Category: NBA

It's another edition of Knicks' Mailbag with SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley ready to answer your questions surrounding the Knicks. Let's get started.

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What are the plans at backup point guard when Brunson sits? Will it be by committee with McBride, Hart, and Clarkson handling the ball? Do you think Kolek is ready for a consistent role off the bench, or is he going to ride the pine again this year? - @ctorres04

Based on the moves they’ve made so far, it looks like Tyler Kolek will be outside of the Knicks’ rotation to start the season. 

New York already has a nine-man rotation: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, Josh Hart, Jordan Clarkson, Guerschon Yabusele, Miles McBride. 

Unless head coach Mike Brown wants to play 10 every night, there doesn’t seem to be a rotation spot for Kolek at the moment. 

Also, the Knicks have enough money for one veteran minimum contract and one rookie contract before they reach the second apron. They have been in touch with players who can fill a backup guard role in free agency. So if they add a backup guard with that final roster spot, it would potentially clog a pathway for Kolek. 

Who might the Knicks sign with that veteran’s minimum deal? They have continued to touch base with Ben Simmons during the free agency period. I’m sure they have touched base with other vets as well. Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook are among the lead guards still on the market. Teams are wondering if Washington will agree to a buyout with veteran guard Marcus Smart. For what it’s worth, the Knicks don’t seem to be exclusively focused on ball-handling guards with that last spot. New York still sees Landry Shamet as a possibility and Shamet remains open to returning to New York.  

What’s Brown’s plan to have Brunson do less without sacrificing offensive efficiency? - @ShemiRock

A great question. Brown didn’t delve into specifics during his introductory press conference this week. But we know that Brown viewed James Borrego as a target for the top assistant spot on his staff. Borrego isn’t available (he will remain in New Orleans), but Brown’s interest in Borrego suggests he is open to an offense that’s well-spaced and features a high level of ball and player movement. 

If the Knicks go this way on offense, it’s logical to think that Brunson will have the ball in isolation a little less often. It’s worth noting that Hart, Bridges and others handled the ball at times last season when Brunson was on the floor. Maybe you see Brunson off the ball more regularly under Brown. Or maybe the ball/player movement organically leads to less of a workload for Brunson. Either way, it’s an interesting topic to monitor early in Brown’s Knick tenure. 

Presumably, Mike Brown has his "guys". Assistants he coached with when he was an assistant and his assistants when he was a HC. I know 2 of his Sac assistants are now HCs but, whether it's the lead assistant or otherwise, isn't it very common to have your guys on your staff? - @CAPTAINPEARLNYK

It is common to have your ‘guys’ on your coaching staff. Brown will make at least one significant addition to his staff when he adds an associate head coach. I still expect that there will be holdovers from last year on Brown’s staff (Rick Brunson, Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks and Darren Erman). But Brown was told during the interview process that he’d have full autonomy to hire his own staff. Of course, it’s naïve to think that he would include all four coaches if he had a blank slate to work with.

But if the coaches mentioned above are on his staff, it will be because he ultimately chose to keep them.

3 observations after Sixers get blown out to start their Las Vegas summer league originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers never flirted with a win Thursday night in their first game at the Las Vegas summer league.

The Spurs jumped out to a giant lead and never looked back in a 111-70 blowout victory.

San Antonio’s David Jones Garcia scored 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting in 18 minutes. 

VJ Edgecombe (left thumb sprain) was out and is set to be re-evaluated on Saturday. No. 2 pick Dylan Harper sat for the Spurs with a groin injury. 

Next up for the Sixers is a Saturday night meeting with the Hornets. Here are observations on their Vegas opener: 

Former summer Sixer lights it up 

The Sixers started with Judah Mintz, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Justin Edwards, Dominick Barlow and Adem Bona.

Edwards hit an early catch-and-shoot three-pointer. Other than that, the Spurs had complete control in the first quarter.

Jones Garcia, who signed a two-way contract with the Sixers last July and played on their summer league team, poured in 11 quick points. The lefty wing’s third long-range jumper gave San Antonio an 18-4 lead. 

The Sixers’ guards struggled badly against the Spurs’ ball pressure and the team’s offense was disjointed. Meanwhile, Jones Garcia kept scoring and the Spurs kept dominating. At halftime, the Sixers’ deficit was 29 points. 

Any bright spots? 

As the final score indicates, there weren’t many truly positive takeaways for the Sixers.

