April 1st - April 7th (7 Days of NBA)

Welcome back to 7 Days of NBA. This week we saw the start of the end for the Toronto Raptors, the impact of the trade deadline and buyouts, and seen the future of some franchises become questioned. Let's hop in.

Major Takeaways:

1. It's Time for the Raptors to Start Over

Just two years ago, the Toronto Raptors were celebrating a championship and seemed to be a real threat for the following years with their budding star in Pascal Siakam. Now, the Raptors sit at 20-31 and 11th in the East. The Raptors are stuck in a weird spot. Siakam has taken a step back and has proven that he can't be the leader of the team. Kyle Lowry is only going to get older, and seems like he wants out so he can try to get another ring. Fred VanVleet is a great point guard, but he is being asked to carry too much of the offense. This team just doesn't fit, and I think the Raptors are starting to realize it. They have good young players in OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., but I think it's time to trade Siakam and Lowry to start the rebuild. This year's draft looks to be stacked full of All-Star caliber players, and if there is any time to start a rebuild, it is this year. It's hard to believe how far the Raptors have fallen in just two years, but I think if the Raptors want to be successful sometime in the next few years, they need to begin that rebuild.

2. Trade Deadline and Buyout Players are Proving their Worth

Almost every player who was involved in the trade deadline or the buyouts has played for their new squad. We've seen some thrive in their starts with the new teams, while others are taking longer to adjust. One who has done great is Aaron Gordon, who has helped the Nuggets continue their streak and move up to the 4 spot in the West. He fits perfect into the Nuggets and provides both a stretch 4 as well as an athletic forward who can score in the post. He fits the Jerami Grant role from last year's Denver team well, and it looks like Denver definitely won their trade. LaMarcus Aldridge got off to a great start with the Nets and has provided solid depth and good low-post scoring. Victor Oladipo has provided much-needed depth for the Heat and have helped them move up in the conference. Nikola Vucevic has provided that big man that Chicago has been needing for a long time, and looks to be a great addition with LaVine. Some players have had a harder time adjusting, such as Evan Fournier, who had one of his worst shooting games of his career in his debut for Boston. Andre Drummond has only played one game for the Lakers, but did not play well until he got injured and his ENTIRE TOENAIL fell off. If your new addition has not started well, don't worry. It can take a while to fit in the system, and these are still talented ballplayers who can easily flip the switch and make your team better in the matter of only one game.

3. What are these Franchises Going to Do?

As the season gets closer to the end, some teams have got to start wondering if it is worth it to keep their rosters together. The first example that comes to mind is the Warriors, who currently sit at 24-27 and 10th in the West. Similar to the Raptors, this team was in the Finals only 2 years ago. I know Klay Thompson is injured, but I can't see the trio of Curry-Thompson-Wiseman being enough to beat the superteams out West. I don't think Wiggins is the solution for SF, and Draymond has proven that he is just a glue piece. I don't think that the Warriors need to rebuild, but instead retool and find good wing players and bench scorers to buff up the lineup. If they do so, they could very well be back in the championship talks. Another team is the Celtics, who seemed like they had a great path ahead to compete for rings in the coming seasons. They currently sit at 25-26 and 8th in the East, which is far below where they should be in the standings. Kemba Walker has proven that he isn't the answer for them at the starting PG, and they have struggled to find a long-term great big guy. I think Tatum and Brown are still great All-Stars who should be kept, but I think finding a great center and maybe trading Kemba could really help them retool and start their journey to getting a championship.

MVP of the Week (April 1st-April 7th): Luka Doncic

Luka has had a fantastic week, averaging 27.7 points, 7 assists, and 8.3 rebounds per game. The Mavericks went 3-0, with wins against the Knicks, Wizards, and Jazz. Luka has really helped the Mavs turn the season around and go from struggling to fit in the playoffs to being 28-21 and 7th in the West. While they might not be a title contender, Luka is still playing like an MVP candidate and proves it every time that he steps onto an NBA court.

Team of the Week (April 1st-April 7th): Atlanta Hawks

I know, this surprises me as much as you, but the Hawks are playing some great games. They have totally flipped it around, and make my blog post a few weeks ago roasting them look terrible. The Hawks are currently 27-24 and in 4th place in the East. This week, they went 4-0, beating the Pelicans twice, the Warriors, and the Spurs. Trae Young has got his average back up to over 25 ppg, and several players have stepped up their games, including Capela, Collins, Hunter, Gallinari and Bogdanovic. The addition of Lou Williams looks to be a great one, as he provides good scoring off the pine. The Hawks are looking like they could hold down a spot for the postseason and maybe surprise some of the skeptics, including the version of me a month ago that was not at all a believer.

Standings:

East:

1. 76ers

2. Nets

3. Bucks

4. Hawks

5. Hornets

6. Heat

7. Knicks

8. Celtics

9. Pacers

10. Bulls

11. Raptors

12. Cavaliers

13. Wizards

14. Magic

15. Pistons

West:

1. Jazz

2. Suns

3. Clippers

4. Nuggets

5. Lakers

6. Trail Blazers

7. Mavericks

8. Grizzlies

9. Spurs

10. Warriors

11. Pelicans

12. Kings

13. Thunder

14. Rockets

15. Timberwolves

Hope you enjoyed, and I will be back once again next week!