Jedd Pagaduan Articles - Page 109

Damian Lillard and his camp have insisted that his only preferred destination with his trade request is the Miami Heat, as he believes he is the missing piece to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo’s championship puzzle. However, the Portland Trail Blazers aren’t particularly fond of the package the Heat can offer, as other teams can […]

The Orlando Magic made waves on social media when they announced that Kai Sotto would be joining the team for when they compete in the 2023 NBA Summer League in Vegas. The Magic also featured Sotto heavily on their social media accounts, teasing perhaps what could be a heavy involvement for the 21-year old big […]

It’s common knowledge that the Detroit Pistons, at the moment, are prioritizing the development of their youngsters. With Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and now Ausar Thompson leading the way, it’s not too much of a stretch to think that the Pistons aren’t too far away from challenging for a spot in the play-in tournament. Nevertheless, […]

The Orlando Magic are making headlines during Summer League for all the wrong reasons, with millions of Filipino fans clamoring for the team to put their beloved compatriot, Kai Sotto, on the court. But do not let that distract from the fact that the Magic are building a nice young core that should be competitive […]

The Utah Jazz have positioned themselves over the past year or so to become a team with one of the brightest outlooks in the entire NBA. Of course, the Jazz were already in an advantageous position in the first place, having Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert to trade away for an enviable package of future […]

It has been an eventful offseason for the Atlanta Hawks. After years of speculation, they finally traded away John Collins. However, all Collins brought back to Atlanta was salary relief, as they just received Rudy Gay, whom they since have traded away, and a second-round pick for the 25-year old power forward. That’s certainly not […]

The Portland Trail Blazers’ offseason is just getting started. In the aftermath of Damian Lillard’s request that he specifically be traded to the Miami Heat, the Blazers will be weighing their options on the trade front. Will they accommodate Lillard’s request, or will they hold out for the best deal possible from any team? Whatever […]

The Memphis Grizzlies had to endure a ton of drama off the court last season en route to a first-round playoff exit against the lower-seeded Los Angeles Lakers. But make no mistake about it, the Grizzlies remain one of the teams with the brightest outlooks in the league, especially if Ja Morant ever figures out […]

The New Orleans Pelicans roster is loaded from top to bottom. In fact, the Pelicans were already one of the best teams in the league with Zion Williamson healthy during the 2022-23 season, running out to a top seed in the Western Conference standings before their best player went down with injury. Thus, the Pelicans […]

Drafting Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft alone makes the San Antonio Spurs a resounding winner of the offseason. But with the Spurs entering free agency with boatloads of cap space, there was a possibility that the Spurs could have added a few pieces here and there to bolster […]

After two straight years of being a play-in tournament team, the Charlotte Hornets endured a season from hell during the 2022-23 campaign. Thus, it’s important for the Hornets to nail their offseason moves, including their signings in free agency, for the team to at least get back to where they were before a nightmare season. […]

The Golden State Warriors made it clear that they intend to go all-in on a veteran core alongside Stephen Curry and company next season when they traded away Jordan Poole, the 24-year old combo guard, for Chris Paul, the 38-year old veteran. Then came the Dubs’ free agency moves, which put it beyond reasonable doubt […]

The Golden State Warriors made one of the biggest trades of the offseason when they sent away Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul. Paul’s addition, as much of a necessity it was to ease the franchise’s future financial burden, makes the Dubs’ veteran team built around Stephen Curry older and slower. But […]

It has been an eventful offseason for the Golden State Warriors. Barring any unforeseen major moves, the Warriors will be entering the 2023-24 season with the new faces of Chris Paul, Cory Joseph, and Dario Saric on the roster, not to mention rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Those five should play important roles next […]

Megan Rapinoe’s illustrious career is coming to an end. On July 8, Rapinoe, 12 days before the USWNT’s FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign kicks off in New Zealand, announced that she would be retiring at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season. The timing of Rapinoe’s announcement is certainly an interesting one, […]

The Oakland Athletics’ move to Las Vegas seems inevitable. In mid-June, Nevada governor Joe Lombardo finalized the bill pledging $380 million in taxpayer money to fund a new stadium for an Athletics franchise that has had to deal with the lackluster facilities of the Oakland Coliseum. But even with the signs pointing to the Athletics’ […]

The Indiana Pacers have had one of the best offseasons in the entire NBA. A look at the moves they have made thus far during the 2023 NBA free agency period reinforces the notion that the Pacers shouldn’t be too far away from contending for a playoff spot and perhaps even making some noise once […]

The NBA Summer League is an opportunity for players who are on the fringes of the association to prove that they belong in the league. And on Tuesday night, despite the Sacramento Kings’ 107-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Vegas, one collegiate star who has bounced around the international circuit made a case to […]

The Las Vegas Aces entered the 2023 season highly motivated to defend their WNBA championship. And the Aces have certainly played like they’re hungry to win more titles, as after their 98-72 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night, they have now begun the season having won 18 of their first 20 games. Just […]

The 2022-23 season was the most tumultuous one yet of Kyrie Irving’s career. But now, Irving seems to be putting that rough chapter of his life behind him. Not only did he sign a three-year, $126 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks in free agency, he also put pen to paper on a new shoe deal […]

