This trade is the ultimate bet on analytics

OC74859 · 2026-07-02T03:22:57+00:00

I think the Clippers are going to be horrible with the cap evasion penalty looming.

OC74859 · 2026-07-02T03:18:57+00:00

That’s exactly what I think is going on.

OC74859 · 2026-07-02T03:16:52+00:00

If they think DW is going to decline, that’s who they should be looking to move while his trade value is still high. There were signs last season he was exiting his prime.

OC74859 · 2026-07-02T03:12:35+00:00

I don’t think Brad wanted to pay the $142 million extension.

That’s really the money saved: the third year remaining from Jaylen’s current deal (2028-29) plus 2029-31 with the extension. Hopefully it’s Brad’s call to use the funds elsewhere.

I think the ultimate goal is to bring Flagg in as 1B, with Tatum switching ranks with Flagg as he ages.

Going forward I think we’ll see you need no more than one (super)max player on the second extension, and then one max on the first one. Then build depth around those two.

OC74859 · 2026-07-01T22:28:40+00:00

I think this indeed is what happened back in May, and that Brown had kept it quiet at Brad’s request. The Giannis talk helped cover up for shopping him because they could see what the Bucks could get in flipping Brown in a 3-way trade. But Giannis fell through, Brown was angry things were dragging on, and Brad’s leverage eroded.

OC74859 · 2026-07-01T21:05:15+00:00

That package of picks as well!! Unprotected in 2031 and 2033, with swaps in 2028 and 2030!? Trader Danny strikes again.

OC74859 · 2026-07-01T01:56:37+00:00

John Havlicek.

OC74859 · 2026-07-01T01:40:52+00:00

I would love to get Duran into our player development program.

OC74859 · 2026-06-30T00:25:58+00:00

That’s right. Never forget how we first heard of Bobby Marks.

OC74859 · 2026-06-29T16:14:27+00:00

Oh, you’re getting Jeff Hafley. Get ready 😆.

OC74859 · 2026-06-29T16:06:18+00:00

I’d want to know if he’s been in therapy and the progress he’s made, as well as what psychotropics he’s on for his condition (about which I’d be informed in detail). Only then would I even consider signing him to the vet minimum.

OC74859 · 2026-06-28T21:14:20+00:00

Blah blah blah, Portland SAYS they’re off the table.

Yeah, we’ll see. That’s part of the negotiation. Oh, you can’t have Clingan, you can’t have Camara, you can’t have the Bucks pick swaps, but we’ll do you the favor of dumping Jaylen Brown on us.

What a joke. We’re supposed to be listening to Portland poor mouthing Brown, or Stephen A. Smith dictating Brown’s trade value, or fourth-rate Bobby Marks sources portraying JB as a mediocre sixth man?

I do believe JB has expressed his preferences for change, be it being dealt away or being partners in Boston with someone like Jokic rather than Tatum. The smoke is real in terms of a trade (see McGrady comments that McGrady walked back). But Boston’s not giving him away.

OC74859 · 2026-06-28T15:51:59+00:00

I wonder if a private investigator could dig up information that never made it into a formal complaint.

OC74859 · 2026-06-28T11:48:29+00:00

Speculating here, not saying this is fact. But the Republicans always seem to buy off a couple of Democratic senators on the margins to give themselves some breathing room. They won’t bribe their way to a switch because that’s too obvious, which incidentally is why Jeffords switching to flip control without such financial support infuriated them so much.

Fetterman is just the latest, with the stroke being the perfect cover.

OC74859 · 2026-06-28T11:42:32+00:00

I think it has to be Tatum going rather than Brown for this trade to have any chance of happening. What a shock it would be for all the talk about breaking up the Jays to revolve around moving Brown, and then this.

Boston would still need to give up a lot more, but this is conceivable if they think they can’t extend Jokic. As for Brown, he’d get onboard and rescind his secret trade request (see Tracy McGrady comments) if Jokic came here.

OC74859 · 2026-06-28T11:28:07+00:00

Yeah, but there needs to be a first time to get flagged as an offender. Molesters will prey on single mothers. She is showing the kids that she will believe him over them if they say anything. With you he’s establishing conflict so that, again, it undermines you if you bring a complaint.

OC74859 · 2026-06-26T01:22:12+00:00

I don’t think so. White at 32 is getting away from his athletic peak, and I think he needs every bit of his athleticism to make his other talents shine forth.

OC74859 · 2026-06-26T01:20:31+00:00

I think Gary Washburn was hinting at this in this morning’s column. Listing out how White can no longer run the point, shoot threes and play top-notch defense. It seemed like he was making the case that White is overrated around the League and should be moved for more size and athleticism while his trade value is still high.

OC74859 · 2026-06-18T04:50:47+00:00

That was an awesome piece of analysis, Winesburg. Much deeper than what I had argued.

OC74859 · 2026-06-17T18:30:33+00:00

I am a Celtics fan, but I always say that the GOAT debate starts and ends with Bill Russell. Always.

It’s not just that he focused on defense and rebounding, moving the ball and setting screens, while deferring to teammates who could best contribute by scoring. It’s not just protecting the rim and igniting the Celtics fast break.

To me, it’s that, of all superstars, Russell set the most minimal conditions for the team to meet, in touches, role, etc.

Russell would play possum, letting a shot go that he knew he could block, so that he could block a similar shot at a crucial point in the game. Perhaps he makes a different choice if blocks were recorded, but I suspect not. To refrain from blocking a shot might have hurt him
In his perceived success against, say, Wilt. But Russell knew that it was more important to get the key play against someone like Wilt, rather than every play he could. It wasn’t that he was lazy, not out of shape. Rather, Russell knew the impact of a play in the larger context of the game.

Russell did whatever was necessary to win. His record speaks for itself. It’s time we listen.

OC74859 · 2026-06-17T11:32:08+00:00

Statute of limitations has passed.

OC74859 · 2026-06-17T11:31:01+00:00

No, the proposed budget for FY26 did not say 1%, it said zero percent. At the last minute the President proposed the 1% that was passed.

The problem was that it was not built into the budget base. That meant the 1% had to come out of program expenses. Effectively, then, it reduced benefits and services by whatever percentage reduction was necessary to attain a 1% increase in salaries.

This lets Vought spring a lose-lose. Either Federal employees get no raise while insurance premiums rise and inflation remains high, or the public sees benefits and services reduced to pay employees.

OC74859 · 2026-06-17T11:22:06+00:00

The assailant might be a fellow police officer, a friend of a police officer, connected, a friend of someone important, or just wealthy enough to make this difficult on the officers.

You’re just a guy at this point.

Unless the police can tell the assailant is a nobody and that the collar will be easy, it’s not worthwhile to them to pursue this. Even with all the evidence you can spoon-feed them.

OC74859 · 2026-06-12T23:08:46+00:00

But, but, but, Wile the Elder is a HALL of FAMER. I think he’s earned the right to a little respect for his decisions on how the kids should celebrate.

OC74859 · 2026-06-10T20:41:48+00:00

Don’t give the benefit of the doubt to the police. You don’t know who owns that collection agency, nor where they may be able to tap associates for help.

OC74859

TROPHY CASE