5 Teams To Monitor Ahead Of 2024 NBA Trade Deadline
We are less than 48 hours away from Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline at 3:00 p.m. EST. Which teams will I be monitoring the most as the buzzer sounds? Let’s examine five (plus multiple honorable mentions)!
(Note: This is list is not in order … and this isn’t sourced reporting/information. I have as many sources as a New York bagel with cream cheese. Carry on!)
Oklahoma City Thunder:
To me, the Thunder are the most intriguing team this week. They are tied for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference at 35-15. This is the first year of playoff contention for this very young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. General manager Sam Presti holds his cards to his chest as well as any general manager in the league–if you think you have a firm idea of what they’re going to do, you don’t. They’re one of the most tight-lip organizations in basketball.
They have 1,386,908 15 first-round picks plus 22–yes, twenty-two!!!–second-round picks at its disposal, though the majority of the former are protected picks that could complicate matters. Not all first-round picks are created equal. Either way, Presti has the league’s greatest treasure trove of draft capital at his disposal in the first real year that they can push their chips to the table.
Oklahoma City could be in the market for another stretch-big–such as a P.J. Washington or Kelly Olynyk–or another wing who would fit into its system. I don’t think anyone knows what their sense of urgency is or will be come Thursday. But it will make for an intriguing 48 hours to see if this organization will do just that or wait a few more months before making a seismic move. Perhaps the truth will be in the middle?
Boston Celtics:
The Boston Celtics own the NBA’s best record by three games at 38-12, five games ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Boston made their big moves in the offseason, acquiring two-way stalwart Jrue Holiday— a casualty of the Damian Lillard trade–plus 7-foot Kristaps Porzingis. Both players have seamlessly fit in. But the bench can run a little thin. Behind Al Horford, there’s Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet and Sam Hauser with Oshai Brissett, Lamar Stevens, Dalano Banton and Svi Mykhailiuk on the outside-looking-in.
Boston’s top-6 is as good as any in the NBA. But will the Celtics improve around the fringes to improve its bench–particularly behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? They are nearly $6 million above the grotesque $182.8 million second apron, which become far more punitive next season. Thus, this will be the last year they can 1.) aggregate multiple salaries in a trade or 2.) acquire one player using a trade exception.
The Celtics have two trade exceptions–worth $6.2 million and $1.84 million, respectively–at their disposal. If they can find any wing who can fit into the former without having to deplete their bench, then that’s (probably) the best-case scenario.
Philadelphia 76ers:
The NBA’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, recently underwent meniscus surgery that will (potentially) sideline him for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. The Philadelphia 76ers are currently 1.5 games out of the No. 4 spot in the East and remain three games ahead of the Indiana Pacers for the sixth-and-final non-play-in spot.
With Embiid’s injury, how does it approach Thursday’s deadline?
All but three of the 76ers’ 14 standard salaries are expiring salaries–including Tobias Harris ($39.3M), Marcus Morris Sr. ($17.1M), Nicolas Batum ($11.7M), Robert Covington ($11.7M) and De’Anthony Melton ($8.0M). That does not include Paul Reed‘s $7.7 million salary, which will become fully guaranteed in 2024-25 and 2025-26 if the 76ers win one round of the NBA Playoffs. How likely is that without their MVP candidate? Does that influence what they do come Thursday?
We know that Philadelphia wanted to maintain future flexibility this summer for star guard Tyrese Maxey. The most likely outcome could be selling off one or multiple of their aforementioned expiring salaries for future assets (players, draft capital, etc.) while remaining competitive and financially flexible. But for who, exactly? Your answers are as good as mine.
There aren’t really any “big fish” available; the best, “most likely” trade candidate is Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, whose $114 million extension kicks in next season.
The point is: There are plenty of factors to consider with Philadelphia. Daryl Morey has some decisions to make.
Golden State Warriors:
I was admittedly lower on Golden State than the consensus entering the year, but I didn’t anticipate this season being this rough. Coming off an 11-point win over the Brooklyn Nets Monday night, they are 22-25, one game out of the play-in in the West.
