TEAMS MAKE DEALS FOR SHORT AND LONG TERM
The NBA’s annual trade deadline has come and gone, and
Anthony Davis still is a New Orleans Pelican.
Despite weeks of speculation that the superstar forward
would ultimately end up in Los Angeles to play alongside Le-Bron James, general
manager Dell Demps and the Pelicans stood pat and didn’t bite on the Lakers’
offer, keeping their options open for this summer.
But even though Davis doesn’t have a new home just yet, a
handful of big-name players do.
Below are the notable deals that went down leading up to
last week’s trade deadline.
RAPTORS ADD FORMER
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
GRIZZLIES GET: Jonas Valanciunas, CJ Miles,
Delon Wright, 2024 second-round pick
RAPTORS GET: Marc Gasol
ANALYSIS: While not the All-Star he once was,
Gasol, 34, remains one of the most versatile bigs in the league, and he better
positions the Raptors in their fight for a spot in the NBA Finals. He’s one of
just three players (also Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo) averaging at least 15
points, eight rebounds, four assists and a block this season.
FORMER NO. 1
OVERALL PICK DEALT TO ORLANDO
MAGIC GET: Markelle Fultz
SIXERS GET: Jonathon Simmons, first-round pick,
second round pick
ANALYSIS: This obviously isn’t what the 76ers
had in mind when they took Fultz with the first overall pick in 2017, but the
20-year-old guard has played just 33 games due to injury since being drafted,
and Simmons gives them a versatile wing to come off the bench. For Fultz, this
could be the change of scenery he needs to jump-start his career.
MIROTIC HEADS TO
MILWAUKEE
BUCKS GET: Nikola Mirotic
PELICANS GET: Jason Smith, Stanley Johnson, four
second round picks
ANALYSIS: This is a big move for the Bucks, who
rank second in the NBA in 3-pointers made per game and 12th in 3-point
percentage. Mirotic should have no problem finding a role in Mike Budenholzer’s
potent offense, and the Pelicans get future assets to help their rebuild. The
deal also reportedly includes Detroit.
KINGS GEAR UP FOR
PLAYOFF PUSH
KINGS GET: Harrison Barnes
MAVERICKS GET: Justin Jackson, Zach Randolph
ANALYSIS: The Mavericks are trying to
create salary cap space to go after a quality free agent in the
summer, and Jackson has shown flashes of becoming a solid
3-and-D guy during his second NBA season. The Kings wanted a veteran wing
player such as Barnes, who has a player option for 2019-20 and can help the
team with their playoff push. The Kings, who haven’t been to the postseason
since 2006, are currently in ninth place in the West at 28-26.
WIZARDS UNLOAD BIG
MONEY
BULLS GET: Otto Porter Jr.
WIZARDS GET: Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis, 2023
second round pick
ANALYSIS: The news that John Wall will miss the
next 12 months or so with a ruptured Achilles prompted the Wizards to shed
salary, and they did just that by dealing Porter, who signed a four-year, $106
million deal in the summer of 2017. While Porter has mostly underperformed
since being taken third overall in 2013, he’s still just 25, and he could be a
nice fit alongside Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. The Wizards also dealt
Markieff Morris to New Orleans.
SIXERS TAKE A
GAMBLE
CLIPPERS GET: Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler,
Mike Muscala, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks
SIXERS GET: Tobias Harris, Mike Scott, Boban
Marjanovic
ANALYSIS: Rookie Sixers general manager Elton
Brand swung for the fences by adding Harris, who becomes a free agent this
summer but immediately gives Philadelphia one of the best starting lineups in
the NBA. As for the Clippers’ return, Muscala was dealt to the Lakers, but
Shamet has blossomed into a knockdown 3-point shooter, and now they don’t have
to worry about paying Harris. The future is bright for both franchises.
MAVS LAND A
UNICORN
KNICKS GET: Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan,
Wesley Matthews, two first-round picks
MAVERICKS GET: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway
Jr., Trey Burke, Courtney Lee
ANALYSIS: The Knicks get salary cap space to
pursue two max players, while the Mavs get to pair Porzingis with rookie
sensation Luka Doncic. The Mavs look like winners right now, but this could end
up working out beautifully for both franchises.
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