Latest news with #3andD
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
San Antonio Spurs' Rookie Carter Bryant Compares Himself to Overlooked All-Star
San Antonio Spurs' Rookie Carter Bryant Compares Himself to Overlooked All-Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Antonio Spurs drafted Carter Bryant 14th overall to much fanfare. Expected to be a high-level 3-and-D player, the Spurs were willing to trade up to draft him, although that ended up being unnecessary. Advertisement Bryant shot a solid 37.1 percent from deep in his lone season at the University of Arizona, although he was a standout defender. Still, he was a bench player and is expected to be very, very raw in the NBA, although with time to develop behind Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, and Keldon Johnson, there isn't much of a rush. Upon being picked by San Antonio as a wing, it was hard to ignore the similarities between him and Spurs legend Sean Elliott, who made two All-Star teams with the Spurs and two All-American appearances with the Wildcats. Elliott is the color commentator for the Spurs' broadcasts. "Every time I walked outside of the game, it would either be people telling me to stay [at Arizona] longer so I could be like Sean, or people telling me that I reminded them of Sean Elliott on the court," Bryant revealed. "So I mean, that's a hell of a person to be compared to. I'm not complaining." Elliott himself has admitted that he sees a little bit of his game in Bryant's, although Elliott is likely a better shooter, and Bryant is likely a better defender, although "Ninja" was no slouch. Advertisement Elliott is the best player to ever suit up for Arizona, helped by the fact that he stayed for all four seasons before being picked third overall by the Spurs. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: San Antonio Spurs Should Trade Two Untouchable Assets This Summer Related: San Antonio Spurs Break Silence After Free Agency News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dorian Finney-Smith agrees to 4-year, $53 million deal with Rockets: Report
Dorian Finney-Smith has agreed to a four-year, $53 million contract with the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, adding a versatile 3-and-D frontcourt piece to a Rockets roster with designs on contending next season, especially after the acquisition of Kevin Durant. Finney-Smith, 32, is currently rehabilitating after undergoing left ankle surgery in early June. He is expected to be available by the start of training camp in September. Undrafted out of Florida in 2016, the 6-foot-7, 220-pound Finney-Smith became one of the most sought-after targets on the free-agent market after declining his $15.4 million player option for next season in pursuit of a longer-term, more lucrative deal. While a multi-year deal will carry the veteran through his mid-30s, teams around the NBA saw the value in Finney-Smith, who has carved out a decade-long career by becoming a valuable player type in the modern game: a stout, switchable defender across the forward spots who can guard up as a small-ball center and who makes enough 3-pointers to pull opposing big men out of the paint and help unlock the benefits of five-out spacing for your offense. Finney-Smith developed into a starter and integral role player for the Mavericks, growing into a trusted 3-and-D stalwart on the Luka Dončić-led teams that made three straight playoff appearances, capped by a run to the 2022 Western Conference finals. With Dallas scuffling midway through the 2022-23 season, Finney-Smith found himself on the move to Brooklyn, packaged with Spencer Dinwiddie and multiple draft picks in exchange for Kyrie Irving. Advertisement He'd spend parts of three seasons as a good-soldier vet at Barclays Center, providing energy, effort and switchability on Nets teams largely spinning their wheels in search of a roadmap to the future, before a December deal sent him to Los Angeles — where, just a few weeks later, he'd be reunited with old buddy Dončić as part of a revamped Lakers rotation around LeBron James. Finney-Smith acquitted himself well in forum blue and gold, shooting 39.8% from 3-point range in the second half of the season and offering dependable contributions on both ends, whether he was starting or coming off the bench. By the end of the Lakers' first-round playoff defeat at the hands of the Timberwolves, it was abundantly obvious Finney-Smith was one of the only players head coach J.J. Redick felt he could trust; he was part of the five-man unit that Redick infamously ran for the entire second half of Game 4, and he started and played 30 minutes in the deciding Game 5. Whatever your thoughts on Redick's strategy, it made sense that Finney-Smith was one of the players he felt gave the Lakers their best chance of winning — one of the players that, almost irrespective of matchup and opponent, he couldn't do without. According to The BBall Index, only seven players who logged at least 1,500 minutes in the NBA last season ranked in the 80th percentile or higher in average matchup difficulty, defensive positional versatility and 3-point shot-making … and Finney-Smith was one of them. The rest of the list? Dillon Brooks, Royce O'Neale, teammate Rui Hachimura, De'Andre Hunter, Taurean Prince and Trey Murphy III. That's five guys who've been specifically targeted as high-end role players on teams with championship aspirations, and one (Murphy) who'd quickly become the belle of the ball on the trade market if the Pelicans ever made it clear they were interested in taking calls. Players who can defend multiple positions at a high level and shoot with consistency and accuracy can be awfully valuable come April, May and June; with this new deal, Houston is signaling they expect to be playing as spring turns into summer, and they expect Finney-Smith to be part of the reason why.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
San Antonio Adds 'Spursy' Player with 14th Overall Pick
