Latest news with #TimHardawayJr
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Russell Westbrook on in Denver? Patrick Beverley weighs in
Russell Westbrook is back on the free-agent market after declining his player option with the Denver Nuggets. Though a return to Denver seemed possible at first, it now looks like the door has closed. The former MVP played in 75 games for the Nuggets last season, starting 36 of them. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists while serving as a high-energy contributor off the bench. But Denver's recent moves suggest the team is headed in a different direction. Advertisement MORE: Bronny James dazzles with big dunk in blowout win over Heat The Nuggets have added Tim Hardaway Jr. and brought back Bruce Brown, both of whom are expected to strengthen the team's bench unit. According to multiple reports, including ESPN's Shams Charania, those additions leave little room for a Westbrook reunion. Beverley Says Nuggets Prioritized Shooting Over Westbrook During a recent episode of the 'Pat Bev Podcast' from Barstool Sports, Patrick Beverley shared his thoughts on Denver's offseason decisions. Co-host Adam 'Rone' Ferrone suggested the Nuggets have moved on from Westbrook by bringing in more reliable perimeter threats. 'That move is gonna have them getting off of Russ,' Ferrone said. 'The Kings are making a big push for Russ, but that leaves a divot in Denver's backup point guard rotation.' Beverley agreed with the take, adding: 'When you add some shooting around [Nikola Jokic] like they have with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown... I think Tim Hardaway Jr. is gonna light that place up.' The comment came from someone with a long and complex history with Westbrook. Beverley and Westbrook famously clashed during the 2013 playoffs, but they later became teammates on the Lakers and publicly ended their feud. Despite that rocky past, Beverley has often praised Westbrook's leadership and toughness. Advertisement Still, Beverley sees the logic in Denver's choice to focus on shooting. The Nuggets rely heavily on Jokic's playmaking, and spacing has always been key to unlocking his full offensive potential. With the Nuggets shifting focus, Westbrook's next destination remains unclear. The Sacramento Kings are rumored to have interest, but there's been no official word on where the veteran point guard will land. For now, Westbrook waits, while the Nuggets move forward with a backcourt built around shooting and depth. More NBA News:
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patrick Beverley Reacts to Nuggets' Russell Westbrook Decision
Patrick Beverley Reacts to Nuggets' Russell Westbrook Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Russell Westbrook is still an NBA free agent. Declining his player option with the Denver Nuggets for next season, Westbrook hit the open market where he has yet to find a new team. Advertisement When the news surfaced that Westbrook would be opting out, a return to Denver seemingly remained possible. The nine-time All-Star appeared in 75 games (36 starts) for the Nuggets last season, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists. However, recent moves by the Nuggets have made it clear Westbrook will almost certainly not be returning. Denver has reinforced its bench backcourt with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown (via ESPN's Shams Charania). Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4)© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images During the latest episode of his Pat Bev Podcast for Barstool, former NBA guard Patrick Beverley was asked about the moves Denver has made this offseason. More specifically, Beverley was asked by Adam "Rone" Ferrone about the Nuggets moving away from Westbrook. Advertisement "That move is gonna have them getting off of Russ," Rone said of Denver bringing in Bruce Brown. "The Kings are making a really big push for Russ. But that leaves a divot in their backup point guard rotation." Reacting to Denver moving away from Westbrook in favor of other reserve guards, Beverley said, "When you add some shooting around [Nikola Jokic] like they have with Tim Hardaway Jr., they added Bruce Brown back... I think Tim Hardaway Jr. is gonna light that [expletive] up." Beverley and Westbrook have a complicated history. Prior to teaming up on the Los Angeles Lakers, the two had an ongoing feud that dated back to 2013 when Beverley injured Westbrook in the NBA Playoffs. They publicly squashed their beef upon joining forces on the Lakers, and have since been friendly with each other. Advertisement While Beverley has often spoken highly of Westbrook, the former All-Defensive guard thinks Denver was smart to bring in more shooting around Jokic. Related: NBA Fans Bracing for Russell Westbrook's Retirement After New Report Related: Steph Curry's Message to LeBron James Turns Heads After Warriors-Lakers Trade Report This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tim Hardaway Jr. becomes latest key Nuggets free agency addition
