Grading Every Wacky, Weird, and Good Trade Deadline Move
As always, the NBA Trade Deadline never fails to disappoint. From LA’s additions, to Portland’s wacky moves, let’s grade every trade.
Without fail, the most entertaining non-playoff day of the NBA calendar is the trade deadline. For a few hours, we collectively lose our minds as transactions we never thought were possible come to fruition. Sure, we didn’t get any more KD or Kyrie trades at the buzzer. But don’t let that fool you. Wacky deals were plentiful at the deadline, with plenty of teams leaving us wondering what the hell they were doing. (Hi there, Portland).
Let’s grade every major move that went down and try and track one of the 2,500 second-round picks that got moved like an STD in a frat house.
Lakers, Jazz, and T-Wolves Play Point Guard Musical Chairs
The Lakers wanted to get rid of Russell Westbrook. Danny Ainge and the Jazz were looking to quietly slip into the lottery. And the Timberwolves are still trying to play damage control for the Gobert disaster this past summer. So, these three teams put their heads together and spat out this trade; a veteran point guard game of musical chairs if you will.
Lakers Receive
- D’Angelo Russell (via MIN) – Expiring
- Malik Beasley (via UTAH) – Team option for 2023/24
- Jared Vanderbilt (via UTAH) – UFA in after next season
Jazz Receive
- Russell Westbrook (via LAL) – Expiring
- 2027 Top 4 Protected First-Round Pick (via LAL)
- Juan Toscano-Anderson (via LAL) – Expiring
- Damian Jones (via LAL) – Expiring
Timberwolves Receive
- Mike Conley (via UTAH) – Non-guaranteed next season ($14.32 million)
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (via UTAH) – Potential RFA this summer
- 2024 2nd-Rounder (via LAL)
- 2025 and 2026 2nd-Round Picks (via UTAH)
Los Angeles Lakers: A+
The internal calculus for the Lakers this deadline was obvious. Either stay pat and do nothing or try and trade at least one of those prized future first-round picks in 2027 and 2029. It was one or the either. In a pleasant turn of events, this trade kicked off a busy 48 hours of moves for the Lakers.
Perhaps they were motivated by Lebron James’ new scoring title. Maybe they just wanted to do something. Whatever the reason was, this trade was a slam dunk for the Lakers. Does this make them contenders? Nope. But, all things considered, it was hard to maneuver a better deal than this one. In return for a “toxic” Westbrook and that 2027 top four protected first, LA got three players.
D’Angelo Russell’s first tenure with the Lakers wasn’t pretty. This time around, he’s looking to be more impactful. The guards around Lebron are encouraged to shoot and score. Russell will be no different.
Russell doesn’t offer much defensively or as a playmaker. He’ll have to learn how to play off of Lebron and AD. I’m sure this partnership won’t be perfect. After all, Russell is trying to convince the Lakers — or anybody, really — that he deserves a long-term contract this summer. But 39% 3-PT shooters don’t grow on trees.
Malik Beasley is one of the best volume 3-PT shooters in the league, and he’s deadly off the catch. He’s going to fit well with Lebron James. The Lakers would be stupid not to pick up his team option for next season.
Jarred Vanderbilt is a fluid, versatile, switchable, defensive-minded forward. While his lack of shooting led to a decrease in minutes in Utah, the Lakers need his defensive versatility on the wing. Vando can be utilized as a small-ball five when Davis isn’t on the floor.
The Lakers just added three players that fit what they need. Are we living in an alternate reality? I didn’t think any Westbrook trade would be this fruitful, but here are. One of the most impactful trade deadline moves belongs to the Lakers.
Minnesota Timberwolves: A-
Trading a 26-year-old point guard for a 35-year-old one is usually considered malpractice. Russell was in the midst of his most efficient season and was a big reason for Minnesota’s midseason turnaround. So, why did they trade him?
Fit, mostly. While Russell has had to adapt to playing without the ball, Conley has made that his career. Conley is a complimentary, pass-first point guard. While Russell struggled to get entry passes to Gobert and often got in the way of a blossoming Anthony Edwards, Conley thrives at blending in. He should make life easier for everybody, something that Russell wasn’t always great at.
Conley is miles better than Russell as a defender and playmaker. He’s the prototypical table setter, which is what the T-Wolves needed more than another scorer. When Karl-Anthony Towns eventually returned from injury, Russell’s offensive role would be further diminished. There didn’t seem like a world where Minnesota was going to extend him this off-season.
So, getting Conley, who is under contract next season, makes all the sense in the world. Russell was going to put Minnesota in a bind. They were either going to have to extend him to a deal he didn’t deserve or lose him for nothing.
In Conley, the Timberwolves are getting a medium-term solution. Tim Connelly is still trying to do damage control from the Gobert fiasco. Getting Conley makes sense for all parties and unequivocally makes Minnesota better.
Utah Jazz: B-
After a hot start, the Jazz have been closer to below average. Instead of holding serve and hoping for a play-in birth, Danny Ainge is revving the lottery engines. This season was already a success with the emergence of guys like Markkanen and Kessler.
It’s not a particular surprise, then, that Utah would trade non-core players like Conley, Beasley, and Vanderbilt at the deadline; Vanderbilt is the youngest member of that trio, and he’d fallen behind Kessler in the Jazz rotation. Westbrook and his massive contract will likely be bought out.
