Ahhhhhh the NBA is incredible. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder completed a three way trade the other day that sent J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavs, Dion Waiters to the Thunder, and a bunch of scrubs to the Knicks. Of course we had to talk about it.
Summarize your initial reaction to the trade with a vine/video/gif:
Jack (@jackhaveitall):
YESSSSSSSS pic.twitter.com/5UtPrIFEMq
— jack (@jackhaveitall) January 6, 2015
Zach (@ZachOliverNBA):
I just kind of sat here like this:
Ian (@IanDougherty):
I got so hyped when I heard that Cleveland traded Dion Waiters for OG Dion. I pretty much looked like this:
Chris (@ChrisBarnewall):
What was your favorite J.R. Smith Knicks moment?
Jack: I mean wow, there were a lot of incredible moments, but I think I have to go with this dunk. This was pretty impressive.
Zach:
Look, J.R. did a lot of amazing things with the Knicks, but, I will forever love this because I love three-point celebrations.
Ian: In a game versus the Heat last year, J.R. Smith chucked up an NBA-record 22 three-point attempts in one game. Here are the 10 of those that he made.
Chris: It was a preseason game. It didn’t matter in the slightest. And it was really the most J.R. Smith moment ever.
What was your favorite Dion Waiters Cavs moment?
Jack:
Without a doubt it’s Dion begging LeBron for the ball. That was so great.
Zach:
Good bye, sweet prince. May god give you good memories in OKC.
Ian:
Dion has so many more moments to give us in his young career. This is the best one to date.
Chris:
Men lie. Women lie. Buckets don’t.
Which player will help their new team more?
Jack:
This was such a bizarre trade. I’m not sure Dion helps the Thunder out very much, but it was very low risk, high reward for them. I don’t think J.R. Smith is the answer to any problem you are trying to solve on the basketball court, but he is definitely a lot more talented that Dion. Iman Shumpert is a nice young perimeter defender, but has had trouble staying on the court. And the Knicks just dumped contracts. I guess I’ll have to go with J.R. since he’s the most talented player in the trade, but man, it would make me nervous bringing him to a team that’s already struggling.
Zach:
I actually really like Iman Shumpert on the Cavs. Gives them some good versatility, especially as a wing defender off the bench. Seems like a guy who can thrive in the open court with LeBron and Kyrie, so, yes. I’ll take Shump.
Ian:
Iman Shumpert. He’s the wing defender the Cavs have needed since the season started, plus he can run the floor really well.
Chris:
Iman Shumpert. He was the best player moved in this trade and the Cavs could use a perimeter defender. Shumpert isn’t as good as a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or a Tony Allen but he’s a solid enough on ball perimeter defender to guard the second or third best player on the floor.
Which player will be responsible for the first hilarious vine in their new environment?
Jack:
Oh, J.R. It’s definitely J.R. I can’t wait to see a bench reaction of LeBron just shaking his head in dismay at J.R. doing something ridiculous.
Zach:
Probably J.R. because he seems to do something hilarious everytime he steps on the floor. Or, it’s going to be Dion begging for the ball and getting turned down, yet again.
Ian:
Dion. I guarantee you that he thinks he can single-handedly lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a championship. I can’t wait to watch him freeze out both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook late in a close game.
Chris:
J.R. Smith, who is surely going to look off LeBron at one point to fire a contested turn-around jump shot.