Ty's 2026 NFL Preview: "Burning Down the House" Division"

Welcome to day two of my preseason NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 28 I have the New York Giants. I know this may seem way too low for them, but I am not a believer at all in this roster. I love that they went out and hired John Harbaugh. I feel like they got the best available coach on the market, and in time he will turn this team around, just like he did in Baltimore. But for right now, this roster, especially on offense, is filled with flash in the pan players, outside of their number one receiver. I have absolutely zero faith in Jaxson Dart as a viable franchise QB, and it has way more to do with than just his horrible politics. He doesn't have the arm strength, he takes way too many hits, he seems stupid on the surface and he will be injured within a few weeks of the season. I despise Dart as a player and a person. Cam Skattebo is no better. He is like a TEMU Peyton Hillis. He doesn't believe in CTE, he tries stupid stuff like backflips in the offseason and doesn't land them, he is more worried about being famous, I just don't see it with him either. Malik Nabers is the lone bright spot on offense, but he is coming off a torn ACL. If he can get back to any of the form he showed before, he is going to make it look really good for whatever team he plays for after the Giants. I do like that Harbaugh brought Isaiah Likely over from Baltimore, but he hasn't shown out like many expected him to a few years ago. The O line has already shown in the preseason that they're going to struggle to protect anyone on this team. The defense could be the bright spot for this team. The D line is filled with high first round picks. Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn't exploded yet, but he is still pretty productive. Brian Burns and Arvell Reese can be menaces coming after the QB. Greg Newsome II is a very good cover corner. Abdul Carter should show some good growth this year. DJ Reader can clog up running lanes. The Giants have a solid defense in place, but the offense, led by some knuckleheads, is what will keep this team back from winning anymore than five games this season. But Harbaugh will have this team in the playoff competition in the next few years.

At number 27 I have the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are here because they still don't know if they're going to start Michael Penix or Tua at QB. And to be honest, neither choice seems that enticing. I think Penix is better, but he is coming off an injury, and he never looked all that comfortable last season. Tua is a walking concussion. He should retire. There's no other reason he is still playing football other than the love of the game. And while I respect that, he has never been able to match what he did at Alabama. I do think Bijan Robinson is awesome. I would go as far to say that his talent is being wasted right now. He is such a good back, and he can catch the call like a receiver. He is a legit number one offensive option in the NFL. Drake London is a legit number 1 wideout as well. He has great hands, runs really good routes and has some solid separation speed. The Kyle Pitts hype has to stop. I hear it every year and every year he never meets the lofty expectations. I'm over Kyle Pitts. This O line is serviceable. While not great, they get the job done to an extent. The Falcons have never been a defensive monster, but they have some decent players. Da'Shawn Hand is a fine d lineman. Azeez Ojulari is a solid rusher off the edge. Jessie Bates is one of the best safeties in all of football. AJ Terrell is a very good cover corner. The Falcons have the bones of being a better team than where I have them ranked. But it is the issue at QB that will hold this team back for another season. They may win six games, but anymore than that would surprise me.

At number 26 I have the Tennessee Titans. They're building something over there. I still have all the faith in the world in Cam Ward. The kid works way too hard and cares so much about being good that I think it is just a matter of time before he is an all pro and one of the better QBs in the league. He has all the tools you want in a franchise QB. Tony Pollard has carved out a nice role as the lead back and he is one of the more consistent running backs in the league. Carnell Tate is legit. He should be the number 1 wideout in short order in Tennessee. Calvin Ridley is a very good option on the outside as well. The front office went out and shored up the o line as best they could this offseason, and that will only help Ward find more open receivers, and give Pollard more lanes to run through. The defense is still a work in progress. They have used the past couple of drafts to try and find offensive weapons, now they need to do that for the defense. They can't simply outscore teams. That won't work. But, the Titans are trying to build through the draft and develop players. I appreciate when teams do that. They still need a season, maybe one more, until they're more of a threat. But they're coming. As for this season, five wins seems like the ceiling.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 25, I have the New Orleans Saints. I was very wrong about them last season. They were much better than any of us thought they would be, and they look to be building on that. I am still on the fence about Tyler Shough. Yes, he had some really good moments last season, but was it his play or the fact that so many people counted him out when he played? That will be decided on the field this year. They brought Alvin Kamara back, but he seems unhappy and that never ends well for an aging running back and the team he is on at that time. They did sign Travis Etienne Jr, and that was a homerun. He is so good and so fast and will bring a nice dimension to this offense. Chris Olave is a legit number 1 wideout. I feel like he made Shough look better than he might actually be last season. I love the Jordyn Tyson pick, but he is already hurt and that is never a good sign. Juwan Johnson is a very good tight end. He is big and fast and has very good hands. The o line won't blow anyone out of the water, but they do a soldi job with protection. The defense is kind of a mishmash of players. Cameron Jordan is back again, and it is always nice to have a steady hand on the d line. Kool Aid McKinstry is a decent enough corner. Justin Reid is a fine safety as well. The linebacking corps is pretty meh, and outside Jordan, the d line is not great. The Saints are a true mystery to me. I love that they got Etienne to come and play for them, but I really feel like this season hinges on the development of Tyler Shough, and that is a scary proposition. If he is good the Saints could be a playoff team. But i'm going to hedge and say he is average which means no more than seven wins are on the docket in my opinion.

That does it for day two. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2026 NFL Preview: "Road to Nowhere" Division

Hello all. As promised last week, the next two weeks will be dedicated to football. For the next eight days I'm going to rank the NFL teams from 32-1. These are my own personal rankings and how I see the teams before they play a real game. I'll do four teams a day, giving you a little brief on why I have them ranked where I do. On day nine I will do a NFL postseason preview and prediction, as well as award predictions. On the tenth day I'll do my college football preview and prediction. Buckle up football fans, the season is upon us. Starting out today, I'll do teams 32, 31, 30 and 29.

Coming in dead last I have the Arizona Cardinals. This seems to always happen to the Cardinals. They have a few seasons where they're in the playoffs, or at least in the hunt, and then they fall flat on their faces. They're flat on their faces right now. Kyler Murray is gone, and now they have Jacoby Brissett. Brissett is a solid QB, but he also wants a new contract and the Cardinals are hesitant to give him one. He may play great to get a contract elsewhere, but he could struggle as well with little to no weapons to throw and hand off too. I do think Jeremiyah Love has all the tools to be awesome. But, he is already hurt and it looks like the Cardinals may overuse him way too early in his career. I'm also not a fan of drafting a running back so high in the draft. I fully believed Marvin Harrison Jr was a can't miss prospect. He has had a rough go to start his career, but he did look a little better in the Cardinals first preseason game this year. Outside MHJ, they have also rans and guys I've never heard of at wideout. Trey McBride is a very, very good option at tight end. The offensive line is horrendous. They are going to struggle mightily trying to protect Brissett and open up running holes for the running backs. The defense is full of young or unproven talent. Will Johnson is a lockdown corner and Budda Baker is a hard hitting safety. But the d line is not great and the linebackers have a ton to prove. The Cardinals are going to have a rough go of it this season. It wouldn't shock me if they only win three or four games, at most. Hell, they could be a two win team when you really boil it all down.

At 31 I have the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins finally got off of Tua's contract and concussion issues and added the best QB in free agency in Malik Willis. As a Packers fan I'm going to miss him a ton. He looks like he has figured it out. But Willis, much like Brissett, doesn't have a ton of exciting options. De'Von Achane has all the skill to be a dominant back, but he is looking like he will almost always get hurt. Caleb Douglas seems like their best option as the number 1 wideout, but I know little to nothing about him. And they don't have many better options at receiver. The O line is on the same level with the Cardinals. Every highlight video I see of Willis, he is always on the move due to poor protection. The defense is not great either. They have gotten rid of anyone that was any good for them in the recent past. I adore Josh Uche and Kenneth Grant, but Uche is a traveled vet at this point, and Grant didn't jump off the screen last year. I have never heard of one player in their secondary. I could say the same for their linebacking unit. Mike McDaniel was let go, and this team looks like they're going into full rebuild mode right now. I like the Willis transaction, but he needs a ton of help. The Dolphins will be right there with the Cardinals, seeing who will get the first pick in next year's draft. They will be lucky to win four games all year.

At 30 I have the Cleveland Browns. It must be so harrowing to be the QB for this team. It's a two man race between Deshaun Watson and Shadeur Sanders right now. They both looked off in their last preseason game. I don't know who they will go with, but it is not going to be great. I believe Sanders is more talented, but Watson has had some success in the NFL. Either way, it will be a struggle. Quinshon Judkins is the starter at running back now, but this is a rotating thing for this team. Judkins is fast, but gets hurt too often. Dylan Sampson has a ton to prove. So does Rahiem Sanders. Jerry Jeudy is a legit number 1 wideout, but I bet he wishes he was still in Denver. Denzel Boston is a solid slot receiver, but he doesn't have the luxury of having stars all around him anymore to take the pressure off. They let David Njoku walk for some reason. And the O line has not been addressed and is still a massive problem. The defense has a few dudes, but not enough to be truly competitive. Mason Graham is solid, but he has to make a leap. Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit are legit solid secondary players. Jared Verse is a very good edge rusher. But then it is a bunch of dudes I've never heard of again. The Browns are stuck in the mud. I don't know what they have to do to get out of it, but they are going to be pretty bad once again, and that is going to frustrate that fanbase. Maybe they just need to hand the keys to Shaduer Sanders and see what they have in him, but they seem so reluctant to do that for whatever reason.

My final team for the day, at number 29 I have the New York Jets. The Jets are a very, very bad football team. I loved the coach they brought in last season, but man did they still look like an awful football team. Geno Smith is the new starter at QB. I like Geno Smith. He has had a fine career. But when you have to reach for him as your starter you must have much bigger issues. Breece Hall is a legit number 1 running back. He is a solid runner and can catch the ball out of the backfield with the best of them. Garrett Wilson is a legit number 1 receiver in the NFL. But the O line is dreadful, the other options on the outside are not great and they need much better talent. I think they did the right thing when they drafted tight end Kenyon Saadiq. He looks to be very good and big and fast. But this team has a ton of improvement they need to show to be considered, at the very least, an annoying team to play. The defense is very bad. They have let anyone they have had of any talent walk out of the door. Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams are gone. They brought in Minkah Fitzpatrick, who may have a little left in the tank. But he is also often traveled at this point.  The rest of the defense has a ton to prove, and they're going to have massive growing pains. The Jets are as down as the Browns. They seem to have no idea what they're trying to build and they are going to go out and win four games and probably trade any good player they have for future draft picks.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Russell Westbrook Calls it a Career

Russell Westbrook shockingly retired from the NBA today. Let’s discuss.

