It’s time for the second edition of Three Man Weave. Once again, On The Button has assembled three of the world’s brightest basketball minds to answer the most pressing NBA questions of the day. They’ve set aside their individual business ventures for a few hours to gather in a penthouse boardroom and tell the world which GM sucks the most.
Not quite. Well, almost. Actually, not at all. But in fairness, one of these three is bound to have a decent idea. This week, Jim Wilson, Matthew Lawyer, and James Barry are the ‘expert’ panel. Read what they have to say, yell at them through the screen, and then use these questions to start arguments with your friends. One of them might even have a take for you to steal. Have at it.
Whose stock are you buying/selling 20 games into the season?
Jim Wilson: I’m buying stock in the Sacramento Kings alllllll day long! They are young, fun, and have a spirit that just won’t quit. The Beam Team is easily one of the most exciting teams in the league right now, and you’d be a fool not to buy in. De’Aaron Fox is a model bulldozer that is willing and able to fuck any team’s shit up. A bulldozer can’t run forever, though, so all he needs to be unstoppable is a backup point guard that doesn’t fucking suck.
Sure, the team is 11-8, but that doesn’t reflect the team’s ability. Harrison Barnes, Malik Monk, and the rest of the supporting cast are all looking like certified hoopers; they just need to tighten a few loose screws. Coach Mike Brown clearly likes what he has been given, so expect him to go crazy with the guys in the coming months.
James Barry: I’m selling high on the Boston Celtics. They have a top 10 offense and the second best defense in the league. They have the best starting lineup in the league. They’re the betting favorites to win the NBA Finals. What this means is, now is the perfect time to zig while everyone else zags. Call me a contrarian who just wants to ruffle some feathers. Call me a lowly hater with nothing to lose. Call me a hardheaded antagonist. Call me. Call my house. Call me. But despite Boston’s gaudy resume on paper, I don’t believe in what I see on the court.
Their lack of movement in the halfcourt, their lack of rim pressure, and their lack of a true primary ballhandler will all come to the forefront in the playoffs. Their late game offense is still stagnant and iso-heavy. Here’s one stat for you: the Celtics are 17th in halfcourt offensive rating against top 10 defenses. This isn’t to say they aren’t a good team. I’m not a maniac. I just don’t have them in a tier above the rest of the league like most people seem to. I don’t have them penciled into the Finals.
And I’m buying all of the Keegan Murray stock. He’s taken a big defensive leap this season, seemingly at the cost of shooting. I trust his shot will return to form, and once it does, he’ll look like one of the elite young 3&D forwards in the league in 2024.
Matthew Lawyer: I’m putting a second mortgage on my house for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have proven all their doubters wrong and currently possess one of the best starting fives in the league. They have a three, possibly four-time Defensive Player of the Year in Rudy Gobert. Jaden McDaniels has taken a massive leap and become one of the best two-way players in the league. And they have a superstar and potential MVP candidate in Anthony Edwards. The Wolves are the best in the West and they are not looking to slow down anytime soon.
Who’s been the best unsung addition of the 2023 offseason?
Wilson: To answer anyone other than Kristaps Porzingis is akin to thinking that lying through your teeth counts as flossing.—it’s a fucking joke. He’s playing like Brad Steven’s is holding his family hostage and the only way to free them is to ball out of his fucking mind.
In fifteen games, Porzingod is putting up a respectable 19 points, 7 rebounds, and two assists, and he’s doing it with excellent efficiency. He’s posting a PER of 21.8, which positions him as one of the most smartly utilized players in the league. Without him, the Celtics would be fine. With him, the team looks like they’re cheating every time they touch that parquet court.
Barry: It’s clearly Tingis Pingis. He’s the main reason why the Celtics have the best starting five in the NBA right now. But I’m going to give a shout out to a different unsung addition, someone flying way under the radar, because I’m a basketball hipster.
Dario Saric has played some really strong minutes for the Warriors this season. He was lost in the shuffle over the past few years after his ACL injury, barely playing games in Phoenix and Oklahoma City. He’s become a core rotational big who can pass and hit open threes. The Warriors are drawing a lot of negative attention right now, and with plenty of reason, but signing Saric for $2 million is looking like a great value move.
