Trade Deadline Moves That Make Sense

Will we see any blockbuster moves before the February 8th trade deadline? Will any contenders make a move?

By Ryan Kessler

Feb 4, 2023, at 7:00 pm ET

With the way the standings are shaping out more than halfway through the season, the NBA title race appears to be completely wide open, with multiple teams in both conferences making a legitimate case to be title contenders. 

In the Western Conference, four teams are within a game of each other, including the Timberwolves, Thunder, Nuggets, and Clippers. The Thunder and Timberwolves have young and inexperienced cores, making this season very intriguing. There is no guarantee that either team will be able to take down a veteran team like the Warriors or the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. The Clippers and Nuggets have stormed onto the scene by dominating their competition lately. They are probably the most well-rounded Western Conference contenders, having excellent coaching in Ty Lue and Mike Malone and experienced stars with playoff experience. The Kings are also piecing together a solid season, sitting in the 5th spot in the Western Conference. Sabonis and Fox are proving why fans shouldn't have considered the Kings a one-and-done team. Many labeled their excellent run last season, taking the Warriors to a seven-game series, as a "fluke". With a few roster changes, many teams could become legitimate contenders in the West.

The Eastern Conference is less surprising, with the Celtics and Bucks leading the charge. The Celtics have been dominant at TD Garden throughout the season with a 22-3 record at home and have an NBA-leading 37-12 record. The acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday has added a new dimension to this team, and their roster has more firepower and completeness than any team in the league. The Bucks also pushed to be title contenders in the offseason with the acquisition of Damian Lillard. Even though they shockingly fired their coach with a 30-13 record at the helm, the Bucks are clear title contenders. Both teams came into the season with extremely high aspirations and are living up to expectations. The Sixers and Knicks have also been two rock-solid organizations this season. The Sixers got off to a blistering start to the season, and Joel Embiid has been the most dominant player in the league. He is averaging 36 ppg with the most points per minute played in the history of the NBA. The Sixers have a lot of important decisions to make with Embiid’s significant MCL injury. The Knicks are currently on fire with a record of 12-3 since the OG Anunoby acquisition. Brunson has been leading the charge, averaging 26 ppg, and seems to find a way to leave his handprints on games with his superb decision-making. The Sixers and Knicks are still on a different tier than the Bucks and Celtics, but both are making cases to compete with the juggernauts. The expectation is that both teams will pursue trades at the deadline to launch themselves into the upper echelon of true contenders.

In addition to multiple teams having real title aspirations, many teams are on the brink of blowing up their rosters. The Raptors, Bulls, and Nets are some teams to look out for who might sell at the deadline due to extreme underperformance. The Raptors have already traded two of their best players in Siakam and Anunoby and might look to offload other veterans for more draft capital. In the last couple of seasons, the Bulls have stuck with the same core in DeRozan, Lavine, and Vucevic, but have been unable to string together a solid season. They likely will make some roster changes and start rebuilding with DeRozan’s expiring contract. The Nets have a ton of tenured veteran guards, and it would not surprise me if they go into full rebuild mode by dishing Royce O’Neal, Dorian Finney Smith, Cam Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dennis Smith Jr, or even Mikal Bridges. They have not meshed well together, and they might have too many cooks in the kitchen with how many guards they have. The Warriors have struggled mightily this year, and it would not shock me if they traded a veteran for some more depth. Right now, the veterans are not productive enough for them to be successful, and they may need to add some different players to make a playoff push. Other teams, such as the Wizards, Trail Blazers, Pistons, and Grizzlies, who are in a complete rebuild or ravaged by injuries, might look to offload veterans for draft capital. With the potential for legitimate buyers paired with these potential sellers, fireworks at the deadline are likely. This article will detail the destinations for key trade targets and highlight which players contenders might go after. 

Kings and Knicks Capitalize on Trail Blazers Rebuilding Process

During this putrid season sitting in 14th place in the Western Conference with a 15-34 record, it makes sense for the Blazers to continue stashing draft capital and develop their young core of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe by providing them extended minutes. I expect them to explore trade options with Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon, and it is just a matter of which team is willing to pull the trigger. 

