Making sense of the trade deadline from a Cs perspective - UPDATED
The trade deadline is over, and it's been quite the whirlwind, only the most astute could hope to keep track of the action without a reference, so we thought we'd put one together for you with an eye to how each might affect the Boston Celtics.
Some of the moves have been telegraphed for ages, but there's quite a few surprises already, so without further ado, let's dive in.
Atlanta Hawks get: Jabari Bird
Boston Celtics get: a roster slot
How it affects Boston: FIREWORKS! Just kidding - but the roster spot opened by the Bird move could be quite useful to fill on the buyout market as Eastern Conference foes have upped the ante in moves we'll describe below. Low-key but also quite obviously, the Cs may have won the day without any major moves longer term, as it puts them in pole position for an Anthony Davis deal this summer. The Hawks, however, probably have a handshake deal in place for a return favor in the off chance the NBA's domestic violence protocol does not reward Atlanta with some cap relief should Jabari be found not guilty and pass the league's review - an unlikely outcome at best.
Sources: Despite dealing Jabari Bird, the Boston Celtics will not avoid the luxury tax this season. Boston is now likely to use their MLE to sign a player to a big two-year deal, with the idea of having the second season as part of salary matching in a trade for Anthony Davis.— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 7, 2019
Orlando Magic get: Markelle Fultz
Philadelphia 76ers get: Jonathon Simmons, 2020 OKC first-round pick (FRP), unknown second-round pick (SRP)
How it affects Boston: Not too much, really, in the short term beyond how Philly's earlier moves bolstered their starters, as Simmons can't shoot and has fallen mightily from his success with the San Antonio Spurs. He might be better than much of their previous depth, but he's a clear step down from Fultz, which should tell you all you need to know. The 2020 OKC pick could end up being OK if Russ Westbrook continues his slow decline, though.
With Markelle Fultz now in Orlando, the 76ers essentially traded Jayson Tatum and an unprotected (potential) lottery pick for Jonathon Simmons, a top-20 protected first-round pick and a second-round pick. Not the greatest!— Ben Rohrbach (@brohrbach) February 7, 2019
Los Angeles Lakers get: Mike Muscala
Los Angeles Clippers get: Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley
How it affects Boston: Very little. It won't really affect the Clips or the draft pick Boston controls of theirs, and it doesn't seem likely Muscala would matter much in any AD trade scenario. It does mean a more likely Carmelo Anthony-on-the-Lakers scenario coming to fruition, though, with rumbles that team is interested, as Beasley is reportedly going to be waived and enter the buyout market.
The deal opens a roster spot and gives the Lakers a chance to sign a player in the buyout market. Muscala gives Lakers some shooting too. https://t.co/2g6wyghvig— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019
Memphis Grizzlies get: Tyler Dorsey
Atlanta Hawks get: Shelvin Mack
How it affects Boston: It doesn't.
Can confirm that the Grizzlies are trading Shelvin Mack to the Hawks for Tyler Dorsey. Grizzlies are planning to keep Tyler Dorsey, I'm told.— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) February 7, 2019
Portland Trailblazers get: Skal Labissiere
Sacramento Kings get: Caleb Swanigan
How it affects Boston: These two bigs are long-term projects, so it really doesn't very much at all.
Grizzlies trading Shelvin Mack to Atlanta for guard Tyler Dorsey.— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) February 7, 2019
Toronto Raptors get: Marc Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies get: Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles, and a 2024 TOR SRP
How it affects Boston: It makes the Raptors a little harder to beat, but unless Marc has some defensive skills he's been saving for joining a new squad, this move will be less impactful than the name cache it brings to the table, while also setting up the Raps for a teardown should Kawhi Leonard leave this summer (and he probably will).
Will be fascinated to see how Gasol fits into Toronto's rotation. If he starts, does Serge go back to PF? What does that mean for Siakam? Or is Serge on board with replacing Valanciunas as backup C? Good deal for TOR, like to see Wright get a chance to start in MEM— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 7, 2019
Houston Rockets get: cap relief
Indiana Pacers get: Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin, a SRP
How it affects Boston: It does not!
Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin are having a rough week— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 7, 2019
Sunday: Traded from Blazers to Cavs
Wednesday: Traded from Cavs to Rockets
Thursday: Traded from Rockets to Pacers and waived pic.twitter.com/GSATryBFwA
Memphis Grizzlies get: Avery Bradley
Los Angeles Clippers get: JaMychal Green, Garrett Temple
How it affects Boston: This actually offsets some of the earlier moves the Clips made that might affect Boston's likelihood of receiving their pick this season, as former Celtic Bradley is having one of the worst seasons of his career due to nagging injuries. It also helps LA clear up cap this summer, though, so there's a small chance it could hinder Boston's pursuit of Anthony Davis a tiny bit.
