Zach Lowe – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Warriors land in top tier of Zach Lowe’s ESPN NBA preseason rankings

In Zach Lowe’s NBA tier rankings for ESPN, the Golden State Warriors landed inside the top group.

With the preseason underway and opening night looming in the NBA, it’s prediction time for many in the basketball world. After a run to the championship in 2022, the Golden State Warriors are unsurprisingly tabbed as a favorite in many predictions for the upcoming NBA campaign.

In Zach Lowe’s NBA tier list for the 2022-23 season, the Warriors landed in the top group. The Warriors joined the Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers in Lowe’s top tier, “The Inner Circle.”

According to Lowe, the Warriors should be better during the 2022-23 season.

Via ESPN:

The Warriors should be better, provided contract extension dramas — Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson — don’t open fissures. The Green-Poole practice altercation Wednesday — and Green facing potential discipline — brought a discouraging deja vu. I trust Golden State to handle it.

Lowe credits the potential rise of young players like James Wiseman, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and Jordan Poole as one of the reasons for Golden State’s chances of repeating in the 2022-23 season.

James Wiseman’s verticality adds a dream dimension to Stephen Curry’s pick-and-roll game (and Green’s lob passing), but Golden State’s repeat potential goes well beyond Wiseman.

Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are ready for more. Poole is still improving at 23, and will either be playing for a new contract or with the security of one.

Read Lowe’s full story here.

After winning the title last season, the Warriors will return with most of their core, including Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney. While the team lost contributors like Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr. and Damion Lee, the Warriors will welcome new additions like Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green for the 2022-23 season.

The Warriors will reveal their banner and receive their new rings on the opening night of the NBA season on Oct. 18 at San Francisco’s Chase Center against the Los Angeles Lakers.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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ESPN’s Zach Lowe sees Rockets as sleeping giant in 2023 free agency

ESPN’s Zach Lowe on the rebuilding Rockets: “There just aren’t many teams that are this well set up for the future, in the whole league. Free agents will go to Houston.”

With two elite young prospects in Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. leading a young roster and significant future draft capital, the Houston Rockets have drawn rave reviews for the early stages of their rebuild.

But it’s also worth noting that Houston’s salary cap management has them positioned for similarly strong success in free agency, too.

This offseason, the Rockets traded veteran center Christian Wood without accepting any long-term money in the deal, and they bought out veteran guard John Wall — who was entering the final year of his contract — rather than accepting a trade that would likely have multi-year matching salaries. General manager Rafael Stone appears similarly reluctant to accept longer-term salaries in a trade for Eric Gordon.

As it stands, the Rockets are currently positioned to have approximately $70 million in salary cap room in the 2023 offseason. Combine that with their recent and future draft profile, and optimism abounds.

In Thursday’s The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN’s Zach Lowe explains:

There just aren’t many teams that are this well set up for the future, in the whole league. Rafael Stone, the whole front office… they’ve gotten lucky in the (draft) lottery and all of that, but they have pivoted incredibly fast.

They are ready to be a cap space player as early as next summer, and they’re in a market where free agents are going to look at them. This team is now a sleeping giant in free agency, starting next summer, and could go from bad to interesting really freaking fast.

Earlier in the episode, Lowe referred to Houston’s blockbuster James Harden trade in January 2021 — which brought in future draft assets from Brooklyn and minimal long-term salary — as “an incredible coup.”

SALARY CAP UPDATE: Even after Jae'Sean Tate's new contract, I have the #Rockets projected to be able to keep Tate, KPJ's cap hold and all of their FRPs (2021, 2022 & 2023) and *still* have just over $70M in cap room!

— David Weiner (@BimaThug) July 7, 2022

The complete Rockets conversation between Lowe and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon can be listened to beginning at the 59:30 mark.

“I feel like Houston has slipped under the radar, and people haven’t realized what’s going on there,” Lowe concluded. “This is a market where you can draw free agents. Free agents will go to Houston.”

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Oleh Kosel: Zach Lowe in reaction to …

Oleh Kosel: Zach Lowe in reaction to Utah acquiring 5 first-rounders for Rudy Gobert on ESPN’s NBA Today show: “At this point, the only team that has enough picks to trade for Kevin Durant is Oklahoma City. I mean, what’s it going to take to get Kevin Durant? 12 first-round picks?”

