The Sam Bradford-Vikings Trade is the Ultimate Mixed Bag for Minnesota

The Minnesota Vikings have traded for Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. This deal comes just four days after incumbent starter Teddy Bridgewater was declared out for the season with a gruesome dislocation and ACL tear in his left knee.

I'm very conflicted about this trade from the Vikings' point of view. The Vikings were looking for a viable starting quarterback, and back-up Shaun Hill certainly doesn't fit that mold. Bradford is certainly better than Hill, but is he good enough to justify giving up a first round pick in 2017 and a fourth round pick in 2018?

In a vacuum, no, he isn't. First, Bradford has an injury history that has to be disturbing to Vikings fans considering what the team gave up for him. Bradford tore his ACL in 2013, then re-injured the same knee the next year, missing the rest of the season both times. Before he even started an NFL career, Bradford had surgery on the A/C joint in his throwing shoulder, which caused him to miss 13 total games in college. The problems with that shoulder persisted into last season when he sprained it and missed two games last season. Consistent injuries to one area have to be worrisome to the fans because they are (obviously) risks for further issues.

First round picks are very important. They can give you an immediate contributor and eventual star, so they're not to be taken lightly. If Bradford gets hurt again, the Vikings will have given up a first and fourth round pick for nothing, which would be a disaster.

The other opportunity for disaster comes in Bradford's performance. He hasn't lived up to the hype he generated coming out of Oklahoma where he won a Heisman and dominated to the point that he was drafted first overall by St. Louis in 2010. At Oklahoma, Bradford put up crazy numbers and appeared to be the next great star at the quarterback position in the NFL. In his Heisman sophomore season, Bradford threw for 50 touchdowns and 337 yards per game. He went for 9.8 yards per attempt and a 67.9% completion percentage, according to sports-reference.com.

In the NFL, Bradford hasn't been the same guy. He has a career 60.1% completion percentage on 6.5 yards per attempt and a 2.3% interception percentage, according to Pro Football Reference. But to understand more about what he may give the Vikings, let's key in on last season.

Bradford started 14 games for Philadelphia last season, missing the aforementioned two games with that shoulder injury. He went 7-7 and his stats were 65% comp. pct., 266.1 Y/G, 7.0 Y/A, 3.6% TD pct., and 2.6% INT pct. Those stats were ranked 11th, 11th, 25th, 26th, and 26th respectively. That means he's completing a fair amount of his many attempts (he ranked 15th in attempts in just 14 games), but he's not making big plays, scoring touchdowns, or protecting the ball.

Those numbers don't look great, but you have to project Bradford within the Vikings' situation. Let's look at how Bradford's numbers compare to Bridgewater's from last year.

Bridgewater's stats: 65.3% comp. pct., 201.9 Y/G, 7.2 Y/A, 3.1% TD pct., 2.0 INT pct. Those numbers rank 10th, 31st, 23rd, 31st, and 11th, respectively. They don't look much better than Bradford's, and they confirm what we already know about Bridgewater's role in the Vikings offense. He isn't asked to do too much, just serve as enough of a threat to keep defenses from completely stacking the box against star running back Adrian Peterson.

Bridgewater had easy intermediate throws because the defense was always focused on Peterson. Bradford has never had the advantage of relying on a star running back. Perhaps with fellow Sooner Peterson lightening the load, Bradford can play more efficiently, especially on those intermediate throws. He also has good weapons on those throws in rising star receiver Stefon Diggs, hulking rookie receiver Laquon Treadwell, and big tight end Kyle Rudolph. The number one area of focus for Bradford should be reducing turnovers, because that's what made Teddy valuable to the Vikings' offense. It's not that Bridgewater makes plays or throws that Bradford can't, it's that Bridgewater makes fewer mistakes.

All the Vikings need Bradford to do is hand the ball to Adrian Peterson, complete a high percentage of a low number of throws for first downs, and protect the ball. That's the formula that got Minnesota to an 11-5 record, and one shanked Blair Walsh field goal away from the NFC divisional round. If Bradford can cut down the turnovers, there's no reason the Vikings can't replicate their success of a year ago. Whether Bradford is up to the task or not is the question. I don't think he was worth giving up a first round pick for, and neither do many people around the league. The former Heisman winner's professional career may be at stake. He'll have to rise to the occasion if he wants anyone to take him seriously as a starter going forward. Personally, I'll have to see it before I believe it.

Team USA Wins Gold

The U.S. Men's National Basketball team won the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medal Sunday with a dominating 96-66 win over Serbia. It was the culmination of a surprisingly arduous journey to the gold medal game, at least by U.S. standards. The U.S. faced three straight tough challenges in pool play, scrounging a 10-point victory against Australia, a three-point win over these Serbians, and a three-point win over France. Even in the semi-final, they only beat Spain 82-76. The Americans didn't play up to their label for most of the tournament.

That changed Sunday. The U.S. dominated, led by Kevin Durant's 30 points, 24 of which came in the first half. It seemed like we were heading for another underwhelming performance when the score was 19-15 after the first quarter, but the second period is when the Americans started to play their best basketball of the tournament. They dropped 33 and 27 points in the second and third quarters respectively, so that they were up by 36 points by the time the fourth quarter started. And the contest was decided well before then.

So what was the key to the U.S. unlocking its considerable potential? Defense. The Americans stifled the Serbs for three quarters, allowing less than 15 points in each of the first three periods. It was something you could predict based on the results of the previous two games. After giving up 92 points per game on 53% field goal percentage in pool play, here are their defensive numbers from the last three games:

                                                              Opp. Points                    Opp. FG %

Quarterfinal vs. Argentina                          78                                   38%

Semifinal vs. Spain                                     76                                   39%

Final vs. Serbia                                           66                                   38%


There were nowhere near as many stupid mental mistakes on defense that characterized pool play. The Americans had an energy on that end that was nowhere to be found before the Argentina game. They flew around the court, following the ball as a team as if they were all on a string. It was by far the most connected I've seen the team since its inception. There's no explanation except that they were finally motivated by the prospect of the gold medal that was just beyond their fingertips.

It's understandable that the team simply wasn't motivated to give maximum effort until today. It's a habit for Team USA to get lazy because they know they're so much better than everyone else. Still, I have to think there are better ways of constructing the team so that the games are more entertaining. Like I've said, a team of players 25-years-old and younger would make the tournament more competitive and give young players a chance to prove themselves. It would mean something to them.

But the biggest takeaway I got from today's gold medal game? I have been interpreting Carmelo Anthony wrong all along. For the longest time I've thought Melo was a selfish gunslinger who put money, fame, and his shots above team and winning. I thought he was your typical, self-absorbed star athlete. But the fact that he was the first current athlete to speak out about some of the issues in this country coupled with the role he filled on this team and who he's shown himself to be along the way have changed my opinion, just a little bit. 

After winning his third gold medal, Anthony got very emotional in his post game interview. 

"I committed to this in '04. I've seen the worst and I've seen the best. And I stuck with it. And we stuck with it. And I'm here today, three gold medals later. I'm just, I'm excited for me but also for the other guys who never experienced anything like this," Anthony said, tears streaking down his face.

You know what that tells me? That tells me Anthony has never been the wrong-headed guy I painted him to be. That means he does understand the importance of a team culture and that it matters to him. It means he might be willing to do what it takes to be a player on a championship team. Or maybe it means he'll be the perfect mentor to the new generation of New York Knicks. I don't want to say it means he's learned from his mistakes, because that would be unfair. Carmelo has always had a number of interests, from business to activism, and who am I to say what should and shouldn't be important to him?

So I say, congratulations to Carmelo Anthony, three-time gold medalist. You will always have your place as a champion of international basketball, and a legacy of forging your own path.

It's Easy To Be Uneasy About The Patriots Right Now

For 15 years, the New England Patriots have been the NFL's most stable franchise. Since 2001, they've never had a losing season and have missed the playoffs just twice, and in one of those seasons they became the second team in league history to go 11-5 and miss the playoffs. That season, 2008, was also the only one in which quarterback Tom Brady missed significant time since taking the starter's role in 2001, going down for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 1. Other than that season, New England fans have enjoyed unwavering stability from Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, and it's made for a lot of wins the past decade and a half.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that's about to end this season. I firmly believe the Patriots will make the playoffs for the eighth year running. It's just there's a little more room for doubt than there has been previously, for a couple of reasons.

Number one is, obviously, Brady's four-game suspension. It's never good to replace one of the league's best quarterbacks with an unproven youngster, but it's even worse when you consider the intricacy of the Patriots' offense and the young quarterback's projected performance within that. We've seen all the talented young receivers who have gone by the wayside because they couldn't think through their role in the offense. Imagine the pressure on a third-year QB who hasn't played any significant snaps as a pro to have to run the show for a quarter of the season.

Now let's zoom in on Brady's side of things. As long as he has been playing at such a high level, it does have to end at some point. Perhaps the year that Brady misses the first four weeks of the season without being able to practice with his teammates is the one in which he starts to show his age. The Patriots' offense is so based on timing and familiarity that four weeks of being unable to work with his targets may be impossible to overcome. But hey, he's Tom Brady. He does deserve the benefit of the doubt.

