2026 Playoffs Elimination Ruminations: Suns, Blazers, Hawks, Nuggets

PHOENIX SUNS (0-4)

Whether or not the Suns' season was a success is a matter of debate.  They fielded what many considered to be a mediocre roster yet were arguable, throughout most of the season at least, the NBA's most surprisingly-good team.  But then, during the postseason, they proved to be more or less a scrimmage team for the defending champions to warm up against.

I think Phoenix plays too much iso.  Their offense doesn't look like it has any type of discernible strategy.  Some other teams are able to get away with that style of play, but the Suns aren't that all-around talented.

The bigger issue - like I don't now what happened to Mark Williams, but they need more of an interior presence obviously, especially on defense.

I would imagine that, given their current roster, the Suns have some money to spend.  So it'll be interesting to see what they do during the offseason.  And besides a big, this team could really benefit from like a Jrue Holiday, i.e. a PG that actually knows how to run a team.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (1-4)

I'm not going to say that Scoot Henderson is a bust, but it's obvious, at least to me, that he isn't a starter.  Still waiting for a highly-touted rookie to breakout after three seasons doesn't sound like a wise bet.

So basically, the Blazers traded Scoot for Dame, reacquired the latter, and it's very much possible that next season, Lillard will be starting over Henderson.  That doesn't sound like efficient braintrusting, but then again, neither does hiring a coach who rigs poker games.  And Portland should've known that, unless you're drafting Iverson or some shit, you don't just throw young PGs in the fire like that.

Avidja is a tough, drive-oriented(?) allstar but someone who can benefit from having a teammate more formidable than Robert Williams III or Donovan Clingan downlow.  I'm not dissing either one of them, but you know what I mean.  The Blazers are a wing-oriented team, but their Gs and Fs aren't talented and deep enough to really shake anyone.

Also, how about a round of applause for Holiday?  Dude is old AF in NBA years yet was Portland's best player for at least a couple of games.  He's the consummate professional who, despite his pedigree, doesn't demand to be on a contender and competes, even on a lowly squad like the Blazers.

On one hand, I'm hoping that next season he ends up on a team that can better use his services.  Time isn't really on his side type shit.  But on the other, I'm looking forward to seeing the level-headed, defensive specialist Jrue playing alongside the more sporadic and offensively-talented Dame.  Few backcourts would have balance like that.

ATLANTA HAWKS (2-4)

Even if Atlanta had won the First Round, which for a second there I thought they might, that wouldn't have negated the fact that the Knicks are a much better team.  NYK - as I have said numerous times before - has the most talented starting five in the league, even moreso than the Thunder.

The Hawks traded away Clint Capela - who isn't what he used to be - earlier this season, but now you see the folly in just discarding bigs like that.  They could have at least used a bigger body to throw at the likes of KAT, Robinson and even Anunoby.  Currently, it looks like the biggest guy on this squad is Jonathan Kuminga.  That isn't going to cut it, now that the NBA is trending semi-interior again.

And speaking of busts, what's up with Risacher?  Apparently he isn't injured, yet I didn't even hear his name mentioned this postseason.

Granted, the 2024 Draft has yet to produce any truly exceptional player (besides maybe Stephon Castle), but the Hawks dropped the ball on that one.  They could've at least tried to like trade the pick or something.  And I'm not dissing Zaccharie or anything, but he was amazingly ineffective for a number-one pick.

That said, I can imagine Trae Young got a kick out of seeing his former team get their asses bust like that.  That Game 6 loss is going to linger all the way into next season, even though the Hawks were no match for an inspired Knicks' team.  So it'll be interesting to see how the braintrust adjusts and tries to boost morale during the offseason.  It should probably start with shipping Risacher out who, if nothing else, would arguably benefit from a change of scenery (perhaps even back to Europe).

DENVER NUGGETS (2-4)

All things considered, the Nuggets losing to the Timberwolves isn't overly surprising.  What is is the fact that they lost even though Minnesota didn't have Edwards (and DiVincenzo).  So it's almost like Denver's starters got outclassed by the Wolves' second team.

I don't know what's up with Aaron Gordon.  Apparently he wasn't injured, i.e. unable to play but still proved to be a nonfactor.  Jokic + Murray, imo, are like the best inside-out combination of the 2020s, but Gordon is the x-factor.  When's he unable to play or whatever, it's like Denver loses its grit.

Nikola does get into his fair share of fights, perhaps more than any other player in the league, but he isn't known as a shit-talker media wise.  So the fact that he's been so vocal after Denver was eliminated says a lot, that now, finally a rebuild of sorts is inevitable.  I love Aaron, but he isn't consistent enough these days.  So Giannis, anyone?  I can also sorta picture Kawhi in the equation.

The Nuggets have one of the better braintrusts, so it's unlikely they make a nonprogressive move two offseasons in a row.  Trading Porter Jr. for Cam Thomas, in hindsight, was a mistake.  This isn't a knock against Cam, even though Michael has since proven himself the better all-around player.  It's a knock against the coaching staff for (under)utilizing him the same way they did Porter, i.e. having one of the tallest guys on the court constantly perched behind the 3-point line.  Jokic and the gang have slowly come to realize that they're not going to win again using the same strategy (and players) from 2023.  And speaking of coaches, I bet Mike Malone is getting a kick out of this also.

NBA Power Stinkings (October 2025, Part 2)

This is the second half of the list, meaning that we're now dealing with the teams that performed better during this early part of the season.

16. UTAH JAZZ (3-4)

The Jazz are bucking the system by first of all going big and secondly starting three Whites - bold moves, albeit ones that have yet to translate to notable winning, though things could be worse.  A lot of hope was obviously placed in Ace Bailey, who made all types of noise during the offseason but has yet to make headlines for his on-court production as a pro.  So now, I agree with a report I read a couple of days ago, that Sexton is looking like the one who got away.  He was traded for Jusuf Nurkic, another big White guy though in his case one whom the Jazz apparently don't need.

17. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (4-3)

The Timberwolves are too talented to be garbage, but it's hard for me to get excited about this team, especially considering that they failed to make upgrades (while concurrently losing a key player) this past offseason.  I don't want to use the word fluke, but every time they make the WCF, it's like the other team proves that Minny doesn't belong.  Fans may be expecting or hoping that AE's game takes another leap, but I think he's already more or less reached his ceiling, which isn't a bad thing in his case, but you shouldn't expect him to power a team to the Finals in the West.  So it's like now, the braintrust has to step up and prove their worth, which will be hard since, to my understanding, the ownership is frugal.  Maybe when Anthony does come back, he'd be willing to play more of a secondary, complementary role.

18. NEW YORK KNICKS (4-3)

Generally speaking, the East has always been weak in the post-Jordan NBA.  Now arguably the two most-impactful players in the conference, Tatum and Haliburton, are injured, and the Knicks still appear unable to capitalize.

I don't think there's any one person to blame, but if I were to scapegoat somebody, it'd probably be KAT.  That's not a dig against Towns but rather the braintrusts he's played for, who never seem able to effectively put a roster around him that can mitigate his shortcomings, or however you want to put it.

NYK was supposed to build on the momentum of last (off)season and come into this one hot and hungry.  None of the key dudes on this roster, besides Anunoby, has ever won a ring (I think), and they haven't lost any of their keys pieces from 2024-25.  Maybe dudes really did need Thibs to keep a fire lit under their asses.  Anyway, I agree with Draymond that, as it currently stands, there really isn't any reason for opponents to fear the Knicks.

19. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (4-3)

Yes, I ranked the Blazers lower on the Power Stinkings than the Knicks.  Even devoid of the leadership of Chauncey "X-Ray" Billups, Portland has managed to establish and thus far maintain a non-losing record - something which honestly, I don't remember ever happening when X-Ray was around.

It's been awhile since I heard of Scoot Henderson, and I don't want to call him a bust, but the writing is kinda on the wall.  The hype can help, but it can also hurt.

20. MIAMI HEAT (4-3)

The loss of Terry "Lil Chauncey" Rozier stings, but I'm still expecting the Heat to overachieve, maybe even beat the Knicks in the Playoffs.  I just noticed that Herro isn't around, and once he does show up, that should be a boost.  Miami is currently starting twin towers, but once Tyler returns, maybe Ware, still a work in development, will return to the bench.  That'll give the Heat something like two formidable Cs, i.e. a quality(?) 5 on the court at all times, which is a luxury most teams don't have.

21. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (4-3)

The Warriors are still my favorite team to watch, even though I don't know half of the dudes on the roster these days.  Steph, you can see some nights he's not as vibrant as in days past, but you have to give it to dude - who's not only aged but has also won like every accolade imaginable - for at least retaining the competitive spirit into his late 30s.  If healthy, this is perhaps the one team in the entire West who opponents wouldn't want to run into come postseason.

22. DENVER NUGGETS (4-2)

As far as players are concerned, Bruce Brown returning to the Nuggets, imo, was the feel-good story entering this season.  But now looking at his production, he's sorta giving off that Westbrook, too-aggressive-for-his-own-good kinda vibe.

As for Cameron Johnson, he's more or less morphed into Porter Jr. 2.0, which I guess is sorta the plan, but still.  There's only so much ball (and space) to go around, and while I've been dogging Porter all these years, maybe he was forced into that mold by the Nuggets' structure.

23. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (5-3)

I like how the Bucks have started this season, as a team with championship pedigree, even though the roster is mediocre.  I still wish that Dame experience would've worked out, but it's time to move on already, even if those types of experiments mean your roster may be under par for awhile.

But of course, I'm not dissing anybody.  As a professional, you have to be ready even if unexpectedly the spotlight is thrust upon you.  It looks like a lot of unknowns will be making names for themselves (across the league) this season.  And of course there's Giannis who, even in the age of disgruntled, diva-like, ring-chasing superstars, remains the pride and heart of this small market team.  Shit like that can take you far, especially in the East.

24. HOUSTON ROCKET (4-2)

I haven't really been following the Rockets, but I guess, judging by their record, their starting to live up to expectations after a shaky start.  In effect, they gained Durant but lost both Jalen Green and VanVleet, and that's besides Dillon Brooks.  So the question remains, is this roster actually better than last season?  At least now, with KD signing that extension, you'd expect them to keep this cast together for a couple of season rather than doing any(more) rash shuffling.

25. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (5-2)

The Sixers have thus far exceeded expectations as far as I'm concerned.  Only those who made the decision actually know why they signed Paul George, as it was questionable from the jump whether he would contribute anything noteworthy on the court.  And now PG13 has been reduced to a non-factor, literally, as in the team may not even need him when he finally is playable.

26. DETROIT PISTONS (5-2)

I haven't heard much of the Pistons, and that may be a good thing.  Judging by their record, they're the only team in the East who had a notable postseason that has been able to pickup where they left off, and that's despite losing a couple of key role players.  All things considered, this may be the top team in the conference to actually fear.

27. LOS ANGELES LAKERS (6-2)

I'll admit that I wasn't expecting much from LAL entering this season, but there are a couple of things to consider.  For instance, after utterly failing at roster construction over the past couple of seasons, they somehow managed to nab two of the top three picks from the impressive 2018 Draft.  Ayton may never be a Hall of Famer, but he isn't a bum neither, and Los Angeles has always thrived when they had good Cs.

I wonder if LBJ, when he returns, will negatively alter the chemistry this team is building?  Sometimes, the team alpha being hurt is good thing, and that may be especially true, all things considered, with the current iteration of Lebron and LAL.  Hopefully when he comes back, he'll be more committed to fitting into the established mode (and playing D) rather than point-chucking.

28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (5-1)

The Spurs have arguably the most domination-able player in the league, who's part of a young, hungry roster with at least one quality vet beside them.  There's still though something missing that doesn't make them team feel like contenders.  Maybe they're too young, inexperience and unproven.

Idk what the team's financial situation looks like, but if they have considerable dough to spare, San Antonio should be looking to add another vet, a borderline superstar even, sooner rather than later.

