Buying or Selling Latest NBA Trade Buzz Ahead of 2023 Deadline
The 2023 NBA trade deadline is now roughly a week away, meaning teams are finally going to have to make a choice between buying and selling in what's become a pair of loaded playoffs races.
While the Atlanta Hawks' John Collins has long been a name mentioned in trade rumors, a surprise team has begun to show interest. The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly shopping multiple starters, and could O.G. Anunoby really draw a Dejounte Murray-like trade package from someone?
It's time to dive into the latest trade rumors, separating what to buy and sell ahead of what should be one of the most fascinating deadlines in years.
Warriors Not Expected to Be Aggressive at Trade Deadline
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The defending champions, just 25-24 overall on the season, are still fighting to stay clear of the West play-in tournament.
Their road woes still haven't been solved (6-18 away from home) and former first-round picks like James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are yet to play major roles for Golden State.
Despite all of this, the Warriors aren't expected to become big buyers at the deadline.
While appearing on The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported that Golden's State's trade deadline "aggression level" isn't viewed as being "very high," noting, "I think their aggression level has to be tempered by the money that any trade would bring in to next year, which is already a complicated year."
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Golden State's roster and luxury-tax payments are projected to hit $483 million next season. Four players alone (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins) will account for $148.1 million in salary, already putting the Warriors well over a $134 million projected salary cap. This doesn't even take into account Draymond Green's future, as the veteran forward holds a $27.6 million player option.
Despite their financial concerns, Golden State should still be looking for low-cost upgrades at the deadline.
Wiseman's salary ($9.6 million) can be used as a money-matcher in deals and would get the Warriors out of any future extension talks. As much as the franchise would have liked him to have become their answer at center by now, injuries have slowed his progress through three years.
Golden State shouldn't be complacent with doing nothing at the deadline. Exploring players who make a similar salary to Wiseman's should be the goal, a list that could include Jakob Poeltl, Alec Burks, Jae Crowder, Josh Richardson, Alex Caruso and Mo Bamba.
Not wanting to add to an already enormous projected bill is understandable, but the Warriors absolutely should be aggressive to upgrade at the deadline.
Buy or Sell: Sell the Warriors doing nothing at the deadline. This roster can use some minor upgrades that won't affect long-term payroll.
Timberwolves Will "Look to Move" D'Angelo Russell
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Once thought to be a centerpiece alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota, D'Angelo Russell could already be nearing his final days with the Timberwolves.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, "rival NBA executives believe the Timberwolves will look to move D'Angelo Russell before the trade deadline".
There's pros and cons to such a move, one that could come down to financial concerns.
The Wolves have climbed back into the West playoff picture even without Towns, going 5-1 over their past six games with Russell averaging 23.5 points, 6.5 assists, 1.8 steals and a 50.9 percent mark from three over this stretch. He's leading Minnesota in assists this season and is third on the team in scoring behind Towns and Anthony Edwards.
Moving Russell now would represent a huge ripple in the franchise, however, and it could interrupt their strong recent stretch.
Of course, Russell's unrestricted free agency is just months away, and the two sides have been apart on previous contract extensions, per Scotto. The Wolves have actually been better with Russell on the bench this year (minus-4.3 swing rating), with the 26-year-old registering a positive rating in just two of his eight total seasons.
Minnesota won't simply look to dump Russell for an expiring contract and draft picks, as this team still needs a point guard—preferably a veteran with playoff experience. Players like Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley Jr. would theoretically work, but the Miami Heat are playing much better as of late with Lowry, and Conley may not be the vocal leader the Wolves crave. Chris Paul would be a perfect fit if the Phoenix Suns were to make him available.
There will likely be plenty of phone calls between now and Feb. 9, even if they ultimately don't lead to anything.
Buy or Sell: Buy the Wolves at least seeing what they can get for Russell, but sell a deal actually happening.
Josh Hart, Jusuf Nurkić Made Available by Blazers
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Following a 9-3 start to the season, Portland has gone just 14-23 since the middle of November.
Damian Lillard and Jerami Grant have been two of the major bright spots in an otherwise disappointing stretch, leaving a lot of question marks surrounding the roster heading into the trade deadline.
As Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports writes, "Portland has given rival teams the impression that it is open to discussing the majority of its players, particularly Josh Hart and Jusuf Nurkić, sources said, as the franchise remains committed to building a playoff contender around Lillard."
