Fadeaway Friday: A new era begins with the NBA Gatorade League

                                             

In case you haven't heard already, the NBA's minor league system is no longer known as the "NBA Development League (D-League)." The league has taken on a fresh identity as the "NBA Gatorade League (G League)" in an attempt to rebrand itself and further enhance the product that they are putting out on the floor.

Kareem Copeland of The Associated Press provided some more details about what is coming with this rebranding:

"The NBA Development League is changing its name starting next season to the NBA Gatorade League, a deal that will include a rebranding that will affect the league logo, basketballs, jerseys, on-court signage and digital properties.

Long viewed as a proving and testing ground of sorts for the NBA, what has been known as the D-League will also get to take advantage of Gatorade's Sports Science Institute - a resource that many elite athletes, including Dwyane Wade and Cam Newton, have used in recent years for testing and evaluation of what exactly their bodies need during competition.

"This isn't about slapping a name on a league," NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said. "This is much, much deeper than that."

Tatum said this is not the first step toward a name change for the NBA, and declined to detail the length or financial terms of the deal. But he said the part of the deal including GSSI will provide "knowledge to enhance player performance in our game" through nutrition, training and other advances. Gatorade will also incorporate its most recent products and equipment throughout the league." 

The bottom line is that by partnering its minor league system with Gatorade and its Sports Science Institute, the NBA will get a chance to see whether or not such a partnership is beneficial to the players and teams in the league. If such a partnership proves to be successful, there are good odds a similar type of partnership between the NBA and Gatorade will be agreed upon in a future CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).

Personally, I think this is a great move by the NBA. They are always looking for ways to improve their product and I see nothing but pure upside with this partnership. This benefits the athletes by giving them more information about how to best stay fit, this benefits the owners by putting a better product on the floor for their customers, and it benefits the fans because they'll get to see their favorite athletes perform at an even higher level.

Note: Fadeaway Friday is a weekly piece that focuses on the NBA Gatorade League. 

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Triple-Threat Thursday: What will Markelle Fultz bring to the Philadelphia 76ers?

                                         (Credit: Hoopshype.com) 

For the past few years, Philadelphia 76ers fans have been told to patiently "Trust the Process", turning the phrase into their team motto. It's become almost a joke of sorts, implying that there is no process and that the team is just tanking with the blind hope of something good coming out of it. It's kind of like the Big Bang theory. It doesn't make any sense, but we just trust that it works.

Markelle Fultz, a 6'4", 195 pound freshman point guard out of Washington, is the second consecutive #1 overall pick the Philadelphia 76ers have drafted, following Ben Simmons, a 6'10" 240 pound small forward out of LSU. The 76ers are hoping that with Fultz and Simmons paired together, the foundation for a championship level team is finally in place.

The only action that Simmons saw last season for the 76ers was in Summer League, suffering a foot injury that kept him out for the whole season. In a way, the 76ers are actually adding two number one picks to their squad at the same time. Both Fultz and Simmons have played in zero NBA games, which means they will be going through the same learning curve together.

Between the two, Simmons is considered to be the better prospect, drawing comparisons to a young LeBron James due to his combination of size, athleticism, and all-around skill. In regards to Fultz, he has the potential to be a dynamic point guard that can score, facilitate, and defend both point guards and shooting guards. In today's NBA, you need to have an elite point guard to contend for a championship, which is why point guards often go #1 in the draft. If both Simmons and Fultz live up to their potential, the 76ers will really be cooking with gas, possessing the next great point guard in the NBA in addition to the next LeBron James.

What's scary about the 76ers is that neither Simmons nor Fultz are considered their top talent. That distinction goes to Joel Embiid, a 7'0", 250 pound big man who went #3 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. After missing a couple of seasons due to injury, Embiid had a breakout first season in the NBA, averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game on 78.3% shooting from the foul line. Embiid only played in 31 games last season, but his presence was definitely felt every time he stepped on the floor, drawing comparisons to a young Hakeem Olajuwon.

