2017 NBA Draft Grades (Lottery)

It'll take at least three to five years to really evaluate this year's draft and how it went down, but who doesn't love some knee-jerk reactions and way too soon grades for picks?

1. Philadelphia 76ers - Markelle Fultz - A

Fultz was pretty much the unanimous #1 overall pick, and the Sixers needed a point guard, so this is an easy grade. Philly filled their need and probably got the best player available, win-win.

2. Los Angeles Lakers - Lonzo Ball - B+

Josh Jackson was the second best player in this draft, and the Lakers had D'Angelo Russell. But, after turning Russell and Mozgov into Brook Lopez, this is far from a bad pick. Lonzo's ceiling is high, but the Lakers better hope he pans out and makes the Staples Center the place to be for free agents in years to come.

3. Boston Celtics - Jayson Tatum - B+

Again, Josh Jackson is the better prospect, but having drafted Jaylen Brown last year, and still having Jae Crowder on the roster (at least for now), Tatum's ability to play the 4 for the Celtics is a good get. Tatum may also have the highest floor of the top 5 picks, even if his ceiling is lower.

4. Phoenix Suns - Josh Jackson - A

If Fultz is the best player now in the draft (not my words), then Jackson has the chance to become the best player from this draft (my words). 

5. Sacramento Kings - De'Aaron Fox - A

The Kings best pick in years. Sacramento finally showed some life in the front office this year, even if Fox was a no-brainer at #5. 

6. Orlando Magic - Jonathan Isaac - B-

Following the top 5 in this draft is tough, and Isaac is a wild card right now, but the Magic are pretty committed already at the guard and post positions, so taking a chance on a high risk-high reward wing isn't a bad move for the Magic.

7. Chicago Bulls (via Timberwolves) - Lauri Markkanen - B+

Saying goodbye to Jimmy Butler and any chance at contending in the East will be tough for Bulls fans, but adding Zach Lavine and Lauri Markkanen isn't the worst thing if they're going to go all-in on tanking. Chicago now has Lavine, Kris Dunn, Cameron Payne, Denzel Valentine, Bobby Portis, and Markkanen to experiment with.

8. New York Knicks - Frank Ntilinkina - B-

Ntilinkina has promise, but if the Knicks wanted a point guard, Dennis Smith was still on the board. The Knicks claim to not want to tank with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis still on the team, but drafting the project of a point guard over an electric, ready to play now guy is certainly a move in the opposite direction.

9. Dallas Mavericks - Dennis Smith - A

This may be the steal of the draft. Mark Cuban should be ecstatic about this pick, with Seth Curry as a fall back, Smith will be given a chance to take the reigns of a solid roster in Dallas, and jump start the post-Dirk Nowitzki era.

10. Portland Trail Blazers (via Kings) - Zach Collins - C

Why? Just, why? The Blazers must know something we don't if they were willing to pass up on taking chances on two bigs at 15 and 20 for the chance to get Collins at #10.

11. Charlotte Hornets - Malik Monk - A

This may also be the steal of the draft. Monk will get to step in next to Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum for a team that desperately needs outside shooting, and has quite the interesting roster. Plus, who doesn't want a Jordan Brand sponsorship?

12. Detroit Pistons - Luke Kennard - A

For a couple minutes Pistons fans may have thought they had a chance to steal Monk here, but Kennard is a great consolation prize. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope set to make the big bucks as a restricted free agent, Detroit can now save their money by adding Kennard's shooting ability.

13. Utah Jazz (via Nuggets) - Donovan Mitchell - C-

This just doesn't make much sense with Joe Johnson, Alec Burks, Rodney Hood, Dante Exum, and maybe Gordon Hayward all still on the roster next year. The only possibility here is that Utah sees Mitchell as an option at point guard if George Hill leaves in free agency.

14. Miami Heat - Bam Adebayo - B-

Not much to say here, this is where the draft is up in the air, and the Heat don't have much as far as returning players go.

NBA Comparisons For This Year's Top Prospects

Let me preface this post by saying that these comparisons are in terms of the players physical traits, and play style, and NOT that these prospects will become the annual all-star caliber players that they are being compared to. That mistake mentioned above is one of my biggest gripes with the NBA draft these days, players like Lebron, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, or Dirk Nowitzki are once in a lifetime players, and it's incredibly unfair to expect a player like Andrew Wiggins to be "the next Lebron James".

That being said, comparisons like these can be a good way of predicting the type of player these prospects will become, and can serve as a type of abstract or summary for the more casual basketball fans out there.

Markelle Fultz - Kyle Lowry

Yes, I know Fultz is listed at 6'4" and Lowry is one of the smaller guards at 6'0", but this is why this comparison is actually one that Fultz could outgrow. Fultz is deadly in the pick and roll, and has good size and athleticism for his position. If he can continue to shoot the ball well from beyond the arc at the next level, Fultz could basically be Kyle Lowry 2.0, bigger, faster, stronger, and, better.

Josh Jackson - Paul George

Let's be clear here, the more likely result for Jackson is his fellow one-and-done Jayhawk Andrew Wiggins, but in his one year at Kansas, Jackson already showed more willingness to impose his will on games. Jackson's big "flaw" is his inability to consistently make free throws, which many people take as an indication that he struggles shooting the ball. However, that assumption is false, while Jackson doesn't let it fly from deep as often as someone like Malik Monk, he hit 44% of his shots from deep during Big12 play last season. Realistically, Jackson should end up somewhere between Wiggins and George, but only time will tell.

Lonzo Ball - Russell Westbrook

Now before you immediately click off of this post because I just compared Lonzo to the reigning MVP/Triple-Double machine, let me explain. Do I think Lonzo will be a 30+ ppg scorer? No, I'm not his dad. BUT, Lonzo's size and skill-set are unique for his position, and his ability to speed up the game while still seeing the floor in slow motion is uncanny. To sum it up, Lonzo is Russell Westbrook with a three-point shot, and the will to do what's best for the team, not the MVP race. (@ me Westbrook fans, I'd love to have this debate).

De'Aaron Fox - John Wall

This is likely the least surprising comparison on this list. Both Fox and Wall are one-and-done Kentucky/Calipari products with elite speed and play-making ability, they even both came out of college with an unproven jump shot. Fox isn't quite the physical specimen Wall was coming out of college, but his numbers are almost identical. Fox's floor is probably more of a Jeff Teague or Dennis Scrhoeder, maybe Reggie Jackson at worst, but is that so bad?

Jayson Tatum - Tobias Harris

This is probably the most modest comparison here, but that's because Tatum was often playing third-fiddle to Grayson Allen and Luke Kennard, and when he did get more shots, was less efficient. That being said, Tatum was fantastic when he was able to get to the line, and shot 85% from the stripe. Tatum has the potential to be a top-10 small-forward in the league if he becomes more consistently aggressive and efficient when doing so.

