Category: NBA

Arkansas wing Moses Moody was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the fourteenth pick in the 2o21 NBA Draft. Moody joins Jonathan Kuminga from the NBA G-League Ignite as Warrior draft picks in 2021. Moody became the sixth lottery pick in Arkansas history, joining Joe Kleine (1985 pick 6, Kings), Todd Day (1992 pick 8, Bucks), Corliss Williamson (1995 pick 13, Kings), Joe Johnson (2001 pick 10, Celtics), and Ronnie Brewer (2004 pick 14, Jazz). Moody averaged 16.8 points and 6 rebounds per game during the 2020-2021 season.

1.Detroit Pistons-Cade Cunningham, Guard, Oklahoma State (Freshman)
No matter who has the pick, whether it be Detroit, Houston, or anyone else, no one is going to ignore the best all-around player in the draft. Cunningham is an exquisite passer, improving scorer, and talented perimeter defender.
2.Houston Rockets-Jalen Green, Guard, G-League Ignite
Jalen Green said himself if he went to college for a year, he would’ve been the number one pick. He said that a year after he changed the college basketball landscape by landing with the G-League Ignite. Green is an awesome scorer and a good defender that needs to improve his passing.
3.Cleveland Cavaliers-Evan Mobley, Center, USC (Freshman)
Mobley is the most talented big man in the draft. He has a decent jumper and is a pretty good rim protector. There’s a chance that the Cavs could go Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs if they were to move on from Collin Sexton, but I’ll go Mobley for now.
4.Toronto Raptors-Jalen Suggs, Guard, Gonzaga (Freshman)
If you watched Jalen Suggs in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, there’s reason for him to go even higher. He is an awesome scorer, good passer, and good perimeter defender.
5.Orlando Magic-Jonathan Kuminga, Forward, G-League Ignite
Kuminga, similar to Jalen Green, would probably go higher in the draft if he got the college exposure his counterparts got. But, Kuminga is a pretty good scorer and can defend multiple positions. He will be a good fit in Orlando.
6.Oklahoma City Thunder-Scottie Barnes, Forward, Florida State (Freshman)
Scottie Barnes is a rangy, athletic forward that should help the Thunder longterm.
7.Golden State Warriors-Davion Mitchell, Guard, Baylor (Junior)
If Golden State doesn’t trade this pick for a third star, then this will be the pick. Mitchell is the best perimeter defender in the draft that showed his scoring ability off in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He is the perfect guy to come off the bench and replace Stephen Curry when he needs rest.
8.Orlando Magic-Moses Moody, Guard/Forward, Arkansas (Freshman)
Despite having a quiet NCAA Tournament, Moses Moody should go anywhere from the seventh pick to the end of the lottery. Orlando could be a fit, as they are always looking for perimeter scorers that can defend. Moody projects as a three and d star that can really shoot it.
9.Sacramento Kings-James Bouknight, Guard, Connecticut (Sophomore)
Bouknight is a phenomenal shooter that helped Connecticut get through their first season back in the Big East. With Buddy Hield likely on the way out, Bouknight will complement De’Aaron Fox well.
10.New Orleans Pelicans-Keon Johnson, Guard, Tennessee (Freshman)
Johnson is a freak athlete that will go along with Zion Williamson very well. While the Pelicans could use a shooter, they can address that need later in the draft.

According to multiple reports, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said that NBA expansion could come as soon as 2022. The two most likely locations according to Silver are returning to Seattle and Las Vegas. Here’s my proposed look at what the NBA would look like if the NBA were to expand:

*I am also adding other expansion teams to make the divisions even*

Eastern Conference

Atlantic
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Miami Heat
New York Knicks
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Washington Wizards

Central
Chicago Bulls
Cincinnati Lions
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Memphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks
New Orleans Pelicans
Toronto Raptors

Western Conference

Central
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
Kansas City Panthers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
St. Louis Arches
Utah Jazz

Pacific
Golden State Warriors
Las Vegas Stars
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Diego Surf
Seattle SuperSonics

