Anfernee Simons helps Blazers upset Bucks

How does L.A. fix what still ails it? This deal removes the largest expiring contract the Lakers could use in any future trade. Anything they do now would have to rely on aggregating multiple contracts that go beyond this season and, most likely, would carry negative value to receiving teams: Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. Those three and Jalen Hood-Schifino’s expiring $3.9 million deal can combine to make $43.6 million in outbound salary and could take back roughly the same amount while keeping L.A. under the collective bargaining agreement’s second apron (remember, the Lakers would have to backfill empty roster spots in a four-for-one or three-for-one trade). That amount is enough to match the salaries of most of the star players they’d be considering. Zach LaVine, for instance, makes $43 million; Anfernee Simons makes $25.9 million; LaMelo Ball (sure, let’s go there) makes $35.1 million; and De’Aaron Fox (what the heck, let’s go there, too) makes $34.5 million. -via New York Times / December 30, 2024

Casey Holdahl: Mavs 132, Blazers 108: FINAL. 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists for @deniavdia8. 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals for @DeandreAyton. 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists for @thereal013. 13 points, 3 rebounds/assists/steals for @ShaedonSharpe. 10 points, 5 assists for @AnferneeSimons. -via Twitter @CHold / December 23, 2024

Players to keep a close eye on include Kyle Kuzma, Nikola Vučević, Jonas Valančiūnas, Malcolm Brogdon, Lonzo Ball, De’Andre Hunter, Jakob Pöltl, Jaden Springer, Day’Ron Sharpe, Bruce Brown, PJ Tucker, Bones Hyland, KJ Martin, Duop Reath, Marcus Smart, Josh Okogie, Anfernee Simons, Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles (among others). Some sources anticipate that the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers will make moves before the deadline to reduce their salaries to fall below the NBA’s luxury-tax threshold of $170.8 million. -via Bleacher Report / December 19, 2024