Category: NBA

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NBA

The NBA restart:An updated timeline

With the NBA restarting tomorrow, I decided to give an up to date timeline on the return to play not just this season but for the 2020-2021 season too.

(Everything from June 23-July 29 has already happened).

June 23
Transaction window opens

June 24
Soft deadline for players to choose whether to play or not in the bubble

June 30
Transaction window closes

July 1
Mandatory individual workouts begin

July 1
Hard deadline for players to decide not to play at Disney

July 7
Nets, Nuggets, Magic, Suns, Jazz and Wizards travel to Orlando

July 8
Celtics, Mavericks, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Pelicans, Thunder and Kings travel to Orlando

July 9
Rockets, Pacers, Lakers, Bucks, 76ers, Trail Blazers, Spurs and Raptors travel to Orlando

July 9-21
Team training camps

July 21-28
NBA award voting (awards announced during playoffs)

July 22-29
Inter-squad scrimmages

July 30
NBA Restart begins

August 15-16
Play-in Tournament

August 17
NBA Playoffs begin

August 20
2020 NBA Draft Lottery

August 30
Player guests arrive in Orlando

August 31
Round 2 of the 2020 NBA Playoffs begin

September 15
Beginning of 2020 Conference Finals

September 30
Beginning of 2020 NBA Finals

October 12
Game 7 of the NBA Finals (if necessary)

October 16
2020 NBA Draft

October 18
Beginning of 2020 NBA Free Agency

November 10
Training camps for 2020-21 season begin

December 1
Opening night for 2020-21 season

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NBA

Pelicans expect Zion back at practice Wednesday (NBA News)

According to a report on ESPN, the New Orleans Pelicans expect Forward Zion Williamson to be back at practice come Wednesday, the day before the NBA officially begins its restart. Williamson returned to Orlando on Friday after leaving to tend to a family matter that the NBA is calling a “family emergency”. In the article, ESPN also said that Williamson was tested for COVID-19 everyday and tested negatively every time. This means that the NBA only needs him to quarantine for four more days, which would need to include four more negative COVID-19 tests.

The NBA has placed LA Clippers Guard Lou Williams on a 10 day quarantine after the veteran was investigated by the league for what he did while he was on an excused absence from the bubble. On Friday Williams was photographed by the rapper Jack Harlow at an Atlanta strip club. Williams’ 10 day quarantine will keep him out of the Clippers’ first two games, versus the Lakers and on July 30 and the Pelicans on August 1.

Brooklyn Nets Guard Kyrie Irving is committing $1.5 million to WNBA players sitting out the rest of the season, whatever is keeping them from playing. Irving is sitting out the NBA season himself.

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Big 12 Big East Big Ten College Basketball NBA Pac-12 WCC

Gonzaga star Petrusev will sign pro deal in Serbia (CBB News)

Gonzaga center Filip Petrusev is leaving Spokane and will sign a deal with Serbian club Mega Bemax. For now, Petrusev does not plan on withdrawing from the NBA Draft, he has until October 6 to do so. Petrusev’s reason for moving on from Gonzaga is “There’s a lot of uncertainty with the NCAA season” said Petrusev in an ESPN story . Petrusev won the West Coast Conference Player of the Year averaging 17.5 points and almost 8 rebounds a game in 2019-2020.

2021 ESPN 100 SF Kendall Brown committed to Baylor on Monday. Brown chose the Bears over Marquette and Ohio State per ESPN. Brown’s commitment is Scott Drew’s third of July for the bears. Brown follows ESPN 100 talent Langston Love and European talent Jeremy Sochan.

Arizona State guard Alonzo Verge Jr. is coming back Tempe for his senior season. Verge Jr. originally declared for the 2020 NBA Draft in April. According to ESPN, Verge Jr. transferred in from Moberly Area Community College in Missouri before the 2019-2020 campaign. Verge averaged 14.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for the Sun Devils in 2019-2020.

Michigan forward Isaiah Livers says he is taking his name from out of the 2020-2021 NBA draft and will return to Ann Arbor for his final season of play. The talented forward averaged almost 13 points and 4 rebounds per game last season for the wolverines. ESPN says Michigan will be a borderline top 25 team with Livers back in the mix for the 2020-2021 season.

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NBA

The NBA’s restart calendar

Here is the NBA’s restart calendar from Orlando through the start of next season:

June 30
The transaction window closes at 11:59 PM ET.

July 7-9
Teams travel to Orlando.

July 9-29
NBA Training Camp

July 30
2019-2020 NBA season resumes, Lakers vs. Clippers headline opening night.

August 15
Potential play-in games between the 8th and 9th seed begin.

