Considering Mr. Wittman's Wonderful Wizards Emporium

Earlier in the season, I approached Conor D. Dirks of ESPN's TrueHoop Network Wizards blog Truth About It. I was seeking Conor's timely two-cents on the state of the Washington basketball union, and he more than appropriately addressed the subject. You can find our January exchange here, for greater context. Recently, I once again found myself in search of Conor's well of Wizards wisdom, left befuddled by the team's persisting, steady successes. He more than kindly answered the call, compiling a comprehensive catalogue of astute analysis and "savvy" suggestions. The following is the product of our virtual to-ing and fro-ing, listed in no particular order:

Angus Crawford: Nene went down with a sprained MCL during Washington's February 24 win over Cleveland. Prior to this specific injury, the Wizards had gone 8-34 in games played without the Brazilian pivot in the lineup. Since this injury, however, the team is sitting neatly at 4-1 -- including a gritty triple-overtime win in Toronto last Thursday. In sum: what the hell is going on?

Conor D. Dirks: Good times. Good times. Or bad teams. Wins against Orlando, Philadelphia, and Utah are better than losses against Orlando, Philadelphia, and Utah, but this is a better team than the one that existed during previous periods of absence from the Brazilian, and the Wizards were strong favorites to win those games even without the numinous experience of Nene's tremendum. The Wizards of years past aren't worth mentioning (barely ever), but earlier this season, when Nene missed a few games, the Wizards were also dealing with an injury to Martell Webster, an injury to Trevor Ariza, an injury to Chris Singleton, and a limited Marcin Gortat, who had only just joined the team after the trade from Phoenix.

There is no silver lining when your second-most important player goes down for six weeks with an injury, but the Wizards are fortunate in that they have the easiest remaining schedule in the NBA. An easy schedule by no means guarantees success, though, and my "sources" say the Wizards still have to go out and win those games/these are all NBA players/guys have pride/you have to respect your opponent/Jupiter's moon Europa has a sizable core which some believe to measure around one-third of its radii, etc.

Wins against actual, non-tanking teams like Toronto come from a confluence of events which usually includes two of the following three items: 1) All-Star level play from John Wall; 2) good 3-point shooting from Beal, Webster, and Ariza; 3) Heavy pick and roll action from Marcin Gortat. The Toronto win featured ample amounts of #1 and #3, with a very notable absence from #2. The Wizards shoot almost 10% better behind the arc in wins than they do in losses both as a team, and by each individual shooter.

AC: After the team suffered the blow of Nene's prolonged absence, it was announced that they had signed former NBA journeyman and lottery pick Drew Gooden. Yes, that Drew Gooden. Did this actually happen, or did society as a whole enter the Twilight Zone? Can you confirm for us that Drew Gooden does indeed still exist as a person, and as a basket-shooting man?

CDD: Drew Gooden, good gracious. So far, the commentary from play-by-play great Steve Buckhantz has been more about the did-you-know-oh-you-didn't-but-you-still-don't-care trivia factoid that Drew Gooden totally has an apartment in Bethesda, Maryland than any basketball-related reasons Washington fans might have to invest in Drew Gooden, Wizard.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not disputing the fact that Bethesda is on the red line of the DC Metro system, or that it's practically a part of the District. Bethesda is legitimate! Be proud, Bethesdans! But really, that's the best we can do? What's that you say? He only really has the apartment because his girlfriend owns a business in Bethesda? Awesome. It's probably too much to ask Comcast SportsNet to ask the hard-hitting (and wildly inappropriate) questions regarding whether this apartment ownership/rental is part of a more traditionally furtive (and traditionally D.C.) arrangement.

But I'm not sure we can blame Steve Buckhantz. Drew Gooden isn't compelling. He did surpass Otto Porter's career high in last night's game against the Jazz though! And looked good doing it.

He also famously tried to negotiate a buyout after being traded to the Wizards on February 13, 2010, failed to reach an agreement on said buyout, reluctantly showed up at the Verizon Center to report to Coach Flip Saunders at a shootaround (even after promising Saunders he had no intention of playing for a rebuilding team), and then found out while he was there that he'd been flipped to the Los Angeles Clippers in the same trade that packaged Antawn Jamison to the Cavaliers. The hilarious part about this story is that Gooden asked Antawn for a ride to the hotel in Jamison's Bentley, and then got caught by a flood of reporters in the parking lot who were desperate to speak with a semi-beloved, departing Jamison. So there's Drew fucking Gooden, awkwardly hanging back behind Jamison while the quote-getters swarm, suddenly cognizant that he had been traded to an actual team with actual reporters, but not feeling sheepish enough to bail and just find a taxi.

