KYRIE'S BACK!!!!

 On Friday due to the current injuries the Brooklyn Nets have the teams  announced that they will welcome Kyrie Irving back as a part time player. With Kyrie not being vaccinated he is only eligible to play in 24 of the 27 remaining road games that the Brooklyn Nets. This is because due to the New York City Mandate he would not be able to play in the 2 away games against the New York Knicks or in the 1 one away game in Toronto against the Raptors. Canada has a mandate that anyone who is not vaccinated would not be allowed to enter the country. The process begins with Kyrie having to test negative for 5 straight days before he can play. Assuming his conditioning is not an issue and he practices well he could be eligible to return as soon as Christmas against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets do have a game on December 23rd visiting the Portland Trailblazers but with Kyrie needing 5 straight days of negative Covid testing he may not be able to travel with the team in time.

With Kyrie being back the question becomes how far can the Nets go. When Kyrie plays he will be one of the best players on the floor and will provide a much needed scoring punch for the Nets.  Also he will allow James Harden to go back to his facilitator role that he thrived in last year. In addition this move will definitely shift the balance of power in not only the Eastern Conference but also the NBA. The biggest challenge will potentially come in the playoffs especially if they play the Knicks or the Raptors because then you would have a complete series in which Irving would not be able to play.

This will be an interesting situation for the Nets and only time will tell if this will work out.

REALDEAL POWER RANKINGS WEEK DECEMBER 11TH

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of December 11th

1. Golden State Warriors (21-4) (This Week 2-1)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They went 2-1 this  week. The Warriors have wonderful ball movement as a team. They lead the league in Assist per game. Steph Curry is 9 3’s away from tying Ray Allen for the most 3’s made in NBA History. Tonight they face the Philadelphia 76ers in a match up that sees Steph guarded by his brother Seth Curry which will bring the best out of Steph.  Sibling Rivalries are always fun to watch especially when it involves two of the best shooters in the game today. With the Warriors making a trip to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday against the Knicks it sets the perfect stage. If Steph does not break the record tonight he will do so on Tuesday on the biggest stage in basketball. The Warriors play the Pacers on Monday but in the best interest of the NBA the Warriors should give Steph the night off either way and save him for the Nationally televised game Tuesday night.

2. Phoenix Suns (21-4) (This Week 2-0)

Phoenix is proving that they are a complete team. Even with Devin Booker out with his current Hamstring Injury they are taking care of business. Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder are playing tremendously and helping with the offensive production with their roles increased while Booker is sidelined. This includes a dominating win against the Boston Celtics last night.  The West has 2 top teams the Suns and Warriors and then there is a gap between everyone else.

3. Utah Jazz (18-7) (This Week 3-0)

The Jazz are on a 6 game winning streak and show no signs of slowing down.

They have a balanced team with a strong defensive anchor in Rudy Gobert.

Donovan Mitchell is continuing to grow with his latest improvement as a playmaker for others especially in pick and roll situations with Rudy Gobert. The Jazz are looking to prove that they can get  the job done in the playoffs and with Mitchell growing as a player it is a step in the right direction.  

4. Chicago Bulls ( 15-8)  (This Week 1-1)

The Bulls went 1-1 this week they have the second best record in the Eastern Conference. THhy will be tested this upcoming week with a few players currently in the Health and Safety Protocol. One of the players likely going to miss several games is DeMar DeRozn, the star Forward is the key to the Bulls exceeding expectations this year. You wish him and the other players a speedy and safe recovery but they may not be in the Top 5 next week.

5. Milwaukee Bucks (17-7) ( This Week 2-1)

The Milwaukee Bucks are essentially healthy and beginning to take off. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton and back into the groove. Even though no Brook Lopez for much of this season, sharp shooting Pat Connaughton has shown much improvement as far as consistency goes this season. Also the addition of DeMarcus Cousins has been great as he provides an extra body who is a good rebounder as the team waits for Brook Lpez to come back from his back injury. Giannis is doing his best to expand his range and tries to keep the defense by attempting more 3’s and mid range shots. This will pay dividends come playoff time he can hit them with a little more consistency as the season continues to go on.

POWER RANKINGS WEEK OF DECEMBER 4TH

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of December 4th!!!

1. Golden State Warriors (19-3) (This Week 2-1)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They went 2-1 this  week including a dominating win against the Phoenix Suns Friday Night. That snapped the Sun’s 17 game winning streak and also avenged their loss from Tuesday against the Suns. Steph Curry dropped 23 points including 6 3 pointers. The Warriors are on a mission and they are not even at full strength which can be scary for the rest of the league. 

2. Phoenix Suns (19-4) (This Week 3-1)

Phoenix went undefeated during the month of November going 15-0. The Suns in a pivotal matchup against the Golden State Warriors won on Tuesday. Unfortunately star Guard Devin Booker suffered a hamstring injury which caused him to leave the game on Tuesday early. Booker is expected to miss the next few games. The Suns have a very well balanced team and should be able to manage while Booker is temporarily sidelined. 

3. Utah Jazz (15-7) (This Week 3-0)

The Jazz are 7-3 in their last 10 games and currently on a 3 game winning streak.

They have a balanced team with a strong defensive anchor in Rudy Gobert.

With them healthy this team will be one of the best teams in the league and they multiple players who can either get their own shot or are knockdown shooters.

4. Chicago Bulls ( 15-8)  (This Week 2-1)

The Bulls went 2-1 this week and are on a 2 game winning streak after two convincing victories against the New York Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets. Chicago has a great team defensively and 3 go to scorers who can get to their spots. In addition this time is primed to make a run at the Eastern Conference finals at a minimum. For the Bulls the Sky's the limit. 

5. Brooklyn Nets ( 16-6) (This week 2-1)

The Nets have the best record against the Eastern Conference.

They are currently on 2 game winning streak, their will on most nights have the best two players on the floor in Kevin Durant and James Harden. The reason they are 5th is because whenever they play a team who can compete with them for the NBA Title this year they come up short and the games are not close. They have lost to both the BUlls and Warriors by double digits. The game against the Suns was not as close as the 113-107 final score would indicate. Until the Nets get a signature win they will stay at the 5th spot for me.

Zion’s Coming Back

 The New Orleans Pelicans on Friday announced that Zion Williamson has been cleared for 4 on 4 full court practice. This is great news as WIlliamson has been out recovering from off season  surgery on his right ankle.  There is currently no timetable for his return but the fact that he is cleared to begin practicing full court is encouraging. The Pelicans are currently 4-16 so whenever Williamson returns it will be greatly welcomed.

The question becomes if WIlliamson returns by Christmas could the Pelicans fight to get into Play in Games this year. I do not see the Pelicans making the play in the game even if Williamson returns by Christmas. The Western Conference is very deep and also from a talent perspective I thought they would struggle even if WIlliamson was available at the beginning of the season.  It will be interesting to see if the Pelicans let Williamson go full speed  without any minute restrictions once he is available to make his season debut. 

History suggests the Pelicans will have Williamson on a minutes restriction once he returns to action. I think that Williamson is eager to get back on the court and prove he is not injury prone and also to show that he has tried to improve his game. WIlliamson is entering his 3rd season and his career up to this point has been a bit underwhelming due to not seeing him on the court much over his first 3 years. I look forward to WIilliamson’s return and hope his injury history will be behind him.

REAL DEAL POWER RANKINGS WEEK NOV 20th

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of November 20th!!!

1. Golden State Warriors (14-2) (This Week 3-1)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They went 3-1 last week including a dominating 3rd quarter against the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. The Warriors are proving they will be near the top all season.

2. Phoenix Suns (12-3)(This Week 4-0)

Phoenix’s continues to just win they have run off 11 straight games.

They are proving that last season's finals appearance was not a fluke and they are true contenders in the west.

3. Miami Heat (11-5)(This Week 4-0)

The Heat are continuing their fantastic start including going 4-0 this past week. This includes a key victory against  the Washington Wizards, who are one of the top teams in the East. Miami is getting a key contribution from Tyler Herro with his scoring ability being on full display.

4. Chicago Bulls ( 11-5)(This Week 3-1)

The Bulls had an amazing week with a 3-1 this week including convincing wins over the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers earlier this week. They continued to roll even though they were without star Center  Nikola Vucevic. He is eligible to be active from the NBA health and safety protocols tomorrow against the New York Knicks. 

5. Charlotte Hornets (10-7) (3-0)

The Hornets had an amazing week with wins over the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards.Both teams held the best record in their respective conferences when the Hornets played them. Charlotte is riding a 5 game winning streak, Miles Bridges is making the case he should be considered for Most Improved Player this year. The Hornets are Buzzing and will be fun to see just how far this team can go. are off to an impressive start.

NBA Power Rankings Week of November 13th

 Here are my top 5 RealDeal  Power Rankings for the week of November 13th!!!

