Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday

The dawn of a new age? 

On Thursday evening I would picture a worldwide audience tuned into this particular summer game. I have no idea of the television numbers but for those in attendance at Thomas & Mack Arena it appeared to be a sellout. For the most part Summer League games are well attended but nothing close to a box-office hit, this game might have been the exception. It was the debut of Cooper Flagg to the Mavs and the NBA, the former Duke prospect and top pick would face the Lakers and Bronny James.

The final score read Mavs 87 Lakers 85 however neither Flagg nor James for that matter made the greatest impact in the game that was left to others. I tuned in to the game as others might have desiring to see Flagg’s first pro game, as for me the bar is set low due to circumstances. Summer League teams have few opportunities to mold themselves in the same manner as the regular season, little if any team practice and it shone at times. The box score for Flagg was only 10 points, he took several shots he missed that in my opinion were good. Although Flagg wasn’t pleased saying; “One of the worst games in my life” clearly provides us proof of his belief in himself and his game. I only remember one shot he took I would consider questionable. His aggressiveness offensively provided us proof he’s ready to compete.

As for other aspects of Flagg’s game he appeared into the flow of the game, rebounding, making defensive efforts and distributing the basketball throughout the game. These were traits most of us who read scouting reports believe existed prior to this first NBA game. As for the future of Flagg it would appear the Mavs will be competitive with him in the lineup and a hopeful return to form by Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and others who missed time. As for the headline I’m not being futuristic here, we could see the arrival (and success) of Cooper Flagg and the beginning of a new age for the NBA.

I’m not taking sides here

This account is about Memphis and Tennessee, but before delving into that discussion, it is worth considering a brief look at a couple other basketball programs. Missouri and Kansas had been rivals for nearly 100 years but Missouri left for the SEC Kansas and Bill Self refused to schedule these longtime rivals. In a manner of speaking that’s understandable, although they share a border they are universities in two different states. As for the State of Kansas that’s a different matter, Kansas State is in the Big XII too. Fellow conference members Kansas must play their in-state rival as for Wichita State that’s another matter.

For reasons only known to Kansas and Bill Self they refuse to schedule Wichita State, the one time they played in recent years was the NCAA Tournament. There are two other in-state schools, Memphis and Tennessee with the same issue neither schedules the other. The difference Memphis and Tennessee have played one another in the past. They were scheduled to play one another and then Covid struck the nation but apparently it was more than that. I’m unsure how Rick Barnes secured the information, he would claim a number of Memphis players had not been vaccinated against Covid. Needless to say the teams will not meet in the 2025-26 season beyond this upcoming season beyond that is an unknown.  

NBA Governor

Most of us are aware the Buss Family has decided to sell its majority share in the Lakers ownership. Mark Walter (already a minor owner) will become the principle owner of the team but not it’s governor. At the time the sale of the team was announced to the media it was also announced that Jeannie Buss would continue her role as the team’s governor, with that I thought it might be important to determine how the NBA views this role, the following information was located on the web. “The NBA officially shifted away from using the term “owner” to “governor “(or “alternate governor”) to describe those with controlling interest in a team.”

“The Board of Governors holds significant power, making decision on league rules, regulations, and overall direction, impacting the league’s financial success and competitive balance.” Notice the language that says those with controlling interest in a team. My Business Law 101 and 102 says that is no longer Jeannie Buss yet she will continue to “run things” for the foreseeable future. After reading this you might be questioning the length of time Jeannie Buss will continue in her present role. This next portion is concerned unconfirmed so consider that first, she will hold the position for the next five years. That would necessitate Jeannie Buss continuing to be the decision maker until 2030. As for Walter he built his wealth by consistently making decisions that aligned with both his comfort and the interests of his business.

His story popped up again

This came up on one of my social media sites. His given name was Cornelius Lance “Connie” Hawkins, to the basketball world he was Connie. All the years he was banned from playing in the NBA he never expressed it publicly. Hawk as he was also nicknamed would become a 27 year old rookie when he played his first game in the NBA. He came out of Brooklyn New York a legend, he was Dr. J. before Dr. J., his hands were so huge the ball appeared as a grapefruit in his hand. What delayed his entrance into the NBA could never occur today based on the history. Jack Molinas was a very good basketball player, respectable enough he played briefly in the NBA before he was banned for gambling. Molinas was acquainted with quite a few high school players at the time including Hawk.

It was more a case of guilt by association for Hawk and others. Hawks brother confessed he’d received a loan from Molinas but paid it back prior to the point shaving scandal erupting. Despite little if any proof of guilt Hawk’s freshman year saw the University of Iowa expel him, shortly thereafter he was banned from play in the NBA. This was done without offering one shred of evidence of his guilt. He would play in the American Basketball League until the league folded, later it would be the American Basketball Association where he distinguished himself with outstanding play. In 1969 Hawk began play with the Suns in the NBA as a 27 year old. Unlike Dr. J., Hawk had a great deal of mileage on his body prior to beginning play in the association. In 1992 he was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame an honor long overdue. In 1972 Dave Wolf ‘s publisher released Foul: The Connie Hawkins Story, I’ve read his book, read it and you will discover this was a case of justice denied for a number of years.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday

What if I told you

I saw a photo of LeBron James shirtless and he appeared to have a dad bod, he’d been drinking adult beverages and eating hearty over the course of the summer. What if I provided you this information on my radio program but offered you 0 proof? Before I venture further allow me to say some believe free speech gives you permission to say practically anything short of defaming someone. The definition of defaming could vary but I’m not going to detail that here, by now you are asking where are you headed with this rambling confusing story? A KC radio host went on the air recently with my “LeBron” story except it was about Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

I placed the name of LeBron James in this story because this is a basketball blog, I hope you are able to see the point. In any event the trainer for Mahomes was quick to respond to radio guy via X (Twitter) contradicting the statements he’d made on his program. At this point we might ask the question what separates opinion from fact? There is no argument from me, I have posted stories in the past without documentation. I have attempted to be careful by pointing out “this is my opinion and not fact.” In addition I’ve changed my opinion on several subjects and have attempted to point that out. I will close with a question, is it okay with you for sports media to detail subjects similar to this without offering you a shred of evidence, think about it, what do you believe?

Are the Suns about to make a move

Unless you are a Clippers fan you probably are unfamiliar with the name Kobe Brown. He played at Missouri and was a first round draft pick in 2023, apparently he is a practice player because he never plays. Brown is buried so deep on the Clipper bench it’s difficult for him to breathe. It might be advisable for him to seek another team as soon as he becomes a free agent, it might be in his best interest to look elsewhere in the NBA. The Clippers traded guard Norman Powell to the Jazz for John Collins who plays power forward the same position as Brown.

After watching Brown play at Missouri and seeing his player stock rise it was my belief he was on the way to the NBA. Well that indeed turned out to be the case but most certainly this was probably not what Brown envisioned after working intently and being drafted into the NBA. Does Brown have the skill level to play successfully at the NBA level? That question is difficult to answer based on the conditions Brown is operating under at present. As for the headline, it is apparent the Suns intend to release guard Bradley Beal. The Clippers are one of the teams standing in line intending to make an offer for his services, this move should not impact any decision regarding Brown.

