Three Biggest Takeaways from the 2018 NBA Draft Night

by: Daniel Girolamo

Mavericks And Hawks Both Get Their Guys Via Trade

On the top of the Maverick’s board was Luka Donic. On the top of the Hawk’s board was Trae Young. It must have been their lucky night as both teams’ wishes came true.

The Mavs have had some luck with foreign players. Ever hear of Dirk Nowitzki? I heard he’s pretty good… Plus, Dirk will mentor Donic this year so it’s a dream scenario for Dallas. On the flip side, Trae Young will be given the keys to the offense for an Atlanta team that is undergoing a complete rebuild. Dennis Schroeder will most likely be traded so Young has a chance at starting right away. Can Young live up to expectations and become the next Steph Curry?

The Sixers Trade Hometown Hero Mikal Bridges In One Of The Most Cold-Blooded Moves In Draft History

“With the 10th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select Mikal Bridges, Villanova.” You could not have scripted this better. Bridges won a National Championship at Villanova. He’s dreamed of playing for the Sixers. His mother is the VP of HR with the Sixers. The local product gets to stay home and play in Philly. It was a true storybook ending.

Then, this happened.

I’m still speechless. You would think a team that just fired their GM for having burner accounts would want to get back in the good graces of the public. Wrong. Credit to Phoenix though because they acquired a talented player in Bridges who will make an impact right away.

Michael Porter Jr.’s Medical Report Was Worse Than Expected

Going into the start of the college basketball team, Michael Porter Jr. was at the top of most draft boards. Porter was not only a guaranteed lottery pick, but a lock for at least the top five, maybe even top three. However, a back injury caused Porter Jr. to miss the majority of the season. Despite returning at the end of the year, NBA teams had concerns over his health, and rightfully so. However, last night proved that those concerns were worse than we thought. Not only did Porter slide out of the top five, but the top ten as well until he was selected by the Denver Nuggets at 14. If healthy, Porter Jr. has superstar potential and will be the steal of the draft.

Now, we are officially moving on to The Decision, Part III this offseason. Stay tuned.

 

NCAA Still Misses the Mark with New Transfer Rule!

Let’s Not Get Too Excited About the NCAA’s New Transfer Rule

by: Kassandra Armstrong

Many are needlessly praising the NCAA for replacing the “permission-to-contact” rule, which required college athletes to obtain their current coaches’ permission prior to contacting another institution, with the “notification-of-transfer” rule.  Set to become effective this October, the “notification-of-transfer” rule has relinquished the unfettered power coaches had over the academic and athletic future of athletes seeking a transfer as athletes are no longer required to seek permission and are only required to notify their coach of their desire to transfer.  Within two business days following notification, the athlete’s name will be entered into a national transfer database whereby any coach can contact the athlete.

While many are praising the NCAA for passing a rule that benefits the athletes, those accolades are unwarranted as it is unlikely that the rule will provide an equally significant benefit to all athletes because of its failure to address the issue of immediate eligibility upon transfer.  Athletes in major revenue-producing sports still are unable to transfer with immediate eligibility and are required to sit out for a year upon transferring.  This requirement is detrimental to the athletes’ athletic future.  For the “notification-of-transfer” rule to truly be effective, it must be accompanied by an equitable rule allowing all college athletes to be eligible immediately upon transferring.

Some suggest that athletes with a certain grade point average be allowed to transfer with immediate eligibility.  If such a rule is created, perhaps the rule could take the form of a balancing test that considers other factors, such as the athlete’s involvement in co-curricular activities in addition to grade point average.  Implementing a rule that considers the athlete’s collegiate experience as a whole, instead of a one-size-fits-all grade point average requirement is a more equitable way to determine who should have immediate eligibility as each athlete has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses.  While the NCAA took a small step in the right direction with the “notification-of-transfer” rule, it does not warrant any praise because the rule falls short of truly ensuring equitable transferability for all athletes.

 

Boston Or LA: Who will win the Kawhi Leonard Sweepstakes?

 

By Dan Girolamo

The NBA’s most famous rivalry on the court will now battle off the court for the prize that is Kawhi Leonard. According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, Leonard wants to be traded out of San Antonio. The tension stems from how the organization handled Leonard’s quadriceps injury this past year and from the looks of it, the relationship cannot be fixed.

The Spurs are a model of consistency, having been to the playoffs every year since 1997 and winning five championships during that time frame. The Spurs also have arguably the best coaching and GM tandem in the NBA with Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford. Seeing turmoil between a player and management in the Spurs organization is like seeing Bigfoot. It’s unheard of and rare.

If the relationship cannot be mended between Leonard and the Spurs, every NBA team will pick up their phones and try to acquire the 26-year-old. When healthy, Leonard is a top five player as well as the best two-way player in the NBA today. Leonard is a two-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year who was the 2013-14 NBA Finals MVP. Superstars don’t grow on trees so if a team has a chance to sign or trade for one, they should do whatever it takes to make that happen.

