Our 2021 trade-deadline coverage continues with playoff-hopefuls.
OTHER DEADLINE SECTIONS: Contenders | Lottery-Bound
Dallas Mavericks
Mavericks receive: Wayne Ellington
Pistons receive: Tyrell Terry, 2024 second-round pick
This trade is simple and straight to the point. Surround Luka with players who can consistently make three-point shots. On draft night last offseason, Dallas traded Seth Curry to Philadelphia for Josh Richardson and a second-round pick. A better overall defender than Curry, the Mavericks hoped Richardson would provide a more balanced player for Luka to pair with in the backcourt. Unfortunately for Dallas, Richardson regressed even more from his previous season in Philadelphia (career worst 31% from 3) while the departure of Curry left a massive bruise on the Mavs’ offense.
Wayne Ellington can stop the bleeding… for now. Shooting 42% from deep on 6.5 attempts, Ellington is one of the League’s most overlooked sharp shooters. On an expiring contract worth $1.6 M, Ellington comes cheap. The Mavericks, with a shortage of first-round picks, can use Ellington’s services immediately.
— Rex Foster
Atlanta Hawks
Hawks receive: C Khem Birch
Magic receive: G Brandon Goodwin and 2021 Miami second round pick via ATL
Cavaliers receive: C Bruno Fernando
In a very good way, the hot stretch under new head coach Nate McMillan has thrown the Hawks into major trade-deadline questions. This promising run could rule out a John Collins departure or any other massive shakeup.
At the same time, the Hawks are firmly a tier or two below the top contenders in the East. Pushing the chips in on this season would be folly. GM Travis Schlenk has alluded to the Hawks being somewhat quiet at the deadline, walking the fine line of trying to win now and later. It seems unlikely the Hawks can find something satisfying both needs without shaking up the core or sacrificing their draft future.
But they have enough wiggle room to shore up this year’s squad for low cost. Acquiring Birch gives them a more consistent presence behind Clint Capela, especially on the glass. His expiring deal fits into their plans with Onyeka Okongwu looking at a mulligan rookie season due to injuries. Opening a roster spot now for potential buyouts and another in the offseason is an added benefit. The Miami 2nd is a modest asset for a modest upgrade, and Atlanta isn’t waiting around on Fernando much longer. Cleveland will likely have the room after the deadline to give him some run and make a decision later on.
— Charlie Cummings
Miami Heat
Miami has already dipped their toes into the trade action with the acquisition of Trevor Ariza on March 17th, but with Pat Riley at the helm, they’re always in the mix when it comes to making moves. Currently sitting in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, more upgrades to the roster have to be made if they want to compete with the likes of Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
With few draft picks to work with and the team’s general unwillingness to deal young players, a deal involving the Heat is hard to predict. A player they’ve been linked to for a while is LaMarcus Aldridge, a solid veteran presence that would be an immediate upgrade to Miami’s frontcourt. Despite only appearing in 21 games so far this season, Aldridge is still a double-figure scorer at 13.7 PPG in only 25.9 minutes of action. If Miami believes they’re in position to repeat as Eastern Conference champions this season, acquiring Aldridge should only cost a second-round pick and contracts to match the 2021 unrestricted free agent. — Nick Peloso
Golden State Warriors
Warriors receive G Victor Oladipo, C JaVale McGee
Rockets receive F Kelly Oubre Jr., F Eric Paschall and GSW 2022 lottery-protected first-round pick
Cavaliers receive C Kevon Looney, F Alen Smailagic and 2022 second-round pick via GSW
Did you get all that? It’s very possible this deal could involve a fourth team for Houston to pass on Kelly Oubre too. But let’s not get TOO extreme. Though playing well over the past month and clearly over his slump, Oubre won’t be part of a squad that goes deep this year.
The inability for players not named Steph to create will continue to hamper this team. With Steph out due to a bruised tailbone, the fork in the road now emerges from the woods. The lack of quality on the fringes of the roster is evident, and moves need to be made. With the Minnesota pick, James Wiseman and Jordan Poole, the Dubs have enough youth waiting in the wings to afford dealing a good pick. They’ll have to convince OKC to remove protections and get their pick back, but the guarantee of the Minnesota and a future 2nd for a pick very unlikely to convey is an easy sell.
Oladipo plays strong guard defense like Oubre while bringing an on/off ball element to the perimeter on offense. His Bird rights give the Warriors more buying power in the offseason while over the tax. As a bonus, he can theoretically fit with Steph and Klay in the future. JaVale over Kevon is a clear upgrade at this stage. Injuries have sapped Looney’s efficacy on both ends of the floor. Cleveland will happily facilitate another deal to get a pick and a stab at Smiley. Toronto’s pick is certainly more valuable now than it was a year ago. GM Bob Myers should be willing to give this team a puncher’s chance in the playoffs, even if it doesn’t fit his perfect vision of the future.
— Charlie Cummings
Boston Celtics
It is clear that the Celtics need to make a move at the deadline (or a couple). While Harrison Barnes would be the ideal target, it appears that the Kings are not going to move him at the deadline. Meanwhile, Danny Ainge has hinted that he would like to save the big trade exception for the offseason. This means that the Celtics will pursue smaller moves at the deadline.
