Ongoing pro/college basketball thread (2023-24)

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I don't at all understand what the Wizards are thinking.

They are thinking short term.

I like Trae Young as a player. He is an upgrade to CJ at this point and instantly becomes the best player on the Wizards. And much like the Hawks, if you can get a top 5 point guard in the league through a trade, you do it because the team does not have a history of getting free agents of his caliber. That being said I still don't like the trade for them.

First, why did the Wizards need to make this trade at the beginning of January? The trade deadline is a month or so away. I don't think the market for Trae would have prevented them from making this trade in a month and if someone else got him, oh well. Despite what I said before, we have seen what it looks like with Trae as the best player on your team. He is still a player with serious limitations in terms of size and on the defensive end. The Hawks wanted him off their books for the best interests of their franchise. There should have been a cost for the Wizards helping them out. Not only that, but they also gave up CJ's expiring contract that might have netted them something else of value. Finally, you now have Trae Young for a year and a half before he becomes a free agent. While I expect him to sign an extension with the Wizards, I don't need Trae Young trying to prove why he should whatever the max for a player in his situation. Trae is good enough to put the top eight protected pick in danger IF he ever gets healthy enough to play this season.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Just checked with my Hawks insider. It is a straight up deal. Hawks fans are mad they didn't get anything else, and the Wizards fans are mad they didn't get anything else. So, good trade.

Getting out of that Young contract seems like a huge win to me.

For the Wizards, I don't think it's that bad. The team isn't really going anywhere and maybe Young will sell some tickets next season and make them a little more competitive. That franchise just feels so lost.

[JPhillips]

I guess I just don't see the Wizards as a playoff team with Young on the roster, so why jeopardize the draft pick?

[JonInMiddleGA]

As I saw pointed out somewhere ... the Hawks traded Luka Doncic for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert

STILL the worst trade in NBA history afaic

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I guess I just don't see the Wizards as a playoff team with Young on the roster, so why jeopardize the draft pick?

He is probably going to play sparingly. Expect some phantom injuries if they get too many wins.

[GrantDawg]

Dola: also there was some rumors of CJ not getting along with someone in the organization. That also might explain why they wanted to go ahead and move him.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

As I saw pointed out somewhere ... the Hawks traded Luka Doncic for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert

STILL the worst trade in NBA history afaic

Honestly, super on-brand for a guy who once played for Real Madrid.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

He is probably going to play sparingly. Expect some phantom injuries if they get too many wins.

I saw a take somewhere (AJC maybe?) that part of the move was because of McCollum's role in a recent streak of improved play by the Wizards, that they didn't want him out there screwing up their draft.

With Young, they can use health as cover for tanking.

[Lathum]

Is it just me or does Purdue have a never ending pipeline of goofy 7 foot tall white dudes?

[INDalltheway]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Is it just me or does Purdue have a never ending pipeline of goofy 7 foot tall white dudes?

We have a Chinese one coming in next year. Be ready...

Plus a couple of great shooters that happen to be white boys as well to replace Loyer and Braden Smith.

[JPhillips]

AD to the Wizards???

[Ksyrup]

I guess they needed to get rid of Nico to get rid of AD.

[Ksyrup]

Dola. I saw a crazy stat that AD and Kyrie played a total of 25 minutes together with Dallas.

[Swaggs]

I've gotten back into watching the NBA the past few years and am loving these deadline deals.

Wizards with Trae outside and AD and Sarr inside is going to be pretty fun to watch, at least.

Harden and Mitchell together on the Cavs will be fun (but I don't think they will be any better).

I'm really not sure what the Mavs are up to and they don't seem to know either. At first glance, their end result from the Luka deal is somehow even worse than imagined. You would think AD would have had been able to get them something of value. Looks like the picks are an OKC that will be at the end of the first round and a top 20 protected that seems unlikely to convey. Maybe they can flip some of the other pieces.

