tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059398243643417062024-03-13T13:56:59.266-07:00Karmas Classroom:Karmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05022380460484752557noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-53343718683266203852019-09-16T18:44:00.002-07:002019-09-16T18:44:55.563-07:00Brooklyn Nets 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.nba.com/30teams30days/2019/BKN?fbclid=IwAR00GDkGJCDY5qqfTyAhZBSBPyUAPDo35b4wZZsv3JNhOUNTFFOGJwCqcVA" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNVeL9lDl_d-oow-S3zW9GTfTSne7g1NL4Qt5O_RichA3-pCauc1JcdzkmOPNl5cXRfd8REjCdye4CjP8H4IiP_r9yiqsCUJKITjjum4J18ckJiPNt9NOfXYGUnQOo_GOl5tOyajT585J/s640/bkn.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Brooklyn Nets</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612751/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>42-40, <a href="http://www.nba.com/playoffs/2019/eastseries3" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">lost to the Sixers</a> in first round of playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Kevin Durant (free agency), Kyrie Irving (free agency), DeAndre Jordan (free agency), Garrett Temple (free agency), Wilson Chandler (free agency), Taurean Prince (trade)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>D'Angelo Russell, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Allen Crabbe, Jared Dudley, DeMarre Carroll, Ed Davis, Shabazz Napier</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The remarkable climb of a franchise left in ruins by a disastrous trade four years ago continued in earnest when the <a href="https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2019/eastseries3" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Nets reached the playoffs</a>. This was a culmination of clever work by GM Sean Marks and a solid coaching job by Kenny Atkinson, and of course, the effort from a batch of hungry and scrappy players most of whom carried mild credentials.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It was a breakout season for Russell, the young point guard who showed maturity and a deadly jumper while earning an All-Star berth. That, symbolically, was yet another step in the right direction the franchise has taken since surrendering its future to the Boston Celtics in the <a href="https://www.nba.com/nets/video/2013/07/12/712TradeMOV-2538293" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">ill-fated Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Russell averaged 21.1 points and seven assists per game and ranked in the <a href="https://on.nba.com/2EhQjbh" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">top 25 in fourth-quarter scoring</a>. The club received a scare when swingman Caris LeVert, who started strongly, crashed early in the season with a gruesome-looking leg injury initially. However, LeVert eventually returned to the lineup by playoff time. Joe Harris led the league <a href="https://on.nba.com/2D6GA7Z" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">in 3-point shooting</a> (47.4%) and <a href="http://www.nba.com/allstar/2019/events/three-point-contest" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">won the Three-Point contest</a>. Center Jarrett Allen made big strides defensively and became an internet sensation because of his rim-denying blocks against a handful of stars. And Spencer Dinwiddie, who shared the playmaking chores with Russell, transformed from a journeyman into a Sixth Man of the Year candidate with a career season, averaging 16.8 ppg and 4.6 apg.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Nets added to their uplifting season by taking the opening game of their playoff series against the Sixers. Strangely enough, bigger surprises and prizes awaited them in the offseason as 2018-19 was undoubtedly a turning point for Brooklyn.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary: </strong>After showcasing Julius Erving to the world and winning a pair of ABA titles with him in the 1970s, the Nets franchise never attached itself to that level of star power again. Sure, they had a taste here and there: prime Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, post-Toronto Vince Carter and maybe a few others. Only four times did the Nets make the cover of <em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Sports Illustrated</em>, for example, but it was for <a href="https://www.si.com/vault/issue/711206" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Derrick Coleman’s petulance</a>, <a href="https://www.si.com/vault/issue/702923" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Kidd's excellence</a>, <a href="https://www.si.com/vault/issue/703384" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Kenyon Martin’s snarl</a> and earlier this decade when the mag bravely predicted the Nets (with an <a href="https://www.si.com/vault/issue/1009559" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">aging Garnett and Pierce</a>) were title favorites. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Well, times have a’changed.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In a dizzy and a doozy of an offseason, the Nets bagged not one, but two franchise players in their primes with championship pedigree. Irving and Durant shook the league by arriving to Brooklyn in a <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/06/30/report-kevin-durant-announce-decision-june-30" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">package deal through free agency</a>, a development that would’ve been met with laughter had you suggested it just years ago. It’s the offseason the New York Knicks aimed for but will stare at across the East River in envy.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Credit Marks for largely making this happen. He has become one of the NBA's best GMs after inheriting a mess and creating an organization that appealed to a pair of elite talents. Durant and Irving saw what we saw: a club with a good young core, steered by a respectable coach and led by a GM who can take a thread of polyester and churn it into silk.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There’s a hitch, as you know. Durant, the two-time Finals MVP, is recovering from offseason Achilles surgery and there’s the likelihood of him <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/08/07/durant-discusses-warriors-injury-brooklyn-free-agency-decision" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">sitting the entire season</a>. Even that worst-case scenario would be OK with the Nets, who have no urgency to take risks with arguably the NBA's best player. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As for Irving, he’s coming off a season where once again he solidified his place among the league’s premier point guards … and also fed his reputation for being quirky and moody. It was that kind of season with the Celtics, where Irving displayed poor leadership skills and couldn’t push the Celtics into The Finals. He quickly prepared an exit strategy -- one that was endorsed by Celtics fans -- which led him to linking up with Durant and seeking a new frontier and beginning.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Durant and Irving made the Nets the co-winners of the Best Offseason Award, which they split with the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George LA Clippers. Brooklyn seems poised for another big jump in its redevelopment and it arriving in 2019-20 depends largely on Durant. But even if Durant sits out this season, Irving has every incentive to give the Nets what he didn’t give the Celtics last season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Brooklyn's price for progress (besides a ton of money) was sacrificing Russell, whose value to the club dipped once Irving signed up. Yet he was the only significant loss for Brooklyn. It refused to extend Hollis-Jefferson’s rookie deal and erased another obsolete player by tossing Crabbe (and his $18 million contract) to Atlanta to free up money for Durant and Irving.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In the Crabbe trade, the Nets had to send a pair of first-rounders to the Hawks, but that was a small price. In that trade, though, Brooklyn also got a developing swingman in Prince. He brings solid 3-point shooting (39% last season) and can team with Harris to give Brooklyn good court spacing.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As a bonus, the Durant-Irving package came with Jordan, their buddy and an established rebounding and shot-blocking veteran who gives depth at center. Allen will likely remain the starter, but Jordan provides frontcourt insurance at this stage of his career.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The summer was downright seismic for Brooklyn, and in time, the Nets can position themselves for a sharp rise in the Eastern Conference. With Durant and Irving, they have the necessary stars, and in Dinwiddie, LeVert and Allen, the required supporting cast. The degree of immediate improvement depends on Durant’s recovery, yet there’s no mistaking where the empire state of mind lives when it comes to basketball in New York.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-84183196150305548412019-09-15T22:10:00.000-07:002019-09-15T22:10:05.789-07:00Detroit Pistons 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Detroit Pistons</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612765/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">41-41, <a href="https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2019/eastseries1#/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">lost to the Bucks</a> in the first round of the playoffs</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Derrick Rose (free agent), Markieff Morris (free agent), Tony Snell (trade), Sekou Doumbouya (draft)</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ish Smith, Jon Leuer, Wayne Ellington</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Blake Griffin rediscovered what it looked and felt like to live among the league’s upper-echelon players. The climb for his team, however, proved to be a bit more complicated. The Pistons did reach the playoffs by squeezing out the final spot in the East and then got swept for the trouble, which means while Detroit is finally peering out of the rubble left behind by the Stan Van Gundy era, the club seems far from challenging for anything special.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The bounce-back season for Griffin, seemingly at the peak of his powers in this first full season with Detroit, could chiefly come down to health: Griffin played 75 games and showed the kind of burst and aggression that marked his time with the Clippers. While initially stung after being sent from sunny L.A. to the chilly Midwest the previous season, Griffin made peace with the change, channelling that anger into something positive and productive. As a reward, he earned All-Star recognition by averaging 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists -- ppg and assist numbers well above his career averages. However, old knee issues flared and dogged Griffin late; he missed the last week of the regular season and sat the first two games of the first round against the No. 1-seeded Bucks, costing the Pistons any chance of pulling a surprise.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Speaking of health, the Pistons were thrilled to get a full 82 from point guard Reggie Jackson, whose injury issues plagued the two seasons prior, helping doom Van Gundy, who acquired him. Jackson looked fresh and shot a career-best 36.9 percent from deep. The other Mr. Reliable was, of course, center Andre Drummond, who averaged a league-high 15.6 rebounds with 17.3 points and active defensive. The Pistons went 7-10 down the stretch mainly because the help was inconsistent. They hoped for significant improvement from Luke Kennard but the second-year forward, while a solid shooter with range, never established himself as a major-minutes player. Overall, coach Dwane Casey’s first year was respectable and there appeared to be a basketball pulse throbbing inside Little Caesars Arena, which still had that new-car smell.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary:</strong> Without a difference-making draft pick or much money to serenade a top-flight free agent, the Pistons’ summer was all about getting their best player fit for the future. And that meant surgery for Griffin.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The arthroscopic procedure was necessary for a player who broke down in April and was clearly in need of medical help. This might be of concern for the Pistons given that it's not Griffin’s first rodeo with his knees. At some point, the tread wear will prove costly for a player on a max contract, yet Griffin had a full summer to rest and recover and both player and team are optimistic that he’ll return to the level he reached last season. Whether he plays 75-plus games is another story.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Derrick Rose, the veteran guard who signed a two-year deal for $15 million, certainly could relate. And in that sense, Griffin can brainstorm with former Kia MVP Rose, who went through far worse, yet appears to have finally found a comfortable middle ground between his knee injuries and his previous peak.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Four years ago, Rose seemed hobbled and finished, but last season with the Timberwolves presented the long-awaited resurrection: Rose memorably dropped a career-high 50 in an effort that reduced him to tears. And it wasn’t just a one-game wonder. Rose was surprisingly and consistently solid and sturdy for Minnesota. He averaged 18 points with a renewed ability to create efficient shots, firing at a 48.2 percent clip.</span>If there’s more of this in the tank for a player who’s an old 30, the Rose signing should prove solid value, offering the Pistons more backcourt depth and another weapon to keep defenses from shadowing Drummond and doubling on Griffin.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Speaking of value, Detroit grabbed a Morris twin to add front-line depth and swung a trade for Snell. The Snell trade didn’t cost the Pistons much value (Leuer) and there could be upside, but only if Snell can finally meet the expectations that Milwaukee had for him when the club gave a role player a surprising ($10 million per) extension two years ago. Snell could be a floor spacer, and -- at 27 -- is in his prime. Whether he can justify sixth-man minutes will be the issue for someone whose playing time dropped to just 17 mpg in the back end of the rotation last season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Pistons' first rounder, just like the team’s season, fell smack in the middle. There are hardly any guarantees with the 15th selection, where you often just hope someone on your draft board falls into your lap. The Pistons were high on Doumbouya, who doesn’t turn 19 until December. A springy, 6-foot-9 forward with physical gifts, Doumbouya has three years of pro ball in his rearview after his French League stint. Can he become the next Pascal Siakam?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Pistons didn’t do anything seismic this summer that will drastically change the team’s fortunes overnight. They are perhaps stuck in the dreaded middle, and if it’s any consolation, at least they’re not drifting in reverse.