The New Orleans Pelicans were gearing up to enter the 2015-16 NBA season with some question marks at point guard. Due to lingering Jrue Holiday leg issues, Holiday was slated to be limited for much of the year, keeping Tyreke Evans at the point most of the time. That move along impacted their depth at point guard and shooting guard, while an ankle injury to Norris Cole made adding depth an even bigger priority.

The team answered by bringing in veteran fire cracker, Nate Robinson.

ESPN sources say Pelicans are signing veteran guard Nate Robinson

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 15, 2015

Robinson hypothetically gives the Pelicans instant offense off the bench, which is what they thought they were getting when they signed former BYU stud Jimmer Fredette to a one-year deal last summer. That signing didn’t work out, as Fredette wasn’t able to replicate his offensive burst and didn’t qualify as a stable option at the point. Despite being 31 years old and dealing with knee issues in recent years, Robinson should serve as a quality upgrade over Fredette and more importantly, could help the Pelicans with their depth issue.

Robinson has never had any trouble scoring the ball at the NBA level, as he easily dropped in over 10 points per game through 2011-2013, and did so without averaging more than 25 minutes per game in any season. Robinson’s immediate role is merely to round out the point guard depth chart, but the veteran combo guard ultimately frees New Orleans up to roll out various lineups. Thanks to his ability to man the point and run an offense, Robinson can man the lead guard spot and allow Holiday to stay on his early-season minutes cap (15 minutes) and even let Tyreke Evans slide over to shooting guard or small forward. Robinson’s ability to play the point also should allow Cole to take the time he needs to fully recover.

When he’s not manning the point, Robinson can be effective at shooting guard when the Pelicans play small ball, although his ideal spot would normally be at the point. It’s a strong signing for a team that made the NBA playoffs last year and has made some solid moves to try to take things to the next level. Bringing in head coach Alvin Gentry was one big move, as he’ll know precisely how to maximize the Pelicans on offense. Coming from the NBA Finals-winning Golden State Warriors, Gentry is seen as a huge addition.

Robinson isn’t quite as big of an addition as New Orleans’ new head coach, but he shouldn’t be over-looked. Robinson has bounced around the league quite a bit, but he’s enjoyed success as a bench scorer wherever he’s been and if he’s ultimately your fourth best point guard, you’re doing something right. New Orleans was already a safe pick to return to the playoffs for the second year in a row, but adding a quality player to max out their depth only makes them that much better.

The last time we saw you from an NBA picks perspective we were walking into Friday night’s NBA action with a solid 10-5 record. The Jazz and Wizards both burned us on that three-game slate (Washington lost at home to the Knicks!), dropping us to 11-7. We’ve been away from the grind the past few days but we’re back at it for Wednesday to break down four new preseason games.

The action going going early today with the Clippers hosting the Hornets and getting absolutely crushed for the second time in as many games. The preseason is for practice and rest, though, and Charlotte dominating Los Angeles is a perfect example of it’s unpredictable nature. Still, you can bet on preseason basketball and there is still logic to point to in order to figure out who will win. Here’s our for tonight’s four-game slate:

Pistons @ Bulls

Detroit was probably already a little behind the eight ball in this one but having played last night, they could be a tad run down. Derrick Rose is still out but the Bulls should be good to go with paint dwellers Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson both likely to return to the court tonight. Chicago is also planning on testing out Nikola Mirotic at small forward, which given his elite versatility, could be fun to see. It’s all bad news for the Pistons, who should have their work cut out for them at the United Center tonight.

Pick: Bulls 109, Pistons 101

Raptors @ Timberwolves

The Timberwolves will be seeking their first win of the 2015-16 NBA preseason tonight, but despite playing on their home floor that’s not likely to happen. The Raptors have looked quite strong this month, as they’ve gotten off to a 3-1 start behind some electric play from star point guard Kyle Lowry. Just watch the video:

No big inactives are known for Toronto, who will want to keep the positive momentum going and get to 4-1.

