Why the LA Lakers should attempt to trade their 2014 lottery pick for Kevin Love

It is no secret that Kobe Bryant's championship window is closing as he heads into possibly the last contract of his career. With that in mind, the LA Lakers front office must decide this offseason whether drafting a young player and rebuilding through the draft is the direction to go. On the other hand, LA also has the luxury to be loaded with cap space this summer with only Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Robert Sacre under contract for the 2014-15 season. As a result, reloading via free agency is an option to consider.

One player who may become available is neither a draft prospect nor a free agent this summer. Although he has never publicly stated his desire to leave his team, multiple sources believe he will not resign once he becomes a free agent. He is Kevin Love, power forward of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Love representing the Los Angeles Lakers seems like a destined fit and an opportunity the Lakers must pursue. Firstly, as a former UCLA Bruin, KLove would be returning home in addition to playing for the franchise his father Stan also played for. Love, only 25 would provide the Lakers with a secondary star and take some of the scoring load off of Kobe Bryant next season. The Lakers will have several options come summer time and trading away their 2014 lottery pick for Love may be the best decision for the franchise moving forward.

There may not be a franchise changing player in the 2014 NBA Draft

Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker (might return to Duke for sophomore year), Dante Exum among others may be available in this summer's highly anticipated draft. The huge question is whether these young studs will be able to adjust quickly to the NBA and make an immediate impact from day one. Embiid, for example is considered a red flag because of his recent back injury causing him to sit out the NCAA March Madness Tournament. As a young center, he has a relatively high ceiling, but the potential may be reached through a couple of seasons so do not be surprised to see Embiid be an ongoing project at first. Wiggins and Parker are insane athletes and have displayed a huge repertoire of nice moves in their freshmen year. On the other hand, when the stakes have been high, they have not performed as well and failed to lead their team to the next round. We can go on analyzing all the potential draftees and some may consider the 2014 draft to be over-hyped as landing a surefire franchise player is questionable. The talent in this draft is undeniably there, however it remains to be seen if any of these prospects have superstar status written on them.   

Acquiring Love puts Lakers back in win-now mode

As Kobe Bryant's career dawns, Lakers know they will need a successor soon if not now. Enter Kevin Love. A consistent double-double machine, Love can score from everywhere on the floor and grab a ton of boards every night. Sending away a lottery pick for the All-Star power forward would definitely send a win-now message to the rest of the league and the Lakers should do just that. LA has the benefit of being a big-market team with the ability to dive into the luxury tax year after year. In addition, we all know Laker fans are impatient about rebuilding, expecting the team to be a contender every season. Taking this into consideration, Lakers' TV ratings are down nearly 50% from last season and adding Love would definitely increase viewership for next year. Love is a unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2015 and there is no guarantee that he resigns with the Lakers if traded from Minny. However, Rajon Rondo, Paul Millsap, Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert, Marc Gasol among others will be available in 2015 and Lakers could potentially lure one or more of these impact players depending on how they address their cap situation this summer. To simply put it, LA must embrace winning now rather than build for the future in Kobe's last chapter of his career.

Lakers could use acquisition of Love to attract other elite free agents to LA
Adding Kevin Love will take LA out of the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes this summer if they choose to enter. Despite losing out on Melo, there are still many second-tier free agents that are available and within the Lakers price tag. There are two scenarios that can allow the Lakers to maximize on cap space this summer. First renounce everyone but the young guys - you'll get cap holds on their roster spots regardless, so you keep the talent. The next thing is to decide whether you use the stretch provision on Steve Nash and carry the cap hit for the next three years. Per Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, here are the numbers:

Love is slated to earn $15,719,062 next season so if you keep Nash that's $54.11 million, against what could be a $62 million cap - so that's $7.88 million in usable space. If you stretch Nash that's $47.64 million, against what could be a $62 million cap - so that's $14.35 million in usable cap space.

Lakers could use the acquisition of Love to attract other elite free agents to Hollywood. They could attempt to pry restricted free agents Eric Bledsoe (PG), Isaiah Thomas (PG) or Greg Monroe (PF) away by overpaying them. Another option is to sign Luol Deng (SF) who is reported unhappy with the situation in Cleveland or find a way to obtain Lance Stephenson (SG/SF) or Kyle Lowry (PG) who are also unrestricted free agents. With the Lakers' current state of losing, they do not appear like a great destination, but factor in Kevin Love, a top 10 player in the association, LA can persuade other young-and-coming players to come to Tinseltown.

