NBA 2021-22: Staring at the Suns

[M2]

Time to kick up a new thread as the last one just hit 1,000 posts.

Everyone is chasing the Suns at the moment. Phoenix is 41-9. It's won 11 straight, which is only its second-longest winning streak of the season (18). I suppose the cynical way to look at is the Suns are only 12-9 when they're not on a massive win streak.

We're now hitting the meaty part of the playoff chase. The slots where the most action is, thanks to the new playoff format are 6, 8 and 10. The top six get automatic playoff entry. 7 and 8 only have to win a single play-in game to reach the playoffs. 9 and 10 are the "at least you have a chance" slots.

Phoenix and Golden State have the top two slots in the West on lock. Memphis looks secure in 3rd place. Utah, Dallas and Denver have all had injury and consistency issues, but they should round out the top 6 in West. Utah has been the shakiest of the bunch of late, but beat Denver last night to keep itself in the #4 slot.

Minnesota looks like the only team that could upset that apple cart. If it pulls off a meaty trade, the three teams above it will be sweating. The Clippers are fascinating because they can move a lot of contracts and shuffle their roster. They're fighting with the Wolves and Lakers for those 7 and 8 slots. The team that finishes out of the money will be in a seriously bad mood, though the Clips are so wounded they might prioritize a reset over trying to make noise in the playoffs. The Lakers should be willing to blow up what they've got too, but that's a reality check they likely will put off.

Mind you, the prize for emerging from the play-in is a date (and likely quick exit) against the Suns or Warriors. Unless you're a young team looking for playoff experience (e.g. Minnesota) the allure of getting run probably isn't all that high. Portland is in the siege perilous at #10. New Orleans, San Antonio and Sacramento all could try to make a run at them. Portland gets to keep its draft pick if it lands in the lottery. So that might be a factor. The Blazers are probably selling at the deadline.

In the East, any one of six teams could take the top slot. Brooklyn may be rapidly dropping from that discussion, but more about them in a minute. There is an assumption Milwaukee can kick it up a gear because they're the defending champs and we've seen them do it. Though they might save that energy for the playoffs. Miami sits in 2nd despite a season marred by injuries, so they might be the team to beat now that they're healthy. The Bulls are in 1st, though they are a bit banged up at the moment. the Sixers and Cavs have been the most in-form teams of late.

A major trade could determine the balance of power in the East. Allow me to note the two following facts: 1) No contending has cap space, all of them have to move matching salaries; 2) No other team has a better expendable talent on a make-weight contract than 25-year-old, 3-time All-Star Ben Simmons. That's the reality. You can trade a star player for some draft picks that probably fall in the 20s and some salaries you'd probably rather not have, or you can get Ben Simmons wrapped up through 2025. Seems like an easy choice. Every time I work through who a high caliber player might get moved for, I land on Ben Simmons, despite his flaws. Philly has the asset.

Then there's Brooklyn, which is falling apart. KD is out. Harden is having a busted season. Kyrie is no help when he plays and he only plays on the road. There is a crater forming around that team. And suddenly Charlotte, Toronto and Boston are all within shouting distance of the #6 slot. That's going to be a furious race, and the Hawks might even get in there if they can stay red hot. And there's major intrigue for the 7 and 8 slots too, because at least two of those five teams will be finishing below 8th (meaning they'll have to win twice to make the playoffs).

The Wiz and the Knicks are in the "not dead yet" zone, but both are going to need a major turnaround if they want to make the play-in games. I suppose the Hawks could fall apart (they do run hot and cold), but that seems like a lot of luck to count on. DC and NY probably are going to have to play well if they want that #10 slot.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Watched the end of that Washington-Philly game.

Man, Montrezl Harrell destroyed Embiid in the last four minutes with passes and floaters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NPZP4a_gBk

Did the big man run out of gas, Sixer fans? Play too many minutes?

[M2]

Trez is good. I think I'd chalk it up to that.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Trez is good. I think I'd chalk it up to that.

He's fine, as far as modern NBA centers go. Most similar WAR scores include big guys like Tristan Thompson, David West, and Charles Smith.

[M2]

He's fine, as far as modern NBA centers go. Most similar WAR scores include big guys like Tristan Thompson, David West, and Charles Smith.

I suspect Trez being smaller and explosive annoys Embiid. If it's beef vs. beef, Embiid wins. Yet he's got to chase Trez around and deal with a guy who gets to the rim lightning quick. It's like playing against a Tigger. Trez bounces.

[15fan]

Looks like Suns gotta start a new win streak.

[M2]

Trae went off for 43 as the Hawks beat the Suns. Impressive. Looks like Gallo and Bogdanovic swung it toward Atlanta.

[Betterread]

Trae went off for 43 as the Hawks beat the Suns. Impressive. Looks like Gallo and Bogdanovic swung it toward Atlanta.
The Suns are fine. Atlanta gets “special” refereeing at home. They get an advantage of something like 10-15 pts advantage. It gets them wins, but hurts them in the long run.

[SteelSD]

Watched the end of that Washington-Philly game.

Man, Montrezl Harrell destroyed Embiid in the last four minutes with passes and floaters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NPZP4a_gBk

Did the big man run out of gas, Sixer fans? Play too many minutes?

When Montrez Harrell is hitting floaters from the free throw line and Kyle-freakin'-Kuzma is heaving near half-court threes to beat the shot clock, you just kinda' have to chuckle and know that it wasn't meant to be.

[SteelSD]

I've noticed the Raptors creeping up the Eastern Conference standings recently. Quietly, they've built their record to 26-23 by splitting 2 games with the Bulls and taking 2 games from Miami over Toronto's last five. The interesting thing about Toronto is that, other than VanVleet, their entire lineup can pretty much switch onto opposing 1-through-4's defensively.

[Bourgeois Zee]

When Montrez Harrell is hitting floaters from the free throw line and Kyle-freakin'-Kuzma is heaving near half-court threes to beat the shot clock, you just kinda' have to chuckle and know that it wasn't meant to be.

The Kuzma turnaround from the corner as the shot clock was winding down-- with Maxey's hand in his face-- was a tough shot.

The Harrell shots (plural) were because he wasn't guarded. And while Harrell doesn't shoot that shot very often, he makes them at a 53% clip this season.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I've noticed the Raptors creeping up the Eastern Conference standings recently. Quietly, they've built their record to 26-23 by splitting 2 games with the Bulls and taking 2 games from Miami over Toronto's last five. The interesting thing about Toronto is that, other than VanVleet, their entire lineup can pretty much switch onto opposing 1-through-4's defensively.

Nurse is also playing that starting five a ridiculous amount of minutes. It'll be fascinating to see if wilt as Thibs' Bulls did 15 years ago. Regardless, it's great that Nurse continues to try something different. All five starters are well over 34 mpg, with five over 36.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Atlanta gets “special” refereeing at home. They get an advantage of something like 10-15 pts advantage. It gets them wins, but hurts them in the long run.

I'd love to know which teams RedsZone thinks gets the friendliest whistles.

[SteelSD]

The Kuzma turnaround from the corner as the shot clock was winding down-- with Maxey's hand in his face-- was a tough shot.

That's not the one I'm talking about. Kuzma made two heaves from way outside the three-point line in addition to that one.


The Harrell shots (plural) were because he wasn't guarded. And while Harrell doesn't shoot that shot very often, he makes them at a 53% clip this season.

His mid-range has been good, but like Kuzma's shots, it was a terrible shot in that situation. My overall point is that sometimes bad shots go in, and if it doesn't work out for your team, ya' just gotta' understand what it was and move on. The Sixers going ice cold in the fourth didn't help anything though (neither did terrible officiating, but that's not what lost them the game).

- - - Updated - - -


Nurse is also playing that starting five a ridiculous amount of minutes. It'll be fascinating to see if wilt as Thibs' Bulls did 15 years ago. Regardless, it's great that Nurse continues to try something different. All five starters are well over 34 mpg, with five over 36.

That could come back to bite them, but it's a young unit, so who knows?

[Revering4Blue]

I've noticed the Raptors creeping up the Eastern Conference standings recently. Quietly, they've built their record to 26-23 by splitting 2 games with the Bulls and taking 2 games from Miami over Toronto's last five. The interesting thing about Toronto is that, other than VanVleet, their entire lineup can pretty much switch onto opposing 1-through-4's defensively.

Though questioned by many at the time, Ujiri’s selection of Scottie Barnes has, so far, proven to be the stroke of genius.

FWIW, the ability to employ at least four players at once with the ability to switch onto virtually any opposing player is a definite plus also for the Miami Heat: Bam, Butler, Lowry and Tucker. A healthy Oladipo would give them a fifth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Revering4Blue]

Nurse is also playing that starting five a ridiculous amount of minutes. It'll be fascinating to see if wilt as Thibs' Bulls did 15 years ago. Regardless, it's great that Nurse continues to try something different. All five starters are well over 34 mpg, with five over 36.

They are truly lacking in the backup guard department. It’s a must that Dragic’s expiring deal is utilized to obtain such at the deadline. But for whom? Jeremy Lamb? Eric Gordon?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2]

They are truly lacking in the backup guard department. It’s a must that Dragic’s expiring deal is utilized to obtain such at the deadline. But for whom? Jeremy Lamb? Eric Gordon?

I'd lean toward Toronto not shopping for immediate need. They're probably the 10th-best team in the conference. I don't think there's a move that team that can get it out of the first round, and possibly not even to the first round. Maybe try to turn Khem Birch into someone more useful. I actually think a young lockdown guard would be a good fit for them (e.g. a Thybulle or De'Anthony Melton type). Them, Charlotte and Cleveland strike me as the teams that don't really need to do much in the East. Play hard, win what you can this year, make some shrewd moves in the summer to get even better.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Them, Charlotte and Cleveland strike me as the teams that don't really need to do much in the East. Play hard, win what you can this year, make some shrewd moves in the summer to get even better.

Cleveland 5th in the conference, 1.5 out of 1st place and a half-game behind the struggling Nets.

If they can find a good deal for a wing, they need to pounce right now. Home court is massive, and, while they likely don't have the horses right now to win, a deep dive into the playoffs can jumpstart that focus on a new championship. (Drafting Dylan Windler instead of Keldon Johnson was a really bad move in retrospect. How much better would that team look with Johnson's 15/6/2 40+% 3-point range at the wing? And he plays the type of frenetic switching D that would suit that team to a tee. Hard to believe he slipped all the way to 29th in that draft class. Johnson more productive than every wing in that class other than RJ Barrett and Tyler Herro.)

Caris LeVert for Ricky Rubio and a lightly protected future 1st rounder makes all sorts of sense for the Cavs-- assuming that's the Indiana's liking. If it's not, perhaps Marcus Smart and Aaron Nesmith for Rubio and that same 1st gets it done. (Were I Boston, I'd be reluctant until I'd exhausted other possibilities.) If they're willing to swing for the fences on a true gamble, perhaps they'd take homestate hero D'Angelo Russell for Collin Sexton and Rubio. They might have to add at least a 2nd rounder to that one, as Russell is healthy and Sexton is not.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I'd lean toward Toronto not shopping for immediate need.

Toronto is absolutely dealing Dragic. I'm guessing they're okay with trading Khem Birch as well-- and possibly Chris Boucher.

A deal between Dallas and Toronto, wherein the Mavs grab Dragic and Birch while dealing away a pick, Klieber, Bullock (who've both struggled mightily this year), and maybe Josh Green makes all sorts of sense.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Though questioned by many at the time, Ujiri’s selection of Scottie Barnes has, so far, proven to be the stroke of genius.

It was certainly questioned by me.

I was worried about Barnes' three-point marksmanship and inability to hit a shot outside of ten feet. So far, Barnes' long-range jumpers (16' - 22') are going in at a 47% clip. That's really high for a kid who's shooting 10 percentage points lower than that closer in. Perhaps he's got that range in his bag. Perhaps he's riding an early-season streak-- his January has his shooting splits at 42% overall and 24% from distance. That put his offensive rating (for the month) at 105-- which is borderline unplayable even with elite defense. (Which he's not shown.)

Now, that may well be a blip. He was excellent early, with three months of near All-Star level production. He's also had two excellent games in February (though his defensive rating has absolutely tanked over the last month).

I'm still not ready to admit I was wrong about him, but I was definitely wrong about Jalen Suggs. I thought that guy would set the league on fire. He's maybe been the guy to ride the struggle bus the most (though Houston's Green has been pretty bad).

[M2]

Cleveland 5th in the conference, 1.5 out of 1st place and a half-game behind the struggling Nets.

If they can find a good deal for a wing, they need to pounce right now. Home court is massive, and, while they likely don't have the horses right now to win, a deep dive into the playoffs can jumpstart that focus on a new championship. (Drafting Dylan Windler instead of Keldon Johnson was a really bad move in retrospect. How much better would that team look with Johnson's 15/6/2 40+% 3-point range at the wing? And he plays the type of frenetic switching D that would suit that team to a tee. Hard to believe he slipped all the way to 29th in that draft class. Johnson more productive than every wing in that class other than RJ Barrett and Tyler Herro.)

Caris LeVert for Ricky Rubio and a lightly protected future 1st rounder makes all sorts of sense for the Cavs-- assuming that's the Indiana's liking. If it's not, perhaps Marcus Smart and Aaron Nesmith for Rubio and that same 1st gets it done. (Were I Boston, I'd be reluctant until I'd exhausted other possibilities.) If they're willing to swing for the fences on a true gamble, perhaps they'd take homestate hero D'Angelo Russell for Collin Sexton and Rubio. They might have to add at least a 2nd rounder to that one, as Russell is healthy and Sexton is not.

