Wow, we certainly got polar opposite trade deadlines the past two years!
With shocking move after shocking move around 3:00 PM last year, 2016 was a nice afternoon siesta, putting the “dead” in Trade Deadline. This is why it’s impossible to predict trades! I might use this year’s deadline as a response to “who is most likely to be traded” quandaries. Is there a shrug emoticon?! Because in 2016, every NBA GM was too busy playing Candy Crush to make phone calls to other teams!
Really the biggest trade had very little fantasy impact too… Markieff Morris comes to the Wizards, and just like Archie Goodwin‘s neck, he puts a stranglehold on the PF position. Watch me whip! Watch me Nene! …watch me never play again 🙁 Even though Nene started last night over Jared Dudley (and had a decent game too), I think that’s more about having him be a placeholder to get ready for the new Wiz rotation once Kieff gets there. I just think Wizards fans should be happy Gilbert Arenas isn’t still there, that locker room might get fiestier than in Memphis! We’ll get to that later… Kieff should’ve been owned in all leagues already, and you can happily drop Dudley in almost all leagues. That was my first text to Slim! Pssshhh, Slim arguing to hold Dudley… On the flip side, Phoenix got trash and roster dumpage, with Kris Humphries mayyyyybe playing some backups kims. I mean mins. The big takeaway is Alex Len should be nabbed in all 12ers, and when the news broke, he was owned in only 30% of leagues (and still is at 30% apparently)… He should get a nice boost in consistency, minutes wise. Here’s what else went down over this snoozer of a deadline, plus the Daily Notes from last night:
Courtney Lee – This happened on Wednesday, but got moved to the Hornets for a lot of junk. As I mentioned on the Pod, he moves to a faster paced offense that could use a nice SG to move Nicolas Batum back to his more natural 3 spot. They’ve already said he’ll start, but is out tonight since he had to get his physical during practice. Geez, what is it with medical staffs these days?! Get his physical done ASAP and let him play!
Detroit Pistons – Picked up Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton for a lot of junk from the Rockets. I’m not even gonna use a Thesaurus for “junk”, I’m just gonna keep using it! A ton of junk this deadline… Neither are worth cosidering in virtually any league, especially with “starters-play-a-ton-of-minutes StanVan” at the helm. Helm to 108!
MORE JUNK – Cleveland and Orlando traded guys, just to waive most of them. Uggghhhhhh! I remember slamming that Channing Frye deal with Slim when it was made. Looks like we would be better GMs for Orlando… Anyway, Frye will play some backup stretch-4 on CLE. Hurray.
Shelvin Mack – This might be the most interesting trade of the day for me, which says more about the deadline itself than anything else… The Hawks gave the Jazz Mack for a mere second-rounder, and Utah picks up the best point guard they have right now. Neto slam! Burke slam! Now, it’s not like Mack is someone you’re adding in 12ers, but any deeper leagues needing a PG flier, Mack could be your starter and play a good chunk of minutes. That said, it’ll take a few games, and Alec Burks looms to take G minutes as well.
Randy Foye – Heads to OKC to add some perimeter scoring with the second unit. Bleck. Going to Denver, some junk and D.J. Augustin. Augustin for the super deep leagues is a little interesting, with Jameer Nelson weighing wrist surgery and the ups and downs of Emmanuel Mudiay.
Memphis Grizzlies being CRAYYYYY! – So just to spice things up now that Marc Gasol is out for the year, Memphis decided to go nuts. They added Birdman to play some C. In that junk trade for C Lee, they added P.J. “thrown out of the NCAA” Hairston. Then to pair with Matt “I don’t find the term Eskimo Brothers funny at all” Barnes at the wing, they add Lance “worst contract ever” Stephenson. I could see this ending like the elevator lobby scene in The Departed.