Yet even amid that logical framework, this deal puzzles from a Jazz perspective—more so than for the Lakers and Timberwolves, even as Utah landed the only first-round pick in the deal. Is a single protected draft pick really the best return that Jazz CEO Danny Ainge could find for three role players?
Trading Conley, a great locker room presence, also hurts. This wasn’t a bad deal from Utah, per se, but you have to wonder if they could have gotten more for what they gave up. I’m surprised that Vanderbilt only fetched that much in a trade. There aren’t many 23-year-old defensive specialists on team-friendly contracts, ya know?
But, this trade may officially kick off a new era in Utah. The Jazz have 15 first-round picks over the next seven seasons. They’re also going to have $60+ million dollars in free agency this summer. This is just the beginning of what Utah is planning to build in the coming seasons.
Raptors Confuse Everybody; Bring Back Poeltl
For all the talk about Toronto being sellers at the deadline, they only made one trade. And it wasn’t to get worse, it was to get better! Jakob Poeltl was sent to the Spurs as part of the Kawhi Leonard trade. Now, the Raptors are getting the upcoming free agent back in the hopes he can be their long-term answer at center. Poeltl does fill a need for the Spurs, but this trade is one heaping pile of confusion.
Raptors
- Jakob Poeltl (Expiring)
Spurs
- Khem Birch (UFA after 2024 season)
- 2024 Lottery Protected First
- Two Second-Round Picks
Toronto Raptors: C (for Confusing)
This trade makes a lot of sense for a good team. The Raptors get bullied every time they play Joel Embiid, Giannis, or Nikola Jokic. All those switchable, versatile wings don’t do much against talented 7-footers. Poeltl will help the Raptors’ porous paint defense. And they didn’t give up too much to get him. Great move, right?
Wrong!
The Poeltl move itself isn’t the issue. Again, the Raptors desperately needed a center, and all signs point to Toronto re-signing Poeltl this summer. But this is the kind of move that a good team makes. The Raptors are not a good team.
They’re on the outside of the playoff picture in the East. Poeltl doesn’t move the needle for them that much. What’s the point of trading for him? I don’t get why the Raptors didn’t hit the reset button. This roster isn’t a winning one. That’s been painfully obvious this season.
Instead of taking a tactical step back to retool or rebuild, the Raptors traded draft capital to further throw themselves at mediocrity. It makes no sense. I don’t get what Masai Ujiri was trying to accomplish here, but no matter how you slice it, the Raptors shouldn’t have done something like this.
Were the offers for Anunoby that underwhelming? Did everybody get scared off after the Durant deal? Who knows. But I can’t say this move makes me feel any better about an already lukewarm team.
San Antonio Spurs: Let the Tank Begin!
The Spurs got three picks for a player set to become a free agent this summer. That’s all they were looking for. Poeltl was one of the Spurs’ best players, but he didn’t fit with their new rebuilding timeline. Spending lots of money in free agency to keep him didn’t make sense.
This move is about ensuring San Antonio stays in the bottom three of the league to maximize their lottery odds while also getting more future draft capital. They’ve done their job in that respect. Getting another first-round pick is nice, too. The race for Wembanyama (or Henderson) beings.
It’s a good return for the Spurs, who are now fully committed to this rebuild.
Josh Hart Reunites with Jalen Brunson in New York
Just minutes before their game against the Warriors, the Blazers traded Josh Hart to the Knicks. While I loved Hart’s heart (pun intended), grit, and intensity, it was hard to see a world where Portland could afford to bring him back. The Knicks are looking to be competitive — and now Hart reunites with his college teammate, Jalen Brunson.
Blazers Receive
- Cam Reddish (Potential RFA this summer)
- 2023 Lottery Protected First-Rounder (if not conveyed; turns into 4 future seconds)
Knicks Receive
- Josh Hart (Player Option for next season; becomes partially guaranteed if he opts in)
Portland Trail Blazers: C
This is a classic Blazers tax move. Trying to persuade Jerami Grant to re-sign would push Portland near the luxury tax. For a middling team on the fringe of the playoff picture, it’s understandable to trade Hart. I get that. Hart’s lack of shooting became a headache for me.
However, I don’t like this trade for a few reasons. For one, Hart is one of the few Blazers who can rebound. Even though he’s 6’4″, Hart is a tenacious rebounder. His 8.8 rebounds per 36 minutes were invaluable to a very small Blazers team. Portland got smaller in this deal, even though Reddish is taller.
Speaking of Reddish, he’s my main problem about this trade. Reddish has been a few years away from being a few years away for his entire career. Even though he was healthy, Thibodeau never played the dude. Reddish hasn’t played since December 3rd! And now we’re supposed to give Reddish big minutes off the bench in a playoff push?
I don’t see a world where Reddish is on this team next season. He’s never been a good NBA player, and his upside has never produced tangible results. Like Hart, Reddish also can’t shoot and isn’t in the same universe as Hart on defense or with his effort.
So, the only asset the Blazers got is that lottery protected first. That pick will most likely be in the teens-late 20s. Assuming Portland even keeps the pick, are we going to draft another rookie? That’s not how you should build around Dame. Trading Hart wasn’t the wrong idea. I’ve questioned the idea myself a few times. But, if you’re trying to win around Dame, a first-round pick doesn’t do you much, now does it?
