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What former Rule 5 Draft picks had to say about what it's like to be selected

As soon as the clock strikes 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the lives of multiple minor league baseball players are about to change.

That time marks the start of this year’s Rule 5 Draft, which will be held in Nashville, Tenn. to conclude the Winter Meetings. In this draft, each MLB team gets the opportunity to roster one unprotected MLB-ready prospect from another team for the price of $100,000 in round one — should they choose to do so and if their major league roster is not full — and several minor le
Boston.com •

How a YouTube video and Massachusetts helped Dalano Banton reach the NBA

Dalano Banton would sit patiently in his elementary school classrooms, but he couldn’t resist looking at the clock every so often. After all, how could he? Each and every tick of that clock’s minute hand meant he was one minute closer to the start of his IT class. Banton could hardly wait to enter that classroom. The secret to improving his basketball skills lay just behind the room’s doors.

Once it became time for IT class to begin, Banton would waste no time in getting there. He’d race to the
Boston.com •

Here's what Joe Mazzulla said about how he approaches in-season tournament games

ORLANDO, Fla. — The stage was set for an intense game of basketball. The Celtics spent their Friday afternoon in Orlando, playing the Magic in an in-season tournament game that both teams desperately wanted to win.

Fans of both teams packed Amway Center to watch these two hungry teams battle on the Magic’s gray and navy in-season tournament-themed court. The deafening sound of cheers seemed to fill the entire stadium whenever any play happened during the Celtics’ 111-95 loss to the Magic.

It w
Boston.com •

In Luke Kornet, the Celtics have a big man who excels at the little things

Luke Kornet first arrived in Boston a few years ago unsure of what role he would play on the Celtics. He knew that he was responsible for making his new team better, but he would have to figure out how to do that with the meager playing time he was fortunate enough to receive.

Now, Kornet is the next big man up on a Celtics team with championship aspirations, being counted upon to replicate the production of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford should they become unavailable.

How did Kornet go fr
Boston.com •

Luke Kornet says he doesn't know how he got his nickname

By day, he’s Luke Kornet, NBA basketball player for the Boston Celtics. But by night, he’s The Green Kornet, the superhero who strikes fear into the hearts of opposing basketball players around the league with his deadly defense and his trademark closeouts.

Despite The Green Kornet being one of his most popular alter egos, the center isn’t sure where the nickname comes from.

“The Green Kornet,” he told Boston.com, “that just sort of happened when I got traded. I honestly don’t even know.”

He
Boston.com •

'I'm an underdog': How Joe Jacques turned his childhood Yankees fandom into a love for pitching in Boston

Joe Jacques was sitting in a barber chair on a cold December day when he heard his phone ring.

As his barber sculpted his brand new haircut, Jacques took out his still vibrating phone and read the name at the top. What could his agent want from him?

The impending call could be about a number of different things, but Jacques already had a good idea of what he was about to hear. The 2022 Rule 5 Draft was just around the corner, and Jacques, a minor league pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organi
Boston.com •

Here's what Kristaps Porzingis said about his defensive impact and chemistry with new teammates

Miles McBride is very good at scoring around the basket. The New York Knicks’ point guard is quick and agile enough to slice through opposing defenses and get buckets at the rim despite his six-foot-two stature.

The Knicks know how good of an attacker McBride is, and so they tried to get him a clean runway to the basket during the third quarter of Tuesday’s game against the Celtics, as they’ve done multiple times prior. But Kristaps Porzingis saw that play coming. He dropped back from the top o
Boston.com •

'It really stems from who he is as a person': WooSox' Ryan Fitzgerald embraced the Worcester community — and the city repaid him

The clubhouse located underneath Polar Park’s home dugout is a large, vibrant room adorned with several wooden lockers, most of which look like near-replicas of one another. If no one’s sitting in front of it, or if you don’t read the WooSox-themed nameplates attached to each one of them, it’s nearly impossible to tell which locker belongs to which player.

But one particular locker, located near the left corner past the room’s entrance, stands out from the rest. Taped just above its nameplate i
Boston.com •

Meet Red Sox prospect Shane Drohan, a 'regular guy' having his breakout season

“Put some clothes on and come into Eppy’s office.”

