Latest news with #KevinDurant
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Legend Dwyane Wade Issues Kevin Durant, LeBron James Take
NBA Legend Dwyane Wade Issues Kevin Durant, LeBron James Take originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Miami Heat were in on the Kevin Durant sweepstakes before the Phoenix Suns traded him to the Houston Rockets. This isn't the first time they unsuccessfully tried to add Durant, as they did the same nine years prior when they tried to sign him as a free agent. Advertisement It makes sense why the Heat believed they had a chance at him in 2025, like in 2016. Miami has a long history of adding the NBA's biggest stars, whether via trade or free agency. That includes Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, Lakers alum Shaquille O'Neal, Jimmy Butler, and Chris Bosh. However, the last time they added a big name to the team was when they signed Butler six years ago. Since then, they haven't had as much luck. Even worse, Durant alone may have been enough to vault Miami back to the top of the Eastern Conference. Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3).Steve Dykes-Imagn Images If one person saw this coming, it's Heat alum Dwyane Wade. Wade explained on his podcast that Durant not coming to South Beach had to do with his not wanting to follow in James' footsteps back in 2010. Advertisement 'I said this 10 years ago when the Heat were trying to get him… he's not following LeBron," Wade said. "Why are we recruiting somebody who's not doing that? I didn't like it then, and I didn't like it now. I'm glad he's in Houston. That ain't it.' Durant may not have wanted to follow the same direct path James did in 2010, but he followed a very similar path when he joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Doing so is what stopped James from winning more titles during that decade. Related: LeBron James Called to Retire by Former NBA All-Star Related: Lakers Named Favorites to Land Ace Bailey After Jazz News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Timberwolves Facing Backlash After Lackluster NBA Draft
Timberwolves Facing Backlash After Lackluster NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The new Minnesota Timberwolves regime isn't off to the best start in cultivating optimism in the fan base. Once filled with unbridled optimism about the future, Wolves fans found themselves entrenched in NBA trade rumors with the prospect that they could land Kevin Durant. Advertisement But after the Durant deal did not materialize, all eyes turned to the draft. And the Timberwolves did not seem to take any significant steps forward to improving their 2025-26 roster, instead drafting a pair of 18-year-old developmental centers in Joan Beringer (first round, 17th overall) and Rocco Zikarsky (second round, 45th overall). Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images That led to some vitriol on X. Wolves Lead, reacting to the discourse on the app, called out the fan base that shared its grievances with the lack of improvement to the roster so far. "Wolves fans continue to be extremely down bad man," the account wrote in a post. "Insufferable fanbase sometimes." Several fans took to the comments to justify their frustration with the franchise. Advertisement "They really screwed the draft, especially the second round," one fan wrote. "Because the team is down really bad. 2 years back to back at the playoffs lost at the same spot," a second fan added. "These new picks ain't gonna help that much." Some fans admitted that they also got lost in the knee-jerk reactions, but took some time for some needed perspective. "First round was amazing. Second round was a bit of a downer. If you are getting mad about the second round, you don't really follow the NBA," one fan wrote. "Agree...I got negative for a second and then had to tell myself 'in TC (Tim Connelly) I trust!'," another fan added. The Timberwolves have a roster that has made back-to-back Western Conference Finals with the help of veteran additions like Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Julius Randle -- all players who are 30 or more years old and in the twilight of their careers. Advertisement "[Fans] are impatient., we have talent. We have young players on good contracts which helps when Gobert, Conley and Randle are gone. We have Ant, Jaden, Naz, Tsj, Dillingham, Clark, miller and this draft class+future picks. All we need to do is wait," one fan wrote. Backloading the roster with young talent is imperative to opening up the franchise's window when Anthony Edwards, 24, reaches his prime. "Back to back conference finals! Really no move we could make except trade back needed a 2 way contract to stay under the apron," another fan wrote. We will make another run at this thing folks!" However, the lack of big moves after two disappointing finishes in the conference finals has led fans to want more. Advertisement "I know, right? Free agency has not even started yet," one fan added. Related: Anthony Edwards Reacts to Major Timberwolves News With 2-Word Message Related: Timberwolves Get Major Joan Beringer News After NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Assessing the Suns' return for KD
There will be new basketball leadership in Toronto. What else will the offseason bring? Follow along for the latest. Getty Images Since the season ended, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has promised an organizational makeover, one built around toughness and grit. This is the start. At the 2023 trade deadline, Phoenix had acquired Kevin Durant for a package that included Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and four unprotected future first-round picks. While the Suns didn't come close to matching what they gave up to acquire Durant, this might have been the best they could do under the circumstances. Jalen Green is a high-scoring guard who has improved over his four NBA years. He's explosive, athletic and dependable. He's played all 82 games the past two seasons, and this season averaged a team-best 21 points while shooting a career-best 35.4 percent on 8.1 attempts per game. Last October, Green signed a three-year rookie extension worth $106 million. The obvious issue: The trade gives Phoenix an overflow of guards. Green joins a group that includes Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen. Booker and Green could give Phoenix a dynamic backcourt if the chemistry is right, something Phoenix battled with Durant. Dillon Brooks is among the league's biggest irritants, a small forward who loves to get inside the heads of opponents. He has the toughness Phoenix seeks, but he often goes too far. His 19 technical fouls this season trailed only the Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards. Brooks has two years left on a contract worth $41.1 million. The No. 10 pick positions Phoenix to add a solid rotation player at a position of need, someone like Duke center Khaman Maluach. The Suns also have the 29th pick, so they have an opportunity to change the roster quickly. Joe Camporeale / Imagn At first glance, Kevin Durant looks like a hand-in-glove fit for a Houston Rockets team that struggled offensively at times last season, especially in the halfcourt — deficiencies that were exposed by a veteran Warriors team in the first round of the playoffs. For all the benefits that the rebuild has brought, their lack of a consistent go-to scorer is arguably the biggest thing holding the Rockets back from making a deep playoff run. Durant's three-level efficiency will instantly raise Houston's ceiling and gives head coach Ime Udoka optionality with in-game lineups. One criticism about the Rockets' coaching staff was the lack of creativity in some of its play calling. With Durant, an analytical darling, there should be more rhythm and flow in Houston's execution. Alperen Şengün and Fred VanVleet (and Amen Thompson to a lesser degree) have the ability to create plays for others, but Houston's lack of outside shooting has been a consistent issue over the years. Now, Udoka doesn't have to put multiple non-shooters on the floor at the same time for extended periods, with the luxury of slotting Durant into any five-man pairing. According to tracking, Durant averaged 5.7 catch-and-shoot attempts last season, which led the team. His effective field goal percentage (66.9) and three-point efficiency (45.6 percent) also led the team. Envision a VanVleet/Şengün pick-and-roll on the weak side with Durant waiting in the opposite slot. Questions about Durant's longevity will naturally arise given his age, injury history and the opening of a title window in Houston. But there's no question that the Rockets' elite defense and Durant's elite offensive arsenal are a match made in heaven, if not extremely close to that. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Kevin Durant's future in the desert became clear at this season's trade deadline. Fighting to reach .500, the underperforming Suns explored trading the superstar without informing him, something Durant did not appreciate. Over the season's final weeks, Durant seemed to accept his fate. With Phoenix lacking roster flexibility as a second-apron team, the Suns needed to reset. Trading him was their best option. This marks the first blockbuster trade for Phoenix general manager Brian Gregory, a former college basketball coach who was promoted to his new role as part of a front-office revamp in May. After the Suns missed the playoffs despite boasting the league's highest payroll, owner Mat Ishbia set out to establish an organizational identity focused on toughness. GO FURTHER Suns trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 1st-round pick: Sources What a way for Kevin Durant to find out the news he had been traded to the Houston Rockets. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Mark L.: Great trade for Houston. They overpaid Brooks and Green is a liability on defense. Only one 1st for Durant and they keep the best pieces of their core long term. They will be a threat to OKC next year if they stay healthy. Femi O.: If the Rockets believe that they are one player away from a title, it's hard to do better than this. It's reminiscent of the Raptors trading for Kawhi even though they didn't know if they would be able to keep him for more than one year. Larry P.: As a Rockets fan I have mixed feelings about this. Excited though to see how the season turns out. Robert G.: This doesn't seem like Houston gave up much for Durant. Drake T.: Strange to think this was the best offer PHX could get for KD. Thomas Shea / Imagn By Doug Haller, Sam Amick and Kelly Iko The Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks, team sources told The Athletic. Durant will play for his fifth franchise, following stints with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix. He has one year left on his current contract at $54.7 million, and is eligible this summer for a two-year extension worth up to $122 million. The 15-time All-Star turns 37 in September. ESPN first reported the trade. Green, 23, is a 6-foot-4 guard who has averaged 20.1 points per game across four seasons. He averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season while shooting 42.3 percent. Brooks, 29, is an eight-year veteran who has averaged 14.2 points throughout his career. He shot a career-best 39.7 percent from 3-point range last season. He is also known as a physical defender and was second-team All-Defense in 2022-23. Read the rest of our story on the trade below. GO FURTHER Suns trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 1st-round pick: Sources The Phoenix Suns have sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in a long-rumored trade agreed upon mere hours before Game 7 of the NBA Finals. In exchange, Phoenix will receive Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks. Durant, who will soon turn 37, has been on borrowed time in Phoenix since the February trade deadline, when Phoenix and Golden State considered a deal that would have reunited Durant with his former Warriors teammate Steph Curry. This is the second blockbuster trade to be completed this month. Last Sunday, the Orlando Magic acquired Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies for Cole Anthony, Kentavious-Caldwell Pope, four first-round picks and a pick swap. Check back here for all the latest reaction on the Durant deal and other moves throughout the NBA's offseason. GO FURTHER Suns trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 1st-round pick: Sources Kirby Lee / Imagn We want to hear from you! Have some opinions about the Kevin Durant trade saga? Send us your thoughts on the Durant trade, or anything else regarding the NBA offseason, via email at live@ We'll feature some of our favorite entries right here on the blog! Christian Petersen / Getty Images The NBA offseason waits for no one, not even the teams competing in the 2025 NBA Finals. We've already seen two big trades: Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. Here are the other key dates you must know. Tomorrow : Each team may begin negotiating with upcoming free agents who finished the just-completed season on its roster. : Each team may begin negotiating with upcoming free agents who finished the just-completed season on its roster. Weds. and Thurs.: NBA Draft NBA Draft June 30: Each team may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents (beginning at 6 p.m. ET) Each team