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- The Grip - WED 6.21.18
The Grip - WED 6.21.18
Your draft day content machine
6.21.18
S.E.: So, Dwight Howard got shipped to Brooklyn. His fourth team in four years.
J.S.: Their PR spin: Jeremy Lin and Howard, back together again.
Written while listening to A Tribe Called Quest's Scenario
Is Michael Porter Jr. the next Giannis?
The answer is: most likely not, unless you are…Michael Porter Jr.
Stick with us for a few paragraphs.
The No. 1 player coming out of high school last season, MPJ committed to Missouri, but back surgery kept him out for all but nine games last year. He’s a one-and-done, and now he’s considered the biggest wild card in the draft.
He could go ninth. He could go second to the Kings. At 6-foot-10 with a formidable jumpshot, he could be a cover band for Kevin Durant.
He could also be Harrison Barnes; a low-impact type with lots of nagging injuries.
The Ringer called him an “athletic Keith Van Horn.” That’s…...not what MPJ has in mind for himself:
“Right now, I’m a little, I’m a mix of Giannis and KD. You know, I like going to the hole a little more than KD does, I like bumping into people a little more physical than KD. But I also, you know, I like to shoot the ball more than Giannis.”
In case anyone was wondering, I, Sam, right now, I’m a little, I’m a mix of David Halberstam and Hunter Thompson. You know, I like writing timeless novel-esque sports books more than Halberstam does, I like delving into topics and winning Pulitzers more than Halberstam. But I also, you know, I like to dabble in gonzo journalism more than Hunter.
Where has this thing veered to?
Stop reading this and start clicking on The Ringer’s interactive draft guide. Seriously -- it’s the single best, most comprehensive, and well-designed piece of draft content on the web. It’s a true victory for online design, and it should be appreciated by all. I got lost in it for about 30 minutes the other day.
Here are a few names you’ll hear a lot about tonight:
Deandre Ayton, Arizona State
The buzz word for this 7-foot big man is NBA ready. He is a vast human with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and the likely No. 1 overall pick who could be a young Patrick Ewing, except 30 years into the future when diets, trainers, good athletic shoes and exercises like this exist.
Marvin Bagley III, Duke
MB3 is a 6-foot-11 forward with the jumping ability of a springy shooting guard. He has All-Star potential, but he could also be a guy in eight years putting up 19 and 11 on a 32-win team.
Luka Doncic, Real Madrid
I learned about Slovenia’s prodigal son two years ago, from my friend Will, who is the only person who watches more obscure basketball YouTube videos than I do, so I asked him to sum Doncic up over text (edited for text language, of course):
“Mainly the fact that he’s so young and performing at such a high level in the second best competition in the world. MVP of Euro League. Played well against NBA players at Eurobasket last summer, and he does insane shit from time to time that makes you think he’s special.”
SOLD. Here’s an example:
He’s possibly a guy who, if not taken first, the Suns might be wishing they did in five years.
Michael Porter Jr., Missouri
The next Giannis.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Michigan State
A 6-foot-11 18-year-old who has first-team All-Defense potential. What’s tantalizing beyond that is a nearly 40 percent stroke from deep for Tom Izzo.
Mo Bamba, Texas
This guy seems so nice. Here’s a video of him asking a collective media scrum to make way for a lady who couldn’t quite reach him with her mic.
All signs lead to him being a great defensive center, who may develop a shot from deep at some point down the line.
[READ: The making of Mo Bamba]
Trae Young, Oklahoma
The comparisons started at Steph Curry, and now they’re at Mike Bibby. Oh, by the way, Mike Bibby is jacked now. Yeah, it’s creepy.
Grayson Allen, Duke
Just kidding. But he finally met Ted Cruz.
Let’s talk about Kawhi Leonard
If you’ve even loosely followed the NBA news circuit the last few weeks, you’ve probably heard the news that Kawhi wants out of San Antonio.
You might be surprised, but the signs were there -- the team-only meetings, the sass from Tony Parker, the lack of explanations from the Spurs, Leonard’s absence during the playoffs.
The fact is...
We don’t know Kawhi. None of us know Kawhi. And we never will. He is a shy person wrapped in his “team’s” desire.
Stephen A., who had an all-time Stephen A. rant about this whole thing, is now reporting that during Leonard’s sit down with Gregg Popovich, he looked him in the eyes and told him he’s done with San Antonio.
Popovich has been in this situation before, though the particular player was nowhere near the level of this one. Think back to last summer when LaMarcus Aldridge requested a trade. Grandpa Pop called him into the office, sat him down and they had a heart-to-heart.
