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

ATLANTA HAWKS (40-42) - BOL BOL

The Hawks have actually had one of the better braintrusts over the past few years, thoughyou wouldn't know it by their performance.  That team they sent to the ECF some seasons ago was poised to become the Thunder of the East but was derailed by internal conflict or whatever.  And even as far as trading Doncic for Trae, yes, Luka is a better all-around player, but Young may be preferable given certain types of roster construction.

On that latter note, for awhile I've been saying that Atlanta needs to build a team of lengthy, athletic, speedy players around Trae, and it appears that they've finally been incepted.  I've also been saying for some time that Porzingis is one of the best players in teh league, an all-time great even, if not for those damn injuries.  He recently announced that health-wise, he's feeling a lot better than he did last season.  But given his injury history, you can't take Kristaps' presence for granted.

So, I have to once again go with Bol Bol, a player who seemingly fits into the mold the ATL is constructing of versatile ballers who are quick enough to keep up with Young.  Part of me doesn't quite understand why Bol hasn't gotten more love in his career, considering that he's sort of a phenom.

I can also envision Kuminga on this roster.  But now, Jonathan is experiencing the downside of being a young, exceptional yet disgruntled player, i.e. being worth tens of millions, but the teams you may want to go to not being in a position to afford you.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS (19-63) - MO BAMBA

30 teams is a lot, i.e. it being almost impossible to follow them all, and the Hornets are one of the organizations that tends to get lost in the sauce.  And speaking of injured greats, on paper they have arguably the best young G core in the NBA.  But the star of show, LaMelo Ball, is a walking injury report, though at least now they've acquired ample backup at the point.

None of the true bigs on Charlotte's roster appear to be overly-impressive, so I'm about to go with another seemingly-forgotten one, Mo Bamba.  Again, I can't follow the entire NBA and even then wouldn't be privy to what goes on behind the scenes.  But his is a career trajectory that baffles me, i.e. why he hasn't afforded more minutes, though I would presume it has something to do with offensive limitations.  But being surrounded by guys like Ball, Sexton, Miller and Bridges, it isn't likely that any C the Hornets employ is going to be called upon to do a lot of shooting anyway.  So Bamba would be strictly a defensive addition, a player of the likes this team obviously needs.

MIAMI HEAT (37-45) - RUSSELL WESTBROOK

The Heat are going to be one of the top teams in the East next season - remember you heard it here first.  They have arguably the most-balanced roster in the conference, besides a winning, overachieving culture.  I wouldn't be totally surprised if they take the EC altogether, though that probably isn't likely given the regularity of injuries these days, coupled with their roster not being terribly deep.

I'm going with Russell Westbrook for a couple of reasons.  First of all, he can play any G position.  Second, he's one of the few PGs who can match, nay, surpass the defensive intensity of Davion Mitchell.  And these days, being able to defend the perimeter is even more important (against most teams) than locking down the post.

The ScapeGOAT is the most-polarizing NBA star of the early 21st century.  No one can deny his talent, and he remains more athletic, in his mid-to-late 30s, then 90% of the guys in the league.  I thought the structure of Denver would benefit him, and it did in a way, but in crunchtime they went with Christian Braun over Westbrook, one of the dumbest and most-insulting playoffs decisions I've ever seen.  Well, Miami also has that kind of structure that can capitalize on Russell's gifts without letting him go Hulk and destroy everything in his path.

ORLANDO MAGIC (41-41) - JONATHAN KUMINGA

The Magic remind me of the Mavericks from a couple of years back.  Their braintrust is so obsessed with perimeter players that they neglect their post needs.  I get it that players like Banchero and Wagner are, in actuality, pretty damn tall.  But they play like Gs, and Orlando's post presence of the Paolo era, from what I've observed, is virtually nonexistent.

I'm tempted to once again bigup Mo Bamba, but he actually had the best season of his career with the Magic a few years back, and they still let him go, so obviously he isn't the one.  Al Horford is another tempting prospect but may be too slow to keep up with Franz and the boys.  There's also Bol, who likewise had his best season with the Magic, but they decided not to retain his services.  Again, little to no respect for actual bigs.  And as for Jonathan Isaac, he's like the black Kristaps Porzingis(?).

