Last week’s NBA trade deadline didn’t see anywhere close to the action that we saw this past offseason, but there were quite a few noteworthy moves that will set up the league for an exciting second half of the season.
A total of eleven deals were made on deadline day last Thursday, with D’Angelo Russell, Andre Drummond and Andrew Wiggins headlining the moves. Several contenders did not get any deals done (Bucks, Raptors, Celtics, Lakers), while a few rebuilding teams made momentous strides for their futures (Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies).
Here are the trades that were completed on or around deadline day:
– T-Wolves Get Their Guy –
• Timberwolves acquire D’Angelo Russell, Omari Spellman, and Jacob Evans.
• Warriors acquire Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves’ 2021 first-round pick (top-three protected), and the Timberwolves’ 2021 second-round pick.
o Note: The Timberwolves’ 2021 first-round pick will become unprotected in 2022 if it’s not conveyed in ’21.
After months of drooling over D’Angelo Russell, the Timberwolves finally landed the Warriors guard in arguably the biggest move of the deadline. The Wolves got off Andrew Wiggins and his absurd contract while also pairing long-time friends Karl Anthony Towns and Russell (both played together at Kentucky).
– Strange Times for Andre Drummond –
• Cavaliers acquire Andre Drummond.
• Pistons acquire Brandon Knight, John Henson, and either the Cavaliers’ or Warriors’ 2023 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable).
In what was the “out of left field” move of the day, the Pistons send long-time big man Andre Drummond to Cleveland for what seemed like a bag of potato chips and an air freshener. While the Cavs pieces that were traded are NBA players, the move shocked analysts around the league. This can only mean one thing: the NBA has completely moved on from big men who can’t shoot from the perimeter.
– Marcus Morris Heads to LA –
• Clippers acquire Marcus Morris and Isaiah Thomas.
• Knicks acquire Maurice Harkless, the Clippers’ 2020 first-round pick, the Pistons 2021 second-round pick, the right to swap their own 2021 first-round pick with the Clippers’ 2021 first-round pick (top-four protected), and the draft rights to Issuf Sanon.
• Wizards acquire Jerome Robinson
In what many analysts are calling a ‘needle mover’ between the two LA teams, the Clippers seemed to have made their case for edging out the Lakers on paper with the acquisition of Marcus Morris. The Knicks big man has several traits for a championship-type roster, including the ability to switch, create his own shot, and stabilize a bench unit. Look to hear Morris’ name come up a lot in Spring broadcasts.
– Massive 12-Player Trade –
Hawks, Rockets, Nuggets, and T-Wolves arrange enormous 12-player trade:
• Rockets acquire Robert Covington, Jordan Bell, and the Warriors’ 2024 second-round pick.
• Hawks acquire Clint Capela and Nene.
• Timberwolves acquire Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Jarred Vanderbilt, and the Nets’ 2020 first-round pick (top-14 protected).
• Nuggets acquire Gerald Green, Keita Bates-Diop, Shabazz Napier, Noah Vonleh, and the Rockets’ 2020 first-round pick.
The deal with the most players traded at once was the four-team deal surrounding Clint Capela and Robert Covington. Houston has sold-out and gone all small ball, moving their promising young center to Atlanta along with Nene in exchange for ‘3-and-D’ specialist Bob Covington. The T-Wolves and Nuggets both acquire several smaller pieces in the mega-deal.
Other Notable Trades
Heat acquire Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder in the three-team deal:
• Heat acquire Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill.
• Grizzlies acquire Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters, and Gorgui Dieng.
• Timberwolves acquire James Johnson.
Hawks try Dewayne Dedmon again:
• Hawks acquire Dewayne Dedmon, the Rockets’ 2020 second-round pick, and the Heat’s 2021 second-round pick.
• Kings acquire Jabari Parker and Alex Len.
Sixers upgrade their bench / Warriors stack their draft picks
• Sixers acquire Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III.
• Warriors acquire the Mavericks’ 2020 second-round pick, the Nuggets’ 2021 second-round pick, and the Raptors’ 2022 second-round pick.
Rockets flip Jordan Bell to Memphis
• Rockets acquire Bruno Caboclo.
• Grizzlies acquire Jordan Bell and the right to swap the Mavericks’ or Heat’s 2023 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable) with the Rockets’ 2023 second-round pick (top-32 protected).
Will Minnesota take the next step now that best-friends headline the roster? Did the Lakers miss out on a title for not pushing hard enough for Marcus Morris? Do the Bucks have enough firepower after not making any moves besides the buyout of Marvin Williams (Hornets)? It’s going to be a fun next few months.