Shane Drohan sat at his locker and wondered what pitching coach Sean Isaac’s demand meant. His Portland Sea Dogs had just defeated the Somerset Patriots in a game that he did not pitch in. He spent that game cheering on his teammates like any other rest day. Drohan had no significant role that day, so what could manager Chad Epperson want to tell him?

Drohan had no idea, but he did as he was told. He got dressed and walked over to Epperson’s o
Boston.com •

Enmanuel Valdez reflects on his first stint with the Red Sox, his childhood team

A young Enmanuel Valdez pictured himself stepping inside the batters’ box of Fenway Park all the time. He always wondered what it would be like to do so in real life, and he could only imagine the rush of euphoria that would fill his body just by being on that diamond.

That scenario was one of his favorites to recreate in his head. When he was a kid growing up in the Dominican Republic, Valdez would frequently fantasize about playing baseball for the Boston Red Sox, the team that made avid fans
Boston.com •

Wilyer Abreu talks about his breakout season and what it took to achieve it

Wilyer Abreu stared into the eyes of Buffalo Bisons pitcher Matt Wisler. He stood firm in the batters’ box with his bat held high, ready for whatever Wisler would throw at him next. He had no choice but to be. Wisler had already bested Abreu twice in that at-bat with two strikes. One more and he would be called for Worcester’s second out of the sixth inning, losing the chance to send teammate Enmanuel Valdez home from second base.

But that pressure didn’t mean much to Abreu. The left fielder wa

Features and Profiles

Orlando Magic HQ | •

Brand New Role, ‘Same Old Goga’: How Goga Bitadze Went From Struggling in Georgia to Starting in Orlando | Orlando Magic HQ

It didn’t take too long for six-year-old Goga Bitadze to decide that he hated basketball.

Even taking one step on that court felt like stepping on an emotional minefield. One wrong move and his coach would explode. And make him run. A lot. There was so much running, and for what? He already knew that he messed up. His heart would hurt from the mistake he had just made; did that mean his legs had to as well? How do the other kids not pass out midway through these running sessions? Do they find i
Boston.com •

What former Rule 5 Draft picks had to say about what it's like to be selected

As soon as the clock strikes 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the lives of multiple minor league baseball players are about to change.

That time marks the start of this year’s Rule 5 Draft, which will be held in Nashville, Tenn. to conclude the Winter Meetings. In this draft, each MLB team gets the opportunity to roster one unprotected MLB-ready prospect from another team for the price of $100,000 in round one — should they choose to do so and if their major league roster is not full — and several minor le
Boston.com •

How a YouTube video and Massachusetts helped Dalano Banton reach the NBA

Dalano Banton would sit patiently in his elementary school classrooms, but he couldn’t resist looking at the clock every so often. After all, how could he? Each and every tick of that clock’s minute hand meant he was one minute closer to the start of his IT class. Banton could hardly wait to enter that classroom. The secret to improving his basketball skills lay just behind the room’s doors.

Once it became time for IT class to begin, Banton would waste no time in getting there. He’d race to the
Boston.com •

In Luke Kornet, the Celtics have a big man who excels at the little things

Luke Kornet first arrived in Boston a few years ago unsure of what role he would play on the Celtics. He knew that he was responsible for making his new team better, but he would have to figure out how to do that with the meager playing time he was fortunate enough to receive.

Now, Kornet is the next big man up on a Celtics team with championship aspirations, being counted upon to replicate the production of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford should they become unavailable.

How did Kornet go fr
Boston.com •

'I'm an underdog': How Joe Jacques turned his childhood Yankees fandom into a love for pitching in Boston

Joe Jacques was sitting in a barber chair on a cold December day when he heard his phone ring.

As his barber sculpted his brand new haircut, Jacques took out his still vibrating phone and read the name at the top. What could his agent want from him?

The impending call could be about a number of different things, but Jacques already had a good idea of what he was about to hear. The 2022 Rule 5 Draft was just around the corner, and Jacques, a minor league pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organi
Boston.com •

'It really stems from who he is as a person': WooSox' Ryan Fitzgerald embraced the Worcester community — and the city repaid him

The clubhouse located underneath Polar Park’s home dugout is a large, vibrant room adorned with several wooden lockers, most of which look like near-replicas of one another. If no one’s sitting in front of it, or if you don’t read the WooSox-themed nameplates attached to each one of them, it’s nearly impossible to tell which locker belongs to which player.

But one particular locker, located near the left corner past the room’s entrance, stands out from the rest. Taped just above its nameplate i
Boston.com •

Meet Red Sox prospect Shane Drohan, a 'regular guy' having his breakout season

“Put some clothes on and come into Eppy’s office.”

Shane Drohan sat at his locker and wondered what pitching coach Sean Isaac’s demand meant. His Portland Sea Dogs had just defeated the Somerset Patriots in a game that he did not pitch in. He spent that game cheering on his teammates like any other rest day. Drohan had no significant role that day, so what could manager Chad Epperson want to tell him?

Drohan had no idea, but he did as he was told. He got dressed and walked over to Epperson’s o
Boston.com •

Enmanuel Valdez reflects on his first stint with the Red Sox, his childhood team

A young Enmanuel Valdez pictured himself stepping inside the batters’ box of Fenway Park all the time. He always wondered what it would be like to do so in real life, and he could only imagine the rush of euphoria that would fill his body just by being on that diamond.

That scenario was one of his favorites to recreate in his head. When he was a kid growing up in the Dominican Republic, Valdez would frequently fantasize about playing baseball for the Boston Red Sox, the team that made avid fans
Orlando Magic HQ - The Center of Magic Basketball •

“This Is My Home Now”: Michael Carter-Williams on His New Deal, His Time Away, and What Orlando Means to Him

Orlando, FL – Michael Carter-Williams spends much of his time working out. No matter what new city he visits, any place with a weight room, a basketball court and enough space to exercise feels like home to him. That feeling never falters, even when he has no team to play for. He’s still able to find perfect peace inside a gym even when he doesn’t have a place to travel to or even a city’s name to wear on his chest.

Such was the case in March 2019, when Carter-Williams would often take to a Cal

Elizabeth Warren casts ballot, encourages others to do the same | WTBU Radio

United States Senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren called our state lucky to have a female-dominated ballot in its gubernatorial race while voting in Cambridge this morning.

“This is a moment when Massachusetts gets one step closer to saying, ‘We want to draw on the talents of everyone, not just half the population,” Warren said.

Warren voted alongside her husband, Bruce, and dog, Bailey, at the Graham and Park School in Cambridge. Despite being a high-profile politician, she said she c
Boston.com •

Wilyer Abreu talks about his breakout season and what it took to achieve it

Wilyer Abreu stared into the eyes of Buffalo Bisons pitcher Matt Wisler. He stood firm in the batters’ box with his bat held high, ready for whatever Wisler would throw at him next. He had no choice but to be. Wisler had already bested Abreu twice in that at-bat with two strikes. One more and he would be called for Worcester’s second out of the sixth inning, losing the chance to send teammate Enmanuel Valdez home from second base.

But that pressure didn’t mean much to Abreu. The left fielder wa

Joe Jones: 200 wins, countless lives changed – The Daily Free Press

Six seconds remained in the game after Boston University senior forward Patrick Hazel sank his second free throw. The University of Rhode Island Rams scrambled to inbound the ball and tossed it to freshman forward Jonathan Holton, but BU sophomore guard DJ Irving snatched the ball and let the clock run out. The game was over. The Terriers defeated Rhode Island on Nov. 26, 2011.

It was Terriers head coach Joe Jones’ first win with the program, and one he still looks fondly on after 200+ more.

“

The Boston Globe Stories

The Boston Globe •

Maine Celtics to host Lewiston Strong Night on Dec. 16 - The Boston Globe

The Boston Celtics organization will honor the victims of the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, later this month.

The Maine Celtics, the G-League affiliate, will host “Lewiston Strong Night” on Dec. 16 during a game against the College Park Skyhawks. Players from the Portland-based team will wear special uniforms and the club will organize charity opportunities leading up to the game.

The uniforms, blue with a white border, are the colors of Lewiston High School. They feature the word “Lewisto
The Boston Globe •

Jayson Tatum to star in two new SportsCenter commercials - The Boston Globe

“As the NBA season tips off, Jayson Tatum is the latest NBA great to star in the beloved This is SportsCenter campaign,” said Seth Ader, ESPN’s vice president of brand marketing.

