Well… it’s been quite a month in NBA Trade Deadline Land. What’s that? It’s been four days?
In the words of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski… Good Lord. So, to recap what’s gone on since Sunday…
- The Nets traded Kyrie Irving to Dallas for two starters and picks
- The Lakers traded Russell Westbrook for Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and D'Angelo Russell
- The Wolves traded D’Angelo Russell for Mike Conley
- The Jazz traded Conley, Vando and Beasley for Westbrook and a protected first-rounder
- The Nets traded Kevin Durant (and TJ Warren) to Phoenix for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and four firsts
- The Raptors traded Khem Birch and a pick to San Antonio for Jakob Poeltl
- The Knicks traded Cam Reddish and a pick for Josh Hart
With a few hours to go before the deadline, here’s the latest.
OG Anunoby
I’ve consistently capped the Raptors’ odds of making a trade (with apologies to Khem Birch) as such:
- VanVleet: -125
- GTJ: -110
- OG: +300
- Siakam: +1000
With a few hours to go, I’m willing to move Anunoby to +175.
The list of teams interested in Anunoby is likely impacted by the Kevin Durant deal. If you were going back and forth on whether you need that kind of a trade, having the new Suns superteam looming could put it over the top.
The Pelicans, Grizzlies and Knicks are among the teams with significant offers on the table for Anunoby, according to multiple sources. Those offers include multiple draft picks.
If the Raptors feel it’s the right time to move Anunoby, they will get a significant return. But so far, Toronto has neither fully committed to intensified talks with any particular team.
The market has evolved in a fascinating way, however, following the Durant trade. The Nets are open and active in talks for the approximately 70,000 wings they currently have. However, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reports that the Nets have decided to not include Mikal Bridges in trade talks, so that ship has sailed, opening up Toronto’s leverage with teams.
Michael Scotto reported this morning on HoopsHype that the Pels and Grizzlies are among those talking to Brooklyn.
This is a fascinating twist in that for months, the Raptors have been the only team with significant needle-mover players on the market. Their high prices have flabbergasted other teams looking to make a deal, but there wasn’t an alternative.
To be clear, this may not move the Raptors at all in their demands. As a mode of operation, the Raptors are much more likely to hold their price line for Anunoby and simply not move him until this summer.
Bridges is probably legitimately a better option than Anunoby. He’s on a better contract, has better on-ball skills and is the same level of defender.
Los Angeles Clippers
OK, there are two simultaneous narratives going.
Here is the overriding thing above both of them: the Clippers are telling teams they are locked in on a deal, and that’s likely the only move they make at the deadline.
Now, there’s one belief that it’s not for a point guard, but the Clippers have been linked to point guard pursuits, including in this very space, for months. The Heat want to move Kyle Lowry, and the Raptors want to move Fred VanVleet.
(The Clippers’ third target, Mike Conley, got moved to Minnesota for D’Angelo Russell Wednesday.)
But I would tell you I will be surprised if the Clippers do not have a deal done by the deadline.
Other Notes
Caris LeVert played and started for the Cavaliers Wednesday night vs. the Pistons, the latest in a long line of signs that he’s not going to be dealt. The Cavaliers, sources say, have informed LeVert he won’t be traded before the deadline.
Additionally, Kevin Love is unlikely to be traded despite being out of the rotation. Love may wind up on the buyout market.
No one believes anyone is sending a first for Houston’s Eric Gordon currently, with interested teams willing to call Houston’s bluff and try and acquire him after a buyout.
Keep an eye on Chicago, which continues to take offers for Zach LaVine. Brooklyn and Chicago had talks before the Durant trade; it’s not known how the Durant trade affects Brooklyn’s interest in LaVine.
Milwaukee is expected to engage the Nets with the same set of offers it had worked on for months with the Suns for Jae Crowder. The Suns wisely continued those deals but held off on pulling the trigger in part because they were aware that Kyrie Irving was seeking a new extension.
There is debate internally with the Knicks about whether to include Immanuel Quickley, two league sources said, in any trade talks, including for Anunoby.
More to come…
