While plenty of NBA teams came out ahead during perhaps the wildest offseason in league history, a few notable exceptions weren’t so lucky. After all, free agency is a zero-sum game. If one team adds a superstar, another team loses one by definition. The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers are celebrating major free-agent coups,…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and Bleacher Report senior NBA writer Howard Beck attempt to sort out the brave new Western Conference. Which teams enter the 2019-20 season as favorites? Where do the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers rank after their big offseason moves? Are the…
There’s a new arms race heating up in the Eastern Conference. The Brooklyn Nets have added Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan. Kemba Walker is tasked with filling the void Irving left for the Boston Celtics. Al Horford is pulling a reverse Ray Allen, joining a fierce playoff rival (Philadelphia Sixers) after giving them…
After Klay Thompson’s knee crumbled in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors’ blueprint for next season seemed clear. Already down Kevin Durant and now devoid of the team’s only other shooter beyond Steph Curry, Coach Steve Kerr would tilt his vaunted offense away from the cutesy split-screens and constant motion, and…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the big signings from Day 2 of 2019 NBA free agency. Who came out ahead in the four-team Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade? Are the Knicks actually doing something smart in free agency? How will Seth Curry fare in Dallas? Have NBA…
In mid-March, New York Knicks owner James Dolan boasted in a radio interview that his team was about to have “a very successful offseason when it comes to free agents.” “New York is the mecca of basketball and we hear from people all the time, from players, from representatives about who wants to come,” he…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) react to the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade, Al Horford signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, and D’Angelo Russell going to the Golden State Warriors. How will the Heat restructure the Butler sign-and-trade to make it legal? Are the Sixers now better than last…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) give their instant reaction to the first free-agent signings of the summer. Did Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks just win Executive of the Year after signing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan and Garrett Temple? Why did the Charlotte Hornets…
As the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers gear up for runs at big-name free agents, the Sacramento Kings lurk as one of the NBA’s bigger wild cards. Harrison Barnes’ decision to decline his $25.1 million player option initially positioned the Kings to have more financial flexibility than all but a few…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) catch up on the latest NBA free-agency rumors and predict where the top non-max free agents might land. How realistic is a Houston Rockets sign-and-trade for Jimmy Butler? Would the Boston Celtics be better off divvying up their cap space rather…