Trade deadline heating up:
- Vucevic to the Bulls for Wendell Carter snd Otto Porter
- Lowry saying his goodbyes, seems like Philly makes the most sense
- Javale McGee to the Nuggets
- Delon Wright (Detroit) to the Kings for Corey Joseph and a couple 2nds
Aaron Gordon to the Nuggets for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and 2 first round picks.
Lowry to the Sixers is a trade that could shift the balance in the East.
George Hill to the Sixers. Maybe Lowry isn't going there?
And now Powell to the Blazers. The more guys going to the West the better. Denver is remaking their whole roster.
Official trades:
Raptors trade Norman Powell to Blazers for Gary Trent and Rodney Hood
Orlando trade Evan Fournier to Celtics for draft picks
Cavaliers trade JaVale McGee to Nuggets
Pistons trade Delon Wright to Kings for Cory Joseph, draft picks
Magic trade Nikola VuΔeviΔ, Al-Farouq Aminu and Otto Porter to Bulls for Wendell Carter Jr. and draft picks
Orlando trade Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark to Denver for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, draft picks
Philadelphia acquires George Hill from Oklahoma City for Tony Bradley, draft picks in a three-team trade. Terrance Ferguson goes to the Knicks; Austin Rivers goes to the Thunder
Interesting... Lowry to Miami was also in the mix. That may be imminent at this point, and the negotiations are now exclusive between Toronto and Miami...
Portland and Denver just got a whole lot better.
Was glad to see Lowry not go to Philly. Hill is solid but heβs not Lowry.
nah i'm storming Chase Center full Viking attire if they trade Oubre for Danny Green
β Klay Thompson's Burner (@iKlayThompson) March 25, 2021
Rondo to the Clippers for Lou Williams and 2 second-round picks.
The Hawks get another high usage guy who can't play defense.
The Celtics gave away Theis? Why?
Details of the Celtics/Wizards/Bulls deal, per league sources:
Wizards get D. Gafford, C. Hutchinson
Celtics get L. Kornet, M. Wagner Bulls get D. Theis, J. Green, T. Brown Jr. , $1.3m (from BOS) $250k (from WAS)
Yahoo! Sports: NBA rumors: Warriors trade Brad Wanamaker to Hornets before deadline.
Here's the final summary.
My overall take.
1.The Raptors basically gave up for the year but kept Kyle Lowry's expiring contract? How does trading Powell, T. Davis, and Thomas for draft picks mesh with trying to do anything this year? It makes no sense not to get something for Lowry if you are going that.
2. The Celtics have a huge trade exemption and end up with Evan Fournier and get rid of Theis. Does that scare anybody?
3. Oladipo to the Heat. Shedding Bradley and Olynyk makes them less of a threat this year.
4. George Hill may match up with Jrue Holiday in a playoff series. That will be interesting.
5. The Bulls made the biggest move, but are they any threat to the Nets, Sixers, or Bucks? I'd say no
Official trades:
Houston trades Victor Oladipo to Miami for Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk
Kyle Lowry, Lonzo Ball stay put
Hawks trade Rajon Rondo to Clippers for Lou Williams, draft picks + cash
Raptors trade Norman Powell to Blazers for Gary Trent and Rodney Hood
In other NBA news, here's a typical Pelicans fan reaction to the trade deadline.
Todayβs moves didnβt really hurt the Bucks at all. In fact, I would argue in some respects it helped the Bucks chances in the East.
Toronto has basically given up yet they kept Lowry. Win win as he doesnβt end up in Philly or Miami. Dealing Powell likely means the Raptors are not a legitimate playoff threat if they make it at all.
Philly got better, but George Hill doesnβt put them over the top like Lowry may have.
Miami added Oladipo and Bjelica, but they ditched a decent big that can shoot and play D (Olynyk) and lost Jae Crowder before the season. Offensively, they are better, but on D they got worse for sure.
