SR – NBA 2020-21 Division Preview: The Southwest

SR – NBA 2020-21 Division Preview: The Southwest

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by | Dec 15, 2020 | Featured, NBA

A new NBA season is upon us, now a full seven days away from next Tuesday’s tip-off. And to commemorate the ringing-in of the new year, we’re doing things a little different than previous years in giving you, the reader, full and extensive team breakdowns. In a succinct manner, we’ll take a look at where each team in each division will fare in the coming 6-8 days leading up to the adjusted NBA season. We’ll let you know what records each team in all six divisions will finish with, their playoff positioning (or lack thereof) as well as what’s to be admired as a strength, or what’s to be monitored as a weakness heading into the 2020-21 campaign.

Today’s division: the Southwest.

Houston is fresh off of a Western Conference Semifinal visit, thanks to the contributions of James Harden and Russell Westbrook’s patented play style titled “small-ball”,  even if it was short-lived. Houston looks drastically different as an organization, currently seeking trade suitors to accompany the needs of disgruntled star James Harden and subsequently shipping Russell Westbrook away to the Washington Wizards.

Their GM and creator of the analytical-favoring small-ball, Daryl Morey let Rockets officials he wanted off the ship and is calling shots in Philly as the head of basketball operations. And in return, received John Wall, a protected second-round pick for next year, and DeMarcus Cousins in free agency. Additionally, a new Head coach was hired in the spring cleaning done by owner Tillman Fertitta, as Stephen Silas came over from his previous assistant coaching gig in Dallas to man the stations in H-Town. This division is very much so in the air, with Dallas as the sportsbook favorites to win the division for the first time since 2011. However, New Orleans, Memphis, and San Antonio will have something to say about that.

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1. Dallas Mavericks (Finished Last Season 43-32, 7th Seed in Western Playoffs)

2020 Offseason Acquisitions:

  • Josh Richardson, SG/SF (trade with Philadelphia)
  • Josh Green, SF (draft)
  • Tyrell Terry, PG (draft)
  • Tyler Bey, PG (draft)
  • James Johnson, SF (free agency)

Key Losses

  • Seth Curry, SG (traded to Philadelphia)
  • Delon Wright SG (traded to Detroit)
  • Justin Jackson, SG (traded to OKC)

Roster and Depth Chart:

  • PG: Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, Tyrell Terry, Tyler Bey
  • SG: Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Richardson, Tyrell Terry
  • SF: Josh Richardson, Josh Green, Dorian Finney-Smith, James Johnson 
  • PF: Maxi Kleiber, Dorian Finney-Smith, Kristaps Porzingis
  • C: Kristaps Porzingis, Dwight Powell, Willie Cauley-Stein

Strengths: 

  • Luka Doncic. Pretty self-explanatory. The third-year Slovenian Superstar is on the shortlist of MVP favorites this season, and if last year’s statistical accolades proved anything, it’s only a matter of time until Doncic reels in his first Most Valuable Player award and title as league’s most dynamic player. It’s rather routine to check on Doncic when he gets the start on a regular basis, considering he’s usually on triple-double watch for those marveling at his skill to fill up a stat sheet. His eye-popping numbers of 28.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, and 8.8 apg from last year should see a rise with new offseason acquisition Josh Richardson taking on a majority of Doncic’s defensive assignments.

 

  • Mavs’ Defense. Good luck trying to score on this team late down the stretch. Today’s modern emphasis of the prototypical two-way player at just about every position has to do with wingspan and lateral quickness, and Dallas made it a priority to have those exact qualities in their offseason dealings, sacrificing outside shooting and some cap space for versatile defenders who are adept at taking on switches up top on the perimeter and down low on the block. Richardson may not sound like the attractive pickup on the defensive end, but he’ll be essential for a team that finished 18th in defensive rating last season (111.2 points allowed per 100 possessions). Keep in mind, Richardson helped engineer the eighth-best defensive scheme in the league last season in his first and only year in Philadelphia.

Weaknesses:

  • Clutch Rating. The Mavericks posted the most efficient offense in league history, but the question remains: Does Dallas improve off rookie mistakes with more experience under their belt and finish off games when they need to be put away? Getting rid of reliable PnR ballhandler and catch-and-shoot rhythm scorer Seth Curry could come at a detriment to a Mavericks team that posed the league’s second-worst offensive rating in the clutch last season (93.9 points scored per 100 possessions) and while his replacement in J-Rich shot the ball at a respectable 36.7 percent from downtown last year, the floor spacing for Doncic and crew to operate in crunch time may shrink. The losses by five points or more always pile up, and their sub-.500 record of 3-4 in OT last year says there is work cut out for a team that needs to emphasize finishing games when they have the opportunity to do so this year.

 

  • Kristaps Porzingis’ Health. Head coach Rick Carlisle exclaimed to reporters that star center and fan-professed “Unicorn” Kristaps Porzingis won’t be setting foot on the hardwood until at least January. And in a shortened season that’s playoffs begin in May, it’ll be challenging to replicate Porzingis’ 20.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, and 2.0 bpg. with Maxi Kleiber, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dwight Powell filling in for the 7-foot sharpshooter and adequate rim protector. Though not for an extended period of time, Luka will have to do without his fellow all-star compadre’ that will help him stretch the floor and garner favorable mismatches for the first couple weeks of the season, which could harm Dallas’ chances of winning the division, if not slightly.

Record Prediction: 44-28.

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2. Houston Rockets (Finished Last Season 44-28, 4th in West)

2020 Offseason Acquisitions:

  • John Wall, PG (trade with Washington)
  • Christian Wood, PF (free agency)
  • DeMarcus Cousins, C (free agency)
  • Sterling Brown, SG (free agency)
  • Kenyon Martin Jr. PG (draft)
  • Stephen Silas, HC

Key Losses:

  • Russell Westbrook, PG (trade)
  • Robert Covington, SF/PF (trade)
  • Austin Rivers, PG/SG (free agency)
  • Jeff Green, PF/C (free agency)
  • HC Mike D’Antoni

Roster and Depth Chart

  • PG: John Wall, James Harden, Chris Clemons, Kenyon Martin Jr.
  • SG: James Harden, Ben McLemore, Sterling Brown
  • SF: Eric Gordon, Sterling Brown, Ben McLemore
  • PF: Christian Wood, P.J. Tucker, Kenyon Martin Jr.
  • C: P.J. Tucker, DeMarcus Cousins, Christian Wood

Strengths: 

  • The Wall-Boogie PnR is going to be NUTS. Essentially replacing a former all-star guard with seismic athletic capabilities at the guard spot with another former all-star guard with seismic athletic capabilities at the guard spot works out on a usual occasion, right? Expect that to happen here. After two preseason games, it seems that John Wall’s twitch fibers respond well to the commands of force they’re asked to complete, and his Achilles, whom we as NBA fans were all concerned about since he hadn’t played a minute of NBA basketball in over two years because of its accidental tear, seems to be intact and stable. A small sample size? Yes, but an encouraging one at that. He was routinely blazing past Bulls guards without the frequent need for set picks and finishing with dexterity and confidence as if his injury never happened. DeMarcus Cousins also hadn’t suited up for anyone since he tore his ACL last offseason and he looks as spry as ever. The pick and roll and pick and pop sets Stephen Silas is planning to unleash on the Western Conference is quite dangerous as any duo that comes to mind, if both former All-NBA talents can stay healthy.