Rubio's out for the year (ACL) and then he's out of contract. I don't see why anybody would trade for him unless he was the salary offset to a major goody basket. Sexton's probably the moveable asset, and perhaps he could pick up Eric Gordon (with Rubio and DJ Augustin in there to make the salaries fit). That makes sense, though I think Cleveland's too green to make much noise in the playoffs. It's one of those first they need to learn what they need to learn situations. I would refrain from pushing in too many chips if I were them. Their big pots are in the future.


Toronto is absolutely dealing Dragic. I'm guessing they're okay with trading Khem Birch as well-- and possibly Chris Boucher.

A deal between Dallas and Toronto, wherein the Mavs grab Dragic and Birch while dealing away a pick, Klieber, Bullock (who've both struggled mightily this year), and maybe Josh Green makes all sorts of sense.

That's a lot of guys nobody wants. From the Toronto side, why do I want the Bullock albatross hung around my neck? The Raps would have to adore Josh Green for that to make sense. And from the Dallas side, does Dragic help me? That team needs scoring. I'm not sure Dragic helps much of anybody given that he's barely played this season and he's working on fumes. IMO, his main value is that he's an expiring contract.

[Betterread]

Trade - Portland send Covington and Powell to LA Clips for Bledsoe, Winslow, Keon Johnson and a #2 round pick

[Bourgeois Zee]

Trade - Portland send Covington and Powell to LA Clips for Bledsoe, Winslow, Keon Johnson and a #2 round pick

What a fantastic deal for LA.

While Covington has backslid a great deal since his best days in Philly, Powell is a great fit now and in the future next to Kawhi and PG.

And it costs little to nothing.

What a tank job by Portland!

[Bourgeois Zee]

New rumor out of New York:

Julius Randle and change for De'Aaron Fox.

Who says no to IQ and Randle for Fox and a 2nd rounder?

[Betterread]

What a fantastic deal for LA.

While Covington has backslid a great deal since his best days in Philly, Powell is a great fit now and in the future next to Kawhi and PG.

And it costs little to nothing.

What a tank job by Portland!
What a steal for the Clips. And Portland does this for a conference rival? Makes no sense to me.
Covington is still a quality defender and shooter, Portland wasted his (and Larry Nance’s) talent. Portland traded two #1s to get Roco and now they trade him for Keon Johnson? Coffey and Boston (one undrafted and one 2nd rounder) showed more quality than Johnson a #1 round pick this year.

[M2]

New rumor out of New York:

Julius Randle and change for De'Aaron Fox.

Who says no to IQ and Randle for Fox and a 2nd rounder?

Strikes me as a decent trade on both sides.

[M2]

Trade - Portland send Covington and Powell to LA Clips for Bledsoe, Winslow, Keon Johnson and a #2 round pick

Hmm, interesting.

Key piece there is Powell. Very efficient deep threat who fits well with Kawhi and PG13 when they get back next year. Covington will get some run for them in the short-term on a team that's not challenging for a title this season, then be gone via free agency. They actually could move him again before the deadline. That would be the best move with Covington.

For the Blazers, it's mostly about clearing salary. Bledsoe only has $3.9M guaranteed for next season. So Portland can waive him and get below the cap. Winslow will get some work as they play out the string, but I find it hard to believe he'll have much of a role next season if Dame stays and they're trying to get back toward the upper end of the standings. Maybe Keon Johnson will develop into something. IMO, he becomes a more important asset if they go scorched and move Dame and CJ.

And that brings me to the bigger question, will Portland go scorched earth? They should be dealing Nurkic (expiring contract). They can probably get something for Nance Jr., though if he goes they literally don't have a biggish player on their roster for next season. Dame, CJ and whatever Anfernee Simons gets paid as an RFA (could be a 4/75 deal like Allen Crabbe got) would chew up most of their cap. And are they willing to extend Dame after this season? Supposedly he wanted to tack on two years from 2025-27 for $107M.

They don't have to blow it all up this week, but Powell was a fairly important asset if they were going to take a shot at next season and now he's gone.

[Rojo Rijo]

Hmm, interesting.

Key piece there is Powell. Very efficient deep threat who fits well with Kawhi and PG13 when they get back next year. Covington will get some run for them in the short-term on a team that's not challenging for a title this season, then be gone via free agency. They actually could move him again before the deadline. That would be the best move with Covington.

For the Blazers, it's mostly about clearing salary. Bledsoe only has $3.9M guaranteed for next season. So Portland can waive him and get below the cap. Winslow will get some work as they play out the string, but I find it hard to believe he'll have much of a role next season if Dame stays and they're trying to get back toward the upper end of the standings. Maybe Keon Johnson will develop into something. IMO, he becomes a more important asset if they go scorched and move Dame and CJ.

And that brings me to the bigger question, will Portland go scorched earth? They should be dealing Nurkic (expiring contract). They can probably get something for Nance Jr., though if he goes they literally don't have a biggish player on their roster for next season. Dame, CJ and whatever Anfernee Simons gets paid as an RFA (could be a 4/75 deal like Allen Crabbe got) would chew up most of their cap. And are they willing to extend Dame after this season? Supposedly he wanted to tack on two years from 2025-27 and $107M.

They don't have to blow it all up this week, but Powell was a fairly important asset if they were going to take a shot at next season and now he's gone.

I'd go full scorched earth, plug Simmons in as piece one of the future, deal CJ and Dame.

I'd trade Lillard and Nurkic to Houston for Wall, Sengun, Tate, and 1sts in 2022 and 2024.
I'd trade CJ to New Orleans for Hart, Satoransky, Alexander-Walker, and a 2022 1st.

Clear a ton of space, build with PG Simmons, G/F Alexander-Walker, F Tate, C - Sengun, and 6 first round picks over the next 3 years. Plus a TON of cap space. That Portland team would unquestionably be in the upper lottery for a few years too.

[M2]

I'd go full scorched earth, plug Simmons in as piece one of the future, deal CJ and Dame.

I'd trade Lillard and Nurkic to Houston for Wall, Sengun, Tate, and 1sts in 2022 and 2024.
I'd trade CJ to New Orleans for Hart, Satoransky, Alexander-Walker, and a 2022 1st.

Clear a ton of space, build with PG Simmons, G/F Alexander-Walker, F Tate, C - Sengun, and 6 first round picks over the next 3 years. Plus a TON of cap space. That Portland team would unquestionably be in the upper lottery for a few years too.

I don't know about the specific deals, but it does feel like dynamite time. Could be delayed because they've only got an interim GM. They might want to hire a permanent GM to oversee the sell-off.

If they want to take one more shot, they could sign-and-trade Simons for a frontcourt scorer.

[SteelSD]

What a fantastic deal for LA.

While Covington has backslid a great deal since his best days in Philly, Powell is a great fit now and in the future next to Kawhi and PG.

And it costs little to nothing.

What a tank job by Portland!

Yeesh. That trade was specifically made just to get Portland under the luxury tax threshold. From a talent perspective, that's as lopsided a deal as I've seen in a long long time.

[M2]

I'd like to hear from our Blazers fan contingent about this deal and where they go from here. Particularly, is Simons a player you'd want to rebuild around?

[Bourgeois Zee]

I'd like to hear from our Blazers fan contingent about this deal and where they go from here. Particularly, is Simons a player you'd want to rebuild around?

Isn't he going to get super expensive next season as an RFA?

[M2]

Isn't he going to get super expensive next season as an RFA?

Mildly expensive at the very least, and he is awful on defense. Though he'd probably be a good-stats-bad-team guy they could move for other assets in a year or two.

[Revering4Blue]

What a steal for the Clips. And Portland does this for a conference rival? Makes no sense to me.
Covington is still a quality defender and shooter, Portland wasted his (and Larry Nance’s) talent. Portland traded two #1s to get Roco and now they trade him for Keon Johnson? Coffey and Boston (one undrafted and one 2nd rounder) showed more quality than Johnson a #1 round pick this year.

Well, FWIW, Johnson’s ceiling is reputed to be considerably higher than either Boston Jr. or Coffey. But I’m not buying it, especially in the case of Boston Jr. That remains to be seen.

One additional bonus for the Clips: They can now convert Coffey’s two way deal into a standard deal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bourgeois Zee]

Mildly expensive at the very least, and he is awful on defense. Though he'd probably be a good-stats-bad-team guy they could move for other assets in a year or two.

If I'm OKC, I'm paying him relatively big bucks to start in my backcourt with SGA and Josh Giddey. (OKC could afford to max Ayton and Miles Bridges this off-season, fwiw. Crazy.)

Cleveland could use that shot-making (and deal with the leaky D) too.

[Revering4Blue]

Yeesh. That trade was specifically made just to get Portland under the luxury tax threshold. From a talent perspective, that's as lopsided a deal as I've seen in a long long time.

In totality, it looks even worse for Portland.

Two 1st rounders and Gary Trent Jr. have been dealt in exchange for Keon Johnson, Justice Winslow, Eric Bledsoe and a ‘25 second rounder.

Using a Reds example for the purpose of comparison, that’s Lindner/Allen/O’Brien level incompetence unless Johnson somehow materializes into a superstar. And even then…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KoryMac5]

Luka was all world last night with his 44th triple double...took half a season but he is finely back in shape. Mavs remain a riddle lost to OKS and the Magic and then beat a tough Sixers team at home.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Luka was all world last night with his 44th triple double...took half a season but he is finely back in shape. Mavs remain a riddle lost to OKS and the Magic and then beat a tough Sixers team at home.

I wonder if Doncic will get in shape like mid-career Barkley when he realizes the pressure he's putting on his body ballooning up in the off-season.

Dwight Powell went 6-6 last night in 34 minutes. With Kleber and Porzingis out, he's a key. Bullock also heated up for (seemingly) the first time this season. Movs won despite not having three of their better players-- Hardaway, Kleber, and Porzingis.

[M2]

Luka was all world last night with his 44th triple double...took half a season but he is finely back in shape. Mavs remain a riddle lost to OKS and the Magic and then beat a tough Sixers team at home.

Luka took over that game in the 3rd. If Dallas finishes on fire he could be a sleeper MVP candidate.

[KoryMac5]

I wonder if Doncic will get in shape like mid-career Barkley when he realizes the pressure he's putting on his body ballooning up in the off-season.

Dwight Powell went 6-6 last night in 34 minutes. With Kleber and Porzingis out, he's a key. Bullock also heated up for (seemingly) the first time this season. Movs won despite not having three of their better players-- Hardaway, Kleber, and Porzingis.

I think after playing in the NBA playoffs and then the Olympic run at a medal he let loose a bit too much. Plus he is 22 and still learning what it takes to be a pro while also balancing wanting to go out and have fun. I would imagine as he matures we will see more dedication to an off-season conditioning program…it was good to see him dunking last night he hadn’t dunked in a game much this year due to being out of shape.

[SteelSD]

Luka took over that game in the 3rd. If Dallas finishes on fire he could be a sleeper MVP candidate.

Luka put the Mavs on his back, for sure. I have no idea why Rivers thought Danny Green's corpse could guard him. But lost in that second half is that Rivers has no answer- none at all- for when teams simply tell their players to zone up on the defensive end. The Mavs had only one truly decent quarter offensively during the game (32 points in the 3rd). The Sixers scored 35 point in the entire second half and finished with a dismal 70 shots.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Cavs just got Lavert for the Rubio contract and some draft picks they don’t need. Wild.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Cavs just got Lavert for the Rubio contract and some draft picks they don’t need. Wild.

Pacers get a lottery-protected first this year, and they move up the second round ladder by switching the Heat's 2nd rounder for Houston's. They also net a 2027 2nd rounder from Utah.

LeVert's a great get for the Cavs. He's wildly inconsistent but can score on anyone. He's also had success in the playoffs. He balances out their lineup nicely, allowing Okoro to move back to small forward while Markkanen heals from injury. (Okoro can then move to a reserve role.) It'll be interesting to see if LeVert is the replacement for Colin Sexton full time or if Cleveland goes back to a Garland/ Sexton backcourt, with LeVert at the wing, and Allen and Mobley inside. That might be a championship-level team, depending on how fully they buy in defensively.

The Pacers will likely have a high lottery pick, one somewhere around 20, and a second rounder somewhere around 35 this season. That's Jaden Ivey/ Johnny Davis, Mark Williams/ Johnny Juzang, and EJ Liddel/ Oscar Tshiebwe. Pair those three with Chris Duarte (who looks very good), Isaiah Jackson (who's blossomed given time), and whoever they have left after the trading deadline, and Indiana might be okay. Just different.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Almost no chance Sexton is back in Cleveland next year.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Almost no chance Sexton is back in Cleveland next year.

He's another score-first guy teams like OKC and Orlando could use.

[BuckeyeRed27]

He's another score-first guy teams like OKC and Orlando could use.

Yeah he just doesn’t fit. It’s no secret that Garland make a huge leap as soon as he got hurt and thus the team made a huge leap.

[M2]

Cavs just got Lavert for the Rubio contract and some draft picks they don’t need. Wild.

That's a heist. Indiana fans should be very, very angry they didn't get more for LeVert. Should have put Sexton in there. Way better asset than a pick that's going to fall deep into the 20s.

