Latest news with #KurtHelin
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
LeBron James Sparks Speculation With 'Welcome Home' Hat Amid Trade Rumors
LeBron James Sparks Speculation With 'Welcome Home' Hat Amid Trade Rumors originally appeared on Fadeaway World. LeBron James has always known how to control a moment and once again, he's done just that. Amid a flurry of trade speculation, James casually posted a story of himself wearing a hat that simply read: "Welcome Home." Advertisement Just two words. No caption. No context. But in the middle of the loudest trade chatter of his career? It was anything but accidental. LeBron James Sparks Speculation With 'Welcome Home' Hat Amid Trade RumorsCredit: LeBron James/ X Fans and insiders instantly began connecting the dots. Was this a signal to Cleveland? A nod to a potential third and final stint with his hometown team? After all, James' career has long been defined by full-circle moments, and there's no narrative arc more poetic than ending where it all began. But here's the twist: the Cleveland Cavaliers don't seem that interested. According to NBA insider Kurt Helin, the Cavs are 'not that interested in LeBron James.' With four teams linked to LeBron in the past 24 hours, Cleveland's front office reportedly views the logistics and financial hurdles as a major deterrent. Advertisement To even consider the move, they would need to shed salary to get under the second apron, which could mean trading away three key players in Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Max Strus just to make the math work. That's three core rotation players for a 41-year-old LeBron on a $52.6 million contract. Still, the rumors persist. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, four NBA teams have already contacted Rich Paul to express interest in LeBron, though no substantive conversations have followed. Paul clarified that LeBron has not asked for a trade, but he also emphasized that James is focused solely on joining a 'championship-caliber roster.' The Lakers, meanwhile, aren't exactly exuding contender vibes. After dealing Anthony Davis to Dallas in exchange for Luka Doncic, they've shifted toward a younger, Luka-centric direction. LeBron reportedly has no influence on the Lakers' free agency plans this time around, a major departure from past years where his input shaped rosters. The Lakers missed out on Clint Capela and Brook Lopez, lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Rockets, and are now scrambling to land Deandre Ayton, a center also pursued by the Milwaukee Bucks. Their roster is thin, disjointed, and clearly not title-ready. Advertisement That's why some believe LeBron's 'Welcome Home' hat was more than fashion. It might have been a message to the Lakers, to the league, or to his legacy. As Bobby Marks noted, the leaguewide interest in trading for LeBron is tepid due to his contract size, age, and no-trade clause. But if James wants to be traded, the market will bend to him. He'll pick the team. And whether that's Cleveland, New York, or Dallas, the bidding war will begin. For now, LeBron remains a Laker. But with four teams calling and James subtly hinting at his next move, all it takes is one more message, hat or not, for the King to move his throne once again. Related: LeBron James And Austin Reaves Reportedly Don't Like Playing With Luka Doncic This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
20-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 NBA Draft Order: Full list, dates, start times, and how to watch
The 2025 NBA Draft will be held on Wednesday, June 25, and Thursday, June 26, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Live coverage begins at 8 PM ET on both nights. This year marks the 79th edition of the event. See below for everything you need to know about the 2025 NBA Draft, including the full draft order, how to watch information, and more. RELATED: Pacers to trade No. 23 pick in this year's NBA draft, Mojave King to Pelicans for 2026 first-rounder 2025 NBA Draft Order: Round 1: 1. Dallas Mavericks 2. San Antonio Spurs 3. Philadelphia 76ers 4. Charlotte Hornets 5. Utah Jazz 6. Washington Wizards 7. New Orleans Pelicans 8. Brooklyn Nets 9. Toronto Raptors 10. Houston Rockets (from Phoenix via Brooklyn) 11. Portland Trail Blazers 12. Chicago Bulls 13. Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento) 14. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta) 15. Oklahoma City (from Miami via the LA Clippers) 16. Memphis (from Orlando) 17. Minnesota (from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City, and Houston) 18. Washington (from Memphis) 19. Brooklyn (from Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland, and New Orleans) 20. Miami (from Golden State) 21. Utah (from Minnesota) 22. Atlanta (from the Los Angeles Lakers via New Orleans) 23. New Orleans (from Indiana) 24. Oklahoma City (from the LA Clippers) 25. Orlando (from Denver) 26. Brooklyn (from New York) 27. Brooklyn (from Houston) 28. Boston 29. Phoenix (from Cleveland via Utah) 30. LA Clippers (from Oklahoma City) RELATED: Dallas Mavericks jump from 11th to first, win 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Round 2: 31. Minnesota (from Utah) 32. Boston (from Washington via Detroit and Brooklyn) 33. Charlotte 34. Charlotte (from New Orleans via San Antonio, Phoenix, and Memphis) 35. Philadelphia 36. Brooklyn 37. Detroit (from Toronto via Dallas and San Antonio) 38. San Antonio 39. Toronto (from Portland via Sacramento) 40. Washington (from Phoenix) 41. Golden State (from Miami via Brooklyn and Indiana) 42. Sacramento (from Chicago via San Antonio) 43. Utah (from Dallas) 44. Oklahoma City (from Atlanta) 45. Chicago (from Sacramento) 46. Orlando 47. Milwaukee (from Detroit via Washington) 48. Memphis (from Golden State via Washington and Brooklyn) 49. Cleveland (from Milwaukee) 50. New York (from Memphis via Oklahoma City and Boston) 51. LA Clippers (from Minnesota via Atlanta and Houston) 52. Phoenix (from Denver via Charlotte and Minnesota) 53. Utah (from the LA Clippers via the Los Angeles Lakers) 54. Indiana 55. Los Angeles Lakers — New York (forfeited) 56. Memphis (from Houston) 57. Orlando (from Boston) 58. Cleveland 59. Houston (from Oklahoma City via Atlanta) Kurt Helin, When is the 2025 NBA Draft? Round 1: Wednesday, June 25, at 8 PM ET Round 2: Thursday, June 26, at 8 PM ET How can I watch the 2025 NBA Draft? Coverage of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft will be available on ABC and ESPN. The second round will be available on ESPN and the ESPN app. Where is the 2025 NBA Draft? This year's draft will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Head to for the latest NBA news, updates, and storylines!
NBC Sports
05-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 NBA Finals: Pacers-Thunder predictions, key matchups to watch in roundtable preview
With Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers scheduled to tip off Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET., we've gathered Kurt Helin, Raphielle Johnson, and Noah Rubin to break down the important questions and the matchups to watch during the series, as well as their predictions on how the 2025 NBA Finals will play out. Kurt Helin, Noah Rubin: Can they? Potentially. Will they? I'm not banking on it. To be clear, this isn't a knock on Indiana's offense, which has been incredible since Tyrese Haliburton was handed the keys to the offense. They play team basketball, and everyone is a threat. However, this is one of the best defenses in league history. They have multiple guards, multiple forwards and multiple bigs that can guard multiple positions. This is a defense that works and fits together, and there aren't any weak links to pick on. If anyone can figure it out, it will probably be Rick Carlisle and Haliburton, but I don't think it's going to be enough to win this series. Raphielle Johnson: The Pacers can potentially break through against the Thunder defense, but this will be a challenge unlike any they've faced this postseason. In addition to their depth, the Thunder, for the most part, have looked extremely connected on that end of the floor. Luguentz Dort's physicality will be a challenge for Tyrese Haliburton, and then Oklahoma City can call on Cason Wallace whenever he needs a break. What I'm also looking forward to is how the Thunder use Alex Caruso. In the conference finals, they were able to go small for long stretches due to his ability to handle a variety of assignments. Kurt Helin: No. Or, at least not enough to win the series. The Pacers have a fantastic offense and Tyrese Haliburton deserves all the flowers coming his way in recent days, plus Indy has generally handled pressure defenses well (Game 5 vs. New York excluded). It's just different with the quality of defenders the Thunder bring. Here's the bigger issue: OKC may be the best switching defense in the league. The Pacers like to force a switch with a high pick early in the offense to get Haliburton matched up on the guy he wants to attack (sorry Brunson), and to get defenses in rotation when he does get downhill. The Thunder, however, can and will switch just about anything 1-5 and don't have a weak defender on the floor, plus their rotations are sharper than anyone else's. Rubin: Jalen Williams vs. Aaron Nesmith. During the regular season, Andrew Nembhard took the SGA matchup on defense, and Nesmith guarded Williams, who had an excellent series against Minnesota. Williams wasn't as effective against Denver, and the Nuggets were nearly able to win the series. The one game OKC dropped against the Timberwolves was Williams' worst performance of the series. Slowing down SGA is a tall task, but if Nesmith is able to take Williams out of the equation, the Pacers will have a better chance at winning this series. Johnson: Myles Turner vs. Chet Holmgren. The Pacers won't win