In conclusion, it's really hard to tell which of these five guys will be the best in five years, or if it will be someone from this draft not even in the lottery. Fultz and Jackson appear to be the most reliable picks, but it's very possible that Ball, Fox, or Tatum out-perform them throughout their careers.

This makes this draft an exciting one to follow down the road, not because it will be one where we look back and say "wow, that guy drafted in the 20s should've been a top-5 pick", but because the top end is so loaded, that it'll be fun to watch how they all pan out.

2017 NBA Lottery Mock Draft

With the Lottery set, and the draft less than a week away, it's time to look at what each team should do Thursday night to avoid an uproar from their fan base (unless, of course, you're the Knicks drafting Kristaps Porzingis, then do you, New York).

Last season's draft pool featured a number of players poised to have long careers, but seemed to lack the potential All Stars that this year's draft holds (to be determined, of course). This brings more intrigue to this year's draft, especially after last year's top 2 picks didn't exactly impress during their first year in the league, Ben Simmons sitting out the entire season due to injury (and/or The Process), and Brandon Ingram posting one of the worst rookie seasons in league history.

Also unlike last year, this year's player pool features a number of guards with sky-high ceilings, in what has become a very guard dominant league. While the Markelle Fultz Lonzo Ball debate seems to be all but decided at this point, Ball appears to be dropping to the next tier of guards in the draft, and may not even be the second point guard off the board.

1. Philadelphia 76ers

In an apparent attempt to speed up "The Process", the Sixers agreed to terms with the Celtics to swap the third and first picks this year, along with either the Lakers' pick next year (2-5), or the Kings pick the following year. We can only assume that this means Philly is set on taking Markelle Fultz, and rounding out one of the most intriguing young cores in the NBA.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

In part due to Lavar Ball's comments that his son would "only play for the Lakers", and the result that Lonzo did in fact only work out for the Lakers, it seemed inevitable that the Lakers would take the Chino Hills and UCLA standout. Until recently, that is, rumors and reports have been circling that the eldest Ball brother has less than impressed the Lakers in his workouts, and that there is a legitimate possibility that the Lakers could look elsewhere. All of the media stuff aside (it is Hollywood, after all), with D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson showing promise in the back court, the Lakers may be wise to take Josh Jackson, a can't miss athlete, with superstar potential, and at the very least, can be insurance in case Brandon Ingram can't turn it around in year two.

3. Boston Celtics

As always, there's still a chance that Danny Ainge has another move up his sleeve and that this will not be where the Celtics make their first selection Thursday night, but for now, we'll assume that Mr. Ainge will stand pat. If the Lakers do go with Jackson, the Celtics will be left in an interesting position, likely deciding between De'Aaron Fox and Lonzo Ball, the latter of which did not work out for the team. Despite less media attention (due to a certain individual, ironic posting this on Father's Day), Fox has had less hype built up about him, however Fox outplayed Ball in both meetings in college, despite a 1-1 record, averaging 29.5 ppg and 6.5 apg, on 51.5% shooting. If the Celtics retain this pick, De'Aaron Fox seems like the smart pick.

4. Phoenix Suns

The Suns do a great job of leaving NBA fans scratching their heads on draft night pretty much every year, but admittedly, Devin Booker has proven himself, and in more regular minutes Marquese Chriss showed promise at the end of last year. Moving one of Eric Bledsoe or Brandon Knight wouldn't be a surprise, but to justify drafting a point guard with either of them still on the roster would be, well, a Suns move. None the less, Jayson Tatum would be a great fit in Phoenix, and could form a fantastic one-two punch on the wings with Booker in years to come.

5. Sacramento Kings

Now how great would Lonzo Ball to the Kings be? Ball and Boogie would have been the best League Pass duo in the entire league, and probably would have been the best reality show on TV. Who knows if Lavar will even let Lonzo play in Sacramento, but we all want to see it, plus, if he really is the franchise player his dad says he is, maybe he can put out the dumpster fire that is the Kings right now.

6. Orlando Magic

From one confusing franchise to another, perhaps the Magic's biggest problem is not knowing whether or not any of their current players are any good, or just good numbers on a bad team (looking at you, Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier). It's really anyone's guess what the Magic do here, but fit wise Jonathan Isaac seems like the right move.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

Malik Monk. It just has to be. The Wolves would thrive with a knock down shooter to add to their young core, and that's just Monk's floor. The Sixers "Process" might get more publicity, but the chance to run out Zach Lavine, Malik Monk, Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng, and Karl-Anthony Towns is an opportunity far too good to pass up for Minnesota.

8. New York Knicks

The Knicks roster next year is in question to say the least, with the ever-swirling trade rumors around Carmelo Anthony, Derrrick Rose's free agency, and the more recent question of whether or not Porzingis still wants to remain in the Big Apple. Banking on the fact that both Melo and Porzingis stick around, Dennis Smith would be a nice experiment for New York. Smith had his ups and downs at N.C. State a year ago, but can really put on a show at times, and what better place to get the chance to wow the crowd than MSG?

9. Dallas Mavericks

7 foot tall European who lets it fly from beyond the arc but doesn't neglect his rebounding responsibilities? There might be someone in Dallas who knows a thing or two about that type of skill set. Will Lauri Markkanen turn into Dirk Nowitzki? Doubtful, but Dirk is one of the best of all time, and would be a fantastic mentor to the Finnish prospect during his final season in Dallas. Heck, the Mavs could even play them together and create some ridiculous floor spacing if Markkanen proves ready right away.

10. Sacramento Kings

This is weird, the Kings ended up making a good move? Thanks New Orleans...With tons of roster flexibility and no clear direction, the Kings just need talent, or a diamond in the rough. Whether or not the Kings do get Ball as mentioned above is yet to be seen, but taking a chance on Frank Ntilikina out of France seems like a good opportunity for Sacramento either way.

11. Charlotte Hornets

If Michael Jordan had an aversion to Duke players, he wouldn't have signed Miles Plumlee to a 4-year $50 million contract (yes, you read that right). With that being cleared up, Luke Kennard would be a great fit for the Hornets, bringing shooting and play-making to a team that lacks spacing at times and can rely a bit too much on Kemba Walker.

12. Detroit Pistons

Most Detroit fans are probably hoping Kennard will fall to them at 12, and that they won't have to match whatever absurd offer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope receives as a restricted free agent, but with Kennard and Monk off the board, the Pistons will have to look elsewhere. It's no secret that Detroit has been looking to move Andre Drummond, and whether or not that happens, Zach Collins would be a good insurance pick up, either as Drummond's backup, or as a potential replacement.

13. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggest find themselves in no-man's land here, with a lack of help for budding star Nikola Jokic on roster if Danilo Gallinari departs in free agency, and no sure thing prospect left at this point of the draft. Taking Bam Adebayo here would allow the Nuggets to potentially shop Kenneth Faried for more perimeter help.

