Miami Dolphins Poised for A Turnaround

The Miami Dolphins wasted no time getting started in free agency signing over ten new faces in the first week of the 2020 season. 

The biggest name the Phins locked up is Byron Jones, who signed for 5 years, $82.5 million, making him the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. Jones will join pro bowler Xavien Howard in Miami’s secondary, looking to become one of the best backfields in the league next season. 

If Miami had only kept Minkah Fitzpatrick this team might already get that top tier designation. Trading Fitzpatrick remains one of the few poor decisions Brian Flores and Chris Grier have made thus far in their reign. 

Miami also added quality players in linebacker Kyle Van Noy, defensive end Shaq Lawson, offensive guard Ereck Flowers, and running back Jordan Howard. Though with the Howard signing, I wonder if the Phins missed out on Melvin Gordon. Maybe they simply dodged getting an injury prone, underachieving player, but he didn’t receive a crazy deal either at 2 years, $16 million. No matter, the Dolphins signed the 25-year-old Howard to a 2-year deal that gives the team something to work with at the position after being pretty bare last season. 

Overall, Miami improved their defense by a significant margin, shoring up that side of the field with lineback Kamu Grugier-Hill and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah also getting picked up. 

Ted Karras, New England’s center from last year signed with the Dolphins and will likely be the starter replacing Daniel Kilgore. 

Brian Flores has evidently been the one attracting free agents to Miami ($94 million in cap space also helps). Newly signed Van Noy said as much to reporters via a Zoom video call, saying of the Dolphins head coach, “he’s ready to go all the time, and he brings that same energy each and every day, and that's what you want-- and as a player that’s who I want to play for.” Karras, another former Patriot, reportedly declined a more lucrative deal from New England to join the former Patriots defensive coach. 

The sentiment has been echoed by Ogbah and superstar cornerback Bryon Jones, with Jones saying Flores intense coaching style is something he wanted to be a part of. 

The Dolphins head coach was also able to guide the team to a five wins last season, five more than anyone expected after their tumultuous start to the year. The Phins winning those games despite being hailed as one of the worst teams ever in the early part of the year was a false narrative anyway. Many players were cut or traded right before the regular season started, along with a first-year head coach getting his first reps under his belt in that role and the opponents being teams (Baltimore and New England) who went combined 26-6 during the regular season. 

Putting that start behind them, Miami had a competitive season that concluded on the highest note possible, as Flores took down his former New England boss and forced them into a Wildcard Playoff game they would ultimately lose. 

While Flores has helped achieve a successful offseason of signings, the biggest of the free agency splash has concluded, and all eyes turn toward the NFL Draft. The Dolphins hold the most picks with 14, including three first round picks, with the fifth overall being their hottest commodity. Rumors have centered around Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being Maimi’s first selection, but it's truly unknown the path the team will follow. A miracle trade for Joe Burrow is a possibility, but the Dolphins would likely need to give up their three first round picks and then some to pull that off. 

Even without going after the LSU quarterback, Miami may still have to trade up to get Tagovailoa, with the Lions and Redskins in front of them, and the Chargers and Panthers right behind them looking for quarterbacks themselves. The Dolphins may also go after the third projected QB off the board in Justin Herbert, who could fall into the fifth spot without any movement from Miami. 

However, the Phins may utilize all the picks they have and build up the team on both sides of the ball. With 14 selections at their disposal, Miami ought to hit on at least a few future X-factors. Going this route might be the safest bet, especially with a defensive-minded head coach who seems focused on adding the right pieces around a QB before going out and getting one. Miami may shift their focus to draft a signal caller in the 2021 NFL Draft with Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence in mind. 

Depending on who the Dolphins plug in at QB this year will determine the goal of this season. If Miami passes on a QB this year and puts Fitzmagic back out there, then the team is evidently angling for a QB in next year’s draft. But even if they draft one this year, the young gun may start the year as the backup as Flores looks to gradually put a winning team on the field. 

No matter the QB situation, the division may be a low-win threshold to capture and make the playoffs. I don’t think anyone is projecting a contender out of the AFC East this season, with the Bills being the closest thing to a favorite there is. The Bills made the postseason last year so it appears as though it will be their division to lose. Josh Allen looked both promising and troubled at times throughout the season, making any sure-thing prediction for the team questionable at best. Their defense will likely remain stout, so time will tell how they’ll operate in a Tom Brady-less division. 