I fail to understand the WHY

The resume for Bill Self is impressive, we can begin with his Naismith Hall of Fame induction, he is a twice won NCAA Champion coach. Every season since his first (2003-04) Kansas has been an NCAA contender. In the 2019-20 season they only lost three games, they would have certainly been favorites if not for the Covid pandemic shutting everything down. There are certainly more Self platitudes to mention however I will stop at this point and ask the question. Does Kansas basketball receive a pass based on the historical resume? Kansas won or tied for first place for the Big 12 tournament regular season a record 14 consecutive seasons. Two years ago they finished in a 5th place tie, last season it was in 6 place. It should be mentioned that Kansas received an NCAA invitation both of those years.

For a team to win 23 games and 21 the following season indicates the personnel are good and the coach is as well. If we check across State Line Road Missouri basketball exceeded what most believed possible. They finished the season with 22 wins and a loss in the NCAA Tournament, 22-12 overall.  At this point I will mention the Final Top 25 poll omitted Kansas and Missouri from its final poll of the season. The summer recess finds us looking toward the fall and basketball. Polls are just projections but why does this occur? Based on recruiting, portal transfers and holdovers in my opinion Missouri is on the same level of Kansas…well not quite. A number of pre-season polls place Kansas basketball anywhere from 17 through 25, among the missing…Missouri basketball. It is impossible for Dennis Gates to come close to the 22 years of Bill Self in but 4 years. I have concluded the competition (it does exist in Kansas City) will never change until Missouri makes a deep NCAA run maybe winning it all.

We live in a social media age

I claim no working knowledge of the beginning of social media, my guess some point during the last 15-20 years. I suppose it serves a purpose however sometimes its usage is questionable. I am going to provide you two accounts both involving my Lakers. This was posted on social media after the Lakers acquired Deandre Ayton, “He’s either helping this team win a title or ruining the final years LeBron Has.” Can we allow Ayton to don a Laker jersey before we conclude what we really don’t know? I believe that would certainly be advisable first.

All week various sources have claimed “Reaves and LeBron don’t like playing with Luka.” It wasn’t just one site there were multiple locations containing this story, I must guess Austin Reaves had enough of his name being dragged about. Reaves released his own story claiming there were no issues between him and Luka. Grizzled veteran LeBron just ignored the story which was probably best. Once again this might appear an effort to manipulate news stories however that is not the case here. Back to Ayton a moment, one site designated teams winners or losers based on the draft held a few weeks ago. Teams were designated winners or losers based on the player chosen. The Lakers were deemed losers simply by drafting Ayton. I can’t speak for you, however, this method is cruel and at the same time not very accurate.  

How did he accomplish this

At 37 years of age Jon Scheyer is one of the young generation of head basketball coaches. Taking over the storied Duke basketball program all wondered if he’d be able to come in behind legendary Coach K. If we check college basketball history we discover a comparable situation occurred in 1975-76, the late Gene Bartow took over for an earlier legend John Wooden at UCLA. Although Bartow was successful (28-4, 24-5) he departed for UAB, at the time Bartow indicated there was an opportunity to build a basketball program at UAB. It was reported the pressure to succeed and other factors were responsible for him leaving after such a brief time at UCLA.

I would guess there was some trepidation for Scheyer following in the footsteps of Coach K. but it appeared he took it in stride. His first two teams finished the season with 27 wins, it was the Field of 32 in his first season. The following season it was an Elite Eight finish and this past season his Duke team concluded the year with a 34-5 record and earned a Final Four position. So what do we suppose occurs for the Blue Devils after losing all 5 starters to the NBA, something I don’t believe has ever occurred in the past, you simply reload which is what Scheyer has done. Guess which school according to several sources sits at number one in recruiting for 2025? Okay, there is no requirement to guess you already have the answer. There is likely to be a drop off in play however don’t expect them to fall very far, every pre-season poll I’ve read has Duke placed from the 4th spot up to number 15.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Laker signees

The wishing and hoping by much of Laker Nation is over for now at last. Deandre Ayton signed a 2 year contract with the team, he will wear jersey number 5 for the Purple & Gold. Also the team announced Jaxson Hayes signed a 1 year contract and will return as the chief reserve center for the Lakers. Unfamiliar to me and probably the majority of Laker Nation is free agent Jake LaRavia, he signed a 2-year contract with the team. LaRavia has spent time with the Wolves and Grizzlies and is reported to be a defensive disruptor, he shot 42.3% from three last season, LaRavia will wear jersey 12.

Wearing jersey number 1 this upcoming season will be Adou Thiero from Arkansas, he was the 36th pick in the second round of the 2025 draft. With these signings Team Laker has become progressively younger with these additions and the return of Hayes. Although Ayton is a veteran he’s 26 years old, Hayes is also 25. LaRavia is 23 years old and Thiero turned 21 in May. I mentioned this previously, I hate to see Dorian Finney-Smith leave. The Lakers will miss his defensive presence, the Lakers defense improved significantly after his mid-season arrival. The Lakers offered Finney-Smith a 2 year contract, the Rockets it was 4 years. It’s believed the combination of LaRavia, and Thiero will help make up the difference for the loss of Finney-Smith.

Corrected information 

I'm going to squash this right at the beginning, Carter Bryant a 6-foot 8 forward from Arizona was drafted by the Spurs as the 14th pick this past Wednesday. Reports are circulating on the internet that he's the nephew of Kobe Bryant. I researched this issue and can report Carter is NOT RELATED in any manner, it just so happens he's got the same last name. On the other hand Dylan Harper the second pick in the draft is the son of former Cavs, Bulls & Laker guard Ron Harper. In this instance the last names actually have a family connection. A better question to consider, how do these bogus story’s see the light of day? Are there folks just considering a basketball player who happens to have the same last name and they decide, “They must be related?”

On the other hand in the age of social media it could be malicious we just don’t know. A further example might be phony headlines to attract our attention. I’ve read a few of them and said to myself, “There is no way he said that.” After reading the story you discover that is indeed the case. As for me the hope is always to provide you accurate and concise information. There are instances I have and will continue to share my opinion on a particular issue, I believe there is nothing wrong with that. Publishing or embellishing stories without validation is at the top of my NO list. There’s an old idiom that says, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” I probably am the only individual with the concern I’m reading a truth over someone’s imagination. I’ve speculated in the past regarding some stuff but I’ve tried to ensure you beforehand. My suggestion going forward, check several sources to see if the story sounds questionable.

There is only one Wemby

Missouri freshman Trent Burns didn’t play last season, a broken foot sidelined him. If you are unfamiliar with his name no worry, a brief bit of detail is provided for you. As for you wondering about the Wemby reference allow me to explain he’s a big dude. Burns is a reported 7-foot 5 and 235 pounds which if correct indicates he’s taller than Wemby. We read Wemby now checks in a 245 pounds but that wasn’t the case his rookie year, he was 219 pounds…Burns is a reported 235 pounds. Burns home is Cypress Texas, which is located about 30 miles northwest of downtown Houston,

 

The young man graduated from Good Vision Prep Academy in Houston. The comparison to Wemby ends at this point with the following explanation. Reports indicate Burns “must grow into his body” which says he is somewhat raw. In the long term the redshirt year might prove to be beneficial for continued growth of Burns game. The upcoming season will witness him fully healed and ready to take the court. Expect to see him in action for limited minutes in his “freshman” season. Because Burn’s got an extra year if he continues to work on his game by his junior year we should see vast improvement. Is he really taller than Wemby, for now that question will remain unanswered. Let’s just state he’s a tall, tall dude.

