John Hollinger: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers could face harsh penalties in circumvention case, says John Hollinger

All eyes remain on the Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers controversy. Things escalated when journalist Pablo Torre revealed that the Clippers allegedly went under the table to pay Leonard over the salary cap.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

NBA Threatens Clippers With Major Penalties, Analyst Says They Must Walk a Tightrope

John Hollinger laid out the harsh reality for the Los Angeles Clippers — if the NBA proves they funneled money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration, the league has no choice but to make an example out of them.

Phoenix Suns News / Hardwood Heroics / July 29

'Watching From Courtside Made Me Concerned' – Phoenix Suns Rookie Draws Concerning Outlook From Veteran Analyst

The Phoenix Suns received the 10th overall pick of this summer’s NBA Draft from the historic Kevin Durant trade, and they used the selection to take Khaman Maluach out of Duke.

Phoenix Suns News / Phoenix Suns on SI / July 27

Report: Suns Turned Down This Offer for First-Round Pick

Remember the 2026 unprotected first-rounder the New Orleans Pelicans sent to the Atlanta Hawks to move up and draft and take Derik Queen 13th overall? Well, the Phoenix Suns were offered the same package and denied it.

Phoenix Suns News / Phoenix Suns on SI / July 27

Suns Rookie Among Summer League's Top Disappointments

The Phoenix Suns are hoping to get a lot of production out of teenage center Khaman Maluach, who was chosen with the No. 10 overall pick out of Duke in last month's NBA Draft.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / July 22

NBA Expansion Still Feels Inevitable, Just Not Imminent

Don’t expect the NBA to go from 30 teams to 32 tomorrow. But don’t expect it to stay at 30 for much longer, either. According to The Athletic’s John Hollinger, the feeling around the league remains that expansion is going to happen.

Washington Wizards News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 30

The Athletic's John Hollinger and Sam Vecenie Analyze Will Riley's Fit

With the 21st overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards added a high-upside piece to their rebuild, selecting former Illinois wing Will Riley – a 6-foot-8 freshman whose raw potential intrigued scouts despite some lingering questions about his readiness for the pro level.

Miami Heat News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 29

The Athletic's John Hollinger and Sam Vecenie Analyze Kasparas Jakucionis' Fit

Former Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis was the dropper of last Wednesday's NBA Draft, freefalling to the No. 20 overall pick after being slotted as high as a top-five selection at one point during his 2024-25 freshman season.Sometimes, though, good things come to those who wait it out in the green room.

UConn Star Receives New Ranking Before 2025 NBA Draft

Former UConn Husky Liam McNeeley expects to hear his name in the first round of the NBA Draft this week. Whether that’s as early as the late lottery picks on the high end or falling towards the final picks of the night remains to be seen.

Brooklyn Nets News / Brooklyn Nets on SI / June 17

Two Nets Ranked Among Best Upcoming NBA Free Agents

The Brooklyn Nets will be the most important team in this year’s free agency. The Nets are the only team in the NBA with substantial cap space right now.

Cleveland Cavaliers News / Hoops Wire / May 14

Cavs Face Big Offseason Decisions, With Very Little Room To Manuever

The season ended early for the Cavaliers, and now comes the most important season of all. That would be none other than the offseason, every team’s path to trying to build a contender.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / May 10

Rockets Have Trade Assets Galore For Blockbuster Deal

The Houston Rockets are a team to watch this offseason with all of the trade assets they have to make a big move. The Athletic insider John Hollinger believes they are the likeliest team to make such a trade this offseason.

Orlando Magic News / Orlando Magic on SI / May 8

Why Orlando Magic Should Have More Urgency This Offseason

The Orlando Magic are in danger of being stuck as a franchise after two consecutive first-round eliminations in the playoffs. This is the first time in the Jamahl Mosley era where the team didn't improve its position, so the Magic may be on the docket for some changes.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / April 30

John Hollinger Thinks Spurs Or Raptors Could Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo

Former Memphis Grizzlies exec and current writer for The Athletic, John Hollinger, thinks the San Antonio Spurs or Toronto Raptors could trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Los Angeles Lakers on SI / April 19

John Hollinger Offers Surprising Prediction For Lakers vs Timberwolves Series

After finishing a very busy 2024-25 season with a 50-32 record under first-year head coach JJ Redick, the Los Angeles Lakers will kick off their playoff journey on Saturday, with a 3-6 matchup against the 49-33 Minnesota Timberwolves.

