Latest news with #BrianWindhorst
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raptors rumors: Brian Windhorst hints at possible ‘big fish' trade
The post Raptors rumors: Brian Windhorst hints at possible 'big fish' trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the basketball world coming up with possible trades involving the Toronto Raptors and Giannis Antetokounmpo, some people wonder what the offseason plans are for the team. While the Raptors are headed into a crucial offseason, ESPN's NBA insider Brian Windhorst hinted that it could be an exciting summer for the franchise. Advertisement Led by team president Masai Ujiri, he and the team will look to vastly improve the roster after finishing with a 30-52 record, which put them 11th in the Eastern Conference. Windhorst would say on 'The Hoop Collective' show that the team has begun to 'make noise within the league about looking for a big fish.' 'I don't want to get too far afield from this, but since this has come up, the Raptors are a team that is starting to make noise within the league about looking for a big fish,' Windhorst said. 'If you're an Eastern Conference team that's in the middle of the pack, you're looking at the teams in front of you going, 'Some of them may not be able to come together, may be able to stay together.' 'Boston is hurt, and so there are some teams that sniff the ability to make a move, and I think Toronto is one of those teams,' Windhorst continued. 'And so naturally, any team that wants to make a move this summer, especially a team in the Eastern Conference, you're going to have Giannis on the board.' Raptors could be a part of an 'explosive summer' in the NBA offseason Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images As the Raptors' vision seems unclear at the moment, Windhorst says that he has heard around NBA circles that the team is expected to make their names known around big players that could be available. The biggest name seems to be Antetokounmpo, but he has not officially requested a trade, but even Windhorst said that this offseason could make for an 'explosive summer' with Toronto being one of the teams included in that. Advertisement 'But Toronto, I think, is going to try—from their initial conversations, teams in the league are getting the impression that Toronto is going to try to do something,' Windhorst said. 'I had an executive tell me yesterday that he thinks this could be—could be, could be—an explosive summer. You know, just as Shams [Charania] said the other day, but like, this—you know, this is the whole league.' 'People are saying that this—the amount of activity and calls happening in the league right now is at a much higher volume than has been in years past,' Windhorst continued. 'I know it does not mean it's going to happen, but Toronto is one of those teams that is sitting there on the balls of its feet, which is interesting.' Whomever they try to get, one imagines that the goal is to pair alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, though the latter has experienced an immense amount of bad injury luck.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
ESPN legend details harrowing moment Knicks 'hooligans' harassed him after playoff game
ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst has shed some light on a now-viral video of his interactions with New York Knicks fans after the second-round of the playoffs. Windhorst predicted that the Boston Celtics would eliminate the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs - only for the Knicks to pull out an upset in Game 6 of that series. After the elimination was confirmed at Madison Square Garden, Windhorst was recorded walking out of the arena by fans who pretended to 'interview' the ESPN star. However, as Windhorst revealed on the Barstool Sports podcast 'Pardon My Take', that interaction turned much more sinister. 'Those were not Knicks fans. Those were hooligans,' Windhorst told the program. 'Knicks fans were not a block away from the Garden at 12:30 in the morning. Knicks fans were off celebrating with themselves … the truth is, that there is other footage that apparently is not going to become unearthed where hands were put on me.' Brian Windhorst just got cooked 💀 @mirthee1st — Big Knick Energy (@BigKnickEnergy_) May 17, 2025 Watch parties outside of MSG have become hubs for fans who can't watch the games inside. Thousands have packed into plazas near the arena to see the game on giant screens. 'Nothing serious happened. People put their hands on me and I had to shove their hands off and I basically jaywalked across 35th Street to get away,' Windhorst revealed. He continued: 'I was never in serious danger. But it was not a pleasant experience at 12:35 in the morning. Those were not Knicks fans. 'Those were not the same people that I saw two hours earlier, enjoying one of the great moments in the Garden of most of their lives. So, I don't equate the two things.' Windhorst spent plenty of time inside the Garden after the game to record a podcast he co-hosts with Tim Bontemps. He joked to his co-host, 'How long are we going to have to be in here until we can safely go outside?' Incidents have turned violent in the Knicks' Eastern Conference Finals series as well. At a bar in Indianapolis, a Pacers fan reportedly stabbed two Knicks fans.
