nba news

Charles Barkley Calls Out The Los Angeles Clippers

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Charles Barkley is someone who is known for being harsh and realistic about the chances of other teams. He is what the youth would call an “oldhead” when it comes to the world of basketball. Overall, he believes that his era was the best, and there is nothing you can do to convince him otherwise. For many sports fans, this attitude can be quite tiresome. However, there is no doubt that Barkley is an entertaining guy, which is ultimately why TNT keeps him employed.

Over the course of the last few years, the TNT crew has been skeptical of the Los Angeles Clippers. This is mostly due to the fact that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are rarely on the floor together. Consequently, their team has had inconsistent spells in the regular season and the postseason. Overall, it has not been a good look for a team that was supposed to win a title before the LeBron Lakers. In the most recent episode of Inside the NBA, Barkley made sure to let the Clippers know about just how inconsistent they truly are.

Charles Barkley Speaks

“I’ll tell you what’s going to be interesting: this Clippers team in the Playoffs,” Barkley said. “They can win it, or they could lose in the first round. They are talented. They’re deep. They play great defense. … I picked them to win the West but they are… they got different personalities. Dr. Phil would have a field day with this team.” As it stands, the Clippers are simply praying for the health of Kawhi Leonard. Additionally, they are currently in talks with Russell Westbrook, which can either be very good or very bad for that roster.

At this point, the Western Conference is wide open. There are six teams that could realistically make a deep run. For now, however, the Clippers will continue to elicit skepticism until they are fully healthy and continue to play at a consistently high level. As always, let us know what you think of Charles Barkley and his remarks, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

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Adam Silver Gets Honest About Player Empowerment

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Adam Silver is one of the best commissioners in sports right now. Of all the professional sports leagues, there is no doubt that NBA players have the most freedom to do as they please. In fact, many would call this the “Player Empowerment Era.” Overall, this has led to players demanding trades and more often than not, getting what they desire. However, there have been drawbacks to this. Small market teams typically lose out, and there have been some obscene super teams to hit the scene.

Additionally, during the last trade deadline, players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were traded. This ultimately changed the dynamic of the entire league, and the NBA wants to avoid situations like this. They understand how damaging it can be to a team when a player demands a trade. Subsequently, Silver spoke about this during an interview with ESPN. As you can see, he isn’t a fan of these trade requests.

Adam Silver Talks

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

“Player trade demands are a bad thing,” Silver said. “We don’t want them to happen, and we’ve got to focus on that and make sure that everyone is honoring their agreements. You never want it to get to the point where a player’s literally demanding that he goes somewhere else. And so, you know, again, something we’re discussing in collective bargaining. There aren’t, again, any simple fixes here or else we would’ve done it.” At this point, it remains to be seen what Silver will do to correct this trend. Whether or not he can do anything, is yet to be determined.

For many NBA fans, this era of trade requests has been frustrating. If you are a Phoenix Suns fan, you love it. Although, if you are a fan of the Nets, then this is truly an awful trend. Let us know what you think of all of this, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

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Kevin Durant Gets Emotional While Speaking On The Nets

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Kevin Durant is now a proud member of the Phoenix Suns. Overall, he is one of the best players in the league, and he has just turned the Suns into title contenders. With Chris Paul and Devin Booker by his side, there is no doubt that the Suns should be strong. Although, there is now immense pressure on that roster, and if they are not able to deliver, then the fans are going to be angry beyond belief. Not to mention, KD is still injured which means there will be less opportunity for chemistry building ahead of the postseason.

Yesterday, Durant had his introductory press conference with the Suns. It was a very fun day for Durant as he even got to wear his Suns uniform for the first time. The media in Phoenix welcomed KD with open arms, and overall, it was nice to hear from him for the first time since the trade. According to TMZ, Durant is excited to be in Phoenix, although he is definitely sad about how things turned out in Brooklyn. In fact, he was even a bit emotional with tears in his eyes while speaking on his former team.

Kevin Durant Speaks

“I built a family over there,” he said. “They gon’ always be a part of my journey.” Moreover, Durant feels an extra bond with the players over in Brooklyn because they helped him when he needed it the most. “I love those guys,” Durant explained. “I get emotional talking about ’em because that was a special four years of my career, coming off an Achilles [injury] and they helped me a lot.” Needless to say, Durant truly wanted to win a title in Brooklyn. However, that was going to be impossible as soon as Kyrie Irving demanded a trade out of town.

At this point, Durant needs to win a title in Phoenix in order to sure up his legacy. If he cannot get it done with Chris Paul and D-Book, then some will have a lot to say about his run. These next few months are going to be pivotal for KD, and we cannot wait to see how it plays out. Let us know how you think Durant will do, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

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Kevin Durant Dons Suns Jersey For The First Time

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Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the entire NBA. Overall, some fans would say that he is the best player in the league right now. However, there are a plethora of people who believe this is just a step too far. Although, he should definitely earn top-five consideration when you think about everything he does for his teams. Durant is simply one of the best players ever, and now that he is on the Phoenix Suns, he turns them into real contenders.

