The NBA trade deadline should be a national holiday.

Thursday was electric. The dearth of a Kevin Durant-era Warriors superteam encouraged win-now swings by title contenders sensing a window. Elsewhere, lottery-bound teams swapped huge names in deals that reshape their trajectory. There were two-, three- and even four-team trades involving teams on all ends of the contention spectrum. 

I’ll be analyzing the five largest, most consequential trades, and omitting minor deals around the fringes. I know you didn’t click to read about the Jordan McRae/Shabazz Napier swap. 

Let’s go: 

The D’Angelo Russell/Andrew Wiggins blockbuster

Timberwolves receive:
G D’Angelo Russell
SWING Jacob Evans
PF/C Omari Spellman

Warriors receive:
2021 top-3 protected first-round pick
SWING Andrew Wiggins
2021 second-round pick

Timberwolves: Minnesota finally gets the man whom they’ve lusted after like he’s Michael Jordan. Their interest in Karl-Anthony Towns’ BFF began in the summer and maintained even after the Warriors maxed him out.  

The unwatchable Wolves have belched out the league’s worst record since an unlikely 10-8 start. It was time to shake the snowglobe, if for no other reason than to keep a disgruntledTowns happy. The 24-year old’s body language has ranged from ‘Somebody stole my lollipop and I’m pouting’ to ‘I’d rather make a living bagging groceries in Boise, Idaho than play another minute with Andrew Wiggins.’ Though he’s on a long-term contract, we live in an era where players can force their way to other teams. Placating him is all that really matters; if he wanted D’Angelo Russell, they had to get D’Angelo Russell. 

Andrew Wiggins is toxic; parting with him and his contract is addition by subtraction. Not only did they acquire a young All-Star (Russell), but they acquired air freshener to cleanse the air of Wiggins’ stench. Parting with next year’s first-rounder is painful, but you have to give something to get something.

The Russell/Towns duo should be potent offensively and atrocious on the less glamorous end. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start towards cultivating a healthier ecosystem. 

Grade: B+

Warriors: When I first learned of this trade, I hated it for Golden State. Then I began to understand the thought process and disliked it a bit less. 

First, the Warriors deserve a ton of credit for facilitating the sign-and-trade for Russell during the chaos of Kevin Durant’s departure. While he never made long-term sense in the Bay, he was an asset that could be flipped. After a half-season test drive, the Dubs had seen enough and traded him for a similarly-priced wing and juicy first-rounder. 

That sounds great, until you realize that they traded him for Andrew Wiggins. His contract is so crippling that it renders this trade a loss, despite the attached draft pick.  

We have years of evidence that Wiggins just doesn’t have it. His effort has been consistently lethargic, and it’s not clear if he likes basketball. He’s played with two All-Star teammates, Jimmy Butler and Towns: Both were unhappy with him as a teammate. His inflated scoring totals and jaw-dropping athleticism don’t translate into wins.    

Golden State will argue that they can rehabilitate Wiggins. They’ll ask him to play a simple role like early-career Harrison Barnes: shoot corner threes, cut, run the floor and get the occasional bucket. He’ll be surrounded by the best trainers and shooting coaches. He’s had four head coaches in five seasons; surely, Steve Kerr and his kumbaya locker room can bring the best out of him. 

I see it going the other way. Durant, who like Wiggins is mopey and aloof, didn’t have a good relationship with the Warriors. His relationship with Draymond Green was particularly rocky. If Green couldn’t mesh with KD, how is he going to gel with Wiggins, who unlike Durant did not earn his money and doesn’t work hard on or off the floor?   

The trade isn’t an F. D’Lo didn’t fit, and the draft pick is a gem. But it still wasn’t worth absorbing Wiggins, who has four years and $122 million left on his maximum contract. He and the Dubs are stuck with each other, which could prove disastrous if he doesn’t improve.

Grade: C

Rockets go small, Hawks go big in four-team, 12-player bomb

Rockets receive:
F Robert Covington (from Timberwolves)
F/C Jordan Bell (from Timberwolves)
2020 second-round pick (from Hawks via Warriors)

Hawks receive:
C Clint Capela (from Rockets)
C Nene (from Rockets)

Timberwolves receive:
SWING Malik Beasley (from Nuggets)
SWING Evan Turner (from Hawks)
F Juancho Hernangomez (from Nuggets)
F/C Jarred Vanderbilt (from Hawks)
Conditional future first-round pick (from Hawks via Nets)

Nuggets receive:
F Keita Bates-Diop (from Timberwolves)
G Shabazz Napier (from Timberwolves)
SWING Gerald Green (from Rockets)
C Noah Vonleh (from Timberwolves)
2020 first-round pick (from Rockets)

Rockets: Houston traded it’s only playable center for yet another wing and didn’t bother filling the hole. With postseason matchups looming against Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic, the Rockets will trot out lineups in which their tallest guy is 6’5”. 

I love it. 

As constructed with Capela, the team had no chance of defeating the Clippers or Lakers in seven. Knowing this, Daryl Morey and Mike d’Antoni pushed their ideology to the extreme and went all-in on small ball and threes. It’s a wager placed on variance and randomness: Maybe, just maybe, they catch fire and hot shooting carries them to the Finals. 

I’ve long appreciated the work of Robert Covington. He might have been designed in a lab at the Sloan Analytics Conference: He’s a low-usage, 6’7” wing who bombs threes and clamps on the other end. He’ll be like Trevor Ariza for the Rockets, only a little better shooter. His contract, which has three years remaining, is delicious.     

Do the Rockets have enough defense and rebounding to make the Finals? No, but hot shooting may render those concerns obsolete. They at least have a puncher’s chance, which they didn’t with Capela. If they win the title, I hope there are ambulances waiting outside the TNT studio for Shaq and Chuck.

Trading Capela for Covington makes the Rockets a worse team. It also gives them the best chance to win the title.

Grade: A-

Hawks: One of the pressing questions for Atlanta as they rebuild: Is John Collins a center? By adding Capela, they clearly don’t think so.  

