If you’ve read Part 1, you might be able to guess my basic objectives. I want to raise the level of competition from the bottom up, by encouraging all teams to try to win. I want to increase the likelihood that well-run organizations can meaningfully contend. And I want to … [Read more...]
Five Underrated NBA Draft Prospects
A couple days ago I wrote about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as my pick for the most underrated prospect in the 2018 NBA Draft. Now I’ll fill out my all-underrated lineup around him, starting with De’Anthony Melton. Scroll down for write-ups on Zhaire Smith, Josh Okogie, and Gary … [Read more...]
2018’s Most Underrated NBA Draft Prospect
Last year I wrote about my scouting philosophy and the types of players I typically rate higher than the consensus. In short, I often prefer (i) more versatile players over ones with a signature skill, (ii) those who pass well, (iii) those who’ve demonstrated functional … [Read more...]
Just Do It: A Simple Solution to Tanking
The NBA draft lottery is tomorrow. Thus, before I get to my annual thoughts on NBA draft prospects, I wanted to address a related issue: the NBA’s tanking epidemic. I define tanking to occur when a team makes roster or lineup decisions based on a desire to lose rather than a … [Read more...]
3 Lessons from the Trade Deadline: (#1) Everyone Trusts The Process; Won’t Deal Pick for ‘Just a Guy’
According to nba.com’s Trade Tracker, there were 16 trades from January through the trade deadline, involving about 40 players but only 3 first-round picks. That last number is particularly notable, as it represents somewhat of a departure from prior years. Unlike previous … [Read more...]