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The arenas     

Saturday’s edition included an update regarding the new arena that will replace Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are scheduled to began play in 2028 at a venue designed by a Kansas City-based architectural firm. I also noted that approximately half of the existing arenas have been developed either directly or through partnerships with firms from the metro area. Upon further research, however, I found that this figure was underestimated. Of the 30 NBA arenas currently in use 20 were designed exclusively or collaboratively with local  architectural firms. The list below are the arenas across the NBA landscape:   

 

  1. Ball Arena-Nuggets

  2. Capital One-Wizards

  3. Chase Ctr-Warriors

  4. FedEx Forum-Grizzlies

  5. Fiserv Forum-Bucks

  6. Frost Bank Arena-Spurs

  7. Gainbridge Fieldhouse-Pacers

  8. Kaseya Ctr-Heat

  9. Kia Ctr-Magic

10. Little Caesars Arena-Pistons

11. Moda Ctr-Blazers

12. PHK Arena-Suns

13. Rocket Arena-Cavs

14. Scotiabank Arena-Raptors

15. Spectrum Ctr-Hornets

16. State Farm Arena-Hawks

17. TD Garden-Celtics

18. Toyota Ctr-Rockets

19. United Ctr-Bulls

20. Wells Fargo Ctr-Sixers  

Coach Cal

I can’t defend John Calipari for you, there are numerous basketball fans and members of the media who dislike him. The basis for their conclusions never make a great deal of sense to me, despite that I am willing to say they are entitled to their opinion. I listened to an interview with Coach Cal and he addressed many of the same issues most of us see with college basketball today. He might have surprised some with this statement, the transfer portal. “Guys get 5 years for 4, no more of that not playing one year taking NIL money and leaving for a different school.” One more Cal statement prior to my view, “I’m all for NIL, kids need to get paid however its created a problem. Coaches are no longer recruiting freshman, they just look toward the transfer portal.”

I’m sure a portion of his last statement could be discussed in further detail but many of us have witnessed the wild goings on in the game. In one instance I read an athlete was going into year 6 due to a red shirt injury season. Like Cal I have no problem with NIL deals the transfer portal must be addressed by the NCAA, university presidents or whoever is in charge. The game is never going to disappear however as with anything involving humans from time to time a fix is required. We are at that point regarding a number of issues especially the transfer portal. The question is now asked by me, how much longer are we going to allow the ship to sail without providing it direction? Do you remember once upon a time a chorus of folks claim the one and done rule “would ruin college basketball?” How’s that going so far might be the question? 

“It has no real value”

Former NBA player Olden Polynice went on the record discussing the NBA Summer League. The full headline read: “It has no real value for the players, it’s a money making scheme and it serves no purpose.” His words and I guess he stands by them. As you are aware I never played in the NBA as Polynice did however my view is totally different than him. By now some of you are wondering about Polynice, continue reading to the end and his NBA role will be detailed? Below are five reasons I disagree with him.

1. Summer League keeps the NBA in the sports conversation in the off season.

2. It provides us an opportunity to see Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey and others.

3. Euro scouts use the occasion to scout talent for teams.

4. Injured or underplayed second-year players can gain playing time.        

5. The summer surprise always has an unheralded player that exceed expectations.

Those are my reasons, you might have your own set. Perhaps you agree with Polynice and see Summer League as a money grab. As for the answer for those unfamiliar with the former player a brief detail follows. In the 1987 NBA Draft the Sonics, with the 5th pick in the first round selected Scottie Pippen, with the pick 8 the Bulls chose Polynice. Neither would see the other city except as a visitor, Jerry Colangelo then GM having scouted Pippen wanted him for the Bulls so a trade was arranged. Polynice had a 15 year NBA career but nothing close to what Pippen was able to accomplish during his years in the NBA.

What is going on

A few months remain until NBA training camps open, 3-4 weeks afterward the season begins. The question in the middle of summer will LeBron James be in the Laker’s line up?  There are numerous stories floating about regarding his status, “He’s headed to the Warriors, Knicks or maybe the Mavs.” If any of these accounts are correct there is much to take into consideration. A trade to acquire LeBron James will likely deplete the receiving team many of its most valuable talent. If for example he is traded to the Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and a reserve player plus future draft picks would likely be packaged together. This trade is made for a talented but 41 year old LeBron James, at most there are two or maybe three years remaining for him. There is no guarantee that a move of this type would bring the Knicks or any other team a championship.

The other possibility is a buyout of LeBron’s contract, this would prove beneficial for all the parties concerned. From AI on the web this is discovered: “A player and team negotiate a buyout amount, often less than the full remaining salary. The player receives the buyout money, becoming a free agent. The player can then sign with any team, subject to roster rules and the March 1 playoff eligibility deadline.” You might conclude from reading this account I’m ready for LeBron to be history with the Lakers, that is far from the case. If for HIS reasons there is a belief the Lakers no longer are a fit then a move must be made, a change he and the Lakers are comfortable with. Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst wrote an ESPN piece titled: Why LeBron and the Lakers are stuck in limbo. I read it however I unsure what they were attempting to describe except Luka might be more important to the Lakers future than LeBron. Although their point is valid I find it difficult to build a team around a 41 year old, it makes more sense to me that player be 26 years old and an verified All Pro.