efficiency often left a lot to be desired. Thomas’ diverse package of crossovers and pull-up shooting should play in a league that is becoming more heavily tilted towards offense, but he has real questions defensively and as a passer. For a team looking for instant offense off the bench that can tolerate some ball stopping, Thomas’ one-on-one bucket getting ability is worth a chance in the late first or early second.

23. Houston Rockets - Isaiah Jackson, C, Kentucky

Jackson is a pogo-stick big man who made plays above the rim on both ends of the floor for Kentucky during his freshman season. At 6’10, Jackson is quick off the floor with tremendous vertical bounce that gives him value as a rebounder, shot blocker, and lob target. His 12.7 percent block rate ranked No. 8 in America, and he proved to be dependable on both the offensive and defensive glass. Jackson would get himself into trouble when he settled for shots away from the rim, but on an NBA team with superior spacing (it can’t get any worse than Kentucky’s crunched floor last season) he should be a vertical spacer and rim protector with potential to eventually develop his shot.

24. Houston Rockets - Tre Mann, G, Florida

Mann was a McDonald’s All-American out of high school who struggled as a freshman at Florida before re-establishing himself as a potential first-round pick during a breakout sophomore year. At 6’5, Mann is a skilled shooter off the dribble who hit 40.2 percent of his attempts from deep and 83 percent of his foul shots in 2020-21. While he’ll need to add strength to his frame and prove he can consistently make good decisions in the half court for more creation responsibilities, the versatility of his shooting and ball handling makes him an interesting gamble at this point in the first round.

25. Los Angeles Clippers - Greg Brown, F, Texas

Brown is a 6’7 forward with a 6’10 wingspan who has absolutely elite vertical bounce around the basket. Brown’s offensive skills on the perimeter are still very much a work in progress, but his three-point shot (30-of-91 on the year or 33 percent) was a little better than most expected out of high school. He has a chance to be an impact defensive forward who can contribute on the glass and score on cuts, but it feels like he’d be in a better spot if he was a little bigger and a little longer to profile as a small ball five.

26. Denver Nuggets - Joel Ayayi, G, Gonzaga

Ayayi was the best fourth option in the country playing on a Gonzaga team that started three All-Americans in Suggs, Kispert, and returning center Drew Timme. The 6’5 French guard was a perfect complementary piece playing in such a talented ecosystem, providing spot-up shooting (39 percent from three on 95 attempts) and supplemental playmaking for the second most efficient college basketball offense since 2002. Ayayi isn’t a brilliant creator off the dribble and will have to add muscle to his frame, but it feels like he can be a nice addition to a Denver backcourt that was ravaged by injuries last season.

27. Brooklyn Nets - B.J. Boston, G, Kentucky

We had Boston projected as the No. 2 overall pick in our very first mock draft for this class that dropped the day after the 2020 draft. Boston’s freshman season was a disappointment, as his lack of strength badly hindered his ability to play through contract and resulted in an ugly 44.7 true shooting percentage. The 6’7 wing still had enough flashes of shot-making and off the dribble creativity to take a flier on at this point in the first round. The team that takes will need to be patient with his development, and dedicated to building out his frame.

28. Philadelphia Sixers - Roko Prkačin, F, Cibona (Croatia)

Prkačin is a 6’9 forward with shooting potential (35 percent from deep on 160 attempts) and creativity as a ball handler in the open court. Prkačin doesn’t turn 19 years old until late November, which makes him the youngest player in this draft class. With a solid all-around skill set, good size, and impressive production playing against grown men in the Adriatic League at such a young age, Prkačin is an ideal draft-and-stash candidate at some point in the late first or early second round.

29. Phoenix Suns - Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois

In his third year at Illinois, Dosunmu led the program to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time since it reached the championship game in 2005. While the Illini were upset in the round of 32, Dosunmu still had a terrific season that saw him earn first team All-American honors. The 6’5 guard will likely have to transition from the on-ball role he had in college to more of an off-ball complementary role, but he has the frame and scoring instincts to pull it off as long as his three-point shot (39.0 percent on 82 attempts) continues to come around.

30. Utah Jazz - J.T. Thor, F, Auburn

Thor is a huge, mobile forward who flashed early signs of shot-making and ball handling ability during his freshman season at Auburn. Still just 18 years old, Thor is blessed 7’3 wingspan and 9’2 standing reach that helped him post a near six percent block rate for the Tigers. His offensive skill remains a work in progress, but games like his 24-point performance against Kentucky — where he went 5-of-6 from three — showed the outline of what he could one day become. This would be a high upside swing at the end of the first round for the Jazz, and Thor’s potential to eventually become a small ball center would make him a nice developmental prospect for the organization.

[xariarte]

BESTIE IM SO LATE BUT THEY TRADED OG IM SNAJKAOWOSSKSNKSLSPSOSOS FINALLY SOME GOOD FUCKING FOOD (will miss my prince tho 😔)

BESTIE I WAS FREAKING OUT, I FOUND OUT JUST TEN MINUTES AFTER IT HAPPENED AND I WAS LIKE OH MY GOD?!??!

OG Anunoby was one of my favourite Toronto Raptor players for so long, right up until last season (but my love for him kinda soured after the entire drama saga of Fred-Gary-Scottie-OG-Pascal happened).

I still love him though. I will miss him dearly. Our sweet prince OG is going to New York to play with Randle and Brunson, I can't believe it... 😭😭💔💔

...but also I'm high-key excited for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett so even though I feel like I was just stabbed with the Anunoby trade news, I mean...I'm so excited for RJ to come home!! 🥺🇨🇦💖

(and yes I'm aware that RJ was supposed to be a really good Canadian basketball superstar but then he never reached those expectations and has been super inconsistent throughout his entire career...but y'all I'm still excited, lemme have this OKAY 🤣🙈💀)

The Scottie Barnes x Immanuel Quickley potential is gonna be so fun to watch, though. I might actually be excited to watch Raptors basketball again!! 😱😳