The 2017 All-NBA teams were announced on Thursday. The biggest story is that neither Paul George nor Gordon Hayward snuck onto the third team, thus disqualifying them for being eligible to sign super-max contracts this summer. James Harden and Russell Westbrook made All-NBA (of course), meaning they will be eligible to sign super-max extensions this summer. Kawhi Leonard’s second straight All-NBA makes him eligible for a super-max deal after next summer; he’ll get it if he wants it.
Is John Wall a super-max player?
Good morning. We have that and more in Friday’s NBA newsletter.
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One player who could be in PG13’s situation this time: John Wall.
Wall made the third team, ahead of Chris Paul and Damian Lillard. It was his first career All-NBA nod. If he makes it again next year, he’ll be eligible to sign a super-max extension in the summer of 2018 or as a free agent with the Wizards in 2019. But Wall’s really not a shoo-in for All-NBA in any year because the league’s guard depth is so, so good. So that tough choice that led media members to pull their hair out this year will be back again with massive financial and team-building ramifications.
Beyond that, the question is whether the Wizards are willing to commit $35-$40 million to keep Wall in D.C. for his prime and whether Wall sees enough upside to decline true free agency. It’s a ways off, but it’s something to keep in mind as the Wizards adjust their roster this summer and get going next year.
Game 2 of Cavaliers vs. Celtics is set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT. Let’s hope for a competitive game!
Speaking of which: Zito Madu writes that Isaiah Thomas’ foolhardy attempt to stop LeBron is an analogy for the series.
Fascinating report from Sam Amick on the apparent drive of Paul George to sign with the Lakers next year ... and why the Lakers need to be patient to make it happen.
Fun thought experiment: Could first team All-NBA (which contains no Warriors) beat the Warriors? I would say yes, despite some shooting difficulties the All-NBA team would have. We can trust LeBron to find ways to use Anthony Davis, Westbrook, and Harden I imagine, and that’s not even to mention Kawhi.
I wrote about the necessary evil of media members voting essentially on whether players will get super-max contracts and how the solution is to end the individual player max.
Ricky O’Donnell writes that the Sixers hold the key to the 2017 NBA draft with a tough choice at No. 3.
Kobe got a class out of a final by retweeting a student. Seems like a suspect teaching strategy.
Ten NBA draft decisions that will massively impact the 2017-18 college basketball season.
If the NBA draft were Tinder, should you swipe right on Zach Collins? (Swipe left? I’m old and washed. I don’t know.)
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