NBA Southeast

Charlotte Hornets guard James Bouknight was arrested at 2 a.m. Sunday morning and charged with driving while impaired in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, according to Kallie Cox and Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.

The 22-year-old was given a $2,500 bond.

"We are aware of the incident involving James Bouknight and are in the process of gathering additional information," the Hornets said in a statement. "We will have no further comment at this time."

Bouknight already had multiple moving violations on his record, including two other pending charges in Mecklenburg County with court dates set for December.

He was cited for speeding and reckless driving last Wednesday after reportedly driving 92 miles per hour in a 50 mph zone. In February, he was ticketed for reckless driving. There was a third case but the charges were dismissed.

Last November, Bouknight was cited for driving 107 mph in a 65 mph zone in Cabarrus County, leading to charges of speeding and reckless driving. He is expected to appear in court later this month.

Bouknight also allegedly fled a car accident while he was at the University of Connecticut in 2019, with the police officer saying he smelled like alcohol at the time.

The 2021 No. 11 overall draft pick is heading into his second year with the Hornets after averaging 4.6 points in 31 games last season.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero said winning Rookie of the Year is a priority for him this season.

"Besides the team success and us having a great year, that's definitely my main goal," Banchero told Marc Stein.

Banchero certainly has high expectations after averaging 17.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game at Duke, showcasing the ability to score in a variety of ways. The 2022 No. 1 overall pick is the preseason favorite to win Rookie of the Year, per Fanduel, ahead of Jaden Ivey and Keegan Murray.

No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren will also miss the season because of a foot injury.

There is no guarantee the top pick wins the Rookie of the Year award. Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes won it last year after going fourth in the 2021 draft, following LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant and Luka Doncic, and none of them was a No. 1 overall pick.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the last player to win Rookie of the Year immediately after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2015-16 (Ben Simmons won after missing his first year).

It creates a tough task for Banchero heading into his first NBA season.

Los Angeles Clippers guard John Wall said he's hoping for an overwhelmingly positive reaction when he returns to Washington, D.C., to face off with the Wizards on Dec. 10.

Wall, who played for the Wiz from 2010 through 2020, discussed his first game back at Capital One Arena with fans in attendance during an appearance Wednesday on HBO's The Shop (1:55 mark of the video below).

"Being there for 10 years, the team that drafted me, being the franchise guy and then getting traded from there," Wall said. "Then that's during the midst of COVID, so I never had the opportunity to be back to play in front of fans. So hopefully I'll get that big standing ovation that I think I deserve. My ultimate goal was trying to bring a championship there, like everything I gave to that city, from playing through my injuries, giving back to the community, it felt like a second home to me."

The five-time All-Star lived up to the sky-high expectations of being the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, though injuries prevented him from maintaining his usual impact over his final few seasons in the nation's capital.

Wall averaged 19 points, 9.2 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 573 regular-season appearances across nine seasons with the Wizards. He was voted to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2015 and the All-NBA Third Team in 2017.

His individual success wasn't enough to help Washington capture its first title since 1978, though. The team reached the playoffs four times during the guard's tenure but never advanced beyond the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Now the question is how the 32-year-old from North Carolina will perform after sitting out two of the past three seasons. He missed 2019-20 with heel and Achilles injuries, and he sat out all of last year as part of an agreement with the rebuilding Houston Rockets.

Wall did still look like an impact player in 40 games for the Rockets in 2020-21, averaging 20.6 points and 6.9 assists.

"They told me just be myself, be John Wall no matter what, and I think for me it's easy," Wall told reporters last week. "I know how to be myself. For me it's to push the pace, I think I'm one of the best two-way guard defenders in the league at my position so that helps them out a lot with a lot of the switching they do."

He'll likely split minutes with Reggie Jackson at the point to open the campaign, but the former University of Kentucky standout could earn a larger share of the playing time if he returns to peak form throughout the season.

As for his return to Washington, it would be a surprise if Wizards fans gave him anything other than a sustained standing ovation. The team didn't reach its ultimate goal during his time there, but that wasn't because of a lack of effort from the longtime face of the franchise.

The Dec. 10 contest is the Clippers' only visit to D.C. this season.

Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal was placed in COVID-19 health and safety protocols on Sunday, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

He will not play in Monday's preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets.

The 29-year-old's health figures to be a primary storyline in 2022-23 after he was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign because he needed season-ending surgery on his left wrist.

The procedure ended what turned into a disappointing season for Beal. He averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 30.0 percent from three-point range culminating in 23.2 points per game, which was a far cry from the 31.3 points per game he posted the previous season.

The three-point percentage was the worst mark of the shooting guard's career, and the scoring totals were a dramatic drop-off after averaging better than 30 points per night in consecutive campaigns.

Look for Washington to turn toward Will Barton and Deni Avdija for more playing time while Beal is sidelined.

