The recent noise about Damian Lillard and his future with the Portland Trail Blazers notwithstanding, the seven-time All-Star’s situation remains unchanged. Lillard has been about as loyal as an elite player with no rings could possibly be to a franchise and, as far as we know, Portland’s current playoff drought hasn’t prompted him to ask out.

Meanwhile, the Blazers appear intent on continuing to build around the baller despite his recent commentary about wanting to win at the highest level right now (something the team isn’t really equipped to do).

Of course, none of this has stopped Miami Heat fans — and pundits, reporters, blogs, et al. — from dreaming up trade scenarios bringing Lillard to the club.

Lillard doesn’t appear to have any problem with fanning those flames, either, raising eyebrows on Friday with an IG Live appearance featuring a musical shout-out to South Beach.

Blazers Star Damian Lillard Taps Will Smith for Heat-Centric Troll Job

As captured by Twitter user @MGRADS and others, Lillard popped onto IG Live with a certain top-20-charting, late ’90s rap anthem booming in the background. Namely, “Miami” from Will Smith’s album, Big Willie Style.

For the unawares, it’s a song that includes lyrics like, “Don’t get me wrong, Chi-town got it goin’ on. And New York is the city that we know don’t sleep. And we all know that L.A. and Philly stay jiggy. But on the sneak, Miami bringin’ heat for real.”

And the more on-the-nose “I’m goin’ to Miami” and “Welcome to Miami.”

Now, Lillard himself may or may not have been the person responsible for playing that song but, in any case, it’s probably a safe bet that he knew exactly how NBA people would react to hearing it on his stream just as Dame-centric trade rumors are heating up again.

It was either the biggest tease or the biggest troll job we have seen from a player so far this summer.

This much is certain — Lillard is still the kind of player who could put the Heat over the top in their efforts to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Kaseya Center. In 58 games for the Blazers in 2022-23, Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per outing while posting an effective field-goal percentage of 56.4.

Heat Focused on Getting Lillard, Blazers Focused on Keeping Him

In the wake of Thursday’s NBA Draft, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin — who selected G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson third overall — made it clear that he’s not thinking about dealing his cornerstone player. Like, ever.

“I would love to see Dame retire a Trail Blazer,” Cronin told reporters. “I have zero desire to trade him. I really hope this works out here.”

Even so, The Athletic’s David Aldridge recently joined the litany of media members who believe that Heat president Pat Riley has made bringing Lillard into the fold his No. 1 mission this offseason.

“Miami has clearly prioritized getting Damian Lillard from Portland, with Jimmy Butler a central part of the Heat’s recruiting pitch,” the longtime league insider wrote on June 18.

The first major domino of the Golden State Warriors‘ offseason fell last week when Mike Dunleavy Jr. officially stepped into the GM shoes previously filled by Bob Myers. Now, just a handful of days later, a second domino has fallen, leading to questions about the future of the club’s legendary core.

As reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, four-time All-Star Draymond Green is set to decline his $27.5 million option for the 2023-24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent.

However, Warriors fans who were hoping to see Green, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson keep it rolling for at least another season needn’t fret over the loss of their defensive anchor just yet. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Green and the Dubs still have designs on continuing their partnership.

“Listen, these are two sides who very much want to get a deal done,” Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter on Monday. “Draymond and Rich Paul, they’re not really posturing here, threatening that they’re gonna go somewhere else.”

Draymond Green & Warriors Could Ink New, Multiyear Pact

There have been rumblings of Green’s run in Golden State potentially coming to an end dating back to his altercation with Jordan Poole last fall. And the most recent sightings of him hanging out with pal LeBron James has visions of the baller wearing purple and gold dancing in some people’s heads.

From Wojnarowski’s vantage point, though, the sense is that Green and the Warriors hold mutual interest in extending their relationship long-term.

“I think there’s certainly a desire on both sides to stay together,” Wojnarowski said. “They want each other. I think Draymond Green, the idea of continuing with Steph Curry and with Klay Thompson and certainly Steve Kerr, I think it means the world to him. It’s just a matter of negotiation. You know, is it a four-year deal? Is it a three-year deal?

“I don’t sense at all any real sense on either side that this could get sideways. It could happen — he becomes a free agent, Scott — but I think the sides are destined to reunite.”

Green appeared in 73 games for the Warriors last season — his highest tally since 2016-17 — and averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Meanwhile, he posted a career-best effective field-goal percentage of 57.0 and a net rating of 7.0 (the best mark teamwide among major minute-getters).

Draft Guru Weighs In on What Warriors Want

The Warriors are heading into Thursday’s NBA Draft with the 19th overall selection and, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, a clear MO — to get a player who can actually contribute to winning sooner rather than later.

And when one considers how things have played out with James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody so far, that concept definitely rings true:

“All indications are that the Warriors are done with projects. They don’t want developmental players anymore,” Givony said.

“They’re looking for guys who know how to play, who can pass, shoot, cut, defend off the ball … we’re talking about guys like Jordan Hawkins, Brandin Podziemski, Jaime Jaquez, Kris Murray. Older, more experienced players who can step in from day one and play the Warriors style of play.”

Over the years, Miami Heat president Pat Riley has crafted a reputation as one of the game’s ultimate star hunters. It’s a reputation that’s well-earned, given past moves to bring the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic, Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry to South Beach.

Those moves have largely paid off, too, resulting in seven trips to the NBA Finals and three championships.

More recently, though, the Godfather has failed to reel in the big fish, coming up short in bids to land Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant and, now, Bradley Beal, who looks to be headed to the Valley of the Sun, according to multiple reports. According to The Athletic’s David Aldridge, however, Riley and Co. may have their eyes set on another headliner.

And they’re using their cornerstone player to help convince him that Miami is the place to be.

Wrote Aldridge on June 18: “Miami has clearly prioritized getting Damian Lillard from Portland, with Jimmy Butler a central part of the Heat’s recruiting pitch.”

Were the Miami Heat Eyeing a Dame Lillard Trade All Along?

On paper, Miami seemingly has more assets at its disposal than Phoenix where procuring Beal was concerned. But the three-time All-Star has a no-trade clause in his contract, and it would seem the Heat did not do what it took to convince both the Washington Wizards and Beal that they were the best trade option.

“While Washington wanted the multiple first-rounders the Heat were offering, it didn’t matter; Beal wanted to play in Phoenix. His wife and her family are from California, and KD and Booker are a smidge more potent offensively than Jimmy Buckets and Bam Adebayo,” Aldridge wrote. “The Wizards couldn’t stay in a holding pattern; unwilling to wait on the Heat, they turned to Phoenix.”

That said, it’s also possible that the Heat had Lillard pegged as their top target all along, a notion suggested on June 17 by The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and Substack’s Marc Stein, and were unwilling to break the bank for their backup plan.

Lillard may be three years older than Beal at 32, but he’s also coming off what was arguably the most productive individual season of his career. In 58 games for the Portland Trail Blazers last season, the seven-time All-Star averaged 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds with an effective field-goal percentage of 56.4.

Beal, meanwhile, logged a 23-5-4 line with an eFG% 55.1 and was even less available for the Wiz, logging a grand total of 50 appearances.

For a Heat team that struggled at times during the regular season to put up points — then saw those struggles return as their Finals bout with the Denver Nuggets progressed — Dame could be the better trade play.

Damian Lillard Finally Looks Ready to Leave Portland

Perhaps more than any player in the Association, Lillard has sacrificed his ability to compete for a title by remaining loyal to the team that drafted him. After 11 years in PDX, though, he hinted that he’d reached a point where he was willing to go where he needs to in order to get his ring.

“If we can’t do something significant like [making considerable roster upgrades], we won’t have a chance to compete on that level,” Lillard told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in April. “Not only will I have a decision to make, but I think the organization will, too.”

While the Blazers will undoubtedly consult Dame on potential trades and take his opinion into account, he probably doesn’t have the same level of sway in those dealings without a no-trade clause working for him. So, the Heat may have to come out of the gate with a competitive offer to beat out what figures to be a number of other suitors.

Still, getting Lillard on board with the Heat as his best option can only aid in the cause. So, using Butler and whatever other tools they have at their disposal to get him into that headspace could be a difference-maker.

The Bradley Beal sweepstakes already look to be nearing their final stages, mere days after it was reported that the Washington Wizards cornerstone and his team could be kicking the tires on trade scenarios. And the Miami Heat are one of the last clubs standing.

Per a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania on Saturday, the Wizards are in “serious talks” with two finalists on a potential Beal trade — the Heat and the Phoenix Suns. Charania added that the Suns “have emerged as a serious threat” to acquire the three-time All-Star.

Beal, who has a no-trade clause in his contract that would have to be waived, has long been linked to Miami as the Wizards have failed to build a winning roster around him. And after their latest failed championship bid, the Heat are undoubtedly motivated to give Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo the extra hand they need to finally break through.

What’s more — the Heat may be able to put together a package that is more enticing to the Wizards than what the Suns can offer.

Heat Offer for Bradley Beal Would Almost Certainly Include Tyler Herro

The Heat have one key advantage over the Suns where pulling off a blockbuster trade is concerned. Specifically, the fact that they can throw draft picks into the deal.

Thanks to their deadline move to bring Kevin Durant back to the Western Conference and the Stepien rule, the Suns’ future first-rounders are essentially tied up for the rest of the decade. Miami, meanwhile, currently has just one outgoing first-round selection — a lottery-protected pick in 2025 that will turn into an unprotected first-rounder in 2026, if conveyed later.

Heat president Pat Riley can (and most certainly will) offer Tyler Herro as well, a player who could be incredibly valuable for a rebuilding team.

At 23 years old, Herro is still growing as an NBA player. However, he’s also a proven commodity as one of the more dynamic scorers in the Association. In 67 games last season, he averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He also shot 37.8% from three-point range and 93.4% from the charity stripe.

As productive as Herro has been, though, the Heat’s incredible run to the 2023 NBA Finals showed that they can survive without him.

