More moving and shaking in the NBA . . .
#30 Chicago Bulls (7-24, -10.8, LW: 29)
#29 Atlanta Hawks (6-23, -10.8, LW: 27)
#28 Cleveland Cavaliers (7-23, -8.4, LW: 28)
#27 Phoenix Suns (7-24, -9.5, LW: 30)
#26 New York Knicks (9-23, -6.8, LW: 26)
#25 Washington Wizards (12-18, -4.1, LW: 24)
#24 Los Angeles Clippers (17-13, +0.3, LW: 14)
#23 Detroit Pistons (14-14, -0.9, LW: 22)
#22 Memphis Grizzlies (16-14, -0.2, LW: 19)
This year’s fourth overall pick Jaren Jackson so far has been as advertised. In a league loadedwith young talent, Memphis had better look to build around this young center, considering that several of the key guys are over 30. Having a 19-year old at your core is a good way to get started in a very tough West.
#21 Orlando Magic (14-15, -2.7, LW: 25)
#20 Minnesota Timberwolves (14-16, +0.2, LW: 11)
#19 Miami Heat (13-16, -0.9, LW: 17)
#18 Charlotte Hornets (14-15, +2, LW: 13)
Kemba Walker was common trade talk during the offseason. Don’t be surprised if he becomes bigger talk as the season moves toward the trade deadline. His usage rate is at a career high while his percentages are right along his career numbers. I can’t see a team hovering around .500 and currently standing seventh in their conference standing pat come the deadline. If this team wants to get to another level some moves will have to be made, and the 28-year old Walker just might have to be a casualty.
#17 Utah Jazz (14-17, 0, LW: 16)
#16 Brooklyn Nets (13-18, -0.9, LW: 23)
#15 New Orleans Pelicans (15-16, +1.6, LW: 15)
#14 Sacramento Kings (16-14, -1, LW: 12)
#13 Portland Trail Blazers (17-13, +1.5, LW: 18)
#12 Dallas Mavericks (15-13, +1.5, LW: 10)
Last season the Mavericks were 24-58 and looking bad for the near future, especially without this season’s first round pick. Simple solution: Just go out and get another young European player to replace the legendary one who is now 40. Who really knew that the 19-year old Luca Doncic from Slovenia would be as good as he has been? Even the biggest believers didn’t see it coming this quickly. Now the Mavs are 15-13 and sitting atop the wacky Southwest and sixth in the conference. The West is loaded and now the Mavericks look like yet another tough out come May.
#11 Philadelphia 76ers (20-12, +1.5, LW: 8)
#10 Houston Rockets (15-14, 0, LW: 21)
#9 Los Angeles Lakers (18-12, +1.8, LW: 9)
#8 San Antonio Spurs (16-15, +0.1, LW: 20)
#7 Golden State Warriors (21-10, +5.4, LW: 3)
#6 Oklahoma City Thunder (19-10, +6.4, LW: 5)
#5 Denver Nuggets (20-9, +6.6, LW: 6)
#4 Toronto Raptors (23-9, +7.5, LW: 2)
#3 Milwaukee Bucks (20-9, +8.8, LW: 4)
#2 Indiana Pacers (20-10, +5.5, LW: 7)
#1 Boston Celtics (18-11, +7.4, LW: 1)
Right now both the NHL and NBA are loaded with fantastic young players. Take some time to check them out!!