[Izulde]

Philadelphia 76ers receive
SF Jason Tackett

Memphis Grizzlies receive
SF Raymond Badu
PG Kyle Lowry

What this means for the 76ers
Rodney Carney and Andre Iguodala are both 33 years old. Tackett's 26 (19th overall pick the Kings in 2014 draft) and can play both guard spots and SF. Not a scorer by any means, but a ferocious lock-down defender who at 6'9 can create major matchup problems in the backcourt. He's also widely considered around the league as the single best guy to have in the locker room from a team chemistry standpoint and the fact that he works hard makes it that much better.

What this means for the Grizzlies
Badu gets traded for the second time in as many seasons. He's disruptive, lazy and unremarkable or supbar in all facets of the game. Lowry isn't any improvement over Sergio Rodriguez, Memphis's original top backup guard. In fact, one could argue that he's worse.

Advantage: Philadelphia
The 76ers, if nothing else at all, have greatly improved their team chemistry and defense by adding Tackett. Conversely, Badu's a cancer and Lowry's simply not good. Memphis actually worsens by this deal.

Charlotte Bobcats receive
PF Marlon Orvis

New Jersey Nets receive
PG Tyson Anderson
Charlotte Bobcats 2018 2nd round pick

What this means for the Bobcats
Charlotte doesn't have a single forward or center under the age of 30. That's where Orvis comes in, a 27 year old former 1st round pick (27th, Toronto, 2010). While not exceptional, he has okay rebounding and defense with the ability to score some from both the interior and the exterior. He can play either forward spot or center and he's a huge stopgap measure for a really old team.

What this means for the Nets
Anderson became expendable with the drafting of Jameel Williams, but he's still a D-league project who furthermore isn't exactly wowing anyone in the minor leagues. In fact, the 20th overall pick of 2016 looks like a complete and total bust. The 2nd round pick won't be worth much either.

Winner: Charlotte
The Bobcats get an absolute steal here, giving up virtually nothing for a player who addresses their most critical age-related need.

Miami Heat receive
PG Brent Short

Philadelphia 76ers receive
Miami Heat 2018 2nd round pick

What this means for the Heat
Miami was already periliously thin at PG and then Derrick Attaway had to go and break his leg. Short is the best passer on the Heat roster even if Attaway was back and he's also a hard-hustling defender with a nasty outside shot. In short, he plays much bigger than his 5'11 height. He doesn't fit on this team of lazy, sniping players but he's a great acquistion nonetheless. Looking over this Miami franchise, it's easy to see why Dwayne Wade left town. Just an absolutely toxic wastedump.

What this means for the 76ers
Philadelphia's loaded with young PGs, so Short was getting the short end of the stick on PT. Getting a probable high 2nd round pick for him is a good bonus.

Winner: Draw
This is a win-win situation all around. Even Short, who steps into an ugly lockerroom, gets compensated for it by more playing time.

Portland Trailblazers receive
SF Dusty Hammond

New York Knicks receive
C Nathan Anderson

What this means for the Trailblazers
Hammond has some scoring pop and can play every position except SG. Having a 6'10 PG, no matter how horrible his ballhandling, always creates a mismatch. That said, Hammond's horrible in every other respect and his excellent 2016 season as a reserve with the Mavericks appears to have been a mirage.

What this means for the Knicks
Anderson's the single-most hated player in the league by other players, coaches and staff in general. How hated? So hated that the second-year player is already the instant kiss of death to any team who has him. In short, he's the antithesis of Jason Tackett. On top of that, his only basketball skills are some rebounding efforts. Curiously enough, the fans like Anderson fine and don't understand just how reviled he is within an organization.

Winner: Portland
In a garbage for garbage trade, the Trailblazers win out solely for the betterment of their team chemistry.

My own fingers are itching to make a trade and I find myself hitting the phones. Unfortunately, I can't find anything to my liking, so I just sit on it. Although there was one trade that sorely tempted me.

A doubleheader kicks off January in earnest and we win both. The Spurs don't look so hot in San Antonio, losing 105-89 as Marcelino Augusto scores 24, Mateen Yeaton adds 20 and we get double-doubles of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 12 points, 10 assists out of Zelipe Gama. Kirk Hinrich scores 15 off the bench and David Jackson grabs 10 bench rebounds. We withstand a 32 point, 11 rebound performance from Carlos Boozer the next night and beat the Rockets 106-99 on the strength of 32 points from Mateen Yeaton and 14 points and 14 assists from Zelipe Gama.

They're nailbiters but we sweep the next back-to-back as well. The Kings charge hard in the fourth quarter, but the rally falls just short and we come away with the 108-105 win. Austin Buller bulls his way to 20 points and 16 rebounds and Mateen Yeaton scores 24 points. Kyle Hoiberg and Andrew Bynum score 32 and 31 points the next night, Bynum adding 14 rebounds besides, but we prevail 111-103 against the Lakers courtesy of a total team effort. 7 Nuggets scored 12 points or more. Zelipe Gama was the star of the starters with 12 points and 17 assists, but Kirk Hinrich lead the team in scoring with 21 points. Lance Purnell added 12 points off the bench and David Jackson pulled down 11 rebounds as a reserve.

