End of Summer (League)

Quick thoughts on the Las Vegas summer league games:

No surprise that John Wall thrived in this setting.  In the Big Show, I think he'll have some trouble scoring for a while, but he'll be plenty of trouble for veteran guards to keep up with.  Therefore, his teammates should get plenty of good looks off of help.  Enter JaVale McGee, who looks like he could have a bright future indeed...

Smart move to crop the mop, Luke.

Are the Kings the next Thunder..?  Well, they don't exactly have Kevin Durant on board, but they're off to a good start with Evans and Cousins.  Now, where will that cap room go..?

And to the NorthWest, I can't help but feel that our buddy Luke Babbitt will be little more than a specialist for the Blazers, coming in to spread the floor and hit open shots.  I'm not down on this fact, mind you, as I believe there's a well-defined place for specialists of this kind on any team, but I hope Coach Nate will be able to find someone to fill up the minutes that got traded away with Martell Webster.  At least Luke cut his hair.

'Bout Time

Raising a glass to all Warriors fans, who should be toasting the occasion of the sale of their team.

Though I'm still a little dubious about one of the owners, I'm excited about the post-Cohan era.  I'd say it was generally acknowledged that Chris Cohan was one of the worst owners in sports.  Not a shocker, then, that the long-speculated frontrunner in the purchase of the Warriors, Larry Ellison, seems to have been denied for personal reasons..?  Only the Cohan clan. 

And now, hopefully, on to the business of clearing out the front office and handing Don Nelson his hat.  Obviously I have no idea who will replace Nelson as coach, but I hope Dwane Casey is at or near the top of the list.

And by the way, props for the new logo are in order as well.  If the Oakland side of the Bay Bridge, which the new design is based on, ever gets finished...

High on Caracter

Looks like the Lakers may have potentially pulled off one of the steals of the 2010 draft, pulling Derrick Caracter in the 2nd round, 58th overall.

I watched the Lakers-Pistons game as Caracter was having no trouble showing up 7th overall pick Greg Monroe just about every time down the floor.  Monroe looked a little lost on both ends, looked out of shape, and looked like the Warriors are proving me wrong by drafting Ekpe Udoh at number 6, when I argued for Monroe.

Of course, this is still Summer League, and anything can happen come regular season time.  But it's nice to know the Lakers may have pulled ANOTHER rabbit out of their hat...

Baby steps?

So, what has Portland been doing in the midst of all this NBA hoopla?  Staying on the cusp.

Yes, flipping Martell Webster for Luke Babbitt and Ryan Gomes was the right move.  Gives them two more solid role players for the price of one.  Yes, Phoenix and Utah are weaker.  For now.  But are you really competing, even in the West?  Are they biding their time until the Lakers current dynasty is done?  The newsflash should be that the Thunder have already leapfrogged them.  We'll need to see a big move, involving LA, most likely, to stay near the top of the West.

Lowered Ceilings

Last thought about the LeBron free agency saga:

If I were a fan in Cleveland, I'd still be sad, but I might be able to talk myself into understanding him leaving if he went for the big lights, big pressure, and big challenge in the Big Apple.  Or maybe even the almost-as-big city of Chicago, to play with the other young guns.

It'd be hard for me to understand, though, with him essentially just wanting to go play with his buddies.  Sure, he can try to talk us into the idea that this gives him the best chance of winning multiple titles, but it's also the easiest and most comfortable situation for him outside of Ohio.

Bolt for the biggest stage in the world, and I can forgive you.  You needed to prove something.  Something that you couldn't attain even by winning a championship in Cleveland.  The power and the allure of bringing a title to MSG would be unparalleled in the NBA.

In Miami, it will be more spectacle than anything else.

Risky

Gotta say, for all the criticism he might receive for making the "wrong" decision, respect must go to LeBron for sacrificing money, stats, status, individual legacy, etc.  For people to be mad at him after not taking the max money and the max ego-building offer would be just plain hypocritical.  We have to be fair to these guys.  It seems like a lose-lose for LeBron no matter what he decided tonight, in some way.  I say good luck, and can't wait to see them play.

Another thing people aren't giving him credit for in this situation is the risk factor... If he stays in Cleveland and doesn't win a championship, it would be disappointing, but they would applaud his effort and thank him for the time.  If he signs with the Bulls, Knicks, Nets, or anyone else and doesn't win a championship, it would be a big letdown and fans would be confused and a little bit angry, thinking they overestimated him.  If he doesn't win in Miami, it will be nothing less than flat-out failure, and that would be his legacy.  The two MVP awards would always be questioned, all the accolades would be second-guessed, and he would be branded the biggest flop in the history of the game.  I truly believe that this decision has that level of implications.

That being said, I'm positive that they'll put on one hell of a show.  When does the season start..?

And of course...

Can this be read any way but one..?

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/lebron-james-plans-weekend-party-in-south-beach-201087

Mario Chalmers is jumping out of his chair right now.

Just the Booze talking..?

Carlos Boozer's pitch to LeBron:  Join the Bulls, and we have the best starting five in the NBA:

•Derrick Rose
•LeBron James
•Luol Deng
•Carlos Boozer
•Joakim Noah

Hard to argue.

The Trifecta

I've been thinking about starting up yet another sports blog for a while now, but I finally felt compelled to during this, the most purposely public free agent period in the history of the NBA, and for one reason in particular:  With the way the signings of D-Wade, Bosh, and soon-to-be LeBron are shaking out, I feel like everyone that's predicting what would happen if Miami lands the big three has gotten it wrong.

I know as well as the next blogger how good of a passer LeBron is, and how good of a finisher D-Wade is.  I can't assume, though, that LeBron would be content to play second-banana as a sort of ultra-Pippen to Wade's Jordan, as suggested by just about everything I've heard or read.   I would venture to guess, though, that Wade would be willing to defer to LeBron in a similar fashion.  I think Wade gets it.  I think he knows what's happening here, and what he could be getting himself into.  I think he realizes that the LeBron machine is bigger, and needs more fuel to run, and he's ok with that.  Most of all, I think he's secure with the knowledge that he truly would be the better finisher on that team, and would be called upon whenever necessary to shoulder the load. 

Just let the two-time league MVP do his thing.  Let him get in the flashy dunks, let him make the no-look pass to Bosh, let him toss the chalk into the humid Miami air to make the fans happy, then, when your team's down two with 15 seconds to go in game 5, be ready to put the ball in the basket.  I think Wade can do that. 

Of course, we still don't know where LeBron will land, do we.  The move nobody is talking about, and therefore may be the most likely, would be the Nets.  The winning move is surely the Bulls, who are instant East contenders with LeBron.  The most fun move, whatever that may count for, is undoubtedly Miami. 

The ballsiest, most correct move, though, would be the Knicks.  C'mon... LeBron/Amar'e vs. Wade/Bosh for the next four years?  Best subplot I can think of.  And even though he's no Steve Nash, LeBron could conceivably free up Amar'e and deliver him the ball well enough to make that thing work.  For me, this is the dream scenario.