While Hart and Nurkić are good, starting-caliber players, this seems like a necessary move to shake up the roster around Lillard and Grant. With Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe possessing the most upside, even trying to get better defensive anchors around such a guard-heavy roster could make a big difference for Portland.
Nurkić is actually holding opponents to a respectable 59.1 percent shooting at the rim this season, but he's not quick enough to shut down pick-and-rolls or come over for weak-side blocks like so many other starting centers in the league.
Hart is the perfect role player who's improving the Blazers by 8.7 points per 100 possessions this season (90th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass), but he's not a great three-point shooter (33.0 percent) and can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The Blazers are committed to Lillard, as they should be. The trade for Grant was a terrific move as well, even if he's probably a third or fourth option on a championship-caliber team.
Finding an upgrade at center, preferably one who can defend all over the floor, would be ideal.
Portland is in a tough spot and needs to do something at the deadline. Hart and Nurkić are good, but tthey could be unfortunate casualties given the Blazers' disappointing 23-26 record.
Buy or Sell: Buy the Blazers shopping both. Anything and everything should be considered to improve this roster around Lillard.
Raptors Could Get 3 1st-Round Picks for O.G. Anunoby
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All eyes will be on the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline, as the franchise has a number of talented players potentially hitting the market given their disappointing 23-28 record.
Among these players is O.G. Anunoby, the 25-year-forward who's averaging 16.9 points, leading the NBA with 2.1 steals and is one of the best defensive wings in the game.
"O.G. Anunoby is a player around the league—there is great interest in him at really probably the most important position in the league at that wing forward," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said. "You know, 6'7" player, two-way player, I think there's a belief that Toronto could get as many as three first-round picks in a deal for Anunoby if they decided to move him."
There's no doubt Anunoby would net a big return for the Raptors. He's under contract for this year and next at a very reasonable $36 million and is a better-than-average three-point shooter. Anunoby would also represent a defensive answer for teams having to go up against wings or bigger guards like Jayson Tatum, Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler or Kawhi Leonard in the playoffs.
That being said, three first-round picks for a player who's never even made an All-Star team and will almost certainly turn down his player option to become an unrestricted free agent in 17 months seems like a huge overpay.
For reference, this is what the San Antonio Spurs got for Dejounte Murray coming off an All-Star season. The Utah Jazz also collected three firsts for Donovan Mitchell, although players like Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Ochai Agbaji were included as well. Anunoby isn't close to either Murray or Mitchell in terms of his overall impact.
Getting two firsts and a useful player in return would be appropriate value. Getting three firsts would likely mean a bad contract gets sent back in return, perhaps in an Evan Fournier-Anunoby swap between the Raptors and New York Knicks.
Anunoby is a terrific player who's only getting better. He's not worth the same amount of draft capital as a player like Murray, however.
Buy or Sell: Sell the Raptors finding a team to give them three firsts for Anunoby.
Pelicans Interested in John Collins
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If the NBA ever adds an award for a player most often included in trade rumors, John Collins should have his name engraved in the trophy.
Whether it be the Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets or Brooklyn Nets, Collins has been linked to a number of teams who could use a starting power forward with hops.
While a lot of these destinations make sense, a new franchise has reportedly shown interest in the 25-year-old—the New Orleans Pelicans.
As Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer writes:
"New Orleans has been repeatedly mentioned as a suitor for Hawks forward John Collins, and the Pelicans have certainly registered their interest with Atlanta, sources said. The teams would seem to be natural trade partners, with the Hawks eager to add defensive-minded players and the Pelicans looking to find greater offense and more shooting, though there has yet to be significant traction between the teams, sources said."
Unless the Pelicans view Collins as an expensive sixth man, this trade wouldn't make any sense for New Orleans.
When healthy, a starting unit of CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Jonas Valančiūnas has been quite good, posting a net rating of plus-10.1 (73rd percentile, per Cleaning the Glass) in 232 total possessions together.
If trying to squeeze Collins into the starting lineup, would Valančiūnas move to the bench? Williamson certainly wouldn't. Creating a jumbo-sized five with McCollum, Ingram, Williamson, Collins and Valančiūnas seems awkward as well, especially since Collins would once again find himself in a limited offensive role.
Collins needs to be in a place where he's a natural fit at power forward and getting more usage than his current role with the Hawks. New Orleans simply isn't it.
Buy or Sell: Sell the Pelicans trading for Collins, who doesn't fit the current roster at all.
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