The Magic will likely be in firesale mode approaching the trade deadline, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. Rival executives expect Orlando, which has sunk to the bottom of the conference standings, to shop guards Evan Fournier and Elfrid Payton and swingman Mario Hezonja, Stein adds. Fournier is signed through the 2020/21 season at $17MM annually. Payton can become a restricted free agent in the summer, while Hezonja will be an unrestricted free agent after the team declined to pick up his fourth-year option in October.
In other items regarding the Eastern Conference:
- Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic is now eligible to be dealt and admitted to reporters, including ESPN’s Nick Friedell, that he’s motivated by the trade chatter. He signed a two-year, $27MM contract in September that includes a team option for next season. That made him ineligible to be moved until mid-January. “This is kind of some motivation for me,” he said. “I know it sounds weird. But people are talking, ‘OK, Niko be gone’ and ‘Bye bye, Niko’ or whatever. But for me, it’s OK, just do what you’ve got to do. Play well and try to do your best until the last day and not be distracted.”
- Bucks forward Jabari Parker believes he’ll make his season debut before the All-Star break, he told Scott Grodsky of CBS 58 in Milwaukee. Parker tore his ACL in February, his second major knee injury since entering the league. Parker, who was assigned to the Bucks’ G League affiliate on Monday to continue his rehab, is targeting “the first two weeks before the All-Star game. It’s probably in that area.”
- Sixers rookie Ben Simmons vows he won’t back down from a challenge, according to an Associated Press report. Simmons and the Raptors’ Kyle Lowry were ejected during the closing seconds on Monday after an altercation. Simmons believes that veteran opponents are trying to intimidate him. “I don’t know if they’re trying to test me or see how I am on the court, but I won’t play around,” he said.
It’s obvious the Bucks and Sixers are about to take over the East, Jabari and Giannis is going to be the most lethal wing attack in the NBA. Embiid is a dominant force who does not fold under pressure, Simmons locks up on defense and is a better play maker then Lebron has ever been. As for Nikola Mirotic he needs to head to the Jazz, they need a second scorer behind Mitchell really bad.
Please don’t do drugs and comment.
I don’t do drugs man lol. I know its tough being a LeChoke fan right now but its about that time for the Sixers,Bucks, and Celtics to take over the East.
Milwaukee ain’t making no noise until Jason Kidd is fired into the sun. He’s just awful.
So now you have the Celts taking over the East too. Add a fourth team next post, to increase your odds of picking who does take over.
Cleveland through the Knicks (3-9) are about 5 games apart.
He doesn’t do drugs. He just doesn’t watch basketball and bases all of his comments off 2k which is worse. Dionis said it himself a few days ago
2k? Bruh I don’t got time to play video games like you lol. Bills got to get paid you would not know much about that.
Jabari? You mean that guy with more knee surgeries than games played? Um, I don’t think so. As for Philly, get off the hype train. If they are going to dominate, then they need to start. Right now they look like a middle of the road team that is great one night and awful the next. That doesn’t signify taking over anything other than the #7 seed.
Embiid dropped 34 points and torched the Raptors a playoff tested team so wtf are you talking about lol. Hopefully they trade for Tyreke Evans so I can get my popcorn ready and watch them get to the ECF.
But he can’t play every game. First time he hurts his back, he’s gone per his contract.
Jabari was hurt at Duke too. He’s done! The Bucks turned down his option. They are saying the Pistons are the favorites for Mirotic. LeBron admits he’s not a perimeter player. Simmons, Fultz, and Lonzo need to spend the summer taking shooting lessons. Simmons can’t guard LeBron. He’d destroy him under the basket.
the bucks didn’t turn down his option…..
Parker didn’t reach an agreement for an extension with the Bucks, so he’ll be a restricted free agent this summer. Because of his knee injuries it will be difficult to reach a deal with anyone.
So they didn’t turn down ho’s Orion
option*
The Sixers have the cure to all the Magic’s problems. A bunch of expiring contracts, and a need for a shooting guard and backup center who can spot start for Joel Embiid. The Sixers should also get OKC involved, since they’re headed to a first round exit and gonna lose Paul George.
Oklahoma City gets Evan Fournier, Mario Hezonja and PHI18.
Orlando gets JJ Redick ($23M, expiring) and Amir Johnson ($11M, expiring)
For taking on the worst contract in the league, the Sixers get Paul George and Bismack Biyombo. That solves the Sixers issues on offense and second team defense. If the Sixers make a deep run into the playoffs, Paul George would be wise to sign a five year deal with the sixers with an opt out after two, when he can get the 10 year vet max.
