That Was One Hell of an NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline came and went and it was a doozy. I thought after the Kyrie trade things were going to be quiet. They were not. Not by a long shot. Things started wild and finished wild. I already spoke about the Kyrie trade and today I want to hit on a few others before I talk about the blockbuster of all blockbusters that happened last night.

First, James Wiseman is now on the Pistons. Gary Payton II is back with the Warriors. There were a few other players moved in this trade, but these are the big names. I like this move for the players and the teams. Payton returns to where he thrived, he is being paid and he is healthy. He also brings grit and defense. Wiseman gets to go to a spot where he will play with other players the same age and he will get tons of minutes. He will be allowed to learn while he plays the rest of the season. He wasn't going to get that in Golden State. This is a fresh start for him, and next season he will get to play with Cade Cunnigham, Jaden Ivey and maybe, just maybe, Victor Webanyama. He and Jalen Duren could be a fun front court too.

Saadiq Bey was moved to Atlanta, and this will fit him well. I like Bey and he will bring stability and defense to a team that needs both.

The Nuggets traded Bones Hyland to the Clippers for picks. I love this move for the Clippers. Hyland brings instant offense off the bench. He is better at scoring than anyone else they have on that bench now. He also doesn't have to play a ton of defense because the Clippers have that in waves. If the Clippers are ever truly healthy, this is a good trade for them.

Jae Crowder was traded to the Nets and then the Bucks came calling with five second round picks to scoop him up. I remember two years back when the Bucks won the title they traded for PJ Tucker to shore up their elite defense. Jae Crowder is a better PJ Tucker. Crowder is a solid defender, can handle the ball and is a far superior shooter to Tucker. He is a legit 3 and D guy and Giannis and Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, if he is ever fully healed, will find him in open spots everywhere. I get strong vibes from two years ago. This is a homerun trade by the Bucks.

The Lakers, T'Wolves and Jazz were involved in a big three team trade. The Lakers got Malik Beasley, D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt. This is a nice haul for them. They got younger and better at shooting with Russell. Beasley was coveted and he can shoot from everywhere. Vanderbilt is a fine backup big. The T'Wolves got Nickeil Alexander Walker, Mike Conley and picks. The Wolves got rid of an unhappy player in Russell and replaced him with the quintessential veteran point guard. If anyone can calm the seas in Minnesota it is Conley. Alexander Walker was thrown in and doesn't add much. But at least Minnesota got some picks back. They are going to need them. The Jazz got Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano Anderson, Damian Jones and the Lakers 2027 first round pick. I do not know if any player will stay, I'm almost certain Westbrook is going to be let go, but that pick was gold. The Jazz have gotten so many picks and this one was heavily wanted around the league.

Josh Hart was moved to the Knicks for peanuts. Hart and Jalen Brunson are reunited. Brunson was pumped after this trade was made. This is a very good, very smart move by the Knicks. Hart is a consummate pro, does all the little things and is a fan favorite everywhere he plays. I love this deal for the Knicks.

And now for the big one.

Sorry to all the other trades I didn't mention, but this one needs its own space. Kevin Durant and TJ Warren were traded to the Suns for Mikail Bridges, Jae Crowder, Cam Johnson and five, count them five, unprotected picks. The Nets may have lost two super duper stars, but they won the treasure trove of picks. They got so many picks in their two big trades. Picks are coveted and, next to the Thunder and Jazz, the Nets have the goods. They also got some solid players. They did move Crowder, as mentioned before, but the other two players they got are solid. Johnson is a good shooter and an above average defender. He should thrive with more playing time. Bridges is a perennial all first team defense player. He has been up for Defensive Player of the Year the past two years. He has also become a solid shooter, can kind of create off the dribble and is fun to watch. I am a Mikail Bridges fan. The Suns got the biggest name. I thought it was odd this offseason when he wanted to go to Phoenix, but now he is there and the Suns title odds have jumped all the way to second. Their projected starting lineup features CP3, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, TJ Warren and Kevin Durant. That is a damn good starting lineup. That is a murderers row of future hall of famers. CP3 and KD are all but guaranteed to be there. If Booker keeps up his play he will be there too. Ayton is proving to be a very solid big man that can stretch the floor. And Warren is a microwave. That dude can score the basketball. The bench isn't bad but it isn't great either. Saben Lee and Cam Payne are backup point guards. Lee barely sees the floor, but Payne is a very okay backup. He has his moments. Damion Lee and Landry Shamet are the backup 2 guards. I mean, that is very ho hum. Both are decent shooters but they don't do much else. Torrey Craig and Josh Okogie are the back up 3's. I mean. Craig is big and Okogie was a lottery pick, but neither really move the needle for me. Ish Wainwright backs up KD and I don't know anything about him. And I watch a ton of NBA. And Jock Landale and Bismack Biyombo are Ayton's backups. Landale is mediocre and Biyombo is old. Look, the starting five for the Suns is lethal, if healthy. That is a big if. KD is still not back from injury. Booker just got back from injury. CP3 is old and having a bad season by his standards. But all of that can change when they all get back.

I think it was a great trade for the Nets and a good one for the Suns. But I also think my response to a question my son asked me this morning was pretty telling as to how I truly feel about this trade. He asked, "this means the Suns are the favorites now in the West right?". Without hesitation I said, "nope". I think their starting five may be the best in the league, but they have a ton of ground to make up and the teams at the top are good. The Nuggets have a healthy lead and a good squad. The Grizzlies are young and athletic and brash. I love that team so far. The Kings are clicking. The Mavs made a massive trade. The Lakers are clearly buying in and trying to make the playoffs. The T'Wolves are kind of figuring it out. And the Clippers are always lingering. We will see is all I am saying.

This deadline was pretty wild and I loved every second of it. This is just another thing that makes the NBA the best. Keep all the movement coming. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Thoughts on the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and there were a ton of moves. There were big moves, small moves, lateral moves, all of the moves you could want as an NBA fan that looks forward to the trade deadline. This was a big day, with some big lead up trades, and I am here to give you some of my thoughts on the day.

