Ok, I wasn’t going to write another blog tonight, but seeing this news, I have to write about this. D’Angelo Russell is on his way to Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal for Kevin Durant. D’Angelo Russell is signing a 4 year/$117 million dollar contract to play for Golden State who just got Klay Thompson back on their team. Holy cow, this is crazy to type about right now.
NO ONE saw this coming at all. Russell was interested in many teams like the Suns, Timberwolves, Lakers, Magic, and others. But Russell goes off the charts and signs with Golden State. This was like when Demarcus Cousins signed with Golden State, and Kevin Durant the year before, it’s crazy. Now the Warriors will still have four all stars on their team.
I thought that when the Warriors lost Kevin Durant, the Warriors were going to go back to back to where they were before they acquired Durant, but now the Warriors are still going to one of the favorites in Golden State. This move has to make Warriors fans feel a lot better after losing Durant.
I’m just trying to figure out, how is this going to work though? Is he going to come into the starting line up? Is he going to be the point guard and move Curry to a shooting guard? Is Russell going to be the shooting guard? Is he going to be the sixth man? I don’t know how this is going to work! I’m not sure how their team is going to be now with adding Russell, but it should be interesting.
Do I think that D’Angelo Russell is a good player? Yes he is a good player, but is he going to be the same player like he was in Brooklyn last year? No. I don’t think that he is going to be putting up those same numbers, but he will definitely be a great third scoring option for the Warriors behind Curry and Thompson.
What is kind of somewhat sad and cold move that the Warriors had to do was trade away one of their key members to their past championship teams, Andre Iguodala. Not only they traded away Iguodola, they traded him away to Memphis. I am sure that he will want to have a buy out for his contract, no one wants to play in Memphis as they are rebuilding.
Now the Lakers HAVE to get Kawhi Leonard or else their offseason plans to get rid of a lot of players for cap space isn’t really working. Which I’m really hoping that things don’t work out for the Lakers and that deal for Anthony Davis comes back and bites them in the butt. Sorry I just had to say it LOL.
I’m going to leave you with this Steph, Klay, Draymond and now D’Angelo.
D’Angelo Russell is now a member of the Golden State Warriors.
Kyrie might’ve left for Brooklyn, but we got a pretty good replacement for him, we got Kemba Walker! This was a big move for the Celtics as they needed to make a move to replace Kyrie. Kemba Walker is not as good as Kyrie, but he has talent that is similar to him, and oh he’s not a little diva like Kyrie, he actually gets a long with his teammates and hoops.
Kemba Walker has signed a 4 year/$141 million dollar contract with the Celtics, after playing in Charlotte for the past 8 seasons. He came out an outstanding season averaging 25.6 PPG, an All-Star starter, and a member of the All-NBA Third Team. Kemba and the Hornets both agreed to part ways as things just weren’t really working out in Charlotte anymore. In just his 8 seasons with the Hornets, he has only made the playoffs twice. Not very good, but that was because Kemba didn’t really have much talent around him. Now Kemba has some good talent surrounding him that can put his game to a new level. He now has guys like Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and others to compete in the Eastern Conference.
The thing I like about Kemba is that he is a guy who can get hot and can score the ball very well, he is a little bit more of a team player that what Kyrie was in Boston, and he is a guy who plays with heart and a guy who can be loyal. Kemba is not as tall as Kyrie, but Kemba Walker is very quick and can get by his defender. Kemba will fit in well with Brad Stevens system, and I personally think that Gordon Hayward and Kemba Walker can blend well together.
With this move, the Celtics did a sign-and-trade with the Celtics sending Terry Rozier to Charlotte for Kemba Walker. Another player who I wasn’t surprised was going to leave the Celtics after his issues with Kyrie Irving and the organization with his playing time. I think Terry Rozier will be happier in Charlotte as he will finally get the shot to start on an NBA franchise. After the Celtics made this move, rumors had it that Boston was looking to bring back Al Horford, but that just changed as I just found out something terrible…….
AL HORFORD SIGNS WITH THE SIXERS!?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHAT!?!?!?
Woj announced on Twitter that Al Horford has signed a 4/$109 million dollar deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. You are telling me that Horford opted out his contract with the Celtics, just to sign with the Sixers!?!? Are you kidding me!?! This kind of makes me a little bit mad, Al Horford could’ve probably signed anywhere else and I wouldn’t have been mad at all, but he ended up signing with the rivals, The Philadelphia Sixers. This is a great pick up for the Sixers, but Horford is really worth that much money to them? I think that is insane to give him that much money. Think about it, Horford is not the same guy like he was a few years ago back in Atlanta, and Horford put up good numbers for the Celtics, but they weren’t numbers that were worth that much money. Horford is slowly starting to not be the player like he use to be, and when he finishes up his contract in 4 years, he will be 37 years old, do you think that he will be putting good numbers when that time comes? I think he was way too overpaid by the Sixers, but the Sixers I guess needed someone because they ended up losing Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick today.
I really thought that when Horford opted out his contract that he would sign back for less money, but that was definitely not the case. He likes to be paid the big bucks and saw an opportunity where he can still play for a good team and get paid lots of big bucks. This was a little bit of a dirty move by him and this almost reminds me of the time when Ray Allen left Boston. Ray Allen left Boston after spending a good amount of time with the Celtics for a few years, to sign with the Miami Heat to play for an NBA Ring. Ray Allen was the original snake before Kevin Durant’s decision to go to Golden State. Ray Allen left Boston to sign with the rivals the Miami Heat, to play with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. That move was definitely a salty move by him, but Horford’s move compared to Ray Allen’s move was not as bad, but I still feel a little salty by it. Ok I better stop before I turn into Stephen. A. Smith.
Anyway this day wasn’t a total disaster, we got rid of that diva Kyrie Irving, and got a great replacement in Kemba Walker. He will be a great fit for the Celtics as they look to make another run in the East. As for A l Horford, I’m still salty about the decision he made, but I’ll always still have a little love for him as he was one of my favorite Boston Celtics players, its going to be hard to replace him, but I still am confident that the Celtics will still be solid.
