2016 March Madness Bracket

I don't watch much college basketball. Until March, that is. This year's NCAA tournament is going to be more interesting than last year's, since instead of everyone wondering who can beat Kentucky, there are more teams that have a good chance at winning the championship. I made a bracket, and it is probably going to fail horribly. Of course, that's what makes March Madness so fun. Here are my predictions:

South

First Round

1 Kansas beats 16 Austin Peay

9 Connecticut beats 8 Colorado

12 South Dakota State beats 5 Maryland

4 California beats 13 Hawaii

6 Arizona beats 11 Wichita State

3 Miami beats 14 Buffalo

10 Temple beats 7 Iowa

2 Villanova beats 15 UNC Asheville

Second Round

1 Kansas beats 9 Connecticut

4 California beats 12 South Dakota State

3 Miami beats 6 Arizona

2 Villanova beats 10 Temple

Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight

1 Kansas beats 4 California

2 Villanova beats 3 Miami

1 Kansas beats 2 Villanova

West

First Round

1 Oregon beats 16 Holy Cross/Southern

8 Saint Joseph's beats 9 Cincinnati

5 Baylor beats 12 Yale

13 UNC Wilmington beats 4 Duke

11 Northern Iowa beats 6 Texas

3 Texas A&M beats 14 Green Bay

7 Oregon State beats 10 Virginia Commonwealth

2 Oklahoma beats 15 Cal St. Bakersfield

Second Round

8 Saint Joseph's beats 1 Oregon

5 Baylor beats 13 UNC Wilmington

3 Texas A&M beats 11 Northern Iowa

2 Oklahoma beats 7 Oregon State

Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight

5 Baylor beats 8 Saint Joseph's

3 Texas A&M beats 2 Oklahoma

3 Texas A&M beats 5 Baylor

East

First Round

1 North Carolina beats 16 Florida Gulf Coast

9 Providence beats 8 Southern California

5 Indiana beats 12 Chattanooga

4 Kentucky beats 13 Stony Brook

6 Notre Dame beats 11 Michigan/Tulsa

3 West Virginia beats 14 Stephen F. Austin

7 Wisconsin beats 10 Pittsburgh

2 Xavier beats 15 Weber State

Second Round

9 Providence beats 1 North Carolina

4 Kentucky beats 5 Indiana

3 West Virginia beats 6 Notre Dame

2 Xavier beats 7 Wisconsin

Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight

4 Kentucky beats 1 Providence

2 Xavier beats 3 West Virginia

2 Xavier beats 4 Kentucky

Midwest

First Round

1 Virginia beats 16 Hampton

9 Butler beats 8 Texas Tech

12 Little Rock beats 5 Purdue

4 Iowa State beats 13 Iona

6 Seton Hall beats 11 Gonzaga

3 Utah beats 14 Fresno State

7 Dayton beats 10 Syracuse

2 Michigan State beats 15 Middle Tennessee

Second Round

1 Virginia beats 9 Butler

4 Iowa State beats 12 Little Rock

6 Seton Hall beats 3 Utah

2 Michigan State beats 7 Dayton

Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight

4 Iowa State beats 1 Virginia

2 Michigan State beats 6 Seton Hall

4 Iowa State beats 2 Michigan State

Final Four

1 Kansas beats 3 Texas A&M

2 Xavier beats 4 Iowa State

National Championship

Kansas 78 - Xavier 70

I will probably end up laughing at how bad my predictions were by the end of the tournament, but hopefully my bracket doesn't completely fail. Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Feel free to leave a comment and tell me who your Final Four is.

Grading the 2016 Trade Deadline Deals

The trade deadline has passed, and several trades were made. There weren't any major trades, but some of them could have a big impact. Here are my thoughts about the trades that have happened in the past few days:

ESPN Trade Tracker

Courtney Lee to the Hornets

The Hornets only gave up a couple of bench players and second-round picks to get Courtney Lee. It was a good idea to add another shooting wing for a very low price. The Grizzlies got some second-round picks and some role players, but did not upgrade their roster. It was not a good trade for the Grizzlies, because they did not improve the team for this season, and the draft picks might not become good players in the future. The Heat also did not improve the roster very much, but Brian Roberts could improve their three-point shooting, which has been a big weakness.

Tobias Harris to the Pistons

The Orlando Magic traded one of their young players and got back little in return. Brandon Jennings has struggled coming back from injury and Ersan Ilyasova won't do much in the short-term or long-term. The Pistons upgraded their roster for both the present and the future. Tobias Harris, while not a great shooter, improved his three-point shooing last year and will probably only get better with the Pistons. The Magic may have chosen to give more minutes to certain players, but could end up regretting giving up Harris.

Jarnell Stokes to the Pelicans

This trade does basically nothing except cut the Heat's payroll.

Shelvin Mack to the Jazz

Shelvin Mack is not a starting point guard and only slightly adds to Utah's depth. The Hawks are not losing much.

Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton to the Pistons

The Pistons made another good trade and improved their depth while losing only a draft pick that could end up at 20 or lower, as well as Joel Anthony, who hardly played in Detroit and will hardly play in Houston. Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton are both good shooters who will provide quality minutes for a team that has a legitimate shot at getting home-court advantage in the playoffs. The Pistons have been trending upward lately and are closer to becoming a true contender.

Randy Foye to the Thunder

The Thunder decreased their payroll, but failed to improve the roster. Randy Foye has been declining the past two seasons and probably won't do much in Oklahoma City. The Nuggets didn't do much either, but at least will provide more entertainment for their fans this year.

Channing Frye to the Cavaliers

Channing Frye is a good shooting big and can fill Kevin Love's role in the offense when Love is on the bench by standing on the perimeter for 20 seconds at a time. The Cavaliers improved, but are still worse than the Warriors and the Spurs and might not even be better than the Thunder. The Trail Blazers got a free draft pick and the Magic got pretty much nothing.

Markieff Morris to the Wizards

The Wizards made a good decision by acquiring Markieff Morris, but gave up too much to get him, losing a first-round pick in the trade. Morris has struggled this season and giving up a first-rounder for him is too much, especially considering that the Wizards aren't likely to get very far this year. The Suns are just unloading players and trying to recover from the mess that their team that has become.

Kirk Hinrich to the Hawks

The Hawks replaced Mack with Kirk Hinrich. It was a minor move, but Hinrich is a better shooter than Mack.

Jeff Green to the Clippers

Getting Jeff Green in exchange for Lance Stephenson and a 2019 first-round pick was a very good trade for the Clippers. Stephenson was atrocious a season ago and is not much better this year, while Green is a capable scorer. The Clippers finally have a good, mature, starting small forward that doesn't have attitude problems. But what exactly are the Grizzlies doing? They probably could have gotten more for Green and are stuck in the 5-8 range of the playoffs. They won't get out of there unless they make a significant change to their roster.

2016 Trade Deadline Preview

With the trade deadline approaching quickly, teams will be looking to add to their roster to improve their chances of winning the championship, or rebuild and focus on the future. Here are some players that might be wearing a different uniform by tomorrow afternoon:

Jeff Teague and Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Neither Jeff Teague nor Al Horford are superstar players, but both are very good and can contribute a lot to a contender. The Hawks have reportedly been thinking about trading them. Kyle Korver might also be traded, but he has regressed this season and other teams might not want him as much. The Hawks have a replacement for Teague in Dennis Schroder, but replacing Horford would be much harder. The Hawks should try to get a backup point guard and a versatile wing player in exchange for Teague if they trade him. For the right return, they could upgrade their roster and become a serious threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers and Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
This is one strange rumor, with the Boston Celtics being mentioned. The Celtics have needed another go-to scorer, but why would they trade for Love? They already have several offensive-minded power forwards who struggle on defense, so why would they need to sacrifice depth for a player that does similar things to many players on their roster already? From Cleveland's side, trading for Carmelo Anthony could help the team slightly. He won't hurt them on defense much more than Love, and he would fit better in the offense, as he can score better from outside. It might cause the Cavs to slump if they shake up the roster, but adding Anthony might pay off in the postseason. The Knicks are in an awkward situation, with a star player on the roster but little help to surround him. They could choose to focus on the future and build around Kristaps Porzingis, but that could take a while and their fanbase probably wouldn't like that. It could be hard to trade Anthony and get a return that would help the Knicks improve quickly.

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
It might be time for the Rockets to start focusing more on James Harden and finding the best second option to play along with him. Dwight Howard currently fills that role, but he is no longer needed on the roster with Clint Capela ready to replace him. The Rockets need to get another playmaker or two to help out Harden, and trading Howard could get them the right players they need.

Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Blake Griffin is easily one of the best players in the NBA, but the Clippers should trade him if a team offers up a good package. Because of Chris Paul, the Clippers do fine without Griffin. They aren't quite at the level where they can beat the Spurs, Warriors, or Cavaliers, but trading Griffin would make their depth much better.

Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
If the Bulls believe that they won't be able to get very far in the playoffs and that Pau Gasol might leave the team as a free agent, they should move him. They are reportedly looking to trade him. The Bulls should try to get draft picks or young wing players in exchange for Pau.

Teams to Watch:

Boston Celtics
The Celtics need another star, and Horford and Howard are good fits with the Celtics because both players are good defensive players. Horford would fit better because he is a much better offensive player and can even shoot three-pointers.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Even if Kevin Love isn't traded, the Cavaliers could still make a more minor deal. The Cavs are reportedly willing to trade Iman Shumpert and should move him to whatever team is willing to take on his fat contract.

Philadelphia 76ers
I have a feeling someone is going to be traded for picks and the 76ers will prepare for the 2050 NBA season.

Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers have played surprisingly well, and should trade for a veteran under contract for a couple more years if they can.

Toronto Raptors
If the Raptors can make a move to bring them closer to the Cavs, it would be worth making, especially if it puts pressure on Cleveland. The Raptors need an upgrade at power forward, and should look to address their weakness.

If there's one thing about the trade deadline that is predictable, it's that you never know what to expect. It will be fun to watch and see what happens.