That's probably enough on Drew Gooden. Improbably, Kyle Weidie, John Converse Townsend, Adam McGinnis and I recounted some of the other Twilight Zone-esque connections Gooden has to the Wizards (there are more!) and talked about his spirit animal. Reader beware: there are mentions of astral projection and colugo.

AC: All season long, a glance down at Randy Wittman's quote sheet has meant trifling through a tireless tirade of anti-advanced metrics qualms. Wittman is developing an identity of infamy in the basketball community for his undying opposition to analytics. On the other hand, from the outside looking in, your man "Skinny Ted" Leonsis appears to be quite progressive and open-minded on that front. Surely this kind of hierarchical disconnect is counterproductive, no? What might be done for the organization to adequately address to opposing outlooks on the value of stats-based decision-making?

CDD: Randy, I feel so small when you're mean to me! Along with my colleagues at TAI, I've tracked the application of Wittman's vapid "take what the defense gives you" maxim for good offense over the course of the season. Washington has a stat geek's wet dream in terms of personnel (the Wizards are among the top teams in 3-point percentage and field goal percentage at the rim), but irresponsibly lead the NBA in mid-range jump shots while hitting them at an 8th-worst clip. They also have a coach who, when asked about finding good, non-midrange shots by Kyle Weidie, said this (after a pregnant, nerve-wracking pause):

“So you’re saying that a 15-foot open look is not good?
“You take open shots. You take open shots. Where they are is dictated by what the defense does. If you predicate what kind of shot you’re going to take not based on what you’re doing reading the defense, you’re not going to get good shots. I just worry about goods shots.
“You know what? Those numbers you can stick… Alright? You know, all you analytical people that take that… You take good shots, that’s the most important thing. Maybe we’re not taking good midrange shots, maybe we’re taking contested ones. I understand the numbers are there for a reason, we look at the numbers, but to sit there and… We got a good, open shot we’re taking, I don’t care where it is.”

So, yeah, Gus, you can stick those numbers...well, we'll never know. Suffice it to say, Wittman's Wizards are in a unilateral, unrequited love affair with the mid-range jumper that rivals my affinity for Britney Spears in 1999 in terms of hopelessness.

And it might turn out to be the reason that Ted Leonsis (who penned an advanced stat dump after the loss to Memphis) goes with another head coaching candidate this offseason, when the contracts of both Wittman and team president Ernie Grunfeld expire. But I do believe it's important to temper expectations regarding how fully a coach will embrace and implement stats-based decision making. There's a balance. Players aren't normally all that interested in hearing reams of data. Rather, as John Converse Townsend noted, it's about providing the correct clues. Wittman's churlishness regarding numbers doesn't inspire confidence that he is interested in nudging his players in a direction that takes any amount of the voluminous information regarding mid-range jump shots under consideration. In the meantime, the Wizards will probably be less relevant than they could be otherwise.

AC: Eric Maynor's mystical journey through the 2014 NBA season as an offensively repugnant reserve point guard has taken its talents elsewhere since being dispatched at the deadline. Melon-balling Maynor's putrid play from the rotation "helped" [Wizards GM] Ernie and the boys attain the academic and locker room services of the super savvy Prof. Andre Miller. (Aside: With Miller, Nene, & good ol' Uncle Al Harrington, the 'Zards are doing their best to re-assemble the 2011 Denver Nuggets) On a scale of Fabricio Oberto to Nick Young, how many sads did it cause you to say goodbye to #MaynorTime?

CDD: When Eric Maynor was still the presumptive backup for John Wall in November and early December 2013, the opening tip of each game was naught else but the flip of an hourglass, the first step of an inevitable death march which culminated in perfunctory minutes for Eric Maynor. Those minutes were the worst minutes. Fabricio Oberto is too many sads. JaVale McGee, who was a joy to watch leave at a previous trade deadline, is too many sads. The departure of Eric Maynor inspires nothing but relief. The trade that sent him to Philadelphia, on the other hand, is simply another example of team president Ernie Grunfeld's inimitable knack for cleaning up after himself at the expense of hard-to-conceptualize, but very real, potential future assets. It should not be so easily forgotten that Eric Maynor was signed mere hours into the 2013 summer free agency period. Grunfeld was that sure.