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-10788782482466263462019-09-15T22:01:00.002-07:002019-09-15T22:01:57.974-07:00Sacramento Kings 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Sacramento Kings</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612758/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>39-43, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Trevor Ariza (free agency), Cory Joseph (free agency), Luke Walton (coach)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong> Willie Cauley-Stein, Frank Mason, Dave Joerger</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">For the first time in at least a decade, there was optimism waiting to greet the Kings at the finish line of yet another losing season. No, the Kings didn’t reach the playoffs, but yes, they dropped delicious hints of a sustainable future. Much of this was generated by a young core that showcased some fine moments and entertained inside the team’s high-tech new palace of a home arena.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield were the principles, meshing well as a backcourt and putting defenses on alert with their playmaking, mature shot selection and a level of composure in tense moments that’s rare for players in their early 20s. The Kings could turn to either player to take charge and make an impact, and they often delivered. Hield shot 42.7 percent from deep, while Fox averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 assists in a vastly more consistent second pro season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">They were joined by Marvin Bagley III -- the No. 2 overall pick in 2018 -- who struggled early with injuries and the transition from college to big-boy basketball, not to mention coming off the bench for the first time in his life. Yet Bagley eventually found a productive groove on a team lacking talented bigs. And then there was Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had solid moments as the sixth man. The Kings were among the league’s more pleasant surprises; in early March they had a winning record and an outside shot at making the playoffs. That was progress for a franchise that was derisively known as the "Kangs", one that always seemed buried by poor front office decisions and players who lacked the desire or talent or both to elevate Sacramento into the land of the respected.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Walton left a bizarre season with the Lakers, who crashed and burned in LeBron James’ first season. Fair or not, part of that was laid at the feet of the young coach. Actually, Walton was the least dysfunctional part of that experience; he maintained a calm composure amid the madness. He also maintained a decent standing around the league, evidently, and that’s why his stay in the unemployment line lasted mere seconds.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">At least in the short term, this appears a win-win for Walton and the Kings. Both are searching for stability and respect and maybe they’ll find it together.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Otherwise, Kings GM Vlade Divac kept his dealing to a minimum with regard to personnel matters. The Kings’ first-round pick belonged to the Celtics, so much of their movement was done with a design for continuity.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">They spent relatively cheaply, adding veterans to lend experience and supporting roles for the upcoming season. Ariza, Dedmon and Joseph are all on short-term contracts, as the Kings eye the approaching time when they’ll need to give rich extensions to Hield, Fox and perhaps Bagley as well.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Speaking of that, they spent rather lavishly to keep Harrison Barnes, who got four years and $85 million. Barnes was a third- and sometimes fourth-option on the club last season, so a $20 million-plus-per-year extension was met with surprise around the league. But swingmen are at a premium in today’s NBA and there’s no up-and-comer ready to take Barnes’ spot in the rotation.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Finally, the Kings erased the last remaining big mistake on the club by refusing to keep Cauley-Stein. He was a lottery pick three years ago but, like most Kings’ picks, did little of value and couldn’t inspire confidence beyond his rookie contract. It was yet another embarrassing episode by the Kings but maybe those are fewer in the future. Ultimately the Kings must find a capable big man; until then, Dedmon seems capable of being the bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">By keeping their movement to a minimum, the Kings believe the best way to improve next season is through organic growth, rather than a shakeup. The Kings have had plenty of those in the last several years, so this new and bold path comes as a tremendous relief. Sacramento can exhale. The new four-letter word being tossed around in town is “h-o-p-e.”</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-29295067589494640462019-09-13T20:13:00.001-07:002019-09-13T20:13:27.420-07:00Miami Heat 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Miami Heat</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612748/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">39-43, did not qualify for the playoffs</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jimmy Butler (free agent), Tyler Herro (Draft), Meyers Leonard (trade)</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson, Dwyane Wade</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The state of mediocrity in the wake of <a href="https://www.nba.com/heat/miami-heat-championship-rosters" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">the Big Three era</a> continued for a fourth straight season as Miami once again showcased a brand of basketball that was neither rich nor ruinous, stellar nor embarrassing. The Heat simply stayed locked in the middle, and the only ripple of interest was generated by <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/04/09/20190409-gametime-dwyane-wade-budweiser-commercial" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">the season-long sayonara for Wade</a>, one of the most beloved players in team history.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Whenever the action in the games wasn’t dramatic, the attention drifted toward the final buzzer, when <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/09/dwyane-wade-jersey-swaps-2018-19-season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Wade swapped jerseys</a> with a chosen opposing player. Wade’s send-off season was rather decent on the court as he showed the level of spring and zest that wasn’t always apparent in the preceding years. He averaged 15 points per game and was often the Heat’s first option when games were on the line. Otherwise, the core of the Heat was none too spectacular.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Miami had no All-Stars other than Wade (who, along with Dirk Nowitzki, was an honorary <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/02/01/dirk-nowitzki-dwyane-wade-added-all-star-game" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">choice by the commissioner</a>) and lacked an intriguing young talent on the rise. Richardson had moments and <a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612748/players-traditional/?Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=PTS&dir=1" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">led the club in scoring</a> (16.6 ppg). Because of injury, Goran Dragic was limited to 36 games and Dion Waiters to 44, and their absences likely weighed down the Heat’s ability to rise in the standings. The other players on the roster commanding high salaries -- Whiteside, James Johnson and Kelly Olynyk -- delivered so-so results. In an ideal situation, those players would be the supporting cast for a superstar. In the end, the Heat flirted with a playoff spot yet came up short in a conference that lacked strength beyond the top five teams.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary: </strong>Team president<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"> </strong>Pat Riley has spent his five-decade career surrounded by stars. When he wasn’t playing next to them (Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor) or coaching them (Wade, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal) he was busy finding them as an executive (LeBron James, Chris Bosh). In short, Riley cannot go very long or far without one.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">And so the long-time Heat president made it a mission this summer to find a replacement for Wade, the last remaining piece of a club that won a pair of championships this decade, and that journey <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/06/30/report-jimmy-butler-heat-sign-trade" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">led to him to Butler</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Butler wasn’t the only twinkle in Riley’s eyes as he tried to get Russell Westbrook from Oklahoma City in a trade and inquired about Kyrie Irving in free agency. When those nibbles went nowhere, Riley and the Heat settled, to use a word, on a player whose talent is obvious yet hasn’t reached the promised land in his career.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">That’s the summation regarding Butler. He’s one of the league’s better two-way players, someone who takes equal pride in accepting tough defensive assignments and also demanding the ball on offense. He’s hard-working, takes care of his body and is rather durable given his workload and minutes. Over the last five seasons, Butler has averaged 21 points, five rebounds and four assists, proof of his all-around impact.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Yet Butler has never really been in the leading-man role he now has with the Heat. Nor has he reached The Finals. Therefore, on the basis of those credentials, Butler doesn’t necessary qualify as an A-list star.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Miami and Riley weren’t being picky about that. They needed a centerpiece and the feeling was mutual with Butler, who only seriously considered signing with the Heat this summer after his lone season with the Sixers. Unlike Kawhi Leonard or LeBron, however, Butler wasn’t successful in getting a co-star to join him in Miami.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Not that Riley didn’t try. He was in the mix for Westbrook once OKC decided to part with the former Kia MVP. But Riley wasn’t willing to sacrifice the Heat’s future for Westbrook, at least not enough to compete with the Rockets’ successful offer.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Heat are high on Herro, the No. 13 pick who is a shooter with range that looked <a href="https://www.nba.com/heat/news/summer-herro" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">impressive in Summer League</a>. If Herro starts quickly this season, he could make one of the Heat’s veterans -- such as Waiters -- expendable.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">By participating in the four-team trade that brought Butler to Miami, the Heat were able to finally dump Whiteside and his bloated contract. Whiteside was a disappointment almost from the moment he received an extension that averaged $24 million a season. He and that contract quickly became outdated. Whiteside is a non-flexible low-post center in a league that spreads the floor, and he’s a complex personality to boot.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In the deal, the Heat sacrificed Richardson, a team favorite, and added Leonard, who’s the exact opposite of Whiteside. Leonard brings reliable 3-point shooting (45% last season) and is coachable, meaning he won’t bristle if coach Erik Spoelstra benches him in fourth quarters (as he often did to Whiteside).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Leonard’s time in Portland was solid yet unspectacular, but he ended his time there with a bang (30 points, 12 rebounds in <a href="https://www.nba.com/blazers/video/2019/05/20/leonard" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">a Game 4 series-ending loss</a> in the Western Conference finals).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The summer was successful if only because Riley got his man, someone who’s not a superstar yet clearly a solid player who instantly becomes the Heat’s lead singer. Miami is now banking on a healthy return from Waiters and Dragic, and that might be enough to put the Heat back among the playoff eight.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-24738968660908174412019-09-12T20:27:00.002-07:002019-09-12T20:27:53.783-07:00Charlotte Hornets 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Charlotte Hornets</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612766/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record</a>: </strong>39-43, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions</a>: </strong>Terry Rozier (free agency), PJ Washington (Draft)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key subtractions</a>: </strong>Kemba Walker, Frank Kaminsky, Tony Parker, Jeremy Lamb</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown:</strong> The Hornets lived most of last season on the fence, with one foot in playoff contention and the other on a banana peel. They were turbocharged by Walker, who had the <a href="https://stats.nba.com/player/202689/career/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">best season of his career</a>, an All-Star effort that started strongly then dipped somewhat in midseason when he seemed weary from the load.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Walker <a href="https://stats.nba.com/player/202689/traditional/?Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">averaged 25.6 points per game</a> and made 35.6% of his 3-pointers, proving too slippery for most defenders. He had consecutive games <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2018/11/17/0021800225-kemba-walker-60-points-highlights-vs-philadelphia-76ers" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">of 60</a> and <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2018/11/19/0021800239-kemba-walker-charlotte-hornets-43pts" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">43 points</a>, then <a href="https://on.nba.com/2A2IzqR" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">hit 47 twice</a> and finished the regular season <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/04/10/0021801222-kemba-walker-43-points-highlights-vs-orlando-magic" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">with a 43-point game</a>. He was durable as well, playing 82 games and <a href="http://on.nba.com/2zVXbZp" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">while ranking 17th</a> in fourth-quarter minutes played. For someone in the final year of his contract, Walker couldn’t have chosen a better time to produce at a high level.