Basketball Insiders Week in Review 9/25

DeAndre Bembry on Joining Hawks, Rookie Goals, More

By Alex Kennedy

Atlanta Hawks small forward DeAndre Bembry is arguably one of the most NBA-ready players from this year’s draft class.

Not only is the 22-year-old more experienced than many of his fellow rookies, he’s also mature beyond his years and has the kind of basketball IQ rarely seen in a first-year player. Because of his versatility and ability to produce on both ends of the court, it’s possible that he could crack Mike Budenholzer’s rotation sooner than later in Atlanta.

Click Here For More

Lamar Patterson Ready for Fresh Start

By Cody Taylor

With just two weeks to go until the beginning of NBA training camps, the offseason is nearly over. Players will begin returning back to their respective NBA cities and most seem excited to finally get back in the gym and play competitive, meaningful basketball again.

For Lamar Patterson, who spent his first NBA season splitting time playing with the Atlanta Hawks and in the D-League, the summer has been quite eventful. Shortly after the Las Vegas Summer League started in July, Patterson found out that the Hawks had waived him. The team had just agreed to deals with Kent Bazemore, Dwight Howard and Kris Humphries, so they had to clear Patterson’s contract off of the books to help make room for those players.

Click Here For More

Isaiah Thomas on Al Horford, Celtics’ Goals, Offseason Training

By Alex Kennedy

The last year has been a whirlwind for Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas.

Over the past 12 months, the veteran averaged 22.2 points, 6.2 assists, three rebounds and 1.1 steals, made his first All-Star appearance and then played a major role in the recruitment of stars like Al Horford and Kevin Durant for the Celtics.

Now, entering the 2016-17 season, Thomas is hoping to form a dominant one-two punch with Horford, continue to produce at an All-Star level and turn Boston into a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

Basketball Insiders recently caught up with Thomas to discuss his recruiting skills, offseason training, relationship with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, expectations for this season, desire to be great and much more.

Click Here For More

Wolters Hopes to Reclaim NBA Spot

By Jake Rauchbach

As training camps open up around the NBA, established players are using this opportunity to refine their game and get themselves in peak shape for the upcoming season. However, there are some players who are fighting for their spot in the league. For a guy like Nate Wolters, who is entering camp as the fourth point guard on the Denver Nuggets’ roster, his season starts now.

Wolters has spent time with the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans in previous years and is coming off a strong season in Turkey, where he averaged 11.6 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds.

Wolters has good size at 6’4 and has proven to be a solid lead guard in the NBA and overseas. Along with his other skills, Wolters is particularly adept at making plays out of ball screen action. As the No. 38 pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, Wolters is hoping that this opportunity with the Nuggets gives him a chance to reclaim an NBA roster spot.

Click Here For More

D’Angelo Russell Taking the Lakers’ Reins?

By Oliver Maroney

The Los Angeles Lakers had a disappointing 2015-16 campaign. After winning 21 games just two years ago, the team entered last season with the hope of competing at a somewhat higher level in the Western Conference. However, rather than returning to form, the Lakers would win just 17 contests and the season would be remembered as Kobe Bryant’s farewell tour.

While all of the losing has been extremely tough for a franchise and fan base accustomed to contending, one of the bright spots has been the arrival and production of D’Angelo Russell. The Lakers selected Russell with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and are hoping to turn the reins of the franchise over to the talented guard.

Click Here For More

Looking at Kevin Garnett’s Legacy

By Joel Brigham

Word leaked out this week that Kevin Garnett was discussing a buyout with the Minnesota Timberwolves, presumably to retire after tying the record for most seasons played in NBA history.

If true, Garnett officially will end his career as one of the best power forwards of all-time. Known first and foremost for a competitive drive that borders on insanity, Garnett has always deeply, truly cared about the game of basketball. And when a person like that possesses talent like Garnett’s, the results are almost sure to be as impressive as they’ve been for KG.

Had Garnett played this year, he would have been the only active player left from the 1995 NBA Draft. To put that in perspective, there are currently no active players from the 1996 or 1997 NBA Drafts. He’s lasted forever in a way that’s always resonated with his fans, and his career is one of the more fascinating and memorable of anybody in his generation.

Click Here For More

The Future Of Nerlens Noel In Philly

By Lang Greene

Heading into the 2016-17 campaign, the Philadelphia 76ers finally appear poised to – at the very least – emerge from last place in the Atlantic Division.

The team will be bolstered by 2016 No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons and the arrival of 2012 lottery pick Dario Saric from overseas. The Sixers are also expecting center Joel Embiid, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, to return to action after missing the prior two campaigns due to nagging foot issues.

There is certainly more talent in Philadelphia; this is undeniable. However, it’s obvious that the influx of talent is frontcourt-heavy, which will inevitably lead to a logjam at some point down the road.

Click Here For More