Coming off of two straight 20-point performances in Salt Lake City, Mintz again had good moments as a crafty driver. His shooting was off, though — 2 for 7 from the field, 5 for 11 at the foul line. 

Mark Armstrong was aggressive off the bench and chipped in 10 points. Keve Aluma added 12 points, three rebounds and three steals. Johni Broome went 2 for 3 beyond the arc. 

Bona threw down a powerful, highlight-worthy dunk early in the fourth quarter. 

monster jam. 🧌 pic.twitter.com/dToLsHzHkY

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 11, 2025

Waiting on Edgecombe’s return 

Edgecombe told Katie George on the ESPN broadcast that his thumb is “getting better” and he’ll “hopefully” be cleared to play in Vegas. 

While there’s obviously zero need to play through any physical issue in summer league, it would sure be nice for the Sixers to have Edgecombe back on the court. Summer league results are unpredictable — maybe the Sixers will blow out the Hornets on Saturday — but they’re clearly a much, much better team when the No. 3 pick is available. 

Beyond results, there’s also some value from a developmental standpoint in simply playing competitive games. The Sixers did not do that Thursday night. 

Mavericks star Cooper Flagg shows flashes in NBA Summer League debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his rhythm, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks seal the win, including a key block near the end of the game.

Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s attempt with 1:10 left in the game, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85 lead.

Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, wearing Dallas Mavericks gear, bright white New Balance shoes, and an emotionless look on his face as he passed through security.

Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the same stone-cold face as he came out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.

His fans more than made up for it with plenty of energy, electrifying the jam-packed arena that cheered loudest when he was announced as a starter in his first Summer League game.

Flagg missed his first two attempts of the game, picked up his first foul just 46 seconds into the game, and gave the crowd what they’d been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favorite James.

James buried his first attempt over Flagg, and then hit a 3-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed his second attempt to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.

Flagg excited the crowd at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter, jamming home his first points.

Early in the second quarter, Flagg nearly sent every fan in the building into a frenzy when he made a spin move into the paint and attempted a one-handed slam dunk over 7-foot Christian Koloko. The ball caromed off the back of the rim and still drew plenty of oohs and ahhs.

Generally filled with Lakers fans when the team plays in the summer, the arena was full of emotion with a fair share of Mavericks fans in attendance to see the 2025 National college player of the year.

Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated with his father Chad in the third row from the court, donning Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks jersey.

Epple said he’s been following Flagg since before his Duke days, beginning with his junior year at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.

The 15-year-old who is in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU tournament said he’s been a Mavericks fan for roughly four years.

“Even more of a fan now that they got Cooper Flagg,” Epple said. “Hopefully he does good, that’d be pretty cool to see. I don’t want him to be like a bust or anything.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told The Associated Press before the game he’s looking for nothing more than effort and grit in his team’s opening game, as he wants them all playing hard.

“This summer league is a little different when you have this type of turnout,” Kidd said. “But the guys have had a couple practices. There’s going to be some turnovers. I just want to see how they respond to a couple of mistakes being made, no one’s gonna play a perfect game and be unselfish.”

As for his prize draft pick: “We’re all excited,” Kidd said of Flagg. “Seen enough of him on tape, so now it’s good to see him on the floor.”

Mavericks star Cooper Flagg shows flashes in NBA Summer League debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his rhythm, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks seal the win, including a key block near the end of the game.

Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s attempt with 1:10 left in the game, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85 lead.

Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, wearing Dallas Mavericks gear, bright white New Balance shoes, and an emotionless look on his face as he passed through security.

Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the same stone-cold face as he came out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.

His fans more than made up for it with plenty of energy, electrifying the jam-packed arena that cheered loudest when he was announced as a starter in his first Summer League game.

Flagg missed his first two attempts of the game, picked up his first foul just 46 seconds into the game, and gave the crowd what they’d been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favorite James.

James buried his first attempt over Flagg, and then hit a 3-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed his second attempt to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.

Flagg excited the crowd at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter, jamming home his first points.

Early in the second quarter, Flagg nearly sent every fan in the building into a frenzy when he made a spin move into the paint and attempted a one-handed slam dunk over 7-foot Christian Koloko. The ball caromed off the back of the rim and still drew plenty of oohs and ahhs.

Generally filled with Lakers fans when the team plays in the summer, the arena was full of emotion with a fair share of Mavericks fans in attendance to see the 2025 National college player of the year.

Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated with his father Chad in the third row from the court, donning Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks jersey.

Epple said he’s been following Flagg since before his Duke days, beginning with his junior year at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.

The 15-year-old who is in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU tournament said he’s been a Mavericks fan for roughly four years.

“Even more of a fan now that they got Cooper Flagg,” Epple said. “Hopefully he does good, that’d be pretty cool to see. I don’t want him to be like a bust or anything.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told The Associated Press before the game he’s looking for nothing more than effort and grit in his team’s opening game, as he wants them all playing hard.

“This summer league is a little different when you have this type of turnout,” Kidd said. “But the guys have had a couple practices. There’s going to be some turnovers. I just want to see how they respond to a couple of mistakes being made, no one’s gonna play a perfect game and be unselfish.”

As for his prize draft pick: “We’re all excited,” Kidd said of Flagg. “Seen enough of him on tape, so now it’s good to see him on the floor.”

Mavericks star Cooper Flagg shows flashes in NBA Summer League debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his rhythm, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks seal the win, including a key block near the end of the game.

Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s attempt with 1:10 left in the game, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85 lead.

Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, wearing Dallas Mavericks gear, bright white New Balance shoes, and an emotionless look on his face as he passed through security.

Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the same stone-cold face as he came out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.

His fans more than made up for it with plenty of energy, electrifying the jam-packed arena that cheered loudest when he was announced as a starter in his first Summer League game.

Flagg missed his first two attempts of the game, picked up his first foul just 46 seconds into the game, and gave the crowd what they’d been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favorite James.

James buried his first attempt over Flagg, and then hit a 3-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed his second attempt to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.

Flagg excited the crowd at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter, jamming home his first points.

Early in the second quarter, Flagg nearly sent every fan in the building into a frenzy when he made a spin move into the paint and attempted a one-handed slam dunk over 7-foot Christian Koloko. The ball caromed off the back of the rim and still drew plenty of oohs and ahhs.

Generally filled with Lakers fans when the team plays in the summer, the arena was full of emotion with a fair share of Mavericks fans in attendance to see the 2025 National college player of the year.

Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated with his father Chad in the third row from the court, donning Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks jersey.

Epple said he’s been following Flagg since before his Duke days, beginning with his junior year at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.

The 15-year-old who is in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU tournament said he’s been a Mavericks fan for roughly four years.

“Even more of a fan now that they got Cooper Flagg,” Epple said. “Hopefully he does good, that’d be pretty cool to see. I don’t want him to be like a bust or anything.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told The Associated Press before the game he’s looking for nothing more than effort and grit in his team’s opening game, as he wants them all playing hard.

“This summer league is a little different when you have this type of turnout,” Kidd said. “But the guys have had a couple practices. There’s going to be some turnovers. I just want to see how they respond to a couple of mistakes being made, no one’s gonna play a perfect game and be unselfish.”

As for his prize draft pick: “We’re all excited,” Kidd said of Flagg. “Seen enough of him on tape, so now it’s good to see him on the floor.”

Warriors superstar Steph Curry reveals how long he plans to continue NBA career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Programming note: The American Century Championship will air Friday, July 11, from 1-3 p.m. PT on Peacock, and again from 5-7 p.m. PT on GOLF Channel. Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, the tournament will air locally on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

As Steph Curry enters his 17th NBA season, it’s only natural to wonder how long the Warriors superstar plans to continue playing basketball professionally.

Curry provided some insight into the matter uring a press conference at the American Century Championship on Thursday.

“I don’t know. I’m just taking it two years at a time,” Curry told reporters. “That’s all I have on my contract left. I hope to be in a situation, where, physically, I have the choice and it’s not made for me, so I’m doing everything I can to stay limber, stay active and do what I do at a high level. Just trying to stay in the moment and see what happens in two years.”

Steph provided some insight into how long he plans to continue playing in the NBA 👀 pic.twitter.com/I2FvCYmwS6

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) July 11, 2025

Curry’s numbers from the 2024-25 NBA season certainly would suggest there isn’t a massive physical drop off on the horizon for the two-time NBA MVP. Curry averaged 24.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game in 70 regular-season appeareances during his age-37 season, earning second-team All-NBA honors while guiding Golden State to the playoffs.

After signing a one-year, $62.9 million contract extension last August, Curry is linked with the Warriors through at least the 2026-27 NBA season, where it appears the four-time NBA champion could once again reevaluate his future based on the two-year timetable he mentioned.

