Latest news with #All-Star-caliber
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Insider names several realistic center options for the Lakers
Insider names several realistic center options for the Lakers Upgrading the center position will obviously be job one for the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. It remains to be seen how they go about doing so. They could get the job done by acquiring a serviceable center who can play about 25 minutes a game and also obtaining another big man who could play about 15 minutes a game at the 5. Or the Lakers could take a big swing at a borderline All-Star or All-Star-caliber center who can be somewhat of a scoring threat in addition to a defensive presence and a strong rebounder. In a recent article, Khobi Price of the Orange County Register named several centers that could be realistic targets for Los Angeles. Daniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks and the Brooklyn Nets' Nic Claxton, both of whom have been linked to the team, were his two most realistic trade targets, and he wrote that veteran Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela could be an option for the team's mid-level exception (h/t Lakers Daily). Via Orange County Register: "Capela, 31, has declined as a player over the last couple of seasons," Price wrote. "His 2024-25 averages of 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, a blocked shot and 21.4 minutes were his lowest marks since early in his career. Onyeka Okongwu took over the Atlanta Hawks' starting center spot from Capela in late January before Capela missed the final month of the season because of a ligament injury in his left hand. "But Capela is still a reliable defender, especially near the rim, and he could be a low-minute starter or high-minute reserve. He's not a good long-term starting center solution, but he could be a good candidate for the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception the Lakers will have at their disposal." Price also named several other centers that could be secondary options for L.A. 'Honorable mentions: Orlando's Goga Bitadze (two years, $15.3 million for 2025-27); Brooklyn's Day'Ron Sharpe (potential restricted free agent); Luke Kornet (unrestricted free agent); Larry Nance Jr. (unrestricted free agent); Precious Achiuwa (unrestricted free agent),' Price wrote. Bitadze, who plays for the Orlando Magic, could be an interesting prospect. He will turn 26 years of age on July 20, and he averaged 7.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 20.4 minutes a game while shooting 61.1% from the field this season. Sharpe, 23, has been mentioned as someone the Lakers had interest in not too long ago. He registered 7.9 points, 6.6 points, 0.8 blocks and 0.8 steals in 18.1 minutes per game this season with the Nets. Nance once played for the Lakers for two seasons and change, starting with the 2015-16 campaign, when he was a rookie. He's undersized at 6-foot-8, but he weighs 245 pounds and can play both the 4 and 5, and he has become a very good 3-point shooter over the last year or two. He's not a rim protector, but he's a decent rebounder, and he can be a lob threat near the basket, which is one skill set L.A. is prioritizing at the center position.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Los Angeles Dodgers vs New York Yankees: Predicted lineup, how to watch, start time and more
Image Source: Getty Two star-studded Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, will face each other in the match. The game is set at 10:10 p.m. ET on May 30, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. This interleague slugfest comes with rail coast-to-coast rivalry, but also a taste of what it could be like in the World Series. Star-studded lineups highlight the primetime matchup Both teams are loaded with All-Star-caliber talent, and their projected lineups for Friday night underscore the depth and firepower fans can expect. New York Yankees projected lineup: Anthony Volpe (SS) Aaron Judge (RF) Paul Goldschmidt (1B) Giancarlo Stanton (DH) Gleyber Torres (2B) Alex Verdugo (LF) DJ LeMahieu (3B) Jose Trevino (C) Estevan Florial (CF) Aaron Judge still paces the club with a .423 average and 11 homers, and Volpe's emergence at shortstop has stabilized the top of the order. With established hitters like Goldschmidt and Stanton in the middle of the lineup, the Yankees are constructed to score in gobs. Yankees SWEEP Angels with LA Dodgers Rematch Up Next | 1231 Los Angeles Dodgers projected lineup: Shohei Ohtani (DH) Mookie Betts (SS) Freddie Freeman (1B) Teoscar Hernández (RF) Max Muncy (3B) Will Smith (C) Michael Conforto (LF) Tommy Edman (2B) Andy Pages (CF) The Dodgers are unbeatable, too. The vibe comes from Ohtani at the top as a leadoff DH, followed by Betts and Freeman — a pair of former MVPs —looking forward in the lineup. Teoscar Hernández is in the midst of a breakout campaign, and the bottom of the order has speed options — and versatility with Edman and Pages. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This could be a battle of pitching and timely hitting, even as each squad's bats are certainly capable of scoring in bunches. How to watch and what to expect in the Los Angeles Dodgers vs the New York Yankees match The game will appear on Apple TV+ as part of Major League Baseball's Friday Night Baseball. It is also available to stream on smart TVs, mobile devices, and computers to those who have an Apple TV+ subscription. Also Read: Why the Los Angeles Angels' offence continues to struggle after loss to the New York Yankees And with first place in both leagues at stake and so many top-heavy rosters, this isn't just a regular-season series — it's a prime-time baseball event. Playoff-type atmosphere under the lights in Los Angeles.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Thunder's success highlights the big mistake the Lakers made in the summer of 2021
On Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder pushed past the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals by a final score of 125-93. It was a contentious series throughout, but the Thunder showed signs of growth and development, and their victory on Sunday was a coming-of-age moment for their young roster. They will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that dismissed the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the first round, in the Western Conference Finals. Advertisement One key factor in Oklahoma City's triumph over the Nuggets was guard Alex Caruso. He made significant contributions off the bench on both ends of the floor, and in Game 7, he made five of his seven shot attempts to score 11 points, to go along with three assists and three steals, in 26 minutes. That made it the fifth time he scored in double figures in the series, which included a 20-point effort in Game 1. On Sunday, he was a plus-40, making him the third player to post such a plus-minus figure in a Game 7 and the only player to do so off the bench. It is also a festering reminder to the Lakers and their fans of the mistake the organization made in 2021 when it didn't come to terms with him on a new contract. The one the Lakers let get away Caruso had been a diamond in the rough that the franchise signed to a two-way contract in 2017. After showing promise during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, he played a key role in the Lakers winning the NBA championship in 2020. Advertisement But they low-balled him during contract negotiations during the summer of 2021, and he ended up signing with the Chicago Bulls on a four-year, $37 million contract. That was the summer when the Lakers made the disastrous trade for Russell Westbrook and gave guard Talen Horton-Tucker a three-year, $32 million extension. Perhaps that extension they gave Horton-Tucker, who has amounted to very little since, would've been enough to keep Caruso in town. To be clear, it's not like Caruso is some mighty All-Star-caliber player, despite what some Lakers fans claimed during the 2019-20 season when he was fourth in All-Star fan voting among Western Conference backcourt players. He's a solid but inconsistent 3-point shooter, and other than that, he's very limited offensively. But he's an outstanding defender who was named to the All-Defensive first team for the 2022-23 season and the All-Defensive second team last year. At 6-foot-5, he can effectively guard guards of different sizes, and he's the type of player who will sacrifice his body to go after loose balls and make hustle plays. Advertisement The current iteration of the Lakers badly needs a quality two-way guard who can lock down opposing backcourt players and start alongside Luka Doncic, who seems as if he couldn't guard a tortoise. Caruso would've fit the bill, and even if he wouldn't have been worthy of being in its starting lineup, he would've been a better option than Gabe Vincent, who is a more sporadic outside shooter and cannot effectively guard bigger guards. If LeBron James is the CEO of the Lakers and Luka Doncic is the executive vice president, Caruso is the type of hard-working, selfless janitor who will always do his best to keep things sparkling clean while doubling as a night watchman. He doesn't care that he's the type of man who takes showers after work; he simply takes pride in doing his job to the best of his ability without drawing attention to himself. Caruso is under contract through the 2028-29 season, so fans shouldn't hold their breath for a reunion. He's simply a constant reminder of how the Lakers set themselves back by at least a few years during the summer of 2021. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: The Thunder's success highlights big mistake Lakers made in 2021
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The Thunder's success highlights the big mistake the Lakers made in the summer of 2021
The Thunder's success highlights the big mistake the Lakers made in the summer of 2021 On Sunday, the Oklahoma City Thunder pushed past the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals by a final score of 125-93. It was a contentious series throughout, but the Thunder showed signs of growth and development, and their victory on Sunday was a coming-of-age moment for their young roster. They will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that dismissed the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the first round, in the Western Conference Finals. One key factor in Oklahoma City's triumph over the Nuggets was guard Alex Caruso. He made significant contributions off the bench on both ends of the floor, and in Game 7, he made five of his seven shot attempts to score 11 points, to go along with three assists and three steals, in 26 minutes. That made it the fifth time he scored in double figures in the series, which included a 20-point effort in Game 1. On Sunday, he was a plus-40, making him the third player to post such a plus-minus figure in a Game 7 and the only player to do so off the bench. It is also a festering reminder to the Lakers and their fans of the mistake the organization made in 2021 when it didn't come to terms with him on a new contract. The one the Lakers let get away Caruso had been a diamond in the rough that the franchise signed to a two-way contract in 2017. After showing promise during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, he played a key role in the Lakers winning the NBA championship in 2020. But they low-balled him during contract negotiations during the summer of 2021, and he ended up signing with the Chicago Bulls on a four-year, $37 million contract. That was the summer when the Lakers made the disastrous trade for Russell Westbrook and gave guard Talen Horton-Tucker a three-year, $32 million extension. Perhaps that extension they gave Horton-Tucker, who has amounted to very little since, would've been enough to keep Caruso in town. To be clear, it's not like Caruso is some mighty All-Star-caliber player, despite what some Lakers fans claimed during the 2019-20 season when he was fourth in All-Star fan voting among Western Conference backcourt players. He's a solid but inconsistent 3-point shooter, and other than that, he's very limited offensively. But he's an outstanding defender who was named to the All-Defensive first team for the 2022-23 season and the All-Defensive second team last year. At 6-foot-5, he can effectively guard guards of different sizes, and he's the type of player who will sacrifice his body to go after loose balls and make hustle plays. The current iteration of the Lakers badly needs a quality two-way guard who can lock down opposing backcourt players and start alongside Luka Doncic, who seems as if he couldn't guard a tortoise. Caruso would've fit the bill, and even if he wouldn't have been worthy of being in its starting lineup, he would've been a better option than Gabe Vincent, who is a more sporadic outside shooter and cannot effectively guard bigger guards. If LeBron James is the CEO of the Lakers and Luka Doncic is the executive vice president, Caruso is the type of hard-working, selfless janitor who will always do his best to keep things sparkling clean while doubling as a night watchman. He doesn't care that he's the type of man who takes showers after work; he simply takes pride in doing his job to the best of his ability without drawing attention to himself. Caruso is under contract through the 2028-29 season, so fans shouldn't hold their breath for a reunion. He's simply a constant reminder of how the Lakers set themselves back by at least a few years during the summer of 2021.
NBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC News
Golden State faces a rare playoff test: Life without Steph Curry
Improbably, Golden State beat a younger, higher-seeded NBA playoff opponent without its best player. Their challenge? Do it again and again — for at least a week. After Warriors superstar Stephen Curry suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Tuesday's Game 1 victory at Minnesota, he will be re-evaluated in one week, the team said. Based on the schedule of the conference semifinals, that timeline likely will lead the Warriors to be without Curry for the next three games, if not longer. Should the series reach a Game 5 on May 14, the series will take three days off before Game 6, a potential break for Curry's recovery. The 37-year-old Curry, the most prolific three-point shooter in NBA history and the cornerstone around which the Warriors four-championship run was built, leaves no ordinary void. And for his team, it poses no ordinary challenge, as Golden State has rarely before been forced to play without him in the postseason. Though the predominant image of Curry's first seasons in the NBA was of him on the sideline, struggling to deal with recurring ankle injuries, since undergoing ankle surgeries in 2011 and 2012, Curry has become an extremely durable playoff fixture. Since 2013, he has played in 155 postseason games while missing only 12. He had gone seven years without a playoff absence, a stretch of 65 consecutive appearances. That consistency was perhaps why, despite their stunning Game 1 win, the tone of Golden State's postgame interviews was at times mournful rather than celebratory. His team understood it was about to deal with a challenge it had rarely encountered. Warriors coach Steve Kerr recounted Curry's mood at halftime as 'absolutely crushed.' Seeing Curry injured was a 'little deflating,' Draymond Green said. Losing Curry means more than losing his 40% three-point shooting during these playoffs, which exceeds his career average. Curry's mere presence pulls defenders toward him and away from teammates, an effect that is described in the NBA as 'gravity' and which creates openings for others. Because the Warriors have rarely needed to compensate without Curry during the postseason, there is little precedent pointing to how Kerr might adjust his playoff rotation for a multi-game absence. But the Curry-less Game 1 victory showed something of a blueprint, one that shifts the burden onto the 35-year-old Green, the team's longtime defensive disruptor, and scorers Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield, who combined for 44 points. In many ways, this is the reason the Warriors traded with Miami for Butler at midseason — a bet that the 35-year-old's All-Star-caliber talent and past playoff heroics while leading Miami to two NBA Finals appearances, could provide a margin for error for a Warriors franchise that is nearing the end of its dynastic run anchored by Curry and Green. Butler added 11 rebounds and eight assists to his 20 points. Whether Hield and Butler can continue to replace Curry's scoring will be a focus for the next week, but his team's path to victory Tuesday and in the future appears on the defensive end. Minnesota scored only 11 points in the second quarter as part of a 31-point first half while missing all 15 of its first-half three-pointers. That poor shooting, and Golden State's defense, led the three-point-centric Timberwolves to play out of character. Two-thirds of its shots came inside the three-point arc. They are now 4-0 when three-pointers account for around 40% or more of their total shots, and 0-2 when less. In the second half, backup guard Pat Spencer — a former top collegiate lacrosse player who had played sparingly previously in this postseason — added to that effort with two steals off the bench. Jonathan Kuminga, a former first-round draft pick who was effectively out of Golden State's rotation just one round earlier, was among the cast of reserves and backups who held together late leads and will be called upon to do the same again. The Timberwolves are expected to be sharper. Their coach criticized the lack of tone-setting performance by star Anthony Edwards, who missed his first 10 shots, and Minnesota's 'diabolical' fast-break decision-making, which turned 18 Golden State turnovers into just 10 points. It had other self-inflicted errors, too. Of its 28 three-pointers taken when the closest defender was at least four feet away — what the NBA classifies as 'open' and 'wide-open' shots — it made just five. It was enough to allow Golden State to hang on for 24 second-half minutes without their star. Whether they can pull it off again for potentially at least three more games will decide the series.
