CAPS GAMBLE ON DUBOIS, LAKERS ON REDICK ... WHY NOT PISTONS ON STALEY?

 Wow! The Washington Capitals went all-in, trading for PIERRE-LUC DuBOIS, 25, a big center who has been a major bust since being the second pick overall in the 2016 draft. In an unusual (for the NHL) one-for-one swap with no side contingencies, the Caps sent goaltender DARCY KUEMPER ($5.3 million annual salary) to Los Angeles for DuBois ($8.2M) … For LA, it was a no-brainer. The Kings were desperate to unload DuBois – who scored 16 goals in 61 games after acquiring him from Winnipeg a year ago – and Washington provided the perfect solution. Not only does LA get a large bump in cap space but also could unload Kuemper, who lost his starting job to undrafted, 30-year-old career backup CHARLIE LINDGREN, and save even more … For the aging Caps, who barely made the playoffs then lost four straight to the Rangers, it was a move made of desperation and/or necessity, depending on your point of view … Washington has a lot of needs … among them a top four center which the 6-4, 225-pound DuBois has the potential ability to fill. He also has seven years left on an eight-year $68 million contract … While immediate reaction to the deal league-wide was less than favorable to the Caps, they figured it was worth the risk … and it also allowed them to unload Kuemper, who had his moments since coming from Colorado two years ago but nearly enough of them to stick around any longer.

There has been a lot of finger-pointing at the Rangers 

for getting around BARCLAY GOODROW’s 

contract (that lists 15 teams he didn’t want to be traded 

to) by putting him on waivers … and claimed by last-

place San Jose. So far, we have no idea if the Sharks 

were on his no-list … but the veteran center has been 

quoted as saying he wasn’t pleased … By getting rid of 

Goodrow’s $3.65 million contract (that has two years 

to go), New York has an estimated $12m-plus cap 

space to work with … with more to come when 

restricted free agents like ERIK GUSTAFSSON and

 BLAKE WHEELER are told to move on. The latter, 

injured most of the season, is expected to retire … GM

 CHRIS DRURY still hasn’t said (even indicated) he 

plans a major makeover of the President’s Trophy-

winning team. If Ranger fans have their way, he’ll 

trade (or buy out) defensemen JACOB TROUBA, the 

team’s captain who played since early March with a 

broken ankle and had a terrible playoff, and

K’ANDRE MILLER, a big guy who skates well but 

avoids contact and is caught out of position much too 

often … The question everyone would like an answer 

to is: why did the former front office give Trouba an 

$8 million contract (that also lists 15 teams on a no-

trade list)?

……. Richmond’s TIM LEGLER is expected to replace 

Roanoke’s JJ REDICK, named Lakers’ coach, on 

ESPN’s top NBA broadcast team. SportsCenter anchor

 SCOTT VAN PELT is a big fan, calling the Tucker 

High School/LaSalle alumnus “the best there is calling 

basketball.” … Legler would join MIKE BREEN and

 DORIS BURKE … and become the third to fill that 

role this season … that began with DOC RIVERS, 

who left at midseason to coach the Milwaukee Bucks 

… Duke alumnus Redick has no previous coaching 

experience. 

……. The NBA unquestionably needs a coaching 

shakeup and stop the constant hiring and re-hiring of 

the same old same old. Wait! Here’s a suggestion from 

a columnist in Detroit, who is certain the once-mighty 

Pistons need a fresh face/approach … Hire DAWN 

STALEY, he said … Why not? The former U.Va., 

AllAmerican has built a dynasty at South Carolina. 

She’s tough, can cuss (cliché alert) with the best of 

them, is opinionated, knows the game and (equally 

important) seems to be an excellent communicator. 

Why not D. Staley indeed?

Until next time ...