14. Miami Heat

Somehow, Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra almost turned last year's Miami Heat roster into a playoff team (honorable mention to Dion Waiters and his efforts), but now similar to the Nuggets the Heat find themselves in an awkward position. It may seem a bit high according to a lot of other Mocks, but T.J. Leaf's ability to score from all areas would be a nice compliment to Hassan Whiteside (if he sticks around).

What We've Learned From March Madness

Now that the Final Four is set, and many people are calling it a "bad" Final Four, it's time to look back on the assumptions that we had entering the tournament.

Gonzaga is a pretender

This has become an annual presumption when it comes to filling out brackets, Gonzaga enters the tournament with somewhere between three and six to seven losses, often as a top-5 seed. Then, the Bulldogs are "upset" earlier than a team with their record "should", having reached the Elite Eight only once since 2000, despite making the tournament in every season.

This year though, the Zags entered March with only one loss, and with wins over tournament teams including Arizona, Iowa State, Florida, and St. Mary's. Even with the better than usual resume, much of the basketball community still did not believe in Mark Few and Gonzaga. Now, the Zags are in the Final Four, and have proved that this team is more than just the best team in a sub-par conference.

The SEC is just a football conference

The SEC only got five teams into the tournament, two of which were 8 and 9 seeds, including Vanderbilt, the only 15 loss team to ever make it into the field of 64. Fast forward two weekends, and three of the SEC's teams are in the Elite Eight. The other two didn't just roll over either, Vanderbilt was a last minute brain fart away from a second round matchup with Gonzaga, and Arkansas took North Carolina down to the wire.

As for Kentucky, South Carolina, and Florida, all three showed that they were legitimate contenders, combining to knock off Duke, Baylor, Virginia, and UCLA. Only South Carolina made it to the final weekend, defeating Florida, while Kentucky fell in the final seconds to North Carolina. However, the SEC was the only conference with more than one team in the Elite Eight.

The more important thing here is that Florida is back, and South Carolina could be a force to be reckoned with under Frank Martin in years to come. While this is great for college basketball as a whole, it could be quite annoying in years to come if the rest of the country has to hear it from SEC fans about football AND basketball.

The ACC is the best conference in basketball

This one is tough, because while most of the ACC teams bowed out early, North Carolina is still standing as we near the final weekend, and the favorite to avenge their last second loss in the National Championship a year ago.

It's hard to justify the ACC being the premier college basketball conference after only one of their nine teams made it past the first weekend, but with only the SEC having multiple representatives in the Elite Eight, it might not quite be time to dethrone the ACC just yet.

Two of the ACC's losses (Duke and Virginia) came to Elite Eight teams in Florida and South Carolina, while Louisville fell to a Michigan team that came within seconds of beating Final Four bound Oregon. So, the ACC may not have the most elite teams in the country, but top to bottom it's hard to argue that the ACC remains the toughest and strongest conference.

The B1G had a down year

Entering the second weekend, it seemed like this one was wrong, with five of the seven B1G teams winning their first round matchups (Maryland fell to Elite Eight finalist Xavier), and three advancing to the sweet sixteen. Then, the B1G ended up with no teams in the Elite Eight, with Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan all falling in the Sweet Sixteen.

This doesn't mean that the B1G has fallen from the elite conferences in college basketball, but that this year the conference just didn't have the elite caliber teams that they have in past years, with Michigan State struggling through injuries, and Wisconsin struggling late in the season.

That being said, the B1G is primed for a rebound year next season, with very few guaranteed departures, and a plethora of returning talent. Miles Bridges, Melo Trimble, and Caleb Swanigan are all likely to declare early for the NBA, and Derrick Walton Jr., Nigel Hayes, and Bronson Koenig are all graduating. 

However, the B1G will be loaded in the front court next season with Nick Ward, Ethan Happ, Moritz Wagner, D.J. Wilson, Nicholas Baer, and Jordan Murphy returning. Those returners will lead five of the conferences top teams (Michigan State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Minnesota), while the other two (Maryland and Purdue) will hope for their stars to return to school to lead their returning supporting cast.

As we come to the conclusion of the tournament, it seems like most of the assumptions going into the tournament remain intact (assuming UNC can at least make the title game to save the ACC).

More importantly, the basketball world needs to realize that this Final Four isn't bad, it just doesn't have the full slate of big name programs that we're used to. Oregon, and Gonzaga are better than people think or want to believe, South Carolina may have the best defense in the country, and North Carolina was a lot of peoples' favorites going into the season and are looking to avenge last season's heartbreaking loss.

Finally, enjoy the last weekend of college basketball until November.

The Mystery of the 2013 NBA Draft

The 2013 draft is now well known as one of the worst drafts in recent history, but what was really so bad about it? Nearing four years removed the 2013 draft, it's starting to seem like the problem was the teams drafting, not the players available.

For starters, Giannis Antetokounmpo has turned into the type of player any team in the league would love to have drafted. In a five year span of drafts that included #1 draft picks Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns, it's certainly debatable that the Greek Freak has developed into arguably an equal to even the best of those former #1 picks. Obviously, it's crazy to say that a team could have known that Giannis would develop into the All-Star caliber player that he is now, but given the other players in the draft, his potential alone certainly could have put him much higher that the 15th pick where he landed.

Following the Greek Freak is the Robin to Damian Lillard's Batman, the pride of Lehigh, C.J. McCollum. Like Giannis, it took a couple of years for McCollum to really get going (in his case due to injury), but McCollum is now the third highest scoring shooting guard in the league. Not only has McCollum's scoring increased every year (now up to 23.3 points per game), but so has his efficiency (48% FG, and 55% effective FG). It's understandable that injury worries could cause teams to be hesitant on draft night, but given McCollum's ability to shoot and create, putting him on par with the four guards taken ahead of him would not have been unheard of.

Think Giannis is long and athletic? What if there was a player in the same draft class who was just five inches from the rim, without jumping? Enter Rudy Gobert, or, the Stifle Tower. At the combine, Gobert's standing reach was measured at 9 feet 7 inches, and a wingspan of 7 feet 8 inches. Granted, it's impossible to assume a prospect will become the best defensive center in the league based on physical attributes only, but Gobert's height (7'2") and reach combined with his 29 inch max vertical jump should've been enough for teams to take a flyer on him higher than the 27th pick. Gobert currently ranks 1st in the NBA in blocks (2.5 bpg) and defensive rating (97.8), and is 3rd in FG% (64%) and offensive rating (126.8).

The foreign theme continued in this draft with Dennis Schroder. The German was taken 17th by the Atlanta Hawks, as a backup to Jeff Teague. Now with Teague's departure, Schroder is averaging 17.4 ppg to go along with 6.3 apg, ranking 14th and 8th among point guards. Simply put, this means that at least 16 NBA teams are kicking themselves (in draft order and his current production).

This draft also brought the NBA's leader in 3-point percentage this year, with the #3 pick, Otto Porter Jr.. Like the other players listed here, it took Porter Jr. a couple of years to find his footing, but he is now averaging just over 14 ppg, on 46% from beyond the arc, fitting in perfectly with fellow top-3 picks John Wall and Bradley Beal in the nation's capital.

So given these five players, who would actually make a pretty solid starting five, and a unique one at that, it's time to reconsider bashing the 2013 draft class. In fact, it was one of the best drafts for international players, with Giannis and Schroder ranking 2nd and 7th in scoring, and 6th and 2nd in assists respectively, while Gobert, Giannis, Steven Adams, and Gorgui Dieng all rank in the top-10 in international rebounders.

If anything, the 2013 draft should serve as a warning for NBA teams in the draft process, where seven of the top-10 picks came from high-profile programs that receive lots of media attention over the course of the year. Whereas the only major college program player on this list of what might be the redrafted top-5 was Porter Jr.. Or, if you're one for conspiracies, maybe Cleveland was a step ahead of everybody in the "Riggin' for Wiggins" (as Bill Simmons called it) tanking campaign, and that's why they inexplicably took Anthony Bennett #1 overall.

Why Not To Count Out The ACC

The "best conference in the country", might not have a 1-seed come selection Sunday, but here are all the reasons why the ACC will still have success in March.

Every year, the B1G-ACC Challenge gives college basketball fans a three day slate of matchups of the two premier conferences in college basketball, often resulting in the winner being crowned the best conference in the country. The ACC won the first 10 challenges, but had not won since 2008, and since then the B1G had been considered at the very least on par with the ACC as the best conference in the country. Then the ACC dropped the hammer on the B1G this year, winning the challenge nine games to five, for their first win in eight years.

The ACC's victory this year could easily be understood as the B1G having a down year (they are), but in matchups of likely tournament teams, the ACC went 4-1 (4-2 if you count Indiana's win before they turned into a pretender).

So this begs the questions: Is the ACC just the best conference top to bottom? Or will they dominate the tournament too?

The way the season has played out, it's tough to pick out a favorite, or even a likely Final Four, and because of the parity in the ACC, the conference is unlikely to receive a 1-seed come selection Sunday after Virginia's upset of #5 North Carolina Monday night. But the parity also suggests that the ACC is loaded with good teams. According to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, the ACC would have five teams as 5-seeds or better, with Virginia and Notre Dame (currently both 5-seeds) both on the rise.

Despite UNC's loss Monday night, the Tar Heels along with Louisville will both likely be 1 or 2-seeds, but they aren't the only teams from the ACC poised to make a run in March. Florida State, Duke, Notre Dame, and maybe even Virginia after Monday night's performance are all teams that other top seeds will not look forward to facing once the Madness begins.

While the Pac12 has three top-10 teams (arguably top-5), no conference has the depth that the ACC has, and we haven't even mentioned Miami, Virginia Tech, and Syracuse who all have a shot at making the dance. ESPN's BPI (basketball power index) rankings show four ACC teams in the top-10, double the amount of any other conference.

Another thing the ACC has is balanced scoring from all of their contending teams, even likely ACC Player of the Year Luke Kennard of Duke has back court mates Grayson Allen and Jayson Tatum each averaging at least 15 points per game. If we've learned anything from the past five years or so, it's not about having one elite player in March, even the Kentucky and Duke teams that have won titles did so with balanced scoring from a handful of contributors.

The two top teams (Louisville and UNC), fit that mold. Louisville as usual relies on their defense and quick back court duo of Donovan Mitchell (16.1 ppg) and Quentin Snider (12.1 ppg), along with a revolving door of big men (four bigs averaging at least 6 ppg and 4 rpg). Carolina relies a bit more heavily on their starters, primarily Justin Jackson (18.4 ppg, 39% 3pt), Joel Berry (14.7 ppg, 40% 3pt), and the two-headed post monster of Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks (combined 24 ppg, 57% FG).

So what does this all mean for the ACC as we enter March? It means that while the conference may not have a 1-seed come selection Sunday, it would be foolish not to pick at least a couple ACC teams to make the Elite Eight in your brackets.

After all, the ACC had four teams make the Elite Eight last year, two of which made the Final Four, with Carolina ultimately making it within seconds of a National Title.

The Best and Worst of NBA Trade Deadline Day 2017

Despite the likes of Jimmy Butler, Paul George, and Andre Drummond staying put this trade deadline, a handful of contenders made good moves, and some non-contenders made some not so good moves.

Best

Nets and Wizards swap Bogdanovic for First Round Pick:

The Wizards have been one of the best teams in the new calendar year, going 18-5 since January 1st (three of the losses to the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Rockets). Washington has developed a very talented starting five lead by the dynamic duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal (22 points per game each), along with NBA leader in 3-point percentage Otto Porter Jr. (14.6 ppg), but have lacked bench production this year. That's where Bogdanovic fits in, the third year Bosnian is averaging 14.2 ppg this year for the abysmal Brooklyn Nets, but is a career 37% from beyond the arc, and has the ability to play both the 3 and 4 positions, to give rest to Porter Jr. and Markieff Morris. The pick brings the Nets a little bit closer to being able to rebuild, with two first round picks likely in the 20s this year (Boston and Washington).

Lakers and Rockets swap Lou Williams, Corey Brewer, plus First Round Pick:

Mike D'Antoni has turned the Rockets into an analytical-three-point-shooting-machine this year, led by MVP candidate James Harden and the re-emergence of Eric Gordon (second and fourth in the NBA in made three pointers respectively). Williams gives D'Antoni's squad another perimeter threat, and much needed back court depth to help Harden and Gordon. This deal also came at little cost to the Rockets, with Corey Brewer having a near career worst year in just about every statistic, and giving up what would be the 28th pick in the draft.

Raptors get PJ Tucker and Serge Ibaka:

Toronto has been the opposite of the Wizards since the turn of the year, posting a measly 12-14 record since Jan. 1, including just a 3-5 record in February. Their front office certainly noticed the recent struggles, turning sixth-man Terrance Ross and Jared Sullinger into Serge Ibaka (Magic) and P.J. Tucker (Suns). Ibaka gives the Raptors some depth in the front court and the option to play big, while Tucker provides veteran wing depth to replace Ross. Canada's team will need all the help they can get after dropping to the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference, which could lead to a second round match-up with the Cavs, but this was a good mid-season pair of moves that should lead them in the right direction. While the Raptors improved, the Suns and Magic both continue to make questionable moves.

