🏀 Out of Time

March 15, 2023

Good morning BTP family. March Madness is finally here! Two more play-in games tonight before the first round officially kicks off tomorrow morning. Time to mute those phones and lock in on our couches with some snacks because the best time of the year is here! Speaking of the best time of the year, NFL free agency has kicked off this week and there’s already a ton of huge names on the move. We will hopefully get an answer on the future’s of Aaron Rodgers & Lamar Jackson very shortly.

In today’s BTP we break down Damian Lillard’s most recent gripe with the NBA and how he’s running out of time, Aaron Rodgers’ most recent debacle in giving the Jets a wishlist, and the top NBA Draft prospects to watch during March Madness.

This is MARCH!

OUT OF TIME

Damian Lillard is Running Out of Time

Damian Lillard is special. He’s the Trail Blazers’ all-time leading scorer, he holds the record for the eighth most points ever scored in a single game, and the most efficient 70+ point performance at that, but the one thing he’s missing in his career is outside his control.

No championship is ever won alone, no matter how brilliant a player is or what fans and the media might have you believe. Case in point, Dame is averaging a career-high 32.1 PPG, and as of this writing, the Blazers are in 13th place in the West. In Dame’s 11 NBA seasons, all with Portland, he's only played with one All-Star in LaMarcus Aldridge — that’s organizational malpractice.

What’s Next?

The Blazers desperately need to bring Dame a star with Hall of Fame pedigree. Guys like that don’t grow on trees, but if recent NBA history is any indication, a superstar will demand a trade at some point, and thankfully, the Blazers are in a position to capitalize. They have draft picks and high-upside young guys in Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe to trade and a great city and fanbase to attract players. The best case for Portland would probably be Philly losing early, Harden returning to Houston, and Joel Embiid asking out. It’s a tall order, but it isn’t inconceivable.

But Dame shouldn’t wait forever. He’s made it clear that he wants to win in Portland, and while he’s reiterated that there’s more to basketball than winning titles, a player like him deserves a shot at the ultimate goal. If Portland can’t build him a winner, the two sides need to have an honest look in the mirror and figure out an exit strategy. It isn’t so simple, especially with Dame’s well-earned $176M contract, but he’s done everything you can ask a superstar to do. It would be a shame for someone as talented, hard-working, and loyal as Dame to never play in an NBA Finals, let alone win one, but he deserves the opportunity, and time is running out.

NEW WISHES

Aaron Rodgers Gives Jets a “Wishlist”

As of this morning, Aaron Rodgers is still wearing a different shade of green, but all signs point to a Jets trade eventually getting done. The Jets showed their interest in Rodgers early with the signing of his old coach and friend Nathaniel Hackett, but according to ESPN, Rodgers has a few more things he’d like from the team first. Reportedly, he’s given the Jets a wishlist of players he’d like them to acquire, including Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Marcedes Lewis, and Odell Beckham Jr.

The Jets got the message, inking Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44M contract and expressing interest in Cobb and Lewis. But it’s unknown, at this time, if there’s been any contact with OBJ’s camp. Still, it would be surprising to see the Jets acquire everyone off the list considering they already have several enviable weapons on the roster, including Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and the young and exciting Elijah Moore. Not to mention guys like Corey Davis and former second-round pick Denzel Mims.

Rodgers said over the weekend that there'll be a resolution to this situation soon, and with a 1 PM EST appearance scheduled for Pat McAfee’s show coming up this afternoon, we might get our answer sooner rather than later.

FUTURE OF HOOPS

NBA Draft Prospects to Watch During the NCAA Tournament

March Madness has finally arrived, and with it, an opportunity for the national audience to check out some future NBA stars before they turn pro. Here are six names to look out for during the tournament.

Brandon Miller, Alabama Crimson Tide

Brandon Miller is considered by many to be the best prospect in college basketball. He’s 6-foot-9, shoots 40% from deep, and leads the NCAA in scoring while playing for the top overall seed. He’s also the player who was tangentially involved with a gruesome murder this past January. It remains to be seen how much his involvement will hurt his draft stock, but before this news, he was in serious conversation to be the first pick not named Victor or Scoot.

Jarace Walker, Houston Cougars

Jarace Walker is a 6-foot-8, 240-lb freshman forward with solid 3-point shooting and elite defense. Defense has been his calling card so far, but his scoring and field goal attempts have steadily climbed as the year has gone on. A strong tournament showing and increased offensive aggressiveness could vault Walker into the top 5.

Keyonte George, Baylor Bears

Keyonte George is a bucket. The Baylor guard has tremendous athleticism for his size and is capable of scoring at every level of the defense. He’s become the team’s leading scorer and highest-usage player despite being on a team loaded with veterans. His defense is something of a concern due to his size and length, but when he’s hot, he can score with the best of them.

Gradey Dick, Kansas Jayhawks

Gradey Dick isn’t necessarily the kind of can’t-miss prospect that changes the temperature of an NBA team, but he has all the makings of a “safe” draft pick if there ever was one. Some scouts consider him one of the purest shooters in his draft class, with solid size and athleticism to help on the defensive end, but don’t project a massive ceiling for the young man. Should Dick declare, he’d likely be taken in the first half of the first round, but don’t rule out a return to Kansas either, should he want more time to develop, capitalize on some NIL deals, or simply wait for a weaker 2024 class.

Nick Smith Jr. & Anthony Black, Arkansas Razorbacks

The Arkansas Razorbacks aren’t your typical 8-seed. Between Nick Smith Jr. & Anthony Black, the team has two potential lottery picks and will likely be a trendy pick to go on a run because of it. Between the two men, Black is probably the higher upside prospect, but some of that thinking is due to Smith's limited exposure after only playing 14 games due to injury. Neither are close to finished products, but with the right coaching and scheming, they could turn into very quality players in time.