Jerami Grant - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 21.3 RPG 3.7 APG 2.5

The most likely destination for Jerami Grant is the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento is in 5th place in the Western Conference and is certainly within striking range in a wide-open Western Conference. They had substantial interest in Siakam before the Pacers acquired him, and I would not be surprised if they go after Jerami Grant as a plan B. Grant impacts the game on the defensive end with his 6'7” frame and is not ball dominant, which fits their system perfectly. Fox and Sabonis will still be able to facilitate the offense, while Grant would fill in a similar role to what Tobias Harris does for the Sixers. Grant is having a fantastic season individually, averaging 21.3 PPG on an efficient 46/40/80 (FG%, 3PT%, FT%). In addition to what he adds on the court, Grant could also be a mentor for Keegan Murray, who has a bright future in the league. The Kings could be legitimate contenders with a starting five of Fox, Huerter, Keegan, Grant and Sabonis, and Monk off the bench. Another team to look out for in the Grant trade talks is the Mavericks, who need better wing play around Kyrie and Doncic. 

Kings Receive: Jerami Grant and a 2024 2nd-rounder

Blazers Receive Harrison Barnes, Davion Mitchell, a 2026 first-round, and a 2029 first-round draft pick

Malcolm Brogdon - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 15.9 RPG 4.1 APG 4.7

After his short tenure in Boston, Portland acquired Brogdon this past summer in the massive Damian Lillard trade, and many believed they would trade him immediately. Even though Jason Quick from The Athletic reported that Malcolm Brogdon is happy with his situation in Portland, there is a market for a player of his caliber. It is more probable the Blazers end up trading Grant, but they may receive an offer they cannot refuse for Brogdon. I believe the team that will ultimately make an extremely strong bid for Brogdon is the Knicks. Even though they are blistering hot after getting a much-needed wing piece in Anunoby, they are in a great spot to further improve the roster. Ever since the trade, it is clear that the Knicks needed to clear out some ball dominant guards to pave the way for Brunson to dominate. Brunson is having an unbelievable season, and it will be fun to watch him come postseason. Brogdon would ultimately add some needed playoff experience, and lead the second unit. His efficiency as a scorer and ability to facilitate would immediately impact this team, and I think he will also play well alongside Brunson because of his shooting ability. The Knicks have expressed a desire to trade Evan Fournier and Quinten Grimes, and I think that is a fair asking price for Brogdon with a 2024 first-round pick.

Blazers Receive: Evan Fournier, Quinten Grimes, and a 2024 first-round pick

Knicks Receive: Malcolm Brogdon

Sixers Go All-in on DeRozan

Demar DeRozan - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 22.0 RPG 4.1 APG 5.4

The Sixers were unexpectedly one of the league's best teams through the first couple of months of the NBA season, with arguably a top-three duo in Maxey and Embiid. There was a lot of doubt if the team could compete with the departure of Harden, and they proved that they were still the same Sixers by continuing their regular season dominance. Last week in Golden State, Embiid sustained a significant MCL injury in Golden State, which now severely alters the Sixers' approach to the deadline and the rest of the season. Everyone expected the Sixers to pursue a star-caliber player with the assets received in the Harden trade. Now, the team can either wait until free agency to pursue a star player, essentially throwing the season away, or acquire one at the deadline and hope Embiid is ready to come playoff time. I think there is optimism Joel will return for the playoffs, and with that being the case, Morey will have to make a move at the deadline to help a struggling Sixers team. The Sixers have dropped five out of their last six games without Embiid, and the acquisition of Derozan would keep the Sixers team afloat until the playoffs. Before the injury, I thought that DeRozan was not the perfect fit for the Sixers team, but with limited scoring options, a DeRozan-type player with elite scoring ability would drastically help this team. If Morey trades for DeRozan, it will enable the Sixers to be competitive in a series against the Celtics and Bucks if Joel returns. The expiring contracts from the Harden trade will open cap room for the Bulls, providing them with financial flexibility. Pairing these expiring contracts with draft picks can drastically help a team start the rebuild process.

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Bulls Receive: KJ Martin, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris, a 2026 Clippers first-round draft pick, and a 2024 second-round pick 

Sixers Receive: Demar DeRozan

Thunder and Mavericks Acquire Veteran Forwards from Nets

The Nets have been quite a disaster this season, sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a 20-28 record. Since blowing up their big three in KD, Kyrie, and Harden, the direction of the Nets has been confusing. They do not have a lot of draft picks, and their roster is not remotely good enough to make a deep playoff run. The hope was that Bridges, Simmons, and Claxton, with a decent supporting cast of Cam Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Dorian Finney-Smith would be able to be competitive, but that has not been the case. Simmons shockingly has not been able to stay on the floor, Bridges has not lived up to the breakout season hype, and the supporting cast has been unable to carve out solid roles for themselves. As previously mentioned, the Nets have so many guards who get minutes that it has been hard for players to mesh with one another. The Nets will begin to regain some of that draft capital by trading Dorian Finney-Smith, Royce O’Neale, and Dinwiddie and acquiring some larger forwards to play alongside Bridges and Simmons.

