The Orlando Magic: Never Rising, Never Falling

 

Written by Taylor Odenat

After big man Dwight Howard jumped ship and linked with the Los Angeles Lakers then Houston Rockets, the Magic have never seemed to get over that hump of losing their superstar. Over the past three seasons, the Orlando Magic have remained at a consistent 5th in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Never rising, never falling. In a weak Eastern Conference, the Magic have been unable to see the bright light of the playoffs, and haven’t improvements of getting to that goal.

Understandably, once Howard first left there was going to be a grace period where the Magic were not going to be a superb team. Subsequently, after that 2012-2013 season of steady losing the Magic drafted Victor Oladipo with the second pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Now by no means was he meant to be a savior of the franchise, however, he was meant to give the Magic life and lead to the road back to the playoffs. He’s an active defender can play both guard positions and is uber athletic so the Magic believed they had a star on their hands. Unfortunately, equal to the season prior the Magic finished 5th in the Southeast Division and once again were headed to the lottery.

Now at this point after the 2013-2014 season, the Magic weren’t stacked by any means; but they did have a roster that could compete. Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vučević showed a ton of promise and recently acquired forward Tobias Harris broke out of his shell and displayed himself as a player worth keeping around. Despite all of that, Victor Oladipo couldn’t really handle playing the point as much as the Magic desired, so they went out and drafted Elfrid Payton out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He couldn’t much, but his playmaking and defense would presumably mesh well with Oladipo at the guard spots. As well as Payton, Orlando drafted Aaron Gordon to play the 4 next to Vučević down low. Gordon in Arizona was Blake Griffin athletic, was long and lengthy, played great defense and showed some signs of a post ability. So now with all this talent on their roster and players with so much potential just waiting to be developed, Orlando will definitely improve right?

That notion would be incorrect as yet another season completed and the Orlando Magic were in the lottery for the third straight season. Fast forward to the 2015 NBA draft, the Magic select Mario Hezonja a European guard who light up the scoreboard and played above the rim. Now Orlando has Elfrid Payton running the offense, Victor Oladipo at the two-guard, Tobias Harris on the wing, Aaron Gordon swatting shots at the four, Nikola Vučević grabbing boards down low, and now Mario Hezonja leading the second unit. Orlando can not afford to keep producing lottery finishing seasons with such talent on their roster. They’re a youthful team but they do have veterans in C.J Watson, Channing Frye, and Jason Smith; so they really have no excuse to improve.

Possibly believing they will slip into the lower end of the Eastern Conference playoffs is misguided, but for the pride of the organization they can’t finish 5th in the Southeast Division for the 4th straight season. Additionally, teams in the Southeast Division have downgraded their rosters with Paul Pierce leaving the Washington Wizards and DeMarre Carroll leaving the Atlanta Hawks. If that doesn’t give the Magic the opportunity to improve then they might continuously be doomed to mediocrity.

They’re definitely not a championship contender, but the Magic are loaded with potential and should be able to slowly creep their way back into the playoff conversation once the pieces come together.

The Best and Worst Fits of 2015 NBA Free Agency

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

The 2015 NBA Free Agency was full of excitement and has surely rearranged the league. With teams competing over talent, many players are signed as soon as free agency begins, whether for better or worse. These are the best and worst fits in their new homes for the 2015-2016 NBA Season.

Monta Ellis:  Ellis had clearly been the most consistent Maverick over the past 2 years and was the only asset the Mavericks had for the future. While the Mavs played very well this past season, their level of play didn't reach that of the higher tier Western Conference teams. It was clear that they couldn't make a huge impact in the playoffs. For this reason, Monta Ellis sought a change of scenery and landed in Indiana. The Pacers had been a consistent force in the East until Paul George's major injury last offseason which derailed their season. Indiana slipped out of playoff contention, landing in the 9th seed after a failed late season surge led by George Hill. Monta Ellis fits greatly into the Pacers' play style with his quickness, defense, hustle, and fast paced offense which left the team along with Lance Stephenson a year ago. Ellis and George have the potential to become the best duo in the NBA as long as they stay healthy and learn to work with each other's weaknesses. As for the Pacers as a whole, they must focus on fixing their front court after the departure of David West and the imminent trade of Roy Hibbert.