NBA News / Hoops Rumors / March 17

Impact role players ineligible for All-Defense consideration

In the wake of Tony Allen‘s jersey retirement ceremony in Memphis, John Hollinger of The Athletic revisits Allen’s six All-Defensive seasons for the Grizzlies and notes that the veteran guard wouldn’t have made All-Defense in five of those six years if the NBA’s current 65-game rule had been in place.

NBA News / New York Knicks on SI / February 10

Potential Pelicans Buyout Could Be Option for Knicks

The New York Knicks have a full roster at this point in time, but they could still make some noise on the buyout market. The Athletic insider John Hollinger listed New Orleans Pelicans forward Bruce Brown as the top player that could be available on the buyout market.

Phoenix Suns News / Phoenix Suns on SI / January 16

Analyst: Suns Need to Bail on Failed-Star Experiment

Things just can't seem to steady themselves for the Phoenix Suns. What was once a promising start to the 2024-25 regular season has quickly soiled itself into a disaster in the desert.

Portland Trail Blazers News / Portland Trail Blazers on SI / January 12

Blazers' Current Season Trajectory Sets Them Up For Massive Failure Down the Line

Are the Portland Trail Blazers making a massive error this year? That's the overarching thesis of John Hollinger of The Athletic, who posits that the Trail Blazers' reticence to part with several of their extant veteran players — many of whom are at least fairly appetizing trade chips — could prove brutally costly to their long-term success.

NBA News / Hoops Wire / December 10

NBA Takes a Breather: Cup Schedule Offers Rare Rest, Chance for Teams to Reassess

The NBA’s “bye week,” courtesy of the NBA Cup schedule, has arrived, as detailed by John Hollinger of The Athletic. Starting Monday, teams received a rare luxury: two games in 10 days.

NBA News / Last Word On Sports / October 5

Hollinger’s NBA Teams That Will Exceed/Fall Short Of Expectations

Recently, John Hollinger of The Athletic posted five NBA teams that he expects to exceed expectations and five he expects to fall short of expectations.

Boston Celtics News / Yardbarker / July 20, 2024

Celtics have tough decision to make on Sam Hauser's future

Boston is a second-apron luxury tax team and is on course to pay the repeater tax, so an extension for Hauser is more complicated than meets the eye.

Warriors owner weighs in on possibility of Celtics bid

The greatest NBA sixth men of all time

The 'Boston Celtics coaches' quiz

Los Angeles Lakers News / Los Angeles Lakers on SI / March 1, 2024

John Hollinger Calls Trade For All-Star This Summer A 'Perfect Storm' for LA

The Los Angeles Lakers' decision to stand pat at the trade deadline this season seemingly will have more of an impact on their options this coming offseason than many realize.

Los Angeles Lakers News / Los Angeles Lakers on SI / February 25, 2024

Executive Offers Low-Ceiling Scout On Bronny James

The Athletic's John Hollinger offered up an NBA player comparison for Bronny James that, all things considered, doesn't reflect well for LeBron's son. Hollinger compared Bronny to Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris -- a solid, but unspectacular, journeyman role player.

NFL News / Yardbarker / September 13, 2022

Former NBA exec: Broncos HC Hackett should play video games to refine coaching

Former NBA exec: Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett should play video games to refine late-game coaching

Nothing is stopping Nathaniel Hackett — or any NFL coach for that matter — from changing the settings in 'Madden' to hard, changing the game time to a realistic 15 minutes, and then making decisions regarding play-calling as well as timeouts as they happen.

'Clueless in Seattle': Hackett skewered for FG decision in loss to Seahawks

Hackett on FG call: 'Looking back at it, we definitely should have gone for it'

Broncos QB Russell Wilson did not think field goal attempt was the wrong decision

The biggest wish for every NFL fanbase in 2022

The '60-yard field goals' quiz