Cnotes 2016 NBA Best Bets-Trends-News-Stats !

Season Win Total Best Bets
October 24, 2016


The 2016-17 NBA season tips off on Tuesday night and basketball bettors everywhere will be glad to have the game back. While all the talk this summer has been about Kevin Durant's move to Golden State and the “Super Team” the Warriors now have, and a potential “three-match” between Cleveland and Golden State in the NBA Finals, the most cynical of NBA fans will argue that the regular season doesn't really matter much given the huge disparity between the top teams in the league and the rest.


But there are plenty of other teams bettors can cash tickets with and these two teams could be ones that surprise many with their play and ultimately go “over” there projected season win totals and return to the playoffs.


Season Win Total Bet #1: Chicago Bulls Over 40.5 wins (-110)


The Bulls went through a massive roster overhaul themselves this summer but the bulk of those moves were departures from town. Gone are the likes of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Pau Gasol, as they've now completely handed over the keys to their immediate future to superstar Jimmy Buter.


Experienced vets like Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo were brought in to go along with additions like Isaiah Canaan, Michael Carter-Williams and Robin Lopez, as this Bulls team will have a very different look than in year's past. That's definitely a good thing as all of these additions and their subsequent skills on the floor lend themselves to success in Fred Hoiberg's desire to play faster and be more offensive-minded.


Hoiberg came from Iowa State where he loved to play fast and win games with his offense, and after going through a year of inheriting a Bulls team that wasn't built for that style of play, he's actually got some guys that fit his schemes this season. That in itself should translate into a few more wins for the Bulls in 16-17 and the organization did finish above this number a year ago with 42 victories.


Clearly it's moot to compare last year's Chicago team to this season's, but a solid core of youthful talent and veteran leadership should be able to get Chicago back into the postseason this year. They are going to need to be better than .500 to do that and I wouldn't be shocked to see them even crack the 50-win plateau this year.


Season Win Total Bet #2: New York Knicks Over 40 wins (+100)


Two of those departed Bulls players in Noah and Rose wound up in New York this year and they are hoping they can be part of the solution for the Knicks alongside Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingas.


The Knicks have long been a team that bettors prefer to fade in recent years, but they showed signs of turning the corner a year ago in going 32-50 SU and will be much better this year. They've got an opening night date with Cleveland which won't be easy, but assessing where they stand and where they need to go after Game 1 coming against the defending champs isn't a bad thing at all.


They've got much more talent and depth at nearly all five positions this year and if Rose and Noah can stay healthy and play 70+ games for them this year, we could end up seeing the Knicks and Madison Square Garden hit the playoff stage again.


With a bet like this there were always be some hesitation as bettors still will have a tough time trusting the Knicks after so many down years, but the second tier of the Eastern Confernce has become more congested and the Knicks aren't at the bottom end of that spectrum anymore. They'll have multiple winning games against the likes of Philadelphia and Brooklyn within their own division this year, and they should be able to at least get one W from even the better teams like Boston and Toronto.


Knicks fans are desperate for some results soon in this rebuilding process the organization embarked on a few years back, and this could be the season that New York finds themselves competing for one of those final playoff spots in the East and finishing over .500 for the first time since 2012-13 when they went 54-28 SU. I don't believe the Knicks will finish with that good of a mark in 2016-17, but 45 + wins is definitely in the realm of possibilities.

2017 Finals Matchup Odds
October 23, 2016


It doesn’t happen often but the NBA Finals has had a history of back-to-back rematches with 14 taking place all-time.


This trend popped up last year when Golden State and Cleveland met in the best-of-seven finale for the second straight season.


We also saw the Heat and Spurs play in consecutive finals between 2012 and 2014.


What we’ve never seen in the history of the NBA Playoffs is the same teams playing in the finals for three straight seasons.


Despite that fact, oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag believe the Cavaliers and Warriors will square off again in the finals.


The NBA Finals Possible Matchups prop is one of the popular wagers at the offshore outfit and bettors will have to lay money on a Cleveland-Golden State matchup next June.


Cavaliers vs. Warriors 4/7 (Bet $100 to win $57)


Listed below are all of the odds for this specific prop wager at Sportsbook.ag.


2017 NBA Finals Possible Matchups (6/11/17)


76ers vs. Blazers 7000/1
76ers vs. Clippers 2000/1
76ers vs. Grizzlies 6000/1
76ers vs. Jazz 7000/1
76ers vs. Kings 9999/1
76ers vs. Lakers 9999/1
76ers vs. Mavericks 9999/1
76ers vs. Nuggets 9999/1
76ers vs. Pelicans 9999/1
76ers vs. Rockets 9999/1
76ers vs. Spurs 800/1
76ers vs. Suns 9999/1
76ers vs. Timberwolves 6000/1
76ers vs. Thunder 4500/1
76ers vs. Warriors 200/1


Bucks vs. Blazers 2500/1
Bucks vs. Clippers 800/1
Bucks vs. Grizzlies 2000/1
Bucks vs. Jazz 2500/1
Bucks vs. Kings 9999/1
Bucks vs. Lakers 9999/1
Bucks vs. Mavericks 9999/1
Bucks vs. Nuggets 9999/1
Bucks vs. Pelicans 3500/1
Bucks vs. Rockets 3500/1
Bucks vs. Spurs 250/1
Bucks vs. Suns 9999/1
Bucks vs. Timberwolves 2000/1
Bucks vs. Thunder 1500/1
Bucks vs. Warriors 65/1


Bulls vs. Blazers 1500/1
Bulls vs. Clippers 450/1
Bulls vs. Grizzlies 1200/1
Bulls vs. Jazz 1500/1
Bulls vs. Kings 7000/1
Bulls vs. Lakers 7000/1
Bulls vs. Mavericks 6000/1
Bulls vs. Nuggets 7000/1
Bulls vs. Pelicans 2000/1
Bulls vs. Rockets 20000/1
Bulls vs. Spurs 160/1
Bulls vs. Suns 9999/1
Bulls vs. Timberwolves 1400/1
Bulls vs. Thunder 900/1
Bulls vs. Warriors 40/1


Cavaliers vs. Blazers 65/1
Cavaliers vs. Clippers 20/1
Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies 50/1
Cavaliers vs. Jazz 65/1
Cavaliers vs. Kings 300/1
Cavaliers vs. Lakers 300/1
Cavaliers vs. Mavericks 250/1
Cavaliers vs. Nuggets 300/1
Cavaliers vs. Pelicans 100/1
Cavaliers vs. Rockets 100/1
Cavaliers vs. Spurs 6/1
Cavaliers vs. Suns 800/1
Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves 60/1
Cavaliers vs. Thunder 40/1
Cavaliers vs. Warriors 4/7


Celtics vs. Blazers 500/1
Celtics vs. Clippers 170/1
Celtics vs. Grizzlies 450/1
Celtics vs. Jazz 500/1
Celtics vs. Kings 2500/1
Celtics vs. Lakers 2500/1
Celtics vs. Mavericks 2000/1
Celtics vs. Nuggets 2500/1
Celtics vs. Pelicans 800/1
Celtics vs. Rockets 800/1
Celtics vs. Spurs 55/1
Celtics vs. Suns 7000/1
Celtics vs. Timberwolves 500/1
Celtics vs. Thunder 300/1
Celtics vs. Warriors 13/1


Hawks vs. Blazers 1500/1
Hawks vs. Clippers 450/1
Hawks vs. Grizzlies 1200/1
Hawks vs. Jazz 1500/1
Hawks vs. Kings 7000/1
Hawks vs. Lakers 7000/1
Hawks vs. Mavericks 6000/1
Hawks vs. Nuggets 7000/1
Hawks vs. Pelicans 2000/1
Hawks vs. Rockets 20000/1
Hawks vs. Spurs 160/1
Hawks vs. Suns 9999/1
Hawks vs. Timberwolves 1400/1
Hawks vs. Thunder 900/1
Hawks vs. Warriors 40/1


Heat vs. Blazers 1500/1
Heat vs. Clippers 450/1
Heat vs. Grizzlies 1200/1
Heat vs. Jazz 1500/1
Heat vs. Kings 7000/1
Heat vs. Lakers 7000/1
Heat vs. Mavericks 6000/1
Heat vs. Nuggets 7000/1
Heat vs. Pelicans 2000/1
Heat vs. Rockets 20000/1
Heat vs. Spurs 160/1
Heat vs. Suns 9999/1
Heat vs. Timberwolves 1400/1
Heat vs. Thunder 900/1
Heat vs. Warriors 40/1


Hornets vs. Blazers 5000/1
Hornets vs. Clippers 1600/1
Hornets vs. Grizzlies 4000/1
Hornets vs. Jazz 4500/1
Hornets vs. Kings 9999/1
Hornets vs. Lakers 9999/1
Hornets vs. Mavericks 9999/1
Hornets vs. Nuggets 9999/1
Hornets vs. Pelicans 7000/1
Hornets vs. Rockets 7000/1
Hornets vs. Spurs 500/1
Hornets vs. Suns 9999/1
Hornets vs. Timberwolves 4500/1
Hornets vs. Thunder 3000/1
Hornets vs. Warriors 130/1


Knicks vs. Blazers 2000/1
Knicks vs. Clippers 600/1
Knicks vs. Grizzlies 1600/1
Knicks vs. Jazz 2000/1
Knicks vs. Kings 9999/1
Knicks vs. Lakers 9999/1
Knicks vs. Mavericks 8000/1
Knicks vs. Nuggets 9999/1
Knicks vs. Pelicans 3000/1
Knicks vs. Rockets 3000/1
Knicks vs. Spurs 200/1
Knicks vs. Suns 9999/1
Knicks vs. Timberwolves 1800/1
Knicks vs. Thunder 1200/1
Knicks vs. Warriors 50/1


Magic vs. Blazers 3000/1
Magic vs. Clippers 900/1
Magic vs. Grizzlies 2500/1
Magic vs. Jazz 3000/1
Magic vs. Kings 9999/1
Magic vs. Lakers 9999/1
Magic vs. Mavericks 9999/1
Magic vs. Nuggets 9999/1
Magic vs. Pelicans 4500/1
Magic vs. Rockets 4500/1
Magic vs. Spurs 300/1
Magic vs. Suns 9999/1
Magic vs. Timberwolves 2500/1
Magic vs. Thunder 1800/1
Magic vs. Warriors 80/1


Nets vs. Blazers 9999/1
Nets vs. Clippers 8000/1
Nets vs. Grizzlies 9999/1
Nets vs. Jazz 9999/1
Nets vs. Kings 9999/1
Nets vs. Lakers 9999/1
Nets vs. Mavericks 9999/1
Nets vs. Nuggets 9999/1
Nets vs. Pelicans 9999/1
Nets vs. Rockets 9999/1
Nets vs. Spurs 2500/1
Nets vs. Suns 9999/1
Nets vs. Timberwolves 9999/1
Nets vs. Thunder 9999/1
Nets vs. Warriors 600/1


Pacers vs. Blazers 1800/1
Pacers vs. Clippers 500/1
Pacers vs. Grizzlies 1400/1
Pacers vs. Jazz 1800/1
Pacers vs. Kings 9000/1
Pacers vs. Lakers 9000/1
Pacers vs. Mavericks 7000/1
Pacers vs. Nuggets 9000/1
Pacers vs. Pelicans 2500/1
Pacers vs. Rockets 2500/1
Pacers vs. Spurs 190/1
Pacers vs. Suns 9999/1
Pacers vs. Timberwolves 1600/1
Pacers vs. Thunder 1100/1
Pacers vs. Warriors 45/1


Pistons vs. Blazers 2000/1
Pistons vs. Clippers 600/1
Pistons vs. Grizzlies 1600/1
Pistons vs. Jazz 1500/1
Pistons vs. Kings 9999/1
Pistons vs. Lakers 9999/1
Pistons vs. Mavericks 8000/1
Pistons vs. Nuggets 9999/1
Pistons vs. Pelicans 3000/1
Pistons vs. Rockets 3000/1
Pistons vs. Spurs 200/1
Pistons vs. Suns 9999/1
Pistons vs. Timberwolves 1800/1
Pistons vs. Thunder 1200/1
Pistons vs. Warriors 50/1


Raptors vs. Blazers 900/1
Raptors vs. Clippers 300/1
Raptors vs. Grizzlies 700/1
Raptors vs. Jazz 800/1
Raptors vs. Kings 4500/1
Raptors vs. Lakers 4500/1
Raptors vs. Mavericks 3500/1
Raptors vs. Nuggets 4500/1
Raptors vs. Pelicans 1400/1
Raptors vs. Rockets 1400/1
Raptors vs. Spurs 100/1
Raptors vs. Suns 9999/1
Raptors vs. Timberwolves 800/1
Raptors vs. Thunder 500/1
Raptors vs. Warriors 24/1


Wizards vs. Blazers 2500/1
Wizards vs. Clippers 800/1
Wizards vs. Grizzlies 2000/1
Wizards vs. Jazz 2500/1
Wizards vs. Kings 9999/1
Wizards vs. Lakers 9999/1
Wizards vs. Mavericks 9999/1
Wizards vs. Nuggets 9999/1
Wizards vs. Pelicans 3500/1
Wizards vs. Rockets 3500/1
Wizards vs. Spurs 250/1
Wizards vs. Suns 9999/1
Wizards vs. Timberwolves 2000/1
Wizards vs. Thunder 1500/1
Wizards vs. Warriors 65/1

2016-17 MVP Betting Odds
October 23, 2016


2017 Finals Matchup Odds


Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry won the NBA Most Valuable Player award for the second straight season last summer. It also marked the first time that a player won with a unanimous vote as he swept all 131 first-place votes.


Curry was listed as a 9/2 co-favorite (Bet $100 to win $450) at Sportsbook.ag to pull off the three-peat and history isn’t on his side.


Only three players have pulled off the feat and the last instance occurred in the eighties.


Bill Russell – 1961, 1962, 1963
Wilt Chamberlain – 1966, 1967, 1968
Larry Bird – 1984, 1985, 1986


Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook was the other co-favorite but he's now shifted into the top betting choice at 4/1 odds. The All-Star has finished fourth in the MVP voting the last two seasons and with Kevin Durant leaving the Thunder in the offseason, many expect Westbrook’s numbers to only grow.


Speaking of Durant, he’s listed as a 10/1 betting choice to win the MVP in his first season with the Golden State Warriors.


Other notable players that are receiving attention at the offshore outfit include LeBron James (5/1), Kawhi Leonard (7/1) and James Harden (15/2).


Listed below are odds to win the Most Valuable Player per Sportsbook.ag.


Odds to win 2016-2017 NBA Regular Season MVP (4/20/17) per Sportsbook.ag


Russell Westbrook 4/1
Stephen Curry 9/2
LeBron James 5/1
Kawhi Leonard 7/1
James Harden 15/2
Kevin Durant 10/1
Paul George 20/1
Anthony Davis 25/1
Damian Lillard 25/1
Karl Anthony Towns 25/1
Kyrie Irving 30/1
Blake Griffin 50/1
Carmelo Anthony 50/1
Chris Paul 50/1
Draymond Green 50/1
Giannis Antetokounmpo 50/1
DeMarcus Cousins 75/1
Isaiah Thomas 75/1
LaMarcus Aldridge 75/1
Al Horford 100/1
Andre Drummond 100/1
DeMar DeRozan 100/1
Hassan Whiteside 100/1
Jeff Teague 100/1
John Wall 100/1
Klay Thompson 100/1
Kristaps Porzingis 100/1
Marc Gasol 100/1
Mike Conley 100/1
Gordon Hayward 125/1
Paul Millsap 125/1
Andrew Wiggins 150/1
Bradley Beal 150/1
Dwyane Wade 150/1
Jimmy Butler 150/1
Kemba Walker 150/1
Kyle Lowry 150/1
Kevin Love 200/1
Derrick Rose 250/1
Dwight Howard 250/1
Tony Parker 250/1
Brandon Ingram 300/1

Defending champ Cavs host Knicks on opening night as 2016-17 schedule unveiled


Finals rematch highlights impressive five-game Christmas Day lineup; Durant makes his return to Oklahoma City on Feb. 11


NEW YORK — The NBA today released its complete game schedule and broadcast schedules for TNT, ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and ESPN Radio for the 2016-17 regular season, which features an opening night with the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the New York Knicks. The league's 71st season tips off Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, and concludes Wednesday, April 12, 2017. For the first time ever, each team is scheduled to appear on at least one of the league's national television partners (TNT, ESPN or ABC).


For the second season in a row, teams will play fewer stretches of four games in five nights and back-to-back games than ever before. Four-in-fives have been cut to 0.7 per team (20 total), a 71 percent reduction from 2.3 per team (70 total) in 2014-15 and a 26 percent reduction from 0.9 per team (27 total) last season. Back-to-backs have been cut to 16.3 per team, a 16 percent reduction from 19.3 per team in 2014-15 and an 8 percent reduction from 17.8 per team last season.


Kia NBA Tip-Off 2016


Kia NBA Tip-Off 2016 includes 14 teams playing eight national television games in the first four days of the season. The 2016-17 season begins Oct. 25 with a TNT doubleheader, marking the 21st straight year the network has started with two games on opening night.


TNT's first game Tuesday features four-time Kia NBA MVP LeBron James and the Cavaliers receiving their championship rings in a nationally televised ceremony before taking on the Knicks, who acquired former Kia NBA MVP Derrick Rose in the offseason and hired Jeff Hornacek as head coach (8 p.m. ET). In the second game, two-time reigning Kia NBA MVP Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, who finished a league-record 73-9 last season, face two-time reigning Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs (franchise-record 67-15 last season) in Oakland, Calif., as four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant makes his Warriors debut (10:30 p.m. ET).


ESPN launches its 15th consecutive year of NBA coverage with two doubleheaders during opening week. On Wednesday, Oct. 26, the top pick of NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, makes his debut as the Sixers meet 2015-16 All-NBA First Team selection Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder in Philadelphia


(8 p.m. ET). In the second game, the No. 2 pick of NBA Draft 2016, Brandon Ingram, and new head coach Luke Walton lead the Los Angeles Lakers against four-time All-Star James Harden, new head coach Mike D'Antoni and the Houston Rockets in L.A. (10:30 p.m. ET).


Kia NBA Tip-Off 2016 continues Thursday, Oct. 27 with a TNT doubleheader. Newly acquired 12-time All-Star Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls host recently signed four-time All-Star Al Horford and the Boston Celtics (8 p.m. ET), and nine-time All-Star Chris Paul and the LA Clippers visit two-time All-Star Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (10:30 p.m. ET).


ESPN's second opening-week doubleheader takes place Friday, Oct. 28 and begins with Cleveland visiting two-time All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors in a rematch of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals (7 p.m. ET). The second game features three-time All-Star Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans hosting the Warriors (9:30 p.m. ET).


NBA TV starts its 18th year of NBA coverage with four games during opening week. The network's live game coverage tips off with a doubleheader Saturday, Oct. 29, when the Pelicans visit the Spurs (8 p.m. ET) before two-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins goes head-to-head against 2015-16 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns as the Sacramento Kings welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to the new Golden 1 Center (10:30 p.m. ET). On Sunday, Oct. 30, three-time All-Star John Wall and the Washington Wizards visit the Memphis Grizzlies, who have made the playoffs six consecutive seasons (7 p.m. ET). NBA TV's opening week of games concludes with the Raptors hosting the Denver Nuggets, whose young nucleus includes 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie Team selections Nikola Jokic and Emmanuel Mudiay (7:30 p.m. ET).
Christmas Day


The NBA's five-game showcase on Christmas Day (Sunday, Dec. 25) is headlined by a Finals 2016 rematch between the Cavaliers and Warriors in Cleveland at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC. That game is followed on ABC by the Spurs facing the Bulls in San Antonio at 5 p.m. ET.


Christmas Day action begins at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN with Boston visiting New York. In the network's other two Dec. 25 games, the Thunder and Timberwolves match up in Oklahoma City (8 p.m. ET), and the Clippers and Lakers meet at Staples Center (10:30 p.m. ET).


