2026 NBA Offseason Grades (Central Division)

CHICAGO BULLS: B+

You have to give it to the Bulls that, at least they're trying, and we have to presume that the additions of Powell, Claxton and Caleb Wilson will make this team better.  It's possible that they may even be entertaining, as the roster looks really fast on paper and have some good athletes.

The goal, I would presume, is to at least make the playoffs.  And even though the conference has gotten deeper, like if they can't even do that, then maybe it's time to start striving for a young A-lister to bring in.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: B-

More than any team this offseason, I would say the Cavs took one step forward, two steps backwards.  And somehow, saying that doesn't feel surprising.

The addition of Watson is cool, I guess, maybe.  But now, Cleveland has gone from being one of the deepest rosters to having more, perhaps even too much, talent concentrated at the top.

And the bigger concern is still compatibility.  I was saying before that these starters need a 3 like Josh Hart.  And since then, Dillon Brooks also came to mind (i.e. if he didn't chuck as much).  But Peyton Watson?  He's a shooter and a board crasher.  The more the merrier, I guess.  But the goal should have been the type of glue man who could mitigate Harden's overdribbling, and Spider being forced to the 2, even though he'd probably be better at the 1.  Oh sh*t - the word Ben Simmons almost came out my mouth.

I think the Cavs are the only team who have three long, skinny dudes starting.  I don't know if they're officially the tallest frontline.  But either way, that's a sound piece of wembyproofing.

But again, the problem is, damn.  I don't even wanna talk about Cleveland anymore.  Ultimately, someone on the bench must have an amazing season

DETROIT PISTONS: C

Taking for granted that Duren is going to stick around (at least another year), the Pistons offseason hasn't been that bad because, to reiterate, Collins isn't a slouch.

I also wish Harris had stuck around, at least for another season.  So all those years as a pariah and then finally, this postseason, you redeem yourself.  I think it would have been better if he stayed on the team where the redemption took place.

The bigger pain, though, is the departure of Isaiah Stewart, who felt a true Piston.  The braintrust did a pretty good job of keeping the core together, up until now.  Remember that just two seasons ago, they had one of the worst records - in history.  In a span of just a year, that same core was then able to earn the number one seed.  I'm not quite sure why you would want to devalue an accomplishment like that.

Also, let's be frank.  Detroit's record was a lot better last season than in 2024-25.  But in 2024-25, they were more intimidating.  And who did they most notably lose after that season?

When you talk about a secondary scorer to play alongside Cade, Malik Beasley isn't the type to come to mind.  But maybe the moral of the story is that the Pistons don't even need another A-lister.  Detroit isn't tall, but they have one of the best frontlines.  The lingering issue though is lack of intimidating wings.

Silver and co., you know what I'm saying?  Cut your boy some slack.  If he's eventually found guilty or whatever, he's going to need the dough to payoff penalties anyway.

INDIANA PACERS: D

As it currently stands, I'm angrier with this braintrust than any other.  No, they didn't gut the roster last season.  But at the same time, they should have done everything possible to keep it intact (i.e. retaining Turner and/or Mathurin).

First, they would've won more games.  And what exactly was the purpose of (intentionally) losing last season?  All you were able to get is a second rounder.  And there's no way the team would have been that bad if Myles had stayed around. Suck, maybe, but not bottom of the barrel.

If Haliburton is able to come back and reclaims his "Steph of the East" magic, okay.  If not, then yeah, you know what I mean?  Let the other dudes learn to survive without him, and no, not in that getting-run-off-the-court-every-other-night type of way.  The 2024-25 Pacers were the greatest Cinderella story of the last 20 years, despite not winning it all. So even if the star player goes down, why would the braintrust want to reaccustom them to losing?

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: D

This D feels a little low, but then again yeah, if you lose Giannis, you know?  And it ain't even about what they could've got in return.  Even if they did bring back another superstar, he wouldn't have been homegrown and someone who already led the city to a championship, nor is any player actually more dominant.  This one was going to hurt no matter what, and the Bucks were able to come out of it respectfully.

And I'm kinda excited for their future, almost to the point of maybe even watching them again, sometimes.  Herro is set to enjoy an undisputed alpha level of freedom and may be the only white American player to lead a team.  Also, we now get a chance to see if Kel'el is truly a starter.

Fun Fact: Kyle Kuzma is still on this team, lol.

Also, Myles Turner is lingering around.  Please, find a way to get dude back to Indy and fast track the rebuild.

CONCLUSION

This division is unique, in that it's supposed to have two contenders, as well as possibly a third, if Haliburton returns in form.  But it damn sure doesn't feel that way, as if the Central is truly formidable.  The Cavs aren't afraid to take big swings, but they swing so hard that they miss the ball.  The Pistons are still bickering with who is considered to be their second-best player, besides losing who was arguably their emotional leader.  And the Pacers were so bad last season that now it feels like they're re-starting from scratch.  But there's no way that all three of them can disappoint, right?

If I Could Send One Player to Any Team (Central Division)

There's been a lot more team changing this offseason than many of us anticipated.  Most deals have already been made, but there are still quite a few quality free (and restricted) agents out there, those which, if braintrusts choose wisely, may push this or that team to the next level.  That said, not every suggestion I'm going to make here is free agent but in one case the type of player a particular organization appears to need most, even if the actual possibility of landing him is nonexistent.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (64-18) - JONATHAN KUMINGA

It's arguable that no team disappointed this past postseason moreso than the Cavs.  By the looks of things, they're going to more or less run it back again next season, and on one hand it's like why not?  But on the other hand, I'm not going to dumb out and put my faith in them yet again.

The problem with teams like Cleveland is that it's hard to identify any flaws on their roster to begin with.  People were quick to denounce the idea of having a twin towers, but that strategy worked for the Thunder.  One of the reasons it worked though is because Holmgren is more versatile than Mobley.  You also see that during the Finals, OKC didn't even start Hartenstein.

So the lesson appears to be that, during the regular season if you will, a twin towers may work.  But during the postseason, you need to accommodate or adjust.  And that's why I'm suggesting Jonathan Kuminga.  When the argument is that Allen is too slow to defend on the perimeter or doesn't have enough of an offensive repertoire, then start Kuminga instead.

The fact that no other team has offered Jonathan a contract isn't due to him being undesirable but rather, according to reports, this offseason being one in which virtually all squads are cash-strapped.  So yeah, I don't realistically expect Cleveland to go after him, unless maybe they were willing to give up Jarrett altogether in the process.

And that, once again, is the problem with being really good during the regular season but sucking in the playoffs.  You presume that some type of major change is needed yet at the same time are reluctant to initiate any.  That begs the question of which is better, to be really good but then fail when everything is on the line, or to suck altogether?  At the end of the day, are the Cavs even any better than, say, the Trailblazers?

INDIANA PACERS (50-32) - JOSH GIDDEY

This one was easy, since it appears that Haliburton will not be suiting up at all next season.  Meanwhile, Giddey is a player with a very similar style, in terms of his build and versatility.  It may even be argued that all-around stat-wise, Josh is better than Tyrese.  But if Indiana did go out and get Giddey, then you'd have to ask what role would be play once Haliburton returns, since Josh is more or less a non-factor when he isn't allowed to run point.

I'm not as pessimistic about the Pacers as a lot of people, including apparently their own braintrust, are concerning next season.  Another viable option would be going after Russell Westbrook who, in a manner of speaking, is like Haliburton and Turner rolled into one player.  I don't think Indiana's braintrust just standing pat is the best solution, especially when it comes to trying to do the best for their fanbase.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (48-34) - RUSSELL WESTBROOK

Honestly, I'm shocked that Westbrook remains a free agent as of this writing.  But as I have noted numerous times throughout this blog, "the ScapeGOAT" has regularly suffered from misplaced(?) hate throughout the years.

