– John Wall, 2013

A lone banner hangs like a question mark from the rafters inside the Verizon Center, reading ‘NBA World Champions 1977-78.’ When the starters shimmy and shake their way through introductions, few look up. Even fewer glance at the silhouetted banner; these moments are brief and unnoticed.

Four decades ago, the Washington Bullets were amongst the league’s elite, the only team to play in the NBA Finals four times in the 1970s. Since renaming the team in 1997 – you can count the number of playoff series victories the Wizards have won on a single finger. Since 1981-82 you can count it on two. Washington’s fandom continuously attempts to swallow pejorative commentary for a team that chokes its way through fourth quarters. Ascribe it to immaturity, the hapless story of the Washington Wizards.

Washington Times

Randy Whittman, head coach since 2012, hasn’t been to the playoffs in seven years of coaching. Just five players on his roster have. Naivety in the waning minutes has been Washington’s conundrum for years, exacerbated yet again this season.

Washington has garnered three Top 6 draft picks since ‘09, each armed with a prowess for scoring. Their roster averages 25 years of age, amongst the lowest in the NBA. Equipped with the league’s most latent backcourt, Washington’s perimeter can turn each possession into a pick-and-roll nightmare. Lack-of-talent can no longer be deemed the overarching-scapegoat.

The challenge of immaturity however, continuously reaffirms itself as Washington’s crux. Just three years ago, teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton brought firearms into the Wizards’ locker room. Bradley Beal – who cannot even legally buy himself a drink yet – laces up his shoes nearby. The players may be gone, but the roots remain beneath him.

As Bleacher Report’s Bryant T. Jordan put it, “Washington’s problem isn’t lack of talent, it’s lack of professionalism.” Showcased again this year, Washington (4-8) has outscored their opponent just three times in the fourth quarter this season. Once was after Miami pulled their starters for the final nine minutes.

Closely contested games have eaten the Wizards this year, a trend proven by three decades of just falling short. 10 games have been decided by 11 points or less. Turnovers, blown assignments, and lack of willpower are just a handful of symptoms Whittman has attributed. Immaturity has raised its head in many forms, and while addressed behind a podium, remains stagnantly addressed on-court.

Washington faces a division including two teams that have yet to miss the playoffs in seven years (Miami/Atlanta). They’re marred by the heartache of final-minute-combustions, injury-riddled-stretches, and years of lukewarm efficiency. Mental fortitude continues to stand between Washington and their first playoff appearance in six years.

Only the Wizards can decide if they’re mature enough to win in crunch time. Washington’s youthfulness is the inexorable ghost, the haunt that keeps their lone banner and playoff hopes in shadows.

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-L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz

There some situations bound by the laws of nature. That is to say, a New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox matchup will have a profound gradient of tension comparative to a minor league exhibition. That is to say, a Chicago Bulls/Indiana Pacers matchup will feel more struggle and sweat than a youth league pickup. -And just as a child staring directly into the sun would lead you to believe, tempting fate is one of humanity’s most prominent errors bound by those laws.

At a certain point when your team: is gauged higher in just about every statistical category listed, particularly on defense where they hold the top spot in ‘points allowed per game’ with 86.3; has arguably the best 23-year-old in the sport, who’s off to the best start to a season - in nearly everything - of his career; and has the best record in the NBA through 3 weeks, including trouncing the team you’re about to play by 17 points just ten days ago, it’s going to be expected of you to continue that torrential pace – and sometimes your knees just have to buckle.

Overwhelming the Pacers in all but two categories (fast break points, blocks) the Bulls (5-3) dealt Indiana their first loss of the early season (9-1), garnished with an efficient and improbable performance from Derrick Rose – who was returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Friday night matchup with Toronto.

It would be too easy to catalog analysis on the fact that every single Indiana starter played to a plus/minus of less than -10, so game grades it is!

                Chicago Bulls 110              |               Indiana Pacers 94

Carlos Boozer, PF

26 MIN | 6-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 4 PF | 13 PTS

While Carlos’s numbers didn’t dazzle to the tune of his season average (16.9 PPG/8.0 RPG), his ejection alongside Indiana’s Chris Copeland with 21 seconds left was arguably one of the worst calls this season and weakest technical foul since…well, the one that was called a quarter prior on Kirk.

Grade: B

Luol Deng, SF

32 Min | 8-14 FG | 6-7 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 3 TO | 3 PF | 23 PTS

Luol appears to be using the ‘one-night-on, one-night-off’ approach which is a tad disconcerning for contract enthusiasts but Deng did lead Chicago in scoring for the fourth time this year on a night that, thankfully, kept him inside the arc. Can’t complain there.

Grade: A-

Joakim Noah, C

32 MIN | 1-6 FG | 2-4 FT | 7 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 3 TO | 6 PF | 4 PTS

After a dazzling Friday night against Toronto, Joakim didn’t bring his best Saturday, a commonly growing occurrence against larger frontcourts – particularly Hibbert or as he’s being called this year ‘a fucking monster.’ Maybe he was tired, maybe he was simply dominated by Hibbert’s tangible improvement defensively this offseason (4.6BLKPG), but Noah will need to perform better when these matchups are actually tight late in the fourth.

Grade: C

Derrick Rose, PG

31 MIN | 7-16 FGM | 3 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 TO | 1 PF | 20 PTS

As Kelly Scaletta pointed out, this is the second straight game for Rose without a TO or FTA, a first in his career. That’s pretty incredible considering his living if often made driving to the basket, but Rose found himself a blanket and laid down around the arc Saturday. Derrick Rose played as he had throughout a majority of preseason – oftentimes around the perimeter, showcasing an improved three-point shot (6-11). His attack to the rim looked tentative, hence the 2 points coming inside of 23-feet, but critics of Rose’s tenacity towards the rim Saturday are also proponents of the ideology: if it ain’t broke, fix it immediately. Rose’s defense again appeared dynamic as he was able to keep George Hill in check most of the game and rotate cleanly to his assignment on the pick-n-roll.