Dorian Finney-Smith (DFS) - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 9.1 RPG 4.8 APG 1.4

Dorian Finney-Smith has carved out a role for himself as a veteran who can play defense and space the floor. DFS was a crucial piece in the Maverick's western conference finals run in 2022, and many contenders have expressed interest in him for that reason. His per-game averages may not look that enticing, but many contenders are in the market for players to fill a niche role to complete their roster. According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, the Nets have rejected a package of two first-round picks for DFS, which signifies his market is heating up. The Thunder are in the best position to acquire DFS because of the amount of picks at their disposal. They currently sit in the 2-seed and need veteran experience, having the second youngest roster only behind the Spurs. They are playing excellent basketball right now with a 34-15 record, and DFS would be a solid fit, adding playoff experience to the team. The Thunder have two decent wings in Jaylen Williams and Luguentz Dort, but DFS will add veteran leadership while spacing the floor, which provides more room for Shai and Chet to operate. With the acquisition of DFS, the Thunder will still have more than enough assets to pursue a superstar in the future. They should package a first-round pick, a pick swap, and former 11th overall pick Ousmane Dieng to acquire DFS. The Nets are very thin at the forward position, and Dieng could turn into a nice piece if the player development team does their job. Another team to look out for who may make an offer for DFS is the Lakers.

Nets Get: Ousmane Dieng, Aleksej Pokusevski OKC 2025 first-round pick, and an OKC 2029 first-round pick swap

Thunder Get: Dorian Finney-Smith

Royce O’Neale - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 7.0 RPG 4.5 APG 2.9

Royce O’Neale fills a similar “three-and-d” role on the court as DFS, but his trade value is much lower. If I were a GM, I would pursue Royce over DFS because of the value. Both 30-year-olds have similar averages, almost identical shooting splits, and similar defensive metrics. A team that would benefit from the addition of Royce is the Dallas Mavericks. Since losing DFS in the Kyrie trade, ironically, they have not had a solid wing to accompany Doncic. The Mavericks should try to capitalize on the buy-low opportunity for the veteran, as he would be effective in their rotation. Grant Williams has not filled the wing role as the Mavericks expected, and the addition of O’Neale would help round out the starting lineup for a team that likes to play small. The Mavericks would only have to give up a young player like Oliver-Maxene Prosper and a second-rounder for Royce, and that would be worth it for them. The Mavericks sit in the 8-seed with a 26-22 record and need to add pieces to jump in the standings. 

Nets Receive: Oliver-Maxene Prosper, Seth Curry, and a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick

Mavericks Receive: Royce O’Neale

Spence Dinwiddie - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 13.0 RPG 6.0 APG 3.4

Throughout his career, Dinwiddie has been a journeyman playing for four teams, including two stints with the Brooklyn Nets. He had an excellent season in 2020 with the Nets, averaging 20.6 PPG and 6.1 AST, and has been working hard to get back to those figures. Dinwiddie has always been a great playmaker, and in the right system, he might have a lot left in the tank. Over the last few seasons, however, he has been very inefficient as a shooter, and I would like to see him get back to being more aggressive instead of settling for contested threes. Earlier this month, it seemed like a trade for D’Angelo Russell (Dlo) was likely, as the Lakers had substantial interest in Dinwiddie, DFS, and Royce O’Neale. However, Dlo has recently played himself out of those trade talks, averaging a blistering 22.7 PPG and 6.0 AST a game. The Lakers are still looking to make moves, but I believe Dlo will be a Laker for the remainder of the season. They would still greatly benefit from the acquisition of Dinwiddie, having proved to be an effective role player during his stint with the Mavericks. He could lead the second unit and provide much-needed rotational minutes for the Lakers. 

