The time leading up to the NBA’s trade deadline has always been a media circus. However, the era of social media has only added more confusion and wild speculation to the process. We spend more time reacting to photoshopped jersey swaps than discussing the merits of possible trades. Oftentimes, we are told that certain trade rumors are all but a done deal, when in reality the teams involved cannot possibly make a deal happen due to financial limitations.
The goal of this article is to examine the current NBA trade market for realistic deals ahead of the February 8 deadline. I have compiled a collection of workable NBA trades while taking current rumors into account. These hypothetical trades will not be discussed without demonstrating that the deal is possible under salary cap restrictions. A rationale will accommodate each trade. Finally, each section of the article will give a final answer to the question, “Who says no?” with comments from both myself and Doc Louallen.
Atlanta Hawks Teardown?
Dejounte Murray to the Lakers
Proposal
Rationale
While the Hawks traded for Dejounte Murray in 2022 with hopes of boosting the squad into contention, they were quickly quieted by a .500 record in his inaugural season with the team. Atlanta showed flashes of promise before being eliminated in a tough playoff series against the second-seeded Celtics. Heading into this season, many around the league believed that the Hawks to be a possible sleeper in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, they have been a complete disappointment. As of publishing, they are just 21-27, fighting for a place in the Play-In Tournament. The Hawks are yet again one of the worst defensive squads in the NBA — 29th in points allowed to opposing teams. It is time to face the music – a team structured around Trae Young as the number-one option cannot compete at the highest level. Atlanta is out of options. Coaching changes, three since 2021, have done little to effectively change the culture of the team. The Hawks have a variety of young assets to justify a rebuild, including Jalen Johnson, AJ Griffin, and Onyeka Okongwu. Doubling down on a brief rebuild might be the best course of action for Atlanta.
Analysis
Since joining the Hawks in 2022, Murray has struggled to reach the level of production we saw from him during his time in San Antonio. However, players of his archetype are extremely valuable around the league. Listed at 6-foot-5, Murray is one of the better defensive guards in the league, capable of guarding positions 1-3. Sharing a backcourt with Young, Murray has shown that he is sound at creating offense away from the ball, but also that he is at his best when operating in the pick-and-roll as the primary ball-handler. His current salary is just 18 million dollars, and contending teams could feasibly trade for him now at a discount while buffering the cap hit of a possible contract extension in the off-season. For that reason, Murray is a perfect target for the Los Angeles Lakers, who could take on his deal without sacrificing their budding star Austin Reeves. The Lakers are only limited by their ability to compensate the Hawks with draft capital, and for that reason, a third team would be necessary in order for the Lakers to pry Murray from Atlanta.
The New York Knicks recently acquired OG Anunoby via trade with the Toronto Raptors. Anunoby looks like a terrific addition (+252 in his first 14 games); however, the Knicks appear to be even more dependent on star guard Jalen Brunson to create offense for others. Court spacing has been a limiting factor as besides Brunson, the Knicks have just one other player in their eight-man rotation shooting better than 40 percent from behind the arc, that being Donte Divencenzo. Bogdan Bogdanovic could alleviate many of New York’s concerns on the offensive end. He has been a staple of Atlanta’s bench unit for years now, and the veteran is a talented shooter from deep, shooting 37.9 percent on just shy of nine attempts per game. New York could potentially overpay for Bogdanovic with draft capital if Atlanta is willing to take on Evan Fournier’s remaining contract. With upward of three first-round picks incorporated in this trade, that may just be enough to entice the Hawks into parting ways with Murray.
Who Says No?
Ultimately, the Hawks will require high compensation for Murray in order to recoup assets from the trade with San Antonio which originally brought him to Atlanta. Though the Lakers are a viable trade partner, any deal between the Lakers and the Hawks would likely need a tertiary partner in order to garner additional draft capital for Atlanta. If the Lakers are unable to bring a third team to the trade table, they will be unable to meet Atlanta’s asking price for Murray. It is a no from Atlanta.