I disagree. The Trae Young/Collins pick-and-roll is unguardable when surrounded by three shooters. The marginal offensive impact of having Collins at the five is greater than the defensive loss. He’s skilled enough to make it work either way, but he’s a five in the modern game.   

The trade isn’t awful. Capela, 25, fits the Hawks’ timeline. He gives Atlanta’s defense an anchor, and he’s a dangerous screen-setter and rim-runner. He’s a good player, and it’s good to have good players. His cost-certain contract is tradeable if things go sideways. 

I just hope he doesn’t impede the development of Collins, who has overlapping offensive skills. Plus, this pushes De’Andre Hunter up to small forward, I presume? Ugh. This feels uncomfortably similar to the Aaron Gordon/Jonathan Isaac/Nik Vucevic frontcourt logjam in Orlando.  

When rebuilding, you don’t want to act like the Knicks and acquire veterans who complicate the development and roles of your young players. Capela is at least young and on a decent contract, but this gets a thumbs down from me. I sense an ownership group putting pressure on the front office to improve right away, rather than being patient. 

Grade: C

Timberwolves: The Wolves did the smart thing and acquired assets for Covington, who at 29 had no use on a lottery-bound squad. 

They targeted Beasley, an intriguing young swingman with a pretty jumper and adequate defensive potential. His low-usage, spot-up offense will mesh nicely with Towns and Russell. Some team might throw a big offer sheet at the impending restricted free agent this summer, but Minnesota will close their eyes and match. 

Hernangomez had fallen out of Denver’s deep rotation, but is worth a look. It feels like he’s been around forever, but is still just 24. Vanderbilt is an interesting flier: He demonstrated unique defensive versatility at Kentucky, and I think there’s a rotation player in there somewhere. The future first-rounder is a sweet bonus. 

In sum, Minnesota sold a 29-year old who wasn’t part of their future for intriguing young players and a pick. That’s solid work. I would have held onto Bates-Diop, though. 

Grade: B+

Nuggets: Denver had no desire to pay Beasley’s next contract, so they flipped him for assets that could be used as trade ammo this summer.

Houston’s 2020 first-rounder isn’t itself super valuable, but can be traded during the draft for a future first-rounder to maintain asset liquidity. Bates-Diop is an intriguing combo forward who I’ve long thought was underrated; there isn’t room for him in the rotation, but he’s an asset. 

Beasley was a rotation piece, but the Nuggets’ extreme depth made him expendable. The assets they acquired are potential sweeteners in a trade for a star. They’ll be monitoring the Bradley Beal situation closely. 

Grade: B+

Clippers add Morris to bolster title hopes

Clippers receive:
F Marcus Morris (from Knicks)
G Isaiah Thomas (from Wizards)

Knicks receive:
2020 first-round pick (from Clippers)
F Moe Harkless (from Clippers)
Protected 2021 first-round pick swap (from Clippers)
2021 second-round pick (from Clippers via Pistons)
Draft rights to G Issuf Sanon (from Wizards)

Wizards receive:
SG Jerome Robinson (from Clippers)

Clippers: While the Lakers surprisingly stood pat at the deadline, the Clippers picked up another body to throw at LeBron James. 

Morris upgrades the Harkless spot: He’s a tougher, more physical defender and better spot-up shooter. His sparkling 44% three-point clip is due for regression, but he’s a very good player with playoff experience.  

He makes the Clippers better, but what’s his marginal impact in a rotation that already includes Kawhi Leonard and Paul George? Of all the contenders, the Clippers needed Morris the least. You could argue the Clips would have been better served acquiring a ball-handler or Tristan Thompson. 

But how can I view this trade as anything but a win? Provided he accepts his role, he’ll add toughness, versatility, shooting and defense. Those are things worth trading Moe Harkless and a late first-rounder for. Have fun trying to score against a Beverley-George-Kawhi-Morris-Harrell fivesome!

Seeing Isaiah Thomas thrown in to make the salaries work is a sad reminder of his swift, injury-fueled fall from grace. 

Grade: A-

Knicks: The mystery of Morris’ availability was one of the deadline’s X-factors. After insisting for weeks that he was staying put, the Knicks found religion and traded him for assets before the buzzer. The firing of ex-president Steve Mills (who wasn’t very good at his job, as I outlined here) may have had something to do with the about-face.

New York botched this one — shocker! Although Morris is on an expiring deal, he’s good enough to have warranted at least one young piece in return that the Knicks could point to as being part of their future. Instead, they acted too late and had to accept the Clippers’ pu-pu platter. The first-round pick will fall in the late twenties of a bad draft, and Issuf Sanon and the second-rounder are merely lottery tickets. There’s a good chance that the Knicks look back in the coming years and realize they got nothing for Morris. Contrast that with the Grizzlies, who just seized Justise Winslow in return for Andre Iguodala.    

Still, I can’t give them an F. At least they got something for Morris rather than watch him walk this summer. The mere act of trading him is a rare display of competence by this franchise. 

Edit: After this was published, it came out that the Knicks accepted the Clippers’ pu-pu platter over a Lakers’ package that included Kyle Kuzma. Oops! I discussed the Knicks’ moves further in a Twitter conversation with The Ringer’s Dan Devine.

Grade: D+

Wizards: To help make the finances work, Washington acquired a 2018 lottery pick who’d been buried in LA. Robinson never should have been drafted so highly, but that’s beside the point: The Wiz acquired an ex-lottery pick who’s in his second season, and gave up nothing of note. The grader is pleased.

Grade: A

Pistons dump Andre Drummond

Cavaliers receive:
C Andre Drummond

Pistons receive:
Less favorable of Golden State’s 2023 second-round picks
C John Henson
G Brandon Knight

Disclaimer: This trade makes my brain hurt. I’ll do my best. 

Pistons: In return for a healthy 26-year old who has made the All-Star game twice, Detroit received a crappy second-rounder, two veterans whom everyone forgot were still in the league, and nothing else.  

Optically, it’s embarrassing to dump him for such a meager return, but there wasn’t much of a market and they wanted him off their team as they embark on a long rebuild. Sure, they could have kept him until his contract expired in 2021, but like Wiggins and Minnesota, sometimes it’s best to cleanse the stench and turn the page.

