NBA Preseason: Five Storylines To Be On The Lookout For

NBA Preseason: Five Storylines To Be On The Lookout For

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by | Dec 8, 2020 | Featured, NBA

This Friday, the NBA restarts down its long-awaited calendar with the tip-off of the 2020-21 preseason, exactly 11 days before the real thing takes place for the upcoming regular season that’s sure to be different from its predecessors. And of course, just like how any offseason has gone since forever, there are new faces in new places. Trades and free agency shook the league to its core just a few weeks ago and by the looks of it, transactions probably won’t be finished until the opening tip.

From factions being split in groundbreaking trades, discontent players looking elsewhere for new pastures in free agency signings, shocking draft selections, and more, it’s worth the mention that everyone’s favorite teams will look slightly different once Friday comes. These exhibition contests are limited, understandably, due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only two to four games will be played and the schedules of each team mentioned in this article will be posted.

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5. Minnesota Timberwolves (Finished Last Season 19-45) – A Blast From The Franchise’s Past Joins Forces With The Organization’s New Cornerpiece

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Saturday, December 12 
  • vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Monday, December 14  
  • vs. Dallas Mavericks – Thursday, December 17

The owners of the first pick in November’s 2020 NBA Draft, Minny selected Guard/Forward Anthony Edwards and will see after their coveted first-round selection that he can mesh well with the main core of newly-acquired guard D’Angelo Russell and top-tier big man Karl Anthony-Towns. Daily reminder that there was not a Summer League, so fans and scouts alike who haven’t gotten the chance to witness the 6-5, 225-lb 19-year old who averaged 19.1 points per game in one year at Georgia will have the opportunity.

Additionally, Ricky Rubio’s return to the Minnesota Timberwolves shouldn’t fly under the radar. After departing in 2017, Rubio emigrated from his starting spot he played in from the start of his career back in 2011, and after spending nearly three years away in other sites like Utah and Phoenix, Rubio was traded back to the Twin Cities’ team as a result of the three-team trade that sent Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns, and Ricky Rubio (as well as the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels from the Thunder) to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Head coach Ryan Saunders and the prolific Spanish playmaker that garnered a massive fan following during his first stint with the T’Wolves have a well-documented relationship with each other, and Saunders’ belief in Rubio’s impact spans far past the stat sheet.

“Ricky does things that don’t always show up in the box score, and he impacts winning in a way where he can help young players grow.”

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4. Charlotte Hornets (Finished Last Season 23-42) – “Ballin” In The Queen City

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Toronto (Tampa Bay) Raptors – Saturday, December 12
  • vs. Toronto (Tampa Bay) Raptors – Monday, December 14
  • vs. Orlando Magic – Thursday, December 17

These first two years of James Borrego’s tenure as Head coach of the Charlotte Hornets are predicated on fulfilling the growth and projected potential of CHA’s young and inquisitive parts that will someday compete for a playoff spot. The postseason was not quite a realistically attainable goal, but more of a further incentive if the ‘Nets had enough on the table to open some eyes across the league.

While it didn’t really show in the record box, numbers in other prioritized statistical areas told otherwise. Devonte Graham ended his regular season in 2020 shooting over 37 percent from deep, earning himself an invite to the Three-Point Contest at All-Star weekend and multiple Most Improved Player votes. PJ Washington and Miles Bridges made significant strides to improve their games, but in addition to shedding aging and regressing players like Nicolas Batum, the 2020 offseason might be the most impactful adjustment to this roster for this year and beyond.

The third overall selection in 2020 belonged to Michael Jordan’s Hornets, and with it picked point guard LaMelo Ball from Chino Hills, California/Lithuania/Spire Academy/Illawarra, Australia. It’s been a long journey to the pros for Ball, the second of the three Ball brothers (oldest brother LiAngelo just got signed to the Pistons and second-oldest Lonzo still with the Pelicans) who are all now in the NBA. Ball was by far the purest shot-creator in the draft and also, the most equanimous decision-maker with the ball in his hands.

If how LaMelo fared against grown men competing in the Aussie league known as the NBL was any indication of how he’d do in an equally physical league, Hornets fans are in for a treat. Charlotte’s biggest strength is their backcourt play and Ball will be coached and developed to accompany Graham and Malik Monk as he gets his first bearings of NBA action this Saturday.

Alongside him will be the newly-signed Gordon Hayward, the intelligent playmaking wing who signed for four years worth $140M. He is looking to find a second wind for his career after a turbulent three years in Boston.

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3. Washington Wizards (Finished Last Season 25-47) – The Brodie To The Nation’s Capital: Boom Or Bust?

Preseason Schedule:

  • vs. Brooklyn Nets – Sunday, December 13
  • vs. Detroit Pistons – Thursday, December 17
  • vs Detroit Pistons – Saturday, December 19

What a whirlwind of an offseason it’s been for Wizards fans, both in good and bad ways. What seemed to kick off draft and trade season in an unforeseen turn of events: highly-coveted first-rounder Deni Avdija fell to them in the draft at No. 9, and it looked as if the duo of the recovered John Wall and Bradley Beal were to finally reunite in the Nation’s Capital.

And then the eve of Wednesday, December 2, 2020 happened. The prodigal son of Washington, D.C., John Wall was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Russell Westbrook, meaning the union between Wall and Beal was broken, and another All-Star was to be added to a young roster choc’ full of potential.

So now, Russell Westbrook is in the third destination of his career and, per his request, will likely be within the same role he was in when he was dominating and winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2017. Moreover, it’s the established chemistry between he and his Head coach, Scotty Brooks, whom he started his NBA career with before Billy Donavan took over coaching responsibilities in Oklahoma City in 2016.

