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We come to you today to praise the memory of the Swamp Dragons, who are part of NBA lore but not part of NBA history. They were so close to being real – at least as real as a nickname and mascot could be.
But they were extinguished at the last minute, and the only part of them that lives is a logo.
During Wednesday’s game, the NBA announced that Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for November.
Kidd-Gilchrist later celebrated by throwing a terrible cross-court pass in the closing seconds that became a turnover and led to a buzzer-beater by New York’s J.R. Smith that sent the Bobcats to their fifth straight loss.
This is how it often goes for rookies. One minute, they are surprising us all by playing above our expectations and showcasing an apparently limitless ceiling. The next, they are reminding us why they are rookies.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were named Rookies of the Month for games November.
Lillard won for the Western Conference. He led all rookies in scoring (18.4 ppg), assists (5.9 apg) and steals (1.38 spg) and became first NBA player to score at least 20 points in each of his first three NBA games since Grant Hill in 1994.
Lillard scored a season-high 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting and added eight assists without a turnover in a 103-95 win over Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 23.
Kidd-Gilchrist was the only rookie to rank in the top 10 in scoring (10.9 ppg, fifth), rebounding (6.5 rpg, sixth), assists (1.5 apg. eighth), steals (1.2 spg, fourth) and blocks (1.3 bpg, second).
On Nov. 10, he had career highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds in a 101-97 overtime win over Dallas.
Other nominees were Cleveland’s Dion Waiters, Dallas’ Jae Crowder, Detroit’s Kyle Singler, Golden State’s Harrison Barnes and Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas.
We’ve already told you that the Los Angeles Lakers have Ryan Anderson atop their wish list if they decide to trade Pau Gasol, who sat out last night’s loss to the Houston Rockets with what the Lakers called “knee tendinitis.”
Guess the “big boy pants” will have to wait for another night.
With each passing day, it appears the likelihood of the Lakers moving Gasol increases. We are now 10 days away from Dec. 15 — the date when players who signed as free agents over the summer (such as Anderson) become trade-eligible.
In yesterday’s post on Anderson, we noted that the Chicago Bulls, who have long coveted Gasol, have the goods to get a deal done in a three-way trade if they are willing to part ways with Taj Gibson, a future No. 1 draft pick owed to them by the Bobcats, plus a little more.
That little more could include EuroStash asset Nikola Mirotic, who we have written about often on this site.
Yes, the Hornets love Anderson, who will be 27 years old in three years when the Hornets expect to be a contnding team again. But is they can turn him into three valuable assets that will boost their rebuilding plan, it is something they are going to have to take a hard look at.
I discussed that possibility on 95.7 The Game in the Bay Area. Click the play button below to listen.
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For all of our podcasts and radio shows, our archive is here.
The Hornets future in New Orleans is expected to soon come to an end.
No, the team is not moving elsewhere. They are, however, expected to change their team name.
If you haven’t heard about it yet, just check out the reaction from Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.
