Spurs Steal Jefferson, Shaq Joins LeBron, Vince Is A Magic - And Yeah, The NBA Draft
Sure, everyone wants to know how the #1 pick of the 2009 NBA draft Blake Griffin will do playing for Frankie Muniz’s…er…Donald Sterling’s Clippers.
I have one advice for the Clippers: Get rid of Zach Randolph. Don’t let him near Blake. I’m warning you now.
Zach Randolph is a Lot of Things. A Good Role Model is Not One of Them.
I honestly can’t believe Ricky Rubio drops to #5 in the draft. How Sacramento goes with a combo guard in Tyreke Evans when they already have Kevin Martin is beyond me.
Sacramento could have had the most dynamic young backcourt in the NBA with Rubio and Martin. They blew it.
The Wolves Go European With Their Point Guard Choice
But one team’s loss is another team’s gain. The Minnesota Timberwolves pick up Ricky Rubio with the #5 pick. Rubio, Al Jefferson, and Kevin Love are a good young core to build a franchise around, both on and off the court.
Minnesota picks again at #6!
Holy crap, the Timberwolves just picked up another point guard with their 6th pick. It’s stud athlete and leader Jonny Flynn. You know how good Duane Martin in the movie Above the Rim was supposed to be? That’s how good Jonny Flynn was in Syracuse. But I’m confused.
And Now the Wolves Go American With Their Point Guard Choice.
Either Rubio or Flynn are getting traded, or the Wolves’ front office picks players like I do when I’m playing NBA Jam: Tournament Edition and decide to go with Nick Van Exel and Anthony Peeler in a two on two game against teams that feature players like Stockton and Malone. It doesn’t work.
Stephen Curry is a 6-3 guard that played Reggie Miller in college, going around numerous screens for just a little bit of daylight to knock down a three-ball. The basketball gods have rightfully chosen that he be drafted by the Golden State Warriors at #7.
If Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis Are On the Same Team, It's Time to Buy Warriors' Season Tickets.
Although there are talks of trading Curry since the supposed Warriors’ franchise player Monta Ellis is also 6′3, only Don Nelson is crazy-genius enough to play them both at the guard spots and run the entire NBA off the court. Do it Don, do it!
Despite all the draft talk, the biggest steal of the summer so far has been the Spurs trading for Richard Jefferson. Yes, that Richard Jefferson.
I Can't Believe How Little The Spurs Gave Up to Get Jefferson.
I still remember Gregg Popovich’s initial remarks when the Lakers traded Kwame Brown’s expiring contract, the promising young guard in Javaris Crittenton, and a first round draft pick (which ended up being the solid Marc Gasol) for Pau Gasol.
His exact words:
“What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension,” said Popovich. “There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I’d like to elect myself to that committee. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade.”
Gregg Popovich After The Lakers Trade For Pau Gasol.
Well, prepare to scratch yourself, Gregg. Because the pure gift the Milwaukee Bucks handed to you in star forward Richard Jefferson for absolutely nothing but the expiring contracts of senior citizens Kurt Thomas and Bruce Bowen and fill-in hustle forward Fabricio Oberto can only be explained by:
A) The Milwakee Bucks’ front office is incompetent if they can’t get at least 1 draft pick or promising young player to go along with expiring contracts for Richard freaking Jefferson. You don’t build for the future by just acquiring boatloads of cash. Just ask the Clippers how well that strategy works.
B) This was a buddy-buddy deal, ala Wolves’ General Manager Kevin McHale giving up Kevin Garnett to the Celtics in a “go win a championship for me” fashion. KG doesn’t get you a lottery pick or All-Star in return? What? Was McHale really that high on Al Jefferson?
Gregg Popovich After Spurs Trade For Richard Jefferson.
Since Minnesota has finally gotten the clue (a decade too late) that McHale has driven their franchise into the ground, they enacted Charter 7 of the Isiah Thomas Guidebook-the Wolves stripped McHale of his general manager title, made him coach the team he built for a year as a form of punishment, and fired him, severing all ties.
C) Gregg Popovich actually formed a trade committee and was appointed president. In his first order of business, he thought to himself “Hm…what do the Spurs need more than anything?” Oh yeah, a star small forward to compliment point guard Tony Parker, guard Manu Ginobili, and power forward Tim Duncan. I now motion and pass that I take Jefferson for expiring contracts. Meeting adjourned.”
This is Richard Jefferson on a fast break dunk for the Bucks. Just imagine if the other 3 players around him are Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan. Not fair.
If the Spurs remain healthy, they will be the team with the best chance of knocking out the defending champion Lakers out of the playoffs. You can’t mess with the fact that the Spurs have 4 legitimate All-Star talents. Scary, scary stuff. Thanks a lot, Milwaukee.
Vince Carter in Orlando is only big if the Magic also sign Hedo Turkoglu. If Hedo ends up taking a bigger contract to go to, say Detroit, the Magic are a wash from last year since they bring back the same team minus Courtney Lee and Hedo Turkoglu, but adding Vince Carter.
If the Magic sign Turkoglu as well, they turn into yet another new four-headed monster the Lakers will have to deal with.
The Magic Pick Up Vince Carter, But the Question Is Exactly How Much Are They Going to Lose?
Shaq being traded for the expiring contracts of Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic means the Cavs finally have someone to guard Dwight Howard in the playoffs. Or do they? Have you seen Shaq guard a pick-and-roll lately? There will be many, many open three-pointers for Orlando.
Shaq changed the identity of the Suns from a run-and-gun team to a confused team that didn’t make the playoffs. Now, the identity of the Cavs, which is to let LeBron James score and play great defense on the other end will be undermined.
If it becomes easier to score on the Cavs with pick-and-rolls and easier to defend them with hack-a-Shaq strategy, do you keep him on the floor?
The All-NBA Thick Team. Does Anyone Else Notice That LeBron Is Just As Thick As Shaq, Except All Muscle? That is ReDunkulous.
Putting your money on a by-then 38-year old Shaq as the difference maker for your team from last year is desperate and improbable to work, but if all it costs you is the player formerly known as Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavolvic, I would make the trade too if I was Danny Ferry.
So every legitimate contender is coming back stronger. The Celtics get Kevin Garnett back (hopefully 100% healthy, but probably with half a step lost since he had knee surgery on his 33-year old body) .
KG, Please Get Better So I Can See Some Of Those Insanely Passionate Looks You Make in the Playoffs. Thanks.
The Magic get Vince Carter to join Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and potentially Hedo Turkoglu.
The Cavs get Shaq for expiring contracts.
The Spurs get Richard Jefferson.
The Lakers? We’re just hoping to get our same team back by signing Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom.
The Contenders Are Once Again Chasing the Greatness Of Kobe and the Lakers.
I guess champions have the luxury of not changing until someone knocks them off the throne. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about the new and improved contenders. I already can’t wait for next season.
I’m going to go play some more NBA Jam to tide me over.
Scottie Pippen's On Fire! This Game Rules!
Jefferson might be in San Antonio, but how much does Tim Duncan have left?
Hahaha. This was a funny read man, especially the one with Popovich (Papa Bitch) and the senseless trades. Yeah, Shaq isn’t that great now. He’s slow and overrated. Can’t wait for the next season too!