2021-22 NBA Bric-a-Brac (Week 18)

Front Office Moves

Cavs revamped front office: Mike Gansey (GM), Brandon Weems (asst GM), Jason Hillman (VP of basketball operations), Jon Nichols (VP of basketball strategy)

Well, the Cavs are having an unexpectedly great season, might as well unveil raises and promotions for everyone while the fans are in a good mood. Is this good for the Cavs? I have no idea, but all of last summer's moves worked--and that's with season-ending injuries to Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton. It feels like the Cavs have overachieved and it is probably time for them to come back to earth--which, again, makes now the perfect time for raises and promotions! Hard to imagine that any of these guys are the end of the franchise or lead the great resurrection, but we'll see. 

Rest of season contracts

Tristan Thompson (Bulls) 

This move came with such weird energy, like everyone saw this coming. Really? Oh sure....yeah, this is what the Bulls needed to put the over the top...oh yeah. Oh well, in his prime Thompson was a really great rebounder, which has become an underappreciated skill in today's game, so even if TT was what the Bulls really needed, no one would ever actually notice. Weird move.

Goran Dragic (Nets)

(Why didn't he just play for the Raptors?) Does Goran have anything to give the Nets? Well, if he's used correctly, I still think Dragic can really change the tempo of a game in a hurry--which could really come in handy in the post-season. But as for dominating anything, I think those days are behind Dragic.

Jevon Carter (Bucks)

Moved off the Nets to make room for Dragic...? I'd rather be with the Bucks right now anyway, interesting to see if Carter can give them any kind of lift.

DeMarcus Cousins (Nuggets)

On/off again with the Nuggets all season, the two have decided to make the marriage formal (albeit temporary). Cousins is in, what I call the 'Night Passage' portion of his career: suffice to say, he's still smart and big, he's still valuable even if he's far from his peak. If the Nuggets can get meaningful minutes from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, then suddenly Cousins wrecking shop for 10-15 mins becomes a real problem for the other team. Make no mistake, Cousins is the icing, not the cake; but if the cake rises like it can, then the icing might still be a difference-maker. 

Tomas Satoransky (Wizards) 

Satoransky has been around the world like my girl, Lisa Stansfield, this season and now he's back with the Wizards. Well, they could use another savvy veteran ballhandler just like everyone else. 

DJ Augustine (Lakers) 

When the Bucks signed Augustine last year I thought it was a good move....but not so much. He was so useless to them that he was bartered away for pennies on the dollar (and no one thought twice about it). What's he gonna do for the Lakers? Soak up some blame, I reckon, not much else to do there.

Trendon Watford (Blazers) signed 4-year/end of season deal

So...4-year deal or end of the season deal...'cause those are two different things. Looks like a seasonal deal for now and a mild 3-year deal after that. I don't know Watford (though he is getting minutes now), but the deal going forward is so cheap (never gets above $2m/year) that this is just one of those deals that teams dream of: long term and cheap, the assumption being that Watford is a pro but not an important pro. Okay. I assume this is a good deal.

2-way Contracts

Olivier Sarr (Thunder), Brandon Williams (Blazers), Moses Wright (Mavs), Matt Ryan (Celtics), Wenyen Gabriel (Lakers)

Matty 'Ice' back in Boston?

10-day Contracts

Drew Eubanks (Blazers), Kelan Martin (Celtics), Malik Fitts (Celtics), Willie-Cauley-Stein (Sixers), Tim Frazier (Cavs), Haywood Highsmith (Heat), Alize Johnson (Pelicans), DJ Wilson (Raptors), Isaiah Thomas (Hornets)

Eubanks can give good rotation minutes to a team not looking to win games. I don't know Martin or Fitts. WCS (if he's playing...?) gives the Sixers some defense. Frazier is a nice ball handling vet for the Cavs. Highsmith has been a fun addition to the Heat (who seems to be getting good minutes out of any/everyone this season). Johnson is a solid vet for the Pelicans. Wilson should slip right into the deep (though not as deep as usual) Raptors rotation. Isaiah as the Ish replacement?

Notable Injuries (Out indefinitely)

Chris Paul (Suns) fractured right thumb

Well, better not than the playoffs. Could be just the time off he needs to get him going in the post-season. Obviously this injury could be a disaster but the timing suggest that it could be a real pick-me-up to close the season. The Suns have been blessed this year, so this looks like more of the same.

Jusuf Nurkic (Blazers) left foot plantar fasciitis 

I suppose the move is to go ahead and shut him down for the season, the Blazers have no need of W's at this point. The question is: are they going to re-sign him this summer (I'd say 50/50)?

OG Anunoby (Raptors) fracture right finger

The Raptors are gonna need all three of their tough young forwards in the post-season but they are comfortably situated in the playoff mix that shouldn't be too bad for their rotation (for now). 

Quentin Grimes (Knicks) right knee injury

Having a nice rookie year, hope he gets back to it.

Waivings

Kevin Pangos (Cavs), Alfonzo McKinnie (Bulls), Dennis Smith Jr (Blazers), Jevon Carter (Nets)

Don't know Pangos. Always liked McKinnie, but when you've got a chance to sign Tristan Thompson, well, brother, you make the necessary moves! Smith has been hurt all year (right?), seems like he just wasn't destined to be a Blazer; I think he'll end up somewhere this summer, not sure where. Carter already has a better job (so screw you, Nets!).