— Cam Riehl
Not a fan of this trade for Atlanta because the direction of the team would be confusing. They will be taking on two rotational players with multiple years on their contracts, neither of which has much individual value. It wouldn’t make sense for them to do it even if they were tanking, so it’s simply not the right value. It is hard to think they will blow it up completely.
– Doc Louallen
Trae Young to the Magic
Proposal
Rationale
The Trae Young experience reminds me of the Vomit Comet. Young is capable of propelling his team to extreme heights on the offensive end, but as the name implies, the journey might leave you feeling queasy. As good as his counting stats look, the advanced stats tell a different story when it comes to Trae Young. He has perennially been one of, if not the single worst, defensive players in the NBA. With Murray on the trade block, Atlanta is clearly considering retooling the roster around Young’s strengths. However, the Hawks may be better off in the long term by tanking the roster and cutting ties with both Murray and Young. The Trail Blazers made a similar attempt to retool around a defensively challenged guard in Damian Lillard and look where they ended up. Perhaps, guards like Young are meant to complement a system, not define it.
Analysis
Defensive incapability aside, Young is still one of the most creative and productive young guards in the league. His offensive talent has really been the only thing propping up an otherwise ugly season for the Hawks on both ends, so they’ll likely require an absolute haul of draft capital in return for Young’s services. Unfortunately, his value is probably at its lowest point in his career. Young is in the second year of a massive five- year, 215 million dollar contract that averages over 40 million dollars per season. Finding a buyer for him with the right combination of positional need, cap space, and draft assets is difficult. Finding one that also has the defensive acumen to justify acquiring Young narrows the field even further. The Orlando Magic might just be the optimal destination for him. Orlando has taken a leap forward in 2023, with Paolo Banchero improving upon his impressive Rookie of the Year campaign in his second season and Franz Wagner’s continued growth surging the Magic into the playoff race. Orlando is still without their point guard of the future, however. Markelle Fultz has not been consistently healthy to lock in the starting job; he’s a solid playmaker and defender, but creates spacing issues. Cole Anthony contributes perimeter scoring but little playmaking. Jalen Suggs seems to be best suited in an off-ball role, and rookie Anthony Black has shown flashes but is far from ready to take on a major role on a playoff team. Each of Orlando’s guards exhibit valuable strengths, but none of them provide the one thing that the team desperately needs: a pick-and-roll specialist who can facilitate for others while simultaneously spacing the floor. This season, ‘Ice’ Trae is averaging 37.6 percent from three on a whopping 8.9 attempts per game. Regardless of the relatively pedestrian percentages, Young is capable of spacing the floor in ways that only a few guards around the league are capable of. Defenses simply have to respect his shot, even from 40-plus feet out. More importantly, he’s exactly the type of pick-and-roll oriented guard that the Magic are lacking. This season, Young has run more pick-and-roll actions per game than any other player in the league, with 12.6 of his 27.1 points per game coming from pick-and-roll actions – the highest volume in the league. We all know that Young can score at a high volume, but his passing has continued to improve each season. He is flirting with 11 assists per game this season, though these high assist numbers are a side effect of a more heliocentric style of play.Conversely, Banchero has been the Magic’s leading offensive creator and has actually led the Magic in assists per game this season. As encouraging as Banchero’s development as a passer has been, the extent to which Orlando relies on him to set up offense is a clear indicator of an inept offensive approach. Not only would acquiring Young fix one of the Magic’s fundamental weaknesses on the offensive end, but the Magic could alleviate Young’s greatest weaknesses on the defensive end. Orlando has been one of the best defensive teams in the league for nearly a full calendar year now. As of publishing this article, Orlando ranks sixth in defensive rating in the entire NBA. The Magic could cover for Young’s lack of size with the ability to switch at every other level of the defense thanks to the overall length of the roster. Defense may not win championships anymore, but a top-10 defense with the type of offensive firepower that Young can bring to the table may just be able to do it.