Planning 

It’s been some time since we glanced at NBA arenas in various stages of development, below is a construction timeline regarding one arena and planned openings on several others. With that said, check out the following developments around the NBA:

 

Oklahoma City-The arena for the Thunder has been finalized, construction will begin in 2026, there is a June 2028 planned opening. With the team now NBA Champions this project becomes even more important to the city.

 

South Philadelphia-Home for the Sixers was originally scheduled for the Chinatown area of the city, it is planned to open in 2031. This project will be an exclusive home for the Sixers, the NHL Flyers will remain at Wells Fargo Center.

 

Irving-It would appear the Mavs are moving about 12 or so road miles to metro Irving Texas. Ownership desires to begin play in the 2031-32 NBA season. Rick Welts CEO of the team indicates this will be a basketball arena only, it appears the NHL Stars will either remain at American Airlines Center or build their own arena.

 

San Antonio-This ginormous revitalization plan for downtown San Antonio remains in the discussion stage, it appears the arena will be constructed separately. The city council has voted in favor of the arena.

 

Las Vegas-Certainly one of the strangest proposals, at present the city has no NBA team however evidence points toward expansion. Two groups are planning arenas although Thomas & Mack Arena on the campus of UNLV is ready now.

Minnesota-Minnesota is included in this report because the new ownership of the Timberwolves has announced plans to pursue a new arena for the team. Target Center is currently the second oldest arena in the NBA, after Madison Square Garden. It remains unclear how the project will be financed, as ownership has yet to specify whether funding will come solely from private sources or through a public-private partnership. In any event this project should prove quite interesting if it comes to fruition.  

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Meanwhile… 

I'm going to walk back a promise I made to myself, "I'm going to allow the Laker front office leeway, they can select a team without my input. Recent developments indicate that the Phoenix Suns are reportedly considering a buyout for guard Bradley Beal. Should this occur, Beal would be eligible to sign with any team at the league minimum salary. This scenario presents the possibility of Beal joining the Lakers, where he could offer veteran leadership and backcourt scoring off the bench. However, it is likely that several other NBA teams would also express interest in signing the accomplished guard. Ultimately, it would be prudent to allow events to unfold naturally without my input; if Beal is release, the Lakers and other franchises will make their respective decisions regarding his acquisition. 

Remember the old saying "He plays like a girl!" In the case of top NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg that might not have been such a big deal. I'm reading Cooper Flagg's mom Kelly coached his AAU team as a youngster. "She focused on effort and letting him learn from mistakes, rather than trying to micromanage his game. As he got older, she transitioned to a more supportive role, respecting the coaches and their decisions while still offering guidance and encouragement. As for Kelly Flagg “she was a highly accomplished basketball player, starring for Nokomis High School and the University of Maine, where she was a team captain and helped the team upset Stanford in the 1999 NCAA Tournament.” If you should hear someone uttered that phrase in the future, He plays like a girl” remember Cooper Flagg and this key. Training by his mother was key to his future development.     

Perhaps later you will read a slightly different version of this subject matter. It seems there’s been an explosion of articles indicating LeBron might desire a trade elsewhere. Despite his age he’s been valuable to the Lakers, the 2020 championship can be attributed to his outstanding play. Over the course of his NBA career LeBron’s been an all time great, I'm not going to add any GOAT debate at this point but simply state consider this fact. He wanted the Lakers, he came to Los Angeles as a free agent because that's what HE wanted. The Lakers or rather the late Jerry West wanted Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, they were recruited. As far as I know, no one in the organization targeted LeBron in the same manner as Kobe and Shaq.  

Working

Scottie Adkinson, a student at Webster Groves High School (MO), is set to begin his junior year this August. Although he still has time to consider his future options, he has already attracted significant attention from major scouting organizations. Each of the three primary scouting sites has evaluated Adkinson’s performance, awarding him four-star ratings, though his national ranking varies: Rivals lists the 6-foot-3, 170-pound combo guard at No. 24 for the Class of 2027, On3 places him at No. 26, and 247Sports ranks him at No. 37. Regarding his commitment to the University of Missouri, reports indicate that Adkinson visited Columbia multiple times before finalizing his decision to enroll.

College basketball fans across the country and throughout the SEC have begun to recognize Dennis Gates and his staff for their recruiting prowess. The next step for the program is to translate recruiting success into on-court achievement, ideally reaching or contending for an NCAA Championship. Whether Adkinson's arrival will coincide with a new era of basketball excellence at Missouri remains to be seen; however, there is a shared sense of optimism among Mizzou Nation regarding Coach Gates and his ability to attract top-tier talent. Additionally, it is worth noting that the St. Louis metropolitan area has historically produced more basketball talent than Kansas City, though retaining local prospects has posed challenges in the past. Missouri has no Class of 2026 prospects committed yet Adkinson made his decision very early.

Jurassic age of the NBA

The headline is certainly not shocking news just continued evident of the change of NBA basketball. After watching and assessing the 2025 NBA Draft this stuck out for me. Some of you might remember the days of a draft chock full of centers that no longer exists and it’s been that way for a time. That period is now considered the Jurassic age of the NBA, no one develops true centers in the 21st Century. Check this out, Duke's Khaman Maluach was the first center chosen with the 10th pick, then it was Derek Queen of Maryland at 13. From that point on three consecutive post players were chosen, Georgetown’s Thomas Sober then Yang Hansen China and finally Joan Beringer of France.

That 30th or last pick in the first round of the draft turned out to be Yanic Konan Niederhauser from Penn State by way of Switzerland. Today’s game there is an emphasis on athletes who are slashers, guys who are between 6-foot 7 up to 6-foot 9 or so. They are expected to have range out to and including the 3-point line. I am always anxious to determine the training routine for Big Men of today. Let’s face it tall basketball athletes continue to play the game, practically every college team in the nation has at least one 7 footer on its roster. I am curious, if a coach discovered there was a budding “Kareem” or “Shaq” on his team would he attempt to change his offensive game? Would he force that player to jack up shots from the 3-point line rather than work in the paint? I wish there were an opportunity for me to pose the question to a high school coach.

He returns

I must place this Laker move in the category of surprise, all in Laker Nation were aware Jaxson Hayes became a free agent at the end of the season. Most probably believed as I did, the 7-foot center would find a home somewhere in the NBA based on his dreadful playoff. The departure of Hayes didn’t occur, however, it was announced on Thursday he would be returning to the Lakers. As for the reasons he was resigned we must travel back in time, immediately after Anthony Davis was traded, Hayes in a reserve role moved into the starting lineup. It seemed for a time he’d found an ideal teammate in the newly arrived Luka Doncic, Hayes was on the end of many a lob but it ended there. Hayes was found somewhat deficient on the defensive side, by the time the playoffs begin his appearances decreased significantly.

A legion of fans in Laker Nation believe it was the coaches fault Hayes wasn’t playing however there was more, it was clear he was unable to handle his position in the playoff loss to the Wolves. By now you are probably asking “Why the heck is he returning to the Lakers?” The primary reason is that he signed a team friendly one-year contract, and additionally, he is reverting to his role as a reserve player. There is no issue with being a reserve; Hayes has the ability to play in the NBA but is not expected to log major minutes or be that stopper. He is anticipated to continue in this role with the Lakers unless Deandre Ayton encounters foul trouble or is injured/ill, in any event welcome back Jaxson Hayes. Finally this on LeBron James, we are reading and hearing a great deal about LeBron wanting to leave Los Angeles. I have no idea if the stories are true or false this I do know. His contract says he can veto any trade, in addition to that the Lakers could release him however that’s dumb. Why release a player but continue to pay him, that certainly accomplishes nothing in my view. 

