Wednesday Windmill: Jimmy Butler is playing like a franchise player in Chicago

Jimmy Butler has been playing some amazing basketball as of late, averaging 25.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on the season while putting up four 35+ point games in his last 10 games. The man who the Chicago Bulls are hoping to be their franchise player for the next decade is certainly living up to the hype and delivering the goods.

What's perhaps even more impressive is how efficient Jimmy Butler is playing. He's shooting 48.0% from the field,  42.3% from 3-point range, and 89.0% from the foul line. Not only is he getting buckets, he's doing so without having to waste many shots. The shots he's taking are good shots and he's making his opponents pay.

Jimmy Butler has always been a terrific slasher and attacker to the basket, but where he's really made strides is his ability to knock down the 3-ball. In his rookie season, he shot only 18.2% from 3-point range on just 0.3 attempts per game. This season, he's shooting 42.3% on 3.5 3-point shot attempts per game. That's a huge improvement from Butler over the last 6 years.

The jump from last season to this season has been huge in and of itself. Last season, Jimmy Butler was shooting 31.2% from 3-point range on 3.1 attempts per game which is 11.1% worse than where he is now (42.3%). Not only that, but he's shooting a higher percentage this season on more attempts!

What's interesting about this is that Jimmy Butler has always been a solid foul shooter. He's an 81.9% career foul shooter and has never shot lower than 76.8% from the foul line, which was his free throw percentage in his rookie season. While his free throw percentage this season (89.0%) is significantly better than his previous best season (83.4%) in 2014-15, 83.4% from the line is still very good.

 The real growth has been in his 3-point shooting, which allows him to be a much more versatile and frightening player to go up against. Not only can he get to the rim and beat opponents off the dribble; he can also spot up from 3-point range and make opponents pay for not putting a hand in his face. Either way, no matter how his opponents guard him, Jimmy Butler will make them pay.

Jimmy Butler is truly turning into one of the most dangerous players in the league and a legit franchise player for the Bulls because he is starting to turn into the whole package. He has great size for an NBA wing (6'7", 220 pounds), plays great defense, gets to the rim, knocks down his free throws, and now he's knocking down his threes. I picked the Chicago Bulls to reach the Eastern Conference Finals this season largely because of Jimmy Butler and so far he is not letting me down. So long as Jimmy Butler continues to play like he is, the Chicago Bulls will remain an upper echelon team of the Eastern Conference.

Tomahawk Tuesday: The Sacramento Kings could be on the verge of blowing everything up

The Sacramento Kings continue to be one of the weirdest teams in the NBA. They have a spanking new arena in downtown Sacramento that is absolutely incredible and yet amid all the joys that come with that, there are reports of them being willing to trade just about everyone on their roster, it feels like. During the past week and a half, I have heard Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, Rudy Gay, and even DeMarcus Cousins mentioned in trade rumors, which if you are doing in the math is nearly one-third of their roster. In the cases of Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, and Rudy Gay, it appears to be a situation where all three guys want to get the hell out of Sacramento and get a fresh start elsewhere. As for DeMarcus Cousins, this too might be the case, but I have to say that he does seem to be enjoying his time as a prominent figure in the Sacramento community.

What I want to address is whether moving any of these players makes sense. Personally, I don't think it really matters what happens to Willie Cauley-Stein, Omri Casspi, or Rudy Gay. Those guys, even Rudy Gay, are complementary pieces around the franchise player in DeMarcus Cousins, who is currently averaging 27.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The Kings could trade any of those guys and they would still more or less have their same identity, which is a team built around DeMarcus Cousins.

As for trading DeMarcus Cousins is concerned, this would be a big deal and does matter. Before the Sacramento Kings say sayonara to the man known as "Boogie", they better be sure moving him is really the right move. You don't just give away a 27 and 10 guy without giving it some serious thought. Especially when that guy is just 26 years old and has not yet reached his prime. Love him or hate him, DeMarcus Cousins delivers the goods night in and night out and has proven himself to be one of the best big men in the NBA. I know he gets criticized for his poor attitude and inability to lead, but I really think it's unfair to criticize him in these areas when he hasn't had a team around him to lead.

