Saturday Slam: DeMarcus Cousins has really fallen from grace

At the end of the 2016-17 season, DeMarcus Cousins concluded a season in which he averaged 27.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in 72 total games played. He spent the bulk of that season with the Sacramento Kings but was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans to conclude the season. Since that year, everything has gone downhill for him in a rather shocking manner.

First, in the middle of the 2017-18 season, Cousins suffered a torn Achilles which limited his season to just 48 games. Prior to the injury, he was playing really good basketball, averaging 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. A torn Achilles is no joke, but an injury that one can come back from with the proper rehab. Still, no team wanted to take a chance on him until the Golden State Warriors scooped him up for close to nothing. He spent most of the 2018-19 season in street clothes, but was able to produce a little bit during the 30 games he played, averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game before going down once again with a torn left quadriceps.

Already looking like he might be damaged goods, the Los Angeles Lakers threw their caution to the wind and decided to sign him this past July, hoping that he could get back to full strength. Instead, he tore his ACL in a preseason workout a little over a month later in mid-August, ruling him out for the entire 2019-20 season.

In the midst of all this injury misfortune, Cousins got married and even that didn't go as planned thanks to a leaked audio tape of him threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend over the phone for not allowing their son to come to his wedding. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued and now he's in the middle of an ugly legal dispute.

At just 29 years of age, Cousins' career seems to be over and what's crazy is that it wasn't that long ago that he was an NBA All-Star. We've seen guys drop off quickly, but rarely do we see guys drop off like this. It's like one day he's the best big man in the NBA and the next day he's having a hard time convincing teams to take a chance on him. Hopefully for him, he is able to find his second wind. If not, he better get ready for life after basketball.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Could the Los Angeles Clippers knock off the Golden State Warriors?

                                                      (Credit: Getty Images)

On Monday night, the Los Angeles Clippers pulled off the biggest comeback in NBA playoff history, defeating the Golden State Warriors 135-131 after trailing 94-63 with 7:30 to go in the 3rd quarter. While the Warriors didn't blow a 3-1 series lead like they did to the Cleveland Cavaliers, they did blow a 31 point lead, so the numbers 3 and 1 aren't exactly the most friendly to the Warriors. While a lot of people are going to make this about the Warriors and their second half collapse, I want to make this all about the Clippers and focus on their chances to actually win this series.

On the surface, the odds of the Clippers winning this series still seem low. We've seen teams get a shocking split on the road only to fail to deliver the goods at home. What makes upsets in the NBA playoffs so tough is you gotta beat the better team four out of seven times, which is no easy task. Especially when you're trying to knock off a team that is as talented as the Warriors. That all said, there are some reasons to think the Clippers might actually shock the basketball world and advance to the second round.

The first reason is the Warriors are going to have to soldier on without DeMarcus Cousins, who is out indefinitely with a torn left quadriceps. With Cousins out, the Warriors don't have much of a presence in the paint, giving Montrezl Harrell a golden opportunity to make his presence felt inside. Harrell finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds on Monday, showing why he's one of the best post players in the game. If the Warriors can't find a way to better protect the paint, Harrell could eat them for lunch all series long.

The second reason is the Clippers have Patrick Beverley. As Charles Barkley once said, in order to find success in the playoffs, you need to have a crazy guy and the Clippers have one in Beverley. He's a grade-A irritant and a fantastic defender cut out of the DeShawn Stevenson cloth. Beverley appears to be getting in the Warriors' head a bit and has a real opportunity to give Draymond Green a little taste of his own medicine.

The third reason is Lou Williams ain't scared. Williams scored 36 points and dished out 11 assists on Monday, doing a fantastic job of willing his team back to victory. He hit a lot of clutch shots down the stretch and played like a guy that lives for the big moments. When you got a guy like that on your squad, you always got a chance.

The fourth reason is the Clippers have Doc Rivers, who I feel is the most under-appreciated coach in the NBA. After his inability to win a ring with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, many wrote off Rivers as one that could only win with the likes of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. In truth, he's a fantastic coach and is doing his best work since his days in Boston. These Clippers are playing like a team and everyone is buying into Rivers' system. When you have a coach like Rivers, you got a shot to shock the world.

While the Warriors should be favored to win this series, they should not feel like they're guaranteed to win it. The Clippers are brimming with confidence after their historic comeback and now head to Los Angeles for two straight games. As crazy as this is to say, the Warriors are in real danger just two games into these playoffs.

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Saturday Slam: DeMarcus Cousins' Warriors debut should scare the rest of the NBA

                                            (Credit: Mark J. Terril/Associated Press)

On Friday, DeMarcus Cousins made his Golden State Warriors debut in Los Angeles against the Clippers, finishing with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in just 15 minutes of action. The Warriors won the game 112-94, keeping themselves half a game up on the Denver Nuggets, who they dominated earlier this week in Denver (Click here to read more about that).

Even though it is just one game, seeing a relatively good DeMarcus Cousins in a Warriors uniform has to scare the rest of the NBA and justify all the initial panic that ensued upon his signing. While some people, including myself, urged caution about the move given the severity of Cousins' Achilles injury, I think it's safe to say that if he can even play like this going forward, it's going to be almost impossible to stop the Warriors.

As if it wasn't enough to have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, the Warriors now add a talented big man to the fold that can protect the rim, crash the boards, and give them a legitimate inside presence on offense. With a smaller front court, the blueprint to beating the Warriors was to go inside and take advantage of their lack of size. With Cousins now healthy, that's no longer a viable option.

What will be interesting to see is how opposing teams adjust to this new look Warriors team and what moves are made before the trade deadline. Even if such moves do occur, it's hard seeing any move that can effectively counter it. DeMarcus Cousins takes the Warriors from being scary good to being like really really scary good.

The last point I want to make is that teams complaining about this move have only themselves to blame. No one wanted Cousins, which is why the Warriors so easily scooped him up for just $5.3M. If the Nuggets, Trail Blazers, or Rockets really wanted to make sure the Warriors didn't add a guy like Cousins, they should have signed him for an ever bigger contract. No one likes the rich getting richer, but when you leave them with a pot of gold to take for free, who can really blame them for taking it?

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Saturday Slam: People are overreacting to the Warriors' addition of DeMarcus Cousins

                                         (Getty Images) 

When the Golden State Warriors landed DeMarcus Cousins in free agency, it felt like the basketball world became unglued. Everyone from fans to players were upset that the Warriors landed another superstar. The Warriors already have the most stacked team in the NBA and for them to land perhaps the best big man in the league for just $5.3M felt like highway robbery.

If you follow NBALord.com on social media, you will know that I expressed frustration over the move. So, I don't want to come off as hypocritical when I say people are overreacting to Cousins going to the Warriors. I admit that I contributed to the hysteria and that I overreacted to the news like everybody else.

After thinking about the move for a little while, I've come to the conclusion that this move isn't something to get all up in arms about. What people are forgetting in all of this is the fact that Cousins is coming back from a torn Achilles, an injury that is as serious as they come. If Cousins hadn't suffered a torn Achilles to end his season in New Orleans, the Warriors wouldn't have landed him in the first place. What made him available for just $5.3M is the fact that it is far from certain that he'll ever get back to his regular self again. He might still be able to play at an NBA level, but will he once again put up 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game? That remains to be seen.

I totally understand why everyone reacted the way they did. The Warriors are stacking up on talent and adding Cousins for so little money felt like they were rubbing it in everybody's faces. There's a certain arrogance that this Warriors team possesses that rubs people the wrong way. As one who lives in the Bay Area, I get it. I'm around "Dub Nation" 24/7.

Still, we shouldn't let an overall frustration with the Warriors cloud our judgment over this particular move. The reality is that we are yet to see how strong Cousins bounces back from this injury and until we do, we should reserve judgment about him giving the Warriors a dominant big man. As for the other 29 teams in the NBA that are upset about this move, if they are really so upset, why did none of them offer Cousins a decent contract? The fact that the Warriors are the only team that offered Cousins a deal just shows how uncertain his future really is. If there was good reason to believe he could do some serious damage, another team would have offered him a contract in the neighborhood of $20M or more.

My prediction is DeMarcus Cousins will have a nice year for the Warriors and give them just what they need, which is a sound presence in the paint that can score, rebound, and protect the rim a little bit. However, I do not expect Cousins to produce like he did prior to his injury. A torn Achilles is the most serious injury an athlete can get and for a lot of guys, it might as well be a death wish. With that in mind, I think we should all just step back and wait to see what happens before declaring this move the crime of the century.

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Skyhook Sunday: The New Orleans Pelicans are on fire

When DeMarcus Cousins went down for the season due a torn Achilles, most people, including myself, assumed the New Orleans Pelicans were doomed and would find themselves back in the NBA Draft lottery. Instead of doing what we all expected, the Pelicans have decided to defy the odds makers and prove that they can still make some noise this season.

As of right now, the Pelicans are 4th in the Western Conference with a 36-26 record and have won eight straight games. Those eight wins have come at Brooklyn, at Detroit, vs. Los Angeles Lakers, vs. Miami, at Milwaukee, vs. Phoenix, at San Antonio, and at Dallas. While not the most intimidating schedule, the Pelicans still deserve a lot of credit for winning all of those games.

Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday have both really stepped up for the Pelicans during this stretch. Davis has had four games of 40+ points and one game of 50+ points while Holiday has had scored 20+ points in each of these games including a 36 point game at Milwaukee and 30 point game at Dallas. These guys are being asked to carry the load for their team and are doing so in spades.

The big question is whether or not the Pelicans can keep this up or if they will fade as we head into March. When looking at the schedule, I think there's good reason to think they can keep this up.  They do have games against the Rockets, Warriors, Celtics, and Spurs left, but they also have games left with the Clippers, Kings, Jazz, Hornets, and Mavericks. Their schedule isn't a cakewalk by any means, but it is manageable. What helps is teams behind them like the Timberwolves and Spurs are dealing with injuries of their own, so it isn't like they are at full strength either.

My personal prediction is that the Pelicans will make the playoffs, but it's honestly too soon to say whether or not they will hang onto home court advantage in the first round. Seeds 3-8 seem to be changing every day, so it really is anybody's guess of as to how those positions will shake out. But that all being said, the very fact that the Pelicans are even in discussion to get home court advantage in the first round is remarkable. They are definitely turning into one of the feel good stories of the season.

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Saturday Slam: What exactly are the New Orleans Pelicans becoming?

The New Orleans Pelicans are becoming something, but what is it, exactly? In an effort to build around Anthony Davis, they've traded for DeMarcus Cousins, re-signed Jrue Holiday to a 5-year, $126M deal, and now added Rajon Rondo on a one-year deal. The combination of Davis, Cousins, Holiday, and Rondo is certainly interesting, but will it produce the results the Pelicans want?

Before I dive into the concerns that I have with what the Pelicans are doing, let me quickly say why this could work. First, Anthony Davis is the best big man in the NBA. He averaged 28.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game last season. The dude is a beast. When you got him as your franchise centerpiece, you got a shot to be really good.

Second, DeMarcus Cousins is arguably the second best big man in the NBA. He's been in need of a change of scenery and paring him with a guy like Davis could be what he needs to reach his full potential. When you got two of the best big men in the NBA, there's good reason to think you'll succeed.

As for Holiday and Rondo, both have proven their value as elite level point guards. Rondo has tailed off since his best days in Boston, but he's still a very good pass-first point guard. As for Holiday, he averaged 15.4 points and 7.3 assists per game last season, which are very solid numbers.

The concerns I have with the Pelicans has nothing to do with the individual talent they are adding. It has to do with the blend of talent that they are adding, specifically putting DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo together. The very best of teams can handle one head case if they have a strong leader and know what they are doing. The Pelicans have added two head cases in Cousins and Rondo without having the pedigree of a championship level team. That alone raises serious concerns.

As far as what these guys bring to the court from a pure basketball standpoint, it's unclear how Holiday and Rondo will play together as pass-first point guards. As for Davis and Cousins, there are legitimate concerns about their ability to matchup against smaller and quicker teams, especially in a league that is moving towards positionless basketball.  Such a frontcourt may find better success in an era with more traditional big men.

The bottom line with the Pelicans is that while they are adding talented players to their roster, it's unclear whether or not they are the right fit for each other. If they can find a way to work together and get the most out of each other's talents, the Pelicans could be a really good team. When you consider the upside and also potential for failure, this really is the ultimate example of a "boom or bust" team. I smell bust, but I'm willing to withhold my judgment and see where they are at come playoff time.

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Saturday Slam: How dangerous are the New Orleans Pelicans?

With both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, the New Orleans Pelicans have one of the most intriguing teams in the NBA. Such a front court duo has the potential to do a lot of damage, especially when you add a talented guard like Jrue Holiday to the mix. Davis is averaging 27.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while Cousins is averaging 27.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. As for Holiday, he is averaging 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.

At the moment, the Pelicans are 23-36 and 3.5 games back of the 8th seeded Denver Nuggets. After landing DeMarcus Cousins, the Pelicans are clearly the front runners to finish 8th in the Western Conference standings and face off against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. The big question that's on everybody's mind is how dangerous are these Pelicans given their place in the standings at this point of the season?

There are two answers to this question. The first answer is that in the short term, the Pelicans are dangerous enough to make the playoffs and maybe win a game or two against the Warriors. Given that it usually takes at least half of a season for stars to gel, the rest of the season can be viewed as extra time for DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis to gel before training camp of next season. In other words, the trade to land DeMarcus Cousins was much more of a move for next season and beyond than it was for this season. This season, the best the Pelicans can hope for is to make the playoffs and get a playoff series under their belt before next season, which is no small thing. Having a playoff series together before they enter their first full season together would be huge for Davis and Cousins as the go forward as the co-faces of this franchise. It should prove to be growing experience that will help them immensely next season and beyond.