29. OKC THUNDER (8-0)

I haven't been overanalyzing this team, who they've been playing against and stuff like that, but I'll admit them going this far undefeated without Jalen Williams is impressive.  The Thunder are giving off that 'I know I'm better than you' type of confidence, which is like half the battle type shit.  They're not playing like they're trying to repeat; they're playing like they want other teams to prove their better, if so.  That may be the SGA factor because remember, at the start of his career no one was expecting him to one day be MVP.

30. CHICAGO BULLS (6-1)

When you look at the Bulls' roster, you know what I mean?  There's not a proven allstar among them.  Yet here they sit, on top of the East, which is something I would have never predicted, even for a single day, a month ago.  In the blink of an eye, Chicago has gone from 'who gives AF' to must-watch.  And the reason we must watch, if they maintain this standard, is to try to figure out why they keep winning.

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.

2024-25 NBA Mid-Season Grades

I've been neglecting this blog and in large part the NBA itself.  I haven't watched an actual game this entire season, and I only watched highlights once, of a Lakers' match a couple of months ago.  So as usual, take what I'm saying with a grain of salt.  Some of my predictions are more or less spot on, prophetic even.  Others, not so much.  In fact, instead of ruminating on teams outright, I'm going to go back to the predictions and gradings I made before the season began to see if they have or appear to be on the verge of coming true.

Back in August and September, I gave every team a offseason grade, based on the transactions they did (or didn't) make over the summer.  This was besides making predictions on how they would fare this season.  I don't mind gloating when I'm right, so I can't be afraid to take it on the chin when I'm wrong.  With that said:

ATLANTA HAWKS (19-19): B

OFFSEASON GRADE: F

The Hawks have come out a lot better than I expected them to, and on some nights, the media even talks about them as if they're formidable.  Most of the news coming out the ATL still centers around Trae Young.  He's another player who I can kinda imagine on the Lakers.

'Hey, I'm making a gazillion dollars a year - f*ck a championship'.  If that's his disposition, then by all means, stay in Atlanta.

Otherwise, it may be time for a scene change.  The way ATL is like constantly flipping their roster, it may get more interesting but never actually better.  Letting Collins go was more significant or symbolic than a lot of people realized, because was he even actually the problem?

BOSTON CELTICS (27-11): B+ 

OFFSEASON GRADE: B

The Celtics aren't invulnerable, and their record, as impressive as it may be, reflects that.  But one thing they do have going for them, obviously, is favoritism from the powers-that-be.  And it's also clear that certain media organizations are pushing the idea of Tatum as MVP, whether he actually deserves it or not.  I remember predicting a couple of years ago myself, even before Boston won a championship, that Tatum may one day win MVP, but it shouldn't be because of some colorism, dickridin type shit.  He may not even be the best player in Boston.

BROOKLYN NETS (13-25): B

OFFSEASON GRADE: F

The Nets suck, but the way the NBA is currently designed, they may make the play-ins and who knows, even the playoffs.  But they're supposed to be tanking or something like that.

Recently, the Nets re-acquired D'Angelo Russell.  Readers of this blog know that trading him to begin with was a move I strongly criticized.  Brooklyn, instead of being patient and building on the foundation Russell helped establish, instead decided to go star chasing.  They've smarted for it and now stand as a warning to other teams that decide to take the feening route.  Bringing Russell back now feels like too little, too late.  But this team deserves a B because with their current record and the hand they'd be dealt this season, they're actually overachieving on the standings.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS (8-27): B

OFFSEASON GRADE: D

The Hornets suck, like as bad as they've ever been.  But they have reason to celebrate because it appears that the team's star, LaMelo Ball, may actually be an allstar starter, if it were up to the fans at least.  This is despite Charlotte having a woeful .229 winning percentage, and Ball, though relatively healthy, missing like a third of their games thus far.  The Hornets should also be officially patting themselves on the back for not giving in to the pressure to draft Scoot Henderson last season, even though it's appearing that Brandon Miller may not necessarily be a model of health either.

CHICAGO BULLS (18-20): B 

OFFSEASON GRADE: B+

It feels like the Bulls are better than last season and not only that but are generating more interest.  That may in large part be due to Coby White, who honestly I thought at one point was overrated.  His emergence makes the idea of parting with Zach LaVine more tolerable.

Speaking of which, I'm still hoping LaVine somehow makes it to the Lakers this very season.  I believe in Cinderellas and shit like that, I guess, but expecting Chicago to make any type of noise in the postseason feels like a stretch.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (33-4): A+

OFFSEASON GRADE: A-

The Cavs are a team who I felt suffered from lack of NBA favoritism over the past couple of seasons.  If that is in fact the case, their current record doesn't reflect it, though we won't really know until playoff time.

Evan Mobley, whom readers of this blog know I always strongly believed in, is finally representing.  With Embiid more or less being washed, there's no other team in the East I can think of with that type of long, skinny, semi-traditional big type of player.  Evan doesn't appear to have the athleticism of a Giannis or Wemby.  But being a more stationary player, esp when you're a big, has it's advantages also.

The way I see it, the only team really standing in the way of Cleveland making the Finals is Boston.  The best thing about this squad is that as their young star rises, on any given night a number of their other stars, i.e. Mitchell or Garland or even a sixth man, can take the lead.  And remember that this roster is also youthful in general and furthermore one that doesn't really have major injury issues, at least not like some other teams. 

DALLAS MAVERICKS (22-16): B+

PRESEASON GRADE: C

The Mavs making the Finals last season, imo, was a fluke, and they were ultimately exposed by a team who for the most part didn't even have their starting C available.

Thus far, they've more or less performed as expected (by me) this season, being an above-average WC team but not one of the elite.  Then again, wasn't that the same story last season, until playoff time came around?

I'm starting to lose hope that Luka Doncic will ever win MVP.  In terms of actual skills, he's arguably the most naturally-talented player in the NBA.  But he doesn't have the durability.

That said, Dallas has done a pretty good job in terms of assembling a roster to try to mitigate that issue.  There's other braintrusts out there, employed by teams with a regularly-injured star, who never seem to figure out a way to cover those inconsistencies.  Kyrie simultaneously has his health issues, but this squad has remained respectable.  So that B+, imo, is really a testament to their braintrust.

