Former Texas Longhorns basketball player LaMarcus Aldridge has big fourth quarter to help end the Spurs losing streak.
Basketball in San Antonio hasn’t lived up to expectations as of late. The Spurs headed to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night on a five-game losing streak. Hoping to stop the bleeding prior to the NBA’s All-Star Break it was former Longhorn LaMarcus Aldridge who rose to the challenge.
The Spurs got off to a hot start outscoring the Thunder 25-14 in the opening quarter. Aldridge scored six of his 25 points in the first, he finished with a team high 25 points against the Thunder. They were able to weather the storm during the middle two quarters where OKC was able to outscore the Spurs 63-54 to close the gap to just two points.
The Thunder were able to tie the game up at 79 early in the fourth quarter thanks to a Hamidou Diallo basket with 11:46 to go in the game. It was the closest they had been all game since early on the first quarter. Thanks to Aldridge and Dejounte Murray, the Spurs were able to shut the door on a comeback victory.
Aldridge scored 12 of his 25 in the fourth quarter to go along with his 14 rebounds. That marked LA’s 14th double-double on the season for the Spurs. Murray also matched Aldridge with 12 in the fourth to give the Spurs the 114-106 victory.
San Antonio snapped a five-game skid with the win over OKC. The Thunder have now lost two in a row, ending their four-game homestand 2-2.
Make that back-to-back losses for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After winning four in a row, OKC has dropped their last two to split their four-game homestand 2-2, ending it with a 114-106 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Chris Paul scored a game-high 31 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, Dennis Schroader, and Steven Adams were all in double-digits. Adams scored 10 points and led the team with 10 rebounds as he posted a double-double.
Schroder’s struggles against the Spurs continued on Tuesday night.
Coming into the game, Schroder was averaging just 15 points while shooting 40% from the floor in OKC’s two previous games against San Antonio this season. On Tuesday, Schroder was held to just 14 points, hitting on just 5 of his 13 shots in 32 minutes of game time.
Billy Donovan said after the game that he thought his team played well defensively in the first half, but they struggled all night long on offense.
“I thought offensively it was a hard night for us. We just never got going like we had been. We’d been so good offensively for a number of games now and this was probably one of those games, offensively, that wasn’t as good.”
Donovan also added that he thought Oklahoma City had plenty of opportunities at the rim, but that the Thunder “just didn’t finish well enough”.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Dejounte Murray led the Spurs with 25 points apiece. DeMar DeRozan was out again with back spasms.
The Thunder fall to 32-22 overall and 17-12 at home. They’ll head on the road for a single game at New Orleans on Thursday prior to the All-Star break.
OKC will see San Antonio soon. The two teams will play again on Sunday, Feb. 23 inside Chesapeake Energy Arena.
USA Basketball recently announced the 44 finalists for the 2020 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball roster which includes three former Longhorns.
Three former Longhorns were announced as finalists for the 2020 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team roster today.
This particular list of 44 athletes is the first step to compiling the overall 12-man roster that will represent the United States in the Olympics. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, center Myles Turner, and small forward/power forward Kevin Durant all have a chance to compete in Tokyo. As the NBA season progresses, these former Texas stars will be monitored closely by USA Basketball to ultimately determine whether or not they will be among the final roster.
The 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be held July 24-Aug. 9 in Tokyo, Japan.
Aldridge is averaging 18.7 points per game with the San Antonio Spurs this season. His 7.5 rebounds per game is ranked 30th-best in the NBA.
With the Indiana Pacers, Turner’s best game thus far came against the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 10, scoring 27 points and securing 14 rebounds.
After suffering a torn achilles tendon roughly eight months ago, Durant is finally beginning to show progress. Although the New York Nets have essentially ruled out Durant for the entire season, his rehab seems to be going well.
This is the fastest I’ve seen Kevin Durant move since rupturing his Achilles.
LeBron James hit six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter alone as the Los Angeles Lakers zoomed past the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
The Los Angeles Lakers continued to ride the wave of momentum after Saturday’s win as they demolished the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night behind a hot-shooting night from their leader and star, LeBron James, in a 129-102 win.