this series without Turner consistently being one of the best players on the floor. He was not in the two regular-season meetings between these teams, and Holmgren did not play in either matchup due to his fractured hip. Turner brings a little more power to the table than the slender Holmgren, but he doesn't always bring that physicality. He didn't have the best conference finals, but the Pacers were good enough in other areas to compensate. They can't afford for Turner to be anything but elite if they're to win the title. Helin: Luguentz Dort vs. Tyrese Haliburton. What we saw in Game 5 vs. New York is something we saw too much of from Haliburton early in the season, when Indiana got off to a slow start: Put a physical, athletic, ball-denying defender on Haliburton and he was too willing to go into a shell and let his teammates essentially play 4-on-4. That didn't work, Haliburton stepped up his aggressiveness in those settings and the Pacers did a better job of off-ball picks and more to get Haliburton the rock. The Pacers' balanced offense doesn't work if Haliburton isn't conducting the orchestra. Nobody frustrates a point guard, and nobody in the league gets over picks as well as Dort, and if he is making Haliburton's life miserable, then Indiana's going to have a miserable, short, series. Rubin: Pascal Siakam. Three-time All-Star. Two All-NBA appearances. The 2018-19 Most Improved Player. Now, Siakam could add a second ring to his collection, and after winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award, there is certainly a chance he wins Finals MVP, if they win the series. Basketball Reference currently has Siakam at a 2.1 percent chance of making the Hall of Fame, but will he have more of a case with another ring? I don't think he would if he retired this summer, but his resume would certainly be strengthened. Johnson: Sam Presti. He's already regarded by many as the best lead executive in the NBA today, given what he's done to build the Thunder into a juggernaut that is set up to last. There's just one thing missing from his time in Oklahoma City, and that's a championship. While the 'legacy' conversation focuses on the players, and rightfully so, the respective rotations are pretty young. That doesn't guarantee them more shots at a championship, but I don't think any player will have to deal with the 'legacy' chatter that a LeBron James, for example, did after he moved to Miami. So, I'll go with Presti as my answer. Helin: Rick Carlisle. This run to the Finals may have done it anyway. Within league circles he was always considered one of the best Xs and Os guys out there — going all the way back to his time on Chuck Daly's Nets' staff — but there was a sense among more casual fans that he was a coach who lucked into an NBA Finals win because of Dirk Nowitzki (the way that Frank Vogel's title is viewed by many now, and some might even through Doc Rivers in that mix). It was never true, and Carlisle leading this team to the Finals in a very different style than his previous one shows his versatility and evolution as a coach. Rubin: Thunder in five, with SGA taking the honors. If I was getting overly specific with my prediction, it would be that the Thunder win one game in a blowout, but the rest of the games in this series will be tight. I just don't think the miraculous run from Indiana will result in a championship. SGA will be the best player on the floor, and the Thunder are deeper, which is saying a lot since the Pacers are also a deep team. Indiana may have a slight coaching advantage, but this is a matchup of two elite coaches. I think this will be a close, exciting series, but I just don't think the Pacers will end up winning more than one game. Johnson: I like the Thunder in six games, and Gilgeous-Alexander wins MVP. These have been the two best teams in the NBA since January 1, with Oklahoma City being the best throughout the season. They can match Indiana's strengths, and I have my questions about how effective they'll be defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Indiana will put up a great fight and win a few games, but Oklahoma City has been the best team in the NBA all season long, and I expect them to get the title to back up that claim. Helin: Thunder in five, and if there is one lock coming into these NBA Finals it would be SGA to win MVP. Indiana has a team built for the modern game and tax apron world, a fun style of play with Haliburton out in front but quality players perfect for their roles such as Siakam, Turner and Nembhard. The Pacers' problem is that they want to play a fast, chaotic game, and Oklahoma City does that better. Haliburton is brilliant but Gilgeous-Alexander is better. Turner is having a great playoff run (well-timed for a guy getting a new contract) but Chet Holmgren is better. Indiana's defense is improved, the Thunder's is suffocating. You get the idea. OKC is just a better version of what Indiana has become.
