Possible deals for some NBA teams
Atlanta Hawks
In the offseason, Atlanta doled out more than $300 million in new contracts to Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, John Collins and Clint Capela, investing in a roster that was two games away from the NBA Finals. Combined with spending in the 2020 offseason that brought in Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the current (and underperforming) roster is trending toward the luxury tax in 2022-23.
“Certainly, Tony (Hawks owner Tony Ressler) is willing to pay the tax if we’re going to be a contender,” general manager Travis Schlenk told the Atlanta Journal Constitution in the offseason. “I’m probably more aware of that than Tony is, to be honest with you. It’s my job to manage his money. He has a lot more than I do, so I worry more than he does.”
While a significant tax penalty is still a year away, Atlanta will face decisions this July on rookie extensions for Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter, along with Gallinari’s $21.5 million partially guaranteed contract. Keeping all three would put the Hawks over the tax line for the foreseeable future.
Track record of management: General manager Travis Schlenk has made 10 deals during his tenure.
Last regular-season trade: Acquired Lou Williams and $1.35 million, from the Clippers, for Rajon Rondo (March 25, 2021).
Impact trade: Clint Capela from the Rockets as part of a three-team, 12-player trade.
Trade we’d like to see: Solomon Hill and a 2022 first-round pick (top 15 protected) to the Thunder for Kenrich Williams. The Thunder will receive second-round picks in 2022 and 2024 if the first-round pick does not convey this year.
Restrictions/Notes.
The Hawks are $1.9 million under the luxury tax.
Capela cannot be traded due to the extension restriction on his contract.
Hill and Williams have a one-year Bird restriction and have veto power on any trades.
Young and Huerter signed rookie extensions and have a restriction on their contract.
Bogdanovic has a 15% bonus on his contract.
The Hawks own all of their draft picks and have a protected first round pick in the Thunder’s top 14 in 2022. They will become 2024 and 2025 second round picks if they do not transfer.
Boston Celtics
Schroder is averaging a career-high 32.6 minutes and is under the microscope because he signed a one-year contract last offseason. The Celtics are restricted in what they can offer him (up to $7.1 million) on a new contract in July.
The Celtics could keep Schroder or move him for multiple second-round picks or a player with a few years left on his contract. Any team that trades Schroder would have the same cap hit to re-sign him, unless that team has space under the cap.
Trading Schroder, combined with the likelihood of Jaylen Brown missing out on his bonuses (All-Star and team achievement), would put the Celtics under taxed.
Like last season, the Celtics once again have one of the largest trade exceptions before the trade deadline. The $17.2 million exception (they also have $9.8 million and $5.1 million exceptions), created as part of the Evan Fournier to New York sign-and-trade deal, does not have a Feb. 10 expiration date, and the Celtics can wait until the offseason to use it. Using the exception this offseason would come with a significant financial penalty because Boston is on the luxury tax.
Management history: This is the first trade deadline for Brad Stevens in his role as president of basketball operations. The former Celtics head coach has made five trades since taking over in June.
Trade we’d like to see: Dennis Schroder in the Mavericks’ $10.8 million trade exception. The Celtics would get back the Mavericks’ second-round picks in 2022 and 2024. This trade would put the Celtics under the luxury tax.
Restrictions/notes.
Boston has an open roster spot.
The Celtics are $3.7 million over the luxury tax (not including Brown bonuses) and have a projected tax bill of $5.5 million. Boston is not subject to the hard cap and can exceed the $143 million apron.
The restriction for Smart is lifted on January 25.
Robert Williams III signed a rookie extension and has a restriction on his contract.
Brooklyn Nets
Despite using most of its draft assets to acquire James Harden last January, Brooklyn has two valuable trade exceptions worth $11.5 million and $6.3 million. However, to use either, the Nets would have to either waive a player or send one in a trade.
For example, if the Nets acquired a player like Indiana Pacers small forward Justin Holiday, their luxury tax bill would increase from $110.4 million to $142.4 million.
The Nets were one of the most active teams in the acquisition landscape last year, signing Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge. Because they don’t have an open roster spot, the Nets would need to trade a player before the deadline or waive someone to do it again this year.
If the Nets create an open roster spot, look for them to possibly convert the two-way contract of David Duke Jr. who started recently but would not be eligible for the playoffs if he remained on a two-way deal.
Management history: Nets general manager Sean Marks made the Harden trade during the regular season last year, but is not known for changing the roster at the deadline. Marks has made three deadline trades since taking over in 2015.
Impact trades: this was not a deadline deal, but Brooklyn acquired Harden, a former MVP, during the regular season last year. The trade cost Brooklyn Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and Taurean Prince (plus many draft picks). In 2019, the Nets acquired Greg Monroe and a 2021 second-round pick from Toronto. That pick was sent to Detroit in the 2020 trade for Bruce Brown. The Monroe trade is also the last time Brooklyn made a deadline deal.