Thunder get McDermott, Gibson from Bulls:
Cameron Payne was great for entertainment purposes with his elaborate handshake routines with Russell Westbrook, but his performance has taken a step back from what was a relatively promising rookie campaign. That makes this trade even better for the Thunder, who add a versitile shooter in Doug McDermott, and even more front court depth in veteran Taj Gibson. Westbrook's numbers are gaudy as it stands, and that is without much (if any) shooting ability around him, adding McDermott (40% career 3pt) well give the MVP candidate even more room to operate. Gibson gives the Thunder the option to decrease rookie Domantis Sabonis' minutes (just 6 ppg, 3 rpg, on 40% in 21 mpg), and makes for a stout defensive front court when paired with Steven Adams. This trade may even be more one sided than the Boogie deal, but it was extremely important for the Thunder to get Westbrook help as soon as possible. Despite the Thunder's gain, the Bulls' mystery of a season will continue with this move just the most recent in a flurry of newsworthy chapters.

Worst

Kings ship Boogie with little hope of rebuild:

This trade was great for the Pelicans, and if the chemistry works, it'll earn them a playoff spot and the chance to compete next season with a unique front court pairing the likes of which have not been seen since Tim Duncan and David Robinson. However, on the flip side, the Kings received what seems to be much less than full value for Demarcus Cousins. Sacramento received 6th overall pick Buddy Hield, former Kings draft choice Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and the Pelicans first and second round picks this season. In theory, this would give the Kings two lottery picks along with Buddy Hield, effectively three lottery picks in two years. However, if the Kings fall outside the top-10 in this year's draft, they owe their pick to the Bulls, and if they fall inside the top-10, the Sixers have the option to swap picks with them. This makes it unlikely the Kings will have a chance to get one of the elite players in this year's draft, which begs the question, who are the Kings building around now?

Sixers give up Noel for...?
Leading up to the deadline, everyone thought that the Sixers would be dealing a big man, but everyone assumed it would be Jahlil Okafor. Instead, Philly traded Nerlens Noel to the Dallas Mavericks for, well, not much. Officially, the Sixers received Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson, and a protected (1-18) first round pick from Dallas, but sources say they plan to buy out Bogut to make him a free agent, and with Dallas unlikely to make the playoffs (especially after waiving Deron Williams), the pick will become two second round selections next year. The Sixers do need some wing help, and Anderson can defend, but his inability to shoot efficiently at the NBA level (40%, 29% 3pt) makes this move quite confusing.  

The Best College Basketball Alumni Teams

Earlier this week, University of Kentucky coach John Calipari said in a Bleacher Report interview that if an NBA team could afford an all-ex-Kentucky roster, they could win an NBA title (he's probably right). So which other college programs have produced at least a starting five that could compete at the NBA level?

Link to Bleacher Report's Calipari article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2691798-john-calipari-on-coaching-extreme-talent-one-and-dones-and-his-all-nba-team

In no particular order, the top five starting fives:

Kentucky

Mostly one-and-dones, Calipari has brought in and produced a plethora of NBA stars since taking over as Kentucky's head coach. So many that Calipari himself said that an all-Kentucky alumni team in the NBA would be impossible due to the salaries. However, he did say that hypothetically, his starting five would be John Wall, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Demarcus Cousins. Not to mention the talent and depth they would have off the bench.

Even a more "budget-friendly" team could trot out a lineup of Wall, Brandon Knight, Kidd-Gilchrist, Davis, and Enes Kanter. A lineup that is both affordable, and would easily hold its own against the rest of the NBA.

The Wildcats alums would be so loaded that guys like Eric Bledsoe, Rajon Rondo, Julius Randle, and Terrence Jones wouldn't even crack the starting lineup, or see much time at all.

Heck, just the guys from Wall and Cousins' one year could beat most NBA teams, with Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, and Deandre Liggins joining the two All-Stars.

UCLA

The Bruins have been a bit underwhelming in terms of success at the college level in recent history, but their alums have had no shortage of success in their professional careers.

The UCLA alumni starting five would likely consist of Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, Aaron Afflalo, Trevor Ariza, and Kevin Love. A lineup that would fit right in with the modern NBA's pace a space concept.

The bench would not have the depth of Kentucky, but a backup backcourt of Darren Collison and Jrue Holliday is pretty darn good.

Texas

Possibly even more underwhelming than UCLA given the NBA talent they have produced, the Longhorns are probably the "darkhorse" of this list due to their much lower profile in the college basketball scene.

Cory Joseph, Avery Bradley, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Myles Turner make up a very formidable starting five, and probably the best defensive unit on this list.

The Kentucky team might be deeper and have more offensive firepower, but the Longhorn alumni starting five could give the Wildcat five a run for their money, and would definitely be worth the price of entry.

Marquette

The Golden Eagles only have five players total in the NBA, but if you're a fan of yet-to-make-his-debut-rookie Henry Ellenson, this is the team for you.

Joining Ellenson are Dwyane Wade, Wesley Matthews, Jimmy Butler, and Jae Crowder, one helluva small-ball lineup. Or, if you really want to space the floor, Steve Novak is really the only other big guy at your disposal. Or you could go REALLY small, play Crowder at center, and pick up the top D-League prospect, Vander Blue (also part of the all-name team).

Connecticut

Unfortunately, the man formerly known as Jesus Shuttlesworth (Ray Allen), finally announced his retirement earlier this year, making his alma mater's squad searching for a wing player to fill out their starting five.

Even without Ray-Ray, the Huskies could trot out NCAA-Championship duo Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier in what might be the smallest backcourt ever. Along with Jeremy Lamb, Rudy Gay, and Andre Drummond. If you really hate the small guards, A. You aren't a true UConn fan, and B. Hasheem Thabeet is NOT in the league anymore.

Honorable Mention

Duke: The Blue Devils have no shortage of NBA players (second only to Kentucky), but their theoretical starting five has some "big" holes, literally speaking. Kyrie Irving, JJ Reddick, and Jabari Parker are a really solid 1-3, but then you're left deciding between Jahlil Okafor and the three Plumlee brothers to fill out your lineup.

Georgia Tech: Iman Shumpert, Anthony Morrow, Thadeus Young, Derrick Favors, Chris Bosh (another darkhorse?).

Kansas: If Embiid had played more than 31 games in his career, the Jayhawks would make the list no doubt, or, if they had ANY point guards in the NBA (really too bad the Mario Chalmers Lebron James reunion didn't happen). Joining the Process would be the Morris twins, Andrew Wiggins, and...Paul Pierce at point guard?

North Carolina: Much like their in-state rival, the Tar Heels have a vast number of NBA players, but despite having the best player of all time as an alum, Carolina lacks the elite level players needed to make this list. Raymond Felton, Danny Green, Vince Carter, Harrison Barnes, and John Henson would be the likely starting five.

Ohio State: Mike Conley, D'Angelo Russell, Evan Turner, Jared Sullinger, Kosta Koufos. Despite having the NBA's highest paid player, you can't help but say "eh" when you see this lineup.

Syracuse: This team would have possibly the worst ball movement of all time. Michael Carter-Williams, Dion Waiters, Wesley Johnson, Jerami Grant, and Carmelo Anthony (yes, Melo at center).

Trusting the Process

In large part thanks to social media sensation and likely rookie of the year Joel Embiid, "Trust the Process" has become a well known phrase in the basketball universe. Because of Embiid's goofy personality, many fans see the phrase as a joke stemming from ex-GM Sam Hinkie, who started the extreme rebuilding process in Philadelphia with strong criticism from much of the fan-base.

Hinkie stepped down during last season do to the building pressure to "win now", and to abandon "the Process", but it's starting to look like he was on to something.

Just a month after Hinkie's resignation the 76ers landed the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, which they turned into Ben Simmons. The beginning of the 2016-17 also brought the beginning of former #3 overall pick Joel Embiid, whose Twitter bio reads "PROCESSING.......................". Due to injury (much like Embiid), Simmons is yet to make his NBA debut, but the Sixers have made some impressive strides without their #1 pick.

With 28 games remaining, the Sixers have doubled their win total from a season ago, and are only five games out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their success is in large part thanks to Embiid's play, at 20-34 overall, the Sixers are 13-18 when Embiid plays. Despite a minutes restriction (playing only 25.4 minutes per game), Embiid is averaging 20.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks, on 47% shooting, and most surprisingly 37% from three point range.

Now with Top-3 picks from each of the past three drafts, it would be easy to think "the Process" should be complete, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. The Sixers would currently have the 4th pick, with the option to swap spots with the Sacramento Kings if they are in the Top-10. 

More importantly, the Sixers also have a pick from a move that Hinkie got a huge deal of grief for, when he traded reigning Rookie-of-the-Year Michael Carter-Williams in a three team trade that landed the Sixers a Top-5 protected pick originally part of the Steve Nash to the Lakers trade. After the Lakers getting the #2 pick each of the last two years, the pick is now only Top-3 protected, meaning the Sixers could conceivably have two picks in the Top 5.

With Simmons and Embiid holding down the front court, this year's draft is perfect for the Sixers needs, loaded with guard talent at the top. If the Lakers pick does fall into the hands of the Sixers this June, Philly will have the luxury of choosing two of the likes of Lonzo Ball, Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith, Josh Jackson, De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Jonathan Isaac to round out their young core.

The draft potential this year for the Sixers gives them the possibility of a starting lineup with at least four players 23 years old or younger (if not all five), with Embiid and Simmons already being tagged as future NBA All-Stars. 

When Embiid has been healthy, this year's Sixers team has already shown glimpses of what the future holds, and with the return of Simmons and another incoming lottery pick, Hinkie's process looks likely to bring a playoff team to Philadelphia as early as next year.

Could This Be The Year for Gonzaga?

This season of college hoops has been as wild as any in recent history, but one constant remains, it's mid-February and no one knows whether or not to take Gonzaga seriously. 

Gonzaga currently sits at #1 in the AP and USA Today Top-25 polls at 25-0, which for any other school would be a resume that would surely bring the title of "the best team in college basketball". But that's not the case for the Bulldogs, likely due to the fact that they are not a member of a major conference, playing in the West Coast Conference.

The doubt is reasonable, despite making the NCAA tournament in each of the past 17 seasons (all 16 under Mark Few), reached the second weekend of the tournament in less than half of those appearances (five Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights). For most "mid-major" schools that would be quite the accomplishment, but the Bulldogs have been a 4-seed or higher six times under Few, reaching the second weekend in only three of those seasons. This has created somewhat of an underachieving or overrated view of Gonzaga despite their annual appearance in the March Madness.

So what could make this year different? Three major things: Depth, defense, and dominance.

The Bulldogs have seven players averaging 8 points per game or more, led by Washington transfer Nigel Williams-Goss (15.6 ppg, 4.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds, 50% FG). Joining Williams-Goss in the back court is sharpshooting sophomore Josh Perkins (9.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, 44% 3pt). Gonzaga also has a seemingly perfect combination of experience and youth in the post, in senior and Polish Giant Przemek Karnowski (12.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 61% FG in only 22 minutes), and freshman NBA prospect Zach Collins (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 66% FG in only 17.5 mpg).

Defensively, Gonzaga is 2nd in the nation in opponent's FG% at 37%, 7th in opponent's 3pt% at 29%, and 8th in opponent's ppg at 61.7. Some of those numbers are deflated due to competition, but against Florida, Iowa State, and Arizona, the Bulldogs surrendered only 68.3 ppg en route to three victories.

Gonzaga has not only won all 25 of their games, but they have done so in style, with an average margin of victory of a whopping 24 points. Again, that number is inflated due to their conference competition, but Gonzaga has proven that they can beat better competition, too. All three of their "good wins" came at neutral sites against two teams currently in the Top-20 (#9 Arizona 21-3 and #17 Florida 18-5), and 14-9 Iowa State.

These factors combined with the lack of clearly dominant teams this year in college basketball, could lead to the deep run that Mark Few and the Bulldogs have been seeking, as they search for their first Final Four appearance in program history.

The "Must Watch" Players of College Basketball

It's easy to feel the need to watch the players who will be top picks in the NBA draft in June (Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson), and while these guys are great and their potential is off the charts, there are a number of players at the collegiate level who are awesome to watch, now.

Marcus Keene, PG, Central Michigan

This one is for all the people who missed out on watching Kay Felder last year. Oh, and those who want to see the first 30 ppg scorer since the 1997 season. 

Listed at 5'9", Keene leads the NCAA in scoring at 30.3 ppg (6.4 more than the next highest scorer), and that number is only trending upwards. In just the last week, Keene has netted games of 50 and 41 points, leading the Chippewas to three straight wins. 

Granted, Keene is not playing against elite competition, but his numbers are pretty efficient, and his team is 14-7 (4-4 in conference). He's shooting 47% from the field, 39% from three (where half of his attempts come from), and dishes out 5.2 assists per game.

For some perspective, in his National Player of the Year season, Jimmer Fredette averaged 28.9 ppg, on 45%, 39%, and 4.3 apg.

If you need more reasons to watch Keene, his team ranks 3rd in the nation in three pointers made and attempted, and 4th in points per game, so you'll see a lot of points from Keene, and the Chippewas (and probably the other team, too). Or, if you prefer NBA comparisons, he's the MAC's version of Isaiah Thomas.

Tacko Fall, C, Central Florida

While Keene lacks a bit of height, Fall is quite the opposite. In fact, Fall is nearly two whole feet taller than Keene, standing at 7'6".

First reason to watch, how often do you get to see a 7'6" person? Let alone on a basketball court, and as one of the most efficient players in the country.

Fall is shooting 76% from the field (yes, you read that right), and averaging a double-double with 12.6 points and 10.1 rebounds in just 26.6 minutes per game. Earlier this year, Fall recorded a 17 and 17 game, on a perfect 8-8 from the field.

