Grading Tuesdays Blockbuster Trades
Days before the NBA trade deadline, news in the past year have been either quiet, filled with small transactions, or continuous rumors. However after the trades of Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Norman Powell/Robert Covington to the Los Angeles Clippers. Fans would expect further blockbuster trades to occur near or at the NBA trade deadline.
However to burst that bubble the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers yesterday made franchise-altering trades.
pelicans Acquire Their Top Guard
A week prior to the NBA trade deadline, the New Orleans Pelicans were rumored to be interested in trading for a “top guard” with McCollum, Fox, and Gordon as suggested below being their ideal targets.
However after a couple of days pass on February 8, 2022, Adrian Wojnarowski announced a Woj bomb detailing that the Pelicans and Trail Blazers were in serious trade discussions. Which later resulted in both Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski announcing that the Pelicans have traded Josh Hart, Tomas Satoranky, Nickel Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, a future first-round pick, and two future-second round picks for CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, and Tony Snell.
Image from Blazers Uprise Youtube
Pelicans: After acquiring CJ McCollum, the Pelicans now have a viable big three that when healthy can be deadly on the court as all athletes can score from the three, mid-range, and paint. The only thing I worry about besides chemistry and health is their defense. Moreover, adding an experienced Larry Nance lessens the burden of Zion being out and playing Herb Jones at the four. As the addition of Tony Snell, adds another veteran and athlete that is continuing his career year of shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line.
Although without Zion, this grade can be incomplete but when looking at the overall positives of this trade, the Pelicans added a second scorer and potentially guarantee themselves a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.
Grade: B
Trail Blazers: After trading one their best players away, the Portland Trail Blazers look to be in rebuild mode as they acquire promising players in Josh Hart and Nickeil Walker-Alexander, an expiring contract in Satoransky, and draft picks. However in spite of the notion, that Portland is rebuilding Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that the Blazers will now reshape the roster around Damian Lillard.
If the Blazers can pull off the scenario in which Woj reported and rebuild the roster around Lillard then the grade would increase but for now I believe the Blazers are in rebuild mode and positioned themselves to have a future.
Grade: C+
Kings trade Their Future for Domantas Sabonis
After the McCollum to the Pelicans blockbuster, the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers decided to create a blockbuster trade of their own. By exchanging as mentioned in the tweet above Haliburton, Hield, and Thompson for Sabonis, Holiday, Lamb, and a 2023 second-round pick.
Signaling once again the Pacers are in rebuild mode and the Kings going in a slightly unknown direction.
Pacers: Since the rumor came out that the bottom, East seeded Indiana Pacers were interested in trading their star players and moving towards a rebuild. The primary focus for the Pacers was on what would get in return rather than where LeVart, Sabonis, etc. were going to go. However, in this instance, Tuesday's trade became a tale of destination and assets. As the Pacers got a promising and talented guard in Tyrese Haliburton, a bad contract yet great shooter in Buddy Hield, and an expiring veteran in Tristan Thompson. When looking at the positives to this trade, it is amazing yet confusing how Indiana received Haliburton considering he is having a career year.
Overall, this trade very much looks good on paper but I question the roles each player will play as well as if the Pacers may ship Hield or Thompson away in a separate deal. As Buddy Hield can easily be traded for one first-round pick or multiple. In the end, I like the Pacers acquiring Haliburton because it sets them up to have a promising and lethal backcourt in the future with Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Duarte.
Grade: B+
Kings: Although rumored to be shopping De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley, Harrison Barnes, and Buddy Hield around the league. The Sacramento Kings made the shocking decision to trade their young up-and-incoming prospect Tyrese Haliburton. Which per Woj, “stunned the league”, considering if Haliburton was available teams around the NBA would’ve offered a trade. As you would believe the Kings would trade Fox for Sabonis in similar trade.
For the Kings, acquiring Sabonis creates a dynamic one-two punch with Fox. However, what struck me the most besides trading Haliburton, was that the Kings were struggling on defense this season as they are 24th ranked team defense in the NBA. In addition to that, prior to the trade, the Indiana Pacers are the 26th ranked team defense. Another thing to note in this trade is that the Kings are still loaded at the 4 and 5 with Richaun Holmes, Marvin Bagley, Damion Jones, and Alex Len. So before the NBA trade deadline, the Kings have to move one of the four bigs currently on the roster.
Grade: C
Overall, although the NBA trade deadline is merely a day away, these Blockbuster trades have set the tone for an amazing deadline day.
Thumbnail from the official Sacramento Kings Twitter @SacramentoKings