Who Says No?
The Hawks should finally admit that trading away the rights to Luka Doncic to draft Young in 2018 was one of the worst draft day trades in NBA history. However, Atlanta still appears to be committed to building around Young. Recently the front office even came out and said that he’s one of two players they considered untouchable at the trade deadline this year. We know that they’ve had serious discussions about trading him in the past, but Young has come out the other side unscathed. For a haul of draft picks this rich though, who could say no? In addition to future assets, the Hawks would even receive two 2023 lottery picks in this iteration of the deal – Anthony Black and Jett Howard. If the Hawks can convince themselves that tanking is the best course of action, this could be an incredible way to start that rebuild off. I believe this is the best trade on the board for the Hawks, but I do not believe that they are willing to part with Young just yet. It is a no from Atlanta that sinks this deal.
– Cam Riehl
Again, what would the direction for the Hawks be? Trading Trae Young for young players that have limited or no All-Star upside makes no sense. I just don’t see why they’d blow up their team to receive players that aren’t on an All-Star level. The multi-year contract of Jonathan Issac is not all that interesting to the Hawks, who would want expiring deals if they did choose to completely tank the team.
– Doc Louallen
Jerami Grant to the Kings
Proposal
Rationale
The Kings have failed to recapture the magic of last season’s surge up the rankings of the Western Conference. They doubled down by some talent around the edges, signing Sasha Vezenkov and trading for the rights to Chris Duarte. However, it is clear that the team will need a bigger injection of talent to remain competitive in the West. The simple solution would be to upgrade the power forward position beside standout center Domantas Sabonis. The 31-year old Harrison Barnes is beginning to regress this season, but his contract is very tradeable at just 17 million a year. They can afford to part with at least one of their future firsts to get off of his contract before further regression in the coming years.
Analysis
Jerami Grant is clearly a gettable player on the trade market heading into the February deadline. The question is what price would the Portland Trail Blazers be willing to accept for Grant’s services? They planned on him being a part of a retooling process around former team star Damian Lillard, but, the subsequent trade of Lillard leaves questions as to Grant’s fit with the now-rebuilding team. His contract is substantial at five-years, 160 million dollars, and he will be in his early-to-mid 30’s by the end of his deal. If his value is on par with that of Aaron Gordon, who was traded from the Magic to the Denver Nuggets in 2021, he could garner the Blazers a future first and a rotation player. On the court, Grant could be the missing piece for a fringe contender. Similarly to Gordon, Grant is at his best as the third offensive option, succeeding in a role more optimized for defense and rebounding as he was in his stint with the Nuggets during the 2020 NBA Bubble. Defensively, Grant and Barnes are similar pieces, with both being serviceable interior defenders that can also matchup with the opposing team’s tallest wing playmaker when needed. The Kings could maintain the defensive flexibility that Barnes provides, while also receiving an additional offensive boost by acquiring Grant. Once again, Grant is averaging over 20 points per game, and has quietly become a better than 40 percent shooter from three-point range since moving to the Pacific Northwest. He is also more of an athletic threat than Barnes: Grant has untapped potential as a cutter and rim runner which would fit nicely in Sacramento’s movement-based offensive scheme.
Who Says No?
The viability of this trade really comes down to Sacramento’s front office and ownership, as this is a team that has been historically unwilling to spend on its roster. They have a window to build a real contender, and Grant may be the missing piece to trampoline them from a playoff team to a real threat to win the West. One worry I have is that Grant’s contract length could cause issues for the franchise down the road, especially if the team is forced to commit max money to Keegan Murray once his rookie deal expires. That is an issue that can be ironed out down the road though. Sacramento has enough draft capital to sweeten the deal for Portland, and the current cap space to double down on a successful season this year. This trade feels like a yes for both sides.
