A fan’s perspective

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One more look

The subject of Jonathan Kuminga will be discussed once more prior to the start of the NBA season. By now you are fully aware the wing player so highly coveted by the Lakers decided in favor the Wolves, we take a closer look at the decision that saw him move from the Warriors to the Hawks and now the Wolves. Naturally at the top of the list is a question which cannot be addressed at this time, with the ball dominate LaMelo Ball and Anthony “Ant” Edwards how many touches for Kuminga?   

I cannot spend your money and I certainly won’t attempt that however I might have a question regarding your decision. If we return to Kuminga’s Warrior days this is what was reported. The Warriors offered him $75 million and a 3-year extension with a team option, he turned down the team drafting him forcing a trade to the Hawks. All this past summer word circulated in print and discussion Kuminga was entertaining offers from a number of teams including my Lakers, one by one these parties dropped to the wayside with the exception of the Wolves and Lakers. There were two offers on the table from the Lakers, a $20 million 2-year contract or a $36 million 3-year, there are no indications if either offer had stipulations which failed to meet the demands of Kuminga.

At the end Kuminga decided in favor of a $13 million 2-year contract with the Wolves which is reported to provide him the options he desired. Finally this quote from Kobe Bryant, “If I need to convince you to come here, to carry that legacy forward, then you ain’t the one to be it.” Some will question the legacy portion of the Kobe statement, other than the Celtics there is no other team in NBA history with the collection of NBA championships of the Lakers.

You imagine there’s no problem

Several of you reading this probably believe there’s no challenge ….but there is. Men’s college basketball has become quite difficult to administer. The play on the court is fine, it’s the other stuff, we have more action in one court over the other. Court rulings have led to anarchy in a number of instances, is there anyone outside the legal system able to stand up and declare “I’ll fix it!” The question, who is available to address the issues. I will say this at the beginning there is no issue with me and the college players, they are securing interests that are best for their future.

Some might remember reading Dusty May’s explanation why he left Michigan for the Dallas Mavs of the NBA. Although I’ve never read anything I believe Jay Wright left Villanova for the same reason, the ever changing landscape has made it extremely difficult to recruit and coach college basketball in this age. This is written while I’m in my Man-Cave, I can see the issues from here. I’m not naming names just wondering why there is no one apparently willing to address the issues. There is NIL to consider plus the  Transfer-Portal and a myriad of other issues that require someone, anyone to step up and say, “I’ll fix it!”

Once upon a time….

Buffalo New York serves as home for the NFL Bills, Buffalo is also home to the NHL Sabres, Buffalo once had the NBA Braves. Did you notice the fact the first two professional teams named are in the present tense while the Braves are in the past tense. The explanation is this, the Braves now call Los Angeles home i.e., the Clippers but more on that later. How an NBA team on the east coast made its way across the country to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The Braves came into the NBA as an expansion team in 1970 and lasted in the city until 1978 when they relocated to San Diego and were renamed the Clippers. What occurred in the intervening years that caused the team to move, a series of events. Games were played at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in downtown Buffalo.

The arena had first opened its doors in October 1940 so the building was 30 years old before the first Braves jump ball. In addition play dates were shared with the NHL team along with local college basketball teams that had used the auditorium for years previously. As with most expansion teams their won-loss record was terrible finishing that first season with 22 wins and 60 losses. The history indicates that by the 1976-77 season the Braves were a modest success but despite this issue trouble was brewing. Scheduling games continued to prove problematic sharing dates with the NHL Sabres and college basketball Griffins. Without going into detail a great number of issues finally forced the sale of the team and the eventual move to San Diego. Much later former owner Donald Sterling decided on his own to move the team to Los Angeles without NBA permission.

Changing landscape

Several reading this account might be familiar with the name Xaivian Lee, he’s a Canadian-American basketball player. Lee played at Princeton and Florida before landing at Gonzaga, yet went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. In June 2026, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cavaliers and played for Cleveland in Summer League. Despite that brief step into professional basketball, Lee is now back at Gonzaga and expected to suit up for the Bulldogs this fall and winter.

How did this unusual situation happen? In 2026, it seems as if the rulebook has been tossed out the window. “In August 2026, Lee was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA and, as a result, received a fifth season of eligibility after filing a lawsuit in California. He entered the NCAA transfer portal. That same month, he transferred to Gonzaga for his fifth season.” So once again, we have an amateur athlete who briefly played professionally yet is returning to amateur status. I can understand the student-athlete, Lee and others are only attempting to improve their prospects be it another school or a professional start.