NBA Rumours: Several Teams Are Interested in Trading for
The NBA has a plenty of data, from conventional numbers to sophisticated analytics. As a consequence, there are several well-known leaders in statistics, such Tyrese Haliburton dominating the assists category or Joel Embiid leading the league in scoring once again. There are many diverse stats, but there are also many unexpected stat toppers. Here are five unexpected stat leaders we can all be proud of halfway through the season.
This Season’s 5 Surprising NBA Stat Leaders Coby White: Total Minutes
One of the greatest storylines of the season has been the rise of Coby White. The guard, in his fifth season, has developed into a franchise building piece and player of All-Star calibre. He is a superb playmaker and three-point shooter. In particular, White’s availability has been essential to his success since he has started and appeared in every game this season. With a 12-minute increase from the previous season and a career-high 35.4 minutes per game, White leads the league in total minutes played by a narrow margin above teammate DeMar DeRozan. White has only averaged at least thirty minutes per game for the second time this season. Naturally, White’s increased playing time is a result of his better skill; yet, no one anticipated that White would lead the league in minutes prior to the start of the season.
The number of free throw attempts made by a player per field goal attempt is known as their free throw rate. To calculate a player’s free throw rate, divide their total number of free throw attempts by their total number of field goal attempts. With a free throw percentage of.849, Dwight Powell leads the field by a wide margin; Rudy Gobert is the next closest with.651. When most people hear Powell’s name, they probably don’t think of getting to the foul line. But according to the statistics, he’s been very good at it this season, averaging almost as many free throws in only 16 minutes per game as field goals. Additionally, this is by far Powell’s greatest free throw percentage—the next closest being.639 in 2020–21.
Obi Toppin: Field Goal % at Two Points
Following his trade to the Pacers in the off-season, a lot of people anticipated that Obi Toppin would improve and gain from the move. Toppin is having a career year and is getting better with the Pacers’ elite offensive unit. Toppin leads the league in 2-point field goals made at a rate of 72.4%, which is on track to be the highest since the 2019–2020 campaign. In addition, Toppin’s percentage of 2-point field goals is 13% higher than it was the previous year. Toppin’s exceptional agility and finishing prowess play a significant role in this. In terms of transition score, he is in the 89th percentile. His percentage of field goal attempts that end in dunks and overall number of dunks both place him in the top 25. In a similar vein, Toppin is a potent finisher who can capitalise on mismatches thanks to his power and quickness. In the end, considering how well Toppin is doing this season, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but this degree of effectiveness is quite astounding.
Jaden Ivey: Each Isolation’s Points
The Pistons are now finding out how to deploy Jaden Ivey after a rough start that included problems with coach Monty Williams. Ivey is scoring 18.9 points and dishing out 5.0 assists per game in January. More astonishingly, however, is that he leads the league with 1.42 points per possession in points per isolation (minimum of 40 tries). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kawhi Leonard, two celebrities, rank second and third on the list. Ivey has more than doubled his solo effectiveness on somewhat less volume when comparing these figures to those from the previous season. Ivey is beginning to provide more indications with time that he is fulfilling his potential.
Possibly my fave Jaden Ivey match from yesterday night:
1 STL, 6 AST, 32 PTS, and 59% FG
Although the stats were amazing, I was also impressed with how well he changed speeds and used his handle to get to his places.
I like seeing Jaden Ivey exude confidence. tweet.com/jnKdARPHpU
— January 18, 2024, Jack Kelly (@jack_kelly_313)
Jalen Brunson: Allegations Made
It’s not often recognised that Jalen Brunson is a top-tier defender. But his perseverance and effort are transforming that image. With 23 draws this year, Brunson leads the NBA in this particular statistic, demonstrating his talent at drawing charges. For the most of his career, he has also been in the top half of this category. Brunson’s ability to draw charges is mostly dependent on his IQ and superior placement. Every night, Brunson, who stands six feet two, risks his life to make plays that win. Brunson has drawn more charges this season than eighteen teams, which is impressive. In the end, Brunson’s skill at drawing fouls and producing clutch plays is remarkable for a player of his calibre.
Recently, NBA expert Ian Begley spoke about the rumours involving Grimes on SportsNet New York. A couple clubs in particular have reportedly shown interest, so I expect those calls to continue coming in until the trade deadline on February 8. The Hawks, Rockets, and Memphis are involved.As the deadline approaches, keep a watch on those clubs with Quentin Grimes.
It’s interesting that the Hawks are among the teams named. The Knicks have been observing Dejounte Murray, an All-Star guard from Atlanta, for a while. There may be a deal in the works involving Grimes, fellow guard Evan Fournier, and draft selections. This seems improbable, however, considering how much Atlanta wants Murray.
To for New York to part ways with Grimes, Houston and Memphis would need to either give draft money or bring in a third club.
Is Grimes Up for a Trade?
According to reports out of New York, the 23-year-old is not thrilled with his circumstances right now. Grimes started the season as starting shooting guard under head coach Tom Thibodeau. But Donte DiVincenzo has now taken his position in the starting lineup. DiVincenzo, who inked a four-year, $47 million contract, was the Knicks’ most notable free agency acquisition of the summer.
This
Grimes’ public outburst after the Knicks’ 122-146 In-Season tournament defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks, in which he berated his lack of offensive chances, prompted the transfer. “It seems like I’m going out if I miss the shot. Therefore, if I miss a shot, it probably weighs 100 pounds, and our defence isn’t good enough, so I know I’m not coming back in,” an angry Grimes told the New York Post. The difficult part is when you spend a whole quarter and a half without touching the ball, and then you get one shot and you have to make it.It is what it is, really.
Grimes used to be considered a vital part of the Knicks’ future. In talks to trade for Donovan Mitchell with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York saw him as untouchable.
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