– Cam Riehl
I like this trade for both teams. The Kings have to do something to stay competitive in a stacked Western Conference. Harrison Barnes has taken a huge step back this season and the Kings should make it a priority to move off of him before things get worse.
– Doc Louallen
Demar DeRozan to Lakers
Proposal
Rationale
Ultimately, the Lakers do not have the assets to acquire Dejounte Murray; any sort of bidding war for his services will leave the Lakers in the cold as they have all but spent their future draft capital. With the Hawks hoping to improve their chances of making the playoffs, swapping Murray for D’Angelo Russell likely isn’t that enticing for Atlanta. The Lakers will need to aim a little lower to bring in additional talent. DeMar DeRozan has been connected to LA for quite some time, and with his contract expiring in the off-season, now may be the right time to trade for his rights.
Analysis
The Lakers need to make a change at the trade deadline, but past experience has shown that their front office is hesitant to continue dismantling their future draft capital in order to do so. Trading for DeRozan would allow them to bring in a talented scorer without sacrificing their one remaining tradable first round pick to the altar of ‘LeGM’ James. Though DeRozan is going into free agency, LA will likely be able to bring him back on a very team-friendly contract in the summer. Born and raised in Compton, DeRozan would likely love to end his career playing for his hometown, and at 34-years old, regression is all but guaranteed at his age. That being said, he is still one of the most efficient mid-range specialists the game has ever seen. The Lakers offense has been stuck in the mud all season, stuck in the middle of the pack at 18th in points per game as a squad. Many point to their lack of three-point shooting as the primary cause of their offensive struggles, and while adding another 3-and-D wing could be the magic fix, those players are hard to find and even harder to acquire through trade. They play at an extremely slow pace and that’s not changing as long as LeBron James is on the team. The Lakers need another half-court shot maker, one more player that can break through the clogged spacing – DeRozan could be that guy. Beyond his scoring output at 22 points per game, he has become an unsung playmaker since his days in San Antonio. At 5.3 assists per game, he could help shore up the playmaking duties when either James or Austin Reaves are not on the floor, similar toShawn Livingston in his Warriors tenure.
The possibility of adding Russell to the roster may be more enticing to Chicago than to other possible trade partners around the league. In the past, he has thrived on middle-of-the-pack teams where he has more freedom to make mistakes and more consistent control of the offense. He is considerably younger than DeRozan as well; the Bulls are by all accounts on the verge of a rebuild, and a player like Russell could help ease the transition into a tank while still putting a watchable product on the court in Chicago. Though he is a polarizing player around the league, there is always the possibility that the Bulls could flip him down the line to further recoup assets for a rebuild. Similarly, Gabe Vincent’s contract should be relatively easy to reroute to another team in the offseason. However, adding two perimeter players to the Bulls roster would create a logjam at the guard position. Coby White has made a major leap this season and there are other guards in Chicago that are deserving of minutes: Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, and Jevon Carter. The Bulls may hold out for Lakers forward Rui Hachimura to alleviate this issue. Though his play has been up and down for the Lakers, Hachimura played an important role in last season’s playoff run, and they may not be willing to part with him. Regardless, a second round pick from LA should be more than enough to sweeten the deal for the Bulls, especially since DeRozan will walk out the door for nothing in the offseason should he remain a Bull after the trade deadline.
Who Says No?
This may be the best trade on the table for the Lakers at the trade deadline, especially if they spend the next month and a half losing out on younger prospects like Murray and the like. Chicago is negotiating from a point of weakness with DeRozan and would be happy to get anything in return for his expiring contract. The Lakers get a sorely needed talent boost without completely compromising their few remaining draft assets. It seems like a slam dunk trade for both sides.
– Cam Riehl
This trade is really close for me. I could see Chicago holding out for Hachimura instead of Vincent. They would probably want a player with more upside than Vincent and the Lakers would be better off keeping the extra depth at guard.
