Welcome to the first revamped version of the Daily Duncs. This will still be a place to find what Nate and Danny are reading – plus what I'm reading with some commentary and analysis mixed in. The format will be evolving, especially as the season nears. But I'm excited to join this space, so let's jump in.
-Dan Feldman
- Shams Charania of The Athletic details a few key points of Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. Union executive director Tamika Tremaglio says she wants "equity" in teams for players. What that would look like is less clear. Owners won't just convey shares of their franchises to players out of goodwill. If players take large enough pay cuts, sure, owners might offer equity in exchange. But I suspect most players would prefer higher salaries to small stakes in teams if the present values are roughly a wash. As usual in these negotiations, it will come down to what each side prioritizes and how hard it's willing to fight for it (strike? lock out?). Players can get nearly whatever they want – IF they sacrifice something else in exchange.
- Charania reports there are also talks to allow players to treat mental-health issues similarly to physical injuries. Clarifying procedures would be welcome in the aftermath of the messy Ben Simmons saga. When both sympathy and skepticism are reasonable reactions to claims like Simmons', it's helpful to have some guidelines.
- Lastly among Charania's topics that I'll relay here, there's some desire to make the luxury tax harsher. As Nate frequently points out, that could have opposite the intended effect. Teams in the middle of the spending spectrum would be even less likely to pay the tax. Therefore, the biggest spending teams – even with somewhat curtailed payrolls – would have an even larger competitive advantage.
- Why haven't the Lakers traded Russell Westbrook? The biggest reason: They're prioritizing 2023-24 and beyond, according to Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic. Most discussed Westbrook trades would return players on long-term contracts. Westbrook is on an expiring deal. We project the Lakers to have about $30 million in cap room next summer. Not quite max space, but maybe enough to lure a star willing to take a slight discount to join Los Angeles (Kyrie Irving?). Of course, there's an obvious flaw to this plan. LeBron James is 37. The Lakers can't just punt on a season of his prime and assume he'll remain elite at age 39 in 2024. Still, there is value in hoping new coach Darvin Ham can reach Westbrook (or bench Westbrook without fraying the team), especially considering the upside to that plan is gobs of 2023 cap space.
- There are far more important issues involving Robert Sarver. Nate and I discussed some of them on the most recent pod. But I'm riveted by a story Amin Elhassan – a former Suns staffer – recently told on "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz." Apparently, the Suns' front office used to code its draft posted board so Sarver wouldn't know how the team ranked prospects/leak the info to Phoenix reporter John Gambadoro. How dysfunctional is that?! In fairness, the Suns have been repeatedly successful under Sarver's ownership – from the" Seven Seconds or Less" era to their current championship contention with Chris Paul and Devin Booker. So I ask earnestly: How dysfunctional is that? Perhaps that level of internal suspicion and stealth isn't so unusual within the league. In "Tanking to the Top," Yaron Weitzman details how Sam Hinkie kept scouts in the dark on the 76ers' draft process. We tend to think of NBA teams as unified fronts, but they're comprised of individuals with their own agendas. Worth getting reminded of that occasionally.
- Zion Williamson's trainer, Jasper Bibbs, told William Guillory of The Athletic: "He’s a better athlete now than he’s ever been." That's a heck of a claim. Williamson has looked significantly less athletic in the NBA than at Duke, where his thunderous dunks lifted him to national prominence and the havoc he created defensively fortified his scouting profile. Even while playing at an All-NBA level during his lone mostly healthy season (though snubbed by voters), Williamson shined more with his touch and playmaking than above-the-rim finishing. He has been a complete turnstile defensively. Concerns about Williamson's weight and, relatedly, injuries abound. But Williamson is just 22. If he's truly more athletic than ever, coupled with his underrated skill set, watch out. Once again, Williamson hype is rising.
- Tim Kawakami of The Athletic came away from his conversation with Warriors president Bob Myers with increased belief Golden State would extend Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole. That'd get quite expensive with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson already on huge deals. But the Warriors make a lot of money in large part because they're so good then reinvest in the team to stay good. They don't want to break that cycle. Perhaps, Green would take a discount. He holds great pride in helping build Golden State's dynasty and has recommended against players leaving a good situation to chase every last dollar. Green's last contract extension landed well below what it appeared he could get in free agency. At 32 and having shown decline (as great as he still is), Green might not be as costly as some project.
- The Las Vegas Aces won the 2022 NBA championship. Chantel Jennings of The Athletic chronicled Aces coach Becky Hammon's journey to the title.
- Dennis Schroder returned to the Lakers on a minimum salary ($2,641,682). Obligatory note: He could've been on the second season of a four-year, $84 million extension Los Angeles offered him during his previous stint there.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo talked openly about the possibility of playing for the Bulls someday. Completely unrelatedly, I'm sure, Chicago is signing Kostas Antetokounmpo for training camp.