Wednesday Windmill: The Charlotte Hornets are on a roll

     The Charlotte Hornets are on a quite a roll right now, winning 10 of their last 12 games while also riding a four-game winning streak. In Monday's 108-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Al Jefferson-Kemba Walker duo was in full force. Kemba Walker had 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists while Al Jefferson scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
   
     While Al Jefferson has been somewhat up and down all season and injured for a good chunk of the season, Kemba Walker has been nothing short of spectacular. In his last three games, he has scored 30+ points and has really taken it upon himself to be the leader of his team. With him playing like an all-star, Al Jefferson returning to form, and guys like Nicolas Batum and Courtney Lee knocking down shots and playing good defense, the Hornets are becoming one of the more dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference.

     This isn't to say that the Charlotte Hornets are going to win the NBA championship or dethrone the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference this season. But, what can be concluded is that the Hornets are getting closer to where it is they want to get to, which is ultimately a trip to the NBA Finals. If the Hornets can keep Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker together and continue to put quality pieces around them, it might not be too long before we see this team making a run at the Eastern Conference Finals in a way similar to what the Toronto Raptors are doing.

     With the Chicago Bulls fading, the Indiana Pacers retooling, and no other team outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers firmly establishing themselves as a championship contender in the Eastern Conference, whose to say that the Charlotte Hornets can't become a team capable of reaching the NBA Finals in the coming seasons? The talent is there and perhaps more importantly, Michael Jordan is there.

     While Michael Jordan has been criticized for the way he has managed NBA teams over the years, it cannot be denied that his presence alone makes the Charlotte Hornets an intriguing destination for free agents. If this current Charlotte Hornets team can continue doing what they are doing, odds are good they'll get a big name free agent or two that can help them achieve their championship goals.

     One possible name is Stephen Curry, who has ties to the city of Charlotte. While it is true that he loves the Bay Area, home is still home, and if the Charlotte Hornets offer him a boatload of money to go along with a quality roster, it just might be too good of an offer for Stephen Curry to pass up. You can call me crazy, but within a couple of seasons I see the Charlotte Hornets as a franchise competing for an NBA championship with or without Stephen Curry. The talent is there, the greatest player of all time is there, and the city itself is hungry to support a winner on the hardwood.

Saturday Slam: The Rise of Buzz City

One of the more exciting things for me to see in today’s NBA is the rise of the Charlotte Hornets. With a 15-11 record, the Charlotte Hornets are on the upswing and promise to be one of the league’s more exciting teams in the coming seasons. Led by Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, and Al Jefferson, the Hornets have a nice combination of guard-play and post-play.

Kemba Walker, who is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game is one the league’s brightest young point guards. He has a knack for hitting big shots and is willing to make the necessary plays to win games. Nicolas Batum is a fantastic player who does a little bit of everything both in the post and out on the wing. As for Al Jefferson, he is one the league’s most talented big men. Especially when it comes to scoring the basketball down on the block.  

While still not quite ready to win a championship, the Charlotte Hornets are proving that they deserve to be mentioned with the other up and coming teams in the NBA like the Jazz, Raptors, and Knicks (Yes, I said the Knicks). They have a fun group of guys that are young and eager to make their mark in the NBA.

What makes this all the more fun for me is I remember watching the Charlotte Hornets of old in the 90s with Alonzo Mourning, Muggsy Bogues, and Larry Johnson. I have fond memories of watching those teams play and I was sad to see the team leave to New Orleans. The Charlotte Hornets in a way are an important part of my childhood and to see them relevant and alive is really fun for me to see.

The NBA is a better league with “Buzz City” back. I felt an emptiness and a void with the Charlotte Hornets extinct. With them now resurrected, I no longer feel that emptiness.  I feel like a part of my childhood is still with me and what’s better is that they are operated by Michael Jordan, another part of my childhood that I treasure.
But before I delve more into 1990s nostalgia and start talking about 90s hip-hop, let me close by addressing the present. The Charlotte Hornets are building a team with a very bright future that we can expect to be competitive for a long time. The foundation is there and now all that needs to happen is for them to figure out who the rest of the pieces of their team will be. Jeremy Lin is a nice addition as is Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky.

If the Charlotte Hornets emerge into a legitimate contender within the next five years, don’t be surprised. At some point, LeBron James’ Cavaliers will run out of gas and there will have to be a new front-runner in the Eastern Conference. At this point, I see no reason for that new front-runner to not be the Charlotte Hornets. Especially if they are able to sign a certain “Splash Brother” with Charlotte roots, but that’s a story for another day. 

Daily Dunks: 9/14-9/20/15

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source). 

Here is my Daily Dunks page for September 14, 2015 through September 20, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hornets signed forward Sam Thompson and center Jason Washburn for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. The Lakers signed center Robert Upshaw to a partially guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Bucks have given their general manager John Hammond a contract extension through the 2016-17 season (Click here for details).

#4. The Spurs are instituting a season-tickets wait list (Click here for details).

#5. The Rockets signed second round pick forward Montrezl Harrell to a three-year contract (Click here for details). Harrell also saved a motorist (Click here for details).

#6. By signing Christian Wood, the 76ers put themselves in an interesting roster pinch (Click here for details).

#7. NBA GMs are discussing expanding the draft once the D-League reaches 30 teams (Click here for details).

#8. The D-League is planning on multi-team expansion for next season (Click here for details).

