Latest news with #EasternConferenceSemifinals
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
James Harden and Joel Embiid No Longer on Speaking Terms Following 76ers Split - Deep NBA Shortcomings Revealed
Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis (Image via Steven M Falk : Staff Photographer) What began as one of the NBA 's most anticipated partnerships has ended in disappointment and silence. James Harden and Joel Embiid , once the heart of the Philadelphia 76ers' title aspirations, are no longer speaking—marking a personal and professional split that has left a lasting scar on both stars. Joel Embiid and James Harden's Pair Promised Greatness When James Harden joined the Sixers in 2022, teaming up with Embiid was expected to create one of the league's most dominant duos. For a while, it worked. Joel Embiid captured the 2022-23 NBA scoring title and was named league MVP, while Harden led the league in assists. Their synergy, especially in the pick-and-roll, made Philadelphia a legitimate title contender. However, postseason success never materialized. The Sixers fell short in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals after blowing a 3-2 lead to the Boston Celtics, ending in a crushing Game 7 defeat. The loss triggered frustration within the organization—and between the stars. How Harden and Embiid's Connection Fell Apart James Harden (Image via USA TODAY Sports) Despite public displays of camaraderie, cracks quickly formed behind the scenes. After just 72 games together, the Sixers traded James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers . According to Joel Embiid, that decision didn't just end their basketball partnership—it destroyed their friendship. 'No one knows this, but even James is not talking to me,' Embiid revealed in an interview with ESPN. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo 'That's the part I don't like about being 'that guy,' because it puts you in the middle of those situations. Because if you ask James, he probably believes I had something to do with him not being here.' Attempts to reach out to James Harden since the trade have reportedly gone unanswered. Joel Embiid expressed deep emotional pain over the situation, saying, 'It hurts when you feel like you haven't done anything wrong… you lose a lot.' Misplaced Blame and Lingering Tensions Between James and Joel While most of the public tension focused on James Harden's feud with Sixers President Daryl Morey—whom Harden called 'a liar' during a promo event in China—the fallout with Joel Embiid remained mostly private. Sources suggest Harden may have believed Embiid had some influence over his departure, though no evidence supports that claim. The fracture was particularly hurtful for Joel Embiid, who had grown close enough to James Harden to invite him to his wedding. Their friendship, once genuine and warm, now lies dormant in silence. Aftermath in Philadelphia and Los Angeles In the wake of the breakup, the Sixers have struggled. Embiid was sidelined for much of the following season due to a knee injury, and the team slid down the standings—failing to recover the momentum they had built with Harden. The quick dismantling of the roster now appears to have backfired. Meanwhile, Harden seems content with his new role in Los Angeles. He's appeared at peace in public and focused on building a future with his new team—and his partner—off the court. The Harden-Embiid split highlights the fragile nature of even the most promising NBA relationships. Behind every stat line and highlight reel lies a complex web of egos, decisions, and emotions. What was once viewed as a potential championship duo is now a cautionary tale about trust, loyalty, and the human cost of professional sports. Also read: NBA Vet Iman Shumpert Breaks Down the Real Gameplan Behind the Clippers' Bradley Beal Signing As fans look back, they'll remember the brilliance James Harden and Joel Embiid displayed together—but also the abrupt, unresolved silence that brought their era to an end. Whether that silence ever breaks remains one of the NBA's most lingering questions. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jayson Tatum reportedly recruiting 7x All-NBA player to Boston Celtics
After tearing his Achilles tendon in the Boston Celtics' Eastern Conference Semifinals playoff matchup against the New York Knicks, chances are Jayson Tatum will miss all of the upcoming season. Yet, that's reportedly not stopping the Celtics' franchise cornerstone from trying to get his team more help. According to the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn, Tatum has been busy trying to recruit former Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard to join the Celtics this offseason. It's an interesting connection, considering the two previously shared the floor for Team USA, but are now bonded by the star duo's ongoing recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. 