Good morning, it’s the NBA trade deadline!
In Thursday’s NBA newsletter, we look at all of the deals and non-deals circulating as the trade deadline approaches. Plus more links to NBA-ish stuff.
Good morning. Happy trade deadline day. Let’s basketball.
BIG F’N DEAL: Steve Blake is a Warrior. Golden State sent Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks to L.A. for the veteran point guard. Mark Deeks explains how the insanely complicated deal got completed, which provides a nice window into how incredibly complicated it is to be an NBA GM these days.
BIGGER F’N DEAL: Earlier on Wednesday, the Kings traded Marcus Thornton to the Nets for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans. Brooklyn may also add Jordan Hill with a portion of their disabled player exception. Yes, the Nets are still adding salary. If they get Hill, their tax bill will be around $140 million.
BIGGEST F’N DEALS: Rajon Rondo’s name continues to float around. The Rockets are the latest team interested. If the Wolves want to keep Kevin Love, The Hook argues that they need to get into action tout de f’n suite. (That said, Flip Saunders seems pretty relaxed. His comment came in response to Peter Vecsey’s report Love has told Flip he’ll opt out and bail in 2015.)
MORE RUMORS, RAPID FIRE: The Cavs and Kings are working on a Jarrett Jack-Jason Thompson deal, except the Cavs don’t want Thompson, which is an issue.
The Magic might trade Arron Afflalo, but probably not to the Bobcats.
The Wizards and Nuggets are fighting over ... Beno Udrih.
Luol Deng’s contract situation is making a potential trade difficult.
The Kings are interested in Gary Neal or GM Pete D’Alessandro is just trolling everyone.
The Knicks not only wanted Jeff Teague, but wanted the Hawks to take Raymond Felton. “May I punch you twice, sir?”
’HOWARD SUCKS’: The Rockets kicked the Lakers’ ass in L.A. Wednesday, thanks in no small part to Dwight Howard, who finished with 20. Lakers fans broke out a “Howard sucks” chant during the blowout, because of course. Dwight actually joined in, because of course of course of course. It’s the first funny thing Dwight’s done in at least three years.
WORST CONTRACTS: Bill Simmons’ annual look at the NBA’s worst contracts is always an entertaining read.
WALL-STAR: John Wall with the most absurd crossover to stepback imaginable. Allen Iverson is like “Woo-wee!”
THE RUSSELL QUESTION: Westbrook returns Thursday. So do the questions about whether the Thunder are better without him.
A WORD FROM PRAVDA: At least we know what David Stern is doing in retirement: running @NBA and critiquing the Knicks’ team-building style.
EXUM IN AUSTRALIA: Bleacher Report’s Jared Zwerling has a neat feature on Dante Exum as he was in Australia: a relative nobody.
MAHINMEE HEE HEE: Here’s GIF of Ian Mahinmi pulling a fast one on J.J. Barea. The basketball equivalent of Lucy and the football.
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS: LeBron writes a message to his deadbeat dad on Instagram. “Could have said why me with u not being there but look what I made of myself.”
AND NOW SOME WHIMSY: From Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show, Brian Williams and Lester Holt doing “Rapper’s Delight.”
Be on the lookout for a special post-deadline edition of Good Morning It’s Basketball. Until then, happy deadline day and a rumor rumor rumor to you. See you next time.