Basketball from a fans perspective

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I like Mike

That is Mike Brown newly hired Knicks coach, it really doesn’t matter what I think about Brown. He must win a championship for owner James Dolan or at least play for one to satisfy Dolan. Brown’s coaching credentials detail he was named Coach of the Year for two franchises (2009 Cavs & 2023 Kings). He’s coached Kobe, LeBron and as an assistant Steph, Draymond and a host of others. His resume speaks volumes for this defensive minded coach. I might pose the question this is almost a perfect storm for Brown, he takes over a Knicks team that is a prime contender to emerge from the east to fight for an NBA Championship.

The Cavs will be there but its difficult for me to imagine the Celtics and Pacers having championship aspirations based on a rebuild (Celtics) and a key player missing (Pacers). The Cavs are not going to roll over and play dead, rest assured many are upset on how their season ended. Donovan Mitchell and others probably believe in their heart they should have represented the Eastern Conference rather than the Pacers. In all three of Brown’s coaching stops (Cavs, Lakers & Kings) his teams have registered a winning record. ESPN cynic Stephen A. Smith and reported Knicks fan claims the hire of Brown lacks “sizzle.” I must remind Mr. Smith of this single fact, it makes no difference what he thinks about the hire of Brown or me for that matter. There is only one person requiring satisfaction…owner James Dolan.    

Wild, Wild West

There is probably no argument from anyone who pays attention to the NBA, the Western Conference NBA will be loaded with land mines next season. If we look closely headed into the 2025-26 season the NBA Champion Thunder must be placed at the top of the heap. It seems to me every team with the exception of the Blazers, Kings and Suns made major improvements in the off season. Before fans of these teams bombard me with rocks both teams made upgrades, these upgrades were not as significant as those made by other Western Conference teams.

If we place the Thunder at the top who follows them, which team is second or third behind the Thunder? Currently that question has no answer and frankly I believe that it might not be answered until April of 2025 at the time the playoffs begin. We are acquainted with the Thunder but what about the other teams in the west? In the “Texas Triangle” let’s check the Mavs first, they add Cooper Flagg plus D’Angelo Russell to a veteran team that was severely impacted by injury. The walking wounded are expected to return prepared to play. Next up the Rockets who added Kevin Durant and Clint Capela to a team which won 52 games. The Spurs return a healthy Wemby and have added shooting guard Dylan Harper plus reserve center Luke Kornet from the Celtics. The Warriors have the ever dangerous Steph Curry plus Jimmy Butler for the entire season and a veteran reserve presence. Next up the Clippers added veteran center Brook Lopez and they have Kawhi Leonard who I mistakenly said was about to retire.

My Lakers signed Deandre Ayton thus resolving their post issue, the balance of the team resembles that of last season except added are a couple of young speedy small forwards. The Lakers moved down to acquire Adou Thiero in the second round and Jake LaRavia was a free agent signing. In Denver, the Nuggets have replaced Michael Porter Jr. with Cam Johnson late of the Nets. The Wolves who won 49 games return last years team led by Ant Man and Julius Randle. This is not intended to be detailed and the truth is I may have missed some key updates. I hope you get the idea where we are headed and why it remains the Wild, Wild West.

I’d like to say I know but…

Recently it was reported Ethan Taylor left Shawnee Mission Northwest High School for the Link Academy Prep School in Branson (MO) to play his senior year. As with most prospects his age and older I’d like to say I know but I don’t. I don’t know how or if they will develop their game at the next level and perhaps the NBA. Prospect sites help but they can even be misleading at times. I decided to check a few and this is what I uncovered. For some reason Rivals does not separate prospects as others do, all I could locate was Taylor is the number 28 prospect in the Class of 2026. As for the others this ranking is by position 247 Sports places him at 7, ESPN100 at 9, while On3 positions Taylor at 6.

So as you can see these scouting sources appear to rank him highly as a center. I decided to check video of him in action however this warning, that can be misleading. Standing 7-foot-1 Taylor could be matched against an opposing player who might be 5-6 inches shorter than him. With that in mind I checked some of his game action from this past season. I wasn’t looking for the scoring as much as the other things. Taylor appears to be a willing passer and capable at rebounding the basketball. One standout for me was his effort defensively, he crashed the boards and blocked or contested a number of shot attempts. This is a different age, 10-15 years ago coaches might have been raving about his game but not now with emphasis on the outside-inside offense. Despite what might appear to be a negative on my part I remain hopeful he decides to attend Missouri in the fall of 2026.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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“The play is under review”

The headline above is the term used by game officials in the NFL and NBA. A stoppage in play occurs and game officials huddle to check the validity of action that occurred on the field or court, in this instance it was neither. Keenan read my account on Tuesday titled “The product is good.” I attempted to discuss elements of the NBA and why I believe the game remains good despite the naysayers. That’s where the question arose, I believe there might be a degree of confusion regarding a portion written. With that said, “The play (written word) is under review.”  I have no desire to place restrictions on any spoken word or print that might appear negative regarding the NBA. There is no argument with reporting facts, inserting yourself into the story…yes I take issue with that.

The chief issue for me the messengers who are often so critical of the NBA appear to “bite the hand that feeds them.” Allow me to cite as an example this account, I was once employed by a company and was required to sign a document prohibiting me and other employees from contacting the media. This was a requirement if the media contacted us as well, several of you reading this are thinking to yourself “That’s not the same thing” and I can agree. My intent was to point out that no matter the field there are restrictions on what you can convey or print, I am sure an agreement of sorts exists with the messengers. As I attempted to point out my chief complaint I believe these messengers should exclude themselves from social media if a disagreement might become personal. Rest assured many of you will be opposed to my stance and that’s okay however I don’t believe my opinion will change on this matter.

There is work to be done

The Portland (Maine) Press Herald recently posed an intriguing question: "Is Cooper Flagg the first white American selected as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft since 1977?" Reviewing the article, I realized this fact had not previously caught my attention. My belief has been, white or black can he play at the NBA level. The article was correct, Kent Benson from Indiana University was made the top pick in 1977. Accordingly Flagg is the first selection since 1977 or 48 years ago.

It is important to note, several international white players have been selected as the number one pick between the years 1978 and 2024. Just in case you had a question Larry Bird was chosen sixth overall by the Celtics in the 1978 draft. Flagg hails from Newport, approximately 100 miles north of Portland, which explains why the state of Maine is particularly proud of him, the state ranks 42nd in population among the 50 U.S. states. Flagg becoming the top draft pick in 2025, it’s become an even bigger deal in Maine. His story aside I might pose the question for all to ponder, we see the top player whoever that might be selected in June. If there are no white Americans at or near the top of the NBA Draft a better question might be why not? I’ve repeated this over and over we have no idea of the future success if there is any for Flagg. This we do know, in all 50 of these United States he turned out to be the best high school basketball player in the nation…why?

