Mon Jun 27 2016 | 12:57 | USA Basketball unveils 2016 Olympic roster | Carmelo Anthony | SF | Knicks | Team Lorin |
| | | Harrison Barnes | | | Free Agent |
| | | Jimmy Butler | | | Free Agent |
| | | DeMarcus Cousins | PF/C | Kings | Def Fresh Flow |
| | | DeMar DeRozan | SG | Raptors | Doppelganger |
| | | Kevin Durant | SF | Thunder | Schellackers |
| | | Paul George | SF | Pacers | Schellackers |
| | | Draymond Green | | | Free Agent |
| | | Kyrie Irving | | | Free Agent |
| | | DeAndre Jordan | C | Clippers | Def Fresh Flow |
| | | Kyle Lowry | PG | Rockets | Doppelganger |
| | | Klay Thompson | | | Free Agent |
USA Basketball announced its official 12-man 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team that will try to win the Americans' third straight gold medal.The USA team unveiled Monday is led Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony, the only players with Olympic experience after a number of stars, including LeBron James, decided skip the Rio Olympics.Selected for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team were: Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder/Texas); Anthony (New York Knicks/Syracuse); Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors/North Carolina); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls/Marquette); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings/Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors/USC); Paul George (Indiana Pacers/Fresno State); Draymond Green (Warriors/Michigan State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers/Duke); DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers/Texas A&M); Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors/Villanova); and Klay Thompson (Warriors/Washington State).The team was approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors and is pending final approval by the... [ More] |
Fri Jun 24 2016 | 11:12 | NBA trade roundup: Ibaka, Oladipo swapped | Serge Ibaka | PF/C | Thunder | Schellackers |
| | | Victor Oladipo | | | Free Agent |
During a week meant to celebrate the future stars of the NBA, it was the veterans who stole the spotlight.Forward Serge Ibaka and guard Victor Oladipo were the biggest names moved during Thursday night's NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in New York, but they weren't alone.Established stars such as Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young, among others, also found new homes leading up to draft night.On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Ibaka to the Orlando Magic for Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to the No. 11 overall pick, forward Domantas Sabonis of Gonzaga.Ibaka, a three-time selection to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team who led the league in blocks for four consecutive seasons from 2010-11 to 2013-14, spent his first six years in the league with the Thunder, averaging 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.In 2011-12, Ibaka was the runner up for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year Award, which went to Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks. The power... [ More] |
Thu Jun 23 2016 | 23:41 | NBA trade roundup: Ibaka, Oladipo swapped | Serge Ibaka | PF/C | Thunder | Schellackers |
| | | Victor Oladipo | | | Free Agent |
During a week meant to celebrate the future stars of the NBA, it was the veterans who stole the spotlight.Forward Serge Ibaka and guard Victor Oladipo were the biggest names moved during Thursday night's NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in New York, but they weren't alone.Established stars such as Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young, among others, also found new homes leading up to draft night.On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Ibaka to the Orlando Magic for Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to the No. 11 overall pick, forward Domantas Sabonis of Gonzaga.Ibaka, a three-time selection to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team who led the league in blocks for four consecutive seasons from 2010-11 to 2013-14, spent his first six years in the league with the Thunder, averaging 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.In 2011-12, Ibaka was the runner up for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year Award, which went to Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks. The power... [ More] |
Thu Jun 23 2016 | 14:31 | Pacers acquire Thaddeus Young from Nets | Thaddeus Young | SF | 76ers | The Sith Lords |
A roster rebuild is in full swing in Indiana, where the Pacers made their second trade in as many days to land Thaddeus Young from the Brooklyn Nets for the 20th overall pick in Thursday's NBA draft. Young follows point guard Jeff Teague - acquired Wednesday in a three-team deal from the Atlanta Hawks - to Indiana, where he'll play for former NBA point guard Nate McMillan and team with forward Paul George to formulate a new nucleus for the Pacers.In addition to the 20th overall pick, the Nets receive a future second-round pick in the swap.Young, a 6-8 forward, averaged 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds in his first nine NBA seasons. |
