So Ja is the official "Most Entertaining Player in the League" now, right?
Inarguably. I've even started seeking out Grizzlies highlights. Just a fun team all around.
Also, as Dan LeBatard pointed out, we all knew Russ's game wouldn't age well...
....but good LORD.
So Ja is the official "Most Entertaining Player in the League" now, right?
My dad was a Prof at Murray State University for 4 years in the late 70s early 80s so I went to a lot of games back in the day as a kiddo. Have tried to keep up with them casually since. Griz Coach was on Coach Buds staff in Milwaukee (and ATL, I think) and is a great dude and coach. Really a fun team.
Kings and Blazers getting fleeced
The Kings trade, whatever. I don't think it moves the needle much for either team, seems like it is more because Carlisle convinced management than Sabonis + Turner was never going to work well.
The Blazers trade though - I don't get why they would make that deal? Just I can't see the angle and if they wanted to trade McCollum I have to believe there was something better out there than Josh Hart and a first round pick.
The Kings trade, whatever. I don't think it moves the needle much for either team, seems like it is more because Carlisle convinced management than Sabonis + Turner was never going to work well.
The Blazers trade though - I don't get why they would make that deal? Just I can't see the angle and if they wanted to trade McCollum I have to believe there was something better out there than Josh Hart and a first round pick.
I heard a plausible theory, (I think from someone on LeBatard's show). They surmised that it is to help convince Dame to accept a trade. If you want to come back, ok but we are in a full rebuild. On the other hand, you would look good in Knick blue and orange...
Kinda both shrug moves and meh teams involved.
By all accounts McCollum is a class act so sucks a championship caliber team didn't make a push for him.
That said I'm not sure even if there was a good fit team that fits that criteria.
Also Beal opting for season ending surgery on wrist. Running out of big moves to be made.
LeapingGnome wrote:The Kings trade, whatever. I don't think it moves the needle much for either team, seems like it is more because Carlisle convinced management than Sabonis + Turner was never going to work well.
The Blazers trade though - I don't get why they would make that deal? Just I can't see the angle and if they wanted to trade McCollum I have to believe there was something better out there than Josh Hart and a first round pick.
I heard a plausible theory, (I think from someone on LeBatard's show). They surmised that it is to help convince Dame to accept a trade. If you want to come back, ok but we are in a full rebuild. On the other hand, you would look good in Knick blue and orange...
Interesting theory. The Blazers claim today that they're trying to rebuild around Lillard and I have no clue how that makes sense with these pieces. Unless they're convinced they just need to reshuffle things and go after a free agent.
Rebuilding around Lillard makes no sense since he has maybe 2-3 years left of his prime and that is how long a rebuild takes.
Rebuilding around Lillard makes no sense since he has maybe 2-3 years left of his prime and that is how long a rebuild takes.
I know, but that's the word out there. Maybe the thinking is you open major cap space and fill it with a free agent?
The Bucks are so much in defending Champ mode. Casually good. They have been historically bad on West Coast road trips. They are just embarrassing fools now that they are healthy (minus B Lopez), Denver the exception. The Denver loss may prove to be their turning point, TBH.
The Lakers are almost as bad as the Knicks are right now, and the Knicks have seen the wheels almost completely come off after last year.
Anyway, MVP is pretty much down to Giannis, Embiid and Jokic, right? (Really the last two, from what I'm seeing.)
I actually kind of like the CJ trade for Portland? Maybe I'm too worried about CJ's decline years left onhis contract but getting a 1st and a useful player in Hart (though I think he can be a free agent very soon) isn't bad. Giving up Nance hurts a bit.
The Sabobis deal for the Kings though, you dudes already have a decent centre. But maybe that's just me being bitter because I was hoping the Raptors could get Turner out of Indiana.
The Lakers are almost as bad as the Knicks are right now, and the Knicks have seen the wheels almost completely come off after last year.
Yeah. Even without AD and LeBron missing time, the Lakers went from a team with 2-star depth to one with the depth players of a 3-star team.