The Memphis Grizzlies have built an identity over the past two seasons as one of the most skillful yet annoying teams to deal with in the association. Part of that is the brash attitude with which Dillon Brooks carried himself. Brooks’ loud confidence rubbed off on the entire team, and the Grizzlies became vilified as […]

The Portland Trail Blazers are in the middle of a pivotal offseason. Many knew from the start that the Blazers were in for a huge offseason, on the clock as they were to surround Damian Lillard with the pieces necessary for the team to compete for a championship. Instead, the Blazers stood pat and selected […]

Luis Arraez’s pursuit of history continues. Through 86 games, Arraez’s batting average continues to remain elite, although over the past few weeks, he has fallen off the pace in his pursuit of the ever-elusive .400 batting average. At the time of writing, the Miami Marlins’ second baseman has a batting average of .383, which is […]

The Detroit Pistons, on Monday night, made a huge move to keep one of the burgeoning members of their young core, agreeing with Isaiah Stewart on a four-year, $64 million extension to keep the big man in Motor City until the end of the 2026-27 season. The Pistons acquired Stewart days after the 2020 NBA […]

The Detroit Pistons, approaching the fifth year of their rebuild, are building a nice, young core. During those years, the Pistons have drafted Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson (among others), players who should usher in a new era of contention in the Motor City. Seemingly lost in the shuffle has been […]

There’s no mistaking that Zion Williamson, whenever he’s on the court, is one of the most talented players among the ten currently playing. And the New Orleans Pelicans certainly look like a much, much better team with Williamson on the court. Before Williamson went down with a season-ending injury on January 2, the Pelicans had […]

It’s all about youth development for the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a promising 2022-23 season that ended with the Thunder almost making the playoffs, better things are yet to come for them, that’s for certain. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, and quality youngsters such as Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren coming into […]

The Houston Rockets roster has been crying out loud for a veteran leader who could help build a winning culture in H-Town amid the franchise’s efforts to rebuild. And this offseason, they signed two players with considerable experience in winning situations, adding Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks to their young core led by Jalen Green, […]

It’s hard to envision the Los Angeles Clippers entering the 2023-24 season without making any more seismic moves that would reshape their roster. Sure, it’s not like the Clippers would become the 2021-22 Houston Rockets if they fail to swing any more trades to consolidate talent. They still have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading […]

San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is a center that’s built for the modern NBA that places an emphasis on skilled size. Wembanyama is as skilled as the rest of them, as he’s able to handle the ball and create for himself (and others) at an astounding listed height of 7’5 (7’3 with no shoes). […]

The New Orleans Pelicans were among the league’s best during the 2022-23 season on January 2, 2023, when they took on the Philadelphia 76ers on the road. They entered the night with a 23-13 record, and Zion Williamson was playing some of the best basketball of his career, as the Pelicans looked like they were […]

The Golden State Warriors’ roster for the 2023-24 season is beginning to take shape. In addition to the Warriors’ usual Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green core, the Dubs have added Chris Paul, Cory Joseph, and, most recently, Dario Saric, to supplement their veteran team and, perhaps, compete for another championship next season. Saric, […]

The San Antonio Spurs, when all is said and done, will be coming out of the 2023 offseason as one of its biggest winners. Drafting Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft automatically makes it an A+ offseason for them, especially after the 19-year old Frenchman showed on Sunday night […]

The Charlotte Hornets are in the middle of what could be a long-term rebuild, with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller at the heart of their efforts to make it out of the league’s cellar. The Hornets also brought back Miles Bridges, a player who missed the entirety of the 2022-23 season due to a serious […]

Jabari Smith Jr. did not have the most seamless of rookie seasons. The Houston Rockets, as a whole, were a mess during the 2022-23 season, winning just 22 games and drawing considerable flak around the league for lacking the veteran presences needed to help mold their youngsters into winning players. But Smith’s efficiency problems and […]

Victor Wembanyama finally made his much-anticipated 2023 NBA Summer League debut on Friday night, playing 27 minutes for the San Antonio Spurs as they claimed a 77-68 win over the Charlotte Hornets. However, his debut fell way short of expectations relative to the hype many had built up around the 19-year old Frenchman. Wembanyama shot […]

The Los Angeles Clippers are in salary cap hell, that much is clear. Even though the Clippers traded away Luke Kennard and a pick swap that ended up netting the Houston Rockets Cam Whitmore for Eric Gordon, they had to let go of the sharpshooting guard so they could save up to $110 million in […]

Victor Wembanyama, the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, will be facing pressure to deliver from the get-go that’s almost unprecedented in the NBA. Wembanyama, before the San Antonio Spurs drafted him, drew comparisons to Rudy Gobert for his defense and Kevin Durant for his incredible ability to create shots for himself at […]

There was much anticipation for Victor Wembanyama’s 2023 NBA Summer League debut with the San Antonio Spurs. Wembanyama, after all, is one of, if not the most hyped up prospect of all time, so it’s no surprise to see a lot of fans tune into the beginning of what should be a long and fruitful […]