[Izulde]

Augusto To Be Traded?

A rumour surfacing out of Denver this week suggests that Marcelino Augusto is on his way to a team in exchange for a mystery superstar who GM Jestor once said, "He's the one player I'd deem worthy of trading the #1 overall pick in a draft for."

Speculation is running wild on who this mystery player could be, including Toronto Raptors players Justin Richler and David Anyan, Dallas's Jonte Jones, Cleveland's Lebron James, Los Angeles Clippers's Bill Towns and Andre Davis, Memphis's Chris Gearheart, Miami's Nigel Abel, Sacramento's Justin Barnes and Seattle's Brooks Smith.

Augusto has been tearing up the NBA as a 19 year old rookie, averaging 16.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals. He's already scored 30 points twice, has 9 double-doubles and has been named Rookie of the Month all three months this season after being taken with the first overall pick. He's also one of Denver's most popular players, even surpassing superstar Mateen Yeaton in number of jerseys sold.

If he'd traded, the lone remaining original Nuggets on the roster would be Lindsey Williamson and David Jackson. There would almost certainly be a financial fallout in Brazil too, where many Brazilians, after having abandoned the Nuggets following the trade of Paulinho Buboltz to the Indiana Pacers, started joining the Denver bandwagon again after they selected Augusto.

***End Article**

You really think I'd trade a 19 year old superstar in the making, especially one I personally drafted? Ridiculous.

Portland Trailblazers receive
SF Ronell Jones
2018 Phoenix Suns 2nd round pick

Phoenix Suns receive
C Morris Allaway
C Kenny Johnson

What this means for the Trailblazers
Jones, a third year player taken 6th overall in 2015, has been a colossal bust. Fantastic defense and one of the best locker room guys in the league, but he likes to jack up too many shots that he can't convert and has no other skills to speak of. Furthermore, he's superfluous on a team that has Kevin Durant.

What this means for the Suns
Allaway's in his fourth season, taken 3rd overall in 2014. Like Jones, he's been a bust. One of the dumbest players in the league, he has some inside scoring ability, but again, that's about it. Johnson, Portland's 2nd round pick this year (39th overall), can play D and grab some rebounds, but that's it.

Winner: None
This is a young bust for young bust deal and nobody wins.

Sacramento Kings receive
SG Quincy Douby
2018 Philadelphia 76ers 2nd round pick

Philadelphia 76ers receive
PG Matt Allen

What this means for the Kings
Sacramento's fighting for its division and playoff life and the injection of Douby, a solid veteran player known for his postseason clutchness, helps the Kings' bench out immensely. He becomes the first guard out after the starters and his influence will be important.

What this means for the 76ers
Allen, 17th overall pick a year go, is a lazy scrub who has no talent to speak of.

Winner: Sacramento
The Kings get a huge boost to their team here and give away a draft mistake in Allen. Now that's a highway robbery trade.

Evidently Marcelino Augusto wasn't happy about the trade rumors swirling, because he goes out and scores 28 points in leading us to a 106-81 squash of the Warriors to start the short month. Zelipe Gama eked his way to 10 points and 10 assists, David Jackson scored 11 off the bench and Kirk Hinrich generously doled out 12 assists to co-lead the second team.

We lose a 106-104 nailbiter to the Jazz on the front end of a doubleheader despite Mateen Yeaton's 25 points and 12 points and 12 assists from Zelipe Gama, but we rebound to top the Timberwolves 98-87 as Austin Buller gets 18 points and 11 rebounds and Kirk Hinrich and Michael Redd add 12 and 10 points respectively to highlight the reserves.

Our 104-97 win in Cleveland is powered by Mateen Yeaton's 21 points, Marcelino Augusto's 18 points and 10 rebounds and David Jackson's 15 bench points.

A three-game road trip preludes the All-Star break and we help our draft position by winning a 106-105 thriller against the Nets. Marcelino Augusto scores 20 points, Michael Redd scores 12 off the bench and David Jackson just misses a reserve double-double with 9 points and 12 rebounds.

All the good cheer goes out the window though as we lose both games of the pre-break doubleheader and we lose them badly. Atlanta destroys us 101-68 in the worst loss we've had of my tenure. Mateen Yeaton scored 22 points but that was it and Austin Buller was a horrific 0 for 8. Our 107-95 loss to the Bobcats wasn't much better as we blow 33 points and 11 rebounds from Marcelino Augusto, who I've decided not to trade. He's too good and he was -my- draft pick. He's also very quickly proven that he plays a lot bigger than his 6'9, 219 body and a lot older than his 19 years of age.

All-Star Weekend

The Rookies were expected to clobber the Sophomores. Marcelino Augusto was named the starting PF for the Rookies and had 9 points, 6 rebounds and a steal in just 19 minutes as he was plagued by foul trouble all game long. Conversely David Jackson was a reserve for the Sophomores and had 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 28 minutes. The Sophs also stunned the Rooks 106-78. Just goes to show you never can tell.

For the first time since 2013, Mateen Yeaton didn't start for the West. Instead, he had a miserly 2 points and 2 assists in 13 minutes. Paulinho Buboltz, ironically enough, made his first All-Star game with 20 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal in just 15 minutes. His performance was a highlight reel, but it was David Anyan who was named All-Star MVP in the East's 120-102 victory, with a line of 28 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block.

So it's decision time. Stay put or make a move.

I try to pry Chris Gearheart out of Memphis, but the Grizzlies demand Augusto as part of any trade talks and there's just no way that's happening. Same with the Mavericks, though I offered them a very lucrative package for Jonte Jones.

And then's when I find another move to make.

Denver Nuggets receive
C Tim Davis
Los Angeles Lakers 2020 1st round pick

Los Angeles Lakers receive
C Austin Buller
Denver Nuggets 2020 1st round pick

What this means for the Nuggets
With $10 million coming off the books next year for Kirk Hinrich's contract, Denver's sitting pretty to re-acquire the huge (7'3, 294 lbs) Davis, who's still a dynamite defender and who wreaked havoc from the SF spot for the Lakers in his time there. Davis was quite bitter about having been traded from the Nuggets, so it's hoped that by re-acquiring him, GM Jestor will have restored peace to that fractured relationship. And of course, the pick should be higher. Davis might well see his role change in this version of his Nuggets tenure, as he may be asked to draw attention inside and free up room for rookie sensation Marcelino Augusto.

What this means for the Lakers
Andrew Bynum is out with a broken elbow and Derrick Robinson has a broken hand. Tim Davis himself is hampered by a broken nose. A healthy Buller, who has far better scoring instincts and a more balanced shooting ability, fits in perfectly with the Purple and Gold, who are locked in a fight for the division title. Given how poor the West has been the last couple seasons and the Pacific in particular, the differential in draft picks might not even be that great.

Winner: Denver
We like Davis better than Buller and the higher pick only adds to the Nuggets advantage.

A risky play? Sure. But one worth making in my opinion. Buller's too inconsistent and he was getting beat down too often by centers he shouldn't have been.

David Jackson gets the start against Boston while Davis is limited by his busted nose and we win 112-101. Mateen Yeaton blistered the Celtics for 32 points, Zelipe Gama had 11 points and 10 assists and we had 3 reserves score 12 points or better: Michael Redd (12), Emeka Okafor (13) and Tim Davis (12), who's absolutely pumped to be back in Denver.

Three Nuggets hit the 20+ mark as we punish the Grizzlies for not dealing us Chris Gearheart by beating them 104-95 in Memphis. Mateen Yeaton led the charge with 26 points, but Marcelino Augusto and Zelipe Gama were magnificient with 22 points and 10 rebounds and 22 points, 16 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 3 steals respectively. It's amzing how energized we are after that trade.

We crush the Hornets 118-93, Mateen Yeaton just missing a double-double with 28 points and 9 rebounds. Zelipe Gama garnered 14 points and 11 assists and our greybeard reserves shot like they were 10 years younger as Michael Redd and Emeka Okafor scored 17 and 15 points respectively.

The month ends on an immensely satisfying note as we avenge the horrid loss to the Hawks by beating Atlanta 103-91. Marcelino Augusto scored 29, Mateen Yeaton took second with 21 points and David Jackson doubled with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He hasn't been sensational as a starter by any means, but he's been extremely consistent, getting between 8-10 points and 9-11 rebounds each of his five starts.

We're 41-16, still owners of the best record in the West, 13 games ahead of the Timberwolves in the division. San Antonio leads the Southwest by 3.5 over the Grizzlies at 39-17. The Mavericks are the lone other team with a winning record in the conference at 32-23.

The Lakers currently lead the Pacific at 24-31, with everyone except the Clippers a game or a game and half back. (Clips are 5 back at 20-37. Shows how sucky the division is this year).

Toronto's still strangeholding the East at 43-13. 9 teams with winning records in the conference, which would currently have the 30-27 Knicks sitting home.

The Central's a two horse race between the Bucks (31-24) and the Pistons, who are a game off the pace. Southeast has the 38-16 Bobcats a game and a half up on the Magic, four ahead of the Hawks.

It's another down scoring year, with Nigel Abel leading the league with 26.6 points a game. The Pacers may suck, but Ben Gordon's second in scoring with 25.3 points, Jonte Jones third at 24.6 Mateen Yeaton is 7th, averaging 22.6 points a game. Or maybe it's that scoring's more balanced, as we have 22 players in the league averaging over 20 points.

Four players averaging double-digit assists: Kenny Graham - 11.5, our own Zelipe Gama - 11.2, Calvis Graham - 10.7 and Lebron James -10.5.

Rebounding is all Greg Oden, averaging 15.6 boards a game. Andrew Bogut is a distant second with 12.1 rebounds a game.

Five players with 3 or more blocks a game: Josh Smith - 3.4, Martin Beerbohm and Andrei Kirilenko - 3.3, Kelvin Moody - 3.1 and Patrick Riley - 3. 24 players averaging 2 blocks or better in the league, which could account a bit for the lack of studly scorers like the earlier years of this league.

Derrick Sterett is the league leader in steals with 2.1. Gerald Wallace is second with 1.9, followed by Leland Peterson and Dusty Coursey both of the Wizards at 1.8. Zelipe Gama is 10th with 1.6, followed by Mateen Yeaton 15th at 1.5.

Marcelino Augusto is owning all rookies in scoring, averaging 16.9 points a game. His closest competition and the only other player in double-digit figures is Michael Johnson at 12.9 points a contest.

Jameel Williams leads in assists with 5 a game, followed by Brett Watson at 3.8 dishes a game. Marcelino Augusto is 4th with 2.1.

Scott Palmer is first in rebounds with a fairly impressive 8, Marcelino Augusto second with a 6.9 board average. From there it drops off considerably, Michael Johnson third at 4.6.

Marcelino Augusto is first in blocks with 1.5 a game. Milan Nouge is second with 1.1 rejections and Lance Purnell, whom we dealt away, is 3rd at 0.6.

Marcelino Augusto's also the only class member averaging a steal a game at precisely that, though Scott Palmer's right behind at 0.9 and Brett Watson and Derrick Trombley are just behind that at 0.8

Paulinho Buboltz/Mateen Yeaton Comparison

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: 56 games/56 starts - 18.6 PPG 8.4 APG 2.8 RPG 0.6 BPG 1.2 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: 57 games/57 starts - 22.6 PPG 3.2 APG 4.8 RPG 1.9 BPG 1.5 SPG