Latest news with #ZachLaVine
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sacramento Kings Could Form Elite Starting Lineup With Two Blockbuster Trades
Sacramento Kings Could Form Elite Starting Lineup With Two Blockbuster Trades originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Kings enter 2025-26 with a refreshed sense of purpose. After moving on from De'Aaron Fox and coach Mike Brown following a missed playoff finish (40-42, no postseason), Sacramento now anchors its core around Domantas Sabonis and newly acquired Zach LaVine, both of whom carry All-Star credentials and deliver high-level scoring and playmaking. Rising forward Keegan Murray has begun blossoming into a legitimate 3-and-D forward, rounding out a young nucleus with notable promise. Yet even that trio may only be the foundation. After it seems the Kings won't be able to land their key target, Jonathan Kuminga, they might be in the running for two immediate starters in this proposed trade idea. With two blockbuster additions, Nic Claxton, a top-tier rim protector and switchable center from Brooklyn, and Derrick White, a defensively elite, clutch-shooting guard from Boston, the Kings could suddenly unveil one of the NBA's most dynamic starting lineups. Let's dive into how the Kings could create an elite starting lineup with two trades. An Intriguing Trade To Acquire Athletic Big Man Proposed Trade Details Sacramento Kings Receive: Nic Claxton Brooklyn Nets Receive: DeMar DeRozan, 2027 first-round pick (CHO), 2027 second-round pick (CHO) Sacramento would be getting Nic Claxton, a modern two-way center whose elite rim presence and finishing ability instantly elevate their interior defense. In 2024-25, he averaged 10.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, and swatted 1.4 blocks per game, all on a scorching 56.3% FG. His ability to alter shots and patrol the paint would transform the Kings' protection behind Sabonis, something they badly lacked last season. Claxton is more than just a defender: he can run the floor better than most traditional centers and is extremely athletic. Offense-wise, he brings downhill energy, smart passing, and finishing around the rim, traits that complement Sabonis's skill set rather than duplicate it. Pairing him with Murray and LaVine creates a versatile frontline that both scores and defends. The cost, DeMar DeRozan and two picks, is bold yet calculated. DeRozan continues to age, and while he's still a scoring threat, his fit next to the new core might be limited. In contrast, Claxton injects youth and long-term value at the 5, perfectly aligning with a rebuild-plus push. It's a win-now pivot without compromising future upside. An All-In Move For Derrick White Proposed Trade Details Sacramento Kings Receive: Derrick White Boston Celtics Receive: Dennis Schroder, 2028 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick Landing Derrick White from Boston would give Sacramento a two-way glue guard with playoff mettle and championship experience. Last season, White averaged 16.4 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.5 RPG, and an impressive 1.1 BPG. His on-ball defense, highlighted by two All-Defensive Second Team nods, adds toughness to the perimeter, vastly improving the Kings' defensive identity. Offensively, White is clutch. He nailed a franchise-record 265 threes for Boston in 2024-25, and routinely elevates his game in crunch time. With Fox gone, White becomes the primary half-court orchestrator, freeing LaVine to play off-ball and Sabonis to dominate the interior. Trading Dennis Schroder plus picks is steep, but Schroder doesn't bring the same two-way impact or defensive pedigree, and he's on a shorter, less team-friendly deal. White brings stability, playoff leadership, and a physical edge. For a Kings squad hustling to break through, this feels like the kind of historical, season-shifting move they need. Kings Could Form An Underrated But Elite Starting Lineup Starting Lineup: Derrick White, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, Nic Claxton The projected lineup of Derrick White, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, and Nic Claxton gives the Kings a lethal blend of two-way versatility, defensive toughness, and athleticism. At the top, White brings elite perimeter defense and relational playmaking, and LaVine's scoring punch, 23.3 PPG on .511/.446/.825 splits last season, ensuring instant offense. Murray offers a dynamic 3-and-D combo from the wing, shooting 34.3% from deep on 12.4 PPG. Defensively, Murray keeps opposing wings honest, allowing Sabonis and Claxton to anchor the paint. Down low, Sabonis remains the engine. He delivered a monster 19.1 PPG, 13.9 RPG, and a historic 61 consecutive double-double streak in '24-25. Claxton complements that with modern rim protection and athleticism, and together, they form a switchy, drop-capable big man duo that stifles rolls, dominates rebounds, and allows Sacramento to control the tempo on both ends. Bench: Ben Simmons (Potentially), Devin Carter, Nique Clifford, Malik Monk, Terence Davis, Keon Ellis, Dario Saric, Drew Eubanks, Isaac