9:43 PM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN In a significant blow to the Boston Celtics‘ hopes of a long postseason run, guard Marcus Smart has suffered a torn left oblique and could miss the opening two rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Boston issued a statement Wednesday night saying Smart would resume basketball activities in four to
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6:54 PM ET ESPN News Services The Detroit Pistons, who are in a win-and-in scenario for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, will be without Blake Griffin for their regular-season finale against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. Detroit overcame a 19-point halftime deficit to beat the Grizzlies on Tuesday night and
3:18 PM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN Former New Orleans and Detroit general manager Jeff Bower has agreed to a deal to become the senior vice president of basketball operations with the Phoenix Suns, league sources told ESPN. Bower, 57, will work in a reshaped front office with general manager James Jones. The Suns had a 19-63
12:24 PM ET Duke Blue Devils guard RJ Barrett has made the decision to leave after his freshman season to enter the NBA draft, he announced Wednesday on social media. “It was amazing to play for Coach K, play for the brotherhood,” Barrett said in a video posted to Twitter and Instagram. “It was a
2:11 PM ET Discussions between the NBA and the players’ association to end the one-and-done era and lower the league’s minimum age to 18 have resumed in recent weeks, infused with urgency as the clock ticks on the league’s preferred target date of the 2022 NBA draft, league sources told ESPN. So far, the NBA’s
Sep 27, 2018 Jordan SchultzESPN Close ESPN insider/analyst and correspondent for the “The Board Room” Co-host of the new hoops podcast, “Pull Up,” with CJ McCollum Former college 2-guard The 2018-19 NBA regular season has come and gone. What better way to prepare for the playoffs than by taking a look back at some of
6:19 PM ET LeBron James was stunned to learn of Magic Johnson’s decision to step down as the Los Angeles Lakers‘ president of basketball operations, a source with knowledge of James’ thinking told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Wednesday. But despite Johnson’s abrupt resignation, James stands behind Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and the organization, the source
2:24 PM ET NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis says he has no regrets about his decision to ask for a trade from the Pelicans, but he acknowledges there is still a possibility he could start next season in New Orleans. “I’m under contract still,” Davis said during an end-of-year news conference on Wednesday. “I have
9:39 AM ET Adrian WojnarowskiESPN The Minnesota Timberwolves are planning to open a search for a new president of basketball operations, with owner Glen Taylor preferring to keep general manager Scott Layden and interim coach Ryan Saunders as part of a revised organizational structure, league sources told ESPN. The Timberwolves are hopeful to award Saunders
2:59 AM ET LOS ANGELES — Magic Johnson had the title he’d always wanted. He had the power to guide one of the most important franchises in sports, carte blanche. Anything he wanted to do as President of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, he had the power to do. Fire the coach. Trade