The Dugout – What Happens In Vegas
What Happens In Vegas
Well, dammit, wouldn’t you believe… the San Antonio Spurs won the bloody Summer League in Vegas. As if they hadn’t had a good enough offseason already. Becky Hammon coaching them to glory, Kyle Anderson winning MVP. Jonathon Simmons scored 23 in the final with Treveon Graham adding 22. Where are they gonna fit all these players?
One thing’s for sure, Kyle Anderson must be close to cracking that rotation full time.
Meanwhile at the less prestigious and interesting Orlando Summer League a couple weeks back, the Memphis Grizzlies were victorious with Orlando's Aaron Gordon taking the MVP. Except that Gordon then went and fractured his jaw while "horsing around" with his brother.
Vegas First Team
Vegas Second Team
Lawless Ty Lawson
Poor Ty Lawson called it during the draft, that he’d be traded. As soon as the Denver Nuggets picked Emmanuel Mudiay, the writing was on the wall and he could read it. In a live vid that ended up online, Lawson predicted Sacramento as his eventual home but as it turns out it’ll be Houston.
Lawson’s been traded to the Rockets in exchange for a future first rounder (with a second round pick going the other way) and a whole bunch of filler players, which is a pretty fine haul for the Nuggets. Granted, nowhere near what they might have gotten had they traded him at the deadline last season (though they didn’t know then that Mudiay would fall low enough on the draft board for them to swoop at seventh).
The reason his stock fell that much lower (they’d have gotten at least another pick with him six months ago) probably has something to do with the fact that Lawson’s had two separate DUI’s in 2015 and is currently chilling in a rehab facility.
It’s a solid move from the Rockets too though, they’re taking on a risk, sure, but when healthy and motivated, Lawson is one of the better point guards in the NBA – a position the Western Conference finalists struggled with last season after Patrick Beverley got injured. Meanwhile the Nuggets are just hoping they don’t suck as bad in 2015-16. New coach Mike Malone is saying positive things at least.
By the way, Mudiay has been slaying folks at the NBA Summer League in Vegas. He’s a Rookie of the Year candidate for sure.
NBA Offseason Moves Power Rankings:
- San Antonio Spurs
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Miami Heat
- Milwaukee Bucks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Chicago Bulls
- Golden State Warriors
Fun Fact
Lance Stephenson's brother is named Lantz Stephenson. Like, for real. And their dad is Lance Stephenson Snr.
Brandon Phillips, Flair Level 100
Guys, Don’t Leave Your NFL Players Locked In Hot Cars
Iggy’s Playin’ Y’all
Maddening Rooks
Tough Calls Indeed
Wild Rumour of the Week
Here’s one for ya. Some hushed whispers (even more hushed than regular whispers) have nonetheless been overheard suggesting that perhaps Kevin Durant will put off his impending free agency by signing a single year extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’d mean having two shots at a title with the current core, it’d mean synching his free agency with Russell Westbrook’s in 2017 and it’d mean hitting the open market when the cap explodes to north of $100m. Makes sense, right?
Quote of the Week:
Hmm…
Good Week:
Zack Greinke (LA Dodgers) – It has now been 43 & 2/3 innings since Greinke last conceded a run. That streak covers six starts and is the longest in the majors since Orel Hershiser’s MLB record 59 scoreless in 1988. Though to be fair, ZG did cop a homer to Mike Trout in the All Star Game… that just doesn’t count is all.
The NFL – The 2014 season saw a total natinoal revenue of over US$7 billion, which has been split between the teams. That’s more than double what they made in 2011. Soooo much money.
Brett Favre (Retired) – Inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, they love him again in Wisconsin! Finally, we can all rest easy once more.
Bad Week:
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) – According to sources, the injury that’ll keep the 2014 third overall draft pick out for a second consecutive season is even worse than first reported. It had been said he’d had a set-back that’d need surgery, now it sounds like he’s actually broken his foot again. “Less healing than anticipated at this point” was what the statement said. No kidding.
New York Mets – The good news? The Mets went 19 innings in a row putting a runner in scoring position. The bad? Over their last 9 games they’re 4-72 with runners in scoring position.
Player of the Week:
Kyle Anderson (San Antonio Spurs) – MVP of the Vegas Summer League, just what the Spurs need: another gun player. Anderson played 33 times last season as a rookie after being drafted 30th overall. Win the bloody championship and still draft a steal, typical Spurs. He’s smooth and languid wingman, who’ll probably get some good minutes if he can develop his three ball the way the rest of his game is going. Shout out to him.