The NBA trade deadline brought us 12 deals over the past 48 hours. It either became an arms race for teams loading up for a playoff run, or an opportunity for others to cut bait and save money amidst a losing season.
The Nets were expected to have some level of activity at the deadline, and the Lakers reached out to Brooklyn to inquire about a Spencer Dinwiddie trade. The Nets, however, chose to keep their team intact headed into the second half of the season.
These teams did not.
Pistons banish Andre Drummond to Cleveland
Cavaliers receive: Andre Drummond
Pistons receive: Brandon Knight, John Henson, and the less favorable of the Cavaliers’ and Warriors’ 2023 second-round picks
The Andre Drummond era in Detroit has come to an end. Drummond has a player option worth $29 million for the 2020-21 season, and the Pistons decided to get out from under it. They picked up players with expiring contracts in the deal, giving them up to $38 million in cap space next summer. The only players with guaranteed contracts next season are Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Luke Kennard and rookie Sekou Doumbouya.
While the Pistons made a forward-thinking move, the Cavaliers are assessing what they have right now. Drummond and Kevin Love are now one of the NBA’s best four-five combos. Which young Cavs prospects will step up and help them?
Rockets super shrink
“We’re not tall, but we’re strong, we’re stout.” — Mike D’Antoni
The Rockets were one of the most active teams at the trade deadline. They traded size for space, sending both Clint Capela and Nene to the Hawks to make room for Robert Covington. Covington, who used to play for the 76ers, is a prototypical three-and D wing. In his Rockets debut against the Lakers on Thursday, he went for 14 points on four-of-seven shooting from deep and had the highest plus-minus (plus-16) of any player on the night.
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The Rockets beat the Lakers with their small-ball lineup. They’ve gone so far in on the three-point shot, rim protection has become a thing of the past.
This is another attempt by D’Antoni and general manager Daryl Morey to bend basketball to their will. The Rockets will be measured by one criteria: whether or not they can build a championship team around James Harden. If this works, it’s genius. If not? They’re running out of answers, and even worse, running out of time.
Knicks host Morris sweepstakes
Clippers receive: Marcus Morris
Knicks receive: 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
Lakers receive: nothing
The most competent thing the Knicks have done all season is create a bidding war between two title contenders. Marcus Morris has been one of few bright spots in an otherwise disastrous Knicks season, averaging a career-best 19.6 points per game as the team’s most efficient three-point shooter by a wide margin. They turned him into hometown hero Maurice Harkless from Queens, and an additional first-round pick, giving them seven over the next four drafts.
That’s good!
The Clippers beating the Lakers to the punch adds Morris to one of the deepest teams in the league, while robbing their rivals of the opportunity to do the same. It’s hard to envision any team beating the Clippers in a seven-game series.
Heat going for gold
Heat receive: Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, Solomon Hill
Grizzlies receive: Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters, Gorgui Dieng
Timberwolves receive: James Johnson
The Heat see an opportunity to make a run for a championship, and they’re going for it. Andre Iguodala hasn’t played all season and wanted out of Memphis. The last time he played basketball, his age was showing on last year’s Warriors. Maybe some time off is what he needed.
Jae Crowder is another tough, two-way wing who gives the Heat some depth. Solomon Hill plays the same role. It might have cost Justise Winslow, but Miami now has enough combo forwards to throw different looks at not just Giannis Antetokounmpo, but also Boston’s combination of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
D’Angelo Russell on the move
Warriors receive: Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota’s 2021 first-round pick (top-3 protected), Minnesota’s 2021 second-round pick
Timberwolves receive: D’Angelo Russell, Omari Spellman, Jacob Evans
For the Wolves and Warriors, this trade is a win-win. D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns immediately become one of the league’s best young duos. The next step is to turn this into a trio and do everything possible to lure Devin Booker from Phoenix.
Meanwhile, the Warriors add to their stockpile of draft picks, now with their own lottery pick this season and Minnesota’s 2021 first-rounder. They also vault themselves right back into championship contention next season, adding Wiggins to their Big 3 of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.