Basketball Wiretap

Warriors Asked Draymond Green To Mentor Jonathan Kuminga As Condition Of New Contract

Mar 18, 2024 2:18 PM

When Draymond Green signed his new four-year, $100 million contract with the Golden State Warriors last June, Joe Lacob asked him to serve as a mentor for Jonathan Kuminga as an unwritten part of the deal.

"Joe said, 'I know you're going to play and lead and all of that, but I need one more thing,'" Green recalled. "He said 'I need you to take JK under your wing.

"I said, 'You got my word ...To me, that was a condition of the contract."

During Green's suspension, he focused on watching Kuminga. Green noticed that Kuminga needed to attack defenses by using his speed and athleticism on drives to the paint. 

"He can always jump and get himself out of trouble," Green said of his advice to Kuminga. "Nobody else is going to be up there with you. Most of us, we've got to find angles, and different things to score, but if you get in trouble with anything, just jump."

"Him watching the games at home, it was him watching film, pretty much, and it actually helped me understand who I am," Kuminga told ESPN.

Kendra Andrews/ESPN

Tags: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Mat Ishbia: We Made A Calculated Decision On Second Apron

Mar 8, 2024 12:05 PM

Mat Ishbia assumed ownership of the Phoenix Suns shortly before the NBA instituted a new collective bargaining agreement with a punitive second luxury tax apron. The second apron was designed to keep teams from maintaining a high payroll over an extended period of time, but the Suns responded by going deeply into it to maximize their chances of winning a title with a core of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

"I understand all the rules that come with the second apron. I understand exactly what the CBA tried to do," Ishbia told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "I read it, I know it inside and out, and we made a calculated decision that we think the team with the best players wins. Would I rather have Brad Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker than just having two of those guys? I'd rather have all three a hundred times out of a hundred, and I don't think there's another GM or owner or CEO that wouldn't say that exact same thing.

"So now how do you maneuver around that? Well, you have to differentiate yourself. ... I have to create an environment where [we're] trying to be the best franchise in sports where the players want to come play."

Durant endorses the strategy of Ishbia.

"That's what you're supposed to do as an owner," Durant told ESPN. "It's about swinging for the fences every year.

"What else are you supposed to do? Sit back and hope that you get a draft pick that turns out to be Victor [Wembanyama]? No."

While the Suns made a number of bold moves over the past year, they have been uneven on the floor as Beal and Booker have struggled with injuries. The Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder are a fairly firm top-4 the Suns are trailing.

"If we don't win this year ... which is possible... then we'll say, 'OK, what can we do better to try to win next year? Do I need to adjust? Do we need to run different plays? Do we need different players? Do [we] change something? What do I do?" Ishbia says. "All I'm focused on is how do we win right now. I'm not thinking about what our 2031 draft [is] going to look like. I'm excited about the 2024 playoffs."

"Everybody here is on the same page," Booker told ESPN. "We're in win-now mode. We want excellence. We know it's not going to be easy. It's a new team, but when you give up that much, we're trying to win this year and years to come."

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Kevin Durant: I Think Suns Starting To Build Something, Form An Identity

Mar 7, 2024 12:01 PM

The Phoenix Suns have a high upside roster in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but injuries have plagued them this season where it remains challenging to predict how they may play in a playoff setting at full strength. 

In an interview with Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Durant talked about how he assesses their team.

"I believe in this team, and we believe in one another," said Durant. "Yes, playing with Brad [Beal] and Book is new, but as far as the game itself, I have seen everything in this league. Everything has been thrown at me. I just want to see us continue to grow as a unit. I like our chemistry. Not just the three of us, but our whole team.

"I think we're starting to build something and form an identity. And that takes time and reps. Our coaching staff is doing a great job. I'm not promising anything, but I like our chances against anybody."

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Tags: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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LeBron James' Teams Have Combined To Trade 23 Future First Round Picks

Mar 6, 2024 11:38 AM

Throughout the career of LeBron James, his teams have rarely had first round picks to add to their roster around him. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers have combined to trade away 23 total future first round picks during his tenures with those teams, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks and Dave McMenamin.

When James was with the Cavaliers at the start of his career, Luke Jackson, Shannon Brown and J.J. Hickson were the only first rounders added. When James returned to the Lakers in 2015, no first round picks were added during his tenure.

While with the Heat, no first round picks were added as well.

Since joining the Lakers, Jalen Hood-Schifino has been the only first rounder added to the roster.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA B-Ball IQ

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NBA Net Rating (Week 18): Celtics Remain No. 1 At +11.6

Mar 4, 2024 12:24 PM

The Boston Celtics continue to lead the NBA in Net Rating with a historically great +11.6 points per possessions. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves round out the top-3 with both teams over +7.0 in the category.