#9. The Pacers' owner is seeking a court ruling on team ownership (Click here for details).

#10. The Pelicans signed forward Chris Douglas-Roberts to a two-year contract (Click here for details).

#11. David Morway is not being retained as the Bucks' assistant GM (Click here for details).

#12. Kelly Oubre and Terry Rozier signed with Adidas (Click here for details).

#13. Trajan Langdon is joining the Cavaliers as Director of Player Administration. He is replacing Raja Bell (Click here for details).

#14. The Warriors signed guard Ian Clark for training camp (Click here for details).

#15. The Grizzlies signed guard Patrick Christopher for training camp (Click here for details).

#16. The Timberwolves hired Arnie Kander as VP of Sports Performance (Click here for details).

#17. The WNBA playoffs start on September 17. Click here to view the final standings.

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Toronto Raptors' D-League team has hired their assistant coaches (Click here for details).

#2. Moses Malone's funeral will be on Saturday (Click here for details).

#3. Gus Johnson and Marques Johnson have joined the Milwaukee Bucks' broadcast team (Click here for details).

#4. The Warriors hired Steve Nash for a consulting job to help develop their backcourt (Click here for details).

#5. Anthony Bennett may be staying in Minnesota (Click here for details).

#6. The Wizards signed forward Josh Harrellson for training camp (Click here for details).

#7. Roy Hibbert has no hard feelings towards the Pacers (Click here for details).

#8. Eric Gordon wants to stay with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#9. Rockets center Donatas Motiejunas (back) won't be ready for training camp (Click here for details).

#10. Walt Frazier says Wilt Chamberlain is the greatest of all time (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Rockets have unveiled some alternate uniforms (Click here for details).

#2. The Jazz plan to stick with the point guards on their roster (Click here for details).

#3. The Brooklyn Nets and the YES Network are near a massive TV deal (Click here for details).

#4. The Mavericks tried to sign Steve Nash this summer (Click here for details).

#5. The Suns signed five players for training camp (Click here for details).

#6. Former ASU center Jordan Bachynski has signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Pistons (Click here for details).

#7. Norris Cole has re-signed with the Pelicans on a one-year, $3.03M qualifying offer (Click here for details).

#8. Nets forward Andrea Bargnani (calf) competed for Italy in Eurobasket. He is fine (Click here for details).

#9. Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis: "I am not Shawn Bradley" (Click here for details).

#10. Stephen Curry has signed a mega-extension with Under Armour (Click here for details).

#11. The Nets signed Angolan big man Yanick Moreira to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#12. The Hawks signed small forward DeQuan Jones to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker underwent minor surgery to repair a nasal fracture. He should be ready for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. Spain defeated France 80-75 to advance to the Olympics. Pau Gasol led Spain with 40 points and 11 rebounds (Click here for details).

#3. The Heat signed point guard John Lucas III for training camp (Click here for details).

#4. The Pelicans have unveiled some new alternate uniforms (Click here for details).

#5. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving says he is making progress in his recovery (Click here for details).

#6. The 76ers expect Jordan McRae to reject his tender (Click here for details).

#7. Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant has been medically cleared to resume all basketball related activities (Click here for details).

#8. The Bulls signed shooting guard Jordan Crawford to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#9. Power forward Jerrelle Benimon will not join the Cavaliers for training camp. He is playing in China instead (Click here for details).

#10. The Timberwolves signed shooting guard Nick Wiggins and center Kelon Penn for training camp (Click here for details).

#11. Undrafted big man Joshua Smith from Georgetown has signed with the Rockets for training camp (Click here for details).

#12. Forward Nick Minnerath has signed with the Cavaliers for training camp (Click here for details).

Thursday's WNBA Playoff results: 

Sky 77 Fever 72. Sky guard Allie Quigley had 22 points of the bench. Sky lead the series 1-0.

Mercury 88 Shock 55: Final. Mercury power forward Brittney Griner had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Mercury lead the series 1-0.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1.The Hawks signed point guard Edgar Sosa for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. Carlos Delfino worked out for the Spurs (Click here for details).

#3. The Hawks made several hirings and promotions in their organization (Click here for details).

#4. The Nets signed forward Justin Harper to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#5. Mike Krzyzewski says some very nice things about Kobe Bryant (Click here for details).

#6. Lakers head coach Byron Scott plans to give Kobe Bryant fewer minutes (Click here for details).

#7. Lithuania defeated Serbia to advance to the Olympics (Click here for details).

#8. The Suns have unveiled a new court (Click here for details).

#9. The Hawks are getting creative with the way they try to sell season tickets (Click here for details).

#10. The NBA is studying wearable technology for game use (Click here for details).

#11. Warriors forward Harrison Barnes has signed with agent Jeff Schwartz (Click here for details).

#12. Montrezl Harrell officially signed with the Rockets (Click here for details).

#13. Yanick Moreria, won't be able to join the Nets for training camp. He suffered a minor tear to a ligament in his left foot which will take 4-6 weeks to heal (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Playoffs Results: 

Lynx 67 Sparks 65: Final. Maya Moore led the Lynx with 33 points. Lynx lead series 1-0.
Mystics 86 Liberty 83: Final/2OT. Mystics lead series 1-0.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Blake Griffin says he wants to finish his career with the Clippers (Click here for details).

#2. Marco Belinelli will join the Kings next weekend (Click here for details).

#3. Spain wins Eurobasket and Pau Gasol won MVP (Click here for details).

