Nylon Calculus

Dec 7, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) watch the Mavericks take on the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Bucks 125-102. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Petteri Koponen is the Mavericks’ Best Option at Point Guard

Tracking the Philadelphia 76ers Rebuild

Benefit of the Doubt Draft Rankings

Nicolas Batum is not Damaged Goods

Jun 26, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves number one overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones pose with their jerseys at Mayo Clinic Square. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Objective Draft Grades for the 2015 NBA Draft

Average NBA Draft Measurements by Position for 2015

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Kristaps Porzingis is escorted onto the stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Grading the (Mock) 2015 NBA Drafts

Mar 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) shoots while guarded by West Virginia Mountaineers forward Devin Williams (5) during the first half in the semifinals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Rookie Scale and Draft Night’s (Financial) Winners & Losers

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) dribbles past Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men

Nylon Calculus Discusses Youth and Fit

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) shoots the ball against Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) during the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men

Towns, Okafor, and the Great Modern Center Debate

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) and forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) celebrate a basket against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men

A Manifesto for the “Best Player Available” Approach

Apr 29, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) saves a loose ball from going out of bounds during the first quarter against the Portland Trailblazers in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA’s Inequality Problem: Defense Earns 60 Cents on the Dollar

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Glen Davis (0) before playing against the Houston Rockets in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Nylon Calculus Discusses Replacement Level

Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. The Bucks won 94-88. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Character Evaluation and the NBA Draft

Jun 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) signals to the crowd during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game three of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

A Look Back at the NBA Finals and LeBron James’ Supporting Cast

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) dunks against Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov (20) and forward LeBron James (23) in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tony Dejak-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

The Hidden Reality of the 2015 NBA Finals

Jun 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Fans cheer prior to game three of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Nylon Notebook: Wrapping Up The NBA Finals

Mar 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) works against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Bobby Portis (10) during the second half of the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

An Easier to Interpret NBA Draft Model

Jun 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after winning game three of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 96-91. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James’ Gravitational Pull On the Finals

Jun 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5), center Tristan Thompson (13) and forward LeBron James (23) react during the second quarter of game three of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

How Officiating Has Impacted Win Probabilities in the NBA Finals

Jun 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Nylon Notebook: Found at the Finals

Jun 11, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after a play during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Unexpected Defensive Power of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Jun 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) during the second quarter of game three of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James’ Shot Selection and the impact of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on the King

May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) and injured guard Thabo Sefolosha (left) react on the bench during the fourth quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Goink Home: Why Did the Atlanta Hawks Fail?

April 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) and guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the second quarter in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Moving From the General to the Specific: When A Single Basketball Skill Is All That Matters

Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball over Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the fourth quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

End Of Game Isolations – Why They Don’t “Run Something”

Feb 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) passes between Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) and forward Kevin Love (0) in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Grand NBA Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

May 22, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (right), guard Jeff Teague (center), and forward DeMarre Carroll (left) react during the fourth quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Cavaliers won 94-82. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Roster Balance and the Outlier Atlanta Hawks