There’s been a lot of controversy in the NBA this season. Whether that being of the In-Season Tournament, All Star Game format, or the lack of star players participating in the Dunk Contest is up for debate. The real controversy is that the ratings have dropped because there is no true face in the league because parity is at an all time high and most small market teams have taken advantage of the new CBA. That was until the most shocking trade that the sports world has seen since Wayne Gretzky getting traded to the LA Kings took place. I wonder who made that deal to begin with?
Dallas Mavericks (FIRE NICO!): The Mavericks were in an interesting situation not too long ago. After a hot stretch in December, they were near the top of the Western Conference with Luka and Kyrie doing their usual scoring antics. Even if Klay Thompson was very inconsistent during this stretch, at least PJ Washington and Dante Exum were picking up the slack. Then came the New Year. (BOOM!) Oh boy a hard losing skid suckered them back to hovering around 500 again. In a normal sequence this would be the low point of a season for any team with major aspirations. BUT NOT FOR DALLAS AND NICO HARRISON! All they needed was to stay pat at the deadline, get Washington and surprise breakout Naji Marshall back from the injured list and they’d be fine. (CIRCUS MUSIC!) (Lakers and Mavs swap Luka for AD in blockbuster deal) WHAT IN THE NAME OF DIRK IS THIS! WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HECK IS GOING ON! You just made the NBA Finals a year ago, you have a team that’s been ravaged by injuries for most of the season yet you trade a player that’s as adored in that city as Roger Staubach is for crying out loud? Look I get that Daniel Gafford is inconsistent and the return they got was great for the short term, but the reality is simple. YOU DO NOT TRADE LUKA DONCIC! He’s a player that has more value than the market provides and teams who trade their franchise face usually don’t recover for years. Just ask Philly after they traded AI. To me that trade means two things. One being that Jason Kidd has reinforced his reputation as the NBA’s answer to Mike Keenan because he won a power struggle with Luka, and that Nico has ruined everything that Mark Cuban built. (Keenan did the same with the Russian Rocket in Vancouver in the late 90s) “OH BUT THEY NEED TO SAVE MONEY IN ORDER TO BUILD A NEW ARENA ON THE SITE OF WHERE TEXAS STADIUM USED TO STAND!” SCREW THAT! A player like Luka rarely comes around and you traded him to the most insufferable franchise in the league. If the Lakers become a dynasty, Harrison is never going to hear the end of it. GOOD! Because he made Adam Silver just do jumping jacks and cartwheels with how much money that the league will make over the next decade.
Denver Nuggets (The Joker’s Revenge Arc): I find it interesting that a team loses a good chunk of its depth from previous years yet still is among the games’ elite in the process. The Nuggets are one of those teams. Nikola Jokic is still perhaps the most dominant player in the league especially with his habits of beating people in the most lethal ways offensively. (Those being his passing skills and ability to create his own shot) Luckily he’s not alone. Especially with Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray putting up their usual numbers of 20 a game with an average +/- of +13. KCP who needs him, Christian Braun is the next sharpshooter who’s being left off the hook considering how little attention he’s given due to opposing teams game planning for the Joker. Even Russell Westbrook is still producing despite him being past his prime. It was kind of a let down for them at the trade deadline but with their development system and Mike Malone having that team dialed in, they really didn’t need to make a move. Their biggest priorities will come in May and June. A shot at revenge is on their minds. And they will be pushing towards it right away.
Golden State Warriors (Golden State of Confusion): Can you guys please stop giving me endless hypothetical heart attacks for once in your damn lives? This year has been nothing but those kinds of moments and games when it comes to DubNation. Early on it was a dream scenario. A 13-3 start with the youth emerging and Buddy Hield coming out of the blocks on fire. What happened next? (BOOM!) OH DEAR GOD! That hot start was quickly erased by a 3-13 stretch. Steph Curry and Draymond Green missing time due to injury only added gasoline to the fire. When I look at the Warriors, there should be no reason as to why they’re hovering around 500 with the development system they have and Steph still producing at an elite level. (And that’s not including Quinten Post becoming the center of the future. Hopefully) The Dubs biggest enemy has been themselves. They’ve led the league in turnovers and have blown more double digit leads than any other team in the NBA… BY A WIDE MARGIN! (18 TO a game and 13 losses by blowing double digit leads, WOOF!) Something had to be done to fix this. The calls for Mike Dunleavy’s head were growing by the day especially if they struck out at the deadline. Luckily they didn’t. I know they weren’t able to bring back Kevin Durant, but they did get a man with a massive chip on his shoulders considering how much disrespect from Miami. That man’s name, JIMMY FRICKIN’ BUTLER! Oh boy could this be the spark Golden State needs to get back in the race for a playoff spot. And if the last few games before the All Star Break are any indication, it might be a fun ride down the stretch.
