Dear Kawhi, Just Stay with the Clippers

So if the reports are true, that the Clippers arranged to pay Kawhi an extra $40mil(!) - another salary basically - even though he didn't have to do jackshit to earn that money, then I have two questions.  Number one, why would a player want to walk away from a sweet situation like that?  And number two, after making such an investment, why would the organization want him to go?

If or when punishments are handed down, I hope the NBA isn't too hard on Kawhi, in terms of like suspending him and shit.  Funny how you don't hear the NBPA releasing statements related to this case.  Maybe in circumventing his salary or whatever, Leonard gypped them out of a cut.

Also at this point, what I'm actually hoping is that he just stays with the Clippers.  That'll teach him a lesson.  And I mean, if the goal is parity, trading Kawhi and in the process making the Raptors really good while LAC gets even worse isn't the way to achieve it.

Of course, I can't see the future.  But what the Clippers are trying to do, in terms of roster construction, is kinda weird.  This is the curse of being too bad to be good yet too good to be bad.

Instead of fruitlessly trying to compete without Kawhi, they might as well go full rebuild and hope for the best.  Meanwhile, if they are forced to keep him, I mean the offseason is practically over.  But if Ballmer and co. still have money to spend, might as well go after DeRozan and Kuminga, i.e. the two best noncommitted free agents left.  And if the Clippers are reluctant to acquire them because of tax concerns, I mean obviously they know how to quote/unquote 'handle' those types of situations.

If Kawhi is eventually forced to stick around, then might as well put him in the best situation possible to win.  And you never know.  A full season with him as the undisputed alpha may pay off better than those failed superteam experiments of the last few years.

THE INDECISIONS

I don't know if it's just me, but starting with that whole Lebron fiasco, it feels like dudes are intentionally taking longer to make their decisions, deadass exercising their patience.  In the meantime, I can't write my predictions or rate the offseason because first of all, if DeRozan does land on a contender, chances are he's going to make a major impact.  And now that I think about it, it kinda surprises me that the Pistons haven't gotten in the conversation, but they seem to actually prefer chasing C-listers and shit.

I used to be really big Jonathan Kuminga, someone I viewed as having been underappreciated by the Warriors.  Now looking back, there's absolutely no reason Golden State shouldn't have kept him, because they need all the quality help they can get, and he's definitely better than any of the other non-star currently on their roster.

Also, it looks like a situation whereas Kuminga may never perform as well as he did on the team that drafted him.  Sometimes, it's like that.  A team needs a certain player just as much as a certain player needs a particular team.  Jonathan may not have been the future of the Warriors in and of himself, but then again, neither is Draymond, who just scored a major loyalty contract.  Oh well.  The current GSW braintrust may undervalue youth, but at least they treat a couple of proven dudes they drafted over a decade ago really well.

If Bradley Beal ends up on the Celtics or Heat and is actually healthy type shit, he'll also make a difference.  But I'm having a hard time picturing both him and PG13 on the floor at the same time, trying to play defense.  The best defense is a good offense?

THE FOOLISH KING

And then there's the ScapeGOAT who, I mean idk what else to say.  Lebron is about get paid, what, $9mil, while the Beard, a lesser player all things considered, is prolly going to end up with another $100mil-ish contract.

Westbrook, who stat-wise is better than 90% of the players in the NBA, doesn't have a contract.  Meanwhile his former partner in crime, KD, demands a max salary, even though he never accomplished anything Russ hasn't besides excelling on a team that was already poised to win without him.

But I'm not trying to minimize KD's accomplishments, because it's not like a superstar joining a contender always works.  And the results may not have been the same for the Warriors if, say, they had gotten Westbrook instead of Durant.  So I figure that Russ must really be that difficult to control, like they say, to have fallen off like this.

In the past, I was sorta like it's the coaching staffs' fault for not being able to reign him in.  But now, I sympathize with anyone who may be stuck with a subordinate - so to speak - who's an A-hole, if that is in fact the case.  But I don't necessarily believe that.  I believe that the ScapeGOAT may actually be too complete of a player, in and of himself, to play 5-on-5 basketball. 