Let's get the biggie out of the way first. James Harden was traded to the 76ers for Ben Simmons. I did not think this was going to happen. I assumed both teams were just playing chicken with one another and they would strike up a deal in the offseason. But it happened. Ben Simmons will be back, he will be playing and he is on a team that suits his abilities as an NBA player. Joining him in Brooklyn are Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and some picks. The Nets get defensive help with Simmons, an extra shooter in Curry and a backup big man in Drummond. The 76ers get, what I assume will be, a motivated James Harden who will totally spread the floor for Embiid. He is going to give Embiid so much more freedom, he will bring some much needed outside shooting to the 76ers and he can play the point with ease. They also get Paul Milsap, who has proven he can be a nice fit with a contender. I think the 76ers got the better end of the deal, but Brooklyn got some help as well. This deal works for both teams. Now I am interested in seeing how these guys look when playing real games. The 76ers are still a top threat in the East, and if the Nets can get healthy, and Kyrie can stop being such an asshole, they could find their way back into the top 4 or 5.

Okay, not for the other trades.

The Spurs acquired Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and a pick in exchange for Derrick White to the Celtics. This is a very ho hum trade to me. White brings youth and a willingness to pass to Boston. The Spurs are not great, but they add more youth with Langford, and who knows what Richardson will bring. I think they just want the picks.

There was a four team trade with the Kings getting Donte DiVincenzo, Trey Lyles and Josh Jackson, the Bucks got Serge Ibaka and picks, the Clippers got Rodney Hood and Semi Ojele and the Pistons got Marvin Bagley Jr. The Bucks got the best of this deal in my opinion. Serge Ibaka is almost the same as when they got PJ Tucker last year. They also get future picks. The Kings got a piece in DiVincenzo, but the other guys feel like throw ins. I do not know what the Clippers are doing. And Detroit might get a motivated Bagley out of this. He has wanted out of Sacramento for so long, and now he got his wish. He should get a ton more shots too.

Orlando got Bol Bol, Pj Dozier and some picks. They sent over a second round pick to Boston. The only thing I like about this trade is the fact that Bol Bol should actually get real playing time in Orlando.

The Raptors traded Goran Dragic and a pick to the Spurs for Thad Young, Drew Eubanks and a pick. Dragic will be bought out, and the rest of this trade is very blah.

I was kind of shocked at first when I saw that Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. The experiment is over in Dallas. Luka Doncic will like having a few new creators. And Washington can pair Brad Beal with KP. Maybe that will work.

The Wizards also traded Aaron Holiday to the Suns, with no other reporting yet, and Montrezl Harrell to the Hornets for Vernon Carey and Ish Smith. The Harrell deal is great for Charlotte. They did not have to give up too much, and they got a tough, hard nosed defender and rebounder who will play hard every night.

The Suns will reunite with Torrey Craig after sending Jalen Smith and a future pick to Indiana. With Craig and Holiday the Suns just bolstered their bench.

The Pelicans made a kind of big trade a few days back when they got CJ McCollum. The Pelicans also acquired Larry Nance Jr and Tony Snell. They traded Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Tomas Satoransky to Portland. There are also future picks. The Pelicans are clearly trying to make the play in. Portland, I don't really know what they are doing, other than actively trying to get Dame to leave so they can rebuild.

Alexander-Walker moved again, to Utah. Utah also got Juancho Hernangomez.

The Blazers got Joe Ingles, who is out for the season and Elijah Hughes. The Spurs, the third team in the deal, got Satoransky and a second round pick. This trade is all very blah, but I say again, what in the hell is Portland doing?

The Kings also made a bigger move a few days back when they traded Tyrese Haliburton, Tristan Thompson and Buddy Hield to Indiana for Sabonis, Juston Holiday and Jeremy Lamb. The Kings gave up way too soon on Haliburton, who is going to be a star. Sabonis is good, a proven all star, but I would much rather have Haliburton right now. And I do not get why they let Hield go as well. He may not be shooting as well this season, but he can still be lethal. This was a confusing one for me.

The Cavs got Caris Levert from Indy and they gave up an injured Ricky Rubio and three draft picks. It is a big deal, but I like Levert's fit with Cleveland. He can help them stay in the playoff hunt.

The Clippers did acquire Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Blazers for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow and Keon Johnson. This trade makes a little bit of sense for the Clippers. And, yet again, is baffling coming from Portland.

I also just saw that Houston got Dennis Schroder, Enes Freedom, who they will waive and Bruno Fernando from Boston. In return Boston brings back Daniel Thies. This trade is a wash.

That seems like most of the deals, and with it being nearly an hour since the deadline passed, there should not be anymore movement until we get to the buyout market. But like I said at the top, this deadline was fun and full of movement. The Simmons for Harden trade is the headline. But there are some other moves that will shape the rest of the season, and that is exactly why

I love the NBA trade deadline. Now we will wait for all these moves to be made official, and after that, I am stoked to watch these guys playing for their new teams. It should be a blast.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

Ty's Thoughts on the NBA Trade Deadline

I was waiting until after the NBA trade deadline to write about it today. I did not want to write about a trade that didn't happen only to have it happen two hours later. I wanted to give myself time to see it all the way through, even so far as to waiting to see the big names on the buyout market. Now that we are over an hour past the deadline, I have some takes.

A few "big" trades happened a few days, or even weeks, before the deadline. PJ Tucker made his way to the Bucks a week or so back. There was the massive three team Harden trade over a month ago. And we had all the offseason craziness that occurred. But this deadline, this was as wild and crazy as I can remember in some time.

The day started slow. The Clippers traded a bench guy for future stuff, and Delon Wright moved from Detroit to Sacramento for Corey Joseph and picks. These moves didn't really do much for me, and I do not think they do much to change the future of the teams involved. Then around 9 am Saint Louis time stuff started to really happen.

The first trade I saw was JaVale McGee to Denver for Isaiah Haretnstein and picks. This is a good move for Denver right now, and maybe even better for Cleveland in the near future. McGee is a great backup to Jokic, and has proven he is a quality bench veteran for a contender. Just look at his time with the Lakers and Warriors.

Next was one of the bigger trades, and the first of many moves for Orlando. They traded Nikola Vucevic and Al Faroq Aminu to the Bulls for Otto Porter Jr, Wendell Carter Jr and picks. I like this trade for both teams. The Magic aren't going anywhere this year. They stink. So they were pretty much forced to move Vucevic. In return they get Otto Porter, who still could be bought out and Wendell Carter, plus those picks. Carter never got quality time in Chicago and a fresh start seems great for him. The picks are for rebuilding. For Vucevic, he gets to go to a team fighting for a playoff spot, and adds more scoring to a team that has Zach Lavine and Coby White. Those three will fill it up night to night. And Al Faroq Aminu is a seasoned vet with decent playoff experience. Both teams "won" this deal.

