This year’s NBA Trade Deadline shook up the league more than deadlines in recent years, and we broke down the biggest trades that took place in the final hours.
Portland Trailblazers Deal CJ McCollum to New Orleans Pelicans
After spending his first eight years in the league as part of the backcourt with Blazer’s superstar Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum has been dealt in a package to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Portland sends McCollum, Tony Snell and Larry Nance, Jr. and in return gets the Pelicans package deal of Josh Hart, Thomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada, as well as NOLA’s protected ’22 first round pick and two future second round picks.
The Blazers, recently dealing Robert Convington and Norman Powell to the Los Angeles Clippers to avoid the luxury tax, seem to be in full rebuild mode.
I don’t see how this benefits Damian Lillard who, despite saying he wants to stay and win with Portland, isn’t getting any younger and the more his team comes up short in the west, the more of his superior talent is wasted year after year.
NOLA needs to rebuild around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, and a scorer like CJ McCollum is the right piece to make it all come together.
Indiana Pacers Trade Caris LeVert to Cleveland Cavaliers For Rubio, Picks
The Indiana Pacers got an early start on the trade game sending Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In return, the Pacers get Ricky Rubio and draft compensation.
Both teams are in a rebuild mode with Cleveland currently on a tear in the eastern conference.
With Rubio out with an ACL injury for the remainder of the season, it would appear that Cleveland hit the ground running with their young core and the veteran presence of Kevin Love.
This trade, at least immediately, definitely benefits Cleveland.
Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings Strike A Deal
The Indiana Pacers kept busy before the deadline dealing away Domontas Sabonis, Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb and a 2023 Second Round Pick to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Buddy Hield, Tyrese Haliburton and Tristian Thompson.
I’m not sure what to make of the Sacramento end of this trade. It’s not terrible, but it’s more, for me, a wait and see.
For the Pacers, I think they get better off this trade. Haliburton and Heild are solid and help open up the floor. Indiana also has some draft picks in their back pocket. For a rebuild, things are trending up.
3-Team Deal Involving San Antonio, Portland and Utah
Portland picks up Joe Ingles, Elijah Hughes and ’22 second round pick.
San Antonio gets Tomas Santoransky and a ’27 second round pick.
Utah receives Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Juan Hernangomez.
These moves are essentially nothing more than financial necessities for the teams to tighten up their budgets.
What stands out to me straightforward is the blunt end of Ingles’ time with Utah.
He was sitting home with a torn ACL and could have possibly left in free agency next season, but given his long standing association with Utah, it’s tough to see it abruptly come to an end.
Marvin Bagley III To Detroit In 4-Team Deal
Detroit Pistons pick up Marvin Bagley III from Sacramento.
L.A. Clippers get Semi Ojeleye and Rodney Hood.
Milwaukee Bucks receive Serge Ibaka and a 2022 second round pick.
Sacramento Kings get: Donte DiVincenzo, Trey Lyles and Josh Jackson.
This is a good big man pick up for Detroit in regards to Marvin Bagley, III.
Detroit needed size in the worst way and Bagley provides that.
The other winner of this trade deal, in my eyes would be Sacramento.
Josh Jackson gives them a solid wing and the combination of a Sabonis, Fox and DiVincenzo offense is something for Kings fans to look forward to.
Toronto Raptors Deal Goran Dragic to San Antonio for Thaddeus Young, Picks Involved Both Ways
San Antonio is swapping Thaddeus Young for Goran Dragic and a 2022 first round pick.Toronto picks up Young as well as Drew Eubanks and a 2022 first round pick.
This is a good pick up for San Antonio in regards to the draft pick they acquired.
The Spurs are likely to buy out Dragic and let him go where he chooses, but the pick they got for a player they hardly used (Young) will prove to be valuable in the upcoming draft.
Brooklyn Nets Trade James Harden to Philadelphia 76ers For Ben Simmons
The Philadelphia 76ers have shipped out Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first round picks to Brooklyn for James Harden in what has been the most watched situation leading up to the trade deadline.
Harden, who quietly wanted out of Brooklyn was a no-brainer to help get Simmons out of Philadelphia. It was just a matter of what accompanying pieces would follow.
With the Kyrie Irving situation going on in Brooklyn, and given how Simmons acted out in Philadelphia, I’m not sure I can say Brooklyn won anything other than Seth Curry and some picks in this trade.
Philadelphia pairing Harden with Embiid in a “win now” situation seems like a perfect match. James Harden in Philly has always been an ideal move in my view.
Dallas Mavericks Trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards
The Dallas Mavericks are sending Kristaps Porzingis and a future second round pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
Porzingis has been off the court for a considerable amount of time and Washington is rolling the dice on the 7ft-3 Latvian reaching his full potential in a return.
Dinwiddie gives Dallas another scoring option outside of Tim Hardaway Jr who is currently sidelined with an injured foot.
Celtics Trade Dennis Schroeder, Enes Freedom to Houston Rockets for Daniel Theis
Houston and Boston reached a deal right at the buzzer for the trade deadline.
The Celtics will pick up Daniel Theis and the Rockets get Dennis Schroeder, Enes Freedom and Bruno Fernando.
Houston will likely agree on a buyout with Schroeder and Freedom was immediately waived.
Theis gives the Celtics some needed front court presence.