Blogs

As if you needed anymore evidence the Boston Celtics’ acquisition of Kyrie Irving over the summer was ridiculously unique. But here’s some more anyway. Per the Boston Globe‘s Adam Himmelsbach, Celtics assistant general manager Mike Zarren relayed the story of what happened the first time he phoned the Cavaliers to inquire about Irving’s availability: [tweet https://twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/920051246001721344] [...]

The NBA’s extension deadline came and went on Monday without players like Rodney Hood, Marcus Smart, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Jabari Parker, among others, receiving new deals. But LaMarcus Aldridge got his. Wait, what? Yes, the San Antonio Spurs reached a three-year extension with their at-times unhappy power forward, according to ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski: [...]

So maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t miss Kyrie Irving after all. Sure, losing him is big in the grand scheme of things—especially if they were hoping to use him as a safety net in the event LeBron James leaves next July. The Cavaliers also cannot tout too many of their blessings following that trade. They [...]

People often stack up Jimmy Butler’s tenacious approach to defense alongside Tom Thibodeau’s maniacal approach to coaching. And where some players might try to separate themselves from such a comparison, Butler is leaning into it as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. As he told The Vertical’s Shams Charania: “These young guys do listen, but it’s [...]

Stephen Curry is about to receive his second championship ring when the Golden State Warriors meet the Houston Rockets on opening night, a moment that will no doubt mean something to him. But it will also, apparently, give the two-time MVP another ring to not wear. When asked in front of reporters how he’s put the Warriors’ [...]

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be incredibly low on Kyrie Irving now that he’s a member of the Boston Celtics. They aren’t, of course. But they could be. As head coach Tyronn Lue said when asked how the Cavaliers would defend their former point guard on opening night, per ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin: How are the Cavs [...]

Did the Philadelphia 76ers really give up the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, plus another future first, for the right to select Markelle Fultz first overall and bring him off the bench? Apparently, yes. Per NBA Sports Philadelphia’s Jessica Camerato: [tweet https://twitter.com/JCameratoNBCS/status/919590464675868674] The move is bizarre, given Fultz’s draft-day status. It is [...]

The deadline for NBA teams to broker extensions with players nearing the end of their rookie-scale contracts is bearing down upon us. But while some like Norman Powell, Josh Richardson, Joel Embiid, Gary Harris and Andrew Wiggins have reached agreements, others won’t be so luck. This includes Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton. From the Orlando Sentinel‘s [...]

So, um, Kristaps Porzingis might be 7’5″ now, according to his own words. Per the New York Post‘s Marc Berman: Doctors told him he may have to “put more pressure on another part of the body.’’ Porzingis said he has learned to work a lot on correct “posture.’’ “I’m 7-3, maybe 7-5, I don’t know,’’ said [...]

Kyrie Irving spent six years with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He went to three NBA Finals with them. He won a championship with them. He orchestrated an awkward departure from them and best-ever candidate LeBron James. It would be understandable if he was nervous about facing them, in Cleveland, on opening night as a member of [...]