Daily Dunks: 8/24-8/30

                                                    (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

     Here is my Daily Dunks page for August 24, 2015 through August 30, 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 Rockets officially re-signed guard Jason Terry (Click here for details).

#2. The Utah Jazz signed center Jeff Withey to a two-year, partially guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Suns will honor Steve Nash by inducting him into their "Ring of Honor" on Friday, October 30 (Click here for details).

#4. The Miami Heat extended their  D-League single-affiliation with the Sioux Falls Skyforce through the 2016-17 season (Click here for details).

#5. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has agreed to a four-year, $54M extension with the Hornets (Click here for details).

#6. The Lakers are thinking of bringing back Metta World Peace (Click here for details).

#7. Dario Saric plans to join the 76ers in the summer of 2016 (Click here for details).

#8. Power forward Jeff Adrien agreed to a one-year deal with the Pelicans (Click here for details).

#9. Phil Jackson: "The Knicks may struggle early" (Click here for details).

#10. Mavericks shooting guard Wesley Matthews says he'll be ready to go opening night (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Heat officially signed Keith Benson (Click here for details).

#2. The Lakers officially signed guard Michael Frazier (Click here for details).

#3. The Clippers have been fined $250,000 for something they offered DeAndre Jordan that they shouldn't have offered him (Click here for details).

#4. Metta World Peace says there have been no contact between him and the Lakers (Click here for details).

#5. Lakers' coaches were pleased with D'Angelo Russell's Summer League performance (Click here for details).

#6. Andrei Kirilenko has been named the President of the Russian Basketball Federation (Click here for details).

#7. Report: The Wizards aren't willing to give Bradley Beal a max contract right now, even though he wants one (Click here for details).

#8. Greg Oden has officially signed in China (Click here for details).

#9. Henry Sims and Corey Jefferson have signed with the Suns for training camp (Click here for details).

#10. Stephen Curry wants to stay with the Warriors long-term (Click here for details).

Tuesday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Dream 71 Sun 57.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Derrick Rose is being sued for drugging and gang raping an ex-girlfriend (Click here for details).

#2. LeBron James sold his home in Miami for $13.4M (Click here for details).

#3. The Hornets have signed Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to a 4 year, $54M extension (Click here for details).

#4. Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (knee) is fine (Click here for details).

#5. The Heat are still shopping Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen (Click here for details).

#6. Ricky Rubio loves having Kevin Garnett for a teammate (Click here for details).

#7. Rafael Hettsheimeir, a big man from Brazil, is working out for the Spurs (Click here for details).

Wednesday's WNBA Final Scores: 
Sparks 81 Fever 79.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 
#1. Darryl Dawkins a.k.a Chocolate Thunder passed away from a heart attack (Click here for details).

#2. The Kings signed former Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson for training camp (Click here for details).

#3. Josh Howard is attempting an NBA comeback (Click here for details).

#4. Russell Westbrook is marrying his longtime girlfriend this weekend (Click here for details).

#5. Derrick Rose issues a statement proclaiming his innocence (Click here for details).

#6. Kyrie Irving may not be back until January (Click here for details).

#7. Chuck Hayes is a still a free agent. He won't sign with the Rockets (Click here for details).

#8. The Suns signed guard Deonte Burton for training camp (Click here for details).

Thursday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Mercury 81 Sun 80.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Wizards signed guard Toure' Murry to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#2. The Utah Jazz signed forward J.J. O'Brien to a non-guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#3. The Hawks announced additions to their Athletic Performance Team (Click here for details).

#4. Hornets head coach Steve Clifford plans to play Jeremy Lin and Kemba Walker together (Click here for details).

#5. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis "definitely" plans on shooting more threes this season (Click here for details).

#6. Nets forward Andrea Bargnani injured his ankle, but he continued to play on at Eurobasket (Click here for details)

#7. Kobe Bryant's NBA2K16 player rating is the lowest of his career (Click here for details).

#8. The Magic signed guard Jordan Siebert to a non-guranteed contract (Click here for details).

#9. Michael Jordan's original Space Jam uniform is available to own (Click here for details).

#10. Lakers Executive VP of Basketball Operations Jim Buss defends head coach Byron Scott (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Mystics 71 Mercury 63. Dream 90 Fever 84. Liberty 81 Lynx 68. Shock 76 Sparks 66. Storm 83 Stars 69.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Warriors GM Bob Meyers is "focused and motivated" to get extensions done with Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli (Click here for details).

#2. Carlos Boozer reportedly won't head overseas before the NBA season starts. He is holding out in hopes of landing an NBA gig with a playoff team (Click here for details).

#3. Nets forward Bojan Bogdanovic also injured his ankle in preparation for Eurobasket. He too says he'll be ok (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer rejected a $60M local TV deal. He may start an online streaming service instead (Click here for details).

#5. The Thunder signed forward Talib Zanna to a non-guaranteed deal (Click here for details).

#6. The Warriors signed swingman Jarell Eddie to a non-guaranteed deal (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 80 Sun 66. Sky 98 Dream 96.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Nigeria wins AfroBasket and qualifies for the Rio Olympics (Click here for details).

#2. Robert Upshaw still hasn't signed his training camp deal with the Lakers. He is working through some personal issues (Click here for details).

#3. Shaq to Kobe: "I just want people to know that I don't hate you" (Click here for details).

#4. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker calls the $250M Milwaukee arena deal "fiscally responsible" (Click here for details).

#5. D'Angelo Russell complimented Tracy McGrady and idiot Lakers fans took it as a diss to Kobe Bryant (Click here for details).

#6. The Hornets want Frank Kaminsky to get stronger (Click here for details).

Sunday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Shock 76 Fever 70. Sparks 60 Stars 52. Sun 72 Sky 68. Lynx 71 Mercury 61. Storm 69 Mystics 59.

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

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