There were times, particularly against the eventual-champion Nuggets, when their offense faltered, of course, but Beal would theoretically provide a better-rounded and more dependable option down the stretch than what the team currently has with Herro.

Perhaps the biggest question on the Heat’s side of the equation is how much they would have to give up to match Beal’s salary for the trade (and if they would still have enough behind the core to compete after doing so).

Suns May Have to Part With CP3 in Order to Secure Beal

It’s worth noting that Phoenix has some things working in its favor, too, like the fact that the club’s CEO, Josh Bartelstein, is the son of Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. The Suns also have a blue-chipper of their own that they can offer up in former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton.

For his part, though, Bleacher Reports’ Chris Haynes has reported that it may take more for the Suns to swing a Beal trade, i.e. a certain future Hall of Famer:

Phoenix can offer a trade package of Deandre Ayton and Landry Shamet to Washington for Bradley Beal, but it’s believed a Chris Paul, Shamet deal is what it would take if Beal chose to force his way to the Suns via his no-trade clause, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

This could actually work in the Suns’ favor, too, as there have been rumblings that the team could move on from Paul this summer. At one point, Haynes even reported that the Suns would waive the veteran floor general.

The Golden State Warriors are going through what is arguably their biggest change since Kevin Durant left for Brooklyn. Bob Myers — the GM and president for the entirety of the team’s dynastic run — is riding off into the sunset and Mike Dunleavy Jr. will assume control of Golden State’s basketball operations.

Dunleavy won’t be afforded the luxury of a soft landing in his new charge. The 2023 NBA Draft is taking place in a matter of days and, according to ESPN’s Marc Spears, the first-time GM is receiving trade inquiries on a pair of key players as well.

“Golden State is also getting calls on [Jonathan] Kuminga, they’re getting calls on Jordan Poole,” Spears reported on NBA Today. “They have the 19th pick in next week’s draft. So Mike Dunleavy Jr. isn’t getting no training wheels going into this job.”

While league execs are always having conversations about potential deals, this intel leads one to believe that it could be an eventful summer for Dunleavy.

The Warriors Have a Jordan Poole Conundrum

Poole and Kuminga are somewhat in the same boat of having seen their roles and minutes shrink during the postseason. For the former, though, the drop-off was dramatic as he went from logging 30-plus minutes nightly during the regular season to 21.8 minutes per outing in the playoffs.

In turn, his output dropped from 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game and an effective field-goal percentage of 51.4 before the postseason to 10.3 PPG, 3.5 APG and an eFG% of 40.0 during it.

He didn’t handle the change particularly well, either.

With all of that being the case, some have wondered whether the Dubs ought to explore Poole’s trade market. To that end, the four-year, $128 million extension he was given before the 2022-23 season could act as a significant hurdle in the event that the team decided it was time to move on.

If Dunleavy is already receiving trade calls, though, it would seem that some kind of deal is at least within the realm of possibility.

On the other hand, Poole played a key role in the Warriors’ 2022 title run. Also: he’s a gifted creator offensively and, as he’s still just 23 years old, there may be additional steps forward that he can take. Giving up on him now could come back to bite the Dubs in a big, bad way.

Jonathan Kuminga May Be the Team’s Most Tradeable Asset

Although Kuminga’s spot in the Dubs hierarchy had fluctuated even before the playoff run, his rookie-scale deal, elite athleticism and two-way upside as a 20-year-old combine to put him in a different category from Poole where tradeability is concerned.

The idea that teams would be calling Golden State about him is hardly surprising.

What is surprising, though — even as he has failed to lock down a consistent spot in head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation — is that the Warriors are apparently weighing the merits of a Kuminga trade internally.

“Sources tell ESPN the Warriors are also exploring the option of acquiring a high draft pick in exchange for a young prospect such as Jonathan Kuminga,” reported draft guru Jonathan Givony.

After the All-Star Break — when Andrew Wiggins was away from the Warriors and the team was also dealing with a number of injuries — Kuminga averaged 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 57.2% from the floor and 44.0% from three-point range.

If Dunleavy wants a better pick or an opportunity to land another high-level veteran, it’s probably safe to assume that Kuminga’s name would come up in those negotiations.

With the architect of the Golden State Warriors‘ dynasty — longtime GM and team president Bob Myers — set to walk away upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, fans, pundits and players alike had been left to wonder who would be tasked with leading the club moving forward.

Now, they have their answer.

Per an announcement from the team on Friday, the Warriors have officially tapped VP of basketball operations and former player Mike Dunleavy Jr. as the next top decision-maker in their front office, promoting the 42-year-old to the GM position.

“We think Mike is the perfect fit to lead our basketball operations department,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob said in the release. “He has a wealth of basketball knowledge, stemming from his family upbringing, a 15-year NBA playing career and five seasons serving under Bob Myers in our front office.

“He’s young and energetic, has established numerous relationships around the league and communicates well with players and coaches — all important traits in this business. Mike’s ready for this challenge and responsibility.”

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report on Dunleavy’s promotion.

Warriors Err on the Side of Continuity After Tough Campaign

Entering the 2022-23 season as the defending NBA champions, the Warriors were expected to be a major factor in the title hunt once again. However, they were put behind the eight-ball in training camp by the altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole.

From there, injuries, road woes and the failure of young guns James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody to earn featured roles contributed to a downturn that ultimately saw the club eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers.

On multiple occasions this season, Dubs coach Steve Kerr and others credited Myers for his ability to communicate effectively with different people and help the team whether those kinds of storms.

So, keeping a familiar voice in the GM spot may have been the best possible move for Lacob and Co. where mitigating the loss of Myers and those key skills was concerned. Especially when one considers the team’s desire to stay in the competitive mix with Steph Curry and his dynastic cohorts.

And, from a sheer basketball standpoint, Dunleavy’s resume is arguably as strong as anyone’s.

A Basketball Lifer

Dunleavy Jr. has spent five years in the Warriors’ front office so far, having originally joined the team as a pro scout for the 2018-19 campaign. He was promoted to assistant GM less than a year later and, after two years in that role, he became the VP of basketball ops in 2021.

This followed a playing career that saw him appear in 986 regular season games with the Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks before he decided to hang up the high-tops in 2017.

Over that span, he averaged 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game and shot 37.7% from three-point range. Meanwhile, his 1,304 triples currently rank as the 65th most in Association history.

After a three-year run at Duke — during which he became an NCAA champion and a consensus second-team All-American — Dunleavy was selected third overall by the Warriors in the 2002 NBA Draft.

Dunleavy’s father, Mike Dunleavy Sr., played in the league for 11 seasons and spent another 17 seasons as a head coach with the Lakers, Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. The elder Dunleavy also served as an executive.

Former Golden State Warriors guard Nico Mannion, who’s currently in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) Finals with Virtus Bologna, could be on the move again this summer.

While Mannion is set for a spot with the Milwaukee Bucks’ summer league squad, per BasketNews, another high-level European team is apparently weighing the merits of bringing him on for the 2023-24 campaign. Specifically, Saski Baskonia of La Liga ACB and EuroLeague.

Per a report from Sportando, the Spanish League quarterfinalist is “believed to be the primary candidate” to acquire the ex-Warrior, whose deal with Virtus expires at the end of the season. The outlet further noted that negotiations between the two sides “are expected to heat up after the LBA Finals.”

Although his latest go-round in Italy got off to a promising start, Mannion may be eyeing a fresh start amid his shrinking role with Virtus.

Nico Mannion’s Hoops Journey Since Leaving the Warriors Has Been a Wild One

Following his rookie campaign with the Dubs in 2020-21 — during which he averaged 4.1 points and 2.3 assists in 12.1 minutes per outing and shot 36.7% from deep — Mannion had an opportunity to re-up with the club on a two-way deal.

Instead of staying stateside, though, the Arizona alum decided to take his game overseas in search of a better opportunity to play and develop his skills. At the time, Mannion’s Warriors teammate, Draymond Green, showed support for the move and the intent behind it. Alas, the baller’s Euro journey has been fraught with peril.

Thanks to a brutal intestinal infection (one that caused him to drop a dangerous amount of weight), a bout with COVID-19 and injuries, Mannion was a complete non-factor in his new digs in 2021-22. Sharing the backcourt with established vets Milos Teodosic and Marco Belinelli didn’t exactly make finding minutes easy, either.

Things got much better this season with his physical issues mostly in the rearview mirror. However, the 22-year-old’s role and playing time have fluctuated recently. Mannion was DNP’d in each of his team’s last four playoff games, dating back to a five-minute cameo against Derthona Basket in the LBA semifinal round on May 30.

In 50 games (26 starts) across all competitions this season, Mannion has averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 assists while sinking 37.9% of his attempts from three-point range.

Warriors Hit Top 10 in Way-Too-Early Power Rankings

We’re still mere days removed from the Denver Nuggets’ NBA championship victory, but Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey is already looking ahead to next season. His way-too-soon power rankings for ’23-24 just dropped and, despite the way in which their season ended, the Warriors entered the list at No. 8 overall.

Wrote Bailey:

The NBA’s new “second apron,” a potentially crippling salary line for big-spending teams has the potential to make this offseason very uncomfortable for the Warriors.

They’re set to enter 2023-24 with over $200 million in salary committed. That second apron kicks in at $179.5 million and brings severe penalties with it. Getting below that number could mean essentially salary dumping Jordan Poole.

But if Golden State somehow emerges with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, it’ll absolutely be a contender once again.

Few prospects have captured the imagination of Golden State Warriors fans — at least since the team began winning NBA championships year after year — like Jonathan Kuminga.

The 20-year-old is a rare breed for a team that has largely avoided being in the lottery for a decade-plus; a top-seven pick with off-the-charts athleticism, a hunger to make a name for himself and, at least in theory, a sky-high ceiling on both sides of the ball.

