2026 NBA Offseason Grade (Southeast Division)

ATLANTA HAWKS: C-

The Hawks were the feel-good team of the East last season, holding the sole distinction of being the only squad to win two games against the Knicks in the postseason.  Even though no one was really expecting them to win the series, the energy was really positive - right up until Game 6, when dudes got their asses bust so thoroughly that it's amazing they didn't break out in tears on court.  Even the braintrust and owners shoulda been crying about that shit.

Usually, when you have a promising team lose like that, the offseason goal is to prepare themselves to face the same nemesis the next year.  And that's where Atlanta has totally failed.  What they needed to counteract a squad like NYK is size.  Yet by the looks of things, there isn't a single notable big on the entire roster.  I understand why maybe they didn't want to hold onto Kuminga or Risacher.  But damn, what was the backup plan while sacrificing that height?

The Hawks are also one of those teams who, unfortunately for them, are still stuck in the smallball era.  Their biggest offseason acquisition was Lu Dort, i.e. one of the many OKC players who got nephewed by Wemby.  Logic would dictate that his perimeter defense will help a bit against a wing-heavy team like NYK.  But as other squads in the conference have bulked up, you know, it's doesn't really look like Atlanta took a step forward.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS: A

I really like what the Hornets have done this offseason, moving past the streetball era.  When the best scorer on the roster gets ignored during the postseason, something has to change.

By the looks of things, the moves they've made, most notably getting rid of LaMelo Ball and taking in Naz Reid - hasn't really impressed pundits.  But the way I see it, that was borderline perfect, with dudes like Knueppel and Miller on the roster, deserving more shine than a player like Ball would allot.  All this team needs is the right kind of player(s) to run point, i.e. dudes that won't chuck, which now they apparently have.  They may not be contenders yet but are on the right path and should at least make the playoffs proper(?).

MIAMI HEAT: A-

The acquisition of Giannis felt really good for about two days, until Normal Powell decided to bounce, after Miami had already parted ways with Herro and Jacquez.  That shit sucked the air out of me for a moment.

But at the same time, it's like no excuses because, oh sh*t, Giannis and Bam are on the same team, buttressed by Wiggins, now giving the Heat the best frontcourt in the league, over Philly, OKC, NYK or whoever.  Or, something like that.  No other contender with a big frontcourt is better suited to defend both the post and the perimeter.

The rest of the roster may leave something to be desired, but it isn't that bad.  The acquisition of an inspired Klay Thompson will likely prove huge in some cases, and don't forget he and Wiggins were championship teammates in the past.  And the best thing about it is, if any braintrust can make it work, it's Miami, though you would imagine they may pickup another notable G during the season.

ORLANDO MAGIC: B

Okay, so when dudes went out an acquired Desmond Bane, even though they needed a big more, the logic was that the following season, i.e. this offseason, they would upgrade the frontcourt.  And well, if you consider Vucevic a difference maker, I mean he has averaged a double-double cumulatively throughout his career, though, as with his recent stint in Boston, it isn't likely he's going to be getting a lot of touches surrounded by the Magic's chucks.

Indeed, after committing to Bane, it's like they no longer even had the dough to chase a more noteworthy big.  But again, it ain't like Vucevic is a bum, as much as it was the Celtics not really valuing his presence.

Also, remember last season, the Magic took the Pistons to seven games, if I remember correctly, even though Franz Wagner was injured, and imo they would have won the series if he wasn't.  So I mean yeah, progress has been achieved, I guess, though the downside is that the braintrust, by committing so much money to Franz, having forced themselves into a position that their fate more or less lies in his iffy health.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: A

This isn't purely an offseason grade but considering all the moves the Wizards have made since February.  Not only do they now, all of a sudden, have the best mix of young and veteran stars in the league.  But also, more than anything, the roster is actually compatible, with a number of options that can be mixed and matched, if the coaching staff is worth its salt.

Last season, too much of the onus was put on young, unproven players.  This coming season, opponents are going to have a hard time keeping up with them, while simultaneously counteracting the vets.  Dudes have like 10 rotation-worthy players, which is something most teams cannot boast of at all.

The only thing that can fuck it up - and why I didn't want to rush to give dudes an A+ - is (#1) if AD goes diva and demands a trade and (#2) if Trae Young chucks, as is tradition.  Young has averaged nearly 9 assists throughout his career but is still deemed as someone who doesn't pass the ball enough.  And as for AD, you know, as a 7-footer, he doesn't like to play inside.  But with Sarr and Ayton also on the roster, I guess we can just finally love Anthony for who he is, tho pairing those types is probably going to leave something to be desired in terms of perimeter defense.

CONCLUSION

In any event, you have to give it to the Wizards for recognizing that we're no longer in the smallball era.  There's other teams in the Southeast who, by the looks of things, it's going to take them awhile to really catch on. 

The Heat may appear as the only true contenders in the division, but don't sleep on the Magic, if healthy, despite their lack of depth.  The Wizards are also the sleeper team of the entire Eastern Conference - remember you heard it here first.  The Southeast may have only one A-list franchise, but I'm looking forward to at least 4 out of these 5 squads making the playoffs.

"The ScapeGOAT" Finally Calling It Quits

First off, let me say that in my last post, when I suggested that Russell Westbrook should, all things considering, maybe retire, I didn't know at the time that he had an offer, albeit a minimum one, on the table via the Wizards(?).  If I had known that, my tone would have been a bit different, under the belief that he could actually help a team like Washington.

I believe, if AD sticks around and is committed, that the Wizards are going to be a lot better next season than a lot of people anticipate, perhaps even one of the best teams in the East.  Everyone is talking about how wonderful Philly's braintrust is for landing Lebron and Brown.  Meanwhile, since February, Washington has acquired Davis, Young and Dybantsa, who appears to be a true #1 pick (besides acquiring Ayton and retaining Middleton).  When you look at this roster honestly, they're one of the deepest in the league.  And just as an interesting side note, that's now two consecutive #1 picks that the powers-that-be have paired with AD.

Besides the aforementioned vets (all of whom have name recognition) and Dybantsa, the roster is fleshed out by these other young, promising dudes, most notably Alex Sarr.  Usually, I don't think it's good for young players to get accustomed to losing.  But now it's like those losses from last season may have hardened them towards a brighter future, because for what it's worth, dudes were competing even while getting their asses bust.

The one person I am sorta worried about in this equation is Young and how his erratic style doesn't always translate to team basketball.  But remember that him and Collins, dudes were out there looking like Kidd + Martin for a time, like Trae knows how to throw lobs.  And now, he has more lob options than ever.  So here's to hoping, presuming he is the starting PG, that he doesn't chuck.

And yes, I can see Westbrook having fit into it all, even with his own unpredictable style.  Besides being a veteran whose resume demands respect, let's be honest.  Stat wise, even at 38 years old, Russ is better than 90% of the players in the NBA.  He may not be efficient, but when it comes to raw, all-around basketball skills, he's better or at least more versatile than any other vet on this team.  His field goal percentage may, relatively speaking, suck, but in 30 minutes, primarily off the bench if I remember correctly, he averaged 15pts, 7 assists and 5 rebounds last season.  Those are like Lebron-esque numbers.

LONGETIVITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

That said, I can understand why he'd be compelled to call it quits, because if you are on the best players on a team, then conventional logic doesn't dictate you should be paid less than everyone else, even newjacks.  Also, damn, dude has played for 18 whole seasons.  Time sure does fly.

Players of today, at least to me, it seems like they're lasting longer.  Jordan played 15 seasons over 19 years, amidst a couple of retirements in between.  His HoF sidekick, Scottie Pippen, played for 17 years (straight).  It was rare back then for players to truly strive for 20.  Generally speaking, NBAers who were good or accomplished enough not to be forced into retirement only lasted for about 15 seasons.

But look at what's happening now.  Lebron is on the verge of potentially playing for a quarter century.  Westbrook, as established, nearing 40 years old, is one of the best individual players in the NBA.  He may not be the most intelligent so to speak, but I'd bet on him one-on-one against any other player in his height class.

PJ Tucker lasted for 20 years, even tho it wasn't all entirely in the NBA. Vinsanity did 22.  CP3 recently did 21 before being forced out of the game.  Meanwhile, Durant and Harden have thus far played 18 and 17 respectively, with no signs that either will be retiring soon.

Kobe also did 20, but his was a bit different, sorta like holdover from the 20th century.  Like Jordan, the team Bryant was on in his twilight wasn't expected to win shit, and he was only really there to sell tickets (besides presumably make money for himself).  That was how star retirements used to go.  Nearer to the end, you usually played for fame or money, regardless of how large or small it may be, but rarely a key role on a contender.

Meanwhile, look at the cats mentioned in that previous paragraph.  All of them, except for Vince, competed to the very end.  Dudes are no longer signing just to collect paychecks.  Now they want to contribute to a championship, even into their 40s.

So yes, all things considered I would have loved to see Westbrook on this Wizards' team, and I'm glad they at least showed him some respect, you know, being the only person who ever averaged a triple-double for that organization.  But you know, it's not really about Washington.  If anything, he should have stayed with the Nuggets.  And if you remember, at the time I was even questioning how they could prioritize Christian Braun(!) ahead of him.

"THE SCAPEGOAT"

On that note, I have to believe that behind the scenes, Russ is genuinely difficult to deal with.  I mean, there's no other way to rationalize how organizations have come to treat him.

Recently, some documentary about him came out called Passion Play (2021).  It was themed around that very idea, that Westbrook is this really good player though one who's like hardheaded or some shit.  I can't remember the specifics of the presentation, but I do recall walking away sympathizing with Russ instead of hating him.  In fact, if I remember correctly, it even concluded with Magic Johnson publicly apologizing for having previously criticized Russ.

But those sentiments never completely went away, and this is what I mean by behind the scenes, because I have to speculate that Westbrook did something(s) that really like pissed insiders off, though I can't quite imagine what that would be, besides his overall cockiness.  It's not like, say, DeMarcus Cousins, who publicly threatened some old white dude.

CONCLUSION

Conclusively, I have to agree with Jay-Z that it's better to "gracefully bow out" than to be forced out of the game.  That's especially true if you're in a field without a definitive retirement timeline and even moreso if you're on the greatest at what you do.

You see what happened to CP3, after a storied career, how that last episode stained his legacy.  Meanwhile, Russ has won MVP, the rarest of all NBA accolades, even rarer than making it into the HoF.  So yeah, if he'd rather retire than play for on a vet min for the Wizards or Kings, then so be it.  But all of that said, let this be a lesson to everyone.  There is a such thing as being too good, as an individual player, for the NBA.

I never really thought much about KD leaving OKC, but now, in hindsight, I understand why Westbrook was so pissed off.  He was intentionally drafted to be Durant's sidekick, and as such, Kevin may have been the only person he really had that big brother type of respect for.  The two of them together may have eventually won a championship.  But now we see that the ScapeGOAT couldn't truly humble himself to anyone else.

The Indecisionists

Damn, make a decision already.

DEMAR DEROZAN

Out of all true free agents still on the market, DeRozan is the biggest gamechanger if placed on the right team.  His stock has gone down not so much due to a lack of efficacy as opposed to (#1) playing for two consecutive garbage franchises and (#2) being a victim of that 'midrange shots no longer matter' analytics' bullshit.

So one of the lingering effects of the past Warriors' dynasty is that now, you have teams who like no longer know how to score within the arc (and outside of the key).  Now that players like Shai and Wemby have taken over, the Steph imitating isn't as bad it was before.  But again, if there's a squad out there who actually needs him, DeMar can definitely help win a championship.

Preferred Destination: Miami Heat

Longshot Destination: New York Knicks

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

It's hard being so good that every time your team falters in one way or another, you're granted part of the blame.  It's also hard being so good that you have to hold yourself back in the name of overall team chemistry.  It's like a no-win situation for "the ScapeGOAT".

Westbrook has been in control of a team twice.  First was when KD bounced on OKC, and Russ immediately went on to win MVP.  Second was during his short stint with the Wizards, where he handily averaged a triple-double.

