The NBA trade deadline is less than 24 hours away and we’ve already seen teams play the hits.
The Lakers are interested in every decent to good player who may be available, because LeBron. I’m not sure what helps LA at this point. Its stars — James and Anthony Davis — have been fairly healthy this season. James has missed six of 51 games and Davis four of 51. Yet the team is still just one game over .500. What would swapping out D’Angelo Russell for DeJounte Murray provide? Murray early in his career was known as an all-league-caliber defender. That hasn’t been the case since he got to Atlanta. The Lakers, no matter what moves are made, just aren’t in the group of contenders for the Western Conference title. Even their win over the Knicks on Feb. 3 came with New York missing two starters and a rotational player.
The Pistons, the worst team in a decade, were linked to Zach LaVine before the Bulls wing opted for season-ending foot surgery. That would have been an odd fit. LaVine isn’t a winner and is a shoot-first player. Detroit is very young. Rumors had the Bulls asking price listed as a veteran and a young player. That’s a lot for a 10-year vet who’s only played in five playoff games. Pistons general manager Troy Weaver’s job has left a lot to be desired, but had this deal been completed before LaVine opted for surgery, Weaver should’ve immediately had his keycard to Little Caesars Arena taken away.
There are moves to be made for a number of teams, though.
Oklahoma City could use another big alongside Chet Holmgren, as the Thunder look like a legitimate title contender.
Minnesota, tied atop the west with Oklahoma City, could use a second shot creator to pair with Anthony Edwards and make the Timberwolves less predictable with their late-game sets.
Milwaukee, which has slid to third in the east, desperately needs a point-of-attack defender to shore up its putrid defense.
Phoenix and Orlando both could use lead guards. The Suns need a backup point guard to lighten the playmaking loads of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The Magic, who have some real playoff spoiler potential because of their length, could use a table-setter alongside newly-minted defensive stopper Jalen Suggs.
All of those moves would add intrigue to the rest of the season, but it isn’t likely any would lead to a title. It’s rare a midseason deal ends with a team hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy. It worked for the Houston Rockets in 1995, when they added Clyde Drexler at the deadline. The Pistons lucked out twice, winning titles in 1989 and 2004 after adding Mark Aguirre and Rasheed Wallace, respectively, in February.
So it’s highly unlikely that any of the moves made between now and tomorrow afternoon lead to anything substantial. It’ll be a lot of shuffling of expiring contracts and second round picks.
Even with the unlikelihood of any moves leading to a deep postseason run, trades are fun to dream up.
NBA Power Rankings (last week’s ranking in parenthesis)
1. Boston Celtics (1)
2. Denver Nuggets (2)
3. LA Clippers (5)
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (3)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (8)
7. New York Knicks (4)
8. Phoenix Suns (11)
9. Milwaukee Bucks (7)
10. New Orleans Pelicans (14)
11. Philadelphia 76ers (9)
12. LA Lakers (16)
13. Sacramento Kings (10)
14. Dallas Mavericks (13)
15. Indiana Pacers (12)
16. Miami Heat (18)
17. Orlando Magic (17)
18. Utah Jazz (15)
19. Chicago Bulls (20)
20. Atlanta Hawks (23)
21. Houston Rockets (19)
22. Golden State Warriors (21)
23. Brooklyn Nets (22)
24. Memphis Grizzlies (24)
25. Portland Trail Blazers (25)
26. Toronto Raptors (26)
27. San Antonio Spurs (28)
28. Washington Wizards(27)
29. Charlotte Hornets (29)
30. Detroit Pistons (30)