According to a recent report from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, though, the Dubs are considering trading him for a premium pick in the upcoming draft. And given the fact that Kuminga has yet to really grab and hold onto a regular spot in Steve Kerr‘s rotation after two years — not the mention the team’s next-level luxury tax issues — one could definitely rationalize kicking the can down the road with another prospect.

For his part, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale has gone so far as to suggest that Kuminga is one of the “10 best trade chips” in the Association this offseason. However, he sees the team eyeing a different kind of return in a potential deal.

B/R: Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga Still Boasts ‘Core-Player Mystique’

As was the case with former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman, giving up on Kuminga at this point — his shortcomings and/or perceived missteps notwithstanding — would be a gut punch. One could argue that it would be even worse this time around with Kuminga actually having been an on-court contributor at various junctures.

That said, winning continues to be the priority in the Bay. And, as Favale sees it, Kuminga is someone who could be used to reel in another big fish as part of the effort to extend Golden State’s current window of contention:

Can the 20-year-old be the front-and-center asset in a trade that lands the Warriors another big-time rotation weapon, super-duper-luxury-tax implications be damned?

I lean toward yes.

Kuminga’s inconsistent usage has short-circuited some of his appeal. But he doesn’t turn 21 until October, has two more years left on his rookie scale and is worth more extensive run than he’s received.

In 67 appearances for the Warriors last season, including 16 starts, Kuminga averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 boards in 20.8 minutes per contest. He also connected on 52.5% of his shot attempts overall and 37.0% of his tries from three-point range.

Added Favale: “Much of his armory, at both ends, remains unpolished. But this is a prospect with core-player mystique.”

Kuminga Is Open to Change If His Situation Doesn’t Improve

The Warriors aren’t the only ones doing some soul-searching about this particular relationship. Kuminga also has concerns about his place with Golden State amid his reduced postseason role and the current logjam of non-shooting big men on the roster.

The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania reported last month that the Congolese national could eye a move away from the Warriors if the team doesn’t make getting him more minutes a high priority:

The Warriors and Kuminga’s representatives are expected to discuss his future this offseason, league sources say. Golden State will need to decide whether Kuminga will receive a full-time role moving forward, and, if not, league sources say the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft will want to be somewhere he can play more.

Before James Wiseman vexed Golden State Warriors fans with devastating injuries and untapped potential, another player took Dub Nation on the same kind of roller-coaster ride.

Namely, Ekpe Udoh, who was drafted sixth overall by the club in 2010. Similar to Wiseman, Udoh was shipped out of the Bay less than two years after his arrival when he failed to materialize as, well, whatever then-GM Larry Riley had in mind when he picked the Baylor product.

Udoh did alright for himself despite the bumpy start, finding hardwood success in the NBA and abroad during a career that spanned more than a decade. Now, though, the 36-year-old is set to tackle a whole new challenge by hanging up the high-tops and transitioning into the coaching ranks.

As announced by the team on Wednesday, Udoh has accepted a position on Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder’s newly-assembled staff. The Athletic’s Shams Charania was the first to report on the big man’s hiring.

Ekpe Udoh’s Recent Career & His Role in Bringing the Warriors Their First Title

Udoh’s move to the Hawks bench comes less than a month after he could be seen plying his trade on the court, scoring 12 points, grabbing six boards and adding two blocks and two steals for the Kyoto Hannaryz during the team’s B.League finale against the Shiga Lakestars.

And while the season — which appears to be Udoh’s last as a player — ended with his Japanese club finishing well below the .500 mark, his best moments as a pro baller definitely came on the international scene.

While playing for the Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe in 2017, Udoh won a EuroLeague title and was named EuroLeague Final Four MVP after a campaign that saw him average 12.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks nightly while shooting 58.4% from the field.

He played so well, in fact, that he earned a contract with the Utah Jazz after having been out of the league for two seasons. It was a decision that ultimately brought him into contact with his future boss, Coach Snyder.

On the whole, Udoh’s seven scattered years in the Association were marked with ups and downs. From the jump, a wrist injury put him behind the eight ball with the Warriors. And while he was able to bounce back from that physically, he would appear in just 96 games total games for Golden State from 2010 to 2012 before getting dealt.

Dubs fans should probably be thanking him for his part in the trade, though. By sending Udoh to the Milwaukee Bucks at that time, the Warriors were able to acquire Andrew Bogut, who became the team’s starting pivot and played a key role in tipping off the dynastic era.

Udoh played with the Warriors, Bucks, LA Clippers and Jazz, as well as teams in Israel, Turkey, China, Italy and Japan, in his 13 years as a player.

B/R Is Selling the Warriors as an NBA Championship Bet

If one were to bet on the Warriors to win the 2023 NBA title at this point, they’d stand to win a bundle — the team is currently a +1200 pick (per FanDuel) to take top honors, which puts them firmly in the dark horse conversation.

For his part, though, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey is selling the Dubs as a club worth calling your bookie about. As the longtime hoops scribe sees it, the wave may have crested for the Bay Area crew:

Curry, Thompson and Green are all in their 30s now. Depth is critical for keeping a title window open for an older team like this, and that was already a big problem in 2022-23.

When at least two of the aforementioned starters were off the floor, Golden State’s net rating plummeted to minus-2.7. And no team is more in danger of losing depth as a result of the new collective bargaining agreement.

The Golden State Warriors may be just a year removed from their most recent NBA championship win but the club nonetheless finds itself stuck in that tier of teams just below the Association’s legitimate contenders (with no clear path toward bridging the gap).

On the one hand, the dynastic duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will be back in effect for 2023-24 — with Draymond Green expected by many to follow suit. On the other, the Warriors are faced with significant cap/tax blockades in improving their roster around that core in free agency, and they’re running light on tradeable assets, too.

Ultimately, the team’s best (only?) course of action may be to find a high-level vet who’s willing to sign on at a discounted rate. With that in mind, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski just namechecked Golden State as a potential destination for Chris Paul in the event that the future Hall of Famer finds his way out of Phoenix.

“If Chris Paul is out there as a free agent this summer, look at the two teams in LA — the Clippers and Lakers — the Knicks in New York, the Golden State Warriors,” Woj said on NBA Countdown over the weekend.

However, not everyone is buying that the respective parties are a match for one another.

B/R: Chris Paul Could Get More Money, Minutes Elsewhere Than With the Warriors

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz lent a discerning eye to the latest rumors from around the league in an attempt to seperate fact from fiction. In doing so, the analyst broke down Wojnarowski’s list of potential landing spots for Paul, appraising each one individually with a buy or sell declaration.

For those members of the Dub Nation citizenry hoping to see the 38-year-old end up in the Bay, Swartz’s assessment didn’t exactly inspire confidence in a potential partnership. He branded the CP3-to-GSW possibility as a hard sell:

The Knicks and Warriors don’t even have starting jobs for Paul, and moving across the country to New York and further from his family doesn’t seem appealing. San Francisco doesn’t get Paul any closer to Los Angeles, as it’s about the same distance away as Phoenix. The Warriors can only offer a veteran minimum deal as well.

There’s also a chance that CP3 isn’t the right fit for the Warriors.

Would Paul Be a Step in the Wrong Direction?

Last season, Paul averaged 13.9 points and 8.9 assists per contest while shooting 37.5% from three-point range and 48.5% on attempts from 10 feet away from the hoop out to just inside the arc.

While those numbers are enticing considering the Dubs’ offense generated a middling 110.9 points per 100 possessions during the playoffs (ninth-best out of 16 qualifiers), there’s a chance Paul wouldn’t actually be there to provide them. The baller was out for the last four games of the Suns’ playoff run in 2022-23 and has missed 40 regular-season games over the last two years.

And issues of durability don’t usually get sorted as a player gets closer to the big 4-0.

One also has to wonder whether the famously abrasive Paul would be the right personality to bring into a Warriors locker room that dealt with the Green-Jordan Poole altercation and griping youngsters in ’22-23.

Udonis Haslem — a 305 lifer and Heat cornerstone for two full decades — is officially riding off into the sunset after a career that saw him win three championship rings. And while his last contest didn’t end as he or anyone in South Florida had hoped, the 43-year-old was nonetheless overcome with feelings of gratitude during his postgame presser.

“Oh, man, honestly, I wanted to get the win, but I’m proud of my guys, proud of my team,” Haslem said. “I have no regrets. I just thanked those guys for giving me this amazing memory to take with me.

“So, I tell the guys, I have no complaints, I have no regrets. I’m thankful. They gave me a final season that I will never, ever forget. That’s all I can ask for.”

Udonis Haslem Still Thinking About the Heat Getting Back to the Promised Land Next Season

Haslem may have hit the NBA hardwood for the final time (after more than 1,000 combined regular season and playoff games), but the ex-baller still finds himself looking ahead to the Heat’s next attempt at capturing a title.

Specifically, he wants his teammates to bottle up the frustration they’re feeling amid the loss to the Nuggets and use it as fuel during the 2023-24 season.

“I’m already thinking about next year. My message to the guys was don’t forget about how you feel right now. Don’t forget everything they wrote about you. Don’t forget about everything they said about you,” Haslem said.

“Because for 20 years, I’ve been feeling the same way about the people who have been writing about me. For 20 years, I’ve been feeling the same way about the people that didn’t draft me. And for 20 years, I’ve been fighting the same battles. And what you see right now is the finished product, because I kept that chip on my shoulder.”

A Special Group

Despite the fact that the Heat were unable to finish the job against Nikola Jokic and Co., Haslem took pride in the fact that he and his teammates — many of whom were undrafted and/or unheralded upon entering the Association — were able to prove the doubters wrong in series after series.

Just as he had done throughout his career.

“This team, truly, truly, more so than any other team I’ve played for, just embodied who I am and what I stand for,” he said. “Not letting anybody pigeonhole you and tell you what you should be, taking that attitude that we can show you better than we can tell you, and literally once again just overcome obstacle after obstacle, getting knocked down and getting up and getting up and getting up.

“This team just embodies everything that I’ve been about for my 20 years, and I’m happy they got a little taste of what it feels like to be in the Finals. I told them they deserve it.”

The Miami Heat have officially shifted to do-or-die mode in their NBA Finals bout with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Entering Game 5 at Ball Arena on Monday night, Erik Spoelstra‘s squad finds itself in a 3-1 hole, having been outscored by 14.7 points per 100 possessions over the last two games (both losses).

However, the team may be getting some long-awaited help in righting the ship and, potentially, getting the series back to Miami for a sixth game.

Per a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, star guard Tyler Herro — who was upgraded to questionable on the latest official injury report — will attempt to make his return in the contest.

Added Woj: “The hope is that Herro doesn’t suffer a setback ahead of Game 5 and can still manage the discomfort in his right hand, sources said.”

Can Herro Really Help Het’s Scuffling Offense After Lengthy Absence?

Herro has been out of commission since Game 1 of Miami’s first-round series against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on April 16. The 23-year-old suffered a broken hand while diving for a loose ball and was ultimately forced to undergo surgery.

Afterward, the Heat gave an initial timeline of at least six weeks before a return would be possible.

On paper, Herro — who averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game and knocked down 37.8% of his three-point attempts arc during the regular season — is precisely the kind of player the Heat could use right now. The team has logged a paltry offensive rating of 103.3 and is 19-for-60 from deep over the last two games.

That said, it’s difficult to know what can reasonably be expected from the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year after a two-month absence.

For perspective, Herro was brought back for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics last season after having missed three straight games with a groin injury. He played all of seven minutes and missed both of his shot attempts in that contest, and the Heat ultimately lost by a 100-96 mark.

Elsewhere on the injury report, only Victor Oladipo (left knee surgery) is listed as out.

Max Strus Namechecked as Potential Free-Agent Overpay

One of the parties most responsible for Miami’s long-range shortfall against the Nuggets is Max Strus, who’s connecting at just a 19.2% rate from behind the arc during the Finals. However, the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent is nonetheless eyeing a major pay raise this summer.

As Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley sees it, whichever team ends up obliging him may end up regretting it:

His form looks pure, and he can heat up in a hurry, but he was also just a 35 percent shooter from distance this season. That’s a tick below league-average, which is hardly what you want to see from someone who’s essentially a shooting specialist. He hustles and competes defensively, but he isn’t an elite athlete nor much of an off-the-dribble creator.

If teams are paying him primarily for his shooting, they should be cautious of investing too much in a specialist. Modern teams might prioritize shooting now more than ever, but there haven’t exactly been great returns on the big deals given to Dāvis Bertāns or Strus’ teammate, Duncan Robinson. And both of those players, by the way, showed more promise from the perimeter than Strus has.

On the eve of Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals, a nonzero number of Miami Heat fans have probably begun thinking about the offseason and the campaign to come. Sure, the Heat have made a living out of defying the odds during their current playoff run, but overcoming a 3-1 deficit against a two-time league MVP is another beast entirely.

Miami’s wild march to the championship round notwithstanding, the club has some clear areas of shortfall on its roster; things that need to be sorted in order to avoid another bumpy ride next season.

As Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz sees it, the biggest hole in need of filling lies at the power forward position. And while the analyst opined that Kevin Love could be brought back as a “low-cost option,” he observed that the baller’s advancing age and inability to play heavy minutes probably preclude him from being the answer there.

Free-agent-to-be Kyle Kuzma, on the other hand, could be a difference-maker for the offensively-challenged Heat.

Kyle Kuzma Floated as Power Forward Target for the Heat

Jimmy Butler‘s offensive potency played a key role in getting the Heat to the Finals. With his overall production dipping slightly to 21.8 PPG and multiple teammates struggling against the Nuggets, though, the team has largely failed to keep pace with Nikola Jokic and Co.

Enter Kuzma, who Swartz sees as a possible catalyst for bigger and better things on that side of the ball:

Kuzma is coming off a career-high 21.1 points per game, giving Miami another go-to option on offense to complement Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. He brings the floor-spacing like Love and should be entering his prime at age 27.

The big hang-up here is the money. If Kuzma opts out of the final year of his current deal, he’ll undoubtedly command a salary in excess of $20 million per annum on the open market. That’s a figure the cash-strapped Heat can’t really pay out.

So, the best (only?) avenue toward bringing the playmaking big man to South Beach is pulling off some kind of trade. And the Heat would likely have to build an asset-laden package in order to get Kuzma’s current squad, the Washington Wizards, to play ball.

Could a Jae Crowder Reunion Be Miami’s Plan B?

Before he landed with the Milwaukee Bucks, there were rumblings that Jae Crowder could return to the team he helped get to the 2020 Finals. And Swartz sees logic in the Heat exploring a renewed partnership again this summer:

A reunion with Crowder should be considered, as the veteran forward was the starter on Miami’s 2020 run to the Finals as well. He started all 21 games that postseason for the Heat, chipping in 12.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and shooting 34.2 percent from three.

It’s worth noting, though, that Crowder is no spring chicken at almost 33, and he was essentially out of Milwaukee’s rotation by the postseason. So while there’s a level of familiarity there — and he would come significantly cheaper than Kuzma — the ex-Heat forward may not be enough of a needle-mover for the Heat at this juncture.

The Golden State Warriors find themselves in a place they’re venturing to for the first time since their dynastic run began nearly a decade ago. Specifically, they’re on the outside looking in at an NBA Finals matchup involving two other teams (in a year when they were more or less healthy for the title push).

Between the sharp regression and the advancing ages of core players Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the club is in clear need of some kind of switch-up this offseason.

Having said that, it’s difficult to discern whether the front office ought to be loading up for another title push in 2023-24 or making a radical shift toward whatever the next era of Dubs basketball is/will be.

With that being the case, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes just namechecked Golden State as one of five teams that are in the grips of an “identity crisis” heading into the summer. And, as Hughes sees it, there are significant hurdles in place where the Warriors finding themselves is concerned.

Uncertainty About the Warriors’ Future Filters Down From the Top

While the Steph-Klay-Dray core and head coach Steve Kerr are most credited for bringing four titles to the Bay between 2015 and now, president/GM Bob Myers was instrumental in bringing it all together.

So, as Myers’ tenure with the team will be ending in a matter of weeks, Hughes is of the belief that the path forward will be more perilous than it might have been:

The Warriors plan to keep winning as long as Stephen Curry is still a superstar, but Myers’ exit makes implementing that plan tricky. Draymond Green has a player option, Klay Thompson is eligible for an extension and Jordan Poole probably needs to be traded after a brutally poor postseason showing. Myers’ successor won’t have his institutional knowledge or [a] decade’s worth of emotional equity with the team’s most important figures.

Every negotiation just got thornier. Every tough conversation just got tougher.

It’s worth noting that Mike Dunleavy Jr., the odds-on favorite to take the baton from Myers, already has experience as the team’s assistant GM and a veteran of 15 seasons as a player. As the top decision-maker, though, he’d be an absolute newbie.

Dubs Face Tall Task in Rounding Out Steph Curry’s Supporting Cast

Given Curry’s apparent desire to go for the chip at least one more time — not to mention the fact that Green can make more money next season by opting in — staying in the title hunt makes sense as an objective for the Warriors.

Alas, surrounding the team’s top dogs with a championship-level supporting cast could prove difficult regardless of who’s calling the shots.

Writes Hughes:

Beyond the Green, Thompson and Poole-related issues that could fundamentally reshape the team, there’s also the matter of building a supporting cast while constrained by the second-apron tax penalties. The Warriors likely won’t have their taxpayer’s midlevel exception to use, and they’ll need to replace free-agent goners Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green.

The Warriors have been too good for too long to lose their sense of self entirely, but they’re going to look different next year. And for the first time in a decade, Myers won’t be the guy authoring the changes.

For the South Beach faithful, much of the enthusiasm that has been fostered by the Miami Heat‘s unlikely run to the 2023 NBA Finals dissipated on Friday night. Despite the fact that Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were limited in the damage they dealt, the Denver Nuggets still prevailed over Jimmy Butler and Co. by a 108-95 mark in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.

It’s not just fans that are grappling with the enormity of the job Miami now faces in overcoming the deficit. Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson said the Heat were a “disappointed” group in the wake of the loss. And head coach Erik Spoelstra was OK with his players being all up in their feels.

For the night, anyway.

“I told the guys, ‘Feel whatever you want to feel tonight. It’s fine. You probably shouldn’t sleep tonight any amount of time. I don’t think anybody will,'” Spoelstra relayed to reporters after the contest.

“We have an incredibly competitive group. We’ve done everything the hard way, and  that’s the way it’s going to have to be done right now, again.”

Heat’s Only Objective Now Is to Get the Series Back to Kaseya Center

Clearly, history is not in the Heat’s favor as a team that needs to win out in order to take the series. As ever, though, Spoelstra’s club won’t be concerning itself with the bigger picture. Right now, it’s all about the task that lies directly ahead; living to fight another day.

“All we are going to focus on is getting this thing back to the 305. Get this thing back to Miami,” Spoelstra said. “And things can shift very quickly.”

“It’s going to be a gnarly game in Denver that is built for the competitors that we have in our locker room. By the time we are getting on that plane, all we’re thinking about is get this thing back to Miami. We get an opportunity to play a super competitive game in a great environment. That’s going to be an awesome.”

Just getting Game 5 against a Nuggest team that’s 9-1 at home with a point differential of 10.4 this postseason will be tough. Alas, the Heat have battled adversity throughout the 2022-23 campaign and, to this point, it has largely brought out the best in them.

Said center Bam Adebayo: “Our whole season hasn’t been easy. We just seem like we just — we  won’t quit. And I feel like that’s what he means. We just will not quit.”

Jimmy Butler Isn’t Throwing in the Towel

For his part, Heat cornerstone Jimmy Butler has faith that his team can still hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. He knows full well, though, that some things will have to change in order for that to occur.

“Same thing it’s always been, it’s one game at a time. Now we are in a must-win situation every single game, which we’re capable of,” Butler told reporters. “Some correctable things we’ve got to do, but it’s not impossible. We’ve got to go out there and do it. We’ve got three to get.”

Entering an offseason that came much earlier than expected, the defending-champion Golden State Warriors are in clear need of additional support around their Stephen Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green core. And, surprisingly, the team may need more help on the offensive end than anywhere else.

During the postseason, the Dubs logged an offensive rating of 110.9 and an effective field-goal percentage of 52.5 (marks that ranked ninth and 10th out of 16 playoff teams, respectively). For comparison, Steph and Co. scored 114.5 points per 100 possessions with an eFG% of 56.1 during their 2022 title run.

As it happens a career 11.0-point scorer who has shot 40% or better from three in each of the last seven seasons is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and it just so happens that this sharpshooter already has a strong connection to the Warriors.

That player: Steph’s younger brother, Seth Curry.

On Thursday, the ballin’ brothers’ retired father, 16-year NBA vet Dell Curry, weighed in on the possibility that his sons could join forces while he was out promoting the American Century Golf Championship on Thursday.

Dell Curry Addresses the Idea that Steph & Seth Curry Could Reunite on the Warriors

While he opined that Seth and Steph teaming up in the Bay is likely a “longshot,” the elder Curry — who played in over 1,000 career games with five teams and sunk 1,245 triples along the way — stopped well short of closing the door on the idea.

“There’s always that possibility,” Dell Curry said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “The salary cap and all that is going to come into play. But I think that would be a good market for Seth as a shooter. We know how important threes are, and he’s one of the best in the league to do it.”

In 19.9 minutes per outing off the bench for the Brooklyn Nets this season, Seth Curry averaged 9.2 PPG and shot 40.5% from distance, and it’s not difficult to envision him contributing something similar in a Warriors uniform next year. As Dell Curry alluded to, though, there would be some serious financial hurdles to clear.

Assuming Green opts in for the final year of his deal, Golden State is looking at paying out something in the neighborhood of $200 million in salary in 2023-24. And when you factor in the stiff repeater tax penalties the club will have to pay, that number grows exponentially.

So, even a modest, fair-market deal for Seth Curry could end up costing the Warriors an incredible amount of money. That’s not the only thing standing in the way of a potential partnership, either.

Seth Curry May Not Be Interested in Joining His Superstar Brother

The Curry patriarch further noted that Seth may have some hang-ups about signing with his big brother’s team, saying: “I’m not sure what they think about it, especially Seth. Seth has always been a guy that wants to make his own way, write his own story, create his own narrative.”

This tracks with comments made by Seth Curry to NBC Sports Bay Area last summer:

You never know what the future holds. I wouldn’t be against it, but it’s definitely not my preferred choice to be on the same team as him — definitely right now. I also like competing against him and trying to beat the best.

Being a younger brother gave me another leg up and an edge to get to where I am today. I always had somebody that I was chasing to be as good as, or better than, in literally everything, not only just basketball.

Repeating is hard to do in the NBA — and in any professional sports league, really. However, it’s difficult to look back on the Golden State Warriors‘ 2022-23 season and not feel as though the club’s effort didn’t measure up to even the most conservative forecasts.

From the training camp scuffle between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole, to the team’s yearlong road woes to the failure of its young guns to meet the moment at times, nothing went according to the script that many expected the Warriors’ campaign to follow.

With that being the case, some have wondered whether the time may have come to start turning the page from the current dynastic era in order to build toward the next one. For his part, though, The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami doesn’t see it happening.

“I think the most likely scenario is that the Warriors keep most of this together for at least one more season. That’s what [Stephen] Curry wants. His opinion sort of matters,” he wrote in a June 7 mailbag column.

Kawakami: Warriors Not Looking to Become Sellers This Summer

Kawakami did make note of one scenario in which the Warriors might experience more turnover this offseason — specifically, Dubs ownership potentially moving to reduce the club’s mammoth luxury tax bill.

“If [Warriors owners Joe] Lacob and Peter Guber are determined to drop their financial commitment below $340 million or so, anything’s possible,” Kawakami wrote of the possibility that the Dubs could make significant moves this summer.

The team insider went so far as to suggest that former No. 7 overall pick Jonathan Kuminga could possibly be used to entice some other team into taking on some of the Warriors’ excess salary via trade. However, what could happen and what will happen are different things, in Kawakami’s eyes.

“But again, I don’t see that as a prime Warriors motivation right now,” he maintained. “They’ve got Curry. They’re likely to bring Draymond back. They’ve got Klay Thompson under contract for one more year. The strong lean will be to keep most of this together.”

All Signs Point to Dunleavy as Next GM?

Regardless of whether the Warriors decide to make significant changes to their roster or not, someone has to be making those calls from the top of the team’s front office. And while Lacob has stated that he’ll be taking his time in naming outgoing president/GM Bob Myers’ successor, Kawakami is of the opinion that he already has his man.

Namely, assistant GM and former 15-year player Mike Dunleavy Jr.

“If Lacob has a strong sense that it’s going to be Dunleavy, and I believe he does, there’s no rush on this,” Kawakami wrote. “Dunleavy’s been doing the day-to-day work already, he’s got Larry Harris, Shaun Livingston, Kirk and Kent Lacob and others to help out. Heck, Myers is still under contract for a few more weeks (until June 30) and can do some work, as Lacob pointed out last week.

“So the longer this goes, the likelier it is that Dunleavy will be eventually named GM.”

Despite the fact that their team fell short in Game 3 of its NBA Finals matchup with the Denver Nuggets (at home, no less), Miami Heat fans received a legitimate treat on Wednesday night.

For the first time since Round 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Heat’s OG — Udonis Haslem — made an appearance on the court.

It wasn’t the most memorable of his recent cameos; Haslem played all of 29 seconds at the end of the blowout loss, missing his only shot attempt. Nevertheless, the baller — who’s turning 43 on Friday — managed to make history as the oldest player ever to appear in a Finals game.

While that appearance clearly meant something to the Heat Nation citizenry, the players undoubtedly felt something, too. That includes Caleb Martin, who didn’t mince words when describing Haslem’s importance to him personally during Thursday’s media availability.

“He has meant everything to me,” Martin said of the 20-year veteran.

Heat’s Caleb Martin Elaborates on What Udonis Haslem Means to Him

There is, of course, some crossover to be found with Martin and Haslem, as both players entered the Association undrafted and largely unheralded. So, as he has worked to make himself as one of the game’s up-and-coming frontcourt players, the former has looked at the latter as an example; something to aspire to.

Not only that — Haslem has been there to help him along in his journey.

“He is on the Mount Rushmore of undrafted guys who have made a living in this league,” Martin said.

After four years at Florida, Haslem spent his first season as a baller-for-hire in the French LNB Pro A. The following year (2003-04), he caught on with the Heat, with whom he went on to appear in 879 games while averaging 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds nightly.

He also captured three NBA championship rings and earned more than $65 million.

“I’m so fortunate to have someone like him, to be under his wing and take advice from him and just learn from him. It’s been an honor, for sure, to be around him and to be able to learn from him. I’ve had a big-time luxury of having him on the team and being a part of this run.”

Haslem Intends to Stick Around as a Hands-On Minority Owner

While the Heat’s championship fate has yet to be decided, Haslem’s ultimate destination is already known. Title or no, the Miami lifer will be hanging up the high-tops once his team’s current run ends.

That’s not to say, though, that he’s parting ways with the franchise. Earlier this season, Haslem revealed that he’d like to remain in the mix as a hands-on member of the Heat’s ownership group.

Via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson:

My commitment, even though I’ll be retired, is to be here just as much as the players and the staff and be committed to the process of the future and winning… I look to take a path of ownership, but to be a working owner, not a guy who crosses his legs and sits on the sideline.

I want to be a guy that connects the dots between the locker room and front office, connects the dots between the front office and the owners. Sometimes you can miss things in those areas.

Returning home for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, the Miami Heat had a golden opportunity to take a commanding 2-1 lead in their championship showdown with the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had other plans, however.

Apparently, they had designs on making history en route to a course-correcting victory.

Jokic finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists and Murray notched 34 points, 10 boards and 10 dimes. As a result, the two-time league MVP and his flame-throwing running mate became the first teammates to log 30-point triple-doubles in any NBA game — regular season, playoffs, summer league, whatever.

In doing so, they led the Nuggets to a 109-94 win at Kaseya Center.

During his postgame presser, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra gave the two their roses. For his part, though, he was much more concerned about the things his team didn’t do during the game than anything that was happening on the other side.

Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra Sounds Off on His Team Losing Its Identity in Game 3 Loss

As good as Jokic and Murray are as individuals, Spoelstra believes that the two are made even better by their synergy together on the court.

“It’s a great duo,” Spoelstra told reporters. “Their games really complement each other. They have one guy that really can score in a lot of different ways and another guy who’s setting great screens or handoffs. And then, if the ball gets back to him, he can get a bunch of people involved.

“Certainly, at the beginning of the game, that kind of set the tone.”

Spoelstra was more troubled, though, by the Nuggets winning the in-game battles most associated with hustle, toughness and physicality; the things that are also most associated with the Heat and their much-ballyhooed culture.

“From there, we lost a lot of physical, 50/50 or ball in the air, ball on the floor battles throughout the course of the game at key moments,” Spoelstra said. “When the moments could have been swing moments, they were coming up with those plays.

“You have to expect there to be elite talent in the Finals and both those guys are elite-level talent. At our best version, we find ways to overcome that, make it tough on them and then, certainly, not lose the overwhelming majority of those physical battles … and that made it too much to overcome.”

Per NBA.com’s tracking data, the Nuggets were able to secure eight loose balls during the contest compared to just four for the Heat. Meanwhile, Denver dominated on the glass, outrebounding Miami 58-33, and contested more shots overall (59-48) defensively.

“When we lose a lot of those physical battles — the effort plays, the loose balls, the rebounding battles — that’s our identity and, sometimes, that can affect the flow of the rest of your game.”