San Antonio Adds 'Spursy' Player with 14th Overall Pick originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Antonio Spurs entered the 2025 NBA Draft with three picks, and traded their second-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for a future asset. Advertisement With their lottery picks, the Spurs added Dylan Harper from Rutgers, as expected, and took Carter Bryant from Arizona. Bryant came off the bench for the Wildcats, averaging only 6.5 points, although he is an athletic, versatile defender who shot 37.1 percent from 3-point range. While he should fill a need as another wing off the bench in his rookie season, he has the defensive intangibles to thrive in the NBA, and his offense, which is still a work in progress, should be complemented by having three true point guards on the roster next to him. On top of emphasizing defense, Bryant's grandmother is deaf and taught him sign language at a young age. His ability to work with and identify with the deaf community, which is often overlooked, is very 'Spursy,' as the team often values standup individuals off the court even more than they value on-court skills. Advertisement While Harper will steal the show as the marquee offseason addition, Bryant will slide under the radar. If the Finals-winning Oklahoma City Thunder taught the Spurs anything, it would be that having plenty of wing depth cannot be overstated, and the Spurs added one of the better 3-and-D players on the board. Bryant won't start, but he could emerge as a key depth piece, provided that he can avoid the G League. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Why Boston Celtics Blockbuster Trade Doesn't Help San Antonio Spurs Related: San Antonio Spurs Round Out Young Core By Selecting Dylan Harper Second Overall This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith Hits Free Agency After Declining $15.4M Option — Return Still Possible
Lakers' Dorian Finney-Smith Hits Free Agency After Declining $15.4M Option — Return Still Possible originally appeared on Fadeaway World. As expected, Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith is officially testing the open market. ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed Sunday that Finney-Smith has declined his $15.4 million player option for the 2025–26 season and will become an unrestricted free agent. Advertisement Despite the move, sources indicate that a return to the Lakers remains on the table, though it may come at a premium price. Finney-Smith, 32, is entering free agency with one goal in mind: securing a lucrative, multi-year deal. He has made it clear he's not willing to take a pay cut, even for the chance to run it back with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers. While declining the option means Finney-Smith is no longer eligible for a $96.5 million extension, league insiders believe he can still secure a deal in the $90.2 million range, a sizeable payday for one of the NBA's most reliable 3-and-D wings. Though his raw stats don't jump off the page — 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game last season, Finney-Smith's impact goes well beyond the box score. His combination of elite defense, positional versatility, and timely three-point shooting has turned him into one of the league's most coveted role players. Advertisement In a league obsessed with switchability and floor spacing, Finney-Smith checks all the boxes. For the Lakers, his decision couldn't come at a more critical time. With LeBron James opting into his $52.6 million deal and the team still searching for a starting-caliber center, the front office has little margin for error. Losing Finney-Smith would leave another gaping hole on a roster that already struggled with perimeter defense and floor balance during their early playoff exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Multiple contending teams are expected to pursue Finney-Smith when free agency opens Monday night, but the Lakers, however, remain in the mix, and the decision may ultimately hinge on whether they're willing to meet his terms. Advertisement NBA insider Zach Lowe hinted on his podcast that the Lakers may have no choice. The Lakers already have a hole at the center. Letting Dorian walk would open another, and that's a disaster waiting to happen. Finney-Smith, known for his professionalism and no-nonsense approach, has kept things quiet publicly, but has hinted say he's appreciative of his time in L.A. and would consider staying if the financial terms are right. Now, all eyes turn to Rob Pelinka and the Lakers' front office. With the clock ticking and the roster in transition, retaining Finney-Smith may not just be a matter of preference, it might be essential to staying competitive in a Western Conference arms race. One thing is certain: Finney-Smith is about to get paid. The only question is whether the check will come stamped with Lakers gold. Related: Bold Trade Idea Brings A Center And Wing To Lakers; Win-Win Scenario For Rob Pelinka This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA rumors: Hawks, Clippers among Nickeil Alexander-Walker free agency suitors
The post NBA rumors: Hawks, Clippers among Nickeil Alexander-Walker free agency suitors appeared first on ClutchPoints. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a name to watch when NBA free agency starts. The 26-year-old could be one of the casualties of Minnesota's financial situation. If the Timberwolves allow Alexander-Walker to leave in free agency, the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers top the list of interested teams. Advertisement Alexander-Walker averaged less than ten points a game during the regular season off of Minnesota's bench. That did not stop him from showing out against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter averaged 12 points per game while taking on NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the defensive end. Alexander-Walker's cousin got the better of him in the series, but the former proved himself as a valuable asset. Every contender around the league is searching for 3-and-D wings to put around their stars. Alexander-Walker's role has always been small, but teams have taken notice. The market has not come to a consensus on what kind of contract he could receive in free agency. However, it is almost assuredly more than Minnesota can give him. The Timberwolves signed Naz Reid to an extension. That move puts them even further into the apron if they re-sign Alexander-Walker and Julius Randle. Advertisement With the team transition into new ownership, the front office could decide that the price to keep both players is too high. If that happens, suitors will line up for both of them. The Hawks have been busy so far in the offseason. They traded back ten spots with the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the NBA draft in exchange for one of the most valuable picks in the league. That move came just days after Atlanta made a deal that brought in Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics. On the other hand, the Clippers have been quiet so far this summer. After losing in seven games to the Denver Nuggets in the first round, fans believe their team is just one piece away. Alexander-Walker could give them some much-needed 3-point shooting, especially if Norman Powell leaves Los Angeles. Alexander-Walker is in line for a big payday, it's just a matter of where it will come from. If the Timberwolves pass, the Clippers, Hawks, and other teams will jump on the opportunity to sign him in free agency. Related: Ascending Western Conference squad named Guerschon Yabusele suitor Related: Warriors' Draymond Green shares clear opinion on Kevin Durant's trade to Rockets
