Thoughts on the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline
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The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and there were a ton of moves. There were big moves, small moves, lateral moves, all of the moves you could want as an NBA fan that looks forward to the trade deadline. This was a big day, with some big lead up trades, and I am here to give you some of my thoughts on the day.
Let's get the biggie out of the way first. James Harden was traded to the 76ers for Ben Simmons. I did not think this was going to happen. I assumed both teams were just playing chicken with one another and they would strike up a deal in the offseason. But it happened. Ben Simmons will be back, he will be playing and he is on a team that suits his abilities as an NBA player. Joining him in Brooklyn are Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and some picks. The Nets get defensive help with Simmons, an extra shooter in Curry and a backup big man in Drummond. The 76ers get, what I assume will be, a motivated James Harden who will totally spread the floor for Embiid. He is going to give Embiid so much more freedom, he will bring some much needed outside shooting to the 76ers and he can play the point with ease. They also get Paul Milsap, who has proven he can be a nice fit with a contender. I think the 76ers got the better end of the deal, but Brooklyn got some help as well. This deal works for both teams. Now I am interested in seeing how these guys look when playing real games. The 76ers are still a top threat in the East, and if the Nets can get healthy, and Kyrie can stop being such an asshole, they could find their way back into the top 4 or 5.
Okay, not for the other trades.
The Spurs acquired Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and a pick in exchange for Derrick White to the Celtics. This is a very ho hum trade to me. White brings youth and a willingness to pass to Boston. The Spurs are not great, but they add more youth with Langford, and who knows what Richardson will bring. I think they just want the picks.
There was a four team trade with the Kings getting Donte DiVincenzo, Trey Lyles and Josh Jackson, the Bucks got Serge Ibaka and picks, the Clippers got Rodney Hood and Semi Ojele and the Pistons got Marvin Bagley Jr. The Bucks got the best of this deal in my opinion. Serge Ibaka is almost the same as when they got PJ Tucker last year. They also get future picks. The Kings got a piece in DiVincenzo, but the other guys feel like throw ins. I do not know what the Clippers are doing. And Detroit might get a motivated Bagley out of this. He has wanted out of Sacramento for so long, and now he got his wish. He should get a ton more shots too.
Orlando got Bol Bol, Pj Dozier and some picks. They sent over a second round pick to Boston. The only thing I like about this trade is the fact that Bol Bol should actually get real playing time in Orlando.
The Raptors traded Goran Dragic and a pick to the Spurs for Thad Young, Drew Eubanks and a pick. Dragic will be bought out, and the rest of this trade is very blah.
I was kind of shocked at first when I saw that Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. The experiment is over in Dallas. Luka Doncic will like having a few new creators. And Washington can pair Brad Beal with KP. Maybe that will work.
The Wizards also traded Aaron Holiday to the Suns, with no other reporting yet, and Montrezl Harrell to the Hornets for Vernon Carey and Ish Smith. The Harrell deal is great for Charlotte. They did not have to give up too much, and they got a tough, hard nosed defender and rebounder who will play hard every night.
The Suns will reunite with Torrey Craig after sending Jalen Smith and a future pick to Indiana. With Craig and Holiday the Suns just bolstered their bench.
The Pelicans made a kind of big trade a few days back when they got CJ McCollum. The Pelicans also acquired Larry Nance Jr and Tony Snell. They traded Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Tomas Satoransky to Portland. There are also future picks. The Pelicans are clearly trying to make the play in. Portland, I don't really know what they are doing, other than actively trying to get Dame to leave so they can rebuild.
Alexander-Walker moved again, to Utah. Utah also got Juancho Hernangomez.
The Blazers got Joe Ingles, who is out for the season and Elijah Hughes. The Spurs, the third team in the deal, got Satoransky and a second round pick. This trade is all very blah, but I say again, what in the hell is Portland doing?
The Kings also made a bigger move a few days back when they traded Tyrese Haliburton, Tristan Thompson and Buddy Hield to Indiana for Sabonis, Juston Holiday and Jeremy Lamb. The Kings gave up way too soon on Haliburton, who is going to be a star. Sabonis is good, a proven all star, but I would much rather have Haliburton right now. And I do not get why they let Hield go as well. He may not be shooting as well this season, but he can still be lethal. This was a confusing one for me.
The Cavs got Caris Levert from Indy and they gave up an injured Ricky Rubio and three draft picks. It is a big deal, but I like Levert's fit with Cleveland. He can help them stay in the playoff hunt.
The Clippers did acquire Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Blazers for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow and Keon Johnson. This trade makes a little bit of sense for the Clippers. And, yet again, is baffling coming from Portland.
I also just saw that Houston got Dennis Schroder, Enes Freedom, who they will waive and Bruno Fernando from Boston. In return Boston brings back Daniel Thies. This trade is a wash.
That seems like most of the deals, and with it being nearly an hour since the deadline passed, there should not be anymore movement until we get to the buyout market. But like I said at the top, this deadline was fun and full of movement. The Simmons for Harden trade is the headline. But there are some other moves that will shape the rest of the season, and that is exactly why
I love the NBA trade deadline. Now we will wait for all these moves to be made official, and after that, I am stoked to watch these guys playing for their new teams. It should be a blast.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.