Why LeBron Might Not Win a Title in Cleveland

Last Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers made the shocking decision to fire head coach David Blatt. What makes the move especially surprising is that the Cavs had just won both games of a back-to-back against the Nets in Brooklyn and at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavs were a team that lasted six games against the 67-win Warriors in the NBA Finals last year. They were first in the Eastern Conference with a 30-11 record. And yet, they still chose to replace their coach.

The Cavaliers recovered nicely from their blowout loss to the Warriors the Monday before, and were coming off of a big win against the Clippers. It was a strange time to fire their coach, as it was in the middle of the season, and they were playing so well. It certainly wasn't an urgent move, as the Cavs were the favorites to win the East.

The firing of Blatt was more about the Cavaliers not getting as far as was expected of them. But a head coach shouldn't be fired after his team makes the finals. It also wasn't Blatt's fault that the Cavs couldn't make it past the Warriors. Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were both injured, so the Cavs were playing at a disadvantage. They still played hard despite the odds being stacked against them. This season, without any other big challengers in the East, they might be the most likely team in the NBA to advance to the finals. While they might not be able win a series against the Warriors or Spurs right now, there is still time to make a roster move.

Maybe David Blatt wasn't the perfect coach for the Cavs. He wasn't getting along well with his players, including LeBron James. But continuity is very important in sports, and if Blatt was given more time, he could have developed a better relationship with his team and figured out how to best use his roster. Now, his replacement Tyronn Lue only has a few months to prepare for the playoffs. Without the whole summer to figure out a gameplan, the Cavs might not be able to adjust in time.

The Cavaliers didn't figure out how to get Love involved in the offense, which they will have to do because of his poor defense. There are many players that can stand outside the three point line most of the time, but Love is not one of them. His post-up and rebounding skills are not being utilized like they should be. He is not getting the opportunity to be a star player.

LeBron might already be starting to decline. He isn't playing defense at a high level anymore, and his jump shot has been worse this season. His playing ability likely won't drop off suddenly, but he won't be able to improve much after this season. The Cavs need to improve on their depth, possibly adding more defense and shooting. Unless they make a couple trades, it is unlikely that they will be able to match the Spurs or Warriors. But it would be tough to make a big move, especially after just making a coaching change.

Maybe Tyronn Lue turns out to be a great coach and figures out how to work with his players. Or maybe the Cavaliers make the necessary roster moves to match or surpass Golden State and San Antonio. But the way things are going, Cleveland won't win the NBA Championship.

Where Should David Blatt Go Next?
David Blatt was hired a few weeks before LeBron James announced he would be returning to Cleveland. He became the unfortunate victim of a win-now situation, where "good enough" wasn't good enough. But Blatt wasn't originally hired to take the Cavaliers to the top. He was supposed to coach a young team and take them to the playoffs as lower seed. Which is what he needs to do for his second coaching job, where he won't have as much pressure to succeed immediately.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are a great fit for Blatt. He'll be able to earn the respect of the league there and perhaps get another chance at the postseason. Right now, they are in need of someone like Blatt to take over for interim head coach Sam Mitchell, who the Timberwolves are not happy with. The Wolves have a solid young core which has a lot potential. The biggest piece missing is a coach who can take them to the next level. David Blatt could be that coach.

All-Star Reserves
Yesterday, the 2016 All-Star reserves were revealed. The selections were mostly pretty good, but with some notable exclusions. I think Damian Lillard should have made it over James Harden. Harden is a great scorer, but he turns the ball over too much, and he doesn't play defense. His Rockets have disappointed, while Lillard's Trail Blazers have performed better than expected after losing four starters and their sixth man. The other selection I disagree with is Chris Bosh instead of Kevin Love. Bosh is a better defender, but Love is on a better team that deserves to be represented in the All-Star Game besides just LeBron James.

I'm also very happy that Isaiah Thomas became an All-Star for the first time. He is finally on a winning team in his first full season in Boston. He's a player that at just 5'9" is proving that skill matters more than size. He's someone that normal-sized people can look up to, and an inspiration to many, beating the odds after being drafted just 60th overall in 2011.

Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts? Feel free to post a comment.

Problems with the NBA All-Star Game

I am a big fan of the NBA All-Star Game. But I think there are some problems with it that need to be fixed. The All-Star Game doesn't need any changes, but some of them could improve it.

The third voting returns for the starters were announced today. Not all of the players set to start in the game are deserving of their spot. Kyrie Irving stands out as one of the least deserving players. He has missed a majority of the Cavaliers' games, and he hasn't been shooting the ball as well as he has before. There is no reason why Irving should start instead of Kyle Lowry. Lowry is having a fantastic season, but the main reason he should start the All-Star Game and not Irving is because he plays in Toronto, where the game is going to be.

One could argue that Irving should start in the game if the fans want to see him, but players should have to earn a spot in the starting lineup by playing well. The All-Star Game should be reserved for the best of the best, not the most popular players. However, there is one player who has been struggling this year that should be starting: Kobe Bryant. As someone who has had such a big impact on the game of basketball, Bryant absolutely deserves to have one last shining moment in the All-Star Game (and so does Tim Duncan, who is getting no love these days). Fan voting should not be eliminated because the fans deserve to vote in some players or make a statement in the voting numbers saying that they want to see someone like Kobe play in the starting lineup.

Here's my suggestion to fix the fan voting: the guard and frontcourt player with the most votes in each conference automatically starts in the All-Star Game. Each player who doesn't get in from the fan vote receives a certain number of points based on his standing from the vote, with players higher in the standing receiving more votes. Then, the coaches vote for the rest of the roster for their conference, and the players with the highest total of coach votes and fan vote points make the All-Star team. It would be up to the coach of the team to decide the starters of the game.

The All-Star rosters also need to be expanded to 13 players because NBA teams have 15 man rosters and 12 is just not enough. But another reason to expand the rosters is to make up for undeserving players.

Lastly, please vote for Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry, and Jimmy Butler. All three truly deserve to start in Toronto in February, and need more support.

My 2016 All-Star Starter Picks

Each year, the NBA All-Star Game is a fun, high-scoring, and ultimately meaningless event where nobody cares to play defense. Now that fan voting has begun, I've decided to share who I think deserves to start in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game.

Western Conference:
G Stephen Curry
G Russell Westbrook
F Kawhi Leonard
F Kevin Durant
F Anthony Davis

Curry is a no-brainer to start in the All-Star Game. The Warriors have been cruising through the start of the season, and he is the biggest reason why. Westbrook is also having a good season, and is putting up monster numbers. Leonard has been the best player on the Spurs and is the biggest part of their success. He is becoming one of the best two-way players in the league now. While Durant has missed a few games this year, he's still one of the top players in the league. And Anthony Davis has continued to dominate despite his lack of help.

Eastern Conference:
G Kristaps Porzingis
G Kristaps Porzingis
F Kristaps Porzingis
F Kristaps Porzingis
F Kristaps Porzingis
:)

My actual picks for the Eastern Conference:
G Kyle Lowry
G Jimmy Butler
F LeBron James
F Paul George
F Andre Drummond

Lowry has led the Raptors to a good start to the season. He's also having a very good start to the season himself. I considered choosing John Wall over Butler for the second guard spot, but Butler's Bulls have been better than Wall's Wizards, so he gets my vote. James is a no-brainer for the All-Star Game, and so is George, who has been even better than before his injury. My last pick is Drummond, who can't be stopped from getting rebounds.

I also wanted to talk about Matt Barnes' insane game winner in Detroit. If you haven't seen it yet, here it is:

It was a ridiculous decision to shoot the ball from half-court, even if it went in. There were still timeouts remaining and enough time on the clock for Barnes to get a closer shot. But hey, it was an awesome highlight.

The Conferences Have Changed

Last year, the Eastern Conference was a lot worse all around, and the standings showed that. This year, however, the East has gotten much better. The top teams are still in the Western Conference, but the teams in the middle of the standings are better in the East. It's those teams that have made the East more exciting this year.

The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks are all very likely to make the postseason. It's the next 6-7 teams that have made the Eastern Conference playoff race very interesting. Here are my thoughts on those teams:

Kyle Lowry has improved off of his excellent season last year, and the Toronto Raptors have been right in the middle of the playoffs. The Raptors have a good shot at making the postseason, not only because of Lowry, but also because of DeMar DeRozan.

The Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Boston Celtics are the teams most likely to end up fighting for the seventh and eighth seeds in April. Of the the four, the Pistons might have the best chance to get there. They're led by Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, both of whom are making strong cases to be on the all-star team. The Magic, meanwhile, are having a surprisingly good season given how young the roster is. Next year, they could be a top team in the East. The Celtics have one of the best coaches in the league in Brad Stevens, so it wouldn't be shocking if they snagged one of the lower seeds in the East despite the fact that their roster needs work. And the Hornets' decision to trade for Nicolas Batum is paying off as he's having a great season as a key part of the team.

The New York Knicks are close to the eighth seed, but might not have enough to get there. If they go on a big winning streak and another team fighting for the playoffs slips, the Knicks could get the eighth spot. And Kristaps Porzingis is awesome.

The eight best teams in the Western Conference are starting to look clear. The Warriors and Spurs are clearly leading the way, but the other teams are not looking as strong. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets will all probably make the playoffs. None of the teams on the outside appear strong enough to get to the postseason. The Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves are too young, while the Phoenix Suns don't have enough talent in the frontcourt to get there.

It would be very interesting if the New Orleans Pelicans get closer to the playoffs. After starting off slowly, they have picked up some quality wins against good teams. It's improbable that they will be in the playoffs, but it sure would be nice to see Anthony Davis showcase his talent in the postseason again.

When Will the Warriors Lose or the 76ers Win?

The Warriors Continue to Dominate

After beating the Denver Nuggets 118-105, the Golden State Warriors are now 15-0 and have tied the record for the best winning streak to start the season. They will likely set the record against the Lakers tomorrow. The Warriors are still the best team in the NBA, and Stephen Curry is still the MVP.

The Warriors have earned their place in history. They played a few close games, but each time, they managed to stay ahead and seal the victory. They beat the Memphis Grizzlies, a solid team, by 50. They came back from 20 down to beat the Clippers, and they beat the Rockets at home by 20. Seeing as their upcoming schedule isn't very strong, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Warriors stretched their win streak to 20.

What makes the Warriors so dangerous is that their roster is full of so many good players. Curry is one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league, and Klay Thompson was an all-star last year. Draymond Green is one of the most versatile players in the NBA. Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala are both good NBA forwards. And the Warriors are even deeper than that. Head Coach Steve Kerr still hasn't returned. The Warriors will obviously lose at some point in the season, but it could take a while.

The 76ers are Still Winless

The Philadelphia 76ers are the opposite of the Warriors. Having just lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-95, the 76ers are 0-15. The Timberwolves held off the Sixers at the end to come away with the win. The Timberwolves hadn't won at home until they hosted the Sixers.

It is unbelievable how utterly pathetic the 76ers are. They have stripped away almost all of their talent and the results have not been surprising. From making the playoffs in 2012 to losing more than 60 games in 2014, their demise has been very rapid. So what could have caused them to fall so quickly?

The terrible Dwight Howard trade in 2012 set the 76ers back immensely. Two of the players they gave away were Andre Iguodala and Nikola Vucevic, and the main piece they got was Andrew Bynum. That didn't work out so well. Bynum left after one season in which he played no games due to injuries. Vucevic has become a solid player for the Orlando Magic, and Iguodala is still playing well in Golden State. But after one bad season, they decided to look towards the future, so they traded nearly everyone good on their roster.

Why are they not trying harder to win sooner? They could end up winning in a few years, but they are destroying a fanbase. They didn't need to trade all of their good players. A couple of smart moves could have made them a good team again.

First Impressions of the 2015-16 NBA Season

The NBA is back! Every team has played so far, and this season looks to be exciting. Some teams and players have especially stood out, in both good and bad ways.

As one of only six undefeated teams remaining, the Pistons have impressed. They could be a surprise playoff team this year, but they also could end up being this year's version of last year's Kings. They have been winning with defense, holding their opponents to under 95 points in each game. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep things up. Their win against the Bulls was an encouraging sign.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have also yet to lose a game, and Karl-Anthony Towns has been a monster, scoring efficiently, rebounding well, and blocking shots. He and Andrew Wiggins might one of the best duos in the league someday.

There are also a lot of teams that still haven't won a game yet. The Rockets and Bucks have stood out in particular. The Bucks have been blown out twice, including a 25 point loss to the Knicks. The Rockets have played terribly, losing all of their games by exactly 20 points. Ouch. Both teams had big offseason acquisitions in Ty Lawson and Greg Monroe. However, they are likely still adjusting to having a new star on the team. The Pelicans are another team that is 0-3, but they had to face the Warriors twice, and Steph Curry scored 93 points in those games.

Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins are great players on offense and defense. Both players are working on adding to their offensive skill sets. They have started shooting threes. I personally hope both of them continue to shoot threes and succeed at it so all basketball fans can enjoy the NBA even more.

I am really excited to see how the rest of the NBA season unfolds. We'll find out soon enough how things will shape up.

The Western Conference Keeps Getting Tougher

On Thursday, the Los Angeles Clippers signed Josh Smith, adding another quality rotation player to improve their depth. The Clippers are no longer the same team as they were last year, also having added Paul Pierce to help prevent moments like this:

The Clippers now have solid depth, and are now in the upper tier of contenders in the west. After the Josh Smith signing, it looked like there were going to be only four elite teams in the west next year. San Antonio, Golden State, Oklahoma City, and now the Clippers. That is not the case anymore.

Yesterday, the Houston Rockets agreed to a trade with the Denver Nuggets for Ty Lawson while giving up almost nothing in return. The first round pick next year is nice, but it probably will be in the mid 20s. None of the players the Rockets gave up were rotation players. Nick Johnson might be the best player the Nuggets got.

What the Rockets have really needed the past couple of years was a point guard that could take pressure off of James Harden to run the offense. The Rockets also like to have as many shooters as possible to space the floor. It's safe to say Ty Lawson is a good fit in Houston. His stats show that he is a good NBA point guard offensively. While he isn't an amazing scorer, he can effectively get points inside and outside. He's also an excellent playmaker. Defense might be a problem, but the Rockets have tons of quality defenders to help with that.

The Rockets and Clippers might not improve too much on their win totals from last year because the other top contenders will be as good or better next year. However, both teams have helped turn the west into a race with five teams that have a legitimate shot of winning. The Spurs, Warriors, Thunder, Clippers, and Rockets form an exciting group of teams that should make the regular season and playoffs very interesting to follow. It's hard to leave out the Grizzlies, but they haven't addressed their needs very well. Unless Vince Carter has a good bounce-back year and their big three improves next season, it's hard to see Memphis being one of the elite teams in the west.

The NBA definitely needs to change the playoff format more than just seeding teams 1-8 regardless of division leaders. Seed the teams 1-16 based on record, regardless of conference. Or at least something close to that. Do we really need crappy teams in the playoffs? Two excellent teams will face each other in the first round in the Western Conference next season. In the Eastern Conference, there likely won't be more than five teams that win 50 games.

