Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Reporting on the top NBA trade candidates for the 2023-24 season on each team from HoopsHype Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto.
Following the James Harden deal to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this season and the recent trade chatter surrounding Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, HoopsHype spoke with 15 NBA executives and league sources to project the top trade candidates for each team this season.
HoopsHype polled media members to rank NBA arenas from best to worst.
What are the top NBA arenas to attend games across the league?
HoopsHype polled 35 media members who’ve traveled to arenas across the country to find out which are the best in the league. Their criteria ranged from the crowd’s atmosphere and energy to the quality of the arena, culinary offerings, and lighting.
Below are the results of the poll, including a fiercely contested three-way battle for the top spot between New York, Los Angeles, and Boston.
Coach Mike Brown talks Tim Duncan stories, LeBron James, Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant for GOAT, Klay Thompson’s free agency, Kings updates.
Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown discusses stories behind the scenes with Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and alongside Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr. Plus, what’s next for the Kings this season, including De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, and more with host Michael Scotto on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.
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.
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.
Drafted 10th overall by the Sacramento Kings, Jimmer Fredette spent the first five years of his career trying to find his footing in the NBA. The sharpshooter went overseas to China, and learned to adapt his entire mindset to building a career …
Drafted 10th overall by the Sacramento Kings, Jimmer Fredette spent the first five years of his career trying to find his footing in the NBA. The sharpshooter went overseas to China, and learned to adapt his entire mindset to building a career outside the NBA.
Now in the twilight of his career, the 2011 National Player of the Year is hoping to add a new accomplishment to his resume: a gold medal in the Paris Olympics playing 3-on-3 basketball. Fredette recently returned to Sacramento to play in the 3-on-3 International Cup. He sat down with HoopsHype to discuss his time in Sacramento, playing overseas in China, when he decided to give up his NBA dreams, and more.
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.
Reporting on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, the Bucks trading for Dame Lillard, where Jrue Holiday can go, Jerami Grant’s future, and more.
The Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a blockbuster trade acquiring seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team blockbuster trade highlighted by Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, an unprotected 2029 Bucks first-round pick, and multiple pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 going to Portland, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson also joined the Phoenix Suns.
Following the trade, HoopsHype spoke with league sources, NBA executives and scouts for the latest intel on what’s next to keep an eye on.
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.
Reporting on James Harden trade talks and the potential affects for Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, updates on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, and Mavericks, plus free agency notes on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and more on HoopsHype.
With free agency relatively at a standstill, all eyes around the league have shifted predominantly to trade talks surrounding Damian Lillard, James Harden, and potentially Pascal Siakam.
Below is the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on the Harden trade talks and how they could affect Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, free agency updates on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and Nerlens Noel, along with notes on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Mavericks, and more on HoopsHype.
More than half of the total cap space teams collectively had were used on trades and renegotiations instead of signing free agents.
The majority of the 2023 free agency dust has settled. There are still a couple of loose ends like the restricted free agencies of PJ Washington and Ayo Dosunmu, and of course, the potential of blockbuster Damian Lillard and James Harden trades. But for the most part, most teams have their roster situations figured out ahead of the 2023-24 season.
This offseason featured eight teams operating with significant cap space, the most we’ve had since 2019. However, unlike that summer, this year had a much weaker crop of free agents. The overall lack of talent led these teams to use most of their cap space in ways other than free agent signings.
Here is how much cap space these teams started out with and how it was utilized.
