AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Bridges held an Instagram live session and said that he appreciates Hammon. He made it clear that Brunson knows her comments and that they motivated him more to silence his critics. “I appreciate (Becky Hammon), no cap,” Bridges said. “The words she said about can’t win with (Jalen Brunson) being a ‘1A’, ‘1B’, ‘he too little’, all that did is fuel him bro. He knew what she said.”

The Big Lead

[HoosierDaddyKid]

“To see [the Spurs] walk off the court, it was disheartening. I’ll blame it on youth,” Green said. “I’ll blame it on lacking the leader to show them that ‘hey, this is what you do. Not walk off.’ I blame it on that. “There’s a way to win, and there’s a way to lose. And walking off the court, not looking your killer in his eyes, isn’t the way to lose…I hate it. I hate when people do it. And I hated to see those young Spurs do it because I actually think they’re capable of doing something special…and I would urge those young Spurs [to] reach out to Jalen Brunson however you can. Reach out to Karl-Anthony Towns however you can. Reach out to Josh Hart, however you can. You tell [those] dudes ‘congratulations.’” “Oh, by the way, y’all ain’t going to come shake [Jalen Brunson’s] hand?” Green said. “No problem. What’s the first thing Jalen Brunson did? Beeline to [Spurs coach] Mitch Johnson. Respect. Much respect. I would have loved for the Spurs players to be there for them to shake [the Knicks’] hands. They walked off. That was disappointing, a bit disappointing.”

NBC Sports Bay Area

[HoosierDaddyKid]

There is also the question of how the league will realign the conferences. Different possibilities are being discussed, including moving one team from the Western Conference to the East -- with Memphis, Minnesota and New Orleans all "competing" to do so.

ESPN

[Smitty]

@TheDunkCentral
Luka Dončić says he wants shooters and a big man he can run pick-and-rolls with

“I think mainly shooters and a big man who can run the pick-and-roll and jump so I can pass to him. If I have shooters, they won’t double me as much, and it helps me out. I think I always need shooters around me because I usually get double-teamed a lot, so I think I need shooters—and some centers who can jump high and block shots.”

[Mavs2021]

“To see [the Spurs] walk off the court, it was disheartening. I’ll blame it on youth,” Green said. “I’ll blame it on lacking the leader to show them that ‘hey, this is what you do. Not walk off.’ I blame it on that. “There’s a way to win, and there’s a way to lose. And walking off the court, not looking your killer in his eyes, isn’t the way to lose…I hate it. I hate when people do it. And I hated to see those young Spurs do it because I actually think they’re capable of doing something special…and I would urge those young Spurs [to] reach out to Jalen Brunson however you can. Reach out to Karl-Anthony Towns however you can. Reach out to Josh Hart, however you can. You tell [those] dudes ‘congratulations.’”  “Oh, by the way, y’all ain’t going to come shake [Jalen Brunson’s] hand?” Green said. “No problem. What’s the first thing Jalen Brunson did? Beeline to [Spurs coach] Mitch Johnson. Respect. Much respect. I would have loved for the Spurs players to be there for them to shake [the Knicks’] hands. They walked off. That was disappointing, a bit disappointing.”

NBC Sports Bay Area

The guy that should literally be in prison is playing moral police.

[FireNicoHarrison]

@TheDunkCentral
Luka Dončić says he wants shooters and a big man he can run pick-and-rolls with

“I think mainly shooters and a big man who can run the pick-and-roll and jump so I can pass to him. If I have shooters, they won’t double me as much, and it helps me out. I think I always need shooters around me because I usually get double-teamed a lot, so I think I need shooters—and some centers who can jump high and block shots.”

And Pelinka signed Smart & Ayton.

I can't believe someone can be fooled by that man... Oh well, it was just a trade "for the league*.
We know it.

[Mavs2021]

And Pelinka signed Smart & Ayton.

I can't believe someone can be fooled by that man... Oh well, it was just a trade "for the league*.
We know it.

That´s the beauty of the situation. Mavs can comfortably ask for the Lakers 1st round pick for Gafford knowing the Luka/LeBron/Reaves FA tinderbox is about to blow up on July 1st.

[dirkfansince1998]

And Pelinka signed Smart & Ayton.

I can't believe someone can be fooled by that man... Oh well, it was just a trade "for the league*.
We know it.

To be fair. Luka asked for Smart to be signed and he had a great season. Kennard and Smart won them the first round series against the Rockets. Ayton is a top 10 center in the league for 10% of games. Rest of the time he is just stealing money. Unless LeBron leaves or signs a team friendly deal there is little LA can do to improve the roster. If we can trust the rumors the Nets are willing to offer Reaves a max deal. Lakers cannot risk losing him and would be forced to match. Making it even more difficult to build around Luka.

[dirkfansince1998]

That´s the beauty of the situation. Mavs can comfortably ask for the Lakers 1st round pick for Gafford knowing the Luka/LeBron/Reaves FA tinderbox is about to blow up on July 1st.

