It feels like the NBA's Central Division is in a bit of a holding pattern. Every team is seemingly waiting for the other shoe to drop. In Milwaukee, every game feels like their last chance to keep Giannis aboard. The Pacers are just punting on any time they have without Tyrese Haliburton in the lineup. Detroit is largely ready for the season to start with the pieces they have, and the same largely goes for Cleveland. And the Bulls still can't commit to a rebuild.
But still, everyone pivoted a little bit during the offseason, and these are the moves that these five teams made that aren't being talked about enough.
Chicago Bulls: Trading for Isaac Okoro
Not much to say here, because the Bulls should have been way more active than they were during this past off-season. Seriously, if you're committing to a full rebuild, why is Nikola Vucevic on your roster? Gross.
The best that can be said about Chicago is that Isaac Okoro could be a dark horse bet with more opportunities and a point guard with the size and vision to feed him the ball.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Replacing Ty Jerome with Lonzo Ball
Let's get one thing straight: Ty Jerome will be missed, especially during the regular season. But a team that is flirting with the second luxury apron can only spend so much of their remaining money, and Jerome was sure to demand more than Cleveland could probably afford, even at the $28 million Memphis took him for.
But for that price and hype, Jerome was straight up bad when the chips were down against the Pacers. Replacing him with Lonzo Ball for a completely lateral cost and no draft capital paid out is a win.
Detroit Pistons: Trading for Duncan Robinson
Malik Beasley had the world in his hands — and then made himself untouchable. Even if he is brought back to another team and the Pistons kick themselves by pausing negotiations just long enough to make his services too expensive to afford, I think they did a great job in filling Beasley's shoes.
As far as instant offense goes, Caris LeVert should be in early Sixth Man of the Year discussions. And while replicating Beasley's historic shooting season is nigh on impossible, Duncan Robinson with more opportunity can get
Indiana Pacers: Trading for Jay Huff
Foreshadowing for the Bucks' entry on this list, but are we really surprised that all the movement related to the Pacers has something to do with Myles Turners' departure?
It is heartbreaking that right after losing Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana lost another high-caliber starter in Turner. The Pacers plumbed the depths to try and replace his services, re-signing both Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman. But my favorite move of theirs was trading for young Grizzlies center Jay Huff, whose advanced numbers as a rangy big shot up like a rocket this past season. Don't be surprised at the value he provides, especially once their offense speeds back up with Haliburton after this season.
Milwaukee Bucks: Waiving Damian Lillard
Speaking of Myles Turner, the Bucks pulled off an absolute coup by replacing Brook Lopez with a younger, better version of himself.
But the sneakily brilliant move was how Milwaukee acquired the cap space to get Turner on board: by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard's contract.
Their reckoning for this move will certainly come. But Lillard was just not as good a fit with Giannis as Milwaukee had hoped, and they found a truly creative way to both get rid of the headache of dealing with scheming him and solve for their problems at center. This move will financially come back to bite the Bucks, but for a team whose championship window with their marquee star is closing at an alarming rate, this was the best they could hope for.