It is just a popularity contest isn’t it?

In a move that shocked nobody, but maybe left some people scratching their heads, Kevin Durant was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year on Thursday.

Sure, Durant shined in his first year in Seattle, and it’s obvious that he will develop into a bonafide stud in years to come - but the league’s top rookie? He may have gotten more endorsements, sold more jerseys, and gotten more time on SportsCenter than any other rookie, but that’s because he was in the position to do more. Read more »

The Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns knew that adjustments had to be made if they were to make a run at an NBA championship. Neither of their longshot trade experiments - the Mavs’ with Jason Kidd and the Suns’ with Shaquille O’Neal - panned out, as the Mavs were eliminated by the New Orleans Hornets and the Suns by the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

Forcing the action on the trade market, which the crowded Western Conference forced these two teams to do in February, is rarely a good move. It’s easy to say in retrospect that these were foolish deals to make, but they were foolish far before the two teams were bounced from the playoffs. Read more »