[M2]

Brooklyn just lost its eighth straight. It now sits 7th in the East and I don't think it's going to be long before they're sitting 10th. There needs to be a state of panic around that franchise.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Brooklyn just lost its eighth straight. It now sits 7th in the East and I don't think it's going to be long before they're sitting 10th. There needs to be a state of panic around that franchise.

Turns out KD is pretty good.

[M2]

The Pelicans just pulled their chin over the playoff bar in the West. Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas are probably the best lead duo of any team chasing the 10th seed (it would be Dame and CJ, but Dame's probably not coming back this season). Josh Hart and Herbert Jones are sturdy supporting players too. Look for them to buy some shooting this week.

[Revering4Blue]

That's a heist. Indiana fans should be very, very angry they didn't get more for LeVert. Should have put Sexton in there. Way better asset than a pick that's going to fall deep into the 20s.Big picture: Indiana has parlayed Oladipo - who wasn't going to resign in Indy and may well never return to pre- '19 injury form - into a 1st and three second rounders. Houston's 2nd, headed to Indy in today's deal, is essentially a first rounder, and the two picks acquired today could be packaged together to move up in the draft if need be.

LeVert was long gone in 1.5 years anyway. With more available minutes for Duarte and Brissett, not to mention the cap space gained, it's a nice deal for both sides.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

[M2]

Big picture: Indiana has parlayed Oladipo - who wasn't going to resign in Indy and may well never return to pre- '19 injury form - into a 1st and three second rounders. Houston's 2nd, headed to Indy in today's deal, is essentially a first rounder, and the two picks acquired today could be packaged together to move up in the draft if need be.

LeVert was long gone in 1.5 years anyway. With more available minutes for Duarte and Brissett, not to mention the cap space gained, it's a nice deal for both sides.

I'm not a fan of picks in the 20s. They're dice rolls, and not particularly high percentage ones. I especially don't get it seeing that Indiana probably wants a scoring guard and the Cavs have Sexton. What are the chances of them drafting someone better than Sexton?

[Mutaman]

Brooklyn just lost its eighth straight. It now sits 7th in the East and I don't think it's going to be long before they're sitting 10th. There needs to be a state of panic around that franchise.

Best thing ever for the 5 Nets fans on the planet-now they can continue to play the what-if game which they are experts at.

[Revering4Blue]

I'm not a fan of picks in the 20s. They're dice rolls, and not particularly high percentage ones. I especially don't get it seeing that Indiana probably wants a scoring guard and the Cavs have Sexton. What are the chances of them drafting someone better than Sexton?

Isaiah Jackson, who’s already given them an offensive dimension they’ve sorely lacked, was drafted on their behalf at 22. Travis Best, Al Harrington and Jeff Foster, all drafted in the 20s, were each key rotational cogs for Pacers ECF teams, NBA Finals team in the case of Best. Miles Plumlee was drafted in the 20s and was part of the deal which netted them Luis Scola. Danny Granger was drafted at 17, a position they can move up to with the Houston second rounder.

On top of that, they’ll have plenty of cap space to sign Sexton to an offer sheet, which the Cavs likely wouldn’t match. As for the scoring guard issue, they have that covered with Duarte.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2]

Isaiah Jackson, who’s already given them an offensive dimension they’ve sorely lacked, was drafted on their behalf at 22. Travis Best, Al Harrington and Jeff Foster, all drafted in the 20s, were each key rotational cogs for Pacers ECF teams, NBA Finals team in the case of Best. Miles Plumlee was drafted in the 20s and was part of the deal which netted them Luis Scola. Danny Granger was drafted at 17, a position they can move up to with the Houston second rounder.

On top of that, they’ll have plenty of cap space to sign Sexton to an offer sheet, which the Cavs likely wouldn’t match. As for the scoring guard issue, they have that covered with Duarte.

You can get a guy with that pick, but most picks in the 20s don't amount to much. And does Duarte cover them at scoring guard? He's definitely a rotation player, but he's 24 years-old and his per 36 ppg is 16.4. I was thinking more of a high scoring guy, which Sexton is (24.3 ppg last season).

Fair point on them now having the ability to target Sexton as an RFA with an offer sheet. Though I'm still thinking there's a dozen teams looking for a LeVert type of wing and they should have come away with more.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I'm not a fan of picks in the 20s. They're dice rolls, and not particularly high percentage ones.

I love picks in the 20s. Lottery teams get so enamored with specific players that they don't do due diligence.

As a result, if you're a smart franchise, you can get lucky.

You're not likely to get a franchise guy, but you are likely to get a solid rotational guy-- if you know what you're doing.

Tyrese Maxey, Desmond Bane, Matisse Thybulle, Brandon Clarke, Keldon Johnson, Robert Williams, Jalen Brunson, Jarrett Allen, OG Anunoby, Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Pascal Siakim were all drafted in the 20s or later. (Over the past five years, it seems as if Power 5 guys are often undervalued.)

[Bourgeois Zee]

You can get a guy with that pick, but most picks in the 20s don't amount to much. And does Duarte cover them at scoring guard? He's definitely a rotation player, but he's 24 years-old and his per 36 ppg is 16.4. I was thinking more of a high scoring guy, which Sexton is (24.3 ppg last season).

Fair point on them now having the ability to target Sexton as an RFA with an offer sheet. Though I'm still thinking there's a dozen teams looking for a LeVert type of wing and they should have come away with more.

I like Duarte as a first division SG (and Isaiah Jackson as an eventual first division PF). Indiana's going to have a ton of money to spend-- and there should be some pretty solid guys available. At this point, I'd deal Turner or Sabonis for quality young players or picks. At this point, I think Golden State might be willing to give up, say, James Wiseman, Moses Moody, and Juan Toscano-Anderson. That's a good haul for Turner. Switching Johnathan Kuminga for Toscano-Anderson is a good deal for Sabonis.

Brogdon, Duarte, Jackson, and one of Sabonis or Turner is a pretty nice base of talent.

[M2]

I love picks in the 20s. Lottery teams get so enamored with specific players that they don't do due diligence.

As a result, if you're a smart franchise, you can get lucky.

You're not likely to get a franchise guy, but you are likely to get a solid rotational guy-- if you know what you're doing.

Tyrese Maxey, Desmond Bane, Matisse Thybulle, Brandon Clarke, Keldon Johnson, Robert Williams, Jalen Brunson, Jarrett Allen, OG Anunoby, Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Pascal Siakim were all drafted in the 20s or later. (Over the past five years, it seems as if Power 5 guys are often undervalued.)

And so were Harry Giles, Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Lydon, Anzejs Pasecniks, Caleb Swanigan Tony Bradley, Josh Okogie, Chandler Hutchinson, Aaron Holiday (I want to like him, but he hasn't popped), Moritz Wagner, Jacob Evans, Dzanan Musa and Omari Spellman. That's just from two drafts. Whole lot of wreckage in there. Over the years, more misses than hits. I don't think it's a "smart" thing so much as a luck thing. There isn't a team that hasn't whiffed in the 20s. Those picks aren't bad to have. You can get useful talent, but LeVert is useful talent. In fact, he's the kind of talent in high demand throughout the league. A shot at a maybe seems a light return to me.


I like Duarte as a first division SG (and Isaiah Jackson as an eventual first division PF). Indiana's going to have a ton of money to spend-- and there should be some pretty solid guys available. At this point, I'd deal Turner or Sabonis for quality young players or picks. At this point, I think Golden State might be willing to give up, say, James Wiseman, Moses Moody, and Juan Toscano-Anderson. That's a good haul for Turner. Switching Johnathan Kuminga for Toscano-Anderson is a good deal for Sabonis.

Brogdon, Duarte, Jackson, and one of Sabonis or Turner is a pretty nice base of talent.

Oh, I don't like Duarte anywhere close to that. I think he's playing with a guy who might present his career path - Jeremy Lamb. Duarte's an outlet shooter. Putting the ball in his hands and asking him to cook strikes me as a major mistake.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Oh, I don't like Duarte anywhere close to that. I think he's playing with a guy who might present his career path - Jeremy Lamb. Duarte's an outlet shooter. Putting the ball in his hands and asking him to cook strikes me as a major mistake.

He's a rookie. He'll likely get better at shooting the ball-- and he's already really good at that. And make no mistake, I'm fine with Duarte being the third or fourth option on the team. Having a marksman who can drill somewhere around 40% of his threes and play passable defense is valuable. Extremely so, if it's for a rookie level contract.

IMO, he's more Joe Harris and Jeremy Lamb, but ymmv.

[M2]

He's a rookie. He'll likely get better at shooting the ball-- and he's already really good at that. And make no mistake, I'm fine with Duarte being the third or fourth option on the team. Having a marksman who can drill somewhere around 40% of his threes and play passable defense is valuable. Extremely so, if it's for a rookie level contract.

IMO, he's more Joe Harris and Jeremy Lamb, but ymmv.

FWIW, I'm not terribly enamored of Joe Harris either. Duarte certainly could be a rough equivalent of him. Harris is an absolutely useful player to have. Can help a good team. But he's not great at hunting his own shot and he's not a creator for others. You're going to need three guys better than him if you really want to contend. The Bucks ate him alive in the playoffs last year.

[Bourgeois Zee]

FWIW, I'm not terribly enamored of Joe Harris either. Duarte certainly could be a rough equivalent of him. Harris is an absolutely useful player to have. Can help a good team. But he's not great at hunting his own shot and he's not a creator for others. You're going to need three guys better than him if you really want to contend. The Bucks ate him alive in the playoffs last year.

With Brogdon and Sabonis (or Turner), they already have that. Best of all, because both Brogdon and Duarte can play multiple positions, the Pacers can gee or haw with free agents. Maybe they feel they need a quick, athletic PG who can create his own shot and is a willing passer. Sexton would make some sense. If they felt they needed more shooting and a steady hand, Jalen Brunson could be had. If they want to get bigger and want to push the ball up the court, there's always Miles Bridges as a wing, with Brogdon moving back to PG. Duarte allows them to spend relatively big elsewhere while keeping that shooting guard spot adequately filled.

In today's NBA, with its dearth of quality choices, that's pretty high praise.

[M2]

With Brogdon and Sabonis (or Turner), they already have that. Best of all, because both Brogdon and Duarte can play multiple positions, the Pacers can gee or haw with free agents. Maybe they feel they need a quick, athletic PG who can create his own shot and is a willing passer. Sexton would make some sense. If they felt they needed more shooting and a steady hand, Jalen Brunson could be had. If they want to get bigger and want to push the ball up the court, there's always Miles Bridges as a wing, with Brogdon moving back to PG. Duarte allows them to spend relatively big elsewhere while keeping that shooting guard spot adequately filled.

In today's NBA, with its dearth of quality choices, that's pretty high praise.

Turner does not create his own offense. And Brogdon's good but not stellar at it. Sabonis is very good and creates for others too. That's why I'd rebuild around Sabonis. Whether they will, I don't know.

Brunson would be a good fit for them, though they'd really need a high scoring wing. Maybe the ping pong gods will favor them.

[WVRed]

CJ McCollum to New Orleans.

[Rojo Rijo]

I'd go full scorched earth, plug Simmons in as piece one of the future, deal CJ and Dame.

I'd trade Lillard and Nurkic to Houston for Wall, Sengun, Tate, and 1sts in 2022 and 2024.
I'd trade CJ to New Orleans for Hart, Satoransky, Alexander-Walker, and a 2022 1st.

Clear a ton of space, build with PG Simmons, G/F Alexander-Walker, F Tate, C - Sengun, and 6 first round picks over the next 3 years. Plus a TON of cap space. That Portland team would unquestionably be in the upper lottery for a few years too.

This is the closest ive ever been on a prediction...

Actual deal - Pelicans acquire McCollum, Nance, and Snell.
Trail Blazers acquire Hart, Satoransky, Alexander-Walker, Louzada, the Pelicans’ protected 2022 first-round pick, and two future second-round picks.

[M2]

This is the closest ive ever been on a prediction...

Actual deal - Pelicans acquire McCollum, Nance, and Snell.
Trail Blazers acquire Hart, Satoransky, Alexander-Walker, Louzada, the Pelicans’ protected 2022 first-round pick, and two future second-round picks.

On the upside for the Blazers, Hart's a player. None of the other humans headed to Portland seems like they'll have impact. The draft pick protection is interesting. It's for slots 5-14. So Portland could hit paydirt. The Pels will probably have to go through both L.A. teams to land outside the lottery. Most likely the pick doesn't convey this year. Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic would seem to be next in Portland's ejector seat. Teams that might be hot for him: Brooklyn, Toronto, Charlotte, Golden State, Dallas, Clippers.

Additional thought: I'm a little surprised Portland didn't ask for Jaxson Hayes in the deal.

McCollum gives Nola the scoring guard they've lacked. Nance Jr. is also extremely versatile as a combo 4/5 who can guard on the perimeter.

[BuckeyeRed27]

So if Zion comes back soon and looks like Zion (big if) this does what for the Pelicans?

[BuckeyeRed27]

What are the Kings doing??

[M2]

So if Zion comes back soon and looks like Zion (big if) this does what for the Pelicans?

I'd say they've got the same outside shot playing into the full playoffs either way. They can throw bigs against AD. CJ and Ingram should score. Next year is where they'll be hoping to make their big move. I'm curious if they can get Zion to accept a sub-max offer. Might make him prove it, kind of like what the Suns have done with Ayton.

And we probably shouldn't overlook that they still could screw up finishing in the top 10. They've fallen apart at the end of the past two seasons. Definitely could do it again.

- - - Updated - - -


What are the Kings doing??

Nothing. They should be euthanized.

[Betterread]

Really surprised that Indy gave up Sabonis and Sactown traded Halliburton. I think Kings get a better fit for their roster with Sabonis filling a real need. Pacers now have Brogdon and Halliburton at PG.

[Rojo Rijo]

Not sure how to feel about Kings-Pacers deal. Will be interesting to see who benefits more in the long run. Really like Sabonis but Haliburton could be special. This is a bigger deal than it seems, basically because where these two teams are in the standings.

[texasdave]

Sacramento rises from the grave: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33244860/indiana-pacers-sacramento-kings-work-six-player-trade-includes-domantas-sabonis-tyrese-haliburton-sources-say

[BuckeyeRed27]

Really surprised that Indy gave up Sabonis and Sactown traded Halliburton. I think Kings get a better fit for their roster with Sabonis filling a real need. Pacers now have Brogdon and Halliburton at PG.

The Pacers just absolutely fleeced the Kings. I like Sabonis, but the Pacers had to have put the call on mute when the Kings said Halliburton.

They’ll just trade Brogdon.

[Rojo Rijo]

On the upside for the Blazers, Hart's a player. None of the other humans headed to Portland seems like they'll have impact. The draft pick protection is interesting. It's for slots 5-14. So Portland could hit paydirt. The Pels will probably have to go through both L.A. teams to land outside the lottery. Most likely the pick doesn't convey this year. Meanwhile, Jusuf Nurkic would seem to be next in Portland's ejector seat. Teams that might be hot for him: Brooklyn, Toronto, Charlotte, Golden State, Dallas, Clippers.

Additional thought: I'm a little surprised Portland didn't ask for Jaxson Hayes in the deal.

McCollum gives Nola the scoring guard they've lacked. Nance Jr. is also extremely versatile as a combo 4/5 who can guard on the perimeter.

Hayes is my current "Looks like the light just turned on" player. If NO can gel I feel like they are a PG upgrade away from being legit, if they get Zion back. Just not sure how they get one.

[Betterread]

The Pacers just absolutely fleeced the Kings. I like Sabonis, but the Pacers had to have put the call on mute when the Kings said Halliburton.

They’ll just trade Brogdon.
So you like Halliburton more than Brogdon? I love Brogdon’s Defense and P n’ R game. I Forgot Brogdon is 6’5”. Can he play SG to Halllburton at PG?

[Betterread]

Hayes is my current "Looks like the light just turned on" player. If NO can gel I feel like they are a PG upgrade away from being legit, if they get Zion back. Just not sure how they get one.

Everybody is saying “when” Zion returns. I think “if” - not only questions about his injury but his overall ambivalence about playing for NO.

[Rojo Rijo]

One positive for the Kings, i'd much rather pay Sabonis 38 million over the next two years than Buddy Heild 40 million. His FG%/3P%/PPG have all dropped for 3 straight years.

But again...Haliburton has some serious potential.

Kings probably didnt have much of a choice with the deal they're locked into with Fox.

[BuckeyeRed27]

So you like Halliburton more than Brogdon? I love Brogdon’s Defense and P n’ R game. I Forgot Brogdon is 6’5”. Can he play SG to Halllburton at PG?

Without question I like Halliburton more.

I suppose they could try to play them together, but trading Brogdan for a better fit seems smarter.

[Rojo Rijo]

Everybody is saying “when” Zion returns. I think “if” - not only questions about his injury but his overall ambivalence about playing for NO.

Yeah, whats been talked about for a while needs to just happen - reunite the Duke 3 in NY.

I'd trade Zion and Kira Lewis to the Knicks for Kemba Walker, Obi Toppin, and 2 future 1sts (NY pick this year (top 3 protected) and the more favorable of NY and Dallas pick in 2023 (unprotected). If the 2022 NY pick does land in the top 3 then NY will send its 2024 1st (top 3 protected) or it's 2025 1st (unprotected).

Zion finally gives NY a star name, Kira replaces the PG loss, Obi replaces the PF loss in NO and puts him in a better situation where he can be depended on to defend more than score, and Kemba gives NO a PG bridge for 2 years...even though it may be a bit broken down at times. The 2 firsts are the real payment for Zion. Kira and Toppin are a switch and Kemba is a $ match and has fallen well out of favor in NY.

[M2]

I like Haliburton, but I think he's been way overrated. Kind of reminds me of Andre Miller: good player, could be part of a tasty starting 5, never made an All-Star team. Good idea for the Pacers to get PG in place for a rebuild. They'll almost definitely move Brogdon, but is Halliburton going to be better than Brogdon? He'll be healthier and more affordable. So maybe that does the trick. They'll have him flanked by/paired with shooters in Hield and Duarte. The Pacers would seem to need a scorer who can get to the basket.

And hold the euthanasia for the Kings. Sabonis is a serious player. He's going to make other guys on that team better. Probably won't materialize this year, but if he's got chemistry with Fox that could be make them a viable team.

[M2]

Yeah, whats been talked about for a while needs to just happen - reunite the Duke 3 in NY.

I'd trade Zion and Kira Lewis to the Knicks for Kemba Walker, Obi Toppin, and 2 future 1sts (NY pick this year (top 3 protected) and the more favorable of NY and Dallas pick in 2023 (unprotected). If the 2022 NY pick does land in the top 3 then NY will send its 2024 1st (top 3 protected) or it's 2025 1st (unprotected).

Zion finally gives NY a star name, Kira replaces the PG loss, Obi replaces the PF loss in NO and puts him in a better situation where he can be depended on to defend more than score, and Kemba gives NO a PG bridge for 2 years...even though it may be a bit broken down at times. The 2 firsts are the real payment for Zion. Kira and Toppin are a switch and Kemba is a $ match and has fallen well out of favor in NY.

I'd look to snag Quentin Grimes in that deal if I was the Pels.

[Betterread]

I'd look to snag Quentin Grimes in that deal if I was the Pels.

Grimes has a good game and lots of potential. But Thibs gives Burks more minutes. Went through this last year with Quickley and his game has stagnated rather than advanced in his second year. Maybe you can tell I am not a big believer in Thibs’ player development track record.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I like Haliburton, but I think he's been way overrated. Kind of reminds me of Andre Miller: good player, could be part of a tasty starting 5, never made an All-Star team. Good idea for the Pacers to get PG in place for a rebuild. They'll almost definitely move Brogdon, but is Halliburton going to be better than Brogdon? He'll be healthier and more affordable. So maybe that does the trick. They'll have him flanked by/paired with shooters in Hield and Duarte. The Pacers would seem to need a scorer who can get to the basket.

And hold the euthanasia for the Kings. Sabonis is a serious player. He's going to make other guys on that team better. Probably won't materialize this year, but if he's got chemistry with Fox that could be make them a viable team.

Halliburton is gonna be an All Star.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I like the Kings/ Pacers deal for both teams.

Haliburton becomes a combo PG. Brogdon and Duarte become the wings. Isaiah Jackson is a PF and Tuner the center.

That's an intriguing starting five.

Add Hield as a shooter (with Duarte), and you've got enough shooting and perhaps enough ball handlers to make this work.

For the Kings, Sabonis is one thing they need-- a shooter through which the offense can flow. He's controlled for a couple more seasons fairly cheaply and an All-Star level player. I'm guessing he and Fox form a solid pairing for a couple of seasons.

The Kings still have some more work to do, of course. They need to deal Harrison Barnes and, if Sabonis plays center, perhaps Richaun Holmes.

But they have two pretty solid players at two separate positions now.

[Revering4Blue]

Were it up to me, Indiana would have retained Sabonis to build around. Bigs with his multifaceted playmaking skillset don’t come along very often. That said, I’m certainly not disappointed with the return from Sacramento, and am firmly in the ‘good deal for both teams’ camp.

I also find it curious that Haliburton was reportedly off the table for a proposed deal for Ben Simmons, and wonder if a three-way deal landing Simmons in Indy, Sabonis in Sacto and Haliburton, additional elements, including substantial draft capital, heading to Philly would have been feasible.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2]

Halliburton is gonna be an All Star.

Maybe, but PG is a crowded house. In the East alone he's got Trae, Garland, Lonzo and LaMelo as young guys vying for A-S slots along with vets like Harden, Lowry, Jrue, Vanvleet and Kyrie. That's not even counting Brogdon on his own team, who won ROY, gets paid good money and who's a fairly decent projection comp for Haliburton, yet he's never made an All-Star Game. You can be a very good player and never make the A-S game. Rik Smits only made it once.

So I'm not sold on Haliburton ever making it, and unless his scoring takes a leap (and 1v1 scoring is not his strength) I don't think he's likely to make many of them. I'd think his over/under would be set at either 0.5 or 1.5.

[SteelSD]

Well, that was a fascinating flurry of events. I didn't have the uncanny specificity of RR's Portland/New Orleans deal, but I did have Sabonis dealt to Sac Town.

Now, the Lillard domino. Either he's dealt in the next two days and returns for the playoffs or he's done for the year. Speaking of done for the year, Bradley Beal. Ugh. And the on-no-it's-off-no-maybe-dunno' Simmons for Harden rumors are going to keep playing in my collective head for the next two days.

Or is there a sleeper deal out there for Simmons given that most of the previously-mentioned "targets" have no either been dealt or, in Beal's case, are done for the season?

[KoryMac5]

Carlisle wanted Haliburton in the draft a few years back, he gets his guy now. Hield is interesting and could fit the Hardaway JR mold as Carlisles offense forces you to be very disciplined. Like the move for Indiana but both teams benefit.

[Revering4Blue]

@Steel,

Are the Nets purposely sitting Harden due to an impending Simmons-based trade, possibly involving a third team? FWIW, ESPN talking heads this afternoon suggested just that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KoryMac5]

Dunk competition looks interesting with Green and Toppin participating.

[SteelSD]

@Steel,

Are the Nets purposely sitting Harden due to an impending Simmons-based trade, possibly involving a third team? FWIW, ESPN talking heads this afternoon suggested just that.

Allegedly, Harden has a hamstring issue, but that could be a smokescreen. The timing is weird, but I honestly have no idea.

[M2]

Allegedly, Harden has a hamstring issue, but that could be a smokescreen. The timing is weird, but I honestly have no idea.

What I do know is the Nets do not have a professional basketball team out on the floor tonight. Forget about Harden for a moment. Someone explain to me why they're not moving Kyrie?

[M2]

Just saw Gordon Hayward is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. It's a shame that he's made out of glass. The Hornets are going to miss him and could find themselves in a fight to stay in a play-in slot if the Knicks or Wizards figure something out.

[SteelSD]

Y'know, I don't mind if the Sixers lose to a good team, but taking an L to a bunch of academy award actors and numbskull officials doesn't sit well with me.

That. Is. All.

[M2]

Y'know, I don't mind if the Sixers lose to a good team, but taking an L to a bunch of academy award actors and numbskull officials doesn't sit well with me.

That. Is. All.

Bet you're more than willing to trade Seth Curry after this game.

[SteelSD]

Bet you're more than willing to trade Seth Curry after this game.

Yeah, he stunk. But so did Crowder, so that kind of cancelled it out.

One day, I'll start in on how Rivers' rigid rotations simply stall out the Philly's offense. One example- rather than bringing Embiid off the bench about 30 seconds earlier than normal in the fourth during a stoppage when the offense was bleeding away points, he waited. Caused Embiid to just sit at the scorer's table for nearly an extra 2 minutes of game time. Sure could have used that.

[M2]

Yeah, he stunk. But so did Crowder, so that kind of cancelled it out.

One day, I'll start in on how Rivers' rigid rotations simply stall out the Philly's offense. One example- rather than bringing Embiid off the bench about 30 seconds earlier than normal in the fourth during a stoppage when the offense was bleeding away points, he waited. Caused Embiid to just sit at the scorer's table for nearly an extra 2 minutes of game time. Sure could have used that.

Random thought about managing the Sixers: you never really know which guards are going to have it going on a given night and I imagine trying to solve that ever-shifting puzzle has a ripple effect, particularly in terms of delaying other decisions.

[SteelSD]

Random thought about managing the Sixers: you never really know which guards are going to have it going on a given night and I imagine trying to solve that ever-shifting puzzle has a ripple effect, particularly in terms of delaying other decisions.

What guards? Even when Milton's healthy, they have only three playable guards. That's a part of the problem, because with Milton out (who isn't a ball-handler anyway), they have lineups with zero actual guards on the floor.

[M2]

The Knicks had better stay away from doctors or they might be pronounced dead.

[M2]

Anthony Davis looks and moves like a guy who has discovered chicken and waffles. Damn you Roscoe!

https://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/160329162737-roscoes-bankrupt-640x360.jpg

[M2]

Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley have not entered tonight's game against the Wolves. Got to wonder if this means they're getting moved before the deadline.

[M2]

The Magic just walked into Portland and gobbled up the Blazers. It is brutal on the way down.

In related news, Giannis went 44-14-8 (on 17-20 shooting) in beating the Lakers tonight. It's not even close with those two teams.

[Revering4Blue]

Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley have not entered tonight's game against the Wolves. Got to wonder if this means they're getting moved before the deadline.

They have another date at home against the Wolves tomorrow night. We’ll see if either Holmes or Bagley suit up. But yeah, I think they’ve got one foot out the door.

