An Email to The Sports Guy

I wrote an email to The Sports Guy of ESPN (Bill Simmons) about I think it would be the biggest what-if if Len Bias was picked by the Cavs in 1986 instead of allowing Celtics to pick him. Here is the email:

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Dear SG

I am in Hong Kong and has been reading your Book Of Basketball for 2nd time. I want to raise an issue regarding to the what-ifs you wrote on Len Bias. Sure Bias was a GREAT player in College and as you are an avid Celtics fan, mourning for a loss of Bias, who you had him with both hands and only to make a fumble imemdiately afterwards, is a powerful sentiment in writing and the passion makes you what you are today. However, as a 10 year younger reader who lives a trillion miles away from US, I never had a chance to watch Bias play and prove if he could have been a worthy rival of MJ.

This leads to my question to you, that if Len Bias was that good, that popular at that time, why didn't the Cavs pick him?

I understand NBA was bulking up at that time, but if Bias was a transdecent player as what was claimed to be, isn't it obvious that Bias was a better pick than Brad Daugherty? Celtics and Cavs are both in Eastern Conference, why would Cavs allow the most powerful team in the league history to get another super player? Isnt that there is a possibility that Cavs did their homework, found out Bias had some "funny hobbies" and decided Daugherty was a safer pick?
Isnt that a much bigger and more juicy what-if for you to write, if Cavs picked Bias in 1986?
If Bias was with Cavs, given they also drafted Ron Harper, Mark Price and Johnny Newman in the same draft, and with Larry Nance and Craig Ehlo, wouldnt the Cavs become at least the best run and gun team in East? Or they can be much better?

Also your biggest gripe on Bias' death is no one to give Bird and McHale breather in 87 season, so what if Cavs drafted Bias? Celtics probably would draft Daugherty. He may be only 50% as good as Bias, but couldnt Daugherty can replace McHale when he was out with a broken foot and be an effective bench player for the 87 Celtics? Also as he became one of the top centers in the league later on, wouldnt he could help extended the careers of Bird and McHale into the early 90s just like what you project they could be with Bias?

If Cavs picked Bias and he lived, this would give the East FOUR superpowers with Bulls, Celtics and Pistons in late 80s. The Lakers would probably win the 89, 90 and 91 finals because the teams in the East were so busy fighting among themselves, which not only it will effectively end any Bird/Magic discussion, and Magic may be hyped up to have so many foes in the East that he will be more careful and avoid getting HIV

There can be a more lasting effect: Maybe Isiah will never win a title as the Bad Boys. Also as the main rivals of Pistons would be Celtics and Cavs, MJ and his inferior team may never mattered, there is a chance that something called Jordan Rules would never exist. Without the Jordan Rules and the Bad Boys, there is a good chance that MJ will never understand his teammates mattered when it comes to playoffs. Dont you think it is possible MJ could become a second Wilt if that indeed happened!! What would NBA become if MJ did not become the best ever player? Maybe you would not be writng the Book of Basketball!!

Finally what would happen if Cavs picked Bias and he died anyway? Not only Celtics will run away with multiple titles with Daugherty, the city of Cleveland may be devastated and it would killed basketball in Cleveland. Which means a baby in Cleveland called LeBron James may not play basketball at all. The entire league and even the game of basketball will be played differently!

Len Bias could have affected NBA in much more significant ways if Cavs picked him in 1986. This could have totally reshaped the game of Basketball! Dont you think it is the ultimate what-if in the history of NBA?

If you ever decided to rewrite this section with Cavs picked Bias, I wouldnt ask for any royalties (ha ha!) but I hope my name will appear in the footnote. It will be something I will brag forever!! :P