So I'm gonna shift more to the fantasy side and go with Jonathan Kuminga.  He wouldn't be a perfect fit, as he's also been trained, despite being dumb tall, to play more like a G.  But he's more athletic than any of Orlando's current players and though not particularly a post player knows how to crash the board.  In hindsight, the Magic prolly should have made a play on DeAndre Ayton during the brief window he was available.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS (18-64) - JOSH GIDDEY

The Wizards suck so bad that despite representing the nation's capital, they're more or less irrelevant.  But at least now, it appears they have sort of a plan or structure.  There's other young teams out there that could really benefit from the presence of a player like Khris Middleton or C.J. McCollum.  So what Washington really needs right now is one of their young prospects to emerge as a star, and then everything should start falling into place.

I'm going with Josh Giddey because besides being an (restricted) free agent, he more or less averages a triple-double.  And whereas I have absolutely no idea who the starting PG on Washington is supposed to be (McCollum?), I would venture to say that this is a team that could use a pass-first general who can also score and rebound.  C.J. may end up running the point, but all things considered he'd probably better serve at the 2.

If this season also proves to be an utter disappointment, I think the Wizards should just give up on the youth movement.  The powers-that-be don't favor them in the draft, and their braintrust isn't particularly known for finding diamonds in the rough.  They'd probably be better off having McCollum + Middleton (+ Giddey?) serve as their foundation rather than any of these younger dudes.  But again, some of the youth have to shine so that at the very least they can be used as trade chips, probably being better served in terms of development with other organizations anyway.

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.

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

Remember that in 2024, it wasn't all the way 'til like the last week of August that KAT ended up in New York.  So I don't want to start hastily giving out offseason grades, because by the time all the ink has dried we still don't know who may end up where.  For instance, Giannis still has yet to definitively state he's going to remain in Milwaukee.  And even someone like CP3, if he ends up on a contender that actually appreciates and needs his skillset, that could be monumental.

But most of the roster moves heading into next season have already transpired.  So unlike the first installment of "If I Could Send One Player to Any Team", henceforth I'm going to try to be more practical, focusing on players whom teams can more realistically acquire, such as free agents that are still on the market.  Doing so may not be as exciting as going full fantasy, but it is more practical.  And on that note...

DENVER NUGGETS (JONATHAN KUMINGA)

It's more difficult to call this one because we don't know if Valanciunas is going to report for duty.  But I foresee something like Aaron Gordon noticeably aging this coming season.  And I don't know how much better Cameron Johnson is supposed to be over Porter Jr., but with Denver recently acquiring Brown and Hardaway, there appears to be more of a need in the frontcourt.

I don't want to see Westbrook re-signed, considering the way they devalued him in the postseason.  I'm thinking more like a PF, and realistically the best one that may be available is Kuminga.  His athleticism and all-around game would almost be like a second Gordon next to Jokic.  He can also run the point a bit, which will come in handy once Murray is inevitably injured.

If I really wanted to go wild, I would even suggest trading Kuminga for Gordon straight up as, considering age and experience and all that kinda sh*t, the latter may now be better suited for the Dubs.  Imagine Aaron Gordon on Golden State?  They never had a PF like that.

If I were still on that hardcore fantasy shit, I'd rather go with Giannis over Kuminga.  Giannis + Jokic would be a definite championship, but again, dude ain't a free agent.  So Denver would literally have to trade like their entire team to get him, though Giannis + Jokic could probably win a championship with virtually any supporting cast, so long as dudes can play defense and score a bit.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (MALCOLM BROGDON)

I went with a PG because I still find it kinda odd how large of a role Conley has on this team.  I have nothing against Mike and rather think he deserves more recognition for being one of the few players who's still viable in his late 30s.  He makes timely plays on occasion, but it's hard to understand why he's averaging nearly 25 minutes on a team built like the Timberwolves.  Apparently, he's like a really good teammate or some shit.

Having Ben Simmons alongside Rudy Gobert isn't ideal from a scoring standpoint.  That type of dynamic would dictate that Edwards and Randle be allowed to take as many shots as they like.  That isn't a bad thing, if not for the fact that the former appears shy at times, while the latter can be shutdown if the right type of defense focuses on doing so.

A high-scoring PG like Steph, it's hard to imagine him co-existing alongside Edwards.  This is Anthony's team, for better or worse.  So ideally anyone who comes in would complement, not overshadow, Ant-Man.  Yeah, I know what you're thinking, 'isn't that Mike Conley anyway'?  But that just goes to show how complex the Wolves' situation is.  They're too extraordinary to fail yet not good enough to actually win.