The big question mark for this 76ers team is whether or not Fultz, Simmons, and Embiid can all stay on the floor together and avoid injury. If they can beat the injury bug, the sky is truly the limit for them. If on the other hand they are constantly dealing with one or two of these guys on the sidelines in a suit and tie, we'll never see them live up to their potential.

Note: Triple-Threat Thursday is a weekly piece that focuses on Rookies/NBA Draft. 

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Wednesday Windmill: Is Gordon Hayward the missing piece for the Boston Celtics?

There has been lots of chatter about Gordon Hayward leaving the Utah Jazz for the Boston Celtics due to his ability to opt out of his contract and connections to Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. The 6'8", 225 pound small forward is coming off his first all-star season in the NBA and is just starting to enter his prime at 27 years of age. After watching the Eastern Conference Finals, it is clear that the Celtics are in need of a major addition to leap frog the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. While Gordon Hayward is one of the best young talents in the league, is he the missing ingredient to a Boston Celtics championship run?

At the moment, the top player on the Celtics is Isaiah Thomas, who averaged 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game last season. Thomas led the NBA in fourth quarter points and should have been a much more serious MVP candidate than he was. While he is blossoming into an elite player in the NBA, he can't carry this Celtics team on his shoulders. He needs someone else to help him carry the load and Al Horford so far is not looking like that kind of player.

What makes Hayward such an attractive option for the Celtics is the fact that he could easily slide into their starting lineup without disrupting what they already have. He averaged 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season, better numbers than everyone else on the Celtics aside from Isaiah Thomas. Hayward would instantly become the #2 scoring option on the Celtics and give them an elite wing, something that every championship contending team needs to have.

The big question that is on everyone's minds is whether or not Hayward will stay in Utah or leave for greener pastures in Boston. A lot of that comes down to whether or not Boston is in fact "greener pastures." While Boston does offer Hayward the chance to be the next major star of a storied franchise, that may not be something that he is looking for. The pressure to deliver in Boston is enormous, especially when you are playing for the Celtics.

                                        (Credit: Trent Nelson. The Salt Lake Tribune) 

As for Utah, there is much less pressure there and it is also a much more family friendly environment. Hayward is married with a young child, something that is sure to factor into his decision. He may feel that Utah is a better place for him to raise his family and that he doesn't want to put them through the pressures that come with playing in Boston.

Plus, it's not like the Utah Jazz are chopped liver. They won a playoff series last season and are one of the up and coming teams in the NBA. Hayward has good reason to feel that Utah is the best place for him from a competitive standpoint as well.

While we are yet to know where Gordon Hayward will be playing next season, the Boston Celtics better hope he suits up for them. They need an elite wing that can put up points and take the pressure off of Isaiah Thomas. By landing him, the Celtics would put themselves in a great position to reach the NBA Finals and dethrone the Cleveland Cavaliers as the champions of the Eastern Conference.

Note: Wednesday Windmill is a weekly post focusing on the Eastern Conference. This article also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: What does the future hold for the Los Angeles Clippers?

Chris Paul ($24.4M) and Blake Griffin ($21.4M) have both decided to exercise the Early Termination Option on their contracts, which means that they will be unrestricted free agents come July 1st. For both Paul and Griffin, re-signing with the Clippers is the financially smart move to make. The Clippers can re-sign Paul for five years and approximately $200M while other teams can sign him for four years and $150M. As for Griffin, he can re-up with the Clippers for five years and approximately $180M while other teams can offer four years, $130M.

Still, even with the advantage of being able to offer more money, it's no guarantee Paul and Griffin stay with the Clippers. Both guys have made more than enough money and are at a point of their careers where winning a ring is the focus. Especially Paul, who has been in the NBA since 2005. In order for the Clippers to lock up Paul and Griffin for another five years, they'll have to do a good job selling them on their chances of winning championship in Clipperland. Otherwise, both guys might bolt for a change of scenery and better championship odds.

The advantage that both Paul and Griffin have is that they can literally go wherever they want. There has been talk of Chris Paul possibly joining the Spurs while Blake Griffin has been linked to the Celtics. Of course, these are all rumors at this point, but the fact remains that it is no slam dunk they re-sign. Something that should worry the Clippers.

There are four scenarios that can happen here. Each with its own pros and cons.

                                          (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source).     

Scenario #1-Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin stay: It's entirely possible that both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin decide to re-sign and get back to work on winning a title for the Los Angeles Clippers. They've become the faces of Los Angeles and with a new owner in place, they can feel much more optimistic about the future. For the Clippers, this appears to be the best possible outcome. By keeping Paul and Griffin, they would remain competitive for the short term and continue to be the better team in Los Angeles. There's also the hope that with a few more moves, maybe they can finally get it right and add the pieces necessary to make a serious championship run.

Scenario #2-Chris Paul stays and Blake Griffin goes: There's also the possibility that the Clippers only hang on to one of their two major stars. If it's Paul who stays and Griffin who leaves, this wouldn't be terrible, but not all that great, either. Basically, it would keep the Clippers competitive for the short term, but not as competitive as they've been. They'd become a team that is a 6th or 7th seed in the Western Conference at best and possibly even an 8th seed. With Chris Paul getting older, the Clippers would already have to start thinking about ways to rebuild with Griffin no longer around as their centerpiece for the future.

Scenario #3-Blake Griffin stays and Chris Paul leaves: If the Clippers only hang on to one of these two guys, I think it's more likely that Griffin would be the one to stick around. Paul is in a more desperate situation considering his age, making the lure of going elsewhere stronger for him. With Paul gone, it would firmly become Griffin's team, which wouldn't be a bad thing. By being younger (Rookie class of 2010), Griffin is a better guy to build around for the future. He has five more years on him, creating more time for the Clippers to finally get it right and build a true title contender around him.

Scenario #4-Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin leave: This is a nightmare scenario that the Clippers have to be prepared to address. The bottom line is that so far, the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin duo has not produced a championship. Doc Rivers hasn't gotten out of them what we all thought and at the end of the day, it just doesn't seem to be working. While they are making the playoffs every year as members of the Clippers, Paul and Griffin are guys who want to win championships and so far, they don't appear to be on track to do so in Los Angeles.

Now is the time for them to get out while they still can. Paul has four to five good years left in him while Griffin could remain an effective power forward for another 10 years. Both guys still have plenty of time to win rings elsewhere. As for what this would mean for the Clippers, this would be devastating. To lose your star duo right as you get new ownership would be nothing short of a major setback. DeAndre Jordan would suddenly be the man and they'd have to scramble to find some quality pieces in free agency to avoid a complete rebuilding season.

When looking at all four of these scenarios, it's clear that July 1st will be a big day for the Los Angeles Clippers. They have to be ready for whatever scenario presents itself and do all they can to not lose the positive momentum that they have been building during these past few years.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Recapping the 2017 NBA Draft

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, Brandon Condron joins me to break down the 2017 NBA Draft. Click here to listen to the podcast.




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Skyhook Sunday: What does landing Jimmy Butler mean for the Minnesota Timberwolves?

The Minnesota Timberwolves stole the show on draft night by landing Jimmy Butler in a trade with the Chicago Bulls. The Timberwolves traded Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and the #7 pick (Lauri Markkanen) for Jimmy Butler and the #16 pick (Justin Patton). Butler has already arrived in Minnesota and appears to be very excited to begin this new chapter of his career, reuniting with Tom Thibodeau.

Can't wait to get to work. #PowerOfThePack pic.twitter.com/nSY902FVnp

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 25, 2017

Butler joins a talented core in Minnesota that consists of Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Timberwolves have been building a talented young group for the past few seasons, but they have lacked an established superstar that can take them to that next level. By trading for Butler, they appear to finally have such a superstar.

A lot of people are scratching their heads about what the Chicago Bulls were thinking to make this trade happen. Butler is coming off his best season in the league, averaging 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. He turns 28 next season and will be entering his seventh season in the NBA. He is just starting to enter his prime. To trade him away for a point guard coming off a torn ACL, a point guard who is looking like a bust, and a rookie looks to be very foolish.

In addition to being a superstar, what makes Jimmy Butler a great fit for the Timberwolves is how easily he slides into their lineup. He can play at the shooting guard position alongside Andrew Wiggins at small forward, creating a deadly one-two punch out on the wing. His presence doesn't affect the minutes of any of their core players, enhancing what they already have.

The Timberwolves have suddenly gone from a team that might make the playoffs in a couple of seasons to a team that could make the playoffs next year. They are no longer a team that you need to worry about in the future, they are a team that you need to worry about right now.

Also, with a team like the Utah Jazz potentially on the cusp of losing one of their biggest pieces to free agency (Gordon Hayward), we could see a significant shake up in the Western Conference. While I don't see the Timberwolves contending for a championship next season, I do see them approaching that territory. They've accelerated their rebuilding process by at least two and maybe even three years.

After an arduous rebuilding process and more than a decade of losing basketball, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally have a roster that the Twin Cities can get excited about. The talent is there, the experience is there, and the motivation is there. They just need to go out and get it done.

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Saturday Slam: Breaking down the 2017 NBA Draft

                                         (Credit: Hoopshype.com) 

With the 2017 NBA Draft now in the books, it is time for me to provide my annual (starting this year) break down of the draft. I will break it down into three categories that will be listed below. If you missed the draft and want to see all 60 of the picks, click here.

Biggest Winners: When looking at the biggest winners of the 2017 NBA Draft, the first team that comes to mind is the Minnesota Timberwolves, who traded the #7 pick (Lauri Markkanen), Kris Dunn, and Zach LaVine to the Chicago Bulls for the #16 pick (Justin Patton) and Jimmy Butler. The Timberwolves have been in need of a veteran superstar for a while and they have found their man in Butler, who averaged 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game last season.

Another winner is the Sacramento Kings, who landed De'Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles, and Frank Mason III.  Fox has all the tools to be an elite level point guard in the NBA while the other three guys have the potential to become quality role players in the near future. The Kings need someone to build their team around and Fox appears ready to take on such a role.

Biggest Losers: The biggest loser in this draft is clearly the Brooklyn Nets, who would have had the #1 pick in the draft if it weren't for some boneheaded trade with the Boston Celtics. The Nets desperately need a franchise player and this would have been a great draft to find such a player. Instead, the best they could do is pick #22 (Jarrett Allen) and #57 (Aleksandar Vezenkov).

As far as players go, the biggest loser in the draft is clearly Arizona freshman point guard Kobi Simmons, who went undrafted. The feedback he got from the NBA Combine was that he wasn't ready for the NBA and rather than listening to the scouts and returning to school, he opted to stay in the draft and found himself without a team after the 60th pick. The Kobi Simmons story is a cautionary tale. If you leave before you are ready, the NBA won't do you a solid and draft you anyways. Simmons has since been picked up by the Memphis Grizzlies as an undrafted free agent.

Another player who shouldn't have come out is BYU sophomore center Eric Mika, who likewise went undrafted. Lots of people feel like Mika was forced to come out due to his age (22), but I don't think that's a good enough reason to declare for the draft. We've seen guys enter the NBA as rookies older than that and find success in the league. The bottom line for Mika is that he should have stayed in school for at least one more year and then declared after his junior year. He went out a year too early and it came back to hurt him.

Biggest Surprises: One major surprise is the fact that Nevada sophomore power forward Cam Oliver went undrafted. The dude draws comparisons to Kenneth Faried due to his freakish athleticism, size, strength, and all-around explosiveness. The dude dunks on 10-foot hoops like he's playing Nerf basketball. I'm very surprised nobody drafted him. He has since been picked up by the Houston Rockets as an undrafted free agent.

Another surprise is that the Golden State Warriors found a way to sneak into the draft. They landed the #38 pick and selected Oregon junior power forward Jordan Bell. Bell will greatly benefit from playing behind Draymond Green, who can show him how to be effective as an undersized power forward. This will wind up being a really good move by the Warriors if Bell lives up to his potential.

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