2016 NBA Finals Prediction

Here is my prediction for the 2016 NBA Finals.

(W1) Golden State Warriors vs (E1) Cleveland Cavaliers: This is going to be a fantastic series. Here we have a rematch of last seasons NBA Finals except the fact that the Cavaliers are healthy this time around. The Warriors are coming off an epic seven game series win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals and coming back from a 3-1 series deficit in the process. The Cavaliers are coming off a six game series win over the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. As I mentioned before, the Cavs are healthy this time around and don't forget Kyrie Irivng got hurt in game 1 of the finals last season and Kevin Love didn't play in the finals at all because he got hurt in the first round last season against the Boston Cetlics. From a Warriors standpoint, they have pretty much the same team intact and they are even better than they were last season. It's hard to pick against LeBron James in a playoff series, but it is also hard to pick against the team that won a record breaking seventy-three games that has the best shooting back court duo that features the MVP either. It isn't easy to repeat in any sport, but this Warriors team is special and I believe they'll repeat as NBA Champions.

Prediction: Warriors in seven games.

Finals MVP: Klay Thompson

2016 Stanley Cup Final Prediction

Here is my prediction for the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (P3) San Jose Sharks: This will be a very fun Cup Final. Pittsburgh is coming off a seven game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. San Jose is coming off a six game series win over the St. Louis Blues. The Penguins offense has been sensational all playoffs long led by captian Sidney Crosby and a red hot line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel. The Sharks offense has been lights out as well led by their veteran core of captain Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, and Patrick Marleau. The Pens defense has taken a few blows such as Trevor Daley missing the rest of the playoffs with a broken ankle, but guys like Olli Maata and Kris Letang have played well throughout the playoffs. The Sharks defense has been great all playoffs long with guys like Brent Burns, Paul Martin, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Matt Murray has been awesome for most of the playoffs in the net for the Penguins as well as Martin Jones for the Sharks. This should be a fun series, but no team has been hotter than the Penguins since mid-season and home ice advantage is also on their side so I believe the Pittsburgh Penguins will be your 2016 Stanley Cup Champions although San Jose can't be counted out at all.
Prediction: Penguins in seven games.

Conn Smythe Trophy Pick: Sidney Crosby

2016 NBA Mock Draft: 2nd Edition

Here is my second edition of my 2016 NBA Mock Draft.

1. Philadelphia 76ers- Ben Simmons, Power Forward, LSU: With their hodge podge of big men and Simmons with star potential with his ball handling and passing, he’s an obvious choice even as some executives favor Ingram for his shooting. Simmons isn’t a good shooter.

2. Los Angeles Lakers- Brandon Ingram, Small Forward, Duke: The Lakers needed a little bit of luck, and got it here. Not only were they able to keep the selection (it was top-three protected) and end up with the No. 2 pick in a two-player draft, but they're also in line to grab a guy whose skills perfectly complement the other pieces they already have. LA is still a long way away from competing for titles, but Ingram and D'Angelo Russell are good pieces to build around.

3. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)- Dragan Bender, Power Forward/Center, Croatia: There is no doubt this pick is likely to be traded. The Celtics missed out on the Simmons/Ingram bonanza but may have gotten lucky in their own way: After making the playoffs, Boston doesn't have any huge, glaring needs, nor are there the players in the No. 3 spot who would have addressed them. Instead they can take Bender, who at 19 years old is a long-term project, but also a potential future star.

4. Phoenix Suns- Jaylen Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, California: It's easy to see the Suns considering several different directions here. Brown has the kind of elite athleticism that translates into a great open-court player, a good rebounder for a wing and the potential to be a high-level defender, all with good size for a small forward. That package came through even as he shared time with Ivan Rabb, a possible lottery pick before deciding to return to school, and Tyrone Wallace, who should get drafted. Brown was the Pacific 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves- Buddy Hield, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma: At the moment, Minnesota's only listed shooting guard is ZachLaVine, who played a significant amount of time at the point guard position as well. If Hield is still on the board, expect the Timberwolves to pounce at an opportunity to acquire a true pure scorer who can help stretch an offense that's headlined by forwards Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.

6. New Orleans Pelicans- Kris Dunn, Point Guard, Providence: The Pelicans can use a young point guard considering Jrue Holliday has been injury prone the last few seasons. Dunn would fit nice with the Pels and would be a fun pick and pop partner with Anthony Davis.

7. Denver Nuggets (via New York Knicks)- Henry Ellenson, Power Forward, Marquette: A perimeter shooting threat, especially from a front court position, would help open up driving lanes for Emmanuel Mudiay. Ellenson has the chance to develop into that, while also contributing on the glass.

8. Sacramento Kings- Jamal Murray, Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Kentucky: The Kings can use a guard that brings versatility, whether Rajon Rondo leaves or not. Murray would be a nice fit and perhaps a steal for the Kings.

9. Toronto Raptors (via Denver Nuggets)- Deyonta Davis, Power Forward, Michigan State: Davis could be a little bit redundant with Bismack Biyombo although with Biyombo having a player option for 2016-17, that could lead Toronto to pursue another high-level shot blocker in the draft. Davis has a ton of potential, but could be a few years away from contributing, and grooming him for the time being could be a good option for the Raptors.

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Jakob Poeltl, Forward/Center, Utah: It's the obvious fit, and the right one as well. Poeltl immediately will bring a defensive presence and offensive production to the low post in Milwaukee.

11. Orlando Magic- Skal Labissiere, Center, Kentucky: Despite a disappointing season at Kentucky, Labissiere’s combination of shot blocking, touch from the perimeter, and athleticism has him back in lottery, and potentially top-10, discussions. His skill sets could be a nice complement to Nikola Vucevic's inside scoring.

12. Utah Jazz- Domantas Sabonis, Power Forward/Center, Gonzaga: They’ve been desperate for a point guard, but they should have Dante Exum returning from injury. Sabonis is a multi talented player who could fit in around their big guys.

13. Phoenix Suns (via Washington Wizards)- Marquese Chriss, Power Forward, Washington: Chriss surprised even himself in coming so far so fast as a freshman, using advanced athleticism and a decent perimeter game to charge up draft boards. Teams like to see a prospect trending up, and that's Chriss in a big way. But he is not a good rebounder for a power forward and he fouled out in 15 of 34 games.

14. Chicago Bulls- Wade Baldwin, Point Guard, Vanderbilt: The Bulls have needed some young depth at the point guard spot for some time, and Baldwin’s defensive versatility and ability to shoot off the ball would give him the ability to play both guard positions for Chicago.

15. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets)- Taurean Prince, Small Forward, Baylor: Denver could use some forward depth and Prince could provide that. It also can open the door for a trade of either Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari.

16. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)- Denzel Valentine, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Michigan State: The important part of the Final Four team in 2014-15 had a nice climb up draft boards last season with more experience and a larger role for an elite program. Valentine earned that centerpiece spot as 22-year-old senior who is smart and versatile. He shot 44.4 percent behind the arc and also easily leading the team in assists, a testament to his ability to become a secondary ball handler in the pros as well as score.

17. Memphis Grizzlies- Demeatrius Jackson, Point Guard, Notre Dame: Memphis needs depth at point guard even if Mike Conley re-signs. Jackson has speed to play in the open court, leaping ability to play above the rim and a quick first step to create an opening. The physical advantages are especially important because he does have great size. He gives Notre Dame the chance to send a point guard into the first round for the second year in a row (after Jerian Grant went 19th last June).

18. Detroit Pistons- Brice Johnson, Power Forward, North Carolina: Johnson is very talented and he would fit nicely in Detroit. It gives the Pistons a body and he and Andre Drummond would be a force up front.

19. Denver Nuggets (via Portland Trail Blazers)- Furkan Korkmaz, Shooting Guard, Turkey: The 18-year-old Korkmaz didn’t get a lot of playing time for Anadolu Efes, which makes figuring out his draft stock difficult. That being said, somebody is likely to gamble on his youth, athleticism, and perimeter shooting.

20. Indiana Pacers- Tyler Ulis, Point Guard, Kentucky: They sure need a point guard. You don’t get great ones this far down in the draft, though the pros agree he’s the best pure point guard in the draft. But the 5-10 measurement is with shoes. With lifts? His height scares teams away, but it did with Isaiah Thomas, too.

21. Atlanta Hawks- Malachi Richardson, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Syracuse: In the short term the Hawks lack wing scoring, and in the long term they lack star power, and Richardson eventually could fill both needs. Yes, he's a long way from being a complete player, but as Richardson showed in Syracuse's run to the Final Four, few players have more long-term potential than he does. His 23-point performance against Virginia was one of the best games anyone played in the tournament.

22. Charlotte Hornets- Malik Beasley, Shooting Guard, Florida State: Improved perimeter shooting is a big part of Charlotte’s recent success, but with Nicolas Batum and Courtney Lee both upcoming free agents, they could look to replenish some of their perimeter depth with younger, cheaper options.

23. Boston Cetlics- Ante Zizic, Center, Croatia: A high-energy player with nice athleticism for a big, he runs the floor well and handles the contact of playing inside. His offensive game is still limited, though. Zizic is 19, making him an ideal draft-and-stash pick for the end of the first round. With his intensity and with time, he could become a contributor for an NBA team.

24. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami Heat via Cleveland Cavaliers)- DeAndre Bembry, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, St. Joseph's: The Sixers could use a wing and Bemberry would be a nice fit considering he went to college in the Philadelphia area.

25. Los Angeles Clippers- Stephen Zimmerman, Center, UCLA: Size plus the ability to play in transition plus a nice touch from the perimeter plus the potential to defend both big-man spots. It's easy to see Zimmerman moving back up, after previously being in the lottery mix. The question is whether he will convince front offices he can play a physical style as well, at least on defense and go after contact rather than rely entirely on finesse. It didn't help that his freshman season was dotted by nagging injuries, illness and a coaching change.

26. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder)- Juan Hernangomez, Small Forward/Power Forward, Spain: The 76ers don't want a third rookie along with two possible redshirt rookies, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, so one of the picks in the 20s is almost surely ticketed for a trade or a player to remain overseas. (If they deal No. 1, everything changes.) Hernangomez has used a season of good production to greatly help his chances of making the first round. His experience -- 20 years old now, 21 for the start of training camp -- shows. He is a good athlete who runs the floor well, plays above the rim and can score in a variety of ways. His brother Willy was the No. 35 pick by the 76ers last year and traded the same night to the Knicks.

27. Toronto Raptors- Patrick McGaw, Shooting Guard, UNLV: Toronto could use some wing depth, especially if DeMar DeRozan leaves in free agency.

28. Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland Cavaliers)- Zhou Qi, Center, China: After drafting two forwards earlier in the draft, the 7-foot-2 Zhou, who shows promise as a shot blocking threat, could be an interesting high-reward gamble for Phoenix late in the first round.

29. San Antonio Spurs- Chieck Diallo, Power Forward, Kansas: With the uncertainty around Tim Duncan's future (we’ve been writing about this for a decade), more depth in the front court could be welcomed in San Antonio, and Diallo has the physical tools to be an interesting project. And doesn’t San Antonio always cause these projects to reach their potential? If they do, Diallo has a lot of it.

30. Golden State Warriors- Malcolm Brogdon, Shooting Guard, Virginia: With Harrison Barnes about to get very expensive, Brogdon’s combination of experience, defensive ability, and ability to navigate screens off the ball and shoot from the perimeter could help him contribute right away for the Warriors.

2016 NBA Mock Draft: 1st Edition

Here is my first edition of my 2016 NBA mock draft.

1. Philadelphia 76ers- Ben Simmons, Power Forward, LSU: With their hodge podge of big men and Simmons with star potential with his ball handling and passing, he’s an obvious choice even as some executives favor Ingram for his shooting. Simmons isn’t a good shooter.

2. Los Angeles Lakers- Brandon Ingram, Small Forward, Duke: The Lakers needed a little bit of luck, and got it here. Not only were they able to keep the selection (it was top-three protected) and end up with the No. 2 pick in a two-player draft, but they're also in line to grab a guy whose skills perfectly complement the other pieces they already have. LA is still a long way away from competing for titles, but Ingram and D'Angelo Russell are good pieces to build around.  

3. Boston Celtics (via Brooklyn Nets)- Dragan Bender, Power Forward/Center, Croatia: There is no doubt this pick is likely to be traded. The Celtics missed out on the Simmons/Ingram bonanza but may have gotten lucky in their own way: After making the playoffs, Boston doesn't have any huge, glaring needs, nor are there the players in the No. 3 spot who would have addressed them. Instead they can take Bender, who at 19 years old is a long-term project, but also a potential future star.

