NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 deals that should have happened

The NBA trade deadline has now passed, and the NBA has seen a lot change in the span of just a few hours. But there were are also deals that didn’t go down. Here are five we wish the did.

5. Avery Bradley to the Thunder

On ESPN’s The Jump. Brian Windhorst mentioned that some teams were concerned about Avery Bradley’s health and that may be why he is still a Clipper. But, considering his impending free agency and the Thunder’s need to bolster their wing depth, a deal for Bradley would have made sense. And the cost – maybe second pick, Alex Abrines and Terrance Ferguson – wouldn’t have been that high.

In general, it’s a little surprising that the Thunder didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline. This is a team all-in on this season and that has generally been better of late despite a recent losing skid after Andre Roberson’s injury. And while Bradley is not a Roberson replacement – he’s much smaller, but a better shooter – he takes some of the pressure of Paul George to do everything on the wing. A little extra shooting wouldn’t hurt either.

Maybe the Thunder heard the chatter about Bradley’s injury and were concerned. Maybe they felt what he provides would not have been enough to replace Roberson’s impact. And that’s fair. But for a team going for it now, not doing anything is a potential missed opportunity.