But that said, the Kings are just about as ass-backwards as an organization can be.  For instance, even if it was the Bulls who gave LaVine that ridiculous contract, why would you be dumb enough to pick it up?  That shit was questionable from the time it was signed.  And if you don't believe me, dig through this blog and find what I postulated back then, that basically, Chicago gave Zach all of that money moreso for his marketability than productivity per se.  Meanwhile, those types of Haliburton gambles don't always pay off

Also, when have you ever heard of an organization putting their "future" in the hands of a rookie PG, who has yet to play an NBA game, that was drafted all the way down at #5?  I mean I'm not sleeping on dude, but come on.  Have we learned nothing from the faith put in the likes of Telfair and Scoot?  What about Fultz?  C'mon, dudes.

Again, I'm not sleeping of Darius Acuff. But I mean yeah, generally speaking, I can't say off the top of my head I ever seen the media bigup a #5 pick like this, regardless of position.  That's how bad everyone wants Sacramento to finally take a step forward or at least look like they know what they're doing.

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 (Central Division)

CHICAGO BULLS: B+

I was really hoping that Zach LaVine found his way to LAL.  That didn't happen, but the good thing about Chicago's situation is that now, at least they're a one-alpha team.

LaVine may not be a franchise player in the truest sense of the word, in terms of being able to consistently will a team to victory.  But, he isn't a scrub either.  And the pairing of him and DeRozan was always a questionable strategy, given that the Bulls didn't necessarily surround them with complementary role players, or at least those who were able to stay healthy.

I also like the acquisition of Josh Giddey, because he can fill the role that Lonzo Ball was supposed to.  He may not as good of a defender as Lonzo, but he is a better all-around offensive player.

Also, the way the Bulls' roster is currently made up is such that they can tank without looking like they're intentionally doing so.  You know what I'm saying?  Like they have a respectable roster, but perhaps one not good enough to make the playoffs.

That said, Chicago actually has one of the better braintrusts as far as garbage teams go.  I think what this roster, as is, may need to get to the next level, if they haven't gotten one already, is a speedy, athletic big who focuses primarily on defense and rebounding, not built like Drummond but one you can rationalize starting alongside Vucevic, since he apparently isn't going anywhere anytime soon either.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: A-

The Cavs are literally running it back with their same roster from last season and may be the only team in the league doing so.  That type of commitment demands some level of applause in this day and age.  That's more or less how champions were built back in the days.

That said, I agree with pundits who argue or notice that there's compatibility issues between Garland and Mitchell.  Donovan is a 2 who plays more like a 1 and furthermore is ball dominant.  In other words, if he decides to chuck, there's really no need to force him not to.  Forcing Mitchell, against his will, to share the ball with the other Gs and wings may do this roster more harm than good.

One solution is perhaps to bring Darius off the bench and rather start a G alongside Mitchell who's more defense oriented.  But then, the issue will become if Garland is as effective as a sixth man than he is as a starter.

Either way, at this moment there really isn't much reason to believe that Cleveland is on the verge of winning a championship.  But the ex-factor, once again, is Evan Mobley.  He's the type of player who, if Joel Embiid is unable to find his form, no other team in the East possesses.

DETROIT PISTONS: C-

The Pistons seem to have finally forsaken their youth movement by acquiring a handful of vets, most notably Tobias Harris, over the offseason.  I've been arguing for years that more veterans need to go to young teams like this.  However, I was thinking more along the lines of those who can make more of a difference, not only in terms of winning but also like ticket sales.  Meanwhile, Detroit's youth-laden roster from last season was more exciting, on paper, than their current one (even though they kept most of those young guys).

A little progress is better than no progress.  But the question is, has progress actually been made?

The problem with considering Cade Cunningham a franchise player is first of all, the Pistons are now paying him so much money that if they did decide to part ways, he'd be hard to trade.  You know, first it's like what team actually needs his skillset, and then it's like, what would they be willing to give up in return?  I know I may be projecting too far into the future, but that's the kind of issues Detroit, unless it overachieves, is likely to face.

Obviously no perennial all-star, i.e. the type of player they likely need to actually move the needle, is eager to join the Pistons.  So all things considered, it'd probably be better off if they didn't have any max player and engaged in a full rebuild sooner than later.  Or put another way, if Cade isn't a franchise player (which, imo, he has never proven to be, despite the stats), then they're going to look real stupid the longer they hold onto him.

INDIANA PACERS: B

I criticized the Pacers a lot during the playoffs and don't want to go there again.  If certain other teams in the East are healthy, I doubt that Indiana will make the conference finals again.  But that said, logic will dictate that after the success of last season, the right thing would be to run it back, with an upgrade or two.

