Basketball Intelligence For 2/18//25

*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
On Tyrese Haliburton's flair for flare screens
Caitlin Cooper. Basketball She Wrote

TEAM-SPECIFIC

BKN: What D’Angelo Russell’s trip around the NBA taught him about embracing his new role with the Nets
Brian Lewis, NY Post

BOS: Celtics midseason reviews
Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe

CLE: 3 Cavaliers who have 28 games to prove they deserve spot in the playoff rotation
Josh Cornelissen, King James Gospel

DAL: The man who traded Luka Dončić: How Mavericks GM Nico Harrison operates
C. Clark/M.Vorkunov/F.Katz, The Athletic

DAL: The Trade
Marc Stein, The Stein Line

Luka Dončić wasn't tangibly present at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco after a lengthy injury spell robbed him of his usual place among Western Conference starters, but let's be real: He was everywhere in San Francisco.

For all of the dim reviews of Sunday's new All-Star Game format and disappointed reactions to the annoyingly constant interruptions/Kevin Hart overload that got in the way of the actual basketball, Dončić continues to be the foremost topic in today's NBA.

Silver himself had a question for the media after fielding Reynolds' query, since the reporter simply referred to it as "the trade" without mentioning the names of Dončić or Anthony Davis.

"Is that what we're calling it?" Silver asked.

Yes it is. That certainly works at the minute without much need for elaboration.

The Trade.

DAL: Mavericks' surprise starter is emerging as answer to glaring hole
Lorenzo Almanza, The Smoking Cuban

DET: Isaiah Stewart’s off-court contributions complement his NBA success with Pistons
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic

IND: On Tyrese Haliburton's flair for flare screens
Caitlin Cooper. Basketball She Wrote

IND: 'We gotta look in the mirror.' Pacers' week of bad starts bites them vs. Lakers
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star

MIA: Exploring how trade affects Heat’s ability to add talent this summer and who’s available
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald

MIA: Butler resolution, intrigue of newcomers creates (muted) vibe of hope at break
Ira Winderman, SunSentinel

MIA: How have Wiggins, Anderson, Mitchell looked in their debut with the Heat
John Jablonka, Simply Ballin

NYK: Top 5 Post-All Star Questions
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School

ORL: Franz Wagner is already an All-Star
Philip Rossman-Reich, World R Squared

Franz Wagner did not get the invite to San Francisco for the All-Star Game this year. But that should be a formality. He is truly an All-Star already

ORL: Franz Wagner Is the Magic's True Franchise Player
Jeremias Engelmann, 5x5

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