NBA Draft booking

My Crazy Dream Booking:  Even I can’t find a booking that would allow Zion or Morant to drop to #5.  Top 3 go Zion-Morant-Barrett.  New Orleans takes Culvert.  Atlanta trades #8 and #10 to Cleveland for #5 to take Darius Garland.  Phoenix takes Cody White, Chicago takes Cam Reddish, Cavs take DeAndre Hunter with #8, Washington takes Brandon Clarke with #9, and Cavs take Jaxson Hayes with #10.

What Should Happen: Top 4 go Zion-Morant-Barrett-Garland (either NO or in a trade).  Cleveland takes Culvert

What Will Happen: Top 4 are Zion-Morant-Barrett-Culvert.  Cleveland takes DeAndre Hunter

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: Top 4 are Zion-Morant-Barrett-Culvert.  Cleveland takes Garland  (Cleveland doesn’t need another small point guard that needs help with defense)

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: I don’t know if there’s a booking that I would HATE.  Maybe trading up, but I don’t see a feasible trade. 

Post-NBA Lottery Thoughts

NBA Post-lottery draft thoughts:

• I’m a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, so obviously I wished the Cavs had moved up instead of down.  But #5 is still good enough to get a starter, even in a ‘weak’ draft.  I’m hoping for Jarrett Culver, but it’s up to the front office to make the right choice
• Last year, the Western Conference received the top four picks in the NBA draft.  This year, they have… three of the top four.  I don’t see the talent gap between the Western and Eastern Conference shrinking.
• If I’m AD, I hire a PR firm to work on restoring my reputation to New Orleans.  Him AND Zion, with Jrue Holiday and a good GM?  That is a scary team.  If he insists on a trade… well, New Orleans should listen.  But I’m not sure what the best deal for them would be now
• I think Morant will be a great pick for Memphis
• The reformed lottery worked, in that tanking is not rewarded as much

NBA Lottery Predictions

My Crazy Dream Booking: 

1. Charlotte Hornets- Zion Williamson
2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
4. Memphis- Cameron Redish

Last year, the Western Conference ended up with the top 4 picks in the draft.  This year, the Eastern Conference gets the clean sweep. 

Charlotte gets a franchise player in Zion, Kemba has a good reason to stay with the team, and Zion both stays close to his college AND starts his career with a great point guard

Cleveland gets the second piece of their rebuild to creating a fast team

Atlanta gets Barrett to join Trae Young

Memphis (like Charlotte, a good organization that is due for some luck) get an outside shooter to help with their rebuild.

 
What Should Happen: 

1. Philadelphia (via SAC)- Zion Williamson
2. Chicago- Ja Morant
3. New Orleans- RJ Barrett
4. Cleveland- Jarrett Culvert

There are three teams that break the internet if they win the lottery:  The Lakers (see ‘If I was Booking This and I Hated You’), New Orleans (Now does Davis try to come back, or does New Orleans then trade Davis knowing they have Zion?), and Philadelphia.  Besides breaking the heart of Sacramento fans… what would Philadelphia do?  I can’t see a frontcourt of Embiid AND Simmons AND Zion working, so someone needs to be traded….

What Will Happen: 

1. New York- Zion Williamson
2. Cleveland Cavaliers- Ja Morant
3. Atlanta- RJ Barrett
4. Chicago- Darius Garland

New York starts their trio of KD, Kyrie and Zion, which on paper looks great and would be a potential train wreck.  I still love Morant to Cleveland.  Barrett goes to Atlanta, and the Bulls get their Point Guard

What I’m Terrified Will Happen: 

1. Phoenix- Zion Williamson
2. Washington- Ja Morant
3. Minnesota- RJ Barrett
4. Los Angeles Lakers- Cam Reddish

Phoenix gets their new frontcourt star to team with… their other frontcourt #1 pick.  Washington, stuck for years because of Wall’s injuries, get a new point guard.  Minnesota gets the new Andrew Wiggins to go with the existing Andrew Wiggins.  The Lakers get a shooter.  The West get three of the first four picks

If I Was Booking This And I Hated You: 

1. Los Angeles Lakers- Zion Williamson
2. Boston (via Sacramento)- Ja Morant
3. Miami- RJ Barrett
4. Phoenix- Cam Reddish

The Lakers have been in a three way race (with the Knicks and Phoenix) over the worst-run franchise in the NBA this past decade.  But their luck or deal with the devil continues to allow them to have things go their way.  It would be perfectly in line with the last 50 years for the Lakers to luck into the #1 pick and have Zion come to join this team. 

Boston gets their new point guard, because of course their trades work out for them.

The hot markets continue to hog all of the best players.  Reddish goes to one of the worst run organizations in sports.

