The Celtics, Raptors and Wizards took different approaches at the trade deadline

Aside from a mega deal that went down right after the All-Star Game, the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline came and went with little activity. Yes, deals happened. Yes, players were moved. And yes, some teams stayed completely pat. But after DeMarcus Cousins became a Pelican, no other stars moved.

After reports indicated he might not be long for Indiana, Paul George is still a Pacer. That might change come summer, but for now he’s not a Laker or Celtic. Jimmy Butler, after some talk that he could end up in Boston, is still a Bull.

The Boston Celtics, because of the sheer number of quality assets they have, were the team most discussed at the deadline. But along with the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards, Boston faced a difficult question: Do we want to go all the way in now with the Cleveland Cavaliers vulnerable? Kevin Love being out six weeks — plus J.R. Smith’s health — make it seems like it’s a good time to push Cleveland. But the question really is: “Do we think we are good enough to beat a LeBron James team four times when it matters before having to beat the Golden State Warriors?”

All three teams answered the question differently.

Boston Celtics

There was no team with a more interesting deadline than the Celtics and they didn’t even make a trade. Coming in, there was some expectation that they may cash in their chips — two of Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart and one of their Brooklyn Nets picks — and turn it into a a star to pair with Al Horford and Isaiah Thomas. Their reluctance to go all in for someone like Butler and George does partly fall on them. But maybe the price required too many players who are good right now, as reported by Zach Lowe.

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Not doing that doesn’t mean that they won’t be able to do in the future. This summer, when both the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers will likely feel heat to consider trading their star again, Danny Ainge still should have the best package. The 2017 first round pick is likely off the table now, but they still have a stable of picks and their best players aren’t going to become old and washed between now and July.

The problem is that Boston has to do something at some point if they want to join Cleveland and Golden State at the top. Horford, their big free agent coup last summer, is 30. Thomas is 28 and headed for a max deal. Their best two players are ready to win now. Brown and whoever they take in the 2017 NBA Draft aren’t going to be at their best until Horford and Thomas are past their primes.

Gordon Hayward could come as a free agent this summer, but he can make more and he’s on a good Utah Jazz team. At some point, unless the Celtics go all in and try to get Butler or George or another star, there’s a chance they never become great. But for now, they’ve delayed a firm answer. They’ll get asked again come June at the draft and July when free agency starts.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto seems to understand where they are. After slipping down to fifth in the East, the Raptors needed something. And with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan in their primes (and Lowry’s free agency looming), now was the moment to act.

Functionally, no team in the East made the type of moves the Raptors did. Serge Ibaka wasn’t peak Oklahoma City Serge Ibaka in Orlando, but he’s shot well this season. He’s also clear upgrade over Jared Sullinger and Pascal Siakam. By RPM, Sullinger would be 68th amongst power forward were he not listed as a center. Siakam would be 92nd out of 93. Ibaka, for what it’s worth, is 26th. And lest we forget that Ibaka was key in the Oklahoma City Thunder coming oh-so-close to taking down the Warriors in last year’s playoffs.

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Toronto also added P.J Tucker, who immediately becomes their best defensive option on the perimeter. All the two deals cost were Terrence Ross — replaced in the rotation by Normal Powell — a first round pick and two second round picks. That’s reasonable.

Now Toronto has a legit 10-man rotation for the playoffs. The future beyond this season does get tricky cap wise. Lowry could leave, and it could all be for naught if Love’s knee heals as expected and the Cavaliers continue to be destroyer of worlds in May. But with these deals, Toronto gave itself its best chance.

Washington Wizards

Of all the East’s best teams, the Wizards needed the most help. John Wall and Bradley Beal have been sensational and Otto Porter Jr. is setting himself to get a max deal this summer. But their bench, to be generous, has been useless to date. Per the NBA’s stats page (and hat tip to ESPN’s Kevin Pelton) the Wizards have been outscored by 4.1 points per 100 possessions in 1,700 minutes where even one bench player is on the floor. There are top-heavy teams like Cleveland or Golden State, but even those teams have found functional role players. Washington, partly due to sinking funds into Andrew Nicholson and Ian Mahinmi, needed any help it could get.

Washington made one move: A deal with the Nets for Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCullough with Nicholson, Marcus Thornton and a lottery protected first headed to Brooklyn. That gets them some bench help. Bogdanovic can score, although he’s a train wreck defensively. McCullough has been lost in Brooklyn this year, but Washington could develop him into something or waive him come the end of the season.

When Washington looks back at this deadline, they might wonder if they did enough. Backup point guard was arguably a bigger need and someone on an expiring deal — Brandon Jennings, Shelvin Mack, Darren Collison, etc. — might have been available for what they gave up to get Bogdanovic. It’s worth noting, too, that the Houston Rockets nabbed Lou Williams for a similar price. And unlike Bogdanovic, Williams is a creator. His “drive and get fouled” style might not hold up in the playoffs, but he would have filled Washington’s needs better.

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The Wizards can at least take some solace in the fact that they did something. Whether it actually will matter is another question.