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Howard Beck

@howardbeck.bsky.social

70K followers 1.3K following 2.4K posts

Senior NBA Writer at TheRinger.com | Co-host, the Real Ones | #NBASky evangelist Previously: SI.com, BleacherReport.com, NYTimes.com, DailyNews.com, VCStar.com, DavisEnterprise.com https://www.theringer.com/authors/howard-beck authory.com/howardbeck

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · Nov 17

Hey #NBASky: I made a Ringer NBA starter pack, including every Ringer colleague who writes, edits, produces or pods on the NBA. (If I've missed anyone, please let me know!)

go.bsky.app/FHrHSbx

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 14h

😁

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Bill DiFilippo @billdifilippo.bsky.social · 15h

a ping pong ball bounces different and the memphis grizzlies — which had a top-1 protected pick that went to the pistons and turned into darko — got build around lebron and pau gasol

Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 1d

For this sliding-doors piece, I compiled about 50 what-ifs of the 21st century and whittled it down to five. But I left out some damn good ones (Hello, Wolves drafting two point guards over Steph Curry).

What were your favorite what-ifs (2000-2025) that didn't make the cut?

Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 1d

Every dynasty starts with a missed train. For the Ringer's quarter-century project, I explored some of the biggest sliding-doors moments of the 21st century. (h/t Gwyneth Paltrow)

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Greg @gwiss.bsky.social · 15h

What if the Lakers hadn’t backed out of the Buddy Hield trade at the last second?

- no Russ in LA
- better depth and complimentary pieces in LA
- reshapes Kings roster
- Buddy Hield no longer available as part of Haliburton/Sabonis trade

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FlipsToStock @flipstostock.bsky.social · 14h

What if the Sixers ran it back with Jimmy Butler, JJ Redick, AND Tobias Harris?

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 14h

I do miss Vancouver. (No shade at Memphis.)

Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 14h

It would be very long! But yes, a fascinating and fun exercise.

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prezmullet.bsky.social @prezmullet.bsky.social · 15h

What if Clay Bennett buys the New Orleans Hornets instead of the Seattle SuperSonics? He still hires Sam Presti in this scenario, but after that…

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 15h

LITERALLY THE SECOND ITEM IN MY PIECE

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 15h

The Kings were supertalented/superdeep and took the Lakers to Game 7/OT. I don't think it'd have been close vs. the Nets.

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Chad Lucas @chadgalucas.bsky.social · 15h

Mine is Game 1 of the 2017 WCF. If Kawhi doesn't roll his ankle on Zaza's foot with SA up big, do the Spurs pull off the series upset? Does Kawhi stay? The ripples would affect the Spurs, GSW's legacy, the 2019 Raptors title, possibly the Clippers/OKC trade... and ultimately, Wemby's destination.

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RacoonHail @racoonhail.bsky.social · 15h

For us Nuggets fans, the Carmelo trade, if he just waits out the rest of the season and signs with the Knicks in the off season, the Nuggets don't get the haul that allowed them to play semi-competitive basketball for years and eventually select Jamal Murray. A whole different Nuggets timeline

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 15h

The first one is excellent.

The second one? Er, same outcome in the Finals, sorry.

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Bryan Curtis @bryancurtis.bsky.social · 15h

MSNBC's Jen Psaki on the Katie Porter interview:

"a case study they may show in school about how not to do an interview"

The full Psaki interview, on the Dems and cable news, will be on tomorrow's Press Box.
open.spotify.com/show/4aBkZbD...

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 15h

i apologize for laughing just now

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Avi Wolfman-Arent @avi-wa.bsky.social · 16h

What if Sixers don't....

*reveals world's longest scroll*

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Howard Beck @howardbeck.bsky.social · 16h

Also, just an incredibly good dude.

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Ben Puntch @puntchy.bsky.social · 1d

What if the Tyson Chandler to OKC trade doesn't get voided?

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Icebirdmail @icebirdmail.bsky.social · 1d

New Orleans seems to involved in an inordinate number of them. Before the nixed Paul to Lakers trade, there was a potential deal that would have sent to him to Golden State for Curry and Thompson. And what if DeMarcus Cousins hadn't torn his Achilles in the dying seconds of a match against Houston?

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Branden McEuen but he’s spooky @bmceuen.bsky.social · 1d

It will always be a very simple one for pistons fans: Darko.

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Tree @treemania.bsky.social · 1d

Raps homerism bias, but Kawhi coming back to defend the title. Barring injury, I fully believe they’d have repeated.

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Andy Pearlman @apearlma.bsky.social · 1d

what if Oklahoma doesn't trade Harden to Houston? is Lin successful in an offense designed for him? Does Oklahoma end up winning multiple championships—they went 60-22 *after* trading Harden away for what ended up being mostly pocket change.

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manuteboulder.bsky.social @manuteboulder.bsky.social · 1d

What if the Lowry to NY deal goes through?

That whole Raptors era and 2019 title disappears. They tank aggressively and disrupt the 2014 lottery (is LeBron still back in Cleveland?)

Melo and Kyle are All-Stars and the Knicks make playoff runs. Maybe that foundation entices KD to join NY in 2016?

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John Moe @johnmoe.bsky.social · 1d

I often think about the Scottie Pippen for Shawn Kemp trade that was all set until it leaked to fans and everyone freaked out in both cities. Would have probably been good for everyone and I could possibly get to Sonics staying if I squint.

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Bryan Toporek @btoporek.bsky.social · 1d

And my favorite non-Sixers one:

What if OKC/Harden came to terms on a deal in 2012 and never traded him to Houston? (They split up because of a $4.5M difference, which is absolutely insane to think about in today's terms!)

www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

Thunder ship star sixth man Harden to Rockets

The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Sixth Man of the Year James Harden to the Houston Rockets, breaking up the young core of the Western Conference champions.

www.espn.com

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Bryan Toporek @btoporek.bsky.social · 1d

Some Sixers-specific ones:
- What if they took Porzingis at No. 3 instead of Okafor in 2015?
- What if they never usurped Hinkie with the Colangelos?
- What if they didn't swap picks with the Kings in 2017? Do they still trade up for Fultz?
- What if the basketball gods didn't hate Philadelphia?

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