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And-Ones: NBA’s European Project, Dellavedova, Badji, Cui

April 6th, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Commissioner Adam Silver‘s interest in starting a new NBA venture in Europe goes beyond the potential financial rewards, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. The biggest benefit, according to Vardon, would be direct access to a player development pipeline that has produced numerous NBA stars over the past decade.

“The European development of the kids, especially in the Yugoslavian area, especially in terms of fundamentals, is 10 times better than in the States,” said Misko Raznatovic, the former head of Mega Basket, Belgrade’s pro club, and current Serbian-based agent for Nikola Jokic. “This is the reason you are getting more and more players from Europe.”

Vardon explains that there are no school teams in Europe, so the top players join clubs run by the professional organizations. Unlike the AAU system in the United States, there’s more of an emphasis on developing skills than on playing several games in a weekend. Players who show early signs of stardom like Jokic, Luka Doncic or Victor Wembanyama quickly move on to the pro team, often by the time they’re ready for high school.

“At the age of 15 you get Jokic, you get Doncic, that kind of player, if you don’t teach them how to play basketball, don’t develop their skills and don’t develop their IQ, they will score zero points because based on their athleticism, their quickness, they cannot score anything (in the NBA),” Raznatovic added. “That’s the reason that the guys from this area are getting more skill and a better basketball IQ.”

There’s more from around the basketball world:

EuroLeague teams will hold an internal meeting Monday in Barcelona to discuss the league’s future amid the proposed NBA project, per Domantas Urbonas of BasketNews. Sources tell Urbonas that shareholders are hoping for “full transparency” on which teams are committed to staying in the league and which might be open to other opportunities.
Former NBA guard Matthew Dellavedova has agreed to a multiyear contract with the Sydney Kings after being the most sought-after free agent in Australia, per Olgun Uluc of ESPN. Dellavedova, 34, unites with Andrew Bogut, his longtime teammate on the Australian national team, who was recently named an assistant coach in Sydney.
Ibou Badji, who finished second in this year’s G League Defensive Player of the Year voting, has signed with La Laguna Tenerife in Spain for the rest of the season. Badji had been playing for the Wisconsin Herd.
Yongxi Cui, who was waived by the Nets in December after tearing his ACL, recently talked about returning to the NBA in a video released by the G League, according to NetsDaily. “In social media, a lot of people thought I’m done,” Cui said. “But a lot of people, like 70 to 80%, think I will get back to the NBA.”

Knicks Notes: Brunson, McBride, Hart, Thibodeau, Anthony

April 6th, 2025 at 11:01am CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks‘ backcourt is about to get much healthier for the final week of the regular season, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Star guard Jalen Brunson is expected to be in the lineup tonight against Phoenix after missing 15 games with a sprained right ankle. Miles McBride is also due back soon from a groin injury that has sidelined him since March 20.

“I know any team would be very much improved with Deuce McBride and Jalen Brunson,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after Saturday’s win over Atlanta. “We’re going to do everything we can because the goal was that we’re farther along when we’re back to integrating them back — that we give him a better team than where they left it.”

Cameron Payne returned to action Saturday after missing four games with an ankle sprain, as rookie guard Tyler Kolek slipped out of the rotation. Delon Wright, who made his fifth consecutive start at point guard, also figures to have a reduced role with Brunson and McBride back, but coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t want to answer questions about the rotation.

“The notion of all that stuff, it’s white noise,” Thibodeau said. “The game tells you what to do. Whose shot is it in transition? The open man. And if there’s two on somebody, whose shot is it? You have the responsibility as a primary scorer to make the right play.

“The notion that it has to be this way, that way, there has to be a willingness to sacrifice by everybody. The team has to come first. What’s best for our team? What gives the team the best chance to win? And that’s all anyone should be thinking about. They shouldn’t be thinking about who’s doing this, who’s doing that. That’s not the way this game works. If you care about winning, that stuff shouldn’t matter.”

