Latest news with #TheTrade
USA Today
31-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Draymond Green's bold statement about Luka Doncic's new physique
Over the last few days, it seems like everyone across the NBA has been talking about Luka Doncic's physical transformation. According to multiple reports, including one in Men's Health magazine a few days ago, Doncic has been very dedicated to his fitness and conditioning since the start of the Los Angeles Lakers' offseason, and it is starting to pay off. The superstar doesn't resemble the flabby, out-of-shape man he used to be just a few months ago. Now, his body is defined, his muscles are easily visible and he looks leaner and cleaner than ever before. Some, including ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins, feel he's poised for an MVP-caliber season. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors couldn't help but admire how much fitter Doncic is right now with a post on Threads. "Luka is looking like rookie Luka all over again," Green wrote. "The Trade has created that hunger again it seems!" After "The Trade" that sent Doncic to the Lakers nearly six months ago, the Dallas Mavericks, his former team, took multiple shots at him by criticizing his lack of fitness. Perhaps that, along with his repeated failures in the playoffs, lit a fire under the 26-year-old. As great as he has been over the last five or six years, perhaps the NBA hasn't seen the real Doncic yet.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Firing Taylor Jenkins may have been the Grizzlies' plan all along
Firing Taylor Jenkins may have been the Grizzlies' plan all along Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here's Mike Sykes Happy Friday, folks! Welcome back to Layup Lines. Thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you've had a great week and have a great weekend ahead of you. The Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins with nine games left in Memphis' season might be the second-most shocking thing to happen this season besides The Trade. Since Memphis made the move on Friday afternoon, we've learned a little bit more about the team's plans in the interim. The Grizzlies announced Tuomas Iisalo as the interim head coach. Memphis hired Iisalo this summer following his electric season coaching Paris Basketball to a Eurocup championship in 2024. EVERYTHING WE KNOW: Here's all the information we have so far about Taylor Jenkins being let go Still, Memphis hasn't really explained why this is happening. All we know is that the team is simply moving on from someone who is inarguably one of the best coaches in the NBA. Even team president Zach Kleiman had to acknowledge how far Taylor has taken the team in the statement about the coach's release. For now, all we can do is speculate. Given the timing of this, it's hard to believe that this is purely a basketball move. At least on the surface. But if you dig a little deeper, there's a potential basketball justification for doing something this drastic. It starts with this: The Grizzlies have been a mess following the NBA All-Star break. Memphis has been a losing team for the last month and change with an 8-11 record in that time span. The team's net rating is only slightly negative at -0.2, according to the NBA's stats tool. Memphis is in the middle of a current skid where it's lost four of its last five games. That's not where you want to be as a team heading into the playoffs. Could Memphis' leadership have seen how things were going and decided to make a change? That's certainly possible. That feels more like a plausible explanation, considering how quickly Memphis moved to name Iisalo its interim head coach. The Grizzlies decided within just a couple of hours of Jenkins' firing. You don't move that quickly unless you've already got a successor in mind. Iisalo was always the guy. He was hired away from a head coaching job at Paris Basketball after the Grizzlies overhauled Jenkins' coaching staff after the team's losing season last year. The team installed Iisalo's motion offense that abandoned common NBA principles like pick-and-rolls and handoffs, instead focusing on proper spacing and motion around drives. That offense led Iisalo's Paris team to a 126.8 offensive rating last season — the best in league history. With tensions reportedly brewing between Jenkins, his staff, his players and the front office, the recent losing might've given the Grizzlies' decision makers the perfect excuse to move on to the guy who they'd planned on giving the keys to in the first place. They were just able to do it a bit early. Is this a sound decision? I'd argue no. There are only a handful of games left in the season. Memphis may as well have just ridden things out and moved on this summer. But maybe Memphis feels it has a real opportunity to do something special in these playoffs. We'll see. Breaking news: The Wizards stink Imagine allowing a team to score 162 points in your home arena and then hearing your own fans boo that team because it refused to score anymore on you in the last minute. You don't have to imagine, folks, because the 2025 Washington Wizards are here. I've never seen anything like this. If Cooper Flagg ain't at the end of this tunnel? I don't know what I'm going to do. But it won't be pretty. Shootaround — Blake Schuster has the skinny on Tuomas Iisalo here. This dude can really coach, man. — It's still unbelievable the Bulls won like this. Mary Clarke has more on Josh Giddey's wild buzzer beater against the Lakers. — Magic Johnson saw himself in Nikola Jokic's incredible pass and, yeah, I see it, too. — Meg Hall dropped a WNBA mock draft that you should absolutely check out. That's a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading this week. Appreciate you. Have a great weekend. Peace. -Sykes ✌️
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
The Lakers and LeBron are clearly reveling in what the Luka trade did for their title hopes
