Raiders 2019 NFL Draft Round 1 Recap

Day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft is a wrap and the Raiders have made all three of their first round selections. They tanked enough to get #4 overall pick. They get additional late first round picks from the Bears and the Cowboys since they traded Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper respectively. The Gruden/Mayock regime can't possibly screw this up correct? Let's take a look at their selections and I provide my own personal thoughts on them.

#4: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

The top 5 pick that surprised a whole lot of analysts that covered a lot of mock drafts prior. So, this is the reason why Gruden and Mayock sent their scouts home? I got a chance to see Ferrell play against Alabama in the National Title game. I was paying close attention to he and Quinnen Williams as I thought the Raiders would get both players back-to-back. Not the case today as the Jets took Williams at #3. Clelin Ferrell is not a bad player. He was key in disrupting Alabama's offense and not allowing Tua Tagovailoa to turn loose as the Tigers rolled over the Tide that game. Then again, that Clemson D-line was stacked with all kinds of talent and Ferrell without question is a 1st round talent. He's ranked as a top 10 DE/EDGE rusher in this draft. High character, coming from a military family. He's exactly what the Raiders needed to shore up the pass rush that was non-existent since they gave away Mack to Chicago. The only problem is that he was taken a little too early. Most mock drafts had him as a mid-late 1st rounder. Again, I thought the Raiders would've used their late 1st round picks to get him or they could've traded down and he still would've been on the board. Bosa went at #2. Williams at #3. The top defensive prospects are gone, so why not trade down, accumulate more picks, and still get Ferrell? Another thing is that other top prospects like Josh Allen out of Kentucky was still on the board. But, the Raiders selected Ferrell because he's a better scheme fit. The number one rule for teams with a top 5 pick is that you use that pick for a need. You use it for an impact player that can help right away, hence why I and along with a few others were stunned that they reached for Ferrell this early. Like I said, he's not a bad player. He's just overvalued for a #4 overall pick. Inserting him with Hurst, Hall, and Key on that D-line is going to be Paul Guenther's big project. That line is filled with a lot of promise and unknowns.

#24: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

From the Khalil Mack trade obviously. There's a lot of uncertainty at the running back position with Marshawn Lynch retiring (again) and Doug Martin remaining unsigned (like the Raiders need him). They did sign Isaiah Crowell this offseason to address RB. With this selection, they might potentially have added their bell cow back of the future. I didn't get to see much of Josh Jacobs in the championship game vs. Clemson. Alabama got destroyed so they couldn't rely on the running game too much. But from what I've heard and looking at his highlights, he's versatile and can fit in a zone or power scheme. He's shown some flashes as a solid pass catching back, has a nose for the end zone, and possesses some good speed when he hits one big hole. He's pretty shifty with his feet as well. Given that and his pass catching ability, I'm probably assuming that Josh Jacobs is more of a scat back. He's definitely a perfect replacement for Beast Mode since Marshawn is a similar runner. The only knock on Jacobs is that Alabama's running backs are hard to trust when they go to the NFL. Think Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry (TBD), etc. Alabama RBs have been on a downward trend lately and many are figuring out that they're byproducts of Alabama's pro-ready O-line. Nonetheless, The competition at RB is heating up with Jacobs and Crowell expected to be #1 and #2. And then Richard, D-Wash, and CW III (Chris Warren III) projected to fight for that #3 spot.

#27: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State

I initially projected the Raiders to go defense heavy with all three of their first round picks. I wouldn't be surprised if they used one of those picks to get a DB. And they did address that with their last pick of the draft. Last year, the Raiders' secondary started to turn the corner. Karl Joseph broke out since taking over for Reggie Nelson. Gareon Conley was finally 100% and showed some flashes of being a shutdown corner. Thank goodness they didn't bring back old-@$$ Reggie Nelson and signed LaMarcus Joyner from the Rams. I'm being a little off topic here, so let's go back. The Raiders select Johnathan Abram. He was the leading tackler in the SEC Conference. He's a hard-hitting safety that excels in whenever Mississippi State's defense stacks the box. He's also a versatile safety, able to play both Free, Strong and can easily be plugged into playing as a nickel corner. I'm not sure if this pick indicates that the writing is on the wall for Karl Joseph. He's a free agent by season's end. We'll see what happens. But, the Raiders are stacking a lot of depth in the secondary. They're deep especially at the Safety position with Joseph, Joyner, Erik Harris, Curtis Riley, and now, Johanathan Abram.

