The Detroit Pistons made a significant move on Wednesday that might not help them turn around their disappointing 2023-24 season but could help them be a better team in the long run. According to multiple reports, the Pistons acquired forward Simone Fontecchio in a trade with the Utah Jazz.

Playing in his second season in the NBA, Fontecchio established himself as a valuable role player. He is averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting a respectable 39.1% from behind the arc.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that in order to get Fontecchio, the Pistons parted with a second-round pick via Washington Wizards in 2024, forward Kevin Knox, and draft rights to Gabriele Procida.

Fontecchio reportedly had plenty of suitors as the NBA trade deadline approached, but the Pistons ended up putting the best offer forward. The Jazz gets an early second-rounder, considering the Wizards are almost certain to finish the season as one of the worst teams in the NBA while also getting some financial flexibility thanks to Knox’s expiring contract.

The Pistons, on the other hand, see Fontecchio as a mainstay piece in their rotations for years to come. The 28-year-old player will be a restricted free agent in the summer, meaning that the Pistons will have the possibility to retain him even if he ends up deciding to sign a contract with another team.

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A year ago, the Brooklyn Nets had the most-talented BIG 3 in the NBA in James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant, and it seemed like they would be a championship contender for years to come. As of Thursday morning, the Nets have neither of these players and couldn’t be further from contending for a title.

According to multiple reports, the Phoenix Suns made a deal with the Nets to acquire Durant. The Suns will send Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and a pick swap to Brooklyn while also getting TJ Warren as part of the trade.

The deal comes just days after the Nets traded away disgruntled All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and picks. It likely signals the start of another rebuild for the troubled franchise unless they can use the acquired assets to replenish the lost star power.

Durant asked to be traded in the summer in an apparent power struggle with then-head coach Steve Nash. The Nets had talks with other teams but eventually decided there was no deal to be made and managed to fix their relationship with the player while letting go of Nash.

Even after trading away Irving, Brooklyn had full intention to continue with Durant and tried to explore trades that could help them improve the roster around him. But the 34-year-old player wanted out, and this time the Nets opted to take the best deal they had on the table and run with it.

Durant leaves an underwhelming legacy in New York that included regular playoff trips but only one postseason series win. His time with the Nets will always be viewed because of what it could be opposite to what it actually was.

For the Suns, this deal is all about getting the final piece of the puzzle that could move them across the finishing line and toward the NBA title. With Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul, Phoenix has all the reasons to believe they are the best team in the Western Conference and possibly in the league. It also serves as a statement of intent by the new owner Mat Ishbia and signals better days for the Suns.

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The Portland Trail Blazers have decided to tear apart their iconic backcourt of CJ McCollum and Damien Lillard. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers have traded McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package highlighted by Josh Hart, Nickeil Walker-Alexander, and a 2022 protected first-rounder.

Reportedly, Portland will also get guards Tomas Satoransky and Didi Louzada alongside two second-round selections as part of the deal. On the other hand, the Pelicans acquire forward Larry Nance Jr. and veteran Tony Snell alongside McCollum.

The Trail Blazers have been shopping McCollum for a while now, looking to reshape their roster after coming up short in the playoffs in recent seasons and seeing four first-round exits in the past five years. At one point, they were close to sending the NBA’s Most Improved Player from 2016 to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, but the two teams couldn’t agree on a draft compensation included in the deal. After that, the market for McCollum dried up until the Pelicans picked up the phone to make the inquiry.

New Orleans was looking to add a reliable scoring threat recently, and it’s safe to say they have successfully completed the task with the acquisition of McCollum. The 30-year-old averaged 20+ points in each of the past six seasons and should comfortably clear the number in 2021-22 as well. In 36 games he played for Portland this season, he scored 20.5 points per contest while adding 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

On the other hand, Portland made the deal by having a long-term picture in mind. So while the deal won’t make them better at the moment, they have acquired tradable assets they can potentially flip into a difference-making player. Another benefit of the trade for them is that they are now more than $17 million under the tax. 

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Miami Heat made a big swing ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline sending Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk to Houston Rockets for All-Star guard Victor Oladipo.

Reportedly, the Heat also agreed to give the Rockets the rights for first-round pick swaps in 2022.

The trade was confirmed on Miami’s official social media on Friday.

Oladipo landed in Houston in January as part of the four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets passed on Caris LeVert in order to land the 28-year-old Oladipo, believing he could be the future of the franchise.

But it didn’t take much for the Rockets to fall out of love with Oladipo. Despite averaging 21.2 points since joining the franchise, he didn’t look close to his All-Star form, and there was the danger of him walking out for nothing in free agency.

In order to avoid being left empty-handed, the Rockets pulled the trigger on a trade that many believe was bad for them. While Bradley and Olynyk are solid players, they are not difference-makers that Oladipo certainly can be.

