Pelicans Lose Davis to Injury, Beat Thunder

Anthony Davis left Thursday night’s home contest versus the Oklahoma City Thunder with a left shoulder injury, but the New Orleans Pelicans managed to secure an upset win.

Without Davis, forward Julius Randle and guard Jrue Holiday led the way. Randle finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Holiday had 32 points, five rebounds and seven assists in the 131-122 victory. Holiday defended Thunder All-Star forward Paul George and held him to 11-of-29 shooting—including 3-of-17 from three-point territory. George scored 28 points with seven rebounds, six assists, one blocked shot and one steal.

Davis exited the Smoothie King Center with his agent, Rich Paul, in the second half. MRI results revealed the All-Star suffered a muscle contusion but "nothing too bad," according to ESPN. Davis will get treatment on the shoulder over the next few days. He will see how he feels before deciding whether he can play in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Charlotte.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry had no interest in discussing Davis—who publicly requested a trade but was ultimately not dealt before the NBA’s trade deadline—and shifted his focus on his players who carried the team to a victory.

"I'm gonna talk about the guys that play," Gentry said. "They did a great job. We found a way to win the game. That's what's important."

Gentry lauded his players for stepping up and winning a game against one of the best teams in the Western Conference, in spite of all the drama surrounding his squad.

"I'm happy for all of them," Gentry said. "Because to tell you the truth, this whole thing has been a dumpster fire. We want guys to be professional and we want them to do this, but it's hard for guys to go through what they've been through. And to be able to come out and beat a team of that quality, I'm happy for all the guys. I just thought they did a great job."

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook accomplished two incredible feats in the defeat. He increased his triple-double streak to 11 games—an NBA record—by scoring 44 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists. Despite the loss, Oklahoma City is 9-2 during Westbrook’s streak. In addition to increasing his triple-double streak, Westbrook became the all-time leading scorer in Sonics/Thunder franchise history. He surpassed Gary Payton (18,207 points) and now has accumulated 18,247 points in his storied career.

Carmelo Anthony Commemorates $28 Million Salary by Laughing at His Haters

Carmelo Anthony has opted into his player option and will earn $27.9 million in 2018-19 as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He did not exercise the early termination on the final year of his contract, which he originally signed with the New York Knicks in 2014. His decision to forgo free agency and remain with the Thunder on a monstrous salary just shy of $28 million irritated his detractors, including some Oklahoma City fans who hoped they had seen the last of the 34-year-old aging forward.

Carmelo Anthony will return to the Oklahoma City Thunder after struggling in his first year with the team. (USA Today Sports)

Firing back against his critics, Anthony left a message for his haters on his Instagram and on his Twitter account.

Oh You Mad, Huh? 😂 “Take A Step Back, Evaluate, What Is Important, And Enjoy Life”#STAYME7O pic.twitter.com/emlzaQr5pH

— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) June 24, 2018

Thunder fans have been vocal with their displeasure for Anthony’s disappointing play. They wanted Anthony to opt out after he posted career-lows in scoring (16.2 ppg) and shooting percentage (40.4 percent) in 2017-18. His assists (1.3) and minutes (32.1) per contest were also the worst of his 15-year career.

In the Thunder’s first-round loss to the Utah Jazz, Anthony averaged just 11.8 points in the six-game series.

Anthony doesn’t care about what his critics have to say. His contract of nearly $28 million handcuffs Oklahoma City—which still plans to offer Paul George a max-level contract, but in doing so will make its payroll one of the highest in league history—but that’s not Anthony’s problem. He can laugh all the way to the bank as one of the most overpaid players for the upcoming season.

5 Winners of 2017 NBA Offseason

                The 2017 NBA offseason has been an intriguing period, to put it lightly, after the league experienced its most lowbrow postseason in recent memory. With trades galore—some taking place before (and during) the NBA Draft and others occurring during the free agency frenzy—player movement has been abundant as the competitive landscape has again been remolded. Here’s a rundown of the five winners of the offseason.

Golden State Warriors

                The Warriors won the offseason for the second straight year. A summer removed from winning the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, the NBA champions re-signed Andre Iguodola to a three-year contract, gave two-time MVP Stephen Curry a supermax contract, retained Durant on a discount deal, kept backups Shaun Livingston and David West, brought back veteran starting center Zaza Pachulia and added guard Nick Young and forward Omri Casspi.

