"The ScapeGOAT" Finally Calling It Quits

First off, let me say that in my last post, when I suggested that Russell Westbrook should, all things considering, maybe retire, I didn't know at the time that he had an offer, albeit a minimum one, on the table via the Wizards(?).  If I had known that, my tone would have been a bit different, under the belief that he could actually help a team like Washington.

I believe, if AD sticks around and is committed, that the Wizards are going to be a lot better next season than a lot of people anticipate, perhaps even one of the best teams in the East.  Everyone is talking about how wonderful Philly's braintrust is for landing Lebron and Brown.  Meanwhile, since February, Washington has acquired Davis, Young and Dybantsa, who appears to be a true #1 pick (besides acquiring Ayton and retaining Middleton).  When you look at this roster honestly, they're one of the deepest in the league.  And just as an interesting side note, that's now two consecutive #1 picks that the powers-that-be have paired with AD.

Besides the aforementioned vets (all of whom have name recognition) and Dybantsa, the roster is fleshed out by these other young, promising dudes, most notably Alex Sarr.  Usually, I don't think it's good for young players to get accustomed to losing.  But now it's like those losses from last season may have hardened them towards a brighter future, because for what it's worth, dudes were competing even while getting their asses bust.

The one person I am sorta worried about in this equation is Young and how his erratic style doesn't always translate to team basketball.  But remember that him and Collins, dudes were out there looking like Kidd + Martin for a time, like Trae knows how to throw lobs.  And now, he has more lob options than ever.  So here's to hoping, presuming he is the starting PG, that he doesn't chuck.

And yes, I can see Westbrook having fit into it all, even with his own unpredictable style.  Besides being a veteran whose resume demands respect, let's be honest.  Stat wise, even at 38 years old, Russ is better than 90% of the players in the NBA.  He may not be efficient, but when it comes to raw, all-around basketball skills, he's better or at least more versatile than any other vet on this team.  His field goal percentage may, relatively speaking, suck, but in 30 minutes, primarily off the bench if I remember correctly, he averaged 15pts, 7 assists and 5 rebounds last season.  Those are like Lebron-esque numbers.

LONGETIVITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

That said, I can understand why he'd be compelled to call it quits, because if you are on the best players on a team, then conventional logic doesn't dictate you should be paid less than everyone else, even newjacks.  Also, damn, dude has played for 18 whole seasons.  Time sure does fly.

Players of today, at least to me, it seems like they're lasting longer.  Jordan played 15 seasons over 19 years, amidst a couple of retirements in between.  His HoF sidekick, Scottie Pippen, played for 17 years (straight).  It was rare back then for players to truly strive for 20.  Generally speaking, NBAers who were good or accomplished enough not to be forced into retirement only lasted for about 15 seasons.

But look at what's happening now.  Lebron is on the verge of potentially playing for a quarter century.  Westbrook, as established, nearing 40 years old, is one of the best individual players in the NBA.  He may not be the most intelligent so to speak, but I'd bet on him one-on-one against any other player in his height class.

PJ Tucker lasted for 20 years, even tho it wasn't all entirely in the NBA. Vinsanity did 22.  CP3 recently did 21 before being forced out of the game.  Meanwhile, Durant and Harden have thus far played 18 and 17 respectively, with no signs that either will be retiring soon.

Kobe also did 20, but his was a bit different, sorta like holdover from the 20th century.  Like Jordan, the team Bryant was on in his twilight wasn't expected to win shit, and he was only really there to sell tickets (besides presumably make money for himself).  That was how star retirements used to go.  Nearer to the end, you usually played for fame or money, regardless of how large or small it may be, but rarely a key role on a contender.

Meanwhile, look at the cats mentioned in that previous paragraph.  All of them, except for Vince, competed to the very end.  Dudes are no longer signing just to collect paychecks.  Now they want to contribute to a championship, even into their 40s.

So yes, all things considered I would have loved to see Westbrook on this Wizards' team, and I'm glad they at least showed him some respect, you know, being the only person who ever averaged a triple-double for that organization.  But you know, it's not really about Washington.  If anything, he should have stayed with the Nuggets.  And if you remember, at the time I was even questioning how they could prioritize Christian Braun(!) ahead of him.

