🏀 The NBA Refuses To Be Normal

It’s kinda quiet around here, huh?

That was how the newsletter was going to start, until Phoenix, Washington, and possibly a third team (Clippers? 👀) started the NBA summer off with a bang. Well, even that feels like an understatement. A league-rattling boom? Yeah, that’s closer.

We have—suddenly—a whole lot to talk about. Let’s get into it.

Today’s Lineup

Phoenix From The Top Rope: Bradley Beal is on his way to the desert 🌵

CP3 To LAC? Is the Point God headed back to an old stomping ground? 🏙️

Feelin’ Lucky? No Ceilings gives you three “upside” picks in Thursday’s draft 🎰 

The Texas Boys

What do basketball phenom and soon-to-be #1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama have in common with rapper Mike Dimes? They’re both Texas Boys! ICYMI: This billboard popped up in San Antonio to welcome Wemby to the city, and it was the talk of NBA Twitter, from hip-hop heads to Spurs fans alike.

Mike’s rapping ability and storytelling on the project are as impressive as a Wemby putback jam. The album features some familiar names in Denzel Curry, Joey Bada$$, and Wiz Khalifa. We have a feeling we’ll be hearing Texas Boy during warm-ups next season at the AT&T Center.

Beal To PHX, CP3 To…Somewhere

It was foolish of us to think the NBA would cease to be chaotic just because the actual “basketball playing” portion of the season ended, right? We should have known better. At about 4:30 PM EST on an otherwise quiet Sunday, the Twitter sirens blared, and a Woj Bomb of all bombs informed the basketball world of a trade with massive implications for the most dramatic league in the world.

Three-time All-Star Bradley Beal is on his way to Phoenix in exchange for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and multiple second-round picks. Phew.

But that’s not all! This deal has not yet been finalized, as Washington is still trying to include a third team to take on Chris Paul. And look who we have here…

LAC has been searching for a point guard, and reuniting with one of the franchise's greatest ever does make sense.

For the Suns, they got their guy. And they already have a couple of other guys in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, two of the best scorers on the planet. While adding more offensive punch to a team is never a bad idea (and Beal provides a lot of offensive punch), it’s fair to wonder if Beal is the piece Phoenix needs to make a title run next season or if he is almost redundant besides their other two superstars.

After acquiring Beal, Phoenix has nearly 160 million dollars invested into just four players next season, when you factor in center DeAndre Ayton. 😮

While the burgeoning Big 3 in the desert is understandably the talk of the league, we would be remiss to discuss this trade’s implications for the team that actually sent Beal out West, the Washington Wizards. It appears a new era is dawning in our nation’s capital—with Kristaps Porzingis’ name popping up in trade rumors as we near draft night and Kyle Kuzma (who has a $13 million player option) potentially on his way out of town as well, it’s hard not to feel “full rebuild” vibes emanating from Capital One Arena. New team president Michael Winger didn’t waste much time before a move that has been speculated on for years.

No Ceilings: Home Run Swings

Greetings Enjoyers! Your friends from No Ceilings are here once again to highlight the latest happenings in the 2023 NBA Draft! Championships are won by swinging for the fences, so let’s take a look at the guys with the highest ceilings in the draft!

Amen Thompson

Exhilarating is just the tip of the iceberg when defining Amen Thompson’s game on the ball. His electric passing, live-wire transition game, high-flying finishes, and breakneck speed put Thompson in a prospect class of his own as a 6’7” jumbo initiator.

There have been concerns regarding how his lack of consistent jump shooting translates into a higher usage role. But how many players with his skill set can blow by defenders and break defenses at the drop of a hat? The team that bets on Thompson’s unique blend of burst and playmaking nuance could walk away with one massive star in the making.

GG Jackson

GG Jackson’s reclassification took the basketball world by storm a year ago. Now the youngest entrant in the field, Jackson’s promise stands out as the big wing that every NBA team is looking to add to its roster.

At 6’9”, Jackson can create his own shot and catch his defender off guard with a series of crossovers and spin moves. Uncertainties surrounding his role and efficiency aside, forwards aren’t built every day with Jackson’s bounce and skill. Enough patience and a solid plan for development, and Jackson’s star could shine the brightest in this class.

Nick Smith Jr.

Once a consensus top recruit in high school, Nick Smith Jr. didn’t have a standout year at Arkansas. That doesn’t take away from his profile as a scintillating combo guard with a smooth pull-up jumper, speed, and a handle to put defenders on skates.

While not the most physically imposing, improvements to Smith’s finishing package and passing off a live dribble could put him on the trajectory of other secondary options such as Jamal Murray and Bradley Beal. Smith is the type of X-Factor that could make a huge difference down the line.

More Draft Chatter

The NBA Draft really starts at pick #2 with the Charlotte Hornets, and based on reporting from around the NBA world…no one knows anything. Which is a nice feeling, you know? To not be alone in our confusion?

Though it was widely reported that Alabama’s Brandon Miller would be the pick for Charlotte at number two, that rumor appears to be losing a bit of steam and may not have been based on anything actually coming out of Charlotte. Miller and Scoot Henderson will both return to Charlotte for a second round of workouts this week.

A little bit farther down the line (but not by much), Bilal Coulibaly seems to be flying up draft boards around the league. With just three days until the big day, nothing seems set in stone just yet.

Lou Will Calls It A Career

Finding your niche in the NBA is paramount to a long career. Putting your ego aside and being able to adapt in order to help your team win will go a long way. Lou Williams had no problem coming off the bench—in fact, he embraced that role, and doing so helped him become a 3x Sixth Man of the Year winner and play in over 1100 NBA games.

One of the most dynamic bench scorers of the last few generations, Williams will retire with 15,593 points scored. That’s a lot of buckets.

Enjoy retirement, Lou!

Frozen Moments

• Where are these guys coming from?? 😲 

• Michael Jordan is no longer the owner of an NBA team…

• Stew York is buzzing, and the Liberty look legit 👀

What We’re Enjoying

The Works of Cormac McCarthy: Last week, author Cormac McCarthy passed away at age 89. His works, including No Country for Old Men, The Road, and Blood Meridian, are widely hailed as some of the best American writing of all time. The stark and brutal worlds he created in his writings stick with readers long after closing the books in which they reside. Reading McCarthy is an experience like no other.

Signing Off

It’s draft week, y’all. If your team has a high pick, we hope they take the guy you’re hoping for and that he turns into a superstar. Good luck to you all!

Whether you’re stressed about the draft, or just…stressed, remember to do things you love this week. Whether it's a comforting movie, your favorite meal, or getting out into nature, give your brain a break every once in a while. Talk soon! 💙

-Quinn Everts

Trivia Answer: The highest PPG off the bench in a single season? Ricky Pierce, who averaged 23.0 a game in 1989-90!

Before you go…

A huge birthday shoutout to Enjoyers Julius, Trevor, Tyler, Nate, and Albert! Have a great one y’all. Your support means the world to us