Greg Oden, a cautionary tale as a former No. 1 pick whose career was cut short, wants to educate young NBA players
:
Three microfracture knee surgeries as well as a fractured patella robbed Oden of the opportunity to be an all-time great. He played 82 total games in Portland before being waived, and then spent 23 games with the 2013-14 Miami team that reached the Finals. While Durant became one of the game's most prolific scorers, Oden finished his career averaging 8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and full of regrets and anger because his body failed him.
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It took Oden five years to escape the malaise, including a battery charge in 2014. Nearly 18 years after that draft night, a 37-year-old Oden is healing, at peace with his troublesome and unfortunate journey, and seeking to help young players deal with career derailments, the hazards of the NBA life, and maintaining mental health.
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Oden wants to offer his experience and advice as an official 'old head,' reaching out to today's emerging stars who deal with instant success, lofty expectations, and demands from family and friends.
'I want to help these kids take all this money and be better when they're done and retired and look at life a little bit different and don't let any of what social media, the regular media, or what your friends and family say, look at yourself and be happy and be able to live,' Oden told the Globe. 'Hopefully keep all this money you made at a young age.'
Oden works as an athlete adviser for Edyoucore Sports & Entertainment, teaching prospects about financial literacy. He earned $24 million during his career, which is just twice the average NBA salary for one season.
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'I was that millionaire, too, and I was actually better and had more expectations than you at that point,' he said. 'And you want to see my downfalls and what I went through? I know what not listening to what your coaches say, what your friends and family say and doing your own stuff, I know what that's like. I know isolating and feeling like every decision you made makes you look bad but now you don't want to face anybody. I know that every time you hear somebody say your name you cringe a little bit because you don't know if they're talking good or bad about you because of some of the [expletive] you done did.
'Or I know you were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. All that stuff is going to happen. I remember watching that [ESPN] 30 for 30 'Broke,' and they put my name in it and I was in my penthouse with my friends and I was like, are they projecting on me, what's going on, only because I had a couple of injuries?
'Hopefully they'll give me a little bit of grace because I have been through it.'
Oden admitted injuries weren't his only downfall. He said he lacked worth ethic at a young age. The
Bill Russell
comparison grew burdensome. He opted to play hurt to quiet his critics. He spent time playing video games instead of living at the gym. And by the time Oden gained a rhythm and comfortability in his second season, he was injured again.
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'Don't listen to [the hype], prove it,' he said when asked what he would tell a 19-year-old Oden. 'If that's what you want, put in the work to be that. Figure out everything Bill Russell did to be that. Handle myself off the court to be that. At 19 years old, I wasn't thinking that way. I was trying to enjoy the spotlight. I was trying to figure out what was going to be next in my life and I was trying to figure out how to maneuver this injury that just derailed all of it.
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'At that time, I wish I would have put in that extra work to get me to that spot, to look at what KD just did [scoring 30,000 points]. All that work he put in and just to think we came in on the same night together. Maybe I would have had guys that three days took me to the gym at night and helped me look at things a little bit differently. I never had the opportunity to get there. What 19-year-old that literally can't walk for eight weeks … I was bed-bound to help my leg recover. What am I going to do?'
Oden smiles often. He talks openly about his painful times. He understands his body wouldn't allow what his mind thought it wanted. But he wants to pay it forward, help the next generation, be a friend and mentor, if they'll listen. And they should listen.
Greg Oden answers reporters' questions the day before the 2007 NBA Draft in New York.
Kathy Willens/Associated Press
Still scoring
Harden had a vintage performance
James Harden
has quietly put together a renaissance season for the Clippers, reaching the All-Star Game for the first time in four years and keeping Los Angeles afloat despite a plethora of injuries. After a crushing road loss at Phoenix when the Clippers blew a 19-point lead, Harden responded with a vintage 50-point performance in a win over the Pistons.
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He made 14 of 24 shots, 6 of 13 3-pointers and reached the free throw line 20 times, making 16. It was the most free throw attempts for Harden in five years. And witnessing his masterpiece was former
President
Obama
, who sat courtside at Intuit Dome.
'I talk to James after every game, every night for the most part, and just figuring out ways to get better and what we need him to do, things like that,' Clippers coach
Tyronn Lue
said. 'But to see him come out and score 50 on a back-to-back at the age of 35, just says a lot about him competing every night. Playing 38 minutes again on a back-to-back, but we needed every bit of it. So, everybody who played the game tonight contributed, and we needed every bit of it.'