Greg Monroe: It has been clear since early into the 14-15 season that both Greg Monroe and the Pistons were ready to part ways. With the prioritization of Andre Drummond in the Piston's rebuild, Monroe has been overshadowed by the younger talent of the team. This led Monroe to seek a new home in Milwaukee, who desperately needed a Center to complete their young athletic team. The Bucks have arguably the best young core of players in the NBA with Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Michael Carter Williams leading the way without a clear starting center. Miles Plumlee and Zaza Pachulia haven't proven themselves to be consistent enough to battle with other starting centers across the league. With the addition of Greg Monroe, the Milwaukee Bucks add a much needed presence in the low post and on the boards that may surge them into the top tier of Eastern Conference teams. As long as they stay healthy, the Bucks have to potential to land a decent playoff position. As for Monroe, he will finally earn the stardom and contract that he has longed for since he was drafted in 2010.

Robin Lopez: Many fans were skeptical when former Blazer, Robin Lopez decided to sign with the Knicks. While he's always been an effective player, he's never quite been an all star caliber player. Many compare Robin to his twin brother, Brook, who has been a stud for the Nets over the past few years. Many may assume that Brook is the better player because of his offensive capabilities, but Robin excels much further on defense than Brook does. Robin can bring hustle, shot blocking, athleticism, and heart to a New York Knicks team that has been lacking in each of those categories over the past few years. With this change of scenery, it is very possible that we see Robin improve greatly in the low post as he adapts to the triangle offense. Lopez signing with the Knicks is extremely helpful for both parties and will provide for some great entertainment when the Knicks and Nets matchup and the Lopez brothers face off in important rivalry games.

DeMarre Carroll: After a breakout season, DeMarre Carroll sought to capitalize on his newly found stardom and signed a max contract with the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have grown into a solid playoff team despite their first round exit to the Washington Wizards in a 4-Game sweep this May. They've focused their strategy on star player DeMar Derozen as well as point guard Kyle Lowry and shooting guard Terrence Ross, so clearly they have a young athletic core at the Point Guard, Shooting Guard, and Small Forward positions. This is why signing DeMarre Carroll makes no sense. While his defensive capabilities will be able to help the team, their rotation has been completely shifted and their lacking front-court hasn't been improved at all. Carroll doesn't fit into the team's fast and athletic play style, which will ultimately hurt the team as a whole. There have been lots of questions about the success of the Raptors in coming seasons and this boneheaded signing didn't fix the major issues at hand.

Louis Williams: The only thing more disappointing than the Raptors allowing 6th Man of the Year Louis Williams to leave Toronto is his final destination: the Los Angeles Lakers. While it can be argued that this move improved a great guard lineup in LA, it also took up cap space that could be used towards acquiring a Center in free  agency. The Lakers have struggled terribly over the past few years mostly due to injury and ineffective Free Agency periods. While injury cannot be controlled, Free Agency can, and spending their money on yet another shooting guard with a scorer's mentality was not the right move. Lou Williams is primarily a shooter and an isolation scorer, which is a great asset for any team. The problem with the Lakers adding his talents to their roster is that Kobe Bryant, Nick Young, and Jordan Clarkson are all shooters and isolation scorers as well, and that style of play has landed them near the bottom of the power ranking for years. As for Lou Williams, he's the real winner of this deal. While he may be sacrificing some shots, he'll also have the opportunity to learn from one of the best players of all time in Kobe Bryant; not to mention he'll be able to enjoy the LA lifestyle. Considering he has his own Drake song about him and is known for having 2 stunning girlfriends at the same time, it'd be easy to infer that Lou Will is ready for that limelight.

Rajon Rondo: After lots of speculation about where he may land, point guard Rajon Rondo has signed a 1-year deal to play with Rudy Gay and the Sacramento Kings. The former-Celtic spent the majority of his career as a dimer-extraordinaire and an exceptional slasher until tearing his ACL in January of 2013. Rondo never quite returned to his prior level of play, leading the Celtics to trade him to the Dallas Mavericks where he failed in a short stint this season. Now, in Free Agency, Rondo found a new home with the Sacramento Kings on a one year deal. While it may be argued that Rondo's point guard play can help the struggling Kings, this also undermines the emergence of Darren Collison as their starting point guard. Collison joined the Kings last year and made an immediate impact by creating shots for teammates and scoring efficiently, so adding a hot headed point guard like Rondo to their rotation could be detrimental to Collison's development and to the Kings' growing young core.

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Trade Talk: Ty Lawson to the Houston Rockets

Written by Taylor Odenat 

As of July 19, 2015, Ty Lawson is now a member of the high scoring, three-point shooting Houston Rockets. They enjoy collecting talent for their roster, and Ty Lawson is one of the more talented point guards in the NBA. Formerly playing for the Denver Nuggets his whole career, after several seasons of losing he pushed his way out of Denver and he recently got into some DUI problems. Denver planned for Ty’s inevitable departure from the Nuggets by drafting prospect 19-year-old guard Emmanuel Mudiay and now have shipped him off to Coach McHale, James Harden, and Dwight Howard. However, whether or not this was a good move for Ty to join the Rockets is a completely different story.

Ty Lawson will presumably start for the Rockets leading to a starting lineup of Lawson, Harden, Ariza, Jones, and Howard. However, what does this mean for Patrick Beverley moving forward. He was their lock-down defender and fit the criteria for a guard playing alongside James Harden. Harden is a ball dominant combo guard who can handle the ball, distribute, and of course score at will. He basically played the point and the off guard for Houston last season leaving them without the use of a point guard that needed the ball to orchestrate the offense. Patrick Beverley was a perfect fit for their lineup because he would defend full court, which James Harden has struggles with in general, he would knock down an open three without once demanding for the ball. On the other hand, Ty Lawson does his best work heading the offense and making decisions. Houston already has their floor general in James Harden, so why trade for another one.

On paper, this team looks like a championship contender. The imminent Lawson to Dwight lobs off pick and roll situations will certainly be fantastic and exciting to watch, but in the long run this trade won’t make Houston much better. It will of course make them a more talented squad, but talent doesn’t always win. Any front office can stack a roster with talent, but if that talent doesn’t play well together or work off each other; they will finish behind the organizations that now how produce with one another.

In the trade, Denver received a lottery-protected 2016 first round draft pick, Nick Johnson, Kostas Papanikolaou, Pablo Prigioni, and Joey Dorsey. Don’t be fooled, the Nuggets didn’t lose in the two teams exchange. Denver acquired young talent with talent and potential, a lottery pick in a promising 2016 draft, and most of all allowed Mudiay to take the reigns of star point guard of the Nuggets. Additionally, Denver has a successful history of trading away superstar and improving without him; most recently Carmelo Anthony.

While this does have the chance to work for Houston and finally push them over that hump to get to the NBA Finals, two ball dominant guards spells for trouble in paradise. Both Harden and Ty struggle on defense, so there will be problems on both sides of the floor. Ty will have to prove that he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective and that he can make a high percentage amount of spot up threes, but if he can’t he will just become a shell of his former self and Houston won’t be championship contenders.

You Get a Max Contract! You Get a Max Contract! The Story of the 2015 Offseason

                                                        Written by Taylor Odenat

With the salary cap steadily increasing over the next few years, NBA teams have seemingly been throwing money at players this offseason. The two may not correlate, but with the amount of free agents that have been given 4 or 5 year deals for an outstanding amount of money; it appears to be the only plausible explanation. Players that one would never imagine to receive more than a few million dollars per year, are being given $80 million over several years. Last offseason, Chandler Parsons signed with the Dallas Mavericks and was paid $14.7 million. Even though this was only a season ago, fans and players gasped at the amount of money the previously most underpaid player in the league was collecting. However, this offseason everyone is signing contracts to be paid Chandler Parson’s money and no one is even blinking an eye. Maybe these players will live up to their outlandish contracts, but for some that may not seem possible.

DeMarre Carroll is a prime example of someone who may not live up to the considerable sum of money they will be obtaining from their team. Once a role player for the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies, Carroll has recently agreed to a 4-year, $60 million deal that will give him $15 million per year. While credit should be given to Carroll for displaying this past regular and post-season that he is a quality forward in this league, he was a product of the system. Once taken out of the element of the effective system, he will drop off in productivity and therefore become not worth the amount of money Toronto will still have to pay him. 

