Author: Stephen Hale (Page 11 of 22)

After last years “dud” of a trade deadline, I figured we would be in for another dud this year. With the CBA being what it is, the days of owners trading players like marbles are long since gone. That being said, the current CBA has a clause that will allow for reconstruction, if both the players and owners agree they are ready to renegotiate. After the crazy finish in the last 45 minutes approaching today’s deadline, I think we are headed for new negotiations.

As for the defending champs, our beloved San Antonio Spurs?

Crickets. Nothing. Probably didn’t even pick up the phone. I wonder if R.C. Buford even takes days like today seriously. The Spurs only made one move today and it was hilarious. It’s a head scratcher, but as a Spurs fan, you can’t help but just laugh. In the immediate future, guys like Kendrick Perkins, Larry Saunders, and Shawne Williams will be added to the list of names that are available to join a team and be eligible for the playoffs. Today the Spurs finalized their roster by signing their 15th and final player. And it wasn’t Ray Allen.

Reggie Williams has been signed for the remainder of the season after logging just 11 minutes for the Spurs. Eleven. That’s one more than 10, but not even a full quarter. In three games. In his sixth go-round playing in the NBA. Hmmm. I don’t get it either. Perhaps Pop and RC know something that we don’t.

Oh well. I guess there’s a first time for everything.

That being said, let’s take a look at the rest of the shenanigans that took place this afternoon and see what it all means.

Philadelphia acquires: C JaVale McGee, 2015 Oklahoma City first-round pick (top-18 protected), rights to F Chukwudiebere Maduabum
Denver acquires: Rights to G/F Cenk Akyol

No one is happier than Joel Embid. Rumor has it that Joel Embid plays for the Sixers, but he currently has played the same amount of games that JaVale McGee has. McGee is a long, long, LONG 5-man who never seems to realize exactly how long he is. There is never any shortage of McGee footage on Shaqtin’ A Fool, but the more interesting part of this trade is the 1st round pick heading to Philly, compliments of OKC. More on that in a minute.

Sacramento acquires: PG Andre Miller
Washington acquires: PG Ramon Sessions

Great move here. I love the idea that a group of young players in Washington are coming together with a blend of experience. The headache in the capital has clearly been the oldest player in the NBA, who refuses to admit that he is the oldest player in the NBA. Andre Miller is 37 days older than Tim Duncan. He acts like he is 37 years younger. Sessions in Washington is going to be a great fit for a group who wants to win. He’s going to complement that tempo of basketball and he’s not going to complain about playing time. Andre can go to Sacramento and fit right in with a team who is already in chaos. Their players are nuts, their owner is nuts and their city doesn’t deserve them. Andre should blend in well.

Houston acquires: PG K.J. McDaniels
Philadelphia acquires: PG Isaiah Canaan and second-round pick

I really like this deal, too. K.J. McDaniels is a fun player to watch and his career just got saved from being buried in Philly for the next couple years. Sure they are rebuilding, we all know this. But guys like McDaniels get mixed up in that mess and then they tear an ACL and fade off into the darkness and we never hear from them again. K.J. will never be an All-Star, but he can get some good opportunities outside of Philly to develop as a player. Interesting part of this trade? Philly gets a 2nd round pick. Hold on…

Houston acquires: PG Pablo Prigioni
New York acquires: G: Alexey Shved and two second-round picks

This trade doesn’t make sense, unless I am right about the last one. Daryl Morey would never be able to show his face around Charles Barkley if the “analytics” on McDaniels don’t work out. Prigioni came into the league on the back-nine. Sure there are some salary implications here, but basically, Houston just gave up three second round draft picks for a 38 year old, 2nd year player. That sounds like some serious faith in something that we are all missing. “ANALYTICS.”

Portland acquires: SG Arron Afflalo, SF Alonzo Gee
Denver acquires: PF Thomas Robinson, SG Will Barton, PF Victor Claver, 2016 first-round pick (lottery protected)

Deal of the day right here. Afflalo is a perfect fit for Portland and will instantly improve that backcourt. Afflalo can start or come off the bench and, word is, he doesn’t mind either. He will fit nicely with Lillard. Gee is a nice throw-in as well. Of all the deals that got done today, this is the one that Spurs fans should keep a close eye on and see how it develops.