Philly could include more if need be.
What motivates Orlando to do that deal?
Getting Fournier and Biyombo off the future books so they can start over more quickly, I guess. Not what I would do, but it has been done before.
I think OKC would be the ones getting the raw end of the deal here.
Exactly this.
Getting rid of Biyombo’s contract has been deemed a “dream scenario”. Nobody wants big long term contracts in trade. They have to re-sign Aaron Gordon and fill out the rest of the roster. The Sixers can offer more salary relief to Orlando if necessary (Trevor Booker $9M, expiring).
As for OKC, I’m not sure they can get more than young shooting guard averaging 17 and a first round pick for George anywhere else. There’s a chance whoever trades for him is only getting him for 6 months before going to LA. That really hurts his trade value.
Bryan Colangelo has the assets and the opportunity to make The Process his. If the Sixers want to win the deadline, they can, I think.
$43mil in expirings, and not even the core– quite a war chest. Only $70mil total commited for next year, and the core locked for another year still. A lot of options!
George goes no where. Neither does Reddick.
Agreed. It’s the NBA, not ESPN fantasy basketball.
The only scenario I take back Biyombo is for an unprotected 1st round pick.
You give me… Fournier, Vucevic, and Biyombo and an unprotected 1st round pick in 2018. Or swap rights in 2018 and 2019.
And I give you 3 expiring contracts in Redick, Johnson, Booker, and an expiring contract for next year Bayless on your laps. I’d seriously think about that. It completely takes the Sixers out of the FA sweepstakes in 2018 and 2019 though. Puts them at 104-106 range in 2018.
Essentially you’d be looking to use the centers in a trade Vucevic in 2019, and Biyombo in 2020 b/c of the expiring contract.
C – Embiid
PF – Marvin Bagley (Orlando Pick)
SF – Michael Porter JR (Lakers Pick/Trade up)
SG – Fournier
PG – Simmons
Bench: Fultz, Saric, Vucevic, Biyombo, McConnell, Holmes, Anderson, TLC, Korkmaz
It’d be highly unlikely that any significant FA would be added. Dream Scenario above. Bryan Coleangelo can’t pull anything that elaborate off.
Dude the Sixers would 3 peat with that lineup, Bagley and Embiid would be unstoppable lmao.
Yea it’s in the realm of possibilities I was so mad when they traded the Lakers pick but it’s 2-5 only.
Bagley and Embiid are both centers.
Just watching Bagley play you can envision him as a stretch-4 easily.
I’ve watched him play a lot. He’s one of the top 3 players in the country. Nobody in the top 3 will trade their pick (Doncic, Ayton, Bagley) in whatever order. Duke won’t let take a shot outside the paint. He’s an athletic center.
And Markelle Fultz is a point guard. Coach Brett Brown says his shoulder is fine, and he was shooting fine at Washington, but he still can’t shoot. Says he’s never seen anything like it. I have. I’ve seen many baseball pitchers loose control of their pitches.
yips
Well Orlando wouldn’t do that trade and you have them trading up in the draft? get off 2k
Sixers have the 6th pick, and a fringe lottery pick right now. Look at tankathon before commenting again, 2 lottery picks to trade up with if needed in a deep draft.
this isn’t the nfl, 2 quality isn’t better than 1 great
There were 2 trades just last year involving 2 picks to move up. Again look things up before you comment.
Nobody can pull off something that elaborate, without the help of ‘Force Trade’ on NBA2K.
I’d give Hinkie a call
That’s funny. Why in the hell would Orlando do that?
Look at the years and contracts they shed. They get to press restart with Gordon Isaac and Simmons. Plus 2 picks in a deep draft.
Orlando said they won’t give up Gordon and Isaac is injured.
Look at the Eastern Conference standings. The Celts and Raptors look good. From 3 thru 9 it looks like anything could happen. Like they say teams are wanting to give away players, but not take anything back because of the salary cap. And you have teams in the playoff hunt willing to trade within their division. They say the Pistons are the leader for Mirotic now.
Vucevic can’t be traded now, he’s hurt. Same for Nerlens Noel.
I doubt there will be very many trades because of the salary cap. This years free agents will be affected because of it too.
LeBron is not declining very fast lol. I’m a Bucks fan and my goodness is LBJ a talent. He’s a lights out 3pt shooter now, something you weren’t able to say for the first decade of his career. He’s an amazing player who should be celebrated.
LeBron and Durant are still the best players in the game. Durant is better all around, but nobody can stop LeBron driving to the hoop.
Reddick down go get Fournier Sixers