Tag: Derrick Jones

Assessing low-cost big and wing trade targets for the Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are reportedly on the hunt for some frontcourt depth help on the trade market ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

The Boston Celtics are reportedly on the hunt for some frontcourt depth help on the trade market ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline, and there is no shortage of analysts ready with proposals of who the Celtics should consider going after to such an end.

Boston is reportedly looking for low-cost help as a stipulation, with the team ill-disposed to moving most heavy-minutes players in their rotation. With the best record in the NBA at present, that certainly seems a prudent path, but it can also be said that this team’s depth still needs a bit of an upgrade if the Celtics want to give themselves a real shot at an NBA title. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss and Jay King put together a trade deadline primer in particular with some interesting targets proposed by the duo that could be what Boston might be after.

Let’s dive into the various options they mention we haven’t addressed much elsewhere and their potential fit with the Celtics squad.

Best low-cost wing and big man trade targets for the Boston Celtics

The Celtics may add a wing to help take pressure off of their stars, as well as look at a big man who might be able to ease the minute load on the ball club’s frontcourt.

The Boston Celtics will likely make a move or two ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline to add a wing to help take some pressure off of their two stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as well as taking a look at a big man who might be able to ease the minutes load on the ball club’s frontcourt.

With Brown and Tatum among the highest minutes-per-night players in the league and bigs Al Horford and Robert Williams III likely also playing more than they ought to be in order to be fresh and at their respective peaks for the 2023 NBA Playoffs, both bigs and wings are likely priorities. And with a hefty tax bill already on the table, cheaper solutions in terms of salary and asset cost that would raise the team’s payroll little or not at all will probably be the preferred route.

With that in mind, we put together a comprehensive list of such options the Celtics might target that wouldn’t need more than a first-round pick (and some much less) plus younger prospects in a reasonable deal.

Miami Heat NBA Championship odds, picks and best bets

Assessing the betting odds of the Miami Heat winning the Eastern Conference and the 2019-20 NBA Championship, with picks and best bets.

The Miami Heat were fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 41-24 when the 2019-20 NBA season was suspended. Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds of the Heat winning the NBA Championship once play resumes with a 22-team format in Orlando, Fla., later this summer.

Miami Heat season recap

The Heat sat atop the Southeast Division when play was paused. They were likely going to be in good shape as far as home-court advantage was concerned in at least a round or two of the playoffs.

Miami featured a sparkling 27-5 record at home, the third-best mark in all of the NBA. But now, there will be no home-court advantage as the 22 teams will be playing in the O-Town bubble. So, the absence of Miami’s raucous fans at the American Airlines Arena will be sorely missed for the Heaters.

Miami was also fourth in the Eastern Conference in terms of point differential, posting 112.2 points per game offensively, while yielding 108.9 defensively. That was good for a plus-3.3 differential, eighth-best overall in the league, too.

PF Bam Adebayo and SF Jimmy Butler proved to be quite a nice, and unexpected, one-two punch for Miami. Add in the fact that this team is deep with young talent in the form of SF Derrick Jones Jr. and SGs Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson, and the Heat are a bit of a wild card in the East. They also have playoff-tested SG Andre Iguodala, added at the trade deadline, to give the younger players guidance and leadership.

Looking to place a bet on the NBA Championship? Get some action on it at BetMGM. Bet Now!

Miami Heat NBA Championship odds

Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday, June 9 at 9:30 a.m. ET.

The Heat (+2500) are listed with the eighth-best odds in the NBA to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, tied with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat definitely have a strong corps of young players, but the lack of playoff experience will work against them. However, the fact that NBA players are creatures of habit, and some of the veterans on others teams might be thrown off their game from the unconventional restart and strange situation might negate some of that newness. Still, it’s best to AVOID betting on Miami winning it all.

Miami Heat Eastern Conference odds

The HEAT (+1000) have rather short odds in the East, which is considered wide open after the heavily favored Milwaukee Bucks (-159). If the favorite should stumble, then why not the Heat? They have a good mix of rookies and veterans, and the leadership of Iguodala will be beneficial. The HEAT (+1000) ARE WORTH A SMALL-UNIT PLAY, just don’t get carried away.

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All-Star Saturday: The best pictures

All-Star Saturday: The best pictures

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Report: Pat Connaughton To Participate in NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks will be participating in the annual Slam Dunk Contest

Notre Dame may only currently have one player on an active NBA roster but that one player will be in the spotlight this coming All-Star Weekend as Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks will be participating in the annual Slam Dunk Contest.

Shams Charania of The Athletic released that news on Monday:

A few of the responses are incredibly predictable:

LMFAOOO TRASH

You gotta be kidding me lol

white men can’t jump lmao

What?

Huh

Those that watched him at Notre Dame remember his athleticism but in case you’ve forgotten, here’s some of his best from 2018-2019:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjEDre8tyQY&w=560&h=315]

Connaughton averages 17.8 minutes per game for the league-best, 42-7 Bucks.  He’s averaged 4.9 points per game this season and over four rebounds per outing.