A Guide to the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline
The NBA trade deadline, the most hectic part of the season, is just a month away. So, I thought I would review everything you should expect.
The NBA Trade Deadline is the most fun, chaotic, and stressful day of the year. On February 9th, expect a lot of tweets, hot takes, and poor decisions. Every trade deadline is different. This year it doesn’t look like any superstars will be dealt (Atlanta would like another second to confirm this), but there are lots of teams who could potentially be blowing things up.
Today, I will be making a guide to the NBA trade deadline. Here’s what teams you should expect to be buying, selling, and some sleeper teams who could be making moves. I’ll also look at some of the hottest targets that teams will be targeting, and where they may go.
Without further ado, here is my expert guide to the NBA Trade Deadline.
Why Haven’t There Been Any Trades Yet?
December 15th is the silent trade deadline. It’s the day when teams can trade players who they signed in free agency. But this day has come and passed, and nothing has happened. We’re a month away from the trade deadline, and the only move we’ve seen is Noah Vonleh to the Spurs. Other than that, it’s been unusually quiet.
So, why has this trade season been so quiet? Well, I have a few theories. For one, teams are probably valuing their players higher than they should. If Team A values their player higher than everybody else in the league does, then that player won’t get moved. That leads to my second theory, which is the embarrassment factor. After the Rudy Gobert deal, teams don’t want to get laughed at for overpaying a player again. They’re scared to make moves.
But, similar to previous seasons, once a few moves start going down, we’ll see trades happening left, right, and center. Right now, the market is still where it was from the Gobert deal back in July. Once some GMs decide to break the ice a little, we’ll see our normal flow of chaos.
Another thing worth noting is that there aren’t many teams with identity crises nowadays. Front offices have become savvier, and teams know what they want to do. There are fewer and fewer albatross contracts that front offices are dying to get rid of.
Rebuilding teams don’t care about the trade deadline. Neither do contending teams, really. That kind of limits the possibility of a trade going down in the first place. It doesn’t help that there’s no superstar to go after (Atlanta would like another moment to confirm).
(Note: I would not be mad at all if that take blows up in my face. Just saying)
Teams Looking to Sell
Which NBA teams are looking to ship off most of their valuable pieces? Last year, teams like Portland, San Antonio, and Indiana were poached for their valuables. Selling teams are the dictators of how a trade deadline goes. If there are lots of teams looking to sell, expect a lot of trades.
If there aren’t, which could be the case this year, the trade season will be dramatically. Here is every team who could be selling;
Chicago Bulls
(Note: The Bulls are 8-3 in their last 11)
The Chicago Bulls have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season. They rank amongst the league’s most depressing teams. If any team in the NBA needed to tank, it would be Chicago. They have almost no assets for the future, and their roster is aging.
Chicago is the 9th seed in the East with a 19-21 record. At best, they’re going to be a play-in team. Instead of settling for mediocrity, it makes sense to blow things up. That will be a tough pill to swallow, considering the aggression of Chicago’s front office over the past few seasons. All of their big swings and trades will be for nothing, but that’s the nature of the business.
But we knew this team had a small window to compete, and it seems like that window has already closed. Now would be a great time to retool and recoup value for the future. If the Bulls decide to sell, they’re going to have a lot of suitors.
Nikola Vucevic is an expiring contract. DeMar DeRozan has 1.5 years left on his deal. Zach Lavine, however, is unlikely to be moved with his massive five-year extension kicking in this year. Another player with a lot of value is Alex Caruso, who has 2.5 years left and will have lots of contenders ask about his services.
The writing is on the walls for the Bulls to blow things up. But, will they pull the trigger?
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks just can’t figure things out. Despite having a (mostly) talented roster, Atlanta has been middling for the past two seasons after making the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. This season, it’s been more than just a 18-21 record. It’s been what’s gone on behind the scenes.