Houston Rockets (Lift Off Mode Activated): What do you get when you have a head coach proving that he doesn’t need the Boston system to succeed, infusing youth and speed into the lineup plus a defensive structure that has suffocated most of their opponents inside the paint? Well its a team that has finally erased the sins of the Harden Era ending in a thud. The Rockets are back to being a dark horse contender, and my goodness are they a fun team to watch at their peak. Just like he did with the Celtics, Ime Udoka has built a brick wall on defense. Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Tari Eason have been the key pieces of that success. On offense, Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith have led the way, and each of them have gotten better as the year has gone on. The only downside all year was that they were on a 6 game losing streak in February, but that was mostly due to Eason and Smith being injured. (And they had a tough schedule during that stretch) If they can brush that skid off and keep this uplifting season going, they should be able to secure home court advantage for the 1st Round. Now please don’t collapse. I’d rather laugh at the Nets some more because you guys have the chance to swap picks with them this year.
Los Angeles Clippers (New Building, Same Old Clippers): Even with Steve Balmer’s mega shrine finally ready for action and Olivier Sedra preventing his buddy James Harden from leaving town the Clippers are dealing with the same nonsense they’ve been faced with for the last half decade. Good but not good enough. Although there have been a bunch of bright spots Kawhi Leonard’s amazing offseason rehab has resulted in him being able to return to the court much sooner than expected and Norman Powell has finally banished his inconsistent habits and has broken out into his full potential. But even with Powell and Ivica Zubac enjoying career years, Sedra needs to bring another buddy of his from Brooklyn over to Inglewood. (I feel like Balmer doesn’t mind this because he loves himself some name brand players) Ben Simmons. He of being bought out of his awful contract and not even playing 100 games for the Nets. So far he’s been alright. I know he’s only played one game for the Clippers but compared to the last few years he’ll take it. Once again there are plenty of What Ifs surrounding this squad and who knows whether or not they’ll pan out. Thank goodness they got out of Staples Center when they did. Why do you ask? Because look what’s going on there right now?
Los Angeles Lakers (Boys Club Being Boys Club): Nothing screams Vintage Lakers than being overly desperate for more star power. This year is no different. Even with Austin Reaves being close to reaching his full potential, Anthony Davis putting up MVP numbers, and Dalton Knecht getting off to a flying start, Rob Pelinka and LeBron were looking for a way to break the internet. They’re solution? Remember when the Kings traded for Wayne Gretzky and it forced the entire country of Canada to try and veto the trade? (BOOOOOOOOOOM!) WE’LL SUCKER IN NICO HARRISON AND THE MAVERICKS INTO GIVING US LUKA!!! Yes we’ll give up AD and Max Christie, but LeBron just turned 40, his time in the league is running short, and we must have the face of the league at all costs! (All of Dallas is trying to veto the trade too. SUCKS FOR THEM!) If that’s not the Lakers organization in a nutshell I don’t know what is. However there are massive risks that are involved in this trade. Now that Luka is on board they are literally putting all of their eggs in the basket of Jaxson Hayes who has actually played well as of late. “OH BUT THEY TRADED FOR MARK WILLIAMS!” (YoYo Sound) TELL ME LIES TELL ME SWEET LITTLE LIES BECAUSE THE TRADE WAS CALLED OFF! (If it went through, stupid juice written all over it considering that Dalton Knecht was involved) Besides not having an elite center, LA’s biggest concern should be the guy behind the bench. Why do you ask? Because a rookie head coach with no other coaching experience is a recipe for disaster against quality teams and coaches. We saw this with Steve Nash in Brooklyn and we’re probably going to see it here with JJ Redick. If I’m wrong, I’m never going to hear the end of it from Lakers fans. (As a fan of a rival I hope this fails miserably)
Memphis Grizzlies (2024 Is History): If this season is any indication Memphis truly is a tale of two teams. When Ja Morant is healthy and not being an idiot off the court, the Grizzlies are one of the better teams in a stacked Western Conference featuring a high flying offense, and feature an unsung defense that never gets the credit they deserve. When he’s not in the lineup, well lets just say it’s trying times. Fortunately Morant has played the majority of their games if you exclude the amount of load management he’s done this year. And the one who has fed off from this is Jaren Jackson. The former Defensive Player of the Year has led the way on both sides of the ball and has been the definition of an elite 2 way player. Even better news is that Desmond Bane after two down years has rediscovered his scoring touch, and Santi Aldama is in the running for 6th Man of the Year. (Where did this come from at the start of the year) The scary thing is that Marcus Smart just got back from the injured list and Zach Edey is starting to heat up especially on the boards. If those two things work out, they could sneak up on a Top 2 seed. The only downside of that is that you may have to face Golden State in the playoffs. But hey curses are meant to be broken.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Are You Ok?): Things were ugly in Minnesota early in the season. The KAT Trade took a massive toll on the organization. They hit a rough skid in November, and it looked like 2024 was going to be a fluke. Well since then it’s been better but with the amount of talent on the roster, you kind of expect more out of the Wolves than what you’re getting. Anthony Edwards is a generational talent and is probably going to get handsomely paid this offseason, but his supporting cast has always been the key. Both Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo got off to slow starts since coming over from New York, but over the last month they’ve regained the form they had as Knicks. That’s good, but consistency is the key to success, and for Minnesota that’s hard to come by. I’m looking right at you Rudy Gobert.
