The Wildcard’s Winners and Losers from the NBA Draft

Biggest Winners

Anthony Bennett – Who picked this one? Probably just the Cavs. First overall selection despite the odds, quite the day for the Canadian forward out of UNLV.

Steven Adams – Wow. Portland was the highest plausible chance for Adams to be drafted, but they picked highly rated guard Michael Carter-Williams, and once Philadelphia traded for Nerlens Noel Oklahoma City were free to draft the 7 footed kiwi. What a great deal for Adams. I was thinking maybe late teens in terms of picks. No New Zealander has ever been drafted this high before (in fact only Sean Marks had ever been drafted at all from NZ) so to go 12th is an incredible achievement for New Zealand sport in general. Even though it has been acknowledged that Adams is a raw talent, and will therefore probably spend a bit of time in the Development League, this is nothing but a huge victory for Steven. OKC are a title contending team, and hopefully Adams can have an impact late in the season. Special highlights included David Stern trying to get his tongue around the name Rotorua.

Minnesota Timberwolves – I love where these guys are going. A lot of young players, headlined by Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love give Minnesota a strong core, and as good as Trey Burke is, they got great value in trading down for Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng. If they land OJ Mayo as they hope too, this is a dangerous team.

Sacramento Kings – With Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum to go with current King Isaiah Thomas, the Kings have got themselves a handy backcourt.

International Players – 12 international born players went in the first round, more than ever before.

David Stern – There is a reason why the NBA is the most globally appealing league out of the big 4 in the US. Stern is a great part of that reason. After 30 years, he is stepping down as commissioner, but he still spoke through a chorus of boos all night. And he loved every minute of it. Bringing Hakeem Olajuwon, the first pick Stern ever announced, out to help present the last one he will ever announce, was a lovely touch too. Hakeem even wore his 1983 suit.

Biggest Losers

Boston Celtics – Ouch. I know it’s not really draft related, but that Garnett/Pierce/Terry trade signals once and for all where this team is headed and it’s not to the finals. Boston is firmly in rebuilding mode with almost nobody left on the team other than Rondo. It was a sad day for Celtics fans. At least Kelly Olynyk is a decent player.

Charlotte Bobcats – They only had the one pick, but it was the fourth one on the board, so they really should have gotten better quality than Cody Zeller, who is a talented guy, but with Nerlens Noel, Alex Len and Ben McLemore still around, this was pretty surprising. Will he be the scorer that Charlotte so desperately need?

Detroit Pistons – For a team who need a guard more than anyone, they passed up potential stars like Trey Burke, Michael Carter-Williams and C.J. McCollum for the safe option in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. ‘Safe’ won’t get you into the playoffs though.

Other Notables

Nerlens Noel – He was touted as the favourite for the first pick. He looked lost and confused for a while, but once his name was called (6th overall) all was fine. He was drafted by New Orleans, which set up a curious roster situation with Anthony Davis, dubbed “Block Party” by the experts, but it was soon cleared up when Philadelphia traded for Noel. That trade was a massive talking point too, with all-star guard Jrue Holiday on his way to the Pelicans.

Dallas Mavericks – They predictably traded down, but got good value of it with Shane Larkin and a gamble on Ricky Ledo. You can see where this is going for Dallas though, dumping cap space for a run at Dwight Howard in free agency. If they get him it’ll all be worthwhile. If he goes to Houston instead, which a lot of experts are suggesting he should, there isn’t really a plan B. Boom or bust for the Mavs.

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What's In A Name: Institutional Racism and The Washington Redskins

Team names can say a lot about the organisation that they represent. Having said that, they can just as easily mean nothing beyond a particularly arranged set of letters and an obsolete theme or idea. The All Blacks are so-named because they wear black jerseys (though not literally ‘all’ black anymore). The Miami Heat, well, it gets pretty toasty in Florida. The Highlanders and the Chiefs in New Zealand rugby respectfully pay tribute to local cultural legacies while, say, the Melbourne Storm or Canberra Raiders names are more just example of badass imagery meant as a way of establishing an identity of intimidation and strength.

The NFL’s Washington Redskins have a problem with their name. As a franchise with great history and a well-recognised brand, they now finally seem poised to become a driving force once more, both on and off the field, thanks to one Robert Griffin III. RG3’s jersey is the highest selling jersey in the league, and his play on the field took the ‘Skins on their best playoff run for a long time. He is now the face of the brand and all it represents. But what exactly does it represent? Is their name racist?

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The Wildcard’s Spontaneous Ruminations on the NBA Finals

Well, the best team won in the end. I don’t think many will argue that. Miami took the opportunities that came to them; while San Antonio will be rueing their owned missed chances. It was a great series, one for the ages, the most competitive since at least Boston and LA went seven games a few years back. But the Heat were the best team all season. They’ve earned this.
When LeBron hit that jump shot to make it a two possession game with 29 seconds left, and effectively sealed the title, he also secured his legacy. With that shot, and the championship and MVP award that came with it, he is surely now untouchable. He was outstanding today, as he so often is in deciding games. Long gone are the choking taunts, and his talent is impenetrable. The jump shot was his closest thing to a weakness on attack once, but no longer. He can actually do it all: Flawless offense, brutal and effective defence (seriously limiting Tony Parker’s production), clutch plays and intelligent decisions. A few years back he would have passed up that jumper, but it was telling that he held it and ensured that the defining moment of the game was his alone. And he nailed it. As Magic Johnson said afterwards, the only question now is not of his deserving a mention with the immortals, but just where he’ll finish up amongst them.
You have to feel for the Spurs though. They competed so bravely, especially today after the heartbreak of game 6...

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The Ones That Got Away: Sport's Biggest Chokes

It is said that for every great comeback victory there is an equal or greater choke. And as great as Miami’s comeback was in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, San Antonio sure blew it. I don’t know that a team has ever been so close to winning an NBA title, only to let it slip away like that. The crowd was being cordoned off; the trophy was being readied for presentation; Commissioner David Stern was probably preparing his speech. But missed free throws, missed rebounds and curious substitutions came back to hurt the Spurs. This was not like any other defeat they will have suffered before. This was crushing. Devastating. You just don’t recover from a loss like that, not ever, least of all not in two days’ time for a Game 7. A game like that can haunts you with a lifetime of regret, of bitterness. In some ways, the narrow losses mean more than the victories. Like a tattoo you wished you never got, it both scars you and it defines you. The San Antonio Spurs are not alone.

Here are five of the biggest chokes of all time:

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Journalists Unite! It's Tebow Time in New England

In the midst of the NBA finals and the Stanley Cup, in a week where we have seen bench clearing brawls in the MLB, the biggest story in American sports was the New England Patriots signing a backup quarterback who was cut by the Jets (The NFL equivalent of being turned down by Amanda Bynes). It doesn’t sound like anything more than a side note from preseason NFL training camps when put like that. But that quarterback happens to be a former Heismann Trophy winner and the most polarising American since G.W. Bush. He is Timothy Richard Tebow.

Why the media circus? Well, a number of reasons. Tim Tebow rose to fame as the starting QB for the Florida Gators in 2007, where his breakout sophomore season led to that Heisman Trophy for young Timmy, and the first of two BCS national championships. He was always an unorthodox quarterback, more capable as a runner than as a passer. His outspoken and devout Christian beliefs won him legions of fans and detractors both. His habitual on-field prayers, and especially the pose that accompanies them, became the national trend known now as ‘tebowing’. Then there was the ‘Tebow Rule’, which prohibits...

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Today In History: Dock Ellis Throws a No-Hitter On LSD

There is a major investigation going on into drugs in baseball right now. But instead of another preachy article, here's a video that some talented folks put together about the good old days before compulsory PED testing, before the steroid age, although after Aldous Huxley and The Doors of Perception.

For the uninitiated, a no hitter is a very big deal. There have only been 279 since 1885. Many would have been thrown on steroids. Only one was ever thrown on acid.

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The Blueprint

Pro Sports' New Super Agent: Jay Z. Yes, THAT Jay Z

Occasionally, I find myself feeling worried about the encroaching commercialism in sports. Then a story such as this one comes along and suddenly it doesn’t seem so bad. Like when New York Yankees second baseman and perennial all-star Robinson Cano dumped revered uber-agent Scott Boras and signed instead with none other than Mr Shawn Carter: Jay Z himself.

This is a huge deal, with wide ranging effects for both men, and indeed the future of sports agency. Cano is not just some ballplayer. He’s the best hitter on the biggest team: a serious MVP candidate and one of the very best in his position. Signing him is a clear statement of intent for Jay Z and his ever expanding entertainment empire. It’s also great news for Yankees fans, as I’ll come to soon...

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Here's Thinking Of You, Kidd

I’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to one of the great basketballers of his generation, Jason Kidd, who announced his retirement from the game last week. After 19 years in the NBA, we have seen the last clever steal, the last sneaky rebound, the last incisive assist from a man who specialised in these small accomplishments like no one else in his era. He’ll be inducted without question into the NBA Hall of Fame at the very first opportunity, which is no less than his contributions to the game deserve.

You see, in an age of individualist expression and superstar egos, Jason Kidd was always a team player before anything else. He has his share of issues off the court, not the least of which a messy divorce and an even messier music career, but on the court he was the most consistent point guard of his generation, Steve Nash notwithstanding. Only John Stockton has more career assists and steals. Kidd is third all time...

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