Latest news with #JimmyButler
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dwyane Wade explains why the Heat didn't pull the trigger on Kevin Durant: "This is what the Heat do; they are not turning their chips until they feel like they got a winner"
Dwyane Wade explains why the Heat didn't pull the trigger on Kevin Durant: "This is what the Heat do; they are not turning their chips until they feel like they got a winner" originally appeared on Basketball Network. The Miami Heat have been in star-hunting mode ever since Jimmy Butler packed his bags for the Golden State Warriors following what felt like an endless standoff with management and, most importantly, with Pat Riley. Advertisement The break-up with Butler left a giant hole in the franchise's identity, and as this offseason kicked off with fireworks all over the league, many thought South Beach would make its move, especially with Kevin Durant's name sitting on the trading block since February's trade deadline came and went without a deal. The table seemed set for the Heat to pounce. But, as it turned out, Riley and the front office didn't bite, as KD moved elsewhere. The Heat didn't want to throw all their chips in While there were plenty of reports suggesting that the Heat made a serious play for Durant, the details tell a different story. According to Shams Charania, Miami "turned down the opportunity to place Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, the No. 20 pick and other draft assets in a deal." Simply put, the Heat weren't willing to mortgage the future, especially not when the price also meant matching salaries through players like Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier or Andrew Wiggins. Advertisement That's where Dwyane Wade, the ultimate Heat legend and a guy who knows this organization inside and out, stepped in with his perspective. And Wade didn't sugarcoat it one bit. "Man, the Heat have been trying to get KD for 10 years… So, do you want him, or do you not want him? So, right now, they just playing a couple games. This is what the Heat do; they are not turning their chips until they feel like they got a winner," the Hall of Fame guard analyzed. Wade went deeper, pointing out that while Durant's talent is undeniable, Miami's front office wasn't just looking at the box score production. "So, obviously, they didn't wanna give up what was offered for KD to come there. They look at age, they look at injury, they look at a lot of things. They don't just look at, that he is scoring 25 a game. They look at can this dude hold up if we cash these chips in? Maybe they didn't feel to he was wroth those chips in," Wade added. Advertisement Related: "Unlike myself, he gets to join a team that's established right with HoF guys" - LeBron explains why Flagg is in an ideal position to immediately succeed Miami won't be sleeping for very long As the dust settled, it was the Houston Rockets who ended up pulling off the KD deal, shipping out Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick to land the former MVP. Meanwhile, Miami's front office kept its core pieces intact, even as frustration built among the fan base that they'd missed yet another shot at adding an elite superstar to the mix. Yes, he might be nearing the end of his career, but Durant has made his name on being the ultimate plug-and-play player who can make any team into a top-tier championship contender overnight. Advertisement "As a Heat fan, cause I'm a Heat fan, I gotta bite the pillow, too, and be mad. But also, I gotta understand that they know what they doing," D-Wade concluded. Of course, knowing Riley and how this organization operates, the Heat aren't done... With Giannis Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee still up in the air, don't be surprised if Miami's name pops up in those conversations sooner rather than later. The KD window may have closed, but in South Beach, another door is always just about to open. Related: Adam Silver plans to use Artificial Intelligence after the NBA's injury surge: "Ingest all video of every game a player's played in to see if we can detect some pattern" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
16 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Warriors face challenges with aging roster against younger West powers
The NBA must have a secret burial ground for hints. They come in waves this time of year, all about shortening the season, relaxing the postseason scheduling and prioritizing the players' health. It all sounds so smart and overdue, only to learn that every suggestion gets buried under the same pile of greed. Consequence for the Golden State Warriors: Good luck holding out hope for an NBA title next season. Nothing's going to change as the majority of owners hoard every last penny and the buttoned-up players' union balks at a widespread salary reduction. Consider how much relief it would bring to Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green if there were no more back-to-backs, a schedule trimmed to 58 games (home-and-home against every team), and at least two off-days for playoff travel. (It was just a single day for the weary and banged-up Warriors for Games 5 and 7 of the first round in Houston, and again before they were eliminated in Game 5 at Minnesota.) Nothing says those decorated stars can't last a full regular season, then find a second gear for the playoffs. But would you bet on that, when you examine what oppressive fatigue has done to the NBA elite? Butler and Curry were forced to miss playoff time when it mattered most, and two of the past four seasons found Green playing just 46 and 55 games. Here's your starting five for the ruptured Achilles, among the worst of all