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AIPROPX ReportCBS Sports · 2h ago
Ranking the NBA's 12 best duos: Three new-look pairs make the list, but familiar names are at the top
We have a little over a month until the NBA wakes up from its late-summer siesta. When players start reporting to team facilities for preseason activity, we'll see some big names in unfamiliar ( and even unexpected ) places. LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia. Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami. LaMelo Ball in Minnesota. Maybe Kawhi Leonard in Toronto?
(For the purposes of the following exercise, Kawhi has been exempted.) Given how some talent has shifted around the league, it's a good time to sort through the top dozen duos in the NBA -- some new, some old, and some that have lingering questions.
A classic of the genre. Apologies to Jimmy Butler , who is a better all-around player than Green, but any discussion of best duos as it pertains to the Warriors begins and ends with these two given their extensive history. Curry and Green are coming up on their 15th season as running mates. They've won four NBA titles together. While other important players who were instrumental in securing that hardware -- principally Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant -- have since moved on, Curry and Green remain. Their deep understanding of each other's tendencies on the court has made for some beautiful basketball over the years.
Alas, nothing lasts forever. Curry played just 43 games last season due to various injuries. Green was one of the more durable Warriors in a season rife with medical maladies for the team and played 68 games. Curry will be 39 in March while Green will turn 37 that same month. Curry is in the final year of his contract, while Green just re-upped on a one-year deal after the Warriors missed out on LeBron.
Put all that together, and there's a chance this might be their last season together (though the Warriors believe Curry wants to play his entire career in Golden State ). Whether the end is nigh or it's already here and we just don't know it yet, it's been fun while it's lasted.
The Jalen Duren contract situation remains unresolved. That can't be a good sign. For now, we'll operate under the assumption that he'll be in Detroit when the season begins, but the still-ongoing negotiation between Duren and the front office probably won't be great for morale.
Prior to the postseason, there would have been an argument for putting this guard-big combo higher -- and then that went poof when Duren no-showed against the Magic and Cavaliers . Duren reportedly wanted a new contract last offseason with an average annual value in the $30 million range. When the Pistons balked, Duren bet on himself. It looked like that bet paid off, with Duren having a fantastic regular season, scoring a career-high 19.5 points per game, along with 10.5 rebounds. As a result, he made Third Team All-NBA. Then he crashed out in the playoffs, averaging just 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds.
That flameout has created obvious questions about how much money the Pistons are willing to commit to the 22-year-old. Considering he still hasn't inked a new deal, the answer appears to be not nearly as much as Duren thinks he's worth. Because of the All-NBA nod, Duren is eligible for a five-year deal worth $287.1 million. If you're laughing, the Pistons might be too. Duren isn't getting anywhere near that much, hence the delay.
Meanwhile, Cunningham could use some help. He made First Team All-NBA, finished fifth in the MVP voting, and was the Pistons best and most reliable player during the regular season and the ultimately disappointing playoffs. No notes on his end. Now we wait to see whether he's still throwing lobs to Duren this season. The Pistons reportedly aren't interested in sign-and-trade offers for Duren, but the longer the financial battle of wills continues, it's fair to wonder if they might change their mind on that front.
For his entire career, the narrative around Donovan Mitchell was that he couldn't get out of the second round -- then he finally did, only to run into the white-hot New York Knicks on an all-time postseason run. Tough luck. Even so, Mitchell had a phenomenal season and made Second Team All-NBA. The Cavs seemed to get some proof of concept that he and James Harden work together in the backcourt and can be among the contenders in the Eastern Conference this coming season. But Mitchell will be 30 in September, and he has a player option that will allow him to become a free agent next summer if he so chooses. It's a big year for him and the Cavaliers.
There were reports that the Bucks inquired about Mobley prior to the trade deadline when the Cavs were among the many teams interested in Giannis. The former defensive player of the year shot just 29.7% from 3, but his counting stats across the board were basically identical to the previous season. He'll be 25 this season and the Cavs have him under contract for the next four years.
I was tempted to make this Ant and Jaden McDaniels . McDaniels is one of the most underrated two-way players in the NBA. He can be relied on in pressure situations, particularly on the defensive end.
That's not LaMelo's game. Ball is undeniably one of the most exciting offensive players in the league, and he instantly becomes the best passer Edwards has played with. There's a lot to like about LaMelo, but there would be even more if he freelanced less and gave at least passing consideration to what the rest of his team is trying to accomplish at any given moment. There's a reason why the Hornets were all too happy to offload him.
Tim Connelly is one of the smartest executives in the league. He built the Nuggets championship roster, then jumped to Minnesota, where he transformed the Wolves into a team that reached back-to-back conference finals. His decisions tend to work out. Still, I remain skeptical that Chris Finch will be able to harness Ball's considerable talent for the greater good.
That said, Ball alongside Edwards will be highly entertaining. Ant finished third in the league in scoring at 28.8 points per game, to go with 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1....
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