Lakers adamant they won’t trade Anthony Davis

“I’ve been told in no uncertain terms Anthony Davis is not getting traded,” said Zach Lowe. “So let’s get that out of the way, let alone [traded] for Kyrie Irving.” Source: ESPN What’s the buzz on Twitter? Chris Broussard @ Chris_Broussard With …

“I’ve been told in no uncertain terms Anthony Davis is not getting traded,” said Zach Lowe. “So let’s get that out of the way, let alone [traded] for Kyrie Irving.”
Source: ESPN

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard
With @EphraimSalaam. How long should the Deshaun Watson suspension be? AD/Russ for Kyrie/Simmons: Who says no? Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady & more! Guests: @martinweiss @Max_Van_Auken
Catch us live weeknights 7-10p ET on @FoxSportsRadio & @iHeartRadio podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… – 2:01 PM

Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On Prime: Shaedon Sharpe Scouting Report; News w/ @Nate Duncan
Subscribe to Total Access for ad-free episodes of Dunc’d On, and much more: https://t.co/n4QLDCqWYd pic.twitter.com/NEQK9bdPeX – 1:00 PM

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Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Free pod: 2022 NBA Draft Board with Keandre Ashley of @HoopIntelllect: https://t.co/ETGjRxtlr4
Dunc’d On Total Access members get this episode ad-free, plus our other 4 pods per week. Subscribe: https://t.co/XSgwN6BUIK pic.twitter.com/f4dNIYKFiu – 12:45 PM

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Nassir Little @2ez_nassie
Seeing the Warriors parade has me fired up for next season! I looked at the past NBA champs on @Basketball-Reference and I’m excited to add my team to this list one day! #ad
tinysr.com/3NlERw5 – 6:31 PM

Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On Prime: Kyrie’s Wandering Eye; SAC and DET Offseasons w/ @Nate Duncan
Subscribe to Total Access for ad-free episodes of Dunc’d On, and much more: https://t.co/n4QLDC9m6F pic.twitter.com/SHdVqsconi – 5:00 PM

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Danny Leroux @DannyLeroux
Dunc’d On Prime: Dyson Daniels Scouting Report; Houston Rockets Offseason w/ @Nate Duncan
Subscribe to Total Access for ad-free episodes of Dunc’d On, and much more: https://t.co/n4QLDCqWYd pic.twitter.com/nBcdgh2FGs – 5:00 PM

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Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
If the Lakers can get Kyrie Irving without trading LeBron or AD, they should do it.
I know there are off-court concerns. I know he has injury issues. I know I’m the one constantly crying depth. But Kyrie really is that good, and his track record with LeBron is that impressive. – 12:00 PM

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More on this storyline

LeBron James: Get It Twisted if you want too! I’m due time he’ll remind you once again why he’s HIM!!! And I can’t wait for it to be unleashed! 😤😤😤〰️ -via Instagram / June 16, 2022

Clutch Points: Anthony Davis a few days ago: “I haven’t shot a basketball since April 5th.” Today: 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/RCkn8f8y10 -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / June 15, 2022

“I think this is great for this Lakers team. I think Anthony Davis needs an influence that he can have, someone in his ears. Rasheed Wallace is one of the best f****ng power forwards to ever play in our league, he is full of knowledge, he hasn’t shared that knowledge with the world, but I talk basketball with him several times, he is nothing below a genius and a mastermind when it comes to the block–he understands everything,” Garnett exclaimed, per Showtime Basketball. “I think he is going to be great for Anthony Davis, I think he is going to be great for LeBron James. I think he is going to be great for this Lakers team.” -via Clutch Points / June 12, 2022

Lakers adamant they won’t trade Anthony Davis

“I’ve been told in no uncertain terms Anthony Davis is not getting traded,” said Zach Lowe. “So let’s get that out of the way, let alone [traded] for Kyrie Irving.”

Protections for the 2027 first-round Nuggets pick revealed

A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

The protections for the 2027 first-round pick the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired from the Denver Nuggets in the JaMychal Green trade have been revealed.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported on the most recent episode of his podcast, “The Lowe Post,” that the pick is top-five protected.

UPDATE:

Lowe reports

Top 5 protected in 2027, 2028, and 2029, then converts to 2 2nds.

A couple notes:

To include 2029, must be executed after the draft.

He hypothesizes 2030 2nds, but that's too far out to be legal. My guess is it converts to just one 2029 2nd. https://t.co/GYynmEQRm5 pic.twitter.com/Me5oA2YMxS

— Stephen Dolan (@SteveThunderfan) June 21, 2022

Windy accidentally says he's heard OKC's 2027 Denver pick is top-5 protected.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH pic.twitter.com/y5otUCCKKV

— Stephen Dolan (@SteveThunderfan) June 21, 2022

If the Nuggets get a top-five pick in the 2027 draft, the Thunder will have two more chances to get the first-round pick: 2028 and 2029 under the same top-five protection.

If the Nuggets get three consecutive top-fives in the 2027, 2028 and 2029 drafts, then the Thunder will get one or two second-round picks.

Considering all the Thunder had to eat was Green’s $8.2 million salary for next season, this is a massive win that they were able to get such a light protection on a small trade.

