2017-18 NBA Bric-a-Brac (Week 3)

Trades
Suns trade Eric Bledsoe to Bucks for Greg Monroe, 1st rd pick (2018 protected 1-10, 17-30; 2019 protected 1-3, 17-30; 2020 protected 1-7; 2021 unprotected), 2018 2nd rd pick (top 47 protected).

The Bucks get another good playmaker to go with Giannis and they get rid of a big man that never fit what they were going for--double plus for the Bucks! The 1st rounder they gave up is well-protected, so they'll likely retain it for the next two drafts (they even have a decent shot at keeping that 2nd rounder).

The Suns get....wait, what do they get? Monroe doesn't fit the Suns any better than he fit the Bucks--even worse, actually (and did you notice the Bucks are dead last in Total Rebounds right now?). Monroe is in the last year of his deal and will likely leave this summer and can't be traded for 6 months (right?), meaning they can't move him now and they can't keep him later. They don't have playing time for him because they still have Tyson Chandler for two more years (this deal does not make him trade bait) and they ought to still be giving time to Alex Len (also a free agent this summer). The 1st round pick is not likely to come until 2020 and even the 2nd round pick is kinda iffy. Hmmm....I don't this trade does them any good at all. Surely they could have done better for Bledsoe, even with their lack of leverage.


Injuries
Tristan Thompson (Cavs) out indefinitely with calf injury
Larry Nance Jr (Lakers) out indefinitely with broken hand


Signings/Extensions
Sixers picked up options on Justin Anderson, Timothy Luwawu, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric
Celtics picked up options on Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown
Kings picked up options on Willie Cauley-Stein, Buddy Hield, Skal Labissiere, Georgios Papagiannas and Malachi Richardson
Grizzlies pick up option on Jarrell Martin
Warriors pick up option on Damian Jones
Bucks pick up option on Thon Maker
Clippers pick up option on Sam Dekker

The youth movement have born much fruit for the Sixers and Kings; Celtics wise to keep Rozier and Brown in the fold; Grizzlies and Bucks smart to hold on to their youngsters; Warriors are so mortgaged to the hilt that they need every reasonably-priced body they can get; Clippers have yet to get anything out of Dekker (but if/when Griffin gets hurt, expect Dekker to get a lot of those minutes). 

Sixers declined option on Jahlil Okafor
Bucks declined option on Rashad Vaughn
Clippers declined option on Brice Johnson
Thunder decline option on Josh Huestis
Magic decline option on Mario Hezonja
Wizards decline option on Chris McCullough

Pretty sure Hinkie's process did not include the regular devaluing of prospects (is it rude to liken the Sixers to anti-abortion activists: they worship any and every draft pick but don't seem to care about the players those picks become?); I think the Bucks are prematurely giving up on Vaughn, he's had some nice moments for them; Brice Johnson, to me, was a real boom/bust prospect: could still be good but needs the right environment (I doubt the Clippers are the right environment); Thunder made a weird move drafting Huestis strictly for their G-League team...guess that didn't work?; Hezonja never found the rhythm with the Magic, definitely worth another shot in the league (Grizzlies?); McCullough was injury prone and never found the fit for the Nets or Wizards, not sure he gets another shot.