Thu Jun 23 2016 | 13:53 | Anthony, Butler among commitments to U.S. Olympic squad | Carmelo Anthony | SF | Knicks | Team Lorin |
| | | Jimmy Butler | | | Free Agent |
Carmelo Anthony and Jimmy Butler are among the latest players who have committed to playing for the United States at the Summer Olympics at Rio de Janeiro.Anthony, the New York Knicks forward, will be on the squad for a fourth time if he makes the final 12-man roster. Butler, a guard for the Chicago Bulls, would be playing in his first Olympics.Also giving commitments to play are Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry and Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan.Cleveland forward LeBron James is expected to make his decision this weekend. USA Basketball is expected to announce the roster next week.Also, Portland point guard Damian Lillard (foot) won't be part of the team due to injury. Anthony had considered not participating due to concerns over the Zika virus, which has created major health risks in Brazil.Jordan reportedly is in the mix for a roster spot because Detroit center Andre Drummond has decided not to play.Other players who have committed to playing include Oklahoma City forward... [ More] |
Thu Jun 23 2016 | 11:28 | Lin opts out of deal with Hornets | Jeremy Lin | SG | Warriors | Free Agent |
Hornets guard Jeremy Lin declined the $2.2 million team option to return to Charlotte next season and will become a free agent on July 1. Lin averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds for the Hornets last season. The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $4.3 million deal with Charlotte last summer. Lin previously signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Houston Rockets as a restricted free agent with the New York Knicks.Lin said at the end of the season that he would be "very interested" in returning to the Hornets but will seek a long-term deal and explore the open market. Center Al Jefferson and small forward Nicolas Batum are free agents for the Hornets, as are power forwards Marvin Williams and Tyler Hansbrough. Jefferson played only 47 games last season after one of his best seasons in the league at age 30 in 2014-15. |
Wed Jun 22 2016 | 16:33 | Knicks acquire Rose from Bulls | Jose Calderon | PG | Raptors | The Sith Lords |
| | | Jerian Grant | | | Free Agent |
| | | Justin Holiday | | | Free Agent |
| | | Robin Lopez | C | Suns | Free Agent |
| | | Derrick Rose | PG | Bulls | Doppelganger |
The New York Knicks made a major move to upgrade their ailing backcourt, acquiring former NBA MVP Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls, according to multiple reports Wednesday.New York is expected to acquire Rose, fellow guard Justin Holiday and a second-round pick of the 2017 draft from Chicago for center Robin Lopez and guards Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon, the Chicago Tribune reported.ESPN reported last week that the Knicks entertained internal discussions on acquiring Rose, although that story did not detail if the Bulls were willing to part ways with the top overall pick of the 2008 draft.The oft-injured Rose tore his ACL in his left knee during the 2012 playoffs before tearing the meniscus in his right knee early in the 2013-14 campaign. The 27-year-old averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists for the Bulls last season.The Knicks will also add depth to their backcourt by acquiring the 27-year-old Holiday, who averaged 4.5 points and 1.7 rebounds per contest last season.The reported move... [ More] |
Wed Jun 22 2016 | 15:59 | Hawks trade Teague to Pacers in three-team trade | George Hill | PG | Pacers | Schellackers |
| | | Jeff Teague | PG | Hawks | Free Agent |
The Atlanta Hawks traded point guard Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers in a three-team deal, according to reports Wednesday.The deal includes Pacers point guard George Hill going to the Utah Jazz. The Jazz also will send the No. 12 pick in Thursday's NBA draft to Atlanta.Teague, 27, averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists 79 regular-season games in 2015-16 to lead the Hawks to a 48-34 record this past season. In 10 playoff games, Teague shot just 38 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range while averaging 14.5 points and 6.1 assists.Atlanta was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in each of the last two postseasons.Teague revealed earlier this month in an Instagram post -- he later deleted it -- that he played the entire 2015-16 season with a torn patellar tendon in his knee. Teague did not require surgery following an MRI taken after the Hawks were eliminated, a source told ESPN.Hill, 30, averaged 12.1 points and 3.4 assists in 74 regular-season games last season with the Pacers. He averaged 13.6 points and 2.1 assists in the Pacers' seven-game playoff loss to the Toronto Raptors. |
Wed Jun 22 2016 | 14:57 | LeBron, Cavaliers take trophy ride | LeBron James | SF | Heat | Buchanalia |