James had a game-high 36 points on 12-20 shooting, including 6 for 9 from the 3-point line to go with nine assists and seven rebounds. James did most of his work from the 3-point line early in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers pull away in the win.
James hit five 3-pointers in a span of 3:30 to begin the fourth quarter for the Lakers, helping push themselves far away from the Spurs in the game. James even hit a 3-pointer on three straight possessions to accumulate nine points in 52 seconds. San Antonio had done a solid job of staying within a run’s distance but LeBron’s five 3-pointers were too much for the Spurs to overcome.
After his fifth 3-pointer, the Lakers bench mobbed LeBron. Altogether the Lakers shot 59% from the field and 42.3% from the 3-point line.
LA goes nuts after LeBron James sinks his 5th (!) 4th quarter three pointer in just about 3:30 of action in the 4th pic.twitter.com/4zVUYEg22n
Anthony Davis had 18 points while Kyle Kuzma had a nice night with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
DeMar DeRozan had a nice night for the Spurs in his hometown of Los Angeles with 28 points but he didn’t have enough help for San Antonio to withstand LeBron’s incredible 3-point barrage.
Up next for the Lakers is the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 6 and a game on Thursday night against the Houston Rockets.
HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in trade rumors over the past week, including Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge.
There hasn’t been a shortage of NBA trade rumors over the past week, and as we get closer to February, the scuttle will only continue to become more frequent, a trend we’re already starting to see now, in early January.
Below, HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in rumors on the site’s Trade page over the past week.
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5. KEVIN LOVE
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ attempts to trade Kevin Love have not been fruitful so far, with the latest rumors on this front telling us that league execs believe Cleveland will have to attach assets in a potential Love deal for a team to actually be interested.
Love certainly could help the Blazers, or Pacers, or Rockets. But that contract is hard to match up in a way that makes sense for Cleveland, which understandably is asking for a lot in return. “I don’t think Kevin has a lot of value,” a Western Conference executive said Monday. “The contract is obvious, but you know he is going to miss games with the toll on his body… I don’t see teams taking Kevin on (without) at least taking back a first-round draft pick or multiple seconds.”
Love’s injury history, age (31) and so-so production this season undoubtedly hurt his value, and that’s without even mentioning the fact that he’s set to be paid like a Top-20ish player for the next four seasons.
Cleveland might be better served playing the campaign out and trying to move Love again this offseason, in hopes his value rebounds over the course of the rest of the season.
Among the teams who have inquired about Covington, according to The Athletic, are the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Rockets and, most interestingly, his old team, the Philadelphia 76ers. In that same report, however, it is clearly stated that Minnesota won’t trade Covington for cheap, even as they struggle through the 2019-20 campaign.
Covington is under contract for two more seasons after this one, for a total cost of just over $25 million, a fairly team-friendly price which surely factors in to the heavy interest teams appear to have in him.
Of course, his skill set, that of a 3-and-D specialist on the wing shooting over 35 percent from three, must also intrigue contenders league-wide.
First, San Antonio Express News’ Mike Finger reported that Aldridge hasn’t been placed on the trade block by the Spurs quite yet, but that if that were to happen, there would be plenty of takers, a logical conclusion considering Aldridge is averaging 19.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shattering a career-high three-point percentage of 43.7 on over 100 attempts from deep.
What’s more, per a report from the Miami Herald, one of those interested suitors could be the Miami Heat, who have been specifically been mentioned as a team looking forward to 2021 free agency, and who are projected to have max cap space that offseason. Landing Aldridge would give Miami a second All-Star to pair with Jimmy Butler – an All-Star who they have chased in free agency in the past, no less – and still allow them to maintain financial flexibility for the all-important 2021 offseason.
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2. DENZEL VALENTINE
For a lot of this season, the Chicago Bulls have made third-year guard Denzel Valentine a healthy scratch, handing him DNP-CD after DNP-CD, even as the team struggles for consistency and lacks veteran leadership a lot of the time.