4. Phoenix Suns- Jaylen Brown, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, California: It's easy to see the Suns considering several different directions here. Brown has the kind of elite athleticism that translates into a great open-court player, a good rebounder for a wing and the potential to be a high-level defender, all with good size for a small forward. That package came through even as he shared time with Ivan Rabb, a possible lottery pick before deciding to return to school, and Tyrone Wallace, who should get drafted. Brown was the Pacific 12 Conference Freshman of the Year.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves- Jamal Murray, Point Guard, Kentucky: The lottery gods weren't shining on the T-Wolves this year, but that may be a good thing. At this point Minnesota doesn't need another superstar, but instead a piece it can slide in next to Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Murray is exactly that, a dead-eye shooter who will space the floor and complement Towns and Wiggins perfectly. This team could be really good ... as soon as next year.

6. New Orleans Pelicans- Buddy Hield, Shooting Guard, Oklahoma: Eric Gordon is a free agent, however little he played, anyway, and they could use space shooting to open the floor for Anthony Davis. He’s one of the biggest names in college ball, and they can use the star attention.

7. Denver Nuggets (via New York Knicks)- Timothe Luwawu, Small Forward, France: Instead of going for any of the obvious top players still on the board (Kris Dunn, Henry Ellenson, Jakob Poeltl), the Nuggets go with the high-upside pick in Luwawu, a high-flying wing player from France who should provide a running mate for Emmanuel Mudiay for years to come.

8. Sacramento Kings- Kris Dunn, Point Guard, Providence: The decision to return for his junior season took Dunn from possible lottery pick in 2015 to an automatic for the top 10 barring an unexpected development. Some teams talked about him as a possibility for No. 3 based on defense and maturity, but he is a very good fit in Sacramento. Even if Rajon Rondo re-signs, it's not like he will be around for many years. And if Rondo does not return, Dunn could possibly move right into the opening lineup at age 22 and more developed physically and emotionally than most from the draft class.

9. Toronto Raptors (from Denver Nuggets via New York Knicks)- Henry Ellenson, Power Forward/Center, Marquette: Having a lottery pick, thanks to a trade with the Knicks, while playing in a conference final is house money. The Raptors have a veteran roster that would allow Skal Labissiere or Timothe Luwawu to develop mostly behind the scenes, and general manager Masai Ujiri is a risk taker in a way that could push him to Labissiere. But Ellenson is a big man who has the mobility to handle an up-tempo system as well as the strength to play physical. That makes for the potential a very good draft follow up for the state of Wisconsin a year after Frank Kaminsky went ninth and Sam Dekker went 18th.

10. Milwaukee Bucks- Jakob Poeltl, Forward/Center, Utah: It's the obvious fit, and the right one as well. Poeltl immediately will bring a defensive presence and offensive production to the low post in Milwaukee.

11. Orlando Magic- Deyonta Davis, Power Forward/Center, Michigan State: With so many young players and no coach at the moment, it's hard to know exactly what direction the Magic will go. Davis provides them a solid backup to Nikola Vucevic in the present, and a big, strong, physical, young player who one day could develop into a dominant low post player.

12. Utah Jazz- Domantas Sabonis, Power Forward/Center, Gonzaga: They’ve been desperate for a point guard, but they should have Dante Exum returning from injury. Sabonis is a multi talented player who could fit in around their big guys.

13. Phoenix Suns (via Washington Wizards)- Marquese Chriss, Power Forward, Washington: Chriss surprised even himself in coming so far so fast as a freshman, using advanced athleticism and a decent perimeter game to charge up draft boards. Teams like to see a prospect trending up, and that's Chriss in a big way. But he is not a good rebounder for a power forward and he fouled out in 15 of 34 games.

14. Chicago Bulls- Furkan Korkmaz, Shooting Guard, Turkey: Korkmaz is a scoring threat beyond the 3-point line and also a talented and willing passer, a nice combination for someone with good size for a shooting guard with the chance to keep growing. He needs to add bulk more than height, but is still only 18 and could fill out in time. And if he doesn't get stronger, Korkmaz could still make a big contribution as a shooter and facilitator.

15. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets)- Taurean Prince, Small Forward, Baylor: Denver could use some forward depth and Prince could provide that. It also can open the door for a trade of either Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari.

16. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)- Denzel Valentine, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Michigan State: The important part of the Final Four team in 2014-15 had a nice climb up draft boards last season with more experience and a larger role for an elite program. Valentine earned that centerpiece spot as 22-year-old senior who is smart and versatile. He shot 44.4 percent behind the arc and also easily leading the team in assists, a testament to his ability to become a secondary ball handler in the pros as well as score.

17. Memphis Grizzlies- Demeatrius Jackson, Point Guard, Notre Dame: Memphis needs depth at point guard even if Mike Conley re-signs. Jackson has speed to play in the open court, leaping ability to play above the rim and a quick first step to create an opening. The physical advantages are especially important because he does have great size. He gives Notre Dame the chance to send a point guard into the first round for the second year in a row (after Jerian Grant went 19th last June).

18. Detroit Pistons- Skal Labissiere, Center, Kentucky: There might be no player with better long-term upside than Labissiere. Sure, things didn't work out as planned at Kentucky, but there's also a reason he was projected as a top-five pick throughout the season. He'll need two or three years to develop, but if the Pistons are patient, they may have a future star.

19. Denver Nuggets (via Portland Trail Blazers)- Ivica Zubac, Center, Croatia: And so begins the run of draft-and-stash players with the perfect candidate, a team making its third pick of the opening round. Zubac has an opportunity to become a solid player on both ends, with a good chance he would stay in Europe at least one more season to continue to develop. He will only be 19 at the time of the draft, yet already has good size along with excellent mobility and good hands that will allow him to play in transition.

20. Indiana Pacers- Tyler Ulis, Point Guard, Kentucky: They sure need a point guard. You don’t get great ones this far down in the draft, though the pros agree he’s the best pure point guard in the draft. But the 5-10 measurement is with shoes. With lifts? His height scares teams away, but it did with Isaiah Thomas, too.

21. Atlanta Hawks- Malachi Richardson, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Syracuse: In the short term the Hawks lack wing scoring, and in the long term they lack star power, and Richardson eventually could fill both needs. Yes, he's a long way from being a complete player, but as Richardson showed in Syracuse's run to the Final Four, few players have more long-term potential than he does. His 23-point performance against Virginia was one of the best games anyone played in the tournament.

22. Charlotte Hornets- Damian Jones, Power Forward/Center, Vanderbilt: With Al Jefferson hitting free agency, Charlotte needs size in the post and that's exactly what Jones provides. Despite a somewhat disappointing season at Vanderbilt, there's still a reason he was a projected lottery pick entering the season. The tools are there; it's just a matter of whether Jones wants to use them or not.

