Monthly Archives: July 2019

Every NBA Team’s Biggest Hole After Free-Agency Madness

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Another hectic round of NBA free agency has come and gone, and with the dust now settling, teams are left to grapple with the roster holes that went unfilled.

Nothing, of course, is set in stone so far from training camps. But barring any more blockbuster trades, depth charts and rotations are beginning to take shape. Squads have better than a general idea of what they’re working with and what they still need. youth nfl jerseys

And make no bones about it: Every team needs something.e596478f668a19fb6ffe789b688a5d88_crop_exact

Some voids are more concerning than others. Certain holes are newly created by departures. Select needs are holdover issues from previous seasons. Big or small, though, each team has at least one.nfl youth jerseys

For instances in which a squad has numerous holes, we’ll default to the most pressing. These selections are not meant to be debilitating blows in every case. Some squads have potential, albeit unproven, solutions in-house. This is more so a look at which player types a team could still use most.nfl youth jerseys cheap
Losing Dewayne Dedmon is a huge deal for the Atlanta Hawks—much bigger than most realize. Floor-spacing rim protectors are hardly a dime a dozen, and he was a stabilizing defensive force in the middle.cheap nfl youth jerseys

Atlanta doesn’t have a clear-cut replacement for him. That might speak to the team’s plan for John Collins. He’s a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses at the 5. But the Hawks have yet to tread water with him in the middle. They gave up 120.6 points per 100 possessions when he played center last season.

Extending his time at the 5 would be a big bet on his defensive development, both as a decision-maker and physical presence. That’s not an unreasonable gamble given the Hawks’ gradual timeline. It is still a risk.replica nfl jerseys

Jabari Parker’s arrival doesn’t help the cause. Alex Len can. He doesn’t have the mobility of Dedmon, but he’s a good enough rim protector, and Atlanta gave him the green light last year to shoot threes, which he buried at 36.3 percent clip. nfl youth jersey

Maintaining that value in a larger role won’t be easy. Len has barely cracked 20 minutes per game over the past three seasons. If he can’t take on more responsibility and Collins doesn’t improve on defense, a heavier-than-expected burden figures to fall upon rookie Bruno Fernando.nfl replica jerseys cheap

How LeBron James, Lakers Can Convince Anthony Davis to Stay in LA Long-Term

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Some may scoff at the notion of Anthony Davis playing anywhere other than Los Angeles in 2020-21, but he can and will turn down his $28.8 million player option, exercise his right to meet with other organizational leaders in free agency and weigh each pro and con next summer. nfl cheap nike jerseys

“When that time comes around next year, you can ask me that question, we can revisit it,” Davis said when asked about a long-term commitment at his introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Lakers. “Right now, I’m focused on this year and how I can help this team and help the organization become a championship team.”
His agent, Rich Paul, has already addressed the question. As he told Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price before the trade that moved Davis off the New Orleans Pelicans:new nike nfl jerseys for sale cheaphi-res-31c46aebfb0461f120df711940edd97c_crop_north

“Where he’s going to land? I have no idea. And it don’t matter. We’re going into free agency. Why does it matter to me where he goes? Earth: We’re going into cheap wholesale nike nfl jerseys free agency. He has a year; he has to play. But after that, I can’t say it no bigger: WE ARE GOING INTO FREE AGENCY. 2020: ANTHONY DAVIS WILL BE IN FREE AGENCY.”cheap nfl nike jerseys free shipping

The Lakers paid a steep price this offseason to acquire the best player in the NBA (at least by his standards), giving up Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and multiple first-round picks. Regardless of his ranking among the NBA’s elite, Davis is in his prime at 26 years old and is one season removed from a top-three finish in the races for both Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.cheap nike jerseys nfl

But what if he walks away for nothing?

The Lakers can and should do everything within their power to retain Davis and keep him happy. But that requires five key steps.

LeBron, the ambassador of the Lakers organization both on and off the court, will be critical in securing Davis long-term.cheap nfl jerseys from china nike

Before injuring his groin on Christmas, coincidentally just three nights after meeting with Davis for dinner in L.A., James had never missed more than 13 games in any previous season of his 16-year career. That would change in 2018-19, a year in which he sat out of 27 games. The Lakers lost 18 of those contests and were 8.3 points per 100 possessions worse with him off the floor.