 

  • Christian Wood has his own spotlight. Talk about stepping up when your number is called. Wood, a perennial 20-10 all-around stretch big impressed scouts, media experts, and fans across the league as he stepped up to the role of starting center in the wake of Andre Drummond’s departure. It’s apparent he’s going to be Houston’s third-best player behind Wall and Cousins as another screening and rolling/popping/fading/slipping option John Wall or Eric Gordon can play off of, so expect Stephen Silas to create a lot of switches both at the top of the key and under the basket. Think of Wood as a discounted Anthony Davis at the four; a confident handler of the rock who has a low-post game and quick pullup jumper at every level in the halfcourt. In the last 12 games of his season before the league’s COVID-19 suspension, he averaged 22 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 54 percent shooting from the field and 37.3 percent shooting from three-point range. It’s uncertain just how good he can be, but the ceiling is there for him to reach in a spacious system under Silas, one of the architects who crafted the NBA’s most efficient offense ever in the 2019-20 Mavericks.

Weaknesses:

  • PG depth. Who is the reliable backup at the point guard spot when Wall sits? Rookie Kenyon Martin Jr.? Undrafted tryout-er Jae’Sean Tate? Chris Clemons? David Nwaba? Eric Gordon? Those all don’t sound very appealing. One of the biggest negatives against Houston during their offseason was their failure to get a veteran point guard to run the offense and keep momentum up as the leader of the second unit. Letting Austin Rivers walk is still a headscratcher as well. There are a variety of skilled off-ball scorers that Houston can utilize like Ben McLemore and good role players like Sterling Brown to help move the rock, but no one that stands out as a dangerous sixth man you have to respect that can galvanize the team on both ends of the floor.

 

  • The elephant in the room. Well, I mean…duh. You weren’t not expecting to hear the James Harden fluidity situation in this, were you? The six-time All-Star has expressed with a vehemence that he has no intent or desire to play alongside John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and fellow teammate P.J. Tucker has aired similar grievances about an organization that’s grown sour internally. He missed the first two days of training camp and posted pictures to social media of various parties he was attending, while the rest of the Rockets were reporting to training camp and fielding questions from the media about the absence of the team’s star player. Harden then reported to practice a few days later on Dec. 8 and is “scheduled” to play on Tuesday’s home preseason game against San Antonio. Mistrust and vested interest on different sides has eroded this franchise, and their star wants out. Where he’ll go is unknown, but what is a known variable is that John Wall and James Harden are unlikely to stay together the full length of the season, no matter how much Stephen Silas wants to play mediator. Not having Harden critically threatens your chances of not just winning the division, but *making it* to the playoffs too.

Record prediction: 41-31.

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3. New Orleans Pelicans (Finished Last Season 30-42, 13th in West)

2020 Offseason Acquisitions: 

  • Steven Adams, C (trade)
  • Eric Bledsoe, PG (trade)
  • George Hill, G (trade)
  • Kira Lewis Jr., PG (draft)
  • Wenyen Gabriel, F (free agency)

Key Losses

  • Jrue Holiday, PG (trade)
  • Derrick Favors, C (free agency)
  • Kenrich Williams, G (trade)
  • E’Twaun Moore, G (free agency)

Roster and Depth Chart:

PG: Lonzo Ball, Kira Lewis Jr., Eric Bledsoe, George Hill
SG: Eric Bledsoe, JJ Redick, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF: Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, JJ Redick
PF: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Wenyen Gabriel
C: Steven Adams, Jaxson Hayes, Willy Hernangomez

Strengths: 

  • Zion, Raw, and Uncut. It feels like it’s been forever since we saw Zion Williamson gear up and play a professional basketball game since he and his Pelicans went 2-6 inside the Lake Buena Vista bubble at Disney Springs in Orlando. From taking whoever was guarding him baseline or in the low post, Zion inflicting his grown manchild-like will on unsuspecting and less domineering defenders is always a joy to witness. The offseason was a little bit shorter to the former No. 1 overall pick, but his conditioning program seems to be paying off, per Twitter clips and pictures of the 22-year-old’s vascularity and slimmer figure on display. He’s maturing and taking the workload of an All-NBA staple seriously, as the skillset the Duke product already possesses conjoins with acumen and intelligence of Stan Van Gundy, a familiar face in the NBA coaching carousel who has found another home in the Big Easy and has “prior experience” ascending a big man into superstardom; check the history between him and Dwight Howard in Orlando for reference. The 2020-21 season means that the training wheels will be off, and no minutes restriction for the explosive power forward says it’ll be time to tune in when he takes the court.

 

  • Guards, guards, I do adore. While they couldn’t come to an agreement for Jrue Holiday to stay in NOLA, the first conclusion that can be made when scanning this roster is ‘man they got worse at guard without Jrue Holiday’ and that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’d be a problem if they didn’t get a fraction of what Holiday was worth in return, but looking at the bigger picture, they got what Holiday gave to the Pelicans, but in shards. I’ll make a little more sense of that: you get your stingy, restrictive length on the perimeter still with Lonzo Ball as your starter and Eric Bledsoe in the second unit against opposing guards and scoring from new pickups George Hill and first-rounder Kira Lewis Jr. And in SVG’s small lineups, decision-making will come from the shared minutes between Josh Hart and JJ Redick. That might do the trick in the West, where exceptional guard play is a prerequisite for success.

Weaknesses:

  • No true offseason to calibrate their attack. More of a “woe is me, adapt or get left behind” kind of hurdle to leap over, but it’s an issue nonetheless. Stan Van Gundy coming to New Orleans is a great thing, but it’s hard to get everyone on the same page when you have a little over 60-something days to scramble and get everyone – and everything – in planning to get New Orleans back into the postseason picture for the first time in three years. And not to mention, the Pels are in a clear-as-day rebuild. As the new head coach, where you don’t have strong relationships with your very young personnel as you do with your older-but-still-coachable two-guard JJ Redick in your huddle, the job is going to be on-the-fly as it gets for SVG, who returns to head coaching responsibilities for the first time since 2016.

