The 3 Year Arms Race

The Houston Rockets signed Guard Eric Gordon to a 4 year extension worth $75.6 million dollars. This keeps the core of the Rockets team which include (James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela),together until to the 2022-2023 season. The fourth year of Gordon’s deal is non-guaranteed. It can become guaranteed if Gordon makes an All Star or the Rockets win the NBA championship during the length of the contract. This shows Gordon’s belief and commitment to the Rockets. The fact that he has tied a guaranteed  $20.9 million to the team winning a championship means he loves the teams chances. He can also get the fourth year guaranteed by earning a spot on an All Star team, but given his position and the fact he has two superstar teammates,  Harden and Westbrook, makes the chances of that happening rare. 

The NBA is in a unique position with many teams championship windows essentially being 3 years. When you look at many of the key free agency signings this off season they included an option either through player options or incentive based agreements for that final year. This includes Kawhi Leonard who aligned his contract with Paul George’s who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers with 3 years left . Even with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving they can both opt out after 3 years. It’s what the NBA wants enough time for fans to invest in the teams and players; but also short enough so that if things do not workout fans have hope that the teams can turn it around quickly . The next three years will be seen as a crucial time when we look back on NBA History as this will be the new normal. Lebron James started the trend in 2010 when he went to Miami but now it seems to be fully embraced by both the teams and players.

D12 Back In Los Angeles

Yesterday August 23rd the Los Angeles Lakers signed 8 time All - Star Dwight Howard who agreed to a buyout . This will be Howard's second go around with the first being in 2012 when he was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Lakers to form the super team that included Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. This is what both sides needed the Lakers needed a replacement for Demarcus Cousins who went down with a torn ACL. This gives Howard a chance to play for a contender after only playing 9 games last season before being sidelined with a back and hamstring injuries which kept him out for the remaining of the season. The last full season that Howard played he averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Howard signed a non-guaranteed contract which means prior to January 6th the Lakers can cut Howard without having to pay any additional money. Howard is expected to have the role of a rim protector and a rebounder. This role is perfect and with Howard being humbled over the years he has realized he needed to take the game more seriously. Also he was able to prove that his back is completely healthy. This is vital especially since his lone season with Lakers it was riddled with an on going back injury. I predict this will be a great resurgence for Howard and that he will be a vital part to Lakers winning games this year. I see Howard averaging 10 and 8 while playing about 20 minutes a game. He will  be in the running for 6th man of the year. 

Dominance Changes Rules

 Tuesday August 6th the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sent out a memo which outlines the new rules when it comes to the requirements for representing college  basketball student athletes when it comes to entering the draft who for those who want to test the waters. The new rules stated that in order for agents to represent student athletes they must meet 3 requirements which include having a minimum of 3 years of National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Certification, also taking an in person exam at the NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis. The most important requirement which has caused many to believe that the NCAA is targeting NBA super agent Rich Paul is the fact that the agents have to have a Bachelors degree. Rich Paul who represents stars such as Lebron James, Ben Simmons, and John Wall to name a few of his clients, does not have a college degree.

These new rules do seem to target Rich Paul who is a rising agent that many others do not like. Also the new rule does not seem to make much sense because the NBPA requires that you just pass the certification exam to become eligible to represent NBA Players. Also the idea that just because someone is college educated means that they are an ethical is false . This is the reason the NCAA gave as an explanation as to why they implemented this new criteria for being able to represent college basketball student athletes. All these new rules prove that Rich Paul is not only changing but dominating sports landscape as we know it. This is seemingly just the beginning and will be exciting to see what barriers Rich Paul will break next. 

When The Game Betrays You

“I felt like I loved the game more than the game loved me” Carmelo Anthony said this in an interview with Stephen A Smith on ESPN’s First Take. Carmelo spoke about now being able accept a lesser role when it comes to him coming off of the bench. This is a sign of growth from Carmelo who two years ago during his introductory press conference for the Oklahoma City Thunder laughed at the notion of him coming off the bench. Carmelo spoke about what went wrong while playing for the Houston Rockets . Carmelo mentioned that he was informed by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey about the team going in a different direction and no longer needing his services. Once he received this news Carmelo reached out to Chris Paul and James Harden about the situation. Both Paul and Harden said they had no idea about what Daryl Morey was doing. This seems to have been the point when Carmelo began to re-examine his role in the NBA. 