So I'm going with Malcolm Brogdon.  Remember there was a time, before the injuries started piling up, when he was one of the most-formidable scoring Gs in the NBA, like early in his career, even from his rookie season.  But the reason I'm espousing him is not only because Brodgon can score, but also his game is more cerebral, like it wouldn't take away from Edwards or Randle.  Also, having him plus Conley around, like if you were to mesh those two together, you'd have the perfect PG.  All things considered, Minnesota doesn't need a major upgrade like another superstar.  They just need to figure things out type shit, while making the right under-the-radar additions.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (CHRIS PAUL)

There were reports that CP3 may go to the Knicks, which sounded exciting at first.  But then when I really thought about, NYK is a team that seems to flourish with shoot-first PGs, like Brunson and McBride.  So no need to change that dynamic now, as it currently looks like they're going to take the East next season.

Out of all of the contenders out there, Paul going to OKC makes the most sense.  He may not be a starter as he prefers, but this is a team that could really benefit from a pass-first PG when SGA is on the bench or sometimes even when he's on the court, thus allowing him to solely focus on scoring.  With a teammate like CP3, Shai may even go on to average like 35ppg.

Meanwhile, let's just say that whereas the Thunder took home to Larry O'Brien, they didn't necessarily impress in the Finals.  Given the youth of their roster, a noticeable degree of internal growth is expected.  But it won't hurt to upgrade externally also, and their frontcourt isn't lacking.  Meanwhile, for whatever reason, CP3 is available on the cheap, and no one will see this coming.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (NIKOLA JOKIC)

The Trailblazers are like a youth movement with no discernible future.  So in this case, I'm not going to go with a player who's a free agent but rather, you know, with the best guy in the league, i.e. Nikola Jokic.  Technically, SGA is MVP, but it's hard to imagine how a PG, as opposed to a C, can turn this ship around, even though their guard rotation, especially since trading away Simons, leaves something to be desired also.

It's been awhile since I did any research on Scoot, and by the looks of things, he has more or less materialized into a bust, as I predicted, not due to any shortcoming on his part (tho he may have been overrated) but rather Portland's braintrust unwisely throwing him (i.e. a rookie PG) into the fire too fast.

UTAH JAZZ (JOSH GIDDEY)

The Jazz is a team that has become so irrelevant that it's a chore to even write about them.  The thing I dislike about Utah is that they overtly tanked over the last couple of seasons, just to have shit totally backfire on them.  The biggest news to come out of Jazz land over the past 18+ months has been acquiring a rookie who doesn't or didn't even want to play for them.

They also recently gave up on Sexton and Clarkson which, if you look at the rest of their roster, doesn't really make sense.  But maybe Ainge and co. know something that we don't.  It's almost like now, they're in a semi-rebuild.  Markannen is still the star of the team I guess, but if he actually wants to win, it's hard to imagine him being content with this lackluster organization, which also happens to be in the West.

It almost feels like an insult suggesting any player go to the Jazz.  But since he is White and is currently the best all-around (restricted) free agent available, I have to go with Josh Giddey.  As it currently stands, it's hard to imagine a primarily White team winning a championship, even if there are a couple of above-average Europeans thrown in the mix.  But all things considered, something like that may happen sooner than we think.

2025 NBA Finals Ruminations (Game 7)

 THE PACERS HAVE EARNED MY RESPECT

A week or so, after taking the Eastern Conference and maybe a game or two in the Finals, Haliburton was talking about how the Pacers have been underestimated all season long, how many critics considered their success of last year a "fluke" and shit like that.  I was thinking like man, dude must've been reading this blog, because that's exactly how I felt about Indiana's 2024 postseason showing and to some extent this year's also.  But dudes have now firmly earned my respect, for what it's worth.  IMO, there's no reason to believe if Tyrese didn't get hurt or whatever, they probably would have taken Game 7, in OKC.

Obviously though, this is a team that needs and upgrade or two.  If Haliburton is incapacitated, you can't put the onus on Siakim because he's too old in NBA years, and frankly put, even though Pascal is a star, he's never been a superstar.  You know, he ain't KD type shit.  But dude really tries.

