Lakers’ plan revealed; OKC address Giddey question; Knicks the big winners: NBA Trade Deadline Wrap
The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, with struggling Aussie star Josh Giddey finally realising his path forward in the league.
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The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, with the Los Angeles Lakers not making a single move.
The same can’t be said for a number of teams in and around the playoffs though, with the Oklahoma City Thunder adding a key veteran while the New York Knicks have emerged as early winners from the deadline.
Read on for the full wrap of all the biggest deals from the deadline!
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LAKERS DON’T MAKE A TRADE... BUT BIG SUMMER LOOMS
The Lakers will be standing pat at the trade deadline — but they could make a big splash in the summer.
That, in turn, will give L.A. an ability to land a big name in the offseason once its three first-round picks are available to be used.
The Lakers had been heavily linked to Hawks guard Dejounte Murray but the recent form of D’Angelo Russell and their reluctance to part ways with Austin Reaves likely made that potential deal a non-starter.
It means LeBron James’ patience will seemingly be tested further, with the Lakers unlikely to repeat last season’s miracle run to the Western Conference Finals and instead target one final big swing in the 2024-25 season.
The Lakers could also make a move in the buyout market, with Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyle Lowry among the available big names.
With one hour to go until the trade deadline, I’m hearing there’s been nothing close to a deal for the Lakers so far this morning.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 8, 2024
GIDDEY QUESTION MARK AS THUNDER ADD VETERAN
The Oklahoma City Thunder are stocking up for their potential playoff run.
OKC is finalising a deal to bring in veteran Gordon Hayward, sending Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic and draft compensation.
Hayward, 33, will join the second-youngest team in the NBA, and likely provide veteran leadership.
Hayward has missed 17 consecutive games with a calf injury but is nearing a return. He’s averaging 14.5 points-per-game this season and could be the piece that helps OKC become contenders.
The big win will also offer the Thunder another ball handler and playmaker to ease the pressure on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, who has had an up-and-down start to his third season in the NBA.
It is unclear at this point whether Hayward will eventually start for the Thunder or help run the second unit.
What Hayward’s presence does do is give the Thunder a dependable veteran option to lean on more in the playoffs if Giddey’s deficiencies become more of a glaring issue in the post-season.
Many experts are speculating once Hayward is fit he will permanently push Giddey to the bench.
However it’s not all bad news for Giddey with many expecting the Thunder would have attempted to trade him away before the deadline.
Josh giddey is cooked https://t.co/nzwDVyC3i3
— - (@__dylo) February 8, 2024
DEJOUNTE MURRAY, BRUCE BROWN STAYING PUT
One of the biggest names on the board is staying put.
Dejounte Murray’s name was flying around in trade rumors over recent weeks, but Atlanta is keeping the guard.
ESPN reported the news that Murray will not be traded prior to the deadline.
Murray, 27, is having a career year averaging 21.4 points and 5.2 assists per game.
The same goes for Bruce Brown Jr., who had been the subject of trade speculation ahead of the deadline but will be staying at Atlanta.
MAVERICKS MAKE A BIG SWING
The Mavericks are loading up.
Dallas acquired PJ Washington from the Charlotte Hornets for Grant Williams, Seth Curry and a first-round pick, the Athletic’s Shams Charania reports.
Washington’s had a solid year averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Williams, 25, has benefited from an uptick in minutes this season, averaging a career high 8.1 points.
That was not the only move Dallas made, also trading Richaun Holmes and draft compensation for Washington’s Daniel Gafford.
With rookie big Dereck Lively II injured the Mavericks added a much-needed rim protector and lob threat who will be an ideal fit alongside Luka Doncic and a perfect complementary option with Lively once he returns.
NETS MAKE TWO MOVES AS DINWIDDIE SET TO ENTER BUYOUT MARKET
The Raptors are making another trade, with Toronto trading Dennis Schroder to the Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie.
Schroder, 30, averaged 13.7 points-per-game with Toronto this season.
Dinwiddie’s name was frequently mentioned in trade rumors after struggling to find a consistent role with Brooklyn.