Russell Westbrook's first season with the Los Angeles Lakers went about as poorly as could be expected.

But his former teammate with the Washington Wizards, Bradley Beal, appeared on JJ Redick's The Old Man and the Three podcast Thursday and offered his take on what it was like playing with Westbrook (36:40 mark):

One, he's an amazing teammate. He's the complete opposite of the picture everybody kind of paints him to be, at least character-wise. If you're his teammate he rides for you. ... He rides for his guys; he loves his team. That's what he's all about, even the staff. It's a respect factor, from top down. And I enjoyed playing with him. We knew what we were getting in practice, and in game, it's the same guy. He would go hard in practice, pushing everybody. He'd push me. ... That part of him is phenomenal.

"[Russell Westbrook] is the complete opposite of the picture everybody kind of paints him to be, at least character-wise... You're his teammate, he rides for you. He doesn't give a damn if you're on the other team."

— Bradley Beal

(via @OldManAndThree)pic.twitter.com/ySOAPGlZit

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 6, 2022

Beal also noted that Westbrook shared a similar trait to Paul Pierce, who loved his teammates but wouldn't interact with them in the same way once they were on a different team.

And as for the criticism that was leveled against Westbrook in his first season with the Lakers: "It's more magnified because he's in L.A.," Beal said.

There's little doubt that Westbrook has been a poor fit alongside LeBron James. Both have traditionally operated best with the ball in their hands, and Westbrook was always going to have to defer to James in that regard once he was traded to the Lakers.

The issue is that Westbrook is a poor three-point shooter who doesn't consistently play solid defense. His value throughout his career came via attacking the basket and creating open looks for his teammates. In a starting spot for the Lakers, it's a role he simply isn't needed to fill, diminishing his effectiveness.

There are two solutions: The obvious one, which would be to trade him, is complicated by his $47 million salary. And then there is the more contentious potential solution, which would be to bring him off the bench to stagger his minutes with James.

It's hard to imagine that a former MVP such as Westbrook, at 33, would happily welcome the second option. But it's the most logical way to ensure he can play to his strengths while allowing James and Anthony Davis to have more complementary pieces on the floor with them.

Perhaps a new head coach in Darvin Ham and a new offensive system will help. The Lakers appear set to give the Westbrook experiment another try this season:

Darvin Ham said Russell Westbrook is “a Los Angeles Laker and I’m not mad at that.” Said tonight shows that Westbrook will thrive in the Lakers 4-out, 1-in system.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 4, 2022

Darvin Ham on Russell Westbrook: “He’s ours. We love him. And we want him to do well. … It’s been a great camp for him.”

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 4, 2022

It wasn't an issue in Washington, where Beal and Westbrook's games more naturally meshed, given that Beal had spent nearly his entire career playing with a traditional point guard in John Wall up to that point. In Los Angeles, the situation is simply far more complicated.

Longtime NBA center Dwight Howard regrets not speaking out against false narratives regarding his commitment and character while with the Orlando Magic.

Appearing on All The Smoke with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson (beginning at the 31-minute mark), Howard discussed his time in Orlando and expressed his belief that he didn't do enough to shut down the negative perceptions that surrounded him:

Howard said he "allowed too much to happen" to the point that other teams within the NBA believed the stories that were in the media about him.

He also lamented the fact that he didn't get more time to help lead the Magic to a championship, saying:

"I just felt like the media was trying to put me against the team. I hurt my back that year and people on the team think that I'm not really hurt, that I'm out partying and doing other stuff. And I'm like, I ain't even that type of dude to be doing some s--t like that to my teammates. That ain't even me. So, it was just so much going on, and just looking back I'm like, I really should have just stepped up and said something."

Orlando made Howard the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft out of high school, and he went on to establish himself as one of the league's most dominant big men during his eight seasons with the Magic.

Howard earned six of his eight career All-Star selections in Orlando, plus he won four of his five rebounding titles, both of his block titles and all three of his NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards.

He also led the Magic to the playoffs five times, including the NBA Finals in 2009, and averaged 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 621 regular-season games for the team.

Howard was traded from the Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012, but his production never reached the same heights as in Orlando.

Even so, Howard went on to play 10 more seasons in the NBA with the Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers, and he won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.

Now, Howard is 36 years old and a free agent, and with the start of the 2022-23 NBA season approaching, it is possible he has played his last game.

Even with his time in Orlando ending under less-than-ideal circumstances, Howard had a spectacular NBA career that could land him in the Hall of Fame one day.

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges' future on the court remains uncertain after both sides allowed his $7.9 million qualifying offer to expire, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

He will remain a restricted free agent as a result.

"They had a deadline on Saturday to see whether they would allow that qualifying to expire or look to extend it as late as March 1," Charania said during an appearance on The Rally. "So all this really does is take the qualifying offer of $7.9 million, which was always unlikely to get signed, off the table."