In this trade Wayne Ellington will come to Boston, while Carsen Edwards and a second-round pick go to Detroit. Boston’s bench ranks 27th in points per game and 28th in three-point attempts per game. Ellington would boost those numbers immediately, as he is averaging 10.6 points per game, while shooting 42.2 percent from three on 6.4 attempts per game. This gives the Celtics a sharpshooter, while allowing them to save their trade exception for the offseason.
— Mason Urban
New York Knicks
The Knicks have reportedly been in talks to acquire Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner.
“We’ve said it for months… there are people over there who are fans of Oladipo and who see him as a good addition to this roster”@IanBegley joins @JCMacriNBA to discuss the likelihood of a #Knicks trade for Victor Oladipo.
— Knicks Film School (@KnickFilmSkool) March 24, 2021
WATCH: https://t.co/Pk5s1rnaMM pic.twitter.com/4rr1S1584B
The Knicks are reportedly interested in Myles Turner https://t.co/VCOqvHQ5LK pic.twitter.com/LMCzXALJqy
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 16, 2021
However, there is one target that could immensely help the Knicks as they look to secure a playoff appearance. While the idea has only been mildly discussed in trade talks, the guy the Knicks should really go for is George Hill. A 34-year-old vet with extensive playoff experience, Hill can shoot efficiently, set up his teammates, and would be a great mentor for this adolescent Knicks crew.
This would also be a great opportunity to ship off every Knicks fan’s least-favorite player, Elfrid Payton. They would likely have to include at least two second-round picks to move Payton for Hill, but the trade would be more than worth it. Payton’s offensive struggles have hindered the team’s offense and Hill could really open up the floor with his shooting. Hill is also being minimally used for the Thunder, as they have made it clear they want to play their young guys. We all know Tom Thibodeau loves his veterans and while he has not previously played for Thibs (a trait Thibs loves in trade targets) he fits the mold of this Knicks team.
— Mike Perry
Charlotte Hornets
Hornets receive: Myles Turner
Pacers receive: Devonte’ Graham, P.J Washington, Cody Zeller, 2021 first-round pick
Myles Turner would be a terrific fit for Charlotte. Turner, who is leading the NBA in blocks this season, could be the defensive anchor Charlotte needs while they are slowly forming their core for the future. Surrendering Washington and a first-round pick hurts, but Turner is worth it. He can stretch the floor, grab rebounds and protect the rim at a high level. The Hornets, who are in the bottom third in opponent points per game and opponent field-goal percentage, could use an elite interior defender like Turner.
— Rex Foster
Memphis Grizzlies
Grizzlies receive: Kelly Oubre Jr., Kevon Looney
Warriors receive: Gorgui Dieng, Grayson Allen, 2021 second-round pick (via POR)
The Grizzlies have decisions to make. Do they aim to win now, or focus on development? So far, it has seemed like they’ve been trying to do both, which is a dangerous place to be. This trade would put them in a better position to win now.
Gorgui Dieng has hardly played recently, presumably because he’s the biggest trade piece the Grizzlies have. The 31-year-old is having a career shooting year (48% from deep), and his expiring contract makes him very valuable for teams looking to bolster their rosters for deep runs. He provides veteran experience, size and spacing that not many players can duplicate.
Grayson Allen has also had a resurgent year, and his value has never been higher. His defense has vastly improved, and he’s hitting 40% of his threes. Allen is still on his rookie deal as well, meaning the Warriors could easily move him later on if things don’t work out.
In return, the Grizzlies would receive Oubre, a versatile wing who they’ve long coveted. Oubre would solve a few issues for the team. Looney has a player option after this season, and would likely move on. The Warriors would be adding two proven shooters for the final stretch of this season. Oubre hasn’t quite been what they expected, and Looney doesn’t bring anything irreplaceable. They’d likely pair this move with another, higher-end move if possible. Dieng and Allen don’t move the needle enough to make them a championship team again, but make it easier to fit a player that does onto the roster.
— Richmond Bailey Caldwell
Indiana Pacers
Having recently traded for Caris LeVert, Indiana likely is not in the market for any big deals ahead of the trade deadline. 10th in the East is rotten for a team with deep playoff hopes, though, so a trade possibility certainly exists. Defense on big wings is a critical issue that could be directly addressed by a trade. Until T.J. Warren returns, opposing wings are either matched up against a guard or center. Plus, Warren lacks the length and foot speed to consistently both elite wings of the East (Durant, Butler, Giannis, Tatum, etc).
Indiana may kick the tires on Aaron Gordon, whose name consistently circles in Pacer trade rumors. He has the tools to stay step-for-step with and bother elite wings in a way the Pacers are unable to right now. The asking price for Gordon is likely along the lines of either Doug McDermott or Jeremy Lamb, plus G-League talent or future picks. With Edmond Sumner‘s recent development and Aaron Holiday on a healthy contract, Lamb could be the odd one out if a deal is reached.
— Will Deane
Chicago Bulls
It’s time for the Chicago Bulls to move on from Lauri Markkanen. The Raptors are rumored to be moving Norman Powell and/or Aron Baynes and the Bulls could use both. However, it’s unlikely Chicago could get Baynes unless they’re willing to give up Thad Young or Wendell Carter Jr. Powell for Markkanen could work if you throw in Denzel Valentine or Garrett Temple. This helps the Bulls get rid of Lauri without giving up too much. Norm would complement LaVine well and could serve as a ball handler. Baynes and Powell would bring some much-needed leadership.
— Mike Perry
OTHER DEADLINE SECTIONS: Contenders | Lottery-Bound
Leave a comment