5 bold NBA predictions for 2020
When 2019 dawned, next to nobody predicted that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George would team up in L.A. before the year was out, or that James Harden and Russell Westbrook would be reunited in Houston. Right next to "nothing is guaranteed," the NBA's credo should be "expect the unexpected".
With that in mind, here are five predictions for 2020:
Cavs trade a frontcourt player - but not Love
With three years and more than $90 million left after this season, 31-year-old Kevin Love's contract might be as untradeable as it gets. But one of Love's frontcourt teammates with the Cleveland Cavaliers should garner plenty of interest ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Tristan Thompson is on an expiring deal and could provide a contending team like the Los Angeles Clippers with a sturdy center. Though the Canadian's knack for offensive rebounding has been devalued somewhat since the implementation of the shot-clock reset last season, Thompson can still clean the glass and block the occasional shot.
OK, that was a mild one. Let's crank it up a notch.
The Bucks stop here
The Milwaukee Bucks won't win the NBA championship in June. In fact, they'll lose to the Philadelphia 76ers in either the second or third round of the playoffs. This postseason shortcoming will lead Giannis Antetokounmpo to pass on signing the super-max extension for which he'll be eligible.
With just one more season left on his existing deal, the Bucks will have no choice but to seek the best possible trade for their franchise cornerstone before the February 2021 trade deadline.
If you think the chatter linking The Greek Freak to teams like the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks is silly now, just wait for this development to manifest itself. If and when it happens, watch for the Miami Heat to emerge as suitors for Antetokounmpo.
Rockets trade Westbrook
This probably won't happen before this season's trade deadline, but it's completely conceivable the Houston Rockets decide to move on from the Harden-Westbrook pairing before 2020 is over.
The Russ-Beard reunion hasn't been a failure so far - only the Dallas Mavericks have a better offensive rating than the Rockets, according to Basketball-Reference. It's more of a question of Westbrook's slowly declining skill set relative to his age (31) and contract ($170 million through 2023).
Multiple knee surgeries have taken their toll on his explosiveness, and it's not as though he's re-imagining himself as a shooter. Westbrook is currently on pace to become the first player ever to attempt five or more 3-pointers a game while converting less than 25% of them over a full season.
There are no guarantees, but if Rockets general manager Daryl Morey can find a taker - a team in need of a scorer and perhaps a box-office bump - it's difficult to see him hesitating.
Sixers pull plug on Simmons
The process is over for Ben Simmons. Philadelphia will deal the talented point guard in the offseason after falling short of a championship. The 76ers' lack of outside shooting is well-documented, and Simmons' ongoing reluctance to even attempt a triple won't help his cause.
The Aussie's fit alongside Joel Embiid's traditional big-man game is problematic. Opposing defenses can play off Simmons and protect against the drive. The former No. 1 overall pick also uses his 6-foot-10 frame to post up against smaller guards.
Among players at his position, Simmons ranks in the 96th percentile in both shots at the rim and attempts within 4-14 feet, according to Cleaning the Glass. The paint is often clogged as a result, leaving Embiid with less space to operate.
That's not to say Simmons has no value. He's a gifted playmaker, defends multiple positions, and is a force in transition. But in his third NBA season, it appears increasingly likely that this is who he is, and that's not necessarily the best thing for the 76ers' long-term future.
Nuggets reach NBA Finals
The battle of L.A. has been one of the NBA's biggest storylines this season, but neither the Lakers nor Clippers will emerge out of the West. The Denver Nuggets will take down one or both of those clubs en route to their first Finals appearance, and it all starts with excellence on the defensive end.
From Paul Millsap to Gary Harris, Denver has a stable of wings who can match up against the likes of Leonard, George, and LeBron James in a potential playoff series. Even with the defensive limitations of Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets still boast the NBA's fourth-best defensive rating this season.
At the other end of the floor, Denver is beginning to resemble the squad that finished seventh in offensive rating in 2018-19. Jokic continues to operate as the team's fulcrum, facilitating for himself and others. The 7-foot Serb torches opponents with his inside-out play and he's surrounded by shooters and cutters who maximize his skill set.
Lakers big man Anthony Davis might be the only player in the conference who can line up against Jokic. The Nuggets star would certainly have the upper hand against any other opponent, including the Clippers, who currently use Montrezl Harrell as their closing center.