But even with the numbers Russ has put up in his career, it’s purely a TBD over who won this trade considering that his offensive productivity has taken a severe dip in the past two seasons. It could very well be a mechanics and confidence fix, and if so, Russ’ return to MVP form only says good things for a team growing in depth. One thing is for sure, it’s going to be odd seeing Westbrook not only wearing a Wizards jersey, but reverting back to wearing No. 4, his old Olympia High School number.

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2. Brooklyn Nets (Finished Last Season 35-37) – How Will KD and Kyrie Look In Their Return?

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Washington Wizards – Sunday, December 13
  • vs. Boston Celtics – Friday, December 18

As if there was any different reason that you’d honestly be watching the Brooklyn Nets in the preseason, the obvious being stated is that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both returning to the hardwood since thier injuries, and are looking to make BK Town’s team the entire state of New York can get behind, since the Knicks are a ways away from contending.

We’ve yet to see what post-Achilles tear KD really looks like in game speed besides some short Twitter clips of getting runs in gyms with trainers and fellow NBA collegues, but from word of mouth of coaches and fellow trainers, “he’s back”. Seeing Durant come back healthy, even at 80%, is still frightening to guard, considering that KD has never been known to utilize that untethered athleticism and rely on just pure basketball skill.

As for Irving, who returns from a handful of ailments ranging from shoulder impingements to knee issues, his role and responsibilities in Brooklyn’s offense is going to be something worth making a note of remembering to tune in to. New Head coach Steve Nash has shared with the team the general consensus of there not being a true point guard (at least that’s how Irving explained it) so in terms of how the guards in Nash’s system operate, fans will get a sneak peak into how Brooklyn’s revamped backcourt and frontcourt will mesh within Nash’s offense.

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1. Houston Rockets (Finished Last Season 44-28) – Will The Off-Court Drama’s Noise Drown Out The Progressive Strides Of A Contender?

Preseason Schedule

  • vs. Chicago Bulls – Friday, December 11
  • vs. Chicago Bulls – Sunday, December 13
  • vs. San Antonio Spurs – Tuesday, December 15
  • vs. San Antonio Spurs – Thursday, December 17

This is not the ideal position Stephen Silas wanted his Rockets to be in.

The first-time Head coach and son to the legendary Paul Silas, consider these “occurrences” his initiation to the theatrics and dramatics that come with the job, to put it euphemistically.

The Harden drama has been nothing but nauseating to fathom if you are a Rockets fan, and just as toxic and demoralizing to the organization if you are behind the scenes of this mess. It’s unnecessary to commentate on a play-by-play basis what’s transpired between Harden and Tiliman Fertitta, the Rockets’ owner (Twitter seems to be pretty good at doing that) but to put it succinctly – James Harden has behaved in such an insubordinate, conducive and unprofessional manner just to imply that he wants out of Houston, preferably before the season begins.

So what does that mean for a Rockets team that, barring their little “small ball” experiment, would’ve been favored to reach the conference finals and possibly play for a championship when both recently departed Russell Westbrook and Harden were referred to as the highest-scoring backcourt in the game?

Either one of two things, exactly:

A. New trade acquisition Christian Wood fits into Silas’s system like a puzzle piece John Wall balls out in Westbrook’s place and other notable FA signing DeMarcus Cousins (who rejoins Wall for the first time since their days as Kentucky Wildcats) regains the monomer of top-3 unstoppable big man in the league, thus convincing Harden to wise up a little and realize what’s homemade is much better than what’s out there.

B. Harden can’t even stand the thought of staying in the city of Houston for another second, bails on the team and demands a trade before December 22’s opener against Oklahoma City while Wall looks as if he’s lost a step (or two) and Boogie Cousins remains a non-starter while Wood scarcely puts up respectable numbers but numbers not good enough to keep Houston competitive, prompting a clean house and top-down rebuild.

So what’s the scoop on turning on the television to witness the 2020-21 Houston Rockets? It’s not a question of who will be on the floor to start the preseason for Houston – it’s a matter of who won’t be.

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Other honorable mentions include…

  • The Boston Celtics, who will be without Kemba Walker for the start of the season and will have to rely on one of the best stretch wing duos in the league in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (and Jeff Teague as their starting guard) to operate the offense.

 

  • The Golden State Warriors, a team that’s severely maligned by the injury to Klay Thompson and is searching through their options to find his viable replacement for the near future. Additionally, the NBA debut of James Wiseman (now postponed due to both he and Draymond Green recently catching the Coronavirus) should be a sight to see.

 

  • The Los Angeles Clippers, who enter year two with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, will have their plays called by former Cavaliers Head coach Tyronn Lue with new signees Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum getting introductory minutes in their new home stadium.

 

  • The Tampa Bay (not Toronto) Raptors, not playing in front of 19,000 people inside ScotiaBank Arena, or in the country of Canada at all for an entire season due to the team not being allowed back into the country until the pandemic ends.

 

  • The Phoenix Suns, now with Chris Paul controlling the floor and sharing it with suparstar two-guard Devin Booker.

 

  • The Milwaukee Bucks, now in the final year of the Persuade-Giannis-to-stay-in-Milwaukee challenge, did a decent job of surrounding the Greek Freak with talent in swapping Eric Bledsoe with New Orleans for former All-Star Jrue Holiday. We’ll see how he adjusts to a new spaceous system ran by Mike Budenholzer.