– Doc Louallen
OKC Beefs Up the Front-Court
Proposal
Rationale
Creating theoretical trades for the Oklahoma City Thunder is a bit of an exercise in futility, because the team could jump into virtually any trade discussion and have the strongest offer on the table. They have cap flexibility, young assets, an embarrassment of future draft picks: the Thunder can get any player they want. However, they have refrained from using these assets to acquire talent and seem committed to building almost exclusively through the draft. That driving philosophy should shift, as OKC has surged into the upper tier of the Western Conference, boasting the second-best record in the conference. A blockbuster trade is most likely out of the question, but the Thunder could find valuable role players at the deadline without selling the farm.
Analysis
The one glaring issue with the current construction of OKC has to be a lack of size, or should I say ‘beef’. They have had one of the best defenses in the NBA this season, highlighted by the impact of second-year rookie sensation Chet Holmgren. The Thunder are allowing just 60.2 percent shooting at the rim this season, the best in the NBA. Holmgren is already one of the most valuable defensive assets in the league, but also underscores the one major flaw in the team’s construction – they are extremely thin in the front court. Holmgren gets thrown around when matched up with centers like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Jonas Valanciunas, and even Rudy Gobert at times – which could prove to be punishing in the playoffs. The Thunder are also a pedestrian rebounding team, since they lack the sort of strength necessary to compete with the biggest lineups in the NBA on the boards. They are in the bottom half of the NBA in every rebounding category, which limits the overall effectiveness of their defense. They are bottom two in offensive rebounds allowed per game among the entire league, allowing 12.5 each game. While they are great at getting stops, they struggle to secure the ball after the miss.
You may know Isaiah Stewart for his now infamous outburst in a Pistons-Lakers regular season game in 2021. After taking an elbow from LeBron James, it took nearly the entire training staff and half of the rostered players on the floor to hold Stewart back from tackling “The King”. The Pistons just so happen to be one of the worst single-season teams in NBA history this year, so you may not be all that familiar with Stewart’s game on the court. “Beef Stew” as he is known, has become a bit of a hidden gem. This season, Stewart has made a leap as a three point shooter, shooting 37.4 percent from deep. He is also built like a tank, at 6’8” and 250 lbs. He has the size and strength to muscle through contact to gather boards among the trees. His 6.8 rebounds per game would instantly become the second-highest raw rebounding numbers on OKC if acquired. Stewart would also give them additional lineup flexibility, giving OKC the option to play bigger with Stewart and Holmgren on the floor together, while maintaining size when Holmgren goes to the bench. When playing together, Stewart could also muscle up against opposing centers which would allow Holmgren to act as a roaming rim protector on defense.
OKC needs additional size to become a true title contender, and Stewart could be the perfect budget-friendly player to make that happen. At just 22 years old, he fits their timeline perfectly, and since he was extended on a four year, 60 million dollar contract in the off-season, he is locked in on a team-favorable contract through 2027.
In this trade, OKC would also add another serviceable wing veteran in Alec Burks, while moving off of Davis Bertans who has barely seen the floor this year. The only question is, how much draft equity are the Thunder willing to pawn off to improve immediately? Detroit has invested good money in Stewart and doubled down on their decision by dumping Marvin Bagley’s contract to the Washington Wizards this season. However, Detroit’s rebuild is far from complete and their reserve of upcoming draft capital is running thin. OKC can afford to part with some draft capital, and Detroit needs more lottery balls to continue to fill out their young core. There is certainly a deal to be had here.
Who Says No?
More than likely, OKC will continue to trust their draft-based approach to roster development. However, they can and should double down on this season’s breakout performance, especially since the team has such a glaring need in the frontcourt. Stewart is a perfect fit for them as well, as he provides strength, shooting, and a dose of nastiness and aggression that they could really benefit from. Acquiring him also does not require as much of a salary commitment as other available trade targets like Grant. The Pistons also need a trade like this, since they do not own a first round pick in the upcoming draft and OKC can trade a ‘24 first rounder without a second thought. This trade is a clear yes for both teams.
