Basketball from a
fans perspective
Makes sense
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski certainly makes sense, Wednesday afternoon I watched a discussion surrounding Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs. As I indicated earlier Kawhi is a restricted free-agent, Woj said, “He’s reported to have made it clear he wants Los Angeles” (Lakers or Clippers). Kawhi cannot leave until 2019, “They cannot trade him because he becomes a rent-a-player. Who wants to acquire a player who is liable to walk away the following year?” Woj is correct in his assessment, I questioned trade to the Lakers because the Spurs would be forced to face him four times versus two if Kawhi is traded to an east team. Despite this issue a trade to the Lakers might work out best for the Spurs.
Hall of Fame….
apparently not
I was viewing ESPN early Wednesday morning and a news crawl popped up on the bottom of my screen. It read, “Hornets trade Dwight Howard to the Nets for Timofey Mozgov and two second round picks plus cash.” I must admit I didn’t follow his play in Charlotte but there must be an issue at this point in Howard’s career. The Nets become his 5th team since the August 2012 trade to the Lakers, the Superman persona he once espoused is a distant memory now. It seems like yesterday, but it was 2004 when he burst on the scene straight out of high school.
I was viewing ESPN early Wednesday morning and a news crawl popped up on the bottom of my screen. It read, “Hornets trade Dwight Howard to the Nets for Timofey Mozgov and two second round picks plus cash.” I must admit I didn’t follow his play in Charlotte but there must be an issue at this point in Howard’s career. The Nets become his 5th team since the August 2012 trade to the Lakers, the Superman persona he once espoused is a distant memory now. It seems like yesterday, but it was 2004 when he burst on the scene straight out of high school.
At 6 feet 11 inches he was
ready to conquer the NBA world and he did briefly early on, it was clear Howard
was on his way to the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Since 2012 there have been a few bumps in the road, don’t misunderstand
this. Howard has experienced an above
average NBA career but nothing close to the prediction of 2004. He will turn 33 during the 2018-19 season so there
is time to resurrect his career. You
remember Howard and Shaq arguing over which player was the “real” Superman?
The “new” Border War
The Big 8 and later Big 12 featured battles on the football field and basketball court between Kansas and Missouri. This rivalry might have lasted close to 100 years until Mizzou left for the SEC. Oh well no more Border War you say, well not quite instead of west side battles it’s now the east side. Mizzou is now contending with Illinois for football and basketball talent. Mizzou hiring Cuonzo Martin is responsible for the basketball border war.
The “new” Border War
The Big 8 and later Big 12 featured battles on the football field and basketball court between Kansas and Missouri. This rivalry might have lasted close to 100 years until Mizzou left for the SEC. Oh well no more Border War you say, well not quite instead of west side battles it’s now the east side. Mizzou is now contending with Illinois for football and basketball talent. Mizzou hiring Cuonzo Martin is responsible for the basketball border war.
As pointed out earlier
Martin is from East St. Louis Illinois, the coach has attempted to collect all
the metro basketball talent but has also made it clear he’s after Illinois
talent as well. The two schools only
face one another in December during the Braggin Rights game with Illinois a Big
10 member and Mizzou in the SEC. As you
might say one door closes (Kansas) another opens (Illinois). This is an interesting rivalry whether we are
talking football or basketball.
He’s falling
Luka Doncic was rated the top choice in several 2018 mock drafts until recently. For the last week or 10 days Doncic stock has been sliding downward. Pundits are looking at portions of his game and say, “He doesn’t do____well or he’s not very athletic or he’s not very swift afoot”. This is what I believe, the guy can play it’s that simple. A better question why must Doncic have the box checked at every position?
Luka Doncic was rated the top choice in several 2018 mock drafts until recently. For the last week or 10 days Doncic stock has been sliding downward. Pundits are looking at portions of his game and say, “He doesn’t do____well or he’s not very athletic or he’s not very swift afoot”. This is what I believe, the guy can play it’s that simple. A better question why must Doncic have the box checked at every position?
Someone pointed out “Larry Bird wasn’t very athletic either and look what he did?” There is always the possibility he cannot
play at the NBA level I don’t believe that to be the case. It’s likely Doncic doesn’t fall to a position
to be drafted by the Knicks. Otherwise
we’d hear another Stephen A. Smith rant like the one he leveled three years ago
regarding Kristaps Porzingis. Maybe he
can’t play but unlike Smith I’m unwilling to make that type of statement until
I see him in action, in any event welcome to the NBA Luka Doncic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3-hrykbA8w&t=7sc.
With the 25th
pick the My Lakers choose……
Truth is I have no idea although I tend to believe it will be one of the 5 players below, then again it could be someone else. I believe the Lakers will conduct the 2018 draft in the same manner as the old NFL Cowboys. The Cowboys of President and GM Tex Schramm and head coach Tom Landry would draft the best athlete regardless of position. Robinson is the only non-guard but any one of those named could be picked ahead of the Laker pick at 25. I believe the Lakers will approach the 2018 draft in much the same manner, they are not in any order.
Truth is I have no idea although I tend to believe it will be one of the 5 players below, then again it could be someone else. I believe the Lakers will conduct the 2018 draft in the same manner as the old NFL Cowboys. The Cowboys of President and GM Tex Schramm and head coach Tom Landry would draft the best athlete regardless of position. Robinson is the only non-guard but any one of those named could be picked ahead of the Laker pick at 25. I believe the Lakers will approach the 2018 draft in much the same manner, they are not in any order.
Zhaire Smith 6-4 shooting
guard Texas Tech
Khyri Thomas 6-3 shooting guard Creighton
Kevin Huerter 6-7 shooting guard Maryland
Mitchell Robinson 7-1 center no college
Donte DiVincenzo 6-5 combo guard Villanova
Moritz Wagner 6-11 pf/c Michigan
Aaron Holiday 6-1 pg UCLA
De'Anthony Melton 6-3 pg/sg USC
That's 8 players and guess what, it might not be one of those mentioned above.
A late update, the Lakers acquired the 39th pick in tonight's draft, the pick belonged to the Sixers who will receive the 2019 second round pick of the Lakers along with cash. The Lakers will now have the 25th, 39th and 47th pick.
Khyri Thomas 6-3 shooting guard Creighton
Kevin Huerter 6-7 shooting guard Maryland
Mitchell Robinson 7-1 center no college
Donte DiVincenzo 6-5 combo guard Villanova
Moritz Wagner 6-11 pf/c Michigan
Aaron Holiday 6-1 pg UCLA
De'Anthony Melton 6-3 pg/sg USC
That's 8 players and guess what, it might not be one of those mentioned above.
A late update, the Lakers acquired the 39th pick in tonight's draft, the pick belonged to the Sixers who will receive the 2019 second round pick of the Lakers along with cash. The Lakers will now have the 25th, 39th and 47th pick.