Shaun Livingston (left) and Andre Iguodala (right) re-signed with the NBA champion Warriors. (Russell Yip/The Chronicle)

                Curry, Durant, Iguodala, and Livingston have all proven their worth to the Warriors—so too have Pachulia and West, in limited roles, something Young and Casspi could do next season. Young shot 40.6 percent from three-point range last season and will get plenty of open looks on a loaded Golden State offensive attack. Casspi, inked to a veteran minimum contract of $2,106,470, can be slotted at both forward positions, shoots the three well and has the length to play reasonable defense. He dealt with injuries most of last year, but the season prior he registered career-high averages in points (11.8), rebounds (5.9), minutes (27.2) and 3-point percentage (40.9).

              It’s hard to imagine the Warriors not capturing a second consecutive title next season. They are far better than the second-best team in the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have done nothing to close the huge talent gap between the defending champion Warriors.

Boston Celtics

                Securing the No. 1 seed in the East was a huge accomplishment for the upstart Celtics, but they were clearly overmatched in the Conference Finals by the Cavaliers. While Cleveland remains the favorite to return to the Finals, Boston could give the three-time reigning Eastern Conference champs a run for their money. The Celtics signed All-Star forward Gordon Hayward—who has "unfinished business" to accomplish with his college (Butler University) coach and current Celtics head coach Brad Stevens—in free agency and now have a second scorer to take some of the burden off electric guard Isaiah Thomas.

                Trading Avery Bradley—a free agent in 2018—was a tough, but necessary move by President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. In shipping Bradley to the Detroit Pistons, the Celtics netted Marcus Morris, a lengthy defender who, in the past, has guarded LeBron James as well as any player possibly can.

                Though the Celtics relinquished the top pick to the Philadelphia 76ers via trade, they got their man in Duke forward Jayson Tatum with the third overall pick and collected an additional high lottery pick (the Los Angeles Lakers’ pick in 2018 if the selection falls anywhere from No. 2 through No. 5 in the Draft, and if not, the Sacramento Kings’ pick in 2019) and retained their deep cache of future draft picks.

                Jaylen Brown earned playoff minutes last season and could serve as a crucial piece to Boston’s team in 2017-18 and beyond. And if LeBron opts to bolt Cleveland in the summer of 2018, the Celtics could rule the East for the foreseeable future.

Oklahoma City Thunder

                The Thunder pulled off the shocker off the offseason by acquiring Paul George…for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Even if George is just a 1-year rental and leaves for Los Angeles next summer, this deal is 100 percent worth it. The Thunder scraped Oladipo’s bloated contract and picked up one of the league’s best players all in one single move.

                With George on the Thunder, NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, fresh off averaging a triple-double for the 2016-17 campaign, now has a superstar teammate again—merely a year after Durant ditched town in taking the easiest path imaginable for a title by joining the 73-win Warriors.

                Adding forward Patrick Patterson and re-upping defensive stalwart Andre Roberson to a three-year, $30 million contract was icing on the cake for Oklahoma City, which is now in the conversation with the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets for the second-best team in the West.

Paul George and Andre Roberson are now teammates in Oklahoma City. (Brian Spurlock/USA Today Sports)

Houston Rockets

                Speaking of the Rockets, the 55-win franchise acquired Chris Paul, a top-10 player in the league and now-former Los Angeles Clippers superstar point guard.

                Though it cost the Rockets NBA All-Defense First-Team member Patrick Beverly, the 2015 Sixth Man of the Year (Lou Williams) and frontcourt youngsters Sam Dekker and Montrezl Harrell, this trade is a home run for Houston, which now has a juggernaut 1-2 punch of James Harden and Paul that is every bit as talented as any duo in the league.

                The logistics of a Harden-Paul duo—two players who love to have the ball in their hands—shall be interesting. But it was clear last year that Harden deserved more help after the NBA’s assist leader looked absolutely gassed in the team’s second-round postseason defeat at the hands of the Spurs.

                The Rockets are rumored to have interest in 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony. This trio would be full of star power, and while Anthony really feigns holding onto the ball, the hope is he can be utilized as a power forward who is switch-impervious in the pick-and-roll with Harden and Paul.