I believe there have been two maybe three contributing factors to the success of Flagg on the basketball court, his outstanding work ethic and a belief in himself far beyond our comprehension. The X factor, a mother and father who played the game at the college level. What does the future hold for Flagg if successful, he will create a tidal wave of interest for the NBA much like Caitlin Clark has done for the WNBA. If that is the case the next Cooper Flagg might be playing in middle school or maybe even high school but he is there…if he cares enough and dreams of success on the basketball court.

Life’s like a box of chocolates….

Better yet, NBA games are played on a basketball court and not on paper. There may be additional moves by the Lakers but the chief concern has been addressed. Late Wednesday afternoon came the announcement that free agent Deandre Ayton had cleared waivers and agreed to become a Laker. It’s certainly hoped he will anchor the defensive effort of the team next season. One of my co-workers said; “All they need from him is 10 and 10,” of course he was referring to 10 points and 10 rebounds, the 7 foot 252 pound Ayton has a 7 foot 6 inch wingspan. We mutually agreed that scoring is not the problem for the Lakers it’s defense, it’s hoped Ayton will aid in that area.

That was the upside, now for the concerns regarding Ayton. There are two standouts, injuries and attitude…one is difficult to avoid the other is a mindset. Ayton missed a number of games last season for the Blazers, I’m going to place that in the rear view mirror. If reports are only half correct about attitude issues he will be gone quickly and the Lakers will have lost. I’m betting that doesn’t occur with LeBron and Luka pushing him. On the surface the balance of talent assembled might appear unimpressive, after reading of the gathering of talent and viewing video I’m okay. In the draft the Lakers traded down to pick Adou Thiero in the second round. He played for John Calipari at Kentucky and when the coach moved to Arkansas he followed. Reports indicate he’s a work in progress shooter but the other areas of his game are outstanding. Thiero is 6-foot 8 and 220 pounds and moves swiftly up and down the court like a gazelle, it’s reported Thiero led the nation in dunks. If you check Jake LaRavia’s numbers they are not very impressive. Laker scouting must have witnessed something in his game to sign him to a 2-year free agent contract, LaRavia is 6-foot 7 and 236 pounds, he shot a sizzling 42.3% from three.  

Our last focus is Eric Dixon who is signed to a two-way contract, he will spend a major portion of his season with the South Bay Lakers. Of course he hopes to play well enough to be signed to a regular season contract. As for this past season Dixon led the Big 10 in scoring, he’s a 6-foot 8 265 pound forward. In my opinion these three are most likely to earn regular season roster positions, the Lakers are becoming younger, Dixon is 24, LaRavia 23 and Thiero is 21.

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday

The product is good

I read an account regarding the NBA and wanted to share portions of it with you. We are in an age where it seems all we read and hear are nothing but complaints regarding the NBA, the league ain’t that bad and I intend to point toward a few facts and not just my opinion. “The phrase “don’t pour money down the drain” is an idiom that means you shouldn’t waste money on something that is not useful or valuable. It implies that spending money in such a way is a wasteful and ineffective use of resources.” The NBA is in much better shape than some of its critics would have you believe. At the same time I am not seeking to claim there are no issues…anytime human beings are involved problems and controversary is going to be present in one form or another. 

As for the game the season begins in the fall the league will be operating with a new television contract. The previous agreement was a reported $24 billion, this contract was replaced by a $76 billion agreement involving Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video. Corporations have no intended desire to waste or lose money, do you really expect corporate decision makers to spend dollars foolishly? The Celtics were placed on the market and sold for a record $6.1 billion, more recently Mark Walter a minority owner purchased the balance of Laker shares for $10 billion. It’s clear these new owners don’t believe they are wasting money spending large sums of money to purchase teams. How about gaming, NBA 2K has historically outsold Madden NFL, let’s pause at this point and clarify something. The NFL family of television networks swamps the NBA in pure numbers but the audience is somewhat fractured. Football for the most part has far lower television numbers throughout the world than basketball, especially the NBA. Again this speaks for itself, “Both the NBA and NFL are highly successful in utilizing social media, but data suggests the NBA currently holds an edge in overall social media presence and engagement, particularly on platforms like Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.” The NBA product can always be improved and should be evaluated at all times. I have no issue if I’m informed Joe Smithy is not playing up to expectations, I don’t appreciate members of the media “fighting” players on social media. We have witnessed this occurrence with one particular media person.

The issue as I see it are the messengers and not the message, the NBA has allowed these spokespersons to “bad-mouth” the NBA often with little counter argument. These messengers are on television, radio or even some in print generally disparaging the NBA. I’m not suggesting a muzzle for them but we the public must carefully consider this fact. The audience often overlooks that these individuals may not be the most reliable sources of information about the league, in addition they often offer little in the way of opposition to their view. In closing there is no requirement for you to love NBA basketball, if you don’t like it that’s okay but to constantly criticize the sport while deriving a portion of your income is a far different matter to me. Later the 2025-26 NBA television broadcast changes will be discussed in detail.

Say what

For a time now the NCAA has considered expanding the basketball tournament. From ESPN’s college basketball page; “An expansion of the tournament would be a historic and potentially controversial step for the NCAA. An eight-team addition would be the biggest jump in how the men’s NCAA basketball tournament has been comprised since 1985. In 1985 the tournament expanded to 64 teams, one additional team was added in 2001. In 2011 expansion once again saw the number rise to include 68 teams its present format.”

The number of teams presently under consideration is to raise the number to no more than 76. There is no official explanation for this increase in the numbers other than “we want to do this.” My belief it’s a money grab pure and simple by the NCAA, besides the fact it will bring about the demise of an institution. The National Invitation Tournament has been on life support since the much larger NCAA Tournament began expansion. Raising the number of teams to 76 will be the death of the NIT which began play in 1938. Should the number of NCAA Tournament teams be increased there is really nothing any of us can accomplish to halt the process other than to boycott the tournament.

Cooper Flagg

Could this be a comparison, Magic Johnson to the Lakers and Cooper Flagg to the Mavs. Hold on a moment allow a further explanation, I am not comparing Flagg to Magic from a talent standpoint. This is a team comparison between those Magic Johnson Lakers and these Mavs who add Cooper Flagg to the lineup, the situations are somewhat the same. The Lakers won 54 games losing only 28 the season prior to the draft which brought them Magic. Yes, I realize the Mavs finished the season with a losing record (39-43), we must take into consideration the number of injuries plus the “trade” certainly were contributing factors. This Mavs team (on paper) has so much more potential than exhibited this past season.

Kyrie Irving will be missing until the very least the last portion of the season however there are “others.” When healthy Anthony Davis remains one of the most talented power forward/centers in the NBA. For this purpose he’s plugged in at the 4, manning the post position will be Dereck Lively II. At small forward Cooper Flagg and shooting guard is Klay Thompson. Brandon Williams will play the point until Irving is able to return. The Mavs have an adequate bench, is it enough to win consistently in the NBA, that remains a question mark for now. As for my earlier statement, games are played on the court and not on paper. As for the outlook, The Texas Triangle will be quite a problem for NBA teams headed to the state next season, the Spurs who appear poised to move to the next level and the ascending Rockets and those Mavs.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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His destination was the Knicks...then it wasn't

He’s got four NBA Championships and two MVP trophy’s on his resume, Steph Curry is in the twilight of his NBA career as this story is presented. The only problem, I cannot document if the series of events unfolded in the manner I am about to impart to you. This we do know, Curry’s headed for the College and Naismith Hall of Fame after he retires one day but that’s another story. How did he wind up with the Warriors is the question, he wanted the Knicks and they wanted him. The 2009 NBA Draft saw Curry high on everyone’s scouting report. Nobody was going to be drafted ahead of Blake Griffin at the top however there were questions behind him, the Grizzlies had the second pick and wanted Curry. The Grizzlies indicated without a workout they were unwilling to draft him, it seems dad Dell didn’t like the fit for his son in Memphis, the pick for the Grizzlies would become Tyreke Evans.

