Post-Deadline Contender Check-In
They wheeled, they dealed. Sort of.
Deep breaths y’all. The NBA trade deadline has passed and though it wasn’t an all-timer by any means, it still turned my brain to mashed potatoes like always. So now I’m going to add some gravy and work through my thoughts on the deals— specifically how I’m feeling about the prospects of each contending team after the moves they made (or didn’t make) today. Bulls fans… sorry. Hawks fans… sorry. I’m here if you need to vent.
Phoenix Suns
Deadline Additions: Royce O’Neale, David Roddy
How I’m Feeling: I, frankly, love the Royce O’Neale trade for Phoenix. He’s basically an amalgamation of all the bench players they traded to get him (though I obviously hope My Guy Jordan Goodwin gets some burn in Brooklyn.) O’Neale is—very randomly— a good passer, and he just provides a perfect change of pace to Grayson Allen, who will likely continue to start, though I imagine he and O’Neale will play pretty similar minutes.
Phoenix is getting hot (11-3 in its last 14 games) and just made a savvy deadline deal for one of the best rentals available. I’m feeling better each day about Phoenix, and its slow start might be all but forgotten by April. This is a Finals-caliber team.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Deadline Additions: None
How I’m Feeling: Good. Cleveland not making any moves at the deadline is fine—it’s 15-1 in 2024 after all, and the front office is showing trust in the roster as currently constructed. But after New York did make a big move, standing pat looks a little riskier for the Cavs. Royce O’Neale would have looked very nice in that wine and gold… just saying.
However, I’ve been banging the “KEEP THIS TEAM TOGETHER, DO NOT PANIC” drum regarding the Cavs all season long, so beggars can’t be choosers! I don’t exactly know why beggars can’t be choosers, it seems weird to set rules for people who are forced to beg for things, but… Alas.
New York Knicks
Deadline Additions: Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks
How I’m Feeling: Like everyone else, I’m feeling weird… weird that the Knicks front office is making intelligent decisions and that the second-best team in the East might be the one that plays in MSG.
Bogdanovic is known primarily as a shooter, which makes it even funnier that I believe he’s a little underrated as a shooter. He’s been one of the better three-point shooters in the whole league for many years, and he’s way more than just a catch-and-shoot guy, too. He’s shooting over 46% on pull-up threes this year, and shoots enough to make that stat mean something. New York got perhaps the biggest prize of the deadline.
Boston Celtics
Deadline Additions: Xavier Tillman, Jaden Springer
How I’m Feeling: Good. A few small moves for Boston is about what I expected; doing anything to really change up this lineup would be unnecessary.
I’m not sure what role Jaden Springer will have on this team—maybe he’ll go put up massive numbers for the Maine Celtics.
I don’t hate the Tillman move (right now) because center depth is always a smart investment for contenders.
However, I could hate the Tillman move if he takes precious minutes away from Neemias Queta, who I became a big fan of when I learned that he is the only Portuguese player in NBA history and that his country rides very hard for him. Justice for Neemias!
Philadelphia 76ers
Deadline Additions: Buddy Hield, Cam Payne
How I’m Feeling: Not great but… I get it. The Sixers probably should have made one more medium-sized move, but I understand the hesitancy to go all in with how uncertain Joel Embiid’s return timeline is.
Navigating this trade deadline was always going to be tough for GM Daryl Morey and I think Hield is a good half-measure; he improves the team in the short-term and Philly didn’t have to part with anything it coveted to get him. He’ll be a great fit immediately.
Trading Patrick Beverley for Cam Payne, however… that’s just a rude gesture to the city of Philadelphia. Will it change anything for the Sixers, really? Probably not. So maybe it’s not worth being sad over. But also, it’s not going to change anything, so… why do it, Daryl? Pat Bev, if nothing else, embraced the sickos (complimentary) of Philly.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Deadline Additions: Gordon Hayward
How I’m Feeling: Very good. This is exactly the type of move I hoped OKC would make—keep the team intact, see what the young guys look like in the playoffs, and acquire a wing on an expiring deal that can come off the bench, make shots, and distribute a little bit. Perfect deadline.
Remember when Hayward scored a career high on January 6th? I’M JUST ASKING.
Milwaukee Bucks
Deadline Additions: Patrick Beverley
How I’m Feeling: Kind of bad. He’s what Milwaukee needs, but… he’s surely not going to fix that defense alone. Milwaukee might be in the danger zone right now.
Denver Nuggets
Deadline Additions: None
How I’m Feeling: Totally fine. No team is playing with less pressure than Denver. That’s the benefit of, ya know, winning a championship.
Los Angeles Clippers
Deadline Additions: None
How I’m Feeling: Not awful— LA is hilariously hot right now— but I would have liked to see this team add another ballhandler for the second unit. Monte Morris, Malcolm Brogdon come to mind. I’m not going to lose sleep over it.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Deadline Additions: Monte Morris
How I’m Feeling: Hmmmm… I’ve always been a Morris guy, but this isn’t exactly the move I wanted Minnesota to make. I’m a tad scared of the Wolves’ offense late in games and I’m not sure how much Morris helps that. Nevertheless, a good player!
What I’m Listening To: ScHoolboy Q
NEW Q????