Tag: Mike Conley

Ohio State basketball’s Bruce Thornton gets conference tournament recognition

Bruuuuuuuce!!! #GoBucks

The [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] basketball team had run not many expected in the [autotag]Big Ten Tournament[/autotag]. They became the lowest seed, No. 13, to ever make it to the conference semifinals.

On the way to the fourth day of the tournament, Buckeye guard [autotag]Bruce Thornton[/autotag] was phenomenal. He averaged 15.5 points, with 4.25 assists and 2.75 rebounds over the course of four games, and turned the ball over just four total times, none over the final three games. The freshman was the best player on the court for Ohio State and the Big Ten noticed.

The conference named Thornton to their all-tournament team, making him just the 10th freshman ever to be named to the team. The distinction makes it four for Ohio State, as Thornton joins [autotag]Greg Oden[/autotag], [autotag]Mike Conley[/autotag] and [autotag]Jared Sullinger[/autotag]. That’s quite an impressive list of Buckeyes.

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The Georgia native really came on late in the season, being named a captain, upping his offensive game and this was the cherry on top. Expectations for Thornton rose significantly as the year went on and he is expected to lead the squad next year in what should be a much more prosperous season.

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D’Angelo Russell/Russell Westbrook trade: How it impacts Lakers, Wolves and Jazz

The eve of the trade deadline featured one of the bigger names that many were anticipating to get dealt. Wednesday’s three-team trade saw the Lakers end the Russell Westbrook era by moving him, Damian Jones, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and a 2027 …

The eve of the trade deadline featured one of the bigger names that many were anticipating to get dealt. Wednesday’s three-team trade saw the Lakers end the Russell Westbrook era by moving him, Damian Jones, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and a 2027 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for a package that includes former Laker D’Angelo Russell as well as Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. In exchange for Russell, the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as well as several second-round picks from the Jazz.

Here is the breakdown of the trade and how it impacts each team.

All the players linked to the Clippers in trade rumors

The Clippers are poised to make a trade before Thursday’s trade deadline. This front office has made a mid-season trade every season since 2017-18 and that trend doesn’t appear to change now. As mentioned in HoopsHype’s trade guide, they have an …

The Clippers are poised to make a trade before Thursday’s trade deadline. This front office has made a mid-season trade every season since 2017-18 and that trend doesn’t appear to change now.

As mentioned in HoopsHype’s trade guide, they have an abundance of large moveable salaries that could help match for just about anyone in a deal. They can move either their 2028 or 2029 first-round pick to get a starting-caliber player or up to six second-round picks for marginal upgrades. They also have a massive spending advantage to add more salary on top of their $336 million roster.

Below is a list of players they’ve been linked to and a potential framework for them.

Lakers and Jazz have talked about deal that would involve Russell Westbrook

The Lakers have reportedly had discussions with the Jazz about a trade that would likely disappoint many fans in Los Angeles.

With just a couple of days to go before the NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the clock to find a way to make themselves into a legitimate playoff team, if not a championship contender.

Kyrie Irving is off the table, leaving them with modest and even underwhelming potential trade options.

Los Angeles’ weaknesses include 3-point shooting and defense, and the Lakers are still shopping Russell Westbrook, even though he has played somewhat better this season coming off the bench.

Reportedly, the team has discussed trading him and two first-round draft picks to the Utah Jazz for a package of role players, including veteran point guard Mike Conley and shooting guard Malik Beasley.

Via ESPN (h/t Lakers Daily):

“For example, sources said the Jazz have had discussions about a deal in which a combination of rotation players including Conley and Beasley would go to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for 2027 and 2029 first-round picks and Russell Westbrook, who would likely receive a buyout instead of joining the Jazz.”

Such a trade would likely anger Lakers fans, as Conley appears to be over the hill while Beasley’s numbers have dropped over the past two years.

Both are decent, but not great, 3-point shooters, but both are shooting under 41% overall from the field this season.

The trade deadline is 3 p.m. New York time on Thursday.

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Lakers targeting several players ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline

After missing out on Kyrie Irving, the Lakers are doing their due diligence on a potential trade as the NBA’s deadline approaches.

Now that trading for Kyrie Irving is off the table after all these months, the Los Angeles Lakers can finally move forward with the monumental task of upgrading a somewhat talented but porous roster with less than 72 hours before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

They badly need accurate 3-point shooting, and given their recent struggles on the defensive end, they could use some help in that department as well.

If they do make a deal, what type of deal will it be? Will they go for a true big man, a big wing, a small wing or a ball-handling guard?

The Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike reported the team has several specific players it could be looking to acquire.

Via Los Angeles Times:

“Toronto guards Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr., Atlanta guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, Detroit forward Bojan Bogdanovic (who the Pistons repeatedly have said isn’t available unless they’re blown away by an offer), Charlotte guard Terry Rozier and Utah guard Mike Conley all are viewed as possible trade targets depending on how the market shakes out between now and Thursday.”

None of these players would be ideal additions, although a few could significantly move the needle for L.A.

Both men named Bogdanovic would represent an upgrade in 3-point shooting, even if they wouldn’t add much of anything on the defensive end. Bojan Bogdanovic, in particular, would be a massive improvement in the outside shooting department while giving the team a legitimate third scoring option.

Rozier and VanVleet have been potent guards for the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors, respectively, but their shooting percentages are way down this season, which means they could actually hurt the Lakers in terms of 3-point accuracy.