#4. Shaquille O'Neal thinks Kobe Bryant should play beyond this season (Click here for details).

#5. Dwight Howard has signed with PEAK shoes, a Chinese brand (Click here for details).

#6. Jimmer Fredette says he is surprised the Spurs called (Click here for details).

#7. The Heat have several players playing in the final year of their contracts (Click here for details).

#8. France defeated Serbia 81-68 to finish 3rd place in Eurobasket (Click here for details).

#9. The Rockets waived guard Remi Yusuf (Click here for details).

#10. Forward DeShaun Thomas has signed with the Spurs for training camp (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Fever 89 Sky 82: Final. Tamika Catchings led the Fever with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Series is tied 1-1.

Mercury 91 Shock 67: Final. Mercury win series 2-0. Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 rebounds.

Sundays' NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Warriors plan to keep guard Chris Babb around for training camp (Click here for details).

#2. 76ers point guard Kendall Marshall isn't expected to be ready to start the season (Click here for details).

#3. Jerry West thinks Kobe Bryant could play beyond this season (Click here for details).

#4. Shaquille O'Neal has some high praise for Anthony Davis (Click here for details).

#5. Hornets big man Al Jefferson lost 20 pounds by cutting out fried chicken (Click here for details).

#6. The Bucks signed three players for training camp (Click here for details).

#7. The Warriors have offered Harrison Barnes a 4 year, $64M contract (Click here for details).

#8. Pau Gasol has committed to playing for Spain in the 2016 Rio Olympics (Click here for details).

Sunday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 86 Mystics 68: Final. Tina Charles led the Liberty with 22 points. Series is tied 1-1.

Sparks 81 Lynx 71: Final. Candace Parker led the Sparks with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Series is tied 1-1.


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news and like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation. 

Wednesday Windmill: Have the Charlotte Hornets gotten better?

     The Charlotte Hornets have had an interesting summer. They drafted Frank Kaminsky, signed Jeremy Lin, acquired Nicolas Batum from the Trail Blazers at the expense of Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson, acquired Spencer Hawes from the Clippers at the expense of Lance Stephenson, signed undrafted rookie Aaron Harrison, and also acquired Jeremy Lamb from the Thunder. In addition to all that, they also let Mo Williams go to the Cavaliers and let Bismack Biyombo go to the Raptors. 

     While they have certainly been active, have they really made themselves better? To a certain extent they have gotten better in the sense that they got rid of some players who weren't really making them better. But, if you define getting better as "improving your chances of making a run in the playoffs," it's hard to say if they have improved amid all these moves. To make sense of all these moves, I will first address who they have acquired and then address who they have lost. 

     The selection of Frank Kaminsky looks good since Kaminsky is one of the more NBA ready rookies in the draft. While his ceiling isn't as high as other players, he comes into the NBA with a lot more polish than most rookies. He should be ready to make an impact in the front court and give Al Jefferson some help inside. As for Spencer Hawes, I would say that he too should be able to give Al Jefferson some additional help inside and perhaps stretch the floor with his outside shooting. 

     As for Nicolas Batum, he's a big name, but his production last season with the Trail Blazers wasn't that good. His scoring averaged dipped to 9.4 points per game while his rebounding and assist numbers also dropped from the previous season despite only playing 2.5 fewer minutes per game. In addition to those numbers dropping, his field goal percentage and  three-point percentage dropped as well. Only his free throw percentage improved, jumping up from 80.3% to 85.7%. 

    If you are wondering why the Trail Blazers were willing to get rid of Nicolas Batum, this is why. His production wasn't very good last season. It seems like the trade between the Hornets and Trail Blazers was really a case of both teams taking each other's trash and nothing more. In essence, Nicolas Batum seems like a nice addition given his name, but in reality, he's nothing to get excited about. 

     In regards to Jeremy Lin, he's nothing more than a solid back up point guard. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if you think Jeremy Lin is going to bring "Linsanity" to "Buzz City" you are delusional. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game last season with the Lakers, which are solid numbers, but nothing that will bring any real change to your team. 

     Lastly, the addition of guards Aaron Harrison and Jeremy Lamb could be nice, but given that Harrison is an undrafted rookie and Lamb is a guy who gathered dust on the Thunder's bench the past three seasons, there's little reason to expect either of these guys to make a huge impact. 

     In regards to the guys who they lost, Noah Vonleh was a bust, so he's a good guy to get rid of. As for Gerald Henderson and Mo Williams, both of those guys are guys who can put the ball in the basket. Henderson averaged 12.1 points per game last season and Williams averaged 14.2 points per game for the season (Timberwolves and Hornets), but averaged 17.2 points per game during his games with the Hornets. I'm not sure either of those guys are good departures given their scoring abilities. Especially Mo Williams. I think he was a really nice player to have coming off the bench to give Kemba Walker support. 

     In regards to Lance Stephenson, he truly is a good guy to get off the Hornets. He averaged only 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and .6 steals per game. His production was poor and he was a distraction off the court, getting under the skin of his own teammates and wreaking havoc in the locker room. Lance Stephenson was like a Hornets nest placed in the team's locker room and I don't mean that in a good way. 

     As for Bismack Biyombo leaving for the Raptors, I don't think he'll be missed given the addition of Frank Kaminsky. Biyombo never lived up to the hype and he could use a change of scenery. The departure of Biyombo is mutually beneficial for both sides. 