Beyond that, there's nothing to expect out of this season. The Warriors are a vastly superior team given that they have had a lot more time to gel and on paper are still a much better team. The Pelicans won't get past the Warriors by adding DeMarcus Cousins. He's a talented player, but let's keep in mind there's a reason the Kings traded him. He has flaws and the Pelicans have to learn how to deal with those flaws and get past them, something that the Kings couldn't do or weren't willing to do. This season is all about working out some of the kinks so as to hit the ground running next season.

As far as next season's expectations are concerned, this team projects to be a playoff team and possibly a top-four team in the Western Conference. If I could start a franchise with any player in the NBA right now, I would choose Anthony Davis. He's a versatile big man that can do it all on both ends of the floor. When you give him another all-star big man by his side like DeMarcus Cousins and a quality point guard like Jrue Holiday, you could have something special on your hands.

The biggest challenge for the Pelicans will be to figure out how to combat "small ball" lineups, which benefit from having quicker guys on the floor. We saw the Pelicans get torched by the Houston Rockets' "small ball" lineup 129-99 in DeMarcus Cousins' debut. Going forward into next season and in the seasons to come, the Pelicans will need to figure out who else to add to their roster to give them more flexibility against teams that will look to go small against them. If the Pelicans can figure out how to combat smaller and quicker lineups with Cousins and Davis, they could have themselves a championship contending team.

The bottom line for the Pelicans is that with DeMarcus Cousins added to the fold, they have the potential to be really good in the seasons to come, but as presently constituted, they still have work to do both on the court and in the front office. The core players that are certain to stick around like Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis will need to figure out how to play with Cousins and benefit from having him on the floor. As for the front office, their challenge will be to figure out what other complimentary pieces need to be added in order to make their team a true championship contender.

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Skyhook Sunday: The Sacramento Kings were dumb to trade DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans

                                         (Credit: Matthew Addie. Click here for source). 
                                       

After the NBA All-Star festivities wrapped up on Sunday, news broke that the Sacramento Kings have agreed to trade DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi to the New Orleans Pelicans for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and two draft picks, one a 2017 first round pick and the other a 2017 second round pick. For my Saturday Slam piece, I mentioned five teams to keep an eye on at the trade deadline and the Kings were one of the those teams due to all the DeMarcus Cousins trade rumors. Despite insisting that they weren't looking to trade Cousins, Vlade Divac and company decided that in the end, it was in their best interest to move on from the "Boogie" Cousins era. 

For the Pelicans, this is a fantastic move. They have been in need of some sort of blockbuster move to keep Anthony Davis in New Orleans and landing a guy like DeMarcus Cousins definitely qualifies as such a move. Cousins is not even in his prime yet, already averaging 27.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game at just 26 years of age. As for Anthony Davis, he is averaging 27.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. 

Together, Davis and Cousins could form one of the most dangerous front courts the NBA has ever seen, elevating the Pelicans into championship contender status. As far as this season is concerned, the Pelicans are suddenly the favorites to get the #8 spot in the Western Conference and could give the Warriors a good scare in the first round. 

In regards to the Kings, I'm having a hard time buying this move. I understand that rebuilding is a necessary process that all teams have to go through at some point. It's just part of the natural cycle of the NBA. But the Kings seem to be hitting the reset button way too prematurely. Right when they move into a new arena that keeps them in Sacramento for good the Kings decide to trade away their franchise player. I understand that DeMarcus Cousins has had his ups and downs, but the man still puts up 27.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Those are hall of fame type of numbers.

 If you have a guy who is putting up those kinds of numbers at just 26 years of age, you better have a really good reason to trade him in order to sell me on it. Simply saying you weren't going anywhere with him won't cut it. You better have a good reason and as this trade is constituted, I really can't buy it for the Kings. None of the guys they got back are guys who they can build around for the future and they aren't guaranteed to get a super high draft pick, either. If the Kings traded DeMarcus Cousins because they were convinced that he wouldn't stay in Sacramento, that's fine, but that doesn't mean you trade him for Ring Dings and a Pepsi. If you are going to trade him for Ring Dings and a Pepsi, you might as well keep him for the duration of his contract (through 2018) and see what you can accomplish with him. Maybe you can get better and make things work out. 

What the Kings are getting back for Cousins is nothing to write home about. Langston Galloway, Tyreke Evans, and Buddy Hield are solid players, but not anything that you can build around. Buddy Hield is just a rookie so it's possible he becomes something, but I still don't see him becoming an all-star or anything of that nature. The bottom line is the Kings traded DeMarcus Cousins for essentially nothing and what I find to be so stupid about that is that there is no way they can convince me that was the best offer they could have gotten for him. Surely there was some team that could have offered a more promising young talent than Buddy Hield and offered a better overall package. 

The bottom line is that the Kings wanted DeMarcus Cousins out of town as soon as possible and while they very well may have good reasons for that, at the very least they have to make sure they get back something good given his high value. As of right now, the Kings just set themselves back at least five years and maybe more. The Kings have gone from possibly making the playoffs for the first time in the DeMarcus Cousins era to heading straight back to the lottery with no definitive plan of as to who next face of the franchise will be. This was a dumb move by the Kings and unless they have something else up their sleeves that I just don't see, they'll regret this move for years to come. 

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Saturday Slam: Five teams that might make a move at the NBA trade deadline

With the NBA trade deadline approaching on the 23rd of February at 3:00 PM EST, I thought it would be good to provide some sort of breakdown of what to expect. Lots of moves are bound to happen, but there are five teams to keep an eye on.

#1. New York Knicks (23-34): The New York Knicks have been rumored to have Carmelo Anthony on the trading block. I addressed this topic earlier in the season and came to the conclusion that trading Carmelo Anthony would not be a smart decision. That being said, the Knicks rarely make smart decisions, which means that they may trade Carmelo Anthony anyways. The biggest obstacle to making a trade happen is Anthony's $24.6M contract that increases to $26.2M in 2017 and $27.9M in 2018 before he hits free agency in 2019. I have a hard time believing that some team will be willing to take on his contract, but if some general manager really believes adding Anthony will make his franchise a championship contender, then a trade could happen.

#2. Boston Celtics (37-20): The Boston Celtics are another team that has been discussed as a possible team to make a trade before the deadline. If the Celtics weren't 2nd in the Eastern Conference standings, I would say odds are good they make a move to better position themselves for the playoffs, but so long as this nucleus of Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, Jae Crowder, and Avery Bradley delivers like they are, I see no reason for them to make a trade. That being said, if an unbelievable offer presents itself, Danny Ainge very well may roll the dice. 

#3. Sacramento Kings (24-33): The Sacramento Kings remain right in the mix for the #8 spot in the Western Conference playoffs, which makes it hard to figure what they'll do at the trade deadline. There has been discussion of them moving DeMarcus Cousins at the trade deadline as well as Rudy Gay. The Kings have publicly expressed support for DeMarcus Cousins, but if some team is willing to sell the farm to get him, the Kings just may entertain such an offer and make a surprise move at the deadline. As for Rudy Gay, the fact that he tore his Achilles makes him harder to move, but some team may still be interested in his services. He is scheduled to be a go for training camp next season, which ups his value.