Bridges was arrested in June in Los Angeles on the eve of NBA free agency after he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend in front of their two children. The woman posted images of her injuries and a description of the attack on social media. He pleaded not guilty to three charges of felony domestic violence at his arraignment in July.

The case involving Bridges has been delayed four times, and he is now scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 7. Per Michael Gordon and Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer, the hearing is to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to take Bridges to trial. If he is convicted of all three charges, he faces up to 12 years in prison.

Bridges is coming off his best season in the NBA, leading Charlotte with 20.2 points per game while also averaging 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists, all of which were career highs. He had turned down a contract extension offer from the Hornets prior to last season in hopes of landing a bigger deal this summer.

While Bridges is a promising young player, he is likely to face a significant suspension under the league's policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse even if he is not convicted, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he remains a restricted free agent for quite some time.

If another team decides to extend an offer to Bridges, the Hornets will have to decide whether or not to match it. After letting his qualifying offer expire, Charlotte may be prepared to let him walk.

Bol Bol spent the first three seasons of his NBA career as a garbage-time player for the Denver Nuggets, but his potential has kept him in the NBA, and now he's getting a fresh start with the Orlando Magic.

The Nuggets tried to trade Bol to the Detroit Pistons last season, but he failed his physical because of a foot injury, so the deal never went through. The 7'2" big man then underwent surgery, and Denver traded him to the Boston Celtics, who later dealt him to the Magic.

Entering the 2022-23 campaign, Bol is fully healthy, and it appears he's making a solid impression on his Orlando teammates in training camp, including Terrence Ross, who described him as a "freak."

"He's a freak. ... I don't know. It's hard to really describe @BolBol."

well said @TerrenceRoss pic.twitter.com/AlRao108Sf

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 1, 2022

"Nobody's ever seen anybody play like this," Ross added.

It's unclear how much playing time Bol will see during the 2022-23 campaign, but it's clear he's going to get a shot to show what he's made of in Orlando. If he can remain healthy, he could prove to be a solid bench player for the Magic.

Just over two weeks before the deadline for him to receive a contract extension, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro believes he's been better than other players who have signed new deals.

Speaking to Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel about his contract talks with the Heat, Herro said there are "players across the league that have gotten paid who I know I’m better than."

Herro's career arc has been fascinating. He was the No. 13 overall pick by the Heat in the 2019 NBA draft.

Four of the top five picks from the same draft class (Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett and Darius Garland) have signed extensions with their teams. It's hard to argue Herro has been better than any of those players, though he has at least been available more than Williamson has been for the New Orleans Pelicans.

During Miami's run to the Finals in the bubble, Herro appeared to establish himself as a core piece of the roster. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game with a 37.5 three-point percentage in 21 playoff games.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra tried to expand his role in 2020-21 by putting him the starting lineup to open the season. The University of Kentucky alum struggled in the role, connecting on just 32.5 percent of his three-pointers despite averaging 17.2 points per game in 14 starts.

Spoelstra moved Herro back to being the sixth man for the rest of the season, and his efficiency improved (37.3 three-point percentage).

Last season saw Herro continue to play primarily off the bench. He averaged career-highs in minutes (32.6), scoring (20.7) and assists (4.0) in 66 appearances.

While the offensive numbers have never been a problem for Herro, his defensive ability has become a concern for the Heat. Team president Pat Riley publicly questioned the 22-year-old for his limitations as a defender after Miami's loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

"I think we’re seeing this in the league, if you want to win a championship, and you want to be a starter, you really have to become a two-way player today," Riley told reporters on June 8.

Herro has made it clear he wants to be a starter going into the 2022-23 season. He also said during Wednesday's press conference he hopes to stay in Miami, but "it’s got to make sense for my family."

As recently as August, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported there was "simply is no urgency" from the Heat to sign Herro because they might want to keep their ability to move him before the trade deadline in February.

Players who sign new deals are ineligible to be traded for six months. Herro will earn $5.7 million this season, the final year of his rookie contract.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro believes he's an NBA All-Star.

"Yeah, I thought I should have been one last year," Herro told reporters Monday. "But with another jump in my game, I think I can this year."

The 22-year-old won the league's Sixth Man of the Year award last season after averaging 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He was key in helping the Heat earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 53-29 record.

Despite the team success, Miami had only one All-Star last season: Jimmy Butler. Herro was left out in favor of other Eastern Conference guards like Darius Garland, Fred VanVleet and eventually LaMelo Ball.

The voting wasn't particularly close, either, with Herro ranking 11th in both the fan and player voting.

The former Kentucky star is now heading into the final year of his rookie contract and is eligible for an extension before the regular season begins, but he doesn't appear worried about the financials.

"I'll let my agent take care of it," he said Monday.

Without a new deal, Herro will become a restricted free agent next offseason.