Notable NBA Free Agents 2019 Part 1 of 3

Notable NBA Free Agents 2019 Part 1 of 3

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by | Jun 5, 2019 | Featured, NBA

While the 2019 NBA season is drawing near to the end, three things are on NBA fans’ minds worldwide: Who’ll come out on top in the NBA Finals, the NBA Draft, and of course, Free Agency. The list of free agents this year has a wide range of key players and superstars for their respective teams, so we’ll be looking at each team with notable free agents and potentially where these players will end up in the season to come.

The Boston Celtics’ roster this season had much more depth in comparison to the other teams around the league.  This can however, lead to issues with minute distribution, which happened to be the case for Celtic guards Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier.  It also just so happens that both players are Free Agents this coming offseason, Irving under a Player Option and Rozier listed as Restricted.  Looking at the situation there are a couple of different scenarios that can possibly play out, that being where one leaves and the other stays, or both players leave in search of a better fit.  It has been reported that Rozier felt that he “took a backseat” this season with Irving coming back into the starting line-up and with Marcus Smart becoming the next man up in front of him. So although it is unclear to say where we will see Terry Rozier next season, it is almost certain it will no longer be in a Celtic uniform.  On the other hand, rumors have already circulated that Kyrie has been looking to either the Brooklyn Nets or the Los Angeles Lakers for next season. This decision, if reports are true, will be entirely based on whether or not Irving wants to try his hand at being the leader of a team again or reunite with LeBron James in the City of Angels.

While still on the topic of guard free agents, the Charlotte Hornets have recently stated that they are exploring their options in terms of trading Kemba Walker.  Kemba Walker has spent his entire career with the Hornets once the Bobcats, and has gained the admiration of the entire city as well as many others. If Walker were to be traded away, it would be a team in need of a veteran point guard with a leadership presence.  There a plethora of teams that can use a guard of Kemba’s caliber, from the Phoenix Suns to even the Miami Heat.

 

 

 

 

Whether or not the Golden State Warriors win a championship this season, their toughest battle will occur during the offseason with a multitude of contracts coming to their close.  Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and DeMarcus Cousins will all become Free Agents at the end of this season, and teams around the league, the Warriors organization included, are hoping to gain interest from any of these players.  Durant rumors have been spreading since near the All Star break when seen speaking to other Free Agent Kyrie Irving, where people worldwide were expecting the two to team up somewhere once the season was over. Although Kyrie rumors have expanded to other teams, Durant’s initial speculation was that he was to go to the New York Knicks.  However recent reports have been saying that Durant may be electing to stay with the Warriors after Nike had released a KD Trey shirt listing cities and teams he has played for, with one of the cities being “San Francisco” rather than “Oakland”. People have begun to think that since the Warriors will be relocating to San Francisco, Durant will extend his contract and stay with Steve Kerr and Steph Curry.  Klay Thompson has received little exposure in terms of his Free Agency compared to Durant, but reports have stated that if the Warriors do not offer Thompson a max deal this offseason, he is likely to be playing for the Clippers next season. There were also reports of Thompson feeling unhappy about his situation with the Warriors during the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets. Now although no one knows that the statements are true, organizations and players have the idea of Klay Thompson on their minds.  Wrapping up the Golden State trio of Free Agents, DeMarcus Cousins signed a one-year deal to the Warriors after a very short stint in New Orleans a season prior. Cousins hasn’t received as many rumors, if any in the media as of recently. There were statements being made during the earlier half of the season saying that DeMarcus, if not hoping to re-sign with the Warriors, could be a high caliber player that the Lakers can sign to play with LeBron James, especially since that Anthony Davis has eyes from virtually every team around the league.  There were also rumors that Cousins could make his return to Sacramento and play with team he spent the majority of his career with.

