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.
Free agent forward TJ Warren is eying a return to the NBA and discussed his future with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
TJ Warren, who has averaged 14.6 points on 50.6 percent shooting during his career, discussed what he can bring to an NBA playoff team, overcoming injuries, the bubble, playing with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons with the Brooklyn Nets, and more in a recent interview with HoopsHype.
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.
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas spoke about his breakout start this season, what he learned from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, playing with Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton’s growth, expectations for himself and the Nets this season, and much more with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been lighting up the scoreboard like Times Square on New Year’s Eve while making an early case for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and potential All-Star consideration.
As of November 6th, Thomas ranks second in the league in points per game on drives (14.4), trailing only De’Aaron Fox, 13th in points per game (26.0), and has the 28th-highest HoopsHype Global Rating (17.73). Defensively, Thomas has also made strides as a defender, which has earned him consistent playing time to start the season.
Thomas spoke with HoopsHype about his breakout start this season, what he learned from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, playing with Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton’s growth, expectations for himself and the Nets this season, and much more.
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie discussed the Kenny Atkinson and Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden eras, All-NBA expectations for Ben Simmons, All-Star expectations for Mikal Bridges, why Nic Claxton will get a $100 million contract, why Cam Thomas could win Sixth Man of the Year, Dinwiddie’s free agency, and more with host Michael Scotto on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie discussed the Kenny Atkinson and Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden eras, All-NBA expectations for Ben Simmons, All-Star expectations for Mikal Bridges, why Nic Claxton will get a $100 million contract, why Cam Thomas could win Sixth Man of the Year, Dinwiddie’s free agency, 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.
Kobe Bryant, Yao Ming, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant and James Harden behind the scenes. LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges updates
Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford discusses stories behind the scenes coaching Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Clifford also discussed what’s next for LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, Gordon Hayward, Mark Williams, and expectations for the Charlotte Hornets 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.
Derrick Favors discusses being involved in Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony trade talks early in his career, why the Jazz fell short during the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert era, and his potential NBA return with HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
Derrick Favors has made over $131 million during his 12-year career as the 15th-highest-paid player without making an All-Star team, and he’s looking to continue his NBA journey this season.
Favors plans to sign with a G League team soon to showcase himself and stay ready for a potential NBA opportunity, league sources told HoopsHype.
Before signing with a new team, Favors spoke with HoopsHype about the reasoning behind his decision to pass on playing overseas, advice he’d give fellow high lottery picks, being mentioned in Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony trade discussions as a rookie, why the Jazz couldn’t get over the hump during the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert era and more.
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.
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.
Here is a ranking of teams mentioned on The Lowe Post based on their chances of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks organization been cranked up considerably after an early playoff exit. They are now two years removed from winning a championship and have only won one playoff series since. As we explained when the Bucks nearly lost Brook Lopez in free agency, the Bucks’ window could be closing faster than we think. The top starters around Giannis Antetokounmpo are all in their early-to-mid 30s and the team is limited in assets to significantly improve the roster around him.
Antetokounmpo seems well aware of all these factors after making a series of comments this offseason regarding his future, starting with not planning on extending with the Bucks this offseason. He is extension-eligible from September 22 through the day before the start of the regular season, but can only add up to three years by extending now. Even if he plans on getting a new deal with Milwaukee, it makes more sense to do it next season when he can add up to four years.
Antetokounmpo further fueled speculation earlier this week on his future when he said that he would be open to better opportunities to win a championship outside of Milwaukee. Whether Antetokounmpo truly has a wandering eye or not, he is finally starting to apply pressure on the Bucks’ organization. His contract situation with only one year left before he can opt out and become a free agent in 2025 should give Milwaukee a strong sense of urgency.
Although the Bucks still have time to make things work, the rest of the league is keeping an eye on the situation. ESPN’s Zach Lowe recently discussed Antetokoumpo’s comments with Ramona Shelburne and believes the Bucks actually might trade Antetokounmpo instead of playing things out through his free agency. Lowe also added that interested teams are probably holding onto their assets in anticipation of a trade request.
They went on to list teams they could see eventually getting in the mix for Antetokounmpo in a trade. Below is a ranking of those teams based on how realistic their chances are of successfully acquiring him.
