Philadelphia boosts roster for playoff run
The 76ers' bar is set. “I'd be disappointed for sure if we don't get to the Eastern Conference Finals and do well,” general manager Elton Brand said at a press conference Friday morning before Philadelphia's 117100 victory over Denver later that night.
The expectations changed for the Eastern Conference's fifth-place team because of a flurry of moves before Thursday's trade deadline. The Sixers' biggest acquisition was power forward
Tobias Harris, a fringe All-Star talent, who scored 14 points and had eight rebounds in his debut in Philadelphia against the Nuggets on Friday night.
In a win-now move, they acquired him along with 7-foot-3 center Boban Marjanovic and power forward Mike Scott from the Los Angeles Clippers for rookie guard
Landry Shamet, veterans Wilson
Chandler and Mike Muscala and four draft picks: a protected 2020 first-rounder, the Miami Heat's 2021 first-rounder, a Detroit Pistons 2021 secondrounder, and the Pistons' 2023 second-rounder.
The Sixers also acquired
James Ennis from the Houston Rockets for the right to swap second-round picks in the 2021 draft. And they traded
Markelle Fultz to the Orlando Magic for Jonathon Simmons, a 2019 second-round pick, and a 2020, top-20-protected first-rounder.
Marjanovic, Scott, Ennis, and Simmons will provide much-needed depth on the bench.
Meanwhile, the Sixers believe Harris complements and strengthens the core group they already had in center
Joel Embiid, point guard Ben Simmons, and small forward Jimmy Butler.
Love returns to action for Cavaliers
Kevin Love returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers' lineup on Friday after missing 50 games following surgery on his left foot.
Love started and played the first six minutes against the Washington Wizards, scoring four points. He shot 1 for 5 from the field, missing all three of his 3-point attempts. Love made two free throws and had a rebound and an assist.
Love did not return in the Wizards 119-106 win after exiting the game midway through the first quarter. He signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavaliers in July.
He played the first four games of the season, averaging 19 points and 13.5 rebounds, before undergoing surgery.
Pistons expected to sign Ellington
The Detroit Pistons appear close to adding wing depth for a playoff push. ESPN.com's Adrian
Wojnarowski is reporting the Pistons are expected to receive a commitment from free-agent shooting guard Wayne Ellington.
Ellington, who spent 21/2 seasons with the Miami Heat, was traded to the Phoenix Suns — along with guard Tyler Johnson — on Wednesday.
Ellington will receive a buyout and become a free agent. He won't clear waivers until the weekend.
Dallas waives veteran Randolph
The Mavericks have waived
Zach Randolph two days after acquiring the forward while sending Harrison Barnes to Sacramento in a trade designed to give Dallas salary-cap relief.
Randolph and young forward Justin Jackson were sent to the Mavericks in a deal that came together while Barnes was playing for Dallas in a 99-93 win over Charlotte on Wednesday. Jackson was active for Friday night's game against Milwaukee.
The 37-year-old Randolph never played for the Kings in his second season with them. He was a frequent Dallas foe during his eight seasons with Memphis. A day after the trade, Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie
Nelson said he didn't expect Randolph to play for the club.
Randolph has averaged 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in 17 seasons with five teams.