Because of Tatum’s prominence as one of the NBA’s best players, ESPN made him a part of their ad campaign This is SportsCenter .

The Boston Celtics will tip off their season on Wednesday, beginning an 82-game journey that superstar forward Jayson Tatum is expected to lead.

The first This is SportsCenter ad aired in 1
The Boston Globe •

Masataka Yoshida thanks Red Sox fans for their support during his first season with team - The Boston Globe

Masataka Yoshida’s first season with the Red Sox has come to an end, and he appears to have enjoyed his first taste of Boston.

Yoshida took to Instagram on Tuesday and posted pictures of himself playing for the Red Sox and one photo of himself and his family standing in left field next to the Green Monster. He captioned the post with a heartfelt message expressing how grateful he was to play for the Red Sox in his rookie season, and he thanked Boston fans for cheering him on.

“Thank you to the
The Boston Globe •

NBA general manager survey: What do the Celtics’ opponents think of this team? - The Boston Globe

One-third of the NBA’s general managers picked Boston to take home the Larry O’Brien trophy this season in the league’s annual GM survey, which was released Tuesday. Boston tied the Denver Nuggets for first place.

The Celtics will begin this season as the envy of the league.

Over half of the GMs (54 percent) ranked the Celtics as the best team in the Eastern Conference, and 43 percent had them in second. The only other team that had nearly as many votes in the top two spots was the Bucks, who
The Boston Globe •

Watch: Mariners pitcher George Kirby throws knuckleball as tribute to Tim Wakefield - The Boston Globe

In the fourth inning of the Mariners’ 1-0 victory against the Rangers on Sunday, Seattle pitcher George Kirby threw a 73.2 mph pitch to Corey Seager, who swung and missed.

One special nod to Wakefield came on the field, from a player who never met the beloved knuckleballer.

On Sunday, the baseball world mourned Tim Wakefield, who died after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Tributes from his former teammates and other Boston notables poured in.

But this wasn’t just any pitch. It was a knuckl
The Boston Globe •

Meet Svi Mykhailiuk, the latest addition to the Celtics’ roster and a sharpshooter from beyond the arc - The Boston Globe

Prior to this signing, rumors had surfaced that Mykhailiuk was leaning towards signing with Panathinaikos Athens in Greece, but had been mulling over a minimum deal the Celtics offered.

Mykhailiuk started last season with the Knicks before he was dealt to the Hornets at the trade deadline. In total, he has played for six teams in five seasons in the NBA.

The Boston Celtics have bolstered their wing depth and rounded out their roster on Thursday by signing free agent Svi Mykhailiuk to a one-yea
The Boston Globe •

Former Celtic Tony Allen sentenced to community service in health care fraud case - The Boston Globe

Former Celtic Tony Allen was sentenced to community service and supervision for his role in a scheme to defraud the NBA, according to multiple reports. Allen was one of 18 players accused of defrauding the NBA’s health and welfare plan. The players allegedly took out fraudulent medical and dental claims from 2017-20, illegally taking a total of $5 million from the league. Allen reportedly stole $420,000 through these false claims. Allen pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to commit health care
The Boston Globe •

Four things to know about new Red Sox infielder Luis Urías - The Boston Globe

“We are pretty excited to add him to our mix,” Bloom told reporters. “He’s getting back to who he is at the plate. Fenway should be a good fit for him.”

It was the only move that Red Sox made on deadline day , but it’s one that chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom appears pleased with.

Minutes after the clock struck 6 p.m. on Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, the Red Sox announced they acquired infielder Luis Urías from the Brewers in exchange for Bradley Blalock, a pitching prospect with a 4.27 ERA

WTBU Game Recaps

Men’s Basketball: Terriers Lose to Holy Cross On Game-Winner | WTBU Radio

A game-winning buzzer-beater from Holy Cross (10-18, 7-8 PL) junior guard Bo Montgomery at Hart Center on Wednesday handed Boston University Men’s Basketball (12-16, 5-10 PL) its second straight loss, 71-69.

