Busy weekend of trades shows teams not waiting for trade deadline
Jul 23, 2018 17:51:25 GMT
👨🏼⚕️delapandemic🚑 and skrouse like this
Post by TimPig on Jul 23, 2018 17:51:25 GMT
Steven E. Schmidt
ESPN2 The Magazine
Shuttlesworth heads to Orlando amid legal troubles
The trade deadline is still weeks out, but that didn't stop multiple contenders from shoring up perceived holes on their rosters.
The weekend kicked off with the blockbuster trade that saw the Los Angeles Clippers send Jake Shuttlesworth to the Orlando Magic in exchange for two future first round draft picks and third big man Udoka Azubuike.
Rumors indicate that the trade may have happened weeks earlier, but Azubuike was the big sticking point.
"I kept telling him that L.A. teams can have success with big men who can't shoot free throws," said Magic GM J-SON Skrouse. "(Clippers GM) Fason didn't really bite on that logic, so we had to throw in an extra first."
The Clippers, currently sitting in second place in the Western Conference and considered a legitimate contender, were expected to wait until the offseason to unload the 34-year-old Shuttlesworth, who is having yet another exceptional season and has been one of the league's most consistent contributors.
However, there are rumors circulating about Shuttlesworth's future eligibility as he is reportedly under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department following a domestic dispute.
The Magic did not comment on the allegations except to say that they believe being so close to Disney World and Universal Studios will do wonders for Shuttlesworth's off the court behavior.
Bing gets his wish, sends Templeton to Phoenix
Never to be outdone, once Sacramento Kings President of Basketball Operations Killy Bing got wind of the blockbuster between Los Angeles and Orlando, he almost immediately pulled the trigger on a deal he had been negotiating with the Phoenix Suns and GM Anne D. Luck.
In exchange for all-star center Stephon Templeton, the Kings received power forward Alex Reese, 24, and point guard Quade Green, 24, as well as two first round draft picks and cash considerations.
"With predictions being suspended this year, I needed some way to get a hot cash injection," said Bing via his SM-N920G using Tapatalk. "That's literally why I made this trade. Alex Reese on the block. Quade Green on the block."
"Also elite point guard Jalen Brunson isn't on the block because of how elite he is on a great contract but I'll trade him for expiring salaries."
Templeton, 31, is one of the best two-way bigs in the league but was a bit older than the rest of the Kings' core. He'll join one of TMBSL's other great two-way big men, Hakeem Olajuwon, on a Phoenix team with title aspirations.
"Suns are STACKED," commented one anonymous Eastern Conference general manager. "But as long as they're paying MIN Zaslofsky a MAX contract their ceiling is at MAX the Western Conference Finals."
Knicks add another aging wing who can't score
The same anonymous GM quoted above swapped a couple of minor assets to provide some more perimeter defense, acquiring Eligin Baylor from division rival Harlem in exchange for a second round draft pick, Kendall Stephens, and cash considerations.
"(We) could scare some teams if we get in. Our point differential says we should be better," said Globetrotters team president Dunn Ward. "Adding a worse wing player and a second round pick is going to be what vaults us back into the playoff picture."
"DEFENSE and EXPERIENCE are what win championships," Knicks general manager Eric Hofdolan said in a story published by The Monroe Square Garden Times. "Our problem is that Firsto Picko is too young. In eight years he'll be hitting his prime at 35. By then, Stan Haynes will be 43, Quincy McCall will be 41, George Mikan will be 38, and Eligin will be 44."
"You think I didn't have this all planned out?"
Mavericks add a backup wing but don't address the point
At this point, it appears the Mavericks are headed into the stretch run with Jon Elmore running the point. They sent one of their most valuable assets in their 2007 first round pick, as well as Jordan McLaughlin, once expected to be the team's savior, in exchange for backup wing Tevin Mack.
Rumors are that the same package could have been exchanged for Brunson from the Kings, but Mavs GM D. Lap Throws felt that backup wing was a more pressing need at the time.
"The Mavs are out of the market," said Throws when asked if he might look to make any more moves.
"We were worried that our title window would close before we even managed to win a playoff round," commented Throws. "This is it. This is the deal that will keep that title window open and win us a playoff round. Or maybe even TWO playoff rounds."
