Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday 

No…No!

The suggestion to address the Lakers' need at the post is not a straightforward solution as proposed by some. Initially, Bill Simmons, a longtime critic of the Lakers, suggested, “The Lakers should make a trade for Joel Embiid of the Sixers.” Subsequently, the Sporting News proposed that the Lakers acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Celtics. This proposal is perplexing, as I do not have access to the Lakers' payroll details, but consider the following: reports indicate that the Celtics are considering trading Kristaps Porzingis because they do not wish to fulfill a substantial payment clause in his contract.

The payroll would include LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and the sizable payment for Porzingis if he were acquired. Additionally, there is another concern with Porzingis similar to that of former Laker center Anthony Davis; Porzingis often appears to be absent due to injury or illness. Currently, he has been intermittently present in the playoff lineup for the Celtics. I perceive Porzingis similarly to Davis, frequently unavailable. It is important to note that this discussion does not question the skills of Embiid or Porzingis; rather, it addresses their availability to play. If you believe Porzingis (or Embiid) is worth the effort, that is your prerogative, but convincing me of its practicality will be challenging.

Alford v Miller

The headline might appear to be a court room case, in a sense it was. Back then (the 1980’s) Indiana basketball under Bobby Knight was one of the best basketball programs in the nation. This was due of course by Knight attracting many of the best players in the nation and state to Bloomington. In 1987 Steve Alford was the pre-eminent basketball player in the nation, in the NBA draft the Pacers were sure to select him with the first pick only they didn’t. Donnie Walsh then president and now a consultant for the team said, “I knew I was going to get booed when I announced the selection.” He went on stage and pronounced the “Indiana Pacers select Reggie Miller of UCLA” and quickly walked off.

Pacer fans were clearly upset and maybe the entire State of Indiana due to the choice of Miller over Alford. Later with pick number 26 the Mavs chose Steve Alford. If we look at the career of both former players all these years later did the Pacers selection prove more successful? Alford’s NBA career didn’t thrive in the manner most expected, he lasted from 1987-1991 playing for the Mavs and Warriors mostly in a reserve role. Alford’s career as a college coach has been far superior to that of an NBA player. What happened to Miller, from 1987 to 2005 he would remain a Pacer throughout his NBA career. Miller would score more than 25,000 points and be selected to the Naismith Hall of Fame. Alford certainly didn’t have the success envisioned by Pacer fans however he’s experienced a doggone good basketball career.

Meanwhile…

Perhaps you might be as surprised at reading this story as I was. As mentioned previously the annual Draft Combine is upcoming, 75 players have been invited including Cooper Flagg. His effort in the combine will be different from most of the other participants, he will not take part in the 5-on-5 scrimmage. Flagg will take part in the strength and agility testing, shooting drills and performance test. It was also mentioned he will undergo a medical examination and share his medical history with NBA teams. In addition Flagg will have his height, weight, wingspan, standing reach, hand length and hand with measured. 

Renowned sports commentator Dick Vitale will make his return this fall. Although his contract with ESPN was originally set to run through the 2026-27 season, the network has extended it for an additional two years. Vitale will continue to serve in the roll of play by play college basketball analyst for the network, welcome back, Dickey V. He’s now 85-years old but who says you must hire at a particular age. It’s clear after his health challenges he loves the game otherwise he would have retired at least 20 years ago.

He’s an anomaly, Missouri’s Dennis Gates that is, if you happen to tune into a Missouri game you will see the head coach and his staff attired in suits and ties. They are the only college team to continue this long-standing tradition. Now think about how many college coaches or those in the NBA are dressed in a suit and tie. Once upon a time this was the standard dress for basketball coaches and then Covid struck. Once the pandemic subsided the relaxed dress code remained in effect and would become a standard, I have serious doubts if the suit and tie ever returns with the exception of Gates who remains ole skool.  

Don’t spend other people’s money

I have expressed on multiple occasions my discomfort discussing player salaries. Although I am passionate about sports, particularly the NBA, I believe that the top 15-20% of players are compensated excessively. In contrast, educators, emergency responders, and military personnel deserve significantly higher wages. Rachel Nichols, who covered the NBA for ESPN for many years and has now transitioned to FS1, recently shared her opinion that LeBron James should sign a veteran's minimum contract. While I respect Ms. Nichols' perspective, I do not necessarily agree with her viewpoint.

According to my research, a veteran minimum contract is slightly over $3 million—a substantial amount for most people. However, LeBron James' current salary exceeds $48 million this season. There are aspects of player contracts that are not widely understood by the public, and it appears Ms. Nichols may not be fully aware of the financial intricacies involved. Additionally, I question how Ms. Nichols would react if someone without sports media credentials proposed a reduction in her salary. Her argument, although explained, remains unconvincing to me. Just as we cannot dictate what Fox Sports compensates Ms. Nichols, she should not have the authority to suggest a reduction in LeBron's salary. Therefore, I find her column unpersuasive.