Martin Luther King Jr. Day


Four nationally televised games are part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 16. TNT's doubleheader opens with Cleveland facing Golden State in the Cavaliers' first game at Oracle Arena since completing a historic comeback in Game 7 of The Finals 2016 (8 p.m. ET). The late game pits the Thunder against the Clippers in Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. ET).


NBA TV also has a doubleheader. The opener features newly signed eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard leading the Atlanta Hawks against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden (1 p.m. ET), and the late game showcases the Pelicans visiting three-time All-Star Paul George and the Indiana Pacers (4 p.m. ET).
TNT Debuts Regular Monday Telecasts


In a new feature as part of Turner Sports' 33rd year of NBA coverage, TNT presents 10 Monday doubleheaders. The series begins on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Returns
The 2016-17 schedule also includes the return of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC, the second season for the series. Nine of the network's 18 regular-season broadcasts are set for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. The first installment comes Jan. 21, when San Antonio visits Cleveland.


More Highly Anticipated Matchups


• NBA TV Fan Night (Tuesday, Nov. 1): Fan Night's season debut is a doubleheader -- Rockets at Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET) and Warriors at Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET).


• Knicks at Bulls (Friday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN): Rose, the 2010-11 Kia NBA MVP with the Bulls, returns to Chicago as a member of the Knicks.


• Bulls at Miami Heat (Thursday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. ET, TNT): Wade, Miami's all-time leader in scoring, assists and steals, faces his former team for the first time.


• Lakers at 76ers (Friday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN): Simmons and the 76ers host Ingram and the Lakers in a matchup between the top two picks in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm.


• NBA Global Games (Jan. 12 and 14): Thursday, Jan. 12 includes NBA Global Games London 2017, a matchup between the Pacers and Nuggets (3 p.m. ET, NBA TV), and NBA Global Games Mexico City 2017, a contest between 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns and 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns also play the Spurs in Mexico City on Saturday, Jan. 14, marking the first consecutive regular-season games in Mexico.


• Warriors at Thunder (Saturday, Feb. 11, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC): Durant, the 2013-14 Kia NBA MVP with the Thunder, makes his first regular-season visit to Oklahoma City.


• Timberwolves at Trail Blazers (Thursday, April 6, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT): Three of the last four Kia NBA Rookie of the Year winners -- Portland's Lillard (2012-13) and Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins (2014-15) and Towns (2015-16) -- headline the matchup.
Additional 2016-17 Schedule Highlights


TNT will televise 20 Thursday doubleheaders. The network will also air NBA All-Star 2017 festivities from Feb. 17-19, culminating with the NBA's 66th All-Star Game on
Sunday, Feb. 19.


ESPN's schedule includes 41 games on Wednesdays and 29 on Fridays. The network's telecasts will be available via WatchESPN. ESPN Deportes (ESPN's Spanish-language U.S. sports network) will also televise a full slate of regular-season games.
The NBA on TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV will present flexible scheduling throughout the regular season in order to provide the most compelling matchups to a national audience.


ESPN Radio will air 28 games live throughout the season, including Cavaliers-Knicks on opening night as well as Cavaliers-Warriors and Spurs-Bulls on Christmas Day. It will also air events from NBA All-Star 2017 and broadcast The Finals 2017.
For the 15th straight season, ABC will exclusively broadcast The Finals, which tips off in June 2017. TNT is the exclusive home of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, and ESPN will exclusively televise the 2017 Western Conference Finals.


Once again, NBA LEAGUE PASS will offer up to 40 live, out-of-market games each week through television, broadband and mobile for fans who want to watch their favorite teams, players and matchups from outside their local markets (blackout restrictions apply). Games included in NBA LEAGUE PASS will be in addition to those available on TNT, ESPN, ABC and NBA TV as well as local networks (such as a regional sports network and/or over-the-air station). For more information about NBA LEAGUE PASS options, visit www.nba.com/leaguepass/.


NBA.com and the NBA App will provide day-by-day and team-by-team schedules as well as regular-season telecast schedules of the league's domestic broadcast partners -- TNT, ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and ESPN Radio. Last season, NBA programming and games were seen in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages.

Offseason Player Movement: Atlantic Division


Below is a list of players on every team's roster at the end of the 2015-16 season, grouped by free agent and contract status along with players added or lost this offseason through free agency, trades, waivers or the Draft.


* * *


***


Boston Celtics
Players Under Contract: G Avery Bradley, F Jae Crowder, G R.J. Hunter, F Jonas Jerebko, F Amir Johnson, F Jordan Mickey, F/CKelly Olynyk, G Terry Rozier, G Marcus Smart, G Isaiah Thomas, G/FJames Young


Free Agents In Summer of 2016:

PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: SF Jaylen Brown, PF Guerschon Yabusele, C Ante Zizic, PG Demetrius Jackson, PF Ben Bentil, SF Abdel Nader


Free Agents: G Gerald Green, F/C Al Horford, F/C Tyler Zeller (re-signed)


Trades:

PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: F/C Jared Sullinger, G/F Evan Turner


Trades:


Waived: F/C John Holland


***


Brooklyn Nets


Players Under Contract: Bojan Bogdanovic, G/F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, G Sean Kilpatrick, C Brook Lopez, F Chris McCullough, F/C Henry Sims


Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G Markel Brown (restricted), G/F Sergey Karasev (unrestricted), G Shane Larkin (unrestricted), G Donald Sloan (unrestricted)


PLAYERS ADDED


2016 Draft: G Isaiah Whitehead

Free Agents: F Anthony Bennett, F Trevor Booker, G Randy Foye, CJustin Hamilton, G Jeremy Lin, F Luis Scola, G Greivis Vasquez


Trades: SG Caris LeVert


PLAYERS LOST


Free Agents: G Wayne Ellington, F/C Willie Reed (restricted), FThomas Robinson

Trades: F Thaddeus Young


Waived: G Jarrett Jack


***


New York Knicks


Players Under Contract: F Carmelo Anthony, F/C Kyle O'Quinn, F/CKristaps Porzingis


Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F Cleanthony Early (restricted)

PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft:

Free Agents: F Lou Amundson (re-signed), C Guillermo Hernangomez, G Brandon Jennings, F Mindaugas Kuzminskas, GCourtney Lee, F Maurice Ndour, C Joakim Noah, F Lance Thomas(re-signed), G Sasha Vujacic (re-signed)


Trades: G Justin Holiday, G Derrick Rose


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: G Arron Afflalo, G Langston Galloway, F/C Kevin Seraphin, F Derrick Williams


Trades: G Jose Calderon, G Jerian Grant, C Robin Lopez


Waived: G Tony Wroten


***


Philadelphia 76ers


Players Under Contract: F Robert Covington, C Joel Embiid, F Jerami Grant, F Richaun Holmes, G T.J. McConnell, F/C Nerlens Noel, CJahlil Okafor, G Nik Stauskas, F Christian Wood


Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G/F Hollis Thompson (restricted)

PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: SF Ben Simmons, SG Timothe Luwawu, SG Furkan Korkmaz, F Dario Saric (2014 Draft)


Free Agents: G Jerryd Bayless, F Elton Brand (re-signed), G Gerald Henderson, G Sergio Rodriguez, G Brandon Paul, F Elton Brand


Trades:


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: G Ish Smith, G Isaiah Canaan


Trades: G Kendall Marshall


Waived: C Sasha Kaun, F Carl Landry


***


Toronto Raptors


Players Under Contract: F Bruno Caboclo, F DeMarre Carroll, G Cory Joseph, G Kyle Lowry, C Lucas Nogueira, F Patrick Patterson, GNorman Powell, G/F Terrence Ross, C Jonas Valanciunas, G Delon Wright


Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F/C Jason Thompson (unrestricted)


PLAYERS ADDED


2016 Draft: C Jakob Poeltl, PF Pascal Siakam


Free Agents: G DeMar DeRozan (re-signed), F/C Jared Sullinger, GFred VanVleet


Trades:


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: F/C Bismack Biyombo, F James Johnson, F Luis Scola


Trades:


***

Offseason Player Movement: Central Division


Below is a list of players on every team's roster at the end of the 2015-16 season, grouped by free agent and contract status along with players added or lost this offseason through free agency, trades, waivers or the Draft.


* * *


***


Chicago Bulls
Players Under Contract: G-F Jimmy Butler, F-C Cristiano Felicio, FTaj Gibson, F Doug McDermott, F Nikola Mirotic, F Bobby Portis, FTony Snell


Free Agents In Summer of 2016:


PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: SG Denzel Valentine, SF Paul Zipser


Free Agents: G Isaiah Canaan, G Rajon Rondo, G Dwyane Wade


Trades: G Spencer Dinwiddie, G Jerian Grant, C Robin Lopez


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: G Aaron Brooks, F-C Pau Gasol, G E'Twaun Moore, CJoakim Noah


Trades: F-C Cameron Bairstow, G Jose Calderon, G-F Mike Dunleavy, G Justin Holiday, G Derrick Rose


***


Cleveland Cavaliers


Players Under Contract: F Channing Frye, G Kyrie Irving, F Kevin Love, G Iman Shumpert, C-F Tristan Thompson


Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G J.R. Smith, (unrestricted-player option)


PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: PG Kay Felder


Free Agents: C Chris Andersen, F LeBron James (re-signed), FRichard Jefferson (re-signed), G-F James Jones (re-signed), GJordan McRae (opt-in), G Mo Williams (opt-in)


Trades: G-F Mike Dunleavy, C Albert Miralles


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: C Timofey Mozgov


Trades: G Matthew Dellavedova, C Sasha Kaun


Waived: G-F Dahntay Jones


***


Detroit Pistons


Players Under Contract: C Joel Anthony, C-F Aron Baynes, G Lorenzo Brown, F Reggie Bullock, G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, F Tobias Harris, F Darrun Hilliard, G Reggie Jackson, F Stanley Johnson, FMarcus Morris


Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G Steve Blake (unrestricted)


PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: PF Henry Ellenson, SG Michael Gbinije