 

  • BI and Zion: is there enough outside shooting help for the wing scorers? A legitimate concern to have, but ultimately one that will reveal itself in the coming weeks and months of the regular season. While JJ Redick is excluded from the deficiency and, quite frankly a majority of the team since they finished last season with the seventh-best team three-point percentage in the league, trading Jrue Holiday for Eric Bledsoe could do more harm than good. Holiday shot a little over 35 percent as a primary shot creator and took the pressure off both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson for the frontcourt tandem to create on the wings. Bledsoe shot around 34 percent and was dually underwhelming in the bubble, shooting 25 percent from deep. Now add Bledsoe or the streaky shooting of Lonzo Ball to that starting lineup, and that team percentage from last season visibly drops.

 

Record Prediction: 39-33.

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4. Memphis Grizzlies (Finished Last Season 34-39, 9th in West)

2020 Key Acquisitions:

  • Mario Hezonja, SF (trade with Portland)
  • Desmond Bane, SF (draft)
  • Xavier Tillman, PF (draft)
  • Tyus Jones, PG (draft)

Key Losses:

  • N/A

Roster and Depth Chart:

PG: Ja Morant, Tyus Jones, De’Anthony Melton
SG: Dillon Brooks, De’Anthony Melton, Grayson Allen, Desmond Bane
SF: Kyle Anderson, Justise Winslow
PF: Jaren Jackson Jr. Brandon Clarke, Xavier Tillman Sr.
C: Jonas Valanciunas, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke

Strengths: 

  • A true big four reminiscent of the Grit N’ Grind days. A proficiently-scoring, defensively-reliable big at the PF position. An explosive aficionado at the point with a true feel for the game. A tough-nosed, gallant leader of men in the center of the locker room. An efficient lockdown defender and consistent scorer off the catch. History is surely repeating itself in Memphis. Much like the Zach Randolph, Mike Conley Sr., and Tony Allen days, things are really starting to shape themselves in the style of old with subtle modern touch-ups. Ja Morant is the franchise cornerpiece and will be receiving All-NBA honors throughout this year and beyond. But when we last left off the Grizzlies’ saga, it didn’t end ideally for ol’ Grizz, as they were seen leaving the NBA bubble hungry for another taste of the postseason atmosphere created by the play-in game they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers.

 

  • Fight and Resolve. The young Grizzlies showed how much they wanted their postseason berth above all, signaled by how hard they fought against Damian Lillard and those Blazers, who were, subsequently, Gentleman’s swept in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Granted, it was a learning experience for Ja (who put on a show while dropping a career-high 35 points) and the crew, but what was solidified in the bubble was something to build their entire organization around. Morant, along with Jaren Jackson Jr. (fresh off meniscus surgery and ready to go), the massively efficient Brandon Clarke, and sixth man DeAnthony Melton are ready to create shockwaves to, again, put the West on notice that these kids are for real.

Weaknesses:

  • Youthful and undermanned. While it’s a positive that Memphis is filled to the brim with potential, future projections rarely, if ever, translate to a bunch of wins early on for a roster filled with rookie and second-year projects. The idea was to keep up the cohesion and development of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke, and Dillon Brooks rather than to rely on the quick fix of outside talent acquisition to accumulate a couple more wins than what they usually have at year’s end. They re-signed DeAnthony Melton on a four-year, $35 Million deal as he’s a building block for a promising future, and that could be a done deal when the market tells the team to scavenge for a two-way guard. But if we’re talking now, the West is too talented to face off against when you don’t have much other than your big four to compete with.

 

  • Injuries to key pieces. Two key players in forwards Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Winslow won’t be in the Grizzlies’ lineup come tip-off and the coming weeks after, as the two have been nursing ailments that have sidelined them since last season. As mentioned before, Jackson suffered his torn meniscus back on August 8, while Winslow is still recovering from a hip injury suffered back in July during a practice session in the bubble. Head coach Taylor Jenkins will be challenged out of the gate to formulate a gameplan that compensates for Jackson’s absence – and replicating his adeptness at stopping guards off switches, defending the rim, and shooting the three-ball in an abnormal, shortened season is easier said than done.

Record Prediction: 35-37.

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5. San Antonio Spurs (Finished Last Season 32-39, 11th in West)

2020 Offseason Acquisitions:

  • Devin Vassell, G/F (draft)
  • Tre Jones, G (draft)

Key Losses:

  • Bryn Forbes (free agency)

Roster and Depth Chart:

PG: Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Tre Jones
SG: Derrick White, Patty Mills, Keldon Johnson
SF: DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Devin Vassell
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge, Trey Lyles, Rudy Gay, Quinndary Weatherspoon
C: Jakob Poeltl, LaMarcus Aldridge, Drew Eubanks

Strengths:

  • A new play style in San Antonio? When we last left off on the Spurs story, Gregg Popovich and his Spurs were facing imminent failure in qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 1997. So, they dabbled in experiment, opting for increased tempo in the offense, early shot-clock operation and a brand of small-ball to fill the void left by the injured Trey Lyles and LaMarcus Aldridge. Seemed like a one time thing, considering how Pop is more often than not the stick-to-what-works kind of coach. But in a surprising turn of events, he stripped SA bare of their typically rigid structure of two bigs and three guards, instead choosing to put on four guards and one prominent big. This resulted in the creation of mismatches aplenty, and now Pop might just have finally opened up to the idea of analytic-favoring small lineups that control the pace of games and put up points on the board.

 

  • More three-point shooting in 2020-21 from their stars. A returning LaMarcus Aldridge only spells good things for the Spurs, who are in dire need of their veteran forward’s help as both a shooter and defender. The former All-Star finished his season with a career-high in made 3PT (61 in 2019-20) and attempts (157) from deep, and you can expect to see that new wrinkle in the Spurs’ offense this upcoming season. That should wear off on the rest of the team, considering the importance of spacing the floor and making driving lanes for DeMar DeRozan and the rest of the guards on the roster.