Problem is they still only have 2 stars. Giannis didn't even try to contest this paint jumper from Westbrook last night:
I actually kind of like the CJ trade for Portland? Maybe I'm too worried about CJ's decline years left onhis contract but getting a 1st and a useful player in Hart (though I think he can be a free agent very soon) isn't bad.
CJ will be 32 when his contract is up. Not exactly over the hill. 
It is definitely debatable if he is worth that contract though since it is pretty expensive and he doesn't do much on defense, but cap space doesn't get you wins. If Portland traded him to free up cap space down the line, they actually have to do something with it that would be better than just having McCollum there. I don't think this trade does that, but maybe they are working multiple moves ahead and have a deal lined up already to send some of the new pieces out.
I mean, if I was trying to convince Zion to not up and leave for NY, CJM is a good piece to have.
Anyway, MVP is pretty much down to Giannis, Embiid and Jokic, right? (Really the last two, from what I'm seeing.)
I am surprised no one is even mentioning Lebron. Is it just because of the team's record or 17 games missed? I think 17 is too many this early in the season, but if he plays the rest of the year it will be enough. Embiid has missed 12, Giannis 9, and Jokic 6.
Lebron has been great this year and even when he was averaging 35 points a game over 6-7 games no one was really talking about MVP, heck they talk about Morant for it more than Lebron. He is 4th in PER (after the three big men you mentioned and PER is a big man stat). 29, 8, and 6 on 52% shooting is really good.
Problem is they still only have 2 stars. Giannis didn't even try to contest this paint jumper from Westbrook last night:
Jesus.
Like that's a "if they let me play"-level miss.
In other news, Windhorst says Harden to Philly is almost definitely going to happen, which allowed me to discover, amazingly, that Harden/Durant/Kyrie have played 16/125 possible games together.
In other news, Windhorst says Harden to Philly is almost definitely going to happen, which allowed me to discover, amazingly, that Harden/Durant/Kyrie have played 16/125 possible games together.
My God.
I like Simmons for the Nets? Can be their go-to guy defensively and they've done some funky things offensively like Bruce Brown at centre so they should be able to accomodate Simmons a bit in the half-court.
Plus him being in his prime should limit the downside of the next few years. With Kyrie Kyrieing and Harden and Durant's injury problems and age there's potential for things to go really bad in Brooklyn in the next few years.
With Kyrie Kyrieing and Harden and Durant's injury problems and age there's potential for things to go really bad in Brooklyn in the next few years.
And yet, we would be talking about all of this differently if Durant's shoes were 2 sizes smaller last year.
I would not want to pay Harden the extension he is going to demand.
And if Simmons thought the Philly media were bad, just wait for NYC.
In other news, another trade for Portland that doesn’t make any sense from the outside. I don’t know what the heck they are doing.
Eh, it's the Nets, not the Knicks. They had to get Durant, Harden, and the world's flat earthiest point guard to garner anywhere near the same attention in town.
The Lakers are almost as bad as the Knicks are right now, and the Knicks have seen the wheels almost completely come off after last year.
(And Magic Johnson)
They lost by three points tonight, not by twenty-six.
Well, two. But to what is essentially a G-League team.
Besides the potential Harden deal is there anything else interesting even cooking?
The Pacers/Kings + McCollum deals kinda deflated the trade deadline hype.
Would love the Raptors to pull off something but besides shipping Dragic not sure they will. Also not sure if he is even worth much.
Biggest problem with the Harden/Simmons deal imo is they are both in the East and competitive. The Nets would probably be way more comfortable if they were shipping him to the West where he can go wreak havoc there.
Would love the Raptors to pull off something but besides shipping Dragic not sure they will. Also not sure if he is even worth much.
Wasn't worth much.
Dragic + top-14 protected 1st to the Spurs for Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, and Detroit's 2nd.
Brian Windhorst is smiling ear to ear. He's been the one saying this was going to happen.
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