Kings Make Bad Trade With Sixers

Unless you’re a Kings fan, you gotta love the Kings!  They draft guys like Thomas Robinson and Nik Stauskas and then give up on them immediately; however, busts like Jimmer Freddette are given three years to improve (Yikes!)  They trade for, then extend lackluster players like Rudy Gay, and they trade first round draft picks so they can acquire dudes like JJ Hickson.  Imagine trading a first-round pick (and Omri Casspi) for JJ Hickson?  I wouldn’t trade a ham sandwich and the rights to Darius Miles for JJ Hickson.

But to limit Sacramento’s ineptitude solely to the court would be an oversight–they also have the worst ownership in basketball (has James Dolan been dethroned?).  Vivek Ranadive, who bought the team in 2013, has been fucking up for close to two years now.  Not only has he suggested the laughable idea of playing 4-on-5 basketball, but he also has a strong tendency to hire head coaches and THEN hire GM’s with radically different perspectives on how to succeed.  Mike Malone, the ONLY NBA coach that has seemed to garner DeMarcus Cousins’ respect, was unceremoniously tossed aside after starting the season 5-1, but soon falling to 11-13 due mainly to a Cousins’ injury in which he missed close to two weeks.  Malone almost immediately clashed with newly hired GM Peter D’Allesandro, and D’Allesandro won.  All worked out for Malone, though; he was named head coach of the Denver Nuggets and can now lament the fact that he had more fun coaching his daughter’s basketball team than the Kings.

Ranadive later imposed his will by replacing interim coach with veteran coach George Karl, a coach who was seemingly not informed that DeMarcus Cousins is the centerpiece of the team and tried to trade him immediately.  Almost instantly, Ranadive decided to bring on Vlade Divac as general manager, who has reportedly already feuded with Karl concerning the direction of the team.  And I wouldn’t be surprised if this latest move doesn’t go over well with some with the franchise…

The Kings have agreed to send Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, and Jason Thompson to Philadelphia for the rights to two overseas players, Arturus Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic.  Philadelphia will also receive a future Top-10-protected pick and the right to swap two future first round picks.  Sacramento will receive a future second round pick.

Wow!  …Just wow!  No need to explain how Philly made out in this heist trade, but let’s examine why Sacramento would do this.  First of all, it’s all about cap space.  Before this trade, the Kings had roughly $11 million to throw at free agents, after the trade, they should have close to $26 million.  Which would be kinda cool if they were looking at better free agents.  Reportedly, the Kings are pursuing some combination of (or perhaps the entire trifecta of) Rajon Rondo, Wes Matthews, and Monta Ellis.  Now I’m not gonna beat up on Ellis, he is what he is, and you know what you’re getting.  He was effective in Dallas, and if you want a volume scorer and you’re okay with the price tag–have a blast!  I like Wes Matthews’ game, but there are some red flags…  Actually just two, he torn his left achilles tendon last March and he still wants $15M a year.  I’d be cautious.  And Rajon Rondo?  Rondo?  You gotta be shitting me.  Shouldn’t this guy be out the league?  I thought by now he’d be blackballed ala Stephon Marbury or Isiah Rider.  He’s no longer a top 30 (yes, THIRTY) point guard in the league; he can’t shoot; he’s extremely selfish; he’s often injured; and he’s just seems to act like a dick in general.  Oh yeah, and he’s delusional enough to believe he should be paid $10M a year… Despite no other team showing ANY interest in him.  Someone needs to explain capitalism to him (or perhaps the Kings).

The even scarier part is the Kings’ willingness to part with draft picks.  Not only are they parting with the 2014 #8 pick (Stauskas), but to toss in a Top-10-protected future first rounder is crazy (in fact, I could easily see them drafting between 11-16 by 2018).  And the idea of swapping picks is just nuts!  It’s basically an insurance policy just in case things work out for the Sixers and they’re a decent team in two-three years, they can still swap picks with a really crummy Kings squad…  Move over Knicks, you’ve met your match in ineptitude.

