I was just kidding about coming back on here with another Bad Bunny ‘song’ today. MJ hopes you know he was kidding. One doesn’t go from the Lighthouse Church of Hope in Prague, Oklahoma to becoming a Bad Bunny in a day….even in Oklahoma.
I was just trying to make the cover look like more of an NBA blog of sorts during Super Bowl week. Even in MJ’s college age youth…I’m not sure if I could have made it through an entire Bad Bunny concert. I’m ordering the Bad Bunny Cap if I can, but that’s where I’m leaving the Bad Bunny feel moving forward.
To the trade deadline. It’s official the Ousmane Dieng era is over in Oklahoma City. Ousmane is now a member of the Chicago Bulls along with another Thunder player by the name of Josh Giddy. Ousmane was actually traded to the Charlotte Hornets who then traded him to the Bulls where I hope he gets to play a little bit so as to see if he’s really going to be a player of consequence in the league.
The Thunder received Mason Plumlee who was then quickly waived by the Thunder. So the Mason Plumlee era in OKC was brief. I always liked Mason Plumlee in his younger days–so the best for him as well.
The Thunder also made another trade which might turn out to be something if Jared McCain can become and stay healthy. Jared was acquired by the Thunder from Philadelphia in exchange for one first round pick and three second round picks from Sam Presti’s obscene arsenal of draft picks he accumulated from all the tanking.
Jared played at Duke and was the 16th pick in his 2024 draft class. He’s definitely a player of the build and talent one could see becoming the next Ajay Mitchell on the Thunder roster. Most importantly, he’s on a rookie scale contract like Ajay. Google that Ajay Mitchell contract and see what an absolute steal Ajay is for Sam Presti on his current rookie deal.
So Jared now seamlessly slides into the Ousmane slot on the Thunder roster which is now full heading towards the playoffs.
Denver made a minor move sending Hunter Tyson to the Brooklyn Nets for immediate luxury tax relief and a second round pick. I like Hunter as well. One of those guys who quietly came off the end of the Nugget bench and did his job. Best of wishes to Hunter. Kind of guy you miht want your sister to marry.
San Antonio and Houston stood pat. No point guard pickup for Houston. I wonder if the Rockets are toying with the idea of acquiring the brittle Chris Paul as some sort of insurance for their point guard situation.
I feel Minnesota made a move which very much caught my eye. The TWolves acquired backup point guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls to occupy the roster spot vacated by the aged Mike Conley. I like this move for the TWolves. This was something similar I was looking for the Rockets to do in fact. This should make Minnesota a better team moving forward towards the playoffs.
So…for the top five teams in the West this is what happened at the trade deadline.
After the Super Bowl…I’ll talk about the James Harden to Cleveland for Darius Garland trade to the LA Clippers.
Plus, the sad trade the Warriors made with John Kuminga for Porzgingus. The Warriors traded a player with the basketball IQ of a rock for a player who’s chronically injured.
Plus, what the Utah Jazz did as well by acquiring Jaren Jackson from Memphis. The Jazz could be watchable next season while Memphis can’t even trade Ja Morant. Nobody wants him. That young man…is in serious need of a substantial attiitude adjustment.
Also…I like what Indiana did in acquiring Zubac to fill the massive void at center created after the summer departure of Miles Turner. Indiana is going to have a very nice first round draft pick, plus the hopeful return of Tyrese Haliburton. I like the way Indiana has quietly gone about their rebuild which could be complete in one season versus three seasons of shameless tanking as ‘some’ have done in this league.
I’m going to do my final Super Bowl pick after I see if the spread possibly moves to 5 or 5.5 points to a Seattle -5.5 position.
Have a beautiful week-end in sunny-warm Oklahoma.
Mike J