I'm also hoping that Myles Turner sticks around.  Yes, it's frustrating at times seeing the biggest man on the team, especially one as mobile as he is, going through stretches where he has like zero impact.  But if they retain Turner, instead going out trying to fill a specific position, their roster is such that Indy can just go for whoever is the best free agent on the market.  But ideally yes, they would make an addition that'd edify the frontcourt, preferably a big who like rebounds and plays defense.  Why not?  The Thunder - and especially Jalen Williams - were like killing them in the interior.

HALIBURTON FALTERS

No disrespect, but I was looking forward - one way or another - to Tyrese proving ineffective in Game 7.  I thought it was going to be something like the crowd getting in his head.  Instead he came out the gate ultra-hot, easily looking like the best player in the contest, and then fucked up his ankle at like totally the worst time.

To some extent, I think there are legitimate questions as to just how much an "MVP" SGA is, you know, how much he deserves that title, because in the grand scheme of it all Haliburton has been more or less playing just as well, up until Game 7.  You know what I'm saying?  There were games during this series where you're like 'is SGA really MVP'?

"THE FUTURE OF THE NBA"

You now have these news outlets dubbing OKC and Indy 'the future of the NBA', with the current youth movement being something I first predicted at least three years ago.  But anyway.... if niggas is playing in the Finals and winning championships and shit, obviously they're the present, not the future.

The Thunder, in my humble opinion, didn't overly impressed.  I'm genuinely convinced that the Pacers had OKC's fandom shook more than vice versa.  That's one of the advantages of being the underdog - there isn't as much pressure to succeed, so to speak.  But still, even if Indiana did proceed to win the championship, it would've been hard to argue that the Pacers' roster is superior.  It's more like Indy just had the bigger heart, which is understandable considering the road they took to get here. 

Indy relied more heavily on the three which, as the series progressed, did appear as the preferable strategy, so long as the shots were going in.  I was hoping that, given the size of OKC, the Finals would prove the end of the smallball era.  Obviously that's not going to happen just yet, if ever.  But I think it did reaffirm that size does matter as teams, such as the Thunder, rely on drives and midrange shots.  In other words, if other squads don't have the adequate size/talent to defend the key (which most don't), it's going to be virtually impossible to dethrone the defending champs.

IS OKC OVERRATED?

I know that's a funny question to ask, considering they just won the championship.  But I think they are overrated in the sense that many of us presumed, or I guess you can say assumed they'd best the Pacers more convincingly.

The Thunder also seems to have issues sometimes maximizing all of the major pieces on their roster, which isn't really anything new, as I remember last postseason Josh Giddey getting lost in the sauce.  I'm not saying that anyone was neglected in 2025 per se, but again, you have to believe this team could have played better - or perhaps smarter - during the Finals.  Like I don't foresee Mark Daigneault winning COY anytime soon.  If you have a team who, on paper, is better than everyone else, than you're not just supposed to win games; you're supposed to dominate.

But I guess now that the roster is used to each other, we'll really see what's up next season.  I'm looking forward to dudes, if healthy, winning 70 games next year.  Like I hope more pundits start calling out their less-than-stellar performance rather than dickridin.  Now that OKC has won a championship, they'll prolly need that extra encouragement to stay motivated.

It'd be cool if Chet Holmgren especially learned how to play better or more consistently in the post.  Maybe he will, as he ages and get fatter(?).  These days, it's like you have to push bigmen to bang down low, to take advantage of their size instead of relying on jumpers, and you don't want to wait until too late, kinda like how the Cavs have done with Mobley.  Conclusively, OKC could really benefit, imo, from adding some versatility to their offensive style/strategy, because dudes may have struggled more than they should have versus Indy.

SHOUTOUT TO LU DORT

Speaking of being lost in the sauce, Dort is probably the fifth or sixth most-popular name on OKC, but he's like their glue guy.  Lu may never be like a star in his own right, but in the grand scheme of things he's just as important to this roster as anyone outside of SGA and Williams and is arguably just as important as the latter.  He's the one who, when defenders are paying so much attention to the stars, can do unexpected shit that like changes the momentum.

A GOOD, SCRAPPY WHITE

If I were able to put together my own NBA team, the rotation would definitely have to include a scrappy White, and I'm not talking about any of those European sissies.  I mean an American whiteboy like T.J. McConnell, Alex Caruso, Tyler Herro if you want to take a more 'civilized' approach or even Austin Reeves, who's been developing swag of late.