Up next were the Wolves and they did something really strange, they drafted Rickey Rubio from Spain and with the following pick Jonny Flynn both point guards. We are at the 7th pick and the Warriors, the Knicks have the 8th pick. Don Nelson former coach and then working in the Warriors front office wanted Curry principally because he was acquainted with father Dell and had known Steph as a toddler, Del always had Steph around the game from an early age. It was said Nelson was aware that the Knicks wanted Curry, the diminutive point guard had even indicated a desire to play for the Knicks in Mike D’Antoni’s high powered offense. Draft night commissioner David Stern went to the mic and made this announcement; “With the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select Stephen Curry from Davidson College.” The following pick made by the Knicks was Jordan Hill who lasted but one season with the Knicks. Thus ends the story why Curry never managed to call Madison Square Garden home although that might have been his initial choice.

Is his issue resolved? 

Over the past few weeks, Jazz draft pick Ace Bailey has attracted national attention for his actions off the court rather than on it. For those who might be unfamiliar with the story Bailey was chosen this past Wednesday as the 5th pick by the Jazz, a selection he objected to, along with several other teams. He had previously voiced objections and even refused to work out for a team. This is written early Saturday morning, media reports on Friday indicated that Bailey was headed to Salt Lake City to meet with Jazz team officials.

This issue is not an anomaly it is not uncommon for athletes to be drafted by teams they have reservations about. A brief summary highlights some notable examples in the past. In the NFL there were former quarterbacks John Elway and Eli Manning and running back Bo Jackson, in the NBA it was former player Steve Francis who was the second pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. These athletes and others have expressed serious objections for several reasons, possibly related to the team or the location. It appears that Bailey may be resolving his concerns, or at least moving beyond them.

Midnight Madness

This college basketball tradition continues to occur annually however it fails to hold the attraction it once did. “Midnight Madness is an annual event celebrating the upcoming college basketball season in which a team opens its first official practice to the public, often combining it with a pep rally and other fan-friendly activities.” The NCAA had strict guidelines in place at one time, no basketball practice prior to October 15. Who started this event, it was the late Lefty Drissel when he served as coach for the Maryland Terrapins.

Based on this NCAA rule Drissel initiated practice for his Maryland team at 12:03 a.m. on October 15, 1971, the earliest date permitted by the rules at that time. Although the practice was slow at first additional colleges and universities nationwide started to follow the trend established by Drissel and Maryland, signaling the start of the basketball season. In recent years, regulatory changes have made the NCAA less rigid than it once was. At the present time, players at the University of Missouri are actively preparing for the upcoming season. The exact official rules are somewhat unclear due to the ever evolving impact of the NCAA and the courts. Nevertheless, starting on October 15, schools will be hosting Midnight Madness activities across the nation.

Portions from Wikipedia

Meanwhile…

The 2025 NBA Summer League begins play July 10, teams will compete through July 20. The games will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center and Pavillion on the campus of UNLV. There will also be preliminary summer league events in California and Salt Lake City, with the California Classic scheduled for July 5-6 and 8, and the Salt Lake City Summer League on July 5, 7, and 8, according to NBA.com. Guess what, it’s been announced the initial game in Las Vegas will feature Cooper Flagg’s Mavs versus Bronny James and his Lakers. There are other rookies and second year players to check out in action, games will be televised on NBA TV and an assortment of games on ESPN and its family of channels.

Is this a beginning trend, allow me to explain what you are about to read is part opinion and part fact…check it out. The number of college players declaring for the NBA draft is down this year over last season. This is the speculative portion, a member of the media claims the downward trend can be attributed to Name, Image and Likeness. This is the unknown, there is no effective method to determine the dollars expended on college basketball players with sums varying among scores of athletes. If this trend continues we could witness a shift, no longer will freshman rush off to the NBA after one year. Not having figures to present it appears a number of players are just as comfortable receiving NIL funds as that of an NBA team. Due to the fact this is the first year we’ve witnessed a downward trend it’s difficult to determine if it will continue, nevertheless it certainly is something to consider.

I’ve mentioned Xavian Lee’s name in the recent past, at the time he was at Princeton but was contemplating an NBA future. For those who might not remember Lee is a 6-foot 4 180 pound point guard, home for him is Toronto Canada. After playing three years at Princeton first it was the NBA and later he decided to utilize the transfer portal. Lee is now enrolled at Florida and will play for the defending NCAA Champions. Lee begin his basketball journey at the Cresent School in Toronto, later he transferred to Perkiomen an independent college preparatory boarding and day school in Pennsburg Pennsylvania. Just in case you wondered about the school’s location Pennsburg is about 50 miles north of Philadelphia. The following is one scout’s assessment, “Possesses lead guard upside with good passing, vision, and handle. Can potentially thrive in pick-and-roll action at the next level.”

We can add the Wolves to the list of NBA teams desiring a new arena, after being eliminated in the playoffs the new ownership group is looking in two areas. Owners Marc Lore and A-Rod will finalize the agreement where they assume ownership from Glen Taylor. Next on the agenda is likely the NBA Draft and beyond that plans for a new arena. I didn’t realize it but Target Center is the second oldest NBA arena in use behind MSG. Because this plan is in an early stage there is nothing to report except the owners want to replace Target Center. Over the next few weeks and months as information develops I will attempt to keep you apprise of developments.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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This is a first I believe

I cannot take credit for this bit of information it belongs to Etan Thomas, this former NBA player is now retired but has ventured into the world of the written word. In any event Thomas pointed to the fact that all five starters for Duke’s basketball team were drafted into the NBA. This is certainly not to state that any of the five will be successful or have lasting careers but just the fact it occurred. Consider some of the great college teams of the past, I can think of two or three roster members being drafted or signing free agent contracts. As I indicated in the headline this is a first I believe:

Cooper Flagg forward-Mavs

Kon Knueppel forward-Hornets

Khaman Maluach center-Suns

Sion James guard-Hornets

Tyrese Proctor guard-Cavs

Hire me

The 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone, as this is written there is no head coach in place for the Knicks. A number of names have been mentioned some even interviewed however this occurred. The 2025 draft and whoever is hired had no input regarding the choice of Mohammed Diawara a 6-foot 8 wing from France. That issue aside check out the picture at least as of now for the 2025-26 NBA season. The Knicks were contenders for the Eastern Conference championship this past season, they beat the defending champion Celtics. The Knicks would lose to the Pacers and thereafter Tom Thibodeau was fired. Despite having no coach they might be the second best NBA team in the east with a question mark behind that statement.

