Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Draft surprise
The last check of nbadraft.net and nbadraftroom.com contain his name.  I'm not referring to Zion Williamson, you knew his name was on the list.  I'm referring to 7 foot 7 inch 290 pound Tacko Fall, nbadraft.net list him as the 57 pick in the second round.  Fall is 43 in the second round of the nbadraftroom.com mock site.  Not a single mock draft site is 100% accurate however these two are certainly close to accurate over the years.  

Blockbuster trades
It’s quite possible the trade for Anthony Davis might rank up there with the trade for Kareem Abdul Jabbar.  You can forget about the Lakers acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, although it certainly was monumental at the time it was a free agent signing.  The trade of all trades was made when the Lakers acquired Kareem Abdul Jabbar and the result.  To set the stage it had a degree of similarity to the Davis trade, he wanted out of New Orleans Kareem wanted out of Milwaukee. 

Growing up in New York City playing his college basketball in Los Angeles the slower paced lifestyle of Milwaukee was lacking in many of the pursuits Kareem deemed important to his lifestyle.  Other than Kareem many of the names in the trade might draw a “who’s he” comment however all were quality players in 1975.  Kareem his backup Walt Wesley were traded to the Lakers for four players.  The Bucks received center Elmore Smith, guard Brian Winters, forward Dave Meyers and Junior Bridgeman who played shooting guard and small forward.  Kareem would be one of the linchpins to six NBA championships while a member of the Lakers. 

Plight of the Warriors
Despite losing the championship the Warriors are not on life support.  Although KD and Klay Thompson will miss the 2019-20 season the Warriors are still a competitive team.  The front office will undertake moves they hope will be beneficial next season.  As this is written the playoffs are in their future but a championship would be a stretch at this point. 

How about KD and Klay, the Warriors have gone on record indicating they will attempt to re-sign both.  It would appear Klay is a definite as for KD the Knicks are supposed to be entertaining adding him to their roster.  Can we get serious here a moment, if the Warriors are willing to sign KD to a max contract why the Knicks?  Several fans were upset with his move to the Warriors but its proven beneficial, he would have never won a championship in Oklahoma City.  Durant would have gotten paid in New York but win championships…. serious doubts here.  

The injury bug
Ben Simmons has tasted success in the NBA, it’s hoped achievement awaits Josh Green at Arizona and perhaps he too might have higher aspirations.  Prior to both youngsters arriving on our shores from Australia was Dante Exum.  Outstanding play in high school had him projected as a future All-Pro in 2014.  These are not the first NBA players from Australia however they have American fathers.  In the case of Dante Exum both parents are American, dad played at North Carolina with Michael Jordan but moved to Australia for a pro career. 

As for Dante his outstanding play in Australia stood out for NBA scouts and he was made the 5^th pick in the first round of the 2014 draft by the Utah Jazz.    Since that draft a series of injuries have curtailed the projections for Dante’s NBA future.  The 2014-15 season would witness Dante play in 82 games, since then it’s been 66, 14 and 42 games played.  The future remains cloudy for Dante Exum at this point, we have no idea if the bright promise once seen for him will ever come to fruition.   

They were ready but…..
The Celtics were championship primed and ready and then it occurred, the assembled talent appears to be leaving Boston.  After claiming on the parquet floor last October, he would remain a Celtic Kyrie Irving sounds as if he’s leaving now.  Al Horford shocked even the most loyal when he announced he was opting out.  As cowboy villain Taggert might say; “What in the Wide World of Sports is a-going on here.” 

Just in case you are scratching your head the sentence is from the 1974 Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles.  There are pieces remaining in place which make the Celtics a competitive team should Irving and Horford depart.  As is the norm Danny Ainge has managed to stockpile several draft choices to either trade or develop for the immediate future.  As for as an NBA championship that might be a slightly different question for this proud franchise. 

He said it  
Tom Penn has a few past pursuits, NBA executive being one of them currently he’s an analyst for NBA TV.  By the time you read this Zion Williamson will have been drafted by the Pelicans.  On one of the pre-draft programs discussing the draft Penn said, “Williamson needs to lose weight now that he’s in the NBA.”  Penn is likely not the first just the latest to voice this opinion regarding Williamson. 

Consider this, an athlete stands 7 feet tall and weighs 285 pounds you and I both might agree there likely is no issue.  Even in today’s NBA we might discover a center with a similar frame, it’s unlikely we discover a power forward.  6 foot 7 inches and 285 pounds might be far too much weight to carry for an 82-game regular season plus playoffs for an NBA body.  An increased number of games in the NBA over college is going to create increased wear and tear on Williamson’s body.