Russell is the victim of what I would call the curse of greatness.  When you're naturally better than most of your colleagues, people expect you to succeed by default.  It's those types of expectations which has turned players like LBJ and KD to superteam feens.

I could easily perceive how Westbrook would at least prove more valuable to the Bucks than Dame did.  It isn't like they have much to lose in giving him a shot.  And since no one has high expectations for Milwaukee this coming season, if they do fail it's not like everyone can then turn around and blame it on Russell(?).  He may not be the best three-point shooter out there, but given his multitude of other talents, does he really have to be?

DETROIT PISTONS (44-38) - KEVIN DURANT

I know that KD isn't actually available, but there's two reasons I suggested him anyway.  First is that, as I've been saying for the longest, I would love to see more of these old superstars go to young teams.  I'm not talking about the way CP3 went to the Spurs last season but more like old superstars joining younger teams and instantly making them contenders in the process.

In the grand scheme of things, there wasn't any super-major difference between the rosters of the Rockets and Pistons entering this offseason.  They both lost in the First Round, after all.  But Houston is more reputable and also apparently better resourced, so Durant could chose them without giving a less-popular team like Detroit a second or even first thought.

That said, unlike the Pacers and Bucks, it makes more sense for the Pistons not to rush out and make any major additions.  But losing both Beasley and Schroder is far from ideal.  Meanwhile, it seems they haven't made any notable additions at all this offseason except maybe Caris LeVert.

CHICAGO BULLS (39-43) - BOL BOL

Recently, there's been reports of the Bulls being interested in Kuminga or something like that, but I don't really see it.  Jonathan is good and likely to get better, but I doubt if he'll ever be even a consistent number-two option.  For the past couple of years, I've rather been advocating him going to a team like the Grizzlies.  Their roster is more on his timeline, and the onus wouldn't be on him to play like superstar night in and night out.  The Warriors, contrastingly, are a high-pressure team, where if you aren't consistently on point, it will show.

Chicago's roster sucks, so much so that if finish anywhere near .500, that would be considered an overachievement.  They have the type of squad that could literally use any good player, outside of maybe a point, since Giddey already seems to have that role locked down.

The general consensus is the best (restricted) free agent currently available is, once again, Kuminga.  But I can't advocate him going from the Dubs to a team that doesn't look like it'll make playoffs anytime soon, even in the lackluster East.  Nor could I condemn Westbrook to such a fate.

So I'm going to go with Bol Bol because first of all, Chicago obviously needs depth in the frontcourt (as they have for years now).  Secondly, it's sorta surprising, at least to me, that Bol doesn't have a contract.  For whatever reason, after a promising season a couple of years ago, his minutes have been drastically reduced.  Maybe he's not as good as I think he is.  Or maybe, he's never gotten a fair shot due to his appearance and shit like that.  His looks aren't exactly what we would call marketable from a Western civilization perspective.  But I would like to see Bol for once get major minutes, like a starter, to really prove what he could do.  And he'll likely only get that type of opportunity on a completely-garbage team(?) like the Bulls.

Trade Talk 2024-25 Deadline Chaos

You'll notice that out of all the teams to make powermoves leading up to the 2024-25 NBA Season trade deadline, none of them were considered true contenders beforehand.  The squads that are already in the top tier, like the Rockets, Cavs, Celtics, Knicks and Thunder - stood pat.  That, to me, represents good governance and maybe a shift in thinking of contemporary braintrusts.  Maybe they're looking at a team like Cleveland, who didn't do shit this past offseason yet currently have the best record in the NBA, and are like, 'yeah, Jah Iteh is right - continuity is a good thing'.

There are a couple of teams, like the Bucks and Mavericks, who I believe increased their (on-court) fortunes with recent transactions.  As for the rest, I guess in their cases it was like some transaction is better than no transaction.  Better to face the storm in strange waters than continuing across the peaceful seas of mediocrity.

KYLE KUZMA VS. KHRIS MIDDLETON

Kyle Kuzma has been sorta slacking off, as far as stats go, but that may well have something to do with him having been stuck on the damnation of the NBA, the Washington Wizards.  You won't hear no more of that 'I believe in Jordan Poole' shit from me.  With the worst record in the NBA, the conclusion is that the Wizards genuinely suck.  So hopefully, Kyle will be rejuvenated now that he's back on a team with an actual chance.

It sucks that Middleton, after having a stellar career with the Bucks, landed in that sh*tstorm.  His is a cautionary tale of being grossly overpaid in the NBA.  It's like 'yo, go out and get that money' type shit.  But then, if you become ravaged by injuries while playing for a team that actually wants to win, they may want to keep you but, in the grand scheme of things, cannot rationalize it.

Like I'm sure Milwaukee would love to have, you know, like Kuzma and Middleton.  Bring Khris off the bench, even if only, at times, for inspirational reasons.  But damn, niggas want to win, and you're making a gazillion dollars.  So, you have to go in the name of bettering the team.  In other words, their decision to trade Khris for Kyle wasn't nearly as controversial as Dame for Holiday.  I feel sorry for Khris, you know, if he had any feelings attached, but I've also been advocating such a move for like three or four years, even prior to the acquisition of Lillard.

Both teams came out pretty good in this deal.  The Wizards now have more star power and someone who can occasionally get red hot, like Khris did during one of those playoff games last season.  He obviously, unless being bought out or whatever, isn't going to participate in the playoffs.  But then again, he'll likely be re-injured by then anyway.  You know what I mean?  Give your knees a rest, my nigga.

As for the Bucks, yes, I do believe the acquisition of Kuzma may once again make them contenders.  The roster still isn't exactly built around Giannis.  But unlike Dame, Kyle is more of a role player who won't demand like taking the ball from Giannis in order to win.  He may be the much needed glue guy, so to speak, between Giannis and Dame that the Bucks long for, and we may finally see that pair live up to their potential.

LUKA DONCIC VS. ANTHONY DAVIS

In the wake of the Luka Doncic trade, pundits are dicriding the Lakers in ways we haven't seen for at least a couple of years.  But there's a number of reasons, such as compatibility and injury history, that I'm still not convinced.

If LAL would have at least gotten Doncic and Gafford, you know what I'm saying?  But trading an allstar, injury-pronce C for an allstar, injury-prone PG, that doesn't really make sense.  And all things considered, I wouldn't be surprised if AD is still playing even after Luka eventually retires from the NBA.  That said, the Lakers now have even more star power, meaning that the powers-that-be will be even more inclined to favor them.

I imagine that must've been a tough decision for Dallas' braintrust, but I understand why they pulled the trigger.  Luka can get you to the Finals, but he can't win it for you.  So going a different direction, putting the focus more on bigs, like Cs are how championships were traditionally won in the NBA.

The Mavs always seem to be rich in terms of G depth.  A couple of seasons ago, I was evenlike what TF is wrong with these dudes, like they didn't have any bigs. Remember that not too long ago, the most formidable big on their roster was the fearless-yet-overmatched Dwight Powell, who I don't even think gets burn these days.  My, how things have changed.  But I don't want to get ahead of myself because, besides being younger, the Thunder are also built better, and so are arguably the Rockets and Grizzlies.  Kyrie + AD are going to have to turn back the hands of time to pull this one off, but at least it's possible.

