Grind City Media’s Lang Whitaker and Kelcey Wright Johnson weigh in on the most pertinent news from around the NBA. What’s lit? What’s lame? Find out each week right here.
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 9:27 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: IMHO
Kelcey:
Are you ready for some kinda crazy news: The NBA season is starting! Like, really, training camps are starting any day now, and then preseason games, and then we have regular season games happening right around the corner.
Last week we talked a lot about the draft and some of the bigger free agency moves that went down last week, when we had that free agency frenzy of moves with players going all over the map. So now that we’ve had a little time to digest everything that’s gone down, give me a team that you think came out of last week better than they were when they went into it, and then give me a team that you don’t think came away improved.
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2020 9:33 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
What’s going on, Lang?
Preseason games are less than two weeks away — like, what?!
Let’s waste no time diving in:
The team I think made the best moves and is coming out way better than they were before free agency is Atlanta (Philly and Phoenix are my runners-up). Not only did they add a great veteran presence in Solomon Hill (seriously — I’ve seen firsthand how incredible the energy and competitiveness he brings to practices is). But they’ve also added Bogdanovic and Rondo in the guard positions, and Clint Capela and Danilo Gallinari in the bigs spots. PLUS Kris Dunn, who is a great wing-defender (something that Trae Young is not). PLUS PLUS (haha) drafting Onyeka Okongwu with their sixth pick was a great fit for them, as he’s another big body that moves well on the defensive end guarding multiple positions.
The team that I think isn’t coming out any better is Detroit. To be completely frank with you, Lang… I don’t even really understand the reasons behind any of their moves.
They picked up Jerami Grant (who I really liked on the Nuggets), Delon Wright, Jahlil Okafor, Mason Plumlee and Josh Jackson. I don’t know, call me crazy but for a team that barely finished .500 they made no IMPACT moves. I guess Grant becomes a primary scoring options along with Rose and Griffin? Ok, cool… but what else?
But not to completely tear down their roster: I really do like Killian Hayes.
What about you, Lang? Who is your biggest winner and biggest loser when it comes to FA and roster moves last week?
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 9:17 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: Re: IMHO
Well, I actually wasn’t that thrilled with what the Hawks did. They are going to be better than they were last year, sure, but they spent a boatload of money to become a bottom-tier playoff team, and I still don’t really understand the path going forward beyond just relying on Trae Young, I guess, which is as good a plan as anyone has in the East. The Hawks had so many young players on that roster getting a lot of important development time, and now you’re just telling them it’s time to produce. I wouldn’t say the Hawks were the biggest loser—like I said, they’re probably a playoff team now—I just wasn’t blown away by their moves. I am, however, with you on Detroit.
The team that I thought had a great run last week was Philly. They already hired Doc Rivers, and then made simple, logical moves to fix their issues. Need shooting? Go out and get Seth Curry and Danny Green, then draft Isaiah Joe. Got too much cap tied up in Al Horford, who wasn’t a good fit with the Sixers? Trade him away. Need a fresh voice on the sideline? Hire Doc Rivers. And need an athletic back up for Embiid? Sign Dwight Howard.
Nothing that Daryl Morey did seemed overly aggressive or like he was trying too hard. You’re not going to fix everything that ails you in a week, but Morey certainly seemed to get things off to a good start. Now if he can just get Ben Simmons to shoot from the perimeter…
Kelcey, I’m sure you, like me and the rest of NBA Twitter, saw Nate Robinson’s boxing match (if you want to call it that) this weekend, which ended with Nate face-down on the canvas. The thing that was so wild about it, to me, is that Nate is one of the most incredible athletes of his generation—I think people forget he played football and basketball in college, and of course he was in all those dunk contests in the NBA. (He’s also one of my favorite people I’ve ever covered—he’s funny and genuine.) And he still got knocked out cold.
Anyway, this all got me thinking: Which current NBA player do you think would have the best chance of surviving ten rounds in the ring with a pro?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 8:22 AM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
This is hilarious. At first I’m thinking Ben Wallace or Dwight Howard…maybe even Rondo. But then I remember we had Ron Artest in the league. He’d be my choice for all-time. For a current player, I’d go with DeMarcus Cousins. He’s got a 7-6 wingspan attached to his 6-11, 270-pound body. He could definitely land at least one good punch by just throwing one of those long arms around.
Anyway, Lang I just had my first American Thanksgiving last week and I was happy to find out that people still go around the table and talk about what they’re thankful for. So, I’ll start by saying I am thankful the NBA is coming back, and I am thankful that Steph Curry is back healthy. I always enjoy watching his game and the way he’s able to create space with defenders even though they know he’s a top three shooter in NBA history. I’m also thankful that it *appears* Giannis is staying in the East — we don’t need that beast coming over to the Western Conference. And lastly, I’m thankful that we most likely will see new Ja Morant poster dunks THIS MONTH!
Tell me some things or players you’re thankful for this year!
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 8:54 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: Re: IMHO
Well, if we’re being honest, 2020 hasn’t been the easiest year to show gratitude. We’ve all been cooped up in our homes for the most part, and many things we took for granted have basically been taken away from us.
It would be really easy to complain about everything we’ve been dealt in 2020. Sure, maybe it’s a little inconvenient to slip a little rectangle of fabric over my mouth and nose the rare times I leave the house, but if it makes everyone else safer, and maybe it makes other people feel better, then I can deal with the minor inconvenience.
So that being said, instead of being upset about what I don’t have, I try very hard to be grateful for what I do have. I mean, I have a job where I work with great people, and an awesome family, and a place to live, and in just a few weeks, we will get to watch NBA basketball again! Maybe it’ll be in arenas that are quieter or not as full, or the season will be 72 games instead of 82, but whatever. Let me see Jonas Valanciunas set a bone-crunching screen at the top of the key, and see Ja coming off it to the right, driving, jumping, and throwing a dot to the wing for a three from Jaren.
And that’s something for which we can all be thankful.