The game hasn't gotten easy for the Los Angeles Lakers since the trade deadline. It just looks that way. Consider this moment from Sunday night's win over the Clippers: Jaxson Hayes got a defensive rebound, handed the ball to Luka Doncic, who took one step forward and fired a 75-foot two-hand chest pass downcourt to LeBron James — who caught it in stride and capped the play with an easy layup. Touchdown, Lakers. And Doncic and James have had a play like that in just about every game lately, or so it would seem. A month or so has passed since The Trade — Doncic leaving the Dallas Mavericks and joining the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis — and the Lakers suddenly look like title contenders. They are a league-best 16-3 since Jan. 20 and went into Monday's games sitting in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference, a place they haven't reached since about the first week of the season. 'It's been great,' Doncic said. 'The atmosphere has been unbelievable, and we just want to give the people what they want, and that's winning the games. That's what we're doing right now.' Sunday's win was the 1,000th of James' regular season career, making him the fourth player to appear in that many victories after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,074), Robert Parish (1,013) and Tim Duncan (1,001). And now, another milestone: James is one point away from 50,000 for his career when combining regular-season and postseason games, and that bridge will almost certainly be crossed Tuesday night against New Orleans. Only two other players — Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone — have scored at least 40,000 points when adding in playoffs. And technically, James is already over 50,000 but his 99 points from play-in tournament games and the 2023 NBA Cup title game (then just called the in-season tournament) don't count. 'He's one of the greatest competitors. … He's amazing to coach,' Lakers coach JJ Redick said. 'He brings it every single day. He sets the standard for how you're supposed to approach this craft and to me, that's the most incredible thing.' There were other trades before the deadline that teams are seeing dividends from, including Golden State and Cleveland. The jury's still out in Dallas because Davis was injured when he got there — then got hurt again in his sensational debut game with the Mavs. Time, and more accurately playoff results, will be the real gauge on all these moves. But for James and the Lakers, everything is looking as good as can be. The team will host Southern California first responders and affected community members Tuesday as part of the continued response to the wildfires that devastated parts of Los Angeles earlier this winter. The wins are piling up. The milestones keep coming. They keep rising in the standings. 'I think we could be really good going down the stretch,' James said at the All-Star Game. He's been proved right again. Warriors are rolling after acquiring Butler After Golden State's acquisition of Jimmy Butler from Miami the Warriors are still hovering around the play-in line in an absolutely jammed race for spots 6 through 10 in the West. Butler's mere presence, however seems to have given the Warriors a boost. He demands defenses to respect him, which is excellent news for Stephen Curry — who had a 56-point game last week in Orlando on a night when Butler wasn't much of an offensive factor. 'There's still unique skillsets in this league at the superstar level,' Curry said of Butler. 'And he's a guy that has clearly defined a style that impacts winning at both ends of the floor. You see how much he's helped us so far. … He's succeeded at the highest level. He's gone to two finals and he's motivated more than ever to try to get back there.' Cleveland improved with off-the-radar deal The Cavaliers made a very savvy move before the trade window closed, adding De'Andre Hunter from Atlanta. The Cavs were good before the trade. They're even better after. Entering Monday, the Cavs were 8-0 with Hunter in the lineup — winning those eight games by an average of nearly 19 points. One of the few close ones was Sunday, when Cleveland had to dig deep to rally past Portland with Hunter leading the way. 'I didn't think we were going to win the game. De'Andre really took us from the abyss,' Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. ___
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA All-Star 2025: Two weeks later, the league and its stars still can't comprehend Luka Dončić trade
SAN FRANCISCO — As NBA commissioner Adam Silver hosted his annual press availability from the All-Star Game, addressing the league's most pressing topics, the first query he faced was about The Trade. "Is that what we're calling it?" Silver asked of the deal that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round draft pick in 2029. "I was surprised when I heard about The Trade," added Silver. "I did not know that Luka was a player who was potentially about to be traded. That was news to me. I followed it like a fan from that standpoint." Two weeks later, the NBA still cannot get over The Trade. Nothing piqued the interest of All-Stars more. "Two weeks later, it's still the craziest trade I've ever seen," said San Antonio Spur Victor Wembanyama. "Obviously, everyone thought The Trade was fake," added Memphis Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. "Everyone did. I just was double-checking to make sure it was real, checking the accounts, stuff like that." Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić tried to defend The Trade, only to join the chorus. "I kind of think both teams win," said Jokić. "In my opinion, of course, maybe I think Luka is a generational player and talent. I'm not saying that AD is not. I'm just saying that Luka is somebody that — did we see someone like this before, who is affecting the game on so many levels? He was building something there." He sure was. Dončić led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game last season, only to be traded at the age of 25 — an unprecedented swap of a young superstar. There remains no rational explanation for the deal, other than Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison honestly believed it was a good idea, though Stephen Curry took a higher road. "Well, we've all learned recently how quickly things can change in this league, some of the unexpected happening," said the Golden State Warriors superstar. "For us as players, you just do your job and make sure you're staying prepared and healthy and available and handling our business. But that's why there are folks upstairs who are relied on to make tough decisions and try to do their job the best they can." But what happens when a front office goes rogue? As best we can tell, Harrison made the decision with a small circle of people, including new governor Patrick Dumont, without opening up The Trade to a league-wide auction. Instead, Harrison quietly agreed to the deal with a longtime friend in Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. "Whether or not history will judge this as a smart trade, they did what they thought was in the best interest of the organization," said Silver. "I have absolutely no knowledge or belief that there were any ulterior motives. There is no doubt in my mind that the Dumont and Adelson families bought that team to keep it in Dallas. I have no doubt whatsoever that they are committed to the long-term future there." You know a trade is bad when the commissioner openly raises the question of whether the move might have been spurred by an effort to relocate the franchise, even if he discarded that theory in the end. When that happens, you lose the faith of your fanbase, as we have seen in Dallas. Fans held a faux funeral outside the arena, and a spectator at a recent game was escorted from the building after mouthing "Fire Nico" on the Jumbotron. Players have taken notice of that aspect of the deal, too. "What really strikes me is how the Mavs' fans are hurting, how they feel," said Wembanyama, whose Spurs share a division with rival Dallas. "It's really something that I think was a really strong emotion." The league has taken note, too. "In terms of anger in the fanbase, I'm empathetic," said Silver. "I understand. Dallas was in the Finals last year, and I like Luka very much. I met him before he came into the league, when he was with Real Madrid. It seems truly authentic that he was stunned and disappointed. You could see it in his body language." Sorry, Dallas.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mavericks lose Daniel Gafford to knee injury early in loss to. Kings in latest blow since Luka Dončić trade
The Dallas Mavericks are dealing with yet another injury. Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford had to be helped off the court on Monday night in their 129-128 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings after his right knee buckled while he tried to set a screen. Gafford crashed down to the court at the American Airlines Arena and immediately reached for his knee, clearly in a lot of pain. Gafford was eventually helped off the floor, and didn't put any weight on his leg as he did so. The team ruled him out with a knee sprain before halftime. BREAKING: Daniel Gafford went down with an apparent knee injury after the play. If he is out for some time, Dallas will be without their star center trio of Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II & Daniel Gafford. Get well soon, Gafford! 🙏 — Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) February 11, 2025 Tough sight for Mavs, Gafford being helped off the court, can't put weight on his right leg buckled as he went to set a screen. He grabbed his right knee in obvious pain. — Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 11, 2025 While further specifics on Gafford's injury are not yet known, it marks the latest that the team is dealing with at the position. The Mavericks' other three big men — Anthony Davis, Derek Lively and Dwight Powell — are all out with respective injuries, too. Davis went down with an adductor injury in his debut with the team on Saturday after the stunning blockbuster trade that landed him in Dallas in exchange for star Luka Dončić ahead of the deadline. He is expected to miss multiple weeks recovering. Lively is dealing with an ankle injury, and Powell is out with a hip injury. Gafford, who is in his second season with the Mavericks, entered Monday's game averaging 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest. The 26-year-old is in the second year of a three-year, $40 million deal he first signed with the Washington Wizards. The Mavericks entered Monday's game coming off back-to-back wins. Fans, however, are still incredibly frustrated with general manager Nico Harrison — who has faced massive protests outside of the arena after his decision to trade Dončić earlier this month. During the Mavs Karaoke Cam a fan looked like he mouthed 'FIRE NICO' and they quickly pulled out. This was the first time fans have been shown on the video board since The Trade. — Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) February 11, 2025 The fan who mouthed 'fire nico' to the jumbotron has been escorted out of AAC. To raucous booing. — RJ Coyle (@coylio33) February 11, 2025 Mavs staff confiscating 'Fire Nico' signs a few moments ago…and then security came made them leave. @GrantAfseth — Sara Paa (@sarajpaa) February 11, 2025 The Mavericks blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, and DeMar DeRozan drilled a bucket with about three seconds left to force overtime. They then lost in the extra period after DeRozan hit a 13-footer in the final seconds, which gave Sacramento the one-point win. DeRozan led Sacramento with 42 points and seven rebounds in the loss, which moved the Kings to 27-26 on the season. Zach LaVine and Malik Monk each added 17 points, and Domantas Sabonis finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the loss. Spencer Dinwiddie finished with 20 points off the bench, and Klay Thompson added 19 points on five 3-pointers. The loss snapped a two-game win streak for Dallas, which now sits at 28-26 on the year.