Consider the changes in just a matter of weeks with both the Celtics and Pacers. Jrue Holiday is gone so too is Kristaps Porzingis, they will be replaced but there is no Jason Tatum until late in the season if at all, this team is a shadow of itself. The Pacers will return much intact but have a vital missing piece, we discovered Tyrese Haliburton “drives the bus” for this team, him missing who steps up to accept the role as leader? That leaves the Cavs as the only true contender for Eastern Conference supremacy which says to me…if you are interviewed for the Knicks job take it under conditions. Probably 95% of us believed Tom Thibodeau was safe until he wasn’t, If this were me being hired I’d demand a 4 or 5 year contract. If Knicks management fires Thibodeau with his winning record nothing but a championship will satisfy management. An extended contract ensures I will be paid while searching for another job should I be fired…am I too blunt in my assessment, I don’t think so.

Round two    

We are surveying the second round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, the choices on the initial first round were somewhat predictable. The world knew ahead of time Cooper Flagg would be the top pick by the Mavs, he was followed by Dylan Harper to the Spurs and VJ Edgecombe to the Sixers. There were a few players who moved down in the first round, it’s my belief the available talent was the basis here. The only real shocker was Hansen Yang picked at 16, he was chosen by the Grizzlies but is headed to the Blazers.

Yang who hails from China was a familiar name however most mock drafts placed him as a second-round pick. In round two the Wolves kick off the evening activities and repeating round one only the first five picks will be profiled beginning with Rasheer Fleming wing from St. Joseph, his rights traded to the Suns. Up next was Noah Penda a wing from France, he’s headed to the Magic, then it was wing Sion James from Duke, he was chosen by the Hornets. Ryan Kalkbrenner the 7 foot post player is also headed to the Hornets. The Sixers take post Johni Broome, he was at Auburn. The Lakers were at 55 but they made moves allowing them to move up allowing them to draft Adou Thiero wing from Arkansas.

What are they seeking

All are aware the Suns were a hot mess this past season, with Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker they under achieved. The first of many moves was the trade of Durant to the Suns but wait there is more. The Suns acquired Mark Williams in a trade, remember him? He was headed to Laker Land until the Lakers decided it wasn’t a good deal. Draft night Big Man Khaman Maluach from Duke was made the 10th pick and then this occurred, as part of the Durant trade Maluach’s draft rights were sent to the Suns.

In the second round the Suns drafted Liam McNeely UConn wing. So what unfolds for the immediate future for the Suns, should we suppose new coach Jordan Ott will play a twin towers offense after all he’s now got two 7 footers on his team? I’m making the statement because Williams, although slowed by injury had been the starter at the post for the Hornets. Maluach is certainly raw offensively however his upside appears quite enticing, he brought a defensive presence to Duke as a freshman. This is a developing story based on the acquisition of these two players. Williams when healthy contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds and 60% shooting from the floor for the Hornets. This will be a developing story over the next few months.

The future NBA could be exciting

Recently the NBPA Top 100 Camp was held in Rocky Mount North Carolina. Rest assured there were high school players in attendance that didn’t have celebrity parents however a bunch did. This certainly should give us an idea that the future of professional basketball will continue to be in great shape. Behind the prospects name is the year of their high school graduation should they not reclassify. Check out some names and the fathers:

Abdul Aziz (2026) and Malik Olajuwon (2027)-Hakeem Olajuwon is the brothers father.

Isaiah and Carter Barnes (2027)-twin sons of former NBA player Matt.

Erick Dampier Jr. (2028)-his dad is Erick Dampier Sr. who spent 16 years in the NBA.

Obinna Ekezie Jr. (2027)-son of Obinna Ekezie Sr., he played in the NBA for 5 seasons.

Tahj Ariza-son for Trevor Ariza who played 18 seasons in the NBA.

Kaden and Kalek House-twin sons of former NBA guard Eddie.

Brandon Bass Jr. (2026)-son of Brandon Bass Sr. who spent 12 years in the association

Reese Alston (2027)-depending on your age you might be familiar with Rafer and his 11 year NBA career.

It is reasonable to expect some of the players listed here will fail to earn a spot on an NBA roster. What is so interesting to me and perhaps you as well, the number of offspring who’s excelling at least for now the same sport as their father.   

Basketball from a fans perspective

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It’s here

The initial round of the NBA Draft took place Wednesday evening, it would have been shocking if anyone other than Cooper Flagg had been selected as the top choice in the 2025 draft. On the morning before the draft, Today co-host Craig Melvin conducted an interview with Flagg covering various subjects. Subsequently, Melvin referred to a brief list of first-round NBA picks. He named Shaquille O’ Neal, LeBron James, Allen Iverson and Magic Johnson as if that’s not placing even more pressure on the 18 year old Flagg.

With the exception of James, who is still an active player, all those named are in the Naismith Hall of Fame, James will also be enshrined as soon as he’s eligible. Before I begin a brief venture into the past of the NBA Draft and one name in particular that pops up every year at this time, Greg Oden. He’s 37 years old now, the Blazers made him the number one pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The question was why not, 7-foot tall and 273 pounds plus this caveat. An NBA scout claimed “We are looking at the next Bill Russell” this based on his one season at Ohio State. Some report Oden as a bust, I say an emphatic no. There were a series of injuries over his brief NBA career which prevented him from playing at the level expected. In the recent past we discovered a number of guys that were just not talented enough to play in the NBA, I refuse to make that statement regarding Oden.

Meanwhile lets return to 2025 and the first round of the draft, who’s the second pick after Flagg? As for Newport Maine, the town of 3,158 souls is now officially the basketball capital of America. Dylan Harper standout Rutgers guard was made the second pick by the Spurs and with the third pick the Sixers chose guard VJ Edgecombe. The Hornets pick is Kon Knueppel at 4 from Duke, he will probably be a wing player. This report will conclude with pick number 5 by the Jazz, that would be Ace Bailey wing from Rutgers.

The second coming…perhaps

His name is Marcis Ponder, he’s from Orlando Florida and the thought might be he is the second coming of Shaquille O’ Neal. Ponder stands 6-foot 11 (or 6-foot 10 depending on your source) and he checks in at a brawny 327 pounds. As for the Shaq reference check out YouTube video of Ponder in action for West Oaks Academy High School. He bully’s opponents however his size versus 99% of his opponents must be taken into consideration. I have no idea of who Ponder’s faced but none could be close to him in size. So far 18 schools have offered him a scholarship including the likes of Tennessee, Kansas, Illinois plus Auburn and Alabama.

For me it says apparently there remains a Big Man game in basketball and several schools are willing to develop it. As this is written Ponder’s visited no campuses but that will occur at some point during his senior year of high school. There is video of him in action, check it out and see if you think his game resembles Shaquille O’ Neal. Now for the disclaimer, Ponder has yet to prove anything as I indicated earlier in this account its far easier to dominate talent at the high school level. It is less easy at the collegiate level and needless to say the NBA is a far different matter. In this instance I’m going to allow Ponder to develop his game, I intend to follow his progress into college and possibility the NBA.

As usual no evidence is provided

NBA players have no desire to play in Memphis, it’s got nothing to do with the Grizzlies. It’s a safety issue according to one Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, he claims “Cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to local officials.” Ja Morant Grizzlies guard took issue with the take of Smith and naturally a response was required. Let’s did a little deeper into this story, allow me to say upfront I don’t believe Smith. Is he lying, maybe not is he embellishing the truth…perhaps. Usually Smith’s sources are never identified, this time he claims Jimmy Butler made the statement.

