Latest news with #DamianLillard
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Portland Trail Blazers' Lineup Once Damian Lillard Gets Healthy Looks Promising
Portland Trail Blazers' Lineup Once Damian Lillard Gets Healthy Looks Promising originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Portland Trail Blazers have been mired in mediocrity for quite some time now, failing to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. The Trail Blazers did show some signs of life in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, though, going 23-18 in their last 41 games. The Trail Blazers are looking to build on that stretch and have brought in two veterans this offseason in Jrue Holiday and, most recently, Damian Lillard. Lillard, who is currently recovering from a torn Achilles, is set to sign a three-year, $42 million deal to return home, and the Trail Blazers' lineup when he gets healthy looks promising. Starting Lineup PG - Damian Lillard SG - Jrue Holiday SF - Shaedon Sharpe PF - Deni Avdija C - Donovan Clingan Lillard himself is the biggest question mark in this lineup, as there's no way to know just how good he will be once he returns. The nine-time All-Star averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024-25, and it would be unrealistic to expect him to put up similar numbers. The best-case scenario might be Lillard playing at a borderline All-Star level. That would be an upgrade on what the Trail Blazers have had at the point guard spot since his departure. Lillard's backcourt partner would be Holiday, whom he was traded for back in 2023. The Trail Blazers sent the veteran to the Boston Celtics not long after and have now brought him back. Holiday averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game for the Celtics in 2024-25. He is just a year removed from making the All-Defensive Second Team and is the ideal partner for a guard like Lillard. Shaedon Sharpe would join the two veterans on the perimeter, and he is coming off his best season in the NBA. Sharpe averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game for the Trail Blazers in 2024-25. The 22-year-old can frustrate at times, but now has two experienced campaigners to guide him. Next, we get to Deni Avdija, who impressed in his first season with the Trail Blazers. Avdija averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in 2024-25 after arriving via trade from the Washington Wizards. He averaged 23.3 points after the All-Star break, and the Trail Blazers would love for him to keep that up moving forward. Lastly, we get to Donovan Clingan, who had a promising rookie season after being selected with the seventh pick. Clingan averaged 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in 2024-25. The Trail Blazers' cutting ties with Deandre Ayton was a sign of their belief in Clingan. They're backing him to take some strides once he has some more experience under his belt, and he does have the tools to become a force on the defensive end. In all, that's an intriguing starting lineup. Bench PG - Scoot Henderson, Caleb Love SG - Toumani Camara, Rayan Rupert SF - Matisse Thybulle, Cidy Sissoko PF - Jerami Grant, Kris Murray C - Robert Williams III, Yang Hansen The Blazers would have a solid bench unit along with that starting five as well. Scoot Henderson, the third pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, showed promise as a sophomore. With Lillard set to miss an extended period of time, Henderson will get a fair bit of playing time to perhaps even stake his claim as a starter, and he is certainly one to keep an eye on here. Toumani Camara and Matisse Thybulle are two excellent defensive options, and the former was a starter last season. Camara made the All-Defensive Second Team in 2025 and could well end up keeping his place in the lineup once Lillard returns. Jerami Grant, meanwhile, can provide a scoring punch off the bench, and a healthy Robert Williams III is a great anchor on defense. As for Yang Hansen, he has been making waves in the Summer League, and it will be interesting to see his progression during his rookie season. Thybulle and Williams could be gone by the time Lillard returns, but this would still be an effective bench unit without them. Conclusion Is this Trail Blazers roster good enough for them to become a serious title contender? Almost certainly not. If this were Lillard in his prime, you would perhaps give them a shot, but he won't be the same. That, in turn, means someone like Sharpe would have to take a major leap for the Trail Blazers to get into the mix. Avdija will also need to keep up that stellar level of play post the break, and, at this point, it's hard to say if either of those things will happen. The Trail Blazers have a lot of good pieces, but they're missing that superstar that you need to become a title contender. You can make a lot of noise without one and even get into the playoffs, but a championship is beyond reach at the story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors, Lakers, NBA expansion headline offseason fan mailbag
