Category: Grizzlies

NBA Notebook: Klay Thompson, Wolves, Magic, Wizards, Tobias Harris, In-Season Tournament ideas

NBA free agency intel on Warriors guard Klay Thompson, 76ers forward Tobias Harris and Wizards guard Tyus Jones, and what’s next for the Timberwolves, Danilo Gallinari, and the In-Season Tournament in HoopsHype’s latest notebook.

The HoopsHype NBA staff notebook is back, and so are Zach LaVine trade rumors.

This week’s NBA notebook includes chats with Wizards guard Tyus Jones about his long-term free agency future in Washington and forward Danilo Gallinari’s future, plus Magic guard Cole Anthony on his extension and why Orlando is thinking playoffs from our Michael Scotto. We also have a look at the Minnesota Timberwolves from our capologist Yossi Gozlan, a free agency stock watch update on Klay Thompson and Tobias Harris from our Frank Urbina, and a look at new ideas to improve the In-Season Tournament from Alberto De Roa.

NBA execs poll: Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama battle for top player under 25 to build around

NBA executives share their top players to build around under 25 years old in a poll conducted by HoopsHype.

With the start of the 2023-24 season here, HoopsHype polled 20 NBA executives for their Top 5 players under 25 years old.

After dominating this executives poll category for the past three years, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic battled with San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama for the top spot in a tight race. Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, and Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey were among the top risers in the poll, while LaMelo Ball and Zion Williamson were among the players whose stock slipped. In addition, 11 players earned votes for the first time.

In our scoring system, the top player received 10 points, the second received seven points, the third received five points, the fourth received three points, and the fifth player received one point for each ballot.

The results of the poll are listed below.

NBA executives poll: Who are the top breakout candidates for the 2023-24 season?

NBA executives predict who will be the top breakout players of the 2023-24 season in a poll by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Which players will make the biggest leaps in their games across the league?

HoopsHype polled 25 NBA executives to determine who will be the top breakout candidates this season. Each executive was asked to list his top three players who will have a breakout campaign.

Some executives voted for a younger player who’ll thrive with an increased role. Others voted for players on the cusp of becoming potential All-Stars for the first time.

Recent poll winners included Tyrese Maxey last season and Darius Garland the year before when he became an All-Star for the first time.

After receiving the feedback from the executives, the voting results were tabulated, with the top player receiving five points, the second receiving three points, and the third receiving one point for each ballot.

Top 50 highest-paid NBA players who never made an All-Star team

HoopsHype lists the Top 50 NBA players who made the most money and never made an All-Star team.

Did you know 45 players in NBA history have made over $100 million without an All-Star appearance?

HoopsHype compiled the 50 highest-paid players without making an All-Star team, combining to earn over $6.3 billion, according to our database.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.

NBA rumors: Jaylen Brown, Lauri Markkanen, Austin Reaves, Sixers, Rockets, Heat, Suns, Thunder, more

Reporting on Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, Jaylen Brown, and updates on Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Thunder and Grizzlies from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan report on Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, Jaylen Brown, and share updates on the Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Grizzlies, and more on the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

Extension before 2023 free agency: Who are the candidates?

Here are six players who could avoid free agency by receiving an extension this week.

As free agency approaches, potential free agents are preparing for their future. Teams and players can begin negotiations on June 30, the final day of the 2022-23 salary cap year. Some players, still extension-eligible till that date, can bypass free agency by signing a new deal now. Naz Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves have initiated proceedings three-year, $42 million deal that he was eligible to sign all season long.

Some players like Draymond Green and Khris Middleton, who seem like good bets to re-sign with their current teams would make sense as extension candidates. However, they could be looking at securing long-term deals where they get a lower starting salary. They wouldn’t be allowed to extend at a lower starting salary than the player option amounts they declined, but they could in free agency. The new CBA has changed that rule to allow such players with options to extend at lower amounts starting next offseason.

Here are several other players who remain extension-eligible and could come to terms on a deal prior to free agency.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson leaps Brandon Miller at No. 2; Free Agency News

NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson moves ahead of Brandon Miller for the No. 2 pick. Dereck Lively drawing lottery pick consideration. Plus, free agency reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the NBA Draft hours away, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel around the league and projected where the top prospects currently stand by compiling 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the final edition of the aggregate mock draft.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

NBA rumors: Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Khris Middleton, Nikola Vucevic, Rockets, Warriors, Mavs

The latest reporting on free agents Fred VanVleet, Khris Middleton, Nikola Vucevic, Harrison Barnes, Donte DiVincenzo, Grant Williams, and trade talks surrounding OG Anunoby and Jonathan Kuminga from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the NBA draft less than a week away, several teams have an eye toward free agency days later.

Below is a look at the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on Raptors starters Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, Bucks swingman Khris Middleton, Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, Warriors players Donte DiVincenzo and Jonathan Kuminga, Harrison Barnes, and Grant Williams.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Trade Talks; Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, Brandin Podziemski rise

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports on which teams could trade their picks in a new NBA mock draft. Plus, which players are rising on boards.

Following the NBA draft’s early entry deadline, mock draft boards have shifted, with several players rising, including Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, and Brandin Podziemski, making major first-round leaps. Julian Phillips, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Ben Sheppard, Jordan Walsh, Emoni Bates, Seth Lundy, and others rose in the second round.

To better project where the top prospects currently stand, we compiled 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

Then, HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the sixth edition of the aggregate mock draft to find the answer.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Brandon Miller climbs to No. 2; Taylor Hendricks rising

HoopsHype’s aggregate NBA mock draft reports which teams may trade their picks and lists rising players, including Brandon Miller, Taylor Hendricks, and more.

Following the NBA Draft Combine, mock draft boards have shifted with the lottery results unveiled and several players rising, including Brandon Miller, Taylor Hendricks, Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Ben Sheppard.

To better project where the top prospects currently stand, we compiled 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

Then, HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the sixth edition of the aggregate mock draft to find the answer.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.