Right after trading Vucevic, the Magic immediately moved on from Evan Forunier, trading him to Boston for Jeff Teague and more picks. Again, the Magic will probably buy out Teague, and they got more future picks. Fournier has not been great this year, but he brings some much needed bench scoring to a Celtics team that desperately needs it right now. This trade isn't as "sexy" as the Vucevic one, but I get it.

Boston then decided they needed to trade Daniel Thiess for Mo Wagner. This trade confuses me a bit. Thiess was a good defender against other teams centers, and as much as I loved Wagner while he was at Michigan, the dude does not play a lick of defense. He can score and stretch a defense, but Boston will miss Thiess' defense. He may like playing with Russ and Brad Beal though. And they will love his toughness.

After being quiet for about five minutes, Orlando then made their biggest move of the day, trading Aaron Gordon to Denver. I love this move for Denver. This will only help them. This makes them so much more athletic and switchable than they already were. Gordon should thrive alongside Jokic and Jamaal Murray. He is a perfect third option on a very good team. This move, to me, pushes Denver to the second or third best team in the West. Denver did have to give up Gary Harris and RJ Hampton, but it is worth it to get Gordon. Harris has fallen off a bit, and Hampton rarely sees the floor. With Orlando they will both get so much more time, and set themselves up for future contracts. But Denver getting Gordon is a big, big deal.

The Kings, after making one move, traded Nemanja Bjelica to the Heat for Moe Harkless and Chris Silva. This isn't a bunch of big names, but it adds shooting for the Heat and depth and some youth for the Kings.

The Trailblazers got a steal when they traded for Norman Powell. He has been on fire this year, he adds scoring depth and has played solid defense. All Portland had to give up was Gary Trent and Rodney Hood, both of whom I wouldn't be surprised if they were bought out. Toronto seems to be punting this season anyway.

The 76ers got a solid point guard in George Hill. While he is not Kyle Lowry, he is another tough nose vet who will really help the 76ers, especially with Embiid still out.

The Thunder acquired Tony Bradley, who just had a career night, Terrance Ferguson and more picks. I think all they want is the picks, but Bradley is a nice addition.

The Knicks got involved in this deal as well. They sent Austin Rivers to OKC and acquired Terrance Ferguson. They also traded Ignas Brazdeikes, another former Wolverine, to the 76ers. This deal was all about getting the 76ers a point guard, and that is what they got in George Hill.

Things slowed down for a half an hour after that, with bench players being traded for other bench players. Then the Clippers traded Lou Williams to the Hawks for Rajon Rondo. I love this trade for the Hawks and I am very skeptical about the Clippers. I know Rondo was great in the Finals, and all of the playoffs when he was healthy for that matter, but he does not add scoring at all. They have two Patrick Beverly's. Lou Williams is a walking bucket, one of the better sixth men in the league, and he is from Atlanta. The Clippers traded scoring for point guard depth, but the Hawks got the better of this deal. Lou Williams is going to love playing in a free flowing system in Atlanta. The Hawks "won" this trade.

Then right at the end of the deadline, literally with seconds left, two big deals got done. JJ Redick joined the Mavericks when the Pelicans traded him for James Johnson and Wes Iwundu. I'm sure the Pelicans will buy out both those guys. This was purely for Redick to go to a team that is almost a playoff lock. The Mavericks got more shooting, but they did not add any defense. They are also the whitest team in the NBA. They are like the Iowa of the NBA. Then, maybe 30 seconds past the deadline, the ink dried on a Victor Oladipo trade to Miami. Houston finally pulled the trigger and let Oladipo go for Kelly Olynkn and Avery Bradley and a pick swap. The Rockets can continue to tank, and the Heat add a serious athlete on a rental who should now start going full bore since he is looking to cash in this offseason. The Heat needed a guy that can create his own shot, that plays sound defense and who can coexist with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. If this doesn't make Oladipo take that next step, nothing will. He got what he wanted, the Heat got what they wanted and so did Houston. This was another "win" for both teams.

At this point, the two biggest names on the buyout market are LaMarcus Aldridge and Andre Drummond. Both will find good teams to join by the end of the night I would guess.

There was such a flurry of moves I didn't even mention some guys that stayed put. Lonzo Ball is still a Pelican, Kyle Lowry will most likely retire a Raptor, Myles Turner stays in Indiana. These names were mentioned, among others, but they stayed put. But this deadline did not disappoint. There was a flurry of movement and I loved following along all morning and early afternoon. Now I want to see these guys in their new uniforms, especially Aaron Gordon in Denver, What a deadline.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing. 

Andre Drummond Deserves Better

I know that I touched on the NBA trade deadline yesterday, and RD even put up the fact that D’Angelo Russell got traded to the Timberwolves much to the delight of Karl Anthony Towns, and that the Warriors are ready to turn Andrew Wiggins around, but there’s one other trade that I want to focus on today, and it’s an egregious one. Russell was probably the biggest name moved, you could throw in Clint Capela maybe, but he has not been an all star, but that Andre Drummond was traded, to Cleveland, for what amounts to peanuts, has me shaking my head.

I get that Drummond is a dinosaur in the modern NBA. He might be the 21st century version of Roy Hibbert, except not as good on defense. He also has tried, but he simply isn’t a good enough shooter to become a stretch player. But, Drummond has been an all star. He’s been on the US national team. He’s been to the playoffs a few times. He is a savage rebounder. He’s relentless on the boards. He does have a solid low post game. Drummond isn’t great, but he’s no slouch. I actually feel kind of mean calling him a modern Roy Hibbert. Hibbert was good for maybe two seasons. Drummond has been a solid player his whole career. He’s just been languished on a team that is in NBA purgatory, and I think that has clouded people’s judgement on him as a player. If he was playing in a bigger market, or on a better team, Drummond would be a commodity. Mitchell Robinson, who I really, really like, is a similar player, but since he’s the only decent Knick, the media adores him. He plays a very similar game, is only a few years younger, and is on a very bad team as well, but he plays in New York, and people look at him like a prized possession. Drummond on the other hand, he’s a player that I’ve heard media members describe as a “stat hunter”, “lazy”, “not willing to adjust to the modern NBA” or “not good”. I don’t agree with any of that. I still believe that Drummond is a good player if he’s put in the right situation. I don’t think he’s a stat hunter. He’s a big guy that has been trained his whole life to rebound. That’s what’s in him. I don’t think he’s lazy at all. I watch too many Pistons games, I am a League Pass subscriber, and he looks like he’s going hard all game. He just doesn’t yell or scream or show up dudes. He does his job, and he does it well. I already said that he’s tried to get a jump shot, but I go back to the fact that he’s a big man. I’m sure he was big when he was young, and I’m sure he was told to rebound, block shots and stay in the post. It’s hard to move on from that when it’s been your identity forever.

