(In) Marc Gasol
(Out) CJ Miles, Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, Greg Monroe, Malachi Richardson, 2021 2nd rd pick, 2024 2nd rd pick, the rights to Emir Preldzic
I dunno, man, does this really make them better? Yes, one great player is generally an upgrade on 3-4 rotation guys but the Raptors are kinda based on their superior 2nd string and at this point in the season it'll take a while to re-mold the 1st string to where they want to be, so when does this new look start to produce dividends? Hopefully by round one of the playoffs, I guess. I like Gasol and he does give them more dynamism down low than the underappreciated Valanciunas but I don't see these moves as necessary: it doesn't make re-signing Kawhi any easier this summer, unless Gasol opts out, so this new look is guaranteed not to last. They'll still need to add to the roster, too, so are they looking at, say, Markieff Morris?
Celtics
(Out) Jabari Bird
They stayed notably silent during the deadline. But moving on from Bird (whom they probably should've moved on from months ago), does give them room for a buy-out signing. So are they into Enes Kanter (good around the rim to go with their attacking guards)? Or Markieff Morris (is reuniting the twins a good thing or a disaster waiting to happen?)? Or Wesley Matthews (a little defensive toughness on the wing)? I dunno, but they've still got at least one more move to make.
Sixers
(In) Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott, Jonathon Simmons, James Ennis, Thunder 2019 1st rd pick, 2019 2nd rd pick, 2022 2nd rd pick
(Out) Markelle Fultz, Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Corey Brewer, Sixers 2020 1st rd pick (Top 14 protected), Heat 2021 1st rd pick, 2021 2nd rd pick (Rockets get 2021 2nd rd pick swap), Pistons 2022 2nd rd pick, Pistons 2023 2nd rd pick
Okay, this is the culmination of the process. Since they were shamed into firing Sam Hinkie, the Sixers have dealt away pretty much every bauble and bead that he amassed for them. And now, for better or worse, they have their team going forward: Simmons, Embiid, Butler, and Tobias Harris. Is that gonna work? Well, I guess we've got the rest of this season to find out. But for now they also have Mike Scott (feisty), James Ennis (good defender), Jonathon Simmons (could be really great off the bench) and Boban (always a crowd favorite) to thicken that bench. Still not sure this puts them ahead of the Raptors or Celtics but sure gives them a lot of bodies to throw at Giannis, right? This is a weird collection of talent, should be fun to watch for the rest of the season. (Still good enough next year? I'm dubious: the talent was already there last year and didn't win, this just looks like a really expensive train wreck to me; still don't think they're better than the Celtics going forward)
Nets
(In) 2021 2nd rd pick
They waived Greg Monroe, but why? They got something better on the roster? I guess it doesn't matter, just feels like they could've gotten minutes out of him.
Knicks
(In) DeAndre Jordan, Dennis Smith Jr. Mavs 2021 1st rd pick (top 10 protected), Mavs 2023 1st rd pick (top 10 protected)
(Out) Kristaps Porzingis, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr, Courtney Lee, Enes Kanter
This was all a prelude to July 1, 2019. If they end up with Durant, Kyrie and Zion, this will look brilliant. If not....oh well, they're the Knicks so it kinda doesn't matter.
Bucks
(In) Nikola Mirotic
(Out) Thon Maker
They moved on from an interesting project to a guy that can actually get buckets from the wing. Definitely helps them now. Not a huge upgrade but the Bucks are a more complete team without enduring much drama. Definitely one of the winner of this year's deadline.
Pacers
(In) Wade Baldwin, Nik Stauskus, 2021 2nd rd pick (*)
(Out) Ike Anigbogu, cash
They ended up with the much-coveted Baldwin and Stauskus, we'll see if that upgrades their bench. They're definitely not a contender without Oladipo, but they should still make the post-season, still a sizable lead on the Hornets/Heat/Pistons, so these moves are meant to keep the squad afloat without interrupting the off-season (when they're gonna have a shocking amount of money to spend) and, man, doesn't Tobias Harris seem like the perfect fit for them?
Pistons
(In) Thon Maker, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, 2021 2nd rd pick
(Out) Stanley Johnson, Reggie Bullock, 2019 2nd rd pick, two 2020 2nd rd picks, 2021 2d rd pick
Oy! These moves don't make them better now or later. Maker and Sy are two still interesting youngsters and that's better than the two vets they let go, but not necessarily worth giving up a boatload of 2nd rd picks. Gotta look busy, I guess.