Jones The Kings' bench depth blends promising youth with seasoned role players, ready to swing momentum in a game. The Kings are reportedly interested in former All-Star Ben Simmons, and he could be a perfect fit to lead the bench as a 6'10" playmaker and defender. Devin Carter and Nique Clifford, both recent draftees, have already flashed high-impact potential in Summer League: Carter dropped 30 points, 8 boards, 3 steals, and 3 blocks in one outing, while Clifford flirted with a triple-double (19 pts, 9 ast, 7 reb) and impressed scouts with his two-way prowess. That youthful energy and versatility, especially on defense, provide Sacramento with a spark off the pine. Meanwhile, experienced bench pieces like Malik Monk, Terence Davis, Keon Ellis, Dario Saric, Drew Eubanks, and Isaac Jones bring complementary skills. Monk had a career year in 2024-25, averaging 17.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 5.6 APG, despite suffering a late-season calf injury. Together with the rest of the depth chart, this bench allows the Kings to maintain defensive intensity and give the starters rest without sacrificing offensive story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sacramento Kings Could Form A Powerful Backcourt With Russell Westbrook And Zach LaVine
Sacramento Kings Could Form A Powerful Backcourt With Russell Westbrook And Zach LaVine originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The NBA offseason has only just begun, and the Sacramento Kings have some big improvement plans. In the aftermath of some major trades, the Kings are in need of a point guard, and recent reports from within the organization claim that they could look to Russell Westbrook to fill the void. 'Fellow free agents Tyus Jones and Russell Westbrook are also known to be options that the Kings are considering," wrote Sam Amick of The Athletic. "Free agency formally begins at 6 p.m. Eastern on Monday. Beyond the point guard vacancy, though, league sources say the Kings are open for business when it comes to discussing the various possibilities with their roster.' The Kings are still trying to find their way after a series of disappointing seasons. Despite their initial success with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, they failed to make a long playoff run, and the team decided to wipe the slate clean by trading Fox and parting ways with their longtime coach, Mike Brown. Going into next season, the Kings are hoping to be competitive with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, but they'll need a proper point guard to keep up with the steep competition. In a somewhat weak free agency, options are limited for the Kings, but Russell Westbrook is not only an affordable option, but he has the potential to raise their ceiling. The 9x All-Star is a future Hall of Famer with career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game on 443.9% shooting. As a 2x scoring leader, 9x All-NBA player, and former MVP, Westbrook has proven himself as one of the elite superstars, but his decline over the years has been swift. Ever since leaving the Thunder in 2019, Westbrook has been on a downward spiral that includes failed stints with the Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, and Clippers. In his latest stop, the Nuggets, the entire front office split over his role in Michael Malone's rotation. Now, Russ is set to decline his $3.5 million player option and join the 2025 free agency class at 36 years old. At this stage of his career, Westbrook's future is still uncertain, but the Kings believe he can help them win games next season. After averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game in the 2024-25 campaign, Russ has something left in the tank, and his impact on the floor is still felt after 17 years in the NBA. While he may not be what he once was, Westbrook's skills as a scorer, ball handler, and playmaker should make him a fine addition to the Kings. At the very least, he'll make them relevant in the West in a lineup with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. After finishing ninth in the standings this past season, Sacramento needs a spark, and Westbrook can bring that and more with his status as a leader, veteran, and ultimate competitor. While he's expected to have multiple suitors this summer, Westbrook will have direct control over this next landing spot, and there's a lot to be gained from joining the Kings, where he could potentially start on a competitive story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Billy Donovan signs multi-year contract extension with Chicago Bulls, report says
