March 2015 NBA Wiretap

Kevin Durant: I Would Love To Stick It Out With One Team My Whole Career

Mar 31, 2015 11:22 PM

Kevin Durant can become a free agent in 2016, but he continues to imply that his future will be with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"I love it here, man. I love my teammates, I love the city, I don't really think about anywhere else," Durant told Revolt TV in a recent interview. "I hear it all the time, don't get me wrong, and once you hear it you're kind of like [looks up, thinking]. But for me, I love staying in the moment, and I'm one of those guys that would love to stick it out with one team my whole career.

"Kobe [Bryant], Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki type. That's awesome," he said. "But you never know what the future holds sometimes and how teams may feel about you after a while, but I love it here and I would love to get my jersey retired here."

Royce Young/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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LeBron Prioritized Acquiring J.R. Smith Over Shumpert In Knicks' Trade

Mar 31, 2015 6:29 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers turned around their season with two trades that brought Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to their team.

"He is so excited about the talent on this team," said Brian Windhorst. "He loves playing with Mozgov. He loves J.R. Smith. He was the guy who pushed for that trade. The Cavs were trying to get Shumpert; that's what the conversations were and of course the Knicks were saying 'we'll give you Shumpert, but you have to take J.R.' They went to LeBron and he said 'No, you get J.R. and if you get Shumpert with him that's great.' He, I think, really loves their top-7."

Smith has a .563 True Shooting Percentage since coming to the Cavaliers after posting a .487 mark with the New York Knicks.

Bill Simmons/Grantland

Tags: LeBron James, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Top NBA Draft Prospects (March Stats)

Mar 31, 2015 6:10 PM

The following stats are for the month of March for the prospects in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 12.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.2 blocks, 33.8 PER

Jahlil Okafor: 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.5 blocks, 26.3 PER

D'Angelo Russell: 21.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.9 blocks, 21.5 PER

Stanley Johnson: 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks, 18.9 PER

Willie Cauley-Stein: 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.0 blocks, 22.4 PER

Justise Winslow: 13.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.0 blocks, 29.6 PER

Mario Hezonja: 1.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, -1.7 PER

Kristaps Porzingis: 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 15.1 PER

Kevon Looney: 8.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 19.7 PER

Myles Turner: 4.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 2.0 blocks, 13.3 PER

Kelly Oubre: 11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, 18.0 PER

Frank Kaminsky: 21.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.1 blocks, 33.3 PER

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Justise Winslow, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Willie Cauley-Stein, Stanley Johnson, Kelly Oubre, Jr., Mario Hezonja, Kristaps Porzingis, Kevon Looney, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NCAA B-Ball IQ

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D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera Leaving Georgetown For NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2015 3:13 PM

D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera has declared for the 2015 NBA Draft.

Smith-Rivera is not in ESPN's Top 100 list of players for the draft.

Smith-Rivera was a First-Team All-Big East selection in 2015 in his junior season at Georgetown.

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown Hoyas, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Jordan Mickey Declares For NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2015 2:33 PM

Jordan Mickey has declared for the 2015 NBA Draft.

Mickey is ranked No. 69 in ESPN's Top 100.

Mickey was a First Team All-SEC selection in his sophomore season at LSU.

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: Jordan Mickey, LSU Tigers, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Westbrook's Adjusted Stat Line For 1962: 47-15-12

Mar 31, 2015 1:50 PM

Russell Westbrook has accumulated nine triple-doubles this season and seven of those came within a 12-game stretch.

In 1961-62, Oscar Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists to become the first and only player to put up a triple-double season.

The NBA played at a much faster pace in 1962.

According to records from Basketball Reference, Robertson's Cincinnati Royals averaged 105.2 field goal attempts per game, which was actually on the low end that season compared to the league norm.

If you adjust Westbrook's season averages of 27.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.6 assists to a pace-adjusted number for 1962, he would average 36.1 points, 11.2 assists and 9.4 rebounds per game.

When you also factor in that top players almost never left the court in that era, Westbrook's era-adjusted stat line is 46.9 points, 14.6 assists and 12.2 rebounds per game.

