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A20 SPORTS
Friday 24 February 2017
The big names stay in place on NBA trade-deadline day

TIM REYNOLDS defense. part of the deal that sent
AP Basketball Writer “Obviously we have a Bogut to the 76ers.
MIAMI (AP) — Paul George great deal of interest, and The backlog of big men in
stayed put. So did Jimmy we’ve said it for a long time, Philadelphia — Noel, Oka-
Butler, Carmelo Anthony in a playmaker,” Cavaliers for, Joel Embiid, newly ac-
and Derrick Rose. general manager David quired Tiago Splitter and
And as the trade dead- Griffin said. “I won’t speak No. 1 overall pick Ben Sim-
line passed Thursday, the to specific names just be- mons presumably at some
NBA landscape seemed cause nobody’s free cur- point — made it seem like
remarkably unchanged. rently that’s out there for us moves were going to hap-
In all, seven deadline-day to talk about. But, obviously pen, and Noel wound up
trades were put togeth- the need for a playmaker being the one to go.
er by the 3 p.m. Eastern still exists ... and we feel that “Gonna miss my best
deadline — but no last- we’ll be competitive in that friend,” Embiid said, “but
minute blockbusters. All- market for sure.” I’m happy for him.”
Star DeMarcus Cousins was Another notable player So whether players stayed
traded to New Orleans by who may get to choose his or went, when 3:01 p.m.
Sacramento a few days next spot is Andrew Bogut, arrived there was plenty
earlier, yet every trade that who was traded by Dal- of exhaling around the
followed paled in compari- las to Philadelphia — and league. The All-Star break
son. figures to be a buyout ended Thursday night, and
“You know where all those candidate. Bogut’s injury now for the most part ev-
big dominoes are? They’re in last season’s NBA Finals eryone knows where they’ll
still home, with the excep- coincided with the start of finish the season.
tion of one,” Miami Presi- Golden State’s wasting of “We’re professionals,” said
dent Pat Riley said. “I’m a 3-1 series lead against Minnesota point guard
sure there were people Cleveland, and he’s still Ricky Rubio, the subject
that probably made some Eastern Conference forward Paul George of the Indiana Pacers considered an elite rim pro- of many rumors in recent
pretty significant offers. ... (13) reacts during the second half of the NBA All-Star basketball tector. days. “But we’re human
When you have that kind game in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. Of the players traded Thurs- beings, too. We have feel-
of player ... it takes a lot to day, only Roy Hibbert — ings.”
say, ‘OK, we’re going to let last week for Terrence Ross swap picks with Brooklyn traded for the second time ___
this guy go.’ You stay with figures to improve the Rap- in this year’s draft, and the this month, this time from AP Basketball Writer Jon
the sure thing there.” tors’ chances in the Eastern Nets right now would be fa- Milwaukee to Denver — Krawczynski in Minneapolis
George remained with Conference, and Thurs- vored to win the lottery and has been an All-Star in the and AP Sports Writer Kyle
the Indiana Pacers, even day’s move to land P.J. the No. 1 pick — something past. Hightower in Waltham,
though the four-time All- Tucker from Phoenix gives the Celtics would grab. Philadelphia kept Jahlil Massachusetts contributed
Star knew other teams them another outstanding Any big addition made Okafor and instead moved to this report.q
sought his services. Jimmy on-the-ball defender. And Thursday almost certainly Nerlens Noel to Dallas as
Butler stayed with the Chi- the deal for Cousins that would have cost the Celt-
cago Bulls, and the New went down on All-Star Sun- ics that chance.
York Knicks held onto Rose day — in New Orleans, no “It is a delicate balance of Budenholzer says Ilyasova
and Anthony — the lat- less — gives the Pelicans a short-term goals and long-
ter of whom would have frontline like no other in the term goals,” Boston gen- will be good fit for Hawks
had to waive his no-trade NBA with him now along- eral manager Danny Ainge
clause to make any deal side Anthony Davis. Plus, said. CHARLES ODUM plays Miami on Friday night.
occur anyway. Cleveland snagged Kyle Perhaps the most interest- AP Sports Writer Ilyasova was acquired from
“I wasn’t concerned,” Korver last month. ing moves Thursday were ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks Philadelphia on Wednes-
George said. “At the end But contenders mostly not trades at all. Dallas coach Mike Budenholzer day night.
of the day, I’m in a good stayed quiet Thursday. An put five-time All-Star point says newly acquired power he 76ers obtained injured
situation. ... I heard the ru- earlier agreed-upon trade guard Deron Williams on forward Ersan Ilyasova was center Tiago Splitter and a
mors, different rumors, but I of note was officially com- waivers, and a person targeted as a player he protected second-round
can’t control what was go- pleted, the one that sent briefed on the situation saw as a good fit on Atlan- draft pick from Atlanta,
ing to happen one way or Lou Williams to Houston told The Associated Press ta’s front line. and have the right to swap
another.” from the Los Angeles Lak- that when Williams clears The 6-foot-10 Ilyasova gives another 2017 second-
The biggest moves of this ers and adds more serious he plans to sign with the Atlanta a “stretch forward” round pick with the Hawks.
trade season came long scoring to the Rockets’ Cleveland Cavaliers, which who can make 3-pointers Ilyasova, from Eskisehir,
before deadline day. bench. would give LeBron James while playing behind All- Turkey, has averaged 14.8
Toronto getting forward Boston, currently No. 2 in the extra playmaker he Star Paul Millsap. points while starting in 40 of
Serge Ibaka from Orlando the East, has the right to covets for the looming title
“To get somebody that we 53 games this season.
really targeted and want- “He’s somebody that for
ed, we feel really good some time all of us in the
about that,” Budenholzer front office ... we all kind of
said Thursday. watched and wanted him
Budenholzer said matching to be a part of the team,”
center Dwight Howard’s Budenholzer said.
inside game with Ilyasova “I think he’s a smart play-
“who can stretch and hit er, a competitive guy. He
the 3s, that is a good pair- does a lot of little things. He
ing.” has an edge to him. Obvi-
Ilyasova is expected to join ously he can shoot.”q
the team before the team