Christian Wood should thrive with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks, Stephen Noh of the Sporting News writes. Noh, who examines how Wood will blend his talents with the Dallas superstar, also takes a closer look at how Donte DiVincenzo (Warriors), Bruce Brown (Nuggets) and De’Anthony Melton (Sixers) could benefit after a change of scenery.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Former NBA big man Kyle O’Quinn has signed with the Japanese team, SeaHorses Mikawa, according to a team press release. O’Quinn played in France and Turkey after his last NBA appearance, a 29-game stint with Philadelphia during the 2019/20 season.
- LeBron James, CJ McCollum, Jaylen Brown, Jerami Grant and Nikola Vucevic are among numerous notable players who are eligible to sign veteran extensions and are legitimate candidates to get them done. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report examines what those extensions, among others, might look like.
- Which 10 teams have improved the least this offseason? The Athletic’s David Aldridge takes his annual look at whether teams have gotten better or worse since the end of last season. The Spurs sit at the lowest end of the spectrum, with the Pacers, Hornets, Jazz and Lakers also in the bottom five.
Wood can easily win MIP this upcoming year. Anfrenee Simons is probably my go to pick but Wood averaged 17 and 10 last year and I think with Luka giving him easy open looks he could average 26 and 10, especially with him playing the 4 being more put in the perimeter. Also amazing for PR action and lobs
Yes, the Lakers had a bad offseason, and so did the Hornets thanks to Miles Bridges.
Pacers, Spurs and Jazz may all have had a great offseason as making the decision to rebuild, rather than delay the inevitable, is in many ways a win, and not a loss.
My off-season grade
Lakers F last summer
Lakers F this summer
Why?
Lakers are title contender according to Vegas
You don’t compare Lakers to full rebuild teams
3 bad things
Westbrook opt in, not sacrifice
Irving did not sign $6 million contract with Lakers to win championships, not sacrifice
Monk did not stay with Lakers
They gonna sacrifice Reaves to the basketball gods though, so all is good.
Aldridge is an idiot if he thinks the Jazz have had a bad or “down” offseason. Geez.