DETROIT PISTONS (20-19): A

OFFSEASON GRADE: C-

In the world of professional sports - or let's say the NBA in particular - once a team develops a losing standard, like there's no telling when they'll overcome it.  Usually, things change after they draft that special someone.  Whether or not Cunningham is that one, like I don't think the world is wholly convinced.  But he does put up stats and has proven to be a player Detroit can build around, so to speak.

For a couple of seasons, I've been recommending, as difficult as it may be, that they try to land a star vet.  Instead, dudes went out and basically acquired a bunch of veteran role players.  And that strategy has paid off.

The Pistons have come to realize, sooner than a lot of other teams would, that youth movements don't work unless you draft a number of star rookies like in succession.  So kudos to their braintrust for not suffering the fans any longer with a young-yet-promising team that wasn't winning.

DENVER NUGGETS (22-15): A- 

OFFSEASON GRADE: A

The Nuggets may not be as intimidating as they have been in recent years, but I would still imagine this is a team that no one really wants to face in the playoffs.  They have two of the top five players - if not the top two - when it comes to the ability to produce triple-doubles.  And their record isn't that bad, considering the injury issues and all.  With Westbrook around, this squad has more versatility than perhaps any other in the league. 

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (19-19): B 

OFFSEASON GRADE: C

The Warriors aren't that good but earned a B for at least being competitive.  Like I still don't think any team can look at the Dubs as an easy out, not with Steph still around, and Hield occasionally repping at the 2.

The loss of Slo Mo, from way back in the beginning of the season, like we never got to see how well he would mesh in Golden State, but I have to presume it was a major loss.  That said, even though you may not be able to take Warriors ability to win for granted, by the looks of things they'll be lucky to even make the play-ins.

HOUSTON ROCKETS (25-12): A+

OFFSEASON GRADE: C

Out of all of the teams to prove my preseason predictions wrong, the Rockets are at the top of the list.  I not only saw issues with their roster but also a lack of favoritism from the powers-that-be.  But there they are, currently standing at second in the West. 

I was clearly wrong about their roster compatibility and owe Fred VanVleet - for what it's worth - an apology.  But in terms of how far the NBA will allow them to go, that remains to be seen.

INDIANA PACERS (21-18): C

OFFSEASON GRADE: B

It's been months since I heard of the Pacers, another fluke team from last season's playoffs.  You know dudes are a fluke when the following season they fail to represent, even though they're not old nor had any major roster losses.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (20-17): A

PRESEASON GRADE: B

One thing about the Clippers, even if they are stuck in time with Kawhi, is that at least they play up to their talent level.  The biggest name on the team is the Beard, who will likely never make an all-star team again.  But you can't sleep on these guys.  And I guess if Leonard did come back, though I'm not expecting him to for any significant duration, that would send them to another level.

Back in the old days, teams always made sure they had a serviceable, big-bodied C.  Now, it's like you have a few squads with exceptional centers, and the rest trying to play really fast.

LAC is another team that, since the De'Andre Jordan era, don't seem to really care about securing an exceptional big, taking nothing away from anyone they already have rostered.  But with teams like Minnesota, Denver and OKC out there, it's hard to imagine the Clippers going far without more size and without Kawhi.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (20-16): B

PRESEASON GRADE: D

Man, do I love/hate the Lakers.  I want to say something awful about them, but oh shit, they're actually at 20 and 16 (against my expectations).  Like their record is better than their roster is.

One thing I always say about LAL is that, at least they have the powers-that-be on their side.  I don't know how true that may or may not have been this season, but it's like when the Lakers win, we all win.

That said, I'm presuming it's going to take a miracle, or some really rigorous fixin', to get them anywhere near the WCF, unless --- oh shit, Zach LaVine!  Maybe with someone like that on the roster, perhaps Lebron "Rushmore" James will finally feel comfortable enough to focus more exclusively on  playing to his size rather then chuckin' to his team's detriment.  He recently criticized dudes' style of play, but he was one of the main players who ushered in the too-many-threes era, and the last time I remember seeing him play, King James was still chuckin.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (25-14): A

OFFSEASON GRADE: F

The Grizzlies had what appeared to be an underwhelming offseason, which caused me to give them an F in that regard.  However, what's now become evident is that the team didn't really need major upgrades (in terms of trades or free agents).

Ja Morant is still doing his thing, I guess, but his popularity has taken a nosedive since all of the scandals.  Idk who's currently the favorite for ROY, but Zach Edey appears to be the only rookie on my radar who's actually making a winning contribution to his team.  And as far as recent free agents go, Pippen Jr. has proven to be a solid signing.

That said, it's hard to imagine Memphis coming out of this season as champions.  This team still looks like they could use another star or above-average player.  But who knows?  Maybe Marcus Smart will finally prove to be the one, and the Grizzlies' braintrust will come out looking like geniuses.  The drafting of Edey now looks like a masterful move.

MIAMI HEAT: C-

PRESEASON GRADE: D+

The Heat are doing pretty good, all things considered.  It's unusual for this team, with its solid and respected braintrust, to have a star publicly demand a trade.  But Jimmy is one of those transient, noncommittal types, so it was only a matter before he got tired of like not winning.

If there's any team who could pull off a Cinderella, it's the Heat.  So one thing I always ask in these situations is will the team Butlerr eventually land on be any better?  Or will it be one of those ugly Kawhi situations where dude is like benched or at home indefinitely, until his organization figures things out?

Either way, the Heat are not stupid, nor are they known for being hasty. If they do move Butler, chances are they'll be just as good, if not better, than they currently are.  It isn't like Jimmy has necessarily been making headlines in terms of winning them games this season.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (20-6): B

OFFSEASON GRADE: B-

Slowly but surely, it feels like Dame + Giannis are figuring things out.  But this doesn't feel like a roster that can take time granted.

I just discovered Kris Middleton is back and obviously working his way back into form, as usual type shit.  Dame + Giannis is a dream pairing, but the rest of the roster for the most part leaves something to be desired.