Things go much more smoothly in a 114-99 victory over the Timberwolves. Joe Johnson, who's been drawing my ire, leads the way with 24 points, Zelipe Gama gets 15 points and 12 assists and Thabo Sefolosha ressurects himself for 10 bench points.

Our third doubleheader of the month results in another couple victories. Golden State drops 116-86 as Austin Buller comes up with 11 points, 19 rebounds and 5 blocks, Mateen Yeaton scores 22 and Zelipe Gama distributes 10 points and 15 assists. But the real shock was Lance Purnell getting the start at SF (he had 10 points) and David Jackson exploding off the bench for 22 points. Kinrich also hit double-digit scoring as a reserve with 11 points. The normal lineup reverts in our 104-99 win over the Sonics in Seattle. Marcelino Augusto put on a brilliant performance of 30 points and 8 rebounds, Mateen Yeaton scored 25 and doubles came from Austin Buller (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Zelipe Gama (11 points, 14 assists).

And that's when we make a deal, a different one than I'd imagined, but one I'm still thrilled to make.

Denver Nuggets receive
PF Ron Collier
2018 Chicago Bulls 2nd round pick
2019 Chicago Bulls 2nd round pick
2020 Chicago Bulls 2nd round pick

Chicago Bulls receive
SG Joe Johnson
PG Shaun Livingston
2018 Denver Nuggets 1st round pick

What this means for the Nuggets
GM Jestor was frustrated with Johnson's inconsistency, so he shipped him out along with the Nuggets 1st rounder next year for Collier, a 29 year old career-long Bull (22nd overall in 2011) with great scoring instincts and a polished, but not fantastic inside and outside shot alike. He also plays pretty good defense, but he can't rebound and he's terrible at passing the ball. Let's see, point-producer with good defense and nothing else? Where have we heard that on a Nuggets team before? The difference between Collier and Ron McPherson is a big one though - Collier's 6'11. The trade also leaves the Nuggets without a 1st round pick next year, something that runs counter to Jestor's philosophy. It's going to be an interesting dogfight between Collier, David Jackson and Lance Purnell for the starting SF spot.

What this means for the Bulls
Chicago needs a calming veteran influence and maybe Johnson can be the one to provide it. At the very least, he gives them yet another scoring and defense option off the bench to team up with McPherson and the extra 1st round pick will ensure the Bulls youth movement keeps right on ticking. Livingston was immediately cut.

Winner: Draw
We'd give this one to the Nuggets, but not having a first round pick next year is liable to drive Jestor crazy and make him prone to dealing someone just to get a first rounder.

Naturally I went right back out and re-signed Livingston after the Bulls cut him.

But you know, the analysts know me too well.

Denver Nuggets receive
C Peter John Ramos
2018 New Jersey Nets 1st round pick

New Jersey Nets receive
PF Lance Purnell
2019 Chicago Bulls 2nd round pick
2019 Denver Nuggets 2nd round pick
2020 Chicago Bulls 2nd round pick
2020 Chicago Bulls 2nd round pick

What this means for the Nuggets
Reports out of Denver suggested that Purnell, while performing extremely well on offense, was dragging on defense and according to an anonymous front office employee, "getting more and more lazy in practice every day". Two things the Nuggets front office, particularly GM Jestor hates more than anything else: inconsistency and laziness. Also, with the Nets holding a sub-.500 record in the East this year, the chances are good that Denver just bought itself yet another lottery ticket. John Ramos can defend some and rebound some. It's his third stint with the Nuggets (2010, 2014), both of which occurred under Jestor's watch. He's also 7'3, 275 lbs, so gives Denver some muscle.

What this means for the Nets
They get a rookie who's shown he's got some good offensive chops and with just two players on the entire roster over 30, New Jersey's going to be an exciting young team to watch over the next few years. Purnell's also a nice-sized forward at 6'10. The slew of 2nd rounders, some likely high (the Bulls), some likely low (the Nuggets), will give New Jersey even more chances to find youngsters in the rough.

Winner: Nuggets
Denver robbed New Jersey blind on this one. It's another draftee that's been dealt by Jestor and it's likely another one who's doomed to have a mediocre career if the indications out of Denver are correct. It almost doesn't seem fair that the Nuggets keep getting lottery tickets, until you realize that they're 0 for 3 in the NBA Finals in Jestor's reign, all three losses against the Toronto Raptors.

...Bastards. They just -had- to throw that bit of salt in there, didn't they?

David Jackson wins the starting SF competition for now, but he bombs against the Grizzlies, scoring just 5 points on 2 of 6 before fouling out. Narcyz Malinomowski crushes us for 27 points, 23 rebounds and 4 blocks (so much for the Great Polish Sieve moniker, eh?), but we come out on top 100-81 thanks to Mateen Yeaton (33 points), Marcelino Augusto (12 points, 11 rebounds), Zelipe Gama (13 points, 14 assists) and Michael Redd, who's finally back from his broken leg and scores 13 points off the bench.