The Thunder helped the Nuggets shed $20 million of luxury taxes on their payroll with this trade. The Nuggets, who recently loss general manager Tim Connelly to the Minnesota Timberwolves, appear to be trying to shed salary off their team payroll. A quartet of massive contracts to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon take up virtually their entire cap space.

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OKC Thunder news: ESPN’s Zach Lowe reveals where he placed Josh Giddey in his All-Rookie teams

ESPN’s Zach Lowe revealed where he placed Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey in his All-Rookie teams voting.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe released his All-Rookie teams on Thursday in his latest article. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey is a tough nut to crack in terms of whether he deserves to make it or not. If fully healthy, he would’ve easily made the first team as he won the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award every month he played.

In 54 games, Giddey averaged 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists. Giddey would miss the entirety of the post-All-Star break — sans one game — due to hip soreness. Thankfully for Giddey and Thunder fans, the rookie revealed during exit interviews that his hip injury isn’t a serious one and that he should be good to go at the start of next season.

With all that said, Lowe ended up placing Giddey on his All-Rookie second team as one of the guards, with the caveat of revealing that if Giddey played more, he would’ve voted him in as one of the two first-team guards instead of either Jalen Green or Herb Jones.

“The only drama on first team was the final spot, which came down to Jones and Green. Had Giddey played more games, that spot was his.”

Even with the disappointment of only playing just two-thirds of the season, Giddey had a phenomenal rookie campaign that should excite both the team and fanbase as it how good he can develop. Especially with a refined jump shot that he plans on working this summer, if Giddey can become a respectable shooter, then the sky’s the limit for the 19-year-old.

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OKC Thunder news: Zach Lowe shows Shai Gilgeous-Alexander some love in latest column

ESPN’s Zach Lowe featured Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander some praise in latest “10 NBA things” column.

In ESPN’s Zach Lowe’s latest “10 NBA things” column that was released this past Friday, he gave Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander some love. Lowe talked about the unorthodox style of Gilgeous-Alexander’s driving game and how uniquely methodological he is.

“Gilgeous-Alexander’s fourth season — and last before his maximum extension kicks in — should be considered a raging success. I don’t really care that his shooting efficiency has declined; that’s expected for any young-ish centerpiece on a rebuild this deep.

He’s averaging a league-high 34 drives per 100 possessions. He has maintained decent efficiency on those drives, and a nice pass-or-shoot balance — borderline miracles given the talent around him. He draws heaps of shooting fouls, and has turned the ball over on only 5.9% of drives — 36th lowest among 255 players with at least 100 drives, per Second Spectrum.

Gilgeous-Alexander just gets wherever he wants. Nothing feels forced. His movements are jagged and arrhythmic — hard to anticipate, harder to grasp. He seems to move fast and slow, and in every direction, at once. Tracking Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA version of eating soup with a fork.”

With the Thunder being a small market rebuilding team, it’s nice to see Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been one of the best scorers in the league since the All-Star break, receive some national media love, especially from someone as prominent like Lowe. With the Thunder rebuilding progressing and the team naturally getting better due to mature and younger talent, Gilgeous-Alexander should soon receive more attention from a national perspective.

OKC Thunder news: ESPN’s Zach Lowe features Thunder guard Tre Mann in latest 10 NBA things column

Tre Mann gets some national media love from Zach Lowe in his latest column.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe showed Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard Tre Mann some love as he was as subject in his latest “10 NBA things” column on Friday:

“He has dozens of subtle tricks — hesitation dribbles, shoulder fakes, weird ways of angling his body mid-dribble — to keep defenders off-balance, so they can’t mirror his steps and momentum. He strings them together with predatory intent. He knows what’s coming, but you don’t.”

“Mann’s smart footwork has made him a step-back-3 menace; he’s 13th in made step-back 3s, and he’s 26-of-67 on them, per Second Spectrum.

Mann hasn’t gotten to orchestrate a ton alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, but he’s been dishing of late with Giddey out; he has 20 dimes in his last 5 games. Mann has the smarts to grow into a secondary playmaker on a good team.”

Lowe used a possession against the Sacramento Kings where he was a pick-and-roll maestro as he uses De’Aaron Fox’s knowledge against him and tricks Domantas Sabonis next in order to create an easy look at the basket for a cutting Vit Krejci.

It’s nice to see Mann get some national attention from one of the most prominent NBA media figures. The 18th overall pick has played great recently with backcourt injuries hindering the Thunder and has shown flashes of being a great secondary scoring guard.

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“I think one thing that happened at the …

“I think one thing that happened at the trade deadline that I heard was that they were very close to a deal with Toronto that would have sent Claxton to Toronto for a first round pick and some protections on it,” said Zach Lowe on his podcast. “I think their intention was to sort of refit the roster by maybe flipping that pick for another wing, another shooter. Robert Covington’s name was mentioned. And sort of balance it out. That trade fell apart and Toronto went in another direction.”