– Cam Riehl
OKC has a ton of first-round picks and need to unload them. However, this isn’t the trade for them. Two first-round picks is a lot to give up for a guy like Stewart, and there are better players available on the market at that price. OKC might be more likely to pull the trigger on this trade if there were not first-round picks involved.
– Doc Louallen
Malcolm Brogdon to the Knicks
Proposal
Rationale
The Knicks have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since acquiring OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately, New York parted ways with two outstanding young backcourt prospects in the deal. The Knicks’ window to compete is now, but they could use some additional backcourt depth to mitigate the losses of RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, preferably a guard who could lead the second unit when Jalen Brunson sits. Malcolm Brogdon is clearly on the trading block, so they seem like a match made in heaven.
Analysis
The Knicks front office has done an impressive job acquiring draft capital in recent years. Though the number of future picks in their war chest is impressive, when you really break down the potential ceiling of their picks, the “war chest” begins to look more like a chest full of hand-me-downs. New York can stand to cash in on some of their pick capital, especially if they can acquire a rotation player while simultaneously dumping one of the league’s worst contracts. New York signed Evan Fournier to a four-year, 73 million dollar contract in 2021, and it was inexcusable from day one. But perhaps now, the Knicks could make the most of their mistake. Though Fournier himself is untradeable, his contract fits well with the right draft compensation. Luckily, the Portland Trail Blazers are a team that should be out for all the draft picks they can get their hands on. Their backcourt of the future is all but settled, with rookie guard Scoot Henderson beginning to come into his own, Anfernee Simmons having a career year, and Shaedon Sharpe continuing to show flashes. The Blazers simply have no need to retain Brogdon, who in his own right has had an excellent season in Portland. The 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year looks as healthy and efficient as ever, and has even brought his assist rate up to a near career high 31 percent this season. Heis exactly the type of experienced veteran that could propel the Knicks out of the second round in the playoffs, especially since he could be acquired without giving up one of their rotation players.
Who Says No?
This is a win-win trade for both sides. The Knicks rid themselves of a horrid contract, and add an excellent veteran role player with playoff experience. The Trail Blazers turn their rental of Brogdon into an additional pair of picks to enhance their rebuilding campaign.
– Cam Riehl
Great trade for the Knicks. Brogdon would give them a true point guard to facilitate offense. Jalen Brunson is a shooting guard at heart and may not be able to carry the offense with his scoring alone in the playoffs.
– Doc Louallen
Sixers Add a Third Star
Proposal
Rationale
The Sixers have not lost a step since trading James Harden to Los Angeles, and if anything, Philadelphia has actually improved since moving the disgruntled former MVP. They have a wealth of projected cap space this offseason as well as newfound draft capital thanks to the Harden trade. But with every season mattering for a team built around the injury prone Joel Embiid, should the Sixers double down on this season? On the other hand, the Nets have been on a slide down the rankings this season and seem to be without a clear direction heading into the trade deadline. Mikal Bridges may just be available for the right price.
Analysis
Bridges is exactly the kind of player that every championship contender wants on their roster. Since arriving in Brooklyn as a part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade at the deadline last season, “Brooklyn” Bridges has become the face of the Nets franchise and has defined a fun defensive-first style of play in the Big Apple. As the primary option for the first time in his young career, he shined down the stretch for the Nets – his points per game ballooned from 17.2 ppg as a Sun up to 26.1 after being traded to Brooklyn. The problem is, the Nets are very far away from contender status. As good as Bridges has been individually, he simply is not the type of talent that you want to build your entire franchise around. The Nets could squeeze even more value out of the Durant trade by flipping Bridges for more draft assets ahead of the deadline, further accelerating their hopes of building a true contender in future seasons. They would also open up additional cap space thanks to the expiring deals of Robert Covington and Marcus Morris, cap space which could be used to re-sign center Nic Claxton to a long-term deal.