The Patriots are unknown at this point, especially with their QB situation unclear. Will they draft a guy? Will they pick up someone like Andy Dalton or Cam Newton in free agency? Or will they go with 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham? New England still retains DPOY Stephon Gilmore and head coach Bill Belichick, so a steep drop for the team is probably more wishful thinking than reality for the rest of the division. Still, this will be the first time in 20 years without Tom Brady under center. 

The Jets went 7-9 last year with QB Sam Darnold missing multiple games due to illness. This is the make or break year for Darnold to take a step forward in his progression. The second year of Le'veon Bell will prove interesting for New York. If he resembles Bell of old, then the division is in trouble of the Jets stepping up and taking the crown for the first time since 2002. But if it's more of the same with Bell the Jets are vulnerable to repeat another mediocre year. 

Miami's schedule doesn’t look too forgiving for the squad, which may impact their drafting decisions of what to prioritize now compared to a season down the road. The Dolphins will face the likes of defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks throughout their season. Add on their six division matchups which will likely be hotly contested battles, and Miami will likely be on the cusp of a .500 season.

But whether this season or next, the pieces, coaching atmosphere, draft stock and salary capital that Miami has attained put themselves in prime position to become a regular playoff team in the near future. The turnaround Dolphins fans have waited the last two decades for appears right around the corner.

Fight for the NBA Crown

LeBron James has long reigned as the best basketball player in the world. James took the crown from Kobe in 2010-11, his first season with the Heat. Since then, his Kingship has been largely undisputed, even in his defeats. 

But in the last few seasons, events have occurred that have blurred who actually is King of Basketball. The biggest of which was LeBron’s absence from last year’s playoffs, his typical time to shine where he shows the world no matter what happened in the regular season, he’s still the best on the court. We didn’t get that showing last year, and now, with a crown laying unworn but claimed and contested by many to be theirs, we await the conclusion of the 2020 playoffs to coronate, or recornate a King. 

These are the claimants: 

Kawhi Leonard

The reigning NBA Finals MVP, and now reigning All Star MVP might have the best claim as it stands right now. After all, last season’s playoffs were Leonard’s playground. Across the 2019 postseason, Leonard averaged 30.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, and 3.9 apg on 49% shooting and 38% from 3. He was the best player on the court throughout the Raptors run and topped it off with his second career championship. Leonard also notably took down MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the Eastern Conference Finals, stopping short Antetokounmpo’s rise to the top of basketball.

So far through the 2019-20 campaign, Leonard is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and assists, with 27.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 5.3 apg respectively. 

In areas of his play that Kawhi could have been criticized for even a couple years ago, he has since shored up those, and every other aspect of his game. He is now a quality play-maker and ball handler, and can score with the very best of them. He’s able to score getting to the basket, shooting 3s, mid-range, at the free throw line and might be the only defender in the NBA that can effectively limit the Greek Freak. Leonard has also been the best two-way player in the NBA for a few years now (not including his injury plagued 2017-18 campaign). 

He won’t be taking home the regular season MVP this year, with his load management routine limiting his playing time. But Kawhi is sitting in cruise control this regular season while playing better than ever. Leonard sits calmly composed in the driver seat in the quest for the crown, barring any unfortunate injuries, LeBron and Lakers will likely be the only squad standing in Kawhi’s way toward another Finals appearance. 

Lebron James

LeBron’s roughly decade long reign atop the world as the best basketball player has only really been called into question due to injury from last season. We didn’t get to see Playoff LeBron for the first time in a long time, and with no James Finals for the first time since 2010, the script for the crown is waiting to be written come April, May and June. 

After eight straight seasons of being the only constant in the final series of the NBA season, James’s off-season began in April last year. The extra rest has led to LeBron playing rejuvenated this season, leading the NBA in assists from the outset, while boasting typical LeBron numbers of 25.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 10.6 apg on 49% shooting and 35% from 3. 

James has been leading the Lakers atop the West most of the season, currently sitting with a six-game lead over the Nuggets and Clippers. LeBron looks to secure the top spot in the conference for the first time since his 2015-16 Championship campaign. 

Just so we all remember what James does come playoff time, his stats from his last two appearances in the Finals where he faced arguably the greatest roster in NBA history: 

2016-17: 33.6 ppg, 12 rpg, 10 apg 56% FG, 38% 3pt FG

2017-18: 34 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 10 apg 52% FG, 33% 3pt FG

LeBron’s previously unquestioned status may afford him de facto King status to some this season, especially as he continues to put up MVP numbers in his 17th NBA season. Despite his age and the minutes under his belt, King James was less dethroned than merely tripped last season. Time will tell whether he picks back up the crown enroute to his fourth NBA title. 

