2026 Elimination Ruminations: Rockets, Sixers

HOUSTON ROCKET (2-4)

Somehow, I totally forgot to write about the Rockets when they got eliminated a week ago.  So I'm sitting here watching Thunder vs. Lakers and wondering how a team as mediocre as LAL made it all the way to the Second Round, how they're absolutely no match for their opponent.  And that's when I remembered the Rockets.

The Lakers, as far as I know, are the luckiest team in NBA history.  They exceeded most peoples' expectations this past season, but once Luka went down, I think everyone knew that was pretty much it. 

But let's say, if I were writing like a movie script for the 2026 NBA Playoffs that I wanted to make money yet also be believable, even if I knew LAL wouldn't make it to the end, I wouldn't want them getting eliminated in the First Round.  In other words, they really got lucky with that Durant injury, that seemingly popped out of nowhere and kept him out the entire round.

I won't go as far as saying that adding Durant but losing Fred "Care Bear" VanVleet (to injury) is one step forward, two steps backward.  But it doesn't make much difference anyway when both of them can't play.  So it's like this postseason's iteration of the Rockets was actually worst than the team they fielded last year with no Kevin, but at least then they had Fred. 

Without doing any actual research, I think it's safe to presume that Durant and VanVleet are the oldest players on the roster.  Dudes like Sengun, Thompson and even Smith Jr. are like from whole 'nother generation as far as the NBA is concerned.  That's something to consider, going into next year, that both of the scorers this team depends on were injured and unable to help the team this postseason, and generally speaking, age doesn't go in reverse.

So yes, I do advocate Houston going out and looking for younger scorers rather than continuing to depend on the elders.  You know, do the age-appropriate thing.  No one wants to see yet another First Round exit.  But since they're already contracted, I doubt if Kevin or Fred are going anywhere.

When making such gambles, putting your championship hopes on an aged Durant for instance, you have to have that dogged, Sixers' mentality of 'if only they're all healthy, then we'll win'.  Oh well.

By the time all is said and done, the Rockets' insistence on fielding these old dudes may result in the younger ones, who actually want to win or when they start demanding more money, bouncing.  I've been advocating for years that a superstar vet like KD needs to go to a young, up-and-coming team instead of always chasing an instant championship, but it wasn't supposed to look like this.  If you look back, I'm sure I even said he should go to the Pistons.  But this is what happens when there's too much reliance on a superstar which these days, even with younger ones is not ideal.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (4-7)

The good news is that the Sixers' big 3 was actually healthy for the majority of the postseason.  The bad news is it not really mattering, arguably being a detriment even, when 'healthy', in this context, is a slow Joel Embiid whose defensive presence is, I would argue, even more of a nonfactor than Lebron's has become.

Lebron's defensive decline is attributable to mileage + age.  The cause of Joel's is mileage + injuries.  Age, I would argue, can be counteracted more consistently than injury.

So the first question is, why do the Sixers insist on starting and giving major minutes to a hobbled C?  Part of it, as with James, lies in the fact that Embiid is still one of the best players on the team.

But that said, these failures have been going on for years already.  Dig through the blog if you want.  The signs that Philly needs to move on from Joel have been there for a minute.  It's not like a revelation and shit.

Dude didn't start playing basketball 'til he was 16 yet has made more money, in like just a decade, than most people with jobs they hate make in their entire lives.  Dude got a (questionable) MVP Award and an Olympic gold medal, you know, when he played for a stacked Team USA instead of a disadvantaged African squad.  So what else does he want?

If the answer is a championship, then the Sixers' braintrust, as outstanding as they are at times, needs to do better.  For instance, even though he has his moments, it's still not abundantly clear why they signed Paul George for $50+mil/year(!).

PG13 is an exceptional scorer, but he's no spring chicken either, and there's a lot of younger guys who can more or less score just as well (even if not as entertaining in doing so) and are less expensive.  One name that comes to mind off the top of my head is his former teammate, Normal Powell.

So what I foresee with Philly is sorta the same as Houston, though the latter is in a better position, as the former needs to embark on a mini rebuild.  The Rockets have a core of young players, so all they need to do is make a couple of adjustments.  The Sixers meanwhile, their core for the most part, looking to the future, only inarguably consists of Maxey and Edgecombe, which is a helluva combination.  But now, they need to put the types of players around that can complement such an undersized backcourt.  They need some of those strong, versatile, Knicks-like wings - I'm thinking someone like Scottie Barnes, but I know he isn't available.  And if Draymond is forced to move or whatever, he can probably help them a bit also.

Trade Talk: KD vs. Brooks, Green, etc.

This seems like a pretty square trade, though all things considered, I wouldn't be surprised if the Suns ultimately come out looking better than Houston.  Ideally, KD would solve the scoring issues within the Rockets' roster, which the world witnessed this past postseason.  Meanwhile, the Suns put themselves in a position to move forward post-Durant without being stuck in limbo or under pressure to win immediately.  They may be garbage next season, but they're not going to trash(?).  But if you were to force me, I would say in the grand scheme of things Phoenix got the best of the deal - even if not by a wide margin - for two main reasons:

KD IN PHOENIX HAS BEEN A DISASTER SINCE DAY ONE

This is the fault of the Suns' braintrust more so than Durant.  You have to remember that they had a really good team before bringing KD in, a good team in the OKC Thunder sense - well-rounded, balanced, with size and depth, not overstacked at a particular position and complete with an MVP candidate (that being CP3).  Remember that squad, pre-KD, actually made it to the Finals.