The post Warriors, Lakers, NBA expansion headline offseason fan mailbag appeared first on ClutchPoints. This has been an interesting offseason. Although the trade deadline may have been more exciting when it comes to players switching teams and big moves being made, there have still been a handful of significant transactions in NBA free agency and on the trade block. For starters, Kevin Durant headlined this offseason's biggest trade, as the two-time Finals MVP joined the Houston Rockets, who won 52 games last season and claimed the 2-seed in the Western Conference. Other notable names, such as Desmond Bane, Kristaps Porzingis, Cam Johnson, Jrue Holiday, and John Collins, were traded to teams positioned to contend in their respective conferences. While this free-agent class was nothing too special compared to years past, especially with top talents remaining in their current situations, we did see some surprising movement. Myles Turner shaded the Indiana Pacers to join the Milwaukee Bucks, Chris Paul reunited with the LA Clippers, and three important sign-and-trades were executed: Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Atlanta Hawks. Duncan Robinson from the Miami Heat to the Detroit Pistons. Dennis Schroder from the Detroit Pistons to the Sacramento Kings. Of course, then there was the unexpected buyout market, which became the focal point of the offseason when Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Marcus Smart, and Deandre Ayton hit the open market. As we prepare to enter August, plenty of storylines that have yet to be sorted out remain. The Golden State Warriors are the only team in the NBA yet to make any moves this summer, and that is because of Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency holdup. Speaking of, Kuminga is one of four key restricted free agents who have yet to make their decisions this offseason, joining Josh Giddey, Cam Thomas, and Quentin Grimes. How will these four situations play out, and will all four young talents return to their current situations with the offseason dying down? Also, plenty of trade rumors appeared this offseason, yet the trade market has gone quiet. Will any of these trade talks reignite as the 2025-26 NBA season begins, especially before the trade deadline in February? From talk about the Warriors to the Lakers to trade scenarios to the possibility of Adam Silver and the NBA announcing expansion in the coming years, here are the burning questions NBA fans submitted on social media for this ClutchPoints' offseason mailbag: Q: Will any restricted free agents accept the qualifying offer? Out of the four restricted free agents remaining (Kuminga, Giddey, Thomas, and Grimes), it seems like Cam Thomas is the most likely of the four to potentially accept his qualifying offer. There are several reasons for this. The Brooklyn Nets are rebuilding, and they constructed almost a third of their roster for the 2025-26 NBA season through the draft. Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, and Egor Demin are all backcourt talents who represent the future of this franchise. Where does that leave Thomas? Well, as good as Thomas has been when healthy, he's never truly been the focal point in Brooklyn. The belief around the league is that the Nets don't want to keep him as a focal point long-term, which leads to answers about why they don't want to ink him to a three- or four-year contract that is worth upwards of $20 million to $25 million per season — which Thomas and his representation want. The two sides have been very far apart in negotiations, which is why Thomas could opt to take the one-year deal and leave the Nets in unrestricted free agency next year. If it's true that the Nets won't offer him more than the mid-level exception, which is reasonable to believe but I have not heard such, then Thomas should bet on himself since he will be the Nets' leading scorer during the 2025-26 season. Outside of Thomas, it's hard to imagine any of the other three RFAs will take the qualifying offer. Grimes and the Philadelphia 76ers will eventually figure out their situation in the $13 million to $17 million range, and it would shock many if Giddey were playing anywhere else but with the Chicago Bulls during the upcoming year. While Giddey and the Bulls are also far apart in discussions, with the guard wanting to be paid like Jalen Suggs and Immanuel Quickley in the $30 million per season range, they will come to a compromise soon enough. A lot of smoke has been made about Kuminga in the recent week since NBA Summer League, which leads us to our next topic and question at hand. Q: Will Jonathan Kuminga sign soon? A lot of people have asked about Jonathan Kuminga's situation, and there have been a lot of details released from both sides (Kuminga and the Warriors). For all of the latest Kuminga intel, we highly recommend you check out our story from Thursday talking about Golden State's paths moving forward and why the Kuminga stalemate has held up the Dubs' offseason. To keep things short — No, I don't believe we will see a resolution to the Kuminga situation anytime soon. At Summer League, the word was that this would likely drag into August before more details emerge, and sure enough, here we are on the doorstep of the eighth month with no movement on this front. Kuminga wants a new situation. We've reported on this extensively at ClutchPoints, and the 22-year-old has signaled that the role he wants moving forward isn't obtainable with the Warriors. That is why the two sides have searched throughout the NBA for potential sign-and-trade opportunities. At one point, the two sides were hopeful something would happen with the Bulls near the start of free agency. That hope still exists now, but Chicago has yet to signal that they want to bring in Kuminga since they want to sort out Giddey's mess first. The Phoenix Suns have also been mentioned as a suitor for Kuminga, but such a deal would likely take a third team to facilitate contracts, which complicates a potential sign-and-trade even more. The Warriors' worst nightmare would be Kuminga accepting his qualifying offer, which is something he has hinted at, according to ESPN. However, this seems more like an empty threat from Kuminga's camp, as doing so would lock him in with the Warriors on a significantly cheaper contract than he wants, and this would be a huge risk for the young forward since he would be held hostage in a limited role. Whereas Kuminga wants a contract that pays him $30 million per year and could possibly be willing to accept $25 million per season at the minimum, the Dubs have not exceeded an offer in the $20 million to $23 million range. With no sign-and-trade avenues being of interest to Golden State at the moment, the Warriors' offseason hibernation continues. Q: How will Warriors fill out their roster? It isn't a secret to anyone around the league that Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton have deals lined up with the Warriors. This was the word at NBA Summer League, and it makes sense when you consider that both veterans have not signed yet, even though they each received significant interest in free agency. The main reason Horford and Melton, or any other player, have yet to sign with the Warriors is because of Kuminga's holdout. If the Dubs were to agree to multiple contracts right now, they would inch closer to the tax apron and basically take away their ability to match a potential offer sheet that could come in from another team for Kuminga. As a result, Golden State would lose Kuminga for nothing, which isn't something the organization envisions. If, by some chance, Horford decides he no longer wants to wait on the Warriors and he ultimately retires or joins another team, Trey Lyles and Chris Boucher would become backup plans for this team. Until Horford signs, these two are forced to wait in free agency. Golden State is the only team being linked to Horford at this juncture, especially after Summer League. Another name that has gained traction for the Warriors in recent weeks is Seth Curry, Steph's younger brother. While in Las Vegas, we reported how Seth was a name coming up for the Dubs and that the team had interest in him. Now, it appears that interest is mutual, as Anthony Slater of ESPN reported Curry's interest in Golden State on Thursday. Malcolm Brogdon is a name to watch for the Warriors if he's willing to accept a sixth-man-like role on a minimum contract, and there is still mutual interest that exists between the team and Gary Payton II. Until the Kuminga situation gets figured out, Golden State is stuck in a holding pattern and can't carve out the rest of their roster with the free agents available. Q: Can you fill us in on the latest regarding NBA expansion? When Adam Silver spoke to an exclusive group of media members in Las Vegas, which included ClutchPoints, he was excited to inform everyone about the ongoing discussions the NBA held with its Board of Governors about the idea of expansion, especially as it relates to the formation of a new league in Europe. Although the idea of a European-based league is certainly at the forefront of the league office's plans over the next few years, they ARE NOT solely shifting their focus to this. Mark Tatum, the NBA's deputy commissioner, has been overseeing the European league discussions and the project as a whole, which Silver described as a way for the NBA to expand globally. In terms of domestic expansion and the league adding teams, there are still some roadblocks that need to be crossed. Even so, Silver's opening comments raised eyebrows in the room, especially when he mentioned how it feels like Las Vegas already has an NBA team. 'I know I'm going to get questions about expansion. But I feel like we already have the 31st franchise,' Silver said. 'We own two weeks of the calendar here. We are a regular fixture, and we keep coming back for the summer. It feels like we do have an enormous presence in Las Vegas.' The idea of expanding and adding teams sounds easy enough, but several factors play into this. Aside from questions about how this impacts the competition around the league and how those teams would be stocked, current owners raise obvious concerns about selling equity and, as Silver stated, 'diluting the economics of the current league.' At some point in the coming years, it is reasonable to assume Silver and the NBA office will announce the formation of two expansion teams. Las Vegas will 100 percent be getting a team, as the city is already drafting plans to build a new arena, and Seattle has long been mentioned as the second city to earn an expansion team and bring back the SuperSonics. I want to make it clear that the NBA is working on the idea of current expansion within the league and the formation of a new league based in Europe. One idea is not holding up the other, and the league has not shifted its focus to one over the other whatsoever. Q: Are the Lakers done making moves, and what happens with LeBron James? After signing Marcus Smart, it does appear as if the Lakers are locked into their roster for the 2025-26 season. Los Angeles is currently about $1 million below the first apron with 14 of their 15 roster spots filled. Hypothetically speaking, the Lakers could still look to add a veteran free agent remaining on the market, someone like Brogdon or Payton. However, why would either player want to join the Lakers after Smart just signed there? Not to mention, the team would need to