[Izulde]

Milwaukee Bucks receive
C Eugene Whitmore

Toronto Raptors receive
SF Willie Larson
Milwaukee Bucks 2027 2nd round pick

What this means for the Bucks
Milwaukee needed a bench big who could play C and the 36 year old Whitmore more than capably fills that role. A shotblocking specialist and 7'3, 300 lbs, he's good enough at rebounding and scoring to be a valuable reserve. His expiring contract is also $500k more than Larson's.

What this means for the Raptors
Larson can play all five positions on the floor, but he's average in every single area of the game and he's not going to get any better at 35 years old.

Winner: Milwaukee
Toronto doesn't have a good bench C now and the Bucks do. The 2nd round pick won't be worth much, especially since this deal could help push Milwaukee to the Central division crown.

Miami Heat receive
SF Tariel Abashize

Washington Wizards receive
PG Tony Johnson

What this means for the Heat
The Estonian Abashize will be a franchise player someday, but the 19 year old isn't there yet. That said, he goes from being a reserve with the Wizards to a starter with the Heat and Miami now has an absolutely scary lineup for the future: Teddy Harriman (25), Vladimir Raschupchin (23), Abashize (19), Chad Dobbins (26) and Victor Gipson (30). Dobbins is the weak player in the link, but it's still a frightening starting five, one that foreshadows a rise as meteoric as that of the Suns.

What this means for the Wizards
21 year old Johnson will be good someday, but never great and certainly not on the level of Abashize. Leland Peterson and Bernard Legans have a stranglehold on the starting guard spots and so Johnson will continue to come off the bench. If he stays chained, he may never reach his full potential, though he obviously has a lot of years to go yet.

Winner: Miami
What a sensational past couple of years it's been for the Heat as they've got their front office sorted out and are one of the most promising young teams in the league. They get another piece of the puzzle here and the Wizards fans should be calling for blood.

New Jersey Nets receive
SF Chauncey Harris

New York Knicks receive
PG Sam Hamilton
New Jersey Nets 2027 1st round pick

What this means for the Nets
Harris may be 22 and able to play every spot but C, but he has no upside to speak of and is completely nondescript. On the other hand, he's extremely accurate in shooting in the limited number of minutes he's been given his first two and a half seasons in the league. Just one of many versatile bench players, only a young one.

What this means for the Knicks
33 year old Hamilton is a pretty good backup guard, just enough to be better than average. Of course, the real story here is the 1st round pick, which is looking like a mid-round selection at the moment.

Winner: New York
The first rounder tilts this one heavily in favor of the Knicks, as we actually like Hamilton better talentwise than Harris. Major overpayment by the Nets here.

Milwaukee Bucks receive
SF Ladrick Battle
Toronto Raptors 2027 2nd round pick

Toronto Raptors receive
PG R.T. Williams
PF Maurice Young

What this means for the Bucks
Milwaukee and Toronto complete their second trade of the month and the 26 year old Battle has some scoring and rebounding bench pop, but doesn't look like he'll ever be more than a respectable 6th man SG/F type. Still, there's value to be had in that.

What this means for the Raptors
Williams is terrible and will be out of the league by the time his rookie contract ends and Young fits the same bill.

Winner: Milwaukee
What's going on with Bryan Colangelo? That's two trades this month he's been swindled by the Bucks. Does Milwaukee have some blackmail goods on him? This is puzzling to see from a franchise normally known for its shrewd moves.

Milwaukee Bucks receive
PG Mark Martin

New York Knicks receive
SG Michael Blunt
Toronto Raptors 2027 2nd round pick

What this means for the Bucks
Martin can't play defense worth a lick, which is what chains him to the 12th man role, but as a scorer and passer, he's respectable enough as a reserve.

What this means for the Knicks
Blunt never was any good and at 36 years old, that isn't about to change. Even with Toronto's implosion, we're not so sure the 2nd rounder is worth it.

Winner: Milwaukee
Martin makes a better insurance policy at guard than Blunt and that's what decides this drab deal.

...And there was the flood of trades I'd been expecting. I'm still in amazement and disbelief over the Abashize/Johnson trade. What a perfect situation for my favorite Estonian to fall into, a starting spot with an upcoming team.