    In summary, the Hornets have made a lot of noise but haven't done anything to really improve their team. They've shuffled things around and are trying new things, but it will not get them where they want to get to. They will once again be a team that will be fighting for an eight seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and nothing more. 

     

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Daily Dunks: 6/8-6/14

                                                    (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source)

Here is my Daily Dunks page for June 8, 2015 through June 14, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with all the latest news and scores from the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. LeBron James gave all his teammates brand new Apple Watches before the NBA Finals (Click here for details).

#2. The Knicks are interested in trading down for Murray State guard Cameron Payne (Click here for details).

#3. Allen Iverson says he wasn't drunk during his "practice" rant (Click here for details).

#4. LaMarcus Aldridge has been spotted in Boston (Click here for details).

#5. Report: It's a "long shot" that Kevin Love ends up in Boston (Click here for details).

#6. The NBA says Andre Iguodala fouled LeBron James at the end of Game 2. The NBA also says LeBron James traveled (Click here for details).

#7. Melvin Hunt will likely stay put in Denver and permanently take over as the Nuggets' head coach (Click here for details).

#8. The 76ers will unveil new uniforms on June 18 (Click here for details).

#9. D'Angelo Russell has worked out for the Lakers (Click here for details).

#10. Arnie Kander will no longer continue as the Pistons' physical therapist effective June 30 (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Maurice Cheeks has emerged as a candidate to join Billy Donovan's staff on the Thunder (Click here for details).

#2. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is on the cover of NBA Live 16 (Click here for details).

#3. Karl-Anthony Towns declined a private workout invite from the Lakers (Click here for details).

#4. The Mavericks are reportedly the front runner to sign LaMarcus Aldridge if he decides to leave Portland (Click here for details).

#5. Jazz center Rudy Gobert will work with Dirk Nowitzki's shooting coach this summer (Click here for details).

#6. At the moment, Flip Saunders plans to continue on as the Timberwolves' head coach. He is also the team's president of basketball operations (Click here for details).

#7. Trail Blazers assistant coach David Vanterpool has interviewed for the Nuggets' head coaching job (Click here for details).

#8. The Bucks plan to match whatever offer sheet Khris Middleton signs in free agency (Click here for details).

#9. Robert Horry criticized Charles Barkley's work ethic recently (Click here for details).

#10. Rick Pitino has inked an extension worth more than $60M with Louisville through 2026 (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Finals Results: 

Cavaliers 96 Warriors 91: Final. Cavaliers lead the series 2-1. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Tuesday's WNBA Results: 

Liberty 86 Fever 79. Shock 68 Storm 45. Liberty forward Tina Charles had 21 points.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova was released from the hospital after experiencing dehydration and cramping. He will play in Game 4 (Click here for details).

#2. Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert (shoulder) will play in Game 4 (Click here for details).

#3. Warriors forward Draymond Green (back spasms) also will play in Game 4 of the NBA Finals (Click here for details).

#4. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry thinks he has found a weakness in the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#5. Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby is stepping down from that role and moving to the role of senior advisor (Click here for details).

#6. Andrei Kirilenko says odds are "80 percent" he retires this summer (Click here for details).

#7. The NBA and Nike have agreed on an 8-year partnership which will commence in the 2017-18 season (Click here for details).

#8. Rockets center Dwight Howard is getting sued for not paying child support (Click here for details).

#9. Kings GM Pete D'Alessandro is leaving the organization to take a front office job with the Nuggets (Click here for details).

#10. The Celtics want to trade a couple of their later first round picks for a higher first round pick (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Bucks traded forward Ersan Illyasova to the Pistons for forwards Caron Butler and Shawne Williams (Click here for details).

#2. Former NBA coach Dick Motta has been honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award (Click here for details).

#3. Report: There is "No doubt" the Timberwolves will draft Karl-Anthony Towns with the #1 overall pick (Click here for details).

#4. Frank Kaminsky will meet with the Knicks before the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#5. Thabo Sefolosha have a court date set for next Tuesday in regards to their NYPD incident (Click here for details).

#6. Report: The Mavericks won't give Monta Ellis a raise if he opts out of his contract (Click here for details).

#7. Report: The Lakers want to take Jahlil Okafor with the #2 overall pick (Click here for details).

#8. The Spurs have given the Bulls permission to speak to Jim Boylen about their lead assistant coaching role (Click here for details).

#9. Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon plans to exercise his $15.5M player option for next season (Click here for details).

#10. The Warriors went with a small-ball lineup in Game 4 of the NBA Finals and it worked (Click here for details).

Thursday's NBA Finals Results: 

Warriors 103 Cavaliers 82: Final. Series is tied 2-2. Warriors small forward Andre Iguodala had 22 points and 8 rebounds.

Thursday's WNBA Results: 

Sun 67 Sky 65. Liberty 68 Mercury 57. Dream 72 Stars 69. Lynx 94 Storm 70.

Dream forward Angel McCoughtry had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals.

Liberty forward Tina Charles had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Lynx forward Tricia Liston had 15 points off the bench on 4-7 shooting from three.

Sun guard Alex Bentley had 16 points.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Rockets will pick up forward Kostas Papanikolaou's $4.8M option (Click here for details).

#2. Caron Butler believes the Bucks will waive him (Click here for details).

#3. Pete D'Alessandro's new position with the Nuggets is Senior Vice President of Team and Business Operations (Click here for details).

#4. Some players on the Cavaliers think they need to deepen their rotation (Click here for details).

