NBA Notebook: Winners and losers from NBA Trade Deadline

While the NBA trade deadline was a quiet one for the Celtics, there was still plenty of action across the association with several big names changing uniforms. Let's reflect on the variety of moves and try to determine which teams helped and hurt themselves the most in the present and the future. 

WINNERS

Denver Nuggets
In: 2020 first-round pick (via Houston), Jordan McRae, Keita Bates-Diop, Gerald Green, Noah Vonleh
Out: Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangómez, Jarred Vanderbilt
Analysis: They did not do much in terms of upgrading the on-court product now but moves on the fringes helped net them a first-round pick from Houston in 2020. Malik Beasley is a fine player but he wasn’t going to play more than 15-20 minutes per game when this team was healthy and the Nuggets couldn’t afford to pay him his next deal this summer. They managed to get a first-round pick for him and Juan Hernangomez (another likely FA loss) and then swing Shabazz Napier for a shooting guard replacement in Jordan McRae in a separate deal. That leaves their bench unit in great shape for the postseason and helps them walk the line perfectly between playing for the now and playing for the future. The Celtics probably wished they went this route with Terry Rozier at this time one year ago (trade a useful bench player that’s leaving anyway in the summer).

Malik Beasley
Analysis: The shooting guard was in line to be squeezed in restricted free agency by Denver thanks to a tight free agency market and limited opportunities in a Nuggets uniform to improve his value while playing behind Gary Harris and Jamal Murray. Not only does Beasley get a great opportunity in this deal in Minnesota, but he also goes to a franchise now that has no choice other than to pay up to keep him. The Wolves gave up a first-round pick to get him (and others) and they won’t have any cap space this summer to replace him with someone beyond the mid-level exception. What could have been a modest payday come July should turn into a hefty one if Beasley can post some big numbers in the next two months.

Miami Heat
In: Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, Solomon Hill
Out: Justise Winslow, James Johnson, Dion Waiters
Analysis: This is a move I actually like a lot more for the Heat in the future than the present. There’s no question they upgraded some for the here and now by adding two useful wings in Iguodala and Crowder over an injured Winslow. However, the bigger win for the team is opening up some significant salary-cap space for this summer (and perhaps beyond) by dumping the overpriced salaries of Waiters/Johnson for 2020-21. They opened up nearly $30 million in salary cap room with this move and could maneuver their towards a max slot this summer if they choose to go that route. Being able to get off of that type of money without sacrificing any draft capital or cheap young talent is very impressive by Pat Riley. Winslow could turn into a strong weapon still at age 23 but for now he’s an injury-prone player with potential making $13 million a year for two more seasons. If he does pan out, Memphis is going to have to pay him big money again soon. The Heat were wise to sell on him before his stock had a chance to sink lower.

Golden State Warriors
In: Andrew Wiggins, 2021 top-three-protected first-round pick (via Minnesota), 2020 second-round pick (via Dallas), 2020 second-round pick (via Utah), 2021 second-round pick (via Denver), 2022 second-round pick (via Toronto)
Out: D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman, Willie Cauley-Stein, Glenn Robinson III, and Alec Burks
Analysis: The Warriors had to give up a first-round pick to open up the cap room to sign D’Angelo Russell in the first place last summer but they likely made a winning bet here, securing a lightly protected first-round pick for next year from one of the franchises in the NBA. Golden State doesn’t think Towns/Russell will turn things around in a season and if that’s the case, it’s highly possible they will have top-5 picks in back-to-back drafts in 2020/2021. The x-factor in all this is Andrew Wiggins, which looks on the surface to be one of the worst long-term contracts in the league at the moment. The Warriors clearly believe if they use him as a third/fourth option they will be able to maximize his strengths more and time will tell on that front. Ultimately, that contract will probably be used as the matching money in a trade offer for the next big All-Star name that comes available (along with young player/picks). The bottom line here? The Warriors maximized their leverage by making this deal with the Wolves in the midst of a 13-game losing streak. Whether or not Wiggins ends up being a drag on the franchise is what could turn the deal from good to great.

