Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Wolves and Kings are two teams that haven’t seen the playoffs much in the last 15 years.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Craig Lassig/AP.)
The Wolves beat the Kings on Monday. And it’s nice to see D’Angelo Russell return to the tune of 25 points.
But these two teams make me sad.
This is part of the reason why I don’t advocate tanking; it’s so easy to develop this culture of losing and it’s easy to make it stay there. Oh, we’ll be okay next year and all that. Well, the Kings have probably been saying this since 2006. They have the current longest playoff drought in the NBA. Kevin Martin was a rookie that season. Do you guys remember Kevin Martin?! He’s not even playing in the league anymore.
The Wolves did make the postseason in 2018. But that’s the only time they’ve made the postseason since 2004. The Timberwolves had noted hard-nosed star Jimmy Butler that season. We also know the infamous practice that had Butler and the third-stringers beating the starters. That was mostly the cause of why Butler was traded to Philadelphia. We know what Butler had done since: help get to a Game 7 against the eventual champion Raptors in 2019 and help the Miami Heat to a surprise NBA Finals berth in 2020.
The Kings have had draft picks that didn’t stick because they either flamed out or they never built the right cast around them. Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson weren’t exactly worldbeaters. Tyreke Evans won Rookie of the Year but that turned out to be the best season of his career. DeMarcus Cousins did become a star but he was disgruntled for most of his stint there. Isaiah Thomas had a good stay in Sactown but he became potent in Boston. Jimmer Fredette was (still is) an all-world scorer but he never found his footing there. The list goes on: Thomas Robinson, Ben McLemore (more on him later), Willie Cauley-Stein, even Marvin Bagley III. Bogdan Bogdanovic didn’t want to stay. The only ones that turned out well thus far are De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. They also have Buddy Hield from the Cousins trade.
The Wolves went through Rashad McCants, Randy Foye, Corey Brewer, and Wesley Johnson after that playoff appearance in 2004. Kevin Love had some good years and Ricky Rubio is actually now back in a Wolves uni. Jonny Flynn didn’t last long in the league.
Derrick Williams was a #2 pick overall but he flamed out pretty quickly. Shabazz Muhammad is also out of the league. Zach LaVine got dealt in the Butler trade. So was Kris Dunn. Andrew Wiggins was touted as the next big thing but he got dealt to Golden State for Russell. Karl-Anthony Towns, of course, is still there as well as Josh Okogie and #1 pick from last draft, Anthony Edwards.
That’s the thing for both teams. There’s no stability, which makes draftees flee the first chance they get or traded because they never developed correctly. And it’s tough because Sacramento and Minnesota aren’t two places free agents want to go to. So they already have the disadvantage of being in a not-so-glamour market.
Unless they get a real can’t-miss star, I’m not sure if these two teams can recover quickly. KAT is an excellent player but he hasn’t been a star that can turn around a franchise like a Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett did.
As such, the Kings and Wolves continue to run on hamster wheels. That feels pretty uncomfortable.
Bullet Passes
The battle of New York was on! And the Nets skated by the Knicks with two Jeff Green free throws. Suddenly, this match-up is must-see.
The Jazz had their 9-game win streak snapped by the Mavericks. Luka Doncic did his thing with 31-8-9. And the Mavs outdueled them from the outside with 23 threes to 12.
Look at Darius Garland go for 37 points against the Spurs!
Oh, those poor Thunder. Imagine getting blown out by the bad Pistons.
That team with the second longest playoff drought, the Suns, barely escaped the Rockets. But the bottom line is that the Suns are now only 2 1/2 games behind the Jazz for the #1 spot.
And we mentioned Ben McLemore. He’s signed with the Lakers for the rest of the season. He can only help that team in three-point shooting. After a fast start from outside, the Lakers are now only 24th in 3-point percentage.
NBA Scoreboard
Apr. 5, 2021
Watch This Play
Look at new Raptor Gary Trent, Jr. get it done at the buzzer!
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
The Raptors needed this win BADLY.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.