The other issue that has arisen is the same one that capsized the Patriots' 2015 campaign: injuries. Injuries to the receivers ruined their chances of getting the number one seed. Injuries to the offensive line destroyed their chances in the AFC Title Game against Denver. If you get enough bad injury luck, it's sure to derail any team's season, no matter how well prepared the players and coaching staff are. Patriots fans know that better than anyone.

The chief injury concern for Pats fans the last half-decade has been tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronk is a game-breaker with his ability to run block, route run, and make spectacular catches and even more spectacular runs after catches because of his frame and athleticism. When Gronk leaves the field, the Patriots aren't the same team. And that's happened a number of times since he was drafted in 2010. He's missed time or been hampered by injuries to his ankle, back, left arm, and knee, including an play where he tore his ACL and MCL and missed the rest of the 2013 season. Each time Gronk went out, the Patriots fell short of their Super Bowl aspirations.

Pats fans had to face that prospect again as Gronk was reportedly injured in practice Monday and proceeded to miss the next two practices. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports that Gronkowski just has a bruise on his waist above his left leg and that he will be fine. I exhaled when I read that, but Gronk's injury history is long and arduous. It's hard not to get nervous.

And Gronk isn't the only injury issue the Patriots are facing. DE Rob Ninkovich tore his triceps last week. He'll miss at least a few regular season games. Julian Edelman has had a few injury setbacks since getting surgery for the broken foot he suffered last season. Defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard has missed a few practices for a mysterious injury. There are a number of other injury concerns, but they may not end up being an issue. But Patriots' fans know all too well how injuries can decimate a season, like last year.

Anyway, none of these issues seems big taken individually. But when they're added together, and with a little bad luck, everything can crumble. In the past, New England has been able to weather the storm because they had Brady at quarterback. But he won't be there the first four weeks to save the day. And when he comes back, he may not be the same guy.

All I'm saying is it's fair to be a little worried about the 2016 Patriots.

Ranking the NBA's Christmas Day Games

The NBA released the schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 season, which of course includes the Christmas Day games. Christmas marks the real start of basketball season when fans start to focus a lot more on the game, so it's important to have good contests on the holiday. This year's slate is fun, with familiar faces in new places and an abundance of rivalries and story lines, even if it highlights the fact that only two teams really have a shot at the title this year. However, it is a holiday, which means you might be spending time with your family. If you need to know which games you should sneak away to the bathroom for, read on.

5) Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET.

I was kind of disappointed with how the Clippers' off-season went. They knew that the team they ran out there last year wasn't up to snuff against the league's best, yet they basically just brought everyone back. If you know your team isn't good enough to win a title, you need to go in a different direction. I suppose in a league where no job is safe, any GM would keep the chance to get a sure 50 wins and job security, but I feel this is just another example of Doc Rivers the GM hurting Doc Rivers the coach.

Meanwhile, the Lakers seem to be on the upswing. They finally got out from under the volume shooting, inefficient, $30 million corpse of Kobe Bryant, and drafted Brandon Ingram with the second overall pick. They now have a promising young core of Ingram, D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Jordan Clarkson. It pains me to say it, but it seems as though the Lakers have a bright future. I think they'll be a contender again in a few years, provided they play their cards right. But for this year, at least, they'll have to settle for getting knocked around by the Clippers in the late game on Christmas.

4) Chicago at San Antonio, 5 p.m. ET.

It's really very sad what's happened to Chicago since 2011. They were a contender, the best defensive team in the league, with the MVP as their point guard. Now they have Jimmy Butler, a past-his-prime Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, and not much else. Does that group sound like it can space the floor, share the ball, or coexist in any way? It doesn't to me. I suppose Wade coming home is a cool story, even if he would rather be in Miami (which he definitely does).

To be honest, most of the entertainment value of this game comes from the Spurs. They still have Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and coach Gregg Popovich, so they will be good again next year. I want to see if the team can get back to that style of ball movement that made them so much fun to watch before Aldridge's arrival. It will be weird and sad to watch San Antonio without Tim Duncan, but the Spurs are the Spurs. They'll find a way to get along without the Big Fundamental.

3) Boston at New York, noon ET.

It will be nice to have Christmas Day back at Madison Square Garden, hopefully with a somewhat relevant Knicks team. That venue is the best in the NBA, and a great way to kick off Christmas Day.

The Knicks should be improved over their 32-win record last season. They added Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah this off-season, which, alongside Carmelo Anthony, led to a lot of jokes about building a 2011 All-Star team. However, Rose can't possibly be worse than the point guards the Knicks had last year, and I think the Garden crowd will really enjoy Noah's signature hustle. Look for Melo to have a comeback year as he has appeared to be in top form and great shape early on in the Olympics.

Even though Boston didn't acquire the star they were looking for this off-season, they're still a contender for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Free agent signing Al Horford gives the Celtics the interior defender at the big that they've sorely lacked the last two years, while also projecting as a great fit in Brad Stevens' motion offense. By Christmas we may see the Celtics flourish as Cleveland's only real challenge in the East, and who knows, maybe the team will look completely different (hopefully for the better) by the time this game comes around.

2) Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 8:00 p.m. ET.

Now this is a fun one. Russell Westbrook will be appointment television all year as he goes on his inevitable "Screw KD, I'm going to win without him and get the MVP" tirade of thunderous dunks and triple-doubles. I'll also be intrigued to see how Victor Oladipo develops his game as Russ' assumed wingman, and the big man combination of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter against prodigy Karl-Anthony Towns should be great.

The Timberwolves are a team I'm really excited to see this year. Towns is a franchise player in the making, having just had the best rookie year since LeBron James. Andrew Wiggins is always liable to go off, have a few incredible highlight plays, or both. The same goes for Zach Lavine. And by this point, we should have an answer to the point guard conundrum around Ricky Rubio and talented rookie Kris Dunn.

It will be very interesting to see the new Thunder go up against the smoldering remains of the actual Thunder.

1) Golden State at Cleveland, 2:30 p.m. ET.

And, of course, the main event. The rematch of the last two Finals, only this time there's a small wrinkle; the Warriors have Kevin Freaking Durant. Durant vs. LeBron James is always a great match-up, but now that LeBron is the David to the Warriors' Goliath super team, it becomes that much more enticing. Cleveland is going to walk in the arena, with LeBron leading them, thinking "There is no
f— ing way they're leaving here with a win." Kyrie is going to relish the chance to dominate Stephen Curry again. The entire Cleveland team will be extra hungry and motivated.

However, the same goes for the Warriors. I can guarantee they're all pissed that they let that title get away after being up 3-1 in the series. Steph is going to want to prove that Kyrie doesn't have his number. Draymond Green is going to be in everyone's ear, motivating them, reminding them of what happened last year. And the pressure's already going to be on Kevin Durant to win with this team, aside from his less-than-stellar history against LeBron. When these teams get on the court, there is going to be bad blood, and it will make for great entertainment. You know, unless Golden State reaches it's final form by then and destroys everything in its path like Keyser Söze.

USA Basketball Under-25 Team

So I just watched the US Men's National Basketball Team beat Serbia 94-91. And they were lucky to escape, because they gave up two different looks from three in the final minute that would have tied the game. It wasn't exactly the performance you look for from the world's best collection of basketball talent, especially when you factor in that they should be playing for the pride of a nation.

This comes after another lackluster performance against Australia on Wednesday. The lack of energy has been apparent, and it's clear that the Americans believe they can just coast to the gold medal while giving minimal effort. That may have been entertaining with the Dream Team of 1992, but that's not the case for this year's team. It's not fun to watch a team that thinks it's better than it is take one-on-one isolation shots and suffer mental defensive lapses that result in lay-ups.

If we're not going to assemble the best team possible, let's go in the other direction: Make the Olympic and World Championship teams consist only of players 25-years-old and younger (credit to Bill Simmons for the idea).

I think this would help the entertainment value of Olympic basketball in a number of ways. Firstly, it would mean not all the players on the roster would be established stars who think they're the best player in the world, looking for their shots and working to their own agenda. They would be young, hungry players with something to prove and it would be great for their development to work with the best players in their age group. Plus, it would mean more US games would be competitive and entertaining as these young stars take on more experienced opposition.

So what would the current team look like if it was comprised only of players 25-years-old and younger?

STARTERS

PG: Kyrie Irving

SG: CJ McCollum

SF: Kawhi Leonard

PF: Anthony Davis

C: DeMarcus Cousins

BENCH

John Wall

Karl-Anthony Towns

Devin Booker

Rodney Hood

Jabari Parker

Avery Bradley

Harrison Barnes

I really like all of the players on this roster, except for maybe Barnes. They're all talented but with room to grow, which will be accentuated by the competition of playing against one another. Only Irving and Leonard played crucial roles on championship teams, which means everyone else should have something to prove (which, in turn, will motivate Irving and Leonard when everyone starts to go at them).

This team has the talent and athleticism to take home gold anyway. Shooting is necessary in the international game, but there are players on the roster who could rise to the occasion. And they would have a higher defensive energy and activity than the current team.

