I’m in New York City this week, and while here I’m reminded of what I knew before and since I lived here for five years. In the eyes of New York sports media, the United States as we know it begins at the East river (obviously the east side of the country), and ends at the Hudson River, the western-most border of the U.S. Anything to the left of the Hudson is simply wasteland.
To that end, in the time I’ve been here, I’ve learned everything that can be known about Aaron Judge, I was amazed to find out that the New York Knicks are a lock to win several NBA championships in a row, and I’ve learned where Aaron Rogers stayed while on vacation during the New York Jets “required” pre-camp training sessions.
As to Klay Thompson’s skipping out of Golden State to sign with the Dallas Mavericks and what the Warriors might do to compensate, that information was to be located somewhere adjacent to the wrestling results from Long Island City and the cod catch at Montauk.
Here’s what I do know. Klay will have to keep the boat in Tiburon. The only water access to American Airlines Arena in Dallas is if the bathroom sinks overflow.
Rocco, Klay’s bulldog partner, will demand an air-conditioned crate.
Klay will be a big scorer in Dallas if he can overcome one pesky situation — pry the ball from the demanding hands of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. If there was a statistic for points per touch, Klay might lead the league in shooting percentage.
Now, what about your Golden State Warriors?
Here’s the wild card when it comes to writing a sports column that has to be filed the day before it’s actually read. What if something dramatic happens between those precious twenty hours or so when it leaps from the abyss of Microsoft Word on my computer, and on to either the online or print version of the IJ?
Maybe the Warriors will make that blockbuster deal that we’ve been waiting for that would send Steph Curry and Draymond Green off to a glorious retirement with more championship rings than they have fingers. Or – maybe not. (Editor’s note: Shooting guard Buddy Hield is joining the Warriors in a sign-and-trade with Philadelphia, according to sources).
What I’ve seen happen since Klay left town reminds me of a situation I was once in on an airplane that made me take stock of my own importance.
Seated next to me on that flight was Jane Fonda. We didn’t speak much beyond a few pleasantries, but the thought I could not get out of my head was that if this plane somehow drops out of the sky, the headline tomorrow will read, “Jane Fonda and many others disappear.”
In this case it’s, “Klay Thompson is gone; Warriors sign three others.”
I say this with due respect for Lindy Waters, De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, but by the standards of noteworthy offseason acquisitions, they are “others.”
That, of course, all changes if the well-founded rumor of a potential trade (even a costly one) for Utah’s Lauri Markkanen comes to pass in the next 48 hours. Simply said, Markkanen is exactly what Golden State needs the most. A big, who can rim protect, and step out and shoot it at a 40% rate from three.
Markkanen averaged 23 points a game for the Jazz last year and, in addition to providing a skill set the Warriors’ currently do not have, he also becomes an added scoring threat who can support Steph Curry.
Should this trade happen, a number of “others” will go along with it. So will first-round draft picks.
Draft picks in the NBA are cheap. The popular thinking is you trade for the known and give up the unknown. To me, Markannen puts the Warriors from peripheral playoff team to contender – whatever the price.
Trades in the NBA are complex. No longer is it like it used to be as kids when we traded player cards where negotiations went something like this: “I’ll give you two Wade Boggs for a George Brett. And, I’ll throw in four Hershey’s Kisses and my skate key.”
Generally speaking, trades these days involve more accountants than player personnel people. In the case of Lauri Markkanen, Utah has several suitors, so the demands are great. I don’t know what the Jazz is asking for from the Warriors, but I suspect (assuming that Steph Curry is not available) that it includes Jonathan Kuminga, several “others,” a passel of draft picks, an an autographed copy of E-40’s greatest hits, and naming rights to the Chase Center. The W’s might counter with Markkanen, two tenors from the Mormon Tabernacle choir, and naming rights to the Bonneville Salt Flats
That, however, might not get it done. The Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings are also reportedly interested in a deal for Markkanen.
Three of the four teams involved are going to be very disappointed. One will get the services of perhaps the greatest player to ever come out of Finland (Okay, so there have only been three of them in NBA history). The Timberwolves, Kings, and Pelicans will be contenders without Markkanen, and then there’s the Warriors.
Well, the “Jazz Center” isn’t a bad sounding name is it?
Barry Tompkins is a 40-year network television sportscaster and a San Francisco native. Email him at barrytompkins1@gmail.com.