Holmes to Charlotte? Bagley to either Detroit or Portland?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Revering4Blue]

The finally healthy T-Wolves, with enviable depth, have quietly won 5 in a row and 7 out of their last nine. They get the Kings again tomorrow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2]

They have another date at home against the Wolves tomorrow night. We’ll see if either Holmes or Bagley suit up. But yeah, I think they’ve got one foot out the door.

Holmes to Charlotte? Bagley to either Detroit or Portland?

Let's play GM. Who do you ask for in those deals?

I've got Jalen McDaniels from the Hornets and Trey Lyles from the Pistons.

[Revering4Blue]

Let's play GM. Who do you ask for in those deals?

I've got Jalen McDaniels from the Hornets and Trey Lyles from the Pistons.McDaniels, Ish Smith and Thor works with the trade machine. I doubt they'd ship out Washington in that scenario, possibly for Turner, though. But it doesn't hurt to ask.

As for Bagley, I'm asking Portland for Hart and a second rounder. Lyles would almost have to be part of any trade scenario with Detroit. Possibly an Olynyk for Bagley swap, which works under the trade machine, but I'm not particularly fond of that idea from Detroit's point of view.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

[M2]

As for Bagley, I'm asking Portland for Hart and a second rounder.

Ooh, that's good.

[KoryMac5]

Pacers will try and flip Hield at the deadline...might be tough considering his contract.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Morey pushing to get Harden from Brooklyn for Simmons.

The Nets want, according to sources, both Thybulle and Maxey. Sixers unwilling to do that deal.

If Brooklyn gets both guards along with Simmons, it's intriguing enough (IMO) to make the deal. (Even then, it's a questionable move.) Otherwise, why would they do it?

[Rojo Rijo]

I know a lot of Sixers fans are strongly against giving up Maxey which I completely understand, but if you're trying to move a contract/player like Simmons and acquire a piece to put beside Embiid with Championship aspirations you gotta pay up some way.

[Rojo Rijo]

Now reports are saying Brooklyn has countered with an asking price of Simmons, Curry, Thybulle, and Drummond.

[Rojo Rijo]

Some deals from today:

Miami traded KZ Okpala to Oklahoma City for a 2026 2nd round pick.
*Also as part of the deal Miami has shifted owing OKC their top-14 protected first-round pick in 2023, to their own 2025 first-rounder (top-14 protected). The 2023 pick would have been lottery protected for 3 straight seasons before becoming unprotected in 2026. Now the 2025 1st will only be lottery protected for one year before being unprotected in 2026.

Utah is acquiring Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Juan Hernangomez, San Antonio is receiving Tomas Satoransky and a 2nd round pick, and Portland will get Joe Engles, Elijah Hughes, and a 2nd round pick. NAW and Satoransky were Blazers for all of 30 hours.

[M2]

Morey pushing to get Harden from Brooklyn for Simmons.

The Nets want, according to sources, both Thybulle and Maxey. Sixers unwilling to do that deal.

If Brooklyn gets both guards along with Simmons, it's intriguing enough (IMO) to make the deal. (Even then, it's a questionable move.) Otherwise, why would they do it?

Ben Simmons + KD would make the Nets viable. Or they can watch Harden walk after this season for nothing. Ben Simmons' regular self is an All-Star player, year in year out. That's why they ought to consider doing it.

[Revering4Blue]

Ben Simmons + KD would make the Nets viable. Or they can watch Harden walk after this season for nothing. Ben Simmons' regular self is an All-Star player, year in year out. That's why they ought to consider doing it.

Agreed. But IMHO, Simmons, Curry and 2 second round picks should be more than enough to get this done.

Harden has Brooklyn over a barrel whether Marks and company acknowledge it privately or not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bourgeois Zee]

Ben Simmons + KD would make the Nets viable. Or they can watch Harden walk after this season for nothing. Ben Simmons' regular self is an All-Star player, year in year out. That's why they ought to consider doing it.

We disagree a whole lot about Simmons' value.

Simmons <<<<<< Harden

Harden's $41M >>>>>> Simmons alone

[M2]

We disagree a whole lot about Simmons' value.

Simmons <<<<<< Harden

Harden's $41M >>>>>> Simmons alone

From a pure basketball perspective, I'd rather have prime Simmons the next three seasons than Harden's decline phase. 25-year-old guys who make the All-Star Game every year don't grow on trees.

[M2]

Portland and Sacramento won their first post-trade games, beating the Lakers and Wolves, respectively. Justise Winslow went 11-8-3 with 4 steals, which has got to be his best game in years. Sabonis went 22-14-5.

Cleveland also won, beating the Spurs. LeVert came off the bench and scored 11.

I suppose the moral of the story is make trades, win games.

[texasdave]

There is an old basketball adage that states that the team that receives the best player wins the trades. If so, Sacramento won that trade. Sabonis is a better player than Halliburton. It's not even particularly closes, IMO.

[texasdave]

Gregg Popovich is only six wins away from being the winningest coach of all-time. So, that's why he's still in the business. I don't blame him. I can't imagine, at his age, he is squeezing out much enjoyment from scuffling season after season.

[BuckeyeRed27]

There is an old basketball adage that states that the team that receives the best player wins the trades. If so, Sacramento won that trade. Sabonis is a better player than Halliburton. It's not even particularly closes, IMO.

He’s also 5 years older. Sacramento got murdered in that trade and it’s not particularly close.

[KoryMac5]

Harden not having an agent is really hurting him so many things agents do behind the scenes to make trades work...

Basically he is asking Morey to be his agent in all of this.

[M2]

He’s also 5 years older. Sacramento got murdered in that trade and it’s not particularly close.

I don't get the Halliburton love. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player and he'll be a fine addition to a good team if he ever gets to join one, but his most likely upside is he settles in as the 10th-best PG in the NBA. It's a crazy deep position and he's a nice player, not a carry-your-team stud. Sabonis is top 20 in every advanced metric. Playmaking bigs are one of the biggest differentiators in basketball. It's going to be a tragedy Indiana moved him and not Turner.

[Rojo Rijo]

Looks like its going down

Harden and Milsap for Simmons, Curry, Drummond and two first round draft picks.

Good deal for both sides. I really like what this does for the Nets rotation in the playoffs.

[Betterread]

Looks like its going down

Harden for Simmons, Curry, Drummond and two first round draft picks.

Morey gets Harden back. Credit to him. I didn’t think he could get this much talent back for a player that wanted out. But that talent comes with a lot of risk. Harden has now forced his way out of two franchises in consecutive years. He is very talented, but his best years are behind him. Brooklyn trades him within their division, to a competing city. I bet his hamstring suddenly healed.
Simmons forced his way out of a team built around him. He is even weirder a personality than Harden, but he is 7yrs younger. Maybe he will change.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I don't get the Halliburton love. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player and he'll be a fine addition to a good team if he ever gets to join one, but his most likely upside is he settles in as the 10th-best PG in the NBA. It's a crazy deep position and he's a nice player, not a carry-your-team stud. Sabonis is top 20 in every advanced metric. Playmaking bigs are one of the biggest differentiators in basketball. It's going to be a tragedy Indiana moved him and not Turner.

He’s already a terrific shooter both off the dribble or pass. He’s a plus defender. He’s showing signs of being a great creator. There are a lot of PGs, but there aren’t a lot that can do all 3 of those things. He’s 21 and he’s not fully there yet, but if he does he’s a top 2 guy on a championship team.

He’s also on a super friendly deal for 2 more years because he slipped in the draft and is under control for 7 more seasons. You just don’t trade that. It’s utter lunacy.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Looks like its going down

Harden and Milsap for Simmons, Curry, Drummond and two first round draft picks.

Good deal for both sides. I really like what this does for the Nets rotation in the playoffs.

Assuming Simmons can still play basketball, which he probably can, this is a way better deal for the Nets.

Philly had to do something though and for this season at least it’s probably the best they could do.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Sacramento gets a couple of intriguing bench pieces for Bagley's salary.

G/F Josh Jackson (ironically, another failed top five pick), Trey Lyles (having a solid half-season in Detroit), and Donte DiVincenzo (having a tough season after a very good one in 2020) for Marvin Bagley.

At first blush, that's a pretty solid haul.

The new Kings' lineup:

C Sabonis/ Holmes/ D. Jones
PF Harkless/ Metu/ Lyles
SF Barnes/ DiVincenzo/ J. Lamb
2G J. Holiday/ J. Jackson
PG D. Fox/ D. Mitchell/ T. Davis

Everyone's got a contract for next season except Lamb, who becomes a free agent.

If I counted properly, that's 14 roster spots and around $20M to spend in free agency (if they want).

[BuckeyeRed27]

The Kings took Bagley over Doncic. Man.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Good deal for both sides. I really like what this does for the Nets rotation in the playoffs.

That's still a lot of talent in Brooklyn. Who starts? Who finishes?

[Betterread]

Durant will be happy. He knows he can’t win without a Curry.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Durant will be happy. He knows he can’t win without a Curry.

He's going to almost certainly need that shooting.

KD, Curry, and one of Mills or Kyrie is probably enough long-distance marksmanship to make it work around Simmons and the center duo of Drummond/ Aldridge.

[SteelSD]

I hate losing both Curry and Drummond (best backup center Joel's ever had). But both Maxey and Thybulle are staying put. So I'm totally ok with it.

[M2]

Looks like its going down

Harden and Milsap for Simmons, Curry, Drummond and two first round draft picks.

Good deal for both sides. I really like what this does for the Nets rotation in the playoffs.

Agreed. That's a good trade for the Nets. That team suddenly has a pulse. If they get KD back, that's 4/5 of a starting lineup. If Kyrie gets a vax, then it's 5/5.

Quick thought on the deal as a whole: I think this changes the trade dynamic in the league. Philly held to its guns with Simmons, refused to deal him for peanuts and landed the guy they probably always wanted. The next team that has a player sign a fat extension and then try to force his way out of town should remember this. The market will swing back to you if the player doesn't have the leverage of being able to walk.

[SteelSD]

And yes, this does feel eerily like the Griffey trade, all the way down to the hamstring.

[M2]

He’s already a terrific shooter both off the dribble or pass. He’s a plus defender. He’s showing signs of being a great creator. There are a lot of PGs, but there aren’t a lot that can do all 3 of those things. He’s 21 and he’s not fully there yet, but if he does he’s a top 2 guy on a championship team.

He’s also on a super friendly deal for 2 more years because he slipped in the draft and is under control for 7 more seasons. You just don’t trade that. It’s utter lunacy.

Halliburton's a nice player. Sabonis is a better player and the Kings can have him for the next six years thanks to the extension rules. He's probably their best player since Chris Webber.

[M2]

Sacramento gets a couple of intriguing bench pieces for Bagley's salary.

G/F Josh Jackson (ironically, another failed top five pick), Trey Lyles (having a solid half-season in Detroit), and Donte DiVincenzo (having a tough season after a very good one in 2020) for Marvin Bagley.

At first blush, that's a pretty solid haul.

The new Kings' lineup:

C Sabonis/ Holmes/ D. Jones
PF Harkless/ Metu/ Lyles
SF Barnes/ DiVincenzo/ J. Lamb
2G J. Holiday/ J. Jackson
PG D. Fox/ D. Mitchell/ T. Davis

Everyone's got a contract for next season except Lamb, who becomes a free agent.

If I counted properly, that's 14 roster spots and around $20M to spend in free agency (if they want).

Wow, I actually managed to semi-call the Lyles part of it. He and DD are nice gets for the Kings. In fact, I'd make DD the starting #2 guard. Staggering they got that much for the carcass of Marvin Bagley, whom they weren't going to pay to keep.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Wow, I actually managed to semi-call the Lyles part of it. He and DD are nice gets for the Kings. In fact, I'd make DD the starting #2 guard. Staggering they got that much for the carcass of Marvin Bagley, whom they weren't going to pay to keep.

I'd deal Barnes ASAP for draft picks and one-year salary ballast, then sign Miles Bridges to a max contract as the starting wing.

[Revering4Blue]

I don't get the Halliburton love. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player and he'll be a fine addition to a good team if he ever gets to join one, but his most likely upside is he settles in as the 10th-best PG in the NBA. It's a crazy deep position and he's a nice player, not a carry-your-team stud. Sabonis is top 20 in every advanced metric. Playmaking bigs are one of the biggest differentiators in basketball. It's going to be a tragedy Indiana moved him and not Turner.It wasn't a case of either/or with Sabonis and Turner. The Pacers, for better or worse, coveted Haliburton, and even a healthy Turner wasn't going to move the needle for Sacto enough to part with Tyrese.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

[M2]

Shams is reporting the Celtics are moving Jason Richardson to the Spurs for Derrick White. Also rumors of Schroder to the Lakers, THT to the Knicks and Cam Reddish to Boston.

[Revering4Blue]

I hate losing both Curry and Drummond (best backup center Joel's ever had). But both Maxey and Thybulle are staying put. So I'm totally ok with it.I'm also concerned about losing Drummond. Bassey is not yet ready for primetime. Wonder if they'll sign TT if/when the Pacers buy him out.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

[Rojo Rijo]

Dallas sending Kristaps Porzingis to Washington for Spencer Dinwiddie.

Washington sending Montrez Harrell to Charlotte for Vernon Carey and Ish Smith.

Washington trading Aaron Holiday to the Suns.

[M2]

It wasn't a case of either/or with Sabonis and Turner. The Pacers, for better or worse, coveted Haliburton, and even a healthy Turner wasn't going to move the needle for Sacto enough to part with Tyrese.

