NBA Trade Deadline deal tracker
By Staff
Keep up to date on the latest NBA Trade Deadline deals with our deal tracker.
The NBA Trade Deadline hits at 3:00 PM EST, Thursday Feb. 23. From now until then, it’s likely to be a sprint of rumors and fantasies. We are here to keep you grounded in what’s actually been agreed to with our NBA Trade Deadline deal tracker. As deals are reported, we’ll add them here along with a brief analysis. Keep checking in through out the day for updates.
Also, stop by The Step Back on Friday for GIF grades and analysis of winners and losers.
Changing backups
The Houston Rockets are expected to waive Marcelo Huertas for cap room. While Tyler Ennis wasn’t a part of Mike D’Antoni’s rotation in Houston, he’s younger than Huertas and has some upside. It’s a small win-win for both sides.
The Raptors aren’t done dealing
The Toronto Raptors now have depth at every position. Prior to this trade, they were leaning heavily on DeMarre Carroll to be the 3-and-D player they signed to a $60 million contract in 2015. By trading for P.J. Tucker, they get another defender who can knock down 3-pointers and match up with LeBron James to take some pressure off of Carroll in the playoffs. The Phoenix Suns get two more second round picks out of the deal and another stretch four in Jared Sullinger.
In with one stretch four, out with another
The Atlanta Hawks didn’t have much of a need for Mike Scott after acquiring Ersan Ilyasova before the deadline. This move frees up a roster spot and gets Scott’s $3.3 million expiring contract off of their books. At the very least, Scott is another power forward who can space the floor for Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe.
All about the Benjamins
As Albert Nahmad pointed out, this deal saves the Milwaukee Bucks $1.4 million and gets the Denver Nuggets closer to the salary floor. There’s not much more to it seeing as Nikola Jokic and Mason Plumlee are holding down the center position in Denver.
Swapping shooters
In desperate need of 3-point shooting, the Oklahoma City Thunder now have someone who can space the floor for Russell Westbrook in Doug McDermott. By pairing Taj Gibson with Steve Adams, the Thunder also have an imposing front court that can compete on both ends of the floor. The Chicago Bulls add some shooting with Anthony Morrow and Joffrey Lauverge, and finally have a point guard with some upside in Cameron Payne.
The Rockets free up some cap space
The Houston Rockets free up about $3 million in cap space to spend on the buyout market by trading K.J. McDaniels to the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets get closer to the salary floor — about $800,000 shy, according to The Vertical’s Bobby Marks — and have an opportunity to evaluate another young, athletic wing.
The 76ers finally part ways with Noel
The Dallas Mavericks have a history of developing players like Nerlens Noel and they will have the rights to match any offer he gets in the offseason when he becomes a restricted free agent. Acquiring a young center with high defensive potential is a smart move. The Philadelphia 76ers, meanwhile, could buyout Andrew Bogut before March 1. They also get an athletic wing in Justin Anderson, but it looks like the first round pick will become two second round picks.
Another piece of The Process
The Atlanta Hawks added some depth and shooting with the addition of Ersan Ilyasova, presumably to improve their chances of a playoff run. Ilyasova didn’t fit into the long-term plans of the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for giving him up they get some mild draft considerations and Tiago Splitter, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Wizards address a need
The Washington Wizards get some firepower off the bench in Bojan Bogdanovic, who is averaging 14.2 points per game this season on 35.7 percent shooting from the perimeter. He should be a more consistent presence off the bench than Marcus Thornton and Andrew Nicholson, and it’s never a bad idea to pair John Wall with another knockdown shooter. For the Brooklyn Nets, they now have two picks in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft, both of which are expected to be in the 20s.
Sweet Lou
The Los Angeles Lakers moved one of their few trade assets and returned a first round pick in this year’s draft. Corey Brewer is not likely to be an important piece for the Lakers moving forward. The Houston Rockets get Lou Williams, in the midst of a great season. Williams’ shooting and ball-handling should help lift the Rockets bench for their playoff push.
The big kahuna
This was a whopper of a deal with one of the most talented players in the league changing teams. DeMarcus Cousins now pairs with Anthony Davis to give the New Orleans Pelicans one of the most powerful frontcourts in the league. The Kings get a pair of picks and some backcourt help.
Toronto makes their move
Serge Ibaka plugs an enormous hole at power forward for the Toronto Raptors, giving them defense, lineup versatility, and shooting. For the Orlando Magic, they get another first round pick in this year’s loaded draft and Terrence Ross, who provides athleticism and shooting on the wings.
Next: The 30-team NBA mega-trade that solves nothing and makes everyone mad
The trade that started it all
The Portland Trail Blazers get some cap relief, a big man with some potential in Jusuf Nurkic, and another first round pick for this year’s loaded draft. The Denver Nuggets add Mason Plumee whose passing should allow some offensive continuity between him and Nikola Jokic.