injuries: Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard (all three lost for the coming season), Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Right behind them: Kyrie Irving, out indefinitely in the wake of knee surgery, and Joel Embiid, whose knees always turn to sawdust around playoff time. The list may yet include Luka Doncic, who has a long history of calf injuries, and those can be a prelude to Achilles disaster. Two certainties emerge from the swirl of opinions in the medical community: The Achilles tendon is under constant tension, rendering it vulnerable from overuse, and proper rest is essential to recovery from all lower-body ailments. Armed with that knowledge, the NBA talks a good game but does nothing — so let's move on. In the wake of the draft, and developments through Friday evening, these are the scariest Western Conference teams from the Warriors' standpoint: Oklahoma City: By all measures, from the eye test to the analytics, the Thunder should repeat. They won the conference by 16 games, they're the youngest team (averaging a bit over 24) to win a title since Bill Walton's Portland Trail Blazers in 1977, they have the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), they play stifling defense without mercy, they have avoided all luxury-tax restrictions (thus free to keep the entire roster intact), they have four first-round draft picks over the next two years, and they are selfless to the core, invariably gathering as a fun-loving group when one of them gets interviewed on television. This is a team that not only survived Chet Holmgren's fractured hip, losing the elite center for 50 games, but made a look-to-the-future selection in Thursday's first round: Georgetown's 6-foot-10 Thomas Sorber, a master of hand-eye coordination and highly capable as a lob-threat dunker, rebounder, passer and shot blocker. Add Isaiah Hartenstein, and this team has it covered around the paint. Houston: It's easy to say 'same old vagabond' about Durant, about to join his fifth NBA team, but things could be very different with the Rockets. For the first time, he will unquestionably be the go-to scorer at all times. He has deep respect through a longtime relationship with coach Ime Udoka, and for heaven's sake, he's Kevin Durant — still one of the greatest shooters of all time. As the Warriors learned in the playoffs, the Rockets were a bit too young and didn't have a clear option for that crucial shot. Now they add Durant to fast-rising rising center Alperen Sangun, rugged backup Steven Adams, heady guard Fred VanVleet, ever-improving forward Jabari Smith and Amen Thompson, said to have a future as the best two-way player in the league. The Warriors most likely believe this Phoenix trade was a steal. Dillon Brooks brings a lot of confidence and energy, but as the playoffs conclude, he's just a guy who talks too much. Jalen Green should be among the league's best players, but he looked painfully young against Golden State (just 48 points total over the last five games) and stamped himself as a clown when he was asked about Draymond Green after Game 3. 'Just talking,' said Jalen. 'He can't really do much of anything else, so talking is his only way.' San Antonio: On his path to taking over the league — that seems to be the consensus opinion — Victor Wembanyama faced a major setback in late February when a blood clot was diagnosed in his right shoulder, forcing him out for the season. As he grinds through the stages of recovery, all seems well — and whenever (if) he returns to full strength, the Spurs will be can't-miss theater. In the crowd of envious teams, the Warriors can only dream of a 7-foot-3 center destined to be a dominant force in every phase of the game. Once painfully limited in the backcourt, San Antonio picked up Chris Paul last season, traded for clutch-time ace De'Aaron Fox and watched the electric Stephon Castle win Rookie of the Year. Now they've added No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, who needs work only on his shot, and another first-round pick in 6-foot-7 wing Carter Bryant, who came off the bench at Arizona but showed huge potential with his defense and 3-point range. Scouts say both are high-character guys, and it all adds up to this: The Spurs are coming. In a hurry. Dallas: If the Mavericks get the timing just right — Irving's midseason return to good health (he recently signed up for three more years) and Cooper Flagg instantly cashing in on his mind-blowing potential — they could be a force at playoff time with Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and frontcourt mainstays Dereck Lively, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. One thing we know about Flagg: With his high-powered endurance, all-around brilliance and a competitive nature that frowns upon complainers, he's the anti-Doncic. We'll discover soon enough what that actually means. Sleepers: The Lakers, if new owner Mark Walter spends as freely as he does with the Dodgers. (This proud franchise has been a bit too thrifty in recent off-seasons.) And Denver, if Nikola Jokic is fully invested in the franchise. He's expected to reject a three-year contract extension in the coming weeks, and he couldn't have been thrilled when Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke took the podium last week. Asked about avoiding the dreaded 'aprons' of the NBA's salary-cap restrictions, Kroenke said, 'The wrong person gets injured and very quickly you're into a scenario that I never want to have to contemplate — and that's trading No. 15 (Jokic). So we're very conscious of that.' Whoa. Perhaps the Nuggets should let others do the talking. Bruce Jenkins writes the 3-Dot Lounge for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jenksurf@ Twitter: @Bruce_Jenkins1
