I'm back from summer league with a full supply of insightful basketball observations that will change they way you read words and think thoughts. (And possibly breathe air, but I don't want to oversell.) It was totally worth maxing out the BustaBucket corporate account, regardless of what Sheed (or Matt) may think:
The rental car company did not give me a Nissan Sentra as requested. Instead I got the "or similar," caveat on my reservation. "Or similar" is rental car company speak for "crappy Chevy Cobalt that we don't want to tell you about because then you won't reserve a car with us." Don't worry GM, the best cars have been winning for a while.
I won $125 playing Blackjack. Everyone was impressed. I'm pretty sure next year I'll get my room and meals comped as I am clearly a high rolling casino whale.
I've had some fun suggesting that Luke Schenscher has a look suitable for Middle-Earth. After seeing him in person I know that the correct comparison is to the recently discovered Na'vi of Pandora. That was a hell of a thing the humans did to Hometree. I'm sorry Luke.
I liked the potential of JaVale McGee before summer league. My feelings regarding his ceiling as a player haven't changed but a couple events made me a fan of him as a human. First I saw him singing along to Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus, and not just the chorus. Second, seeing him buy fries and a hot dog at the concession stand was hilarious for some reason. (They serve plenty of booze at summer league, a lot of things were amusing to me.)
My Dad very nearly collided with the former Blazers All-Star currently serving as my twitter avatar. I wanted to let him know that he was my twitter avatar, but he gave me the "Oh God please don't try to talk to me" eyes. His loss, right guys!
While waiting for my departing flight I noticed a large man briskly walking out of a plane that had just boarded. It was Patrick Ewing and he was moving faster than anyone him move since 1992. He disappeared over by the food court. Five minutes later he was streaking back towards the plane holding two large bags of food. Several strangers discussed how shockingly fast Patrick Ewing can walk. Then my Dad won $240 on an airport slot machine. The lesson is simple: Patrick Ewing is fat.
Very soon I'll be in Las Vegas enjoying the 110 degree heat and low-quality basketball. I may post some things from there but my hope is that I'll be having too much fun to spend time battling my laptop and making more jokes for CHOBB to steal. I'm going with my Dad. It will be like Fear and Loathing except no drugs and less writing and we will be driving a Nissan Sentra instead of a Cadillac. Although to be fair the Nissan Sentra is the Cadillac of reasonably priced compact cars.
My one blog related goal may be to interact with Luke Schenscher. Maybe he'll give me his secrets to picking up the ladies.("The secret is to be Luke Schenscher," I hope he says.) Maybe we'll discuss LARPing. I assume he keeps that look because he's into LARPing. Maybe we hug a little. Maybe karaoke (please!). I think we all agree that we need more Schenscher. Schenscher, I'm looking for you. Schenscher.
The spirit of this contract is reminiscent of Portland's "toxic offer" (somewhere in Portland there is an emo band named "The Toxic Offer", there just has to be) to Jazz forward Paul Millsap in the summer of 2009. That contract reportedly totaled $32 million and was for four years, but was structured so that $6.3 million of that was due the day the contract becomes effective. Utah matched that offer.
This summer, just like last summer, Jazz fans can only wait and hope that their franchise can figure out a way to keep one of their favorite players from the Trailblazers. They aren't exactly happy or optimistic. Matthews, who went undrafted, had an impressive rookie season with the Jazz. He brings solid defense, the versatility to play at shooting guard or small forward, and a decent three-point shot. Mathews also offers some intangible benefits like a willingness to do the little things that don't show up on a stat sheet. Not to mention he has a smart, tough court presence. I'm a fan.
If you're wondering why every single NBA team passed on Matthews in the draft, think about how teams evaluate potential players. While he was good at a lot of things, he didn't seem excellent at any of them. The intangibles he brings are, um, not tangible and difficult to project to the NBA level. His athleticism is average by NBA standards. That he was twenty-two years old at the time only lowered his ceiling further. Teams like guys that have at least one definable thing that really stands out in a prospect. Sometimes that mindset misses guys like Matthews that can really help a team win.
Portland is offering a lot of money and years to Matthews. Compared to the market this summer, where Amir Johnson gets $34 million over five years, the Matthews' offer can seem at least comparatively reasonable. This summer of spending leads to a lot of conversations. I don't think that owners have gone crazy. I'm starting to believe the murmurs that the owners are confident that they will gain more control when the current CBA expires at the end of next season. It will be interesting to see that play out.
