Words eye view

Basketball from a fan perspective

Now is the time

I try to stay out of the way of Rod Pelinka, the Laker GM has information I lack.  My opinion only applies to this blog, but this is what I’d like to see.  Lakers trade with the Magic for Big Man Mohamed Bamba.  The 7-foot center was made the 6^th pick in round one of the 2018 draft since that time despite his promise is yet to deliver.  He is a reserve currently and is likely to continue in that role if he remains with the Magic.

Bamba is not much of a scorer but the Lakers don’t need him to perform that task.  What they want is a shot blocker and rebounding relief for Marc Gasol.  Please note I’m not looking at Bamba to replace Gasol in the lineup, there are assets Gasol brings to the Lakers missing currently.  Now who do the Lakers trade to acquire the former lottery pick?  There are several Laker names to consider however the Magic must agree to exchange players.  Help must come in the form of Big Man, there are names such Trevor Ariza and others who are good however they cannot protect the rim. 

Reserve my view

Cade Cunningham decided in favor of Oklahoma State over other basketball programs.  Cunningham a Rival 5-star prospect could have punched a ticket to practically any basketball program in the nation.  He chose OSU over several others once they hired his brother as an assistant coach.  Is young Cunningham ready for the NBA his next move?  I’m going to reserve my opinion for now based on several factors. 

The few games we’ve witnessed thus far Cunningham has not been very impressive.  The second reason is me; I’ve told this story in the past but will repeat it.  A friend told me how impressed he was regarding a particular athlete.  I took the word of this friend saw him in action and was not impressed.  A year or so later that same player was drafted into the NBA and had quite an outstanding NBA career.  That should teach me a lesson, remember the past prior to making a judgement.    

Lost to basketball history 

Sherman White is a name few know unless you are steeped in basketball trivia.   White never played in the NBA although it was believed he had all the tools for the 1951 NBA.  White died in 2011 at the age of 82 but his life would become a “what if.”  He started out at Villanova in 1947 but did not find it comfortable being the only black man enrolled at the time.  White would return to Englewood New Jersey and enroll at Long Island University and from LIU the basketball world sat up and took notice of his basketball skill. 

Progress would continue through his senior year and then White would be caught up in the betting scandal that rocked the college basketball world in 1951.  He took money for shaving points that is not the issue, it’s the punishment, of all the guilty parties White was the only one to be incarcerated.  White would serve 12 months at Rikers Island and by the time he was released any promise of an NBA career evaporated, the NBA had banned him and others for life.  Keep in mind at that time the NBA was comprised of 8 teams all on the east coast, Euro basketball didn’t exist. 

White would play on weekends in the Eastern Professional Basketball League for several years.  Before retirement he spent the balance of his life as a salesperson for several enterprises, he also found time to coach and mentor youngsters.  It is the belief of many today’s athlete regardless of their ethnicity could not be scapegoated as White had been.  He stood 6 foot 8 and 210 pounds not big by today’s standards…back then he would dominate in the NBA.  The Knicks were ready to draft him as their top pick in 1951, White never claimed he was innocent his complaint was the belief racism played a substantial role in the manner judgement was rendered against him.     

No McDonalds game again

The pandemic has struck the basketball world once again, the annual McDonalds All Star game yet to be scheduled was cancelled. The 2020 game was planned for Houston and would have been played April 1, 2020 but was scratched.  Pre-pandemic an East, West squad had been selected for last years game, at this point we are unsure if a roster will be announced for the 2021 team despite the fact there will be no game.  Stay tuned for further developments regarding this story.