OKC | 28 | 34 | 31 | 24 | 117 |
MIN | 32 | 29 | 33 | 40 | 134 |
Player of the Game: Karl-Anthony Towns
(25pts, 18reb, 3ast, 4stl, 4blk)
(11-22 FG, 0-1 3PT, 3-3 FT)
Simmed Game
OKC | 23 | 27 | 34 | 22 | 106 |
DAL | 21 | 36 | 29 | 17 | 103 |
POTG: Kristaps Porzingis (36pts, 16reb, 1ast, 3blk)
Record: 26-22
Andrew wrote:Those threes are the difference. Incidentally, I've learned that the hard way playing in The Rec, when I've been on a team with no outside shooting.
Milwaukee surprised a lot of people earlier this month when they announced that superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo had re-signed with them on a long-term deal. Today they announced a trade to acquire all-star guard Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans. Clearly this is the type of deal they probably promised they would make when they were convincing him to stay.
The Bucks are facing a situation which many teams have faced before them - building a contending team around their star player. In recent years they have failed to get anywhere near the NBA Finals despite Giannis consistently playing at an MVP level. They really needed to make some bold moves this season in order to make sure Giannis didn't leave for greener pastures.
Supposedly Giannis gave Bucks management a list of players to target when he agreed to his extension. In the weeks following they seem to have been hard at work trying to get one of those names. Wizards star Bradley Beal proved to be too expensive for them to get, whilst Phoenix had no interest in dealing star scorer Devin Booker.
Talks with New Orleans reportedly began earlier this week over all-star guard Jrue Holiday. According to sources, the Bucks were initially hesitant to pay such a hefty price for a potential one-year rental of a 30-year-old. But Giannis reportedly made it known through his agent that he wanted a deal to get done.
Immediate reaction from social media was that the Bucks had overpaid. But mortgaging your future to keep your star player happy is part of the modern NBA. Besides, if Giannis keeps this team a contender for the next few years then those picks will all end up being in the 25-30 range anyway.
The Bucks currently sit in fourth seed with a 25-23 record. They will be hoping that Holiday settles in quickly and that they can find some better form after the all-star break.
New Orleans have emerged into the post-Anthony Davis era better than even their most optimistic fans could have hoped. Much-hyped college phenom Zion Williamson has exploded onto the scene with one of the most amazing rookie campaigns in league history. The power forward is right up there alongside the likes of Giannis, Anthony Davis, James Harden and LeBron in this year's MVP race.
The Pelicans have started the season 31-19 and surprisingly find themselves only 2.5 games behind the conference-leading LA Clippers. Brandon Ingram is having a career-best year averaging nearly 18 points per game, whilst Lonzo Ball is doing his best John Stockton impression by averaging 13 points and 13 assists per game.
Now they have acquired a tough, strong, rebounding big man to add solid defense next to Zion. In Bledsoe they also get some quality perimeter defense, which will come in handy when the likes of JJ Redick or Josh Hart are on the court.
Adding a bunch of picks in this deal also allows them to keep flexibility for the future. They get to compete now but also have a nice hand in the draft moving forward.
This trade does make them look better on paper, but it is hard to see it being enough to put them ahead of either LA team or the rejuvenated Warriors. Time will tell on that front.
Oklahoma City were supposed to still be in the middle of a rebuild this season. But an unexpected 24-12 start seemed to convince GM Sam Presti to let things play out. Then a run of only two wins in their next twelve games quickly brought them back down to earth. They currently hold the seventh seed with a 26-22 record.
Presti likely always planned to move on some of his veteran players this season, but the great start made him hold off on any moves. His decision was made easier after their recent poor form and he pulled the trigger to send Adams to New Orleans in this deal.
Number two pick Anthony Edwards has been a revelation for the Thunder in his rookie season. He is averaging 24 points per game and has already formed a strong partnership with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the court. Given that they have basically matched their win total from last season already, it's unlikely that they will have such a high pick again in the 2021 draft.
