While the once shining NBA free-agent class for this season now appears dim in light of Giannis Antetokounmpo signing the supermax extension, the 2021 NBA trade deadline still has a glimmer.
Although, with the pseudo-March Madness vibrations the play-in tournament provides, there is a drawback. The play-in tournament allows false hope to should-be rebuilding teams. A chance to land on the wrong end of a soul-crushing sweep may sound bleak, but to lesser franchises, the playoff bonus is worth the embarrassment.
Granting mediocre franchises a placebo in the form of a play-in tournament may hinder significant trade talks and perhaps already has. Nonetheless, playoff contenders and one-piece-away franchises will find a way to improve.
In a season where NBA safety protocols dominate the headlines, acquiring a contingency plan seems necessary. Going without a star down the stretch of the season spells slippage in the standings. Winning the NBA trade deadline, now more than ever might translate to excelling in the postseason.
Unfortunately, as alluded to earlier, numerous teams refuse to acknowledge their insignificant place in the league. Admittedly, more names should appear on this list. However, for the sake of not ignoring the ugly truth, we had to consider reality. Pardon the exclusion of a few star players.
Harrison Barnes
Every year, the Sacramento Kings find a way to disappoint. Although the Kings finally have some promising young players, the veterans around the young core don’t fit in the developing timeline.
While the front office probably wants to find a trade partner for 3-point shooter extraordinaire Buddy Hield, it’s the stock of Harrison Barnes which warrants legitimate trade discussion. This development is a shining example of changing the narrative.
I’m old enough to recall when Harrison Barnes was considered the goat (not the GOAT) of the 2016 NBA Finals. Despite the unsatisfactory performance in the 2016 NBA Finals, Barnes found a new home as a max-level free agent for the Dallas Mavericks.
Fast forward three years later to see Barnes traded as a salary dump to the young Kings. In true Barnes’ fashion, the level-headed pro made the best of his situation. The 2015 NBA champion succeeds in his understated role.
While averaging 16 a game with a 17.6 usage rate, he manages to lead the team in true shooting with a .621 percentage. Barnes is the perfect support player and has the athleticism and defensive know-how to teeter a franchise onto playoff contention.
Boston Celtics
Upon losing in the Eastern Conference to the Miami Heat, who eliminated the Eastern Conference bully Milwaukee Bucks, expectations were extremely high. Unfortunately, the Celtics fell below .500 after the loss to the Dallas Mavericks on February 23.
Since the heartbreaking loss, the Celtics recovered with a 5-2 stretch. However, it’s apparent the Celtics have a few issues on the roster. Firstly, Kemba Walker’s health put the team in a compromising position. It doesn’t help the Celtics don’t have any players outside of its stars to defend wings or anyone playing the 4-spot.
Barnes would gel with the Celtics as an ironically young elder statesmen. The former Tar Heel wore more hats than a Lids window shopper. Top 100 ESPN high school recruit to championship experience as a younger player with the Golden State Warriors and the experience as “the guy” in Dallas’s rebuilding situation.
The Celtics must do something this NBA trade deadline to change its fortunes as a bottom-tier Eastern Conference playoff team. Barnes provides relief in the scoring department, but it’s the defense that will extend his worth into the postseason.
See the video below to witness his strength in the post versus Paul George, forcing the elite wing to fade on the right elbow.
The trade
The Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee Bucks blockbuster deal spiked the trade market. Although the situation reeked of desperation, understandably so, the Bucks had to throw in a busload of picks and pick swaps for Holiday’s service.
Rival front offices likely will follow suit of the Pelicans by expecting similar asking prices of their coveted players In light of the Bucks’ challenging position of acquiring talent. The Celtics have numerous picks at their disposal. Perhaps this is the deal where Danny Ainge opens the vault of draft assets.
Consider Tristan Thompson the salary filler to make the trade possible, although it’s not far-fetched to find another suiter desperate for interior defense. Rookie Aaron Nesmith has the new car smell. The rookie might as well be a draft pick since the Kings would control his future for the next 4+ seasons.