The whole not good stuff, that’s just blasphemy. Drummond is a very good NBA player. A guy that’s no good wouldn’t be able to consistently grab 20 rebounds and pour in 20 points. I really think the people who say he’s no good are these analytical and stat nerds. They have no respect or sympathy for throw back centers. These are the same people who don’t think prime Shaq would be a good modern NBA player. Prime Shaq would dominate in the modern game. Giannis is like prime Shaq, just skinnier, and he’s looking at possible back to back MVP seasons. I don’t like that analytics have become such a part of the NBA. To me, it’s ruining the game.

Back to Drummond. I’ve already stated many reasons why I think he’s a solid player, but this trade is a slap in the face to him. He’s solid, and he was traded for two salary dump guys and a second round pick. That’s ridiculous. He is worth so much more than that. I personally think it should have been a comparable player swap, or multiple role player swap. A team like the Celtics could’ve used him. They would have had to give up Marcus Smart, or Daniel Thiess, or a few bench guys, but it would’ve been worth it. The Rockets would’ve been better off going Capela for Drummond straight up. I think the Clippers could’ve used Drummond, and they would have only had to part with players like Ivan Zubac and Mo Harkless, maybe Derrick Walton Jr too. Hell, Denver could’ve put him next to Jokic, and that would be a better front court pairing than Jokic and Paul Milsap.

I don’t like this trade for either team, and I feel bad for Drummond now. I hope he balls the hell out and gets a nice contract offer from a playoff team for next season. He’s a consummate pro, so I know he’ll try, and play hard. The Cavs are so bad, it might not matter. But, if Drummond goes out there and gets 20 and 20 every night, someone smart will sign him ASAP this offseason. I promise you that.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline is today. All trades, prior to buyout candidates, and salary fillers, need to be submitted and agreed upon by 2pm my time.

So far there has been one major trade in my eyes. It was a four team deal, but it was pretty much Clint Capela going to Atlanta and Robert Covington joining the Rockets. Sure, the Timberwolves got a few solid role guys that will get to show what they can do with extended minutes in Juancho Hernangomez and Malik Beasley, and they also got a pick. But, Capela and Covington are the big names. All in all, I don't get this trade for any team involved really. As I said, the Timberwolves got some guys to give extra minutes to, but they will, most likely, not be able to retain either of them in the offseason. The Nuggets, I think, got Evan Tuner and a pick. That is very ho hum for a contender. Capela going to the Hawks is good and bad. It's good for him because he gets to leave Houston. It is no fun to watch Houston, so I can't imagine it is any fun, especially for a true center, to play there. It's also good for him because he will get to play, and show the league what he can do when he isn't under James Harden's thumb. It is bad because he is going from a surefire playoff team to a team with 13 wins. That is a true bummer. As for the Rockets, Covington is a solid three and d guy, that they covet, but he is a guard. They have a roster full of guards. They have no real center anymore. Sure, Tyson Chandler is on the roster, but he is as old as me. This Rockets team is going to trot out a starting 5 with no one bigger than 6'6. They are going to get murdered on the boards, and their interior defense is going to be atrocious. They are going to get killed by the Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, any team with a viable center is liable to go off any night. This trade seems like a big deal, but it doesn't really move the needle, to me, for any of the four teams involved.

As for the "other" big trade, Andre Iguodala, who I have really soured on this year, was traded from Memphis to Miami. This looks very good on paper for Miami. They also got Jae Crowder as well. Crowder and Iguodala bring even more toughness and defense to an already great defensive team. But, Crowder's shooting has been iffy, and Iguodala is my age, and hasn't played competitive basketball in almost a full year. He is going to be rusty and need time to get back into playing shape. As for Memphis, they got rid of a headache, got Dion Waiters in return, who I am sure they will waive, and now they can go play and have fun. Oh, and I almost forgot, they also acquired Justice Winslow. I know he is hurt, and hasn't played much all year, and hasn't lived up to the hype, but maybe all he needs is a change of scenery. I think this could really benefit him, and the Grizzlies, as they make a playoff push.

Another deal went down last night, the Warriors traded Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III to the 76ers for some picks. The Warriors aren't going anywhere this season, so why not take picks, and the 76ers need shooters and depth, both of which Burks and Robinson III can bring. This is a solid deal with no real big named players.

I just read that the Danilo Gallinari trade from OKC to Miami has stalled, but it could still work itself out. Also, with Iguodala and Crowder, and if they can add Gallinari, they will be legit contenders. They can beat the Bucks.

Now that we are a few hours away, I wonder if any other big names will get moved. I’m sure role players and buyouts will happen, but what about the big names? As far as I can tell, some of the big names being mentioned lately are LaMarcus Aldridge, Jrue Holiday, and for some reason, and it’s been going on all year, either Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid have been brought up. First of all, I don’t think the 76ers are going to blow up their team right now. I know they’re struggling right now, but they’re in the playoffs, and these are the dog days of the NBA season. Every team goes through a rough stretch. It might be better for Philadelphia to get this out of the way now. They should not trade either of these guys. As far as LMA, I don’t think he’ll get moved because San Antonio is still in the playoff race, and Greg Poppovich likes to win and play in the playoffs. He needs LMA for that. Also, he’s been playing much better as of late. If the Spurs are to move anyone, I don’t see it being LMA or DeMar DeRozan. It will be a bench guy to get a veteran, if they trade anyone at all. And then we have Jrue Holiday. He seems to be the biggest name, and a player all the contenders want. The only problem, I don’t think the Pelicans want to move anyone because Zion is back. I think New Orleans really wants to see what they have now that they’re fully healthy. They’re also not totally out of the playoffs yet. I don’t they they’ll move Holiday unless they get an absolute king’s ransom for him. I’m talking a player of equal caliber, or players, and picks upon picks. They’d have to get a lot to move him.