Free Agents: C Andre Drummond (re-signed) F Jon Leuer, C Boban Marjanovic, G Ray McCallum Jr., G Ish Smith


Trades: F-C Cameron Bairstow


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: F Anthony Tolliver


Trades: G Spencer Dinwiddie, G Jodie Meeks


***


Indiana Pacers


Players Under Contract: F-C Lavoy Allen, F Rakeem Christmas, GMonta Ellis, F Paul George, F-G CJ Miles, G-F Glenn Robinson, GRodney Stuckey, F-C Myles Turner, F-C Shayne Whittington, G Joe Young


Free Agents In Summer of 2016:


PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: SF Georges Niang


Free Agents: G Aaron Brooks, C Al Jefferson, F/C Kevin Seraphin, GNick Zeisloft


Trades: F Jeremy Evans, G Jeff Teague, F Thaddeus Young


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: C Jordan Hill, F Solomon Hill, C Ian Mahinmi


Trades: C Stanko Barać, G George Hill, G Ty Lawson, SG Caris LeVert, G-F Emir Preldžić


***

Milwaukee Bucks


Players Under Contract: F Giannis Antetokoumpo, G Michael Carter-Williams, F John Henson, G-F Khris Middleton, C-F Greg Monroe, FJabari Parker, G Greivis Vasquez, G Rashad Vaughn


Free Agents In Summer of 2016:


PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: PF Thon Maker, SG Malcolm Brogdon


Free Agents: F Steve Novak (re-signed), C Miles Plumlee (re-signed), F Mirza Teletovic, G Jason Terry


Trades: F Michael Beasley, G Matthew Dellavedova


PLAYERS LOST
Free Agents: G Jerryd Bayless, G Greivis Vasquez


Trades: G Tyler Ennis, C Albert Miralles


Waived: F Damien Inglis, F-C Johnny O'Bryant


Dismissed from NBA for 2016-17 & 2017-18: G O.J. Mayo


***

[h=2]Offseason Player Movement: Southeast Division[/h]
Below is a list of players on every team's roster at the end of the 2015-16 season, grouped by free agent and contract status along with players added or lost this offseason through free agency, trades, waivers or the Draft.
* * *
***
[h=2]Atlanta Hawks[/h]Players Under Contract: G Tim Hardaway Jr., G Kyle Korver, F Paul Millsap, G Dennis Schroder, F Mike Scott, F Thabo Sefolosha, F/CTiago Splitter, C Walter Tavares
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G Kirk Hinrich (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: SG DeAndre' Bembry, SG Isaia Cordinier
Free Agents: G/F Kent Bazemore (re-signed), G Malcolm Delaney, CDwight Howard, F Kris Humphries (re-signed), G Jarrett Jack, FMike Muscala (opt-in)
Trades: SF Taurean Prince
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F/C Al Horford
Trades: G Jeff Teague
Waived: G/F Lamar Patterson
***
[h=2]Charlotte Hornets[/h]Players Under Contract: G Aaron Harrison, F/C Spencer Hawes, CFrank Kaminsky, F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, G Jeremy Lamb, GKemba Walker, F/C Cody Zeller
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G Jorge Gutierrez (restricted), F/C Tyler Hansbrough (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft:
Free Agents: F Nicolas Batum (re-signed), C Roy Hibbert, G Brian Roberts, G Ramon Sessions, C Mike Tobey, F Marvin Williams (re-signed)
Trades: G Marco Belinelli
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F/C Al Jefferson, G Courtney Lee, G Jeremy Lin
Trades: G Troy Daniels, SG Malachi Richardson
***
[h=2]Miami Heat[/h]Players Under Contract: F Chris Bosh, G Goran Dragic, F Josh McRoberts, G Josh Richardson, G Briante Weber, F Justise Winslow
Free Agents In Summer of 2016:
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft:
Free Agents: G Wayne Ellington, F/C Udonis Haslem (re-signed), FJames Johnson, G Tyler Johnson (re-signed), G Rodney McGruder, CWillie Reed, G Beno Udrih, G Dion Waiters, C Hassan Whiteside (re-signed), F Derrick Williams
Trades: F Luke Babbit
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Luol Deng, G Gerald Green, G/F Joe Johnson, G Dwyane Wade, G/F Dorell Wright
Trades:
Retired: F/C Amar'e Stoudemire
***
[h=2]Orlando Magic[/h]Players Under Contract: F Aaron Gordon, G/F Mario Hezonja, GElfrid Payton, C Nikola Vucevic, G C.J. Watson
Free Agents In Summer of 2016:
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: C Stephen Zimmerman
Free Agents: G D.J. Augustin, F/C Bismack Biyombo, G Evan Fournier (re-signed), F Jeff Green
Trades: PF Serge Ibaka, G Jodie Meeks, G C.J. Wilcox
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: C Dewayne Dedmon, G Brandon Jennings, F Andrew Nicholson, F/C Jason Smith
Trades: F Ersan Ilyasova, F Devyn Marble, G Shabazz Napier, GVictor Oladipo
***
[h=2]Washington Wizards[/h]Players Under Contract: G/F Jarell Eddie, F Drew Gooden, C Marcin Gortat, F Markieff Morris, F Kelly Oubre, F Otto Porter, G John Wall
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F/C J.J. Hickson (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft:
Free Agents: G Bradley Beal (re-signed), C Ian Mahinmi, F Andrew Nicholson, F/C Jason Smith, G/F Marcus Thornton (re-signed)
Trades: G Trey Burke
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: G Alan Anderson, F Jared Dudley, F/C Nene, G Ramon Sessions, G Garrett Temple
Trades:

[h=2]Offseason Player Movement: Southwest Division[/h]
Below is a list of players on every team's roster at the end of the 2015-16 season, grouped by free agent and contract status along with players added or lost this offseason through free agency, trades, waivers or the Draft.
***
[h=2]Dallas Mavericks[/h]Players Under Contract: G Justin Anderson, G J.J Barea, G Devin Harris, G/F Wesley Matthews
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F Charlie Villanueva (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: C A.J. Hammons
Free Agents: F Quincy Acy, F Harrison Barnes, G Seth Curry, GJonathan Gibson, F Dirk Nowitzki (re-signed), C Dwight Powell (re-signed), G Deron Williams (re-signed)
Trades: C Andrew Bogut, C Stanko Barać
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: G Raymond Felton, F David Lee, C Zaza Pachulia, FChandler Parsons
Trades: C Stanko Barać, F Jeremy Evans
Waived: C JaVale McGee
***
[h=2]Houston Rockets[/h]Players Under Contract: F Trevor Ariza, G Patrick Beverley, G/FCorey Brewer, F/C Clint Capela, F Sam Dekker, G Andrew Goudelock, G James Harden, F Montrezl Harrell, G/F K.J. McDaniels
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F/C Donatas Motiejunas(restricted), F Josh Smith (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: C Chinanu Onuaku, C Zhou Qi
Free Agents: F Ryan Anderson, G Eric Gordon, F/C Nene, G Pablo Prigioni
Trades: G Tyler Ennis
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h][h=4]Free Agents: C Dwight Howard, F Terrence Jones, G Jason Terry[/h]Trades: F Michael Beasley
***
[h=2]Memphis Grizzlies[/h]Players Under Contract: G Jordan Adams, G/F Tony Allen, G Vince Carter, C Marc Gasol, F JaMychal Green, F Jarell Martin, F Zach Randolph, F Brandan Wright
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G/F P.J. Hairston (unrestricted), G Xavier Munford (team option)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PG Wade Baldwin, C Wang Zhelin, PF Deyonta Davis, SF Rade Zagorac
Free Agents: G Mike Conley (re-signed), F James Ennis, F Chandler Parsons, G/F Wayne Selden, Jr., G/F D.J. Stephens
Trades: G Troy Daniels
Waiver Claim: G Tony Wroten
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: C Chris Andersen, F Matt Barnes, G Jordan Farmar, G/FLance Stephenson
Trades:
***
[h=2]New Orleans Pelicans[/h]Players Under Contract: C Alexis Ajinca, C Omer Asik, F Dante Cunningham, F Anthony Davis, G Tyreke Evans, G Jrue Holiday, G/FQuincy Pondexter
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: G Norris Cole (unrestricted), G/F Jordan Hamilton (unrestricted), C Kendrick Perkins (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PF Cheick Diallo, SG Buddy Hield
Free Agents: G Tim Frazier (re-signed), F Alonzo Gee (re-signed), GLangston Galloway, F Solomon Hill, F Terrence Jones, G E'Twaun Moore, C Robert Sacre, G/F Lance Stephenson
Trades: C/F Jarnell Stokes
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Ryan Anderson, G Eric Gordon, F James Ennis
Trades: F Luke Babbitt
Waived: G Toney Douglas
***
[h=2]San Antonio Spurs[/h]Players Under Contract: F LaMarcus Aldridge, F Kyle Anderson, GDanny Green, F Kawhi Leonard, G Patty Mills, G Tony Parker, G/FJonathon Simmons
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F Matt Bonner (unrestricted), G Kevin Martin (unrestricted), G Andre Miller (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PG Dejounte Murray
Free Agents: C Dewayne Dedmon, G Manu Ginobili (re-signed), C Pau Gasol, G Livio Jean-Charles, F David Lee
Trades: G Olivier Hanlan (rights)
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: C Boban Marjanovic, F David West
Trades: F/C Boris Diaw
Retired: F/C Tim Duncan
***