But they do have an amazing draft position. They will get the two highest picks out of their own, the Rockets' and the Clippers'. They have a lottery protected pick from Minnesota and now a top-7 protected pick from the Lakers. Both of those look set to be in the 25-30 range on current standings. They also have a second round pick tied to Cleveland and one tied to Washington.
The 2021 draft is being touted as one of the best classes since the legendary 2003 draft. Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham is the projected first overall pick and Presti would probably love to keep him in state. Perhaps of more interest would be the plethora of quality wing players available, such as Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandon Boston, Jalen Johnson, Ziaire Williams, Josh Christopher and Scottie Barnes.
It would not be surprising to see remaining veterans Danny Green and Avery Bradley traded to contenders in the near future, given this direction change by the Thunder.
Milwaukee receive
Jrue Holiday - 30 - SG - $26m - 1 year (+PO) (83)
Jeff Teague - 32 - PG - $5m - 1 year (78)
2021 Bucks second round pick - via Pelicans
Projected line-up:
Brook Lopez - Giannis Antetokounmpo - Khris Middleton - Jrue Holiday - Jeff Teague
Reserves:
Donte DiVincenzo, Bismack Biyombo, Reggie Jackson, Josh Green, Kent Bazemore, Pat Connaughton, DJ Wilson, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Robin Lopez, Thabo Sefolosha
New Orleans receive
Eric Bledsoe - 31 - PG - $54.3m - 3 years (83)
Steven Adams - 27 - C - $27.5m - 1 year (82)
Dean Wade - 22 - PF - $1.8m - 1 year (70)
2021 Bucks first round pick
2024 first round pick swap
2025 Bucks first round pick
2026 first round pick swap
2027 Bucks first round pick
Projected line-up:
Steven Adams - Zion Williamson - Brandon Ingram - JJ Redick - Eric Bledsoe
Reserves:
Lonzo Ball, Derrick Favors, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Hart, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Trendon Watford, Tyson Chandler, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dean Wade, Marcos Louzada Silva
Oklahoma City receive
George Hill - 34 - PG - $19.6m - 2 years (77)
Nicolo Melli - 30 - PF - $4.1m - 1 year (75)
Darius Miller - 30 - SF - $7.4m - 1 year (72)
2021 Lakers first round pick - via Pelicans (Top 7 protected)
2023 Wizards second round pick - via Pelicans
2024 Pelicans second round pick
Projected line-up:
Charles Bassey - Jabari Parker - Danny Green - Anthony Edwards - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Reserves:
George Hill, Nicolo Melli, Isaiah Mobley, Lu Dort, Darius Bazley, Avery Bradley, Terrance Ferguson, Frank Jackson, Darius Miller, Deyonta Davis
Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti hadn't even let the dust settle on the Steven Adams trade before he made another move. Just a day after that deal got done he has agreed to another three-team trade, this time with Philadelphia and Dallas.
The deal mainly revolves around the Thunder taking on the contract of veteran big man Al Horford in exchange for more draft assets.
Philadelphia originally signed Horford on a four-year contract worth an incredible $109 million at the start of last season. He was supposed to help them defend their 2019 title and he very nearly did. But the Sixers ultimately lost in game 7 of the 2020 finals against the Lakers.
Fast forward to this season and Horford still has $84 million left on his deal. It seemed to be a ludicrous amount to be paying a 34-year-old backup center who is only averaging 10 points per game, especially in this new "small ball" era of the NBA.
So the Sixers win in this deal simply by dumping that formidable contract. But they also added some much needed perimeter shooters in Danny Green and Seth Curry. They also add versatile forward Jabari Parker, who was once taken the pick before all-star center Joel Embiid in the 2014 draft.
Philadelphia needed to make a change after a lacklustre 27-23 start to the season saw them sink to the fifth seed. Now they have several perimeter threats surrounding Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, which should help with the spacing on offense. Tobias Harris may find himself playing more minutes at power forward after Horford's departure.