Heat, on the other hand, managed to get themselves a player that can greatly impact the rest of the season. After limping to a 22-23 record so far in 2020/21, the expectations are that with the addition of Victor Oladipo, Miami can turn around their fortunes and once again make a run for the NBA Finals.

Oladipo entered the league as Orlando Magic’s No.2 pick in 2013. He also played for Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists throughout his career. 

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Veteran guard Rajon Rondo is returning to Los Angeles, a place where he won an NBA ring last season. But instead of re-joining the Lakers, Rondo will slip into a Clippers jersey.

The Clippers acquired Rondo in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that will see three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams heading in the opposite direction. The Hawks will also receive cash consideration and two future second-rounders.

The trade was confirmed on Thursday on the Clippers’ official social media.

Rondo has been going through a rough spell to start 2020-21, spending just 14.9 minutes on the floor and averaging 3.9 points for Atlanta. Still, Clippers head coach Ty Lue believes the 35-year-old guard will prove to be a great addition to his team.

The two know each other well since Lue served as an assistant with the Boston Celtics when Rondo was with the franchise.

“He’s fiery; that’s what we need,” said Lue. “He’s tough. He understands the game. And he respects people as a straight shooter and will tell him the truth. That was my biggest thing in Boston, was just being honest with him and telling him the truth and keeping it real with him.”

Rajon Rondo spent 2020-21 with the LA Lakers, proving to be a crucial part of the team’s championship run. While his regular-season numbers were not impressive, he stepped up in the postseason and averaged 8.9 points and 6.6 assists per game.

Rondo left the Lakers in the offseason, signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the Hawks as a free agent.

The post Rajon Rondo Returning to LA, Will Wear Clippers Jersey appeared first on SportzBonanza.

While the NBA trade deadline didn’t treat us with big blockbuster trades, we did manage to see some major shakeups on Thursday. Arguably the biggest names that changed teams were Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol who was traded to the Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans’ Nikola Mirotic, who joined Milwaukee Bucks.

After realizing they won’t get back to the playoffs anytime soon, Grizzlies started shopping Gasol in the recent weeks and were engaged with several teams including Charlotte Hornets. Still, Raptors made a last-minute offer for the 34-year-old which included Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Miles and a 2024 second-round draft pick and managed to get their guy.

By pairing Marc Gasol with All-Stars Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard, Raptors now formed their own Big-3 and emerged as one of the prime contenders to reach the NBA Finals in Eastern Conference. Grizzlies, on the other hand, officially entered the rebuilding mode and are facing a long way back to contention.

Gasol played 53 games this season and has averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.

In the second big trade on Thursday, New Orleans Pelicans began the process of tearing down their roster and sent Nikola Mirotic to the Milwaukee Bucks. Pelicans received Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson and four second-round picks in exchange according to ESPN.

With this trade, the Bucks improved what has been already a strong roster and are slowly establishing themselves as a big force in the East.

Mirotic is averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The post Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol Traded to the Raptors, Pelicans Send Nikola Mirotic to Bucks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After acquiring All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis last week, Dallas Mavericks continued to be active on the trade market. Mavs now decided to send forward Harrison Barnes to Sacramento Kings in exchange for Justin Jackson, 15th overall pick in 2017, and veteran Zach Randolph.

The trade was executed on Wednesday night, with Barnes finding out about it three quarters into the Mavs’ game against the Charlotte Hornets. The 26-year-old ended up sitting out the fourth quarter on the bench, and then left the arena without talking with the media.

Barnes, however, ended up issuing a statement on his official social media, thanking the Mavs’ organization, owner Mark Cuban, coach Rick Carlisle, his former teammate and the fans of the team.

Cuban later retweeted Barnes’ post, writing: “You have been first class on the court and off. Your voice and actions in the community have made a difference.”

Coach Carlisle also talked about Harrison Barnes and the trade with reporters after the Hornets’ game, saying that he was a “model professional and a great example.”

“I am going to miss him an awful lot,” – Carlisle added. “We’ll miss him an awful lot, but I believe he’s going to have a great situation where he’s going and we’ll just go forward from here.”

Barnes played a total of 49 games with Dallas this season, averaging 17.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

After dealing Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks will now have enough cap space to pursue a trade before the trade deadline and to be aggressive in their pursuit for free agents in the summer. Sacramento Kings, on the other side, intends to negotiate a contract extension with Barnes and plug him in into their young core which has the potential of developing into a playoff team in the next years.

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The Detroit Pistons made a significant move on Wednesday that might not help them turn around their disappointing 2023-24 season but could help them be a better team in the long run. According to multiple reports, the Pistons acquired forward Simone Fontecchio in a trade with the Utah Jazz.