The one question that seems to keep Carmelo in NBA limbo is what is his value to an NBA team. Carmelo who from a talent standpoint should be on an NBA roster has to develop into a better catch and shoot three point shooter which will be difficult to do at this stage in his career. He’s a volume scorer who is inefficient and needs a rhythm to get going. Unless he dramatically improves his catch and shooting it will be interesting as to what teams see him as a fit. I believe Carmelo will be on a team this year I could see a team like the Indiana Pacers taking a chance since is a scorer of Carmelo’s prowess would put them in the conversation to win the East. 

Ben Simmons Extension Given not Earned

On Monday, July 15 All Star forward Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers was given a five-year. $170 million contract extension. The question is not whether he deserved  the extension but did the 76ers give it to him prematurely. Simmons‘ game has remained the same since the first day he got into the league back in the 2016, in which he was drafted number 1 overall . He sat out the 2016-2017 season with a  foot injury . The element of his game he needed to improve was his ability to shoot. One would expect that he would have worked on that portion of his game in the summer followed that season . He did not work on that portion of his game and two players come to mind when I think about Ben Simmons which are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Andrew Wiggins.  These two players were in similar situations where both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks decided to give each player a contract extension while on their rookie contracts. They did this with expectations that the players would get better and improve their games. It has paid dividends and then some for the Bucks with Giannis leading the Bucks to best record in the NBA and also winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award this past season. Andrew Wiggins on the other hand has not improved as a player with many of his stats have regressed or marginally improved. With Simmons playing with Joel Embiid I fear he could fall into the Andrew Wiggins type player where he doesn’t work on his deficiencies and never develops a jump shot. This is not only needed in today’s NBA which is predicated on spacing but especially for the 76ers. With JJ Redick and Jimmy Butler leaving in free agency the need for Simmons to developing just a mid range shot will be crucial to the teams championship aspirations. If I were the Sixers I would have waited until this summer to discuss contract extension; If he did not still improve I would extend the qualifying offer and match whatever offer he would get from another team.  This would show not just Simmons but the team even for one of the best players you have to earn their contract. Now the Sixers have paid max dollars to a player who has not worked on his game when he is scheduled to make just $8.1 million* this year. He’s making an average of  $34 million* over the next 5 years good luck. Also I would get a new coach that would hold both Simmons and Embiid accountable to getting better. Ben Simmons is worth an extension no question but for a max contract I need to see you try to improve as a player. 

• Contract numbers were taken from www.HoopsHype.com

'Real Deal Sports 2 Big NBA Takeaways

This summers storylines has been ruled by the NBA when it comes to the sports landscape. Even with with free agency dying down there are still plenty of headlines around the NBA this week. The real deal sports 2 big takeaways this week we will explore Damian Lillard's comments about not wanting to team up with another superstar, and  Russell Westbrook’s fit in Houston.

Earlier this week Portland Trailblazers' Star Point Guard Damian Lillard spoke about this week how with players being more friendly today that a pitch of going to play with friends is more powerful than any sales pitch a General Manager or other executives can make. Also he talked about how back in the day players such as Michael Jordan would not have thought about the idea of calling up other star players in the league and saying do they want to team up. The premise of what Lillard is saying is true but also flawed at the same time. When you look back at the teams from the 80’s and 90’s many of the teams that won championships in those eras the rosters were filled with stars and players who are in the Hall of Fame. The Celtics and Lakers just to name some of the players who were on those teams Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, for the Celtics. For the Lakers you had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, James Worthy all of who are in the Hall of Fame as well. The Bulls in the 90’s had Micheal Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman who are all in the Hall Fame. Also the Detroit Pistons has Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman another group players who are the in Hall of Fame. This shows that you need multiple stars to win in the NBA for the most part. The difference being back then the executives of the teams constructed the rosters. In today’s game the very elite players have the power and they are using but instead getting different coaches such as they did back in the day they are saying I want to play with that guy.