2027 begins with a split decision in a road doubleheader. We beat the Knicks 94-80 on Terrence Howard's 20 points and 11 rebounds, William Tackett's 19 points and 10 assists and Jim Johnson's 10 bench points, but the Raptors show they're not dead yet, spanking us 122-105. David Anyan whistled up 24 points against his old team, Terrence Howard put in 16 points and 11 rebounds, William Tackett got 15 points and 14 assists, and Jameel Williams scored 13 off the bench, but when Justin Richler slashes us for 39 points, that's hard to overcome.

Another nomad's back-to-back, another split. 108-101 win over Atlanta thanks to David Anyan's 35 points, William Tackett's 18 points and 13 assists and Jameel Williams's 10 bench points. But the Hornets continue to plague us, beating us 117-105 the next night as William Tackett's 18 points and 14 assists and Mike Vines and Jim Johnson combining for 11 and 10 points with the second team aren't enough.

I'm getting a little sick of Ronald King's inability to do much in games, so I go looking for a replacement. It doesn't take me long at all to find it.

Sacramento Kings receive
SG Nigel Abel
Toronto Raptors 2028 1st round pick

Toronto Raptors receive
SG Ronald King
PG Jameel Williams
SG Nyah Boyce

What this means for the Kings
GM Jestor is gunning for a title -NOW-, in what is likely Mateen Yeaton's last season. Enter Abel, his rival in scoring for years and one-time teammate. Don't let the fact that he's 36 or that he's only averaging 6.6 points a game fool you. Abel can still bring on the points, play solid defense and handle the ball. He was just backlogged in Toronto by Justin Richler. As for the first rounder, who knows what it'll be next season? Also, more playing time just opened up for Justin Cherry, a Jestor favorite.

What this means for the Raptors
Toronto cut Williams, who then re-signed with the Kings, so this becomes a matter of King and Boyce. King, who electrified and impressed people as a reserve with Denver and Sacramento, petered out as a starter in Sacramento. In Toronto, he'll return to his bench role, where he'll be an instant, consistent jolt of offense. How big a bust is Boyce as a rookie? So big the #12 overall pick got cut immediately after the trade as well. Whoever picks the rookie up will get a great defensive stopper at a cut-rate price of just under $400k.

Winner: Sacramento
Jestor fleeces the Raptors here, essentially turning this trade into King and Boyce for Abel and a 1st round pick. If he wanted to, he could make it an even bigger rout by returning his drafted rookie, but that would mean Mateen Yeaton's being moved to the inactive list, which he reportedly refuses to allow. What's even more amazing is that the Kings are just $295k over the cap despite the moves.

And that, boys and girls, is why I saved our cap space for a trade rather than blow it all in free agency.

Ironically enough, we play the Nuggets next and get off to a bad start, down 29-19, but we chip away at that lead and come back to win it 104-96. Despite our new addition, it's the usual suspects that lead us, as David Anyan scores 22, William Tackett doubles for 16 points and 12 assists and Jim Johnson zooms off the bench for 18 points, the same total scored by Nigel Abel in his Kings debut.

We crush the Jazz 110-79 in the next game on David Anyan's 24 points, Antonio Sarchet's 10 points and 10 rebounds, William Tackett's 15 points and 14 assists and Tzvetan Kishishev's 12 bench points. Nigel Abel repeats his 18 point performance, by the way.

Nigel Abel breaks the 20 point barrier in his third game with us at 22 and we steamroll the Clippers 109-81. David Anyan adds 16 points and 10 rebounds, Antonio Sarchet nets 14 points and 15 rebounds and Jim Johnson and Jameel Williams ignite the bench with 20 and 12 points respectively. Hell of a game by Dontay Williamson I have to say: 10 points, 22 rebounds and 8 blocks.

For the first time in the new year, we sweep a doubleheader. The revenge-minded Clippers go down in Los Angeles 114-110 as Nigel Abel shows he's still got, blistering the Red and White for 39 points. David Anyan scores 21 and Jim Johnson doubles for 15 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. The Traiblazers can't even make it a game the next night, blown out 106-85. David Anyan scores 27, William Tackett takes in 24 points and 13 assists, Terrence Howard squeezes in 13 points and 10 rebounds and Jim Johnson paces the bench with 11 points.