Pick: Raptors 107, T’Wolves 103

Celtics @ Nets

Isaiah Thomas gets the start tonight with Marcus Smart sick and normally that might be a really good thing. IT2 is one of the best offensive point guards in the league, as he’s a firecracker in terms of pure scoring ability and also does a solid job of running Boston’s offense. That should help the Celtics early, but their defense is going to take a major hit with Smart and Avery Bradley also out tonight. Brooklyn isn’t a world-beater, but they’re at home and will have a deeper bench. I’m also not sure Boston’s bigs can handle Brook Lopez on the blocks.

Pick: Nets 102, Celtics 97

Spurs @ Hawks

Tonight is a tale of two NBA preseason opposites, as the Spurs will be going after their first October win and Atlanta has yet to lose. The Hawks are traditionally tough to beat on their home floor, but the Spurs are going to want to start getting into a groove with new pieces LaMarcus Aldridge and David West. Things haven’t clicked yet, but even in the preseason you can’t count San Antonio out for long.

Pick: Spurs 104, Hawks 102

We entered Tuesday’s NBA action with a perfect 3-0 run. We’ve been picking and choosing our spots through the schedule, but hey. After Tuesday (we didn’t include the super late game between Lakers and Jazz, forgive us), we did stumble on our first loss of the month (dang you, Pistons!), but emerged with a 4-1 record and jumped to 7-1 on the year. And Detroit lost by just four points at home. Who would have thunk it?

It’s preseason NBA, so anything can happen. We took another break for Wednesday’s games, but we’re back for Thursday night. Our record has been pretty darn good in the early going and we’re putting it to the test big time with the fattest slate of the preseason yet (7 games). Keep in mind the teams resting key star players, especially the organizations on the seconds of back-to-backs. NBA teams playing two nights in a row are usually on high alert during regular season, but that may even be more the case during preseason play with starters not forcing the issue in meaningless contests.

Well, if you’re betting some cash on them they’re not entirely meaningless, right? Right. Let’s get to it:

Magic @ Pacers

Indiana had a big win over the Pistons on the road the other day, but they’ve had a full day off and should be well rest at home. That means plenty of run for all their key guys, while Orlando could miss some important players or have them limited after playing last night. Add that this one is on the road, and the Magic are a tough pick tonight.

Pick: Pacers 107, Magic 102

Bulls @ Nuggets

Pau Gasol is out and he’ll obviously be joined by Derrick Rose, who hasn’t suited up yet this preseason due to a facial fracture. Even with them both out I still prefer the visiting Bulls, as the Nuggets don’t have much star talent and rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay is still learning on the fly. Jimmy Butler should have a big game and reserves Tony Snell and Doug McDermott should be able to pitch in during the win.

Pick: Bulls 106, Nuggets 102

Cavaliers @ 76ers

Cleveland just lost a close home game to the Hawks last night, while they were already without some big names. Even though they could be even more depleted and will be on the road tonight, I still like them to take down Philly.

Pick: Cavs 104, Sixers 101

Nets @ Pistons

Detroit plays host for the second game in a row and welcomes the Nets into town. Jarrett Jack and co. should be strong to get this one going, as all of the Nets’ main starters should play and could get solid run. Reggie Jackson is banged up but will play, although he could be a little limited. This should be a tight one, but I actually like Detroit due to their depth.

Pick: Pistons 104, Nets 99

Raptors @ Lakers

L.A. hosts a well rested Raptors bunch that has looked pretty good in preseason. All of Toronto’s key starters should be in for solid minutes and if that’s the case, the Lakers probably won’t make it close. D’Angelo Russell could be out with an injury and Kobe Bryant could sit or be limited, as well.

Pick: Raptors 109, Lakers 104

Warriors @ Blazers

Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard are the show-stoppers tonight, but the Warriors remain the much deeper team going into this year. Golden State is on the road, where they tend to be a tad more vulnerable, but the Blazers have little muscle down low and not much that is scary beyond Dame.