NBA Net Rating, Week 18
1. Celtics: 11.6
2. Thunder: 7.9
3. Wolves: 7.1
4. Clippers: 4.9
5. Cavaliers: 4.9
6. Pelicans: 4.6
7. Nuggets: 4.4
8. Bucks: 4.4
9. Knicks: 3.9
10. Sixers: 3.4
11. Suns: 2.7
12. Magic: 1.6
13. Warriors: 1.4
14. Pacers: 1.2
15. Heat: 0.7
16. Mavericks: 0.7
17. Kings: 0.3
18. Rockets: -0.2
19. Lakers: -0.5
20. Bulls: -1.5
21. Nets: -2.2
22. Hawks: -2.3
23. Jazz: -2.9
24. Raptors: -3.2
25. Grizzlies: -6.8
26. Spurs: -7.8
27. Blazers: -8.2
28. Pistons: -8.8
29. Wizards: -9.7
30. Hornets: -10.6

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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NBA PER (Week 18): Victor Wembanyama Climbs To No. 11

Mar 4, 2024 12:18 PM

Victor Wembanyama has climbed to No. 11 in the NBA in PER this season with a mark of 23.0. For the month of February, Wembanyama ranked sixth in the category at 26.3.

NBA PER, Week 18
1. Joel Embiid: 33.7
2. Nikola Jokic: 31.1
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 30.5
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 29.8
5. Luka Doncic: 28.7
6. Anthony Davis: 25.4
7. Tyrese Haliburton: 23.8
8. Kawhi Leonard: 23.5
9. Domantas Sabonis: 23.3
10. Jimmy Butler: 23.0
11. Victor Wembanyama: 23.0
12. Andre Drummond: 22.9
13. Donovan Mitchell: 22.8
14. Kristaps Porzingis: 22.8
15. LeBron James: 22.8
16. Jayson Tatum: 22.5
17. Devin Booker: 22.2
18. Zion Williamson: 22.1
19. Kyrie Irving: 22.1
20. Kevin Durant: 22.0

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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NBA Investigating Whether Offense Needs To Be Throttled

Feb 27, 2024 1:50 PM

The NBA's competition committee has officially begun reviewing whether the game has become too advantageous for offense and whether some changes need to be implemented to achieve better balance.

"It is a topic that we're monitoring," Joe Dumars told ESPN earlier this month. "We're diving in right now to make sure that we're on the right side of this."

When Adam Silver took over as commissioner, the league-wide offensive rating was below 105 points per 100 possessions and has since risen steadily to 115 points per 100 possessions this season.

Players are more talented and teams prioritize higher percentage shots than they did in the past.

"More high-percentage shots, which are shots at the rim and 3-point shots, are going to lead to more points," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said before a game in Philadelphia last month. "Most everybody's kind of got that as their theme of how they're playing."

The NBA isn't close to taking any action yet.

"It's not to that point yet," said Dumars, who regularly fields calls from teams. "We're diving [into the data] right now and just a ton of film and putting together a ton of reels to be able to look at this and go, 'OK, yeah, we do have a problem.' But you don't make changes like that just on an anecdotal call."

Tim Bontemps, Kevin Pelton/ESPN

Tags: NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Joe Lacob: We Are Not Here To Be Just 'Some Team'

Feb 22, 2024 11:43 AM

The Golden State Warriors launched an improbable pursuit of LeBron James ahead of the trade deadline, which teams sources tell ESPN's Baxter Holmes represents the desire from Joe Lacob to keep the franchise as a contender.

"I'm not going to comment on something I can't comment on, but, in general, I just want to win," Lacob said. "We just want to win. We want to be the best, and we're going to try whatever tactic it takes to get there. I am not here to screw around. We are not here to screw around. We are not here to be just 'some team.' We're not going to do that. We may fail. Everyone fails. We may fail occasionally, but it will not be for lack of trying."

As the Warriors had a gap year in 19-20, they accumulated three lottery picks and a source says they had a "swing for the fences" approach in selecting high-ceiling players. The Warriors picked James Wiseman in 2020, and then Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody in 2021. This became Lacob's "two-timeline" approach. 

"We could have drafted more ready players that maybe had a lower ceiling," Lacob tells ESPN. "We thought we had more time with our Big Three. How much more? We didn't know. And at what level? We weren't quite sure.

"Now, melding them in with the Big Three, that's where I think it got complicated."

Lacob had wanted the Warriors to follow the blueprint set by the San Antonio Spurs when they connected the Tim Duncan era with Kawhi Leonard.

"I think there was always a delusion in that building that they were the next Spurs," said one source close to the Warriors organization.

"I think [ownership] made a decision about four years ago that they were going to try and have it all, and it backfired," a former Warriors staffer said. "They probably should have focused on players that just fit with Steph versus trying for the home run swings."

Lacob believes the Warriors have an "ace in the hole" that will keep them immune from ever enduring an extended rebuild. 

"It's the reason that I don't think we will ever, ever try to bottom out."

"We are the Golden State Warriors," Lacob said, referencing their status as a free agent destination. "I believe in the culture. I believe that word gets out. I could go on and on. I'm not trying to brag. I'm just saying, that's who we are.

"We're never going to bottom out. I won't settle for that. We're not doing that."

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Tags: Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA B-Ball IQ

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