Photo, deliberately chosen to make you fall in love with Wesley Matthews: Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images.
When I arrived home yesterday afternoon there were three people sitting at the dining room table waiting to ask me a question. None of them were basketball fans.
"Why is everybody so mad at LeBron James?"
Just like that, LeBron had become such a mainstream villain that three people who watched a combined two basketball games last season were wanting to understand it. In trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for this I realized that maybe there isn't one.
After a lot of stuttering and bumbling around I finally landed: People hate LeBron because of the one hour special. It was annoying. He kept referring to himself in the third person, he had Vitamin Water all around him, and giving the ad revenue to charity seemed phony since this whole thing was clearly about promoting LeBron James. I get that. It's just not enough for me to hate the guy.
Some people are angry over the decision itself. They have that right, even if it doesn't make sense. In the end he took less money to pursue an opportunity where he would have the greatest chance of winning a championship. I won't hate him for that. I've heard some complain about LeBron stringing all these teams along for an unacceptable amount of time. In reality he was a free agent for two weeks. He made sure to hear all his suitors out before making his decision. He did not take too long. He did not string any teams along.
This process did change how I think about LeBron. I see a clear divergence between LeBron James Global Icon Billionaire Wanna Be and LeBron James the basketball player. Understanding the two explains LeBron's free agency reasonably well. Global Icon rubs people the wrong way. Thats when we see LeBron looking to milk every opportunity to promote his brand. Thats the part of LeBron that not only arranges "The Decision," but invites bottles of Vitamin Water to hang out on the set. In general when we come across people that are blatantly and rigorously self-promoting we find them annoying. Maybe Global Icon will realize this some day and turn it down to a more socially acceptable level. Maybe not.
But Global Icon would not have chose the Miami Heat. He would have went to the Knicks for the spotlight. Or he would have chose to stay in Cleveland, where he'd get max money and be the undisputed alpha star of the team. This is how we know that the decision (in contrast to "The Decision") was made by LeBron James the basketball player. LeBron, at his core, is a facilitator. He played unrelenting scorer in Cleveland because his team needed it. I believe he is at his most content on the court when he is distributing to his teammates. In Miami he will be able to do this more than anywhere else. Not too mention he gets to join a team that on paper is likely to be competing for championships for the next five years.
Its significant that LeBron chose to listen to his basketball player side to make the biggest decision of his career. As much as he talks about Global Icon, his decision is evidence of who he feels is more important. We now know who the "alpha" of his personality really is. I can't hate LeBron over how he handled his free agency. If anything, I like him more for it.
Ugh. Let us all hope that this does indeed come to a swift and merciful pre-scheduled ESPeNd. (This man has driven me to awful puns.) The way LeBron has handled the free agency process I can only assume that he wants everyone to hate him, a hate that he plans to use to fuel his continued improvement as a player. If that is the case (it isn't) then mission accomplished.
My goal is to go for as long as possible without hearing news of LeBron's decision. How long will I make it in the age of constant and instant communication? How much commitment would it take to not hear this news for a while? Will I defiantly throw my cell phone into a body of water? Will I choose to live in the wilderness a la Jeremiah Johnson? Perhaps.
I've been trying to come up with a better name for a links post than the excellent "Pick and Scroll" in use by our man CHOBB (pronounced like "GOB," ask him for details) over at Portland Roundball Society. In my impossible (?) quest I ended up using the name for a particularly disgusting dish that tore up my digestive system for a week. Tachos are a menace and they must be stopped. I also love eating them, but am finding that they are rare outside of Portland. Minneapolis, you of all people should be on board with this.
The three people who get the reference might smile a little. In a couple months nobody will understand it at all, but at least you will have a shirt to wear while working out, painting the house, or eating burritos. You can buy it on the cheap here. Thanks to Squirrelevant for setting that up.
Ben with a little context on Portland GM candidate Kiki Vandeweghe.
Dave tells us what to expect and look out for during summer league, yet I'm still somehow excited about the thing. I'll be in Las Vegas soaking up the Luke Schenscher. If you want to go see Fat Elvis contact me immediately.