And on that note be on the lookout in the next couple of days for more Free Agent talk about the Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jun 5, 2019 No Comments
ROC NATION IN THE BUILDING TONIGHT: RIHANNA THE WORLD’S RICHEST FEMALE MUSICIAN

ROC NATION IN THE BUILDING TONIGHT: RIHANNA THE WORLD’S RICHEST FEMALE MUSICIAN

Celebs

by | Jun 5, 2019 | Celebs, Featured

Oh, what a feeling, yesterday Jay-Z became the first Hip-Hop Billionaire, and today Rihanna is now the world’s richest female musicians. Her fortune isn’t solely from music, is safe to say that the artists of Roc Nation are the top of the class when it comes to expansion. Robyn Rihanna Fenty best known as Rihanna uses the name Fenty as for many ventures beyond the music studio.

“so that you didn’t have to hear the word ‘Rihanna’ every time you saw something that I did.” sais Rihanna in a New York Times Style Magazine

Fenty Beauty launched in 2017, co-owning with the French luxury goods company is worth $600 million, Forbes reported on Tuesday, putting her ahead of Madonna ($570 million), Celine Dion ($450 million) and Beyonce ($400 million).

Image result for rihanna

Fenty brought in more than $100 million in sales in its first few weeks, $570 million in revenue, and the outlet estimates that Fenty is collectively worth more than $3 billion according to Forbes.

“I couldn’t imagine a better partner both creatively and business-wise, and I’m ready for the world to see what we have built together.” said Rihanna in a statement when the fashion house was announced.

LVMH has become known for offering more inclusive shades of makeup than other brands, with 40 different options in foundation.

Rihanna’s empire doesn’t stop with music and makeup alone, she also co-owns the Savage X Fenty lingerie line which recently announced a Fenty Maison line that’s poised to make waves in the fashion industry. Producing clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry.

Making Rihanna the first woman to start her own brand at LVMH and the first black woman to lead a fashion house at the company. Fenty is also the first new house to come out of LVMH since 1987, the New York Times reported in May. Designing a line like this with LVMH is an incredibly special moment for her and is so thankful for the opportunity to develop a fashion house in the luxury sector, with no artistic limits, as she tweeted:

“Everybody knows Rihanna as a wonderful singer, but through our partnership at Fenty Beauty, I discovered a true entrepreneur, a real C.E.O. and a terrific leader,” LVMH’s chairman, Bernard Arnault, said upon the announcement.

Not shying away from her music. Rihanna has been working on an untitled reggae album, yet to have a release date announced.

Jun 5, 2019 No Comments
THE LOOKOUT: JUNE’S LINE-UP FOR THE START OF SUMMER 2019

THE LOOKOUT: JUNE’S LINE-UP FOR THE START OF SUMMER 2019

Celebs

by | Jun 5, 2019 | Celebs, Featured

Hip-Hop was nothing short of iconic in 2018 with the number of releases from new and old artist alike, the question for 2019 is can it match the hectic breakneck pace of 2018? While that question has yet to be answered there will be the albums/project you should watch out for in the month of June. With entries coming from Tyga, Chris Brown, Freddie Gibbs and many more.

June 6: Tyga – “Legendary”

Image result for Tyga – “Legendary”Tyga is looking to complete the biggest comeback of 2019 with his seventh solo album “Legendary”  dropping just in time for summer, scheduled for Friday, June 7. The follow-up to the ‘Kyoto,’ chart-topping singles like ‘Taste,’ and “Girls Have Fun;’ as well as jumping on Marshmello and YG’s recent tracks have kept the momentum going into the release of his album.

The Last Kings founder shared the project’s cover art and release date via social media on Monday (June 3).

June 21: Chris Brown – “Indigo”

Image result for Chris Brown – “Indigo”

“I’m just letting y’all know this s**t coming out June 21,” Chris Brown exclaimed during his 30th birthday party on May 5th.

Breezy has a busy summer ahead having a joint tour with Nicki Minaj, as a follow-up to 2017’s album “Indigo” is set to feature 30 tracks including singles ‘Undecided,’ ‘Back to Love,’ and ‘ Wobble Up,’ featuring appearances from Drake, Justin Bieber, Tory Lanez, Tyga, H.E.R., Joyner Lucas, Gunna, and Juicy J this album looks to be very interesting.

