"They tell us it'll be better later in the season, but …
July 28, 2021 | 2:42 am EDT Update
Team USA breezes past Iran
Casey Holdahl: USA 120, Iran 66: FINAL. USA now 1-1 in group play. @Damian Lillard with game-high 21 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds in 23 minutes. USA now need to win vs. Czech Republic on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals.
We’ve heard the potential interest from the Lakers and Clippers as well as a mutual interest between Ball and the Chicago Bulls, but on today’s episode of The Lowe Post, a new ‘hot rumor’ is let out of the bag. “Have you heard anything about Brogdon for Lonzo in a sign-and-trade?” Jonathan Givony of ESPN asked. “That’s been one of the hot rumors, that’s been one of the hot rumors,” Zach Lowe said. “Don’t know what to think of it honestly so I haven’t mentioned it because I kind of don’t know if I believe it.”
A league source told The Sacramento Bee the 24-year-old guard is seeking a new contract worth about $9 million per year, which would be slightly higher than the four-year, $34.6 million deal De’Anthony Melton signed with the Memphis Grizzlies in November. It remains to be seen if Davis will be able to command that kind of salary two years after going undrafted out of Ole Miss, but his camp can draw comparisons to Melton based on his age and level of production.
Windhorst: “So I’m not sure we’re gonna get a star on the market.” Spears: “But I’m gonna be at Golden State headquarters just in case.” Windhorst: “Well. The rumor out of Team USA is that Draymond is doing work [laughter].” Spears: “[Laughter] GM Green?” Windhorst: “[Laughter] That’s all I’m gonna say. The team building going on — the team building is that Draymond is doing work.”
Free agency doesn’t technically start until Aug. 2, but in talking to league executives and agents, it’s clear negotiations are already well underway.
Aaron Henry: 'I feel underrated, but what else is new?'
Do you feel underrated coming into the draft? Aaron Henry: Absolutely I feel underrated, but what else is new? It’s been like that since I was 16 years old in high school. Homeschools didn’t even recruit me. It always happens, but I always end up making the most of my opportunities. I wasn’t even expected to play when I came to Michigan State as a freshman, and I beat the odds there. Whatever happens Thursday (NBA Draft) happens. I’m a worker. I’m going to find my way like I always have. I’ve always been overlooked, under-recruited, underrated in the process. Hard work will beat everything. That’s what I’m about.
Where do you think you rank against the other forwards in the draft? Aaron Henry: At the top for sure. I don’t know anybody who would give you a different answer. I belong up there for sure. There’s not much I can’t do. My free throw percentage went up. I’ve shown I can shoot it between the 34-35 percent (three-point) clip for a season playing on or off the ball. I can defend with the best of them and rebound. I can pass. A team is going to be happy with what they get from me.
Basketball observers say the players don’t seem to be enjoying playing in the system Popovich is asking them to work within, that there is too much thinking and too much looking to force the extra pass instead of reacting to what’s in front of them.
