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Shams Charania: Portland traded Damian Lillard for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and assets in 2023 -- then Holiday to Boston for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon and assets. Now, the Blazers have both Lillard and Holiday, plus Williams, Camara, a 2029 first-rounder and two Bucks swaps.
Law Murray: The league’s investigation into Kevin Porter Jr.’s 2023 domestic violence incident has concluded, resulting in a four-game suspension. Based on the facts and circumstances, the NBA and NBPA have agreed that the suspension is deemed to have been served.
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Spoelstra is also looking into the Heat’s in-game collapses, as Miami blew a double-digit lead in a league-leading 22 losses last regular season. The Heat also wasted a fourth-quarter lead in a league-leading 21 losses last regular season. “Those close games are something that we’ve really analyzed,” Spoelstra said while in Las Vegas for summer league action, which the Heat will wrap up Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks’ summer squad (7 p.m. ESPN+). “That can change the trajectory of your season if you handle those moments of truth better, if you have a few more wins out of those groupings of games that were very winnable with fourth-quarter leads and that kind of stuff. The whole league is trying to figure that out. But that has given us something to really dive into. And then offensively, building a system where it can be dynamic and a little bit tougher to just prepare for if you’re on the other side.”
After the Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo was open-minded about leaving Milwaukee. “With the Knicks and all the other teams kind of keeping an eye on Milwaukee and what may or may not happen there, I think one of the reasons why he (Bridges) has not been extended yet is because once you extend him, you cannot trade him for six months,” Begley said on The Putback. “And I think until the Giannis stuff is fully settled, and I don’t think it’s fully settled yet, as much as I’m sure Bucks fans hate to hear that because I would hate to hear that if I was a Bucks fan, but I don’t think it’s fully settled yet. “And so as teams continue to keep an eye on that, continue to at least plan with that somewhere in the back of their mind, I think that’s why you haven’t seen Bridges extended yet. When he does extend, I think that would tell you Giannis is put to bed, is off the table in a sense.”
He’s available. The Warriors need shooting. And Seth’s father-in-law, Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, is among those who can visualize a fruitful partnership. “I actually think the perfect place for him would be Golden State,” Rivers said last month on The Bill Simmons Podcast. Reminded of Rivers’ comment, Seth Curry grins and does not dismiss the prospect. “They play a good brand of basketball,” he says of the Warriors. “I feel like I've been a part of Dub Nation for a while, watching Steph and being around the organization. Obviously, they, like any team, could use shooting. “But I can't say anything other than I'm trying to find the best place for me.”
The Spot Up Shot: Official: The Bucks have signed Cole Anthony & Chris Livingston. The Hornets have signed Drew Peterson to a two-way contract. The Suns have waived Bradley Beal.
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Cole Anthony. A 6-2, 185-pound guard, Anthony appeared in 67 games (22 starts) last season with the Orlando Magic, averaging 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 18.4 minutes per game. He reached double figures in scoring 26 times, including eight games with 20+ points and one game reaching the 30-point mark, and he matched his career-high 11 assists on Jan. 3 at Toronto.
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Shams Charania: The Milwaukee Bucks are re-signing forward Chris Livingston on a fully guaranteed one-year, $2.3 million deal, Rich Paul and Brandon Cavanaugh of Klutch Sports tell ESPN. Livingston, the 58th pick in the 2023 NBA draft, receives a third consecutive year on a guaranteed contract.
Personnel across several other teams -- including the Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, sources said -- pursued Bradley Beal and had extensive conversations with him and Bartelstein in recent weeks.
Jon Horst on Damian Lillard buyout: We looked at the opportunity to acquire a highly productive, elite free agent, who is in the prime of his career, and who is an incredible fit next to Giannis, as an opportunity for these next two seasons in particular, instead of what would have been Dame on our books at a full salary, as really opportunistic, more than anything.
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