NBA Trade Deadline Thread

Mooch

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Yeah, I think Thybulle the offensive breakout is a pipe dream, he's in his 4th NBA season and shows no indications, plus he wasn't much of an offensive player in 4 years of college. If you're lucky maybe he locks in his 3pt shot with new form and he's a capable 3pt shooter, but beyond that.....
If he can make open jumpers, his defense makes him REALLY valuable.
 

BigSoxFan

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The Cs already had the best roster in the NBA and I think Justin Jackson, who is bad and never plays in a meaningful minute (actually he did like five games ago, but whatever), being upgraded to a big who can shoot the three and play decent defense, is a great trade deadline for Brad.

As for the Cs competition for the Eastern Conference:

- I am very skeptical that Jae Crowder makes the Bucks better. I think he's been over-rated for a while and is basically worse than Grant Williams at this point. Meh.
- I think Jalen McDaniels is supremely meh and a worse defender than Thybulle, who actually seemed to slow down Tatum last night. Don't get that at all.
- Cavs did nothing and are a little bit scary, but are 12-16 on the road and I don't think they've got the juice.
- The Nets are now essentially irrelevant.
- The Heat did nothing and are still pesky, but not particularly worrisome.
- The Knicks got Josh Hart, which is a good get for them, but they still shouldn't be a threat.
- Hawks/Bulls, whatever. I think Saddiq Bey has failed to get better and that team is heading toward completely blowing it up.

Finally, there's the Raptors. Poeltl. There's some significant chance we play the Raptors in the first round, so that's of some interest, and the Raptors play hard and Nick Nurse is good and all of that, but I don't think anyone thinks they're an actually threat to take a series with the Celtics.

Assuming good health, it now seems like a significant upset, if it wasn't already, if the Cs don't make the finals. They seem like a clear favorite.

But the West seems wide open. Maybe that turns into such a slug fest that whoever makes the finals is battered and broken by the time the Cs face them?
Right now, I think the Celtics and Bucks are a clear level above everyone else in the East. Unless injuries wreak havoc, I would be pretty surprised if one of these two teams don't make the NBA Finals. I think teams like the Cavs, Heat, Sixers, and Raptors fall more in the "tough out" vs. true contender bucket.

But if the Celtics face the Bucks again in the ECF, I think it's going to be a very, very tough coin flip type series like last year.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Sam Amick just published a piece in The Athletic about Westbrook's final days as a Laker. Not a ton of good tea in it but this was noteworthy:

The Lakers believe there is an addition-by-subtraction element to dealing the nine-time All-Star. The situation had become untenable over the past week or so, multiple team and league sources close to the situation told The Athletic, all of whom were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely. Two sources described the situation as “toxic.” And while Lakers owner Jeanie Buss was known to be against the idea of waiving Westbrook, sources say there was a strong sense from the coaching staff that it might be necessary if no trade was forthcoming.
The Clippers would be a very amusing landing spot given all the context.
 

lars10

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Because of Pau Gasol's ugly face and Kobe Bryant's ugly soul, friend. And because Lakers fans. I have had a lot of bad nights because of the Lakers, one far worse than the others. Only the Heat come close.

And Magic Johnson's career still echoes in today's NBA, as Lebron James' contract can tell you.

Edit: holy fuck, Durant to Phoenix? For 4 firsts and a swap? Goddamn, Joseph Tsai settling all the family business. That deal is in-Tsain.
You can also just go back to the 11 free throws or however many it was in the fourth quarter of game 7 to hand them the championship after Perkins had got hurt in game six... Also there's the last Lakers championship that was also gift-wrapped for them.. one doesn't have to go back to the 80s to hate the Lakers.

edit: Celts shot 17 FTs in that game.. Lakers 37... Gasol and Bynum were flat out hammering people in the lane with zero calls one way while there were foul calls galore on the other end as Bynum and Gasol again did whatever they wanted in the lane.
 

SoxFanInPdx

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Unsure what the Blazers are doing. I worry what the hell their plan is while Lillard is having another great season. I fear a painful Drexler ending.

Other than the Celtics, it’s the only other team I care about in this league.
 

ifmanis5

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Unsure what the Blazers are doing. I worry what the hell their plan is while Lillard is having another great season. I fear a painful Drexler ending.

Other than the Celtics, it’s the only other team I care about in this league.
Yeah, feels like a quiet quit.
 

cheech13

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Unsure what the Blazers are doing. I worry what the hell their plan is while Lillard is having another great season. I fear a painful Drexler ending.

