3 buyers and sellers as chaotic NBA trade deadline nears
The hours leading up to last year's NBA trade deadline was one of the craziest times the league has seen in recent memory. We saw three-way deals, stars changing teams. Thanks to modern-day social media, we even witnessed would-be trades disintegrate before our eyes.
This year's deadline, only two mere days ago, may not be as crazy, but it might be as sneaky.
The dominance of the Warriors and Spurs has a tangible trickle-down effect on the rest of the NBA.
With the deadline right around the corner -- €”teams have to call deals into the league by 3 p.m. ET Thursday for them to be eligible -- €”organizations are trying to decide if they are buyers or sellers. Except because of the invincible Warriors, the titanic Spurs, the should-be-great Thunder and the Cavaliers, who are a head above everyone else in the East, the buyers' market is small.
Executives around the league will tell you that there aren't many teams who believe they're just a move or even two from progressing into Golden State's or San Antonio's league. Because the top of the league is just so dominant, plenty of teams feel it is in their best interests to hoard assets as opposed to going big. So, unlike in past years, the buyers aren't necessarily the No. 4 or 5 seeds, teams like the Clippers or Mavericks, trying to make a jump. If those squads make a move, it'd merely help them look better as they streamline to second-round playoff exits.
The buyers are the teams trying to sneak into the postseason. And they'll have themselves quite a market, because sellers are everywhere.
Buyers
Cleveland Cavaliers (38-14), No. 1 in Eastern Conference
The Cavs are already in that elite class. They know they can probably walk through the Eastern Conference playoffs with the roster they have now -- €”even if the Raptors have caught fire of late to establish themselves as the East's clear second-best team. Still, the fit with Kevin Love has been awkward ever since the former Timberwolf landed in Cleveland. Could he find himself shipped out elsewhere in a deal that brought back major talent? Parting with Love wouldn't make the Cavs sellers, even if the power forward remains one of the NBA's best 4s. They wouldn't be doing it for the long-term. The only way they trade Love is if they can get better right now. But where could he go? Hmmm....
Boston Celtics (32-23), No. 3 in Eastern Conference
Oh, hi Celtics. Boston has clearly wanted to make a deal for an established star for some time now, but the Celtics haven't been able to concoct a trade of such magnitude just yet. We know general manager Danny Ainge has the ingredients to toss into the pot. The Celtics could have as many as eight first-round picks over the next three years (including a 2017 pick swap with Brooklyn). The team, meanwhile, is just finding its stride on the court, too. The No. 3 seed in the East has won eight of its past 10 and has assets beyond just the picks. Avery Bradley, Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Amir Johnson are all on team-friendly contracts. Then, there's the rest of the crew still on their rookie deals. Boston is in good shape to make a big move, and even if said trade doesn't put the Celtics over the top for this season, it could help position them for more success in the future. Plus, with all the draft picks they own, especially the ones from the Nets, it's not like Boston should be all too worried about finding young, cheap talent to place around stars in the upcoming years.
Sacramento Kings (22-31), No. 10 in Western Conference
The Kings shouldn't be buyers. They shouldn't be doing everything they can to make the playoffs. Sacramento is currently nine games below .500 and 4.5 back of the Western Conference's final playoff spot. Who cares about winning the right to get swept by the Warriors or Spurs in the first round? Just get your lottery pick and cut the head off this disappointing season. That's not how the Kings operate, though. Sacramento will want to make a push for the playoffs, and there is obvious pressure from ownership to make sure the postseason happens for a franchise that hasn't played May basketball since 2006. The Kings tend to think in the short term. It wouldn't be wise to sacrifice any part of the future for the sake of the present, but this organization has done it before. It would hardly be a surprise if it does it again.
Sellers
Atlanta Hawks (31-24), No. 4 in Western Conference
What a difference a year makes. The Hawks, who won an Eastern Conference-best 60 games just last season, may tear the whole darn thing down. Why? Just 'cuz. Atlanta may not be quite as dominant as it was a season ago, but the Hawks are still in strong position to make an Eastern Conference finals run for a second consecutive season, especially if they can position themselves in a top-three seed, for which they're only one game back right now. But blowing up the core would be a forward-thinking move. If Atlanta doesn't believe it can win a championship as constituted -- and this is where the historically great Warriors and Spurs come into play along with the Thunder and Cavs right behind them -- then the front office might as well worry about the Hawks teams one or two or three years down the line. Al Horford will be a free agent this summer and is no guarantee to re-sign. Jeff Teague is on a reasonable contract which will pay him $8 million a year through 2017, and trading him could clear way for the 22-year-old Dennis Schroder to become the full-time point guard. Kyle Korver has a year-and-a-half left on his contract, too, and could bring back long-term value in a deal. It'd be unconventional, but it's supremely possile the Hawks' DNA is far different a week from now than it is today.
Houston Rockets (27-28), No. 9 in Western Conference
Who saw this one coming? Maybe not everyone was as high on the Rockets as those who figured back in the preseason that they could win more than 60 games this season. But this is still a team coming off a trip to the Western Conference finals. Heck, Houston had the second-best record in the West just last year. A 27-28 start to the season was certainly not supposed to happen. Now, it has, and with the Rockets sitting barely outside the West's playoff picture, Houston should be gearing up to make some moves. It could find its way into the postseason, but why should this front office care about a first-round ousting, especially with Dwight Howard likely preparing to decline his player option for next season and hit free agency this summer. If the Rockets could get back value for Howard, that has to be something they'd consider. If someone wants to pay for Ty Lawson, who has been one of the league's biggest individual disappointments this season, then make that happen. The Rockets have to fix whatever went wrong. At the very least, they can start on the fringes right away.
Brooklyn Nets (14-40), No. 14 in Eastern Conference
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Hearing trade rumors about Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez is the front-office equivalent of the scenes in those poltergeist movies when the sinks turn on and off with no one there. We realize there's no one in the Nets' general manager office, right? So, how is it that Brooklyn, who fired Billy King around the New Year, is trying to make actual moves before inserting a GM? The Nets have taken some time to find King's replacement, but if they do end up hiring a GM just in time for Thursday's deadline, they'd have to consider themselves sellers (that is, if there's still enough time for the new guy to make a deal). At 14-40, Brooklyn has no chance at making it into the playoffs. More importantly, it may not draft with its own pick until 2019. The Nets need to do everything they can to acquire picks. And if they could unload Young or Lopez or Joe Johnson or anyone else in deals that bring those back, those are moves that could help return a flicker to their dim future.
Fred Katz covers the NBA for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @FredKatz.