Agreed, certainly Turner at this moment wasn't going to get a prime return. I do suspect there was a point in the past year where they could have gotten someone interesting for him, but that window slammed shut with his recent injury. In terms of the return for Sabonis I thought they did well for a deal in which they were giving up the better player. It's a rebuilding trade, which is something that team hasn't done in a long time. Probably going to take a while to put the pieces together.

[Rojo Rijo]

Good news for Sixers fans (maybe lol), as part of the trade Harden has opted into his final year (next year).

[M2]

Quick note on all of this trade activity. The NFL thought it was going to own this week and the NBA is stealing it out from under them. Love to see that. I'm for leagues having swagger.

And MLB should be watching this and contemplating how boring and irrelevant it's becoming. The NBA trade deadline is setting the bar way high.

[M2]

Dallas sending Kristaps Porzingis to Washington for Spencer Dinwiddie.

Washington sending Montrez Harrell to Charlotte for Vernon Carey and Ish Smith.

Washington trading Aaron Holiday to the Suns.

Dallas has to be taking on more contract than just Dinwiddie. There's a $14M gap between him and Porzingis. Maybe there's a 3rd team and Brunson's getting moved?

[SteelSD]

Dallas has to be taking on more contract than just Dinwiddie. There's a $14M gap between him and Porzingis. Maybe there's a 3rd team and Brunson's getting moved?

I believe that Bertans is also included.

[M2]

Dallas has to be taking on more contract than just Dinwiddie. There's a $14M gap between him and Porzingis. Maybe there's a 3rd team and Brunson's getting moved?

Ahh, Davis Bertans is also headed to Dallas, making this the most Latvian trade ever.

[texasdave]

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Rockets-acquiring-Dennis-Schroder-from-Celtics-16848573.php#:~:text=The%20Rockets%20will%20get%20 a,a%20free%20agent%20last%20summer.

Dennis Schroder to Rockets along with Enes Freedom and Bruno Somebody. Daniel Theis is heading back to Boston.

[M2]

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Rockets-acquiring-Dennis-Schroder-from-Celtics-16848573.php#:~:text=The%20Rockets%20will%20get%20 a,a%20free%20agent%20last%20summer.

Dennis Schroder to Rockets along with Enes Freedom and Bruno Somebody. Daniel Theis is heading back to Boston.

Brad Stevens drank some strong coffee this morning.

[goreds2]

76ers next games on National TV.

Tue, Feb 15
vs
Boston
7:30 PM
TNT
__________________________________________
Thu, Feb 17
@
Milwaukee
8:30 PM
TNT

[SteelSD]

Brad Stevens drank some strong coffee this morning.

I don't think Stevens can function without Theis on the team.

[KoryMac5]

That Dallas trade is awful…

Will KP even pass his physical

[texasdave]

I always thought that Kantner/Freedom was a solid rotation player. He does not seem to garner much respect. The Rockets already waived him. Goodbye, Freedom, it was fun. The Rockets are also, reportedly, going to buy out Schroder's contract. Bruno Fernandez is not long for this Rockets' squad either. So, in essence, the Rockets signed Theis as a free agent for four years, and then dumped after half a season, in which he played sparingly if at all.

[dubc47834]

Looks like its going down

Harden and Milsap for Simmons, Curry, Drummond and two first round draft picks.

Good deal for both sides. I really like what this does for the Nets rotation in the playoffs.

I think it's a terrible deal for Philly. They just gave up a lot for an aging and already injury riddled superstar who they will give a max contract to. A contract that will pay him 60+ million a year.

[RiverRat13]

Now Durant has to deal with two guys who refuse to take shots.









Yes, that was stolen.

[M2]

That Dallas trade is awful…

Will KP even pass his physical

DC will pass him just to make sure Bertans never comes back.

I have no clue what the Mavs were thinking. Seems like malpractice.

[KoryMac5]

DC will pass him just to make sure Bertans never comes back.

I have no clue what the Mavs were thinking. Seems like malpractice.

From what I read they couldn’t find anyone to take KP due to injury and attitude. Dallas was tired of him never being available. They feel like they can unload one of the 2 contracts they took back, but hedge their bets a bit with Dinwiddle if Brunson leaves.

Personally this is what happens when you hire a Nike exec to run the front office. You get 2 players on bad contracts that are basically clones of what you have on the roster. Subtraction by addition.

[goreds2]

I think it's a terrible deal for Philly. They just gave up a lot for an aging and already injury riddled superstar who they will give a max contract to. A contract that will pay him 60+ million a year.

I am kind of agreeing with you and hope we are wrong. :)

Hoping the 76ers can get a championship.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Personally this is what happens when you hire a Nike exec to run the front office. You get 2 players on bad contracts that are basically clones of what you have on the roster. Subtraction by addition.

I guess I'm the only one who kinda likes this deal for Dallas. Both Bertans and Dinwiddie can be very good players-- if they're bought in and put in the right spot to succeed.

I suspect both will be in it to win it, most likely as second-unit scorers with either Doncic or Brunson, Kleber or Powell and maybe Josh Green. That's a solid second unit both now and in the playoffs.

The Mavs' closing unit is probably going to be Dinwiddie, Doncic, Brunson, Finney-Smith, and Powell or Kleber. With Brunson, Doncic, and Dinwiddie as ball handlers-- that's some outstanding passing and decision-making from three spots on the court. All three are capable scorers as well. And they can absolutely play together. (The Doncic/ Dinwiddie wing should see lots of fireworks-- both ways.)

They lost Porzingis, who was undeniably talented, but fragile. If a guy can't play half the games and isn't interested in a quarter of the games, he's not going to help all that much.

[Bourgeois Zee]

KD's refusal to pick Harden in the All-Star Game was both illuminating and hilarious.

Tells you all you need to know about that relationship and Durant's opinion of Harden's willingness to sacrifice for a team.

[KoryMac5]

I guess I'm the only one who kinda likes this deal for Dallas. Both Bertans and Dinwiddie can be very good players-- if they're bought in and put in the right spot to succeed.

I suspect both will be in it to win it, most likely as second-unit scorers with either Doncic or Brunson, Kleber or Powell and maybe Josh Green. That's a solid second unit both now and in the playoffs.

The Mavs' closing unit is probably going to be Dinwiddie, Doncic, Brunson, Finney-Smith, and Powell or Kleber. With Brunson, Doncic, and Dinwiddie as ball handlers-- that's some outstanding passing and decision-making from three spots on the court. All three are capable scorers as well. And they can absolutely play together. (The Doncic/ Dinwiddie wing should see lots of fireworks-- both ways.)

They lost Porzingis, who was undeniably talented, but fragile. If a guy can't play half the games and isn't interested in a quarter of the games, he's not going to help all that much.

The other thing to consider is how much did Doncic hate playing with KP. There had been rumors last season that they did not exactly get along.

Can Kidd rehab Bertans into what he was with the Spurs…

[Bourgeois Zee]

The other thing to consider is how much did Doncic hate playing with KP. There had been rumors last season that they did not exactly get along.

Can Kidd rehab Bertans into what he was with the Spurs…

Bertans first year in Washington, he was a weapon. Last year, he was passable.

This year, he stinks.

[M2]

Rando thoughts on the teams that made deals today:

Sixers: They went all in. They either win one (or both) of the next two titles or this move hits the rocks. I respect high risk/high reward moves.

Nets: They've got something they didn't have yesterday, something resembling a basketball team to put around KD when he returns. Also, never believe a GM when they insist they're not talking to another team.

Hornets: Might be lost in the shuffle today, but landing Trez was a very slick move. Can't wait to see him and LaMelo running pick and roll.

Wizards: I don't quite get what the were up to today. Maybe Porzingis flourishes for them like Russ and they can move him for other stuff. That's all I've got.

Dallas: Someone really should have reminded them they're a contender. Just give Luka an extra weapon, any weapon.

Bucks: Serge Ibaka has been showing signs of life. Decent Brook Lopez replacement.

Kings: Got honest-to-goodness basketball players in exchange for Marvin Bagley. That's a miracle.

Clippers: Long after Semi Ojeleye has stopped playing basketball I will believe he's got sleeper potential. So I get it.

Pistons: The lose this trade window big time if they pay real money in an extension for Marvin Bagley.

Raptors: Might be a year late in getting Thad Young to supercharge a playoff run.

Spurs: Picked up two 1st picks and Josh Richardson should fetch them something in the next year. Full rebuild is on. Expect a summer sale of Dejounte Murray. Goran Dragic release coming in 3...2...1...

Celtics: I was on the trade-Marcus-Smart train, but he and Derrick White form an evil backcourt. The Celtics have a got clear personality now. Theis is a solid backup for Time Lord.

Rockets: Cleared some salary space for next season. Shocked Eric Gordon didn't move.

Suns: Torrey Craig brings effort.

Pacers: Should kick Jalen Smith's tires a kick and not pick up his contract if they don't like what they see.

[M2]

KD's refusal to pick Harden in the All-Star Game was both illuminating and hilarious.

Tells you all you need to know about that relationship and Durant's opinion of Harden's willingness to sacrifice for a team.

Sounds like the big split was Harden and Kyrie.

[SteelSD]

I'm also concerned about losing Drummond. Bassey is not yet ready for primetime. Wonder if they'll sign TT if/when the Pacers buy him out.

I wonder if they're just waiting for Freedom to clear waivers. Just a thought.

[M2]

I wonder if they're just waiting for Freedom to clear waivers. Just a thought.

https://c.tenor.com/62-E8kGE56oAAAAd/brave-heart-mel-gibson.gif

[M2]

CJ McCollum went 6-21 with a -20 in his first game with the Pels. Ouch.

[Rojo Rijo]

NBA knows what they’re doing scheduling the first rematch of last years Finals on trade deadline day. This game is good, feels like a Finals game.

[M2]

Gary Trent Jr. dropped 42 on the Rockets tonight.

...and Luka Doncic laughs at this while dropping 51 on the Clippers.

[dubc47834]

I guess I'm the only one who kinda likes this deal for Dallas. Both Bertans and Dinwiddie can be very good players-- if they're bought in and put in the right spot to succeed.

I suspect both will be in it to win it, most likely as second-unit scorers with either Doncic or Brunson, Kleber or Powell and maybe Josh Green. That's a solid second unit both now and in the playoffs.

The Mavs' closing unit is probably going to be Dinwiddie, Doncic, Brunson, Finney-Smith, and Powell or Kleber. With Brunson, Doncic, and Dinwiddie as ball handlers-- that's some outstanding passing and decision-making from three spots on the court. All three are capable scorers as well. And they can absolutely play together. (The Doncic/ Dinwiddie wing should see lots of fireworks-- both ways.)

They lost Porzingis, who was undeniably talented, but fragile. If a guy can't play half the games and isn't interested in a quarter of the games, he's not going to help all that much.

I like the deal for Dallas also. Addition by subtraction.

[M2]

My thing with Dallas is the Mavs are 5-9 without Doncic. They're not a good team without him and Dinwiddie and Bertans will do nothing to change that. They need another volume scorer, especially in a playoffs situation.

[KoryMac5]

My thing with Dallas is the Mavs are 5-9 without Doncic. They're not a good team without him and Dinwiddie and Bertans will do nothing to change that. They need another volume scorer, especially in a playoffs situation.

I don't know if they ever will truly have that..Doncic is a lot like Harden in that he is so ball dependent. Brunson has helped some and is a 15-18 ppg scorer...but is a defensive liability due to size.

They needed to get rid of KP but it just seems they duplicated what they currently have...Bertans is a clone of Kleber and Dinwiddle is basically Brunson...I know they talked to Toronto a bit as well as Detroit but both teams wanted other players besides KP. Can't blame them as KP only plays 64% of the time...

[Bourgeois Zee]

I don't know if they ever will truly have that..Doncic is a lot like Harden in that he is so ball dependent. Brunson has helped some and is a 15-18 ppg scorer...but is a defensive liability due to size.

They needed to get rid of KP but it just seems they duplicated what they currently have...Bertans is a clone of Kleber and Dinwiddle is basically Brunson...I know they talked to Toronto a bit as well as Detroit but both teams wanted other players besides KP. Can't blame them as KP only plays 64% of the time...

Dinwiddie can play with Brunson and Doncic just fine. That's three backcourt guys as weapons (with PG mentality to boot).

They still need a center, but perhaps they can cobble one out of spare parts.

[goreds2]

10 absolutely wild James Harden stats


Harden stands alone: Over the last 11 years, Harden has averaged 27.9 points, 7.7 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. No other player in NBA history has ever reached those averages over any 11-year period at any point in their career

More here:

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/james-harden-trade-sixers-nba-trade-deadline-2022-james-harden-stats

[Bourgeois Zee]

Sounds like the big split was Harden and Kyrie.

Kyrie is a hard one to support, I suspect. On a sport built at least partially on sacrificing individual glory for team success, he's consistently chosen his own self-interests.

Harden has quit on two teams, fwiw.

Neither of them should be covered in glory for their part in the Nets' slide.

[M2]

Kyrie is a hard one to support, I suspect. On a sport built at least partially on sacrificing individual glory for team success, he's consistently chosen his own self-interests.

Harden has quit on two teams, fwiw.

Neither of them should be covered in glory for their part in the Nets' slide.

For sure they were an ammonia and bleach mixture from the start.