JIMMY BUTLER VS. ANDREW WIGGINS

The Warriors apparently traded four players (including a draft pick) for Butler, but the only one of them really likely to suit up for the Heat appears to be Andrew Wiggins.  I would have rather seen Miami get Kuminga, but I'm sorta glad that Wiggins is finally gone.  He feels like someone who's only playing in the NBA because, you know, like why not, he can.

I'm excited to see Jimmy go to Golden State, but their braintrust seems to be stuck on stupid in ways reminiscent of LAL.  For instance, a couple of seasons ago, after they won their most-recent championship, it was like unanimously concluded amongst pundits that the Dubs should start focusing more on their future.  But instead, since then, they traded Jordan Poole, who was the face of their younger generation.  And there two biggest acquisitions have been Chris Paul - who was 37 at the time - and now Jimmy Butler, who's 35.

One thing I've learned in all the years writing this blog though is don't sleep on Steph.  However, I'm sorta starting to believe that he may not be able to relive the magic without Klay.  

DENNIS SCHRODER TO THE PISTONS

Dennis Schroder is also in the mix somewhere, having eventually landed with the Pistons.  If they actually keep him, and he can play the 2 instead of the 1, he may be the type of scoring SG that Detroit has needed to play alongside Cunningham.  With the Magic falling off, the Pistons are now, out of nowhere, the most imposing young team in the East.  And in the world of athletics, youth can and often does (in non-rigged situations) trump talent.

FOX VS. LAVINE VS. ETC.

Although I think the move may be a bit overrated, I don't see anything wrong with bringing De'Aaron Fox to the Spurs.  One thing Wemby never had in his early NBA career, up until now, is an allstar level scorer as a teammate.  The problem with these tall, multi-talented players though is that they often play out of position.  You know, you're the tallest dude on the court, yet you're out on the perimeter shooting threes.  That can and has worked in the NBA, but you need to flesh the roster out with the right type of players, those who can for instance outrebound whoever's defending them.

Meanwhile, didn't we already have LaVine + DeRozan in Chicago?  But the thing is that now, they have better quote/unquote supporting players around them.  I could actually envision the Kings winning, if not for the fact that there's more-rounded and arguably more-talented teams in the West.  But I also still believe that Sabonis is the best PF/C in the league.  Remember when the Sixers could have gotten him, and they went after (if I remember correctly) the Beard instead?  So, let's see what happens.

And speaking of the Bulls, like no disrespect to anyone, but who did they get in this trade anyway?  I guess they've decided to embrace the Cooper Flagg sweepstake also.

CONCLUSION

If I'm remembering correctly, last season like jackshit happened at the trade deadline.  But in 2025 there's been a couple of thrillers, including that Doncic trade, which caught everybody offguard.  And hey, divas (like Butler) may be nightmares as far as organizational chemistry goes, but they make for good drama and unexpected trades.  So, let's embrace the chaos.  Rig me a Laker game, okay.  But please Commissioner Silver and co., let everybody else get their asses bust fair and share.

2024-2025 Offseason Grades (Central Division)

CHICAGO BULLS: B+

I was really hoping that Zach LaVine found his way to LAL.  That didn't happen, but the good thing about Chicago's situation is that now, at least they're a one-alpha team.

LaVine may not be a franchise player in the truest sense of the word, in terms of being able to consistently will a team to victory.  But, he isn't a scrub either.  And the pairing of him and DeRozan was always a questionable strategy, given that the Bulls didn't necessarily surround them with complementary role players, or at least those who were able to stay healthy.

I also like the acquisition of Josh Giddey, because he can fill the role that Lonzo Ball was supposed to.  He may not as good of a defender as Lonzo, but he is a better all-around offensive player.

Also, the way the Bulls' roster is currently made up is such that they can tank without looking like they're intentionally doing so.  You know what I'm saying?  Like they have a respectable roster, but perhaps one not good enough to make the playoffs.

That said, Chicago actually has one of the better braintrusts as far as garbage teams go.  I think what this roster, as is, may need to get to the next level, if they haven't gotten one already, is a speedy, athletic big who focuses primarily on defense and rebounding, not built like Drummond but one you can rationalize starting alongside Vucevic, since he apparently isn't going anywhere anytime soon either.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: A-

The Cavs are literally running it back with their same roster from last season and may be the only team in the league doing so.  That type of commitment demands some level of applause in this day and age.  That's more or less how champions were built back in the days.

That said, I agree with pundits who argue or notice that there's compatibility issues between Garland and Mitchell.  Donovan is a 2 who plays more like a 1 and furthermore is ball dominant.  In other words, if he decides to chuck, there's really no need to force him not to.  Forcing Mitchell, against his will, to share the ball with the other Gs and wings may do this roster more harm than good.

One solution is perhaps to bring Darius off the bench and rather start a G alongside Mitchell who's more defense oriented.  But then, the issue will become if Garland is as effective as a sixth man than he is as a starter.

Either way, at this moment there really isn't much reason to believe that Cleveland is on the verge of winning a championship.  But the ex-factor, once again, is Evan Mobley.  He's the type of player who, if Joel Embiid is unable to find his form, no other team in the East possesses.

DETROIT PISTONS: C-

The Pistons seem to have finally forsaken their youth movement by acquiring a handful of vets, most notably Tobias Harris, over the offseason.  I've been arguing for years that more veterans need to go to young teams like this.  However, I was thinking more along the lines of those who can make more of a difference, not only in terms of winning but also like ticket sales.  Meanwhile, Detroit's youth-laden roster from last season was more exciting, on paper, than their current one (even though they kept most of those young guys).

A little progress is better than no progress.  But the question is, has progress actually been made?

The problem with considering Cade Cunningham a franchise player is first of all, the Pistons are now paying him so much money that if they did decide to part ways, he'd be hard to trade.  You know, first it's like what team actually needs his skillset, and then it's like, what would they be willing to give up in return?  I know I may be projecting too far into the future, but that's the kind of issues Detroit, unless it overachieves, is likely to face.

Obviously no perennial all-star, i.e. the type of player they likely need to actually move the needle, is eager to join the Pistons.  So all things considered, it'd probably be better off if they didn't have any max player and engaged in a full rebuild sooner than later.  Or put another way, if Cade isn't a franchise player (which, imo, he has never proven to be, despite the stats), then they're going to look real stupid the longer they hold onto him.

INDIANA PACERS: B

I criticized the Pacers a lot during the playoffs and don't want to go there again.  If certain other teams in the East are healthy, I doubt that Indiana will make the conference finals again.  But that said, logic will dictate that after the success of last season, the right thing would be to run it back, with an upgrade or two.

That upgrade is expected to come in the form of James Wiseman, which isn't a completely bad gamble, since Myles Turner's style of play can be frustrating at times.  Wiseman was drafted onto the Warriors, a team which, as perennial contenders (up until recently), wasn't necessarily the best environment for young, developing, insecure players.  Since then, he's played for the Pistons and never quite panned out to be the phenom some were predicting when he was in high school.

But maybe, things will be different in Indiana.  Unlike Detroit, this is a team that actually wins games.  And unlike Golden State, even though the Pacers are theoretically contenders, there shouldn't be a whole of pressure or expectations unrealistically placed on Wiseman's shoulders, you know, to instantly prove a champion.  It's like either he finally represents in a definitive way, or he doesn't.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: B-

I enjoy reminding the world that I was the first pundit to suggest the pairing of Giannis + Dame.  The problem is that, due to injuries, we never got to see their full (postseason) potential.  I think it's safe to say that if nothing else, if Giannis was healthy then the Bucks would have gotten past the first round of the playoffs.