You can't really call Milwaukee a superteam, even though they're sorta built like one.  These situations are complex, increasingly so due to the way the league stipulates things like trades and the money involved.  Even though I was a strong advocate of the above pairing, bringing Dame over now feels like too little too late.  Or let me say that whereas the Bucks' braintrust was savvy enough to land him, they failed in terms of adjusting the rest of the roster to his presence.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (20-17): C+ 

PRESEASON GRADE: D

The Timberwolves have their franchise player in Anthony Edwards, but it's like they don't have a set identity yet.  It's like they held onto KAT longer than they should have.  So now it sorta feels like they're trying to figure things out without him being around.

Mike Conley, I'm not trying to scapegoat him or anything, but his presence feels sorta anachronistic. Or let me say if anything, given the talent around him, dude should be averaging more assists.  But it's like I haven't seen Minnesota play this season.  And based on what I observed last year in the playoffs, they don't really play a traditional PG style anyway, like at all.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (8-31): F

PRESEASON GRADE: B-

I wanted to give these dudes an F minus, like an H or some shit.  There's no way you could have convinced me that a team with Zion + McCollum + Ingram + Dejounte would be at the bottom of their conference(!) midway through the season.

Maybe the time has come to put the Ingram trade rumors to rest.  The last thing an organization this disappointing needs is further distractions.  He's arguably been their most consistent star of the decade, but dude keeps getting scapegoated.

Sometimes, the way I see it, these problems of being over-talented can be mitigated by a respected, pass-first PG.  But I don't think there's anymore of them around besides maybe Ben "the Pariah" Simmons.

The one good thing about New Orleans is that, at least in theory, they have more quality trade chips than any other team.  But again that's in theory, because as we speak, three of their Big 4 are on the injured list.  They have four players who are like borderline allstars, but the best player currently on their team is arguably the relatively-unknown Trey Murphy III.

Is there actually such a thing as a losing culture, when an organization is so accustomed to missing the mark that they continue to do so, even when, on paper, they shouldn't?  If there is, I would have to say the Pelicans exemplify that standard.  Either that, or they have like really bad luck.

NEW YORK KNICKS (25-14): A

OFFSEASON GRADE: B+

I really didn't approve of the Knicks trading for KAT at the last moment, especially considering that they gave up what's his name, DiVincenzo in the process.  That really sucked, because he was a hero for NYK last season.  So I'm still looking forward to that decision coming back to bite NYK in the ass.

I won't go as far as to say that KAT is overrated, but I didn't feel he was the type of center NY needed.  That said, I was apparently wrong.  Or in the very least the Knicks got their own version of Kristaps Porzingis and now appear to be more or less equal with the Celtics.  Too bad though that now it's looking like the Cavs may be better than both of them.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (31-6): A+ 

OFFSEASON GRADE: A

The Thunder are generally considered to be the best team in the NBA.  I was sorta shocked that they lost to the Mavs last postseason.  But now, whether true or not, it feels like the West is theirs to lose.

ORLANDO MAGIC (22-18): A-

OFFSEASON GRADE: B

It may be a long time coming before the Magic are once again a national TV team, but these guys continue to impress.  Their two main scorers are out, but they've managed to maintain a respectable record and currently first place in their division.

I'm not anticipating any of that translating into postseason success beyond what they achieved last year, but who knows.  If there's any team in the East who can pull off some dark horse shit, I guess that would be Orlando.  And that fact is pretty impressive in and of itself, considering that just a couple of years ago they were like garbage.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (15-21): D

OFFSEASON GRADE: C

It feels kinda unfair giving the Sixers a D, because with a big 3 featuring Embiid and George, two always-injured stars, who like no one should have expected them to go far with.  And when I say no one, I especially mean Philly's braintrust, who should have known better.

Maybe their banking on that increasingly common hopefully-they'll-be-healthy-for-the-playoffs strategy.  I tend to refer to the Clippers as the Sixers of the West, but now it feels more like Philly is the LAC of the east(?).

PHOENIX SUNS (17-19): F

PRESEASON GRADE: F

Looks like I may have been spot on with this one, champs.  The Suns' current record ain't that bad, and there's still time to turn things around.  But their showing thus far is not becoming of their talent level.

Crying over the split milk is a recurring theme in this blog, and Phoenix should have never given CP3 up.  If you have a superteam, the most important player is arguably the PG and/or glue guy.  Think Rondo on the '08 Celtics.  You have these chucks, KD and Beal and, oh my gosh, Booker, so who's responsible for distributing the ball between them?

Oh well, at least it looks like Durant will once again be an all-star starter.  In other words, at least the Suns are an interesting watch.

PORTLAND TRAILBLZERS (13-24): D

OFFSEASON GRADE: C

The Blazers were expected to suck this season, and sure enough there they linger, near the bottom of the (Western) standings.  I don't really know what's going on with this team, because they rarely get a mention on news sites.

I like beating dead horses, so let me say that their current complete lack of relevancy all goes back to the Damian Lillard trade of last year.  The Bucks are now appearing as if they're finally getting their shit together.  Contrastingly, I think it's now been more or less proven, as I argued all the way from the get-go, that even if Scoot didn't enter the NBA too early, he had too much responsibility thrust on him - being expected to fill the shoes of Dame - too soon.  Like who knows if he'll ever be that good even if they had exercised patience with him?

SACRAMENTO KINGS (19-19): D+

OFFSEASON GRADE: B

Most of the time when the Kings make the headlines, it isn't anything particularly good, like an injury.  There's been talk of De'Aaron Fox bouncing soon or whatever.  Things like that don't really excite me because if there's one position the NBA in general is most-talented at, it's prolly PG.  Someone like Fox, as good as he is, has only made the all-star team once, as an injury replacement.  That's how many quality PGs there are out there.

This squad was expected to fare better than their current record shows.  The thing about the Kings is that there's always that feeling they can turn things around.  Their roster is above-average, and I think the color of their uniforms also have something to do with it.