June 21: ILoveMakonnen – “M3”

Image result for ILoveMakonnenDescribed as an intro into his life after 2017, ILOVEMAKONNEN’s  “M3” set for a June 21 release the new music keeps flowing in 2019 dropping Gucci Mane collaboration ‘Spendin’  back in January, as well as appearing alongside the late Lil Peep on ‘I’ve Been Waiting.’ The EP is Makonnen’s first official release through label Warner Bros. since “Red Trap Dragon” three years ago.

June 28: Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Bandana”

Image result for Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Bandana”After more than a decade of grinding as an independent artist, Freddie Gibbs inked a deal with RCA/Keep Cool in March to release a new collaborative album, ‘Bandana.’ It will be his second with Madlib, and follows the pair’s acclaimed 2014 set, ‘Piñata.’

“We up there with [’90s hip-hop duo] Pete Rock & CL Smooth,” he says. “We the best doing it [today]. You got Run the Jewels, and I love what they do, but what me and Madlib do? It stands alone.”

His unfiltered, in-your-face attitude, Gibbs mirrors the grime and grit of 1990s rap and ‘Bandana,’ out June 28, stands in stark contrast to today’s SoundCloud rap scene.

June 28: Mustard – “Perfect Ten”

Image result for DJ Mustard

A confirmed released on June 28 by way of the producer Mustard’s Instagram,  Perfect Ten album artwork features a young DJ Mustard. Migos collaboration ‘Pure Water,’ and ‘100 Bands’ with Quavo, 21 Savage, Meek Mill, and YG will keep fans craving for more until the album’s release.

These are just the albums confirmed to be released this month, a little to whet the appetite of any hip-hop fan. Surely there will be an artist to drop an album or mixtape to turn the game on its head. (I’m looking at you Curren$y)

Jun 5, 2019 No Comments
Sneaker King… of the Diamond?

Sneaker King… of the Diamond?

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by | Jun 4, 2019 | Featured, Sneakers

Fashion and sports have always gone hand-in-hand with each other throughout time, especially the footwear. However, when it comes to baseball, the selection of cleats are much more limited than other sports such as basketball. While becoming more modernized and stylish over the years, some players have not been satisfied with their choices. One recent trend has been turning normal sneakers into cleats by adding spikes to the soles. Players have been turning their favorite basketball sneakers such as Kobes and LeBrons into functional cleats to bring more relevance to style in baseball. New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier has been turning heads this season by taking some of the most coveted sneakers and putting them to use on the field.

He first debuted the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1 collaboration on April 16th against the Red Sox. When asked about it after the game, Frazier said “I’m trying to bring a little swagger to baseball”.  And that is exactly what he’s doing, as his cleats have been picked up by countless sneaker blogs. Frazier has since made cleats out of shoes that are grails to most sneakerheads, bringing even more attention to arguably his best season yet. Most people could not imagine drilling spikes into shoes that hit the resale market for over $1,000 dollars, but Frazier intends to keep this habit going throughout the season.

The man behind this project is Anthony Ambrosini, founder and owner of Custom Cleats Inc. The match between the two was made through twitter, as Frazier was looking for someone to bring his ideas to life before training camp. Ambrosini has also worked with MLB players Troy Tulowitzki and his brother, Dominick Ambrosini. Frazier’s unconventional method of bringing style to function on the baseball field has also made its way to some of the world’s most famous designer brands. He would go on to rock a pair of Nike’s Air Fear of God Shoot Around sneakers, as well as a Kaws x Jordan 4 collaboration.

Frazier said he drew inspiration from Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker, who has been deemed as the NBA’s “sneaker king”. Tucker takes the court wearing some of the most rare and expensive sneakers that can be found, including some that were never made available to the public. I think it’s safe to say we can crown Clint Frazier the “sneaker king” of the diamond, as he plans to continue rocking streetwear shoes on the field.  Keep an eye out for what he has on feet this season through the SneakerReporter MLB Instagram account.

