Eastern Conference trade primer: Does the Kristaps Porzingis deal open up the market?
At every NBA trade deadline, each team sorts in to one of four categories:
Buyers: Teams that are actively looking to add pieces
Sellers: Teams that are actively looking to trade players for future assets
Either: Teams that have some pieces to sell, but will buy in the right deal
Neither: Teams that will just sit out the deadline and do their work in the summer
This year, because the standings have been so compressed, the trade market has been slower to develop than usual for the Feb. 7 deadline (Kristaps Porzingis deal notwithstanding). And until Anthony Davis made his desire known, there were no healthy superstars available via trade, although that could seemingly change any minute. Jimmy Butler also was dealt earlier than we usually see, which removed a little deadline drama.
In addition, half of the NBA projects to have cap space this summer. That means those teams will be reluctant to take on any money beyond this season. Add it all up, and we could see a potentially slow deadline. But teams are all positioned in one of the four categories.
Here’s where each of the 15 Eastern Conference teams sits as the deadline approaches:
Atlanta Hawks
Sellers. They’ve got some great young talent that is really starting to come together, but it’s the veterans we have to watch here. Kent Bazemore, Jeremy Lin and DeWayne Dedmon could return some decent assets. One other thing to watch with the Hawks? They are one of the few rebuilding teams that has made it known they will take on bad 2019-20 money. That combined with a player could get Atlanta a first-round pick.
Boston Celtics
Neither. The Celtics aren’t going to do anything to compromise their pursuit of Anthony Davis in the offseason. Even if Davis is dealt before the deadline, Boston will probably stand pat. It just doesn’t need much at the moment. The team is deep and rounding into form. Should the Jabari Bird situation be resolved and he’s removed from the Celtics’ roster, Boston will be active looking for a veteran on the buyout market.
Brooklyn Nets
Buyers. Brooklyn is probably best termed as a “soft buyer.” The Nets aren’t going to make an all-in trade, but they’re looking for some help. They are a prime team to watch for a point guard, with Spencer Dinwiddie out for a while. They could also add another big, especially one who can stretch the floor. It won’t be a monster move, but expect the Nets to do something around the fringes of the rotation.
Charlotte Hornets
Either. The Hornets are sitting right in the mix for the seventh or eighth seed in the East playoffs. They’re an average team. No more, no less. They could make a move to bring in help, but it would be fairly small. Or they could go the other way and make moves to clear out the cap sheet and hope to rebuild around a re-signed Kemba Walker.
Chicago Bulls
Sellers. Chicago already sold off Justin Holiday to the Memphis Grizzlies. If the Bulls can move Robin Lopez or Jabari Parker for something of value, they’ll do so. The more likely outcome is that Lopez or Parker is bought out after the deadline. And don’t forget they also have Carmelo Anthony. If they can flip him to eat a deal and bring in a pick or some cash, they’ll do so. Otherwise, he’ll be bought out as well.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Sellers. The Cavs are sellers for sure. They’ve already moved George Hill and Kyle Korver. If they can find a trade for J.R. Smith or Tristan Thompson, they’d happily move them as well. Alec Burks and Matthew Dellavedova came back in the Hill and Korver trades, and they could be flipped again. Cleveland would also be thrilled to move Kevin Love, but there doesn’t seem to be a deal there. That’s one to watch for the summer.
Detroit Pistons
Either. Despite some buzz that he wants out, Blake Griffin says he has no such desires. But the Pistons are clunky. They’re in the same spot as the Hornets: a playoff team at the bottom of the East that could miss the postseason entirely. Detroit has made shortsighted moves in the past, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see something like that again. If the Pistons go the other way, they have a lot of vets they could move for small assets.
Indiana Pacers
Buyers. The Pacers are also “soft buyers.” Had Victor Oladipo not gotten hurt, Indiana would have been looking to add pieces for a playoff run. Now, the Pacers are probably looking for help to shore up that run. But it won’t be anything major. Indiana doesn’t have the pieces to send out, nor does it want to ruin the flexibility it has this summer.
Miami Heat
Either. Miami is another team caught in Nos. 7-10 range in the Eastern Conference. The Heat’s problem is they can’t stay healthy. Every week someone comes back and someone else goes out. They’ve also got an extremely messy cap sheet, which could lead them to make a move to clean it up. Team president Pat Riley knows this group isn’t contending for a title, but he also doesn’t want to punt on a playoff appearance in Dwyane Wade’s farewell season.
Milwaukee Bucks
Buyer. The Bucks have good depth, but could use another wing and a defensive-minded big. If Milwaukee can find either one of those things, it’ll jump. The Bucks have movable young pieces in Thon Maker and Donte DiVincenzo, who each could return a solid veteran. And they’ve got Jason Smith’s expiring $5.5 million contract to move if they need to match salaries to bring a player in.
New York Knicks
Sellers. Well… the Knicks kind of made their bed when they traded Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks. That signaled a full-scale sell-off in New York, as they also shed the salaries of veterans Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke. The Knicks now can flip ex-Mavs DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews in separate deals because they can’t be traded together this quickly. Or they could buy out either player. The same scenario exists for Enes Kanter. It’s all about the future in New York now and that future involves big free-agency dreams.
Orlando Magic
Either. Orlando has kept its fingertips on the edge of the playoff race. Every week it looks like it’ll fall off, but every week the teams around it lose just enough to keep the team close. Orlando has gone 13-18 in close games, per NBA.com tracking data. Flip that, and the Magic are a locked-in playoff team. Because of that, they are still looking for help. But they’re also listening on guys like Terrence Ross and Jonathon Simmons. Nikola Vucevic probably stays off the market, but if someone blows Orlando away with an offer, it could be tempted.
Philadelphia 76ers
Buyer. The Sixers want help. In a big way. Their challenge is the lack of tradable assets. Philadelphia’s players are either filling a necessary role or they don’t carry a large enough salary to bring back a rotation player. The 76ers will be active and will chase a lot of names, but they’re more likely to find help via buyout than trade.
Toronto Raptors
Neither. You can never count out team president Masai Ujiri when it comes to making an unforeseen trade, but it’s probably going to be a quiet deadline for the Raptors. Toronto has terrific depth and Jonas Valanciunas will return from his injury eventually. If Ujiri feels like there is a deal that makes Toronto a threat to beat the Warriors, he’ll act. But outside of a veteran on the buyout market, the Raptors probably are what they are. And that’s plenty good enough.
Washington Wizards
Neither. The Wizards will listen on Otto Porter Jr., Trevor Ariza and Markieff Morris, but they aren’t even taking calls for Bradley Beal. And the phone’s not ringing with anyone trying to grab John Wall. Washington doesn’t have enough assets to get help either after picking up Ariza earlier this season. If the Wizards can move one of the aforementioned guys for a future asset, or somehow could make a deal to dodge the luxury tax, the Wizards will be all over it. But most likely, they’ll continue their surprising playoff push with the group they have.
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