Grade: A-

Jimmy Butler, SG

25 MIN | 2-3 FG | 5-6 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 1 PF | 10 PTS

Jimmy played arguably the most efficient of the Bulls starters, and even cracked the highlights with an amazing four-point play, and this block on Solomon Hill leading to a fastbreak basket from Deng:

 Grade: A

Taj Gibson, PF

27 MIN | 7-13 FG | 1-1 FT | 8 REB | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PF | 15 PTS

If he can average 15/8 a game, the Bulls will win the rebounding battle most nights (Bulls won battle 42-37) and that allows the offensive scheme a chance to compete regardless of whether or not the shooting is there (which has been spotty for the Bulls thus far, to say the least). Taj also played some great defensive minutes on David West late in the game, showing his improvement on both sides.

Grade: B+

Mike Dunleavy, SF

23 MIN | 4-5 FG | 4 REB | 2 AST | 1 TO | 2 PF | 10 PTS

Dunleavy hit both three-point attempts and played tactile offensively down the stretch for Chicago. It’s also worth noting that Dunleavy has played his best ball against Division opponents, averaging 10.3 per game on 58% shooting. While the Bulls have only played 3 Division games, 2 have come against Indiana – the top defense in the league and viable Miami-Heat-surrogate. While his consistency has a ways to go, particularly his defensive rotational work, it’s comforting knowing that Dunleavy is making plays against teams that actually play well together.

 Grade: B

Nazr Mohammed, C

11 MIN | 1-1 FG | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 1 PF | 2 PTS

This is what I want Nazr’s stat line to look like always: low minutes, few shot attempts, and 1 foul just so his newfound reputation isn’t blemished post-Lebron:

 Grade: B

Kirk Hinrich, SG

33 MIN | 4-10 FG | 4-4 FT | 4 REB | 8 AST | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 3 PF | 13 PTS

Some nights Kirk seems to be the bane of Chicago existence, sometimes he’s adequate – tonight was another adequate night. YAY FOR KIRK! While he was tortured defensively and had his share of ‘NO, KIRK!’ moments particularly shooting in the 3rd, Hinrich gave the Bulls valuable minutes off the bench and kept the offense running without Rose and was even flashed in perhaps a rare Thibodeua lineup model: Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Gibson, Noah.

Grade: B-

The Bulls next play Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats (5-5) in the United Center where they will attempt to win their fifth straight since losing to Indiana earlier this month. Indiana didn’t like losing that game, Chicago relished winning it in dominant fashion, and Tony Snell…well, Tony Snell continued to do whatever Tony Snell does.

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Joakim Noah looking disgusting as ever.

CHICAGO — While the dystopian frontier McCarthy acknowledges doesn’t exactly resemble Toronto, ‘the road’ has not been kind to the Chicago Bulls in 2013 – having lost their first three matchups in opposing cities. Friday however, was a little different, and Chicago took the first step towards morphing the dark and desolate road game into a semblance of light.

The déjà vu of last night felt more instilling than eerie in Chicago’s 96-80 victory over the under-resourced and individual-oriented Raptors. Never trailing, the Bulls overcame a career-best 37 points from DeMar DeRozan to win all but one-quarter Friday and with it, the first road win of the season.

There’s something transcendent about watching the Bulls without Derrick Rose, like watching a doorbell work without the outer shell. Fleeting moments arise where the fan in all of us yearns for the only man not named Lebron James to win the NBA MVP award in the last five years to spurt onto the court to lead the offense. However, with Rose averaging over 6 points less per game in scoring (14.7), 1 rebound (2.8), 2 assists (6.8), and 10 FG% below his career average (46.1%), Friday was a little easier to muster.

Joakim Noah had his most productive game thus far, finishing with 18 points and 9 rebounds on 70% shooting, including some much needed closure for fans wary about his physicality and rhythm this season. Carlos Boozer’s numbers didn’t excel in any major area but his versatility was on full display, finishing with a near triple-double (14pts, 8rebs, 6asts). Tom Thibodeau was able to utilize ten of his twelve available players, in which each player tallied points, showcasing a fluid and balanced attack offensively. It’s also important to note that Kirk Hinrich didn’t completely make an ass of himself for one of the few times this year, and showed that if promoted he can occasionally handle the reigns on offense (dear god, I hope this isn’t tested often). Also, Jimmy (Butler) got a haircut and no longer appears like Bart Simpson!

He couldn’t stop DeRozan but at least his hair is fixed.

It’s easy to credit the Bulls defensive schemes as the causation for the 16-point victory, but really, Toronto just isn’t really that cohesive. A team that ranks last in the league when it comes to assists per game (16.4) and twenty-first in points per game (95.6) spelled doom from the tip. A game that Raptors coach Dwayne Casey called “a stinker” was just about sealed  after an 11-43 first half of shooting (25%). That being said, DeRozan took and buried some incredibly well defended shots and his maturity appears to have improved since:

The Bulls next look to their first back-to-back game night of the season, where they will take on a disturbingly powerful and undefeated Indiana Pacers (9-0) in the United Center Saturday. Hopefully, we’ll have Rose back – but if not…well, you might not want to watch the second half. 

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If you hype something and it succeeds,
you’re a genius – it wasn’t a hype. If you
hype it and it fails, then it was just a hype.
-Neil Bogart

CHICAGO — A matchup two years in the making proved more ragged than explosive. The juxtaposition of two all-star point guards trying to spark flint in a game both cities wanted if just to feel something catch and burn for a night, resulted in a sloppy – and at times lackadaisical – demonstration of a faux showdown. Turns out, Chicago was the better team Monday – and Derrick Rose wasn’t necessarily the catalyst. Lead down the stretch by Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy Jr. who combined for 33 points on 65 percent shooting, the Bulls pulled away from the Cavaliers late, 96-81 on Monday night.

Carlos Boozer continued his display of methodic fade-away jumpers, pivoting lay-ins, and fourth quarter masochistic screams en route to his fifth game this season shooting above 56 percent from the field (only shot above that percentage twice in his career, so let’s all just wait for Carlos to be…Carlos sometime soon). The hyper-dispersed offensive production can found in the stat line, with each of Chicago’s starters in double-figures for points. Derrick Rose play didn’t exceed expectations but it was enough to keep Cleveland at bay and Chicago in the half-court preying on the Cavaliers’ 18 turnovers (most this season).

Rose also had BY FAR his best game defensively, holding Irving to a 0-6 start from the field and forcing countless turnovers and fast breaks with his lateral stability and improved positioning in Tom Thibodeau’s defensive system. DRose did leave late in the game however, as a result of a “minor sprain…nothing really bad.” Hopefully this is more truth than optimistic outlook from the Bulls training staff.

Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng played like men ready to head out of town at season’s end, after a wretched 22 percent combined shooting night from the two veterans. This doesn’t even indicate how poorly Hinrich was defensively, particularly in the half-court, refusing to stop Irving or Dion Waiters when prompted. Both will have to pick up their play if they want the Bulls to re-sign them at the end of the year.

Andrew Bynum played with shades of the fortress Cleveland desired when they signed the 7-footer, frustrating Joakim Noah and producing reasonable numbers considering restricted minutes (21) – finishing with 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Tristan Thompson also had a balanced game – relentlessly driving and overwhelming the defensive liability that is Carolos Boozer – finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds (5^th double-double this year). However it was the dawdling start of Kyrie Irving that kept most of those salivating before tip dry throughout the entire first half. Scoring just two points in the first twenty-four minutes, Irving brought the game within catching distance in the fourth quarter before Chicago counteracted the surge.

Game Ball: Mike Dunleavy Jr. As painful as his transparent skin appears on camera and any jump shot he takes inside of 23-feet, he found the bottom of the net when his team needed him most, connecting on a multitude of three-pointers and long jumpers throughout the fourth quarter when Chicago was struggling to hammer in the final nails of the proverbial coffin. We haven’t seen Mike Dunleavy Jr. that animated since:

Although he and Kirk Hinrich were arguably the worst defenders on the court Monday night, caught flat-footed on a variety of occasions, his offensive game and team interlocking took a significant step forward as he embraced the bright lights for the first time in his new city.

Josh Planos
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With the 2013 NBA preseason in the books for Chicago Bulls fans (8-0), it’s finally time to – yet again – revel in the moments just before the nautical dawn of the 2013-2014 regular season. The good news is we only have to sit close-fisted 96 more hours to see what many of us have been waiting upon for well over a year. The tantalizing notion of a championship in a city that has been swept under the rug by LeBron James governed teams for three of the last four seasons or the unlikely aptitude of a Thibodeau squad to remain in any way cohesive physically by season’s end.

While Mike Dunleavy, Tony Snell, and Erik Murphy are in no way transcending pieces, this team appears far more balanced and dangerous in the half-court than any since Thibodeau came on three years ago.

It’s almost humorous to consider the Bulls are looking to improve on what many believed to be a quasi-hollow 2012 season, a mixture of insatiable progress and unnerving torment. The desire for progression and respect from a battered yet dauntless coalition whose shear will-power kept a city afloat into the second round of the playoffs.

After reexamining their 2013-2014 regular season schedule, I have Chicago going 61-21. Still seeing the Heat coming out as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference at 63-19 and taking the season series against the Bulls, but a closer conference hierarchy in 2013 than we’ve seen in a while.

Most intriguing games:

10/29/13 – at Heat: This is it. Here’s to hoping Nazr Mohammed isn’t starting at center with Noah doing his best rendition of Greg Oden in the past week. Expect beaming smiles, shiny rings, and explosions the whole family can enjoy.

11/06/13 – at Pacers: Noah/Hibbert Rose/Hill Butler/George, I’m sold.

11/24/13 – at Clippers: What will this Chris Paul – Derrick Rose matchup yield? An overwhelming amount of advertisements both are stars in? Please no more, State Farm. I’m also slightly hoping Jordan or Griffin have a fast-break opportunity on Boozer just because.

12/11/13 – at Knicks: A shootout or a shutdown. Jr. Smith going off or Thibodeau going hoarse by halftime, which one is more plausible?

12/19/13 – at Thunder: With Westbrook back, the Thunder transition game will be in full-effect. Boozer could do the impossible and out-muscle an opponent for the first time since his Utah days. God only knows what Kendrick Perkins’ off-season consisted of.

01/29/13 – at Spurs: When searching for Rose’s highlights, you’ll find a multitude of them coming against a Tim Duncan matchup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZimlxGDbPi0

02/09/13 – at Lakers: With Kobe back and the all-time scoring ranks on his mind, this matchup is sure to produce something memorable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxHl9JYm-IM

03/03/13 – at Nets: Will Jason Terry make a fool of himself in front of a national audience? Will Noah blaze his pistols? All I know is this should end up being a game both of these teams desperately want.

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Teague is attempting to become a rotation player for the Bulls.

Teague had another solid performance Monday night, scoring 15pts on 50% shooting from the floor, with 7asts.  For the love of god, somebody get Andrew Goudelock a contract.  Yes, it’s summer league but the guy is on a tare with a 2013 Summer League best 31pts Monday night.  If I’m Gar Forman, I have to be thinking a minimum level contract, just for a year to test Goudelock in Thib’s system.  He appears to play exceptionally well with Snell, Teague, and Murphy.

Tony Snell had a difficult night shooting (2-9), but showed a slashing mentality that is a carbon copy of what they’re expecting him to bring to the offense next year.  Hopefully he can raise his point total per game and develop his shot while facing tough competition in Las Vegas.  Erik Murphy didn’t look terrible!  18pts on 7-10 shooting is pretty ideal for the new big man, although the fact that he’s not capable of grabbing rebounds is a tad concerning.  Murphy didn’t look interested in the rim at all tonight, something his two total rebounds clearly dictate.

Chicago plays again Tuesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, I’ll be looking for some storylines:

• Can Goudelock keep up his torrential pace?
• Can Teague continue to bring the Bulls balanced and valuable minutes?
• Can Snell shoot higher than 30% from the field?
• Will Erik Murphy learn how to rebound?

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• Defensive Player of the Year (2011, 2010, 2009)
• All-NBA 1^st Team (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008)
• All-NBA 3^rd Team (2013, 2007)
• All-Rookie 1^st Team (2005)
• All-Defensive 1^st Team (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
• All-Defensive 2^nd Team (2008)

…and yet he is continuously criticized and harped on for being a lazy teammate, uncommitted to the team(s) he has played for (according to his former coach at Orlando, Stan Van Gundy), and had his 17.1ppg 14.2rpg 2012-2013 season labeled as underachieving, by analysts across a variety of platforms.  In fact, for most of his accolade-rich 9-year stint in the league, Howard has had a pretty rough go of thing, most notably last season (his first in Los Angeles) with the Lakers.

Over the course of the past week, Howard has reacted in an obvious and predictable manner, he has exploited his current situation in a “where should I take my talents next season” marketing spectacle (nostalgic for anyone who remembers the mockery of LeBron James’ “decision” in 2010) that involves a multitude of suitors for the man who melded the comic book/athlete barrier when he was dubbed “Superman” after the 2008 Slam Dunk Competition.

Currently, Howard appears interested in 5 teams: The Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, and the Los Angeles Lakers.  Dwight Howard has repeatedly made it aware to the media that his first and foremost concern is winning, something Dwight knows very little of.  In his 9-year NBA career Dwight has been to the finals once and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2009.  Obviously, he craves whatever opportunity will get him closer to holding the Larry O’Brien trophy, which I believe lies in a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors.  It’ll be interesting to see how committed Howard is to finding the best contender with the money situation being a clearly issue of concern, as Howard will most likely be looking for a max-contract wherever he chooses.

If Howard truly cares about having the best opportunities to win, this is the order he should have these teams ranked:

1. Golden State Warriors

Easily the most successful team in the league in terms of youth, Golden State would potentially pair Howard with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, providing the Warriors with the inside game they desperately needed against the Spurs in the 2013 NBA Playoffs.  However, this will be tricky to pull off as the Warriors lack the salary cap space that Howard will require.  This means that GM Bob Myers will have to decide whether or not he wants to keep his promising young talent in Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes, or send one, if not both to the Lakers.  Fret not Warrior fans; a Howard/Lee frontcourt would be amongst the most dominant in the league if they do decide to conduct a sign-and-trade, and if Golden State can keep Thompson out of the trade than they will really be in business come 2014.  If you’re Howard, you have to understand that Golden State has a far more enticing market than LA, not in terms of scope but in lack of athletic propaganda.  He’d be void of any overbearing pressure, be joining one of the youngest and most entertaining teams in basketball, and have the ability to maintain his role in a scheme that simply asks he overpower the lane offensively and block a few shots.  To me, this is the clear fit for Howard, but one that appears more unlikely by the day.

If Dwight wants to win, this is what he needs to be wearing.

2. Houston Rockets

Houston has pulled everything short of James Harden’s contract to make room for Howard.  The Rockets released swingman Carlos Delfino and point guard Aaron Brooks on Sunday, clearing $5.5 million in preparation for the max-deal that Howard will undoubtedly ask for.  Houston is also looking to ship forward Thomas Robinson in hopes of not returning any salary, which would allow for the max-deal to take place.  Houston would be a great fit for Howard, as the Rockets were severely lacking any sort of interior presence on both the offensive and defensive ends, posting up on only 4 percent of their plays, a league low.  Paired with the impressive growth that newcomer Omer Asik made, starting all 82 games at center for the Rockets last year, would allow breaks for Howard and knowledge for Asik.  Honestly, all that’s missing for the Rockets to be contenders is Howard, but I find the offensive scheme to be limiting for the big man if he’s looking to put up the All-Star numbers he was accustomed to in Orlando.

3. Dallas Mavericks

Personally, if I’m Dwight Howard, I immediately go to Dallas for the free Raising Cane’s chicken fingers for life deal.  Mark Cuban would market Howard more than any other player on any other team, he’d immediately be embraced by a team that has a championship under it’s belt in the recent years, who craves another -and a Howard/Nowitzki pairing might be the recipe for success.  Picking up Shane Larkin and Ricky Ledo will add depth but Dallas needs Howard to replace the scoring drought that Mayo’s departure will surely leave in the team’s wake.  Howard appears interested but right now I’d rank the Mavericks third on Howard’s list.

4. Los Angeles Lakers

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills even writing this portion on LA.  How can Howard, a man who was thrown through the muck that is the LA media by not only analysts but teammates alike, considering a return to a team that also finds themselves in shambles.  These are just a few of the Lakers current problems:

• Kobe Bryant is coming off of the worst injury of his career, an injury that we just saw Derrick Rose take twice as long to return from as was expected.  Derick Rose is 24, Kobe Bryant is 34.
• Mike D’Antoni has been an awful coach since he won coach of the year in 2005, and provides little offensive framework for the Lakers to thrive on with even littler defensive strategy, hence the Lakers were bounced from 2013 NBA Playoffs in the first round for the first time since 2006 (SWEEP!!!).
• Steve Nash had his worst season in terms of scoring and assisting (his role) in 13 years, and called this season “the most frustrating of his 17-year career,” yet is begging Howard to return.  Well duh he is, Dwight!  Nash and the Lakers are doomed without the big man, but I’m not sure that him staying would change that.
•  The Lakers draft didn’t really help.  They picked up a stretch 4 in Ryan Kelly, who cannot rebound and won’t pair well with the offense.

A city that praised Superman and then tore the cape from his back should have no place in Howard’s mind.  Yet, the Lakers appear to be the front-runner for Howard…yikes.

Howard has been disheartened by this whole process.

5. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are in trouble.  Losing Josh Smith (possibly) to free agency, and picking up two Brazilian players who are unproven are a recipe for disaster.  However, the Hawks are determined to get back to the playoffs and have tapped Corey Brewer (yippee!!!) for a possible contract and are in the hunt for JJ Redick.  IF you’re Howard and you want to win, you bluntly cannot accept a deal with the Hawks.  A team that is falling apart, coming off an abysmal losing performance to the Pacers in the first round of the 2013 Playoffs, and undergoing the process of implementing a new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, the Hawks look destined for a sub .500 record.  If Howard wants to win, Atlanta isn’t the place to go.

Dwight Howard will most likely have his name enshrined in Springfield, MA one day.  He may find himself in the top 20 all-time in rebounds and blocks.  Hell, maybe even points -but if Dwight Howard wants a title by the time his career comes to a close than he should really think this decision over in the coming month.  We want Superman back, it’s time for Howard to take flight and jump ship.

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UFA= Unrestricted Free Agent
RFA= Restricted Free Agent
P= Player Option
T= Team Option
ETO= Early Termination Option

Point Guards

Tier 1

1. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers (UFA): playmaking, passing, scoring, leadership, defense

CP3 obviously stands far and above every other free agent (not just point guards). The real question is where he ends up. I have my eye on Houston and Dallas.

Tier 2

2. Jose Calderon, Detroit Pistons (UFA): passing, leadership, 3s, playmaking
3. Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks (RFA): scoring, playmaking, potential
4. Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks (RFA): passing, scoring

These guys are all legit starting point guards. Teague took a big step this year and is really underlooked because he plays in Atlanta. Calderon could be a huge addition to a contender in need of a real point (cough, Miami, cough).

Tier 3

5. Jarrett Jack, Golden State Warriors (UFA): slasher, 3s, passing, playmaker
6. Darren Collison, Dallas Mavericks (RFA): scoring, 3s, passing
7. Nate Robinson, Chicago Bulls (UFA): hustle, passing, gunner
8. Mo Williams, Utah Jazz (UFA): shooting, 3s, passing
9. Jerryd Bayless, Memphis Grizzlies (UFA): gunner, bench scoring
9. D.J. Augustin, Indiana Pacers (UFA): bench scoring, 3s

As Bill Simmons affectionately calls these types of players irrational confidence guys. As quickly as they can heat up they go ice cold at times as well. Jack, Robinson, Bayless and even Augustin were all rotation players for 2nd round playoff teams, so there’s that.

Tier 4

10. Pablo Prigioni, New York Knicks (RFA): leadership, hustle, shooting, passing
11. Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat (T): 3s
12. Devin Harris, Atlanta Hawks (UFA): bench scoring, slashing
13. Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas Mavericks (RFA): athleticism, potential

Solid rotational players. I really hope Prigioni sticks around for a few more years, he’s a lot of fun to watch. At this point, there’s no way Chalmers leaves, as he enjoys getting yelled at by James and Wade too much.

Tier 5

14. Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana Pacers (UFA): passing, leadership
15. Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons (UFA): hustle, bench scoring
16. Chauncey Billups, Los Angeles Clippers (UFA): 3s, leadership
17. Beno Udrih, Orlando Magic (UFA): passing, 3s
18. Shaun Livingston, Cleveland Cavaliers (UFA): passing, hustle
19. Toney Douglas, New York Knicks (RFA): gunner
20. Sebastian Telfair, Toronto Raptors (UFA): passing
21. Eric Maynor, Portland Trailblazers (RFA): passing
22. C.J. Watson, Brooklyn Nets (P): bench scoring
23. Royal Ivey, Philadelphia 76ers (UFA): bench scoring
24. Keyon Dooling, Memphis Grizzlies (UFA): leadership

Bench guys who find ways to impact their teams in ways that don’t always involve them playing.

Tier 6

25. Mike James, Dallas Mavericks (UFA): leadership
26. A.J. Price, Washington Wizards (UFA): passing
27. Daniel Gibson, Cleveland Cavaliers (UFA): 3s
28. Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City Thunder (UFA): 3s, leadership
29. Earl Watson, Utah Jazz (UFA): passing, hustle
30. Jannero Pargo, Charlotte Bobcats (UFA): hustle
31. Nolan Smith, Portland Trailblazers (UFA): hustle
32. Charles Jenkins, Philadelphia 76ers (RFA): potential
33. Diante Garrett, Phoenix Suns (RFA): passing
34. Ben Hansbrough, Indiana Pacers (UFA): hustle
35. Julyan Stone, Denver Nuggets (RFA): potential
36. Darius Morris, Los Angeles Lakers (RFA): something?

Ehhhhhhhhhh.

Shooting Guards

Tier 1

1. Andre Iguodala, Denver Nuggets (ETO): defense, athleticism, leader, slasher

His offensive production is slipping, but he didn’t really fit into Denver’s system. Still an elite defender. He will end up overpaid, but underappreciated.

Tier 2

2. Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies (UFA): defense, pickpocket, hustle, crazy person, leadership
3. J.R. Smith, New York Knicks (P): bench scoring, gunner, athleticism
4. O.J. Mayo, Dallas Mavericks (P): scoring, 3s, potential
5. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs (UFA): slasher, 3s, playmaking, passing
6. Kevin Martin, Oklahoma City Thunder (UFA): scoring, 3s
7. Monta Ellis, Milwaukee Bucks (ETO): shooting, slashing, gunner

2-7 are all great at something, but have pretty noticeable flaws, ranging from attempting to play defense, your collective fanbase holding their breath every time you touch the ball, or baldness. With

Tier 3

8. Ray Allen, Miami Heat (P): 3s, shooting
9. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings (UFA): slasher, potential
10. Gary Neal, San Antonio Spurs (RFA): 3s, hustle
11. Gerald Henderson, Charlotte Bobcats (RFA): scoring
12. J.J. Redick, Milwaukee Bucks (UFA): 3s
13. Marco Belinelli, Chicago Bulls (UFA): bench scoring
14. Nick Young, Philadelphia 76ers (UFA): gunner, 3s

You could get away with starting these players but there are better options.

Tier 4

15. Ben Gordon, Charlotte Bobcats (P): bench scoring
16. Wayne Ellington, Cleveland Cavaliers (RFA): 3s
17. Randy Foye, Los Angeles Clippers (UFA): 3s, hustle
18. Brandon Rush, Indiana Pacers (P): 3s, bench scoring
19. Leonardo Barbosa, Washington Wizards (UFA): bench scoring, hustle
20. Elliot Williams, Portland Trailblazers (UFA): potential

Rotational two guards; it’s likely Gordon will pick up his player option, because c’mon, 13.2 million dollars.

Tier 5

21. Roger Mason Jr., New Orleans Pelicans (UFA): 3s
22. Jodie Meeks, Los Angeles Lakers (T): bench scoring
23. Keith Bogans, Brooklyn Nets (UFA): defense
24. Dahntay Jones, Indiana Pacers (UFA): defense
25. Xavier Henry, Memphis Grizzlies (UFA): potential
26. Damien Wilkins, Philadelphia 76ers (UFA): leadership, shooting
27. Wesley Johnson, Phoenix Suns (UFA): potential

If these guys are getting significant minutes, you’ll likely get swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Spurs.

Tier 6

28. Anthony Morrow, Dallas Mavericks (UFA): 3s
29. Daequan Cook, Chicago Bulls (UFA): 3s
30. Marquis Daniels, Milwaukee Bucks (UFA): hustle
31. Andrew Goudelock, Los Angeles Lakers (RFA): 3s
32. Tracy McGrady, San Antonio Spurs (UFA): baller.
33. Garrett Temple, Washington Wizards (RFA): length
34. Quentin Richardson, New York Knicks (UFA): 3s

T-MAC!!!!

Small Forwards

Tier 1

1. Andrei Kirilenko, Minnesota Timberwolves (P): defense, scoring, hustle
2. Dorell Wright, Philadelphia 76ers (UFA): shooting, athleticism, defense
3. Shawn Marion, Dallas Mavericks (ETO): rebounding, defense, leadership
4. Corey Brewer, Denver Nuggets (UFA): hustle, athleticism, transition skills, defense

Yeah, that isn’t a typo. That’s tier one. Still good players! AK-47 probably deserves his own tier, but his demands for a longer contract and possibly declining skills from age keep him close.

Tier 2

5. Martell Webster, Washington Wizards (UFA): 3s, hustle
6. Metta World Peace, Los Angeles Lakers (ETO): defense, 3s, crazy person
7. Mike Dunleavy, Milwaukee Bucks (UFA): 3s
8. Trevor Ariza, Washington Wizards (P): hustle, defense
9. Chase Budinger, Minnesota Timberwolves (RFA): shooting, corner 3s, hair
10. Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Clippers (UFA): corner 3s, bench scoring
11. Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks (UFA): 3s
12. Francisco Garcia, Houston Rockets (UFA): 3s, bench scoring
13. Dante Cunningham, Minnesota Timberwolves (T): slasher
14. Marvin Williams, Utah Jazz (UFA): athleticism

8th men at the very best. Or in LA’s case “YOU GET TO PLAY WITH A GUY NAMED WORLD PEACE!!!!”

Tier 3

15. Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat (P): 3s
16. Sam Young, Memphis Grizzlies (UFA): toughness
17. Devin Ebanks, Los Angeles Lakers (RFA): defense
18. Luke Walton, Cleveland Cavaliers (UFA): passing
19. Ronnie Brewer, Oklahoma City Thunder (UFA): defense
20. Al-farouq Aminu, New Orleans Pelicans (UFA): athleticism
21. James Jones, Miami Heat (P): 3s
22. Omri Casspi, Cleveland Cavaliers (RFA): shooting

Look! Rashard Lewis is in the top 15 of something!! He’s fought back to relevance!!

Tier 4

23. Alan Anderson, Toronto Raptors (UFA): 3s
24. Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic (ETO): passing
25. Corey Maggette, Charlotte Bobcats (UFA): shooting (and missing)
26. Richard Jefferson, Golden State Warriors (P): experience
27. James Johnson, Sacramento Kings (UFA): hustle
28. Mickael Pietrus, Toronto Raptors (UFA): 3s
29. DeMarre Carroll, Utah Jazz (UFA): defense
30. Cartier Martin, Washington Wizards (UFA): 3s
31. Jerry Stackhouse, Brooklyn Nets (UFA): experience
32. Reggie Williams, Charlotte Bobcats (UFA): 3s
33. DeQuan Jones, Orlando Magic (RFA): athleticism

I hope the Bobcats resign Maggette and go after Jefferson and Hedo. I’d fly out to Charlotte, buy tickets and a Bismack Biyombo jersey, and watch those three watch the game from courtside.

Power Forwards

Tier 1
1. David West, Indiana Pacers (UFA): post scorer, bruiser, defense, hustle, rebounding
2. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks (UFA): defense, athleticism, rebounding
3. Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz (UFA): post scoring, bruiser, rebounding

All three of these guys are really, really good. Particularly West. Even though he’s older that Smith and Millsap, I still have him ranked higher for the experience and intesity he brings to his team, night in and night out.

Tier 2
4. J.J. Hickson, Portland Trailblazers (UFA): post scoring, rebounding, athleticism
5. Carl Landry, Golden State Warriors (UFA): post scoring, rebounding
6. Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs (UFA): defense, rebounding, bruiser
7. Marreese Speights, Cleveland Cavaliers (UFA): post scoring, rebounding

J.J. Hickson just had the best year of his career, but still sucks at defense. Splitter also made huge strides, while Landry and Speights are consistently good low-post scorers.

Tier 3

8. Andray Blatche, Brooklyn Nets (UFA): post scoring
9. Brandan Wright, Dallas Mavericks (UFA): athleticism, shot blocking
10. Elton Brand, Dallas Mavericks (UFA): post scoring, rebounding
11. Tyler Hansbrough, Indiana Pacers (RFA): rebounding, bruiser, crazy person
12. Earl Clark, Los Angeles Lakers (UFA): rebounding, athleticism
13. Chris Copeland, New York Knicks (RFA): 3s, bench scoring

Good rotational bigs who have reasons to not be starting. Copeland is an interesting 29 year old rookie who came out of nowhere to shoot 42% from 3 (on 140 attempts).

Tier 4

14. Ivan Johnson, Atlanta Hawks (RFA): bruiser
15. Kenyon Martin, New York Knicks (UFA): rebounding, bruiser
16. Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats (UFA): athleticism
17. DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs (UFA): rebounding, bruiser
18. Antawn Jamison, Los Angeles Lakers (UFA): bench scoring
19. Jason Maxiell, Detroit Pistons (UFA): bruiser, rebounding

High energy bigs who’ll give a team 15-20 solid minutes a night.

Tier 5

20. Jon Leuer, Memphis Grizzlies (RFA): High PER
21. Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs (UFA): playmaking
22. Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Clippers (UFA): rebounding, defense
23. Austin Daye, Memphis Grizzlies (RFA): 3s
24. Jeff Pendergraph, Indiana Pacers (RFA): post scoring
25. Anthony Tolliver, Atlanta Hawks (UFA): 3s
26. Chris Wilcox, Boston Celtics (UFA): bruiser
27. Lou Amundson, New Orleans Pelicans (UFA): bruiser, ponytail
28. Juwan Howard, Miami Heat (UFA): wearing street clothes
29. Luke Babbitt, Portland Trailblazers (UFA): 3s

Jon Leuer doesn’t appear to really do anything that well, but always has an awesome PER. I’d like to see him get 20 minutes a night somewhere.

Tier 6

30. Vladimir Radmanovic, Chicago Bulls (UFA): 3s

Yeah, Vlad gets his own tier. He’s that special.

Centers

Tier 1

1. Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers (UFA): rebounding, defense, blocks, post scoring, athleticism
2. Al Jefferson, Utah Jazz (UFA): post scoring, bruiser, rebounding, blocks
3. Andrew Bynum, Philadelphia 76ers (UFA): post scoring, rebounding, athleticism, bowling

Fun Dwight fact- his rookie year he shot 67% from the free throw line! It then dropped to 59% for the next 6 years (yay consistency!) and dropped 10 points the last two years (49%). There is no excuse for that other than laziness. Al Jefferson is a great low post scoring, but awful at defense. And we’ll see if Bynum can regain his form after missing out on the entire 2012-13 season. And by form I’m referring to bowling form. He’ll worry about basketball right after this frame.

Tier 2

4. Nikola Pekovic, Minnesota Timberwolves (RFA): post scoring, bruiser, rebounding
5. Emeka Okafor, Washington Wizards (ETO): defense, rebounding, bruiser
6. Chris Kaman, Dallas Mavericks (UFA): post scoring, rebounding

Solid starting centers. Question- do you think the Bobcats are actually a little relieved they didn’t draft Howard, and didn’t have to deal with all the resulting hoopla? I’m probably crazy, but in retrospect, at least Okafor wasn’t a big baby while in Charlotte.

Tier 3

7. Samuel Dalembert, Milwaukee Bucks (UFA): rebounding, defense
8. Chris Anderson, Miami Heat (UFA): rebounding, crazy person
9. Jason Smith, New Orleans Pelicans (T): post scoring

Backup centers who provide valuable… value.

Tier 4

10. Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta Hawks (UFA): rebounding
11. Nazr Mohammed, Chicago Bulls (UFA): defense
12. Ronny Turiaf, Los Angeles Clippers (UFA): bruiser
13. Timofey Mozgov, Denver Nuggets (RFA): potential
14. Byron Mullens, Charlotte Bobcats (R): stamina
15. Johan Petro, Atlanta Hawks (UFA): rebounding
16. Ryan Hollins, Los Angeles Clippers (UFA): blocks
17. Robert Sacre, Los Angeles Lakers (RFA): potential
18. Jason Collins, Washington Wizards (UFA): bruiser
19. Jermaine O’Neal, Phoenix Suns (UFA): defense
20. Cole Aldrich, Sacramento Kings (UFA): rebounding

These are mostly guys who check into games to knock someone over.

Tier 5

21. DeSagana Diop, Charlotte Bobcats (UFA): being big
22. Dexter Pittman, Memphis Grizzlies (RFA): being really big
23. Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warriors (ETO): same birthday as me
24. Joel Przybilla, Milwaukee Bucks (UFA): did you know he went to Milwaukee?
25. Earl Barron, New York Knicks (UFA): cool last name
26. Kwame Brown, Philadelphia 76ers (UFA): there he is!

Aaaand these are the centers who aren’t even good enough to do that. If I had just been 7 inches taller (I’m 6’4”) I TOTALLY could have been one of these dudes. Maybe it’s not too late! People in their 20s still have growth spurts, right? Screw it, I’m submitting my name into the draft next year!!

About Dan Cutter

Full-time University of Nebraska-Omaha student, hotel front desk worker, speech and music nerd, overall swell guy. Add me on facebook or follow me on twitter @KidCutskey

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The post 2013 Free Agency List appeared first on Sports Wunderkind.

Before Cleveland had the first pick and had the opportunity to draft Noel, I was all aboard the Bennett bandwagon. At 6’8”, 240 pounds (although he’s currently at 260 because of a surgery he had that kept him fairly inactive) with good athleticism, great shooting range and touch, and a scorers mentality, he offers Cleveland something that they haven’t had, and wouldn’t have gotten from Nerlens; versatility.

Anyone who watched the playoffs (and the finals in particular) saw the need to not only to be able to go small, but to also play big. Miami and San Antonio’s small ball lineups put up huge numbers, but because of important bigs like Tiago Splitter, Roy Hibbert, David West, and of course, Timmy, the Heat were pushed to a game 7 in two straight series.

The Cavaliers, with a healthy Anderson Varejao (and likely a veteran FA center signing) have the ability to play big. But any small lineup the past two years would either involve Alonzo Gee, C.J. Miles, or Luke Walton playing the four. And that just… isn’t good. That’s where Bennett comes in. He can come off the bench and be an instant stretch four who will help Cleveland with floor spacing (which it desperately needs) and will add more athleticism to their lineup. This then allows either Tristan Thompson, Varejao, or Tyler Zeller to play center. TT at the five makes for one of the most interesting Cleveland lineups possible, as there wouldn’t be a player on the court taller than 6’9”. The five-man group of Irving-Waiters-Karasev-Bennett-Thompson is something that could play for stretches and has huge offensive potential, similar to those Spurs and Heat lineups we saw in the finals.

If the Cavs take Nerlens Noel? Now they have three centers and a power forward who all can’t stretch the floor. This is so crucial to success in the NBA today that it’s worth reaching for a player who, despite being a clear top 5 talent, was probably going to go between picks 6-8. Noel would have added awesome defense inside, but with the hiring of Mike Brown as the new head coach, they might not be as concerned about acquiring elite defensive talent, but instead developing the players they have into the best possible defenders they can be. Think of Tom Thibodeau in Chicago. Other than Joakim Noah, there wasn’t really a Bull who people considered to be an excellent defender. But he turned guys like Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli into plus defensive guys (in his system), so why can’t Mike Brown do the same thing with the talent in Cleveland? When Brown was head coach previously for the Cavs, the best defensive player was Anderson Varejao, and it wasn’t really close. Andy is quite clearly a better player now than he was two to three years ago (again, when healthy) so there’s no reason to believe that they can’t reach near the same levels of great team defense once more without the aid of an elite defender like Nerlens.

The pick of Anthony Bennett shocked the basketball world. He might not start a game all year long. But given the situation Cleveland was put in, with the pick they had and the players that were available, I truly believe that Chris Grant & co. made the right call. And while they would have liked to trade down and simply grab him at a lower pick, the return teams were asking back for their offers would have taken the Cavs out of the running for Karasev, whom I’m in love with. So hats off to Cleveland management for making one hell of a ballsy move. I’m obviously a little biased when I say that I hope it works out, but it’s not just for the benefit of seeing my team do well. But if this pick pans out, then the Cavs are one freaking exciting team to watch.

About Dan Cutter

Full-time University of Nebraska-Omaha student, hotel front desk worker, speech and music nerd, overall swell guy. Add me on facebook or follow me on twitter @KidCutskey

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The post Anthony Bennett, Number One Pick of the 2013 NBA Draft appeared first on Sports Wunderkind.

Nerlens Noel has constantly been getting compared to Anthony Davis ever since he committed to Kentucky, but always with a mention that he is a lesser version. I’m here to argue against this notion. Not to say that he’s better than Davis, or that the ‘Brow wasn’t as elite as a prospect as some thought him to be, just that Noel, despite being the projected number one overall pick in the draft to Cleveland (woooohoooo!!!!), is still underrated. If Nerlens and Anthony had swapped teams (Nerlens playing on the ‘11-12 National Champion Wildcats and Davis on this past year’s clusterf*** of a team) that there would have been very little, if any difference between these two players.

In the first 24 games of their college careers (the 24th was Noel’s last after he tore his ACL)

Anthony Davis
31 minutes, 13.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.8 blocks, 1.5 steals

Nerlens Noel
31 minutes, 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 blocks, 2.1 steals

Very little difference here. Anthony looks slightly better at blocking shots, but Nerlens might be more adept at disrupting lanes. Rebounding is essentially the same, as reflected by their rebounding percentages (18.2% and 16.8%). The biggest thing separating them would be the offensive side of the ball, as Davis posted 62% from the field while Noel managed 59%. Keep in mind, Noel played on a vastly inferior team. Davis’s Wildcats had 4 first rounders drafted in 2012 while Nerlens is the only player likely to go in the first, with Archie Goodwin the only other play on NBA team’s radars. Let’s look at some more statistics…

Davis/ Noel
Block%: 13.8 / 13.2
FG%: 62 / 59
Usage %: 18.8 / 17.4
Defensive Rating: 80.3 / 81.8
Team Assists: 481 / 403
FT%: 71 / 53
FTApG: 5.1 / 4.3

As you can see, when it comes to their offensive production, (the perceived biggest difference) Davis averaging roughly 3 more a night can be argued to be essentially irrelevant, as Davis had far superior guards getting him the ball and was also nearly 20% better from the charity stripe than Nerlens. Anthony was also used more often, and more efficiently, due to the better supporting cast. That, on top of the free throw shooting, easily makes up for that 3 point disparity.

Another thing to remember is that Nerlens wasn’t as good as Davis right away- he walked into Kentucky a much rawer player. If it weren’t for Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, it probably wouldn’t have been a horrible decision for him to stay at Kentucky, rehab, and dominate college basketball when he comes back. But he isn’t. Instead of silencing any doubt of his status as an elite prospect, he’s chosen the riskier route, although it has a much higher reward (first overall pick) than sticking around for the ‘14 Draft.

To sum it up, Nerlens deserves a lot more respect than he’s been getting, and should be the number one pick to Cleveland without a doubt. Out of all the questions and concerns posed towards him, the only with any traction is the ACL tear. But he’s supposedly weeks ahead of his schedule, and doesn’t have any other history of injuries. So despite the fact that Noel’s career started off on some struggles, he still replicated similar numbers to Davis. And if it weren’t for his knee injury, who knows what the second half of the season would have brought for him. For one, Kentucky probably would have made the NCAA tournament. It’s not outlandish to think that he would have even surpassed some of Anthony’s statistics.

Next Thursday, one player is going to be the last first overall pick to shake David Stern’s hand. Might be Alex Len, or Otto Porter, or a darkhorse like McLemore and Bennett. But if the commish hugs anyone other than the high-top faded 7-footer from Everett, Massachusetts, this Cleveland fan will be very upset.

About Dan Cutter

Full-time University of Nebraska-Omaha student, hotel front desk worker, speech and music nerd, overall swell guy. Add me on facebook or follow me on twitter @KidCutskey

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The post Why I Have A Crush On Nerlens Noel: A 2013 NBA Draft Scout Report appeared first on Sports Wunderkind.