To be honest, I thought he still had some seasons left in him. It always felt like his engine was never going to run out, and if a team was willing to take a chance on him, he'd give it his all. Hell, Sacramento is back to being a dumpster fire, but Westbrook still showed up every single game ready to go and played his ass off every night when he was put in the game. But it was also very aware that his skill set had been diminishing for the past couple of seasons.

I was one of the people who thought he would really help out the Nuggets last season. It seemed like he could bring a good change of pace off the bench and make the Nuggets second unit fast and fun. And while he had his moments, he was basically played out of the rotation in the playoffs. He just couldn't keep up with the youth of the Timberwolves.

His two previous seasons, with the Clippers, was a nice homecoming, but it didn't change much for that franchise. They still found ways to blow it in the playoffs, or every important player was injured when it came down to the important games. He also missed 2/3 of his first season with the Clippers. That was when the injuries really started to rear their head.

But it was the three seasons before that, all with the Lakers, that really showed me, a big fan of his, that he might have been washed up. LeBron wanted him in LA, on his team, and it was a total mess. Those Lakers teams never meshed, and Westbrook seemed like the common scapegoat for all of their issues. He did last three seasons with the team, but he only held them back. He never averaged more than 18 points, and his explosive athleticism was diminishing rapidly.

Before his time with the Lakers, Westbrook was one of my favorite players to watch. During his time with the Thunder he was easily one of my favorite players and, I don't think I'm speaking out of line here, was one of the 15 best players in the whole league. We are talking about a player who averaged a triple double over multiple seasons. I know some of the stat-obsessed nerds, the analytic guys, the Zach Lowe's of the world, all tried to downplay what he did, but what he did was incredible. I was all about him winning his MVP. He kept the Thunder as a playoff caliber team after Kevin Durant left them for the Warriors. That was when Westbrook was at his best. He wouldn't let that team crumble and become a joke. He played super hard every night, did whatever it took for that team to win enough games to be in the playoffs and more than earned his MVP. He kept me being a Thunder fan for a few years after KD left. It wasn't because they had Serge Ibaka or Andre Roberson. It was all about Westbrook. He took the necessary leap and proved that he was the type of player that could lead the team. But that didn't translate to much playoff success, unfortunately. Westbrook did all that he could and then some, but when you are surrounded by mid level exception players, first and second round exits are the norm. And even when Westbrook left and went to the Rockets, I held no ill will towards him. He had won an MVP, been an all NBA player, did something no player had done since Oscar Robertson, but he didn't have the championship that most pros crave. He probably also wanted to team up with James Harden again. That didn't work out, and that was when the journeyman part of his career began. I mentioned the Kings, Nuggets, Clipper and Lakers. He also had a top in Houston, as mentioned before, and he even spent a season with the Wizards, teaming up with Bradley Beal and making the Wizards a playoff caliber team. But it was those Thunder years that I will remember most. The way he would fly up and down the floor. His vicious attacks at the rim on a drive. The way he would snag rebounds and get a fastbreak started. His elbow jumper that felt like it was almost always going in. His deep breath before shooting a free throw. That is the Russell Westbrook I will think about when I look back on his career.

My biggest question though, the one I just debated with my son about, as much as I adore Westbrook, I do not think he will be a Hall of Fame player in the end. He has all the big awards, but he is incredibly polarizing, and he doesn't have that ring. I think that maybe, with some time away, more and more people will grow to respect what he did, and realize he had a great career, but I just don't think he is Hall of Fame caliber. I also wouldn't rule out a return. If some team needs a last season addition at point guard, or wants a veteran to help out a rookie, I'd call Westbrook before anyone else. Time will tell. But for now, enjoy retirement Russ. You have earned a much deserved rest from basketball. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

As a Michigan Fan, I have No Problem with What Kyle Whittingham Said

I'm about to embark on my final summer vacation, but I want to leave you all with one more piece before I take a week off.

Big Ten media days are happening right now, and since I'm a Michigan fan, I get updates about it pretty frequently. With Kyle Whittingham being the new football head coach, of course I am interested in what he has to say about the upcoming season. Most of what he has said is pretty typical coach speak. That's usually the case at these events. But some fans are "upset" that he has extended an invitation to Urban Meyer to come to practice for any game except The Game, and that he isn't saying the typical Michigan football coach stuff, like "that school down south", or simply calling them "Ohio".

This doesn't bug me at all. To be quite honest, I was already over all the "do it, or die trying", "who's got it better than us" and "smash" talk that has permeated the football program for the past decade plus. What Jim Harbaugh did, returning the national title to the football program, will be forever remembered, and I will always be grateful for that. He restored this program and made them relevant again. His last three years as the head football coach were some of the best times I've had as a fan. But his schtick was wearing thin for me. I was kind of over it. I loved that he was outspoken for his players, he helped usher in NIL and he never stole focus from the team. But the way he spoke, the mantras he held onto and the whole vibe was kind of tiresome. I was fed up.

And then we had Sherrone Moore, who I highly advocated to get the job after Harbaugh left. Moore was all about the "smash" mentality. And when he would be asked what that meant, he would say some nonsense that always frustrated me. "Smash" meant running through walls, giving your all for the team, fighting until the last whistle, which is all well and good, but it just becomes kind of lame after a while. I get it, coaches at this level have to have this kind of mentality and fervor, but it can become gross and weird and, as my kids would say, cringe. The whole "smash" and "do it, or die trying" became similar to me when Dabo Swinney mentioned that Clemson already has NIL, in God's eyes. Or when the new Florida coach yelled at a reporter who's phone went off during a gathering. Or Curt Cignetti telling people to "google him". I'm over all of that shit.

We get it, you guys are highly successful at what you do and you have earned all the respect and accolades that have come your way. But the "coach speak" stuff has got to go. These are 18-22 year old kids you're dealing with now, and I bet they think that shit is wild too. So for Whittingham to invite his buddy and mentor, for him to not speak with some kind of fervor that makes it feel like he is foaming at the mouth, it is a nice and needed change of pace for me as a diehard Michigan fan.

I loathe the university of Ohio State and Michigan State as much as any fan, but I don't go to the lengths that others do. I don't sit and pine and gripe and moan after those games. I want Michigan to win every game every season, but that isn't always likely. And for the coach to not be so angry about his newly inherited rivals, to which he has zero feeling for, why should fans be up in arms at all? This is all new to Kyle Whittingham. Sure, Utah has BYU, and I'm sure he understood the stakes that rivalry held, but I never heard him say some foul shit about BYU. He coached his team for the week, had them prepared to play and, hopefully for him, he won more that game more often than not.

I was so happy that Michigan was able to get Whittingham after they had to let Moore go. This is a much needed change in direction from the past with this team. From Bo to Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr, we had the quintessential Michigan Men. Then it was kind of rough with Rich Rod and Brady Hoke. Then we, the fans, struck gold when they got Harbaugh to come back. He restored this team, but it took time. We all know the fallout from Moore, which was tough. But now Michigan has a coach that is respected for how cleanly he runs a program. He made Utah a perennial 9 to 10 win team. He recruited players that fit his system. He hired coaches he trusted and knew he could get the best out of. I want all of that for Michigan. I'm sick of hearing about sign stealing, damaging phones, buying burgers for recruits, satellite camps and who the former coach was contacting on Instagram. I want my coach to be seen, not heard. I want to see the product on the field before I judge what he says off the field. This is, to quote Jim Harbaugh, "a nothing burger" from some sadistic and stupid fans. Who cares what he has to say about a friend and a school he has, I think so at least, never coached against before in his career.

Time will tell if Whittingham was the right choice to return Michigan to its place in college football, but for fans to get mad over some stuff he said in an interview, before he has even coached a real game as the Michigan head football coach is asinine to me. Don't gate keep stuff that you have zero involvement in just because you're a fan. Whittingham doesn't have to bash anyone or any program if he doesn't want to. That's not his job. His job is to be the head football coach at Michigan, and so far, it has been a nice, quiet offseason. That's the way I prefer it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Thoughts on LeBron Going to Philadelphia

LeBron James has made his decision on where he will play basketball this upcoming season. He chose, after some long deliberation, the Philadelphia 76ers. Let’s discuss.

The 76ers were always mentioned as a possible team, but it felt far fetched. It doesn't go along with his narrative, he has no ties to the city, he has never had to face them in any high pressure situations, it sounded like a pipe dream to me. I even wrote a few weeks back how I thought that Cleveland was the best option, and I would have put Miami next and then Golden State before I even ranked Philly. But here we are, and I have some thoughts.

First off, I love that he chose the 76ers. Of all the teams mentioned, this one seems like the easiest fit for him as a player. He can come in right away and be the point guard. Tyrese Maxey isn't a point guard, he's a legit 2 guard. VJ Edgecombe may eventually be the point guard, but he can now learn how to play it properly playing with James. Jaylen Brown is better off the ball, and Joel Embiid has never, ever wanted ball handling duties. This is a seamless fit for, what I believe to be, James' best option at this point in his career. Labaron Philon is a rookie, so we, much like Edgecombe, will get valuable time learning from one of the best to ever play. Anfernee Simons is a shooter. Dean Wade is too big to be a point guard, and they brought him in for defense anyway. Caleb Love is a 2, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who they are about to sign, is a veteran 3 and D guy. The 76ers needed someone they could trust to bring the ball up the floor and run the offense.

Another advantage Philly has over a team like Cleveland, LeBron won't have to be superhuman on defense. I know that Embiid's health is, and always will be, a major issue. But when he is on the floor he is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. I think Jaylen Brown is one of the better two way players in the league. He goes hard on both ends, and he has to guard the opponents best players a lot of nights. Edgecombe showed growth on that end last season, and Maxey is an ever improving defensive guy. Dean Wade, as mentioned before, is a solid defender. They brought in Andre Drummond for defense. Maybe they will turn Philon Jr into a defense first guard. The 76ers have way more, and way better, defensive options than the Cavs. If James' decision was solely based on defense, Miami may have been the better choice, but Philly is no slouch.

I also think he may have chosen the 76ers because it is all gravy for him at this point. He's done everything and then some than any NBA player could ever dream of doing. He has rings, MVP trophies, Finals MVP trophies, is a perenial all NBA guy and people seem to love him. If he can make Philly a legit title contender, or even win one with them in the next two seasons, his legend will only grow from there.