I guess this is all to say, I think that Capela-Covington is the biggest trade to happen this deadline. Seems boring, and I think it is too. I see most teams staying pat because the league is so wide open this year. All the big stuff went down during the offseason. This trade deadline will, most likely, end with a dud. Sorry to all those who were expecting fireworks.

Editor’s note: After Ty sent in his article, he texted to say another trade has gone down. The Warriors sent D’Angelo Russell to the Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins. Looks good for both teams, but Ty thinks Minnesota and especially Karl Anthony Towns will be very happy to welcome Russell. We will see.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Let's Talk About the NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and AD is still a member of the Pelicans, more on him at the end. Without AD being moved, we did have some big names get traded to new teams. Let’s get right to it.

I already talked about Porzingis to the Mavs. But, after he was traded, only a few days after, the 76ers pulled off a big deal. They traded for Tobias Harris. I know his name isn't as exciting as AD or Porzingis, but he gives the 76ers a fourth star, and a guy that will buy in and contribute to an already contending team. Harris has always fit in wherever he has played, and he is in a contract year.

The Clippers also made out pretty well in this trade, getting guys on good contracts and future picks. They are setting themselves up for the summer. They also got rid of Avery Bradley, he went to the Grizzlies, and acquired a few none essential Lakers to get off the Mike Muscala contract. They did good.

Philly traded Markelle Fultz today. I hope this works out for him, I still have a little faith, but this was for the best. They sent him to Orlando, and they got a first and second round pick and Johnathan Simmons. The 76ers still lack a real point guard, but they added a shooter, Simmons, and they added an all around good to great player in Harris. They are making their push.

Not to be outdone, the Raptors got Marc Gasol today. I know that Gasol isn't as good as he used to be, but that could have been the situation as much as age. He is now on a team that I picked to make the Finals. He gets to go play with Kawhi and Serge Ibaka and Danny Green. And the Raptors didn't have to give up too much. They let Jonas Valenciunas go, it was his time, and some other throw in names. This also helps the Grizzlies continue rebuild around Jaren Jackson. My only gripe with Memphis today, they are hanging on to Mike Conley. He deserves better than that. He should have been traded to a contender.

The Bucks got a much needed added three point shooter next to Khris Middleton in Niko Mirotic. He is really going to help spread the floor, thus giving Giannis more space to operate. They also were able to trade a disgruntled player in Thon Maker. He should be happy with the playing time he will get in Detroit.

The Pelicans added a few guys, namely Stanley Johnson. But, they got a ton of picks in return. This is just them gearing up for whatever they end up doing with AD.

In addition to Muscala, the Lakers also added Reggie Bullock. Both these moves puzzled me. How do these guys fit with the Lakers? Is Bullock going to take minutes from one of the young guys that is probably still super angry that they were bandied about in rumors? Is Muscala a better option than Tyson Chandler? I don't think so.

Harrison Barnes got traded mid game last night. But, I like his fit with the Kings. He can go in there and provide veteran leadership, and he doesn't have to be "the man". The Kings needed a wing like him if they want to continue their playoff push. And they only had to trade the hardly played Justin Jackson, and the hasn't played all year Zach Randolph for him.

Otto Porter got traded to the Bulls. If you are puzzled, you aren't alone. I do not get this trade for either team. I assumed, if Porter was to be dealt, he would go to a contender. But nope. He ended up on the Bulls. And the Wizards got Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis for him. This is probably the weirdest deal of the day in my opinion. It makes absolutely no sense for either team. This one is absurd.

Phoenix got off Ryan Anderson's contract by trading him to the Heat for Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson. This might be the most boring move of the deadline. It does nothing for either team. At all. There were other guys traded, but nothing that really makes a difference.

Now for AD. I love that the Pelicans didn't just give LeBron what he wanted. I love that Dell Demps told them, after they offered 6 players and 2 picks that he wanted 6 more picks. I love that they have decided to wait for the summer when the deals can get so much better. And I love that a small market team didn't just give in to the glitz and glamour of LA. Anthony Davis signed a deal through next season, and the Pelicans don't have to trade him until next year's deadline if they don't want to. They didn't let him or his agent tell them what to do. Sure, he said he wants out, but again, he is under contract for one more year. And while the Lakers deal seemed super good, there are other teams that can do better on July 1st, depending on what the Pelicans may want. I'm pretty sure that Lakers deal will still be there. But, a team like the Celtics can offer a much more enticing package centered around Jayson Tatum, and a whole bunch of picks. The Knicks, especially if they win the lottery and sing KD, would be super appealing. Or, what about the teams that would be willing to dump a good amount of quality guys for a one year rental? The Thunder did it with Paul George, and he stuck around. The Raptors are banking on, if they make the Finals, that they can convince him to stick around. Milwaukee, if the players were good enough, could pair up Giannis with AD. There are so many more opportunities that will open up this summer.

This deadline was nuts, and I'm excited to see how these guys look on their new teams. If I had to say that just one team "won" the deadline today, I would go for a tie. I love what the Clippers did, a team I despise by the way, getting a ton of picks and opening up a ton of cap space to go after AD, KD, Klay Thompson or Kawhi. And I love that the Raptors are going for it and taking on Gasol. This makes them very formidable. Those are my "winners" of the day.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Some Quick Thoughts on a Wild, And Cavalier Changing, NBA Trade Deadline

Yesterday the NBA trade deadline came and went, and boy oh boy was there some movement. Not as much movement as I expected, but movement nonetheless.

I should clarify, I thought big names would be moved. And yes, Blake Griffin was moved, but before the deadline. I fully expected DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams to be on new teams. Well, the Clippers gave Williams to a 3 year extension, and by all accounts, the DeAndre to Cleveland talks stalled. I also expected, and while he may not be a big name to the common NBA fan, Avery Bradley to be on a different team. I heard the Spurs and Thunder were hot on his trail. Well, he is still a Clipper today. Stuff can happen after the "deadline", but if these guys were to be moved they would have been moved yesterday. Even a guy like Tyreke Evans, who is having a career year in Memphis, didn't get moved, and the Grizzlies have purposefully sat him out in preparation for him to be traded. They can, and probably will, buy him out. But, as of today, he is still a Grizzly. There were some other big time names I thought may get moved, guys like Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol, even a Julius Randle, but their respective teams kept them on board.