So all things considered, trying to call this guy garbage or someone undeserving of a contract is ridiculous.  It's logical, at least to me, that he should be most sought after by a team with a really-good starting five but like no bench.  In other words, give Russ complete, undeterred control of a second unit.  And if he's even too erratic for that, then yeah, maybe it is time for him to retire.  Or if he must start, I'm thinking a team like:

Preferred Destination: New Orleans Pelicans

JONATHAN KUMINGA

Jonathan Kuminga bet on himself and, in the short term at least, appears as if he's slated to take a loss.  And you know, I talk a lot of shit about the Warriors' inability to nurture draftees.  Steph may have even verified that when recently memorializing his first NBA Head Coach, the recently-departed Don Nelson, where he stated, plainly, that Nellie "never liked rookies".  So I'm thinking that frame of thought may have more or less persisted, to this day, within the Warriors' organization.

But that said, I'm not going to use this post to once again criticize Golden State's braintrust, because doing so, in context, may prove hypocritical.  It looks like Kuminga will be participating in next season's NBA at an annual salary somewhere in the $10mil range and definitely not exceeding $15mil.  Meanwhile, the Dubs offered him about $23mil annually.  So in hindsight, it's hard to say they lowballed him.  Rather, young Jonathan may have overestimated himself.

Preferred Destination: New Orleans Pelicans

Logical Destination: Cleveland Cavaliers

BRADLEY BEAL

Beal, on the other hand, was overestimated by the industry itself.  And when you compare his situation to Westbrook's, you see how hypocritical the collective mind can sometimes be.

Bradley led the Wizards, and they sucked, but he walked away being regarded as one of the best players in the league.  Westbrook led the Wizards while putting up a triple-double, and they sucked, but he walked away more or less disgraced.

Anyhow, if there's one thing Beal knows how to do, it's score.  I don't think that can ever be taken away from him, so long as he's playable.  So yeah, the Celtics sounds like a good choice, even tho they may not really need him (unless he's coming hard off the bench).  So a more viable option would be:

Preferred Destination: Miami Heat

JALEN DUREN

I'm mentioning Duren, even though he's restricted, because he's in a similar situation to Kuminga.  If he plays out the current year and is still coveted, as a completely free agent, next offseason, I mean come on.  The Pistons would be able to pay him the most money, but would he even want to stay?

Also, let's not forget that they're currently offering him something like $200mil(!).  Yes, other teams are willing to jump in and pay more, in theory.  Well actually, haven't dudes already spent all of their dough?

So realistically speaking, there is the possibility that when he hits the open market, like Kuminga, it may end up like his current team was actually willing to pay him more than anyone else will.

What I'm also envisioning is Jalen just being like fukit and forcing himself out by midseason, to an organization that expresses a willingness to pay him more or whatever.  If he feels that Detroit is devaluing him, it's not like, say he makes All-NBA or whatever, it's not like next offseason those feelings are just going to go away, even if they do max him out.

It wouldn't really make much sense for him to leave on paper, so that's like a worst-case scenario.  But you never know?  If they can't get along, it may all boil down to who the Pistons can get in return, or if maybe Jalen can get on a team where he has a better chance for a ring, tho at the moment it's hard to envision who.

Preferred Destination: Detroit Pistons

JAMES HARDEN

I'm still having a hard time, from the perspective of either party, trying to understand what logic was used to rationalize bringing the Beard to Cleveland.  They say on his part, he was looking for a longer contract and a better chance at winning, which is understandable.

I'm not going to criticize Harden, as of late I feel like I've been doing too much shaving.  But what I will say is this: all things considered, there are teams out there that could better utilize what he brings to the table.

Longshot Destination: Houston Rockets (sans KD)

BEN SIMMONS

When Ben Simmons ends up back on the Sixers, I want you to remember who called it first.

Simmons was like all-NBA, all-defense, all of that, but ultimately ended up being criticized for lacking the mamba mentality.  Too much eye of the tiger, and you're Russell Westbrook.  Too little, and you're Ben Simmons.

In any event, logic would dictate that reality could be mitigated by (#1) cutting his salary, (#2) not expecting too much out of him and (#3) surrounding him with teammates who are in fact feening.

Preferred Destination: Philadelphia 76rs

CONCLUSION

A team like the Pelicans, with a roster that at least has hope but in a situation where they've been all but forgotten about, could be perfect for undervalued vets who aren't obsessed with winning.  But somehow, New Orleans has already spent all of their cap money(?).

And that's the reality of the NBA, and it always has been, in a way.  You have more cautionary tales of guys betting on themselves and losing than players who took extensions and outplayed them.  In that latter regard, I can only think of Steph, but with the former, Sprewell, Schröder and even Isaiah Thomas, in a way, instantly come to mind.

That said, it baffles me how certain teams are standing pat instead of trying to find creative ways to implement quality players who are looking for work and who may be had relatively cheaply.  

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.

2025 NBA Playoffs Ruminations (May 16)

DENVER NUGGETS (3) vs OKC THUNDER (3)

At this point to be honest I'm kinda hoping that the Thunder win, because I'm just sorta tired of seeing Denver.  I heard one of the commentators say that Murray + Jokic have now been teammates for eight (consecutive) years, and I mean, who does that in the NBA anymore?  Are we now going back to the old days, before videogame GM mode?

If the Nuggets are out there straight dominating dudes, okay.  But if they have to struggle, you know what I mean?  They won a championship just a season ago actually, and you know, whereas dudes are old, they ain't old like that.

But it's like if they wanted to keep the world's interest, then they should have won or at least made it to the Finals last season also.  Besides having Michael Jordan, the 1990s' Bulls were able to say popular because they kept winning.  Now I see that when a team falls off and someone else comes up and take the top spot, it's like they lose some popularity points.  Jokic is arguably "the best player in the world", but he isn't particularly marketable.  Dude needs to drop like a rap video or some shit.

I like watching Rudolph play.  He's like a really big PF or a point-center, as I like to sometimes call him.  You see teams like the Cavs and Knicks and even to some degree OKC running two Cs at the same time.  That's the point I'm trying to make.