2019 NBA Playoff Predictions

Eastern Conference:
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Detroit Pistons (8)- Milwaukee, 4 games to 1
Boston Celtics (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)- Indiana, 4 games to 3
Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6), Philadelphia, 4 games to 2
Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)- Toronto, 4 games to 0


Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs Indiana Pacers (5)- Milwaukee, 4 games to 1
Toronto Raptors (2) vs Philadelphia 76ers (3)- Toronto, 4 games to 2

Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs Toronto Raptors (2)- Toronto, 4 games to 3


Western Conference:
Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8) - Golden State 4 games to 1
Houston Rockets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)- Houston, 4 games to 2
Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)- Portland, 4 games to 1
Denver Nuggets (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)- Denver, 4 games to 3


Golden State Warriors (1) vs Houston Rockets (4)- Houston, 4 games to 2
Denver Nuggets (2) vs Portland Trail Blazers (3)- Portland, 4 games to 3

Houston Rockets (4) vs Portland Trail Blazers (3)- Houston, 4 games to 2

2018-2019 NBA Finals:
Toronto Raptors vs Houston Rockets- Toronto Raptors, 4 games to 3

2019 MLB Predictions

American League:

East:

1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees (Wild Card)
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

Central:

1. Cleveland Indians
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Kansas City Royals

West:

1. Houston Astros
2. Los Angeles Angels (Wild Card)
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Seattle Mariners
5. Texas Rangers

Playoffs:

• Los Angeles Angels over New York Yankees (Wild Card Game)
• Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Angels
• Houston Astros over Cleveland Indians
• Houston Astros over Boston Red Sox

Rookie of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

Cy Young:  Mike Clevinger, Indians

MVP:  Mike Trout, Angels

National League:

East:

1. Atlanta Braves
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Washington Nationals
4. New York Mets
5. Florida Marlins

Central:

1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers (Wild Card)
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Cincinnati Reds

West:

1. Colorado Rockies
2. San Diego Padres (Wild Card)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. San Francisco Giants

Playoffs:

• Milwaukee Brewers over San Diego Padres
• St. Louis Cardinals over Colorado Rockies
• Milwaukee Brewers over Atlanta Braves
• Milwaukee Brewers over St. Louis Cardinals

Rookie of the Year: Luis Urías, Padres

Cy Young:  Aaron Nola, Phillies

MVP:  Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals

World Series:  Houston Astros over Milwaukee Brewers, 4-2

Baseball: Needing a storyline.

I used to be a baseball fan, before any other sport. And I still like following it. But right now, it doesn't hold the interest of sports fans the way basketball and football do.

There's a part of me that thinks baseball needs a villain- and that Bryce Harper might be the best person to fit that role.

Harper is a free agent- and people thought he'd be the first $300 million dollar player. But as of today, no one has signed him. And the fact that no one is upset that he hasn't been signed is part of the problem.

Imagine if he signed a one year deal with the Yankees for a bargain basement price and point blank said, "If the owners aren't going to pay me what I'm worth, I'm going to get a title- something Washington couldn't do- and keep doing so until the fans and owners smarten up about by worth."

He won't- for some very good reasons- but that would make Harper THE story for baseball for 2019. Because right now, baseball needs something to attract the attention of the public.

NBA: Porzingis trade thoughts

The Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks along with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee, the team announced Thursday.

New York will receive second-year point guard Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews in the deal, as well as two future first-round draft picks. Jordan and Matthews are expiring contracts.

This is a big trade.  Porzingis is called a 'Unicorn', because he's 7'3" and can shoot from three point range.  He's an incredible player- but he's also been injured.

People are raking the Knicks over the coals for this deal- but I actually think they did well here.  They have enough salary to sign two max free agents this summer- and the summer of 2019 is LOADED.

I'm sure their dream is to sign Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.  But let's say they can't get either one.  Still on the table are:

• Kawhi Leonard
• Klay Thompson
• Jimmy Butler
• Kemba Walker
• DeMarcus Cousins

The point is, they will sign two excellent players.  In addition, they have one of the three worst records in the NBA- which means that right now, they have as good of a chance as anyone to get Zion Williamson.

So to the Knicks, in a perfect world their starting lineup next year would include Durant, Kyrie, and Zion.  But say they don't get any luck- next year's lineup still could include Jimmy Butler, RJ Barrett, and Kemba Walker.  In the East?  That's a contender.  Not to mention the draft picks from Dallas.

As for Dallas?  I love this trade- _IF_ Porzingis stays healthy.  But that's a big question mark- and if he can't stay healthy, this could blow up for them badly.  

I like this trade for both teams- but I think the Knicks have a lower risk here.