Lawyer: Kristaps has been amazing in the Celtics system. I’ve never seen Porzingis impact winning in such a way. I was skeptical he could do it, but he’s proving me wrong.
However, for the sake of having a different answer than my colleagues, I’m going to say Dillon Brooks. He took the Rockets who were arguably the worst team in the league last season and helped establish an elite defense in Houston. He has also toned down the bad shot selection and become an efficient 42% three-point shooter. Porzingis is clearly the better player of the two, but Brooks arguably had the most critics and has since dispelled any doubts.
Who’s been the biggest disappointment/surprise so far?
Barry: The Brooklyn Nets’ offense has caught me completely off guard. Entering the season, I saw them as an average team heavily skewed toward defense. So far, they’ve fit the opposite profile. It’s pretty crazy to me that they have a top five offense. Even crazier, they have the league’s best offense against top 10 defenses. Over the last two weeks, the Nets have the league’s best net rating. They’re a seriously competitive team right now, and it’s not because of their defense.
In terms of disappointments, the Spurs have let me down this year. I thought they’d be an interesting watch–and clearly the NBA did too when they made the TV schedule. But they’re impressively bad right now, and they play some of the ugliest ball in the NBA. Point Sochan should come with a “Viewer Discretion is Advised” warning. I’m starting to think Coach Pop has lost it. I want to watch more of Wemby, but I just find myself avoiding Spurs games.
Lawyer: The biggest disappointment of the 2023-24 season is the Golden State Warriors. Trading Jordan Poole was supposed to be them removing the tumor from the brain. However, they clearly have more problems than just Poole. Andrew Wiggins has simply disappeared on offense. Klay Thompson seems to have lost a step while seeming frustrated that he hasn’t received a new contract. The only player still playing up to an elite standard is Stephen Curry. It seems the once great Warriors dynasty has come to its rightful conclusion. It was a beautiful run, but all great things must come to an end eventually.
Wilson: The Pistons of Detroit are both the biggest disappointment and the biggest surprise of the season. The way the team was talked about during the offseason made me think they’d be winning at least 25 games. Instead, they’ve only won two, and we’re well over a month into the season. At this rate, we’d be lucky if they won ten games all season.
I didn’t think that they’d be good by any stretch of the word, but, in actuality, they fucking suck! Ausar Thompson, their best player, can’t shoot, and he’s not even old enough to drown his sorrows with a cold beverage after the game. Cade sucks this year. Ivey has hardly played. Duren is slipping. ISAIAH LIVERS might even manage to start a game in the coming week!
This is bad, and the front office can’t talk their way out of it.
What teams will be buyers at the deadline? What teams should be?
Wilson: Does Miami even have a basketball team? I’ve heard not a peep about them all season, and it’s most likely because they still don’t have a true superstar. They wanted Bradley Beal (maybe?) and Damian Lillard but didn’t get either, so they pivoted and decided to just run it back again.
The team looks solid, especially with youngblood Jaime Jaquez playing the way that he is, but they still need to get Jimmy Butler someone to run the show with. Unfortunately, it truly seems like there’s no one available.
That said, if anyone can get a blockbuster deal done by the deadline, it’s Pat Riley, so keep your eyes peeled.
Lawyer: The Oklahoma City Thunder are going to be buyers at the deadline. They are one of the best teams in the West this year. SGA is currently leading this team on both ends of the floor, turning himself into a legit MVP candidate. Chet Holmgren has already established himself as an elite defender and is the clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. Jalen Williams has also taken a step forward and become the perfect glue guy on this team. With these three core players, the Thunder will be a good team regardless.
However, they still lack adequate three-point shooting. They have the assets as well as the team-friendly contracts that could retool their team for the better by this year’s deadline. I am looking forward to seeing what Sam Presti has up his sleeve.
Barry: The Lakers will be buyers at the deadline. It’s a yearly tradition. But jokes aside, they should be. They have a great defensive infrastructure with AD and a fleet of big forwards and wings. This team is massive. The only thing is, none of these dudes seem to be able to hit a three. They’ll probably target an offensive player who can space the floor. A high-volume movement shooter might be ideal. Buddy Love maybe? Finally?
Elsewhere, the Kings might be buyers come February. I could see them upgrading from Harrison Barnes. And I’m sure the Sixers will make a splash. As far as who should…the Knicks and the Nets are both one star away from being seriously interesting. It all depends on who becomes available. And finally, I’m still bullish on the Atlanta Hawks. I think they’re a couple of savvy moves away from vaulting into contention in the East. But maybe I’m just dreaming.
Should the Orlando Magic, America’s team, make a push to contend this year?
Lawyer: The Magic finally have a foundation of young players with immense potential who are capable of achieving real playoff success. They should do everything in their power to win an NBA championship. But they should do it with the team they have. They shouldn’t try to go star hunting and trade away essential depth. They need to see what this team looks like in a winning situation. The Magic haven’t won in quite a while so it’s important to gauge the ceiling of this team. Then, in the offseason, trade for playoff hardened veterans to help push this team over the edge.
Wilson: Most definitely. They are young, yes, but they’re fucking good already. If they brought in some veterans who really, really want to win, they could become unstoppable. The Wagner brothers are playing their German asses off, Paolo Banchero is playing his Italian ass off, and Cole Anthony is playing his corny ass off. The rest of the team is, too! If they installed a veteran three-and-D player, they’d also be playing their ass off. I don’t know who they’d add, but they need something to make the push.
Barry: The Magic should trade away Markelle Fultz. It’s a nice story that he’s become an NBA player after looking like a historic bust in Philly, but he isn’t a starting point guard and he doesn’t fit in this team. Orlando’s offense is clearly better with him off the floor. They could certainly give Cole Anthony a chance as their starting point guard. They could also target another guard who can space the floor and provide a little bit of playmaking. I know some of their fans want Anfernee Simons and I have to say I kind of like it. But regardless, they’re too young to win a title this season. It’s all about empowering Paolo and Franz. Let them make mistakes and gain experience as they rise to stardom. Don’t do anything crazy, Orlando.
Which player has had the best PR campaign?
Barry: Cade Cunningham. I have my inner hater chained and locked away in a dungeon, but every time I see people concoct more excuses for Cade, he inches closer to the key. Sure, the Pistons don’t have a good roster, and their spacing is poor, but if Cade is a superstar, first overall pick-level talent, then he should be able to elevate his team and succeed in any context. Right now, he looks like one of the most overused players in the league.
He runs more pick-and-rolls than just about anyone, to less success than just about anyone. He creates minimal separation, doesn’t finish at the rim, misses a lot of long twos, and he still isn’t hitting his threes. And he turns it over more than anyone. I don’t think Cade sucks, but I don’t think he’s going to be a primary option. And it’s okay to acknowledge that.
Wilson: This is tough to say, as player PR is huge in this league, but it’s probably Anthony Edwards. He’s so good at basketball that he doesn’t even need it, but every time he sits down for an interview, he somehow makes himself even more endearing to us fans. He’s charming and funny, and his fits are always on point. He’s the perfect NBA player, and his PR team is putting in overtime to make sure that he continues to be just that for the rest of his career.
Lawyer: The King himself, LeBron James. He’s called the King for a reason. Regardless if you are a basketball person or not, everyone knows who he is. Through his I Promise School to his work with the Fenway group. Now that he is a billionaire, he’s created an impeccable image that will be very hard to tarnish.
Who’s the best executive in the league? Who’s the worst? Give us one reason why.
Lawyer: Sam Presti is hands down the best GM and it’s no contest. Presti keeps hitting on trades, in the draft, and in unrestricted free agency. He has a different eye than everyone else and doesn’t ever seem to miss on a player. Not much else to say. Read my article on the Thunder if you want an in-depth analysis on why I think Presti is the best GM in the league.
I hate to call out a General Manager that is in his first year, but Trent Redden’s move for James Harden has been one of the most questionable moves of the season so far. The Clippers before the trade were actually in a great spot, but now they have a log jam of guards, and they’ve removed all their wing depth. To put it simply, this trade had no forethought in roster construction or personnel fit. This could go down as one of the worst trades in recent memory.
Wilson: In my mind, the best general manager in the league is Jon Horst of the Milwaukee Bucks. When he became GM in 2018, he immediately brought the team to the top of the NBA, and they’ve hardly budged since. Yes, he is terrible at hiring decent coaches, but his ability to put together a roster of guys who like playing together is unmatched.
The worst general manager is most certainly the Detroit Pistons’ Troy Weaver. He drafts well and is willing to toss money at a very good coach, but he cannot assemble a roster to save his life. It hurts so bad.
Barry: Sam Presti is the best GM in the NBA. As far as I know, he’s the only current GM who’s successfully executed multiple rebuilds with the same organization. He’s taken accumulating draft capital to an unprecedented level. He has an elite slugging percentage in the draft.
Sure, he made some big errors in 2021. Franz Wagner would have been absolutely lethal in OKC, and Sengun is a certified stud. But he has so many extra-base hits in his career that these strikeouts shrink in importance. Presti wins in the draft and in trades. The Paul George trade is an all-timer. The Chris Paul trade was bonkers. And he finds guys on the fringes. Isaiah Joe is one of the best shooters in the league. He’s built another star trio in SGA, Chet, and J-Dub. He hired an excellent coach in Mark Daigneault. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He makes a lot of other executives look like droolers, except for Arturas Karnisovas. He does that on his own.
Karnisovas is the worst executive in the NBA. He proudly leads the Chicago Bulls to infinite mediocrity, and his persistence knows no bounds. Check out this excellent article from The Swish Theory if you want to read more.
Who’s the least interesting team in the league?
Wilson: The Chicago Bulls. I refuse to elaborate, so just watch this video instead. Outside of Caruso—peugh!—they just stink, man.
Barry: The Utah Jazz. Lauri Markkanen is great, and Keyonte George’s playmaking has been a cool surprise, but beyond that, this team leaves me feeling cold and uninspired. I’m good off the Jordan Clarkson experience. And I don’t understand how anyone thinks Talen Horton-Tucker is good. They’ll be interesting in a few years. Danny Ainge knows what he’s doing. For now, they might as well simulate the rest of the season.
Lawyer: The Charlotte Hornets have been the least interesting team so far. To be fair, when they had LaMelo Ball playing, they were more interesting and more successful. But now that he’s injured, there is absolutely nothing exciting about this Hornets team.
What’s been the league’s best beef thus far?
Barry: I wish I was watching live when Timberwolves vs. Warriors turned into Smackdown vs. Raw. I tuned in just after the melee. But I watched the clips multiple times, and the Draymond standing rear naked choke on Gobert only got funnier each time. The memes were top-tier. Gobert calling it clown behavior and calling out Draymond for getting ejected when Steph doesn’t play was the cherry on top. The NBA can condemn this kind of behavior, and there’s no doubt Draymond has some demons to face, but no one got hurt and this kind of fight is a net positive for the league. The fans want more animosity. We want teams who hate each other. We want players with kill lists like Steve Buscemi in Billy Madison.
Lawyer: My favorite beef of the season has to be the verbal battle between Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Lebron James. Ime is such a hardline personality that tolerates no bullshit. I love the fact that he has no filter and was caught on camera calling the Lakers bitches and LeBron a “soft ass boy.” It should be revered as one of the greatest moments in television history. It’s not that I think LeBron is a bitch, it’s the competitiveness. It’s amazing to watch and I can’t wait till we see part two of this saga.
Wilson: Chris Paul versus Scott Foster, man. You cannot make this shit up. Chris Paul, a player that is as good as he is annoying, is so deeply hated by Scott Foster that Foster does everything in his pea-brained power to ensure that Paul never wins a game that he officiates.
Over the years, Paul’s teams have a 3-18 record when Foster dons the zebra suit. Foster’s disdain for Paul remains unknown. However, Chris Paul recently came out with the reason for his ire. According to Gilbert Arenas, Foster told Paul’s son, who is still a very young child, to get the fuck out of his way while he was charging through the players’ tunnel, and Paul rightfully refuses to let it go. Insane.
The best part, though, is what happened after the men’s most recent encounter. Foster officiated Paul’s jubilant return to Phoenix after being traded to the Golden State Warriors, and, naturally, Foster had to spoil it by ejecting Paul in the first half (!) and handing Paul’s Warriors a big fat L.
Paul, petty as he is, posted this hilariously salty and thankful carousel to the ‘gram following the game. Yes, the final image a screenshot of the music video for Big Sean and E-40’s seminal hit “I Don’t Fuck with You.”
I fucking love it, and I look forward to the beef to come.
