Around the League: Week 12 1/12-1/18

[INFORMER]

I'm not sure if I would say Bledsoe has low basketball IQ.

I do know that I wouldn't say Markieff has a high basketball IQ.

bledsoe is steve francis.

Even I think that's too harsh.

[Sunsfan4life]

Yup so do I....but that 16.7 PO for next yr is a bit of a risk for a guy who gets hurt alot.

Lance to the Nets is laughable, but their kinda in full rebuild mode after the deadline anyways..

[INFORMER]

Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal, league sources told CBSSports.com.

The Kings want to pair Cousins with a frontline player who would fit with his post-up skills -- either a stretch four or above-the-rim defender, sources said. They've fielded numerous calls about Stauskas, whose opportunities have been limited with the steadily improving play of Ben McLemore.

Sacramento thus far has rebuffed teams inquiring about Stauskas, the sharpshooter from Michigan whom they selected with the eighth overall pick in the draft. But the Kings' motivation to put a "high-level" player next to Cousins on the front line has heightened, making them finally willing to include Stauskas in trade talks.

The Kings have the expiring contracts of Derrick Williams and Reggie Evans to include in such a deal, pushing the potential salary of an incoming player into the $10-$11 million range.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... urt-Player

The Morris Twins would look awesome in Sacramento Kings uniforms.

[INFORMER]

Yup so do I....but that 16.7 PO for next yr is a bit of a risk for a guy who gets hurt alot.

Lance to the Nets is laughable, but their kinda in full rebuild mode after the deadline anyways..

Regarding Lopez, I think the risk is minimal. A year and a half commitment to him isn't too bad.

I was going to criticize that Nets for considering bringing in Lance, but he might actually work next to Joe Johnson.

[carey]

Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal, league sources told CBSSports.com.

The Kings want to pair Cousins with a frontline player who would fit with his post-up skills -- either a stretch four or above-the-rim defender, sources said. They've fielded numerous calls about Stauskas, whose opportunities have been limited with the steadily improving play of Ben McLemore.

Sacramento thus far has rebuffed teams inquiring about Stauskas, the sharpshooter from Michigan whom they selected with the eighth overall pick in the draft. But the Kings' motivation to put a "high-level" player next to Cousins on the front line has heightened, making them finally willing to include Stauskas in trade talks.

The Kings have the expiring contracts of Derrick Williams and Reggie Evans to include in such a deal, pushing the potential salary of an incoming player into the $10-$11 million range.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... urt-Player

The Morris Twins would look awesome in Sacramento Kings uniforms.

Who would play PF? Or are you thinking like Jason Thompson & Stauskas for the twins?

[Shabazz]

I've always been a LeBron defender, but this is digusting:
https://twitter.com/erivera7/status/555950931842703360

[carey]

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/555952341380124672

[INFORMER]

Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal, league sources told CBSSports.com.

The Kings want to pair Cousins with a frontline player who would fit with his post-up skills -- either a stretch four or above-the-rim defender, sources said. They've fielded numerous calls about Stauskas, whose opportunities have been limited with the steadily improving play of Ben McLemore.

Sacramento thus far has rebuffed teams inquiring about Stauskas, the sharpshooter from Michigan whom they selected with the eighth overall pick in the draft. But the Kings' motivation to put a "high-level" player next to Cousins on the front line has heightened, making them finally willing to include Stauskas in trade talks.

The Kings have the expiring contracts of Derrick Williams and Reggie Evans to include in such a deal, pushing the potential salary of an incoming player into the $10-$11 million range.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... urt-Player

The Morris Twins would look awesome in Sacramento Kings uniforms.

Who would play PF? Or are you thinking like Jason Thompson & Stauskas for the twins?

I assume you mean for the rest of the season. Short answer, honestly, is that I couldn't care less. But it is a legitimate question. I would go for Derrick Williams and Nik Stauskas, and flip Stauskas to a second team like Charlotte (for Noah Vonleh), Milwaukee (for Henson and Inglis) or Boston (for Olynyk and a 2nd rounder), just off the top of my head.

[INFORMER]

I promise I'm not trying to pile on LeBron or get a LeBron-bashing session going, but does anyone truly feel that LeBron has ever made someone that he plays with better? Can anyone name an example?

[Cap]

Um, Rich Paul?

[Shabazz]

I promise I'm not trying to pile on LeBron or get a LeBron-bashing session going, but does anyone truly feel that LeBron has ever made someone that he plays with better? Can anyone name an example?

That's a pretty nebulous term and hard to prove. But he did drag a pretty crappy team with a crappy coach (07 Cavs) to the finals, so everyone's play would had to have been elevated somehow.

[Shabazz]

Pretty crazy that Brook Lopez and Miles Plumlee are the same age.

[iLLmatic]

I'm watching the Cavs-Lakers game right now, but when Lebron initially drives he sticks his arm out and pushes players off...Isn't that an offensive foul?

[Sunsfan4life]

I promise I'm not trying to pile on LeBron or get a LeBron-bashing session going, but does anyone truly feel that LeBron has ever made someone that he plays with better? Can anyone name an example?

Mike Brown....Didn't play with him, but made him look like some semblance of a competent coach.

[Ring_Wanted]

Lopez on the Thunder for just a struggling Lamb and fillers is a steal. There are injury concerns but it's just one and a half year tops, and Ibaka-Lopez is terrific on paper. Reggie Jackson-Waiters off the bench, on the other hand...

For the Nets I don't really like it. They get the better talent, but all of Lance, Joe and Williams need have the ball in their hands. I'd try to make Stephenson the 6th man, but he'd have to buy into it. Also save a ton of money in l-tax.

Good for Charlotte, fixing a mistake quickly.

[carey]

This was always the down side of the Nets spending all that money. Eventually they would divest themselves of players for nothing. I didn't think Prokhorov would get out this quickly so I'm a bit surprised.

[ShelC]

I love how Billy King still has a job.

[Mori Chu]

I didn't like the Waiters acquisition for them, even though they didn't pay much to get him. But I kind of like the fit of Lopez on the Thunder. He's a big who has interior moves and can score, and they haven't really had that before. The question is, will Westbrook and Durant ever let him have the ball?

[Dan H]

You have to wonder if Oklahoma gearing up means the Suns will start looking at a move or two to cement playoff position.

[ShelC]

Who's out there? We can keep adding role player s and peripheral pieces, but we need a gamechanger to take that next step. Unless we go the team/non-superstar route like the Pistons and hope guys rise to challenge and become great in the moment but that's more the exception than the rule.