Basketball Intelligence For 8/2/21

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

2021 DRAFT

- College Coaches On The 2021 NBA Draft (from Jeff Borzello, ESPN):  https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31934729/college-basketball-coaches-2021-nba-draft-best-fits-biggest-drops

- DET: Projecting Isaiah Livers (from Matt Way, Detroit Bad Boys): https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2021/8/1/22604530/detroit-pistons-isaiah-livers-michigan

- MEM: Profile: Santi Aldama (from Ed Memphis, Grizzly Bear Blues): https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/8/2/22602255/2021-nba-draft-prospect-profiles-santi-aldama-memphis-grizzlies

- SAS: Why The Spurs Took Primo At 12 (from Mark Inabinett, AL.com): https://www.al.com/sports/2021/08/why-did-the-spurs-pick-josh-primo-at-no-12-in-the-nba-draft.html

From Jeff McDonald, Express-News: https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/For-San-Antonio-Spurs-babyfaced-draftee-Josh-16354837.php

- TOR: Dalano Banton: The Raptors' 1st Canadian Draft Pick (from Doug Smith, Toronto Star):  https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2021/08/01/shout-out-to-rexdale-the-raptors-first-canadian-draft-pick-dalano-banton-already-has-big-plans.html

From Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun: https://canoe.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/new-raptor-banton-is-ready-to-work-wants-to-be-an-inspiration-to-rexdale-community/wcm/837ea79d-dda1-40c6-b76a-3cbfc80005c6

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FREE AGENCY

- What Teams Actions Are Saying (from John Hollinger, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/2745940/2021/08/02/hollinger-as-nba-free-agency-opens-what-im-hearing-and-what-teams-actions-are-saying/

- Playoffs Raised Questions; Free Agency Should Bring Answers (from Ben Golliver, Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/08/02/nba-free-agency-2021-questions/

- Ranking The Free Agents:

   From Luke Adams, Hoops Rumors):  https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/08/top-50-nba-free-agents-of-2021.html

   From Charles Curtis, USA Today: https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-free-agents-2021-ranked

   From Jordan Greer, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-free-agents-2021-ranking-kawhi-leonard/dj2qmbt22d001j0qokr5z9ool

   From Scott Rafferty, NBA.com: https://ca.nba.com/news/2021-nba-free-agency-ranking-the-best-players-available/be1dni7q9twx1t174n2nd697k

- The Top Restricted FAs (from Rafael Canton, Real GM): https://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/263565/Top-5-Restricted-Free-Agents-In-2021-NBA-Draft-Class

- BKN: Nets Looking To Re-Sign Or Replace Supporting Cast (from Brian Lewis, NY Post):  https://nypost.com/2021/08/01/nets-must-re-sign-or-replace-spencer-dinwiddie-blake-griffin/

- BOS: The Latest On The Celtics' Options (from Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe): https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/01/sports/celtics-limited-do-have-options-free-agency-opens/

- DET: Cap Space & Roster Needs (from Omari Sankofa II, Free Press): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/08/02/detroit-pistons-cap-space-free-agency-roster/5448793001/

- LAC: Kawhi Leonard Opts Out (from Andrew Greif, LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-08-01/clippers-free-agency-kawhi-leonard-opts-out-demar-derozan

From Chris Haynes/Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo Sports: https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-kawhi-leonard-to-decline-option-enter-free-agency-213909015.html

From Mark Medina, USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/clippers/2021/08/01/nba-free-agency-clippers-kawhi-leonard-declines-player-option/5449528001/

From Mirjam Swanson, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/08/01/report-clippers-kawhi-leonard-declines-option-to-become-free-agent/

- LAL: Lakers Face Tough Decisions At Start Of Free Agency (from Kyle Goon, OC Register): https://www.dailynews.com/2021/08/01/tough-decisions-facing-the-lakers-at-the-start-of-free-agency/

 - OKC: Thunder Free Agency Guide (from Nick Crain, Forbes):  https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2021/08/02/okc-thunder-2021-free-agency-guide/?sh=5e3334b0785d

From Rylan Stiles, Thunderous Intentions: https://thunderousintentions.com/2021/08/01/okc-thunder-roster-free-agency-preview/

- PHI: Key Questions For Sixers Ahead Of Free Agency (from Noah Levick, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/nba-free-agency-2021-sixers-kyle-lowry-ben-simmons-reggie-bullock

- PHO: Re-Signing Cam Payne Is A Near-Necessity (from Kevin Zimmerman, Arizona Sports):  https://arizonasports.com/story/2750932/cam-payne-returning-to-suns-would-be-continuity-but-also-near-necessity/

- SAC: Kings' Free Agency Preview (from James Ham, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings/2021-nba-free-agency-kings-roster-salary-cap-situations

- WAS: Wizards Free Agency Preview (from Fred Katz, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/2745014/2021/08/01/wizards-free-agency-preview-everything-from-how-the-roster-stands-to-replacing-russell-westbrook/

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NEWS AND NOTES

- Travis Murphy: The NBA's 'Visa Guy' (from Michael Lee, Washington Post):  https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/07/29/nba-international-players-visas-immigration

- EC Offseason Guide (from Bobby Manning, Patreon): https://www.patreon.com/posts/54220799

- Sunday Notes (from Gary Washburn, Boston Globe): https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/31/sports/there-are-lot-unknowns-about-nba-draft-no-1-overall-pick-cade-cunningham-isnt-one-them/

- Coaches' Poll: The League's Top Defenders In 2020-21 Season (from Jon Krawczynski/Josh Robbins):  https://theathletic.com/2745318/2021/08/02/anonymous-nba-coaches-poll-2020-21-best-defenders/

- It's The Same Old Song For Nigeria Basketball (from Colin Udoh, ESPN):  https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/31938980/same-old-song-nigeria-basketball

- Q & A: Jerry Colangelo (from Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated): https://www.si.com/nba/2021/08/02/jerry-colangelo-usa-basketball-tokyo-olympics-exit-interview-daily-cover

- BOS: Things To Know About Kris Dunn (from Conor Roche, Boston.com): https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2021/08/01/celtics-kris-dunn-things-to-know-bio/

- BOS: Things To Know About Josh Richardson (from Conor Roche, Boston.com):  https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2021/08/01/celtics-mavericks-trade-josh-richardson-things-to-know-bio/

- OKC: Thunder Set To Rebuild Around Jumbo Guard Duo (from Nick Crain, Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2021/08/01/okc-thunder-set-to-rebuild-around-jumbo-guard-duo/?sh=4012ca5b75ee

- SAS: Inside Team USA, Keldon Johnson Is Making Quite An Impression (from Mike Finger, Express-News):  https://www.expressnews.com/sports/columnists/mike_finger/article/Olympics-Team-USA-Keldon-Johnson-Spurs-16355856.php

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TRADES

 LAL-WAS: (from Ramona Shelburne, ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31937985/how-two-phone-calls-two-years-apart-led-los-angeles-lakers-landing-russell-westbrook

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Today's BI is dedicated to the memory of Cliff Anderson (from Mike Jensen, The Inquirer): https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/cliff-anderson-died-st-josephs-20210728.html