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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Examining five potential landing spots for Jase Richardson in the NBA Draft
Examining five potential landing spots for Jase Richardson in the NBA Draft Taking a look at some places where it might make sense for Richardson to end up. As of last week, the anticipation is over, and we now know that Jase Richardson will not be coming back to Michigan State and will instead keep his name in the 2025 NBA draft and will have a new home after June 25. While this might disappoint some fans, it's also another feather in the cap for Tom Izzo and his program, who have a long history of helping players make it to the next level. My understanding is that, in the pre-draft process, Richardson was looking for a landing spot where he could find some minutes and develop with an NBA team instead of being sent to their G-League team to develop. In my opinion, if Richardson heard from the teams most likely to draft him that he would end up in the G-League, he probably would've gone back to MSU to grow for another season in East Lansing. This is in line with a lot of the teams who have been most consistently mocked as landing spot for Richardson. I think that Richardson is a really interesting draft prospect because his ability to play both on the ball and off of it on offense, and his defensive talents, could make him a valuable rotation player with a high floor from day one, even for a good playoff team. Below, we will look at five of the teams who have been slated as potential Jase Richardson landing spots and his potential fit there: Pick No. 16 Multiple outlets, including ESPN and Yahoo! Sports, have Richardson mocked to the Orlando Magic, and I personally think this is the most likely landing spot for him and a near-perfect fit. The Magic had the No. 2-ranked defense in the NBA in the regular season and were a playoff team. However, they were really lacking offense out of the guard position. They actually ended up starting 32-year-old veteran and long-time backup guard Cory Joseph in the playoffs to try and find some answers. If the Magic changed nothing about their roster this summer except for drafting Richardson, is it crazy to think that Jase could not just get playoff minutes next year, but could actually start for this team, depending on the match-up? This would also let Richardson team-up with another Spartan in Gary Harris, making the fit even more perfect. Oh, and his dad also played there for a few seasons. Pick No. 20 I think this is another great fit for Richardson. Like the Magic, the Heat are another top-ten defense who could use some more scoring punch on their roster. I think the Heat could use Richardson this year off the bench, and possibly even starting at times if he can beat out Davion Mitchell. I think this is another strong opportunity for Richardson. Oklahoma City Thunder Pick No. 15 It sounds crazy, but the Thunder, who are about to start the NBA Finals, have the fifteenth pick in this year's NBA draft. With their success, their payroll is about to go through the roof in the next few years as they pay their stars who got them to this point, and they will likely need to add some NBA-ready players who can contribute off the bench on cheap rookie deals. While the Thunder tend to prefer bigger players than Jase, I think adding a two-way scorer like him would be of interest to Thunder GM Sam Presti and will be one to watch. San Antonio Spurs Pick No. 14 The Spurs are starting to build the next NBA juggernaut down in San Antonio behind phenom Victor Wembanyama. Right now, the Spurs have two guards on the roster, Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox, who have questionable three-point shooting ability. They will want to supplement the roster with guards who can play off-ball and hit shots, and Jase Richardson can definitely do that. Pick No. 28 I don't think Jase Richardson would have stayed in the draft this year if he thought there was a chance he'd fall to the second round, and I don't think that's a concern, because if he manages to slip to the end of the first round, I'd expect the Celtics to waste no time in submitting their selection for the Spartans' freshman phenom. The Celtics would be a very interesting landing spot for Richardson. With Jayson Tatum injured, the Celtics will need to find offense somewhere, and with rumors of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday trades, there could be an opportunity for a rookie to come in and play big minutes if he's ready. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.
Indianapolis Star
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
'One of our better rebounders' Pacers rely on reserve to combat Knicks' Mitchell Robinson
NEW YORK — Tony Bradley entered this postseason knowing there was a chance he'd never be needed, but that he had to be ready just in case. The Pacers signed the journeyman out of the G-League to a 10-day contract in March and eventually to a full-time deal because they needed a third center just in case. The Pacers were hit by two Achilles tendon tears to their backup centers James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson in the first 10 days of the season and spent the rest of the year scrambling to create depth behind starter Myles Turner. But third centers quickly become emergency options in the playoffs and they don't get minutes except for garbage time or foul trouble. On Friday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, however, there was foul trouble because Knicks center Mitchell Robinson made it difficult to keep off the glass without fouling and both Turner and backup Thomas Bryant picked up two first-half fouls. Bradley had to step in and play meaningful minutes and deal with a player who was giving the Pacers trouble. And Bradley gave the Pacers everything they could have asked for. He played four minutes in the second quarter and four minutes in the third and grabbed two rebounds, scored a point and posted a plus-1 plus-minus figure, holding down the fort just enough to help the Pacers win 114-109 to take a 2-0 series lead with two road games. "Tony Bradley hasn't played in the series but he's one of our better rebounders," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "We elected to go with him to spell Myles a little bit. We're a team that needs everybody. That's how we gotta play." Prior to Friday, Bradley had appeared in just four playoff games — two Pacers wins and two losses that were decided by double figures on either side. He played a combined 17 minutes in those games, but he stayed ready for the moment when he'd be asked to do something meaningful. "I just was ready when my name was called," Bradley said. "I work hard every day just staying in shape, just being a good teammate. I'm ready to just go hard. That's all I know." Bradley was on the floor to start the second quarter and he grabbed a defensive rebound in the first minute and then grabbed another rebound before he checked out at the 8:02 mark. In that stretch, Robinson grabbed just one rebound. He checked back in with 4:18 to go in the third quarter and didn't allow Robinson a rebound before Bradley checked out near the end of the period. "I was just focused on keeping Robinson off the glass," Bradley said. "Staying in contact with him, keeping a body on him, trying to get him tired." Robinson still managed nine rebounds, including four on offense, but he had just six points. The Knicks outscored the Pacers 21-15 on second-chance points but the gap wasn't enough to be a problem. Bradley's contributions didn't escape the notice of his teammates. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton made a point of dropping his name in his post-game news conference.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bulls' Matas Buzelis Draws Comparison to Current NBA Playoffs Hero