That said, if I’m going to hammer the Knicks for mishandling the Morris trade, I have to do the same here. There were earlier opportunities to trade Drummond for a less humiliating return.

Grade: D+

Cavaliers: The stinky Cavs were never going to be able to trade Kevin Love. They’ve miscalculated his value: They expect teams to give them assets for the right to acquire a declining 31-year old who’s guaranteed $120 million over the next four years. Love will remain in Cleveland until Koby Altman gets serious about what it’ll take to get him out.

With Love talks stalled, naturally, Cleveland doubled down on overpriced bigs who nobody wants by trading for Drummond. 

There’s little risk here. They surrendered nothing of value, and he will be an expiring contract next year after accepting his $29 million player option this summer. He’s not a winning player and won’t hurt Cleveland’s tanking efforts. 

There’s also little reward. Drummond doesn’t move the needle in either direction, so all he’s really doing is taking Dan Gilbert’s money. 

Actually, I guess that’s a good thing. 

Grade: B-

Heat (kind of) go all-in

Heat receive:
SWING Andre Iguodala (from Grizzlies)
F Jae Crowder (from Grizzlies)
F Solomon Hill (from Grizzlies)

Grizzlies receive:
F Justise Winslow (from Heat)
G Dion Waiters (from Heat)
C Gorgui Dieng (from Timberwolves)

Timberwolves receive:
F James Johnson (from Heat)

Heat: Miami did a nice job of adding win-now pieces while keeping the bulk of its young talent. 

Winslow was expendable. Working the margins and back of the lottery to perfection yielded Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn and Derrick Jones Jr.; retaining them cushions the blow of losing the former no. 10 pick. Ditching the toxic contracts of Waiters and Johnson is a nice windfall. 

Iggy has lost a step or three, but he adds doses of cutting, playmaking, savvy defense and championship mettle. Crowder’s three-point shooting nosedived after an outlier 2016-17 season, but he’s a scrappy wing option. Those two — particularly Iguodala — make the Heat better. 

By how much, though? Miami’s proposed trade for Danilo Gallinari fell just short of the finish line, and it’s too bad; he would have been awesome in Miami. Despite their depth, nobody offers his blend of size, shooting and defensive versatility.

Iguodala’s immediate two-year, $30 million extension is an overpay, but it’s fine. It’s basically a one-year deal (the second is non-guaranteed), so it won’t hinder Pat Riley’s pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo and other star free agents in 2021. 

I appreciate the Heat cashing in Winslow for win-now pieces. They got better Thursday, and did so without mortgaging the future. It’s just a shame they couldn’t come to terms with Gallo, who would have pushed them into another tier. 

Grade: B

Grizzlies: Quick timeline: 

July 2019: Grizzlies trade Julian Washburn to the Warriors in exchange for Andre Iguodala and a protected first-round pick 
Feb 2020: Grizzlies trade Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill to the Heat in exchange for Dion Waiters and Justise Winslow
Summary: Grizzlies turn a 28-year old G-Leaguer into Justise Winslow and a first-round pick. 

That is how smart teams teams accelerate their rebuild. They utilized their leverage to grab a first-round pick for taking Iguodala’s $16 million contract off the Warriors’ hands, then refused to buy him out and flipped him for another asset at the trade deadline.

Winslow is divisive. He’s not a traditional point guard, but is best on the ball and struggles away from it due to a clunky jumper. He’s a good and potentially great defender, but won’t develop if he can’t stay healthy.  

I’m bullish. The dude is 23. He has years to hone his outside jumper and figure out who he is. It’s hard to acquire young, productive wings who have upside, let alone ones on cost-effective, long-term contracts. He’s a great grab for a Grizzlies squad that’s way ahead of schedule. 

Acquiring Waiters and Dieng’s contracts is the tax for getting Winslow. No problem. Dieng, who has added the three-ball, adds center depth until his deal expires after next season. Waiters, meanwhile, is toxic and should be disposed of immediately. 

The Los Angeles teams were hoping for an Iguodala buyout, but Memphis, true to their word, dealt him for a great return. They’ve done an incredible job building over the past two years, and this is a prime example. 

Grade: A 

Timberwolves: A third team was needed to make the money work and the über-active Wolves obliged, sending Gorgui Dieng to the Grizz and absorbing James Johnson from the Heat. 

Good move. Dieng was a malcontent in Minnesota, and the versatile Johnson will play minutes on a shallow team. 

Grade: A

“It is very hard for the NFL to halt its self-obsession, but Kobe Bryant has done it. Kobe Bryant is different.” – Kevin Clark, The Ringer

It speaks to Kobe Bryant’s reach that his passing makes the Big Game seem small. Not only is there a Super Bowl happening Sunday, but it’s one of the most exhilarating matchups in recent memory. 

We have to start by acknowledging the historical significance of Patrick Mahomes’ NFL debut. 

If you’re looking for a conservative, modest opinion on the Chiefs’ gunslinger, I’m not your guy. Remember playing in AAU basketball tournaments as a prepubescent seventh grader, looking across the court in warmups and seeing some 6’3” dude throwing down dunks in the layup line? And then the kid drops 40, his team beats yours 93-18 and you go to bed that night realizing that you probably aren’t going to be a professional athlete? Well, the kid who dropped 40 is Patrick Mahomes, and seventh grade Patrick Foote is every NFL defensive back. 

I know, that analogy sucked. I still enjoyed typing it. 

Point is, it seems like the NFL isn’t good enough for him. His unprecedented arm talent is matched by shit, I forgot he could do that- type speed and unflappable confidence; he’s the most transcendently talented QB ever, and his first Super Bowl appearance is significant.

What’s particularly tantalizing is that he’s going up against a defense that actually has a chance to contain him. The Niners’ top-ranked unit is basically the equivalent of Kansas City’s offense, with speed and athleticism everywhere. It’s line, featuring an absurd five first-rounders, generates pressure without the aid of a blitz. That’s critical against Mahomes, who is truly lethal one he gets outside the pocket and ad-libs with his speedy receivers. How the Chiefs’ offensive line holds up against Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead & Co. is critical.

Meanwhile, the Niners’ offense is also a machine, albeit for a different reason: It’s fueled by the league’s premier rushing attack. The offensive line is as physical as the three-headed monster of Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida is electric. It’s a group that’s churned out 471 yards in two playoff games. Relatedly, Jimmy Garoppolo has thrown just 27 passes in the postseason. 

Jimmy G. is the most intriguing player on both sides, and the biggest swing piece in the game. While his comically low usage is partially due to the success of the ground game, it feels like Kyle Shanahan lost some confidence in him after his brutal interception in the first half against Minnesota. Essentially, Garoppolo has been a game manager. If his team falls behind 14-0 early — very possible against the Chiefs — will he be able to sling them back into it? 

I think so. Let’s not forget that Handsome Jimmy threw 27 touchdowns in the regular season, tied for fifth-most in the NFL. In the classic, week 14 Saints shootout, he was asked to keep up and responded with 349 yards and 4 touchdowns against a better defense than he faces this Sunday. Ideally for his team, he won’t have to do this and the running game keeps Mahomes off the field. 

Which team controls the game script is consequential. If the Niners successfully establish the run, control tempo and cap off drives with points, they’ll control the game. Conversely, if Mahomes erupts for two quick touchdowns in the first quarter and forces Garoppolo to play catch up, it’s their game to lose. While it’s possible that Garoppolo would keep pace, it’s not the blueprint you want as a Niners fan.

My prediction? Craziness, memorable moments, and one of the best Super Bowls ever. I’d pick a team, but how can you possibly predict a winner in a game this even? My only rooting interest lies in being thoroughly entertained.

I can’t wait.

Sometimes words are fucking useless.

I’m going to type some anyway, because it’s therapeutic and I need to.

Here’s what Kobe meant to me.
{Disclaimer: I was never a Laker fan, and until his farewell season, never a Kobe fan}

He was drafted in ’96; I was born in ’96. Sports is all I know, and Kobe is all I’ve ever known. I wasn’t around for pre-Kobe, and given his continued relevance after his playing days ended, I’ve never known life without him.

Watching he and Shaq beat Allen Iverson and the Sixers in the 2001 Finals is my first basketball memory. My dad pointed out the three best players on the court; I remember thinking that no. 3 on the black team was really small, no. 34 on the yellow team was really big and no. 8 in yellow was in the middle. He continued making memories right up until his final game in 2016, when he dropped 60 points to drag the Lakers back from a ten-point deficit in the final three minutes against the Jazz.

That game is one of the great sport-watching experiences of my life. For this nerd, it represented the purest form of joy on the planet: Watching something live happening in sports that’s so unbelievable that you’re running around, hugging complete strangers. Everyone in Tap 24 was going crazy, from sports fans to sorority girls who only knew Kobe because, well, who didn’t? When he hit that long-two to take the lead with half a minute left, I sprinted around the bar in a circle; when thinking of his classic underbite while he ran back on defense, I still get chills.

Watching the most immortal athlete of my lifetime deliver that performance in his final game was equal parts mesmerizing and not surprising at all. It was totally on brand, and something only Kobe Bryant could do.

The inevitability of that performance is what makes his death so personal — he didn’t know me, but I knew him. Everyone did. He was pure authenticity; there wasn’t a mysterious bone in his body. He was maniacally strong-willed, fiercely competitive, devoutly hard-working and intellectually curious. Those traits had been apparent since he entered the league, and he never changed. We all knew Kobe, and we all knew that there was nobody — and that there would be nobody — like him. Of course he was going to go ape shit in his last ever game. Why would we expect anything less?

We also knew how good of a father he was; he loved to mention his pride in his daughters, and specifically, his 13-year old, Gianna. That girl was always with him, so often that I was surprised to ever see him not with her. The relationship was, like everything else with him, transparent and pure. If I ever have a daughter, I hope I’m half as good to her as Kobe was to his.

I just tried to type something about Gianna — and the other young girls whose lives were taken — being on the helicopter with him, but my fingers short-circuited and my eyes welled. Trying to think about how this impacts the families of all involved is impossible. Again, words are fucking useless.

It’s a tragedy that blurs the line between life and death. If the most immortal human being of my lifetime can die young in a freak accident, then death is right there for an average Joe like me, and for all of us. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. You hear that cliche often, but this made it very real.

One of the impossible parts of this is that future generations will learn about Kobe and always associate him with his tragic death. He’ll be The Legend Who Died In The Helicopter Crash, just like Dale Earnhardt was The Legend Who Died At Daytona. It’s hard to reconcile. I hope they know how shocking it was. If you polled sports fans before January 26 which athlete, in any sport, was the least likely to die young, the popular answer would’ve been Kobe. You figured if he got into a plane crash, he’d walk out of wreckage and put out the fire himself. That’s who he was — he was invincible! I can’t believe I’m saying was; this is still fucking unbelievable. Was, as in, he’s gone? What?

While most of my life was spent merely liking him, I knew I loved Kobe during his final farewell season, and the memory of that final game against the Jazz made him a deity for me. Every time I saw or heard of him after his retirement, it made me happy.

I didn’t realize how much I cared, though, until January 26, 2020. It was truly one of the saddest days I can remember. The outpouring of love and support for Kobe and Laker fans made me realize — yet again — how beautiful the sports community is.

Thank you, Kobe.

RIP Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser, and Ara Zobayan.

Zo made T.J. Leaf, a non-NBA talent, a first-rounder. What’s he going to do with the best prospect since LeBron?

My buddies often ask me about the weather on Lonzo Island. 

It’s been dark, stormy and the waves turbulent since I built a home here before the 2017 draft. Families have fled and my property value has dwindled. 

Helicopters have circled overhead and dropped me a latter. Rescue teams pleaded with me to evacuate, but I remained. If the island was going down, I was going down with it. 

I’m glad I stuck it out. In Zion Williamson’s debut, Ball had one of the best games of his career, and that’s not a coincidence; Zion liberates Zo to be the free-wheeling, mad-libbing, table setting star that he was always meant to be.  

For much of his three-year NBA odyssey Lonzo has floated around the court, seemingly without purpose. While his size, athleticism and defense still rendered him useful, he was just kind of there on offense in the half-court. Last season Zo averaged just 2.46 dribbles per touch, which was last by a mile among starting point guards (by comparison, league leader D.J. Augustin averaged 6.7 dribbles per touch) . In his rookie year prior, his 3.2 dribbles ranked second-to-last. This confirmed the eye test; it often looked like he was playing hot potato with the basketball. He had no confidence or rhythm. It was painful to watch, and he didn’t look much better earlier this year trying to pick his spots around Jrue Holiday and Brandon Ingram. 

The difference between Confident Lonzo and Passive Lonzo is the difference between a great player and a bench guy. Fortunately, Confident Lonzo is unique — he can be triggered by feeding other guys and controlling tempo. 

If last night’s performance (14 points/12 assists/8 assists/team high +7) is any indication, that version of Zo is unlocked by Zion’s mere presence. The rookie is essentially the Ferrari version of T.J. Leaf. Lonzo turned his former college teammate, who clearly isn’t an NBA-caliber player, into a first-round pick. It’s scary to think about how much better he’ll make Zion, who was already an elite NBA player during his senior year of high school. 

During Zion’s 17-point fourth quarter rampage, it seemed as if they were the only two Pelicans to touch the ball. Here’s how the scoring summary reads:

• Zion Williamson makes 27-foot three point jumper (Lonzo Ball assists) 
• Zion Williamson makes alley oop layup (Lonzo Ball assists)
• Zion Williamson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Lonzo Ball assists)
• Zion Williamson makes two point shot
• Zion Williamson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Lonzo Ball assists)
• Zion Williamson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Lonzo Ball assists)
• Zion Williamson makes free throw

While Zo didn’t technically get an assist on the fourth bucket, he orchestrated it; Watch as he points Zion to the middle of the key and dumps it in. Having just brought it up the court with tempo, he knows the Spurs’ defense won’t be in a position to help Jakob Poeltl, who’s on an island. Zion gets blocked but gets his own rebound and immediately puts it back. 

Watch on Zion’s fourth three: Zo flips him a little lefty scoop pass and immediately starts backpedaling, essentially saying ‘You’re shooting it again, bro.’ On three of Zion’s four threes, the sequence was this: Zion passed to Lonzo, who passed it right back. The two already have a beautiful chemistry that doesn’t even make sense, because they’ve never played together before. 

Wednesday night was Lonzo at his best: orchestrating with intoxicating, infectious swagger. Confident Lonzo coincided with Zion’s debut, and it’s no coincidence. The two made music in only their first game together, and it’s a sign of things to come. 

In the best case scenario, Hailie will be to NASCAR what Tiger is to golf. Yes, you read that right.

It’s no secret that NASCAR is struggling. 

The 2010s was a decade of decline, both in ratings and attendance. While a myriad of factors fueled downward momentum, the retirements of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. really put the sport at a crossroads. 

NASCAR is unique in that the personalities matter more than the product. Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich can say nothing publicly and rest assured knowing the NBA will still flourish. NASCAR is different — fan interest and attachment is driven by its colorful and controversial drivers. During the 1990s and 2000s, stars like Dale Earnhardt, Gordon, Stewart, Rusty Wallace and Dale Jr. had brands that transcended NASCAR and cut into the cultural mainstream. Their personas helped legitimize and popularize the sport. Those guys are all gone, leaving behind a crippling lack of star power.

This makes Hailie Deegan — the charismatic, charming, controversial daughter of former X-Games legend Brian — the most important prospect in NASCAR’s history. The teenager brings a talent-gender-personality combination that will help drive the sport back into mainstream consciousness. 

There are a lot of layers to unpack here, so I’ll start by debunking the notion that Deegan is anything less than a legitimate prospect. 

After spending years racing off-road trucks, “The Dirt Princess” pivoted to pavement in 2016, and in 2018 signed with Bill McAnally Racing for a full season in the K&N Pro Series West. In her very first race, something happened: Kevin Harvick was also in the field, racing as a one-off to support his hometown track. The two raced side-by-side often that evening. Afterwards, the former Cup champion and future Hall of Famer — who by the way is infamously critical of other drivers — raved about the then-anonymous rookie: 

“If I had to pick one person to say, ‘Alright, that’s the person KHI [Harvick’s sports and celebrity-marketing agency] would want to represent and has the most potential,’ it would probably be Hailie Deegan. She did really, really well.”

Kevin Harvick, per Brad Norman of NASCAR.com

Later that year, she won at Meridian, becoming the first woman to win in the K&N series. She finished the year fifth in the standings and took home Rookie of the Year honors.

The hype train had left the station. Big things were expected in her encore 2019 season (driving the same car), and she delivered: two wins, eight top 5’s, eleven top 10’s and a third-place points finish. She also debuted in the ARCA series, notching 4 top 10’s in six tries driving for Bill Venturini. 

The eye test matches the numbers. She’ll fly out of turn 2 or turn 4 with her foot on the mat and the back end of the car dead sideways, but always hangs onto it. She clearly has an innate feel for the right rear of the race car, which makes sense considering her dirt background. She’s fast, as evidenced by her series-leading three poles. She’s a closer, too — her first win came after moving leader Cole Rouse out of the way with a textbook bump-and-run on the last lap. In her first two wins, she led two laps, combined. She’s completely unafraid to show muscle late in the going.   

Her lap-to-lap consistency isn’t there yet, but she’s only been racing stock cars for three years; most of her competitors had logged thousands of laps on pavement before she ever ran one. With young drivers, you want to see speed and car control; she has plenty of each.   

Her hyper-aggressive is controversial. She cleaned out her teammate to win at Colorado this year. She’s kind of dirty. It’s awesome. One of the biggest issues for women in racing is that male drivers bully them on the track. Hailie’s the opposite — she bullies the guys around. 

So, she has legitimate Cup potential. It’s the other stuff that makes her transcendent. The gender piece is self-explanatory. Danica Patrick (also a recent retiree) was awful in NASCAR, but is still one of America’s most recognizable athletes. The novelty of a woman competing with men at the highest level of a physically demanding sport is an attention-grabber.  

Hailie’s personality is magnetic. It’s fun to just hear her talk. The 18-year old is brash, confident and unapologetic. She oozes charisma (watch her interview after she scored her first win). She’s completely unafraid of going on podcasts and talk shows.

Though she’s yet to make a start in the top 3 series, she already has more Instagram and Twitter followers than any current NASCAR driver and loves connecting with fans. Her family’s YouTube channel “The Deegan’s” has nearly 600,000 subscribers. Quite honestly, she could teach a MasterClass on the benefits of social media and how to connect with people.

After the year, it was announced that Ford had signed Deegan away from Toyota’s crowded development pipeline, and that she’d run for the ARCA title in 2020 with DGR-Crosley. It’s a huge move for her future — though Toyota and Ford are both powerhouses, the latter’s development driver landscape is comparatively barren, meaning Deegan’s journey through the ranks will be shepherded and prioritized. 

Deegan isn’t the sport’s most talented prospect; that goes to Chandler Smith. But she is super talented, and the most transcendent personality to ever appear on the scene. For a sputtering sport in desperate need of star power, her trajectory will single-handedly vault NASCAR back onto the national radar.

The poor start offers an excuse to redshirt Zion Williamson, market Jrue Holiday, bottom out and prepare for an incredibly bright future. 

On May 14, 2019, the NBA world exploded. The New Orleans Pelicans, a franchise that seemed closer to extinction and/or relocation than prosperity, won the draft lottery despite six-percent odds, and hence, the opportunity to draft the best prospect since LeBron James.

On June 20, The Pels’ fulfilled the prophesy and selected Zion Williamson no. 1. A lot has happened since: 

• The Lakers acquired Anthony Davis.
• The Clippers somehow acquired Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
• Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul were traded for each other.
• An international imbroglio ensues after Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey tweets his support for protesters in Hong Kong.
• Tom Brady finally starts playing like a 42-year old man.
• Antonio Brown mentally implodes and spends the NFL season unemployed.
• President Donald John Trump is impeached.

Unfortunately, something that hasn’t transpired is Zion Williamson playing a meaningful minute of basketball. After an electric preseason in which he averaged 23.3 points on 71.4 percent shooting, Woj reported on October 18 that the rookie would miss a “period of weeks to start the regular season” after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. 

Well, it’s almost Christmas and that period of weeks has turned into months. Pelicans’ general manager David Griffin said recently that the rookie is able to bear full weight on his knee but is still “a ways away” from returning, per the Times-Picayune’s Scott Kushner. In the meantime, New Orleans — who has a competitive roster but bad head coach who retained his position only because people felt bad for him during the Anthony Davis Saga — has plummeted to 7-22 and sit closer to the top of the lottery than the eight-seed in the West.

It’s a blessing, really, that the team stinks (sorry, season-ticket holders). It offers an excuse to let Zion rest and recuperate for the whole year, strengthening his body while refining his ball-handling and jumper. It’s an excuse to put veterans Jrue Holiday, J.J. Redick and Derrick Favors on the market* while letting youngsters Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker develop at their pace. It’s an excuse to tank for another top pick to put around a young core that is as exciting as any in the NBA.

*In a seller’s market, all would fetch healthy returns. Holiday is the most interesting; in my opinion, now’s the time to trade him. His value will never be higher (he’s on a run of good health after persistent injuries in the past), and at 29-years old, his timeline doesn’t mesh with the young core. 

More than anything, this is about Zion Williamson. He will be one of the greatest players ever, health permitting. How often has that been said about a rookie? If you are New Orleans, you can’t screw this up — you only have one shot at developing him properly.

Now that the the dream of chasing a meaningless quick-out in the postseason has been vanquished, it’s a lot easier to let the rook take his time and heal properly. It creates the obvious, awesome solution to market the (valuable) veterans, garner additional picks and young players, and draft another future star at the top of next year’s draft.   

Zion Williamson’s injury was a devastating blow to the Pelicans. However, the team sucking in the aftermath is the best thing that could have happened to them.  

Sorry, running backs: you are screwed.

The devaluation of the position has been widely publicized. In the past decade, ball carriers have seen the smallest percentage increase in salaries of any position, and it’s not close.

It’s a straightforward case of supply, demand and market inefficiency. Due to the banging they take on a per-play basis, ball carriers deteriorate more quickly than any other position. Typically, they are “in their prime” soon after entering the NFL and begin showing signs of decline in their late-20s. Teams get runners’ best production while they are trapped on cheap, rookie-scale deals, and when those players are ready to be paid at contract’s end, they can simply be replaced by cheap, rookie labor who provide as good or better production.

In turn, the league watched with great interest as the Rams, Cowboys, Jets and Cardinals handed out fat, long-term pacts to Gurley, Elliott, Bell and DJ (respectively), while observing the Chargers’ unwillingness to meet Gordon at his asking price. How would the deals (and in the Chargers’ case, non-deal) impact the teams’ ability to construct contenders around their pricey backs?

Todd Gurley

On July 24th, 2018, the Rams inked their star rusher to a four-year, $60 million extension, with $45 million in guarantees. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, then just 23, was coming off a season in which he led the league in rushing scores (13), total touchdowns (19), and yards-from-scrimmage (2,093). While Le’Veon Bell’s holdout that summer highlighted the league’s fears with paying running backs, Gurley seemed like a safe bet; he was still incredibly young, and in theory, years away from the precipitous decline faced by high-mileage ball carriers.

Gurley was named first team All-Pro the following year as his legs carried the Rams to a first round postseason bye. He was held out of his team’s final two regular season games due to “knee inflammation,” but the injury was initially considered minor and the move precautionary.

It wasn’t. In the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl, the $60 million man had 14 combined carries for 45 yards; his backup, C.J. Anderson (signed off the street in mid-December), had 25 combined carries for 66 yards. The league’s most dynamic rusher was used sparingly in the biggest games on the NFL calender; it was a puzzling, startling red flag. In March, 2019, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported that the Georgia product has arthritis in the left knee that he tore as a Bulldog — this not only explained his diminished role in the postseason, but painted a bleak picture going forward.

Sadly, his arthritic knee has sapped the explosiveness that once made him unstoppable; in 2019, the 25-year old looks like a shell of his former self. As of Week 16, he has failed to rush for over 100 yards in a single game, and his efficiency has plummeted from 4.9 to 3.9 yards-per-carry. The guy the Rams paid to be the best running back in football has been an average-at-best contributor; in related news, L.A. is likely to miss the postseason the year after reaching the Super Bowl.

Gurley’s contract will count $17.25 million against the cap in 2020 and $13.2 million in 2021, before the Rams can get out from the deal in 2022 with a $4.2 million dead cap penalty. Paying that kind of coin to an average running back is a catastrophic misallocation of funds, and will make it difficult for the Rams to build around him.

The former top-10 pick lived up to his billing immediately in the NFL, but his production came while on a team friendly, rookie-scale contract. It’s sadly poetic that his health and production nose dived in this, the first year of his massive extension. Even though Todd was just 23 at the time of signing, the main fear that teams have with paying running backs — namely, the accumulation of wear and tear sapping production — has come to light, leaving the Rams with a cap-clogging albatross who will only decline further with age.

Ezekiel Elliott

Following a prolonged holdout between player and team, Jerry Jones blinked first and gave Zeke a six-year extension worth $90 million ($60 million guaranteed), making him the highest paid back in the league. Evidently, the Cowboys prioritized paying the nose-ringed Buckeye over quarterback Dak Prescott and wideout Amari Cooper, both of whom were (and still are) seeking a long-term pact.

Elliott is unquestionably a great player; in his three seasons, he’s led the league in rushing twice (2016 and 2018) and has averaged a sparkling 4.6 yards-per-tote despite being the focal point of every defensive game plan. He’s versatile, too; his 77 receptions in ‘18 paced the team. He’s an elite pass blocker and never gets injured. Great offensive line or not, the 2016 no. 4 overall pick is easily one of the best backs in football.

But what’s that worth in a league where good running backs are a dime a dozen? His backup, Tony Pollard, has been more productive in limited work, averaging 5.6 yards-per-carry to Zeke’s 4.4. In fact, Pollard is averaging the most yards-per-rush of any running back with 70 or more carries. It’s almost as if Dallas’ league-best offensive line is more impactful to rushing efficiency than are the guys carrying the ball.

Pollard isn’t a better player than Zeke, but how much different would the Cowboys’ record be if he were the starter instead? Is it a $90 million difference? Of course not. Elliott was wildly overpaid relative to the value he brings his team.

In a nutshell, he’s probably better than Prescott, but why does that matter? We’re talking asset allocation here, and the supply market for competent ball-carriers is exponentially higher (and demand exponentially lower) than it is for competent quarterbacks. 

Zeke’s deal is inflated in 2019. It will be even worse in future seasons, when the attrition of thousands of carries in the Big Ten and NFL erodes his effectiveness but does not erode his cap hold. His bloated contract makes it harder for Dallas to pay Prescott, Amari Cooper and other pieces who play more premium positions. And given the physical nature of his play and atrocious off-the-field character, he’s the last type of guy you’d expect to age gracefully, especially once his pockets are stuffed with cash. Good luck, Cowboys fans.

Pollard, by the way, will earn $585,000 in 2020, $675,000 in 2021, and $765,000 in 2022 via his rookie-scale contract.

Le’Veon Bell

After sitting out 2018 amidst a contract holdout and watching backup James Connor do just fine in his place, Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal ($35 million guaranteed) with the New York Jets in March.

In their first year with Bell, the Jets are 5-9. He’s been awful: his 3.3 yards-per-carry is third-worst of the 45 players with at least 90 carries. He did, however, bowl a 251 the day before missing a game with an “illness.”

Bell’s struggles this year aren’t totally on him, but that’s not the point. He’s already 27, and despite missing a year of punishment in 2018, only figures to decline from this point forward. He clearly doesn’t move the needle for a bad football team, anyway. Needless to say, the Jets would have been better off investing that money elsewhere.

David Johnson

In 2016, DJ produced over 2,000 yards-from-scrimmage, proving to be one of the most dangerous and versatile weapons in the game. He sat out 2017 due to a wrist injury, but the Cardinals’ brass still valued him highly enough last September to give him a three-year, $39 million extension with $30 million guaranteed. The extension kicked in this year.

…Whoops. After a bad 2018, Johnson has looked utterly washed up in 2019; it appears the years of bumps and bruises have ruined him. The Cardinals learned midway through the season that backup Chase Edmonds is a much superior player; once Edmonds got hurt the team immediately traded for Kenyan Drake and learned that he, too, is a much superior player. DJ and his eight-figure salary have been collecting dust on the sideline.

Worse yet, because Johnson’s deal kicked in earlier this year, his $10.2 million salary for 2020 is fully guaranteed. If he’s still on the roster by March, then $2.1 million of his 2021 salary is guaranteed. It’s a catastrophic pact for the Red Birds, and another example of a team paying a running back based on what he did for them in the past, rather than what he’ll do in the future.

Edmonds, by the way, will make $660,000 in 2020 and $750,000 in 2021. Rookie wages, man.

Melvin Gordon

Coming off a breakout 2018, Gordon demanded an extension along the lines of Gurley, Elliott and DJ. Despite receiving an offer from the Bolts that would have pushed his AAV above eight-figures, Gordon continued his holdout before eventually reporting weeks into the season.

It’s a blessing in disguise for the Chargers that Gordon turned that deal down; his backup, Austin Ekeler (earning $645,000 in 2019), has easily been the better player. Their rushing has been similar (4.2 yards on 119 carries for Ekeler; 4.0 yards on 139 carries for Gordon), but Ekeler has tallied a whopping 892 yards receiving to Gordon’s paltry 188.

Ekeler is good. Gordon is good. A ton of running backs, throughout the NFL, are good. Why give huge money to one of them when you can easily find similar production from somebody else, and instead spend that money on a more scarce position? The Bolts dodged a bullet when Gordon said no to their money, and Melvin took a bullet — he isn’t going to make that on the open market. 

In each case, the team wishes it could go back are re-allocate that money elsewhere. In the Chargers’ case, they’re thankful that Gordon and his agent screwed up. 

It’s a damning indictment on the running back market — not only will the position continue to suffer relative to others, but it will be further discriminated against as teams realize that paying long-term, high AAV deals to replaceable players is risky, stupid business.

There are plenty of juicy storylines emerging from the Heat’s scorching 17-6 start; the most underrated one, however, is the rejuvenation of Goran Dragic. 

A year ago, while battling an assortment of injuries, the 33-year old posted his lowest true shooting percentage since his 2008-09 rookie campaign. It was fair to wonder whether the Slovenian was hitting the downslope of his career. 

Rather, the 12-year vet has played a convincing role in Miami’s hot start, looking revitalized in a spunky bench role. In addition to averaging 20 points and 6.3 assists per 36 minutes, Dragic is attempting 6.7 threes per 36 — the highest volume in his career — and spraying 40.6% of them (per basketball-reference). He hasn’t sacrificed efficiency, either; his .594 true shooting percentage blows last season’s .517 mark out of the water. He’s the pilot of the league’s fourth-highest scoring bench. 

Unfortunately, he is past the point of no return defensively. I’m not sure who he guards against a team like the Celtics, for example. Still, Dragic has long been one of the most fun-to-watch offensive players in the game, and it’s great to see that he’s still near peak form.

The Sixers’ wonky roster creates stylistic offensive challenges, but there’s still no excuse for the behemoth to live so far from the hoop.

When a team has title aspirations, it’s critical for its best player to use his talents optimally. This isn’t rocket science, but coach Brett Brown loves parking his 7-foot, 280 pound man-child behind the three-point arc.

The Cameroonian Cyclone is the most lethal post-up brute in the game. His 1.05 points per possession on post-ups last year was best of any player meeting a minimum threshold of attempts and games; this year, he ranks fourth. 

Embiid is also an atrocious long-distance shooter, yet is attempting more long balls. Last season, 21.8% of the 7-footer shot attempts were threes and he hit them at an unsightly 30.4% clip; this year, he’s upped the frequency to 23.6% and made only 31.4%. These are Westbrook-ian numbers. 

It can get ugly when he pumps and drives, too. His 14.3% turnover rate on spot-ups is tied for fourth-worst of any player attempting at least 2.5 per contest. Against the Knicks Nov. 29 he had a play where he tried to get cute off the catch and more closely resembled a stumbling baby giraffe learning how to walk.

I get it, the Sixers have a wonky roster with a 6’10” point guard who can’t shoot outside of his own shadow. The spacing cramp is pronounced, and it is valuable to have a center who can stretch it out to the three-point line. I don’t envy Brown’s conundrum.

Still, there’s little that compares to the frustration of seeing Joel Embiid hang out so far from the tin. As fans, we shouldn’t be robbed of the pleasure of seeing him do what he does best: dominate fools in the post with a bulldozer’s strength and Kate Middleton’s grace.

The youngster’s huge trade value should have Western Conference rivals sweating about what the Lakers could fetch in return.

After LA traded Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and 8,412 first-rounders for Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma’s development assumed greater significance. Not only is the third-year baller the presumed third banana on a title-contending squad, but he’s the lone potential young star remaining for a franchise devoid of future assets. He’s also eligible for a contract extension next fall.*

However, Kuzma’s game never made theoretical sense next to LeBron James and AD, and upon returning from a preseason foot injury, he has looked like the puppy who lost his way. 

Kuzma’s scoring output (17.6 points per 36 minutes) and efficiency (43.8% FG) have hit career lows. If you think he’s made up for it by distributing, think again: his line of 1.4 dimes per 36 represents borderline criminal ball-hoggery, even for him. His apathetic defense remains a source of rage in the Lakers’ Twittersphere. 

Most damning is his 4.0 net rating, which ranks lowest among Lakers averaging at least 15 minutes a night. They are winning in spite of him. 

Kuz’ failed integration has been frustrating, but predictable. If you’re a GM constructing a team around James and Davis, the last kind of guy you’d want is a chucker who plays the same position. The former Ute isn’t blameless, but he’s been set up to underperform the year before he’s eligible to sign an extension.

Dealing him would bring the emotional pain of trading away every good player drafted during the years of tanking/futility, but does that really matter? LeBron is 34 years old. The window is open this season to win a championship; time to abandon the youth hedge and go all-in.

The only conclusion is that a trade needs to happen; it’d grant Kuzma a fresh opportunity to refuel his stock**, while LA would fetch a nice piece or pieces who’d fit more snugly around the stars***.  

Have I mentioned that the 18-3 Lakers sit comfortably atop the Western Conference? Rival GM’s have to be sweating at the thought of LA putting the talented youngster on the market, and in turn improving further.  

*If he’s still wearing purple and gold by then, extension talks will be fascinating. Kuzma’s demands will likely exceed what the Lakers are willing to pay; I’d bank on no deal getting done and Kuz testing restricted free agency.  

**How highly does the league value Kuzma? While the roster-fit excuse holds, this season has illuminated concerns that he might not be a winning player. Instead of passing more and trying harder on defense in wake of his role change, he’s responded by chucking more than ever and making his team worse. On the flip side, he’s so skilled, young and built for the modern game. You know what, some team would roll the dice and pay a premium.  

***I spent some time on the Trade Machine; it’s tougher than I thought to find a potential match. Would Minnesota swap Robert Covington for Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope? Covington would be such a good fit on the Lakers it’s ridiculous. Kuzma, KAT and Wiggins would form an explosive young offense in Minny. Who says no?