Nuggets Coach Michael Malone Speaks Out on His Stars Shining

As Nuggets coach Michael Malone sees it, it was business as usual for Jokic amid Denver’s Game 3 win.

“Regarding Nikola, nothing he does surprises me ever. This guy has shown time and time again that he’s built for these moments. He thrives in these moments — the biggest stage — and he did that once again tonight,” Malone said.

Murray was another matter entirely — and in the best possible way for the Nuggets.

“Jamal, I’m really proud of,” Malone said. “I could tell speaking to him yesterday, being around him the last 48 hours, that he was putting a lot of [Denver’s Game 2 loss] on him and it wasn’t just him — it was me and every one of our players. It was collective. But that’s what champions do. That’s what warriors do. They battle back and I just felt his presence all game long.”

After a rough shooting night in the opener of the 2023 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat got back to their surprising net rippage in Game 2. Erik Spoelstra‘s squad, which ranked 27th league-wide in three-point shooting during the regular season (with a 34.4% conversion rate) connected on 17 of its 35 tries from deep en route to a series-tying win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

Still, no one would argue that the Heat couldn’t benefit from having some additional firepower as the championship bout reconvenes in South Beach. Alas, they’ll have to wait for another game at the absolute minimum to get it.

Tyler Herro — who averaged 20.1 points per game and hit pay dirt on 37.8% of his tries from behind the arc during the regular season — has been ruled out as a participant in Game 3, per the latest official injury report.

Herro hasn’t appeared in a game for Miami since the club’s first playoff contest against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 16, during which he suffered a broken right hand.

Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra Doesn’t Have Any New Info on Tyler Herro’s Return Date

When Herro first suffered his injury, he was given a timeline of at least six weeks before a comeback would be possible. As such, many assumed that his season had reached its end. Flash forward to now and the Heat’s surprising Finals run has opened the door for 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year to jump back into the fray.

However, Spoelstra doesn’t have any information on when (or if) that will actually come to pass. He doesn’t have much say in the matter, either.

“We’re taking it one day at a time,” Spoelstra told reporters on Tuesday, via ESPN. “I know that sounds like a cliche. He did the practice with the group. He is going to do a full-contact workout after this. We’ll evaluate that. We’ll meet with the training staff later on today and probably [on Wednesday, when Game 3 will take place] and we’ll just continue this process.

“He has not been cleared yet, so that’s where we are. But we’re encouraged by the work that he’s been doing.”

Elsewhere on the injury report, big man Cody Zeller (right foot sprain) has been downgraded from available to probable. Victor Oladipo remains out after undergoing left knee surgery.

Jimmy Butler Makes Big-Time Bam Adebayo Declaration

Jimmy Butler‘s individual excellence has been perhaps the key factor in the Heat’s ability to score series upset after series upset in this year’s playoffs. But if his team is to finish the job against the Nuggets, he believes that Bam Adebayo’s ability to cope with two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic will be the primary determinant.

“Bam’s been playing incredibly well this entire playoffs — for sure this series — and this one, he got the toughest matchup by far on the defensive side of the ball,” Butler told reporters of Adebayo’s battle with Jokic.

“He plays with so much energy, he never takes a possession or a play off. So you gotta really respect him for that. And then on the offense end, he’s doing everything for us. So we need him to continue to be that. He has been there for us all year long, and like I said, he’s going to be the reason why we win a championship.”

Adebayo finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks in Game 2.

Before the Golden State Warriors go about the business of bolstering their roster for a title push next season, the team needs clarity on a couple of its current players. In particular, four-time All-Star Draymond Green and backup guard Donte DiVincenzo have player options on their deals for the 2023-24 campaign.

Even if both players end up opting in, though, the Dubs will still have incurred a significant loss heading into the summer, as team president/GM Bob Myers is set to part ways with the club when his contract ends on June 30.

For his part, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is already feeling the loss.

“[Coaching is] a collaboration. Bob is a huge part of the collaboration, and he and I have been partners in this thing for nine years,” Kerr said on the latest episode of Green’s podcast.

“He hired me, he was here before I was. I don’t know what it’s going to be like without him. There’s already a really hollow feeling just knowing he’s not going to be in the building every day.”

Steve Kerr Breaks Down Bob Myers Impact on the Warriors & Himself

The Dub Nation citizenry is already feeling anxiety over the idea that Myers won’t be in the mix on future personnel dealings, and Kerr gave them more reasons to feel that way during his pod appearance.

As he sees it, Myers’ impact on the organization went well beyond its entries into the NBA’s transaction log.

“There’s so much more that goes into being a general manager than just making draft picks and signing free agents,” Kerr said. “You’re literally managing everybody in the organization from day to day, and Bob’s a master.

“He has an incredible way of making people feel good about themselves and yet making people feel accountable at the same time, and making people want to do their best — not for him, but for the group and for yourself.”

Over their nine years together — during which the Warriors secured seven playoff berths, six Finals appearances and four championships — Myers’ competitive drive was a key point of inspiration for Kerr and his players.

“He’s constantly challenging all of us to be our best, but without sort of putting pressure on us, if that makes sense. He’s got an amazing way about him.”

Myers Believes That Mike Dunleavy Jr. Can Have Success in the GM Role

Per reporting from The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania last month, Warriors assistant GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. is viewed as a “natural successor” to Myers. And after 15 years in the Association as a player, plus five more as a scout and front office exec with the Dubs, he definitely has the resume for it.

Asked whether he had hired and developed Dunleavy to one day replace him, Myers had this to say:

“Mike’s great. He’s as good a GM as I — if he wants it, he’ll be great, if that’s what he wants. But that’s his call, [Warriors owner Joe Lacob’s] call. It’s not my call,” Myers said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. “If that’s what he wants to do, he’ll be great. He knows more about basketball than I do.”

While the Miami Heat dropped Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets by double digits — and trailed for almost the entirety of the contest — there’s reason to believe that Jimmy Butler‘s crew will make a bigger push for the win in Game 2.

After all, the Heat will be coming in with an additional day of rest, and they’ll also be an additional day removed from traveling to Denver. Moreover, there’s optimism that the club will be able to improve upon its 40.6% conversion rate from the field (and 33.3% from three-point land) in Game 1.

Having said that, there’s a chance that Miami may have to sharpen its perimeter attack without one of the breakout performers of the current postseason in forward Caleb Martin.

Per the latest official injury report, Martin is questionable to participate in Game 2 due to illness.

Caleb Martin Did Not Attend the Heat’s Saturday Practice

Although he struggled mightily in the series opener against Nikola Jokic and Co., missing six of his seven field-goal attempts and scoring just three points (while logging a minus-10 in the plus/minus column), the Heat probably wouldn’t be where they are right now without Martin’s contributions on the offensive end.

During the Heat’s series-clincher over the Boston Celtics back on May 29, the 27-year-old scored 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting overall and 4-of-6 from behind the arc. In 19 total appearances in the current playoffs, Martin is averaging 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 54.9% from the floor and 44.0% from deep.

Per an announcement from the team on Saturday morning, Martin wasn’t even in attendance for practice due to his illness, leading to his questionable status.

With Martin potentially on the shelf as the Heat try to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole, one cannot help but wonder whether high-scoring guard Tyler Herro could make his return to the court on Sunday. For his part, though, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had little to say about the baller’s progression toward a comeback.

Erik Spoelstra Sounds Off on a Potential Tyler Herro Return

Asked whether we might see Herro — who averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game with 44-38-93 shooting splits during the regular season — could be back in the mix for Game 2, Spoelstra refrained from offering any kind of update.

“The status has not changed yet,” Spoelstra said during his Saturday session with reporters, via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I’m not trying to be elusive about that. I don’t know where that report came out that he was playing Game 2 … All we are focused on right now is his process, continuing to do work and get prepared. Whenever that timeline is, where he’s ready to go, I’ll let you know.”

Herro has missed virtually all of Miami’s unlikely playoff run, having suffered a broken hand during Game 1 of the team’s first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, an injury that ultimately required surgery.

“We’re doing this game-by-game,” Spoelstra added regarding the team’s approach with Herro. “I’ll let you know [Sunday]. The status hasn’t changed. You can read into that.”

Jonathan Kuminga may be the most tantalizing prospect on the Golden State Warriors in terms of sheer star potential, but the former No. 7 overall pick may not yet be ready for primetime. Kuminga was an afterthought during the Dubs’ ill-fated playoff run, logging a combined 61 minutes across two rounds of play.

There were also times during the regular season when head coach Steve Kerr wasn’t showing much faith in him, despite Kuminga having entered the campaign with the expectation of taking on a larger role.

On the other end of the spectrum, former No. 14 overall pick Moses Moody was solidly in the rotation for the Warriors as they battled for their postseason lives last month. Over his final five postseason appearances, he logged 18.0 minutes nightly and averaged 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 72.7% from three-point range.

That late-season evolution prompted Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale to namecheck Moody as one of a handful of ballers who “can thrive in bigger roles” in 2023-24.

B/R: Moses Moody Is Ready to Take His Game to a Higher Level for the Warriors

As Favale sees it, Moody’s late-playoff jump wasn’t the destination for the 6-foot-6 wing — it was the jumping-off point for what could go down as an impressive career as a two-way contributor:

Next year should mark a coming-out party for the 21-year-old Moody. He has shown the ability to knock down triples—44 percent on above-the-break looks this year—and visibly improved his floor navigation away from the ball.

His defense is trending up, particularly on-ball, and promises matchup malleability. Golden State has predominantly rolled him out against off-guards and movement shooters, but he sponged up more reps at the point of attack and against bigger forwards in the playoffs.

Getting regular reps (especially in pressure situations) is an essential ingredient to any youngster’s growth in the Association, and that definitely applies to Moody here. Kerr may not have much choice but to boost the Arkansas product’s minute allotment, either:

Guaranteeing Moody more than 13 minutes per game is an obligation. It’s also a necessity. Donte DiVincenzo (player option) is almost certainly leaving in free agency, Klay Thompson isn’t getting any younger (33), and the Warriors won’t have the mid-level exception this summer.

