Johnny Furphy had the unfortunate experience of sitting in the green room during the first day of the draft and not getting selected. The Pacers nabbed the former Kansas forward early in the second round. He came to the Summer League team ready to go.
“It’s something I’d been working for my whole life,” Furphy told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “It was just a massive relief. It was great to have my family there to share those moments with them. It was a dream come true. It’s pretty surreal, it’s just slowly settling in now that this is reality. It’s exciting.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Pacers drafted Jarace Walker last year as a power forward. With Pascal Siakam re-signing with the club, Walker will get extended minutes at small forward during Summer League play. He’ll also get opportunities to handle the ball, according to Dopirak. “I feel like playing the three, I’m bigger and longer. I’m usually stronger so I’m probably going to have a smaller, quicker matchup,” he said. “Being able to move my feet, stay in front of those matchups and keep them from going downhill. That’s always been kind of my strong suit almost, my defensive versatility being able to guard multiple positions. It will be a challenge, but nothing I haven’t done for.”
- The Bulls and Kings worked out a three-team deal in which DeMar DeRozan will head to Sacramento in a sign-and-trade. Chicago attempted to trade another starter to the Kings before the DeRozan deal materialized, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. The two teams held trade talks centered on Zach LaVine. The Bulls will continue their efforts to trade LaVine and they now have two second-round picks coming in the DeRozan deal to help facilitate a potential trade.
- So far, Trajan Langdon has shown patience in his first year as the Pistons’ president of basketball operations and that’s a good thing, James Edwards III of The Athletic opines. Langdon has brought in veterans on short-team contracts with proven shooting ability to help out Cade Cunningham. He’s also got more cap space available to acquire other players in salary dumps with assets attached, as he did with Dallas in the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade.
- In a similar piece, Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press asserts that the moves Langdon and his front office staff have made gives the Pistons some semblance of a modern NBA roster. Doubling last season’s 14-win total isn’t out of the question with the veterans they’ve added to help balance the roster, Windsor adds.
What does everyone think about this trade?
Jazz acquire:
Brandin Podziemski
3 future first round picks from GSW
1 future second round pick from CHI
Bulls acquire:
Andrew Wiggins
Kevon Looney
Gary Payton II
1 future 2nd round pick from GSW
Warriors acquire:
Lauri Markkanen
Zach LaVine
Money from Utah and Chicago to ease cap space/tax apron issues
You don’t even know how many firsts you own ?
Clearly GSW fan.
You know that all three teams have to have interests in trade?
So the Bulls acquire 3 bloated salary non-assets for one second and shed LaVine? Less talent and same/similar payroll?
3 -tradeable- assets instead of 1. As well as a pick. LaVine’s value isnt as high as Lauri’s.
I fail to see one iota of a reason why Chicago would do that deal, and I can’t stand the Bulls
I like subjects
Latest on Zach LaVine
Latest on Ben Simmons
Latest on Bradley Beal
Feel like Walker is not going to get much time to develop. They should move him while he may have stock.
LaVine will likely be a Bull for another season at least. There no longer seems to be a reason to trade him for pennies on the dollar since he could really benefit most from Giddey and restore his value.
Perhaps Bulls instead pivot and deal Coby White for a 2025 pick+ others & further tank to keep their own pick. Ayo’s defense & slashing style pairs better with LaVine & Giddey in the backcourt, and White could be the best shooter available for contenders.
I really like what Langdon is doing in Detroit and I do not think he is done. Still about $20 million to spend.
The Bulls ain’t trading White.
LaVine will most likely stay but White and Ayo are not being moved.
Giddey will come off the bench with Ayo and if LaVine shows flashes he had then the Bulls will move him.
I just hope they shift Williams to SF and not use LaVine there but I could see Williams off the Bench with Ayo, and Giddey while LaVine shifts to SF.