"We've always believed in Jon Elmore," concluded Throws before ending the press conference.
ESPN2 The Magazine
Shuttlesworth heads to Orlando amid legal troubles
The trade deadline is still weeks out, but that didn't stop multiple contenders from shoring up perceived holes on their rosters.
The weekend kicked off with the blockbuster trade that saw the Los Angeles Clippers send Jake Shuttlesworth to the Orlando Magic in exchange for two future first round draft picks and third big man Udoka Azubuike.
Rumors indicate that the trade may have happened weeks earlier, but Azubuike was the big sticking point.
"I kept telling him that L.A. teams can have success with big men who can't shoot free throws," said Magic GM J-SON Skrouse. "(Clippers GM) Fason didn't really bite on that logic, so we had to throw in an extra first."
The Clippers, currently sitting in second place in the Western Conference and considered a legitimate contender, were expected to wait until the offseason to unload the 34-year-old Shuttlesworth, who is having yet another exceptional season and has been one of the league's most consistent contributors.
However, there are rumors circulating about Shuttlesworth's future eligibility as he is reportedly under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department following a domestic dispute.
The Magic did not comment on the allegations except to say that they believe being so close to Disney World and Universal Studios will do wonders for Shuttlesworth's off the court behavior.
Bing gets his wish, sends Templeton to Phoenix
Never to be outdone, once Sacramento Kings President of Basketball Operations Killy Bing got wind of the blockbuster between Los Angeles and Orlando, he almost immediately pulled the trigger on a deal he had been negotiating with the Phoenix Suns and GM Anne D. Luck.
In exchange for all-star center Stephon Templeton, the Kings received power forward Alex Reese, 24, and point guard Quade Green, 24, as well as two first round draft picks and cash considerations.
"With predictions being suspended this year, I needed some way to get a hot cash injection," said Bing via his SM-N920G using Tapatalk. "That's literally why I made this trade. Alex Reese on the block. Quade Green on the block."
"Also elite point guard Jalen Brunson isn't on the block because of how elite he is on a great contract but I'll trade him for expiring salaries."
Templeton, 31, is one of the best two-way bigs in the league but was a bit older than the rest of the Kings' core. He'll join one of TMBSL's other great two-way big men, Hakeem Olajuwon, on a Phoenix team with title aspirations.
"Suns are STACKED," commented one anonymous Eastern Conference general manager. "But as long as they're paying MIN Zaslofsky a MAX contract their ceiling is at MAX the Western Conference Finals."
Knicks add another aging wing who can't score
The same anonymous GM quoted above swapped a couple of minor assets to provide some more perimeter defense, acquiring Eligin Baylor from division rival Harlem in exchange for a second round draft pick, Kendall Stephens, and cash considerations.
"(We) could scare some teams if we get in. Our point differential says we should be better," said Globetrotters team president Dunn Ward. "Adding a worse wing player and a second round pick is going to be what vaults us back into the playoff picture."
"DEFENSE and EXPERIENCE are what win championships," Knicks general manager Eric Hofdolan said in a story published by The Monroe Square Garden Times. "Our problem is that Firsto Picko is too young. In eight years he'll be hitting his prime at 35. By then, Stan Haynes will be 43, Quincy McCall will be 41, George Mikan will be 38, and Eligin will be 44."
"You think I didn't have this all planned out?"
Mavericks add a backup wing but don't address the point
At this point, it appears the Mavericks are headed into the stretch run with Jon Elmore running the point. They sent one of their most valuable assets in their 2007 first round pick, as well as Jordan McLaughlin, once expected to be the team's savior, in exchange for backup wing Tevin Mack.
Rumors are that the same package could have been exchanged for Brunson from the Kings, but Mavs GM D. Lap Throws felt that backup wing was a more pressing need at the time.
"The Mavs are out of the market," said Throws when asked if he might look to make any more moves.
"We were worried that our title window would close before we even managed to win a playoff round," commented Throws. "This is it. This is the deal that will keep that title window open and win us a playoff round. Or maybe even TWO playoff rounds."
"We've always believed in Jon Elmore," concluded Throws before ending the press conference.