Regarding Sacramento’s emphasis on draft picks, this trade has it all without bankrupting the Celtics. Flexibility has kept the Celtics above water for years. With the young core set, in Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum, it’s time to sacrifice some future assets for a third option without health issues on a convenient deal.
Lonzo Ball
Theoretically, the Boston Celtics have a plethora of potential trade proposals for the front office to discuss. Realistically, it’s doubtful Ainge goes all Sean Marks with his draft picks. Now with both scenarios accounted for, it’s time for a reality check.
Soon, the Celtics’ cap situation will shut down hopes of significantly improving without trading either Brown or Tatum. Perhaps Kemba Walker’s knee heals enough for the Celtics to depend on him in the postseason.
However, trading for Lonzo Ball is the best insurance on the 2021 NBA trade deadline market for an aspiring playoff contender. Whether or not Ainge wants to trade center Daniel Theis is beside the point. The defensive versatility Ball showcases immediately compensate for Walker’s deficiencies on the same end.
In the same breath, the combination of Ball’s 3-point shooting and elite passing make for a dangerous offensive player.
The trade
It’s hard to imagine David Griffin, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, to deny such a haul of assets. However, perhaps Ainge doesn’t want to cork the flexibility of future draft assets on a non-star.
Nikola Vucevic
The Orlando Magic haven’t won a playoff series in 11 seasons. Unfortunately, when Orlando failed to miss the postseason six times in between the four playoff berths, they only hit the top-3 pick mark once.
It’s time for Orlando to bottom out for a brighter future. Seemingly traditional, at this point, it’s Magic-esque for a star center to catalyze the rebuilding stage. Although the market for centers isn’t as ripe as years past, potential trade partners lie in the grass waiting for their opportunities.
Nikola Vucevic warrants some bites from teams looking to solidify a spot in the playoffs. While many centers on the wrong side of 30 don’t age well, Vucevic’s game made its best Benjamin Button impression.
Earlier in his career, the Switzerland-born center played the majority of his games in the paint. However, in an impressive turn of events, Vucevic is playing at a historical level. Using Stathead’s database, I went back to the 2010-2011 season to see what player (filtering centers and forward-centers with 260+ 3-point attempts ) has the best 3-point shooting campaign since that season.
Astonishingly, Vucevic’s current campaign lands second out of the 10-season stretch. Shooting 41 percent from deep on 6.5 attempts per game, the two-time all-star commands attention on the trade market. However, will an opposing franchise pay a premium price for someone Orlando places on a grand pedestal?
The trade
Although a perennial champion in his playing career, Michael Jordan hasn’t sniffed the second round’s crevice in his time as an NBA owner. With an apparent star in LaMelo Ball and surprisingly sitting at the 6-seed, it’s time for Jordan to game 6 the trade market.
Now, for the critics who insist on the Charlotte Hornets keeping its picks and building in the draft, we’ve seen it before. It is possible Ball is as good as it gets for a team known for drafting Adam Morrison over Brandon Roy and Michael Kidd Gilchrist over Bradley Beal.
In Vucevic, the Hornets guarantee a playoff berth, and realistically, a home-court advantage this chaotic season. While the Hornets trade four picks in this trade, insurance is included as all three of the first-round picks come with protections.
On the Magic’s end, the franchise gets a young guard in Malik Monk and an expiring contract in veteran center Cody Zeller. Without Vucevic, the Magic can stop with the fake playoff contentions and solely focus on its young pieces and plethora of draft assets.
Victor Oladipo
Despite the ultimate save-your-money-at-all-cost trade, the Houston Rockets found a way to suggest it wasn’t attempting to tank this season. The Rockets offered the two-time all-star a 2-year, $45 million extension earlier this season.
However, according to Oladipo, the Rockets knew he would reject the offer. Perhaps the Rockets extended its proverbial hand for the sake of PR. Thus, making a trade for Oladipo imminent.
Considering the Indiana University alumni hasn’t played at least half a season since his 75 appearances for the 2017-2018 season, any trade partner will expect a discount. Don’t expect the Rockets to acquire multiple first-round picks in any scenario.
