Latest news with #KevinPelton
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN puts OKC Thunder in all-in tier to have extended championship window
Now that the NBA is in vacation mode, the next couple of months are the perfect time to reflect on the offseason and see how teams stand out ahead of the 2025-26 season. After bringing home a championship in style with a dominant year, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the popular pick to repeat. One way ESPN has done that is by publishing its yearly all-in tiers. ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Kevin Pelton categorized all 30 NBA teams into eight different all-in tiers that define what a successful season would look like. From championship aspirations to player development. For the Thunder, they were put into the "all-in on an extended championship window" group. Other members were the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Orlando Magic. The Thunder are the only team in that group that has already won the Larry O'Brien trophy with their current core. "There's no precedent for winning a championship and having up to six extra first-round picks coming, not to mention swaps that could dramatically improve Thunder picks likely to fall late in the round," ESPN wrote. "Now that Oklahoma City has extended MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, plus All-Star Jalen Williams and cornerstone Chet Holmgren, the luxury tax will be a challenge. But the Thunder might be less all-in than any team trying to repeat in modern NBA history." That's a pretty fair assessment. The Thunder are best set up to contend in the short-term and long-term future. That's the luxury you're afforded when you become the second-youngest NBA champion in league history. With their star trio signed to new deals, expect OKC to be in this tier for the foreseeable future. New ESPN story: Not every NBA team will enter this season with a realistic expectation of winning an NBA title. But, for all 30 of them, they will begin the year all-in on a @kpelton and I broke down what being 'all-in' for each of them means.
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What should the Nets focus on heading into the 2025-26 NBA season?
The Brooklyn Nets finished the 2024-25 NBA season with a 26-56 record, ultimately getting them the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to begin their latest rebuild. Brooklyn broke the league record by taking five players in the Draft and it seems that the foundation is being laid down. Pundits believe that the Nets should remain focused on the rebuild. ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Kevin Pelton put together a list of which each team in the NBA should be "all-in" on ahead of the 2025-26 season and the Nets were put into the "draft positioning" category. Brooklyn isn't the only team in the tier as they share the category with the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards as all of the teams are understandably focused on the future. "These were four of the NBA's bottom six teams in the standings last season, and they have the four lowest over/under totals for the 2025-26 season at ESPN BET," the ESPN duo wrote when describing why each team was in the category. "Still, all of these teams are probably at least a season away from competing for a playoff spot, and they'd love to add another top pick first." As this relates to the Nets, this statement rings true in the sense that Brooklyn does not yet have a player on the roster that is currently considered to be an All-Star at some point in their career. The Nets will enter the 2025-26 season as one of the youngest teams in the league due to the amount of youth on the roster, but the hope is that guard Egor Demin, who was taken eighth overall by Brooklyn, can realize his potential sooner rather than later. As of this writing, BetMGM gives the Nets an over/under of 20.5 wins over the course of the 2025-26 regular season, meaning that the Las Vegas betting market could be expecting another tough season for Brooklyn. With the 2026 NBA Draft expected to boast premium talent such as AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, the Nets could be best served to keep the future in the forefront of their mind. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: What should the Nets focus on heading into the 2025-26 NBA season?
USA Today
05-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What should the Nets focus on heading into the 2025-26 NBA season?
The Brooklyn Nets finished the 2024-25 NBA season with a 26-56 record, ultimately getting them the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to begin their latest rebuild. Brooklyn broke the league record by taking five players in the Draft and it seems that the foundation is being laid down. Pundits believe that the Nets should remain focused on the rebuild. ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Kevin Pelton put together a list of which each team in the NBA should be "all-in" on ahead of the 2025-26 season and the Nets were put into the "draft positioning" category. Brooklyn isn't the only team in the tier as they share the category with the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards as all of the teams are understandably focused on the future. "These were four of the NBA's bottom six teams in the standings last season, and they have the four lowest over/under totals for the 2025-26 season at ESPN BET," the ESPN duo wrote when describing why each team was in the category. "Still, all of these teams are probably at least a season away from competing for a playoff spot, and they'd love to add another top pick first." As this relates to the Nets, this statement rings true in the sense that Brooklyn does not yet have a player on the roster that is currently considered to be an All-Star at some point in their career. The Nets will enter the 2025-26 season as one of the youngest teams in the league due to the amount of youth on the roster, but the hope is that guard Egor Demin, who was taken eighth overall by Brooklyn, can realize his potential sooner rather than later. As of this writing, BetMGM gives the Nets an over/under of 20.5 wins over the course of the 2025-26 regular season, meaning that the Las Vegas betting market could be expecting another tough season for Brooklyn. With the 2026 NBA Draft expected to boast premium talent such as AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, the Nets could be best served to keep the future in the forefront of their mind.
