AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/mcten/status/2019649773104754934

JJ Redick on adding Luke Kennard.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/rodboone/status/2019611550840156454


Hornets beat Houston on the road for their 8th straight win, 109-99.
First eight-game winning streak since 1998-99. They're in Atlanta on Sat.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/omarisankofa/status/2019598917932106136
https://x.com/omarisankofa/status/2019601308807032994


Probably Detroit's worst loss of the season, 126-117. Duren went out in the 2nd quarter with right knee soreness.
They looked past the Wizards with the showdown vs the Knicks tonight, can't do that.

[Smitty]

Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto)
Breaking: Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks with a left hamstring strain, league sources told @hoopshype. Watson is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 14.9 points (50% FG, 42% 3PT), 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals

[Winter]

Washington will not play AD the rest of the season. (clearly making sure of their draft position)

Indiana says it will not play Zubac until he's absolutely healthy (clearly making sure of their draft position)

Atlanta should be able to find a way to lose with that roster. Ditto Utah and Brooklyn.

The Mavericks are going to have a hard time losing more than Memphis at this point. Bucks are a toss-up.

The Mavs look like they can manage the eighth pick in the draft. Maybe seventh if they are lucky.

[Chicagojk]

I read lonzo ball may sign with the warriors. I believe Ball has been really and this year (this the release) and the warriors are no longer contenders, but this feels like a good fit.

If he can’t play well there, he may be out of the league next year.

[F Gump]

Lonzo is a horrendous shooter, and his knees are on bad shape. CLE is cutting their losses because he offers them nothing. I couldn't understand why CLE ever traded talent for him in the 1st place.

[cow]

Lonzo is a horrendous shooter, and his knees are on bad shape. CLE is cutting their losses because he offers them nothing. I couldn't understand why CLE ever traded talent for him in the 1st place.

Hope for once was instead of the reality of what is.  His name was thrown around here a ton in the recent past.

[F Gump]

Hope for once was instead of the reality of what is.  His name was thrown around here a ton in the recent past.

You forget WHY Lonzo's name was thrown around. Lonzo was apparently going to be traded away, because he was not a fit in CHI. The hope was that the Mavs could trade for him with his issues, as a distressed asset that CHI had no use for, and the Mavs be able to shed some of their bad salary attached to somewhat-playable players (Martin, Hardy). The Bulls would get talent more useful than Lonzo, and the Mavs would get Lonzo's expiring carcass. If he could help, even better. The point - stated repeatedly and strongly - was that whether Lonzo ultimately could play or not, getting him in a deal like that would be a significant step forward by getting rid of Martin and/or Hardy contracts. 

Unfortunately, CLE felt Ball was their answer as a backup PG, so offered Okoro. CLE played him a lot. He was way bad. But he would have been a great get for the Mavs in a swap for Martin and Hardy. Without that deadweight hanging over their roster, the Mavs would have had way better choices and flexibility.

[cow]

You forget WHY Lonzo's name was thrown around.

No I didn't.

[Mavs2021]

The Wizards are down 22 to the Heat and I´m looking at their roster. They are probably a 20-22 wins team as currently constructed without AD + Young. This is not a Pacers, Mavs or Jazz situation, where the team intentionally sabotages their own games by holding out All Stars or very valuable veteran starters/rotation players. They are a super young team across the board that likely expects Trae Young and Anthony Davis to LEAD by example and take them to a winning season and the play-offs.

I mean fair play if the plan is to rehab and re-flip them for more value, but otherwise LOOOL.

[FireNicoHarrison]

The Wizards are down 22 to the Heat and I´m looking at their roster. They are probably a 20-22 wins team as currently constructed without AD + Young. This is not a Pacers, Mavs or Jazz situation, where the team intentionally sabotages their own games by holding out All Stars or very valuable veteran starters/rotation players. They are a super young team across the board that likely expects Trae Young and Anthony Davis to LEAD by example and take them to a winning season and the play-offs.

I mean fair play if the plan is to rehab and re-flip them for more value, but otherwise LOOOL.

Wizard will be still the Wizard. Street clothes and Young are perfect there. Trust me.

[Winter]

What a professional!

"Veteran guard D’Angelo Russell is technically a member of the Wizards after being included in the Anthony Davis trade last week. However, it sounds as though his tenure with the team might end before it even begins.

General manager Will Dawkins said the front office has been in contact with Russell and his agents, but Russell won’t report to the team “as we try to figure out what’s best for him and us and our future,” per Henry J. Brown of SI (Twitter video link)."

[Smitty]

@Fullcourtpass
Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to be back right after the All-Star break, per @espn

“Antetokounmpo could be aiming to come back on the shorter end of his projected window: Four weeks from his initial injury would be Feb. 20, the team's first game following the All-Star break.”

[FireNicoHarrison]

Fake injury to force a trade. Puppet.

[Mavs2021]

@Fullcourtpass
Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to be back right after the All-Star break, per @espn

“Antetokounmpo could be aiming to come back on the shorter end of his projected window: Four weeks from his initial injury would be Feb. 20, the team's first game following the All-Star break.”

Good news for the Mavs.  Guess there is a world where they could be pushing to make the play-offs with the addition of Johnson. Don´t think they´ll catch Atlanta or Charlotte.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/FlyByKnite/status/2020748026994974821


Looks like Kawhi is healthy and back to his old self.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/MikeAScotto/status/2020885...36523?s=20

Strange move by the Hornets. They waived Pat Connaughton and signed Malaki Branham.
Now they're bringing Connaughton back, and waived Branham.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/RolandBeech/status/2020853131504951592


Among the 25 highest-paid players, only one stands completely out in On/Off history.

[Winter]

I just noticed OMAX played for the Griz on Saturday.

He scored 25 pts (team high) and was 7 of 8 on 3-pointers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbMuZXzUouw