Veteran forward/center Mike Muscala has been a regular, reliable rotation player for the Thunder so far this season, averaging a career-high 9.7 points per game to go along with 3.8 RPG and a .368 3PT% in 34 games (18.6 MPG). However, he received a DNP-CD in the team’s first game of the second half, with youngsters Aleksej Pokusevski and Moses Brown inserted into the rotation following their time in the G League.
“It took Mike out of the rotation, but Mike’s a pro and he’ll stay ready,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “Those conversations with Mike are easy, and he makes it easy because of how professional he is.”
It was just one game, but both Pokusevski (14 points, eight rebounds) and Brown (eight points, 12 rebounds) looked good, and there’s no reason to expect the rebuilding Thunder to dial back their young players’ minutes the rest of the way. A playoff team may have more use for a low-cost bench player like Muscala, so he’ll be worth keeping an eye on as the March 25 trade deadline nears.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. will be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2021 offseason, and ESPN’s Zach Lowe (Insider link) says he’d be shocked if Porter’s representatives don’t open negotiations with a “max or nothing” stance. That looming payday is one reason why Denver may be wary of taking on much long-term salary in trades, Lowe notes.
- Despite Damian Lillard‘s repeated insistence that he wants to spend the rest of his career in Portland – and the contract extensions he has signed to back up that stance – it sometimes seems as if everyone wants him to seek a title elsewhere, according to Chris Mannix of SI.com, who explores why that’s the case and what a title with the Trail Blazers would mean for Lillard and the franchise.
- In his list of players returning from injuries who could impact the playoff race, Matt Eppers of USA Today has Trail Blazers teammates CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic sharing the top spot. Neither play was active on Thursday, but they’re both believed to be close to returning.
- After a dismal first half, the Timberwolves got off to a promising start in the second half, with young building blocks Jaden McDaniels and Jaylen Nowell playing key roles in head coach Chris Finch’s first win on Thursday, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Tired of the media constantly trying to run superstars out of smaller markets and into big markets. Teams like Portland have a hard enough time as it is bringing in premium free agent talent and retaining players.
I’ve no issue with Portland trading Dame here in the next 3 or 4 years if they can’t get him to the Finals because that’s the right thing to do if it is what he wants, but it’d be a lot cooler to see the team find a way to go out and get someone to help him win a ring in Portland.
Winning a ring in Portland will carry far more significance than just another ring in whatever big market.
It’s not just the media – it’s fans too. Watching superstar talents carry mediocre teams handicapped by cheapskate small market owners is frustrating.
Now, to be fair, Portland ownership has spent money for years now to build a champion. This year, they’re not going into the tax at all. Probably because of covid (which is somewhat understandable). But if Dame was in Dallas or LA or Brooklyn? We wouldn’t hear one word about luxury tax.
Kevin Garnett wasted some of his best years in Minny and for what? They were never a viable championship team. Is Portland’s situation really any different? I mean, Portland’s ownership is better, but the net result here is the same.
Interesting discussion point, but I’d take your KG example and say what about CP3? He’s now bounced around a lot, and quite literally been no closer to a title than Lillard. Is Chris Paul better off having forced at least one trade to chase a ring that never came? I’d argue no, and it’s been weird to see how his HOF career comes to an end bouncing from team to team with no chance at all at a title. Remind me again why Lillard wants that?
In the end the player decides where he wants to go. Today with social media bigger markets aren’t as enticing. At least not for the money. A big star today can still be big. Look at Bron he did it in Cleveland. Every team should be lucky enough to get a player like Dame. He is an all star and true soul. I don’t know how they do it without a buyout. But I’d love to see Aldridge in Portland. Makes them a real threat in the West.
So MPJ aiming for a max contract with carreer averages of 11pts, 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game? I miss the times when max contract were offered to proven players, not just promising.
Agreed.. I miss the times when max contracts were given to the superstars that put fans in the stands
The max isn’t that much. $27 million is maybe a $10 million dollar premium over the going rate for a quality starter, right? And you just know some terrible team like Detroit would throw a Max at Porter just because they need people who know how to play.
Look at the other Porter. Otto basically got a max deal and he played more than MPJ. I think MPJ could end up with a 20-21 Tobias Harris stat line in another year.
You don’t pay guys for what they have done, you pay them for what they will do and a little bit about what they could/should become. MPJ has all the tools and is improving at a rapid pace. 15 & 7 is nothing to sneeze at and the assist opportunities just aren’t going to be there when playing with Jokic and Murray. I too think max on him would be an overpay but he certainly has the ability to become a max player.
I worry about the lack of defensive intensity and sometimes reliance to go 1 on 1 too much when his opponents scoring on him –
Nugs could pull a bold one and capitalize on all his value right now in a trade
I just dont see the star player under contract for at least next year readily avail for that type of move right now
Nugs kinda need that versatile Defensive stopper on the wing that can switch , Idk if Porters that guy, Craig was sneaky valuable to them last year which I think they miss.
I really like what I’ve seen from Moses Brown in the G-League and in his limited minutes with the regular team. He is a hard worker. Plays hard. Seems like a winning player. He will earn opportunities in this league
19 RPG /36MP is a heck of a stat… even if it is in the g-league. Even without taking into account MPs he still averaged basically 14 RPG I just 25 MPG to go along with 18+ PPG. Granted I realize g-league stats don’t mean a ton in terms of what a player will do in the NBA, it’s still hard not to be impressed with his performance.
But have you actually watched him? I have… and I hope he makes it one day, I think he gives it his all, but he is absolutely not an NBA starter anytime in the foreseeable future..
No offense against Porter. We all see the talent. But you have to play to produce results. He was out his first yr with a serious injury. The back is something that may never be the same again. If Larry Legend didn’t hurt his back. He’d be the GOAT we all argue about today. Porter stats that really matter ———
2018-19 season did not play
2019-20 season avg 16.4 mins a game. Played in 55 total gms out of 73.
2020-21 season avg 28.6 mins a game. Played in 26 games so far out of 36 games.
29 mins is a solid number now. But he still missed 10 gms. That’s almost a third of games so far. His stats this yr are good. Not star numbers. Lonzo Ball is avg basically same numbers with better D. We’re not going crazy over him. In fact half of fans are ready to dump him. I like Porter but I’m in no rush to resign him. And I would listen to all offers. You still have a yr to decide. Who knows an offer you can’t refuse might come up.
MPJ didn’t miss a single game for injury… every one of those 10 games were wasted in the c-19 protocols!
Which basically proves he is as healthy as it gets, right?
as healthy as it gets today, but in the future is a question. his family history with back problems is a BIG red flag, his sisters had to medically retire from sports while jontay has had his issues too. mpj basically missed his only college season for surgery on his back. so yes it is a gamble with the information thats there.
MPJ is not worth a max in any way shape or form….if it means he walks, then Denver needs to let him walk. (Or traded)
MPJ is a lock for a max in my book!
Guy is just sooo special!
If not for back issues he would have been the unanimous #1 pick in the Luka draft, that tells you somethin’!
It’s hard to compare, but MPJ hasn’t got the numbers that other rookies can rake up (like Morant been the man in his team for these first 2 seasons is easy to put on empty stats) but MPJ has been playing since day one in a team that for the last 2 seasons has been a clear championship contender, which implies opportunities for rookies are very hard to come by… so he has done much better than most sophomores with better numbers!
MPJ will be an All-Star & All-NBA sooner than most think!