It is important to note that DeMarcus Cousins won't be an unrestricted free agent until 2018 while Rudy Gay has a player option on his contract which allows him to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer if he so chooses. If the Kings feel confident that Rudy Gay will exercise his option, then they may be more aggressive in looking to trade him.

#4. Brooklyn Nets (9-47): The Brooklyn Nets are garbage while Brook Lopez continues to put up solid numbers (20.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game). Brook Lopez hits unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2018, but the Nets might be smart to move him given that his value is high. I would not be the least bit surprised to see Brook Lopez moved before the trade deadline. The Nets are going nowhere and really have no point in having him eat up salary cap space while they continue to spiral downwards into obscurity.

#5. Philadelphia 76ers (21-35): The Philadelphia 76ers have a logjam in the front court with Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel, and Jahlil Okafor. All three are really promising young big men and there's no need to hang on to all three for the long term.  Joel Embiid will almost certainly stay, but it's Okafor and Noel whose names have bubbled up in trade rumors. What the 76ers do at the trade deadline will definitely be something to watch for.

Note: On Thursday, I will post a trade deadline tracker of sorts on here. Definitely check that out to stay on top of what happens at the deadline. 

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Wednesday Windmill: Do the Boston Celtics need to make a trade?

The Boston Celtics are starting to make some noise, having won six of their last seven games. After a bit of a sluggish start, the Celtics are starting to find their groove, currently possessing a 19-13 record, which puts them just 3.5 games back of the #2 seeded Toronto Raptors.

A big reason for the Celtics' success is the play of point guard Isaiah Thomas, who is averaging 26.8 points and 6.3 assists per game on 43.9% shooting from the field, 33.2% shooting from 3-point range, and 89.4% shooting from the foul line. Despite being just 5'9" and 185 pounds, Isaiah Thomas knows how to get buckets. In a hostile Memphis environment, Thomas lit up the Grizzlies like a Christmas tree for 44 points en route to a 112-109 road win on December 20. Without his sensational play, the Celtics would not have a winning record.

In addition to Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics are getting quality play from their new center Al Horford, who is averaging 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Horford is proving himself to be a quality acquisition for the Celtics who they can to continue to build around for the coming seasons.

Jae Crowder is likewise having a strong season for the Celtics, averaging 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. At 6'6", 235 pounds, Jae Crowder is able to provide a nice inside-outside presence due to his size and quality perimeter shooting (40.8% shooting from 3-point range). Jae Crowder is without question the most improved player on this Celtics team, playing like a legitimate starter at the small forward position.

The only real question for this Celtics team is what they do at the trade deadline. They have a quality trio in Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, and Jae Crowder, but that trio isn't good enough to get them to the NBA Finals this season or next season, for that matter. This team might be good enough as is to get past the Toronto Raptors to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but still, I would have to give the Toronto Raptors the edge at the moment.

With a quality trade before the trade deadline, the Boston Celtics might put themselves in a position to reach the Eastern Conference Finals and possibly threaten to reach the NBA Finals. The only question is what trade would make sense? One possible name to target is DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings. I don't know what the Celtics would have to give up, but DeMarcus Cousins has been linked to the Celtics in trade rumors before. If the Boston Celtics could somehow land him or even his teammate Rudy Gay, they could have the pieces to make a run at the Eastern Conference crown.

The bottom line for the Boston Celtics is that they have a good team as it is, but they need to get better in order to make serious noise in the playoffs. Whether or not Danny Ainge is willing to roll the dice and make a big move at the trade deadline remains to be seen, but either way, I'm sure he's planning some brilliant move to improve his team. We'll just have to wait and see to find out what that move will be.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: The Sacramento Kings could be on the verge of blowing everything up

The Sacramento Kings continue to be one of the weirdest teams in the NBA. They have a spanking new arena in downtown Sacramento that is absolutely incredible and yet amid all the joys that come with that, there are reports of them being willing to trade just about everyone on their roster, it feels like. During the past week and a half, I have heard Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, Rudy Gay, and even DeMarcus Cousins mentioned in trade rumors, which if you are doing in the math is nearly one-third of their roster. In the cases of Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, and Rudy Gay, it appears to be a situation where all three guys want to get the hell out of Sacramento and get a fresh start elsewhere. As for DeMarcus Cousins, this too might be the case, but I have to say that he does seem to be enjoying his time as a prominent figure in the Sacramento community.

What I want to address is whether moving any of these players makes sense. Personally, I don't think it really matters what happens to Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, or Rudy Gay. Those guys, even Rudy Gay, are complementary pieces around the franchise player in DeMarcus Cousins, who is currently averaging 27.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The Kings could trade any of those guys and they would still more or less have their same identity, which is a team built around DeMarcus Cousins.

As for trading DeMarcus Cousins is concerned, this would be a big deal and does matter. Before the Sacramento Kings say sayonara to the man known as "Boogie", they better be sure moving him is really the right move. You don't just give away a 27 and 10 guy without giving it some serious thought. Especially when that guy is just 26 years old and has not yet reached his prime. Love him or hate him, DeMarcus Cousins delivers the goods night in and night out and has proven himself to be one of the best big men in the NBA. I know he gets criticized for his poor attitude and inability to lead, but I really think it's unfair to criticize him in these areas when he hasn't had a team around him to lead.

                                        (Credit: GAMEFACE-PHOTOS. Click here for source) 
                                   

To be more clear, DeMarcus Cousins' inability to "lead" the Sacramento Kings to the playoffs can't be put on his attitude or lack of commitment since the teams he's played on have not been very good. He's more or less been the only player Kings fans could get excited about since the days of Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, and Vlade Divac. He's been the only guy to give them any sort of hope at becoming relevant and competitive again. Ben McLemore hasn't been able to be that guy, Jimmer Fredette sure as hell wasn't that guy, and Rudy Gay was a nice addition, but not a guy who they could rely on to be the cornerstone of a championship contending team.

In addition to not having the right players, the Kings until this season have had all sorts of coaching problems. Most notably the addition of George Karl, who hated DeMarcus Cousins from the moment he set foot in Sacramento. Karl never gave Cousins a chance to lead or be "the man" on the Kings and Cousins suffered as a result. George Karl continued to pin it as a "George Karl vs. DeMarcus Cousins" kinda thing as if they were dueling each other as opposed to working with each other. DeMarcus Cousins has been mistreated by the Sacramento Kings for far too long and now that he finally has a competent head coach in Dave Joerger the Kings are starting to seriously consider moving him? It's time for him to move on? Get real.

The only time it's time to move on is if you've led your team to a championship and your team is now over the hill or you went as far as you could and reached your maximum potential. Neither is the case with DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento. In his case, the Kings haven't reached their max potential due to incompetent moves on their end. They've drafted the wrong supporting cast players around him, they've traded away the wrong people, and hired coaches that don't know how to work with him. DeMarcus Cousins hasn't been the problem in Sacramento, the Kings have been.

What's evidence of the Kings' dysfunction is the fact that they are the verge of blowing everything up before figuring out where they want to go. If the Kings sincerely believe that it is time for them to move on from DeMarcus Cousins, I suppose that's fine, but if they do, they better have a game plan of what to do next. Guys like DeMarcus Cousins don't grow on trees and if you trade him, you better be certain you are getting something very promising in return. Otherwise, you might as well keep him, continue to build around him, and actually get him the pieces that he needs in order to be successful. I personally believe that DeMarcus Cousins can be a legit franchise player in the NBA and I see no good reason to think that he can't be that guy in Sacramento provided the Kings get him the help he needs.

On a separate, but still Sacramento Kings related note, I got the chance to visit the Golden 1 Center, the Kings' new arena on Monday night on media assignment for GoldenBearReport.com, Cal's Rivals.com site.  It was a lot of fun to be a member of the media in an NBA arena. What I can say about my experience at the Golden 1 Center from an NBA standpoint is that it is truly a beautiful arena with an absolutely incredible screen above the court. The Kings definitely built themselves a state-of-the-art arena in downtown Sacramento. I was very impressed with the layout of the arena from the press room to the court itself. Excellent arena and an absolutely amazing place to watch a game. 

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Saturday Slam: A quick look at the 2016 Olympic basketball tournament

     Given that the Olympics began this weekend, I thought it would be good to preview the Olympic basketball tournament. Especially since 46 NBA players will be competing, which is the most in Olympic history. What I will do is give you a quick preview of each of the 12 teams competing in this event.

United States: Jimmy Butler (Bulls), Kevin Durant (Warriors), DeAndre Jordan (Clippers), Kyle Lowry (Raptors), Harrison Barnes (Mavericks), DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers), Klay Thompson (Warriors), DeMarcus Cousins (Kings), Paul George (Pacers), Draymond Green (Warriors), and Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) is the USA roster and while it does lack some big names like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Russell Westbrook, it is still a LOADED roster.

The bottom line is that so long as these guys don't let their egos get in the way, which I don't think they will, the United States should have no problem bringing home the gold. They have a fantastic combination of athleticism and skill. Kyrie Irving for example might be the most skilled player in this whole tournament while DeAndre Jordan is certainly the most athletic. I would be shocked if the United States had any games that were decided by less than 10 points.

Argentina: Argentina has one of the most competitive rosters in this tournament. They have a couple of current NBA players in Luis Scola (Nets), Manu Ginobili (Spurs), and Nicolas Brussino (Mavericks) while also having a couple of former NBA players in Carlos Delfino and Andres Nocioni. They definitely have skill, but size isn't exactly their forte with nobody bigger than 6'10". The way that Argentina will have to make up for their lack of size is to play really clean and efficient basketball, something that they've been capable of doing in the past. Look for Argentina to make some noise and threaten to win a medal.

Australia: Australia has several active NBA players on their team: Andrew Bogut (Mavericks), Patty Mills (Spurs), Joe Ingles (Jazz), Matthew Dellavedova (Bucks), and Arron Baynes (Pistons). Plus, Cameron Bairstow played in the NBA last season with the Bulls.

While only Andrew Bogut would be considered a "high profile" player, the very fact that they have five active NBA players on their team makes them very dangerous. If Patty Mills and Joe Ingles can stroke it from deep while Andrew Bogut controls the paint, these guys will be tough.

Note: Andrew Bogut did play in their opener against France and scored 18 points, so he appears to be fully healthy.

Brazil: Brazil, like Australia has a lot of NBA players on their team, though not a lot of really big names. Their two best players are Nenê (Rockets) and Leandro Barbosa (Suns), but they have three other NBA players in Raul Neto (Jazz), Cristiano Felicio (Bulls), and Marcelinho Huertas (Lakers).

The advantage that Brazil has is that they have a nice blend of post play and wing play. Barbosa, Huertas, and Neto make for a very nice backcourt while Nene and Felicio make for a quality front court. The balance of this Brazilian team could propel them towards an Olympic medal.

China: China is a very young team that quite honestly isn't very good. They have zero active NBA players on their roster and only one player with NBA experience in Yi Jianlian, who washed out of the league pretty quick. That isn't to say there is no talent on this team. They have two big men, Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin, who were drafted in the NBA in this most recent draft, but neither of them have much experience playing against NBA level players. Look for China to struggle in this event. Their 62-119 loss to the United States certainly does not give me any reason to think otherwise.

Croatia: Philadelphia 76ers fans should keep an eye on Croatia due to the presence of big man Dario Saric, who is looking to lead his country to a medal. Saric is coming over to the 76ers this year and will get an early taste of NBA level basketball in these Olympics. Croatia has a couple of other NBA players on their roster as well in Mario Hezonja (Magic) and Bojan Bogdanovic (Nets).

Mario Hezonja will be really interesting to watch since he was drafted #5 overall in 2015 and spent the year overseas with FC Barcelona. Hezonja is a freak athlete at 6'8", 218 pounds and he can shoot the ball well, so Magic fans too should get excited to see how he does. The Croatian team doesn't have very many NBA players, but the ones they do have could make an impact. Croatia is a dark horse to get a medal at these games. The could definitely surprise people.

France: The NBA players representing France are Nicolas Batum (Hornets), Joffrey Lauvergne (Nuggets), Tony Parker (Spurs), Boris Diaw (Jazz), and Rudy Gobert (Jazz). Plus, Nando De Colo could probably still be in the NBA, but he opted for more money with CSKA Moscow. France has some serious talent with Tony Parker running the point and Rudy Gobert down on the block doing what he does best, which is disrupting shots and catching lobs for easy dunks.

The Parker, Batum, and Gobert trio alone makes France very scary and then when you add a nice supporting cast in Diaw,  Lauvergne, and De Colo, you suddenly have a quasi NBA team on your hands.  Rudy Gobert is a game-changer and Tony Parker is still one of the best point guards in the league. I would be shocked if France did not get a medal at these games.

Lithuania: Lithuanians are known to be large people and their basketball team is no exception with nobody under 6'4" and four players that are at least 6'10". Jonas Valanciunas, the center for the Toronto Raptors is the star of this Lithuanian team, but there are two other NBA players on this team in Domantas Sabonis (Magic) and Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Knicks), both of whom play forward. The key for this Lithuanian team will be to take advantage of their size and really control the glass. If they do a good job at this, they won't be an easy out for any team. Look for Lithuania to make some noise and threaten to win a medal.

Nigeria: Nigeria has 1.5 NBA players. Michael Gbinije plays for the Pistons and Ben Uzoh plays in the D-League with the Canton Charge. The only guy with any serious NBA experience is Ike Diogu. Josh Akognon spent a year with the Dallas Mavericks, but that's it. All in all, look for Nigeria to get waxed at this event, but props to them for being the top team coming out of Africa. That's not nothing.

Serbia: The only current NBA player on the Serbian team is Nikola Jokic, a big man for the Denver Nuggets. Miroslav Raduljica played briefly in the NBA and Bogdan Bogdanovic was drafted in the 1st round by the Phoenix Suns in 2014. The best player outside of Jokic is probably Milos Tedosic, who has been a really solid player overseas, playing with CSKA Moscow during the last few seasons. Tedosic is a combo guard, so Serbia definitely has weapons on the perimeter as well as in the paint. Serbia should win at least a couple of games, but I don't see them winning a medal when it's all said and done.