I think plan 1a for them is to offer Mitchell Robinson the full MLE. Gafford trade is the fallback option. Problem is that from a Mavs perspective this removes the chance to include this years pick in the draft.

[Mavs2021]

I think plan 1a for them is to offer Mitchell Robinson the full MLE. Gafford trade is the fallback option. Problem is that from a Mavs perspective this removes the chance to include this years pick in the draft.

Not sure I would call it a fallback option. I think to rely just on Robinson, who is literally the one FA option is risky, when you can secure Gafford. Spurs, Clippers, Celtics could all be looking at Robinson. 

Then we all know how FA works. By draft night the Lakers probably already know what Robinson will do (either way).

[FireNicoHarrison]

To be fair. Luka asked for Smart to be signed and he had a great season. Kennard and Smart won them the first round series against the Rockets. Ayton is a top 10 center in the league for 10% of games. Rest of the time he is just stealing money. Unless LeBron leaves or signs a team friendly deal there is little LA can do to improve the roster. If we can trust the rumors the Nets are willing to offer Reaves a max deal. Lakers cannot risk losing him and would be forced to match. Making it even more difficult to build around Luka.

Smart & Kennard are not Championship level players, not starters for sure.
Maybe 10/15minutes role players.

I hope Pelinka the Genius will resign LeBron and AR so they will hard capped forcing Luka to leave.

[FireNicoHarrison]

I think plan 1a for them is to offer Mitchell Robinson the full MLE. Gafford trade is the fallback option. Problem is that from a Mavs perspective this removes the chance to include this years pick in the draft.

Mitchell Robinson is heavy injury prone. Perfect for the Lakers

[mvossman]

Smart & Kennard are not Championship level players, not starters for sure.
Maybe 10/15minutes role players.

I hope Pelinka the Genius will resign LeBron and AR so they will hard capped forcing Luka to leave.

Crazy take on Smart.  He has struggled with injuries and he is getting up there in age, but when healthy he is definitely a championship level player (if not necessarily a starter).  That contract was a huge bargain.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Crazy take on Smart.  He has struggled with injuries and he is getting up there in age, but when healthy he is definitely a championship level player (if not necessarily a starter).  That contract was a huge bargain.

I disagree... And i think he wants to be paid in the next contract.

Boston won the ring after he is gone. Overrated.

[mvossman]

I disagree... And i think he wants to be paid in the next contract.

Boston won the ring after he is gone. Overrated.

He got replaced by Jrue Holiday and they also added KP but sure, he is the reason why they didn't win.  He was third in minutes on a team that went to the finals while being defensive player of the year, but you think he only belongs on the court for 10-15 minutes?  Him wanting to get paid is a different conversation.

[FireNicoHarrison]

He got replaced by Jrue Holiday and they also added KP but sure, he is the reason why they didn't win.  He was third in minutes on a team that went to the finals while being defensive player of the year, but you think he only belongs on the court for 10-15 minutes?  Him wanting to get paid is a different conversation.

Yes. 

If Smart plays 30MPG your team can't win the title. Book it.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Michael Scotto: Sources: The Orlando Magic will add DJ Bakker as an assistant coach. He was a Hornets assistant coach and head coach of the Greensboro Swarm in the G League. He’s been an assistant for the Bucks and Pistons. Bakker and Orlando Magic coach Sean Sweeney worked together in Detroit. Michael Scotto: The Orlando Magic will add Riley Crean as an assistant coach, league sources told @hoopshype. Crean was the head video coordinator of the Dallas Mavericks and spent three of four seasons there working with Orlando Magic coach Sean Sweeney. Riley, 27, is the son of coach Tom Crean



x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Roland Beech: One under-discussed roster-building trait: PHYSICALITY VERSATILITY. By tracking direct H2H physicality matchups — drives, screens, post-ups, box-outs, rim contests, ball pressure, bumps, grabs, and more — we can see which players consistently win physical battles against different opponent types. Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns gave New York a rare three-man foundation of near matchup-proof physical wins. And all five starters were positive. That is a championship-level team-building edge.

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

“I think you’ve got to be careful about overreacting, but the playoffs are the ultimate test,” Dunleavy said. “It’s a good place to see and view kind of where the league is at, where it’s going. We’ve had, what, eight different champions in eight years. Is that right? I’d say the big-picture thing is it’s as wide open as it’s ever been. We can’t make any assumptions that this team is going to do it for the next 10 years. They’re going to be here. You know, injuries, salary cap issues, all those things. I think we’ve got to be careful of that.

New York Times

[HoosierDaddyKid]

SNY Knicks: "There's certain things in the NBA that you'd have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron. Cannot go into the second apron. I'll write as big of a check as possible, but I can't write a check that goes into the second apron." - James Dolan on @CartonShowWFAN

x.com