NBC Sports
20-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
2025 NBA Finals predictions, what's next for Celtics, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Warriors in playoffs roundtable
The matchups are set for the 2025 NBA conference finals, as the Thunder will meet the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals and the Knicks will play the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. You can find everything you need to know about those series in the links below. For the purposes of this roundtable, we got NBC Sports' Kurt Helin and Rotoworld's Raphielle Johnson and Noah Rubin together to offer their thoughts on the teams who were eliminated in the conference semifinals and their respective paths moving forward. We also asked for a temperature check on their NBA Finals predictions. Check it out! Pacers vs. Knicks Timberwolves vs. Thunder Kurt Helin, Kurt Helin: The winds of change were sweeping over Boston this summer long before Tatum's injury. The buzz around the league for a year has been that the Celtics would move on from one of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, say goodbye to Al Horford, and might want to find a new home for Kristaps Porzingis as well (how strong the trade market is for Porzingis is up for debate). However, the Tatum injury turning next season into a 'gap year' for the Celtics means Brad Stevens and Boston's new ownership need to take a step back and ask the bigger question: Should they consider trading Jaylen Brown? If they can get a package of quality young players and picks (as Houston or San Antonio could offer), allowing Boston to retool everything around Tatum's full-speed return for the 2026-27 season, they have to seriously consider it. The rumors will fly, but my bet is they stick with the Tatum and Brown era in Boston. However, everyone else on that roster is and should be available at the right price. Noah Rubin: They have to. Even in the weaker conference (which could get weaker if Giannis Antetokounmpo gets traded out West), Boston probably doesn't have enough to win a championship next season without Tatum, even if he could be back a couple months before the playoffs. With multiple teams needing center help (hello Rob Pelinka) and everyone else in the East likely looking to take advantage of the Celtics not having Tatum, it's the perfect year for Boston to zig while everyone else zags. Not many contending teams also have control of their draft capital like the Celtics do. The question is how proactive does Brad Stevens want to be? Assuming next season is a wash (and this isn't a given), Jaylen Brown will be 31 at the start of the 2026-27 season. Derrick White will be 33, Jrue Holiday will be 37, Kristaps Porzingis will be 32, etc. Do they feel confident that Tatum, coming off an Achilles tear, can win a championship at 29 with this cast? It seems unlikely that they will keep this team together, though that doesn't mean everyone will be gone. If I were in charge, I'd think long and hard about taking advantage of a stacked 2026 class, highlighted by Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa, to give the Celtics their own version of the Tim Duncan-David Robinson Spurs. Or potentially trade an early pick in that draft for a different co-star for Tatum. Raphielle Johnson: At surface level, the Celtics are in a position where it makes sense (and saves some cents) to consider what they can do via the trade market. Kristaps Porzingis is heading into the final year of his contract, likely making him the easiest player to move if ownership were to go this route. However, he remains a medical question mark due to the late-season illness that impacted his stamina during the postseason. Acquiring him without clarity on that situation would be a significant risk for any team. Jrue Holiday will be 35 in June and has three seasons remaining on his contract, and 38-year-old Al Horford will be a free agent this summer. However, the fact that a new ownership group has taken over makes this difficult to read. Would it make a good impression on the fan base if your first course of action were to cut costs and break up a team that would remain one of the best in the East, even with Jayson Tatum out for most of next season? I would say no. I think Boston looks to make another run at advancing out of the East, with a player like Payton Pritchard taking on an expanded role. Who knows whether or not it works? But I believe Boston won't go into a complete rebuild just yet. Helin: Father Time wins every race. A year from now Curry will be 38, while Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green will be 36, as much as experience helps at some point the combination of talent and youth with teams like Oklahoma City, Houston and Minnesota will overwhelm them (and that's not even getting into a retooled Lakers squad, and the Nuggets still have Nikola Jokic). Truly contending next season is off the table. That doesn't mean you don't try. Mike Dunleavy and the Golden State front office need to spend the offseason finding a legitimate center, adding athleticism and shooting, and do all that while keeping under the second apron. The Warriors will be a lot of fun next season, but come the playoffs, they will just be an appetizer for the better teams. Rubin: Steph Curry is a player that I just won't ever write off. After the All-Star break last season, the Warriors had the best defensive rating and seventh-best offensive rating in the league, per That's while inserting Jimmy Butler into the rotation and having him figure things out on the fly. There are two factors that will give Golden State a chance next season. The first is health, which is entirely out of their hands. The second is to truly commit to building a winning team. There should be no reports that anyone not named Steph is 'off the table.' They've slowly veered away from the two timeline approach, but there needs to be more commitment. Jonathan Kuminga is a restricted free agent, and he could be part of a sign-and-trade. Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and every other young player that holds trade value, as well as any picks, should all be up for grabs. It's entirely possible that the Warriors would rather keep a player like Podz because they like him long-term. That's fine. He's a talented player. I just think the path to contention is to truly upgrade the roster and worry about picking up the pieces after 30 calls it a career. Johnson: Stephen Curry is the key. As long as he's healthy, the Warriors will have a chance to make noise in the West, even with that being the stronger conference of the two. Having Jimmy Butler with the team from the start of training camp would also help. However, the depth is a concern for me. What do they truly think about Jonathan Kuminga as a consistent contributor? He didn't get back into the rotation until Curry's hamstring injury forced Steve Kerr's hand, and there's no guarantee that another team won't make Kuminga an offer he can't refuse…and Golden State can't match. It would likely be in Golden State's best interest to work out a sign-and-trade, potentially fortifying the roster with multiple players who can remain in Kerr's rotation. They'll need Brandin Podziemski to continue to improve, but there is a path to this group being a contender next season. They'll likely need some help in the form of a team with considerable cap space putting a lucrative offer in front of Kuminga to make that happen, though. Helin: There is no dynasty in Cleveland, but the Tatum injury opened the door for this to be more than a one-and-done roster. The Cavaliers should run it back next season and try to take a step forward. Two things became clear this postseason: 1) Darius Garland is critical to this team and they need him to stay fully healthy; 2) The front office needs to add some toughness, some grit to the roster. A veteran built for the playoffs. Do that and this should be more than a one-year thing in Cleveland. Rubin: I think if they play their cards correctly, Cleveland will be among the top teams in the East for a while. If injury luck was on their side, they would have at least been more competitive in the Indiana series. It was the first season with Kenny Atkinson at the helm, and they added De'Andre Hunter halfway through the season. Continuity will be helpful, but the growth of both Darius Garland and Evan Mobley will be critical. Donovan Mitchell is still the superstar, but Garland and Mobley have plenty of upside. Their core four is under contract through 2028, and there's no reason for them to break things up. It was a disappointing end to the season, and there is room for improvement, but it's difficult to not be encouraged by a 64-win season. Johnson: To be fair, the definition of the word 'dynasty' appears to be changing in the NBA, as we're headed toward a seventh different champion in seven years. I can't buy into Cleveland unless the front office makes significant adjustments in the toughness department. Does this mean they part ways with one of their 'core four'? Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley should not go anywhere, but the Cavaliers may have to consider potential offers for Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. Given the current state of the East, especially with Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury, the Cavaliers should believe they can remain among the best for the next few seasons. But the postseason is an entirely different animal, and they'll need to remember that this summer. Helin: Not as long as Nikola Jokic is the best player walking the face of the earth, he gives them a chance even when the talent around him is not up to the level needed (see this last series against OKC). That said, it might be time to tweak the team's core if that means trading away Michael Porter Jr. for depth and defense. Rubin: It's a new era in Denver with interim head coach David Adelman and interim general manager Ben Tenzer both hoping to have their interim tags removed. The Nuggets had relied on continuity for success in recent years, but it may be time for a change. Today's teams rely on depth more than ever, and the Nuggets' lack of it was a glaring issue that was exposed in consecutive seven-game series. I don't think it's time to clean house, but I don't think anyone other than Jokic should be off the table in a potential deal. Having more than eight players you can trust in the playoffs is helpful. Johnson: Like Kurt said, as long as you have a player of Nikola Jokic's caliber on your roster, you have a shot. But they'll need to make moves to improve the team's depth and athleticism to contend in the West. Of course, many will zero in on Michael Porter Jr. and his hefty contract, and with good reason. It would not surprise me if he were the subject of trade rumors this summer. Helin: I picked the Oklahoma City Thunder to win it all before the playoffs started, I'm not getting off that bandwagon now. Rubin: I'm going with the Timberwolves. I think the combination of elite defense and go-to scorers will give them a chance to beat anyone. Plus, Julius Randle is just playing at a much higher level than I expected him to. I think he poses matchup problems for every remaining team. Johnson: I liked the Thunder to win the title before the postseason began, and I will stick with them. Their ability to answer nearly any problem thrown their way makes them the favorite heading into the conference finals.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Houston Rockets Are All in on Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Houston Rockets are a potential landing spot for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, as he recently announced he is open to a trade. Antetokounmpo has achieved a lot with the Bucks as he has been an all-star, MVP, and won an NBA championship during his tenure in Milwaukee. According to an article by NBC Sports Kurt Helin, the Bucks are one of 7 potential trade candidates that make sense for Antetokounmpo. The Rockets can include some of their draft picks in an attempt to make a lucrative offer for "the Greek Freak." He would make the Rockets an instant contender for the championship. Advertisement Giannis averaged 30.4 ppg, 11.9 rpg, and 6.5 apg on the season. He ranked second in the league in scoring, as he is an elite scorer. Giannis blends power, speed, and agility in a way few players ever have. His ability to handle the ball like a guard, attack the rim with authority, and defend multiple positions makes him one of the most complete players in the league. He's also known for his humility, team-first mentality, and relentless drive to improve. He elevates any team in the league with his presence on defense and offense. It will be an interesting offseason for the Rockets as they look to improve the roster.