1. Golden State Warriors (11-1)(This Week 3-0)

The Warriors maintain the top spot. They lead the league at 11-1. They went 3-0 this week including a dismantling of the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.

2. Chicago Bulls ( 8-4)(This Week 2-1)

The Bulls started off 2-0 this week including a convincing win over the Brooklyn Nets earlier this week. The were dealt devastating news as Star big man Nikola Vucevic will be out for several games due to testing positive for Covid on Thursday . They were dismantled by the Warriors on Friday night without Vucevic in the lineup. We'll see how they respond next week.

3. Brooklyn Nets (9-4)(This Week 2-1) 

The Nets are looking as though they are rounding into form. The Nets lost to the Bulls earlier in the week but bounced back in the next two games with wins. James Harden is performing like his old self posting a Triple Double against the Orlando Magic and scoring 30 points in a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Brooklyn seems to be finding ot’s groove.

4. Phoenix Suns (8-3)(This Week 3-0)

The Suns are off to a terrific start this season. This includes winning 7 straight. They are doing most of this without Deandre Ayton who’s missed the past few games. Phoenix is rising despite the off course drama with Owner Robert Sarver.

5. Washington Wizards (8-4)(This Week 2-0)

The Wizards are off to an impressive start.

The top seed in the Eastern Conference is showing great fight. Washington are a solid team and the question becomes can they stay towards top this season.

Surprises of The Season

 There are many great things about the NBA being back this includes fans being back in the buildings but also the surprising teams at the start of the NBA season. I will lay out the 2 teams that have surprised me the most at the start of the season..

1. Washington Wizards.

The Wizards have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 8-3. They are led by All Star Bradely Beal. Beal is doing things differently this season the past 2 seasons he has done most of his contributing by scoring. This is something the team needed to be in most games but resulted in  less than stellar seasons for the Wizards franchise. This year Beal’s role is more of an all around game where instead of being asked to go out and get 30 points he is playing more of an all around game and it shows with him being on pace to average career highs in assists and rebounds this year. Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell, who were brought over from the Lakers in the Russell Westbrook trade, have been great contributors and also great leaders as well providing championship experience. The biggest addition for the team this offseason was Point Guard Spencer Dinwiddie; he is the floor general the team needed to help Beal  who can be more off the ball like he did last season and also he can create for himself and others.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers 

Cleveland is one the biggest surprises of the young season. They are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference at 8-5. The Cavs are doing it in a very interesting way in a perimeter oriented league they are playing through their skillful young bigs in Jarret Allen and 2021’s  3rd overall pick Evan Mobley. They create mismatch ups in the paint and have a tremendous rebounder in Allen.. The Cavs will be truly tested with starting Point Guard Collin Sexton out due to a Meniscus tear. In addition Lauri Markkanen is currently in the NBA’s Healthy and Safety after testing positive for Covid about a week ago. The key to keeping the team above water will be Darius Garland if he can continue to step up from a scoring perspective the Cavs will be in the Play in Tournament this year. The Cavs are looking to be slightly ahead of schedule, hopefully it is for the rest of the season.

NBA Power Rankings Week of 11-5-2021

 The NBA is a little over 2 weeks in and now it is time for me to put out my RealDeal power rankings of the top 5 teams in the NBA.

1. Golden State Warriors (7-1)

The league may have woken up a sleeping giant. With the Warriors having a healthy Steph Curry and Draymond Green  has helped the Warriors get out to a 7-1 start. They are tied for the best record in the NBA. With the emergence of Jordan Poole who is showing that his last few games last season in which he began to come on offensively was not a fluke. He is being that second steady scorer that the Warriors need especially while waiting for James Wiseman and Klay Thompson to come back from injuries later this season.

2. Utah Jazz (7-1)

The Utah Jazz have gotten out to a tremendous start this year starting 7-1. They have gotten great contributions from star player Donovan Mitchell and All-Star big man Rudy Gobert. THe Jazz are continuing to show that they are a solid regular season team. The Jazz will have one of the best records in the league this year. For them the true test will come in the playoffs.

 

3. Philadelphia 76ers (7-2)

The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a great start at 7-2; this is the best thing the Sixers could have asked for. With the Ben Simmons drama as he is currently not playing with the team. Joel Embiid is having a great season even though he already missed some games. The Sixers will truly be tested in the next few games due to some key players missing games due to them recently testing positive for Covid . Two of the key players missing time will be Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle.