That compatibility was in large part due to the presence of CP3, perhaps the last true PG allowed to operate in the NBA.  When Phoenix acquired KD, Paul instantly became redundant.  Why?  Because even with all-time great PGs by his side, like Kyrie for instance, Kevin still insists on running point, at least based on what I've seen.

KD is kinda like an Allen Iverson.  If you have someone like him at the center of your offense, the other four guys should more or less be supporting players.  You know, it's kinda hard to get mad at KD for hogging the ball.  That's something Phoenix should have understood before not only putting him next to Booker but going even further to acquire Beal - all three of whom are used to being primary, allstar-level scorers and furthermore wings.

KD wasn't so much of a detrimental chuck when he won those championships with the Dubs, but they had already established themselves as champs beforehand, besides having Draymond "the Equalizer" Green.  Like why was Draymond compelled to bark on him like that to begin with?

ANOTHER FAN FAVORITE BETRAYED

The Rockets, going back decades, have always had what may be considered an above-average braintrust.  But remember that up until like last season, they spent some years in the garbage zone.  They had these promising players like Green, Porter Jr., Smith Jr. and even Sengun but couldn't make it work.  Then, came Dillon Brooks.

Players like Brooks and Draymond are, imo, the most valuable in the NBA in terms of their uniqueness.  There's a number of guys out there that can put up triple-doubles.  Lebron rarely plays defense, to the detriment of his team even, but because he can score, rebound and assist, you know, put up stats, you have pundits declaring him one of the players in the NBA.  But off the top of my head, I can only think of three players in the entire league who have displayed the ability to regularly galvanize an entire team with their defensive tenacity, with none of the triple-double guys being amongst them.

I'll admit that, against the Warriors this past postseason, Brooks looked like a nonfactor.  After watching the highlights, I even had to resort to box scores to make sure he played.  I thought dude was injured or some shit.  And it also seemed that Draymond took his heart and in doing so, definitively changed the tide of the series in the Dubs' favor.  You know, I talk shit, you talk shit, but at the end of the day only the one who wins is going to be justified.  Brooks is like a Draymond without a Steph.

I probably would have been more inclined to trade Fred VanVleet for KD, maybe.  Fred carried the team offensively during Round 1, and you would think Houston would reward him by letting him shoulder more of that responsibility throughout.  It's almost like acquiring Durant is a roundabout way of saying they don't believe in VanVleet, because it's difficult to see their styles meshing.  I'm expecting that now, maybe Fred will play more off the ball, like a 2.

As for Jalen Green, yeah, he more or less had to go.  Up until recently, he was arguably the star of the team, yet dude deadass got benched during crunchtime vs. the Dubs.  There's really no need keeping him around under those circumstances, you know, if he isn't developing, and I don't quite see how he's going to fit next to Booker either (presumably, he'll be coming off the bench).

Hopefully Jalen will wind up in Milwaukee, like Kevin.  That roster, with those old dogs upfront (i.e. if they keep Brooks), is better suited to accommodate young, erratic shooters.  With Dame hurt they need that kinda energy, though in a more constructive way.

Maybe the Bucks will end up with Booker instead?  But I can imagine both Porter Jr. and Green running wild next to Giannis, who more-fundamental style would be able to mitigate some of their shortcomings.  If Milwaukee is going to retain Giannis, all things considered (i.e. an injured Dame being on the books), they need to start thinking a little outside of the box.

SHOUTOUT TO JABARI SMITH JR.(?)

Reportedly, the one player Houston was most keen on trading for Durant was Jabari Smith.  You often hear pundits pointing out how beneficial it is for bigs to develop jumpers.  But what I've been pointing out, for years now, is that in doing so many of them neglect their main advantage, which is their size.

There are some exceptional shooting Cs, but generally speaking Gs remain better at the job.  If you allow dudes to take the easy way out, you know, hoisting up threes instead of posting up or driving, most of them will do it, even the biggest man on the court.

So what I'm envisioning is something like KD chuckin' as usual, and Jabari, instead of waiting under the basket for a rebound, rather opting to linger somewhere behind the three-point line, hoping for a pass.  Indeed, he's the one player on the roster who truly becomes expendable with the presence of Durant, because they have similar builds and to some extent playing styles, tho KD being like 1000x more effective.

It's rare that three-pointers get blocked anyway.  So you don't need to always have your tallest dude at the three-point line.  But I have to imagine that Smith, once again given his height (and agility), must also have some perimeter D value.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (PHOENIX SUNS)

Speaking of above-average braintrusts, as noted the Suns have made their mistakes in recent years, but they're also known for perennially fielding competitive rosters, if nothing else at least on paper.  To be totally honest, I thought Beal + Booker + Durant + Nurkic, especially once they added Jones to the mix, was going to be akin to a contender.  Things didn't work out like, I would speculate, off the top of my head, the reason being that if you have three high-scoring wings, then you'd have to have a respectable pass-first PG to complement them, you know, distribute the ball, make sure everyone gets their shots, etc.