Now, as with everything, there look to be some downsides to this as well. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe like to fly up and down the floor. That was when the 76ers were at their best last season. When they gave the keys to those guys and just let them run, the 76ers looked like a fun team. I fear, with James being the guy with the ball in his hands most of the time, those two won't get as many opportunities to run, and that could stifle their growth as the focal points of the team. And don't get it twisted, this is Tyrese Maxey's team now. He is the one they are trying to keep and build around. Adding Jaylen Brown was a big deal, but Maxey is the number one guy. Getting James to sign was awesome, but he has to know this is Maxey's team. I assume Embiid figured that out last season when he played and his post touches went way down. Maxey is the dude here, and Edgecombe is the clear number two guy. I don't think James will stifle them much, but any hindrance would be worrisome for me.

Joel Embiid and LeBron staying on the floor for long periods of time will be a problem as well. LeBron will be 42 in December. I will be 44 in December and getting older is tough on the body. LeBron James is a medical marvel, but time catches up to all of us at some point. And we all know Embiid's story way too well. He is such a supernova talent, but he is barely ever healthy. And he gets weird injuries too. It's not always your typical stuff.

I also worry that James may want to bring in "his guys". They have already done that with Caldwell-Pope. But what if he wants some of his other buddies to come to Philly? Russell Westbrook needs a new team, but that would not be so good for Philly. I know DeMar DeRozan is a free agent, but he is far too old to team him up with Edgecombe and Maxey in the backcourt. I heard that James may have wanted to team up with Kyrie Irving again, but if Philly were to trade for him, they would have to trade some good, young talent.

LeBron James comes with a host of great things, but there's also some issues too. I think Philly is done adding players. I fully believe they're all set now. They have one of the best starting fives in the NBA, if they can all stay on the floor. They are going to be a blast to watch. Again, I love that James chose this squad over all the other options. But I will be watching to see if anything looks funky or weird as we get deeper into the season. As of right now though, LeBron going to the 76ers makes them a legit title contender, and one of the top four teams in the East in my opinion. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Grizzlies Need to Trade D'Angelo Russell Away

The Grizzlies finally got off of their former three top players, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr and Desmond Bane, all within the past year. While I am bummed to see them go, this had to be done.

I wrote about them blowing that team up. Morant had become an off-court issue, Bane was traded out of nowhere, as was Jackson, and the team seemed to be running nowhere fast. They weren't playing all that well, and a change felt necessary. When Morant was finally traded, this included the Grizzlies acquiring D'Angelo Russell. I was not a fan of this move, but to get Morant out of the building, they had to take on Russell's contract.

My issue with Russell, he is a hollow scorer. His points mean nothing in the long run. He can fill up the stat sheet, but if you look at his team's success, it is not really there. He has never been the focal point of a team that has made deep playoff runs. And he is horrendous on the defensive end of the floor. I just didn't like the fit with what it looks like the Grizzlies are trying to do.

This version of the Grizz is going young and looks like they want to fly down the court. Drafting Cam Boozer was such a big deal and it was that decision that made me happiest with what the Grizzlies are trying to build now. Boozer is as NBA ready as any prospect in this past draft. He does need to improve defensively, but he is already there as an offensive player. He will score in bunches, can find open teammates, and I'd love to see the offense run through him in the very near future. Cedric Coward had an excellent rookie season, looked very good in Summer League and will be taking on even more of a lead role with this team now. He is a silent assassin, and I love that about him. He also looks like he has the chops to be a very solid defender in the NBA. Zach Edey has all the tools to dominate and be a great rim protector. He just has to stay healthy. That has been his biggest issue since he entered the league. But when he is on the floor, he is a monster. I'm super high on Karim Lopez. I feel like they got him much later than he should have been drafted, and he can fill Brandon Clarke's, RIP, role on this team. I think Jermari Grant and Isaiah Stewart can slide right into their roles as veteran leaders on this team. I'm excited to see what a healthy Ty Jerome, and what more minutes GG Jackson can provide this team. I think Walter Clayton Jr can be a solid backup point guard. I really like Scotty Pippen Jr, and even think he can start for them at point guard this season. I still believe in Jaylen Wells. Cam Spencer showed me a few things last season that intrigued me. And I want to see what O-Max Prosper and Quentin Post can bring to this squad.

So, looking up and down this roster, as I just did, Russell doesn't feel like a very good fit. I think he would take much needed touches and shots away from guys like Jackson, Pippen Jr, Jerome and Clayton Jr. He would try to run the offense on his own instead of letting it go through Boozer. I don't think he would ever have any consistency finding Edey on pick and roll lobs at the rim. Russell has his place in the NBA, but that should be with a team that doesn't really have any shot at winning meaningful games. He is an empty stats guy. He has never shown that he can get off the ball and run around screens. His defense, as mentioned before, is terrible. He may be a locker room menace. Basically, if the Grizzlies can get anything of note for him, they need to do that ASAP. The longer he stays on this roster, the more of a headache he will cause. And I fear he would stunt the growth of the younger guys they should be building around already. By all accounts the Grizzlies are looking to move him. I just hope it gets done soon, as in, today.

We shall see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on Michigan AD Warde Manuel Leaving

It was announced earlier today that University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel will be stepping down at the end of the calendar year.

This feels like it has been a long time coming. I was happy when they hired Manuel because it seemed like he really cared. He wanted Michigan to be back on top. He was sick of them being simply mediocre. He was going to make changes, and the changes sounded pretty damn good to me as a fan. I had high hopes.

And boy did he deliver.

Michigan won a football and men's basketball championship under his watch. The sports program grew and got much, much better. The university became so much more than just a football school. They had the two titles, but the other programs were thriving as well. Men's gymnastics has an Olympian on the team. The women's basketball team is a constant in the tournament, and they even made a push to the Sweet Sixteen last year. The hockey team made the Frozen Four, and they have a great roster coming back for next season. The baseball team and softball team are always competitive. The men's and women's soccer teams are solid. The sports at Michigan are thriving, and a lot of that has to do with Manuel.

But he screwed up a lot as well.

Both coaches from the title teams left immediately after they won. Jim Harbaugh couldn't wait to get out of there. He claimed it was due to other extenuating circumstances, but it was also reported that he and Manuel did not have a good relationship. You could see as much at the parade. They wouldn't even look at one another during the speeches. Manuel said he was going to do whatever he could to keep Harbaugh, but we the fans saw the writing on the wall. Harbaugh was fed up with Manuel, Manuel was fed up with him, and they seperated loudly and angry with one another.

Manuel and Harbaugh were both on board with the Sherrone Moore hire, as was I, and we all saw how they unfolded. I have to believe that Manuel knows so much more about that situation than he is letting on, and now that he is on the way out, maybe he will do some kind of tell all. But all of that happened under Manuel. Maybe he tried to cover some stuff up, maybe he tried to keep some people silent, whatever it was, Manuel did a shady thing and let a very shady thing happen while he was the AD.

I was hopeful that the men's basketball team would have Dusty May for a long, long time. He turned that team around so fast. They went from 8-24 to the Sweet Sixteen to the national title. It ruled. May knew how to work the portal while still recruiting highly rated freshmen. He understood the ins and outs of NIL. He had it all. But he got up and left. He signed to be the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. He didn't leave the cupboard bare, but he just bounced as soon as he got a better offer. May would rather coach pros making way more money than him than stick around and become a college basketball coaching legend. He said that it was due to the current climate of college sports, which may be true. But I have to believe that there was something going on behind the scenes with him and Manuel.

Manuel claimed he had given May a humongous brand new contract, and that it was all but a done deal that he was going to be the coach at Michigan for a long, long time. But when that contract stayed unsigned by May, I got nervous. Then he left. I have to think Manuel played a hand in this. Both national title coaches were gone not even a month after winning the championship.

This is all a bummer, but don't forget some of the other stuff that has happened as of late on Manuel's time. The baseball coach that brought them to the CWS left after that season to coach at Clemson. The longtime softball coach decided to retire out of the blue. There is an ongoing investigation dealing with the whole blowout from the Moore situation. And I'm sure there's plenty of other stuff behind the scenes that I'm not privy to. Warde Manuel delivered on some of the biggest promises he made when he was announced as the AD, and for that I will be forever grateful. But he also leaves with a mess for the new AD to clean up. I do feel like this is the final semblance of the Harbaugh regime. Manuel stepping down feels like the last thing Michigan needed to fully get off all of the stuff that came with Harbaugh, May and Manuel.

I hope the new AD is as ambitious as Manuel, but goes about it the correct and honorable way. Time will tell, but at least Manuel and Michigan are finally moving on from one another. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Thought on the Jaylen Brown Trade

Now that I had over a week to sit on it and think about it, I'm ready to discuss the Jaylen Brown trade.

For people that don't know, or don't follow basketball, Jaylen Brown was traded from the Celtics to the 76ers for Paul George and two future first round picks.

On paper this seems pretty tame. I'm still floored that this is what the Celtics and Brad Stevens settled for in a deal for a player that just finished sixth in MVP voting and proved that he can be the leader of a team that vaults to the number 2 seed. Sure, the Celtics were beaten in the first round of the playoffs, to the 76ers no less, but still, the Celtics had a better year than most expected and Jaylen Brown more than proved his worth.

I know that Brown is a divisive player in the NBA. I happen to really like the way he plays basketball. He is a two way player, he has a knack for getting to the rim, he can throw it down, his three point shot is better and he really gets after it defensively. Me, much like almost every other writer, thought the Celtics were going to struggle going into last season. Jayson Tatum was supposed to be out the whole season after tearing his ACL in the playoffs last year. The Celtics let Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday walk out of the door. They took chances on guys like Luka Garza and Neemias Queta. They looked like they were going to take a massive step back. Jaylen Brown would have none of it. He was a man on a mission this season and he balled the hell out. The Celtics started strong and never wavered. Even when Tatum came back, much to the surprise of everyone, Brown accepted his new role and did whatever it took for the Celtics to win. Yes he struggled in round one versus the 76ers. Yes he put too much pressure on himself. Yes he forced the issue. But he led this team all season to the number 2 seed. He showed that he has what it takes to win a ton of regular season games. He has a Finals MVP to his name. He is one of the best two way players in the league. And all the Celtics could get was George and some picks that should not be all that good.

I am a Paul George fan. Let that be known. But he has fallen off a cliff since one of his last seasons in LA. He had that one year where he helped lead the Clippers to the West Finals. But since then he has been too often injured or too focused on his podcast or getting suspended for supposedly taking a banned substance. He is not the player he once was, and that is just an unfortunate realism at this point. The Celtics basically got older at the exact same position, have to pay almost the same amount of money to a lesser player and they have picks that are essentially useless for them to use, unless they can find a trade partner.