#5. Hawks strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson is joining the Jazz as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#6. The Bucks will target Tyson Chandler and Brook Lopez in free agency (Click here for details).

#7. Report: The Jazz will actively pursue Paul Millsap in free agency (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors center Andrew Bogut says LeBron James jumped into the camera man whose camera cut LeBron James' head (Click here for details).

#9. Stephen Curry's wife has some fun with Cavaliers fans, saying they aren't loud enough (Click here for details).

#10. Robert Horry says he left the Lakers "with so much hatred for that team" (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Dream 64 Mystics 61. Fever 77 Mercury 74. Dream forward Angel McCoughtry had 21 points and 6 rebounds. Fever forward Tamika Catchings had 27 points and 13 rebounds.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Hornets owner Michael Jordan says he wants to win a title as an owner (Click here for details).

#2. Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky and other players will workout for the Pacers on Sunday (Click here for details).

#3. The Clippers hope to acquire a draft pick (Click here for details).

#4. Texas power forward Jonathan Holmes is canceling workouts with some teams (Click here for details).

#5. Report: The 76ers won't let Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, or D'Angelo Russell fall to the Knicks (Click here for details).

#6. The Lakers may draft Latvian center Kristaps Porzingis at #2 overall (Click here for details).

#7. Spurs assistant coach Jim Boylen is joining the Bulls as an associate head coach (Click here for details).

#8. Hornets center Al Jefferson exercised his player option and will return to the team next season (Click here for details).

#9. Michael Jordan says he is sure he can beat any of the Hornets players in one-on-one (Click here for details).

#10. J.R. Smith's brother Chris Smith is exploring several summer league options (Click here for details).

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. 76ers center Joel Embiid's injured left foot is experiencing some setbacks (Click here for details).

#2. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak says Kobe Bryant won't factor into who they draft at #2 overall (Click here for details).

#3. Bulls assistant coach Adrian Griffin will likely join Scott Skiles' staff on the Magic (Click here for details).

#4. LeBron James wants the NBAPA to address the position of cameramen after his fall in Game 4 (Click here for details).

#5. Trevor Mbakwe will join the Trail Blazers for summer league (Click here for details).

#6. Jerome Hill has withdrawn from the 2015 NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James on wining the NBA Finals: "I feel confident, because I'm the best player in the world." (Click here for source).

#8. LeBron James on losing in Game 5: "It was just one game, and we have the opportunity on Tuesday to force a Game 7". (Click here for source).

#9. Cavaliers head coach David Blatt on limiting Timofey Mozgov's minutes in Game 5: "It was the way we needed to play tonight to give ourselves a chance to win." (Click here for source).

#10. NBA commissioner Adam Silver does not expect a lockout in 2017 (Click here for details).

Sunday's NBA Finals Results: 
Warriors 104 Cavaliers 91. Warriors lead the series 3-2. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 37 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 40 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Sunday's WNBA Scores: 
Mystics 74 Liberty 59. Storm 60 Sparks 54. Shock 73 Stars 62. Mercury 81 Lynx 66. Sun 82. Dream 64. Sky 98 Fever 72. Sky forward Elena Delle Donne had 24 points and 9 rebounds.



---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Daily Dunks: 4/13-4/19

                                                    (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

This is my Daily Dunks page for April 13, 2015 through April 19, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with all the latest news, scores, and rumors from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Celtics clinched a playoff spot. Also, the Pacers now are in the driver's seat for the #8 seed in the East. The Nets need some help.

#2. Lakers guard Dwight Buycks has a fractured right hand which will end his season. Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (knee) is also done for the season (Click here and here for details).

#3. In wake of injuries to their back court, the Lakers have signed guard Vander Blue from their D-League team just for the remainder of the season, which ends on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#4. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio's ankle surgery was a success. He should be fully healed before the end of the summer (Click here for details).

#5. The Rocky Mountain Review, now the Utah Jazz Summer League will return this summer (Click here for details).

#6. Child abuse charges against Dwight Howard have been dropped (Click here for details).

#7. Isaiah Thomas and Tim Duncan have won player of the week honors (Click here for details).

#8. Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) didn't play on Monday (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (knee) and Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (ankle) are questionable for Wednesday after getting hurt on Monday (Click here for details).

#10. Pistons center Greg Monroe says he hasn't agreed to anything with the Knicks (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Pelicans 100 Timberwolves 88. Jazz 109 Mavericks 92. Warriors 111 Grizzlies 107. Cavaliers 109 Pistons 97. Bucks 107 76ers 97. Rockets 100 Hornets 90. Knicks 112 Hawks 108. Heat 100 Magic 93. Bulls 113 Nets 86. Thunder 101 Trail Blazers 90. Kings 102 Lakers 92. Clippers 110 Nuggets 103.

Monday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Skyforce 100 Charge 89: Final. Skyforce forward Shawn Jones had 26 points and 14 rebounds.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Duke freshman small forward Justise Winslow is declaring for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#2. Hawks shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha says the NYPD caused his leg injury (Click here for details).

#3. Paul Pierce has spoken about his time with the Nets (Click here for details).

#4. Report: The Lakers plan to shop Nick Young this summer (Click here for details).

#5. Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll reportedly has interested in joining the Knicks in free agency (Click here for details).

#6. Luol Deng is unsure about his future with the Heat (Click here for details).

#7. Rod Thorn, a long-time NBA executive, is retiring (Click here for details).

