Steven Adams and Lakers

The rumour linking the Houston Rockets big man, Steven Adams with the Los Angeles Lakers makes a lot of sense. Adams is coming to the end of his deal, and he would fill a hole left by the departing Anthony Davis. Adams is a good rebounder and one of the best NBA rebounders on offense. He comes in handy when setting blocks, he's like a brick wall. 

In a lineup alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic (and other sharpshooters), he'd play a valuable role obtaining possession and making space available. The Lakers need to do the deal.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/lakers_trade_rumors_interest_in_centers_like_steven_adams_robert_williams/s1_17074_41697104

And on the subject of THE trade that became world news, I found this the best description of why it happened:

https://defector.com/no-but-seriously-why-did-the-mavericks-trade-luka-doncic

I'd add, with Miriam Adelson now being in charge at the Mavericks, did she and Jeannie Buss of the Lakers have a conversation to one side about the financing and construction of a new stadium for the Lakers, now that Steve Ballmer has built his new stadium for the Clippers? Did Adelson want to jettison Doncic from the roster, and what are his politics in relation to Israel exactly?

Steven Adams Traded to the Houston Rockets

Steven Adams is one lucky guy. He's been traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets, in return for Victor Oladipo and three second round draft picks. Both players are coming back from injury and haven't played this season. 

This is a good move for Adams, as Houston can actually win titles, while the Grizzlies are perennial cellar dwellers and have never won a title. Houston gain a good defensive player, something they need, while the Grizzlies save money and can pay a bit more for players they think they need.

As a Rockets fan, I'm really pleased to see Adams with my team. If his knee doesn't recover, he may be close to retirement, but touch wood that he comes out fired up next season.

Steven Adams takes down 13 offensive Rebounds

Holy hell, NBA Memphis Grizzlies centre, Steven Adams is becoming a monster on the offensive boards. In his latest game against the Sacramento Kings, he took 13 offensive rebounds, and 23 rebounds in total. Adams now leads the offensive rebounders for the 20222-23 season, averaging 5.1 per game. The nearest competitor averages 4.3 (Clint Capela and Mitchell Robinson).

https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401468702

“That's where he is at, down in the trenches,” Morant said. “I don't think anybody else is going to go down there and battle with him. He's a man among boys.”

Adams didn't quite get Morant's references to battling in the trenches. “I don't know what that means, but yeah, in the trenches. In the bloody trenches.”

 

Russell Westbrook - Liability

I have avoided talking about the NBA all season mainly because they're a joke woke league. But I have to mention the Los Angeles Lakers failing to make the playoffs. I put this down to them having ball hog Russell Westbrook on their roster. He's paid $44 million for what exactly? He doesn't add value, all he does is add to his personal stats.

Meanwhile, Steven Adams who used to be a teammate of Westbrook's at the Thunder, is about to finish his season with the Memphis Grizzlies in second place overall in the league. Adams personally is the NBA's 2021/2022 12th highest in rebounds. Just saying.

Steven Adams Traded to Grizzlies

Steven Adams being moved to the Memphis Grizzlies, good or not? I think this is good for Adams. The Pelicans are famous for making the worst trades in the NBA and this is yet another example. Put aside all those draft pick rights, who in their right mind would think the big Lithuanian, Jonas Valanciunas would be the equivalent of Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe. This has got to be a dumb move by the Pelicans. I've said this before, most recently in relation to that ball-hog Russell Westbrook; there is no way one player can be worth more than multiple very competent players. The Pelicans now look like a bargain basement team.

For Adams, he moves to a better team which last season qualified for the playoffs, while the Pelicans missed out. Adams as he ages will have to learn how to come off the bench and play a role rather than be the starting big. But big he is, and the Grizzlies will appreciate his presence. You can talk about movement on the court and driving lanes all you like, but having a wide body blocking the inside and protecting the rim is the most valuable asset on any team. You start with the block of concrete and build around that, not the other way around.

Oh and my basketball novel is still available, you can buy it from Amazon as a digital or paperback copy: 

https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Obsession-Ken-Horlor-ebook/dp/B00VIEZ51G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

NBA: New Orleans Pelicans Slump

What's up with the Pelicans? They started the season in fine form, but now they're losing a lot. They seem to be in need of another outside shooter, that's what. All very well having Zion Wilkinson and Steven Adams on the inside, but they also need reliable perimeter shooters, at least one of which a recognised three point exponent. If we look at their roster, in their recent game against the Lakers, JJ Redick was three from ten attempts from beyond the arc. That's not good enough and really hurts the team. In their latest game, they beat the lowly rated Sacramento Kings off good outside shooting. Now do that against much better teams.

Steven Adams Says Goodbye to Oklahoma City

Always a class act Steven Adams:

https://www.kjrh.com/sports/steven-adams-tweets-goodbye-to-okc-thunder-after-trade-to-new-orleans

Steven Adams to the Pelicans

It is being reported that NBA big man Steven Adams has been traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the New Orleans Pelicans. He'll still receive his final year bonus worth about 7% of his salary, meaning he'll earn about US$29 million in 2020 (or $42 million NZ dollars). For Adams this is good move, it matches him up with NBA sensation Zion Williamson. It also moves Adams out of tractor town small market, into the main news cycle with Williamson being a monster, and that can only be good for Adams career.

NBA Right Now

The NBA season is really close this season, it's hard to keep up with results, any team can beat any other team on the day and often does. It's closer than last year, which was amazing in itself.

What of Steven Adams and his tenure at OKC? Apparently he has a trade bonus clause in his contract and the management are loath to trade him while this is in place. They'd have to pay him a sum, which is something like 7.5% of his outstanding contract if he's traded (don't quote me on the percentage). However that won't apply in his last year, and that will be next year. So next year is when he'll be traded. For his sake he must hope to be traded to a team with a realistic chance at a title, and that would be Boston who need a big man in the middle, or possibly Portland who need the same.

Steven Adams for the Celtics

The Boston Celtics are meant to be interested in Steven Adams. It just so happens that Enes Kanter is now with the Celtics and Adams and Kanter are mates. My suggestion is get a deal done and let's see Adams at the Celtics. Why would this be a good move?

1. The Celtics are winners,
2. They like to play big nasties on the inside,
3. They've got the money to pay luxury tax,
4. They need Adams for what he offers defensively.

NBA: Steven Adams Trade Rumours

OKC have been knocked out of the 2019 playoffs and once again we have Steven Adams being blamed for the losses. People commenting are mostly keyboard warriors who know little or nothing about the game of basketball.

Firstly, let's deal with why OKC were always going to be eliminated. It's because the team is not stacked with talent, that's why. They only have three top players, Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Steven Adams. You can't go deep in the NBA playoffs so light handed. Teams that win NBA championships are brimming with shooters and top defenders.

If we look at Westbrook, he's been a flop in the post season without Kevin Durant. But who is worse? The coach. Who in their right mind would bench Steven Adams in the final quarter of game 5 against Portland. He's the starting centre, you go to your best players and trust them when it matters. The coach is toast, likely now looking for a new job. If he isn't then the owner is a fool too.

Many people say that players like Adams can't defend the pull up 3, they can't space the floor etc. They're implying that the days of genuine bigs are over. Oh really, then why do Golden State have Andrew Bogut starting at centre, explain that! There is simply no replacing the big nasty man in the middle doing the hard work. Deal with it.

So assuming OKC will trade Adams, given they're a team of losers and wish to remain that way; my suggestion would be to look at the Lakers. They need an Adams and if a championship beckons they're usually happy to pay the luxury tax that applies to exceeding the salary cap. They'll put a team around LeBron James and Adams could be one of the support cast. Or look to other big market teams that can afford Adams on US$25mil annually.

Steven Adams Staying With Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoman is reporting that NZ's Steven Adams has signed a contract extension for $22.4 million a year. This must surely put New Zealand players on the map. New Zealand basketball talent is a lot better than you'd think, there should be more Kiwis playing in the NBA. Let's hope the scouts find their way Downunder more often.

This deal puts Adams in the front rank of the genuine big men of the NBA. It is reported that he could have got more had he waited, as teammate Andre Roberson is doing, but my guess is Adams wants to create a legacy, not just earn the big bucks. He can create that legacy in two ways; either he stays with OKC for the foreseeable future and picks up a championship there, and he's actually more attractive as a trade, being slightly cheaper after the ink dries on this deal. That means better teams can take him on under their salary cap if things don't work out at OKC down the line. 

It's all about the championships, and playing for your country, and this is where NZ has to hope a deal can be secured, putting Adams in the black singlet of New Zealand. Every player wants to play for their country (if fit of course). Look at the NBA talent turning out for their countries, Australia has no problem getting their NBA players to turn out. It has been mooted that NZ can no longer afford insurance on Adams. But this is where it gets interesting; given what Adams will now be earning, he can pay the premiums himself as a donation to the national body, such payment being tax deductible. So it's a win-win.Whatever issues exist between NZ Basketball and Adams, they have to be resolved.

Oh and now Adams is in the top rank of the top rank, he's going to get hit on. Imagine the Kanye/Foxx rap video Gold Digger. Well the totty in that video is just what actors and rappers qualify for, NBA stars of Adams ilk will be inundated by totty ten times hotter than that. He'll need to get himself a wife or a personal lifestyle manager. A single man, the amount of money we're talking about and that kind of fame, well let's just say he could wear it out. 

Western Conference Finals Game 3

OKC win again and why? Defense. Golden State are vulnerable if defended well. They seem to crumble as soon as any resistance is felt and rush their shots. OKC can take the series of they continue defending like that. The cheap shot on Steven Adams by Draymond Green should see him suspended at least one game (Dahntay Jones of the Cavaliers received a one game ban only an hour before the tip off in this game, for a groin shot some would say was less serious). If Green isn't suspended, well, it means the league is fixed.