The Clippers' sideline was well aware of Obama's presence.
'That makes it a lot sweeter, with having President Obama coming to the game,' Lue said. 'When [Clippers governor
Steve
]
Ballmer
told me that last week, very exciting. So, a young kid coming from Mexico, Missouri, to having the president know you on a first-name basis, feels really good. I've come a long way. So, someone you look up to, you idolize and meant a lot to our country when he was in office, still does to this day. You see the ovation he got tonight when they showed him on the jumbotron.'
Barack Obama gets a loud ovation from Clippers fans
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_)
Harden, throughout all of his career travails, criticism, and unceremonious exits, is still playing at a high level and an advanced age. He's yet to win a championship, but he's aging well in a league that's unforgiving to aging players.
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'I can do it, it's not my first time,' Harden said of his 24th career game of 50 or more points. 'For someone who's done it probably their first time takes a lot of energy, but for me it's just understanding the game. Seeing the game within the game.
'I wanted my pic with [Obama] after the game, but he had left. I guess he wanted to beat traffic. But, we've got a pretty cool relationship, we've met a few times. So, it's pretty cool to see him at the game. It's the reason why I played so well.'
Pistons coach
J.B. Bickerstaff
saw Harden's 50 from a different perspective. He had issue with the 20 free-throw attempts. Harden is a master of using his physicality and crafty moves to draw fouls. He has lost a step but is still savvy enough to score at will.
'Give him a ton of credit, but if you're not allowed to put your body on him legally, and he's allowed to shoot 20 free throws, you're not going to be able to guard it,' Bickerstaff said. 'He's an elite offensive weapon who can score in a bunch of ways. But when he's allowed to get to the free throw line 20 times it just makes your job extremely difficult.'
Pistons guard
Cade Cunningham
, also an accomplished scorer, had nothing but kudos for Harden and how he positions his body on drives.
'He's one of the best iso scorers the league has ever seen,' Cunningham said. 'I can't put enough respect on his ability to score the ball, his ability to find angles and stuff. I mean, comparing the free throws between us, I think a lot of that, you know, has to do with respect from the [referees] as far as the experience, he's been in this league killing it for a long time, so I understand that. I respect it.'
Said newly acquired
Bogdan Bogdanovic
, who has struggled in Los Angeles but gives the club another 3-point option: 'Just coming in here and seeing him ready, [Harden] gives the motivation for [the] rest of the locker room and especially younger guys, everybody contributed, but it starts with him. People underestimate how hard [it is] to come back-to-back nights and play and put in minutes and be ready to play. And people think it's a game, but we lose sleep, we are nervous, we are stressed when we lose. We have these emotional moments, but when you have such a guy that, he's a leader by example, he makes the job easier for us.'
The Clippers are hanging on in the West, trying to avoid the play-in. But nine losses in 14 games has Los Angeles in the play-in. Back-to-back losses to the rival Lakers and then the blown lead against the Suns has turned the final 20 games into a crucial stretch. The Clippers still have two separate East Coast trips in the final month.
Leading scorer
Norman Powell
has missed the past seven games with a hamstring strain and isn't expected back for another week. Former All-Star
Kawhi Leonard
is resting on the second game of back-to-backs and has played just 20 games.
Former President Barack Obama, left, sat with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer on March 5.
Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press
It's a mystery
Cassell passed over for another top job
According to reports, Florida State is targeting former guard and current Kings assistant
Luke Loucks
to be its next head coach, replacing the retiring
Leonard Hamilton
. There was another interested candidate who was also a FSU alum and current NBA assistant coach,
Sam Cassell
. It's yet another head coaching job that Cassell has been bypassed for and it's mystifying why the veteran assistant, three-time NBA champion, and one of the more popular NBA personalities is still without a head coaching job.
Cassell joined the Celtics staff before the 2023-24 season and immediately bonded with the players. He has become the perfect combination of coach and mentor, with the 20-somethings on the Celtics roster knowing Cassell won championships.
One perception was that Cassell was too attached to former Celtics coach
Doc Rivers
, who hired Cassell in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. That is no longer an issue, and Cassell is
Joe Mazzulla's
lead assistant and offers guidance on strategy and substitutions.
Around league circles there doesn't seem to be any detractors. Cassell just turned 55, but he coaches and approaches his job with a youthfulness and vigor.
Cassell wants to be an NBA head coach and he was interested in coaching at his alma mater, and the Celtics hired him believing his tenure would be short term because he would eventually become a head coach. The Hornets hired
Charles Lee
after one season, and Lee helped the Celtics to the title and also the Bucks as an assistant in 2020-21. Lee had interviewed for several NBA jobs and was considered a top candidate.
It's uncertain why Cassell isn't on the short list of coaching candidates each offseason, but the league's loss has become the Celtics' gain. In an industry in which coaches are hired and fired repeatedly and teams are searching for bright minds, amicable personalities, mentors, and life coaches, it seems Cassell would be an appropriate fit for a team in need of a culture change.
Layups
Former Celtics' second-round pick
Anton Watson
was not a free agent for long as the Knicks claimed him off waivers. The Celtics chose to sign Memphis Hustle swingman
Miles Norris
to give him a look in the final few weeks of the season. Several teams made changes to their two-way players before the Tuesday deadline. Those players are allowed a maximum of 50 regular-season games and are not allowed on playoff rosters unless they are on a standard NBA contract. The Celtics still have an open roster spot and can choose to sign either a free agent who was waived before March 1 or convert one of their two-way players … The Mavericks have an interesting decision approaching after the torn ACL suffered by All-Star guard
Kyrie Irving
. Irving is expected to miss at least nine months but he also has a $43 million player option for next season. He could decline that option, become a free agent, and like
Kevin Durant
in 2019, sign a lucrative deal. If Irving opts in, the Mavericks will have salary cap limitations because of the first year of
Anthony Davis's
contract extension. He'll earn $57 million in the first year of a three-year pact he signed with the Lakers. The good news for the Mavericks is most of their core is signed through next season. The issue could be at point guard where
Spencer Dinwiddie
and
Dante
Exum
are free agents … The Wizards traded for veterans
Khris Middleton
and
Marcus Smart
because of their contacts but both have assumed considerable roles for the young Wizards. Middleton has started all six games and is averaging 12.3 points in 24.5 minutes. Smart is coming off the bench and averaging 9.7 points in 19.3 minutes. The Wizards are in an intriguing competition with the Hornets and Jazz for the league's worst record. The teams with the three worst records have approximately the same chances to land the first overall pick. The Pelicans, who have been ravaged by injuries all year, are 4½ games behind the Wizards and while the top three teams have a 14 percent chance at No. 1, the fourth team has a 12.5 percent shot.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
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New York Times
34 minutes ago
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Advertisement Don't get me wrong: deep down, Pochettino must know on which side his bread is buttered. He has few players as capable as Pulisic at his fingertips, but the fall-out from the recent Concacaf Gold Cup — Pulisic backing out of it, Pochettino's terse reaction to that, the running verbal battle between today's superstar and USMNT alumni — has dragged the 26-year-old into disrepute and the realms of reputational management. Driven by this, The Athletic's Henry Bushnell tracked down a few of Pulisic's former USMNT coaches — Bruce Arena, Dave Sarachan and Gregg Berhalter — to ask what the forward is really like. And by 'really like', we're talking his levels of commitment to the U.S. cause, because after his Gold Cup absence, that's what is under the microscope. You can gauge as much from the extent to which Pulisic's former managers speak about his devotion to international football. It's the underlying theme of Henry's article. 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The past 18 months in particular — comprising Copa America, Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup failures — have driven patience and tempers to the edge. Advertisement Which, in reality, is why pressure on players such as Pulisic is mounting — and why U.S. Soccer's substantial investment in Pochettino has to work. There's no time like the present for the Argentine coach. The 2026 World Cup, largely on United States soil, is coming his way, fast. He clearly didn't appreciate Pulisic missing the Gold Cup, but Pulisic sounded like a man who was ready for a rest, physically and emotionally. Next up for the U.S. are home friendlies against South Korea and Japan, scheduled for the second week of September. We should get Pochettino's roster for those games next week and this time, there's no reason for Pulisic to be missing. The cycle of Captain America being asked to carry the nation's hopes and dreams starts again. Perhaps, in the grand scheme, it's sometimes asking too much. 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New York Times
37 minutes ago
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NBA 2025 offseason rankings Top 10: How did Thunder, Rockets, Spurs fare?
