Breaking Down the Harden Deal

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How do you wrap your head around this recent James Harden trade?  This epically large trade was as follows: Nets get: James Harden from Rockets, 2024 second-round pick from Cavs Rockets get: Caris Levert, Rodions Kurucs, three first-round picks (2022, 2024, and 2026) from Nets, and four options to swap first round-pick with the Nets; Dante Exum and 2022 first-round pick (Milwaukee’s) from Cavaliers Cavaliers get: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince, and rights to Aleksandar Vezenkov from … [Read more...] about Breaking Down the Harden Deal

The Webber/Nelson Feud Revisited

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James Harden’s recent unhappiness in Houston is likely taking them to the point where they will have to trade their megastar under duress.  This isn’t the first time a big star has held a franchise hostage and forced a trade that would likely get a below market return.  The situation gives me a little déjà vu regarding Chris Webber’s departure from Golden State.  The situations were materially different (Webber was much younger and was coming off of his rookie year) but the broad … [Read more...] about The Webber/Nelson Feud Revisited

LaMelo and Bad Rookie Debuts

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One of the happenings from the first week of the NBA season was the execrable debut of LaMelo Ball (0-5 from the field and no points).  The NBA web is in a tizzy about Ball noting that he “looked lost” and, ergo, he is possibly a pending bust.  That sounds pretty rash but Ball’s goose egg did get me wondering about rookie debuts.  Was LaMelo’s performance the worst debut of a top 3 lottery pick?  How often do top picks have scoreless debuts?  What, if anything, can we … [Read more...] about LaMelo and Bad Rookie Debuts

NBA Preview 2020-21: A Quick Review

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Well, that was fast!  Part of me is not ready for more basketball but, let’s be honest, having no break from watching NBA games is preferable to watching reruns and various other available entertainment fare.  The NBA looks mostly similar to the league we were left with a few months ago.  Since the new season is upon on so quickly, we are going to do some abbreviated previews/predictions.  Eastern Conference 1. Milwaukee Bucks 2. Miami Heat 3. Philadelphia … [Read more...] about NBA Preview 2020-21: A Quick Review

Q&A With Pete Croatto on From Hang Time to Prime Time, David Stern, the Wild 1980s, and More

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On December 1, 2020, Pete Croatto released, “From Hang Time to Prime Time: Business, Entertainment, and the Birth of the Modern-Day NBA.”   The book is a fascinating behind the scene looks about how the NBA went from a business teetering on the brink of bankruptcy in 1970s to a billion-dollar industry that dominates entertainment.  Pete dug deep into the ascendancy and spoke with scores of players, coaches, executives, and people who happened to be around to witness the stages of … [Read more...] about Q&A With Pete Croatto on From Hang Time to Prime Time, David Stern, the Wild 1980s, and More

Swapping Toxic Contracts: Russ for Wall

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Three years ago, trading John Wall for Russell Westbrook would be a fantastically interesting challenge trade.  Now it feels like….well not quite so fantastic but still a challenge trade of a sort.  Let’s break it down by bullet points: -Their contracts are virtually the same (three years and $133 million left).  Both players have $47+ million player options in 2022-23.  We have a hunch they will both exercise those options.  We have a further hunch that they may have … [Read more...] about Swapping Toxic Contracts: Russ for Wall

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