[Izulde]

Dallas Mavericks receive
PG Craig Shehan
Portland Trailblazers 2028 2nd round pick

Portland Trailblazers receive
C Tony Ross
PF Brian Lewis

What this means for the Mavericks
Shehan can steal the ball and that's about it. He can't guard anyone, can't score points and at 35, isn't a very good passer anymore. A min-sal contract isn't anything to get excited about either. Worse yet, he's cutting into rookie Kenyatta Bennett's playing time.

What this means for the Trailblazers
Ross and Lewis are both 24 year old 2nd round picks, with little value, though Lewis serves as a defensive specialist. Unfortunately, he's also last and least on the Blazers bench.

Winner: Portland
A yawner of a trade, but at least Portland gets a player of marginal role value in Lewis.

I forgot to mention that at the beginning of last month, I sent Ferdinand Kallenberger down to Bakersfield, because he simply wasn't able to fight for much playing time after we acquired Ronnie Fry. He's the starting SF for the Otters and in 8 starts, he's averaging 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals. Hopefully the seasoning down in the D-Leagues will prep him to take a more active role next year.

Our first two games of the New Year are on the road and it's an Atlantic split. The Knicks humiliate us 110-84 holding us to 26 points in the second half. Not a good way to respond to Filip Svorada's 34 points or Ronnie Fry's 18 points and 10 rebounds, the only two Kings in double-digit figures. The Raptors are much more hospitable the next night and we beat them 113-104 behind Ronnie Fry's 27 points, David Anyan's 21 points and what is arguably Jim "Twizzler" Johnson's best game as a pro, good for 16 points and 21 rebounds. Terrence Howard scores 10 off the bench.

Another road doubleheader and the first one's a vicious battle in Atlanta. Oswaldo Apolonario abuses us for 40 points and 14 rebounds and Antonio Sarchet blasts us for 23 points and 10 rebounds. We withstand the nasty Hawks second half rally though and escape with a 105-100 win. Filip Svorada and William Tackett combine for 23 and 21 points and Nigel Abel and Justin Cherry each score 10 points to lead the reserves. Terrence Howard hauls in 11 bench rebounds. But the victory comes at a terrible price as Ronnie Fry breaks his leg and is out for a month and a half. And yet we hammer the Hornets 116-95 the next night as David Anyan scores 33, Terrence Howard makes a triumphant return to the starting lineup with 22 points and 11 rebounds and Filip Svorada is everywhere with 25 points, 13 assists and 5 steals.

The Nuggets blow us out 100-77 despite David Anyan's 23 points and Brandon Edmond's 10 bench points. 38.8% shooting just isn't going to cut it. I hate losing to Denver.

But then our defense stiffens up in the fourth quarter, allowing us to beat the Jazz 107-94. David Anyan scores 25, Jim Johnson doubles for 12 points and 14 rebounds, William Tackett scores 22, Filip Svorada dishes out 10 points and 15 assists and Brandon Edmond chips in 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

We pick up another win, 112-90, against the Clippers as Filip Svorada rises for 26 points and 12 assists, Jim Johnson scores 25, Terrence Howard pulls in 16 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks and Brandon Edmond leads the second team with 11 points.

Another doubleheader, this one a sweep. The Clippers get destroyed 114-87 on David Anyan's 29 points, Jim Johnson's 23 points and 12 rebounds and Terrence Howard's 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. Our 124-95 stomping of the Traiblazers is keyed by David Anyan (24 points), Terrence Howard (16 points, 12 rebounds), and Nigel Abel's 13 bench points as the 6th King to score 13 or more.

I'm not sure why these Fry-less Kings is finding ways to win where we didn't at the beginning of the year without him, but we roll the Cavaliers 116-95 as David Anyan heats up for 32 points, Filip Svorada grabs 26 points and 10 assists and Jim Johnson scores 20.

Look gift horse in mouth, get bitten. We lose 99-92 to the Spurs, unable to complete a comeback. Nice 25 points from David Anyan, 18 points and 10 rebounds from Jim Johnson and 10 bench points from Brandon Edmond, but we had shooting woes most of the night, especially in the second quarter.

I'm really wishing I'd kept my mouth shut as the Nets demolish us 132-110. What good is 20 points from David Anyan and reserve Nigel Abel along with Filip Svorada's 16 points and 14 assists when all five New Jersey starters score at least 16 points? Ugh.

Ironic that an away back-to-back stops the bleeding, but it does. 124-98 in San Antonio as David Anyan scores 29, Filip Svorada blitzes for 23 points and 16 assists, Nigel Abel scores 16 off the bench, Brandon Edmond mixing in 8 points and 10 rebounds. Balance nets us a 106-86 win in Houston the next evening, with double-doubles from Jim Johnson (18 points, 13 rebounds), Terrence Howard (16 points, 13 rebounds), Filip Svorada (11 points, 18 assists) and Brandon Edmond (12 points, 11 rebounds off bench). Factor in William Tackett's 22 points and Nigel Abel's 11 bench points and you have the makings of a comfortable victory.

114-88 over Minnesota on the strength of William Tackett's 23 points, David Anyan's 21 points, Filip Svorada's 13 points and 14 assists and 3 bench players in double digits: Justin Cherry with 11 points and Nigel Abel and Brandon Edmond with 10 points each.

I'm thrilled with the 130-87 stunning of the Sonics on the front end of a doubleheader, not least because Brandon Edmond rockets off the bench for 27 points, just 3 off his career high. David Anyan and William Tackett combine for 25 and 24 points and Filip Svorada repeats his 13 point, 14 assist line from last game. Unfortunately, we end the month on a down note, losing 117-103 in Oakland. The 61-44 halftime deficit was too much for us to overcome, even with 24 points a piece from David Anyan and Filip Svorada, the latter adding 10 assists besides.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with how we've handled ourselves since losing Ronnie Fry. 10-4 after his injury isn't a magnificient record by any means, but I'll take it. 31-14, with a slender lead of just half a game on the Suns right now. On the flip side, we're ever closer to catching up to the 33-14 Mavericks and even a half-game ahead of the 30-14 Grizzlies. Much to my annoyance, the Jazz, whose 1st rounder we hold, are leading the Northwest at 27-19, even though the Nuggets, Sonics and Trailblazers are all just a game behind. Still, like I said, it's a golden era for the NBA and if the playoffs were held today, 25-22 San Antonio would be sitting home.

How strange it is to see 29-15 Indiana and 30-16 Detroit as the class of the East, deadlocked atop the Central. 24-22 earns Toronto a 2 game lead on the Celtics and Knicks in the Atlantic, while 23-21 is enough for the Wizards to stay a game in front of the Hawks. Tons of parity in the East this year, although it's worth noting that the fourth place team in the Central, the 23-20 Bulls, would be the leaders in the other two divisions.

Still, a group of stellar teams in one conference and rampant parity in the other is good for the league and the fans. Allows you to watch both quality and competitive basketball.

23 days until Ronnie Fry comes back. Thank God for the short month and the All-Star break coming up.