The NBA Trade Deadline went from exciting to mind-blowing when the Phoenix Suns traded for Kevin Durant, shattering one contender to pour accelerant on another. That deal was made possible in part because the Suns had a new owner, Matt Ishbia, who was voted in just two days beforehand.
New owners are voted in by the other owners, and in a league of 30 owners he was confirmed 29-0, with one owner abstaining. That owner? Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He abstained not because of any concerns with Ishbia owning the Suns (presumably) but because Gilbert is also the owner of Rocket Mortgage, a company whose greatest rival is the Ishbia-owned United Wholesale Mortgage.
Ishbia recently had an interview published with Sports Illustrated (sidebar: SI just laid off the vast majority of their basketball writers and editors as they continue to cut costs and look for ways not to pay real journalists. The quality of their content is sure to suffer, and hopefully, those who were laid off find new homes from which to cover the league). In the interview Ishbia was asked about Gilbert abstaining from the ownership vote. His reply: “I wasn’t surprised. I know who he is.”
If the Cavaliers and Suns can find a way to drum up an interleague rivalry, perhaps even by meeting in the NBA Finals, this will be a fun storyline to follow. Gilbert has a history of pettiness and it reared its head again here.
More Cavs news
A new NBA award will be handed out this season, the Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year award. NBA.com just broke down the race, with the Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox leading the way. Donovan Mitchell has an outside shot at the award given his performance in the 71-point game earlier this year, but he’ll need to notch a few more bigtime shots to overcome Fox’s analytical lead.
Here on the website we handed out some grades. First, Dan Gilinsky graded the play of the Cavaliers’ guards this season. Then we looked back at last year’s Trade Deadline deal to regrade the Cavs’ trade for Caris LeVert. Does the grade go up or down from a year ago?
NBA news
The Atlanta Hawks recently made a front office change to put the franchise in the hands of Landry Fields, and he made his first big move by dismissing head coach Nate McMillan on Tuesday. Former Milwaukee Bucks interim coach Joe Prunty will step in as the interim in Atlanta, but the Hawks are expected to conduct a full search over the coming months, with former Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder expected to garner plenty of interest.
Does the removal of McMillan mean Trae Young is next to go this offseason, or conversely does it mean the Hawks are trying to change things in order to convince Young to stay? The Hawks are currently 29-30, in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, leading the pack of teams fighting from 8-13 in the East.
Coming up: One more day off before the Cavaliers start their season back up tomorrow night.