Part of my increased interest in the NBA has been rooting against OKC (can't stand how they flop and complain about every call), but I really like them getting McCain, too. They have too many picks and didn't give up anything too risky and I think he can be a nice player that fits onto the team well. I don't mind it for Philly either. They get some draft picks to either trade or maybe take some swings on high risk/reward guys.

I'm excited to see where Giannis lands.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I've gotten back into watching the NBA the past few years and am loving these deadline deals.

Wizards with Trae outside and AD and Sarr inside is going to be pretty fun to watch, at least.

Harden and Mitchell together on the Cavs will be fun (but I don't think they will be any better).

I'm really not sure what the Mavs are up to and they don't seem to know either. At first glance, their end result from the Luka deal is somehow even worse than imagined. You would think AD would have had been able to get them something of value. Looks like the picks are an OKC that will be at the end of the first round and a top 20 protected that seems unlikely to convey. Maybe they can flip some of the other pieces.

Part of my increased interest in the NBA has been rooting against OKC (can't stand how they flop and complain about every call), but I really like them getting McCain, too. They have too many picks and didn't give up anything too risky and I think he can be a nice player that fits onto the team well. I don't mind it for Philly either. They get some draft picks to either trade or maybe take some swings on high risk/reward guys.

I'm excited to see where Giannis lands.

The Mavs are trying to reset on the Cooper Flagg timeline and pretend Nico Harrison didn't happen. AD was essentially a salary dump. They got the Rockets first this year and two 2nds for him. There's no way that Golden State pick conveys.

That's probably the best path forward for them rather than trying to make a flawed roster work around AD/Flagg/Kyrie and waste the bulk of Flagg's career.

[Atocep]

dola

The Wizards have an interesting roster, at least next year since AD probably sits the rest of the season.

Trae and AD running the pick and roll with Sarr spotting up and running in transition plus a lot of 4 out with AD inside and Tre Johnson, Keonte George, and Bub Carrington firing away from outside.

That's not a great roster by any means, but should get them into the playoff conversation and be entertaining, which is far more than they've been recently.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Atocep

dola

The Wizards have an interesting roster, at least next year since AD probably sits the rest of the season.

Trae and AD running the pick and roll with Sarr spotting up and running in transition plus a lot of 4 out with AD inside and Tre Johnson, Keonte George, and Bub Carrington firing away from outside.

That's not a great roster by any means, but should get them into the playoff conversation and be entertaining, which is far more than they've been recently.

Except AD will only play 35 games.

That Luka trade may go down as one of the worst in the history of the NBA and while I am not a conspiracy guy I find it VERY suspect as LeBrons career winds down the Lakers get a guy who will be in the MVP talks for the next 10 years.

[Ksyrup]

CP3 traded to the Raptors. Finally.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Porzingis to GS, Kuminga & Hield to ATL.

[flere-imsaho]

Porzingis really racking up those frequent flyer miles.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

Porzingis really racking up those frequent flyer miles.

Everywhere but on the court. I wonder if he won't medically retire after this year.

[miami_fan]

Jerome Tang out at Kansas St.; coach to fight for-cause firing - ESPN

I have no problem with KSU firing Tang. Outside of PJ Haggerty, that team is absolutely awful and Tang has to take the fall for that. But for cause? And to have say the cause is due "any activity that brings public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule to Kansas State." I don't think what he said in the rant after the Cincy game or making the players play without their names on their jersey will leave any permanent scarring on the players. Unless the administration believes that game against the Bearcats fit the terms in the contract, I don't see how they don't give that man all of the money they owe him.

[Atocep]

The fact that Cooper Flagg is a positive on both ends of the floor while having turned 19 just 2 months ago is pretty insane. He's been better as a teenager than Lebron was.

[JonInMiddleGA]

You can't make this shit up.

Hawks plan Magic City tribute night with lemon pepper wings, more - ESPN

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

You can't make this shit up.

Hawks plan Magic City tribute night with lemon pepper wings, more - ESPN

Lol. There is a bill in the state house to make lemon pepper wings the official wings flavor of the state. I don't think they have the balls to make Magic City the official state strip club.