I hope this offseason, Denver finally makes some like major roster changes, whether they win a championship or not, because the clock is ticking, if not already expired.  Westbrook is a spark of energy, but sometimes I see why people say he's too erratic.  So I mean more of that Draymond type of swag, dudes who can like bang with Jokic in the post while not sacrificing their own game.

Man do I love me some Chet "Deadpool" Holmgren.  "White Wemby" looks like someone took Ryan Reynolds and stretched him out by a foot.  Remember that, two or three seasons ago, Wembanyama was actually drafted before Chet, but the latter was lucky enough to land on a team on the rise with an exceptional braintrust .  He's had more opportunity, so to speak.  That said, I intend to write something soon about the Spurs, i.e. them being 'lucky' in the 2025 Draft; Trump forcing Popovich to retire, etc.

BOSTON CELTICS (2) vs NEW YORK KNICKS (3)

When Tatum got hurt and I said that now it's almost inevitable the Knicks will win the series, let me reiterate that I wasn't predicting that NYK would win Game 5, even though they were quote/unquote supposed to.  And with that said, it wouldn't be all that mind-blowing if they did go on to lose the series, because this is, after all, the New York Knicks.  That's a statement you prolly wouldn't understand unless you were unfortunate enough to grow up in New York and thus be a lifelong Knicks' fan by default.

Being a Knicks' fan is not like, say, rooting for the Wizards.  With the Wizards, you already know to expect like failure and mediocrity type shit.

Contrastingly, the Knicks are or were the most-valuable team in the NBA.  That's another way of saying that they're not short on money and furthermore, as us fans know, aren't afraid to spend it.  So most seasons they're able to field exceptional rosters, just for us to sit back and watch them flunk in one way or another.  Lauren Hill was talking about that shit way back in 1996, and to this day, almost 30 years later, they still haven't brought home the Larry O'Brian.

Let me also reiterate that there has never been a consensus on who's better between Brown and Tatum.  Jayson is more marketable within the context of, let's say Western culture.  But remember that last season, when they won a championship, Jaylen was better throughout and won Finals MVP.  I theorize that's why last summer with Team USA, Steve Kerr was like f*k Tatum, not that Brown is better, but he did deserve to be there more.

These dudes are the best SG-SF tandem since Jordan + Pippen, but one is not convincingly better than the other.  And my point is that, the Knicks can choose to fall asleep if they want.

The NY Post is reporting that, you know, there's a lot of energy in NYC right now, in hopes that dudes put the Celtics to bed tonight at the Garden.  To some degree I understand that anxiety, because remember that, Tatum or not, they do have homecourt advantage, and if this series goes back to Boston, smh.

If the Knicks do win this series, you know, they need to blow Boston out.  Otherwise, considering how difficult a time they're having, it's not really anything for NYK to celebrate imo, winning two games on last second plays and then struggling to beat dudes with their star player out.  The Knicks never give their fans an opportunity to relax.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (1) vs MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (4)

As far as I'm concerned, even though we're now two years after the fact, all things considered - such as them since going after aged players like CP3 and Jimmy Butler - when Golden State traded away Jordan Poole a couple of seasons ago, they also traded away their future.  I like Jonathan Kuminga, but the idea of him, Podz and Moody leading the next generation of Warriors, given this team's standard of like the winningest of the last decade, that prospect doesn't really make me feel comfortable.

Poole, he may not be as good as I thought he was, but he did have that magic while in Golden State (i.e. "the Ewing effect") and was the on-court senior, the leader, amongst all the young dudes.  Who's their young consensus leader now?

Trading him away because Draymond punched him and all that shit, why is everyone so afraid of Draymond?  Either discipline Green or forget about the incident, but in any event move on.  Butler is a better player than Poole, but that doesn't mean he fits better in the Dubs' run-and-chuck system.

And going back to this idea of seeing aged cores play together over multiple seasons, I mean I'm not super exicted about the prospect of Steph and Draymond once again teaming up.  Grabbing Butler, on the surface, was a masterful move.  It's not far fetched to believe that since they do have Curry, if he didn't injure himself or whatever, like dudes could've made it all the way to the Finals.

But who is it that actually believed or gambled that the older timers would endure like that?  That's the problem with teams like Golden State and to some degree even the Cavs, lack of contingency plans.  Meanwhile you have a team like Boston who's most popular goes down, but their opponent is still nervous lol.

2024-2025 Offseason Grades (Southeast Division)

ATLANTA HAWKS: F

The Hawks arguably have the most ass-backwards braintrust in the NBA.  Hard to believe that just three or four seasons ago, they were supposed to be the hot, up-and-coming young team in the East.

At the heart of the problem is the fact that Trae Young is not a franchise player, i.e. not being good enough to rationalize actually building a team around.  That's not insult, since 99% of the players in the league aren't of such caliber.  But in order to be a franchise cornerstone, you have to either be exceptional on both offense and defense or, if not much of a defensive player, then out of this world offensively.  Trae has his moments on offense, but he doesn't have the consistency of a Steph, Luka or even a Dame.  The NBA really promoted him around the time he first came into the league.  But it's like the Hawks' braintrust still has yet to realize that he isn't 'the one'.

When they acquired Dejounte Murray a couple of offseasons ago, that was a masterful move.  The compatibility of him and Young was always a question.  But then it was like if you get rid of one or the other, at least you could flip that player for a compatible all-star or a couple of above-average players, with at least one indisputable starter.

What does Atlanta do instead?  They trade Murray for a crop of role players, most notably Larry Nance Jr..  More importantly, I guess in the grand scheme of things, they got a couple of future first-rounders.  And you know, I'm not dissing Larry, Cody or any of the other guys they just scored.  But it's like here and now, role players aren't really the Hawks' problem.  And since they basically lost as many rotation players (if not more) than they've gained over the past couple of years, it's not like the team has gotten any deeper.

The icing on the cake is them choosing Zaccharie Risacher with the no. 1 pick.  I can't see the future and am not going to play myself by saying anything negative about Risacher as a player.  But you know, if you're going to lose, lose big.