Of course, shooting a high percentage is expected when you can dunk without jumping. But, he can dunk without jumping!!! That should be enough reason to watch Fall play. Comparison wise, there hasn't been a 7'6" NBA player since Yao Ming, and I'm not ready to draw that line yet.

Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona

Markkanene is kind of a hybrid between Keene and Fall. Now I know that sounds ridiculous, especially because he's from Finland (yes, Finland), but hear me out.

Being seven feet tall helps in becoming the first NBA prospect ever from your home country, but Markkanen is far from just another big man. As a true freshman this year at Arizona, Markkanen is averaging 16.8 ppg, to go along with 7.6 rebounds per game. Now here's the best part, he's shooting 50%, from three. 

*Insert stereotypical "he's a european guy who only shoots threes" comment*

While about half of his field goal attempts come from beyond the arc (like Keene), Markkanen has proven that he thrives against tough competition. Since the beginning of conference play, his averages have increased to 17.7 ppg, and 8 rpg, on a scorching 60% from three point range.

Markkanen has been climbing the draft boards recently, and is the highest rated prospect on this list, but he is still far from a household name, and on one of the hottest teams in the country. In NBA terms, he's college's Kristaps Porzingis, but more efficient.

Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue

The B1G has been in a bit of a slump as a whole this year, but the conference still has a handful of players worth watching. From strictly highlights, many would think that freshman sensation Miles Bridges is the best player in the B1G, but that would be overlooking the potential National Player of the Year.

Swanigan had a solid freshman season a year ago, averaging a shade over 10 ppg, and just over 8 rpg, but opted to return to school for his sophomore campaign. Not only did he come back for year two, he did so with a purpose. Halfway through B1G play, Swanigan has nearly doubled his ppg (18.5), and leads the nation in rebounding (12.7 rpg).

Most of Swanigan's freshman season production was in the paint as a back to the back post player opposite fellow Purdue big man Isaac Haas, but Swanigan has added a reliable perimeter jumper that has made him a nightmare to defend for opponents. While he is far from a volume three point shooter (like Keene or Markkanen), Swanigan shoots the deep ball at a 50% clip, and is averaging more than a make per game in conference play.

Whether or not his Boilermakers can win the B1G will likely play a major role in whether or not Swanigan receives POTY recognition, but his numbers are certainly worthy of the recognition.

There aren't many bruising bigs left in the NBA, but the best comparison I can think of for Swanigan is Zach Randolph with three point range.

Luke Kennard, SG, Duke

Lost among the ups and downs of what has been Duke basketball's 2016-17 season has been the outstanding play of Luke Kennard. 

The sophomore shooting guard is probably the 4th most talked about player on the Blue Devils roster, due to draft hype (or tripping...), but is having by far the best season of any Duke player. After showing promise as a freshman (11.8 ppg), Kennard has nearly doubled that to 20.4 ppg this season. Most impressively he has increased his percentages at the same time, going from 42% to 54% from the field, and even more impressively, 32% to 47% from beyond the arc.

Kennard has been even more efficient since the start of ACC play, against the best conference competition in the country. His already impressive three point shooting has skyrocketed to 55%, to go along with 59% from the field. Just this past weekend, Kennard lit up Wake Forest for 34 points on just 14 shot attempts (including 6-6 from deep), in the Blue Devils comeback win.

Despite all this, Kennard is barely cracking the top 20 in most NBA Mock Drafts, but he play-style and ability reminiscent of a left-handed Klay Thompson.

Is the B1G Super Competitive? Or Just Mediocre?

Just a year ago, the B1G sent as many teams to the NCAA tournament (seven) as any conference in the country for the second year in a row, but as we near Feburary, at best, the B1G would hope that five teams from the conference would receive a bid. This begs the question, is the entire conference (minus Rutgers of course) good enough to be on the bubble? Or, are the majority of the schools just mediocre?

During non-conference play , the B1G only won five games against Top 25 opponents, and two of those (Syracuse 13-9, Texas 8-12) find themselves far from the Top 25 at this point in the season. 

Also of note, the only team that won games against the Top 25 teams that are still ranked (Kansas and North Carolina), Indiana, has also sustained losses to IPFW, Nebraska, and a 30 point drubbing on the road against Michigan.

As it stands, only four B1G teams have less than six losses, and those same four teams are the only teams to have an above .500 record in conference play. Of the remaining 10 teams, nine of them have records of 4-4 or 3-5, including the Hoosiers.

The only real suggestion that the conference has just gotten better top to bottom, is the apparent emergence of Northwestern, who looks poised to make their first ever appearance in the NCAA tournament come March. The Wildcats are 17-4, and 6-2 in B1G play, and only play the top three teams in the conference in a combined four games this season with only two on the road.

Of course, Northwestern's apparent success could be a product of a mediocre B1G this season, but for Northwestern's sake (and the rest of the B1G), we'll just have to wait and see.

As for the rest of the conference, right now the only "locks" for the tournament are Maryland (18-2, 6-1), Wisconsin (17-3, 6-1), Purdue (17-4, 6-2), and the aforementioned Wildcats. 

After the top four, Michigan (14-7, 4-4) and Indiana (14-7, 4-4) seem most likely to make a push for March, but they have just one win away from home between the two of them. That wouldn't be so bad in a regularly strong B1G, but both teams have looked pitiful on the road at times. Michigan shot a dismal 19.2% from the field earlier this year at South Carolina, lost in overtime at 11-10 Iowa,and lost by nearly 20 on the road against an Illinois team that has looked far from a powerhouse. For the sake of the Hoosier fans, we'll just say read above for their road resume, but they do have the only road win between the two schools (albeit it was at Penn State...).

It is still possible that in the last month or so of conference play a few teams go on runs and the B1G is again well represented in March, but as it stands, the conference could see its least number of teams in the Big Dance since 2010 when only five teams represented the conference in March.

The Not Talked About Stars of the NBA

Often times teams have players that are crucial to the team's success, and go unnoticed by the casual fan, until that team makes national headlines. Take the Spurs' Danny Green, Kyle Korver prior to his All-Star appearance in 2014-15, the Cavs' Tristan Thompson, the list goes on. But what about the players that are performing at an almost All-Star level that get swept aside? The "best of the rest", or guys who play in smaller markets on teams not constantly televised by ESPN or TNT.

Here's a lineup of guys with some pretty outstanding statistical lines that are not talked about nearly enough.

Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas

I know, I know, this guy was almost a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star team this year, but his stats are out of this world. Oh, and he's 5'9" (or so the roster says). The Celtics point guard has his team just 1.5 games out of the 2 seed in the East, and is 2nd in the league in scoring behind the other guy who got snubbed from starting the All-Star game.