I don't know if the Celtics are done making moves either. That has to be said. But this move is baffling. Brad Stevens has this aura about him. I feel like he is supposed to be one of the better GM's in the NBA, not named Sam Presti. Everyone applauded him when the Celtics overachieved this year. People say he has a knack for finding hidden gems in the draft. But this trade does not sit so well for me. Jaylen Brown makes the 76ers instantly better than the Celtics now, in my opinion. Tatum is an incredible player for them to have, but he doesn't have much firepower next to him now. Payton Pritchard is an okay player, but he is not on Brown's level. I like that they signed Mitchell Robinson, but he gets hurt a lot, cannot shoot free throws and tends to be played out of games. Derrick White is on the wrong side of his prime. Garza and Queta probably just had their best seasons, so I don't see them repeating last year ever again. Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman better pop like they hope they will. And now they have an old and, possibly washed, Paul George.

On the other side, the 76ers have Brown, Maxey and Edgecombe. That should strike fear in a bunch of East teams. They may be getting LeBron, which would make them a lethal offense. Joel Embiid is always hurt, but I'd much rather have him on my roster than Garza or Queta. They signed Anfernee Simons, who will only help their bench scoring. Dean Wade should get some solid run and adds good defense. And I love the Labaron Philon Jr pick. The 76ers got much better while the Celtics got worse and older.

The Celtics hater in me loves that they did this. But the basketball fan in me is so confused and baffled by this. Anyway, Jaylen Brown got out of Boston, which he wanted, and now he will have multiple chances to show up the Celtics every single season and in the playoffs. And I cannot wait to watch him do it time and again.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Where Does LeBron Best Fit?

It looks like LeBron James is down to three teams he is looking to sign with for the next season. The reported three teams are the Heat, 76ers and Cavs. I don't know why the Warriors are already out of it, maybe because the Wizards have said they don't want to move Anthony Davis, but this is the most updated thing I have seen so far. The three teams in the running all make sense to me.

The 76ers need a player like James. If they were able to add him to the team, they could be pretty lethal. The backcourt is set with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Both of those guys are legit. Maxey proved his all pro capability last season. He went to the next level. He is ascending to being a star at this point. The 76ers should build around him. They just added Jaylen Brown, in one of the wilder trades I've seen in recent history. He is going to be on another level this season. He is out to prove some people wrong, and Brown is too good a player not to show them up. He may have one of the better seasons we have seen in some time. Joel Embiid is the center. He cannot stay healthy, but he was an MVP as of late. When he was on the floor last season, the 76ers were great. With less of a load, Embiid could play more than usual, and that usually spells more victories for the 76ers. It's that 4 spot that seems lacking. All indications were that Dean Wade was going to start after they signed him as a free agent. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have a 41 year old LeBron James starting than Dean Wade. James knows the East, he can help push the 76ers to make a deeper playoff push and would put them as a top 6 team right away if he signs there. I do think the fit next to Brown may be a little rough at first, but both guys are smart enough and good enough that they will figure it out. This team would be able to speed up games and slow teams down if need be. But, I do think that the 76ers want to go faster. Edgecombe and Maxey are speedy players, and when they pushed the tempo last season, they played much better basketball.

The Heat make sense if they want to push for a title right away. Need we forget, they just traded for Giannis. Pairing Giannis and LeBron would be pretty tight if you ask me. I'd love to see the two of them on the same team. The pick and roll would be dope. Giannis would get some great passes from James. Giannis and James could make some nice music defensively. Add in the rest of the starting five, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Bam Adebayo, this team would be hellacious on defense. James also has capability with Erik Spoelstra, and apparently he has repaired his relationship with Pat Riley. The depth would still be an issue. I don't really know who comes off the bench. They would have to scrape the bottom of the barrell for league minimum guys. But James has made that work in the past. The problem though, this is not the past and both James and Giannis, especially Giannis as of late, are both often injured. Injuries would be the biggest and most pressing issue with this version of the Heat. I do think that this would push them up, past the 76ers in fact, if James were to sign on with the Heat. But the fear of injury may be too big of a risk for the Heat to actually pull this off. They also may not have the money to get him in the door anyway.

Finally we have the Cavs. This one makes the most sense for a myriad of reasons, and I think this is how it will actually play out in the end. Cleveland is his home. He is a legend there. He won them a title for the first time in 50 plus years back in 2016. He had some of his best years with the Cavs. And they have a solid roster for the first time since he went back in the mid 2010's. They just re-upped Dononvan Mitchell. He is the future of the team and he is the current best player on the team. James Harden is most likely going to come back. I know he wants to play with James, and I'm pretty sure James wants to play with him too, outside of Team USA basketball. Evan Mobley would find life much easier on the offensive end of the floor playing with James. He would get so many more open looks and runs to the rim. Max Strus could spell him for minutes. They are apparently leaving space open for Bronny to come play with them. They have some solid rookies and vets they can rely on coming off the bench. And Kenny Atkinson, for all his faults, is a solid NBA head coach. They would most likely have to let Jarrett Allen walk, which would sting, but if it means getting James to come back home, I bet they would do it in a heartbeat.

Going back home for James makes the most sense and I see this being the only outcome in the end. Time will tell, but I would be surprised if James isn't wearing a Cavs jersey to start the 2026-27 season. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Memphis Grizzlies Have a Bright Future

Before I go out of town next week and take that time off from writing, I wanted to leave you all with one more piece that involves the NBA. It has been a big basketball week, but with the draft and trades, it was at the forefront of my mind. So, before I bid you all adieu for one short week, I want to talk about how the Grizzlies have reinvigorated my fandom.

It has been tough to be a Grizzlies fan the past couple seasons. They flamed out two years ago to the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs and they were not very good and injury riddled all last season. Throw in all the off court stuff with Ja Morant, inexplicably trading Jaren Jackson Jr last year and letting Taylor Jenkins go before the playoffs two years ago. The Grizzlies have been a dumpster fire for about two years now, but this past week they have been making moves.

They started off the week with a bang on Tuesday night when they drafted Cam Boozer third overall. This is who I wanted them to take and they snagged him as soon as they realized he was going to be available. He is the type of player they can build around. He is a smart and savvy basketball player. He is going to average close to 20 points right away. He is a solid rebounder and passer already. His defense needs to improve, and I have no doubt that it will in due time. Memphis is going to love this kid, he will most likely love it there. He is NBA ready and looks like he may be the top rookie in this class. I fully believe he has the front position on winning rookie of the year next season. I'm so stoked about Boozer.

The Grizzlies traded down a bit in the first round, they originally had the 16th pick in round one as well, but they moved down to 21. Here they took Karim Lopez. This kid is tough. He has been playing professionally in New Zealand against dudes bigger and meaner than him and he thrived. He is a hard nosed rebounder. He doesn't take any garbage from anyone. He can get tough buckets. Bigger NBA players aren't going to intimidate him like they will other rookie players. And again, the city is going to love his toughness and his demeanor. He feels like a silent assassin. He looks young, but the guy is no joke. I feel like he can be this new roster's version of Steven Adams. He will only get bigger and stronger working with NBA trainers and I feel like he may be one of my favorite players in a very short time.

I'm even excited about the kid from BYU they took in round 2, Richie Saunders. I didn't know much about him until they drafted and then I went and checked out some clips of him on the internet. He was the second best player on that BYU team, behind AJ Dybansta obviously. But Saunders is not without his skill set. He can step out and shoot the ball. He tries very hard on defense. If he is open he will make shots. He has a toughness to him too.

That has me most stoked with this draft class, these three kids look like they have the mentality and bodies that are already set for the NBA. The Grizzlies got the most polished player in the draft in Boozer, they got one tough son of a gun in Lopez and they are taking a shot on a guy that can give them solid bench minutes in the long run. I love it. They were also able to acquire Isaiah Stewart from the Pistons for some second round picks. Again, they feel like they're going back to their roots of being tough and mean and physical and opponents will hate to play them. Stewart is one of my favorite players currently in the league. He doesn't back down from anyone. He is also a good rebounder and a surprisingly good shot blocker. He will also protect the young guys if they need it as well.

Peering out and taking a deeper look in this roster, they really only have one more thing to do to make this offseason an absolute home run for me, and that is finding a way to trade Ja Morant. I loved Morant, but he messed up and now he seems disengaged and wants out. I say let him go. Trade him to Sacramento or Brooklyn and try and get some picks. Hell, that may be all they can get for him at this point. But the time has come for both Morant and Memphis to move on.

The Grizzlies have a new franchise building block in Boozer. They have young guys to put around him in Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Stewart is going to most likely start. Lopez will get extended minutes. I'm ready to watch GG Jackson fire the ball at the rim 20 times a night. They took a flyer on Walter Clayton Jr in the JJJ trade, so let's see if he can bring some of that college magic to the NBA. Santi Aldama can still stretch the floor a bit. They still have Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr under contract. Those guys have some kind of value. Hell, I'd even give Olivier-Maxence Prosper some extended minutes just to see what he has.

Look, the Grizzlies won't be very good this season, but they are trending in the right direction for me. I like what they accomplished this week. I'm excited to watch them again. I will be happy when they finally move Morant. This wasn't the case last season. But the moves this week have me pumped. I cannot wait to watch this team learn, grow and become good together. I'm happy to be a Grizzlies fan once again. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on LaMelo Ball and the Timberwolves

I was going to write about the Grizzlies draft today. I wanted to talk about my feelings of the team moving forward. But the Timberwolves and Hornets pulled off a blockbuster trade and that takes precedent today.

As I was driving my son to football camp this morning the notification came across my watch that the Hornets were sending LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves. That was all I saw at 8:30 this morning. It wasn't until I got to my folks house that I saw the rest of the trade. The Hornets sent LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves for Naz Reid and a bunch of picks and pick swaps.

This was wildly unexpected. I heard last night, during round two of the draft, that the Hornets were mildly shopping Ball. I thought it was just draft talk and would amount to nothing. I went to bed expecting Ball to be a Hornet next season. And then this dropped. I know that Anthony Edwards has wanted to be paired with another star around his age, and the Timberwolves were exploring a bunch of options. I know they kicked the tires on Giannis and Ja Morant, but those deals never really materialized. But they started to move other guys, namely Julius Randle to the Nets for picks, so it seemed like they were trying to cook up some kind of deal. Then they pulled the trade for Ball off.

This is kind of nuts. I figured the Hornets were pretty set with the team they had in place. They made a nice push to the play-in last season, and it looked like they were going to try and build off of that. It seemed like they were happy with their three top players, Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. They also have some nice young bigs that fit their system pretty well. But they kind of blew that all up this morning. I know they have Coby White to step in for Ball, and Naz Reid will bring veteran leadership, and he is a big that can stretch the floor, but taking away the hub seems out of the blue. Ball ran the offense. He was very wild with it, and would make inexplicable turnovers far too often, but he ran this team. He got open shots for the shooters. He is a premier lob passer. He was eager to start any and every fast break. He is a sieve on defense, but he was their guy on offense. Now he is gone, replaced with future picks and an older big man. I think the Hornets are still going to be solid, they definitely unlocked some stuff last season. But they are going to struggle to find as many open shots or fast break opportunities. Coby White is a solid point guard, but he is not on Ball's level as a passer. Knueppel won't find as many open threes either. Brandon Miller is going to have to be a little more assertive as well. The Hornets have some stuff to work out, but they should still be able to compete, especially in the East.

As for the Timberwolves, this is wild to me. They have gotten off of Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Randle struggled in the playoffs and seems to have passed his prime. It seemed inevitable that he was going to be moved. But Naz Reid was about to be put into the starting lineup. He was going to be given his chance with this squad. Now he is off to the Hornets, where I'm sure he will start as well. The Timberwolves will look different now, and they won't have as much size. Ball is going to be the 1, Anthony Edwards the 2, Jaden McDaniels at the 3, probably their young guy they all love, Joan Beringer at the 4 and Rudy Gobert at the 5. This feels like an odd starting five to me. Ball and Edwards make for a solid backcourt. I actually think those two will find a way to coexist, as long as Ball understands that this is Anthony Edwards' team. Edwards drives this team and everything runs through him. As long as he is healthy and on the floor, Edwards runs the show. McDaniels has more than proven himself as a very good three and d guy. He really showed growth and potential in the playoffs this season and he looks primed to get even better. But it is the front court that would worry me most. Beringer is totally unproven. He is only 19. I know the coaches and front office are high on him, but he has proven zero in the league to this point. He has a ton to show. And Gobert is still as stout a defender as ever, but he is not a rim runner or lethal lob threat at this point in his career. Gobert makes his due on defense, as he should. But he may end up being a dunker spot player on offense as long as he is still on the T'Wolves. They do have some solid depth too. They just gave Ayo Dosunmu a long, and well deserved contract. Isaiah Evans was a great second round pick last night, Kyle Anderson may be washed, but he can still do things in spurts that will help this team. Josh Green was a nice throw in in this deal, and he seems like he is much better off the bench. And Bones Hyland may find his niche as instant offense off the bench this season. But the team up of Edwards and Ball still has a ton to prove, obviously.

I don't know that this puts Minnasota on the level of the Thunder, Spurs or Nuggets at this point. I want the Timberwolves to succeed because I'm a big fan of Anthony Edwards. Time will tell and this deal may take a little longer to bear fruit than the Timberwolves may want. We will see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on Giannis and The Miami Heat

As mentioned yesterday, today I will give my take on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the Miami Heat.

This appears to have been in the making for sometime now. I read before the trade that he was willing to go to two teams, the Heat or the Celtics. The Celtics did offer Jaylen Brown and picks, but the Bucks clearly wanted more players and more picks. I read that they were interested in Baylor Scheirman and Hugo Gonzalez, but the Celitcs deemed them unmovable in this deal. I am not so sure why they wouldn't include those guys, but I am not Brad Stevens and I do not work for the Celtics. I would have included both in the trade if it meant I would get to pair Giannis with Jayson Tatum next season, but that's just me. But the Heat, they gave up a haul to land Giannis. I wouldn't necessarily say they gave up most of their bench, but damn did the Bucks get a return.

Along with Giannis, the Heat did acquire Bobby Portis. But they had to trade Ke'el Ware, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jacquez Jr, Kasparas Jakucionis and a bunch of current and future draft picks. I know last night that the Bucks took Brayden Burries, and the Heat traded the rights to Nate Ament to the Bucks with their pick. So, not counting future picks, the Bucks gave up two guys, two very important guys, and got back five players. That's quite the haul for the Bucks. And they got young players that they are going to try and build around now.

I have seen that the Bucks may move Tyler Herro this offseason, and I think that may be in their best interest. Tyler Herro is an exceptional offensive basketball player. He has proven that he can shoot the rock and put in points at a very high rate. But he is an absolute zero on defense, and he is coming off of two seasons where he spent more time injured than playing. If they can turn him into future picks, or take a flyer on another young player that a contending team may not need, I'd say go for it. That would help in the rebuilding process for the Bucks.

As far as things go with Ware, Jacquez and Jakucionis, keep those guys and let them play a ton. The Bucks will not be a very good team next year, so I say they see what they have in these young guys. I like Ware a ton. He has looked to figure some things out in his first two seasons in the NBA. He has also become somewhat of a consistent scorer in the paint, and he can already protect the rim at a very high clip. Jacquez was close to winning sixth man of the year last season. He is instant offense off the bench, tries really hard on the defensive end of the court and he can shoot from pretty much anywhere on the floor. Jakucionis was a lottery pick last season, I heard he showed flashes during practices and just needed minutes to prove his worth. He should get minutes in spades now. The Bucks may even start him. Add on their picks last night, this team is going to go through a tough season or two, but they may end up being solid and a threat in the East in three years.

As for the Heat, if they did mortgage their depth, they got an absolute top of the line superstar in the deal. I love Giannis. He is one of my all time favorite players. He has won at the highest levels in the league. He gets better every year. I know he has been hurt a bit too much the past few years, but maybe that will go away now that he is in Miami, and they appear to have one of the best training staffs in all of professional sports. If they can get him right, and keep him on the court for 60 to 70 games every year, the Heat instantly become a threat in the East. The Knicks, Celtics and Cavs may be better than them right now, but the Heat are coming with this new starting five. Pairing Giannis in the frontcourt with Bam Adebayo is going to look like defense nirvana. Those two will contest every shot at the rim, grab almost every rebound and can both start fastbreaks off misses and blocks. They can both score at will as well. Bam put up 80 in a game last season. Giannis put up 50 in a Finals closeout game four years ago. They both love to attack the rim, and with Bam being a little bit of a better outside shooter, he will open up driving lanes for Giannis. You can play Portis at the three and have a super big frontcourt. And then I would imagine the Heat are going to start Davion Mitchell and Norm Powell, if they retain him, in the backcourt. Mitchell has revived his career since being added to the Heat, and Powell is the best scorer on the team. This is a formidable starting five, and if you want to swap out Portis for Andrew Wiggins at the three, be my guest. Wiggins is a better scorer and rim runner anyway.

The depth is the issue in Miami now. They gave up a ton to land Giannis. Let's say Wiggins starts, that leaves bench players like Bobby Portis, Nikola Jovic, Vlad Goldin, Pelle Larson, Dru Smith and Myron Gardner. That's not really much of a threat in the second unit. A lot of those guys were two way players last season. But they are on the Heat, and the Heat seem to squeeze every inch out of these guys. And Portis has always been a solid bench guy. But if a starter gets hurt and misses extended time, it may get dicey for the Heat.

In the end, the Heat got their guy. Erik Spoelstra now has a legit first option to put next to Bam. Spoelstra is an exceptional coach and he will put these guys in the best possible position to win. I like this deal for both teams. They each got what they wanted and I'm excited to see how it plays out in both Milwaukee and Miami. What a trade. The NBA is fun. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's 2026 NBA Draft Preview

I promise you all I will talk about the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade tomorrow. If it weren't for the NBA draft, that would most definitely be the topic today. But we have the first round of the draft tonight, and I, as you all know, like to do my version of a draft preview. As opposed to what other people write about, I'll talk about a few prospects I like, some I dislike and some sleepers. I will also be taking a little time to talk about the three Michigan guys in the draft as well. I'm not doing a mock, not ranking anyone, I'm just going to give my thoughts on a few prospects.

I'll start with the players I like. This draft, according to most experts, has four players that could all be number 1 in most other drafts. I do think this draft class is going to be a memorable one for sure. there's some surefire stars that could turn the fortunes around for a few teams in the near future.

A while back I wrote about my thoughts on AJ Dybansta. I still think that he is the clear cut number 1 player available. He is big, can stretch the floor, plays hard all the time and can create his own shot. He is only 19, so he is going to get bigger and stronger. I see no real downside to his game. He also appears ready to come in and start right away. I'd take him first overall and have no problems with it. Dybansta has star written all over him.

I also really like Cam Boozer. He is a student of the game. He plays with power and control. He is an excellent passer. He can shoot the three. He needs to get better on defense, but that will happen quickly for him. I am very hopeful that he "falls" to three so the Grizzlies can take him and fully start their rebuild with him as the cornerstone player.

I am all in on Caleb Wilson. He has so much raw potential. He is such an incredible athlete. You could see how much UNC missed him when he went down with an injury right before the NCAA tournament. He has the looks of a low rent Kevin Garnett, which is a compliment. I would love to see him come in and contribute right away, but it is going to take a year or two before he starts to maximize his potential.

And then there's Darryn Peterson. I fully understand that he had some weird stuff with his playing time during his lone year at Kansas. I don't care about that. I watched Will Johnson sit out pretty much a full season at Michigan just so he could stay healthy for the NFL draft. I'm sure that's what Peterson was doing to an extent. He played big when he played great competition. He showed up in big games. He can get to the rim at will. Peterson has the goods, and I have him just behind Dybansta as my top player.

My final player that I really like is Kingston Flemings. I, for some reason, watched him play a ton this season at Houston. And he wowed me with every game. He plays under control, never seems to get rattled and really worked his tail off on the defensive end. People may say he is too small, I don't care about that at all. He is the exact type of point guard I would love to have on my team. He is a cerebral guard who never lets the moment get too big for him.

As for some prospects I don't like all that much, I want to start with Nate Ament. He is too skinny, too inconsistent and plays a little too erratic. I watched him play against Michigan in the tournament and they absolutely shut him down. He had an opportunity to prove a ton of people wrong, but he didn't show up. I felt like that happened a lot to him this year. While he is big and long, he is too skinny and needs way more time to develop than other top prospects in this draft.

This next player has very little to do with his ability, it is more about where he will most likely end up. That player is Darius Acuff. Acuff is a tremendously gifted offensive basketball player. He is such a pure and elite level scorer. He doesn't play any defense though. And I am worried for him that he is going to end up with the Nets or Kings. He will be frustrated by his role on the Nets because he is not going to be the number one option. As for the Kings, they are just a mess of a team and they seem to kill any good players they get by lack of surrounding them with elite talent. So, while I think Acuff will be able to score in the NBA, he is going to get hunted on defense and he will, most likely, end up on a team that will not give him the best opportunities to succeed.

I think some team is going to reach way too hard for Bennett Stirtz. I get it, the guy can fill up the stat sheet. He looked dominant as the lead guard at Iowa at times last season. But Iowa was only bolstered by their tournament run and Stirtz reminds me of a low rent Jimmer Fredette, except Fredette was such a better college basketball player. I see a ton of Fredette, Gradey Dick and Immanuel Quickly in Stirtz. I just don't see it with him.

Finally, I don't see it with Hanness Steinbach. Sure, he is a big front court player that can stretch the floor. and he did get a little better as the year wore on. But he never really left much of a mark. He just kind of came and went and I forgot about him. I watch a ton of Big Ten basketball, and Steinbach was never really on my radar. He is someone that I just kind of forgot about. So for him to be considered a late lottery pick is wild to me.

As for sleepers in this draft, some team is going to strike gold with Jayden Quaintance. I know he didn't play hardly at all in his transfer season to Kentucky, but he left a mark during his freshman season at Arizona State. He blocked everything that came into his sight. He was a tenacious rebounder. He was a rim running machine. And he is still incredibly young. If a team like the Pistons or Spurs end up drafting this kid, the other 30 teams in the NBA are going to be kicking themselves for years to come.

I also really like Chris Cenac Jr from Houston. He is long and lean, but he is also nasty and mean. He has a nose for the ball. He will do anything to get his hands on it, and then dunk it in your face. In my Flemings watches, Cenac Jr really started to flash on my radar as well. This kid is going to be such a spark off the bench in the NBA.

My final sleeper, Zuby Ejiofor. Ejiofor is such a perfect bench player for a title contender right now. He is smart, will lay himself on the line for the team, his shot has gotten better and he is a tank. This kid is going to be damn near impossible to move in the post. I think he would be an ideal player to take in the late first, early second round. He is an ideal fit with almost any NBA team.

Now, for the Michigan guys. Michigan has three players that could be taken within the first 14 picks. Aday Mara has risen the fastest on draft boards. He is 7'4, has a standing reach of 9'9, is an elite level passer and rim protector and is such a freaky lob threat. He needs to put some muscle on and work on his outside shot. He should also be an instant impact player on the defensive side of the court. Yaxel Lendeborg has come such a long way in a short time. He didn't even really play basketball until he was in JUCO. But he has molded himself into a legit lottery player and really made a name for himself during Michigan's national title season. He is big and switchable on defense. His three point shot improved dramatically this past season. He is a ferocious fast break player. And he can get to the free throw line. He does need to take the game more seriously now that he is entering the NBA. He cannot take plays off or not have his head into the game regardless of score. But Lendeborg is going to have a nice long career in the NBA and he should be a starter from day one. Finally we have my favorite player from last year's team, Morez Johnson Jr. Morez is such a good hustle guy. He never takes plays off when he is on the court. His motor never stops. He can play the 4 or 5 and guard the position as well. He is a tenacious rebounder. He loves dunking on people. The problem is, he can disappear for stretches of games. Sometimes you would forget that he was on the floor if he didn't get touches on a few possessions. Morez Johnson Jr needs to get drafted to the correct team, like the Spurs, Heat or even the Pacers, for him to fully maximize his potential. But I do think he is going to be a very good bench role player during his NBA career, and whoever drafts him is going to love how hard and how much he cares about the game of basketball.

Okay, that's it. You all have my 2026 NBA draft preview. Enjoy the first round this evening. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

What's Next for Michigan Basketball?

After winning the national title in men's college basketball Michigan is looking for a new head coach. Let’s discuss.

In very shocking news to me, Dusty May has accepted the head coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks. I was kind of stunned by this news when it scrolled across my phone this morning. I was out doing my Monday grocery shopping, and as I finished loading my car with said groceries, the news was all bold coming across my phone, "MAVS HIRING DUSTY MAY". I couldn't believe it. I thought he was going to stick around the college game a little longer. He looked to be building something nice and powerful at Michigan. In two years there he brought them back from a very low point and turned them into a national title winner. May knew how to work the portal, he got players to play for one another as opposed to playing for themselves, he coached three guys that could be picked in the top 14 in tomorrow's draft and he brought in a nice haul in the portal and with incoming freshmen for this year's team. But now he is gone, off to the pros.

I fully understand that this is the end goal for almost anyone who gets into the coaching world. May started at the bottom, worked his way up to the head coach at FAU, took them to the final four, went to Michigan and won the whole damn thing. The NBA is the next and final stop for him. He had a meteoric rise and now he gets to coach what looks to be an up and coming team in the West. They have Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, a high pick in this draft and a coach who looks like an offensive genius. May almost feels like a perfect fit for this team and it wouldn't shock me if he has them as a perennial playoff team within two years. And while it bums me out that he is leaving for the NBA, he doesn't owe Michigan or us fans anything. He took them to the pinnacle and gave them their first men's basketball title since 1989. I said it with Jim Harbaugh when he left for the Chargers after winning the title with the football team in 2023. He did what he set out to do. He doesn't have to prove anything else to anyone in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh and May will be celebrated forever in Ann Arbor, and will get the warmest of welcomes whenever they return. May's time was shorter than Harbaugh's, but the results are still the same. They did it. They brought glory back to a storied program. I wish nothing but the best for Dusty May, and with Doncic being out of Dallas, I may start rooting for the Mavs. Hell, if they take one of the Michigan guys, the Mavs may become my second team to root for in the NBA, behind Memphis, and until Seattle gets a team again.

Moving on, with May officially off to the pros, I am curious to see what Michigan does now. I wonder who they are going to target for this job. The current roster has 15 days to decide if they want to stick around or transfer out. I'm sure a few guys will leave. It always happens, and with the way modern college athletics are going, it is bound to happen. I would be bummed if guys like Trey McKenney and Elliot Cadeau leave, but it could happen. I do think, if Michigan wants to try and retain as much of the current roster as possible, they should just give the job to Mike Boynton. He is the reported choice for interim head coach while they do their search. I read that he went and met with every player on the roster after the news of May's departure. That gave me a sense of relief as a fan. He was May's first hire when he got the Michigan job, he was right next to him on the bench during their tournament run this year, he is a very good recruiter and he has been waiting his turn to coach. I'm a big fan of staying in house when it comes to moves like this. I know it blew up in my face with Sherrone Moore, but the football program rebounded with the hiring of Kyle Whittingham, and Boynton seems to have a good head on his shoulders. May wasn't the biggest name when Michigan hired him, but it clearly worked out. Boynton's name may not jump off the screen, but he would allow for continuity.

Some other names I've already seen floated around are Billy Donovan, Nate Oats, TJ Otzelberger, Josh Schertz and Ben McCollum. I fully believe the only name on this list that would make me happy is Billy Donovan. I'll explain why in a moment. Nate Oats is a good recruiter and a solid coach, but he is an asshole who would rub people the wrong way, including fans. Otzelberger knows the midwest and has made Iowa State a power. But he has been reluctant to take bigger jobs. Also I think he is quite content in his current position. Schertz would intrigue me, I have seen what he has done at SLU up close and personal. But I do think the lights may be way too bright for him in Ann Arbor. And McCollum's run with Iowa last season felt very fluky. Iowa didn't have the best season, and then went on a wild run. I don't know that he can duplicate that at Michigan. Other than Boynton, Billy Donovan would be an absolute homerun. The guy can flat out coach. He won multiple titles at Florida. He knows the college game. He did a solid job in the NBA without ever having a roster that was actually meant to win a bunch of games. He has more than proven his worth. My worry with him, I don't know that he will want to come back to the college game. He could hold out for almost any NBA job that will come open next season. He could also do tv for a year, and he may fall in love with that just like Jay Wright has. I think Billy Donovan would be the best possible guy they could get for the job, but it also seems very far-fetched at this point. And that is why I say they should just give the job to Mike Boynton. He has the best chance to keep this team rolling. He has been there since they hired Dusty May. The players are familiar with him. He knows how to put these kids in the best position to win. He can continue the dominance of this team.

Time will tell, and this is still wild to me, but I think, if they make the right choice, Michigan will be just fine in the long run. We will see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on Where Giannis Plays Next - Part 2

With each passing day, and with it getting closer to the NBA draft, it looks more and more likely that Giannis Antentekoumpo is going to be traded. He wants out and has done everything short of asking to be traded. A while back I went through some teams that made sense to me. That has changed since then.

I know Giannis has some leverage, but so does Milwaukee. This is an interesting case of a star that has won it big with the team that drafted him, but has fallen on hard times as of late. The Bucks have tried to rebuild around him since they traded Jrue Holiday to the Celtics. Damian Lillard was never fully healthy, and the fit with him and Giannis wasn't great. I was on board with that trade at the time, but it never materialized in the way I hoped it would. They went out and signed Myles Turner last season, but his success seemed tied to Tyrese Haliburton more than anything else, and with the Bucks having no real point guard, his skillset never fully translated to the Bucks. The Bucks also let Brook Lopez walk so they could sign Turner, and he and Giannis were great buddies and running mates. They were the anchors of the defensive frontcourt for the Bucks. As expected, the Bucks limped to a rough season and during the year it looked like they were going to move Giannis. That never came, but now it seems inevitable. As I said though, both parties have leverage. Giannis won a title in Milwaukee. He also won many awards, including an MVP. He seemed to love the city from the moment he was drafted there, and they loved him back. He did it all with the Bucks, and if he wants to move on and try to win a title before retiring, he has that right. What more could Milwaukee want from him? But, the front office also signed him to an extension two years ago. He is, technically, still under contract with Milwaukee. They don't have to trade him if they don't get a deal to their liking. He has two years left, and in the end, the NBA is a business, and it is cutthroat. It would be awful if they wasted two more seasons for Giannis, but they can if they want.

In looking at who may be left in the Giannis sweepstakes, it looks like it is only the Heat and Celtics. These seem to be the only two teams with either the picks or young players, or both, that can trade for Giannis and are places he'd be happy to play for.

I understand why he wants to play for the Celtics. They are championship ready right now. They won a few years back, they overachieved without Jayson Tatum for most of the season and they have picks and one blue chip young player they may want to move. Jaylen Brown is awesome. He was in the MVP conversation for most of last season. He was an All NBA  player. He is a wonderful defender. He can create his own shot. And he showed that he could lead a team as the number one option last season. I believe a team like the Bucks covet a player like Jaylen Brown if they decide to move on from Giannis. Brown would make the Bucks, at the very least, a play-in caliber team right away. The Celtics also have future picks they can trade. The problem, those picks may not be super valuable because the Celtics are going to be pretty good for a while longer. Also, the Celtics may need a third team to get this deal done. They may have to add some other team that can add more, and better picks to the deal. And that may end up with Brown going somewhere else. The Bucks may have to just settle for a ton of picks. They may like that, they may not. But it seems unlikely that the Celtics would pull the trigger on trading Brown after he proved he can lead a team and still play quality defense. The future picks may be too much for Brad Stevens to swallow as well.

The Heat seem like the most likely landing spot for Giannis. They have the picks and the young guys to get it done. The only question is, will the Heat be willing to give up some of the younger talent to get Giannis. If the Heat are serious, and they want to do it, they are going to have to part ways with one of either Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr or Ke'el Ware. They are also going to have to give up their first round pick this season and Tyler Herro. I think the Tyler Herro of it all is not a big deal to the Heat. He may be a good offensive player, but he is a sieve on defense and he has become oft injured. I think the Bucks would welcome him because he is from Milwaukee and he would be the number one offensive option. But the Bucks would want the first round pick, to keep their own first round pick, and one of the young guys I mentioned before. Nikola Jovic is raw, but has potential. He would get to play a ton, but it would be frustrating to watch him play. Jaime Jacquez Jr is a solid bench player, but a higher usage rate may be tough for him to handle. I'm sure he would welcome it, but that also comes with expectations. He may not be ready for that. The most ideal, and best fit for the Bucks, in my opinion, is Ke'el Ware. He has proven that he is a solid number 5 in the NBA. He can score in the post, and has shown that he is capable of stretching the floor. He is a good defensive player and a solid rebounder. I think he would end up being the best asset in this possible deal and he could flourish with the Bucks.

I think the only team that can trade for Giannis, that would make the most sense, that would make him happy is the Heat. He and Bam Adebayo would be awesome. They could keep Norm Powell and let him create and score. They have the young kid from Illinois that showed flashes. They would be able to keep Jacquez and Jovic and let them stay in their current roles, which fit them best. I think the Heat will get it done and do it before the draft. That is what I see happening in the long run. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Knicks are NBA Champs

After 53 years, the New York Knicks are your 2026 NBA champions.

This is wild to me. I honestly didn't think I'd see the day that the Knicks actually won the whole damn thing. The Knicks, even with being in one of the biggest markets, had kind of become a laughingstock. I grew up on really good Knicks teams that couldn't get over the hump. I genuinely liked the John Starks and Patrick Ewing Knicks. I was a Ewing fan from the time I remember starting to watch the NBA, and when John Starks dunked on Jordan, he didn't, I became an instant fan of his. I had that damn poster on my wall as a kid. I liked Allan Houston and Larry Johnson. Charles Smith will live in infamy, but he was fun for me to watch. Hell, I even tuned into their games when guys like Langston Galloway, Nate Robinson and Frank Knitilikina were a part of the team. They did have a solid little run with Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire in the mid 2010's. But the team just couldn't get the big win. Be it Charles Smith getting continually blocked at the rim, or Ewing missing wide open layups, or Hakeem Olajuwon blocking a starks three point attempt, or Carmelo not getting the team past the second round, the Knicks just looked destined to be good, but not good enough. Hell, even last season they couldn't get by the Pacers. The Pacers were on an all time heater, and that Tyrese Haliburton jumper was amazing, but the Knicks were the better team.

After that East Finals matchup, to be honest, I kind of gave up on this current Knicks roster. It seemed a lot like what they had always done. I'm a Grizzlies fan, but growing up in a house that rooted against the Jordan Bulls, I became a Supersonics fan, and always will be. But I also kind of rooted for the Knicks too. It was all about Ewing and RD being a fan. I have never hated or loved the Knicks. I tolerated them. I like their jerseys, I like MSG and I have liked a ton of their players. But they never won anything big, at least not in my lifetime.

Then the Knick had this playoff run. They looked so good after game three against the Hawks. For people that may have already forgotten, the Hawks held a 2-1 lead in the first round, before the Knicks woke up and blew the doors off of them in three straight games. After the Hawks took the lead it looked like typical Knicks playoff regression. Then something clicked and it clicked at the exact right time. They went on to obliterate the Hawks so badly that they had a 60 point lead in Atlanta in the closeout game of that series. They wiped the floor with the 76ers in the second round, and easily dispatched of the Cavs in yet another sweep. This Knicks team felt and looked different. But that didn't stop me from still picking the Spurs to win in seven games. I figured the long layoff for the Knicks, the youth of the Spurs, the home court advantage for the Spurs and the dominance of Victor Webanyama were going to be enough for the Knicks to get beat on the biggest stage. I was so very wrong. Every game in this series was great, and close. I know the Knicks won game one by 10, but that was some late free throws making the final score look a little off. Each game was back and forth. The Spurs would hold these big leads in the first half, but the knicks never wavered. They felt like they could win every game. I do feel the only reason they didn't win game three was because that monster was in attendance when no one wanted his punkass there. He soured that whole night for the Knicks. But even in that game the Knicks closed it to one with seconds left on the clock. The turning point for me, and everyone else I bet, was the comeback win in game four. The Spurs were up 29 at the half. Teams with that big of leads in the NBA don't usually blow those games. But the Knicks just kept chipping away. When they cut the lead to 13 going into the fourth quarter I told my wife I had to go watch just to see if they could fully comeback. And dammit they made the full comeback. That OG Anunoby tip in was incredible and I will never forget it. I was sitting in my living room jaw agape watching no Spurs player guard him and Anunoby rushing to the rim, out jumping everyone and tipping that ball in. It was an incredible game with an amazing comeback and my son was equally as stunned as I was when I told him the Knicks won. Game 5 kind of felt like a formality after that, but you still have to play the game. And the Spurs showed up for three and a half quarters. But so did Jalen Brunson. I'm not the biggest fan of how Brunson plays basketball, but he was determined to close out the Spurs in game 5. The dude was amazing to watch. Every shot that went in seemed crazier than the last one. He was otherworldly in that game. But he had help throughout the series. Anunoby was my personal pick for Finals MVP. He did it all. Literally. Karl Anthony-Towns played the best defense anyone has ever played on Wemby. Mitchell Robinson was the perfect bully. Josh Hart out hustled anyone in his way. Mikail Bridges did his role perfectly. Jose Alvarado stepped up when his number was called. This team was built for this and they won their title in pretty dominant fashion.

I found myself happy for the Knicks watching this series, but it wouldn't have mattered who won. I like both these teams. I was texting with a friend of mine and we both just wanted the series to continue because it was so much fun and so competitive. But in the end the Knicks are the rightful and deserving NBA champs. They went out there and beat everyone in their way. I was wrong, they were right to let Tom Thibodeau walk and hire Mike Brown.

Congratulations New York Knicks. You are the 2026 NBA champs. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Austin Reaves and the Nets is Not a Good Idea

The NBA draft and free agency are right around the corner. Not to worry, I will do a draft preview closer to the actual day of the draft. But with free agency looming, news stories about possible deals are already popping up in the media. Let’s discuss.

The "big fish" as of right now seems to be Austin Reaves. I'm very tepid on Reaves. I think if he were playing in almost any other market, and putting up the same stats, he wouldn't be viewed as the prize possession he is because he plays for the Lakers. This is one of the few cases that the name on front of the jersey is more important than the one on the back. I think he is showing a tendency to be more injured, he is an inconsistent scorer, he pops off way too much and he is a liability on the defensive end of the floor. I also think he thinks he is better than he truly is in the world of the NBA. But, because he is finding himself wide open, given open driving lanes due to who he is teammates with, and because he can hide on defense, he is going to get a ton of offers. I personally think he will stay with the Lakers, he'd be an idiot not to, but that won't stop teams from chasing him. Right after the Lakers season ended, teams already popped up as possible suitors. I've seen the Hornets mentioned. I have read that the Bulls may pursue him. I'm sure a rebuilding team in a "smaller" market, like Sacramento may go after him.

This morning I read that the Nets are preparing a max offer sheet for him. The Nets front office is willing to give him four years and 175 million plus to be their number one offensive option. It seems as if they are ready to build a team around Austin Reaves. I openly laughed at the headline when I read it. This is so perfectly Brooklyn Nets coded. The Nets cannot ever seem to make a right decision within the front office. They almost nailed it when they got Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to sign. And when they landed James Harden it seemed as if the Nets had done something right. But in true Nets fashion, it blew up in their faces. Kyrie Irving refused to get vaccinated. Kevin Durant couldn't stay healthy and demanded a trade. He also wanted the coaching staff and front office fired if he were to stay. And James Harden couldn't deal with the workload and asked to be traded as well. They couldn't get it together.

Even prior to this, the Nets have made some odd decisions in the past during free agency. Deron Williams seemed like a perfect fit when they lured him away from Utah. But he was never the true point guard leader they needed, and he was never able to stay healthy for a full season. They gave Andrei Kirlineko a bunch of money just to see him flame out in epic fashion. They signed Gerald Wallace to a nice offer sheet, but as much as I liked Wallace when he was on the Bobcats, he was not the frontcourt star they hoped he would be.

But, with the Reaves news dominating NBA headlines this morning, the only offer from the past that the Nets made that kept popping up in my brain was when they gave Tyler Johnson an offer sheet. Do you all remember that? Do you all even remember Tyler Johnson? For people who may not know who he is, or was at that time, Johnson kind of came out of nowhere as a member of the Miami Heat from 2014 to 2019. He had an up and down start to his tenure there, splitting time with the Heat and their D League affiliate, that's right, the G League used to be called the D League. But in 2016 through the 2018 seasons, something clicked for Johnson. He became this excellent bench scorer for the Heat. He played in 72 and 73 games both seasons, averaging around 12 points on 43 percent shooting. The media and Heat fans loved his energy off the bench and he became this niche basketball player that analytic people loved. He hustled, played his role and seemed destined to be a starter in the near future. The Nets saw this and decided he was ready to be given a sizable offer sheet. I want to say they offered him about 50 million for around four years. This was unheard of at the time for a bench player. He passed, the Heat gave him a one year deal and then he bounced around the league, never finding the success he found from 2016 to 2018. He went to Phoenix where he only played a total of 44 games in two years. He did find his way to Brooklyn eventually, playing a total of 47 games in two years. He then spent some time with the 76ers and Sant Antonio Spurs in the 21-22 season, playing a total of six games. I get mad Tyler Johnson vibes from this Austin Reaves news. Tyler Johnson should have stuck it out and played the role he was best suited for with the Heat. Hell, he could still be there if that was the case. But some other teams saw something, and a team like the Nets were ready to throw a bunch of cash at him and give him a bigger role.

It would not stun me at all, if Reaves were to sign with the Nets, if the same thing happens to him. Reaves would become another player who got paid and faded away. He is not a guy to build a team around. He is only successful because of the teammates he has around him. He will ot put up anything close to the same numbers with the Nets as he would if he stays with the Lakers. I find Austin Reaves to be incredibly overrated. And if he thinks that he is going to live up to a max contract, that is laughable to me.

The Nets need to stop with this nonsense of taking wild chances on unproven players. Do something right and pull this offer, or never even let it get out that you're thinking of doing it. Austin Reaves is not a player you can win a title with as your number one option. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The New College Football Game Will Be More of the Same, and I'm Still Buying It

The trailer was revealed for the new College Football game, and even though it will be pretty similar to every other version, I've got to say, I'm pumped.

Ever since they announced the return of the game two years ago, I get more excited every year for this one and only video game. The college football game is the only video game that I have cared about and been any good at playing. I'm not much for role playing games. The newer versions of the Mario games don't appeal much to me. They have never made Crash Bandicoot right since the first version. There are moments few and far between where I get into other sports games, but it never lasts as long as it does with the college football game.

With NIL coming into the fold, and players being rightfully compensated for their image, the return of this game was inevitable. And when it came out for the first time in a while two years ago, it was perfect. I was right back into it all. I started my dynasty, I got back into recruiting, I play every game of the season, I want to win all the time. This has always been the case with this game, and with this new trailer for the 2027 version,

I'm as excited today as I was over two decades ago when this game first came out. The gameplay looks amazing during the trailer. The updates are right up my alley. You can create stadiums again, which hasn't been in the game for a good long time now. The mascot games are back. You can play multiple different positions on the road to glory now. I cannot wait to create a massive rush edge and run college football with the player. They have added NIL stuff in dynasty mode with the recruiting. The game play is becoming more and more real with each new version that comes out. That's how I want it to be. I want them to make this as close to the real thing as possible. That makes it all the more fun.

And my goodness, the game play in the trailer is down right insane looking to me. Each new version begins to look more and more like an actual college football game. This stuff is becoming more and more real every year. I swear that I think I'm watching a real game sometimes when I play. It is only when I look down at the screen and see a name I don't recognize that I realize I'm in the year 2030 with the dynasty I started over a year ago.

I'm also very interested to see what Michigan looks like in the new game. As you all know, Michigan had a bizarre offseason. They regrouped quite nicely, keeping a good amount of key players and hiring Kyle Whitingham, who kind of fortunately fell into their laps. He has what looks to be a good staff around him, they got Bryce Underwood a reliable QB coach, they retained Andrew Marsh and Jordan Marshall, kept their top recruits, and return some members of what could be a decent defense. I'm itching to see how these guys all look in real life, but also in the video game. I want to see what kind of plays the offense runs in the game under Jason Beck. I want to see if the defense is more coverage or attacking under the new defensive coordinator. It is going to show me a lot before the season starts. And boy oh boy am I glad they got Kyle Whitingham. What a relief that was. I'm sure this is how fans of their respective teams feel about this game. It gives us a bit of an early look at what our teams can possibly look like when the season starts in September.

I'm stoked for this game. I cannot wait to download it on my home system the day it is released to the public. I will start to build my dynasty with Michigan. EA's college football game is the best game that has ever existed in my opinion. And as long as they keep making it, I will keep being excited about it and buying it on opening day. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Answers the "Is Russell Wilson a Hall of Famer" Question

Russell Wilson announced yesterday that he is retiring from the NFL. This seemed inevitable. He wasn't on a team, no one seemed interested, I don't think he was willing to be a backup and it was time to walk away. At first blush, after he announced his decision, I instantly thought, well he is a hall of fame QB. But, as I have been thinking more and more about it, is Russell Wilson a hall of fame player?

There are certain current QBs playing right now that I think are sure fire hall of fame players. I think Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are shoe-ins. They kind of helped usher in this new era of QBs. The dual threat QBs that are coveted by certain teams. Allen and Jackson, at least to me, have been the guys who ushered in this new era. Without them maybe we don't get Jalen Hurts or anyone else that plays like him. I believe Patrick Mahomes is a first ballot hall of fame QB. He is a winner, puts up tremendous numbers and led a dynastic team in the Chiefs. I do think, unfortunately, that Aaron Rodgers will be a first ballot hall of fame player. He has the numbers, has a ring, has multiple MVP awards and will most likely be inducted as soon as he is able. The jury is still out on guys like Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford, amongst others.

I have also pondered other players who have been out of the game for a bit now, and are coming up on their possible induction. I don't think Eli Manning is a hall of fame QB, but I bet he gets in. He was the QB of the Giants when they beat those dominant Patriots teams in the mid 2000's. Drew Brees reminds me a ton of Rodgers, with better numbers. Brees is a surefire first ballot hall of fame QB. And then we have guys like Phillip Rivers and Alex Smith. Rivers had tremendous numbers and had a very long and fruitful career. But he never won a ring or an MVP. I don't know if he gets into the hall of fame or not. I do believe he has just as much a case as Eli Manning. Alex Smith is a good story, coming back from his horrific injury. But he doesn't have the numbers, the wins or the allure of the other QBs eligible or already in the hall of fame.

Which brings me to Russell Wilson. Wilson was kind of a surprise star in the NFL for a bit. The Seahawks took him in the later rounds to be Matt Flynn's backup. Flynn proved to be a flash in the pan, and Wilson started almost immediately in Seattle, and they had great success. They won a ring. They went to multiple Super Bowls. They crushed the Broncos when they had what was supposed to be one of the best offenses in the history of football. Wilson was the MVP of the game and looked like his success would continue for a while. They had the second Super Bowl won, until the team decided to throw the ball on the one yard line instead of just handing it to Marshawn Lynch and just letting him fall into the end zone. Wilson has the big game experience of a hall of fame QB, and even a ring. Wilson has the stats too. He put up some big numbers throughout his career. He has multiple 4,000 yard plus passing yards seasons. He has a 40 passing TD season and a 34 passing TD season. He always threw more TDs than interceptions. He had teams in playoff contention almost every season.

Then the trade to Denver happened. He really went downhill during his run in Denver. He couldn't move like he did before. He became a little too obsessed with his own fame. He wanted the limelight more and more it seemed. And that affected his play. He was replaced by, I believe, Jarrett Stidham during his final season in Denver, and made his way to Pittsburgh. He split time with Justin Fields there, due to injury, but he only lasted a season. Then he went to the Giants, and that was a pain to watch. He just wasn't the same. And without getting signed this offseason, he made the right choice to hang the cleats up for good.

In looking at his past stats, and his career as a whole, do I think he should be a hall of famer? No, I don't. He had a great career. He proved tons of doubters wrong. He won a ring. He became famous. But he benefited from having a generational defense with him in Seattle. They had Marshawn Lynch. They had a great o line. Wilson benefited from all of that, as he should have. But, in looking at those Seattle teams he played for, there are a few guys I'd put in the hall of fame before him. I'd put Marshawn Lynch in over anyone else on that team. I'd think much harder about Richard Sherman than I would Russell Wilson when it comes to the hall of fame. Earl Thomas has a better shot in my opinion too. Russell Wilson was a very good, very competent NFL QB. But is he a hall of famer?

I say no. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Thoughts on the AJ Brown and Myles Garrett Trades

The NFL had two big trades that occurred while I was at the movies yesterday. I have thoughts on both deals.

AJ Brown was moved from the Eagles to the Patriots for some picks. This was an expected trade. I feel like I have been hearing that Brown was going to be traded since last season, and it always seemed like New England was going to be the destination. He wanted out of Philly and it seemed like he wanted to go to the Patriots.

This does give the Patriots a legit number 1, but it doesn't move the needle as much as others may think, at least in my opinion. Brown is a very good wideout. He can get separation, he is fast for his size, and speaking of his size, he is a big dude. But he is older now. He may have given the Eagles his best playing days. His prime may be over with. And Drake Maye is not nearly as good as Jalen Hurts. I know Jalen Hurts has his detractors, but the dude has a ring, he is one of the better dual threat QBs in the NFL and the guy knows how to throw the long ball. I think we all saw the height of Drake Maye's ability last season. I don't think it will get any better than what he showed last season. And while he had a solid season, it went downhill by the end of the year. He became a game manager. The Patriots got to the Super Bowl due to their defense. They only scored 10 points in the AFC title game. The defense is their calling card.

While AJ Brown will add a new weapon to the Patriots offense, this move feels similar to Deebo Samuel joining the Commanders last offseason. It looks all shiny and nice on paper, but when it came to the games, he was essentially a nonfactor. I get that vibe from this move. The Patriots are going to win games by running the ball and playing suffocating defense. Adding AJ Brown probably feels nice right now, but when the season starts, I don't think it will really move the needle all that much. The Patriots are also a big bet to take a step back this season. That didn't change when they acquired AJ Brown yesterday either. Last season seemed more like a fluke than anything else.

Now to the big time trade that will actually make a humongous difference.

Myles Garrett is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams. This is a humongous deal. Garrett is the best defensive player in all of football. He is a one man wrecking crew. He can disrupt an entire offensive line's game plan. He is a sack machine. Offensive lines sometimes need three guys dedicated to  blocking only him. He is on a Bruce Smith/Reggie White level at this point. Hell, he may be better than both of them. Garrett has separated himself from every other pass rusher in football. This is such a bigger move than the Packers getting Micah Parsons last season, and I loved that move. This instantly makes the Rams Super Bowl favorites going into this season. They were in title contention last season, and they seemed to be missing something on the defensive side of the ball. They lacked a genuine pass rusher. They have the best one in the game now. Adding him to this defense is a big time deal. He's now the number one piece on a defense that includes guys like Trent McDuffie, Poona Ford and Kam Kitchens.

Sure, the Rams had to trade Jared Verse and a bunch of high draft picks to get him, but who cares. I know the Rams don't. Sean McVay has always been a "f them picks" type of coach. They did it when they acquired Matthew Stafford, and won a Super Bowl I might add. And now they have done it to get Myles Garrett. I also read that Aaron Donald is maybe thinking about coming out of retirement to return to the Rams. If he were to come back, the Rams defensive front could be one of the best ever assembled. I know that defensive players never win the MVP, but Myles Garrett could be the one guy to change that. He is that good and that important to his team's success. And he got out of a bad situation in Cleveland and is now playing for what a bunch of people feel is one of the best run organizations in all of pro sports. Garrett was already a star, but playing in LA will only amplify that, and he is going to ascend to some of the highest heights in professional sports.

This was a baller move made by a franchise who is all in. This was the trade of the offseason, and maybe of the past 10 years. What a day. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.