Well that must be affirmed by Butler, the other part I find more difficult to believe. Am I (or you) to believe officials for the City of Memphis would go on record with Smith indicating “We have a crime problem in the city?” Memphis is similar to other urban cities in the nation it contains a large share of criminal activity, there is no disagreement there. Of the two elements introduced I find one more a possibility than the other, please name the city officials you discussed this issue with. As for Morant he’s got problems of his own however I do agree with him in this instance in defending Memphis. Smith has little if any credibility with me on this subject for several reasons and this subject is closed for now.

This is news

Ethan Taylor, previously mentioned in this blog, is a local prospect from Shawnee (KS). He attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in the Kansas City (MO) suburb. Notice I said attended, that is past tense because at the end of the school year, Taylor has decided to enroll at Link Academy in Branson (MO) for his senior year. Just in case a number of you didn’t read the original account Taylor is a 7-foot, 230-pound center, as of now, he has not committed to any college,

Taylor’s made two unofficial visits to Columbia home of the University of MO, road miles is about 202 miles and 3 hours by car from Branson. That says to me Taylor might be able to take in a few Missouri basketball games in this upcoming season provided he desires. This is no slam dunk for Missouri, there are 8 other schools who will be waiving scholarships and NIL deals in front of Taylor’s parents in 2026. As for the fact Taylor will be playing his senior year at a prep school is not surprising. That development appears to be the norm anymore for a number of high school players across the nation.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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NBA Champions

The final score read Thunder 103 Pacers 91, thus the first championship for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to the start of the game I mentioned to several acquaintances I believed the Pacers had an opportunity to win. Tyrese Haliburton avoided his usual slow start registering 9 points in a brief 7 minutes of action. The Pacers were playing an even game with the Thunder until the Haliburton injury, just as soon as he went down I told my wife, “This is over.” The initial report indicated Haliburton had suffered a lower right leg injury, it’s now believed he’s suffered a torn Achilles tendon. The Pacers hung with the Thunder for a time however it was clear they were quicker to the ball and shot much better overall. A key to the game was the lock down defense played by the Thunder, the Pacers had 21 TO’s for the game.

At one point play by play announcer Mike Breen indicated the Pacers had surrendered 20 points from several of those turnovers. SGA didn’t shoot particularly in this game but led the way with 29 points and 12 assists, there was plenty of help from teammates Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso. Of all the names mentioned I must also give a shout out to Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. He might have been a ball of nerves on the inside however television cameras certainly didn’t indicate such. Also worthy of mention is Sam Presti vice president and GM of the Thunder. He along with the front office managed to assemble a talented youthful team whose average age is 25 years. Congratulations are due the Thunder, 2025 NBA Champions. Did you realize Presti was involved in drafting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden? All are playing for other teams now but only Durant has NBA Champ on his resume.

The trade

Talk of trading one or more Suns players began at some point in midseason. The Suns loaded with talent in the opinion of many had underachieved for the season. With a payroll of Bradley Beal, Devin Booker plus Kevin Durant and others one or more of the trio might be headed for other locations. More and more it appeared the player most likely traded would be Durant, this belief became apparent several weeks ago. On Sunday weeks of speculation ended with a report he was headed to the Rockets in a massive trade deal. The Rockets would send Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and their number 10 pick in the 2025 draft for Durant.

In addition over the course of the next several years the Rockets will surrender 5 second round draft picks. On the surface it would appear the Rockets are in a win now mode rather than wait to develop additional talent however this move brings about several questions. It’s a little difficult for me to speculate on draft picks, they may develop or maybe not, they are an unknown, I can only see what is in front of me. This is what I see, the Rockets giving up a portion of their youth (Green age 23 & Brooks age 29) for a very talented but 37 year old forward in Durant. In the fall once the season begins Durant will don his 6th jersey if we count Seattle. Just in case you forgot, after the Sonics it was the Thunder, then it became the Warriors. Later it would be the Nets, then the Suns and now the Rockets.

Meanwhile…

I decided to check to determine if the Pac-12 Conference still existed. With only Oregon State and Washington State remaining, it is questionable whether the name Pac-12 is still appropriate. However, procedurally, the name continues to exist. Regarding other schools, while I cannot speak for football, the conference no longer exists in its previous form for college basketball, on September 23, 2024, Utah State joined the Pac-12. July 1, 2026, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State will become members of the conference. According to information online, there are three schools listed as affiliate members: Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Due to several schools being semi-attached to the Pac-12, it is unclear whether the conference can be considered a Power 5 school. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available to me.

I don’t always focus on a players strengths, I always check the things he doesn’t do well. I believe it determines whether a player performs the work necessary to either improve it or lessen it in the eyes of the opposition. All spring or since the announcement a steady stream of present and former NBA players have provided their opinion of Cooper Flagg. With that out the way allow me to state these are not my words, they represent the view of an NBA scout.

Concerns

Jumper consistency: This season at Duke was Flagg’s first draining 3s at a high level. Is this sustainable? He will need to prove it, since it’s a vital tool that will determine his ceiling as a player.

Advanced ball-handling: He doesn’t have great creativity off the bounce yet, which means he ends up taking tough shots or needing to make multiple pivots to get his shot off. He’s growing, but the level he ends up reaching will define his ability as a go-to scoring option.

How I plan on spending my summer, the season is now concluded. The Thunder are crowned 2025 NBA Champions. This is written ahead of the draft, I will be glued to my television Wednesday and Thursday evening. I’m always anxious to see where a number of players are headed and second to that the draft surprises. You know who they are, the guys who were not expected to be drafted. After the draft, the NBA Summer League is next on the agenda, I’m not as glued to games as if were the regular season. Despite that fact there are college and international players I want to see in action. After that Kansas City certainly doesn’t rival Las Vegas or other parts of the nation however there is plenty of AAU basketball for me to check out. NBA free agency begins June 30 so once again I’m anxious to see where a player might land, second to that is checking out who gets traded and where.    

Stingy is not my word

The ink has barely dried on the paperwork signed between the Buss family and Mark Walter. The Lakers will gradually reflect the new owner, as for the headline. One scribe indicated “Changes would occur because Walter is not as ‘stingy’ as the Buss family.” Don’t request accounting services from me, it was one of the more troubling subjects in school. At the same time I question the writer for his statement, in the same manner as me they have no idea what’s going out versus what’s coming in financially. It appears in the recent past the Lakers might have lost out on free agent bids due to finances, despite my statement I wouldn’t refer to that as being stingy. This we know, there is a salary cap in the NBA, a team exceeds the cap they pay to the league. With that issue out of the way we cannot truly embrace the future of the Lakers we can look at the Dodgers as a source of speculation.

Last year a cousin told me “I hate the Dodgers,” she went on to explain how in an effort to succeed they appear to have spent vast sums of money on acquiring players. Mark Walter owns the Dodgers in case some were unaware, from reading about the man I’m making an assumption. Although he’s worth sizeable sums of money he allows the baseball people to run the Dodgers. I guess that will not change with the Lakers, JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka should have jobs for the foreseeable future. There were/or members of Laker Nation upset with the front office for its failure to make needed moves. Remember the accounting thing I mentioned earlier, because we don’t have access to the books with the salary cap plus players’ salaries plus everything else we have no idea. As for Laker Nation, don’t expect immediate change however my belief is it will occur.