Breakfast Links 6-29-15

76ers :: Philly to seek $3M in compensation for Bynum

Cavs :: LeBron James opts out; Expected to return

Cavs :: Team expected to offer Love 5-year deal

Nets :: BKN and MEM discuss possible Joe Johnson trade

Suns :: Phoenix to agree to 5-yr, $70M extension with Knight

Suns :: Team will look to trade Eric Bledsoe

Recommended film: Fresh (1994)
Highly slept-on hip hop cinema. Sean Nelson kills it and Chuckie says a bunch of funny shit. Plus there’s like three original Wu-Tang songs on the soundtrack.

Breakfast Links 6-28-15

76ers :: Sixers did not disclose Holiday’s injury; fined $3M by NBA

Celtics :: Boston will continue to shop Marcus Smart after draft

Heat :: Miami says, ‘No thanks,’ to team option on Beasley

Jazz :: Utah extends qualifying offer to Joe Ingles

Lakers :: Bryant says Nance, Jr. tweet is “water under the bridge

Lakers :: Marc Gasol has “no interest” in joining Lakers

Magic :: Orlando declines player option on Ben Gordon

Pistons :: Greg Monroe to meet with 5 teams in free agency; Pistons are not one of them

NBA :: Sergio Rodriguez is contemplating an NBA return

Recommended music: Apathy- “Eastern Philosophy”
Debut album from Connecticut’s most consistent rapper.

 

Moving Forward With Jahlil Okafor

The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the world (and more importantly dedicated 76ers fans) Thursday when they selected D’Angelo Russell with the #3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.  For months we assumed the Wolves would take Karl-Anthony Towns (which they did) and the Lakers would take Jahlil Okafor (which they did not).  Had those dominoes fallen correctly, the Sixers would have been able to add the sharp-shooting, playmaking point guard that they decided Michael-Carter Williams was not last February.

Now there’s certainly no guarantee that Russell becomes the superior player, but some say he would’ve done a better job than Okafor of filling the Sixers’ “team needs.”  Admittedly, I would’ve preferred D’Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor, but guess what?  I would’ve preferred Andrew Wiggins over Joell Embiid, as well.  You can only get so upset that your team didn’t take a guy who was off the board.

With Towns and Russell gone, the Sixers decided to take the best player available (and there should be no dispute who the BPA was)…  Again, some could say the 76ers should have taken a different approach and filled in their “team needs.”  What do the Sixers need?  Well do I have to state the obvious?  Philadelphia has one player–Nerlens Noel.  He can play either the 4 or the 5… so you need everything else.

Let’s be clear: the reason that a small but substantial segment of Sixers fans are upset with the draft really has nothing to do with Jahlil Okafor at all—they’re just upset that “the process,” like any process, takes time. They hoped after three Hinkie drafts, we’d have elite, first round talent at three positions, not three first round talents at the same position.

Going into this draft, many Sixers fans were previously upset with Hinkie’s love for all things injured and unready to contribute.  During the 2013 Draft, the Sixers acquired Nerlens Noel, knowing that he would have to sit out an entire season.  In 2014, Sixers fans hoped to turn their two lottery picks into players that could help them win immediately; instead they got Joell Embiid (who like Noel would have to sit an entire season) and Elfrid Payton (who was immediately shipped to Orlando in exchange for Dario Saric, who could play for the Sixers in 2016/17 at the earliest).  Then on Thursday, Okafor was selected.  And although he’s healthy (and will most likely be on the court before Embiid), the Sixers essentially have four players penciled in for the future, three centers and a power forward, two guys that will play and two guys that won’t.  So where does everyone fit in?