Minnesota Timberwolves

                The Timberwolves look destined to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2004. They landed Jimmy Butler in a Draft Night trade with the rebuilding Bulls. Butler rejoins forces with Tom Thibodeau, who coached the three-time All-Star in Chicago.

Tom Thibodeau and Jimmy Butler will be reunited in Minnesota. (Tom Zanine/USA Today Sports)

                Minnesota also added Jeff Teague, a formidable point guard who is two years removed from an All-Star Game appearance, and signed veterans Taj Gibson and Jamal Crawford.

               Adding Crawford, the three-time Sixth Man of the Year nearing the end of his career, adds a needed three-point maker, but the shooting-deprived Timberwolves still need more guys to hit buckets from the outside on a consistent basis to join the likes of the elites in the West. With that said, Karl Anthony-Towns, Butler and Andrew Wiggins are a trio to be feared for years to come and gives a Minnesota franchise its first real excitement since trading away Kevin Garnett in the summer of 2007.

NBA Summer Forecast: 2015-16 Western Conference Standings

1. San Antonio Spurs

Players Added

Via draft:

Center Nikola Milutinov (No. 26)
Center Cady Lalanne (No. 55)

Via free agency:
Forward/Center LaMarcus Aldridge (from Blazers)
Guard Jimmer Fredette (from Pelicans)
Center Boban Marjanovic (from Serbia)

Forward David West (from Pacers)

Via trade:

Guard Ray McCallum (from Kings)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward/Center Aron Baynes (to Pistons)

Guard/Forward Marco Belinelli (to Kings)

Guard Cory Joseph (to Raptors)

Via trade:

Center Tiago Splitter (to Hawks)

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Branden Dawson (No. 56)

Via free agency:

Center Cole Aldrich (from Knicks)

Forward Paul Pierce (from Wizards)

Forward Wesley Johnson (from Lakers)

Forward Josh Smith (from Rockets)
Guard Pablo Prigioni

Via trade:

Guard/Forward Lance Stephenson (from Hornets)

Players Lost

Via trade:

Forward Matt Barnes (to Hornets, who traded him to Grizzlies)

Forward/Center Spencer Hawes (to Hornets)

Waived:

Guard Lester Hudson

3. Golden State Warriors

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Kevon Looney (No. 30)

Via trade:

Forward Gerald Wallace (from Celtics)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Guard Justin Holiday (to Hawks)

Via trade:

Forward David Lee (to Celtics)

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Players Added

Via draft:
Guard Cameron Payne (No. 14)
Center Dakari Johnson (No. 48)

Via trade:
Rights to Forward Tomislav Zubcic (No. 56, 2012) (from Raptors)

Players Lost

Via trade:

Forward Perry Jones (to Celtics)

Guard Jeremy Lamb (to Hornets)

5. Houston Rockets

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Sam Dekker (No. 18)

Forward Montrezl Harrell (No. 32)

Via free agency:

Guard Marcus Thornton (from Suns)

Via trade:

Guard Ty Lawson (from Nuggets)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward Josh Smith (to Clippers)

Via trade:

Forward Kostas Papanikolaou (to Nuggets) 

Guard Pablo Prigioni (to Nuggets, who waived him; Prigioni signed with Clippers) 

Forward Joey Dorsey (to Nuggets) 

Guard Nick Johnson (to Nuggets)

6. New Orleans Pelicans

Players Added

Via free agency:
Forward Alonzo Gee (from Blazers)
Center Kendrick Perkins (from Cavs)

Players Lost

Via free agency:
Guard Jimmer Fredette (to Spurs)

7. Memphis Grizzlies

Players Added

Via draft:
Forward Jarell Martin (No. 25)

Forward Andrew Harrison (No. 44)

Via free agency:

Forward/Center Brandan Wright (from Suns)

Via trade:

Forward Matt Barnes (from Hornets (from Clippers))

Rights to Forward Janis Timma (No. 60, 2013 (to Orlando)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Center Kosta Koufos (to Kings)

Guard Nick Calathes (to Panathinaikos, Greece)

Via trade:

Forward/Center Jon Leuer (to Phoenix)

8. Phoenix Suns

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard Devin Booker (No. 13)

Via free agency:

Center Tyson Chandler (from Mavs)

Guard Ronnie Price (from Lakers)