I would have a few worries about this team, however. One, it's traditional for Team USA to downsize in the Olympics and move everyone down a position. It's just what works best, because it creates tough match-ups for opposing big men against traditional small forwards who are big enough to battle in the paint, but quick and skilled enough to wreak havoc on the perimeter. But this line-up starts two bigs in Davis (the prototypical international center) and Cousins (who has never played great in international play), so if Boogie starts to lose it, Towns or Davis can take over the five spot. And there are a number of players who can play in that stretch four role in Leonard, Parker, and Barnes.

My other worry is that Kyrie will see it as his team and try to take over too much. Olympic basketball is about the team, and one of the reasons I want it to go U-25 is to get more movement offensively. If Kyrie starts pounding the ball in isolation without involving others, we have Wall to come in and run the offense.

Think about how much fun this team would be. We would get to see them grow and mature against more experienced competition. And the match-ups in practice everyday would be riveting. Kyrie vs. Wall? Towns vs. Davis vs. Boogie? McCollum vs. Booker? It would be so helpful for each player's development to be around these other great, young players. For the fans it would be a glimpse at the future of the NBA.

Look at that roster and tell me it wouldn't be more fun watching them than it is watching these current stars fish for their own shots. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for the US to face a little more competition and the threat of losing. This way is much more entertaining.

Jimmy Garoppolo: The Good, Bad, and Ugly, Preseason Week 1

This is the first in a series of posts I will do grading Jimmy Garoppolo's play in all of the games he starts at quarterback for the New England Patriots while Tom Brady is suspended. Tonight is the first chance Patriots' fans have had to get a look at how the 2014 second round pick performs when given the reigns of the offense, going up against the New Orleans Saints at home.

THE GOOD

Garoppolo showed the talent to be a good starting quarterback. After the first few drives, he displayed good timing, a strong arm, and a quick plant and release.

He displayed a strong connection with rookie WR Malcolm Mitchell, with whom he connected with on four receptions for 55 yards, including an impressive throw where he set the defense up by faking to the right, then driving the ball between defenders 24 yards down the field to the left. 

Garoppolo's accuracy also encouraged me, despite some shaky throws early on. There were a number of times where Garoppolo had to squeeze throws into very tight spaces and he rose to the occasion, particularly on a throw into the right corner of the end zone to RB James White that would have been a touchdown if not for a great play by the covering linebacker to strip it away.

Garoppolo also showed the ability that Brady doesn't have, which is athleticism to escape pressure in the pocket and gain yards as a scrambler. 

Garoppolo proved he could take a hit and keep playing, because he got popped a couple times early on and only got better. His toughness especially stood out to me on a screen pass to White that went for 56 yards and a near touchdown.

THE BAD

The number one negative that most have noted against Jimmy G? He holds on to the ball for two long. On the first drive he took a sack because he didn't sense the pressure and didn't throw the ball away in time. 

He cleaned it up after the first few drives, but with the way I think the Patriots' offensive line will struggle, he needs to make sure he's getting the ball out fast.

Although I just applauded Garoppolo's accuracy, the bad stuff I saw from him was mainly ball placement. The reason I still say his accuracy impressed me was because I think the plays I'm going to point out were mental errors instead of poor physical accuracy.

He had one throw that was important to me because it will be key to his success this season. On the second drive, he tried to hit TE Martellus Bennett over the top of the defense and under-threw him. We know how important tight ends are to New England's offense, and Bennett is 6'6, so there's really no excuse for under-throwing him.

On that same drive, Garoppolo had a scary throw to WR DeAndre Carter on a deep out to the right sideline. Garoppolo needed to put the throw all the way on the sideline, but left it a little inside, allowing the coverage to make a play on the ball and almost intercepting it. 

THE UGLY

The third drive was killed when Garoppolo was sacked for an astonishing 14-yard loss. He did well to escape initial pressure, but then he just kept going backwards, and well....

Needless to say, he can't do this against the Cardinals Week 1.

WRAP-UP

Garoppolo was very solid in his first action as starter. He went 11/18 for 168 yards. He began the game shaky, but gathered himself as the contest progressed, which is a good trait for a young QB. He showed that he can play with poise, and remember, he will have much better weapons during the regular season. If he plays like this the first four weeks of the season, the Patriots should be in position to make a playoff run when Brady returns.

What Klay Thompson Might Have Meant

It's the dog days of sports right now. It's that unfortunate time of year after NBA free agency has ended, before NFL preseason begins, when a sport with a 162-game regular season is the only major sport going on in America. So, to get through this rough patch, the sports media usually takes little quotes, events, and occurrences and blows them way out of proportion.

The latest subject of controversy is Klay Thompson. Last week, the Vertical published an article about what Thompson will have to sacrifice now that Kevin Durant will be added to the Warriors. Thompson, who is also Durant's current teammate on Team USA for the Summer Olympics, responded in an interesting way in this excerpt from the piece:

“'I feel kind of disrespected that people keep using the term sacrifice to describe me and describe us,' Thompson told The Vertical. 'We all want to see each other do well. But I’m not sacrificing [expletive], because my game isn’t changing. I’m still going to try to get buckets, hit shots, come off screens. I want to win and have a fun time every game we play.'

“'The NBA season can get mundane; 82 games are so long and there can be some boredom. Now, we can embrace being the hated team and getting everyone’s best, and adding some tension every night. It’ll be a fun experience going into arenas on the road, with opposing fans hating what we’ve built.'” 

After this Thompson was vilified by some in the press for being "selfish", and only thinking about the number of shots he's going to get. Others interpreted it as a professional shooter just wanting to maintain his role and what makes him so important to a historically great team. But there are more quotes from Thompson in the article that one has to take into account before judging his intentions.

"Three years ago, Thompson had entered the then-coaching staff’s office in training camp, posed with the possibility of filling a sixth-man role. The Warriors considered avenues to increase their bench scoring, and Thompson had conceded to the direction of the coaching staff. It ultimately never was even experimented, and the accolades – two All-Star appearances, a 3-point competition title – and one championship followed for him.

'Even back then, it never mattered to me about starting, coming off the bench or scoring 12, 15 or 20 points,' Thompson told The Vertical. “This league can get caught up in scoring, and caught up in the stars. I’ve really just wanted to keep the Bay a winner – we all do.'"

"'I wouldn’t have flown to New York when we met KD if it was about sacrificing,' Thompson told The Vertical. 'We knew what we wanted to do, and we talked it out.

'We want to do something historic.'”

That doesn't sound like a selfish player to me. His comments in the back half of the piece directly contradict that notion. But I also think he didn't mean it as a person who just wants to maintain his role on the team but is afraid that role may be in jeopardy. 

I think Thompson knows that, the way the Warriors offense runs, there isn't any ball-dominant player. You may say Stephen Curry, but he spends a ton of time coming off of off-ball screens, just like Thompson. I mean, just think of how many times the Golden State bench has gone off these last two years. That means the offensive scheme that coach Steve Kerr has implemented isn't predicated on one player, or even two running the show. The entire team generates the offense because they pass, cut, and shoot so well. Adding Durant to the mix doesn't mean Thompson necessarily loses touches. First of all, it means Thompson is going to be open a whole hell of a lot. But more importantly, Thompson knows that sometimes it's going to be his night to shine and sometimes it won't, just the same as it has been on this team the last two years.

So when Thompson said the "I'm not sacrificing (bleep)," line that was plastered all over ESPN for the following days, I don't think that was him consciously resisting a possible trend towards less shots for him. I think he was saying that he has such trust in the unselfish culture of ball movement and inclusion that Golden State has established, that he believes his game really won't have to change.

And honestly, why should it? Sure, Thompson has taken on more ball-handling duties the last two seasons, but that's still not a big part of his game. He may have to come off of less screens designed for him to shoot, but I think the amount of open spot-ups he'll get from the gravity of Durant and Curry on the court will make up some of the shot total. The loss of certain bench players from the team means he can make up his attempts from the ones they're leaving behind. And we know he's always going to compete defensively and guard the other team's best backcourt player.

So no, I don't think Klay Thompson is selfish, as evidenced by the quotes he had in the article about winning as a team. I think he's on a team that may be the greatest we've ever seen, and that he's aware that the Warriors will be able to include Durant without taking away from their incumbent stars because of their strong team culture and offensive philosophy. I just think Thompson was the latest victim of the 24-hour sports media's thirst for topics in the August heat.

My Five Favorite High School Basketball Mixtapes Ever

One of the things I like to do in my spare time, being a basketball nerd, is watching some of the basketball mixtapes the best high school prospects from around the country have on YouTube. The reason that I find this exercise so enjoyable is because these are guys with college and even NBA-level talent and aspirations, and they're going up against peers who have no way of competing with them, thus producing more incredible highlights. If you want to enjoy yourself watching people much more talented than you or I, read (and watch) on.