2021 NBA Finals
2.Suns
3.Bucks

Schedule:
*If necessary*
Game 1: July 6, 9 PM ET, ABC
Game 2: July 8, 9 PM ET, ABC
Game 3: July 11, 8 PM ET, ABC
Game 4: July 14, 9 PM ET, ABC
*Game 5*: July 17, 9 PM ET, ABC
*Game 6*: July 20, 9 PM ET, ABC
*Game 7*: July 22, 9 PM ET, ABC

For the first time in so many years, there is no LeBron James or Stephen Curry in the NBA Finals. In fact, we saw them in the NBA’s newest addition to the playoffs this postseason, the play-in game, where James’ Lakers took care of Curry’s Warriors with LeBron’s game-winning three. The reason I say this is in the opening round the Suns eliminated LeBron for the first time ever in the first round. James’ record is now 14-1 in the first round. But, that is not what we are here to talk about. Of course, we are here to talk about the 2021 NBA Finals. The Chris Paul and Devin Booker led Phoenix Suns are set to battle against guard/forward Khris Middelton (20.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game), guard Jrue Holiday 17.7 points, 6.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds per game), and the Milwaukee Bucks. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (28.1 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists per game) has been sidelined with an injury for the Bucks, but Milwaukee was able to win games five and six in the Eastern Conference Finals over the Atlanta. Phoenix went 8-0 in last season’s “bubble” before not being able to qualify for last season’s playoffs. In the off-season they added veteran point guard Chris Paul (16 points and 9 assists per game this season), who was a Finals appearance away from cementing his legacy as an NBA Hall of Famer entering the year. Paul has helped young stars (guard) Devin Booker and (big man) DeAndre Ayton out guiding the Suns to their first Finals appearance since 1993. Booker has averaged 25.6 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while Ayton has averaged 14 points and almost 11 rebounds. With both teams winning their conference finals in six games, the match up can be seen as one as even as any NBA Finals match up we have seen since LeBron James’ Miami Heat faced off versus Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs in the summers of 2013 and 2014. Of course, with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo out for at least the first game or two, the Suns need to use that and home court advantage the first two games of the series to get an early series lead and finish the Bucks off before the “Greek Freak” comes back. It will be up to the aforementioned Khris Middelton and Jrue Holiday as well as big men Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis to get the Bucks going.

Prediction: Suns in 7

I hope everyone enjoys the 2021 NBA Finals :).

All American Center Luka Garza will return for his final year of eligibility at Iowa. Garza makes Iowa a frontrunner in the Big Ten title race and a national championship contender next March. The big man was a double-double machine for the Hawkeyes, as Garza averaged 23.9 PPG, and 10.8 RPG.

Baylor Guard Jared Butler announced his intentions to stay at Baylor. Butler averaged 16 PPG, 3 RPG, and 3 APG last season in Waco.

Arizona State Guard Remy Martin will return to school for his senior year, the school announced Sunday evening. Martin’s return solidifies a team that many think can compete for a Pac-12 championship in 2020-2021. Martin averaged 19.1 PPG, and 4.1 APG in his junior season.

Michigan State Forward Xavier Tillman is keeping his name in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Big Ten second team big man averaged 13.7 PPG and 10.3 RPG last season. Michigan State Guard Aaron Henry will return to school, though.

Virginia forward Jay Huff has withdrawn from the NBA draft and will return to Charlottesville for his senior year. Huff was an excellent defensive piece in the Cavalier’s system who averaged 8.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 2 BPG.

With the NBA restarting tomorrow, I decided to give an up to date timeline on the return to play not just this season but for the 2020-2021 season too.

(Everything from June 23-July 29 has already happened).