AC: For the good of society, please summarise Jan Vesely aka the Air Wolf's tenure in Washington D.C. in one chronically-outdated 1990s song.

CDD: When Jan Vesely was drafted in 2011, the Wizards desperately needed a running mate for John Wall to make the team exciting to watch and play into Wall's (at that time) speed-based game. It became rapidly apparent that Vesely wasn't that somebody yet. For years, Washington wondered, Washington watched (like a hawk, even)...and finally Washington decided that Airwolf, inescapably likable as he is, would never become that somebody. Aaliyah provides the soundtrack.

Memoirs of a Sloan: Reflecting on My Improbable Journey to SSAC 2014

This past weekend, I traveled to Boston for the 2014 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. The conference was held over two days -- Friday & Saturday -- and the following is an assortment of anecdotes, ideas, and tidbits from my first time attending the event.

Seventeen thousand kilometres. That's an approximate measurement of the distance between my city of origin (Melbourne, Australia) and downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Thankfully, for the time being at least, I didn't directly make that arduous trek. Flying in from Toronto makes the task all the more achievable, and realistic -- even with yours truly's border-hopping, foreign, alien identity. Nevertheless, the realities of the fundamental, start-to-finish voyage that transpired factors heavily into why my very appearance at the conference was an altogether unexpected and unlikely one.

The Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC) has ballooned in both stature and recognition since its 2007 inception, so much so that murmurings prior to the event were flooded with scepticism as to its present-day purpose and worth. Paul Flannery delivered an interesting commentary on the growth and manoeuvring of the conference for Boston Magazine, only a few days ahead of the commencement of the 2014 incarnation. Flannery, intriguingly for those with little Sloan experience, noted that the techniques and flow of information may have been altered ever so slightly:

To find any real insights, you have to sift through the handful of academic papers that are presented each year outside of the main hall—either that, or buttonhole a few stat-heads and try to pry out their secrets over a few drinks. All of which makes you wonder: Has Sloan outlived its usefulness? Has it grown too large to fulfill its initial mission as an academic conference?

The underlying "it was only legitimate when it was underground," sentiment is enough to give pause to any potential attendee. I guess the more important question becomes: if you are attending, what is the primary purpose of being there? Sloan is a fairly idiosyncratic paradigm; a meeting of the minds, a chance for individuals to pitch their value and their ideas, and an odd setting where familiar faces and relative celebrities casually adorn the hallways. The overwhelming concern is, has the freshly corporatised environment and proprietary nature of the information lessened the intellectual currency of the conference?

In this case, the beauty (of the accessible knowledge) is undoubtedly in the eye of the beholder. As enlightening as it may be to absorb the dulcet tones of Phil Jackson for forty-five minutes on stage, or serve as a sounding board for Stan Van Gundy's stereotypically raw, profane outlook on advanced metrics, it can be even more productive to liaise with the "lower-profile" types lingering in the analytics-driven atmosphere. There's a jovial, jocular undercurrent at the joint where many a "nerdgasm" takes place. Whether jawing over the decision to include a linear kernel in a research method, searching for positional distinctions beneath the "Hot Hand" theory, or simply relishing in the magnificence of the abundant oatmeal-raisin cookies on offer, SSAC (still) presents ample opportunity for engaging conversation.

An important takeaway from Sloan, and for any such gathering of likeminded folk, is that often the people you unexpectedly encounter and get to know are just as illuminating and diverse as those who you had previously hoped to meet, and those who may be featured and/or posted as "attractions." For example, I stumbled across a middle-aged man -- who had traveled from San Diego -- who for one reason or another caught my attention, and I found myself captivated by the dialogue. Here I was actively seeking a discussion, at length, on a subject matter (the appropriate number of innings for the average pitcher in an MLB season) that was far beyond the realm of my own individual interest, albeit with a complete stranger. These forms of informal, organic interactions function as the added bit of unpredictability, and the cherry-on-the-icing-on-the-sundae of the experience as an entity.