Hundreds of thousands of fans packed downtown Cleveland on Wednesday to celebrate alongside LeBron James and the NBA champion Cavaliers with a parade honoring the team after the city's first major professional sports title in 52 years.The parade began outside Quicken Loans Arena before ending at the downtown Mall as fans spilled into streets along the 1.3-mile route.The Cavs became the first team to rally from a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit, beating the defending champion Warriors 93-89 in Game 7 on Sunday night and ending the championship drought in Cleveland.Fans, wearing Cavaliers T-shirts and carrying signs, were screaming, cheering and crying. One poster read: "LeBron For Prez."The parade featured the players, 60 floats and the Ohio State University marching band, with James and Kyrie Irving riding in Rolls-Royce sedans.The parade began with a truck spraying confetti into the crowd and was followed by Ohio State coaches Urban Meyer and Thad Matta and the Buckeyes' marching band.James, who... [ More] |
Tue Jun 21 2016 | 16:41 | Afflalo, Williams opt out giving Knicks $30M in cap space | Arron Afflalo | SG | Nuggets | Doppelganger |
| | | Derrick Williams | | | Free Agent |
The New York Knicks should be well under the salary cap when it comes time to start spending money in free agency on July 1.On Tuesday, forwards Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams said they would opt out of their contracts and test free agency. That should give the Knicks more than $30 million in cap space, according to reports.Williams, 25, came off the bench in 71 games and started nine for the Knicks this past season. He averaged 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game this season.Williams was a top prospect coming out of Arizona in 2011. That year, Cleveland had the No. 1 pick and considered drafting Williams. Instead, the Cavaliers selected Kyrie Irving out of Duke.Afflalo signed with the Knicks last summer, but was benched midway through the season and replaced by Sasha Vujacic.Afflalo averaged 12.8 points on 44.3 percent shooting, but feuded with head coach Kurt Rambis. With Rambis gone and new coach Jeff Hornacek taking over, there had been hope that Afflalo might remain in the Big Apple. |
Tue Jun 21 2016 | 14:22 | Cleveland gets ready for championship parade | LeBron James | SF | Heat | Buchanalia |
A parade 52 years in the making will finally take place Wednesday in Cleveland.Fresh off their Game 7 win over Golden State, the world champion Cavaliers will be the toast of the town and honored during festivities that begin at 11 a.m. at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland.The city of Cleveland has released the parade route, which will pass the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and issued warnings to fans that a number of streets will be closed.The parade is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of championship-starved Cleveland fans. The Cavaliers' title is the first for the city since the 1964 Jim Brown-led Browns won the NFL Championship.The parade will feature more than 60 units including floats, specialty vehicles, The Ohio State University Marching Band and LeBron James and his teammates. |
Tue Jun 21 2016 | 11:44 | Warriors gear up for run at Durant | Stephen Curry | PG | Warriors | Iavaronis |
| | | Kevin Durant | SF | Thunder | Schellackers |
The Warriors lost 18 games over the course of the regular season and playoffs but in the end it was one game - the seventh and deciding game of the NBA Finals on Sunday - that shifted Golden State's trajectory.With the 93-89 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Warriors fell short of repeating as NBA champions and dampened the glory achieved with a regular-season record 79 victories. But owner Joe Lacob is ready to win the offseason, a detour route back to a second title that appears to include courting Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant. "I will be very aggressive," Lacob said Sunday night in the aftermath of the Game 7 loss. For Durant's part, he reportedly toured real estate options during a Super Bowl eve visit to the Bay Area and had his mother do the same. Then again, Durant downplayed the housing peeks in the Bay and other areas, including San Antonio. Durant can be offered a four-year deal or choose to take the higher-risk route with a potential monster reward next summer... [ More] |
Mon Jun 20 2016 | 14:54 | James unanimous MVP as Cavs stun Warriors | LeBron James | SF | Heat | Buchanalia |
LeBron James helped Cleveland end a 52-year championship drought and the reward for ending the city's sports misery was being unanimously named the MVP of the NBA Finals Sunday night.James capped his brilliant performance with a triple-double of 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the Cavaliers' series clinching 93-89 win over the Golden State Warriors in Game 7, giving the city its first title since the Browns won the 1964 NFL championship. James is the third player to have a triple-double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, joining Jerry West in 1969 and James Worthy in 1988.James willed the Cavaliers to their first title by scoring 41 points apiece in Games 5 and 6 as Cleveland became the first team to win an NBA championship when facing a 3-1 series deficit.James won MVP awards in leading the Miami Heat to championship victories over the Oklahoma City and San Antonio Spurs in 2012 and 2013, respectively, but ending Cleveland's drought seemed more significant for the 31-year-old.Before... [ More] |
