PORT JEFF, NY – Happy Friday! On today’s agenda: NBA Draft Reactions, Blockbuster Trades, Mets Fire Mendoza.
NBA Draft Reactions
After previewing the draft last week, it’s time to break down some of my favorite picks—and a few that left me scratching my head.
The Washington Wizards made the easy choice with the No. 1 overall pick, selecting BYU star AJ Dybantsa. There’s a lot to like here. Dybantsa has all the tools to become a perennial All-NBA First Team player, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he reaches that level sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets selected Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. While I’m a fan of Brown’s game, I would’ve gone with Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff, who was later selected by the Sacramento Kings. Acuff has a slightly higher ceiling in my eyes and is the more natural scorer. Brown should develop into a quality player, but if I had the choice, I’d lean toward Acuff.
Elsewhere, Michigan forward Morez Johnson landed with the Dallas Mavericks at No. 9, just days after Dallas hired his college coach, Dusty May. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder closed out the first round by taking another Michigan standout, 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara. And in Atlanta, St. John’s star Zuby Ejiofor became the program’s first first-round NBA Draft pick since 2012, a tremendous accomplishment for both the player and the Red Storm.
Blockbuster Trades
The NBA offseason never disappoints, and this year’s fireworks started early.
Pat Riley and the Miami Heat pulled off another signature move, acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster deal with Milwaukee. Miami sent Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, and multiple first-round picks to land the two-time MVP in a classic “Godfather offer.”
If Giannis stays healthy, the Heat instantly become one of the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in next season’s NBA Finals.
This morning, LaMelo Ball was traded to Minnesota for Naz Reid and a first-round pick. To me, this signals a couple of things:
1: the Charlotte Hornets didn’t view LaMelo as a franchise player
2: the Minnesota Timberwolves believe they have a better shot with him than pursuing any free agents.
Mets Fire Mendoza
The news Mets fans had been anticipating finally became official Friday morning: Carlos Mendoza has been fired after the club stumbled to a 34-47 record and a six-game losing streak. Andy Green has been named interim manager for the remainder of the season.
Was Mendoza solely responsible for the Mets’ collapse? Of course not. Players still have to hit, pitch, field, and execute. But when a team with one of baseball’s biggest payrolls looks flat, commits sloppy mistakes, and has now gone 72-101 dating back to last June, someone is eventually held accountable.
Whether this move changes anything remains to be seen. If the players respond, Steve Cohen and David Stearns will look like they pushed the right button. If not, Mendoza may simply become the latest manager sacrificed for problems that run much deeper than the dugout.
This morning, LaMelo Ball was traded to Minnesota for Naz Reid and a first-round pick. To me, this signals a couple of things: first, the Charlotte Hornets didn’t view LaMelo as a franchise player, and second, the Minnesota Timberwolves believe they have a better shot with him than pursuing any free agents.