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">He was joined on occasion by Lamb, who was a solid co-star and, like Walker, playing for money. They were the bright spots for the Hornets, who once again were doomed by under-achieving players (some of whom are on bloated contracts). Disappointing results from the team's most recent first-round picks, Malik Monk and Miles Bridges, were prevalent as well. The swingmen at times looked like future stars -- and at other times, like nothing more than rotational players.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Injuries and lackluster play haunted Kaminsky, Cody Zeller and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist, too. That lack of growth destroyed the spirit of the franchise, and their contracts -- along with Nicolas Batum’s -- stifled the salary cap, putting the club at a disadvantage while negotiating with Walker and Lamb.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary:</strong> In the end, the best player in franchise history left as a free agent. Walker did so because the Hornets couldn’t afford (or didn’t want) <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/01/kemba-walker-players-tribune-letter" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">to pay him the max</a> and he saw them as a dead end. Even worse, Walker and his family loved Charlotte and wanted to stay.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">But could you blame him? Why would an elite player accept below market value to play for a club stuck in mediocrity, no thanks to the poor contracts given out to lesser players? It didn’t make sense, so Walker read the tea leaves and found salvation (and plenty of cash) in Boston, leaving the Hornets with a massive void to fill.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Hornets’ bigger mistake was their <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2018/01/23/michael-jordan-would-not-trade-kemba-walker-anything-all-star-player" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">refusal to trade Walker</a> at the 2018-19 deadline to get at least <em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">something</em> in return. By keeping him past the deadline, the Hornets avoided the embarrassment of not having Walker represent them in the All-Star Game, <a href="https://www.nba.com/allstar#/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">which was in Charlotte</a>, and they kept their faint playoff hopes alive with him. But that decision was costly in the end, and you can’t find many GMs these days who’ll allow their franchise player to leave without a return.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Once Walker bailed, <a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/charlotte-hornets-acquire-terry-rozier-boston-celtics-sign-and-trade-deal-kemba-walker" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">it got real interesting</a>: Charlotte landed Rozier <a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/terry-rozier-relishing-new-opportunity-hornets" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">via a sign-and-trade deal</a> that pays him $58 million over three seasons. That’s almost $20 million a season for Rozier, who only started 30 games in four seasons with the Celtics (and regressed last season overall). He is a <a href="https://stats.nba.com/player/1626179/career/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">career 38% shooter</a> and has never averaged three assists per game. Rozier is an intense defender, but lacks the size to guard multiple positions. His high point was the playoffs two seasons ago when he replaced an injured Kyrie Irving and <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2018/09/24/terry-rozier-celtics-media-day" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">became "Scary Terry,"</a> the unexpected menace.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Rozier's signing was met with almost universal shock given that point guards are plentiful in the NBA (and each Draft produces a handful more). Unless the player is stellar, GMs don’t usually break the bank for them. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Rozier was also rather mediocre last season, and while the return of Irving to the Celtics’ lineup perhaps had something to do with that, there was no significant growth from the 25-year-old.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Finally, the Hornets under owner Michael Jordan’s watch have made a habit of gambling (and losing) financially on promising players. This move seemed to be more of the same. The proper approach would be to judge the Rozier signing after a reasonable amount of time and then decide if the Hornets blew it again.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">But at the moment, this doesn’t pass the smell test.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Hornets didn’t aggressively try to re-sign Lamb. That was partly the cost of doing business with Rozier, but mostly because Monk seems ready for more minutes. The club remains high on Monk, who brings many of the same attributes as Lamb and can use the upcoming season to develop.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With the No. 12 pick, <a href="https://www.nba.com/hornets/press-releases/hornets-select-pj-washington-12th-pick-2019-nba-draft" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">the Hornets drafted Washington</a>, who arguably was Kentucky’s best player last season. He’s a combo forward with length and moves well on the floor. He nearly entered the 2018 Draft, but limitations from a broken little finger hampered his progress. </span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The plight of the Hornets might be best summed up by Kaminsky. They drafted him No. 9 overall in 2015 and turned down <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2015/7/28/9058035/charlotte-hornets-frank-kaminsky-trade-celtics" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">four first-round picks</a> from the Celtics to do so. Yet Kaminsky never distinguished himself in Charlotte and was eventually dropped in the rotation late last season under new coach James Borrego.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Once again, the Hornets wound up with nothing for a wasted lottery pick. Kaminsky signed with Phoenix as a free agent, earning just the exception.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Hornets are beginning another rebuilding plan, putting their faith and future in the hands of Washington, Rozier, Monk and Bridges. Is this the time they finally get it right?</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-5302033138906399632019-09-11T19:18:00.003-07:002019-09-11T19:18:43.371-07:00Los Angeles Lakers 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Los Angeles Lakers</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612747/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>37-45, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Anthony Davis (trade), DeMarcus Cousins (free agency), Avery Bradley (free agency), Danny Green (free agency), Jared Dudley (free agency), Dwight Howard (free agency), Frank Vogel (coach)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, Luke Walton, Magic Johnson</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Injuries and drama conspired to tag-team and destroy any chances of LeBron James’ first season in L.A. becoming a success by any measure. It was an all-around debacle for a franchise with steep hopes, especially with a superior (if aging) talent in LeBron, who suffered the most significant injury of his career. A <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2018/12/25/lebron-james-locker-room-possible-groin-injury" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">persistent and stubborn groin issue</a> limited him to 55 games, and once it happened on Christmas Day, the Lakers were done for all practical purposes. When he returned, they were reeling from the fallout of the failed attempt to <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/01/28/report-anthony-davis-requesting-trade-pelicans" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">steal Davis from the Pelicans</a> at the trade deadline and never mustered any chemistry or determination to save their season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There were rumblings inside about Walton’s coaching, which was raised publicly by team president Magic Johnson before the holidays. Ball suffered an ankle injury and was held to 47 games while <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/03/09/brandon-ingram-out-rest-season-blood-clot-arm" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Ingram developed a blood clot</a> that ended his season after 52 games. By springtime, the Lakers were a shell of their opening night dreams and roster. The personnel moves made by Johnson the previous offseason provided mixed results, with Lance Stephenson and Michael Beasley proving especially useless. Then <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/09/magic-johnson-steps-down-lakers-president" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Johnson abruptly quit</a> on the final day of the season. </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The club had no shooters, LeBron lost the will to play defense and for the sixth straight season the Lakers failed to make the playoffs, a haunting stretch for a club with 16 banners and a proud history of excellence, global recognition and star appeal.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary:</strong> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There was only one goal on the checklist and one job for the Lakers to do this offseason, so from that perspective, consider it mission accomplished. Davis is that good and that much of a problem-solver.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Putting aside, for the moment, the price the Lakers paid for Davis, he brings instant credibility, has the unique skills to restore the winning atmosphere at Staples Center, and will arguably be the most talented teammate LeBron has ever had -- which is important with James starting his 17th NBA season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Davis is perfect for LeBron in so many ways. For a star and talent of his magnitude, Davis’ ego is refreshingly submerged. Meaning, he’s not flustered by the fine print that comes with playing in LeBron’s shadow. Davis hasn’t shown a great desire for attention and seems quite willing to be a co-star in this instance.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Also, Davis’ style of play is very accommodating. He’s highly efficient on offense and doesn’t need 25 shots to score 25 points. His elite defense brings the ability to bail out teammates, LeBron included, for their mistakes. Davis is the rare star who <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/08/29/10-best-scorers-fourth-quarter-2018-19" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">can take command of a game,</a> or go with the flow, and be comfortable in either role.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Finally, this is the biggest plus: Davis is just 26. This is more his team than LeBron’s, if only because, assuming LeBron retires at the end of his contract in two years, Davis will likely still be around. Davis didn’t sign a contract extension once the Lakers made the trade, but consider that a matter of business; there’s no way the Lakers would deliver a massive package for Davis without some assurance from the player that a new contract will be negotiated next summer.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The only question is about Davis’ ability to rise in the postseason. He’s only had two chances to do so -- and in those 13 games, he averaged 30.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.3 steals. Even so, his inability to carry the Pelicans to more than a pair of playoff berths in six seasons was surprising. But he doesn’t need to carry the Lakers or feel the same amount of pressure, at least not this season. (Unless, of course, LeBron becomes injury prone.)</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Lakers had little leverage in the Davis talks because they must win now, before LeBron’s health or contract expires, and the Pelicans knew this. That’s why L.A. had to fork over its future. Ball, Ingram and Hart, three-fourths of a young core that included Kyle Kuzma, are gone, along with a batch of future first-round picks that, in a worst-case scenario, will cripple the club if hard times lie ahead. But that was the price of doing business to get a true game-changer.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With Davis in the fold, the Lakers under new chief Rob Pelinka took a different approach to building the supporting cast than they did under Johnson. Pelinka acquired shooters (Green, Dudley and Troy Daniels). None are among the NBA’s elite, but it was the best the Lakers could do after their failed push to sign Kawhi Leonard.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">He also <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/06/report-demarcus-cousins-lakers" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">signed Cousins</a>, initially hoping the big man, nearly two years removed from Achilles surgery, would regain his confidence and his game. But, ouch: Cousins never made it to training camp. He suffered <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/08/15/report-demarcus-cousins-suffers-possible-knee-injury" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">an ACL injury</a> during summer workouts and after surgery will likely miss the entire season. It was a major blow to Cousins -- again -- and a potential one to the Lakers. They do have JaVale McGee back. And then there’s Dwight Howard, <a href="https://secure.nba.com/lakers/releases/190826-lakers-sign-dwight-howard" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">on hand for a second tour</a>, who suited up for four teams in five years since first leaving the Lakers in 2013. He’s certainly humbled, but can he help, or will he generate drama? That is the concern, and because of that, his contract is non-guaranteed.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Meanwhile: Walton's days were numbered. And he wasn’t particularly upset at being fired since the job of coaching the Lakers and an aging superstar wore on him, and also because he was immediately snapped up by the Kings.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Lakers chose Vogel, who had successful seasons in Indiana. Unlike Walton, <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/09/10/frank-vogel-los-angeles-lakers-interview" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Vogel comes with experience</a> and like Walton, an even temperament for a job that’ll be pressurized.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A bigger surprise than the choice of Vogel was the choice of his top assistant, Jason Kidd. This instantly gave NBA observers a license to declare Kidd the coach-in-waiting, especially if the season goes south again. While that may not be true, drama followed Kidd at his only two head coaching stops, Brooklyn and Milwaukee, and he makes no secret of his desire to get another shot.