Aldridge stayed put and ended up having one of the best seasons of his career.
But it’s looking like Popovich couldn’t work his magic twice.
So why is he leaving?
According to Bleacher Report, he was upset with the way the Spurs staff handled his quad injury. Comments from Tony Parker and Popovich were “not supportive of him."
It’s probably less the comments that made him leave, and more his continued frustration with his reoccurring injury that he seems to be pinning on the Spurs medical staff.
But to us and Stephen A., that smells like a cop out. He’s just done living in San Antonio, it seems; he’s done with the River Walk.
So where is he going?
Kawhi, banal king of the world, casually said he wants to be traded to the Lakers a year before his free agency in 2019. So yep, we’re in for an awkward NBA offseason. And here’s a reminder that this is all Zaza Pachulia’s fault.
Side note: We’ve already moved on from a general manager’s wife making 78 fake Twitter accounts to defend her husband’s collared shirt choices. NBA time waits for no man or woman.
We asked, and you spoke
Last week, we asked for some feedback on how we’ve been doing. We wanted you to give it to us straight. And you certainly did. Here are some of the comments that came our way.
“Dude, I’m loving the Grip. Just wish I could see it more often.” - Alex M.We do too, man. If you pay us we will…
“I usually skim through the long articles, but I always read through the Quick Hits.” - Kyle M.Appreciate the honesty, Kyle.
“Thank you for your message. I am out of the office for immediate assistance.” - Marshall B.Thanks for letting us know brotha.
Keep ‘em coming folks. Don’t ever be afraid to tell us how you really feel.
What to read
Why doesn’t anyone want to work for the Grizzlies? >>
There's never a bad time with Deandre Ayton >>
Should big games in March sway the NBA Draft in June? >>
The one-highlight guide to the NBA Draft >>
The next phase of NBA superteazm technology >>
Should the Celtics put Jaylen Brown in a Kawhi trade? >>
How LeBron James Mastered the Media >>
What to listen to
Pat vs. The House
There will be no NBA basketball for a while, but let’s all watch the BIG 3 basketball league together. We can look back at all the great memories we have of watching these players in the NBA. And if those memories aren’t enough to grab your attention, just bet a mood-altering amount of money on your favorite team. Which team will I impulsively bet on, you ask? See below.
3S COMPANY
(+400) [Dermarr Johnson, Baron Davis, Drew Gooden]
Remember that Baron Davis dunk over Andrei Kirilenko? Look it up. It was cool. That being said, I don't know who Demarr Johnson is. And for that reason, I'm out.
3 HEADED MONSTERS
(+400) [Rashard Lewis, Reggie Evans, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf]
For a very brief period, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was Steph Curry before Steph Curry was Steph Curry. People forget.
TRILOGY
(+400) [Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington, Rashad McCants]
Kenyon Martin once received a technical foul in the NBA Finals for arguing a foul call while guarding Shaquille O'Neal. As it turned out, the foul wasn't even called on Martin. It was an offensive foul on Shaq. I hope we get to see that same, misplaced passion in the BIG 3 basketball league.
KILLER 3S
(+500) [Chauncey Billups, Metta World Peace, Stephen Jackson]
This team is worth watching, even if it's only to see if Ron Artest is still the comically irrational mad man that we all know and love. AND they have Mr. Big Shot?! Sign me up.
BALL HOGS
(+500) [Brian Scalabrine, Josh Childress, DeShawn Stevenson]
Led by the Celtics legend, Brian Scalabrine, this team will be fun to root for, but I wouldn't put my money on these guys.
POWER
(+600) [Corey Maggette, Cuttino Mobley, Glen Davis]
My favorite NBA 2K player of all-time, Cutting Mobley, is going to show some crafty veteran moves this season. He's like the older gentlemen that surprises you when you play half-court pickup with him at the rec center.
TRI STATE
(+700) [Jermaine O'Neal, Amar'e Stoudamire, Nate Robinson]
Amar'e Stoudamire should be the most dominant big man in this league. He's only 35, which is relatively young in this league (Abdul-Rauf is 49). Remember all those Nash & Amar'e pick-and-rolls? I do.
GHOST BALLERS
(+800) [Mike Bibby, Ricky Davis, Carlos Boozer]
Mike Bibby is jacked now, so it will be exciting to see a post-up game from the Kings legend. Also, maybe Carlos Boozer will paint hair on his head again. Remember that?
Pat's Championship Pick
-- Killer 3s over 3 Headed Monsters