- The trade deadline looms for many teams and those that have already made trades are still attempting to integrate their new pieces into their squads leaving some interesting opportunities in the Pick One Challenge.
- Oklahoma City probably won't make any drastic moves at the deadline which unfortunately for nights like the one Matt just had, Tre Mann's production, which was just 16 rookie-boosted PRA versus Toronto, will be tied more to injuries than roster turnover.
- Mann wasn't the only rookie taken on the night though. Ryan made 43rd overall pick Greg Brown III the 38th different rookie taken in 2021-22 for the depleted Blazers. The former Texas man earned 26 rookie-boosted PRA off the bench in Portland's win over the Lakers.
- There was another Pick One debutante for Portland who came over in the Norman Powell trade, Trevor's pick Justise Winslow. He posted his second straight 22 PRA score in that aforementioned win over Los Angeles.
- Rounding out the Portland platoon was Colin's selection of Anfernee Simons. Somebody is going to have to score for the free-trading Blazers until Damian Lillard returns and that man for the moment is Simons who had 29 of his 34 PRA for the evening come from buckets.
- Terry Rozier is a prime candidate, despite a pretty rancid contract, to be dealt to further youth development in Charlotte so Al getting Scary Terry off the books before he potentially becomes a bench piece is smart work. He ended with 26 PRA in the Hornets' loss to the Bulls.
- That once again leaves Last Man In aficionado Lou to earn his third top score in four days with Minnesota's D'Angelo Russell. The eighth man to be picked out for 2021-22 went for 43 PRA against the Kings although his Wolves couldn't complete the back-to-back sweep.
- All of the optimization for this night came from the bench. Both Colin and Ryan had Davion Mitchell and his 64 rookie-boosted PRA available versus Minnesota. Hassan Whiteside had 17 rebounds off the Jazz bench to help him garner veteran bench bargain honors with 28 PRA.
Image Credits: Player Photos (ESPN)