You’ll be shocked to learn that this wasn’t the worst move the Blazers made at the deadline.
New York Knicks: B+
The Knicks traded the 20-odd pick for Josh Hart. That’s what this trade essentially is. In that sense, it’s a competitive move from a — and, I can’t believe I’m saying this — competitive team. Hart bolsters New York’s wing depth and makes their bench bigger.
Thibodeau and New York fans will fall in love with Hart’s hustle and energy. I know I did. There’s comfort in knowing that Josh will bring everything he has every night. While Hart will (likely) cut into the minutes of Quintin Grimes and Quickley, I think it’s worth it.
But how much value can the Knicks get out of Hart? His sharp decline in 3-PT rate has been alarming, as has his plunge in efficiency. Will Hart be usable in the playoffs if defenses completely ignore him? Another question is Hart’s future in New York.
After he declines his player option, how much money will the Knicks be willing to throw at Hart? Assuming the Knicks decline Derrick Rose’s $15.6 million team option, they’ll be somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million below the luxury-tax line, plenty of room to re-sign Hart this summer — though perhaps at the expense of using the non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
It would be a waste for Hart to simply be a rental in exchange for a first-rounder. And if the Knicks don’t make the playoffs, those four second-round picks will be costly. But if the Knicks keep Hart and make the playoffs, there isn’t a world where this deal can sour.
Hart is a good player who fits in with what the Knicks are trying to do. He perfectly embodies their persona. And Jalen Brunson loves him;
76ers, Hornets, and Blazers Complete Wacky 3-Teamer
Remember what I said about the Blazers making a worse move than the Hart deal? This is one of them. In fact, it could be argued that every team in this deal lost. This trade didn’t really make anybody better. For once, I couldn’t understand what Daryl Morey was doing. And the Hornets…well, we know they’re stupid. Sorry, MJ.
Blazers Receive
- Matisse Thybulle (via PHI) – Potential RFA this summer
76ers Receive
- Jalen McDaniels (via CHA) – Expiring
- 2029 Blazers 2nd Rounder (via POR)
- 2024 Knicks 2nd Rounder (via CHA)
Hornets Receive
- 2027 2nd Round Pick more favorable of NOP/POR (via POR)
- 2023 2nd Rounder more favorable of Hawks, Nets, and Hornets (via PHI)
Philadelphia 76ers: C-
The 76ers moved under the salary cap with this move. Matisse Thybulle is a great defender, but his lack of offense made him a non-factor in Philly’s rotation. Doc Rivers favored De’Anthony Melton over Thybulle, who has sat on the bench for most of the season. This further proves how skeptical the 76ers were of Thybulle’s postseason translation.
Philly does get a couple second-rounders that they can play with in the future, but this doesn’t help them that much. McDaniels is an unproven youngster who is an unrestricted free agent this summer. I can’t imagine the 76ers will give the 25-year-old that much playing time. McDaniels does have upside as a cutter and versatile defender, but he’s never played on a contending team. Can he handle the pressure of a big market? He may not even be on the team next season.
A backup center was the most glaring need that Morey needed to fill. While lots of other contenders did just that, the 76ers settled for Montrezl Harrell. No more needs to be said; that’s just bad business. All of that for a slightly smaller bill at the end of the season.
Pathetic.
Charlotte Hornets: F
This feels like the Hornets are selling so low on McDaniels. They must have been convinced they have no chance to re-sign him in free agency this summer, but even then, getting Mykhailiuk and some second-round picks feels negligible for a return.
It just feels like they gave him up for nothing, even if they thought they were going to lose him for nothing. His value has to be higher than what we’re seeing here. I don’t see a world where many teams are throwing themselves at McDaniels this summer.
Given his low trade value, couldn’t you have just resigned him? Not trading any of your veterans, like Rozier or Hayward, also seems like a mistake. Just a weird deadline from the Hornets, who may be the most miserable team in the league. They’re in a race with the Rockets, Spurs, and Pistons.
Portland Trail Blazer: D+
Matisse Thybulle is a worse Josh Hart. Like Hart, Thybulle can’t shoot. If a contending 76ers team doesn’t trust him in the playoffs, are we now supposed to give Thybulle important minutes as we chase the postseason? Thybulle is one of the best POA defenders in the league. I get that.
And Thybulle is cheaper than Hart, furthering this team’s insatiable lust for being as cheap as possible. But, unlike Hart, Thybulle isn’t much of a defender. He can’t take guys off the dribble. Watching Hart was painful at times offensively, but watching Thybulle will be like nails on a chalkboard.
Portland gave up next to nothing for Thybulle, but there’s also no assurance that he’ll be here past this season. Thybulle is entering restricted free agency this summer. Numerous teams will throw offers at the All-Defensive caliber guard. For a team trying so desperately to save money and with Jerami Grant’s negotiations taking first priority, will Thybulle even come back?
This trade only becomes worth it if Thybulle is a part of this team’s future. And even if he is, we’ll be lucky if he becomes the player that Josh Hart is today. A pitiful trade.
You’ll be shocked to learn that this wasn’t the worst move the Blazers made at the deadline.