A Season in Review: 2018-19 Lakers

*Some NSFW language*

This was quite a week for the Los Angeles Lakers and not in a good way. Perhaps the shitstorm that's going on in La La Land was right on queue for me to post our annual Season in Review post for the 2018-19 Lakers. What started as a season full of hope and optimism turned into a nightmare and it doesn't stop there with all the major turnover that is going on inside a franchise that was once the "gold standard" of the NBA. Let's recap a bit here.

When the Lakers brought in LeBron James, we were elated that the Lakers finally landed that superstar free agent they desperately coveted. They landed the NBA's biggest star and they were the talk of the league once again. To complement the acquisition of LeBron, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka added Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Lance Stephenson, players all with playoff and championship saviness to help turn the Laker boys into men. With LeBron, the young core, and the one-year vets, the Lakers got off to a solid start. They played above .500 basketball, were #4 in the West, and they blew out the 2x defending champion Warriors in Oakland on Christmas Day. The game proved that the Lakers were back and they were back with a vengeance.

And simultaneously after that game, the Lakers were never the same again. The Lakers lose LeBron on a groin injury and he dozed off to the bright lights of Hollywood, caring more about Space Jam 2 and his collab with 2 Chainz rather than bringing the Lakers back to prominence (hence the load management). It also doesn't help that the Lakers Front Office pretty much put the entire team on notice for one Unibrow in New Orleans in Anthony Davis. Let's be honest, both sides made piss poor PR moves in this trade drama. But, it hurt the Lakers more because after that, nobody seemed to trust nobody. No NBA GM trusts Rob Pelinka. No player on the roster trust LeBron and his Klutch Sports agency because they failed in pulling the strings to get Anthony Davis to LA to play with LeBron. As a result for this consolation, the Lakers still managed to pull off some trades...by adding Reggie Bullock and Mike Muscala. **Excuse me while I take a step back and question reality.**

As LeBron went down with the groin injury, the injury bug spread to the Lakers' young core like a disease. Lonzo Ball never saw the court again with leg and ankle injuries. It's what happens when you wear those cheap, bootleg BBB sneakers. Brandon Ingram is currently fighting a career and life-threatening blood clot. Even with "playoff mode" activated, the burden was too much for LeBron to carry with a lot of postseason mileage and being in a competitive West instead of a weak East. The Lakers missed the playoffs yet again and Lou Williams and Patrick Beverly backed up their statements that the Clippers still have a stranglehold over LA given their more recent successes. 

Now that I've rambled on the general summary of how this season went, let's boil down to the shitshow that has happened in these couple days after a disappointing 37-45 finish to the season. Magic Johnson stepped down as President of Basketball Operations hours before the Lakers' final game against Portland. Maybe LaVar Ball was right, he was just the face of the Lakers, not a true basketball executive. Magic has a big smile and charismatic charm that he had since he came into the league. Unfortunately, that charisma has lead the Lakers to pay some hefty fines for tampering since he could not shut up about other teams' star players. Magic may be a business man, but he doesn't have a sharp eye for talent nor does he have the patience and competency in trusting a process. Exhibit A) trading D'Angelo Russell because he needed a "leader," Exhibit B) Putting the young core on the trade block to field a two-man superteam. No matter what happens, Magic is a powerful figure in Laker land regardless. He just doesn't have the moxie to coach or build a team. At least there's some things that Larry Bird has edged Magic out in. Per Magic's words, "he's a free bird now." Good luck Rob Pelinka, you're gonna need it.

A day after, the Lakers fire their athletic trainer. When a team has this many injuries in a season, definitely there has to be an overhaul of professional trainers and physical therapists. The tragic thing is, he was probably a protege of Gary Vitti, the Lakers' longtime athletic trainer until 2016. With the amount of injuries this season, obviously the Lakers need some new trainers to better condition players and make them as injury-free as possible.

As the Purple and Gold Rome burns day-by-day, the most inevitable departure happened. Head Coach Luke Walton gets the axe after three seasons. Both he and the Lakers "mutually parted ways." Despite coaching the Warriors to a 24-0 start, Luke was still green by pretty much inheriting his own team after being a part of the Steve Kerr coaching tree. We can't ignore the deficiencies that hindered his development. His rotations were questionable at best. He throws players out there, hoping some things work out rather than survey the matchups out there and sub in and out player to exploit some advantages. His set plays off timeouts were subpar at best. But let's be honest here, Luke could not properly establish the culture and system he wanted to bring to the Lakers because of high roster turnover in all of his three years with the Lakers. He was brought in to develop the young core. His first year, he intended to build a system around D'Angelo Russell. D'Lo gets traded, now Luke has to adjust around Zo, B.I., Kuz, and Randle. Randle leaves. Lakers bring LeBron and a couple of vets in and now, he can't fully implement his system because the "LeBron system" doesn't work that way. Despite all that, Luke helped improve the Lakers year-to-year from 26 wins to 35 wins to a whopping 37 wins. Yup, Luke was definitely the "fall guy" for the Lakers because the front office kept plugging square pegs into round holes around the roster. It wouldn't take long for Luke to find a job. He's a hot candidate for young teams in need of a player development-oriented coach.