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">By hiring a proven coach and trading for Davis, the Lakers made clear their goal of going for the grand prize, which they should; such is the byproduct of having LeBron on the team and being on the clock. The roster is mainly loaded with win-now players such as Green, McGee, Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Davis made this possible, and now it’s up to a transformational player to transform the Lakers back to being a team equipped to play in June. </span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-28992136601280479792019-09-10T19:34:00.001-07:002019-09-10T19:34:50.495-07:00Minnesota Timberwolves 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Minnesota Timberwolves</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612750/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>36-46, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Jarrett Culver (Draft), Jake Layman (trade), Jordan Bell (free agency), Shabazz Napier (trade)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong> Tyus Jones, Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Dario Saric</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Wolves qualified as one of the bigger disappointments of the season, taking a step back from their <a href="https://www.nba.com/playoffs/2018/westseries1#/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">playoff berth the previous season</a> and seeing little to no growth among their young, reliable players. It’s always alarming when development hits a speed bump, and the Wolves studied the tea leaves and figured something was amiss. Chief among the concerns was the stagnation of swingman Andrew Wiggins.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Once considered the co-savior of the club and <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2017/10/11/minnesota-timberwolves-andrew-wiggins-agree-extension" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">lavished with a max contract</a> a year ago, Wiggins drifted and regressed in almost all areas: shooting, defense, impact and especially motivation. He simply did not radiate the intangibles a young player needs to become a star, and there’s realistic fear within the franchise that Wiggins, 24, will be nothing better than a support player.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">On most nights, Minnesota mainly relied on Karl-Anthony Towns and the big man delivered more than not. He led the club in scoring (<a href="https://on.nba.com/2PZdxuY" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">24.4 ppg</a>), rebounds (<a href="https://on.nba.com/2PZdxuY" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">12.4 rpg</a>) and blocks (<a href="https://on.nba.com/2PZdxuY" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">1.6 bpg</a>) and shot 40% on 3-pointers. Still, he couldn’t carry the club. The Wolves also received a bounce-back season from Rose, who had a magical moment with his <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2018/11/01/extra-numbers-know-derrick-rose-50-points" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">50-point game in October</a> against the Utah Jazz. Rose followed with three 30-point efforts and inspired hope that his hardship from injuries was finally in the past. He was a much better fit for the Wolves than Jimmy Butler, who was mercifully <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2018/10/04/report-minnesota-timberwolves-trade-butler-76ers" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">traded after 10 turbulent games</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Since Thibodeau also was the club’s personnel chief, the Wolves immediately conducted a search for a basketball operations leader once the season ended, yet another sign of instability by a franchise that has reached the playoffs only once since 2003-04.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary: </strong>The Wolves entered the summer of 2019 cloaked in uncertainty, which is rather normal for them. It’s just that team owner Glen Taylor and Wolves fans figured the dark days were finally behind them, only to get an untimely visit last season. Which meant, changes were coming.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Taylor <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/05/01/report-timberwolves-hire-gersson-rosas-president-basketball-ops" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">hired Gersson Rosas</a> to lead the next era, and it was a decision that was applauded in NBA circles. Rosas, unlike Thibodeau, brings front office experience, having served 16 seasons with the Houston Rockets where he was tutored by Carroll Dawson and Daryl Morey, both respected GMs.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">One of the first decisions was <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/05/20/report-wolves-saunders-nearing-deal" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">to retain Saunders as coach</a>. This wasn’t an automatic decision as Saunders came to the job last season without any prior experience. Yet he held respect in the locker room, came from a solid bloodline and by keeping him, the Wolves maintained some sense of stability. Rosas and Taylor agreed that Saunders deserved more than a half-season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Next, the Wolves moved up five spots in the Draft, <a href="https://www.nba.com/suns/press-release/suns-complete-trades-add-draft-picks-johnson-jerome-and-veterans-saric-baynes" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">sending Saric to Phoenix</a> to do so, to get Culver. The Texas Tech guard, who boasts a mature game and decent shooting range, appears NBA-ready in terms of intelligence, toughness and size. Culver will compete with last year’s first-round pick, Josh Okogie, for the right to start at big guard.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Curiously, the Wolves saw the loss of not one, but two point guards when <a href="https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-sign-free-agent-derrick-rose" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Rose signed with the Detroit Pistons</a> as a free agent and the Wolves declined to match the <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/10/wolves-dont-match-tyus-jones-offer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Memphis Grizzlies' $28 million offer sheet</a> for fellow backup guard Jones. They added the journeyman Napier as a replacement, but Wolves will at some point have to look to upgrade the position significantly.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The other two additions were designed to improve the club’s front line depth. The athletic swingman Layman briefly flourished with the Portland Trail Blazers last season before losing ground in the rotation. Bell had a reasonable role in the Golden State Warriors’ rotation the last two seasons, but failed to show improvement ... which led to diminished minutes. Both are still young and come cheap, so there’s not much risk in giving them a second chance.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">What Rosas didn’t do was trade Wiggins. That in itself would’ve been welcomed by Wolves fans, who have grown impatient and frustrated with him. Wiggins would have takers on the market despite a contract that’ll average nearly $30 million the next four seasons. However, the return for Minnesota would be rather disappointing. Given the choice, Wiggins stays for now.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The greater concern for Rosas is Towns and the potential for the All-Star center asking for a trade. Suddenly, this is becoming commonplace among those elite players around the league who don’t see progress with their current team. Towns, therefore, is the most likely candidate, from an outsider’s perspective, to <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/01/28/report-anthony-davis-requesting-trade-pelicans" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">pull an Anthony Davis</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In the meantime, the Wolves hope to keep adding to a young base to build assets. That might mean more trips to the Draft lottery, a place the Wolves once thought was finally in their rearview mirror instead of staring them in the face.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-11825226762464531782019-09-09T19:33:00.001-07:002019-09-09T19:33:15.676-07:00New Orleans Pelicans 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> New Orleans Pelicans</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612740/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>33-49, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Zion Williamson (Draft), Lonzo Ball (trade), Brandon Ingram (trade), JJ Redick (free agency), Derrick Favors (trade), Josh Hart (trade), Jaxson Hayes (Draft), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Draft)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There were teams with worst records and teams with more drama. But no team had a combination of both quite like the Pelicans. It all swirled around Davis, the best player in franchise history, who pulled a power move by <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2018/09/23/anthony-davis-signs-klutch-sports-rich-paul-agent" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">switching agents to Rich Paul</a>, business partner of LeBron James. Everyone saw what was coming next except Dell Demps, the beleaguered GM who refused to be proactive and instead tried to fight a losing battle. Through Paul, Davis made a private trade request in the fall <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/01/28/report-anthony-davis-requesting-trade-pelicans" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">and then went public</a> a week prior to the trade deadline when Demps hesitated. When the deadline passed, Davis was still in New Orleans and that was a problem.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The rest of the season was a disaster, as Davis was in an awkward state of limbo and the Pelicans, anxious to preserve their only true asset, managed his minutes. The fallout was severe: <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/10/anthony-davis-awaits-next-move-pelicans" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Fan backlash toward Davis</a>, a fractured locker room, a state of emergency within a franchise that wasn’t among the league’s healthiest to begin with, and <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/02/15/report-pelicans-part-ways-gm-dell-demps" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Demps getting the boot</a>. Everything else about the Pelicans was overshadowed, such as Randle’s solid production in his first (and subsequently only) season in New Orleans and Jrue Holiday’s continued splendid play on both ends. In the end, Davis had long checked out, the Pelicans fell back into the lottery a year after reaching the second round of the playoffs, and a housecleaning was ordered by ownership.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary:</strong> History might reflect that the Davis fiasco, in hindsight, was the most important moment in franchise history, and in a positive way. That’s because a much-needed series of changes were forced to happen because of it, and just maybe the Pelicans will be better off for it.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It created a change in command, with <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/12/pelicans-david-griffin-agree-principle-deal" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">David Griffin replacing Demps</a> and tackling the Davis situation head-on rather than tiptoeing around it. And because Davis was essentially benched the entire second half of the season, that allowed the Pelicans to fall into the lottery, where they got lucky and <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/05/14/pelicans-win-nba-draft-lottery" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">landed the first overall pick</a> in one of those drafts that contained a potential game-changer.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">New Orleans flipped almost overnight, getting an <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/06/15/7-takeaways-lakers-trade-anthony-davis" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">impressive haul for Davis</a> in the long-awaited trade with the Lakers, and adding Zion Williamson, an explosive talent with gate appeal. It was a best-case scenario for the Pelicans, who went from laughingstock to landing <a href="https://stats.nba.com/scores/12/25/2019" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">a game on Christmas Day</a> this season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Griffin played his hand skillfully, unlike Demps. Griffin didn’t create distrust or burn bridges and instead maintained good communication with Davis and all potential trading partners. He created a robust market for Davis and then negotiated with the one team that needed Davis the most: the Lakers with an aging LeBron James.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Not only did Griffin get promising young players in <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/pelicans-trade-for-lonzo-ball-brandon-ingram-josh-hart" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Ball, Ingram and Hart</a>, he also acquired the Lakers’ future with a collection of first-round picks and first-round swaps. Essentially, if the Lakers collapse in the post-LeBron era, the Pelicans will be awash in assets similar to the Boston Celtics when those Brooklyn Nets’ first-rounders turned to gold. Williamson should never have to worry about talent around him in New Orleans as Davis did. And unlike Davis, Williamson won’t be in a hurry to leave in a huff.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There’s no reason for the Pelicans to tank, knowing that ample picks are coming their way. With that in mind, Griffin seized the moment to ramp up the rotation, adding some <a href="http://www.nba.com/video/2019/06/30/20190630-gametime-free-agent-fever-reports-jj-redick-new-orleans-pelicans" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">much-needed shooting in Redick</a> and a reliable veteran in Favors. It’s very possible that the Pelicans can compete for a playoff spot in 2019-20, and again, this seemed remote when last season ended.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There’s <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/14/lonzo-ball-new-orleans-pelicans-zion-williamson" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">plenty of hope for Ball</a>. He’ll have the relief of playing away from L.A. for the first time in his life and the advantage of suiting up next to Holiday, who can play off the ball if necessary. Ingram will be returning from a health scare related to blood clots that cut short his season but the <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/16/brandon-ingram-pretty-close-normal-after-surgery" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">prognosis is good</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In addition to Williamson, the draft also produced Alexander-Walker, who brings good size (6-foot-5) to the backcourt, and Hayes, a raw big man who’ll instantly enroll in the Pelicans’ development school.