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.

 

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.

 

Lonzo Ball and BBB might just be worth $1 Billion

I have the best idea to change the footwear industry and increase athlete endorsement dollars forever… and it was inspired by Lonzo Ball.  Currently, an NBA player signs a contract with one shoe company and exclusively represents that company through the life of the contract. This is the way things are and no one has dared to challenge that until LaVar Ball came around with Big Baller Brand.
I think we all assumed that Lonzo Ball would wear BBB shoes every game and that would be the end of the story. Not so fast, my friend. During the NBA Summer League, Lonzo wore his own BBB shoes, Nikes, UnderArmour, and Adidas. When he was questioned about wearing other brands besides his own Lonzo said, “At BBB, you can play in what you want.”
This got me thinking…
Imagine if Lonzo (and any other unsigned athlete) was an endorsement mercenary. An athlete beholden to no single company but available to all. What if Lonzo literally sold his feet to the highest bidder for all 82 games? If he plays well, the opportunities are endless. I’ve read that shoe companies are offering him in the neighborhood of $5M per season now. That breaks down to around $61,000 per game. I believe he could average more than that over the course of a season being a mercenary. Why wouldn’t a shoe company pay $50-75k per night to get additional eyeballs on its new shoe? Imagine what Lonzo could get for a primetime national TV game. Besides LeBron, no NBA player is talked about more and watched than Lonzo Ball. 
The Ball family is one of the top three most discussed topics in U.S. sports every week. The entire Ball family has become polarizing figures due to their outstanding play and their fathers’ showmanship. Approximately 70,000 people watched the youngest Ball play an AAU basketball game on Facebook Live. Some fans watch Lonzo and the Ball family to see them fail and some watch to see them succeed. Either way, eyeballs are glued to everything named Ball.
It’s time for athletes to break the mold. Think outside the box. It’s simple, sitting right at their fingertips and to my knowledge no one has mentioned this before I did here:
All commissions on my fantastic idea are expected. My email is on my Twitter Bio.
Ep #117 Lonzo Ball best shoe deal ever. Where do athletes pee? #Unafraid https://t.co/uUFCVyw1PI

— George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) July 20, 2017

All commissions on my fantastic idea are expected. My email is on my Twitter Bio.

OPEN LETTER TO KOBE BEAN BRYANT

*OPEN LETTER TO KOBE BEAN BRYANT was originally published on Wednesday April 13, 2016 but was updated February 24, 2020.

Wednesday April 13, 2016

Dear Kobe,

My 20 year relationship with you the basketball player is ending. You don’t know it, but we have been tight and linked together for quite some time now. We are like family. We have been through so many ups, downs, triumphs, and failures together. We have won a lot of games, made and missed shots together, and I have been loyal and committed to our bond even when we disagreed, or you did things I didn’t like. When naysayers and detractors come around, I give them the gospel. But, when you were wrong and should have done better I spoke about that too.

Our relationship didn’t really start out on the best note. We were not cool because you were the anti-MJ and a threat to his greatness and Michael Jordan was my hero. In my book, Jordan inspired me and could walk on water so there was no room for anyone else. Plus, you were just an unoriginal Jordan imitation who happened to play for the Lakers. Kind of like a cover band who couldn’t make their own hits. When the Bulls broke up after a 6th championship, it broke my 16 year old heart. The Bulls lost me forever. I needed a new favorite player and team. I searched for years. I tried Penny Hardaway and Grant Hill but the injury bug snuffed them out. I was searching for a player that inspired me and embodied all the things I want to be in life.

The Beginning

April 28, 2002, the day that changed my sports life forever. I was watching TV in my apartment at the University of Oregon, and stumbled upon Beyond The Glory: Kobe Bryant.It gave a three-dimensional view of you – one I had never seen before. I learned who you were and why you were that way. You were a kid who didn’t fit in with all the cool kids socially because you came from a different place. I could relate to that. That was my story. Your fire and desire to compete resonated in my soul. I too hate to lose much more than I like to win. Ever since that day I was all in with you. Over the next 16 years, you would inspire me in ways even Michael Jordan never did.

When I was playing in college or in the league, playing was my safe haven. No matter what was going on personally I could focus for those few hours on the field. I emulated you. Whether you got a high five or flipped off, it never changed you. You worked hard and were willing to sacrifice everything to be the best. Sometimes I have that, sometimes I don’t. But I want it all the time.

I have seen and read about you seeking knowledge from other highly successful people. Unbeknownst to you, you taught me how the principles of highly successful people translate to the field. The one thing I wish I had learned when I was still playing was how important the “process” is. You taught me that. Results are a byproduct of the process.