Just when we thought the Lakers were trending in the right direction. The organization is being exposed into what it currently is: a Purple and Gold Shitshow. They've done it. They've pretty much become the Oakland Raiders of the NBA: a dysfunctional franchise that is clinging on to the glory days of the past. You know I thought it was only Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak that was destroying the Lakers from within, boy does it get worse with Jeanie Buss running the show? Honestly, what is the late Dr. Jerry Buss thinking about in the afterlife now as he sees his kids destroy his proud empire? You know? It's probably like what the late Al Davis is going through right now seeing Mark Davis burn the Raiders to the ground. It's tough to root for two dysfunctional teams that is making losing a normal conformity year after year after year: coaching carousels, high roster turnover, delusions of grandeur in chasing superstar free agents in their prime, vice versa, chasing the big names in the twilight of their career, and accumulating all kinds of draft assets and then stunting and demoralizing the growth of those young prospects because the front office does not know what the hell they're doing. 

The team is in shambles. They're pretty much rebooting the rebuilding process again. But, the biggest hurdle right now is the 4-year, $134 million contact they offered to bring an aging LeBron James in. Hmmm... doesn't this remind me of Kobe's final years? Hasn't the organization learn a goddamn thing that you must choose either to win now or build for the long-term and that there's no in-between the two paths? Especially with the latter being the better option among the two because it equates to long-term success? Look at how San Antonio built their team. Look at how Golden State built their team. The Lakers can't even try to develop and mold their own draft assets even if their organization's life depended on it. We get it, the draft is a 50/50 hindsight. The #1 pick is nearly a guaranteed superstar and the Lakers haven't had the luxury of a #1 pick in these past few years. But, this doesn't excuse the fact that the Lakers have accumulated a lot of young talent these past years only to throw them away as they find success elsewhere because the Lakers are so desperate to win championships right away. This is why free agents stay as far away as possible and I bet they're not even going to consider playing with LeBron and the Lakers with the shitshow that is going on there. Free agents do not care about past success, the amount of championships won, and the fact that it's the Lakers and it's LA. They care more about the long-term outlook of the team. Hence why the Lakers are horrifyingly out of touch with today's NBA! They're trending on a parallel path that has plagued the Raiders in the NFL since their Super Bowl hangover in 2002. "We can pry Jerry West away from the Clippers." Easier said than done given the Lakers had their chance and blew it. They have a GM that nobody trusts. The next head coach is likely a puppet of LeBron. Free agents are monitoring this situation closely and it's more likely than not that the Lakers have no Plan B because no top free agent would want to come and play in LeBron's shadow.

Jeanie Buss, the ball is in your court. If you don't have a long-term plan to turn the Lakers around, then I'm afraid it might be time for a changing of the guard in ownership. For most of us fans that continue to preserve the "championship or bust" mentality, it's time to look in the mirror. Otherwise, the Lakers would continue to be in an endless loop of rebuilding and tearing back down and the cycle won't stop until they have a firm plan and identity in place for the long run. That's my rant/review for the year. We'll see what's in store for the offseason.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/31): Oh, Now They Start Winning?

*Some NSFW language*

A few more games after this week remain. It's a time where good teams start resting their star players sitting comfortably in their playoff spots and where bad teams start picking up G-League players to showcase their potential in making the team. The Lakers have long been eliminated from the playoffs, but they still play on as the NBA demands it. It was a March to forget about as the Lakers took so many L's that they doomed their playoffs hopes. Now ever since they were eliminated, they started playing better. Let's be honest here, they played against teams that are tanking or have no shot at the playoffs whatsoever this week. As they pile up meaningless W's, they are on pace to break their win total from last year, despite finishing under .500 yet again, which is a big disappointment considering they went from 26 wins to 35 wins in Luke Walton's first two years as Head Coach. And more likely than not, he's fired by season's end. Let's get to the bottom of this week's Lakers Weekly Roundup.