[miami_fan]

How do you have a Magic City tribute night and not have some of the uh..."talent" full featuring in between quarters and as halftime entertainment?

EDIT- I have seen research into the search histories of the cell phones we have given our 10U demographic and they won't be more scarred by anything they might see at halftime compared to what is going on in those computers they walk around with.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

How do you have a Magic City tribute night and not have some of the uh..."talent" full featuring in between quarters and as halftime entertainment?

EDIT- I have seen research into the search histories of the cell phones we have given our 10U demographic and they won't be more scarred by anything they might see at halftime compared to what is going on in those computers they walk around with.

I'm pretty sure some of the "talent" will be performing with TI at halftime. Mostly clothed I'm sure.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Lol. There is a bill in the state house to make lemon pepper wings the official wings flavor of the state. I don't think they have the balls to make Magic City the official state strip club.

Yeah, my eyes have been rolling over THAT stupidity for a while now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I'm pretty sure some of the "talent" will be performing with TI at halftime. Mostly clothed I'm sure.

It's how they "perform" with him & his entourage after halftime that would be more ... clothing optional.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I don't think they have the balls to make Magic City the official state strip club.

I'm just gonna say this, cause, well I've got a severe case of the fuck-its this morning.

The talent at Magic City isn't the sort that appeals to a large swath of the state legislature. If The Lemon Peel was still around on the other hand ...

Yes, I just said that.
Yes, I realize what the party affiliation of the majority of the legislature is.

I said what I said.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'm just gonna say this, cause, well I've got a severe case of the fuck-its this morning.

The talent at Magic City isn't the sort that appeals to a large swath of the state legislature. If The Lemon Peel was still around on the other hand ...

Yes, I just said that.
Yes, I realize what the party affiliation of the majority of the legislature is.

I said what I said.

So many questions here that I don't want to look up on my own.

[albionmoonlight]

Yeah, lol.

I came to check out the basketball thread and got the most inside-baseball discussion of Georgia chicken wings and strip clubs imaginable.

Love this board.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

So many questions here that I don't want to look up on my own.

Let's see if I can help without saying anything that runs afoul of any rules lol.

The Lemon Peel was (is? haven't heard it mentioned in years tbh) a male strip club in Atlanta, popular for bachelorette parties & such. (I mentioned it since we were talking about strip clubs)

The reference I was making is that there is a fairly well-known gay massage parlor about a 5 minute walk from the state capitol (either THE nearest business to the capitol or one of the nearest) And three others less than 10 minutes away.

Insiders -- of which I know, and have long known, a few -- generally figure that between 25% and 33% of the legislature would be recognized in a photo lineup by the employees of those business. In certain circles that's about the best kept but widely known secret over the past 10-20 years.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

You can't make this shit up.

Hawks plan Magic City tribute night with lemon pepper wings, more - ESPN

Genuinely thought this was going to be an Onion story.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Genuinely thought this was going to be an Onion story.

It makes more sense when you realize that Jami Gertz (wife of the owner and part owner in her own right) produced a documentary of the importance of Magic City to the culture of Atlanta, especially the hip-hop culture. People do recommend going to Magic City just for the wings. I believe at one time they had a lunch all you can eat buffet, but it looks like now they just overcharge every other wings place in Atlanta (which there are millions).
Now what I really want to see is a night honoring the Clermont Lounge. THAT would be crazy.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'm just gonna say this, cause, well I've got a severe case of the fuck-its this morning.

The talent at Magic City isn't the sort that appeals to a large swath of the state legislature. If The Lemon Peel was still around on the other hand ...

Yes, I just said that.
Yes, I realize what the party affiliation of the majority of the legislature is.

I said what I said.

While that part is likely true, the other percentage of those hard core conservatives are likely to be very into the ethnic makeup of the Magic City dancers. Another part of the cultural fiber of the deep south is the more racist the man, the more they are sexually attracted to another race. The term "honky" exists for a reason.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

While that part is likely true, the other percentage of those hard core conservatives are likely to be very into the ethnic makeup of the Magic City dancers. Another part of the cultural fiber of the deep south is the more racist the man, the more they are sexually attracted to another race. The term "honky" exists for a reason.

