Zimbra

KU just won the World University Games Championship! They beat Germany in 2OT in the finals. Wayne Selden was a beast through almost all the tournament. He's playing with more energy and explosiveness than he has in the past 2 years, so hopefully that means he's over all of his lingering injuries and can step up this year.

OK, I got a little excited. I'd still say top-10, though. If we're talking about him as a PF, then he's #1 and there's a pretty big gulf between him and #2. Don't agree that there's such a big gulf between him and Malone/Barkley/Garnett, but I wouldn't argue with him being #1. And yeah, definitely PF. If we're talking centers, he's not top 5. I think I'd put him #4 for centers with Russell, Wilt, and Kareem ahead of him.

OK, I got a little excited. I'd still say top-10, though. If we're talking about him as a PF, then he's #1 and there's a pretty big gulf between him and #2.

The difference between Timmy and Dirk is that Timmy has taken a pay cut to keep a core together and Dirk took a paycut for a promise of something that has been proven to be make believe. The thing is that Dirk's had multiple teams that had solid cores, but they've broken up those cores multiple times. They let Nash walk before he became a multiple time MVP(I get the health concerns, but still). They let Tyson Chandler go, before bringing back the washed up version. They never really get any of the free agents they go after, despite the fact that they are always reported to be on players short lists. That also doesn't take into account that they can afford to pay Dirk and sign another all star caliber player. The Mavs aren't giving that money to superstars, they are giving that money to people who will never make an all star team. The Spurs are paying a group of players three of which will most likely be in the hall of fame. Believe me, I'm wasn't trying to defend Dallas' front office acumen, just the particular case of Dirk's contract. If it weren't for the title in 2011 they would be getting savaged by media and the fans even more than they already are, and rightfully so. Cool fact: Dallas hasn't drafted a player who has played productive minutes for them since Josh Howard in 2003.

I don't think you can really put that on Cuban. Dirk could have gotten more money elsewhere, and almost certainly could have gotten more money out of Dallas if he'd tried. But he (and Timmy D, who is a top-5 all-timer who will make $5M next year) made their choices about what was important to them and made deals accordingly. I think you can debate whether it's better to go that route or the Kobe route, but they're both valid choices made by fully-informed players. If you want to nail Cuban nail him for constantly fucking up with that extra money he's saving from Dirk.

It could be worse, Dallas was almost the team to give him a terrible contract last time he was an FA. At least this way you'll get his dried-out husk for a reasonable price.

Remember a couple of years ago when the Raptors made that offer sheet to Landry Fields with the crazy poison pill salary bump so the Knicks wouldn't match? And then the Raptors realized they were stuck with Landry Fields on an untradeable contract? That's what this Kanter thing feels like.

I will always hate Hakim Warrick for that block at the end of 2003 NCAA championship game even though I really enjoyed watching him play in the NBA.

!!!!!

Paul Pierce tweeting a jpeg of an emoji is old man as hell and I love it.

Daaaaamn that's cold-blooded, Dolfan.

How fucked up do things have to be in Indiana for this to happen? Why hasn't there been a Woj hit piece about that locker room yet?

Baynes signed with Detroit yesterday. I guess Diaw is the backup center?

Look out for my incoming longform piece "Nik Stauskas has an NBA contract and still uses Cricket like my high school drug dealer"

I'm bullish on the Bucks because they seem to have a clear plan and identity that really fits in with where the league is going. They're a team that is going to attack ball-handlers, switch on screens, and try to force teams into bad shots. The offense could still use some work (someone on twitter joked that the Bucks are the Warriors if the Warriors shot 10% from 3) but it's getting there. Adding Parker and his shooting should help spread the floor for MCW and Giannis to attack the basket.

The Bucks will be the ones overpaying Monroe.

Khris Middleton gets 5yrs/$70M from the Bucks. I'm totally fine with that number, even if he was playing at or near his ceiling last year.

The Kings want Calipari to coach AND run their front office. Please, basketball Jesus, I don't ask for much but I need this to happen.

Goddamit, why couldn't he have retired after last season, gone out on a high note, and UW could have chased Smart or Marshall? Oh well, I'll enjoy his victory lap, even if the team won't be very good. We'll see where the program goes from here. I'm guessing Bo's lead assistant gets a crack at it for a year or two, but unless he's the second coming they'll go for a sexier hire soon.

"Look around. This is your future" is the cruelest thing you could say to Porzingis.

Kevin Love is opting out. This should be fun.

I didn't think anyone would make new uniforms worse than the Clippers' but Atlanta proved me wrong.

Can we talk about how bonkers that is for the Knicks? Starting PF is the one roster position that they really have covered, so of course they chase a PF in free agency.

Clippers are so boned next year. They've got $59M tied up in 8 players and have to try and re-sign DeAndre and fill out their roster. Even if they decline the option on Crawford and Hudson that only saves them about $7M. And I'm not sure the ownership (or CP3) are going to go along with burning a year before the cap goes up and they can make some signings. I expect them to do something exceedingly foolish in the offseason. The Bucks sent Ilyasova to the Pistons for... it doesn't matter because they're getting waived. Now Milwaukee has the cap room to chase a FA center, and it pretty much closes the door on Monroe coming back to the Pistons.

Whitlock is reportedly out as the head of The Undefeated (AKA Black Grantland). Leon Carter will be taking over on an interim basis. I am completely unsurprised.