I have no idea what Boston was thinking. Fournier can shoot and score, but heβs no defensive threat and Theis is a solid defender and rebounder.
New Jersey is status quo, as is Milwaukee. Meaning they are still the 2 best teams in the East IMO.
If Iβm Utah or Phoenix or the LAL Iβm not feeling good about what the Clippers and Mavs and Blazers and Nuggets did. They all got better. The West is going to be a bloodbath.
Lowry might be a buyout candidate. If thatβs what happens, heβs a Laker. They hAve no trade assets, and if he told Ujiri he wanted to play in LA, thatβs really the only way.
Rondo really helps the Clippers. A lot. Rondo was an unsung hero for the Lakers last year.
LaMarcus Aldridge to the Nets.
Andre Drummond to the Lakers.
Is the NBA just setting up an NBA Finals with as many former all-stars as possible?
Durant, Irving, Harden, Griffin, and Aldridge on the Nets? Those guys have a cumulative 40 all-star appearances and may all make the Hall of Fame.
https://www.brewhoop.com/2021/...tin-rivers-jon-horst
Austin Rivers?!?!
That would be a great signing. More 3 point shooters around Giannis, please.
They need to give Bryn Forbes minutes to someone who if theyβre not hitting a shot they can defend someone. I think weβve see enough of Forbes...
@Music City posted:They need to give Bryn Forbes minutes to someone who if theyβre not hitting a shot they can defend someone. I think weβve see enough of Forbes...
There's a reason he was available for close to a minimum salary.
I honestly don't see what the difference was between Bryn Forbes and Bronson Koenig. Koenig could never even make an NBA roster, but shot 40% from the 3 point line in the G league. The knock on Koenig was that he'd never be able to guard anybody in the NBA, but he was a clutch shooter at Madison. Koenig is 2 inches taller than Forbes.
@Music City posted:They need to give Bryn Forbes minutes to someone who if theyβre not hitting a shot they can defend someone. I think weβve see enough of Forbes...
I updated this in the game chat last night, but Forbes has an uncanny ability to hit a bunch of 3s when you least need it.
Forbes is 56 for 100 from the 3 point line in the games the Bucks have won by 9 points or more.
He's 37 for 109 in games the Bucks win by 8 or less or that the Buck lose.
56% vs. 33.9%.
If the shot doesn't matter, Forbes is the best guy in the NBA to be taking it. If it's a close game he turns into Eric Bledsoe except that many of us on the forum can play defense as well as Forbes.
Jeff Teague to the Bucks on the buyout market (per Woj).
A nice piece to use against quick guards like Kemba Walker and Irving. Certainly a better option than Forbes.
Forbes is a shooter. Nothing more, nothing less. Heβs a younger version of Kyle Korver.
I would rather have Austin Rivers, but Teague is more of a true PG than Rivers. Teague isnβt the biggest or strongest guy despite being 6β3β as he plays more like a 5β11β guy, but generally does well against smaller, quicker guys. Heβs the anti Jrue Hollday.
Still, he excels at distributing the ball. He protects the basketball (no turnovers). His shooting is OK, but heβs far from elite. Heβs a competent backup PG.
Good get. Teague is still a solid player.
Teague is overrated
So now the word is out that Kevin Durant went on a Twitter tirade against Michael Rappaport which included a number of homophobic and misogynist comments. Once again, KD canβt control himself on social media.
Between Kyrieβs nonsense and Hardenβs antics is there a more dysfunctional team in sports history? The Nets have probably 3 of the 10 best players in the modern era but what a mess. The basketball gods need to intervene and ensure they donβt win a title.
@Tschmack posted:So now the word is out that Kevin Durant went on a Twitter tirade against Michael Rappaport which included a number of homophobic and misogynist comments. Once again, KD canβt control himself on social media.
Between Kyrieβs nonsense and Hardenβs antics is there a more dysfunctional team in sports history? The Nets have probably 3 of the 10 best players in the modern era but what a mess. The basketball gods need to intervene and ensure they donβt win a title.
