Around the League News: Week 22 (3/13 - 3/20)

[ShelC]

Nationally televised games this week

Monday, March 13th
Grizzlies @ Mavericks 7:30PM EST on ESPN
Phoenix Suns @ Golden State 10:00pm EST on ESPN

Wednesday, March 15th
Philadelphia @ Cleveland 7:30pm EST on ESPN
Golden State @ LA Clippers 10:00pm EST on ESPN


NBA News
Sources: Morant in counseling program; no return to NBA date set
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/358 ... a-date-set

Celtics' Marcus Smart fined for actions vs. Hawks, Trae Young
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/358 ... trae-young

The Five: Everything to know for Week 22
https://www.nba.com/news/the-five-every ... or-week-22

Felton Spencer, Louisville hoops legend and 12-year NBA veteran, dies at 55
https://www.nba.com/news/felton-spencer ... es-dies-55

Grant Hill: No Team USA commitment needed to play in Olympics
https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/i ... y-olympics

[bajanguy008]

[ShelC]

Might be something to watch for - Knicks are 10-3, playing well and just beat the Blazers yet Mitch Robinson is unhappy with his role, posting some snaps last night. He's a catch and dunk guy, not as skilled offensively as DA but is a better defender/rebounder IMO and just more aggressive on that side of the ball. He's on a reasonable deal at 17mil but that also means taking on guy like DRose or Fournier to make a trade work. Also not sure he'd get many more offensive opportunities here and if he thinks he's Hakeem or something, he might not be happy anywhere cuz he's just not that guy.

[TOO]

Gimme Mitchell/Hart/Quickley for Ayton and his ego. Seems fair.

[Split T]

I’d jump all over that

[wpmiller42]

Ja Morant got an 8-game ban for waving around a gun at a club in Denver: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/358 ... e-findings

Honestly, compared to the 50 games that Gilbert Arenas got, I think he's pretty fortunate?

[INFORMER]

Might be something to watch for - Knicks are 10-3, playing well and just beat the Blazers yet Mitch Robinson is unhappy with his role, posting some snaps last night. He's a catch and dunk guy, not as skilled offensively as DA but is a better defender/rebounder IMO and just more aggressive on that side of the ball. He's on a reasonable deal at 17mil but that also means taking on guy like DRose or Fournier to make a trade work. Also not sure he'd get many more offensive opportunities here and if he thinks he's Hakeem or something, he might not be happy anywhere cuz he's just not that guy.

Yeah, I've always thought the Knicks could be a landing spot for Ayton in a trade, but as you have pointed out to me, Robinson stays injured. I like him, but I honestly think Hartenstein would be better for us.

I also remember Robinson displayed a three point shot pre-draft. Does that get unlocked here?

[INFORMER]

News just broke a couple of hours ago on which players Poppovich is punishing for playing well in last night's victory over Orlando:

News: 2 hours ago - Collins won't play Wednesday against Dallas due to left ankle injury management, Ty Jager of PoundingTheRock.com reports.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/40 ... ch-collins

News: 2 hours ago - Sochan won't play Wednesday against Dallas due to right knee injury management, Ty Jager of PoundingTheRock.com reports.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/46 ... emy-sochan

News: 2 hours ago - Vassell has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Dallas due to left knee injury management, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/43 ... in-vassell

[Wally_West]

What about Bojan Bogdanovic and Jalen Duran for Ayton?

[Flagrant Fowl]

Gimme Mitchell/Hart/Quickley for Ayton and his ego. Seems fair.

Total pipe dream.

[Flagrant Fowl]

What about Bojan Bogdanovic and Jalen Duran for Ayton?

Pretty fair but I don’t think they’re interested in Ayton now that they have Wiseman.

[TOO]

Gimme Mitchell/Hart/Quickley for Ayton and his ego. Seems fair.

Total pipe dream.

You right.

Swap out Quickley for Grimes and I'm still in.

[ShelC]

Also doubt they'd be interested in paying him 30mil for marginal (maybe) improvement.

[TOO]

Also doubt they'd be interested in paying him 30mil for marginal (maybe) improvement.

He's a big name, Knicks love those. Also, let me dream.

[ShelC]

Also doubt they'd be interested in paying him 30mil for marginal (maybe) improvement.

He's a big name, Knicks love those. Also, let me dream.

I was talking about the Pistons deal for Bogi and Duren.

With MitchRob, DA would be a suitable replacement for him in NY. He could give them offense when Julius is on the bench and do a better job spreading the floor for him when they're playing together. And NY wouldn't blink at paying him the $30mil, especially if they're winning like they have been and can sell the fans on DA helping take them to the next level ( ). Mitch still does miss games with smaller injuries and can get into foul trouble, but the expectations of him would be different from DA's because of his game and salary.

[TOO]

I'd also love to steal Mark Williams and Hayward for Ayton.

[ShelC]

Ja could be back Monday. Met with Silver, showed contrition, league investigated and concluded the gun wasn't hit, he didn't travel with it or have it around team facilities. Will miss 8 games without pay.

[The Bobster]

8 games is really a slap on the wrist.

[Split T]

I don’t know if I’d say that, it’s gonna cost him around 1.2 million dollars as well

[ShelC]

Ja is too important to the league. A lot of stuff has been glossed over, swept under the rug leading up to this incident and even now they're kind of downplaying things. They want to move on from this and get him back on the floor for the playoffs. Too much money at stake for TV ratings, sponsors, ticket sales, etc and that's what drives everything. They weren't going to drag his name and image thru the mud and suspend him until next season.