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

DALLAS MAVERICKS (39-43) - RUSSELL WESTBROOK

There was recently an article up about Westbrook still not being signed, even though next season is about to begin type shit.  It does seem sorta weird, and I've been arguing for years that "the ScapeGOAT" is the victim of a conspiracy.  But in more recent times, I'm really starting to think, you know what I'm saying?  Like the Thunder didn't just win a championship with wildness, more with athleticism + consistency.

Meanwhile, the Mavs are woefully thin at the point, especially if you're one of those people who believe D'Angelo Russell is washed.  I don't, nor do I advocate forcing Cooper Flagg to play point.

I remember what Jason Kidd did with Giannis, how he taught him how to dribble and in the process transformed him to into "Juggernaut GLP".  But trying to force Flagg to play point would be like a waste of height, like how they did with Zion.

HOUSTON ROCKETS (52-30) - BEN SIMMONS

This may seem like a strange selection.  But Fred Van Vleet, despite being short with a big head, is not someone I would classify as a traditional point.

I've been sleeping on Fred his entire career, up until last season's playoffs whereas, even though the Rockets may have disappointed, Van Vleet proved to be one of the most lethal scorers in the NBA.  It's like he caught the spirit of Dame or some shit - so much so that I questioned if adding a super-scorer like KD was overkill.

I would also argue that questionable foul Amen Thompson performed on Jimmy Butler turned Playoff karma against Houston.  So imagine KD and Van Vleet on the wings, with Simmons as the facilitator.  Besides having a non-scoring G facilitator that can do other things to help even out the mix, the Rockets could also use a little bit of tenderness.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (48-34) - RUSSELL WESTBROOK

As of late, mainstream writers have been more or less calling Westbrook old.  But based on the eye test, he remains one of the most athletic NBAers.  So I'm imagining him coming off the bench behind Morant who, according to Steph, is the most-athletic player.  It'd also be the first time in Ja's career that he's playing alongside another superstar, even if it's one who's 'not on his timeline'.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (21-61) - GARY PAYTON JR.

Let me be the first to say, I believe in these Pelicans.  You heard it here first.  New Orleans has an outstanding braintrust when it comes to amassing top-heavy talent.  The bigger issue has been compatibility, specifically around Zion Williamson.  But for some reason I can't quite explain, I'm expecting him and Poole to match marvelously.  That reads like a decision the braintrust actually thought out rather than just being like 'oh shit, such-and-such is available'.

The Pelicans' depth, I mean I don't know a bunch about a lot of these dudes, but it doesn't appear particularly inspiring.  So the temptation is to go with the best player available.  But for an organization that isn't adept at meshing talent, bringing the ScapeGOAT in wouldn't be ideal.

I'm going to go with Gary Payton Jr. because first of all, him and Poole kinda blew up together.  Second, he's the type of player that could thrive in any system, as his style is naturally complementary and more importantly impactual.

At least, that's what I think.  I was really looking forward to "the Mitten" showing that he could replicate his effectiveness with another organization, but that didn't happen.  Maybe he's just that good (and healthy) on the Dubs type shit.  So then the question is, why haven't they re-signed him?  If you claim you don't have enough shooting - even with Steph, out of every player in NBA history, on your roster - then try to beat teams another way, like defense.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (34-48) - TRISTAN THOMPSON

Ron Harper was one of the most underrated players of the 1990s.  He's only 6'6" but could do like everything.  He was at times unstoppable, but "the Braincase" never achieved ubiquitious stardom.

So I'm totally expecting his son, if he has the same body-type and skillset, coming in and dominating, as he, based on his father's experience, already knows what time it is.  Remember that a star NBA player has never had a star son.  It's rather those types who've produced the next generation of superstars.

So there's no need to push Westbrook on this one.  Nor I won't go with any PG at all as, if Dylan Harper actually does pan out, the Spurs may have the deepest point core in the league.  Who foresaw that?

So being compelled to go with a big, I decided Tristan Thompson, even though he really ain't worth a damn on the court these days.  Why?  Because first of all, he's a veteran with championship experience, who would be on a squad where the second-oldest (notable) player is De'Aaron Fox, better all-around though one whose greatest accomplishments are like sympathy All-Star nods.

Second, it's very much possible that San Antonio, if Harper does represent, will be one of the most-popular teams next season.  So adding an A-list media personality to the mix, with Thompson being better-known than even Wemby, wouldn't hurt in that regard.  You'd be hard-pressed to get notable production out of the ol' chap, but maybe someone will throw a sex toy when he's on the court or some shit, you know, something viral, like dude getting somebody pregnant, hashtag Spurs.