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">To make the upcoming season as stress-free as possible, Griffin handed coach Alvin Gentry a one-year extension. The pair once <a href="https://www.nba.com/pelicans/pelicans-sign-head-coach-alvin-gentry-contract-extension" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">worked together in Phoenix</a>, when Gentry led the Suns to the Western Conference finals. For the first time in his tenure with the Pelicans, Gentry has ample talent and a solid plan. Now it’s up to him to put the right pieces in place.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Clearly, though, the big prize is Williamson, who comes with robust talent and also a personality that reflects well on him and the franchise. Williamson can be a savior and, once Drew Brees retires, the face of New Orleans sports. It all depends if he makes good on the immense expectations. Given his knack for making crowd-pleasing plays on both ends, the burly forward has star potential -- which is exactly what a small market needs.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There’s a reason why the Draft lottery results caused Gentry to curse with joy and team employees to dance on tables. Perhaps never before has a franchise fallen hard, then rose suddenly, quite like the Pelicans did in a matter of weeks. They’re still partying in New Orleans.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-22893505547646156452019-09-09T19:24:00.003-07:002019-09-09T19:24:49.466-07:00Memphis Grizzlies 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Memphis Grizzlies</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612763/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>33-49, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Ja Morant (Draft), Brandon Clarke (Draft), Jae Crowder (trade), Josh Jackson (trade), Andre Iguodala (trade), Grayson Allen (trade)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Mike Conley, Avery Bradley, Delon Wright, CJ Miles, Chandler Parsons</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The splintering of <a href="https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/video/channel/beyond_grit#" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">the "Grit ’N Grind" era</a> continued in earnest when the Grizzlies <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/02/07/marc-gasol-grizzlies-raptors-trade-official-release" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">traded Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors</a> at the trade deadline and continued their rebuild. Memphis fell off the radar, plunging into the Draft lottery and preparing for major changes in the offseason. The centerpiece of the Grizzlies gravitated toward rookie Jaren Jackson Jr., an athletic big who had moments, enough to at least give hope for the future. Jackson showed a decent shooting touch, though not enough “grind” to confuse him with Zach Randolph. Regardless, he symbolized a new direction for the club as it began to distance itself from its former personality and trademark into something altogether different.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Conley, the lone holdover, stayed healthy enough to play 70 games and led the club in scoring (21.1 points per game) and once again fell short of an All-Star nod. He was flanked by Jonas Valanciunas, a low-post center obtained from Toronto in the Gasol trade, who was solid in his abbreviated time in Memphis (19.9 ppg, 10.7 rpg). Otherwise the Grizzlies experienced the usual shuffling of players and inconsistency that comes with such a transition. A series of journeymen, tapped-out veterans and unproven young players came and went as the Grizzlies <a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612763/players-traditional/?Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">suited up 29 players last season</a>. By the season’s end, they were a mishmash with few assets, and ultimately came to the conclusion that new faces were necessary not only on the floor, but the bench and front office.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary:</strong> The long-anticipated changing of the high command finally happened when Chris Wallace was stripped of his GM duties and J.B. Bickerstaff was <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/11/memphis-grizzlies-front-office-shakeup" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">fired as coach</a>. Owner Robert Pera created a shakeup designed to give the Grizzlies a new vision and leadership with hopes that the small-market team can accelerate into the next phase with a bolder and meaningful plan.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jason Wexler is the new team president, and Zach Kleiman is the new VP of basketball operations. While the Grizzlies will operate by committee, the brainy Kleiman will function as the day-to-day basketball guy and point man for all things personnel. He’s just 30 years old yet grew steadily in the ranks, interning with two NBA teams, armed with a law degree from Duke and employed in a New York law firm before embarking on the basketball administrative side full-time.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If that hiring wasn’t unconventional enough, the Grizzlies added <a href="https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/memphis-grizzlies-name-taylor-jenkins-head-coach-190611" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Taylor Jenkins as coach</a> at age 34. Jenkins came through the ranks of the San Antonio Spurs, where he was their G League coach and then followed former Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer on the bench in Atlanta and Milwaukee.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The new administration immediately went to work on the roster, seizing advantage of the club’s cap flexibility to remake the rotation, but everything began with the <a href="https://www.nba.com/grizzlies/video/gcm-beyond-grit-2-episode-5-190621" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">selection of Morant</a> with the No. 2 overall pick.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">While Morant was selected after the New Orleans Pelicans took Zion Williamson at No. 1, the Grizzlies weren’t complaining. This time a year ago, Morant wasn’t on the radar, but he became a highlight star at Murray State and soon soared up the charts. Smitten by his athleticism and playmaking ability, NBA scouts projected Morant as a potential franchise player and solid No. 2 choice behind Williamson, and the Grizzlies agreed.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">He’ll immediately replace Conley, who was <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/06/19/report-grizzlies-trade-conley-jazz" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">sent to the Utah Jazz</a> for a package that included the No. 23 pick. The Grizzlies used that pick in a swap to get Clarke, who starred at Gonzaga and should see decent minutes at forward as a rookie. Clarke made a big splash early by earning <a href="http://www.nba.com/video/2019/07/17/20190717-best-mgm-resorts-summer-league-mvp-brandon-clarke" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">MVP honors in the Las Vegas Summer League</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Then the Grizzlies made some minor deals with potentially big implications. The first involved taking Iguodala and a protected first-round pick as a sweetener, from the Warriors. Obviously, Iguodala isn’t in the Grizzlies’ future plans and is more valuable to them as a trade chip. The question is when he’ll be traded, and how much the Grizzlies can get for him.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/10/wolves-dont-match-tyus-jones-offer" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Memphis also made an offer sheet for Jones</a> that was too rich for the Timberwolves to match and got him for three years and $28 million -- a steep price for a young backup. But all it cost Memphis was money, and the Grizzlies are gambling that Jones will be worth it with more playing time.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The other risk is with Jackson, a former No. 4 pick who was a major disappointment in two seasons with the Suns. Jackson shot poorly in Phoenix and developed off-court issues that damaged his value. He’s only 22, though, and the cost was low and because the Grizzlies are in the business of player development, he became a worthwhile project. There are similar hopes for Melton, a poor shooter but brings solid defensive instincts and can be groomed into a specialist and possible rotational player.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Allen, on the other hand, is a solid shooter -- or at least he showed as much in college at Duke a few years ago. His lone season in Utah was spiced by an <a href="https://stats.nba.com/game/0021801229" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">unexpected 40-point effort</a> in the final regular season game. Otherwise he was a bench fixture, playing only 38 games. Again, the Grizzlies are on a search for diamonds in the rough, and perhaps Allen, who came in the Conley trade along with Crowder, will qualify.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The transformation of the Grizzlies was completed, then, by a busy summer’s end and the club will bear no resemblance to the squad that captured the affection of the city and routinely made the playoffs with a style that no longer fit today’s NBA. The new era will depend on how quickly Morant and Jackson can develop a chemistry and how wisely the Grizzlies can add to the talent core.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-68282814593700334052019-09-09T19:15:00.003-07:002019-09-09T19:15:31.656-07:00Dallas Mavericks 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Dallas Mavericks</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612742/seasons" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>33-49, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Seth Curry (free agency), Delon Wright (trade), Boban Marjanovic (free agency)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Dirk Nowitzki,<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"> </strong>Trey Burke</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Mavs have been stuck in mediocrity since <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/channels/tnt_overtime/2012/10/30/championship-moments-2011-dallas-mavericks.nba" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">winning the title in 2011</a>, but that was secondary to a pair of emotional events: The arrival of a projected franchise savior and the departure of another. Nowitzki and Doncic made for a heck of a season and the changing of the guard couldn’t have been more timely or gone smoother.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nowitzki, the greatest figure in franchise history, made way for Doncic, <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/06/24/2019-nba-awards-roy-luka-doncic" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">the Kia Rookie of the Year</a>. Both gave fans a reason to pay attention to the Mavericks because nothing else about the season was compelling. Doncic took the reins right from the jump and displayed unusual poise, guts and skills for a rookie. On one level this was no surprise as he'd been a <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/03/04/20190304-luka-donics-journey" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; outline-width: 0px;">professional for years in Europe</a>. His <a href="http://www.nba.com/video/2019/07/30/20190730-best-luka-doncic-handles-2018-19-season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">dribbling</a> and <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/04/13/luka-doncics-best-plays-2018-2019-nba-regular-season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">shooting</a> made him a tough assignment, given his size (6-foot-7) and comfort zone on the floor. His courage under fire gave coach Rick Carlisle every reason to draw plays for Doncic -- who averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and six assists per game -- when games got tight.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: , sans-serif;">The other event that caused tremors in Dallas was the midseason trade that gave Doncic a parter for the future: </span><a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/01/31/kristaps-porzingis-dallas-mavericks-trade" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; font-family: Flama-Basic, sans-serif; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Kristaps Porzingis</a><span style="font-family: , sans-serif;">. The 7-foot-3 unicorn and the Knicks had a falling out and the Mavs benefitted. Dallas sent a package of players (including first-round pick Dennis Smith Jr., whose game clashed with Doncic’s) and picks and came away with a potential star. Porzingis was on a special arc before suffering a knee injury that cost him the entire season. His type is too rare, and the Mavs took a leap of faith that no one could fault.</span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary:</strong> The Mavericks came into the offseason with big cash to spend and even bigger dreams, yet couldn’t find anyone special to take their money. Add the fact that Porzingis and Doncic make for a pair of attractive potential teammates, it was mildly surprising the Mavericks struck out.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There was no Kawhi Leonard (a pipe dream, anyway), no Kemba Walker (he might’ve fit well next to Doncic), no Jimmy Butler and not even Danny Green. It’s not a stretch to say the Mavs had to settle, which they did, bringing back Curry for a second stint and adding Wright and Marjanovich, three rotational players on the cheap.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Essentially, the Mavs’ big “offseason” came a few months earlier when they added Porzingis. Curry managed to earn himself decent free agent money by playing well off the bench last season in Portland. Wright is an athletic wing who probably hasn’t reached his full potential just yet. And Marjanovich? Well, he’s <em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">big</em>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Was this a disappointment? A team without any Draft choices (their No. 1 went to the Hawks in the Doncic-Trae Young trade) could’ve used help in free agency and didn’t get anything special. Not only that, they didn’t even get any interviews with the biggest names in free agency (Leonard, Kevin Durant, etc.). Wasn’t Mark Cuban’s team supposed to be a destination spot, given all the charms of Dallas and the reputation of the franchise?</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Instead, they used their money to hand out contract extensions, <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/12/kristaps-porzingis-re-signs-mavs" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">starting with Porzingis</a>. The move was </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">largely expected once the trade happened. Still, giving five years and $158 million to a player who has yet to demonstrate a bounce-back from injury does comes with a degree of risk. Should Porzingis pass all the tests and return to the form he had in New York, he and Doncic should be quite a young tandem. The Mavericks hope that becomes the centerpiece that attracts free agents in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Wright became the Mavs’ top offseason target by default. He's tapping into his potential and is more athletic and defensive-minded than Doncic and therefore could be a proper fit in the backcourt. Dorian Finney-Smith, a quality role player, was extended for three more years at $12 million. With the Mavericks working without any prime Draft picks this summer, retaining young players became a priority.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Mavs also kept frontcourt youngsters <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/01/nba-offseason-2019-roundup-july-1#kleber" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Maxi Kleber</a> (27) and <a href="https://www.mavs.com/mavericks-sign-dwight-powell-to-contract-extension/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Dwight Powell</a> (28) around via extensions this summer. Again, the Mavs used their surplus to maintain stability without sacrificing much in terms of future cap flexibility.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">What the Mavs wanted to do this summer was add a solid young veteran to help for a Big Three. But that star search must be pushed to next summer or, if the Mavs get lucky, a disgruntled star might land on the trade market during the upcoming season. Which means, with the exception of Porzingis, the Mavs have no choice but to run it back this season with essentially the same club as a year ago.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">They won’t have Nowitzki for <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/04/10/0021801227-dal-sas-dirk-final-walkoff-interview" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">the first time in 21 years</a>, and the shine of that 2011 championship is much dimmer now. The Mavs haven’t advanced beyond the first round since then, and reaching the playoffs in 2019-20 in the stacked West might be too much to ask of a young team.</span></div>
