After the blockbuster Kyrie Irving trade on Sunday, we have finally seen the beginning of this trade deadline season. No other time in the year can you see the urgency of some teams trying to make a deal that will keep them contending for the rest of the season. There's no other time in the season that we see teams decide what their identity is as an organization, whether they feel they are buying or selling (like Brooklyn soon will in the coming days). The deadline season is like all of the trade buzz of the offseason packed into a few days.
We all thought this year would be a dud for trades, but the past week has done nothing but prove us wrong. There wasn't a single trade until January fifth, which was Noah Vonleh and cash considerations getting sent to San Antonio. With such little news since then, it felt like the big in-season trade would be centered around OG Anunoby. And although we don't think any trade could be as big as what we just saw, here are some possible trades this week. They are rated on how probable we think they are, and how much we want to see them happen.
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Pelicans Send a Herb Jones Package to Toronto for OG Anunoby
Probability: 7/10
How much we like it: 8/10
It's no secret that the Toronto Raptors have been looking for trades that involve Anunoby, and we think he would be a great fit for a few teams. And between the draft capital and depth the Pelicans have, they have more than enough to get the Toronto wing. We also think it would be a great fit given the structure of their team. With this trade, New Orleans gets a reliable player that can keep the team functional when their stars are missing games. A Herb Jones package seems very likely, seeing he would be the next most valuable player on that team, and the Raptors value Anunoby very highly. As for the Raptors, it would assume that they would be okay selling this deadline, and they would probably make at least one more move to shake up the roster.
Bucks Land Jae Crowder to Bring in More Playoff Experience
Probability: 8/10
How much we like it: 8/10
Remember one of the key role players in bringing the O'Brien Trophy back to Milwaukee? Yep, PJ Tucker was a midseason acquisition that was absolutely instrumental in giving the Bucks a winning culture. And looking at the names available on the market, it seems like if Crowder goes anywhere this season, it would be to Milwaukee. Despite being the 2 seed in the East, this Bucks team seems far more beatable than the Bucks of years past. Getting a player like Jae Crowder seems like a no-brainer for a team that looks like it needs one more piece to bring them over the hump.
In Phoenix, Crowder has been sitting out since the beginning of the season as they try to find a trade partner. That partner looked like the Bucks for a while, with a load of reports saying that the two have already engaged in trade talks for the forward. If the Suns can even get a rotational player back in this hypothetical trade, they would be better off than they are now. Therefore, we like this trade for both sides and think it is very likely that we see Jae Crowder in Green and Cream in the upcoming days.
The Spurs Fully Accept the Rebuild and Trade Jakob Poeltl
Probability: 6.5/10
How much we like it: 7/10
Ever since the Spurs sent Kawhi away for DeMar DeRozan, it's impossible to argue that their dynasty hasn't come to an end. One of the bright spots since that time in their franchise (other than Dejounte Murray), has been big man Jakob Poeltl. And seeing that they only have a few more months to make their best case in the Wembanyama lottery, it would only make sense to let go of Poeltl to get the best haul of draft picks possible. There are no advanced conversations that have occurred this season, but it is still a possibility.
The team that seems like the best fit for Poeltl is the Golden State Warriors. During the prime of their dynasty, it felt like they kind of forgot the center position existed (which didn't stop them from winning). That's why drafting James Wiseman at no. 2 in the 2020 Draft felt like a great idea. However, Wiseman hasn't panned out at the beginning of his career. So, it looks like sending a Wiseman-centered package involving second-round picks to San Antonio for Poeltl would be a great upgrade for them.
Kevin Durant Will be on the...
Probability: 5/10
How much we like it: 5/10
Since the Kyrie Irving trade, it looked like Kevin Durant would be the next domino to fall in that organization. Seeing that he had requested a trade in the offseason, it made no sense why he would feel any better without a true second star next to him. However, reports now say Brooklyn's future plans revolve around Durant and building the team around him. Because of this, it seems less likely that Durant will request this trade now that he is the team's sole focus. Of course, if he does get traded, we can't help but speculate where we could see the Slim Reaper suit up next.
On First Take Monday morning, Stephen A. Smith told viewers to keep an eye out for a Kevin Durant trade bringing Celtics star Jaylen Brown to Brooklyn. This trade almost seems like a lose-lose, since neither team would really benefit from this. The Celtics would use their young core that has had time to grow together and has been playing at a championship level for a few years now. For Brooklyn, they lose the all-time talent they have been building their team around for seasons now, and Brown can't carry a team by himself yet, no matter how good he may be. Other teams that we can see at least have conversations with the Nets are the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, although we do not think a Kevin Durant deal will be done before Thursday's deadline.
Written by Adam Kerr
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