Mon Jun 20 2016 | 01:27 | G J.R. Smith third Cavalier scoring in double figures with 12 po... | JR Smith | SG | Nuggets | Doppelganger |
G J.R. Smith was a third Cavalier scoring in double figures with 12 points. |
Mon Jun 20 2016 | 01:27 | F Kevin Love surprise contributor to title-clinching victory Sun... | Kevin Love | PF | Timberwolves | Iavaronis |
F Kevin Love was a surprise contributor to the title-clinching victory Sunday, going for nine points and 14 rebounds. |
Mon Jun 20 2016 | 01:27 | G Stephen Curry missed four of 3's, including one with 30.7 seco... | Stephen Curry | PG | Warriors | Iavaronis |
G Stephen Curry missed four of the 3's, including one with 30.7 seconds to go that could have matched Irving's 3 and tied the score. "I was searching for a 3 and rushed and didn't take what was there, which was probably better to go around (Kevin Love) and try to get into the pain," he said. "It hurts, man. Curry had 17 points. |
Mon Jun 20 2016 | 01:27 | F LeBron James unanimously selected as best player in 2016 NBA F... | LeBron James | SF | Heat | Buchanalia |
F LeBron James was unanimously selected as the best player in the 2016 NBA Finals. He wrapped up the Finals MVP with a 27-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist, three-block performance at a site where the Warriors had lost just four times previously, including Game 5, all season. "Just knowing what our city has been through, Northeast Ohio has been through, as far as our sports and everything for the last 50-plus years," James said. "For us to be able to end this, end this drought, our fans deserve it. They deserved it. And it was for them." |
Fri Jun 17 2016 | 13:32 | NBA Finals continue to be hit with viewers | Stephen Curry | PG | Warriors | Iavaronis |
| | | LeBron James | SF | Heat | Buchanalia |
LeBron James' stellar performance and Stephen Curry's out-of-character meltdown helped Game 6 of the NBA Finals be a ratings smash.Thursday night's contest in which the Golden State Warriors failed to close out of the series for the second straight time drew a 14.1 overnight rating for ABC. Viewership peaked at 16.7 over a 15-minute period near the end of the contest.The Cleveland Cavaliers tied the best-of-seven series at 3-3 with a 115-101 victory. Game 7 is Sunday night on ABC.James scored 41 points for his second consecutive 40-point effort. Curry fouled out and then was ejected for firing his mouthpiece and hitting a spectator.The Cleveland market averaged a 44.3 rating and San Francisco checked in at 34.9. |
Fri Jun 17 2016 | 13:22 | Warriors' Curry, Kerr fined $25K for Finals outbursts | Stephen Curry | PG | Warriors | Iavaronis |
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr were each fined $25,000 for their outbursts Thursday night in the 115-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.The fines were announced Friday by Kiki VanDeWeghe, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations.Curry was fined for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands after picking up his sixth foul. The incident, which resulted in a technical foul and subsequent ejection for Curry, occurred with 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena.Curry was upset about several fouls that were called against him throughout the game."It got the best of me," Curry said after the game. "The playoffs hasn't been easy, hasn't been a breeze. The work we've put in, the opportunity we've given ourselves ... we've got to be excited. But we've got to figure it out so that we can take advantage of our homecourt."Kerr was fined for his criticism of the officiating when asked by reporters... [ More] |
Fri Jun 17 2016 | 11:23 | James gives Cleveland hope for long-awaited championship | LeBron James | SF | Heat | Buchanalia |
CLEVELAND -- J.R. Smith lofted the pass toward the sky and LeBron James soared through five decades of rot and rust to catch it. When he landed the dunk and the crowd roared, James swung from the rim like a pendulum and the Cleveland Cavaliers' lead was 19 points again in the third quarter.The Cavaliers have life again because of their star and this series is headed back to the Bay Area for the most delicious event in all of sports: Game 7.Fifty-two years of misery are four quarters from distant memory. The Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors again on Thursday 115-101 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, evening this series at 3-3 and handing the Warriors consecutive losses for just the second time this season.No NBA team has ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a championship. The Warriors haven't lost three consecutive games in more than three years. None of that matters anymore. LeBron James is big game hunting. The championship is four quarters away."I'll take it," James said of a Game... [ More] |