Nuggets Get Backup Center in Bryant
Ever since Mason Plumlee left town, the Nuggets have been looking for a backup big to put behind Nikola Jokic. DeAndre Jordan wasn’t going to be the answer, but it looks like Denver found their guy. Two Western Conference foes accomplish separate goals with this deal
Nuggets Receive
- Thomas Bryant (Expiring)
Lakers Receive
- Davon Reed (UFA after 2024 season / non-guaranteed next season)
- 2025, 2026, and 2029 2nd-Rounders
Los Angeles Lakers: B-
With Anthony Davis back, Bryant didn’t have the same role he did when Davis was hurt. Bryant was dominant at times as a roller and rebounder in AD’s absence. His Chamberlain-esque performance against Portland a few weeks ago is burned into my memory. But it was clear that his minutes were being capped when the Lakers were healthy.
The newly acquired Jarred Vanderbilt is a better, more versatile defender who’s under contract for more seasons. LA is prioritizing defense with this move, and they did so again in a later move with the Magic. Rob Pelinka and the Lakers can likely use these three second-rounders in a move down the line, giving the Lakers more flexibility.
Two Lakers moves that I agree with? I think I’m going to pass out?
Denver Nuggets: A
This is the sort of small, under-the-radar, impactful trade that contenders master. Adding Byrant strengthens Denver’s playoff push. That alone makes it worth it. While Bryant isn’t the passer that Jokic is, he’s a ball of energy and hustle.
For 8-10 minutes a night, the Nuggets are getting a guy that will bother the opposing team and be a pest in both interiors. While Bryant isn’t some standout defender, he’s a low-risk backup who’s a lot more viable than DeAndre Jordan ever was. Unlike Philadelphia, the Nuggets decided to avoid playing their obvious red flag in crucial minutes.
Three second-rounders may be a steep price if Bryant is a rental, but they could be a steal if Bryant stays for multiple seasons. A good move from a good team, a true rarity in the modern NBA.
The Suns Take a Step Back from Their Durant Brilliance
For once, a superstar trade was well received by everyone around the league. Just hours after swinging the biggest trade in franchise history for one of the greatest players ever, the Suns floppers. Maybe Mat Ishbia should have quit while he was ahead. This move with the Thunder involving Dario Saric makes absolutely no sense.
Thunder Receive
- Dario Saric (Expiring)
- 2nd Round Pick
Suns Receive
- Darius Bazley
OKC Thunder: A
The OKC Thunder have been surprisingly good this season. They’ve spat out one of the league’s best offenses, filled with creative scorers and playmakers. Without Chet Holmgren, OKC has been using unorthodox options at center.
Undersized Kenrich Williams has been effective, and Mike Muscala was great, so great, that OKC flipped him to Boston. Darius Bazley has upside as a lengthy, versatile forward. OKC’s defense has been good when he’s been on the floor. But his lack of offense holds him back, and there’s a reason he’s not the most cog for OKC.
So, the Thunder flipped Bazley for Dario Saric. While Saric is an expiring deal, it’s the type of semi-competitive move for the Thunder that keeps them in the mix without making a seismic change. OKC didn’t sacrifice any draft capital (they got a second-rounder in this trade), and Saric could be off the books by next season. Inconsequential would be an understatement.
Saric provides veteran leadership, muscle, and size. Like Muscala, he also provides shooting. Saric has hit nearly 44% of his triples since January 1st. The Thunder made good work of the trade exception created by Derrick Favors here.
If Saric is a rental, OKC didn’t give up much to get him. If OKC decides to keep him next to Holmgren in the future and Saric helps this team compete for years to come, it’s one of the best trades made at the deadline this season.
Phoenix Suns: C-
I know the Suns were thin on the wings after trading both Bridges and Cam Johnson in the Durant deal, but this trade seems like a reach. Not only is Bazley unproven and raw, but the Suns also gave up their backup center.
Saric has been very good this season and would have been valuable in the playoffs. He’s certainly more suited for the playoffs than Bazley, who didn’t crack 20 minutes per game most nights with the Thunder. Bazley, like Saric, could also leave this offseason. The 22-year-old is a restricted free agent this summer.
If you want to argue that the Suns were trying to get something for the expiring Saric, fine. But trading him for what could be another rental is dumb, and dealing him for a significantly worse player is even stupider. For what limited depth the Suns had after getting Durant, they lost even more in this move.
Offloading Saric for Bazley will shed more than $20 million from the Suns’ post-Kevin Durant-trade salary and luxury-tax commitments, however. Mat Ishbia has been in charge for less than a week, and he’s already looking to have a smaller bottom line. It’s a drastic switch-up from the aggressive Suns that went out and got KD.
Clippers Get Gordon From Houston; Kennard to Memphis
The Clippers knew they needed to make moves at the deadline, and so did the Grizzlies. So, the two teams teamed up to swap shooters and Houston got involved to take players that nobody in the league wants. Sounds fair to me.
Rockets Receive
- John Wall (to be bought out) (LOL)
- Danny Green (also likely to be bought out)
- Rights to swap Milwaukee’s 2023 FRP with Clippers’ 2023 FRP
Clippers Receive
- Eric Gordon (via HOU) – Contract is non-guaranteed next season unless LAC wins title this year
- Three future second-rounders
Grizzlies Receive
- Luke Kennard (via LAC) – Club option for 2024/25 season
Houston Rockets: Lol
It seems like the Rockets traded Eric Gordon a little too late. The 34-year-old doesn’t have the same value anymore, and Houston didn’t get that much in return. They have the right to upgrade one of this year’s first-rounders…between two teams gunning for the title. Nice.