No one was expecting a lot of this draft, so if you still opt to keep the number one pick, at least try to choose someone who can make the immediate impact this team needs.  You know what I'm saying?  Pick an Anthony Bennett or some shit.  Swing and miss instead of hoping that the pitcher walks you.

No one wants to hear that 'he may be a future role player' type shit.  If that's the case, that Atlanta has decided to draft a future role player (with the number one pick!), then maybe they should just engage in an outright rebuild and finally let Trae go to an organization that has like a better sense of direction.  And yes, I'm about to beat a dead horse - if they were going to prioritize keeping Young over everyone else, then they never should have traded John Collins, since he played alongside Trae just as good, if not better, than any other player on the roster.

Maybe in the future this will all make sense.  But for now I wouldn't want to be a Hawks' fan, looking forward to another season of  the team being led by Young - who will likely spend considerable time on the injured list - backed by an ever-rotating yet never-actually-improving cast of players.  For instance, might as well move on from De'Andre Hunter already.  Also, since he is a no. 1 pick, let Zaccharie start, even if he is a scrub or whatever.  The Hawks may surprise the world and actually be a winning team.  But if not, then at least try to be exciting and watch-worthy.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS: D

The problem I have with the Hornets is the same as it's been for the past two, three or maybe even four years already.  They're banking on LaMelo Ball, even though he has proven unbankable.

I don't like speaking bad about players' health.  There's few things as frustrating as witnessing a player or team unable to realize its potential due to injury issues.  I would like nothing more than to see Ball + Bridges actually make it to the playoffs.  But, it is what it is.  I don't have a crystal ball saying 'LaMelo will spend significant time on the injury list this coming season'.  But history has proven that's most likely the case.

The issue with these types of players aren't their on-court health per se.  Logic would dictate that yes, it's better to have a player like Ball on your team than not to have him.

The bigger issue is that - oh shit - he's making $200+ mil.  That's money that can be devoted to another superstar or two or even three other really good players who will be healthy enough to participate and make an impact over the long run.

That said, the roster of this team isn't half bad.  Miles Bridges is just as good as any other PF in the East who isn't a reigning all-star.  As for this dude KJ Thompson they just drafted, I didn't hear anything about him from the summer leagues.  But considering that he is a PG, he's probably going to be given ample run.  And that's what the Hornets need to do, have a sans-Ball contingency plan, i.e. being prepared to make the playoffs even if LaMelo potentially misses the entire season.

MIAMI HEAT: D+

The Heat tend to be one of the more-coveted free agent destinations.  So it's kinda surprising that their biggest (and only) acquisition this past summer, outside of the draft, has been Alec Burks.  It's also kinda painful to see Caleb Martin bounce, but he obviously already reached his Miami-based peak a couple of seasons ago.

As for their draft picks, the Heat's first-rounder, Kel'el Ware, represented in Summer League.  That's not surprising, as by this point people actually expect Miami's braintrust to overachieve with whatever hand their dealt.

And for the most part, this remains an impressive roster.  The Heat seem to be loaded at the G and wings while lacking depth upfront, but if Kel'el really does make an immediate impact, I may be wrong.  Also, these kind of lineups with focus more on speed, versatility and shooting are sorta common these days, especially in the East.  And if healthy, i.e. with Butler and Rozier, the Heat's roster is arguably just as impressive at the 1-3 as the Knicks, Sixers and Celtics.

So it's kinda hard to give them an offseason grade.  There's this old saying that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Whether or not Miami is 'broken' is a matter of perspective.  But given that they did have injury issues last postseason, you would at least think they would have gone wild and try to secure at least a borderline star, to mitigate the potential absence of Jimmy or whoever.  But for all we know, if given playing time, Ware may be in the ROY hunt.  Heat rookies are often given a chance, out of the gate, to prove themselves.  So out of all the teams on this list, I wouldn't be surprised if I graded the Heat's offseason to low.

ORLANDO MAGIC: B

I pride myself on not allowing the mainstream media dictate how I feel about teams, but in this case I relented.  That is to say, to be totally honest, I don't really see what the big deal is about Orlando acquiring KCP.  And the reason I say that is because, based on what I seen during the playoffs, their shortcomings weren't in the areas of three-point shooting and perimeter defense, which are his specialties.  Rather, what they seemed to lack was an interior presence, both offensively and defensively.  So I guess the trend of underestimating the need for bigmen continues.  But that said, I gave the Magic a B because the way everyone else is raving about the addition of KCP, then I have to assume that maybe there's something I'm missing.

One of the reasons I was tempted to give Orlando a lower grade is because I can't quite grasp how their braintrust concluded that Franz Wagner is a max player.  It has been pointed out that the only other players of his draft class who scored max extensions, like himself, have been Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes.  Those two may be overrated also, but at least they're unanimously considered to be franchise players, as their respective rosters currently stand.  Meanwhile, Wagner isn't even the alpha on his team.  But, you know, when you're dealing with money and those kinds of things, you know what I'm saying?

Meanwhile Markelle Fultz, who was a starter for the Magic last season - their best in years - remains in free agent limbo.  I guess the idea, if Orlando doesn't re-sign him, is to have KCP more or less fill his role.

If no other team picks up Markelle, it'll be sorta like the merciful end to his confusing career, the conclusion which I guess he didn't have the wherewithal to bring about himself.  But that said, I don't really see why the Magic wouldn't re-sign him, unless it's because of monetary issues, such as making up for overpaying Wagner.  And personally, given this current roster, I'd be surprised if Orlando makes it any further next season than they did last.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: B+

Since writing my last post, Tyus Jones decided to sign with the Suns, which can prove big for Phoenix, if they decide to play the right way.  But that's a story for another day.  Washington meanwhile took that loss.  But they did sign Malcolm Brogdon, who could start in Jones's place and of course is one of the best shooters in the league.

