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“Dream come true” – Doncic on LBJ duo | 01:26
We’re roughly 24 hours out from the NBA trade deadline in teams’ final chance to reconstruct their rosters for the second half of the season.
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We’ve already had fireworks, with two blockbuster deals going down in recent days including the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis exchange that’s regarded as the most shocking trade in NBA history.
It’ll already go down as one of the biggest deadlines ever. So could there be more major moves in the works?
Foxsports.com.au runs through all the big questions ahead of Friday morning’s 7am deadline (AEDT).
Are Lakers, Mavs done there?
Fresh off the most stunning trade in NBA history that saw the Lakers acquire Luka Doncic to join forces with LeBron James, they’ll now be pondering more moves to round out this roster. The most obvious — and pressing — thing to address is their hole at centre after shipping Anthony Davis to Dallas, leaving Jaxon Hayes as their starting five. Even before moving Davis, LA was already in the market for a centre amid ongoing links to Utah’s Walker Kessler. Reports have indicated Nic Claxton, Robert Williams and Mitch Robinson are bigs to watch on LA’s radar, while Myles Turner, Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valanciunas, Clint Capela, DeAndre Ayton and Jusuf Nurkic are other options on the market. The fifth-seeded Lakers will also be mulling whether it wants to really for go for it this season and put the best possible pieces around Doncic and James, or whether they want to prioritise their next big run with Doncic and the long term. Anything seems possible after the Doncic trade including the possibility that James, 40, is wearing another uniform post Friday despite reports indicating he’s set to stay in LA. You also wouldn’t put it past the Lakers hunting another big fish like Jimmy Butler or Zion Williamson, or a reunion with Brandon Ingram. The Mavericks also can’t be ruled out further tweaking their roster, having already made another trade with Philadelphia for Caleb Martin. Dallas could even look to make another big splash after a report in the Athletic stated they “have dreams of adding Kevin Durant” to its roster. That seems less likely, but after moving Doncic, nothing would come as a surprise.
How about the Spurs?
In all likelihood, San Antonio has made its big swing by landing De’Aron Fox and will be happy to enter the second half of the season as constructed. But considering the Spurs still a plethora of assets including six of their next seven first-round picks and players that’d have appeal around the league like Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan, you couldn’t rule out the possibility of them of making another move. They’re still essentially as well placed as any team in a bidding war for a star after getting Fox — the number two star they’ve craved to pair with Victor Wembanyama and the ideal fit — relatively cheap. There mightn’t be any other names available that interest San Antonio, while it’s a franchise that’s traditionally not been super active or bold in the trade space. But if it could flip some of its names down the roster like Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson for an upgrade, it’d have to look at it.
Do the Warriors land another star?
One of the big teams to watch over the next 24 hours to make a splash, where it feels like anything is possible. Golden State has been engulfed in trade rumours since the off-season, when it was linked to Paul George and Lauri Markkanen as it looks for another true star to pair with Steph Curry. The current roster is stuck in purgatory and might even miss the play-in at this rate, currently sitting in the West’s 11th seed with the improved Spurs just two and a half games behind them. They have a duty to surround Curry with elite talent and maximise the 36-year old’s remaining years as one of the premier players even in the league even if he’s slightly tailed off from his previous enormous heights. Most recently Golden State was linked to Jimmy Butler, but that seems unlikely now after ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Butler has told the Warriors he doesn’t plan to sign an extension with them. Golden State also reportedly had recent conversations with Chicago for Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, with LaVine now a member of the Kings. ESPN’s Shams Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show the Warriors are “legitimately calling about every All-Star player,” so they’re clearly being aggressive. It includes links to both LeBron James and a Kevin Durant reunion in moves that would really shake things up (as if they haven’t already been enough). The Athletic reports Draymond Green could even get dealt to Phoenix in a Durant deal. The Warriors have plenty of tradeable contracts and appealing assets, so what they can get done between now and Friday will be fascinating.
Does Jimmy Butler finally get his trade wish?
