-Originally published 2/10/23-
Holy Cacti Batman! Durant being shipped to Phoenix in the middle of the night turned the NBA on its head and really blew up the NBA trade deadline. Phoenix, Chicago, and Toronto were expected to be teams moving big pieces in order to restructure their rosters. Toronto must not have received the offers it was looking for and kept VanVleet and Siakam. Who knows what is going on in Chi-town. Phoenix obviously loaded up behind the direction of new owner Mat Ishbia. With a lack of 1st rounders to be moved teams settled for 2nds to the tune of 38 total 2nds being moved. An astounding number for an often afterthought asset as few picks work out. Let’s take a gander at the moves. (provided by spotrac.com)
Blockbusters
The first big domino over fell last weekend when Kyrie Irving stunningly requesting to be traded out of Brooklyn and it was facilitated on Monday. He has since make comments taking shots at the Nets organization, dropped 24/4/5 in a winning Mavs debut (with Luka sitting out on the bench), and stated he was happy Durant “Got out of there” since his Phoenix trade was announced, although that was only facilitated after Kyrie’s absence would have moved the Nets title chances from somewhere in the neighborhood of 4th-5th best to maybe in the 8-9 range.
As it stands, Brooklyn made the best of bringing in two 29-year-olds that won’t be the face of the future but are on solid contracts for next season at least (Dorian, 2 years + player option in 25-26) and can be pieces for further movement in the future or pieces or whatever Brooklyn tries to cobble together for next season after collapsing in 72 hours. The 2029 1st is needed as a refill from all the previous seasons moves draining resources, but who knows where that will land 6 seasons from now. Brooklyn in the past six years for context, went from a rebuilding 28-52 season in 17-18 its 3rd straight sub-30 win season post-KG and Paul Piece, to putting a solid group with promise together in 2019, to adding Kyrie & KD in 2020 and generating potential Championship buzz although they’d have to sit for a season awhile due to injuries, to adding a third star in Harden, then swapping Harden for Ben Simmons, Ben Simmons sitting out for a season and showing huge regression now that he’s playing again, now losing both superstars Kyrie and KD and ending up in limbo again. Ah, the emotional sports roller coaster.
Dallas took a swing on an elite scorer who is a net loss on defense, on an expiring contract, and could no show at any time regardless of whether he re-signs or not. He charmed Boston and Brooklyn (and he’s already showing love to Dallas-walking with fans outside the stratum showing support) and promised to re-sign but we know he can’t be trusted. We also know every season that Luka, one of the best players in the league, doesn’t make a deep playoff run is a waste of his talent. Porzingis wasn’t a good fit and letting Jalen Bunsen walk lost offseason looks like a huge mistake with him being a driving force in the Knicks success this season. Kyrie’s temperament and contract situation, unsurprisingly, made it difficult to trade him and Dallas made the best offer. Grabbing the most unreliable start we’ve ever seen is not a good omen, but should he walk away in free agency Dallas will have two contracts off the books to try and pursue other options. This experiment will be run to watch when he plays and frustrating if he is disruptive. But frustrating has described the Mavs for 2.5 seasons now hasn’t it?
Hold your fucking heart. The Phoenix Suns grab one of the 20 best players to every touch a basketball every if he never dribbled again. Plus TJ Warren. I joke.TJ will play and shoot for a team that gave up several big pieces but avoided moving the big names that were questionable prior to the deadline in Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Trading out young guys Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson is a big deal. With Chris Paul suddenly aging quickly and Ayton’s talent vs his massive contract (and his arguments with coaching staff) it seemed that D Book, Bridges, and Johnson were the only long term pieces in the desert. The Durant move opens the Championship with NOW, like right now and next season then it’s probably gone. At least with CP3 and possibly with KD considering age, injury history, and desire to move around. So Championship or not, several young guys and future unprotected picks are all gone to move to the top immediately. I don’t blame new suns owner Mat Ishbia, who made the move 1st day on the job. The goal IS to win a championship isn’t it? Sometimes I think people get too attached to picks and what they give up vs how high the ceiling was raised. Ishbia didn’t want to half-ass a trade that moved them from the 3rd tier to 2nd tier group of teams; he wanted to move into real contention for the top spot and return visit to the Final even if that meant leveraging 6 years of capital that might never get close to a chip. So was will it be worth it? The ceiling is high but so is the floor. Again, CP3 is showing wear, Durant is showing tear (he’s out due to injury himself right now) and Ayton has been subject of more trade discusses outside of John Collins and Westbrook than anyone else the past two seasons. It’ll be must-see TV.