That’s not to say Valentine would fix all of Chicago’s issues on his own, but he’s shooting nearly 39 percent from three over the last two seasons he’s played, and comes from a winning culture in college (Michigan State), so there’s no doubt he could contribute something for the Bulls if given the chance.
The rumored deal between the two teams would have included Chandler Parsons, Damian Jones (or Allen Crabbe, who has since been shipped to Minnesota) and a first-round pick, but now, it appears the Hawks will just chase Drummond in free agency this summer instead.
Another report this past week (courtesy of the New York Post) mentioned that the Knicks are also out on Drummond, which makes sense considering they’re nowhere near a playoff position so why swing a big move for a very expensive player now?
The expensive nature of Drummond’s deal could also make him a difficult sell for contenders lacking in the frontcourt, since salary-swapping on such large contracts can be tricky for teams already at or near the luxury tax.
Nevertheless, there’s a chance Drummond gets traded before next month anyway, so he’s still a player to keep an eye on ahead of the 2020 trade deadline.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
The Warriors close out the decade with an overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, 117-113.
Even with the magic of a new year on the horizon, the AT&T Center is a house of horrors for the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have struggled to find wins in San Antonio, only winning three games in 31 attempts since the opening of the AT&T Center in 2002. With three key players hitting the injury report before tip-off, things weren’t any easier.
D’Angelo Russell (shoulder), Willie Cauley-Stein (illness) and Kevon Looney (abdominal soreness) all didn’t suit up for San Antonio putting the Warriors at a disadvantage from the start.
Even with a shorthanded rotation, Steve Kerr’s squad battled the Spurs down to the win in their last game of the decade, falling in overtime 117-113.
The Warriors took a two-point advantage into halftime, but Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t go down easy. The Spurs lead going into the final period. However, a valiant effort from rookie Alen Smailagic, Damion Lee and Alec Burks forced the game into overtime.
In the extra period, the Warriors’ light rotation started to catch up with them, as they had no answer for San Antonio backcourt of Mills, Dejounte Murray and Bryn Forbes.
After bouncing around the NBA in his young career, Robinson III looks like he’s found a home in Golden State. Robinson continued his career season during the Warriors’ New Year’s Eve date with the Spurs, adding 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field.
Without Russell, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Robinson turned into Golden State’s lead scoring option in San Antonio. The Michigan Wolverine product gave the Warriors a chance to steal a game in San Antonio with his play in the first half. Robinson paced the Warriors in the first half, scoring 18 of his points early.
Lee closes out 2019 making a case for a full-time roster spot
Two-way contract guard is putting in the Warriors in a tough place with his hot play of late. Lee’s solidified himself as the Warriors shooting guard to start 2020, but only has limited time left on his 45-day, two-way contract.
Lee is doing everything he can to make a case for him to stick around with the big club for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, with his game in San Antonio being the perfect example.
Lee tallied 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, adding seven rebounds and two assists. Lee played solid defense down the stretch while hitting a few clutch shots in the fourth quarter, including a three as the play clock expired.
Similar to Robinson III, swingman, Burks stepped up with Russell out and got buckets. Burks carried the Warriors down the stretch, nailing several big shots to add to his game high-28 points. The Colorado product was on fire from beyond the arc, hitting four of five shots from long range.
Burks’ stellar play of late could force the Warriors to make a tough decision with the veteran. To start 2020, trading Burks now, or keeping him as a piece for when Curry and Thompson’s return will be a question the Warriors’ front office will have to answer.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Paul Milsap, Jeff Teague
The Atlanta Hawks were defined by their depth under former head coach Mike Budenholzer. It is what helped their entire starting lineup earn Eastern Conference Co-Players of the Month back in January 2015. But the best player during this era was Al Horford. The big man averaged 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game from the 2010-11 season until he left the team during the 2016 offseason.
Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas
Even though he won the 2008 NBA championship and the Finals MVP in 2008, Paul Pierce went on to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team three more times this decade. Before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2013, he was averaging 18.9 points and 5.6 rebounds with 4.1 assists this decade. Pierce even had a chance to officially retire with the organization on a one-day contract in July 2017.
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson
Before they were the franchise that managed to sign both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the same offseason, the Nets were long led by Brook Lopez. He was a member of the team both in New Jersey and in their move to the new home in Brooklyn back in 2012, which was his first and only career All-Star appearance. During his tenure with the team this decade, the big man put up 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds as well as 1.7 blocks per game.
Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum
During a tough decade for the Hornets, the one thing that kept them alive and interesting was star point guard Kemba Walker. He was a part of the team as a member of the Bobcats and then when they rebranded as the Hornets. Walker was a two-time All-Star as well as a two-time recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. The guard averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the team during the decade before he joined the Celtics.
Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler
(Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah
When former No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose won MVP in 2011 at 22 years old, fans in Chicago fairly assumed they would have a new defining talent for their city. Unfortunately, serious injuries made the point guard become a less impactful player than projected. However, the blow was softened a bit with the sudden emergence of a late first-round pick in Jimmy Butler. The wing won the league’s Most Improved Player in 2015. He was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, averaging 15.6 points and 1.5 steals per game with the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love
Considering that Cleveland’s hometown hero LeBron James notably left the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2010, few would have expected him to still be the Player of the Decade for this franchise. After such an ugly exit memorialized forever with a public shaming by team owner Dan Gilbert, though, James is a player who more than made up for the first early goodbye when he actually returned in 2014. All that he had to do was win the city’s first championship in any sport since 1948. In the process, he averaged an absurd 26.1 points per game with 7.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cavs in the 2010s.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Shawn Marion, Luka Doncic
Even though he was drafted in 1998, the undisputed most important in the career of Dirk Nowitzki happened in 2011 when he won a title and NBA Finals MVP. While his best playing days may have been before this decade, he still managed to be a perennial All-Star. The face of the franchise, he also won the league’s award for Teammate of the Year in 2017. His presence was felt, too, during his final season in the league as he helped ease the transition into the new era led by fellow European star Luka Doncic.
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kenneth Faried, Ty Lawson
The Denver Nuggets may have hit the lottery when they selected Serbian big man Nikola Jokic with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Jokic is a talent like no other in the league and has become one of the more versatile players in recent memory. He has averaged 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Nuggets and the most exciting part is that he may still plenty of room to improve. At just 24 years old, the center could also be the best player of the decade in the 2020s for the Nuggets as well.
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Greg Monroe, Blake Griffin
Despite not coming into the league until 2013, Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond has the second-most rebounds in the NBA since 2010-11. He has led the NBA in rebounds three times, twice earning All-Star considerations. Drummond has been consistent in his role and despite the team not being much of a contender, he has made his presence felt day in and day out.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant
The things that Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was able to accomplish during the 2010s were almost laughable. He was a back-to-back NBA MVP who won the championship three times. Curry led the Warriors to an unbelievable 73-9 regular season while topping the league in scoring and in steals in 2016 as well. He also connected on 3.8 three-pointers per game, which is 0.9 more than the next-best player during the decade. Curry has clearly redefined the way the game is played and is a generational talent unlike any we have ever seen step foot on a basketball court.
Houston Rockets: James Harden
(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Clint Capela
There has been no trade recently that changed the league quite like the one that sent the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year winner James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. He has been an All-Star every year for Houston and led the league in assists 2017. The guard then led the league in scoring in 2018 as the NBA MVP and then again in 2019. Harden has put up an absurd 29.6 points with 6.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Rockets. In an age of analytics, he has been the darling for general manager Daryl Morey.
Indiana Pacers: Paul George
(Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: David West, George Hill
Former Indiana Pacers wing Paul George was a four-time All-Star with the franchise, winning NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2013. The two-way star also received All-Defensive team honors three times while with the team. He averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game for Indiana during his team with the Pacers. One of the other best factors about George is that his trade allowed Indiana’s front office to acquire two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo and potential first-time All-Star big man Domantis Sabonis.