In addition to Lillard's comments another hot topic which occurred later this week was the Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul trade. This reunited Russell Westbrook and James Harden to form perform one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA. The biggest question is how are both James Harden, and Westbrook are going to play together. Both star players did play together in Oklahoma City 2009 to 2012; but much has changed in the last 9 years. Harden and Westbrook have since both won the Most Valuable  Player ( MVP) awards; both have also produced historic individual achievements with the ultimate team goal of winning a NBA Championship eluding both. I believe the duo of Westbrook and Harden will work if Westbrook takes a step like he did while playing with Paul George last year. Also Westbrook has to improve his 3 point shooting as he only shot 29% from the 3pt line last season. When the season is over the Rockets will be a top 4 seeded team with a chance of winning a championship.

Kawhi’s Decision

On July 6th around 12am Pacific time caused many fireworks around the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the biggest Free Agent Kawhi Leonard deciding to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. This was a great signing and the Clippers were also to able acquire in what many saw as a out of nowhere move the Oklahoma City Thunder’s  star player Paul George.This has shifted the NBA landscape because it puts the Clippers as the top title contender; due to the fact the core of the team is still intact which made the playoffs last season. The Clippers gave up 5 first round picks of which  4 are unprotected in addition to Forward Danilo Gallinari and also promising Point Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA).  The trade has many ramifications around the league including what happens with the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors who were the two other teams trying to get Leonard to sign with them. Also we will look at options for the Thunder who’s future seems to look completely different from 24 hours ago.

The Toronto Raptors are the defending NBA Champions who just saw their best player and NBA Finals MVP Leonard walk away from the team. This puts the champions in a unique situation where they have to choose between making a run to repeat or to exploring trades to rebuild the team for the future . The team currently consist of a veteran core who have one year left on their contracts. They have a young rising star in the 2018-2019 Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam. They can build the team around him and Point Guard Fred Vanvleet. The Raptors should trade their veteran players and rebuild around Siakam and Vanvleet. This is because they are the fourth best team in the Eastern Conference with there being a huge gap between the top 2 teams in the East,Milwaukee and Philadelphia, and everyone else. The Raptors will be in good hands with General Manager Masai Ujiri at helm he will be sure to make great deal done which will keep the Raptors relevant.

The  Los Angeles Lakers  The other team that missed out on Leonard have to be feeling a little disappointed this morning since they only did not sign Leonard but also seeing him go to the team that plays in the same city and building as you adds more to it. The Lakers when free agency started did not have enough cap space to sign Leonard to a max contract and through trades they created the space with hopes of creating a formidable trio of Lebron James, Anthony Davis and Leonard. With Leonard choosing the Clippers the Lakers have to go to their plan B which was to fill out there rosters with secondary players to go along side James and Davis. The Lakers are still seen as a title contenders but getting Leonard would have made them a dynastic team in many peoples minds. They are linked to many role players who are shooters and starting level players which will be essential when playing with James and Davis.

In addition to the Raptors and Lakers not signing Leonard we also have to mention the Oklahoma City Thunder who traded one of their star players in Paul George. The Thunder wanted to try to shed salaries to help them to get under the luxury tax the Paul George trade helps that. This move essential means the Thunder will trade Steven Adams and possibly Russell Westbrook. With the 5 first round draft picks from the Clippers trade the rebuild is all but written on the wall. Westbrook has been applauded for his loyalty to the Thunder and for the Thunder to reportedly have his name used as a trade chip for Siakam will not sit well with him.

The NBA is excited that Leonard ended up in LA. It’s great that the top 3 players in the league Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard are all in the the top 2 media markets in America. While also being on different teams which helps to drive the narrative that there is parity in the NBA. If Leonard is able to bring the Clippers a championship his legacy would put him into a rarified heir.