It is easy to declare the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Milwaukee Bucks the winners of trade deadline day, because both will be in the playoffs and both made exceptional moves.
But the team I have declared the bigest winner of all is the Philadelphia 76ers, because they were able to get their hands on the Top 5 protected pick that the Los Angels Lakers owed to the Phoenix Suns. It is never easy trading away a player as good as Michael Carter-Williams, who is the reigning Rookie of the Year. But having a chance to build a team that can be a powerhouse for a full decade is an opportunity not to be dismissed, and general manager Sam Hinkie has put his team in that position.
Not everyone agrees with me, and the patience of fans in Philadelphia is being tested.
Also, Hinkie is getting a lot of criticism for tanking the season, but if the rules give a team an incentive to tank, what is wrong with operating within the rules?
I debated the Sixers situation, the wisdom of it and the chances of it succeeding, with Jody MacDonald and Josh Innes on WIP in Philly. Enjoy.
Oh, and Saric was a two-time MVP in Europe, but he doesn’t say the MVP of WHAT. To detail what Sheridan won’t, it was the freakin’ Adriatic League. So far this year he’s not doing anything special, his numbers have been mediocre, and he’s been a turnover machine every season he’s played. His CAREER HIGH in points is 18. His CAREER HIGH in rebounds is 11. Precisely where is this imaginary guaranteed “stud” Sheridan keeps talking about?
We agree, A.J. Saric appears to have regressed. Nothing but mediocre numbers for him this year, plus he will be getting a late start in the NBA, if he does come over.
Look for Hinkie to flip him, while he is still over-rated.
I’ve noticed Sheridan always has a bad habit of playing fast and loose with details. It gets worse than annoying, it’s borderline fraudulent. He said the other day that the Oklahoma City first-round pick is top-16 protected. No, it’s top-18 protected. He said the Cleveland pick in the Baron Davis trade was originally slotted at #11. No, it was originally slotted at #8. He said the Lakers pick was presently slotted at #5. No, it was presently slotted at #4.