LA Clippers: Chris Paul
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Before there was Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Clippers, there was Lob City. None of the success happening for the franchise now would be possible if it weren’t for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The tide was turning when Griffin was drafted in 2009 and won Rookie of the Year in 2011. But it was solidified when they traded for CP3 in December 2011. Paul averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 9.8 assists with 2.2 steals per game when he was a member of the Clippers. He made the All-Star team five times in Los Angeles and twice led the NBA in assists during that time.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant
(Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Pau Gasol, LeBron James
Unlike with Nowitzki, the peak accomplishments for Kobe Bryant occurred before 2010. But even during this decade, he added another NBA title to his arsenal and an All-Star appearance each year before retiring in 2016. Bryant averaged 24.2 points per game for the Lakers starting in 2010-11, which was above average for someone who was his age. Of course, there was little more memorable than Bryant scoring 60 points in his final professional game.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: MARC GASOL
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Mike Conley, Zach Randolph
Former Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his time with the Grizzlies this decade. He made three All-Star appearances while a member of the franchise, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. The center was a fixture for Memphis, making the playoffs six times with the Grizzlies. Gasol, a World Cup winner with Spain, eventually won his first NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors after a midseason trade.
Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh
While it was obvious that James was the best player on the team, none of The Big 3 era Miami Heat would have been possible if it were not for Dwyane Wade. He was the instrumental player recruiting both James and Chris Bosh to Miami and even gave up more money in the process to allow it to happen. Wade also sacrificed his role as the key star to make room for more touches to both James and Bosh. This led to two more NBA Finals wins for Wade and All-Star appearances between 2010 and 2016. He was also able to come back to the Heat and retire with the franchise.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most dominant basketball players in recent memory. He has averaged 19.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game since entering the league. After winning the NBA MVP in 2019, he has followed up with an equally impressive season so far this year. His play has been so sharp that one of the league’s most pressing questions, even now a year and a half away from his eligibility, is what will he decide to do as an upcoming free agent.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Love, Andrew Wiggins
After trading away Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014 offseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to bounce back in some ways by grabbing No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played the part of one of the elite big men in the NBA, averaging 22.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game since entering the pros. Towns has also made 39.6 percent of his three-point attempts, showing his versatility as an offensive force.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson
His exit may have left a sour taste in the mouth of the New Orleans Pelicans, but Anthony Davis was absolutely stellar during his time with the team. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and also led the league in blocks three times. Davis was a six-time All-Star for the Pelicans and while he now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, his return will leave New Orleans in a fine place for the upcoming decade. Not only did the front office get an unreal surplus of draft picks in the deal but Brandon Ingram is playing like a potential superstar.
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
It was a relatively underwhelming decade for the New York Knicks under team owner James Dolan. The front office mortgaged quite a bit of their future to secure Carmelo Anthony via trade in 2011 despite knowing that the star would become a free agent that offseason. As such, the team was a bit of a one-man show under his leadership. He averaged 24.7 points as well as 7.0 rebounds per game on the Knicks, eventually leaving in 2017.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka
The Oklahoma City Thunder somehow drafted three MVP winners who all hit their primes during the 2010s. While none of them is still with the team, the one who made the biggest splash was Kevin Durant. The former No. 2 overall pick put up 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while also shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range. Even though point guard Russell Westbrook was the player who had the longest tenure with the team, it was obvious that Oklahoma City was the most successful version of itself with Durant on the roster.
Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Evan Fournier
Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic might be the most underrated NBA player of the decade. He made just one All-Star appearance, finally earning the love last season. While he originally started his career in Philadelphia, he has found a niche in Orlando. The former No. 16 overall pick has averaged 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the Magic.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Ben Simmons, Thaddeus Young
His career may have started off defined by injury but since he has become a healthier player, there have been few with a higher ceiling than Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. The big man has scored 24.2 points and pulled down 11.6 rebounds per game. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team his first year in the league back in 2017. He has made the All-Star team, All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team in both years since.