While Father Time remains undefeated, the NBA is in the midst of seeing all-time greats continue playing at a high level despite reaching ages where players previously would see a major decline. Curry isn’t alone, as fellow superstar LeBron James joined his longtime rival on the All-NBA Second Team after a standout campaign in his age-40 season.

All good things eventually come to an end, but Curry’s recent play and continued hunger to pursue another Larry O’Brien Trophy should insipre hope in the hearts of Golden State fans who are cherishing every opportunity remaining to watch the greatest player in franchise history suit up for the Warriors.

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Seth Curry talks potentially joining Warriors, brother Steph in NBA free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: The American Century Championship will air Friday, July 11, from 1-3 p.m. PT on Peacock, and again from 5-7 p.m. PT on GOLF Channel. Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, the tournament will air locally on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

NBA free agency can be an interesting time for athletes. Finding the best fit on the floor while also balancing life outside of it can be a tightrope walk.

For Seth Curry, he’s currently looking for a place to call home for the 2025-26 NBA season, and while his older brother, Steph, certainly would love for him to join the Warriors, the younger Curry says he has to do what’s best for himself.

“I’m just trying to find a good spot for me,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the American Century Championship on Thursday in South Lake Tahoe. “That’s really it right now. Enjoyed my time in Charlotte. Love to go back, but that’s a young team, them doing what they’re doing. So right now, trying to figure out what’s best for me and trying to get to a situation where I can be my best self and keep going and finish my career strong.”

Curry averaged 6.5 points per game with the Hornets in 2024-25 while playing 15.6 minutes per game. However, the 11-year NBA veteran led the league in 3-point percentage, averaging 45.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Poole followed up by asking about Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers’ quote from “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” where he said Golden State would be “the perfect place” for the 34-year-old guard.

“They play a good brand of basketball,” Curry told Poole regarding Golden State. “I feel like I’ve been a part of Dub Nation for a while watching Steph and being around the organization. Obviously, they could use … any team could use shooting. But I can’t say anything other than I’m trying to find the best place for me, and hopefully we’ll figure it out in the next week and figure out where I’ll be going next.”

Curry has played for nine different teams during his NBA career, so it seems the future will determine if the Warriors will be No. 10.

“I always got to do what’s best for myself, obviously,” Curry told Poole. “Steph would love me to come over there and play with them, the fans show me a lot of love at all times, the family would love it. I’ve always embraced the Warriors and their system and love the way they play, and you never know what could happen.”

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Mavericks star Cooper Flagg shows flashes in NBA Summer League debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his rhythm, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks seal the win, including a key block near the end of the game.

Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s attempt with 1:10 left in the game, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85 lead.

Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, wearing Dallas Mavericks gear, bright white New Balance shoes, and an emotionless look on his face as he passed through security.

Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the same stone-cold face as he came out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.

His fans more than made up for it with plenty of energy, electrifying the jam-packed arena that cheered loudest when he was announced as a starter in his first Summer League game.

Flagg missed his first two attempts of the game, picked up his first foul just 46 seconds into the game, and gave the crowd what they’d been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favorite James.

James buried his first attempt over Flagg, and then hit a 3-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed his second attempt to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.

Flagg excited the crowd at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter, jamming home his first points.

Early in the second quarter, Flagg nearly sent every fan in the building into a frenzy when he made a spin move into the paint and attempted a one-handed slam dunk over 7-foot Christian Koloko. The ball caromed off the back of the rim and still drew plenty of oohs and ahhs.

Generally filled with Lakers fans when the team plays in the summer, the arena was full of emotion with a fair share of Mavericks fans in attendance to see the 2025 National college player of the year.

Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated with his father Chad in the third row from the court, donning Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks jersey.

Epple said he’s been following Flagg since before his Duke days, beginning with his junior year at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.

The 15-year-old who is in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU tournament said he’s been a Mavericks fan for roughly four years.

“Even more of a fan now that they got Cooper Flagg,” Epple said. “Hopefully he does good, that’d be pretty cool to see. I don’t want him to be like a bust or anything.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told The Associated Press before the game he’s looking for nothing more than effort and grit in his team’s opening game, as he wants them all playing hard.

“This summer league is a little different when you have this type of turnout,” Kidd said. “But the guys have had a couple practices. There’s going to be some turnovers. I just want to see how they respond to a couple of mistakes being made, no one’s gonna play a perfect game and be unselfish.”