Many 76ers fans acknowledge that there’s now a logjam of sorts at the center position.  They assume that there’s no way that Noel, Okafor, and Embiid can play together.  Now while that could be an issue in the future, let me really clear (and realistic, and brutally honest) about this… Joell Embiid doesn’t play.  He doesn’t.  I like the guy; a year later, still like the pick, but dude doesn’t play.  He’s played the same amount of minutes as Andrew Bynum played with the Sixers, and his rehabilitation is going so slowly that he makes Jason Richardson look like A.C. Green.  So while it’s true that our three best players all play the same position, one guy doesn’t play it. And as SI.com’s Chris Mannix acknowledges, there is a strong chance a trade could still happen, but in the mean time, Okafor and Noel could be quite effective playing together…

Okafor is the most appealing prospect on the board, and over the next few hours GM Sam Hinkie will be on the phone with half the GMs in the league who will try to pry Okafor out of Philadelphia. Still, if Joel Embiid’s most recent setback is real, Philadelphia would be wise to keep the talented center, whose skills would be a nice complement to defensive-minded forward Nerlens Noel.

Nonetheless, many Philadelphia fans remain unhappy with the Sixers’ selection… despite not having any better options.  Let’s be serious, what else can the Sixers have done? Selected Prozingis? Mudiay? Move down in the lottery and tried to make a move on Winslow?

Like many other 76ers fans, I was very excited at the possibility of drafting either Russell of Emmanuel Mudiay and landing our “point guard of the future (keyword: future).”  And if you’re anything like me and you’ve been defending “the process” for the last two years, then you know the future isn’t exactly around the corner–the Sixers have at least one more lackluster season ahead.  So assuming the Sixers future starts in 2016/17, do we need a point guard on day one?  In today’s NBA, is there an easier need to fill than point guard?  Shit, we’re still two days away from the beginning of free agency and dudes like Eric Bledsoe and Ty Lawson are allegedly out there for the taking…  Luke Ridnour’s been on four teams in less than a day, Rajon Rondo might not even have a job next year.  Point guards are everywhere!!  Conversely, there seems to currently be a high premium on big men that can score with their back-to-the-basket.  Timofey Mozgov got traded for TWO first round picks last season?!?  Demarcus Cousins might get swapped for a castle and a continent!!

Some people (including myself) were bummed the Sixers failed to move into the late lottery/ mid-first round and grab some of the talent that slipped, but let’s be realistic, A) would it be worth it? and B) was it possible?  Let’s start with A.  From picks #8-#18, the only two guys I’d want to bring into Philly would be Justise Winslow (#10) and Cameron Payne (#14).  Winslow was such an absolute steal at #10 that the Celtics reportedly offered a deal that included SIX potential first rounders.  Oddly, Charlotte said, “No bueno,” to the C’s and selected Frank Kaminsky in an effort to extend their legacy of mediocrity on and off the court.  If Boston’s package wasn’t enough to obtain Winslow, I would hate to see what the Sixers would have to do to get him.  Four picks later, Payne was also off the board.  Again, I’m not sure the Sixers were willing to part with the assets required to move into the end of the lottery, and ultimately, I’m okay with that.

Let’s see what it would’ve taken to get into the back of the lottery.  Now everyone in Philadelphia had a good laugh at the Celtics when they offered the Sixers Marcus Smart, the #16, and the #28 pick in exchange for Nerlens Noel and the #3 pick (I’m still baffled at that one…).  The point of that story is not only to mock the C’s, but to give us an idea of how highly valued even mid-to-late first-rounders are nowadays.  The earliest draftee involved in a trade was Kelly Oubre, Jr. (#15) who was swapped for the 19^th pick and two future second round picks (which again, seems steep for Kelly Oubre).  The bottom line is that no matter how enamored we can become with the idea of young talent, you have to consider the price.  And from what we’ve seen from Sam Hinkie thus far, there’s no reason to believe that he would abandon “the process” solely to bring in Devin Booker or Terry Rozier.