There’s more on the Knicks:

Josh Hart, who finished one rebound short of a triple-double on Saturday, admitted that he didn’t react well when he stormed off the court after being pulled from the game with 90 seconds remaining, Bondy states in a separate story. “I wanted to stay in to get the last one, but I wasn’t playing the game the right way,” Hart said. “I was trying to play for that. I didn’t really deserve it, and that’s probably why I didn’t get it. I was playing the game the wrong way at that point, so it is what it is.”
Saturday’s win was Thibodeau’s 224th with the Knicks, moving him past Pat Riley on the franchise victories list, Bondy adds. Thibodeau trails only Red Holtzman, Joe Lapchick and Jeff Van Gundy.
Carmelo Anthony, who was announced Saturday as part of the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, would like to see the Knicks retire his number, per Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Anthony spent six and a half years with the organization and is one of just seven Knicks players to reach 10,000 points. “A lot of surprises are happening right now around me, so I’m trying to stay in the moment,” Anthony said, “and if that’s one of the surprises, then I would be ecstatic about that. I would love to see that jersey hung up.”

Sixers Notes: Castleton, Butler, Grimes, Bona

April 6th, 2025 at 10:00am CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers‘ late-season collapse has been ugly, but it’s providing opportunities for several players who might not otherwise get them, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia dropped its 11th straight game Saturday night and has lost 28 of the past 31. Most of that losing has come with a makeshift roster, as Pompey notes that the team has played without an average of eight rotation players for more than a month.

Among those seeing playing time are Lonnie Walker, who started the season in Lithuania, Jalen Hood-Schifino, who had only appeared in two games this season before signing a two-way deal last month, and Colin Castleton, who inked a 10-day contract on Thursday after two 10-day deals with Toronto.

“I’m (focused on) continuing off my previous stop, just continuing to do what I do well,” Castleton said. “Even though this is the last 10 days, I’m just doing what I can to maximize the minutes that I am getting and just the opportunity. … So I’m just taking advantage of it and whatever comes with it.”

Also benefiting from the situation is Jared Butler, who was promoted from a two-way deal to a standard contract after being acquired from Washington at the trade deadline. After bouncing around the league since 2021, Butler is averaging a career-high 23.8 minutes per night in 24 games with the Sixers.

“It’s been four years, and it’s my first time getting straight-up games where I know I’m going to play,” he said. “Like, the fourth year? Somebody telling you just wait four years until you’re going to be able to play, get a real opportunity. It’s a blessing. I’m just glad I’m healthy and I’m able to play. So I think it’s good for my career.”

There’s more from Philadelphia:

Quentin Grimes has become a star in the Sixers’ depleted lineup since being acquired from the Mavericks at the deadline, but he’s had to adjust to constant losing for the first time in his career, Pompey adds. Grimes leans on some advice he got from former Dallas teammate Klay Thompson, who said NBA players have the best jobs in the world. “That kind of really stuck with me to put in perspective that I do play basketball,” Grimes said. “People would love to do this every day. I get to come in and work every single day. So I love to do what I do, even though we’re losing now.”
Adem Bona enjoyed the best game of his career on Thursday, scoring 28 points against Milwaukee, Pompey states in a separate story. The rookie center has been one of the team’s few bright spots and is showing he might have a role beyond this season. “Playing consistent minutes every game, it helps boost your confidence,” Bona said. “It also helps knowing you’re going to be out there tonight — every night. So I think it has helped me, it’s gone a long way. Also, it’s kind of a launchpad into next year, getting ready to play with all the great players we have on our team. I think this is just helping me and building my experience.”
Although the Sixers came into training camp hoping to contend for a title around Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, there were plenty of warning signs that their Big Three couldn’t hold up for an entire season, Pompey explains in another piece.

Mavericks Notes: Davis, Dinwiddie, Hardy, Gafford

April 6th, 2025 at 9:02am CST by Arthur Hill

The spotlight will be on Luka Doncic‘s return to Dallas when the Lakers meet the Mavericks on Wednesday, but Anthony Davis will also be facing his former teammates. The All-Star big man, who spent five and a half years in L.A. and helped deliver the 2020 NBA title, downplayed the upcoming event after Saturday’s loss to the Clippers.

