Trade
Clippers get James Harden, PJ Tucker, Filip Petrusev; Sixers get Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, Kenyon Martin Jr, Marcus Morris, 2026 1st r pick, 2024 & 2029 2nd rd picks, 2029 1st rd pick swap; Thunder get a 2027 1st rd pick swap
Our long national nightmare is over (for now). Harden goes to the Clippers and takes PJ Tucker with him. Will Petrusev fit into the Clipper rotation? Well, there will be a lot of "load management" to account for, so maybe so. Are the Clippers better? They're older and more expensive....but better....I'm not sure.
The Sixers bring back Covington, still a nice 3-and-D guy that should get immediate minutes in the Sixer rotation. Not sure about Martin, young player but he'll have time to catch on. Batum and Morris, though, are both pretty old and may or may not fit with the Sixers. Wouldn't be surprised to see Martin and Morris re-traded by February and Batum to retire if he doesn't find meaningful minutes in this rotation.
As for the various picks, I think the Thunder did well to throw in an unnecessary pick as a gamble on a much better pick. The Clippers, though, are built on free agents, not draft picks (don't believe me? Ask Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), so these pick moves mean nothing to them. The Sixers, are in between: they're a veteran rotation looking to win now and these picks are likely to be more trade fodder; on the other hand, if the season goes sideways (re: if Embiid makes a trade demand), they may need to look to a draft-centered future and can't simply barter these away for some magic beans.
Waivings
Danny Green (Sixers), Kaiser Gates (Pelicans)
Green was moved to make room for the spoils of the Harden trade; what are the chances that Green ends up with the Clippers by season's end? Gotta admit: I've never heard of Kaiser Gates before.
Signings (2-way contacts)
Keon Johnson (Nets), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Pelicans), Xavier Moon (Clippers)
I knew Johnson and Robinson-Earl would catch on, they're both young and talented and caught up in team management issues. Moon is a bit older and realistically a practice player, a roster filler, but good for him, glad to see him still around.
Team Options Exercised
Marjon Beauchamp (Bucks), Dalen Terry (Bulls), Mark Williams (Hornets), Jonathon Kuminga (Warriors), Moses Moody (Warriors), (and no extension for James Bouknight (Hornets))
Thumbs up on all these moves. Beauchamp is poised to take on a bigger role with the Bucks. Moody and Kuminga, too, are going to be thrown into a bigger role with the Warriors, they will either sink or swim (I think its the latter for both). Williams already seems like a solid member of the Hornet rotation. Not sure about Terry, but I guess the Bulls think he's worth it. But, not so for Bouknight, a lottery pick that has never gotten much of a chance with the Hornets--is it because he isn't good or because the Hornets are a dumb team that do everything wrong? Hmmmm....I'm honestly not sure.
ROY Update
Okay, two weeks in and there are 14 rookies that are setting themselves apart from the rest (in order of Minutes Played): Ausar Thompson (Pistons), Chet Holmgren (Thunder), Victor Wembanyama (Spurs), Jordan Hawkins (Pelicans), Brandon Miller (Hornets), Toumani Camara (Blazers), Dereck Lively (Mavs), Keyontae George (Jazz), Cason Wallace (Thunder), Marcus Sasser (Pistons), Scoot Henderson (Blazers), Bilal Coulubaly (Wizards), Jaime Jazquez (Heat), Gradey Dick (Raptors)
My personal order would be Wembanyama, Holmgren, Ausar, Lively and Miller. Those guys have already established that they are ballers firmly ensconced in their rotations. Not sure I'm ready to say that about any of the rest.
I haven't given up on Scoot, I think he's playing all wrong right now and when it clicks for him, he'll be fine.
I'm a little suspicious of Sasser (just doesn't pass the eye test yet) and Wallace (wait a second, his numbers are too good). Gotta admit: I have no idea who Jordan Hawkins is, guess I need to watch more Pelicans.
Two others that are worth noting so far: Sasha Vezenkov (Kings) and Julian Strawther (Nuggets) have shooting numbers that are eye-popping, let's see if they hold up.
I'm a little surprised we haven't seen/heard more from: Taylor Hendricks (Jazz), Kris Murray (Blazers), Jett Howard (Magic), Cam Whitmore (Rockets); perhaps their teams have a grand plan for them or the timing just hasn't worked for them, I dunno. Also, it may take a while but the Thunder need to find some time for Vasilije Micic, if for no other reason than he might have trade value.
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