Nasty five-game road stretch up next, involving two doubleheaders against Central teams. But up first is Dallas and the Mavericks beat us 121-108 because of Jonte Jones, to no one's surprise, with 31 points and 13 rebounds. A horrid waste of 20 points from Marcelino Augusto, 29 points from Mateen Yeaton, 11 points and 21 assists from Zelipe Gama and David Jackson's 14 bench points. Ron Collier got his first start at SF tonight and went 1 for 8 for 5 points. ...Yeah.

First time this month we fail to sweep a back-to-back. But on the other hand, we spank the Bulls 102-82 as Austin Buller has 20 points and 16 rebounds, Mateen Yeaton scores 20 and Zelipe Gama is ever-present with 15 points and 16 assists. Detroit hands us our second loss in three games, 108-100 despite 25 points from Mateen Yeaton, Marcelino Augusto's 17 points and 10 rebounds, 11 points and 16 assists out of Zelipe Gama and Kirk Hinrich's 10 bench points.

The second Central road doubleheader starts off well with a 102-92 victory over the Bucks. Mateen Yeaton scores 23, Austin Buller is good for 16 points and 17 rebounds, Zelipe Gama 15 points and 10 assists and Michael Redd and David Jackson provide the bench fireworks with 14 points and 11 rebounds respectively. Great performance out of Ben Gordon for 39 points the next night, but even that can't stop the Pacers from losing 121-104. Not when 7 Nuggets have 11 points or better, highlighted by Marcelino Augusto's 21 points and 11 reserve points a piece from David Jackson and Michael Redd.

January concludes with yet another back-to-back and I'm annoyed to report we lost 106-94 to the Knicks at home. We blew the finest game yet out of Marcelino Augusto's rookie year: 30 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks and steals... and this kid's only 19?! 13 points and 13 assists from Zelipe Gama and 11 bench points from Michael Redd just couldn't make up the difference. It doesn't help that I didn't do my homework and find out beforehand that Ron Collier is a career 41.3% shooter. Of course, what happens the next night against Portland? We avalanche the Trailblazers 119-97 and Ron Collier scores 24 points. Lead scoring honors went to Mateen Yeaton with 26 points and 13 rebounds, but Austin Buller was right behind with 25 points and 13 rebounds and Marcelino Augusto doubled as well with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Kirk Hinrich -just- missed the bench double-double with 9 points and 15 assists.

All in all, great month. We're 33-13 and have stolen away the top seed in the conference from the Spurs, who are 32-15. The West's winning teams right now:

Denver Nuggets - 33-13
San Antonio Spurs - 32-15
Memphis Grizzlies - 30-17
Dallas Mavericks - 24-20

Yep. Just four. Pacific Division holder Sacramento is 22-23, but everybody's breathing down their neck, including the Lakers, who are just a game behind.

9 winning teams in the East, including the Knicks, who kicked everyone's ass in January. Talk about new year, new start! It's still all about the Raptors at 34-12, though the Magic are continuing their miracle season at 31-14.

Bucks hold a 2.5 game edge over the Pistons at 26-17. New Jersey's the only team in the Atlantic with a losing record. You almost have to feel sorry for them.

...Almost. That 20-26 mark is nothing to sneeze at and it's better than 5 teams in the East, including the Bulls.

Paulinho Buboltz/Mateen Yeaton Comparison (Sorry I've been forgetting to do this).

Paulinho Buboltz
2013 Stats: 82 games/77 starts - 17.0 PPG 9.5 APG 3.0 RPG 0.7 BPG 1.2 SPG
2014 Stats: 82 games/82 starts - 19.1 PPG 8.7 APG 2.8 RPG 0.5 BPG 1.4 SPG
2015 Stats: 55 games/48 starts - 14.1 PPG 8.3 APG 2.8 RPG 0.5 BPG 1.2 SPG
2016 Stats: 82 games/82 starts - 18.3 PPG 8.1 APG 3.3 RPG 0.7 BPG 1.5 SPG
2017 Stats: 44 games/44 starts - 18.1 PPG 8.2 APG 2.6 RPG 0.6 BPG 1.3 SPG

Mateen Yeaton
2013 Stats: 82 games/81 starts - 23.3 PPG 2.4 APG 5.2 RPG 1.8 BPG 1.6 SPG
2014 Stats: 82 games/80 starts - 23.2 PPG 3.6 APG 5.2 RPG 1.7 BPG 1.3 SPG
2015 Stats: 82 games/81 starts - 23.6 PPG 2.4 APG 4.5 RPG 1.6 BPG 1.5 SPG
2016 Stats: 82 games/82 starts - 25.0 PPG 3.1 APG 4.5 RPG 1.9 BPG 1.8 SPG
2017 Stats: 46 games/46 starts - 22.8 PPG 3.5 APG 4.5 RPG 1.8 BPG 1.6 SPG

Anybody out there still want to argue that I should've kept Buboltz?