Unfortunately for the Suns, he won’t be able to play a game for them until after the All-Star break. This is due to the fact that he is nursing an injury right now. He has had this injury since before the Nets traded him. That said, the Suns knew what they were getting when they acquired KD. After all, they still have Devin Booker and Chris Paul, which is enough for them to get by over this upcoming stretch. Once the playoffs hit, then the Suns will truly shine as a team.

Kevin Durant Is Ready

While Durant doesn’t have an exact timeline for his return, that has not stopped the Suns from filming some content with their new star. In the video clip up above, Durant can be found wearing his brand-new Suns jersey. Overall, he looks pretty great in the jersey, and we’re sure fans are very excited to see him in those colors. In fact, Durant is having his introductory press conference today, which will be a whole lot of fun. Although there might be some difficult questions sent KD’s way, we’re sure we will get some insight into his departure from Brooklyn.

As it stands, it is a very good time to be a fan of the Phoenix Suns. They are the current favorites to win it all, and if they make it happen, then that fanbase will finally get what they’ve wanted for years. Arizona sports teams have had a hard time winning titles, and we’re sure those fans would appreciate at least one. Let us know what you think of seeing KD in a Suns jersey, in the comments down below.

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Stephen A. Smith Delivers Surprising Lakers Hot Take

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Stephen A. Smith is someone who is known to deliver some wild hot takes from time to time. Overall, he is a joy to watch every day on First Take. However, it is clear that not everyone appreciates what he brings to the sports world. There are a lot of people out there who believe his opinion is worthless. Of course, this is a bit of a strong thing to say. This is mostly espoused by people who have no interest in punditry whatsoever. Although, for those who love these kinds of shows, Stephen A. is the absolute best.

This season, Smith has had to talk a lot about the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have not been very good, but they do have LeBron James, which makes them noteworthy. Throughout the year, the Lakers have tried to improve the team. Recently, they did just that with a whole host of trades. Last night, the Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans in a blowout, and now, people are seeing the Lakers differently. Smith is among these people and he made a very interesting revelation today.

Stephen A. Makes A Prediction

Simply put, Smith believes the Lakers should be seen as a title contender of sorts. However, there are some caveats here. He doesn’t see them as better than the Phoenix Suns or the Denver Nuggets. However, if they can make the play-in, then there is a real chance that they give the top teams a run for their money. Stephen A. likes how the Lakers are built right now, and he is giving Rob Pelinka a ton of credit. For now, though, it remains to be seen if the Lakers can even sustain their play long enough for a playoff push.

No matter what, the purple and gold will be the team to watch over the coming months. Hopefully, they are able to show everyone what they are made of. As for Stephen A., he will continue to hold out hope that the Lakers will be part of his First Take NBA playoffs coverage. Let us know what you think of the Lakers’ future chances, in the comments down below.

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Skip Bayless Actually Says Something Nice About The Lakers

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Skip Bayless is an avid hater of LeBron James. Additionally, by extension, Skip isn’t so fond of the Los Angeles Lakers. Pretty well all year, he has been detailing how this Lakers team just isn’t very good. Moreover, he has had some harsh words for players like Russell Westbrook. For the most part, however, Skip’s beef has been with LeBron who he feels has spent too much time going for the scoring record. Needless to say, Skip is a huge LeBron hater and that will likely never change.

As it stands, the Lakers are facing a very interesting test of their will. They have a ton of new players on the team, and they need to go on a big winning streak soon. Overall, they are looking to make the playoffs and that will require going on a big winning streak. On Wednesday, they started that journey with a blowout win over the Pelicans. As it turns out, that win actually impressed Bayless. So much so that Skip had to talk about it on Undisputed today.

Skip Bayless Reacts

During a debate with Shannon Sharpe, Skip noted that this win deserves a 9 out of 10 on the impressive scale. Overall, this is a very good score for Skip, who loves to undercut everything James does. However, Bayless truly believes the Lakers could be on the up and up with their new-look roster. “That was BY FAR the best the Lakers have looked all season long,” Bayless proclaimed. It was hard for Sharpe to disagree with this assessment given how big of a win it was. The Lakers have struggled to blow teams out, although that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore.

No matter what, this next stretch of basketball is not going to be easy for the Lakers. They are a team that needs to win 67 percent of its games, which is much easier said than done. Hopefully, for LeBron and that fanbase, they can get it done. Let us know what you think the Lakers’ chances are, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world.

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LeBron James Reacts To Recent Lakers Additions

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LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are staring down an incredibly difficult final stretch to the season. Overall, they are 13th in the Western Conference and they need to find a way to get into the playoffs. While they may only be five games back of third place, it is still going to be hard for them. After all, there are only 23 games left, which means they need to go on an insane run to end the year. Although, they do have some new pieces that could make this potential run a whole lot easier.

For instance, the Lakers traded Russell Westbrook for Jarred Vanderbilt, D’Angelo Russell, and Malik Beasley. Furthermore, they also picked up Mo Bamba in a trade for Patrick Beverley. Needless to say, these are some solid new players to give LeBron and Anthony Davis. Moreover, in LeBron’s first game with these new pieces, the Lakers won in a blowout. Simply put, the Lakers could be cooking up something very interesting here.