Lance Stephenson is a recent example of a player that left his good situation for the money on a different team believing he’d still be effective. After once being the spark, heart, and soul of the 2013-2014 Indiana Pacers, Stephenson signed a contract with the Charlotte Hornets during the 2014 offseason. He would show to definitely be the product of a system and he wouldn’t perform nearly as well as his contract expected him to. His shooting was awry, his decisions were questionable, and he just didn't provide the Hornets with a starter that would push them into playoff contention in the East.

DeMarre Carroll could be next Stephenson in that he will arrive to his new team and prove he is not of the same value as he previously advertised. The Atlanta Hawks floor spacing, no dominating superstar system allowed Carroll to flourish. However, the Toronto Raptors are just not that team and Carroll will not be the same player because of his ability to flourish in a certain scheme; not the ability to be a superstar like his contract suggests. 

There were other signings that made just made NBA fans scratch their heads. Carroll performed well in the Atlanta Hawks offensive structure so teams believed he was worth a big contract, however other players were mediocre during the 2014-2015 regular season and are being paid strikingly. For example, the Boston Celtics and Amir Johnson have come to an agreement of a 2 year/$24 million deal. A man who averaged 9.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg will be getting paid to come off the bench behind Jared Sullinger, assuming he isn’t on his way out, in Boston. Amir Johnson is a high energy forward who will provide them with rebounding and effort. However, $12 million is overpaying Johnson for the limited skills he brings to the table. One would believe that Boston would learn from their mistakes to make deals to overpay players after acquiring Gerald Wallace via trade, however they obviously haven’t learned their lesson. Secondly, Omer Asik will also be receiving $12 million a year for five years to remain in New Orleans. While this does make for suffocating defense in the paint for NOLA, this just isn't the direction the NBA is going in. The Pelicans have overpaid for a center that will eventually become useless due to the small lineups that will continue to develop around the NBA. Omer Asik won’t able to keep up with fast 4’s on the perimeter and will not prove to be equivalent to his contract. He’ll give Anthony Davis the opportunity to focus more on offense instead of rebounding, but overpaying Asik over starting Ryan Anderson and joining the small ball direction of the NBA was nonsensical. 

Is the NBA entering a previous time where people such as Gilbert Arenas are paid $18.5 million a year to not even play for their team? That seems the road that the NBA is going down with all these long contracts and overpaying players, and it won’t stop until a team begins to realize their mistakes. But with the new salary cap that approaching, that realization may never occur and bench warmers such as Aron Baynes will be paid almost $7 million a year to give limited production and possibly not even rise off the bench. 

All statistics came from Basketball Reference unless stated otherwise.

Possible Destinations for LaMarcus Aldridge

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

           With the NBA Draft finished and free agency looming, LaMarcus Aldridge has some important decisions to make. The 29-year-old Power Forward has led the Portland Trailblazers into the playoffs in a powerful western conference since he was drafted in 2006. While he has always expressed love for Portland, Aldridge hasn’t come close to winning an NBA title in his 9 year professional career. In 2012, the Blazers selected Damian Lillard with the 6th overall pick and found a new face to the franchise. While Aldridge continued to increase his level of play, his abilities started to be overshadowed by the hype surrounding Lillard and the Blazers. At this point in his career, LaMarcus needs change and that’s exactly what he’s seeking this summer.

New York Knicks

The Knicks are clearly in a rebuilding stage and will take on any talent that they can reach. Most big names in the Free Agency pool have been targeted by the Knicks, whether they’re interested or not. Aldridge hasn’t expressed explicit interest in joining the Knicks, but his talents would result in a huge payload from the basketball mastermind, Phil Jackson. While the Knicks drafted Kristaps Porzingis, a talented power forward/center, Porzingis can be transitioned into a Center and LaMarcus could easily fit into the triangle offense. The Knicks may win a championship immediately, they have the potential to explode in the weaker Eastern Conference with the right talent and a stroke of luck

Dallas Mavericks

           Aldridge is a native of Dallas, so returning to his hometown and playing for the Mavericks is a strong possibility. The Mavericks are desperately in need of some change. While Aldridge may seem like a great option in theory, Dirk Nowitzki is going to be the starting power forward for the Mavs until he retires which won’t be for a few years. Another problem with the Mavs is that they have no defined guard rotation with Monta Ellis and Rondo leaving. They need to fix their guard rotation before signing a second starting power forward. They cannot offer a max contract to Aldridge and they definitely cannot promise to win in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers

           Like the Knicks, the Lakers are pursuing the majority of the big name free agents, including LaMarcus Aldridge. Playing alongside Kobe would be an honor for Aldridge, but besides that, there isn’t much upside to playing for the Lakers besides a massive contract. If Aldridge wants to make a lot of money, he should pursue the Lakers as an option. They cannot offer winning, but they can offer a positive future. After drafting Ohio State phenomenon D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers have set up for the future with their latest acquisition. Adding Aldridge could save them from continuing the terrible downfall they faced last season

Houston Rockets

           Every summer the Houston Rockets pursue a new free agent in order to make title run. They continue to make their way into contention with James Harden and Dwight Howard rising as one of the best duos in the league. The Rockets are a rising team, but they’re missing a solid starting Power Forward to increase their level of play in order to become real championship contenders. LaMarcus Aldridge needs to consider the Rockets if he want to win games and contend, but he’d also have to be giving up a lot of ball possession. James Harden will always be the primary ball handler in Houston, and Dwight Howard will always be the second option. Aldridge is too skilled to be a third option, but Houston can give him money and wins.

San Antonio Spurs

           After a devastating loss in game 7 of the first round to the Clippers, the Spurs need to make a change in order to contend for one last title in the Duncan era. The Spurs are predicted to offer Kawhi Leonard a max deal before figuring out what the next step in Free Agency will be. Danny Green and Marco Belinelli are both unrestricted free agents who were critical to their 2014 title run. Bringing Aldridge to the Spurs would be an incredible addition, but it is definitely going to cost the Spurs some players. Aldridge would fit great with Gregg Popovich’s rotation, allowing Duncan to rest more and allowing Aldridge to stay healthy. San Antonio could make a championship run while also giving Aldridge a great contract. 

           LaMarcus Aldridge has proven himself as one of the best bigmen in the league. He averaged 23.4 PPG on 46.6% shooting along with 10.2 RPG. After arguably the best year of his career, Aldridge has shown that he's ready and eager for a championship ring. While he may not have decided which team he'll sign with next, one thing is for sure: The choices LaMarcus decides in the next week can make or break his legacy as a whole.

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Most Controversial Picks of the 2015 NBA Draft

                                      

 Written by Taylor Odenat

The 2015 NBA Draft ended as an interesting and bizarre one, finishing with multiple questionable picks and debatable decisions. From Jahlil Okafor being selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the third pick, to the Boston Celtics selecting Terry Rozier with the sixteenth pick; many NBA fans were left shaking their heads after watching the picks their favorite NBA teams had made. Out of the thirty prospects drafted in the first round of the 2015 Draft, these were the most disappointing selections:

Philadelphia 76ers: Jahlil Okafor

The first of five centers selected in both rounds by Philadelphia, Jahlil Okafor was drafted with the third pick behind D’Angelo Russell. After being the top prospect in this draft class for quite some time, Karl Anthony-Towns snatched that spot from Jahlil and was, therefore, selected first by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Okafor was then predicted to be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and become one of the infamous big men to don the purple and gold, but that would also turn out to be incorrect. Following a lackluster workout for the Lakers, Los Angeles drafted D’Angelo Russell with the second pick because of his superstar upside, creative handle, and shot creating ability. Russell may just be the superstar that L.A has been looking for to replace Kobe Bryant once he retires, or L.A could regret not drafting the franchise big man that could have added on to their line of historic centers. Unless Okafor is traded by Philadelphia, we may never see the true potential that he possesses. Philly drafted the best prospect on the board at that point which isn’t necessarily a problem. However, with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid manning the middle Jahlil has no reason to be on the roster. Although Joel Embiid has shown to be injury prone, he is still a high upside player. So instead of possibly making him feel like the team he plays for has no faith in him, they should have drafted either Emmanuel Mudiay to be the future floor general or Justise Winslow to be the future All-Star for the franchise.