With less than two seconds left to play in the game, Montgomery was able to get past several BU defenders and get a shot up and over senior guard Miles Brewster just before the final buzzer sounded.

“Tough game,” BU Head Coach Joe Jones said. “But proud of the way our guys played.”

Gradua

Women’s Basketball: Terriers Demolish Loyola in a Historic Triple-Digit Game | WTBU Radio

Case Gymnasium erupted on Saturday when senior guard Liz Shean nailed a 3-pointer with six seconds left in Boston University Women’s Basketball’s (16-6, 11-0 PL) 100-57 win against the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds (7-15, 2-9 PL).

Shean’s final 3-pointer marked the Terriers’ 100th point of the game, a feat the Terriers have not accomplished since Feb. 13, 1987.

“(Scoring 100 points) just makes it more of a statement win,” BU Head Coach Melissa Graves said. “I think I was one year old t

Men’s Basketball: Second-Half Showcase Leads Terriers to Victory Over Loyola Maryland | WTBU Radio

Boston University Men’s Basketball (10-11, 3-5 PL) defeated the Loyola University (MD) Greyhounds (7-14, 2-6 PL) today at Case Gym by a final score of 66-53.

Graduate forward Walter Whyte led the Terriers in scoring with 15 points after an electric second half. Senior guard Ethan Brittain-Watts had an impressive game as well, finishing with 13 points off of 66% shooting from both the field and from the 3-point line.

“He’s got a big hand in [our success],” BU Head Coach Joe Jones said of Britta

Men’s Basketball: Dominant second half from Terriers not enough to defeat American | WTBU Radio

Despite a tremendous second half effort, Boston University Men’s Basketball (9-8, 2-2 PL) lost a nail-biter to the American University Eagles (12-3, 4-0 PL) at Bender Arena in Washington D.C., by a final score of 76-74.

The Terriers kept this game close in large part due to the efforts of graduate forward Walter Whyte. Whyte finished the game with 23 points and 11 rebounds, leading BU in both categories.

“It was pretty impressive what he was able to do on the floor,” BU Head Coach Joe Jones.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: TERRIERS DEFEAT ARMY In Final Road Game of the Season

Despite a tremendous second half effort, Boston University Men’s Basketball (9-8, 2-2 PL) lost a nail-biter to the American University Eagles (12-3, 4-0 PL) at Bender Arena in Washington D.C., by a final score of 76-74.

The Terriers kept this game close in large part due to the efforts of graduate forward Walter Whyte. Whyte finished the game with 23 points and 11 rebounds, leading BU in both categories.

“It was pretty impressive what he was able to do on the floor,” BU Head Coach Joe Jones.

Women’s Basketball: Terriers Fall to Harvard Despite Late Surge | WTBU Radio

Boston University Women’s Basketball (5-5) fell to the Harvard University Crimson (6-5) on Wednesdsay by a final score of 73-58 at Case Gymnasium.

Leading the way for the Terriers was senior forward Maren Durant, who finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 6-for-10 shooting. BU Head Coach Melissa Graves praised Durant’s effort in this game, as well as how important her consistently strong performances and leadership has been throughout this season.

“[Durant] is valuable in

Orlando Magic HQ articles

Orlando Magic HQ | •

Brand New Role, ‘Same Old Goga’: How Goga Bitadze Went From Struggling in Georgia to Starting in Orlando | Orlando Magic HQ

It didn’t take too long for six-year-old Goga Bitadze to decide that he hated basketball.

Even taking one step on that court felt like stepping on an emotional minefield. One wrong move and his coach would explode. And make him run. A lot. There was so much running, and for what? He already knew that he messed up. His heart would hurt from the mistake he had just made; did that mean his legs had to as well? How do the other kids not pass out midway through these running sessions? Do they find i
Orlando Magic HQ - The Center of Magic Basketball •

“This Is My Home Now”: Michael Carter-Williams on His New Deal, His Time Away, and What Orlando Means to Him

Orlando, FL – Michael Carter-Williams spends much of his time working out. No matter what new city he visits, any place with a weight room, a basketball court and enough space to exercise feels like home to him. That feeling never falters, even when he has no team to play for. He’s still able to find perfect peace inside a gym even when he doesn’t have a place to travel to or even a city’s name to wear on his chest.