Houston will likely buy out Wall (who is back in Houston) and Green, but the Rockets likely wasted their opportunity to trade Gordon last year or the year before. Still, I can’t help but laugh that John Wall, the dude Houston paid $40+ million dollars to sit at home, is back on this team.
I love this league.
Memphis Grizzlies: B-
The Grizzlies needed shooting at the deadline, and it’s hard to find anybody better than Luke Kennard. Kennard was sometimes buried on the Clippers’ rotation, but he’s one of the best pure shooters in all of basketball. He fits a need for Memphis, and he’ll find minutes in another deep rotation.
Here’s the problem; the Grizzlies needed to do more at the deadline. A LOT MORE! OG Anunoby was apparently on the table, but nothing came from that. Dillon Brooks is still this team’s starter, which is far from ideal. Brooks is unpredictable, dirty, and just not very good.
While it’s nice that the Grizzlies didn’t give up any firsts or young players in this deal, I feel like they missed an opportunity to become favorites in the West. Adding Anunoby would have put this team on par with the Suns, who were one of the overall winners of the deadline.
Kennard is a good addition, but he’s not a true game-changer. His lack of defense handicaps his impact. Think about it like this. OG Anunoby would be playing with 30 seconds left in game five of a tied playoff series. Luke Kennard would be watching from the bench.
LA Clippers: B
Eric Gordon isn’t as good as Kennard. Kennard is the better shooter, and he moves better than the 34-year-old entering the twilight of his career. While Gordon is a little more dangerous off the dribble, this is more of a lateral move from the Clippers.
They do gain some cap flexibility because Gordon’s contract is non-guaranteed next season. It only becomes fully guaranteed if the Clippers win the title this season. But I think the best part of this deal for LA are those second-round picks.
Draft picks are hard to come by in Los Angeles, and the Clippers just acquired three they can use down the line in future deals. Not trading away Terance Mann was another win for this team. Dealing away Reggie Jackson frees up minutes for Mann and the newly acquired Bones Hyland (more on that later).
I don’t know how much Gordon will help the Clippers, but it’s not like Kennard was playing 30 minutes a night for this team. This trade is a meh from me. Nothing too special from LA’s point of view.
Hawks Get Bey; Warriors Trade Wiseman in 4-Team Deal
This four-team trade involving Detroit, Atlanta, Portland, and Golden State was the wackiest, weirdness, and ugliest trade of the day. It has a lot of moving parts, questions, and not a whole lot of answers. I don’t think you could have predicted any one of these moves happening at the deadline…period, much less all of them thrown together in one big mess.
Try and keep up with this one
Hawks Receive
- Saddiq Bey (via DET) – Potential RFA after next summer
Pistons Receive
- James Wiseman (via GSW) – Potential RFA after next summer
Warriors Receive
- 5 2nd-Rounders (via ATL)
- Gary Payton II (via POR) – Player option for 2024/25 season
- Kevin Knox (via DET) – Team option for next season
Blazers Receive
- Kevin Knox (from DET via GSW)
- 5 2nd-Rounders (from ATL via GSW)
Remember that worst Blazers trade? Well, you’re looking right at it.
Portland: F-
What the fuck, dude?
In Portland’s first two moves, we downgraded Josh Hart and only had a late first-rounder to show for it. But this move may take the cake for the stupidest shit I’ve ever seen. Gary Payton II was a switchable, versatile defender who was a difference-maker on the court. While he battled injuries for the first half of the season, he was a good player who had an infectious smile.
So why the hell are we trading the dude after we just signed him this off-season? Jason Quick’s anonymous source said this, “…a reason Payton was traded was he indicated he didn’t want to be in Portland and was ecstatic to Golden State.”
How did we piss Gary off so quickly? And even if he didn’t want to be here, why would you trade him now? Clearly, the Blazers don’t want to make the playoffs. That’s what these moves tell you. We’re trying to clear cap space to extend one player we already had the money to sign. And, we’re getting draft picks that are useless in a playoff push in the coming weeks.
Who are we going after? Kevin Durant is off the table. OG Anunoby seems unreachable unless we’re willing to part ways with Sharpe, Simons, and picks. Damian Lillard is playing the best basketball of his career. Why are we trading players that fit well next to him for returns that won’t help us in the present?
Portland’s vision for a switchable, chaotic defense can’t be reached. Jusuf Nurkic is still here, for some reason, and Portland traded some of their best players for project players. Are we banking on Reddish, Kevin Knox, and Matisse Thybulle to save the day? Is that what this season has come to?
On Grant and Lillard
And, if all of these moves were supposed to free up money to keep Grant, let me remind you of something: Grant wants to win! To him, that’s just as important as the money, if not more so. Why would he want to start on a shitty team when he could sign for slightly less money on a contending team — playing an Andrew Wiggins-like role?
Every other team around Portland made some sort of move at the deadline. And I’m willing to say that they all got better. Meanwhile, Portland did what they always do — “improved” around the margins of their roster while kicking the can down the road, with promises that this is all by design, all part of a greater plan at work.
All the while, we’re wasting Damian Lillard, who wants to win at all costs. Are we purposely testing this dude’s loyalty? And, even though I’m not a huge fan of Chauncey Billups, the front office isn’t giving him a good hand of cards to work with.
