Boston's Battle for Banner 18 (and Beyond)

[R1zzo23]

Haha I don’t blame you. I’m very salty after how real life has gone and am sick of his BS. Keep doing what you’re doing because you’re killin’ it right now.


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[jeremym480]

NBA TRADE DEADLINE



The NBA Trade Deadline is here. This year Trade Deadline was a little bit quieter than last year but it was still fairly busy with 8 total trades and 23 players on the move. Let's take a look at those trades and break them down a little bit.



Orlando, 26-28, 7th in the East
Denver, 32-21, 4th in the West

Denver was looking for another big man as insurance and had a wing to spare so they bring Joffrey Lauvergne back for his second stint as a Nugget.

On the flip side, Orlando had a plethora of big men and desperately needed a wing so they took a flier on Craig. He had only appeared in 4 games and grew upset with his role but should immediately see minutes for the Magic.

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Milwaukee, 33-21, 3rd in the East
L.A. Clippers, 14-40, 14th in the West

The Bucks have played well all season and are pretty set with Bledsoe, Brogdon, Austin Rivers, and Marshon Brooks in the backcourt. However, they ultimately couldn't pass up on bringing in a lockdown defender who can basically guard three positions and ramp up the intensity of defense night in and night out.

The Clippers stuck out on all of the big names free agents in the offseason and couldn't get anything going this season so they're in rebuild mode. They get Wilson who was buried on the depth chart in Milwaukee. He should see some playing time in L.A, especially as they look to rest their vets and see what the younger guys have.

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Chicago, 30-23, 5th in the East
L.A Clippers, 14-40, 14th in the West

Chicago has been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this year. They have a nice young team with only a couple of vets, so in order to fix that ownership brings in the perennial 6th-Man of the Year contender, Sweet Lou Williams. Lou will bring scoring and stability off of the bench, something that they were sorely lacking before. Getting rid of Felicio's contract at $8+ million next season should be a plus, as well.

The Clippers make their second trade of the deadline and get rid of arguably their best player, who is 33 years old for a pick that is likely to be in the mid-teens and a center who may never see the court of them. The Clips will probably look to tanking for this season, and maybe next as well, then retooling through free agency and the draft.

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Atlanta, 25-27, 8th in the East
Brooklyn, 12-44, 15th in the East

The Hawks are ready to make some noise in the East and the Seth Curry experiment hasn't really worked (he's averaging 7.1 PPG, 2.1 APG, 1.5 TPG, .442 FG% and a career-low .324 3P%, not to mention a +/- of -109 in 899 minutes played). Dinwiddie will bring a different element to backup PG but should fit in as a scorer and facilitator for all of the shooters that the young Hawks have.

The Nets get rid of one of their longest tenured players and get back a 1st rounder and an expiring contract. That's what rebuilding is all about.

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Indiana, 23-31, 10th in the East
Brooklyn, 12-44, 15th in the East

The Pacers have been pretty disappointing this season and their main weakness is SF. They're not out of it yet (3 games out of the 8th spot) and are still fighting. Kurucs will come in and battle Trevor Ariza for the starting SF job and Lopez will be the first big off of the bench. If they can get hot, then they still have a shot at making the tournament.

Speaking of disappointments, Brooklyn has by far been the biggest disappointment in the East. They went from narrowly missing the playoffs last season to being one of the worst teams in the league. They're shuffling a lot of things around and one of those things is bringing in a new backup PG in Aaron Holiday.

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Detriot, 26-27, 6th in the East
Charlotte, 11-42, 14th in the East

The Pistons are once again barely hanging on for a lower playoff seed in the East. They really, really needed a SG and Lamb fits the bill nicely. However, at this point, they seem like a classic treadmill team so giving up a 1st could be a gamble if this team can't make a run in the playoffs.

The Hornets, much like the Nets above, get rid of a mid-level player for a mid-level 1st, it's a typical move for a rebuilding team and Leuer might actually help them, as well.

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New York, 23-31, 11th in the East
Minnesota, 24-30, 13th in the West
Utah, 30-23, 6th in the West

New York made the biggest move of the offseason by trading for AD. However, this looks like another example of why the games aren't played on paper because AD, Middleton, and Harris can't put wins together on the court. They have had a rash injuries so maybe they can still make a run. Right now, both Dennis Smith Jr and Ish Smith are out and they have been starting Allonzo Trier at PG, Grayson Allen will see some time at point as well, at least until DSJ or Ish return. Covington will come in and start at SF and move Knox to the bench, where they hope he can bring a spark to the 2nd unit.