In a vacuum, I struggle to think of another player that more perfectly complements the strengths of Embiid than Bridges. Offensively, Bridges excels away from the ball. He is among the league’s best in utilizing pin down and flair screens to find open space, a facet of his game that has been underutilized in Brooklyn. He loves to operate out of the corner as well; he can kill you on late rotations with his spot-up jumper and is excellent at sniffing out backdoor opportunities when teams overhelp on the corner as well. That is a perfect skillset to pair with the imposing post presence of Embiid. On the defensive end, Bridges was one of the most respected wing defenders in the league during his days in Phoenix, and it is a part of his game that has fallen by the wayside since moving to Brooklyn. You won’t find him in the top 50 in defensive rating among starting guards this season, but he could return to his All-Defense status if his offensive load was reduced in Philadelphia. At his best, he is a positional stopper on the wing who is outsized by the true unicorn type wings of the league, but uses his length and quickness to make life difficult for guards closer to his size profile of 6’7” and under. Even more enticing for Philadelphia is thatBridges is cost controlled through 2026 and won’t make more than 24.9 million a season during that time, that contract without a doubt being one of the best value contracts in the NBA. Even after adding Bridges’ number to the cap sheet, the 76ers would still have an impressive 82 million dollars to play with next summer, more than enough to re-sign Tyrese Maxey and potentially an additional near-max player heading into next season.
Who Says No?
The Nets do not have a lot of incentive to get worse or tank in the coming years, since they do not own their own pick until the 2028 draft. They instead could opt to build around Bridges and Cam Johnson by trading off of the assets they have compiled from other teams, and in doing so thread the needle towards building a competitive team sooner rather than later. I believe they would be better served by doubling down on a rebuild by acquiring more draft capital to supplement the picks that the team already owns from various other franchises. The Sixers have the flexibility to trade an absolute haul of future first round picks in this deal, of which the future Clipper picks could have windfall value given the combined age of their roster. Three first-round picks and two second-round picks is a huge value for Bridges alone, add in a young prospect like Jaden Springer and expiring contracts to use in free agency and the deal looks even more enticing for Brooklyn. I think the 76ers have the assets to make this deal happen, and possibly even surpass the Boston Celtics as favorites to win the Eastern Conference this season.
– Cam Riehl
I just struggle to believe that Brooklyn would be willing to trade Bridges to the Sixers. That being said, this trade works for both teams. The Nets should reset their team’s timeline and build around young players like Cam Thomas. Bridges is also a really great fit in Philly.
– Doc Louallen
Warriors Lateral for Kyle Kuzma
Proposal
Rationale
Andrew Wiggins has been unable to recapture the magic which helped him to propel the Warriors to NBA glory in 2022 – the same mix of defense, rebounding, and slashing that motivated Golden State to extend him on a four-year 109 million dollar contract after winning that championship. If the Warriors are desperate to get one more run at the championship in the Splash Brothers’ waning years, Wiggins is going to have to be the casualty of that pursuit of a “last dance” for the Warriors dynasty.
Analysis
Kyle Kuzma has been one of the unsung “change of scenery guy” success stories in the NBA since being traded to the Washington Wizards. Kuzma fell out of favor in Los Angeles while struggling to find a role with the Anthony Davis and LeBron James led Lakers during the 2020-21 season. Fast forward to 2024 and Kuzma is the best player on the Wizards; he leads the team in points and is the second-leading contributor in both assists and rebounds. He is a productive player but certainly not a star, nor a player to build a young team around as Washington fully commits to a deep rebuild. With Pascal Siakam off the board, there are very few high-tier prospects for the Warriors to target at the trade deadline. Kuzma could be the sort of seemingly lateral trade that could make a positive impact on Golden State’s playoff hopes. Kuzma and Wiggins are really quite similar players; in fact, they are even the same age (28). The difference is that Kuzma is seemingly improving year to year, while Wiggins’ play has regressed. That may even be an understatement, since Wiggins’ numbers have completely fallen off a cliff this season. He is shooting just 31.5 percent from the three-point arc in the 2023-24 season, down from 39.6 percent last season. Wiggins’ rebounding, assist, steal, and block rates are also down from last season as well. Beyond just the numbers, Kuzma presents one other clear advantage over Wiggins: he is just plain bigger. Kuzma has never been known for his defense (neither was Wiggins before he joined the Warriors), but his size would give the Warriors a bit more leeway defensively against some of the bigger teams in the league. Kuzma has not been a part of winning basketball in some time, but he does have a championship past with the Lakers. Surely there is value to be had in adding him to this iteration of the Warriors.
Who Says No?
This Kuzma-for-Wiggins swap has one driving mechanism behind it, and that is the prospect of two future Golden State first-round picks for the Wizards. If the Warriors are unwilling to part with both picks, I think that it is a hard sell. Wiggins has been so bad that taking on his contract requires pick compensation. Things may be different if he had shown any indication of changing the narrative with his play, but he has only seen his minutes further reduced during this cold season. Would adding Kuzma be enough to propel the Warriors back into championship contention? Probably not, but would he get them a whole lot closer? Yes. However, Golden State’s front office may not be willing to sell off the few future assets that the team still has for a relatively modest upgrade in Kuzma. This may be the best deal on the table, but sometimes the best move is to stand pat for a later deal. The Warriors will have options in the offseason, especially when it comes to Klay Thompson’s future with the team. They will likely shy away from any major trades at the deadline to regroup in the summer.
– Cam Riehl
This is a really interesting trade for the Warriors. Wiggins has been awful this season, and Kuzma would be a big upgrade over him. To me, it really comes down to how much value Washington believes those future Warrior picks will have.
– Doc Louallen
Wolves Add Backcourt Depth
Proposal
Rationale
The Timberwolves have taken a leap this season, surprising the entire league by blasting to the top of the Western Conference standings. Though there is certainly room for doubt, the Wolves have managed to make the oversized front court pairing of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns work thanks to improved perimeter play. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are really the engine that makes this team go, however one cannot understate the importance of Mike Conley to this squad. In his age-36 campaign, Conley is averaging 10.7 points per game and 6.4 assists. Not eye-popping numbers, but Conley plays an important role as essentially the lone traditional point guard on Minnesota’s roster. As such, they should make acquiring an affordable backup point guard their top priority ahead of the February deadline.
Analysis
Tyus Jones has been, for years now, one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. You may know him from his stint backing up Ja Morant for the Memphis Grizzlies, a role in which he shined while leading the Grizzlies to a 13-9 record without Morant in the 2022-23 season. Since trading Jones to the Wizards, the Grizzlies have been incapable of maintaining such a record without Morant. Now, assuming that the loss of Jones is the lone driver behind Memphis’ slide down the rankings in 2023 is a stretch, but the difference is certainly stark. For Jones, the move to D.C. has been a total win. He is having a career year for the Wizards, posting career high averages in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Not to mention, he has managed a blistering 56.4 effective field goal percentage through 48 games this season. He is more than capable of excelling in a starting role, he just needs an opportunity to earn it with a team that matches his timeline and spread of skills. Ironically, the team which originally drafted him could be the perfect place to achieve that goal.
Who Says No?
This is a clear win-win for both sides. The Timberwolves add much needed guard depth for just the cost of a future second-round pick. The Wizards retain an expiring contract and net a second-round pick in the process. This is the type of deadline trade that is easy to get done year in and year out.
– Cam Riehl
Minnesota would massively benefit from this trade, and they need it. I think this is the best trade of the bunch and both sides would agree without a second guess.
– Doc Louallen
