While anything can happen if an owner decides to go in a different direction or if a star demands out, there's a sense around the league that this year's NBA trade deadline will be mostly made up of small moves on the margins for most teams.
Most of the moves made on Wednesday reflect that sentiment, and while those moves will impact those teams and their futures, they are not franchise-redefining moves.
Still, with less than 12 hours to go, here's a look at the moves made Wednesday and what sources are saying league-wide.
NBA Trade Deadline: Latest Intel, Trade Analysis
WILL DEJOUNTE MURRAY BE MOVED?
There were renewed reports of interest in the Hawks guard Wednesday, with teams like the Pelicans and Jazz mentioned as suitors. But one league source familiar with talks was skeptical, saying this was likely the Hawks trying to drum up a market for the star guard in order to secure more assets from the Lakers, who have long been considered his eventual landing spot.
If the Hawks are unsuccessful in doing so and decide to move Murray anyway, the Lakers could get an absolute steal. Austin Reaves has long been the Hawks' target for return, but so far, there's been no movement from LA's refusal to include him in such a deal.
The Hawks are assumed to be looking at an overhaul. It's not just Murray who could have a different spot by Friday; Clint Capela, DeAndre Hunter, and AJ Griffin are all available at different thresholds. However, Capela's been on the market for months and remains in Atlanta.
There is a strong chance that Atlanta just sits through the deadline. Why, you ask? That's a great question, should it come to pass.
CELTICS BOLSTER THEIR FRONTCOURT
Everyone knew Boston would make a move; they just didn't know if it would be a center or a wing. And while Boston can still look to use a traded player exception from the Grant Williams sign-and-trade to make another move before the deadline, adding Xavier Tillman from Memphis for two second-rounders and Lamar Stevens was a terrific addition.
Tillman provides utility at the center spot for a team that needs it. Kristaps Porzingis has been phenomenal for the Celtics, but he often needs a game or two off for injury maintenance. Al Horford is almost 38 years old and likewise needs games off. Luke Kornet is serviceable but probably not a player you want in your playoff rotation.
Tillman has playoff experience and has improved as a passer and rebounder. He's not a floor-spacer like Horford or Porzingis, but he can also play next to either in rotations should the Celtics have a need for a two-big lineup (which we're seeing more and more around the league).
As an unrestricted free agent this summer, Memphis would have difficulty retaining Tillman, and he had slid in the rotation anyway. But ultimately, the Grizzlies gave up a rotation player to save some luxury tax risk and acquire two seconds, one in 2027 and one in 2030. Unless Memphis decides to push some chips in on Thursday in what has become a lost season, it's not a move that reflects loading up for next season, when they are hopefully whole and their pets' heads are not falling off like this season. That might be the summer goal, but Tillman was a player who stepped up without Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke last year.
Boston gains more positional flexibility and insurance against their two most injury-prone players at key positions without surrendering any significant assets. A good piece of work for President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens.
THE WOLVES ADD A STEADY HAND
Minnesota had called about a variety of backup point guards, including Washington's Tyus Jones. But President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly's experience with Monte Morris makes this move a perfect fit for backup point guard. Morris is an extremely low-mistake player, one of the best in the league at assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Wolves' bench is one of the best in the league thanks to Kyle Anderson and Naz Reid, but Shake Milton, sent to Detroit in the deal, had struggled. Jordan McLaughlin is a capable spark plug, but Morris brings more playmaking and is a career 39% 3-point shooter. He's used to playing both on and off-ball from his time in Denver and is a capable entry passer. He fits like a glove with how Minnesota wants to play.
Morris also provides some insurance for Mike Conley, who, at 36 years old, needs time off and has injury issues. Conley is a free agent this summer, and the Wolves have an interest in extending him on a two-year-ish deal, but Morris provides them with more options.
THE PISTONS TRADED FOR AN NBA PLAYER
The Jazz sent Simone Fontecchio to Utah for a second rounder and Kevin Knox, turning a superfluous player into a long-term asset.
Fontecchio has had a really nice season, shooting 39 percent from three. And as Fontecchio is an NBA player who can play basketball, he significantly upgrades Detroit's roster. I'm kidding. Kind of. But for a team that badly needs shooting, he fits well for a set of assets the Pistons can afford to spare.
DRUMMOND THE CENTER DU JOUR
Last year, it was Jakob Poeltl. This year's center everyone's interested in is Andre Drummond. The Bulls will likely wind up moving him for multiple second-round picks, but they'll at least have a good selection to choose from.
Backup center is the second most valued type of player on the market behind defensive wings who can shoot. With Joel Embiid in the East (potentially) and Nikola Jokic in the West, not to mention the twin towers in Minnesota and the size in New York, everyone's looking for big bodies to throw at teams in the playoffs.
Drummond is more likely to be moved than DeMar DeRozan or Alex Caruso. There's been talk this week of teams calling for Caruso and discussing various draft pick options, but local media continues to believe he's not getting traded unless it's for a can't-say-no offer. That matches what I've heard from league sources: the teams that are interested in him are too good to have the assets to trade for him.
There's been a small pickup of noise about the possibility of the Sixers trading for DeRozan, but beyond the fact that his shot chart is literally the inverse of what Daryl Morey values and he's an expiring contract they would have to re-sign, the Sixers lack the assets to make a truly compelling offer, and as of now, DeRozan has not indicated to the Bulls he desires a change of scenery.
ELSEWHERE AMONG THE CENTERS
Kelly Olynyk is the other backup center drawing interest from the Heat and Warriors, among other teams. League sources say the Jazz believe they can get a back-end first-round pick or early second-round pick for Olynyk. Most of the Jazz outside of Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George should probably download the Zillow app just in case. Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Kris Dunn have all come up in various whispers over the last two weeks.
AT THE BUZZER
The Pistons made several moves on Wednesday with the trades for Fontecchio and of Morris. Danilo Gallinari is a valuable trade chip as an expiring contract, and the Lakers have had interest.
The Knicks continue to be aggressive on the market after adding OG Anunoby and despite their unfortunate spate of injuries that have them without multiple starters. Two sources said this week the Knicks have started telling interested teams they are close to a deal involving disgruntled wing Quentin Grimes.
All eyes are on Charlotte after Thursday's deadline with the possibility of buyouts. There's skepticism that the team will pay out the remainder of Kyle Lowry or Gordon Hayward's contracts, and indications have been both players are not looking to give up money for a buyout. But if they do, Lowry has interest from the Sixers and Lakers waiting, while Indiana is known to have interest in adding Hayward on the vet minimum.
Hall of Famer Marc Stein reported this week that the Mavericks' interest in Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins has been overstated. That's probably the case, but it's important to note that the Mavericks would only be surrendering expendable veterans in Tim Hardaway Jr. and/or Seth Curry alongside whatever limited draft capital, if any, would be involved. That doesn't make a deal likely, and it's entirely possible those talks are outdated and have gone dormant, especially with the Warriors suddenly looking like a team with some momentum. But if the Warriors wind up moving Wiggins, the Mavericks at least have an appetite in a tight market.
The players I do think get moved on Thursday: Tyus Jones, Tim Hardaway Jr., AJ Griffin, Olynyk, Gary Trent Jr., Royce O'Neale
Teams I believe will likely stand pat: Nuggets, Heat, Kings, Blazers
Keep your eye on: Phoenix, Milwaukee, the Clippers, Orlando, and Brooklyn