Out of all garbage teams, the Wizards arguably have the most impressive roster.  On the low, Jones aside, they had a pretty impressive offseason.  Besides Brogdon they also scored Jonas Valanciunas, a starting-level European center, who are like the best types these days.  They also picked up Saddiq Bey who, from what I gathered, seemed to be a pretty good fit in Atlanta.  On top of that, they got Alex Sarr in the draft.  He had a really rough Summer League.  But at least, by the looks of things, if Sarr is a bust, the Wizards won't catch the type of flack that the Hawks will if Risacher proves the same.

Meanwhile, Washington still has Kyle Kuzma and, dare I say it, Jordan Poole.  I'm looking forward to Jordan reclaiming his mojo and having a bounce-back season.  Whether or not that's actually possible, without big brother Steph around, remains to be seen.  But at least I take satisfaction in believing that the Warriors must now regret letting him go like that.

CONCLUSION

Of out of the five teams in the Southwest, the biggest addition this offseason is considered to have been the Magic acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, an above-average role player.  Meanwhile, the Wizards scored two or maybe even three of such individuals.  But those moves flew under the radar, since no one is really expecting them to win.

Then, even with the number one pick in the draft, the Hawks look not only as if they failed to improve but may have even gotten worse.  So it's easy to conclude that, on the surface, this division has been the most underwhelming of the 2024 offseason.  And whereas Orlando did make a little bit noise last postseason, Miami, if healthy, remains the team to beat.   However, if Poole rediscovers his shot or the Wizards are somehow able to mesh otherwise, look out for Washington.

Post-Finals Ruminations

CONGRATS TO THE NUGGETS?

This feels like another one of those half-hearted congratulations because first of all, the Heat, imo, aren't even on the Nuggets level.  Miami may have taken the East, but in the grand scheme of things they aren't contenders.

Secondly, the team that should have given the Nuggets the most problem in the Playoffs, that being the Suns, were hobbled when they met.  Out of all the squads in the NBA, it's going to be most interesting to see that Phoenix does this offseason now that they're supposed to be waiving Chris Paul, as in who they're going to go out and pursue in his place.  With KD + Booker, it isn't like they actually have to chase another PG.  What they should rather be looking for is a player or two to compliment their stars, someone like Draymond I would argue, who could run the point if he has to but also can play any frontcourt position.  But what I personally believe is going to happen is the Suns going big-game hunting a landing someone, like a high-volume scorer, who doesn't fit.

There are also suggestions floating around that Bradley Beal may end up on the Heat.  That sounds like a perfect marriage to me, because everyone wants to know how Beal would look if he played for a contender, and the Wizards aren't serious for shit.  If they were, they would try to build on the fact that they one have the best frontcourts in the NBA.  But Kuzma is likely going to bounce anyway, and so it is with the Wizards, since like time immemorial.  Maybe the NBA will show them some love and let them win the draft next year.

I'm also one of the people who believe that the Nuggets may have a potential dynasty on their hands.  One thing you have to remember is that after themselves suffering from serious injury issues the last couple of years, this postseason they lucked out by rather facing two teams, the Timberwolves and Suns, who had notable health issues of their own, while this time around Denver were actually the healthy ones.  So that kinda stuff does matter, that the Nuggets got "lucky" this year by being healthy.  And if that trend continues, yeah, why not.  But I look forward to them making a notable addition their own this offseason, like while no one was else is looking.  And I still kinda advocate Mo Bamba going to this team, if they aren't going to play Thomas Bryant.

SHOUTOUT TO DOC RIVERS

Doc Rivers, who was recently fired, made some comments about Joel Embiid and the Beard.  And one thing he said that really stuck with me, that these players like Embiid and Ben Simmons and I guess you can also say Zion Williamson, like their careers are affected by the fact that after being drafted, they spend a year or two not playing.  Or as Doc put it, that "sets a tone", like they get mentally used to not playing.  And I thought that was pretty deep because it's easy for pundits, including myself, to like diss these guys for not being on the court.  But it takes an insider to know that there's actually psychological ramifications to being drafted (and paid) yet not being able to play for an extended period.  Like that would definitely begin to explain what appears to be Simmons' lackadaisical attitude.

FINALLY, A ZION TRADE?

That said, I questioned Zion Williamson's work ethic years ago, and I'm pretty sure that I stated at the beginning of this season that the Pelicans should think about trading him.  My argument is that either he or Ingram has to go, because they don't particularly play well together anyway.  But having both of them, since they're always injured, is sorta like insurance.  At any given time at least one of them is likely to be hurt, so it isn't like NO actually has the issue of them playing together anyway.  But that strategy isn't working well for them.

One big different between Williamson and Simmons is that when Zion plays, he always makes an impact.  So it would be kinda exciting to see him to go Charlotte, with LaMelo Ball.  Maybe the change of scenery would like invigorate him and do well for his health, if possible.  Also, if Miles Bridges comes back, then instantly the Hornets will have one of the most-athletics frontcourts in the league, one to be feared even.  But at this point, I'm not actually getting my hopes up in terms of Zion consistently playing.

Trade Talk: Hachimura vs. Nunn, etc.

I was meaning to write this article before Hachimura made his Lakers debut last night, but it really doesn't matter, since he contributed exactly as I expected he would.

Lakers Get:	Wizards Get:
Rui Hachimura	Kendrick Nunn
	Three 2nd Round Picks

Anytime I write about the Lakers, there's certain points I feel a need to drive home.  One is that despite roster imbalances, with LBJ, Russ and AD they should be contenders regardless.  If fact is they always played correctly, then they should be able to beat most teams even without Davis.

And of late, they've been trying.  LBJ may not post up, but he's so strong that him driving basically has the same effect.  Russ is arguably the strongest G in the league, and now he's also capitalizing on that attribute by driving instead of depending on a virtually-nonexistent jumpshot.  AD also finally got the point, that they need him at the 5 instead of on the perimeter chucking up threes.  If he actually stays healthy and gets his legs under him, I don't see any reason why the Lakers can't compete for the title.

