"The Stack" 6-21-17
The Stack is back on this Wednesday and I didn’t think we would be doing a blog today, but low and behold, the NBA is cranking up the trade machine and a duo is parting ways so let’s get right to this abbreviated version of “the stack” for today, Wednesday, June 21st:
NBA trades highlight wild Tuesday
The NBA Draft is just a day away and there are bound to be trades on draft night, but some teams are already getting a jump on things.
The Los Angeles Lakers are engaging the Indiana Pacers in trade talks regarding Paul George. George has said he will be leaving the Pacers after this upcoming season and he has said he would like to go play in Los Angeles, but with the Cleveland Cavaliers trying to pull off a trade (without a GM mind you) for either George or Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers are feeling like they must act before they miss out. They did complete a trade with the Brooklyn Nets though sending D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez and the 27th overall pick in Thursday’s draft. This would seem to be a win for both teams. The Nets are definitely void of talent, but Lopez was a good player. Mozgov disappointed for the Lakers and Russell never really matured, but he can still be a good player for the Nets. I would say Magic Johnson and the Lakers won this trade.
That wasn’t the only trade of the day though. Division rivals (are they really rivals though?) Atlanta and Charlotte completed a trade that will send Dwight Howard from Atlanta to Charlotte to become a Hornet along with the 31st pick in this year’s draft for center Miles Plumlee, guard Marco Belinelli and the 41st overall pick in this year’s draft. This would seem like a win for the Hornets and for Howard, it is his fifth team in seven years. If the hometown Hawks didn’t want him for a second season, he needs to take a long look in the mirror and figure out what he needs to do if he wants to lead the Hornets to the playoffs and resurrect his career.
There are bound to be more trades today and tomorrow during the draft. What will the Cavaliers do? Will they land George or Butler? Will the Lakers pull the trigger on George? It’s going to be an interesting 48 hours to say the least.
Mickelson, Bones part ways
Phil Mickelson and his long time caddy Jim “Bones” Mackay are no longer together. They announced the split in separate statements on Tuesday. Mickelson said it wasn’t over one specific incident and that they just thought after a quarter of a century it was time to go their separate ways. Phil’s younger brother Tim will take over the caddy duties. This seems like a very surprising move and I wonder if there is more that was going on behind the scenes than either Mickelson or Bones wanted to talk about. They have a special relationship, one greater than almost any other player-caddy duo currently and maybe ever. They consider each other like family and I hope they continue to be friends for years to come. As it relates to Phil’s golf game, his career will be coming to a close at some point. He’s got a few more years of truly competitive golf I feel like and can certainly win another major or two. If and when that happens it will not be Bones that he hugs after sinking that final putt on the 18th green.
Coming up Thursday: NHL Expansion draft reaction plus NBA mock draft of top ten picks
