Basketball Intelligence for 10/17/24
Lonzo Ball, the vanishing 15th roster spot, Hartenstein's injury, ESPN's NBA rank, and more
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LEAGUE STORIES
The NBA’s Vanishing 15th Roster Spot
Keith Smith, Spotrac
An Eastern Conference front office executive put it in even simpler terms: “Is it worth spending a bunch of money for a guy who isn’t going to play? Our coaches and players will obviously say yes. But our owner will probably say no. My job is to find that happy medium. And with two-way guys and 10 Day deals, we can get around filling that spot until late in the season, if we’re going to be a playoff team.”
NBA Rank 2024: Rankings for the top 10 players in the league
Staff, ESPN
Beyond the Top 100: Six Deep-Cut NBA Players With Outsize Importance in 2024-25
Zach Kram, The Ringer
NBA predictions: Expect Thunder to run away with West, but can Suns blaze a trail?
John Hollinger, The Athletic
NBA Survival Guide: 5 breakout candidates who can make significant leaps
Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports
The T.J. McConnell paradigm: How the sunset of NBA super teams led to the rise of role players
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic
Which NBA teams will have best (and worst) offenses this season? Projecting where all 30 squads will finish
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
2024/25 NBA Roster Battles to Watch, Predictions
Tristan Tucker, All-Star Analytics
TEAM STORIES
CHI: Lonzo Ball scores 10 in return, reflects on rehab: 'All behind me now'
Jamal Collier, ESPN
And Wednesday night, Ball made an impact every time he stepped on the court. He knocked down his first shot, a corner 3-pointer, and then threw up three fingers as he ran up the court. He stole the ball from Julius Randle on another possession and dove into the Bulls bench to save it from going out of bounds.
DAL: Mavericks' Jazian Gortman Generating Buzz with Standout Preseason Play: 'I Always Want to Get Better'
Grant Afseth,