 

  • The Atlanta Hawks, now complete with a reliable backup/mentor to Trae Young in Rajon Rondo as well as budding offensive dynamo Bodgdan Bogdanovic.

 

  • The Portland Trail Blazers, who stocked up on the defensive end by signing Robert Covington as a star 3-and-D guy opposing defenders don’t want to leave open.

 

  • The Denver Nuggets, who A.) had arguably the best time of anyone on draft night picking up RJ Hampton, B.) Picked up Buddy Hield during the opening of the trade market to bolster an already dangerous lineup that upset the #2 seed Clippers in last year’s playoffs and C.) Look to build off last year’s success on their way to a franchise-first NBA championship.

 

  • And the Los Angeles Lakers, the defending champions who got even better in the offseason by signing sixth man of the year Montrezl Harrell, 6MOTY runner-up Dennis Schroder, and locked down both L.A. staples (pun intended) LeBron James and Anthony Davis to lucrative extensions that go past 2023-25.

 

As training camp officially starts with the regular season right around the corner, the anticipation for basketball back on home floors with some – not a lot, clearly – fans in the stands and some normalcy back on television screens across the globe couldn’t come sooner.

Photo Cred: ClutchPoints – David Bernal

Dec 8, 2020 No Comments
When The Passion of Photography and Sneaker Come Together You Get memyselfnmykickz | No Deadstock

When The Passion of Photography and Sneaker Come Together You Get memyselfnmykickz | No Deadstock

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by | Dec 4, 2020 | Featured

The sneaker industry has spread beyond the space of regular advertising, with the assistance of social media they can have you wanting a shoe before it releases. Not from the sometimes vague and limited information given bit by bit as the release gets closer. No, that not it, what has the hype train build daily where a shoe the was considered a brick turns into a must cop is the photo because we all know presentation is key.

No one knows that better than Matthew Christopher a photographer with a keen eye, who has taken his love and passion for sneakers and has one-upped everyone when it comes to sneaker photos on social media.

Matthew’s photos have been used as cover art for Sneaker Reporters ‘The Weekly Drop’ playlist, but what made me stop, stare like his post was his photo of the Nike SB ‘Community Garden’ titled Lemon Wash now his presentation was true artistry. His ability to take a plane sneaker and set it away reminiscent of Nike ads you’d see in a SLAM magazine.

Lemon Wash

For this week’s installment of Kicking It With, I was able to talk to Matthew about his journey as a photographer (primarily shooting sneaker) as another individual whose doing new and exciting (non-traditional) things within the sneaker community.

How did you become a sneaker photographer?

I wouldn’t consider myself a “sneaker photographer” I feel placing labels on oneself can at times restrict our creativity and mental states, I look at myself simply as a photographer with a love and passion for sneakers. To keep things short I started photographing my personal collection on an iPhone roughly 4 years ago. I found the process brought along a sense of peace and right then I fell in love with photography. I then purchased my first entry-level DSLR following my current set up being a Canon EOS R.

Have any companies reached out for you to shoot for them?

Yes, I have been approached by some smaller companies to photograph their products, but I am still waiting to be able to work with any companies on my list. That is the goal one day.

Where does your passion for sneakers come from?

Back in the early 2000s, I had purchased my first pair of white/white air force 1 mids. Driving over an hour to find a footshop with my size, ever since then I’ve had a love for sneakers that remains til this day.

As a father are you hoping to pass this on to your daughter?

It would be awesome to share such a passion of mine with my daughter but it is not something I would ever force upon her. She is her own person and I respect that and understand that she may not find the same joy in what I do. So yes I am hoping to pass it down but if not I’ll be just as happy knowing she is following her own passions in life.

When you find out your daughter has superpowers, Matthew including his daughter in on the fun

How do you get the sneakers you shoot?

Some pairs are from my personal collection which I have acquired over the years, some for retail some I have purchased through the resale market. I have no plugs though at this point in time if I don’t score for retail then I just move on to the next one (for the most part). My page features pairs from a good homie of mine @vash_thestampede_ collection, I recommend checking out his page as well. We collab to create the content in which you see.

What is your thought process when shooting a sneaker from the concept to the final product?

When I’m photographing sneakers in the street I am more focused on composing the sneaker with its surroundings to provide a visually appealing image. Whether it be colors, lines, textures, and so on, to the placement of the sneaker itself. There is a lot that goes into photographing anything that I think a lot of people who don’t do it day in day out tend to disregard. Knowing your camera inside and out and understanding the function of your camera plays a huge role in the final product images you see from myself and many other photographers. On another note when I’m photographing sneakers at home I usually dig into the history of the colorway or collaboration and see if I can incorporate props to help visually tell that story to the viewer.

I follow other sneaker photographers on social media and they turned their photos into merchandise like prints for people to put up in their homes or having them on clothing like hoodies. Now is the anything similar your working on for your followers?

I have been working on samples for prints actually it’s certainly something to expect and look out for in the future. I am in the early stages of making them available to the public. I want to assure the best quality prints I can offer for a reasonable price point. At the moment I see myself sticking strictly to prints but who knows what the future holds.

So being from Massachusetts, which is home to sneaker shops such as Concepts. I remember a post that featured the Concepts X New Balance 997 and 998. Do you have a relationship with Tarek Hassan?

I have never met Tarek Hassan, I have just always been a supporter of concepts. Their collaborations are always top-notch when it comes to storytelling and quality which is something I also try to incorporate throughout my own work.

What’s the story behind your custom New Balance 574 NB1?