Dallas took advantage of this trade opportunity to add a strong wing defender in Josh Richardson. Their defense has been an area of weakness for them this season, evidenced by the fact that they are one of the worst teams in the league for points allowed per game. Richardson should straighten that out a bit and set a good example for his new teammates to follow.
Having their offense run by the skilled hands of Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis and LaMelo Ball meant that the Mavs really could afford to give up Curry's bench scoring in this deal in order to improve their defense. They now have a player who should be able to do a serviceable job against the LeBron's, Kawhi's and Klay Thompson's in the western conference.
The Mavericks are currently sitting on a 22-28 record, five games behind the eighth-seeded Rockets. They will be hoping that they can start turning some of the close losses they have been suffering into wins so that they can move up the rankings.
At first glance this may seem like a strange deal for the Thunder. Taking on an albatross contract in exchange for a lottery protected pick in four years time. But for Sam Presti it's all about asset collection. That pick, along with the 2021 second rounder, can be packaged and used to move up the draft order. The Thunder now have 16 first round picks and 9 second round picks over the next six drafts to work with.
The cap space isn't a huge deal either as this trade only lowers their projected available cap space next season from $77 million to about $54 million. More than enough to sign at least one max-level player. Not that Oklahoma City is a team which really needs to worry about signing star free agents. The reality for them is that their star players arrive via the draft or by trades.
Ironically, Horford himself was almost the biggest name free agent they signed. The Thunder looked set to sign him back in 2016 as part of their bid to keep superstar Kevin Durant. But Durant chose his easy path in Oakland and Horford eventually signed with the Boston Celtics.
Sam Presti is all about team culture, so deliberately losing games is an unthinkable way to go about things for him. His idea of tanking is to gut his team of veteran players and just let the kids do their best. It's an interesting strategy because on the one hand they get plenty of playing time. But on the other they risk being exposed to pressure too early, which may harm their development.
After making these two trades the Thunder's line-up is suddenly looking quite youthful - outside of the veteran Horford. So unless Anthony Edwards suddenly starts averaging 50 points a night for the rest of the season, their own pick should now end up being within the top 10 selections. As things currently stand their pick would be 20th overall. They would also have picks 15, 25, 27, 38 and 48 in the upcoming draft.
Depending on how the standings end up looking, we may see Presti package up some of those picks to move up the draft order. He may prefer to go with a strategy of quality over quantity. But then again given the depth of quality in this draft class, he may decide that having four first round picks could give him a better chance at landing a future star.
Dallas receive
Josh Richardson - 27 - SG - $10.9m - 1 year (+PO) (80)
Projected line-up:
Kristaps Porzingis - Maxi Kleber - Tim Hardaway Jr - Luka Doncic - LaMelo Ball
Reserves:
Josh Richardson, Jalen Brunson, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith, Boban Marjanovic, Delon Wright, Ersan Ilyasova, Justin Jackson, Courtney Lee, Isaiah Roby
Oklahoma City receive
Al Horford - 34 - C - $83.7m - 3 years (78)
James Ennis - 30 - SF - $2m - 1 year (75)
Norvel Pelle - 27 - C - $890k - 1 year (71)
2021 Knicks second round pick - via 76ers
2025 Sixers first round pick (Lottery protected)
Projected line-up:
Al Horford - Isaiah Mobley - Darius Bazley - Anthony Edwards - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Reserves:
George Hill, Nicolo Melli, Lu Dort, Avery Bradley, Frank Jackson, James Ennis, Darius Miller, Deyonta Davis, Charles Bassey, Norvel Pelle
Philadelphia receive
Seth Curry - 30 - SG - $24.5m - 3 years (78)
Danny Green - 33- SF - $15.3m - 1 year (77)
Jabari Parker - 25 - PF - $27.3m - 2 years (+TO) (77)
Terrance Ferguson - 22 - SF - $3.9m - 1 year (71)
Projected line-up:
Joel Embiid - Jabari Parker - Tobias Harris - Seth Curry - Ben Simmons
Reserves:
Danny Green, Isaiah Thomas, Shake Milton, Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle, Jonah Bolden, Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson, Zhaire Smith, Armando Bacot
OKC | 28 | 35 | 31 | 35 | 129 |
DET | 29 | 39 | 33 | 31 | 132 |
Player of the Game: Blake Griffin
(35pts, 7reb, 3ast, 3stl, 1blk)
(13-21 FG, 2-2 3PT, 7-8 FT)
Simmed Game
ATL | 25 | 19 | 21 | 35 | 100 |
OKC | 29 | 20 | 16 | 27 | 192 |
POTG: Trae Young (32pts, 8reb, 5ast, 1stl)
Record: 26-24
Andrew wrote:Great screenshot there with that dunk!
Transactions
02/01/21 - Milwaukee signed Giannis Antetokounmpo to a long-term extension (4yr/$156m)
21/01/21 - Oklahoma City waived Justin Patton
23/01/21 - Oklahoma City signed Lu Dort (3yr/$5.2m)
24/01/21 - Boston waived two-way player Jordan Nwora
26/01/21 - Memphis waived Tyler Cook
26/01/21 - Memphis signed two-way player Tyler Bey for the remainder of the season (1yr/$900k)
28/01/21 - Sacramento waived Justin James
28/01/21 - Sacramento signed two-way player Ashton Hagans for the remainder of the season (1yr/$1.4m)
29/01/21 - Milwaukee received Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague, 2021 Bucks 2nd
29/01/21 - New Orleans received Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, Dean Wade, 2021 Bucks 1st, 2024 Bucks 1st (swap), 2025 Bucks 1st, 2026 Bucks 1st (swap), 2027 Bucks 1st
29/01/21 - Oklahoma City received George Hill, Nicolo Melli, Darius Miller, 2021 Lakes 1st (Top 7 protected), 2023 Wizards 2nd, 2024 Pelicans 2nd
29/01/21 - New Orleans waived Tyson Chandler
29/01/21 - New Orleans signed Austin Rivers (1yr/$1.6m)
30/01/21 - Dallas received Josh Richardson
30/01/21 - Oklahoma City received Al Horford, James Ennis, Norvel Pelle, 2021 Knicks 2nd, 2025 76ers 1st (Lottery protected)
30/01/21 - Philadelphia received Danny Green, Seth Curry, Jabari Parker, Terrance Ferguson
30/01/21 - Milwaukee waived Dragan Bender
30/01/21 - Milwaukee signed Thabo Sefolosha (1yr/$1.6m)
30/01/21 - Philadelphia waived Jonah Bolden
30/01/21 - Philadelphia signed Kyle O'Quinn (1yr/$1.6m)
MIA | 28 | 36 | 28 | 35 | 127 |
OKC | 25 | 29 | 22 | 32 | 108 |
Player of the Game: Bam Adebayo
(28pts, 15reb, 5ast, 1stl, 2blk)
(13-17 FG, 2-4 FT)
Simmed Game
TOR | 30 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 113 |
OKC | 21 | 30 | 25 | 21 | 197 |
POTG: Fred VanVleet (19pts, 5reb, 10ast)
Record: 26-26
The 2021 all-star participants were announced last week and today team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo selected their squads through a televised draft.
Familiar names like Durant, Harden, Curry, Irving and Davis will all appear once again. Six first-time all-stars were selected this year, which is the most since 2010 when nine made their debut.
James Harden and Ja Morant will return to defend their crowns in the three-point and dunk contests, respectively.
Team LeBron will be coached by Alvin Gentry, whilst Team Giannis will be coached by Brad Stevens.