That upgrade is expected to come in the form of James Wiseman, which isn't a completely bad gamble, since Myles Turner's style of play can be frustrating at times.  Wiseman was drafted onto the Warriors, a team which, as perennial contenders (up until recently), wasn't necessarily the best environment for young, developing, insecure players.  Since then, he's played for the Pistons and never quite panned out to be the phenom some were predicting when he was in high school.

But maybe, things will be different in Indiana.  Unlike Detroit, this is a team that actually wins games.  And unlike Golden State, even though the Pacers are theoretically contenders, there shouldn't be a whole of pressure or expectations unrealistically placed on Wiseman's shoulders, you know, to instantly prove a champion.  It's like either he finally represents in a definitive way, or he doesn't.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS: B-

I enjoy reminding the world that I was the first pundit to suggest the pairing of Giannis + Dame.  The problem is that, due to injuries, we never got to see their full (postseason) potential.  I think it's safe to say that if nothing else, if Giannis was healthy then the Bucks would have gotten past the first round of the playoffs.

I'm sorta a pessimist when it comes to injuries.  Sometimes, players get hurt really bad and make what seem like miraculous comebacks.  Other times, you're expecting them to return to form, and they never do.  Or let me say that my strategy is that, once a star player proves injury-prone, to always have a viable backup plan, just in case.

The Bucks, though they've made some quality additions, do not appear as if they have done so, nor do they necessarily look better than they did last season.  Besides Dame and Giannis, this squad is banking on a handful of aged starters, one of whom has an even worse injury history.  So I don't feel inspired, and obviously neither does any other pundit, since I have yet to see anyone mention Milwaukee as contenders this upcoming season.

But of course, in theory Giannis + Dame can be the best big/small combination in the league.  Maybe what the Bucks should think about doing is going all out and perhaps assembling what looks more like a win-now roster around them.  They're in a tough spot in terms of facing decisions because when you look at their top-six players, they're definitely contenders if healthy (and maybe a bit younger).

CONCLUSION

The Cavs should be the best team in the Central Division and, if they're able to be more innovative, perhaps even contenders.  They're the only team in the East who, as of now, has a starting five that consists of twin towers, not to mention a perennial allstar 2guard.

But of course, you can't sleep on the Pacers after the showing they had last season.  They now should be fully accustomed to the presence of Pascal Siakim.  But after how they performed last playoffs, injuries and all, I'm not convinced.  But, the same thing can be said for the Cavs.

New Year Analytical Reflections (Eastern Conference)

For the few readers who may have been following this blog even during this current period of relative non-activity and it being devoid of an independent URL, I apologize for not staying on top of it.  I've been following the NBA for a long time, and after awhile it becomes sorta redundant and boring.  You have veteran players who spend the entire season looking forward to the playoffs, and you have veteran fans who feel the same.

But we have about reached the midway point, and this is the start of a new year.  So I want to use the opportunity to look back at the predictions I made at the beginning of the season for each respective team and analyzing if those foretellings, from a self-proclaimed guru, have thus far proving true or not.

ATLANTA HAWKS 

Previous Prediction: Given their trajectory over the past couple of seasons, the Hawks are once again on the verge of sliding into obscurity.

Current Standing (17-23, 2-game winning streak): That prediction has proven to be more or less true.  The way the Young + Murray experiment didn't work last season, the Hawks should've have expeditiously moved on from it.  Instead, they got rid of John Collins for some reason.

The problem with teams such as this one is that sometimes the best or most-popular player can be, in the grand scheme of things, the most non-compatible.  I've always been critical of Trae Young's lack of defensive prowess and chucking.  He's an amazing and electrifying scorer who can put on a show like few others in the NBA, but he can't pull off miracles with the same type of consistency as, say, Steph Curry.

Currently, ATL is supposed to be trending towards trading Dejounte.  Another problem with this type of predicament is that Murray is arguably better than Young.  Or let's say, which one you prefer would depend on the makeup or direction of the overall roster.

It isn't likely that trading Dejounte is really change anything, unless the Hawks gets back an above-average player or two whose style is really compatible with Trae's brand of on-court leadership.  And they can't trade Young, even if they wanted to, because as a mediocre team, the last thing you need to be thinking about is getting rid of the one player on your roster who sells tickets.  

