Summer LOVE

Kevin Love has owned the summer league and given Timberwolve fans a reason to smile in the off-season. Love is averaging 20 and 15 which are better numbers than he was averaging at UCLA. I realize he is going up against the likes of Chris Ellis (no-namer from Wake Forest) and Josh Davis (Wyoming product), but still, he is owning the paint in every single game he plays. When the Grizzlies drafted him, I was ecstatic. How could you not think Love was going to be an awesome NBA player? He has a great shot, quick on his feet for his size and is an absolute monster on the glass... not a beast like Richard "Joey" Dorsey, but a monster nontheless. I'm not saying I didn't like the trade for Mayo because he has been nothing short of terrific as well, but I am old school and I would rather have a solid big guy than a great shooting guard.

Jared Bayless has also been incredible in the summer league. He is getting to the line atleast 15 times a game and is averaging 28 points a game, along with 5 rebounds. Yes, I think this was a very good step-up for the Blazers rather than struggle across the finish line again with Jarret Jack. Bayless is a threat to put the ball in the basket every time he touches the ball and the tandom of him, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden is going to be something to watch for years to come. The Blazers and Timerbwolves, in my opinion, will be the two most improved teams in the NBA next season. I hope that the O.J. Mayo trade pans out for both, although it was very hard saying bye to Mike Miller because he has been nothing short of a class act since he came to Memphis six years ago. He was very sad to leave even though he was never given a real team around him to try and make a legitimate playoff run. All he has to show for it are three first round exits with not one playoff victory, hardly something to brag about.

I'll be honest, I look forward to waking up and seeing box scores from the NBA summer league every single morning just to look at the random ex-college players that are STILL trying to make it to the league. My favorite random has to be Lorenzo Mata-Real. That guy is just so bad at basketball, yet some summer team allowed him to play when he has absolutely 0% chance of making the team. When is Aaron Miles (the former gayhawk pg) going to realize he really can't shoot which gives him no chance of making a team? Gotta hand it to him though, he is in this league every year and never gives up. How about Frank Williams, the former Illini product who was a stellar college player but could never cut it in the NBA...oh yes, he is still showing up in Vegas for summer ball. And oh yeah, the Ronnel and Donnel twins from UAB who pulled off that miracle victory against Kentucky in the tournament are both kickin it in Vegas as well.

Overall, I think I am more excited for the coming year in the NBA more than any other season. There are so many good rookies and the game is starting to be taken over by these 19-20 year old kids. So many questions to be answered next season. How will Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley fare in their rookie season? Will Greg Oden pan out to be the player he was projected to be? Will the Grizzlies actually win 35-40 games this season? Will the Celtics still be as dominant without their glue guy in James Posey? With the Clippers and Warriors simply trading players, will it actually benefit either team? Is Elton Brand going to redefine his career in Philadelphia? Is Antoine Walker going to jackup shots for the Grizzlies, or finally call a quits and hang up the shoes? How will Andrew Bynum fit in with the Lakers and Gasol? Is Marc Gasol going to be a decent contributor? And lastly, will the Boston Celtics continue to allow the son of Eddie House to roam the sideline's during the game and almost get killed four or five different times? All these questions have me excited for the 2008-2009 NBA season and it should have you excited as well!