“No emotions,” Davis responded when asked how he feels about taking on the Lakers (Twitter video link from Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports).

General manager Nico Harrison’s desire to rebuild his team around Davis was among the motivations for the shocking trade that sent Doncic to L.A. two months ago. Harrison envisioned a tall, talented team that could overpower opponents, but injuries to Davis, Kyrie Irving and others, along with a lack of manpower due to hard cap restrictions, have prevented that from happening.

Instead, Dallas is trying to hang onto a play-in tournament spot with one week left in the regular season. Back-to-back lopsided losses to the Clippers this weekend left the Mavs at 38-41, percentage points better than Sacramento and two games ahead of Phoenix. Aside from Doncic’s homecoming, Wednesday’s game will be important for the Lakers as they try to hold onto the third seed in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.

“It should be electric,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said, per Christian Clark of The Athletic (Twitter link). “I think the fans will be excited to see Luka. We will be excited to figure out how to protect home court.”

There’s more on the Mavericks:

Spencer Dinwiddie has surprisingly become the team’s leader in minutes played this season, notes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. The veteran guard, who was the last player the team signed to a standard contract before the campaign began, has appeared in 77 games and logged 2,071 minutes. “It’s adjustment on the fly,” Dinwiddie said. “My task changes game to game, and sometimes, within the game.”
Dinwiddie was the only point guard available on Saturday after as Jaden Hardy was ruled out shortly before tip-off with a right ankle sprain, Curtis adds in a separate story. When Dinwiddie rested, Dallas ran its offense through Davis, Naji Marshall and Caleb Martin, which resulted in 16 turnovers that led to 19 Clippers points. There’s no word on how long Hardy might be sidelined.
Daniel Gafford who returned this week from a knee sprain, told Mark Medina of Sportskeeda that the addition of Davis gives the Mavericks a “top-tier defense and top-tier offense.” “With how much gravity he absorbs, he can stretch the floor out,” Gafford said. “So I just have to make plays on the back end. That’s all I got to do, pretty much pick up where he leaves off.”

Pacific Notes: Curry, Lakers, Beal, Clippers

April 5th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Warriors star Stephen Curry did a little bit of everything in Friday’s win over Denver, including some coaching, writes Ron Kroichick of The San Francisco Chronicle. Holding a lead during a play stoppage late in the game, Curry motioned for coach Steve Kerr to reinsert Gui Santos to provide energy and defense. Kerr took the suggestion, and Santos helped close out a 118-104 victory.

“I was like, ‘OK, if he’s saying it, then I’m going in,’” Santos said. “When the game matters a lot, in the most important moments, Steph wants everything to be perfect. He sees everything.”

Several players expressed the same message about Curry after the game, which was the Warriors’ first regular season win over the Nuggets in more than three years. Curry’s attention to detail when it’s time for “meaningful basketball” is part of what has made him one of the greatest players in NBA history.

“There’s a completely different focus, but you see the focus everywhere,” Draymond Green said. “It’s not just once Steph steps on the court in the game. It’s in practice, it’s in his workouts. He’s on the phone talking: ‘Yo, we need to do this.’ He gets into the weeds around this time. We try to keep him out of the weeds all year, because it can be a bit exhausting. But he kind of knows when it’s time for him to get in the weeds, and that’s where he is right now. … You can see the look in his eyes from a mile away.”