As for McConnell, I'd have to presume these Finals raised his stock significantly.  He's far from being a max player, and he's also kinda old in NBA years.  But more than anyone on the Pacers' roster, based on the Finals, he deserves more burn next season.  More importantly, he's proven to be exactly the type of player you want on your team during big games.  He's a small, unpretentious Whiteboy - so much so that even if T.J. scores 40 points, it'd still be difficult for the opposing defense to focus on him.  McConnell played better than Haliburton in at least two games during this series, but the D could never rationalize giving him the full Haliburton treatment.

There's a headline currently circulating insinuating that T.J. was like crying or some shit after losing Game 7.  It's hard to imagine what, from a professional perspective, would compel someone being paid $10mil/year to play basketball to cry, you know, in public even.  But that just goes to show not only how much dude wanted to win but how much he believed they could have won, even without their star.

And speaking of American whiteboys, you know, I never seen Cooper Flagg play, but I hope he knows or learns how to scrap.  He's going to need that playing alongside the likes of AD and Klay.  Coming into the NBA as an American white, you're already an underdog.  That's one of the reasons, I believe, that Cooper has gone from being unanimously considered to be the next big thing to now analysts saying 'who knows how he'll pan out against the big guys'.  Learn from Alex Caruso; learn from McConnell my nigga.  A lack of athleticism can be mitigated by doggedness.

THE RISE OF THE TALL POINTGUARD

I'm sitting here ruminating over that stupid-ass Desmond Bane trade and thinking to myself that yes, the Magic could've used an upgrade at point, but they needed one more in the interior.  Pointguard is the most stacked position in the NBA, like the easiest one to fill with a proficient player.  Why?  Because more people are playing basketball these days, and most of us are normal-sized, not giants.

But on the surface, the NBA is getting taller, not shorter.  The game may have transitioned more towards the three, with guards traditionally being better shooters.  But now, as compared to the past, people no longer believe that really-tall dudes are like too dumb to dribble type shit.

If you look at this year's Finals, you'll see that Haliburton is listed at 6'5" and SGA 6'6".  Even looking at those dudes on TV, you can tell they're lengthy, like tall enough to reasonably play SF (in today's NBA).

Contrast this with back in the days, when tall points like Magic Johnson were considered anomalies.  Even into the 21st century, PGs like Shaun Livingston and Michael Carter-Williams stood out due to their height.  Now, we have a Finals with two tall starting points, and like no one even blinked twice.  Meanwhile, this may have been the first time in history something like that happened, i.e. both starting points being taller than 6'5".

Most of the PGs in the NBA are still short, relatively speaking, but maybe we're witnessing the start of something new.  It isn't unfathomable to imagine, say, Wemby and Holmgren one day being on the same team.  Lu Dort, at the 2 (and listed at 6'4") is the shortest starter in OKC.  Just something to think about, once again headed into next season.  If you want to beat these guys, throwing all your disposable assets at Desmond Bane (listed at 6'5", tho he obviously isn't that tall) probably isn't the (complete) answer.

SHOUTOUT TO JOSH GIDDEY

I always wonder how it feels to be a starter on a team, get traded, and then the very next season the team wins a championship, like what happened to DeMar DeRozan.  Well, the same thing just happened to Josh Giddey, whom the NBA world seems to have more or less forgotten about (probably by design, all things considered).  Those two situations were kinda different because, I don't think anyone would argue that DeRozan is better than Kawhi.  But with Giddey, it's not like Caruso isn't necessarily better - a better fit in OKC, yes, but probably not better all-around.

That was just one of a couple of shrewd moves the Thunder made last offseason to get to this point.  It'll be interesting to see what they do this summer, if anything, but even moreso with the Pacers.  I don't envy Indiana, because one of the worst predicaments you can be in as an NBA team chasing a championship is reliant on a superstar who is, well, unlucky health-wise.  It's funny because, if you would have asked me just a week ago, I was on the verge of even concluding that Tyrese is blessed type shit.  But this goes to show how you can't take nothing for granted.

2025 NBA Playoffs Ruminations (April 20)

There are 30 teams in the NBA and, through the Play-In system, over two-thirds of them get to more orr less participate in the Playoffs.  Whether or not that has contributed to parity, I mean you would logically think that it won't.  But it's like every matchup in this year's Playoffs is an exciting one, except maybe that Boston series, as you would very much expect the Magic to get their asses firrmly bust.

