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SPORTS Tuesday 21 February 2017
Welcome to NBA trade season, already underway in earnest

TIM REYNOLDS LeBron James, who’s vying you’re not. ... Do I deserve
AP Basketball Writer to make a seventh consec- to be traded? I don’t know.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — utive trip to the NBA Finals. It’s not my job. It’s not in
Jahlil Okafor viewed New “It’s also a humbling factor my job description. I’m just
Orleans during All-Star that to know that I’ve been supposed to play basket-
weekend with a differ- in this position for so long.” ball to the best of my abil-
ent lens than usual, since With Cousins now moved, ity. If I’m here, I’m here.”
he thought there was a the next huge domino to Orlando, with an eye on
chance it may have been fall may be Anthony, who the future, is considering a
his next home. has a no-trade clause — deal where it would take
That’s life in the rumor mill. but is going through times Jackson from Detroit and
Welcome to trade sea- trying enough with the essentially make him the
son, already underway in New York Knicks that he Magic point guard of the
earnest and will remain so may be persuaded to drop future since three full sea-
until Thursday afternoon’s that clause. sons remain on what was
deadline. All-Star DeMar- The Knicks were tied for a five-year, $80 million con-
cus Cousins is changing his fourth in the East in mid-De- tract. In this Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, file photo, Sacramento Kings’
address from Sacramento cember; they’re now 12th, Not everyone gets frenzied DeMarcus Cousins, right, drives past Los Angeles Lakers’ Larry
Nance Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game in
to New Orleans, Serge Iba- having lost 21 of their last 28 at trade-deadline time. Los Angeles.
ka was sent last week from games and if that wasn’t San Antonio, for example, Associated Press
Orlando to Toronto — and enough also dealing with hasn’t made a deadline
the next few days will like- fallout related to cryp- deal of any real signifi- Kawhi Leonard said. job right now. You can talk
ly see Carmelo Anthony, tic tweets by team presi- cance since acquiring Kurt “You’ve always got to fig- to the front office and see
Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, dent Phil Jackson and the Thomas in 2008. ure out the best way for what they’re doing, but
Reggie Jackson and many Charles Oakley incident “It’s all about team chem- you and your team, but I right now I feel like we’re
more all discussed by vari- where he was dragged istry,” Spurs star forward think we’re doing a good doing good.”q
ous teams. from Madison Square Gar-
“Here we go again,” said den and arrested.
Okafor, the Philadelphia Anthony, at All-Star week-
76ers forward who missed end, said he was bolstered
two games before the by support from fellow
break amid looming trade stars. “For me, it’s good to
speculation. The motiva- see the support from my
tions are many, and obvi- peers despite everything I
ous in most cases. Some have been having to deal
teams will look to add with,” Anthony said. “When
pieces with hopes of en- you have your peers who
hancing their postseason understand it, they’re the
hopes; others are looking ones who are actually
to build toward the future going through similar situ-
by shedding expiring con- ations and can relate to
tracts or collecting draft those types of situations
picks. The jostling is already because they’re in it. So
well underway, and the to have my peers speak
Cousins move would be up and talk about that, it
huge for New Orleans — if means a lot to me.”
they can convince him to But does he expect to
sign an extension this sum- move this week?
mer. Ibaka figures to bol- “I did not come here to
ster the Raptors’ chances talk about no-trade talk,”
in the East, and Cleveland Anthony said.
moved the injured Chris Others have no choice.
Andersen to Charlotte to The Bulls might lose Gibson
open up a roster spot just in free agency this summer,
in case the Cavs have a and Boston — which could
chance to add a piece easily have the No. 1 pick
that might help LeBron in this year’s draft thanks to
James when it’s time to de- a past deal with the Brook-
fend last season’s title. lyn Nets — is believed to
Even the Cavs are look- be a potential landing spot
ing to get better. And of for Butler if Chicago elects
course, teams are look- to go into a full rebuilding
ing for ways to improve mode. If that happens, the
enough to beat the de- Bulls probably wouldn’t be
fending champs as well. expecting Dwyane Wade
“To know that everyone is to stay this summer either.
trying to build their team or “There’s nothing I can do
wanting to get their team about it,” Butler said. “Con-
to try to get to where you trol what you can control.
are and try to knock you Why talk about it? Why
off, it’s a motivating fac- worry about it? If you here
tor,” said Cleveland star you’re here. If you’re not,