Golden State needs an every-night staple to emerge from its own ranks. Moody is ready.

Ex-Warriors Forward Re-Ups in South Korea

The 2019-20 campaign became a lost season for the Warriors amid Stephen Curry‘s broken hand, Thompson’s ACL tear and Kevin Durant‘s decision to leave the club and sign with the Brooklyn Nets. However, multiple lesser-known players took advantage of those absences by showcasing their games in increased roles.

That includes forward Omari Spellman, who averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per contest and connected on 39.1% of his three-point attempts. His biggest contribution, though, may have been serving as part of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ compensation in the Andrew Wiggins trade.

Spellman hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since he was shipped out of the Bay, but his hardwood journey continues nonetheless. The 25-year-old helped Anyang KGC win the Korean Basketball League championship last season and it looks as though he’ll shoot for the back-to-back win next season.

Per an announcement on the team’s Facebook page earlier this week, Spellman has reached an agreement with Anyang KGC to return for 2023-24.

In 62 games with the club in 2022-23, Spellman averaged 19.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest and shot 35.7% from deep.

For a player who had some people concerned about the state of his knees — and equally concerned about the state of his mammoth contract — Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine did well to quiet the chatter with a killer back half of the season.

During the stretch running from January 6 to the Bulls’ 2022-23 finale, the two-time All-Star averaged a team-best 26.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game and shot 50.6% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range.

Even in those games, though, the Bulls’ differential of 2.9 points per 100 possessions when LaVine was on the court improved to 5.2 points/100 poss. when he sat. And, much as he has throughout his career, LaVine posted an unimpressive net rating for the entire season (0.3). As ever, there are clear trade-offs in play with him.

So, reports indicating there were LaVine-centric discussions between the Bulls and the New York Knicks around the trade deadline shouldn’t be a shocker. And the 28-year-old’s name could always come up again this summer.

For their part, the folks at Bleacher Report just pitched a trade turning LaVine into pieces to jumpstart the full-on rebuild that many feel is long overdue.

Proposed Deal Swaps Bulls Star Zach LaVine for Young Players & Picks

For a Thursday feature collecting trade ideas for every team not currently competing in the NBA Finals, B/R’s Greg Swartz floated the following LaVine deal for the Orlando Magic:

• Chicago Bulls receive G Jalen Suggs, SG Gary Harris, PF Jonathan Isaac, 2023 first-round pick (No. 11 overall), 2025 first-round pick (lottery-protected)
• Orlando Magic receive SG Zach LaVine

And while the pitch was made with the Magic in mind, the hoops scribe made a case for the Bulls’ side of the equation, too.

If the Bulls decide to rebuild, flipping LaVine for young talent and draft picks is one of the first steps.

Suggs, 21, was the No. 5 overall pick in 2021 and would immediately slide into LaVine’s old starting spot. Harris is a reliable 3-and-D wing and Isaac is still only 25 after missing most of the past three seasons with injuries.

Chicago gets its own first-round pick back this year (11th overall) and a future pick from Orlando as well.

In 52 games for the Magic in ’22-23, Suggs averaged 9.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 41.9% from the floor and 32.7% from deep.

While his offense is still coming along, Suggs is already an asset defensively. His 3.7 deflections per 36 minutes were tied for the 10th most in the Association and opponents’ conversion rates dropped by an average of 1.0% on attempts that saw him as the closest defender

Harris, meanwhile, logged an 8-2-1-1 line and connected on a career-high 43.1% of his triples. Isaac appeared in just 11 games before a torn left adductor ended his year.

Of course, that might not be enough — even with the picks — to pry LaVine from Chicago. But if you’re concerned about his defensive shortcomings, knees or deal, this trade would be one way to take a mulligan.

Bulls Plan Predraft Workout With First-Team All-ACC Pick: Report

The Bulls may not have a pick in the 2023 NBA Draft currently, but the team’s front office is nonetheless doing its due diligence on prospects. Per a Friday report from Chicago reporter Daniel Greenberg, the team has scheduled a predraft workout with one of last season’s best college point guards.

Namely, Wake Forest floor general and first-team All-ACC selection Tyree Appleby.

Although Appleby is small by modern NBA standards at 6-foot-nothing and 175 pounds, Greenberg notes that he’s “considered the fastest point guard in the draft.” Over 33 games with the Demon Deacons last season, Appleby averaged 18.8 points, 6.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per contest.

One person who’s undoubtedly rooting for the Heat to get things back on track in Game 2 is Goran Dragic, who spent parts of seven seasons with the club from 2015 to 2021.

Although Dragic’s own title pursuit was ended at the Heat’s hands amid the team’s Round 1 upset of his top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks several weeks ago, the 37-year-old’s heart (and all of the rest of him, actually) still resides in the 305.

So, it should come as no surprise, really, that when Dragic was asked on Friday about a potential return to the Heat for his hardwood swan song, the 2018 All-Star was all about the idea.

Goran Dragic Sounds Off on the Possibility of Finishing His Career With the Miami Heat

Dragic joined AM 560 Sports’s Brendan Tobin and Leroy Hoard on the morning after the Heat’s Game 1 loss to talk about the team and its Finals matchup. During the segment, Dragic was asked point blank if he had any designs on finishing his career with the Heat.

This was his response:

“I live here,” Dragic said. “My kids are here. So, definitely, if I’m looking to finish my career, it would be a no-brainer to finish in Miami. This is my home. I spent an unbelievable seven years here. I love all the players, all people in the front office, Coach O (Octavio De La Grana), Coach Spo (Erik Spoelstra), Coach Quinny (Chris Quinn). I mean, those guys give me everything.

“This is the city that I see myself in the future, so hell yeah, why not?”

There had been rumblings of a possible reunion during buyout season. In the end, though, Dragic — who had been bought out by the Chicago Bulls — chose the Bucks. The Heat, meanwhile, acquired Kevin Love and Cody Zeller.

Dragic Is No Longer the Player Who Helped the Heat Reach the Finals in 2020

After his forced exit from the Heat (via the trade that completed Kyle Lowry’s move to the team), Dragic had a weird 2021-22 season that saw him get sidelined in Toronto, then dealt to the Spurs (who bought him out) and, finally, signed for a cup of coffee with the Brooklyn Nets.

Seeking a fresh start and an opportunity to play in 2022-23, he inked a deal with the Bulls last summer. And while he got off to a strong start in the Windy City, Artusas Karnisovas had no qualms about paying him to go seek a new job elsewhere by midseason.

In 51 games with the Bulls, he averaged 6.4 points and 2.7 assists in just 15.4 minutes per game.

Upon joining the Bucks, he was immediately ushered to the end of the bench. He appeared in all of seven regular-season games and just two postseason bouts for Milwaukee.

It’s incredible to think that, just a handful of weeks ago, the Chicago Bulls nearly blocked the Miami Heat from advancing to the playoffs. On Thursday night, that same Heat team will go toe-to-toe with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals.

And while the Bulls were forced to take an early summer vacation, fans can find solace in the fact the former Windy City hero Jimmy Butler is getting another opportunity to capture that elusive championship ring. They can also cheer for Hickory Hills product Max Strus, who’s joining Butler and the rest of the South Beach crew in the title push.

For his part, Strus is overjoyed to be sharing in Butler’s championship quest.

“When I was a kid growing up in Chicago, him and Derrick Rose were my favorite players to watch,” Strus said recently on NBC Sports Chicago’s Football Night in Chicago. “To be able to be on his team and share this journey of his career has been nothing short of astonishing. Just so happy to be here and so happy to help him.”

Max Strus Is Confident in Ex-Bull Jimmy Butler’s Ability to Keept It Rolling

Although his shot has faltered at times during his last several playoff appearances, Butler’s overall performance during the postseason has been top notch. Entering Game 1 of the Finals, the six-time All-Star was averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game with 48-36-81 shooting splits.

As Strus sees it, Butler’s success is well-earned, and the fourth-year wing expects to see more of the same as the Heat compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

“Honestly, he deserves it,” Strus said of Butler. “He deserves to be here and he deserves everybody shining a light his way. He’s a special player in this league. He’s carried us to this point and will continue to do that.”

Strus, meanwhile, has had a relatively productive playoff run, too. Coming into the Finals, he was averaging 10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest with 45-36-81 shooting splits.

B/R’s Eric Pincus Picks Heat to Win the Title

The fact that the Heat have even made it to this point feels like fantasy; the team entered the playoffs as an eighth seed and has been hit with multiple key injuries over the course of its playoff run. Consequently, the smart money says that the club’s luck is about to run out.

There are some people, though, who believe Butler and his cohorts have a little bit of magic left in them.

In Bleacher Report‘s Finals predictions feature, nearly all of the outlet’s hoops scribes picked the Nuggets to emerge as the victors in the best-of-seven series. Eric Pincus, however, offered a dissenting opinion, picking Miami to shock the world one more time:

Miami should be tired, fresh off a Game 7, but the Nuggets are at a disadvantage with a long layoff since the Western Conference Finals.

Look for Miami to get Game 1 and put Denver on its heels early in the series. That’s not to suggest the Nuggets will go down easily; this will be a dogfight. The team’s starting five is fantastic, but Jimmy Butler has willed his team this far.

Picking against Miami has been a losing effort all postseason.

Heat in six.

It’s a time of incredible change for the Golden State Warriors as team president and GM Bob Myers, the architect behind the team’s dynastic run, is officially stepping down when his contract reaches its end on June 30. Not only that, the team is also in clear need of a roster remix behind its Stephen Curry-led core.

Up until now, owner Joe Lacob has been willing to pay a premium to keep the Warriors at a championship level. However, fans and pundits alike have wondered whether that will continue to be the case with the NBA‘s new collective bargaining agreement with the players allowing for stiffer penalties against overspending clubs.

Lacob attempted to lay concerns about the Warriors’ spending power and their ability to keep things rolling to rest on Tuesday as he and Myers met with reporters.