Today is a sad day, but I am happy for you. I’m proud of you and appreciative for all the greatness you have given me. I am sad because it’s over for us on the court. I’m happy for you because you are being recognized as the hero in this last year that all of us really want to be. I’m proud of you for falling from grace and picking up the pieces to inspire others. I’m appreciative for all the greatness you have given me on the court. Most of all, I thank you for everything that goes unnoticed. You gave ALL OF US more greatness off the court than on. I have had so many great debates and conversations with friends, at the barbershop, on inspired by you. Whether people like you or not, it was greatness. I can’t count the radio and TV shows that I have either watched or been a part of talking about Kobe. You may not realize it but friendships have been forged and people have gotten through tough times because of you.

I can’t tell you how many times I have had people at the house and the time is so much more festive because we were watching you play. To some people you are the villain, some the hero. Either way, we bonded because of you. Who is better, Kobe or LeBron? Is he better than Jordan? Kobe doesn’t make his teammates better. No one wants to play with Kobe. Or does everybody? Is he top 5 all- time? Kobe is the hardest working basketball player ever. He’s such a great player, but he’s a jerk. The list goes on…

Honestly, this season has been rough for me. I’d imagine it’s been pretty humbling and tenuous for you as well. It has been painful to watch. I feel bad for you. Your mind wants to do things your body will no longer allow. I have been through the feeling of your body betraying you as an athlete (mental frustrating). The season hasn’t been rough because my team sucks, but because I still had hope. I still hoped you had a couple more Tim Duncan type seasons left to compete for a championship. I wasn’t ready to let US go. It was so bad that I almost wanted you to leave the Lakers so you could get #6. The fact that your last year is going to end with 65 losses initially seemed criminal. Then I remembered all the praise, love, and appreciation the great fans of other teams have shown you. If you were on a title contending team you would not get the cheers and presents at road games would be nonexistent. All this is a fitting end for you. The ultimate HERO VILLAIN.

Ever since you announced you were retiring, I have been preparing for TODAY. I don’t know what you will do in your final game today, but I know like everything else it will be with all your might.

Thanks for the memories. Thanks for all giving me far more than basketball.

You are welcome,

George Fredrick Wrighster, III

Steve Nash Journey to ‘The Finish Line’ Episode 1

Every professional athlete wants to leave the game on their own terms, but reality is no one ever gets to do that! Most athletes retire because their body gives out due injury, or diminished skills. Even Hall of Famers get traded, or pushed out the door at the end of their careers. Try to name a player who retired wasn’t old and lost a step, could no longer play every night, or had a dispute with management. Either way, those are not your terms.

People do not see the work athletes go through to get back. But most importantly, they don’t understand the mental and emotional struggle athletes go through when the lights are being turned out on your career. There are not enough accolades, records, or recognition that can soften the pain of the loss of your love.

Steve Nash knows the window is closing on his Hall of Fame career. If you want a little insight into what is really going on watch Episode 1 of ‘The Finish Line’. Nash documents the struggle to get back on the court and see his career finish the way he wants it to.

Chris Bosh Flopping Application

I have been silent on my blog for a while now. I’m back. Inspiration has arrived in the form of Chris Bosh. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Laker fan. As a Laker fan I have seen some of the best “flops” of all-time. Vlade Divac, former Laker center and G.O.A.T., was a unanimous first ballot selection for the Flopping Hall of Fame and has recently opened a school specifically dedicated to the art of flopping. They recently started a very exclusive program, “Acting To Get A Whistle: Defense”. Here is my letter of recommendation for Chris Bosh.

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to take the opportunity to offer a formal recommendation for Chris Bosh. Recently, I learned of your “Acting To Get a Whistle: Defense” program and I am confident Chris has the tools to be an exceptional student. As you probably already know, he recently joined Dwyane Wade and LeBron James and took his talents to South Beach to form the “Big 3” in Miami. Although Chris is one of the best big men in the NBA he has not been met with the same celebration from fans as Wade and James. Admission to your ATGAWD program will give Chris the skills necessary to change his image as a soft player and be loved by his hometown fans. I was watching the Heat vs Bulls game last night and saw Chris Bosh flop. I immediately knew he had the raw talent and intangibles to be one of the flopping greats. He successfully pulled off the worst flop in NBA history. The work your program has done with some of the future Flopping Hall of Famers like Anderson Varejao, Paul Pierce, Manu Ginobili, Raja Bell, Andrei Kirilenko, and Derek Fisher has been nothing short of incredible. An education at your esteemed school will help him reach that level, while increasing his career opportunities. I highly recommend Chris Bosh for your program and thank you for your careful consideration of his application.