Phx-Suns.Net

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1074653012080160768

The Sacramento Kings are three games above .500 in the middle of December, something that hasn't happened since 2004. They've won six of their last eight games, beating the Mavericks on Sunday in a tiny little Luka Doncic revenge game. The Kings, of course, passed on Doncic for Marvin Bagley, who is having a decent rookie season but is currently injured. Doncic, of course, looks every bit the superstar many billed him to be.

Because the Kings have seemingly turned things around and appear to have a legit star in De'Aaron Fox, there's some posturing about whether the Kings were right to pass on Doncic. The answer is no, and it will always be no. But if the Kings are actually on the rise, the fandom will excuse passing on Doncic -- they just badly want a good team to root for, no matter who's on it! Fans are celebrating Iman Shumpert regularly. They aren't picky.

We keep waiting for the bottom to drop out, but it's holding. That doesn't mean Sacramento can hold strong enough to make the playoffs -- the West is vicious -- but this is a miracle even if they just hold around .500 all season. Dreams do come true.

If you completely unplugged all weekend, you missed something incredible. Reporters broke word during Friday's action of a pending three-team trade sending Trevor Ariza to the Wizards with Kelly Oubre landing in Memphis, Austin Rivers, some second-round picks and Brooks going to Phoenix.

The only problem: the Suns and Wizards thought it was Dillon Brooks in the deal, but Memphis insisted it was MarShon Brooks they'd be trading.

Whoops! The deal died at that impasse. Matt Ellentuck breaks down the winners and losers from that fiasco.

Winner
Trevor Ariza
He doesn’t have to play for the very angry, not-so-good at basketball Wizards.

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1075106580977205248

ShelC wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 18, 2018 2:46 pm

Grizz and Rivers deal fell thru.

SDC wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 2:41 am

jeremy lin is a better penetrator than luka doncic

Superbone wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:01 am

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 2:56 am

He also has the most Chinese heritage in the league. Look how that worked out for Yao Ming.

Superbone wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:01 am

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

Xylus wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:51 am

Superbone wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:01 am

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

6 steals. LOL.

Superbone wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:01 am

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

Marty [Mori Chu] wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:04 am

Superbone wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 19, 2018 3:01 am

Ariza in his first game back with Washington played 38 minutes, scored 19 points on 6 of 17 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. F you!

He had similarly gaudy numbers in his first game for us, too. I am not really mad at Ariza for playing well in his opener in Washington. Guys get excited to debut for their new teams. That's human nature. And his comment about the "struggles" here ... well, we ARE struggling. I don't think he said anything particularly offensive or untrue. I do think he could have played harder in his last weeks here, but I can kind of understand a guy his age not wanting to give 110% for a team that is going nowhere and has no core on defense or offense for him to fit into.