Poll: Where Should Derrick Rose Sign?
Former first overall draft pick and the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose is nowhere near the player he used to be thanks to a litany of devastating leg injuries. However, he is coming off a productive offensive season and is easily the most coveted unrestricted free agent on the market.
Rose averaged 18.0 PPG, 4.4 APG, and 3.8 RPG last season with the Knicks, while shooting 47.1% from the field. The point guard also logged 32.5 minutes per his 64 contests, the most playing time he has had in the past four seasons. Despite Rose’s solid season, the rebuilding Knicks appear unlikely to bring him back.
Reports suggest that the leaders for Pooh’s services are the Cavaliers and Lakers. Cleveland will meet with Rose in the coming days and reportedly are offering him a starting position, either alongside Kyrie Irving or in Irving’s place if Cleveland’s point guard is traded. As for the Lakers, Rose had an approximately three-hour meeting with the purple and gold and reports indicate that the meeting went well for both sides. While it is unclear whether Rose would start for the Lake Show, he would be expected to mentor rookie Lonzo Ball on a much improved team.
Two other squads that have met with Rose in recent weeks are the Bucks and Clippers. The Bucks could appeal to Rose’s desire to win, boasting several rising stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jabari Parker. Milwaukee is also coached by legendary point guard Jason Kidd and is situated very close to Chicago, where the family-minded Rose’s family resides. The Clippers already have Patrick Beverley and Milos Teodosic at point guard, as well as Austin Rivers, who is more of a combo guard, but when replacing Chris Paul, can a team ever really do too much?
What do you think? Where should Rose end up signing? Place your vote in our poll and then catapult into the comments section below to share your thoughts.
Where should Derrick Rose sign?
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Cavaliers 44% (1,687)
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Lakers 21% (829)
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Bucks 19% (738)
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Other 10% (382)
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Clippers 6% (241)
Total votes: 3,877
Poll: Which Team Will Sign Gordon Hayward?
With Blake Griffin heading back to the Clippers, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant sticking with the Warriors, and Chris Paul not reaching the free agent market at all, Gordon Hayward looks like the top player on the open market at the moment.
Hayward isn’t rushing his free agent decision, having scheduled meetings with three very interested suitors. The All-Star forward is sitting down with the Heat today before meeting with the Celtics on Sunday and the Jazz on Monday.
The Celtics, armed with cap flexibility and assets, and coming off a 53-win season, have long been viewed as a potential landing spot for Hayward, especially given his history with Boston head coach Brad Stevens, who coached him at Butler. However, the Jazz have a promising young core of their own, won 51 games last season, and have built up a strong relationship with Hayward over the course of his NBA career. The Heat don’t have the same kind of history with Hayward, but Hassan Whiteside has been working hard to recruit Hayward, and the appeal of South Beach shouldn’t be understated.
While those three teams appear to be the finalists for Hayward, ESPN’s Zach Lowe noted on Friday that he wouldn’t be surprised if a fourth club lands a meeting with the 27-year-old too. At this point though, it’s not clear which other teams might attempt to get involved in the Hayward sweepstakes. It may simply come down to Boston, Utah, and Miami.
What do you think? Where will Hayward end up signing? Place your vote in our poll, then jump into the comments section below to share your thoughts.
Which team will sign Gordon Hayward?
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Boston Celtics 43% (1,679)
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Utah Jazz 33% (1,261)
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Miami Heat 18% (717)
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Another team 6% (221)
Total votes: 3,878
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Poll: Which Team Will Win Game 5?
The Cavaliers held off the Warriors on Friday night, thwarting Golden State’s chances of sweeping the entire postseason, and delaying the end of the 2016/17 NBA season by at least one more game. However, the Cavs will have their work cut out for them in Game 5 as they try to steal a game in Oakland and send the series back to Cleveland for Game 6.
As dominant as the Warriors have been overall in the postseason, they’ve been even better at home. Outside of a Game 1 blip against the Spurs, when Golden State had to battle back to win a close 113-111 game, each of the Dubs’ home victories in the playoffs have been by double-digit margins. In their last three home games, the Warriors have defeated the Spurs by 36, and the Cavs by 22 and 19.
The Cavaliers showed in Game 4 that they have the offensive firepower necessary to hang with the Warriors, but Cleveland really came out firing on all cylinders in that contest, setting a new NBA Finals record for most points in a half. If the Cavs need to have a performance like that again to send the series back to Cleveland, they’re probably in trouble.
What do you think? Was Cleveland’s Game 4 win just delaying the inevitable until tonight, or can the Cavs win another game and head back to Cleveland down 3-2?
Place your vote below and jump into the comments section to share your thoughts on tonight’s game.
Which team will win Game 5?
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Golden State Warriors 65% (1,042)
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Cleveland Cavaliers 35% (551)
Total votes: 1,593
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Poll: Will Warriors Go 16-0 In Postseason?
Two games into last year’s NBA Finals, the Warriors held a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers and were coming off a dominant Game 2 victory. Even though the series was heading back to Cleveland, the 73-win Warriors were in the driver’s seat to finish off the series and win their second consecutive championship.
Of course, the Cavs had other ideas, and ultimately came back to win the Finals in seven. But last year’s Warriors team, even after setting the league’s all-time record for wins in a season, didn’t look as strong as this year’s version. With Kevin Durant filling Harrison Barnes‘ old role, the 2017 Dubs can beat teams in a variety of different ways, and their talent and versatility has been on full display en route to an incredible 14-0 postseason record.
Last spring’s Finals are a reminder that it’s never safe to count out LeBron James, even when his club is facing a two-game deficit. However, this year’s Warriors look capable of continuing to win as the series heads to Cleveland, and are two games away from becoming the first NBA team to ever go 16-0 in the playoffs. Golden State has already swept Portland, Utah, and San Antonio.
What do you think? Can the Cavs still win a game or two, and perhaps make this series interesting, or will the Warriors cap off another amazing season by making history and posting a 16-0 playoff record?
Place your vote below, and jump into the comments section to share your thoughts!
Will the Warriors go 16-0 in the postseason?
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Yes 53% (655)
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No 47% (577)
Total votes: 1,232
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Poll: Which Team Will Win NBA Finals?
After a week without basketball, the Cavaliers and Warriors will square off tonight in Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals. While the lengthy layoff between the end of the Conference Finals and the start of this series provided plenty of opportunity to hype up these Finals, that hype is warranted.
This will be the third straight season that the Warriors and Cavaliers have met in the Finals. The two teams are a combined 24-1 in the postseason so far, and the series features seven 2017 All-Stars and three former MVPs. In spite of the Warriors’ dominance this season and in the playoffs so far, the Cavs appear capable of giving them all they can handle.
So which teams takes home the 2017 championship? Place your vote below!
Which team will win the 2017 NBA Finals?
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Golden State Warriors 61% (1,267)
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Cleveland Cavaliers 39% (819)
Total votes: 2,086
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Poll: 2013 Draft All-Star Appearances
The 2013 NBA draft class was initially thought to be one of the worst in league history, though its talent has proven that it doesn’t belong in that conversation. Several players have developed into solid rotation players and some of the prospects have become pillars for their teams to build around.
Many of the players will see new deals kick in next season from extensions that were previously signed and others will agree to new deals in restricted free agency this summer. The collection of talent is deeper than initially anticipated, but the group lacks star power compared to other draft classes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the 2013 draft class’ only true superstar. He made his first All-Star appearance this year (the group’s only appearance ever) and he’ll likely participate in the exhibition games for years to come.
Outside of Milwaukee’s star, Rudy Gobert stands the best chance to earn multiple All-Star appearances, though C.J. McCollum could also easily accomplish that feat.
Nerlens Noel could possibly earn an All-Star nod down the road if he expands his game and takes on a bigger role, but is that likely? Maybe Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dennis Schroder develop into more efficient, productive versions of their respective selfs over the next few seasons. What if Otto Porter signs with a team that gives him a bigger piece of the offensive pie and he’s able to maintain his efficiency? Perhaps Steven Adams is allowed to rebound again now that Russell Westbrook accomplished his triple-double conquest and he morphs back into the player who dominated the Warriors early in the Thunder’s 2016 Western Conference Finals appearance.
All of those scenarios are unlikely and I’d peg the over-under for total All-Star appearances in this particular sub-group at an uninspiring 1.0.
So here’s tonight’s poll question: Which side will end up having more All-Star appearances: Antetokounmpo or the remainder of the 2013 draft class? Don’t limit yourself to a click of a button. Do you believe someone in the draft class isn’t properly represented? Are we underrating someone’s potential? Let us know in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!
More All-Star Appearances Out Of 2013 Draftees
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Giannis Antetokounmpo 83% (728)
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The Field 17% (150)
Total votes: 878
Poll: Should Celtics Keep Or Trade No. 1 Pick?
Few teams in NBA history have found themselves in the Celtics’ current position. Boston is not only one of the four teams still alive in the playoffs, but also has landed the No. 1 overall pick in what’s considered a very strong 2017 draft.
The Celtics’ showing this season, which included earning the first overall seed in the East, is proof that the team isn’t too far away from being a serious title contender. However, if Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals was any indication, the team may not just be one player away from seriously threatening LeBron James‘ Cavs.
That creates an interesting dilemma for the Celtics, who have stashed away three extra first-round picks beyond 2017, including the Nets’ unprotected 2018 selection. Boston has enough young players and future assets to continue taking its time in building a contender, perhaps waiting out LeBron’s peak. However, that stash of extra picks and assets, along with an already-talented roster, provides a unique opportunity — the C’s could move the No. 1 pick this year for a star, improve their roster immediately, and still be well-positioned to keep their window of contention open for years.
There’s no obvious answer for the Celtics, with some NBA observers arguing in favor of trading the pick and some insisting they need to keep it. The probable No. 1 pick, point guard Markelle Fultz, plays the same position as the team’s current MVP, Isaiah Thomas. What would it mean for Thomas’ long-term future if Fultz joins the mix in Boston?
Conversely, if the C’s were to trade the pick, what kind of player could they land? Jimmy Butler and Paul George have been frequently mentioned as targets, but are the Bulls ready to trade Butler? Would George, on track for 2018 free agency, be willing to commit to an extension with the Celtics? Is there another player – perhaps someone like Kristaps Porzingis – who might be available for the No. 1 pick, and who would appeal to Boston?
What do you think the Celtics should do with the first overall pick? Place your vote below, and then jump into the comments section to share your thoughts!
What should the Celtics do with the No. 1 overall pick?
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Use it 62% (1,595)
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Trade it 38% (968)
Total votes: 2,563
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Poll: Who Will Win Celtics/Wizards Series?
The Cavaliers made quick work of the Raptors in their second round series, but they’ll have to be patient as they wait to see which team they’ll play in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics/Wizards matchup on the other side of the bracket doesn’t resume until Wednesday, and it will feature at least two more games — it’s currently tied at two games apiece.
The Celtics are the No. 1 seed in the East and hold home-court advantage, which could be important — so far in the series, the home team has yet to lose a game. In fact, that streak extends even earlier, as the home team also won all four games in the regular-season series.
Still, it’s not as if Boston is a significantly better team than Washington. The two clubs were separated by just four games in the standings during the regular season, and the Wizards came much closer to stealing one of the two games in Boston than the Celtics did in Washington. And if you believe in momentum, the Wizards have it all right now, coming off a pair of dominant victories that evened the series.
What do you think? Which team will win this series? Vote below, and then jump into the comments section to share your thoughts on this series — and on which team would give LeBron James and the Cavs more of a challenge.
Who will win the series?
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Boston Celtics 56% (827)
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Washington Wizards 44% (658)
Total votes: 1,485
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Poll: Who Will Win Spurs/Rockets Series?
The Rockets were firing on all cylinders in Sunday night’s win over the Spurs, making 52.6% of their field goal attempts, including 44.2% of their threes, en route to a comfortable 125-104 victory. Their Game 4 win evened up the series at two games apiece, and the two teams will head back to San Antonio for Tuesday’s Game 5.
While the Spurs maintain the home-court advantage, both teams have shown they’re capable of winning a game in their opponent’s arena so far, having split the first two games in San Antonio and the next two in Houston.
Injuries have also played a part in the series so far, but the Spurs managed to pull out a Game 3 victory after receiving word that Tony Parker would be sidelined for the rest of the postseason due to a ruptured left quadriceps tendon. As for the Rockets, their impressive showing on Sunday came – for the most part – without key reserve Nene, who played less than two minutes before leaving with a left groin injury. He’ll undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com details.
The Rockets and Spurs still have their MVP candidates – James Harden and Kawhi Leonard – on the court, and both teams have the firepower necessary to advance to the Western Conference Finals for a probable date with the Warriors. So which team do you think will make it through?
Vote below in our poll and jump into the comments section below to share your thoughts.
Who will win?
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San Antonio Spurs 55% (578)
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Houston Rockets 45% (469)
Total votes: 1,047
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote in today’s poll.
Poll: Who Should Be Drafted First Overall?
With the NBA draft nearly a month and a half away, potential lottery teams like the Celtics, Suns, and Lakers, and basketball fans alike debate: who should be taken first overall? A pair of freshman point guards from Pac-12 schools, Lonzo Ball of UCLA and Markelle Fultz from the University of Washington, dominate the discussion.
In 25 games, Fultz averaged 23.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 5.7 RPG, while shooting 47.6% from the floor. Although Fultz’s Huskies finished 9-22 and did not qualify for the postseason, the 6’4″ prospect was named First Team All Pac-12 for his performance.
Ball, too, was named to the First Team, after averaging 14.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG on 55.1% shooting, while leading the nation with 7.6 APG. Ball’s Bruins finished 31-5 and were eliminated by Kentucky in the Sweet 16.
In an Insider-only piece at ESPN, Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton discuss potential sleepers to be selected first, but ultimately decide that it comes down to Fultz and Ball. After making the case for both players as the potential No. 1 pick, the duo diverges, with Ford leaning toward Fultz and Pelton preferring Ball.
What do you think? Should Ball or Fultz be drafted first? Or should someone else entirely go No. 1?
Vote below on which player you believe merits the honor of being the first name called on draft night. After placing your vote, share your thoughts in the comments section!
Who should be drafted first?
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Markelle Fultz 74% (1,046)
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Other 15% (215)
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Lonzo Ball 11% (156)
Total votes: 1,417