The tirade was terrible, but I think it was direct messages that Rappaport posted. Durant has the written communication skills of a 7th grader which makes it even more ridiculous.
So, if you were NBA central casting and if the Bucks play the Nets at some point in the playoffs this is your matchup. Just look the top 4 most visible players.
The Nets.
Durant. A pretty terrible person but the best shooting 7 footer I've ever seen. The number 2 pick in the draft. One of the most thin-skinned superstars in NBA history.
Harden. A guy who might be one of the top 5 offensive scorers of all time but is almost better known for his off-the-court antics, including regularly dropping 6 figures at strip clubs and having his jersey hoisted to the ceiling in a Houston club. Sabotaged an entire team built around him to force his way to the Nets. A top 5 pick in the draft.
Irving. Thinks the earth may be flat, sprays incense on some courts to "cleanse" them. The top pick in the draft.
Griffin. Left his first girlfriend/wife with two young kids to date Kendall Jenner. The top pick in the draft.
The Bucks.
Giannis. The least jaded superstar in NBA history. Had to share shoes with his brother growing up. Clearly very close with his brothers and mother. Still gets excited over simple things that most of us take for granted.
Holiday. Literally named teammate of the year in the NBA last year. Donating huge portions of his salary to support black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Married to a former US Olympic soccer player.
Middleton. A guy who qualifies his disappointment at not being named to the all-star team by making sure to note that all the guys that beat him out deserved to be there. A second-round pick who worked his ass off to become an all-star.
Lopez. A goofy, fun-loving guy who loves Disney characters. Went to Stanford. One of the top Latino players in NBA history.
So, on one hand you have a bunch of guys who, because they've been celebrities since they were in high school, are incredibly entitled. They hit the clubs, quit on teammates, and, in general, are not the greatest role models for anyone.
On the other hand, you have a group of guys that are role models for a large groups of people (immigrants, African-American entrepreneurs, Latinos, and guys who have to work their way up).
The NBA is idiotic not to be promoting the Bucks personalities more. Holiday alone is a dream example of everything the NBA (or any organization) should strive to highlight.
@MichiganPacker2 posted:The NBA is idiotic not to be promoting the Bucks personalities more. Holiday alone is a dream example of everything the NBA (or any organization) should strive to highlight.
Not the biggest NBA guy these days but your post is great. I don't think the NBA or ESPNBA (you can't call them ESPN anymore they are all NBA all the time) wants the boring Bucks they want the bad boy Nets. They want nothing more than the Nets vs. Lakers in the finals and they will do whatever they can to promote that.
You forgot about Griffin punching a team assistant equipment manager that resulted in a broken hand. Yeah, heβs a piece of work.
NBA is fining Kevin Durant $50,000 for social exchange with actor, sources tell ESPN.
β Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 2, 2021
23 games left... Bucks 2.0 games out of first place- which currently shows Brooklyn and Philly tied. 9 of the next 14 on the road.
That little 3 game losing streak cost them a chance to be at or tied at the top. Plenty of games to still get the 1 seed, though. They would play ATL if the playoffs started today.
And what happened to Chicago??? They get Vucevic and have lost 6 in a row and went 4-11 in the month of March. I kinda thought they got better. Tough part of the schedule, sure... but I thought they could be a tough out. They better get it figured out soon.
But the West is where it gets interesting. Denver and Portland are right behind LAL at the 4th seed- meaning the Lakers are in danger of falling to the 6th seed. Utah continues to run away with the top seed- 3.5 up 2nd place Phoenix (???), and 6.5 above 3rd place Clippers. If the Lakers donβt get LBJ/AD back soon, theyβre in real trouble.
Are the Jazz the Bucks? Will they wilt come playoff time? The play-in games in both countries conferences should be fun. Like this format...
I'm really looking forward to seeing how Tucker fits. If he even resembles what he was on defense a year or two ago when he returns, putting Giannis, Middleton, Holiday, DDV, and him on the floor for crunch time might make the Bucks have the best defensive closing lineup in the league.