Pick: Warriors 111, Blazers 106

Spurs @ Kings

Coach Pop won’t be on the sidelines for San Antonio’s preseason opener, while LaMarcus Aldridge and numerous big names could be out or limited for the Spurs. Sacramento did just play on the road last night, but I oddly like them at home in a back-to-back contest.

Pick: Kings 98, Spurs 96

The Charlotte Hornets had high hopes of turning their defensive squad into one of the more balanced teams in the Eastern Conference. With Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist all returning at full strength, getting back into the NBA playoffs in 2015-16 was starting to look like a realistic goal.

Now, not so much. Per reports, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could miss the entire 2015-16 NBA season due to a serious shoulder injury. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will go under the knife soon to repair a torn labrum and very well could miss the entire season.

.@hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will have surgery tonight to repair his torn labrum. This effectively ends his season.

— Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) October 6, 2015

It’s a heavy blow to a team that thought they were turning the corner after dealing with a laundry list of injuries a year ago. A playoff team as recently as the 2013-14 NBA season, Charlotte struggled through injuries to Walker, Jefferson and even MKG, while also working their way through an ugly ordeal with free agent bust, Lance Stephenson. The Hornets beefed up their roster to prevent a huge slide for the second year in a row, as they traded for swing man Nicolas Batum, brought in combo guard Jeremy Lin and drafted big man Frank Kaminsky.

Of course, all of these moves were naturally predicated on having their healthy core of Walker, Jefferson and Kidd-Gilchrist at full strength. While not an offensive source on a nightly basis, MKG may arguably be the most important link for Charlotte – at least on the defensive end. One of the top perimeter cover men in the game, MKG’s mere presence boosted Charlotte’s overall team defense tremendously when he was healthy and active. Adding in Batum to help lock down the other side was going to give the Hornets a spike in defensive production, but it now appears fans will have to wait an entire year to see how these moves turn out.

MKG’s Future

This isn’t necessarily a troubling injury for MKG’s long-term future as a pro, but it could have a negative impact on how the Hornets proceed with him beyond this season. Kidd-Gilchrist is clearly a defensive asset and at just 22 years old still has plenty of time to develop into a capable offensive player but this will be his third year in a row where he’s missed 20+ games. With next year being a contract year, a less than willing to commit Hornets organization could see him as a trading chip.

Next Man Up

In the short-term, replacing MKG isn’t all that difficult thanks to some solid depth. Replacing his level of play, of course, is. The only other wing player with anything close to his defensive aptitude is Nicolas Batum, and he was already starting and looking at heavy minutes. His role is more cemented than ever, but who jumps up on the depth chart to actually try to fill MKG’s shoes? The rest of the preseason may be needed to discover the answer, as the likes of P.J. Hairston and Jeremy Lamb are the top contenders to earn those minutes. Both players offer serious upgrade potential as offensive players, but neither has displayed even solid defensive ability yet in their young careers. There is also the slim chance that the Hornets opt to use versatile big man Marvin Williams, who could potentially spend some time at the three spot in certain lineups. Charlotte will more than likely consider starting Jeremy Lin at the two and sliding Batum over to the three on a full-time basis, however.

Playoff Bound?

The Hornets were definitely improved across the board before this news broke, but even then they were no locks to make the playoffs in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference. Once the laughing stock of the NBA’s two conferences, the East has improved dramatically over the past two years and could for the first time in a while have all 8 playoff teams with above .500 records. Charlotte will have their work cut out for them to be one of those eight teams, and losing MKG takes their one major strength – defense – down a notch. Anyone looking for a sneaky NBA bet may want to look elsewhere this year, as the Hornets are far less likely to make a serious run than they were maybe just a week ago.

Last we saw the NBA on Saturday, we exited the night with a 2-0 run via our NBA picks. After a two-day hiatus, we’re back on Tuesday with a five-game slate. NBA preseason games are tough to pick, but we’ve knocked out our first three with ease and will aim to do more of the same tonight. Let’s get to it:

Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose is missing some time with an orbital fracture, which should have the Bulls a little short-handed on Tuesday night. That’s not a situation the Bulls aren’t used to, of course, as Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol should be enough to get Chicago a win tonight. They also have Nikola Mirotic and could get strong play out of reserves Aaron Brooks, Tony Snell and Doug McDermott. The Bucks are no slouches, but they’re on the road and Jabari Parker still isn’t 100% and Greg Monroe still will be getting his footing with his new squad.