Trade we’d like to see: Dallas’ Dorian Finney-Smith for an unprotected first-rounder in 2028. The Nets are clearly ‘all-in’, and this would be a big risk considering Kevin Durant, Harden and Kyrie Irving are unlikely to be on the roster in 2028. The upside is that Finney-Smith is an elite defender and Brooklyn inherits his ‘Bird rights, allowing them to re-sign him in the offseason.
Restrictions/notes.
Brooklyn is $35.3 million over the luxury tax and has a projected penalty of $110.4 million.
The Nets sent $5.8 million to Detroit as part of the DeAndre Jordan trade and are not allowed to send cash in a trade.
Brown and Griffin have veto power in any trade because they signed one-year contracts.
The 15% trade bonus for Durant would be voided because it exceeds the maximum salary allowed.
Kyrie Irving has a 15% trade bonus in his contract. Because his contract is below the maximum this season, the bonus is valued at $2.9 million.
Charlotte Hornets
Kupchak and his front office (along with head coach James Borrego) have to decide if the current roster, when healthy, is more than an entertaining team. If not, is there a deal to their liking that could improve? The Hornets acquired Mason Plumlee from the Pistons this offseason, a low-risk move that also saw Charlotte trade second-round picks (57th through 37th) to Detroit. But it was really just a ‘band-aid’ at a center position that has troubled Charlotte for years.
Sending Plumlee and PJ Washington to the Pacers for Myles Turner works financially, but Charlotte is restricted when it comes to sending additional compensation in the draft. The Hornets gave a protected 2022 first-round pick in the top 18 to New York on draft night and can’t move a future first until two years after he transfers.
Management history: since Kupchak took over as general manager in 2018, the only regular-season trade came last season when the Hornets acquired Brad Wanamaker from the Warriors.
Trade we’d like to see: Mason Plumlee and James Bouknight to Indiana for Myles Turner.
Restrictions/Notes.
The restriction for Terry Rozier is lifted on January 30.
Gordon Hayward has a 15% bonus on his contract. The bonus is valued at $11 million.
The Hornets owe New York a first-round pick that is protected among the top 18 in 2022, among the top 16 in 2023 and among the top 14 in 2024 and 2025. They can trade a first, but only two years after the pick is transferred to New York.
The Hornets received $2 million from New Orleans as part of the Devonte Graham signing and trade agreement. They are now restricted to receiving no more than $3.8 million in a trade.
Chicago Bulls
Chicago cannot trade any of its own first- or second-round picks over the next seven seasons and is only $3 million below the luxury tax line, making it difficult to use the $5 million trade exception. The Bulls have the expiring $9.7 million contract of Derrick Jones Jr.
Would a package of Jones and Williams be enough to pry Jerami Grant from the Pistons? Grant would give the Bulls a wing who can defend multiple positions and allow DeRozan to return to the small forward spot.
Front Office Deadline History: Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls’ vice president of basketball operations, began reshaping the roster last March when the Bulls traded two future first-rounders (along with Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr.) to Orlando for All-Star. Nikola Vucevic. In addition to the Vucevic trade, Chicago was also part of a three-team, seven-player trade that saw it acquire Troy Brown Jr. and Javonte Green.
Trade we’d like to see: Derrick Jones Jr, Patrick Williams and Portland’s 2022 lottery-protected first-round pick to Detroit for Jerami Grant.
Restrictions/notes.
The Bulls are $8.4 million under the cap.
Chicago owes Orlando and San Antonio a protected pick in the next few years. Can trade 2027 or 2028 first, but only if protection is lifted on both. The Bulls can trade the 2022 (lottery protected) first they received from Portland as part of the Lauri Markkanen trade. The former is lottery protected through 2028.
The Bulls sent $1.2 million to New Orleans as part of the Lonzo Ball sign-and-trade deal. They are restricted to sending no more than $4.6 million.
Chicago received $1.1 million in the Daniel Theis sign-and-trade deal and is restricted to receiving $4.7 million.
Chicago has a $5 million exception.
Cavaliers
Recent change: As part of a three-team deal, the Cavaliers acquired Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Denzel Valentine.
For the first time in the LeBron James-less era, the Cavaliers are not actively looking to shed contracts for draft picks, but are looking to upgrade the roster at the deadline.
While their core players (Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen) should be off limits, the Cavaliers have $10.4 million in salary in Cedi Osman and Dylan Windler, along with former lottery pick Collin Sexton, to send in a trade.
Osman has three years left on his contract (the final year is non-guaranteed) and is shooting a career-high 41% from three this season.
