So many poor past moves by the Nuggets limited their options at the NBA trade deadline. I feel this organization, from the front office to coaches to players, has too much of a Nikola Jokic will save us mentality.

— C76-man, Nuggets disciple

Kiz: LeBron gets Luka. And Nikola gets nada. Say what? Well, nobody said life in the NBA was fair. The Lakers leveraged the stupid thinking of Dallas Mavericks management to acquire Luka Doncic and get the glitz demanded by Hollywood. The Nuggets need to dedicate the summer of 2025 to finding a legit all-star to play alongside Joker, no matter which of his current teammates must be traded to get it done.

Four years after the trade for Aaron Gordon made them a title contender, the Nuggets have one NBA Finals appearance. They need to make the Finals again or there will be a major shake-up.

— Chad, Denver

Kiz: If the Nuggets get bounced from the playoffs early, can general manager Calvin Booth and coach Michael Malone co-exist? If one has to go, the knuckleheads here at Kickin’ It Headquarters hope it’s Malone who stays.

After decades of the NFL sweeping serious health issues under the artificial carpet, we all know the dangers of playing pro football. As long as players and their families value money and glory over physical well-being, the NFL will continue to double down on making money by trying to expand the regular season to 18 games.

— Patrick, comic book aficionado

Kiz: When the NFL introduces a safer helmet, players don’t wear the puffy lid, because they think it looks silly. Athletes like to believe they are bulletproof … until they’re not.

Of course, the Super Bowl is rigged. Just like the World Wrestling Federation, the NFL is a private organization and there are no laws against it.

— M.B., conspiracy theorist

Kiz: When Snoop Dogg opens his monologue at the NFL Honors show by declaring, “This is an incredible Super Bowl matchup between the Eagles and the refs,” the league might have an integrity problem.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes will lead a fourth quarter comeback in the Super Bowl to win a one-score game, pretty much like every Chiefs game this year. My prediction: 31-29. Gotta give Mahomes credit. Kinda like Tom Brady, he knows how to play the game.

— M.M., soothsayer

Kiz: The Chiefs’ unfair advantage is not favoritism from the refs or karma from the Swifties. It’s this: Kansas City has Mahomes. Philadelphia has a better overall roster than K.C. But if it’s a one-score game in the fourth quarter, who would bet on to pull out the victory: Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts? Or Mahomes?

And today’s parting shot gives us a glimpse at the two Americas willing to anything from the NFL’s most valuable player award to the Super Bowl halftime show into a political football.

Kiz, I see you are a fan of rapper Kendrick Lamar and celebrate his inclusion in the halftime show. Maybe the NFL does not need to go back to Up With People as halftime entertainment, but maybe the league should consider entertainers that do not glorify racism, misogyny and gun violence.

— John, Plainfield, Ind.