Dan Favale

Utah

professionally inessential. nba @bleacherreport. avid listener of sad music that sounds happy. subscribe to @hardwoodknocks. dfavale2033(at)gmail(dot)com.

Articles

Winners and Losers from Memphis Grizzlies-Orlando Magic Desmond Bane Blockbuster Trade

1 week ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Winner: The Grizzlies' Optionality5 of 7 Losing Desmond Bane's offensive punch no doubt stings, but the Grizzlies are extracting excellent value out of someone who may never make an All-Star game. While Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's contract ($43.2 million) doesn't look so hot these days, he somewhat quietly defended at an All-League level last season.
5 Teams That Could Trade Up In the 2025 NBA Draft

1 week ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Draft-day trades are an NBA rite of summer. This year's extravaganza will be no different. If anything, the action on Thursday, Jun. 25, could prove more frenetic than usual-especially when it comes to squads moving up the board. Seven teams currently have multiple first-round selections. Roster-spot crunches, financial concerns and affinities for taking bigger swings all stand to fuel a frenzied exchange-and consolidation-of picks.
3-Team NBA Trade Idea Gets Kevin Durant To a Rumored Preferred Landing Spot

1 week ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Why the San Antonio Spurs Do It4 of 4 In: Kevin Durant, No. 4 pickOut: Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, No. 2 pick, No. 14 pick, 2026 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of Dallas, Oklahoma City or Philadelphia), Minnesota's 2028 second-round pickThere are more straightforward constructions for the Spurs if they don't view retaining Devin Vassell as a priority. They should.
Ranking the NBA Teams Most Desperate for Change

2 weeks ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Every NBA team enters the offseason hoping to change for the better. For some squads, though, the urgency to improve their outlook is more urgent than others. Let's go ahead and rank the organizations who should be most desperate to turn over a new leaf, shall we? Please note the emphasis on should. Certain teams clearly need to shift course but won't. They will not be spared from this exercise simply because they've consigned themselves to ill-gotten visions.
A 4-Team Blockbuster Trade That Lands Kevin Durant with Rumored Suitor

2 weeks ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Why the New Orleans Pelicans Do It3 of 5 Out: Yves Missi, Dejounte Murray, Kelly Olynyk, 2026 first-round pick (top-nine protection), Indiana's 2026 first-round pick (top-four protection), 2027 first-round swap, Toronto's 2031 second-round pick (via New Orleans)New Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars told NOLA.com's Rod Walker the team is sticking with Zion Williamson as its franchise centerpiece.
Every NBA Team's No. 1 Offseason Priority

2 weeks ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Each NBA team always has a ton to get done over the offseason. The difficulty and significance of these to-do lists vary by situation, but the work itself is always a lot-so much so that knowing where they should start can be tough to pin down. Fortunately, we're here to help with totally unsolicited advice for each front office. We won't be putting the full list of their priorities in order, but we are going to identify the most important item on their summertime game plan.
Bold Predictions for OKC Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Finals Game 2 and Beyond

3 weeks ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals is officially done. First of all: Holy crap. Second of all: It's time to look ahead to Game 2-as well as the rest of this series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Bold predictions will be the vessel through which we reflect on Thursday night, mull over Sunday's forthcoming matchup and project forward from there.
Gilbert Arenas crossed the line with vile, misogynistic attack on Karl-Anthony Towns

3 weeks ago | dailyknicks.com | Dan Favale

This is truly despicable. None of us should be taking anything Gilbert Arenas has to say about the game of basketball seriously in the year 2025. He has proven as much on numerous occasions. Too many occasions. Way, way, too many occasions. No, seriously, why is he still allowed to talk into a microphone, or at a camera?
Every Team's Biggest Fear During the 2025 NBA Offseason

3 weeks ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

Orlando Magic: Last Summer Repeats Itself22 of 30 Poaching Kentavious-Caldwell Pope from the Denver Nuggets at the start of 2024 free agency seemed to preempt a big, aggressive summer from the Orlando Magic. Orlando again looked at its numerous offensive holes and decided "Nah, we're set here." It was a mistake. The Magic offense remains bottom-of-the-barrel, and time missed by Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner isn't the only reason why.
Biggest Problems New York Knicks Must Still Fix After Firing Tom Thibodeau

3 weeks ago | bleacherreport.com | Dan Favale

The New York Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday, as ESPN's Shams Charania first reported. It's a decision many fans and analysts will overwhelmingly support. It may even be the right call. But it is not the only problem these Knicks must address. Heck, moving on from Thibodeau doesn't even necessarily tackle New York's biggest issue.