NBA Base

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An Eastern Conference executive claims that everyone is ignoring that Kawhi Leonard has been "better and healthier" than Giannis Antetokounmpo over the last two seasons, per @WindhorstESPN "Every day you hear about what's going to happen with Giannis [Antetokounmpo], but everyone ignores that Kawhi has been better and healthier over the last two seasons. If you had a chance to acquire one or the other, I might go Kawhi." (espn.com/nba/story/_/id…)

An anonymous Western Conference GM claims that voiding Kawhi Leonard’s contract over the Clippers' salary cap investigation would actually be a "reward" for LA, per @WindhorstESPN “There's no way they're voiding his contract even if the league finds him guilty. That would be a reward, clearing the Clippers' books for them.” (espn.com/nba/story/_/id…)

A Western Conference executive believes the Philadelphia 76ers have no choice but to "load manage" Joel Embiid as much as possible next season, per @TimBontemps "Run it back, load manage Joel [Embiid] as much as they can, be a playoff team and try to stay healthy. I think there's stuff you can do on the margins." (espn.com/nba/story/_/id…)

“I highly, highly doubt LeBron would want to finish out his playing days in Minnesota, but let me assure him that we have better hotels here than they have in Memphis. Other than the weather, the basketball situation makes a ton of sense. He could play with a young star in Anthony Edwards, whom he really enjoys, and would be surrounded by great defenders who could take the pressure off him on that end. Meanwhile, he would immediately address one of the biggest weaknesses the Timberwolves have by installing one of the smartest players to ever play with a group that often struggles with decision-making. Plus, the traffic is so much lighter in the Twin Cities than in L.A. or the Bay Area! So c’mon, Bron; pull a couple of those Cleveland coats out of storage and give yourself one more real chance in Minnesota.” - @JonKrawczynski

Gui Santos shares a story about Luka Doncic cursing him out in Portuguese after he complained to the ref about Luka flopping: “Shut up, you son of a b*tch." 💀 Gui was in "shock" that Luka knew how to trash talk in his native language. (h/t @NBAdabad)

The Golden State Warriors are “intrigued” by 19-year-old prospect Karim Lopez with the No. 11 pick, per @MarcJSpears Lopez is projected to be the first Mexican-born player taken in the 1st round, making his jersey a guaranteed “hot seller” in the Bay Area. (Via @957thegame)

Here is the footage of Steve Kerr secretly slipping in a Taylor Swift lyric from 'All Too Well' during a press conference: “I walked through the door.”

The Utah Jazz have reached out to the Washington Wizards about trading up for the No. 1 overall pick to land top prospect AJ Dybantsa, per @MarcJSpears (andscape.com/features/utah-…)

Carter Bryant says Pop is constantly checking in on him after games: “Sometimes he calls me so fast after the game that we’re still in the locker room and I can’t even answer it. He texts me damn near after every game. I probably talk to him on the phone three times a week.” The ultimate mentor🫡 (Via @JaredWeissNBA )

The atmosphere in Minnesota is going to be electric as the Spurs look to finish the job in Game 6

Barack Obama reportedly approached Steve Kerr at a dinner party to ask about Jonathan Kuminga. Before Kerr could even greet him, the former President went straight to the Warriors head coach and asked: “Coach! What’s gonna happen with Kuminga?” (espn.com/nba/story/_/id…)

Steve Kerr reveals he spent an entire season secretly slipping Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’ lyrics into his press conferences without anyone noticing. Taylor Swift saw a compilation of the clips and asked, “Wait, is this real?”, before calling the stunt “creative and funny.” (espn.com/nba/story/_/id…)

The Golden State Warriors are expected to keep the No. 11 pick in the draft rather than using it to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, per @MarcJSpears "From what I’m being told today from several people the Warriors like to keep that pick." (h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )

The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently dealing with multiple illnesses coursing through the locker room, per @joevardon “The Cavs are dealing with some illnesses. Atkinson said he had a little “bug.” Sam Merrill was violently ill on the off day between games 4 and 5, as a stomach bug (different from Atkinson’s upper respiratory bug) is also coursing through the team.” (nytimes.com/athletic/72782…)

@LakerLukaSZN77 🐐

Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich. Shit like this is why I love basketball so much and why I spend the time I do every day on this app. Idgaf about getting paid off a blue check, followers, likes or any of that superficial shit. It’s for the love of the game I’m on here I got a blue check because this shit is a brotherhood and it’s bigger than a game to me. I wanted to find people like me who fucking love the sport passionately and see it the way I do as more than just a game and thankfully I’ve done that and love interacting with all of you (you know who you are) every single day talking hoops. The toxic people, trolls, bots, etc don’t even bother me because I love the good people I’ve met on here and it’s so worth dealing with a random dumbass here and there. If any of you are looking for proof of that sense of basketball community look no further than the Spurs family and the example they set. It’s beautiful man and this is why I still root for San Antonio to this day. Class act organization Ok long post over and I know I’m rambling incoherently but this shit got me emotional 😂

@jkylemann on Sam Presti at the NBA Draft Combine: "Sam Presti is sitting there in the front row, wired ear buds... just intently staring... I'd get so distracted by, what is he staring at... these are just drills... He was the only guy in the room not having a conversation. All the other execs absolutely were" (spotify.app.link/?product=open&…)

Darryn Peterson says Drake is his favorite artist and Interstellar is his favorite movie, per @chasedcsports