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At least they begin the post-Nowitzki era with Doncic and Porzingis and a clear vision and blueprint. If only Cuban can find another star to take his money.</div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-37435762382744319402019-09-06T19:57:00.000-07:002019-09-06T19:57:06.829-07:00Washington Wizards 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Washington Wizards</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612764/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>32-50, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Rui Hachimura (Draft), CJ Miles (trade), Isaiah Thomas (free agency), Davis Bertans (trade), Mo Wagner (trade)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Tomas Satoransky, Jeff Green, Bobby Portis, Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The gradual growth of the John Wall-Bradley Beal era took a sharp detour and plunged to a new (and perhaps permanent) low when the club failed to make the playoffs for only the second time in five years. More devastating that that, though, was losing Wall with yet another major injury. Wall underwent heel and Achilles surgery, was done after 32 games and isn’t expected to play much, if at all, in 2019-20. Furthermore, the Wizards are on the hook for <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/21/john-wall-agrees-extension-washington-wizards" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">his supermax contract</a>, which kicks in this upcoming season. The potential career-threatening loss of an All-Star guard coupled with his mammoth contract threw the franchise for a loop with no easy answers or resolution.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Wizards had to change their philosophy almost overnight and ponder a rebuild as they weren't among the Eastern Conference's elite any longer. Beal, meanwhile, delivered the best season of his career (25.6 points, five rebounds, 5.5 assists per game), becoming <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/08/29/10-best-scorers-fourth-quarter-2018-19" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">one of the league’s</a> most dangerous shooters from all areas of the floor. Unfortunately for Washington, the All-Star guard he had little help most nights. Dwight Howard was held to nine games because of injury and the remaining cast was simply too inconsistent to be relied upon every night.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The club <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/02/06/bulls-trade-wizards-porter-official-release" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">traded Otto Porter Jr.</a> and <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2018/12/17/wizards-acquire-trevor-ariza-suns-official-release" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Kelly Oubre Jr.</a> and got virtually nothing in return for them. This annoyed a restless fan base that had grown weary of GM Ernie Grunfeld’s string of questionable personnel decisions (Grunfeld was <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/02/washington-wizards-ernie-grunfeld-fired-report" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">fired in early April</a>). Tomas Satoransky and Thomas Bryant stepped into the roles vacated by Wall and Howard and showed promise, yet in the end, the Wizards went south in a conference that wasn’t especially loaded with powerhouse teams.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary:</strong> At 16 years, Ernie Grunfeld had the longest tenure of any GM who didn’t at least win a conference championship. That spoke to the patience of chairman Ted Leonsis but also the frustration of the fan base, which howled about Grunfeld constantly. The fan base ultimately won.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Grunfeld’s teams never won 50 games and endured two rebuilds. He whiffed often in the Draft and his trades were spotty. In 2009, for example, he traded the No. 5 pick for one season of Mike Miller and Randy Foye. He also doled out eye-opening contracts to Gilbert Arenas, Ian Mahinmi, Otto Porter and yes, even Wall.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Leonsis finally pulled the trigger and conducted a GM search that lasted for weeks … and then <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/19/wizards-tommy-sheppard-hired-full-time-general-manager" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">chose Grunfeld’s deputy, Tommy Sheppard</a>, to clean up the mess after they failed to get Denver’s Tim Connelly. That raised reasonable questions about whether the Wizards needed to make a clean break from the Grunfeld administration, but Sheppard came with his own ideas which won over Leonsis, then went to work.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Stripped of almost all assets with the exception of Beal, Sheppard had a tough job this summer. But he was productive, given the circumstances. He let all the Wizards’ free agents walk, refusing to tie up future money in Portis, Satoransky and Parker. He <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/05/report-wizards-trade-howard-grizzlies" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">dumped Howard’s contract</a> on Memphis while getting Thomas on the cheap. Speaking of cheap, he got young talent in Bertans and Wagner, then signed Bryant, a developing 21-year-old athletic big, to three years and $25 million.</span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Essentially, Sheppard was careful and mostly clever with the payroll, avoiding any major money mistakes and keeping the Wizards as flexible as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">He took Hachimura, a power forward with a smart game and solid mechanics, in the first round with hopes he'd become a good compliment to Bryant.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With the blessing of Leonsis, Sheppard also <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/22/report-wizards-offer-bradley-beal-3-year-max-extension" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">offered a three-year, $111 million max extension to Beal</a>. While some in NBA circles wondered if Sheppard might unload Beal to get an Anthony Davis-like return (Draft picks, young talent), the Wizards intend to at least hold Beal’s rights for the next five years (Beal has two remaining on his current deal). That would give them options to either keep Beal, or swap him in the near future and if so, those multiple years left on the contract would make him more attractive to teams.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">What Sheppard couldn’t do is make Wall disappear -- meaning, he couldn’t pull off a miracle. How many teams want a player recovering from an Achilles injury, someone who depends on speed, who’ll make $170 million over the next four years as he ages into his mid-30s? It could be the Wizards are stuck with Wall at least for the next two years. Even if they can find a taker, Washington will be forced to add sweeteners (Draft picks, young players) or take back an equally bad contract. If Sheppard can somehow swing a Wall deal in Washington’s favor, he deserves twice as many years as Grunfeld got on the job.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Wizards didn’t do anything this summer to suggest they’ll be a playoff contender in 2019-20. That’s not particularly bad, because if nothing else, Sheppard didn’t take any enormous risks with Washington’s future. Another rebuild now beckons and at least there’s someone else in charge this time.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-3710432811707487902019-09-05T19:54:00.001-07:002019-09-05T19:54:16.286-07:00Atlanta Hawks 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Atlanta Hawks</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612737/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>29-53, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>De'Andre Hunter (Draft), Cam Reddish (Draft), Evan Turner (trade), Allen Crabbe (trade), Jabari Parker (free agency), Chandler Parsons (trade)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Taurean Prince, Kent Bazemore, Dewayne Dedmon, Omari Spellman</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It isn’t often that a team loses 53 games and hears applause, but such was the case with the rebuilding Hawks, who took meaningful steps into the future with a young core and opened the curtain slightly to reveal a promising vision.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Most of the focus was, and deservedly so, on the point guard-power forward <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/08/31/20190831-best-trae-young-john-collins-alley-oop-connection-2018-19-season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">tandem of Trae Young and John Collins</a>. In their first season together, the duo connected nicely and rather quickly, bonding through pick-and-rolls and a load they shared equally. Young had a few rookie lapses early but finished stronger than any rookie, including the Mavs’ Luka Doncic, who <a href="https://www.nba.com/video/2019/06/24/2019-nba-awards-roy-luka-doncic" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">won Kia Rookie of the Year</a>. The shooting range he displayed while leading the country in scoring at Oklahoma was much sharper post-All Star break and Young had <a href="https://stats.nba.com/player/1629027/boxscores-traditional/?Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">consecutive games of 36, 36 and 49 points</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">He also finished <a href="https://stats.nba.com/leaders/?StatCategory=AST&Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">fourth in the league in assists</a> (8.1), raising the possibility that someday, he can rank top-five league-wide in scoring and assists the same season. Equally important, he was <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/02/13/about-last-night-2-12-19" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">entertaining</a> and the Hawks certainly crave an attraction to wake up the basketball sensibilities in town. Collins was beastly with 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, both team highs, and showed growing awareness and impact at both ends. Collins and Young were complimented by sixth man Kevin Huerter, a rookie guard who became a weapon from deep, <a href="https://stats.nba.com/player/1628989/traditional/?Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">shooting 38.5 percent on 3-pointers</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The other bright spot was Alex Len, who reclaimed his career after being a bust in Phoenix. In March and April, the 26-year-old seven-footer averaged 15.6 points (<a href="https://stats.nba.com/players/traditional/?sort=PTS&dir=-1&Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&DateFrom=03%2F01%2F2019&DateTo=04%2F10%2F2019&CF=PLAYER_NAME*E*alex%20len" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">51.9 from the field, 40.4 from deep</a>) and 5.9 rebounds and bought himself another look at starting center. The major issue with the Hawks was defense; they were dreadful for much of the season, which was somewhat understandable given their emphasis on youth. Yet: The Hawks were so smitten with the development of their young core that the purge of pricey veterans began in earnest once the season ended.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It’s a small sample size, given that he only arrived in town just three summers ago, yet is there any question the Hawks’ leadership under Travis Schlenk is sound? Schlenk, plucked from the Warriors’ front office to run the Hawks, has yet to make a costly mistake or set the club back.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">That wasn’t supposed to be the case in 2018 when the basketball world was set to crucify him for trading the Draft rights to <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2018/06/21/report-dallas-mavericks-atlanta-hawks-swap-picks-luka-doncic-heading-dallas" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Doncic for Young and Dallas’ 2019 first-rounder</a> which became a lottery pick. Young was just short of terrific for the Hawks as a rookie, showing star potential, and the point guard spot is one less worry for Schlenk, who earned a contract extension himself this summer.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Here’s how Schlenk has done in <a href="https://stats.nba.com/draft/history/?Season=&TeamID=1610612737" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">his three Hawks drafts</a>: Collins, Young, Huerter and now Hunter and Reddish after swinging another Draft-day deal to get an additional pick. The philosophy is simple and sound: Take as many swings at the Draft plate as possible and hope to hit a home run. It’s the best way to get a franchise player in today’s NBA.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The jury’s still out, but it could be that Schlenk managed to get a star (Young), an All-Star (Collins) and three useful rotational players with those five picks. And maybe Hunter or Reddish might be better than expected.