A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Pay attention please, the news moves swiftly

Just a short time ago, maybe last week it appeared the Spurs planned arena was in great danger. The mayor of San Antonio appeared to not favor the project for several reasons. I believed all along eventually it was going to be built at least that was my view, I held this belief despite the gigantic boulders in front of Project Marvel as it’s named. All that appears to have changed based on Monday’s news. Rather than miss communicate information I prefer you check out the link from SI.com and my belief additional $$ appear to have removed an obstacle in front of the project. 

https://www.si.com/nba/spurs/news/san-antonio-spurs-announce-massive-2-billion-commitment-01k38jk8d2rr

Everyone has a plan

The headline references a quote attributed to former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, the complete quote is: “Everyone has a plan until he’s hit in the mouth.” While none of these rookies will experience physical hits, they will undergo significant challenges as they begin their NBA careers. This information is sourced from Fansided.com and Rucker Haringey, dated August 24. The article titled “3 NBA rookies the Lakers will wish they had drafted before 2025-26 is over” provides further details. The first rookie on Haringey’s list is Chaz Lanier, who played at Tennessee and was selected 37th by the Pistons, immediately after Ado Thiero, whom the Lakers chose at 36. This observation is not meant to criticize Lanier, as he demonstrated notable three-point shooting ability.

A consideration arises regarding whether Lanier might have a similar experience to Knecht; this statement is not intended to be negative, but it is uncertain at this time. The second player mentioned is Maxime Raynaud from Stanford, originally from France. Raynaud is a seven-foot center noted for his defensive productivity at Stanford, but according to RotoWire.com, his perimeter defense will require improvement for the NBA, especially if he transitions more toward forward than center based on his offensive skill set. This is the second area of uncertainty in Haringey’s evaluation. Lastly, Tyrese Proctor of Duke, selected 49th by the Cavaliers, is included. Proctor is recognized as a capable combo guard, although the Lakers were seeking a quality big man. It is important to note that if the Lakers had passed on Thiero, they could have chosen only one of the three players discussed.

Another Cooper Flagg...maybe

I certainly wasn’t familiar with his name, it’s Jahleel Joseph and I read about him in the Bangor Daily News. According to the newspaper he’s reported to be one of Maine’s best high school basketball players. He’s a 6-foot 4 wing and played at Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill Maine, the town has a population of nearly 1,400 persons. Mars Hill is located approximately 150 miles north of the capital city of Bangor. Perhaps it’s a competition thing similar to Flagg or something else based on his current future.

Joseph will not graduate from Central Aroostook, he is now enrolled at West Nottingham Academy a prep and boarding school in Colora, Maryland about 60 miles northeast of Baltimore. It’s certainly unfair on my part to compare Joseph to Flagg, the basis of course both young men being residents of Maine. The state of Maine is certainly not the smallest in the nation population wise (43) nevertheless it’s noteworthy in that Flagg might be responsible for college coaches scheduling flights to Maine beginning right now. This is no intent to project Joseph as a budding NBA prospect it’s just the fact the State of Maine has or will become a stopping point for college scouts.

Sometimes they miss

This is an amazing story looking back at the decision, two franchises the Blazers and Braves (now the Clippers) passed on Moses Malone. You do realize, maybe you don’t he was NBA MVP in 1979, 1982 and 1983. In addition he is enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. As for the mistake, NBA expansion had added the Pacers, Nuggets, Nets and Spurs. Players from ABA teams no longer operating were placed in a pool and a draft was held. In fairness keep in mind Malone signed out of high school and was only 19 years old but he’d played almost 2 seasons in the ABA.

At the time the dispersal draft was held the Blazers selected Malone in the 1976 draft before trading him to the Buffalo Braves. He played 2 games for the Braves before they traded him to the Rockets. Malone would win 2 league MVP’s in 6 years while a member of the Rockets, he won an additional MVP as a member of the Sixers. Over the course of his NBA career Malone certainly proved to all he had the right stuff to be considered one of the NBA’s All-Time greats. Malone would be named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary team and later in 2021 named to the 75th Anniversary Team. To top this off the Kansas City Kings had an opportunity to acquire Malone in the ABA dispersal draft, instead they chose serviceable 6-foot 2 guard Ron Boone.