The Clippers will clear $2M in cap space for next season by sending Avery Bradley to Memphis for Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green. Los Angeles currently projects to have $59M in room. Both Temple ($8M) and Green ($7.7M) are on an expiring contract. In... https://t.co/jYIT1SMOiw— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 7, 2019
Milwaukee Bucks get: Nikola Mirotic
New Orleans Pelicans get: Stanley Johnson, Jason Smith, four SRPs
How it affects Boston: Technically part of the Detroit deal from earlier in the day, the Bucks turned Thon Maker into Mirotic for almost nothing, nearly doubling their odds of winning a title in the process. While Mirotic's shooting is a near-perfect fit for what the Bucks lacked, Nikola's defense is notoriously bad against Boston bigs - but it's what his spacing will allow Giannis Antetokounmpo to do that ought to have Cs fans nervous. No panic yet, but Milwaukee just became a much tougher out.
Detroit: I guess Thon Maker is the best we can get for Stanley Johnson— Greg (@gwiss) February 7, 2019
Bucks: lol let’s turn him into Mirotic
Philadelphia 76ers get: James Ennis
Houston Rockets get: 2021 SRP swap rights
How it affects Boston: Not much, as Ennis wasn't much help for the Rockets, a probably-superior team who also needed his ostensible three-and-D skills. The former will definitely improve the 76ers bench, but his defense has gotten so bad, it'll nearly cancel itself out.
RIP to “James Ennis is the sneaky pickup who will replace Ariza” just as “Iman Shumpert is the sneaky pickup who will replace Ariza” is born.— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) February 7, 2019
(I actually agree with the latter)
New Orleans Pelicans get: Markieff Morris, 2023 SRP
Washington Wizards get: Wesley Johnson, cap relief
How it affects Boston: Mostly, it doesn't - at least, not yet. Both of these players aren't going to make a major impact to the on-court fortunes of either team, particularly with Morris out indefinitely with a neck injury. But! A certain team I can think of has a brother due for a new contract who might just find himself in a trade package for another player on the Pelicans this summer should he re-sign in Boston. Not exactly smoke there, but an interesting nugget nonetheless, and there's always the possibility he can end up a buyout candidate for Boston as well. Probably more importantly, this was one of a few signals that John Wall's recent Achilles woes have forced the Wiz to pull the trigger on a likely-overdue rebuild that could see Bradley Beal on the move (in addition to teammates we'll talk about below) that could have bigger implications on Boston's summer plans.
Should the Celtics pursue Markieff Morris if he’s bought out? I would say yes. Am I saying that because I hope his quotes would be as good as Marcus’ quotes?— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) February 7, 2019
Also yes.
Sacramento Kings get: Harrison Barnes
Dallas Mavericks get: Justin Jackson, Zach Randolph
How it affects Boston: Chiefly, it lowers the value of Boston's Sacramento/Philadelphia 76ers pick they stole from the latter team by trading back for Jayson Tatum, as this move ought to translate to a handful of more wins with the added scoring versatility Barnes will bring to the upstart Kings, and perhaps Zach Randolph could be another potential buyout guy to watch. Aside from that, not much.
Zach Randolph appears headed for what will be a sizable buyout market after Sacramento dealt him to Dallas in the Harrison Barnes deal. The Mavericks, I’m told, won’t necessitate that Randolph reports— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 7, 2019
Chicago Bulls get: Otto Porter
Washington Wizards get: Bobby Portis, Jabari Parker
How it affects Boston: Aside from the chuckle-worthy alliteration, it was the clearest sign of a Wizards rebuild being in full swing alluded to above; should Beal end up being dealt to, say, the Los Angeles Lakers, it could signal they've thrown in the towel on the Anthony Davis trade. It could also signal they're beefing up for a summer power play, though.
can’t get over the bulls-wizards trade, just because i keep picturing a whiteboard with “Portis + Parker = Porter” written on it— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) February 7, 2019
Sacramento Kings get: Alec Burks
Cleveland Cavaliers get: Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss, HOU 2019 FRP
Houston Rockets get: Iman Shumpert, Wade Baldwin, Nik Stauskas
How it affects Boston: A slight improvement for the Kings' roster, meaning a likely slight ding on that SAC/PHI pick, as noted earlier in a separate Sacramento deal for Barnes, as well as a slight upgrade for the Rockets, who bolster their odds ever so slightly at a chance to be the team the Cs would face in the finals, should both teams end up in such a scenario (they probably won't).
It was an extremely emotional locker room in Sacramento. Players didn't really have time to process the emotions of the evening. Fox and Jackson played together in AAU. Giles and Bagley looked to Shumpert for mentorship. It will be interesting to see how Sac come out of this.— James Ham (@James_HamNBCS) February 7, 2019
Miami Heat get: Ryan Anderson, cap relief
Phoenix Suns get: Wayne Ellington, Tyler Johnson
How it affects Boston: Mainly, through the possibility of picking up Ellington's shooting as a buyout candidate. With rumbles he's interested in joining the Oklahoma City Thunder upon such an eventuality already in circulation, it's a longshot, but his lethal range from beyond the arc would be a most welcome addition to the second unit should a roster slot open as a result of the Jabari Bird affair.
