A fan’s perspective

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Mistake

I read a story on a social media site so I decided to explore the 2017 NBA draft. Lonzo Ball’s NBA career is likely over but this is not the question I’m posing, with the 2nd pick the Lakers chose Ball but could they have selected someone else? I know this is revisionist history on my part but bear with me. I’ve mentioned the Ball pick, right behind him at 3 the Celtics chose Jayson Tatum (NBA Champion). Between the Tatum pick a number of players were selected who in my view had average to subpar careers. At 13 we saw the Jazz select Donovan Mitchell (NBA All-Star), the following pick was Bam Adebayo who’s been invaluable to the Heat.

March 10, 2026, Adebayo scored 83 points for the Heat in a game against the Wizards. Last season Adebayo supplanted Kobe Bryant with the second highest single game scoring accomplishment. With the 23rd pick by the Raptors they chose OG Anunoby, on December 30, 2023, the Raptors traded Anunoby to the Knicks. If we fast forward to the 2026 NBA Championship the Knicks don’t win without the invaluable contributions of Anunoby scoring and defense. There are some who contend the Finals MVP could have been Anunoby and practically no one would disagree. Some of you reading this might assert I’m being unfair to Ball, they claim his play at UCLA was the basis for him being made the 2nd pick. Injury aside I believe the Lakers could have gone a different route in the 2017 NBA draft, think about it.

They have vast resources

I’m unsure about you so I will only speak for me. I’ve grown tired of billionaire NBA owners in some instances holding a city and fans hostage. This especially is true when I come across a list of NBA billionaire owners and this was only the top 10. At the top is Steve Ballmer Clippers owner and at number 10 is Tony Ressler. There is no reason to feel sorry for Ressler, the guy is worth huge sums of money and that’s where the issue for me begins. I am relaying information as I believe it exists, research additionally if you have questions. The first location for us to check is San Antonio and their rush to the top.

The Spurs with the Wemby factor at work are wanting to build a new arena. I discovered Michael Dell owner of Dell Computers and a bunch of other stuff is a minority stock holder in the Spurs. San Antonio’s mayor asked the question, “Why can’t Mr. Dell provide additional funds for the arena project from the Spurs side?” Recently I brought to your attention the dilemma in Portland, new Blazers owner Tom Dundon is pressuring the City of Portland for repair costs to the Moda Center. There certainly is additional detail to both stories but I hope you understand where I’m headed, billionaire owners want taxpayers to underwrite construction or repair costs to arenas for teams they own exclusively. Maybe I have this entire thing wrong, I certainly believe there is another side, please help me understand.

Houston, we've had a problem here

The headline is actually the correct quote from astronaut Jim Lovell in the Apollo 13 lunar mission. The 1995 movie provided us a misquote but that’s not the problem---we do have a problem and it’s reference is college basketball not lunar missions. We have been slowly drifting toward anarchy for a number of years regarding the collegiate game. The latest revelation was the legal judgement that allowed a small number of athletes an additional year of eligibility.

In addition we’ve witnessed two collegiate athletes who played professional basketball be placed on college basketball rosters for a time with one even suiting up and playing in a game. We then have the NIL issue and the question becomes who owes what? Darryn Peterson now in the NBA had an unspectacular season at Kansas despite being the potential number one NBA draft pick pre-season. We know now despite what occurred at Kansas Peterson was made the number two pick in the 2026 NBA draft. What’s the problem you ask, I’ve read and heard a number of complaints about the amount of NIL money Peterson received. Several in Jayhawk Nation pointed out “We didn’t receive the return expected. The transfer portal is also an issue for some, they say, “There’s no loyalty anymore!” That might be true, allow me to cite an example, Dusty May won a national championship then recruited kids for the Michigan program.

As soon as the Dallas Mavs approached him and provided a $$$ number he could agree to he’s history and I could ask the question what about the athletes May recruited? The NCAA appears to be unable to provide any leadership on a number of these issue due to their hands being dirty over aspects that forced several of these issues to the forefront. If this appears to be a doom and gloom report that is not what its intended to be, my desire was to point out quite a few issues concerning the college game which are a troubling to me.

What you are about to read

I offer you no proof whatsoever, these are a collection of my thoughts regarding the Clippers, and the Steve Ballmer-Kawhi Leonard farce. As reported earlier the NBA announced they were unable to uncover conclusive evidence there were improprieties between the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard the defunct company Aspirations. There would be no punishment for the Clippers and the Kawhi trade to the Raptors can be completed, what if there is more? Steve Ballmer is the richest owner in the NBA and sometimes an effort to win can be overwhelming especially to the Ballmer’s of the world.

If Ballmer had been found guilty short of forcing him to sell the team he would have been suspended. Suspension and a monetary fine would be in my opinion an embarrassment for the NBA, this would certainly be news the league wouldn’t desire. Kawhi Leonard when healthy continues to be one of the best players in the NBA, Kawhi Leonard suspended provides no eyes on the Raptors or the NBA. With both parties found not guilty the NBA can continue operating unabated. A cloud of suspension will hang over the Clippers and to a degree Kawhi Leonard, soon it will be seen in everyone’s rear view mirror as other NBA news becomes more viable.