5) Cassius Stanley

This guy is in 9th grade in this video. 9th Grade! A freshman! Stanley is the sixth ranked prospect in the class of 2019, and you can see why. I've hardly ever seen anyone who can jump like Stanley does. His bounce is very similar to Gerald Green, because he just glides, staying up in the air forever. He basically spends the entire 2:48 of this video with his head at or above the rim. And if he's not doing that, he's breaking someone's ankles in the open court. And he's a freshman! He's only going to get better! My God.
Favorite Highlight: At the end of the video, 2:17, Stanley is alone in the open court and whips out a between-the-legs, two-handed reverse dunk. I mean, how much more athletic can the guy get?

4) Kwe Parker

Parker may have the most incredible natural vertical I've ever seen. He's 6'2 and he's doing stuff like this? Are you kidding me? The number of times that his whole forehead is above the rim is astounding. What's even more impressive is how much he can do with the ball in the air at his size. His hang time is what strikes me the most, because he can do so many things after he's hit his initial peak. Which brings me to...
Favorite Highlight: It's actually not his famous twisting, cupping, tomahawk dunk. It's at the 0:17 mark when he tips the ball to himself from left hand to right hand in the air and slams it down. Oh, and his neck is at the rim.

3) John Wall

The OG Hoopmixtape. I remember watching this as an 11-year-old with my friend Will, freaking out about the left-handed dunks, insane blocks, 360 lay-ups, etc. That type of variety is what sets the next three videos apart, because while it's fun to watch Parker and Stanley above the rim for 2 minutes, Wall combines that with crazy acrobatic passes and lay-ups and unfathomable ball handling and flashy rim protection.
Favorite Highlight: Okay, so I'm going to cheat a little bit here. I'm going to discuss three plays in this mixtape, but it's alright because they're all in succession in the video, which makes it about 20 times cooler. It all starts at 2:39, when he splits two guys around half-court, loses the ball, and regains control of it just in time to hit a guy with a 360 lay-up. Then he makes a pass to a teammate on the left-wing, who misses a three, only Wall comes out of nowhere to to throw the ball in from way above the rim. Then he somehow pulls out a between-the-legs, double behind the back, crossover move on this poor unsuspecting sucker who had the misfortune of guarding John Wall in high school. This video is the stuff of legends.

2) Aquille Carr

They say the crime rate went down in Baltimore when Aquille Carr played, and I believe it from his mixtape. If I knew some 5'6 guy was dunking, hanging in the air for eternity, and breaking ankles, I wouldn't be trying to jack a car, either. I can't even explain how Carr makes his body do the things on the tape. It's inimitable, it's mind-boggling. He changes direction so quickly and stays in the sky forever when he takes off. If you don't understand, just watch the video.
Favorite Highlight: At 1:27, Carr gets the ball in the backcourt and some genius getting back on defense decides to reach for the ball. Carr goes between his legs and behind his back to avoid his arm, and just to embarrass the poor guy even more, starts dribbling up the court between his legs in the most exaggerated, disrespectful way possible. Again, my words don't really do it justice, so watch the video if you're confused. It's not the craziest move he makes, but it shows the absolute contempt he had for his "competition".

1) Marcus Lovett Jr.

This isn't even Lovett's senior year tape (although that one is pretty cool, too). This is when Lovett was a sophomore, and it's incredible the how many ankles he shattered at such a young age. The number of defenders falling over due to Lovett's crazy handle makes it seem like a Life Alert video on steroids. Lovett's handle, even then, is reminiscent of Jamal Crawford, so it's no surprise he drops defenders to their knees and backsides regularly. The other thing I like about Lovett is that he's cocky and knows he can back it up. He starts out the video by nailing a three right in someone's mug and yelling "He can't guard me!" He follows that by making someone fall and then pointing at them with a contemptuous look and an arrogant shake of his head. You gotta love it.

Favorite Highlight: I love the one at the very end of the video where Lovett strings about 75 different moves together in a millisecond, but I'm going to pick the one at 0:13 where he hits a defender with a step-back crossover so vicious, it makes the poor kid fall to the floor with the power of a thousand suns. I'm surprised the kid got up. That's the brilliance of Lovett's handle; he's so good at going hard one way and being able to transition to another direction both seemingly and incredibly hard. He's just impossible for mere high school players to guard.

The Best and Worst Case Scenarios for the New England Patriots Without Tom Brady

The New England Patriots will be without Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games of this upcoming season as he serves his suspension for his "role" in the Deflategate scandal. I could go on all day about how bogus the punishment is in the first place, but that's not what this is about. Now that they know Brady will miss the first four games, the Patriots have to prepare to succeed in his absence.

The start to a season is very important in the NFL. If a team starts off well, it can give them momentum moving forward. If a team starts 1-3, it's very hard to recover and make the playoffs. So this time without Brady will be key if the Patriots want to have a shot at their fifth Lombardi Trophy. Here are the best and worst case scenarios for the Patriots' four games without Tom Terrific:

Best Case

The Patriots go 3-1. Back-up QB Jimmy Garoppolo assimilates into the offense well because of the weapons he has to throw to. Those weapons are led by the two-headed monster at tight end of Rob Gronkowski and the recently added Martellus Bennett. He also utilizes the great route running trio of wideouts in Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Danny Amendola. The X-Factor for the offense may be the return of halfback Dion Lewis, who tore his ACL in Week 9 last season after eight games of electrifying performance out of the backfield. Lewis gave the Pats a spark last season as the first back they've had in a while who could hold his own catching and running the ball, giving the offense some much needed variety. If Lewis gets back to his sharp-cutting, pace-changing self, the Patriots have a good chance to succeed, even without Brady.

Another key will be the offensive line. Brady was sacked 38 times last year, and the struggling, injured offensive line was the biggest reason the Pats fell to Denver in the AFC title game. New England spent a lot of time this off-season on the line, drafting Joe Thuney and Ted Karras, acquiring Jonathon Cooper in the Chandler Jones trade, and bringing back former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. This group will need to be better if the Pats want to start 3-1.

But most important is the defense. They won't get as much support from the offense, even if Garoppolo plays well. The defense has really good players, led by linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower and safety Devin McCourty. Coach Bill Belichick is a defensive mastermind, known to befuddle even the league's most prolific offenses. In the best case scenario, the defense plays at a top-five level and carries the team to that 3-1 mark. After the opening week game at Arizona, the Pats have the Dolphins, Texans, and Bills, all at home. Those are teams Belichick's defense usually dominates, especially at home.

Now, you'll notice my best case scenario doesn't have the Patriots undefeated after four weeks. I don't think the Patriots have much of a chance against Arizona Week 1; I might even pick against them if they had Brady. Arizona is just a really good team. Even if they did pull off a miraculous win that week, it would probably take so much out of them that they drop one of the other three games.

So that's the best case scenario for the Pats the first four weeks without Brady: 3-1. Now onto the...

Worst Case

The Patriots go 1-3. Garoppolo gets knocked around in Week 1 at Arizona, loses any confidence he might have had, and plays scared for another three weeks. He brings the team down because he's unable to make plays for his teammates. This wouldn't be a surprise; it's hard to succeed in your first few games as a starter. Gronk gets hurt, Edelman and Lewis struggle to come back from off-season surgeries. LaGarrette Blount doesn't take any pressure off Garoppolo with the run game. The off-season additions don't have the expected effect.

The offensive line continues to struggle against four talented defensive fronts. Coach Scarnecchia and the new line are still unsatisfactory to help Garoppolo gain confidence. In fact, they remove any possibility of Garoppolo playing well because he keeps getting lit up. In addition, they don't let Blount and Lewis get any traction on the ground.

Even in the worst-case scenario, the defense is above average, probably top-ten. It's just not good enough to carry the offense to wins. Belichick doesn't quite hit every decision right, bringing back memories of some of his blunders from last year.

Arizona embarrasses New England in Week 1 on Sunday Night Football. The last three games are close, but the opposition always pulls out a winning drive against a defense tired from supporting a struggling offense.

This scenario sounds bad, and it is. If the Patriots start 1-3, it will take all of Brady and Belichick's brilliance to bring the season back. But the Patriots have been too successful for the last 15 years to contemplate a 0-4 start. Belichick deserves more credit than that, so the worst I can give is 1-3.

If you want my prediction for the Patriots' record when Brady returns Week 5 against the Browns, I would say 2-2. I think they'll lose to Arizona and Houston, but pull out big divisional wins against Miami and Buffalo. I would be alright with that as a Patriots fan, and hopeful that Brady would come back with enough fury to lead the Patriots to the number one seed, and possibly another Super Bowl title.

Here's Why the Timberwolves Are the Next Thunder

Come back to 2010 with me. Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" is the year's hottest song, "Lost" is finishing it's final season, and "Toy Story 3" is the highest-grossing movie (God, that was a long time ago). Also, a potential dynasty is blossoming in Oklahoma City, as the young tandem of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook lead the team to the playoffs and a surprisingly competitive six game series with the defending (and eventual) champion Los Angeles Lakers. And that series could have gone seven, as evidenced by the one-point margin in the deciding Game 6.

The optimism around the early Thunder was incredible. They were young, they were talented, they were athletic, and they were relentless, as shown in the below video.

I mean, just remember watching that version of the Thunder. Weren't they so exciting? Didn't you want them to succeed? Even if you were a fan of another team, weren't you drawn to what was going on in Oklahoma? After hitting on Durant, Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and James Harden in three consecutive drafts, OKC was seen as the next great team and the model for how to build a potential dynasty through the draft.