 

4. Chicago Bulls (6-2)

Chicago is off to a great start at 6-2, their offseason acquisitions of Demar Derozan and Lonzo Ball are playing tremendously. Ball is a traditional Point Guard that allows star player Zach LaVine to play more off the ball which plays great to his skill set as a scorer and slasher. Also DeRozan is playing excellent and providing clutch baskets for the Bulls. This team will be in the running for a top 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

5.  Miami Heat (6-2)

The Heat have gotten back to their excellent defensive prowess as a team. The addition of Kyle Lowry has proven to be great from a leadership standpoint and also having someone who has championship pedigree along with PJ Tucker. In addition Tyler Herro who made headlines this offseason saying he was just as good as Luka Doncic and Trae Young; has been a great contributor off of the bench averaging over 20 points a game. This Heat team will be a gritty team all season.

3 Takeaways From The NBA Season

 The NBA season is a little over 2 weeks in and there have been some surprising things. In this article I will discuss my 3 takeaways so far from the season.

1. Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers

The Nets and Lakers are both off to less than ideal starts this season with both teams being 3-3 to start the season. Both teams will be just fine and will be near the top of their respective conferences when the season ends. It will take both teams sometime to gel due to a variety of reasons. For the Nets they have to learn how to play without Kyrie Irving specifically when both Kevin Durant and James Harden are on the bench. As far as the Lakers are concerned it is getting all the new pieces to fit. My suggestion for the Lakers is that Russell Westbrook starts and finishes the game but spends most of the game with the second unit so he can play with the ball in his hands, and also he will be able to play with his usual aggression without being hesitant and hindering the flow of the offense. No need to worry both teams will get it together and by their Christmas Day matchup both teams will be clicking. 

2. Dallas Mavericks may have the wrong coach

The Mavericks hired Jason Kidd this offseason to be their next Head Coach.

Under Kidd the Mavericks Offense looks disjointed with a lack of ball movement and seeming to be to the definition of Luka or nothing. In the teams 3 wins Luka scored at least 25 points. These 3 games came against teams that will not be in the playoff picture, in the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. In the 2 games against playoff contenders they have scored 100 points. They are ranked 29th in points and last in assist per game unless Kidd changes his coaching scheme of essentially giving the ball to Luka and telling him to make magic happen this will be a team watching the playoffs from this season.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers Making the Play in Tournament

Yes, the Cavaliers will make the Play in Tournament  this year. They have an exciting young core with Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers have built their team in an unique way with skillful big men who  have the ability to play both on the perimeter and inside. For the Cavaliers to definitely make the Play-in they may have to trade Sexton , or Garland for a veteran perimeter player. I would trade Sexton due to him being more of just a score as opposed to Garland who has a better all around game. Either way if they keep the core together they will still be in the Play in Tournament.

Dwight Howard Snubbed

 The NBA started back this week and with it being the 75th season the top 75 players throughout NBA history were revealed.  There were some noteable names left off of the list. The one individual that was left off the list should be on there is Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard had a great first 8 years of his career including taking the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009.  Howard was selected to the All NBA Team 8 times, including 7 first team selections. He also was selected to 5 All Defensive teams. In addition he won 3 straight Defensive Player of the year awards.  With a resume like this Dwight deserves a spot the top 75 list. 

With Dwight not being included on the list  some speculate that it may have to do with the idea that Dwight is not well liked and also many people felt as though he did not take the game as serious as many thought he should. Those notions should not be taken into account if you look at his number Dwight should have been included on the top 75 list. 

Many ask if you put Dwight on who would you take off and I would take off Paul Pierce. If you look at Pierce’s career it does not compare to Dwight’s accolades. Pierce only made the All NBA team 3 times and all those times he was member of the 3rd team All NBA. In addition Pierce was never considered the best player at his position at any point in his career, which is the complete opposite to Howard. Howard is a top 75 Player player in NBA history.

2022 NBA Season Preview

 The season gets under on Tuesday with the reigning Champions the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Brooklyn Nets in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch. Also, the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors in the night cap of opening night. With that being said it’s time to look at some preseason awards and the championship predictions.

Most Valuable Player (MVP) - Kevin Durant

The MVP award is a highly narrative driven award as much as it is an award for who had the best season. As one of the best players in the league Kevin Durant will certainly put up the numbers needed to put him in the MVP conversation. I believe the current saga going on with his teammate Kyrie Irving and weather or not Irving will get vaccinated so he can play this season, wil help to bolster the narrative component of overcoming distractions and missing one of your best players from the beginning of the season and still carrying your team to a top seed in the Eastern Conference.  