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

Coach J.J. Redick ran several actions involving LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to finish off Friday’s win over New Orleans, per Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. The Lakers have started winning the minutes with their three stars on the court together, and Doncic believes their chemistry is improving. “Obviously, like we talk about, it’s still a work in progress,” he said. “We haven’t had many practices together, but I think we’re getting more comfortable, like you saw (on Friday). It’s getting better.”
Suns guard Bradley Beal missed all seven of his shots from the field Friday at Boston, but he felt fine physically after returning to the lineup following an eight-game absence due to a strained left hamstring, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “Just getting back into a rhythm, getting back into the pace of the game,” Beal said. “Just got to be a little more aggressive. It was a little bit trying to feel my way into the game.”
The Clippers are in playoff mode already as they try to climb into the top six in the West and avoid the play-in tournament, according to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. L.A. has won 10 of its last 12 and entered tonight in a three-way tie for the sixth spot. “Everyone is treating every game like the playoffs. Honestly, it’s fun,” Ivica Zubac said. “I think what the NBA did with that play-in, I think it’s a really good thing. It’s very competitive and it’s been good. The last few weeks have been fun. You just kind of lock in, treat it as a playoff game, a must-win, and I’m sure other teams are like that too.”

Bulls Notes: Ball, Play-In Tournament, Huerter, Buzelis

April 5th, 2025 at 9:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

Lonzo Ball made enough progress with his sprained right wrist to take part in Friday’s shootaround, writes Brian Sandow of The Chicago Sun-Times, but he was held out of the Bulls‘ victory over Portland, marking the 17th straight game he has missed. Coach Billy Donovan told reporters that Ball didn’t have a setback in his recovery process, but there are still limits in what he’s able to do.

“I think his biggest concern is, can he go out there and be productive with where his wrist is at right now?” Donovan said. “I appreciate the way he’s tried to handle it because he worked really hard to get back. I think he was optimistic he could get back, but as he did things live, five-on-five, coming to shootaround, there are just things as it relates to shooting the basketball, passing the basketball that he feels are still inhibiting him from doing the things he knows he needs to do out there.”

There’s no timetable for Ball to return, but Sandow states that the Bulls also haven’t set a date to shut him down if he continues to be unable to play. Ball is traveling with the team on a two-game road trip, and there’s still hope that he can see game action before the end of the season.

Donovan notes that the latest absence is difficult for Ball, who worked so hard to return after knee injuries sidelined him for two and a half years.

“It eats him up because he’s competitive,” Donovan said. “Being around him before the knee and then seeing what he’s gone through with the knee, he’s never just thrown the towel in and said, ‘Hey, forget it.’”

There’s more from Chicago:

The Bulls are aiming for home-court advantage if they wind up playing Miami in the 9-10 matchup of the play-in tournament, Sandow states in a separate story. The teams have identical 35-42 records coming into today’s action, with Chicago holding the tiebreaker for ninth place. “It’s always easier to win at home, obviously,” Kevin Huerter said. “It’s a long trip to get down to Miami.”
Huerter has been reinvigorated by the trade that sent him from Sacramento to Chicago just before the deadline, observes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. Huerter is shooting 35.8% from three-point range with the Bulls after starting the season at a career-worst 30.2% in 43 games with the Kings. He credits Donovan’s offensive approach for getting him better opportunities. “The first thing the coaches want us to do is attack,” Huerter said. “They tell us the first part of our offense is trying to get into the teeth of the defense and make a play. That’s just everyone’s mindset. You catch the ball, you try to get downhill and make a play. If it’s not there, move off it.”
Matas Buzelis has earned first-team All-Rookie honors, contends Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Cowley points out that Buzelis is tied for fourth in scoring among the rookie class since Zach LaVine was traded in February. Since mid-March, he’s averaging 14.6 PPG and shooting 43.8% from three-point range. “I’m just reading the game when I’m out there,” Buzelis said. “I’m not overthinking it. It’s a very simple game.”

Clippers To Use Kawhi Leonard In Back-To-Back For First Time This Season

April 5th, 2025 at 8:43pm CST by Arthur Hill

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will be active for Saturday’s rematch with the Mavericks after playing 24 minutes in Friday’s win over Dallas, according to Mark Medina of Sportskeeda (Twitter link). Leonard is likely to be on a restriction of about 25-30 minutes, adds Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link).