[h=2]Offseason Player Movement: Northwest Division[/h]
[FONT=&quot]<section id="block-league-content" class="block-league-content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><article data-history-node-id="146866" role="article" about="/news/2016-northwest-player-movement" typeof="schema:Article" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Below is a list of players on every team's roster at the end of the 2015-16 season, grouped by free agent and contract status along with players added or lost this offseason through free agency, trades, waivers or the Draft.
* * *
***
[h=2]Denver Nuggets[/h]Players Under Contract: G/F Will Barton, F Wilson Chandler, FKenneth Faried, F Danilo Gallinari, G Gary Harris, C Nikola Jokic, GEmmanuel Mudiay, G Jameer Nelson, C Jusuf Nurkic, G/F JaKarr Sampson, G/F Axel Toupane
Free Agents In Summer of 2016:
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PG Jamal Murray, PF Juan Hernangomez, SG Malik Beasley, PF Petr Cornelie
Free Agents: F Darrell Arthur (re-signed), F/G Mike Miller (re-signed)
Trades:
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: G D.J. Augustin
Trades: F/C Joffrey Lauvergne
***
[h=2]Minnesota Timberwolves[/h]Players Under Contract: F Nemanja Bjelica, F/C Gorgui Dieng, G Tyus Jones, G Zach LaVine, F Shabazz Muhammad, F Adreian Payne, C Nikola Pekovic, G Ricky Rubio, F/C Karl-Anthony Towns, G/F Andrew Wiggins
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F Tayshaun Prince (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PG Kris Dunn
Free Agents: C Cole Aldrich, C Jordan Hill, G/F Brandon Rush
Trades:
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Damjan Rudez
Trades:
Retired: F Kevin Garnett
Waived: F Greg Smith
***
[h=2]Oklahoma City Thunder[/h]Players Under Contract: C Steven Adams, F Nick Collison, F Josh Huestis, C Enes Kanter, F Mitch McGary, G Anthony Morrow, GCameron Payne, G Andre Roberson, F Kyle Singler, G Russell Westbrook (contract extended)
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: C Nazr Mohammed (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PF Domantas Sabonis, SG Daniel Hamilton
Free Agents: SG Ronnie Price
Trades: SG Victor Oladipo, F Ersan Ilyasova, G/F Alex Abrines (2013 Draft), F/C Joffrey Lauvergne
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Kevin Durant, G Randy Foye, G Dion Waiters
Trades: F Serge Ibaka
***
[h=2]Portland Trail Blazers[/h]Players Under Contract: F Al-Farouq Aminu, G Pat Connaughton, F/CEd Davis, G Damian Lillard, G C.J. McCollum, G Luis Montero, F/CMason Plumlee, F Noah Vonleh
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: C Chris Kaman (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: SF Jake Layman
Free Agents: G Allen Crabbe (re-signed), C Festus Ezeli, F Maurice Harkless (re-signed), F/C Meyers Leonard (re-signed), G/F Evan Turner
Trades: G Shabazz Napier
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: G Gerald Henderson, G Brian Roberts
Trades:
Waived: F Cliff Alexander
***
[h=2]Utah Jazz[/h]Players Under Contract: G Alec Burks, G Dante Exum, F/C Derrick Favors, C Rudy Gobert, F Gordon Hayward, G Rodney Hood, F Joe Ingles, F Chris Johnson, F Trey Lyles, G Shelvin Mack, G Raul Neto, CJeff Withey
Free Agents In Summer of 2016:
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PF Joel Bolomboy, PG Tyrone Wallace, PG Marcus Paige
Free Agents: G/F Joe Johnson
Trades: F/C Boris Diaw, G George Hill
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Trevor Booker
Trades: G Trey Burke, C Tibor Pleiss, SF Taurean Prince
Waived: G Kendall Marshall
***













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[h=2]Offseason Player Movement: Pacific Division[/h]

Below is a list of players on every team's roster at the end of the 2015-16 season, grouped by free agent and contract status along with players added or lost this offseason through free agency, trades, waivers or the Draft.
* * *
***
[h=2]Golden State Warriors[/h]Players Under Contract: G Stephen Curry, F Draymond Green, G/FAndre Iguodala, G Shaun Livingston, F Kevon Looney, G Klay Thompson
Free Agents In Summer of 2016:
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: C Damian Jones, SG Patrick McCaw
Free Agents: G Ian Clark (re-signed), F Kevin Durant, F James Michael McAdoo (re-signed), C Zaza Pachulia, C Anderson Varejao(re-signed), F David West
Trades:
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: G Leandro Barbosa, F Harrison Barnes, C Festus Ezeli, G/F Brandon Rush, F/C Marreese Speights
Trades: C Andrew Bogut
***
[h=2]L.A. Clippers[/h]Players Under Contract: F Blake Griffin, C DeAndre Jordan, G Chris Paul, F Paul Pierce, G J.J. Redick, G C.J. Wilcox
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F Jeff Ayres (unrestricted)
PLAYERS ADDED
2016 Draft: PF Brice Johnson, PG David Michineau, PF Diamond Stone
Free Agents: G Alan Anderson, F Brandon Bass, G Jamal Crawford(re-signed), G Raymond Felton, G/F Wesley Johnson (re-signed), F Luc Mbah a Moute (re-signed), G Austin Rivers (re-signed), F/C Marreese Speights, G/F Dorell Wright
Trades: F Devyn Marble
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: C Cole Aldrich, F Jeff Green, G Pablo Prigioni
Trades: G C.J. Wilcox
Waived: F Branden Dawson
***
[h=2]Los Angeles Lakers[/h]Players Under Contract: F Anthony Brown, F Larry Nance Jr., FJulius Randle, F D'Angelo Russell, G Louis Williams, G Nick Young
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F Ryan Kelly (restricted), F Metta World Peace (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: SF Brandon Ingram, C Ivica Zubac
Free Agents: F/C Tarik Black (re-signed), G Jordan Clarkson (re-signed), F Luol Deng, G Marcelo Huertas (re-signed), F/C Yi Jianlian, C Timofey Mozgov, F Thomas Robinson
Trades: G Jose Calderon
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Brandon Bass, C Roy Hibbert, C Robert Sacre
Trades:
***
[h=2]Phoenix Suns[/h]Players Under Contract: G Eric Bledsoe, G Devin Booker, C Tyson Chandler, G Archie Goodwin, G John Jenkins, G Brandon Knight, CAlex Len, F P.J. Tucker, F T.J. Warren, F Alan Williams
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F Chase Budinger (unrestricted), G Phil Pressey (unrestricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PF Dragan Bender, PG Tyler Ulis, PF Marquese Chriss
Free Agents: G Leandro Barbosa, F Jared Dudley
Trades:
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Jon Leuer, G Ronnie Price, F Mirza Teletovic
Trades: SG Bogdan Bogdanović
***
[h=2]Sacramento Kings[/h]Players Under Contract: F Omri Casspi, F Willie Cauley-Stein, GDarren Collison, C DeMarcus Cousins, F Duje Dukan, C Kosta Koufos, G Ben McLemore
Free Agents In Summer of 2016: F James Anderson (player option), F Caron Butler (player option), F/C Eric Moreland (restricted)
[h=4]PLAYERS ADDED[/h]2016 Draft: PG Isaiah Cousins, C Georgios Papagiannis, C Skal Labissiere
Free Agents: G Arron Afflalo, F Matt Barnes, G Jordan Farmar, G Ty Lawson, G Garrett Temple, F Anthony Tolliver
Trades: SG Bogdan Bogdanović, SG Malachi Richardson
[h=4]PLAYERS LOST[/h]Free Agents: F Quincy Acy, G Rajon Rondo, G Seth Curry
Trades: G Marco Belinelli
***

[h=2]2016-17 Season Preview: NBA TV & NBA.com expert predictions[/h]

[FONT=&quot]From division winners to the MVP to who hoists the Larry O'Brien trophy next June, our panel of experts from NBA TV and NBA.com reveal their predictions for the 2016-17 season.
[h=4]Eastern Conference division winners[/h]




[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

Expert	Atlantic	Central	Southeast
David Aldridge (Turner Sports)	Celtics	Cavs	Hornets
Greg Anthony (Turner Sports)	Celtics	Cavs	Hornets
Steve Aschburner (NBA.com)	Celtics	Cavs	Wizards
Fran Blinebury (NBA.com)	Raptors	Cavs	Hawks
Rick Fox (Turner Sports)	Raptors	Cavs	Hornets
Scott Howard-Cooper (NBA.com)	Raptors	Cavaliers	Hawks
Stu Jackson (Turner Sports)	Raptors	Cavs	Hornets
Reggie Miller (Turner Sports)	Celtics	Cavs	Hawks
Shaun Powell (NBA.com)	Celtics	Cavs	Hawks
John Schuhmann (NBA.com)	Celtics	Cavs	Hornets
Sekou Smith (NBA.com)	Raptors	Cavs	Hawks
Steve Smith (Turner Sports)	Raptors	Cavs	Hawks
Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports)	Raptors	Cavs	Hawks
Ian Thomsen (NBA.com)	Raptors	Cavs	Hawks
Lang Whitaker (NBA.com)	Raptors	Cavs	Hawks

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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=4]Western Conference division winners[/h]



[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

Expert	Northwest	Southwest	Pacific
David Aldridge (Turner Sports)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
Greg Anthony (Turner Sports)	Thunder	Spurs	Warriors
Steve Aschburner (NBA.com)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
Fran Blinebury (NBA.com)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
Rick Fox (Turner Sports)	Thunder	Spurs	Warriors
Scott Howard-Cooper	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
Stu Jackson (Turner Sports)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
Reggie Miller (Turner Sports)	Thunder	Spurs	Warriors
Shaun Powell (NBA.com)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
John Schuhmann (NBA.com)	Jazz	Spurs	Warriors
Sekou Smith (NBA.com)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
Steve Smith (Turner Sports)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors
Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports)	Timberwolves	Spurs	Warriors
Ian Thomsen (NBA.com)	Thunder	Spurs	Warriors
Lang Whitaker (NBA.com)	Blazers	Spurs	Warriors

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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=4]NBA Finals picks & NBA champion[/h]



[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

Expert	Eastern Conf. champion	Western Conf. champion	Finals winner
David Aldridge (Turner Sports)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Greg Anthony (Turner Sports)	Cavs	Warriors	Cavs
Steve Aschburner (NBA.com)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Fran Blinebury (NBA.com)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Rick Fox (Turner Sports)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Scott Howard-Cooper (NBA.com)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Stu Jackson (Turner Sports)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Reggie Miller (Turner Sports)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Shaun Powell (NBA.com)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
John Schuhmann (NBA.com)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Sekou Smith (NBA.com)	Cavs	Warriors	Cavs
Steve Smith (Turner Sports)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors
Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports)	Cavs	Spurs	Cavs
Ian Thomsen (NBA.com)	Cavs	Clippers	Cavs
Lang Whitaker (NBA.com)	Cavs	Warriors	Warriors

