NBA trade deadline tracker: Knicks moves make them dangerous in the East

The NBA trade deadline is 3 p.m., and while no big names have changed teams, a flurry of minor moves is fortifying Boston’s competition. Here’s a look at what’s been done so far. After this story is published, subsequent deals will be added and analyzed below, much like live game coverage. 

KNICKS GET ALEC BURKS, BOJAN BOGDANOVIC

Knicks receive: Burks, Bogdanovic, 

Pistons receive: Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Quentin Grimes, Ryan Arcidiacono, two second round picks· 

Karalis’ analysis: New York has remade its core with the OG Anunoby deal and now their supporting cast. They needed some scoring and shooting and this gives them two guys very capable of handling that job. 

The Knicks have been hot since acquiring Anunoby at the end of December, going 16-3 this calendar year, which is the most wins in the NBA. If Mitchell Robinson returns from injury in time to make a playoff run, there's a world where the Knicks could be Boston’s toughest competition in the playoffs. 

Do I trust them yet? No, they still have to perform on that stage. But the potential is there with this roster construction. Milwaukee, even with their issues, remains the biggest threat because they have the best two players and a winning history, but Knicks have surpassed the Cavs and Philadelphia right now as the biggest threat to Boston in the East. 

PHILADELPHIA ACQUIRES BUDDY HIELD

Sixers receive: Hield

Pacers receive: Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, three second round picks, cash

Karalis’ analysis: The Sixers got some shooting for the short term and a pretty sizeable expiring deal which can help them become a free agent or trade destination in the offseason. Hield will get a bigger role in Philadelphia than he had in Indiana, where he was sliding further down the rotation after the Pascal Siakam deal. 

Can this help the Sixers stay afloat while they wait for Joel Embiid to return? Maybe a little. He’ll do more than Morris and Korkmaz, and whenever Embiid does come back, he’ll be a valuable shooter to space the floor. I don’t know if this constitutes going for it for the Sixers, but it’s a value play to maybe get a look at how Hield can fit with Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and then decide if he’s worth bringing back for next season. 

The Sixers separately moved Danuel House to Detroit to help create some cap room as well, so they might be players on the buyout market. 

DALLAS MOVES ON FROM GRANT WILLIAMS 

Mavericks receive: PJ Washington, two second round picks

Hornets receive: Williams, Seth Curry, first round pick

Karalis' analysis: Wow that Grant Williams move did not work out in Dallas. They now bring in a different big hoping he'll fit better with Luka Doncic (and Jason Kidd). 

Williams gets to go home to Charlotte, which is cool. He gets to play a little more freely and rebuild some of his confidence in a lower-stress situation. The way things ended in Boston and now Dallas, Williams needs a refocusing. 

TORONTO ACQUIRES KELLY OLYNYK

Raptors receive: Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji

Jazz receive: Otto Porter, Kira Lewis, first round pick

Karalis’ analysis: The pick is the worst of OKC, the Clippers, Houston, and Utah, so it’s not a big deal. The Raptors are apparently stocking up on all the Canadian talent they can find. 

This trade isn’t a big deal other than I think Toronto is just acquiring talent to see where the fit might be as they rebuild. Olynyk, who has been in rumors with Boston, despite them not being very financially feasible, is back in the Atlantic Division. 

OKC GETS GORDON HAYWARD

Thunder receive: Hayward

Hornets receive: Tre Mann, Davis Bertans

Karalis' analysis: I'm mostly here to complete this day of former Celtics changing teams. Hayward brings some experience to a young Thunder team and he can potentially rejuvenate his career next to all that talent. 

Mann gets a change of scenery that might help him as well. He's only 23, so this situation might be better for him than the one in OKC that has blown past the speed of his development.