The NBA Is Starting in December!

Author: Jack Gordon

Editor: Aaron Mesco

The NBA is starting up again on December 22, a very quick turnaround from the end of last season. Think about it- it was only Oct. 10, 2020 that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were surrounded by confetti and smoking cigars in post-game interviews. Oct. 10. That was last month. And two months later, they’re expected to suit up again?

Now to preface, it has to be acknowledged that there are a million moving parts to be dealt with. The coronavirus pandemic has turned the sports world upside down, and has forced every organization in the world to reconsider how they operate. Not only are the players’ safety and health at risk, but employees and teams face the possibility of losing significant revenue, in addition to enormous pressure from broadcasting stations and sponsors.

There are a lot of people to please, and to his credit, Adam Silver did by far the most successful and effective job last season at restarting the season than any other sports commissioner. He created an unprecedented bubble that resulted in zero positive cases throughout three months, allowed his players to put a spotlight on racial justice, fit in enough games to satisfy broadcasting contracts, and ultimately produced a champion when it all came down to it.

Silver has earned himself lots of trust moving forward, so this is not to say that the plan for the December 22 season opener is a bad option, or even that there is a better one.

But it just sucks for the players.

The NBA season is a grind - 82 games over the span of six months, with plenty of back-to-backs and traveling - and that's not even including the playoffs. Normally, even the teams that make it all the way to the NBA Finals have four months to work with in the offseason to rest, recharge, and gear up when the next season begins. This time is crucial for the players, first and foremost, as it lets their bodies get some much needed rest.

On top of this, free agency is another big part of the offseason, allowing players to have time to make decisions and become well-acquainted with their new squads.

Even under normal circumstances, players need every bit of those four to six months to gear up for what will be yet another six-to-eight-month grind.

This year, because of the pandemic, the season ended in October rather than June. And with the approved Dec. 22 restart, players from teams like the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers will have merely two months to prepare themselves for another season, which would likely be around 70 games.

Many of these players that just played in the bubble were gone from their families for months, confined to a small area, unable to leave. This type of constraint is something that could be frustrating and exhausting, not to mention the increased and reasonable mental health concerns that could’ve come as a result.

Now they are out of the bubble, but the mental and physical toll of such an unprecedented situation is not one that can be taken lightly. LeBron James joked that he would be cherry picking the first half of the season, and it's not impossible to understand where he and others are coming from. Two months is a very quick turnaround, and it seems unfair to players who gave up so much in order for the league to restart and give the fans what they wanted, only to be asked to play once again almost immediately.

This turnaround is also concerning for the physical health of the players. One of the reasons the season is coming back is so fans can have their basketball back by Christmas, but what fans definitely don’t want is for all of their favorite players to get injured because of the lack of rest they were alloted in the offseason. Expect the debate around load management this season to increase, especially with the stars who spent significant time in the bubble in Orlando.

And finally, this restart is tough for players joining new teams - that means rookies, free agents, and players who have been traded. With a severely limited training camp, players have little to no time to become acquainted with their new teams and teammates, and rookies have a particularly challenging first season ahead of them with the cancellation of summer league.

And none of this covers all of the other potential problems with the prospect of NBA players traveling this upcoming season, potentially undoing the amazing work that the league did last year to prevent any active players from getting COVID.

Again, Adam Silver has proven himself time and time again as a commissioner that makes the right decisions for both the league and players, and there is no reason to think that he will be careless with the health of the athletes.

But this is a really difficult situation for the players, with the potential to come across the same issues that the NFL, MLB, and MLS have had with cancelled games and sick players. It will be interesting to see how the NBA details its plans for the upcoming season, and if the players will even be ready to play by the time Christmas rolls around.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

Top 5 Most Intriguing NBA Free Agents

Author: Ian Kayanja

Editor: Fran Attié

Free agency will be a bit weird this year. But what hasn’t been strange in 2020? The short NBA offseason will add a level of uncertainty to an already unusual free agency class. However, within this lackluster group, there are still five players who I feel can move the needle for any team.

1) Fred VanVleet: 17.6 PPG | 6.6 APG | 2.0 SPG - SG

VanVleet is a 26-year-old guard who, often for Toronto, made the necessary plays on offense while functioning as a defensive pest—before the NBA hiatus in March, he led the NBA in deflections. He plays hard, and can be a secondary creator on the floor in a time where playmaking is at a premium in the NBA. The only question here will be just how much VanVleet is actually worth on the market? I fear he falls into the category of being better than a Mid-Level Exception but not good enough for a max deal. I expect VanVleet to either be back with the Raptors or find himself a spot with the highest bidder.

2) Christian Wood: 13.1 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 1 BPG - PF

The most impressive aspect of Wood were his last 15 NBA games. The journeyman averaged 22.3 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 56.2 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three. The danger in Wood is that he could have fallen victim to being a good player on a bad team—it can't be understated how often he kept the Pistons in games they were actively trying to lose. If he ends up on a contender, his impact will be limited to the role he will play. Still, he is an intriguing young big and I fully expect him to continue improving in the 2020-21 season.

