Basketball from a fans perspective
Let’s set the record straight
Sometimes I believe it’s necessary for me to become the counter-point to a disagreement of facts. I am unable to contact Doug Gottlieb of CBS Sports radio so you become my sounding board. I’m paraphrasing a portion of Gottlieb’s commentary on Wednesday afternoon. He said; “LeBron’s personality allows him to draw players to the Cavs while Kobe cannot do the same for the Lakers.” Continuing he says; “The Lakers have been unable to sign any high profile free agent in years due to Kobe.” I believe personalities can affect decisions but to simply blame Kobe for the Lakers failure to sign a free agent is silly.
In years past the Lakers have been very; very good trading for players, signing free agents is a far different matter. The last talented player coming on board was Pau Gasol and he too arrived in a trade. Consider this more than Kobe the Lakers are not very good, they haven't been a championship team for a few years. LaMarcus Aldridge indicated he wanted a team capable of winning right now-----that's not the Lakers, the same case could made for DeAndre Jordan. Jordan would remain in Los Angeles but play for the Lakers who are currently a couple of rungs under the Clippers. The rookies (Russell, Nance Jr. and Brown) drafted in June are hopefully the first "bricks" in rebuilding the team. To simply state Kobe is the problem is not true and I'm surprised at Gottlieb, I thought he was smarter than to come to this conclusion.
Surprising to date
The news came early Wednesday after Kevin Love would re-sign with the Cavs. That‘s not surprising most believe this would be the case. The agreement is reported to be
5-year deal that’s the surprising detail. Most believed Love would interview with several teams and then sign a 1-year contract in lieu of the new television contract that kicks in next year. DeMarre Carroll is heading north to Canada, most believed he’d resign and remain in the ATL. The number tossed about is $60 million. So the Raptors who made an effective playoff run last season add another puzzle piece. Stay tuned for further developments.
“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”
The 1966 movie made Clint Eastwood a star although he’d been working in Hollywood for a number of years. The title of this break-out movie for Eastwood could easily be applied to the Sacramento Kings. The “Good” might be the talent exhibited by players Boogie Cousins and Rudy Gay. The “Bad” is Coach George Karl, we know there have been maturity issues with Cousins but how do you trade the star of a mediocre team?
“Ugly” might be the term applied to Vivek Ranadive owner, he and his group came to the forefront to save the Kings. The franchise was packed and headed to Seattle until Ranadive stepped up to the plate. We read some strange comments about the NBA from Ranadive prior to the Cousins controversy. We have no idea if the following reports are valid; “Ranadive is entertaining firing Karl.” The secondary account claims the owner “has reached out to Kentucky’s John Calipari.”
Bits n Pieces
One of the free agents I believe slipping beneath the radar is Greg Monroe. He’s a 6-11 power forward/center weighing in at 250 pounds. Monroe would leave Georgetown after an outstanding sophomore year. He will enter his 6th year in 2015-16 yet is only 25-years old. The Pistons have not had much of a national presence we might have failed to see him play. Last season his numbers were 15.9 ppg, 10.2 rebounds while shooting .496 from the floor. Monroe is out there NBA teams just waiting to be signed.
The Clippers Matt Barnes is on the move once again, Can you guesstimate the number of teams he will have played for once the season starts? I’ll save you begin your count, after being drafted by the Grizzlies Barnes has played for the Clippers, Kings, Raptors, Knicks, and 76ers, Warriors, Suns, Magic, Lakers, and Clippers. He was recently traded to the Hornets and before donning a jersey for the 2015-16 season was dealt to the Grizzlies. Barnes has played for the Clippers twice during his career. If we looked up the term journeyman in the dictionary I’m sure Matt Barnes name is included in the definition.
Just as I finished the Barnes story along comes Luke Ridnour. Ridnour drafted by the Sonics in 2003 has played for 7 NBA teams prior to the 2015-16 season. Ridnour was traded four times in the space of a week beginning June 24th. NBA media claims Ridnour has a lucrative contract which makes him a valuable trade commodity. In any event it might be a good idea for him to maintain a packed suitcase, four teams in seven days must be a a record.
The NBA draft had a Kansas City connection the number 6 pick Willie Cauley-Stein from Kentucky. The Kings chose Cauley-Stein who is actually from Spearville Kansas a small town of 700+ citizens. Spearville is 300 odd miles from Olathe (KS) a suburb of
Kansas City (MO). Cauley-Stein became friends with the son of former Chiefs lineman Will Shields after playing with him on an AAU team. Later Cauley-Stein would move in with the family. He would graduate from Olathe Northwest High School before heading off to Kentucky.