The Cavaliers throw everything they have at us, including Greg Oden at PF, but it doesn't matter. We beat them 123-114 as 4 Kings hit 20+ points: William Tackett (26), David Anyan (24), Antonio Sarchet (20) and Jim Johnson (22 off the bench). Throw in Terrence Howard's 13 points and 10 rebounds and Jameel Williams's 10 bench assists and you've got a tour de force that could challenge even the mighty Suns.

San Antonio has been hell for us ever since they got Damian Thomas, but while he blitzes us for 42 points, all five of our starters combine to form an unstoppable unit, a basketball Voltron, if you will, in our 120-103 win. David Anyan scores 28, Antonio Sarchet has 21 points and 13 rebounds, Terrence Howard grabs 20 points and 12 rebounds, Nigel Abel scores 24 and William Tackett forms the head with 14 points and 16 assists. I have to say, this is one of the most enjoyable games I've ever watched, either in Denver or in Sacramento and the DVD of this one is one I'll be playing repeatedly through the years.

The Nets come to town determined to rid us of our hot streak, but we outlast them to take it 126-116 in overtime. Antonio Sarchet's the man of the evening with 27 points and 14 rebounds, but David Anyan scores 21, Terrence Howard gathers up 17 points and 12 rebounds, Nigel Abel scores 23, William Tackett picks up 12 points and 10 assists and Jim Johnson roars off the bench for 17 points.

Our umpteenth road back-to-back this season? No problem! David Anyan not only scores 24 against the Spurs, but he does a great job in limiting Damian Thomas to 15 points on 5 of 15 shooting. Terrence Howard gets a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds and Jameel Williams leads the second team with 13 points as we top San Antonio 110-95. David Anyan buries the Rockets for 35 points in our 127-100 win, the support provided by Terrence Howard (21 points, 14 rebounds) and Nigel Abel (23 points).

But despite our winning, I can't be wholly happy. Mateen Yeaton hasn't gotten much playing time and a lot of games, he doesn't even see the floor, which is making him miserable. So I call Andre Miller and ask him, over the next month, to give Mateen some more minutes. He's dubious about it, but accepts my wishes.

We then lose our first game since the trade, 108-95 on the road against the Timberwolves. Antonio Sarchet scores 22, Nigel Abel 20 and we get doubles out of Terrence Howard with 10 points, 10 rebounds and William Tackett with 15 points, 13 assists and Jim Johnson's 10 bench rebounds... but I'm afraid Mateen Yeaton's going 1 for 8 had a fair bit to do with the loss.

Still, we had a 10 game win streak after acquiring Nigel Abel, so I obviously did something right.

Despite a growing sense of worry on my part for meddling, we win both games of the concluding back-to-back and comfortably so. 113-92 over Seattle on David Anyan's 25 points, Terrence Howard's 20 points and 12 rebounds, William Tackett[/b]'s 21 points and 11 assists and Jim Johnson's 16 bench points. Golden State gets knocked down 110-90 as Antonio Sarchet scores 24, Terrence Howard snags 20 points and 13 rebounds and Jim Johnson again highlights the reserves with 18 points.

So Mateen Yeaton is happy again and at 34-11, we're just 1.5 games back of the 37-11 Suns. More importantly, we've put a 6 game distance between us and the Clippers. Dallas has firmly asserted themselves as masters of the Southwest, 27-17 providing them a 6.5 game lead on the Hornets, while Seattle is a shocking 30-14, 7 games ahead of the Timberwolves. Denver's 17-29, good for last in the Northwest, but not by much and nowhere near the worst in the West (9-36 Golden State).

Boston still holds court in the East at 36-10, leading the Atlantic by 7 over the Raptors, who are scorning everyone who left them for dead after their recent trades. 26-18 Cleveland leads the Pistons by 2 games, while the Hawks are riding Oswaldo Apolonario to a 27-17 record and 4 game lead on the Bobcats.

Oh and as for Miami's resurgence? Not happening. They've fallen to 17-30. Still, I have hopes for the Heat over the next few seasons. They've done a great job of laying the groundwork.

As for Nyah Boyce? He got picked up by Atlanta and is the Hawks' 7th man. Way to land on your feet, kid.