Weaknesses:

  • A limited flexibility to improve the roster. Largely, this team is just about the same from last year, AKA the roster that became the first team in nearly three decades to miss out on the postseason. San Antonio wasn’t on the lucky end of possessing a bunch of cap space to grab a free agent; save that privilege for future offseasons when they have the opportunity to create a max cap slot. They did the safe thing in taking care of their own free agent by re-signing Drew Eubanks, and bolstered their youth department by selecting 3-and-D prospect Devin Vassell out of Florida State with the 11th pick and floor general Tre Jones out of Duke in the second round. The Spurs generally don’t roll out rookies to start the season, and while they’ll have a chance to crack the rotation, that doesn’t quite spell immediate improvement for a team that was at the bottom of the division last year.

 

  • Just because they want to shoot more, doesn’t mean they can. Additionally, and more significantly due to free agency negotiations that fell through, San Antonio both lost Bryn Forbes, who signed a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks and Marco Belinelli, who went back to Italy. San Antonio ranked 28th last season in 3-point attempts (28.5) and fourth in accuracy (37.6%), and losing two of their role players specifically used for bettering that statistic in the free market doesn’t heal that wound.

 

  • Age is not on their side. So LMA is back. Cool, but he’s 35. Re-injury is cause for concern as is the uncertainty of his ideal fit in a progressively-transforming offensive system that favors breakneck pace and pushes in transition. Not what the aging Aldridge had in mind when he is to return, since the Texas product is an old-school big man that is either on one spot on the floor or the other as a screener/popper or back-down scorer underneath the basket.

Record Prediction: 30-41.

Photo Cred: OTGBasketball.com/Charles Allen

Dec 15, 2020 No Comments
NBA Preseason: Five Storylines To Be On The Lookout For

NBA Preseason: Five Storylines To Be On The Lookout For

Featured

by | Dec 8, 2020 | Featured, NBA

This Friday, the NBA restarts down its long-awaited calendar with the tip-off of the 2020-21 preseason, exactly 11 days before the real thing takes place for the upcoming regular season that’s sure to be different from its predecessors. And of course, just like how any offseason has gone since forever, there are new faces in new places. Trades and free agency shook the league to its core just a few weeks ago and by the looks of it, transactions probably won’t be finished until the opening tip.

From factions being split in groundbreaking trades, discontent players looking elsewhere for new pastures in free agency signings, shocking draft selections, and more, it’s worth the mention that everyone’s favorite teams will look slightly different once Friday comes. These exhibition contests are limited, understandably, due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only two to four games will be played and the schedules of each team mentioned in this article will be posted.

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5. Minnesota Timberwolves (Finished Last Season 19-45) – A Blast From The Franchise’s Past Joins Forces With The Organization’s New Cornerpiece

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Saturday, December 12 
  • vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Monday, December 14  
  • vs. Dallas Mavericks – Thursday, December 17

The owners of the first pick in November’s 2020 NBA Draft, Minny selected Guard/Forward Anthony Edwards and will see after their coveted first-round selection that he can mesh well with the main core of newly-acquired guard D’Angelo Russell and top-tier big man Karl Anthony-Towns. Daily reminder that there was not a Summer League, so fans and scouts alike who haven’t gotten the chance to witness the 6-5, 225-lb 19-year old who averaged 19.1 points per game in one year at Georgia will have the opportunity.

Additionally, Ricky Rubio’s return to the Minnesota Timberwolves shouldn’t fly under the radar. After departing in 2017, Rubio emigrated from his starting spot he played in from the start of his career back in 2011, and after spending nearly three years away in other sites like Utah and Phoenix, Rubio was traded back to the Twin Cities’ team as a result of the three-team trade that sent Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns, and Ricky Rubio (as well as the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels from the Thunder) to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Head coach Ryan Saunders and the prolific Spanish playmaker that garnered a massive fan following during his first stint with the T’Wolves have a well-documented relationship with each other, and Saunders’ belief in Rubio’s impact spans far past the stat sheet.

“Ricky does things that don’t always show up in the box score, and he impacts winning in a way where he can help young players grow.”

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4. Charlotte Hornets (Finished Last Season 23-42) – “Ballin” In The Queen City

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Toronto (Tampa Bay) Raptors – Saturday, December 12
  • vs. Toronto (Tampa Bay) Raptors – Monday, December 14
  • vs. Orlando Magic – Thursday, December 17

These first two years of James Borrego’s tenure as Head coach of the Charlotte Hornets are predicated on fulfilling the growth and projected potential of CHA’s young and inquisitive parts that will someday compete for a playoff spot. The postseason was not quite a realistically attainable goal, but more of a further incentive if the ‘Nets had enough on the table to open some eyes across the league.

While it didn’t really show in the record box, numbers in other prioritized statistical areas told otherwise. Devonte Graham ended his regular season in 2020 shooting over 37 percent from deep, earning himself an invite to the Three-Point Contest at All-Star weekend and multiple Most Improved Player votes. PJ Washington and Miles Bridges made significant strides to improve their games, but in addition to shedding aging and regressing players like Nicolas Batum, the 2020 offseason might be the most impactful adjustment to this roster for this year and beyond.

The third overall selection in 2020 belonged to Michael Jordan’s Hornets, and with it picked point guard LaMelo Ball from Chino Hills, California/Lithuania/Spire Academy/Illawarra, Australia. It’s been a long journey to the pros for Ball, the second of the three Ball brothers (oldest brother LiAngelo just got signed to the Pistons and second-oldest Lonzo still with the Pelicans) who are all now in the NBA. Ball was by far the purest shot-creator in the draft and also, the most equanimous decision-maker with the ball in his hands.

If how LaMelo fared against grown men competing in the Aussie league known as the NBL was any indication of how he’d do in an equally physical league, Hornets fans are in for a treat. Charlotte’s biggest strength is their backcourt play and Ball will be coached and developed to accompany Graham and Malik Monk as he gets his first bearings of NBA action this Saturday.

Alongside him will be the newly-signed Gordon Hayward, the intelligent playmaking wing who signed for four years worth $140M. He is looking to find a second wind for his career after a turbulent three years in Boston.

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3. Washington Wizards (Finished Last Season 25-47) – The Brodie To The Nation’s Capital: Boom Or Bust?

Preseason Schedule:

  • vs. Brooklyn Nets – Sunday, December 13
  • vs. Detroit Pistons – Thursday, December 17
  • vs Detroit Pistons – Saturday, December 19

What a whirlwind of an offseason it’s been for Wizards fans, both in good and bad ways. What seemed to kick off draft and trade season in an unforeseen turn of events: highly-coveted first-rounder Deni Avdija fell to them in the draft at No. 9, and it looked as if the duo of the recovered John Wall and Bradley Beal were to finally reunite in the Nation’s Capital.

And then the eve of Wednesday, December 2, 2020 happened. The prodigal son of Washington, D.C., John Wall was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Russell Westbrook, meaning the union between Wall and Beal was broken, and another All-Star was to be added to a young roster choc’ full of potential.

