DeMar DeRozan’s name keeps coming up around the Knicks, but that doesn’t automatically make him the answer in New York.
Kento Kato of SI.com made the case that DeRozan would still bring real value as a proven shot creator off the bench. The issue, though, is whether his game actually matches what has made the Knicks champions. Kato pointed to DeRozan’s lack of three-point shooting, rebounding and defense as red flags for a roster built around those strengths.
There’s also the role question. At 17 years in the league, DeRozan might not be the easiest fit for an inconsistent bench job where his minutes could swing from night to night.
The talent is obvious. The fit is where the debate starts.
For a defending champion, Kato argued that keeping the group’s chemistry intact may matter more than adding another recognizable name.
Nikola Jokic has said he wants to spend the rest of his career in Denver, and the Nuggets now have to make sure that remains the obvious choice.
Logan Struck of SI.com wrote that Jokic’s latest comments should calm some nerves in Denver, but the timing still matters. Waiting until next summer to sign a new contract means the Nuggets have pressure on them to keep building a roster worthy of his commitment.
Jokic has already been clear about where he wants to be.
“My desire is to play the rest of my life in Denver,” he recently said.
Struck also questioned whether Denver has done enough this offseason after a first-round playoff exit, pointing out that the team’s additions have been relatively modest. The message, as he framed it, is straightforward: keeping Jokic won’t be about talk. It will be about winning.
Charlotte, meanwhile, has officially closed out another active offseason stretch.
Schuyler Callihan of SI.com reported that the Hornets finalized their trade with Houston for veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith and three future second-round picks. Charlotte also made Coby White’s new contract official.
In Other News...
Hornets Fans Have A New Reason To Question This Dorian Finney-Smith Move
The Hornets added veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith in a move that has already added another layer to a busy offseason in Charlotte. He came over from the Houston Rockets, giving the team another experienced name to sort through as it continues reshaping the roster around a wave of recent activity that has already included trades involving LaMelo Ball, Josh Green and Miles Bridges, along with two selections in the draft.
What makes this one stand out is the uncertainty attached to it. Finney-Smith is the kind of player teams usually target for stability and lineup flexibility, but the fit in Charlotte is not as straightforward as the transaction sheet suggests, and the move leaves fans wondering how much immediate value the Hornets actually expect to get from it. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Lock In Final Two-Way Spots After Telling Roster Decision
The Hornets have now settled their Two-Way picture for the upcoming season, adding forward Michael Ajayi and guard Kylan Boswell to round out the trio of spots. Center PJ Hall remains on a Two-Way deal from last season, giving Charlotte a small but important bit of continuity as the team sorts through the back end of its roster heading into summer action.
Ajayi and Boswell are both expected to get their first look in Hornets colors during NBA Summer League, which gives Charlotte a chance to evaluate two young players in a competitive setting. For a team still shaping its depth chart, those minutes matter, even if the bigger roster questions are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]