Fallen contender’s $287m regret; shock AD report ‘changes everything’ in LA – NBA Talking Points

The Toronto Raptors are in a rut … so what choices have they got transferring ahead?

Meanwhile, issues could be much more dire in Chicago and Los Angeles.

That, and extra, in our NBA Talking Points.

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RAPTORS’ BIG KD REGRET AHEAD OF KEY DECISIONS

The Toronto Raptors are in NBA purgatory – a spot no workforce desires to be.

They’ve gone 2-10 over their final 10 video games – together with a six-game shedding streak – to fall to 13-18 general and sit simply two and a half video games forward of a backside 4 document.

At this stage, they seem like not rather more than a play-in workforce or fringe playoff contender.

Despite their latest drop off, the Raptors nonetheless have loads of stars within the prime of their careers in Pascal Saiakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby plus reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes.

And so it’s created ample debate about which path president Masai Ujiri ought to go in given they’re basically constructed to win-now and compete for a title, but are at the moment a methods off.

Of course, the season hasn’t even reached the midway level but, and this time final marketing campaign, eventual NBA finalists Boston have been in the same place.

So what do the Raptors do? Firstly, they might be having regrets about what they didn’t do.

Toronto was among the many groups concerned with Kevin Durant over the low season after the Nets celebrity requested a commerce regardless of being contracted with the franchise till 2026 for a complete of $192 million (AUD $287), nevertheless a sticking level in negotiations was the Raptors’ unwillingness to half with Barnes.

Ujiri could be second guessing that now given the Raptors’ present place, how uncommon it’s for a participant of Durant’s ilk to be out there and with Barnes in one thing of a sophomore hunch.

But frankly, there simply isn’t anybody at the moment out there on the commerce market even near Durant’s stage proper now.

“Get the dynamite ready. The offence looks totally disconnected and the team looks broken,” Kevin O’Connor stated of Toronto on The Mismatch Podcast.

“(But) there’s no trade for them to make that can bring them to contention … KD (Durant) is not available, SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) is not available. Who? Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota? Please. Damian Lillard is not going to become available.

“Should they have traded Barnes and picks for Kevin Durant last summer? The Nets would’ve considered it for Barnes, but the Raptors didn’t want to trade Barnes.”

It could be a case that Toronto takes two steps backwards to take one step forwards.

This is factoring in that the Raptors’ payroll is ready to skyrocket. VanVleet can develop into a free agent in 2023 with an possibility for 2024, whereas Siakam and Anuoby might be free brokers in 2024 – all of whom are set for hefty pay will increase.

Plus, in keeping with ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the “entire league” desires Anunoby and the value and picks that he’d command “might be on par almost” with what the Cavaliers gave up for Donovan Mitchell – a package deal that includes Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, three unprotected first rounders and two choose swaps.

It’s additionally value noting generational expertise and looming Pick 1 Victor Wembanyama isn’t the one highly-rated prospect on this yr’s loaded draft class – creating additional incentive for the Raptors, who, as contested, have the equal eighth-worst document within the league – to discover a mini-tank of types.

Ujiri has all the time been a shrewd operator not afraid to take dangers together with touchdown Kawhi Leonard forward of his free company in 2018 to assist lead the franchise to its inaugural championship win.

He’ll little doubt be pondering the various choices to get Toronto out of this mess.

“They don’t necessarily need to go full on ‘we’re going to bad for five years’ blowing it up. They can trade one or two guys and just be a little bit worse,” O’Connor famous.

“Is the path being a little bit worse this year and having a better opportunity at a Victor Wembanyama or a Scoot Henderson or an Amen Thompson or whoever it might be – this is a great draft.

“Or is it better to maintain all of your current core and compete for a play-in spot, and then probably get roasted in the first-round at best?

“This team is about to get very, very, very expensive once those OG, Siakam and VanVleet extensions come up again, you’ll be stuck.