Forward Mirza Teletovic (from Nets)

Forward Sonny Weems (from Moscow, Russia)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward Gerald Green (to Heat)

Guard Marcus Thornton (to Rockets)

Forward/Center Brandan Wright (to Grizzlies)

Via trade

Guard/Forward Reggie Bullock (to Pistons)

Forward Danny Granger (to Pistons)

Forward Marcus Morris (to Pistons)

9. Sacramento Kings

Players Added

Via draft:
Center Willie Cauley-Stein (No. 6)

Via free agency:

Guard/Forward Marco Belinelli (from Spurs)
Guard/Forward Caron Butler 
Center Kosta Koufos (from Grizzlies)
Guard Rajon Rondo (from Mavs)

Forward Quincy Acy (from Knicks)
Forward Duje Dukan (undrafted)
Guard Seth Curry (last played for D-League Affiliate of Magic)

Via trade:

Forward Arturas Gudaitis (from Sixers)

Forward Luka Mitrovic (from Sixers)

Players lost

Via free agency:

Forward Derrick Williams (to Knicks)

Center Ryan Hollins

Guard Andre Miller

Forward/Center Reggie Evans

Via trade:

Forward Carl Landry (to Sixers)

Guard Nik Stauskas (to Sixers)

Forward/Center Jason Thompson (to Sixers)

Guard Ray McCallum (to Spurs)

10. Utah Jazz

Players Added

Via draft:

Forward Trey Lyles (No. 12)

Guard Olivier Hanlan (No. 42)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Forward Jeremy Evans (to Mavs)

11. Dallas Mavericks 

Players Added

Via draft:
Guard Justin Anderson (No. 21)

Forward Satnam Singh (No. 52)

Via free agency:

Forward Jeremy Evans (from Jazz)

Guard John Jenkins (from Hawks)

Guard Wesley Matthews (from Blazers)

Guard Deron Williams (waived by Nets)
Center Samuel Dalembert (from Knicks)

Via trade:

Center Zaza Pachulia (from Bucks)

Players lost

Via free agency:

Forward Al-Farouq Aminu (to Blazers)

Center Tyson Chandler (to Suns)

Guard Monta Ellis (to Pacers)

Guard Rajon Rondo (to Kings)

Forward/Center Amar'e Stoudemire (to Heat)

12. Portland Trail Blazers

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard/Forward Pat Connaughton (No. 41, from Nets)

Forward Daniel Diez (No. 54, from Jazz)

Via free agency:

Forward/Center Ed Davis (from Lakers)

Forward Al-Farouq Aminu (from Mavs)

Forward Luis Montero (undrafted)
Guard Phil Pressey (waived by Celtics)

Via trade:

Forward Maurice Harkless (from Magic)

Guard/Forward Gerald Henderson (from Hornets)

Center Mason Plumlee (from Nets)

Forward Noah Vonleh (from Hornets)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Guard Arron Afflalo (to Knicks)

Forward/Center LaMarcus Aldridge (to Spurs)

Center Joel Freeland (to CSKA Moscow, Russia)

Forward Alonzo Gee (to Pelicans)

Center Robin Lopez (to Knicks)

Guard Wesley Matthews (to Mavericks)

Via trade:

Guard Steve Blake (to Nets, who traded him to Pistons)

Forward Nicolas Batum (to Hornets)

13. Minnesota Timberwolves 

Players Added

Via draft:

Center Karl-Anthony Towns (No. 1)

Guard Tyus Jones (No. 24)

Via trade:

Forward Damjan Rudez (from Pacers)

Players Lost

Via free agency:

Guard Gary Neal (Wizards)

Via trade:

Forward Chase Budinger (to Pacers)

14. Los Angeles Lakers

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard D'Angelo Russell (No. 2)

Forward Larry Nance Jr. (No. 27)

Forward Anthony Brown (No. 34)

Via free agency:

Forward Brandon Bass (from Celtics)

Center Robert Upshaw (undrafted)

Guard Lou Williams (from Raptors)

Via trade

Center Roy Hibbert (from Pacers)

Players lost

Via free agency

Forward/Center Ed Davis (to Blazers)

Guard Wayne Ellington (to Nets)

Guard Jeremy Lin (to Hornets)

Guard Ronnie Price (to Suns)