Kevin Durant

Though KD is not on the court this year, negating any real consideration of him being considered the top guy right now, he arguably had taken the crown from LeBron after back-to-back Finals MVPs against the King himself. 

Durant balled out during his two Finals victories, posting stats of: 

2016-17: 35.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.4 apg 56% FG, 47% 3pt FG

2017-18: 28.8 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 7.5 apg 53% FG, 41% 3pt FG

There is also something to be said that if KD had been healthy for last year's NBA Finals, the Warriors get their 3-peat. Durant may not have won his 3rd consecutive Finals MVP even if Golden State got the win, but being the best player on a dynasty says enough in its own right. Injuries are a part of the game, but if Durant was healthy, the Warriors are probably the reigning champions right now.

Durant’s Nets career will pick up next season where he and Kyrie Irving look to join the elite teams of the Eastern Conference. The Nets will likely run into the likes of the Bucks, Celtics, Raptors and 76ers on their pursuit of a championship, but if Durant returns from injury somewhere close to 100%, he may find himself hoisting another Finals MVP in a year’s time. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The youngest of the group at 25 years old, Antetokounmpo is the reigning MVP and is very much on par to win the award in back to back years. Through 53 games this season, Giannis has the highest single season PER in NBA history, currently beating out the best MVP seasons of Wilt’s, LeBron’s, Jordan’s and Curry’s career. 

Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.7 ppg, 13.7 rpg, 5.8 apg on 55% shooting and 32% from 3, in only 30.8 minutes a night. That is the most astounding aspect of Antetokounmpo’s play, the amount he does on the court in such a short time, and in such an efficient fashion. If his numbers are increased to per 36 minutes (i.e. the amount Harden plays a game), his numbers jump to 34.7 ppg, 16 rpg, 6.8 apg. Though James Harden typically wins the scoring debate when it comes to these two players, if they’re playing the same number of minutes, the stats are neck and neck. 

The biggest criticism of Giannis from last year, his shooting, has vastly improved this year. His 3-point shooting increased from 25% to 32% while attempting 1.9 more 3s per game. On shots from 10-16 feet away, Antetokounmpo is shooting 43% this season, while shots from 16 feet-3pt line, he’s converting at a 45% clip. 

Giannis had me convinced last year through the first 2 games of the Eastern Conference Finals that he was now top dog. But in a matter of 4 games, Kawhi showed what having been there before really meant, going a tear that will be remembered for the rest of basketball history. 

Giannis was set to get it done last year, but fell short in his first season with serious expectations. With a historic team now dominating their way through the league, can Giannis get it done this season and crown himself the new king for the NBA’s next decade? 

Honorable Mentions: 

James Harden

One of the most prolific scorers the game has ever seen, Harden is just efficient enough to warrant amazement for what he does instead of bewilderment; but just barely. Averaging 35.2 ppg on 44% shooting is impressive. But if that percentage even drops to 42%, it quickly becomes a case of too many bad shots. Besides Curry though (the best shooter of all time), this is the last guy you want shooting the ball if he’s going up against you. The only thing left for Harden to do to truly have a shot at the crown is a championship. While not impossible within the next few seasons, he may end up just another great player in an era where there are simply greater ones in his way. 

Luka Doncic

The young superstar may be a season away from blossoming into his true potential, which is scary to think about when the 21-year-old is averaging 28.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 8.8 apg on 46% shooting. Though I expect Luka and the Mavericks to fall short on firepower against the likes of the Lakers or Clippers, he may be Giannis’s number one competition for supremacy through the next decade. 

Anthony Davis

Now paired with another superstar, Davis is finally getting wins under his belt and true MVP consideration along with it. While undoubtedly the best big man in the league today, I’d say he’s not the best player on his team and is nowhere near the ball handler or passer that all these other players are. Slightly unfair as that's not his job, AD will just have to settle for the top spot in the West, and a great chance to win his first NBA title. 

Ben Simmons

The potential to be the next LeBron is there for Simmons. Averaging 16.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 8 apg through two seasons is nothing to bat an eye at, but the comparisons that come with those numbers are to players like LeBron and Magic. With those comparisons, the expectations of MVPs, championships and dominance are attached. That next step we’re all waiting for with Simmons has still not arrived, but when and if it does, the throne may be wiped clean to make way for another era of a dominant point forward running the league.