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Brian Windhorst reveals surprising details of Knicks postgame incident: ‘There is other footage'
The fan experience has certainly featured the good, bad and ugly this NBA postseason. After ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst was harassed after the Knicks eliminated the Celtics in six games, he recently revealed that it wasn't just heckling that he experienced while leaving the arena. Advertisement 'Those were not Knicks fans. Those were hooligans,' Windhorst said on the 'Pardon My Take' podcast. 'Knicks fans were not a block away from the Garden at 12:30 in the morning. Knicks fans were off celebrating with themselves … the truth is, that there is other footage that apparently is not going to become unearthed where hands were put on me. 'Nothing serious happened. People put their hands on me and I had to shove their hands off and I basically jaywalked across 35th Street to get away.' Advertisement A clip of Windhorst walking to his hotel from Madison Square Garden went viral after the Knicks' dominant 119-81 series-clinching Game 6 win over the Celtics. In the clip, a man asked Windhorst a question before yelling at the ESPN reporter as others threw things in his direction. 3 Brian Windhorst gets coerced into a fake interview with a Knicks supporter. YouTube Sports Illustrated Advertisement 3 Brian Windhorst said the people heckling him were not Knicks fans. YouTube Sports Illustrated 'I was never in serious danger. But it was not a pleasant experience at 12:35 in the morning. Those were not Knicks fans,' Windhorst said. 'Those were not the same people that I saw two hours earlier, enjoying one of the great moments in the Garden of most of their lives. So, I don't equate the two things.' After Game 6, Windhorst recorded a podcast with co-host Tim Bontemps inside an empty MSG, where he asked 'How long are we going to have to be in here until we can safely go outside?' Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. Advertisement Windhorst. who had been bullish on the Celtics' chances of a comeback in the series, knew before he even left that this would be a dicey situation regardless of when he attempted to leave the arena. The questionable fan behavior has not been limited to Knicks supporters. It was reported Tuesday that a Pacers fan stabbed two Knicks fans at an Indianapolis bar during Game 2. 3 Brian Windhorst said on Pardon My Take that there is other footage of the incident. YouTube Pardon My Take The Knicks have since followed up their series with the Celtics with a disappointing showing against the Pacers, going down 3-1 in the Eastern Conference finals and blowing a 17-point fourth quarter lead at home in Game 1. They face the Pacers in a potential elimination game in Game 5 at home on Thursday.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Knicks vs. Pacers: Indiana is reportedly considering going into the luxury tax to keep Myles Turner, but it shouldn't stop there
With the Indiana Pacers leading the New York Knicks 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals — the second consecutive season they've advanced that far in the playoffs — ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported something that ought to be great news to Pacers fans: The franchise is considering going into luxury tax territory to keep starting center Myles Turner, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Turner, who's on one of the best deals in the NBA, is earning $19.9 million this year, a ridiculously low price for what he offers as a two-way center. The Pacers' willingness to spend isn't just good news because of Turner's production (16.5 points per game and nearly 38.9% from 3-point range this postseason, along with elite defense), but also because of the current direction of the team and the franchise's overarching vision. Imagine a scenario where the Pacers made two straight conference finals, only to cheapen out in the offseason and lose their starting center of the past decade who's only a recently turned 29. That wouldn't just be organizational malpractice, as that'd be tearing down a legitimate championship contender, but it'd send a message to Pacers fans that the organization is unserious. Fortunately, the report is pointing in the opposite direction, and why shouldn't it? The Pacers went aggressively after both Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam in trades with the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors, respectively, and they've gone out of their way to build a product that fits alongside those two. The Pacers are elite as a direct result of that roster construction, which puts the onus on both team president Kevin Pritchard and team owner Herb Simon to keep building. That doesn't just mean finding outside help, but also retaining key pieces. Turner will be looking at a hefty raise, and he's earned it based off years of consistent play, particularly defensively. If he signs a new four-year deal, he'll be 33 when it expires. Even if the final year of that deal proves a little heavy, depending on his salary, the year-to-year cap increases (estimated to be 10% every summer due to the league's new TV deal) will have his cap-percentage decline every season moving forward, which should negate concerns of Turner clogging up the cap. Of course, the Pacers won't just re-sign Turner and call it a day. Bennedict Mathurin will be extension eligible this summer, and should he not sign an extension before the start of next season, he will enter next summer as a restricted free agent. However you slice it, his salary will jump between the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, adding more money to Indiana's cap, unless it makes a move to flip him for someone on a longer deal. In 2027, Aaron Nesmith will need a new deal. Like Turner, Nesmith is enormously underpaid for what he offers, so he too would look for a strong increase in pay. Given how important he's been to their success in the playoffs, the Pacers won't win any PR battles if they let him walk and attempt to belittle his efforts on the way out as justification. This is all to say that the bill is coming — and soon — for these Pacers, and paying it is absolutely crucial if they have any hope of sustained success. Their apparent