Basketball from a fans perspective

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The Big Trade

At some point during the summer, we heard three names mentioned prominently in trades. Kyrie Irving was at the top of the list…he remains with the Nets at least for now. The second (or third) name mentioned was Russell Westbrook, despite all the talk he too remains with the Lakers at least for now. Next up we heard the name Donovan Mitchell Jazz shooting guard, just my view and it could be wrong. Since Danny Ainge’s taken over it appears he wants to remold this Jazz team in ‘his image.’ On Thursday he was able to consummate a trade involving Mitchell.

The Cavs must have wanted Mitchell badly giving away ‘half the franchise’ to obtain him. Check this out, the Jazz receive Lauri Markkanen, 2022 first Cavs draft pick Ochai Agbaji, Collin Sexton, three first round picks 2025, 2027, 2029 and two pick swaps 2026 and 2028. A few of the experts claim the Cavs will become immediate contenders for the Eastern Conference. Paint me in the corner of skeptical, they have acquired a talented player of ONE. The new look Cavs certainly are improved but it appears Mitchell is surrounded by a group of talented but young players. As for the Jazz they become an immediate contender to the Clippers for the Western Conference crown. 

Apparently, he’s no Dr. Jerry Buss!

Laker president Jeanie Buss made an interesting comment recently. We must return to the Shaquille O’Neal/Phil Jackson days with the Lakers. I had a different view of the trade over what Jeanie claims occurred, the decision to trade Shaq was made based on money over a Shaq-Kobe feud. The Laker owner claims her dad said he couldn’t afford to pay Shaq with the new collective bargaining agreement. He called Phil Jackson into his office and informed him of the decision. PJ was reported to have said, ‘You can’t trade him he’s the most dominant player in the NBA.’ Buss had an interesting retort, ‘I’m gonna trade him, but it won’t matter to me because you’re not coming back as coach either.’

If this is true as Jeanie claims this might be far from the Buss character John C. Reilly portrayed in the HBO series Winning Time to me. Trading Shaq still a force in the NBA and firing PJ at the same time clearly demonstrates to me Buss wasn’t hesitant in making a business decision. It should also be pointed out Shaq was 6 years older than Kobe and 32-years old. I was introduced to a term in marketing years ago, the law of diminishing returns. The book definition and not my words, ‘a principle stating that profits or benefits gained from something will represent a proportionally smaller gain as more money or energy is invested in it.’ This is thousands of miles down the road however it’s safe to suppose Dr. Buss was worried at the time about his investment.

Some will still be upset

Kyrie Irving and others will likely remain displeased with this latest act the NBA intends to implement. The NBA will require weekly tests for the unvaccinated in the upcoming season. Keep in mind the league is not stating players must be vaccinated in order to play but they will be assessed. Is this an infringement on their rights, you be the judge on this one however I see nothing out of order. Of course, the Canadian mandate remains in place, unless there is a change in policy covid vaccinations are required to enter the nation. So, Kyrie and others will be forced to miss Toronto road games in 2022-23. 

New team but perhaps a delayed start  

Danilo Gallinari suffered a torn left meniscus while playing for Italy in the FIBA World Cup Games. Although the 6 foot 10 Gallinari was expected to provide depth after signing a mid-level exception in July. First drafted by the Knicks in 2008 Gallinari has moved around the NBA but always putting up good numbers for whichever team he played. With today’s medical procedures athletes have returned from torn meniscus injury but there is always a question based on several factors.

That question caused me to seek out a medical study, this from Reuters news. ‘Recovery time from a meniscus tear depends on how extensive the injury is and whether it needs surgery, said Dr. Mark Drakos, an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York ‘There are certain guys that have gotten back in a couple of weeks and there’s other people…that take more like three or four months,’ Drakos, who wasn’t involved in the new study, told Reuters Health. But he said that the findings were generally good news for both professional and recreational athletes who suffer a meniscus injury. “I would be encouraged in terms of the fact that a lot these guys return to play at a high level,’ Drakos said.’