With all of that being said, there was still a ton of movement. I have already written about the Blake Griffin trade. He was the first of a pretty wild week. A few days later the Pelicans traded for Nikola Mirotic, and while that doesn't sound that big, Mirotic has been really good so far this year, and this does give the Pelicans a very potent outside shooter. While he won't come close to putting up any kind of numbers to try and replace Boogie, he can still fill it up from time to time. After the Mirotic trade, it was relatively quiet. The Nets and Bucks made a trade on Feb 5(Bucks got Tyler Zeller and the Nets got Rashad Vaughn and a pick). On Feb 7th, the Knicks traded Willy Hernangomez, who I like, to the Hornets for Johnny O'Bryant and 2 future second round picks.

Then yesterday happened. I'm going to save the Cavs for last because they have totally overhauled their lineup. Lets get to some of the other trades first. Jameer Nelson, who I am shocked that he is still in the league, is now a Piston in a deal that sent Willie Reed to the Grizzlies. Luke Babbitt was reunited with the Heat in a trade that sent the Hawks, who are continuing their epic tank, a guy named Okaro White. The Kings got rid of Malachi Richardson, sending him to the Raptors for Bruno Cabococlo, who the Kings will release. The Wizards offloaded Sheldon Mac to the Hawks for cash. The Blazers got rid of the epic bust that is Noah Vonleh, sending him to the Bulls for the rights to Milocan Rakovic. Dante Cunningham was traded from the Pelicans to the Nets for Rashad Vaughn, his second team of the week. Now, we are finally going to get some recognizable names. The Knicks, Nuggets and Mavericks swung a three way deal that sent Emmanuel Mudiay to New York, Devin Harris and a pick to the Nuggets and Doug McDermott and a pick to the Mavericks. I like this move for Mudiay, because he has not lived up to the hype. Maybe a place like New York will bring it out of him. While Harris is old, he can still shoot, and that will help the Nuggets. And Dougie McBuckets, well, I guess he just won't be that good of a pro. But, at least he will get a shot to play in Dallas. And then Elfrid Payton, another monumental bust, was traded to the Suns for a second round pick. This kid was supposed to be the future for the Magic and he has just flat out stunk. Maybe he will do better in Phoenix, but only getting a second round pick for a lottery player, that is rough.

Now, lets get to the Cavs. The Cavs did a complete overhaul. They have totally changed this roster. And while I agree that they got better in the short run, I do not think they did enough to keep LeBron, or even make the finals again. They are going to have to gel much faster than expected if they want to get back to the Finals. So, I want to name all the players traded, where they went and who they got in return, then I will give a one or two sentence explanation as to why I like or dislike the trade.

Okay, here goes.

First the Cavs traded Dwayne Wade to the Heat for a second round pick. Then, in a three team deal the Cavs acquired Rodney Hood and George Hill, the Jazz got Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose and the Kings got Joe Johnson, Iman Shumpert and a 2020 second round pick. Finally, the Cavs traded Isiash Thomas and Channing Frye, along with their 2018 first round pick to the Lakers for Larry Nance Jr and Jordan Clarkson.

That is a lot to unpack with some big time names. The Cavs first deal was their biggest, trading Thomas and Frye and their pick to the Lakers for Nance Jr and Clarkson. I love this trade for the Cavs. Clarkson is a great shooter, and he will get a ton of open looks from LeBron. Nance Jr is an electric young player and a highlight reel dunker. He will be fun to watch play with LeBron. Thomas has to be thrilled to be out of Cleveland, but I feel bad that he is playing for the Lakers. He has taken a hard fall in less than a year. He was an MVP finalist last year, now he is happy to be a Laker. Yikes. And Channing Frye, blah. But, the Cavs first round pick this year is a big get for the Lakers. They can continue to build for the future. The Cavs definitely won this trade though. The next move was almost as good as the first. They were able to acquire a real point guard, George Hill, and a streaky good and young scorer in Rodney Hood. They also got off some terrible contracts in this trade. They finally rid themselves of Derrick Rose, who will be bought out by the Jazz, oh how the mighty have fallen, and they got rid of the 10 million that Iman Shumpert will make this year. Shumpert is also toast as a legit NBA defender. I love the addition of Hood. He, like Clarkson, is a very good shooter that will get a ton of great looks. George Hill is good, but very injury prone. He is much older than his actual age as a basketball player. That being said, he is better than any other point guard the Cavs had. And, getting off of Jae Crowder, great move. I thought he would be a great fit and a solid defender for the Cavs, but he was not. He couldn't shoot and he neglected to play defense on this team. The only thing left now from the Kyrie Irving trade this past offseason is the Nets pick. That's wild. But, the Cavs won this three team deal as well. Finally, they mercy traded LeBron's buddy Dwayne Wade back to Miami. Wade was doing nothing for the Cavs, there were rumors that he was not a good clubhouse guy and he is just too old to be elite anymore. This needed to be done, and I think he is happy to be going back to Miami. I don't think either team won this trade, but both teams are happy with the outcome.

With all this movement that happened, the Cavs roster will be very different for the last quarter of the year. As I said, they got better in the intermediate. They have shooters now that can space the floor. If Hood can stay healthy, he could thrive. And if Jordan Clarkson thought he got good looks in LA, wait until he plays one game with LeBron. Nance Jr will bring some toughness and rebounding to this team, and he will be fun to watch. Unfortunately for the Cavs, even though they did unload some bad contracts, they still took on some bad contracts. They will not be able to lure free agents, especially if LeBron leaves after this year. But, they also got rid of a bunch of head cases and guys that didn't want to be there. Derrick Rose came and went as he pleased. Isaish Thomas seemed to bad mouth Tyron Lue every night. Iman Shumpert is toast. So is Channing Frye. And D-Wade, as much as I like him, and as much as he is a first ballot Hall of Famer, he is in the twilight of his career. But, the Cavs still have to deal with Tristan Thompson who has been horrendous. They still have Kevin Love, who is injured and LeBron seems to hate him. They still have JR Smith who has been a disaster this year. The Cavs, while making some necessary moves yesterday, still have some problems on their hands. I don't necessarily think that these trades instantly makes them a better defensive team either. But, they will be able to fill it up, if they can gel quickly.