Trae Young pushed for Atlanta’s front office to get All-Star Dejounte Murray, sacrificing draft capital in the process. Now, there are reports of Young wanting out. There have also been claims that he’s been at odds with his teammates and head coach, Nate McMillan. McMillan has reportedly considered retiring midseason.
Travis Schlenk has stepped down from his front office post, and Landry Fields has taken over basketball operations. Fields and Young have a “great” relationship, but I don’t know how much I trust those reports. Young has been moody for the past couple of seasons, and despite being signed with Atlanta for the next five seasons, he could want out.
It’ll be interesting to see what Atlanta does at the deadline. Even if they don’t move Young, could they trade other pieces? John Collins has been in perpetual trade talks for the past few seasons. Clint Capela could also be viewed as expendable. The Swiss center has 2.5 years left on his contract.
A few years ago, the Hawks seemed like they were on the rise in the Eastern Conference. Now, they could be on the verge of blowing things up.
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors won 48 games last season. This season, with the same roster, they’ve been nowhere near as successful. This weird, lengthy, depthless rotation has been falling apart at the seams. Toronto is another team with significant assets, should they choose to sell at the deadline. And based on what we’ve seen so far? Masai Ujiri should consider hitting the reset button.
Outside of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, who have been outstanding, nothing has gone to plan for the Raptors. Gary Trent Jr’s defensive energy was put in question by Nick Nurse. Fred VanVleet is in a shooting slump, and his flaws as a player are finally coming to light. Scottie Barnes’ offensive progress has stalled.
The Raptors have no depth, and most of their bench won’t cut it in the playoffs. Nick Nurse is forced to play his starter’s heavy minutes every night. While I loved Toronto’s length in terms of being able to switch anything defensively, it’s come at the cost of their offense.
This season, the Raptors have one of the worst half-court offenses in the NBA. They rank 29th in half-court offensive rating. The only team behind Toronto? The rebuilding Houston Rockets.
Even though the Raptors are just one game out from the play-in tournament, it feels like they’re miles away. If they decide to sell, lots of teams will come calling, and they’ll get a lot of value back to try and kickstart a new era of Raptors basketball.
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets were a sleeper tank team for Wembanyama coming into the season. Now, it’s safe to say they’re gunning for him. Early season injuries to LaMelo Ball erased any hopes of competitiveness. Even as Ball has returned to the lineup, the Hornets are one of the worst teams in the league. Their defense, in particular, has been abysmal.
Veteran head coach Steve Clifford hasn’t been able to get his young guys to buy in defensively. Kelly Oubre Jr’s career season has been cut short by hand surgery that likely ends any hopes of him being traded.
While most rebuilding teams only have a few veteran assets, the Hornets have plenty. And, given that they’re near the bottom of the standings, it makes sense to trade everyone and start from scratch. Make room for youngsters like 2022 first-rounder Mark Williams and 2021 first-rounder Kai Jones in the frontcourt. See what Theo Maledon and James Bouknight can do with more minutes.
It doesn’t make sense to keep Hayward, Rozier, and even guys like PJ Washington. Rozier could be used by a team looking for more bench scoring (Milwaukee??). Washington is still only 24 years old and is playing for a long-term deal.
LaMelo Ball is this team’s future, but the pieces around him need a lot of work. There’s no way for Charlotte to make the playoffs, a place they haven’t been since 2016. This roster won’t get them back there, so now seems like a great time to reset things.
Of all the teams I’ve listed so far, Charlotte is my most likely seller.
Washington Wizards
Oh, where do I even begin with the Wizards? Washington has been middling for most of the last ten years, but they refuse to fully reset. Washington continues to acquire borderline All-Stars, instead of going in the other direction. A smart franchise would have started rebuilding a few years ago. The Wizards, as we all know, are not that wise.
The Wizards are another team in the mix for a play-in spot in the crowded bottom of the East. At best, they’ll be the 7th or 8th seed. Is that what you’re going for? And it’s not like the Wizards don’t have young assets. In fact, it makes even less sense that Tommy Shepard hasn’t hit the rebuilding button with the youth he has on board.