And a decent percentage of both groups secretly hope they have a penis in their panties

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'm just gonna say this, cause, well I've got a severe case of the fuck-its this morning.

The talent at Magic City isn't the sort that appeals to a large swath of the state legislature. If The Lemon Peel was still around on the other hand ...

Yes, I just said that.
Yes, I realize what the party affiliation of the majority of the legislature is.

I said what I said.

There's a reason that Grindr crashes every time there's a big gathering of Republicans.

[miami_fan]

I understand the why but this is what I miss about college basketball in the good ol' days.

There are only 22 high-major scholarship players who will celebrate Senior Night this week, having played at just one place. Mississippi State's Shawn Jones Jr. is the only SEC senior to finish where he started.

Dozens of coaching changes and the transfer portal have led to this pic.twitter.com/5GNnAU55qJ

— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) March 3, 2026

Then the obvious (to me) followup

Looks like it's 19 high-major guys who will go straight 4-for-4. Louisville's Ryan Conwell, Kansas' Tre White, Ole Miss' AJ Storr, Providence's Duncan Powell, Kansas St.'s PJ Haggerty and Auburn's Keyshawn Hall are the big names.

JUCO (and COVID) opened up some wild paths, too pic.twitter.com/x5NM9oOb8I

— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) March 4, 2026

[JonInMiddleGA]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
The NBA has cancelled the Atlanta Hawks' Magic City game promotion on March 16.

ESPN story notes the league ordered it stopped citing "concerns from stakeholders across the league".

[miami_fan]

The next two years of instant analysis of NBA promo nights are going to be super fun.

[Ghost Econ]

Furman going to the dance for the second time in my lifetime. Wondering if there's any chance the NCAA will put them in Greenville so I can actually go to the game. I feel like a de facto home game for a 14 seed isn't something they normally do.

[Ghost Econ]

This guy is 64/132 on 3-pt shots and 0/4 on 2s this year.
He's also in his 7th year.
Chase Johnston College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

[Atocep]

So Bam Adabayo scored 83 tonight.

[miami_fan]

Bam Adebayo just set an NBA record!*

He scored 83 points tonight against the Wizards. That is the most points in a game in the "modern era" (since 1980) passing Kobe Bryant's 82 against the Raptors.

No, I don't actually consider that any sort of record. Wilt's 100 is still the record. I was looking up what the top five on that list and Bam was leading the "modern era"

[Passacaglia]

Why 1980? I had to look it up, but 1976-77 was the first season after the ABA merger, that would have made the most sense.

I looked up some more and found this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_NBA

1980 expansion and realignment
The Dallas Mavericks are enfranchised as the league's 23rd team and placed in the Midwest Division.
The two other Texas teams, the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, moved from the Central to the Midwest Division to join the Mavericks.
The Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks moved from the Midwest to the Central Division.

That doesn't seem like much to go on.

[Ksyrup]

He did set a record for most FG/FT in a game. I believe he shot 43 of BOTH!

I saw the scoring, but why/how did this happen? Were the Wizards running a "how many 5 year olds does it take to stop Bam Adebayo from scoring 100 points?" promotion?

[albionmoonlight]

Props to the headline writer/SEO guy/whoever is in charge of that stuff who got me to click on a headline link that said "Luka Doncic in custody . . ." to find out that the full headline was "Luka Doncic in custody battle for his daughters"

[Ghost Econ]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Bam Adebayo just set an NBA record!*

He scored 83 points tonight against the Wizards. That is the most points in a game in the "modern era" (since 1980) passing Kobe Bryant's 82 against the Raptors.

No, I don't actually consider that any sort of record. Wilt's 100 is still the record. I was looking up what the top five on that list and Bam was leading the "modern era"

They'll stop calling it a record now. They just called it a record because Kobe did it. Black/White, we have to protect our rapists at all costs.

[albionmoonlight]

I remember how hard my eyes rolled when Kobe hit 81, and everyone started calling it the "non-Wilt record"