Yesterday was a wild NBA trade deadline, and I had a blast with every update I got from Bleacher Report. I love when the trade deadline is this crazy. It makes for a fun day and I'm excited to see these guys play for their new teams. Also, I'm very curious to see how this all plays out for the Cavs. What they did yesterday was unprecedented, and I want to see how it all eventually unfolds.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The NBA Trade Deadline Changed Nothing

The trade clock struck midnight on almost every NBA team

The NBA trade deadline came and went with a whimper yesterday. There were bigger trades a week ago, Serge Ibaka, and the biggest one happened an hour after the All Star game on Sunday night, Boogie Cousins, but yesterday there was a ton of build up, but nothing really happened.

As far as winners and losers go, I do not do that type of thing because there is not enough time in the season to declare if a team "won" or "lost" a trade. Sure, the Pelicans may have "won" the trade, they completely robbed the Kings, but what is their prize? A possible first round sweep at the hands of the Warriors if they are lucky enough to grab the 8 seed from the Nuggets, Trailblazers, Timberwolves or Mavericks. Yeah, the Celtics may have "lost" because they did nothing, but they are currently the second best team in the East, so no big deal.

Look, I thought that maybe Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Carmelo Anthony would get moved, but it did not happen. So what. Sure, it would have been exciting if at least one of those guys moved, but like most trade deadlines, nothing big happened. It really looked like George or Butler were going to be a Celtic in the waning moments of the deadline, but as is their new norm, the Celtics would not give up any high picks and did nothing. Danny Ainge always claims to have some big deal in place for a super star, but he is becoming the boy who cried wolf. I just do not believe any reports I read about the Celtics getting a big named player anymore. Someone always floats a story that the Celtics are finally going to make the move, but when the time comes, nothing ever happens. I'm sick of the stories and I'm sick of Danny Ainge always claiming that he is going to make a move.

What better time than now for the Celtics? Imagine if they got Paul George or Jimmy Butler. That immediately makes them a legitimate title threat. Pairing up either of those guys with Isaiah Thomas and Al Horford gives them a legit team. Both George and Butler are top 10 defenders, and they can score. This would have made it so much easier to hide Thomas on defense in the playoffs. If they were to face Toronto in a series, stick Marcus Smart on Kyle Lowry and Butler or George on DeMar DeRozan. Then, Thomas can guard some random guy like Corey Joseph. This would have made the Celtics lethal. I know they would have had to give up the coveted Nets picks they own and some young, possible stars like Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley or Jae Crowder, but the chance to get one of these guys that are already proven, you cannot pass that up.

Sorry, that is my long winded way of saying that the Celtics missed a golden opportunity.

But, as I said, I do not pick "winners" and "losers" from the trade deadline. I like to point out which teams possibly helped themselves and who hurt themselves. We all already know that the Kings are a garbage franchise run by people who have no clue what they are doing, but they looked so god damn stupid after this deadline. They're toast. Sure, they won last night, but just wait, they will be going on something like a 10 or 12 game losing streak real soon.

I was also confused by what the 76ers and Bulls did. The 76ers have this glut of big men, but the only one they traded was Nerlens Noel. I thought for sure that Jahlil Okafor was done in Philadelphia, but he is still a 76er as we speak. The return they got for Noel was nothing too. They got Andrew Bogut, who they will buy out and release, and Justin Anderson, who may be a fine role player some day, but who knows. The Mavericks got a great defensive and rebounding big. I like this move for Dallas and hate it for the 76ers. The 76ers also traded Ersan Ilaysova for Tiago Splitter and some picks to the Hawks. Again, they traded for a big man that they're going to buy out and some second round picks. Makes no sense to me.

The Bulls, who should have moved Butler, instead sent Doug McDermott and Taj Gibson to the Thunder for Cam Payne and some dude named Joffrey. What the hell is this trade? Taj Gibson is one of the most beloved veterans in the league, and Doug McDermott isn't great, but he will hit open threes. The Bulls got a second year point guard that never plays and a dude that was the 10th or 11th guy off the bench for the Thunder. It seems like something is missing here. This trade really helps bring some more toughness and shooting to OKC. It brings nothing but questions for Chicago. Much like the 76ers stuff, this feels like it was part 1 of a 3 or 4 part deal that didn't pan out.

The Rockets made some good moves I thought, at least for the regular season. They went out and got Lou Williams for Corey Brewer and a late first rounder, and trimmed some more cap space to possibly sign a guy like Andrew Bogut by trading Tyler Ennis to the Lakers for Marcus Huertas, who they will immediately waive. Williams gives the yet another shooter. Now, at most times on the floor, the Rockets will have James Harden, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Lou Williams shooting the ball. They could go for 130 a game and I would not be surprised. The only problem, none of these guys play defense, and in the playoffs, that could spell doom. Still though, good moves for the regular season.

Besides the trades I mentioned, nothing else that big happened. Some irrelevant guys got traded for other irrelevant guys. Carmelo Anthony is still a Knick, Paul George is still a Pacer and Jimmy Butler is still a Bull. The Boogie deal was the biggest deal no matter what else happened, but I expected more from this particular deadline after Boogie got traded. I thought, especially in the East that some big time, All NBA caliber players would get moved. As I stated, Boston should have made some moves, but they are the boy who cried wolf franchise to me now. I like what Toronto did with the Ibaka trade, and don't sleep on their move to land PJ Tucker, that should look good in the long run, especially the playoffs. But, the Wizards only added one bench guy, the Hawks only added Ilaysova and every other playoff team pretty much stayed pat. I still think the Cavs are a lock to represent the East in the finals, but Toronto, not Boston anymore, looks like their biggest threat.

As for the West, no matter what the Rockets or Thunder did, doesn't matter, the Warriors are winning. Even if the Clippers added Carmelo, they cannot beat the Warriors, they proved that last night, blowing a 12 point half time lead. The Spurs never make moves because they don't have to, so them doing nothing was not surprising. The Pelicans made THE move, but, as I said, if they make the playoffs, their "reward" is a thrashing at the hands of the Warriors.

We had another trade deadline that was very ho hum, but I expected more. I expected better. Oh well, I guess we will have to wait until summer to see if some of these big names finally get moved.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. Ty thinks the only hope for the Celtics now is if some crazy fans go out and try to kidnap LeBron James. It worked out so well in "Celtic Pride". Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Biggest Trade in the NBA Just Happened Because the Sacramento Kings are a Joke

It is tiring trying to figure out the King's plan

I have many ideas for pieces this week, but something real big happened in the NBA last night. That means my NBA All Star weekend wrap up will have to wait, and my reviews of the season premiere of "Bar Rescue" and "John Wick: Chapter 2" will have to wait a few days.

