One on One: January Week 1 Questions

Brandon Garland and James McNeill go one-on-one answering this week’s questions.

1) Which is the most incompetent front office in the league out of the current lottery teams?

Brandon: There is no worse front office than that of the Sacramento Kings.  The Kings have been bad for a while, and it seems as if every front office move, from trades to free agent signings to draft picks, doesn’t work.  Perhaps their latest move of trading for Rudy Gay won’t be the worst ever, but thinking back, it is hard to remember a truly good move made by the Kings.  Perhaps another lottery pick in a near perfect draft class will help, but their track record doesn’t do them well.

James: As easy as it would be to go ahead and rail the Sacramento Kings, they are trying to turn a new leaf with their new management (though Rudy Gay isn’t my idea of fixing things).  I’m actually going to select the Brooklyn Nets, as every move they have made since the Deron Williams coup has been utterly terrible.  They traded for a ton of over-the-hill players when they already lacked youth and picks to select young talent, as well as signing some serious head scratchers.  Not to mention there are few things scarier than a new owner with deep pockets who wants to win immediately.  Those things only lead to making rash decisions that only further distance a franchise from winning.

2) Is Ricky Rubio overrated? Should the Timberwolves trade him for a better shooting point guard? 

Brandon: Ricky Rubio is overrated.  Many see him as a budding All-Star caliber player, which should not be expected.  Rubio is what he always will be: a great passer and an underwhelming scorer.  Unfortunately, the Wolves have been average for quite a while, and a move similar to what the Sixers did may be in order if they plan to ever make some real noise.  Don’t get me wrong, Kevin Love is the best 4 in the league and Kevin Martin, Nikola Pekovic and Rubio are a solid supporting cast, but can anyone see that core getting past the first round of the Playoffs in a demanding Western Conference?  A trade may never happen, but Minnesota would do well to add some high picks in this year’s loaded class.

James: Should the T-Wolves trade him for a better shooting point guard?  I think Rubio is somewhat overrated, but I don’t think the Timberwolves should trade him immediately, as it would likely mean taking a lesser value.  The most worrisome aspect of Rubio’s play is the seeming lack of improvement in offensive categories.  The thought has always been that Rubio would improve his shooting as his career goes on, but his shooting percentage and PPP are at a career low in this, his third season.  Though he has improved his three-point percentage, it has only improved to 35% (a career high).  I’m not saying that the Timberwolves should trade him, as he has many other talents that help their team, but it may be time to accept his limitations as a player and realize that he will likely never be a great shooter or scorer.  That being said, how many other players in the league can pass or defend like he can?

3) Which current lottery players will make the All-Star roster?

Brandon: There are actually quite a few players on lottery teams who should see themselves in New Orleans for the All-Star Game.  From the East, Kyrie Irving, Aaron Afflalo, Carmelo Anthony, Evan Turner, Thad Young and Nikola Vucevic should be All Stars.  In the West, believe it or not, Nick Young, Kevin Love, Demarcus Cousins and Nikola Pekovic should make their respected squads.  Lottery teams should be relatively well represented in the All-Star game this year.

James: Well there are a few players who are obvious despite their team’s lack of success.  In that group, I’d put Carmelo Anthony, Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and possibly Kevin Garnett.  Among the over-performing players on lottery teams, I’d include Jeff Green and Anthony Davis.  Things can still change but with great players playing on terrible teams, I think most of the lottery’s All-Stars will be among that group.

4) Who will finish on top of the Atlantic Division?

Brandon: Boy, the Atlantic Division is a mess.  Currently atop it sits the .500 Toronto Raptors, followed by the 13-18 Celtics.  None of these teams are teeming with title hopes, though both New York teams were supposed to.  Brooklyn and the Knicks have been utterly disappointing this year, and the Knicks currently sit behind the abysmal Sixers.  At the end of the day, the best team in the division is probably the Raptors somehow.  This division has been unpredictable thus far, and don’t expect that to change.  But as their recent victory over the Pacers shows, Uriji’s boys in Toronto can actually play.

James: The Atlantic division is currently the who’s who of terrible teams.  They literally have it all: two underperforming, talent-laden rosters in one city, a Boston team rebuilding after shipping their vets to Brooklyn, a Philadelphia team attempting to tank like no other, and a Toronto squad that is leading the division at .500.  I’m going to make the case that Toronto will narrowly win this division.  They have actually gone 8-3 since the Rudy Gay trade and are thus far 5-1 against their own division.  They probably have the least upside, but their floor is much higher. They haven’t been struck by injuries like the Nets or Knicks and have more to play for than the Celtics or 76ers.

By Brandon Garland and James McNeill

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