We've reached the end of our annual offseason rankings. The best of the best of the NBA's 30 teams in the 2025 offseason. We've already gone through teams 30-21 and teams 20-11. The top 10 represent the teams that truly maximized their resources to dramatically improve — or, if already elite (we see you, Thunder), retain — their rosters and/or front offices. Advertisement Again, these are not power rankings. If they were, there's no way a 19-63 team would be in the top 10 (and three other teams listed here also didn't make the postseason). But these rankings are based on the offseason they had, and you'll see where they stand. At any rate, if recent history is any guide, what follows could be revised with a laaaaaate offseason move. Salary numbers, with a couple of exceptions, come from Spotrac, which stays on top of this stuff as well as anyone east of Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. And the great Mark Deeks, for reasons known only to him, created an exhaustive list of 2025 two-way and Exhibit 10 post-draft signings, from which I have borrowed copiously. Draft pick details are from both Spotrac and RealGM. The methodology is in our introductory piece. David Aldridge's 2025 offseason rankings: Nos. 30-21 | Nos. 20-11 2024-25 record: 50-32; lost in Western Conference first round to the Denver Nuggets, 4-3 Added: F John Collins (acquired from Jazz); C Brook Lopez (two years, $17.9M); G Bradley Beal (two years, $10.9M); G Chris Paul (one year, $3.6M); C Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (first round, 30th pick); G Kobe Sanders (draft rights acquired from Knicks, two-way); F Jordan Miller (two-way); F Trentyn Flowers (two-way); G TyTy Washington Jr. (Exhibit 10); F Patrick Baldwin (Exhibit 10); G Jason Preston (Exhibit 10); F Jahmyl Telfort (Exhibit 10) Lost: F/G Norman Powell (traded to Heat); C Drew Eubanks (waived); G Seth Lundy (waived); F Mohamed Diawara (draft rights traded to Knicks); 2027 second-round pick (traded to Jazz); F Amir Coffey (signed with the Bucks) Retained: G James Harden (two years, $81M); F Nicolas Batum (two years, $11.4M); F Trenton Flowers (two-way) Extended: None Returning from injury: None The skinny: Solid work from the Clips. Keeping Harden and his contract attached with Kawhi Leonard (and, now, Beal) maximizes whatever window they have left, and keeps L.A. on track to be a major free agent player in the summer of '27. Beal should be a good fit between Harden and Leonard. Collins brings some thump to the four spot at no cost after next season. Adding Lopez also should help L.A. maintain the monster on-off advantages Ivica Zubac produced in the middle last season. Are the Clips now better than first-round fodder? I think so. But their best players are well into their 30s, and another year older, and the West will be even harder. Advertisement 2024-25 record: 41-41; lost in Eastern Conference first round to the Boston Celtics, 4-1 Added: G/F Desmond Bane (acquired from Grizzlies); G Tyus Jones (one year, $7M); G Jase Richardson (first round, 25th pick); F Noah Penda (draft rights acquired from Celtics); F Jamal Cain (two-way); C Orlando Robinson (two-way); F Nate Santos (Exhibit 10) Lost: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (traded to Grizzlies); G Cole Anthony (traded to Grizzlies); G Gary Harris (signed with Bucks); G Caleb Houstan (team declined 2025-26 option); G Ethan Thompson (waived); 2025 first-round pick (traded to Grizzlies); 2026 first-round pick (traded to Grizzlies); 2028 first-round pick (traded to Grizzlies); 2029 first-round pick swap to Grizzlies; 2030 first-round pick (traded to Grizzlies) Retained: C Mo Wagner (one year, $5M) Extended: F Paolo Banchero (five years, $239M) Returning from injury: G Jalen Suggs (right knee cartilage surgery) The Skinny: Yes, four unencumbered firsts and a pick swap for Bane is a lot, even if Orlando's expectation is that those picks will all be late firsts if everything goes right and it becomes a top-four East team. But it's worth the opportunity cost. With the second apron looming, the Magic has to win now. Bane should be a hand-in-glove fit for an offense that desperately needs his career 41 percent 3-point shooting. Richardson's shooting, too, should give Banchero and Franz Wagner more room to operate. Orlando has coveted Jones and his no-turnover skills for a couple of years; he's a great veteran insurance policy if Suggs goes down again. 