I don’t know if it was the two first-round picks in 2013 and two more in 2014 or the pre-draft lottery notion that the 76ers could have up to three lottery selections, but it seems like many Sixers fans do not like the idea of only getting one lottery-worthy player out of a draft. Sorry. Imagine being a Knicks fan. Or a Nets fan. And although I’m sure D’Angelo Russell was going to be welcomed with open arms, it’s hard for me to imagine any selection OTHER than Okafor going over well with the fans at #3. Mudiay would’ve seemed like a stretch; Kristaps Prozingis seems a lot like Dario Saric; Did we really want Willie-Cauley Stein? Nah, son. So why did the Okafor pick get such a lukewarm reception?

Okafor is a 6’11”, 275-pound freshman center who does most of his offensive work in the post.  By most accounts, he is BY FAR the most polished offensive player in the draft; it’s quite possible that Okafor can step in NEXT YEAR and average 16-20 PPG.  Okafor’s eons ahead of most bigs his age; he’s strong and uses his weight efficiently, has numerous moves and counters, and is an outstanding passer out of double teams.  He also has soft hands and runs the floor very well.  However, despite his size, Okafor is a subpar defensive rebounder and a poor defender.  He struggles defending pick and rolls and is not much of a rim protector.

I’m not too concerned with Okafor’s rim protecting. He’s a young dude (that I assume will become a moderately improved shot blocker) and he’s playing next to Noel who should make up for a lot of Jah’s deficiencies. More importantly though, dude is gonna be scoring! He’s coming in day one with an offense that looks to get him touches immediately. I don’t want to get to optimistic, but I think he’s going to be Rookie of the Year. And how exciting will it be to see a Sixers rookie score 16-20 PPG and not have to go 6 for 25 to make it happen (sorry, MCW… I’m still a fan).

Breakfast Links 6-27-15

76ers :: Sign TJ McConnell to partially guaranteed deal

Blazers :: Olshey denies Aldridge’s impending departure

Hornets :: Charlotte reportedly turns down mega offer from BOS for #9 pick

Kings :: Ranadive gave Cousins’ agent permission to pursue LAL trade

Knicks :: Carmelo backs Prozingis pick

Nets :: Brooke Lopez will opt out; Likely to stay in Brooklyn

Warriors :: GM Bob Myers says Warriors will bring back Marreese Speights

Wizards :: Paul Pierce will opt out; Clips favorite to land Truth

NBA :: Alexander, Wood amongst the undrafted

NBA :: CJ McCollum interviews Adam Silver

Recommended television: Married With Children (reruns on TBS)
The BEST 80’s sitcom ever. Whoa Bundy!!

Orlando Summer League Roster Recap 2014

Boston Celtics

Player to watch: Marcus Smart Assuming Rondo is on his way out, this is gonna be Smart’s team to run. People are in love with his size and his work ethic, but can he develop the shot Rondo never could?

Notable rookies: James Young Boston absolutely stole this dude with the #18 pick in this year’s draft. He’s a crafty lefty with a reliable jumper and should improve greatly over the next few years.

Other players to watch: Kelly Olynyk Boston’s 2013 lottery pick is back for another summer to build on his rookie campaign. With a year under his belt, C’s fans would hope for a productive summer league.

How did he get here? Edwin Jackson Jackson’s a 24-year-old guard from France. He’s been playing professionally overseas for 7 years and I bet that streak continues.

 

Brooklyn Nets

Player to watch: Markel Brown Allegedly, the Nets bought this pick for a cool mill. Marcus Smart’s backcourt mate does bring a lot to the table. He’s a solid offensive player that doesn’t try to do too much.  He was a four year player at OK State and has been praised as a natural leader.

Notable rookie: Xavier Thames Thames is a knockdown shooter who could’ve gone much higher in the draft. He’s an undersized two that probably won’t be able to play the point at the NBA level. He needs to play off the ball to thrive.

Other players to watch: Mason Plumlee If you watched the Nets play last year, you’re aware of the impact Plumlee made. He’s an aggressive big that can finish around the rim. He’s one of the few bright spots going forward for the Nets.

How did he get here? Donte Green At 25, Green is starting to get a bit long in the tooth. He had a decent 2009/10 season with the Kings, but hasn’t played in the league since the Celtics waived him in 2012. Good luck, youngblood!

