2017-18 NBA Bric-a-Brac (End of regular season)

Debuts
120 debuts this year, way up from last year's 88. There were 731 debuts in the previous 10 years, making for an average of 73 a year. So the amount of debuts has been steadily rising over the years with an explosion this year. Will the explosion continue? I don't see why not. More athletes are coming out of the NCAA each year and going into steadily expanding G-League, Chinese League, Australian League and thriving European leagues. Basketball is doing well around the world these days, I hope it continues and I think it will. I suspect the NBA putting more controlling efforts into USA basketball and the G-League will also eventually spawn a re-structuring of the NCAA system (which has always kinda sucked but appears to be ready for a major implosion; no matter happens, us Kentuckians expect the good times to keep rolling).


Waivings/Signings
Omri Casspi (Warriors) waived. (I thought Casspi was a natural fit for the Warriors, played 53 games this year, decent efficiency for a 14MPG guy; but he's been inactive for almost a month, guess the Warriors weren't confident he'd be available for the post-season; 50/50 whether he's plays in the league next year, I reckon)

Xaviers Silas (Celtics) waived. (Celtics needed to secure a roster spot, I assume)

MarShon Brooks (Grizzlies) signed 2yr contract. (Man, the PG/SG-desperate Grizzlies are really reaching deep these days. Even briefly had Marquis Teague; I assume this is roster manipulation)

Larry Drew (Cavs) waived; Kendrick Perkins (Cavs) signed for the playoffs. (I guess Drew was just a placeholder for the guy they always wanted; good lord, Perkins is out of the mothballs and ready for action; hey, if Amy Irving can pop up in a Soderbergh film, there's always room for the Perk)


Suspensions
Nerlens Noel (Mavs) and Thabo Sefolosha (Jazz) both suspended for violating the league drug policy. (weed, right?; Nerlens was always a whispered weedhead, never had that about Thabo before)


Injuries
Dirk Nowitzki (Mavs) out after ankle surgery. (Announced he'd be back for one more year; hey, he can still score, he's still unguardable, but he's already pretty horrible on defense; gotta say: I'm rooting for Luka Doncic to fall to Dallas)

Kyrie Irving (Celtics) knee surgery, presumably out for the entire playoffs. (Without Kyrie (and Smart) the Celtics have virtually no chance to go too deep, but if he can return, I wouldn't write off the Celtics just yet)

Isiah Whitehead (Nets) had wrist surgery; out of the rest of the year. (Didn't play much this year, sorta promising rookie season the year before, hopefully he heals up and gets back next year, Nets need all the bodies they can get)

Denzel Valentine (Bulls) had knee surgery; missed the last week of the season. (I like Valentine, hope he's ready for next year; he's not a Summer Leaguer, is he?)


Hirings
Mitch Kupchak named Hornets GM. (One of the all-time greats, we'll see if he's still got the magic; guess Jordan wanted a proper basketball man to run the show; if he can move Howard and Batum he'd be a favorite for Exec of the Year; but if he dedicates himself to the Triangle Offense, that would be a bad sign)


Firings
Knicks have fired coach Jeff Hornacek. (Rumors tend to lean toward Mark Jackson, though an attempt at Villanova's Jay Wright could be in the offing (if I were Wright, I'd stay at Villanova, keep the magic going there for as long as you can, the NBA will always be there)).

Magic fire coach Frank Vogel. (Personally I think this is a mistake--possibly. Look, the Magic for whatever reason have trouble luring free agents, so if they can't build around players, why not build around a coach? Perhaps Vogel wasn't the coach they want to build around. Okay, but even if he's not, I think they should stick with him anyway in hopes he can build a culture. The front office isn't doing it, the players aren't there, might as well make this a coach's team. At any rate, whoever the next coach is, I would suggest sticking by him regardless of what happens because that team doesn't seem to be building toward anything good)