The one player I personally hopes gets traded next is Clint Capela, because he deserves better than this.  I can picture him on a team like the Thunder, if they don't have to give up any key personnel to get him.  The Hawks procuring Murray awhile back was a masterful move, from the perspective that at the time he was an all-star.  But overall, their braintrust haven't proven themselves to be gurus.

BOSTON CELTICS

Previous Prediciton: I doubted the fit of Jrue Holiday with this squad, and I also doubted the pairing of Porzingis + Horford from a defensive perspective.

Current standing (32-9, 3-game winning streak) I more or less knew that the Celtics would remain contenders, as they have been for about a decade now.  But boy was I wrong in terms of how good they actually are.  They have the best record in the NBA, though you can't really take that for granted in the East with the Sixers and Bucks lurking around.

I'm still finding it hard to imagine though that Boston will win a championship this year.  Obviously, it can happen.  But for some reason I can't explain, I'm having a difficult time picturing it.

BROOKLYN NETS

Previous Prediction: For some reason that perhaps only they could truly understand, coming into this season it was like the Nets were still expecting Ben Simmons to make a difference.  I think that his NBA days are just about over.  Actually, I was arguing that he should've just retire after bouncing on the Sixers.  Having him on the roster feels more like a burden than a gift.

That said, I still thought the Nets had a better roster than their record, 16 and 24 with a 4-game losing streak, would indicate.  I guess now, the days of dickriding Jacque Vaughn are also over.  There's even been talk of Brooklyn trading Mikal Bridges who, to my knowledge, is their best player.  So, they're looking like a team with no clear direction at the moment.  I guess KD, Kyrie and them really did have the last laugh.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Previous Prediction: The Hornets would be the worst team in the NBA.

Current Standing (8-30, 6-game losing streak) LaMelo Ball has health issues of course, but it could be worse.  Miles Bridges is back, having picked up statistically where he left off, even if his brand has suffered.  Brandon Miller is more or less living up to expectation.  Terry Rozier, at this point, can probably be considered the most-underrated player in the league, and even the aged Gordon Hayward is chipping in 15ppg.

Yet, the Hornets still suck.  So even though they don't technically have the worst record in the NBA, they are arguably the worst team as, with their talent, they shouldn't be in the same tier with the Spurs and Pistons.

 CHICAGO BULLS

Previous Prediction: They were going to once again underachieve due to injury and inconsistency.

Current Standing (19-23, 1-game losing streak) I feel bad for Zach LaVine, because now the media has caught on to what I've been saying for the longest - that he's not a viable franchise player - and it's like people are starting to diss or devalue him.  But what I always like to point out in these types of situations is that you can't fault a player if a braintrust concludes that he's better than he actually is and puts the onus on him accordingly.  LaVine is an amazing athlete with a pretty face who can score 20+ points at will, but he isn't good enough to lead a team to a championship.

That said, it's kinda hard to diss the Bulls, because they probably would have been contenders for the past couple of seasons if Lonzo Ball weren't injured.  Like who would've thought that he would end up being such an ex-factor?

But once it did become blatantly obvious that you can't count on Lonzo's health, you know, like two or three years ago, then the Bulls should have been thinking about dismantling this core since then.  And it isn't all about capability issues between LaVine, DeRozan and Vucevic but also, like who's even the role players on this team?

Two or three seasons ago, Chicago did well assembling a formidable team of players all collected from other squads.  But it's been years, like 30 of them, since they've shown any type of exceptional genius when it comes to drafting players.  So when they finally get around to dismantling this roster, might as well let the braintrust go also.

But that said, I do agree with Zach that the Lakers would be an ideal destination for him, and LAL also has a few players who together could be more beneficial to this current iteration of the Bulls than LaVine is.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Previous prediction: The Cavs are a good team but are not the recipients to necessary amounts of favoritism.

These days, I never hear anything about the Cavaliers besides for an occasional injury report.  That's despite the fact that they're currently 24 and 15 and, more notably, on a six-game winning streak.  But that reality can be considered both a good and bad thing.  

It's good because, that means they're more or less winning as to be expected, you know, like some no-news-is-good-news type shit.  But it ain't so good because that means they're remaining amongst the less-popular teams.  And yes, as I've been saying for years and now even laymen and coaches are starting to realize, popularity does matter when it comes to being successful in the NBA.  The Cavs have a couple of studs, most notably Donovan Mitchell, but for whatever reasons he's never achieved super-duper star status, even going back to his days with the Jazz.