There is lots of free agents left out there for the Celtics to pick up, still waiting to see what Kawhi will do next season, but it should be interesting. Im just hoping the Celtics get a good big man to replace Horford and Baynes.
Wow…… this was such a crazy start to free agency. The Nets have just signed three big players to their roster to make them a top contender in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn is getting Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Deandre Jordan. This all happened right at 6:00 when NBA Free Agency started, now the Brooklyn Nets have built a team that can be very good this upcoming season.
Everyone knew that Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have been talking about teaming up ever since the All-Star Break in Charlotte. Kyrie at the time was very frustrated with the team success in Boston, and Kevin Durant was frustrated with Draymond Green after he said to Durant that the Warriors “didn’t need him” to win. When All-Star break came around, it was like two people who were both in relationships with someone else and they were both thinking about breaking off their relationships with each other. I don’t know if that made sense for you guys, but we will see.
Kevin Durant, who played for the Warriors for three seasons while winning two NBA championships, has decided to leave the Warriors for a 4 year/$161 million deal with the Nets. He could’ve had the chance to get a 5 year/$221 million deal with the Warriors, but he took his rings he wanted and said “I’m out.” Kyrie Irving, who was traded from Cleveland to Boston in 2017, has decided to leave the Celtics after two seasons to sign with the Nets for a 4 year/$141 million deal. They have decided to join forces in Brooklyn and they have decided to bring along DeAndre Jordan, a former all-star for the Clippers, who last played for the New York Knicks.
To me, this was kind of shocking, but not surprised at the same time. I knew Kyrie Irving was definitely leaving the Celtics to join the Nets, he was unhappy in Boston because things didn’t go they way he wanted it to. This was probably a no brainer to him because he was moving closer to home, and it’s a place where he will get a new start. I wasn’t sure that Kevin Durant was actually going to make the move to team up with Kyrie, but he did. I think that this just proves for sure that Kevin Durant only went to Golden State to win a ring. If he stayed in Golden State, I would’ve gained a lot some respect for him, but he didn’t end up signing back and is ready to have a new start with the Nets. The one move that surprised me the most was Deandre Jordan. I didn’t think he would come along too, I thought he would probably get paid by the Knicks or something, but he went to the Nets to join forces.
With Kevin Durant basically going to be out for about the whole season, the Nets won’t be championship contenders yet. But they can still be a good team as long as Kyrie doesn’t have any drama with his teammates. Besides their three new signees, the Nets have Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen, Caris Levert, Joe Harris, and new signee Garrett Temple to go make a good team. I expect Brooklyn to be a top four team next year in the East and once when Kevin Durant comes back they will be a very good team.
Also one thing before I finish writing this blog, I wonder how Kyrie is going to take it when he goes back to Boston after saying this in front of the Celtics crowd last season.
I can’t wait to boo my TV when he makes his return to TD Garden this upcoming season.
WHAT!? CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS!? The two top players in the NBA are possibly talking about teaming up together in either New York or Los Angeles. If they seriously think about doing this together, this could change up the NBA big time!
Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard as you know are the top two free agents up for grabs this summer. They both guarded each other in this year’s past NBA Finals…..well……sorta. They guarded each other for one game in the Finals when Kevin Durant returned from injury, but Kevin Durant took one little move and blew his achilles out. That was Game Five in the NBA Finals where the Warriors won the game, but lost the series to Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors in six games.
Anyway, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard I think are in the top three best players in the NBA. Kevin Durant is one of the best offense players in the league, he can shoot from anywhere and when he gets going, its’ hard to stop. Kawhi Leonard is one of the best two players, he is one of the best defenders in the league and a guy who can score the ball really well. Having Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard on the same team, makes them a tough one-two punch in the league.
Kevin Durant has meetings set up with the Warriors, Clippers, Knicks, and Nets, while Kawhi Leonard has meetings set up with the Raptors, Lakers, and the Clippers. But after this news today, Kawhi might be thinking about the New York Knicks. If they want to make this move, the teams that they would have to team up for the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Clippers. It would be the only place that would have money to afford the two players.
The New York Knicks have a lot of cap space as they have room to sign two max players after trading away Kristaps Porzingis last season. The Los Angeles Clippers also have cap room to sign a max player, but most likely if the Clippers were to land the two, they would have to make a few small moves in their roster to make sure they can afford both of them. With so much cap space, they can really make a splash in free agency and can turn their team around, So who needs them more?
What if the Knicks land KD and Kawhi?
Not the best photoshopped photos, but they were the best ones I found LOL. Anyway, the Knicks have been absolute horrible the past few years, ever since their postseason appearance in 2013, top players like Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick Rose, and many others have come and gone, they went through five NBA coaches, and their record ever since 2013 has been 163 wins and 329 losses. Ouch, it has been rough for the Knicks, they also had one of the worst records in the NBA this past season, but ended up missing out on Zion Williamson at the number one pick. This move will finally change the Knicks bad luck. Adding Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant will not only make them a top team in the Eastern Conference, but it will convince NBA Free Agents to want to come to New York. The Knicks have some young guys who could you could keep an eye on in the future like R.J. Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and others. The Knicks NEED these two to come to New York, even if its only one, they desperately NEED one of these guys to come to New York to change this team or else you can tank again for another lottery player.
What if the Clippers land KD and Kawhi?
The Los Angeles Clippers made it back to the postseason after missing the playoffs the season before. The Clippers weren’t expected to even make the playoffs after trading away their best players Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers, but the Clippers played with heart and fought their way in as the 8th seed. The Clippers took the Warriors to six games in the first round, but with no star talent, they didn’t really have a chance to beat the Warriors. But what if not only you throw in one star, but TWO stars to that Clippers roster. They instantly become the favorites to win the NBA Championship. The Clippers are a solid team that plays together and will do whatever it takes to get the win. I think that adding these two guys, it takes fills that missing piece that they needed to do this summer. The Warriors will still be a contender in the West, even if they lose Kevin Durant, but the Clippers I think will be better than the Warriors. Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard will control the West along side guys like Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, and Landry Shamet.