23. Boston Cetlics- Ante Zizic, Center, Croatia: A high-energy player with nice athleticism for a big, he runs the floor well and handles the contact of playing inside. His offensive game is still limited, though. Zizic is 19, making him an ideal draft-and-stash pick for the end of the first round. With his intensity and with time, he could become a contributor for an NBA team.

24. Philadelphia 76ers (from Miami Heat via Cleveland Cavaliers)- Malik Beasley, Shooting Guard, Florida State: The 76ers need perimeter scoring, and while Turkish forward Furkan Korkmaz is probably the best fit, he also has threatened to pull out of this draft if he's not guaranteed a lottery pick. Therefore Philly does the next best thing and goes with Beasley, a versatile scorer who averaged 15 points in his one season at Florida State.

25. Los Angeles Clippers- Stephen Zimmerman, Center, UCLA: Size plus the ability to play in transition plus a nice touch from the perimeter plus the potential to defend both big-man spots. It's easy to see Zimmerman moving back up, after previously being in the lottery mix. The question is whether he will convince front offices he can play a physical style as well, at least on defense and go after contact rather than rely entirely on finesse. It didn't help that his freshman season was dotted by nagging injuries, illness and a coaching change.

26. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder)- Juan Hernangomez, Small Forward/Power Forward, Spain: The 76ers don't want a third rookie along with two possible redshirt rookies, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, so one of the picks in the 20s is almost surely ticketed for a trade or a player to remain overseas. (If they deal No. 1, everything changes.) Hernangomez has used a season of good production to greatly help his chances of making the first round. His experience -- 20 years old now, 21 for the start of training camp -- shows. He is a good athlete who runs the floor well, plays above the rim and can score in a variety of ways. His brother Willy was the No. 35 pick by the 76ers last year and traded the same night to the Knicks.

27. Toronto Raptors- DeAndre' Bembry, Shooting Guard/Small Forward, Saint Joseph's: Toronto could use wing depth, especially if DeMar DeRozan leaves in free agency. Bembry would be an interesting pick here at 27.

28. Phoenix Suns (via Cleveland Cavaliers)- Chieck Diallo, Power Forward, Kansas: The Mali native who attended high school in New York had a very choppy freshman season at Kansas, from missing two exhibitions and five games as the NCAA sorted through eligibility issues to undependable play once he was cleared. There were stretches when just staying on the court was a challenge, and he averaged 7.5 minutes. But athleticism, size and potential on defense makes him a very intriguing prospect. While it would not be a surprise if he dropped out of the first round, some team will be lured by the physical tools to invest intensive coaching and a lot of NBA D-League time.

29. San Antonio Spurs- Melo Trimble, Point Guard, Maryland: A solid point guard who will not beat many people on athleticism but has 3-point range and leadership qualities. Trimble worked last season, as a sophomore, to show he is more than a scorer and provided with good results as the Terrapins went 27-9 and reached the Sweet 16. He has improved his decision making and ball handling after a 2014-15 with a poor assist-to-turnover ratio.

30. Golden State Warriors- Zhou Qi, Center, China: Zhou said he can make a smooth transition to the United States even if it not in a city with a large Chinese population, so ending up in the Bay Area would simply be a bonus. Similarly, it would not be a marketing move by the Warriors. (Like they need one.) Zhou needs to bulk up, but someone will probably invest a weightlifting regiment and patience around the end of the first round or the start of the second for a 7-2 prospect with agility. Chances are good Golden State, looking for cap flexibility heading into free agency, will pick a player to stay overseas, whether Zhou or someone else.

2016 NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Predictions

Here are my predictions for the conference finals for the 2016 NBA playoffs.

Eastern Conference Finals
(E1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (E2) Toronto Raptors: This should be an interesting series to watch considering the Raptors went 2-1 against the Cavaliers this season. Cleveland is coming off an impressive sweep over the Atlanta Hawks. Toronto is coming off a seven game series win over the Miami Heat. The Raptors lost Jonas Valančiūnas during the Heat series due to an ankle injury and he apparently isn't close to returning and that might not bold well for their chances against the Cavs. The Cavs seem to be playing their best basketball of the season and I believe LeBron James will appear in his sixth straight NBA Finals thanks to great play from him and his teammates such as Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and JR Smith.
Prediction: Cavaliers in five games.

Western Conference Finals
(W1) Golden State Warriors vs (W3) Oklahoma City Thunder: This might just be one of the best series's we will see. Five all stars are featured in MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. And so are the last two MVP winners in Curry (this year and last year) and Durant (in 2014). Anyways, Golden State is coming off a five game series win over the Portland Trail Blazers, although it wasn't easy by any stretch. Oklahoma City is coming off a very impressive six game series win over the San Antonio Spurs. This series should absolutely live up to hype and it wouldn't be that shocking if the Thunder pull this off especially since they have two of the best three players on the court in Durant and Westbrook, but the best player on the court should be Curry, assuming his ankles don't bother him in this series. All that said, I like the Warriors to advance to their second straight finals to set up a compelling rematch with LeBron and the Cavs.
Prediction: Warriors in six games.

2016 WNBA National TV Schedule

Here is the national TV schedule for the 2016 WNBA season with announcers (if necessary).

5/14- Mercury vs Lynx; 7:30, ESPN: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
5/24- Sparks vs Sky; 7:00, ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
5/31- Lynx vs Liberty; 8:00, ESPN2: Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck, LaChina Robinson
6/7- Liberty vs Sparks; 10:00, ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Carolyn Peck, Holly Rowe
6/14- Fever vs Lynx; 8:00, ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
6/21- Mercury vs Wings; 8:00, ESPN2: Pam Ward & LaChina Robinson
6/28- Wings vs Sparks; 10:00, ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
7/5- Sky vs Lynx; 8:00, ESPN2: Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe
7/19- Sparks vs Fever; 8:00, ESPN2: Pam Ward & LaChina Robinson
8/28- Storm vs Lynx; 7:00, ESPN2:
8/28- Sparks vs Mercury; 9:00, ESPN2:
9/6- Mercury vs Dream; 8:00, ESPN2:
9/13- Lynx vs Sky; 8:00, ESPN2:
9/18- Wings vs Fever; 4:00, ESPN2:

2016 WNBA Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2016 WNBA season. Don't forget there is a new playoff format this season in which the conferences doesn't matter and the teams with the eight best records in the league make the postseason.