So I wouldn't be surprised, considering how competitive the East has become, if Cleveland, as deep as they may be, once again end up getting bounced in the First Round.  Sometimes in the world of professional sports, a team's championship window only opens for a season or two.  And I still believe that the Cavs more or less blew their chance when they traded Ricky Rubio a couple of seasons ago, even if they did eventually get him back.

DETROIT PISTONS

Previous prediction: They should focus more on acquiring quality vets, because the youth movement isn't working.

Current Standing (4-37, worst in the NBA, with a 1-game losing streak) I knew the Pistons were going to be bad, but I didn't think they would be historically so.  It's kinda confusing because their roster is pretty talented and also a bit deep.

I see that Cade is currently averaging 23 pts and 8 assists, which would be all-star worthy numbers if Detroit were winning.  He didn't turn out to be the kind of bust his dismal and exaggerated rookie season implied.  But at the same time, I think it's safe to say that he may not be a viable team leader neither.

INDIANA PACERS

Previous Prediction: The Pacers may be on cusp of once again being recognized as a great team, but they need to like actually do something first before getting there.

Some people believe that something may have been the acquisition of Pascal Siakim, who they just traded for like yesterday.  I don't doubt, but at the same time, I'm not necessarily convinced either.

Tyrese Haliburton has developed to into an unexpected (to everyone expect Indiana's braintrust) perennial all-star, and the team is solidly entrenched within the second tier of the Eastern Conference.  So maybe, the better strategy would have been to ride it out and try to improve with what they had.

But after what they've done with Haliburton, who I was previously thinking was along the lines of a scrub, I have to believe that the Pacers know what they're doing.  And therefore, getting Pascal should move them into the elite category.

MIAMI HEAT

Previous Prediction: Coming into this season, their roster didn't look as formidable as it did a few months prior.  But if any brainstrust can pull off a miracle, it's the Heat.

Current Standing (24-17, 1-game losing streak) And they did that by drafting this dude Jaime Jaquez that nobody was talking about before the draft yet is currently considered to be the third-best rookie of his class.

The Heat have sorta this blue-collar image to them, like they don't have the starpower of some other teams, but they'll beat you with their doggedness and intelligence.  Their most-popular player is Jimmy Butler, who also has that type of reputation.  And as illustrated with last season's playoffs, the NBA doesn't mind supporting Miami.  So this is definitely a team that you can't sleep on.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Previous Prediction: Their roster is deep enough defensively to mitigate, to some degree, the loss of Jrue Holiday.

Current Standing (28-13, 1-game losing streak) That was always a risky prediction, in part because Brook Lopez plays an all-important role in the Bucks' defense, and he's really big, and those big Cs like that tend to age faster, in NBA terms, than leaner ones.  And verily, I can't remember the last time I heard anything positive about Lopez, in terms of him contributing to the team's success, despite the fact that he's still starting and averaging 3 blocks per game.

And I'm not singling him out but just using that as an example to point out the fact that Milwaukee doesn't feel as potent defensively as they have been in the past - not in my words but in those of Giannis, and not due to the absence of Jrue per se but lack of effort, which may in part be attributed to the presence of Damian Lillard, who has never been known as a defender.

But one of the reasons I espoused the pairing of Lillard + Giannis, months before it happened, is because most teams would lose to that type of diverse firepower by default.  Who knows when or if the new-look Bucks will ever quote/unquote 'click'.  But even now, as they aren't, they have the record of a contender, which says a lot.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Previous Prediction: The Knicks offseason didn't impress me, conjuring up feelings of old when their braintrust was dumb AF.

But getting OG Anunoby, based on early returns, once again has NYK's braintrust looking as if they are a lot more intelligent than times past.  In fact, I would say this is the one team without a superstar who's in the best position to win a championship.

ORLANDO MAGIC

Previous Prediction: With Pancho Banchero being sort of an ideal bigman for today's playing style, they may just make the playoffs.

And the Magic have looked like one of the more consistent teams in the NBA.  The Jonathan Isaac experiment never panned out, and Markelle is once again on ice.  But Orlando looks like their just one star player away, i.e. a compatible one, from really being formidable.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Previous Prediction: The Sixers will continue to be contenders even without James Harden.