August 17
The first round of the playoffs begin

August 25
2020 NBA Draft Lottery

September 30
NBA Finals begin

October 16
2020 NBA Draft

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ACC American Big East College Basketball College Football High School Basketball NBA NFL Pac-12 SEC WCC

Headlines from around the sports world (College Basketball, College Football, NBA, NFL)

Tomorrow’s post:The NBA’s restart calendar

Today I’m going to try something new. I will discuss two to three headlines from college basketball, college football, the NBA, and the NFL.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-

The top available guard on the transfer market, former Florida guard Andrew Nembhard, is going to play and continue his education in Spokane at Gonzaga this fall. Nembhard chose the Zags over Duke, Georgetown, Memphis, Stanford, and USC. Nembhard started all 67 games the past two seasons for Florida and averaged 11.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game last season. While Nembhard will have to sit out this season due to transfer rules, he is expected to replace elite Gonzaga signee Jalen Suggs, as he likely goes to the 2021 NBA Draft next year.

In ESPN’s first ever 2023 rankings, dubbed the 2023 ESPN 25, talented point guard DJ Wagner was ranked number one. A YouTube highlight video in himself, Mikey Williams debuted ranked number three. And the son of LeBron James, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., debuted at number twenty-four.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-

This may not just be college football news, but it’s important. John Swofford will retire as ACC Commissioner after the 2020-2021 academic and athletic year. Swofford will step down after 24 years, making him the longest tenured commissioner ever to hold the ACC job.

Mississippi State Running Back Kylin Hill has made a statement. The star running back stated in a tweet earlier this week that, “Either change the (Mississippi) flag or I won’t be representing this state anymore & I mean that.. I’m tired.”

NBA-

Legendary former North Carolina wing and longtime NBA wing Vince Carter officially announced his retirement Thursday. At 43 years old, Carter announced his retirement after a 22-year career.

Lakers Guard Avery Bradley has announced he will opt out and not play in the NBA’s Orlando restart. A former teammate of Lakers star LeBron James, free agent guard JR Smith, has emerged as the lead candidate for the vacant spot on LA’s roster.

Mavs Center Willie Caluley-Stein has opted out of the NBA’s restart. To fill the open spot, Dallas is expected to sign Guard Trey Burke.

NFL-

The NFL has advised its teams to expect an on time start to training camps come July. Most players on most teams will report to camp no later than July 28.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame cancelled the NFL’s opening pre-season game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers due to the ongoing coronavirus. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement has also been postponed.

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ACC Big East College Basketball NBA SEC

‘Nova Forward Saddiq Bey to sign with agent, stays in 2020 NBA Draft (CBB News)

Villanova sophomore Forward Saddiq Bey is sticking in the 2020 NBA Draft. The potential lottery pick is signing with Excel Sports Management.

The Basketball Tournament, a winner-take-all affair for a seven-figure sum to be held next month. It will become the first live televised basketball competition in America since the coronavirus pandemic sidelined sporting events around the world in March. Featuring former college stars and stars from overseas, TBT, will commence at Nationwide Arena, the home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets for the 24-team tournament which will be played July 4-14.

Graduate transfer Jalen Johnson has decided to play at Wake Forest instead of East Tennessee State. Johnson announced the change in an Instagram post Monday. Johnson graduated in December from Tennessee and was set to join ETSU under Steve Forbes, who decided to leave and take over the Demon Deacons program.

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ACC Big 12 College Basketball NBA NCAA

Oklahoma State given one year tourney ban (CBB News)

The NCAA Committee of Infractions placed Oklahoma State’s men’s basketball team on three years of probation and banned the Cowboys from postseason tournaments next March and April. It will be interesting to see if 2020 ESPN 100 Point Guard Cade Cunningham decommits from Oklahoma State and goes with the new G-League route. Oklahoma State will appeal the probation.

The NCAA announced that its deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA Draft and maintain college eligibility will either by August 3 or 10 days after the NBA Combine, whichever comes first.

A Florida appeals court has temporarily granted New Orleans Pelicans rookie Forward Zion Williamson’s attempt to block his former marketing agent’s effort to have the former Duke star answer questions about whether he received improper benefits before playing in Durham.

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NBA

Taking a look at the NBA’s 22-team format to finish the season

The 16 teams in the NBA Playoffs will head to Orlando along with six other teams within six games of the playoffs. Teams will play eight regular season games apiece before a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed in each conference. Then, the NBA will continue with it’s usual four round playoffs with best of seven series.

Teams finishing out the season:

Eastern Conference
1.Milwaukee Bucks 53-12
2.Toronto Raptors 46-18
3.Boston Celtics 43-21
4.Miami Heat 41-24
5.Indiana Pacers 39-26
6.Philadelphia 76ers 39-26
7.Brooklyn Nets 30-34
8.Orlando Magic 30-35
9.Washington Wizards 24-40

Western Conference
1.LA Lakers 49-14
2.LA Clippers 44-20
3.Denver Nuggets 43-22
4.Utah Jazz 41-23
5.Oklahoma City Thunder 40-24
6.Houston Rockets 40-24
7.Dallas Mavericks 40-27
8.Memphis Grizzlies 32-33
9.Portland Trail Blazers 29-37
10.New Orleans Pelicans 28-36
11.Sacramento Kings 28-36
12.San Antonio Spurs 27-36
13.Phoenix Suns 26-39

Here is the proposed schedule for the NBA’s return:

June 30
Training camps begin

July 7
All 22 teams travel to Orlando, continue training camp

July 31
2019-2020 NBA season resumes

August 3
NBA Draft Withdrawal Date

August 25
2020 NBA Draft Lottery

October 12
Last day of NBA regular season (if necessary)

October 15
2020 NBA Draft

October 18
2020 NBA Free Agency begins

*Target dates for next season*

November 10
2020-2021 NBA Training Camp begins

December 1
2020-2021 NBA Season begins

My thoughts:Everything will likely move forward and go according to plan with the resuming of the 2019-2020 NBA season. But, less than a month of rest for teams who played deep into the playoffs? I don’t think so. Playing a forty or so game schedule and beginning in January or February seems more realistic to me. Then, the NBA and NBAPA can get back to “normal” scheduling for the 2021-2022 season.

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NBA

2020 cbhsports NBA Awards (if the season doesn’t continue)

Here are my 2020 NBA Awards if the season doesn’t continue because of COVID-19.

MVP:Giannis Antetokounmpo,Forward,Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis edges out a stellar season from thirty-five year old LeBron James. Antetokounmpo might be the best defensive player in the league and plays on the NBA’s top team standings wise. LeBron, as I said earlier is a very close second here.

Defensive Player of the Year:Anthony Davis,Forward/Center,Los Angeles Lakers
Davis makes the most sense here. In his first season on a contending team, Davis more than helped LeBron James out on the defensive side (and offensive side) off the ball, posting excellent numbers.

Rookie of the Year:Ja Morant,Guard,Memphis Grizzlies
Zion comes close–very close–here. But with Williamson’s injuries this season and thus lack of games played, Morant gets it here as the future of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Most Improved Player:Bam Adebayo,Center/Forward,Miami Heat
For Bam to be an All-Star on a team with Jimmy Butler is incredible. But the young defensive monster, while he has done improving, still has awhile to go before being considered a top three center in the league.

Coach of the Year:Nick Nurse,Toronto Raptors
For Nurse to lose a top five player in the NBA (Kawhi Leonard) and be a top three team in the eastern conference is pretty incredible. Nurse is worthy here.

All-NBA First Team
G:Luka Doncic,Dallas Mavericks
G:James Harden,Houston Rockets
F:Giannis Antetokounmpo,Milwaukee Bucks
F:LeBron James,Los Angeles Lakers
C:Anthony Davis,Los Angeles Lakers

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American College Basketball High School Basketball NBA SEC

What to make of Jalen Green’s decision to go to the NBA G-League

Here’s what to make about consensus top three prospect Jalen Green’s decision to forgo college basketball (whether that be at Auburn and Memphis) and go to the NBA G-League.

First, things first. The G-League has become a great option recently for top prospects. Spend a year in the developmental league and then move on to the real thing. Playing basketball and being paid in the G-League has to be a more enticing option for Green, considering the uncertainty of schools opening on time and thus the start of the college basketball season.

A big con for Green’s G-League decision is that he doesn’t get the exposure that players like Zion Williamson and Trae Young, got to turn into top five picks in the NBA Draft. Players like Williamson got to be on national television at least thirty times during their lone seasons playing college basketball. Plus everyone watches them for three weeks in March.

It’s a tough hit for Penny Hardaway’s program at Memphis. Memphis is far removed from their top ranked class in 2019. Hardaway’s plan was to pair Green with fellow uncommitted top ten prospect Greg Brown. But all signs point to Brown staying home and signing with Texas. Bruce Pearl and Auburn have had a successful 2020 recruiting cycle so its nothing more than a guy they lost to another team or school.

Jalen Green’s decision is made even bigger considering the fact that next year’s recruiting cycle (the 2021 class) is widely considered the last class with “one and done” rule in place. The NCAA will make changes that will likely take high school basketball back to a place where top prospects can enter the NBA after their senior years in high school. College basketball will be greatly effected by this but that’s for another post.