#SLOE: People's Basketball Sim League

I'm going to be documenting the trade deadline trades (aka anything happening post Monday's sim) and giving brief commentary on each one of those EARTHSHATTERING moves! Let's get started!

BULLS/MAVERICKS
Bulls send Jarvis Chambers, Kris Dunn, and 10 points; Mavericks send Hassan Whiteside
Commentary: Bulls want to showcase Vernon Desantis and move him to the power forward spot. Jarvis is a very serviceable big man, and the Mavericks got a pretty good player in him for this season and next. But this move tells me that GM Garbageman wants to get back to what the Bulls did best: control the paint (and their cap future). They had a lot of success with VD next to an elite rebounder and dominant paint defender in Biyombo during their run in the past few seasons, so this move makes a lot of sense in that regard. Kris Dunn was straight trash thanks to TC-slaughterhouse, so he becomes purely salary filler. 10pts maybe be a bit steep, but sometimes you gotta pay to play the game (and dump future salary).
Winner: Bulls and Mavs both. Mavs make some money and get a decent player. Bulls get an above average defender and rebounder to complement (did i use the right vowel?) to put next to their star big (and shed some 20+ mil in salary off next season).

GRIZZLIES/MAVERICKS
Mavericks send Al-Farouq Aminu, 5 points; Grizzlies send Dario Coleman, Donnell Silva, Fredrick Mayfield, Chad Koester
Commentary: Grizzlies are consolidating salaries into one player who does a little bit of everything and can play multiple positions. Grizzlies finally have a taste of winning for the first time in a few seasons, and they want to keep that going... while getting paid some points at the same time! The Mavericks want to shed some tax bill dollars here and are willing to pay to get that relief by cutting some of these min guys.
Winner: Grizzlies. They get one more contributor for their squad in hopes of maintaining the recent success they have been sharing. The Mavericks aren't losers here. It's more of a push for them.

MAVERICKS/TRAILBLAZERS
Mavericks send Damian Lillard, 10 points; Blazers send James Comstock, Larry Powell, Douglas Wu
Commentary: Mavericks GM Letsplayhorse doing some salary magic here. Again he's having to pay to move on from Damian Lillard's contract, in return receiving cuttable salary. Blazers are getting paid to take on a contract that means nothing to them. Why not? They are full-on rebuild right now, and are doing everything in their power to collect assets, points, and expirings. I'm excited to see Todd take on his rebuilding process, it's been a long time since we've seen it!
Winner: Mavericks and Trailblazers both. Mavericks are getting a lot of cap relief in these moves, saving them points in the long run despite paying now. Blazers get to add to the bank in order to use the points for future training opportunities.

BUCKS/TRAILBLAZERS
Blazers send Jose Lo; Bucks send Gary Perez, 5 points
Commentary: The plan all along this season for the Bucks was to get 100% under the tax apron. The trade of Elfrid Payton to the Grizzlies earlier in the season was essentially a lead up exactly to that. They got an expiring and a pick in that deal. Now they are dumping that expiring for another cheap-ish expiring, all the while getting within a few million of the apron amount. The Blazers continue to collect assets in the form of points, gradually increasing that ever important points bank. As we have seen in Todd's newest article, Wig had shown a tried and true method of taking paid trainings and turning role players into stars. Todd is hoping to build up the capital to replicate Wig's success.
Winner: Bucks and Blazers both. Bucks cut their over-the-cap amount in half while not paying an exorbinant amount. Blazers gettin' paid yo.

HAWKS/PACERS
Hawks send Tyreke Evans, 10 points ; Pacers send Jewell Shears
Commentary: Hawks sending Tyreke Evans with points for was something not unexpected. Wig needed to dump Evans contract to get within apron striking distance. Pacers had space and were ready to collect them points. This is not much of a big move... but keep an eye on Jewell Shears. He's gonna be the next g/b star on the Hawks
Winner: Both Hawks and Pacers. Hawks are a few min cuts of no lux tax payment. Pacers get 10 points for being a swell guy.

BUCKS/WIZARDS
Bucks send Jerrod Stepp, Bucks 2024 1st; Wizards send Daniel West, Josh Smith
Commentary: Once again, almost purely a salary cap move. Only difference between this one and the others we've seen this deadline is that this is exchanging a future pick instead of points. Stepp and West are pretty similar in skillset. West can clear up cap for the Bucks in the off-season, and Stepp can turn into a pretty serviceable big who is still young and plenty of potential to grow into. Smith was included solely for salary and promptly cut. Biggest part of this deal is that the Bucks are NOW under the tax apron!
Winner: Bucks and Wizards. Wizards get a free pick to take on a very moveable salaried young big with upside. Bucks don't have to worry about the tax this season, resetting their repeater.

HAWKS/SPURS
Hawks send Arthur Parish, 6 points; Spurs send 1 point
Commentary: With one fell swoop, the Arthur Parish era in Atlanta has come to a close. As does the Hawks life in the lux tax this season... they are free! Spurs collecting points, waiting to create the next Josh Smith/Ray Allen/Russell Westbrook
Winner: Hawks and Spurs.

BOBCATS/KNICKS
Bobcats send Greg Oden, Jabari Brown, Lonzo Ball; Knicks send Lawrence Arbogast, 10 points
Commentary: Stewards getting build looking to cut that Knicks tax.. almost there too. Hefty price to pay but gotta do what you gotta do if that's the priority. I'm curious to see how this impacts the chemistry on and off the court for the Knicks who have been BALLIN' OUT as of late. Bobcats getting some points to put towards their tax bill. Slowly but surely getting closer to being out of the red.
Winner: Bobcats. Anytime a debtor gets closer to the black and out of the red, a Sim Angel gets its wings.

5 points!