It's been a few weeks since I wrote my last entry on the winners and losers in NBA free agency, and for those who don't know, I have recently taken a job at the94feetreport.com to contribute in their NBA coverage. Excuses asise, let's break down the last week or so in the NBA free agency market.
Losers: Spurs Medical Staff
Things just keep getting worse and worse for San Antonio. I have written about them before, but just to recap: Tony Parker leaves for Charlotte, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green are traded, DeMar DeRozan is not happy about his new home. Now? Well now reports have surfaced saying that Green played much of the season with a groin tear that went undetected by the Spurs medical staff. Not a good look. This is the reason - at least one of them - that Kawhi wanted out so badly. He felt as though the staff was not taking his injury rehab process seriously and thus got a second opinion. Green opted not to get a second opinion and payed the price for it.
Loser: The LeBron James Mural
That thing has been vandalized more times than Kobe Bryant has rings! Maybe LA fans shouldn't have put it up before The King even played a single game in the purple and gold. Just saying. LA is a historical franchise, and LeBron is a historical player, but let the man play first before likening him to the LA greats like Magic, Abdul-Jabbar, West, Kobe and Shaq. Just a suggestion.
Losers: Dallas Mavericks
Yogi Ferrell was truly an inspiring story last season, signed to a 10-day contract and then to a multiyear deal based on his play at point guard, the undrafted guard made his name known. Unfortunately, after receiving a qualifying offer from Dallas and then a contract for two-years and $5.3 million, Yogi backed out and went and signed with the Sacramento Kings. Shame. This is not the first time Dallas has been burned, just remember back to DeAndre Jordan and his deal that he backed out of to go back to the Clippers. That was remedied as Jordan is now officially a Maverick, but this still has to sting, watching a young guard with lots of potential go to Sacramento, the team that seems to be making all kinds of moves this off season.
Losers: Philadelphia 76ers
Remember when I talked about the Kings, well they did it again, this time to Philadelphia. When Philly let Ersan Ilyasova go this off-season (he retuned back to Milwaukee), they looked to fill his role at power forward. They seemed to settle on Minnesota's Nemanja Bjeclica. Bjelica was was let go by 'Sota and was set to sign a one year deal with Philly. Instead, he was said to have opted to play in Europe next season where he was the EuroLeague MVP in 2015. Instead, he decided against that, spurned the Sixers and signed with the Kings for three years and $20.5 million. Has to be the Serbian connection him and Vlade Divac share right? Anyways, this puts the Sixers at a bit of a tough spot as Bjelica was going to be the new Ilyasova, now though, they seem to be at a loss for a sold bench forward/center.
Losers: Kevin Durant
This one is for obvious reasons. His burner accounts, his cupcake attitude, his "beef" with CJ McCollum. Maybe the media is out to make him look crazy, but he's not doing himself any favors by mincing words trying to defend your move to Golden State. His move to GS still draws criticism for a myriad of reasons. My take is this; he had every right to go wherever he wanted to go to, but choosing to go to a team that he held a 3-1 advantage against and blew was taking the easy way out. Instead of getting better and demanding better from your team, coach and organization, he decided to just take the path of least resistance. Well within his rights, but just not a very competitive attitude. Add in DeMarcus Cousins, and the Warriors are easily the favorite for a third championship in a row.
That's all I got for now. Agree? Disagree? Let me know!