Rumors

Q. When the trade happened, did you see it coming or did you expect it? F*ck no. No, I was in Dallas getting ready to play. I had like a suite. I had all my family, friends coming to the game. So I'm in there getting taped in the in the training room in the hotel in Dallas and TV's right here. I'm getting taped and it pops up. ‘Breaking news: Deron Williams traded to the Nets’, as I'm getting taped. Somebody was like, ‘D-Will, is that true?' And I looked and I was like, ‘Sh*t, I don't know.’ Called my agent and he's like, ‘I ain't heard that. Let me let me call Kevin O'Connor.’ He was our GM. So he called Kevin O'Connor, called me back like five minutes later and he's like, ‘Yeah, they traded you.’ So I guess what happened was that was the year Melo was trying to get out of Denver. He had been talking to the Knicks. No, he'd been trying to get to the Nets. It was the Nets or the Knicks. I think they were all doing like trying to make a deal for Melo. And basically when the deal happened with Melo to New York, cuz it was right before the trade deadline, Kevin O' Conor literally just told the Nets, ‘Whatever y'all offered for Melo, and they did the swap.’ So it was that same package they had for Melo, they did for me and just made the swap. And so I found out that day. Didn't play in the game in Dallas, obviously. My teammates were on the bus, went out and told everybody bye and then packed up and headed to Brooklyn.

YouTube

Kevin O'Connor: If LeBron James asks out, his most likely destination is ________. @BobbyMarks42 and I had the same answer for this fill in the blank. 🗽 Bobby Marks: If it was a straight trade you always think New York potentially, I think the Knicks, they do have the contracts, whether it be the Towns deal, OG, and Bridges, whatever that group, I think would probably lean back towards New York. O'Connor: Yeah, I think I'd say the Knicks for sure. I mean, I'd say Knicks number one, and then everybody else, if he were to be traded midseason, the Knicks makes sense, for salary purposes, for roster fit purposes, for what they could desire, what they feel like they might need to take a leap. So I'd say the Knicks also for LeBron. I mean, it's Madison Square Garden. He's always calling it his favorite arena; he could be a quote-unquote savior, you know, if he does help take them to a championship for the first time in decades. So there's that with him as well. Can you imagine that, LeBron James traded midseason to the New York Knicks? If Shams drops that bomb, it might exceed the Luka trade last year.

Twitter

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly tried to make a big splash to bring another star onto the roster. Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor said on his podcast on Monday that he "heard" the Cavs offered Darius Garland in a trade package for Kevin Durant before the 15-time All-Star was traded to the Houston Rockets on Sunday (41-minute mark). "When exploring a KD deal, they've at least shown a willingness to think big and go for a big star player," O'Connor said. "So maybe they would."

Bleacher Report

"I have multiple sources telling me the Celtics interviewed Cooper Flagg." Kevin O'Connor and Tom Haberstroh break down the latest on Flagg and other combine prospects ⬇️ (via The Kevin O'Connor Show)

x.com

Kevin O'Connor: Lot of rumblings that the Milwaukee Bucks have also been informed not to trade for Jimmy Butler. @ChrisBHaynes reported earlier the Memphis Grizzlies were told not to. That’s now two playoff teams Butler could be refusing. So…does Pat Riley give Jimmy what he wants?

x.com

NBA writer and podcaster Kevin O’Connor is leaving The Ringer after eight years. O’Connor is slated to join Yahoo Sports, which has heavily revamped in recent months, The Post has learned. O’Connor had been with The Ringer since 2016, the year it was founded.

New York Post

Kevin O'Connor: Top 4 Picks for the 2024 NBA Draft: 1. Atlanta 2. Washington 3. Houston 4. San Antonio No clear-cut choice for any of these picks this year. Going to be a fascinating pre-draft process. I’d expect the Hawks and Rockets to especially be active in the trade market. Wild result.

Twitter

Kevin O'Connor: Victor Wembanyama got his first 5x5 and the 15th in NBA history: 27 points 10 rebounds 8 assists 5 steals 5 blocks At age 20 he’s the youngest ever to do it (Andrei Kirilenko was 22). He also did it in 31 minutes, the fewest minutes ever (34 by Marcus Camby). pic.twitter.com/UiP3lqBliw

Twitter

Kevin O'Connor: It's a weak free agent class too. Jerami Grant or Kyle Kuzma would be a great fit next to KD in small ball lineups. Fred VanVleet or Kyrie Irving could be a better PG fit next to Booker rather than Paul's on-ball dominance.

Twitter

Kevin O'Connor: Clippers-Kings just became the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. 370 points: Pistons over Nuggets in 3OT, 186-184 (Dec 13, 1983) 351 points: Kings over Clippers in 2OT, 176-175 (Feb 24, 2023) 337 points: Spurs over Bucks in 3OT, 171-166 (March 6, 1982)

Twitter

Kevin O'Connor: Players with 50+ points this NBA season: Donovan Mitchell: 71 Luka Doncic: 60 Joel Embiid: 59 Devin Booker: 58 Anthony Davis: 55 Klay Thompson: 54 Joel Embiid: 53 Pascal Siakam: 52 Luka Doncic: 51 Devin Booker: 51 Darius Garland: 51 Luka Doncic: 50 Steph Curry: 50

Twitter

Kevin O'Connor: I asked Scoot Henderson why he should go first in the 2023 NBA draft and if there's extra motivation playing Victor Wembanyama. Scoot: "I feel like I don't need any extra motivation...I'm trying to dominate and demoralize whoever I'm in front of." Full interview out this week. pic.twitter.com/XJklS1LIrH

Twitter

Kevin O'Connor: “Tobias Harris over me?” Damn Jimmy Butler 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Avvkjpglsq

Twitter

Kevin O'Connor: Huge win for the Grizzlies over OKC. To pass Memphis in the standings: San Antonio, Phoenix, Sacramento, and New Orleans now have to go undefeated the rest of the way AND Memphis would have to drop their final three games. Portland remains a major threat to take the eighth seed.

Twitter