The Nets bring in more grabbed two great young guys, 4 unprotected picks and a picks swap. After the the Kyrie haul they’ll have Mikel Bridges, Cam Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, Joe Smith, Nic Claxton, Joe Harris, Seth Curry, Cam Thomas (who has been an explosive scorer recently), and some guy name Ben Simmons who also seems capable of more. That’s 1000 wings but there aren’t any scrubs here after moving two stars and the draft pile is restocked. That’s pretty solid.
The deal was expanded to dump Jae Crowder, who declined to play for Phoenix this season in a hold out, in Milwaukee and a few other pieces in Indiana. Jae Crowder is a good wing for the Bucks to add. Indiana had low investment and picks up several 2nds in positive return. Vet George Hill comes back and they will buy out Serge Ibaka so that he can choose his own home.
Notable
A trio of point guards switching squads triggered by the Lakers trying to scrounge up more talent. D Lo is back in LA but his true talent and contributions to a winning team have been questioned. Jarred Vanderbilt might end up being the best piece despite this being his 3rd team in 3 seasons. Westbrook will be bought out by the Jazz and on the move. As a thank you the Jazz received a lightly protected 1st five years down the line when it might pose some value post-Lebron & AD. The T-Woves PG position got a decade older and Conley slipped two years ago but he might fit better than D-Lo with the twin towers and they have to try and make Karl Anthony-Towns & Rudy Gobert work.
Denver moves off of a talented young offensive iso player but defensive liability in “Bones” Hyland that couldn’t seem to integrate with Jokic. Giving the Clips an opportunity to add a bench shooter for the low price of moving a 2nd and seldom used Davon Reed. The Nugs pick up a solid offensive reserve in Thomas Bryant from the Lakers whom in turn take a stab at Mo Bamba as an upgraded rim protector to help the horrid defense. For Orlando it’s an exchange of unwanted contracts for a pick-up of a 2nd rounder. They’ll buy out Pat Bev.
Jakob was a throw-in with DeRozan in the trade for Kwahi Lenard in 2018 so this is a return home for him. The past season and a half he’s greatly improved averaging 12/9/3 and a block per game along with 61.8% shooting. Rather than move any big pieces the Raptors bring in another piece at the loss of a protected 1st. If they make moves this offseason they’ll probably received 1st in return. This team is currently 10th and in the play-in and has more talent than they’re showing. Spurs move the one in-demand piece on the roster that doesn’t fit on the rebuild timeline age-wise (27) for several upcoming picks seems like a solid move. The core guys right now are all under 24.
A relatively small move for a 4-teamer. The highlights are Josh Hart moving from Portland to NY hopefully giving them another talented 2 way to make a playoff run while shedding a heavily protected pick and role players. Even if his shooting numbers have come down (31.3% from 3). Portland receives two wings that are offensively challenged but could help with the defense in Cam Reddish and Matisse Thybulle along with the 1st rounder. Philly swaps Thybulle’s defense for McDaniels (expiring contract from Hornets) offense and Charlotte gets a few participation trophys.
Seddiq Bey has been a streaky shooter in Detroit and is now on a team loaded with wings and lacking defense…where he doesn’t contribute. Detroit is loaded with you bigs already. Portland moved a great player in Gary Payton for….2nd rounders and Kevin Knox on the door of his 3rd team in 2 years? Hmmm Well, Golden State adding Gary Payton for James Wiseman and 2nds seems like a steal. Wiseman may have been a former #2 pick but when you look at the difference in contributes each will give, its robbery.
Mixed Bag
Muscala provides 40% 3 point shooting in a big body. A possible guy to throw out for a few minutes in a long playoff series. A small price for a couple 2nds that OKC will happily latch onto for no other reason than they’re collecting them like Pokemon.
Miami clears cap and SA (#1 in available cap space) receives a pick in exchange for eating a contract.
Oklahoma takes on a contract for a pick and doesn’t mind moving expiring Bazley as they shift through who is going to be on the rebuilding roster. Bazley shoots 40% from 3 and should play after the Durant trade drains depth.
Luke Kennard is shooting 44% from 3 which should benefit the Grizzlies. Houston grabs a pick and will buy out John Wall and possibly Danny Green. The Clippers move off of Kennard for Eric Gordon? Why? He’s not shooting as well and this team should be in Championship winning mode but appears to have made a grab for a few 2nd round picks for what might be a negligible downgrade.
Devonte Graham is shooting a horrid 37% shooter and he’s on the books for 2 more years. Richardson, if he makes the rotation, can defend and expires after this season. NO attaches 2nd rounders and swaps to move the contract.
The Hornets will buy out Reggie Jackson (edit: he’s since signed with the Suns!) and LA adds a decent big shooting 66% and averaging close to a double-double.