So now, Russell Westbrook is in the third destination of his career and, per his request, will likely be within the same role he was in when he was dominating and winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2017. Moreover, it’s the established chemistry between he and his Head coach, Scotty Brooks, whom he started his NBA career with before Billy Donavan took over coaching responsibilities in Oklahoma City in 2016.

But even with the numbers Russ has put up in his career, it’s purely a TBD over who won this trade considering that his offensive productivity has taken a severe dip in the past two seasons. It could very well be a mechanics and confidence fix, and if so, Russ’ return to MVP form only says good things for a team growing in depth. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be odd seeing Westbrook not only wearing a Wizards jersey, but reverting back to wearing No. 4, his old Olympia High School number.

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2. Brooklyn Nets (Finished Last Season 35-37) – How Will KD and Kyrie Look In Their Return?

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Washington Wizards – Sunday, December 13
  • vs. Boston Celtics – Friday, December 18

As if there was any different reason that you’d honestly be watching the Brooklyn Nets in the preseason, the obvious being stated is that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both returning to the hardwood since thier injuries, and are looking to make BK Town’s team the entire state of New York can get behind, since the Knicks are a ways away from contending.

We’ve yet to see what post-Achilles tear KD really looks like in game speed besides some short Twitter clips of getting runs in gyms with trainers and fellow NBA collegues, but from word of mouth of coaches and fellow trainers, “he’s back”. Seeing Durant come back healthy, even at 80%, is still frightening to guard, considering that KD has never been known to utilize that untethered athleticism and rely on just pure basketball skill.

As for Irving, who returns from a handful of ailments ranging from shoulder impingements to knee issues, his role and responsibilities in Brooklyn’s offense is going to be something worth making a note of remembering to tune in to. New Head coach Steve Nash has shared with the team the general consensus of there not being a true point guard (at least that’s how Irving explained it) so in terms of how the guards in Nash’s system operate, fans will get a sneak peak into how Brooklyn’s revamped backcourt and frontcourt will mesh within Nash’s offense.

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1. Houston Rockets (Finished Last Season 44-28) – Will The Off-Court Drama’s Noise Drown Out The Progressive Strides Of A Contender?

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Chicago Bulls – Friday, December 11
  • vs. Chicago Bulls – Sunday, December 13
  • vs. San Antonio Spurs – Tuesday, December 15
  • vs. San Antonio Spurs – Thursday, December 17

This is not the ideal position Stephen Silas wanted his Rockets to be in.

The first-time Head coach and son to the legendary Paul Silas, consider these “occurrences” his initiation to the theatrics and dramatics that come with the job, to put it euphemistically.

The Harden drama has been nothing but nauseating to fathom if you are a Rockets fan, and just as toxic and demoralizing to the organization if you are behind the scenes of this mess. It’s unnecessary to commentate on a play-by-play basis what’s transpired between Harden and Tiliman Fertitta, the Rockets’ owner (Twitter seems to be pretty good at doing that) but to put it succinctly – James Harden has behaved in such an insubordinate, conducive and unprofessional manner just to imply that he wants out of Houston, preferably before the season begins.

So what does that mean for a Rockets team that, barring their little “small ball” experiment, would’ve been favored to reach the conference finals and possibly play for a championship when both recently departed Russell Westbrook and Harden were referred to as the highest-scoring backcourt in the game?

Either one of two things, exactly:

A. New trade acquisition Christian Wood fits into Silas’s system like a puzzle piece John Wall balls out in Westbrook’s place and other notable FA signing DeMarcus Cousins (who rejoins Wall for the first time since their days as Kentucky Wildcats) regains the monomer of top-3 unstoppable big man in the league, thus convincing Harden to wise up a little and realize what’s homemade is much better than what’s out there.

B. Harden can’t even stand the thought of staying in the city of Houston for another second, bails on the team and demands a trade before December 22’s opener against Oklahoma City while Wall looks as if he’s lost a step (or two) and Boogie Cousins remains a non-starter while Wood scarcely puts up respectable numbers but numbers not good enough to keep Houston competitive, prompting a clean house and top-down rebuild.

So what’s the scoop on turning on the television to witness the 2020-21 Houston Rockets? It’s not a question of who will be on the floor to start the preseason for Houston – it’s a matter of who won’t be.

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Other honorable mentions include…

  • The Boston Celtics, who will be without Kemba Walker for the start of the season and will have to rely on one of the best stretch wing duos in the league in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (and Jeff Teague as their starting guard) to operate the offense.

 

  • The Golden State Warriors, a team that’s severely maligned by the injury to Klay Thompson and is searching through their options to find his viable replacement for the near future. Additionally, the NBA debut of James Wiseman (now postponed due to both he and Draymond Green recently catching the Coronavirus) should be a sight to see.

 

  • The Los Angeles Clippers, who enter year two with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, will have their plays called by former Cavaliers Head coach Tyronn Lue with new signees Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum getting introductory minutes in their new home stadium.

 

  • The Tampa Bay (not Toronto) Raptors, not playing in front of 19,000 people inside ScotiaBank Arena, or in the country of Canada at all for an entire season due to the team not being allowed back into the country until the pandemic ends.

 

  • The Phoenix Suns, now with Chris Paul controlling the floor and sharing it with suparstar two-guard Devin Booker.

 

  • The Milwaukee Bucks, now in the final year of the Persuade-Giannis-to-stay-in-Milwaukee challenge, did a decent job of surrounding the Greek Freak with talent in swapping Eric Bledsoe with New Orleans for former All-Star Jrue Holiday. We’ll see how he adjusts to a new spaceous system ran by Mike Budenholzer.

 

  • The Atlanta Hawks, now complete with a reliable backup/mentor to Trae Young in Rajon Rondo as well as budding offensive dynamo Bodgdan Bogdanovic.

 

  • The Portland Trail Blazers, who stocked up on the defensive end by signing Robert Covington as a star 3-and-D guy opposing defenders don’t want to leave open.

 

  • The Denver Nuggets, who A.) had arguably the best time of anyone on draft night picking up RJ Hampton, B.) Picked up Buddy Hield during the opening of the trade market to bolster an already dangerous lineup that upset the #2 seed Clippers in last year’s playoffs and C.) Look to build off last year’s success on their way to a franchise-first NBA championship.

 

  • And the Los Angeles Lakers, the defending champions who got even better in the offseason by signing sixth man of the year Montrezl Harrell, 6MOTY runner-up Dennis Schroder, and locked down both L.A. staples (pun intended) LeBron James and Anthony Davis to lucrative extensions that go past 2023-25.