That 33.3 win percentage would make Los Angeles a 27-win team over the course of a full season.cheap new nike nfl jerseys

LeBron’s teams haven’t been perfect without their King in the more distant past, either. The Cleveland Cavaliers went just 4-23 in contests James missed during his most recent four-year stint, which put them on pace for 12 victories over an 82-game season.cheap nfl jerseys nike china

Even in brief stints without his team’s other superstar, nike jersey nfl cheap Davis is unlikely to change that. He probably can’t be blamed for the Pelicans’ 3-12 record without Jrue Holiday on the floor in 2018-19, as he played in only five of those games. But the Pelicans did go 3-15 with Davis playing and Holiday out during the three prior campaigns, which prorates to just 14 wins in a full season.

If the Lakers are to retain Davis, James’ health with be paramount.cheap youth nfl jerseys

They cannot afford to lose either superstar for extended periods with a supporting cast unlikely to parade them through a ruthless onslaught of opponents in the Western Conference, but James has proved he can do more with less. Should the Lakers lose youth nfl jerseys cheap Davis for more than 15 games (his average over seven seasons), James would need to shoulder the burden in his stead. If he cannot, the Lakers risk missing the playoffs, which would be a costly blow in their quest to win over their new star.

NBA Approves Coaches Challenge Flags for 2019-20 Season

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The NBA announced, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, that it’s officially taking a page out of the NFL rulebook by allowing coaches to use challenge flags during games.

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic first reported the league’s board of governors approved the measure Tuesday and will implement “in-game challenge flags for head coaches” in the 2019-20 season.womens nike nfl jerseyshi-res-5834e3a8b54cbb8ec316914d7ade629f_crop_north

Per Reynolds , each coach will get one challenge per game and can contest “a personal foul charged to their team, a called out-of-bounds violation, a goaltending violation or a basket-interference violation.”

“As with other replay reviews, in order to overturn the event as called on the floor, there must be clear and conclusive visual evidence that the call was cheap real nfl jerseys incorrect,” NBA Basketball Operations President Byron Spruell told teams in a memo, per Reynolds.nike nfl jersey differences

While one challenge per game might not seem like a lot, this past postseason demonstrated how incorrect calls could change the outcome of a game. The Last Two Minute Report was a big story in the series between the Houston where to find nfl jerseys Rockets and Golden State Warriors, with the Rockets benefiting from a missed charge in Game 3 after the Warriors won Game 1 thanks in part to some missed foul calls.

Coaches will now be able to call timeout and signal a review to the officials.authentic nfl cheap jerseys

Additionally, the replay center in Secaucus, New Jersey, will now be allowed to trigger a review of a possible shot-clock violation or whether a shot was a two- or three-point basket, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

This might slow down games, but it will help to get things right and keep the focus on the players.where to find cheap nfl jerseys

Kevin Durant’s Injury Timeline, Free-Agent Process Discussed by Nets’ Sean Marks

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Kevin Durant made his commitment to the Brooklyn Nets before he even formally met with the team, Nets general manager Sean Marks said during a press conference Tuesday:

However, he didn’t rule out Durant for the 2019-20 season.cheap nfl jerseys for women
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Durant and Kyrie Irving changed the landscape of the NBA when they decided to join the Nets together this summer. It was the biggest move of the offseason until Kawhi Leonard successfully recruited Paul George to join him on the nike nfl jersey differences  Los Angeles Clippers (and successfully convinced the Clippers to sell the farm to bring George aboard).nfl jersey online

For the Nets, who rebuilt from the ashes of one of the most infamous and crippling trades in recent NBA memory—giving away a criminal number of draft picks to the Boston Celtics in a 2013 swap—it was the culmination of a multiyear rebuilding plan.nike nfl womens jerseys

“We planned a couple years out that we could have an opportunity here,” Marks told Chris Mannix o, referring to this year’s free agency and the number of available superstars. “I think when you have a window or you have an opportunity to swing for it and take a chance, take a challenge, and you can do it with the right people, that’s when you have to do it.”buy nfl jerseys in bulk

Not that Irving and Durant didn’t bring their own challenges. Irving is coming off a season that saw his leadership qualities come into question with the Celtics. Durant suffered a major injury that will likely cost him the season. But for the up-and-coming Nets, taking on that risk was an easy decision.best deals on nfl jerseys

“Whenever you can add this type of talent, you probably should jump at the chance to do it,” Marks told Mannix. “Especially guys that want to be here. Especially them.”

And if a player of Durant’s caliber wants to join your organization, who really cares if he announces it on Instagram first?cheap real nfl jerseys

Lakers News: DeMarcus Cousins Agrees to 1-Year Contract to Join LeBron and AD

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Coming off another injury-plagued campaign, DeMarcus Cousins will look to rebuild his value next season with the Los Angeles Lakers after the sides agreed to a one-year deal Saturday.

Cousins’ agent, Jeff Schwartz, told ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowski the deal is for more than the veteran minimum at $3.5 million.nfl wholesale jersey

“The Miami Heat had interest in Cousins, but several Lakers players — including his former New Orleans Pelicans teammate Anthony Davis — helped convince him to join the Lakers,” Woj reported.where to buy authentic nfl jerseyshi-res-cdfd6a46ccfd3782a2c9e57cf5c52c1d_crop_north

Point guard Rajon Rondo signed a veteran minimum’s contract shortly after Cousins, according to Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. His deal is for two years and $2.6 million, with a player option for the second year.cheap nfl jerseys reviews

Cousins signed a one-year pact with the Golden State Warriors last summer. He was coming off a torn Achilles suffered in January 2018, when he played for the Pelicans. customizable nfl jerseys

After missing the first three months of last season while rehabbing, Cousins buy nfl jersey made his debut in January and appeared in 30 games for the Warriors. The four-time All-Star struggled to adjust to his new surroundings and to find his form post-injury. make your own nfl jersey

Cousins averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, but his 27.4 three-point percentage was his worst since 2014-15. He also struggled on defense when opposing teams tried to take advantage of his conditioning and diminished speed.

Despite those struggles, Cousins seemed likely to take comfort in appearing in the playoffs for the first time in his nine-year career. But during Game 2 of Golden State’s first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, he suffered a torn left quad that kept him out for 14 games.

Cousins returned for the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. He was inconsistent in six games but did have flashes of his All-Star form. The Alabama native had 14 points and six rebounds in Game 5 after he took over when Kevin Durant injured his Achilles. where to get cheap nfl jerseys

That marked two straight years in which Cousins suffered a serious injury to his left leg. It’s fair to wonder which version of the center the Lakers will get next season. nfl women jerseys

If Cousins is the player he was in 2018-19, he can still be an effective asset in the right system. If he can revert to his pre-Achilles injury form, the Lakers will have signed one of the best big men in the NBA. nfl jerseys cheap from china

One year after being linked to the franchise, Cousins will partner up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. cheap nfl jerseys first

Cousins and Davis already have a rapport from their time together with the Pelicans. Cousins’ arrival in Los Angeles also allows Davis to play his preferred spot at power forward, though he can still moonlight at center as head coach Frank Vogel needs.cheap authentic nfl jersey

Cousins is a high-risk, high-reward investment for general manager Rob Pelinka, but he’s one the team can afford to take as it tries to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2012-13.nfl cheap jerseys from china

Bradley Beal Should Be the Next Star to Demand a Trade

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Stars under contract find ways to change teams all the time, and Bradley Beal is going to be the next one.

Teams aren’t just selling themselves to players on the open market during NBA free agency. They’re also selling themselves to the guys on their own rosters, proving themselves through smart transactions and well-considered plans.nfl nike jerseys china

By that measure, the Washington Wizards are rotten salesmen. You could forgive Beal for not buying, even if he’s operated diplomatically so far.best cheap nfl jerseys

He praised the Wizards brass for assuring him he’s someone they want to keep around, telling Ben Golliver of the Washington Post: “They’ve been very transparent, and that’s been great. They’re not keeping me in the dark about anything, even about the trade rumors. … It’s great having that peace of mind.” nfl jersey sales

Paired with an open-minded approach to an extension offer—which hasn’t come yet, Beal noted to Golliver—it would seem the Wizards and their best player share a willingness to make this thing work.cheap jerseys nfl

Counterpoint: This is exactly how both sides should act if the goal is trading Beal to a preferred destination for maximum value. That’s a cynic’s take, but it’s not unreasonable. In fact, assess the situation from both sides, and the logic of a Beal trade is overwhelming.

Do It, Wizards!nfl jerseys for women

Beal is too good to let the Wizards to bottom out, which may be a necessary step in refreshing the franchise. Last year, playing with a group that posted the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league, Beal was still potent enough on offense to get the Whi-res-cb8c0b7ad54b4e688de24ec8d8671213_crop_northizards to 32 wins. The New Orleans Pelicans jumped into the top draft slot with 33 wins, and the flattening of lottery odds makes abject tanking less rewarding than it used to be, but the math still favors lower win totals if you’re hoping for a good spot in the draft.nike jerseys nfl

Put the idea of deliberate losing (and how much harder it is with Beal around) aside, and there are still plenty of reasons for Washington to make Beal the next star traded.

He’s the Wizards’ only high-end asset, maybe even valuable enough to get a team like, say, the Miami Heat to think about also taking on John Wall’s onerous contract. He’s certainly the Wizards asset most likely to generate a positive return in a deal.