So why is he not talked about enough? Well for starters (pun intended), he should be starting the All-Star game. If that's not enough, he's making his case for the best 6'0" and under guard in NBA history. Now I know what you're thinking, no way he's better than Allen Iverson. Well at least this year, he has been. Thomas is averaging 28.9 points per game, shooting 46% from the field, 38% from three, dishing out 6 assists a night, and is doing all of it in 34 minutes per game. Now, in Iverson's best years for each of those categories, he averaged 31.4 ppg, shot 46% from the field, 36% from deep, and dished out 7.9 apg. Slight nod to Iverson right? Wrong, Iverson averaged 41 minutes per game for his career and 3.6 turnovers (Thomas only turns it over 2.5 times a game).

So yes, the media and fans are taking notice and talking about Isaiah, but even now they should be talking about him more. He's nothing less than incredible, and again, FIVE FOOT NINE.

Shooting Guard: Eric Gordon

The former 7th overall pick has struggled to find his footing in the league, that is, until he made his way to Houston and offensive guru Mike D'Antoni. Gordon is 2nd in the NBA in made three pointers behind only Stephen Curry, and doing so at a 39% clip. He's also scoring his most points per game (17.4) since the 2010-11 season, in only 30 minutes per game.

Most impressively, he's doing all of this coming off the bench on a team that is just 3.5 games back of the San Antonio Spurs for the 2 seed in the Western Conference. Now, some people may see his 42% shooting percentage and worry, but more than half of Gordon's attempts come from beyond the arc, inside the arc he's shooting a respectable 47%.

Obviously, some of Gordon's resurgence is thanks to D'Antoni's analytics crazy offense, but playing the role as well as Gordon has is definitely worth talking about.

Small Forward: Gordon Hayward

There's been very little talk about Gordon Hayward since his half court game winning buzzer beater just missed winning Butler a national title. He's not even the most talked about member from that team that's now in the NBA (ok, it's hard to top Brad Stevens...). But now in his seventh season (what?!?!), Hayward is the leader of a young Utah Jazz team that is the best team that no one talks about.

Hayward is averaging 21.8 ppg and leading his Jazz squad to just a game back of the 4 seed in the West. Sure, Hayward isn't on the level of the NBA's elite small forwards, but not everyone can be Lebron James, Kevin Durant, or Kawhi Leonard. Hayward's numbers this year are comparable or better than the likes of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, and his team is in a much better position.

Who knows, maybe the Jazz will be the NBA's Butler sometime in the near future.

Power Forward: Jabari Parker

After his injury shortly after the start of his rookie season, many basketball fans had already settled the debate of Parker vs. Andrew Wiggins (the top 2 picks of the 2014 NBA Draft), as Wiggins won the Rookie of the Year award. But fast forward a year and a half, to a healthy Jabari, and it's time to reopen the debate.

As the less talked about half of what is becoming a fearsome front-court duo in Milwaukee, Parker is averaging 20.4 ppg, on 49% shooting, and 40% from beyond the arc. Wiggins on the other hand is scoring 22 ppg, on 45% shooting and only 35% from deep. Jabari also holds the edge in rebounds, assists, and steals.

Parker's team is also closer to a playoff spot (currently 9th in the East), and upon the return of Khris Middleton, could easily make some noise come playoff time.

Center: Rudy Gobert

The Stifle Tower has been just as important for the league's least talked about really good team as Gordon Hayward. His scoring numbers might not be as pretty (12.8 ppg) as some centers, but he is certainly just as effective.

Gobert leads the NBA in blocks per game (2.5) and defensive rating (97.8 per 100 possessions), is 2nd in the league in FG% (66%), is 4th in offensive rating (127.1 per 100), and 5th in rebounds per game (12.6).

We can only hope that the Jazz match up with the Warriors in the playoffs so fans can see for themselves what's brewing in Utah. The Jazz already have wins over all but two of the teams in the West currently in a playoff spot.

Is Duke REALLY Missing Coach K?

Don't get me wrong, Kryzewski is probably the greatest college basketball coach of all time, and his absence certainly hurts the team, but is that really the issue for Duke right now? Maybe they just aren't an elite team this year.

The Blue Devils have no shortage of offensive talent, Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard, and Jayson Tatum are phenomenal. However, there are two major factors that seem to be being over looked about this year's Duke team: Depth and parity.

Since the start of conference play, the Blue Devils have struggled to compete with the other top teams in the ACC (parity). However, much of this is due to a lack of production from anyone not named Luke Kennard or Jayson Tatum (and sometimes Matt Jones).

One of the key issues for Duke has been Grayson Allen, and I'm not talking about his tripping addiction. The pre-season Player of the Year favorite has also hit a bit of a rough patch performance wise, during ACC play Allen's scoring has dropped to 13.2 ppg, and is shooting only 25% from beyond the arc.

Some of Allen's struggles have been masked by the production of Kennard and Tatum (combined 35.9 ppg, 51% FG), but with very little offensive production from big men, the Blue Devils need all three stars to produce consistently.

Speaking of the big men, Amile Jefferson (8.8 ppg in ACC play) is a great role player, but he just doesn't have the elite size or athleticism that Duke needs to reach the next level. On the other hand, freshman Harry Giles does have the size and athleticism Duke needs, but the very limited time Giles has spent on the court over the past two years has shown early on since his return from injury.

The other little talked about factor in Duke's "struggles" this year is the parity not only in college basketball nationwide, but specifically in the ACC. Including the Blue Devils, six ACC teams are currently in the top 20, and two more have been as high as 20 at earlier points in the season.

More directly, three of Duke's five losses have come to teams currently in the top 15, and the other two on the road at 15-4 Virginia Tech and at the hands of an incredible individual performance by future lottery pick Dennis Smith (32 points and 6 assists) and NC State.

So what does this all mean for the Blue Devils as they head into February in an unfamiliar place in the middle of the pack in the ACC?

First, these losses are not the end of the world. With the exception of the most recent loss to NC State at home, all of Duke's losses have been against quality teams on the road.

Second, a run deep into March is far from out of the question. With Coach K set to return in a couple weeks, the steady improvement of Harry Giles, the likely return of Grayson Allen to his usual level of performance, and the ever-growing chemistry of this team with its now healthy pieces (except for their coach), this team has the talent to simply outscore anyone, and probably the best collegiate coach of all time.

Third, maybe the expectations were set to high. Of course every team wants to win a national title every year, and Duke often has a better shot than most teams, but last year's team lost in the Sweet Sixteen, and lost arguably their best player in number 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram. It's easy to get swept up in the hype of highly touted freshman, but the last several years have shown the importance of experience and chemistry, and those things take time.

Lastly, don't put all the blame on Coach K's surgery. However unlikely it may be that Duke would have dropped Monday night's game at home against NC State had Kryzewski been on the sideline, the Blue Devils had already dropped two contests with Coach K with the team. Since his surgery the losses have come more often, but that is partially due to an increase in level of competition. This team is just now getting healthy, and has only shown spurts of how good they can really be (take a look at their second half against Miami from this past weekend).