It is February and everything is going down. I am not sure if that means the trade deadline or just the general trajectory of my mood, but something is definitely descending. My uncle used to say that the cold makes people restless, which explains why everyone wants to trade for Domantas Sabonis right now.
There is a rumor about RJ Barrett going to Sacramento for Sabonis. I spent most of the morning staring at a wall thinking about this. I used to be very against it, mostly because RJ has actually been playing defense lately. It is a strange feeling to see a Raptor stay in front of his man, like seeing a pigeon that knows how to use a crosswalk.
The Defensive Paradox
We currently have one of the best defensive lineups in the professional basketball league. This is a fact that should make me feel good, but it is balanced by the fact that we also have one of the worst offensive lineups. It is like having a car with the world's best brakes but no engine. You aren't going to hit anything, but you also aren't going anywhere.
Some people want to trade Jakob Poeltl, but that seems complicated. Giving up draft picks to move a contract you signed only five months ago is the kind of thing that makes you want to lie down in a darkened room. Jak is fine. His value can only go up, mostly because it is hard to imagine it going much lower without involving a basement.
Searching for Order
I have been spending too much time looking at depth charts lately. I think I might have a problem (one person suggested it might be mild brain damage from birth). I just like seeing names in rows. It makes the world feel organized, unlike the actual games where everyone just runs around and eventually someone loses by four points.
ESPN's depth charts are basically just guesses made by people who are probably busy doing other things. They do not update fast enough for the modern era of constant transaction rumors. If we do trade for Sabonis, or if we just decide to keep everyone and hope for a miracle, the chart will eventually reflect it.
The Poeltl Factor
We should probably just roll with Jak for now (tbh). Truthfully, this team is a collection of paradoxes and tall people who occasionally make a layup. I remember watching Rasho Nesterovic in 2007 and thinking that was as complicated as life would get. I was wrong.
Everything is going down today, or maybe it isn't. The deadline is coming and we are all just spinning, much like Pascal Siakam used to. We are waiting to see if we want to be a defensive juggernaut that cannot score or an offensive powerhouse that forgets where the hoop is on the other end. I think I'll go buy some memorabilia and wait for the news.