Новости за 21.05.2023

Shaquille O’Neal had his last run with the 2010-11 Celtics, trying to squeeze a bit more out of the Pierce-Garnett-Allen troika. But injuries limited O’Neal to 36 games, and the C’s lost in five games in the conference semis to Miami — where LeBron James had just taken his talents. “I always think that if I wouldn’t have got hurt, we could have at least made it to The Finals,” Shaq said. “I always say that. I wish Danny (Ainge) didn’t trade Perk (Kendrick Perkins) that year, because, I mean, we were like No. Читать дальше...

Grant Afeseth: Brian Windhorst on “The Hoop Collective” podcast discussing Mavericks’ impending free agent Kyrie Irving as a Lakers target: “It would take a little bit of maneuvering, and Kyrie Irving would probably have to not take the max, or [the Lakers] would have to work on something with Dallas, but they can get there. They can keep Austin Reaves and get Kyrie.”
Source: Twitter

James Harden’s disappointing end to the 2022-23 season is apparently not going to hurt his bank account. Brian Windhorst of ESPN said there is “an appetite” around the NBA for Harden landing a four-year contract worth more than $200 million. A non-Sixers team could pay Harden $201.7 million over four years. The Sixers can only offer Harden $210.1 million over four years due to the NBA’s rules governing contracts for players age 38 and older. In that sense, the CBA limits the Sixers’ leverage and... Читать дальше...

Michael Singer: Michael Malone: You’re not going to keep Nikola Jokic down for the whole game. Said it was “Coach Jokic’s” call to lean on the two-man game of he and Jamal in the fourth quarter.
Source: Twitter @msinger

Adrian Wojnarowski: Lakers C Mo Bamba (left ankle) is expected to be cleared for a return as soon as Game 4 or 5 of these Western Conference Finals, sources tell ESPN. Bamba, who’ll have missed nine straight games including tonight, could offer an option for some limited minutes on Nikola Jokic.
Source: Twitter @wojespn

Harrison Wind: Darvin Ham pregame: “D-Lo is one of our biggest weapons…I just need D-Lo to go out there and play aggressive basketball.”
Source: Twitter @HarrisonWind

The Mavericks’ trade interest in Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton, league sources maintain, has been overstated to this point. While Ayton does have some fans in the organization, there are likewise questions about the former No. 1 overall pick’s ability to live up to the $102-plus million left on Ayton’s contract over the next three seasons. I don’t get any sense at this juncture that Ayton is Dallas’ top trade target.
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com