Deni Avdija (FRP), Rui Hachimura (FRP), Corey Kispert (FRP), Jordan Goodwin, and 2022 first-rounder Johnny Davis help make up one of the better young cores in the league. But the Wizards haven’t prioritized developing these guys. Instead, the Wizards insist on being mediocre.
Guys like Porzingis and Kuzma have decent value. Kuzma, in particular, would fetch a pretty good return after his re-emergence in Washington. But, there is one roadblock that gets in the way of things. Even if the Wizards want to rebuild, they probably can’t trade franchise centerpiece Bradley Beal.
Beal signed a supermax contract this offseason with a no-trade clause. It’s hard for me to see Beal getting moved, which means the Wizards can never truly rebuild. It’s a shame. Still, I hope they’ll look themselves in the mirror and make room for some of their young guys.
Teams Looking to Buy
On the other end of the spectrum, buying teams also drive trading season. These teams are looking to make final adjustments to their teams in an attempt to make a late season push. The play-in tournament makes is so some mediocre teams can join in on the fun, which is an exciting wrinkle.
There’s only one (potential problem). I don’t know if a lot of teams are going to be buyers this season;
Los Angeles Lakers
I don’t know if the Lakers fit in this category, but they don’t really fit in anywhere else, so here you go. We all know the innumerable problems this team has faced. The roster is barren and lacks versatility. Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker, and Austin Reaves being out for multiple weeks won’t help. Try as he may, Lebron James can’t do everything for this team. There’s a reason the Lakers are the 12th seed in the West.
If the Lakers want to squeeze one more competitive season out of Lebron, they need to quickly add pieces at the deadline. The problem? Los Angeles doesn’t have any chips to deal with? They don’t have any excess goods they can bargain with like most contending teams.
LA’s two best assets are their first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. Teams would be interested in those, but the Lakers, under no circumstances, should give those up. By then, there’s no telling where the Lakers will be. But, if I had to guess, they won’t be contending.
Guys like Bojan Bogdanovic, OG Anunoby, and Alex Caruso would greatly help this team. But the Lakers have the assets to get those guys. Rob Pelinka is pigeonholed. He needs more talent, but he can’t get it. Instead, the Lakers will more than likely watch the trade deadline like the rest of us: as spectators.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have hit something of a roadblock as of late. Despite Giannis putting up historic numbers, Milwaukee has been struggling to win. Khris Middleton’s continued absence has left this team reeling. The Bucks have gone 6-8 in their last 14 games after a 19-6 start.
Getting Middleton back will help, but this Bucks team does not look dominant right now. That could push Milwaukee’s front office to make a move. Milwaukee traded for PJ Tucker a week before the 2021 trade deadline, a move that was pivotal in them winning a championship.
The Bucks are talented, but they could use some more pieces. Currently, Milwaukee is one of the worst shooting teams in the league. They are not efficient from anywhere on the floor. Guys like Wesley Matthews, George Hill, Connaughton, and Bobby Portis are all shooting below 33% from the 3-PT line.
Could GM Jon Horst try and swing a move – trying to reignite this team that has not looked great in recent weeks? It’s worked in his favor once before, and Horst may need to do it again.
Sleeper Teams to Keep an Eye On
There are some teams in the league who don’t necessarily need to buy or sell at the deadline. But, as we creep closer to February 9th, these teams could get antsy and make a move. Don’t be surprised if these teams hold serve, but also don’t be surprised if they shake up the market in either direction;
Utah Jazz (Slight Sell)
The Utah Jazz have fallen back to earth after their magical 10-3 start. Their defensive shortcomings have been the main culprit, and, for the first time this season, the Jazz are under 0.500. That’s not to say this season hasn’t been a massive success because it has. Nobody expected Utah to be this competitive midway through the season.
