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New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
In NBA Draft, Pelicans can choose from three styles of guard at No. 7
With the NBA Finals set to begin on Thursday, teams have been tasked with learning from the drama and historic on-court moments in this year's playoffs to inform the crucial decisions they'll be making once the NBA offseason officially begins in a few weeks. Based on this year's results, one lesson is clear: It's really difficult to win without great guards. Advertisement Each of this year's conference finalists — Oklahoma City, Minnesota, New York and Indiana — was led by an All-NBA-caliber guard capable of dominating games. Related: It's crucial to have complementary guards who help bring out the best of those ball-dominant stars. As great as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been this season, the presence of Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Lu Dort has transformed the Thunder from a fun, young team into a ferocious defensive juggernaut. Tyrese Haliburton has been sensational during the Pacers' run to the Finals, but would their high-flying offense look the same without Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith? Before the draft lottery, the Pelicans had hopes of moving up to land a potential All-Star in the backcourt. Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe were the top candidates. Now that New Orleans has the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft on June 25, the targets have changed, but the objective remains the same. The Pelicans have a clear need in the backcourt. There are some obvious concerns about how that group will function in the present and how it'll evolve in the future. New Orleans will begin next season without starting point guard Dejounte Murray as he continues his rehab from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in January. Veteran guard CJ McCollum, who turns 34 in September, is heading into the final year of his contract. Bruce Brown, one of the pieces acquired from Toronto in the Brandon Ingram trade, is an unrestricted free agent. Former first-round pick Jordan Hawkins is also coming off a down year after dealing with lingering back issues. 'Best guard available' makes a lot of sense for the Pelicans. Let's look at the top options at No. 7: Pros: Even though he doesn't turn 20 until August, Knueppel is a knockdown shooter with a polished offensive game and a clear understanding of his likely NBA role. Although Knueppel benefited from playing with as much frontcourt talent as he had around him at Duke, putting him next to Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy would allow the Duke prospect to show off his shooting prowess and limit some of the on-ball responsibilities he had to take on in college. Advertisement Coming in as a 219-pound rookie shouldn't be overlooked, either. As his body matures, he could be able to bully defenders in the paint. It's tempting to categorize Knueppel as a 'skinny White guy who can shoot' similar to Luke Kennard and Duncan Robinson, but he's more than that. He's really comfortable using his size to create off the dribble. He has the personality and the on-court polish of someone who can easily play 10-plus years in the NBA. Cons: If Knueppel's ceiling is lower than some of the other options who will be available, would it make more sense to take a shot on someone who has a better chance of becoming an All-Star down the line? Even beyond that, Knueppel's lateral movement and lack of athleticism carry some concerns about his potential defensive impact. I don't think he'll be an easy target teams can go at repeatedly, but he'll have limitations. Teams love targeting the weakest defender — and Knueppel will have a target on his back from Day 1. While he was pretty good as an on-ball playmaker at Duke, Knueppel probably won't be doing as much of that in the NBA. How much does it limit his offensive impact if he doesn't develop into a player who can make plays off the bounce? Pros: Johnson was one of the highest-scoring freshmen in college basketball last year and, on most nights, carried a Texas squad that wasn't loaded with talent. Johnson is a tough shotmaker with a quick release and a fearless approach. Considering how many 3s he got up on a nightly basis (6.8 per game) and the degree of difficulty on his shots, Johnson's 39.7 percent accuracy from deep is even more impressive. If you put him on the court with Williamson and Murphy, he's going to punish teams that give him open looks. If there were a contest to determine who among this year's draft class is the most likely to make 10 3-pointers in an NBA game, Johnson would be my first pick — easily. That's how dangerous he can be once he heats up. If he can refine some of the other parts of his game, the threat he brings as a 3-point shooter should make him really tough to defend. Look at the progress Tyler Herro has made in using his shooting to keep defenders off balance. The hope is that Johnson can get there one day. Advertisement Cons: Johnson has some of the same limitations Knueppel brings as a defender, except packaged in a much smaller frame. At times, he fails to bring the consistent focus and physicality required to succeed on that end. Johnson really enjoys playing offense but doesn't seem to enjoy the other end nearly as much. Johnson doesn't turn 20 until March, so he still has a lot of maturing to do physically and mentally. He has the tools and competitive spirit to be impactful defensively. He just needs an environment that'll demand that approach from him every night. Johnson also has a tendency to play too fast on offense. He dribbles into the lane without a plan. He rushes layup attempts to avoid shot blockers. He'll have to add strength so he can