I'm sorta a pessimist when it comes to injuries.  Sometimes, players get hurt really bad and make what seem like miraculous comebacks.  Other times, you're expecting them to return to form, and they never do.  Or let me say that my strategy is that, once a star player proves injury-prone, to always have a viable backup plan, just in case.

The Bucks, though they've made some quality additions, do not appear as if they have done so, nor do they necessarily look better than they did last season.  Besides Dame and Giannis, this squad is banking on a handful of aged starters, one of whom has an even worse injury history.  So I don't feel inspired, and obviously neither does any other pundit, since I have yet to see anyone mention Milwaukee as contenders this upcoming season.

But of course, in theory Giannis + Dame can be the best big/small combination in the league.  Maybe what the Bucks should think about doing is going all out and perhaps assembling what looks more like a win-now roster around them.  They're in a tough spot in terms of facing decisions because when you look at their top-six players, they're definitely contenders if healthy (and maybe a bit younger).

CONCLUSION

The Cavs should be the best team in the Central Division and, if they're able to be more innovative, perhaps even contenders.  They're the only team in the East who, as of now, has a starting five that consists of twin towers, not to mention a perennial allstar 2guard.

But of course, you can't sleep on the Pacers after the showing they had last season.  They now should be fully accustomed to the presence of Pascal Siakim.  But after how they performed last playoffs, injuries and all, I'm not convinced.  But, the same thing can be said for the Cavs.

2023 NBA Playoffs Ruminations (May 29th)

LET'S GO, CELTICS?

It's cool to see the Celtics come roaring back after I sorta predicted it, but it's hard for me to imagine either of them or the Heat beating the Nuggets.  Then again, stranger things have happened of late.

Boston v. Denver may be the more exciting, big name matchup, but the Celtics just don't look as formidable as in times past.  Maybe Ime Udoka, even if he's not someone you would want to leave around your wife, really did make a difference.

Miami v. Denver may be a better matchup, maybe.  It's so strange because if you asked me at the beginning of the playoffs, I could foresee the Nuggets making it all the way (esp after dealing with the Suns), but I would have never predicted a Heat vs. Celtics ECF.  But now, it's almost at a point where I'm convinced Miami, the 8th seed, may in fact be the better, or at least more versatile, team.

SHOUTOUT TO GABE VINCENT

Recently I felt bad for kinda dissing those unknown players on the Heat and ended up doing research on Gabe Vincent.  I learned that his pops is Nigerian, and he came from like a family of intellectuals, and, get this - despite apparently growing up in the States, he plays for the Nigerian national team.  Reading that bio instantly made him like one of my favorite players.

SCOTTIE DISSES JORDAN (AGAIN)

Scottie called MJ, aka the G.O.A.T., "a horrible player" because Jordan used to chuck, and the Bulls didn't start winning until Pip (and Horace Grant) showed up.  And I mean, that type of argument is a matter of perspective.

Ballhogs do cost games sometimes.  A few months back I was watching this old Nuggets playoffs game on YouTube, and AI shot his own team out of the possibility of winning, and the coach just sat back and watched him do it.  It can also be disheartening having a teammate that doesn't pass.  But the other side of the coin is that no one would likely give a rat's ass about the mid-1980s Bulls if they didn't draft Jordan.  And he also taught Scottie how to play, or at least how to play like a superstar.

Also, I mean I can't realistically put myself in Pippen's shoes watching The Last Dance, but His Airness did say, straight up, 'there would be no Michael Jordan without Scottie Pippen'.  So I mean, what else does he want?

WHO'S GOING TO BE DUMB ENOUGH TO GIVE KYRIE A MAX CONTRACT?

If Kyrie goes to a team like the Rockets or Magic, then I would say yes, give him the max.  But as for any squad that's actually like trying to win now, especially contenders, I don't know about that.  And the thing is that of course he's gonna wanna go to a contender.  I don't even support the idea of the Mavs offering Irving the max, but I know they're going to do so anyway.

Speaking of the Mavs, you see how they totally flunked this season, but Jason Kidd still got to keep his job?  Meanwhile, there's coaches out here there that have won deadass championships, fukedup once and got the boot.  And also remember that the Mavs received Irving with open arms when he was going through all of that drama.  And now, it's like he's entertaining other suitors or some shit.  That's the thing about some of the transient superstars, like their sense of loyalty or lack thereof.

2023 NBA Play-In Predictions (Round 2)

So far, I'm shooting 50% as far as 2023 Play-In predictions are concerned.  I did foretell that Lebron James and the Lakers, i.e. the NBA's leading man and most-profitable franchise, were going to beat the depleted Timberwolves, which they did (just barely).  And as for the Thunder vs. Pelicans, that was anyone's game, though now I have to admit that Zion Williamson, if he had decided to play, would have probably made a difference.

I also rightfully predicted that the Bulls would best the Raptors.  But what I got wrong with the Hawks vs. Heat is overestimating just how thin Miami's depth actually is.  Like, where's Duncan Robinson?  And why didn't they start Kyle Lowry?  And as for Kevin Love, he was basically a no-show.

BULLS VS. HEAT

And speaking of Miami, I think the Bulls once again have the advantage, even if they're not playing at home.  The Heat's starting lineup against the Hawks the other day consisted of two guys, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, who I never even heard of like that.  Maybe this time around they'll start Lowry, who scored a game high 33 points against Atlanta, even though he was -12.  I mean, why not?  I don't remember the Heat, since they first came into the NBA, ever being garbage.  But now, the championship window they enjoyed for the last few seasons has passed.  And the Bulls, even though they also disappointed this year, look hungrier.

THUNDER VS. TIMBERWOLVES

Even if the T-wolves fail to make the playoffs, I would still argue that they're one of the better teams in the NBA.  Now that Rudy Gobert is back, logic would dictate that they should be able to handle OKC.  Either way, I believe that both of these teams can give Denver a run for their money.  But if it is the Timberwolves, as I'm predicting, fair and square I wouldn't be overly surprised, even if a couple of key bench players aren't around, if they could beat the Nuggets in a seven-game series.

CONCLUSION

OKC is a young, developing team who I believe is next-up after the Grizzlies.  But I doubt if they can beat the Thunder if Gobert, the type of inside defensive presence that the Pelicans lack, is playing.  Hell, I don't even think the Lakers would have gotten past them if Rudy was around.  But that said, I'm definitely looking forward to the presence of Chet Holmgren next season, maybe.

As for the Heat, I believe they matchup better with the Bulls, i.e. a team who is more in their age range than the Hawks.  But it's like, I don't even want to see Miami make the playoffs, because they're slow and generally unexciting.  Traditionally speaking slower, more-steady teams are more-formidable.  But the NBA has changed a lot in the last few years, and these days that strategy isn't as effective.

2023 Eastern Conference Play-in Predictions

Now that the 2023 Playoffs brackets are starting to settle in, I can also began my predictions in terms of who I believe will emerge victorious.  I do believe that sometimes, the better team may not emerge victorious because the NBA powers-that-be deem otherwise.  So I'm going to split each series prediction into two categories, "Fair and Share" and "What Will the NBA Do".  The first centers on who I think will win the series, barring (additional) major injuries.  And that second category is just in case I also feel that the NBA may favor a particular squad, even if they aren't better.  And to note, a higher bracket positioning doesn't actually mean that a team is superior to another.  For instance in some cases, such as has been recently pointed out with the Bucks and Celtics, the former may have a better record, but the latter matches up against them particularly well.