#8. Bobby Portis is leaving Arkansas for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#9. Perry Ellis will return to Kansas for his senior season (Click here for details).

#10. Olivier Hanlan is leaving Boston College for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Celtics 95 Raptors 93. Pacers 99 Wizards 95 (2OT). Clippers 112 Suns 101.

Tuesday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Charge 105 Skyforce 95: Final. The Charge advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NBA Playoffs start Saturday. East: #1. Hawks vs. #8. Nets. #4. Raptors vs. #5. Wizards. #3. Bulls vs. #6. Bucks. #2. Cavaliers vs. #7. Celtics. West: #1. Warriors vs. #8. Pelicans. #4. Trail Blazers vs. #5. Grizzlies*. #3. Clippers vs. #6. Spurs. #2. Rockets vs. #7. Mavericks. *Grizzlies have home court advantage. (Click here for a full schedule of all the first round playoff games).

#2. N.C. State guard Trevor Lacey is declaring for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#3. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap (shoulder) returned on Wednesday and will be available for the playoffs (Click here for details).

#4. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap also has won the Bob Petit Award (Click here for details).

#5. Duke freshman guard Tyus Jones is declaring for the NBA Draft (Click here for details).

#6. Thunder poing guard Russell Westbrook has won the NBA's scoring title (Click here for details).

#7. Pacers small forward Paul George injured his left calf, but it's nothing serious (Click here for details).

#8. Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen and point guard Mike Conley are both questionable for Game 1 on Sunday (Click here for details).

#9. The Wizards have unveiled a new logo (Click here for details).

#10. Andrew Wiggins plans to play for the Canadian National Team this summer (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Rockets 117 Jazz 91. Thunder 138 Timberwolves 113. Grizzlies 95 Pacers 83. Warriors 133 Nuggets 126. Raptors 92 Hornets 87. Pelicans 108 Spurs 103. Bulls 91 Hawks 85. Cavaliers 113 Wizards 108 (OT). Mavericks 114 Trail Blazers 98. Celtics 105 Bucks 100. Nets 101 Magic 88. Pistons 112 Knicks 90. Heat 105 76ers 101. Kings 122 Lakers 101.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NBA and NBAPA will start testing for HGH next season (Click here for details).

#2. Nike is close to securing a long-term deal with the NBA as the brand of its uniforms (Click here for details).

#3. Mike Malone and Mike D'Antoni are linked to the Nuggets' head coaching vacancy (Click here for details).

#4. The Magic are targeting Tom Thibodeau, Scott Skiles, and Billy Donovan in their head coaching search (Click here for details).

#5. Hornets center Al Jefferson says he is unlikely to opt out of his contract this summer (Click here for details).

#6. Rockets small forward K.J. McDaniels is likely done for the post-season due to a fractured wrist (Click here for details).

#7. The Thunder may let Scott Brooks go (Click here for details).

#8. Kobe Bryant is making progress with his rehab (Click here for details).

#9. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak says the Lakers can get one max player this summer (Click here for details).

#10. Brandan Wright hopes to re-sign with the Suns (Click here for details).

Thursday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Mad Ants 105 Charge 91: Final. Mad Ants lead the Eastern Conference Finals 1-0. Mad Ants shooting guard Jordan Crawford had 27 points.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Hawks shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha has undergone surgery and should be ready for the season opener (Click here for details).

#2. The NBA Draft had some tiebreakers settled on Friday (Click here for details).

#3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had quadruple coronary bipass surgery (Click here for details).

#4. Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose will play Game 1 against the Bucks (Click here for details).

#5. Adam Silver says he doesn't expect any changes to the NBA Draft Lottery or playoff system in the near future. He is focused on decreasing the number of back-to-backs and making the schedule easier on players (Click here for details).

#6. Warriors power forward David Lee has some back spasms and won't play in Game 1 against the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#7. Nets forward Mirza Teletovic has been cleared to resume all basketball related activities (Click here for details).

#8. The Pacers want to go small, which likely means less Roy Hibbert (Click here for details).

#9. 76ers head coach Brett Brown says Joel Embiid wasn't the most coachable dude this season (Click here for details).

#10. The Pacers are unlikely to re-sign C.J. Watson (Click here for details).

Friday's D-League playoff scores: 

Warriors 106 Spurs 95: Final. Warriors lead the Western Conference Finals 1-0. Warriors guard Darington Hobson had 20 points and 5 steals.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. There is some chatter that LaMarcus Aldridge may leave the Trail Blazers in free agency (Click here for details).

#2. DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook won player of the month honors for April (Click here for details).

#3. The NBA salary cap is projected to skyrocket to $108M in the  2017-18 season with a $127M luxury tax threshold (Click here for details).

#4. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade plans to opt in to his contract next season (Click here for details).

#5. Suns guard Brandon Knight had surgery on his left ankle (Click here for details).

#6. The Clippers may get a new logo (Click here for details).

#7. The 76ers fined Joel Embiid for missing and arriving late to rehab sessions (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 34 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

#9. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce had 20 points and 4 rebounds.

#10. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose had 23 points and 7 assists.

Saturday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 106 Pelicans 99 (Warriors lead series 1-0). Wizards 93 Raptors 86 (OT) (Wizards lead series 1-0). Bulls 103 Bucks 91 (Bulls lead series 1-0). Rockets 118 Mavericks 108 (Rockets lead series 1-0).