But this team is no more than average. So, that may push Danny Ainge to make some moves. He won’t wholly gut this team, but he may try and re-arrange some pieces after what he’s seen so far. Guys like Vanderbilt, Markkanen, and Walker Kessler will most likely be untouchable.
I don’t see a world where Ainge gives those guys up. They seem like the future of this organization. But what about a guy like Mike Conley? Or Kelly Olynyk? Playoff teams could definitely use guys like that to make a run.
Jordan Clarkson would have been another candidate, but the Jazz want to keep him long-term. In any sense, if this slide continues into February, Danny Ainge, never one to back away from making a move, may shake things up a little bit.
Cleveland Cavaliers (Buyers)
Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point game punctuated that he’s their leader. And, when healthy, Cleveland’s starting five is one of the best in basketball. But, it’s their reserves that may end up failing them. Caris LeVert has continued his bench struggles, a trend that has followed him throughout his career.
Outside of LeVert, relying on Cedi Osman and 34-year-old Kevin Love for consistent offense every night isn’t a recipe for success. Cleveland is a team built on defense. They have the best defense in the league, anchored by their twin towers down low.
But some more scoring options would really help them. Cleveland still has assets, even after the Mitchell trade in the summer. Lamar Stevens, Isaac Okoro, and their 2024 first-round pick, to name a few.
How much better would this team be with someone like Bojan Bogdanovic flanking their All-Star backcourt? Even smaller moves to get guys like Will Barton or Cam Reddish that wouldn’t cost a lot make sense for Cleveland.
Right now, when healthy, the Cavaliers are good enough to win a playoff series or two. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make any moves and ride with what they have. Perhaps they’re waiting until Love’s massive contract expires before making any more moves.
But, if this front office believes they have something with this group, which they do, a move may be coming.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Buyers)
This season has been nothing short of disappointing for Minnesota. Their seismic off-season addition of Rudy Gobert has been a failure. Gobert has made this offense spaceless and stagnant. Defensively, he’s nowhere near as dominant as he was in Utah.
After hitting rock bottom in late December against Detroit, Minnesota has strung together some wins. Some may remember that last year, Minnesota also started the year slowly and eventually got into the postseason. This team doesn’t have those same vibes, however. While last year’s team was motivated by Patrick Beverley, this team will have to be fueled by humiliation.
Injuries to vital role players like Jordan McLoughlin, Taurean Prince, and Kyle Anderson have slowed this team down. That’s failing to mention that Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t played since the end of November. Getting healthier should get this team on the right path.
But we know that newly minted president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly isn’t afraid to make a move that he feels will make his team better. We saw that on full display after the Gobert mega deal. The Timberwolves have no choice but to go all-in with this team.
I don’t think Minnesota will make any big swings, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they did. It’s just what they do now, for better or for worse.
Golden State Warriors (Buyers)
The Golden State Warriors are one of the weirdest teams I’ve ever seen. They’re absolutely dominant at home, but on the road, they’re one of the worst teams in the league. At home, they look like a team poised to contend for another title. On the road, they look like a rec league team.
Thanks to a recent homestand and Klay Thompson going bonanza, the Warriors have survived a prolonged Steph-less stretch. Golden State’s leader is still recovering from a shoulder injury, although he is close to returning.
Golden State’s bench really hasn’t panned out this year. Steve Kerr can trust only Donte DiVincenzo, Ty Jerome, and Anthony Lamb off the bench. That’s about it.
Other than that, it’s a lot of praying. Praying that Kuminga or Wiseman can unlock their potential. Praying that JaMychal Green can remember how to shoot the ball. Now, I don’t think the Warriors will trade their young guys, even if it does make them better.
That doesn’t seem like something the Warriors would do. It would affect their chemistry and continuity after months of being around each other. Golden State isn’t a team that makes a lot of trades. Similar to that longstanding Spurs dynasty, sometimes it’s good to stay in-house.