Players like Malik Monk and Stanley Johnson are now forgotten Lakers.  But those are the types of versatile, long, athletic types that you need next to Lebron when he's handling the ball.  LAL acquiring Lonnie Walker mitigated pain of losing Monk.  And as for Hachimura, he's a better all-around player than Johnson.  So out of all the boneheaded moves LAL has made in recent years, at least now they finally rightened one of their biggest mistakes, which was losing Monk especially but also Johnson.

As for Kendrick Nunn, he's one of the more baffling cases in the NBA.  He was a star rookie and I think even a starter in his first year, on Miami, a team which isn't known to be easy to crack the starting lineup.  Then it's like the Heat totally devalued him.  Maybe it was because they got better yet similar player in Jimmy Butler.  And I was kinda excited when Nunn went to LA, but then he got injured or whatever, and that plan never really worked out.

Speaking of devalued, it seems that Hachimura wasn't fully appreciated in Washington either.  I remember him getting into like internal beef a couple of times (but don't feel like looking up those incidents at the moment).  Also right before being traded, he made a statement like the Wizards don't want him.  Washington's braintrust isn't as incompetent as you would readily presume.  But I'd be surprised if Nunn, at this point, will be able to match Rui's production.

Then there are all those 2nd round picks which, hey, you never know, could prove something in the hands of a guru.  But, does Washington even really have any gurus like that?

CONCLUSION

Rui Hachimura may never be an all-star, but he's exactly the type of player the Lakers needed.  They could also use an additional rim protector for the times AD is hurt, but at least they solved one of their pressing issues, which was adding another athletic scoring wing.  With AD in the post, now you can have Lebron running point with Walker and Hachimura on the wings.  That would be a pretty hard lineup to beat.

As for the Wizards, they remain the team with dogged faith in Bradley Beal.  It's kinda ironic, -if you want to put it like that - that now after having signed that max extension, like his name isn't even in the All-Star conversation this season.  But maybe Nunn, who's more of a defensive (i.e. diesel) type, will prove a better fit next to Beal.  But ultimately, it'll all be for naught if Kuzma bounces and Porzingis continues to spend half of his time on the injured list.

NBA Offseason Power Stinkings (Northeast Division)

The Miami Heat are the only team in the Northeast Division who are considered to be contenders, which may be true, but I'd watch out for those Hawks.  They staged one of biggest coups of the offseason in grabbing Dejounte Murray out of nowhere, like no one saw that coming.  And there is perhaps no single transaction that occurred this summer that will prove as significant.

But since this is the Power Stinkings, I'm not going to start off with the likes of the Heat or Hawks.  Instead, let's not forget that there's also teams out there such as:

1.  CHARLOTTE HORNETS

The NBA season, at a grueling 82 games, is largely a test of endurance where, along the line, teams that are weak one way or another eventually get exposed.  So at the beginning of last season, the Hornets were one of the feel-good stories of the NBA.  Like you look at LaMelo Ball and just want him to win.  But by the time all was said and done, it's like they just vanished from competititveness.

Now Miles Bridges, who is arguably their best player, like who knows when or if he'll suit up again.  Then for whatever reason, the Hornets aren't making any effort to re-sign Montrezl Harris nor chase any quality free agents.  So now, it looks like they're going to run it back with Ball + Oubre + Rozier Hayward (!) + Plumlee, which may not be the worst starting lineup in the NBA but has to be pretty darn close.

2.  ORLANDO MAGIC

Paolo Banchero may look "NBA ready" or however they call it, but I live by a pretty unwavering philosophy of never putting too much hope in a rookie during his first year, because it's very rare that a rookie has any type of major impact to begin with.  And even then, they need to drafted onto a roster that's already moderately good.

And maybe you can say the Magic are in that position.  For instance Jonathan Isaac, who awhile back was being touted as their franchise player or whatever, I guess is supposed to be playing soon.  And I'm still a Markelle Fultz fan, I suppose.  I also kinda like Mo Bamba, and this dude Franz Wagner is supposed to be hot or whatever.  Cole Anthony is also supposed to be some type of revelation, but honestly I can't remember the last time I saw the Magic play like a full game.  This is a team that could really benefit from the presence of a bonafide superstar, which maybe Banchero will be after a season or two.

3.  WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Bradley Beal is my type of NBA player.  When you're getting paid gazillions of dollars to play basketball, as taxing as the NBA may be, you don't sit around crying about rings and legacy and all that bullshit.  That is your legacy - that you're actually getting paid tens of millions of dollars to play fukin basketball.  Just ask Antoine Walker.  You know what I mean?  Like get your priorities straight already.

That said, you have to admire this guy's level of commitment, though perhaps what he's actually committed to is money, i.e. the Wizards being able to pay him more than any other team, because it's like these guys never really improve.  Well actually at this time last year, I thought that the Wiz, along with the Bulls, had the best offseason of 2021.  But what seems to have happened to Washington, even though they finally put together a good roster post-Wall, was that they lacked unity or something and got exposed as the season wore on.

And their current roster is also, in reality, moderately impressive.  Barton and Morris, I would imagine, should fit nicely next to Beal.  Also a frontline of Kuzma and Porzingis (esp if he's healthy) is nothing to sneeze at.  But speaking of legacy, let's not forget that this is the Washington Wizards, so no one should expect them to overachieve.

2.  ATLANTA HAWKS

I'm really feeling the Hawks right now for a couple of reasons.  One is that they didn't rush out and trade John Collins when he got into it with Trae Young.  This is professional athletics, so you aren't supposed to overreact everytime coworkers aren't getting along with each other, even if one of them is a franchise player.

Secondly, they went out and got Dejounte Murray, which was like some guru shit.  Their roster actually wasn't that bad last season, and his presence may end up solving most of their shortcomings.  Like no one is really talking the Hawks, but they have, when you also take age into consideration, perhaps the most well-rounded starting 5 in the NBA.  And they also now have two Holiday brothers coming off the bench.  Their one weakness though may be frontline depth, esp since both Capela and Collins are known to have injury issues.

1.  MIAMI HEAT

I'm tired of dickridin the Heat already.  These teams, like the Suns who do exceptionally well during the season but falter in the playoffs, it always hurts when I predict them to win big, but then they fall short.  Also, PJ Tucker leaving is supposed to have some type of adverse affect on them or whatever.  I personally think Tucker tends to be overrated.  But it ain't like they actually got anybody for him in return.