The thing tho is that in today's NBA, there really isn't anything like "a respectably pass-first PG" since every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to run point or chuck up threes at will.  And the coaches may sit around like 'yeah, our team prefer freestyle basketball', but at the end of the day, the players probably don't give two fucks what they have to say anyway.  It's like everyone is an Iverson these days.

Speaking of which, I'm now starting to feel sorry for Thibs.  I criticized him a lot in the past, but at least he, unless most of his peers, had a palpable coaching presence.  And it's also now blatantly obvious that whoever NYK replaces Thibs with isn't going to be nearly as good as he is.  You know what I mean?  AI coach.

Going back to the Suns, their current roster isn't half bad.  They'd definitely be a playoff team in the East.  Btu what I'm foreseeing is at some point, you know what I'm saying?

Booker is like their Kobe, the star they drafted who, even after a decade, is still with the team that picked him.  That kinda shit is a lot more common these days then some people realize.  But ultimately, they should have never disbanded the aforementioned squad from a couple of seasons ago.  Sometimes, you only get one chance type shit.

Alongside the likes of Ayton, CP3 and Bridges, Booker had a clearly-defined role that like didn't overlap any of his teammates.  He was unanimously the 2-guard, the go-to scorer.  Now, you have guys like Beal and Green alongside him.  I'm not saying any of them are higher in the pecking order than Devin.  But once again looking at OKC for instance, you see the value of having players who complement each other, rather than their skillsets overlapping.

That said, like Memphis and Houston before them, I do expect Phoenix to find value in Dillon Brooks.  He's the type of player that virtually any squad can use.  When you're in a field where dudes make million of dollars whether they win or lose, some extra fire is a good thing.  I'm even hoping to one day see Dillon next to Draymond, as a mentee, eventually becoming his Warriors' replacement once Green retires.  Draymond needs to stop scaring away potential teammates.  The Suns gave up a player who's cancerous in the locker room sense and replaced him with someone who's known to like uplift entire squads though, like Draymond, Dillon could also benefit sometimes from less aggressiveness.

CONCLUSION

The Rockets needed additional scoring this past offseason, the key word in that sentence being past, because you can't take for granted say, for instance, that if they make the Playoffs next season (which they probably will), they'd once again face the Dubs.  Fukaround and they find themselves against a team like the Thunder or Nuggets, and you find yourself asking would Brooks more beneficial in that scenario than KD?

As for the Suns, I would argue they got the better of this trade because, you know, they really-really needed to break up that Big 3, even if Durant hadn't request a trade.  Houston needed more scoring power, but did they really need that much more?  They probably could have packaged Green and Smith and got he type of scorer they needed, alongside VanVleet and Sengun, instead of, you know, going after one of the best in history.  But I can understand, to some extent, why they wanted to get rid of Brooks, once again considering this past postseason.  But how instrumental was he (and Green) to them finishing in 2nd place to begin with?

2024-2025 NBA Preseason Grades (Southwest Division)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: C

It was cool seeing the Mavs make it to the big dance last season because when they're up against most squads, they're were the most-entertaining team in the league.  That shit didn't work against Boston tho.  So they were certain issues that Dallas needed to mitigate to take themselves to that next level.

At the top of the list was finding a solution Doncic's endurance issues, how, during the Finals for instance, he eventually ran out of steam against a team that actually knows how to play effective perimeter defense over extended periods.  And I'm not overly confident that the addition of Klay or the re-addition of Dinwiddie is going to solve that problem.  

I may be wrong.  If Dinwiddie is doing his thing, the coaching staff could then use the opportunity to give Doncic longer rests.  Someone like Thompson, if his shot was on, would have definitely helped Dallas in the Finals, but not likely to the point where they could have beat the Celtics.

It's also painful, from a Mavs' fan perspective, to watch Jones Jr. go.  When Dallas was able to play above the rim (i.e. against their conference rivals in the playoffs) they were virtually unbeatable, and Derrick was a big part of that dynamic.  It's always hurtful when the pairing of a superstar PG who is an exceptional passer coupled with an amazing dunker is broken up.  But maybe Jones will be able to build up a similar rapport with the Beard.

During this offseason Dallas, by the looks of things, failed to upgrade in a manner that could potentially topple Boston.  The Celtics specialty is perimeter defense, and the Mavericks, in their wisdom, most notably decided to go out and add perimeter players.  With Lively gone and basically being replaced with a couple of Gs, good ones though not allstars, there's no way Dallas can be as entertaining as they were last season.

HOUSTON ROCKETS: C

The Rockets have sorta developed this losing culture, but at least a couple of seasons ago they were a good watch, regardless of who they played against.  Nowadays?  Like I don't even know.  It's sorta like, in a way, the air of excitement got sucked out of this team in a way.

From a competitive standpoint, Fred VanVleet was a fine addition.  I wouldn't be surprised if Houston missing the playoffs was some sort of higher-up decision.  But the thing is that - this is my argument.  If you have a team that's young and exciting, even if they lose, keep it like that.  F*ck is a timeline anyway?  'We're going to play it smart, devalue some of our young assets and rather prioritize the addition of quality veterans who can help us win now.'  Help you win what, Houston?