feel more comfortable maintaining his position and preventing defenders from pushing him off his spot. He's a gunner but shows flashes of good vision — he just needs to be a more willing passer. Pros: Fears is more of a natural fit for the Pelicans' immediate needs with Murray injured. Fears is an old-school point guard who makes plays out of pick-and-roll and gets into the paint at will. He has an excellent handle, quickness and a feel for finding gaps in defenses. His assist numbers weren't great at Oklahoma, but he sees the entire floor when he gets downhill. He's the kind of point guard who can maximize Yves Missi as a lob threat or Herbert Jones as a corner 3-point specialist. Adding his speed and athleticism to what this team already has would make New Orleans extremely dangerous in transition. The Pelicans have made some poor decisions in the past at point guard (Lonzo Ball, Devonte Graham, McCollum, Murray, etc). With Fears, the Pelicans can finally lean into a long-term answer at a crucial position. Fears also brings a fearless nature and swagger this team has been missing. Cons: Fears is scrappy on defense but he lacks size. It's not impossible, but it becomes really difficult to field a top-tier defense that features a smaller player who other teams can attack on switches. Fears' struggles as a shooter are a bigger concern. In his only season at Oklahoma, he shot 43.4 percent from the field and 28.4 percent on 3s. He has a smooth jumper that should improve over time. However, in today's NBA, guards who can't punish teams that go under screens against them have a really hard time. Having a guy like that next to Williamson is nearly impossible. If teams can help off Fears and muck up the spacing around Williamson, Fears will have trouble staying on the floor. In general, Fears seems like a player who would benefit greatly from having a year off to sit and learn — sort of like what the Minnesota Timberwolves did with Rob Dillingham. But do the Pelicans have the luxury of taking someone at No. 7 who may not contribute right away? Conclusion: If I had to rank these three based on fit with the Pelicans, I'd go Knueppel first, Fears second and Johnson third. Ultimately, any of them would be a good pick based on what this team needs.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Draymond Green doubts Knicks can win title without ‘great player'
The post Draymond Green doubts Knicks can win title without 'great player' appeared first on ClutchPoints. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green cast doubt on the New York Knicks' championship outlook in the aftermath of their Eastern Conference Finals exit, emphasizing the need for a true star to lead the franchise to a title. Advertisement Green addressed the Knicks' future on a recent episode of The Draymond Green Show, stating bluntly that New York is still not equipped to win it all. 'As far as the Knicks going forward, I think going forward in order to win it ain't there yet,' Green said. 'I just don't foresee it. I think in order to win the Knicks need to bring in a great player. I can't talk specific names because I'm not going to give my money away for that, but if the Knicks want to compete for a championship I think they need a great player.' The comments follow the Knicks' elimination by the Indiana Pacers in six games, cutting short a postseason run that saw the franchise reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Despite making key additions last offseason — most notably Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns — New York ultimately fell short in its bid to return to the NBA Finals. Despite Jalen Brunson's playoff brilliance, Draymond Green says Knicks need a 'great player' Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Jalen Brunson once again delivered an elite postseason performance. The All-NBA guard averaged 29.4 points, seven assists and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.8% from three-point range across 18 games. He played 37.8 minutes per contest and carried much of the offensive load. Advertisement Still, the absence of another top-tier shot creator or All-NBA-caliber star appeared to loom large in the series loss to Indiana. In the aftermath of the season-ending defeat, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on SportsCenter that the Knicks are conducting internal meetings this week to evaluate their path forward. 'I'm told the Knicks have internal meetings this week to really evaluate everything from their coaches to their players and just see how they move forward to continue to compete for a championship in the Eastern Conference,' Charania said. 'But if we've seen the last year and a half as any indication, for Leon Rose, the Knicks president, went out and got OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns to elevate this team. I do expect the Knicks to be aggressive to see, is there a move out there, a landmark move, potentially, that takes this team over the top, or do they just make moves around the edges for their bench?' Knicks part ways with Tom Thibodeau as pursuit of star talent like Giannis or Durant looms New York has already made a significant change, firing head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, according to Charania. Thibodeau, hired ahead of the 2020-21 season, led the team to four playoff appearances in five years, missing only in 2021-22. Advertisement Ian Begley of SNY reported that the organization holds 'great respect for Thibodeau and what he did for [the] Knicks, but simply felt a new voice was needed.' The Knicks have been linked to potential trade pursuits of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant. As the team prepares for the 2025-26 season, Green's remarks reflect a broader belief that one more elite player may be the missing piece.