That said, the NBA has once again become such that the West is the dominant the conference.  And it's like hard to imagine these dudes suddenly standing out amongst the rest of the conference.  This is a team that would have done really good in the 90s.

I'm still imagining Sabonis being paired with a dominant C, like what almost happened in Philly.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (18-19): B+

OFFSEASON GRADE: A

I was surprised that Wemby isn't closer to the top of allstar fan voting, that KD and Jokic remain more popular than he is.  All things considered, that would likely change if like the Spurs were more competitive.  They've definitely progressed, but dudes need to at least like make the play-ins type shit.

That would embarrassing to other, more established and respected teams, if the less-talented Spurs knocked them out of a play-in spot.  But it would be a testament to Wembanyama's basketball greatness. And who knows?  Make the playoffs with a player like that, and anything can potentially happen.

TORONTO RAPTORS (8-29): F 

OFFSEASON GRADE: C

The Raptors are another disappointing team, albeit one that no one really had high expectations for this season anyway.  I always felt that Scottie Barnes was overrated, no disrespect to him, because it ain't like he overrated himself.  I believe that Toronto went into this season at least expecting to make the playoffs.  I would presume doing so is still possible mathematically but not likely.

Remember when the Raptors used to be like perennial borderline contenders?  Their braintrust isn't half bad, but it's like it's going to take them a solid decade to get over the departure of Kawhi.

UTAH JAZZ: (9-26): F

PRESEASON GRADE: F

The Jazz really suck, in a way that's not to expected from a Danny Ainge team.  The general belief is that they're tanking in the name of landing Cooper Flagg.  So it would really suck ass if they still don't land in the draft position to get him, or if Flagg is not as good as some as predicting.

That said, I think fans in Utah have more or less grown accustomed to being home of a underachieving NBA team, or one led by whiteboys who can't compete with the upper echelons of the league.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS (6-30): F

OFFSEASON RANKING: B+

We all knew the Wizards were going to suck, but having the worst record in the league is like a new low type shit.  Their roster isn't as bad as their record.  And as for my boy Jordan Poole, he's playing consistently and averaging almost 22pts/game.  But, let's just say he's not as popular as LaMelo Ball.  And if dude wants to raise his status, the team has to start winning also.  Oh well, at least he got that one championship with the Dubs, who never should have traded him to begin with.

CONCLUSION

I'm wary of putting too much faith in OKC, considering how they kinda disappointed me last season.  But they're a young team that actually made a couple of wise roster moves over the offseason, one in which a lot of lesser squads weren't making wise decisions at all.  And as expected, they look even better than they did in 2023-24.  Like it'd be a shame if they flunk out once again, though there is quality competition out West, with the team they should perhaps be worried about most being the Nuggets.

Out East, remember that the Cavs started off 15-0, and it was the Celtics who ended that streak.  So Cleveland, as good as they may be, can't take things for granted.  But also remember that the Cavs have continuity which, though not much respected these days, is still a major factor.  The Knicks are also stiff competition.  But as it currently stands, I'd likewise be disappointed if Spider and co. fail to take the East.

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.

NBA Musings 231113 - Don't Forget About the Cavs

I'll be honest and say that I forgot to mention the Cavaliers in my last post while delineating the few teams that actually have the size to counteract the Nuggets.  It's like sometimes, I forget the Cavs even exist.  But I was reminded of their existence when they recently defeated the Warriors for the second time in as many weeks.  And one of the players who stood out was Evan Mobley who, btw, is visibly taller than anyone in the Dubs' rotation.

Although I can't find the link at the moment, Mobley was recently criticized, if I remember correctly, by a prominent member of the Cavs' braintrust, due to inability to shoot.  The argument was that, since Jarrett Allen likewise can't do so, then it doesn't pay to have two non-shooting bigs on the same squad, especially as starters.  That's how thinking is in today's NBA.  It's like shooting is even prioritized over defense which, all things considered, shouldn't be.

So perhaps Cleveland should be more focused on maximizing what they have as opposed to conforming to the makeup of other rosters.  Ideally, you fight fire with water, not fire with fire.  And with that in mind, in theory the Cavs are just as much in position to win the East as anyone else.  The Celtics may be better on the perimeter but not in the interior.  And as for the Sixers, having two quality defensive bigs to throw at Joel Embiid is definitely better than having just one.

KNICKS STARTING TO WIN AGAIN(?)

Last season I criticized the Knicks, reasserting that Randle was their alpha, and immediately after he went on a tear, and the team started winning.  I did the same thing a few days ago, and since then NYK has won three straight, even though all three of the teams they beat - the Spurs, Clippers and Hornets - are, as it currently stands, suspect.

Now, it is becoming more obvious that NYK's x-factor is RJ Barrett.  I'll be honest and say that for awhile there, I was starting to believe that dude was a bust or, in the very least, overrated.  But he keeps getting better.  And now, it's not unreasonable to speculate that Barrett may even be an allstar soon.

I also kinda slept on Immanuel Quickley, believing that he had already hit his ceiling.  Even from the time he was a rookie, Quickley, imo, has always been above-average in his position as backup PG.  But now it's like he's developed into a legitimate threat, someone that opposing teams have to be mindful of.

That said, it remains to be seen how the Knicks fare against teams that actually have their shit together.

SHOUTOUT TO TYRESE MAXEY

I was able to perceive Tyrese Maxey's superstar potential from the time he was an unknown rookie, back when Ben Simmons was still around.  Then, when Simmons refused to play and with Maxey starting at the point, the Sixers were still winning, as if nothing had changed.  So I was thinking to myself that when they did trade Ben, they would use the opportunity to acquire someone like an allstar level 3.  Instead they acquired Harden, in the process potentially stunting the progress of Tyrese, i.e. relegating him to third or fourth on the pecking order, even though he obviously deserved more.  But Maxey took it in stride instead of griping or demanding a trade (something that made me admire him even more), and in the long run, things are working out for the best.  Just don't forget who it was that first recognized he was a great player.