03/26: vs. Washington 106-124 [W] (33-41)

HIGHLIGHTS

Lance Making Jeff Green Dance

You know? Games like this makes me wish that the NBA had an option to flex out games that are not worthy for national television. Kinda like what the NFL does. I mean, nobody wants to see two NFL teams with losing records headlining a Sunday Night game. It's understandable why this was nationally televised from the get-go. The Wizards were projected to be playoff team this year and LeBron James has made the Lakers relevant again and must-see TV. Now, these are two teams out of the playoff hunt and riddled with injuries. This game was easy pickings for the Lakers when Washington's only offense this game came out of Bradley Beal,  who's on an all-around tear these last few games. Beal had 32 points this game, but the Lakers beat the John Wall-less Wizards on an all-around team win. Ironic to say considering they tried to tear this locker room apart. But, it was all fun and games here. Lance Stephenson had the highlight of the night this game crossing up Jeff Green and making the Laker bench and Staples Center lose their minds. Even though Green clearly stepped on Lance's foot and slipped. With the game well out of reach, the Lakers debut their recent G-League tryout, Scott Machado, signed to a 10-day deal.

03/27: @ Utah 100-115 [L] (33-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Back-to-back set, so no LeBron here. The Lakers were bound to lose this game. It's always a hostile crowd in Salt Lake City. With the Lakers having nothing to play for, the Jazz were well within reach of a playoff berth if they win this game. The Jazz took care of business behind a stellar game from Joe Ingles. John Stockton was reincarnated as an Aussie this game as Ingles carved up the Lakers with his passing, racking 14 assists and making Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors look good. Congrats Jazz, you've clinched a playoff berth. Nothing more to say here.

03/29: vs. Charlotte 115-129 [W] (34-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Hornets fans, you have to implore his Airness to give Kemba Walker some help. The guy does so much for this team, but he's surrounded by a shit supporting cast. Lucky for the Hornets, they play in the East and their playoff hopes are still faintly alive. But, the Lakers dampen those playoff hopes a bit with this win as LeBron continues his shutout in head-to-head matchups against Kemba. I just found out that he has a 28-0 record all-time against him. That should be good enough for LeBron. Now, let's shut him down for the rest of the season.

03/31 @ New Orleans 130-102 [W] (35-42)

HIGHLIGHTS

Following up from the last post, the Lakers announced prior to this game that LeBron James will not play the rest of the season. I'd say it's a wise move. The guy has a lot mileage with 8 straight finals appearances and he hasn't been 100% since the groin injury in December. The playoffs are well out of reach, so there's no reason to push him to play out the remainder of the season.

Now that's that, time to give the Pelicans another beating for helping sabotage the Lakers' chemistry. Funny enough, the Pelicans listed Anthony Davis as probable for this game, then they ruled him out at the last minute. Honestly, who'd be stupid enough to play their disgruntled star player at this point of the season? To smite the team that tried to trade for him? Okay. Activate Alex Caruso's bald spot! Before we get into that, this was a revenge game for Rondo against his former team and he showed out with 24 points, 12 assists, and 2 steals. McGee also contributed with 23 points and 16 rebounds. But, it was the brilliant shooting of Alex Caruso and Reggie Bullock off the bench this game to help blow the Pelicans. Caruso lead the bench with 23 points to go along with 6 assists and 4 steals. He's been nothing short of solid when given the opportunity to go off the bench. But, we gotta give credit to the Laker defense in the 2nd half to spring the hot shooting. I was checking the plays on the Yahoo Sports app and they forced the Pelicans to turn the ball over like crazy to ignite the rout. Well, I'd say this probably the Lakers' last easy W this season. They got five more games against playoff contenders in the West (Golden State, Portland, OKC, Utah, Clippers). They'd be lucky to catch some of those teams resting players. Probably the team that won't likely rest players are the Warriors as they are neck-and-neck with the Nuggets for the #1 seed in the West. I probably won't be doing weekly roundups the rest of the way. I'll be heading straight for the annual Season-in-Review post. Anyway, here's to a strong finish to the season!