HAWKS (41-40) vs HEAT (43-38)

If you would have told me at the beginning of this season that the Hawks would have finished 8th in the East, I would've had a hard time believing it.  I rather thought they would be contenders, contingent on Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, two alpha PGs, working things out in the backcourt.  But not only aren't they contenders, but also, you would have to believe looking at their record, were never able to incorporate Murray as idealized, even if he is averaging over 20ppg.  In fact what it rather looks like his presence is negatively affecting John Collins' game.

FAIR & SQUARE

Tbh, I haven't seen the Hawks play enough this season to really pin down what their problem is.  But logic would dictate that if they haven't gotten their shit together by now, it's not suddenly going to happen against the Heat, a team who, despite disappointing this season also, at least know their identity.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I don't see any reason why the NBA would interfere in this one.  But I would presume they'd want Miami to prevail over Atlanta for a number of reasons, such as the Heat being more popular and also EC playoffs' fixtures.

RAPTORS (40-41) VS. BULLS (39-42)

Two more teams that disappointed this season.  Well, at least the Raptors are a disappointment to me, because I thought after getting a quality bigman (Jakob Poeltl) they were going to prove themselves contenders.  Instead, it's as if his presence fukedup their chemistry.  Oh well, no one was really expecting them to do anything this season anyway, I guess except the owners themselves, since they're reportedly on the verge of sacking Nick Nurse.

FAIR & SQUARE

I have to give this one to the Bulls, because their stars, and especially DeRozan, are known to be more clutch than those of the Raptors.  Imagine that, DeMar knocking his old squad out of the playoffs.

WHAT WILL THE NBA DO?

I also believe the NBA wants the Bulls to win.  Would they go as far as to rig for them?  In their eyes I don't think they'd be much of a difference between Chicago or Toronto potentially making the playoffs.  But what should be remembered is that the Bulls got all but decimated by the Bucks - who they would once again go to face in the First Round if they make it past the play-ins - during the 2022 Playoffs.

CONCLUSION

Miami also convincingly handled the Hawks the last year, which is presumably why they went out in got Dejounte in the first place.  So if nothing else, this play-in should act as a litmus test as to whether that experiment has been successful.  In other words, if they beat the Heat it may be considered a success and something to build further on.  But if not, well, don't blame the shit on John Collins.

Did "the Beard" Quit on the Nets?

The way I ultimately see James Harden bouncing on the Nets, in hindsight, is like this.  We're living in an age where American employees especially are less faithful to their employers than they've ever been.  This is a phenomenon that the mainstream media has dubbed "the Great Resignation", which means that some of these people are quitting and staying at home, but most are switching to other employers.  And pulling off that kinda stunt, quitting before you have another job, takes some courage, i.e. an employee being empowered to believe that they can actually make such a move, because who's to say you'll get a new job anyway, or that the new one will be better than the last?

The Beard is that kind of employee.  No, he didn't technically leave his job, but he did demand a trade (twice), which takes some balls and confidence on a number of levels.  For instance, I think it's safe to say that there's more players who want to be traded than the few who actually step up in public and say so.  So you have to feel somehow empowered, even if you're Furkan Korkmaz - whom the Sixers, wisely I might add, haven't traded in their pursuit of the Larry O'Brien.

The difference between an NBA star and, say, working for Microsoft is, how many Microsoft employees you can name who you don't personally know?  But sports teams have fans.  And again, it's one thing if, say, Korkmaz demands a trade.  But let it be Embiid or Harden or someone whom Philly fans have placed their championship dreams in.  Like, we already saw the type of backlash Ben Simmons went through when he decided to bounce.

So I wasn't really feeling how the media sympathized with the Beard when, finally now after Irving and Durant also quit on Brooklyn, he's blaming it on the organization.  I can understand how no player would want to be on a team with "a lot of dysfunction", and out of the three, I also understand why Kyrie would have been compelled to bounce.  But I also know what it means to be "professional" anything, that you're supposed to ignore the distractions as much as possible.

The entire Last Dance was based on how the Jordan Bulls were dysfunctional in 97-98 but still managed to win a championship.  Scottie Pippen quit for awhile but then came back to his senses.  After all, it's not like he's only playing for the benefit of the team's owners and executives.  There's also his teammates, the gazillions of fans he will never met personally and also his own future as a respectable player to take into consideration.

So the Beard may have had his viable reasons for quitting on the Nets, but quit he did.  A guy may have viable reasons for dumping his girlfriend, but unless she cheated, they're all bound to be excuses anyway.  I never particularly believed in the combination of Harden + Durant + Irving anyway.  But now looking back, it's like who knows what would've happened if they were all healthy during a playoff run?

CONCLUSION

But I guess all's well that ends well.  Harden is now on a team that can win a championship even without him being his old self.  Durant going to Phoenix, if all the stars stay healthy, pretty much guarantees him another 'I joined a superteam' championship (though in this case they actually need him).  Irving has gone to Dallas, not the smartest move in that they already have a better PG in Doncic, but at least it appears the Mavs understand and appreciate him as a person.

Also amidst all the chaos, Jae Crowder ended up on the team that will most likely meet the Suns in the Finals, and as for the new Nets, trust me, this isn't a garbage roster.  And to think this all may have started with the Beard forcing himself out of Brooklyn.

NBA Offseason Power Stinkings (Central Division)

The Central Division could arguably be the all-around most competitive in the NBA, if not for the Pacers.  It's for teams like Indiana that the Power Stinkings were created.  But with them aside, it's easy to predict - or at least fantasize that all others in the division will close out the season with winning records.  The Bucks stand as the favorites, but the Bulls added a couple of quality vets, and it's like who knows what happened to the Cavs last season.  So anything can happen, especially since it seems the Milwaukee failed to really upgrade this offseason.

Since this is the Power Stinkings, we have to start with what looks like the worst team in the division first.  And again, that unflattering honor belongs to:

1.  Indiana Pacers

A decade ago, the Pacers were a contending team with the deepest roster in the league.  Nowadays, they look more confused than the Jazz.  And it says a lot about this braintrust, imo, that they have one of the best centers on their squad but seem unable to trade him.  So it's like are they rebuilding or what?  And then it's also like, who even really cares?

What did say a lot was the Malcolm Brogdon trade.  Ending that disaster of an experiment (and acquiring Haliburton) was supposed to symbolize that the Pacers were now rebuilding.  But maybe not.  So unless they really overachieve, which doesn't seem that likely given the competition, Indiana may be the least-popular team this upcoming season.

2.  Detroit Pistons

There's a couple of reasons I'm leery of the Pistons.  One is that they traded Jerami Grant basically for draft picks, though that move doesn't look so bad now that they got Kemba Walker.  But the way the NBA is these days, I wouldn't be surprised if they try to buy him out.  Everyone is raving about a backcourt consisting of Cunningham - who'll logically get better this season, but to what extent who knows - and Jaden Ivey, an unproven rookie.  I personally don't believe in putting too much faith in rookies, unless maybe it's a Shaq or something.  But how about a backcourt of Cunningham and Walker instead.  How would that fare against others in the NBA?

The Pistons also beefed up downlow with the addition of Nerlens Noel, and Kelly Olynyk is lingering around.  But overall, this looks like a pretty-thin frontline especially, once again, without Grant.

3.  Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs pulled arguably the dumbest trade of last season when they swapped Ricky Rubio for Caris LeVert and then went into an almost immediate freefall.  Well actually, calling it the dumbest may be a bit harsh.  For instance, now they have both LeVert and (a healthy) Rubio.  And sometimes, even some of the wiser braintrusts fall for that 'players are only assets' BS, casting them aside like broken car parts even though their presence may be integral to the team's overall success.  So, you can't be too mad at the Cavs.