Personally, little could deter me from immersing myself in the company of the lively basketball writing community. The palpable presence of the TrueHoop Network hovered over the clustered media room at the end of the convention centre's expansive foyer. So many characters, and such scarce time. There's a fervent sense of fraternity amongst those in the THN, even despite the predisposed condition that the Network in and of itself is a collection of bloggers and thinkers of varying experiences, ages, and identities. This heterogeneity of thought and personality was not exclusive to the TrueHoop clan, either. Whether it be Jim Cavan and Robert Silverman of Knickerblogger, Tom Sunnergren of Hoop76, Ian Levy and Andrew Lynch of Hardwood Paroxysm, Taylor Armosino of The Knicks Wall, Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal, Neurolinguistic Programming Trainer and Peak Performance Coach Art Rondeau, or any number of the other informative, accommodating writers in attendance, Sloan conjured a setting for all and sundry to rendezvous and float ideas and opinions.

The caveat of serenely nattering away with assorted media members was a refreshing juxtaposition for the more prototypical practice of witnessing Sloan's panel deliberations. The utter eccentricity of author Malcolm Gladwell acted as a highlight of the innovation and intellectual conversation that is regularly threaded throughout Sloan's stages. Gladwell appeared opposite fellow author David Epstein in the "10,000 hours vs. The Sports Gene" forum, and later steered a one-on-one interview with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. His trademark quirkiness and vehement, hound-like interviewing technique fostered an environment rich with entertainment, to be sure. Gladwell's re-introduction of the 10,000 hours theory within his book, Outliers, stood as relatively groundbreaking material, and prima facie. This was a fitting foundation for the lighthearted exchange that he and Epstein eventually enjoyed.

There is so much to be extracted from the well that Sloan is, so it's difficult to summarise it all in a concise fashion. Here are a handful of bits and pieces that stuck in my mind even days after returning from Boston. As unlikely as my trip to the conference may have been, it'll be interesting to see if I'm writing a similar recap of the events in twelve months' time.

Panels

• Predictably, Zach Lowe moderating the Basketball Analytics panel and directing traffic on matters such as PEDs, tanking, SportVU player tracking data, injuries, minutes restrictions, the draft lottery, and parity within the league, delivered on its promise. Not to be lost among the shrubbery of the stage littered with current and former league executives such as Steve Kerr and Mike Zarren was the sheer candidness of Stan Van Gundy, and Bryan Colangelo. While Van Gundy panned the perceived philosophy of the Philadelphia 76ers' front office by labelling their operations as "disgraceful," -- with the team's General Manager Sam Hinkie in the audience, mind you -- Colangelo submitted a startling concession of his fading years as an executive in Toronto. 

Bryan Colangelo: "Admittedly I tried to tank a couple of years ago." #SSAC14
— Gus Crawford (@gus_crawford) February 28, 2014

• The "In-Game Innovations" panel attributed the conference with the surprise wrinkle that esteemed baseball writer and statistician Bill James would be in attendance. ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz expertly massaged the crew that included former NBA head coach George Karl, Pulaski Academy football coach Kevin Kelley, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey, and the aforementioned James. Of note within this dialogue were the ideas of unpredictability and pace of play, with Karl asserting that his preference for a helter-skelter offense had never really waned -- despite the perception that it has failed in the postseason. Save for his bitter disposition toward the public's interpretation of him as a coach, Karl discussed managing lineups and having unconventional rotations and, in doing so, referred to how he was left to handle a competitive point guard dual with Denver in 2011. Perhaps the other most interesting anecdote from this early-morning discourse was Morey's assertion that -- under Jeff Van Gundy -- the Rockets' studies showed that they often found success scoring the ball in broken plays.

George Karl, on Raymond Felton in Denver (2011), "1 week after he got to our team we knew he wouldn't be around next season." #SSAC14
— Gus Crawford (@gus_crawford) February 28, 2014 

• In a not-entirely-bewildering turn of events, the "Building a Dynasty" discussion felt more like a sponsored nostalgia session than anything else. Not that the panel was absent of insight, but the laudatory way in which both Jonathan Kraft and Phil Jackson are (rightfully so) perennially treated slightly masked the substance and depth of conversation. Notwithstanding this, Phil Jackson's not-so-subtle jab at his former employer (the Los Angeles Lakers) in response to a Jackie Macmullan question (on which present-day player may be best suited for his patented triangle offense) was characteristically zany: "How about [Dwight] Howard?"