Nets Receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent

Lakers Receive: Spencer Dinwiddie and a PHX top-15 protected 2027 first-round pick

Both Bogdanovic and Dejounte Murray Stay Put in Atlanta

The Hawks are one of the teams on the brink of blowing up their roster, with the Trae Young and Dejounte Murray backcourt not panning out as expected. The Hawks are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 22-27 record, and they have been the most mediocre team in the NBA ever since they had that conference finals run in 2021. In the last two season the Hawks have had first-round exits with around a .500 regular season both years. Entering the month of January, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic were likely to be traded, with the Hawks struggling immensely. However, the Hawks have been much better since those rumors arose and are currently on a four-game winning streak. In addition, Murray has been playing the best basketball of his career over the last month, including two clutch game-winners. With this recent turnaround, the Hawks will keep their roster intact for the remainder of the season and hope to catch fire for the rest of the season.

Mavericks Acquire PJ Washington

PJ Washington - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 13.6 RPG 5.1 APG 2.2 

The Hornets are in the rebuilding process, as usual, and they are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-37 record. They are trending in the right direction, and dare I say the Hornets might be competitive next year with a top 5 pick next year and a healthy Lamelo Ball, Mark Williams, and Brandon Miller. The Hornets have a group of solid forwards in Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, and Brandon Miller, and it makes sense for them to trade one of them to give more minutes to Miller. Miller just received Rookie of the Month in January, and I expect him to continue to improve every month. He is a very talented player, and I am excited to see how he develops in Charlotte. As mentioned earlier, the Mavericks have struggled immensely on the defensive end, and Washington’s size makes him a great candidate to solve their problem. I think the Hornets would benefit from this move as it gives them more financial flexibility, and probably have to include another good young guard in Josh Green or Jaden Hardy in a deal. 

Mavs Receive: PJ Washington

Hornets Receive: Josh Green, Richaun Holmes, and a 2028 second-round pick

Wolves Reunite With Tyus Jones and Rockets Pursue Kuzma

The Wizards came into the season with the worst NBA roster, and have performed as expected with the second-worst record in the league (9-40). They are at the beginning of a rebuilding process, so there are trade talks surrounding the only two players capable of bringing them draft capital, Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones. The Wizard will definitely explore trade options for these players, as they have no intention of winning over the next couple of seasons. 

Tyus Jones - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 12.1 RPG 2.9 APG 6.3

Tyus Jones is stringing together the best season of his 9-year professional career, averaging a career-high in points and assists and doing it effectively. He has a league-best 7.21 AST/TO ratio and is shooting 50% from the field with a 40% three-point percentage. Tyus is currently on an expiring contract, and the Wizards would prefer to obtain some picks for him instead of letting him walk in free agency. The best fit for him is a reunion with the Timberwolves, who have substantial interest in a backup point guard. The Timberwolves are having an excellent season so far, and they will buy at the deadline with deep playoff run expectations.

Wizards Receive: Kyle Anderson, Shake Milton, and 2024 and 2025 second-round picks

Timberwolves Receive: Tyus Jones

Kyle Kuzma - 2023-2024 Stats: PPG 21.8 RPG 6.5 APG 4.3

The primary reason several teams are interested in acquiring is his favorable contract over the next few seasons. Last off-season, the Wizards re-signed Kuzma to a 4-year $90 million deal, but the structure of this deal was unusual. Typically, teams who re-sign players will have contracts that appreciate over their duration to incentivize players to return. In this contract, Kuzma is receiving a base of $25 million this season, and that annual base declines every year until the contract expires, with him netting $19 million in the final year of his contract. $19 million for a player who averages 20 PPG in the NBA is pennies on the dollar, which is why I expect teams to make strong bids for Kuzma. Executives are linking Kuzma to the Mavericks and the Kings, but I have a bold prediction that the Rockets will be a dark horse in the Kuzma conversations. The Rockets have made it adamant that they want to acquire a star-caliber player to upgrade their roster, and they also have access to a plethora of young players and draft capital. The Wizards are in a complete rebuild, so they will accept the offer with the most potential and picks involved. Based on these criteria, the Rockets can provide a more lucrative package than both contenders. The Rockets will be hesitant to trade Jabari Smith or Jalen Green as they both are promising young players, and Kuzma is probably the best player they could receive without giving either of them up. I think the Rockets have found a gem in Cam Whitmore, who has proven himself in limited minutes, so they will be open to moving on from the 4th overall pick Amen Thompson. The Wizards are a perfect team to take on a project like Thompson, and Houston could provide additional draft capital for an offer that would be tough to turn down.

Wizards Receive: Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, and HOU 2027 first-round pick

Rockets Receive: Kyle Kuzma and Delon Wright