NBA rumors: LeBron James mentors Rui Hachimura
The Los Angeles Lakers are seriously preparing for the upcoming season. Recently, ESPN's Dave McMenamin joined Sportscenter to discuss how LeBron James is preparing for his 21st season. The term used when asked about how LeBron was feeling heading into this year was, "revamped energy," a source close to LeBron told McMenamin. The good news for the Lakers is that energy seems contagious.
In the weeks leading up to trading camp, LeBron James has reportedly been doing "2 a day" practices. In fact, McMenamin said that Rui Hachimura noticed LeBron's dedication and started meeting LeBron at the Lakers facility in El Segundo for 7 a.m. workouts. Last January, the Lakers brought Rui Hachimura over from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round draft picks. During the Lakers' postseason run, Hachimura averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds, while shooting 55.7 percent from the field.
On top of LeBron and Rui's workouts, the Lakers players also organized their own mini-camp in San Diego prior to training camp, which Austin Reaves discussed during his Lowe Post podcast appearance. In addition to attendance being 100 percent, Anthony Davis allegedly could not miss a shot. With this kind of commitment and dedication, it's clear to see why so many analysts have high expectations for the Lakers this season.
NBA rumors: Jrue Holiday trade timeline
In the latest blockbuster trade, Jrue Holiday is no longer a Milwaukee Buck. For now, Holiday joins the Portland Trail Blazers. However, that probably won't last very long. Shams Charania joined the Pat McAfee show and weighed in on what's bound to happen in the NBA over the next couple of days.
Media day for teams is a mere three days away. The following Tuesday, training camp starts. According to Shams, Holiday's Trail Blazer status won't last past this weekend. Per Charania:
"There's a good chance [Jrue Holiday] moves before media day on Monday. The Clippers have interest... [Sixers] is going to be going hard at him so James Harden would have to be part of a transaction like that."
Earlier this summer, James Harden requested a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. Jrue Holiday started his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. In an ideal world, the Sixers land Holiday, the Clippers land Harden, and everybody wins! (Including whichever third team gets involved, since Harden doesn't fit the young guard vibe Portland is going for.) Yet, the NBA is a business and a highly competitive one at that.
The Clippers and Sixers have already done this song and dance. The only question is how Jrue Holiday changes the tune of things. ESPN's Wojnarowski says the Clippers are interested in Holiday as well. Could the Clippers keep Holiday, an elite defender, for themselves? With rumors swirling, the outcome of this potential trade could drastically impact either team. For now, we'll have to wait and see.
NBA rumors: Phoenix Suns eye backup PG trade
Jake Fischer and Dan Devine recently revealed on their No Cap Room podcast that the Phoenix Suns may be far from done with their market activity. If you didn't already know, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team deal that also included the Phoenix Suns.
ESPN's Zach Lowe believes the Suns got the short end of the stick in this trade. He argues Nurkic is a downgrade compared to Ayton in terms of defense and offensive skills. However, it's scary to think that the Suns still have the ability to add to their roster and improve their standing in the Western Conference.
Per Jake Fischer:
"If there's any team in the contending sphere that has so far proven they are going to be active in trying to wiggle any way they can to keep getting better without any care in the world about money, it's going to be Phoenix. So, as much as Portland's roster we can give it incomplete after this trade. Think you can do that for Phoenix too."
Fischer believes the Suns are going to be a team that players on the buy-out market will have, "quite an interest in going to," since it's, "one of the best-weather-climate-cities in the NBA landscape, to potentially chase an NBA championship, with a roster loaded with All-Stars." Devine agreed and credited the Suns' newfound flexibility to make moves, citing the removal of Ayton's $32.5 million contract.
Fischer reports that the Suns could continue moving and pursue Indiana Pacers backup point guard TJ McConnell. Since Jordan Goodwin is the only point guard on Phoenix's roster, the Suns need an experienced floor general. McConnell played in 75 games for the Pacers last season and averaged 8.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. He'd be a serviceable backup and could come in handy if the Beal at point guard experiment goes horribly wrong.