People

• Following along with the theme of the rest of the weekend, the unforeseen aspects were almost universally the most enjoyable. Add having 76ers General Manager Sam Hinkie tardily slink into a presentation room, take a seat next to yours truly, and welcome some friendly banter between one another to that very list. This (intermittent) conversation was not expected, and yet it proved to be a treasured takeaway from the whirlwind weekend. 
• I have long-admired the work of the aforementioned Ian Levy, creator of Hickory High. As such, the opportunity to meet and greet with Ian in person was one that could not be missed. I'm not quite sure how he juggles everything at his feet in the way that he does, suffice to say that it impresses me. Ian's writing and contributions are innovative, well-researched, and often transcendent, while Hickory High as a whole carries a near-unmatched degree of respect within basketball circles. If you were not previously a reader of Ian's site, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Papers

• In an activity that left me questioning my own elementary level of intellect (see: "Automatically Recognizing On-Ball Screens"), listening to a scattered mixture of the conference's research paper presentations -- yet again -- handed a point of difference. The work of Rajiv Maheswaran and Second Spectrum, Inc., however, left me simultaneously blown away and fascinated. The segregation of the practice of rebounding within the "Three Dimensions of Rebounding" paper (into positioning, hustle, and conversion) created a framework from which ample knowledge could be extrapolated -- even for a layperson. The success of this paper and the regard with which it was held in by those at the conference is not altogether alarming. 

  

  Information courtesy of Rajiv Maheswaran, Yu-Han Chang, Jeff Su, Sheldon Kwok, Tal Levy, Adam Wexler, Noel Hollingsworth, and Second Spectrum Inc.

  
  

  
  

Lessons from four green uniforms

The Memphis Tams throwback

Here are four uniforms, all of them featuring green, that could teach NBA teams something.

Atlanta Hawks 1970-72 alternate

That loud colour combo is acceptable, although only just. The white piping seems like it actually helps this uniform, an unusual example of white trim working as a third colour. Where it doesn’t work is on the Hawks’ current roads and alternate. One aspect of that ‘70s uniform Atlanta should consider reviving is the arched Hawks word mark on the left leg of the shorts.

Dallas Mavericks 1981-92 road

This stands out as being far more vibrant that what the Mavericks currently wear. It’s also a reminder that the Mavs have a history of clarity issues. For the most part it’s an attractive, classic-look uniform. It noticeably falters with the legibility of the word mark, though. The number outlining is also a negative. The Mavericks have had the same issues to varying degrees since wearing this uni, although their ‘93-‘01 blue roads were clear. Today, they sport an iffy number font and their road word mark doesn’t stand out well with the blue-on-blue format.

Memphis Tams throwback worn by Memphis Grizzlies

Not only does this catch the eye because of the contrasting jersey and shorts, but the colours are also bright. It’s still a respectable uniform. Simplicity, meaning no side panels or messy collars, would help teams go with a mismatching jersey and shorts today. A team’s colour scheme is also obviously important. The Bucks, Hawks, Pistons and Sixers are among the teams that seem to have the colours to succeed with a mismatch. It’d be hard to get it right, and there aren’t any standout candidates, but it could be done for a regular uniform today.

Utah Jazz 1979-84 road

This uniform is another reminder of the benefits of clean jersey sides. The current Jazz alternate and this uniform have some significant similarities. The reason why the old uniform is so superior to the current one is largely to do with its freedom from the blue panels down the side. The v-neck of the old uniforms looks better than the current iteration due to the bolder yellow and white trim.

Pau Gasol, and the Long Lost Art of Humility

The realm of professional sports is complex. It's an enigma, too often fuelled and beleaguered by corporatism, self-indulgence, corruption, and a glaring lack of transparency -- a distant reality from the work-a-day world of those who typically come to fund its very existence.

Recently, the lines that separate society and the vaunted imagery of professional athletes have become blurred, with innately political matters such as sexuality, illicit substances, harassment, and spousal abuse flooding industry-based discussions. Sensationalism aside, there is little doubting that the growth of social media as an interactive medium and the immediacy with which one can now access information have overtly influenced the daily dialogue. The vagueness of the idea of "celebrity," and the blissful ignorance of athlete-based adoration may once have made it easy to consume sporting product in a vacuum, yet this is quickly becoming an antiquated pastime.

As much as talking heads and national media outlets drive the agenda and cloud conversation with empty narratives of championships, individual accolades, and meaningless, exhaustive gimmicks, there is always more to the industry than the vanity of these façades. Hidden subtly beneath the canopies of hollow motives and fundamentally flawed institutions is a rare species.

