Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.
The Warriors had an outstanding win over the Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and Andrew Wiggins was absolutely dominant.
As good as his performance was, however, he was not immune to bad faith arguments about why he was so successful. Last night, after the big victory, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst joined Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter. While on the broadcast, he spewed some wild takes about the Warriors:
“Andrew Wiggins, he’s not an underdog. He makes 32 million dollars. While the Warriors were down these last couple of years, winning no games, they kept spending money because they’ve got it. They re-signed Draymond Green. They re-signed Stephen Curry. They re-signed Kevon Looney. They kept Andrew Wiggins … He was a throw-in in a trade. Other teams would have totally gotten rid of him, they stuck with him, they have a $340 million payroll when you consider taxes. You don’t just have to beat the Warriors on the court. You gotta beat their checkbook. Nothing away from Andrew Wiggins tonight, but this was a checkbook win for the Warriors.”
You can watch the clip for yourself right here if you don’t believe me:
“They have a $340 million payroll, you just don’t have to beat the Warriors on the court, you gotta beat their checkbook…this was a checkbook win for the Warriors” pic.twitter.com/3OzI3Jc0pX
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 14, 2022
I want to remind you about how Wiggins landed on the Warriors in the first place. This was savvy management by the front office that can be traced back to when Kevin Durant left Golden State.
Rather than letting KD walk for nothing, the front office landed D’Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets in a sign-and-trade. Then, the Warriors used DLo to grab Wiggins and a draft pick that turned into Jonathan Kuminga.
While other teams may have just let Durant leave as a free agent, Golden State was wise enough to properly manage every asset they had.
Otherwise, most of their talent (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, Kevon Looney, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, etc.) is homegrown and cultivated through the draft. Like any other team, they had their salary cap casualties, too.
Golden State may have the most expensive payroll in the league, but that did not help the Brooklyn Nets or Los Angeles Lakers this year. Basketball isn’t played on paper, and the team with the highest payroll has only won an NBA title once in the past decade.
The Warriors are winning because they’re playing well on the court, and it’s not because they have more money to spend.
The Tip-Off
As we near the end of the postseason, I’m thinking more and more about the upcoming NBA Draft. One team I’m thinking about is the Charlotte Hornets, who have two selections within the first fifteen picks.
My choice for the Hornets in my most recent mock draft recently raised some eyebrows. Here is why:
“I was recently on the phone discussing the 2022 NBA Draft, and I was asked who I expected the Charlotte Hornets to select on June 23.
It didn’t take me more than a second to answer: Duke’s Mark Williams. That is who I have for the Hornets in my latest mock draft, and it’s not just simply because he fills a need in the frontcourt. Williams is an excellent player who was outstanding during March Madness.
The person who I was speaking with on the phone, however, was not at all convinced. The individual, who will remain anonymous but is incredibly well-connected around the league, brought up a point I had not considered.
Is there any chance Michael Jordan, the majority owner of the Hornets and the most notable alumni from the University of North Carolina, uses a high first-round pick on someone from his rival Blue Devils?”
You’re going to want to take a look at the research to see what I learned.
Shootaround
— NBA fans crushed referee Tony Brothers for foul call on an obvious Jordan Poole flop
— NBA Finals MVP rankings: Steph Curry is totally going to miss on another, isn’t he?
— How the internet is projecting the first round as draft night approaches
— 5 possible sleeper candidates to watch for in 2022 NBA draft