Latest news with #DanFavale
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo creates interesting contract situation for Knicks wing
There haven't been any real rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo wanting to leave the Milwaukee Bucks. However, when recently speaking on a live stream with streamer IShowSpeed, Antetokounmpo noted that many want him to play for the New York Knicks. Knicks fans continue to run with that, despite any lack of evidence suggesting that he doesn't want to play for Milwaukee any longer. Advertisement It's never fair to say never, given where the NBA stands. Still, it seems very unlikely that Antetokounmpo will play for another team anytime soon. Despite that, Dan Favale recently looked at the situation regarding the Knicks and Antetokounmpo, adding that there could be some interesting scenarios New York has to consider if it believes it has a real opportunity to land the two-time MVP. 'The Knicks are reportedly still hoping to win the Giannis trade sweepstakes, if and when they begin. His recent noncommittal assessment of the future will not do anything to diminish that hope. In the event he does become available, Bridges could be an integral part of talks. New York currently doesn't have any first-round picks to offer, and the Bucks will likely value anyone who keeps them competitive in the post-Giannis era, since they don't control the rights to their own first-rounder until 2031. Advertisement 'Signing Bridges to a new deal now removes him from the table. Players who sign his type of extension cannot be traded for six months,' he wrote. MORE: Knicks' Mikal Bridges contract situation gets interesting Giannis Antetokounmpo twist The Mikal Bridges extension is certainly one to watch out for, as the Knicks don't have much of a reason not to offer him a deal, given what they gave up for him. However, as he touched on, if they truly believe they have a chance to land Antetokounmpo, there wouldn't be much of a reason to give him a contract now, given he wouldn't be able to be traded for six months.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks' Josh Hart listed as potential trade candidate this offseason
Feb 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) talks to fans in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Feb 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) talks to fans in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The New York Knicks are going to be looking at a variety of ways to improve the roster this offseason. After coming up just short of reaching the NBA Finals this past season, they will want to substantially improve the team to give them a better chance at winning a title. It is still unclear how they will approach the trade and free agent markets. They are also still in the midst of a head coaching search, so things could look a bit different next season. Knicks could trade Josh Hart this summer If they conduct a massive trade, it could come at the cost of one or multiple core pieces. Bleacher Report's Dan Favale listed Josh Hart as a likely trade candidate should the Knicks make a big move this summer. Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images 'If the New York Knicks are going to do anything substantial this offseason, it will require parting with one of their top six players. Process of elimination narrows it down to Josh Hart or Mitchell Robinson,' Favale wrote. 'Hart wins out over Robinson because he's making $6.5 million more ($19.5 million versus $13 million), but also because he's less of an anomaly. Nobody else on the roster brings Robinson's combination of size, interior deterrence, offensive rebounding and (when healthy) mobility.' Advertisement Hart is one of the more impactful players on the roster, but it became clear that his fit in the starting five was wonky. He wasn't aggressively looking to score, which allowed teams to throw their big man on him since he wasn't much of a threat to score. Hart must be traded only for a clear upgrade This, in turn, hurt the Knicks' floor spacing, as there wasn't enough offensive aggression from him to help open up the floor. Trading Hart would be a tough decision, as his rebounding and playmaking abilities are still very much useful in a bench role. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images However, if they can move him for a clear upgrade, New York shouldn't hesitate to consider a deal for him. The Knicks are looking to take the next step towards winning a championship, and doing so comes at the cost of making tough decisions. Advertisement Ultimately, there is currently no indication that the Knicks are looking to trade Hart, but anything could happen in the coming weeks that quickly changes that. Related Headlines
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Surprising Laker named as the player L.A. is most likely to trade
The Los Angeles Lakers have a couple of viable trade assets, but they don't have plenty of them. In order for them to address enough of their roster needs in the coming weeks, they will need at least one team to do them a favor. In guard Gabe Vincent and big man Maxi Kleber, the Lakers have two players who are going into the final season of their contracts. Vincent will make $11.5 million and Kleber will get paid $11 million next season. Advertisement However, it is debatable whether either player will have any value on the open market. While Vincent can effectively guard backcourt players, his offense comes and goes, and his offense is limited to 3-point shooting. Kleber, 33, has historically been a decent 3-point shooter who can play some defense and help out a bit on the boards. Dan Favale of Bleacher Report named him the player the Lakers are most likely to trade this summer. Via Bleacher Report: "This one comes down to the expiring contracts of Maxi Kleber ($11 million) or Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million). The latter is more appealing because he's younger and can guard at the point of attack, which is precisely why he won't be the first deal the Los Angeles Lakers look to include in any trade. "... Kleber wins out as a result. The Lakers need big men, and his fully healthy profile of a tall human who moves his feet on defense and provides some offensive dynamism holds plenty of appeal. But he's about to enter his age-34 season, is rarely healthy and is unlikely to shoulder a higher minutes workload even when he's available." Kleber was sent to Los Angeles in the Luka Doncic deal back on Feb. 1. He had recently suffered a foot injury at the time that required surgery, and he had been struggling mightily prior to that injury. He ended up averaging 3.0 points in 18.7 minutes a game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 26.5% from 3-point range. Advertisement For his career, he does have averages of 6.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 22.3 minutes a game and an accuracy of 35.4% from 3-point range. Getting some value from his contract, as well as from Vincent's contract, will be integral to L.A.'s chances of fielding a championship-caliber roster next season. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Surprising Laker named as the player L.A. is most likely to trade
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to ‘level up' the offense
