Basketball from a fan’s perspective

How this trade came about
Anthony Davis is now a Laker, despite the dysfunction in the Laker front office most believed it would occur.  How a trade would be consummated was the key question.  News reports indicate the Celtics refused to give up Jayson Tatum which was clearly a player the Pelicans desired.  We heard and read reports the Pelicans were insistent on Kyle Kuzma be included in the trade.  

Before delving into the pieces we guess the extra draft picks were due to the Laker refusal to include Kuzma.  There remain moving parts, who replaces Lonzo Ball at the point, is Ingram's small forward position open?  How about July free agency, is Kemba Walker, Jimmy Butler or some other free agent in the mix? The Lakers have a reported $30 million to spend on free agents.  

This trade HAD to be made for several reasons.  Chief reason, the acquisition of LeBron James with no visible improvement in the standings.  This was a signal to Laker season ticket holders maybe we might not renew.  The 2012-13 season was the last time the team made a playoff appearance, can we say fans were becoming upset with the continued rebuild which yielded nothing.  In the coming days additional issues will be detailed based on this blockbuster trade.  
  
We might not hear his name
The increasing number of international players has witnessed a reduction in NCAA Division II players in the NBA.  Scottie Pippen, Ben Wallace, Devean George are just three talents that emerged from Division II schools but managed an NBA career.  It’s not the fact they don’t play competitive basketball at that level they do.  The ever-increasing number playing basketball especially internationally has possibly caused scouting at this level to become limited.  It’s apparent Hinton is enough of a talent he’s practically forced NBA teams to take notice. 

We might not hear his name on Thursday, it’s Amir Hinton.  He played at Shaw University in Raleigh North Carolina, how good is he you ask?  This 6-foot 5-inch point guard had NBA scouts in attendance at a few Shaw games.  Hinton scored at nearly 30 points a game for the Bears while dishing out 4 assists per game along with 4.9 rebounds.  The only downside we cannot entertain his defensive prowess, that’s for the scouts to decide.  As indicated, we might not hear his name but expect him to show up on an NBA Summer League roster drafted or not.

Can I go back to three days a week?
If you’ve read Words eye view over 5 years you might remember it was originally published three days a week.  With the college season complete and an NBA champion crowned that was the intent.  The news moves much faster than yours truly, yesterday’s account of Kyrie Irving is ancient, and I’ll explain why.  No need to re-read yesterday the paragraph in parenthesis is yesterday’s account. 

“The issue for me is not the Nets, it’s the player this point guard intends to join point guard D’Angelo Russell in the back court.  Nothing wrong with playing two-point guards, oh yes there is.”  That’s what I wrote yesterday, late Friday evening came unofficial word if Irving signs the Nets intend to trade restricted free agent Russell. The Nets will make this move despite the fact Russell made his first All-Star game, figure that one out should it come to fruition.   

Is the NBA in his future
For the last four years the question was raised, is 7-foot 7-inch 311-pound Tacko Fall a legitimate NBA prospect.  After notable play in the NCAA tournament he was invited to the draft combine, his prospects improved based on his workouts and play.  Fall is now on a cross-country tour working out for several NBA teams.  This action occurring two weeks prior to the draft, thus far Fall’s visited the Magic and Knicks, remaining on his schedule are Pacers, Lakers, Cavaliers and Hornets. 

Will he be drafted, that question will be answered the evening of June 19 draft night?  If’s he’s not a mid to late second round choice he likely signs a free-agent contract, in either instance he starts out in the G-League.  The key issue the NBA game has changed, someone said; “If this was 10-15 years ago there is no doubt he’d be drafted.”  On the other hand, working with a good big man coach his game could blossom in the offensive schemes of the present-day NBA.

They play in the same conference
The State of Missouri includes five schools which compete at the Division 1 level in basketball, all play in different conferences.  Next door in the State of Kansas there are three Division 1 programs 2 of the 3, Kansas and Kansas State are in the Big 12 while Wichita State is an American Athletic Conference member.  Therein might be the issue, two basketball programs in the same conference in Kansas.  Where am I going with this you might ask?  Kansas basketball has a rich history dating back over 100 years.  In Manhattan (KS) the Wildcats of Kansas State have competed nearly the same amount of time. 

Unless you attend or have attended Kansas State, taught there or live in Manhattan chances are good your allegiance is to the Kansas Jayhawks.  The primary issue has been stability at the top i.e. head coach.  While the role of head coach has been stable in Lawrence, we cannot make the same statement in Manhattan.  Naturally changing coaches every 5-6 years certainly doesn’t make for stability.  With a 14-2 conference record (25-9 overall) the Wildcats eclipsed the Jayhawks for the first time in ages.  It’s now up to Bruce Weber to prove last season was no fluke and they are fully prepared to compete for the love in the State of Kansas.