may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents (beginning at 6 p.m. ET) July 5-6, 8: California Classic Summer League (Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Spurs) California Classic Summer League (Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Spurs) July 5, 7-8: Salt Lake City Summer League (Jazz, Grizzlies, Thunder, 76ers) Salt Lake City Summer League (Jazz, Grizzlies, Thunder, 76ers) July 6: Each team may begin signing free agents to contracts (12:01 p.m. ET) Each team may begin signing free agents to contracts (12:01 p.m. ET) July 10-20: Las Vegas Summer League Kenneth Richmond / Getty Images Hello and welcome to The Athletic's ongoing coverage of the NBA offseason, which has begun before this current season officially ended. Hours before the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to do battle in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets completed a blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and five second-round picks. If that move is any indication, this will be an active offseason. Stay tuned to this live blog for the latest.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockets Make Major Roster Decisions on 3 Crucial Players
Rockets Make Major Roster Decisions on 3 Crucial Players originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Houston Rockets have been very active this offseason. Free agency hasn't technically started just yet, but Houston has kept most of its current team around. Advertisement The Rockets also traded for star forward Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, giving themselves even more firepower. But Houston understands that having a well-rounded team is how teams win in this current era. According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, the Rockets are planning to keep Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green, and Jae'Sean Tate around. This is a solid move for the Rockets and helps the team keep some continuity for next season. Houston was the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference this past season, and they will be looking to improve on that next year. By adding Durant to the mix, the Rockets now have a legitimate "go-to" type of player on the roster. Houston needed the scoring punch from a player like Durant in the postseason against the Golden State Warriors. Houston Rockets head coach Ime UdokaMandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images The Rockets also kept veteran center Steven Adams around, keeping him away from free agency. Houston has been building a nice culture in the building, and it seems that they want to keep it growing. Advertisement Many around the NBA see the Rockets as a sleeping giant due to the players on the roster and assets that the front office can use in potential deals down the line. The Rockets' front office has been very active in recent years, and they have completely turned this team around. Houston will be a force to deal with next season again, and they will have room to make more moves once free agency opens. Related: Bucks Predicted to Land All-Star to Help Giannis Antetokounmpo This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Edmonton Journal
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Canada's NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checks in as bull of the week
Article content Bulls of the week It's been quite the week for the US$1.4 billion Florida Panthers of the NHL and the US$3.65 billion Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA; the respective Stanley Cup and Larry O'Brien Trophy winners as champions of pro hockey and pro basketball after the two leagues went shoulder-to-shoulder for 10 weeks of playoffs. Article content Yet no one has had a bigger week — or a bigger year — than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Hamilton. He's NBA MVP, NBA scoring leader, NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP. He's one of only four NBA stars to have ever accomplished that feat. Article content And he's certainly the first Canadian to pull off two or more of those milestones and he's done it in a year that will go down as one of the most dominant and consistent in NBA history. Most impressive of all, he's done it as the smiling leader of his Thunder, a thoughtful and articulate spokesman for the game and as a poster child for sportsmanship. He's the bull of the week because, at age 26, he's only getting started on a journey that is on a trajectory to make him one of the most influential athletes in all of pro sport. Bears of the week The downside to such shoulder-to-shoulder playoffs in the NHL and the NBA is the stark withdrawal symptoms experienced by fans when both leagues end their post-season showcases within a week of each other. We go from game action almost every night — with two best-of-seven series going six and seven games in the case of this year — to a glut in the prime-time TV landscape. Article content It's a shock to the systems of fans, broadcasters, sports-talk radio hosts, sports anchors and industry stakeholders ranging from merchandisers and licensees to sports bars and betting houses. On that note, in terms of sheer TV content and audience reach, the power of fantasy and football wagering makes for one heck of a hangover the day after the Super Bowl. And yes, it's hard to describe the impact of a pause on a US$20 million business and its related industries in the hours after more than 120 million people have watched the big game. Yet in terms of scope of membership — in this case making up the community of 62 sport franchises in the NHL and the NBA — there's no greater drop off in volume of game action than this week. The good news for hard core fans is that both leagues do the draft thing this week to kick off the hockey and basketball off-seasons. Article content In especially the case of the Association, everyone seems to be an armchair general manager when it comes to the free agency that takes us well into July. There is certainly no substantive decline in social-media attention for the NBA as its fans wait for the next contending team to be created a la Kevin Durant earlier this week. With the NHL and the NBA swinging into their three-month off-seasons this week, only two of the five major North American men's leagues (Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer) are in play alongside two of the four prime women's leagues (WNBA and NWSL, with the Northern Super League now operating in Canada). It'll stay that way until the first Thursday after Labour Day weekend when the juggernaut that is the NFL leaps into regular-season action, with the NHL and the NBA launching their new schedules about one month later. Latest National Stories