That being said, San Antonio is not going to trade an All-NBA talent for a few scrubs and a bag of peanuts. The Spurs are going to command a combination of young, proven talent as well as draft picks in order to even discuss a trade for Leonard. In turn, Leonard can become a free agent after 2019 if he does not sign the supermax with the Spurs this summer. If a team does trade for Leonard, they will have to receive a verbal commitment from Leonard saying that he will resign with the team in order to make the deal.

Young talent, draft picks, and a place that Kawhi wants to go. What teams check all of those boxes? There are two, Boston and LA.

On paper, the Celtics and the Lakers have the necessary assets to make a deal for Leonard. Let’s start with the Celtics. Boston has taken young talent and developed them into potential superstars. The “kids,” lead by Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, and Terry Rozier, brought the Celtics to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Boston also has a plethora of draft picks, including multiple first round picks for 2019. Tatum is most likely untouchable, but a trade centered around Brown and Rozier with draft picks may be the best deal any team has to offer.

On the other coast lies the upstart Los Angles Lakers, who will be major players in free agency this summer. The Lakers have room for two max contracts and have already shown interest in signing Paul George and the King himself, Lebron James. If the Lakers land both George and James, trading for Leonard is still a high possibility especially if Leonard prefers the Lakers as his top team. The Lakers can package a deal around Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, but they may have to bring in another team to make the deal that much sweeter.

When the smoke clears, I believe Kawhi Leonard will be on the Boston Celtics come opening night next season. The Celtics have the emerging talent and the draft picks to make a trade. Plus, trading Leonard to the Celtics, as opposed to the Lakers, keeps him out of the Western Conference. With Kawhi Leonard, the Boston Celtics would officially become the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

Let the offseason madness begin.

 

#245 Jalen Hurts, Browns 2QBs, Cavs, Tiger Woods Changed:Rebranded

Alabama has a QB controversy on its hands. Jalen Hurts was a two year starter with a National Championship, but he may have lost his job in 30 min of play to Tua Tagoviloa
Cleveland Browns are considering taking two QBs with the #1 and #4 draft pick.
Cleveland Cavs won Game 2 of their series vs the Pacers, but are still in big trouble.
Is Tiger Woods a changed man or just rebranded?

#244 Don’t #BoycottStarbucks, Jackie Robinson Vs Kaep, Cavs In Trouble!

After two Black men were arrested on suspicion of trespassing at a Starbucks in Pennsylvania many have been calling for a boycott of Starbucks.

How will Kaepernick be remembered in history comparison to Muhammad Ali, and Jackie Robinson?

After a Game 1 loss to the Pacers, the Cavs are in deep trouble!

#242 #Zuckerburg Testimony, Chief Wahoo, McGwire, Mayweather UFC, Marlins

Facebook- Mark Zuckerburg testifies in front of Congress.

Mark McGwire says he would have hit 70 home runs without PEDs. Do you believe him?

Floyd Mayweather will beat McGregor in the Octagon.

Indians logo Chief Wahoo has to be changed. How about Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish?

Miami Marlins are from the British Virgin Islands, not Miami.

Chief Wahoo Protest, Masters, Reed, Tiger, Warriors Don’t Want OKC

Should Cleveland Indians change their mascot and name? Native Americans protest Cleveland Indians mascot Chief Wahoo and the fans walking into the game mock them and flip them off.

Real Reason People Only Watch Golf When Tiger is Playing! Patrick Reed wins Masters

The Warriors need to be praying they don’t get the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
A first-round series against OKC without Steph would be a bigger test for the Warriors than healthy Steph vs Rockets.

#240 Donte DiVincenzo Tweets, Can White People Use The N- Word, Laura Ingraham, Stephon Clark

Donte DiVincenzo was the star of Villanova’s dominating 79-62 win over Michigan in the NCAA Championship. His tweets from 2011 came into question when he had multiple tweets using the N word on his account. Is this fair or foul?
Laura Ingraham is conveniently on vacation as advertisers start pulling out of her show.
Why are people more upset about her mocking David Hogg than LeBron James/Durant shut up and dribble comments?
How do Black men continuously get gunned down because police fear for their lives but white murderers continuously taken away without incident?

#239 Interview With Onterrio Smith

Interview with former NFL running back Onterrio Smith. He was a member of the Minnesota Vikings and played college football for the Tennessee Vols and Oregon Ducks.
We talk about his rise from the mean streets of Sacramento to NFL glory and the tough path staying there.
Ask anything, not just about sports and it will be answered on the Thursday Mail bag: Anonymity guaranteed. Send in emails to UNAFRAID ANONYMOUS EMAIL: unafraidshow@gmail.com