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker
(Photo by Barry Gossage NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Goran Dragic, PJ Tucker
The Phoenix Suns have not had a decade many fans will want to look back on with fond memories. But the one takeaway is that there is at least some hope for the future due to the scoring punch of Devin Booker. He has been able to put up 21.7 points and 4.5 assists per game since he entered the NBA just two days before his 19th birthday. Booker put up 70 points back in March 2017 and at just 20 years old, he was the youngest player to put up 60 points in an NBA game. Back in March 2019, Booker had three games in a row where he scored at least 48 points.
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LaMarcus Aldridge, CJ McCollum
There are few players in NBA history who have embraced their team’s city quite like Trail Blazers star has welcomed Portland into his life. After he was drafted No. 6 overall in 2012, he has turned his the Blazers into one of the most consistent contenders in the league. Lillard, who won Rookie of the Year his first season in the pros, is a four-time All-Star. He was honored with All-NBA 1st Team consideration in 2018 and led Portland to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He has averaged 23.7 points and 6.4 assists per game for the Trail Blazers during his professional career thus far.
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Isaiah Thomas, Rudy Gay
While the Sacramento Kings had a disappointing decade in many ways, their most feared player during the 2010s was undeniably DeMarcus Cousins. He was a force to be reckoned with on the Kings, averaging 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2011 and he then took home All-NBA 2nd Team in 2015 and 2016. The big man was also disciplined and suspended a bit too often for comfort during his time on the Kings, eventually leading to an inevitable divorce of the two parties.
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard
SAN ANTONIO, TX – (Photo byJoe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
When he won NBA Finals MVP in 2014, it was clear that former No. 15 overall pick Kawhi Leonard was a special player in this league. But he was able to take his game to the next level during his time with the San Antonio Spurs, also winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards for his efforts in 2015 and 2016. Leonard, who led the league in steals in 2015, also came into his own on the offensive side of the floor while before his time in San Antonio came to a surprisingly ugly close that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2017-18.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard
While it was Leonard who was the undisputed best player of the team that won the Toronto Raptors their first NBA championship, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry was the heart and soul of the squad. After the team traded away his longtime teammate DeMar DeRozan during the 2018 offseason, the year was inevitably going to be an emotional rollercoaster for Lowry. But for him to respond by helping Toronto finally carry the Larry O’Brien trophy was an effort that solidified his place as the Player of the Decade for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert
(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors
If general fans valued defense the same way they value offense, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert would be considered one of the Top 10 players in the NBA. After he led the league in blocks back in 2017, the French big went on to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and in 2019. Gobert has actually averaged 2.2 blocks per game since entering the league in 2013. He has also pulled down 10.8 rebounds per game and has connected on 63.4 percent of his total field goal attempts.
Washington Wizards: John Wall
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Bradley Beal, Marcin Gortat
Before his recent injury trouble, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall was an electrifying player. He has averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 assists for the Wizards since going No. 1 overall in the 2010 NBA draft. He made the All-Star team from 2014 until 2018, also grabbing All-Defensive 2nd Team honors in 2015 and All-NBA 3rd Team in 2017. Wall has averaged 1.7 steals per game, too, showing he can be a defensive stopper. Now he is on a tough contract, though he initially earned it with his previously fantastic play.
The Brooklyn Nets can’t overlook Gregg Popovich’s coaching ability — even with this year’s disappointing San Antonio Spurs team.
The San Antonio Spurs are off to a strong start in their candidacy for 2019-20’s most disappointing team.
The Spurs were a playoff team just last season and, as the No. 7 seed, took the Denver Nuggets to game seven in the first round of the playoffs. And they still have the majors pieces from that team: DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Derrick White, Bryn Forbes and Rudy Gay. Plus, San Antonio has Dejounte Murray back from his ACL tear. Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills are still around, too. Jakob Poeltl is a tough interior defender.