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans small forward Tyreke Evans has a bone bruise in his knee. He is questionable for Game 2 on Monday (Click here for details).

#2. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri was fined $35K for his comments about Paul Pierce. The team got fined an additional $25K (Click here for details).

#3. LeBron James is worried about his team's lack of playoff experience (Click here for details).

#4. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had 30 points.

#5. Mike Conley, Tony Allen, and Jeff Green all played for the Grizzlies in Game 1.

#6. Grizzlies reserve point guard Beno Udrih had 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

#7. Hawks guard Kyle Korver had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.

#8. Clippers point guard Chris Paul had 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

#9. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had 26 points and 12 rebounds.

#10. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis was huge on Saturday: 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

 Sunday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Cavaliers 113 Celtics 100 (Cavaliers lead series 1-0). Hawks 99 Nets 92 (Hawks lead series 1-0). Grizzlies 100 Trail Blazers 86 (Grizzlies lead series 1-0). Clippers 107 Spurs 92 (Clippers lead series 1-0).

Sunday's D-League Playoff Scores: 

Mad Ants 103 Charge 85 (Mad Ants win the series 2-0, advancing to the D-League Finals). Spurs 100 Warriors 91 (Series is tied 1-1.)

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Wednesday Windmill: The Charlotte Hornets Need To Wake Up

     The Charlotte Hornets are currently 4-15, playing far worse than anybody expected. The expectations put on this team weren't terribly high, but they weren't low, either. Most basketball analysts including myself expected this team to be a threat to win an opening round playoff series, which is why this 4-15 start has all of us scratching our heads and asking "What is going on with this team?".
 
      One might point to the fact that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Noah Vonleh, and Gary Neal have been injured, but that doesn't explain such a poor start. What explains their poor start is that their "money players" haven't stepped up.
   
     Al Jefferson is averaging 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, so he is doing his part, but the other three main players on this team (Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson, and Kemba Walker) have all played well below their expectations. Kemba Walker is scoring only 14 points per game, which just won't cut it for a guy who is supposed to be the #2 player on this team.
   
     As for Lance Stephenson, his 9.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest is beyond disappointing for a guy who signed a three-year, $27M contract. Stephenson was supposed to be the #3 option on this team who would change them from a playoff pretender to a playoff contender. He has instead done nothing but disappoint and leave Charlotte fans wondering if he was really worth the money or if he was just a good system player in Indiana.

     Gerald Henderson, who averaged 14 points per game last year, is averaging only 6.8 points per game while also producing fewer rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. His drop off has been staggering and nothing short of alarming. Out of all the players who have been struggling, his struggles seem to be the most perplexing.

     Whatever the problem is, whether it's Lance Stephenson failing to deliver or Kemba Walker not playing like a legit #2 option, the Hornets have to change something and make a move to energize themselves. The return of the nickname "Hornets" has energized this city, but it looks like more needs to be done to make "Buzz City" a place where playoff teams don't want to go.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

2014-15 Southeast Division Preview

I continue my preview of the 2014-15 NBA season by taking a look at the Southeast Division, home to the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets. I will address each team in order of where I think they will finish with a projected win total in parentheses.

                                                          Washington Wizards (50) 
 
     The Wizards' backcourt of Bradley Beal  (17.1 ppg) and John Wall (19.3 ppg) is one of the best backcourts in the NBA, averaging a combined 36.4 points per game last season. They can only be expected to improve this season and with the addition of Paul Pierce, they could be on the cusp of a trip to the NBA Finals.
    The most important thing for this Wizards team is going to be how well they can stay healthy. Their roster itself is really solid. In addition to a great backcourt, they have a great frontcourt rotation with Marcin Gortat, Nene, and Kris Humphries. With Paul Pierce playing the small forward position, they look very dangerous and capable of winning the Eastern Conference provided they stay healthy. If any of those guys is out for an extended period of time, then there will be trouble.
     This won't be an easy task as Nene, Bradley Beal, and John Wall all have dealt with injuries in the past. It will be really important for their head coach Randy Wittman to manage the minutes of all his players carefully. Especially Wall and Beal since they are the real driving force behind this team.
    What also will be important to keep an eye on is their bench. Glen Rice, Jr., Andre Miller, Otto Porter, Jr., Martell Webster, and Garrett Temple will have to step up and provide quality relief for Pierce, Wall, and Beal.
     I'm confident that Andre Miller will play well and that Martell Webster will continue his solid off the bench production. It's the other guys that are hard to call. Especially Rice and Porter. Neither player  was a factor at all last season, and yet both have the potential to be quality off the bench scorers. If both of them can have significantly improved seasons, that will do wonders for the Wizards since their bench honestly is suspect.
     Overall, this Wizards team looks very solid. The starting five is great and they have nice balance between a good backcourt and a good frontcourt. They can beat you inside and out. Ultimately, injuries or the lack thereof will make the difference for this team's season. If they stay healthy, they'll make a strong push to win the East. If they get injured, they'll make the playoffs, but fail to make much of a push.

