League has 29 underdogs going after championship
The NBA’s 73rd season starts tonight with two games: the 76ers open things up against the Celtics in Boston and then the Warriors host the Thunder.
It begins a year where LeBron James will play for the Los Angeles Lakers, where Carmelo Anthony will aim to push the Houston Rockets over the top, and where Dwyane Wade will take his 16th and final lap around the league. A new arena is opening in Milwaukee, eight teams will have new coaches, and everyone will be looking to see if the Warriors can win a third straight title.
“If they don’t win, it’s a failure,” Memphis guard Mike Conley Jr. said. “I know that’s how they feel as well. For us, for the other 29 teams, we’re the underdog. We’re trying to take what they have. It’s a lot easier playing from the underdog perspective than coming in with a lot of expectation.”
In this NBA, everybody else is an underdog.
That even applies to Houston — which won 65 games last season, has the reigning MVP in James Harden, an elite point guard in Chris Paul who re-signed for $160 million this summer, a deep-pocketed owner in Tilman Fertitta and an always-tinkering GM in Daryl Morey. The Rockets had the Warriors against the ropes in last season’s Western Conference finals, leading that series 3-2 yet falling after Paul was lost to a hamstring injury.
“We’ve all got one goal, man,” Harden said. “You’ll keep hearing the same story over and over until I’m not here no more. We’ve got to win a ’chip. We’ve all got the same goal. We kind of, a little bit, we kind of know what it takes to almost get there. But we haven’t gotten there yet.”
After 15 seasons in the Eastern Conference, James — who has played in each of the last eight NBA Finals — has moved West. He signed a four-year deal in July with the Lakers, one that makes him the biggest star on the league’s glitziest franchise. He’s teamed up with talented young players like Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, and former rivals like Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson.
“I’m a basketball player,” James said. “I play ball. That’s what I do and that’s what I live by. And when I do it at the level I do it at, everything else takes care of itself.”
CLIPPERS TRADE FOR, THEN WAIVE AJINCA >> The Los Angeles Clippers acquired center Alexis Ajinca from New Orleans in exchange for forward Wesley Johnson.
The Clippers subsequently waived Ajinca on Monday.
Johnson averaged 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 222 games over three seasons with the Clippers. He made 53 starts during that span.
The 31-year-old forward has also played for Minnesota, Phoenix and the Lakers during his eight-year NBA career, during which he’s averaged 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Ajinca averaged 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 293 games for Charlotte, Dallas, Toronto and the Pelicans during his seven-year NBA career. The 30-year-old center from France was selected 20th overall by the Hornets in the 2008 draft. NANCE, CAVALIERS REACH DEAL >> Forward Larry Nance Jr. and the Cavaliers agreed to a $44.8 million, four-year contract extension.
The sides had until 6 p.m. on Monday to work out terms for the deal or Nance would have become an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
The 25-year-old Nance joined the Cavs midway through last season after he was acquired in a trade along with guard Jordan Clarkson from the Lakers. He helped Cleveland reach its fourth straight NBA Finals and the Cavs view him as one of their core players as they rebuild without superstar LeBron James.
Nance averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in 24 games last season. He’s expected to share starting duties this season with Tristan Thompson as coach Tyronn Lue plans to match up with the other team’s big men.
Nance is following in the footsteps of his father, Larry Sr., who was an AllStar with the Cavs from 1987-94.
BUCKS TRADE FOR MEEKS >> The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired suspended guard Jodie Meeks, a future second-round draft pick and cash from the Wizards, sending a future secondround pick back to Washington.
The NBA suspended Meeks in April for 25 games for a violation of the league’s drug program. He has 19 games left on the suspension.
It’s possible that Meeks will be waived by the Bucks, who are loaded in the backcourt. Milwaukee signed Pat Connaughton as a free agent in the offseason and drafted Donte DiVincenzo in the first round to go with returnees including Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon. AROUND THE LEAGUE >> The Atlanta Hawks exercised their 2019-20 contract options on DeAndre’ Bembry, Taurean Prince and John Collins . ... The New York Knicks exercised their third-year option on Frank Ntilikina’s contract. The Frenchman is in the mix to start at point guard under new coach David Fizdale. ... The Brooklyn Nets exercised their 2019-20 contract options on Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen . ... The Pacers signed 22-yearold Myles Turner to a contract extension. It is a fouryear deal worth $72 million, espn.com reported.