 

As training camp officially starts with the regular season right around the corner, the anticipation for basketball back on home floors with some – not a lot, clearly – fans in the stands and some normalcy back on television screens across the globe couldn’t come sooner.

Photo Cred: ClutchPoints – David Bernal

Dec 8, 2020 No Comments
LeBron’s $85M Extension — What Does This Mean For L.A.’s Financial Future?

LeBron’s $85M Extension — What Does This Mean For L.A.’s Financial Future?

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by | Dec 3, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Earlier Wednesday afternoon, four-time world champion and four-time Finals MVP LeBron James notified L.A. faithful of his intent to pursue multiple championships in what appears to be the final stop of his illustrious career and signed a blockbuster two-year, $85M extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. This deal was reported by Rich Paul, LBJ’s agent and the CEO of Klutch Sports.

While there’s no doubt a transaction as such staples (pun intended) The King to the City of Angels’ premier basketball franchise, (as if he needed any more persuasion to stay in L.A.) this will presumptively make Anthony Davis’ decision on the number for the supermax deal a little simpler to make. This extension will take James through the 2022-23 season, thus guaranteeing him 20 seasons spent in the league.

That will be $39.2 Million in the bank for James in 2020, $41,180,544 in 2021-22, and $44,474,988 in the final year of his extension. All in all, that will be an accumulated $435 Million in a lengthy career for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Additionally, this further promulgates the burgeoning possibility that his eldest son — 16-year old prodigy Bronny James, who is going into his Junior year at Sierra Canyon High School with his graduation coming up in 2023 — could be playing against (or alongside (because you can never really predict how the NBA carousel turns!) his son at the most competitive level there is since Bronny’s eligibility for the association could open that year.

So, cool. Seems like a win-win for Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss’s most coveted organization, right? Not quite, if you were to look for additional superstar ammo to surround both AD and the aging best player on the planet.

With the Lakers getting this formality of an extension done, it can’t kill two birds with one stone. They’re virtually out of the running to get Giannis Antetokounmpo in Free Agency next offseason, or any massively-talented Supermax-warranting player in 2021. The plan to clear cap space for a max deal is out the window with this extension.

Per Samuel H. Quinn of CBS Sports:

Unlike Bam Adebayo who received an early extension onto his rookie deal, James is not getting a substantial raise. If we’re being absolutely technical, the Lakers have no less control over their cap situation today than they did yesterday. The original contract James signed in 2018 gave him a $41,180,544 player option for the 2021-22 season, his maximum possible salary. His salary for the 2021-22 season is still $41,180,544. The difference? That salary is now set in stone. When James had that option, he theoretically could have opted out in order to help the Lakers clear space for Giannis. Had he done so, they might have been able to make him an offer within range of his max. 

So basically, the Lakers and their fans better enjoy the tandem of AD and LBJ as their core to build around. because even if they wanted to try and make space for a max deal kind of player (y’know, if we were to assume the salary cap rises which is likely) by trading away an asset like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, having Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol decline their options or renouncing the rights to Kyle Kuzma or Alex Caruso, the money still wouldn’t be feasible enough for the Greek Freak or any other player of that magnitude next offseason.

So while other teams like Miami or Milwaukee have other avenues to acquire him, consider the Lakers out of the sweepstakes.

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) reacts to a play against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Ashley Landis/AP) 

Dec 3, 2020 No Comments
Draft Season Is Here: Presenting The SneakerReporter 2020-21 NBA Lottery Pick Mock Draft

Draft Season Is Here: Presenting The SneakerReporter 2020-21 NBA Lottery Pick Mock Draft

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by | Nov 18, 2020 | Featured, NBA

If 2020 has provided anything, it’s been a flurry of things out of the blue, things the human mind couldn’t come to fathom thinking of at first insight. Chalk up this tumultuous NBA season to the list of “I didn’t see that coming,” too. A Pandemic and social injustices disrupting an otherwise usual season initially, rescheduling of seminal NBA moments in the regular season, and a whole singular location for the NBA playoffs, all firsts (and hopefully lasts) for the 78-year old league.

With everything being adjusted on the fly as it has been since March 11 – the day the regular season was suspended over concerns of the COVID-19 health crisis – the fight to achieve some normalcy was an uphill battle, but ultimately a battle won and conquered in negotiation between commissioner Adam Silver and the rest of the Player’s Association. A season was safely finished, a championship was rewarded in alternate circumstances, albeit, and Wednesday night’s draft signifies a new calendar year with no interruptions in sight.

But even then, this draft is as microcosmic as 2020 itself. It’s almost like if you were to throw this year’s draft and free agency into some sort of mathematic simulator, and instead of bringing out a simple, succinct solution to your problem, you’d be getting about 100,000+ different outcomes, and each one would come with a variety of situations where teams trade up and down for draft capital, star players or money. I’d be sitting here idly if I were to imagine all outright possibilities of this year’s offseason.

So for brevity reasons, I’ll go the route of predicting how this draft goes among the teams involved in the draft lottery without any major trades (for the moment being, at least). Minnesota was graced with the first overall pick via a luck of the draw in September’s Draft Lottery and are likely to select Anthony Edwards.

For what seems like the first time in a decade, the healthy Warriors are looking to get right back into the title picture with the second overall pick, and in that scenario, anything goes. They could either acquire a James Wiseman or send ripples through the NBA universe by trading the pick to a suitor in exchange for a game-breaking All-Star. And I could very well be way off on what happens on draft day since all picks aren’t surefire realities.

Now, without further jibber-jabber, here is SneakerReporter’s (shortened) 2020 NBA Mock Draft for your reading pleasure.

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1. Minnesota Timberwolves

With the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, The Minnesota Timberwolves select…Anthony Edwards, G/F, Georgia. – Assuming Minny doesn’t trade the pick away (and that’s a BIG assumption), this is perhaps the most logical selection with little to no objection. Additionally, Edwards will be a central piece the T’Wolves wish to build around alongside former first and second overall picks Karl Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell. All of his intangibles just scream “upside”. Take your pick: His 6’5 frame and NBA-ready body, borderline elite scoring skills that make him a first-day starter, and his title as the best prospect in this draft, make it a given Edwards steps on the stage and shakes Silver’s hand as the first pick in the draft.

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2. Golden State Warriors

With the second pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select…James Wiseman, C, Memphis – Golden State would rather go fit and need here rather than talent at other positions because frankly, they don’t quite need it at starting spots they’re already ample in. Once again, do they decide to keep this pick, plugging in the 7-footer with a 9-foot-6 wingspan here who displayed league-ready attributes in his short time under Penny Hardaway does more positive than detriment for a team that needs an exceptionally-skilled piece at the five who doesn’t need to take over the offense as a focal point of the offense.