I think that the Knicks need these two the most because of their team the past few years, but if this crazy thing were to happen, I would say they would choose to play in LA. They would do this because they love it in LA with all the fame, and they would have a real shot at winning the NBA Championship.
Now don’t get your hopes up, because this is just rumors about this. Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard teaming up I think would most likely not happen, but you never know. You would’ve never expected Kevin Durant to leave the Thunder and sign with the Warriors after losing to them in the Western Conference Finals being up 3-1. Anything can happen in the NBA.
Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard are possibly thinking about teaming up with other guys at other destinations. Durant has been talking with Kyrie Irving about teaming up in Brooklyn. Kawhi might be thinking about teaming up with Lebron James and Anthony Davis for the Los Angeles Lakers. I don’t expect the two will make a decision tomorrow on June 30th at 6:00, but this will be a decision that people will definitely be paying attention to.
It probably won’t happen with these two teaming up, but you never know. But just imagine this, Kevin Durant, the best scorer in the league, Kawhi Leonard, the best two way player in the league, joining forces with the New York Knicks or the Los Angeles Clippers. THIS COULD BE SCARY!!!!!
So everyone knows that Kyrie Irving and Al Horford are expected to be leaving the Celtics when free agency hits. The Celtics need to now build around Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward. The Celtics just drafted four rookies in this draft, but we can’t expect that all four of them will be on the team when the season comes around.
What do the Celtics need?
One of the first things the Celtics need on their team is a big man. The Celtics are most likely losing Al Horford and they have traded away their other big man Aron Baynes to the Phoenix Suns on draft night. The Celtics need height and a guy who can rebound. The second thing that the Celtics need is a point guard, if you lose Kyrie, you could still possibly lose Terry Rozier which means the only point guard left is Marcus Smart. The Celtics need a new point guard that could either start or be a solid backup point guard off the bench. Lastly, what this team needs a veteran, a guy who be a leader to the team and a guy that can help out the locker room problems. You remember what happened last year in the locker room, the Celtics need that guy to keep everyone in control and keep everyone together.
As much as I want the Celtics to go after a guy like Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard, we have to be realistic on who the Celtics should really go after to help this team.
Kemba Walker
I love Kyrie as a point guard, he is an incredible shooter and a guy who can really handle the ball, but if end up losing him I am definitely ok with gaining Kemba Walker as a replacement. Kemba Walker is a guy that I think could be a player that would be a true Celtics player. He plays with heart, has a love for the game, and will do whatever it takes to win. He is coming off one of his best seasons in his career as he was voted to an NBA All-Star starter and an All-NBA Third Team selection. Kemba Walker is not as good as Kyrie Irving, but Kemba Walker is a really good player. Kemba can score the ball really well and has handles to take care of the ball. If he comes to the Celtics, he could remind me of a right handed Isaiah Thomas. He could make this team back to a deep playoff contender
Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic would be a great addition to the Celtics team. This past season Vucevic lead the Orlando Magic to the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2012, back when Dwight Howard was on the team. He averaged 20.8 PPG and 12.0 RPG including being voted in to the NBA All-Star game for the first time. Vucevic is a team player and a guy that will do whatever to help the team. He kind of reminds me of a younger Al Horford, if the Celtics add him to the team, they could have a strong center in their starting lineup. Just think of it, you have to worry about Hayward, Brown, and Tatum, and then you add him to the mix to the lineup, they will be tough to stop. I really hope the Celtics land this guy on the roster.
Malcom Brogdon
Milwaukee has some big missions to take on as Khris Middleton, Malcom Brogdon, Brook Lopez, and Nikola Mirotic are all free agents this summer. The Bucks are going to most likely going to offer Khris Middleton a max contract, the three other Bucks players are going to be wanting a good contract as well, so that means not everyone can stay on the team. Malcom Brogdon would be a great add to the Celtics roster. He came off his best season in his very young career averaging 15.6 PPG for the Bucks last season. He is a former Rookie of the Year winner, a guy can knock down a big shot, and a guy who handles the ball very well. He would be a good player to have on the team.
Brook Lopez
Like I said on the Malcom Brogdon paragraph, Brook Lopez is a free agent this summer. Brook Lopez would be a great pick up for the Celtics. Brook Lopez has really expanded his game by becoming a three point shooting center. Brook Lopez was such a big part of Milwaukee’s 60 win team last season. He was one the reasons why the Bucks had a successful season. The Bucks were missing that key center to their team, they added Brook Lopez to their team and the Bucks became a strong team. The Celtics could use a guy like this one their team, he is a near seven footer, who can shoot inside and outside, and a great team player. Another guy who is similar to Al Horford’s game and a guy who can be a big piece to this team if the Celtics add him.
Enes Kanter
The Celtics last year were trying to sign Enes Kanter when the Knicks released him from the team. He ended up signing with the Portland Trailblazers for the rest of the season as the Trailblazers ended up reaching the Western Conference Finals. Enes Kanter is known for playing for the media and fame, he can say some crazy things and stuff, but Kanter is somewhat a decent player. He had to start in place of Jursuf Nurkic a few times when Nurkic went down with a gruesome leg injury and Kanter played really well for the team. Kanter is a solid rebounder and can be a good piece to have at the starting center. He isn’t a guy that is a NBA All-Star, but a guy who can be a good piece to have on the team.
Ricky Rubio
The Jazz have basically kicked Ricky Rubio out of Utah, as Mike Conley has been traded to the Jazz. So Rubio will be looking for a new home to continue his hoop career, so Boston would be a good fit for him. Ricky Rubio is a great team player, he can shoot the ball well from the outside and is a terrific passer. His game has really gotten a lot better ever since he has been a part of the Jazz as he averaged 12.7 PPG last season for them. He could be a great player to have as he is unselfish and can find a lot of guys for an open shot.
