Summer Musings

Welcome to Indian summer. As the temperature climbs back up into the 80s, the Tribe’s win total climbs into the 90s. They’re heading west with an off day on Monday, though, so it’s a good time to reflect on the bizarre summer we just witnessed.

Reality Based

First up, Kyrie Irving’s strange appearance on ESPN’s First take, yesterday…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRrY9ZwLpag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBexUqUlOj8

Irving mused on his his time in Cleveland his reasons for leaving, but mostly spent his time talking a lot without saying anything. Athletes are certainly a confident lot, but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player with his head so far up his own behind. Kyrie spent a lot of time talking about being a “reality based,” making a decision “as a man,” “being a true point guard,” “perfecting his craft,”  “wanting to be happy,” dodging questions about his relationship with LeBron, the Cavaliers, and his teammates. He clearly bristled at Max Kellerman’s opinion of his defense, and had very little respect for Kellerman’s basketball insight. Irving mostly just came off as a tool. It took a lot to come off as a bigger self-absorbed blowhard than Stephen A. Smith. Irving’s appearance begged the question, “why did he go on the show in the first place?”

It will be interesting to see if Irving can “be a true point guard,” and learn to play in pick-and-roll sets and “read the defense.” As we’ve broken down here, numerous times, Irving can be maddening in the P/R and spent a good portion of his career crossing up his roll man. He never developed much chemistry with Kevin Love either, so it begs the question as to whether he can coexist with a pick-and-pop guy like Al Horford. I know Brad Stevens is a solid coach, and I pined for him to come coach the Cavs before Cleveland embarked on the Mike Brown 2.0 era, but people are underestimating the potential for disaster in Boston.

Boston has lost it’s two best defenders in Crowder and Bradley and arguably its three best players. Marcus Smart has lost a lot of weight this offseason, so maybe he’ll round into shape (he is still just 23), or maybe he’ll keep flopping like dope. We all know rookies aren’t good, and as much as Jaylen Brown impressed at times last year, he’s still a 20-year old, and Tatum is even younger. Further, as bad as Boston was on the boards last year, they’re going to be even worse this year with Marcus Morris’ anemic rebounding (less than five a game), and Irving and Horford who are bad rebounders for their position. Yes, they have Gordon Hayward, who’s very good, but it seems to me that this Celtics team is built to be meh this year, and then really round into form in a year or two. I wonder if Irving will be able to deal with the pressure if they fail to impress. We know how meek and patient Boston sports fans are. Judging from his behavior this summer, it’s just going to get weirder.

Watching this interview, and Kyrie’s career on and off the court in Cleveland over the last seven years, though, I can unequivocally say: Kyrie Irving is the last guy I’d want leading any group of people. He’s a brooding, self absorbed narcissist who can’t seem to deal with criticism. It’s not going to end well. Oh well, maybe if the basketball thing doesn’t work out he can run for president. The Cavs’ chemistry on and off the court will be better with Irving gone.

The G-League Rises

It was an eventful off-season from many other perspectives too. I’m sure we’re all thrilled about the early start, and the end of four-games-in-five-nights. Further, the lack of back-to-backs on national TV games should also be a boon. Still, as many have noted, with Silver on the warpath about resting healthy players, it’s just going to give teams incentive to make up injuries or exaggerate minor ones.

Another fascinating development are the two-way contracts. They’re being used and teams are pushing their rosters out to the maximum number of players. One thing that we’re actually going to see is a true minor league that develops players. Take the Cavs. John Holland got their first two-way deal, and with the Cavs roster at near 20 going into training camp, expect Kay Felder, Walter Tavares, and the rest of the camp invites to be competing with Holland for those two way deals. What’s fun though, is that between those two spots, Cedi Osman, and Ante Zizic the Cavs can send four guys down to the G-League to play together in Canton and get some real run with actual Association teammates. It should be a fun watch. Lets hope the competition picks up and that we get to see guys actually develop out of the G-League instead of just being a league of scrubs that get called up when teams want to tank at the end of the season.

Contract Sanity/Insanity

Speaking of rosters, it’s fascinating to me who the winners and losers of 2017 free agency are. Players clearly in the losers bracket: big men. After the 2015 and 2016 off-seasons saw teams give insane deals to players (I’m looking at you, Mitch Kupchak), the money dried up, and teams clearly didn’t want to spend money on bigs. After Bismack Biyambo (four years $72 million), Ian Mahinmi (four/$64), Timofey Mozgov (four/$64), Joakim Noah(four/$72), Ryan Anderson (four/$80), Tristan Thompson (five/$82), Dwight Howard (three/$74), and Al Horford (an insane four/$113) NBA GMs finally wised up (or just ran out of cap room). I read this hilarious quote from February about Aaron Baynes.

He currently makes $6.5 million annually, and is expected to fetch more than double that in a rising salary cap.