That being said, Wiseman averaged over 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in his three games in Memphis and is certainly capable of providing an entirely new dimension of athletic rim protection, paint presence alongside Draymond Green, as well as off-ball scoring – something Steve Kerr will greatly appreciate in his diverse motion offense sets.

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3. Charlotte Hornets

With the third pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, The Charlotte Hornets select…LaMelo Ball, PG, Australia – The Hornets were one of the last teams to set up a workout with LaMelo Ball in front of coaches and executives, and if Edwards goes off the board early, plan B for James Borrego and Michael Jordan’s Hornets is just as good as anyone’s plan A. Standing at 6-foot-7, Ball is by far the most impressive prospect there is in the draft and can see things and thread needles like no one else can at his age.

If you’ve been aware of the Ball family, you know that it’s been a wild ride for LaMelo. As the understudy to older brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo, the once bushy-haired teenager has matured in front of fans’ eyes as his travels have ranged from the most convenient places around the world. Starting at his humble beginnings in Chino Hills, California as a blossoming high school prospect, he’s gone off to the unbeaten path in his journey to the NBA.

When he denounced his amateur status in high school after his personal sneaker dropped on the BBB site in 2017 and was subsequently deemed ineligible to play for Chino Hills, He had to chase his league dream some other way. His father kept his son prepared for the NBA by opening up a Big Baller Brand-sponsored Junior Basketball League generated to create positive press for him and LiAngelo, and then shipped both of them off to Lithuania as members of BC Vytautas in which they not only developed their games against professional athletes twice their age but did so while filming it for their FaceBook reality TV series Ball in the Family.

A trip back to the states meant another taste of prep high school ball in Ohio at Spire Academy for the youngest Ball, who was in the midst of a growth spurt. And then a move was made with his own development interests in mind: Ball signed with the Illawarra Hawks in the uber-competitive National Basketball League in Australia. Usually, we’d see the 18-year old go over to a professional league and struggle with the transition to playing against grown men. However, LaMelo wasn’t usual and showed the world that his skill set is one of a kind. Top-tier shot creation and excellent dishing abilities contributed to his noteworthy 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in just 12 games in the NBL, a season cut short due to a foot injury.

So here he is after millions speculated and prophesized him falling short of his goal of making it to the NBA, ready and primed to be the second Ball brother taken in the first three picks of the NBA draft.

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4. Chicago Bulls

With the fourth pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select…Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton –  Drink it in, Dayton fans. Toppin is destined to be the first Dayton Flyer prospect to be ever taken in the top five of the NBA Draft. A former zero-star recruit caught eyes this past collegiate season during his senior campaign, posting averages of 20 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting an elite clip of 39 percent from deep as he reeled in National Player of the Year honors, and had the pandemic not happened, he would’ve taken the Flyers somewhere close to the Final Four.

Toppin is an intriguing prospect, and pro comparisons to the likes of Amare Stoudamire and Shawn Marion seem appropriate. He could very well be the best player taken off the board in this year’s draft, for what it is worth. A high-motor, high-usage tank of a slasher and paint beast is something almost any GM or coach can build around. And with his 6’9, 220-lb frame, Billy Donovan would appreciate having him as an integral piece to set the tone on both ends of the floor. Also, he’s a dandy to watch in the air in the open court, as he’s been known to throw down game-stopping slams that put his athleticism on center stage.

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5. Cleveland Cavaliers

With the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select…Deni Avdija, SF, Israel – Avdija will be the first International prospect taken in this year’s draft, and should Cleveland keep the pick here, I see no reason as to why they should look anywhere else than the Israeli point forward. Widely heralded for his immense knowledge of the game, Avdija’s playmaking skills resemble that of a less-skilled-but-just-as-much-upside Luka Doncic type of player. A jack of all trades, master of none, if you will.

The 6’9 forward has accomplished a ton in his career already: he’s won three Israeli League titles, was the winner of the FIBA U-20 Finals MVP last season and he was the Israeli League MVP this season with Maccabi Tel Aviv.  Avdija isn’t necessarily exceptional at one distinct thing (if you had to pinpoint one thing, it’d probably be his passing ability) but is solid in all areas and as a day one starter, he’ll help Collin Sexton and Darius Garland get over the hump of being just prospects with potential to bonafide stars in the league.

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6. Atlanta Hawks

With the sixth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select…Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State – Probably not a super flashy pick, but indeed a safe pick in this year’s draft for a positively building Hawks squad. Haliburton, a 6’5, 175-lb guard who was only a three-star recruit when he committed to ISU, produced quite efficient numbers of 15.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.9 rebounds as the first option on a stacked Cyclones team that was bound to make noise in the 2019-20 NCAA Men’s Div. 1 Tournament.

Haliburton has the foundations of becoming a solid two-way sharpshooter in this league, and a nice addition to a developing offense. He’s a well-versed pick-and-roll playmaker, spot-up shooter, and a lengthy disruptor on the other end and since this is the game of intangibles, another long body that Lloyd Pierce can utilize in lineups defensively with the likes of Cam Reddish and John Collins as well as behind or with Trae Young furthers the belief that the Hawks are next up to swipe a playoff spot.

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7. Detroit Pistons

With the seventh pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select…Killian Hayes, PG, France – That’s now two-straight international prospects in a row that are going to be selected in this year’s draft. The Pistons need guard depth, and there isn’t a better prospect to look at than Killian Hayes to fit that need.

Being behind Derrick Rose will be key to his growth into a starting role as he won’t be ready right away to improve a team’s win percentage, but he’s certainly a trendy pick due to the league’s favoritism towards long 6’5+ guards and wings that can score at all three levels. Hayes is a project who has a game that is so uncertain if it can translate to the NBA but so promising if Detroit gets this pick right.

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8. New York Knicks

With the eighth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select…Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State – Though there are questions about Williams’ ceiling as a scorer, there is little doubt about his freakish athleticism and his tenacity on the glass and defensive end. The pairing of him and Mitchell Robinson to create a dually-gifted frontcourt in NYC just sounds enticing alone, but it is the “want to” and fearlessness to guard any position he showed at Florida State that attracted scouts across the league enough to secure himself as a top-10 pick. Being compared to OG Anunoby – another premier 3-and-D wing with athletic prowess – isn’t too inaccurate to describe Williams’ impact on games, as well.

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9. Washington Wizards

With the ninth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select…Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn – Pairing up last year’s first-round selection Rui Hachimura with this year’s potential first-rounder, Isaac Okoro could do a lot of good things for the team in the Nation’s Capital. Defensively, the one-and-done prospect who stands at 6’6 and weighs at 220 pounds held his own in the SEC as a defensive juggernaut and served as a reliable slasher in the 18-year-old out of Powder Springs, Georgia. His numbers at the collegiate level weren’t eye-popping (12 PPG., 4 RPG., 2 APG., 1 BPG.) but it’s the physical attributes worth sticking around to build with, as he could turn from a solid defender who can stay in front of any man into a valuable asset that can knock down open shots when presented the opportunity.

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10. Phoenix Suns

With the tenth pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select…Saddiq Bey, PG, Villanova – For the final pick in the top 10, the Suns stock up on some bench depth, and especially at the three since it has grown thin as a result of the groundbreaking Chris Paul trade that sent Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre, Ty Jerome, Jalen Leque and a 2022 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mikal Bridges is the outright starter in the Valley with Oubre in OKC, meaning that it’d be advisable for Phoenix to draft the two-year Wildcat that shot over 45 percent from deep as a sophomore.

Again, the theme of this draft, and many more drafts to come, will be lengthy wings that lock up all positions on all spots on the floor while showing the propensity to put up open jumpers and consistently knock them down. Bey fits the mold, which makes this pick the safe and logical decision here.

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11. San Antonio Spurs

With the eleventh pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs select…Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State – Let me start off by saying that any evaluator or scout declaring Vassell as another 3-and-D prospect isn’t doing their job well enough, and is flat-out deciding not to integrate any critical thinking for this pick.

Now, on the surface level, Vassell accomplishes his role in a satisfactory manner shooting 42 percent from downtown and as a raw prospect in college, averaged a little under 13 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist off 49 percent shooting. Take a deeper dive, however, and you’ll find that Vassell is one of the more polished shot creators and secondary rim protectors in this entire draft class.

The 6’7, 200-lb wing has shown the willingness to pull up from mid-range, put the ball on the floor to initiate pick-and-roll actions, and display a high motor evident in his defensive effort. He’ll fit right into Gregg Popovich’s motion offense and mesh with scorers like DeMar DeRozan and Derrick White both as a ballhandler, hard screen setter, and cutter. This could be the pick that gets the Spurs back into the playoffs since they were on the outside of the playoffs for the first time in 23 years looking in after a failed qualification for the play-in tournament inside the Lake Buena Vista bubble.

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12. Sacramento Kings

With the twelfth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select…Aaron Nesmith, PF, Vanderbilt – With the recent news of Bogdan Bogdanovic’s emigration to Milwaukee and Buddy Hield’s trade to Denver going through Tuesday afternoon, Sacramento will need all the shooting help they can get right now. Aaron Nesmith fits two needs for the Kings right now: outside shooting and an interior presence towering at 6’6. Makes the most sense to not look further than the Vandy product.

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13. New Orleans Pelicans

With the thirteenth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select…Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama – Jrue Holiday being dealt in a massive trade to Milwaukee only means that the Pels have no other option to find an immediate replacement at the starting guard spot. Enter Kira Lewis Jr., the speedy 6’3 guard who is a blur in transition is an explosive driver with the ball in his hands and is also an efficient shooter with a quick release.

While he’ll have time to work on his halfcourt scoring game, he has all the makings of a starting point guard someday. That call to meet that potential may come sooner than later with their guard situation but Lewis will have plenty of assistance around him with former first-overall pick Zion Williamson and this year’s Most Improved Player award winner Brandon Ingram there to help the 19-year-old right away.

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14. Boston Celtics (Via Memphis)

With the fourteenth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics select…Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC – If the South California big man falls this far, Boston wouldn’t waste the chance to take quite arguably the best prospect available for both team fit and overall talent. On some draft boards, it wouldn’t be unprecedented to see Okongwu being picked earlier than his superior in Wiseman as the best big man in this class.

The only detriments pertaining to him – and these could be possible reasons as to his descent into the first round – are his underdeveloped offensive game, which can, like anything else, be worked on as well as him being undersized to fit the traditional build of a center. It’s his defense that has turned eyes. An instinctive mind to anticipate when to come over as help defense, mixed with a nose for shot-blocking almost immediately turns the Celtics from a fringe competitor just on the outskirts of a conference finals berth (again) to a favorite in the East with all the star power they already have in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker.

Nov 18, 2020 No Comments
Report: Lakers Set To Acquire OKC Thunder G Dennis Schroder, Send G Danny Green To Thunder In Blockbuster Trade

Report: Lakers Set To Acquire OKC Thunder G Dennis Schroder, Send G Danny Green To Thunder In Blockbuster Trade

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by | Nov 15, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The NBA offseason isn’t ever a stranger to some ground-shaking news, and as the 2020-21 basketball season is around the corner with the trade season officially opening Monday, the defending champion Lakers were the first to cause shockwaves through the basketball universe.

The first action of their title defense? Oh, nothing but offering the charitable donation of shooting guard Danny Green and the 28th pick in this upcoming Wednesday’s draft to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year award finalist Dennis Schroeder. A deal between both factions will be finalized tomorrow, though it is good as done.

And the rich get even richer.

As it pertains to the game, adding Schroder to an already championship-caliber rotation makes a lot of sense for a team desperately requiring bench scoring and versatile playmaking from an anemic guard spot. Conversely, this only implies that sixth man Rajon Rondo, who already signified his apprehensiveness to sign an extension with the champs, will be looking for his sixth team in his illustrious 14-year career.

It’s plausible Rob Pelinka had some sort of a backup plan in place if Rondo were to be gone, so them acquiring a secondary guard to run things after the first unit sits checks out. Schroder is, to put it succinctly, a significant upgrade over Danny Green. In 65 games this year with the Thunder, Schroder’s outrageous averages of 18.9 points, 4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game got him into the conversation of the best sixth men in all of basketball and was announced as a finalist for the 6MOTY award, which was won by Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell.

Additionally, the upgrade from Green is most notable in his percentage averages from downtown. The German-born guard nearly shot 40 percent from three-land during the regular season and around 39.5 percent in the playoffs. L.A.’s interest in Schroder wasn’t new and hadn’t lingered even with their reported interest in wanting to sign Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe.

The soon-to-be-Laker will officially be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, and while it’s rather risky to trade for a guy who is in the last year of his contract, the Lakers are all in for their wide-open title window, which doesn’t look as if it’s going to be shut any time soon.

Nov 15, 2020 No Comments