move a contract to have enough flexibility under the aprons. This seems like the Lakers' roster entering training camp, and they addressed key needs this offseason — finding a consistent center and addressing their 3-and-D depth on the perimeter. I fully expect Los Angeles to be busy before the 2026 NBA trade deadline, seeing as they have roughly $44 million in expiring contracts, not including LeBron James. Speaking of LeBron, he has been one of the headlines of the NBA offseason. There won't be any buyout involving James, and he won't be traded either. Many have tried to create narratives about the league's all-time leading scorer asking for a trade or something being close with Dallas, but none of this ever happened. Both teams confirmed at Summer League that these conversations were fake. As far as LeBron's future in the NBA, the word that rapidly circulated around the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas was that this could be his final season. We have heard this rumor before, but it is beginning to look a lot more likely. James has been eerily quiet this offseason and is simply enjoying life with his family. Not to mention, he continues to focus a lot of energy and effort on his off-the-court business moves, including partnerships with Amazon and discussing opportunities to form a Las Vegas ownership group. All the stars have aligned for the 2025-26 season to be James' last, especially since he has always talked about playing 23 years in the NBA, which represents both his and Michael Jordan's iconic number. Word from Summer League is that if LeBron is to announce his retirement, he will do so in August. Time will tell what the immediate future holds for James. Q: Which current trade rumors or players being mentioned will be hot topics before the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline? This is an interesting question, because a lot of times, trade talks are situational and not necessarily all-encompassing. What I mean by that is things pop up through a season (injuries, frustrations, coach firings, etc.), and what was discussed during the offseason isn't always readily available in the middle of the year. One name that was brought up in this question was the idea of the Portland Trail Blazers buying out or trading Jrue Holiday. That won't happen, as Holiday is excited for his opportunity in Portland. Not to mention, the team traded for him to utilize his experience to help them grow. Holiday isn't going to be traded to the Lakers, so let's just get that out of the way. Other situations, like Anfernee Simons in Boston and Dalton Knecht in Los Angeles, will certainly be key talking points at the trade deadline. The Boston Celtics have remained active on the trade market this offseason, even after trading for Simons and Georges Niang. While they have talked with teams about both players, the Celtics will likely enter the season with these two on their roster. It is very possible that Simons and/or Niang could be flipped to cut costs at the trade deadline, depending on where Boston is in the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics do want to see how Simons fits in Joe Mazzulla's system, as he is a player they are intrigued by given his 3-point shooting prowess. Los Angeles will be active before the deadline, as previously mentioned, and Knecht is clearly available after the team already traded him in that deal for Mark Williams that was ultimately rescinded. Just looking at where each team is at before training camp, here are a handful of other names that come to mind as early trade deadline candidates: Andrew Wiggins (Miami Heat), DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento Kings), CJ McCollum (Washington Wizards), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Memphis Grizzlies), RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors), Nikola Vucevic (Chicago Bulls), Mitchell Robinson (New York Knicks), and Kyle Kuzma (Milwaukee Bucks). Stirring the pot a little bit, we might as well say All-Stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyler Herro, Domantas Sabonis, and Zion Williamson can hitting the trade market, given the uncertainty their respective teams face entering the 2025-26 season. I want to make it very clear that listing these four players is just a matter of opinion and speculation based on where their teams are and the possibility of taking a step back. There is nothing to suggest that these four stars are on the trade block at this time, yet I have a feeling the aggregators will find a way to spin this… Q: Where will Ben Simmons end up? As crazy as it sounds, Ben Simmons is one of those dominoes holding up other players in free agency. Multiple teams have been linked to Simmons this offseason, but one of the teams mentioned as a potential suitor in reports never held interest in him. That would be the Phoenix Suns, who were focused on Marcus Smart before he elected to join the Lakers. Phoenix believed they had a legitimate shot at landing Smart before Luka Doncic coerced him to sign with Los Angeles. The Suns were never seriously pursuing Simmons this offseason. One team that has been pursuing Simmons, and makes a lot of sense given the opportunity to play and try to revive his career, is the Sacramento Kings. After adding Dennis Schroder, the Kings have continued to search the market for another facilitator and ball-handler. Although Russell Westbrook and Brogdon have been mentioned as potential candidates as well, the Kings' interest in Simmons