Colin Sexton is also back, so now, if he sticks around, Cleveland has the deepest guard core in the NBA, on top of one of the best frontlines.  I'm almost tempted to call them contenders.  So now, it's like just wait and see if the execs dumbout this season also.

4.  Milwaukee Bucks

One of the reasons it doesn't matter that the Bucks didn't make any blockbuster upgrades during the offseason is because they already have a damn good team.  It's one of those situations where the biggest potential threat appears to be health issues (and the Heat).  And the Celtics, who beat them in the Playoffs, have in fact upgraded.  So unless Bobby Portis transforms into an indisputable all-star or Giannis turns it up another notch or two (if even possible), then who knows, the Bulls may prove better. 

5. Chicago Bulls

Putting the Bulls at the bottom of this list doesn't necessarily mean I think they'll fare better than the Bucks.  But at least they upgraded.  Dragic, as I'm sure I said somewhere in this blog before, is like the most-underrated PG of the last decade.  And I still can't understand all of the Drummond hate outside of the fact that it's become trendy to devalue traditional bigs (and that he boned Jennette McCurdy?).

The punchline of The Last Dance is that Jerry Krause and them were absolutely, positively wrong, as the Bulls were not able to promptly rebuild after the departure of Jordan and them.  Instead, it took like a decade to become contenders again, and even that was shortlived.  But now, they're one of the very few teams in the NBA that has been steadily progressing towards contendership throughout the last couple of years, even with Lonzo Ball out until who knows when.  (And then take a look at this, wow).  And that's why I had to put them at the top of this list for now.  But for whatever reason, I'm still hesitant to call the Bulls contenders, maybe because LaVine's playing style is too erratic for my liking.

CONCLUSION

I'm just as excited about the Pistons as the next man, but the Bulls are my sentimental favorites in this division.  But I still think, when you factor in experience and overall depth, the Bucks may be better.  I'm also looking forward to watching the Cavs play, but who knows how long Sexton may be around, and I was kinda hoping that Rubio would go to Golden State instead.  And as for Indiana, well, every year there has to be some team to grace the bottom of the NBA barrel.

The Danger of Employing Superstar Divas

There were a couple of superteams in the 1980s, and it would seem even prior to that.  No one referred to them as superteams back then tho, part of the reason being that the rosters were usually made up of players that were like actually drafted by the team.  It wasn't a situation where contenders were built on the fly, like the Celtics did in 2008 or Heat did shortly after.  You'd have a core that was primarily drafted and then, if you drafted or acquired the right star to complement that established group, it became a perennial powerhouse.  Teams weren't thinking like 'it's okay if we fuck this year, because next year so-and-so is a free agent or we may get this-or-that prospect through the draft'.  If your braintrust weren't on top of their sh*t, than that was pretty much your ass.

The first time the thought of a superteam actually crossed my mind was when the Bulls got Dennis Rodman.  I even thinking at the time like 'damn, it's unfair for a single team to have a best rebounder and best scorer'.  But in hindsight, I realize there may have been more to the Bulls success than just exceptional talent.  But anyway, the three best players on that team besides Rodman - Jordan, Pippen and Kukoc - were all drafted by the Bulls.  So really, it was like Rodman joined the Bulls and made the likelihood of them winning another championship under Jordan more probable than it already was.

So the first actual superteam, at least I would say in the time I've been watching the NBA, was the 1998-99 Houston Rockets.  Two members of their big 3, Pippen and Barkley, were perennial allstars who did not make a name for themselves playing for Houston.  But that team failed for a number of reasons, one being that all its superstars were pretty much past their prime and secondly, because of incompatible diva issues.

And that's nothing compared to today.  In the Jordan era, via the success of MJ, players were just learning how much they're worth to the NBA and even economy at large.  By the time the 2010s rolled around, during the Lebron era, that lesson had been well learnt.  So now we have the indisputable stars of the league, if they so desire, requesting trades at will.  And the situation has also developed such that now, once those requests go public, the organization really has no choice but to do so.

And it's exciting in a way, never knowing how rosters are going to look from season to the next, kinda like a videogame where you can just put together any teams you want.  And there have been at least three or four solid superteam success stories of this nature, just in the last 15 years.  But remember, these are divas we're talking about.  So, it's like piss them off at your risk, and the risks are many.

For instance it was clear, at least to me, that when Lebron left Miami to go back to Cleveland, he was feeling at least partially guilty for leaving the Cavs in the first place.  Sometimes, like these folks who be trying to say that LBJ is overrated, people forget just how garbage the Cavs actually were without him.  When Lebron left and Kyrie was running the show, Irving may have been must-watch himself, but the team was garbage.  But the thing is that, LBJ had to betray Miami to go back to Cleveleand, just like he 'betrayed' Cleveland to go to Miami.  And no, it wasn't actual betrayal, as he was, to my remembrance, a free agent both times.  But oftentimes, organizations get attached to their superstars.  In the case of Miami, he also actually had a couple of homeys on the team.  And both times LBJ did that, it sent the franchise spiraling and therefore wasn't a good look for him as far as being committed is concerned.

Now, we have this Nets debacle.  I don't feel like digging through the archives right now, but I'm pretty sure I never really had anything good to say about the pairing of Durant, Irving and the Beard.  One reason is that they're playing styles were incompatible.  A bigger reason was that they all had major injury histories by the time they teamed up.  But most importantly was by then it gad also established, . when the Beard forced himself out of Houston even though it looked like they did all they could for him, that all three were divas, and divas are unpredictable.

So first we had Harden bounce, which wasn't that big of a deal since the Nets got quality depth in return.  But then, when you really knew things had the potential to go south is when the Celtics bust their asses in the playoffs.  Why?  Because superstar divas do not like losing, at all.

When KD was on the Thunder they were perennial contenders and probably would be til this day, if he hadn't left.  But once he became convinced they may not win the big one, he bounced for a team that was more likely to do so.  With the superstar divas of today, it ain't all about the money, as in times past.  Now, they alo need to be on a squad with palpable and instant championship potential.  And getting humiliated in the 1st round, like the Nets just did, doesn't scream that your team will be winning it all anytime in the near future.

So first Kyrie started acting iffy.  KD looked like he had his back but then was like fuck it.  You know what I mean?  If the fellow superstar who you went to a team to play with acts like he can just leave you behind, then what's going to compel you to be loyal to him?  And it's funny because if you were you to go to NBC Sports `right now, they have Durant on their "free agent tracker" list, even though he is very much under contract.  You know what I'm saying?  Now that he requested a trade it's practically inevitable he'll get one, with Brooklyn losing its biggest star in the process.  And that shows just how powerful these superstars have knowingly become, like the franchise itself having less leverage than a single individual does.

CONCLUSION

And what I'm really trying to get at is that the Nets are the real losers in this equation, just like the Lakers are currently with LBJ and them.  If Kyrie and KD go to different teams, then where is that going to leave the Nets?  If KD leaves and Kyrie stays, still, where is that going to leave to Nets?  Because history has already proven that Kyrie needs superstar, not average, help.

And as for me, I'm always critical of star chasing, or dickriding, if you want to call it that.  But the NBA is a business, and success isn't all about winning.  For instance the Knicks are the most highly-valued team in the league for how long now?, but they haven't been contenders for over 20 years.

Where Do We Go From Here? (LA Lakers Edition)

At the conclusion of their worst season in franchise history, the first major move the Lakers made was firing Frank Vogel.  This was something they should have done years ago.  So doing it now made him look a lot like a scapegoat.  In other words, changing coaches at this point isn't going to suddenly make the Lakers competitive unless they hire someone whom their big ego star players actually respect.  And as I said before, it's not like there's a bunch of candidates like that floating around at the moment.

Next, the Lakers are supposed to be looking to trade Russell Westbrook.  IMO that's is the last thing they should do.  The Lakers second biggest problem, after AD's health, is the fact that they turnover their roster at the end of every season.  They even did that shit after winning the Championship a couple of years ago.  This seems to be founded in Lebron's insatiable desire to always play on a superteam.  But maybe now finally he realizes that continuity does matter.  One of the reasons the Celtics are so formidable, even though they aren't the most talented team in the East, is because they have continuity, rapport, and that kinda shit.

Also, trading Westbrook wouldn't be good look.  Lebron needs to stop treating his teammates like that.  The prevailing rumor is that Westbrook will be traded for DeMar DeRozan.  But why would the Bulls want to trade DeMar?  And why would he want to go to Lakers anyway?  Chicago is just a player or two away from contending.  And they may be able to pick up that player(s) in free agency, without having to make any type of change to their current roster.

The Lakers should also learn from their past history.  Besides for the 2021-22 Lakers, the only other team I can think of in the history of the NBA that had four players who by that point in their careers everyone knew was going to the Hall of Fame was the 2003-04 Lakers, and their bench was also damn good (unlike the current Lakers).  Yes, by that time the Mailman and the Glove's careers may have been on the decline.  And the same could be said for Shaq, to some extent.  Also, Kobe wasn't exactly a spring chicken either.  But still, the world thought they were a shoe-in to win the championship, even more than they were fooled by the 2022 Lakers.

So what did the Lakers do after being upset by the Pistons back then?  They engaged in a complete rebuild around Kobe.  They were even garbage for a couple of years after, until they once again put together a winning roster and won a couple of championships in 2009 and 2010.

CONCLUSION

But engaging in a total rebuild is not an option now.  If there is one player Lebron seems loyal to, it's AD.  So trading him is out of the question.  And then, this is the burning question everyone needs to ask themselves - which superstars actually want to go LA to play with Lebron anyway?  Steph already shot that idea down.  And it's not like before when playing with LBJ was a guaranteed trip to the Finals.

Also, another lesson to be learned from the 2004/2022 Lakers is that aged superteams don't instantly work.  As displayed by Westbrook this season and Malone/Payton in 2004, it isn't easy to take an alpha dog and ask him to suddenly become a role player.

So imo the Lakers need to leave Westbrook alone and, instead of swinging for a homerun, try to build a better supporting lineup with their current core.  Outside of Reeves and Monk, all of the other role players are expendable.  That way, they can start to learn how to play with each other and actually build a continuity into the future.

But of course with Lebron on the roster it isn't likely they'll actually take that approach.  So what I'm rather looking forward to is the Lakers making some type of hasty trade and/or prioritizing the acquisition of another old star and failing yet again in 2023.

Beard! Beard!! Beard!!! Beard!!!!

Let it be known that even though NBA Inception practices a strong no-dickridin policy, this is in fact a pro-Beard blog.  That doesn't mean that I'm actually convinced, even if he does prove Embiid-compatible, that the Sixers are going to win the championship, or even make it out the East for that matter.  But that isn't a diss against Philly, and let me explain why.

In this highly competitive society we live in, people sometimes try to push a narrative like if you don't win it all, then that means you're a loser.  I was even watching some old Bulls vs. Blazers championship game where one of the sub-narratives was about Clyde Drexler and how if he really wants his name to stand out amongst the greats, then he needs to lead the Blazers to a championship.  And I guess maybe when you're talking about establishing yourself as an all-time great then yes, a championship can be considered a criteria for some players whose greatness is in doubt.

But let's get something straight.  There are certain teams that the fact that they didn't win a championship doesn't mean they weren't good enough.  Rather, the fact they didn't win a championship is because other teams were simply better.

One of the quintessential examples of this phenomenon was the late-1990s Utah Jazz.  This was an NBA team, perhaps more than any other that ever existed, which could thrive in like any era of professional basketball - from the 1950s all the way up until now.  Dr. Naismith himself would been proud to watch the Stockton-Malone Jazz play, i.e. these athletic Black dudes buttressed by a couple of smallish, cerebral Whiteboys who don't even look like they could play basketball but then could score on anybody.

Of course it was Jordan-Pippen-Rodman Bulls which prevented that Jazz team from winning.  But that doesn't mean the Jazz weren't good enough.  Instead it was the Chicago Bulls' era, as in no one has ever beaten Jordan and them in a championship series.

And the reason I'm bringing to this up, as to why I'm not overly excited about Harden-Embiid, is because in reality both of those players have already been on really good teams.  Houston did an exceptional job of making sure Harden enjoyed some quality teammates during his tenure.  The Rockets actually made it to the WCF twice during the Harden years, once with Chris Paul (2018) but also with Dwight Howard (2015).  And I actually remember that latter one being a bit more competitive than how it may appear on paper.

What really messed the Harden Rockets up imo is when they let Chandler "Cry Me a River" Parsons walk in 2014.  Well maybe not since shortly after, his career more or less ended due to injury.  But that iteration of the Rockets, when the Beard was backed up by the likes of Parsons, Howard, Lin and Beverly, was something they should have been more committed on building on.  Dwight also left the team in 2016, and if I remember correctly he and the Rockets had some kind of beef.  That's the problem when your team has an unanimous franchise player, especially in this day and age, that all the other pieces integral to success tend to be devalued.  But beyond that, of course the true reason the Harden Rockets never got a chance to win it all is because they existed during the Warriors dynasty, losing both of those WCFs to the Dubs.

Meanwhile, this isn't the first time Philly has pulled off a roster-gutting trade for an All-Star.  Remember when they swapped Covington, Saric and Bayless for Butler?  That was a damn good Sixers team even before Butler arrived.  Then with Butler they made it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semis, losing to the Raptors, who went on to win the championship.  And logic would dictate that if Jimmy had stuck around, the Sixers would have added more pieces to become even better.  But instead he pulled a Kawhi and bounced to Miami, and in a way Philly still hasn't fully recuperated from that fiasco.

CONCLUSION

So even though it may be exciting to see the Beard team up with Embiid, this is a story that we've already seen before.  Many superstars, especially back in the old days, could spend like their entire prime years playing without teammates of a comparable or complimentary level of greatness.  Such has not been the case with Joel Embiid, and it definitely hasn't been the case with James Harden.  Instead, their has always been teams which have simply proven better than the squads they were on (though I still believe the Sixers should have made it to the Finals last season).

So the x-factor in this equation is actually Daryl "Taiwan" Morey.  He was responsible for bringing Harden to HOU and those impressive teammates he had while there (including, let's not forget, Russell Westbrook).  And it's safe to presume that win or lose, Joel Embiid isn't going anywhere soon.  And the Beard has also put himself in a position where no one wants to see him demanding a trade, like ever again.  That means that Morey will have time to work his magic.  So maybe it'll be more realistic to expect the Sixers to bring home the gold next season, as now, if not the Heat, I'm predicting the Nets to make it out of the East.

Shoutout to Lebron James, All-Star MVP(esque)

Lebron James actually looked older than the other 2022 All-Stars on court, like his posture.  That doesn't negate the fact that he's still better than 90% of them (and also tied Steph Curry for most minutes played in the game).  But I hope he doesn't end up being one of those athletes who plays for so long that by the time he retires, he can't like walk up a flight of stairs and shit.

Recently Adam Silver got to lamenting about how hard it is to imagine a post-Lebron NBA.  But it's always like that when the prospect of the league's signature player leaving comes up.  Michael Jordan was still in great playing shape when he retired in 1998 (which I will always consider as his real retirement).  He did so at the age of 35, which is still kinda young for a perennial All-Star.  Also, he did it right after winning a championship.  Many people still thought he was the best player in the game, and even if he necessarily wasn't, the NBA powers-that-be still favored him.  But it's like at that point the Bulls' braintrust was engaged in all types of BS, and MJ no longer had anything to prove.

So as it currently stands, Lebron intends on playing 2024-25 - when his son may join the NBA - so that he can play alongside Bronny.  Imagine that: a player actually mentoring his son, on court, in the NBA.

Under normal circumstances, the idea of someone doing so would be far-fetched.  Why?  Well even if you do last long enough to be active when your son joins the league, there's no guarantee the two of you will be on the same team anyway.  But this is Lebron we're talking about, a player who can theoretically force himself onto any squad or have the team he's playing on draft Bronny, even if he isn't good enough.

And speaking of Lebron Jr., based on what I've been able to gather he's not that good at basketball anyway.  Or by the looks things, if he does make it to the NBA it'll be on the strength of his pops.  That's the funny thing about NBA greatness.  You can have Jordan, who is considered by many to be the greatest player ever, but neither of sons, both of whom played Division I b-ball, made it to the NBA.  Then you have the likes of Jellybean Bryant or Mychal Thompson or Dell Curry who have never been All-Stars, but then they go on to give birth to like these legendary players.

CONCLUSION

I'm no longer going to argue that Lebron James should retire, since he's still a top 10 NBA player.  Some of these young cats may be good, but their skillsets aren't as diverse as LBJ's.  But what I will say is that I hope sometime in the near future Lebron will find himself on a team where he doesn't have to carry so much of a burden.

Jordan had the likes of Pippen, Kukoc, Rodman and some of the best role players the league had to offer by his side during the golden years.  Meanwhile the Lakers for the most part have always been exceptional at roster building - that is until Lebron James showed up.  So maybe this offseason, instead of LBJ and his people trying to influence the roster one way or another, they should just let the team's braintrust do their thing.

Shoutout to DeMar DeRozan

Man, do I love a good karma story.  But on the surface, there was nothing really wrong with the DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard trade when it transpired.  Kawhi wanted out of San Antonio and not only got his wish but was also traded to a quality team.  Meanwhile the Raptors, it's like everyone knew they had to make some type of major change sooner or later since they couldn't get past Lebron in the playoffs (even though Toronto traded DeRozan the same summer LBJ went to the Lakers).  And in receiving Kawhi, they did in fact go on to win a championship.  And meanwhile for DeMar, I mean it's not like the Spurs were a garbage team when he went there.  And they did their thing with him in tow but apparently were not on par with the superteams of the day.

But that said, it ain't like DeMar wanted to be traded.  Unlike Kyle Lowry, the other star of the Raptors at the time, DeRozan was actually drafted by Toronto and up until his point had spent his entire career there.  And no one who watched him play would deny that he didn't give his all for the team, even if he isn't as good as Lebron.

Also, according to DeMar himself, Masai Ujiri, the then-President (of Basketball Operations) of the Raptors, promised him straight-up that he wasn't going to be traded, you know, right before he traded him.  So it's understandable why, from DeRozan's perspective, this wasn't a conventional case of a star player being swapped.  But Kawhi kinda got vengeance for him anyway by leaving the Raptors in a worst state than when he arrived and arguably even worst than he did the Spurs.

But the karma doesn't end there.  For as we speak it appears that DeMar, as a member of the Bulls, may be an upcoming All-Star starter.  The Bulls btw, who I believe had the best offseason of 2021 (along with the Wizards), are currently second place in the East.  Meanwhile the Raptors are in eighth place, which is still pretty good all things considered.  But I don't think anyone in their right mind would consider them better than the Bulls.

Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry isn't even on the above-hyperlinked list of potential All-Star guards and may never be an All-Star again.  And Kawhi Leonard, as great as he is, like who knows when we'll next see him on ab NBA court and if he'll even be able to reclaim his past form?  And it's sorta like this quote I came across, I believe from The Last Dance.  And that is it's cool to like have won a championship back in the day or whatever.  But the present always trumps the past.

CONCLUSION

So this is my way of congratulating DeMar DeRozan for currently being a better player than Kawhi Leonard or Kyle Lowry.  Honestly speaking, when the Raptors traded him it felt like they were dickriding (Kawhi)  which no professional, especially executives, are supposed to do.  And maybe back then they could have said it was all worth it, given that they got a championship out of Leonard's brief stint with the squad.  But when Leonard left, truth be told it also set Pascal Siakim's game back, who was like his Scottie Pippen.  And I have to believe that now the Raptors are missing DeMar, considering the way Kawhi up and left them cold and how they've more or less degenerated into a garbage squad in the aftermath.

But that siad, the Bulls have been looking hella vulnerable as of late.  And I still have to believe, if healthy, that the Heat (whom Lowry currently plays for) will take the East.

Trade Talk: Jimmy Butler vs. Zach Levine & Kris Dunn

Offhand I would say, taking nothing away from Zach Levine, this is the most-lopsided trade I've ever witnessed in 25+ years of watching the NBA:

Chicago Bulls Get:	Minnesota Timberwolves Get:
Zach Levine	Jimmy Butler
Kris Dunn	No.16 2017 Draft Pick (Justin Patton)
No.7 2017 Draft Pick (Lauri Markkanen)

CHICAGO BULLS: C

PROS

1.  They get rid of Jimmy Bulter who, given the way he left the Bulls, you would have to presume the organization viewed him as a malcontent at worst and someone they simply didn't want around at best.

2.  They get a player in Zach Levine who though he can't win games like Butler can produce a highlight on any given night.

3.  They got the number-seven pick in a relatively-deep (compared to recent years) draft.

CONS

1.  On the surface this deal makes no sense, especially considering the Bulls alledgely had a better offer (from the Celtics) and Butler still has a couple of years left on his contract, so it's not like he could immediately threaten them with free agency.

2.  This is now Dwayne Wade's team, not the worst possible fate in the NBA but definitely not something you can say about a contender.

3.  At times the braintrust of the Chicago Bulls appear less-competent than even the New York Knicks.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: A+

PROS

1.  They get Jimmy Bulter, one of the three best "two-way players" in the game and one of a handful of competitors who can win on willpower alone.

2.  A "small-market" NBA team in a less-than-desirable part of the country just pulled off one of the most shocking trades in the league's history.

3.  Jimmy Butler is already familiar with the hardwork ethic of Head Coach Tom Thibodeau.

4.  You have to believe this makes the team more attractive to other quality players, such as the already signed Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson.

5.  Unlike other teams that have acquired big-name players this offseason, this move clearly and indisputably makes the Wolves better.

6.  They get rid of Kris Dunn who, upon entering the NBA as the number-five pick last year under expectations as lofty as some believing he would win Rookie of the Year before he ever even played a game, has definitely thus far in his short career underachieved.

CONCLUSION

I would venture to say, despite the virtually-unlimited amount of information available, that none of us really know what goes on behind closed doors in NBA boardrooms based off of just reading internet articles and watching games, but that being said it's still kind of difficult to understand the overall logic behind some of the decisions the Bulls have made in recent years.  The only reason the Bulls haven't joined the likes of the Knicks and Kings as laughingstocks of the NBA is because they still make the Playoffs, they're just a few years removed from their renaissance years under Derrick Rose and Tom Thibodeau, and honestly for many of us when we hear the words "Chicago Bulls" to this day the first image to pop into mind is that of Michael Jordan.