Detroit Pistons

Player to watch: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope The 2013 #8 pick showed flashes of brilliance last year, but I won’t hold him personally responsible for what became of the Pistons’ 2013/14 season. I think there’s a good chance KCP puts up some gawdy scoring numbers in Orlando.

Notable rookie: Spencer Dinwiddie Dinwiddie’s a 6’6” combo guard who knows how to get to the hoop. He’s also a solid shooter from anywhere on the floor. He could end up being a real steal for the Pistons at #38.

Other player to watch: Peyton Siva Siva spent the majority of last season sitting behind Brandon Jennings and if your ear’s to the street, he could be possibly sitting behind Isaiah Thomas soon as well. If you’re a Peyton Siva fan, this might be your only chance to see him on the hardwood.

How did he get here? Tim Olbrecht Olbrecht has NBA experience. 12 minutes of it. The 25-year-old German played in three games with Houston in 2012/13. He’ll probably never make the main stage again.

Indiana Pacers

Player to watch: Solomon Hill A lot of people thought Indiana made a big splash last year when they selected Hill with the 23^rd pick in the draft. They didn’t. He only appeared in 28 games averaging 1.8 PPG. Maybe he can turn things around this year.

Notable rookie: None Pacers didn’t have any picks in the 2014 draft and just seem to be loading their summer league team with dudes that will end up somewhere else.

Other player to watch: Donald Sloan Let’s be honest, no one here is too excited to see Sloan play, but he has been able to stay afloat in the NBA since 2011. Perhaps he can catch on with the Pacers after appearing in 48 games with them last year.

How did he get here? Lavoy Allen After being close to a real NBA player with the Sixers in 2012, Allen is entering his 4^th NBA season in summer league. Allen played a career low 8 minutes per game last season.

Memphis Grizzlies

Player to watch: Jordan Adams The Grizzlies selected Adams with the 21^st overall pick in this year’s draft. He’s a solid shooter and should be able to help the Grizz’ backcourt, but isn’t much of an athlete. He could be a liability defending wings.

Notable rookie: Jarnell Stokes Originally selected by Utah, Memphis dealt a future 2^nd rounder in exchange for Stokes. He’s a bit undersized for a PF at 6’8”, but he’s got a big body and can establish himself in the post.

Other player to watch: Jamaal Franklin Many were excited when the Grizz selected the SDSU product with the 41^st pick in last year’s draft. They were expecting Kawhi Leonard. Instead they got a guy who averaged less than a bucket last season. This could be a make or break season for Franklin.

How did he get here? Niels Giffey Giffey helped win two chips at Connecticut. He’s a knockdown shooter, but is there any room for a guy who averaged 4.6 PPG over his four-year career? I’m saying no.

Miami Heat

Player to watch: Shabazz Napier We’re gonna combine player to watch with notable rookie here because there’s only one player here anybody (the team and fans) care about, LBJ’s hand-selected late first-round pick. Say goodbye to Mario Chalmers.

Other player to watch: Larry Drew II Drew’s a solid ball distributor who lost his job at UNC to Kendall Marshall three years ago and has struggled to find relevancy since. At 24 years old, he might not get many more chances.

How did he get here? Tyler Honeycutt This guy’s bad news. The first time someone believed in him, he made zero impact in the league. He’s known mostly for being on the take at UCLA and burning his former agent.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Player to watch: Mitch McGary Many thought the Thunder reached for McGary when they took him 21^st in this year’s draft, but hey, sometimes you gotta go out and get the guy you want. He’s a quick big man willing to crash the boards, but his offensive game needs some work.

Notable rookie: Semaj Christon The 55^th overall pick in this year’s draft is a quick point guard who loves to play in transition and can get to the rim. His jumper’s a bit shaky right now.

Other players to watch: Steven Adams Kendrick Perkins, don’t get too comfortable. The Thunder have found your replacement. I think he’s already better than you.