Tom Haberstroh/ESPN

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Bucks To Introduce New Color Scheme

Mar 31, 2015 12:29 PM

The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to reveal a new color scheme for their jerseys on Wednesday.

The current color scheme of forest green, red, silver and white has been in effect since the 2006-'07 season, when it replaced a purple and green theme.

The purple theme was introduced by Mike Dunleavy Sr. in 2001.

Charles F. Gardner/Journal Sentinel

Tags: Milwaukee Bucks, NBA

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Nikola Pekovic Out For Season With Ankle Soreness

Mar 31, 2015 12:22 PM

Nikola Pekovic will miss the remainder of the season due to ankle issue.

Pekovic has battled ankle soreness for years and was limited to a career-low 31 games in 14-15.

Pekovic has played in just 51.8 percent of the Minnesota Timberwolves' games since signing a new contract.

Kent Youngblood/Star Tribune

Tags: Nikola Pekovic, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Injury

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Celtics Received 1st Round Pick Trade Offers At Deadline For Avery Bradley

Mar 31, 2015 11:55 AM

The Boston Celtics received offers from multiple teams at the trade deadline of low first round picks and expiring contracts for Avery Bradley.

Bradley is on the first year of a new contract signed last offseason.

Avery is one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders and is a competent three-point shooter.

Zach Lowe/Grantland

Tags: Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kevin Durant Undergoes Bone Graft Surgery On Foot

Mar 31, 2015 3:35 PM

Kevin Durant has undergone successful bone graft surgery for the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. 

The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley with Thunder medical personnel present at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Durant will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season and is expected to return to full basketball activities in the next four to six months.

Durant posted the following picture and statement on Instagram following the surgery:

"Not what I envisioned coming into this season. But I'm here and ready to conquer this journey. I've heard it all over the last few weeks, but I'm not here to prove anything to anybody, im battling myself. When quit and negativity are staring me in my face, i will stay strong and disciplined. And I won't do it on my own, my closest and friends and family are here to help and that's something I will be forever grateful for. I appreciate all the well wishes from all of you guys, I appreciate it. This is just a small obstacle when I look at the big picture. THANKS TO ALL MY NBA BROTHERS THAT REACHED OUT, means a lot to me. Road to recovery. GO THUNDER, I can't wait to play with my teammates again. LETS DO THIS."

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Tim Frazier Signing With Blazers For Remainder Of Season

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Chris Mullin Agrees To Become Head Coach Of St. John's

Roger Rubin, Frank Isola/New York Daily News

Montrezl Harrell, Terry Rozier Declare For NBA Draft

The Courier-Journal

Derrick Rose Returns To Full Contact Practice

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Georges Niang Staying At Iowa State For Senior Season

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Stephen Curry, Brook Lopez Named NBA Players Of The Week

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Patrick Beverley To Undergo Surgery On Wrist, Out For Season

Jonathan Feigen/Houston Chronicle

Westchester Fires Kevin Whitted As Head Coach

Marc Berman/New York Post

Hibbert: Paul George Looks Like His Old Awesome Self In Practice

David Aldridge/NBA.com

R.J. Hunter Leaving Georgia State For NBA Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Nuggets Claim Ian Clark Off Waivers

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Myles Turner Declares For 2015 NBA Draft

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Ricky Ledo Signs 2nd 10-Day Contract With Knicks

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Celtics Could Pursue Offer Sheet With Kawhi Leonard

Gary Washburn/Boston Globe

Clippers Sign Lester Hudson On 10-Day Contract

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Mark Cuban Irked About Officiating Treatment Of Monta Ellis

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Dwight: Harden And I Aren't Super Close But We Talk

Ben Golliver/Sports Illustrated

Kevin Love's Best Relationship With Star Player Is Westbrook

Brian Windhorst/ESPN (via Nick Dudukovich/Factory of Sadness)

Donatas Motiejunas Out Minimum Of 1-2 Weeks With Back Injury

RealGM Staff Report

Shaq Wishes He Had More Patience Instead Of Leaving Magic In 1996

AP