Now, this group has knocked off the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers, but they also lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not to mention the Pistons blew them out of Detroit to the tune of 34 points.
The Pistons have beaten Brooklyn, too, but only by four and in the early stages of the season, when the Nets didn’t have an identity. Now Brooklyn does, though. The Spurs, not so much.
But unlike the Cavs, San Antonio has what should be a strong core. The Spurs can absolutely steal a win on Thursday, especially since the game is on their turf.
Also, if the Nets play like they did in New Orleans, they’ll be in trouble.
The Rockets are without Danuel House Jr. for Tuesday’s game, while the Spurs are missing seven-time All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge.
Both the Spurs and Rockets are without a key frontcourt starter for Tuesday night’s clash between division rivals in San Antonio.
Houston (13-6) is missing 26-year-old swingman Danuel House Jr. for a second consecutive game due to illness, which the native Houstonian characterized as the flu in an Instagram post over the weekend.
House was upgraded from doubtful to questionable earlier in the day, but the Rockets opted to err on the side of caution. Starting center Clint Capela did return Tuesday after a two-game illness absence, and if House follows a similar timetable, he could make his return Thursday in Toronto.
Over the 2019-20 season to date, House has been one of Houston’s best shooters and wing defenders. He averages 12.4 points in 29.7 minutes per game on 47.4% shooting overall and 44.4% from three-point range. His athleticism and length at 6-foot-6 is also important, considering that Houston’s alternative options are somewhat undersized.
With House out, former 2013 NBA Draft lottery pick Ben McLemore again starts in his place for the Rockets. The smaller 6-foot-3 guard was excellent as a starter Saturday versus Atlanta, posting season-highs of 24 points, 13 rebounds, and six made three-pointers.
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Meanwhile, the Spurs (7-14) are without 6-foot-11 center LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed his second consecutive game with a thigh injury.
The seven-time All-Star had 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in an impressive 10-point home victory by the Spurs over the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday. Then, with Aldridge sidelined on Sunday, the Spurs lost by a whopping 34 points in Detroit.
#Spurs have downgraded Aldridge (sore right thigh) from questionable to OUT for tonight vs. Houston. It's the first time he's missed consecutive games since he sat out Feb. 12-13, 2018 to receive treatment on his chronically sore right knee prior to the All-Star break.
HoopsHype speaks to executives around the NBA to determine what they think about San Antonio Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge’s trade value.
Even after their surprisingly dominant victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, the San Antonio Spurs still sit at 7-13, have a -2.4 net rating (good for 20th in the league) and boast the dubious distinction of being the first Gregg Popovich-led team ever to lose eight games in a row.
The team’s horrid start has led many around the league to wonder if San Antonio could be open for business as the season progresses, particularly if they don’t turn things around soon. And one of the players consistently mentioned as a potential trade target is seven-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge.
As one league executive told HoopsHype: “I think it’s still early in the season, but the West is really tough [so you never know when it comes to trades]. I don’t think you can ever count out Gregg Popovich. I think they will make these decisions closer to the February trade deadline. There are some issues with LaMarcus: Is he a center now? Can he play with a fast-paced team? Also, matching the salary in a trade for LaMarcus or DeMar could be tough.”
Aldridge has two years and $50 million left on his contract. On the season, he’s averaging 18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds (the second-lowest total of his career), 2.5 assists and 1.8 blocks (a career-high) per game on 51.7/35.5/83.3 shooting splits. What’s more, he ranks 33rd in Value Over Replacement Player (+0.6) and 35th in Win Shares (+1.8), meaning that two valued catch-all metrics rate him higher than the average fan might.
Overall, those are numbers that could sway a contender into thinking Aldridge could be the missing piece needed to make a run. The best way to put it might be: If Aldridge is your best player, as is clearly the case in San Antonio, your team is going to have trouble on most nights. But as a secondary or even tertiary piece, there’s a chance he could be a legitimate difference-maker.
