Virgil Villanueva Articles - Page 4

In a bid to to beef up their roster with LaMelo Ball at the core, the Charlotte Hornets picked up swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. and veteran guard Ish Smith from the free-agent market. While they seem decent signings, the Hornets certainly could’ve done better in filling the void in their guard spots. Nevertheless, these new […]

The New York Knicks were one of the winners of NBA free agency as they were able to lure quality players in Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker. The acquisitions, even at face value, immediately filled the void on offense. Julius Randle was the only reliable scorer on the squad last season. RJ Barrett also embraced […]

In the attempt to affirm their status as a solid playoff contender in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies inserted Jonas Valanciunas into a trade package. In return, they got Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe from the New Orleans Pelicans. The Grizzlies seem to have won the trade. Adams and Bledsoe are experienced players who have […]

The Philadelphia 76ers added two players to their roster whom they believe will boost their chances to make a deeper playoff run and raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy. We can say that these signings didn’t make the biggest waves. However, at least at face value, Georges Niang and Andre Drummond are what the Sixers need […]

The Golden State Warriors continue their campaign for another title. In the 2021 NBA free agency, they signed Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr., which is a clear indication that they’re looking to add shooters into the fold. They also signed Andre Iguodala which fortified their core. It’s going to be another interesting season as […]

It’s safe to say that the Chicago Bulls were one of the big winners in free agency. While all the discussion revolved around contending teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets, among others, the Bulls front office were able to lure in three incredible players: Alex Caruso, Lonzo Ball, and DeMar […]

The Memphis Grizzlies were able to snag two first-rounders in the 2021 NBA Draft: forward Ziaire Williams from Stanford and Santi Aldama from Loyola. The Grizzlies are in a good position now. The fact that they made the playoffs last season is a sign that they’re on the right track. They may need some time […]

Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks front office did the right thing by adding solid shooters Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown into the fold. This is the most commonsensical thing to do when you have an elite playmaker and scorer like Luka Doncic. Not just that, both Bullock and Brown are decent defenders too. They’re […]

The Orlando Magic had two picks in the 2021 NBA draft and they selected Jalen Suggs of Gonzaga (fifth) and Franz Wagner of Michigan (eighth). It’s safe to say the organization was blessed with the opportunity of having two lottery picks in one draft. This will definitely boost the Magic’s rebuilding process after it was […]

The Chicago Bulls picked Ayo Dosunmu as their 38th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Dosunmu, an Illinois native, played three seasons for the Fighting Illini where he immediately rose as a productive piece for coach Brad Underwood. In this post, we’ll be giving a Chicago Bulls 2021 NBA Draft grade for the only pick […]

The San Antonio Spurs had two picks in the 2021 NBA Draft and they selected Joshua Primo of Alabama and Joe Wieskamp of Iowa. In response to that, in this post we’ll be doing a San Antonio Spurs 2021 NBA Draft grades post. While most basketball fans have never heard of their names until they […]

John Collins has signed an offer sheet from the Atlanta Hawks worth $125 million for five years, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski: Restricted free agent F John Collins has agreed to a five-year, $125M deal to stay with the Atlanta Hawks, @excelbasketball agents Sean Kennedy and Jeff Schwartz tell ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August […]

Though Lonzo Ball’s signing with the Chicago Bulls was well-received, there are still a number of basketball fanatics who are still at odds if the team made the right choice. As for one, some (especially those who have not paid attention) are still concerned about Ball’s offensive game. Meanwhile, those who are aware of Ball’s development […]

Alex Caruso has signed a four-year, $37 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. This sent shockwaves to the Los Angeles Lakers fans who thought the guard was going nowhere. After all, Caruso was an intrinsic part of the Purple and Gold’s 2020 title run. Now, Caruso is set to don the Bulls jersey and join […]

Derrick Rose has agreed to a three-year deal worth $43 million with the New York Knicks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.  Free agent G Derrick Rose has agreed to a three-year, $43M deal to return to the New York Knicks, source tells ESPN. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 3, 2021 While not considered one […]

Chris Paul has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $120 million with the Phoenix Suns, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.  Paul is one of the biggest free agents this 2021 offseason. At 36 years old, Paul is still considered one of the best point guards in the league and has […]

Though the Toronto Raptors failed to make the playoffs this past season, you cannot really call them a bottom-feeding team nor an organization that’s about to press the reset button. Lest we forget, they still have the likes of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and OG Anunoby in the fold. This team is credible enough to […]

The Houston Rockets got Jalen Green as their second pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. While there’s no denying the young gun’s talents, he may not be the player the Rockets need at this point in the rebuilding process. Evan Mobley, who went to the Cleveland Cavaliers as the third overall pick, maybe the player […]

The Los Angeles Lakers have been shipping Kyle Kuzma around with hopes of getting that final piece (or pieces) that could give them their 18th title which would make them the winningest franchise in NBA history. Apart from this, we all know that James is on the hunt for his fifth title. He’s already considered […]

