Latest news with #SteinLine
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Marcus Smart has been working hard on his conditioning this summer
Once Marcus Smart clears waivers following the buyout of his contract with the Washington Wizards, he will be joining the Los Angeles Lakers. He agreed to sign a two-year, $11 million contract with L.A. on Saturday, and people hope he will significantly improve the team in terms of perimeter defense, an area in which it has struggled during recent seasons. But there is some concern that perhaps Smart isn't the same player he once was. He appeared in just 54 games over the last two seasons due to multiple injuries, and some feel his game also declined, particularly on the defensive end, where he has been one of the NBA's best for years. However, Marc Stein had what sounds like good news in that department in a recent edition of his "Stein Line" substack. He wrote that the veteran guard has been working to get back in shape this offseason. 'I'm likewise told that Smart (like [Luka] Dončić) has been working hard on his body this summer,' Stein wrote. 'Conditioning was an undeniable issue for Smart last season. 'But the Lakers were convinced during their pursuit that they will see a sleeker version of the 2021-22 DPOY.' Smart was named to the All-Defensive first team for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons. He was a key member of the Boston Celtics during his first nine NBA seasons, and with his help, they reached the Eastern Conference Finals five times in seven seasons and got to the NBA Finals in 2022. They traded him in 2023 as part of a radical makeover of their roster that resulted in them winning it all in 2024. While he has spent plenty of time on the injured list since, he isn't exactly old at 31 years of age, and none of the injuries he has had are the type that could seriously rob him of his ability. Now that Smart is once again playing for a team that could go far in the playoffs, not to mention the fact that the second year of the contract he agreed to is a player option year, he could be poised for a resurgence this coming season.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Two Lakers frontcourt players are healthier than they were last season
The Los Angeles Lakers' roster looks significantly stronger than it did when they were knocked out of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. While they lost key 3-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith, they added forward Jake LaRavia and center Deandre Ayton, and they're set to bring in veteran guard Marcus Smart once he clears waivers. Some Lakers fans have been hoping the team can trade away big man Maxi Kleber and perhaps forward Jarred Vanderbilt in return for one or two more useful players. Doing so will be difficult, because while both players will only make roughly $11 million this coming season, they probably aren't seen as productive players around the league. But there could be a trickle of optimism that both will contribute in a positive way for Los Angeles. Per Marc Stein's "Stein Line," both Vanderbilt and Kleber are healthier now than they were at any time this past season. 'I'm also hearing Jarred Vanderbilt is healthier now than he was at any point last season, which will naturally spark hope that the versatile forward seems like an offseason addition himself when training camp opens in late September,' Stein wrote. 'Ditto for Maxi Kleber, who made only one appearance — for five minutes in Game 5 of the Lakers' first-round exit to Minnesota — after he was shipped to Lakerland with [Luka] Dončić on Feb. 2.' Vanderbilt has been hampered by injuries the last two seasons and appeared in a total of just 65 games during that time. He suffered a foot injury midway through the 2023-24 season that forced him to sit out for almost a full calendar year. While he's an effective and versatile defender and energy player, he's extremely limited on offense. Perhaps the fact that he's healthy this summer will allow him to work on his 3-point shot. For his career, he has made just 28.8% of his 3-point attempts, and opposing teams routinely leave him wide open in the corners. In the past, Kleber has been a decent outside shooter and defender, and at 6-foot-10, he can play the 4 and 5 positions. But he suffered a foot injury shortly before coming to L.A., and before that, he shot a putrid 38.5% overall and 26.5% from downtown this past season. In seven previous seasons, he made a solid 35.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc. If he returns to form, he could be a nice backup center for L.A. and perhaps even more ahead of Jaxson Hayes on its depth chart at that position.
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Boston Celtics vet Al Horford to sign with Golden State Warriors 'eventually'
The Boston Celtics may need to get used to a future without veteran forward Al Horford sooner than they would likely want to, according to recent reporting from the Stein Line reporter Jake Fischer. Per multiple reports, Horford has been mulling a number of possible paths as an unrestricted free agent. Those paths include of course returning to the Celtics, but could also see the University of Florida alum retire from the sport as a player, or join the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, or Golden State Warriors. That last team in particular has been the belle of the ball for Horford's camp if the rumbles Stein has been hearing are correct (keep in mind, much negotiation through the media takes place at this point in the league calendar). "All signs, for the record, continue to point to Al Horford landing with Golden State … eventually," wrote Fischer on Sunday morning. For now, fans of Horford and the Celtics can only wait for further details about the Dominican big man's future with the team.
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Report: Spurs have explored trading for Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis
The San Antonio Spurs join the Phoenix Suns as potential landing spots for Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis per recent reporting from the Stein Line's Jake Fischer. Fresh on the heels of the Celtics dealing away veteran guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers to save money on a potentially historic tax bill, Fischer relates that Boston may not yet be done making moves, which is consistent with the sort of trades they would need to make to get under the second apron and the penalties that status brings the Celtics. Per the Stein Line, San Antonio has "held some exploratory talks about trading for the 7-foot-2 center," even if the Spurs ought to be seen "as an unlikely destination" for the Latvian big man. Such a pairing next to star center Victor Wembanyama (who stands at 7-foot-5) is of course an intriguing one. But the Spurs are reportedly doing their due diligence on adding the right elements to their frontcourt of the future, and KP's availability will not likely have him as their top pick for such a role.
USA Today
16-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Suns exploring trade options involving Boston Celtics Kristaps Porzingis
Could Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis be traded to the Phoenix Suns? Recent reporting from the Stein Line's Jake Fischer hints that just such a move might be in the works, with the two teams reportedly talking about a trade for the Latvian center. Per the Stein Line reporter, "Phoenix has done some background work on ... Porzingis with Boston known to be exploring its trade options up and down the roster." With both ball clubs currently well over the second apron, incurring all the harsh team building penalties that brings with it, a third team would need to be involved for this sort of deal to work. But the Suns need big man depth and hope to remain competitive while trying to reshape their roster, making KP an interesting option with low risk involved as an expiring contract. Whether his deal would be part of the salary moving to a third team for that same reason or as a potential Phoenix target given his upside when healthy would be the most important part of the equation on that side of the deal. What it might bring back to Boston is another question, given his value to the Celtics for both cap relief and his chemistry with the team and fan base when not out of commission. Buckle up, things are starting to heat up. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