How did he get here? Nolan Smith After two years of cold chilling on Portland’s bench, Nolan Smith is trying to catch on somewhere. Part of me believes it won’t be in the States.

Orlando Magic

Player to watch: Aaron Gordon

Gordon might take a few years to develop but I really believe this guy can’t miss. So do many others judging by the way he rocketed up the draft board last June. However, he still needs to work on everything relative to shooting a basketball.

Notable rookie: Elfrid Payton Payton’s another guy who worked his way up the board last week. He’s a tall, quick point guard with an excellent handle who can get to the rim.

Other player to watch: Victor Oladipo After playing last year at the point, Oladipo should benefit from more opportunities to play off the ball this year.

How did he get here? Seth Curry/ Kim English Two shooters that didn’t play in the league last year. Two shooters who won’t play in the league this year.

Philadelphia 76ers

Player to watch: Nerlens Noel After basically not playing basketball for 18 months, everyone’s anxious to see Noel begin his rookie campaign. Noel is still very unpolished at the offensive end, but should be able to contribute immediately on the defensive end. Notable rookie: K.J. McDaniels McDaniels played three seasons at Clemson. He’s an excellent rebounder despite standing just 6’6” and plays well in transition.  Look for McDaniels to contribute immediately on the defensive end where he can guard the 1, 2, and 3.

Other player to watch: Travis Bader Bader, an undrafted guard from Oakland, knocked down 504 3-pointers over his four years over his career. Although he may have trouble guarding NBA twos, it is worth noting that he has some size at 6’5”.

How did he get there? Aaron Craft This guy isn’t even a prospect. He’s a solid defender with a high basketball IQ, but he’s in over his head here. I cannot describe how bad his jumper looks.

Who is in a more disheartening position? Carmelo Anthony or Thaddeus Young?

Carmelo Anthony

Where is he now?

Melo’s in a bad spot. He’s arguably having the best season of his career averaging 28.2 PPG (2^nd in the NBA behind Kevin Durant, 31.6 PPG) and accounts for 28.8% of his team’s offense (2^nd in the NBA behind Kevin Durant, 30.2%). Additionally, Melo has been pulling down a career-high 8.6 boards a game (19^th in the NBA) and has a PER of 25.4 (8^th in the NBA). Unfortunately, he’s on the Knicks… And they’re god damn terrible. NYK is currently 11^th (5.5 games out of 8^th place) in the worst Eastern Conference in the history of the NBA, and barring a miracle, they’re not going to the playoffs (this year or next). Despite the Knicks’ struggles, Carmelo’s looked really good this season. He’s shooting efficiently, scoring a shitload of points, rebounding aggressively, and even showing signs of life on the defensive end.  Even the biggest Melo haters would have to concede he’s having a very efficient season, dude just doesn’t have anything around him.

What does he have around him?

Well let’s start with the good. Tim Hardaway Jr. has had an impressive rookie campaign… And I hear Tyson Chandler is a nice guy. Some people still like Iman Shumpert, but I think I’m off the bandwagon—he’s always hurt and perpetually on the trading block. Now on to the bad… He’s being led by a lame duck coach, the worst starting point guard in the NBA, and J.R. Smith, whom (for better or worse) Anthony has played parts of 8 seasons with. I mean if you were Batman, could you select a more undesirable Robin? And if that’s not bad enough, you still have the ghost of Amare Stoudamire wearing furs and scoring a career-low 10.1 PPG. Rounding out this dysfunctional bunch, you have Andrea Bargnani (which cost the Knicks a first rounder), Kenyon Martin (allergic to hardwood), and Pablo Prigioni (37 this May)… So after Melo and Hardaway, the most desirable piece the Knicks have just may be Jeremy Tyler (yikes!).

What’re the team’s prospects?

