Weekly Takes - Monday, June 23 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, June 23 Edition 

1. The fact that Mitch Marner and his camp is already leaking out that he will not be returning to Toronto is incredible.

Even for pure leverage, you would think he’d try to act as though the Leafs have a chance to re-sign him. 

But he is so checked out that he is not capable of even doing that. No one loves playing the victim more than him. He truly believes that he has been unfairly treated by the media and fan base. 

Wild. It would be nice to live a life in as much bliss as Marner lives his life in. 

Good riddance. His return to Toronto will make Vince Carter’s return look like a playground.

2. As for John Tavares’ contract situation, I wrote at the end of the season that Toronto has to be careful here.

You are already losing 100+ points with Marner. Do you also want to lose nearly 40 goals, down the middle, from Tavares?

I like that Brad Treliving is playing hard ball, but the best path forward is re-signing Tavares and trading for a defensive centre who can free up Tavares and Auston Matthews offensively.

3. The Panthers are the best ran team and best coached team in the league and have been for two years straight now. 

They have hit multiple moves, ranging from waiver claims to trades, out of the ballpark, and their players have perfected the art of playoff hockey. 

They drain you. They beat you up. They skate you into the ground. 

It is beautiful to watch. 

4. The Thunder, like the Panthers, are the best team in their sport and thus a deserving champion.

The scary part is this is probably the worst version of the Thunder for the next half-decade.

There is a dynasty on our hands.

5. As for Tyrese Hailburton, the NBA needs to make the causes of Achilles injuries their top priority.

Of course, from this point forward, a calf strain should shut down every player. But are the shoes a factor? Modern age training? It all has to be looked at.

The fact the Pacers, Celtics, and Bucks have no path forward to competing in 2025-’26 is bad for the sport.

6. I do not blame the Raptors for not pulling the trigger on a Kevin Durant trade.

He is old, declining, and not a great fit with Brandon Ingram. But with the East this wide open, Masai Ujiri has to take a step here.

Who is the best team in the East entering the offseason? The Knicks? 

Wide open.

7. I think Donald Trump was already the worst president in modern American history after his handling of the COVID pandemic, but starting a war with Iran, with the plans to topple the government, cements it for me.

It is an unauthorised, illegal, senseless war, all because Israel wants it.

There are no weapons of mass destruction, just like there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

And even if there was, it would be because Trump ripped up the Iran deal, which was by far Barack Obama’s crowning achievement.

Clown show.