As far as teams that could pop up as potential Aldridge suitors, HoopsHype asked various NBA executives for their thoughts on the matter, and one of the first landing spots that was mentioned was a familiar team for the big man: “The Portland Trail Blazers could make sense,” a Western Conference exec told us. “Would Portland give up Hassan Whiteside plus Zach Collins or a pick?”
Portland did start the season off quite slowly, but after the addition of Carmelo Anthony, who is averaging 17.7 points and shooting 37 percent from three for the Blazers and now mans the 4-spot for them while on a minimum contract, they might be less inclined to make the potentially expensive move for Aldridge since they’re getting so much value out of Anthony’s deal. Plus, losing Whiteside’s defensive prowess and switching to a starting frontcourt of Anthony and Aldridge would force the Blazers to score 125-plus points per game in order to win, since it would be one of the weaker defensive 4-5 combinations in the league.
Portland wasn’t the only team mentioned for Aldridge. Another one that came up was the Denver Nuggets, who are 13-4 and aren’t even playing their best basketball yet.
“Maybe Denver could be a destination for Aldridge,” a Western Conference executive mentioned to HoopsHype. “If they think he can play the 4, it could make sense. He probably can’t play the 4 at this stage, but I don’t know how other front offices feel. Malik Beasley and Mason Plumlee for LaMarcus is one possible trade scenario.”
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With Nikola Jokic off to a slow start this season, averaging 16.1 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and 24.2 percent from three, Aldridge could be brought in to take some of the pressure off of the 24-year-old. If Denver believes the duo could coexist as a starting frontcourt in the modern NBA, that move could help slide Paul Millsap to a bench role, where he could do some serious damage against opposing second units.
A third Western Conference club was also brought up as a potential destination for Aldridge. The Phoenix Suns, losers in six of their last seven games after a surprisingly strong start to the season, were mentioned by a Western Conference executive, though he questioned if they had the salaries to match San Antonio on such a deal.
If the two sides could figure out the financials, Aldridge would be a completely logical target for a Phoenix team so desperate to turn the corner, since he’s a veteran All-Star who can play the position where they are probably the weakest: power forward. You could do a whole lot worse than a starting frontcourt of Aldridge and either Aron Baynes or Deandre Ayton when he returns from suspension. Remember, the Suns nearly signed Aldridge back in 2015. The big man has said he was “very close” to joining Phoenix, but he ultimately chose San Antonio.
Finally, the Sacramento Kings were the last team mentioned by league execs for Aldridge. “Would Sacramento trade [multiple salaries] and picks for Aldridge?” an NBA executive wondered. “I’m not positive if the money works, but can Aldridge step in and teach Marvin Bagley?”
Sacramento is 8-10 through 18 games, tied with Phoenix in record out West. Landing Aldridge would be huge for their playoff odds this season, something they haven’t done since 2005-06, the longest active stretch of futility in the NBA. The one area the Kings could use some help is at the frontcourt, where young buck Richaun Holmes is presently the starter. To be sure, the 26-year-old Holmes is doing a commendable job at the moment, averaging career-highs in points (10.9), rebounds (8.1) and blocks (1.5), but there’s no question Aldridge would both provide an upgrade to Sacramento’s starting five, while allowing Holmes to come off the bench, where he’d present matchup nightmares against opposing backup centers.
For teams like Phoenix and Sacramento, both trying mightily to turn the corner behind talented young cores but lacking in the veteran All-Star leadership needed to do it, Aldridge would be a fantastic trade target.
But we do have to take into account the fact that the Spurs fully guaranteed the final year of Aldridge’s deal recently, so they likely didn’t head into this season with the intention of trading their best player.
At the same time, though, there’s no way San Antonio thought they’d struggle this much in 2019-20, fielding a team that would set the losing streak record under Popovich. As such, and as if often the case in the NBA, we must remember things can change quickly in this league, and if the losing continues, don’t be surprised to hear Aldridge’s name start to get mentioned as a potential trade target as we get closer to February’s trade deadline.
HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy contributed to the reporting for this article.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
