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Raheel Ramzanali: Hey, Adam Silver, we need an NBA All-Star Draft selection show
Jan 16, 2018, 4:59 am
How will Steph Curry and LeBron James pick in the All-Star Draft? The people need to see this. SBNation.com
I won’t hide it, I think the NBA is the best league among the three major sports. The NBA truly does a great job of letting the players shine on and off the court thus making it a product the fans can really get behind. This starts with Adam Silver and his willingness to listen to what fans want and more importantly, what the NBA Player’s Union wants. He’s not afraid to voice his opinion regarding controversial topics like gambling in sports and the use of marijuana by athletes. He’s also really good at tailoring the league to help the players’ personality shine (goodbye silly dress code and hello awesome Russell Westbrook outfits!) and capturing social media attention for it.
The NBA owns social media and they’ve always been the best when it comes to capturing an audience on the digital front. Hell, they were putting up videos on NBA.com before most leagues even had a video presence online. In short, the NBA is all about the fans. So it was no surprise when Silver announced a revamp of the stale NBA All-Star Game by changing the East vs West format to a playground style format where two captains would pick teams from the eligible All-Star player pool. The NFL tried to make the Pro-Bowl interesting for once by allowing Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin to draft the rosters, but that fell flat since because there really is no drama in the selection process with former players.
One of the reasons this idea was so well-received last year was because current players would be picking the rosters and we the fans would get to follow along with the draft. But early last week, Adam Silver had his first potential misstep with the fans when he announced that the NBA All-Star Game draft wouldn’t be televised AND the rosters wouldn’t be released based on where players were picked. As a lifelong NBA fan, this sucks. I’m taking it personally because we have the potential to have an annual event where we can see what players really think about their peers. I know Adam Silver is reading this so I want to lay out five reasons why he should put the draft on TV and make it the biggest non-game social media night the league has ever seen:
1. LeBron vs Curry
LeBron James is one of the greatest ever and is still the most popular player in the league, but Steph Curry isn’t far behind. I need to see these two become captains and host the draft because this will lend to the best storylines throughout the night of the All-Star Draft. This also gives fans a rooting interest in terms of the old East vs West, but also new school (Curry) vs old school (LeBron). Also, throughout the night we have the potential of Curry taking digs at LeBron for beating him twice in the finals and LeBron retorting with how many rings he has in his career. They both seem to be very friendly with each other so it really could be good natured fun with some good shots taken.
2. Durant vs Westbrook
Last year’s all-star game was all about if Durant and Westbrook would go at it and shake hands. This year, it would be all about who gets drafted first. Let’s say LeBron has the first pick and he takes Durant. Now we’re left with the possibility of Curry taking Westbrook with his first pick or passing on him to appease Durant. That alone would be worth the price of admission and social media would have a field day with it. The potential of that alone is why this needs to be on TV.
3. Team Petty
I’m super petty and proud of it. I want to know if NBA players are also wired like me. For example, would LeBron continuously pass on Kyrie Irving in the draft because of all the off-season drama and trade demands? Haha, why is LeBron taking Manu Ginobili ahead of Kyrie in the third round?! Steph Curry seems like the kind of guy that would only select his teammates in spite of better players on the board. Don’t tell me you don’t see him passing on Giannis Antetokounmpo in favor of Draymond Green or Klay Thompson.
4. What Do Players Really Think About Each Other?
We all get it that Joel Embiid is the Process and well on his way to becoming the most liked player in the league, but do current guys hold that against him? Embiid is third in East among front court players in the latest voting returns, but would Curry and James freeze him out in the draft to make sure he doesn’t go until the final few rounds just to humble him? We’ll also see how players value big guys in the league. We know this isn’t a big man league anymore, but do the players believe that logic? After the first few rounds, would Curry and James just draft based on likeability of guys they want to hang out with for an entire weekend or are they drafting to win the game?
5. Mr. Irrelevant
In the NFL Draft we celebrate Mr. Irrelevant (and he truly becomes irrelevant after cuts), but in the NBA All-Star game draft Mr. Irrelevant would get ROASTED on social media. I’m talking about next level online bullying of a very successful NBA player. Being named an all-star is a tremendous honor and only a handful of humans in the history of the world have achieved that honor, but being the last one taken in the draft? Forget about it, you’re done. Fans would make fun of you every chance they get. Good luck going to a game and not seeing a Mr. Irrelevant jersey with your number on it. Bonus: this would be even better if it happens to a veteran that has to take the beating from his peers through the entire weekend in LA. My pick for Mr. Irrelevant? Victor Oladipo. Congrats, you’re an all-star, buttttttt...you’re the last one picked on the playground.
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How Houston Rockets hold the cards for a franchise-changing summer
May 8, 2025, 5:45 pm
In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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