                                                           
                                                               Miami Heat (47) 

This team may have lost LeBron James, but they still are going to be dangerous. Luol Deng was a very underrated addition to this team since everybody was only thinking about how he isn't LeBron James instead of thinking about how he averaged 16 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1 steal per game last season. While it is true that he is no LeBron James, he is still a very quality small forward who should fit nicely with what the Heat have been doing during their four straight trips to the NBA Finals.
     In addition to Deng, the Heat also still have Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, who is the heart and soul of the franchise. Both of those guys are still capable at producing at a high level. Ironically, like last season, this team's success hinges on the health of Dwyane Wade's knees. If Wade stays healthy, the Heat will still be very dangerous since outside of the Cleveland Cavaliers, they arguably have the scariest trio in the Eastern Conference.
     What will also be crucial to this team's success is how well Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts fit with the team and how productive they are. Especially Granger since he has had injury issues these past couple of seasons. If Granger is able to be anything close to his old self, the Heat could really be cooking with gas in terms of offensive firepower.
     The biggest concern for this team outside of Wade's knees is their lack of size in the middle. Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem aren't bad in the paint, but they still have a weak front line that was largely masked by the amazing play of LeBron James. They are going to have to find ways to win despite getting beat on the glass. I think Deng will fit the style they've been playing, but since he isn't as multi-dimensional as LeBron James, I expect their lack of size to be an even bigger concern this season.
      The Heat are one of the few teams that might give the Cavaliers serious trouble in the playoffs. Health will be huge, but if they can weather that storm, they could find themselves in a position to knock out the Cavaliers and surprise everybody.

                                                    Charlotte Hornets (44)

     The renaissance of Buzz City is a great thing for the city of Charlotte. They finally have a team that they can really embrace and get behind. "Charlotte Bobcats" always felt strange and so it's nice to see the nickname "Hornets" back where it belongs.
     As for the team itself, they look promising. They added Lance Stephenson and Marvin Williams in free agency and also P.J. Hairston and Noah Vonleh in the draft. Those guys should all prove to be very good additions to go along Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker, and Gerald Henderson. In addition, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller should be improved with another year under their belts.
     Of all those additions, Lance Stephenson is undoubtedly the most important. He emerged into an all-star caliber player last season and he could prove to be a terrific fit with Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson who largely had to carry the load last season. It was clear that the Hornets didn't have the firepower to win a series with just Jefferson and Walker as their best players. It's no disrespect to them. They just needed help and Stephenson's ability to attack the basket from the perimeter as well as his defensive and rebounding abilities could be just what the doctor ordered.
     Noah Vonleh should provide quality production inside and P.J. Hairston should be a nice scoring threat off the bench. But with those two guys being rookies, the Hornets can't bank on them being consistently good every night. Lance Stephenson on the other hand played a big role on the Pacers last season and he should be expected to be a major contributor right away.
   Ultimately, I see the Hornets making the playoffs, but not threatening to win the East. The East is wide open, but there is still a pecking order that goes Cleveland, Chicago, Washington, and then Miami. Charlotte isn't good enough to break into that tier, but they still will be exciting and certainly dangerous.

                                                       
                                                            Atlanta Hawks (41)

     The Hawks are coming off a season in which they almost knocked off the top seeded Indiana Pacers  in the playoffs as an 8 seed, taking them to seven games. This team accomplished a lot last season considering that they were without Al Horford for the bulk of the season including the playoffs. We are still yet to see how this team can do with both Paul Millsap and Al Horford healthy, which gives reason for optimism if you are a Hawks fan.
     Before going down last season, Horford was averaging 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, the best numbers of his career. As for Paul Millsap, he too had a career year, averaging 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. If the Hawks get that kind of production from both players throughout the whole season, they will be very scary. Especially since they also have a solid point guard in Jeff Teague, who averaged 16.5 points and 6.7 assists per game last season.
     As for the rest of the team, they have some solid pieces. Kyle Korver is able to knock down threes with regularity and stretch the floor, DeMarre Carroll hustles and does all the dirty work, and Pero Antic is a big man who stretches the floor by hitting threes. Plus, they added Kent Bazemore in free agency, a swingman who averaged a career high 13.1 points per game during his stint with the Lakers last season. Those players all know their roles and fit nicely with the Teague, Horford, and Millsap trio.
    This team's success comes down to how healthy Teague, Horford, and Millsap stay. If those three can all play 70+ games each while staying healthy for the playoffs, they'll be scary. However, they won't be good enough to win a series in my opinion if everything in the Eastern Conference holds to form. But if they are healthy like I mentioned and a couple teams fall due to injury, the Hawks could be prime for a first round upset. I just won't predict it at this point in time.

                                                   Orlando Magic (34) 
   
     The Orlando Magic drafted Aaron Gordon out of Arizona with the #4 overall pick in the draft. I am really high on him due to his athleticism, energy, and defensive abilities. I think he'll have a really good rookie season even if he has a hard time scoring because of all the other things he brings to the table.
     In addition to drafting Gordon, the Magic also added Channing Frye and Ben Gordon in free agency. Both guys can score the ball, especially from downtown, and that is something that this team lacked last season. This team already had a slasher from the backcourt with Victor Oladipo and a quality paint presence with Nikola Vucevic inside. The three-ball they lacked and by now having it, they should be much improved.
    One of the more interesting things to look for in this young Magic team is how point guard Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo play together in the backcourt. Payton came into the draft as one of the best point guard prospects. If he can hold his own at point, the Magic may have themselves a really good backcourt for the future.
    This team can compete for a playoff spot, but right now, I see them missing the playoffs. However, not by much. 34 wins is probably 4-5 wins shy of a playoff spot, which means that if they get some luck they could snag the 8 seed in the East. Most previews of this team's season aren't going to be as optimistic as mine is. I actually like the additions they made in free agency and the draft. It's just going to be tough for it to all come together in one season.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord