Jun 24, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat president Pat Riley waves to the crowd during the Miami Heat Championship celebration parade in downtown Miami. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Thought of the Week
Michael Saenz: I’m going to make this short and sweet — Team USA will lose to Spain in the FIBA World Cup Final.
John Armstrong: I’m a big NFL fan, but with the way this offseason has gone, the NFL is an afterthought to me #Yakkem. NBA 2k15 looks amazing by the way. Make sure you purchase that game … and get it on the RIGHT system #PS4.
Signing off. @JohnYJArmstrong
Morten Jensen: It’s early, but the season projects to have several contenders for a change. This is always better for the league, its product, and for the viewers. When talent is more evenly spread out, the product just becomes that much more interesting. It’s an ironic statement given that the Cavs had a LeBron James/Kevin Love summer, but the main point stays true. The talent injection of the 2014 draft helped the overall depth of the league, which was followed up by an off-season in which teams didn’t necessarily go for the home run, but focused on building a team. Miami didn’t quit after losing James, and went out there to get Luol Deng. Minnesota got a huge return for Kevin Love, and could even be better from the opening tip, the Bulls got some much needed scoring depth, the Raptors kept their core in tact with smart financial deals, and even the Knicks didn’t go empty-handed, when they secured themselves another five seasons of Carmelo Anthony. Going into the 2014-15 season, the league looks deeper, more cohesive, and more competitive than in a long time.
Bryce Olin: It’s no secret Anthony Davis is a monster. Since this is one of the last roundtables of the summer, I’d just like to forewarn the rest of the world for what’s about to happen in the next two years. With the help of Omer Asik, the Pelicans are going to be one of the best defensive teams, at least in the paint, in all of the NBA. If that organization can put some more quality players around Davis, they have the base to compete for a title in three years. Trade Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans, if it’s possible and sign another big-name free agent to play with Davis. I’m sure the line is already out the door.
David Ramil: The Miami Heat have made some curious moves this summer, signing aged veterans that don’t necessarily look to be a fit. While they may be solid contributors, I think it all fits into part of Heat President Pat Riley’s “master plan” to rebuild the team in the next year or two. Short-term deals have given Miami the flexibility they need to make a run at some top free agents. It happened in 2010 and it could happen again in 2016.
Brandon Osborne: I’ll be watching the bigs at the FIBA World Cup and seeing if they all should’ve made it. I still feel that Plumlee should’ve been left off and Lilliard should’ve been kept.