1. Phoenix Mercury- The Mercury advanced to the West Finals last year without Diana Taurasi. Imagine what they will do now with perhaps the best women’s basketball player ever in Turasi back on the court. And don’t forget about Penny Taylor, who also missed 2015, to go with All-WNBA First Teamer DeWanna Bonner and Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner. This is essentially the same group that won the title two seasons ago and they will absolutely be a contender yet again this season.

2. Minnesota Lynx- The defending champion Lynx enter 2016 with a roster loaded with talent and goals of becoming the first WNBA team to repeat as champions since the L.A. Sparks back in 2002. The Olympic break in August won’t be much of a break for the Lynx, as four of their players are headed to Rio with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Maya Moore has been one of the leagues best players the last few seasons and long with teammates Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus, they will be a contender for the title.

3. New York Liberty- The Liberty are coming off a season in which they won a franchise-record 23 games; in fact, their 23-11 mark earned them the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs. The league’s stingiest defense (71.1 ppg allowed) and double-double machine Tina Charles make New York a force to be reckoned with. However, the loss of Epiphanny Prince, who will miss much of the season after offseason ACL surgery, is a concern. The Liberty made a lot of nice moves in the offseason which could offset the loss of Prince and I believe Charles will be an MVP candidate as well.

4. Chicago Sky- What does reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne have in store for an encore to her historically great 2015 season? The league’s top scorer (23.4 ppg) led the league’s top-scoring offense (82.9 ppg) a year ago, but the Sky also allowed the second-most points (78.8). Their defense must improve for the Sky to return to the Finals, where they lost in 2014. Delle Donne will be in the MVP conversation yet again and they should be among the leagues best teams.

5. Los Angeles Sparks- The Sparks’ roster features six former All-Stars: Alana Beard, Essence Carson, Jantel Lavender, Nneka Ogwumike, Kristi Toliver and two-time MVP Candace Parker, who put up phenomenal numbers (19.4 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.9 SPG and 1.8 BPG) in 16 games in the second half of last season to lift the Sparks into the playoffs. A full season of Parker to go with the rest of the talent in L.A. points to another playoff run.

6. Dallas Wings- The team formerly known as the Tulsa Shock gets a new city and a new identity for 2016. They also get back a star guard in Skylar Diggins, who missed all but nine games last year with a torn ACL. The team ended a five-year playoff drought without Diggins. Now that she’s back and reunited with Odyssey Sims in the backcourt, the Wings should make a great first impression in Dallas.

7. Indiana Fever- The Tamika Catchings farewell tour officially begins on Saturday when the Fever open the 2016 season against the Dallas Wings. After a surprising run to the Finals last season, can the Fever put it all together this year and send Catchings off into the sunset with a championship? Briann January’s recovery from offseason microfracture knee surgery will be an X-factor to watch. It would be fitting to send Catchings off properly, but we shall see about that.

8. Washington Mystics- The Mystics return much of the same roster from last season — a roster that reached the playoffs, but was eliminated in the first round for the third straight season. Washington features a young and talented frontcourt in Stefanie Dolson and Emma Meesseman. However, the team will be without All-Star guard Ivory Latta for at least the opening games of the season following an April knee surgery.

9. Seattle Storm- After missing the playoffs for the second straight year, the Storm won the lottery and selected Breanna Stewart with the first pick in the 2016 Draft. Stewart joins last year’s top pick and Rookie of the Year Jewell Loyd as the new dynamic duo in Seattle with veterans like Sue Bird and Crystal Langhorne to help usher in the new era of Storm basketball.

10. Atlanta Dream- Atlanta is coming off its first sub-.500 season (15-19) and first missed playoffs since the team’s inaugural campaign in 2008. In order to get back into the playoff picture, coach Michael Cooper’s squad will have to improve its defense, which allowed a league-high 79.8 points per game and had the fourth-worst defensive rating (102.1 pts./100 poss.). Angel McCoughtry will keep this team competitive for the most part and a playoff appearance cannot be ruled out.

11. Connecticut Sun- The Sun have a new coach (former Sparks assistant Curt Miller), a trio of first-round draft picks (No. 3 Morgan Tuck, No. 4 Rachel Banham, No. 6 Jonquel Jones) and a returning former No. 1 pick in Chiney Ogwumike, who missed all of last season after having microfracture knee surgery. With so much change and just a short preseason to put it all together, the Sun may be a work in progress for the early part of this season.

12. San Antonio Stars- Another team undergoing a series of changes, the Stars announced last month that longtime coach/GM Dan Hughes would step down at the end of the 2016 campaign. Ruth Riley is the new GM and No. 2 overall pick Moriah Jefferson is the new point guard with All-Star Danielle Robinson lost for the season after undergoing Achilles surgery. Jefferson joins sharpshooter Kayla McBride in the backcourt as part of a young core that will try to improve on last season’s 8-26 record.

- 2016 WNBA Playoffs (don't forget the top two seeds have a double-bye and the three and four seeds have a single bye)

First Round (Single Elimination)
(8) Washington Mystics vs (5) Los Angeles Sparks: MVP candidate Candace Parker and the rest of her All-Star teammates will move on to the second round with a win over Michael Thibault and the Mystics, who have lost in the first round the previous three seasons.
Prediction: Sparks

(7) Indiana Fever vs (6) Dallas Wings: This should be an interesting game between two solid teams, but I believe Skylar Diggins and Gloria Johnson will lead the Wings to the second round to end Tamika Catching's farewell season.
Prediction: Wings

Second Round (Single Elimination)
(6) Dallas Wings vs (3) New York Liberty: This should be a fun game between two good teams. The MSG crowd will be a factor and Tina Charles will lead the way to the semi-finals against a very good Wings team.
Prediction: Liberty

(5) Los Angeles Sparks vs (4) Chicago Sky: This is a very interesting series between two teams that could wind up making the Finals. I like Parker and the Sparks to advance to the semi-finals although it's tough to beat Elena Delle-Donne and the Sky.
Prediction: Sparks

Semi-Finals (Best-Of-5)
(5) Los Angeles Sparks vs (1) Phoenix Mercury: This should be a fun series with a ton of star power with Parker, Greiner, and Turasi involved. The Mercury are the better team this time around and they'll move on to the WNBA Finals for the second time in three seasons.
Prediction: Mercury in four games.

(3) New York Liberty vs (2) Minnesota Sky: This should be a fun series between two very good teams in this league. There is star power here too with Tina Charles for the Liberty and Maya Moore for the Lynx. I like the Lynx slightly better here to advance to their second straight WNBA finals.
Prediction: Lynx in five games.