The last thing any braintrust wants is having to decide whether to play vets or developing players.  If you have young players with allstar potential, then ideally they're playing behind veterans who are maybe on the verge of winning a championship.  All things considered, such does not appear to be the case with the Rockets.

Going back to last offseason, Brooks was a good addition for what they were trying to build.  Defensive players like him, who can galvanize an entire team, are priceless.  But as for Fred, he may have to go - and not in exchange for a present player(s) unless he fits the timeline of the rest of the roster, someone to make up for the departure of KPJ.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: F

What really broke my heart with the Grizzlies wasn't so much that Ja Morant-gun shit but him getting seriously injured like immediately upon returning.  I hope said "injury" was just an excuse for the braintrust to shut him down during what they already perceived as a lost season.  But if not, smh.

Just a couple seasons ago, Memphis was poised to be the next big thing in the Western Conference, nah, the entire NBA.  Instead, OKC managed to steal their thunder.  And I'm not overly confident that the Grizzlies are going to be able to reclaim it, with their most-noteworthy transaction this offseason actually being the loss of Ziaire Williams.  This is after they already lost Xavier Tillman, who went on to immediately win a championship, earlier in the season.

Aging + lack of roster retention usually does not equal progression.  I still believe that Morant may be a second coming of Jordan.  But maybe he needs to work harder in terms of not putting the organization in a position whereas, I don't even know how to put it.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: B-

Entering into this season, if Brandon Ingram sticks around, I think it's safe to say that on paper the Pelicans have the best starting five in the league.  But of course, us mature NBA analysts know that talent doesn't always equal success.  And that's esp true on a team like NOP, where you have star players with overlapping skillsets, coupled with a style of play that is more or less positionless.

I don't necessary see why the Pelicans - or even the Hawks before them - would, given their rosters, bother to acquire the services of Dejounte Murray, unless they intend to actually use him as a (starting) PG.  It's the same like when ATL acquired him a couple of offseasons ago - okay, now how is the roster going to be structured?  Where does Murray fit in alongside the other team's scorers - two, if not all three of whom are iso-oriented?

And then, who are they planning to take back for Ingram anyway?  I'm not in favor of breaking up this roster, but it's going to take a helluva coach to make it work.

If this were a team during the 1990s, when players knew how to stay in their lane so to speak, it would be like yeah, they're contenders.  But in today's NBA, when most coaches are more or tokens, I mean I don't even know off the top of my head who's coaching NOP.  But I don't remember it being a name like, you know what I'm saying?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: A

I was really impressed with the Spurs' offseason because first of all, they were able to make their moves quickly.  Secondly, they're staying in their lane.  Wemby is already one of the best players in NBA, but it's not like 'hey, let's go overboard and try to win now'.  But at the same time, it isn't like 'let's surround our star with a team that doesn't know how to win'.  You know what I mean?  Like moderation type shit, going out and getting a couple of older players that makes the team more, not less, must watch.

If I could give out a "Offseason Player of the Year" award, that'd go to CP3.  I've been saying for years that how some older star players need to learn how to team up with their younger counterparts, playing for up-and-coming teams instead of chasing instant championships - a strategy that doesn't work most of the time anyway.

I also approve of the addition of Harrison Barnes, the type of player who not only contributes but also seems to bring a sense of stability and order to any system.  This should be more exciting than last season, so long as the Spurs don't suffer any major injuries.  And who knows?  With another star or two and a well-rounded bench, there you go, contender time.  Maybe "the Neck" will walk away with a ring after all.

CONCLUSION

If not for the Spurs and Pelicans, the Southwest would have a had a painfully boring offseason.  This current Spurs' roster, under Popovich, could prove viably competitive, playoff-worthy even.  As for New Orleans, even though they have a helluva roster, the excitement isn't quite there because it'll take a basketball mastermind, the type of which isn't like readily available, to make all those high-grade pieces work in tandem.

2023-24 NBA Season Predictions

One of the reasons it took me so long to get this post up is because finally, after 30 something years, I feel like I'm starting to outgrow the NBA.  However, this boredom is not wholly organic.  Part of it has to do with what feels like increasingly-recurrent and shameless incidences of rigging.  And second is that the fact that half of the superstars of today are regularly injured and/or disgruntled.  If not for the arrival of Victor Wembanyama, who really is fun to watch, I probably wouldn't be interested in this season.

That said, I do I believe the theme of the 2023-24 NBA is parity.  The league has been striving to make all teams equal for years, and they've by and large achieved that goal.

For instance, as it currently stands, there's only one hands-down superteam, that being the Suns.  There also seems to be more players than ever with like little-to-no notoriety.  Also, you may agree that at the bottom tier of this list, there are at least one or two (garbage) teams that may be more fun to watch than some of the contenders.  Also, perhaps more than any other time in NBA history, there's at least five young yet formidable squads.  And the reason that's important to point out is because in the world of athletics, youth can trump talent and experience.

So I believe the only teams that have have a true edge entering the season, all things considered, are the Warriors, Nuggets and, to some degree, the Bucks and Sixers, because they not only have the talent and experience but also continuity.  However, Phoenix is the only squad at this moment I believe can just win on sheer talent alone (especially on offense).  Late last season, when they acquired KD, I hastily predicted they would win it all and later had to eat those words.  But that said, in terms of predicting who will come out on top, I'm once again compelled to go with...

