Quick Thoughts on Yesterday's NBA Deals
Today was the first time since the day that DeMarcus Cousins was shipped off to New Orleans that there was a "Woj Bomb." And in fact, today there were two.
Lakers trade Timofey Mozgov and D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez and the 27th pick ....... The Lakers got Mozgov's $54 million off of their books while also receiving Brook Lopez - a very underrated center - back in return. Lopez's contract expires after this season and so by dumping Mozgov and acquiring an expiring contract, the Lakers will be real players come 2018 free agency. They will be able to sign two max players .... Paul George and LeBron James will both conveniently be free agents then. And by trading away Russell, the Lakers plan with the second pick is no longer a secret. They will select Lonzo Ball, completing his father's self-fulfilling prophecy.
Charlotte sends Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, and the 41st pick to Atlanta for Dwight Howard and the 31st pick ..... My initial reaction to this trade was "Wow." I cannot believe how Dwight Howard's career has played out. At one time he was the most dominant force in the league. Even more so than LeBron. Seriously, think about that. He led the league in rebounding five out of six seasons, and single-handedly led his team to the 2009 Finals. Now, at just 31 years old, he is being traded, after a dramatic homecoming last summer, for two fringe NBA players. It is crazy to think how far Dwight has fallen. He should have never tried to force his way out of Orlando. Sometimes you just don't know how good you've got it until it's gone. Dwight Howard learned the hard way.
