Around the League 2022-23

[Lipoli390]

Regarding Ja Morant, I'll start by saying that he's my third favorite NBA player after Ant and Giannis. When it comes to parsing these allegations, it's important to keep in mind that fame and money often make you a target and there are way too many people willing to lie, aided by a media all to willing to spread those lies without questions or caveats. However, in Ja's case it's not just one incident or even two. There's troubling pattern of reports or accusations taking shape and at some point there's enough smoke to tells us there's a fire. We might be at that point with Ja. For me the most telling report is the incident with the Mall security guard. His account of what happened rings true and I can't see him having a reason to lie. What we appear to be seeing in Ja is a star who earned his way out of the neighborhood but who has nevertheless decided to take the neighborhood with him.

Almost all of those could turn out to be nothing. Maybe it's something, but not as bad as some might think. Perhaps it's on the verge of becoming terrible, but Ja will jettison the pack his riding with and put all this behind him. In the meantime, there will be those out to get him but just as many if not more covering for him. It will be interesting to see where this goes. My gut tells me this won't end well for Ja unless he makes some changes in the way he conducts his life.

[Coolbreeze44]

Just a thought, I watched the Bucks and Magic tonight. The Magic have a lot of guards. More than they will be able to keep over the long haul. Fultz looked great tonight, so did Anthony. And they also have F Wagner, Suggs, and Harris. They are really going to be good as early as next year. We could conceivably trade you know who for 2 or 3 of those guys. They would seem to be a promising trade partner.

Totally agree with you on this, Cool. I've been following the Magic closely this season precisely because of their plethora of guards and the trade potential for the Wolves. I was hoping we'd deal DLO at the deadline in some sort of package for Fultz and Harris, but we probably didn't have the asset package to make that happen. Maybe the Wolves can put something together this summer. My prime target would be Fultz. I've been following his stats and watching a lot of his highlights this season. He's looked really good.

I was surprised how good Fultz played. He looks completely removed from the troubles he had at the beginning of his career. How are the Magic set for draft picks?

[Coolbreeze44]

Lip, interesting point you make about favorite players around the league. I've always like Kawhi Leonard, Steph, and Mikael Bridges.

[AbeVigodaLive]

What we appear to be seeing in Ja is a star who earned his way out of the neighborhood but who has nevertheless decided to take the neighborhood with him.

To be fair, Ja Morant seems to have grown up in a small town... with both parents at home... with a court built for him in the backyard of the house they owned.

That doesn't even fit the narrative of a no-good "thug."

[mjs34]

What we appear to be seeing in Ja is a star who earned his way out of the neighborhood but who has nevertheless decided to take the neighborhood with him.

To be fair, Ja Morant seems to have grown up in a small town... with both parents at home... with a court built for him in the backyard of the house they owned.

That doesn't even fit the narrative of a no-good "thug."

Abe, do you know this to be true, or is it possilbe that Ja bought the house and built the court after getting to the NBA?

Just a thought, I watched the Bucks and Magic tonight. The Magic have a lot of guards. More than they will be able to keep over the long haul. Fultz looked great tonight, so did Anthony. And they also have F Wagner, Suggs, and Harris. They are really going to be good as early as next year. We could conceivably trade you know who for 2 or 3 of those guys. They would seem to be a promising trade partner.

Totally agree with you on this, Cool. I've been following the Magic closely this season precisely because of their plethora of guards and the trade potential for the Wolves. I was hoping we'd deal DLO at the deadline in some sort of package for Fultz and Harris, but we probably didn't have the asset package to make that happen. Maybe the Wolves can put something together this summer. My prime target would be Fultz. I've been following his stats and watching a lot of his highlights this season. He's looked really good.

I was surprised how good Fultz played. He looks completely removed from the troubles he had at the beginning of his career. How are the Magic set for draft picks?

Don't forget to factor in the difference in the two situations Fultz has found himself in. In Philly, there were a lot of expectations, and next to none in Orlando. Could certainly affect his confidence level.

