Bruno Manrique Articles - Page 82

The duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George were equally worried that their new-forged partnership would not work after two first-round exits in the postseason. Most recently, the sixth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder saw a swift 4-1 exit at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. According to The Athletic, it didn’t take long for both […]

While the Los Angeles Lakers worried about lining up two separate meetings with Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors were assured the last one before he made his free-agent decision, the LA Clippers went about their business in an effective way that helped seal the deal. The Clippers not only met with Leonard at Doc […]

The trade that sent Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the LA Clippers came as a total shock only seconds after Kawhi Leonard’s agreement to join the team had been report. While earlier reports suggested Leonard actively recruited George and asked him to demand a trade, that is supposedly “not accurate,” according to […]

Despite the Russell Westbrook trade coming as a likely domino effect of the Paul George trade that sent him to the LA Clippers, the Oklahoma City Thunder were reportedly willing to move their franchise star even before Lawrence Frank came calling. According to The Athletic, a rival team said the Thunder “were willing to discuss […]

The prospect of joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers wasn’t one that particularly appealed to Kawhi Leonard and his “core sensibilities.” The two-time Finals MVP has built a resume as a dynasty killer, not a dynasty forger, which played a strong part in his decision to go across the hall […]

The LA Clippers searched for different potential partners for Kawhi Leonard before sealing the deal to sign him. They analyzed and studied every roster and star player in the league, hoping to find the best potential fit to play next to Leonard, both on the court and personality-wise. According to The Athletic, the Clippers inquired […]

It seems the Los Angeles Lakers were never as close to getting Kawhi Leonard as rumored. The Lakers had set up two separate meetings — one with owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka, and another with former president Magic Johnson, who served as the unofficial recruiter-in-chief of the operation. Shortly after Johnson and […]

LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer saw an opportunity to bring in a pair of All-Star-caliber players this summer, spearheading the charge to get Kawhi Leonard and Paul George after a conscientious two-year rebuilding process. The Clippers spent 48 hours negotiating the framework to a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder to get George, and those […]

Team USA will soon face a crisis at the world stage, one that they haven’t seen since the early 2000s. After USA Basketball named a prospective 20-player list of stars to attend training camp in August, six of them have since decommitted, including three potential starters in James Harden, Anthony Davis, and most-recently Bradley Beal. […]

The Washington Wizards have every intention to offer shooting guard Bradley Beal a three-year, $111 million maximum contract extension when first eligible on Friday, July 26, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “At the very first moment allowed, we are going to offer Bradley the full max extension,” said newly-named general manager Tommy Sheppard. Beal would […]

Denzel Valentine is hoping to tackle his third season in the league with a vast show of improvement. The Chicago Bulls wing is coming off a reconstructed ankle after lingering issues took away his third season in the league in 2018-19. What was once a moderate ankle sprain ultimately led to a reconstructive procedure that […]

Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has withdrawn from USA Basketball training camp and the consequent FIBA World Cup due to the expected birth of his child in late August/early September, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Beal is now one of several stars who have pulled out of participating in this quickly approaching World […]

The Washington Wizards have taken a carefully inclusive approach to this offseason, keeping All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal in the cockpit of it all, as a large part of their future hinges on his presence with the franchise. New general manager Tommy Sheppard brought Beal into the draft room to help guide the direction of […]

Following the firing of longtime president Ernie Grunfeld after 16 years of service, the Washington Wizards have tried to revamp their front office with one franchise in mind as the perfect model — the L.A. Clippers. “The team that we most wanna look like who we stumbled into mirroring a little bit organizationally is the […]

Newly-named Washington Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard quickly put his chops to work in the offseason, hoping to get a cemented place in the front office at the wake of former president Ernie Grunfeld’s firing. Trading Dwight Howard to the Memphis Grizzlies was among his first moves after taking over the brass in an interim […]

The Philadelphia 76ers had to get creative in free agency to net the services of two big-time players in the wake of Jimmy Butler’s departure. Both mega-signings — Tobias Harris and Al Horford — have kinks to their contracts that will allow the Sixers to have better flexibility and a more conscious approach to how […]

More than three months after the 2018-19 season came to a close, the Washington Wizards have made Tommy Sheppard’s job as general manager official, also announcing an expansion of their front office with former Georgetown coach John Thompson III and former Cleveland Browns front office mind Sashi Brown as vital pillars of their revamped brass. […]

Ricky Rubio ended his 2018-19 season, his second with the Utah Jazz, likely knowing it would be his last there. The veteran point guard soon looked to find a new home and after the Jazz traded for Mike Conley, it was a sure thing he wouldn’t come back there. Rubio quickly pivoted to the Indiana […]

Kemba Walker’s agent Jeff Schwartz has seen and lived the heart-pulsing nature of free agency, eventually navigating the waters for the first time with his client and helping him reach a new destination with the Boston Celtics after the Charlotte Hornets were only prepared to go so far into an offer. Despite the free agent […]