Defensive Player of the Year - Jrue Holiday

The Defensive Player of the Year award  the past decade has been seen as mainly a big man award. I think with game changing and being more perimeter oriented that voters will look at more second level statistics as opposed to relying on just blocks, rebounds and a player’s plus minus to help determine the defensive player of the year. There are very few on ball defenders that can do what Holiday does from his ability to switch and guard multiple positions at an extremely high level. In addition I could see voter fatigue for Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz and also just the fact perimeter impact the game just as much as Center but their impact may not be able to be seen in the stat line. This is the year Jrue Holiday wins the Defensive Player of the Year. 

Sixth Man of the Year- Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro will have a bounce back season from last year. His 2nd he experienced a sophomore slump which some him regress from the consistent player many saw in the NBA Bubble when the Heat went to the NBA Finals in 2019. With Victor Oladipo expected to miss some time at the beginning of the season while he recovers from injury; this will give Herro the ultimate green light as he will be looked to score. Herro will look to also live up to the statement in which he should be mentioned in the same conversations as some of the best young players in the game.

Most Improved Player- Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter will be looked at to take a bigger role with the Denver Nuggets.

Jamal Murray will miss most of the season as he recovers from his torn ACL and this will invite Michael Porter Jr to take that next step in his game this season. Porter Jr will likely average around 23 points a game and if he improves his individual defense then this award will be his for the taking.

NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers

I predict the Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Brooklyn Nets in the Finals.

It will be a hard fought series that will ultimate go 6 games with the Lakers prevailing.

Anthony Davis will win his first NBA Finals MVP.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS!!!!

 The NBA season begins in 11 days and it is time to figure out who the top contenders from each conference are going into the historic 75th season. In the NBA there are about 3 teams that are legit title contenders above the rest of the NBA and in this article I will give a reason as to why each of those teams can win the NBA Championship this year.

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Bucks

The defending NBA Champions are the top contender in the Eastern Conference. They are led by Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo who just continues to grow his game. With the team bringing back most of the CHampionship team with a few additions including sharp shooter Grayson Allen. They have a very good opportunity to compete with anyone in the NBA. Giannis will make sure his team is ready to play every night. This will help the defending champs come playoff time and elevate their play when it truly matters.  The Bucks will likely win close to 58 games and finish with a top 2 seed in the East.

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have possibly the most talented roster in the NBA with Kevin Durant , James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Due to Irving’s uncertain status to play in home games due to New York CIty’s Vaccination mandate for indoor events. WIth or without Irving the Nets are the favorite to come out of the East with both Harden and Durant healthy. The Nets are possibly going to win close to 56 games this season. The Nets are out to prove when healthy no team can beat them. In order for Durant and Harden to deliver the Nets a championship they both have to play at the MVP levels they are capable of.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers  added a number of veterans to their roster in an attempt to win the NBA Championship this season. Among the veterans added it includes Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony. Westbrook and Anthony are expected to be solid contributors this season while playing alongside Anthony Davis and Lebron James. The fit has some question marks but eventually the talent should gel together. This seems very familiar to 2004 when the Lakers tried a similar thing with Hall of Famers, Gary Payton and Karl Malone. This time around the Lakers hope to seal the  deal. With James’ leadership this team should win close to 57 games this season and gel together despite the notion the pieces do not fit perfectly.

This will be a great NBA season with tones of storylines to watch for. Next week I’ll give you my predictions for award winners and also the team I see winning the NBA Finals!!!

BEN SIMMONS WANTS HIS OWN TEAM!!!!

 The Ben Simmons trade saga continues with the latest being that he wants to be the number 1 option on a team. With reports coming out that Simmons believes the time with playing with Joel Embiid has run its course; Simmons thinks that the Philadelphia 76ers have catered to Joel Embiid when it came to him being the  preferred option and also roster makeup.  On Thursday Embiid spoke about these reports to the media after training camp practice and essentially debunked that notion and even gave examples such as the signing of Al Horford in 2019 with the fact that Horford is a stretch forward which allows Simmons room to drive to the basket. Embiid even mentioned choosing to let go of Jimmy Butler that same summer so Ben can have the ball more was a mistake.

With these comments it further acknowledged that Simmons likely will not play another game for the 76ers. The question becomes what does a team around Simmons look and also would it be a good team. Operating under the assumption he does not improve his willingness to shoot the ball but insist that the ball is in his hands, he will need shooters around him. There are issues with that usually with many knockdown shooters such as limited playmaking and defensive liabilities.  