Nothing about this trade deadline makes sense for Portland. Missing the playoffs allows us to keep the first-round pick that we owe to the Bulls. But we might have missed the playoffs even if we kept Hart or Payton, anyway. Was trading those guys even necessary?
Portland is gearing up for something in the offseason. We have that Knicks-protected first, plus the five picks we got for GPII in this trade. Color me confused because I have no idea what’s coming next. But right now, at the moment, I can say with 100% certainty that the Blazers fucked up the deadline.
Instead of being aggressive or even standing pat, Portland went in their usual direction: backward. How many days until Phil Knight buys this team?
Golden State Warriors: C+
Cutting the cord on Wiseman was a pleasant surprise for Golden State. The #2 overall pick in the 2020 draft hasn’t developed, and the Warriors have hardly used him. Getting anything of value for him was a win, and the Warriors are better without Darko 2.0.
But Golden State didn’t need another guard at the deadline. Gary Payton II was great for this team last year, and he’ll help this team off the bench. However, a bigger, versatile wing defender was paramount to filling out this roster. Payton is just 6’2″ and understandably struggles against lengthy wings.
Clearing out Wiseman helps Golden State’s bottom line, — especially next season, where they save $30 million on the luxury tax — but the Warriors didn’t improve when they desperately needed to. One could argue that nabbing Saddiq Bey from the Pistons would have been a better, more impactful move.
Time is running out for the Warriors to turn their season around. Steph Curry is supposed to miss weeks with this leg injury. Making the playoffs is somewhat of a battle for the Warriors, whose title defense is on its last legs.
No offense to Payton, but I don’t think he’s going to single-handily turn things around. (Can you tell I’m salty?)
Detroit Pistons: D+
Bagley? Stewart? Duren? And now Wiseman? How many young bigs do you need? And why are you stunting the growth of Duren, who is clearly the best of the bunch and the one with the most upside?
Trading Bey, a solid wing, is also a weird move. Maybe you didn’t want to extend him, but trading him for yet another big man is an even worse move, schematically. I get the logic for a rebuilding team to take a flier on the 21-year old Wiseman.
But the Pistons used a lottery pick to get Duren. That’s your guy. He’s shown more than Wiseman has shown in his entire career. For a rebuilding team that’s supposed to be finding clarity with their roster, the Pistons are cannibalizing themselves down low for no apparent reason.
Atlanta Hawks: A-
Five second-round picks is a pretty hefty price for Bey, who has stagnated after a promising start to his career. But the Hawks needed wing depth even with John Collins surviving trade rumors for the 19th straight year. Kevin Huerter’s role has yet to be filled, and a cost-cutting move also cost the team Justin Holiday (why are owners so damn cheap, man?).
In Atlanta, playing with competent, All-Star-level guards, Bey should see his efficiency and productivity rise. He’s a cost-controlled asset for the Hawks, albeit one that doesn’t change their gloomy outlook much.
Nuggets Get Rid of Bones Hyland
Bones Hyland may be the worst defender in the league. While his spark-plug scoring and name make him one of the most exciting players in the league, he didn’t fit with the Nuggets. On a contending team, you can’t just be good, you have to be great. An apparent feud with head coach Michael Malone was the last straw.
Clippers Receive
- Bones Hyland (Acquired using the $10.9 million trade exception created last year)
Nuggets Receive
- 2024 and 2025 2nd Rounders
Denver Nuggets: C-
This is a weird look for Denver. On the one hand, Hyland had completely fallen out of their rotation. I get that his defense was worse than mine, but a 22-year-old flamethrower who can score in bunches should fetch more than two second-rounders, right?
Denver somewhat recoups the value they spent on acquiring Thomas Bryant. And there is value in removing a potential distraction for a team trying to win a title. If Hyland couldn’t even crack the regular season rotation, there wasn’t a point in keeping him. I get that.
On the other hand, couldn’t you have kept Hyland and used him as a break-in-case-of-emergency scorer? Denver’s bench now has one less creator. Denver is at least partially responsible for Hyland’s market cratering and being as insignificant as it ended up being.
I don’t think the top-seeded Nuggets are batting an eye, though.
Los Angeles Clippers: A-
Who else is excited to see Hyland sit on the bench and watch Kawhi Leonard in the spring? While the Clippers are getting a young, offensive dynamo who is cost-controlled, there’s a reason Hyland wasn’t playing in Denver.
And if the Nuggets were being hard on Hyland, Tyronn Lue, a title-winning coach, won’t give him any breaks. With Reggie Jackson out of the picture, I’m sure Hyland will get some minutes. LA’s constant roster dysfunction and load-management nights will give them a chance to develop Hyland more than Denver ever could. But the Clippers are arguably deeper than the Nuggets. Veterans will have priority over Hyland in close contests. And Hyland’s playoff impact will be limited.
On the bright side, I doubt Hyland can cause more drama that the Clippers don’t already create themselves every day. This acquisition has a 0% chance of backfiring. It’s a pure upside play, and for what they gave up, the Clippers were wise to make it.
Bucks Add Crowder; Pacers Get Lots of 2nd-Round Picks
The Jae Crowder saga is finally over. Crowder hasn’t played all season after he got offended that the Suns would dare start the more talented Cam Johnson over him. In a ironic move, both Johnson and Crowder headed to Brooklyn in the Durant trade, and now Crowder is playing for a contending Bucks team.