According to Shams Charania, the Raptors are planning to waive Dinwiddie to avoid a $1.5 million upcoming contract bonus.
The same went for Royce O’Neal, who was traded to the Phoenix Suns for salaries and three second-round picks according to The Athletic.
It was part of a three-team deal that saw the Grizzlies send David Roddy to the Suns for a pick swap.
KNICKS CONTINUE TO FORTIFY ROSTER
The Knicks raided the NBA’s worst team to solidify themselves as a contender.
The team acquired Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanovic from the Pistons ahead of the deadline, according to multiple reports.
Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two future second-round picks are part of the package heading to Detroit, ESPN.com reported.
Burks exploded for 25 points in 28 minutes against the Kings on Wednesday and gives the Knicks another scoring threat.
Bogdanovic is averaging 20.2 points-per-game this season and is shooting 41.5 percent from three-point range
The Knicks are big winners.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 8, 2024
Needed more scoring and Bogdanovic and Burks fit perfectly next to the engines Brunson and Randle. Both can get hot. Both can create if needed at some time or another to give Brunson a breather.
Crazy how deep New York is now.
SIXERS CREATE SPACE FOR POTENTIAL LOWRY MOVE
The rumour house is heating up.
The Sixers traded Danuel House and a second-round pick via the Knicks to the Detroit Pistons.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the move gives the Sixers the “salary cap cushion” to sign buyout players after the deadline, including potentially Kyle Lowry if he is available.
Specifically, the 76ers created $4.3 million in cap space as part of the traded player exception.
The Sixers create a $4.3 million TPE with the Danuel House Jr. trade to Detroit.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) February 8, 2024
As mentioned previously, keep an eye on the buyout market now that they've cleared roster spots and have some $$ to work with.
BEVERLEY ANNOUNCES OWN TRADE
Elsewhere, it wasn’t Adrian Wojnarowski or Shams Charania breaking this one.
Instead, Sixers guard Patrick Beverley took to his ‘Pat Bev Pod’ Twitter account to announce he was being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
It was later reported by Charania that the Bucks were sending Cam Payne and a second-round pick as part of the deal.
This *strongly* suggests Lowry is getting bought out and is coming to the Sixers. https://t.co/6NNCI3oBbM
— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) February 8, 2024
TWIST AS KEY TRADE TARGET TO STAY PUT
In a stunning twist, one of the top potential trade targets, Miles Bridges, is staying put with the Hornets.
Agent Rich Paul informed ESPN that Bridges will exercise his veto power to block any potential moves.
The 25-year-old is having a breakout season averaging 21.9 points-per-game for a Hornets team that’s in the midst of a rebuild.
PISTONS RELEASE FORMER FIRST-ROUND PICK
In another trade deadline shakeup, the Pistons have released 2020 first-round pick Killian Hayes, according to Shams Charania.
Hayes scored eight points in 28 minutes against the Kings Wednesday.
Hayes flashed some potential last season where he averaged 10.3 points-per-game, but has never found a consistent role.
He may be worth a flier for a team looking for a reclamation project.
RAPTORS’ SHAKE-UP CONTINUES
Meanwhile, the Raptors made another big shake-up.
Toronto is finalising a deal to bring in big-man Kelly Olynyk and guard Ochai Agbaji from the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz are receiving Kira Lewis, Otto Porter and a 2024 first-round pick for the haul.
The Knicks were once linked to Olynyk, who is having a strong year with 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Toronto has already been active with trades in recent months shipping OG Anunoby to the Knicks and Pascal Siakam to the Pacers.
76ERS MAKE A MOVE TO ADDRESS EMBIID HOLE
The 76ers made the first splash of NBA trade deadline day.
Philadelphia acquired Buddy Hield from the Pacers for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz and three second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal came with the Sixers in need of a lift as MVP Joel Embiid had surgery this week to repair a torn meniscus and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
Hield, 31, is averaging 12 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists this season in 25.7 minutes per game.
Hield should slot in the Sixers rotation nicely and could provide a playoff boost for them when Embiid returns.
