NBA Media Day: Top Takeaways and Storylines For All 30 Teams

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Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo wants to expand his game to the perimeter

With the addition of Kyle Lowry, the Miami Heat are most definitely a title-contending team, but Bam Adebayo may not be a finished product just yet. The All-Star center has been known for not only being a great interior finisher but an all-around impactful talent on both ends of the court because of his athleticism and length. 

Now, Adebayo is going to be entering his fifth season in the NBA and wants to become more of a perimeter shooting threat. “I want to be more of a shooter,” Adebayo told the media on Monday. “I’m going to be shooting, attacking the basket more often, and being more assertive.”

If Bam Adebayo begins knocking down three-point shots, he will be almost impossible to guard because of his abilities to beat slower big men off-the-dribble. With three stars in Butler, Lowry and Adebayo, Miami is definitely right up there in the Eastern Conference with the Nets and Bucks. 

Milwaukee Bucks: Milwaukee’s stars are “refreshed” after a quick turnaround

The Milwaukee Bucks won their first title in 50 years this past season and while Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated by spending time in Greece this past summer, both Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday celebrated by winning a golden medal in the Summer Olympics. 

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Middleton and Holiday have not had much time to relax and recuperate this offseason, but both guys stated that their bodies feel good and ready for the upcoming season. According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic, neither All-Star seems to be worried about being tired and both key talents are ready for the challenge of defending their title. 

With almost the same roster as last season, the Bucks will once again be a force in the Eastern Conference and they now have a massive target on their backs. Everyone in the league is gunning for them, which is why Middleton and Holiday will have to be even better alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo during the 2021-22 season in order for Milwaukee to have a chance to win back-to-back titles.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Tensions with Karl-Anthony Towns rising?

Removing President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas surprised many around the league last week, but none more than Timberwolves All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. For the last six years since being drafted first overall by Minnesota, Towns has been this franchise’s best player, which makes things a little awkward when they keep him out of the loop on moves like they made with Rosas. 

“What happened last week just added to the list,” Towns told reporters on Monday. “I’ve been through everything. Death of a head coach… numerous front offices… I didn’t have a chance to build any true relationships with anybody cause there’s always instability, always change… deframed by teammates, been a scapegoat for people.”

Towns went on to talk more about his experiences in the league at a young age and it just seems like it is one thing after another with him and the Timberwolves. As of right now, Karl-Anthony Towns is still remaining loyal to the Timberwolves, but if they continue to keep him out of the loop on franchise-altering moves and they do not start winning, he could look to continue his career elsewhere. 

He is not going anywhere as of right now, but Karl-Anthony Towns’ remaining time in Minnesota is definitely something to keep an eye on throughout the 2021-22 season.

New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williams had foot surgery this offseason

David Griffin told reporters that Zion Williamson had offseason foot surgery to repair a fractured right foot and he is hopeful that the young forward will be ready for the start of the season. Zion is expected to miss the first week or so of training camp and of the preseason, but he is not in a walking boot according to The Athletic’s Will Guillory

Last season was Zion’s first full season in the NBA and in 61 games, he was extremely impressive, averaging 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and shooting 61.1% from the floor. Williamson did miss some games late in the year due to a fractured finger, but this does not seem to be a problem anymore for him. 

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The Pelicans made some key offseason additions in Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham, and rookie Trey Murphy III, so this is definitely a team to watch in terms of making the playoffs out west this season. 

New York Knicks: Playing time will not be a problem for the Knicks

Among bringing back Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Taj Gibson, and others, the New York Knicks also made two big offseason moves to bring in Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker.

Given how well he played to end last season and his resurgence league-wide last year, there was some speculation of how a backcourt of Rose and Walker would work for the Knicks, but the veteran point guard and former league-MVP does not see playing time being a problem for this team. 

“I’m not worried about minutes or playing time or anything like that,” Rose said on Monday. In regards to Kemba Walker, Rose firmly stated that “He’s a starter. You have to give him that stage…You have to give him the opportunity.”

Both Derrick Rose and Kemba Walker are former All-Star point guards who are not only more than capable leading a team’s offense, but creating plays for everyone else as well. If these two guys can make things work, being the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference is just the floor for what the Knicks can achieve moving forward. 

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