Playing in his second season in the NBA, Fontecchio established himself as a valuable role player. He is averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting a respectable 39.1% from behind the arc.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that in order to get Fontecchio, the Pistons parted with a second-round pick via Washington Wizards in 2024, forward Kevin Knox, and draft rights to Gabriele Procida.

Fontecchio reportedly had plenty of suitors as the NBA trade deadline approached, but the Pistons ended up putting the best offer forward. The Jazz gets an early second-rounder, considering the Wizards are almost certain to finish the season as one of the worst teams in the NBA while also getting some financial flexibility thanks to Knox’s expiring contract.

The Pistons, on the other hand, see Fontecchio as a mainstay piece in their rotations for years to come. The 28-year-old player will be a restricted free agent in the summer, meaning that the Pistons will have the possibility to retain him even if he ends up deciding to sign a contract with another team.

The post Pistons Acquire Forward Simone Fontecchio in a Trade With Jazz appeared first on SportzBonanza.

A year ago, the Brooklyn Nets had the most-talented BIG 3 in the NBA in James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant, and it seemed like they would be a championship contender for years to come. As of Thursday morning, the Nets have neither of these players and couldn’t be further from contending for a title.

According to multiple reports, the Phoenix Suns made a deal with the Nets to acquire Durant. The Suns will send Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks, and a pick swap to Brooklyn while also getting TJ Warren as part of the trade.

The deal comes just days after the Nets traded away disgruntled All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and picks. It likely signals the start of another rebuild for the troubled franchise unless they can use the acquired assets to replenish the lost star power.

Durant asked to be traded in the summer in an apparent power struggle with then-head coach Steve Nash. The Nets had talks with other teams but eventually decided there was no deal to be made and managed to fix their relationship with the player while letting go of Nash.

Even after trading away Irving, Brooklyn had full intention to continue with Durant and tried to explore trades that could help them improve the roster around him. But the 34-year-old player wanted out, and this time the Nets opted to take the best deal they had on the table and run with it.

Durant leaves an underwhelming legacy in New York that included regular playoff trips but only one postseason series win. His time with the Nets will always be viewed because of what it could be opposite to what it actually was.

For the Suns, this deal is all about getting the final piece of the puzzle that could move them across the finishing line and toward the NBA title. With Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul, Phoenix has all the reasons to believe they are the best team in the Western Conference and possibly in the league. It also serves as a statement of intent by the new owner Mat Ishbia and signals better days for the Suns.

The post Suns Acquiring Superstar Kevin Durant in a Blockbuster Trade With the Nets appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Portland Trail Blazers have decided to tear apart their iconic backcourt of CJ McCollum and Damien Lillard. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers have traded McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans for a package highlighted by Josh Hart, Nickeil Walker-Alexander, and a 2022 protected first-rounder.

Reportedly, Portland will also get guards Tomas Satoransky and Didi Louzada alongside two second-round selections as part of the deal. On the other hand, the Pelicans acquire forward Larry Nance Jr. and veteran Tony Snell alongside McCollum.

The Trail Blazers have been shopping McCollum for a while now, looking to reshape their roster after coming up short in the playoffs in recent seasons and seeing four first-round exits in the past five years. At one point, they were close to sending the NBA’s Most Improved Player from 2016 to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, but the two teams couldn’t agree on a draft compensation included in the deal. After that, the market for McCollum dried up until the Pelicans picked up the phone to make the inquiry.

New Orleans was looking to add a reliable scoring threat recently, and it’s safe to say they have successfully completed the task with the acquisition of McCollum. The 30-year-old averaged 20+ points in each of the past six seasons and should comfortably clear the number in 2021-22 as well. In 36 games he played for Portland this season, he scored 20.5 points per contest while adding 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

On the other hand, Portland made the deal by having a long-term picture in mind. So while the deal won’t make them better at the moment, they have acquired tradable assets they can potentially flip into a difference-making player. Another benefit of the trade for them is that they are now more than $17 million under the tax. 

The post Portland Trail Blazers Trade CJ McCollum to the Pelicans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Miami Heat made a big swing ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline sending Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk to Houston Rockets for All-Star guard Victor Oladipo.

Reportedly, the Heat also agreed to give the Rockets the rights for first-round pick swaps in 2022.

The trade was confirmed on Miami’s official social media on Friday.

Oladipo landed in Houston in January as part of the four-team trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets passed on Caris LeVert in order to land the 28-year-old Oladipo, believing he could be the future of the franchise.

But it didn’t take much for the Rockets to fall out of love with Oladipo. Despite averaging 21.2 points since joining the franchise, he didn’t look close to his All-Star form, and there was the danger of him walking out for nothing in free agency.