ORLANDO MAGIC

I don't particularly remember reading anything positive about the Magic this whole season.  Every headline was about like injuries or overcoming them, the latter in which is good thing, but.

Well surprise, after an injury-riddled season, these guys secured the 7th seed in the East.  So, like who knows.  But overall, being the least-popular team in the Playoffs doesn't really help your chances of pulling off an upset, besides having a similar playing style to your better-equipped adversary.

MIAMI HEAT

The Heat of course are the one organization in the entire NBA you should never sleep on.  They have a winning culture, the type in which good players get a chance to shine.  Besides that, I'm a big Davion Mitchell fan and wonder how he went from having a noteworthy rookie campaign to becoming a journeyman.

That said, they don't have the talent to beat the Cavs.  It's time like these that you need a Jimmy Butler.  But Tyler Herro, he's a beast in pretty-boy packaging.  I've been calling for the Lakers to get him for the longest, but I guess they did one better with Luka.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

Of course if you have teams with winning cultures, then their has to be those on the opposite end of the spectrum.  That would be the Kings.  On paper, they have like one of the best rosters in the league... but they're the Kings.

CHICAGO BULLS

Josh Giddey is going to have to learn to be more aggressive, like through an entire game type shit.  The ball has literally been placed in his hands, no SGA to overshadow him.  But, no offence, he probably can't because he's White and furthermore, from like Australia or some shit.

So with the Bulls, man, it's hard to maintain interest sometimes.  Now I sorta see why some teams are insistent on like having a franchise player, someone you can at least be like, you know what I mean?  At least we don't have to worry about that position anymore type shit.

ATLANTA HAWKS

More or less as expected, no one from the 2024 rookie class has stood out in terms of consistently generating national headlines.  But Zaccharie Risacher may still go down in history as one of the most underwhelming number one picks ever.

It's obvious though, at least to me, that Trae Young needs those type of linky, multi-faceted, speedy players around him, sorta like Caris LaVert but like better and more of them.  So at least the braintrust has a vision, I think.  But it's hard to believe that just like, what?, three or four or five seasons ago, this was the most-promising young team in the East.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

The Bucks got their asses soundly bust in Game 1, as to be expected.  I wonder if they wish they had Khris Middleton around now?  They're about to force Dame back from an injury which, like I don't know how serious that shit is, but if ain't, you know what I'm saying, get out there and earn those zillions my nigga, because without that additional firepower your team doesn't stand a chance.  Milwaukee has more or less retained their championship core, but Portis and Lopez are out their looking like anachronisms and shit.

INDIANA PACERS

So with that said, I'm not jumping on no Pacers' bandwagon.  They performed as expected against the one of the worst braintrusts in the NBA.  But the key to their success, imo, ultimately lies with Siakim.

DENVER NUGGETS

Sleep on Westbrook if you want.  Yeah, he does dumb shit sometimes, but so what?  He's a 6'10" unicorn trapped in a 6'3" body, so you should expect to do something stupid from time to time.

I still contend that the key to the Nuggets, the x-factor, is Aaron Gordon.  Sometimes, besides actually being one of the older teams out there, Denver looks like they may have chemistry or trust issues or whatever you want to call it.  Winning, esp against a quality team like the Clippers, may change that.  Or maybe we'll see what's really what once Murray inevitably goes down.

NEW YORK KNICKS

The Knicks are over-talented, which is why they can't maximize all of their pieces.  Also, I worry about Brunson's health, like how much A-list NBA production his body can take.

If they do go on to beat or even sweep Detroit, like, you know, dudes overachieved, but other times they still look like the Pistons we've all grown to ignore.  Plus, New York has Josh Hart, who has like a tireless, Rodman-like energy about him and is probably the Knicks' internal MVP.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Speaking of anachronisms, with Doncic around, Lebron has now become expendable.  By this point, since he's no longer sharp enough to consistently play defense in the post, you can't even say 'let him go back to the 4'.  You gotta remember, as ageless as LBJ may be, his Miami Heat days were over a decade ago.  So it seems like they're rather trying to force Luka down there more, which is stupid, because ultimately he's better at the 1 than even King James in his prime.