It'll be fun to see how the west unfolds. It might be like last season, with four teams fighting for home court on the last day of the regular season. The east will be more competitive this year, but it still falls short compared to the west.

NBA Free Agency: Worst Signings

At this point in free agency, there probably won't be any more new contracts worth over $10 million a year. Plenty have been handed out, but some were questionable.

ESPN free agent tracker

Amir Johnson to the Celtics, 2 years/$24 million

I don't really see why Amir Johnson is worth an eight-figure salary. He isn't a great scorer and doesn't grab tons of rebounds. He's a solid defender, but there still isn't much to like about this deal.

Iman Shumpert re-signs with the Cavaliers, 4 years/$40 million

It seems like the Cavaliers love Shumpert's potential, because his stats aren't very impressive. He's a good defender but doesn't have much offensive value.

Brook Lopez re-signs with the Nets, 3 years/$60 million

Lopez is skilled offensively and solid defensively, but is not a good rebounder. If he stays healthy, this could be a decent signing, but he has had two season ending injuries in the past four seasons.

Thaddeus Young re-signs with the Nets, 4 years/$50 million

While Young is a talented offensive player, he's a below average shooter and rebounder. He is good at getting steals, however, and might provide good value on defense.

Brandon Knight re-signs with the Suns, 5 years/$70 million

The Suns paid Brandon Knight like Eric Bledsoe, but Knight is clearly worse. He's a good scorer but not a great playmaker, and his defense is worse than Bledsoe's.

Lou Williams to the Lakers, 3 years/$21 million

This wasn't a big overpay, but the Lakers signed another volume shooter in Lou Williams to go along with Nick Young and Kobe Bryant. The Lakers will have to trade Williams or Young, or else it'll hinder the development of Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell.

Reggie Jackson re-signs with the Pistons, 5 years/$80 million

Jackson can pass very well, but he'll need to improve his defense and outside shooting to justify his new deal. He might not play well with Brandon Jennings, which could be a big problem.

NBA Free Agency: Biggest Signings

The NBA free agency period began on July 1st. Many of the biggest names have already agreed to new deals. Some of the best players available switched teams. I've provided a link to ESPN's free agent tracker down below.

ESPN free agent tracker

The following big-name players stayed with their current teams for a reasonable price:
Paul Millsap, 3 years/$59 million
Khris Middleton, 5 years/$70 million
Goran Dragic, 5 years/$90 million
Kawhi Leonard, 5 years/$90 million
Danny Green, 4 years/$45 million
Jimmy Butler, 5 years/$90 million
Kevin Love, 5 years/$110 million
Draymond Green, 5 years/$85 million
Dwyane Wade, 1 year/$20 million
Marc Gasol, 5 years/$110 million
Damian Lillard, 5 years/$120 million extension
Anthony Davis, 5 years/$145 million extension

These notable players agreed to a reasonable contract with a new team:

DeMarre Carroll to the Raptors, 4 years/$60 million
The Raptors will have to spend a lot of money to get DeMarre Carroll, but he's a very valuable player that can shoot and defend well. He might get good minutes at both forward spots.

Tyson Chandler to the Suns, 4 years/$52 million
Tyson Chandler will help a team that should contend for a playoff spot next season. Markieff Morris could be traded, so the Suns will have to get another power forward that can shoot to play alongside Chandler.

Paul Pierce to the Clippers, 3 years/$10.5 million
The Clippers now have a player in Pierce that is good in crunch time and has championship experience. A good bargain for the Clippers.

Arron Afflalo to the Knicks, 2 years/$16 million
Afflalo is a quality shooting guard that will help the Knicks a lot. He's one of many new players that look to help New York make the playoffs.

Monta Ellis to the Pacers, 4 years/$44 million
Ellis is a volume scorer but also a very good passer and playmaker. He'll provide a lot of offense to a team that needs it.

Greg Monroe to the Bucks, 3 years/$50 million
The Bucks now have a good center who plays well on offense. Monroe isn't a great defender, but there will be a lot of good defenders around him.

Robin Lopez to the Knicks, 4 years/$54 million
The Knicks gave a lot of money to Lopez, but he's valuable on both offense and defense. I expect the Knicks to win a lot more games next year.

Wesley Matthews to the Mavericks, 4 years
3-and-D players are valued very highly now in the NBA, and Matthews is one of the best of them. The Mavs will have to pay him lots of money, but he should be a great replacement for Monta Ellis.

Rajon Rondo to the Kings, 1 year/$9.5 million
I wouldn't be surprised to see Rondo leave after one season in Sacramento. If he does well next year, he could earn himself a big contract. The Kings probably won't be contending for the playoffs next year.

DeAndre Jordan to the Mavericks, 4 years/$80 million
The Mavericks found a fantastic replacement for Tyson Chandler. However, he'll need playmakers around him to succeed. Dallas will have to find another point guard.

LaMarcus Aldridge to the Spurs, 4 years/$80 million
The Spurs just became much stronger and scarier with the addition of Aldridge. He will become the new franchise centerpiece along with Kawhi Leonard to begin a new era with the Spurs.