Bulls
(In) Otto Porter, Timothy Luwawu-Cabarrot
(Out) Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis, 2023 2nd rd pick, 2020 2nd rd pick
They saw enough of Parker to know he wasn't the guy and, though I'm not a huge fan of Porter, he is an upgrade on Portis and worth building around, I suppose. Still time to see if Luwawu can be something in this league (never got a chance in Philly or OKC, but he should play in Chicago). I dunno, this is some deckchair shuffling right here: is the Porter-LaVine-Markkenen line scaring anyone in the East?
Cavs
(In) Marquesse Chriss, Brandon Knight, 2019 1st rd pick, 2022 2nd rd pick, 2021 2nd rd pick, 2023 2nd rd pick
(Out) Rodney Hood, Alec Burks, Kobi Simmons, 2021 2nd rd pick
Yeah, not sure I see the upside of these moves. They bring in a pile of draft picks (fool's gold if you don't know how to value them) for more salary. I don't see how this helps them now or going forward. Knight could give them minutes and Chriss is still young enough to look at but they don't help the Cavs next year. (And any trade deadline that goes by without getting rid of JR Smith is a thumbs down for the Cavs)Hornets
(None)
They were in on the Marc Gasol talk but none of it came to pass. Oh well, it'll be another year or two of salary cap hell before they can make any worthwhile moves. (Strange that Michael Jordan would overpay so many mediocre players, I figured he'd be a skinflint kinda GM, an 'ain't nobody worth that kinda money' kinda GM, instead he's flinging cash at a roster that isn't even guaranteed a playoff spot in the East)
Heat
(In) Ryan Anderson
(Out) Wayne Ellington, Tyler Johnson
This hardly solves Miami's problems. Not at all, in fact. Another year or two of overpriced mediocrity there.
Magic
(In) Markelle Fultz
(Out) Jonathon Simmons, 2019 1st rd pick, 2019 2nd rd pick
If Fultz finds his game, this will be more than worth it. Fultz still has a chance to be a difference-maker in the NBA, which is more than can be said for Simmons or that 2019 pick, so it's worth taking a flyer. If it doesn't work out, oh well, it's Orlando, it don't matter.
Wizards
(In) Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis, Wesley Johnson, 2023 2nd rd pick
(Out) Markieff Morris, Otto Porter, 2023 2nd rd pick,
Well they moved off Porter's money, next year they'll be able to stretch Mahinmi, cut Parker and then...oh wait, they'll still be brutally expensive and have no one on the roster (how can you be too expensive and have an empty cupboard?!?!). I dunno, man, I'm not seeing how this move really upgrades anything for the Wizards, at least Porter and Markieff could play.
Hawks
(In) Shelvin Mack
(Out) Tyler Dorsey, 2nd rd pick (top 55 protected)
Hawks bring back a reliable 2nd string PG and move on from a youngster who seem to decline in every stat after his rookie year. Minimal move but doesn't look like a bad one if they weren't feeling good about Dorsey's chances to develop. (Did they waive Mack?) I like what the Hawks got going, I would suggest laying low this summer (how about taking a run at Jonas Jerebko?), bringing in two more 1st rounders, then aiming for summer 2020 to make splashy move in free agency.
Nuggets
(none)
They got a good squad and they know it, no need to upset the locker room with needless drama. Wise move for a solid young team.
Thunder
(In) 2nd rd pick (top 55 protected)
(Out) Timothy Luwawu-Cabarrot
Moved on from TLC to clear up a roster spot for...they interested in bringing Kanter back? Surely they're not interested in bringing Melo back!
Blazers
(In) Rodney Hood, Skal Labissiere
(Out) Wade Baldwin, Nik Stauskus, Caleb Swanigan, 2021 2nd rd pick, 2023 2nd rd pick
Hood gives them a little pep off the bench, more so than Baldwin (they don't really need another ball handler anyway) or Stauskus (the poor man's JJ Reddick that never even became that good). In NCAA I really liked Swanigan's smarts (but not that non-athlete body), while I found Skal's game to be quite a bit less than advertised (#1 prospect out of high school??!? #1? No way, man, he struggled to get 10MPG at Kentucky, not worthy of a 1st round pick), he can run the floor and give you some minute each night. None of these moves are big winners for the Blazers but I guess they provide a little bit more depth.
Jazz
(none)
I'm sure they've got their eye on the waiver wire: Markieff Morris? Can they use Marcin Gortat?
Wolves
(none)
Hmmm, they've had enough drama this year, I reckon. Just mellow this season on down, get it back together in the summer.
Warriors
(none)
Moves made: zero. Moves needed: zero.
Clippers
(In) Wilson Chandler, Landry Shamet, JaMychel Green, Garrett Temple, Micheal Beasley, Ivica Zubac, Sixers 2020 1st rd pick (Top 14 protected), Heat 2021 1st rd pick (unprotected!!!), Pistons 2022 2nd rd pick, Pistons 2023 2nd rd pick
(Out) Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott, Avery Bradley, Marcin Gortat, Milos Teodosic,
Dang, for all the talk about the new-look Sixers, it is the Clippers that most drastically remade their roster. To get two 1st rd picks (the 2021 Heat unprotected pick is arguably the most important piece of this entire deadline), two 2nd rd picks, Landry Shamet and Zubac (I'd keep him) to swap out a ton of dead money is really really really good stuff for the Clippers--way better than what the Knicks accomplished and they didn't have to give up Kristap Porzingis! I think the Clippers had the best trade deadline of anybody: doesn't make them better this year but gives them a lot of room to maneuver in the summer (and next summer!). A+!
Kings
(In) Harrison Barnes, Caleb Swanigan
(Out) Justin Jackson, Zach Randolph, Skal Labissiere, Ben McLemore
I like Barnes, I think he can be a nice addition for the Kings. And Swanigan makes them a little smarter, too. I kinda like these moves together: an active vet and a smart young bench guy to replace an aging vet and some young pieces that weren't gonna pan out. Subtle moves but good ones for the Kings.
Lakers
(In) Reggie Bullock, Mike Muscala,
(Out) Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Michael Beasley, Ivica Zubac, 2021 2nd rd pick
All that talk about Anthony Davis....and they ended up with nothing at the deadline. I like Bullock as much as the next guy but I'm not convinced he was wildly better than Mykhailiuk, why not just go for youthful exuberance instead of a mediocre vet (Lebron is just gonna grind down whoever is there anyway). And what was the upside of Muscala instead of just holding onto Zubac? Yeah, he's a raw but I kinda like Zubac (more than Muscala anyway). And if they needed to dump Beasley, why not just waive him? The Lakers are stupid rich and just keep thinking they'll buy their way out of problems instead of just learning how to do it right. Not a fan of any of these moves--their attempts to hijack the Pelicans were laughable and rude and killed their chances to make worthwhile moves at the deadline. Ha!
Suns
(In) Tyler Johnson
(Out) Ryan Anderson
One overexpensive baller for another. Not even sure that Johnson is a better fit than Anderson anyway. I don't get it.
Rockets
(In) Iman Shumpert, Sixers 2021 2nd rd pick (Rockets get 2021 2nd rd pick swap)
(Out) James Ennis, Marquesse Chriss, Brandon Knight, 2019 1st rd pick, 2020 2nd rd pick
Am I looking at this right? What did the Rockets get? They basically swapped Ennis for Shumpert (not a terrible move but not a clearly good one either) and dumped salary and picks. I guess its okay since they don't care about the draft but this doesn't do much for me.
Spurs
(none)
Any interest in Teodosic or Anigbogu or Brewer or Monroe? Didn't really need to make moves, they are what they are, they just need health and a little depth. (What is they nabbed Melo? Either a sneaky brilliant move or it would end up giving Popovic a stroke)
Mavs
(In) Kristaps Prozingis, Tim Hardaway Jr, Trey Burke, Courtney Lee, Zach Randolph, Justin Jackson
(Out) Harrison Barnes, Dennis Smith Jr, Wesley Matthews, DeAndre Jordan, Salah Mehri, 2021 1st rd pick, 2023 1st rd pick
Doesn't help them now but great move for next year. (I'd play Justin Jackson as much as possible down the stretch, see if he's worth keeping)
Pelicans
(In) Stanley Johnson, Jason Smith, 2019 2nd rd pick, two 2020 2nd rd picks, 2021 2d rd pick
(Out) Nikola Mirotic, Wesley Johnson
(Why did they cut Markieff Morris? Do they have something better there that I don't see?) I dunno, a pile of 2nd rd picks for Mirotic? Feels like they could've done better. The Pelicans are all about Anthony Davis, so these moves don't matter but still, could've done better.
Grizzlies
(In) CJ Miles, Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, Avery Bradley, Tyler Dorsey, 2024 2nd rd pick
(Out) Marc Gasol, JaMychel Green, Garrett Temple, Shelvin Mack
This summer they stretch that horrendous Chandler Parsons contract, cast off Bradley and Valanciunas and I guess they're back in business with Conley and Jaren Jackson and a top 10 pick. Ehhh, that's the dream anyway. They didn't really get much younger in any of these deals, did they? Only slightly less expensive (but then it costs them they're favorite son and all that 'loyalty' that everyone seems to admire), I don't feel like these were the home run moves the Grizzlies needed.
(*) Check out Marty Leeunen's career stats, they're fascinating.
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