2024-25 record: 68-14; won NBA championship Added: C Thomas Sorber (first round, 15th pick); F Brooks Barnhizer (second round, 44th pick, two-way); C Branden Carlson (two-way); F Malevy Leons (Exhibit 10); F Zach Martin (Exhibit 10); 2027 first-round pick (acquired from Kings) Advertisement Lost: G Dillon Jones (traded to Wizards); G Colby Jones (waived); F Nique Clifford (draft rights traded to Kings); 2029 second-round pick (traded to Wizards) Retained: F Jaylin Williams (three years, $24M); G Ajay Mitchell (three years, $8.7M) Extended: G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (four years, $272.4M); F Jalen Williams (five years, $239.9M); C Chet Holmgren (five years, $239.9M) Returning from injury: F Jalen Williams (right wrist surgery); G Nikola Topić (torn left ACL) The skinny: Oklahoma City isn't resting on its championship laurels. It quickly tied up SGA, Jalen Williams and Holmgren for a cool $750-plus million. There could be a financial reckoning as soon as the summer of 2027, when the Williams/Holmgren extensions kick in, and the Thunder have club options on Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort. But the next two seasons are set. Sorber's length will let him play the five in the pros. Topić, the Thunder's 2024 first-rounder, is back on the floor after missing last season. And OKC's stockpile never dwindles; it still could have as many as eight firsts between now and 2029. The Thunder's poised to run this league for a bit. 2024-25 record: 39-43; lost in Play-In round Added: G D'Angelo Russell (two years, $11.6M); F Cooper Flagg (first round, first pick); G Ryan Nembhard (two-way); F Miles Kelly (two-way); G Matthew Cleveland (Exhibit 10); F Moussa Cisse (Exhibit 10) Lost: G Spencer Dinwiddie (signed with Hornets) Retained: G Dante Exum (one year, $3.3M) Extended: G Kyrie Irving (three years, $118.4M); C Daniel Gafford (three years, $54M) Returning from injury: Irving (torn left ACL); F/C Anthony Davis (detached retina surgery); C Dereck Lively II (bone spurs, right foot); F Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right wrist surgery) The skinny: A sizeable portion of Dallas' fan base will chant 'Fire Nico!' at home games forever, because some people can't move on past anything. But, hopefully, more will get back on board watching Flagg and his prodigious talents, and how Jason Kidd uses him alongside Davis and Gafford and Lively II. There are also mix and match opportunities with P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall. Russell is a terrific short-term replacement for Irving; DAR should seamlessly morph into Irving's backup whenever Kyrie returns. Health willing, this could be a really good team. Advertisement 2024-25 record: 19-63; did not make playoffs Added: G Collin Sexton (acquired from Jazz); G Spencer Dinwiddie (one year, $3.6M); C Mason Plumlee (one year, $3.6M); G Pat Connaughton (acquired from Bucks); G Kon Knueppel (first round, fourth pick); F Liam McNeeley (draft rights acquired from Suns); F Sion James (second round, 33rd pick); C Ryan Kalkbrenner (second round, 34th pick); G Antonio Reeves (two-way); F Drew Peterson (two-way); G K.J. Simpson (two-way); 2029 first-round pick (acquired from Suns); 203o second-round pick (acquired from Jazz) Lost: C Mark Williams (traded to Suns); C Jusuf Nurkić (traded to Jazz); G Vasilije Micić (traded to Bucks); F Josh Okogie (waived); G Damion Baugh (waived); 2029 second-round pick (traded to Suns) Retained: G Tre Mann (three years, $24M) Extended: None Returning from injury: G LaMelo Ball (arthroscopic surgery, right ankle); F Brandon Miller (torn right scapholunate ligament surgery); Grant Williams (torn right ACL/meniscus); G Josh Green (left shoulder surgery) The skinny: The Hornets are making sure they don't have to solely depend any more on Ball — who's played in just 105 of 246 games the last three seasons — by adding Sexton and Dinwiddie to the mix. Good strategy. And when Ball is on the floor, he should be able to play with either of them, or Knueppel. Any of them will be an upgrade in the backcourt, where Green averaged just 7.4 points per game in 67 starts at the two last season. If Ball and Miller return without setbacks, Charlotte's rotation is poised to make a big jump offensively from its anemic production last year (29th in offensive rating). Diversifying the attack is critical for second-year coach Charles Lee. 2024-25 record: 34-48; did not make playoffs Added: F Luke Kornet (four years, $40.7M); G Lindy Waters III (one year, $2.4M); F/C Kelly Olynyk (acquired from Wizards); G Dylan Harper (first round, second pick); F Carter Bryant (first round, 14th pick); F David Jones-Garcia (two-way); G Adam Flagler (Exhibit 10); C Micah Potter (Exhibit 10); removed interim tag from head coach Mitch Johnson Advertisement Lost: G Chris Paul (signed with Clippers); C Sandro Mamukelashvili (signed with Raptors); G Blake Wesley (traded to Wizards); G Malaki Branham (traded to Wizards); 2026 second-round pick (traded to Wizards); head coach Gregg Popovich retired Retained: G Jordan McLaughlin (one year, $2.8M); F Riley Minix (two-way); F Harrison Ingram (two-way) Extended: G De'Aaron Fox (four years, $222.3M) Returning from injury: C Victor Wembanyama (deep vein thrombosis); Fox (left pinky surgery); Minix (torn left labrum) The skinny: The Spurs did the right thing in taking Harper, even though they already have Fox and Stephon Castle. You worry about fit later when you're still building the talent on your roster. The potential of Harper and Wemby pick-and-rolls is devastating. Fox, too, remains an offensive load: double drags, tosses, whatever. Olynyk is an excellent spacer besides Wembanyama — and insurance in case of a Wemby injury. San Antonio shouldn't have extended droughts for very long, as long as Wembanyama is fully recovered from his blood clots. But you can't forget that San Antonio is also officially moving on from one of the best coaches in NBA history. 2024-25 record: 48-34; lost in Western Conference first round to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-0 Added: G Ty Jerome (three years, $27.6M); C Jock Landale (one year, $2.4M); G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (acquired from Magic); F Cedric Coward (draft rights acquired from Trail Blazers); G Javon Small (second round, 48th pick, two-way); G Justinian Jessup (draft rights acquired from Warriors); G Jahmai Mashack (draft rights acquired from Rockets); F PJ Hall (two-way); 2026 first-round pick (acquired from Magic); 2028 first-round pick (acquired from Magic); 2029 second-round pick (acquired from Pacers); 2029 pick swap from Magic; 2030 first-round pick (acquired from Magic); 2031 second-round pick swap from Pacers Advertisement Lost: G/F Desmond Bane (traded to Orlando); G Cole Anthony (buyout and waived via stretch provision); G Luke Kennard (signed with Hawks); F Marvin Bagley III (signed with Wizards); C Jay Huff (traded to Pacers); F Zyon Pullin (waived); C Yang Hansen (draft rights traded to Trail Blazers); F Will Richard (draft rights traded to Warriors); Retained: F Santi Aldama (three years, $52.5 M); G Cam Spencer (four years, $10.4M) Extended: F/C Jaren Jackson III (five years, $216.5M) Returning from injury: G Ja Morant (left hip contusion); Jackson (turf toe surgery); C Zach Edey (left ankle surgery); F Brandon Clarke (right PCL sprain); F Jaylen Wells (concussion) The skinny: GM Zach Kleiman continues to do strong work keeping the Grizz competitive in the brutal West. You can't do better than bagging four future firsts for Bane, even though he was a part of Memphis' culture. I love Coward's potential, and thus give the Grizz high marks for moving up in the first round to get him. Jerome's deal is decidedly team-friendly. KCP's not done yet, either. The Grizz were able to keep JJJ, their top offseason priority, along with re-upping the Patriot League's finest, Aldama, at a reasonable number. They'll likely need to thin out their wings room with another move or two, but it's a good problem to have. 2024-25 record: 50-32; lost in Western Conference semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 4-3 Added: F Cam Johnson (acquired from Nets); C Jonas Valančiūnas (acquired from Kings); G/F Bruce Brown (one year, $3.08M); G Tim Hardaway Jr. (one year, $3.6M); F Spencer Jones (two-way); G Tamar Bates (two-way); G Curtis Jones (two-way); G Reece Beekman (Exhibit 10), F Kessler Edwards (Exhibit 10) Lost: F Michael Porter, Jr. (traded to Nets); F Dario Saric (traded to Kings); 2032 first-round pick (traded to Nets); F PJ Hall (signed with Grizzlies); G Trey Alexander (signed with Pelicans); F Vlatko Čančar (signed in Europe) Advertisement Retained: None Extended: None Returning from injury: F DaRon Holmes (torn ACL) The skinny: Considering they cashiered their coach and GM right at the end of the regular season, kudos to governor Josh Kroenke and new execs Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace for dramatically improving the rotation. Getting Johnson at almost half the cost of Porter enabled Denver to bring back Brown, a key contributor to the '23 title team. Adding Valančiūnas and Hardaway for very little were master strokes. Extending the rotation by even one quality player can be huge in the playoffs. With Brown, JV, THJr. – and Holmes, their 2024 first-rounder, who's now healthy again — Denver's now a plus-4 over the squad that got smoked in Game 7 in OKC. 2024-25 record: 40-42; lost in Play-In round Added: G/F Nickeil Alexander-Walker (four years, $62M via sign and trade with Timberwolves); G/F Luke Kennard (one year, $11M); C Kristaps Porziņģis (acquired from Boston); F N'Faly Dante (two years, $4.5M); F/C Asa Newell (draft rights acquired from Pelicans); F Jacob Toppin (two-way); F Eli Ndiaye (two-way); G Keaton Wallace (two-way); G Lamont Butler (two-way); G Kobe Johnson (Exhibit 10); 2026 first-round pick (acquired from Pelicans); 2031 second-round pick swap from Rockets; promoted general manager Onsi Saleh Lost: G Terance Mann (traded to Nets); F Daeqwon Plowden (traded to Suns); C Derik Queen (draft rights traded to Pelicans); F Drake Powell (draft rights traded to Nets); F David Roddy (waived); F Dominick Barlow (team declined 2025-26 option); 2027 second-round pick (traded to Timberwolves); fired general manager Landry Fields; C Clint Capela (traded to Rockets); F Larry Nance Jr. (signed with Cavs); G Caris LeVert (signed with Pistons) Retained: None Extended: G/F Nikola Đurišić (three years, $5.9M) Advertisement Returning from injury: Porziņģis (post-viral syndrome); F Jalen Johnson (torn left labrum); G Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder surgery) The skinny: More home games for Hollinger! Atlanta's new front office — Saleh, Bryson Graham and Peter Dinwiddie — crushed the offseason. The highlight, of course, was getting New Orleans' 2026 first-rounder on draft night in exchange for moving down 10 spots in the draft. It was a smart and nimble move by the Hawks, who will likely add a lottery talent from a loaded '26 draft to their promising core. Whether Atlanta can really make a move in the East next season depends on Porziņģis' health, but adding NAW, KP, Kennard and Newell to supplement Trae Young, Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels was first-rate work. 2024-25 record: 52-30; lost in Western Conference first round to the Golden State Warriors, 4-3 Added: F Kevin Durant (acquired from Suns); F Dorian Finney-Smith (four years, $52.7M); C Clint Capela (three years, $21.5M via sign and trade from Hawks); G Mojave King (acquired from Pelicans); G/F Josh Okogie (one year, $3.1M); G Isaiah Crawford (two-way); G J.D. Davison (two-way); G Kevon Harris (two-way); F Cam Matthews (Exhibit 10); 2026 second-round pick (acquired from Wizards); 2029 second-round pick (acquired from Wizards) Lost: G Jalen Green (traded to Suns); F Dillon Brooks (traded to Suns); F Cam Whitmore (traded to Wizards); F David Roddy (traded to Suns); C Jock Landale (waived); G Jeenathan Williams (waived); C Khaman Maluach (draft rights traded to Suns); F Jahmai Mashack (draft rights traded to Grizzlies); 2026 second-round pick (traded to Suns); 2031 second-round pick swap to Hawks; 2032 second-round pick (traded to Suns); F N'Faly Dante (signed with Hawks); F Jack McVeigh (free agency) Retained: C Steven Adams (three years, $39M); F Jeff Green (one year, $3.6M); G Aaron Holiday (one year, $3.08M); F Jae'Sean Tate (one year, $2.6M) Extended: G Fred VanVleet (two years, $50M); F Jabari Smith (five years, $122M); coach Ime Udoka (multi-year deal) Returning from injury: None Advertisement The skinny: I'm not wholly sold this is going to be all rainbows and unicorns. Durant is still a great scorer, but like all great scorers, he needs the ball. So, too, do Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson and Smith. Houston's spent most of the last four years getting the ball to move better. Is isoing KD at the elbow the best way for this team to take the next step? But, I understand; the Rockets' offense crashed and burned against the Warriors in the playoffs. This is a gamble a championship-hunting organization takes. Getting DFS from the Lakers was huge. Respect to GM Rafael Stone and Houston's front office for not bowing at the OKC altar and shooting their shot. (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Glenn James / NBAE via Getty Images, David Becker, Jacob Kupferman /AP Photos) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Steve Pagliuca's bid for Sun is a chance for WNBA to emerge from NBA's shadow. Why is it dismissive of the offer?
Yet, the league is cool to the offer. The same goes for The WNBA and the NBA look determined to funnel franchises to current NBA owners, in the process undermining proof that the WNBA can stand on its own as a value proposition. That restricts the league to sidecar status and allows detractors to continue to wrongly dismiss it as benefactor basketball, or, worse, the NBA's version of virtue signaling. W fans and both leagues know that's false. But the WNBA/NBA is choosing to continue to provide fuel for that Neanderthal narrative by helicopter parenting purchases. It's a self-imposed diminishment that women's professional sports don't need as the WNBA establishes undeniable roots in the American sports consciousness 29 years into its existence. Advertisement On a track to profitability and experiencing unparalleled interest, the WNBA Even though Fever guard Caitlin Clark (left) much of the season injured, WNBA attendance is on pace to break the all-time record. Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press A former hooper at Harvard, Governor Maura Healey, remains a vocal proponent of a WNBA franchise in Boston, ASAP. The Globe learned she is brokering a potential partnership of Pagliuca and new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm to pave the way for the Sun to come to Boston. Perhaps, that will move the needle with the WNBA, but the league remains primed to stick to its pecking order for awarding franchises, which has Boston in the basement. It also keeps pointing out that Boston was not among the 12 cities that submitted bids for expansion franchises this last go-round when teams were awarded to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, all of which will be owned by the NBA owners in those cities. Those three teams will push the 'W' to 18 franchises by 2030, when Philadelphia joins Cleveland (2028) and Detroit (2029). It will mean 10 of the 18 WNBA teams are owned by NBA owners. That doesn't count the Toronto Tempo, which will start play next season. The Tempo technically don't share ownership with the Toronto Raptors. However, their owner, Larry Tanenbaum, is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Raptors. And, Tanenbaum is the chairman of the NBA's Board of Governors. The Portland Fire, who re-join the WNBA in 2026, are owned by siblings Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. Their father, Raj, is the Kings principal co-owner. Advertisement Sensing a theme? The WNBA is now like an empty lot in a desirable neighborhood, and the NBA is going to choose who it lets move in. It's pulling the strings. The NBA and its clubs as a collective own 42 percent of the WNBA. But it's a majority stake when you count NBA owners who participated in the WNBA's capital raise in 2002, which sold off a 16 percent stake. It makes sense and is fair that the NBA is ready to reap the fruits of its benevolence after propping up the WNBA during leaner times with little tangible return. After all, it's the WNBA, emphasis on the NBA. The NBA's preferred model is the symbiotic and successful relationship between the Golden State Warriors and Golden State Valkyries, a first-year WNBA expansion franchise leading the league in attendance. There's business rationale for the NBA preferring to keep it in the family. NBA owners know how to run teams. They're already accountable partners to the NBA brand. But you never sell your product short or for less than it's worth. Both Pagliuca and Lasry are willing to fork over $325 million, a record amount for controlling interest. ( You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube, even though, much to the NBA's ire, bylaws make it crystal clear that an NBA/WNBA franchise can't be relocated without approval from the board of governors. This is immutable. When the Warriors moved from the Oracle Coliseum in Oakland to the Chase Center in San Francisco, it required NBA approval. When the Liberty were sold to Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai in 2019, the WNBA board of governors had to approve the team moving its games from White Plains, N.Y., to Brooklyn's Barclays Center. Advertisement Any discussion of the bids for the Sun is moot in the NBA's mind. Still, the optics of passing up $325 million bids in favor of the league pressing the Mohegan Tribe to sell the club to the WNBA for $250 million so it can turn around and flip the franchise to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta or another NBA owner for that price screams market manipulation. It's the type of dubious wheeling and dealing that wouldn't pass muster in your fantasy football. The reality is the WNBA doesn't reach this inflection point without non-NBA-affiliated owners propping the league up and pushing it forward. The Sun were the first team under non-NBA owners when the Mohegan Tribe rescued the Orlando Miracle and moved them to Connecticut in 2003. From 2018 to 2023, five of the six WNBA champions enjoyed independent ownership. The 2024 crown was captured by the Liberty. For so long, apathy was the WNBA's chief enemy. But just when the league appears ready to ditch its training wheels, the NBA is telling the 'W' it will always be the backseat of a tandem bicycle with the NBA dictating the ride. Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