If you do trade for Ben Simmons and you try to build the team around him that team likely will not be elite. With his talent they can likely be middle of the road team but will likely struggle to be against contenders, which would mean less national tv time for Simmons. I believe Simmons will get his own team but soon realize he cannot be the number 1 option on a championship team which he may be satisfied with as long as he is top dog. 

Trade Wiggins and Irving?

 The NBA has taken the stance of having everyone involved in the NBA with the exception of the players having to be vaccinated against Covid 19.  The players do not have to be vaccinated due the fact this particular kind of ruling would have to be collectively bargained with the Players Association. However, the league has stated that  teams have to follow the Covid guidelines as laid out in the particular state or city in which the team plays in. This is crucial specifically for the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets because both San Francisco and New York City have required individuals who attend or participate in large indoor events to be vaccinated.

Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors, who is not vaccinated,  and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets, who is believed to not be vaccinated, under the current mandates in their respective cities would not be able to participate in any home games. This means assuming these mandates lasted the entire season both players would miss over 41 games . Kyrie would miss 44 due to playing the Knicks, who  also play in New York City.  The question becomes what do you do if you are the Nets or the Warriors.

It is not ideal to have a main contributor to your team not being able to play in half of the team’s games. I would possibly explore trading these individuals if I can get my hands on Ben Simmons for either Kyrie Irving or a package of players and  picks that included Andrew Wiggins. I would do that. It is worth noting that the NBA denied Andrew Wiggins’ request to be exempt from needing the vaccine due to religious reasons on Friday.  

It makes sense from a basketball stand point to trade for Ben Simmons if you are either the Nets or the Warriors you get better defensively for either team and also it adds another facilitator and rebounder which will be beneficial to either the Warriors or Nets. It will be interesting to see how things will now play out for Wiggins and Irving who are potentially in danger of not being able to play any home games.    

   

  

John Walls Best Destination

 Earlier this week it was reported that John Wall and the Houston Rockets have agreed to have the team help him to find a trade to another team. The plan is that he will practice with the team but he will not play in the games. This arrangement comes as little surprise considering the Rockets are looking to move into full rebuild mode following the James Harden trade last season.  This includes their  young talent which includes the 2nd pick overall in this year’s draft Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. Both of which can play Wall’s position of Point Guard.

Wall will be looking to be traded to a contender where he has an opportunity to compete for a championship. The biggest issue for him is his salary. He is scheduled to make $91 million dollars over the next 2 years. The breakdown being $44 million this year and a player option for $47 million in the last year.  Wall has battle injuries throughout his career including missing the entire 2019-2020 season. Last season he played just 40 games.

The one trade that would make sense for both Wall and the Rockets would be trading him for Ben Simmons in Philadelphia. This would pair Wall with Joel Embiid and it would make a pretty good pick and roll combination. Last year Wall averaged 7 assists and that will only go up with Embiid. It also helps the Sixers because even though Wall’s not as fast  as he was when he was younger, he still has the aggressiveness to put pressure on the opposing  defense by driving downhill.  

The trade would also give Simmons a fresh start and he can play the Forward position from the elbow down and they can run the offense through him. This can even use him similar to how NIkola Jokic is used in Denver. Simmons possesses great passing ability and does most of his damage in the point which can benefit the guards who are slashers and like to operate on the perimeter. With Simmons not bringing the ball up you also can have him on the court in the 4th quarter. I say this because I believe psychologically he won’t feel the pressure of being the only ball handler on the floor and will begin to make his free throws at a respectable rate.  In addition he can give the Rockets that in-between option where he is only 25 but has some experience so he can help bring the team along and maybe even help speedup the development process. This would be great for the Rockets as well so the team can develop into teams such as the Grizzlies and Hawks and become competitive within the next 2 to 3 years.  It would be interesting because Philly likely asks for a second round draft pick to get back some draft compensation. 

This will be an interesting story going into this season which starts in just 28 days!!!

I expect a trade partner will be found just before the All Star Break.

Simmons wants out of Philadelphia!!!

 It was reported earlier this week that All Star Forward Ben Simmons informed the Philadelphia 76ers that he no longer wants to be on the 76ers. This comes as no surprise as after the 76ers lost to the Atlanta hawks in the playoffs many fans called for Simmions to be traded after playing poorly in the series. When it comes to SImmons he likely made his decision after hearing Head Coach , Doc Rivers and Star Player Joel Embiid essentially throw him under the bus during post game comments after game 7.