                                        (Credit: GAMEFACE-PHOTOS. Click here for source) 
                                   

To be more clear, DeMarcus Cousins' inability to "lead" the Sacramento Kings to the playoffs can't be put on his attitude or lack of commitment since the teams he's played on have not been very good. He's more or less been the only player Kings fans could get excited about since the days of Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, and Vlade Divac. He's been the only guy to give them any sort of hope at becoming relevant and competitive again. Ben McLemore hasn't been able to be that guy, Jimmer Fredette sure as hell wasn't that guy, and Rudy Gay was a nice addition, but not a guy who they could rely on to be the cornerstone of a championship contending team.

In addition to not having the right players, the Kings until this season have had all sorts of coaching problems. Most notably the addition of George Karl, who hated DeMarcus Cousins from the moment he set foot in Sacramento. Karl never gave Cousins a chance to lead or be "the man" on the Kings and Cousins suffered as a result. George Karl continued to pin it as a "George Karl vs. DeMarcus Cousins" kinda thing as if they were dueling each other as opposed to working with each other. DeMarcus Cousins has been mistreated by the Sacramento Kings for far too long and now that he finally has a competent head coach in Dave Joerger the Kings are starting to seriously consider moving him? It's time for him to move on? Get real.

The only time it's time to move on is if you've led your team to a championship and your team is now over the hill or you went as far as you could and reached your maximum potential. Neither is the case with DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento. In his case, the Kings haven't reached their max potential due to incompetent moves on their end. They've drafted the wrong supporting cast players around him, they've traded away the wrong people, and hired coaches that don't know how to work with him. DeMarcus Cousins hasn't been the problem in Sacramento, the Kings have been.

What's evidence of the Kings' dysfunction is the fact that they are the verge of blowing everything up before figuring out where they want to go. If the Kings sincerely believe that it is time for them to move on from DeMarcus Cousins, I suppose that's fine, but if they do, they better have a game plan of what to do next. Guys like DeMarcus Cousins don't grow on trees and if you trade him, you better be certain you are getting something very promising in return. Otherwise, you might as well keep him, continue to build around him, and actually get him the pieces that he needs in order to be successful. I personally believe that DeMarcus Cousins can be a legit franchise player in the NBA and I see no good reason to think that he can't be that guy in Sacramento provided the Kings get him the help he needs.

On a separate, but still Sacramento Kings related note, I got the chance to visit the Golden 1 Center, the Kings' new arena on Monday night on media assignment for GoldenBearReport.com, Cal's Rivals.com site.  It was a lot of fun to be a member of the media in an NBA arena. What I can say about my experience at the Golden 1 Center from an NBA standpoint is that it is truly a beautiful arena with an absolutely incredible screen above the court. The Kings definitely built themselves a state-of-the-art arena in downtown Sacramento. I was very impressed with the layout of the arena from the press room to the court itself. Excellent arena and an absolutely amazing place to watch a game. 

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Saturday Slam: Should NBA championship teams boycott trips to the White House during the Trump administration?

Credit: Gage Skidmore. Click here for source. 

     Earlier this week, the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies all made the decision to not stay in Trump Hotels when their teams play against the Knicks and the Nets in New York.  This is a great way for these teams to protest against the Trump Administration since it is peaceful and powerful at the same time. With the NBA being such a progressive league that stands up for the rights of the LGBTQ community and stands up against any form of discrimination, one has to wonder whether or not NBA championship teams will visit the White House during a Trump administration. 

     The NBA has done a great job at using its global platform to raise awareness about environmental issues, health issues, and also issues surrounding equality and discrimination. With that in mind, the NBA would really send a message if their championship teams elected to not visit the White House during their visit(s) to DC to take on the Washington Wizards. 

     For those of you who may not understand the gravity of an NBA boycott of the White House, what needs to be understood is that as far back as I can remember, NBA championship teams have made it a tradition to visit the White House the following season. They've always made it a priority to visit the White House and give the president a jersey with his name on it. The president makes a few jokes, the players make a few jokes, they embrace, they have a good time, etc. But with the NBA being such a diverse league with players from all racial makeups, nationalities, and backgrounds, I'm not sure it's possible for NBA championship teams to have a "good time" when visiting Trump in the White House. 

     Going a step further, what message could it send to the fan base of a respective team to see Trump's name on the back of their team's jersey? Might it offend them? Might it not make them want to come to the games? Might it hurt the fan base? 

     The answer to these difficult questions is that it could and perhaps therein lies the answer. The NBA is about making all of its fans feel safe and comfortable coming to the games. If seeing their favorite players shake hands with Donald Trump makes fans feel uncomfortable or angry, maybe it is just best for NBA championship teams to skip visits to the White House during Donald Trump's administration. 

     By not visiting the White House during a Trump administration, NBA players would be sending a strong message of solidarity to their fans that are African-American, Latino, Muslim, LGBTQ, etc. I think it would let them know that they don't stand for what this administration stands for and that they themselves are not going to be idle in letting the administration set forth racist, xenophobic, islamophobic, homophobic, and anti-environment policies. NBA fans really look up to their favorite players and by boycotting trips to the White House during a Trump administration, NBA fans would see their favorite players as guys who have their back and care about making sure they don't get left behind. 

Fadeaway Friday: Expect Anthony Brown to shine with the Erie BayHawks

                                          (Credit: YouTube)

     The #1 overall pick in the 2016-17 NBA Development League draft was Anthony Brown, the former Stanford standout that was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2nd round of the 2015 NBA Draft. During the 2015-16 NBA season with the Lakers, Brown averaged 4.0 points per game on 28.6% shooting from 3-point range in 29 total games played (20.7 minutes per game). Brown didn't have the rookie season he was looking for, but he should prove himself in the D-League this season as a player worthy of another shot in the NBA.

     I watched Anthony Brown play during his senior year at Stanford and I was very impressed with what I saw. He has a good body on him (6'7", 211 pounds) and he has the ability to stroke it from deep, averaging 14.8 points per game on 44.1% shooting from 3-point range during his senior year at Stanford. Anthony Brown is a guy who I expected to get drafted in 2015 and I was certainly not at all surprised to see him go as high as he did. He has all the tools to be an NBA player and just needs to find the right place in order for him to succeed.

     I am confident that with the Erie BayHawks, Anthony Brown will have a very productive season and prove himself worthy of an NBA call up. He's already off to a great start, scoring 31.5 points per game on 66.7% shooting from 3-point range in 7.5 3-point shot attempts per game. In addition to popping 3s, Brown is getting to the rim well and really showing off his full repertoire. He's throwing it down in transition, finishing well around the basket, etc. Anthony Brown is getting the chance to be the feature player with the Erie BayHawks and is so far making the most of the opportunity.

     If you are looking for players to monitor in the NBA Development League, Anthony Brown is definitely one of those guys to keep a close eye on. He's a truly NBA level talent that has all the pieces to be a rotation NBA player given the right situation. Look for him to shine with the Erie BayHawks and be back in the NBA in the very near future.

Tomahawk Tuesday: Should we take the Los Angeles Clippers seriously this season?

     The Los Angeles Clippers currently possess the top record in the NBA with a 10-1 record, having won 7 straight games. The Clippers are known to flame out early in the playoffs and not deliver the goods, so should we really be paying that much attention to this? I think the answer to this question is we should definitely be taking note, but it's obviously still way too early for Clippers fans to start thinking this is the year they're going to break through and win their first NBA championship.

     What is encouraging about the Clippers' hot start is that they have beaten some quality teams on the road like the Grizzlies, Spurs, and Thunder. In addition, Chris Paul (19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists), Blake Griffin (20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists), DeAndre Jordan (10.5 points and 12.4 rebounds), J.J. Redick (13.3 points on 43.5% from 3-point range), and Jamal Crawford (11.2 points) are all healthy and playing well as a unit. A big problem for the Clippers over the years has been their inability to stay healthy. Usually Chris Paul injures his hamstring and can't go in the playoffs or something very similar derails their quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. In addition, the Clippers have not been able to lock up home court advantage for the Western Conference playoffs, making things all the more tougher to win a title.

     So, as far as how seriously we should take the Clippers, I would say we should take them seriously so far as they (A) Remain healthy and (B) Stay atop the Western Conference standings. If the Clippers can find a way to enter the 2017 NBA Playoffs with the #1 record in the Western Conference at full strength. Look out. They could be very tough to eliminate.

Saturday Slam: Is a Donald Trump presidency good for the Toronto Raptors?

On Tuesday, Donald Trump shocked the world by winning the electoral vote for president of the United States. Unless the electoral college goes rogue and votes for Hillary Clinton (which they should), Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States come January 20, 2017. First of all, let me say that you can count me in among the millions of Americans that are utterly horrified at the idea of Trump presidency. In case you missed it, I compared  Donald Trump to Donald Sterling, the former Los Angeles Clippers owner a few months ago. I said that if Donald Trump's racism disqualifies him from owning an NBA team, it should disqualify him from being President of the United States. I stand by those remarks and I always will.

As for what a Donald Trump presidency means for the NBA, I think it is entirely possible that having Trump in the White House will create a sudden interest in NBA free agents wanting to play for the Toronto Raptors, the lone NBA team that will be able to escape the wrath of a Trump administration. With all this talk of people wanting to move to Canada, why is it crazy to think that there will be some NBA players who want to get out of the United States until a new president takes over? The Toronto Raptors could be on the verge of a major free agency coup all courtesy of Donald Trump taking over as President of the United States.

While Toronto is a beautiful city in a beautiful country, their status as Canada's lone NBA team hasn't exactly been a plus when it comes to recruiting free agents. But, with Donald Trump taking over the helm, suddenly, their lone Canadian NBA status makes them a team that can provide NBA players with a path to join the mass American exodus into Canada that is sure to happen.

The only question is whether or not the very best players in the NBA will want to escape to Canada. If not, the Toronto Raptors may only see a slight improvement in the quality of free agents that they make, but should some really high profile players like Blake Griffin decide they want out of the United States and see Toronto as their only option, the Raptors could quickly build a championship contending team for seasons to come.

While the concept of a Trump presidency leading to a Toronto Raptors NBA championship sounds absurd, let me ask you this: If you are an NBA player who dislikes Donald Trump, wouldn't you give the Toronto Raptors a more serious look? Wouldn't that team look a lot more appealing to you than they did before? I think upon serious reflection, the answer is absolutely you would.

So, with that being the case, I think it's totally reasonable to expect big things from the Toronto Raptors during the Donald Trump administration. The very best players in the NBA are likely to seriously consider Toronto as a possible destination for them in free agency as a means of escaping Donald Trump. It's really not as crazy of a notion as you would think.

So, with this all being true, I really think a Donald Trump presidency is wonderful for the Toronto Raptors. They've been looking for a free agency recruiting advantage for quite some time and now they finally have it: They don't play in a country that is ran by Donald Trump. It's a simple advantage, but one that could pay major dividends for them in the coming seasons.

Rapid season preview of all 30 NBA teams!

With the NBA regular season already underway, it's time for me to do my season preview. Rather than going division by division in separate articles, I will go through a rapid preview of all 30 teams by division. Enjoy!

Atlantic Division 

Boston Celtics: The Boston Celtics are coming off a 48-34 season in which they made the Eastern Conference Playoffs before losing to the 4th seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round. The Celtics should look to have an even better 2016-17 campaign with the additions of Al Horford and #3 overall pick Jaylen Brown. If this team stays healthy, look out.

Toronto Raptors: The Raptors are coming off a 56-26 season in which they finished second in the Eastern Conference, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Raptors are a very dangerous team and appeared to have a breakthrough season in 2015-16. In the 2016-17 season, look for DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry to play with more confidence in the post season and give the Cavaliers a real run for their money.

New York Knicks: The additions of Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose are nice and Kristaps Porzingis has a year under his belt. Expect the Knicks to exceed their win total of 32 from last season and find their way into the playoffs. Carmelo Anthony finally has a respectable supporting cast around him and a quality head coach in Jeff Hornacek.

Brooklyn Nets: This team is led by Brook Lopez, Jeremy Lin, and Luis Scola. Very odd trio. I don't know what to expect from this Nets team, but this is definitely not a team equipped to make the playoffs.

Philadelphia 76ers: With Joel Embiid finally healthy, 76ers fans thought they were in for an exciting season. But then, Ben Simmons went down with a foot injury that will keep him out through January. The 76ers will struggle, but if Simmons can remain injury free once he  comes back, the 76ers should start to see some bright light in what has been a very dark and gloomy cave for them.

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks: The Atlanta Hawks project to be one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference with the addition of Dwight Howard to a lineup that already includes Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Dennis Schröder. The big question for the Hawks is whether or not the addition of Dwight Howard outweighs the loss of Al Horford to the Celtics. I personally think that Dwight Howard will be a good fit in Atlanta, giving them better rim protection than they had with Al Horford.

Washington Wizards: The John Wall-Bradley Beal backcourt will prove to be very dangerous provided both guys can stay healthy. The Wizards have tons of upside. It's just matter of avoiding injuries and getting some of their role players to step it up. Definitely expect the Wizards to return to the playoffs after missing the playoffs last year with a 41-41 record.

Miami Heat: With Chris Bosh uncertain to play again and Dwyane Wade in Chicago, it really is a new era in Miami with Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic as the faces of the franchise. The Heat should prove to be a very competitive team that threatens to make the playoffs. The combination of front court play with Whiteside and back court play with Dragic makes them a tough match up for anybody.

Charlotte Hornets: The Charlotte Hornets are very strange team. Kemba Walker leads the charge, but with Al Jefferson departed for Indiana, I can't help but feel like this team has taken a step back. It'll be interesting to see how this team does in 2016-17 with some new faces like Roy Hibbert and Marco Belinelli.

Orlando Magic: The additions of Serge Ibaka and Jeff Green are nice, but the loss of Victor Oladipo (trade with Thunder for Ibaka) is also significant. The Magic traded one of the best young guards in the NBA for one of the best two-way forwards in the NBA. Trading Victor Oladipo for Serge Ibaka could prove to be a beneficial trade for the Magic, but this is still a young team that is at least a couple of seasons away from making serious noise in the NBA playoffs.

Central Division 

Cleveland Cavaliers: With LeBron James at the helm, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the clear favorites to win the Eastern Conference title. Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and J.R. Smith proved to be a championship caliber supporting cast around LeBron James and there is no reason to not think they'll be back in the NBA Finals again.

Chicago Bulls: I'm a big believer in these Chicago Bulls with Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler as the one-two punch. The addition of Rajon Rondo could bring mixed results, but overall, expect the Bulls to compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference crown.

Indiana Pacers: Al Jefferson could prove to be a very solid acquisition by the Pacers. A trio of Paul George, Monta Ellis, and Al Jefferson looks really good on paper and should prove to make the Pacers a very relevant team in the 2016-17 season.

Milwaukee Bucks: The Milwaukee Bucks put all of their chips in on Giannis Antetokounmpo when they signed him to a four-year, $100M contract extension. I expect him to be worth the money. Look for the Bucks to have an improved season and make a push for the playoffs in the process.

Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Reggie Jackson is a very nice trio, but are they a good enough trio to get the Pistons back into the playoffs? We'll have to see.

Southwest Division

San Antonio Spurs: It's truly a new era in San Antonio without Tim Duncan. The Kawhi Leonard era has officially been ushered in and it is now HIS team. Look for the Spurs to make a deep run in the playoffs and prove to be the toughest opponent for the Warriors all season with their trio of Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, and LaMarcus Aldridge. Their 129-100 win in Oakland on Tuesday certainly proved this.

Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies are all in on Mike Conley, Jr. after signing him to the richest contract in NBA history. While I wouldn't consider the Grizzlies a contender in the Western Conference, like every season in recent memory, the Grizzlies will be very dangerous and not be an easy out for anybody in the playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks: The additions of Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes (both with the Warriors last season) should prove to be very nice for the Mavericks. Bogut will give the Mavericks sound rim protection and Barnes will give them an athletic forward that can attack the basket. With Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, and Wesley Matthews still on board, these Mavericks should be a competitive team. I don't see them winning a playoff series, but they'll be a playoff team for sure.

Houston Rockets: With Dwight Howard gone, this is the now the James Harden show. Whether that will yield more fruit we'll have to wait and see.

New Orleans Pelicans: This team better start making serious strides if they want to hang on to Anthony Davis past his current contract. The supporting cast could be there in Lance Stephenson, Jrue Holiday, Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, and Langston Galloway. Time will tell us if it is.

Northwest Division

Oklahoma City Thunder: Losing Kevin Durant is definitely a blow, but now it can be the Russell Westbrook show. Trading Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis was a gutsy move, but I think it will pay off. The Thunder get a quality back court mate for Russell Westbrook and a promising young front court player. The Thunder will be the kings of the Northwest Division again and prove to be a very tough out in the playoffs. Don't rule these guys out. They'll once again be a very competitive team.

Utah Jazz: Lots of people are expecting the Utah Jazz to have a breakout season. They have a very talented roster with Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood, Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, Dante Exum, and Alec Burks. My only concern with this team is that a lot may be expected of them too soon. I expect the Jazz to make the playoffs and threaten to win a series. But as for this talk of them being a team capable of reaching the Western Conference Finals, that's just silly. They're not there yet.

Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Allen Crabbe make for a very nice trio up in Rip City. The Trail Blazers didn't appear to miss LaMarcus Aldridge too much when he departed for the Spurs and I see no reason for things to be any different this season. The Trail Blazers should prove to be a playoff team again and make things difficult for whoever they face in the first round.

Minnesota Timberwolves: I don't know if this team has what it takes to make the playoffs this season, but the future is very bright with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns as their foundation. Kris Dunn should prove to be a very good rookie this year, too. The Timberwolves are building something good. It'll just take a little bit of time before we start to see the finished product.

Denver Nuggets: The big question the Denver Nuggets need to answer is whether or not they see Kenneth Faried as a permanent piece for the future. I don't see why not, but if Nikola Jokic and Juruf Nurkic live up to their billing, maybe trading away Kenneth Faried isn't such a bad idea.

Pacific Division 

Golden State Warriors: By signing Kevin Durant in free agency, the Golden State Warriors have put all the pressure on themselves to win the 2016-17 NBA title. This team is coming off of an historic 73-9 win season and they added one of the greatest pure scorers in NBA history in the off season. If the Warriors don't win the championship this season, it'll be a major disappointment. The only reason to think they won't win it all is if you argue that the loss of Bogut's rim protection will prove to be too great of a hurdle to overcome. It very well might, but even so, a lineup consisting of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant is just too scary to not make the Warriors the favorites to win the NBA title.

Los Angeles Clippers: The Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan trio will make the Clippers a dangerous team, but they are more or less remaining the same team as last season. I have no reason to think they'll be any better than last season, which is a team that makes the playoffs and loses in the first round.

Sacramento Kings: The Kings have a new logo and a new arena. But, they still have a disgruntled DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay to worry about. What gives me hope for a better season in Sacramento is the decision to hire Dave Joerger, who did a fantastic job in Memphis. The George Karl experiment was doomed for failure from day one.

Phoenix Suns: What the Phoenix Suns should be getting excited about is the possibility of a breakout season for Devin Booker. If Devin Booker really steps up his game, the Suns could be a decent team with Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe rounding out the back court rotation. The Suns won't be a playoff team, but they could be one of the most improved teams in the NBA.

Los Angeles Lakers: With Kobe Bryant retired, the Lakers can finally turn the page and start a new chapter of their history. The problem is I don't think this new chapter will be a pretty one. Brandon Ingram should be in the running for rookie of the year, but beyond that, there isn't much for Lakers fans to be pumped about.