3) Jerami Grant: 12.0 PPG | 3.5 RPG | .8 BPG – PF

Grant is one of the most versatile players in the 2020 free-agent market. He can guard all five positions on the floor, and knock down open threes. Grant compiled impressive playoff games against the NBA champions Lakers, scoring 26 points in Denver's only win in the Western Conference finals. He brings athleticism and energy to whatever team he plays for, and he can move the needle for a team that is already contending.

4) Goran Dragic: 16.1 PPG | 5.1 APG | 3.2 RPG – PG

Dragic played his way into this number four spot. Before the NBA playoffs, I was unsure of his market value in free agency. During 15 playoff games, he averaged 20 points and 4.6 assists. After seeing the way he revived his offensive game in the bubble, I am sure he can have an impact on any team he goes to. He and the Heat reportedly want to work out a deal, so I wouldn't be shocked if Dragic signs a one-year contract with the Heat (giving the team max flexibility in the 2021 offseason).

5) Montrezl Harrell: 18.6 PPG | 7.1 RPG | 1.1 BPG--PF/C

Harrell won the Sixth Man of the Year after a monster season with the Clippers, and seemed to be the only piece of continuity for a team that struggled with chemistry and rhythm all season. Harrell excels in the pick-and-roll, and his chemistry on the floor with Lou Williams was paramount for the Clippers' success last season. And though he struggled to find his own rhythm in the bubble, it is important to remember that he was dealing with the death of a grandmother, which can take away from any athlete's focus. The question for him, however, is how viable can he be in the playoffs if the matchups don't favor his play? Los Angeles though, does not have any real means of improvement, and I fully expect them to re-sign Harrell for the abbreviated season.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

The Future of Giannis

Author: Jack Gordon

Editor: Fran Attié

It’s no secret that this season was a disappointment for the Milwaukee Bucks. For a team entering the bubble with championship expectations, the league’s best record, and the reigning 2X MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, suffering a gentleman’s sweep in the second round to the fifth seed is as close to a disaster scenario as the franchise could’ve imagined.

Now, undoubtedly on the minds of everyone in the Bucks’ front office, is the impending free agency of Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021.

In the upcoming season, the Bucks will be able to offer Antetokounmpo a supermax contract that could be worth $220 million. This is more than any other team could offer him in 2021 if he chooses to decline that option—a decision that could deliver the final blow to the NBA’s supermax experiment, a seemingly failed attempt at incentivizing superstars to remain put in free agency.

If Giannis does pass on the supermax contract, the Bucks will be in an unenviable position, with a franchise player who could leave in a year’s time and net them nothing in return.

What this usually amounts to in the NBA is a season of trade rumors, of which there have been many so far as Antetokounmpo’s name has been thrown around with teams like the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors. However, different league sources have been adamant that the Bucks will not trade Antetokounmpo, no matter if he declines to sign the extension or not.

So what can Milwaukee do to make a case for Giannis to stay?

Well, the most simple answer is winning a championship, or at the very least making the NBA finals. Antetokounmpo has been very clear that his focus is on winning, and so far, the Bucks have not been able to provide that. This past season in particular, was not an inspiring one. While management has been able to create a team good enough to garner the first seed in the East the last two years, a few questionable decisions and underperforming players have held them back from success.

The Bucks decided not to re-sign Malcolm Brogdon before this season, a player whose shooting and playmaking ability were sorely missed come playoff time. Eric Bledsoe, while valuable, is overpaid. Ersan Ilyasova and Robin Lopez made millions without playing a single second against the Heat in their second round loss, and Khris Middleton simply has not yet proven to be good enough as the clear cut second option on a championship team.

On top of this, Coach Mike Budenholzer’s strict system and basketball philosophy, which has consistently produced great results in the regular season, once again came at the expense of success in the playoffs. The Heat ripped the Bucks apart, and Budenholzer was unwilling—or unable—to make timely and necessary adjustments, most notably in his refusal to play Antetokounmpo and other key players significant minutes in must-win games.

What all this amounts to is not an unsalvageable situation for Milwaukee. Despite the disappointing loss in the bubble, Antetokounmpo’s desires in free agency are all speculative at this point. He has not displayed or discussed any intentions, as of yet, to leave next year, he seems to have a reasonable relationship with the organization and his teammates, he doesn’t seek attention and fits perfectly with the small market of Milwaukee. The ball is in the Bucks’ court. They have to provide their star player with the confidence that, if he stays, the organization can continue to place the right pieces around him, not only to compete, but also to win championships, because while Giannis still needs to improve, he has already proven to be a generational talent in the NBA. Yet, he is on the verge of moving on.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE