Draft Dodgin': Solving Tanking in the NBA

Is there any conceivable way to solve the tanking epidemic in the NBA? Many have thrown out proposals ranging from a 14-team, winner-take-all playoff system, to betting on “future success” of franchises. All of these proposals offer significant upgrades to the obsolete, ping-pong ball style system that is the NBA Draft Lottery, but are still riddled with potential pitfalls. I say this not because I feel these concepts can’t work, but because teams will eventually figure out ways to beat the system (I’m looking at you, Philadelphia 76ers). That being said, let me offer my not-so-perfect, perfectly-flawed proposal to prevent tanking in the NBA, as well as possibly improve player development.

Implement MLB style draft

Let’s allow high school prospects to declare themselves eligible for the NBA Draft, but with a twist. Advocates of the prep-to-pro argument will have no problem throwing out names like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard, while those in opposition will be quick to cite the disappointing careers of Darius Miles, Kwame Brown, DeSagana Diop, Robert Swift, and Martell Webster. As risky as this concept may be, the NBA, like all professional sports is based on two things; age and potential. Here’s my simplistic approach.

*Players chosen out of high school may decline to sign with the team that drafted them, on the condition they enroll in a college/university for a minimum of two years before re-declaring in a future draft. *

Why it will work:

·         Ready-made players, such as those mentioned above, will be able to develop their game against top-tier talent in the NBA without wasting critical time/years spent at college with coaching staffs who seem overwhelmed and unfit to handle high-caliber players (such LSU’s Ben Simmons, who looked bored and uninterested, while receiving little to no direction from coach Johnny Jones).

·         Knowing drafted players may decline to sign with their prospective team’s will force GM’s and franchises who are “habitual tankers” to try to consistently improve, rather than packing it in after they’ve officially been eliminated from playoff contention. Franchises who are unable to sign their first-round picks will be awarded compensatory picks in future drafts (released during the offseason, as to further prevent in-season tanking). -injuries, trades, free-agent signings/losses, and record will determine the overall value of the pick-

·         NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated publicly he’s in support of raising the age restriction from 19 to 20, so this helps further his plan to “extend development” and lessen the likelihood of draft-day busts.

·         Two years in college will allow NBA scouts more time to evaluate prospects and determine growth and potential.

·         Prep stars who are less polished out of high school (such as Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, and Dorell Wright) have the ability to hone their craft and in turn have a higher likelihood of making an instant impact on an NBA roster, instead of being career journeymen, D-Leaguer’s, or out of the league after a few years.

·         The NCAA will LOVE this because it’ll allow them to corral talented players for an extra year, and that means one thing….$$$$$$

Why it won’t work:

·         Possibility of immature prospects getting an instant “diva” complex by thinking they are too good to play for certain franchises, thus potentially making them uncoachable.

·         As always, risk of injury during college playing career while being considered a high draft choice.

·         Potential to hinder progress of young franchises that have taken risks in free-agency, trade market, and player retention (look at the New Orleans Pelicans in the last few seasons).

·         If the NCAA is on board with policy changes that affect the NBA, that alone should be reason to pause.

Will this solve issues with the NBA Draft, its lottery system, and tanking in general? Probably not, but who knows where the evolution of the NBA and its changes will take the game; four-point shots, elimination of the Hack-a-Shaq/Howard/Jordan/Drummond, or a plethora of high-tech cameras that replace the human element of officiating? Who knows what we’ll see in the future, but it’s amusing to think about.

What's Yours (Should Be) Mine: Brief History of "The Move"

Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports

The 2016 NFL season will have some historical, albeit depressing significance (for some), as it will mark the 20^th anniversary of the first kick-off in Baltimore Ravens franchise history. Or if you choose to look at it from the perspective of a Northeast Ohioan, the 20^th anniversary since the city of Cleveland was forced to miserably watch as ‘its team’ made the move to Maryland, and then go on to become one of the most successful franchises in recent memory. We’ll have a brief look at why the Cleveland Browns fan base should feel angered, slighted and even emphatically pissed, as well as why there might be a glimmer of hope for the future of this seemingly floundering franchise.

The 1996 offseason proved to be a mixed bag of emotions for fans caught in the middle of the relocation process. With the city of Cleveland no longer having a franchise to cheer for, (as the Browns wouldn’t be reinstated until the 1999 season as an expansion team) fans watched as the Ravens selected offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden (4^th overall), and linebacker Ray Lewis (26^th overall) in the first round of the 96’ Draft. Both would go one to have Hall of Fame careers (Lewis is not eligible until 2018, Ogden was elected in 2013), and while Ravens fans cheered, Browns fans were left feeling like a scorned ex-lover who is repetitively pondering ‘what if’ and ‘that should’ve been me us’. 

 Since the Browns’ reinstatement in 1999, they have amassed a record of 87-185, have had only two winning seasons, 2002 (in which they finished 9-7 and made their lone playoff appearance, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 33-36 in the Wild Card game), and again in 2007 (finished 10-6 but failed to make the playoffs due to the Tennessee Titans owning the tiebreaker). In the same time span, the Ravens have a record of 157-115, 10 playoff appearances (including Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012) against only four losing seasons (2002, 2005, 2007, 2015). 

John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

After drafting Joe Flacco in 2008, the Ravens have only used three other quarterbacks, all of which played in the 2015 season due to injury (Flacco tore his ACL/MCL in Week 11). The Browns? 15. Yes, I said…15! The list includes to likes of Johnny “Party-Like-a-Frat-Bro” Manziel, Brandon “Let’s-Take-a-28-Year-Old-Man-in-Round-One” Weeden, Brian “Four-Pick-Playoff-Game” Hoyer, and Ken “Noodle-Arm” Dorsey, to name a few. As you can tell, there are many, many, many, many, MANY reasons why fans in Cleveland should be disgusted and envious by what Baltimore has accomplished, but despite all the negativity in past seasons, there is reason to still believe.

A few days ago, Cleveland traded away the #2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the first-round (8^th overall), third-round (77^th overall) and fourth-round (100^th overall) picks this year, as well as a first-round pick in 2017 and second-round pick in 2018. This now gives them 12 picks in 2016, including six in the top 100. If the front office execs, as well as first-year head coach Hue Jackson have done their due diligence in the scouting department, this could be the year that reinvigorates the franchise and just might bring a little 'bite' back to the Dawg Pound.

The Jackie Moon Effect: Seeing Irony in the LeBron Led Cavaliers

If you haven’t seen the movie Semi-Pro starring Will Ferrell, allow me to give you a brief synopsis. Owner/GM/coach/player Jackie Moon takes the Flint Tropics from worst-to-first with a variety of personnel moves, questionable tactics, tough love and the invention of the alley-oop. Get it? Good. Cavalier fans may find parts of this storyline eerily similar to what’s actually unfolding in Cleveland. Are LeBron James and the Cavaliers the embodiment of this sports spoof? Let’s take a look at The Jackie Moon Effect.

Owner/GM LeBron

Jackie Moon traded away a washing machine for an old, used up Ed Monix, played by the great Woody Harrelson. LeBron James forced signed off on a similar deal in the Kevin Love for Andrew Wiggins trade. Wiggins is the washing machine for a number of reasons. He isn’t afraid to get dirty on D, he delicately glides through the paint with grace, and has added a patented spin cycle like finish to his repertoire. Love is Monix because he’s always banged up, seems to be a shell of his former self, and at times genuinely seems disinterested in his teammates. 

Now I know these comparisons are a stretch, but you get my point. Wiggins seems to be slowly progressing on the offensive end this year (20.8 PPG this year up from 16.9 PPG last year) playing alongside the likes of Zach LaVine and rookie sensation Karl-Anthony Towns. Love on the other hand seems to be regressing (shooting a dreadful 42% the second lowest of his career). It’s not as if he lacks skill or the ability to be a key player on this Cavs team, he just hasn’t proved to be the player that LeBron or the Cavaliers thought they were getting. We’ll come back to that in a minute.

Start the timer: other questionable moves include having a big hand in the 5-year, $82M deal signed by Tristan Thompson (9.7 PPG 8.6 RPG career average) who is represented by James’ friend and agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, as well as the 4-year, $40M resigning of Iman Shumpert, who seems to be more interested in his rap career (to his credit, he’s actually not that bad). *Through 54 games he’s shooting 37% and 29% from 3PT*

Time’s Up! Back to Love

James likes to be surrounded by big men who can stretch the floor and give him space to drive and create. At first glance, Love fits the same mold as former Miami Heat teammate Chris Bosh. Both are capable outside shooters with an ability to crash the offensive and defensive boards. Match made in heaven, right? Not exactly…Bosh (who doesn’t get enough credit I.M.O.) was the embodiment of both Love (offense) and Tristan Thompson (defense). He could shoot from mid-range, developed a reliable 3pt shot and had a sneaky back-to-the-basket game. On defense is where he really separates himself from Love. Unlike Love, he was able to effectively guard the pick-and-roll (playing either the roll man or hedging out and defending the shooter on a switch). Another overlooked part of his defense was his ability to alter and block shots around the rim. If you’ve yet see a Cavalier game, watch Love in both those aforementioned situations.

Spoiler: he plays D like a matador.

Coach LeBron

Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports

James went “full coach mode” during last year’s playoffs, most notably in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals when he changed coach David Blatt’s final play (James was to inbound the ball) and instead received the inbounds pass and took the final (game-winning) shot from the corner. It’s usually a good strategy to give the ball to your best player in crunch time, so I’ll give James a pass for that occurrence. However, during the NBA Finals against Golden State is where he officially took the job from Blatt.

This is what ESPN’s Marc Stein had to say,

“I saw it from close range in my role as sideline reporter through the Finals for ESPN Radio. LeBron essentially calling timeouts and making substitutions. LeBron openly barking at Blatt after decisions he didn’t like. LeBron huddling frequently with Lue and so often looking at anyone other than Blatt.

There was LeBron, in one instance I witnessed from right behind the bench, shaking his head vociferously in protest after one play Blatt drew up in the third quarter of Game 5, amounting to the loudest nonverbal scolding you could imagine.

Which forced Blatt, in front of his whole team, to wipe the board clean and draw up something else.”

Need I say anything else? No? Good!

Uncle Drew/Coffee Black

Kyrie “Uncle Drew” Irving is the equivalent of Clarence “Coffee Black” Withers played by Andre “3000” Benjamin. Both are great finishers, exceptional ball-handlers, owners of inflated egos, and have ZERO problem playing 1-vs-5 on the offensive end. In the movie, Withers was given a reality check about how he would never play in the NBA. It wouldn’t surprise me if Irving was given a similar reality check by LeBron in the upcoming weeks. 

Here are a few lines (tweaked slightly) from the movie that are all too fitting for Irving.

“And I got news for you Clarence Kyrie for all your flash, you are never gonna play in the NBA for another ring….one day you’re gonna look back at your life and you’re gonna realize that you never even learned how to play (team) BASKETBALL.” (followed by LeBron throwing 1 of his 2 rings at Irving)

Scarily similar, isn’t it? If Irving (who also folds like a lawn chair on defense) can learn to play less like Withers on offense, the young (he’s only 24) point guard may still have an opportunity to work his way back into the good graces of LeBron.

Now I know some of these comparisons are mostly exaggerated or even a bit harsh, but you can’t deny the similarities in both the Cavaliers and Tropics (unless you haven’t seen the movie…why are you still reading this…seriously, go watch the movie…NOW). Despite everything mentioned above, the Cavs are currently sitting in the top spot in the East with a record of 56-24, and while far from perfect, are still favored to advance to the NBA Finals for the second straight year.

The Flint Tropics Big-3 were able to put their egos aside and transform the team from (last place) losers to (fourth place) winners. Can Cleveland’s Big-3 do the same? Yes, but only if Irving and Love can pick up on LeBron’s version of E.L.E. (Everyone. Learn. Everything), if so they just might have a chance at winning one for “THE LAND.”

"Allow Myself to Introduce.....Myself "

Hello and welcome to HandDownFanDown- Sports Talk With a Twist. I’m Justin Shepherd or “Shep” for short. You may also refer to me as “Big Sexy,” much like the MarketPointe dining hall lady at the University of Cincinnati used to. The goal here is to give you a honey & Sriracha mix of sports stories, analysis and unique takes on all things basketball and football. Whether you want serious, silly or Steve Ballmer, you’ll get it all here! Feel free to comment and share (or not, I’m not your mother). Thank you and like J. Kidd said, “We’re gonna turn this team around 360 degrees.”

-Shep