PHOENIX SUNS

In the last 30 years, there were at least three iterations of the Suns who were bonafide contenders.  So relatively speaking, this organization knows what it's doing.  But acquiring Nurkic to complement their big three really took the cake.  I was peeping out some preseason action recently, and he was playing beautifully with Durant, as if they were made to ball together.

But with KD, the way I see it, this team has to prove they're contenders out of the gate.  If for whatever reason they go through a period of losing games, looking hopeless and getting lambasted by the media, Durant has proven, at least to me, that he will quit.  That's the one caveat.

I also wonder if perhaps they have too much firepower.  Having Beal run the point with KD + Nurkic + Booker is sorta like overkill (unless they have injury issues, which is very likely).  And then, if Gordon also starts, that's another scorer.  They really need the right kind of PG to run this show, with all of this offensive talent.  Like imagine Steve Nash surrounded by these dudes.

YUTA WATANABE - did pretty good with the Nets

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

The Warriors have an organization that knows itself.  By going out and getting Chris Paul, obviously this team isn't trying to win with defense.  And the good thing about having CP3, based on the small preseason sample that I've seen, is that he's actually patient with the ball.  He can hold onto it until one of the shooters gets open.  And whereas that may not be the best overall strategy in the NBA these days, it can be when you're playing with the Splash Bros., and it will also free up Draymond to focus more downlow than at the top as a playmaker.

I do genuinely believe that the powers that be wanted the Lakers to advance during last season's playoffs.  The Kings were finally supposed to young team to dethrone the Dubs, then Curry started doing that shit again.  And besides some of us suffering from 'Steph fatigue', last season was also supposed to be about Lebron.  So it's like, primarily because of Steph tbh, you can never sleep on the Warriors.

GSW has a decent roster, but one in which if any of the top 9 guys is injured during the playoffs could spell disaster.  And now, in a strange sorta way, people are putting the onus on Jonathan Kuminga, which isn't fair, all things considered.  Me personally, if I were part of this braintrust I wouldn't have gone after a player like CP3.  But obviously the Splash Bros. + Draymond want to play with him, which says a lot.

DARIO SARIC - may end up being the ex-factor

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Dame making his way over to the Bucks is considered by many to have been the biggest move of the offseason.  At first, I wasn't overly enthused since Milwaukee lost Jrue Holiday in the process.  But since then they picked up Cameron Payne, who I think will prove to be an x-factor.

The reason I ranked the Bucks over the Nuggets, even though they similar levels of recent success/continuity, is because Milwaukee is deeper and has a better set of defenders.

DAMIAN LILLARD - bad karma entering the season?

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

The Sixers are, once again, talented enough to make it to the Finals.  I believe this is true even without Harden and even if no other player(s) joins their roster in his stead.  If the Beard has decided not to suit up for Philly and/or they've decided to play without him, then it wouldn't make sense not to haste into a trade, not until they see the type of players they may need back in return (for instance, now that Montrezl Harris has been injured).  But since he's only expressed a willingness to play for one other team, then it's like their hands are kinda tied.  And for the record, my stance is that if Harden is willing to play for the Sixers, until they trade him or whatever, then they should let him.

TYRESE MAXEY - w/o Harden or Simmons should finally make allstar

DENVER NUGGETS

The reigning champs still have a relatively deep squad, but my prediction is that losing Bruce Brown is going to hurt.  The Nets made that same mistake a couple of seasons ago.  I know that there's politics and money and personalities and all types of shit involved, but when someone helps you win a championship like that, you don't let them go.

So now, it's like the onus is on Porter Jr. more than ever, like he's the obvious x-factor.  A couple of years ago I predicted, if healthy, that he would be in the MVP conversation, but I don't feel that way anymore.  However, it does feel like he was incepted during the Finals, as dude finally started playing inside instead of settling for threes.  Meanwhile, the team's GM just basically dissed his offense.  So hopefully, that would be further inspiration for Michael to exert himself, and here's me keeping my fingers crossed that he doesn't get hurt in the process.

CHRISTIAN BRAUN - obviously set to get a lot more playing time

JUSTIN HOLIDAY - a notable pickup, tho bit of a logjam at his position 

TIER 2 - THE POTENTIAL IS THERE, BUT...

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Out of all of the quote/unquote young teams in the NBA, the Grizzlies clearly have the best roster.  They lost a number of quality players over the past couple of seasons, but still, their squad now looks better then it's ever been (though since writing this, they lost Steven Adams for the season).

So now comes the task of dealing with the image/maturity issues.  None of us wants to see Ja Morant get in trouble for doing something that's legal - what we do want, rather, is to see him on the court.  So you know, he has a decision to make.  And even though in the past the Griz arguably played better without him, it's hard to imagine this current iteration truly competing for a championship without his contribution.

DERRICK ROSE - the homeys need to treat him a little better

MARCUS SMART - one of the best acquisitions of the postseason

BOSTON CELTICS

All transactions considered, I'm not overly excited about the acquisition of Jrue Holiday.  He's an exceptional traditional PG, though now on a roster that doesn't really need one, and my biggest concern is whether or not Jrue will get enough touches.  In other words, true PGs like himself are most useful to teams that don't chuck.  Meanwhile, Tatum shoots anytime he feels like it, and the Celtics' second superstar, Jaylen Brown, behaves the same sometimes.  Also, whereas Porzingis and Horford are both above-average, versatile bigs, neither is necessarily dominant or imposing.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

At the start of every season, for what feels like time immemorial now, you look at the Clippers roster and be like 'yeah, this may be the year', even though in the back of your mind you know it isn't.  And so it is, once again, with 2023-24.

My belief is that, for a number of reasons, Kawhi Leonard has fallen out of favor with the NBA, and the situation is beyond rehabilitation, unless maybe he finds himself on a roster where he's no longer the biggest name.  Another suggestion is perhaps he finds his way back to the Spurs.

In any event, this roster may not be the most compatible, and still, the Clippers lack size.  But they have a number of quality pieces to play around with (or trade) and are clearly, on paper, contenders.  Kawhi + George + Westbrook is the best G core in the league.  So the Clips are contenders.  But does that mean I expect them to actually make it to big dance?  Due to behind-the-scenes' factors no, I don't, nor even anywhere close considering the last couple of seasons.

MIAMI HEAT

The Heat lost a couple of quality role players this offseason and, on the other side of the coin, didn't really make any powermoves, unless you consider acquiring Thomas Bryant one.  But this is the most overachieving team in the league and clearly one that the NBA itself favors.  They also, in theory, have enough talent to win a championship.  As for compatibility, not so much, but you have to believe that if any braintrust can make this roster work, it's Miami's.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

The way the Cavs fizzled out of the playoffs last season left a real bad taste in my mouth, the kind of which has me convinced that this iteration doesn't have the favor of the powers that be.  Remember that, about a decade ago, Cleveland got three number one picks within the timespan of just four years, thus indicating that the league favored them.  But it definitely doesn't feel like that these days.  It's like, if only Lebron would return (again), but at this point that seems out of the question.

That said, in this day and age when the NBA is flooded with questionable talent, they still have the benefit of having one of the deepest rosters in the league. 

OKC THUNDER

The Thunder are not only young but also overachievers who are now, finally, about to field a healthy Chet Holmgren.  The one issue I perceive though is that they could also use more of a traditional big, i.e. one dedicated solely to rebounding and interior defense.  They're not contenders but can possibly beat most teams in a seven-game series.

UTAH JAZZ

Last season the Jazz overachieved, but then it appeared they gave up about midway through in the name of scoring better draft position.  This offseason they've added John Collins, a player who, though a scapegoat of the Hawks, I haven't read any pundit say that joining Utah was a bad idea.  They also drafted this dude  Keyonte George who, though I never heard of him, is an Ainge pick and therefore probably better than his draft position implies.  And on top of all of that, the team is young.  They're almost like the Grizzlies, albeit with less overall talent but more stability.  So if the Jazz really assert themselves throughout, stay healthy and play smart basketball, it's like who knows what they can achieve.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

This season begins just as the last one, with the Pelicans, in theory, fielding a roster that's good enough to win a championship.  But two variables remain at the top of the list in terms of realizing the dream.  First, of course, is the health of Zion Williamson.  And second, imo at least, is his compatibility with Brandon Ingram.

The latter question still has yet to be resolved because, due to injury, they haven't spent that much time on court together.  On one hand, I advocate trading Ingram, even though, as evident by the recent dilemmas of the Beard and Kelly Oubre, the NBA may be once again trending away from these types of volume scorers.  The team is clearly better, at least imo, with Zion and without Brandon.  But then, what if like Williamson trips over a game controller or some shit?  Then, you're going to need Ingram.

So once again, the Pelicans are sorta in an unenviable situation, being too rich for their good, so to speak.  But at least they're must-watch, especially when Zion is playing.

JOSE ALVERADO - still one of my favs, though overly-emotional sometimes

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

At the beginning of last year I predicted the T-wolves to win it all, kinda like I'm doing with the Suns this time around, i.e. despite the fact that, despite being a superteam and all, lacked compatibility and continuity.  But I'm not about to make that same mistake twice, at least not with Minnesota.

In theory the talent is already here, and, even if not, they have KAT, one of the most-attractive potential trade chip entering this season.  Indeed, from what I've read, the ever-interfering Knicks are already lurking.  But taking that this roster does remain intact, there's a couple of things that just don't feel right.

I like Anthony Edwards just as much as the next fan, and to my recollection I was the first pundit to predict, at the conclusion of the 2022 season, that he would be an allstar in 2023.  But I wouldn't actually go as far as to say he's better than KAT or even Gobert per se, which then begs the question of why he's currently being promoted as such?

If you decide to unanimously give the keys to a G, he has to be really, really good, like Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Kawhi Leonard type good.  But who knows?  Maybe Edwards is on his way there, but I just can't see it.

That said, this is a deep and long team.  So you know, sky's the limit type shit, though I don't particularly think the powers that be favor them, at least not in this current iteration.

TORONTO RAPTORS

The Raptors have the talent and also an underrated braintrust.  Dennis Schroder, on the low, is a stud (and I believe will be a better fit than VanVleet), and now Siakim and co. are going to get a full season alongside Jakob Poeltl, a player who, at least in theory, could solve their size problem.  But it didn't necessarily look that way at the conclusion of last season.  So it's possible that Toronto may once again end up bigman shopping or going small.  In other words, they strike me as a team that still has yet to figure out how exactly they intend to get back to the next level. 