The offseason could be tagged as the Houston Rockets’ first step in the long rebuilding process. They already have an up-and-coming player in Christian Wood. John Wall, who hasn’t lost a step despite missing significant time, will also dictate what type of player they’ll add to the fold. There are three good players in the market […]

The Detroit Pistons will receive a jumpstart in their rebuilding process with the first pick in the NBA Draft. The general consensus is that they’ll pick point guard Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State. The Pistons have enough cap space to a big-name free agent. But given their status as a rebuilding team, it’s next to […]

The Orlando Magic are just one of the many rebuilding teams hoping to lure a good player or two from the free-agent market. This would do wonders for them as they already have two picks (fifth and eighth) in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draft. It would be impossible for them to lure […]

The Chicago Bulls are expected to be big spenders this offseason as they continue their quest to beef up their roster. Coby White underwent shoulder surgery last month and is expected to be out for four months. Even when this timeline expires, the Bulls will likely limit White’s minutes until he’s a hundred percent healthy. […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be an interesting team to watch this offseason. The Thunder a very malleable team in the sense that they are filled with young players, but it’s difficult to point out what their identity is as they rebuild other than they’re known as the team that’s hoarding a ton of draft […]

It’s no question that the Charlotte Hornets front office will head to the free agency with one mission in mind: get the right set of players who can complement LaMelo Ball’s playstyle. After all, the incoming second-year man has proven that the hype surrounding him all these years is real. He’s one heck of a […]

The Boston Celtics were one of the underperformers in the NBA this season. They had two All-Stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum backed by a solid support group and a great coach in Brad Stevens. Yet they struggled all season and as expected, bowed down in the NBA Playoffs. Some analysts have suggest that […]

The L.A. Clippers’ heartbreaking playoff campaign might force the front office to make some key roster tweaks this offseason. You cannot discount the fact that Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka’s absence contributed to their loss in the Western Conference Finals. However, there are also other factors that they should look into in their current crop. […]

The end of the 2020-21 NBA Season doesn’t mean the end of basketball fun. The offseason will kickoff in a minute and this means fans will still get their basketball fix albeit in a different way. Yes. This means a potential CJ McCollum trade involving the Sixers and Blazers… maybe. It’s not a secret that […]

In the press conference after their heartbreaking defeat, Phoenix Suns star guard immediately cut off all speculations by declaring that he won’t be retiring. However, this hasn’t stopped rumors from flying out and about. Paul is clearly at the tail end of his career. Fans want him to at least snag one ring before he […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder have a total of three picks in the first round in the upcoming NBA Draft. Specifically, they have the sixth, 16th, and 18th pick. For those following Thunder-related news, you know that the team has accumulated a ridiculous number of picks over the next several years. This bring is to Jonathan […]

The 2019-20 NBA season looked like the Miami Heat’s first step back to being serious title contenders. Yes, they were manhandled by the Los Angeles Lakers yet they earned the respect of fans and analysts for their heart. It also showed Pat Riley’s genius in knowing what exactly the team needs to turn it into […]

The decision by Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign the supermax extension in December 2020 was somewhat anticlimactic. After all, fans (even the Bucks faithful) expected him to test the free agency market then probably form a superteam like his predecessors. It was understandable given the series of heartbreaks that he and the organization have gone through. […]

The Golden State Warriors do not only have the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, but they also have the 14th overall selection as well. While there are many possible options, the general consensus is that Corey Kispert is one of the best options outside the top 10 picks. The Gonzaga standout is […]

The Golden State Warriors have the seventh pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, as well as No. 14. This is the second year in a row they were gifted with a chance to pick a top prospect. Among those available in the draft pool, some believe that the front office will select Jonathan Kuminga seventh […]

After the Game 4 win by the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA Finals is now tied at two games apiece. It’s the closest game of the series thus far. Both teams never led by double digits and the game was decided in the final minutes. A closer look at the game would reveal exactly why the […]

A Denver Nuggets-Kemba Walker trade? If the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to ship the guard, we’re going to look at how Denver can get it done. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kemba Walker has been in the rumor mill since being traded away from Boston. Teams know that Walker does not want to be in […]

In a league where the unthinkable regularly happens, can a Boston Celtics-Ben Simmons marriage actually be on the table if the famed franchise worked out a trade agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers? The Sixers have officially placed Simmons on the trade block. Rightfully so, they want an All-Star caliber player in exchange for their guard. […]

The Philadelphia 76ers have officially placed Ben Simmons on the trade block. They reportedly want an All-Star caliber player in return. Whether they get their wishes or not is still a matter of wait-and-see. After all, Simmons’ draft stock plummeted after that poor showing in the playoffs. The Spurs can offer DeMar DeRozan, their lone […]

Rudy Gobert has been receiving some flak for the Utah Jazz’s early postseason exit amid their stellar regular season. Fans expected Gobert to literally swat every shot hurled at him, especially after snagging his third Defensive Player of the Year plum. Obviously, this wasn’t the case as the Jazz got manhandled by the Los Angeles […]