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Unpopular Opinions: Draft Day 2017

What in the World Should the Lakers Do With Their #2 Overall Pick?

6/20/2017

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The world has been abuzz with the Lakers’ #2 draft pick seemingly since before they even had it. "Trade it for Butler! Trade it for Paul George! Anthony Davis! The entire ‘86 Celtics roster reincarnated in their primes!"

The fact of the matter is that LA is in no position whatsoever to win right away. Their best players, their starting lineup, is quite literally comprised of prospects: D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle.

[edit: this was written before the breaking news (6:30 P.M on Tuesday, June 20) that D’Angelo has been traded to Brooklyn! Full trade grades coming soon.
NOTE: Keep in mind that Magic and the LA front office went against my advice here of “sticking with what you got” by dealing away D’Angelo!]

They won a measly 26 games last year (explaining why they have the number two overall pick for the second straight year). So here’s some advice: stick with what you got. Their prospects will blossom into something beautiful soon enough, especially once you throw in that #2 pick this year, but they’re not going to win now. Enough with these rumors about shipping a package including the pick for a star such as George. Why do they need one extra year with him that won’t even be successful, given the type of roster -- rife with potential -- that they have? Instead, draft Lonzo Ball, and use that talented young corps to enjoy another season in the name of progress that will quite very possibly lure Paul George (and others too! ...which is kind of important) to Hollywood. Everybody wins, except the Pacers.

​Don’t throw away something that will be as good as Paul George (the #2 pick) just for one year of him; on the flip side, if you’re Indiana, you’ve got to be doing everything in your power to try to flip PG13 for Lonzo, considering that you’ll get nothing for the former if/once he walks next summer.

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...did I just say to draft Lonzo Ball?!
 
Look, I get that it’s easy to hate the Ball family. Lavar is undoubtedly insane, talking about how his son will have “a Magic Johnson-like impact” for LA and is indeed the second coming of Christ, absolutely confirmed (kidding... slightly). Papa Ball is annoying, it’s true, potentially a major distraction, and Lord only knows how long it’ll take before he realizes that he just needs to stop talking. But none of that is poor Lonzo’s fault, who will probably be more focused and committed than ever should his dream come true of leading the Lakeshow’s offense. And he’ll be damn good at it too, with a lethal combo of unmatched leaping ability that allowed him to be one college basketball’s best finishers around the rim, paired with a very unconventional three-point shot that still goes in a very impressive 41.2% of the time. As well, Lonzo’s impeccable court vision and passing ability will make him uniquely suited to run the LA offense and the plethora of offensive talent around him for years to come. And now, after the D’Angelo Russell trade, Lonzo is more suited to fit into this roster than ever; indeed far more so than the questionable jump-shots that De’Aaron Fox and Josh Jackson have to offer. Don’t think that team president Magic Johnson (yup) should make a franchise-altering mistake by passing on Ball just because the kid has an annoying dad.
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Did PG13 Seriously Just Say That He Wants To Leave Indy?!

6/20/2017

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Speaking of which, nobody has seemed to ask the obvious question regarding Paul George’s recent and stunning announcement that he intends to leave the Pacers -- the only team he has ever known -- sign with the Lakers once he his a free agent next summer. Therefore, no, the “obvious question” is not: “How many random bench players and second-rounders could the Warriors or Cavs scrap together to complete their All-Star teams?”. No, it has nothing to do with the now-ceaseless and mostly-hot-air trade rumors regarding PG13.

Rather, the “obvious question” is: “Why the hell did Paul George announce that??!!!!!”

Think about every major superstar-changing-teams scenario: in both The Decision Part 1 and Part 2, LeBron was extremely careful not to say anything to the press nor give any indication whatsoever about where he was going. This past summer, KD did the same with his shocking move to Golden State. So why do they do that? Simple: focus. How can you possibly say that you are fully committed with a laser-like focus to doing absolutely everything you can to help your team win this season, when you say that you would rather be wearing a different uniform, and are counting down the days until you can bolt from your team? It’s immature and unprofessional in every way. Paul George’s Lakers announcement is disrespectful to the entire Indiana Pacers organization, which doesn’t even command that much respect.