TIER 3 - JUST NOT ENOUGH

SACRAMENTO KINGS

For a team that, based on last season's playoffs, were poised to be the next big thing, the Kings did practically jackshit in terms of upgrading their roster this past summer.  They're obviously banking on running it back, which isn't the worst strategy, except that they still haven't solved their size problem, unless they're looking to JaVale McGee for the answer.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

I'm really impressed how, in the blink of an eye, the Blazers have come to epitome what a balance of young talent coupled with a quality veteran presence is supposed to look like.  The two reasons I think the Blazers may not get that far though is because first of all, since they're starting a rookie at point, they're obviously looking to the future.  And second, with the Lillard trade etc., their continuity has pretty much been thrown out the window.  But I take back what I said a couple of weeks ago about losing interest in the Blazers post-Dame, as this is definitely a team I want to see play, especially if they're winning.

ROBERT WILLIAMS III - at least he's already sorta used to coming off the bench

BROOKLYN NETS

The big news this offseason with the Nets was supposed to be Ben Simmons regaining his all-star form or whatever.  In theory, a roster with both him and Mikal Bridges should have the best perimeter defense in the league, which could mean a whole lot in today's NBA.  But then it's like, where is the offense going to come from?  Are they finally going to take the reins off of Cam Thomas?  I've been saying for a couple of years now that there's a lot of teams that could use a pass-first PG of Simmons' quality, but this current iteration of the Nets isn't one of them.

CAM THOMAS - one of the best scorers in the NBA, even if he gets no love

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The argument isn't whether or not LBJ should be running point anymore.  Now, the it's more like, considering his advanced age and minimal commitment to defense, since he can run the point, that's like the only place to slot him.  And finally, at the conclusion of last season, the Lakers had constructed a roster with the type of players that could make that scheme work.

But instead, they've given up on Lonnie Walker IV and extended D'Angelo Russell, obviously in the name of staring him (or Gabe Vincent) at the point and Lebron at the 4.  They also gave AD a much richer contract than his current health and output deserve.

Those are the signs of an organization that doesn't really know what TF it's doing.  Theirs isn't the worst roster, but, in a strange sorta way, it's like the way it's currently constructed, King James, of all players, is the odd man out.  This is the curse of Lebron, i.e. being an aged GOAT stuck on a team you can't even solidly predict will make the playoffs.  So what I'm looking forward to is LAL once again depending on the goodwill of the NBA to get them ahead.

AUSTIN REAVES - best player on this team?

DALLAS MAVERICKS

At first, I strongly disagreed with the pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.  But now that I think about, it's probably for the best considering that either one of them - and especially Doncic - can be hurt at any given time.

Luka is arguably the best offensive player in the NBA.  He's the Mavs greatest asset but also their greatest liability, since his health is unpredictable.  And now that the NBA has passed that rule that players must participate in at least 65 games to be considered for a preseason award, he may never win MVP, as I presumed he would eventually.  Well, at least it appears that finally Dallas's braintrust is growing a bit wiser and not focusing solely on guards and wings.

SETH CURRY - a good pickup

GRANT WILLIAMS - another good pickup

NEW YORK KNICKS

This is starting to feel like the old, don't-know-WTF-they're-doing Knicks again.  When your organization's biggest news of the offseason is signing Donte DiVincenzo, unless the roster was already contenders, which NYK's isn't, then it's almost like you didn't really do anything at all.

EVAN FOURNIER - might as well trade dude already

IMMANUEL QUICKLEY - already at his ceiling, hope he isn't overworked

HOUSTON ROCKETS

At first, I didn't agree with the acquisition of Fred VanVleet.  Those young guys from last season didn't win a lot of games, but at least they were entertaining night in and night out, which is something that most NBA teams can't boast of.

But now, with Kevin Porter Jr. no longer around, as well as Kenyon Martin Jr. bouncing, it's as if in the blink of an eye, the Rockets went from a youth movement to a balanced team age-wise.  But unless Jabari Smith Jr. suddenly develops into an all-star, they aren't likely to make that much noise.

TIER 4 - DOES ANYONE TRULY CARE?

ATLANTA HAWKS

The Hawks were arguably the most-disappointing team of last season, and since then, on paper, they haven't particularly gotten better.  Patty Mills is a notable addition, if Murray were to move to the bench or perhaps more reasonably to the 3.  Saddiq Bey also looks like a cool name to add to this roster, but it isn't like he's an hands down upgrade over John Collins.  The real problem with the squad, lingering from last season, is unfortunately compatibility issues.  So I guess if they flunk again then it's rebuild time, which would be a shame considering just how much potential ATL appeared to have at this time last year.

CHICAGO BULLS

Putting the Bulls this far down on the list isn't meant to imply that they're going to be garbage per se.  For all we know, they may even make the playoffs, since this is more or less the same roster that did so in 2022.  But that's the problem, that they haven't made any progress since.  It's the same core of DeRozan + LaVine + Vucevic surrounded by a bunch of guys who, either due to injury (i.e. Caruso) or inconsistency you can't count on to show up regularly.  And you know, being insignificant is cool when your team is fun to watch, but that isn't really the case with the Bulls.

