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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UCLA guard Kobe Johnson reunites with brother by signing with Atlanta Hawks
UCLA Bruins guard Kobe Johnson didn't hear his name called on NBA draft night, but his opportunity to play professionally in the NBA still emerged. Johnson signed a contract with Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Twitter. Johnson has the opportunity to play beside his older brother, small forward Jalen Johnson on the Atlanta Hawks. Jalen Johnson was drafted by the Hawks in 2021 with the No. 20 pick, but will be returning from a season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, according to ESPN. The Atlanta Hawks received a 2026 First Round pick and drafted Georgia forward Asa Newell with the No. 23 pick in the NBA's 2025 draft after a trade down from No. 13 with the New Orleans Pelicans. Following the conclusion of the draft, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Real Madrid's Eli John Ndiaye signed a two-way contract with the Hawks. That made Johnson the third player of the draft class to sign with the Hawks and the first UCLA player signed by any team this year. Johnson played his first three years for the University of Southern California Trojans, but finished his collegiate career at UCLA for the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot-6-inch guard put up a defensive clinic in his final three years of college earning back-to-back-to-back All-Defensive Team honors for his final two years for the Trojans in the PAC-12 and his year with the Bruins in the Big Ten. According to UCLA, the three-time All-Defensive player "averaged 7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game in his collegiate career." The Atlanta Hawks pairing the Johnson brothers add an excitement to the team and pairing them alongside a rookie like Newell makes them an intriguing team to watch this upcoming season.
UPI
24-06-2025
- Business
- UPI
Portland Trail Blazers trading for Boston Celtics' Jrue Holiday
1 of 5 | Veteran guard Jrue Holiday (L) averaged 11.1 points per game over 62 starts last season for the Boston Celtics. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo June 24 (UPI) -- The Portland Trail Blazers agreed to a trade for Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday. Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and the Boston Globe about the agreement Monday night. The Blazers agreed to send guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks to the Celtics in exchange for Holiday. Holiday, 35, averaged 11.1 points per game, his fewest since his 2009-10 rookie campaign, over 62 starts last season. He also logged 4.3 rebounds and the fewest assists (3.9) per game since his rookie year. The two-time champion, two-time All-Star and six-time All-Defensive Team selection signed a four-year, $135 million contract extension with the Celtics in 2024. He is set to make $32.4 million in 2025-26, $34.8 million in 2026-27 and has a $37.2 million player option in 2027-28. Holiday entered the league as the No. 17 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2009 NBA Draft. He also spent time with the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks initially sent Holiday to the Blazers as part of the Damian Lillard trade in 2023, but the 6-foot-4 guard was later sent to the Celtics in another swap. Simons, 26, was the No. 24 overall pick by the Blazers in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game over a career-high 70 starts last season. Simons averaged a career-high 22.6 points, 5.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game over 46 starts in 2023-24. He logged 15 points, 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game over the first seven years of his NBA career. Simons signed a four-year, $100 million contract extension with the Blazers in 2022. He is set to make $27.6 million in 2025-26, the final year of that pact.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers predicted to land $100 million Golden State Warriors superstar in blockbuster 4-team trade proposal
Lakers team on the bench (Image via Getty) The Los Angeles Lakers could significantly reshape their roster by acquiring defensive stalwart Draymond Green and athletic big man Daniel Gafford in a proposed four-team mega-deal centered around Giannis Antetokounmpo's potential move to Golden State . Why This Trade Makes Sense for the Los Angeles Lakers With LeBron James' championship window still open, the Lakers would: - Dramatically improve their defense by adding the 4-time All-Defensive Team selection - Solve their center rotation with Gafford's elite rim-running and shot-blocking - Maintain financial flexibility while getting proven veterans Proposed Trade Breakdown According NBA Insiders on ESPN, the this is how the trade framework looks like: Lakers Give Up Lakers Receive Austin Reaves Draymond Green 2031 1st Round Pick Daniel Gafford 2025 2nd Round Pick (41) — How Draymond Green and Daniel Gafford Help the Lakers Draymond Green (Image via Getty) Draymond Green's Impact - Elite playmaking (career 5.4 APG) from the forward position - Championship experience (4 rings) and high-IQ defense - LeBron synergy - their playstyles perfectly complement each other Daniel Gafford's Value - Elite finisher (72.5% FG last season) - Strong rim protector (2.1 blocks per 36 minutes) - Proven fit with stars (excelled with Luka Doncic in Dallas) What LA Would Be Losing The trade would require parting with: - Austin Reaves - A valuable young guard with playoff experience - 2031 1st Round Pick - A distant future asset - 2025 2nd Rounder - Currently projected at 41 Potential Los Angeles Lakers Lineup After Trade Starter Bench D'Angelo Russell Gabe Vincent Max Christie Cam Reddish LeBron James Taurean Prince Draymond Green Jaxson Hayes Anthony Davis Daniel Gafford Why the Los Angeles Lakers Should Consider This Deal The Los Angeles Lakers could consider the trade for the following reasons: 1. Immediate defensive upgrade - Green/Gafford would give LA its best defense since 2020 2. Better roster balance - Adds size and toughness they've been missing 3. Maximizes LeBron's window - Gets proven veterans over developmental players As noted in the original framework by Kram: "The Lakers would balance their roster by turning Reaves into Green... improving their defense and adding a rim-running center." Potential Concerns - Losing Reaves' scoring (15+ PPG last two seasons) - Green's age (34) and occasional volatility - Future pick compensation when LeBron's timeline is uncertain Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors might acquire $228.2 million Milwaukee Bucks superstar to form Big 3 with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler in blocbuster 3-way deal with the Lakers Final verdict on this trade rumor: A Calculated Gamble Worth Taking For a Los Angeles Lakers team that needs to surround LeBron and AD with more defensive-minded veterans, this trade presents an opportunity to add two perfect role players without gutting their core. While losing Reaves hurts, Green's playmaking and Gafford's athleticism could be exactly what LA needs to make another deep playoff run. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kendrick Perkins Delivers Blunt Take On Grizzlies' Future Without Kevin Durant Or Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kendrick Perkins Delivers Blunt Take On Grizzlies' Future Without Kevin Durant Or Giannis Antetokounmpo originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Memphis Grizzlies endured an up-and-down 2024–25 campaign, finishing 48–34 but parting ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins with nine games still remaining after falling from the second seed all the way to the play-in tournament. An opening round lopsided, four-game sweep against the Oklahoma City Thunder—losing by 51 points in the first game—exposed the lack of depth and leadership in Memphis. Advertisement The Grizzlies continued to shake things up at the start of the offseason, pulling the trigger on a massive trade, sending sharpshooter Desmond Bane, 26, to the Orlando Magic in exchange for veteran shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks (2025 No. 16 overall, 2026 via Phoenix Suns, 2028 and 2030) and a 2029 first-round pick swap. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis AntetokounmpoPetre Thomas-Imagn Images Shortly after, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins offered a crystal clear assessment of Memphis's path forward. 'If I'm the Memphis Grizzlies, I blow it up. I trade Jaren Jackson Jr. and I trade Ja Morant especially if you can't go out there and get Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo,' Perkins said. Advertisement Durant and Antetokounmpo have both surfaced in trade rumors this offseason. Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant, 36, has multiple suitors, but prefers to land on the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat or Houston Rockets, per Shams Charania. The two-time NBA champion averaged 26.6 points on 52.7/43.0/83.9 shooting splits in 62 games this past season. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, 30, has fueled speculation about his future after another early playoff exit, though he remains under contract through 2025–26 and has not requested a trade. 'Ja is a special talent, generational talent. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a borderline all-star. But those two guys are not going to win you a championship by themselves,' Perkins added. Ja Morant finished the 2024–25 regular season with averages of 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 50 games while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three. Jaren Jackson Jr., 25, anchored the paint with 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 48.8 percent shooting, earning his third All-Defensive Team nod. Both players are extension-eligible this summer and carry cap-hit figures—roughly $23 million for Jackson Jr. and $39 million for Morant—into 2025–26. Related: Jaren Jackson Jr. Left Speechless After Grizzlies Trade Desmond Bane This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Sixers big man Dwight Howard gets into fight, ejected in Big 3
Former Sixers big man Dwight Howard gets into fight, ejected in Big 3 Hall of Fame big man Dwight Howard spent one season with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2020-21 season. He played in 69 games, starting six of those games, and averaged 7.0 points and 8.4 rebounds as a backup big behind Joel Embiid. Howard fashioned one of the best careers from a big man. He averaged 15.7 points and 11.8 rebounds during his 18 years in the league and was named an All-Star eight times, made an All-Defensive Team five times, and won Defensive Player of the Year three times along with winning a title in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers. As Howard begins life after the NBA, he is in the Big 3 league and got into a fight with former NBA player Lance Stephenson. The two former pro players got into a physical altercation and were then ejected from the contest. Howard and Stephenson will have to find a way to bounce back from this, but this is a tough look for the Hall of Fame big man.