The subsequent failures and ultimate demise of OKC is a different topic for another day. Think about that team before three of their four core pieces took off one-by-one. They were set for the future because they had a once-in-a-generation combination of young talent on one roster.They were ready to be in the Finals for the next seven years.

I miss that team. I miss how fun they were to watch. I miss seeing them grow and mature as players from year to year. I miss the growing pains in the playoffs against the Lakers and the Mavericks. Now that the team has really imploded, I look back at the 2010 Thunder like the opening act of a Greek tragedy. They missed so many opportunities to become the defining team of the era, whether it be through fault of their own (the Harden trade) or things they couldn't control (injuries to Westbrook/Durant). It bums me out that they didn't realize their full potential.

But you know what softens the blow just a little bit? The Thunder have a bit of a clone building here up north. That's right: For the first time in a while, people have reason to fear the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Let's break this down, building block by building block. The Thunder had Durant, completely unique offensive force, 7-footer who can shoot and handle the rock, long-limbed athlete. The Wolves have Karl-Anthony Towns, most versatile center ever to come out of the draft, able to do anything on the floor, moves like a guard, defends and finishes at the rim like the behemoth he is. He averaged 18 PPG, 10 RPG, 2 APG and almost 2 BPG as a rookie.Towns has a chance to be a top-five player ever, and I don not say that lightly. He will win multiple MVP's in his career barring injury or historic fall from grace.

Next up, the Thunder had Russell Westbrook, a beast of an athlete with unbridled intensity. Andrew Wiggins doesn't have the same ferocity that Westbrook does, but you can bet he's right there athletically. And while some have questioned his motivation at times, all you need to do is look at how well he always plays against the Cavaliers, the team that traded him for Kevin Love. He has that fire inside, he just needs to figure out how to turn it on when he needs it.

Next, both teams had young, dynamic ball handlers who spent a significant amount of time coming off the bench: Harden for OKC, Zach LaVine for MN. This isn't a great comparison because I don't think LaVine could become an MVP candidate anytime soon. But he's an incredible athlete who can carry the offense if Towns and Wiggins are off that night.

And then, of course, there's this.

Other young talent on the Wolves include big man Gorgui Dieng and wing Shabazz Muhammad, both of whom have the ability to be good role players on this upcoming team. But there are two players on the roster who could help enable these young studs to become the next Thunder.

Ricky Rubio is the perfect point guard to help guys build confidence at the NBA level. He gets his guys so many easy looks and lives to make others better. I think he'll be especially helpful in helping Wiggins find his scoring niche in the NBA. Rubio will be able to hit Wiggins in the spots he likes most and direct him away from areas he's less successful in. Maybe Rubio can even teach LaVine a little about being a pure point guard so LaVine can add that to his skills.

But most importantly, if you could pick someone to mentor Towns, it would be Kevin Garnett. Towns is like KG if KG could shoot threes, although minus the intensity. Towns is already a great team player, and the lessons Garnett gives about teamwork and unselfishness should carry over to the rest of the team.

Which brings me to the final, and possibly most encouraging connection between the 2010 Thunder and the current day T-Wolves. The young Thunder loved playing with each other, fed of each other's talent and athleticism, and enjoyed every minute of their time on the court together. That's something I get from these Wolves. Sure, they have a lot of talent, but if they don't enjoy each other as teammates, they're never going to be championship contenders. But that's not the case.

I got the chance to interview Tyus Jones in March. We went to the Wolves practice facility towards the end of their practice. When it ended, everyone split off to do individual work. Except Towns and LaVine. They went to one of the baskets and started playing one-on-one, but the only shots they would take were contested 30-footers off the dribble. They were having so much fun with each other, and whenever something noteworthy happened, the entire gym would be engaged. One time when LaVine hit a particularly tough shot, Towns ran off in disbelief (nearly killing me and my friend in the process) while Wiggins chimed in from across the gym sporting his signature wide grin. It was awesome to see the camaraderie the team had developed in such a short amount of time, and it let me know that the team was definitely going places sooner rather than later.

The talent Minnesota has assembled is a great foundation, but the players have followed up by making it a real team atmosphere. If the Wolves can keep up what they have right now, the entire league better be on notice about the kids from up north.

Would Larry Bird Be Able to Play in Today's NBA?

Even though I never got to see him play, Larry Bird is my favorite player ever. I think part of the reason I love the Legend so much is that I saw someone who dominated my favorite sport who didn't have world class athleticism. He overpowered opponents with his mind to make up for a lack of foot speed, quickness, or leaping ability. When Bird retired, he was revered as possibly the greatest all-around player ever because of how he was always a step ahead of the other team.

But as the NBA has gotten more athletic, mostly due to improved training knowledge and technology, some have raised the question: Would Bird be able to play in today's uber-athletic league? My answer is a yes and I am incredulous that the question has been legitimately asked.

I agree that it's hard to imagine Bird guarding small forwards like LeBron James or Kevin Durant because he just doesn't have the foot speed to handle them. But in today's game, Bird wouldn't play the three. He would move to the four, and maybe even the five in certain line-ups. Imagine Bird as a stretch four, picking defenses apart with his passing and long-range shooting. That's what I see for him in the game today.

Also, Bird would benefit greatly from modern work-out regimens. These days, he would have Pilates to save his ailing back, and he would pay someone to shovel stone for his mother's driveway, which is when he hurt his back in the first place. His career would have lasted longer.

I think the question of if Bird could play comes from when people see his athletic ability and (possibly) his skin color and assume his success was a product of his era. Well that's stupid because the eighties might have been basketball's greatest era. There's just no question Larry Bird could survive and thrive in the league now. The NBA is completing its transition back to ball movement and team play as the way to win after the nineties ushered in an era of isolation play around one great scorer. That ball movement is what Bird killed people with. His vision was incredible and it would fit so well today. He would live to make everyone around him better, and take over with his scoring when he needed to.

I know this is an extreme example because the Warriors have two of the greatest shooters ever, but imagine Bird in the low post in the Warriors post split action, featured from 4:30-6:13 in this video.

(By the way, how scary are the Warriors going to be next year? Yikes.)

Bird's passing and scoring out of the post would make this play lethal if he had two good shooters around him. He could do this type of thing for any team today.

If you want a projection of Larry Bird today, think Kevin Love during the 2014 season when he averaged 26 PPG and 12 RPG, only an exponentially better passer, smarter and more capable defender, and better team leader. I would take that guy on my team. I'm taking Larry Bird.

The Possible Russell Westbrook/Boston Pairing

There have been recent reports that the Boston Celtics are targeting Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook for a trade. Westbrook is one of the league's best five players, but Kevin Durant's Independence Day departure puts his future in Oklahoma City in serious doubt, especially considering that he becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season. Sam Presti can't afford to lose another star for nothing, so unless he can get Westbrook to resign, look for Presti to deal the final part of Oklahoma City's once promising past.

I'm a Boston fan, so you can see why I'm excited at the possibility of getting a player like Westbrook. There's never been anyone who pairs unrelenting ferocity with otherworldly athleticism quite like Russ. And the Celtics need a star to get them over the hump in the East. With Westbrook on board, it almost doesn't matter who they give up, they will be the opponent the Cleveland Cavaliers need to worry the most about in the East.

However, adding Russ to the Celtics is a bit more complex than plugging in a great player to a great organization. Firstly, the Celtics have based their recent modest success on team play and total involvement, due to their lack of a transcendent talent. This is one reason they should go after Westbrook, but they would have to ensure that Westbrook's omnipresence doesn't overtake the team concept that has helped Boston overachieve in the first place. Because let's be honest; I love Russ, but he can be a ball-hog. It doesn't come from a selfish place, he just wants to win so badly and thinks that he needs to take over for his team sometimes. But his indomitable will to win is something anyone loves from a player.

That's especially true for Boston fans. Celtics fans are some of the smartest and most passionate in the league. They've rooted for guys who play the right way, from Bill Russell to Dave Cowens to Larry Bird to Kevin Garnett, and supported them all the way. The fans will love Westbrook once they experience his unquenchable thirst for victory, but the fans aren't who I'm worried about.

As Bill Simmons described it, the Boston media is a conglomerate of old, grumpy white guys. I'm not sure how well they'd take it the first time Westbrook went 8-for-30 from the field, or the first time he showed up at a press conference with clothes that made him look like a fourth grader who took a bad dare. What about the first time he lights up a reporter for what he feels to be a stupid question? All of the OGWG's would go crazy.

Maybe some of the issues the Boston media have had with connecting with divisive black athletes goes back to the troubling race relations the city has had going back to the busing desegregation riots in the 1970's. Boston has been described as a racist city at times. I wouldn't go so far as to generalize something as horrible as racism for an entire city, but the writers there seem to have a particularly hard time coexisting with black athletes.