Golden State has looked better as of late, and once Curry comes back, they can make their playoff push. While plenty of questions remain unresolved, I don’t think I’m worried about the Warriors. I think their front office is thinking the same way, which is why I don’t anticipate any trades on the horizon.
Los Angeles Clippers (Sellers with a Purpose)
I don’t know what to make of the Los Angeles Clippers. Why? Well, it’s partly because of LA’s constant roster dysfunction. They have so many good players that it’s hard to keep track of what works and what doesn’t. It doesn’t seem like they’ve figured out a rotation that works, and we’re at the midway point of the season.
Benching your starters at halftime against the top seed in the Western Conference isn’t ideal. The Clippers are suffering from having too many good players on their roster. There isn’t enough time for everybody, and it doesn’t seem like they’ve eliminated anybody from their rotation.
LA’s backcourt is below average. Reggie Jackson and John Wall won’t be able to cut it. I think it’s time for the Clippers to make some moves. They could benefit from trading average players for better ones. Think about something like this;
Clippers Receive: Buddy Hield
Pacers Receive: Robert Covington / Amir Coffey / Jason Preston
The Clippers have too much excess fat. LA needs to trim down its lineup if they want to go anywhere. Ty Lue has too many lineup combinations and rotations to think about. If you make his rotation smaller, then he can work his magic.
Until then, the Clippers will continue to be around 0.500 despite having one of the deepest rosters in the league. I thought a healthy Kawhi and PG would solve LA’s problems from last season. As it turns out, they need to get worse to get better.
Hottest Trade Targets
Aside from what some teams will be doing at the trade deadline, who will be some of the players that everybody will be calling about. These are the best players who have a decent shot of having a new home to end the regular season;
OG Anunoby
If the Raptors decide to sell, OG Anunoby will be their most sought-after player. Zach Lowe reported a few weeks ago that the “entire league” was interested in Anunoby, and it’s easy to understand why. Anunoby is one of the best disruptive, defensive-minded wings in the league. Offensively, Anunoby is best as a complimentary player who can break defenders down one-on-one.
In that same report, Lowe said that the return for Anunoby would be “almost on par with what the Cavs gave up for Donovan Mitchell.” That should tell you something. The Raptors aren’t going to trade Anunoby unless they get a haul back. Will that be mostly picks or players? I don’t know.
I’m sure that price tag will scare most teams off. As I prefaced earlier, teams don’t want to look stupid by making a big swing for a player. Anunoby is a fine player, but I don’t know if many teams can match Toronto’s (apparent) asking price.
That being said, every team in the league needs a player like OG Anunoby. Competitive teams like Cleveland, Brooklyn, Indiana, Dallas, or Sacramento would benefit from his two-way prowess on the wing. Anunoby’s talent isn’t in question. It’s whether or not other teams will pay the premium to get him.
Bojan Bogdanovic
Even though he signed an extension in late October, Bojan Bogdanovic makes sense for lots of teams. His shooting prowess on the wing is invaluable in the modern NBA. It doesn’t make sense for him to waste away on a terrible Pistons team years away from competitiveness.
Detroit is apparently looking for a first-round pick in return from Bogdanovic. Dallas has been rumored to be interested in Bogdanovic, but the Pistons would likely want their 2027 first-rounder along with Davis Bertans’ bloated contract.
Other teams, like the Lakers, are in the running, but that first-round price tag is somewhat steep. But I don’t think the Pistons want to repeat history. Last year, they had a chance to trade Jerami Grant at the deadline and didn’t. They traded him to Portland in the offseason, but it wasn’t for that much.
Now, Bogdanovic does have more contract security than Grant. But Bogdanovic is 33 and playing some of the best basketball of his career. Even more so than Grant, maybe it’s time to capitalize on his buzz and find a trade partner.
Trae Young
If Trae Young were made available, the NBA would stop. Everybody would try and claim the All-NBA point guard before trying anything else. As of today, nothing indicates that Young will leave Atlanta in the next few weeks. While that relationship is far from perfect, I don’t think the Hawks will be quick to blow anything up.
Young hasn’t formally asked for a trade…yet. The closest thing we have to a precedent for a 24-year-old All-NBA guard getting traded in the middle of the season was Jason Kidd in 1996. Still, I’m willing to bet the Hawks will make roster and coaching changes before bailing on Young.
Atlanta’s offense is prehistoric. It pre-dates the age of dinosaurs. They don’t shoot threes or get out in transition. Mike D’Antoni may be the perfect person to unlock this team with his offensive genius. And, in the short term, I’m willing to bet that Trae Young will improve his 30% 3-PT shooting clip.
But, for entertainment’s sake, I would love it if a surprise Young trade came out of nowhere. Think about the James Harden fiasco from last year. We all thought it wouldn’t happen, and then, BOOM! It happened.
Teams who could go after Young could include the Knicks, Heat, or Raptors, among others. I don’t think Young will be moved, but he could break this otherwise silent trade deadline.
Jakob Poeltl
Jakob Poeltl is perfect for the San Antonio Spurs. Nobody knows who he is or how to pronounce his name, but he’s one of the better-starting centers in the NBA. Poeltl was one of the players involved in the Kawhi Leonard trade. In San Antonio, he’s become one of the better rim protectors in the game.
Poeltl has averaged 1.6 blocks over his last four seasons with the Spurs. This season, it’s been hard to gauge his defensive impact with the Spurs fully leaning into a rebuild. Still, Poeltl would be a valuable addition to any NBA team.
He would be the perfect big to play 20-25 minutes a game who’d offer good rebounding and defense. While he is an expiring contract, any team who gets him would likely be trying to get him past this season. The Raptors, Warriors, or even the Celtics could benefit from adding a reliable presence like Poeltl.
Poeltl has improved as a passer, and is one of the better offensive rebounders in the league. San Antonio may not be able to get a ton for him in return since he is an expiring deal, but I don’t know if they’re willing to extend him past this season.
During a poll of league executives, they valued Poeltl’s upcoming contract valuation at $15-25 million annually. Will the Spurs foot the bill with their youth movement underway? Poeltl seems comfortable in San Antonio, but a new home may be coming.
John Collins
Putting John Collins on this list seems like adding insult to injury. Even though Atlanta gave him a 5 year, $125 million dollar extension in 2021, Collins hasn’t been thriving in Atlanta. Year by year, he’s seen his offensive role diminished in Atlanta. As Trae Young got the ball more and more, Collins was relegated to clean-up duty.
Now, he just roams the dunker spot and hits catch-and-shoot opportunities. Despite being very talented, Collins hasn’t been utilized well. Over the past few seasons, his name has perpetually been in trade rumors. I’m sure that’s no fun.
It’s hard to say what Collins will go for. It doesn’t look like he’s particularly wanted or loved in Atlanta. His value has never been lower, and I don’t know if teams see that contract as a red flag with him. But, based on his performances from a few seasons ago, we know the talent is there.
It’ll be interesting to see what Atlanta does with their disgruntled forward. Collins is kind of like their worst-kept secret. Everybody in the league knows they want to trade him, but will a move finally happen this year? Who knows?
DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan still has a lot of gas left in the tank. At age 33, DeRozan remains one of the games best mid-range shooters. And, he doubles as a late-game assassin. With 1.5 years left on his contract, Deebo still has a lot of value around the league.
With Chicago’s recent hot streak, they’re probably not going to trade DeRozan anymore. But, for arguments sake, lots of teams need a player like DeMar. He would fit in on any playoff contender and make them better.
Not many players in the league shoot 48% on their mid-range twos while attempting nine of them per game. If Chicago’s recent success goes away, the player with the most value on their team is probably DeRozan.
Perhaps a team like Phoenix or Dallas could make a run at him. Just a thought.