In an age where "any publicity is good publicity," there is a certain humanistic appeal to the oft-forgotten labour of philanthropy. Few public figures exemplify this notion more than Pau Gasol, the Spanish basketball stalwart currently in his twelfth season in the NBA. With his involvement with UNICEF and perpetual charitable work, Gasol could easily be mistaken for a devoted (albeit oversized) Hispanic social worker. Except for the fact that he is the recipient of a $19.2M (USD) salary. The Spaniard's enduring profile of selflessness, understanding, and sympathy is, to say the least, a strikingly uncommon commodity.

Following a frustrating end to his 2013 season where injury and immaturity left Gasol as the Lakers' lone pillar in a swept series -- an abrupt conclusion to a campaign in which he missed 33 regular season games due to various ailments -- the international veteran seemed sure to be headed to a subdued summer of replenishment prior to a "contract year." With some 34,399 minutes of collective (regular season and playoff) NBA mileage and no fewer than ten appearances at senior-level tournaments with the Spanish national team (beginning in 2001) logged prior to 2013-14, an offseason of rehabilitation and solitude would have passed as understandable for the Barcelona native. Alas, it was not to be.

In July of 2013, as part of his ambassadorial role with UNICEF, Pau Gasol ventured to Iraq to provide aid to struggling Syrian refugees. Commenting on what he confronted firsthand in the throes of his visit, Gasol stated, “No child should experience such violence and destruction and be deprived of the basic services that they need to grow and develop to fulfill their potential.”

“Providing these services is a huge job,” he iterated. “While we can see some good results, the needs are enormous. So much more help is needed.”

It's fitting (if not a little token) to admire the fact that Gasol practiced altruism rather than low-post moves this past summer. In a climate where mandated, vanilla community appearances can mask more authentic voluntary work, it's easy to confuse humanitarian efforts amidst the smog of PR campaigns. This is where it becomes worth mentioning that the Los Angeles Lakers forward's journey to Iraq was his fifth "field trip" under his UNICEF-authorised role. 

Pau playing pickup with children in N'Djaména, in 2012.

The lanky seven-footer has also participated in and supported programs in South Africa (2005), Angola (2007), Ethiopia (2010), and Chad (2012), serving tirelessly as the UNICEF Spain Ambassador since 2003. Reflecting on his time spent in N'Djaména, Wadi, Mao, Kanem, and Miouh, in Chad, Gasol opined, "When I go on these trips, I then have a better and more real opinion about it. It then creates more attention and brings more people to collaborate to help what’s going on here."

Distinct from his own personal interest and compassion toward the projects, clearly, the 33 year-old is aware of the groundswell of positivity and international media attention that his mere presence generates. The resources and funds amassed in the aftermath of Gasol's visits and contributions are still significantly short of those required, however. In his most recent trip, it was reported that medicine, clean water, and school supplies were delivered for "the camp that was built for 15,000 but has [taken in] 50,000." This is tragically emblematic of the discrepancy of materials in the underprivileged regions that Gasol has traveled to, and the sheer weight of the work that he strives to assist with. 

Whilst his efforts have been widely acknowledged in mainstream publications, -- in addition to being named the L.A. Times' 2009 Sportsman of the Year and becoming only the fifth non-American recipient of the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2011-12 -- apparently no measure of formal recognition and adorned trophy cabinets can halt the progress of Pau's philanthropy. In near-poetic fashion, a telling parallel can be drawn between the nature of Gasol's work away from the hardwood floor, and his level of production on the court. At age thirty-three, with a faltering offensive arsenal, a weary, waning defensive output, and in the final year of a healthy contract with a modest (at best) supporting cast, Pau Gasol's standing within the league is not what it once was. 

"Father Time" has been stereotypically unforgiving to Gasol's body, and he has battled to cushion his on-court value and failing health with a formerly reliable catalogue of finesse manoeuvres and adept adjustments on the low block. Previously a sturdy silhouette of basketball excellence, the Spaniard has been reduced to being the subject of trade rumours -- at first with the Cleveland Cavaliers (in a proposed exchange for the contract of former teammate Andrew Bynum), and later with the surging Phoenix Suns.

Last season, Gasol wrestled with slumping play, and held a testing relationship with head coach Mike D'Antoni after he was benched in favour of undersized role player Earl Clark in February. For such an integral, high-character piece of the puzzle, it is rare for a player to be discarded with indifference by a franchise, as with the manner that Los Angeles managed their former All-Star. Questioned over his seemingly diminishing role with the team and the decision-making of the team's bench staff, this is what Gasol offered to the L.A. Times:

"So do you ask for a fresh start elsewhere?" 