SHOUTOUT TO SCOOT HENDERSON

Scoot Henderson is injured again, as to have been expected, and he's also been stinking the joint up, as at least I expected.  It isn't his fault because, even if does prove to be a generational talent or whatever, it should have been obvious to the Blazers' braintrust that he isn't the type of rookie you start, especially not at point.  It'll be interesting to see what they do with Scoot when he returns.  But hopefully, it won't be throwing his ass right back into the fire.

THE RETURN OF MILES BRIDGES

LaMelo Ball may be the most-popular player on the Hornets, but imo Miles Bridges is the best, or at least he was a couple of seasons ago, even if he didn't make allstar.  Melo has a sound all-around game, but chuckin' PGs are common these days, and Charlotte's roster isn't good enough to capitalize on his passing abilities.  So in the grand scheme of things Miles was the more-valuable player, the type that you can win games with.

That said, even with Bridges and Ball, this squad isn't likely to make the playoffs.  Hornets' fans booed when they choose Brandon Miller over Scoot, but I believe now they realize that was a wise decision, which isn't something you hear often in relation to Charlotte.  Oh well.  At least with Bridges back, they'll be more entertaining to watch and currently have a better outlook than the Grizzlies, which definitely wasn't something I saw coming.

Reflections on Dame (Part 2): How Kobe Bryant F*cked Up the NBA for Rookies

Even novices in NBA history tend to know that as a rookie, Magic Johnson led his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to becoming NBA champions in 1980.  A couple of years later, in 1982, they drafted James Worthy,  The following season he was (by and large) a starter and subsequently proceeded to win three championships with LAL.  Then in 1985, they drafted AC Green.  The following season he was a starter and ultimately went on to win three championships with LAL.  A bit earlier, in 1983, Los Angeles acquired Byron Scott as a rookie.  He was more or less a starter from the get-go and won three championships with LAL.

Compare that to how rookies are being treated these days.  A few years back, GM Lebron didn't even give Andrew Wiggins, the number 1 pick, a chance before demanding that the Cavs, who already had Kyrie Irving btw, go out and get another proven superstar in his stead.  The Blazers just drafted Scoot Henderson, who's billed to be the most-electrifying prospect in years, and Dame wants to bounce, without the world ever seeing what the two of them can do together.  And even with Wembanyama, it's like the Spurs didn't even bother to keep any notable vets around, not even Cameron Payne.  These days if you believe you've landed something like a generational talent in the draft, then it's either trade or rebuild from day one.

But I'm not blaming this reality on the likes Dame or LBJ.  Rather, it's the late, great Kobe Bryant's fault.  "The Mamba Mentality" was a bitch for opponents to deal with, but organizations have to be ready to accept that type of young greatness on their own rosters also.  In the old days, even contenders would give rookies a chance.  But now, because of Kobe it's like 'wait, let's let him 'develop' first'.

DEVELOP WHAT?

Part of the problem is the fact that dudes are now coming into the NBA, en masse, younger than ever.  Worthy, Green and Scott all did at least three years of college, and Magic also did a couple.  But this newer reality can also be taken as Kobe's fault, because he was the one who really proved - or at least made the fact indisputable - that superstars can come straight out of high school.

The problem with Kobe - unlike KG, McGrady and those other high schoolers from his influential generation - is that he's unanimously considered to be a G.O.A.T.  There may be some debate as to how good Kobe actually was or wasn't, but some people even make those types of arguments about Michael Jordan now that he's no longer playing.  Yes, I believe that to some degree Kobe was overrated.  But he was a winner and extremely popular as a celebrity.  Also, I do remember on a few occasions where he absolutely demolished opposing teams in the most-critical circumstances imaginable.  So when you have those three factors on your side, then you have an all-time great.

But what people don't remember is that when he came into the NBA, he was borderline garbage, even if an exciting scrub.  The potential was there, and so was the athleticism - just like Scoot Henderson, if you will.  But dammit, his production.

You look back now at the 1996 Draft and be like 'why didn't the Sixers choose Kobe at number one'?  The answer to that is simple - because Allen Iverson was better, and so was arguably five or six other dudes chosen before Kobe.  That's why, as the story goes, it took Jerry West to really perceive Bryant's potential.  So the squads who should have really be kicking themselves are the ones who let West talk them out of drafting Kobe.  But as for Philly and those top-top picks, you know, it ain't overlooking Kobe was a Jordan/Bowie type of situation.

But the issue was that, in terms of 'developing', it's like Kobe never got the memo.  Rather, he had "the Mamba Mentality".  What that meant for instance was Bryant, as a rookie, shooting the Lakers out of the playoffs in an elimination game against the Jazz.  Now please, sit down and think about that.  What type of balls must a player - and not only that, but a rookie - possess to chuck up four airballs in the closing minutes of a playoff game?

That's supposed to be a game that coaches to this day can sit down and watch with thier young superstars and be like 'look son, this is what happens when you're overconfident'.  But instead it's like, dafuk you can say bad about the Black Mamba?  He took that same mentality, never truly forsaking his chuckin ways, and went on to win five championships, besides being one of the most famous people in the world during his day.

So now, there's a dilemma.  You don't want to stifle your superstar rookies' development.  'Go on and chuck, son.'  But at the same time, you know you ain't gonna win shit with dudes like shooting four-consecutive airballs.  So regardless of how good a rookie may be, you don't want to throw him into the fire, i.e. take his inherent alpha status (as a star already entering the NBA) onto a contender, unless it's a really sane young superstar, like Tim Duncan was.

CONCLUSION

So I think that may be why for instance someone like Lillard may not be convinced he can win with Henderson, or like how Lebron did to Wiggins.  After trading away Wiggins, it still took the Cavs a whole 'nother season to win a championship.  So for all we know, they could have done it in that same time, or even less, if Andrew had stuck around.  

But it's like fuk that.  You know what I mean?  Like 'what if he suddenly develops the mamba mentality in a critical game'?  And most NBA teams these days, unlike the 1980s' Lakers, don't have any actual system anyway.  So now, rookies with star potential have gone from being valued to being feared by win-now teams.  Therefore, every time such a squad is in on the verge of landing one in the draft, you hear words like "rebuild" and "trade" being thrown around.