There was actually no back story to either colorway, the colors just worked so well together it was hard not to create them. I did sit there for roughly two weeks playing with color combinations until I found one I was pleased with. I then went back to that creation every day for a week and once I felt that same wow factor on the 7th day as I did the 1st, I pulled the trigger. Though I love sneakers with stories behind their colorways, I also love great color blocking and New balance is known for having just that when it comes to their General Releases.

As a collector of sneakers has that passion led to collecting other rage items? Let say Pokémon Cards.

Yes, for years I have collected graded Pokémon cards actually, I look at it from more of an investment standpoint having something to hand down to my daughter when she is older. Sneakers took a back seat for me when I really got involved in photography, it’s hard to keep up with one expensive hobby never mind two.

As the search to cop the sneaker to make you the freshest in your group continues the new area of one-upping one another has gone viral on social media. With a more and more artistic rendition of sneaker photo flood your feed, while there are so many to choose from memyselfnmykickz vision is one you can’t ignore.

Thanks Again to Matthew for seating down with me for the second Kicking It With, feature if you would like to see more of his work check out the gallery of photos below and follow Matthew on Instagram. Come back next week to read up on our next guest.

 

Dec 4, 2020 No Comments
LeBron’s $85M Extension — What Does This Mean For L.A.’s Financial Future?

LeBron’s $85M Extension — What Does This Mean For L.A.’s Financial Future?

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by | Dec 3, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Earlier Wednesday afternoon, four-time world champion and four-time Finals MVP LeBron James notified L.A. faithful of his intent to pursue multiple championships in what appears to be the final stop of his illustrious career and signed a blockbuster two-year, $85M extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. This deal was reported by Rich Paul, LBJ’s agent and the CEO of Klutch Sports.

While there’s no doubt a transaction as such staples (pun intended) The King to the City of Angels’ premier basketball franchise, (as if he needed any more persuasion to stay in L.A.) this will presumptively make Anthony Davis’ decision on the number for the supermax deal a little simpler to make. This extension will take James through the 2022-23 season, thus guaranteeing him 20 seasons spent in the league.

That will be $39.2 Million in the bank for James in 2020, $41,180,544 in 2021-22, and $44,474,988 in the final year of his extension. All in all, that will be an accumulated $435 Million in a lengthy career for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Additionally, this further promulgates the burgeoning possibility that his eldest son — 16-year old prodigy Bronny James, who is going into his Junior year at Sierra Canyon High School with his graduation coming up in 2023 — could be playing against (or alongside (because you can never really predict how the NBA carousel turns!) his son at the most competitive level there is since Bronny’s eligibility for the association could open that year.

So, cool. Seems like a win-win for Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss’s most coveted organization, right? Not quite, if you were to look for additional superstar ammo to surround both AD and the aging best player on the planet.

With the Lakers getting this formality of an extension done, it can’t kill two birds with one stone. They’re virtually out of the running to get Giannis Antetokounmpo in Free Agency next offseason, or any massively-talented Supermax-warranting player in 2021. The plan to clear cap space for a max deal is out the window with this extension.

Per Samuel H. Quinn of CBS Sports:

Unlike Bam Adebayo who received an early extension onto his rookie deal, James is not getting a substantial raise. If we’re being absolutely technical, the Lakers have no less control over their cap situation today than they did yesterday. The original contract James signed in 2018 gave him a $41,180,544 player option for the 2021-22 season, his maximum possible salary. His salary for the 2021-22 season is still $41,180,544. The difference? That salary is now set in stone. When James had that option, he theoretically could have opted out in order to help the Lakers clear space for Giannis. Had he done so, they might have been able to make him an offer within range of his max. 

So basically, the Lakers and their fans better enjoy the tandem of AD and LBJ as their core to build around. because even if they wanted to try and make space for a max deal kind of player (y’know, if we were to assume the salary cap rises which is likely) by trading away an asset like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, having Montrezl Harrell and Marc Gasol decline their options or renouncing the rights to Kyle Kuzma or Alex Caruso, the money still wouldn’t be feasible enough for the Greek Freak or any other player of that magnitude next offseason.

So while other teams like Miami or Milwaukee have other avenues to acquire him, consider the Lakers out of the sweepstakes.

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) reacts to a play against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Ashley Landis/AP) 

Dec 3, 2020 No Comments
No Reservations Needed With The Sneaker Gazer | No Deadstock

No Reservations Needed With The Sneaker Gazer | No Deadstock

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by | Nov 27, 2020 | Featured

As the popularity of sneaker culture is at an all-time high, many people in this culture know if you miss out on a huge sneaker going to a reseller is your best chance at getting that sneaker. I can hear everyone’s groan in unison because of the sometimes outrageous price asked for sneakers, but reselling has become a viable business and with connections, you could make a small fortune.

That is why so many consignment shops and sneaker boutiques have popped up in so many communities because if there is money to be made business will follow. Now imagine opening up a sneaker boutique in the year 2020 months before a pandemic. Sound like bad timing right, but what if I told you this business was able to bloom due to the fact this boutique is on wheels.

Let me introduce you to Gavin aka Sneaker Gazer a young entrepreneur bringing exclusive and upscale sneakers and fashion to the streets of New Orleans with the help of his mobile boutique under the name No Reservations.


16 year old NOLA Entrepreneur has Revolutionized the Sneaker Industry - Newtral Groundz

The beginning of Gavin’s journey has just begun, putting a new spin on a booming business making his store accessible at the end of anyone’s driveway.

As a new series at Sneaker Reporter entitled Kicking It With, I felt it would be great to sit down and talk to people like Gavin. Those who are doing new and exciting (non-traditional) things within the sneaker community.

 

Where does the name Sneaker Gazer come from?

– I’m going to keep it 100 with you I wasn’t going to do this sneaker stuff really. I went to a camp in 8th grade or something like that where you have to come up with a business. I’ve always liked shoes so, why not resell Jordan’s? I remember looking at Stock X, Goat, and I didn’t know sneaker reselling was so serious it’s a real hustle. So the name came from a name generator to get a good grade on the presentation we were doing and be done with it. It just kinda stuck I guess

So you went online and used a name Generator to create the name Sneaker Gazer?

– That’s exactly what I did. I didn’t know if it would stick but, a lot of rappers use the same thing. So if they did to come up with a fire name, why can’t I.

Your inspiration for creating this business was to be your own boss, Do you think having the ability to watch your parents run their own businesses gave you the confidence to start this venture of having a sneaker boutique?

– Most definitely, just seeing and being around that my whole life, because my parents had businesses before I was born. My parents never worked for anyone so that all I know. Having my mom around because she didn’t have to work a 9 to 5 being out all day was really important to me. (Parent ran a few Subway franchises and have their own water company in New Orleans)

16 year old NOLA Entrepreneur has Revolutionized the Sneaker Industry - Newtral Groundz

What some business advice you’ve received from your parents?

– They told me to always be confident in what I’m selling. When I first started it was difficult because of how much sneakers are selling for. I kind of felt guilty in a way but they told me to be confident in my product and don’t lowball myself.  

What is the goal for your sneaker boutique on wheels? Do you want to have the same name recognition in the sneaker community as a Flight Club, Keith, or Stadium Goods?

– Not really because what I’m doing or my intentions is to be able to go on the road to different music festivals and big events all around the country. Bring that upscale sneaker shopping experience to anybody. 

What do you believe is the biggest advantage of having a mobile boutique compared to the traditional brick and mortar stores?

– A huge advantage that I have over a brick-and-mortar store is not having too much overhead. It’s a lot less expensive, with no rent or bills. Gas is my only expense. When opening up a store you have to get sneaker accounts which is like a year-long process and I didn’t have the patients for that. I already had a lot of inventory so we just put our sneakers in there (The Van) and started moving. 

When it comes to reselling what are some resources to set the price of your sneakers?

– Yea anybody in the sneaker game would tell you that what we all use (StockX). We use StockX, Goat, and eBay. We don’t sell on those sites but that what we use to set a market price.

THE SNEAKER GAZER | ONLINE BOUTIQUE – The Sneaker Gazer | Online Boutique

Has the effect of the pandemic helped or hurt your business?

– I started in March when the pandemic first started, we were all out of school and everything. So I’d say it boosted my business because most people who were in quarantine couldn’t go to Footlockers and different stores to get the sneakers. I took it upon myself to stock up on the sneakers and through social media, if people wanted a shoe they would hit me up and I would then bring them the sneaker without them having to leave their home.   

The video that brought you to my attention was your Kickin’ video with Curren$y, In this series on YouTube you’ve talked to many people known throughout New Orleans. Whose someone you hope to collaborate with within the near future and why?

– I said this in my Q&A, P.J. Tucker for sure before I started selling sneakers I played basketball my whole life so it was like both worlds just kind of met it clicked. As someone, I look up to P.J. Tucker is some who embodies both the sneaker world and the basketball world. 

As far as the people you’ve interviewed, who was the most impactful or gave you the best piece of advice? 

– Probably Curren$y, I’ve known him for a really long time because we don’t live that far from one another. We’ve always chopped it up a lot when I was younger he would just give me advice, then in the interview, he gave me some tips and stuff that you can’t ignore. He’s a legend.  

What is your advice for anyone starting their journey in the sneaker resell business?

– You’ve got to understand that you won’t get your hands on every single shoe but, stay positive. When I first started I would get discouraged a lot when I would hit on the Snkrs app (who doesn’t) or any website and I would question myself “Do I really want to do this? Is it worth it ?” Now I’m starting to see my hustle payoff, so you just got to keep the positivity up. 

If anyone wants to catch up on everything the Sneaker Gazer currently doing check him out on Instagram and subscribe to his Youtube channel. Thanks Again to Gavin for seating down with me for the first of many Kicking It With: features and come back next week to read up on our next guest. 

Updated September 22nd, 2021:

 

Nov 27, 2020 No Comments
The State of Golden State for 2020-2021 Season

The State of Golden State for 2020-2021 Season

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by | Nov 20, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson has suffered a torn right Achilles tendon. Thompson tore his Achilles after a workout he had in southern California on November 18, an MRI confirmed yesterday in Los Angeles. The all-star shooting guard has now been ruled out for the upcoming 202-2021 NBA season set to start on December 22nd. This is a devastating blow for the Warriors given that this will be the second straight season that Klay has missed due to injury.

Thompson was coming off a torn ACL injury to his left knee that he suffered in the NBA Finals in June of 2019. His rehab had been going according to plan he was gearing up to play his first game in over a year with the start of the 2020-2021 season. Thompson had been working out in the southern California area for the past few months rehabbing and training. Thompson was playing with several NBA players in Los Angeles during an open gym and felt pain in the calf area when he landed on his leg, sources told ESPN’s, Ramona Shelburne. All reports show no sign that Thompson’s rehab process had any real setbacks outside of the normal soreness that comes with rehabbing a knee injury. He had been attacking his rehab process as rigorously as he attacks his shooting workouts and now he is going to have to start the process over again.  The Warriors were very optimistic that their star sharpshooter was going to come back full strength to help them compete in a revamped Western Conference. The Warriors are tasked with filling the void of losing one of the best shooters and two-way players in the NBA.

 

 

Prior to his torn left ACL, Klay Thompson had been one of the most reliable players in the whole NBA. In the era of load management, Thompson never missed more than 9 games in a single season due to injury before the 2018-19 season. He was a constant for the Warriors, they could always count on his consistent defensive ability and the ridiculously efficient shooting. We saw it on full display at the beginning of the 2019-2020 season where the Warriors just didn’t look like the team we’ve gotten used to seeing. Golden State not having the splash brothers in the backcourt together and healthy just doesn’t even seem like Golden State but this is just going to be the harsh reality that the warriors will now have to deal with.

The only good news for Golden state this time around is that they are in a better position this year to stay afloat in the western conference than they were at the start of last season. The Warriors have a healthy Steph Curry and Draymond Green coming back to provide the Warriors with the veteran and playoff experience. They also got a promising young talent in James Wiseman with the 2nd overall in this year’s draft.

 

 

However, the most notable signing for the Warriors happened late last night as they will absorb the contract of Kelly Oubre Jr. At 24 years old, Oubre is approaching his 5th season in the NBA. He was traded to Oklahoma City earlier this week in a deal that sent Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns. He averaged 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Suns last season. He showed promise for the Suns but after they went 8-0 in the NBA bubble without him, he became their assets to acquire Chris Paul. With the timing of this signing, it’s clear that the Warriors will look to Oubre to provide the boost they need at the shooting guard position without Thompson.

 

 

 

 

 

Even with acquiring an established replacement for Klay, having Steph and Draymond both back healthy, and some young talent around them, don’t set your expectations too high for the Warriors this season. The Warriors have just had a lot of roster changes over the past two years and there is just no evidence that this is even a playoff team anymore. Their roster as currently built can defiantly compete in the West and maybe sneak into the playoffs but missing one of the top two-way players in the league is just too large of a blow to have the same championship expectations. Unless the Warriors get Klay back for the playoffs they simply don’t have enough to get past the best of the West and get back to the NBA finals.

 

Nov 20, 2020 No Comments
Draft Season Is Here: Presenting The SneakerReporter 2020-21 NBA Lottery Pick Mock Draft

Draft Season Is Here: Presenting The SneakerReporter 2020-21 NBA Lottery Pick Mock Draft

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by | Nov 18, 2020 | Featured, NBA

If 2020 has provided anything, it’s been a flurry of things out of the blue, things the human mind couldn’t come to fathom thinking of at first insight. Chalk up this tumultuous NBA season to the list of “I didn’t see that coming,” too. A Pandemic and social injustices disrupting an otherwise usual season initially, rescheduling of seminal NBA moments in the regular season, and a whole singular location for the NBA playoffs, all firsts (and hopefully lasts) for the 78-year old league.

With everything being adjusted on the fly as it has been since March 11 – the day the regular season was suspended over concerns of the COVID-19 health crisis – the fight to achieve some normalcy was an uphill battle, but ultimately a battle won and conquered in negotiation between commissioner Adam Silver and the rest of the Player’s Association. A season was safely finished, a championship was rewarded in alternate circumstances, albeit, and Wednesday night’s draft signifies a new calendar year with no interruptions in sight.

But even then, this draft is as microcosmic as 2020 itself. It’s almost like if you were to throw this year’s draft and free agency into some sort of mathematic simulator, and instead of bringing out a simple, succinct solution to your problem, you’d be getting about 100,000+ different outcomes, and each one would come with a variety of situations where teams trade up and down for draft capital, star players or money. I’d be sitting here idly if I were to imagine all outright possibilities of this year’s offseason.

So for brevity reasons, I’ll go the route of predicting how this draft goes among the teams involved in the draft lottery without any major trades (for the moment being, at least). Minnesota was graced with the first overall pick via a luck of the draw in September’s Draft Lottery and are likely to select Anthony Edwards.

For what seems like the first time in a decade, the healthy Warriors are looking to get right back into the title picture with the second overall pick, and in that scenario, anything goes. They could either acquire a James Wiseman or send ripples through the NBA universe by trading the pick to a suitor in exchange for a game-breaking All-Star. And I could very well be way off on what happens on draft day since all picks aren’t surefire realities.

Now, without further jibber-jabber, here is SneakerReporter’s (shortened) 2020 NBA Mock Draft for your reading pleasure.

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1. Minnesota Timberwolves

With the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, The Minnesota Timberwolves select…Anthony Edwards, G/F, Georgia. – Assuming Minny doesn’t trade the pick away (and that’s a BIG assumption), this is perhaps the most logical selection with little to no objection. Additionally, Edwards will be a central piece the T’Wolves wish to build around alongside former first and second overall picks Karl Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell. All of his intangibles just scream “upside”. Take your pick: His 6’5 frame and NBA-ready body, borderline elite scoring skills that make him a first-day starter, and his title as the best prospect in this draft, make it a given Edwards steps on the stage and shakes Silver’s hand as the first pick in the draft.

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2. Golden State Warriors

With the second pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select…James Wiseman, C, Memphis – Golden State would rather go fit and need here rather than talent at other positions because frankly, they don’t quite need it at starting spots they’re already ample in. Once again, do they decide to keep this pick, plugging in the 7-footer with a 9-foot-6 wingspan here who displayed league-ready attributes in his short time under Penny Hardaway does more positive than detriment for a team that needs an exceptionally-skilled piece at the five who doesn’t need to take over the offense as a focal point of the offense.

That being said, Wiseman averaged over 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in his three games in Memphis and is certainly capable of providing an entirely new dimension of athletic rim protection, paint presence alongside Draymond Green, as well as off-ball scoring – something Steve Kerr will greatly appreciate in his diverse motion offense sets.

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3. Charlotte Hornets

With the third pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, The Charlotte Hornets select…LaMelo Ball, PG, Australia – The Hornets were one of the last teams to set up a workout with LaMelo Ball in front of coaches and executives, and if Edwards goes off the board early, plan B for James Borrego and Michael Jordan’s Hornets is just as good as anyone’s plan A. Standing at 6-foot-7, Ball is by far the most impressive prospect there is in the draft and can see things and thread needles like no one else can at his age.

If you’ve been aware of the Ball family, you know that it’s been a wild ride for LaMelo. As the understudy to older brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo, the once bushy-haired teenager has matured in front of fans’ eyes as his travels have ranged from the most convenient places around the world. Starting at his humble beginnings in Chino Hills, California as a blossoming high school prospect, he’s gone off to the unbeaten path in his journey to the NBA.

When he denounced his amateur status in high school after his personal sneaker dropped on the BBB site in 2017 and was subsequently deemed ineligible to play for Chino Hills, He had to chase his league dream some other way. His father kept his son prepared for the NBA by opening up a Big Baller Brand-sponsored Junior Basketball League generated to create positive press for him and LiAngelo, and then shipped both of them off to Lithuania as members of BC Vytautas in which they not only developed their games against professional athletes twice their age but did so while filming it for their FaceBook reality TV series Ball in the Family.

A trip back to the states meant another taste of prep high school ball in Ohio at Spire Academy for the youngest Ball, who was in the midst of a growth spurt. And then a move was made with his own development interests in mind: Ball signed with the Illawarra Hawks in the uber-competitive National Basketball League in Australia. Usually, we’d see the 18-year old go over to a professional league and struggle with the transition to playing against grown men. However, LaMelo wasn’t usual and showed the world that his skill set is one of a kind. Top-tier shot creation and excellent dishing abilities contributed to his noteworthy 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in just 12 games in the NBL, a season cut short due to a foot injury.

So here he is after millions speculated and prophesized him falling short of his goal of making it to the NBA, ready and primed to be the second Ball brother taken in the first three picks of the NBA draft.

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4. Chicago Bulls

With the fourth pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select…Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton –  Drink it in, Dayton fans. Toppin is destined to be the first Dayton Flyer prospect to be ever taken in the top five of the NBA Draft. A former zero-star recruit caught eyes this past collegiate season during his senior campaign, posting averages of 20 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting an elite clip of 39 percent from deep as he reeled in National Player of the Year honors, and had the pandemic not happened, he would’ve taken the Flyers somewhere close to the Final Four.

Toppin is an intriguing prospect, and pro comparisons to the likes of Amare Stoudamire and Shawn Marion seem appropriate. He could very well be the best player taken off the board in this year’s draft, for what it is worth. A high-motor, high-usage tank of a slasher and paint beast is something almost any GM or coach can build around. And with his 6’9, 220-lb frame, Billy Donovan would appreciate having him as an integral piece to set the tone on both ends of the floor. Also, he’s a dandy to watch in the air in the open court, as he’s been known to throw down game-stopping slams that put his athleticism on center stage.

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5. Cleveland Cavaliers

With the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select…Deni Avdija, SF, Israel – Avdija will be the first International prospect taken in this year’s draft, and should Cleveland keep the pick here, I see no reason as to why they should look anywhere else than the Israeli point forward. Widely heralded for his immense knowledge of the game, Avdija’s playmaking skills resemble that of a less-skilled-but-just-as-much-upside Luka Doncic type of player. A jack of all trades, master of none, if you will.

The 6’9 forward has accomplished a ton in his career already: he’s won three Israeli League titles, was the winner of the FIBA U-20 Finals MVP last season and he was the Israeli League MVP this season with Maccabi Tel Aviv.  Avdija isn’t necessarily exceptional at one distinct thing (if you had to pinpoint one thing, it’d probably be his passing ability) but is solid in all areas and as a day one starter, he’ll help Collin Sexton and Darius Garland get over the hump of being just prospects with potential to bonafide stars in the league.

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6. Atlanta Hawks

With the sixth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select…Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State – Probably not a super flashy pick, but indeed a safe pick in this year’s draft for a positively building Hawks squad. Haliburton, a 6’5, 175-lb guard who was only a three-star recruit when he committed to ISU, produced quite efficient numbers of 15.1 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.9 rebounds as the first option on a stacked Cyclones team that was bound to make noise in the 2019-20 NCAA Men’s Div. 1 Tournament.

Haliburton has the foundations of becoming a solid two-way sharpshooter in this league, and a nice addition to a developing offense. He’s a well-versed pick-and-roll playmaker, spot-up shooter, and a lengthy disruptor on the other end and since this is the game of intangibles, another long body that Lloyd Pierce can utilize in lineups defensively with the likes of Cam Reddish and John Collins as well as behind or with Trae Young furthers the belief that the Hawks are next up to swipe a playoff spot.

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7. Detroit Pistons

With the seventh pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons select…Killian Hayes, PG, France – That’s now two-straight international prospects in a row that are going to be selected in this year’s draft. The Pistons need guard depth, and there isn’t a better prospect to look at than Killian Hayes to fit that need.