Dismal. Due to the fact that the 2014 NBA Draft is widely considered to be the strongest draft class since 2003, it’s only logical that the Knicks would do whatever they could to not pick in it. Mission accomplished! Their first rounder is headed to Denver (from the Carmelo/ Danilo deal) and their second round pick is going to Houston as part of the Marcus Camby trade. It’s also worth noting that if the Knicks somehow have a decent pick in 2016, the Nuggets have the right to swap first rounders with New York (also via the Melo/ Gallinari deal).

As far as current salaries, the Knicks couldn’t be more handcuffed. Imagine having JR Smith and Raymond Felton both signed through 2014/15, and both have PLAYER OPTIONS for 15/16 (Smith for $6.4M and Felton at $4.5M)?!? In fact, in addition to Smith and Felton, they also have Amare, Chandler, Bargnani, Shumpert, and Prigioni ALL under contract through 2014/15! And unfortunately, this isn’t ten years ago. One thing we learned from this season’s trade deadline is that due to the new CBA, expiring contracts don’t hold the value they used to. In other words, no one’s biting on Amare’s contract like they would have Raef LaFrentz’s or Theo Ratliff’s expiring deals in the past.  Again, the only bright spot for the Knicks remains Tim Hardaway Jr’s deal. He has team options that take him through 2016/17.

What’re the individual’s prospects?

Well it all comes down to Melo and how much he really wants to stay in New York. Anthony has a player option for $23.5M and for most players, it would be hard to walk away from that kinda gwop. But this isn’t one of those Charlie Villaneuva/ Ben Gordon-type situations where the player would be a fool to walk away, Carmelo actually holds value. He could easily find a suitor to throw a max-deal at him (Mavericks, Lakers?), but how much does Melo really want to stay in New York? Recently, Anthony has reportedly stated that he would be willing to take less than a max deal to stay with the Knicks (although New York would still be able to offer him more years and more money than any other team). But Melo’s not a kid anymore—he’s turning 30 this May, and although he’s never suffered from any catastrophic injuries, he’s in his 11^th NBA season and his body has logged a ton of mileage. Nonetheless, I still think it’s quite plausible that Anthony can continue to play on an elite level for another 3-4 seasons.

Thad Young

Where is he now?                                                                                                                    

On the second worst team in the NBA, and that could become the WORST team very shortly. The Sixers recently dealt their leading scorer Evan Turner and their leading rebounder Spencer Hawes. Poor Thaddeus Young—he’s the only remaining player from a Sixers team that was one win away from the Eastern Conference just two seasons ago. Nonetheless, Young’s had a breakout season. He’s currently averaging career-highs in scoring (17.5 PPG), assists (2.0), and steals (2.2). But what do those numbers mean? Sure, a strong argument can be made (and was made against Turner for the first half of the season) that his numbers are greatly inflated due to the fact that he plays with scrubs, but Thad has a very respectable PER of 17.67.

What does he have around him?

The Sixers might be first NBA team ever to have only 2 above-average players, Young and Michael-Carter Williams. Besides them, you would be hard pressed to describe any player on the Sixers’ roster as “good.” To be clear, I love Tony Wroten, but the Grizzlies did essentially trade him for (less than) a bag of basketballs. The 76ers’ plan moving forward is quite clear: Carter-Williams is the point guard and Nerlens Noel is the center. Other than those two, no one is guaranteed a spot on next year’s roster (well perhaps the untradeable and never present Jason Richardson).

What’re the team’ prospects?

Winning either this year or next year seems highly unlikely. Even the idea of playing .500 basketball by 2015/16 seems to be a stretch. But GM Sam Hinkie has a plan. He’s got 7 picks in this year’s draft (2 possible lottery picks and 5 2^nd rounders) and a ton of cap space. One would hope that Hinkie could unearth a 2^nd round gem such as Chandler Parsons as he did with Houston, or perhaps even land a top-tier free agent, although that could prove difficult without any other “superstar” players to lure in such talent. The Sixers have never been known as top free agent landing spot (ahem, Elton Brand).

What’re the individual’s prospects?

