Danny Ainge is just incredible.
After the Walker Kessler trade today, the Utah Jazz have effectively traded Rudy Gobert + Donovan Mitchell for:
• Lauri Markkanen
• Jusuf Nurkić
• 9 first-round picks
• 5 first-round swaps
• Several second-round picks
Firsts already used:
• 2023 MIN → Keyonte George
• 2025 MIN → Will Riley → Walter Clayton Jr.
• 2025 CLE → Liam McNeeley
Firsts still coming:
• 2027 MIN
• 2029 MIN
• 2027 CLE
• 2029 CLE
• 2031 LAL
• 2033 LAL
Swaps still available (probably worthless):
• 2026 CLE swap
• 2028 CLE swap
• 2028 LAL swap
• 2030 LAL swap
Tons of flexibility going forward for the Jazz. They can flip Lauri if they want or they can use future assets to trade for a star.
Admittedly, those likely late first rounders aren't that valuable so the number of first rounders looks better than the actual value of them, but getting all those assets and Lauri who is a star himself is pretty awesome.
The baseball appears to be flying farther and producing more homers than "expected" recently. This is AFTER accounting for weather and stadium effects
The +4% vs Expected over the past couple weeks is higher than any point since the 2019 live ball
The Thunder have Aaron Wiggins locked into a five-year contract, btw. It descends in value every year until the end, when there is a TEAM option.
If he were on a normal team he'd be, like, a cornerstone player. Untouchable in trade talks. But he plays for OKC. So... eighth man!