Latest news with #SixthManoftheYear
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Several other teams pursued Marcus Smart after his contract buyout
On Saturday, veteran guard Marcus Smart agreed to a buyout of his contract with the Washington Wizards that would've paid him $21.6 million this coming season. He quickly agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $11 million contract once he clears waivers and once the Lakers clear enough space under the first apron of the salary cap. Smart, 31, has long been known as a defensive menace. He has made three All-Defensive first teams and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, and he is also a solid secondary ball-handler and facilitator. As long as he is spry and healthy, he should seriously improve the Lakers' anemic perimeter defense. Perhaps Smart didn't just fall into the Lakers' lap. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks also went after him. "The Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks seriously pursued Smart, who received permission to speak to teams along with his agent, Jason Glushon, and had positive conversations with personnel from all three teams, sources said," Charania wrote. "After losing Dorian Finney-Smith, a point-of-attack wing defender was a major position of need for the Lakers." The New York Knicks, who, like the Lakers, are trying to get over the hump and win the NBA championship, reportedly also had interest in Smart. But per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, the Knicks couldn't offer him enough playing time. The Knicks, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals in May, have a crowded backcourt. They already have Miles McBride, a noted spark plug, coming off the bench, and they also added former Lakers and 2021 Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson. The Lakers badly need someone such as Smart who can contain opposing guards. His game has waned a bit over the past couple of seasons, and he has appeared in just 54 games over the last two years, but it isn't a stretch to imagine him returning to form this coming season. He could essentially take over the role Gabe Vincent played. Vincent brings effort on the defensive end, but his outside shooting is sporadic, and when he isn't hitting from 3-point range, he seems to be a dead weight on the court.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Former Iowa State guard Curtis Jones to sign two-way contract with Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are signing guard Curtis Jones to a two-way NBA contract, agent Austin Walton of NEXT Sports tells ESPN. After going undrafted out of Iowa State, Jones had a stellar summer league for the Nuggets, averaging 15 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 47% from 3. Former Iowa State guard Curtis Jones has reportedly agreed to sign a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Jones was the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaging a career-high 17.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals on 37.4% shooting from 3-point range. He was one of five players since the 1996-97 season to average at least 17 points per game off the bench. The 6-foot-4 standout led the Cyclones in scoring while making 34 appearances, including nine starts. He registered 13 20-point performances, including a season-high 33 points and seven rebounds on Jan. 25 in a win over Arizona State. Jones debuted with the Nuggets in the NBA Summer League, averaging 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 46.7% shooting from 3-point range in five appearances. He finished off his stint with a summer league-high 22 points and eight assists on Friday. The 23-year-old will split his time next season between the NBA and the Grand Rapids Gold in the G League. He is eligible to be active for up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn $636,435, equal to 50% of the minimum salary applicable to a player with zero years of service. Jones will now have the chance to begin his career with the Nuggets and develop within the organization. He is the third player on a two-way contract with the team, joining Tamar Bates and Spencer Jones.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Thunder star James Harden ranked No. 34 in NBA history
As we enter the sizzling summer months, we're approaching the point in the calendar year when the NBA takes a couple of months off. That allows for plenty of time to be perspective and reflect on what's happened in the past. The Bleacher Report NBA staff took advantage of the downtime. They ranked the top 100 NBA players of all time. The extensive project had an all-hands-on-deck approach. They conjured up the votes and released a naturally controversial ranking. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's exclusion might be one of the biggest snubs, there were other players who represented the Oklahoma City Thunder among the 100 players. One is James Harden. He came in at No. 34 spot in the rankings. Harden spent the first three of his 16 seasons on the Thunder. His stint was highlighted by a 2011-12 Sixth Man of the Year award. He was the third-best player on an NBA Finals team. Not agreeing to an extension, he was shockingly traded to the Houston Rockets, where he blossomed into one of the greatest scorers of all time and an MVP winner. "One of the most devastating pick-and-roll forces the game has ever seen, Harden also developed into an unstoppable isolation threat," Bleacher Report wrote. "Elite quickness, strength and craft made it impossible to stay in front of Harden, and then he perfected a step-back three-pointer so deadly that opponents actually preferred to play defense behind him." While Harden went on to enjoy historic individual success, he's yet to return to the NBA Finals since 2012. That's the one hiccup to a near-perfect resume of one of the greatest players ever. He was a consistent 30-plus point threat in his prime and a perennial All-Star and All-NBA member. "An extremely heliocentric star who has led the league in usage rate twice, never consistently defended and couldn't lead his team to a title," Bleacher Report wrote. "Harden has more than his share of detractors. But he was also among the best offensive players in the game for a decade. That matters." Harden has spent most of his career with the Rockets. He's also had stops on the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and LA Clippers. The 35-year-old has taken a step back, but remains one of the league's top players.
Fox Sports
6 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA Sixth Man Of The Year Odds: Payton Pritchard Favored To Repeat
Fans are already diving into the odds for next season's NBA betting markets. The Thunder are the current favorites to win it all again, Cooper Flagg is the heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year and there's a close race at the top of the board for Most Improved Player. And now bettors are starting to put some cash on players for Sixth Man of the Year. Payton Pritchard won the award at the end of the 2024 season, becoming the fourth Celtic to take home the honor. The 6-foot-1 point guard is the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year at the end of the 2025 season. Let's look at the early odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of July 15. NBA Sixth Man of the Year 2025 Payton Pritchard, Celtics: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total) De'Andre Hunter, Cavaliers: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total) Naz Reid, Timberwolves: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total) Jordan Clarkson, Knicks: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total) Gradey Dick, Raptors: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) Ty Jerome, Grizzlies: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) Jared McCain, 76ers: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Jabari Smith, Jr., Rockets: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Keldon Johnson, Spurs: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Caris LeVert, Pistons: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Obi Toppin, Pacers: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total) Donte DiVincenzo, Timberwolves: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Bobby Portis, Bucks: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Names Further Down the Board: Alex Caruso, Thunder: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total) Brook Lopez, Clippers: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) Luke Kennard, Hawks: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Lonzo Ball, Cavaliers: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Boston's Payton Pritchard is at the top of the board at +550. He appeared in 80 games for the Celtics last season, averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Pritchard was the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year for virtually all of last season before officially taking home the award in April. Second on the board is Cleveland's De'Andre Hunter at +800. Hunter was drafted fourth in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Lakers but spent most of his career in Atlanta until being acquired by the Cavaliers in February 2025. He averaged 17 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2024 and received two first-place votes in last season's Sixth Man voting. A name further down the board that bettors might want to keep an eye on is Oklahoma's Alex Caruso at +8000. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard averaged 7.1 points off the bench but was an integral part of the Thunder's championship run, as he shot 44.6% from the field. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
CBS News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Timberwolves make Naz Reid's re-signing official
Fan favorite and former Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid is officially returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves announced a deal with the 25-year-old big man on Monday, though the terms were not disclosed. ESPN's Shams Charania previously reported it's a five-year, $125 million contract. This is the second deal Reid has signed with the Wolves since they signed him as an undrafted free agent out of LSU in 2019. Though he's behind Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle on the depth chart, he's one of the most valuable bench players in the league, and the new contract reflects that. Reid, whose name itself has become a battle cry of sorts for Wolves fans, set career highs in minutes, points, assists and rebounds per game last season. Though his shooting percentages dropped from his Sixth Man of the Year season in 2023-2024, he still shot 46.2% from the field and 37.9% from three. He played in all but two regular season games and was a spot starter in 17. Reid had an uncharacteristically quiet playoff performance, but the Wolves are betting on the aberrance of that downturn. So beloved is Reid — aka Big Jelly — among the Wolves fandom that fans got tattoos of his name during the team's last two playoff runs. With the re-signings of Reid and Randle, the Wolves will largely be running it back next season after consecutive Western Conference finals appearances. The only major loss this offseason has been role player Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who signed with the Atlanta Hawks. The Wolves added two more big men in the draft: 6-foot-11 Frenchman Joan Beringer and 7-foot-2 Australian Rocco Zikarsky.