Give Horst come credit. Despite messing up the Bogdanovic deal (and I'm still not sure why the league penalized them for a deal that never got made when they never even made contact with the player) and the Augustin signing, he came out ahead.
Portis is exactly the upgrade they needed over Ilyasova/M. Williams for offense off the bench.
They replaced Augustin with Teague on the buyout market and Teague is so much better for what they need (15 minutes of backup PG play with a guy that's not a total liability of defense). He's still weak defensively, but he's a very good on-ball defender and being 4 inches taller than Augustin helps a lot.
And then there is Holiday. WTF where the Pelicans thinking trading him? There are maybe 15 guys in the NBA I would trade him for and even that number might be high. He might be the best defensive guard in the league, he's a calming veteran presence, and although he could easily average 22+ points a game if he was more selfish, he is happy to sit back and wait until a team needs him to take over offensively. The way he just physically bullied Marcus Smart on a drive last month was eye-opening. Imaging having him on your roster with Zion and Ingram and thinking "we don't need him, we're good with Lonzo Ball and we can move him for Bledsoe and George Hill and gamble that the Bucks will suck enough consistently at some point between 2024-2027 that they'll be worse than us so we can get those pick swaps." Zion may be gone by then if they continue to miss the playoffs. He'll be in the league between 5-7 years before any of those picks (2025 or 2027) or pick swaps (2024 and 2026) actually play.
I donβt recall when it was but the Bucks were playing the Mavs and Holiday ended up on defense against Doncic most of the 4Q. JH basically pitched a shutout as I donβt think Luka had one basket down the stretch. What was even more interesting is you could tell Luka was intimidated and rattled. He did not look comfortable at all as Holiday was in his shorts not unlike Gary Payton back in the day. It was impressive and Holiday makes it look easy.
You think the Nets want to face this team? Whatβs crazy is Tucker hasnβt even played yet but Milwaukee has arguably the best lineup defensively in the league. They are one of the rare teams that actually matches up well against Brooklyn and offensively they will make the Nets work to defend which clearly they are not suited to do very well. And the Nets donβt have anyone that can defend Giannis.
Back to Holiday, Iβm trying to think of a more underrated player in league history than him. Maybe Scotty Pippen? I donβt know. All I know is if the Bucks can extend him this is a team positioned to compete for the next 3-4 years. As for New Orleans, I donβt have a clue WTF they were thinking trading him. With he and Zion thatβs a playoff team unless it was a pure money dump.
@Boris posted:NBA is fining Kevin Durant $50,000 for social exchange with actor, sources tell ESPN.
β Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 2, 2021
He probably spent more money on toilet paper last year when COVID broke out. A lengthy suspension was the better choice.
Iβm guessing Holiday informed them heβs interested in going to a winning program. He didnβt want to waste any more of his prime waiting for unproven commodities. The Pelicans, despite their talent, are still a 12 seed and out of the playoffs completely. I think he wants a Championship, and by the time Zion is ready, heβll be past his prime.
@Goalline posted:He probably spent more money on toilet paper last year when COVID broke out. A lengthy suspension was the better choice.
Durant makes 40 million a year from his NBA contract and about 30 million a year from Nike.
The average worker in the US makes 40K a year.
Fining Durant 50K is the equivalent of fining someone making 20 dollars an hour about $28.57.
Obviously the fine means nothing to him, but I'm not sure what the NBA can do. What Durant said was disgusting and appalling, but not illegal. The real solution would be for people to stop buying his shoes or Nets fans to stop supporting the team. Neither is going to happen. Even suspending him for a couple of games would just mean the Nets would have an excuse to load manage him (which they want to do anyway).
Paul Pierceβs response to being fired makes it even better. pic.twitter.com/EHeQVFnDtc
β Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 5, 2021
What was he fired from? TV? He was bad.