Considering they have Stephen Curry, who’s still playing at an all-worldly level at 35-years-old, they have enough incentive to give it one last run. Though Curry, who will turn 36 in March, Klay Thompson (who will turn 34 Thursday) and Draymond Green (who will turn 34 in March) aren’t getting any younger. The Warriors have $117.5 million committed to their famed trio, plus an additional $55 million committed to Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins this season.
In short: Golden State will face monumental decisions are how they’re going to approach the deadline.
Its tax bill is … **gulp** … roughly $186 million. So, like Boston, this will be the last opportunity to aggregate any salaries–big or small–to shift things around. I would expect them to shave some money off their tax bill while improving their frontcourt depth; could flipping Paul (who’s injured) and/or Wiggins on the table? Could even trading a struggling Thompson, whose salary is expiring, be on the table?
I guess we’ll have to wait and see….
Sacramento Kings:
Before we hit on some honorable mentions, let’s talk about the Sacramento Kings, who are currently 29-20 and the No. 5 seed in a bunched-up middle of the Western Conference.
They surprised the league last season by finishing with a top-3 seed and making the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades, despite being pretty quiet at the deadline. They were eventually eliminated in seven games by Golden State in the opening round. But in their first full season with Damontas Sabonis and head coach Mike Brown, they laid the foundation.
While Sacramento hasn’t exactly replicated last year’s magic, they’re still on-pace to finish 49-33. Sacramento missed out on OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, but will still be in play for a bigger wing in addition to some ballhandling to ease the burden off De’Aaron Fox‘s shoulders. Though the question is: How in will they be?
Are they looking to push all the pieces into the middle in a semi-wide open West or are they looking to improve around the fringes? They are below the tax and can move off of Harrison Barnes‘ $17 million, Kevin Huerter‘s $15.7 million and Malik Monk‘s $9.9 million, among other salaries, if they choose to. But what could these aforementioned salaries–plus the pair of first-round picks currently available to trade (2028, 2030)–fetch if they pushed all the chips in the middle?
The Kings don’t need to make a crazy trade, but their perceived interest in Anunoby and Siakam makes me wonder if they’re more willing to take a risk if one’s available, which is why I’m keeping tabs on them over the next 48 or so hours.
Honorable Mentions:
Minnesota Timberwolves — Tied with OKC atop the West and are approximately $8 million below the first tax apron. They don’t need to push all their chips in the middle … yet. But will they, as they expect to be a second apron team next season with Anthony Edwards‘ and Karl Anthony Towns’ kicking in?
Brooklyn Nets — The Nets are 1.5 games out of the play-in and star wing Mikal Bridges is reportedly off the table. Could they looking to stash additional assets by trading Spencer Dinwiddie, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith or, say, Day’Ron Sharpe? Or will they stand pat with this current core?
Memphis Grizzlies — They are in no position to contend at 18-32. This is a lost season. They dealt Steven Adams, but how many of their other players– to clarify, healthy players–will Zack Kleiman look to sell off ahead of Thursday?
Los Angeles Lakers — How many players will LeBron Ja–…I mean Rob Pelinka look to trade to turn their season around? Their roster is flawed and Jarred Vanderbilt, their best perimeter defender, might be gone for the season. How dangerous is James and Co. feeling?
Detroit Pistons — According to reports, they’re leaning toward keeping Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks (leaked as a leverage play?) while having some interest in … Tobias Harris and Zach LaVine? Huh?
New York Knicks — They traded for Anunoby, but still plenty of draft capital–plus Evan Fournier‘s sizable contract–they could move. Plus, could budding guard Quentin Grimes be on the table?
New Orleans Pelicans — The Pels are one of the most talented teams in the West and are tied for the No. 6 seed. They could look to upgrade depth in both their frontcourt behind Jonas Valanciunas plus in the backcourt. But is New Orlans looking to shave salary with C.J. McCollum, Brandon Ingram and forward Trey Murphy III all extension eligible this upcoming offseason? Hmm….
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