"It's a possibility," he said, "yes." 

He will not request a trade before this month's deadline, he said, although he knows there is interest from other teams for a starting center and he will be returning to the bench soon. 

"I'm not a quitter," he said. "Just because things look better on the other side of the fence, I'm not going to take the easy way out. 

"I have a certain level of loyalty here, and I've been through a lot of great, amazing things. And there have been others that have been hurtful. But that's life."

Despite having been shopped widely and openly early in the 2013-14 season (and again before the deadline) little could deter the veteran's wisdom and understanding. Gasol provided a trademark, refreshing take on the juggling act between being "Pau Gasol: the player," and "Pau Gasol: the proverbial trade pawn," in December:

[That’s why] Gasol said he’s given it no mind that ESPN.com recently reported the Lakers are open toward trading him amid his recent complaints about his role and his 14.4 points per game average on a career-low 41.8 percent shooting. 

“I’m used to it by now,” Gasol said following the Lakers’ morning shootaround here at Philips Arena. “It’s been a constant thing for me. It’s like getting up from bed and having breakfast.”

Ever the bastion of loyalty, honesty, and a team-oriented philosophy, Gasol was even jettisoned in a complicated, star-laden trade in December 2011 (that was later nixed by the league's head office). Notwithstanding all of this uncertainty, he "survived" the NBA's February 20 trade deadline this season, and remains a member of the Los Angeles Lakers (the team he joined prior to the deadline some six years ago), for now.

It is indicative of Gasol's persona that instead of plying his trade by capitalising on his place in a large-scale market (Los Angeles) and focusing on private endorsements, he continues to be active with UNICEF in Spain, the United States, and abroad. Moreover, it should be noted that his influence and involvement with the non-profit organisation was well entrenched prior to his arrival on the west coast. As a prominent face in his homeland, on the international basketball scene, and within the NBA, Gasol's reach (both physically and metaphorically) extends far beyond conventional borders.

His compassion and community involvement is not simply limited to the offseason or his own down time, either. In the wake of the damage caused to the Philippines as a result of Typhoon Haiyan, Gasol pledged to donate $1000 for every point he scored in a late November game against the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 24 points in that outing, and later confessed, "I definitely had that motivation of scoring points tonight for the Philippines."

Although his status as an "elite" player in the Association may be forever lost in the shadows of his lengthy career, and he is -- at present -- stuck in the swath of basketball irrelevance on an otherwise forgettable outfit, Pau Gasol's value far exceeds the measurement of any advanced metric.

As diverse and storied as his on-court résumé is, a scarce handful of athletes could place in a conversation with Gasol with regards to his vast achievements as an activist, role model, and human. So, what does it all really mean?

"Obviously it puts things in perspective, and all the other things I might deal with my team or with my profession are much less important or meaningful than the lives of people that are on the line every day," Gasol suggested.  

Information from the Associated Press (AP), UNICEF, NBA.com, and the Los Angeles Times was utilised to compile this piece.

A look at the busy All-Star game uniforms

The 2014 All-Star uniforms

The 2014 All-Star game uniforms were cluttered, and would have been even if the Adidas stripes and logo were removed.

To begin with a positive: the green and blue on the East uniforms contrasted nicely. The green was a tinge too close to fluoro, but the colour combo was solid and an unfamiliar one. The West’s gear didn’t contrast as well.

The number and name fonts were restrained. More of each uniform should have followed that tone.

The chest logos looked a bit messy, probably the result of the fleur-de-lis being oversized and covered by both “E” and “EAST”, or “W” and “West”.

The collars looked particularly poor, both the shape and the coloured flaps. That cut probably wouldn’t look as bad with more detail around the neckline.

The spots on the shorts – far more noticeable for the East – were clutter. The shorts looked more like gym gear than part of an NBA uniform.

The coloured socks were okay, but far too busy to be anything more, particularly considering the rest of the two uniforms.

It is reasonable – although not necessary – for the NBA to have funky uniforms for the All-Star game. The one-night, high-profile nature of the game makes it suitable for trying new designs. But couple one or two edgy elements, if you must, with a more classic look. There’s no need for the uniforms to be so unattractive.