Denver also made out like gang-busters by snagging Robinson (who I think would look great in a Spurs uniform one day) and Will Barton. The 1st rounder is nice too.

Boston acquires: PG Isaiah Thomas (from Suns), PF Jonas Jerebko and SF Luigi Datome (from Pistons)
Phoenix acquires: SG Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first-round pick
Detroit acquires: SF Tayshaun Prince (from Celtics)

Good grief. Now it gets fun. Boston is basically a revolving door right now. I feel bad for Isaiah Thomas. Too good of a player to have to go to a team like the Celtics right now. Danny Ainge is like a kid in a candy store. Shades of Rick Pitino. I thought Thornton was a good asset to have. If I thought Thomas would stay in Boston, I’d say this is a good deal for both teams, but who knows with Danny.

Phoenix, however, had to trade Thomas, especially after shopping him twice earlier in the year. They got some good-ish value back for him, I guess. But the way they finished out the day just doesn’t make sense to me. What those guys are doing down there in Phoenix requires adult supervision.

As for Detroit, what can you say? Prince and the farewell tour? Poor guy. He’s never been the same since he separated from the Wallace brothers. I wish him well. He would have been a great Spur.

Detroit acquires: PG Reggie Jackson (from Thunder)
Oklahoma City acquires: C Enes Kanter (from Jazz), SF Steve Novak (from Jazz), PG D.J. Augustin (from Pistons), SF Kyle Singler (from Pistons)
Utah acquires: Kendrick Perkins (from Thunder), PF Grant Jerrett (from Thunder), rights to Tibor Pleiss, draft picks

I am not an NBA GM. I’ve never dealt with multi-million dollar employees and I don’t know if I could pass the bar exam. But look, this may be the dumbest trade I have ever seen, and not on OKC’s side. OKC won this trade by a landslide, but make no mistake, they are still a mess.

I said from day one that the Waiters trade would be a disaster, and it has been. Obviously someone had to go and the Thunder are too emotional to break up the High-Schoolers. That leaves Reggie Jackson as the odd man out. He heads to Detroit, which I think is a decent fit for him. It’s also great for Spurs fans, because Reggie just destroyed the Spurs last season. (He averaged 21 points, 3.25 rebounds, 4.5 assists in four regular season games; 12 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3 assists in six playoff games.) Parker can’t exactly guard Westbrook, but he doesn’t get much of a break with Reggie. Same with CoJo. Nice to see the backup turn into D.J. Augustin.

Detroit sends a much better fit in D.J. Augustin to OKC, as well as Kyle Singler. I’d love the Singler part, but he’s just going to be another shooter who needs shots, but won’t get them since Russ thinks he is better than KD, Waiters wants to prove LeBron wrong and Ibaka wants to shoot threes now. Same with Novak. Same with Enes Kanter. Oh that’s a terrible decision! Have you seen him in Utah? He loves 20 foot jumpers. 20 foot jumpers? Come on, man! They did dump Perkins though, so Spurs fans can rejoice in that fact. Utah gets Perk, but he will be bought out before the 10 o’clock news. Utah got a couple draft picks, sure, but this whole thing is a mess. If there is any consolation in this for OKC, it’s that Reggie and Perk were gone at the end of the season. Now they got something for them. Maybe that’s what they were thinking.

Phoenix acquires: PG Brandon Knight (from Bucks)
Milwaukee acquires: PG Michael Carter-Williams (from 76ers), C Miles Plumlee (from Suns), PG Tyler Ennis (from Suns)
Philadelphia acquires: Draft picks

So you trade two starting point guards and a big man, and you get Brandon Knight? I like Brandon. But Brandon and Thomas together would have been epic. This move doesn’t make sense for me because he doesn’t pair well. Milwaukee did good on the Plumlee/Ennis part, but why they gave up Knight to get Carter-Williams is beyond me. I’ll take Knight over MCR any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

And would you look at that? Philly gets more draft picks. This is nuts. I can’t believe I am going to have to explain to my son one day what “tanking” is. The Sixers are going to have a brand new team in 18 months. No one else should even be allowed to attend the draft. It’s basically going to be Boston and Philly with every other pick, except for the Lakers who will be waiting anxiously to make the wrong pick.

