Karalis: Thoughts on the NBA, including Fred VanVleet's free agency, and the Nikola Jokic MVP debate

The NBA Finals could end tonight, bringing the 2023-24 NBA season to a close. There's still plenty going on around the league. Here are a few thoughts on NBA goings on. 

FRED VANVLEET ENTERS FREE AGENCY

VanVleet declined a $22.8 million player option, looking for one more payday before he turns 30. This is a chance for him to cash in on a remarkable career that has seen him go from undrafted to more than $80 million in career earnings. He’s coming off his worst shooting season, though, and there is always a fear with these under-sized guards that a precipitous dropoff awaits them in their 30s. 

I’m really curious to see what the market is for VanVleet. There are teams with enough space to make him a good offer, and a return to the Raptors on a long-term deal is certainly a possibility. But after all the worry about big salaries under the new CBA, which teams are really going to line up to give VanVleet, a very good player but a one-time All-Star with no All-NBA appearances, big-time money? 

He’s almost the canary going into the mine shaft to see if it’s safe. I’m not sure what will come of his free agency anymore. Under the old deal, I could see a team deciding to maybe pay two bad years for two good ones if they thought VanVleet was a difference-maker. Now, I’m not so sure. He’s going to be a very interesting test case. 

TYLER HERRO IS BACK

The Miami Heat, down 3-1 and starting to look desperate for answers against Denver, are bringing back Herro, who broke his hand in their first playoff game. 

I think Herro going down is what sparked this magical run in the first place. Herro is obviously a very good offensive player, but he is a target for defenses. Giving all of his minutes to better defenders who happened to catch fire from deep, meaning there was really no offensive drop-off, ended up playing a huge role in Miami’s magical run to the Finals. 

That's why I thought the Heat’s win in Game 2 in Denver was so big. It gave them a chance to tell Herro they were going to continue rolling with what was working rather than throw him out there. 

I’m not sure what Herro will be able to do in his first NBA game in two months, in altitude, in the NBA Finals. That's a big ask for him, even though he’s probably mentally up to the task. Physically, I feel like that’ll be too much for him to handle. If he’s out there for any extended amount of time, it could be a chance for Denver to get some separation by targeting him. 

THE NIKOLA JOKIC MVP DEBATE REEMERGES

Most people railing on the Joel Embiid MVP aren’t actually taking shots at Embiid. They're taking shots at the people falling all over themselves to not give Jokic the award.

The discourse around Jokic’s MVP candidacy devolved into the absurd this season, with every ridiculous argument anyone could muster being thrown out there to mask obvious voter fatigue. 

There were some who argued that a third straight MVP for Jokic would be bad because it would suggest he’s in the same class as Larry Bird, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain. That argument is hot garbage, though, because all it would tell you is that Jokic has been the best player for those three seasons. 

Now he’s ripping through the playoffs and continuing to destroy the Miami Heat. He’s not flashy but he’s fabulous in just about every basketball way.

And that's not to take away from Embiid’s MVP. He deserved it. Giannis Antetokounmpo deserved it, too. Any of these three guys can stake a claim. 

But the lunacy surrounding the Jokic debate has to have ramifications. I’m very happy to reopen this case simply to shame the people making idiotic debates that had little to do with basketball. 

Jokic is on the verge of winning a title and a Finals MVP, but the fact that some people will have the gall to suggest “Okay, now he’s earned another MVP” is bothersome enough for me to gladly call them out. 

This is who he was before, too. 

CELTICS SPOTTED AT WNBA GAMES

Grant Williams and Mikal Bridges were at a New York Liberty game while Jayson Tatum was at a Las Vegas Aces game. 

The WNBA season is underway, with the Aces out to an 8-1 start and looking to defend their championship. Their lone loss came to the somewhat surprising Connecticut Sun, the team Vegas beat for the title. Connecticut lost former MVP Jonquel Jones to the Liberty and former Coach of the Year Curt Miller to the LA Sparks. 

Not everyone will get into the WNBA, but I personally enjoy the hell out of it. It’s a lot of fun to watch in person.