Strat, I don’t think you are right that we got a bad deal in our original Porzingis trade. I do agree that we may have traded for the wrong things in an effort to get better right away instead of trying to get more draft picks and future assets. That’s a different argument. But we did use the cap space to hire Randle and he gave us one very enjoyable season. Getting an over-rated all star power forward for a different over-rated all-star power forward is not a loss, especially when you consider that KP costs more in salary than Randle and is less durable (fingers crossed here).

From the Dallas point of view, I suspect they concluded Carlisle was right, the best use of KP on offense when paired with Doncic was to put him in the corner and have him prepare to shoot threes. Bertrans can do that just as well and isn’t such a big contract. He’ll also probably be happier than KP with such a role. I don’t think the trade will hurt Dallas. In fact Bertrans could go back to being a high TS role player, which would be great for him and for Dallas. I don’t know how Washington will do. They just remade their team considerably and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out. Beale is hurt, so KP may get a big role. That could lead to strains down the road when Beale returns, but they have time to fix that in the off-season.

We shut down both Kemba and Noel, they have been injured on and off all season so let’s just let them rest. Then we tell Rose not to rush back and just get strong for next year. We then remove Burks from the rotation and tell Randle he will be coming off the bench for Obi so we can better evaluate him for next year. If Randle doesn’t want to come off the bench we tell him he is welcome to fake an injury and sit. Either way is fine. Finally, we move Fournier to the bench and make him our 6th man.

Our rotation:
McBride – Quickley
Barrett – Fournier
Grimes – Reddish
Toppin – Randle
Robinson – Sims

If Randle would rather sit we can slide Reddish to the four and play Burks.

If Thibs balks at this at all, even a little, we fire him.

Brian Cronin:
By the way, I don’t blame Harden at all for not wanting to stick around in Brooklyn. Who the fuck wants to play with a star that is actively fucking his title contending team over just because he’s a contrarian asshole? At this point in his career, Harden just wants to be on a legit title contender, not a team where the star player can’t play in half his playoff games.

Brian, I totally disagree about Harden. It’s one thing to want out, and another to prove that by half assing it on the court (and in Houston he got fat to boot) These guys get paid ridiculous amounts of $$ and there’s no excuse for mailing it in to prove a point.

(Remember when Vince Carter checked out in Toronto and suddenly started playing like an all star for the Nets? Same thing, it sucked)

Alan: A Breaking Bad prequel?!?!? What a terrible idea! How could that possibly be good?!?!?

Lol. It’s amazing how great it’s been, arguably better than BB though some of the early stuff was a little odd because of the age of the actors.

In happier news, I just saw that Better Call Saul returns April 18! Excited for the best drama on TV to return.

A Breaking Bad prequel?!?!? What a terrible idea! How could that possibly be good?!?!?

I kid, I kid. And am grateful to have this place to vent on lousy fandom days like this.

In happier news, Grimes and Mitch are available tonight. And while RJ’s injury is stupid and a black mark against Thibs, it buys Reddish at least one more game in the rotation.

vincoug:
In happier news, I just saw that Better Call Saul returns April 18! Excited for the best drama on TV to return.

That’s great news. The show was just heating up before the pandemic started.