NBA News Roundup: Trae Young and John Collins lose Drew League game, analyst believes Russell Westbrook’s career could end like Allen Iverson’s, and more | July 24th, 2022
Players have been participating in Pro-Am tournaments like the Drew League in Los Angeles to ramp up their conditioning.
Atlanta Hawks duo Trae Young and John Collins were the latest to participate in the Drew League. Surprisingly, their team suffered an upset loss after both stars underperformed.
Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook continues to make headlines in the offseason. Speculation has grown regarding his future with the LA Lakers. Analysts believe that if Westbrook gets traded, he will likely get bought out by his next team. The market remains thin for him, especially after his dismal debut campaign with the Lakers.
Here's the latest buzz around the NBA as of July 24th, 2022.
Trae Young and John Collins combine for 13 of 32 shooting in Drew League loss
NBA players are expected to dominate Pro-Am tournament games. Their skill and talent level usually gives them the edge over their opponents, but this was not the case for Trae Young and John Collins, who teamed up for the Black Pearl Elite in Saturday's Drew League showcase.
The Hawks duo combined for 38 points, shooting 13 of 32 from the floor. Young registered 22 points, seven assists and seven steals, making seven of 16 shots. Collins had 16 points and 12 rebounds on six of 16 shooting.
So dope to see Trae & JC get buckets at the Drew 🤞 @TheTraeYoung @jcollins20_ @DrewLeague https://t.co/RUeIWbBEO9
They produced plenty of highlight plays on the night, but their rough moments overshadowed those. Collins became the first NBA player to foul out of a Drew League game, while Young missed a couple of free throws down the stretch.
NBA analyst believes Russell Westbrook’s career could end like Allen Iverson's
Russell Westbrook could take time to find his next suitor if the Lakers trade him and his new employers agree to a contract buyout. The market for Westbrook is thin as there aren't many teams keen to sign him to fill a starting role.
The potential Hall of Famer had an underwhelming debut season with the Lakers and ESPN's Tim Bontemps believes Westbrook isn't a great fit anywhere around the league. He feels the Lakers guard could endure a similar ending to his career to Allen Iverson.
Here's what Bontemps said on 'The Hoop Collective Podcast':
"I don't think he fits in anywhere. Let the Ant-Man cook ... Russ is got a lot of ... I don't know if anyone got the same culture or cache as Allen.
"He's very similar from his approach on the court, to his cache within the NBA fanbase, to the sort of iconic nature of which he carries himself. It's just hard to look at him and not see it ending the exact same way."
Also Checkout:- Trae Young Net Worth
Draymond Green denied access by a guard for a workout at the UCLA training facility
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green found himself in a surprising situation when he was almost denied access to the UCLA training facility by a security guard.
The Warriors forward was surrounded by fans who recognized him, but the security guard gave him a tough time.
Here's a video of the incident:
Draymond Green (@Money23Green) was almost denied access to his own workout at UCLA by a clueless security guard 🤦🏽♂️
(via lavidadejose/TikTok) https://t.co/C2ouQGk4M4
Analyst claims 76ers' hopes of winning the title depend on James Harden’s performances
The Philadelphia 76ers have James Harden to thank for their roster improvements this offseason. They added PJ Tucker, Danuel House Jr. and DeAnthony Melton to the fold. This was possible because Harden took a $15 million pay cut to re-sign with the team in free agency.
The former MVP couldn't make much of an impact during their playoff run last year and the Sixers will be banking on him to turn things around and provide Joel Embiid with the support he has been in dire need of over the years.
ESPN's Tim McMahon said the 76ers' hopes of winning the title hinge on Harden's showings next campaign. Here's what he said on 'The Hoop Collective Podcast':
"They have positioned themselves to where if James Harden is some version of Houston ... and if he can be and Embiid is healthy, they're absolutely a championship contender.
"If he's the guy who we saw huffing and puffing and you know trying to avoid the ball in the playoff series against the Heat then that's probably about how far as they go."
Colin Cowherd against Warriors pursuing Kevin Durant
The Golden State Warriors have emerged as a possible suitor for Kevin Durant, who has demanded a trade out of Brooklyn. The Warriors have the assets to sign the Brooklyn Nets forward. However, Warriors GM Bob Myers recently shut down the possibility of a reunion with KD.
The Dubs have maintained a solid balance between veterans and young talent. Signing Durant would mean they would have to alter their plans. Young players like Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga could be a part of a deal to bring Durant to Golden State. This would mean sacrificing the team's future.
NBA analyst Colin Cowherd believes the Warriors should rule themselves out of the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. He thinks Bob Myers doesn't want to give coach Steve Kerr a headache by bringing back Durant, who is "high maintenance" and difficult to coach.
"Some people are high maintenance, and some people are low maintenance, and Steph is really low maintenance, and KD is high maintenance.
"So, when you coach the Warriors, Steve Kerr acknowledged his last year with KD was not fun. Draymond Green has acknowledged, KD bristled at a lot of Kerr's coaching."
Cowherd added:
"I think it's a lot of that. We've already seen it. Draymond Green has been quoted saying it was difficult. KD is somebody you've gotta manage. You don't really have to manage Steph Curry. Regardless of who's better, some people are just a lot."