WNBA Finals (Best-Of-5)
(2) Minnesota Lynx vs (1) Phoenix Mercury: This should be an outstanding series between the leagues best two teams and arguably the leagues best rivalry. Diana Turasi and Maya Moore are arguably the two best players in the sport as well. With Turasi back in the fold with a lot of talent around her, I like the Mercury to win their second championship in three years.
Prediction: Mercury in five games.

WNBA Awards Predictions
MVP: Tina Charles, New York Liberty
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittany Greiner, Phoenix Mercury
Rookie of the Year: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
Sixth Woman of the Year- Allie Quigley, Chicago Sky
Most Improved Player- Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
Coach of the Year- Sandy Brondello, Phoenix Mercury

2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Final Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Final.

Eastern Conference
(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning: This should be a fairly interesting series between these two conference foes. Pittsburgh is coming off a six game series win over the Presidents Trophy winning Washington Capitals. Tampa Bay is coming off a five game series win over the New York Islanders. Matt Murray has been very good filling in for Marc-Andre Fleury throughout the playoffs for the Penguins and Ben Bishop has been decent for the most part for the Lightning. The Bolts might get back Anton Stralman and Steven Stamkos for injury, but the Pens should have Olli Maata back as well. This should be an outstanding and fun series but I like the mojo that Sidney Crosby and the Penguins have right now and I believe that the Pens will make their first Stanley Cup Final since 2009 although the Lightning can't be counted out of this series.
Prediction: Penguins in seven games.

Western Conference
(C2) St. Louis Blues vs (P3) San Jose Sharks: This should be a compelling series between toe teams that often get criticized for their postseason failures of the past. St. Louis is coming off a seven game series win over the Dallas Stars. San Jose is coming off a seven game series win over the Nashville Predators. Brian Elliott has been outstanding (outside of game 6 against the Stars) in these playoffs for the Blues and so has Martin Jones for the Sharks. Both teams have also been defending well and scoring timely goals, so expect a lot of great play. This was a tough call, but I like the Blues slightly more to advance to their first ever Stanley Cup Final.
Prediction: Blues in seven games.

Candidates to replace Scott Skiles as Magic head coach

Today, it was announced that Scott Skiles had resigned as head coach of the Orlando Magic after one season. Here are some candidates to replace Skiles.

1. Frank Vogel, Former Indiana Pacers Head Coach
2. Jeff Hornacek, Former Phoenix Suns Head Coach
3. Randy Wittman, Former Washington Wizards Head Coach
4. David Blatt, Former Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach
5. Mark Jackson, ESPN Analyst/Former Golden State Warriors Head Coach
6. Joe Prunty, Assistant Coach, Milwaukee Bucks

2016 NFL Draft: Team Grades

Here are my team grades for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Arizona Cardinals- The Cardinals had six picks in this draft. They did a decent job although guys like Brandon Williams, Marqui Christian, and Cole Toner. were reaches at where they selected. They addressed needs at offensive line with tackle Toner and center Evan Boehm, the secondary with cornerback Brandon Williams and safety Christian, and the defensive line in Robert Nkemdiche, who might turn out to be a steal. The one area the team failed to address this draft was linebacker, otherwise they had a decent draft.
Grade: B

Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons had six picks thanks to the noise scandal from a few seasons ago. Atlanta drafted a ton of players like first rounder Keanu Neal, Deion Jones, De'Vondre Campbell, Wes Schweitzer, and Devin Fuller that were reaches. They did address needs at tight end with Austin Hooper, linebacker in Campbell and Jones, a guard in Schweitzer, and a safety in Neal. The team failed to address the defensive end in the draft and they could have drafted better players instead of reaching most of the time.
Grade: D+

Baltimore Ravens- The Ravens had a grand total of eleven (!!) picks in he his draft thanks to trading back multiple times. Some of those picks were reaches such as Kamalei Correa, Tavon Young, Chris Moore, and Alex Lewis. Picks such as Matt Judon, Keenan Reynolds, and Maurice Canady were steals. They addressed the cornerback position with Young and Canady, the offensive line with Ronnie Stanley, the defensive line with Bronson Kaufusi, Willie Henry, and Judon, and linebacker with Correa. Safety was the lone position Baltimore failed to address, otherwise a pretty solid draft.
Grade: B

Buffalo Bills- The Bills had seven picks in this draft. Two of their selections in Caradle Jones and Kevon Seymour were reaches meanwhile Reggie Ragland, Jonathan Williams, and Kolby Listenbee were steals at where they were selected. The addressed the defensive line with Shaq Lawson and Adolphus Washington, linebacker with Ragland, and wide receiver with Listenbee. The one area they failed to address was the offensive line, otherwise a great draft.
Grade: A

Carolina Panthers- The Panthers had five picks in this draft. Their first three picks in  Vernon Butler, James Bradberry, and Daryl Worley were reaches meanwhile their last two picks in Zack Sanchez and Beau Sandland were steals. They addressed the cornerback need with Sanchez, but they failed to address needs at safety, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive end, and running back. That will hurt my team grade for them as well as the reaches.
Grade: D+

Chicago Bears- The Bears had nine picks in this draft thanks to them trading back a few times in the middle rounds. Picks such as Deon Bush and Deiondre' Hall were reaches, but picks like Jonathan Bullard, Jordan Howard, and Daniel Braverman were steals. They addressed the secondary with DeAndre Houston-Carson, Hall and Bush, defensive end with Bullard, linebacker with first round pick Leonard Floyd and Nick Kwiatkoski, running back with Howard, and and the offensive line with Cody Whitehair. Chicago was one of the few teams that addressed all their needs and they had a great draft.
Grade: A+

Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals had seven picks in this draft. They did reach for a few guys such as Nick Vigil, Cody Core, and Clayton Fejedelem meanwhile Andrew Billings and Christian Westerman were steals. They addressed wide receiver with Tyler Boyd and Core, defensive tackle with Billings, and the secondary with first rounder William Jackson III and Fejedelem. The only need they failed to address was the center position, but other than that not a bad draft for a team that didn't have a ton of needs.
Grade: B