Upon his retirement from the game, Dallas Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki has experienced a wave of free agent movement unlike any that he’s ever seen throughout his 21-year NBA career. The Mavs 7-foot legend has found it tough to keep track of all the deals that have rained down since July 30 but says that […]

Jimmy Butler had an easy and painless approach to free agency, knowing he’d be unlikely to re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. The star forward reportedly canceled all of his free agency meetings quickly after meeting with the Miami Heat on June 30, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. The Heat sent their best […]

The Chicago Bulls were hoping to create an avenue to deal point guard Kris Dunn this offseason, hinting at a potential deal to bring back Justin Holiday in a sign-and-trade scenario. However, the Memphis Grizzlies’ signing of Tyus Jones to an offer sheet the Minnesota Timberwolves failed to match closed the coffin on a potential […]

The Kawhi Leonard summer of mystery still is the gift that keeps on giving, even two weeks after he announced his commitment to the LA Clippers. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Clippers also eyed Russell Westbrook as a potential partner for Leonard, but Kawhi preferred Paul George: “Sam, I began to hear […]

Free agent shooting guard Justin Holiday has agreed to a one-year, $4.8 million deal with the Indiana Pacers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Holiday will join his younger brother Aaron, who played out his rookie season in Indy last year, playing in 50 games, despite his limited run with the team. The 30-year-old […]

New Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already putting in the work ahead of his second season in the league. The 6-foot-6 Kentucky product was impressive in his rookie year with L.A. Clippers before coming over as part of the Paul George trade, but he’s now bound for even more action as one of […]

The bad blood between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs didn’t just start with the Marcus Morris deal. Before the three-and-D forward agreed to leave behind a two-year, $20 million deal from the Spurs to a sign a one-year deal with the Knicks, New York was under the impression San Antonio acted […]

North Carolina standout Cameron Johnson was selected with the 11th overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, much to the surprise of many who had him initially slated as a potential high-end second rounder, one that had crept to the high 20s of the first round after recent workouts. His UNC […]

Free agent center Kosta Koufos will soon be floating in money bags. The 7-footer has agreed to join Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow on a two-year, $6 million contract, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports — making him the highest-paid American player in Europe. Koufos, who was the 23rd pick of the 2008 NBA Draft […]

The Golden State Warriors have made wholesale changes on their roster through the course of the season, now with only four players that have played for the team for four or more years. As they move into a brand new state-of-the-art arena, the Warriors may have to find a potential replacement for color commentator Jim […]

Free agent forward Amile Jefferson will return to the Orlando Magic over a one-year deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The deal is expected to be a two-way contract, much like last season — now sealing the two-way avenue after signing Josh Maggette last week to the first slot available, according to Roy […]

The New York Knicks could have swooped in to work a deal for Tobias Harris after they swiftly missed out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who bolted for the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks had $70 million in cap space and could have had a consolation prize in Harris, whom the Philadelphia 76ers re-signed for […]

Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler share a cup of tea together with the Philadelphia 76ers last season, both coming to The City of Brotherly Love via trade and joining forces just in time to make a run for the best seed in the East. As both players were due for a max-level five-year, $190 million […]

Brooklyn Nets swingman Caris LeVert was happy to see former teammate D’Angelo Russell get a max deal with the Golden State Warriors as part of a sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant. The two played two seasons together and witnessed each other’s injuries and setbacks through the course of the season, developing a true bond in their […]

The L.A. Clippers were rumored to make a move to acquire forward Marcus Morris this summer, a rumor with plenty of layers to it. According to Frank Isola of The Athletic, the hoopla of Morris’ agent Rich Paul not wanting to help the Clippers land him by keeping him unaware of the $41 million offer […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder engaged in trade conversations with the Miami Heat during a stretch, as they tried to deal franchise point guard Russell Westbrook. While there had been reported interest in rookie Tyler Herro, center Bam Adebayo and swingman Justise Winslow, the Thunder were willing to give the Heat their 2021 and 2023 picks […]

The San Antonio Spurs were not fond of Marcus Morris free agency maneuver to pull out of handshake agreement with them, only to sign with the New York Knicks days after, as they planned to open up more cap space by re-working a deal. “They’re pissed” is how a league general manager described it, according […]

After a successful two-year stint in Philadelphia with the 76ers, marksman JJ Redick bolted for the New Orleans Pelicans, pointing to guard Jrue Holiday as a big reason why he chose to join the rebuilding team. “We just chatted on the phone,” Redick told Bill Simmons of The Ringer in The JJ Redick podcast. “I […]

Free agent marksman Justin Holiday is still without a job in the NBA. The long-range specialist split his 2018-19 season between the Chicago Bulls and the Memphis Grizzlies and has played the most minutes (2,607), nearly doubling that of the next best available free agent. According to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, part of why Holiday is […]

The Milwaukee Bucks have been blessed with the fortune of a generational talent in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but his little brother Alex has the same MVP blood coursing through his veins. At 17 years old, Alex already prospects as one of the best up-and-coming products in the game, a wiry but strong 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-2 […]