"THE SCAPEGOAT"

On that note, I have to believe that behind the scenes, Russ is genuinely difficult to deal with.  I mean, there's no other way to rationalize how organizations have come to treat him.

Recently, some documentary about him came out called Passion Play (2021).  It was themed around that very idea, that Westbrook is this really good player though one who's like hardheaded or some shit.  I can't remember the specifics of the presentation, but I do recall walking away sympathizing with Russ instead of hating him.  In fact, if I remember correctly, it even concluded with Magic Johnson publicly apologizing for having previously criticized Russ.

But those sentiments never completely went away, and this is what I mean by behind the scenes, because I have to speculate that Westbrook did something(s) that really like pissed insiders off, though I can't quite imagine what that would be, besides his overall cockiness.  It's not like, say, DeMarcus Cousins, who publicly threatened some old white dude.

CONCLUSION

Conclusively, I have to agree with Jay-Z that it's better to "gracefully bow out" than to be forced out of the game.  That's especially true if you're in a field without a definitive retirement timeline and even moreso if you're on the greatest at what you do.

You see what happened to CP3, after a storied career, how that last episode stained his legacy.  Meanwhile, Russ has won MVP, the rarest of all NBA accolades, even rarer than making it into the HoF.  So yeah, if he'd rather retire than play for on a vet min for the Wizards or Kings, then so be it.  But all of that said, let this be a lesson to everyone.  There is a such thing as being too good, as an individual player, for the NBA.

I never really thought much about KD leaving OKC, but now, in hindsight, I understand why Westbrook was so pissed off.  He was intentionally drafted to be Durant's sidekick, and as such, Kevin may have been the only person he really had that big brother type of respect for.  The two of them together may have eventually won a championship.  But now we see that the ScapeGOAT couldn't truly humble himself to anyone else.

The Indecisionists

Damn, make a decision already.

DEMAR DEROZAN

Out of all true free agents still on the market, DeRozan is the biggest gamechanger if placed on the right team.  His stock has gone down not so much due to a lack of efficacy as opposed to (#1) playing for two consecutive garbage franchises and (#2) being a victim of that 'midrange shots no longer matter' analytics' bullshit.

So one of the lingering effects of the past Warriors' dynasty is that now, you have teams who like no longer know how to score within the arc (and outside of the key).  Now that players like Shai and Wemby have taken over, the Steph imitating isn't as bad it was before.  But again, if there's a squad out there who actually needs him, DeMar can definitely help win a championship.

Preferred Destination: Miami Heat

Longshot Destination: New York Knicks

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

It's hard being so good that every time your team falters in one way or another, you're granted part of the blame.  It's also hard being so good that you have to hold yourself back in the name of overall team chemistry.  It's like a no-win situation for "the ScapeGOAT".

Westbrook has been in control of a team twice.  First was when KD bounced on OKC, and Russ immediately went on to win MVP.  Second was during his short stint with the Wizards, where he handily averaged a triple-double.

So all things considered, trying to call this guy garbage or someone undeserving of a contract is ridiculous.  It's logical, at least to me, that he should be most sought after by a team with a really-good starting five but like no bench.  In other words, give Russ complete, undeterred control of a second unit.  And if he's even too erratic for that, then yeah, maybe it is time for him to retire.  Or if he must start, I'm thinking a team like:

Preferred Destination: New Orleans Pelicans

JONATHAN KUMINGA

Jonathan Kuminga bet on himself and, in the short term at least, appears as if he's slated to take a loss.  And you know, I talk a lot of shit about the Warriors' inability to nurture draftees.  Steph may have even verified that when recently memorializing his first NBA Head Coach, the recently-departed Don Nelson, where he stated, plainly, that Nellie "never liked rookies".  So I'm thinking that frame of thought may have more or less persisted, to this day, within the Warriors' organization.

But that said, I'm not going to use this post to once again criticize Golden State's braintrust, because doing so, in context, may prove hypocritical.  It looks like Kuminga will be participating in next season's NBA at an annual salary somewhere in the $10mil range and definitely not exceeding $15mil.  Meanwhile, the Dubs offered him about $23mil annually.  So in hindsight, it's hard to say they lowballed him.  Rather, young Jonathan may have overestimated himself.

Preferred Destination: New Orleans Pelicans

Logical Destination: Cleveland Cavaliers

BRADLEY BEAL

Beal, on the other hand, was overestimated by the industry itself.  And when you compare his situation to Westbrook's, you see how hypocritical the collective mind can sometimes be.