The two things that stand out for me with Kyrie is he put his own BS in front of his team and he was the guy sitting in the locker room last year yapping about how much better it would be when they got guys like Jarrett Allen out of there. If I was running the Nets, moving Kyrie would have been my deadline priority.

[texasdave]

Brooklyn will be a very interesting watch, once they get all their players healthy.

[Betterread]

Kyrie is a hard one to support, I suspect. On a sport built at least partially on sacrificing individual glory for team success, he's consistently chosen his own self-interests.

Harden has quit on two teams, fwiw.

Neither of them should be covered in glory for their part in the Nets' slide.

I agree. And therefore, for Harden to prove he is a top ten player (I don’t think he is right now - Doncic, Spida, Jah, and Booker have passed him and he is 10-15 for me), he has to prove it. I think between proving his own game and getting the sixers to the finals, he has a lot of presssure on him. How has he performed under pressure in the past? And how will the sixers respond when the refs hold their whistles in the playoffs and their two stars (who are two of the best players of all time to play a physical brand of ball that begs officials to make calls that go in their favor) don’t get the foul calls they presume they should get? Again, past experience tells me it won’t go well.
But the Sixers are absolutely must watch bball for the rest of the year because of the cojones needed for this trade.

[SteelSD]

I agree. And therefore, for Harden to prove he is a top ten player (I don’t think he is right now - Doncic, Spida, Jah, and Booker have passed him and he is 10-15 for me), he has to prove it. I think between proving his own game and getting the sixers to the finals, he has a lot of presssure on him. How has he performed under pressure in the past? And how will the sixers respond when the refs hold their whistles in the playoffs and their two stars (who are two of the best players of all time to play a physical brand of ball that begs officials to make calls that go in their favor) don’t get the foul calls they presume they should get? Again, past experience tells me it won’t go well.
But the Sixers are absolutely must watch bball for the rest of the year because of the cojones needed for this trade.

FYI- In the regular season, Harden's career average is 8.7 FT per game. Playoffs- 7.9 FT per game. Embiid's averages are 9.3 reg season and 9.4 in the playoffs. I don't see that changing.

[M2]

Once upon a time American television featured beloved shows like Hart to Hart and Simon and Simon. Now the Blazers have (Josh) Hart and (Anfernee) Simon and they have clawed back into the #10 slot. They have instant chemistry and they are solving mysteries. Mind you, Portland probably doesn't want to make the full playoffs and it would cause them to lose their draft pick.

Meanwhile the Pelicans are really bad again (CJ scored 36 tonight, but no one's going to praise him for it if they keep losing). And the Spurs and Kings are riding two-game win streaks. Is it a coincidence De'Aaron Fox and Har Bar Superstar have played two of their best games of the season since Domantas Sabonis arrived? 10-13 in the West are now separated by only 1.5 games.

[goreds2]

The 76ers have won the two games played since the James Hardin trade without James Hardin.

[SteelSD]

Sixers/Cavs tonight. First things first...


https://youtu.be/ZlV-04HlYYY

That was just one play, of many, that helped Embiid to a 40-point triple double. The last Sixer to do that was Wilt in 1968. It was a rough night for Jarrett Allen, who finished with a minus-27 +/-.

Darius Garland was really good in the first half- 20 points, and seemingly couldn't miss. But only 7 points after halftime for Garland really helped Philly gain separation.

One thing that wasn't separated was Matisse Thybulle and the basketball. Thybulle posted 6 steals, a number of other deflections, and a block in 32 minutes of action. I love watching this guy set up steals. One trick I've recently noticed is that if his man is playing off-ball, he'll stay out of the ballhandler's line of sight, behind the screener and just wait to pounce on a pass. That's probably accounted for four or five of his nine steals over the past two games.

This is probably the worst 5-game stretch of officiating I've seen. Scott Foster and his crew were completely inept tonight.

Paul Reed got minutes. He's high-energy and did some nice work defensively and on the boards. But he has even less of an offensive game than Drummond.

[M2]

IIRC, Embiid has made a habit of putting the hammer down when he plays Allen. This result adds to the congestion at the top of the East. Top 5 are separated by only 2.5 games. And the two hottest teams in the conference (Toronto and Boston) are 6 and 7 not far behind them.

[M2]

Oh, and tonight LeBron passed Kareem as the all-time leading scorer in the regular season and playoffs combined. He's over 44,000 now. Wonder if he's got 50,000 on his vision board?

[Bourgeois Zee]

Oh, and tonight LeBron passed Kareem as the all-time leading scorer in the regular season and playoffs combined. He's over 44,000 now. Wonder if he's got 50,000 on his vision board?

I think he's focusing on playing with Bronny, wherever he might end up, for at least one season.

IMO, Bronny's a two- or three-year player currently, but an enterprising team will definitely draft him after one just to get LeBron too.

As well as he's playing, there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to play. So far, he's a first-team All-NBA guy and arguably having one his best individual seasons of his career. (Injuries excepted.)

[BuckeyeRed27]

Embiid was just silly last night. I actually didn’t think Allen and Mobley did that bad of a job. It’s just a tip your cap performance.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Embiid was just silly last night. I actually didn’t think Allen and Mobley did that bad of a job. It’s just a tip your cap performance.

He's been remarkably good all season.

It helps that he gets nearly every call possible. (Tops the league with more than 11 attempts per game.)

[M2]

I think he's focusing on playing with Bronny, wherever he might end up, for at least one season.

IMO, Bronny's a two- or three-year player currently, but an enterprising team will definitely draft him after one just to get LeBron too.

As well as he's playing, there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to play. So far, he's a first-team All-NBA guy and arguably having one his best individual seasons of his career. (Injuries excepted.)

I wonder if Bronny might just go straight to the G League.

[SteelSD]

He's been remarkably good all season.

It helps that he gets nearly every call possible. (Tops the league with more than 11 attempts per game.)

If Embiid got every call possible, he'd be putting up around 18-20 free throws per game. Heck, the video I posted is actually an uncalled foul on Allen. Imagine if the rip-through was still a shooting foul.

[Bourgeois Zee]

If Embiid got every call possible, he'd be putting up around 18-20 free throws per game. Heck, the video I posted is actually an uncalled foul on Allen. Imagine if the rip-through was still a shooting foul.

11 free throws per game indicates he's getting nearly every call imaginable.

- - - Updated - - -


I wonder if Bronny might just go straight to the G League.

I think Duke or Ohio State first.

Maybe UCLA or USC.

Forge his "brand".

[M2]

The Celtics beat the Hawks today. That's 8 straight for Boston and they're starting to get close to the top of the East, though their schedule gets tougher after the break. I'd say the Hawks (26-30) are in trouble except I have no confidence the Wizards or Knicks can overtake them.

[texasdave]

Norman Powell suffered a bone fracture in his left foot. He is out indefinitely. When it rains, it pours.

[Betterread]

The Celtics beat the Hawks today. That's 8 straight for Boston and they're starting to get close to the top of the East, though their schedule gets tougher after the break. I'd say the Hawks (26-30) are in trouble except I have no confidence the Wizards or Knicks can overtake them.

They held the Hawks to 37% FG, 96 points and held trey to 9-26. That is impressive. I like the trade of JRich for White. Celtics ar figuring things out.

[M2]

They held the Hawks to 37% FG, 96 points and held trey to 9-26. That is impressive. I like the trade of JRich for White. Celtics ar figuring things out.

They leaned into being a defensive nightmare with their deadline moves. They've got a definite identity. White has had instant karma with the rest of the team. I question whether there's enough buckets on the team for them to be a serious threat, but they've got the best scoring differential in the East and I like their chances of staying clear of the play-in games.

[Rojo Rijo]

I think he's focusing on playing with Bronny, wherever he might end up, for at least one season.

IMO, Bronny's a two- or three-year player currently, but an enterprising team will definitely draft him after one just to get LeBron too.

As well as he's playing, there's no reason why he shouldn't continue to play. So far, he's a first-team All-NBA guy and arguably having one his best individual seasons of his career. (Injuries excepted.)

The Bronny draft is going to be fascinating. Which team is going to likely way overdraft him just to get Lebron. I could see the NBA getting their hands all over this to make sure Bronny doesnt get drafted by a small market rebuilding team, which they have the power to do with the lottery if they really want to. Even with Lebron likely being on his last leg at that point the marketing value of it will be astronomical, and if he really wants to answer MJs The Last Dance he would aim to have a documentary made about playing a season with Bronny.

[goreds2]

I was hoping Hardin and Milsap would make their debut tomorrow night on national TV.


When will Millsap and Harden make their Sixers debuts? The Sixers have yet to make that clear. As Harden has been dealing with hamstring issues lately and Millsap hasn’t seen the floor since the 19 minutes he played on January 13, both players have some work to do before they are ready to suit up for the Sixers for the first time.

https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/sixers-james-harden-paul-millsap-acquisition-official-saturday

[texasdave]

There are two great mysteries in life: 1) You put an even number of socks in the dryer, and an odd number invariably comes out. 2) How in the world did the Houston Rockets ever win 7 games in a row this season? They are horrible. And, it really doesn't look like they are improving all that much.

[goreds2]

I was hoping Hardin and Milsap would make their debut tomorrow night on national TV.



https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/news/sixers-james-harden-paul-millsap-acquisition-official-saturday
————————————



Harden is set to make his 76ers debut on Feb. 25 at Minnesota.

“After the (All-Star) break, we’ll get things going,” he said.

Harden is excited to pair with MVP front-runner Joel Embiid, who is leading the NBA in scoring at 29.5 points per game.

“I think we complete each other,” said Harden, who is leading the league in assists at 10.2. “The whole world knows how great Joel has been playing. His presence alone is unbelievable. I feel like I’m the same way as far as making my teammates better, and we have a great core of guys.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-02-15/nba-james-harden-philadelphia-76s-ben-simmons-brooklyn-nets

[goreds2]

76ers losing to Celtics by 37 points early in 3rd qtr. What the hey ???

[M2]

It's cool that Harden came out to ring the mini Liberty Bell before the Sixers game tonight. It's also cool that he let a five-year-old dress him.

https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1493745234680840202

[Bourgeois Zee]

It's cool that Harden came out to ring the mini Liberty Bell before the Sixers game tonight. It's also cool that he let a five-year-old dress him.

https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1493745234680840202

Are there any Sixer fans a bit miffed that Harden's taking such a long time to actually play?

While these games don't matter as much as playoff games, getting home-court sure does matter a lot.

And losing divisional games is twice as bad. Especially to Boston.

[goreds2]

Are there any Sixer fans a bit miffed that Harden's taking such a long time to actually play?

While these games don't matter as much as playoff games, getting home-court sure does matter a lot.

And losing divisional games is twice as bad. Especially to Boston.

I agree totally but here is the exert from the link I posted above.


Harden missed his final four games with the Nets due to a hamstring injury and the first two since joining the 76ers. He practiced on Monday and Tuesday at the team’s training center in Camden, New Jersey, and will sit out Tuesday night’s home game against Boston and Thursday’s matchup at Milwaukee.

[M2]

With the Heat, Cavs and Sixers losing tonight -- and the Celtics winning -- the top of the East gets even tighter. The top 6 are within 3.5 games of each other.

Monster win by the Celtics tonight, but I find it a little hard to believe they've got it all figured out despite the nine straight wins.

[SteelSD]

Are there any Sixer fans a bit miffed that Harden's taking such a long time to actually play?

While these games don't matter as much as playoff games, getting home-court sure does matter a lot.

And losing divisional games is twice as bad. Especially to Boston.

At this point, I think I'd actually prefer the Sixers not have home court advantage in the playoffs. They're only 16-13 at home and tonight went out there and threw up (unintended pun, yes) about half of the field goal percentage of their opponent. Amazingly, not a single player on the Sixers roster made more than three shots tonight. Not one guy, and only three made that many.

And nah, Sixers fans want Harden in the lineup, but we want a healthy Harden in the lineup. I figured it might be a bit rough until he plays given that they're down two additional players from the trade. Milsap played some garbage minutes tonight and was decent.

[M2]

Giannis went off for 50 tonight against the Pacers.

And Memphis with no Ja dispatched New Orleans tonight thanks to 27 points and 9 assists from Tyus Jones. He's a UFA after this season and he could be a very tasty, not terribly expensive PG on a quality team.

[KoryMac5]

Dallas with a nice win in Miami...

The one positive I can say about the KP trade is it did improve Dallas's bench...Bertans scored 12 off the bench and was shooting the 3 pretty well. I would expect him to thrive with Luka as you get so many good looks.

[klw]

With the Heat, Cavs and Sixers losing tonight -- and the Celtics winning -- the top of the East gets even tighter. The top 6 are within 3.5 games of each other.

Monster win by the Celtics tonight, but I find it a little hard to believe they've got it all figured out despite the nine straight wins.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33299178/boston-celtics-marcus-smart-leaves-game-philadelphia-76ers-right-ankle-sprain

There hasn't been much anyone has been able to do about the Celtics since Smart returned from a quad injury on Jan. 23, which coincided with Boston's season completely turning around. Including Tuesday's win, the Celtics have outscored their opponents by 253 points over those 12 games -- more than twice as good as the Memphis Grizzlies (124 points) over the same stretch. They've outscored their opponents by 21.1 points per game during that span, and according to Elias, that's the second-largest differential in a 12-game span within a season in NBA history (trailing only the 1970-71 Bucks).

Boston also now won three straight road games by at least 30 points, the first team in NBA history to do so.