D’Angelo Russell
Kyrie is looking on signing a contract with the Brooklyn Nets this summer, and rumors are saying that he is not wanted in Brooklyn if they sign Kyrie Irving. So that means he could be a possible option for the Boston Celtics. D’Angelo Russell I think fits in with this Celtics team. Him, Tatum, Smart, and Brown are all young guys who can have some good team chemistry together. Russell came off the best season of his young career and he now has an opportunity to be a part of a Celtics team who can go far if he joins. D’Angelo is a guy who can shoot the ball very well and can get hot once he gets going. I think he would make the Celtics a strong team scoring team.
Isaiah Thomas
Come on, who wouldn’t want to see this guy back in a Celtic green uniform next year. Thomas use to play for the Celtics before they traded him to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving. Thomas has struggled ever since his hip injury he suffered with the Celtics while being bounced from team to team. He has been a part of three teams in two seasons since being traded from the Celtics. Isaiah was mad at the Celtics when they traded him as he was on top of his game and played in the playoffs after his sister died in a tragic car accident. But as time went by, Thomas has no hard feelings anymore and has been open to returning to the Boston Celtics. I would love for this to happen, Isaiah Thomas was one of my favorite Celtics when he played for them. I don’t think that he will play the same like he did two seasons ago, but I would love to see him back on the team again.
The Celtics are in for quite a busy offseason, but Danny Ainge will have something up his sleeve. Maybe something crazy happens and he is able to convince Kyrie or Horford to stay. That would be a dream if that would happen. The Celtics can still be a very good team next year, but they need to bring in some pieces to bring this team to back to a championship contender.
Lately in the news, all you have been hearing about is these rumors about how Chris Paul is demanding a trade out of Houston and how the ownership was saying his contract was a mistake. Even though Chris Paul is denying the rumors that he doesn’t want to be out of Houston, there is still lots of stuff going on in the organization. Now the rumors are is the Houston Rockets are trying to convince Jimmy Butler to do a sign-and-trade deal to send Butler to the Rockets to team up beside Chris Paul and James Harden as a Big Three.
The Rockets lost to the Warriors in the playoffs the past two years in a row, the first time in Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals, and the second time in six games in the 2019 Western Conference semifinals. The Rockets are just looking for a way to get past the Golden State Warriors to make it to the Finals. Their move is now trying to bring in four time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler who averaged 18.2 points per game for the Sixers last season. But if the Rockets want to get this guy, they can’t just sign him, they would have to move some pieces to get him.
James Harden and Chris are both projected to make over $38 million dollars next year, as Clint Capella and Eric Gordon are two that will be making $16 and $14 million dollars next year for the Houston Rockets. There is very little room to give Jimmy Butler a very good contract, so that is why the Rockets will possibly have to move some pieces in order to bring in this guy to the team.
Who are some pieces that could possibly be moved if this sign and trade happens?
Clint Capela
Clint Capela was the guy Houston wanted for their big man when they kicked Dwight Howard out of Houston. He is a solid big man for the Rockets, but they might have to kick him out if they want Jimmy Butler. He has a decently good size contract for the team. Clint Capela can catch a lot lobs and finish at the hole. He has about four years left on his contract, so if he gets traded to the Sixers in this deal, The Sixers can have a dominant front court of Joel Embiid and Clint Capela for years to come.
Eric Gordon
Eric Gordon is a former sixth man of the year when he was on the Rockets. He moved his way to a starter on the team, but he could be a piece that could be moved in this trade. He has one year left on his contract until he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2020, but he could be a piece the Sixers could want for a year and a guy they can keep as a solid shooter if JJ Redick decides not to come back to Philadelphia next year. If the Sixers get him and decide they don’t want to keep him the next season then they can have some money to sign another big free agent in that summer.
P.J. Tucker
P.J. Tucker is a guy who has lots of toughness and lots of shoes, but this guy could be sent packing in the deal. The Rockets might have to send P.J. Tucker in the deal if the Sixers don’t want to take on the two big contracts in Capella and Gordon. If P.J. Tucker gets traded to the Sixers, he could be a guy that would probably come off the bench, but he could be a spark plug and a toughness that could make the Sixers stronger.
Chris Paul
Chris Paul was denying the demand for a trade, but you never know, Chris Paul could maybe be moved in this trade. Chris Paul has a massive contract who isn’t the player he was back in New Orleans or Los Angeles. He is out of his prime, he is known for team chemistry issues, and wants to win. The Rockets might not be wanting to get rid of both Capela and Gordon. They might just want to get rid Paul and Gordon and keep Capela, or they might send Paul and Capela and keep Gordon so that they can have money for free agency in 2020. If Paul goes to the Sixers, the Sixers will get a point guard they have wanted and this could mean Ben Simmons will have to start working on his midrange and three point game at the starting small forward in Philly.
What my thoughts about this possible trade?
If this trade happens this could be a good trade, but it is a risk doing this trade. If the trade were to happen, what I would do is send Chris Paul and Eric Gordon in the trade, keep your big man Clint Capela, and have some money to possibly maybe sign a good role player in free agency. I think that is what the Rockets should do, because it gets rid of two big contracts and keeps a good big man to have a solid strong team. But the Rockets I think are looking to want to keep Paul and form a big 3 with him, Harden, and Butler. I think that the Rockets are only willing to trade Capela and Gordon with this trade. I also think that if the Rockets do this trade, I think that there could be more locker room problems in Houston. Jimmy Butler was a little bit of a problem back in Minnesota calling out teammates and coaches, Chris Paul was always fighting with teammates and coaches in LA, and Harden has had previous issues with teammates like Dwight Howard, and rumors are saying that he is having problems with Chris Paul now.
Just think about it, five seconds left in the game, who takes the game winning shot? Harden, Paul, and Butler love having the ball and getting the game winning shot, that could lead to arguments. All of them are selfish players that want to have the ball and get the points they want. It might not work if they do this sign-and-trade.
The Sixers don’t have to do this trade, they can do this trade if they want if they know that Butler isn’t coming back and they could let him go and focus on other players like Tobias Harris and JJ Redick in free agency. If they want to let him go, the Rockets will have to make some trades if they want to put Butler on this roster. Or if the Rockets don’t even want Butler, they can just keep the guys they have and possibly think of other ways to make the team.