'According to NBA sources, Tatum has been active in recruiting Lillard to Boston, and the market for the point guard is limited because his injury will prevent him from likely playing most of next season. Lillard sustained his injury on April 27, 15 days prior to Tatum's injury.' Boston Globe on Damian Lillard/Jayson Tatum While Lillard likely won't be playing during the upcoming regular season either, he's expected to prioritize the opportunity to land with another contending team after falling short of his goals with Milwaukee. Advertisement Being that Boston has a pair of All-NBA talents in Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics would appear to be as good a fit as any other opportunity for Lillard. Plus, without an established star point guard in Boston, Lillard should have a starting role waiting for him, as soon as he can prove to be healthy again. Related: Boston Celtics 'actively shopping' $100 million player Related Headlines
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Report: Celtics Looking to Make Another Major Trade
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics' front office has been busy this offseason. To start things off, the Celtics traded away veteran star point guard Jrue Holiday. After that, they shipped out star big man Kristaps Porzingis. Unfortunately, Boston was forced to make those moves due to luxury tax implications. Jayson Tatum's injury has also forced the Celtics to reassess their future. Thankfully, the team has been able to hold onto Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Those two players will stick around as the main core of the roster around Tatum when he returns from the torn Achilles that he suffered during the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens looks on before Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 11, 2022 in Boston,... Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens looks on before Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 11, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. More Photo byWhile those were two major trades, Boston isn't done. A new report has suggested that Stevens is looking to make another big move. Read more: Caitlin Clark Names Best NBA Player of All-Time Without Hesitation According to a report from ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Celtics are actively trying to trade guard Anfernee Simons. He was acquired in the trade that sent Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers. Even though Boston is trying to trade Simons, Windhorst isn't so sure that will happen. "I have talked to other teams who have said they [Boston] are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons," he said. "Whether they can or not is another [thing]." Simons is a very productive players. However, he has one year left on his contract and is set to be paid over $27.6 million. During the 2024-25 NBA season with the Trail Blazers, Simons played in 70 games. He averaged 19.3 points per game to go along with 4.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals. In addition, he shot 42.6 percent from the floor and 36.3 percent from three-point distance. At 26 years old, Simons is just now entering his true prime. He could be an intriguing pickup for any contender looking to add more scoring. Read more: Warriors Receive Concerning Al Horford Update There are young teams around the league who could also consider trading for him and re-signing him to be a long-term piece of their puzzle. Only time will tell, but the Celtics would still like to cut more payroll. Trading Simons would be the best way to do that, but it might not be the easiest task for Stevens and the front office. Expect to hear more rumors about Simons in the coming days. It will be interesting to see if Boston is able to move off of him. For more on the Boston Celtics and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What is the Cleveland Cavs roster? A look at players under contract for 2025-26
The Cleveland Cavaliers 2024-25 season ended in disappointment, as the squad under new head coach and NBA Coach of the Year winner Kenny Atkinson fell in the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second consecutive postseason — this time to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. Looking ahead, the Cavs have a lot of money tied up in the roster's "core four" of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Advertisement In fact, with those stars under contract along with trade acquisition De'Andre Hunter and more, the Cavaliers sit roughly $13 million above the NBA's "second apron" spending threshold. That threshold triggers an additional layer of penalties beyond the "first apron" for exceeding spending limits under the NBA's CBA. Teams can spend over the limits because of the league's 'soft cap' rules, but they incur luxury tax penalties for doing so, which ownership groups generally aim to avoid. Because the Cavs are operating within that second apron level of spending, fans shouldn't be surprised if a pricey star winds up on the trade block this summer to cut costs a la the Boston Celtics (who've already traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to cut salary). Reports said that Cleveland already offered Garland, their All-Star point guard, to Phoenix in hopes of landing Kevin Durant via trade — though that certainly wouldn't have been a cost-cutting move. Advertisement Here's a breakdown of the Cavs roster as it stands June 30. What is the Cleveland Cavs 2025-26 roster? Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) and guard Donovan Mitchell (45) wait along side head coach Kenny Atkinson to enter the game during the first half against the New York Knicks, April 2, 2025, in Cleveland. These players are under contract for the 2025-26 season (with cap hits noted in parentheses). Note, all figures are courtesy of Spotrac data. Evan Mobley ($46,394,100 – estimated) Donovan Mitchell ($46,394,100 – estimated) Darius Garland ($39,446,090) De'Andre Hunter ($23,303,571) Jarrett Allen ($20,000,000) Max Strus ($15,936,452) Lonzo Ball ($10,000,000) - Acquired in trade announced June 28 Dean Wade ($6,623,456 – non-guaranteed) Jaylon Tyson ($3,492,480) Chuma Okeke ($2,546,675 – club option) Craig Porter Jr. ($2,221,677 – non-guaranteed) Nae'qwan Tomlin (Two-way contract) Cleveland Cavs 2025 draft picks Tyrese Proctor (Will have a full-time roster spot, according to Cavs) Saliou Niang (Will play overseas in 2025-26, according to Cavs) Cleveland Cavs free agents Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) throws a pass beside Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) in the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on Jan. 30, 2025. Among the Cavs players whose contracts are up this summer is guard Ty Jerome, who finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, just ahead of teammate De'Andre Hunter. Here are the players Cleveland would have to choose to re-sign: Cleveland Cavs offseason trades Isaac Okoro ($11,000,000) - Traded to Bulls, announced June 28 This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Breakdown of the Cleveland Cavs 2025-26 roster, depth chart
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Trade News: Boston Celtics acquired 6-feet-8 ex-Phoenix Suns big man to support Jayson Tatum and bolster squad for better title odds
Jalen Bridges (Image via Getty) The Boston Celtics have signed Jalen Bridges , a 6-foot-8 forward and former teammate of Kevin Durant on the Phoenix Suns, as a potential replacement for Jayson Tatum, who is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 NBA season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. This move comes after a tumultuous postseason for Boston, which saw them lose Tatum to injury during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks. Jalen Bridges' Profile and Connection to Kevin Durant Jalen Bridges played alongside Kevin Durant during the 2024-25 NBA season with the Phoenix Suns , albeit in a limited role. He was on a two-way contract and appeared in just eight games, averaging 1.1 points per game on 28.6% shooting from the field and from three-point range. Despite his modest professional stats, Bridges was a notable perimeter shooter in college, finishing his career at West Virginia and Baylor with a 37% three-point percentage, including two seasons above 39%. At 24 years old, Jalen Bridges brings size, youth, and a reputation as a capable spot-up shooter, which could fit well in coach Joe Mazzulla's offensive system. Jayson Tatum's Injury and Boston Celtics' Roster Moves Jayson Tatum suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in May 2025 and underwent successful surgery, with an expected nine-month recovery timeline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo This mirrors the recovery period Kevin Durant faced after a similar injury, which caused him to miss an entire season. The Boston Celtics , facing the challenge of replacing Tatum's production, have opted for a low-risk, high-upside move by bringing Bridges onto their summer league roster, with a chance to earn a full roster spot in training camp. Outlook and Potential Impact of Jalen Bridges on the Boston Celtics While Jalen Bridges is not expected to replicate Tatum's all-around impact, his shooting ability and size could allow him to carve out a role, especially if he impresses during summer league and training camp. The Boston Celtics' decision to sign Bridges reflects a pragmatic approach: seeking affordable, developmental options to help fill the void left by Tatum, rather than making a blockbuster trade or high-cost acquisition. Also read: Bronny James Pay Cut Rumor Debunked: Viral Hoax Fooled NBA Fans In summary, the Boston Celtics' addition of Jalen Bridges—Kevin Durant's former 6-foot-8 teammate—offers them a potential rotation piece as they navigate the uncertainty of Tatum's recovery. Bridges' performance in the coming months will determine whether he can become a meaningful contributor for Boston during a critical transitional season. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