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76ers Trade #3 Pick, TWO 1st-rounders (LA 2018 U.P, SAC 2019 P.) for Celtics' #1

6/20/2017

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Philly did the right thing here: they have too many extra draft picks for their own good over the next few years, and with this trade finally puts them to good use, albeit at a rather steep price (two first-rounders to move up two slots is a lot, no matter how you slice it). The lackluster outside shooting ability of Josh Jackson and/or De’Aaron Fox -- the two best players available at #3 assuming Fultz-Ball go 1-2 -- was not going to fit well for the City of Brotherly Love. The 76ers finished last in offensive efficiency last season, and desperately need a scoring punch, a playmaker… someone who can take charge of the offense. Enter the all-talented and flawless Markelle Fultz, who fits perfectly into this role, seamlessly usurping Sergio Rodriguez/TJ McConnell as the starting point guard to spearhead an offense featuring some combination of Simmons, Embiid, Okafor, Covington, Saric, and Stauskas. After several years where the only faith in Philadelphia was that of dogma, The Process will soon officially become trustworthy.

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I'm torn about this trade from Boston's perspective. On the one hand, they seemingly have more guards than first-round picks over the next few years, and drafting Fultz (or Ball) at #1 would've just made an overcrowded backcourt situation become a fire hazard for exceeding capacity. As well, Josh Jackson -- whom they plan to take at #3 I believe -- can compete for minutes at the small forward spot right from the get-go on this Celtics squad, and whose athleticism, motor, defense, and slashing ability will prove invaluable. Furthermore, getting TWO future first-rounders for trading back to grab a guy (Jackson) that already fits better on your team than the guy that you'd take at #1 (Fultz) just seems to make all the sense in the world.

So what is my hesitation with this trade exactly then? Well Josh Jackson's outside jumper is, at least at the moment, highly questionable (albeit not unfixable by any means) and Boston ranked ninth in offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions) last season. For this reason, it pains me to see the Celtics actively trading away from a playmaking and scoring punch that either Fultz or Ball could provide for them. Furthermore, the ideal way, to me, that Danny Ainge could have used this pick is to ship it to Chicago in a Jimmy Butler trade. After all, they either beat Cleveland or they don't, and for that they're going to at least need another star on offense -- and go-to guy to guard LeBron -- to pair with Isaiah Thomas (and Al Horford). Whereas this continued stockpiling of first-rounders -- even though Philly really had nothing else to offer -- worries me should Ainge not be able to make a deal and have to draft more prospects with them all. That's not going to get them over the hump in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Should Chicago Trade Jimmy Butler?

6/20/2017

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Jimmy Butler is a legitimate superstar, and there’s no doubt about it: he averaged 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on efficient 45.5/36.7/86.5 shooting splits in 2016-17; furthermore, he still has two more guaranteed years remaining on his contract. But for some reason or another, the Bulls have (at the very least) entertained trade inquiries and rumors from numerous teams -- Celtics, Suns, Timberwolves, Lakers, Cavaliers -- regarding the wing stud. And yes, of course, the possibility of Butler joining the Cavs to make an eight-superstar NBA Finals next season is exciting and fascinating to consider, as is the Marquette product joining forces in Boston to potentially dethrone LeBron in the East. But far too many people are so caught up in their own excitement about the infinite possibilities and the sway that a superstar’s sway poses that they forget that every trade requires two (at least) teams to ultimately pull the trigger. Tell me, Boston: why should Chicago accept a few random first-rounders over the next couple years for Butler? Tell me, Cleveland: why should Chicago take J.R Smith and a few bench players and second that you can string together for the 27-year-old superstar? Can you really look me in the eye and tell me that this trade genuinely benefits the Bulls?
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Of course not. Why exactly is Chicago management (allegedly) in such a rush to feed into this Butler-frenzy anyways? Do they really think that Bobby Portis and Cameron Payne will be MJ-Pippen reincarnated once the team hits the reset button with a Butler deal? Or is it Michael Carter-Williams who is supposed to carry the “next generation” into the limelight?

Please. Far more likely than not, as much as GM Gar Forman and co have tried to restock the youngster corps, there’s not one prospect on this Bulls team that will ever be as good as Jimmy Butler is right now. And with Dwyane Wade still having at least one more good year in him, as well as several other talented pieces up and down this roster, why not make a run at a Paul Millsap in free agency this offseason and see if you can put together a playoff run? Even the current injury-ravaged roster nearly knocked off the #1 seeded Celtics in the postseason, so why not just try to win now? Since when was that such a radical idea anyways?
    Chicago doesn’t have to keep Butler. They could just fall apart this upcoming season anyways -- especially if they fail to land a marquee free agent -- if they do so. But all I’m saying is to relax a little on the trade frenzy and start looking at the situation realistically: there’s no way that the Bulls should part ways with a superstar if they are not at least getting a future superstar in return, especially given the fact that Butler has finally made up his mind and is now committed to staying in the Windy City past the (already!) two guaranteed seasons remaining on his deal. You have all the leverage here, Mr. Forman. Wait for an offer that you can’t refuse, or else don't accept any at all, because you can demand one.
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