As I'm sure most, if not all, NBA fans know that Boogie Cousins got traded to the Pelicans last night for next to nothing. I know that I said the biggest name was already dealt, with Serge Ibaka heading to Toronto, but this trade is, by far, the biggest trade that will happen no matter what else, if anything, happens before Thursday's deadline. Even if someone like Jimmy Butler, Paul Milsap, Blake Griffin or Gordon Hayward gets dealt, doesn't matter. Boogie is the biggest name. I did not think that Boogie would get traded this year. I figured, there is only about 25 games left in the regular season, and the Kings are somehow still in the playoff race, so I just assumed that they'd ride it out through the rest of this year.

I guess I was wrong.

The timing of the deal is incredibly weird as well. I mean, this happened literally about an hour after the All Star game ended. The All Star game was in New Orleans, so Boogie technically does not have to leave, but still, very weird timing. I did think that something was a bit off because Boogie barely played, but I assumed that he had a minor injury and that he was just resting. But, after watching the All Star game, then looking at Twitter and Bleacher Report and other sports websites, all of the sudden, I see this breaking trade. I did not believe it at first. I thought it would fall through and neither team would be able to come up with an equal deal. I mean, what do the Pelicans have that the Kings covet? Nothing besides Anthony Davis, but he is pretty much untouchable. But, much to mine and everyone else's surprise, the deal went through, and the Kings got absolutely fleeced.

More on that in a minute, I want to talk about the pairing of Boogie and Davis. On paper, this looks great. This is one of the best front court's in the history of the NBA. Two young stars, in their prime, averaging a double double each and playing exceptional on both ends of the floor. It should be an absolute slam dunk. But, the pessimist in me does not think that they will be able to coexist, and they are fighting to get the 8th spot in the West, which means they will face the Warriors in the first round, and probably get swept. If that happens, I do not see anyway that the Pelicans will be able to resign Boogie this offseason. He will want to move to a team in title contention. Davis is a great, great, great player, but he is who New Orleans needs to build around. He and Boogie essentially play the same position and the Pelicans have already tried something akin to this when they signed Omer Asik. Now, Asik is not 1/1,000th the player that Boogie is, but it is the same idea. Two big guys, one scorer and one all around guy, but it just did not work out. There was not enough space in the post. Davis can float out to the perimeter, but I think he is a much better slasher and rebounder going to the basket. Unfortunately for him, Boogie is a low post player, an absolute excellent one, and he will be clogging up that lane. So, while it looks great on paper, and I really want it to work out, I just do not think it will work. There is not enough time for them to get any continuity and they will be an easy out for a higher seeded West team, that is, if they make the playoffs. Looks great on paper, I just don't see it working on the court.

Now, the Kings. My oh my did they get absolutely robbed. This deal makes the Kings front office, and mainly Vlade Divac, look so under qualified to run a NBA team. Boogie is easily a top 10, top 5 in my personal opinion, NBA player. He is a throwback center, but he has expanded his game and he plays more defense now, and can sometimes hit a mid range jumper. The trade rumors have always been around. He is a headache, a coach killer, a ball stopper, a malcontent, everything nasty that can be said about a player has been said abut him, but it always ended with the caveat that he is an elite player. So, if you are going to trade him, you need an elite level trade package, no matter what baggage Boogie may bring with him. When the rumors started a few years back, it was always Boogie for another star, or a plethora of very high, unprotected picks. It was always looked at as a blockbuster. It needed to be big time.

What did the Kings get in return you ask? They got 2 picks, a 2017 first and second rounder, probably in the high teens in the first round and mid forties in the second round, and Buddy Hield and Tyreke Evans. The picks are fine, but not Boogie Cousins fine. As I said, if you are going to trade Boogie for picks, you need unprotected lottery picks, not some mid first rounder and mid second rounder. That is insane and stupid. Then, you get an unproven rookie, Buddy Hield. I really like Buddy Hield, and I think he can be a very good pro, but he is a rookie that has struggled so far. His shot is not falling and his defense is not up to task yet. Now, he is going to one of the most dysfunctional franchise in the NBA. That will only hurt his game. He will not figure it out for awhile, if ever, playing for the Kings. They have not had a prospect grow into a decent NBA player, Boogie being the lone exception, in over a decade. Look at the list. Guys like Jimmer Fredette, Ben McLemore, Nik Stauskas, Ray McCallum Jr, Thomas Robinson, Orlando Johnson and Tyler Honeycutt. By my count, only one of those guys is still on the team, McLemore, only 2 are still in the NBA, Stauskas and Robinson, and who knows about the rest. Apparently Jimmer scored 73 points in a game in China, but he was recently cut from a D League team, so I take very little stock in his high point totals. Basically, with rookies, the Kings don't have a good track record. I feel bad for Buddy Hield.

They also got Tyreke Evans, in a return to his first team, but he is wildly inconsistent and has never really put it together in the NBA. He has moments, but more so than not, he has been a very mediocre NBA player. His addition to the trade adds nothing at all. It was basically a throw on at the last moment in some kind of saving face, but it still makes this trade look really bad.

Funny side note. People have even tried to make this trade on the video game "NBA 2K17", and the game says that the trade is too unfair for the Kings. So, that means artificial intelligence is smarter than the Kings front office.

This is an absolute disaster for the Kings. This puts their franchise even further away from rebuilding. They are going to be very, very bad for what seems to be another decade now. If they couldn't win and make the playoffs with Boogie, how on Earth are they going to win with a bunch of castoffs that haven't proven themselves in the NBA in their short careers? I mean, a starting five of Darren Collison, Ben McLemore, Buddy Hield, Kosta Koufos and Willie Cauley-Stein is worse than anything the 76ers or the Lakers or even the Nets will put out on a NBA floor. This trade is real bad and real shocking. I hope, but don't think, it will work out for the Pelicans, and I know that this trade just set the Kings back for at least another decade.

The Kings got fleeced and they don't seem to care, or even realize it. At least Boogie got out of there and he may end up loving New Orleans and playing with Davis. But if he doesn't, he is a free agent and will have his pick of teams to sign with this summer. The biggest winner, by a country mile in this very bad trade, is Boogie.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is putting his name into the conversation to be the GM of the Kings. How could he do any worse. Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.