LONZO BALL - might as well retire and move on with his life

INDIANA PACERS

No disrespect, but I think this past summer's basketball world cup or whatever it was called proved what I've been saying all along, that Tyrese Haliburton is a bit overrated.  Meanwhile, Myles Turner is still lingering around, as is Buddy Hield.  It's hard to get excited about a team when you know that two of its biggest names don't really want to be there, and that it's one all-star probably achieved that status through circumstantial factors.  Obi Toppin looks like a quality pickup, and they also scored one of my personal favorites, Bruce Brown.  So who knows, maybe the Pacers will make the playoffs.  But it's like, does anyone truly care, or more importantly, can they make the NBA world care?

ORLANDO MAGIC

Like the Pacers, it's possible that the Magic can make thee playoffs.  Banchero was sorta exposed in the world championships, but he's still like a perfect bigman for today's NBA.  I also still believe in Markelle, and there's a couple of other players on this squad that can show out.

The problem with the Magic, unlike some other young teams, is that they aren't really that popular, i.e. you never hear of like a high-value free agent deciding to sign with Orlando.  Therefore they have to do things organically, which makes, say, the injuries to Jonathan Isaac really suck.

TIER 5 - SCRAPING THE BOTTOM

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Anyone who's been reading this blog knows that I've been big on Jordan Poole for a couple of seasons now.  I even once declared him 'the 3rd Splash Brother', but obviously Steph and them didn't feel the same, and he became the scapegoat of the Warriors.

Now the reins have been taken off, and let me say that I'm solidly expecting Poole to become an allstar.  I don't know if that will translate into a lot of wins, but, given that this is the Washington Wizards, probably not.

KYLE KUZMA - the forgotten borderline allstar

DANILO GALLINARI - will he actually play?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

I've already said a couple of times that even as a rookie, Victor Wembanyama, under Greg Popovich, will be in the MVP conversation.  I'd like to now modify that prediction by stating that such is likely if the Spurs actually make the playoffs, which isn't impossible but at the same time probably not likely given their current roster (as compared to others).  This is one of those times when you say to yourself 'hey, what if they would've held on to Dejounte Murray' or, you know, had at least one other player on the roster who's already allstar worthy?  But at least, for the first time in like 10 years, the Spurs are must watch.

CEDI OSMAN - an underrated pickup

DETROIT PISTONS

The Pistons have an admirable mix of young talent and veterans, but something just isn't right.  It may be that they put their faith in Cade Cunningham, a player who I questioned since like his first or second month in the NBA.

Cade obviously has potential, but whether he has the health and drive are another thing.  That's why, as an NBA braintrust, you're never supposed to be get caught up in the hype.  If I were running this team, I'd already be looking at trading Cunningham, while he still has a relatively high value.

That said, no disrespect to anyone, but the Pistons have a number of young underachievers.  So they may also consider giving up the youth game and focusing more or vets, like flipping two or three (or four) youngsters for an older superstar.

JOE HARRIS - fuk he end up here?

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Of the three players the Hornets are most banking on, one (Ball) is regularly injured, another (Bridges) is in legal trouble and the third (Miller) may be on his way there.  It's as if this Hornets are the Grizzlies of the East, though sans the winning culture.  Hard to believe that all of this, in a way, is the making of Michael Jordan.  Hopefully, he won't have any to do with the NBA on that level ever again.

Jalen Brunson (TF?!)

Looks matter in basketball.  And if you don't believe me, go down to your local gym or playground looking like you can't ball and try to get picked up for a game.  You better get there early to call next, or else, if the place is crowded, you may find yourself standing on the sidelines for hours.  Trust me, I know.

That's why it took so long for people to accept just how good Fred VanVleet has become.  I still have a hard time accepting it, because he simply doesn't look like an NBA player, or at least not on TV.  It's something about those short guys with big heads that just doesn't scream 'I can bust your ass in basketball'.  Desmond Bane also kinda has that quality, even though he's diesel AF.

And that brings us to Jalen Brunson.  A couple of months ago I had to privilege of peeping out a few Mavs games, and dude was out there totally and completely bustin ass.  And I'm just sitting there saying to myself like 'WTF?  Is this real?  Who is this guy?'  A couple of games, he even seemed to be outplaying, dare I say it, Luka Doncic himself.  Jalen Brunson is one of those players like I know I kinda heard of somewhere.  And it seems that the Mavs actually drafted him at the same time as they did Luka.

And now with Luka out, Brunson is doing the Jazz so bad that some dude over at NBC is even calling Utah "overrated".  I don't think the Jazz are overrated.  They just have bad playoff luck and, I believe, are not favored by the NBA.  And believe me - being favored by the NBA goes a long way.

And even still I'm reluctant to say that the Mavs are going to win the series.  But at this point, does it really matter?  I'm just glad I didn't right a post predicting this series, as I would have undoubtedly foretold that the Jazz would swiftly do away with the Luka-less Mavs.

CONCLUSION

Believe it or not, one of the advantages Jalen Brunson has is not looking like he can play basketball.  It doesn't matter if he scores 100 points in a game, his looks will remain the same.  And that one split second when the defender is saying to himself 'lol, look at this guy' is all Brunson needs at this point.  That's like some evolutionary psychology type shit, like a natural advantage he has over others.