Conley, who is 35 years of age, appears to be in decline, and his 3-point shooting accuracy has decreased this season.

Trent could be a very nice acquisition for the Lakers, however, as he has a reputation for being a legit 3-and-D player. At 6-foot-5 and 209 pounds, he can play the 3 at times, and he is shooting a respectable 37.3% from downtown on 7.1 attempts a game this year.

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Ranking the 20 most interesting NBA players who could get traded and where each may go

A look at the players who could be dealt by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

The NBA trade deadline is one week from Thursday, and while it might seem quieter than normal, there could still be a lot of activity.

Even if there isn’t a looming blockbuster move like when the Nets and Sixers swapped James Harden and Ben Simmons last season, there are teams around the league that could have an entirely different roster before the beginning of the All-Star break.

While there are some obvious sellers (e.g. Pistons, Hornets, Spurs, Rockets), others (e.g. Raptors, Pacers, Jazz) have slightly less clear intentions.

Based on the latest rumors and intel provided by insiders around the NBA, these are the players considered most likely to get traded — and where each player is rumored to go.

But remember: The trade deadline is always full of surprises. No one in the league predicted the Kings would have traded Tyrese Haliburton last season! So in addition to these players, expect the unexpected.

Jazz star Mike Conley feeling impressed with Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey

Utah Jazz star Mike Conley is feeling impressed with what Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey has accomplished so far.

PHILADELPHIA — Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley has put together a very impressive 16-year career thus far in the NBA. He has career averages of 14.8 points and 5.7 assists while being named an All-Star once and guiding teams into the playoffs plenty of times.

So when Conley speaks about a young player, he knows what he’s talking about.

When asked about Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, who has continued to make so many strides in the league, Conley was impressed with what he has seen thus far in the young man.

“Really, just the way he’s taken a jump,” Conley said of Maxey. “Especially, this year. Just his ability to be a playmaker. Not only just setting guys up, but looking for his offense and his ability to make 3s, be a 3-level scorer, really allows him to take his game to another level.”

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Maxey had 18 points on 8-for-24 shooting in the win over the Jazz on Sunday, but he didn’t need to do much. Joel Embiid had a performance for the ages in order to lead the team to the win.

However, it’s obvious Maxey has future All-Star written all over him. Even with the recent slump, he is still shooting 40.8% from deep on 7 attempts and he’s shooting 44.8% from the floor. That is what Conley sees in the third-year guard out of Kentucky as he continues to grow as a player.

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Proposed trade lands Mike Conley in Chicago for Nikola Vucevic

Conley could add insurance for the Bulls if Lonzo Ball’s injury continues to linger.

Training camp is just a few weeks away for the NBA as the regular season kicks off on Oct. 18.

For the Chicago Bulls, they enter the 2022-23 season with the majority of their core back from last season, including a new five-year max contract for Zach LaVine and the additions of veterans Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic.

Outside of the health of Lonzo Ball, one of the biggest questions for the Bulls this season is the future of Nikola Vucevic, who is set to become an unrestricted free agency next summer.

David Thorpe of TrueHoop recently proposed a trade for the Bulls, that sends Vucevic and a 2027 first-round pick to the rebuilding Utah Jazz in exchange for Mike Conley.

Thorpe explains:

“Conley would offset the immediate loss of Lonzo Ball and then work very well next to Alex Caruso in the second unit. Should the Bulls decide to nix the Nikola Vučević experiment, they could package him with a 2027 first-round pick for Conley—but that would require the Bulls brain trust to have a plan to replace Vooch.”

Thorpe is right — with the uncertainty surrounding Lonzo’s knee, adding a veteran lead guard like Conley could boost the Bulls’ in the interim. Chicago was said to being active in shopping Vucevic and his upcoming expiring contract this offseason and going back to the trade deadline last season so if Vooch gets off to another slow start this coming season, he could be on his way out the door.

Stay tuned to Bulls Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Trade rumor rankings: Mike Conley, Russell Westbrook and more

HoopsHype ranks the five players who have appeared most often in trade rumors over the past week, led by Mike Conley and Russell Westbrook.

As the doldrums of the NBA offseason continue, two of the biggest names on the trade market this summer have had their immediate fates decided, with Kevin Durant agreeing to rescind his trade demand and remain with the Brooklyn Nets and Donovan Mitchell somewhat surprisingly getting dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers for draft capital along with Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen and other assets.

Still, a few big names remain on the trade markets and have been mentioned in scuttle as of late, so we decided to return for another edition of our Trade Rumor Rankings series where we rank the five players who have appeared most on our trade page over the previous week.

Let’s go ahead and jump right in.

Lakers have interest in three Utah Jazz veterans

The Lakers haven’t given up on trying to move Russell Westbrook, and the Jazz may be a landing spot for him.

On Thursday, the Utah Jazz traded three-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they may not be done wheeling and dealing.

They are obviously starting a full rebuild project, and they still have a few veterans they may want to unload before the end of the summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, would still love to unload Russell Westbrook and get some value in return for him.

Los Angeles is interested in three of the players the Jazz may want to trade — Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson — but with one caveat.

Via Lakers Daily:

“A possible swap for Conley could include Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick, although the Lakers would have to carry some of Conley’s salary in the 2023-24 season, as his deal is partially guaranteed.”

The Lakers reportedly want to keep as much salary cap space as possible open for next summer so they could go after Kyrie Irving, who could become a free agent at that time if he doesn’t sign an extension with the Brooklyn Nets.

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