“I’m saying they should move away from the very expensive future and gamble on this great draft with Scottie Barnes and retool for the next 5-10 years.

“This isn’t a bottoming out path I’m proposing here. This is just let’s try to not be a play-in team and let’s try and be in a position where we have the fourth or fifth best odds (at Pick 1).”

LAVINE AND BULLS ‘NOT SEEING EYE-TO-EYE’

While issues haven’t clicked on the court docket for the Chicago Bulls this season, there’s now points arising off the court docket as nicely.

The Athletic reviews star guard Zach LaVine and the Bulls are “not seeing eye-to-eye” and that there’s a “palpable feeling” via the franchise of a disconnect between the 2 events.

The report states LaVine, who’s within the first yr of a five-year, $215 million contract, and co-star DeMar DeRozan even not too long ago held one-on-one conferences to work on the workforce’s points.

And in keeping with Chicago reporter Joe Cowley, a number of Bulls gamers “directed frustration” at LaVine through the workforce’s 150-126 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday (all occasions AEDT).

Yikes …

Chicago is at the moment a dire 1-18 to take a seat eleventh within the Eastern Conference regardless of going into the season with optimism after 12 gamers returned from final marketing campaign’s sixth-placed end (46-36) the place it ended a four-year playoff drought.

If something, issues are solely getting worse amid a four-game shedding streak, whereas in December, they’ve a backside 5 document, a backside 5 web ranking and have ranked backside 10 in offensive ranking and ranked backside 10 in defensive ranking, per StatMuse.

A knee damage to Lonzo Ball has clearly been an enormous blow, with the workforce going 22-13 with him final season and 24-23 with out him, however his return to the court docket is a giant unknown after his knee didn’t reply nicely to surgical procedure.

“I think everybody goes through ups and downs, just like every team does,” LaVine instructed The Athletic.

“Obviously if we’re not winning games, not everybody’s going to be happy. It’s not going to look as good as it was before. It’s all glitter and show when you’re winning games. But when you’re losing games and you’re trying to do the same things it’s turmoil.

“There’s a certain level of frustration in people trying to figure out what we can do to help right the ship. I think with the players that we have, we try to put it on each other to right the ship. We have those type of guys, those type of mentalities where each of us have been number one options on a team before and then we all come together collectively.

“It’s not going to take one person. It’s going to take all of us as a unit. I think that’s what guys are trying to figure out how to help the group.”

Chicago’s woes has led to requires it to explode its roster, and it’ll be one of many groups to look at forward of the February 9 NBA commerce deadline.

LaVine hasn’t appeared himself – regardless of nonetheless averaging 21.8 factors per sport – after present process knee surgical procedure that unusually required him to take a seat out the primary two video games regardless of taking part in within the pre-season.

Meanwhile DeRozan turns into eligible for an extension this summer time value a most of 4 years and $153.7 million. The franchise has a giant name to make on whether or not he’s a centrepiece to construct round.

The Bulls’ third star, Nikola Vucevic, is eligible for a 4 yr, $118.2 million extension, however he’s anticipated to develop into a free agent.

Should they go down the trail of a reset, a minimum of one of many large three would possible be moved, with DeRozan and Vucevic already linked to commerce talks.

However complicating issues is that the Bulls owe Orlando a top-four protected first-round choose from the Vucevic commerce. Chicago might subsequently go into tank mode however nonetheless find yourself with a choose outdoors the highest 4, which means it’d be handed on to the Magic.

Despite the entire Bulls’ points, the report states coach Billy Donovan’s job is secure for now, having signed a multi-year extension at first of the season.

But the workforce would need to get transferring rapidly, or else change – in some or kind – feels inevitable.

NEW AD INJURY REPORT ‘CHANGES EVERYTHING’

Look away now, Lakers followers.