Spain: Spain has a ton of NBA talent on their team with Pau Gasol (Bulls), Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves), Nikola Mitotic (Bulls), and Rudy Fernandez, who plays for Real Madrid but is a guy who'd be averaging double digit points per game in the NBA if he wanted to be. Plus, they have Sergio Rodriguez (76ers), Jose Calderon (Lakers), Willy Hernangomez (Knicks),  and Alex Abrines (Thunder).

The amount of NBA talent for a non-USA team is really impressive and the non-NBA players are also some of the best players not playing in the NBA. France might be the team to give the USA the most trouble, but many think it will be Spain due to all the talent that they have. Look for Spain to make a lot of noise and put themselves in a position to compete against the United States in the gold medal game.

Venezuela: I'm gonna be totally honest with you. I haven't heard of any of the Venezuelan players and they have nobody that is bigger than 6'9". They do have one Division 1 player in Anthony Perez of Ole Miss, who just finished his senior year averaging 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. So, they definitely have quality basketball players, it's just that relative to the rest of the competition, they aren't very good.

Prediction: United States takes the gold, France takes the silver, and Spain takes the bronze.

Wednesday Windmill: DeMarcus Cousins isn't getting enough respect

     Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is one of the best big men in the NBA if not the best. He's averaging 25.9 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. He's also shooting 33.9% from three-point range on 3.8 three-point shot attempts per game, which means he's averaging 1.3 three-point field goals per game. That's not too shabby.

     Sadly, "Boogie" Cousins isn't yet getting the level of respect that he deserves. At least not from the fans. The fact that Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (10.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and .4 blocks) has way more all-star votes than him isn't funny. It's sad and embarrassing. If there's any reason for why fans should not vote for all-star starters, the fact that Zaza Pachulia is carrying more weight in the polls than DeMarcus Cousins is a pretty compelling piece of data.

     So, with all of that being true, one has to now ask why this is the case. There are two major reasons for why DeMarcus Cousins isn't getting the amount of respect he deserves. The first reason is that he plays in a small market and the second reason is that over the course of his career, he has been a bit of a drama queen.

     Fans don't care to vote for players who they have no respect for and since DeMarcus Cousins over the years has brought a lot of negative attention on himself, the negative attention is all that the casual fan outside of Sacramento knows about him. They don't look up his numbers and see all the amazing work he's doing on the court. They don't know that he makes more than 1 three-point shot per game, etc. They don't know that because they hardly ever see him play. The fact of the matter is that if DeMarcus Cousins played in a large market like Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago, he would have a lot more respect around the league from fans.

     As far as the mainstream basketball analysts are concerned, the ones on TNT and ESPN, those guys know how good DeMarcus Cousins is, but even they have their doubts due to his lack of an ability to lead his team into the playoffs. They know the numbers he's putting up, but they question his leadership. This I think is a more fair criticism to have of DeMarcus Cousins. His numbers are great, but can he lead a team deep into the playoffs?

     I think the answer to that question is only time will tell, but with the way he's playing, there's not a good reason to really think he can't. Leading a team deep into the playoffs requires experience and having a team around you that is capable of doing serious damage. DeMarcus Cousins hasn't yet had that, but it's finally starting to come together.

     I'm confident that in time, DeMarcus Cousins' numbers will translate to playoff success and that the Sacramento Kings will once again be a force in the Western Conference. It may take a couple more seasons, but so long as DeMarcus Cousins continues to deliver like he does, the Kings will be competitive for a very long time.

Saturday Slam: The Sacramento Kings don't know what they are doing

     The Sacramento Kings are the most dysfunctional team in the NBA right now. The head coach George Karl hates the star player DeMarcus Cousins, the general manager Vlade Divac and owner Vivek Ranadive are trying to make both guys happy, and as a result, they have made a series of puzzling moves. The first of these moves was drafting Willie Cauley-Stein, the second was trading three players to the 76ers to clear cap space, and the third was signing Rajon Rondo. None of these moves make any sense whatsoever and truly are indicators that this franchise has no idea what they are doing.

     The biggest problem the Kings have at the moment is that it doesn't look like George Karl and DeMarcus Cousins can coexist. Karl has made it known that he wants Cousins gone and Cousins has made it known that he isn't happy with the way Karl has treated him.

     The problem with getting rid of the coach is that if they get rid of George Karl, it isn't at all clear what direction they go in terms of finding his replacement. There aren't any big name coaches available to hire and the only guys willing to take the Kings' job would be guys who are willing to be an NBA head coach purely because it pays well.

     As for getting rid of DeMarcus Cousins, doing so is even more problematic because he has been the piece that the franchise has tried to build around for the past few seasons. Getting rid of him would truly be an indicator that they are back to square one, which would be really hard to sell fans since they really never left square one to begin with.

     Probably the best way to resolve the DeMarcus Cousins/George Karl fiasco will be for both men to find a way to get along. As hard as that may be, the alternatives are much uglier for the Kings. The reality is that on paper, having both guys should be a plus for the Kings: Cousins is a budding superstar and Karl is a coach likely heading to the hall of fame. Usually that's a winning combination and the Kings have to hope that with time, both guys can work out their differences and have success on the basketball court.

     Regarding the decision to draft Willie Cauley-Stein, this was truly a bizarre move. Cauley-Stein has the potential to be a nice rim protector and defender in the paint, but offensively he is quite limited. Usually the best two way players get drafted first and then the more one-dimensional guys follow. For the Kings to take Willie Cauley-Stein with both Justise Winslow and Emmanuel Mudiay on the board is truly a head scratcher.

      Either the Kings see something in him that we don't see, or they see something in him that really isn't there. Given their recent pattern of behavior, I would say that they see something in him that really isn't there. Don't get me wrong, Willie Cauley-Stein could turn out to be a nice player, but taking him over a small forward with great two-way potential (Winslow) and a potential star point guard (Mudiay) is just insane.

     As for the deal with the 76ers, this too was a weird move. The Kings unloaded Nik Stauskas, the 8th overall pick in last year's draft, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, a future top-10 protected first round pick, and the right to swap two future first round picks to the 76ers for the rights to Arturas Gudaitis, Luka Mitrovic, and a future second round pick. All three of the players who the Kings gave up are solid players who could have been nice pieces to put around DeMarcus Cousins. Instead, they got rid of them so that they could clear cap space for the purpose of signing a big-name free agent.

     Had they landed LaMarcus Aldridge as a result of clearing all this cap space, the Kings would have certainly done the right thing. But what they ended up doing instead was sign Rajon Rondo to a one year deal worth $9.5M. Rondo was known for having issues with Rick Carlisle in Dallas and he has always been somewhat of a diva and head case.

     While there is no denying his talent, his attitude and mentality should have made him a non-option for the Kings given that they already have to deal with DeMarcus Cousins' ego and a coach who wants him gone. The combination of Karl, Cousins, and Rondo could result in a fatal explosion that wipes out the whole team by Christmas.