Miami acquires: PG Goran Dragic, SG Zoran Dragic
Phoenix acquires: SF Danny Granger, C Justin Hamilton and two first-round picks

Ha. Miami. Pat Riley just hates draft picks, doesn’t he? I guess when you are Pat Riley you don’t need rookies. It’s actually a great deal for Miami. Dragic comes in and gives them something fun and completes a pretty legit starting five. Granted, the SpursDynasty could probably beat their bench by 13 if there was a running clock and no dunking, but still. Miami got a bit better. Danny Granger can now go to Phoenix, which is exactly what he needs: a team who thinks he is relevant again. Make no mistake, those clowns in Phoenix tried to play hardball with Goran, but he was holding the cards. Phoenix is lucky they got so much back for him. The Lakers are groaning right now. They were really hoping he wouldn’t be traded so they could sign him next year for a max deal. I’m pretty sure that Goran has Bird Rights though, so he’s probably going to stay in Miami for a while.

Minnesota acquires: PF Kevin Garnett
Brooklyn acquires: PF Thaddeus Young

Finally, we saw a fabulously romantic trade get turned into a joke when Minny and Brooklyn traded Young for Garnett straight up. We all wanted this career finale for Kevin. The Big Ticket can go back to his beloved Target Center and have a grand farewell tour. Then about 20 minutes after the trade was announced, Minnesota says that now they want to extend him for two years. Huh? Ok. Now the trade is dumb. Thanks for clarifying for us. Thad Young is a nice player. Why would you trade for him and re-sign KG? I’m looking through my notes and I don’t get it. Young is going to fit nice with Brook Lopez… for the three months they play there before Lopez sprints for the door in the off season.

So that does it for the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline. Wild and Crazy. As a Spurs fan, I’m glad to see the team is still intact. There is definitely enough chemistry and experience, mixed with youth and fire, to get this team back to the Finals. The West is still stacked, but other than Portland, no one really got better, including Dallas. Time will tell what Reggie Williams turns into. I’m almost certain he is better than Austin Daye.

The Spurs return from the All-Star break tonight and continue the Rodeo Road Trip at the Clippers and then play the Warriors on Friday.

I can’t wait.

We now enter my favorite time of the year: February. February is my Christmas. No more baseball. No more football. Just basketball. The way life should be.

As a Spurs fan, it means:

• Cross your fingers and hope that once again Tim Duncan slaps Father Time in the teeth and gets voted in as an All-Star. Check.

• Listen to the boo-hooing and crying about the All-Star snubs, about who got in but shouldn’t have, yada yada yada. Look, I don’t think Durant should have gotten in, but I do think Kobe should have. How does that make sense? Because fans vote for the starters and coaches vote for reserves. Fans are emotional. No way is Kobe making an All-Star team if he isn’t voted in by fans, and I think the fans know it. Also, I think Durant got in because he is the reigning MVP. Consider it a courtesy vote by the coaches.

You want to complain? Complain about DeMarcus Cousins getting selected to replace Kobe instead of Damian Lillard. That is almost criminal. Don’t agree with me? Go watch the Vine clip of Boogie Cousins playing defense, if that’s what you want to call it. Hands on his knees and on the high-side of his defender, as if that makes any sense. Steph Curry tosses a lob from out of bounds and Boogies’ man catches and dunks it. Boogie never even moves. His hands are still on his knees. THAT is the exact reason why coaches didn’t vote that guy in. Mistake one for Commissioner Adam Silver. Give me Damian Lillard over eMarcus Cousins any day of the week and twice on Sundays (I know I spelled his name like that, but he doesn’t have any “D”).

• Find a way to suffer through the week or so of NBA basketball from the time the All-Stars are announced to the actual All-Star Weekend. This might be the worst basketball week of the year. Players are basically checked out, just trying to make it to the weekend off.

• Enjoy the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge, the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest (repeat Marco!) and Degree Shooting Stars event more than the Sprite Slam Dunk contest.