New Orleans Pelicans (1980 New Orleans Saints): Please tell me how injuries were the only things keeping the Pelicans from reaching their potential. That alone should be considered as allegations for drinking stupid juice. Look at what’s happened this season. Bringing in Dejounte Murray to bolster their starting five, Zion finally having some semblance of health on his side, with talent and depth everywhere you look should be enough to emerge into contention status. (BOOM!) OH DEAR GOD!!! Not only was this all a lie but this is probably the greatest failure of a season in franchise history. (“It’s like having open heart surgery week after week after week without adding an esthetic.” -Jim Henderson) Losing 29 of 32 games to end the calendar year of 2024. And then they went on a 10 game losing streak right before the All Star Break thanks to a defense that can’t defend the 3 ball if their lives depended on it. (Plus they’re the worst free throw shooting team in the league) I want to ask one question. How does Willie Green still have a job? This man has been tactically spanked ever since he was hired as head coach and just like with Dennis Allen, the Benson’s haven’t even acknowledged it. And with Brandon Ingram getting traded to Toronto, it’s only the start of the purge. Zion for your sake I hope you get traded out of this tire fire and join a real team. That’s the only way your career won’t be a total waste. (The NBA’s answer to Archie Manning)
Oklahoma City Thunder (Tornado Warning): This has to be the year. The learning experiences are over and everything is so far falling into place. Their ambitions are simple. A deep playoff and hopefully ending all of the narratives placed upon this franchise going back to the days of KD and Westbrook. If last year was the dawn of a new era in OKC, this year is the year that the new era is running at full steam ahead. (They have exactly what a pro wants and what a pro needs. For now that is) Not only are they beating whoever lines up against them, but they’re doing this convincingly. When SGA is putting up another MVP caliber season, and Jalen Williams is becoming one of the best young players in the game, there’s reason to be excited. Plus there have been unexpected success stories. Aaron Wiggins is slowly becoming a dynamo, their bench is one of the deepest in all of the NBA, and they are the definition of analytical darlings. (Their +5 differential in 3 pointers a game compared to their opponents is all you need to know) The cutting edge of modern day basketball. And the scary thing is that they have even more coming thanks to how much draft capital they still have from trading away CP3, Westbrook, and PG13 all of those years ago. All that lies in their way is burning fires. The fires of unfinished business. And the fires of making Adam Silver eat tremendous amounts of salt.
Phoenix Suns (Trouble In The Desert): Oh boy! Some things with certain teams never seem to change over time. Even with their hot start to the season, the Suns cannot escape the fate that has doomed them the past few seasons. Letting go of all their depth, and bringing in a bunch of old men in hopes of them finally getting over the hump. Mike Budenholzer left Milwaukee before that team became a gong show only to run into another gong show only a year later. Turns out that I lied about Mat Ishbia being the next Daniel Snyder. In reality he’s the NBA’s answer to David Tepper. (Woj and Brian Windhorst really thought he’d be a great owner. Oh how wrong were they) Being looked at as the savior of a franchise only to run that team into the ground in no time. The Kevin Durant Trade they made with Brooklyn in 2023 has set the team back years considering how much they gave up. And even more baffling was that they were so close to trading KD back to Golden State (BUZZER!) And then Durant told Ishbia that he didn’t want to be back in Steph’s shadow. Not to mention they were labeled as the favorite to get Jimmy Butler. (BUZZER!) Then Bradley Beal told them that he wasn’t intent on leaving Arizona. They’re stuck in hell and it’s their own damn fault. KD and Devin Booker can’t do this on their own especially with no bench or Point Guard. If only they didn’t have such a terrible record on the road and if Coach Bud didn’t stop playing the veteran guys that would be great.