There are plenty of "way too early" 2024 NBA mock drafts that predicted Matas Buzelis would be the first name off the board. The lanky 6'10" wing's streaky jumper with the G-League contributed to his slide last June, but the Bulls were wise to take the Chicago native 11th overall. Bazelis struggled to adapt to the professional game in the first few months of the season but found his stride after the All-Star break, nearly doubling most of his counting stats. This scorching stretch helped him land an All-Rookie 2nd-Team nod and created plenty of hype for a second-year leap. Now, the 20-year-old is even drawing comparisons to a familiar face and current NBA Playoff hero. Matas BuzelisGetty Images While on the "CHGO Bulls" podcast, Bulls play-by-play commentator Adam Amin made an interesting observation. Advertisement "I think this is a team that needs Matas more than anything else," Amin said. "They need that type of kid's attitude. I look at what Alex Caruso has done in these playoffs and see that type of mentality again in a different skill set, body type, and player—regardless, every team needs a player like that. Regardless, I think Matas took the mantle of a player like that." Amin might not be on the staff, but he's around these guys constantly and can see Buzelis' leadership firsthand on a daily basis. To allegedly have these traits before he can even purchase a beer is impressive and needed if this team wants to escape middle-of-the-pack purgatory. Buzelis should be the only "untouchable" on the roster, and there should be a concerted effort to surround him with high-end talent as soon as possible. Related: Lonzo Ball Drops Heavy Prediction for LaMelo Ball and Dylan Harper Related: Bulls Front Office Urged to Pursue Trade For Generational Superstar
Boston Globe
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Celtics forward Al Horford a finalist for NBA's Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year
'He just sets the tone, more with his actions than anything else. I really hope he gets it. He deserves it. He's one of the best teammates and we're lucky to have him.' Advertisement The other finalists are: Rockets center Steven Adams , Clippers forward Nicolas Batum , Knicks guard Jalen Brunson , Warriors guard Stephen Curry , Pistons forward Tobias Harris , Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., Pacers forward James Johnson , Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan , Bucks center Brook Lopez , Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell , and Thunder forward Jaylin Williams . Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The Timberwolves' Mike Conley won the award last year. The Celtics' Jrue Holiday is a three-time winner (2020, 2022, 2023). Suns coach Mike Budenholzer coached Horford for several years in Atlanta, where they helped set the Hawks' franchise record for wins (60) in a season. 'He's just a super smart player,' Budenholzer said. 'He's just a high-IQ guy on both ends of the court. Selfless. Does anything to win. You really embrace his spacing, shooting threes, and then being able to attack the closeout from behind the line and passing and doing all the different things you can do with more space. Advertisement 'He has kind of mastered that, I think that's like an old story now, but I think he always likes to go in the post and shoot a little righty hook and do some work down there. He's just a unique talent and a unique individual who is continuing to impact the game.' G-League playoffs The Maine Celtics will tip off the G-League Eastern Conference Finals against the Osceola Magic Sunday night in Florida in a matchup featuring the two most recent G-League MVPs. Maine guard JD Davison won the honor on Wednesday. Osceola guard Mac McClung , the reigning NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, was G-League MVP last year. Mazzulla said he's looking forward to seeing Boston's two-way players continue to grow during this playoff run. 'Just continue to play Celtic basketball and do what [coach] Tyler [ Lashbook ] wants,' Mazzulla said. 'Making sure you stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor. Put yourself in position to win. There's been great carryover regardless of if guys are there or here. Just not missing a beat on the things that we need to get better at. Those things are consistent in both places and they just have to stick to that.' Colorful kicks The Celtics hosted their second-annual Autism Acceptance night. Mazzulla supported the cause by wearing customized sneakers featuring the rainbow infinity symbol, which represents the neurodiversity paradigm. The symbol also appears in the logo for the To The Max foundation, a nonprofit founded by former Celtics assistant Scott Morrison in 2022. Advertisement Morrison's son, Max , who was diagnosed with autism, is Mazzulla's godson.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charles Barkley Offers Sharp Critique of Lakers' Handling of Bronny James
The Los Angeles Lakers have seen Bronny James develop throughout his rookie season. Recently, he has been turning heads with his biggest NBA performance yet and his biggest game in the G-League as well. On March 20 against the Milwaukee Bucks, James scored 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting and also chipped in five assists, three rebounds, and a blocked shot. He made two of his four 3-point attempts. Advertisement He backed up that impressive professional performance with a 39-point game for the South Bay Lakers. He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists, recorded four steals, shot 14-for-21 from the floor, and made four of his eight 3-point shots. Charles Barkley has now spoken out about James and revealed what he thinks the Lakers should do with LeBron's son. Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9)© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images If it were up to the NBA legend, Barkley would have James playing in the G-League. He doesn't think that sitting the bench at the professional level is doing anything positive for the young guard. Barkley made those comments during an appearance on the "Dan Patrick Show." Advertisement "I think it was a great story for them to go on the court together, but he should be in the G League. You don't get better sitting on the bench," Barkley said. James has played in 23 NBA games this season. In those appearances, he has averaged 2.3 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists. Meanwhile, in the G-League, he has played 11 games and has scored 21.9 points per game to go along with 5.4 assist, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. James has shot 44.3% from the floor and 38% from 3-point range with South Bay on the year. Related: LeBron James Says Pat Riley Banned His Favorite Snack While He Was in Miami