willingness to enter the tax to keep Turner is obviously a positive sign, but it can't end there. The organization has to carry that same mindset onto other players, especially those who have proven crucial to its success. Are there areas in which they can help offset some of those rising costs? Potentially. T.J. McConnell is 33 years old. In two years, when Nesmith needs a new deal, McConnell will be 35 and perhaps at a point where the Pacers can get away with having Andrew Nembhard absorb a portion of those minutes — especially as his new extension triggers this summer. It's also fair to wonder if Obi Toppin is expendable in some capacity. He's got another $45 million on his deal after this season, and considering he's playing under 17 minutes per game during the playoffs, one would assume the Pacers could find ways to better utilize his salary slot. All that said, the main priority for the Pacers shouldn't be to duck the tax moving forward, nor should it be to dip their toes into it briefly, just to show the fan base they kept Turner. They have a genuine window to win the title, and that window could be open for another three or four years if they play their cards right and shell out to keep momentum going. If they do, they not only stand a decent chance of winning a ring, but also to rid themselves of the reputation of being a cheap franchise, something that's followed them for decades.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Knicks vs. Pacers: Indiana is reportedly considering going into the luxury tax to keep Myles Turner, but it shouldn't stop there
With the Indiana Pacers leading the New York Knicks 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals — the second consecutive season they've advanced that far in the playoffs — ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported something that ought to be great news to Pacers fans: The franchise is considering going into luxury tax territory to keep starting center Myles Turner, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Turner, who's on one of the best deals in the NBA, is earning $19.9 million this year, a ridiculously low price for what he offers as a two-way center. The Pacers' willingness to spend isn't just good news because of Turner's production (16.5 points per game and nearly 38.9% from 3-point range this postseason, along with elite defense), but also because of the current direction of the team and the franchise's overarching vision. Imagine a scenario where the Pacers made two straight conference cinals, only to cheapen out in the offseason and lose their starting center of the past decade who's only a recently turned 29. That wouldn't just be organizational malpractice, as that'd be tearing down a legitimate championship contender, but it'd send a message to Pacers fans that the organization is unserious. Fortunately, the report is pointing in the opposite direction, and why shouldn't it? The Pacers went aggressively after both Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam in trades with the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors, respectively, and they've gone out of their way to build a product that fits alongside those two. The Pacers are elite as a direct result of that roster construction, which puts the onus on both team president Kevin Pritchard and team owner Herb Simon to keep building. That doesn't just mean finding outside help, but also retaining key pieces. Turner will be looking at a hefty raise, and he's earned it based off years of consistent play, particularly defensively. If he signs a new four-year deal, he'll be 33 when it expires. Even if the final year of that deal proves a little heavy, depending on his salary, the year-to-year cap increases (estimated to be 10% every summer due to the league's new TV deal) will have his cap-percentage decline every season moving forward, which should negate concerns of Turner clogging up the cap. Of course, the Pacers won't just re-sign Turner and call it a day. Bennedict Mathurin will be extension eligible this summer, and should he not sign an extension before the start of next season, he will enter next summer as a restricted free agent. However you slice it, his salary will jump between the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons, adding more money to Indiana's cap, unless it makes a move to flip him for someone on a longer deal. In 2027, Aaron Nesmith will need a new deal. Like Turner, Nesmith is enormously underpaid for what he offers, so he too would look for a strong increase in pay. Given how important he's been to their success in the playoffs, the Pacers won't win any PR battles if they let him walk and attempt to belittle his efforts on the way out as justification. This is all to say that the bill is coming — and soon — for these Pacers, and paying it is absolutely crucial if they have any hope of sustained success. Their apparent willingness to enter the tax to keep Turner is obviously a positive sign, but it can't end there. The organization has to carry that same mindset onto other players, especially those who have proven crucial to its success. Are there areas in which they can help offset some of those rising costs? Potentially. T.J. McConnell is 33 years old. In two years, when Nesmith needs a new deal, McConnell will be 35 and perhaps at a point where the Pacers can get away with having Andrew Nembhard absorb a portion of those minutes — especially as his new extension triggers this summer. It's also fair to wonder if Obi Toppin is expendable in some capacity. He's got another $45 million on his deal after this season, and considering he's playing under 17 minutes per game during the playoffs, one would assume the Pacers could find ways to better utilize his salary slot. All that said, the main priority for the Pacers shouldn't be to duck the tax moving forward, nor should it be to dip their toes into it briefly, just to show the fan base they kept Turner. They have a genuine window to win the title, and that window could be open for another three or four years if they play their cards right and shell out to keep momentum going. If they do, they not only stand a decent chance of winning a ring, but also to rid themselves of the reputation of being a cheap franchise, something that's followed them for decades.
