2017 NBA Trade Deadline Analysis

Trade deadlines in any sport are an exciting time to see what teams do and where certain players will go. The NBA trade deadline was on February 23 and there were several trades that occurred. There are trades that benefits one team over the other but there are also trades that work out for both teams. A theme seems to be teams trading for proven veterans and the other teams getting young players or draft picks with potential.

Sacramento and New Orleans

The first major trade and probably the biggest trade was on February 20. It was between the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans. Sacramento received Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, a top-3 protected 2017 first-round pick (if Pelicans gets the fourth pick or lower the Kings receive the pick), and a future second-round pick. Buddy Hield has potential being a young Shooting Guard who is 23 and was the sixth pick in last year’s draft. He has averaged 8.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, .396 FG%, .369 3P%, and 20.5 MPG in 58 games this year. Tyreke Evans is an eight-year veteran who has faced injuries the past three seasons and is an expiring contract. Langston Galloway is a 25-year-old Point Guard who has averaged 8.6 PPG, 1.2 APG, and a .377 3P% in 55 games this year. The good for the Kings is they get a 23-year-old Shooting Guard with potential and a first-round pick if the Pelicans do not get a top 3 pick.

The Pelicans received DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi. DeMarcus Cousins is a seven-year veteran Power Forward who is 6`11``. He has had a successful career and is one of the top players in the league. This season he is averaging 27.8 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.4 BLKPG, .454 FG%, And 34.4 MPG in 56 games. Omri Casspi is an eight-year veteran who is a three-point shooter and has faced injuries this year. He is averaging 5.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, .379 3P%, and 18.0 MPG in 22 games. The good for the Pelicans is they get one of the top big men in the game and a great 3-point shooter. The Pelicans gain from the trade immediately while the Kings must wait and see if the pieces they received pan out.

Chicago and Oklahoma City

A trade that occurred on the February 23rd trade deadline was between the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Chicago Bulls received Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne, Anthony Morrow (a veteran with an expiring contract), and a 2018 second-round pick. Cameron Payne is a 22-year-old Point Guard with potential who has averaged 5.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 16.0 MPG in 20 games this year. Joffrey Lauvergne is a 25-year-old Center with some potential who has averaged 5.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, and 14.8 MPG in 50 games this year. The good for the Bulls is two young players with potential and a draft pick with potential.

The Oklahoma City Thunder received Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott. Taj Gibson is a seven-year veteran Power Forward who is averaging 11.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.9 BLKPG, .521 FG%, and 27.3 MPG in 55 games this year. Doug McDermott is a 25-year-old Small Forward who is averaging 10.2, 3.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, .373 3P%, and 24.5 MPG in 44 games this year. The good for the Thunder is adding depth with an inside presence in Taj Gibson and a three-point shooter in Doug McDermott. In this trade the Thunder got the most right now and the Bulls must see if Payne’s potential pays off.

Brooklyn and Washington DC

This trade was between the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards. It occurred on February 22. The Nets received Andrew Nicholson, Marcus Thornton (who has been waived), and a 2017 lottery protected first-round pick (which they are likely to receive because the Wizards are 3rd in the East). Andrew Nicholson is a five-year veteran but is only averaging 2.5 PPG, 1.2RPG, and 8.3 MPG in 28 games this year. The good for the Nets is the first-round pick who could become a young player with potential. The Wizards received Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCullough. Bajan Bogdanovic has played three seasons at Shooting Guard averaging 14.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, .357 3P%, and 26.9 MPG in 55 games this year. The good for the Wizards is they are receiving a good offensive player and a young player with potential. The Wizards get a good player now along with a young player and the Nets must wait to see if their draft pick works out.

Philadelphia and Dallas

This trade occurred on February 23 between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks. The 76ers received Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson, and a 2017 top-18 protected first-round pick (which the Mavericks are not likely to finish above .500 so it will become 2 second-round picks). Andrew Bogut is a 12-year veteran Center who is averaging 3.0 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 BLKPG, and 22.4 MPG in 26 games this year. Justin Anderson is a 23-year-old Shooting Guard with potential who has averaged 6.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 13.9 MPG in 55 games this year. The good for 76ers is a young player with potential and a draft pick with potential. Dallas received Nerlens Noel, a 22-year-old Power Forward who has potential but has faced injury problems throughout his three-year career including missing his entire first year. This year he has averaged 8.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.9 BLKPG, 1.5 STLPG, and 19.4 MPG in 29 games. The good for the Mavericks is getting a young big man with high potential if he can stay healthy. Both teams must wait to see if this trade was good for either of them.

Los Angeles and Houston

Another trade that was between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets occurring on February 21. The Lakers received Corey Brewer and a future draft pick. Corey Brewer is a 10-year veteran Small Forward who is averaging 4.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, and 15.9 MPG in 58 games this year. What is good for the Lakers is having a future draft pick with potential. The Rockets received Lou Williams who is a 12-year veteran Shooting Guard and is having his best season. He is a sixth man who has averaged 18.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, .385 3P%, and 24.2 MPG in 58 games. It appears right now the Rockets got the most right now with a great sixth-man and the Lakers must wait and see what that future draft pick turns into.

Phoenix and Toronto

The final significant trade occurred on February 23 between the Phoenix Suns and the Toronto Raptors. The Suns got Jared Sullinger (who was waived), a 2017 second-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick. The good for the Suns is two future draft picks with potential. The Raptors received P.J. Tucker is a six-year veteran who is a Small Forward and has averaged 7.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.5 STLPG, and 28.5 MPG in 57 games this year. The good for the Raptors is adding depth with P.J. Tucker. Raptors got the most right now and the Suns must wait to see if they got anything in return with the two draft picks.