Bradley led the Wizards, and they sucked, but he walked away being regarded as one of the best players in the league.  Westbrook led the Wizards while putting up a triple-double, and they sucked, but he walked away more or less disgraced.

Anyhow, if there's one thing Beal knows how to do, it's score.  I don't think that can ever be taken away from him, so long as he's playable.  So yeah, the Celtics sounds like a good choice, even tho they may not really need him (unless he's coming hard off the bench).  So a more viable option would be:

Preferred Destination: Miami Heat

JALEN DUREN

I'm mentioning Duren, even though he's restricted, because he's in a similar situation to Kuminga.  If he plays out the current year and is still coveted, as a completely free agent, next offseason, I mean come on.  The Pistons would be able to pay him the most money, but would he even want to stay?

Also, let's not forget that they're currently offering him something like $200mil(!).  Yes, other teams are willing to jump in and pay more, in theory.  Well actually, haven't dudes already spent all of their dough?

So realistically speaking, there is the possibility that when he hits the open market, like Kuminga, it may end up like his current team was actually willing to pay him more than anyone else will.

What I'm also envisioning is Jalen just being like fukit and forcing himself out by midseason, to an organization that expresses a willingness to pay him more or whatever.  If he feels that Detroit is devaluing him, it's not like, say he makes All-NBA or whatever, it's not like next offseason those feelings are just going to go away, even if they do max him out.

It wouldn't really make much sense for him to leave on paper, so that's like a worst-case scenario.  But you never know?  If they can't get along, it may all boil down to who the Pistons can get in return, or if maybe Jalen can get on a team where he has a better chance for a ring, tho at the moment it's hard to envision who.

Preferred Destination: Detroit Pistons

JAMES HARDEN

I'm still having a hard time, from the perspective of either party, trying to understand what logic was used to rationalize bringing the Beard to Cleveland.  They say on his part, he was looking for a longer contract and a better chance at winning, which is understandable.

I'm not going to criticize Harden, as of late I feel like I've been doing too much shaving.  But what I will say is this: all things considered, there are teams out there that could better utilize what he brings to the table.

Longshot Destination: Houston Rockets (sans KD)

BEN SIMMONS

When Ben Simmons ends up back on the Sixers, I want you to remember who called it first.

Simmons was like all-NBA, all-defense, all of that, but ultimately ended up being criticized for lacking the mamba mentality.  Too much eye of the tiger, and you're Russell Westbrook.  Too little, and you're Ben Simmons.

In any event, logic would dictate that reality could be mitigated by (#1) cutting his salary, (#2) not expecting too much out of him and (#3) surrounding him with teammates who are in fact feening.

Preferred Destination: Philadelphia 76rs

CONCLUSION

A team like the Pelicans, with a roster that at least has hope but in a situation where they've been all but forgotten about, could be perfect for undervalued vets who aren't obsessed with winning.  But somehow, New Orleans has already spent all of their cap money(?).

And that's the reality of the NBA, and it always has been, in a way.  You have more cautionary tales of guys betting on themselves and losing than players who took extensions and outplayed them.  In that latter regard, I can only think of Steph, but with the former, Sprewell, Schröder and even Isaiah Thomas, in a way, instantly come to mind.

That said, it baffles me how certain teams are standing pat instead of trying to find creative ways to implement quality players who are looking for work and who may be had relatively cheaply.  

Dear Kawhi, Just Stay with the Clippers

So if the reports are true, that the Clippers arranged to pay Kawhi an extra $40mil(!) - another salary basically - even though he didn't have to do jackshit to earn that money, then I have two questions.  Number one, why would a player want to walk away from a sweet situation like that?  And number two, after making such an investment, why would the organization want him to go?

If or when punishments are handed down, I hope the NBA isn't too hard on Kawhi, in terms of like suspending him and shit.  Funny how you don't hear the NBPA releasing statements related to this case.  Maybe in circumventing his salary or whatever, Leonard gypped them out of a cut.

Also at this point, what I'm actually hoping is that he just stays with the Clippers.  That'll teach him a lesson.  And I mean, if the goal is parity, trading Kawhi and in the process making the Raptors really good while LAC gets even worse isn't the way to achieve it.