Simmons has even threatened to not show up to training camp if he is not traded prior to the NBA Season. This is a very bold claim to make because it comes as a very expensive deterrent based upon the Collective Bargaining Agreement(CBA). If Simmons sits out of training camp he stands to lose up to over $200,000 for every day of Training camp that he misses. Saying you're going to sit out is one thing but doing so are two different things. We will see how bad Simmons wants out of Philadelphia . 

 

I predict Ben Simmons will eventually get traded to the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors will put together a trade package of players and picks centered around Draymond Green and Jonathan Kuminga in exchange for Simmons. The Warriors will realize they have to maximize their championship contending opportunities. Once this is done Simmons gets his wish of playing for a California team; it also helps the Sixers by providing Green who has a similar skill set to Simmons. 

Nerlens Noel Sues Super Agent Rich Paul

 New York Knicks' Forward Nerlens Noel is reportedly suing his former agent Rich Paul for breach of contract and breach duty claiming he lost $58 Million in potential salary. This is coming after Rich Paul filed a grievance with the National Basketball Players Association over unpaid commission of $200K, from Noel’s previous one year deal with the Knicks' last season. 

In the lawsuit Noel claims during Free Agency in 2017 Paul supposedly advised Noel to take a one year $4.1 million qualifying offer instead of the 4 years $70 million dollar contract the Dallas Mavericks were offering. This with the idea bet on yourself and you can likely make even more money when he would become an unrestricted free agent the following season. The most important distinction is that Paul did not become Noel’s agent until free agency was underway. Noel fired his initial agent with hopes of the following summer Paul would be able to get him a lucrative deal.

During the 2017 season Noel broke his hand and missed half the season. Once free agency came around that summer he ended signing for the minimum and playing the Oklahoma City Thunder for the next 2 seasons making just $3.7 million combined. Noel claims in the lawsuit teams reached out and Paul would not pick up the phone and also felt as though he wasn’t made a priority during the free agent process.

I believe this was a case of just receiving bad advice and also a bit of bad luck on the part of Noel. Because with him breaking his hand the season he was scheduled to go into free agency. This likely made some teams weary because he has always  had nagging injuries which would likely mean he would never play a full season. Unfortunately he doesn’t have the skill set of Kevin Durant, or Kawhi Leonard who even though they were injured still received max deals in free agency. The one thing to take from this cautionary tale is don't leave money on the table especially when you have some history of injuries such as Noel who came into the league with a torn ACL from his only year at Kentucky.   

NBA SCHEDULE HAS ARRIVED

 The NBA released their schedule this week for their historic 75th Season. 

The league will begin the regular season on October 19th and compete in the usual 82 game season. There are many great matchups that will occur this season. I will give you my 2 most  anticipated matches in this upcoming season. On Christmas Day you have the usual 5 game lineup featuring some great match ups. This will be one of the best NBA Seasons ever.

1. Milwaukee Bucks VS Brooklyn Nets

On opening night the NBA Champions face off against the Brooklyn Nets. The Bucks beat the Nets in an excellent 7 game series. The Nets experienced some unfortunate injuries to star players Kyrie Irving during the series, and James Harden struggled as he hobbled while trying to play through a hamstring injury. This will be a great match up as both teams will be healthy. We will get a preview of how the NBA Champions will fare against the team many people pick to win the NBA Championship in the Brooklyn Nets.   

2.  Los Angeles Lakers vs Brooklyn Nets

On Christmas Day the prime time match up will be the Lakers vs the Nets.

This will be seen as a potential NBA Finals preview. This game is a must watch especially with the addition of Russell Westbrook being added to the Lakers team giving both teams a big 3. This game will be one of the highest rated games of the season. The matchup i am looking most forward to is Kyrie Irving vs Westbrook. 

The NBA season will be one for the books. It will be great seeing teams plate especially if we can avoid any major injuries this.

Schroder's New Deal!!

 On Wednesday August 10th it was reported that Dennis Schroder signed a 1 year deal with the Boston Celtics for just $5.9 million. This comes after during the season Schroder rejected the Los Angeles Lakers offer of 4 years for $84 Million. This deal would have kept Schroder under contract with the Lakers.  Schroder decided to take his chances in Free agency in hopes of getting close to a $100 million contract. Not only did he not get close to that he ended up settling for the veteran minimum.

Schroder made a huge miscalculation especially when his numbers across the board this year were all essentially his career averages. IF he had the same he had in Oklahoma City in 2019 where he posted career highs for most major categories including 3PT field goal percentage  and regular field goal percentage. Over the course of the year you can see that Schroder played as though he was hunting for his next contract instead of playing winning basketball.