This marks the first back-to-back of the season for Leonard, which is a significant development, especially so close to the playoffs. It’s a sign that the Clippers are fully confident in the state of his right knee, which required an offseason surgical procedure that kept Leonard out of action until early January.

“Kawhi has trying to do it for some time now, playing in back to backs, but our medical staff has been very cautious with making sure everything is right,” coach Tyronn Lue told reporters.

L.A. cruised to a 114-91 victory on Friday, so Leonard and the rest of the starters didn’t have to play heavy minutes. He was the team’s leading scorer with 20 points, making 8-of-17 shots from the field, while adding six assists and two rebounds.

Leonard has been expanding his workload lately, playing 38 minutes Wednesday against New Orleans, 39 minutes Monday at Orlando and 41 minutes March 26 at New York. The Clippers have won the last five games with him in the lineup.

Injuries have been a major part of Leonard’s story over the past decade, especially in the playoffs. He was only able to appear in two postseason games last year before being sidelined by knee inflammation, which eventually led to the surgery.

The Clippers will need him as much as possible down the stretch, as they’re locked in an intense battle for playoff positioning. L.A. entered the night in a three-way tie with Minnesota and Memphis for sixth place in the West and could potentially finish anywhere from third to eighth.

Celtics Notes: Porzingis, Kornet, Brown, Horford, White

April 5th, 2025 at 7:22pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics are locked into the No. 2 seed in the East, but they still have goals for the final week of the regular season, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Apart from keeping the roster healthy heading into the playoffs, coach Joe Mazzulla wants to get a look at several lineup combinations to expand his postseason options.

Washburn notes that Mazzulla has started using a double-big lineup with Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet as a counter against teams relying on small-ball to limit the Celtics’ three-point attempts. Porzingis and Kornet combined for 52 paint points Friday against Phoenix while often being guarded by smaller players.

“There’s always stuff we need to continue to get better at and push ourselves and hold ourselves to a standard,” Mazzulla said. “More importantly it’s just to make sure we get reps. We were able to do some stuff at shootaround. We tried to get (the starters) higher in minutes and reps together and I thought they did a good job of that.”

There’s more from Boston:

Jaylen Brown, who’s dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee, is adapting to playing without his usual athleticism, Washburn adds. He scored 31 points Friday night, but most of those came in the paint and he frequently opted for layups instead of exploding to the rim for dunks. Brown has been on a minutes restriction, and it looks like the knee will continue to be an issue in the playoffs. “Even though my team can physically see I’m in a bit of pain, they trust me to go out there and control my body and be able to make plays,” Brown said. “I push through it and I think that’s something I’m going to have to have in my back pocket. It’s been constant communication, and I appreciate Joe because he’s given me grace. He’s letting me feel through it. He understands where it’s at. He’s letting me play through some stuff. I still want him to hold me to the same standard, but I appreciate Joe for the communication. It’s good to have that now rather than trying to figure it out once everything is on the line.”
The Celtics are offering strong support for Al Horford, who has been named as a finalist for the NBA’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, per Khari Thompson of The Boston Globe. The award recognizes leadership, mentorship, selfless play and dedication to the team. “It’s a no-brainer that he should get it,” Mazzulla said. “You can’t really put into words what he’s able to do. I mean, the respect that he has of the guys. What people don’t know is how innately competitive he is day in and day out. He just sets the tone, more with his actions than anything else. I really hope he gets it. He deserves it. He’s one of the best teammates and we’re lucky to have him.”
Jayson Tatum believes Derrick White needs to develop more “street cred” by arguing with officials, according to Souichi Terada of MassLive. Tatum was thrilled when a technical foul was announced against White on Friday, but it turned out to be an error. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time,” Tatum said. “I just heard technical foul D-White, so I got excited. I was going to go give him a huge hug or something.”