That isn't how it has to go, though. I think the best case scenario, if Westbrook did go to Boston, is what happened with Garnett when he joined the team in 2007. Garnett, whose intensity rivals Westbrook's, ended up thriving in Boston, and the writers appreciated his team focus, especially on the defensive end. That could happen for Westbrook too, but only if he performs well. If he plays like an MVP candidate and the Celtics win, the writers will not have anything to say. Winning cures everything, even grumpiness. But the media are liable to roast Westbrook the first time and every time he does something they don't like, and with Westbrook's pride level, that could start a long and slippery slope towards terrible media relations in Beantown. Westbrook is more than capable of providing ammunition for the media to get angry at him.

And now a quick dive into the wormhole of Russell Westbrook hating the media:

At the 0:45 mark of this clip, Westbrook flat out tells a reporter he doesn't like him:

(Video from asapviralz)

In this video, Russ shows why he has been called "The Marshawn Lynch of the NBA":

(Video from djvlad) 

And finally, my favorite act of Westbrook disdain:

(Video from djvlad)

It's not the worst thing in the world if Westbrook doesn't get along with the media in Boston. It would just be an annoying story line. It won't change the fact that he would be the perfect player for the team because he gives them a star talent  and the city because every fan would get behind him. If the Celtics can get the guy knowing they can keep him long-term, they should do it.

U.S. Olympic Basketball Roster Minutes Breakdown

The United States Men's Basketball team will descend on Rio, Brazil this August for the Olympics. This year's team is very intriguing, missing many of the NBA's signature star players. This smaller talent disparity means there may be questions as to who should play the most and the least. In games with 10 minute quarters, the team total should be 200 minutes. Think of this under the circumstances of a game where the U.S. gets more than it expected from an opponent and needs to play everyone the right amount to ensure a win.

ROTATION:

Starters:
Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins

Bench:
Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Carmelo Anthony, Kyle Lowry, DeAndre Jordan, DeMar DeRozan, Harrison Barnes.

Kevin Durant: 30 minutes.
Durant is the star of this team. He's the best scorer and the most versatile player in the NBA, which makes him indispensable on a team with such talent because he can fit with any four on the court. If the U.S. faces an unexpected challenge in Rio, Durant needs to be on the court as much as possible.

Paul George: 28 minutes
George is similar to Durant in that his skill set can fit around any line-up, but that versatility is felt more defensively and athletically for George than offensively as it is for Durant. George lets everyone around him do what they do best because he'll contribute in every way from lockdown defense to long-range shooting.

DeMarcus Cousins: 28 minutes
Team USA only has three players who played the majority of their minutes at the two big men spots during the season, so it's that much more important that Cousins play his best. Boogie is possibly the most talented big man in the league, but he needs to keep his head on straight and contribute in any way he can to the team if he wants to keep the starting spot permanently.

Klay Thompson: 23 minutes
Thompson is the X-Factor on this team. When he's shooting his best, he should play more in the 30-minute range, because that's when Team USA will destroy everything in their path. If not, he's still a great defender and his liability to go off keeps the defense honest.

Kyrie Irving: 20 minutes
Team USA is stacked with wings, which leaves the point guards and centers as (relative) weaknesses. Kyrie just had an awesome Finals, so he has to be riding high. Let's hope he doesn't use his recent success as grounds to continue his habit of pounding the ball for 20 seconds and throwing up isolation jumpers. This is a crucial time for Kyrie. If he plays the way we know he can, using his otherworldly playmaking for himself and others, the Cavs may hand him the offense next year as LeBron begins his decline. This tournament may be a sneak-peak of Kyrie's future.

Draymond Green: 20 minutes
Draymond is another guy whose value is shown most in his versatility, as shown by his role with Golden State. But there's a difference between Draymond's versatility and that of Durant and George: he can become the de facto point guard if the Irving/Lowry duo is struggling or in foul trouble, even if he's technically playing center. His ability to create for his teammates is essential to a team with little creating guard depth.

Jimmy Butler: 16 minutes
On a not so wing-centric team, Butler would get more minutes. If Karl-Anthony Towns replaced Klay Thompson, for example, Butler would play around 23 minutes. Because of the roster lay-out, however, Butler will get lost in the shuffle a little bit. That's too bad, because Butler can help the team in multiple ways, especially with his bulldog defense.

Carmelo Anthony: 16 minutes
Melo is one of USA basketball's most decorated players. What he lacks in NBA team success, he makes up for in international play, as he's looking for a third Olympic gold medal. However, he's no longer a signature star, as age and injuries have sapped enough of his ability to justify removing him from the starting lineup. But he's been the old head of this team through exhibition play, a leader, and his example is important for some of the first time guys to follow.

Kyle Lowry: 9 minutes
Lowry may have to play more minutes than this if Coach Krzyzewski wants a point guard on the court at all times, but he isn't a big minutes talent on this team. He'll fit in, but he doesn't really deserve to play a whole lot.

DeAndre Jordan:8 minutes
Jordan is another player who may have to play more than I think he should due to the lack of depth at his position. However, Cousins and Green can always play center, and I think Coach K should even go to Durant at center occasionally, so there isn't a ton of pressure on Jordan to play big minutes. He will have incredible highlights, some bone-headed decisions, and should be a net positive for the team because he sticks to what he's good at: finishing at and defending the rim.

DeMar DeRozan: 2 minutes
DeRozan comes in if the other wings get tired and in foul trouble. He can give an athletic boost of energy and perhaps one of his crazy dunks can create some momentum, but he's inferior to the plethora of wings on this roster.

Harrison Barnes: 0 minutes.
Sorry Harrison, but that Finals performance showed me you're not ready for prime time yet.

Kevin Durant's Decision and Player Legacies

As I've mentioned many times before, I'm obsessed with player legacies across sports. I'm convinced that Super Bowl XLIX clinched Tom Brady's status as greatest QB ever. I know for a fact that Derek Jeter is overrated by every fan who says he's one of the best 10 baseball players ever just because he won five World Series. And for me, none of Karl Malone's 36,928 career points matter as much as the two he left on the table when he missed two free throws in the final moments of Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals. On the flip side, the shot that Michael Jordan hit to win that game is an example of what made him the greatest to ever play. Stuff like that is what brings me back year after year.

And that's why Kevin Durant's decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to form a super team on the Golden State Warriors really bothered me. Like REALLY bothered me. To me, there's nothing as respectable as being the best guy on a championship team, the guy who leads others by example and lifts everyone's game until they reach the promised land.

We've always known that KD had that type of ability. He's a completely unique talent. He was the youngest scoring champion in league history. He's seven feet tall with the athleticism and ball handling ability of a guard and he can pull up from 30 feet. Nobody in the NBA has ever been quite like him. He's like George Gervin if the Iceman was seven feet tall and could shoot from anywhere.

This playoffs, KD unlocked the two-way ability he's hinted at since his stint at Texas. He's always been an unbelievable scorer, but in the series against the Spurs and Warriors, we saw Durant become a versatile force, scoring, distributing, and using his once-in-a-generation physical tools to guard every position defensively. He would switch out onto Stephen Curry, force Curry to give it up, then recover to stuff a Warrior at the rim.

There was one play in Game 4 against Golden State that has become a bit of an internet sensation among NBA nerds. Durant switched onto Curry up top, contained him, and forced a pass to the right wing. As Curry set a screen for Shaun Livingston, Durant switched with Andre Roberson onto Livingston cutting to the basket. The ball went to the corner and then down low to Draymond Green, who was able to muscle Russell Westbrook out of the way and moved to the rim. Durant rotated over, jumped to force Green to drop it off to Livingston. Durant somehow lands, and immediately lifts off of two feet to stuff Livingston at the rim. It was an incredible display of athletic fluidity by a guy with all the tools to be the best player in the league on both sides of the ball.

And now he's joining the team that just set the record for wins in a regular season. A team that, up until they went up against Durant's Thunder, looked unstoppable without Durant. Don't compare this to LeBron James' Decision in 2010. The Heat had to completely dismantle their roster just to put two other really good players around LeBron. The Heat won 47 games the year before LeBron went there. The Warriors won 73 games last year, and don't have to destroy their team as much as the Heat did that first year with LeBron.

I'm just really disappointed that Durant copped out like that. And not just because my Celtics were apparently his second choice. We saw that he could be the best player on a championship-caliber team. I want Durant to become that guy, but now I feel like whatever he wins is tainted by the fact that he had to join an all-time team to do it.

The only way that Durant could salvage this and maintain the possibility of being a top ten player all time is if he takes control of this Warriors team, becomes their best player and leader, and leads them to four or five straight titles. And he has to be the go-to guy, the leader by example for all of them. LeBron had to take control of the Heat to push aside the narrative that he was too weak to win one of his own accord. Durant has to do more because he's joining such a great team.

To me, narrative is everything in sports, especially in basketball. Bill Russell was better than Wilt Chamberlain because he was all about winning and Wilt was all about stats, which showed up in their head to head record. Michael Jordan is the greatest ever because he constantly came through on the biggest stage when he needed to most. Magic Johnson solidified himself as a top-five guy with the killer baby hook to go up 3-1 on my Celtics in 1987. Until Durant does something incredible with the Warriors, like being Finals MVP for the only four-peat by a non-Celtics team, he won't be able to cast aside the narrative that he didn't earn his place among the greats. At least not in my mind.