Jeff Green – Moves to the Clippers, giving them a little more depth at PF. It’s overall a sizable hit on consistency though, as he will split some run with Paul Pierce. The Truth is I’ve never bought into Green anyway since burning me that year he was supposed to break out on the Celtics…
Brian Roberts – Got traded twice in two days, ending up on the Heat to play some marginal backup PG minutes. Yawn. Actually ended up in Portland… Did he get traded a third time?! I think I just messed up his timeline. Stupid Brian Roberts! Well with the Blazers, he fills a huge G depth need, and if Portland falls out of the race and Damian Lillard‘s plantar fascia flares up again, he could get some late starts. Super deep league depth only.
Jarnell Stokes – Heat traded him to the Pelicans. Gut reaction, “he’s still in the NBA?!”
Kirk Hinrich – Traded to Hotlanta. So much for team loyalty! Although I have no idea why the Bulls held onto him so long anyway… He looks like a rabbit. Bulls in turn get Justin Holiday, Slim’s ex-boyfriend.
Yikes, pretty sure that’s each and every trade. More cowbell! At least we got some NBA action again… Finally! Here’s what went down last night:
John Wall – Boooooo, couldn’t score 30 last night! The Wiz waltzed to a win against the Jazz in that make-up game from the blizzard cancellation like a month ago, in the start of a back-to-back-to-back. Yet they get a roster makeover during it!
Bradley Beal – Came off the bench and scored 16 in 24 minutes. I’m just happy they’re scaling down the run during this heavy 3-day stretch!
Marcin Gortat – When you think of a matchup against the Jazz, you don’t normally expect the Ten Foot Pole being the defensive-stat monger! 22/10/0/2/5, getting as many blocks as Utah did combined.
Rudy Gobert – 16/12/2/1/1, scoring in double-digits in 8 straight. Of course we want the sexier 6 or 7 blocks, but Monsieur Elbow is still bringing some goods!
Derrick Favors – Foul trouble and butterfingers limited his night, going 11/5/1/0/2 with 4 fouls and 4 TO in only 22 minutes. Hey, let’s just hope he spent this break getting a new bed for his back issues! Change that Tempur-Pedic setting to 11!
Derrick Rose – Came out strong when virtually the rest of the Bulls looked injured. Oxymoronic! 28/7/2/1/0 with a couple of treys shooting 11-19.
Bobby Portis – 26 minutes off the bench, and second most shots for Chicago. 13/10/1/0/0 with 2 TO and 4 fouls. Not exactly a shimmering performance, and he still looks to have a little too much “aggressive-rawness” (aka crazy eyes!) but I think he’s still worth adding in 12ers even with no Pau Gasol trade and Taj Gibson ending up not missing time.
LeBron James – Came out of the break strong with a tripdub flirt. Abusing that Mike Dunleavy defense!
Kevin Love – Ends up not traded, which probably sucks for fantasy owners. 15/15/2/0/1 is fine and all, but still only 29:31 mins and 10 shots.
Tristan Thompson – In a rare multi-cat effort, 16/10/0/3/2, shooting 8-10 from the floor. Who’s letting TT get his 4th-6th career steals like that?!
Kawhi Leonard – Ahhhhhhh! To the frustration of his owners – i.e. me in the REL – sits last night due to a “sore calf”. Hey buddy, why’d you play in that epicly meaningless All-Star Game then?! Sounds more like a rest for the b2b. Poop! I mean Pop! Pop is poop!
Rest of the Spurs – Yawwwnnnnn! Played like a metaphor for the trade deadline. Tony Parker “led” all scorers with a measly 14, no one had over 6 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL or 1 BLK.
Chris Paul – One of several guys to attent Monty Williams’ wife’s funeral, had a big outpouring in the second half going 28/5/12. Abusing that Tony Parker defense!
Jamal Crawford – 19 Pts with 6 Ast, but 7 TO?!?!?! Felt like me playing basketball this morning, I got called for two travels! Both were so iffy, but I don’t care enough to yell at people. I need to embody Joakim Noah yelling at the refs!
Thanks everyone for dropping by, and let’s get pumped for the second half of the season! Which is more like the final 1/3 of the season, but ya know… Have a great weekend, Razzball Nation!