     All in all, there is nothing good to say about this Kings team. It appears as though they are randomly adding pieces that don't fit purely because they don't have anything better to do. It almost seems as though their plan is to add as many big names as possible and pray that it all works out. Such a strategy is certainly doomed. If the Kings really want to get better, they'll need to start drafting better and get some talented young players to build around for the future.

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

Daily Dunks: 4/27-5/3

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

Here is my Daily Dunks page for April 27, 2015 through May 3, 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. Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon is expected to exercise his $15.5M option this summer (Click here for details).

#2. Monty Williams is confident that he will return as the head coach of the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (shoulder) will miss the second round of the playoffs (Click here for details).

#4. Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith has been suspended for two games, Celtics center Kelly Olynyk has been suspended for one game, and Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins has been fined $15K (Click here for details).

#5. The Celtics are rumored to be interested in DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#6. Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons (knee) may undergo mircrofracture surgery (Click here for details).

#7. Celtics small forward Jae Crowder has a sprained ACL. He won't need surgery (Click here for details).

#8. Stance is the new sock provider of the NBA (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard had 32 points and 7 assists.

#10. Nets point guard Deron Williams had 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Monday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Trail Blazers 99 Grizzlies 92 (Grizzlies lead the series 3-1). Nets 120 Hawks 115: Final/OT (Series is tied 2-2). Bucks 94 Bulls 88 (Bulls lead the series 3-2).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Dwane Casey will likely return as the Raptors head coach (Click here for details).

#2. Kevin Love is likely to miss the entire playoffs (Click here for details).

#3. J.R. Smith apologizes for his thuggish actions (Click here for details).

#4. The Lakers want Rajon Rondo, but not enough to throw him a ton of money (Click here for details).

#5. The Bucks are trying to make sure local fans get dibs on tickets for Game 6 (Click here for details).

#6. Carmelo Anthony has spoken out about the Baltimore riots (Click here for details).

#7. Pelicans head coach Monty Williams hopes the team retains Omer Asik (Click here for details).

#8. Raptors forward Terrence Ross is unlikely to get a contract extension this offseason (Click here for details).

#9. Elton Brand may join the Knicks next season (Click here for details).

#10. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 28 points and 8 assists.


Tuesday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Rockets 103 Mavericks 94 (Rockets win series 4-1). Spurs 111 Clippers 107 (Spurs lead series 3-2).

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Ante Tomic has decided to re-sign with FC Barcelona on a three-year extension instead of coming over to play for the Utah Jazz (Click here for details).

#2. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is reportedly interested in joining the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love underwent surgery on his left shoulder. He is expected to be out 4-6 months (Click here for details).

#4. Timberwolves shooting guard Andrew has been named the NBA's Rookie of the Year (Click here for details).

#5. The Mavericks agreed to part ways with Rajon Rondo after Game 2 against the Rockets and also denied him of a playoff share (Click here for details).

#6. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley didn't play on Wednesday in Game 5 against the Trail Blazers. His status for Sunday against the Warriors is looking doubtful (Click here for details).

#7. Hawks small forward Kyle Korver has won the 2014-15 NBA Sportsmanship Award (Click here for details).

#8. Timberwolves small forward Chase Budinger has exercised his $5M player option for the 2015-16 season (Click here for details).

#9. Former Wizards shooting guard Javaris Crittenton has plead guilty to manslaughter and will get 23 years in prison (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was fined $25K for publicly criticizing officials (Click here for details).

Wednesday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Grizzlies 99 Trail Blazers 93 (Grizzlies win series 4-1).  Hawks 107 Nets 97 (Hawks lead series 3-2).

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Celtics will extend Jae Crowder a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#2. The Thunder hired Billy Donovan as head coach on a five year, $30M deal (Click here for details).

#3. Al-Farouq Aminu will opt out of his contract with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#4. Carmelo Anthony has joined protesters in Baltimore (Click here for details).

#5. The Magic have extended GM Rob Hennigan's contract through the 2017-18 season (Click here for details).

#6. Thunder center Nick Collison underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and will be out 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#7. Damian Lillard is seeking a five year, max money deal with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#8. FC Barcelona point guard Marcelinho Huertas says he wants to re-sign with the Spanish club instead of leaving for the NBA (Click here for details).

#9. Bulls power forward Pau Gasol had 19 points and 8 rebounds.

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Bulls 120 Bucks 66 (Bulls win series 4-2). Clippers 102 Spurs 96 (Series is tied 3-3).

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Kings reportedly do not look to trade DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#2. On the flip side, the Celtics are hell bent on trying to trade for DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#3. Arron Afflalo is expected to opt out of his contract with the Trail Blazers and test free agency (Click here for details).

#4. Warriors GM Bob Meyers won Executive of the Year (Click here for details).

#5. Klay Thompson's dad is saying the Warriors will go after Kevin Durant (Click here for details).

#6. Joakim Noah says he is excited to be going to Cleveland (Click here for details).

#7. LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs is a serious possibility (Click here for details).

#8. Bucks small forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is sorry he tackled Mike Dunleavy (Click here for details).

#9. Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee (Click here for details).

#10. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap had 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Friday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Hawks 111 Nets 87 (Hawks win series 4-2).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Jared Dudley expects to be back with the Bucks (Click here for details).

#2. Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has received a one game suspension for tackling Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (Click here for details).

#3. Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy won't be suspended for his fouls against the Bucks (Click here for details).

#4. Nets head coach Lionel Hollins says Deron Williams is no longer a franchise player (Click here for details).

#5. Nets guard Alan Anderson will decline his player option for next season and become a free agent (Click here for details).

#6. J.J. Barea hopes to remain with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#7. Khris Middleton hopes to remain with the Bucks (Click here for details).

#8. The Nets hope to retain Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young (Click here for details).

#9. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin had 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.

#10. Clippers point guard Chris Paul is dealing with a hamstring injury but he played through it in Game 7 and hit the game winning shot (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Clippers 111 Spurs 109: Final. Clippers win series 4-3.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Gregg Popovich won't say what their plans are for the future (Click here for details).

#2. Adam Silver wants to make divisions matter more if they are going to continue to exist (Click here for details).

#3. Rumor: The Magic want Tom Thibodeau and are delaying a hire until after the Bulls' season is over (Click here for details).

#4. LeBron James is sticking with the no-head band look (Click here for details).

#5. Karl Anthony-Towns would like to play for the Knicks (Click here for details).

#6. Grizzlies point guard Beno Udrih doesn't think Marc Gasol will go to the Knicks (Click here for details).

#7. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley warmed up with the mask but didn't play (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 22 points and 7 assists.

#9. Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal had 28 points and 7 rebounds.

#10. Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll had 24 points and 3 rebounds.

Sunday's NBA Playoff Scores: 

Warriors 101 Grizzlies 86 (Warriors lead series 1-0). Wizards 104 Hawks 98 (Wizards lead series 1-0).
---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Daily Dunks: 2/23-3/1

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source and full image)

Here are my Daily Dunks for February 23-March 1, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with NBA news and scores until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Utah Jazz signed point guard Bryce Cotton and forward Jack Cooley to 10-day contracts (Click here for details).