In the recently completed 2024-25 season, the Houston Rockets (52-30) had the fourth-best record in the NBA and second-best in the Western Conference. That represented quite a climb from a 41-41 season and the West's No. 11 spot a year earlier, but it still wasn't in the top rung of contenders. So, what held them back? Advertisement Their defense was consistently rated in the league's top five, but the offense was middle of the pack. When isolated to halfcourt situations, it was often worse than that. With that in mind, when it comes to areas needing improvement in the 2025 offseason, it seems pretty clear which side of the ball could use a boost. Bleacher Report's Dan Favale writes: The Rockets are so close. Their defense is hellfire, they have plenty of depth, and unlike other contenders, there's tons of room for internal growth. Whether that internal growth will be enough to level up the offense is a separate matter. Houston ranked 22nd through both the regular season and playoffs in first-chance points scored per possession, according to PBP Stats. The rotation doesn't seem to have a shotmaker and facilitator of the future—unless the Rockets believe Reed Sheppard is that dude and are prepared to unleash him next year. Failing that, they need to work the trade market as soon as free agency begins. Though they have pathways to opening the full mid-level exception ($14.1 million), it should not come at the expense of letting Fred VanVleet (team option) sign elsewhere. The free-agency market is too barren. Star pursuits will dominate headlines. Houston should absolutely be open to one. But improvement can also come in the form of a middle-rung creator and deadeye shooter. It just has to be someone good enough to crack the playoff rotation. The notion of Houston pursuing a star on the trade market, such as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been well chronicled. The more interesting notion is a 'middle-rung creator and deadeye shooter,' and what that might look like from a rotation perspective. The Rockets had eight consistent rotation players in the 2025 playoffs between VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Steven Adams. They would also like to find more minutes in 2025-26 for Sheppard and Cam Whitmore, two talented young prospects from the first round of the previous two NBA draft cycles. Advertisement If the Rockets are to trade for a superstar, the question of rotation minutes likely resolves itself, since the Rockets would presumably be sending out as much or more than what they are take in, from a minutes perspective. But to sign or bring in a more moderate upgrade raises questions. Are there any players from the aforementioned eight-man rotation that Houston would trade or reduce minutes for? Would the Rockets further stall the development of Sheppard and Whitmore? Might they look to trade one or both of those prospects for future equity, in such as scenario? After all, if a young player doesn't play, he's unlikely to develop and his market value is likely to gradually depreciate. Or, should general manager Rafael Stone simply stay the course and bet on Houston's halfcourt offense to improve organically through the continued development of young players such as Green, Sengun, Thompson, Smith, Eason, Sheppard, and Whitmore? There is certainly a case to look externally for upgrades, but the moderate path through free agency will bring its own set of questions. Advertisement More: Podcast: Is 2025 the right time for Houston to make a superstar trade? This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to 'level up' the offense
USA Today
01-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to ‘level up' the offense
Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to 'level up' the offense Bleacher Report's Dan Favale says Houston can improve its offense via a moderate upgrade, but it's unclear where the rotation minutes would come from. In the recently completed 2024-25 regular season, the Houston Rockets (52-30) had the fourth-best record in the NBA and second-best in the Western Conference. That represented quite a climb from a 41-41 season and the West's No. 11 spot a year earlier, but it still wasn't in the top rung of contenders. So, what held them back? Their defense was consistently rated in the league's top five, but the offense was middle of the pack. When isolated to halfcourt situations, it was often worse than that. During their series-ending loss in Game 7 of a first-round playoff slugfest versus the Golden State Warriors, the Rockets were stuck on 74 points with barely more than two minutes left to play. With that in mind, when it comes to areas needing improvement in the 2025 offseason, it seems pretty clear which side of the ball could use a boost. Bleacher Report's Dan Favale writes: The Rockets are so close. Their defense is hellfire, they have plenty of depth, and unlike other contenders, there's tons of room for internal growth. Whether that internal growth will be enough to level up the offense is a separate matter. Houston ranked 22nd through both the regular season and playoffs in first-chance points scored per possession, according to PBP Stats. The rotation doesn't seem to have a shotmaker and facilitator of the future — unless the Rockets believe Reed Sheppard is that dude and are prepared to unleash him next year. Failing that, they need to work the trade market as soon as free agency begins. Though they have pathways to opening the full mid-level exception ($14.1 million), it should not come at the expense of letting Fred VanVleet (team option) sign elsewhere. The free-agency market is too barren. Star pursuits will dominate headlines. Houston should absolutely be open to one. But improvement can also come in the form of a middle-rung creator and deadeye shooter. It just has to be someone good enough to crack the playoff rotation. The notion of Houston pursuing a star via trade, such as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been well chronicled. The more interesting notion is a 'middle-rung creator and deadeye shooter,' and what that might look like from a rotation perspective. The Rockets had eight consistent rotation players in the 2025 playoffs between VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Steven Adams. They would also like to find more minutes in 2025-26 for Sheppard and Cam Whitmore, two talented first-round prospects from the previous two NBA draft cycles. If the Rockets are to trade for a superstar, the question of rotation minutes likely resolves itself, since the Rockets would presumably be sending out as much or more than what they are take in, from a minutes perspective. But to sign or bring in a more moderate upgrade raises questions. Are there any players from the aforementioned eight-man rotation that Houston would trade or reduce minutes for? Would the Rockets further stall the development of Sheppard and/or Whitmore? Might they look to trade one or both of those prospects for future equity, in such as scenario? After all, if a young player doesn't play, he's unlikely to develop and his market value is likely to gradually depreciate. Or, should general manager Rafael Stone simply stay the course and bet on Houston's halfcourt offense to improve organically through the continued development of young players such as Green, Sengun, Thompson, Smith, Eason, Sheppard, and Whitmore? There is certainly a case to look externally for upgrades, but the moderate path through free agency will bring its own set of questions. More: Podcast: Is 2025 the right time for Houston to make a superstar trade?