Jun 4, 2019 No Comments
Record Breaking Month Behind the Plate

Record Breaking Month Behind the Plate

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by | Jun 3, 2019 | Featured

Pitchers need to be on their best game for the month of June. May was a month for the sluggers, as batters around the league came together to break the record of the most home runs hit in a single month at 1,135. With Christian Yelich leading the pack at 21 home runs this season, many other players are not far behind him in the race. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros both have two batters in the top ten for home runs this season, which has helped their teams take a commanding lead of their division. The previous record was set in August of 2017 at 1,120 home runs. On May 31st, MLB batters needed a combined 25 home runs to tie the previous record, but they ended up hitting 40 to shatter it. Another notable record broken in this process was the first time in league history that three teams hit more than 50 home runs in one month (Twins, Cubs, and Red Sox), according to ESPN. In the recent years it has looked like the home run ball is becoming more common, so don’t be surprised if the record is approached or broken again in the near future. Batters are on pace to potentially break not only team records, but league records as well.

Jun 3, 2019 No Comments
Portland Takes Commanding Lead In The Series (3-1) After 111-98 Victory In OKC

Portland Takes Commanding Lead In The Series (3-1) After 111-98 Victory In OKC

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by | Apr 22, 2019 | Featured, NBA

The Thunder came into this Game 4 knowing they needed to win to tie the series. OKC came out firing on all cylinders trying to make sure they got everyone involved. Russell Westbrook was able to get his mid-range going in that first half and was getting to his spots with ease. The Trail Blazers were giving Westbrook open shots and he was taking advantage of it when the moment came. One thing that Westbrook was able to do was find his teammates in their spots and his energy never changed throughout the night. Russell Westbrook finished with 14 points, 7 assists, and 9 rebounds on the night. Westbrook and George were both in early foul trouble and were able to battle through the adversity in the first half as the game was still close. The Thunder as a whole was able to hold Damian Lillard to 7 points as he missed a lot of shots with a hand in his face. The two role players that were able to keep both teams in the mix while the stars weren’t able to get into a rhythm was Aminu for Portland (19 pts) and Schröder (17 pts) for Oklahoma City. Dennis was able to give the Thunder a lift in the scoring department while Westbrook and George were in foul trouble. Schröder has proved that he can score in the pick and roll when he gets the switch. Dennis was 50% from the field and was able to be a pest on defense as well because he was able to slow Hood and Turner when guarding them.

The second half CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard combined for 32 points. Both of them were able to hit some tough shots tonight and were able to push the pace of the game the way they wanted for Portland. It’s not a hidden secret that both Dame and Lillard are big-time shot makers but to do it on the road in a loud environment it was impressive. Lillard was able to take over in the game as he was getting to hit spots on switches and hit some big shots when given any space. Lillard finished the game with 24 points and most of the game the Trail Blazers had the lead while he was on the bench getting rest. Tonight it was all about CJ McCollum as he countered every Thunder run with a big 3 pointer or tough floater. CJ seemed unstoppable off the dribble as he was able to get to his spots and take his time waiting for the matchup he wanted on switches. Both Dame and CJ have shown a lot of maturity in this series as they have been able to play their type of game with fast pace and shooting. The NBA has caught up to their game as now it’s about the 3’s and the chip on both their shoulders are extremely big after being doubted and disrespected in the media.

 

The bright spot for this game was the fact that Paul George was able to get his offense going in the right direction. Paul finished the game with 32 points and added 10 rebounds with that as well. It’s obvious that Paul George can score on anyone on Portland and heading into Game 5 in Portland he will need to continue this to get some momentum to try to bring it back to OKC. Paul has been very impressive in the transition and also in the 3 point shooting. The Thunder need to get energy from Westbrook and feed off of George’s offensive game in Portland. George has to make it a mission to defend CJ or Damian a little bit more than the usual because they’re not backing down but they’re hitting some tough shots overall. The Thunder have been down 3-1 six times and have been able to come back and win one of the series back in 2014 against Memphis. The Thunder will need to take this one game at a time if they want to come back to OKC for Game 6. Anything is POSSIBLE especially in the NBA and when you have two MVP caliber players on the team like OKC have in Westbrook and George.

Apr 22, 2019 No Comments