Pick: Bulls 104, Bucks 97

Denver Nuggets @ Dallas Mavericks

Chandler Parsons and Wesley Matthews both should remain out due to injury issues, while veterans like Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams shouldn’t see a ton of run, either. That could put the usually superior Mavs at a bit of a disadvantage tonight, while Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler and Emmanuel Mudiay try to push the pace. This could easily still tilt in favor of Dallas, but this might be the best upset try of the night.

Pick: Nuggets 106, Mavs 103

Philadelphia 76ers @ Washington Wizards

Philly is really hurting at the point and Nik Stauskas has a leg issue that should keep them out. The Wiz may not play their top guys a ton in this matchup, but they’re at home and simply have so much more talent, it’s not even funny. It will be fun to see what Jahlil Okafor can do, but the Wiz should roll, even in the preseason.

Pick: Wiz 109, 76ers 88

Indiana Pacers @ Detroit Pistons

The Pistons and Pacers is a classic matchup, although both of these teams look a lot different already than they did just one year ago. Paul George should see more work at the four spot again, which could help the Pacers run more and make this a pretty nice up-tempo game. That being said, Detroit oddly may have the defensive edge with Andre Drummond dominating the paint. Detroit is also at home, so they look like the mild favorites.

Pick: Pistons 101, Pacers 96

Houston Rockets @ Memphis Grizzlies

A gritty defensive/divisional showdown during the regular season, it’s possible we get very limited action from top studs like James Harden, Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol. Memphis has a small edge at home, especially since they’re the better defensive squad. It will be interesting to see what Ty Lawson’s immediate impact will be, but with Mike Conley on him, it may not be amazing right away. Memphis has the narrow edge in the depth department, as well.

Pick: Grizz 95, Rockets 92

The 2015-16 NBA season arrived last night, as the Clippers took down the Nuggets at the Staples Center. We called that and got off to a nice 1-0 start to the year. Calling preseason games can really go either way and we won’t preview or even track our success for every batch of games, but a few times over the next month we’ll take a look at the games and see who our favorite picks are.

It’s another light night on Saturday night, as we get two more games to track and bet on. Both games get going at 7:00 pm Eastern, with the Charlotte Hornets traveling to Orlando to battle the Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans going up against the Pacers in Indiana. Let’s quickly break down and pick both games for tonight’s NBA preseason betting:

Hornets @ Magic

Both of these teams were pretty bad a year ago, but both have different reasons to think they can improve and work their way into the Eastern Conference playoffs. Orlando is just standing pat and buying into their young talent, while also hoping defensive-minded Scott Skiles can be the kick in the behind this young group needs. Charlotte, meanwhile, is betting Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky is the real deal, as well as a healthy Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson can be an elite pairing still. The addition of Nicolas Batum on the wing and Jeremy Lin off the bench hypothetically gives them an offensive jolt, as well.

On paper, the Hornets seem to be the slightly better team. Batum helps their offense with outside shooting but his biggest impact could be on defense, where his size, length and athleticism could really give teams problems. Orlando has a ton of talent but Walker wins against Elfrid Payton and Batum could end up covering Victor Oladipo and give him fits. Nikla Vucevic against Big Al is largely a wash. We’re headed for a close game but we’ll see a ton of Kaminsky, who I think could fare well against Orlando’s backups.

Pick: Hornets 101, Magic 97

Pelicans @ Pacers

Anthony Davis versus Paul George is the headliner, while Jrue Holiday is on a minutes restriction and Monta Ellis is trying to find his role with his new team. New Orleans is a rising team out west thanks to The Brow, while the Pacers are trying to pick up the tempo to keep up with an improving East. One big key to their plight to do that is Paul George spending a lot of his time at the four. Whether or not that ends up being successful will be quite interesting, but I don’t love his prospects against Davis tonight. The Pelicans are the better team at the moment and we haven’t even dug into Alvin Gentry’s impact, or the ability of Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Tyreke Evans. Yeah, I like the Pellies this year and definitely tonight.