New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis

A very unpopular pick by New York Knicks fans everywhere, Kristaps played overseas and showed out in his workout with the Knicks. Not many europeans selected in the lottery have been All-Stars, (Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, and Pau Gasol) so the chances of Porzingis becoming one is pretty slim. However, this is was a pick for future upside and not one for the present. With this pick, Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks plan to continue to rebuild and not rush to seek playoff contention. Carmelo Anthony may not be happy with this decision to keep rebuilding but Porzingis was a pick that will pay off in a couple seasons once he develops into a sharper player. However, Knick fans in the building at the Barclays Center thought otherwise as they booed him when he walked across the stage to receive his handshake from Commissioner Adam Silver. Knick fans enjoy instant gratification, and they don't feel like Kristaps will give the team the same instant improvement that Emmanuel Mudiay would or Justise Winslow would. Kristaps will be a efficient and productive player wants he gets use to the NBA game and speed and he will prove to New York that he belongs and that they should embrace him. Additionally, New York will always be a top spot for free agents so there is the possibility they will sign a couple players that will advance them out of the lottery.

Boston Celtics: Terry Rozier

This was a very questionable pick for the Boston Celtics as they just added another guard to their coalition of guards. Isiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Evan Turner, Marcus Smart, Phil Pressey, R.J. Hunter, Marcus Thornton, James Young, and now Terry Rozier. There is no real reason that Boston should desire to have so many guards, several of which don’t have a consistent jump shot. Of the nine guards listed here, six of them played last season for the Boston Celtics and of those six only Avery Bradley shot over 34% from beyond the arc. R.J. Hunter should improve their very poor shooting, but Terry Rozier is also not much of a knock down shooter so that won’t help the Celtics in an area that they are lacking heavily in. Rozier is a high volume scorer and has a good eye for finding open teammates, but nonetheless his poor shot selection mixed with somewhat of a small size may hinder Rozier from progressing in the NBA. Boston instead should have went with a wing that was still available where names such as Sam Dekker and Kelly Oubre were still in the green room. Rozier lucked out being selected with such a high pick as he projected to slip to even the second round, but now he  has to prove himself as a commodity to the Celtics in this upcoming season.

Charlotte Hornets: Frank Kaminsky

Michael Jordan is now seemingly making a habit of banking on floor spreading forwards with this selection of Frank Kaminsky. First Josh McRoberts, then Cody Zeller, then Noah Vonleh, now Kaminsky. This obviously wasn't a terrible pick for the Hornets as Frank led Wisconsin to the National Championship game to face Duke with his excellent shooting, post moves, and rebounding. However, seeing as he failed with his drafting of Vonleh in the previous draft and Zeller in the draft before that, picking yet another floor spreading forward may not have been the smartest decision for Jordan. Frank won’t be the scorer that he was in college, but his shooting could conclude him shaping his career around a Spencer Hawes type build where he provides rebounding and three point shooting. Spencer Hawes was even starting at points of his career, so if Frank strived to be Hawes that wouldn’t be head-scratching player choice. If Kaminsky’s game translates to the NBA, then Al Jefferson would surely be happy as he hasn't had a vast amount of shooters to kick out to from the low block. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Gerald Henderson, and Noah Vonleh are all inefficient shooters to kick out to; as a matter of fact two of those players now play for the Portland Trailblazers via draft day trades. Al Jefferson would now have Nicolas Batum and Kaminsky, so for the Hornets sake Frank Kaminsky needs to practice hard, get stronger, and keep his shooting stroke in order to not be perceived as a bust or a waste of a No. 9 pick.

All statistics came from Basketball Reference unless stated otherwise.

Lance to LA: Will the Clippers improve?

 

Written by Taylor Odenat

It’s about that time again for basketball fans to once again begin proclaiming that the Los Angeles Clippers are destined for a NBA finals run. This time around it’s due to their recent acquisition of erratic and crafty forward/guard Lance Stephenson. On June 15, 2015 the Clippers agreed to trade Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes to Charlotte for Stephenson in hopes that they’re improving their hole at the small forward position. Matt Barnes wasn’t terribly unproductive as he finished the season averaging 10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 1.5 apg in 74 starts, but he is increasing in age and reaching the last year of his deal won’t be detrimental to the team. Spencer Hawes wasn’t what they hoped he would be when they signed him over the offseason, his long ball has been off as he only shot it at 31% from beyond the arc. LA acquired him as productive backup big man behind DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, however, he was not able to live up to that role so losing Hawes will also not be a hit to the organization. So in saying all that, was the Lance Stephenson trade a smart move for the Clippers?