is real. His playmaking abilities as a primary facilitator fit the mold of the player Sacramento needs next to Sabonis. Not to mention, Simmons' rebounding abilities would be valued as well. Boston and New York have also been mentioned as potential suitors. The Celtics just got out of the second apron, and they aren't in the best spot to contend this upcoming season, which would make Simmons' fit questionable. Then again, perhaps this could be a 'tryout year' for Simmons in Boston to see if he would fit in with their long-term plans once Jayson Tatum recovers from his Achilles injury. I wouldn't rule out the Celtics here. Simmons would fit in well with the Knicks, but they have two roster spots to fill and are about $3.7 million from their second apron hard cap. As a result, everything points in the direction of Sacramento, in my opinion. We will see how this plays out. Related: NBA news: CJ McCollum admits new CBA 'is not perfect' Related: 10 NBA players who refused to play for the teams that drafted them, ranked
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Realistic Landing Spots For The 10 Best NBA Free Agents
Realistic Landing Spots For The 10 Best NBA Free Agents originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Smoother extensions and fewer blockbuster moves have dominated this summer's NBA free agency. Still, a few major decisions have already shifted the landscape: James Harden punching in with the Clippers, Myles Turner pivoting to the Bucks, and Devin Booker committing to Phoenix through a maximum extension. Despite that, there remain around ten notable players, veteran and budding talent alike, who are unsigned or awaiting sign-and-trades. With cap space tight across most rosters and strict CBA constraints in place, these guys need the right blend of financial flexibility and roster fit. In the sections to follow, we'll name a realistic destination for each of these remaining free agents, forecasting where they genuinely make the most sense and have a high probability of landing. Let's take a look at where Damian Lillard could suit up next, why CP3 could rev up for a title-contender, and how someone like Al Horford might book a flight to San Francisco. Updates: Note that we have not included Malik Beasley due to an ongoing gambling investigation. * = RFA (Restricted Free Agents) 1. Damian Lillard Most Likely Destination: Boston Celtics Damian Lillard was unexpectedly waived and stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering a torn Achilles, making him an unrestricted free agent and giving him full autonomy over his next destination. With his career pivoted by adversity, Boston has emerged as the frontrunner, engaging in 'advanced stages' of recruitment and showcasing serious interest. Led by Jayson Tatum, who has reportedly been in 'constant contact' and actively recruiting Lillard, the Celtics see a perfect rehab match, bonding over their shared Achilles recoveries and championship aspirations. Boston's pitch is clear: a multi-year, low-risk deal allowing Lillard to return at full strength alongside Tatum and Brown, with real hopes of contending once both are healthy. 2. Jonathan Kuminga* Most Likely Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings Jonathan Kuminga's future in Golden State now appears uncertain, with insiders revealing that Steve Kerr doesn't view him as a long-term fit in their offense, his role diminishing as the roster shifts in other directions. We have floated an intriguing sign-and-trade involving the Lakers, where L.A. would swap major assets to bring in Kuminga's athletic upside and youth alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic. At the same time, the Bucks are desperate to pair him with Giannis, making Milwaukee an attractive suitor, though Golden State reportedly isn't sold on the return package the Bucks are willing to offer. Sacramento also remains in the running, positioning Kuminga as their crown franchise player after De'Aaron Fox's departure, though it also depends on the quality of the trade package. In short, Golden State seems ready to move on, and while L.A. holds a compelling sign-and-trade pitch, both Milwaukee and Sacramento loom as serious contenders for Kuminga's next chapter. What happens with the budding star will be a major importance throughout the 2025 offseason. 3. Bradley Beal Most Likely Destination: Los Angeles Clippers The Clippers have positioned themselves as the leading suitor following Beal's anticipated buyout from Phoenix, which is currently stalling, since we identified LA as 'reportedly next destination' material. Their aggressive offseason strategy includes targeting Beal to boost perimeter scoring and veteran grit, a push fueled by clear organizational intent. Though his buyout is still in limbo, L.A.'s interest is substantive rather than speculative. Landing in Los Angeles would provide Beal with a ready-made contender and maximal platform to thrive, far beyond the Suns' current trajectory. The Clippers' front office sees him as a missing puzzle piece on a roster stocked for contention. All rings, no rebuild, if Phoenix finally buys him out (which we anticipate), Beal landing in LA feels inevitable. 