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Heat Signing Big Ten Center After Draft: Report
Heat Signing Big Ten Center After Draft: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports. To put it generously, the Miami Heat had an uneven 2024-25 season. During a relatively underwhelming 2024 offseason, the Heat failed to come to terms with six-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler over a contract extension. Miami seemed to have reservations about giving maximum money to a 35-year-old with a history of ticky-tack injuries. Advertisement This set up an acrimonious start to the year, which saw Butler ultimately get suspended three times while agitating for a trade out of town. In February, the Heat traded Butler to the Golden State Warriors in a multi-team blockbuster deal, sinking further into mediocrity thanks to a middling return package highlighted by Andrew Wiggins and a future first round draft pick. While Golden State improved by leaps and bounds on both sides of the ball and advanced to the semifinal round of the Western Conference playoffs, Miami finished with a 37-45 finish and got obliterated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a four-game first round sweep. Now, the Heat are looking to pick up the pieces in a critical offseason for the franchise. Miami snagged an intriguing young guard in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft, All-Big Ten stud Kasparas Jakucionis, with the No. 20 pick. Advertisement After the end of the draft, Miami moved quickly to explore an intriguing new piece. Miami Heat team president Pat Navarro-Imagn Images Sources inform ESPN's Shams Charania that Miami is signing 7-foot-1 center Vlad Goldin, an undrafted free agent, to a two-way deal. Last year, the 24-year-old averaged 16.6 points on .607/.333/.731 shooting splits, 7.0 boards, 1.4 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 0.5 steals a night. Across collegiate runs with Texas Tech, Florida Atlantic and finally Michigan from 2020-25, the Russian big was honored as a 2023 All-CUSA Third Teamer, a 2024 All-AAC Second Teamer, the 2025 Big Ten Tournament MVP, and a 2025 All-Big Ten First Teamer. Advertisement Related: Bill Simmons Blasts Nets for Overlooking Kasparas Jakucionis, Highlights Heat's Draft Day Luck This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grading Golden State Warriors' 2025 NBA Draft
Grading Golden State Warriors' 2025 NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Warriors entered the 2025 NBA Draft looking to add another young player to their roster alongside their star trio of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. Advertisement Of course, the Warriors had only one second-round pick in the 2025 draft but after making some trades on Thursday night, they ended up selecting two players in the second round. Golden State used the 52nd overall pick to select Australian forward Alex Toohey to upgrade their wing depth. They then drafted Florida champion guard Will Richard with the 56th pick to upgrade their backcourt depth behind Curry. Warriors' 2025 NBA Draft Grade: A- With these two selections, the Warriors earned an A- grade for their 2025 NBA Draft as they added two young talented prospects that could become key role players in the future. Advertisement For Toohey, many believed that he would be selected earlier in the second round, though Golden State was able to land him with the 52nd pick. Last season in the NBL, Toohey averaged 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.9% from the field and 31.0% from three-point range. The 21-year-old forward has high upside as he is able to play multiple positions and is a great defender due to his length who should be intriguing for the Warriors to develop. Florida Gators guard Will Richard (5) reacts after a play against the Houston Cougars in national championship Donnan-Imagn Images For Richard, he was a key piece in helping Florida win a National Championship last season. In his senior season with the Gators, the 6-5 guard averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 48.7% from the field and 35.9% from three. Advertisement Richard is a great scorer who should have an impact off the Warriors' bench right away and he is also a solid defender. These were two solid moves for the Warriors as they were able to fill some holes on their roster as they add two more young players who could see a large role next season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA power rankings: How all 30 teams stack up after 2025 NBA Draft
Just because the NBA season just ended — with the Oklahoma City Thunder claiming their first championship since relocating to the city — that doesn't mean that the balance of power across the league hasn't already shifted. The 2025 NBA Draft provided a chance for plenty of teams to infuse young talent into their rosters with the aim, aside from Oklahoma City, to become the eighth different team in as many years to win the title. Free agency, which is right around the corner (beginning Monday, June 30), presents the next chance for teams to add to their rosters. Here are USA TODAY Sports' post-playoffs, post-NBA draft power rankings: 1. Oklahoma City Thunder The NBA champs have their young core in place, players like 2024-25 rookie Nikola Topić — a skilled, 19-year-old guard who didn't step on the court at all this season — and added a skilled big in Thomas Sorber at No. 15 who should develop in the program. 2. Houston Rockets A dynamic young team with an excellent coach in Ime Udoka just took a huge, win-now swing for an elite player in Kevin Durant. The Rockets could become very dangerous. 3. New York Knicks A lot will depend on the head coach they hire, but — given the massive injury ramifications across the East — the Knicks get a boost just because they have their core healthy. 4. Minnesota Timberwolves Their first-round draft pick — mobile big man Joan Beringer — is an 18-year-old project who doesn't help the Timberwolves get past the conference finals hump, but they have a very good core in place. 5. Indiana Pacers It's tough to see the Eastern Conference champs (and a team that pushed the Thunder to seven games) this far down, but Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles tear is devastating. 6. Cleveland Cavaliers They were bounced out of the playoffs far earlier than they wanted, but in coach Kenny Atkinson's first year, the Cavaliers led the NBA in most shooting and offensive metrics. 7. Denver Nuggets With a full offseason to settle into the job, new coach David Adelman should create a more unified vision for the Nuggets. They'll need more depth, but Nikola Jokić remains a force. 8. Los Angeles Clippers After finishing the regular season strongly, the Clippers took the Nuggets to seven games. The roster is definitely aging so the window to win is right now. 9. Los Angeles Lakers With a full offseason to develop an offense that suits Luka Dončić and LeBron James, coach JJ Redick should get more out of the Lakers, whom the Timberwolves eliminated in five games in the first round. Still, L.A. needs to find a center. 10. Boston Celtics The team is undergoing a transition, with Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday gone in luxury-tax-trimming moves and potentially more on the way out. The Achilles tear to Jayson Tatum, however, is most devastating for Boston's chances to get another title. 11. Golden State Warriors Adding Jimmy Butler certainly made Golden State more competitive, but the Warriors' leaders are 37 (Stephen Curry), and 35 (Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green). 12. Detroit Pistons They broke out last season and played the Knicks very tough in the first round. They should only become more competitive as Detroit's young core continues to develop. 13. Orlando Magic Injuries derailed their season, but adding Desmond Bane should make the defensive-minded Magic a little more consistent with their shooting. 14. Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo may be assessing his future with the Bucks, who have lost three consecutive playoff series and saw Damian Lillard suffer a torn Achilles. 15. San Antonio Spurs All of a sudden, the Spurs have a dynamic and hyper-athletic core. Victor Wembanyama is the obvious centerpiece, but Stephon Castle, No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox is almost too much talent at one position. 16. Memphis Grizzlies They were able to find their replacement for Desmond Bane on a budget, trading for the rights to Washington State guard Cedric Coward at No. 11. Memphis needs to minimize turnovers. 17. Atlanta Hawks With the additions of Kristaps Porziņģis and forward Asa Newell at No. 23, the Hawks got tremendous value and may be a surprise team in the wide-open East. 18. Dallas Mavericks It's a shame Kyrie Irving will miss time with a torn anterior cruciate ligament because the fit with No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis would be fascinating to watch. 19. Chicago Bulls This feels like a team at a crossroads and one that has been middling in the play-in window. Noa Essengue is an exciting young player, but the Bulls need help now. 20. Miami Heat Having struck out on Kevin Durant and having traded away Jimmy Butler, the Heat seem like a team stuck in the middle and without a clear direction. They needed play-making at guard and Kasparas Jakučionis provides plenty of it, but he's likely a few years away from consistent production. 21. Philadelphia 76ers This placement comes with a massive caveat. The 76ers have plenty of talent — young, mid-career and veterans in decline — but Philadelphia absolutely needs Joel Embiid to stay healthy. Regardless, VJ Edgecombe infuses dynamic athleticism on both ends. 22. Toronto Raptors It will be interesting to see how Brandon Ingram, who didn't play in a single game for Toronto with an ankle injury, incorporates into the offense. Same for rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, taken No. 9 overall. 23. Sacramento Kings Sacramento is a team that may be looking to offload some of its veteran pieces, potentially signaling an impending rebuild. 24. Phoenix Suns They'll be without Kevin Durant and will have a new coach in Jordan Ott. They still need to figure out their Bradley Beal problem. 25. Portland Trail Blazers The Trail Blazers have amassed four centers, three of which are 7-footers (Donovan Clingan, Deandre Ayton, Yang Hansen). The other is Robert Williams (6-foot-9). 26. New Orleans Pelicans They actually have a lot of young and dynamic talent, with No. 13 overall pick Derik Queen being the latest piece. The fit is what's questionable. 27. Washington Wizards The trade of Jordan Poole should open up things for No. 6 overall pick Tre Johnson, but the continued development of Alex Sarr is arguably the most important piece for Washington. 28. Brooklyn Nets Brooklyn had an interesting draft, selecting five first rounders, four of which were guards. 29. Utah Jazz Danny Ainge had a tremendous draft, getting great value with wing Ace Bailey at No. 5 and guard Walter Clayton Jr. at No. 18. 30. Charlotte Hornets Frankly, there's not a whole lot about the Hornets that's exciting. They did, however, add a pair of excellent shooters in the first round of the draft in Kon Knueppel (No. 4) and Liam McNeeley (No. 29). Getting Ryan Kalkbrenner early in the second round was another high-value move.