2016 NBA Mock Draft First Round

It's that time of year again: the NBA Draft is upon us. The Finals have just finished and everyone is looking toward the future, starting with Thursday night. This is the time of year when greatness is distinguished from bad decision-making, when bad teams set themselves up for the future, and good teams try to find that missing piece.

Let me be clear. This is not what I think is going to happen on Thursday. This is purely what I think each team should do. Also, the draft is hard enough to predict as it is without accounting for trades, so I am saying what each team should do at their current draft pick(s). Let's go.

1) Philadelphia: Ben Simmons, F, LSU, 6-10, 240 lbs.

MEMO TO THE 76ERS: DON'T OVERTHINK THIS!!! A lot of people have been picking Simmons apart since he opened this year as the clear cut number one prospect. Analysts have harped on his bad jump shot, how he seems to fade in and out of games, and his lack of team success at LSU. The reason LSU missed the tournament this year wasn't Ben Simmons. It was the lack of talent around him and the God awful coach who had no idea how to run his team. Simmons is a hulking mass of talent at with great athletic gifts and a passing gene rarely found in someone his size. Kawhi Leonard couldn't shoot in college either. Now look where he is. The point is, don't sleep on Simmons.

2) LA Lakers: Brandon Ingram, F, Duke, 6-9, 195 lbs.

Ingram has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant throughout the year due to his build and skills, which isn't really fair to Ingram. Nobody should expect him to be one of the NBA's all-time scorers, but Ingram has a ton of value for the league's current style. He's long (7-3 wingspan) and athletic with the ability to shoot from range and create his own shot if need be. He showed the ability to move his feet and play solid defense as well as rebound, so if he puts some bulk on his frame he could be a perfect four as his career progresses. He is very skinny, and his strength level can prevent him from getting to the rim and finishing through contact. He's the clear number two prospect in my eyes, and this Celtics fan is very angry that the Lakers will get the only other player in this draft with legit star power.

3) Boston: Jamal Murray, SG, Kentucky, 6-5, 201 lbs.

This was basically the hardest pick I had to make. There are a number of players who could go here, and none of them really fit what the Celtics need: a superstar. The Celtics just missed out on their chance at a star in this draft and will now most likely have to trade this pick. I certainly would try to trade the pick if I was Danny Ainge. But those are not the rules of this article. I have to make a pick for Boston, and I'm going with Jamal Murray. The Celtics were ranked 28th in three point percentage, and Murray is right behind Buddy Hield for best shooter in the draft. Murray can also create for himself and others in the half-court, something the Celtics struggled with when Isaiah Thomas hit the bench. Murray's defensive and athletic issues can be hidden by Boston's strong team perimeter defense and the brilliance of head coach Brad Stevens. It isn't a perfect fit, but if the Celtics stay at three they should go with Murray.

4) Phoenix: Marquese Chriss, PF, Washington, 6-10, 233 lbs.

Phoenix is desperate for front-court players, and after Simmons and Ingram, Chriss may be the next best possibility. He's an elite leaper with good mobility and lateral quickness, a must-have for big men in today's league of defensive versatility. He's great at timing blocked shots and offensive rebounds. He also possesses a wide offensive skill set, able to shoot the three, attack from the perimeter, face up in the post, and finish lobs very well. He isn't consistent on defense or in defensive rebounding, but that can come with coaching. Chriss is one of the few players in the draft with star potential after the first two picks.

5) Minnesota: Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma, 6-5, 212 lbs.

Forget that he's a senior. Forget that he'll be a rookie who is older than your three core players. Forget that he isn't a great athlete and didn't play a ton of defense in his college career. Buddy Hield can play, and he is the absolute perfect fit on the T-Wolves. Hield is the best shooter in the draft and the Wolves need shooters around penetrators Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine. He can also drain kick outs from star center Karl-Anthony Towns on post-ups. Minnesota was ranked 25th in the league in three-point shooting, something Hield can immediately help with. Hield has ability to create his own shot and won't have to worry about defense as much with Towns anchoring that end of the floor. Minnesota has to pull the trigger on this one.

6) New Orleans: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence, 6-4, 205.

The Pelicans really just needed legit NBA players last year, as they were destroyed by injuries that left them on the outside of the playoff picture. Dunn is one of the most complete, NBA-ready guys in the draft, and is by far the best point guard. He has almost everything you want from a PG: elite size (6-9 wingspan) and athleticism, shiftiness with the ball, ability to finish at the rim. The guy can make every pass there is to make and would live to set up Anthony Davis for easy looks. He's an inconsistent shooter but can make threes in spot-up and off the dribble situations. He can also defend really well because of his physical tools, despite battling consistency issues.

7) Denver: Dragan Bender, PF, Croatia, 7-1, 225 lbs.

Denver doesn't really have a definite need. They're rebuilding and probably looking for the best player on the board, perhaps with an emphasis on high upside. Bender has his questions: he didn't get many minutes with Tel Aviv, has a very narrow frame with little strength, and battled inconsistency on his jumper. Most importantly, his strength limits him from having an impact around the rim offensively, defending down low, and on the defensive glass. Many try to compare him to Kristaps Porzingis, but Bender lacks the explosiveness that allowed Porzingis to dominate the offensive boards this year with highlight put-back slams. However, Bender is a very fluid player for his size. He moves really well and this mobility in conjunction with his length could make him a great big man defender at the next level. Just in this Finals, we saw Tristan Thompson be able to switch onto Stephen Curry and hold his own one-on-one. I could see Bender being able to do that down the road. I also like Bender's ability to see the floor and make good passes at his height.

8) Sacramento: Jaylen Brown, SG/SF, California, 6-7, 223 lbs.

Brown at eight is good value for the Kings. He fits a need, as the Kings should be trying to find capable wings so Rudy Gay can move to his perfect fitting PF spot. Brown is an explosive athlete in a great body type for an NBA wing. He can elevate and finish strong at the rim in transition and play superb defense when motivated as a result of his world class physical tools. Brown struggles to make plays off the dribble and is a spotty shooter, but his shooting can be remedied with time and hard work. It's up to him to put in that work. I hate to send what seems like such a nice and thoughtful guy to the Kings, but hey, it's the NBA.

9) Toronto: Henry Ellenson, PF/C, Marquette, 6-11, 242 lbs.

The Raptors were able to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this year, the most successful season in franchise history. They did have one glaring weakness, however: they didn't have a single big man who could really face up and hit a jump shot. This is necessary in today's NBA, especially at the PF. Ellenson may not have the quickness to always play the four, but he's a strong body and certainly gives the Raptors the added dimension of a big man with touch out on the perimeter with a little bit of handle. His athleticism doesn't lend to ideal defense, however.

10) Milwaukee: Jakob Poeltl, C, 7-1, 239.

I'll admit it freely: Poeltl doesn't exactly fit the mold of the ideal center in the NBA moving forward. He's somewhat big and hulking and although he moves pretty well, he doesn't have the type of defensive versatility that Tristan Thompson just showed as necessary for the center position. His horrid performance against Domantas Sabonis in the tournament is a worry for Poeltl's transition to consistently playing against players at his talent level. But as I said, he moves pretty well and can play above the rim (allowing him to be a roll man and not just a post-up guy), he's efficient offensively and solid as an interior defender and rebounder. The Bucks need someone to anchor the middle on both ends.

11) Orlando: Skal Labissiere, PF/C, Kentucky, 7-0, 216.

Labissiere is somewhat similar to Myles Turner when he came out of Texas a year ago: very talented, athletic and mobile, touch on the perimeter coupled with defensive upside, underwhelming college performance. Labissiere is a more extreme example, as he averaged just 6.6 PPG at Kentucky in very limited minutes. There are worries about Labissiere's toughness, also similar to Turner. Well, Vogel had great success with Turner in Indiana, who made the All-Rookie Second Team. I wouldn't necessarily expect that from Labissiere, but if anyone should take a stab at Skal's potential it's Orlando, who hired Vogel in May.

12) Atlanta: Wade Baldwin, G, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 202.

Baldwin has incredible length (6-10 wingspan) and build which allows him to play the type of suffocating defense that can really help an NBA team. Atlanta traded PG Jeff Teague for this pick, so it follows they would take a guard to replace him. Baldwin doesn't have that much in the way of ball skills and playmaking, but he's an athletic, dynamic force with the chance at succeeding at the next level.

13) Phoenix: Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Gonzaga, 6-10, 231.

Sabonis isn't a high-upside guy, but the Suns (hopefully). already got their high flyer in Chriss  Sabonis will be able to contribute at the NBA level because he's strong, pretty mobile, and has a high motor. His limited wingspan and explosiveness are a bit concerning, but after watching him decimate Poeltl in that tournament game, I have fewer reservations about Sabonis being able to handle players bigger than him. The guy can really rebound on both ends, gives toughness and emotion, can hit the open shots he'll get around talented guards, and even has a little of the passing gene his father Arvydas showed during his time in the league.

14) Chicago: Deyonta Davis, PF/C, Michigan State, 6-11, 237.

Davis might be one of my favorite players in the draft. This article has been a love-fest on Tristan Thompson's defensive versatility from the Finals, and I think Davis fits that mold perfectly. He's long, athletic, and really fluid. He can switch on the PnR and has great instincts as a rim protector. Another similarity to Thompson is that Davis moves well offensively as well, with the ability to play above the rim, catch lobs, and has the touch to make some of those floaters that took Thompson to another level offensively this playoffs. He's not a polished offensive big man, but that isn't really necessary anymore.

15) Denver: Dejounte Murray, PG/SG, Washington, 6-5, 170.

Murray is a straight-up athlete. He can fly down the court, has long arms, and can finish above the rim. He's really shifty with the ball in his hands and can make a consistent floater. His shot isn't broken, but it goes along with his decision-making as a playmaker in the category of "Needs Work." The Nuggets would do well to grab him as he could turn into a great secondary guard down the line.

16) Boston: Timothe Luwawu, SG/SF, France, 6-7, 205.

Luwawu is similar to Murray: he's an incredible, long athlete. Luwawu can finish above the rim from well outside the charge circle, liable to take off from anywhere. His physical tools can help him with his consistency issues on defense, but the decision-making and shooting just isn't there for him to create at an NBA level. Boston has so many players on their roster and so many picks left to make, that snagging a foreign prospect they can stash for a little while is probably a good option.

17) Memphis: Malachi Richardson, SG, Syracuse, 6-6, 200.

With the very real possibility of Mike Conley leaving in free agency, the Grizzlies' needs are playmaking and shooting in the backcourt. Richardson can provide both along with the length to help him become a better defender. Richardson is a streaky shooter who also casts up a lot of iso jumpers, but he's the best the Grizzlies are going to do at 17.

18) Detroit: Denzel Valentine, SG/SF, Mischigan State, 6-6, 210.

Valentine's stock has dropped due to an apparent knee issue, but that shouldn't stop the Piston's from going for the local talent. Valentine has superb offensive versatility as a big guard who can pass very well and shoot when need be. He basically ran MSU's offense last year as the number one creator on a top-five team, so he was facing the best the other team had to offer every night. His knee issue combined with his existing athletic limitations are worrisome, but can be helped in Detroit by the athletic force that is Andre Drummond. Drummond will help minimize Valentine's defensiveissues and give Valentine a great lob man off the PnR.

19) Denver: Juan Hernangomez, PF/SF, Spain, 6-9, 220.

Recent reports are that Denver is trying to trade Kenneth Faried to Minnesota. Depending on if they complete the deal who they get back, the Nuggets may want a player who replaces some of Faried's athleticism. Hernangomez can do some of that and add more offensive versatility to the mix. He's a very fluid athlete who jumps well and can play above the rim, similar to Faried. He is also liable to make a jumper (spot-up or pick-and-pop), attack the rim (cuts and on closeouts), can pass, and brings some of Faried's rebounding talent. Hernangomez brings similar defensive struggles to Faried but lacks the same game-breaking athleticism.

20) Indiana: Taurean Prince, SF/PF, Baylor, 6-8, 220.

Prince would be a very good fit on the Pacers. He has athleticism and length, which would allow him to play the four and help switch onto guards. He has the shooting ability and strength to be a viable stretch four alongside Paul George, and even brings a little of-the-bounce shot-making to the table. He won't have to create that much with the Pacers running their offense through George and the newly acquired Jeff Teague, which is good because that's where he can get into trouble.

21) Atlanta: Ante Zizic, C, Croatia, 7-0, 250.

The Hawks need someone who can contribute almost right away, especially if Al Horford leaves in free agency. The number one factor in rookie big men being successful is high motor, which allows them to beat the opposition to rebounds and compete on defense. Zizic is the essence of maximum effort. He's a great rebounder because he's always going hard. He has some physical tools that would allow him to play some defense as well, and he can learn from Tiago Splitter on how to be a more sophisticated offensive big man.

22) Charlotte: Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Turkey, 6-7, 185.

The Hornets could be losing both of their small forwards in Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist this offseason. Korkmaz doesn't have the build to play the traditional small forward, but with the way the league is downsizing, he could play the other wing spot alongside the host of shooting guards on Charlotte's roster. Korkmaz can shoot and make plays for himself and others as a fluid athlete. He isn't a good defender and struggles to finish in the paint, but no prospect is perfect, especially at this point in the draft.

23) Boston: Ivica Zubac, C, Croatia, 7-1, 265.

Zubac has all the physical tools to be a starting center in the NBA. He's huge but moves well, giving him the flexibility on both ends of the court to be productive, and he has a pretty well established offensive skill set with touch. The biggest issue with Zubac is an injury history that has sapped some of his explosiveness and may keep him from seeing the court consistently. His other big issue is defensive fundamentals, but a high upside stash guy is perfect for a Celtics team with so many picks and so many players on the current roster.

24) Philadelphia: Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame, 6-2, 194.

Philly has taken so many big men over the past few years that they virtually no NBA-level guards to even get those big men the ball. Jackson isn't exactly a pass-first PG, but he showed he was capable of it, as he is capable of just about any skill to become an above-average guard. He's an incredible, strong athlete, which makes up for his average size at 6-1. He can shoot, finish at the rim, make plays getting into the paint, and be a great on-ball defender when he's locked in. He isn't going to be an incredible playmaker, but he gives Philly a really good chance at getting a solid guard to build with.

25) LA Clippers: Deandre Bembry, SF, Saint Joseph's, 6-6, 207.

The Clippers really just need live bodies on the wing. Bembry may be a little small to defend traditional threes, but he's very athletic with a long 6-9 wingspan. He also has some offensive game, being good in transition and as an off-ball cutter. He also rebounds very well for a player his size. He needs to improve his shooting if he wants to contribute to a team right away, however.

26) Philadelphia: Malik Beasley, SG, Florida State, 6-5, 190.

Like I said, at this point the Sixers are just looking for non-big men prospects. Beasley is a very good athlete who can play above the rim in transition and slashes well in the half-court. The key to this is that he covers a lot of ground with his dribble and can finish in the paint through contact or with a floater. He has good mechanics on his jumper which paid off at Florida State this year. By all accounts he's a high character guy, good teammate, competes on defense and on the glass. He's ot going to be the one creating offense for the Sixers moving forward, but I love Beasley as a solid role player on a contender down the line.

27) Toronto: Cheick Diallo, PF/C, Kansas, 6-9, 220.

Since the Raptors already snagged a pretty reliable prospect in Ellenson, now they can go for potential with Diallo. Diallo has an incredible 7-4 wingspan for a 6-9 guy, and his mobility and light feet could make him a great roll man, rim runner, and versatile defender. He has great timing as a shot blocker and is just a really good overall athlete for a man his size. The problems are that he is very limited offensively (no polish or jump shot to be seen), but isn't strong enough yet to play the five professionally. Also, he barely saw the court at Kansas last year and garnered little experience. However, I think the Raptors should roll the dice with Diallo if he's still here, especially if they're thinking of parting ways with resident rim protector/physical force Bismack Biyombo.

28) Phoenix: Damian Jones, C, Vanderbilt, 7-0, 244.

Jones has all the tools. It's all there: size, length, fluidity, explosiveness, length (7-4 wingspan). He can rim run and explode in traffic with the ball or for lobs. He was pretty good on the O-boards at Vandy, has a bit of offense in him complete with touch on his jumper and hook shot, and his athleticism gives him the opportunity to protect the rim and switch onto guards and hold his own. His instincts protecting the rim need work, but Tyson Chandler can help with that. The number one issue Jones faces is his motor, which especially hurts him on the defensive glass. It's going to be up to Jones whether he gives the effort every night to become a productive NBA big.

29) San Antonio: Diamond Stone, C, Maryland, 6-10, 254.

Apparently, Stone has significant issues with his background and interviews, so he's slid a little in recent weeks. This will not intimidate Gregg Popovich; Stone will seem like a piece of cake compared to Stephen Jackson, and Pop won a title. With the possible departures of legend Tim Duncan and internet sensation Boban Marjanovich, the Spurs may be in need of big men. Stone moves fairly well for such a big body, scores well with touch and footwork inside, and has range on a soft jumper that could even be extended. His lack of explosiveness hurts him on defense and rebounding, but if anyone is going to get the most out of Stone, it's the Spurs.

30) Golden State: Brice Johnson, PF/C, North Carolina, 6-11, 210.

Golden State's biggest weakness is rebounding. Enter Brice Johnson. The UNC product averaged 10.5 rebounds per game last season, including almost 3 OREB per game. The Warriors are still the league's best team and favorites to win it all next year, so they need a guy who can contribute. Johnson has the singular skill of rebounding to keep him afloat, plus he has dynamic athleticism and the ability to score out to 18 feet. Johnson will always compete and has the pedigree as the best player on a team who appeared in the national championship game. I like him for Golden State.

That's it. I can't wait to watch the draft which is always so entertaining. Thank you to DraftExpress for the Strengths and Weaknesses scouting videos that helped me formulate my opinions on the prospects. If you want to know more about the player your team picks, I would definitely suggest you go watch the DraftExpress videos on him.