In order to avoid being left empty-handed, the Rockets pulled the trigger on a trade that many believe was bad for them. While Bradley and Olynyk are solid players, they are not difference-makers that Oladipo certainly can be.

Heat, on the other hand, managed to get themselves a player that can greatly impact the rest of the season. After limping to a 22-23 record so far in 2020/21, the expectations are that with the addition of Victor Oladipo, Miami can turn around their fortunes and once again make a run for the NBA Finals.

Oladipo entered the league as Orlando Magic’s No.2 pick in 2013. He also played for Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists throughout his career. 

The post Victor Oladipo Traded to Miami Heat appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran guard Rajon Rondo is returning to Los Angeles, a place where he won an NBA ring last season. But instead of re-joining the Lakers, Rondo will slip into a Clippers jersey.

The Clippers acquired Rondo in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks that will see three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams heading in the opposite direction. The Hawks will also receive cash consideration and two future second-rounders.

The trade was confirmed on Thursday on the Clippers’ official social media.

Rondo has been going through a rough spell to start 2020-21, spending just 14.9 minutes on the floor and averaging 3.9 points for Atlanta. Still, Clippers head coach Ty Lue believes the 35-year-old guard will prove to be a great addition to his team.

The two know each other well since Lue served as an assistant with the Boston Celtics when Rondo was with the franchise.

“He’s fiery; that’s what we need,” said Lue. “He’s tough. He understands the game. And he respects people as a straight shooter and will tell him the truth. That was my biggest thing in Boston, was just being honest with him and telling him the truth and keeping it real with him.”

Rajon Rondo spent 2020-21 with the LA Lakers, proving to be a crucial part of the team’s championship run. While his regular-season numbers were not impressive, he stepped up in the postseason and averaged 8.9 points and 6.6 assists per game.

Rondo left the Lakers in the offseason, signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the Hawks as a free agent.

The post Rajon Rondo Returning to LA, Will Wear Clippers Jersey appeared first on SportzBonanza.

While the NBA trade deadline didn’t treat us with big blockbuster trades, we did manage to see some major shakeups on Thursday. Arguably the biggest names that changed teams were Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol who was traded to the Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans’ Nikola Mirotic, who joined Milwaukee Bucks.

After realizing they won’t get back to the playoffs anytime soon, Grizzlies started shopping Gasol in the recent weeks and were engaged with several teams including Charlotte Hornets. Still, Raptors made a last-minute offer for the 34-year-old which included Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Miles and a 2024 second-round draft pick and managed to get their guy.

By pairing Marc Gasol with All-Stars Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard, Raptors now formed their own Big-3 and emerged as one of the prime contenders to reach the NBA Finals in Eastern Conference. Grizzlies, on the other hand, officially entered the rebuilding mode and are facing a long way back to contention.

Gasol played 53 games this season and has averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.

In the second big trade on Thursday, New Orleans Pelicans began the process of tearing down their roster and sent Nikola Mirotic to the Milwaukee Bucks. Pelicans received Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson and four second-round picks in exchange according to ESPN.

With this trade, the Bucks improved what has been already a strong roster and are slowly establishing themselves as a big force in the East.

Mirotic is averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

The post Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol Traded to the Raptors, Pelicans Send Nikola Mirotic to Bucks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After acquiring All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis last week, Dallas Mavericks continued to be active on the trade market. Mavs now decided to send forward Harrison Barnes to Sacramento Kings in exchange for Justin Jackson, 15th overall pick in 2017, and veteran Zach Randolph.

The trade was executed on Wednesday night, with Barnes finding out about it three quarters into the Mavs’ game against the Charlotte Hornets. The 26-year-old ended up sitting out the fourth quarter on the bench, and then left the arena without talking with the media.

Barnes, however, ended up issuing a statement on his official social media, thanking the Mavs’ organization, owner Mark Cuban, coach Rick Carlisle, his former teammate and the fans of the team.

Cuban later retweeted Barnes’ post, writing: “You have been first class on the court and off. Your voice and actions in the community have made a difference.”

Coach Carlisle also talked about Harrison Barnes and the trade with reporters after the Hornets’ game, saying that he was a “model professional and a great example.”

“I am going to miss him an awful lot,” – Carlisle added. “We’ll miss him an awful lot, but I believe he’s going to have a great situation where he’s going and we’ll just go forward from here.”

Barnes played a total of 49 games with Dallas this season, averaging 17.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

After dealing Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks will now have enough cap space to pursue a trade before the trade deadline and to be aggressive in their pursuit for free agents in the summer. Sacramento Kings, on the other side, intends to negotiate a contract extension with Barnes and plug him in into their young core which has the potential of developing into a playoff team in the next years.

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