Forward/Center Jordan Hill (to Pacers)

Forward Wesley Johnson (to Clippers)

15. Denver Nuggets

Players Added

Via draft:

Guard Emmanuel Mudiay (No. 7)

Guard Nikola Radicevic (No. 57)

Via trade: 

Forward Kostas Papanikolaou (from Rockets)  

Forward Joey Dorsey (from Rockets) 

Guard Nick Johnson (from Rockets)

Players Lost

Via trade:

Guard Ty Lawson (to Rockets)

Waived:

Guard Jamaal Franklin

NBA Summer Forecast: 2014-15 Western Conference Standings

1.   Oklahoma City Thunder

Additions: Anthony Morrow, Sebastian Telfair, Mitch McGary (R)

Subtractions: Thabo Sefolosha (Hawks), Caron Butler (Pistons)

2.   San Antonio Spurs

Additions: Kyle Anderson (R)

Subtractions: None

3.   Los Angeles Clippers

Additions: Spencer Hawes, Jordan Farmer, C.J. Wilcox (R)

Subtractions: Darren Collison (Kings), Danny Granger (Heat), Willie Green (Magic), Ryan Hollins

4.   Dallas Mavericks

Additions: Chandler Parsons, Jameer Nelson, Richard Jefferson, Al-Farouq Aminu, Tyson Chandler & Raymond Felton (Via Trade with Knicks)

Subtractions: Vince Carter (Grizzlies), Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin & Samuel Dalembert (Via Trade with Knicks), Shawn Marion (Cavs)

5.   Memphis Grizzlies

Additions: Vince Carter, Jordan Adams (R)

Departures: James Johnson (Raptors), Mike Miller (Cavaliers), Ed Davis (Lakers)

6.   Golden State Warriors

Additions: Shaun Livingston, Brandon Rush

Subtractions: Steve Blake (Trail Blazers), Jordan Crawford

7.   Portland Trail Blazers

Additions: Chris Kaman, Steve Blake

Subtractions: Mo Williams (Timberwolves)

8.   Houston Rockets

Additions: Trevor Ariza, Jeff Adrien, Clint Capela (R)

Subtractions: Chandler Parsons (Mavericks), Jeremy Lin (Via Trade with Lakers), Omer Asik (Via Trade with Pelicans)

9.   Phoenix Suns

Additions: Isaiah Thomas (Via Sign & Trade with Kings), Anthony Tolliver, T.J. Warren (R), Tyler Ennis (R)

Subtractions: Channing Frye (Magic), Emeka Okafor

10. Denver Nuggets

Additions: Aaron Afflalo (Via Trade with Magic), Gary Harris (R), Jusuf Nurkić (R)

Subtractions: Evan Fournier (Via Trade with Magic), Aaron Brooks (Bulls)

11. New Orleans Pelicans

Additions: Omer Asik (Via Trade with Rockets), Jimmer Fredette

Subtractions: Anthony Morrow (Thunder), Brian Roberts (Hornets), Jason Smith (Knicks), Al-Farouq Aminu (Mavs)

12. Los Angeles Lakers

Additions: Carlos Boozer, Ed Davis, Julius Randle (R), Jeremy Lin (Via Trade with Rockets)

Subtractions: Pau Gasol (Bulls), Jodie Meeks (Pistons), Chris Kaman (Blazers), Jordan Farmar (Clippers), Kent Bazemore (Hawks), Kendall Marshall (Bucks)

13. Sacramento Kings

Additions: Darren Collison, Nik Stauskas (R), Jeremy Tyler & Wayne Ellington (Via Trade with Knicks)

Subtractions: Isaiah Thomas (Suns), Aaron Gray (Pistons), Travis Outlaw & Quincy Acy (Via Trade with Knicks)

14. Minnesota Timberwolves

Additions: Mo Williams, Zach LaVine (R), Andrew Wiggins (R), Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young (Via 3-Way Trade with Cavs & 76ers)

Subtractions: Kevin Love, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute & Alexey Shved (Via 3-Way Trade with Cavs and 76ers)

15. Utah Jazz

Additions: Dante Exum (R), Trevor Booker, Rodney Hood (R), Steve Novak (Via Trade with Raptors)

Subtractions: Marvin Williams (Hornets), Richard Jefferson (Mavericks), Brandon Rush (Warriors)