CONCLUSION

If Westbrook's career has truly reached the point where being benched behind the likes of Christian Braun during crunchtime in the Playoffs is the new norm, then yes, he should just retire.

Trade Talk: Sabonis vs. Haliburton, Hield and Thompson

PACERS GET	KINGS GET
Tyrese Haliburton	Justin Holiday
Buddy Hield	Jeremy Lamb
Tristan Thompson	Domantas Sabonis
	2027 2nd rounder

I wrote about the Kings earlier this season, before even watching them play.  Well I did finally get a chance to watch them recently when they squared off against Golden State in Cali.  And Sacramento looked more like a really good college team than an NBA squad.  That's when I realized that having said earlier that their roster was rife was talent may have been a bit hasty of a conclusion.  But there is a lot of potential talent - players who, if they find themselves in a different environment, may prosper, blazi fukin blah.  Like it may be any basketball player's dream to make it to the NBA, but no one in their right mind would actually want to be drafted by the Kings.

The one player on Sacramento who really represented, outside of established vet and former-Warrior Harrison Barnes, was rookie Davion Mitchell.  And going back to being drafted by the Kings, he's someone I foresee like getting seriously injured before finding himself on a championship squad.  And no, I'm not trying to jinx dude or wish him bad luck or anything like that.  It's just that his style of play reminds me a lot of other ferocious little dudes like Allen Iverson and Derrick Rose, who went about expeditiously fucking their bodies up in the NBA.  But one thing I will say about Davion is that he does look quite diesel for a smaller NBA player, so who knows.

The one player who really underwhelmed me was Tyrese Hailburton.  And believe me, I'm not trying to diss dude.  It's just that I've been reading so much about him being the next big thing, and like he didn't really do shit against the Warriors.  It kinda reminded me of when the Cavs recently played the Warriors also in Cali, that night when Klay returned.  Darius Garland is a young All-Star, one of my personal favorites tbh.  But it's like Steph could have posterized him with him 3s if he really wanted to.  And the point is that no matter how 'promising' a player may be, like unless he comes into the NBA a straight-up star from the jump, then there's likely to always be a tier of players, albeit a small group, who is simply better.

So, it may be cool to watch Haliburton play alongside Malcolm Brogdon.  But who knows if the Pacers really intend on keep any of these new guys.  Buddy Hield is someone who, to my remembrance, has disappointed since coming into the NBA.  When I was watching him flunk against the Warriors I was saying to myself, 'yes, this looks exactly like the type of player GM Lebron would want to bring to LA, someone who will end up getting fans even more frustrated'.  And again, I'm not trying to diss dude.  But it's hard to imagine Indiana being intent on keeping him.

And then finally, there's Tristan Thompson who, for whatever reason, was benched against the Warriors, even though he wasn't listed as injured.  My general belief when it comes to professional athletes, especially the active ones, is that it's never a good thing when your name is in the news, or even worst gossip circles due to your off-court activities more than what you do on the court.  Bigmen age slower in the NBA, and Tristan Thompson is still supposed to be a contributor.  But now it's like he's someone you would want on your roster probably because, being affiliated with the Kardashians, he can sell some tickets.  And even then, it ain't really like that.  You know what I mean?  It ain't like having Kanye on your roster.

Then, there's Domantas Sabonis.  A few weeks ago, I salivated at the prospect of him potentially ending up on the Sixers.  But instead, damn.  But then again, who knows - maybe he'll be exactly what the doctor ordered alongside the likes of Harkless and Holmes and the rest of the gang.  And it's like now I'm looking the Kings' roster from that Warriors' game, and Marvin Bagley isn't even listed at all.  So it's like dang, dude is getting paid $10mil+ to sit somewhere and chill - my personal dream if I were to ever make it to the NBA.

CONCLUSION

When I first heard of this trade I felt sorry for Domantas.  But now it's like if he's not personally in a rush to win a championship, this isn't that bad of a move for him.  After all, even after parting ways with a trio of expendables, the Kings still have enticing trade chips in Bagley III and even D'Aaron Fox, if they decide to go there (which they probably won't now that they've traded Haliburton, unless they're thinking of maybe making Justin Holiday a permanent starter).

The Pacers look like they're tanking or resetting, except for the fact that they appear extremely loyal to Brogdon.  He's a player that, if not for injuries, would probably be a perennial all-star in today's NBA.  But tender he is, which then makes you question why Indiana seems so intent on keeping him as opposed to letting Malcolm explore greener pastures.