4. Josh Giddey* Most Likely Destinations: Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors The Bulls remain the baseline fallback if nothing materializes, keeping Giddey in familiar territory, albeit with less upside than a shift west. Sticking in Chicago offers stability and opportunity but lacks championship proximity. The real drama will unfold if Golden State and Giddey's camp reach alignment on value, cap space, and roster fit. Giddey could be entangled in a sign-and-trade scenario with the Western contender on his radar after Chicago placed the full qualifying offer, positioning him as an RFA with real leverage. We also identified three realistic landing spots, likely the Warriors, using sign-and-trade mechanisms to both boost their playmaking depth and escape their current guard logjam. 5. Quentin Grimes* Most Likely Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers The Lakers have emerged as the frontrunner in a fading but still realistic sign-and-trade push for Quentin Grimes, following a quiet silence on his negotiations with Philly. That silence sparked Lakers intel to re-engage, suggesting a scenario where Philly could send Grimes west in exchange for future assets, while the Lakers gain a reliable 3-and-D guard to bolster their wing depth. It's a logical fit for both. Grimes would land in a high-profile, competitive market with role clarity, and LA would fill a glaring roster need. If the deal goes through, expect Grimes to bolster Coach Redick's rotation with spot-starts alongside LeBron and Luka while stretching the court. However, if Los Angeles can get a deal done, we see Grimes returning to Philly. It is where he truly blossomed so far, and he could get plenty of opportunities to shine offensively if Paul George's knee simply gives out again. Grimes would want L.A., for obvious reasons, but Philly might be the way to go if it doesn't work out. 6. Cam Thomas Most Likely Destination: Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings Brooklyn has to be the most logical new home for Cam Thomas, a player with a $5,993,172 qualifying offer on the table. They can't afford to lose him because, other than the recently acquired Michael Porter Jr., there isn't much of an offensive spark on the roster. The Nets lack star power and talent, and Thomas is a surefire bucket-getter no matter what is said about his defensive impact or leadership skills. The Nets will almost certainly bring Cam Thomas back by submitting an offer, and whether that is accepted or rejected remains to be seen. Otherwise, a team like the Sacramento Kings could be looking at Thomas as their way forward since losing De'Aaron Fox last year. Any player who dropped 24.0 PPG will be a hot commodity, and Thomas will be one throughout the 2025 offseason. 7. Chris Paul Most Likely Destinations: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks We might have listed the Lakers as a premier destination for Chris Paul's final act, citing mutual interest and alignment in their goals of a storybook West Coast finale. LA offers Paul a multi-faceted fit: close to home, capable of mentoring the team's younger stars, and positioned for a deep playoff push. However, the Clippers might be the team to spoil the Lakers' target. His veteran playmaking would slot seamlessly alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden without diminishing roles. We also can't ignore the presence of the Milwaukee Bucks, who have moved on from Damian Lillard. It's a tailored fit, big-market impact, deep contention, and a fitting end to a Hall-of-Fame career. 8. Russell Westbrook Most Likely Destination: Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings Only three teams are visibly interested in Russell Westbrook this offseason, and among them, the Miami Heat have reportedly risen to the top of expected destinations. We have already noted that even with his declining usage and narrative baggage, the Heat's veteran-driven culture and playoff-ready bridging role make them a surprisingly fitting home for Westbrook's next act. It may not be flashy, but Miami's combination of grit and structure aligns with his desire to chase one last deep playoff run, and maybe mend a frayed reputation. In Miami, Russ would slide into a defined bench role alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, with the Heat offering a chance to shine without straining the rotation. No matter what you think about Russ at this stage of his career, he is one of the best floor generals who is still available right now. We also have to look at the Sacramento Kings, a team that lost their floor general last year and could be in the market for a new one. 9. Malcolm Brogdon Most Likely Destinations: Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers Malcolm Brogdon flies under the radar, but his polished 3-and-D play, smart leadership, and UConn roots have teams like the Clippers and Knicks circling with the MLE. He's not flashy, but his reliable mid-range, decent all-around defense, and playmaking make him an ideal secondary ball-handler. He fills rotational needs for contenders, often the unsung glue guys who push a team from good to great. We can't ignore that Brogdon could be on the Lakers' radar this offseason as well. Expect him to land a 2-year deal with a contender, because he can play on a contender and get himself back in the spotlight as an impact player. 10. Al Horford Most Likely Destination: Golden State Warriors Al Horford has a handshake agreement in place to join the Warriors, as the Lakers might have to submit, once they clear the uncertainty around Jonathan Kuminga's restricted status. It is clear that Golden State's front office views Horford as a low-cost veteran anchor who can space the court, steady the locker room, and complement its young core while they wait on Kuminga. Steph Curry even publicly hinted at the move, calling Horford 'a champion, great player,' signaling that this is more than just talk, it's imminent. Once the deal finalizes, expect Al to slot into a pivotal vet-min role, stretch five, mentor, and preseason opener. His signing restores Golden State's depth post-Looney and helps bridge the gap while Kuminga's future gets resolved. It represents a savvy roster fill: championship talent on a smart story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Damian Lillard talks time in Milwaukee, return home to Portland
Damian Lillard was always going to retire and enter the Hall of Fame as a Portland Trail Blazer, but his return to the city ended up happening much sooner than expected. After Lillard tore his Achilles in an April playoff game, and with rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo's frustration growing, Milwaukee shocked the league by agreeing to waive and stretch Lillard, buying him out and making him a free agent. That cleared his path to a return to Portland. In recent interviews, Lillard spoke about all of it. When discussing his tenure with the Bucks, injuries were the main topic — Antetokounmpo missing Lillard's first playoffs with the team, then this year with his Achilles — with Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I think you gotta be a little bit lucky to win big. You gotta be healthy and you gotta be playing your best at the right time and I think we just had bad luck." He also talked about loving the experience of playing alongside Antetokounmpo, despite some criticism of his production and play. "But I think Giannis and I, we was the highest-scoring duo during that time. We won a [NBA] Cup. I think a lot of people for me personally was like, we want to see Dame do this and Dame do that, but I'm playing with a 30-plus point per game scorer, a guy who plays with the ball in his hands the same way I've done my whole career. He's aggressive and attacking and I still managed to score 25 points per game and seven assists over my two years pretty much. So I think it's kind of unfair how people was like Dame (isn't the same) because of the way I played in Portland. I had the ball all the time, so it just looked different. But I think for how productive I actually was I think it's been viewed unfairly." Now, Lillard is just happy to be home, as he told Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press. "Just knowing that I'm going to be back home for all parts of my life, with my kids, playing for the Trail Blazers, driving on the same streets that I've driven on pretty much my entire adulthood, my whole family being here, my mom, my brother, my sisters, all my friends around the city of Portland," he said. "All of those things count. I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon." It did. He is going to spend this season more as an assistant coach working with young guards like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara. He will join them in the rotation in a year. For now, he's just happy to be home.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
GloRilla is arrested for felony drug possession in Georgia... a year after her DUI
Rapper Glorilla was arrested in Georgia earlier this week for drug possession. The 25-year-old Memphis-bred music artist was taken into custody in Forsyth County and booked on two counts: possession of a scheduled controlled substance and possession of marijuana over one ounce. According to a TMZ report, the TGIF hitmaker — who sparked dating rumors with an NFL star in June — was released on the same day after posting $22,000 bond. Both counts are felony offenses under Georgia law. The outlet noted that other details around the arrest are unknown at this time. It comes a little over a year after the star, real name Gloria Woods, was arrested in Georgia's Gwinnett County on DUI charges. At the time, the entertainer had been arrested in Suwanee, Georgia for suspicion of driving under the influence and consuming/possessing an open alcoholic beverage container. She was pulled over by authorities at 4:00 a.m. ET after they saw a vehicle make a U-turn at a red traffic light, according to police. (She also faced a separate traffic charge, police said.) The Yeah Glo! performer told police that she had drinks earlier in the night, police said in their report, noting that her vehicle smelled like alcohol and marijuana. GloRilla performed poorly on a field sobriety test officers conducted with her, authorities said. Police said that GloRilla, who's been linked to NBA star Damian Lillard, was unable to follow a target with her eyes, walk steadily, and balance on one leg. The F.N.F. (Let's Go) rapper declined to take a breathalyzer test, police said, at which point she was taken into custody. GloRilla had an associate retrieve her vehicle from the scene, authorities said. Earlier this year she hit the road in March and April for her Glorious Tour, which had stops stretching from the east to west coasts. Last month football star Xavier Legette appeared in a racy music video for her single Typa, sparking dating rumors. GloRilla made headlines in 2023 after three people died in a stampede at her March 5, 2023 concert in Rochester, New York at the Rochester Main Street Armory. 'I am devastated & heartbroken over the tragic deaths that happened after Sunday's show,' she wrote online in the wake of the tragedy. 'My fans mean the world to me. 'Praying for their families & for a speedy recovery of everyone affected,' she added.
