By far the worst part of the trade deadline this year was the collateral damage that was the waiving of JaKarr Sampson. Beloved by players, fans, and most of all ME, seeing him go was one of the more difficult moments of The Process to date. Now it turns out that the trade might be in jeopardy? I swear, if somehow JaKarr does not return to this team AND the trade does not go through, Donatas Motiejunas is going to have bigger problems than his back. That’s right D-Mo … see you in Temecula.
Sixers trade hits a snag – Keith Pompey
"The three-team trade the 76ers struck last week is stuck in a holding pattern. It was supposed to be finalized Sunday. But the Sixers, Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets agreed to a 24-hour extension that pushes the deadline back to 6 p.m. Monday. The problem is that Donatas Motiejunas, who went to Detroit from Houston, has back issues and has not been cleared to play. If he’s unable to pass the physical, the trade could be voided. On Thursday, the Sixers acquired center Joel Anthony and a 2017 second-round draft pick in the deal. In exchange for the former Detroit Pistons reserve center, the Sixers sent the rights of overseas player Chu Maduabum to the Rockets. They also received a protected first-round pick from the Pistons. Detroit received Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton from Houston."
Nik Stauskas’ sore shin has him on minutes limits vs. Mavs – Jessica Camerato
"Stauskas said he has been feeling discomfort over the last two days and told the training staff as soon as he experienced it. He has been icing his shin and resting as much as possible when not going through basketball activity. “To be honest, when I’m shooting that’s not really the main thing that really irritates it,” he explained. “What irritates it more than anything is running, cutting.” The main concern is Stauskas’ health. There is an on-the-court element the Sixers are looking to enhance as well. “I think in general what we’ve seen is trying to get him to be a two-way player,” said Brown. “To let him be reminded of that bounce he had in college. To find a cocky side, a swagger side. … He’s got some offensive gifts that we’re trying to grow, and we’re trying to grow that disciplined defensive mindset and toughness. I think he’s doing great. I think he’s moving forward and I think he has a lot more to give.”"
Brown greedy for physical mindset, play – Brian Seltzer
"“More sting,” Brown said following Sunday’s shootaround, when discussing how he hopes the Sixers start their game versus the Dallas Mavericks later in the evening. “We didn’t communicate at all in the first half of the New Orleans game. [Seventy-one points] is completely unacceptable. Some of it you can blame a little bit on we had [eight] days off, some of it is we have to get better.” At intermission, the Sixers were staring at a 16-point deficit. Despite shooting 52.6 percent from the field themselves, they had allowed the Pelicans to convert 59.5 of their attempts. The Sixers also committed 15 turnovers and surrendered 23 fastbreak points in the first stanza. Following the break, the Sixers made strides, holding New Orleans to a 41.0 field goal percentage for the rest of the evening. The Sixers outscored the Pelicans by nine points between the third and fourth quarters as well. Their sting was back. In defining this operative word of choice, one that has been used several times since Friday, Brown said, “Sting is a physical word. It’s a mentality. I want to play way more physical with far more of a sting on both offense and defense.”"