Reflections on Dame

Dame recently made some comments concerning his situation with the Blazers that now has me sorta advocating the idea of him bouncing.  Those statements were very ambiguous - one may even say a bit confusing.  But reading in between the lines and based on what has been going on between him and Portland for the past couple of years, I take it that what he's saying is that the Blazers aren't really interested in winning a championship anytime soon, while he, as an aging superstar, is.  And while before I made fun of a person whining about not winning a championship while making $40mil a year - you know, being paid like a champion but then complaining because you aren't officially one - I can now appreciate how such may bother Lillard, as he's already accomplished just about everything else in his profession.

The Blazers more or less made it clear they're not chasing a championship by drafting Scoot "Shadamn" Henderson.  I was recently peeping a documentary with Scoot in it and instantly took a liking to him.  He's literally like a boy in a man's body.  But I also believe that he may be a tad overrated.  And for the most part I don't particularly believe in banking on a player's athleticism, since it can be the most fickle of all their attributes.

But anyway, Scoot came into this year's draft more popular than a lot of players already in the NBA and as one of those types of prospects that many people believe really will be great, maybe even greater than Dame.  That means that the Blazers could have traded him for a quality veteran or two, one that's more prepared to help Lillard chase a championship this season.  But instead, drafting Henderson feels more like they are already looking to the future, post-Lillard, even though, you know what I'm saying?  Who knows what a backcourt of a Hall of Fame vet alongside a young stud may look like.

Portland's braintrust is pretty good, perhaps you can even say above-average, but they're not like uber-smart.  For instance, I still can't figure out why exactly they traded CJ McCollum.  I also have yet to surmise why the Blazers are so doggedly loyal to Jusuf Nurkić.  Nurkic is an above-average center, but he never particularly messed well with Dame (or Dame + McCollum).  So I was thinking if anything, he would have been the one who Portland traded, like a long, long time ago.

I started writing this post a couple of days ago, and since then Nurkic's name has come up in trade talks.  But as a further illustration of the notion that the Blazers don't really know WTF they're doing, as theorized they're looking to get rid of Jusuf after Lillard leaves.  Why not before?  If they're thinking about trading him for DeAndre Ayton, then why not make the trade now, whereas then at least the world, including Lillard, can entertain the prospect of a Dame + Scoot + Ayton lineup?  If Henderson really is all he's cracked up to be, then with the right type of role players, that looks like a contender right there or at least a viable attempt on the part of Portland to contend without beating a dead horse.  I'm now starting to think that Lillard himself has probably told the Blazers that he wouldn't want to play for them without Jusuf also being on the roster, which is why they have kept the latter around for this long.

The thing I'm really upset about though is that if Dame leaves and Shadamn doesn't prove to be the phenom many people are predicting him as, then why even watch the Blazers this coming season?  The NBA shouldn't devolve into a league where the only compelling teams are a handful of contenders.  You have, say, 10-20 players in the NBA who are must see, and then you have them all concentrated on like 5-6 teams.  That's what will likely happen if Lillard goes to the Heat.  Miami will even more interesting than they were last season, while Portland will be relying on an unproven rookie to sell tickets.  And you know, in all due respect, it ain't like dude is a Shaq and shit.

CONCLUSION

Dame's recent comments makes it sound like the Blazers have betrayed his trust, his feelings are hurt, and there won't be any kiss-and-makeup anytime soon.  Now that Bradley Beal has bounced on the Wizards, Lillard is the longest-tenured superstar in terms of being stuck on what is apparently a non-contending team.  I personally do not believe he's really that upset with the Blazers but just don't want to hear that BS like he ain't loyal.  And all things considered, he has earned the right to demand to go wherever he wants.  Oh well.  If Dame does get his wish and the Blazers don't make any powermoves ASAP in the name of trying to convince him to stay, then there probably won't be much reason to watch them play next season.  The one good thing about keeping Nurkic around is that now, European centers have perhaps a higher trade value than ever.

Was Wemby's Summer Debut Really That Bad?

What I'm arguing in this post is based on watching highlights of Wembanyama's first Summer League game, not the entire game itself.  Yes, he did get dunked on hard, but that's because he was actually playing defense.  Due to his height and length he has an instant defensive presence, like those lanky players of old, the types who were only in the NBA because they're dumb tall.  But the difference is that he can actually play perimeter defense, like the way he swatted Miller's three.  Like it's rare you see a three-pointer actually get swatted out of the air like that, but that's the kinda defense you're likely going to need in today's 3pt-chuckin NBA.

Also, speaking of chuckin, the way I saw it dudes weren't passing him the ball enough.  That was okay with Julian Champagnie because first of all he was actually making his shots and second, he's already been in the NBA a couple of years.  But Blake Wesley, who was running the point, was also chuckin and like even getting his shit swatted.  He's a real fast player, and I see now he actually played for the Spurs last season.  And I know that dudes are like fighting for a roster spot.  But give the fans what they came to see, which isn't Wesley forcing his way to the basket and getting his shit pinned.

On the other side of the court, Brandon Miller finally had a good game, after the internet had a field day with his own less than stellar debut a few days earlier.  Dude has only been in the NBA for like a week or two and has already dealt with like Westbrook levels of unappreciation.  But if I were the Hornets I would have also picked him at number 2 because first of all, you can't be going style of substance too often.  And second, to my limited remembrance Scoot Henderson had a couple of chances to really impress this past year (like Wembanyama) but didn't, or at least not convincingly.  But I'm sure he'll be a fine fit if Dame sticks around, which is something I'm hoping to touch on in my next post.

CONCLUSION

It's obvious that Wembanyama is going to need to put on some weight.  I saw someone arguing otherwise on NBC a few days back, but that argument was obviously hasty.

I believe that Gregg Popovich is going to know how to use him.  In the Summer League, Victor is playing C, but I wouldn't be overly surprised if he plays SF or perhaps more realistically the 4 once the season actually being.  Now though I kinda wish that the Spurs had held onto Jakob Poeltl, because they're going to need a bigger (even if not taller), quality player alongside Wemby.