4 NBA Draft Prospects Who Boosted Or Maintained Their Stock In The 2nd Round Of March Madness

The NCAA March Madness tournament gives young prospects a chance to showcase their value on the biggest stage and prove they are ready for the NBA. After a 2nd Round (Round of 64) filled with upsets and surprises, we break down 4 NBA Draft prospects who have performed well early in this "Big Dance".

Adreian Payne (Michigan State) - Mid 1st/Late 1st
Payne displayed his versatility in Michigan State's rout over Delaware on Thursday. The 6'10" forward showed his inside and outside game finishing with a career high 41 points 8 rebounds and going 17-17 from the charity stripe in 24 minutes. The ability to be a stretch-4 and do work down low in the post will undoubtedly have teams calling for draft workouts. This massive performance has certainly boosted his draft stock and may just be what he needs to propel into lottery conversation.

Shapazz Napier (UConn) - Early 2nd/Mid 2nd
In an tight OT game with Saint Joseph's, Napier was able to lead the Huskies to victory with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. The Senior guard will definitely need another breakout performance against Villanova to advance to the Sweet 16 or even possibly sneak into the 1st round of the upcoming NBA draft. When UConn was hit with a postseason ban before the 2012-2013 season, the team was divided. Nonetheless, Napier has emerged as a silver lining who has helped the Huskies reach the postseason this year.

Doug McDermott (Creighton) - Late Lottery/ Mid 1st
Doug McDermott or "McBuckets" is an absolute college scoring sensation. The 6'8" forward out of Creighton dropped 30 points and added 12 rebounds in the win against La-Lafayette on Friday. On the other hand, scouts are still not entirely convinced that his scoring will translate into the NBA. McDermott can stretch the floor with his 3-point ability but the likeliest NBA scenario sees him being a solid role player. His consistent performances throughout the season have solidified his draft value so he will have no trouble landing in the 1st round.   

Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State) - Lottery
Despite the loss to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Marcus Smart showed us why he is NBA ready and a definite lottery pick. In 38 minutes, Smart had 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals, and a block. His turnovers (6) and efficiency (5-14 FG) remain glaring issues. However, his impact on both ends of the floor is undeniable and teams will certainly take a look at him.

NCAA March Madness Bracket

The Daily Dribble has Florida winning the NCAA tournament. Who do you got? If you haven't done so, sign up and fill in your bracket at ESPN Tournament Challenge before the beginning of the MADNESS.

Predicting the 2013-14 All-NBA, All-Defensive, and All-Rookie Teams

With the regular season drawing to an end, we give you our predictions for the All-NBA, All-Defensive, and All-Rookie teams.

All-NBA First Team 

Conrad:

G: Chris Paul (Clippers)

G: Stephen Curry (Warriors)

F: LeBron James (Heat)

F: Kevin Durant (Thunder)

C: Joakim Noah (Bulls)

Janzen:

G: Chris Paul (Clippers)

G: James Harden (Rockets)

F: Kevin Durant (Thunder)

F: LeBron James (Heat)

C: Blake Griffin (Clippers)

All-NBA Second Team

Conrad:

G: James Harden (Rockets)

G: Paul George (Pacers)

F: Carmelo Anthony (Knicks)

F: Blake Griffin (Clippers)

C: Dwight Howard (Rockets)

Janzen:

G: Stephen Curry (Warriors)

G: Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

F: LaMarcus Aldridge (Trail Blazers)

F: Kevin Love (Timberwolves)

C: Joakim Noah (Bulls)

All-NBA Third Team

Conrad:

G: Kyle Lowry (Raptors)

G: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)

F: LaMarcus Aldridge (Trail Blazers)

F: Kevin Love (Timberwolves)

C: DeMarcus Cousins (Kings)

Janzen:

G: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)

G: Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers)

F: Carmelo Anthony (Knicks)

F: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)

C: Dwight Howard (Rockets)

All-Defensive First Team

Conrad:

G: Chris Paul (Clippers)
G: Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves)
F: LeBron James (Heat)
F: Serge Ibaka (Thunder)
C: Joakim Noah (Bulls)