LAL has created a big hole in the middle that no one on their roster can fill and that they're going to have to spend a shitload of money to find someone who can (or gamble on a rookie).  In hindsight, it would have been wiser for both squads to have rather traded Lebron for Luka.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

I would say the Twolves are borderline contenders if not for their happy-go-lucky offensive strategy.  But these guys are big and relatively-sturdy at every position, if they want to field a lineup like that.  Shit like that, i.e. physicality, matters, and there's no reason why they shouldn't beat the Lakers.

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.

2024-2025 Offseason Grades (Northwest Division)

DENVER NUGGETS: A

I like to refer to Russell Westbrook as "the ScapeGOAT".  Pound-for-pound, he's perhaps the best player in NBA history in terms of overall skillset.  Yet every time a team he's on underperforms, it's Russell's fault.  That was even true after KD bounced on the Thunder even though, all things considered, there was no way they were going to win a championship after that.

I have a lot of respect for KCP.  He's obviously one of the better role players when it comes to palpably contributing.  But him being better than Russell Westbrook?  C'mon, man.

The Nuggets are a team which, besides Jamal Murray, tends to appear too lethargic at times.  Ideally, the energetic Westbrook will be able to mitigate that.

Dario Saric is also an underrated player.  And as for Christian Braun, at least now he'll really get a chance to prove himself, you know, like over the long term.  So I'm feeling what Denver has done this offseason.  If nothing else, they will give fans a slightly different look.  And you know, sometimes when you lose like they did in the postseason, trying to evolve is preferable to standing pat while key free agents bounce.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: D

Minnesota tore my heart out during the postseason, going that far and then losing to the Mavericks, even though the Wolves had the height and also arguably the depth advantage.

The issue, imo, is that Minny needs a faster, and let's say younger starting PG.  I'm pretty confident that Conley, back in his heyday, would have been able to more or less contain Luka (as best as anyone could), and he did have impact moments against Dallas here and there.  But what did Minnesota do instead of upgrading at the 1, or even overall for that matter?  Practically nothing in terms of offseason additions, at least not anything in terms of actually being a better team than they were last season, considering most notably that Kyle Anderson has bounced.

Seemingly, they're banking on the progression of Anthony Edwards, which isn't a bad thing considering his talent, athleticism, age and societal standing.  But let's just say that he seemed out it at certain points during the WCF.  So whatever it was that may have been bothering him, I hope that they focus more on that than, you know, making him practice more.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: A

I like Josh Giddey, if for no other than him being one of the more pleasant NBA players to look at.  But it became blatantly obvious during the postseason that his style of play doesn't mesh particularly well with the Thunder as a whole.  Or let me say that they don't really need him per se if SGA is healthy.  At times, during long stints on the court, Josh wasn't doing jacksh*t.  So replacing him with Caruso, who's effective off the ball, totally made sense.

More importantly, OKC needed help in the middle.  In most seasons, someone like Chet Holmgren would have prolly won ROY.  But it also seemed obvious that, you know, you don't want his skinnyass to be forced to bang downlow throughout an entire game.  So bringing in Hartenstein, the type of effective big who won't take the ball out of the hand of scorers, also makes sense.

And with that OKC, a team that was already in position to contend for a championship, had arguably the best offseason.  The only reason I didn't give them an A+ is because I don't want to get my hopes up too high to later eat my words, like I did last season.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS: C

In a manner of speaking the Blazers traded Damian Lillard, one of the best scorers ever, for Scoot Henderson, a young, unproven PG.  One thing I admire, after Henderson's less-than-stellar rookie campaign, is that at least Portland has remained committed to his development without changing direction.

Scoot is getting his chance, from the jump, to either prove a star or a bust.  None of that Markelle Fultz sideline sh*t.  But at the end of the day, if he does fail to impress, I'm not going to blame it on him, because they should've never thrown a suspect rookie PG in the fire like that to begin with.

If you can't be competitive as an NBA team, then at least be entertaining.  And the addition of Clingan, you know, he was like the second most-popular rookie in the draft and moreover plays a position that won't overlap with Scoot.

Also, it's not like Portland has a bad roster.  I would say that talent-wise, it's good enough to make the playoffs by default if they were in the East.  But potential lack of overall compatibility and talent being overly concentrated at certain positions seem to be other issues this team may have to contend with.