The post Tim Hardaway Jr. becomes latest key Nuggets free agency addition appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr., according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Advertisement Hardaway, 33, is the latest key veteran to join the Nuggets this offseason as new front office executives Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace continue to make aggressive moves to surround three-time MVP Nikola Jokic with championship-level talent. After trading Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for two-way wing Cam Johnson, the Nuggets have since added Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, and now Hardaway Jr. to their roster. All four of these new offseason additions bring valuable experience with them to Denver and expand on what many referred to as a broken rotation during the 2024-25 season. Outside of Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver struggled to find consistent offensive production. This was especially true when evaluating the Nuggets' second unit and bench, which ranked bottom five in the league this past year. Advertisement Although Porter had been a key part of the Nuggets' championship run in 2023, trading him to the Nets opened up flexibility for the team to add much-needed depth to their roster. Hardaway now joins the mix in Denver as a reliable 3-point shooter who recently found a lot of success with the Detroit Pistons. In one season with the Pistons, Hardaway averaged 11.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 36.8 percent from 3-point range. Over the last three seasons, the veteran sharpshooter has scored 50 percent of his 3,002 total points from the perimeter. Detroit replaced his role with Caris LeVert in free agency on Monday. The Nuggets needed another key 3-point shooting threat after giving Porter up on Monday, which is why the addition of Hardaway is such a big deal for this franchise. While he may not be the same defender Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was, he will fill that catch-and-shoot role Denver was missing during the 2024-25 season. Advertisement With 14 players under contract and right at the tax line for the 2025-26 season, the Nuggets are expected to remain aggressive in the marketplace. There is the possibility that the Nuggets could seek to trade Zeke Nnaji and move his contract in order to open up flexibility and additional spending power. This would allow them to address a key need for a backup point guard behind Murray. Even with limited names remaining in free agency, players like Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Tre Mann still loom large as possible additions in Denver. The Nuggets finished the 2024-25 season with a 50-32 record and made it to the Western Conference Semifinals for the third straight year. Related: Why the Nuggets are massive 2025 NBA free agency winners Related: Jonas Valanciunas trade grades for Nuggets, Kings
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nuggets Dealt Devastating Trade News on Thursday
Nuggets Dealt Devastating Trade News on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When it comes to the first few days of NBA free agency, the Denver Nuggets have been quite active as they try to revamp their roster around Nikola Jokic. Advertisement Following a season that saw them fall in the West semifinals, the Nuggets have acquired four new players. They signed both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown, who played a key role in their 2023 title run, to one-year deals. They also traded away Michael Porter Jr., landing Nets sharpshooter Cam Johnson in exchange. However, arguably one of the more under-the-radar moves of the offseason was their acquisition of Jonas Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings. He provides another big body to back up Jokic and has also shown the ability to stretch the floor. Unfortunately for Jokic and the Nuggets, Valanciunas might never suit up for them. According to a report by BasketNews' Dontas Urbonas, Valanciunas has been offered a three-year deal worth around $14 million from Greek club Panathinaikos Athens, and is "close to accepting" the offer. Advertisement "Jonas Valanciunas is preparing to close the NBA chapter of his career," read the report. "According to BasketNews sources, the 33-year-old Lithuanian is close to accepting an offer from Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens." New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Lew-Imagn Images If Valanciunas were to leave for the Greek powerhouse, it would effectively end his 13-year NBA career. As confirmed by insider Marc Stein, if Valanciunas does go through with this, it'll likely lead to him "seeking a buyout" from his contract. While the move is yet to happen, those in Denver are likely panicking. Related: Heat Sign 7-Foot-1 Center as Trade Rumors With Lakers Swirl Related: Bronny James Breaks Silence on the Change in His Physical Appearance This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What does Duncan Robinson bring to Detroit?