Janzen:
G: Chris Paul (Clippers)
G: Jimmy Butler (Bulls)
F: LeBron James (Heat)
F: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
C: Serge Ibaka (Thunder)

All-Defensive Second Team

Conrad:
G: Michael Carter-Williams (76ers)
G: Jimmy Butler (Bulls)
F: Paul George (Pacers)
F: Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
C: Roy Hibbert (Pacers)

Janzen:

G: Ricky Rubio (Timberwolves)

G: Thaddeus Young (76ers)

F: Paul George (Pacers)

F: Joakim Noah (Bulls)

C: Roy Hibbert (Pacers)

All-Rookie First Team

Conrad:

G: Michael Carter-Williams (76ers)

G: Victor Oladipo (Magic)

F: Giannis Antetokuonmpo (Bucks)

F: Ryan Kelly (Lakers)

C: Kelly Olynyk (Celtics)

Janzen:

G: Michael Carter-Williams (76ers)

G: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Knicks)

F: Giannis Antetokuonmpo (Bucks)

F: Mason Plumlee (Nets)

C: Pero Antic (Hawks)

All-Rookie Second Team

Conrad:

G: Trey Burke (Jazz)

G: Tim Hardaway Jr. (Knicks)

F: Anthony Bennett (Cavaliers)

F: Mason Plumlee (Nets)

C: Steven Adams (Thunder)

Janzen:

G: Victor Oladipo (Magic)

G: Trey Burke (Jazz)

F: Ben McLemore (Kings)

F: Ryan Kelly (Lakers)

C: Kelly Olynyk (Celtics) 

Fixing the Cleveland Cavaliers

"With the 1st pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select... Anthony Bennett of Toronto, Canada and the University of Nevada Las Vegas."

In the last 3 drafts, Cleveland has received the 1st and 4th picks twice to select Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, and now Anthony Bennett. At the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery, GM Dan Gilbert said that "[they] were hoping regardless of what pick [they] got that this would be [their] last lottery". Ultimately, the front office and the entire organization had the post-season as their goal. 

Last summer, the Cavs signed Jarrett Jack (4 yr/$25 mill), Earl Clark (2 yr/$6 mill), and Andrew Bynum (2 yr/24 mill). While their new acquisitions were considered a disappointment earlier in the season, the Cavs were able to use them along with a flurry of picks to obtain Luol Deng and Spencer Hawes prior to the trade deadline. With playoffs or bust in the back of their head, you have to wonder if the Cavs impatience with their rebuild may cause them to remain mediocre in the long run. Firstly, Cleveland has surrendered a bunch of assets to acquire two unrestricted free agents who may not be returning next season. The coach has failed to keep the locker room together early this season with teammates going against each other on and off the floor. In addition, chemistry issues and positional fits remain to be solved or mended. The Cavs can surely be fixed and although their future is uncertain, immense potential resonates in the team as a whole. Many questions surround this young squad and with that, we will take a look at some of them.

Is Mike Brown your long term coach?

When the Cleveland Cavaliers fired GM Chris Grant in early February, surprisingly, Mike Brown was not relieved of his coaching duties and he was even given a vote of confidence by owner, Dan Gilbert.  The team then went on a season-best six game winning streak. As of February 27, the Cavs are sitting at a 23-36 record, 4 games out of the 8th seed in the East. While the team has improved defensively in the past couple weeks, I still do not feel Mike Brown is the best coaching candidate for the long term. Cleveland has one of the youngest teams in the association and they would benefit more from a "Run-and-Gun" style offense where they could push the tempo at a greater pace. As a more defensive oriented coach, Brown may not be the best fit for this dynamic Cavalier team. Back in his tenure with the Lakers, Brown tried utilizing the Princeton offense, which did not appeal to the personnel nor generate great results (he was fired 5 games into the season and later replaced by D'Antoni).  The Cavs should target a coach who can instill a high-octane and free-flowing offense similar to what Jeff Hornacek has done with the Phoenix Suns. This would certainly maximize the potential on this Cavalier squad.

Can Irving and Waiters form a formidable backcourt?

Irving and Waiters have occasional shown flashes of brilliance when playing in the same backcourt as well as miscommunications and chemistry issues. There were reports that Dion Waiters was involved in an altercation with Tristan Thompson in a team meeting and how he would not mind getting a fresh start with a trade to a new team. Instead the Cavaliers decided to keep him past the deadline and now seem to have the desire to build a dynamic duo of Irving and Waiters in the backcourt for the long haul. Both Irving and Waiters have a little redundancy as they are most effective with the ball in their hands which brings up the problem of them coexisting together. Bringing Waiters off the bench for most of the season has allowed Cleveland to maximize the offense of the second unit. They should continue to do so and gradually try to pair the two guards together more in short stretches. Keep in mind, Kyrie and Dion are only 21 and 22 years old respectively. Giving up on this duo so early would definitely be a mistake. It will take some time, but Irving and Waiters certainly have the potential to mesh and form a formidable backcourt for the future.       

Who could replace Luol Deng if he leaves for another team in free agency?

LEBRON JAMES!! Sorry, but the odds of LeBron returning to Cleveland are as low as the chances he breaks his nose again. Before the Deng trade, the Cavs were rolling out lineups with Alonzo Gee or Earl Clark as their starting small forward. Not surprisingly, both of them could not get the job done and the potential departure of Deng would further decimate production at the SF. Looking at the available small forwards in the free agency class of 2014, there are not many big names besides LeBron, Melo, Deng, and Hayward. You can cross off LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony right off as there is no reason for them to reject more money to come play with Kyrie et al. Gordon Hayward, a restricted free agent is an interesting option, but would probably require the Cavs to overpay him to force the Jazz to not match the offer. A potential sign and trade could also occur, but the likelihood is quite low.

A feasible and realistic option at the 3 would be SF Trevor Ariza of the Washington Wizards. Ariza has quietly emerged behind the likes of youngsters, John Wall and Bradley Beal. Averaging 14.2 ppg and a career best 6.5 rpg and 40% from three, the long athletic swingman would complement Irving well as he can play off the ball and also make plays for others. Ariza is earning north of $7 million this season and the Cavs could decide to give him a contract of somewhere from $15-18 milllion for 2 years. With that value, Cleveland would still have the flexibility to chase marquee names in 2016.

However, another route the Cavs could take would be acquisition through trade. One intriguing player the Cavaliers could potentially deal for is Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have a lot of depth in the front court as well as a tight logjam at the small forward (Gallinari, Chandler, Miller). Cleveland could attempt to buy low as a result of Gallo's season ending knee injury. A framework of a potential deal may include the Cavs sending the expiring contracts of Anderson Varejao (partially guaranteed) and Alonzo Gee and possible draft considerations for Gallinari. Denver's motives of doing this trade would be to clear long term salary as they are capped out until after the 2015-16 season in addition to providing enough minutes for the growth of Wilson Chandler and Quincy Miller whom Brian Shaw likes.

Trade link *Note: Contracts state 2yr for Varejao and Gee for the 2013-14 season. If trade is made in the offseason, Varejao and Gee's contracts will be one year deals*

Regardless of who they decide to pursue, a vacancy at the SF position must be filled via free agency, at the draft or through trade.

Will Kyrie stay or go?

This may be the biggest question of all. Kyrie Irving is eligible for a max contract extension this fall and would become a restricted free agent if he passes on this opportunity. Although he has not publicly announced his desire to leave, sources close to Kyrie's camp say "he does not want to stick around for the long haul". To avoid losing their prized point guard, the Cavs must use the next two years to build a playoff team around Kyrie and show that they are serious about winning. They must find pieces that will complement Irving's game and look to him for potential free agents to pursue. If it is clear that Kyrie wants out when his contract is almost up, Cleveland will be forced to trade him to avoid THE DECISION all over again. All in all, Cleveland must do whatever it takes to keep Kyrie happy and retain him for the future. Personally, I think if the Cavs do not make the playoffs this season, Uncle Drew will reject a contract extension this fall and accept a qualifying offer in the summer of 2015 in order to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016 when he has all the leverage to decide where he wants to go.

5 NBA Players Who Could Potentially Be Traded This Summer

The NBA trade deadline came and we saw a flurry of minor deals go through. While teams have been hoarding their 1st rounders for the loaded draft class of 2014, it is highly possible to expect more player movement come off season when teams get a feel of which direction they want to go. Below is a list of 5 players who have a great chance of moving to new teams this summer.

