Hoop Talk - The NBA Roundup for February 2017

Written by Zeke Perez Jr.

(Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

All eyes in America were on the biggest stage in sports this week. Super Bowl LI provided excitement galore in an unprecedented overtime thriller. Not to be outdone, the Association followed up with some excitement of its own. The day after the big game, the surging Washington Wizards took on the Eastern Conference leading Cleveland Cavaliers in a back-and-forth big play battle that found its way to OT, with the Cavs ultimately stealing the road win in an early “Game of the Year” nominee. Amazing contests and heavy doses of drama should be in steady supply down the stretch. Here’s what to look for heading into the second half of basketball season.
 
“The Process”
“Trust the Process” has been emphasized as the motto for the Philadelphia 76ers so much in recent years that it may challenge “Let Brotherly Love Endure” as the official motto for the city. That saying may finally be coming to fruition as the rebuilding process is beginning to bear fruit. Joel Embiid, Philly’s first round pick from 2014, has been a bright spot in another gloomy season. Embiid missed both the 2014-15 season with a broken bone in his foot and the 2015-16 season after a setback in recovery. But finally, on October 26th 2016, Embiid made his long-awaited regular season debut. He has looked spectacular since then, earning the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award in November, December, and January: a.k.a. every time it’s been awarded this season. In response to the team’s rebuilding slogan, Embiid has hilariously nicknamed himself “The Process”. This season still may not be going their way in the standings, but with Embiid as their future, Sixers fans have a lot to trust.
 
Big Trouble in Little Chicago
It’s been anything but smooth sailing in the Windy City as the Chicago Bulls have hit some rough patches both on and off the court. The Bulls have been inconsistent in January and February, teetering back and forth between the win and loss columns and failing to get any sort of momentum going. Frustrations with their struggles boiled over into the locker room. After blowing a ten point lead in the last three minutes to the Atlanta Hawks, veterans Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler both publicly voiced concerns about the team’s issues, essentially calling out all other players on the roster in the process. Rajon Rondo wasn’t happy with how Wade and Butler handled the situation, posting a lengthy response on Instagram which began, “My vets would never go to the media. They would come to the team.” The trio has since played off the incident, claiming that there is no tension between the players. Time will tell the truth, however, as the clash over leadership has led to trade speculation.
 
All-Stars in the Big Easy
We’re on the brink of the jam-packed NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans! Friday, February 17th brings the always enjoyable Celebrity Game and the Rising Stars Challenge. Saturday, February 18th features the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announcement and NBA All-Star Saturday Night (Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, and Dunk Contest). The game itself is Sunday, February 19th at 8 p.m. ET.

• In the Dunk Contest, look for last year’s runner-up Aaron Gordon to try and top his jaw-dropping effort from 2016. He’ll try to out jam Deandre Jordan, Glenn Robinson III, and Derrick Jones Jr.
• Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, Nick Young, and Kyle Lowry headline the Three-Point Contest.
• Reflecting their popularity across the sport, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors make up almost thirty percent of All-Star representatives this year.
• 2017 is the year of the point guard. There is so much talent across the league at the point guard position this year that Russell Westbrook, the man averaging a triple-double, is not a starter for the West. He is a reserve behind Steph Curry and James Harden. Failing to make the roster are outstanding PG’s Damian Lillard and Mike Conley.
• As is the case with any All-Star roster, the main event is not lacking in drama. Rookie of the Year frontrunner Joel Embiid was robbed of an All-Star nod.

 
Ed Monix for a Washing Machine
The trade rumor mill is firing up as we approach the NBA trade deadline, Thursday, February 23rd at 3 p.m. ET. While we may not see any trades for washing machines a la Semi-Pro, some intriguing moves have been hinted at.

• The rumor taking the league by storm is the idea that the Knicks may look to move Carmelo Anthony. Melo has seemingly worn out his welcome in New York and neither the organization nor the star appears happy. After a frustrated LeBron James made comments suggesting that he would like to see a playmaker in Cleveland, reports have linked Melo to the Cavs, including one which suggested LeBron is pushing to trade Kevin Love for Melo. Since then, LeBron has spoken out and (bluntly) clarified that the report is “trash. And the guy who wrote it is trash, too.” Anthony is still reportedly being shopped around the league. Any deal would require him to waive his no-trade clause.
• With the problems in Chicago discussed earlier, many have suggested that the Bulls may look to move either Jimmy Butler or Rajon Rondo.
• *Insert annual rumor about the Timberwolves trading Ricky Rubio here*
• In a twist regarding another player perennially surrounded by trade rumors, Sacramento Kings GM Vlade Divac recently insisted that the team is not looking to trade DeMarcus Cousins, and that the team hopes he is around for a long time.
• Not the splashiest of players, but one most likely to be moved is Denver Nuggets’ center Jusuf Nurkic. The Nuggets are riding the talents of Nikola Jokic at the center position, relegating Nurkic to the bench. Nurkic deserves an opportunity to start and would absolutely contribute to another team in a more prominent role. Denver is reportedly pursuing a combo forward and a second round pick in return.
• The New Orleans Pelicans are in the market for an offensively-minded big man and are close to a deal with Philadelphia for center Jahlil Okafor, per source.

 
Stay tuned in the days following the deadline for a special Trade Deadline Recap edition of Hoop Talk for a rundown of all the moves!
 
Rebounds: A Look Back
Updates on the storylines from January’s Hoop Talk.

• The Brooklyn Nets are now in sole position to earn the number one pick in the draft. Since last month, they’ve won only one game and have lost seventeen more, and are now sitting at 9-42… ouch.
• The Houston Rockets are still battling it out in the Wild West, maintaining their third place spot at 37-17.
• The MVP race is still neck-and-neck and as a close as it has ever been. Between the two main contenders, Harden has the edge in assists, while Westbrook wins out for points and rebounds. 

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