Pick: Pelicans 104, Pacers 101

That’s two road picks after picking the home team last night, but the NBA is a dice roll – especially in preseason play. Let’s see how that goes and check back with us for Sunday’s picks, as well.

Don’t look now, but the NBA hath returned. It’s only preseason and the game doesn’t matter, but pro basketball is back and the NBA betting juices are coming in full force, folks. We fared rather well with our daily NBA picks last season and we feel good going into a new year.

What better way to tip things off than to lend some advice for the first preseason game of the year, right? We’ll be sure to catch a few nights where there is more than just the one game, too, but with preseason being a rather unpredictable sport, we won’t get too crazy. That being said, you can bet on NBA preseason games and it’s fun to do, so why not?

The very first thing to consider is that the star players won’t all play (at least probably not) and even the ones that do will definitely have a minutes cap. Starters generally play 20-25 minutes, if not far less, regardless of the game flow or competitiveness. So really what you’re betting on is whether or not team A’s starters can dominate team B’s starters early and then who will get more out of their bench. Yes, that’s the nature of the beast even during the regular season and playoffs, but as we learned with NFL preseason betting, the backups on the bench are more important than ever.

We don’t need to get too cute for this one, as the Los Angeles Clippers should house the Denver Nuggets. The Clips are at home and will want to put on a show for their fans, plus Denver is sans Ty Lawson (traded to Rockets) and has a new coach. They’re also just not that good. Shooting for the Total may be the best bet to go with besides picking the Clippers, though, since this game should be fast-paced and have a good amount of scoring.

Denver’s starters have the potential to give L.A. a minor fight early, but that’s if all of them even play. Rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay should get some nice run, but he’s not match for Chris Paul (who is?), while the Nuggets have never had much success against Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan. The Clips got super deep over the summer, which is the big thing that will help them in a lot of tight games this year. It’s especially going to help them in blowouts, as their stars can exit earlier and let their solid bench clean up the mess.

Guys like Lance Stephenson, Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford, Wesley Johnson and Josh Smith suddenly make up a very deep and balanced Clippers bench. Denver doesn’t stand much of a chance, but it’ll be a ton of fun to watch. NBA is back, baby!

Pick: Clippers 109, Nuggets 101

The Chicago Bulls are starting a whole new era as they prepare for the 2015-16 NBA season, as rookie head coach Fred Hoiberg promises to guide them to a more potent offense and hopefully a deeper run in the NBA playoffs. Unfortunately, the team looks to be slightly under-manned, at least in the beginning of the year.

Per reports, veteran swing man Mike Dunleavy will miss the next 8-10 weeks after undergoing surgery on his back this week. Dunleavy had been complaining about nagging back discomfort and after numerous conservative measures were exhausted, Dunleavy finally opted for surgery.

Replacement Options

The first names that come to mind to help replace Dunleavy in the starting lineup are Nikola Mirotic or Doug McDermott. Mirotic was a mild stud at times last year, as he proved to have a knack for shouldering a heavy scoring load and was adept at getting to the basket and drawing fouls. McDermott had a back and forth knee issue as a rookie and was unable to ever get into a groove – or the rotation. In Hoibgeg’s up-tempo system, both could prove to be quite useful while Dunleavy is out, while Mirotic is the likely candidate to start games.

There is also the option of just sliding shooting guard Jimmy Butler to the three spot for long stretches during games, as he tends to guard the opponent’s best player no matter the position, and also has the size, athleticism and skill-set to be a high level player at the three spot.

New Deal

Chicago just made an investment in Dunleavy as their starting small forward, when they signed the 35-year old swing man to a three-year, $14.4 million deal. The Bulls likely thought they were getting a savvy veteran for a good price, but instead they got a potential liability.