And Indiana is involved because…reasons!
Nets Receive
- 2028 and 2029 2nd-Rounders (via MIL)
Bucks Receive
- Jae Crowder (via BKN) – Expiring
Pacers Receive
- Jordan Nwora (via MIL) – UFA after next season
- George Hill (via MIL) – Expiring
- Serge Ibaka (Waived)
- 2024 2nd Round Pick (via MIL)
- 2025 2nd Round Pick (via MIL – returning Indiana’s original pick)
- 2023 second (via MIL; more favorable of the two they own between Cleveland and Golden State)
Milwaukee Bucks: C
Five second-round picks are a lot for a player who hasn’t played in nine months. At his best, Crowder is precisely what the Bucks need: a defensive-minded wing who can shoot and has plenty of playoff experience. But we don’t know how effective Crowder is. We haven’t seen him on an NBA court since Phoenix’s Game 7 loss to Dallas last season.
The Bucks have to re-sign Crowder this offseason to make what they gave up in this trade worth it. Five draft picks for a rental who hasn’t played all season because of a contract holdout would be a hilariously bad move. You get why the Bucks made this move. Crowder would have helped Milwaukee last season against the much bigger Celtics.
With Bobby Portis out with a knee injury, Milwaukee needs some reinforcements. However, there are plenty of questions about Crowder’s fitness and readiness. You can’t just miss nine months and jump back into the swing of things. Will the last 30-odd games of the season be enough for him to get back into form?
This is a weird, risky move for the Bucks. Luckily for them, Kevin Durant is no longer in their conference. Fun!
Brooklyn Nets: A
Getting two second-rounds picks for an excess good in Crowder is a steal for the Nets. They have too many wings at this point, and you expect them to get rid of some more of them in the coming years. Brooklyn is standing on a gold mine of versatility and shooting, qualities that the rest of the league is constantly searching for.
These second-round picks have a chance to be closer to the first round. Jae Crowder will probably be out of the league by the time these picks can be used in the draft. This is another good move from Sean Marks and the Nets, who seem to be better at rebuilding than building super teams.
Indiana Pacers: A-
The Pacers gain assets and draft capital while doing nothing. That’s a pretty sweet deal. Tyrese Haliburton has accelerated this team’s rebuilding timeline. The Pacers have all their second-rounders through 2027, and they’re getting a couple more — including one of their own that the Bucks are returning to them (how nice).
Nwora can score a little bit, and a George Hill reunion is cool, too. Hill should be a mentor to Haliburton and Nembhard, Indiana’s two emerging guards. I doubt any of the players in this deal will become significant for the Pacers down the line.
But they didn’t have to give up anybody, and they’re getting extra draft assets. They also had Serge Ibaka for all but five minutes.
Lakers Add Mo Bamba; Beverley Heads to Orlando
In their last move of the deadline, the Lakers again prioritized defense. The Lakers tried to snag Bamba in free agency this past offseason before the big man eventually returned to Orlando. But, the Lakers were able to snag the recently suspended Bamba for an important name.
Lakers Receive
- Mo Bamba (Non-GTD next season)
Magic Receive
- Patrick Beverley
- 2nd Round Pick
Lakers: A
The Lakers had better options at guard even after Russell Westbrook was unceremoniously dealt to the Jazz. Malik Beasley and D’Angelo Russell fit better next to Lebron. Lonnie Walker and Dennis Schroder have been better than Beverley when healthy.
While Beverley is a tenacious defender, his offensive shortcomings limit his value. But his antics are harder to stomach when the Lakers had a -2.7 net rating when Pat was on the floor.
In return for Beverley, the Lakers are getting Bamba, who has hardly played this season. Buried on Orlando’s bench behind a much more talented frontcourt, we haven’t seen much of Bamba throughout his career. There’s always been something in the way that takes away from his proclaimed versatility.
But Bamba is taller than Thomas Bryant and offers more rim protection. If he has a consistent outside shot, the Lakers can pair Mo with Jarred Vanderbilt or Anthony Davis. Even if that doesn’t happen, Bamba is a body down low that can move well in space.
Equally intriguing: Bamba is on the books next season for $10.3 million. His salary is fully non-guaranteed, but with the Lakers ostensibly punting on cap space by adding so many new players, this becomes a tidy number they can attach to their 2029 (or 2030) first-round pick over the summer in search of additional upgrades. Just a thought.
Magic: Eh
There isn’t really a reaction to this one. Beverley is an expiring contract who may get bought out by the Magic or play sparingly before hitting free agency. In essence, the Magic got a second-round pick for Bamba, their 6th overall selection in 2018.
Not to worry though, Orlando. You still have Banchero and Wagner to cheer for. You’ll live.
Clippers Acquire Backup Big; Hornets to Buy Out Jackson
The other LA team also finished off their trade deadline by getting a backup big from Charlotte. Reggie Jackson is heading to the Buzz City, but he’s likely to be bought out. Where will he go once he becomes a free agent? My bet would be either Phoenix or Dallas.
Clippers Receive
- Mason Plumlee (Expiring)
Hornets Receive
- Reggie Jackson (Expected to be bought out)*
*Did the Hornets just trade Mason Plumlee for nobody?
Hornets: Embrace the Youth
The markets for backup bigs on expiring contracts is unsurprisingly very little. Trading away Plumlee for nothing still sucks, though. Still, the veteran’s departure means more minutes for Duke rookie Mark Williams and fellow youngster Kai Jones.