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/24): Eliminated From Playoff Contention

*Some NSFW language*

It was only inevitable. But thank goodness it's finally over. After taking so many L's this month, the Lakers have been eliminated from playoff contention. There are three reasons for this underwhelming season 1) injuries 2) the failed fire sale for Anthony Davis 3) chemistry ruined by Magic, Rob, and LeBron pulling the string behind the scenes. In a 2nd half of the season that was full of drama, the Lakers have ruined in what was their most promising start from the 4th seed to eliminated. And the drama doesn't stop there. While this was overshadowed by LeBron's influence to urge the Lakers to build a superteam and bring Anthony Davis, tensions arise within the Big Baller Brand as Lonzo Ball did the unthinkable: leaving BBB for Nike. Those BBB shoes are probably the reason why he was injury-prone these past two seasons. Not to mention, their co-founder committed some fraud. Ouch. So much for the BBB empire. Then, there's the search for a new head coach. It's inevitable that Luke Walton is gone by season's end. Rumors of Jason Kidd possibly being next in line is starting to pick up steam. To paraphrase his own words, it's hard to pass up a franchise that breeds championship DNA. That hasn't been the case the past few seasons. So, let's round and solve the problem of the Lakers' being mathematically eliminated in this week's Weekly Roundup.

03/19: @ Milwaukee 101-115 [L] (31-40)

HIGHLIGHTS

The Lakers wrap up their 4-game road trip with a visit against the best team in the East. This was a guaranteed beatdown for the Bucks. No LeBron. No Zo or B.I. Even if the Bucks were without the Greek Freak, they're roster is still loaded. The Bucks had control for the majority of the game. That's until the 4th quarter where they tried to give the game away to the Lakers. KCP  or Kenny as the Lakers social media nicknamed him during this game's recap helped lead the way, going off with 35 points. But, the Bucks depth showed by the end of the game. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez came to save the day to avoid an embarrassing disaster without their MVP. But on the flipside, they lose a key piece in Nikola Mirotic.

03/22: vs. Brooklyn 111-106 [L] (31-41)

HIGHLIGHTS

The stipulation is simple, if the Lakers lose this, it's officially over for their postseason aspirations. This presents an opportunity for the would-be successor of the Lakers. Yes, it had to be destiny that the one to bury the playoff hopes of the Purple and Gold would be D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' former #2 pick of 2015. If we look at the trade in hindsight, the Lakers drew first blood on the trade. Then, the Nets came out connecting on a huge haymaker through D'Lo's All-Star play this season. He singlehandedly has the Nets primed for playoff ball in the East. The Lakers battled all game thanks to a monster game by JaVale McGee. I guess trading for Zubac would've been worth it if he put up these numbers: 33 points, 20 rebounds, 15-20 shooting, 6 blocks. It felt like prime Shaq was reincarnated. Ironic for the former Shaqtin' a Fool legend. But it wasn't enough as LeBron stumbled and tumbled down the stretch and the Nets grinded out another win over the Lakers. Poetic justice for D'Lo. Now for the sixth straight season, the Lakers get to sit on the couch during the postseason. *ELIMINATED* *Seppuku sounds* *UrinatingTree fans will get this reference*

03/24: vs. Sacramento 106-111 [W] (32-41)

HIGHLIGHTS

Oh, now they finally start winning. Where was this effort the last few games? But, it's the Kings. Even though Sacramento has improved through their young core of Fox, Hield, and Bagley III, they'll need a few veteran pieces to take the next step to the playoffs. Not to mention, they were coming off back-to-back sets. As meaningless as this was, it was good to see the Lakers finally win a game. The King and KuzMania powered the Lakers to this victory with 29 points each coming from both players. McGee didn't have a scoring explosion, but still contributed a double-double and almost half a dozen blocks. At this point, the Lakers have nothing to play for but pride. It would be an absolute miracle for this team to have some sort of shot at Zion Williamson in the NBA draft.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/17) - Tank for Draft Pick Mode Activated

*Some NSFW language*

Oh, hi guys! You're still here checking on the status of the LakeShow. Well, let's just say that after a shitty start to March, arguably the most important month for playoff-aspiring teams, the Lakers' playoff hopes are dead. If you've been living under a rock these last few days, Lonzo Ball is shut down for the season. Brandon Ingram (best wishes to him), shut down as well. LeBron James? Held to a minutes restriction and will sit out on back-to-back nights. And why even bother? This roster is so shorthanded that it's filled with nothing more but players who barely get any playing and G-Leaguers.

In this week, LeBron returns out to the East one last time. The Lakers embark on their 5-game road trip to the East Coast that will culminate on Tuesday against the Bucks. No more dramatic intros, let's jump right into this week's Lakers' Weekly Roundup.

03/12: @ Chicago 123-107 [W] (31-36)

HIGHLIGHTS

Congratulations Lakers, you've finally won a game in March. But, not like it matters anyway. This is a Bulls team that's not even good and is still in rebuild mode. I'll give the Lakers credit. Chicago had an 18 point lead in the first quarter. Then the Lakers stormed right back en route to a victory. This is all powered by big games from LeBron, Kuzma, and surprisingly, KCP. LeBron lead the team with 36 points. This game was literally LeBron in "showoff mode" as he wowed the United Center crowd with some exhibition-esque dunks off the break.