Free Agency offseason is almost here, things are starting to heat up on who is going where, I can’t wait to see all the juicy stuff.
Also, the Celtics are going to be targeting Kemba Walker in free agency which makes me excited to hear about, because he would be a great addition to the team if Kyrie leaves.
I know “Isaac is finally posting something about baseball!?” Yes I am posting something about baseball, because the MLB All-Star game voting has officially started up! I haven’t really watched too much of baseball this season, because at the beginning of the season the Red Sox were really struggling. They have picked up a little bit, but not enough because the Yankees are in first place in the A.L. East. I’m not giving up yet on a back-to-back championship run!
The All-Star game this year is going to be in Cleveland this year, I don’t know how on earth they convinced the MLB to bring the All-Star game to Cleveland, because Cleveland is such a boring town, but oh well YOLO. I kind of enjoy watching the MLB All-Star game and the Home Run Derby because with the All-Star game they are competing for home field advantage, and the Home Run Derby it just blows me away how far those guys can hit the ball out of the ball park with such ease, It’s so hard to do. I am not sure who is going to be in the Home Run Derby this year, but the MLB posted the voting list for the players to start in this years All-Star Game. I am going to say who I think is the most deserving names to start in the All-Star Game in the Amercian League.
Catchers Finalists
Robinson Chirinos- Houston Astros
James McCann- Chicago White Sox
Gary Sanchez-New York Yankees
My Pick: Gary Sanchez-Yankees
My pick this year is Gary Sanchez. (I know a Yankees player….) Even though I’m a Red Sox fan, Gary Sanchez is probably one of the better players in the American League. He is batting .268 with 23 Home Runs and 52 RBI’s this season. The Yankees are currently right now one of the top teams in the American League with 50-28 record. He’s having a solid year and this could be one of his best seasons in his young catching career.
First Base Finalists
C.J. Cron- Minnesota Twins
Carlos Santana- Cleveland Indians
Luke Voit- New York Yankees
My Pick: C.J. Cron-Minnesota Twins
C.J. Cron is my pick for who to start at first base in the MLB All-Star game. All three candidates were all putting up similar numbers, so this was hard to pick. But I think that C.J. Cron should get this pick, this year he is batting a .281 batting average with 17 home runs and 50 RBI’s. He has a solid season, I haven’t heard much about this guy, but he is putting up some good numbers for Twins who is at the the top of the American League right now.
Second Base Finalists
Jose Altuve- Houston Astros
Tommy La Stella- Los Angeles Angels
DJ LeMahieu- New York Yankees
My Pick: DJ LeMahieu – New York Yankees
Did I really just pick another Yankee to start in the All-Star Game? Yes I just did…….but this guy has been putting up good numbers this year that he deserves to start for the All-Star Game. His batting average is .331 and is hitting 10 Home Runs and 51 RBI’s. If you could ask me who is the better player between him and Jose Altuve, I would pick Altuve. But LeMahieu is putting up better numbers this season, and that is why he should get this pick for the All-Star Game starter.
Shortstop Finalists
Carlos Correa- Houston Rockets
Jorge Polanco- Minnesota Twins
Gleyber Torres- New York Yankees
My Pick: Jorge Polanco- Minnesota Twins
Wow, I’m just realizing that I’m going back and forth choosing Twins and Yankees players. There is a Yankees player that is a nominee for the third base starter, but we will see if he is a player that he deserves my pick. BUT back to the Twins shortstop, I think that Jorge Polanco deserves the pick for the All-Star starter at the shortstop position. Polanco has had a lot of batting appearances this season, but he is having a great year. He is averaging .326 batting average with 11 Home Runs and 38 RBI’s. He deserves my pick for his great batting average and the team success they are having.
Third Baseman Finalists
Alex Bregman- Houston Astros
Hunter Dozier- Kansas City Royals
Gio Urshela- New York Yankees
My Pick: Alex Bregman- Houston Rockets
Alex Bregman is not on the Yankees or Twins so perfect! But Alex Bregman is without a doubt one of the best third baseman in the league and is a strong power hitter. He is having a .259 batting average with 21 Home Runs and 51 RBI’s this season. Bregman is one of the the reasons the Astros are who they are. Having to face him, Altuve, and Correa in a lineup is scary, as they are looking to win another championship together.
Outfielders Finalist
Mookie Betts- Boston Red Sox
Michael Brantley- Houston Astros
Joey Gallo- Texas Rangers
Aaron Judge- New York Yankees
Austin Meadows- Tampa Bay Rays
Josh Reddick- Houston Astros
Eddie Rosario- Minnesota Twins
George Springer- Houston Astros
Mike Trout- Los Angeles Angels
My Pick: Austin Meadows -Tampa Bay Rays, Mike Trout- Los Angeles Angels, George Springer- Houston Astros
Austin Meadows is one of my picks for the outfield, he is right now playing really good for the Tampa Bay Rays. He is averaging a .304 batting average with 12 home runs and 41 RBI’s. It was hard to pick him over Mookie Betts, but he is a player who is having a solid season for the Rays and that is why he is my pick
Mike Trout was probably a pick that is not surprising to anyone in the Major League as Mike Trout is arguably one of the best players in the MLB. He is having a .307 batting average with 22 Home Runs with 56 RBI’s. He is a great fielder as well for the Angels, who is not having the season they have hoped, but Mike Trout is still putting up the numbers for the struggling Angels.
George Springer is a very good player for the Houston Astros as he having a great year for them. His batting average is .308 with 17 Home Runs and 43 RBI’s. I picked him because I thought that so far his season, he has been putting up batting averages compared to the outfielders. Do I think if Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge were healthy and on top of their game they would be a starter for the all star game? Yes, but as of right now they aren’t so I would have to Springer and Meadows to be a starter for the All-Star Game.