However, whatever franchise receives Oladipo’s services acquires his bird rights, which provides an advantage in free agency. While the free agency market isn’t as glamorous as once advertised, a few significant names remain on the market.
Oladipo is either a cheap rental or premature free agency signing, depending on the franchise. One team comes to mind that hasn’t had the best of luck acquiring outside talent during free agency. Perhaps striking before the 2021 NBA trade deadline is the ideal move.
The trade
If you ask the numerous beat writers around the Mavericks, they’ll tell you Dallas won’t make a move at the NBA trade deadline. However, the Dallas franchise doesn’t leak trade rumors. In addition to the Mavericks’ tight-lipped nature, the franchise doesn’t stray away from out-of-nowhere moves; look no further than Kristaps Porzingis.
Besides, trading for Oladipo won’t come with the same risk as acquiring the former disgruntled New York Knick. Rick Carlisle would have another guard at his disposal, and Luka Doncic, theoretically, wouldn’t have to over-exert himself on-ball.
Dallas loses a few second-round picks, James Johnson’s expiring, and trade filler in Wes Iwundu. In return, Dallas acquires a player who perhaps needs a change of scenery along with a star player at the helm. Less pressure on Oladipo, which translates to easier looks for a struggling guard.
If Oladipo excels as the second/third option, then Dallas offers him the appropriate long-term deal. On the negative side, suppose Oladipo leaves Dallas for another team in free agency; Dallas would have only lost two second-round picks, with free agency chances still intact.
Meanwhile, the Rockets continue to collect trade assets along with the opportunity to save money. It’s a win-win for both parties.
Kyle Lowry
Masai Ujiri’s claiming Toronto Raptor favorite Kyle Lowry isn’t on the trade block is as believable as fake Facebook articles. Naturally, you don’t want to tip your hand, especially if the player insists he’d like to stay for the long term.
However, regardless of Lowry’s wishes, perhaps Ujiri has plans for the bigger picture considering this current Raptors’ roster is nowhere near a contender considering the current standings.
The top-tier NBA executive traded away a team favorite before, which provoked groans, cries, and an outright sense of disbelief from Raptor diehards. However, the trade aged as gracefully as a vintage cabernet, with Toronto winning its first NBA championship in franchise history.
Trading Lowry theoretically seems like a no-brainer, but his expiring contract worth $30 million provides a challenge.
I envision two trading scenarios for the 2019 NBA champion: A championship contender looking for the puzzle’s final piece but not looking to pay a premium price long term. Also, a team missing a veteran point guard who won’t mind paying Lowry.
The trade
Cue Diddy’s song, Coming Home featuring Skylar Grey for this trade.
Although embodying the Toronto Raptors’ heart for the past nine seasons, Kyle Lowry is Philadelphia-born and raised. Not only does he originate from the land of the cheesesteak, much like the hip hop from Pennsylvania, his playstyle also replicates Beanie Sigel’s flow, rough around the edges.
Lowry meshes with the defensive focus of the Philadelphia 76ers, and more importantly, proves another playmaking guard with the ability to stretch the floor. Daryl Morey, always thinking of the player, not the draft picks, won’t mind shelling out a late first-round pick to contend on the grand stage.
The Sixers’ offense adds another wrinkle to a statistical blah offense. With Lowry in the lineup, the offense won’t stagnate in the playoffs when the game’s pace dips. Whether or not the Sixers look to sign Lowry for the long term, this trade launches Philadelphia into title contender status in the short term.
The Raptors fanbase, probably feeling melancholy following the trade, will eventually get over it. Tyrese Maxey provides some hope with a few scoring outbursts earlier in the season. Despite the first-round pick looking like it will land in the late ’20s, it’s impressive to get a pick for a past-his-prime point guard.
Who says Kyle Lowry won’t sign back with the Raptors after possibly winning a championship with the 76ers? In all seriousness, this trade makes the most sense out of everything mentioned in this NBA trade deadline breakdown.
All stats appear courtesy of NBA.com/stats, Basketball-Reference.com, and Cleaningtheglass.com
