The Unpredictability of the NBA (Off)season

Let me get this out there. I do not like the NBA. I don't care that Golden State has a stranglehold on the league, and before the season begins you can count the teams that could the NBA Finals on one hand.

I can never forgive the NBA for allowing the Charlotte Hornets to leave in 2002. I grew up on Mugsy, LJ, & 'Zo. The early & mid-90's Hornets were amazing.

I did not care that Charlotte got a new team, quickly after the first leaving (Seattle is still waiting, NBA). It was a nice gesture by Michael Jordan to get the Hornets name back. But, it's not enough to pull me back in. Couple that how predictable things are for the NBA from November to June, there's no real desire for me waste a couple hours to watch a game.

I would call myself a pretty avid sports fan. I love football, and baseball. I keep up with world events like the Olympics, and World Cup. The NBA just doesn't move the needle for me.

However, there is one time of the year I'll keep up with the NBA, almost daily, the off-season. I'm not meaning the entire time the NBA is not, just the first two months when the sport is still fresh on peoples' minds.

Think about it, for a majority of the NBA season, no one talked about games. People were already trying to figure out if Lebron will stay or is already out the door in Cleveland.

Friday, is the deadline for him to tell the Cavs his decision. Sunday, free agency opens up and the dominoes will begin to fall.

Consider this, Lebron could go stay, or he could go to Los Angeles. Paul George, or Chris Paul, could join him. Maybe Kawhi gets his wish and gets sent to the Lakers.

What would the Lakers do? They wouldn't have the money for 3 of these guys, having to let go of someone like Julius Randle.

Randle could sign with Dallas, who's in search of a big man. That could change the options for someone like DeAndre Jordan, or DeMarcus Cousins, who are potentially looking for new homes.

The unpredictable nature of the NBA's Free Agency period, is one of rampant discussion and speculation. It has slowly replaced the hope fans have of their team winning a championship. Now they want to know if their team will do anything to lure someone to them.

Are they going to go all in, like the Lakers are set up to? Or will a team "Trust the Process" and copy the idea the 76ers used?

We get rumors, guesses, and gives fans something to discuss "around the watercooler". We all have ideas, but no one knows until a player signs on the dotted line. Before that? You can't tell. Remember the ordeal of Jordan almost signing with the Mavericks in 2015?

What it boils down to, we love drama. The off-season of the NBA gives us that. There's the ongoing feud between Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs, or where Lebron will end up. It gives us all something to talk about, that really doesn't center around the Warriors.

There's no true telling on what teams and players will do. We'll get a sniff of the action Friday, but then the madness will officially start on July 1. Who knows what player will be the first to make a move, but once it happens moves will happen rather quickly.

It's nonstop speculation, and unpredictable. Unlike the season, it's great, and I cannot wait for it to begin.