Charlotte is near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and they are desperate for a top draft pick. I’m still confused why they didn’t trade Rozier or Hayward, though.
Clippers: A+
What a deadline for the Clippers. They added some new pieces while also clearing up some cap space and adding draft capital. Plumlee will likely be their most impactful deadline acquisition, unlike Hyland and Gordon.
Ivica Zubac is a great starter, but Moses Brown was this team’s best backup. Even if Plumlee is just a rental, the Clippers gave up the streaky, unreliable Jackson. They managed to get rid of him and Wall, two ball hogs who weren’t very valuable.
Plumlee can handle the ball, run handoffs, and set screens. He’s a little more versatile than Zubac, but less of a one-on-one scorer. He provides solid rebounding, too. If the Clippers manage to re-sign Plumlee this offseason, it’s almost as if they didn’t even trade for him.
Overall, it was a very good trade deadline for the Clippers.
Brad Stevens Bolsters Depth for the Celtics
The Boston Celtics, when healthy, are the best team in the league. Unlike last year, where they acquired Derrick White, the Celtics didn’t need to make a big change to keep the train rolling. However, with Al Horford losing his physicality due to age and Robert Williams still working his way back, another big guy couldn’t hurt.
Brad Stevens pulled off a quiet, early trade with the Thunder that netted them Mike Muscala. Spoiler alert: I love this trade.
Thunder Receive
- Justin Jackson
- 2029 Celtics 2nd Rounder
- Worse of Celtic’s two seconds this year
Celtics Receive
- Mike Muscala (Team option for next season) – Acquired using $5.9M trade exception from Schroder
Celtics: A+
Don’t you love it when a contending team doesn’t care about the luxury tax and adds a player they need? The Celtics added $6.4 million to their luxury tax bill, but they added an important piece in Muscala. Not only does this limit their reliance on sub-par options like Blake Griffin and Luke Kornet, but Muscala is really good.
He can stretch the floor very well (39.4% from 3), and the Celtics could use him with Robert Williams or Al Horford if they want to get frisky. But, for 8-10 minutes a game, Muscala will fill in nicely without being a total liability. Is he a great defender? No, but the Celtics have enough guys on the perimeter to split the difference.
This is a low-risk move for the Celtics, and it’s not even a rental. I think the Celtics will pick up big Mike’s $3.5 million team option next season. It’s a good bargain for what he brings to the table. Boston’s lone move at the deadline wasn’t sexy, but it was effective.
Thunder: B
There are a few ways to look at this trade from OKC’s point of view. The positive side of things is that for a veteran like Muscala, they got a couple more draft picks to play with. OKC has more roster room should they choose to spend their open cap space — which is around $30 million.
The negative way of looking at things is that Muscala was important for the Thunder, and someone they couldn’t trade away. OKC is short on bigs as it is and they couldn’t afford to trade Muscala for nothing in return. Saric helps in that regard, but holding onto Muscala’s miniscule contract wouldn’t have hurt.
With Muscala at center this season, the Thunder had a 120.6 offensive rating. For a team pushing for the play-in tournament, giving a guy like that up for nothing is costly. I know the Thunder aren’t trying to be competitive, but it’s not like this trade package was too good to turn down.
The Thunder only have one draft pick this summer and their frontcourt remains weak. Chet Holmgren will obviously fortify things, but I stand by the idea that Muscala was valuable and necessary for the Thunder.
Pelicans Swing Trade For J-Rich From San Antonio
Thankfully, the Pelicans didn’t do anything irrational or ill-fated at the deadline. But, they did make one interesting move in which they moved, you guessed it, multiple second round picks! The Spurs continued to unload more of their assets in return for draft capital.
Spurs Receive
- Devonte’ Graham – UFA after 2024/25 season
- 2024, 2026, 2028, and 2029 2nd-Rounders
Pelicans Receive
- Josh Richardson – Expiring
New Orleans Pelicans: C+
Four second rounds for an expiring Josh Richardon seems like a lot. Was the price that high to get rid of Devonte’ Graham, who fell out of the Pelicans’ rotation, or was it mainly for Richardson? Considering all of those second-round picks are from New Orleans and they span the decade, letting Richardson walk for free in the offseason would be a loss.
The veteran swingman has ben shooting nearly 38% from beyond the arc this season. Richardson gives the Pelicans some more depth on the wing, as well as some much needed shooting. New Orleans is near the bottom of the league in 3-PT attempts and percentage, so Richardson should help them in that category.
I wonder if the Pelicans could have traded one of the many first-rounders they have from the Bucks or Lakers to get this done. Did it have to be four seconds or could it have been something else?
San Antonio Spurs: A+
FOUR SECOND ROUND PICKS FOR JOSH RICHARDSON? THAT’S A STEAL AND A HALF
The Spurs got six second-rounders plus a 2024 lottery protected first from the Raptors in the Poeltl trade, giving them a deep pool of assets to build upon. I don’t know if the Spurs had some sort of bidding war for Richardson, but I didn’t think he would fetch this much of a premium.
Devonte’ Graham’s contract isn’t great, but the Spurs have all the cap space in the world. I think it’s worth it to take on Graham’s multi-year commitment in order to get those picks. Really good move from the Spurs.
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