The Slam Dunk contest may be the saddest part of the entire All-Star weekend. The NBA took something created by the ABA that was perfect and just flat-out ruined it. It’s like they said, “Hey, you know how the dunk contest is perfect? Well, we need to go ahead and destroy that. Less people, fewer dunks, but more attempts at dunks. And if you miss a dunk 318 times, you can still win! Yeah, that will work.” Thanks again, David Stern. Oh, but someone jumped over a car in 2011! Pffff.. he jumped over the hood of a Kia and had a choir. Can you even remember last year’s dunk contest? Me neither.

• Enjoy possibly one of the best weeks of basketball which isn’t during the playoffs, when players have been rejuvenated and rested. Personally, I enjoy watching three types of player attitudes after the All-Star break:

1. The “Please trade for me. Look how good I am” attitude.
2. The “Please don’t trade me. Look how good I am” attitude.
3. The “My old team traded me. Look how good I am” attitude.

• Eagerly await the trade deadline: February 19. As a Spurs fan, I have learned over the years that rarely do the Spurs make a big splash. The moves around the league interest me more, not because I think that teams get better by the Trade Deadline, but because I think they get worse. Trade Deadline moves often seem desperate and, unless you just really have that right guy with the right team in the right situation, often hurt a postseason push more than help it. Just my opinion. I was wrong once before.

• Anxiously await my favorite day of the year: March 1. This is the day teams can sign a player who can be eligible for the playoffs. I like this day better because teams usually sign more mature, veteran players and they sign them for a good price. I still never get my hopes up, but it’s always fun to observe from a distance.

• And of course, I skipped one, the most important one maybe: the ever important Rodeo Road Trip. It’s the Spurs most trying test of basketball the entire year. Nine straight road games and, this year, mostly against West Coast teams.

This year’s Rodeo Road Trip concerns me more than it has in other years. In the two games played last week against the Bucks and the Clippers, the Spurs really only played three quarters of good basketball. As Jeff pointed out, the Clippers just kicked the Spurs’ butt. That might have been one of the worst games the Spurs have played all year. It was bad from both a talent level and from an effort level. It reminds me of the “checked out before the All Star break” attitude I just talked about.

Not that the Milwaukee game was that much better, but you can get away with that kind of effort and execution against a Milwaukee team. The effort input comes easier because the talent output flows better. But against the Clippers, that isn’t the case and before you know it, you look up and you’re down by a “dub” early. As a fan, I can handle the month of December. But games like those drive me nuts.

I was at a birthday party on Saturday night and had plans to watch the game on my DVR later than night. It was a mystery dinner for my sister-in-law. Kinda fun. Kinda cheesy. Dan texted to inform me that the mystery dinner was probably more entertaining than the Spurs game. I watched later that night and he was right. (Side note: I actually really enjoyed the mystery dinner. I’m almost certain I encountered the doppelgangers of Erik Estrada and Liam Neeson. No doppelgangers reported at the Spurs game.)

The point is, this team still isn’t right. While this might not turn out to be the best Rodeo Road trip in recent years, it may prove to be the most important. Tony is hit-and-miss on any given night and we still don’t get much consistency from him.

Something’s just not right this year and only Tony knows what it is.

Our bigs at time look like Eastern Conference All-Stars and at other times like they wouldn’t make a D-League All-Star team.

Manu looks young, then he looks old. Then he looks like old. And then he looks old. Then he looks old. And then he looks old. Then young-old.

I’m pretty convinced the only team that can beat the Spurs now is the Spurs. But this road trip is going to have an effort output that is equal to the talent input. The Spurs will have to ask even more of their 38-year-old, 15-time All-Star, and more out of their 23-year-old future All-Star. Duncan and Kawhi have been the team’s saving grace this season and as we enter into the latter half, their consistency will be even more important while we all wait to see who else is going to join them.

Sitting at the number seven spot in the rankings, there isn’t much room for error. The Spurs are two full games behind Dallas, but three full games ahead of Phoenix. There is a lot of basketball left to play and still time to move up a couple spots, especially since no team in the West looks life-threatening (is that not the common phrase of every team not named Golden State right now?).

But before the Rodeo Road Trip, it would behoove the Spurs to remember that they have a game against Orlando and against Miami. Both are should wins.

Perhaps they should focus on that before they enjoy their weekend off.