NBA transfer deadline stars
January saw hardly any movement in the NBA transfer market. However, the approaching deadline of Feb. 9 suggests that the final week could turn into a frenzy.
It is easy to classify teams according to their market targets. Thus, there are teams with needs; others that are willing to listen and release players; and finally, franchises that may be considering a “teardown.”
Among the needy are those that can improve but are not far from the target. In the East are teams like the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, and in the West, the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks.
STRENGTHENING TO MAINTAIN AMBITION
In Miami, the big bargaining chip is Kyle Lowry and many have called asking about his situation.
The point guard does not want to leave, but it is clear that for coach Erik Spoelstra he is not untouchable as in five of the last seven games he has not played in the final quarters.
Heat president Pat Riley is not one to shake up the market on the last day, but if there is a position that needs to be reinforced urgently is that of Bam Adebayo’s backup center.
Several names are being bandied about for the position, from Spaniards Willy Hernangomez and Serge Ibaka to Jakob Poeltl and even Jae Crowder.
These players also appear to be linked to a Celtics team that is in the same situation and looking for relievers for Al Horford and Robert Williams.
Brooklyn is overly reliant on the health of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but has a long list of players who would be attractive to other teams in a hypothetical trade.
Joe Harris, Seth Curry and Patty Mills are on that list and in return they would sign someone with playoff experience like the aforementioned Crowder or a Bojan Bogdanovic they could bring back six years later.
Dallas intends to continue surrounding Luka Doncic with more quality players and the most interesting name to trade is Dorian Finney-Smith.
For their part, the Clippers are looking for a point guard. John Wall could leave and the candidates that sound to join are Fred VanVleet and even Chris Paul, who would thus return to what was his home for six years.
NO NEEDS BUT ATTRACTIVE PLAYERS
There are also teams that have their doors open if a succulent proposal for a player arrives. They are franchises like Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards in the East or Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz in the West.
Hawks officials are being asked a lot about Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins, players who could fit perfectly in teams like Golden State Warriors the first one and Utah Jazz the second one. Even the Washington Wizards could be part of the deal by adding a Kyle Kuzma who could leave …..
The Wolves have a clear target: D’Angelo Russell, who has had a great month and could fit in a trade with Miami (for Lowry), Phoenix (for Paul) or Los Angeles (for Wall). He is a free agent at the end of the season, which is a plus.
ROSTER DEMOLITION IN FEBRUARY?
While it may seem frivolous, there are teams that might not wait until the summer to tear down the draft if it’s not working out. For example, the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls may be better off with a good draft pick than playing a play-in.
This usually leads to a lot of departures, also of important players who can become big attractions for ring contenders. Without going any further, in Toronto there are rumors of the departure of VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr. and even Pascal Siakam.
In Chicago it does not seem unlikely that they want to get rid of very high salaries like Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic or DeMar DeRozan.
Not to mention the always-desirable Alex Caruso, whose defensive skills would be perfect for teams like the Nuggets or Knicks.
WITH SUITCASE IN HAND
Many of the names generating the most buzz are point guards, a position in high demand in this market and one that perhaps holds the potential for clean, man-for-man trades without having to juggle packages of players.
Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Alex Caruso, D’Angelo Russell, Chris Paul and even Russell Westbrook, who will be a free agent in the summer? It wouldn’t be unusual for any of them to pack their bags in the next few days.
The two Bogdanovic, Bogdan (Hawks) and Bojan (Pistons), can shore up the roster of a title contender. Alongside them, other outside players with good shooting like Kyle Kuzma, Seth Curry and Joe Harris.
In the inside game, John Collins is the most talked about, but the list is long: Willy Hernangómez, Serge Ibaka, Jakob Poetl, Nikola Vucevic, Jae Crowder…
The countdown has begun and, in the next week, the NBA offices are expected to smoke with a closing market that promises to be exciting.