Lance Stephenson can either prove to be a risk or a reward for the Los Angeles Clippers. On one hand, Stephenson is versatile, can guard more than one position, can play more than one position, can play well into the “Lob City” system, rebounds well for his position, and has has the ability to put on a show for the fans which LA loves to do. Stephenson has outplayed the expectations he was given when he was first drafted to the league at No. 40 in the 2010 draft and went from the league’s most underpaid player to being paid $18.4 over the next two years. On the other hand, he is erratic, has an inconsistent jump shot and hadn’t performed up to his contract expectations this past season with the Hornets. He was inefficient, took some questionable jump shots, and wasn’t able to pick up the slack once Kemba Walker underwent surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. Will the benefits outweigh the risks that Lance brings is what the Los Angeles Clippers will be asking themselves when the season starts to approach in October.

Whether Lance makes LA a title contender won’t be shown right away, but Stephenson is an upgrade over aging veteran Matt Barnes so the Clippers are a step closer in the right direction. Stephenson is a young gun whose athleticism and defensive prowess will collaborate excellently with DeAndre and Blake. Although his poor shooting may disable him from being a reliable kick out option, LA still benefits from this trade. They rid themselves of a forward not getting any younger, a big man who lost his touch, and at the same time they acquire a young ball handler and playmaker with a willingness to do anything to win. However, this should not be the last move the Clippers make. They still have a long ways to go with improving their bench and resigning their defensive stud DeAndre Jordan, but this is definitely a step in the right direction for the team constantly getting eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.

All statistics came from Basketball Reference unless stated otherwise.

Four Steps to Save the Pacers

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

The Indiana Pacers franchise has always been seen as a winning team backed by President Larry Bird. Reggie Miller led them to the playoffs throughout the nineties and early 2000’s before leaving them in a rough spot. Behind Danny Granger, the Pacers struggled to make an impact in the playoffs until Paul George was drafted in 2010. His impact wasn't immediate but it was clear that he had incredible potential. The team improved each year with the talents of Paul George, David West, Lance Stephenson, Roy Hibbert, and George Hill. After losing in the playoffs to the Miami Heat in the 2014 Postseason, Paul George suffered a catastrophic leg injury during a scrimmage in preparation of the Fiba World Cup of Basketball. George was to miss the entire 14-15 NBA Season. With Stephenson leaving to join the Charlotte Hornets and George out for the season, the Pacers were doomed to have a difficult season. George unexpectedly announced an early return with restricted minutes for the Pacers in March during their Playoff Push. The Pacers finished the season with a record of 38-44 and the ninth seed in the East. So with the off-season approaching, the Pacers have a difficult task at hand and one question on their minds: What will it take?

1. Let Roy Hibbert leave, sign Greg Monroe

Hibbert, although he has provided incredible playing time in the past, has proven that he cannot operate under pressure and he cannot lead the team. His contract will not be worth his low productivity on the court. Allowing Hibbert to leave will create more cap space and will allow the Pacers to sign unrestricted free-agent Greg Monroe, who plays with fluidity, consistency, and aggression that Hibbert does not. Monroe would provide a clear second option for the Pacers, who sorely need it since the departure of Lance Stephenson.

2. Retain Chris Copeland and Rodney Stuckey’s contracts

Copeland and Stuckey are two players who stepped up for the Pacers without Paul George and have become two key components to their rotation. Retaining their contracts would greatly increase their chances of reaching the level of play they once had. Copeland’s fantastic shooting stroke bailed the Pacers out countless times and Stuckey’s all around play style created versatility for the team. They have also created chemistry with most players on the team.

3.  Get Paul George back to superstar form

George’s talent and superstardom are not in question, but his health is. His comeback in March showed great signs of the player he was a year ago, but he also has shown that he needs to shake off the rust and work even harder to improve. This shouldn’t be hard for George, as his hard working mentality drove him to an early recovery, but he shouldn’t have to do it alone. The Indiana training staff has to be ready to spend a lot of time with him during the offseason to prepare him for another long 82 game season where he’ll be expected to come up big. If there’s any player who can return from an injury like this and improve their game at the same time, it’s Paul George.

4. Make a Smart Acquisition with the 11th Pick

There are plenty of hidden gems in the 2015 Draft, the Pacers have an opportunity to make a pick that could impact their team as a whole. Its very likely that some great picks will be slipping in the draft because of the needs of other teams. The Pacers need to be aware of this and make sure they use their picks wisely. If no one slips in the draft then the Pacers still have the opportunity to pick an underrated player such as Sam Dekker or Frank Kaminsky. This is a great draft class and the Pacers have lots of options. It’s crucial that they make a smart pick.

One bright side that the Pacers always have to remember is that the East is a very weak conference compared to the West, and they’re a very talented team with great players and a great coach. Overcoming their hardships will be a lot easier when the competition is easier. George Hill, although he was hurt, had a fantastic season last year. Between George’s return, the emergence of Hill, and the opportunity of free agency, the Pacers shouldn’t have any problem returning to the playoffs next season.

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NBA Finals Game 1: Analysis and Predictions

 

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

Game 1 is over and the Golden State Warriors lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0. LeBron James led his Cavs to a 10 point lead in the first quarter with his 12 points. The game seemed to be doomed for Warriors fans with the Cavs playing well on all cylinders; but in usual Warriors fashion, they came back off an energetic run led by the league MVP Stephen Curry and swingman veteran Andre Iguodala. Curry forced the game into overtime where they outscored the Cavaliers 10-2. This series is clearly going to be great as the story develops behind the scenes. 

           All Star point guard Kyrie Irving was diagnosed with a knee fracture which will keep him sidelined for 3-4 months, eliminating him from the finals. Now without any solid defender in his path, Stephen Curry is on track to win his first championship. Matthew Dellavedova, who has shown potential throughout the playoffs, is no match for the reigning MVP’s skill set. Kyrie played strongly against Curry in the first game with 4 Steals and 2 Blocks. After his 4th quarter injury, the Cavs fell apart and gave up the game in overtime. The impact of Irving’s injury to the series is catastrophic for Cleveland Fans, who now look to LeBron James and his supporting cast to make a final push without 2 players of their Big 3. 

           J.R. Smith started the game shooting lights out from 3 Point Range. In the first quarter, Smith shot 2/3 from behind the arc and surged the Cavs into a 10 point lead. From then on, Smith lost his touch as a whole. He shot 1-7 from the second quarter on and totaled 9 points on 13 shots in the game. Smith is seen as an X-Factor in the series due to his obscene shooting skills which disappeared in game 1. It’s no surprise that the Warriors are going to out-shoot the Cavs from deep in the series and Smith was seen as the one player who could counteract the shooting of the Dubs. With his game disappearing, the Cavs championship hopes will plummet.

Smith wasn’t the only player to disappear in Game 1. Draymond Green shots 0-3 from 3 Point range and 4-13 on the night. Green has become a focal point in the Warriors’ play style as the team’s third scoring option behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. In order to effectively maintain a grasp on this series, Green needs to step up his game and improve his shooting stroke. Green also struggled to defend against LeBron James, Andre Iguodala, and Harrison Barnes who each played very well. 

           One positive sign for the Cavs was the fantastic play of Timofey Mozgov who they acquired from the Nuggets earlier in the season. Mozgov shot 5-10 and 6-8 from the free throw line and totaled 7 rebounds. He also kept Australian center Andrew Bogut to 4 points on the game. The center has proven himself ready to take on the Warriors in the paint and assume the role of a reliable big man that the Cavs need in the absence of Kevin Love. 

           Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes were both on fire, combining for 26 points on 5-8 shooting from 3 Point Range. Iguodala showed a glimpse of his old self with his performance off the bench with fantastic shooting and athletic play. He’s come alive in the playoffs and is clearly looking to win his first ring in his 11 year career. Barnes, who is only in his third year in the league, is an incredibly versatile and important component to the team’s rotation. 

All aspects of the series being considered, I predict that the Warriors will win the series in 6 games and claim their titles as NBA Champions. With the continuing skill of Stephen Curry on display and the lack of efficiency shown by the Cavaliers, it's clear that the Cavs are in need of some changes in the rotation and a bit of luck to maintain a fighting chance in this series. With both teams healthy, the outcome may have been different but the core of the Cavs has been broken and now LeBron needs to pick up the pieces.

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