Sexton is out for the season with a knee injury, but despite that, he could have significant trade value. Sexton will be a restricted free agent this summer, and any team acquiring him in a trade has the ability to give him a qualifying offer, which would give them the right to match any offer sheet. The team would also acquire his ‘Bird rights, meaning they could exceed the cap to re-sign him.
The Cavaliers are also one of the few teams that still have access to all of their first-round picks for the next seven years.
Front office deadline history: general manager Koby Altman is known to be aggressive during the regular season, making 12 trades since taking over in 2017.
Impact trade: Cleveland was one of the winners of the four-team, seven-player trade that saw James Harden land in Brooklyn. As part of the trade, the Cavaliers sent a 2022 first-round pick (via Milwaukee) to Houston and acquired center Jarrett Allen from Brooklyn.
Last regular-season trade: Traded JaVale McGee to Denver for Isaiah Hartenstein and two future second-round picks (March 25, 2021).
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have made deadline deals in each of the past two years, but during their five consecutive trips to the Finals from 2015-2019, Bob Myers and his front office made no regular-season trades. Expect that trend to resume in 2022.
The Warriors’ biggest offseason additions are the returns of injured All-Star, Klay Thompson and former No. 2 pick, James Wiseman. Considering Golden State didn’t have to give up anything, the return of both players is better than any trade the Warriors could make.
Management history: prior to the trade that saw D’Angelo Russell head to Minnesota in 2020, Golden State hadn’t made a regular-season trade in six years.
Last regular-season trade: In two separate transactions, Golden State sent Marquese Chriss to San Antonio and Brad Wanamaker to Charlotte. The trades helped save the Warriors $21.6 million for the luxury tax.
Impact trade: In what was considered an unbalanced trade at the time, the Warriors sent All-Star Russell to the Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a lightly protected first-round pick (top three). Golden State would select Jonathan Kuminga with the seventh pick in the 2020 draft.
Trade we’d like to see: None. The Warriors will certainly explore their trade options, but there isn’t a single trade that could improve a roster that is already championship-ready.
Restrictions/notes.
The Warriors are $39.3 million over the tax and have a league-record $170.3 million penalty. Golden State has three trade exceptions: $2.3 million, $1.9 million and $1.8 million.
Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green each have a 15% trade bonus. The bonus for Curry would be voided.
Golden State owes Memphis a first-round pick that is protected among the top four in 2024, among the top four in 2025 and unprotected in 2026. The Warriors are allowed to trade a 2022 first and a future first, but only two years after the pick to the Grizzlies is passed on.
Lakers
The Russell Westbrook trade in the offseason proved that as long as LeBron James is on the roster, the Lakers will always be a winning team.
The downside, however, is that the Lakers have painted themselves into a corner on how this team can improve.
If you take James (untouchable), Anthony Davis (there have been no discussions about moving him) and Westbrook (there is no realistic deal for him that would improve the roster) off the trade table, that leaves the Lakers with two assets – Horton-Tucker and their 2027 first-round pick. Because of his $5 million salary, Nunn could be added to the group, but the point guard hasn’t stepped on the court this season and has a player option for 2022-23.
Horton-Tucker and Nunn combine to make $14.5 million, meaning the most the Lakers could receive in a trade for the duo is $18.2 million, which is not enough for a player like Jerami Grant of the Pistons unless he is a minimum-contract player.
Knowing that James, 42, likely won’t be on the roster in 2026-27 (and Davis may also become a free agent before then), the big question is whether the front office would consider moving a 2027 first-rounder. Since James entered the league in 2003, his teams (Cleveland, Miami and the Lakers) have traded 15 first-round picks in separate deals.
The Lakers created one roster spot with the Rajon Rondo trade and may explore opening another if a team is willing to take back DeAndre Jordan. Giving up Jordan is less desirable because of the luxury tax impact. The Lakers can attach cash (they have up to $5.5 million available) or a second-round pick to entice a team to accept Jordan’s salary.
Management track record: in his third year at the helm of the Lakers front office, Rob Pelinka has not made a trade during the regular season.
Trade we’d like to see: sorry, Lakers fans, it’s minor. Jordan and $1 million to Orlando for the draft rights to Janis Timma.
Restrictions/notes.
The Lakers are $18.6 million over the tax and have a projected $40.5 million penalty.
The Lakers sent a combined $1.35 million to Memphis and New York in two separate trades. They now have $4.4 million to send in a trade.
James and Davis each have a 15% trade bonus. The bonus is waived for exceeding the maximum salary allowed.
The Lakers owe New Orleans or Memphis a first-round pick in 2022. The Pelicans get it if it falls out of the top 10; otherwise, it goes to the Grizzlies. In addition, the Pelicans have the right to trade first-round picks in 2023.