Playoff Odds

Dunleavy even being lost for the season wouldn’t necessarily kill Chicago’s playoff hopes. They’re already one of the best teams in the weaker half of the league and losing a 35-year old wing player wouldn’t cripple them. It could negatively impact their ability to go deep into the playoffs or win a title, however, as Dunleavy provides outside shooting, can create offense and even is a competent defender usually. The big thing he provides is depth and versatility, as he can play three positions and even if he wasn’t starting he’s still an extra guy with size and length that can shoot and help out in a number of areas.

Losing Dunleavy for any amount of time isn’t to be brushed off completely, even though at first glance most Bulls fans won’t think it’s a huge deal. However, the young talent Chicago has behind him is quite good, so the Bulls should be just fine for the first month or so of the season. Mirotic is a guy who the Bulls could look to as a starter over Dunleavy already anyways, so the real ticket may be what the Bulls can get out of second-year sharpshooter, Doug McDermott. If Dougie Buckets is ready to contribute, Dunleavy will be missed far less and the Bulls won’t miss a beat.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and power forward Anthony Bennett have finalized a buyout agreement, making the former #1 overall draft pick a new NBA free agent.

Minnesota forward Anthony Bennett has reached agreement on a contract buyout, soon to free him on waivers, league sources tell Yahoo.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 22, 2015

Bennett was originally drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the top pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Bennett played sparingly during his rookie season before being traded with Andrew Wiggins to Minnesota for Kevin Love last summer. Bennett never locked down a consistent role with the T’Wolves, who are chock full of talent across the roster. The two sides agreed to a mutual buyout, which will then allow the talented forward to find a better situation elsewhere. The big question is where does Anthony Bennett go from here? Luckily there are already a few teams that have expressed interest, while a few more could make some sense. Let’s break down Bennett’s top five potential suitors as we try to pinpoint where he might end up playing next season:

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland lost LaMarcus Aldridge this summer and while they did bring in talented big men like Mason Plumlee and Noah Vonleh, a rebuilding team can never gather enough talent. The Blazerd don’t expect to be overly competitive this year, but with the right bodies in place they can assess what they have and build toward a better 2016-17 NBA season. Bennett has ties to Portland’s coaching staff and per Marc Stein, they could be the top contender already.

Growing suspicion around league is that Anthony Bennett will wind up in Portland … where his Team Canada coach Jay Triano is an assistant — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 22, 2015

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are the only other team that reportedly could flat out claim Bennett while he’s on the NBA waiver wire. The Sixers drafted Jahlil Okafor in this year’s draft and have the talented Nerlens Noel for down low, but with Joel Embiid’s health a huge question mark, they’re otherwise hard up for talented bigs. Bennett has his flaws, but he is a solid offensive player and still has tons of untapped potential. He’d be a nice addition for a losing team that is still trying to put the right pieces together.

Atlanta Hawks

Mike Scott is the only big man the Hawks can really rely on at the four spot these days, yet he may never play again thanks to drug charges off the court. That’s where Anthony Bennett could come in, as he brings a very similar skill-set to the table. Like anywhere he’d go, Bennett would have to prove his conditioning and consistency are up to snuff in order to carve out a regular role, but on the surface this looks like a solid match.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto let Amir Johnson walk in free agency and now they’re paying for it, as they have just Patrick Patterson and Luis Scola at the four spot. Both of those players are more experienced and reliable than Bennett, but a team with little depth down low should be interested in adding a player that has the talent that got him drafted #1 overall just a few years ago. Bennett could continue to learn off the bench and eventually develop into a steal for the Raptors.

Phoenix Suns

With all of the Markieff Morris trade rumors going on, it’s quite possible the Suns could be in the market for a big man who can score the ball. Bennett has certainly had his issues with staying in shape and consistently producing, but no one can deny his offensive game. With range out to the three, Bennett could be a poor man’s version of Morris and could help pick up some of the slack on offense should Morris leave town.

*photo credit – ballislife.com