Cleveland Browns- The Browns had a grand total of fourteen (!!) picks in this draft thanks to trading back multiple times. They reached on guys like Carl Nassib, Cody Kessler, Ricardo Louis, Derrick Kindred, Seth DeValve, Jordan Payton, Spencer Drango, and Trey Caldwell. That's more than half of their draft folks. Meanwhile, Joe Scholbert, Rashard Higgins, and Scooby Wright III (if he comes back healthy) are steals. They addressed (part of) the quarterback need with Cody Kessler, but he's projected as a backup. They addressed wide receiver with four (!!) picks in first rounder Corey Coleman, Louis, Payton, and Higgins, defensive line with Emmanuel Ogbah and Nassib, linebacker in Schobert and Wright, and offensive line with Shon Coleman and Drango. They failed to address the running back position and the Browns deserve some credit for gaining more assets and that probably is what makes their grade better than it really should be.
Grade: C+

Dallas Cowboys- The Cowboys had eight selections in this years draft. Guys they selected like Charles Tapper, Dak Prescott, Anthony Brown, Kavon Fraizer, Darius Jackson, and Rico Gathers were reaches at where they selected them, but if Jaylon Smith comes back healthy within the next year, he'll be a steal. They addressed the running back position with Ezekiel Elliott and Jackson, linebacker with Smith, the secondary with Brown and Frazier, the defensive line with Mailek Collins and Tapper, and the backup quarterback situation with Prescott. Dallas was one of the teams that addressed all their draft needs to give credit to where credit is due to Jerry Jones, despite reaching for some players.
Grade: A-

Denver Broncos- The Broncos had eight selections in this years draft. Guys like Adam Gotsis, Andy Janovich, Will Parks, and Riley Dixon were reaches meanwhile guys like Devontae Booker and Connor McGovern were steals. They addressed their long term quarterback answer with Paxton Lynch and the offensive line with McGovern. What is hurting my grade for Denver other than their reaches is the inability to help out the linebacker corp and the defensive end spots.
Grade: B-

Detroit Lions- The Lions had ten selections in this draft. Guys they picked such as Graham Glasgow, Joe Dahl, Antwione Williams, Jake Rudock, Jimmy Landes, and Dwayne Washington were reaches meanwhile guys like A'Shawn Robinson and Anthony Zettel were steals at where they were selected. They addressed the offensive line with Taylor Decker, Glasgow, and Dahl, defensive tackle with Robinson and Zettel, and safety with Miles Killebrew. They failed to address cornerback, wide receiver, and defensive end and factor the reaches they made, it hurt my draft grade for them.
Grade: D+

Green Bay Packers- The Packers had seven selections in this draft. They did reach on a few guys such as first rounder Kenny Clark, Blake Martinez, Dean Lowry, and Trevor Davis meanwhile they got a steal in Kyle Murphy. The addressed the offensive line with Jason Spriggs and Murphy, the defensive line in Clark and Lowry, linebacker with Kyler Fackrell and Martinez, and wide receiver with Davis. The one need they failed to address was safety, but other than that, not a bad draft although there were reaches.
Grade: B+

Houston Texans- The Texans had six picks in this draft. They did reach on half of their selections though with Will Fuller, Nick Martin, and Tyler Ervin meanwhile KJ Dillon and DJ Reader were steals. They addressed wide receiver with Fuller, defensive tackle with Reader, and the offensive line with Martin. The lone area they failed to address was tight end, but Houston didn't have many needs so my grade for them you can argue is higher than they probably deserve.
Grade: A-

Indianapolis Colts- The Colts had eight picks in this draft. They did reach on guys like Ryan Kelly, TJ Green, Antonio Morrison, Joe Haeg, Trevor Bates, and Austin Blythe and they did get a steal in Le'Raven Clark. They did address the offensive line in Kelly, Clark, Haeg, and Blythe, safety in Green, and linebacker in Antonio Morrison and Bates. Indy failed to address cornerback and defensive end and add in all the reaches, it hurts my grade for them.
Grade: C+

Jacksonville Jaguars- The Jaguars had seven picks in this draft. They did reach on guys such as Yannick Ngakoue, Tyrone Holmes, and Jonathan Woodard, but guys like Myles Jack and Sheldon Day were steals. They addressed cornerback with Jalen Ramsey, defensive end with Ngakoue and Woodard, and linebacker with Jack and Holmes. They did fail to address the the center position on the offensive line as well as safety, and factor in a few reaches, Jacksonville won't get the grade they probably deserve.
Grade: B-

Kansas City Chiefs- The Chiefs had nine selections in this draft thanks to the team trading out of the first round. Guys like KeiVarae Russell, Parker Ehinger, Demarcus Robinson, and Tyreek Hill were reaches meanwhile Chris Jones was a steal. They addressed defensive tackle with Jones, cornerback with Russell, Eric Murray, and DJ White, the offensive line with Ehinger, and wide receiver in Robinson and Hill. The area they didn't address was defensive end and factor in the reaches, my grade for them might not be what it should be.
Grade: B

Los Angeles Rams- The Rams had six selections in this draft thanks to their blockbuster trade for the number one overall pick. The Rams did reach for Temarrick Hemingway although Pharoh Cooper was a steal. They addressed their quarterback need with Jared Goff, wide receiver with Cooper and Mike Thomas, and tight end with Tyler Higbee. They failed to address needs on offensive and defensive tackle as well as safety and that with a reach will hurt my grade for Los Angeles.
Grade: B-

Miami Dolphins- The Dolphins had eight selections in the draft. They did reach for some players such as Kenyan Drake and Jordan Lucas, but Leonte Carroo was a steal. They addressed offensive tackle with Laremy Tunsil, which might be the steal of the draft if he cleans up his off field mess, cornerback with Xavien Howard and Lucas, and running back with Drake. Miami failed to address linebacker and defensive end, which cost them a letter grade here.
Grade: B

Minnesota Vikings- The Vikings had eight selections in the draft. Guys like Willie Beavers, Moritz Böhringer, and David Morgan II were reaches meanwhile guys like Mackensie Alexander, Kentrell Brothers, Stephen Weatherly, and Jayron Kearse were steals. They addressed wide receiver with first rounder Laquon Treadwell and Böhringer, cornerback with Alexander, and the offensive line with Beavers. Defensive tackle is the lone area the team failed to address, but overall a very good draft for Minnesota.
Grade: A

New England Patriots- The Patriots had nine picks in this draft. They took a lot of reaches such as Cyrus Jones, Joe Thuney, Jacoby Briscett, Vincent Valentine, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Elandon Roberts, Ted Karras, and Devin Lucien, but Malcolm Mitchell was a steal. They addressed linebacker with Grugier-Hill and Roberts, cornerback with Jones, and wide receiver with Mitchell and Lucien. The team failed to address running back and factor that with a ton of reaches, the grade I gave the, isn't that good.
Grade: C

New Orleans Saints- The Saints had five picks in this draft thanks to trading up a few times. They reached for David Onyemata and Daniel Lasco, meanwhile Michael Thomas was a steal. They addressed defensive tackle with first rounder Sheldon Rankins and Onyemata and wide receiver in Thomas. They failed to address defensive end, linebacker, and cornerback and that plus a few reaches cost them a solid grade.
Grade: C

New York Giants- The Giants had six picks in this draft. They reached for BJ Goodson and you can argue they reached a bit for first rounder Eli Apple, but they got some steals in Darian Thompson, Paul Perkins, and Jerrell Adams. They addressed the secondary with Apple and Thompson, running back with Perkins, linebacker with Goodson, and wide receiver with Sterling Sheppard. They failed to address the offensive and defensive lines, but a few steal picks might have this grade higher than it should be.
Grade: B+

New York Jets- The Jets had seven picks in this draft. They reached for guys like Christian Hackenberg, Justin Burris, Brandon Shell, Lachlan Edwards, and Charone Parker, but they did get a steal in Jordan Jenkins. They addressed a potential long term quarterback answer with Hackenberg, linebacker in Jenkins, and offensive tackle with Snell. They failed to address the defensive end and factor in a few reaches, it cost the Jets potentially a letter grade.
Grade: B-

Oakland Raiders- The Raiders had seven picks in this draft. They reached with some guys like first rounder Karl Joseph, DeAndre Washington, and Cory James, although they got steals in Connor Cook (who will be a back up) and Vadal Alexander. They addressed safety with Joseph, offensive line with Alexander, and linebacker with James. The lone need they failed to address was cornerback, which cost the Raiders a perfect grade.
Grade: A

Philadelphia Eagles- The Eagles had eight picks in this draft despite trading a ton of picks away for the number two overall pick. They picked some reaches in Issac Seumalo, Wendell Smallwood, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Blake Countess, and Joe Walker, but they got a steal in Jalen Mills. They addressed the long term quarterback situation with Carson Wentz, running back with Smallwood, and cornerback with Countess, and guard with Seumalo. Philly was one of the few teams that addressed all their needs and that's why they come out of this with a great grade.
Grade: A

Pittsburgh Steelers- The Steelers had seven picks in this draft. They reached on guys like Artie Burns, Sean Davis, Demarcus Ayers, and Tyler Matakevich, but they got a steal in Travis Freeney. They addressed cornerback with Burns, offensive line with Jerald Hawkins, linebacker in Freeney, and safety in Davis. The lone area they failed to address was the defensive line and that cost them a better grade along with a few reaches.
Grade: A-

San Diego Chargers- The Chargers had eight picks in this draft. They did reach with Donovan Clark, but got steals in Joshua Perry and Jatavis Brown. They addressed defensive end with first rounder Joey Bosa and linebacker in Perry and Brown. They failed to address safety and offensive and defensive tackles and that cost them a letter grade here.
Grade: B-

San Francisco 49ers- The 49ers had eleven (!!!) picks in this draft thanks to trades. They reached for Joshua Garnett, Rashard Robinson, John Theus, and Prince Charles Iworah, but Ronald Blair and Aaron Burbridge were steals. They addressed part of the long term quarterback solution with Jeff Driskel, the offensive line with Garnett, wide receiver in Burbridge, defensive end with first rounder DeForest Buckner and Blair, and cornerback with Will Redmond and Iworah. They did fail to address linebacker and other than that plus some reaches, a decent draft for San Francisco.
Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks- The Seahawks had ten picks in this draft. They reached for first rounder Germain Ifedi, Rees Odhiambo, Quinton Jefferson, Joey Hunt, and Zac Brooks, but Jarran Reed, Alex Collins, and Kenny Lawler were steals. They addressed the offensive line with Ifedi, Odhiambo, and Hunt and defensive tackle with Reed and Jefferson. The area Seattle failed to addressed was cornerback, but other than that and a few reaches, they had a very good draft.
Grade: A

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- The Buccaneers had seven picks in this draft. Guys like Roberto Aguayo, Ryan Smith, Caleb Benenoch, and Devante Bond were reaches, but Noah Spence and Dan Vitale were steals. They addressed defensive end with Spence, linebacker with Bond, and the secondary with Vernon Hargreaves III and Smith. The area Tampa failed to address was defensive tackle and factor in a few reaches, it cost them a letter grade.
Grade: B

Tennessee Titans- The Titans had ten picks in this draft thanks to trades. Guys like Kevin Byard, LeShaun Sims, Aaron Wallace, and Kalan Reed were reaches, meanwhile Tajae Sharpe and Sebastian Tretola were steals. They addressed the offensive line with first rounder Jack Conklin and Tretola, wide receiver with Sharpe, the secondary with Byard, Sims, and Reed, and the defensive line with Kevin Dodd and Austin Johnson. Tennessee addressed all it's needs and their reaches weren't too outrageous so they had a great draft.
Grade: A+

Washington Redskins- The Redskins had seven picks in this draft. Their only reach was Keith Marshall and Kendall Fuller and Steven Daniels were steals. They addressed the defensive line with Matt Ioannidis, linebacker with Su'a Cravens and Daniels, and running back with Marshall. They failed to address safety and the center position of the offensive line and that cost them a letter grade.
Grade: B

Candidates to replace Frank Vogel as Pacers head coach

Today, the Indiana Pacers and coach Frank Vogel have parted ways. Here are some candidates to replace Vogel as the head coach of the Pacers.

1. Mike D'Antoni, Former Phoenix Suns/New York Knicks/Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach
2. Mark Jackson, Current ESPN Analyst/Former Golden State Warriors Head Coach
3. Randy Wittman, Former Washington Wizards Head Coach
4. Nate McMillan, Assistant Coach, Indiana Pacers
5. Brian Shaw, Former Denver Nuggets Head Coach/Indiana Pacers Assistant Coach
6. Jim Boylen, Current Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach/Former Indiana Pacers Assistant Coach
7. Jay Larranaga, Assistant Coach, Boston Celtics
8. Ettore Messina, Assistant Coach, San Antonio Spurs
9. Kevin McHale, Former Houston Rockets Head Coach

Candidates to replace Bob Hartley as Flames coach

Yesterday morning, the Calgary Flames fired Bob Hartley after four seasons. Here are some candidates to replace Hartley.

1. Randy Carlisle, Former Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach
2. Bruce Boudreau, Former Anaheim Ducks Head Coach