Being behind Derrick Rose will be key to his growth into a starting role as he won’t be ready right away to improve a team’s win percentage, but he’s certainly a trendy pick due to the league’s favoritism towards long 6’5+ guards and wings that can score at all three levels. Hayes is a project who has a game that is so uncertain if it can translate to the NBA but so promising if Detroit gets this pick right.

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8. New York Knicks

With the eighth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select…Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State – Though there are questions about Williams’ ceiling as a scorer, there is little doubt about his freakish athleticism and his tenacity on the glass and defensive end. The pairing of him and Mitchell Robinson to create a dually-gifted frontcourt in NYC just sounds enticing alone, but it is the “want to” and fearlessness to guard any position he showed at Florida State that attracted scouts across the league enough to secure himself as a top-10 pick. Being compared to OG Anunoby – another premier 3-and-D wing with athletic prowess – isn’t too inaccurate to describe Williams’ impact on games, as well.

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9. Washington Wizards

With the ninth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select…Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn – Pairing up last year’s first-round selection Rui Hachimura with this year’s potential first-rounder, Isaac Okoro could do a lot of good things for the team in the Nation’s Capital. Defensively, the one-and-done prospect who stands at 6’6 and weighs at 220 pounds held his own in the SEC as a defensive juggernaut and served as a reliable slasher in the 18-year-old out of Powder Springs, Georgia. His numbers at the collegiate level weren’t eye-popping (12 PPG., 4 RPG., 2 APG., 1 BPG.) but it’s the physical attributes worth sticking around to build with, as he could turn from a solid defender who can stay in front of any man into a valuable asset that can knock down open shots when presented the opportunity.

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10. Phoenix Suns

With the tenth pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns select…Saddiq Bey, PG, Villanova – For the final pick in the top 10, the Suns stock up on some bench depth, and especially at the three since it has grown thin as a result of the groundbreaking Chris Paul trade that sent Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre, Ty Jerome, Jalen Leque and a 2022 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mikal Bridges is the outright starter in the Valley with Oubre in OKC, meaning that it’d be advisable for Phoenix to draft the two-year Wildcat that shot over 45 percent from deep as a sophomore.

Again, the theme of this draft, and many more drafts to come, will be lengthy wings that lock up all positions on all spots on the floor while showing the propensity to put up open jumpers and consistently knock them down. Bey fits the mold, which makes this pick the safe and logical decision here.

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11. San Antonio Spurs

With the eleventh pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs select…Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State – Let me start off by saying that any evaluator or scout declaring Vassell as another 3-and-D prospect isn’t doing their job well enough, and is flat-out deciding not to integrate any critical thinking for this pick.

Now, on the surface level, Vassell accomplishes his role in a satisfactory manner shooting 42 percent from downtown and as a raw prospect in college, averaged a little under 13 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist off 49 percent shooting. Take a deeper dive, however, and you’ll find that Vassell is one of the more polished shot creators and secondary rim protectors in this entire draft class.

The 6’7, 200-lb wing has shown the willingness to pull up from mid-range, put the ball on the floor to initiate pick-and-roll actions, and display a high motor evident in his defensive effort. He’ll fit right into Gregg Popovich’s motion offense and mesh with scorers like DeMar DeRozan and Derrick White both as a ballhandler, hard screen setter, and cutter. This could be the pick that gets the Spurs back into the playoffs since they were on the outside of the playoffs for the first time in 23 years looking in after a failed qualification for the play-in tournament inside the Lake Buena Vista bubble.

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12. Sacramento Kings

With the twelfth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select…Aaron Nesmith, PF, Vanderbilt – With the recent news of Bogdan Bogdanovic’s emigration to Milwaukee and Buddy Hield’s trade to Denver going through Tuesday afternoon, Sacramento will need all the shooting help they can get right now. Aaron Nesmith fits two needs for the Kings right now: outside shooting and an interior presence towering at 6’6. Makes the most sense to not look further than the Vandy product.

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13. New Orleans Pelicans

With the thirteenth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select…Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama – Jrue Holiday being dealt in a massive trade to Milwaukee only means that the Pels have no other option to find an immediate replacement at the starting guard spot. Enter Kira Lewis Jr., the speedy 6’3 guard who is a blur in transition is an explosive driver with the ball in his hands and is also an efficient shooter with a quick release.

While he’ll have time to work on his halfcourt scoring game, he has all the makings of a starting point guard someday. That call to meet that potential may come sooner than later with their guard situation but Lewis will have plenty of assistance around him with former first-overall pick Zion Williamson and this year’s Most Improved Player award winner Brandon Ingram there to help the 19-year-old right away.

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14. Boston Celtics (Via Memphis)

With the fourteenth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics select…Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC – If the South California big man falls this far, Boston wouldn’t waste the chance to take quite arguably the best prospect available for both team fit and overall talent. On some draft boards, it wouldn’t be unprecedented to see Okongwu being picked earlier than his superior in Wiseman as the best big man in this class.

The only detriments pertaining to him – and these could be possible reasons as to his descent into the first round – are his underdeveloped offensive game, which can, like anything else, be worked on as well as him being undersized to fit the traditional build of a center. It’s his defense that has turned eyes. An instinctive mind to anticipate when to come over as help defense, mixed with a nose for shot-blocking almost immediately turns the Celtics from a fringe competitor just on the outskirts of a conference finals berth (again) to a favorite in the East with all the star power they already have in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker.

Nov 18, 2020 No Comments