Powell a 'very deserving frontrunner' in MIP race
Bet the Edge breaks down current odds for NBA Most Improved Player, explaining why Cade Cunningham has an "uphill battle" in the race and why Norman Powell is the better bet given his outlook and current odds.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Grizzlies trade Desmond Bane to Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, 4 first-round picks
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and several draft picks, ESPN's Shams Charania first reported. In addition to Caldwell-Pope and Anthony, the Grizzlies will receive four unprotected first-round picks and one first-round pick swap. Memphis will get the No. 16 selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, a 2026 first-rounder (which originally belonged to the Phoenix Suns) and unprotected first-round picks in 2028 and 2030. The pick swap is for 2029 and will be lightly protected. Advertisement The Magic officially confirmed the trade on Sunday afternoon. 'Over his five years in the NBA, Desmond has distinguished himself as one of the elite guards in our league, and we look forward to his shooting, IQ and wide-ranging skill set in helping our team take a step forward," Orlando president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said in a statement. "Desmond's character is held in high regard across the league and we believe he will fit seamlessly with our existing players both on and off the court.' The Magic now have a new-look roster to go with their new uniforms for next season. Orlando finished 41-41 last season, which put them seventh in the standings and in the four-team play-in tournament. With this deal, the Magic bolster their chances to make an upward move in an Eastern Conference that will have some uncertainty next season. The Boston Celtics will likely be diminished with Jayson Tatum's torn Achilles injury along with whatever moves the team might make to maneuver the salary cap. The Milwaukee Bucks may trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, but will be without Damian Lillard for nearly all of next season (also due to an Achilles tear) and face payroll concerns with pending free agents Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. Advertisement Bane, who turns 26 on June 25, has averaged 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 41% on 3-pointers during his NBA career. The five-year veteran provides a third scorer to join Paolo Banchero (25.9 ppg) and Franz Wagner (24.2 ppg), both of whom missed significant time with oblique injuries. Jalen Suggs (16.2 ppg) also missed the final three months of the season with a left knee injury. Perhaps more importantly, Bane is signed for another four seasons with the five-year, $207 million extension he signed before the 2023-24 campaign. The Magic potentially have a core in place for multiple seasons. Bane appears to be happy about the trade, judging from his post on social media. At the very least, he's excited about the Florida weather. Caldwell-Pope, 32, moves to the sixth team of his 12-year NBA career. Joining the Magic as a free agent last season, he scored 8.7 points per game and shot 34.2% on 3s. He's won NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. Anthony, 25, was Orlando's 2020 first-round pick (No. 15 overall) and averaged 9.8 points per game, shooting 35% from long range.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle defends NBA Finals referee Scott Foster after fan criticism
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle defends NBA Finals referee Scott Foster after fan criticism Show Caption Hide Caption Pacers and Thunder NBA Finals is better than it's 'small-market' billing USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the star-studded NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Sports Pulse Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle took exception Sunday to the criticism being levied at officiating during the NBA Finals, specifically the rebukes against Scott Foster. 'I think it's awful some of the things I've seen about officiating, and Scott Foster in particular,' Carlisle said Sunday, June 15. 'I've known Scott Foster for 30 years. He is a great official. He has done a great job in these playoffs. We've had him a lot of times. The ridiculous scrutiny that is being thrown out there is terrible and unfair and unjust and stupid.' Many Pacers and NBA fans had taken to social media to criticize Foster for his performance Friday night in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, an eventual 111-104 Oklahoma City Thunder victory that evened the series at 2-2. Both teams combined to shoot 71 free throws, including 38 by the Thunder. In particular, fans took exception to a play when Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pushed off against Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith on a drive toward the left baseline, before Gilgeous-Alexander drained a step-back jumper. Gilgeous-Alexander appeared to take an extra step on the play, though he stumbled as he gathered his feet; Foster was very near the play, observing the action from the baseline. Foster officiated Game 4 with Josh Tiven (sixth Finals) and Sean Wright (second Finals). On the NBA's Last Two-Minute Report, referee operations examined 17 plays at found they were all 'correct calls' or 'correct no-calls.' Foster had reffed one previous Pacers playoff game this season. Some fans have given Foster the nickname 'The Extender,' claiming that he has a history of making dubious calls during the playoffs that have extended series. OPINION: In grueling NBA Finals, Pacers may regret Game 4 loss ANALYSIS: NBA Finals TV ratings don't reflect complete picture Longtime NBA writer Tom Haberstroh, however, referenced a study that says there's 'not much evidence at all' of Foster's ability to 'extend' the series. Haberstroh said Foster called 23 fouls (11 on the Pacers, 12 on the Thunder), Tiven called 17 fouls (nine on the Pacers, eight on the Thunder) and Wright called 13 fouls (seven on the Pacers, six on the Thunder). Bill Simmons, the former writer and now media executive and podcaster, said of the game: 'It was just an abomination. It was a typical Scott Foster (game), all over the place, just involved like weird stoppages, missed calls, like calling touch fouls, then not calling somebody getting clubbed in the head. They had no control of this entire game.' How are NBA Finals referees selected? According to the NBA, playoff referees are selected, 'based on their overall performance throughout the first three rounds of the NBA Playoffs 2025. Officials were evaluated by the NBA Referee Operations management team after each round to determine advancement in this year's postseason.' Who is NBA referee Scott Foster? Foster is considered one of the best referees in the league. An official in his 30th season with the NBA, Foster entered this season having officiated 1,675 regular season games and 241 postseason games. Friday night was Foster's 25th time officiating an NBA Finals game. This is his 18th NBA Finals, overall. Foster is also a noted pickleball player.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
What contract Marks would offer Kuminga in restricted free agency
What contract Marks would offer Kuminga in restricted free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area It's about to be a very interesting NBA offseason for the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the month. Advertisement But what kind of contract can Kuminga expect to sign, whether it be with Golden State or elsewhere? ESPN's Bobby Marks revealed what he would offer the 22-year-old forward in a piece published Sunday, and he believes Kuminga is worth a three-year, $81 million deal with the final year as a player option. 'Projecting a new contract for Kuminga is like trying to master the Rubik's Cube,' Marks wrote, pointing to the youngster's roller-coaster fourth NBA season which featured an undefined role with plenty of breakout performances mixed in. Marks admits the only thing 'guaranteed' for Kuminga is that the Warriors will tender him a $7.9 million qualifying offer before June 29, and Golden State holds the advantage after that due to a predicted lack of spending around the league this offseason. 'A contract that starts at $25 million gives Golden State the flexibility to fill out its roster and remain below the second apron,' Marks wrote. Advertisement If Golden State opts not to sign Kuminga to a new contract, it's likely the team will facilitate a sign-and-trade deal that lands it additional players and/or assets in the process. There's also the possibility Kuminga agrees to an offer sheet with another NBA team, which the Warriors will have an opportunity to match. Marks lists the Brooklyn Nets as another 'best fit' for the young pro. Regardless of what happens with Kuminga, his contract situation and its outcome will play a big role in how the rest of free agency ends up for the Warriors. Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