Other than the Celtics, it’s the only other team I care about in this league.
I think it was a quiet admission that this years team is going nowhere, but they aren’t ready to blow it up. This summer they probably look for a big piece, and if it doesn’t shake loose, finally trade Dame.
 

joe dokes

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The trade that obviously makes the most sense is Gary Payton II for, what else, a IInd-rounder.
 

JM3

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Not sure how much this plays into it, but the Blazers also owe a lottery protected 1st to the Bulls, so if they want to make the pick, they can't make the playoffs. It doesn't sunset or anything, but giving up like the 15th pick would be a pretty bad result.

It's top-14 protected through '28 & then becomes a 2nd.
 

Cellar-Door

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Unsure what the Blazers are doing. I worry what the hell their plan is while Lillard is having another great season. I fear a painful Drexler ending.

Other than the Celtics, it’s the only other team I care about in this league.
They don't have the talent or assets to actually compete, but won't trade Lillard because generally their fanbase doesn't have any expectations and so mediocre 1st round exit teams with Lillard are fine where trading him to re-set would cause outrage.
 

SoxFanInPdx

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They don't have the talent or assets to actually compete, but won't trade Lillard because generally their fanbase doesn't have any expectations and so mediocre 1st round exit teams with Lillard are fine where trading him to re-set would cause outrage.
Yeah…see that as well. Just hate that the organization is fine with being mediocre and not a serious contender. Fanbase deserves better and so does Dame.

They need to sell this team to someone that actually gives a shit. Jody Allen ain’t it.
 

ifmanis5

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The other 'Maybe it's me' award goes to John Collins who once again has not being traded despite plenty of rumors.

FYI March 1st is the last day you can acquire a waived player and still have him be playoff eligible.
 

cheech13

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They don't have the talent or assets to actually compete, but won't trade Lillard because generally their fanbase doesn't have any expectations and so mediocre 1st round exit teams with Lillard are fine where trading him to re-set would cause outrage.
Fan expectations aren’t necessarily low, but they have no faith in ownership, so it’s not really not that they want to be mediocre, but that they’d rather be mediocre with Dame than without him. Dumping him with no clear path forward would absolutely alienate the local fan base.
 

cheech13

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The other 'Maybe it's me' award goes to John Collins who once again has not being traded despite plenty of rumors.

FYI March 1st is the last day you can acquire a waived player and still have him be playoff eligible.
Collins has officially passed Myles Turner as the always-available MVP.
 

Ale Xander

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The waivers seem like the team trying to lose. Integrity of the league in question. Or that's what Goodell would say.

Not really sure why Silver and Co. allows it.
 

BigMike

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Here they come...
View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1623798006167248898

The San Antonio Spurs are waiving center Dewayne Dedmon, freeing him to join another team, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1623796111654674432

The Pacers will waive center Serge Ibaka, allowing the veteran big man to hit the open market, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
The amazing part is there is a chance someone will pick these guys up. There may be a few useful players who get waived in the next week or so, but these aren't them
 

Sam Ray Not

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So...

GP2 is a Warrior.
D'Angelo Russell is a Laker.
Spencer Dinwiddie is a Net.
Jakob Poeltl is a Raptor.
Pat Beverley is (about to be?) a Timberwolf.
Eric Gordon is a Clipper.
George Hill is a Pacer.
 

Cellar-Door

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So...

GP2 is a Warrior.
D'Angelo Russell is a Laker.
Spencer Dinwiddie is a Net.
Jakob Poeltl is a Raptor.
Pat Beverley is (about to be?) a Timberwolf.
Eric Gordon is a Clipper.
George Hill is a Pacer.
Source off... Dane Moore who is a local Minnesota guy says yes, Marc Stein says no.
 

kelpapa

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So...

GP2 is a Warrior.
D'Angelo Russell is a Laker.
Spencer Dinwiddie is a Net.
Jakob Poeltl is a Raptor.
Pat Beverley is (about to be?) a Timberwolf.
Eric Gordon is a Clipper.
George Hill is a Pacer.
John Wall is a Rocket.
 

radsoxfan

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John Wall is a Rocket.
Not for long.

As far as Westbrook, I don't see any playoff or potential playoff contending team with a half decent FO wanting him under any circumstances.

The only team that might even be an option, in a vacuum, is the Lakers lol. But obviously that ship as sailed.
 

NomarsFool

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I'm barely aware of anyone around the league who doesn't put on a Celtics uniform, but is anyone else a little surprised at how well the Lakers did? I'd have thought they be paying a FRP just to get rid of RWB, and they got some at least useful players back?!?
 

JM3

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I'm barely aware of anyone around the league who doesn't put on a Celtics uniform, but is anyone else a little surprised at how well the Lakers did? I'd have thought they be paying a FRP just to get rid of RWB, and they got some at least useful players back?!?
RWB is an expiring contract - they could just cut him if they wanted him to go away.

In:
DLo
Vanderbilt
Beasley
Bamba
Reed

Out:
RWB
Bryant
Beverley
Toscano-Anderson
Jones
'27 1st (top 4 protected)

With maybe a couple extra 2nds coming in? Idk?

Not bad business & definitely increases depth, but not like, amazing either.
 
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radsoxfan

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I'm barely aware of anyone around the league who doesn't put on a Celtics uniform, but is anyone else a little surprised at how well the Lakers did? I'd have thought they be paying a FRP just to get rid of RWB, and they got some at least useful players back?!?
I said this above... the Lakers did fine and should be improved.

But they mostly only did "well" because they were giving so many minutes to so many terrible players. None of the guys they got are particularly good or had much value around the league. I don't think any of them would sniff rotation minutes on a healthy Celtics team for example.

Addition by subtraction and addition by mediocrity.
 

JM3

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I'm declaring Ben Simmons as the trade deadline winner.

Limited playoff appearances and non-contention is in his wheelhouse
But yet he's still not even starting, even with the Suns guys not having arrived, yet (DFS/Royce/Sharpe/Dinwiddie/CAM).
 

NomarsFool

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RWB is an expiring contract - they could just cut him if they wanted him to go away.
But, they'd have to pay him whatever is left of his $47 million salary to go away. He seems like a massive negative asset, and they replaced him with some better players, agreed not awesome - but all it cost them was a FRP. If I was a Laker fan, I think I'd be pretty thrilled.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Kinda like what the Clippers did

IN
Mason Plumlee
Bones Hyland
Eric Gordon

OUT
Kennard
Wall
Reggie Jackson
3 2nds
They addressed all of their needs.

If Ty Lue can get Bones Hyland to (a) play consistent defense and (b) be more efficient on offense then they have a steal. Of course, some variation on those two things applies to roughly 95% of NBA players.
Plumlee is going to help a bit too.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Not for long.

As far as Westbrook, I don't see any playoff or potential playoff contending team with a half decent FO wanting him under any circumstances.

The only team that might even be an option, in a vacuum, is the Lakers lol. But obviously that ship as sailed.
Word on sports talk radio (FWIW) is that LAC got rid of 2 PGs so they could bring in RWB when he gets bought out.

Again, FWIW.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Yeah…see that as well. Just hate that the organization is fine with being mediocre and not a serious contender. Fanbase deserves better and so does Dame.

They need to sell this team to someone that actually gives a shit. Jody Allen ain’t it.
I don’t think they are necessarily fine with it. They did the Nurkic deal, they spent on Evan Turner as they have money to spent but aren’t getting any significant FA to come there. Yet up until a few years ago were winning 50+ games or a threat to win 50+ games every year.

They really needed to nail the return on CJ which they failed to do. I’m not optimistic on the Blazers future moving forward regardless of ownership.
 

Euclis20

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Word on sports talk radio (FWIW) is that LAC got rid of 2 PGs so they could bring in RWB when he gets bought out.

Again, FWIW.
For the life of me, I will never understand why the oddsmakers (and the media) liked the Clippers this year. It was about 5 minutes ago that they were all excited about John Wall, forgetting that he hasn't been relevant for 4 years and hasn't been an impact player for 6. No Westbrook? Yeesh.
 

ElUno20

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For the life of me, I will never understand why the oddsmakers (and the media) liked the Clippers this year. It was about 5 minutes ago that they were all excited about John Wall, forgetting that he hasn't been relevant for 4 years and hasn't been an impact player for 6. No Westbrook? Yeesh.
Who was excited about Wall? The media? Anyone who watched him play knew he was cooked. As soon as we saw him play basketball we were begging Lue to stop giving him minutes. Same with Reggie Jackson.
 

lovegtm

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When I see these reports that Toronto turned down 3 firsts and a Houston 2nd from Indiana for OG because the Raptors wanted "a player", I feel like Homer Simpsons' brain:

"Money can be exchanged for goods and services."

We get it Masai, you want a player. You know a way to get a good player? Trade one of those picks you're getting! You can even protect it and keep the lotto upside.

You're not winning the title this year as the Raptors, so why are you soooo worried about getting a player back right now, as opposed to getting solid guys in the summer?

Glad to have Brad as the GM.
 

ManicCompression

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We get it Masai, you want a player. You know a way to get a good player? Trade one of those picks you're getting! You can even protect it and keep the lotto upside.
I get the feeling that Masai is great at evaluating talent, he typically does well in trades, but he's somewhat lacking when it comes to an overall strategy for the franchise and timing of transactions. It seems like he's scared to commit to a direction, so they just languish in whatever they are right now as value passes them by.