THIRD DEAL STRUCK AS WOLVES ADD MORRIS
There was action on the trade front even before deadline day as the Minnesota Timberwolves landed Pistons guard Monte Morris.
NBA insider Shams Charania first reported the deal, which saw Morris join the Wolves in exchange for Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr and a 2020 second-round pick.
Minnesota, who sits third in the Western Conference at 35-16, had been actively searching for a more reliable backup point guard to play behind Mike Conley.
And Morris, who Wolves general manager Tim Connelly drafted to Denver in 2017 and played a key role on those Nuggets teams under Mike Malone, brings invaluable playoff experience to Chris Finch’s side.
Two years ago, Morris moved from Denver to Washington along with Will Barton in the deal that saw the Nuggets land Kentavious-Caldwell Pope before the Pistons acquired Morris a year later.
The 28-year old has battled injury in recent times including being limited to just six games this season. Morris is in the final year of a three-season, $27 million deal, set to become a free agent at the end of this campaign.
CELTICS ADD BIG MAN DEPTH
Eastern Conference heavyweights the Boston Celtics have moved to add front court depth, trading for Memphis Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman.
Yahoo Sports Jake Fisher reports the Celtics sent the Grizzlies a 2027 second-round pick and a 2030 second-round pick as well as Lamar Stevens.
Tillman has produced solid numbers for Memphis averaging 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this season.
He will bring much needed depth to the Celtics who have the best record in the league.
— With New York Post
DONE DEALS
Feb 8: Robin Lopez to Kings
Feb 8: Doug McDermott to Pacers; Marcus Morris, a second-round pick and cash to the Spurs
Feb 8: Patrick Beverley to Bucks; Cam Payne and a second-round pick to 76ers
Feb 8: Royce O’Neal and David Roddy to the Suns, three-second round picks to the Nets; pick swap to the Grizzlies (Yuta Watanabe, Jordan Goodwin, Keita Bates-Diop, and Chimezie Metu also traded by Suns, destinations unknown)
Feb 8: PJ Washington to the Mavericks; Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a first-round pick to the Hornets
Feb 8: Dennis Schroder and Thaddeus Young to the Nets; Spencer Dinwiddie and Dennis Smith Jr to the Raptors
Feb 8: Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks to Knicks; Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono and two future second-round picks to Pistons
Feb 8: Gordon Hayward to Thunder; Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic and draft considerations to Hornets
Feb 8: Daniel Gafford to Mavericks; Richaun Holmes and draft considerations to Wizards
Feb 8: Kelly Olynk and Ochai Agbaji to the Raptorsl; Kira Lewis, Otto Porter and a 2024 first-round pick to Jazz
Feb 8: Danuiel House to Pistons
Feb 8: Buddy Hield to 76ers; Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz and multiple second-round picks to Pacers
Feb 7: Monte Morris to Timberwolves; Shake Milton, Troy Brown Jr and 2030 second-round pick,
Feb. 7: Xavier Tillman to Celtics; two second-round picks and Lamar Stevens to Grizzlies
Feb. 7: Simone Fontecchio to Pistons; Kevin Knox and more to Jazz.
Feb. 1: Steven Adams to Rockets; Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks to Grizzlies.
Jan. 23: Terry Rozier to Heat; Kyle Lowry and 2027 first-round pick to Hornets.
Jan. 17: Pascal Siakam to Pacers; Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks to Raptors.
Jan. 17: Kira Lewis Jr., second-round pick to Pacers; cash considerations to Pelicans.
Jan. 14: Marvin Bagley, Isaiah Livers, two second-round picks to Wizards; Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala to Pistons.
Dec. 30: OG Anunoby to Knicks; Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, second-round pick to Raptors.
Nov. 1: Filip Petrusev, cash considerations to Kings; Draft rights to Luka Mitrović to Clippers
Oct. 31: James Harden and PJ Tucker to Clippers; Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, Marcus Morris, two first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, two second-round picks to 76ers
Originally published as Lakers’ plan revealed; OKC address Giddey question; Knicks the big winners: NBA Trade Deadline Wrap
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