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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=4]Award picks, Part I[/h][h=4](MVP, Rookie of Year & Defensive Player of Year)[/h]



[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

Expert	MVP	ROY	DPOY
David Aldridge (Turner Sports)	LeBron James	Joel Embiid	DeAndre Jordan
Greg Anthony (Turner Sports)	Paul George	Joel Embiid	Kawhi Leonard
Steve Aschburner (NBA.com)	Russell Westbrook	Joel Embiid	Rudy Gobert
Fran Blinebury (NBA.com)	LeBron James	Joel Embiid	Kawhi Leonard
Rick Fox (Turner Sports)	Russell Westbrook	Buddy Hield	DeAndre Jordan
Scott Howard-Cooper	Kevin Durant	Buddy Hield	Kawhi Leonard
Stu Jackson (Turner Sports)	Russell Westbrook	Kris Dunn	DeAndre Jordan
Reggie Miller (Turner Sports)	Russell Westbrook	Kris Dunn	Paul George
Shaun Powell (NBA.com)	Russell Westbrook	Joel Embiid	Hassan Whiteside
John Schuhmann (NBA.com)	James Harden	Joel Embiid	Rudy Gobert
Sekou Smith (NBA.com)	Kevin Durant	Jaylen Brown	Kawhi Leonard
Steve Smith (Turner Sports)	LeBron James	Kris Dunn	Draymond Green
Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports)	LeBron James	Jaylen Brown	Kawhi Leonard
Ian Thomsen (NBA.com)	James Harden	Joel Embiid	DeAndre Jordan
Lang Whitaker (NBA.com)	LeBron James	Jamal Murray	Anthony Davis

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[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][h=4]Award picks, Part II[/h][h=4](Most Improved Player, Sixth Man & Coach of Year)[/h]



[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

Expert	Most Improved	Sixth Man	Coach of Year
David Aldridge (Turner Sports)	D'Angelo Russell	Zach Randolph	Tom Thibodeau
Greg Anthony (Turner Sports)	Victor Oladipo	Brandon Jennings	Nate McMillan
Steve Aschburner (NBA.com)	D'Angelo Russell	Stanley Johnson	Tom Thibodeau
Fran Blinebury (NBA.com)	Myles Turner	Andre Iguodala	Steve Kerr
Rick Fox (Turner Sports)	Devin Booker	Marcus Smart	Tom Thibodeau
Scott Howard-Cooper	Rodney Hood	Andre Iguodala	Brad Stevens
Stu Jackson (Turner Sports)	Devin Booker	Brandon Knight	Gregg Popovich
Reggie Miller (Turner Sports)	Victor Oladipo	Andre Iguodala	Billy Donovan
Shaun Powell (NBA.com)	Bismack Biyombo	Andre Iguodala	Terry Stotts
John Schuhmann (NBA.com)	JaMychal Green	Cory Joseph	Brad Stevens
Sekou Smith (NBA.com)	Victor Oladipo	Jamal Crawford	Tyronn Lue
Steve Smith (Turner Sports)	Jabari Parker	Zach Randolph	Tyronn Lue
Isiah Thomas (Turner Sports)	Zach LaVine	Jamal Crawford	Tom Thibodeau
Ian Thomsen (NBA.com)	Myles Turner	Jamal Crawford	Tom Thibodeau
Lang Whitaker (NBA.com)	Karl-Anthony Towns	Jamal Crawford	Brad Stevens

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NBA poised for season unlike any other
October 24, 2016


The story lines are as long as a Stephen Curry 3-pointer.


With a superteam in the West, a megastar in the Midwest, superstars all around the league, its global popularity at an all-time high, more revenue than ever and labor peace looming, this season has the potential to be like no other the league has ever had. Yes, rivaling the Celtics' run in the 1960s, possibly topping Magic-Bird rivalry of the `80s and Michael Jordan's run of the `90s.


LeBron James is holding the title in Cleveland and Kevin Durant has settled in Golden State, so the NBA Finals could be headed for the same destination again next June.


But what a journey it should be getting there.


''I think there is a somewhat an inevitability of this Cleveland-Warriors meeting in the finals again, which can sometimes make you overlook how enjoyable the regular season can be if you love basketball,'' ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said. ''So I think they'll meet in the finals again, but that doesn't make the regular season uninteresting to me.''


A summer spending spree created new contenders and enticing questions for a global audience that will begin being answered Tuesday when the new season opens in the places the last one ended.


The record-setting Warriors will be must-see TV again with Durant, the former scoring champ and league MVP, sharing shots with Curry, the current scoring champ and MVP.


James is on a Jordan-like run, looking for a seventh straight trip to the NBA Finals and hoping to build a dynasty where there was once just despair.


There's Dwyane Wade in Chicago and Dwight Howard in Atlanta after both went home.


Derrick Rose left home, traded from the Bulls to the New York Knicks.


Former Commissioner David Stern used to say the NBA was in its golden age.


Under Adam Silver, it may be even shinier.


''There are a lot of charged-up players in this league,'' Silver said. ''There are a lot of teams, young teams in the development cycle, where I think they would even say realistically they're unlikely to win the championship this season, but they're on the road to winning a championship.''


He will give James and the Cavaliers their rings before the season opener, and Durant joins Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson in the expensive and explosive Warriors lineup later that night against San Antonio.


Their teams are heavily favored to meet in the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, a rivalry that could turn into something like the Celtics-Lakers, or before that of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.


But this is no two-team show.


''It's tough,'' Green said. ''But at the same time I'm almost certain that it's a goal of (Cleveland's) to get back to try to win a championship. With that being said, there's a lot of great teams in this league. And they're not saying we're going to watch the Cavs and the Warriors in June.''


Like Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City being defiant, not devastated by Durant's departure the way the Cavs were when James bolted for Miami in 2010.


Or young stars like Karl-Anthony Towns growing up into the spotlight, now that Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, titans for so long, have grown old and retired. And yet another batch of unmatched international talent, led by No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, an Australian whose debut will be delayed as he recovers from a foot injury.


It's what the league sought to create during the 2011 lockout, when more revenues were shifted from players to teams in hopes the clubs would then distribute them better and chip away at the gulf between the big-market haves and the little-market have-nots.


Money really started pouring in with the extension of the league's national TV contracts, which kicked in this season to the tune of about $2.6 billion annually. The TV deal has sent salaries soaring so much that owners and players are poised to agree to a new labor agreement soon without the type of fight that led to the last one.


The wealth of talent, and the wealth to acquire it, has emboldened teams to spend now where they once may have stood pat.


Durant, Al Horford and many more switched teams during the dizzying days of July free agency, with the Spurs putting Pau Gasol alongside Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge into the frontcourt spot that Duncan for so long had anchored.


A third of the league changed coaches, with clubs like Minnesota (Tom Thibodeau) and Houston (Mike D'Antoni) turning to proven winners to steer them through the rough Western Conference waters.


The Spurs or Clippers could emerge as the toughest test out there for the Warriors. Things look easier for James in the East, where he has emerged as the champion for six straight years. But he never thinks about what happened in the past.


''There are going to be so many more challenges, so many different obstacles that we're going to have to face this year as a ballclub,'' James said. ''We have to be mentally focused, mentally prepared for it all. I think we will, be but it will not be easy and it shouldn't be.''


Silver, who should definitely like what he sees, summed up the anticipation:


''I'm looking forward to the season.''

Pacers fine-tune roster by adding Bentil
October 24, 2016


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana Pacers have signed 6-foot-9 rookie forward Ben Bentil.


Bentil was one of Boston's second-round draft picks in June but was cut before the start of the season. The former Providence star is not expected to get much playing time and could be assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Indiana's NBA D-League team.


The move comes one day after the Pacers waived forward Jeremy Evans and guard Julyan Stone.


Terms of Monday's deal were not announced. Indiana opens its season Wednesday at home against the Dallas Mavericks.


-----------------------------------


Pelicans waive Gee, keep Stephenson
October 24, 2016


METIAIRE, La. (AP) The New Orleans Pelicans have waived veteran forward Alonzo Gee, a move that keeps recently acquired guard Lance Stephenson on the opening night roster.


The 6-foot-5 Stephenson has struggled to find a long-term fit since leaving Indiana in 2014, playing with Charlotte, the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis during the past two seasons. But he was productive late last season with the Grizzlies, averaging 14.2 points in 26 games.


The 6-foot-6 Gee, acquired by New Orleans during the 2015 offseason, appeared in 73 games with the Pelicans last season, averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game.


Gee also has played with Washington, San Antonio, Cleveland, Denver and Portland since going undrafted out of Alabama in 2009. He has career averages of 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds.


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Lakers waive Yi Jianlian, Anthony Brown
October 24, 2016


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Yi Jianlian at the Chinese forward's request.


The Lakers also waived forward Anthony Brown on Monday and apparently kept Metta World Peace on their opening night roster.


Yi returned to the NBA last month after a four-year absence in an attempt to win a job with the Lakers. The 7-footer was the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft.


Yi averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds during the preseason. But Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Yi apparently didn't think he would have a prominent role with the team.


The Lakers also released Brown, their second-round pick out of Stanford last year.


The surprising moves mean World Peace and journeyman Thomas Robinson likely have made the opening roster.


The Lakers host Houston on Wednesday.


--------------------------------------------


Vogel brings positivity, winning to Magic
October 24, 2016


ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Tipping off an NBA season isn't new to Frank Vogel, yet this year is different.


The always optimistic coach is starting over with the Orlando Magic after being dismissed by the Indiana Pacers. He is intent on getting the Magic back in the playoffs for the first time since Dwight Howard was with the team.


''I want to see our guys succeed,'' Vogel said in an interview with The Associated Press. ''I want to see smiles on their faces when they get over this hump and they achieve what we all know they are capable of achieving. I want to see our fans embrace it and enjoy it. They deserve it.''


