Long Live The King

The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
12 June 2018

So the Golden State Warriors win their third championship in four years, the Washington Capitals and their superstar Alex Ovechkin win their first Stanley Cup, and Donald Trump was Shaqtin’ a Fool at the G7, but all the media seems to want to discuss is where LeBron James will be playing come October.

Okay, I’m in. Here are The SEVEN most likely destinations for LeBron in 2018-19…but first here are a couple of teams he won’t be going to:

Golden State Warriors
Boston Celtics

If you think Kevin Durant got – and still gets – some grief for joining the 73-win Warriors, what do you think LeBron world get if he joined the team that has just swept them and beaten them three of the last four years? He would immediately become a bigger heel than the WWE ever created…and his legacy would be forever tarnished, in that this is not akin to a Trevor Ariza saying he would consider going to G. State. This is someone in the conversation about the greatest ever – as well as someone who appeared at the post-series press conference wearing a cast on his hand, almost implying that the outcome could have been different had he not punched the whiteboard in the locker room after game one. That will never happen.

As for Boston, they were thisclose to knocking off Cleveland this year with arguably their two best players in street clothes. They need not break up their young core over 2-3 years of mid-30’s LeBron.

In the also-ran category are Utah, Milwaukee, Toronto and Portland – all young teams with enough talent such that the addition of LeBron could vault them into serious contention. But would he do these smaller markets?

And now, the seven:

7. (tie) Miami Heat & Los Angeles Clippers

Miami gets some consideration due to history and Dwyane Wade; Clippers due to having a great coach in Doc Rivers, and being in the town where he owns a home or two and his kids are enrolled in school for the fall, at least according to some.

Plus, with the Clippers, it’s L.A., but he could operate out of the shadows of Magic and Kobe.

6. New York Knicks

Don’t think for a minute LeBron wouldn’t LOVE being the star on Broadway, being coached by David Fizdale, playing in the Mecca of basketball – Madison Square Garden – and ultimately having his number retired there. And with Porzingis and a couple of others, they could be among the contenders in the east.

5. Houston Rockets

Not enough balls on the court to make that work with James Harden and CP3. (Of course, having LeBron there would be the best thing ever for Harden if it would work, given that Harden is totally spent come fourth quarters.)

4. Philadelphia 76ers

If ultimately getting LeBron was part of “trusting the process,” former general manager Sam Hinkie is a genius. Only problem is if they have to give up some of their young talent to get LeBron in…see Boston above. Plus Ben Simmons basically plays the same position as LeBron…and both need the ball to maximize their effectiveness; Simmons more so because he can’t shoot as of yet.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

Glamour city, glamour franchise, Jack and the stars are at the game, and they have salary cap space to bring in another star like Paul George. And that business about his kids…

1A. Cleveland Cavaliers

He said family is a consideration. Despite having a rough road to a championship there, it’s home.

1. San Antonio Spurs

When last we saw the Spurs at full strength, in the first game of last year’s western conference finals, Kawhi Leonard was being called (by some) “the best two-way player in the game,” and pro sports’ best organization with the best coach was running Golden State out of their own gym. Then Zaza Pachulia came down under Leonard, the Warriors came back to win, and Kawhi played but 9 games this drama-filled season.

Drama aside (and that may have been blown out of proportion, anyway), if you add LeBron to this team, you have a definite championship contender, or to put it differently, a team that can match up with the Warriors. And it’s a squad LeBron can grow old with, as in Kawhi he would have a superstar teammate to slide behind into the second spot as time progresses.

So there you have it!

50 is the New 30

The SEVEN
by Mack Williams
1 June 2018

I. Curtain Call

Well it seems like Ichiro playing to 50 ain’t gonna happen, much as we would have loved to see it, but at least he will have more time to find out who the blank Tom Brady is. That said, here’s hoping Manu Ginobili, Vince Carter, and DWade play (at least) one more season so that they can get sendoffs of appreciation from fans around the league. It would be sad for them to just announce that they are retired without our getting a chance to show some love.

II. What Happened and What’s Gonna Happen

Wasn’t this supposed to be the year that the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference and the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference were to make bigger moves, as opposed to being unceremoniously bumped in the opening and second rounds respectively. Once the Warriors win their third championship within the last four years, these teams should each put their bids in for the services of potential free agent LeBron James. Both Lillard and McCallum on Portland and DeRozan and Lowry on Toronto would probably flourish even more if they were the 2nd and 3rd best players on their team come the playoffs as opposed to being #1 and 1a.

As to where James should go if he decides to leave Cleveland, here are two solutions based on his objectives:

Competing for Championships – San Antonio Spurs. Adding the best player to the team with the best coach would propel them back into the championship picture.

All Else – New York Knicks. I don’t know LeBron but I do believe he’s a student of the history and the tradition of the game. With that said, I am certain he would absolutely love 2-3 years of being the star of the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, ultimately having his number retired in the rafters.

III. Deadline is When?

The last time both Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals went to seven games was in 1979, when the Wizards – then known as the Bullets – defeated the San Antonio Spurs. Yes, the Spurs were initially in the East after the merger – and if they feel they will not get Kawhi Leonard back in the fold, perhaps they should apply for reinstatement.

IV. Meek Mill

I wonder if Bryan Colangelo or whoever tweeted about Meek Mill’s release and appearance at a Sixers playoff game, a great feel-good story. Had he not made it to that game, I am certain that he would have numerous opportunities to see the up and coming Sixers in the playoffs in the years to come.

The only thing to not feel so good about is that there are countless others languishing in prison that are deserving of release or, at the very least, re-evaluation who do not have fans, celebrities and influential people clamoring for their release.

V. Chikesia Clemons

Let’s not forget about the Saraland Police Department and the mistreatment of Ms. Clemons. Maybe we should all give them a call at (251) 675-5331.

VI. Sorry, Sarah

So Sarah Huckabee Sanders is upset that people call her a liar. She attributes nothing to her boss, who creates situations where Sarah’s credibility comes into question.

One could be reminded of the time the late Yankee player and manager, Billy Martin, was upset with and commenting about Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner. “One’s a born liar and the other’s convicted.”

Sarah’s boss might get to be both before all is said and done.

VII. John McCain

The reason why there was so little official White House criticism of staffer Kelly Sadler’s comments about John McCain is that they basically agree with her.