NBA Click & Roll: Everything you need to be ready for today's trade deadline
Welcome to Paste BN Sports' NBA Click & Roll newsletter.
This is where we bring you exclusive content from Paste BN NBA reporters, Jeff Zillgitt and Martin Rogers, including updates on all of their exploits on the NBA beat. Plus, we catch you up on the *biggest* moments, quotes and NBA news you may have missed this week.
TRADE DEADLINE TIME
The NBA's annual trade deadline is fast approaching, and for many, 3 p.m. ET on Thursday can't come soon enough. The 76ers already landed a borderline All-Star to join their Big 3 and set them up for a Finals run, the Mavericks brought in a unicorn to join a rookie sensation, and a handful of former lottery picks are getting fresh starts. Plus, Harrison Barnes got traded while he was on the court. Stay up-to-date on all the movement with our trade deadline tracker, which will be updated often leading up to the final buzzer.
Also, introducing our weekly NBA roundtable. This week, we take a look at four pressing questions leading up to the deadline, including: What should the Lakers offer for Anthony Davis? And should the Pelicans make something happen now or wait until summer? Our NBA desk disagrees on the latter question.
Zillgitt: Wait, without question, no matter what the Lakers offer. First, the Pelicans need to see what Boston can offer once free agency hits because they can’t trade for him now with Kyrie Irving on the roster because of the Derrick Rose Rule. Plus, the Pelicans need to see who wins the draft lottery and a chance at Duke’s Zion Williamson. The team with that top pick, say the New York Knicks, might be willing to deal the No. 1 overall pick for Davis.
Rogers: Deal now and they can start the rebuild and can squeeze the most out of the Lakers. There are reasons for waiting — the Celtics will be in play and we’ll know who has top pick (sponsored by Zion Enterprises). But waiting would put the Pelicans in the firing line of more Klutch Sports shenanigans. Heck, even Davis’ dad already has come out and said he doesn’t want to play in Boston.
Neuharth-Keusch: Wait it out. Keeping Davis around may hurt team chemistry (though the playoffs are pretty much out of reach at this point), and, if he plays, there's always the chance he gets hurt. But there's a lot that can happen between now and the summer — most notably, of course, involving Boston. Davis may not be considering the Celtics as a long-term option, but as we recently saw with Irving changing his tune when it came to committing to Boston, nothing's certain in the NBA. What if Davis decides he'll re-sign in Boston and the Celtics offer a deal the Pelicans can't refuse?
CATCH UP AROUND THE LEAGUE
- The story of Lance Stephenson, a Hooters, an Indiana-shaped table, and a crop of disappointed fans.
- Kevin Durant was at it again, this time ripping the media over rumors: "Let us play basketball, that's all I'm saying."
- The Knicks haven’t made the playoffs since 2013, haven’t reached the conference finals since 2000, haven’t played in the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven’t won a title since 1973. And yet they're still the NBA's most valuable franchise ... worth $4 billion.
- This one photo from the Lakers' 42-point loss perfectly sums up the state of the franchise right now. So does Pacers fans chanting "LeBron's gonna trade you" as Brandon Ingram was at the free-throw line.
- All eyes are on Magic Johnson as the trade deadline looms.
- John Wall is going to miss the next 12 months after rupturing his Achilles "slipping and falling" in his home. And just like that, the Wizards are pushed further into NBA purgatory.
- Martin and Jeff — er, LeBron and Giannis — picked their All-Star Game rosters as if they were team captains.
- Super Bowl? What Super Bowl? How the NBA easily won the biggest week in football with its crazy story lines and trade buzz.
- Wait, can Kyrie and KD really end up on the Knicks?
- Kobe says the Rockets can't win a championship with James Harden dominating the ball like he has been.
- This Pistons "play" left us wondering: Did Jackie Moon take control of Blake Griffin's body?
- Austin Rivers didn't want to play for the Suns after being traded, so ... he didn't play for the Suns.
- Rookie Sixers GM Elton Brand isn't playing it safe, and for that, he deserves a lot of credit.
Check back next week for everything that went down in the Association