The worst case scenario for Thad Young is simple: After he plays the remainder of this season, the Sixers force him to play the entire 2014/15 season in Philadelphia as well… After that, Young has options. He could then either A) accept his player option in 2015/16 for $9.7M or B) bail—and go somewhere where they play competitive hoops. However, I doubt Thad makes it through this summer in Philadelphia. I very much anticipate the 76ers move Young on draft night. So unless they trade him to Milwaukee (or perhaps New York or Brooklyn), he HAS to go to a better team. If he goes to a middle of the pack team (such as an Atlanta or Chicago), he can just play out the season and pick his own destination in the summer of 2015. If he likes where he ends up (Houston or Portland?), perhaps he’ll pick up his option and play two seasons on a competitive squad. The least likely scenario involves Young re-signing with the Sixers. Simply stated, it’s just not gonna happen. Both parties are looking to move in a new direction. What most people don’t realize is that the 8-year veteran turns just 26 years old this June.

The bottom line…

It depends what your goals are. First, the obvious… Carmelo Anthony is a superior basketball player to Thaddeus Young—that cannot be debated. If Melo can win a championship in NYC, he’ll stand on top of the basketball world. He’ll walk around New York like he’s Jay-Z, and will literally go down as one of the greatest Knicks of all-time (this isn’t Boston or LA, just one chip does it). But the Knicks are going to be bad. They’re bad now, they’re gonna be bad next season, and there’s no reason to believe they will turn it around any time shortly after that. The Knicks might not be a playoff-caliber squad until Melo’s 34 years old. Does Anthony really want to spend the prime of his career scoring 34 PPG (with summers off)? If I was Melo, I’d get the hell out of dodge! Signing with New York for less than the max shouldn’t even be an option. Signing with New York FOR the max shouldn’t be a viable option either. He’s already made over $135M in his career—it’s time to go play for a winner. Sadly, the Knicks don’t have any options other than signing him, and in all honesty, I don’t see Melo walking away from that cake.

Good news, Thaddeus! There’s light at the end of the tunnel—and the tunnel’s not that long. I’m going to assume June 26, 2014 will be his last as a Sixer. It makes all the sense in the world for both parties to move him on draft night. The 76ers’ trade partner will receive a quality forward (who can play both positions) who has one year left at $9.2M and a player option for 2015/16 for $9.7M. At the least, if Young opts out, the team will own his Bird rights… For the tanking Sixers, a draft night trade will most likely yield a return much greater than what Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes brought back at the trading deadline. If for whatever reason Young starts next season in Philadelphia, he will be moved during the season. It’s very unlikely Philadelphia sees him as a building block for their future…

So who’s in a more disheartening position? Who would you rather be? I’d rather be Thaddeus Young. He has carte-blanche to do whatever he wants to do. Expecations are nill in Philly. All Young has to do is play major minutes, lose by 30, and plan for the future. You’re either gonna be dealt to a contender (it’s very unlikely a struggling team trades for him), or you’re gonna bolt Philly and choose your own suitor.  While it’s true Melo is a better player, more sought out free agent, and possible franchise cornerstone, he’s not in a position to succeed right now. No matter how many 40-point nights he can post, he’s the franchise player on the most disappointing franchise in the league. If he decided to sign an extension with NYK, he’s signing his own death certificate. If he bolts to LA, he’s still gonna be on a bad team in a city with lofty, unrealistic goals… AND HE will be held accountable for all of the losing. Ask Pau Gasol how much fun that is? If he goes to Chicago, what will happen there? Derrick Rose will watch him play basketball? Admittedly, it’s a better situation than New York and LA… You have a dominant, All-Star level center, a young, defensively gifted wing player, and one of the best 5 coaches in the NBA. But where would Melo fit in with this roster? Is there any room for 32 shot attempts and Jimmer Freddette-level defense? I’m not quite sure. Anthony is going to have to pick his own poison, and because there no clear cut Plan A, I have a feeling Melo’s gonna go with Plan Z, re-sign with the Knicks. Cash those checks and play regular season basketball. And if he gets the chance, watch Thad Young play next May.