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NBA Click & Roll: LeBron James takes over New York City -- including the subway


Welcome to Paste BN Sports' NBA Click & Roll newsletter. 

So, what is it?

Every Wednesday we'll bring you exclusive content from Paste BN's NBA reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, including updates on all their exploits on the NBA beat. Plus, you'll have all the top NBA moments spoon-fed to your inbox.

Welcome and enjoy!

Jumping to Conclusions 

Is a former No. 3 pick on the trading block?

As part of our weekly feature, Paste BN Sports' NBA insiders will offer exclusive opinions right here. 

Philadelphia’s Jahlil Okafor will be traded by the new year. Okafor, whose fourth-year option was declined by the team, wants a chance to play, and Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo, and Bill Duffy, Okafor’s agent, are working on a landing spot for the 21-year-old center who is not part of the rotation or part of Philadelphia’s plans. Colangelo and Duffy go back and have developed a level of trust. Back in the late 1990s, when Duffy represented Steve Nash, the two worked on a deal to get Nash out of Phoenix where he wasn’t receiving starter’s minutes behind Jason Kidd. Colangelo, then the GM of the Suns, traded Nash to Dallas where Nash’s career blossomed. It would’ve been better had the Sixers tried to showcase Okafor and let teams see what he can do. After all, he averaged 17.5 points and shot 50.8% from the field as a rookie in 2015-16. - Jeff Zillgitt 

This week's other conclusions? The Warriors haven't peaked, the Jazz won't be making the playoffs and more. 

NBA Power Rankings

The Boston Celtics -- the first team to ever win 13 consecutive games after starting a season with two or more losses -- stand tall atop this week's NBA power rankings. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers (gasp!) aren't even in the top half of the league.  

Check out our full NBA power rankings

ICYMI: *This* is why we watch

LeBron James had himself a week.

- Not only did he admit to taking one final parting shot at Phil Jackson, he got into a heated scuffle with several Knicks players, erased a 23-point deficit in Madison Square Garden, buried this stunning three-pointer and anointed himself King of New York.

- Plus, we were unaware that kings like to ride the New York subway.

- But shade at former teammate Kyrie Irving? Yes, we knew that. 

 - At least James revealed why he praised Mavericks rookie Dennis Smith Jr. instead of simply posting a cartoon meme of a fist and letting the world dissect what it all means. Better yet, let J.R. Smith explain. 

- What's all the hype about Mavericks rookie Dennis Smith Jr? Well, he did this to Pau Gasol. 

 - Off the court, the biggest LeBron news was that Will Ferrell has nominated LeBron to run for president. Yes, President of the United States. Draymond Green might even offer to be the White House press secretary the way he has no trouble weighing in on the Cavs' problems. 

- If not LeBron, maybe Steve Kerr, who could bring some humor to the oval office. Kerr showed off his, um, dance moves and also trolled a group of reporters by pulling out a nail clipper during a press conference. Then he brought out (and solved) a Rubik's cube. 

- Blake Griffin, we literally can't even. Kudos for some perfect L.A. impressions.  

- Did you catch Steph Curry kicking a basketball into the hoop from a court away? We can't even. 

- We're not sure exactly what's going on between Beyonce and Bango, the Milwaukee Bucks' mascot. But we do know someone should probably tell Jay-Z. 

- The moment of the week goes to the Greek Freak, who hung out with hundreds of Greek fans in Cleveland. 

Latest on Lonzo

What about Lonzo? At this rate, the Lakers' ballyhooed rookie might deserve his own newsletter. Kidding, kidding. Totally kidding. 

The chatter around comparisons to Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd grew a bit louder this week.

Kidd promptly put an end to that. And, maybe, so did Lonzo's (not-so-pretty) jump shot.

After having his game and his life dissected like an NBA vet, Ball, who became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, seems to understand that intense criticism is simply going to be a "reality" for him. 

One criticism of Ball that just won't stop is about his jump shot. We call this ridiculous example into evidence. But surprisingly, Lakers president Magic Johnson said this week that, for now, the team isn't going to mess with Lonzo's form. If his shooting percentages numbers remain low after the season, they'll reassess.

MVP race

James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the pack, but Kristaps Porzingis and DeMarcus Cousins crack the top five. Who's left? LeBron. Duh

Rookie watch

76ers star Ben Simmons deserves the headlines so far, but this is one of the deepest classes in years. 

Speaking of Ben Simmons, our Jeff Zillgitt says The Process might actually be paying dividends as the 76ers young star is taking the NBA by storm

Best of the rest

Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler opens up on his difficult relationship with Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg and why the Tom Thibodeau reunion works so well. Here's an extended conversation with Butler, where he breaks down the Wolves' ascendancy and explains what went through his head the moment he found out he was traded. 

Hall of Famer Bernard King dished on his new book on Paste BN Sports' A to Z podcast. 

Kevin Durant called it a "tremendous honor" to share the cover of GQ with Colin Kaepernick. 

Is Dion Waiters a dirty player? Jazz center Rudy Gobert thinks so. 

Check back next week for all the latest throughout the Association.