03/14: @ Toronto 98-111 [L] (31-37)

HIGHLIGHTS

Following the victory against Chicago, that's the Lakers' last freebie W as they go up against The North, one of the top two teams of the East. The Raptors have freed themselves from LeBronto earlier this season. Now, the Raptors' next task is to liberate the actual city of Toronto from remnants of LeBron during the last few years. Despite LeBron's 29 points, the Raptors' depth proved to be too much for the wounded Lakers. At least Alex Caruso had a great game off the bench with 16 points.

03/15: @ Detroit 97-111 [L] (31-38)

HIGHLIGHTS

LeBron this, LeBron that. I am ESPN at this point, but we get a break here on back-to-back nights. LeBron is held out to once again, "Load Management." But that doesn't stop LeBron from hogging the spotlight as he's shown laughing on the bench and wiping himself with a handkerchief. To be honest, I wasn't sure what he's laughing at. Maybe it's the sad realization that he'll be missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Trust me, I'd be laughing too if I saw Mike Muscala starting or having a lineup of Andre Ingram, Isaac Bonga, Alex Caruso, Mo Wagner, and Johnathan Williams on the floor this game. It's like I'm watching the South Bay Lakers. Not to poke further fun, Caruso had a good game again off the bench and Andre Ingram has won the hearts of Lakers fans with his inspiring two-game performance last season. But, the final result was expected as Detroit is literally fighting for their playoff lives in the East.

03/17: @ New York 123-124 [L] (31-39)

HIGHLIGHTS

Ah yes, the game that will forever etched Mario Hezonja's name into Knicks lore. The Knicks have their own rendition of "The Block" as Hezonja came up with a key block on LeBron James in the final seconds of the game. After that, I'm probably convinced that Father Time is catching up to 'Bron. LeBron put up 33 points this game, true. But, 0-6 from 3-point land! I've been saying this all this time, his field goal stats are inflated because he attacks and plays bully ball inside. You force him to make an outside shot, he'll tend to struggle. To be swept by the East's punching bag, there's no greater shame to summarize the Lakers' 2nd half meltdown of the season.

Antonio Brown Traded to the Raiders

Sad that Antonio Brown had to be killed off-screen at the conclusion of "Days of Our Steelers." It's been awhile since I've talked any Raiders football. But last night's trade had Raider Nation buzzing. Simply put, AB is an Oakland Raider (in principle). The Raiders agreed to send a 3rd round and 5th round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for the embattled Star Wideout. In addition, the Raiders offered Brown a 3-year, $50 million contract, which he'll sign once free agency frenzy is officially underway. 

This has been rumored awhile now, but it hasn't heated up since the idea that the Raiders were rumored in assembling a "Big 3" with Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, and QB prospect, Kyler Murray. As mentioned, AB wanted the Steelers to trade him out west. Initially, it wasn't the Raiders. If AB were to go to the Bay Area, many sources projected him to be a 49er and be Jimmy Garoppolo's go-to-guy. Heck, even Jerry Rice publicly rallied for AB to don the Red and Gold. It hasn't happened.

The Antonio Brown trade saga took quite an unexpected twist when reports were made that the Steelers were trading him to the Buffalo Bills. AB refuted the idea and the deal quickly died. So, Brown was a Buffalo Bill for a good seven hours or so. It was clear that AB goes where AB wants to go. He successfully got the Steelers to bend the knee and cave in to his demands. Let's face it, the Steelers were pretty much tired of his diva antics. With the way they handled the Le'Veon Bell situation, they didn't want to deal with the same situation with Antonio Brown and let his drama  linger with the team any longer. So, he had to go. And if there's any indication that Brown going to the Raiders is 100% true, he quickly posted up his on Instagram of him photoshopped in a Raiders uniform and showing affection for Derek Carr, to which Carr was really receptive about.

Let's get into the trade details here. The fact that the Raiders only gave up a 3rd round pick and 5th round pick to get AB was surprising. If the Steelers were adamant about giving him away, they'd get something higher like a first rounder. To be honest, if the Raiders did surrender their first round picks to get AB, I would've been furious because you trade way young players like Mack and Cooper who haven't reached their prime yet to get those picks, yet you give them away for a star that may have 2-3 years left in the tank. So, I'll give the Gruden and Mayock brain trust credit on this deal. Now, the Bears are in cap hell before Trubisky's deal rookie deal is up and they locked up Mack to a monster deal. The Cowboys are going to need to make some decisions since Coop's due for a big contract, yet they'll have to account for Zeke next offseason. The Raiders have started making their moves with a lot of cap space and three 1st round picks. They might rebuild faster than expected. That's IF everything goes right.

This trade does not escape disastrous implications. Like I said, AB may have a good 2-3 years left in the tank before he starts showing signs of decline (AB and Jordy Nelson as the starting WRs, I would've been excited if this was 2014). And his diva attitude is self-evident during the later years of his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Then again, that locker room, that organization is getting toxic, which is a glorious sight to see. Minus a few players of course. Boy, do I feel sorry for JuJu and James Conner? The way he handled his trade saga also docks some points off. You know it's real when "Classy Larry (Larry Fitzgerald)" calls you out to stop the madness. The dynamic between him and Jon Gruden is going to be interesting because you'll have two inflated egos bound to collide like the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxies. Go listen to some stories on the tension between Gruden and Keyshawn Johnson when Chucky was still coaching in Tampa Bay. AB does express his excitement to be Derek Carr's go-to-guy. Now, that prompts the Raiders to step back because they've implied that Carr was on the trading block so they can get Kyler Murray in this draft. If they trade Carr now, the relationship with AB is going to go sour in a hurry. Yes, his $125 million deal is burdensome to the team in the midst of a rebuild, but they're forced to keep him at this point and we'll see how Carr improves in Year 2 under the Gruden system. Carr definitely needs to make major strides because not only will he have Gruden in his face, but Antonio Brown is going to get in his face as well for not giving him the ball on the sidelines. Sure, they're buddy-buddy in the Pro Bowl, but it's much different when you're teammates and on a 16-week gauntlet. Just ask Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens. Man, if this trade trends to disaster, "The Silver and Black Shitshow" may be renewed for another year. Anyway, welcome to the nation AB.

Side note: The Raiders made another trade today sending Kelechi Osemele to the New York Jets for a fifth round pick. K.O. initially signed to a 5-year $70 million contract in 2016, which is a lot money for an Offensive Guard. This was likely for a salary dump. K.O. was awesome in his first year. It's unfortunate that he struggled with injuries in the next two. If there's anyone I'd want in that O-line to stick around for the long run, it'd be Rodney Hudson. Donald Penn is getting old. Kolton Miller is still raw. At least Gabe Jackson will hold down one of the Guard positions. Definitely, the Raiders are going to have their work cut out to rebuild that Carr Insurance. It also doesn't help that Tom Cable is still coaching that unit.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/10): Disneyland & Cancun Mode: Activated

*Some NSFW language*

Wave the white flag! Throw in the damn towel! By the looks of how this March is going, it looks like the Lakers will be eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth straight season. Playoff Mode was activated, but the Lakers did not purchase the full version of it. As I said, this month was going to be integral for the Lakers to run the table and win out despite that fact that this stretch is their toughest test of their playoff-bound fortitude. However, by the looks of what transpired this week, it's time to stick a fork in these Lakers. This is your Lakers' Weekly Roundup.

03/04: vs. LA Clippers 113-105 [L] (30-34)

HIGHLIGHTS

As if the start of March can't get anymore pathetic for the Purple and Gold. This was a MUST-WIN for the Lakers as they are about three games back from the Clippers for the 8th seed. Any win against little brother affects playoff implications and helps the Lakers creep closer to within striking distance for the final playoff spot. I was not surprised that they drop this game. Let's spot the Lakers this: Brandon Ingram was hurt this game from carrying this team. To lose him in a desperate time like this is a microcosm of how the season is dwindling in a downward spiral since the decisive victory against Golden State in December. Prior to this game, Ivica Zubac provided what should've been major ammo for the Lakers. He basically said that he was having more fun with the Clippers than he did with the Lakers and these Clippers are "locked in" with their eyes on the prize of the postseason. Back in the day, teams will take this as bulletin board material and try to make their former teammate's life a living Hell. Not today in this day and age of the NBA.

In this game, both the Clippers and Lakers were pretty much neck and neck. Though the close game doesn't overshadow any lowlights on the Lakers' end, particularly centering around LeBron James. You know it's bad when Kuzma has to push you to play D. Or it's bad when you let the ball roll across the timeline, pick it up, and try to pull up from deep and it rattles out in an epic fail fashion. Or when you're infatuated in passing the GOAT on the all-time scoring list rather than leading the team to a much-needed W. Oh and outside of Rondo, the supporting cast wasn't any better either.

The Clippers ultimately pulled away as Lou Williams did what he usually did in the 2nd half, take over the scoring. This was an all-around team win for the Clippers, something that is missing in the Lakers' English language dictionary as of late. As the Lakers try to gear up against the current #2 seed Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, it looks like they'll be even more shorthanded as Kyle Kuzma sustained an ankle injury late in this game. This is March Madness for the Lakers and not in a good way as those playoff chances continue to dwindle.

03/06: vs. Denver 115-99 [L] (30-35)

HIGHLIGHTS

Congratulations LeBron! You've surpassed Michael Jordan as the #4 all-time leading scorer in league history. One GOAT overlapping another GOAT, that's great. Now, the previous ruler of Laker Land that spanned a 20-year reign stands in your way. Honestly, it'd be super bipolar when LeBron passes Kobe on the all-time scoring list. Well, there goes 15-minutes of greatness personified. Let's not distract us from the fact that you went 0-4 from the free throw line to start and finished with a 38% shooting from the stripe. GOAT! Or when you did the same thing in the Clippers game where you rolled the ball across the timeline and lost control of it resulting in a turnover. GOAT! Destroying the upward trend of this team after an improved 35-47 campaign. GOAT! Proving me right that there would be baggage on you when the Lakers planned on bringing you in. GOAT! "But, ma groin." "I have no help." "Luke sucks." Not a single thing changes the fact that you're still a stat whore and chemistry killer that we grew to disdain even beyond the head-to-head wars vs. Kobe. Be lucky that a shortened season, Ray Allen, Kyrie Irving, and the league saved your legacy from being the best player in the world to never win a championship.

To no surprise, the Nuggets took advantage of the Lakers' lack of depth with injuries to Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Lonzo Ball. Though they almost did choke it away in the 2nd half. Let's be honest, they were on a losing skid because of shit like this. They couldn't close out a game for a team that's currently the #2 seed in the West. The Lakers had every chance to come back. But, stupid turnovers, missed shots, missed free throws, just a typical night of the Lakers throwing opportunity away. As if this team couldn't get any toxic, Rajon Rondo sat away from the rest of the team, next to some courtside fans as the game winded down. To make matters worse, now Brandon Ingram wants out of LA according to some rumors. I thought the Lakers cleaned the dysfunction out by firing Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak, but it's clear as day, that they let the dysfunction back in. As the Lakers continue to plummet down the standings, Lonzo Ball may not return at all this season. Maybe because LaVar is holding him out until Luke Walton gets the axe. And LeBron might be on a minutes restriction going forward. "Play Off" Mode activated.

03/09: vs. Boston 120-107 [L] (30-36)

HIGHLIGHTS

Let's get to some serious news first: Brandon Ingram will be loss for the rest of the season due to a deep venous thromosis (DVT) in his right arm. At this point, it's not clear if B.I. will pick up a basketball again. I'm no doctor, but anything related to blood clots has to be taken seriously. Chris Bosh's NBA career was cut short due to this kind of ailment. And it's quite sad that Ingram's scoring rampage since the All-Star break comes to a screeching halt like this. Especially, since this jeopardizes his young career. All we can hope for is B.I.'s speedy recovery and that this condition will not be recurring that he may have to step away from basketball for good. Godspeed B.I.

Now onto this game, with all the injuries, the playoff chances for the Lakers are dead at this point. They took so many L's at the beginning of this month against more of the better teams (with the exception of Phoenix). And the schedule ahead is still difficult for the Lakers to pull off a miraculous playoff push. Their next obstacle is against their arch-rival Celtics. This is not the same Celtics team that the Lakers played. After the beating they put on Golden State at Oracle on Thursday, one can assume those "Ugly, Green Leprechauns" have finally figured things out and turned the corner. Honestly, that team is at full strength while the Lakers had a patchwork "Fab Five" of Rondo, Caldwell-Pope, James, Wagner, and McGee. Despite a competitive first quarter, it was inevitable that the Lakers had no shot against a Celtics team at full strength. The only good things to take away here here is that Moe Wagner went off for 22 points and LeBron, of course, got his triple-double stats. Honestly, I would've rather saw Wagner develop as the Lakers' long-term "Stretch 5" this season. It doesn't make sense that you'd spend a first round pick on that guy and then trade for Muscala mid-season to fill in that role. Then again, he missed significant time at the beginning of the season with an injury. That hurt his growth. But at this point, let his feet get wet as this point from here on out is team evaluation to see who's good enough to the roster cut next season.