The Pacers let Vogel go after five seasons and he became one of the most sought coaches this offseason. He wasn't unemployed long. Two weeks after his firing, Vogel was introduced as coach of the Magic, who had been stunned when Scott Skiles quit in May after one playoff-less season in Orlando.


Vogel is the ideal fit of the defensive-first profile Magic general manager Rob Hennigan was looking for in coach. While in Indiana, the Pacers were one of the top defensive teams in the league.


''He's very genuine,'' Hennigan said. ''I think he believes in coaching but at the same time connecting with players. His general approach is to really treat guys not just with respect, but it's really a collaboration in his eyes. I think our guys really respond to that approach.''


A one-time video coordinator for the Boston Celtics, Vogel rose through ranks as an assistant coach where building a connection with players is must. That approach never left Vogel as he went from fourth assistant to interim coach to head coach of the then-underachieving Pacers.


Vogel proved the anti-Jim O'Brien, who Vogel replaced in Indiana. Vogel attempted to reach his players and connect with them. Paul George, a rookie first-round pick coming off the bench during Vogel's interim season, was one of the players Vogel connected with best.


''Jim O'Brien is one of the hardest coaches to play for,'' George said. ''He was old school, hard-nosed. But Frank was the exact opposite of what he was - real positive, open minded.''


Under Vogel, George became a perennial All-Star.


''We had a great six years together,'' George said. ''He's kind of just been there throughout my whole growing up in this league. From my rookie year to fatherhood to the All-Star Games, he's been there.''


Despite his relationship with George and the playoff berths, Larry Bird felt it was time for a change.


Bird, the Pacers president of basketball operations, didn't renew Vogel's contract though the coach had a winning record in four of his five full seasons.


''I sensed some things over the last few years and took a lot of notes like I do every year,'' Bird said in a telephone interview with AP. ''When his contract was up, I just thought maybe it was time right then.''


Vogel had a 250-181 regular-season record and guided the Pacers to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals still has accepted the move, even if he still doesn't completely understand it.


''Part of the business,'' said Vogel, who also 31-30 in the playoffs after taking over for fired Jim O'Brien with 38 games to go in 2011. ''I still have a lot of friends there, including Larry, who was the one who chose to make the change. I will always be grateful for him.


''I'm disappointed, I wanted to be there forever,'' said Vogel, a 43-year-old New Jersey native. ''I loved living in Indiana. I loved the organization, the Simon family. I loved everything about being the Pacers coach.''


Bird said building relationships with players is one Vogel's strengths.


''The main thing is he is so positive - positive energy,'' Bird said in a telephone interview with AP. ''You felt like he could the players to believe in his system, believe in him. I thought that was a great attribute he had.''


Vogel has brought the same approach to Orlando where he and Hennigan have reconfigured the Magic into the mold of his Pacers teams. The two men added power forward Serge Ibaka and free agent center Bismack Biyombo in the summer to bolster the interior defense.


The first-year Orlando coach seems to be quickly winning over the Magic players.


''He's a good guy,'' said third-year forward Aaron Gordon. ''We can tell he is genuine.''


The next step is to see if Vogel's ability to connect with players translates into enough wins to get Orlando back into the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Vogel predicted during his opening news conference that the team would be in the playoffs this season. After months on the job, he hasn't backed off that promise.


''I believe we are going to have a chance to go deep into the playoffs,'' Vogel said. ''I believe in this team.''

Kevin Durant eager to get started at last with Warriors
October 24, 2016


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Steve Kerr joked around on what became a post-mosh Monday, feeling some of the natural pressure before his Golden State Warriors get going at last with all the weight of trying to win another NBA championship on their star-studded shoulders.


The reigning NBA Coach of the Year said he cut short practice given Kevin Durant's jostling in the mosh pit at a Kanye West concert the previous evening.


''He got a great workout last night,'' Kerr said with a smile.


Kanye performed at Oracle Arena, where KD will become THE show Tuesday night for the defending Western Conference champions. And MVP Stephen Curry, too, of course.


''We all have pressure. That's a good thing,'' Kerr said Monday. ''The alternative is, `Maybe we can win 30 this year instead of 25.' Who wants that? Unfortunately, a lot of the teams in the league have that, teams that are going through rebuilding stuff, and they're trying to get where we are. So we're in a really enviable position. We know how lucky we are to be together with this group. We understand the responsibility that comes with it, and that's fine. It's a good position to be in.''


A day away from his highly anticipated Warriors debut, Durant insisted he had no idea just how much daily interest Golden State would generate before the season even began.


How much Durant's every move would be intently watched - whether it was his concert-going or riding the BART train to get around.


''I never had a chance to get to a show. I was always moving around, Olympics and traveling a lot,'' Durant said of attending West's show. ''I'm glad he came through here. I was telling all my friends. I've always told them I wanted to get in a mosh pit. It was amazing.''


Durant had no concerns about anything going wrong with all those people in tight quarters.


''I'm covered, man. I'm covered by a higher power upstairs, no matter what happens,'' he said.


Four months after squandering a 3-1 series lead and losing Game 7 of the NBA Finals to LeBron James and Cleveland, the Warriors are ready to start fresh without any thought on chasing the regular-season wins record they now hold at 73. They will host San Antonio and Kerr's former coach and mentor, Gregg Popovich, on Tuesday night.


''It's the Spurs, so it makes it even more fun,'' Kerr said.


Golden State also will honor TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager, who is fighting leukemia, with a special T-shirt for all fans at the opener.


Kerr has said all along Durant would need time to adjust.


''He's light years beyond where he was three weeks ago,'' Kerr said. ''He's embracing the chaos, for sure.''


With Durant and so many new players, Kerr still expects everything to take time before the Warriors really start clicking. Kerr wasn't even on the bench for last season's opener, missing the initial 43 games and a record 24-0 start while dealing with complications from a pair of back surgeries.


Next week might be even bigger for Durant, whose former Oklahoma City Thunder visit on Nov. 3. Golden State rallied from 3-1 down to beat OKC in the Western Conference Finals.


Durant's departure was a big deal. It still is.


''I think they're just looking for something to grab onto and make it a story,'' Durant said. ''We understand that. That's one thing I actually didn't understand coming in here. Everything's going to be taken and used as a headline. It's definitely a learning experience for me not used to all this coverage around a team. That's just part of the job. That's why we get paid the way we do and that's why we are who we are as players. You're kind of prone to criticism.''


New center Zaza Pachulia got a glimpse of the attention and hype surrounding the Warriors on media day last month.


He's ready to embrace it.


''We take it as a compliment because it means you're doing something right. It means you've got good talent here, it means that people want to know about you more than anybody else,'' he said. ''It's a huge year for us, a big season, kind of what we expected with a lot of expectations, a lot of eyes on us.''

Thunder waive troubled F Mitch McGary
October 24, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Thunder finally cut ties with troubled forward Mitch McGary on Monday.


The team announced that it waived McGary, a first-round pick in 2014, along with guard Ronnie Price, forward Chris Wright and center Kaleb Tarczewski.


McGary faces two drug suspensions for a combined minimum of 15 games. Thunder general manager Sam Presti said last month that he was disappointed in McGary's decisions.


The former Michigan standout saw action in 52 games, mostly as a reserve, during the past two seasons. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds.


McGary also got caught in a numbers game. The Thunder added several skilled big men this summer, including rookie Domantas Sabonis, Joffrey Lauvergne and Ersan Ilyasova.


Price, a veteran who signed this summer, was let go in favor of 23-year-old Semaj Christon.

Our NBA picks: Warriors over Clippers, Cavs over Celtics
October 24, 2016


MIAMI (AP) Happy new NBA season.


It starts Tuesday night in Cleveland, where the champion Cavaliers will raise a banner and the visiting New York Knicks will see if Derrick Rose can help them start rising back to the upper echelon of the league.


Also this week: Dwyane Wade makes his official debut in Chicago after 13 seasons in Miami, life after the retirements of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan begins, and Golden State takes a team that won a record 73 games last season - plus led Cleveland 3-1 in the NBA Finals before falling - and adds Kevin Durant to the mix.


So without further ado, to start off our weekly look at the NBA, three AP basketball writers offer up their predictions for the coming season:


CHAMPION


Jon Krawczynski : Golden State. I wish I had more guts, but there is just too much firepower there.


Brian Mahoney : Golden State. Can't make a much better case for anyone else.


Tim Reynolds : Cleveland. LeBron James' chasedown block in Game 7 is yet another reminder that he's the best player alive.

MVP


Krawczynski: Chris Paul. Kevin Durant and Steph Curry will split the Warrior vote and LeBron will be all about playoffs, so the door is open for CP3.


Mahoney: James Harden. Numbers will be sensational and Rockets will be improved.


Reynolds: LeBron James. He averages 25, 7 and 7 and makes it look too easy. Besides, he's still owed a trophy from 2011.

EAST RUNNER-UP (SINCE CLEVELAND WILL WIN, RIGHT?)


Krawczynski: Boston. Al Horford and coach Brad Stevens are perfect together.


Mahoney: Boston. Same as every year: whoever faces LeBron in the conference finals.


Reynolds: Toronto. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan will be even better this year.


WEST RUNNER-UP (SINCE GOLDEN STATE WILL WIN, RIGHT?)


Krawczynski: Los Angeles Clippers. They're desperate for another run, enough to push past San Antonio.


Mahoney: Clippers. Youth gets them past the Spurs for the right to lose to the Warriors.


Reynolds: San Antonio. I thought about the Clippers, Utah and Portland here as well, but the Spurs still command respect.

SURPRISE TEAM


Krawczynski: Minnesota. Young legs plus coach Tom Thibodeau's intensity will fuel a playoff push.


Mahoney: New York. Derrick Rose has to stay healthy sometime. And Olympic years seem to agree with Carmelo Anthony.


Reynolds: Utah. Coach Quin Snyder is underrated, the Jazz are sneaky deep and can defend. Good combination.


BREAKOUT PLAYER


Krawczynski: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota. First Team All-NBA, here he comes.


Mahoney: D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant's final year in L.A. was wrong time, wrong place, wrong coach for the rookie. Now he'll flourish.


Reynolds: Damian Lillard, Portland. Disclaimer: He's already broken out, but he's the pick here because people will finally notice this year.