Alex Caruso
On the topic of which Bulls player has the most trade value, Alex Caruso would like a word. The bald eagle is one of the best role players in the league. He doesn’t score much, but he plays tenacious defense every night. And, he’s one of the smartest players in the league.
Similar to Boston’s acquisition of Derrick White last year, Caruso could be the perfect addition to a contending team. He would fit in any system, and make that team better. Remember when I said I didn’t think the Warriors were going to make any moves? I might have lied about that a little.
Golden State has been rumored to be in the running for Caruso, and I think that’s a match made in heaven. Steve Kerr seems to think so;
If the Warriors were to trade somebody like Wiseman or even Kuminga, getting Caruso, who is on a very team-friendly contract, wouldn’t be the worst idea.
PURE CHAOS (BREAK IN CASE OF EMERGENCY)
Chaos is my favorite thing in the NBA. Nothing beats it. And while this trade deadline doesn’t seem all that exciting, here are some very unlikely hypotheticals that would break my brain if they did happen.
Trae Young gets his ticket to Broadway
The Knicks seem like the perfect Trae Young landing spot. Even though they’ve finally gotten some stability at point guard thanks to Jalen Brunson, I don’t think the Knicks are ones to rest on their laurels. This would be an aggressive, rash, and out of left field move. Which is why it’s perfect for New York.
Knicks Receive
Trae Young
Hawks Receive
Derrick Rose
Evan Fournier
Cam Reddish
Obi Toppin
2024 First Round Pick (Top-5 protected)
2025 First Round Pick via MIL
2025 2nd Round Pick via Brooklyn
2025 2nd Round Pick via Detroit
While I’m sure the Hawks would want Quentin Grimes or RJ Barrett in a deal like this, I don’t see the Knicks doing that. Atlanta probably wants more than this, but I feel like this is a good baseline for what a Trae Young trade could look like.
Also, we’re getting a Cam Reddish/Hawks reunion out of this, so I’m cool.
Warriors trade Draymond
Draymond Green punched his teammate. I feel like that doesn’t get talked about as much as it should. In November, it was said that the Warriors don’t plan on trading Draymond ‘as of now.’ Now’s a good time to mention that the Warriors decided against giving Green a max contract extension this past summer.
Even though Green is good, he’s aging, expensive, and a lot of work. Could the Warriors decide they’ve had enough?;
Warriors Receive
Jae Crowder
Dario Saric
2024 First-Round Pick (Top 5 Protected) (via Phoenix)
Suns Receive
Draymond Green
Keita Bates-Diop (via San Antonio)
Spurs Receive
Torrey Craig
The Warriors get two useable, solid veteran forwards to help them compete. Plus, they get an extra first-round pick. The Suns lose some depth but they getting a winning play with an edge in Draymond Green, someone who makes them a lot tougher. Maybe now teams will actually fear the Suns.
Lakers shake up their roster big time
Lebron James is giving not-so-subtle hints at the Lakers’ front office to make moves. Before the season, Rob Pelinka promised James that he would do anything to give James the opportunity to win a championship. I don’t know about you, but I smell some serious BS from that statement.
Even though the Lakers have won five straight games, they still have a long ways to go to climb back into the standings. They have to make some sort of move at the deadline to at least signify that they’re trying. So, here’s what I’m suggesting;
Pacers Receive
Russell Westbrook
2027 & 2029 First-Round Pick
Lakers Receive
Myles Turner
Buddy Hield
2023 First-Round Pick (via Boston)
The Lakers probably don’t want to give up those two first-rounders in 2027 and 2029. But, seeing as those are their two best assets, they have to trade those picks to get anything worthwhile. Hield gives the Lakers some much needed shooting and Myles Turners gives them added size and length down low.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Although, would the Pacers want to do this right now considering how well they’ve been playing?
What are some of your crazy trade deadline predictions? Leave a comment down below!
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