The Lakers appear to have their starting center. Meanwhile, the Knicks are nearing a deal for Tom Thibodeau's replacement. Ezra Shaw / Getty Images C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images Duncan Robinson will immediately become the Pistons' best 3-point shooter when he joins the team. He's a career 39.7 percent on 7.2 attempts from behind the arc per game and has made at least 185 triples in five of his seven seasons in the NBA. The 31-year-old is a proven threat from long range and will likely join his former Michigan teammate, Caris LeVert, in becoming Detroit's primary second-unit scorers. With the departure of Tim Hardaway Jr., who is heading to the Denver Nuggets, Robinson becomes even more valuable for a Pistons team still in need of more shooting and spacing on the floor around Cade Cunningham. Robinson also has 70 playoff games under his belt and should provide a valuable perspective in the locker room. One of Robinson's best on-court assets is his ability to shoot on the move. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra ran a healthy diet of off-ball action to get Robinson opening 3-point looks coming off screens. Because Robinson is accustomed to defenders staying attached to him off the ball, he's developed as a cutter as well. Although the sample size was small, Robinson shot 15 of 19 on cutting layups last season, when he averaged 11 points on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 39.3 percent shooting from 3, 2.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game. Naz Reid agrees to re-sign with Timberwolves (Five years, $125 million) Reid's deal factors into the quest for continuity mentioned above. Reid is a phenomenal story, from going undrafted to carving out a great role for himself in Minnesota to winning Sixth Man of the Year two seasons ago to now a nine-figure contract. For $25 million per season, his type of role and production will justify that kind of money, as long as he stays healthy. It will be interesting to see if his role ever evolves during this deal. Maybe Julius Randle or Rudy Gobert are moved at some point, and Reid moves into the starting lineup. He still has a lot to do to become a solid defender, but he's had some moments. The Wolves not losing Reid likely cost them Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but they feel they have the young depth to make up for that. Grade: B+ The Detroit Pistons are adding Duncan Robinson on a three-year, $48 million deal, with the last two years non-guaranteed, according to a league source. Robinson is heading to Detroit as part of a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat involving Simone Fontecchio. Robinson's 1,202 3-pointers are the most in Heat franchise history. As our noble compatriot, Jared Weiss, pointed out, the Boston Celtics will still be over the second apron with the impending signing of Josh Minott. But a reminder, whether it's about the Celtics or any other team that might be straddling the second apron: A team is not officially over the second apron until the end of the last day of the regular season. So for apron purposes, and tax payment purposes, this is not the end of the line, though it does make some things harder to do in the interim. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Celtics get below that threshold, because why only go over by a little bit if you don't have to? They still have the rest of this summer and through the trade deadline to do so. The Celtics will have to make another move at some point to get back below the second apron after agreeing to terms with Josh Minott. This fills their roster at 15, and they still are hoping Al Horford comes back, so they'll need to do more than just waive JD Davison to make that all work. Whether it's dealing Anfernee Simons to try to dive all the way back under the tax line or dumping Sam Hauser and/or Geroges Niang into an exception, Boston has more work to do. The Boston Celtics will sign forward Josh Minott to a two-year, $5 million contract, a league source confirmed. The 22-year-old became a free agent after the Timberwolves declined to pick up his team option. Depth was one of the bigger issues for Denver last season. Here's their current projected rotation: Starters: Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokić Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokić Bench: Bruce Brown, Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes, Jonas Valančiūnas, Tim Hardaway Jr. Denver is making a couple of bets here on Valančiūnas and Brown, but I like what it has done so far. Between adding Hardaway, Johnson and Brown, that should help the Nuggets' need for ballhandling and shooting The LA Clippers plan to waive center Drew Eubanks, a league source said. LA will clear Eubanks' non-guaranteed $4.75 million salary off its books to provide more relief from the first apron and open a roster spot that was always expected to be open. I mentioned the possibility of Eubanks being waived overnight in my latest story discussing the Clippers' next potential maneuvers. We can't rule a trade out, but this decreases the likelihood of one for now. Jake LaRavia agrees to sign with Lakers (Two years, $12 million) LaRavia is a solid pickup for the Lakers after they lost Dorian Finney-Smith to Houston. After struggling to shoot the 3-pointer in Memphis his first two seasons, he shot it extremely well last year. The Lakers are praying that it will continue in his new home. The confusing part for me is our Dan Woike saying this was their top wing target after Finney-Smith was off the board. He's solid, but he can't be that high on your board. Grade: C+ Lon Horwedel / Imagn The Denver Nuggets have agreed to a one-year, veteran's minimum contract with free-agent guard Tim Hardaway Jr., a league source said. Hardaway, 33, averaged 11 points per game for Detroit last season while starting 77 contests. It's shocking the Nuggets can get a guy of Hardaway's caliber on that contract, but the market is drying up, so the Nuggets got a bit fortunate. Caris LeVert agrees to sign with Pistons (Two years, $29 million) The Malik Beasley investigation likely opened up this opportunity for LeVert with the Pistons. If that's the case, I'm not sure I love this pivot. LeVert is a fine scorer to bring off the bench, but he's been a below-average 3-point shooter for most of his career. He can handle the ball, but the Pistons needed more of a 3-and-D guy. You need pure shooters around Cade Cunningham, not someone to dribble a lot. Grade: C+ Stacy Revere / Getty Images The Milwaukee Bucks plan to sign veteran shooting guard Gary Harris to a two-year contract with a player option, and have agreed to a trade to send guard Pat Connaughton to the Charlotte Hornets, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. The Bucks will trade Connaughton and two future second-round picks to Charlotte for Vasa Mičić. In turn, the Bucks will likely try to work with Mičić on a buyout that allows them to create the necessary space to fit Myles Turner in Milwaukee and lets Mičić make his way back to professional basketball in Europe. Dorian Finney-Smith agrees to deal with Rockets (Four years, $53 million) This might be my favorite signing of Day 1. The Rockets gave up a good defender in Dillon Brooks to complete the Kevin Durant trade, but I'd argue Finney-Smith is a much better fit for this team. He can guard two through four and a lot of point guards as well. He's mostly been a league-average 3-point shooter or better in his career. He doesn't try to do too much with the ball, so you're not going to get those random acts of dribbling that look like it's a football. Finney-Smith also defends without taking away from the team in the form of trying to instigate. When it worked for Brooks, it got opponents out of their game. But when it didn't work, it caused the Rockets to crumble a bit. Finney-Smith is just solid at all times. For this kind of money and a four-year commitment, it's a perfect signing for the Rockets. Grade: A+ Jaren Jackson Jr. agrees to extension with Grizzlies (Five years, $240 million) The Grizzlies painted themselves into a corner with this extension, and it's not even necessarily a bad call. They have to do it, and he may end up being worth that kind of money. Nearly $50 million a year is huge. It doesn't even matter that he's not an elite shot blocker the last two years, because he's still an elite defender. He's getting stops in other ways. He's also improved his scoring to being a consistent 22-point-per-game scorer the last two seasons and brought his efficiency back up with a healthy 2024-25 campaign. Jackson isn't a good rebounder, and he's not a playmaker for others. If he can flesh out both of those skill sets, then it makes the max extension super easy to justify. And he may justify it anyway. The Grizzlies definitely build their defense around him, as long as he's not in foul trouble. You just can't miss at all when handing out these big contracts, and there's a non-zero chance of a miss here. Still, not a bad move for Memphis. Just not a home run. Grade: B+ Jakob Poeltl's extension is interesting. The Raptors likely will win by locking down his player option year at $19.5 million, but after that, things have the potential to get ugly fast. Based on the reported $104 million total, the Raptors are committed to $29.5 million in his age-33 season and a partially guaranteed $29.5 million at age 34. And this money is for a non-shooter who can't rely on skill to offset Father Time. While it clearly helps the Raptors manage their 2026-27 tax and apron situation, I'm not sure the downside is worth it. Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Atlanta Hawks (Four years, $62 million) The Hawks are giving up a second-rounder and cash in the trade. The new Wolves owners keep adding to the till! For the Hawks, Alexander-Walker potentially gives them a playmaking wing who can knock down 3-pointers and provide a defensive punch on the wings. This has the chance to help put them further in a position to make a leap in the East. He pairs nicely with Dyson Daniels, and he can help take some of the initiation responsibilities from Trae Young to move him off the ball more. It looks like the fourth year will have a player option, so it might not be a straight-up four-year deal for Alexander-Walker. The last three seasons, he's shot 38.5 percent from deep, so the shot should be more than reliable moving forward. Grade: A- Page 2