UTAH JAZZ: F

Remember a couple of seasons ago when the Jazz were overachieving but then proceeded to like intentionally tank?  This is why you don't do things like that.  There's no guarantee that once you develop a losing culture, you'll be able to overcome it.

That's not the reason I'm giving them an F though.  It's more because of these Markkanen trade rumors.  If those are true then, coupled with their less-than-impressive roster, it's like Utah have totally lost their direction or conviction from a couple of seasons ago.

I understand that rebuilding, if that's what Jazz is actually doing, usually takes time.  I also understand that they may be compelled to tank in hopes of landing Cooper Flagg, who's not only White (Utah's favorite color) but furthermore an actual American.  Like when is the last time a White American player generated such buzz?  But damn, in terms of last season and presumably this forthcoming one, what a way to let the fans down, especially for a braintrust led by Danny Ainge.

CONCLUSION

There really isn't much reason not to believe that OKC will once again be the best team in this division.  Their biggest deficiency last season was lack of size, to the point that they were prolly fortunate not to have faced Minnesota or Denver in the playoffs.  But now all of a sudden, they have one of the biggest frontcourts in the league.

SGA for President

A more accurate title for this post would have been "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP".  But "SGA for President" sounds better.

The thing about the MVP Award is that you can't have the same person winning year in and year out, even if they do deserve it.  This is something I learned back during the Jordan Era.

From 1991 to 1998, except for those a couple of seasons he more or less took off, there was no question that MJ was literally "the most-valuable player", not only in the NBA but sports in general.  But one of those years, the league gave it to Charles Barkley and during another, to Karl Malone.

I'm not going to sit here and try to imply that the "Round Mound of Rebound" and "the Mailman" didn't earn it.  But the point is that, there's politics behind these awards.  The type of players who perform at an MVP level tend to do so perennially.  So sometimes, instead of giving it to the same person, decisions have to be made based on other criteria, i.e. in the name of not appearing as if you're dickridin.

That's why I'm advocating SGA as MVP.  I'm not doing so not based on the argument that he's actually better Nikola Jokic or any of the other one or two top candidates this season.  The Thunder are a pretty talented team and would probably make the playoffs even without SGA.  And I knew it was only a matter of time before one of these really young squads transforms into a contender, considering how they're more energetic, and recent champions are aging.  I thought the Grizzlies' would reach that level before OKC, but things didn't quite turn out like that.

But even with phenoms like Giddey, Dort, Williams and I would say Holmgren especially in terms of pushing this team over the top, SGA is the alpha and the one who has proven that he can win games when need be.  And honestly, I think most of us were expecting the Thunder to gradually become better, not anticipating that they would conclude the season with the number one seed, even over the defending champions, in the highly-competitive West.

SGA has already been in the MVP conversation for a couple of seasons, so might as well give him his flowers.  Like, you can't take sh*t for granted.  A couple of seasons ago, when Jokic won his first MVP, the award should've rather gone to Chris Paul.  And since then, CP3's game has never been quite the same.

The funny thing is, given Embiid's injuries, there probably really isn't anyone else really in the MVP conversation, outside of SAG and Jokic, besides for maybe Luka, Brunson or, if you really want to go there, AD.  The Celtics have become so well balanced that even though they have the best record and will likely take the East, it's hard to single out Tatum as the league's MVP.  So this season definitely doesn't feel like others in recent memory, where you'd may have five or even more viable MVP candidates.

CONCLUSION\

The Thunder are one of my favorite teams to watch.  I like Josh Giddey, because he's a pretty Whiteboy who looks like he should be on a fashion runway or album cover rather than leading fastbreaks.  I like Chet Holmgren, because he's dumb tall, visibly so even, but also multi-faceted and an impactual rookie.  I like Lu Dort, because on TV he looks too short and stocky to be in the NBA.  But most of all, I like SGA. 

I still remember when he was a rookie.  Shai was a number 11 pick, not someone you'd expect to one day be an MVP.  He wasn't one of the players who people were talking about going into that draft.  So it's like, give props where props are due.

Jokic, who by the way wasn't drafted until the second round(!), has too many accomplishments to still be considered a cinderella (lol).  The other usual suspects, like Lebron, Giannis and Steph, didn't represent like that this year.  So now, it's time to finally move on to the next big story, either SGA or Luka.  And with the Thunder having secured the number one seed, the decision is sort of a no-brainer.