Portland Trail Blazers (Mediocrity Defined): Please send me more claims that the Trail Blazers rebuild is over. I need more reasons to laugh at anyone who thinks of that (I’m looking right at the people on last week’s NBA segment for 360 Sports). They’re still a work in progress, but luckily there is promising youth starting to emerge. If only Scoot Henderson wasn’t so damn inconsistent especially given that he was a Top 3 pick. But hey at least Deni Avdija is making his presence as a two way stud in the making and Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 17 a game. (DeAndre Ayton is averaging a double-double too) You know what the main reason as to why I’m laughing at the cold takes surrounding this team? They won 10 of 11 games to creep up into the playoff picture in the eyes of the media. Yes they at the time were still a long shot, but hey any signs of optimism is good right? (YoYo Sound) And then they got blown out in 3 straight games to close the 1st Half. Which further proves something that I’ve been saying for a few years. Chauncey Billups may not be the right man for this job. He’s made progress, but in order for them to unlock their true potential, they may need to go in a different direction. I’d like to be wrong about this, but for now I rest my case. (I would say they should go for Monty Williams but he wouldn’t fit that culture very well)
Sacramento Kings (Ranadive’s Three Ring Circus): This is why you can’t have any semblance of hope surrounding the Sacramento Kings. Just when you think they’ve turned the corner and are free from being a mockable organization, they always find ways to prove every single basketball nerd right. This year is no exception. The SkyRush ride they went on in November and December was hilarious for our comedic enjoyment. They won 4 straight to end November then lost 4 straight then won 3 of 4, then closed the calendar year on a 5 game losing streak. And during this streak Ranadive had one message for Mike Brown. YOU’RE FIRED!!! Really you fired Mike Brown? He probably was the main reason why they went from afterthought to contender in no time. If you thought that was bad, just wait until the trade deadline. They won 10 of 11 in January and all they needed to do was add an elite winger to pair with DeAaron Fox. What did they do instead? (BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!) THEY TRADED AWAY DEAARON FOX!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU SACRAMENTO!? You just traded the face of your franchise who is the greatest player you’ve had since Chris Webber in order to attempt the same experiment that the Bulls did yet all it got them was endless mediocrity. The duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan is back and just like Dallas, Kings fans want everyone in the entire organization chucked into an incinerator. And this team in particular is licking their chops at the opportunity given to them to revive their once mighty Empire…
San Antonio Spurs (A Slowly Awakening Empire): Well well well. Their record may not be impressive enough to be in contention for the playoffs but my gosh is the future bright in San Antonio once again. They’ve gotten out of the basement, and are very close to breaking through into playoff contention. Not this year considering that they’d need to go on a tear to get into the tournament but generally speaking in the long run. Victor Wembanyama is a treat to watch and I feel bad for anyone who has to guard him on a given night. Devin Vassell is another in a chorus of youngsters starting to emerge onto the scene. They may have issues regarding consistency but that’s expected for a young team even if Coach Pop is still on board. And even if he’s getting up there in age I don’t expect him to retire anytime soon. Why do you ask? Because OH DOCTOR! They just got themselves their franchise Point Guard for the next decade. DeAaron Fox is free from the three ring circus known as Sacramento and the pairing of him and Wemby should put the fear of god into every team that they face. Even if their season is likely to end early, at least the Empire has returned and with the amount of draft capital they’ve got this roster could be even stronger.
Utah Jazz (Progress Stalled): WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL!!! I thought that the Jazz would be hovering around 500 considering that they have pieces but lack an overall picture. Well this season has been a flat out disaster and now the rebuild has taken a drastic turn for the worse. A 5-32 record against the Western Conference, with five separate 5 plus game losing streaks and the worst perimeter defense in the league is not the sign of progress. (Plus their defense was supposed to be in the Top 10 during the preseason) And this is with them extending Lauri Markkanen in the offseason. (And if he didn’t sign that deal, he probably ends up in the Bay Area or OKC) Walker Kessler has had a down year, and Jordan Clarkson and John Collins to the surprise of no one are fighting injuries. However, that wasn’t bad enough. Utah had a chance to get good returns for Kessler and Clarkson, yet they did nothing. In fairness to Danny Ainge, a ton of those players have struggled this year, but now you wonder whether or not they have the right pieces to get out of the basement. They have nine 1st Round picks in the next three years. That is where all of their eggs will be devoted to. If they suffer the same fate that New Orleans did, well it’s going to be an ugly look for the organization. Well at least they now have hockey to look forward to if the Jazz are a mess.
Bragging Rights Sports 