Well, Baynes opted out, and took a $1.9 million dollar pay cut to thug it up for Boston this year. Nerlens Noel chose to take his qualifying offer from Dallas for $4.1 million after reportedly turning down a four year, $70 million dollar offer. With his injury history that’s freaking insane.

Tyler Zeller took a two year minimum deal with the Nets with his second year non-guaranteed after the Celtics waived him. He’ll have to compete with Mozgov and Nets first round pick Jarrett Allen. The Nets have all the centers.

Anyway, centers have gone from being massively overpaid to massively underpaid in some circumstances. Nikola Jokic, possibly the best center in the league is under contract for $3.1 million dollars (total) over the next two years. Fortunately, the Nuggets just signed Mason Plumlee to a three/$41 deal. Cause any time you’re bidding against yourself and you can give a guy $14 mil a year to be a backup big, you have to do it. (Remember, this team gave Milsap a two/$60 deal!)

Plumlee lucked out. A guy who didn’t luck out? Shabazz Muhammad. Muhammad turned down a contract extension last fall that I’m betting would’ve paid him at least four/$40. This summer he got his cap hold waived and then re-signed for the minimum. He, at least, has a no-trade clause and a trade kicker, but I’m sure he feels like I do after I’m up at a blackjack table and don’t walk away.

Why Aren’t They in the League?

Another big man who felt the pinch? Boris Diaw who at 35 returned to France after getting no free agent love. The dude had solid playoff numbers for the Jazz, averaging 5.7 points with 50/43/90 shooting splits in 11 playoff games. I hear the pastry is delicious in France, though.

There’s been some buzz lately on Anthony Randolph who’s been out of the league for the last two seasons. Randolph was one of the top players on Slovenia’s unexpected Eurobasket championship team, along with Goran Dragic and possible 2018 No. 1 draft pick LeBron Luka Doncic. Slovenia naturalized Randolph after he agreed to play for their national team (a nice gig if you can get it, I guess). There’ve been a couple articles on Randolph, like this one by SB Nation’s Kristian Winfield.

He’s tall and long enough to defend the rim, quick enough to switch on screens and with his newly added perimeter shot, he’s dangerous enough not to be left unchecked beyond the arc.

Color me skeptical. The dude never shot over 25% from three in the association and was always a tweener. Maybe he can come back and play but aside from a good rookie year, he always just looked like another guy out there to me.

Best and most comical offseason news? Stephon Marbury (statue above), at 40, is considering an NBA comeback, and believes he’s a hall of famer. He told SI Now that

My numbers are Hall of Fame. That’s what it comes down to and what you’ve done. My mark on basketball globally is beyond – it’s never been done before. Something that’s never been done before obviously, you have to show homage to that.

Never change, Stephon.

Facelift

The Q facelift construction is underway. I have mixed emotions about this. While I’m glad that the Cavs are extending their lease for another seven years, and that the Q is getting upgraded, there ought to be a constitutional amendment banning public financing of pro sports stadiums. It’s nothing more than welfare for the rich.

LeSaga

Irrelevant for the last several years, reporter Peter Vecsey posted Saturday in some paywall publication called Patreon that LeBron is “unequivocally” leaving the Cavs to join the Lakers next summer. Top that off with the TMZ scoop that LeBron was working out in an LA high school while his wife, Savannah toured the school, supposedly to check it out for enrolling his kids. I’m taking EvilGenius’ word that while LeBron may leave next summer, it won’t be to the Lakers, and to me the Clips seem like an even bigger long shot. This is, of course, sandwiched between LeBron praising the hometown Indians and their record streak as well as commending Joe Thomas’ 10,000th snap via twitter.

The Vecsey thing is just sad. He’s clearly overhyping some rumor for attention. No one knows what LeBron’s going to do. Probably not even LeBron.

Doncic

Finally, Luka Doncic (along with his countrymen Anthony Randolph and Goran Dragic) had a great Eurocup run. Doncic looks like a very polished player coming into the draft next summer, and he could be the number one pick, but I doubt it. In looking at the highlights, you’ll see that the six-foot-seven inch Doncic has a good feel for the game, good, size for a guard, and competitive fire. But he seems too slow, too unsure of his handle, and not explosive enough to be a sure fire point guard in today’s NBA. Still, with Sergio Llul having torn his ACL, Doncic may be handed the keys to Real Madrid’s offense.

Doncic actually reminds me more of Joe Ingles than Jason Kidd. Not that Ingles is bad, but I’m not sure Doncic has the upside for a top five pick, especially with phenoms Michael Porter Jr., and Marvin Bagley on this side of the pond. A lot of folks said that Bagley would’ve gone number one this year, and after watching the highlights below, I’m not convinced Marvin Bagley isn’t the best prospect since LeBron. He looks like he’s from another planet. While it will be fun watching the Cavs this year. Be sure to keep an eye out for the guys the Cavs could draft after they win the lottery next summer.