Heat Notes: Wiggins, Herro, Arison, Tiebreakers

April 5th, 2025 at 6:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

There’s still no set timetable for Andrew Wiggins to return from right hamstring tendinopathy, but the Heat continue to hope that he’ll be back before the regular season ends, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Wiggins will miss his fifth straight game tonight due to the hamstring issue, and Chiang notes that it’s the 13th time he has been unavailable since he was acquired from Golden State in early February. He has also been sidelined by a stomach illness, a sprained right ankle and a lower left leg contusion.

In the 15 games he’s played since coming to Miami, Wiggins has been productive, averaging 19.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range. Miami has four games remaining after tonight and is locked in a tight battle for positioning for the play-in tournament. The Heat are tied with Chicago at 35-42, two games behind Orlando and one game back of Atlanta.

Chiang points out that Miami has won three of the four games Wiggins has missed because of the hamstring while using a starting lineup of Tyler Herro, Alec Burks, Pelle Larsson, Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo.

There’s more on the Heat:

Herro will miss tonight’s game due to a right thigh contusion he suffered in Thursday’s contest against Memphis, Chiang tweets. It will be the fourth time Herro has been unavailable this season. Haywood Highsmith is questionable with left Achilles soreness, while Isaiah Stevens is also questionable after hurting his right foot while warming up. “(Herro) was doing as much treatment as he could,” coach Erik Spoelstra said in a pre-game session with reporters (Twitter link). “You guys saw the play. It was on that fast break. He just had a contusion there. We’ll treat him day to day.”
Heat owner Micky Arison has been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year as a finalist, Chiang adds in a separate story. The franchise has won three titles and reached the NBA Finals seven times during his 29-year tenure. “My management style is get the best people and let them go to work and don’t get in their way,” Arison said during today’s Hall of Fame press conference in San Antonio. “… I’m really uncomfortable being up here because I think the best owners are the most invisible owners and I’d rather be invisible than be up here.”
Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reviews the Heat’s tiebreakers against the other three play-in teams and examines their chances of moving into the seventh or eighth seed.

Bucks Become Sixth Eastern Team To Clinch Playoff Berth

April 5th, 2025 at 5:08pm CST by Arthur Hill

Atlanta’s loss to New York this afternoon ensures that the Bucks will land one of the East’s six automatic playoff spots (Twitter link). Milwaukee entered today needing either a win at Miami or a Hawks loss against the Knicks to become the sixth Eastern team to officially clinch a berth. Atlanta’s 121-105 defeat means the Bucks are definitely in before they take the court.

It’s the team’s ninth consecutive playoff appearance, and while that’s a significant achievement, it’s not going to be enough to satisfy fans in Milwaukee after being ousted in the first round in the past two years amid injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks may have to put together a significant postseason run to avoid major changes this summer.

A large question looming over the organization ahead of the playoffs is the health of Damian Lillard, who has been sidelined since March 18 with a blood clot in his right calf. Coach Doc Rivers expressed optimism about Lillard’s condition earlier this week, and it appears the chances are increasing that he’ll be ready when the playoffs begin in two weeks.

The Bucks are also preparing for the return of Bobby Portis, who will be able to resume playing Tuesday after serving his 25-game suspension. Portis is one of the league’s top reserves, averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 46 games before being suspended.

As always, Milwaukee’s fortunes will rest heavily on Antetokounmpo, who was selected to the All-Star Game this season for the ninth straight year. He’s putting up MVP-level numbers once again at 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 63 games, and he’s leading the NBA in both shots and free throws attempted per night. He missed All-Star Weekend due to a calf strain, but he’s been healthy for most of the season.

The Bucks made three additions at the trade deadline, picking up Kyle Kuzma from the Wizards, Kevin Porter Jr. from the Clippers and Jericho Sims from the Knicks. Kuzma moved into the starting lineup, Porter has become a valuable reserve and Sims was seeing minutes as a backup big man before undergoing thumb surgery last month.

At 42-34, Milwaukee is a half-game behind Detroit for fifth place in the East. The Bucks appear headed for a first-round series against the Knicks or Pacers, depending how the rest of the season plays out.

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