Los Angeles Clippers
In: Marcus Morris, cash considerations, 2022 second-round pick (top-55 protected via Atlanta)
Out: Moe Harkless, 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick swap option with New York, 2021 second-round pick (via Detroit), Jerome Robinson, Derrick Walton Jr.
Analysis: This isn’t a splashy deadline but stopping Morris from going to any other Western rivals has to be considered a win. Morris was one of the few Celtics that showed up last season consistently, especially on the offensive end. He will maximize floor spacing around Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and provide some useful rebounding down low as a stretch power forward. The price was fair and the only concern is whether the Clippers have enough defense in the frontcourt to battle with bigger frontlines. There might not be any team out West with better offensive weapons though.

Andre Iguodala
Analysis: I wish I could sit out a full season and still command a $15 million extension at the end of my career. What a legend.

LOSERS

Sacramento Kings
In: Jabari Parker, Alex Len
Out: Dewayne Dedmon, 2020 second-round pick (via Houston), 2021 second-round pick (via Miami)
Analysis: Nothing like having to use two second-round picks to dump the biggest contract you signed in free agency just months before. The Kings have been a mess all year after a surprisingly solid season in 2018-19. Their young players have not taken a step forward as many had hoped. Injuries have plagued the roster. However, a move like this is an indictment of the front office. This Dedmon contract looked like a massive overpay last summer and it only took a month for him to fall out of the rotation for new head coach Luke Walton. The Kings not only had to use assets to dump it but they got nothing of value in return in an expiring contract in Alex Len and a player in Jabari Parker that has not been a winning player (who also has a $7 million player option for next year he will pick up). The entire saga here is just bad management 101 for a team set to extend their playoff drought another year.

Detroit Pistons
In: Brandon Knight, John Henson, 2023 second-round pick (lesser of Golden State’s or Cleveland’s)
Out: Andre Drummond
Analysis: The logic behind this move for the Pistons is a simple one: Avoiding paying Drummond's $27 million salary for next season. While the Pistons brass can’t do anything about Drummond’s value in the present (i.e. literally nothing) this move is more an indictment on waiting too long to sell on a player. Drummond has been a cornerstone of the franchise for several years but he’s literally brought them nothing in eight years. Just two playoff appearances and no playoff wins by a guy they are paying max money to. The current Pistons braintrust didn’t sign that contract, they did wait until the very end of his deal to decide they needed to move him, essentially guaranteeing no meaningful return. A harsh lesson for a franchise in the better to be a ‘year too early or year too late’ mentality. For a franchise that has been plagued in mediocrity for years, they should have moved on when they could have got something for him.

Cleveland Cavaliers
In: Andre Drummond
Out: Brandon Knight, John Henson, 2023 second-round pick (lesser of Golden State’s or Cleveland’s)
Analysis: How can the Cavs and Pistons both be losers in this deal you ask? A quick look at the Cavs frontcourt tells the story here. Cleveland already has $43 million tied up in Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. already for next season and they voluntarily elected to add another $27 million to their payroll in Drummond. This could be one of the best rebounding teams in the league but their perimeter defense with a Love/Drummond frontline should be pitiful against stretch bigs given their lack of versatility. I guess they think they will have a chance to rehabilitate his value but from a team-building perspective it just doesn’t make much sense to me. They are much better off using that money by bringing in a wing.

Atlanta Hawks
In: Clint Capela, Dewayne Dedmon, Skal Labissière, Derrick Walton Jr., 2020 second-round pick (via Houston), 2021 second-round pick (via Miami), cash considerations (via Portland)
Out: 2020 first-round pick (via Brooklyn), 2024 second-round pick (via Golden State), Evan Turner, Chandler Parsons (waived), Jabari Parker, Alex Len, cash
Analysis: It makes sense for the Hawks to try to improve now with the players they have and Capela/Dedmon will be defensive upgrades at the center spot. Still, I just don’t think it is wise to bring aboard $30 million worth of traditional centers into the picture in today’s NBA. That’s a lot of money to spend at a position on non-All-Star level players and with the league trending towards small ball more and more, I’d much rather use my cap space in free agency to bring aboard some good value deals (especially with the suitors with serious cap room) than spend so much in the middle. Hawks will need Capela to show that his big offensive numbers weren’t all due to Harden.