As for his prize draft pick: “We’re all excited,” Kidd said of Flagg. “Seen enough of him on tape, so now it’s good to see him on the floor.”

Jimmy Rollins gives his key to how Steph Curry, Warriors can win one more title originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: The American Century Championship will air Friday, July 11, from 1-3 p.m. PT on Peacock, and again from 5-7 p.m. PT on GOLF Channel. Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, the tournament will air locally on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

What will it take for the Warriors to get that next NBA championship title?

Former MLB shortstop and Oakland native Jimmy Rollins has an idea, and he broke it down while speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole on Thursday at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe.

“Rebounds,” Rollins said without hesitation when Poole asked what it would take for the Warriors to win their next ring. “A big man that can come in, you know, and play some defense. Look, Draymond [Green] is what [6-foot-7]? [6-foot-6] and he’s guarding 7-footers and he’s pushing them off the block, but there are times where length, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

In the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the Warriors were middle of the pack when it came to rebounds allowed to opponents, but in the playoffs, their lack of size was evident. Golden State was fourth worst of the 16 playoff teams while allowing 11.8 offensive rebounds per game, and third worst with 44.1 total opponent rebounds per game.

“We get a true big man that can match up, that when we play our smaller lineups that we can still get rebounds, we’ll be alright,” Rollins told Poole. “So, if we get those extra possessions that we’re giving up, I think we’ll win. That’s really it. I think our defense is great, it’s just we’re getting out-rebounded, teams are getting an extra 15 shots on us. It’s hard to win games that way.”

Time will tell if the Warriors are able to find some size soon. With the rumors of the team trying to lure Al Horford alive and well, adding a veteran presence like that would be a tremendous get for a team lacking some true size.

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Vince Carter explains ‘advantage' Warriors have heading into 2025-26 NBA season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• Programming note: The American Century Championship will air Friday, July 11, from 1-3 p.m. PT on Peacock, and again from 5-7 p.m. PT on GOLF Channel. Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, the tournament will air locally on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT.

Age ain’t nothing but a number.

For the Warriors, they’re hoping that statement holds as they try to get one more ring for Steph Curry, who’s 37 going on 38 next March. Draymond Green is 35 years old, Jimmy Butler will be 36 before the 2025-26 NBA season starts.

For former NBA superstar Vince Carter, that doesn’t mean anything to him except more wisdom.

“A lotta knowledge,” Carter told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole on Thursday at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe when asked about the aging Warriors stars. “They have an advantage because of knowledge. We always look at age and we think ‘Oh, they can’t do it. Can they do it? Will they do it? This this,’ but look at the knowledge.”

That knowledge has led Curry and Green to four NBA titles, the last of which many critics said would never happen.

Steph hears and remembers everything pic.twitter.com/mb5dLn8qO1

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) June 17, 2022

Carter, who played 22 seasons in the league, says experience can sometimes benefit players and teams more than youthfulness.

“For me, and I’m going to speak about myself, first and foremost,” Carter told Poole. “Playing in that mid-to-late-30’s, maybe I didn’t jump [as] high, run as fast as some of the other young guys but my knowledge for the game, I can outsmart guys. You have all the athleticism and ability, but we know what those guys that you named can do.”

And what they can do has been evident for the last decade. Curry owns the all-time 3-point record with 4,058 makes during his 16-year NBA career. Green is recognized as one of the league’s best defenders of the past decade and Butler has won everywhere he’s played, once even leading the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals in dominating fashion.

"STEPHEN CURRY…THE ALL-TIME THREE-POINT KING IN THE NBA."

History.#NBA75pic.twitter.com/8SawFh2QFk

— NBA (@NBA) December 15, 2021

The Warriors, though, need to see some of their younger players like Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody and even someone like Quinten Post take the next leap in their careers.

“To me, you need a mixture of everything, so you have the veteran presence in the locker room, which a lot of teams die for – they have that,” Carter told Poole. “Now you have to put the young guys around that to guide them. You can’t expect those guys to do it every night.

“To me, the expectations for Steph, Draymond, even ‘Buckets’ to have to do it early. That’s not what I need you for. You see what I’m saying, I need you for later. I want to build up my young guys for the playoffs because those three guys know what it takes and know how to handle it.”