Slam Dunk Contest
Zion Williamson (New Orleans)
Ja Morant (Memphis)
John Collins (Atlanta)
Donovan Mitchell (Utah)
Three Point Contest
Steph Curry (Golden State)
James Harden (Houston)
Damian Lillard (Portland)
Kevin Durant (Brooklyn)
Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn)
Trae Young (Atlanta)
Rising Stars Challenge
Team USA
James Wiseman (Charlotte)
Isaiah Stewart (Washington)
Anthony Edwards (Oklahoma City)
Jarrett Culver (Minnesota)
Coby White (Chicago)
Bol Bol (Denver)
LaMelo Ball (Dallas)
De'Andre Hunter (Atlanta)
Isaiah Mobley (Oklahoma City)
Jaden McDaniels (Memphis)
RJ Hampton (Detroit)
Tyler Herro (Miami)
Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia)
Team World
N'Faly Dante (Memphis)
Brandon Clarke (Memphis)
Rui Hachimura (Washington)
RJ Barrett (New York)
Theo Maledon (Miami)
Sekou Doumbouya (Detroit)
Killian Hayes (Boston)
Lu Dort (Oklahoma City)
Deni Avdija (Sacramento)
Luka Samanic (San Antonio)
Goga Bitadze (Indiana)
Josh Green (Milwaukee)
Bruno Fernando (Atlanta)
OKC | 30 | 31 | 32 | 24 | 117 |
ATL | 31 | 43 | 25 | 22 | 121 |
Player of the Game: Trae Young
(33pts, 1reb, 6ast)
(12-26 FG, 5-8 3PT, 4-4 FT)
Simmed Game
OKC | 19 | 31 | 33 | 21 | 104 |
NOP | 29 | 25 | 36 | 32 | 122 |
POTG: Brandon Ingram (29pts, 6reb, 6ast, 1stl)
Record: 26-28
MEM | 28 | 34 | 30 | 31 | 123 |
OKC | 34 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 111 |
Player of the Game: Ja Morant
(34pts, 3reb, 11ast)
(14-30 FG, 4-12 3PT, 2-4 FT)
Simmed Game
OKC | 30 | 20 | 18 | 25 | 93 |
MIN | 24 | 18 | 26 | 30 | 98 |
POTG: Karl-Anthony Towns (24pts, 16reb, 4ast)
Record: 26-30
Andrew wrote:I can only speak for MyCAREER, but Trae Young feels like an unstoppable player in NBA 2K.
DAL | 24 | 35 | 32 | 25 | 116 |
OKC | 30 | 27 | 30 | 34 | 121 |
Player of the Game: Kristaps Porzingis
(40pts, 16reb, 3ast, 2stl, 2blk)
(18-34 FG, 1-1 3PT, 3-4 FT)
Record: 27-30
USA_I | 31 | 33 | 41 | 32 | 137 |
World | 27 | 32 | 26 | 31 | 116 |
Player of the Game: Isaiah Mobley
(29pts, 15reb, 5ast, 5stl, 6blk)
(13-19 FG, 2-2 3PT, 1-1 FT)
2021 Three Point Contest
Round One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJs_EQeQSQg
Round Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Gdu6e_E4Q
Round Three
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U76SqrRCxI
2021 Dunk Contest
Round One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVmCctYZgso
Round Two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLx_E8xkc8
Round Three
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjOZ47a2zhc
GIANNIS | 39 | 37 | 28 | 38 | 142 |
1LEBRON | 23 | 42 | 36 | 38 | 139 | 1
Player of the Game: Giannis Antetokounmpo
(19pts, 25reb, 3ast, 1stl, 3blk)
(6-11 FG, 7-10 FT)
OKC | 31 | 25 | 25 | 36 | 117 |
UTA | 22 | 32 | 28 | 28 | 110 |
Player of the Game: Anthony Edwards
(39pts, 4reb, 4ast, 2stl, 4blk)
(16-21 FG, 1-1 3PT, 6-10 FT)
Simmed Game
OKC | 22 | 21 | 38 | 28 | 109 |
LAL | 39 | 33 | 33 | 18 | 123 |
POTG: LeBron James (32pts, 8reb, 11ast, 2stl, 2blk)
Record: 28-31
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