With the NBA trade deadline only two weeks away, there have already been some major trades. But, there are still numerous trade rumors circulating the league.
There has yet to be a loser at this deadline. Every team so far, buyer or seller, has gotten a fair haul in return for what they have given up.
The first major trade was made a few days before the new year on December 30, when the New York Knicks sent RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn.
The obvious headline to this trade is OG Anunoby, who was being pursued by a variety of different teams because of his ability to fit in with pretty much any team. OG appears to have been the missing piece to the puzzle for the Knicks, as he has helped them find an identity as a gritty defensive team that can now also run a consistent offense because they now have a top-tier defensive wing that can also shoot at a consistent clip from the field. This team appears to be a perfect vision of Tom Thibodeau’s coaching scheme, and the team is 10-2 since acquiring OG.
Let’s not forget about the Raptors though. They got a haul for OG, and RJ Barrett has been scorching from the field since being traded. Barrett is now shooting 55 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3, compared to his abysmal 42/33 splits when he was in New York. This change of scenery for Barrett has helped both teams immensely, as both teams appear to be much happier now with the direction they are going. Quickley is also seeing a bigger role in Toronto, where he is currently averaging 16 ppg and 44 percent from 3 with his new team. This trade has appeared to work better for both teams, as the Knicks want to win now and the Raptors look like they are finally heading towards a rebuild.
The Next Blockbuster trade came January 11, when the Indiana Pacers acquired Pascal Siakam and a future second-round pick from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and 3 first-round picks.
While this trade may seem a little risky for the Pacers since Siakam is on an expiring contract, Siakam seems to be happy with the trade and all signs point to him resigning in the off-season. The sample size of games hasn’t been gigantic so far, and Haliburton and Siakam have only played one game together. But, if the star duo of Haliburton and Siakam works out the way the Pacers are envisioning, the Pacers could be a serious contender in the East for the next few years, making it worth the haul they are giving up.
The Raptors in this trade get what they want, which is stocking up on picks for the future. They also receive Bruce Brown, who has proven to be an effective 3 and D player on a championship-caliber team. So, the Raptors can either hold onto Brown who could be a solid veteran for them, or they can use him in trade talks to potentially get even more picks. This trade as of right now appears to be a Win-Win, it is to be determined how Siakam will pan out for the Pacers.
The Latest big trade included the Charlotte Hornets sending star shooting guard Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick.
It was time for the Heat to move on from Kyle Lowry, so the fact they were just able to ship him off with a pick and get Terry Rozier was a huge win for Miami. Terry Rozier can create shots for himself and others at ease and should be an efficient scoring option for a team that has been so close to championships for the last five years. Assuming Terry Rozier can average somewhere in the 16-20 ppg range, the Heat will look to contend in the East along with the Bucks, Sixers, and Celtics once again.
The Hornets appear to be attempting to empty the house, with only Lamelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams essentially being the only untouchable players. So, getting a first-round pick and a tradeable veteran for Terry Rozier was not the worst haul for them.
Other big names that have yet to be traded and have been involved in numerous trade rumors include Miles Bridges, Kyle Kuzma, Dejounte Murray, Jerami Grant, Lauri Markkanen, PJ Washington, Harrison Barnes, Zach Lavine, DeMar DeRozan, Bruce Brown, Malcolm Brogdon, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and Bojan Bogdanović.
The NBA trade deadline ends on February 8 at 3 p.m. EST. We can expect a majority of the players listed above to be traded to new homes by the time the deadline rolls around.