The Heat are one of the best-coached teams in the NBA for like ages now, but maybe they need to try something new, like maybe starting Tyler Herro alongside Duncan Robinson.  I mean, why not?  They have one of the deeper rosters in the league but obviously need to devise a new strategy to take things to the next level.  And I'm not really sure how much Kyle Lowry has left in the tank, which makes me wonder why perhaps they didn't go after an additional starting level PG this offseason.

CONCLUSION

The Heat lost a couple of role players this offseason, didn't get anybody back to match their talent level, but are still the team to beat in the Northeast.  That says alot about how wise this organization actually is.  But speaking of injury issues, that begs the question of how much they can truly rely not only on Lowry but also Butler and Adebayo this coming season.

Meanwhile, the Hawks may not be models of health themselves, but they are going to be a fun watch, even more than they've already been the past couple of years.  And the acquisition of Murray is such that the sky's really the limit for them at the moment, and they may have the best backcourt in the NBA (taking nothing away from the Splash Bros).

I feel sorry for the Hornets in more ways than one.  Who knows if they would have made the effort to retain Bridges anyway, but damn, is he catching a bad one.

And as for the Magic and Wizards, I mean the East ain't as formidable as it may seem at times.  And maybe, just maybe they'll make the playoffs.

Lebron James - The Wizards' Years

I still remember when Michael Jordan went to play for the Wizards.  By that point in his career, at 38 years old, MJ was about as interested in playing D as Kyrie is in getting vaccinated.  But still, no one really gave AF.  Why?  Well one of the reasons is that when the Wizards played against even the lowliest teams in the NBA, their arenas would sellout because Jordan was coming to town.  In other words he was must-watch at an age where most stars have already descended into obscurity.  And given his record, no one could question MJ's greatness, even if the team he played on was garbage.

The problem with Lebron, who is currently 37 years old, is that he takes basketball too seriously.  He wants to win so bad that when he doesn't, it becomes sort of a mocking point.

If LBJ knew how to relax and take things as given to him, the Lakers would be better than they currently are.  Once MJ reached the twilight of his career, he wasn't trying to force himself onto a contender or insist that the Wizards become one through nonstop roster changes, you know, since he already won six championships anyway.  Rather, he accepted the luxury of being an accomplished, elder statesman in the game who people simply enjoyed watching play.

That said unlike Jordan, who took a couple of years off and came back less of a player than he originally was, Lebron is still more or less playing like he did over the last decade, just being injured more frequently but even then, not as tender as a lot of players much younger than he is.

Jordan was also wiser than Lebron in that he didn't harp on political or social issues during his playing days.  Because of this some people like to label MJ - who btw is still making more basketball-related money than any current player - like he's a sellout or a wuss.  But anyone who has been formally trained in the concept of professionalism would likely verify the fact that in the business world, personal beliefs are supposed to take a backseat to income generation.  And this doesn't mean that you ignore social issues that are bothering you in the name of making more money - something that even current NBA players get chastised for doing in relation to China.  Rather, it's like there's a right and a wrong way to respond to matters.

A nigga making a gazillion dollars a year isn't supposed to react to social issues like us broke niggas do.  They can rely on their money and resources, if so desired, to do their talking for them.  If instead you decide to go shooting from the lip, not saying Lebron necessarily did so, but you see how many games he's winning now that the NBA isn't backing him like before.

CONCLUSION

Perhaps we have finally reached the point in Lebron James' career where we should just appreciate him more for what he's already accomplished as opposed to expecting him to make it to the Finals every year, you know, at nearly 40 years of age.  I still believe there's a possibility things may click for the Lakers, if maybe they get the right kinda player via buyout or whatever.  If AD and Lebron get hot and healthy, no team would logically want to face them in the Playoffs.  But even if they don't, who really gives AF?  It's like give dude a break already.

In the Hot Seat: Kristaps Porzingis

Back in the old days if a team drafted a player, they were guaranteed to get some quality years out of him - at least to the fulfillment of his rookie contract - as long as he proved talented enough.  But today's NBA isn't like that.  You have dudes who are dumb talented, but their bodies cannot endure the continuous rigors of playing multiple NBA seasons, even from very early in their careers.

For instance, there was a moment in time where I was predicting that Kristaps Porzingis may even end up better than Lebron James.  But one of the things that makes Lebron great, as with Jordan who preceded him, is the ability to actually stay on the court.

A couple of days ago at the Mavs' game, there was Kristaps Porzingis chillin' on the sideline in a sweater or polo shirt or some shit.  He's dumb tall, so he stands out amongst the rest of the roster.  And I'm sitting there watching the Mavs outplay teams who are like more talented than they are and thinking to myself, 'man, what is Kristaps could also suit up and play?'

If I remember correctly, he left NY having beef with the organization.  Meanwhile, back in his healthy days, he was being heralded as the franchise player and savior of the ever-disappointing Knicks.  And regardless of what kinds of nasty things may have been relayed from one party to the next, you have to believe that if he were healthy enough to steadily contribute that there wouldn't have been that much beef.

So now he's off to the Wizards, which isn't totally a bad thing having a team consisting of Beal, Kuzma and Porzingis.  But damn, when is Kristaps even coming back?  And then, how many games will the Wizards get out of him before he's hurt again?

CONCLUSION

I personally feel as if Porzingis's career is pretty much over.  No disrespect to David Bertans and Spencer Dinwiddie, but he was never supposed to be in a situation where he can get traded for those dudes in the first place.  And both of them may end up prospering in the Mavericks' system, which is very wing/guard dependent.

I was finna to look up how much money Kristaps has made in his career, but just the fact that he's still owed $30mil+(!) is tons more money than most of us will ever see.  So I mean of course the Wizards or whatever team he may end up with next will have him on the bench and may give him some run or whatever.  But I wouldn't be completely surprised if this current contract proves to the last of his NBA career.  He'd probably be better off playing in a less physically stressful European league anyway.