Make These Trade Deadline Moves

[Jesse]

Trade Deadline Moves That Should Happen

It’s almost deadline season. Trades are the heartbeat of the league. Let’s make some trades.

Wolves Trade
Karl-Anthony Towns

Bucks Trade
Jeremiah Fears
Robert Williams
Willie Cauley-Stein
Luguentz Dort

Thoughts: For the love of God, how are KAT and Giannis still on the same team? Pankin should get RPs from the league for finally trading one of these two players. I feel like Minnesota is/will be perpetually cursed until it happens. Given Giannis’ worsening turnover issues, I think KAT has more value and could be a target for a contender. Here, the Bucks create a dynamic frontcourt duo and don’t have to trade any future draft capital to make it happen. Minnesota gets much needed depth and a young player with upside.


Pacers Trade
Goga Bitadze

Nets Trade
Zion Williamson
Nuggets 26 1st
Nets 29 1st

Thoughts: Given the relative strength of the Eastern conference, I didn’t totally understand the J-Dub trade from Tonger. Even if Indiana doesn’t intend on tanking, I think retooling makes the most sense given the team’s personnel. Tonger has proven to be arguably the most creative GM in the league with DC’s and I would trust him more than anyone else to maximize the weirdness of Zion. Goga hasn’t played well this year, but his strengths are masked playing next to another version of himself in Drummond. He’d be a major upgrade for the Nets and increase the team’s Tank Reset odds. He’s also still young. It’s time to admit that Zion just isn’t very good.


Celtics Trade
Jabari Parker

Pistons Trade
Filip Jovic
Og Anunoby
Max Strus
Anthony Bennett
DET 29 1st
DET 31 1st (top-10 protected)

Thoughts: Similar to my stance on Indiana, I never really understood why Joe was trying to push chips in when he could take a small step back and build around Reed Sheppard. I would prioritize getting out of the Parker/MKG/Morant contracts and adding some young talent around Boston’s stud young Point Guard. This seems like a logical fit: Detroit is a SF away from completing a killer starting-5, and Boston adds some tasty futures to a sack that Boston could cash-in a couple of years down the line.


Celtics Trade
Ja Morant
MIA 26 1st

Warriors Trade
Dorian Finney-Smith
Victor Oladipo
750 RP

Thoughts: Okay, I guess I am trying to thread the needle here with Boston’s direction, which is a middle ground between competing, restocking, and getting contracts in order. The Celtics will already have their own lottery pick so can afford to punt on pick #13 if it means shedding long-term salary. DFS and Oladipo are inexpensive enough to help the Celtics if the team wants to compete next year, and the salary cap flexibility should help. For Clint, Ja is a buy-low candidate and potential (?) heir apparent to Jrue Holiday. Adding a lottery pick will also help replenish Golden State’s asset base, which is growing thin.


Heat Trade
Chris Boucher

Raptors Trade
Chuma Okeke
TOR 26 1st
TOR 30 1st
A collection of 2nd rounders

Thoughts: Toronto’s title odds are as high as any team in the league’s right now, so urgency is the word of the day. Two 1sts may be expensive for a declining Boucher, but neither 1st has much value and Boucher is a perfect fit for the Raptors. He can fit in an inside offense as a SF, he could soak up backup 3/4/5 minutes, and he adds some crazy stockiness to a fun team. For Miami, this is just an obvious value win for a team that needs some value.


Magic Trade
Tre Johnson
Cory Joseph
Montrezl Harrell
Yaxel Landeborg (NDL)
ORL 29, 30, 31 1sts
1,000 RP

Hornets Trade
Jamal Murray


Thoughts: I would like to see JBurns make a trade! Do something! Also, Jamal Murray is on an $18M expiring and due a supermax. This seems like a decent return that bridges the gap between the present and the future, as this would be the year to sell Murray before his value craters. For Orlando, this is a massive, massive upgrade to add without having to deal Scoot. Cory Joseph died in the off-season and this team aint winning a title with him at Point Guard. Murray immediately thrusts Orlando back into championship contention and he is young enough to fit into the Rui/Edey core. Even better? If/when Scoot is ready to start at Point Guard, Murray can just slide over to SG. Given Scoot’s potential turnover concerns, it actually might go the other way around.

[jwoo]

I don’t even have 600 RP left

[Clinton]

thats buy low on Ja? Then you make that trade Jesse

…Joe

[Jesse]

I don’t even have 600 RP left

looks like you will need to part with some 2nds!

[Jesse]

Bahahaha thats buy low on Ja? Then you make that trade Jesse

getting a lottery pick to take a contract would typically be buying low, yeah

[Clinton]

Bahahaha thats buy low on Ja? Then you make that trade Jesse

getting a lottery pick to take a contract would typically be buying low, yeah

Its barely a lotto pick. Bos26 is a lotto pick. Also why would i pay 750RP for saving him another 4 years of that contract?

[Clinton]

Was initially annoyed so apologies for the tone, simple discussion at this point

[Jesse]

Bahahaha thats buy low on Ja? Then you make that trade Jesse

getting a lottery pick to take a contract would typically be buying low, yeah

Its barely a lotto pick. Bos26 is a lotto pick. Also why would i pay 750RP for saving him another 4 years of that contract?

i thought a lottery pick was a little rich so figured some value needed to go the other way

[Clinton]

getting a lottery pick to take a contract would typically be buying low, yeah

Its barely a lotto pick. Bos26 is a lotto pick. Also why would i pay 750RP for saving him another 4 years of that contract?

i thought a lottery pick was a little rich so figured some value needed to go the other way

But id also be tossing my wing depth(which i know is flippable) and he could make out like a bandit and have all the cap space he needs this offszn. Whereas if Ja flops, well then im out my wings for a playoff run(while Jrue is still kickin), im out half my bag this yr to replenish, and then im out my future too, paying another 4 yrs of a player who cant shoot 40% from 3. But yeah the 13th/14th pick really makes all those pills easy to swallow.

Idk im saying all this as i think im in the few that can actually say i like Ja, which i have been yelled at about.

[Tyler]

Ja Moramnesty