The Biggest Loser? A Defense of the New York Knicks Offseason

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It’s almost as if the universe didn’t want Kevin Durant to be a New York Knickerbocker.cheap womens nfl jerseys

While team owner—pardon, governor—Jim Dolan and his front office are being lambasted far and wide for failing to land Durant or any of this summer’s other superstar free agents after clearing salary-cap space to potentially sign not just one, but two of them, it’s hard to imagine a greater host of circumstances beyond their control conspiring against them.official nfl jersey

Let’s run down the list of low blows, shall we?nfl womens jerseys cheaphi-res-710abcb5d7fce5fe79b32aa821b66190_crop_north

1. The injury cheap authentic nfl jerseys from china

It all starts with Durant rupturing his right Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and Kyrie Irving pole-axing his reputation as a leader with the nfl authentic jersey Boston Celtics. Prior to all that, multiple league sources had the Knicks in prime position to be Durant’s next landing spot. They were on good terms with his business manager, Rich Kleiman, who also happened to be a longtime Knicks fan with a self-ascribed desire to one day be part of the official cheap nfl jerseys organization. They had his close friend and former teammate, Royal Ivey, as an assistant coach and had also acquired another one of his BFFs, DeAndre Jordan, from the Dallas Mavericks last season. Few people in the NBA had been tracking Durant longer than Scott Perry, an women nfl jerseys assistant GM with the Seattle SuperSonics when they drafted Durant and now the Knicks GM. And they created salary-cap space not only to sign official nike nfl jerseys Durant but also Irving, with whom they knew Durant had interest in playing.jersey nfl cheap

The duo had envisioned playing on the same NBA team ever since they spent nfl official jerseys time together on the gold-medal-winning 2016 Olympic nfl jersey cheap china team. They then met in the Bay Area during the Finals while Durant was nursing his original injury, a strained right calf, and again in New York after he had surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles, sources say. They talked extensively about not only playing together but also operating as business partners in the New York area.cheap authentic nfl jerseys china

But the prospect of having the Knicks’ young ensemble of talent—Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and No. 3 pick RJ Barrett—led for a year by Irving, whose condescending attitude had just authentic cheap nfl jerseys alienated a similar corps of young talent in Boston, cheap nfl jersey sell gave management pause. Sources who had conversations with Durant after the Achilles injury, meanwhile, say his concern about what he might be when he returns crystallized his desire to have another bona fide star by his side. The Knicks might have been able to accommodate that even without signing Kyrie, if not for… nfl team jerseys cheap

NBA Free-Agency Rumors Tracker: Analysis, Predictions for Players on the Move

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Kawhi Leonard continues to hold the NBA hostage as we await his free-agency decision (we don’t mean this literally).order cheap nfl jerseys

Everyone is itching to find out where he’ll play next season. His choice will tip the league’s balance of power one way or another, and he has three franchises on the hook: the Raptors, Lakers and Clippers. His decision will impact their long-term trajectories, for better or worse. These are anxious times.4c8f238d798d41fa9e5c563f173d52a1_crop_exact

And yet, free agency hasn’t slowed to a halt during Leonard’s deliberation. Almost all of the other big names are already off the board. Some players are  nike nfl jersey china still waiting on him to make an announcement before they pick a destination. Danny Green and Marcus Morris could have their landing spots determined by his.

The rest of the field, though? Not so much. The list of available players youth nfl jerseys continues to dwindle as teams put the finishing touches on their rosters. We’ve got you covered with the latest rumors and signings, along with everything and anything related to Fun Guy Kawhi. cheap nfl jersey china

When the Golden State Warriors acquired D’Angelo Russell, they had to move Andre Iguodala to free up the requisite cap space.wholesale nfl jerseys supply

Days later, Iguodala may be right back on the market.

“The Grizzlies do not plan to give Andre Iguodala a buyout before the season and are actively exploring the trade market for the former Finals MVP…” cheap nfl jersey from china ESPN’s Tim MacMahon wrote. “Rockets, Mavs among teams with interest.”

Iguodala is set to make $17.2 million this season, but his contract is expiring. And both the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks have some deals on the books that could be traded for Iggy.

The salaries of Iguodala and Eric Gordon are close, but that deal probably doesn’t move the needle much for the Rockets. Gordon is five years younger, acquainted with the system and a better catch-and-shoot option to space the floor for James Harden and Chris Paul. Does Iguodala’s superior defense and playmaking (maybe not necessary alongside Harden and CP3) trump that?where can i get cheap nfl jerseys

The deal that may make more sense involves Dallas attaching sweeteners (a couple of second rounders, perhaps?) to Tim Hardaway Jr.’s contract. The Mavs have an intriguing young core with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Iguodala’s defense, passing and leadership could help the team mature a bit quicker.official nfl jerseys wholesale

Anthony Davis Never Had the Squad Zion Williamson Already Has in NOLA

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Five months ago, the New Orleans Pelicans were in disarray.

Franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis had requested a trade. The Pelicans refused to comply ahead of the trade deadline, which created an awkward situation for the final few months of the regular season.china nfl nike jerseys

That’s all in the past now. Davis is headed to the Los Angeles Lakers, while No. 1 pick overall Zion Williamson will take his place as the Pelicans’ new cornerstone.buy nfl jerseys wholesale

After struggling to build around Davis during his seven seasons in New Orleans, can the Pelicans get it right this time with Zion?nike official nfl jerseys

If the past few months are any indication, it seems as though they’ve learned some valuable lessons.sale nfl jerseyshi-res-d26e2d862754b1ea38cd823c2ccf3caa_crop_north

In mid-February, the Pelicans fired longtime general manager Dell Demps. Two months later, they hired David Griffin to take personalized nfl jersey over as their executive vice president of basketball operations, which began a cascade of organizational changes.

Griffin urged team owner Gayle Benson to invest millions in the team’s practice facility, according to Andrew Lopez of the Times-Picayune. The Pelicans brought in Phoenix Suns longtime athletic trainer Aaron Nelson, hired Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Trajan Langdon as their GM and brought in Swin Cash as their vice president of basketball operations/team development.

And then they won the 2019 NBA draft lottery, giving them the rights to Williamson.cheapest nfl jerseys online

They’ll now have to avoid the same mistakes they made around Davis over the past half-decade.nfl authentic jerseys wholesale

The Pelicans had plenty of opportunities to build around Davis, but they were undone by injuries, overpays (Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca, Solomon Hill) and a failure to establish a winning and sustainable culture. nfl jerseys store

During Davis’ tenure, the Pelicans traded away most of their draft picks. The only two who saw the floor were Austin Rivers (No. 10, 2012) and Buddy Hield (No. 6, 2016), who combined to start a paltry 70 games in New Orleans. china cheap nfl jerseys

Demps gave Davis plenty of high-upside teammates such as Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, but he too often surrounded them with mediocre role players like Brian Roberts, Lou Amundson, Luke Babbit, Norris Cole, Roger Mason and Anthony Morrow.

Griffin won’t make that mistake, as he emphasized after selecting Williamson.cheap nfl womens jerseys

“So again, I want to keep reiterating the human part of this is at least as big as the on-court part. And all of you have very high on-court expectations. Look, this is not somebody who’s supposed to be the savior of this franchise. That’s not what this is. This is a 19-year-old kid who’s going to spend this year learning how to play winning NBA basketball.” where to buy official nfl jerseys

Yankees’ Luke Voit Placed on IL After Abdominal Injury Diagnosed as Strain

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The New York Yankees placed first baseman Luke Voit on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday because of an abdominal strain, a move made retroactively to June 30.

Voit left Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox in London because of tightness in his lower left abdomen.where to get cheap nfl jerseys

“I kind of felt it going around first,” Voit said after going 4-for-4 in just five innings on Saturday. “It was weird. It kind of freaked me out right when it happened, and I guess there was really no point in me staying in the game. I think that was the right decision.”nfl jerseys cheap from china

He said after the game he didn’t feel “too much” and that he was hopeful he would not be out of action longhi-res-5ed2e58d32004100b7c32499ecdafecd_crop_north. Instead, he will be on the shelf for the foreseeable future.cheap nfl jerseys first

The 28-year-old has burst onto the scene since arriving in the Bronx in the middle of last season. After mashing 14 home runs in 39 games in pinstripes last year, he has followed that up by piling up 17 home runs and 50 RBI in 78 appearances this season.cheap authentic nfl jersey

While he hit only three long balls last month, Voit was one of the team’s most consistent bats throughout June. He hit .333/.442/.517 with a .960 OPS.

As ESPN’s Coley Harvey noted, this is the latest dose of tough luck on the injury front for the Yankees:

Despite being hit hard by the injury bug this season, the Yankees (54-28) have nfl women jerseys the second-most wins in baseball. They currently own a 6.5-game lead in the American League East.nfl cheap jerseys from china

New York will have a few options for first base with Voit sidelined. Recent acquisition Edwin Encarnacion has no shortage of experience at first base (481 career appearances), though his subpar defense makes him better suited for china nfl nike jerseys designated hitter. Utility infielder DJ LeMahieu could see more time at first, with Gio Urshela filling in at the hot corner.buy nfl jerseys wholesale