Bill Russell can do whatever he wants, right? (Poor Vince!)
Today’s Panel:
First Half
Opening Monologue: “What is competitive balance, and do we even want it?” – Nichols
Lack of competition hurting the NBA?
“We don’t have any problem right now. This is historically not an anomaly at all” – Shelburne
“I do think its a problem. Fans are looking at the Warriors and are like ‘They’re going to win it again'” – Friedell
“When you have superteams, it forces teams to take risks they would never take. The Warriors are forcing everyone to do that” – Shelburne
Solutions to improve competitive balance?
“We need to switch the order (of the draft). It needs to come after free agency” – Shelburne
“You can’t legislate parity” – Shelburne
“The league is listening to its fanbase, the players and owners” – Friedell
July 12, 2007 – Rudy Gay with the moves and throwing it down with two hands!
New Beginnings; James Ennis move the needle for Rockets? (2 year deal)
Jumpers; Michael Beasley coming for the NBA fashion crown?
Flexibility; Impressed by Myles Turner‘s yoga skills?
Linsanity; Jeremy Lin to Thunder for Melo sound intriguing? (Via Mitch Lawrence of The Sporting News)
Trolling; Reaction to KD’s exchange with fan?
First, KD commented on the post:
Then went at it with the fan via Direct Message:
“Can we get KD some hobbies?” – Friedell
“This is not going to change” – Shelburne
Jerry West have a point about LeBron’s free agency?
Click here to read more about this topic (Via Sports Illustrated)
“I love everything about this. He is telling the truth. LeBron wanted to come” – Shelburne
Second Half
“We feel like we’re going to have an open training camp in terms of competing to figure out what is that best five to win and to go deep in the playoffs and to give ourselves a chance to win a championship” – Rob Pelinka (Lakers GM) at a Lakers Press Conference
Lakers “Open competition” for starters healthy?
“I like it. There’s a part of me that’s scared. But you have to be careful with young players” – Shelburne
“I worry about the Ingrams and Kuzmas of the world” – Shelburne
“These young guys have to know that the time to win is now” – Friedell
Who got a better deal: Bulls or Zach LaVine?
“I don’t believe they should have matched” – Friedell
“The Bulls were hoping he would have an impact right away” – Friedell
“If you just let him walk for nothing, you really got nothing out of that Jimmy Butler trade” – Shelburne
Capela turned down $85 Million?
“My understanding is: There’s a little more to it than just ‘Oh. He turned it down.’” – Shelburne
“They don’t have the room to lose Clint Capela. I’m surprised it got to this point” – Shelburne
“He is a perfect piece for what you’re trying to accomplish now and win a title” – Friedell
How much would LeBron make in an open market? By Brian Windhorst and Darren Rovell
Senior Sneakerhead Insider, Nick DePaula joined The Jump!
What was it like spending time with #ChinaKlay?
“Most people don’t know: That was actually the 5th time he missed that dunk!” – DePaula Referring to Klay’s trip to China last summer and the 360 dunk attempt
How does LeBron to LA impact sneaker culture?
“There’s no denying the impact that can have” – DePaula on being in a big market like LA
Reaction to PUMA basketball resurgence?
“This year, they want to have a more balanced roster” – DePaula
Who’s next up for a signature shoe?
Fact: There are only 12 players that have a signature shoe in the US brand
DePaula: Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Why hasn’t Isaiah Thomas been signed yet?
“Nobody has money. It’s just the wrong market for him” – Shelburne
“What happened to the Brinks truck?” – Friedell
Buy the East is undersold?
“There’s not enough talent in the East” – Friedell
“It’ll be interesting to see what Toronto does” – Shelburne
Would Kawhi to Raptors make sense?
“I don’t think anything is imminent” – Shelburne