#2. The Nets plan to sign power forward Thomas Robinson to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Kings hired Vance Walberg as an assistant coach (Click here for details).

#4. Carlos Boozer won't pursue a buyout from the Lakers (Click here for details).

#5. Bulls power forward Taj Gibson is dealing with a hand injury (Click here for details).

#6. Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony played most of the season with a partial tear in his knee (Click here for details).

#7. Erik Spoelstra says Chris Bosh should be released from the hospital soon (Click here for details).

#8. Phil Jackson criticized the Knicks on  twitter (Click here for details).

#9. Rajon Rondo is working with the same shooting coach that works with Dirk Nowitzki (Click here for details).

#10. JaVale McGee hopes to remain with the 76ers (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Rockets 113 Timberwolves 102. Jazz 90 Spurs 81. Grizzlies 90 Clippers 87. Heat 119 76ers 108. Pelicans 100 Raptors 97. Bulls 87 Bucks 71. Nuggets 110 Nets 82. Celtics 115 Spurs 110.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose will undergo surgery on his right knee for another meniscus tear. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#2. Thomas Robinson won't go to the Nets. The 76ers scooped him up on waivers (Click here for details).

#3. Thunder small forward Steve Novak is out indefinitely due to an appendectomy (Click here for details).

#4. Report: The 76ers were willing to trade anybody at the deadline including Joel Embiid (Click here for details).

#5. A mansion in Los Angeles was robbed by four masked bandits. The owner was Earl Watson (Click here for details).

#6. Anthony Mason's condition is improving (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers small forward Shawn Marion is out two weeks due to a left hip strain (Click here for details).

#8. Kendrick Perkins has officially signed with the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#9. The Pistons claimed small forward Shawne Williams off waivers from the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#10. Lakers point guard Ronnie Price will undergo an elbow operation on Wednesday. His season is over (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 
Warriors 114 Wizards 107. Cavaliers 102 Pistons 93. Thunder 105 Pacers 92. Mavericks 99 Raptors 92.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Larry Sanders has no plans to return to basketball in the near future (Click here for details).

#2. The Bulls have been talking to Nate Robinson (Click here for details).

#3. Derrick Rose's injury isn't initially believed to be as serious as his injury last season (Click here for details).

#4. Steve Blake plans to exercise his $2.1M player option next summer to stay with the Trail Blazers (Click here for details).

#5. The Pistons signed point guard John Lucas III for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#6. Wizards small forward Paul Pierce (bruised knee) was a DNP. He is day-to-day (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team (Click here for details).

#8. In his first game back with the Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett had 5 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 19 minutes.

#9. Craig Sager will return to the sidelines on March 5 (Click here for details).

#10. In his debut with the Bucks, Michael Carter-Williams had 7 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Timberwolves 97 Wizards 77. Lakers 100 Jazz 97. Kings 102 Grizzlies 90. Heat 93 Magic 90. Hawks 104 Mavericks 87. Celtics 115 Knicks 94. Pelicans 102 Nets 96. Hornets 98 Bulls 86. Rockets 110 Clippers 105. Bucks 104 76ers 88. Suns 110 Nuggets 96. Trail Blazers 111 Spurs 95.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Heat signed Michael Beasley to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#2. Andre Miller is interested in re-signing with the Kings (Click here for details).

#3. Phil Jackson is going to be fined for tampering (Click here for details).

#4. Pacers small forward Paul George has returned to practice. He could be back in a couple of weeks (Click here for details).

#5. Richard "Rip" Hamilton officially retired (Click here for details).

#6. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has undergone surgery on his knee. Part of the meniscus was removed. He should be back in 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#7. Kings guard Darren Collison needs surgery to repair a core muscle injury. He'll be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#8. Report: George Karl has full control over the Kings' personnel. He wants Ty Lawson and is willing to trade DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

#9. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 42 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Warriors.

#10. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a triple-double: 39 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Cavaliers 110 Warriors 99. Suns 117 Thunder 113.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Report: If Ray Allen returns to the NBA this season, it won't be to the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#2. The highest bid for the Hawks is around $800M (Click here for details).

#3. The NBA will release reports of officials for the last two minutes of each game (Click here for details).

#4. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (rest) didn't play.

#5. Baron Davis is plotting an NBA comeback (Click here for details).

#6. Kings center Demarcus Cousins (ankle/hip) didn't play (Click here for details).

#7. Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons is still dealing with an ankle injury and won't play on Saturday (Click here for details).

#8. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had a triple-double: 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.

#9. Rockets forward Terrence Jones had 26 points and 12 rebounds.

#10. Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas had 28 points and 7 assists.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 113 Raptors 89. Bulls 96 Timberwolves 89. Clippers 97 Grizzlies 79. Jazz 104 Nuggets 82. Pacers 93 Cavaliers 86. 76ers 89 Wizards 81. Hawks 95 Magic 88. Celtics 106 Hornest 98. Knicks 121 Pistons 115 (2OT). Pelicans 104 Heat 102. Rockets 102 Nets 98. Spurs 107 Kings 96. Lakers 101 Bucks 93. Trail Blazers 115 Thunder 112.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Anthony Mason passed away at the age of 48. May he rest in peace (Click here for details).

#2. Early Lloyd, the NBA's first black player, passed away at the age of 86 (Click here for details).

#3. Warriors center Festus Ezeli was suspended 1 game for grabbing the throat of Raptors power forward Tyler Hansbrough (Click here for details).

#4. Chris Bosh has been released from the hospital and is progressing towards a recovery (Click here for details).

#5. Wesley Johnson says he hopes to re-sign with the Lakers (Click here for details).

#6. Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (ankle/hip) is unlikely to play on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving (shoulder) won't play on Sunday (Click here for details).

#8. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook underwent a procedure to repair a fractured cheekbone. He won't play Sunday and is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#9. Trey Burke had 23 points off the bench for the Utah Jazz.

#10. Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Grizzlies 101 Timberwolves 97. Jazz 82 Bucks 75. Wizards 99 Pistons 95. Hawks 93 Heat 91. Knicks 103 Raptors 98. Nets 104 Mavericks 94. Spurs 101 Suns 74.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The 76ers waived center JaVale McGee (Click here for details).

#2. Kevin  Garnett bought 1,000 tickets for fans to an upcoming Timberwolves home game (Click here for details).

#3. Rockets GM Daryl Morey has made some proposals to change the trade rules of the NBA (Click here for details).

#4. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had 37 points against the Celtics.

#5. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists against the Rockets.

#6. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 33 points 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Cavaliers.

#7. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan scored 9 points and grabbed 26 rebounds against the Bulls.

#8. Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard had 31 points against the Kings.

#9.  Hornets point guard Mo Williams had 23 points and 11 assists against the Magic.

#10. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 16 points and 15 rebounds against the Lakers.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 106 Celtics 101. Clippers 96 Bulls 86. Rockets 105 Cavaliers 103 (OT). Pacers 94 76ers 74. Hornets 98 Magic 93. Trail Blazers 110 Kings 99. Thunder 108 Lakers 101. Pelicans 99 Nuggets 92.

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