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan signed a multi-year contract extension Sunday and will remain coach of the Bulls for the foreseeable future, per ESPN. Donovan enters his sixth season as the coach of the Bulls, going 195-205 in his first five seasons in Chicago with one trip to the playoffs in 2022. The Bulls have gone 39-43 in back-to-back seasons, finishing as the 9-seed in the East both years, but are in the midst of a retool after trading away Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan in recent years to shift towards a youth movement. The Bulls front office decided Donovan is the right choice to continue guiding that young group as they try to stay competitive but get younger at the same time. Donovan was one of the many active coaches pursued by the New York Knicks this summer, but ultimately agreed to stay in Chicago on a new long-term deal. The length and specific terms of the contract aren't known currently. With how much turnover there has been in the NBA in recent years, Donovan is the third-longest tenured coach in the NBA. He's tied with Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and Clippers coach Tyronn Lue with 400 games coached, as they were all hired in the summer of 2020. The only coaches who have been with their current teams longer are Erik Spoelstra in Miami and Bulls championship team veteran Steve Kerr in Golden State. This past spring, Donovan, 60, was named to the 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Class, based largely on his career as a college coach, having led the Florida Gators to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan became head coach of the Bulls in September 2020 after five seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bulls and coach Billy Donovan agree to a contract extension
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls and coach Billy Donovan have agreed to a contract extension, the team said Sunday. The team did not reveal the length or financial terms of the contract. Donovan has a 195-205 record with one playoff appearance in five seasons as the Bulls' coach. Chicago went 39-43 for the second straight season and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference before getting knocked out of the play-in tournament by Miami for the third year in a row with a blowout loss at home. The poor showing against the Heat came after a 15-5 finish to the regular season, albeit when some opponents were tanking to boost their lottery odds and others were resting key players ahead of the playoffs. The Bulls traded DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso before last season and dealt Zach LaVine before the deadline in February. They also implemented a quicker pace. Coby White averaged a career-high 20.4 points and Josh Giddey came on strong down the stretch in his first season in Chicago. Chicago has been relatively quiet this offseason. The Bulls drafted Noa Essengue out of the French Basketball League with the No. 12 overall pick and traded Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro. Donovan is 438-362 in 10 seasons as an NBA head coach. He was arguably the most attractive candidate on the market when the Bulls hired him in September 2020 to replace the fired Jim Boylen following a five-year run in Oklahoma City. He led the Thunder to a 243-157 record and playoff appearances each season while working with stars such as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Chris Paul. Donovan previously coached for 19 seasons at the University of Florida and won back-to-back NCAA titles. He is set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September. ___ AP NBA: Andrew Seligman, The Associated Press
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Bulls and coach Billy Donovan agree to a contract extension
The Chicago Bulls and coach Billy Donovan have agreed to a contract extension, the team said Sunday. The team did not reveal the length or financial terms of the contract. Donovan has a 195-205 record with one playoff appearance in five seasons as the Bulls coach. Chicago went 39-43 for the second straight season and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference before getting knocked out of the play-in tournament by Miami for the third year in a row with a blowout loss at home. The poor showing against the Heat came after a 15-5 finish to the regular season albeit when some opponents were tanking to boost their lottery odds and others were resting key players ahead of the playoffs. The Bulls traded DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso before last season and dealt Zach LaVine before the deadline in February. They also implemented a quicker pace. Coby White averaged a career-high 20.4 points and Josh Giddey came on strong down the stretch in his first season in Chicago. Chicago has been relatively quiet this offseason. The Bulls drafted Noa Essengue out of the French Basketball League with the No. 12 overall pick and traded Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro. Donovan is 438-362 in 10 seasons as an NBA head coach. He was arguably the most attractive candidate on the market when the Bulls hired him in September 2020 to replace the fired Jim Boylen following a five-year run in Oklahoma City. He led the Thunder to a 243-157 record and playoff appearances each season while working with stars such as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Chris Paul. Donovan previously coached for 19 seasons at the University of Florida and won back-to-back NCAA titles. He is set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September.