Of course, I can't see the future.  But what the Clippers are trying to do, in terms of roster construction, is kinda weird.  This is the curse of being too bad to be good yet too good to be bad.

Instead of fruitlessly trying to compete without Kawhi, they might as well go full rebuild and hope for the best.  Meanwhile, if they are forced to keep him, I mean the offseason is practically over.  But if Ballmer and co. still have money to spend, might as well go after DeRozan and Kuminga, i.e. the two best noncommitted free agents left.  And if the Clippers are reluctant to acquire them because of tax concerns, I mean obviously they know how to quote/unquote 'handle' those types of situations.

If Kawhi is eventually forced to stick around, then might as well put him in the best situation possible to win.  And you never know.  A full season with him as the undisputed alpha may pay off better than those failed superteam experiments of the last few years.

THE INDECISIONS

I don't know if it's just me, but starting with that whole Lebron fiasco, it feels like dudes are intentionally taking longer to make their decisions, deadass exercising their patience.  In the meantime, I can't write my predictions or rate the offseason because first of all, if DeRozan does land on a contender, chances are he's going to make a major impact.  And now that I think about it, it kinda surprises me that the Pistons haven't gotten in the conversation, but they seem to actually prefer chasing C-listers and shit.

I used to be really big Jonathan Kuminga, someone I viewed as having been underappreciated by the Warriors.  Now looking back, there's absolutely no reason Golden State shouldn't have kept him, because they need all the quality help they can get, and he's definitely better than any of the other non-star currently on their roster.

Also, it looks like a situation whereas Kuminga may never perform as well as he did on the team that drafted him.  Sometimes, it's like that.  A team needs a certain player just as much as a certain player needs a particular team.  Jonathan may not have been the future of the Warriors in and of himself, but then again, neither is Draymond, who just scored a major loyalty contract.  Oh well.  The current GSW braintrust may undervalue youth, but at least they treat a couple of proven dudes they drafted over a decade ago really well.

If Bradley Beal ends up on the Celtics or Heat and is actually healthy type shit, he'll also make a difference.  But I'm having a hard time picturing both him and PG13 on the floor at the same time, trying to play defense.  The best defense is a good offense?

THE FOOLISH KING

And then there's the ScapeGOAT who, I mean idk what else to say.  Lebron is about get paid, what, $9mil, while the Beard, a lesser player all things considered, is prolly going to end up with another $100mil-ish contract.

Westbrook, who stat-wise is better than 90% of the players in the NBA, doesn't have a contract.  Meanwhile his former partner in crime, KD, demands a max salary, even though he never accomplished anything Russ hasn't besides excelling on a team that was already poised to win without him.

But I'm not trying to minimize KD's accomplishments, because it's not like a superstar joining a contender always works.  And the results may not have been the same for the Warriors if, say, they had gotten Westbrook instead of Durant.  So I figure that Russ must really be that difficult to control, like they say, to have fallen off like this.

In the past, I was sorta like it's the coaching staffs' fault for not being able to reign him in.  But now, I sympathize with anyone who may be stuck with a subordinate - so to speak - who's an A-hole, if that is in fact the case.  But I don't necessarily believe that.  I believe that the ScapeGOAT may actually be too complete of a player, in and of himself, to play 5-on-5 basketball. 

But that said, the Kings are just about as ass-backwards as an organization can be.  For instance, even if it was the Bulls who gave LaVine that ridiculous contract, why would you be dumb enough to pick it up?  That shit was questionable from the time it was signed.  And if you don't believe me, dig through this blog and find what I postulated back then, that basically, Chicago gave Zach all of that money moreso for his marketability than productivity per se.  Meanwhile, those types of Haliburton gambles don't always pay off

Also, when have you ever heard of an organization putting their "future" in the hands of a rookie PG, who has yet to play an NBA game, that was drafted all the way down at #5?  I mean I'm not sleeping on dude, but come on.  Have we learned nothing from the faith put in the likes of Telfair and Scoot?  What about Fultz?  C'mon, dudes.

Again, I'm not sleeping of Darius Acuff. But I mean yeah, generally speaking, I can't say off the top of my head I ever seen the media bigup a #5 pick like this, regardless of position.  That's how bad everyone wants Sacramento to finally take a step forward or at least look like they know what they're doing.