Current Standing (26-13, 3-game winning streak) That's one prediction that proved spot-on.  Maybe this season, fortune and forces will even favor Philly, and they'll make it to the Finals and maybe even win a championship, which has been a long time coming.

I also foresaw that now that the Sixers have finally decided to let Tyrese Maxey be their primary guard (something they should've done since Simmons decided to bounce, imo), he would be all-star.  Tyrese isn't as popular as some of the other Gs in the east, but it looks like that may also come true, even if he's not an all-star starter, which he probably deserves to be (alongside Haliburton).

TORONTO RAPTORS

Previous Prediction: The Raptors aren't contenders but perhaps could be, with their current roster, if they figured things out.

Current Standing (16-25, 1-game winning streak) But figures things out they have not, not with the roster they began the season with.

The early returns indicate that the Raptors did take a step in the right direction by acquiring Quickley and Barrett.  Trading Pascal Siakim may also work better than expected, since Bruce Brown is underrated but now may finally be in a position where he can really let it all hang out.  

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Previous Prediction: The Wizards would suck, as usual, but Jordan Poole would be an all-star.

Current Standing (7-32, 1-game losing streak) Well, I got one half of that prediction right.  I'm not writing off Poole's all-star potential just yet, but if he does ever reach that level, it doesn't really look like it's going to happen anytime soon.

In my defense, I've stated in the past, more than once, that dudes tend to shoot better when they're playing with (or sometimes even against) Steph.  The mistake I made is thinking that Poole had spent enough time alongside Curry to have honed his own talent into a comparable level of lethalness.  Obviously, I was wrong.  But it should also be blatantly obvious to everyone by this point that the Warriors made a mistake by letting him go.  It's sorta like both teams lost in that transaction - Washington for overestimating Jordan, and Golden State for underestimating him.

Trade Talk: Jimmy Butler vs. Zach Levine & Kris Dunn

Offhand I would say, taking nothing away from Zach Levine, this is the most-lopsided trade I've ever witnessed in 25+ years of watching the NBA:

Chicago Bulls Get:	Minnesota Timberwolves Get:
Zach Levine	Jimmy Butler
Kris Dunn	No.16 2017 Draft Pick (Justin Patton)
No.7 2017 Draft Pick (Lauri Markkanen)

CHICAGO BULLS: C

PROS

1.  They get rid of Jimmy Bulter who, given the way he left the Bulls, you would have to presume the organization viewed him as a malcontent at worst and someone they simply didn't want around at best.

2.  They get a player in Zach Levine who though he can't win games like Butler can produce a highlight on any given night.

3.  They got the number-seven pick in a relatively-deep (compared to recent years) draft.

CONS

1.  On the surface this deal makes no sense, especially considering the Bulls alledgely had a better offer (from the Celtics) and Butler still has a couple of years left on his contract, so it's not like he could immediately threaten them with free agency.

2.  This is now Dwayne Wade's team, not the worst possible fate in the NBA but definitely not something you can say about a contender.

3.  At times the braintrust of the Chicago Bulls appear less-competent than even the New York Knicks.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: A+

PROS

1.  They get Jimmy Bulter, one of the three best "two-way players" in the game and one of a handful of competitors who can win on willpower alone.

2.  A "small-market" NBA team in a less-than-desirable part of the country just pulled off one of the most shocking trades in the league's history.

3.  Jimmy Butler is already familiar with the hardwork ethic of Head Coach Tom Thibodeau.

4.  You have to believe this makes the team more attractive to other quality players, such as the already signed Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson.

5.  Unlike other teams that have acquired big-name players this offseason, this move clearly and indisputably makes the Wolves better.

6.  They get rid of Kris Dunn who, upon entering the NBA as the number-five pick last year under expectations as lofty as some believing he would win Rookie of the Year before he ever even played a game, has definitely thus far in his short career underachieved.

CONCLUSION

I would venture to say, despite the virtually-unlimited amount of information available, that none of us really know what goes on behind closed doors in NBA boardrooms based off of just reading internet articles and watching games, but that being said it's still kind of difficult to understand the overall logic behind some of the decisions the Bulls have made in recent years.  The only reason the Bulls haven't joined the likes of the Knicks and Kings as laughingstocks of the NBA is because they still make the Playoffs, they're just a few years removed from their renaissance years under Derrick Rose and Tom Thibodeau, and honestly for many of us when we hear the words "Chicago Bulls" to this day the first image to pop into mind is that of Michael Jordan.