USA Today
29-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
In 2025 offseason grades, ESPN ranks Houston among NBA's two best
'No team did more to improve its chances at the 2026 title than the Rockets,' ESPN's Kevin Pelton says in his 2025 NBA offseason grades. Between the additions of established veterans including Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Clint Capela, the NBA's 2025 offseason has been a good one for fans of the Houston Rockets. For a team that was already starting from a relatively high perch at No. 2 in last season's Western Conference standings (with a 52-30 record), there's a case to be made that Houston has elevated itself into the top tier of 2025-26 championship contenders. And it seems that others around the league agree. In ESPN's offseason grades, Houston is one of only two teams to receive an 'A' grade, joining the Atlanta Hawks. Regarding the Rockets, ESPN's Kevin Pelton writes: No team did more to improve its chances at the 2026 title than the Rockets, who added two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant without sacrificing depth in the process. Give Houston credit for pouncing at a reasonable trade for Durant, then using a team-friendly contract for Fred VanVleet (two years, $50 million) to access the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. That allowed the Rockets to add proven 3-and-D wing Dorian Finney-Smith to help replace departed Dillon Brooks. Houston is the only Western Conference team to earn Pelton's 'A' grade. More: In signing with Rockets, Dorian Finney-Smith sees 'great team' with a chance to be special
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA mock draft: A consensus survey shows the latest predictions from experts
The 2025 NBA Draft is less than two weeks away and we are finally starting to get a consensus of when each player could hear their name called. To get a sense of where prospects stand as of right now, For The Win has surveyed all of the leading mock drafts to provide a general consensus. For this exercise, we're using my latest mock along with other mainstream mocks from the following publications (sorted alphabetically): Our scoring methodology was based on a trade value chart from ESPN's Kevin Pelton. Meanwhile, for more prospect coverage, here is our latest NBA mock draft at For The Win. Note: These rankings do not reflect our personal opinions or team fit but rather where experts currently have each prospect slated. The best takes and the sharpest bets on all the hoops storylines you need to know. Sign up for our Layup Lines newsletter, hitting your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 1. Cooper Flagg TEAM:Duke POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-9 DRAFT AGE: 18.5 2. Dylan Harper TEAM: Rutgers POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-6 DRAFT AGE: 19.3 3. Ace Bailey TEAM: Rutgers POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-10 DRAFT AGE: 18.9 4. V.J. Edgecombe TEAM: Baylor POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-5 DRAFT AGE: 19.9 5. Tre Johnson TEAM: Texas POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-6 DRAFT AGE: 19.3 6. Kon Knueppel TEAM: Duke POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-7 DRAFT AGE: 19.9 7. Jeremiah Fears TEAM: Oklahoma POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-4 DRAFT AGE: 18.7 8. Khaman Maluach TEAM: Duke POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 7-2 DRAFT AGE: 18.8 9. Derik Queen TEAM: Maryland POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6-10 DRAFT AGE: 20.5 10. Egor Demin TEAM: BYU POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-9 DRAFT AGE: 19.3 11. Kasparas Jakučionis TEAM: Illinois POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-6 DRAFT AGE: 19.1 12. Noa Essengue TEAM: ratiopharm ulm (Germany) POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-8 DRAFT AGE: 18.5 13. Carter Bryant TEAM: Arizona POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-8 DRAFT AGE: 19.6 14. Collin Murray-Boyles TEAM: South Carolina POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6-8 DRAFT AGE: 20.1 15. Nolan Traoré TEAM: Saint-Quentin (France) POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-3 DRAFT AGE: 19.1 16. Cedric Coward TEAM: Washington St. POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-6 DRAFT AGE: 21.8 17. Nique Clifford TEAM: Colorado St. POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-6 DRAFT AGE: 23.4 18. Jase Richardson TEAM: Michigan St. POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-3 DRAFT AGE: 19.7 19. Asa Newell TEAM: Georgia POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-11 DRAFT AGE: 19.7 20. Thomas Sorber TEAM: Georgetown POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6-10 DRAFT AGE: 19.5 21. Liam McNeeley TEAM: Connecticut POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-7 DRAFT AGE: 19.7 22. Danny Wolf TEAM: Michigan POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 7-0 DRAFT AGE: 21.2 23. Joan Beringer TEAM: KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia) POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6-11 DRAFT AGE: 18.6 24. Rasheer Fleming TEAM: Saint Joseph's POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-9 DRAFT AGE: 21.0 25. Will Riley TEAM: Illinois POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-8 DRAFT AGE: 19.3 26. Walter Clayton Jr. TEAM: Florida POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-3 DRAFT AGE: 22.3 27. Drake Powell TEAM: North Carolina POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6-6 DRAFT AGE: 19.8 28. Maxime Raynaud TEAM: Stanford POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 7-1 DRAFT AGE: 22.2 29. Noah Penda TEAM: Le Mans Sarthe (France) POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6-8 DRAFT AGE: 20.5 30. Ben Saraf TEAM: ratiopharm ulm (Germany) POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-5 DRAFT AGE: 19.2 SECOND ROUND 31. Ryan Kalkbrenner 32. Hugo González 33. Adou Thiero 34. Yanic Konan Niederhäuser 35. Hansen Yang 36. Alex Toohey 37. Chaz Lanier 38. Bogoljub Marković 39. Kam Jones 40. Tyrese Proctor 41. Johni Broome 42. Koby Brea 43. Jamir Watkins 44. Javon Small 45. Hunter Sallis 46. Sion James 47. John Tonje 48. Eric Dixon 49. Rocco Zikarsky 50. Micah Peavy 51. Ryan Nembhard 52. Alijah Martin 53. Vlad Goldin 54. RJ Luis Jr. 55. Kobe Sanders 56. Tamar Bates 57. Payton Sandfort 58. Amari Williams 59. Brice Williams 60. Michael Ružić