Like, are they just going to lose FVV for nothing? Gary Trent, too? Are they going to do better for OG when there's just one year left on his contract? I get wanting to compete, but the upside for this team is not very high currently, like maybe not even playoffs.
 

lovegtm

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I get the feeling that Masai is great at evaluating talent, he typically does well in trades, but he's somewhat lacking when it comes to an overall strategy for the franchise and timing of transactions. It seems like he's scared to commit to a direction, so they just languish in whatever they are right now as value passes them by.

Like, are they just going to lose FVV for nothing? Gary Trent, too? Are they going to do better for OG when there's just one year left on his contract? I get wanting to compete, but the upside for this team is not very high currently, like maybe not even playoffs.
Yeah, agree. I think that "we want a player too" has become such a standard in negotiations that it's almost a cached response, and GMs aren't taking a step back to realize how useful handfuls of firsts are for filling out your rotation.
 

InstaFace

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Yeah, agree. I think that "we want a player too" has become such a standard in negotiations that it's almost a cached response, and GMs aren't taking a step back to realize how useful handfuls of firsts are for filling out your rotation.
Someone is going to get caught with their pants down having too many firsts, especially late firsts, and being unable to get a decent return on them. And nobody wants to be that guy. Everyone wants them as part of their portfolio, but not the majority of the assets. It's probably why Marks turned down that reported offer for Bridges. Too much of a good thing.

(Also, the fans pay to see a fun basketball team, so it's not all some big Trust The Process game a la Sam Hinkle all the time, you can't rip the roster down to the studs and not lose some revenue)
 

bigq

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Someone is going to get caught with their pants down having too many firsts, especially late firsts, and being unable to get a decent return on them. And nobody wants to be that guy. Everyone wants them as part of their portfolio, but not the majority of the assets. It's probably why Marks turned down that reported offer for Bridges. Too much of a good thing.

(Also, the fans pay to see a fun basketball team, so it's not all some big Trust The Process game a la Sam Hinkle all the time, you can't rip the roster down to the studs and not lose some revenue)
Trader Danny wants to be that guy. The Jazz now have 15 first round picks through 2029. I'm sure he will deal some of those and may stash picks overseas if necessary. It will be fascinating to see how it plays out.
 

jmcc5400

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Yeah, Lakers got a lot better, no?
KOC has the Lakers as 6th in his “power rankings” and a “true championship contender” ahead of, for example, Philadelphia and Memphis. https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/2/10/23594045/nba-trade-deadline-power-rankings-contenders

I don’t see it at all, but I guess that’s why they play the games. Looking at their schedule and the standings, I think the Lakers are out of runway to get any higher than 9th in the standings and 10th is hardly guaranteed.
 

ManicCompression

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I don’t see it at all, but I guess that’s why they play the games. Looking at their schedule and the standings, I think the Lakers are out of runway to get any higher than 9th in the standings and 10th is hardly guaranteed.
I'm more positive than most on what the Lakers did, but a lot of "Ifs" have to go right in order for them to be a playoff threat. Mainly, Anthony Davis needs to be durable, which is just not something he has in his bag. Without him, they're probably middle of the pack offensively and one of the worst teams in the league defensively.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I'd view that more as "we kind of know Philly doesn't have enough prime-time players to be a true contender" vs "the Lakers probably don't, but we can't rule it out"

Even acknowledging Lebron and AD are spectacular, I'd put Memphis ahead of the Lakers personally though I get why one might prefer the proven championship stars too
 

Cellar-Door

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I'd view that more as "we kind of know Philly doesn't have enough prime-time players to be a true contender" vs "the Lakers probably don't, but we can't rule it out"

Even acknowledging Lebron and AD are spectacular, I'd put Memphis ahead of the Lakers personally though I get why one might prefer the proven championship stars too
I feel like LA has the highest ceiling of those 3.
As to Memphis... I'm not a huge fan, they're a frontrunner team. Those teams do really well in the regular season, then you get to the playoffs, the transition opportunities dry up and they get choked out in the halfcourt.
 

cheech13

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When I see these reports that Toronto turned down 3 firsts and a Houston 2nd from Indiana for OG because the Raptors wanted "a player", I feel like Homer Simpsons' brain:

"Money can be exchanged for goods and services."

We get it Masai, you want a player. You know a way to get a good player? Trade one of those picks you're getting! You can even protect it and keep the lotto upside.

You're not winning the title this year as the Raptors, so why are you soooo worried about getting a player back right now, as opposed to getting solid guys in the summer?

Glad to have Brad as the GM.
Counter to that is what you can actually get for those firsts when non-All-Stars like Anunoby fetch four?