“We are going to win no matter what,” Lacob said regarding the CBA’s new provisions. “I don’t care what the rules are. We are going to figure out a way to do it. That’s what good organizations do. They figure out a way to win the game. And our game is to win games and to win championships.”

New CBA Will Restrict the Tools the Warriors Have to Acquire New Players

An important tweak to the salary cap/tax structure established by the revised CBA was the addition of second “apron” beyond the luxury tax line. The new threshold has been set at $17.5 million above the tax mark (a number that the Dubs will fly right by next season), and teams that operate above it will be limited in a number of ways from a roster-building standpoint.

In addition to incurring a harsher luxury tax in that zone, a team in the Warriors’ position would also lose access to the taxpayer midlevel exception. As noted by ESPN, Golden State would not have been able to add Donte DiVincenzo last offseason if the new rule had been in place at the time.

Moreover, upper-spending-limit teams will face restrictions in adding players who are waived in-season, which could prevent the Warriors from being serious players on the buyout market. These clubs will also have stricter requirements to meet when matching salaries in trades.

Despite these new hurdles, Lacob is committed to keeping the Warriors’ championship train on its tracks.

“Look, the rules will change in the game, but we’ll continue to do that. We are going to work really hard to do it, and I think we have really smart people. We’ll do it,” he promised.

Tom Tolbert Sounds Off on Myers’ Best Trait as Warriors President/GM

While Lacob has made it clear that he intends to keep things running at a high level sans Myers, the exec’s departure looms large. As former baller turned KNBR/Dubs broadcaster Tom Tolbert sees it, Myers’ ability to coordinate and communicate with a variety of different people took him to a higher level as a GM.

“Bob was kind of like the oil in the engine. He’s the viscosity. He kept things moving. He was able to keep all the different engine parts moving in different parts of the engine just because of that viscosity. He had the ability to work as well up as he did down [and] side to side,” Tolbert said on Tuesday.

“He just knew people. He knew how to communicate. I mean, obviously, he’s really bright and he knows his stuff. There’s a lot of guys that are really bright. There’s a lot of
guys that know their stuff. There’s a lot of guys that don’t, too, but he knows people.

“Bob had the ability to communicate. He had the ability to communicate with ownership. He had the ability to communicate with his staff. He had the ability to  communicate with the business side of the staff. He had the ability to communicate with Steve [Kerr] and his staff. And then all the players … he had the ability to communicate with them.”

As a result, they have officially punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the second time since 2020 and the sixth time in the last 13 seasons.

Despite the fact that Miami entered postseason play as the East’s No. 8 seed, Butler was more than confident in his team’s ability to get back to the promised land. He famously predicted that the Heat would advance to 2023’s title round in the immediate aftermath of last year’s ill-fated conference finals bout with the Celtics.

And, more recently, tennis star Coco Gauff revealed that he was promising people Finals tickets before the Heat had even secured their playoff spot.

Coco Gauff Says That Jimmy Butler Offered Her & Her Family Finals Tickets Several Weeks Ago

After a come-from-behind victory over Spain’s Rebeka Masarova in Round 1 of the French Open on Tuesday, the 19-year-old Gauff — a Delray Beach native — said that Butler had invited her to attend some of the Heat’s early playoff games as his guest. When she responded that she was going to be too busy with tennis tournaments, he came back with an incredibly bold second offer.

“I said, ‘I won’t be here. I’ll be in Madrid and then Rome and then France,'” Gauff recalled. “And then he said, ‘OK, when we make the Finals, let me know if your family wants some tickets.’ So, this was before we were even in the playoffs.”

Based on that exchange alone, Gauff became emboldened as a Heat fan amid the team’s unlikely playoff run.

“Everybody is like, ‘We have a 3% chance of making the Finals, but when he sent me that, I knew we were making the Finals, because he didn’t say, ‘if we make the Finals’ — he said, ‘when we make the Finals.’

“I was like, ‘Oh, we’re going. We’re going to the Finals,'” Gauff said. “So that’s my Jimmy Butler story. He pretty much said we were going to the Finals before we even qualified for the playoffs, and I just really like that mentality.”

Gauff Is Looking to Finish the Job at This Year’s French Open After Losing in the Final Last Year

Just as the Heat are trying to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy again after coming up just short of the goal line in recent years, Gauff is trying to improve upon her final-round loss to Polish star and current world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the 2022 French Open.

As she progresses through the competition, though, she’s doing her best to stay focused on what’s ahead of her as opposed to worrying about what happened last year (or even last set).

“At first, I was like, ‘I have to match last year’s result, blah, blah, blah, Or do better.’ [But] that was last year. I’m like, ‘It’s over. What can I do about it?’ … With the first set [during her win on Tuesday], it’s over,” Gauff said. “Like, ‘What can I do about it?’ You have the choice to dwell on it or reset, and I chose to reset.”

Gauff’s singles tournament will continue on Thursday when she squares off against Julia Grabher of Austria in the second round.

With the Boston Celtics having ceded Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat amid a shockingly uninspired effort on Monday, we’re officially heading into the 2023 NBA Finals with a fresh pair of teams. Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green is over the moon about the ECF result.

Although the four-time All-Star would probably prefer to be in the Finals himself right now, the fact that the Celtics won’t be there is apparently Green’s ultimate consolation prize.

“Boston Celtics fans will make excuses and I ain’t hearing none of that because y’all are rude and I’m happy y’all lost,” Green declared on the latest episode of his podcast. “Not happy [Jayson Tatum] lost but Boston Celtics fans — especially those of you that are in that arena — I’m happy y’all lost.

“Because … like stop being who you are … Like, stop being the way y’all are … At some point, you just can’t be that way.”

There’s No Love Lost Between the Warriors’ Draymond Green & Celtics Fans

Green has more reason than most to be rooting against the Celtics — or, more specifically, their fans. In a November interview with Complex, the baller alleged that there were people in the TD Garden crowd who hurled racial slurs in his direction during the 2022 Finals between Golden State and Boston.

Going beyond his personal history with the team and its supporters, though, Green made it clear that he simply wasn’t a believer in the Celtics this postseason.

“The Boston Celtics are who we thought they were,” Green opioned. “They got to the moment and they did not look like they were ready for the moment. All of a sudden, all the shots were short again. All of a sudden, they looked like they couldn’t play basketball with their left hand again. All of a sudden, they looked like exactly who we thought they were.

“So, let’s think about this. Like, if you think back through the series, every game that mattered … they actually lost. And, quite frankly, they won [Game 6] on like a garbage buzzer-beater at the last second. Giving Derrick White credit, like, he made the play. That’s how the cookie crumbles sometimes. But, like … they gave that game away.”

Over the final two games of the Heat-Celtics affair, the Beantowners shot 16-for-77 from three-point range.

B/R: Green’s ‘Portability’ Could Be an Issue as Player Option Looms

While he’ll earn more than $27.5 million next season if he ends up exercising the player option on his contract for 2023-24, there’s at least a chance that Green has already played his last game as a member of the gold and blue crew.

If he does decide to test the free agent waters, though, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey wonders whether he’ll have the same kind of impact in a different situation, questioning Green’s “portability” to other teams.

Wrote Bailey:

Draymond Green checks so many boxes. His versatile, tough-minded defense and rebounding should all travel well (assuming he travels at all). But he’s also spent his entire career with the greatest shooter of all time and another player who’s probably top five on that list. By merely being on the floor, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson give Green an amount of operating space that he almost certainly wouldn’t get anywhere else. What happens to his playmaking in a different situation?

The 2023 NBA Finals have yet to tip off but the Golden State Warriors are in full-on offseason mode. The team has already brought multiple prospects in for predraft workouts and is undoubtedly breaking down contingency plans in the event that Draymond Green doesn’t exercise his player option for 2023-24, too (among other things).

However, the top line item on the Warriors’ summer agenda is arguably the contract situation of team president and GM Bob Myers.

With just over a month remaining until his current deal ends — and no extension in place — the club and the Dub Nation citizenry are both faced with the very real possibility that Myers’ run may be reaching its end.

For his part, longtime league insider Marc Stein just made a prediction about what Myers will do. And for fans banking on owner Joe Lacob to keep the band together, it’s not the sort of prediction they’ll want to hear.

Stein: Warriors President Bob Myers Likely to Walk Away

Stein issued his proclamation about Myers’ future in the May 29 issue of his Substack newsletter. As the hoops scribe sees it, the 48-year-old could announce his decision to step down from his role as the Warriors’ chief decision-maker as early as this week.

“It’s believed that Myers doesn’t want to sit down at an interview podium until his decision about staying with the Warriors or walking away from his post is both made and ready to be shared with the public,” Stein wrote.

“We could have clarity as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, since Myers is expected to convene soon with Bay Area reporters who regularly cover the team. My prediction as of the weekend: I think this is it. I sense Myers is poised to walk away from the lucrative offer Warriors owner Joe Lacob has put on the table.

“As we’ve covered in multiple recent pieces: Myers wouldn’t be exiting over money. It’s because he wants a break.”

Myers has been part of Golden State’s front office since 2011 when he joined the franchise as assistant GM. He was promoted to GM just a year later and, alongside head coach Steve Kerr (who he himself hired), he has shaped the Warriors’ dynasty with his maneuvering.

Earlier this month, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported that the agent-turned-exec could get a deal worth as much as $10 million per annum to remain at the helm of the Dubs.

Steve Kerr Has Made It Known That He Wants Myers Back

Kerr can be counted among those hoping that Myers and the Warriors come to some kind of resolution in their contract discussions. As the team’s play-caller sees it, Myers’ contributions go well beyond the nuts and bolts of making personnel decisions.

“I can tell you without a doubt everybody wants him back,” Kerr told The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami in March. “Bob is amazing at his job. His job goes so much further than just drafting or signing players or trading for players. It’s the overall management of the organization.

“The way he helps me navigate the season through his communication with our players is so valuable for me.”