Here are the top 10 true freshmen to watch for the upcoming men’s college basketball season.Even as the Philadelphia 76ers barred James Harden from traveling on the team’s season-opening road trip, they remain resolute in trade talks. The Sixers aren’t backing down in talks with the LA Clippers and continue to insist that Terance Mann be a part of the trade package.
Part of Philadelphia’s insistence on acquiring Mann, is that they know Mann was offered to the Portland Trail Blazers when LA tried to acquire Jrue Holiday. Portland ultimately traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics.
To date, the Clippers have refused to part with Mann, in addition to unprotected first-round picks and swaps. LA reportedly believes they are the only suitor for Harden. Philadelphia believes there is pressure on the Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George pending free agents this summer.
The New York Knicks are keeping an eye on what happens with Joel Embiid, as the James Harden situation plays out in Philadelphia. That makes New York no different than the other 28 teams who don’t employ Embiid.
Despite that interest the Knicks, sources indicated that Embiid remains committed to the 76ers and to winning in Philadelphia. He hasn’t asked for a trade, and there is no sense that a trade request is imminent.
In addition to that, Sixers decision makers were unmoved by the purported package that the Knicks would offer for Embiid. New York is reportedly poised to offer a package of players and draft picks for the reigning MVP. That includes Philadelphia choosing from Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Evan Fournier and two-to-three of the first-round picks that the Knicks own.
Ahead of his first game against his former team, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving had no regrets about how he left the Brooklyn Nets.
“I was never on bad terms with the organization,” Irving said. “I just think there was a lot of chaos and noise, as usual, from the media. I’m not going to blame you guys or anything, but nobody really knew what was going on behind the scenes. I’m sure that people have their sources they go to [about] what was going on and what really happened.”
Irving added that he’s happy to with the way things played out. He re-emphasized that he had no problem with the Nets as a team, but that’s he happy to be with the Mavericks.
“But for me, it was the best decision of my career to ask for a trade,” Irving said. “I knew I needed peace of mind.”