Such was the case in March 2019, when Carter-Williams would often take to a Cal
Orlando Magic HQ | •

How to Watch the FIBA World Cup as a Magic Fan | Orlando Magic HQ

Orlando, FL – The 2023 FIBA World Cup will tip off on Friday, and it will be a treat for Magic fans.

The Orlando Magic employ some of the best basketball players in the world, some of whom will face off against each other in this tournament. Five current Magic players will represent four different countries in this year’s international classic, and two more countries will have a beloved former Magic player on their roster.

Not sure who to root for? If you’re a Magic fan, you can support at lea
Orlando Magic HQ - The Center of Magic Basketball •

We don’t need Victor Wembanyama

Orlando, FL – On the night of December 7th, Magic fans across the country tuned in to watch their favorite team play the Los Angeles Clippers. Most of us were simply going through the motions, turning our devices on in support while fully expecting the Magic to elevate their nine-game losing streak into double digits. After all, we were the worst team in the NBA at that time, and it would take a miracle for us to contend for a play-in spot, much less make a playoff run. But to us, that was fine.
Orlando Magic HQ - The Center of Magic Basketball •

The Top 10 Games of the 2021-22 Season for the Magic - Orlando Magic HQ

Despite finishing with the second-worst record in the NBA, the Orlando Magic had a season to remember. It was our first full season after trading away franchise cornerstones Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, and Aaron Gordon, as well as the first year we saw our new young core play together. Of course, this season was not perfect. Devastating losses, injuries, and inconsistency plagued the Magic for most of the year. But even though our record may not show it, this season was a success. The tumult
Orlando Magic HQ - The Center of Magic Basketball •

Franz Wagner: No One’s Little Brother - Orlando Magic HQ

That was all most Magic fans could think after Adam Silver announced who would move to Central Florida as the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. And it wasn’t a name they wanted to hear. Instead of taking scoring weapon James Bouknight or the high-upside Moses Moody, they took…Franz Wagner? The kid from the University of Michigan who was projected to be nothing more than a role player? It seemed like a joke. Another draft pick that would find themselves warming up our bench and commandin
Orlando Magic HQ - The Center of Magic Basketball •

The sky is the limit: Magic draft Jalen Suggs - Orlando Magic HQ

It was a rainy evening in Orlando, Florida last Thursday. Dark, gloomy clouds penetrated the Central Florida skyline just before the 2021 NBA Draft, casting an atmosphere that Orlando Magic fans were used to. It was symbolic in a way. The Magic have seen little success in the Draft this past decade, as missing out on franchise-altering talent has recently become an annual tradition for our front office. Why wouldn’t it rain on draft night? The basketball gods have rained on Orlando for years.

B
Orlando Magic HQ - The Center of Magic Basketball •

Jamahl Mosley: The right coach for the Magic - Orlando Magic HQ

“He was big in player development” former NBA coach George Karl told the New York Post’s Marc Berman, “He was really good with basketball intellect and really good with players. That’s the combo you need in today’s world and changing the attitudes of the young players.”

Not every basketball coach has these qualities. Only the strongest leaders have both the knowledge to master such a complex sport and the talent to help players understand them too. This set of skills is usually exclusive to the

"The Backdoor Cut" on The Daily Free Press

The Backdoor Cut: NBA All-Star Weekend recap – The Daily Free Press

Professional basketball is a fun sport. It’s an engaging, thrilling game that requires excellent communication, teamwork and effort in order to achieve success. Every play must be extremely well-thought out for it to work and it must be equally well-executed. Players train their entire lives just for the chance to earn a roster spot. There’s no room for error, and that’s what makes it so intense and fun to watch.

This past weekend, the National Basketball Association took its annual break from

The Backdoor Cut: Recapping the NBA Trade Deadline Part 2 – The Daily Free Press

The Los Angeles Lakers may have won the deadline, but so did the Los Angeles Clippers, their Crypto.com Arena roommates.

They addressed two of their biggest needs — a young, instant-offense point guard in Bones Hyland and a serviceable backup center in Mason Plumlee — while getting rid of players who fell out of the rotation like Reggie Jackson and John Wall.