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hunter was targeted for his defense, where the Hawks desperately need a presence. Reddish is a wild card as he played to mixed reviews at Duke, yet his skill set is undeniable. He’ll get plenty of chances to prove the Hawks right, at least initially.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Schlenk’s additional deals resulted in the Hawks getting future first-rounders from the Nets and Thunder. Once again, Schlenk used the Hawks as a dumping ground for bloated contracts mainly because the Hawks have cap room and those contracts came with Draft-pick sweeteners. Turner, Parsons and Crabbe are mainly passing through town. They’re all on the final year of their deals, and once they’re sent packing in the summer of 2020, the Hawks can use that money to enter the free-agent market for the first time in this rebuilding process.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In a best-case scenario, then, the young core, still on rookie deals, will flourish and the Hawks will use their cap space next summer on veterans who can push the club into playoff contention. Or they can use that ample space to swing a trade for an A-list star who qualifies as a disgruntled asset -- much the way Anthony Davis, Paul George and Russell Westbrook changed teams this summer for one reason or another.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As if his drafts weren’t solid enough, Schlenk demonstrated an ability to spend wisely when he signed Parker to a two-year, $13 million free agent deal. That's a decent buy and low risk for a former No. 2 overall pick who might deserve a longer stay if he produces.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Essentially, the Hawks used this offseason to position themselves for the next step forward. With a revamped team, a dazzling point guard who could sell tickets in an updated arena, the Hawks are giving the basketball fans of Atlanta fewer reasons to root for the visitors (something the city did quite regularly in years past).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Can Atlanta actually become a basketball destination in a football town? You can argue that the Hawks were never the main attraction ... even during the Dominique Wilkins days. Suddenly, anything’s possible for a franchise that’s looking up.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-19980791295583367912019-09-04T21:06:00.000-07:002019-09-04T21:06:08.766-07:00Chicago Bulls 2019 Off-Season Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/30teams30days/2019/CHI" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2pSAGYu7h_DbbXw8vU0AeOHMV6qftol7awdwgiek4rEin78x1oFUwzJOZCoiuonkRN0trj5jnq39urDZcWwj-cNqRHL1DtTfLQeyqI2y836rLiyeCt5YZBlC83E2Y9FE3XjbIl-SRI28/s640/chicago.png" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Chicago Bulls</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612741/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>22-60, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Coby White (Draft), Tomas Satoransky (trade), Thaddeus Young (free agency)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Robin Lopez</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The second year of a rebuild was disappointing because it failed to show significant progress on the court and in the standings. The 60 losses marked the most since 2001-02 and the overall record was fifth-worst in club history. The Bulls couldn’t score (ranking 27 out of 30 offensively) or stop anyone (20 out of 30 in points allowed). By almost every metric, the season was a wash and one of the NBA’s largest markets became a blip on the basketball radar.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">There were reasons, of course; injuries caused players to miss 290 games and two of the future hopefuls, rookie Wendell Carter and second-year man Lauri Markkanen, played 44 and 52 games, respectively, with Kris Dunn held to 46. In order to shake up the roster and add to the asset pool, the Bulls swung a deal for Otto Porter, the richly compensated forward who brought shooting range. In their handful of games together, Porter and Zach LaVine gave the Bulls a pair of scoring swingmen who might cause problems for defenses starting next season. LaVine (23.7 points) had a solid and mainly injury-free season where he improved his shooting and rediscovered his explosiveness while playing out of position at times at point guard. He was the centerpiece of the club and the reason to buy tickets. But for the most part, the Bulls slogged along, sifting through different lineups and players, searching for signs of stability and hope and mainly coming up short.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary: </strong>With room under the salary cap to use and the No. 7 pick in the Draft, the Bulls made moves designed to fortify their rotation and add to their young core. Which meant drafting a much-needed point guard, signing a veteran and also trading for a developing swingman.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Ever since Derrick Rose, former Kia MVP, suffered a knee injury seven years ago, the Bulls have hunted for a point guard with sharp instincts, leadership and playmaking ability. They’ve mainly struck out since, which is unusual, given the abundance of point guards in today’s NBA, where nearly every team has reasonably decent talent at the position. The Bulls turned to Dunn three years ago and figured the search was over, but shooting issues haunted him almost from the start.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">And so the Bulls found themselves with another lottery pick this summer and persistent questions about the position, which is why they took White, one of the more promising point guards in this class. The curiously coiffed White was applauded for his size (6-foot-3), shooting range (he set a North Carolina freshman record for 3s) and ability to play off the ball should the Bulls choose to use him more at the 2-spot.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Chicago’s summer wasn’t confined to White and the draft. The Bulls managed to pull off a sign-and-trade for Satoransky, a natural swingman with point guard skills, which he put to use in Washington last season after being pressed into that duty when the Wizards lost John Wall.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It’ll be interesting, though, to see how the Bulls juggle LaVine, Satoransky and Porter, all of whom are similarly sized and skilled. It’s a good problem to have and the minutes can be sorted out to everyone’s satisfaction. In a perfect scenario, the Bulls will always have two and three scorers on the floor at all times with the players mentioned above and Markkanen in that mix. In a worst-case scenario, someone will be unhappy with their role or minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Bulls also signed Young in free agency; he’s a fairly underrated power forward who had decent years in Philly and Indiana. Young is a smart and drama-free veteran who’ll also be a good locker room fit for a developing team while complimenting Markkanen well, or at least that’s the hope, anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">They didn’t re-sign Lopez, and with Carter healed and ready to resume his NBA career, Lopez wasn’t in the plans at center anyway. Yet the Bulls perhaps could’ve received something for him prior to the trade deadline before he walked; you wonder how hard they tried.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The other order of business was the head coach. One of the stranger team-coach relationships is Jim Boylen and the Bulls. He isn’t especially popular among the fans, had to squelch the threat of a player uprising early last season and the Bulls went nowhere on his watch. Yet, he goes into next season with a three-year extension awarded to him this summer.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Maybe the Bulls’ management didn’t have much choice. Had they whacked Boylen, it would’ve been yet another blow to the Bulls’ ability to choose their coaches wisely, having given up on Fred Hoiberg just a year earlier.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Boylen certainly has paid his dues, with assistant stints with the Warriors, Bucks, Rockets, Pacers and next to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. Of course, there’s the question if he’s better suited as an assistant, like so many others. Anyway, the Bulls pledged their faith in Boylen and his job status for now is a non-issue.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">So Chicago moves forward with the ongoing rebuilding process, hoping that healthy bodies, potential star power with LaVine and improved production from young players will quicken the road to respectability. It’s really their only choice, and it’ll require patience from everyone involved.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-77590849214817348202019-09-03T20:02:00.000-07:002019-09-03T20:02:37.721-07:00Phoenix Suns 2019 Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><br /><br /><br />Today's team:</strong> Phoenix Suns</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612756/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>19-63, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Cameron Johnson (Draft), Ricky Rubio (free agency), Dario Saric (trade), Ty Jerome (Draft)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-western-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit;">Key departures:</a> </strong>TJ Warren, Josh Jackson, Dragan Bender, Richaun Holmes</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It was dismal in the desert once again as the Suns missed the playoffs for the ninth straight season, finishing last in the West and failing to win 25 games for a fourth consecutive campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">This losing culture has taken root in Phoenix and threatens to harm the basketball pulse in town, Devin Booker’s youth or both. Bottom line is the Suns came up short most nights and were easy prey when the rest of the league came looking for a win. Ultimately, it cost coach </span>Igor <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kokoskov his job after only one season on the bench, marking the third time in as many years a Suns coach couldn’t make it through a full season (Earl Watson, Jay Triano). And it also resulted in a front office shuffle as well, with Jeff Bower assuming the senior VP job and James Jones promoted to GM.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Not that there weren’t a few positive signs. Booker averaged 26.6 points and, <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/08/29/10-best-scorers-fourth-quarter-2018-19" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit;">as a scorer</a>, is on the same career arc as a number of all-time offensive greats. He stitched together five 40-point games in the final month, including 50 and 59 in consecutive games. In three of four seasons, Booker has averaged at least 22 points, although his 3-point shooting (32 percent) experienced a dip in 2018-19 as he once again played out of position at point guard.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">TJ Warren was a capable co-star some nights. Also, first-round pick Deandre Ayton was fairly solid as a double-double big man; his defense, however, was a work in progress. Plus, swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. was acquired in a trade for Trevor Ariza -- a veteran forward whom Phoenix signed to a one-year deal prior to the season -- and became a top option in the rotation. But those were scant examples of prosperity. The Suns struggled defensively, had no rhythm overall, weren’t very disciplined, suffered an identity crisis and ultimately a confidence crisis.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With a new management and coaching squad in place, the Suns prepared to use the summer of 2019 to distance themselves from their past, yet the results were interesting at best, and head-scratching at worst.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">For example, they signed veteran point guard Ricky Rubio: a welcome move, one that will allow Booker to shift to a more natural position off the ball. Yet Rubio is a weak shooter and possibly on the downside as a player, and they gave him three years at $51 million, a financial haul that was stunning in NBA circles.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Suns also erased yet another draft mistake, this time Josh Jackson, who was chosen at No. 4 in 2017 ahead of De’Aaron Fox, a point guard who would’ve given Phoenix a prime young backcourt next to Booker. But the price for Jackson was sacrificing Melton and a pair of second-rounders in order to clear up salary cap space to sign Rubio. In the last several years, excluding Ayton and Booker, the Suns have little or nothing to show for choosing lottery picks, misfiring on Jackson, Dragan Bender, Alex Len, Marquese Chriss and others.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Then, the Suns cut ties with Warren, one of the few first-round picks they got right. It was essentially a salary dump; the Suns didn’t want any part of the three years and $35 million remaining which, at face value, doesn’t seem like a ton. Warren was the team’s second-leading scorer, but his defense was spotty and the Suns wanted the space to re-sign Oubre at a reasonable two years.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">On draft night, however, the Suns made a move to maximize their position, trading five spots down from No. 6 to pick up Dario Saric and the No. 11 from Minnesota. That selection brought them Cameron Johnson, the only senior taken in the lottery and a versatile shooter who developed late in his college career, notably scoring 26 points against Duke last season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The other moves were more minor and relatively cheap: adding Kaminski, who flamed out in Charlotte; sturdy point guard Jevon Carter; and tough-guy Aron Baynes. Each should figure into the rotation and maybe, in the case of Kaminski and Carter, the Suns could find surprising return on investment.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In all, Bower and Jones refused to sit back. The proactive approach makes sense for a franchise that’s fallen off a cliff. To stand still would’ve sent a bad message to an overly patient fan base that’s <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2018/11/20/18103261/phoenix-suns-attendance-figures-numbers-could-be-worst-century" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit;" target="_blank">starting to dwindle</a>. But were they the right moves? Johnson was projected to go lower in the draft by many experts, Rubio came with a high price tag and the Suns have three players in their early 20s (Oubre, Johnson and Mikal Bridges) at the same position. Remember when the Suns kept drafting and acquiring point guards a few years ago? Same thing here.