[goreds2]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33299178/boston-celtics-marcus-smart-leaves-game-philadelphia-76ers-right-ankle-sprain

YIKES

[KoryMac5]

YIKES

I have rolled my ankle probably about 100 times...and wince every single time I see one that bad.

Luckily for Boston the ASG is coming up

[Bourgeois Zee]

Dallas with a nice win in Miami...

The one positive I can say about the KP trade is it did improve Dallas's bench...Bertans scored 12 off the bench and was shooting the 3 pretty well. I would expect him to thrive with Luka as you get so many good looks.

I think most of you guys are sleeping on Bertans' potential as a scorer on Dallas's second unit.

He played 13 minutes and shot 8 times.

Kid will almost certainly be wide open, with Brunson and Doncic finding him.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOV7F5s8yr4

[M2]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33299178/boston-celtics-marcus-smart-leaves-game-philadelphia-76ers-right-ankle-sprain

A lot of the Celtics' recent run was against the league's weaker teams, though they've taken down the Hawks, Nuggets and Sixers in their last three games. Should be noted, Boston was far from automatic against weaker teams earlier this season and all of last season. So the first bout of consistency they've experienced in two years is notable, and they've got a pretty gentle glide path to the end of the season.

I guess the bar for them is keeping their momentum. If they can go at least 16-7 and finish with 50+ wins, then why not them? Derrick White has been instant karma so far. He makes a lot of basketball plays on both sides of the ball and suddenly Boston's habit of playing iso ball has disappeared. But Toronto just went on an out-of-body run too and seems to be cooling off. So I'm not sold the Celtics have changed this radically, even if this is more what they were supposed to be like after playing in a bunch of Eastern Conference Finals.

[M2]

I think most of you guys are sleeping on Bertans' potential as a scorer on Dallas's second unit.

I definitely am. More power to him if regains his shooting touch.

[KoryMac5]

Bertans gets a bad rap due to his contract...he has a skill set that makes him a useful NBA player off the bench.

[M2]

Bertans gets a bad rap due to his contract...he has a skill set that makes him a useful NBA player off the bench.

If he hits his shots. If he doesn't, then it's hard to justify his minutes. Got to get his stroke back.

[Assembly Hall]

My Pacers are doing a fine job of tanking.

[Revering4Blue]

My Pacers are doing a fine job of tanking.

With Brogdan, Turner, Jackson, McConnell and Warren, who may never again don a Pacers jersey, sidelined, it's (tanking) not really intentional. But yeah, the season's shot and a top 4 or 5 pick in this upcoming draft would do wonders for the franchise. I'm numb to wins and losses at this point.

[Betterread]

With Brogdan, Turner, Jackson, McConnell and Warren, who may never again don a Pacers jersey, sidelined, it's (tanking) not really intentional. But yeah, the season's shot and a top 4 or 5 pick in this upcoming draft would do wonders for the franchise. I'm numb to wins and losses at this point.
I know the season is a disappointment, but you have some talent to work with. Who knew how much you would miss T J warren? Brissettt and Jackson look like future starters. You have to figure out what to do with Hield and Brogdon.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I know the season is a disappointment, but you have some talent to work with. Who knew how much you would miss T J warren? Brissettt and Jackson look like future starters. You have to figure out what to do with Hield and Brogdon.

Even if they keep them, they'll have enough cash to chase some free agents.

And that team, with, say, Chet Holmgren or Jaden Ivey (a Purdue guy) or Keegan Murray looks like it might be both young and talented with veterans enough to bring the young'uns along.

There's not really a weak sister in the lineup of Haliburton, Brogdon, Murray (theoretically), Jackson, and Turner.

[M2]

There's not really a weak sister in the lineup of Haliburton, Brogdon, Murray (theoretically), Jackson, and Turner.

It's probably not a given Brogdon and Turner will be back next season.

[klw]

Of course the Celtics blow a 8 point lead over Detroit with 4 minutes left. Of course.

[Assembly Hall]

With Brogdan, Turner, Jackson, McConnell and Warren, who may never again don a Pacers jersey, sidelined, it's (tanking) not really intentional. But yeah, the season's shot and a top 4 or 5 pick in this upcoming draft would do wonders for the franchise. I'm numb to wins and losses at this point.

The P's "slip up" last night and win.

[goreds2]

(Feb. 15, 2022): In his introductory press conference, Simmons said that he doesn't yet have a return date.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/ben-simmons-nets-debut

[Revering4Blue]

Even if they keep them, they'll have enough cash to chase some free agents.

And that team, with, say, Chet Holmgren or Jaden Ivey (a Purdue guy) or Keegan Murray looks like it might be both young and talented with veterans enough to bring the young'uns along.

There's not really a weak sister in the lineup of Haliburton, Brogdon, Murray (theoretically), Jackson, and Turner.

Good call on Murray, who may be the most polished player in this draft. His multi-faceted skillset is intriguing for sure.

That said, I get the feeling that he’ll slide out of the top 5 as the stock of Shaedon Sharpe, Nikola Jovic ( love his potential) and others continue to rise.

And given that Warren is an impending free agent, and both Brogdan and Turner are a year away from UFA, the Pacers should have the luxury of going with the best player available instead of focusing on a particular fit/position.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Revering4Blue]

It's probably not a given Brogdon and Turner will be back next season.

Brogdan, IMO, is too injury prone to garner a decent enough return to warrant an offseason trade. Turner, OTOH, could be moved for a decent return. For example, to Dallas for a packaged centered around Kleber.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Revering4Blue]

The P's "slip up" last night and win.

Well, at least the Pistons, who are finally healthy/intact for the first time in months, won last night. The Pacers didn’t lose any ground.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[goreds2]

After an embarrassing loss to the Celtics on Tuesday, the 76ers go into Milwaukee and win by 3.

[KoryMac5]

I feel that Doncic is about to go on a legendary tear...we could see multiple 60 pt games from him, he is that locked in.

Last night he tied Mark Aguirre for most 45+ pt games in franchise history.

Mavs should get to the 4 seed after the break.

[Assembly Hall]

Good call on Murray, who may be the most polished player in this draft. His multi-faceted skillset is intriguing for sure.

That said, I get the feeling that he’ll slide out of the top 5 as the stock of Shaedon Sharpe, Nikola Jovic ( love his potential) and others continue to rise.

And given that Warren is an impending free agent, and both Brogdan and Turner are a year away from UFA, the Pacers should have the luxury of going with the best player available instead of focusing on a particular fit/position.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Best player available player works for me. No Sam Bowies for me.

[Revering4Blue]

Best player available player works for me. No Sam Bowies for me.

To my knowledge, there are no projected high lottery picks with anything close to Bowie’s injury history. Conversely, it’s questionable- taking into account the differing NBA landscape by era - that any of the projected top 5 or do picks in this upcoming draft have the ceiling of a HEALTHY prime Bowie.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2]

I feel that Doncic is about to go on a legendary tear...we could see multiple 60 pt games from him, he is that locked in.

Last night he tied Mark Aguirre for most 45+ pt games in franchise history.

Mavs should get to the 4 seed after the break.

Luka's on fire to be sure, and he's carrying his team. If he gets the Mavs into the top 4, his MVP case is going to be super strong.

[Rojo Rijo]

The Bronny draft is going to be fascinating. Which team is going to likely way overdraft him just to get Lebron. I could see the NBA getting their hands all over this to make sure Bronny doesnt get drafted by a small market rebuilding team, which they have the power to do with the lottery if they really want to. Even with Lebron likely being on his last leg at that point the marketing value of it will be astronomical, and if he really wants to answer MJs The Last Dance he would aim to have a documentary made about playing a season with Bronny.

And now Lebron has made it official
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220220/1aa147bd22a5bb392860644cf5a13947.jpg

[Boston Red]

Will Jr play a year in college? Or just G league it? I could see him making an unusual college choice like Akron since he doesn't seem to be quite good enough for the hype that will surround him. The Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina of the world may not be the right situation.

[M2]

And now Lebron has made it official
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220220/1aa147bd22a5bb392860644cf5a13947.jpg

All sorts of fascinating stuff connected to this. Bronny doesn't graduate HS until 2023. Unless the NBA allows direct entry into the draft by that year (and it is possible), then he's looking at 2024-25 as his rookie season. LeBron's only got one more year on his Lakers contract, which leaves him a full season where he's got to float. Given that the Lakers situation looks dire, might he attempt to jump somewhere else for two seasons in an attempt to collect another ring or two?

And Bronny's a good-but-not-great prospect. Looks like his average recruiting class rank falls somewhere in the 30s. Do you overdraft the kid in the hopes the dad on a cheap contract can put you over the top? Seems like that's a viable strategy if you're picking after the lottery. You're already shopping for maybes at that point. Though we probably shouldn't sleep on the notion that Bronny might not wind up being an NBA quality player and this will be a case of his dad securing him a spot in the league for a few years despite that. Probably the most interesting scenario is if a team goes full irrational and picks Bronny in the lottery.

Oh, and OKC could be sitting on 4 1st round picks in 2024 while New Orleans could have 3.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Do you overdraft the kid in the hopes the dad on a cheap contract can put you over the top? Seems like that's a viable strategy if you're picking after the lottery. You're already shopping for maybes at that point.

LeBron's playing at an All-NBA level right now. He's averaging nearly 37 mpg.

As a 40-year-old, he'd probably be able to carry a second unit all by himself for 20-25 minutes per night.

I probably wouldn't do that for a lottery pick, but with pick nnumber 17 or 18?

I'd do that for sure.

[M2]

LeBron's playing at an All-NBA level right now. He's averaging nearly 37 mpg.

As a 40-year-old, he'd probably be able to carry a second unit all by himself for 20-25 minutes per night.

I probably wouldn't do that for a lottery pick, but with pick nnumber 17 or 18?

I'd do that for sure.

LeBron on a mid-level exception would be kind of amazing. Also, he'll be playing a lot of stretch 5 at that point.

[KoryMac5]

I could see Cuban taking a shot..

[M2]

I could see Cuban taking a shot..

Luka + LeBron would be tasty.

[Bourgeois Zee]

LeBron on a mid-level exception would be kind of amazing. Also, he'll be playing a lot of stretch 5 at that point.

Yeah, LeBron as a center, using his old man strength and largely loafing up and down the court saving his legs is still probably a 15/8/5. In limited minutes.

[Bourgeois Zee]

I could see Cuban taking a shot..

OKC is set up particularly well to take that gamble.

[goreds2]

Joel Embiid Says 'Plan' is for James Harden to Make 76ers Debut vs. Timberwolves (This Friday)


Although Harden has yet to play for the Sixers, he has already made an impact on his new team.

Tyrese Maxey had a rough start against the Milwaukee Bucks last week, but he got some advice from Harden and ended up finishing the game with 19 points.

While speaking on ESPN's NBA Today before the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, Maxey praised Harden for his leadership during that game, which helped the Sixers turn things around and earn a 123-120 win.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10027593-joel-embiid-says-plan-is-for-james-harden-to-make-76ers-debut-vs-timberwolves

[Rojo Rijo]

Better believe Lebron will flex his status to make sure Bronny doesnt end up on a small market non-playoff team. I think most teams could be at play here but I think there will be a handful that will be discreetly advised to not draft him.

I agree the idea of Lebron on a MLE is fascinating. While he will unquestionably have taken a few steps back even from what he is now that will be an absolute steal in value.

I am also staying 100% to my prediction that he will make a documentary out of his final season.

[KoryMac5]

Dragic to the Nets is a sneaky good move...Dennis Smith Jr released by the Blazers.

[M2]

Dragic to the Nets is a sneaky good move...Dennis Smith Jr released by the Blazers.

I'm not so sure. He got chewed up last season. The bubble did him good in 2020. Maybe his long layoff this season will have the same effect, though he is two years older and the "on" switch might not be so automatic.

[KoryMac5]

I'm not so sure. He got chewed up last season. The bubble did him good in 2020. Maybe his long layoff this season will have the same effect, though he is two years older and the "on" switch might not be so automatic.

Depends on how much of the load you expect him to carry at his age...if he ends up starting half of the Nets games or does he come off the bench and give you 20 mins per. At 36 I think you are hoping for the latter.

[Bourgeois Zee]

At 20 - 25 mpg, Dragic could be a difference-maker.

[Puffy]

Yeah, LeBron as a center, using his old man strength and largely loafing up and down the court saving his legs is still probably a 15/8/5. In limited minutes.

18055

Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 40 minutes a night.

[Rojo Rijo]

The Dragic move makes sense, they need a PG for home and Knicks road games (if any are left).

[goreds2]

Report: Nets star Ben Simmons weeks away from making his team debut

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-nets-star-ben-simmons-033359946.html

[Rojo Rijo]

So what happens/where is Kyrie playing next year?

[M2]

So what happens/where is Kyrie playing next year?

Does anybody want him at a max contract price? Usually I'd lean toward saying any higher end player should opt out and get his next big paycheck, but I could see teams figuring he's not worth the headache. The one team I look at and think maybe is the Wizards. The could send Porzingis back to balance the money in a sign-and-trade.

[Boston Red]

I don't follow the NBA nearly as closely as a lot of you guys, so can someone tell me what's up with Zion? I was listening to JJ Redick talk about him being a bad teammate, and he's obviously been chronically injured since he entered the League. Just not sure that the story is with him. Is he just waiting out his rookie contract in NOLA so that he can ACTUALLY start his NBA career somehwere else? Is he just not intereted at all in being a Pelican? Just a bit of an odd dude?