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Report: Jimmy Butler expected to play in season opener for Timberwolves

By Dane DelgadoOct 14, 2018, 2:08 PM EDT
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Jimmy Butler remains a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. And now, with the season approaching, it appears that he will play in Minnesota’s season opener against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

What a turn of events.

Butler demanded a trade several weeks ago, and as of late nothing has been completed. There were reports that the Timberwolves and Miami Heat were close on a deal, but things fell apart at the last second.

Butler was also part of a practice with the team last week in which he reportedly dominated the starting unit with a set of third stringers, all the while turning and yelling to Minnesota General Manager Scott Layden that, “You need me to win.”

Via Twitter:

Minnesota won their first preseason game of the year, but have been dominated ever since. The Timberwolves were outscored by a margin of 81 points over their final four games.

The truth is that Minnesota was always going to have a rough season. The Western Conference got tougher over the summer, and things were already tenuous in the locker room before Butler requested his trade. Now, it’s unclear how they will fare as they head into the season with Butler reportedly ready to play for the team.

We will see how long this lasts. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised at any new twists.

Report: Stephen Curry won’t face suspension after stepping off bench during Lakers dust-up

By Dane DelgadoOct 14, 2018, 8:00 PM EDT
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Lance Stephenson is already mixing things up in Los Angeles. The Lakers wing got into an altercation with Golden State Warriors backup Quinn Cook during a preseason game this week, and was ejected after throwing a punch at Cook’s head.

Meanwhile, the NBA reviewed the tape and determined that no other discipline would be necessary, including any toward Stephen Curry or DeMarcus Cousins.

Ever vigilant, a league is particularly sensitive to players leaving the bench area during an altercation ever since Game 4 of the 2007 playoff series between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs in which Robert Horry hip check Steve Nash into the scores table.

The league review the tape and found that both Curry and Cousins took steps off their bench. However, neither will be suspended thanks to how the league views the actual dust-up between Stephenson and Cook.

Via Yahoo!:

The two stars will not be reprimanded because the league did not deem the activity of Lakers guard Lance Stephenson and Warriors guard Quinn Cook as being an “altercation,” sources said.

Had Curry been disciplined, he would have been forced to sit out Tuesday’s anticipated season-opener at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Cousins would have served his suspension once he returned from an Achilles injury.

What this appears to mean is that the league saw the ejection as a one-sided swing from Stephenson and nothing more.

Plus, it would be hard to imagine the season starting without Curry on the floor for the Warriors.

Charles Barkley says he thought he was going to be Orlando Magic GM in 2017

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By Dane DelgadoOct 14, 2018, 6:00 PM EDT
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There’s no doubt that you have watched countless hours of former NBA player Charles Barkley on “Inside the NBA”. Often bombastic and always opinionated, Barkley stands as one of the more controversial talking heads on that show.

There’s no doubt that Barkley is very good at his job and the role that he plays. But would he make a competent NBA general manager?

That’s the question many have after Barkley revealed that he thought he was going to take over the top management spot for the Orlando Magic in 2017.

Speaking on the radio in Chicago this week, Barkley said that he interviewed for the position and was sure he was going to be the man for the job.

Via Twitter:

Barkley would have certainly been an interesting choice. One can only imagine the roster construction and theory behind any squad he would cook up.

Meanwhile, that teams get close to hiring former players to do anything at a top level — coach or GM — remains incredible. His co-host Kenny Smith had interviewed for the Detroit Pistons job this summer, but didn’t get plucked. These are all corporations valued at more than a billion dollars, and yet they give more weight that’s due to guys who have played in the league.

Elton Brand for the Philadelphia 76ers makes sense, having worked in player development and been the GM of a G-League team before his hiring. Hell, Vlade Divac worked in basketball administration for a full decade before becoming the Sacramento Kings GM, and that’s not working out so hot.

But Chuck and Kenny? Entertaining as all get out on TV, but shaky choices for top GM spots.

NBA teams stay doing NBA team stuff.

Watch LeBron James join Drake and Travis Scott during concert at Staples Center

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By Dane DelgadoOct 14, 2018, 4:00 PM EDT
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LeBron James is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, and much of the reason The King wanted to join LA was for the added benefit outside of basketball. On Saturday night, we got a taste of what that is for LeBron.

During a concert at Staples Center, James took the stage with none other than Drake and Travis Scott.

James jumped on stage during “Sicko Mode” a Scott song featuring Drake. As you might expect, the crowd at Staples went wild.

Via Twitter:

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LeKing 👑x Le6God 🦉x LeFlame 🔥= LeGendary

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Legendary night two Los Angeles – Astro 23 Big Scorpion

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To his credit LeBron looked absolutely at home up there, especially in that second clip. He didn’t even have a microphone and he was still spacing the stage well with Drake and Scott, and knew when to interact with them and when to break it off.

Should LeBron start rapping? We already know he did a song with Kevin Durant that we haven’t heard in its entirety. In any case, he’s going to have his fingers in many pies from here on out.

I’m not personally excited to see “Space Jam 2” maybe because “Space Jam” was so overrated in the first place, but what LeBron can do moving forward is certainly going to be interesting. I thought his character was a little contrived in “Trainwreck” but he’s got genuine talent beyond charm and magnetism.

James already has two TV pilots in the works at NBC, and no doubt his properties will continue to grow the longer he is stationed in Los Angeles.

Lakers’ Josh Hart on hardest player to guard: “James Harden, by far. BY FAR.”

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By Kurt HelinOct 14, 2018, 11:59 AM EDT
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Who is the hardest player in the NBA to guard?

Kevin Durant, with his lethal high-release jump shot and an ability to get to the rim? LeBron James, with his ability to physically overpower on the drive or just shoot over the top of the defender? Stephen Curry with his crazy handles and from-the-parking-lot shooting range? Russell Westbrook and his otherworldly athleticism? Giannis Antetokounmpo? Anthony Davis? Damian Lillard?

Lakers’ second-year guard Josh Hart says none of them and instead points to James Harden (via Alex Kennedy of Hoopshype).

Harden led the NBA in scoring last season, averaging 30.4 points per game on a ridiculously efficient 61.9 true shooting percentage. He takes almost half his shots from three, shooting 36.7 percent last season, but his real gift is on the drive where he brings this old-man-at-the-Y change of speeds game combined with strength and a gift for drawing contact and the foul. Defenders often describe guarding him as frustrating (even his own teammates assigned to cover him in practice feel that way).

Harden’s game is not as graceful or fluid as Durant or Curry, it lacks that aesthetic beauty. But, what he puts up on the scoreboard and how he lifts a team up are beautiful things.