David West to the Spurs, 1 year/$1.5 million
The Spurs didn't stop with Aldridge. They got David West, a solid veteran, to help them for next season. San Antonio has made sure that it will stay in the race for the championship.

NBA Draft Recap

Yesterday, 60 young and talented basketball players heard their names called by Commissioner Adam Silver during the NBA Draft. As always, there were some surprises. Here are my thoughts on some of the first round picks:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves select PF Karl-Anthony Towns

This was the obvious choice, as Towns has potential to be a dominant two-way player for years to come. Minnesota could be a really fun team to watch in the next few years, with Andrew Wiggins as well.

2. Los Angeles Lakers select PG D'Angelo Russell

D'Angelo Russell was a bit of a shocker, but I think it was the right move. Kobe will retire soon, so it's a good idea to find his possible replacement now. And the Lakers can also pair Russell with Jordan Clarkson.

3. Philadelphia 76ers select C Jahlil Okafor

Jahlil Okafor was the best player left, so it wasn't a bad idea to take him. But it creates a problem because the 76ers will have to trade at least one of Okafor, Joel Embiid, and Nerlens Noel. The Phoenix Suns' three point guard experiment only lasted half of the season.

4. New York Knicks select PF Kristaps Porzingis

Knicks fans were so rude when they booed Porzingis' name being called. This guy could be a real stud for many years. However, he's more of a project than an immediate contributor.

5. Orlando Magic select SG Mario Hezonja
The Magic made a good pick with Hezonja, because he is a great shooter, and at 6'8", can play small forward. If Tobias Harris can shift to power forward if he stays, or Aaron Gordon can play the 4 if Harris leaves. Either way, the Magic have improved a very solid core.

6. Sacramento Kings select C Willie Cauley-Stein
This was not a good pick. Emmanuel Mudiay was available, and they went for Cauley-Stein. He's not a bad player, but he's a bad fit with DeMarcus Cousins. As a great defensive player, he'll help, but he won't provide much offensive value unless he develops a jumper. The Kings could trade Cousins, though.

7. Denver Nuggets select PG Emmanuel Mudiay
The Nuggets found their point guard of the future. Ty Lawson should be headed to another team, so this pick is great. Mudiay's jump shot needs to improve, but he'll provide value anyways.

8. Detroit Pistons select SF Stanley Johnson
The Pistons could've opted for Justise Winslow, but Johnson is a better shooter, which explains the decision. Johnson doesn't have much downside and will be a good starter.
Stan Van Gundy might regret not taking Winslow if Johnson doesn't pan out as well.

9. Charlotte Hornets select PF Frank Kaminsky
Drafting Kaminsky was another strange pick. Charlotte likely would have been able to trade down to get him, and they probably shouldn't have taken him in the first place. They needed a wing player who can shoot, and Devin Booker and Justise Winslow were available. The Hornets also recently traded for Spencer Hawes, who does a lot of the same things as Kaminsky.

10. Miami Heat select SF Justise Winslow
This was a fantastic pick. He's a high-upside, athletic defensive player. If the Heat can keep Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic, they should be able to make the playoffs, possibly with home court advantage. I was very surprised Winslow fell to number 10.

11. Indiana Pacers select C Myles Turner
Myles Turner will be a very good starting center if his positives outweigh the negatives. Roy Hibbert needs a change of scenery, so Turner is a good replacement. However, there is some risk attached, and he could be a big bust.

12. Utah Jazz select PF Trey Lyles
The Jazz made a good choice by taking Trey Lyles. He doesn't knock down treys yet, but is a solid mid range shooter. He is a very good fit with Utah.

13. Phoenix Suns select SG Devin Booker
The Suns could use more shooting, and Devin Booker will give them that. He isn't a high upside player, but he is a solid pick for Phoenix.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder select PG Cameron Payne
Cameron Payne could be OKC's next Reggie Jackson. He isn't as athletic as Jackson, but is a better shooter. He should be able to contribute to a contending team.

16. Boston Celtics select PG Terry Rozier
The Celtics messed up. Rozier likely would have been available at 28 or 33, and the selection just doesn't make sense. He's good defender, but not a good shooter or playmaker. They already have Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart, so why did they take Rozier?

18. Houston Rockets select SF Sam Dekker
Dekker could be a steal for the Rockets. The only problem is that they already have a lot of talented forwards that could hinder his development. They could have taken a backup point guard such as Jerian Grant, but trading away players is an option.

22. Chicago Bulls select PF Bobby Portis
This was another possible steal, but just like the Rockets, the Bulls will need to find minutes for him. He's tall and spaces the floor with shooting, and is also a solid defender.

23. Portland Trail Blazers select SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (traded to Brooklyn Nets)
If he can develop a solid jump shot, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will be an excellent player. He does lots of things very well and could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.

28. Boston Celtics select SG R.J. Hunter
While Terry Rozier was a bad pick, R.J. Hunter was an excellent pick for the Celtics. He's an incredible shooter who's tall, but needs to get stronger and might not be a great defender. However, he has a lot of potential.

30. Golden State Warriors select PF Kevon Looney
The Warriors didn't need someone who can contribute now, so Kevon Looney is a good pick. Like R.J. Hunter, he needs to get stronger, but is a great rebounder and has lots of potential as a stretch 4.

NBA Draft Preview

The NBA draft is only five days away. It will be interesting to see what happens, but right now, it's all speculation. Here is my lottery mock draft:

1: Minnesota Timberwolves select C Karl-Anthony Towns
The Minnesota Timberwolves will most likely either Towns or Jahlil Okafor. Towns has more two-way potential, which is why Minnesota should take him. He can also play power forward, which is another plus.

2: Los Angeles Lakers select C Jahlil Okafor
The Lakers have always won with big men, from George Mikan to Pau Gasol. Okafor gives the Lakers a center they can pair with Julius Randle. The big question with them is whether they will be able to defend and space the floor with good jump shooting.

3: Philadelphia 76ers select PG D'Angelo Russell
D'Angelo Russell is someone that the 76ers might actually keep. He is a great shooter and passer, and definitely has potential to be one of the best guards in the league.

4: New York Knicks select PF Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis is a power forward that can shoot threes, a play style that fits very well in today's game. He probably won't be the next Darko Milicic, who shot under 60% from the free throw line and attempted six threes in his career.

5: Orlando Magic select SF Justise Winslow
Tobias Harris is the team's current starting small forward, but he's also a restricted free agent, and could leave in the summer. Winslow is a solid shooter and very athletic. He is a good defender, and very capable of replacing Harris.

6: Sacramento Kings select PG Emmanuel Mudiay
The Kings don't have a big hole at point guard, but Mudiay is better than Darren Collison. Mudiay needs to work on his shot, but he should still be a good player.

7: Denver Nuggets select SG Mario Hezonja
Shooting guard is currently the weakest position the Nuggets have. Hezonja is a great shooter with lots of confidence and potential, and would help the Nuggets a lot.

8: Detroit Pistons select SF Stanley Johnson
Team president Stan Van Gundy loves shooters, and Johnson is solid at that. He's an athletic player that could start next year.

9: Charlotte Hornets select SG Devin Booker
The Hornets desperately need three-point shooting. Devin Booker is a three-point specialist but doesn't do too much else. With Lance Stephenson gone, he'll either start or back up Gerald Henderson.

10: Miami Heat select C Willie Cauley-Stein
The Heat need depth, and adding Cauley-Stein helps. If Hassan Whiteside leaves in a couple years, Cauley-Stein would be a good replacement.

11: Indiana Pacers select PG Cameron Payne
The main thing the Pacers need is scoring. Payne is a good scorer, shooter, and playmaker. He can provide a lot of help to an Indiana team looking to make the playoffs.

12: Utah Jazz select PF Frank Kaminsky
Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert are excellent defensive players, but neither is a good shooter. Kaminsky has a great shot and post game and would likely succeed in Utah.

13: Phoenix Suns select C Myles Turner
The Suns could use a center, and Myles Turner has potential to be a good starter if he pans out. He's a good midrange shooter that provides value offensively.

14: Oklahoma City Thunder select SF Sam Dekker
Already a title contender, the Thunder need someone who can contribute right away. Dekker is a big wing player that can score very well inside the three-point arc. His biggest issues are inconsistent shooting and inability to create shots, but he's a smart player. 

NBA Finals Recap

The Golden State Warriors have finally achieved their goal. They proved all the doubters wrong as their 40 year title drought comes to an end. It was a great series, and LeBron and the Cavaliers fought hard, but the Warriors were just too much to overcome.

Andre Iguodala had a great series. He showed up when it mattered most, as his two highest scoring games of the season were in the finals. He was also tasked with shutting down LeBron James, and he did his job, as LeBron shot poorly in the finals. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were also good in the finals, but Iguodala earned his finals MVP.

Stephen Curry won his first championship six seasons into his career. He now has something that John Stockton, Steve Nash, and Allen Iverson didn't have, and that Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Derrick Rose are still waiting to get. Having a ring as well as an MVP should make Curry a lock for the Hall of Fame as long as he stays around for a few more successful years, which he almost certainly will.

While the Warriors are celebrating their victory, LeBron James falls to 2-4 in the finals. If it wasn't for a Ray Allen three-pointer, LeBron's finals record could be 1-5. Cleveland's championship drought continues, but LeBron should put an end to it eventually. The Cavs will have to figure out what next year's roster will be like. They'll have to figure out how to deal with their big man situation. Anderson Varejao comes back next season, but they may want to trade him if they re-sign Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love because there won't be enough minutes to go around if he's still there. Timofey Mozgov has a team option on his contract, but he provides more value than Varejao and the Cavaliers would be smart to bring him back. The Cavs also need to improve their bench.

Golden State will likely have less work to do in the off season than Cleveland. David Lee will likely be traded, which makes it easier for the Warriors to re-sign Draymond Green. If they do that, their core will remain intact and they should contend for a championship if their depth remains solid.

In the end, the Warriors finished off an incredible season. For Cleveland, their disappointing title drought continues, but it should be over soon. For now, it's time to start looking forward to the 2015-16 season. It should be a lot of fun.