Tomorrow evening is the opening of NBA free agency. The latest rumors have Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant wanting to play together, and the Knicks and Clippers represent the two best places for that to happen. SU is not loving how the NBA stars and their agents are able to dictate where they play and create these super teams. While the Warriors played that game, they already had a nucleus in place with Thompson, Curry and Draymon, so it was just a sweetener to what was already a great home grown team through the draft. LeBron’s agent engineered the trade of Davis to the Lakers – he’s a bad dude. And now the League is faced with the three top free agents of this summer – Kyrie, Durant and Leonard – shopping themselves in pairs. I suppose if you are the recipient of one of these signing deals you like the system but SU continues to be partial to teams that grow the roster through the draft and thoughtful signings and trades for supporting pieces to put together a line up that has staying power. Clearly, the Knicks are not capable and SU can understand the potential glee from fans to make that happen now. The Nets are more interesting as they may allow Russell to leave and sign Irving to take his place. That feels like a wash to SU though.
The result is a few super teams and a lot of teams that either immediately move to rebuild mode or try and squeak by into the playoffs each year. Not ideal.
SU has decided that Yankee fans will not be allowed to complain for the rest of the season. Can’t have it. For Cashman, the goal is to acquire one more starting pitcher who can stand up to Houston in October. That will be the challenge – getting by Houston. It doesn’t matter how many wins they end up with in the regular season. SU says success this year is defined by making it to the World Series – you don’t have to win it all but I think you have to get there.
SU is pretty certain now that Cashman is putting out misdirection on Clint Frazier. The word is that he is seen as the Yankees’ starting left field in 2020 and will not be traded. SU says that the Yankees actually believe that their top prospect, Estevan Florial, who is just now returning from a broken wrist, is the guy they see for the future and Frazier will be dealt. So, it almost feels like the reason they are leaving Frazier in the minors now rather than have him replace Stanton during July is not to have Frazier struggle in the majors. He has already shown he can hit up here – his trade value is high right now. They will keep him in Scranton in order to not risk a slump up with the parent team. He will be gone by August 1st — but not for Madison Bumgarner. If they move him, you need a younger guy with fewer injuries. Not sure who that is but pretty sure the Yankees know right now.
Agree? Disagree? Knick fans: what say you?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
And now you know exactly why I do not case for the NBA. So even if the Knicks do acquire these 2 superstars. So how many regular season games r u going to watch. You feel it’s either win a championship or bust. As u stated for the Yankees…who cares about the regular season in the NBA. Capitalism at its worst.
If you want to understand how messed up NBA superstar free agency has become, you simply need to think about the Durant situation. He is injured…out for a year…uncertain future…and the discussion about his free agency has not changed at all. What is this? He will be unavailable for a large portion of his next contract. It is a challenging injury to return from. This should have some impact on his value, shouldn’t it? The case is being made that this type of injury doesn’t have that much of an impact on his type of game. What kind of spin is that? He has to be worth less today than if he was healthy and let the Warriors to a victory in the finals. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. We’re having he same conversations we would have had under that scenario. Something must be wrong.
Unrelated, but if there was anything to the integrity of the game that remained in baseball, it has been sacrificed in the name of selling jerseys to people in the UK. The extra travel days are disruptive. The home and home uniforms just look weird. I just watched a 14U tournament game with a bigger outfield. It’s embarrassing. The best thing that could have happened would have been for both managers to get through the 6-6 first inning and pull their teams from the field citing playing conditions. That would have showed the Brits and the world that baseball is something more than a money grab.