With KAT likely done for the season, the T'Wolves are in tank/save money/get future assets mode.

Utah is in the playoff mix once again in the West and the really needed another SG/SF with the loss of Joe Ingles. Moore should come in and start at SF so that Royce O'Neale (who has had a bad season) can go back to the bench.

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Philadelphia, 37-17, 2nd in the East
Phoenix, 25-31, 12th in the West

The 76ers made another big spash at the deadline by trading for SF/PF T.J. Warren. Warren may eventually find himself in the starting lineup but for now will come off the bench. He should provide some much-needed depth and score for the 6ers.

The Suns are once again in "go get assets" mode. Plus, Warren's departure opens up some minutes for guys like Jackson, Oubre, Bridges, and rookie Jontay Porter. They obviously have a ton of young talent, I'm sure that they will put things together one of these years.
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... and with that, the 2020 Trade Deadline has come to an end.

[jeremym480]

BOSTON GOES 6-4 OVER THEIR LAST 10 AS THEY HEAD INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK






BOSTON IS 41-17 AND IN 1ST PLACE IN THE EAST, 1 GAME AHEAD OF THE 76ERS

CELTICS NEWS

BOSTONS EXTENDS AL HORFORD, SIGNING HIM TO A 2YR/$32.99M DEAL

[R1zzo23]

Tough stretch of games headed into the break but can’t complain about sitting in 1st place. Nice job extending Horford though. He’s so important to what this team does.


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[jeremym480]

ZION DOMINATES. SCORING 19 POINTS IN 21 MINUTES, IN THE RISING STARS CHALLENGE











CURRY TAKES HOME HIS SECOND STRAIGHT AND THRID OVERALL THREE POINT CONTEST TROPHY





CHRISS UPSETS TWO TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION DONOVAN MITCHELL AND ROOKIE SENSATION ZION WILLIAMSON IN THE DUNK CONTEST





TEAM KRYIE ABD THE BROW TOO MUCH FOR TEAM HARDEN IN THE ALL-STAR GAME

[Timmsoski]

I hadn't realised you'd started a franchise this year. Loved the Pels story so just stormed through this! Love the way you lay out all the trades and the creativity behind some of the deals. This season going great, hopefully we will see a Philly vs Boston rematch in the playoffs!

[georgiafan]

Didn't realize that Zion was on NO here

[jeremym480]

NBA BUYOUT MARKET/FA SIGNINGS

The trade deadline has passed, but playoff teams can still bolster their rosters through the buyout market. Let's take a look at some of the key signings that occurred:



Jonathan Simmons - Simmons agreed to a buyout with the Kings and immediately signed with Oklahoma City. At 30 years old, Simmons may be playing for his last decent NBA contract and he will get a chance to prove himself, as he should get plenty of playing time behind Roberson.



Carmelo Anthony - Money Melo isn't getting big money anymore but he will look to play beside his longtime friend and draft mate, LeBron James. Melo hasn't played all season and was signed as a FA but should get minutes off of the bench for L.A. Melo is 35 years old and this could be his last chance for a ring.

Other Buyout/FA Signings

Terrance Ross - Terrance also has yet to play this season but decided to give it a go with the Knicks. New York has been one of the most disappointing teams in the League this season. They made a deal for AD in the offseason, then signed Khris Middleton and Tobais Harris but it just hasn't worked for them. They're 10 games under .500 but can still salvage the season by making the playoffs. They're only 2 games out of the 8th seed in the East. Ross should give them a nice spark off of the bench.

Tony Parker - Parker has been the third PG on one of the worst teams in the league, the L.A. Clippers. Parker is 37 years old and wants to go out on a high note, with at least a playoff run so he landed on the 31-28 Pistons, who are currently 7th in the East. Parker will be their 3rd PG, as well, behind Reggie Jackson and Markelle Fultz. However, Fultz is currently out another 6-8 with a right humerus fracture so Parker will be Jackson primary backup until Fultz returns.

Boban Marjanovic - Boban had only appeared in 12 games for the Timberwolves all season and T'Wolves decided to basically tank and give their young guys more minutes so Boban became expendable. Boban signed with the Trail Blazers. He will be on a team that looks like a playoff contender but he'll have to compete for playing time with Meyers Leonard, Jamychal Green, and Zach Collins.

Shabazz Napier - The Nets made a trade to bring in Aaron Holiday at the deadline and they decided to release Napier in order to give Holiday more minutes. Napier signed on with the Pelicans and will be Jrue Holiday's backup.