The biggest name still on the trade block (or so we think). The Miami-Butler trade saga has been bubbling away since the off-season — a saga that’s gotten ugly in recent times including the Heat suspending the six-time All-Star on multiple occasions for conduct detrimental to the team. It’s meant Butler’s trade value has taken a big hit, while the list of potential landing spots has also shrunk. The team Butler has been intent to get to is Phoenix, but Bradley Beal’s unwillingness to waive his no-trade clause has made that too hard to manoeuvre, for Phoenix would likely have to surrender one of Devin Booker or Kevin Durant. Golden State and Memphis have also been touted as contenders, but Butler, who has a $52 million player option for next season he appears likely to decline unless he’s in the right spot, has indicated he won’t sign extensions with those teams. It’d be brave to go all in for Butler if he hasn’t indicated he’d be willing to commit long term to you and turns out to be a half season rental. The Rockets were also seen as a contender, but have a good thing going and seem more likely to ride things out with this group, while Dallas couldn’t be ruled out given it’s in reconstruction mode. Butler’s $48 million contract makes any deal problematic, given it’d require the other team to include a star player or multiple pieces — all while the 35-year old’s value has tanked amid concerns around his fit in a locker room and ability to stay healthy.
What do the Suns do?
There’s a shake up trade waiting to happen here. Phoenix has been one of the big underachievers this season despite optimism it could challenge for one of the top seeds in the West. That comes despite this team going all in on this roster by surrendering virtually all its draft assets to get Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, so they’re pot committed to this team and trying to make it a success. They’ve been heavily linked to Jimmy Butler as the team the star forward is seemingly determined to get to, but Bradley Beal’s unwillingness to waive his no-trade clause plus his suddenly scary $50 million contract makes any deal complicated. And so it makes Durant a trade candidate if Phoenix does anything major, with recent reports indicating the 36-year old could be moved amid links to a Golden State reunion plus Houston and Dallas. Jusuf Nurkic is another name to watch after falling out of favour with Mike Budenhozler including talk of a swap with Washington big man Jonas Valanciunas. Anything feels possible for the Suns right now given they’re clinging onto a play-in spot.
Is Josh Giddey’s future in Chicago as Bulls shift gears?
Josh Giddey’s Bulls already shook things up, sending Zach LaVine to Sacramento as part of the three-team De’Aron Fox deal. They mightn’t be done wheeling and dealing there, with reports suggesting they’re open for more business. Nikola Vucevic is the name that keeps coming up in trade rumours including talk that multiple deals have fallen apart. Perhaps the price hasn’t been right for Chicago to pull the trigger. Giddey himself faces an uncertain future. We know the Aussie is set for a bumper contract extension this off-season, so if the Bulls don’t want to commit big finances to Giddey, it might opt to pull the plug now and deal the 22-year old. If not, Giddey will have a greater opportunity to shine with more usage with LaVine out of town in the ideal spot for him to secure a bumper extension. Coby White is the other name that’s emerged as a trade option, with Orlando linked as a potential destination. Whatever else the Bulls do would likely be to prioritise bringing in long-term assets and making the roster worse to help their draft position.
Who’s selling?
There’s the obvious teams then the circumstantial teams. The likes of Washington, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Utah and Portland will be active in discussions around dealing their veterans as part of a tanking race and to generally bring in long-term assets. Perhaps the most fascinating name one of those teams who could be on the move is Cam Johnson in a great sell high opportunity for Brooklyn as it prioritises its long-term future. Where Johnson lands — and there’s many interesting options — could have an impact on the title race. The Pistons are the only team with cap space — $14 million — and could use that to bring in another piece or take on a bad contract and extra picks. Philadelphia has had a disaster season and after moving Caleb Martin could continue to sell more pieces and effectively throw this season. Similarly, the Hawks are going to struggle without Jalen Johnson for the rest of the season and could look to move their veterans like Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Pelicans have had their own nightmare campaign and could also explore deals for their veterans or players with value otherwise and make a genuine run for Cooper Flagg. Talk of a Brandon Ingram trade has died down but remains a possibility, while New Orleans could pull a stunner and part ways with Zion Williamson for the right price or even CJ McCollum.
