NBA Rumors: Reviewing Top Reports from 2017 Trade Deadline

The trade deadline for the 2016-17 NBA season has come and gone. Any deals that were going to be made had to be done by 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. For the most part, the weeks of speculation and rumors leading up to that deadline proved to be little more than hype.

Some deals did get done, of course, and even some of those that didn't provided some insight into the potential future. At the very least, we have a better idea of which teams might be serious about buying or selling particular players next season.

Let's take a look at some of the top storylines coming out of the NBA trade deadline.

Mavericks Acquire Noel

One notable deal that did get done just before the deadline dropped was the acquisition of forward Nerlens Noel by the Dallas Mavericks. The move was first reported by The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski:

Ultimately, the Philadelphia 76ers got Justin Anderson, Andrew Bogut, and a first-round pick in return for Noel.

This move tells us two important things. One, the Mavericks are preparing to build to compete in the near future. Noel is the kind of defensive star Dallas can build around on that side of the court, and he should complement the pieces the team already has in place.

Dallas' core moving forward—Dirk Nowitzki, Harrison Barnes and now Noel—looks pretty good.

The move also tells us that the 76ers are looking at a new direction of building their team. Noel, a superb defensive talent, hasn't reached enough offensive potential for Philadelphia's comfort. As Rob Mahoney of SI.com recently explained, the presence of Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor gave the 76ers little use for Noel:

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Noel’s entire NBA career has been clouded by rumor. He was drafted to a Sixers team with only nebulous plans for actual roster construction, only to be joined by two top-three picks at his best position in subsequent drafts. The possibility of Noel being traded was always in the air, and finally made explicit by Noel’s own preseason request to be moved.

"

With this deal, the Mavericks appear to have a clear plan for their next rebuild, while the 76ers are still searching for one.

Mavericks Also Release Williams, Who Could Head to Cleveland

Shortly after the traded deadline passed, the Mavericks announced the release of point guard Deron Williams:

According to Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Mavericks plan to go with rookie Yogi Ferrell as the team's starting point guard. MacMahon and Stein also report that Williams is interested in joining the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Per Stein, some teams believe Williams' mind is already made up:

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Multiple teams interested in Deron Williams tell ESPN they believe Williams has already decided to join Cleveland upon clearing waivers

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2017"

Williams' interest in Cleveland makes sense. He'll have an opportunity to compete for a championship, and the Cavaliers appear to already have a role in mind for him. Cleveland wants a backup point guard to help run the second team and help limit regular-season minutes for starters like LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

Sam Amick of USA Today reported back in January that the Cavaliers had interest in acquiring Williams, possibly via trade.

"The Cavs could take the trade route, too, of course, and they are known to have inquired about the Dallas Mavericks’ Deron Williams," Amick wrote. "The 32-year-old, three-time All-Star is in the final year of his deal."

Offensively, Williams would add a lot of punch to the Cavaliers' bench. Williams is averaging 13.1 points and 6.9 assists per game in 29.3 minutes.

Paul George Destined to Join the Lakers?

The Indiana Pacers ended up not moving forward Paul George, even though multiple teams showed interest. Marc Stein of ESPN.com suggested that the decision to keep George was made by team president Larry Bird:

The problem for Bird and the Pacers is that George appears determined to leave the team as soon as he reaches free agency following the 2017-18 season. According to Amick, George wants to join his hometown Los Angeles Lakers:

If Amick is correct, then George's intent isn't just a message to the Pacers, it's a message to the rest of the league as well. Unless a team can offer him a strong chance at a title, George will try heading to La La Land as soon as humanly possible.

This could theoretically force the Pacers to make some significant moves toward being a title contender over the next year or so. It could also prevent teams from trying to trade for George next season, unless that team can offer him his coveted title opportunity.