June 23
Transaction window opens

June 24
Soft deadline for players to choose whether to play or not in the bubble

June 30
Transaction window closes

July 1
Mandatory individual workouts begin

July 1
Hard deadline for players to decide not to play at Disney

July 7
Nets, Nuggets, Magic, Suns, Jazz and Wizards travel to Orlando

July 8
Celtics, Mavericks, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Pelicans, Thunder and Kings travel to Orlando

July 9
Rockets, Pacers, Lakers, Bucks, 76ers, Trail Blazers, Spurs and Raptors travel to Orlando

July 9-21
Team training camps

July 21-28
NBA award voting (awards announced during playoffs)

July 22-29
Inter-squad scrimmages

July 30
NBA Restart begins

August 15-16
Play-in Tournament

August 17
NBA Playoffs begin

August 20
2020 NBA Draft Lottery

August 30
Player guests arrive in Orlando

August 31
Round 2 of the 2020 NBA Playoffs begin

September 15
Beginning of 2020 Conference Finals

September 30
Beginning of 2020 NBA Finals

October 12
Game 7 of the NBA Finals (if necessary)

October 16
2020 NBA Draft

October 18
Beginning of 2020 NBA Free Agency

November 10
Training camps for 2020-21 season begin

December 1
Opening night for 2020-21 season

According to a report on ESPN, the New Orleans Pelicans expect Forward Zion Williamson to be back at practice come Wednesday, the day before the NBA officially begins its restart. Williamson returned to Orlando on Friday after leaving to tend to a family matter that the NBA is calling a “family emergency”. In the article, ESPN also said that Williamson was tested for COVID-19 everyday and tested negatively every time. This means that the NBA only needs him to quarantine for four more days, which would need to include four more negative COVID-19 tests.

The NBA has placed LA Clippers Guard Lou Williams on a 10 day quarantine after the veteran was investigated by the league for what he did while he was on an excused absence from the bubble. On Friday Williams was photographed by the rapper Jack Harlow at an Atlanta strip club. Williams’ 10 day quarantine will keep him out of the Clippers’ first two games, versus the Lakers and on July 30 and the Pelicans on August 1.

Brooklyn Nets Guard Kyrie Irving is committing $1.5 million to WNBA players sitting out the rest of the season, whatever is keeping them from playing. Irving is sitting out the NBA season himself.

Here is the NBA’s restart calendar from Orlando through the start of next season:

June 30
The transaction window closes at 11:59 PM ET.

July 7-9
Teams travel to Orlando.

July 9-29
NBA Training Camp

July 30
2019-2020 NBA season resumes, Lakers vs. Clippers headline opening night.

August 15
Potential play-in games between the 8th and 9th seed begin.

August 17
The first round of the playoffs begin

August 25
2020 NBA Draft Lottery

September 30
NBA Finals begin

October 16
2020 NBA Draft

Here are my 2020 NBA Awards if the season doesn’t continue because of COVID-19.

MVP:Giannis Antetokounmpo,Forward,Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis edges out a stellar season from thirty-five year old LeBron James. Antetokounmpo might be the best defensive player in the league and plays on the NBA’s top team standings wise. LeBron, as I said earlier is a very close second here.

Defensive Player of the Year:Anthony Davis,Forward/Center,Los Angeles Lakers
Davis makes the most sense here. In his first season on a contending team, Davis more than helped LeBron James out on the defensive side (and offensive side) off the ball, posting excellent numbers.

Rookie of the Year:Ja Morant,Guard,Memphis Grizzlies
Zion comes close–very close–here. But with Williamson’s injuries this season and thus lack of games played, Morant gets it here as the future of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Most Improved Player:Bam Adebayo,Center/Forward,Miami Heat
For Bam to be an All-Star on a team with Jimmy Butler is incredible. But the young defensive monster, while he has done improving, still has awhile to go before being considered a top three center in the league.

Coach of the Year:Nick Nurse,Toronto Raptors
For Nurse to lose a top five player in the NBA (Kawhi Leonard) and be a top three team in the eastern conference is pretty incredible. Nurse is worthy here.

All-NBA First Team
G:Luka Doncic,Dallas Mavericks
G:James Harden,Houston Rockets
F:Giannis Antetokounmpo,Milwaukee Bucks
F:LeBron James,Los Angeles Lakers
C:Anthony Davis,Los Angeles Lakers