The trade deadline is coming, which means people are saying things into microphones and typing them into phones. Jake Fischer says the Raptors are the most likely suitor for the Kings All Star big man, whoever that might be by the time you read this.
It feels like we are always looking for a big man, probably because the basket is very high up and being tall helps with that. My uncle used to say you can't teach height, but you also can't teach a dog to play the piano, and nobody is trying to trade a first round pick for a Golden Retriever.
The Cost of Doing Business
There is a rumor that Gradey Dick and his 7 million dollar salary might be on the move just so we can keep Sandro Mamukelashvili. Mamu brings a certain energy to the floor, the kind of energy you find in a guy who knows he has a very long last name.
Moving Gradey feels like a lot, mostly because of the shooting and the red suits, but maybe Darko is looking for something else. If we trade him for Yves Missi, we stop being a team that shoots from far away and start being a team that stands near the rim.
Defense and Magazine Covers
Kenny Beechman says Scottie Barnes is a top three candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Scottie is everywhere at once, which must be exhausting, because I get tired just walking to the kitchen for a glass of water.
He is also on the cover of SLAM magazine with Brandon Ingram, looking like he knows a secret that the rest of us are not allowed to hear. It is a nice cover, though I usually prefer the ones from 2003 because the jerseys were baggier and things felt simpler then.
The Big Game Hunting
Now people are saying some in Anthony Davis' camp believe the Raptors will pursue him. This is the kind of news that makes you sit down and wonder if anyone actually knows anything, or if we are all just vibrating at different frequencies.
If we do not get AD, we might go after Daniel Gafford, which is like wanting a luxury yacht but being okay with a very sturdy rowboat. Both get you across the water, but only one of them has a built in espresso machine and a place to hide from your problems.
We will see what happens by Thursday, or we won't, and we will just keep watching the clock until the summer comes and the humidity in Scarborough makes everything feel like a damp sponge.