Take that for data: Grading the West free-agents in the NBA playoffs

Since Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Fizdale’s “data” rant which resulted in a hefty $35,000 (P1,744,575) fine, Mike Conley and the Grindhouse crew have won two straight games over the San Antonio Spurs. Conley himself has promised to pay the fine of their head honcho. Being the owner of the largest contract in NBA history so far, $35,000 is loose change for him. 

Speaking of contracts, we can now have a clearer picture of the winners and losers of the free agency period who are now in the playoffs. Strangely enough, Memphis appears on both ends of the spectrum.

 

1. Golden State Warriors 

Kevin Durant

This signing has been awkward from the beginning, once the shock has worn off. On one hand, teams simply can’t pass up the opportunity to sign a former MVP. On the other hand, the team which signed him didn’t need him either.

In what can only be described as a lateral move, Durant has provided ever-deadly offense and improved defense, but then the Warriors also won a league-high 14 straight games without him due to injury. With them now up 3 games to none over the Portland Trailblazers and Durant not even playing in two of them, the question still stands on whether Oakland even needed him at all. 

Grade: B

 

JaVale McGee and David West

As the age-old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” 

Already with a sizeable payroll including 4 All-Stars and a former Finals MVP, the Warriors still managed to squeeze out a combined 3 million dollars for two high-quality frontcourt anchors. In comparison, the Los Angeles Lakers forked over more than 60 million for the lousy Timofey Mozgov. 

West was never the flashiest big man, but he provides intimidating defense and leadership even at 36 years of age. With deep playoff experience on multiple teams, West can turn it on when needed.

(READ: Fool’s Gold: How the Warriors hit the jackpot with JaVale McGee)

McGee, who was once a fixture of Shaquille O’Neal’s blooper reel show Shaqtin’ a Fool, is now a fixture of the Warrior rotation and the real highlight reels. In the 110-81 Game 2 whooping Warriors laid on the Blazers, McGee was the second-highest scorer with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocks on a perfect 7/7 shooting in just 13 minutes. Talk about bargain value. 

Grade: A+

 

2. San Antonio Spurs

Pau Gasol and Dewayne Dedmon

Head coach Gregg Popovich can turn water into wine, and more.

Dedmon may not yet be a household name, but he will get there. At a young age of 27 years old, he was spending time rotting on the Orlando Magic bench before he inked a deal with the Spurs. 

In just one year, he quietly rose as a premier defensive specialist and ended in the top five defensive centers along with Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert. Take note that he was even relegated to the D-League when he was playing with one of the worst teams in the league a year earlier. 

For Gasol, he now has the light task of replacing Tim Duncan. Of course, that was sarcastic and of course, Gasol delivered. Despite coming off the bench in 25 out of 64 games played – the most bench games in his long career – he still churned out Pau Gasol-like averages even at 35 years old. It’s a testament to Gasol’s humility and commitment to a world-class system as he chases ring number 3. 

Grade: A-

 

3. Houston Rockets 

Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson 

It’s not crazy if it works. 

The Houston Rockets turned heads in the off-season by committing almost $150 million to the streaky and defenseless Anderson and Gordon. It turns out, the Rockets were not giving up, but rather embracing what makes them good anyway. 

With offensive-minded coach Mike D’Antoni and scoring swingman-turned-point guard James Harden leading the way, the Rockets shot their way up to third place and a 2-1 lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Don’t force yourself to do something you suck at anyway. A life mantra, for sure. 

Grade: A

 

4. Los Angeles Clippers

Marreese Speights

The man who missed the final shot of the 2016 Finals wound up leaving the Warriors for Lob City. However, he wasn’t used much aside from sporadic appearances when Blake Griffin went down with yet another injury. However, if Griffin confirms rumors and does leave LA after he went down again after Game 3, Speights may just see more minutes coming his way. 

Grade: C

 

5. Utah Jazz 

Joe Johnson

The Jazz sure were confident that they’d reach the playoffs when they threw out $22 million for a 35-year old. After spending most of the season coming off the bench, Iso Joe has been front and center, leading the Jazz with 21 points in the opening game in Los Angeles. Most importantly, he sank the buzzer-beating floater to steal a 97-95 victory. 

With a league-leading 8 career buzzer-beating game-winners, we shouldn’t act so surprised now.

Grade: A-

 

6. Oklahoma City Thunder 

Victor Oladipo

Okay, we’re cheating here a bit. But we’d rather not talk about Norris Cole. (Yes, the Thunder actually have a backup point guard.) 

The Thunder traded Serge Ibaka in the off-season for Oladipo in an attempt to make Durant stay. What a train wreck this trade was. Durant bailed out anyway and Ibaka didn’t even last one season with the Magic. As for Oladipo – an athletic, ball-dominant hybrid guard – he was left to pair up with Russell Westbrook, an athletic, ball-dominant hybrid guard. Awkward. 

Although he averaged career-highs in field goal and three-point percentage, he is just too similar with Westbrook and too inconsistent to be a nightly threat.  In the long run, they may work it out, but for now, he looks lost in the game plan. 

Grade: C+ 

 

7. Memphis Grizzlies 

Mike Conley

Okay, back to playing by the rules.

Although a re-signing was a foregone conclusion, Conley was still a free agent, and boy, did he cash in. At an eye-popping $153 million, Conley now has the largest contract in NBA history – at least until next year, when LeBron James rightfully surpasses him.

However, while he is still the NBA’s richest player, he is proving to be a worthy signee. After a respectable regular season, Conley is now at large and in charge with back to back impressive performances in the playoffs resulting into upset wins. 

As for the haters, they might have to hate someone else, and they really won’t have to look far enough.

Grade: A

 

Chandler Parsons

Oh, dear me. 

$94 million. 6.2 points. 2.5 rebounds. 34% field goal percentage. 27% 3PT percentage. $94 million. 

At just 28 years of age, the once-sharpshooting Parsons may still turn it around, but with mounting injuries and a lost shooting touch (which Parsons begged on Twitter to come back), this is already a losing cause for the Grizzlies.

 

Dear basketball,

Please go in the hoop babe.

Best,
Chandler

— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) February 7, 2017

“Please go in the hoop babe.” Really, Chandler? 

Grade: F

 

8. Portland Trailblazers

Evan Turner 

We close out with another failure, and this time, it’s the Portland Trailblazers taking the “L.” As if they didn’t have enough problems to worry about in the playoffs.

The point forward now shares the court with fellow ballhogs Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. While the duo have all the right to be respected as ballhogs after combining for 75 points in a Game 1 loss against the Warriors, Turner hasn’t done much to warrant his cause.

Really, Turner hasn’t done anything great in recent seasons to warrant his $70 million contract. He’s a mediocre scorer and a mediocre passer with career averages of 10.5 points and 3.7 assists. Now that the Blazers are on the verge of being swept, Turner is still just that – mediocre. 

It’s on the Blazers now to think long and hard on how to ship him out of Rip City. They’re bound to have a very long summer for contemplation anyway. 

Grade: D

 

Stay tuned for the East Coast version of our report card. We’re looking at you, Al Horford. – Rappler.com