Fox Sports
04-02-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Lifelong Mavericks fan Patrick Mahomes reacts to Luka Doncic trade: 'It hurts me'
Patrick Mahomes is among the many Dallas Mavericks fans left upset by the Luka Doncic trade. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback admitted that the deal hurt him, noting that he had seen Doncic grow as one of the NBA's top stars ever since the team added him in the 2018 NBA Draft. "It's tough," Mahomes told reporters at Super Bowl LIX Opening Night. "You know, I've watched Luka since he was 18 years old. I remember going to a practice and it was Dirk [Nowitzki] and Luka, and seeing his maturation and how great of a basketball player he's become, it's been fun to watch. "As a Dallas fan, it hurts me." Mahomes, a Texas native who is also a lifelong Mavericks fan, expressed his initial confusion over the deal on social media when it was first reported late Saturday night. He wrote in a post on X "I'm sick rn….," seemingly speaking for many other Dallas fans who didn't like the trade. As Mahomes has made frequent courtside appearances at Mavericks games over the last few years, he mentioned that he's formed a bond with Doncic. Even though Doncic won't be playing for his favorite team anymore, Mahomes is rooting for him to have success with the Los Angeles Lakers. "I'm happy for him that he's going to be able to go out there and be in LA and get the chance to achieve his dream of winning a championship," Mahomes said. "He did so much, not only for the basketball team but for the city of Dallas, so I'll always be appreciative of those years." The trade between the Mavericks and Lakers, which also included the Utah Jazz taking on Jalen Hood-Schifino and second-round picks, was shocking for plenty of reasons. The Lakers' decision to send away Anthony Davis, who's in the midst of another All-NBA-caliber season, was surprising as the 31-year-old big man had helped them win a title five years ago and was thought to be a part of the organization's long-term plans. But, obviously, the biggest reason why the deal was a stunner was that Dallas opted to part with a 25-year-old perennial MVP candidate just eight months after he led them to the NBA Finals. Such a trade has very little precedent in recent sports memory, let alone NBA history. As the news broke late Saturday, many wondered on social media what the NFL equivalent of the Doncic trade would be. Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith tried to come up with one. "I'd probably say, like, Justin Jefferson getting traded," Smith said Monday night. In terms of on-field success, Jefferson is a strong comp to Doncic. The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver instantly became one of the best players at his position when he entered the league in 2020, setting all-time rookie receiving records. The 25-year-old won Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and earned his second first-team All-Pro nod this past season as well. But even some of the best wide receivers have been traded. Doncic's value as a consensus top-five player is probably more similar to a franchise quarterback, who rarely ever gets moved, especially at 25. Mahomes might be the greatest example of how valuable a franchise quarterback is after he's had unprecedented success through his first seven years as a starter. The 29-year-old is seeking to win his fourth title and third straight championship when the Chiefs take on the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX). There's an argument to be made that the Mavericks traded the NBA's Mahomes equivalent, which would obviously haunt Dallas for years to come if Doncic has that type of success in Los Angeles. But Mahomes added in another post on Sunday that he's looking forward to watching Davis play with Kyrie Irving. That sentiment remained at Opening Night. "I'm excited for the Mavericks moving forward and the guys that they brought in," Mahomes said. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily. recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