LeBron Offers Praise

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

According to Michael Corvo of Clutch Points, LeBron had some nice things to say about his new teammates. Additionally, he offered some support to all of the Lakers players who have been traded over the past few weeks. “I think our skill sets all kind of fit each other,” James said of his new players. “I shout out and salute the guys that left. Russ, Pat, JTA, DJ, and Thomas … We all started the season together and tried to work to make things happen and be the best that we could. So, I salute those guys and their commitment.”

James has seen numerous players come and go on the Los Angeles Lakers. Only time will tell whether or not these new guys can handle the pressure. After all, playing with LeBron is no easy task. Hopefully, everyone is able to co-exist with one another throughout this final stretch. Stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

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Kevin Love To Get Bought Out, New Suitor Revealed

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Kevin Love has had his fair share of issues with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Overall, Love was brought in thanks to LeBron James. When James returned to the Cavs in 2014, he wanted a roster that could compete with the best of them. Subsequently, this led to a trade that brought K-Love. In those early years, Love played very well with the team. However, once LeBron left in 2018, it became clear that he didn’t want to be there anymore. Unfortunately, Love never actually got traded or let go. It is 2023, and he is still technically under contract with the franchise.

For years, there have been talks about buying out Love’s deal. Well, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the buyout has finally occurred. The Cavaliers are looking to finalize the deal which would allow Love to become a free agent. Although he spent nine years with the franchise, Love will be very eager to simply move on and go somewhere else.

Kevin Love Moves On

Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 24, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Love is someone who has only played for two franchises. These teams include the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cavaliers. Needless to say, he has not played for the most attractive markets. However, it seems like his fortunes could be on the verge of changing. It is now being revealed that Love is looking to sign with the Miami Heat. They are a team looking for some depth ahead of the playoffs, and Love has proven to be a decent option. Only time will tell whether or not other teams decide to join the fun.

For Cavs fans, this is the end of an era. He was the last remaining player from that 2016 championship team. Overall, he might not have had a great end to his career in Cleveland. However, he was part of a legendary team that will always be celebrated. Let us know where you think Love should play, in the comments below. Also, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

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Russell Westbrook Talking With These Teams

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Russell Westbrook is one of the most talked about point guards in the entire NBA. Unfortunately for Westbrook, this isn’t always for the best reasons. During his last few years with the Lakers, he has not been great. Overall, there is this narrative surrounding him that is fairly negative. People aren’t rocking with him the way they used to, and no one knows whether he can still be effective in the league. Subsequently, his future is truly up in the air.

As it stands, Westbrook is playing for the Utah Jazz. For now, however, the team is simply sitting him until further notice. While the team has stated that they could very well keep him, they would rather buy him out, allowing him to go as he pleases. Although, some reporters like Shams Charania believe there is no market for Russ. That said, it is clear that some teams are actually very interested.

Russell Westbrook Future

Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 02, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Russ is currently engaged in conversations with four teams. These squads are the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and even the Washington Wizards. Overall, there is only one real title contender here, and that’s the Clippers. Although, there is no real guarantee that this Clippers team goes anywhere considering their injury history. Either way, players like Paul George want to see Russ join the roster, which is a point in the point guard’s favor. No matter what, it is clear that this is going to be an interesting few weeks for Westbrook.

Hopefully, he is able to find an NBA home that truly wants him. We’re sure these past few weeks have been difficult for him and his family. It is clear that Russ can still play at a high level. Overall, he just needs a chance to showcase that. Having said this, let us know where you think Russ should play next, in the comments down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from the NBA.

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LeBron James Speaks Out On His Recent Injury

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LeBron James has had an emotional week if you want to put it lightly. Just last Tuesday, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for first all-time on the NBA scoring list. Overall, this is one of the best records in the entire history of the league. It is unfathomable to think that James could have ever broken this record. Moreover, LeBron still has a few great years left in him, which means it is likely that he runs up his numbers. If you are a basketball fan, you can’t help but be grateful for the greatness LeBron has provided over the years.

Since breaking the record, James has been out of the Lakers lineup with a bit of an injury. He has been dealing with soreness in his foot that has threatened to derail the Lakers’ season. Although, James was able to return on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. Throughout that game, the Lakers looked like a complete team as James scored 21 points in an 18-point victory. Subsequently, James gave reporters some updates on his injury and how he will be moving forward.

LeBron Reacts

“Just knowing there was no structural damage. No stress reaction, no stress fracture, no bone chips, breaks, anything like that. It was just something that happened, just wear down. … I was able to not stress it as much because I was not able to play the last three games,” LeBron explained. “My ankle and my foot feels really good right now. So it’s a good start.” This should come as very good news to the Los Angeles Lakers. Without LeBron, they would ultimately have no chance of actually winning anything.

Heading into this last stretch of the season, the Lakers will likely need to win 67 percent of their games in order to make the play-in. Overall, this is a very difficult task when you consider how bad the team has been this year. However, with a new roster surrounding LeBron, everyone seems very motivated to make it happen. Let us know what you think of the Lakers’ chances, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

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