[Izulde]

Trade season is officially here. But before things get started, we treat Boston to a 16 point beatdown keyed by Monte Morris's 23 points and 2 steals, Steven Adams' quiet 14 points, 10 boards, and a rip-roaring 19 points, 6 rebounds, and a steal in just 17 minutes from Gary Harris. Talk about a phenomenal per 36 line.

Fans in Orlando got treated to a real barnburner. The Magic blew a 21 point lead to have us snipe the win in OT, 111-109. Monte Morris scored 23 with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, a block, and 4 steals. Pat Connaughton scored 15 off the bench (Jason Minor has moved into the starting PF role in our constant rotation at the 4), Cody Martin put up 13, and Gary Harris 12.

35 points and 9 assists from Monte Morris power us to 114-103 win in Indiana, Steven Adams supporting with a 10 point, 14 rebound double-double. Nerlens Noel is a swat machine with 4 blocks off the bench. The other side of the B2B is in Toronto, where our defense holds the Raptors to just 86 points, Cody Martin, Cory Joseph, and Gary Harris all score 10 with the second team, Steven Adams is PotG with 23 points, 12 rebounds, a block, and 2 steals, and Monte Morris keeps pouring in buckets with 24 points.

I'll review the other trades next time, but on deadline day, we pull off a shocker.

Charlotte Hornets receive
Jimmy Butler

Miami Heat receive
Nemanja Bjelica
Gary Harris
Cory Joseph (Cut)

What this means for the Hornets
Charlotte lacked a true star they could run the offense through, though Monte Morris and Steven Adams have been doing what they can. The addition of the 31 year old Butler completely changes that, giving them a tour de force to reckon with. Yes, the contract is ugly especially two years from now when he's 33 and has no doubt picked up his almost $40 million player option. But for a team that wants to make some playoff noise, he's an absolute gold find without giving up too much.

What this means for the Heat
Butler was mighty unhappy. At 18-37, Miami was going nowhere this season and didn't last year, either. They shed themselves of a toxic contract, though they'll eat $12.6 million in cap space next year by cutting Joseph. Bejlica gives them $7.5 million expiring and a three-position 6th man for the frontcourt, who can shoot 3s and play solid D. Harris is still just 26 and one of the league's best defenders. He can also be a $20 million expiring contract next season. Essentially, this was a cap move. The Heat will be absolutely loaded with space this summer and can hope to find a star like the Atlanta Hawks did with Anthony Davis. And they got younger.

Winner: Charlotte
Bjelica and Harris for Butler is an absolute steal for the Hornets, especially since they got Joseph back on a one year min-sal. But you can't discount the financial freedom and happier locker room the Heat gets from this move. For right now, Charlotte wins this deal going away in terms of pure value. But if Miami finds the right guy with their flush cap space, this can upgrade into a Both victory.

In addition to re-signing Joseph on a vet minsal, we grabbed Rodney Purvis off the street on a minsal to get to the minimum 12 players. And there's still a little cap wiggle room to add a player if injuries strike.

Jimmy Butler's debut is a beauty - 22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, a block and a steal as we rout Brooklyn, yes, Brooklyn 110-89. Great to get that monkey off our back. 13 points, 11 rebound by Steven Adams, 16 bench points from Cody Martin, and 13 bench points via Pat Connaughton.

Jimmy Butler stalks closer to a triple double with 21 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals in a 20 point smashing of the Bucks in Milwaukee. Cody Martin scored 19 with 7 assists, 2 steals, and a block off the bench, and Xavier Smith had a great night himself - 12 points, 5 assists. Nice to see the rookie do something.

The winning ends with a solid road loss in New York, but oh well. We're still 6-1 so far this month and have been scorching hot.

All-Star Weekend
Slam Dunk Champion: Rui Hachimura (WAS) - 72
3 Point Champion: Steph Curry (GSW) - 21, destroying Otto Porter Jr's 16 and Joe Ingles' 14

The Sophomores have an easy time against the Rookies, 156-143, with Kendrick Nunn's 29 points earning him MVP. Jason Minor played 7 minutes for 2 points.

28 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks earned Anthony Davis MVP in the East's 157-147 win over the weakened West. We had no representation, but Kemba Walker was voted starting PG for the East. He's having a phenomenal season.

The All-Star festivities out of the way, we lose a crucial game to Chicago on the front end of a B2B, still unable to solve them. The back end is a narrow 105-104 home win vs Washington. Monte Morris pours in 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, Steven Adams nets 10/18/4 blocks, Cody Martin rips off 22 bench points, and Cory Joseph scores 12. Awful 7 of 24 night from Jimmy Butler.

It's ugly because Monte Morris is out with a calf injury, but we grit out a 91-77 win vs the Raptors on Jimmy Butler's 29 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals and Cody Martin's 13 bench points.

B2B to end the month. Leg 1: 111-107 W in Detroit, courtesy of Steven Adams (23 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal), Cody Martin (21 points), and Xavier Smith (18 points!) Leg 2: Embarrassing 10 point home loss to the Suns due to the refs giving them a 36-22 FTA. Such BS. Also a Cody Martin injury.

Still, we're 38-24, sitting in the 4th seed by a half-game over Orlando. 2nd in Southeast, just 2 games back of the Atlanta Hawks. We're almost certainly guaranteed to lock up a winning season this year, though we got nettled by injuries in the second half of the month. And we're 5-2 in the Jimmy Butler era. I feel like this team is a lot more talented now. Not as deep at the wing spots obviously and JB is prone to some inconsistency, but this feels like a roster that could legitimately make some noise in the postseason, whereas last year, the talent gap was huge.