If Schroder played basketball that contributed to winning he would have been able to get a multi year contract this off season in my opinion. Also when playing with LeBron James, if general managers see you playing non winning basketball  they may play against you. The Point Guard market dried up quickly once free agency began and Schroder unfortunately was forced into a minimum contract. 

With that being said, Schroder is the common story of when betting on yourself goes wrong.
This happens more often than not so when you decide to take a risk be sure that you are certain things will work out for you. Lastly, hopefully Schroder or his representation is able to accurately evaluate his market worth based on the other teams in the league and not just his own opinion. 

Men's Team USA WINS GOLD!!!

The United States (US) faced off against France in the Men’s Basketball Gold Medal game. This was a rematch in which the United States were looking to avenge their only loss during the group stage of the Olympics . The US made it to the Gold Medal game by defeating Spain and Australia. For France their road consisted of them going through Italy and Slovenia, who was led by Luka Doncic.

The  game was highly contested Kevin Durant finished with a game high 29 points. This includes 21 in the first half. The other key to the game was the US team's tenacious defense forcing 18 turnovers. In the US’s 87 to 82 Victory Durant surpassed 100 points in his 3rd straight Olympics. In addition, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton became the third pair of teammates to win both the NBA Finals and The Olympic Gold Medal in the same year. They joined Kyrie Irving, Lebron James, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as the only other players to do so.

The biggest takeaway from this basketball tournament is that the United States does still have the best talent in the world. However, the rest of the world is catching up when you speak of some of the better countries and the talent that they produce. Also when you think about the process of the selection of the Olympic team the US is just a collection of star players put together without having any continuity created. Other countries put together the team usually have them together a year prior to Olympics usually in the FIBA World Championships which helps when they play in the Olympics. If we take a similar process where we keep the team together then we don’t have to go through growing pains when you hit the biggest stage.

Westbrook Comes Home

On Thursday it was first reported by ESPN’s Andrian Wojnarowski that the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards. The Lakers sent Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell- Pope and the number 22 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft. In addition to Westbrook the Lakers also received a  2024 and 2028 second-round draft pick.

The move had been rumored to be considered for sometime but now that it is done will it work?

Westbrook made history on Thursday by being the first former MVP traded in the three straight seasons. Westbrook’s play style of reckless abandonment is a double edged sword for the teams he plays for. On the one hand you love how hard he plays and you will never be able to say he cheated you when it comes to the amount of effort he gives. The flip side is many times Westbrook makes many questionable decisions in clutch moments many which can lead to unforced turnovers or terrible shot selection.

Westbrook has averaged a triple double 4 of the last 5 seasons. When it comes to his fit for the Lakers he will provide a playmaker and someone who can get their own shot, especially when Lebron is not on the floor. The key fit will be between Lebron and Westbrook when it comes to one of them being an effective with spot up shooter. Both Westbrook and Lebron are subpar catch and shoot players but if they can improve these parts of their games just 40% off catch and shoot shots then the Lakers experiment will work. 

With that being said the Lakers will experience bumps in the road this year but it will ultimately be figured out and I can see a Lakers vs Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Finals next season.

Can BUCKS Repeat!!!

 The Milwaukee Bucks are the NBA Champions after defeating the Phoenix Suns in 6 games. Giannis Antetokounmpo won the NBA Finals MVP and delivered the Bucks their first championship in 50 years. Giannis put on one of the best  NBA Finals clinching performances I have ever seen. He carried the Bucks and game 6 and put on a masterful performance in which he put up 50 points.

With that being said, questions that have to be answered going forward are can the Bucks repeat as Champions? I will make a prediction as to how I potentially see both teams faring the next 4 years and the likelihood of them getting back to the big stage. 

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks will have the core of their team together for a while with their three star players under contract for a minimum 4 more years. With having a top 5 player in Giannis you have to love their chances with always being in the picture as Championship contenders. The biggest obstacle for getting back to the Finals will be the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference. It also will be interesting to see what some of the other top teams in the east, specifically the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics do to improve their rosters over the next couple of years.

The Nets who have Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. This star studded trio will serve a major challenge to the NBA Champions. Injury was a major reason as to why the Nets make the finals this year. With Irving’s injury history it can be assumed he will mode sometime at some point next year. Winning the championship gives a team confidence they can compete against anyone, The Bucks will get more consistent play from both Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday offensively next year in the playoffs. I predict the Bucks will make it back to the NBA Finals within the next 4 years.