---

THE WEEK AHEAD


Here's some of the games to keep an eye on this week:


- New York at Cleveland, Tuesday: Ring night for the Cavaliers, the NBA's season opener, next door to Game 1 of the World Series.


- San Antonio at Golden State, Tuesday: The Kevin Durant debut for the Warriors, and the only time these clubs will meet until March 11.


- Miami at Orlando, Wednesday: The post-Dwyane Wade era starts for Miami, and the Magic will honor Pride nightclub victims and survivors.


- Houston at L.A. Lakers, Wednesday: Luke Walton makes his sort-of debut as a head coach, as the Lakers begin anew without Kobe Bryant.


- Minnesota at Sacramento, Saturday: A first-week big-man showdown - the Wolves' Karl-Anthony Towns and the Kings' DeMarcus Cousins.


---

NUMBERS WATCH


- Dirk Nowitzki enters 509 points shy of being the fifth 30,000-point scorer in NBA history.


- If the Celtics win 15 more games than the Lakers, they would take over as the NBA's all-time wins leader. The Lakers have 3,235 wins coming into this season, the Celtics 3,221.


- Stephen Curry has a chance to be the fourth back-to-back-to-back MVP in NBA history, joining Bill Russell (1961-63), Wilt Chamberlain (1966-68) and Larry Bird (1984-86). Since Bird pulled off the three-peat, five other players - Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and LeBron James (twice in his case) - have won two straight but saw their reigns end there.


---


STAT OF THE WEEK


Just like when last season ended, the Spurs have the NBA's active career blocked-shot leader. In April, it was Tim Duncan (3,020). Now it's Pau Gasol (1,777).

Barkley comments about race in America
October 22, 2016


NEW YORK (AP) Charles Barkley calls it friendly fire.


When he talks about racial issues, it isn't only whites he risks angering. Some of the biggest complaints come from fellow blacks, who figure he's too rich, too successful to possibly understand their struggles.


''Like, those people say he's not black anymore, he shouldn't speak on black issues,'' Barkley said. ''I'm like, `Dude, I'm always going to be black,' but that's a double-edged sword I'm willing to deal with.''


So not only will he keep talking, he wants to lead the conversation.


The basketball Hall of Famer and TNT analyst will debut ''The Race Card'' on the network in 2017, a show that won't just be about black and white, because Barkley believes America's problems are more about rich versus poor.


''I just want to do a positive dialogue because I'm sick of arguing over race all the time,'' Barkley said. ''Like, I'm very aware that racism does exist, it always has and probably always will, but the media does a really poor job. There's more good than bad, but the bad pops off the newspaper and on television. And like I said, the truth is somewhere in the middle.''


On one hand, he seems an unlikely choice to be looking for it. In a Nike commercial during his playing career, he said himself he's no role model , and he still doesn't like the term now. And wearing a Ralph Lauren sweater and matching brown slacks during a lunch at a Manhattan restaurant Tuesday before slipping into a tuxedo for the induction of TNT's ''Inside the NBA'' studio show in the Broadcasting Hall of Fame, he does project the image of a comfortable life.


But born in Alabama in 1963, the year Ku Klux Klan members killed four girls in a Birmingham church bombing, he sees the same struggles now as during his youth. Like many of today's athletes, he's discouraged by the killings of blacks by white police and the protests, sometimes violent, that have followed.


Quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers has been kneeling in protest during the national anthem, and many NBA players have stood with arms locked during the preseason. Barkley respects their actions but would like to see more.


''It goes back to the Kaepernick thing,'' he said. ''I said, you do what you want to do, you're a grown man. But I challenge all these guys, what are you actually doing in the black community to help our people?''


For Barkley, that's included donating millions to his high school and colleges in Alabama. But he can't blame today's athletes who grapple with their involvement, a discussion he had with a professor for the show.


''He says, `First of all, it's unfair for all you guys to have to solve the ills of all the black community. It's unfair, you guys aren't activists because you all haven't lived what those guys have been through,''' Barkley said. ''And he says, `I really think it's cool that you all are trying, but to try to compare today's black athletes to Jim Brown, Bill Russell, (Muhammed) Ali and those guys, we're doing them a disservice because those guys like lived.'


''They never told me I couldn't go to a restaurant or go to the same hotel,'' Barkley added. ''I ain't never been through anything like that.''


For the first episode of ''The Race Card,'' Barkley interviewed minorities about the way they are portrayed on television. He spent a day with Muslims, finding something in common.


''We started talking about, like every time I see a mass shooting, I'm saying to myself, `Please don't be black.' And I said to them, every time you see a bomb, what are you thinking?'' And they're like, `Please don't be a Muslim,''' Barkley said.


He spoke with four blacks, who gave very different accounts of their treatment by police. He met with Asians, telling them his perception of them from TV was that they're really smart and outperforming Americans.


''We're not that smart and we don't know karate,'' they replied.


He interviewed entertainer Ice Cube, lamenting the criticism they get from African-Americans.


''And he says it's the stupidest thing he's ever heard. We're not supposed to be successful, and like wait, we're not black because we're successful?'' Barkley said. ''First of all, they should be patting us on the back because we made it, instead of saying, `Well, they don't know what it's like to be black because they haven't been in the hood in so long.'''


But Barkley said he will handle it, because it's important to keep talking about social issues. He's warned his bosses at Turner never to prevent him from talking about what he wants, and while he once desired a chance to run an NBA team as a general manager, he realizes now that job would lessen his platform because it would require staying silent at times.


Specifics about the show, including the debut date, are still being discussed, but Turner is eager to see which direction Barkley plans to take it.


''Charles will tell you himself: There has been no bigger problem in his life than racism. That is why we're doing this series with him. He wants to spark real dialogue and get everyone involved,'' said Michael Bloom, TNT/TBS senior vice president of unscripted series and specials.


A political independent who said he's always voted Democrat but once weighed a run for Alabama governor as a Republican, he's disappointed in the presidential campaign and pondering not voting at all. He's also disgusted by TV coverage he said is often two panelists yelling at each other over the same soundbite.


So he's hoping his show can be the one that deals with difficult topics in a proper manner.


''What I'm trying to do with the show is, all the racial BS is somewhere in the middle. It's not black and white ... like everything is not all what it seems,'' Barkley said. ''I'm just trying to open up a positive dialogue. That's all I'm trying to do.''

Tuesday’s six-pack


— Median price for a ticket to tonight’s World Series game is $1,100.


— Big night in Cleveland tonight; Cavaliers get their championship rings and the Indians play in the World Series.


— Jets’ QB Geno Smith is out for the year with a torn ACL.


— In his last 13 games, Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford has thrown 32 TDs, only five INTs.


— I’m not sure why, but Hank Aaron was an honorary captain for Michigan’s football game Saturday

Tuesday’s List of 13: Random NBA knowledge


With NBA starting the week, some notes you might find interesting……….
13) Brooklyn Nets are terrible and do not have control of their first round draft pick until 2019. Hard to get better that way.


New GM of the Nets is Sean Marks, who was a throw-in in the Knicks-Toronto Oakley-Camby trade in 1998. Marks comes from the San Antonio front office. We wish him good luck; he’ll need it.


12) Portland Trailblazers had the #29 payroll in the NBA last year; they paid to keep their core players this spring and now have a top five payroll.


11) It was 948 days in between Joel Embiid’s last game at Kansas and his first preseason game for the 76ers. He did play well in preseason though.


10) Kyrie Irving scored 19.6 pts/game in regular season LY, 25.2 in playoffs. How much will he score this regular season?


9) Andre Drummond of the Pistons just signed a contract worth $130M for five years. He shot 35.5% from the foul line last year. This bothers me.


8) When Oklahoma City Thunder players have dinner together on the road, they all put their cellphones in the middle of the dinner table, to eliminate distractions.


7) According to a survey released last week, the average NBA player spends $42,500 a month.


6) This quote on the Milwaukee Bucks from an anonymous NBA scout: “Jason Kidd’s had a lot of influence in personnel moves and I don’t think that’s been a good thing.”


5) Minnesota Timberwolves’ top three scorers last year were all 21 years old or younger. Minnesota was the #28 defensive team LY; in Tom Thibodeau’s five years as coach of the Bulls, they were a top 6 defense four times. Thibodeau is Minnesota’s new coach.


4) In three years under Doc Rivers, Clippers are 166-80 in regular season, 15-18 in playoffs.


3) Memphis Grizzlies used 28 players last year, most in NBA history.


2) Now-retired Tim Duncan averaged 25.2 minutes/game for the Spurs LY; looks like 36-year old Pau Gasol will be his primary replacement. Better on offense, not nearly as good on defense.


1) NBA regular season is 1,229 games long; we’ll have knowledge on every one of them on the Hoops page, starting tonight. Plus we’ll do college hoop every night too. Enjoy!!

NBA knowledge


Not much to go on for 7-10 days, but we’ll share the info we have.


Tuesday’s games


Cavaliers are getting their rings while the Indians open the World Series nearby at the same time. Knicks lost their last six games with Cleveland but covered five of last seven series games, including their last four visits here. Last seven series games stayed under the total.


Portland won three of its last four games with Utah; over is 7-2 in last nine series games. Jazz lost four of last five visits here (3-2 vs spread).


Warriors won four of last six games with San Antonio; under is 7-2 in last nine series games. Home side won five of last six series games; Spurs lost their last three visits to Oakland, by 11-30-11 points.

NBA POWER LINES


7:30 pm 10/25/2016
(501) NEW YORK @(502) CLEVELAND
Play Line: CLEVELAND -9.5
BTB PowerLine: CLEVELAND -23
Edge On: CLEVELAND 13.5


10:05 pm 10/25/2016
(503) UTAH @(504) PORTLAND
Play Line: UTAH 5.5
BTB PowerLine: UTAH +5
Edge On: UTAH 0.5


10:35 pm 10/25/2016
(505) SAN ANTONIO @(506) GOLDEN STATE
Play Line: SAN ANTONIO 9
BTB PowerLine: SAN ANTONIO +5
Edge On: SAN ANTONIO 4