Josh Smith (Detroit Pistons) - The Pistons were looking to find suitors to unload J-Smoove during the NBA deadline, but teams were reluctant to take on Smith's albatross contract. In addition, Detroit wanted to acquire more than just expiring contracts and financial flexibility which proved difficult. This summer, the Pistons must decide whether they want to keep Smith or Monroe (Restricted FA) in the long haul. It is clear that J-Smoove at the 3 has not been working out as he is posting the lowest 3PT % of his career while attempting the most 3s this season. Personally, I think Smith needs to be the one traded. If put in the right situation at the power forward position, J-Smoove can blossom as he has always been a defensive game changer.

Potential Destinations: Boston, Phoenix, Charlotte

Omer Asik (Houston Rockets) - When the Rockets signed Dwight Howard last summer, it was reported by numerous sources that Omer Asik wanted out. This is not surprisingly as Asik had a career year (10.1 ppg 11.7 rpg) last season as the team's starting center. Kevin McHale tried using the twin towers together in the beginning of the season, but that has not worked out entirely to say the least. The logjam at the center position has certainly stunted the development of Asik. With many teams seeking a long term solution at center like the Celtics and Sixers, Asik could be traded this off season if Daryl Morey finds the package he wants.

Potential Destinations: Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta

Arron Afflalo (Orlando Magic) - Arron Afflalo is having a stellar year so far with averages of 19.7 pts, 4.0 reb, and 3.6 ast. With the Orlando Magic in the midst of another rebuilding year, they must decide if they want to cash in now while Afflalo's stock is at its highest for young prospects and picks or build around him. Afflalo is on a friendly 7.5 million dollar contract this season and next year with a player option in 2015-16 which could attract a lot of attention from teams in need of a versatile shooting guard.

Potential Destinations: Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Memphis

Jameer Nelson (Orlando Magic) - It was not too long ago when Jameer Nelson with the likes of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu lead the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009. Fast forward to 2014, Nelson is the only one remaining from that core, but still having a solid season as the starting point guard. The Orlando Magic do not have a definite answer at the PG as Victor Oladipo who is a natural shooting guard has also been experimented as a point guard and Nelson may be on the move this summer if the Magic decide to draft one in Dante Exum or Marcus Smart. However, as a serviceable point guard and 10 year veteran, Nelson would be a nice backup for a contender.

Potential Destinations: Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Chicago

Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia 76ers) - Back in December, it was reported that Thaddeus Young had formally requested to be traded. After the NBA trade deadline, Young saw teammates Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner move to Cleveland and Indiana respectively while he surprisingly stayed put. Young is averaging a career high 17.3 pts and as a attractive asset, he should have been moved at the deadline to a better situation to maximize his potential instead of dwelling in Philly's rebuild. However, the Sixers may have been smart to hold onto Young for now as he can receive more touches as the number one offensive option and increase his value for the summer.  

Potential Destinations: Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio

NBA 2K Suggestions/Improvements

NBA 2K Suggestions/Improvements

After playing NBA 2K14, I was a little disappointed that the redeveloped physics and altered controls were generally the only major changes to the game. Although 2K Sports has once again produced one of the best basketball simulation video games, there is still much room for improvements in many aspects.

Below is a collection of suggestions/improvements that I think would enhance the NBA 2K experience.

Gameplay:

-Halftime/Quarter Intermission interviews with coaches/players *now available in Next Gen gameplay*
-Moral Effect
-Technical fouls, flagrant fouls, and ejections/suspensions

Added features and enhancements to game modes:

-Summer League in Association and My Career
-NBA Draft Combine in Association and My Career (remove Rookie Showcase)
-Training Camp with a training camp roster of 20 players
-Unguaranteed and partially guaranteed contracts in Association
-Protected and unprotected draft picks
-Bring back NBA D-League to allow D-League call-ups and assignments
-Ability to facilitate 4-team trades
-Amnesty Clause

New modes:

- GM mode *available on Next Gen gameplay* 
- Owner mode 

Misc.

-"Defense" chants late in games
- More realistic durability and injuries
- Smarter CPU GMs
- Free agency logic
- Undrafted rookies/players
- Interview/workout players to sign/trade
- National anthem
- Celebrities in stands

Do you have any suggestions?