Game Threads Index (January 27, 2023):

https://twitter.com/NBAKrell/status/1618997985118928896

Joel Embiid is the victim of an international conspiracy. The Boston Kabal lead by its head Bill Simmons is paying billions of dollars to keep Joel Embiid out of the All-Star game. No one wants to see it but its there.

Source:

https://twitter.com/nonbiasednbafan/status/1618803734360002564?t=dlnHmho8xQQCvplPmQO2xg&s=19:

Charlotte Hornets are at a woeful 14-36 for the season with the loss of miles bridges due to external legal trouble and lamelo having an injury ridden season.

However plumelee has turnedhis game around, including shooting leftie freethrows and going 9/9 FGs in a win against the bulls last night. He is rumoured to be available for trades as the Hornets embrace the tank. Do you think he gets traded? What rate can he keep up?

The Klaw is back. Some people thought he was cooked but most knew it would take awhile for him to get back to form and boy is he back to form now. If you this doesn’t make you happy you don’t love NBA basketball. Can’t wait to see this man turn into RoboJordan in the playoffs.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/kawhi-true-shooting-last-9-games

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/leonaka01/gamelog/2023/

https://pr.nba.com/voting-results-2023-nba-all-star-game-starters/

Media

• East: Mitchell, Brown, Tatum, Giannis, Embiid

• West: Doncic, Curry, LeBron, Jokic, Sabonis

Players

• East: Mitchell, Irving, Durant, Giannis, Embiid

• West: Doncic, Curry, LeBron, Jokic, Zion

Fans

• East: Mitchell, Irving, Tatum, Giannis, Durant

• West: Doncic, Curry, LeBron, Jokic, Davis

Per Stein: Bulls want two future first-round picks to part with Caruso...don't be surprised if the Bulls move Drummond before the deadline

Per Amico: Ayo Dosunmu has generated some trade interest...with Pistons and Hornets being mentioned as two teams mildly in pursuit. "The Bulls are telling teams that guard Zach LaVine will not be traded, sources said. They seem to be as determined to keep DeMar DeRozan, though may be open to dealing center Nikola Vucevic."

Per K.C. Johnson: "Multiple teams have inquired about Alex Caruso, per sources. The Knicks have scouted Caruso of late and own first-round picks that could be dangled with a contract like Obi Toppin if the Bulls show any inclination of trading their defensive ace. The Golden State Warriors also are cited by league sources as a potential suitor."

Source

1. DeRozan: 1.46 points per post up

2. Tatum: 1.33

3. Siakam: 1.28

4. Jokic: 1.25

5. Porzingis: 1.21

6. Zubac: 1.19

7. Lopez: 1.18

8. KD: 1.15

9. Turner: 1.14

10. AD: 1.13

11. Zion: 1.11

12. Embiid: 1.09

A jersey worn by LeBron James during the first half of Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals sold at auction for $3.7 million Friday, becoming the third-most expensive game-worn jersey ever sold at Sotheby's.

It is the most a game-worn James jersey has ever fetched at Sotheby's but ranks behind Michael Jordan's "Last Dance" NBA Finals jersey ($10.91 million) and Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" jersey ($9.28 million).

Source

The strong expectation in league circles is that Raptors guard Fred VanVleet plans to hire Klutch Sports as his new representation. My pal and podcast partner Mr. Haynes reported earlier this week via Bleacher Report that VanVleet was in the process of hiring new agents in advance of free agency, with the seventh-year guard poised to become an unrestricted free agent unless he and the Raptors hash out a contract extension.

Klutch, of course, also represents Raptors swingman OG Anunoby and, through its coaching division, Nick Nurse. I continue to believe that neither Pascal Siakam nor Anunoby is a trade candidate at this deadline. Two weeks out, yet another Klutch client — Gary Trent Jr. — remains the Raptor most likely to be traded.

Source (Paywall)

These answers are coming from an interview Dolan is doing on WFAN this afternoon

James Dolan, when asked if there’s a world where he would sell the Knicks and/or Rangers if the right offer came along:

“I have no plans whatsoever to sell at this point. I’m not retiring anytime soon. It’s a family controlled asset, so someone in the family will own it.”

Tweet

James Dolan to WFAN on if he thinks Leon Rose has done a good job: "Yes. Absolutely…The team with the best talent wins. So then you want a guy who can get you the best talent and I believe Leon Rose is still the best guy."

Tweet

Seems like Barkley did not agree with the All Star Starters as Zuion gets the nod over Sabonis despite being injured for nearly half the season so far,

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Charles Barkley: "The only problem I have with Zion is he's missed 20 games. That's a lot" Kenny Smith: "Out of 49" Adam Lefkoe: "Would you have gone Sabonis?" Charles: "Uh yes"

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Earlier this week, with zero intro or explanation or context given, an episode of the Lowe Post dropped that was simply Bob Meyers interviewing Steph Curry. After listening to a couple minutes and realizing that Lowe had no involvement in this interview, I was like wtf is going on here? Apparently Zach was also confused lol.

The quote in the title is from today’s Lowe Post episode, around the 45:00 mark. He continued to say (in a joking tone): “I don’t remember doing that… how did that happen? … You know how many questions I got about that?”

Link to podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lowe-post/id986595124?i=1000596977056 (Around 45:00)