It’s not exactly time for the Warriors veterans to pass the torch down to their younger peers, but it’s time for a shift in balance, as Carter says, and that’s where the Dubs will be at their best this upcoming season.

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The NBA rumor mill is always buzzing, especially over the summer during the offseason.

Kevin Durant was traded from Phoenix to Houston earlier this week, Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both recently signed supermax contracts to stay put, and the Milwaukee Bucks shockingly waived Damian Lillard following his Achilles injury in the playoffs.

There's been speculation Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the next NBA superstar to request a trade, and following the Bucks parting ways with Lillard, it feels like now would be the time to do so if he wants to leave Milwaukee. But where would Antetokounmpo go that makes sense for the next chapter of his career?

It seems like the people around the two-time MVP have an idea...

"A lot of people have tried to convince me, try to convince me to go and play there [New York] and stuff," Antetokounmpo told popular streamer iShowSpeed.

The Knicks have long been rumored as a potential landing spot for the star forward, especially after it was reported he was "open-minded" about leaving the Bucks back in May.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted at the time that "it would be foolish to count the Knicks out" on a potential trade for Antetokounmpo. But then New York fired Tom Thibodeau after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers and it felt that the odds of landing the superstar weren't good due to a number of hurdles.

New York will of course continue to monitor his situation with the Bucks until he commits to the team long-term. Antetokounmpo has three years left on his $175 million contract with a player option for the third season, and is scheduled to make $54 million in the 2025-2026 season.

Antetokounmpo was later asked by iShowSpeed if he plans to stay in Milwaukee.

"Probably, probably. We'll see, we'll see," Antetokounmpo said. "Probably, I love Milwaukee."

It's not a 100 percent solid yes, so Knicks fans can continue to dream of the blockbuster trade scenario for the time being.

Where will Marcus Smart land … and should Celtics pursue a reunion? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Marcus Smart is on his third team in three years since the Boston Celtics traded him in June 2023 — and he could be on the move again.

After acquiring CJ McCollum, Cam Whitmore, Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley in a pair of trades, the Washington Wizards currently have 17 players under contract for the 2025-26 season. The roster limit is 15, so Washington will need to release or trade at least two players before the start of the season.

And Smart is a prime candidate for the Wizards to move.

The 31-year-old guard is on an expiring contract with a $21.6 million cap hit for 2025-26 — third-highest on the team behind Khris Middleton and McCollum — and Washington has a crowded backcourt that includes McCollum, talented young guard Bub Carrington and 2025 first-round pick Tre Johnson, in addition to Branham and Wesley.

So, it would make sense for a rebuilding team like the Wizards to see what it can get for Smart on the trade market while handing the backcourt keys to McCollum, Carrington and Johnson.

It appears there’s at least initial interest in Smart’s services; Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints recently reported the Los Angeles Lakers have had “preliminary conversations” about Smart’s availability and price tag, while the New York Post’s Stefon Bondy reports the New York Knicks are “monitoring the situation” with Smart, who also could be bought out and signed as a free agent if no trade materializes.

All of which begs the question: Should the Celtics enter the Smart sweepstakes and consider reuniting with the beloved guard who spent his first nine seasons in Boston?

If Smart isn’t bought out, the logical pathway to Boston would be a trade involving Anfernee Simons, who’s making $27.7 million on an expiring contract. While the Celtics could use Simons’ scoring with Jayson Tatum sidelined, Smart could help replace some of the defensive grit lost with Jrue Holiday and likely would embrace the team’s underdog mentality entering this season. Replacing Smart with Simons also would save Boston $6.1 million in cap space and help the team get under the second apron of the luxury tax.

That all sounds good on paper, and Celtics fans undoubtedly would love seeing Smart back in green and white. But the reality is that a Smart reunion doesn’t make much sense for Boston at this stage.

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For starters, the Wizards’ aforementioned backcourt logjam means they likely wouldn’t be eager to take back Simons in a trade. The Celtics could get a third team involved, but if there’s an easier deal to be made with a team like Los Angeles or New York, Washington might take it.

If Smart is bought out, the C’s in theory could sign him to a low-cost contract. But if Simons is still on the roster in addition to guards Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and rookie Hugo Gonzalez, it would make more sense for Boston to improve its frontcourt depth — Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are the team’s top two big men at the moment — than add another guard.

Smart made an immense impact during his nine-year tenure with the Celtics. But president of basketball operations Brad Stevens needs to focus on the future, and from a pure basketball perspective, there are better uses of his resources.