Sure, losing an elite sharpshooter like Luke Kennard hurts, but replacing him with another quality shooter in Eric Gordon isn’t a devast

The Backdoor Cut: The Kyrie Irving trade – The Daily Free Press

The NBA’s script this year is wild.

On Sunday, the Brooklyn Nets agreed to trade superstar guard Kyrie Irving and forward Markieff Morris to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Spencer Dinwiddie, forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round pick in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027 and 2029, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

It’s no secret that the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic needs help. Dallas’ prized superstar and MVP candidate has put his team on his back throughout the season, but despite Doncic’

The Backdoor Cut: AI selects NBA All-Star Game reserves – The Daily Free Press

The 2023 National Basketball Association All-Star game is only a few weeks away. Some young stars will take their first step toward becoming household names and some living legends will continue to add to their legacy. It’s the only time of the season when all of the league’s best players will play on the same court at the same time.

But who are these elite players who will suit up and compete in this prestigious game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City? We don’t know yet. So far, only 10 players

The Backdoor Cut: Breaking down the Rui Hachimura trade – The Daily Free Press

On Monday, the Washington Wizards agreed to send forward Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for guard Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.

Hachimura’s professional career began in 2019, when the Washington Wizards made him the first Japanese-born player to be drafted to the NBA. The former ninth-overall-pick has put up modest numbers, with career averages of 13 points, five rebounds and 48% shooting from the field.

Despite those numbers, he’s the perfect player for his

"With the First Pick" on WTBU

With the First Pick: Pre-March Madness Mock Draft | WTBU Radio

Birds chirping, nets swishing, universities celebrating and Luther Vandross’ “One Shining Moment” playing in the background. Cheers and tears alike permeate the rowdy arenas that host some of the world’s best basketball this month. You couldn’t ask for a better environment. Nowhere else will you witness this much chaos, this much excitement or this much madness.

Yes, the most prestigious tournament in sports is about to commence. Starting Tuesday, 68 of the best basketball teams in NCAA’s Divis

With the First Pick: Post-Trade Deadline Mock Draft | WTBU Radio

The 2023 NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone. Several teams have undergone significant roster turnover—some fixing their weaknesses while others created new ones. Many teams look a lot different than they did since my last mock draft. Some teams may have completely flipped their big boards as a result of this change and are scouting new players that better fit their new rosters. Teams have changed, and so has draft speculation.

Now that the NBA rosters are mostly locked in for the rest of the

With the First Pick: Brandon Miller is Pretty Good at Basketball | WTBU Radio

Okay, you got me. There’s still several hundred more words to go before you finish reading. But I could just say the seven words of the first sentence, leave it at that, and provide a very accurate analysis of college basketball right now. Because Brandon Miller is indeed pretty good at basketball.

The numbers back me up. Miller is currently averaging 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He’s putting up those 18 points on astounding efficiency, shooting a 57% effective field goal percenta

With the First Pick: January 2023 Mock Draft | WTBU Radio

New year, new games and new talking points about the 2023 NBA Draft. So much has happened since the last installment of this article. Conference play has begun in the NCAA, trades have happened in the NBA and several new prospects have shot up from second-rounders at best to guys in contention for a lottery spot.

Teams and fans alike are starting to craft their big boards with legitimate confidence in their assessments of each player. And because of this newfound confidence, I feel now is the p

With the First Pick: Bama’s polarizing Brandon Miller, and Arkansas’, Duke’s Star Freshmen | WTBU Radio

The 2023 NBA Draft is only six months away. That may not seem like a long time, but there’s still enough time for many teams’ big boards to shift. Fringe freshmen can turn into superstars, highly-touted prospects can slide down the rankings and anyone can blossom into superstardom and change the course of their career all before Adam Silver walks to the podium at Barclays Center to announce this draft’s first overall selection in June.

We’ve already seen all of that since my last article, and I

With the First Pick: Early Risers and Fallers | WTBU Radio

Are you ready for what might be the greatest NBA Draft class of all time?

I’m not kidding. The debut of college basketball on Monday marked the official beginning of what many consider a once-in-a-generation draft. The 59 players who end up getting drafted in June will have their names enshrined in sports history as members of a class that will change the NBA forever.

It is entirely possible that for the first time in history, none of this summer’s top three picks will have played a second of