DH Finalists
Nelson Cruz- Minnesota Twins
J.D. Martinez- Boston Red Sox
Hunter Pence- Texas Rangers
My Pick: J.D. Martinez- Red Sox
You guys were probably were wondering when I was going to pick a Red Sox to start the All-Star Game, so I picked J.D. Martinez to start the All-Star Game. J.D. I don’t think has had the exact season he had last year, but he is still one of the best Red Sox players. His batting average .284 with 16 Home Runs and 42 RBI’s. I think that he was no brainer for the DH spot because he is a solid player that is still putting up good numbers.
Well those are my predictions for this years All-Star Game for the MLB. This was my first MLB post so it was a little bit shaky, but I think that I will get the hang of it. I am not sure when they will announce the rosters for the game, but once they announce the rosters we can look to see how spot on I was my predictions…..;).
Hopefully we will see another selfie this year in the game
I totally forgot about this, I totally forgot that the NBA has an awards show every year after the season. At the awards, they do certain awards such the Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, the Most Valuable Player, and many more. I don’t like them having an NBA award show every year after the season because I think that it is very pointless. I like the old way of having a simple press conference and the players getting in front of everyone and saying a heart felt speech. I think they should just only have awards shows for the Oscars and the Music awards.
So first off I am going to give you my prediction on who should win the NBA Coach of the Year.
NBA Coach of the Year Nominees:
Mike Budenholzer- Milwaukee Bucks
Michael Malone- Denver Nuggets
Doc Rivers- Los Angeles Clippers
Winner: Mike Budenholzer- Milwaukee Bucks
I think that Mike Budenholzer will win the NBA Coach of the Year. This was Mike Budenholzer’s first year in Milwaukee and in his first year he coached them to a 60-22 record, and he helped coach them making it all they way to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Raptors in six. I knew when the Bucks hired this guy, I knew that the Bucks could be really good. He was an assistant coach under Gregg Poppovich for many years and he is a former Coach of the Year award winner when he won it back in 2015 with the Atlanta Hawks. Doc Rivers and Michael Malone were both good candidates for the Coach of the Year as they lead their teams back into the playoffs, but Budenholzer turned this team who barely made it into the playoffs to an NBA title contending team. This will be his second NBA Coach of the Year award.
NBA Most Improved Player AwardNominees
De’Aaron Fox- Sacramento Kings
D’Angelo Russell- Brooklyn Nets
Pascal Siakam- Toronto Raptors
Winner: Pascal Siakam-Toronto Raptors
Ok not going to lie, I had no idea who Pascal Siakam was until this year. I first started to notice him was when he was starting over Serge Ibaka. My first thought was “Is there Coach insane?”, but once when I started to watch him more, he actually seemed pretty good, especially watching him in the Finals this year. This guy went from averaging 7.3 PPG last year as a bench player to a key starter in their championship run averaging 16.9 PPG. I think that he should be a lock for the Most Improved Award as we could all say we didn’t really know who he was last year and to where he is now is incredible.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Nominees
Giannis Antetokounmpo- Milwaukee Bucks
Paul George- Oklahoma City Thunder
Rudy Gobert- Utah Jazz
Winner: Paul George- Oklahoma City Thunder
I don’t really know if I fully agree with these NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award nominees as I could think of many players that could win this award. But I have to choose between the three so my pick is Paul George because that is the guy that I think is the most deserving candidate. Giannis is a very good player, but I don’t really see him as a defensive player at all and Rudy Gobert is just a big man who blocks shots with his long arms. I think Paul George is known for his shooting and defense. Paul George always guards the best players on each team and always makes those guys work for their points every night. I think this year was one of the best years of his career which is why he is in the conversation for the MVP and this award. I think that he is the one that deserves this award.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year Nominees
Montrezl Harrell-Los Angeles Clippers
Domantas Sabonis- Indiana Pacers
Lou Williams- Los Angeles Clippers
Winner: Lou Williams- Los Angeles Clippers
I’m not sure how there is 2 nominees from the same team for the sixth man of the year award, but YOLO. I think that Lou Williams will win his 3rd sixth man of the year award. Lou Williams was the go to guy for the Clippers once again as he averaged 20 PPG off the bench as he helped lead them back to the playoffs when they weren’t even expected to make the playoffs. Montrezl Harrell had a great season for the Clippers and was a guy who came off the bench with energy, But Lou Williams is one of the best players on the Clippers was a big part of the reason on why they are team who they are.
NBA Rookie of the Year Award Nominees
Deandre Ayton- Phoenix Suns
Luka Doncic- Dallas Mavericks
Trae Young- Atlanta Hawks
Winner: Luka Doncic- Dallas Mavericks
Don’t worry, Ben Simmons did not win the Rookie of the Year this year. But I have to say this race for the Rookie of the Year was a very close race again, but I think Luka Doncic barely squeaks by Trae Young to win this award. Luka looked like the for sure winner for this award until halfway through the season that Trae Young really started to put up some big numbers. I think that Luka Doncic wins this award because one, he was consistent all year long averaging 21.2 PPG for the Mavericks, and second, the Mavericks had a better record than the Hawks. But don’t be surprised also if both Trae Young and Luka Doncic wins the Co-Rookies of the Year. This could be the first time this happened since in 1995 when Jason Kidd and Grant Hill both won the award.
NBA Most Valuable Player Award Nominees
Giannis Antetokounmpo- Milwaukee Bucks
Paul George- Oklahoma City Thunder
James Harden- Houston Rockets
Winner: Giannis Antetokounmpo-Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis will win his first ever NBA MVP award. Giannis has gotten better every single year he has played. Giannis was drafted in 2013 by the Milwaukee Bucks as young kid from Greece, now a few seasons later he is an NBA MVP. Giannis averaged 27.7 PPG this year including leading the Bucks to a 60-22 record and their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2001. I think Giannis will win this award for the season he has had the better team success. James Harden could’ve had a chance to win this award again, but he didn’t have the good team success like Giannis did.
Lastly before I finish typing this blog, I want to give out an award.
THE NBA’S MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM AWARD!!!!!!!!
This team definitely deserves this award for all the big goals they had at the beginning of the year, just to have it all fall apart at the very end of the year. This award goes to……….The Boston Celtics……………..
Wow, look at this starting five. This team at the beginning of the season looked scary to go up against and was a team that could make a run for an NBA Championship. The season before, they made it all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals without their two best players Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Thinking of how the season went that year for them, it looked like for sure when Irving and Hayward came back this team would definitely win the title. Well that didn’t happen at all. The Celtics finished 4th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 49-33 and ended up losing in the semifinals to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. It was a terrible season as Kyrie wanted everything in his hands, teammates fighting, Hayward didn’t play the player he is being paid for(I still have hope for him though), they didn’t seem to care, teammates being selfish, and it was so bad that Kyrie is about to leave the team along with Al Horford. It wasn’t very fun to watch the Celtics this year, but I’m hoping that with some changes that this team can be fun to watch and have good success on the court.
Anyway that is all I have to say for this blog, June 24th is the NBA Awards and June 30th is almost here for free agency to start. Soon I would like to write a blog about the Red Sox or the Bruins, but with so much to write about in the NBA, it’s hard not to write about.
The NBA Draft is over, teams made trades to clear up cap space, teams drafted who they wanted, and now it is time for the NBA Free Agency to begin on June 30th. This can be one of the most interesting off-seasons in the NBA as so many stars are going to be signing with different teams, or some of them are going to re-sign with the team they last played for. I personally think that not many players will re-sign with their own teams. I think there will be many players possibly will be teaming up and there will be many players wearing a new uniform this season. So I’ll start telling you my free agent predictions.
Kevin Durant re-signs with the Golden State Warriors
We all saw Kevin Durant go down in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. He rushed his injury a little bit too fast and he ended up rupturing his achilles tendon. That one moment not only changed the Finals outcome again, but it changed free agency. If Kevin Durant was healthy during the NBA Finals, I think that he would’ve left the Warriors either if they won the Finals or not. I think he would’ve been on his way to New York to play for the Knicks; but when he went down with that Achilles tendon, it changed his free agency decision. I think that he doesn’t leave the Warriors like that after his injury. Plus after the Knicks not getting the first pick in Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving wanting to join the Nets, his interest for the Knicks has gone down hill. I think he re-signs to Golden State on a big time contract.
Kyrie Irving leaves Boston to sign with the Brooklyn Nets
Remember at the very beginning of the season, Kyrie announced at a Celtics open practice at TD Garden saying that he was going to re-sign with the Celtics in the offseason? Well that ain’t going to happen anymore. As the season went on Kyrie was starting not to enjoy it in Boston, he was getting frustrated with his teammates, coaches, and staff. He had a terrible end to his season as he shot very poorly on the court when they played against the Bucks in the playoffs. I think Kyrie has had enough and he is ready to head out on a new direction in Brooklyn. I think he wants to try and lead this young team to the NBA Finals and be closer to home.
Klay Thompson re-signs with the Golden State Warriors
I have Klay Thompson staying put in Golden State. I really don’t see him wanting to leave the Warriors, unless he doesn’t get a big contract. He went down with a torn ACL in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, so that means that he will be out for a little while. But I think that when he comes back, he is going to be determined wanting to get back to the NBA Finals to win an NBA Championship with Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green.
Kawhi Leonard decides to leave the Raptors to sign with the LA Clippers
This one was a hard decision for me to decide, because after the Raptors winning the NBA Finals, I’m not sure if he is going to leave or not. But then I started to get thinking, way back before he was traded to Toronto, he said he wanted to go play in LA. Kawhi also shut down the rumors when he heard about him buying a house in Toronto, When his sister was on Instagram Live and his dad was saying something that he was going to be in Toronto next season, and Kawhi has not said that he will definitely re-sign yet. I think that he is going out to play for the LA Clippers to start his own dynasty there and to play in the big city of fame.
Jimmy Butler turns down the Sixers, to join Lebron and AD in LA
The Sixers went all in on last season’s team as they traded for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. I think Jimmy Butler is going to leave the Sixers to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. I could see him wanting to possibly coming back to Philly, but I think that Jimmy Butler wants to win, play in the big lights in Hollywood, and he seems like he is the type of player that wants to play with the best players such as Lebron James. I think he sees an opportunity for my fame in the NBA by going out to join the Lakers. I don’t think he got that fame by playing along side Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
Demarcus Cousins wasted his season in Golden State, he is ready to leave to get his money playing for the Atlanta Hawks
The Warriors can’t sign Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Demarcus Cousins to max contracts, it’s impossible. So Cousins is the odd guy out in Golden State. He wasted a season in Golden State by taking less money to win a ring with the Warriors, but the Warriors didn’t end up winning the NBA Finals. I think that he is going to get his money paid in Atlanta to play for the Hawks. The Hawks have cap space to sign someone to their young team and they could use a Center. I think he will join the Hawks to team up with Trae Young and John Collins to an NBA Playoff Contender. I think he will fit in with the Hawks system.
D’Angelo Russell is kicked out of Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving, signs with the Boston Celtics
Kyrie Irving is heading out to Brooklyn, which means that they most likely kick D’Angelo Russell out. I think that D’Angelo Russell will join the Boston Celtics to play and lead a good NBA team. I think he sees something special in joining Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward to do something special. I would love to see this happen if Kyrie doesn’t re-sign with Boston. Russell can be a really great asset to the team and can still make this team a top team in the Eastern Conference.
Nikola Vucevic stays put and re-signs with Orlando
Nikola Vucevic will most likely to stay put in Orlando after he finally got Orlando back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. I think that Vucevic is a good player, but honestly I don’t think he has a talent to really lead this team to an NBA title in the future, if I were the Magic I would need to sign another big time player to join him in order if they ever be a really good NBA playoff team.
Al Horford goes signs his big contract with the Dallas Mavericks
I am still in shock that Al Horford is leaving Boston, I never would’ve thought he would leave. Apparently when he opted out his contract, he said that there was a team that would offer a $112 million dollar contract. I have a feeling that the contract will be with the Dallas Mavericks, the Mavericks is known for giving players big contracts and I have feeling that this is the team that will land Al Horford. Horford is a great team player and that he will be a good veteran to young guys Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic. I don’t like that he is doing this, but I will always love him as a player.
Khris Middleton signs that max contract with the Bucks
Khris Middleton had a great season with the Milwaukee Bucks. I think that he is definitely going to stay with the Bucks and sign the max contract. Giannis wants everyone from the Bucks team to return and compete for the NBA title. Obviously not everyone is going to come back, but I think that Khris Middleton will come back if he is offered the max contract. I think that he is worth the max contract now as he was an all-star this past season was a part of a team that won over 60 games this year.
Tobias Harris re-signs with the Sixers after Jimmy Butler leaves
Tobias Harris I think will stay with Philadelphia if Jimmy Butler leaves. Philadelphia will offer Jimmy Butler the bag first, but if he leaves they will give it Tobias Harris. Tobias Harris I think wants to stay with the Sixers, because he has been a part of many teams so far in his young career, and I think he wants Philly to be a place to call home. I see him staying put in Philly to compete in the East with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
Thats my free agent predictions for this summer, I am not sure if I will even get 50% of these answer, but its worth a shot. I will love to see anyone of these players on the Celtics, but I’m not really sure if anyone will join the Celtics. So fingers crossed, June 30th can hurry up, I will be ready to cook the popcorn and watch all the moves this offseason.
The NBA Draft is always one of my favorite things to watch in the NBA. Even though it is no action or game being played, I love the thought and curiosity where the top college basketball players and top overseas players will go in the NBA. Every year I also enjoy figuring out who the Celtics will take in the draft. I would probably say the NBA teams got the guy they wanted in the draft on their team, but some teams got players who they didn’t think they would be available when it came to their selections.
I think that there is a lot of good young talent in the draft, even the players in the second round, but my favorite player in the draft is Zion Williamson. Some personally think that Zion is an overhyped player in the draft, but this guy can actually play. Zion can seriously be a dangerous player in the post, he is one of the strongest guys in the NBA. He is a guy who is crazy athletic for his size, can get up and down the floor, and a guy who can finish at the rim. I think that Zion can have a bright career in the NBA. Which leads me to one of the first teams that won the draft.
Winners: New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans definitely won this draft, Zion Williamson will be a huge franchise player and a guy you will look to build around. The Pelicans were suppose to have the 4th pick of the draft, but they traded away the 4th pick, the 57th pick, a future second round pick, and Solomon Hill in exchange for the 8th, 17th, and 35th pick. The Pelicans ended up drafting Texas center Jaxson Hayes, Virginia Tech shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Brazilian forward Marcos Louzada Silva. I think the trade with the Hawks was a brilliant trade as they turned that 4th pick to get three other draft picks in the draft.
Winners: Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks might’ve lost the trade with the Pelicans, but they are still one of the winners of the NBA Draft. Before the draft, they were trying to decide who take at the fourth pick between Virginia forward DeAndre Hunter or Duke forward Cam Reddish. They ended up taking Hunter at the 4th pick, but Cam Reddish fell all the way to the Hawks at the tenth pick. The Hawks got two good players in the draft who both had potential to be in the top five of the draft. That is a great steal as the Hawks are continuing to make this team back to playoff contenders.
Winners: Memphis Grizzles
The Grizzles I think added two players who can really help their team. They added the #2 pick in the draft, Murray State guard Ja Morant and Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke at the 21st pick. Ja Morant was a pick that didn’t come up as a surprise for the Grizzles when they traded away veteran point guard Mike Conley. Ja Morant is a guy who can light it up on the floor as we saw last year in the NCAA Tournament, and Brandon Clarke will be a great role player of the bench as he was a big part of Gonzaga’s run in the tournament last year.
Who was the Losers of the Draft?
Losers: Washington Wizards
The Wizards were one of the losers of the draft this year. They had the 9th pick of the NBA Draft and they took Rui Hachimura from Gonzaga. I haven’t heard much about this player, but they passed on the chance on selecting Cam Reddish, Cameron Johnson, or Tyler Herro. People were saying that this guy shouldn’t have gone so high in the NBA, but they took a risk at taking him. I don’t see this guy helping turning the Wizards around, but we never know.
Losers: Boston Celtics
I hate to say this, but I think that the Celtics might’ve been one of the losers of the drafts. They took Romeo Langford, a guard from Indiana, who at first I had no idea who this guy was when I heard his name called. So I looked up this guy on Youtube, and he can actually be a good player. But besides him I didn’t really like the other picks they had. They selected Grant Williams from Tennessee who is a guy that shouldn’t have been drafted that high. They selected a good player in Ty Jerome from Virginia, but sent him and Aron Baynes to Phoenix. So I am not sure what to really think of this draft selections, but with some of these moves they are looking to free up more cap space this summer.
Who were the steals of the draft?
Bol Bol- Oregon center- who was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft by the Miami Heat (traded to the Denver Nuggets). He is a guy who was suppose to be a potential lottery pick somehow fell all the way to the second round. He is a 7 footer, a skilled big man, not very strong, but can have potential to be a decent player in the league when given the change.
Nassir Little- North Carolina forward- was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with the 25th pick. Little was one of the top players at North Carolina and he was another player that could’ve been a lottery pick. He is a guy that will be a big key role with the Portland Trailblazers.
Kevin Porter Jr-USC forward- was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 30th pick. He is a guy who will get a lot of minutes for the Cavaliers next year who can be a good prolific scorer.
All in all, this was a great 2019 draft, lots of trades for draft picks, but the NBA teams I think got the players they wanted. As a Celtic fan, I still am shaking my head after their draft choices, but Danny Ainge has something up his sleeve that maybe could bring in a good free agent for a max contract. I am excited to see what this offseason will bring.
Last quick thing, unfortunately Maine native Nick Mayo from EKU did not get drafted tonight, but I am still hoping to see him play in the Summer League or joining a G League team in the future.
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