That's so Sixers

Another twist in what has been a happy season as Paul George gets suspended for banned substances.

Good morning. That was a news-y weekend in the NBA. Let's basketball.

In a piece of shocking news on Saturday, the NBA announced that Paul George had been suspended 25 games for testing positive for banned substances. PG cited recently taking an "improper medication" related to mental health. Without speculating, there is a list of relatively well-known benzodiazepines on the banned substance list. There are also, of course, other drugs on there. While PG didn't say exactly what it was, he's signaled that this isn't about PEDs.

George will be back with 10 games left in the regular season, and in time for the playoffs. The Sixers are in a dogfight for the No. 6 seed, currently 1.5 games up on Miami and two games up on Orlando. PG has been excellent in his role this season when he's played; he already missed 20 games before the suspension, plus another on Saturday night. The pressure is on Kelly Oubre, I guess.

Best wishes for PG. This is a battle you can and will win.

Trade Time

Our first deal since the Trae Young swap hit Saturday night: Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to the Cavaliers for De'Andre Hunter, with the Bulls involved to take on Dario Saric along with a couple of seconds. The Kings dropping Schroder is a boon; he's been a minus player for Sacramento this season and is due almost $15 million next year. He may be more valuable in a competitive context with Cleveland. Ellis has been bolted to a minor role for Sacramento for Reasons Unknown To All; I'm looking forward to Kenny Atkinson getting much more value out of him. Hunter, meanwhile, hasn't been terribly effective of late. Maybe he'll turn it around. That the Kings had to use Ellis, one of their hottest assets, not to get a first-round pick, but to unload a sour offseason free agent signing and get a meh contract back is a bummer. Not the best start to the new front office.

Another trade followed on Sunday: the Hawks traded Vit Krecji to the Blazers for Duop Reath and two seconds. Krecji is a plus shooter while Reath's role has shrunk significantly in Year 3. I guess Atlanta is rolling with Corey Kispert?

Board Man Gets Snubbed

The NBA announced the All-Star reserves on Sunday – terrible timing for weekday newsletters! – and the biggest surprise is that the roster lacked Kawhi Leonard, who has been on an all-time heater for a team on an all-time heater, and Alperen Sengun. In their place? Well, a bunch of players, one of whom is LeBron James.