Saturday, February 25, 2023

The American Involvement in Ukraine Affairs - by Moses

 

      So it was on the news today hereby Ukraine President Zelensky requesting F-16 fighter planes from the U.S.  Biden has audacity when he gives his restrictions by saying no to a Nation that is under seige from a corrupt war led by Vladimir Putin and American interests that include capitalizing on the war (essentially prolonging this war for as long as their military's allow).  What we're looking at is the next Iran/Iraq scandal which is sure to come with the American involvement to date.  Check the receipts and you plainly see a strong U.S Dollar as a result of the surplus of arms being shipped out from America to the Ukraine.  Of course America is concerned that their foreign interests in Europe are being protected by the EU and the United Nations, and at this point the head of the EU is worried for the stability of the continent but that's the last thing America has to deal with the longer this war goes on.  It's a sick practice really, population control at its' best.  To the wise the poetic injustice of a war of the people in that region of the world dictates their diminishing rights as a people or peoples.  Wasn't it Nicci who once said 'who shall slay?' in Machiavalan principles in the study of the anti-christ, and isn't it the act of a Godless leader in Putin who treats his people like they are infected yeast.  At this point a year into the war we have seen about 100,000 casualties and you know what, the average American doesn't really give a fuck about this war of the ages.  The disgusting thing is that America would be crying the blues like there is no tomorrow if Belgium shuts down the American foreign affairs office in their Nation if they feel that America is contributing to the problems of the EU.  But sensibility was never Kennedy's strong suit.  (Wasn't he the President that sent troops into Vietnam - conveniently remembered as Nixon's war?).


Saturday, February 18, 2023

The Ryan O'Reilly Trade - by Moses


      The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari in a three-team trade, the club announced Friday night.  Toronto sent forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette along with a 2023 first-round draft pick, Ottawa's 2023 third-round selection and the Leafs' 2024 second-round choice to St. Louis.  Minnesota, meanwhile, receives Toronto's 2025 fourth-round selection. The Blues will retain 50 per cent of O'Reilly's salary, while the Wild will take on 25 per cent as part of the trade.  Toronto also receives forward Josh Pillar from the Wild as part of the deal.


  As a result of the trade this is what the Maple Leafs look like;


Goalies

1.  Ilya Samsonov

2.  Joseph Woll

3.  Matt Murray *

4.  Erik Kallgren #


Defencemen

1.  Morgan Rielly

2.  Conor Timmins

3.  Mark Giordano

4.  T.J. Brodie

5.  Timothy Liljegren

6.  Justin Holl

7.  Jordie Benn

8.  Noel Hoefenmayer #


                LW                                   C                                   RW


1.  Michael Bunting           Auston Matthews           Michael Marner

2.  Alexander Kerfoot           John Tavares              William Nylander

3.  Pierre Engvall                 Ryan O'Reilly +             Calle Jarnkrok

4.  David Kampf                    Noel Acciari +             Pontus Holmberg


Bench

1.  Nicholas Robertson (LW) *

2.  Zach Aston-Reese (C)

3.  Wayne Simmonds (RW)

4.  Josh Pillar (C) +


* - on injured reserve

# - playing in minors

+ - acquired in trade

Thursday, February 9, 2023

The Phoenix Suns Trade - by Moses


 From Phoenix;  Mikal Bridges (SF - age 26), Jae Crowder (SF/PF - age 32), Cam Johnson (SF - age 27), four 1st Round Draft Picks and additional draft compensation to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant (PF - age 34) and T.J. Warren (SF/PF - age 29).  

      This is the deal that shook the Basketball World at the trade deadline this year.  Durant is having his usual 29 PTS/G season in a superlative 16 year career to date.  He probably has another three strong years in his 34 year old body at the level he's at (Prime-time).  Warren is definitely under-rated as he was only getting about 20 Minutes/Game in Brooklyn and he was a former Sun who was getting 31.6 Minutes/Game as recent as 2018/19 with Phoenix and was averaging 18 PTS/G (over a number of years with the Suns).  The Brooklyn Nets may not be the playoff threat of going deep into the playoffs now with the trading of Durant and Kyrie Irving (traded yesterday) but look stoked to benefit immensely should they receive a 2024 1st Round Draft Pick as Mikal Bridges could be inserted into the Nets lineup and two 2024 1st Round picks  (with one this season) will in all likelihood bring in one or two superstars to the Nets for their 2024/25 team.  A day after the Kyrie Irving deal' makes this one almost imperative as the psychology in New York was go big or go home.  They will have a surplus of Draft Picks for the near future; including eleven First Round Picks to draw from over the next six years and at least eight 2nd Round Draft picks over the same time.  


  As a result of the deal here is what the Phoenix Suns look like on paper;


Center 

1.  Deandre Ayton (age 26)

2.  Bismack Biyombo (age 30)

3.  Jock Landale (age 27)

4.  Dario Saric (age 29)


Power Forward

1.  Kevin Durant (age 34)

2.  Cameron Johnson (age 27)

3.  T.J. Warren (age 29)

4.  Dario Saric (age 29)


Small Forward

1.  T.J. Warren (age 29)

2.  Torrey Craig (age 32)   

3.  Cameron Johnson (age 27)

4.  Ish Wainright  (age 29)

 

Point Guard

1.  Chris Paul (age 38)

2.  Cameron Payne (age 28)

3.  Saben Lee (age 24) 

4.  Landry Shamet (age 26)


Shooting Guard

1.  Devin Booker (age 27)

2.  Cameron Payne (age 28)

3.  Saben Lee (age 24)

4.  Landry Shamet (age 26)


      As a result of the Brooklyn Nets trading away their two superstars this years' team probably won't be a  threat to do anything significant in the playoffs over the next two years but look to be a playoff force to be reckoned with in about four years. 

  As for the acquisition of Kevin Durant and what that means to the Suns hopes of winning the NBA Championship over the next three years goes up immensely with the performance AND experience of Kevin Durant and Chris Paul.  Personally, to the educated basketball fan, it looks like the Phoenix Suns are the favorites to win the Championship after this years' trade deadline.

The Toronto Raptors Trade and the forthcoming Toronto Raptors Roster - by Moses (a.k.a Stacey Marc Goldman)


From Toronto;  Khem Birch, a 1st Round Protected Draft Pick in 2024, and two future 2nd Round Draft Picks to the San Antonio Spurs for former Raptor Jakob Poeltl



As a result this is what Toronto looks like on paper;


Center

1.  Jakob Poeltl (age 27)

2.  Chris Boucher (age 30)

3.  Precious Achiuwa (age 24)

4.  Christian Koloko (age 23) 

5.  Scottie Barnes (age 22)


Power Forward

1.  Pascal Siakam (age 28)

2.  Scottie Barnes (age 22)

3.  Precious Achiuwa (age 24)

4.  Chris Boucher (age 24)

5.  Thaddeus Young (age 35)


Small Forward

1.  OG Anunoby (age 26)

2.  Scottie Barnes (age 22)

3.  Gary Trent Jr. (age 24)

4.  Thaddeus Young (age 35)

5.  Otto Porter Jr. (age 30)


Point Guard

1.  Fred VanVleet (age 30)

2.  Malachi Flynn (age 26)

3.  Delano Banton (age 23)


Shooting Guard

1.  Gary Trent Jr. (age 24)

2.  OG Anunoby (age 26)

3.  Delano Banton (age 23)


Bench (Healthy Scratches)

1.  Otto Porter Jr. (SF/PF - age 30)

1.  Juancho Hernangomez (PF - age 28)

2.  Jeff Dowtin (PG - age 27)