Basketball from a
fan’s perspective
Too many moving parts
There are too many moving parts to fully assess the trade, i.e. Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Davis is a Laker because a big NO occurred twice for the Celtics. The Celtics said NO to include Jayson Tatum in a trade for Davis, the second NO was acquiring a rental player. They likely believed agent Rich Paul’s comment any team trading for Davis would receive a player for one-year, the free agent would walk in 2020. Let’s explore the trade from the Pelicans standpoint, what about their future?
On Thursday they
will draft Duke’s Zion Williamson, he’ll play opposite of rising star Brandon
Ingram. The Pelicans will have two-point
guards in the backcourt Jrue Holiday and Lonzo Ball. Why he wasn’t fined for tampering I’m not
sure, I speak of coach Gentry. He said
he liked the idea of Holiday and Ball being a duo in the backcourt. Where this series of moves leaves Julius
Randle is unknown, he plays the same position as Zion Williamson. Steady dependable Josh Hart moves into the
backcourt as the first reserve. The
Pelicans with the Lakers 4th pick choose______ in the 2019 draft.
The Green Room
It’s become a televised production now, the NBA draft. The NBA just loves the making of this event, honestly, it’s crisper and shinier than the NFL draft. The draft is over in one evening unlike the NFL and MLB version. I’m sure that statement will cause me some grief in some circles. As for the baseball draft, I believe it’s better watching paint dry. Probably ¾ of those drafted we never heard of previously. In addition, unlike the NBA or even NFL baseball players are sent to the minors where they sometimes disappear never to be heard from again.
I heard a Hall of Fame baseball player claim he doesn’t watch the baseball draft. Back to the main subject, the NBA draft. The prospects name is announced he places a team hat on his head walks up to the podium and shakes the commissioner’s hand. Then a photo is taken of the nights event, that’s what occurs on June 19 for 20 youngsters invited by the NBA to the draft. Rest assured these 20 names will be called out draft night although we have no order:
It’s become a televised production now, the NBA draft. The NBA just loves the making of this event, honestly, it’s crisper and shinier than the NFL draft. The draft is over in one evening unlike the NFL and MLB version. I’m sure that statement will cause me some grief in some circles. As for the baseball draft, I believe it’s better watching paint dry. Probably ¾ of those drafted we never heard of previously. In addition, unlike the NBA or even NFL baseball players are sent to the minors where they sometimes disappear never to be heard from again.
I heard a Hall of Fame baseball player claim he doesn’t watch the baseball draft. Back to the main subject, the NBA draft. The prospects name is announced he places a team hat on his head walks up to the podium and shakes the commissioner’s hand. Then a photo is taken of the nights event, that’s what occurs on June 19 for 20 youngsters invited by the NBA to the draft. Rest assured these 20 names will be called out draft night although we have no order:
Zion Williamson,
Duke Jaxson
Hayes, Texas
Ja Morant, Murray State Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
RJ Barrett, Duke Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
Darius Garland, Vanderbilt Romeo Langford, Indiana
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia PJ Washington, Kentucky
Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech Goga Bitadze, Meg Bemax
Cameron Reddish, Duke Tyler Herro, Kentucky
Coby White, North Carolina Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Sekou Doumbouya, Limoges Bol Bol Oregon
Nickell Alexander-Walker, Va Tech Nassir Little, North Carolina
Ja Morant, Murray State Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
RJ Barrett, Duke Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
Darius Garland, Vanderbilt Romeo Langford, Indiana
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia PJ Washington, Kentucky
Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech Goga Bitadze, Meg Bemax
Cameron Reddish, Duke Tyler Herro, Kentucky
Coby White, North Carolina Keldon Johnson, Kentucky
Sekou Doumbouya, Limoges Bol Bol Oregon
Nickell Alexander-Walker, Va Tech Nassir Little, North Carolina
Hidden Figures
I “borrowed” the title from the 2016 20th Century Fox movie. The movie told the story of three African American women who played a crucial role in the launch of the first American in space John Glenn. They were a hidden part of history and the movie detailed the vital role the three played in the space program. There are several hidden figure, female owners in the NBA you are likely familiar with the Lakers Jeanie Buss and perhaps Gayle Benson with the Pelicans. Jami Gertz and Jada Pinkett Smith are best known for their movie roles however they are owners of the Hawks and Sixers respectively, Hawks ownership trust also includes Sara Blakely. The balance of owners is:
I “borrowed” the title from the 2016 20th Century Fox movie. The movie told the story of three African American women who played a crucial role in the launch of the first American in space John Glenn. They were a hidden part of history and the movie detailed the vital role the three played in the space program. There are several hidden figure, female owners in the NBA you are likely familiar with the Lakers Jeanie Buss and perhaps Gayle Benson with the Pelicans. Jami Gertz and Jada Pinkett Smith are best known for their movie roles however they are owners of the Hawks and Sixers respectively, Hawks ownership trust also includes Sara Blakely. The balance of owners is:
Valarie Daniels-Carter-Bucks
Ann Walton Kroenke-Nuggets
Gail Miller-Jazz
Ellie Svenson-Celtics
Ann Walton Kroenke-Nuggets
Gail Miller-Jazz
Ellie Svenson-Celtics
Words of wisdom
(paraphrased)
An acquaintance informed me there are several things you should not do. 1. Don’t allow Magic Johnson to coach your team. 2. Don’t allow Magic Johnson to occupy any front office position. Here’s what you should do, if Magic Johnson wants to suit up to play for your team you allow it no matter his age. I informed you several weeks ago I love Magic Johnson the basketball player, as for the other positions he’s held not so much. It’s interesting we could point to several former players who moved into the coaching or front office and accomplished the task smoothly while others stumbled.
The missteps taken were
not on purpose or intended, perhaps the person or persons was best not suited
for the position. On our daily work we
can sometimes be promoted into mediocracy, in other words we have a ceiling on
our abilities. It’s different for each
person so one person succeeds while another fails. Jerry West is the name that immediately comes
to mind, Hall of Fame basketball player and architect of numerous Laker
championships. Although he’s retired now
Don Nelson is another former player who later became a successful NBA coach
An acquaintance informed me there are several things you should not do. 1. Don’t allow Magic Johnson to coach your team. 2. Don’t allow Magic Johnson to occupy any front office position. Here’s what you should do, if Magic Johnson wants to suit up to play for your team you allow it no matter his age. I informed you several weeks ago I love Magic Johnson the basketball player, as for the other positions he’s held not so much. It’s interesting we could point to several former players who moved into the coaching or front office and accomplished the task smoothly while others stumbled.
