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Pat Heery

Pat Heery began his sports writing career in 2016 for The Has Been Sports Blog. He practices real estate law during the day and runs pick & rolls at night. Follow him on Twitter: @pheery12

The curious case of Lakers GM Rob Pelinka: Can he build another title team?

Rob Pelinka, Lakers GM for all seven seasons of the LeBron James era in Los Angeles, has quietly obtained more power for the league's most popular franchise despite having a shaky (at best) resume.  

The post-draft, post-free agency NBA team power rankings

The NBA offseason *appears* to be mostly over (*contingent upon the next unexpected Shams Bomb announcing a league-altering trade). There are still some moves along the edges of the roster to be made, and restricted free agency is moving at a snail's pace, but for all intents and purposes, the teams are set for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Drafter beware: Four NBA lottery prospects who could be busts

Teams should draft Ace Bailey of Rutgers and these three players at their own risk in the 2025 NBA Draft (first round Wednesday, June 25, 8 p.m. ET). 

20 NBA players who could be traded this offseason

This summer has the chance to be one of the wildest ones in recent memory as some of the biggest names in basketball are on the trade market this offseason.

Power ranking potential Kevin Durant trade packages

ESPN's Shams Charania recently reported Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns are working on finding a new team for the future Hall of Famer.

Who are the best NBA free agents available this offseason?

The free agent frenzy is set to begin shortly. With that in mind, here are the best NBA free agents who are available this summer.

Five potential stars in NBA Draft besides Duke's Cooper Flagg

In the NBA Draft, fans often obsess over which teams have the top few picks every year. But the best players rarely all come from the top of the draft.

2025 NBA first round mock draft: Intrigue starts at pick No. 3

With the NBA season winding down, you know what that means: NBA mock draft season is upon us! Here's our initial first-round mock draft.

Reign men: Thunder will prove their greatness to NBA

The Thunder, the NBA's youngest team, are rocking the league.

Ranking five head-spinning trade scenarios for Giannis Antetokounmpo

With the NBA Draft order set, it's time to cook up realistic trade scenarios for the league's most dominant force.

Post-mortem for four fake NBA contenders: What's next for Luka, LeBron?

What's next for the Lakers, Bucks, Clippers and Rockets -- all eliminated recently from the NBA playoffs?

10 truths about the play-in, first round of NBA playoffs

The NBA regular season was spectacular and drama filled, but don’t get too nostalgic because the playoffs are going to take things up another level. As you prepare for the play-in and first round, here are 10 truths to know.

10 dramatic NBA predictions: Who's dreaming of Lakers in Finals?

The NBA is always full of drama, and this season is no different. 

10 players who could improve their NBA Draft stock by rocking March Madness

Much of the rest of the first round could be highly influenced by what we see from these players over the next month. 

Fabulous foursome: Who deserves NBA Coach of the Year?

The 2024-25 NBA regular season is three-fourths of the way complete, and, surprisingly, most of the awards races are either wrapped up or lackluster. Not so, however, with Coach of the Year. 

NBA power rankings: Most disappointing player edition

With the NBA season moving headlong into its post-All-Star break stretch, it's time for another power ranking of the 30 teams. But we're doing it with a twist by noting each team's most disappointing player.

Assessing, grading four Western Conference teams that underwent full makeovers at the NBA trade deadline

The majority of the deadline action was concentrated in the West, where four teams made moves that could have a dramatic effect on their franchises for the rest of this season and seasons to come.

How NBA's middle class should navigate dreaded 'Hamster Wheel of Mediocrity'

If a team is  somewhere in the middle, it better have a clear direction because floundering around play-in territory is the NBA’s version of purgatory. 

Grading the Eastern Conference a third of the way through the season

A third of the way through the NBA season, the Eastern Conference looks to have a handful of worthy contenders, a couple of teams with major trade deadline decisions to make and a handful of teams tanking for Cooper Flagg.

Heaven to hell: Grading every Western Conference NBA team

More than a third of the way through the NBA regular season, several notable trends have developed, including the brilliance of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Look who has made 'The Leap' in the NBA

One of the cooler things about every NBA season is witnessing young players make “The Leap” — a noticeable improvement in their games over the previous season or seasons.

Goodbye, LeBron?! Four NBA mega-trades we want to see 

NBA trade season officially opened last week with the Golden State Warriors acquiring the ever-pesky (and talented) Dennis Schröder from the Brooklyn Nets.