Coup walks us through his and Martell Webster's time together. Also, on principle I would like to remind you that Rip City Project owes a debt to Bust a Bucket that has yet to be paid. The juice is running boys.
Timberwolves fans are trying to be optimistic. If you want to feel better about Portland's situation all you have to do is spend some time over at TWolves Blog. I've been checking them out a lot lately.
T-Mac (the famous BustaBucket commentor not the obscure basketball player) sent in the following e-mail. I figured I'd share without his permission:
Hey Seth, Ummm....who the hell is at the wheel right now? Paul Allen, the guy who oversaw the John Nash jailblazers era' that almost destroyed basketball in Oregon when he was one of those fun "hands-on" owners? Larry Miller, who worked for Nike for ten years and is thus qualified to make personnel decisions? You know that episode of "The Simpson's" where Bart gets a fake ID and rents a car, and he, Nelson and Millhouse go on a roadtrip to Knoxville, TN, to visit the "World's Fair"? At one point, Bart hops in the back seat and has a friendly conversation with Nelson, and Millhouse wonders, "Bart, if you're here, who's driving?" and Bart replies, "cruise control, my good man!" just as the car careens off the road and into a corn field? That's what the circus of a front office reminds me of, and when the management of my team reminds me of three fictional twelve year old kids stealing a car and crashing it, that's probably not a good sign.
Do you think Larry Miller gets really drunk and calls KP, saying things like, "Heeeeeey! So...listen, listen. Yes, I know what time it is, do YOU?! Shhhhh! Listen! So, I have a hypooooo-thetical for you. OK? Listen.
So, would you trade LaMarcus, Oden, and Batum, plus our 2011 #1, for....um, let's call them 'Bay Sallen' and 'Ryan Malibraineeeee?' cause it seems like a really good deal to me. Hello? HElloooooo?" Somehow that scenario makes me feel both better AND worse.
T--
When blogs publish people's questions the writer usually subsequently provides a thoughtful answer. Dave is a master of this. I'm lazier than Dave, not to mention less knowledgeable/smart/talented, etcetera. (Just so you don't think I'm kissing up, let me add that I would destroy him in a game of horse. JUST NAME A TIME AND PLACE DAVE. As long as I happen to be no more than 10 minutes away and am well rested and in shorts and have been working on my game for a month or so prior I WILL BE THERE.) I have no answer for T-Mac. I like his Simpson's reference. I think it's important to keep in mind how hard it is for a franchise to make personnel moves without a general manager. Adding a layer of unease to the vacant GM position is Paul Allen's record with his "hands on" decisions. This could be an especially frustrating summer for fans.
Enjoy your day.
(Here is where I got the photo. I wanted to go with a Teen Wolf picture but Bill Simmons ruined that forever for everyone. Also, T-Mac doesn't use that awful font in his e-mail. That was my doing.)
I want to start talking NBA free agency if only so I can stop thinking about Kevin Pritchard for a moment. As ESPN kindly reminds us every 5-10 minutes it is rare for this many quality players to be on the market at the same time. That means a whole lot of speculation on who is going where. Why don't we make a game of it?
I've included a list of seven big-time free agents and one wild card to be considered only in the event of a tie. Drop your predictions for these same players in the comments. The person who makes the most correct picks will get something to be determined later. (Do we have any BustaBucket t's left? Last I heard Matt was burying Sheed's corpse somewhere in the Eastern Washington desert so I don't think we can get an answer to that question. In any event, you will get something if you win. It will be a shirt at best and the internal satisfaction of a job well done at worst.)
LeBron James: Cleveland
It makes plenty of sense for LeBron to go to Chicago. The theory behind this pick is that LeBron is a loyal fellow who can't quite bring himself to crush the souls of his beloved Ohio people like that. Haven't they suffered enough?
Dwayne Wade: Miami
Nobody seems to think Wade will leave. Since he is apparently working to attract other free agents to the Heat I'm going to agree. It would be sort of fun (for non-Heat fans) if he shocked everyone and left.
Chris Bosh: Miami
Even though he apparently wants to be 'The Man' I think Bosh heads to Miami and settles for being the man not named Wade. I'll buy that center of the team business if Bosh backs it up and signs with New Jersey or the Knicks. (By the way, Chris Bosh's favorite NBA City is New York. All of NY is focusing on LeBron right now but Bosh could be a more realistic goal to pursue.)
Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas
Is there another player of such caliber that fails to attract other quality players to come join his side quite like Nowitzki?
Amare Stoudemire: Phoenix
Surprise! I know, I know, Sarver is cheap. There is no GM in place. I admit that I'm going out on a bit of a limb here. I think Stoudemire won't get the type of offers he feels he deserves. If Amare plays defense and rebounds consistently he's a max type of player, but he doesn't do those things enough. Maybe, just maybe, the deal Phoenix offers and the deal from another team won't be so far apart. If that is the case then I'm guessing Amare would rather stay with the Suns, where nobody cares if he doesn't play a lot of D and he gets his table set by one Stephen J. Nash.
Joe Johnson: Chicago
I'm torn between Chicago and the Knicks here. Chicago seems like a good situation likely to land at least one person from this list. Yet Johnson would be a bigger piece of the puzzle for the Knicks, where D'Antoni's system would make the most of his multi-faceted game and he wouldn't have to share the ball with Derrick Rose. This would be easier if I knew something, anything, about Joe Johnson the human.
Carlos Boozer: New Jersey/Brooklyn
They'll pay him. Plus, since none of the bigger fish will want NJ I'm betting that the Nets throw all their backflipping jet ski energy his way.
WILD CARD TIE BREAKER PICK- Allen Iverson: Nobody
Did you forget about him? Remember, per the rules, this pick only counts in the event of a tie. I suppose I should put some sort of timeline for Iverson signing for the purposes of the contest. Let's say two-weeks after the last non-Iverson person signs a contract. While it seems like nobody would sign AI admit that you could see Mark Cuban doing this if he misses out on the big time free agents. Boston tried to make get Starbury to work, so don't count them out either. Or the Knicks, just because.
Do you dare face me in free agent Thunderdome? List your predictions in the comments.
On the day of the NBA draft it became official: Kevin Pritchard has been fired by the Portland Trailblazers.
Now, in a post where I should be coming up with some parting thoughts on Martell Webster, discussing the potential of Luke Babbitt, and making jokes about Ryan Gomes (in that order), I am instead trying to figure out how firing Kevin Pritchard is supposed to help this franchise. I can't. At the moment it seems team ownership really is as petty and meddlesome as they've been made out to be. That news of Pritchard's firing hit the internet on draft day adds to the evidence of how inept this team's ownership is at public relations, as if any more proof was needed.
At best, this very poorly handled situation was just an ugly mistake. At worst, dysfunction is back to calling the shots in Portland.
Of all the times of the year when basketball isn't being played, the NBA Draft may be my favorite. This year Blazers ownership has created a strange bit of added intrigue for Portland fans. (How nice of them.) Here are my two favorite conflicting thoughts:
1) Since ownership will fire Kevin Pritchard after the draft, he really doesn't have much power here to do his draft magic.
2) Paul Allen is always willing to spend money. Kevin Pritchard is apparently fighting hard to save his job. Therefore, KP will lock into his zone and find a way to significantly improve this team because he feels he has to. Ownership will then realize that 1) There is no way they can find another GM that is as good or better than Pritchard and 2) They no longer want to look totally ridiculously stupid by firing this man. KP's powers are restored, and ownership learns a valuable lesson.
(That second one got away from me a little bit. Somewhere in my warped optimistic head it seems possible. A boy MAN can dream.)
The Blazers grabbing the 34th pick is not evidence either way by itself. It could be KP building towards something. Or it could be the Paul Allen usual; always willing to pay-up to move up.
So now, we come to the 2010 Portland Trailblazers Draft Theme, based purely on baseless speculation:
WILL KEVIN PRITCHARD SAVE HIS JOB?
What will Portland do? Who should they take? How pathetic am I for holding out hope for KP? Fire up the rumor mill. (I said fire it up, not burn it down, sheesh Woj.) Get to watching Larry Sanders and Kevin Seraphin highlights on youtube. Its draft time.
The WILL KEVIN PRITCHARD SAVE HIS JOB? theme song/video is below. Apologies, I've been doing karaoke a lot lately.
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The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.
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The Bloguin Login gives you full access to everything our network has to offer. Your name and password will work for each and every one of our sites. Signing up is simple, and will allow you to post in all our forums, create member blogs, and access other cool features! What are you waiting for? Create an Account! 