[AbeVigodaLive]

SJM34... just one of many articles with Ja Morant childhood nuggets.

https://andscape.com/features/ja-morant-point-god-from-the-back-road/

- Two-parent household
- Family owned home in country setting, not inner-city neighborhood
- No word of tough streets, or crime, or any of that stuff

[Lipoli390]

Lip, interesting point you make about favorite players around the league. I've always like Kawhi Leonard, Steph, and Mikael Bridges.

Those three would definitely be on my list of favorites. Actually, I'd probably put Steph ahead of Ant if I weren't such a homer. :). I'd probably rank my current five favorite NBA players in the following order:

1. Giannis - Probably the best player in the game today, but also a great person and role model. He's a winner both on and off the court. If I could start a franchise now with one player, it would without any doubt be Giannis. I already have him on my list of 10 all-time favorites in NBA history along with Allen Iverson, MJ, Bill Russell, Magic, Larry Bird, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, KG, and now Giannis.

2. Steph Curry - The best shooter in NBA history. But he's a lot more than that on the court. He's a terrific passer - a player Bobby Knight called the best passer in college basketball. His passing excellent has continued in the NBA, but it's been eclipsed by his unbelievable shooting. He is also among the best dribble-drive finishers in the NBA, which is amazing given his size. He's also developed into a decent defender who uses his quick hands and high basketball IQ to have a positive defensive impact for his team. In addition to all that, he's by all accounts a terrific, humble and well grounded person. He should have be a Timberwolf, but David Kahn knew better. Ugh.

3. Ant - OK, my homerism is coming to the surface, but not entirely. I love his talent, effort and personality. I love how he's talent a big step forward in his third season at the tender age of 21. He's shouldered the responsibility of shouldering nearly the entire offensive burden in KAT's absence and has done so without complaining or taking games off. Meanwhile, he really embraced the defensive end of the floor and substantially improved his on-ball defense. I love that he's played every game through a lot of aches and pains and I respect him for speaking out the way he did on load management.

4. Kawhi Leonard - He's obviously a great player and a winner. In addition, I like the way he carries himself. There's no bravado or trash talking. He lets his game do all the talking.

5. Jason Tatum - I thought about slotting Mikael Brodges here since this is a list of favorite players, not necessarily best players. But how well someone plays is a significant part of what goes into determining my favorites. As a result, I have Jason Tatum as the last of my top five favorites. He doesn't get the attention that Luka, Emibiid, LeBron and some others get, but he is arguably the best player in the League today. His individual stats are telling, but more importantly, he's established himself as a player who clearly impacts winning. I also see him as a solid person who typically lets his play to his talking.

[FNG]

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SJM34... just one of many articles with Ja Morant childhood nuggets.

https://andscape.com/features/ja-morant-point-god-from-the-back-road/

- Two-parent household
- Family owned home in country setting, not inner-city neighborhood
- No word of tough streets, or crime, or any of that stuff

My thoughts about Ja. Certainly one of the most talented and fun to watch players in the league. And nothing is going to keep him from being a star in this league for many years, unless it's his off-court behavior. The incident we read about him happens dozens of times a day on inner city basketball courts, but this didn't happen in such a setting...this happened on his private court. Ja had a much more privileged upbringing than most NBA players...both parents in the household, and both college graduates. In a way he reminds me of the suburban white kids you see hanging around the mall with their pants halfway down their butts...they seem like they're ashamed of their race and want to be black. Similarly it seems Ja is somehow embarrassed about his relatively non-inner city upbringing, and wants to act like a gangster. It's not going to serve him well. He's young, so there's good chance he will grow out if it...I hope he does. Because I don't think this ends well for him if he doesn't change.

[Monster]

Clippers got beat by 20+ by the Warriors without Curry and have now lost 4 in a row. They have been playing a really tough schedule the last few weeks.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Clippers got beat by 20+ by the Warriors without Curry and have now lost 4 in a row. They have been playing a really tough schedule the last few weeks.

Kawhi sitting tonight. And maybe Paul George.

But I think they're still safely in the top 10. Granted, there's no reason that they shouldn't be in the top 6 considering who's on that roster.