Superstar centre Anthony Davis’ foot damage might be extra critical than initially thought, in keeping with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

There’s been no concrete news on how a lot time Davis will miss, with preliminary reviews stating a number of weeks earlier than the Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed he’ll be out for a minimum of one month.

And now, Windhorst says Davis’ damage is taken into account extra of a long-term subject.

“He’s not gonna be out a game or two,” Windhorst stated on The Hoop Collective podcast. “He’s gonna be out an extended period. Hopefully, it’s an injury he can get some treatment on and get it healed.

“It’s not good, it’s not a sprained ankle, it’s not a sprained foot. From what I understand, it’s something more concerning than that.”

Davis tweaked his ankle in opposition to the Denver Nuggets final week and didn’t return, but it surely’s now being labelled a foot subject.

Anytime the oft-injured large man goes down, there’s some stage of concern, so Windhorst’s replace ought to set off alarm bells for the Lakers.

It got here after a dominant stretch from Davis, who’s averaged 27.4 factors on a career-high 59.3% taking pictures, 12.1 rebounds, and a pair of.1 blocks per sport as arguably the shape participant of the league to play a number one function in turning across the Lakers’ as soon as bleak season.

After beginning the marketing campaign 2-10, LA has improved to 13-17 to get again into playoff competition – in giant behind Davis.

Their resurgence even led to requires the Lakers to discover buying and selling future draft picks for win-now items, however Davis’ damage has thrown a spanner within the works after which some.

“If AD is out, the Lakers are totally screwed. It changes everything,” Kevin O’Connor stated on The Mismatch Podcast.

Windhorst speculated that the Lakers’ commerce choices would largely be dictated on how a lot time Davis misses.

After all, issues in LA might go very south once more by the point he’s again – every time that’ll be.

“They‘ve got to choose between closing cap space or giving away the draft pick. And they’re only going to do that if they believe this year’s team can get something real done,” Windhorst stated.

“If he is facing a month or longer (out), I wonder if they make the decision to just take it on the chin this year.”

TEAMS CRASH BACK DOWN TO EARTH AS TANKING RACE TAKES TURN

We’ve returned to some stage of normality … or a minimum of what we initially thought was.

Several groups regarded as within the tanking race for Victor Wembanyma that shocked the NBA world early within the season have now come crashing again right down to earth.

Some greater than others.

The Utah Jazz have been the story early within the season, at one stage proudly owning a 10-3 document – behind their band of superb, however no star gamers (possibly excluding Lauri Markkanen) – and sitting first within the West after buying and selling Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert final US summer time.

Utah has since gone 5-13 to fall to 17-16 general and tumble right down to ninth within the West.

The Indiana Pacers began their season 10-6 and sat prime 4 within the Eastern Conference for a giant chunk of the season underneath the lead of breakout celebrity Tyrese Haliburton and different stable items like buzz rookie Bennedict Mathurin.

But Rick Carlisle’s workforce has since gone 5-10 to additionally occupy the ninth seed within the East.

Although a a lot smaller pattern measurement, even the likes of OKC (began 4-3, now 13-18) and San Antonio (began 5-2, now 10-20) appeared able to exceeding expectations early within the season earlier than falling off in a giant approach.

So how a lot of this was early-season kind being considerably unpredictable – or might workforce presidents and basic managers have doubtlessly had a quiet say on the matter behind closed doorways?

Of course, Wembanyama has appeared pretty much as good as, if not higher, than marketed, averaging 22.6 factors on 51% taking pictures, 1.4 triples, 9.1 rebounds and three.1 blocks in 31.7 minutes via 13 video games for Metropolitans 92.

Of course, there’s a number of extra highly-rated younger prospects like Scoot Henderson, Amen Thompson, Nick Smith and Ausar Thompson in what’s being touted as among the finest draft lessons in a while.

Along with Wembanyama being thought-about a generational expertise, it’s why the tanking race was thought-about such a key watch this season and a really actual storyline.

Well, a couple of extra groups have re-entered the dialog.