Like a lot of teams, the C’s should be in on Ellington if he gets bought out. Offer him the entire remaining T-MLE w/ a non-guaranteed second year and an understanding that there’s a good chance he gets that second year money either via AD trade, or the C’s gutting roster for AD.— Ryan Bernardoni F.C. 🔴 (@dangercart) February 6, 2019
This is absolutely brilliant work by the Miami Heat… They drop from $6.3M to just $1.2M over the tax line ($8.0M savings), and put themselves in striking distance of avoiding it altogether, for 2018-19; and turn a $19.2M player option into a $15.6M partial guarantee for 2019-20.— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) February 6, 2019
Detroit Pistons get: Thon Maker
Milwaukee Bucks get: Stanley Johnson
How it affects Boston: The Bucks will need better perimeter defense to beat Boston in the postseason, and they just got some. That of course is not nearly enough, particularly with Marcus Smart's recent steps forward as a sharpshooter, but it helps. It also gives the Pistons an option to go small in ways they haven't had in a long time, though that shouldn't matter much this season (note: this would be aggregated into a larger trade later, noted above - the Johnson era of the Bucks was a brief one).
Pistons are finalizing a trade to send Stanley Johnson to Milwaukee for Thon Maker, league source tells ESPN.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019
Philadelphia 76ers get: Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott
Los Angeles Clippers get: Landry Shamet, Mike Muscala, Wilson Chandler, 2021 MIA FRP, 2020 PHI FRP, 2021, 2023 SRPs
How it affects Boston: In the short term, it makes the Celts' path to the NBA Finals tougher, but far from impossible given the utter lack of bench this leaves the team. Don't be surprised if it is just one of several moves the 76ers make today, though, as they still have a few options to fill out their bare second unit. Longer-term, most of their best players (save Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons) will now be free agents by summer, so this had better work for them, or Boston's longer-term path to the finals just got a lot wider. It also means Boston is less likely to see their obligation from the Clips met this year, as these moves suggest a micro-tank is on that should push the pick into its protected range. That could actually help Boston longer-term, though it also diminishes the value of a potential asset to use in any AD deal.
Are the Sixers the favorites in the East after acquiring Tobias Harris? Marcus Morris doesn’t think so! pic.twitter.com/Ay0OGjWfVa— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 6, 2019
Los Angeles Lakers get: Reggie Bullock
Detroit Pistons get: Svi Mykhailiuk
How it affects Boston: Directly? Not much. This could be an attempt by LA to get assets they think the Pels might prefer to deal for The Brow, but in the grand scheme of things, this hardly moves the needle. Mykhailiuk is probably a slightly worse player, but on a timeline more amenable to the Pistons, who will need younger talent to develop and grow after churning through too many assets in the Stan Van Gundy era.
OFFICIAL: The Pistons have acquired Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a future second-round draft pick from the L.A. Lakers in exchange for Reggie Bullock.— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 6, 2019
Welcome to the squad, Svi! #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/D110r9HVa1
Portland Trailblazers get: Rodney Hood
Cleveland Cavaliers get: Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin, POR 2021 and 2023 SRPs
How it affects Boston: It doesn't, really.
Cleveland will send Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin to the Rockets in the three-way deal, league source tells ESPN. Cavaliers acquired those two guards in Sunday's trade with Portland that sent Rodney Hood to the Blazers.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2019
Chicago Bulls get: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, cash
Oklahoma City Thunder get: cap relief
How it affects Boston: Not...much.
The Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot who was acquired when the Thunder traded ... Carmelo Anthony. The world is just concentric circles. https://t.co/QwI2eOQo2q— Phil Watson (@PhilWatsonFS) February 1, 2019
New York Knicks get: Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan, Wes Matthews
Dallas Mavericks get: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway, Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke, DAL 2021 and 2023 FRPs
How it affects Boston: At present - unknown. It opens up a much more plausible scenario of Kyrie Irving departing in free agency, and of a team that could actually challenge in the East through a number of paths with two free max slots in cap space this summer and a 14% shot at the top pick and an AD trade. But there's plenty of room for the Knicks to Knick things up, and they probably will.
So the Pelicans are trusting Danny Ainge and the Celtics— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) February 6, 2019
And the Knicks are trusting Kevin Durant
And the Lakers are trusting Anthony Davis and Rich Paul
And the Clippers are trusting Kawhi Leonard
And the Mavs are trusting Kristaps Porzingis...
What could possibly go wrong!?!?!
That's all we have for trades this season, but expect a lot of this movement to set in motion buyout candidates Boston may have interest in, including Wayne Ellington and Enes Kanter - now that jabari Bird has been moved to the Hawks, opening a roster spot. Check back soon and often for all the details as they relate to the Celts.
Rival NBA Executives around the league believe Enes Kanter will sign with the Celtics if he is bought out by the Knicks, per ESPN.— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 7, 2019
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