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Perhaps the most underrated move of the offseason was the coaching hire. Monty Williams comes highly regarded and did a solid job as the head man in New Orleans, where his firing was controversial. He then took a hiatus from coaching following the car accident that claimed his wife, before resuming his career as a Sixers assistant under Brett Brown. Williams, like Brown, is descended from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree and seems anxious to resume his career; that enthusiasm and professional approach to the job will be welcome in Phoenix, where chaos and instability ruled the last several seasons.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Suns needed to make a statement this offseason and they did, sort of. The front office and coaching shuffle, along with a series of moves that will bring new faces and hope to the rotation, marks the start of yet another plan. How long will this one last?</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-62794909405697222132019-09-02T18:11:00.002-07:002019-09-02T19:01:13.659-07:00Cleveland Cavaliers Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> Cleveland Cavaliers</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612739/seasons" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>19-63, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Darius Garland (Draft), Kevin Porter Jr. (Draft), Dylan Windler (Draft), John Beilein (coach)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>JR Smith, Cameron Payne, David Nwaba</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The first season in the post-LeBron James era, Part II, was almost a carbon copy of the first one: He leaves and the team crumbles. This was pretty much expected from a team that was built around LeBron and then suddenly grew old overnight once he left.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It didn’t help matters when Kevin Love, given a rich contract the previous summer, played only 22 games because of injury. That ensured the Cavs would be locked into a rebuilding season and rookie point guard Collin Sexton would receive ample playing time as a result, which was not necessarily a bad thing at all. After shaky initially, Sexton finished strong and averaged 20 points the last 2 1/2 months to make the All-Rookie Second Team. Also, swingman Cedi Osman benefited from increased playing time and had moments in his second season.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In a mild disappointment, Larry Nance Jr. failed to take a generous step in his development and there’s fear he will be nothing more than a scrappy, hard-working role player who’ll make the occasional highlight dunk. Otherwise, the Cavs’ season served no major purpose. The remaining pieces from the LeBron era either crumbled in various ways or simply disappeared: JR Smith was suspended, essentially for insubordination; Love was hurt; Tristan Thompson plateaued; George Hill and Kyle Korver were traded. The Cavs sunk toward the bottom of the East, fell off radar for the first time in six years, and once again found themselves back in the lottery looking for help.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Summer summary: </strong>In a summer of surprises around the NBA, one of the more under-rated events happened when the Cavs’ coaching search ended with a 66-year-old grandfatherly type who never spent a day on an NBA bench.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">John Beilein might well be a revelation, one way or another. He spent much of his college career at Michigan, where he was highly respected for his strategy, composure and character -- three elements he’ll need in Cleveland. Beilein had flirted with the NBA in years past; when nothing materialized, some NBA people thought his time had passed, especially once he reached retirement age.<br /><br />But the Cavs went with an out-of-the-box choice anyway, plucking Beilein even as the college-to-NBA transition comes with inconsistent results and yellow flags. Brad Stevens is the exception, and besides, he was in his mid-30s when he left Butler and took the Celtics job. The one current college coach whose name surfaces the most in NBA conversation is Jay Wright of Villanova, who has served on Team USA and appears NBA-ready (temperament, two-time champ, even wardrobe). Word is Wright will be on the Sixers’ short list if and when that job opens.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Because of Beilein's age and the state of the Cavs, he seems a bridge-gap coach; if so, that’s a smart choice. He’s experienced at managing young players, and the Cavs will build their next era through the Draft. Top free agents don’t make Cleveland a destination choice, even when presented with the chance to play alongside LeBron. Given how quiet the Cavs were this summer, the odds are great that they’ll return to the draft lottery in 2020 and give Beilein additional players in their early 20s to nurture.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">He’ll have five this season, with Sexton and Osman returning, plus Darius Garland, Dylan Windler and Kevin Porter Jr. coming on via first-round picks.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The prize is Garland, the No. 5 pick who was limited by a meniscus injury to five games in his one and only season at Vanderbilt. This seems eerily similar to years earlier when the Cavs took another guard with a limited (11-game) college career: Kyrie Irving. Garland was a three-time Mr. Basketball in Tennessee and was considered the best recruit ever at Vandy, and that’s about all NBA scouts had to work with this spring. Not only was his college career brief, but he also left the combine early.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Apparently, that was enough for the Cavs, smitten by Garland’s instincts. The only question is how he fits with Sexton; both <em style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">can</em> play off the ball, although each is more comfortable as the lead playmaker.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Porter represents a wild card of sorts. Talent-wise, he can be considered a steal with the 30th pick ... after being red-flagged by teams following a suspension at USC for poor conduct that cost him much of that single season. Porter was a workout beast prior to the draft, a swingman who brings great size (6-foot-6) and can create off the dribble. The Cavs had nothing to lose by choosing him at that point.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Windler benefited from four years in college, steering underdog Belmont to the NCAA tourney and developing into a prospect by his senior year.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Cavs and Beilein can figure out how it all fits later. Right now, Cleveland is all about stockpiling as many assets as possible and giving that young core plenty of time to make their mistakes now, rather than later. And speaking of assets, they didn’t trade Love this summer. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be on the roster when next season ends, either. If the right price comes along — and that’ll be tricky because of his age, injury history and salary — Love can and will exit.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">LeBron James will eventually get a statue outside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (formerly Quicken Loans Arena), but he isn’t walking through that door again. The Cavs must take another road to respectability, and it could be a long one.</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-33959970537169056802019-09-01T23:18:00.002-07:002019-09-02T19:02:01.354-07:00New York Knicks Off-Season Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">Today's team:</strong> New York Knicks</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://stats.nba.com/team/1610612752/seasons/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">2018-19 Record:</a> </strong>17-65, did not qualify for the playoffs</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key additions:</a> </strong>Elfrid Payton (free agency), Bobby Portis (free agency), Julius Randle (free agency), Taj Gibson (free agency), RJ Barrett (Draft)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Key departures:</a> </strong>Emmanuel Mudiay, Mario Hezonja, DeAndre Jordan, Noah Vonleh</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;">The lowdown: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unremarkable basketball has become the norm on 33rd Street in New York, a status that, except for brief stretches of relief, has remained largely unchanged for two decades.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br />For the sixth straight season, the Knicks failed to make the playoffs. They perhaps reached a new low by finishing with the league’s worst record and trading their projected savior, Kristaps Porzingis, <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/01/31/kristaps-porzingis-dallas-mavericks-trade" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">a week before the trade deadline</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The talented forward and the club had bad blood both before and after a knee injury which erased his entire 2018-19 season. While a new front office regime was supposed to smooth over all the rough feelings, that never materialized and Porzingis requested a trade, throwing the troubled franchise for a loop. The Knicks had little choice but to agree; Porzingis said he would not sign an extension with the club.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">So ended a strange saga with Porzingis, the only positive to emerge from the dreadful Phil Jackson era. Elsewhere, the Knicks received spotty production at best from the guts of the developing roster. Rookie Kevin Knox was wildly inconsistent, Dennis Smith Jr. (obtained in the Porzingis trade) <a href="https://stats.nba.com/player/1628372/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">shot 28.9% on 3-pointers</a> and former first-rounder Frank Ntilikina sunk deeper in the shuffle. There were signs of bubbling hope from unsung rookies Allonzo Trier and Mitchell Robinson, but otherwise this was yet another lost season for the franchise.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Flama-Bold, sans-serif; line-height: inherit;"><br />Summer summary: </strong><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The best-case scenario for the Knicks this summer was: get lucky in the Draft lottery and make magic happen in free agency with a few A-list stars. Doing so would give the franchise a complete reversal of fortune. But, to quote Biggie Smalls, it was all a dream, and the Knicks and their fans awakened in a cold sweat.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">They traded Porzingis for cap space and lo and behold, there was no Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving <a href="https://www.nba.com/2019-eastern-conference-player-movement" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">signing in free agency</a>. They endured a tough season with 65 losses and lo and behold, there was <a href="http://www.nba.com/draft/2019/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">no Zion Williamson in the Draft</a>. Instead, the Knicks must make do with Zion’s college teammate and a batch of short-term free agent power forwards.<br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br />T</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">he good news is the Knicks will have better talent in 2019-20 while still maintaining some future salary cap flexibility. It was the best they could do when they landed the third pick and settled for Barrett. Who knows … he could become one of the better players taken.</span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Barrett has solid chops for the game, can play either small forward or big guard and brings good size for either position. He wanted badly to be a Knick and seemingly has all the intangibles necessary to thrive. However, the Knicks’ recent track record for rookies (Porzingis aside) hasn’t been paved with gold.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br />The price for striking out on the No. 1 overall pick (Williamson) certainly had a domino effect in free agency. For example: Do you really believe Irving and Durant would’ve gone to Brooklyn had the Knicks got Williamson? Maybe not. Anyway, they did, and the Knicks were left holding a pile of money with no A-list takers for it.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sadly, the Knicks’ brand is so damaged that they didn’t even get an interview from any of the top free agents. They resorted to their Plan B and stocked up on decent, reasonably priced players on short-length deals. In doing so, they improved the team while keeping their options open for the next two summers. The hope is by then they will have gained respect among players to be contender to sign stars.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">H</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">owever, they chose a strange short-term strategy by signing players who virtually play the same position. Yes, Randle can double at center (and so can Portis), but the Knicks are grooming Robinson for that spot. How will that all work?</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The weirdest move of the summer might’ve been Morris’ decision <a href="https://www.nba.com/article/2019/07/11/reports-marcus-morris-spurns-spurs-signs-knicks" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2e6fbc; cursor: pointer; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">to renege on a verbal deal</a> with the San Antonio Spurs and sign with the Knicks. That was a first: A player who had the choice to join the most respected organization in the NBA suddenly had second thoughts … and instead went to the Knicks. If this ever becomes a future trend, the Knicks will finally turn the corner.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">ll told, the Knicks loaded up on similarly-talented power forwards (who form a glut at one or two positions), when they could’ve chosen a different route. As in, collecting bad contracts from other teams with future first-round picks as sweeteners. The Atlanta Hawks did that this summer and the Nets did it over the past few summers. Those two developing teams took advantage of their ample cap space to stockpile Draft picks to use as assets in trades (or simply save for themselves).</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A more reasonable platform for the Knicks this summer would be to ensure that nothing interferes with the growth of Knox, Barrett and Robinson. Instead, the Knicks took a unique approach to recovering from the failure to get Williamson, Durant and Irving.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The free agents they signed should help the Knicks win more games. That would be an upgrade over 17-65. But what’s the gain when you’re suddenly stuck in the middle -- not good enough for the playoffs, not bad enough for a high lottery pick in the next Draft?</span></div>
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Saikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04726105484604148767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705939824364341706.post-5875123072961149182015-12-10T00:57:00.001-08:002019-07-25T00:10:10.510-07:00Classroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Karmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05022380460484752557noreply@blogger.com0