Eastern Conference Buyers and Sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline

Keith Smith
Keith Smith, Resident NBA ExpertJanuary 25, 2024
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We’re two weeks out from the NBA trade deadline on February 8. Unlike the past couple of seasons, NBA teams are in more defined tiers this year. However, those tiers are a little different from the traditional ones of title contender, playoff team and tanking team.

What the Play-In Tournament has done is create a handful of different races. There are a handful of teams in each conference that are still competing for the top seed. But from there, we have a couple of other races to watch. Teams compete for homecourt advantage, but are also competing to simply be in the top-six in their conference to snag one of the assured playoff spots.

From there, several teams are fighting for positioning, or even just spots, in the Play-In Tournament in each conference. And then, of course, you have teams that are prioritizing ping-pong balls, if we put it kindly.

That makes each team’s approach to the trade deadline endlessly more fascinating. Today, we’ll cover where each team seems to stand as far as being a buyer or seller, or either or neither, at the deadline. We’ll also give some thoughts on where we think each team should be at.

Atlanta Hawks

Approach at the deadline: Sellers

The Hawks are sellers, but not in the “Everything must go!” sense. Instead, Atlanta is looking to rebalance their roster, but more importantly their cap sheet.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers 

Atlanta has too many good players on long-term contracts to completely blow things up at the deadline. Instead, if they can shuttle out some of their bigger long-term deals for players who fit better, they’ll come out ahead in the long run.

Boston Celtics

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

This one comes with a caveat. The Celtics buyers like Bob Cratchit at Harrods of London. They might want to get someone great, but they don’t have much to work with. Such is life when your playoff rotation seems mostly set and all the big salaries are tied up in rotation players.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

Boston should be looking to buy. Maybe they could snag a regular season (and maybe postseason) rotation player on the cheap (both in terms of contract and trade cost) from someone. Maybe they use their $6.2 million TPE to get a player. The Celtics do have a few tradable picks to work with. Ideally, they’d get someone who can help now and has a contract that carries another year or two. Otherwise, this is the same spot Boston will also be in next season. And probably the season after that too.

Brooklyn Nets

Approach at the deadline: Either

It doesn’t seem like the Nets are done fighting for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. But Brooklyn could pivot and try to move off some players to bring in future assets. Or they could try to bring in help to chase a postseason spot.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

The Nets don’t have to go crazy. Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson should all be considered in the “you have to blow us away with an offer” category. But everyone else should be up for grabs. Sure, the Nets own picks are gone, but that’s a sunk cost. It’s not like Sean Marks hasn’t sailed these troubled waters before and come out just fine on the other side.

Charlotte Hornets

Approach at the deadline: Sellers

Charlotte already moved Terry Rozier III and that feels like it’s just the start. Keeping LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams is smart. They are your building blocks. Everyone else is tradable.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

Charlotte is going to keep trying, but moving some other players is harder than it seems. Miles Bridges can block any trade, because he’ll lose his Bird Rights if he’s dealt. And losing his Bird Rights might matter, because his salary is so low this season. Gordon Hayward is very available, but his contract is tough to move at $31.5 million. Kyle Lowry can be flipped, but only by himself. P.J. Washington should have good trade value, as he’s on a fair-value contract. Same with Nick Richards, but even more so. The real question: Will Ish Smith find his way to a 14th NBA team?

Chicago Bulls

Approach at the deadline: Either

Chicago might move Zach LaVine, but it won’t be in a “blowing it up” move. The Bulls will be looking to get back players who can help them in their eternal quest for the eighth seed.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

The Bulls should be selling. Where is this team going with this core this year and next? The Play-In Tournament? The eighth seed? Is any of that exciting anyone? Chicago should blow it up, but they won’t.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

The Cavs created some wiggle room under the luxury tax when Ricky Rubio took a buyout. But that also removed one of Cleveland’s more tradable salaries. They’re also just about out of draft picks to trade. Unless there is a surprise move coming with a core rotation player, the Cavaliers might more or less sit out the deadline.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Neither 

As stated above, the Cavaliers most tradable player now is probably Isaac Okoro, who has an expiring $8.9 million contract. He’s also Cleveland’s best perimeter defender. So, this is a tough spot to find workable trades. The buyout market is probably more of a thing for the Cavs.

Detroit Pistons

Approach at the deadline: Either

Let’s call Detroit short-term sellers and long-term buyers. The Pistons might move a few vets, but they’d also like to add players who can help them move things forward next season.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

Let’s be clear: If the Pistons can find a deal for a guy who can help them be a better team next season and beyond, they should do it. We’re just a little doubtful that deal is coming by the trade deadline. Feels more like a summertime thing. Because of that, it’s time to move some of the veterans for draft picks and young players. Then, maximize the cap space this offseason, and not by eating bad contracts for middling draft picks.

Indiana Pacers

Approach at the deadline: Either

Indiana is in a good place. They don’t really need a whole lot, beyond Tyrese Haliburton getting healthy. If only they could trade for that! Otherwise, maybe Buddy Hield gets dealt, but he seems to be in a pretty good spot as a key player on a good team. And that means that the capital to buy with is less than ideal.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

Presumably, the Pascal Siakam deal was done with an understanding that he’d re-sign this summer. That means Indiana is pretty well set with their core for the next few years. It’s time to supplement that group. If moving a handful of their mid-range contracts (T.J. McConnell, Jalen Smith, Obi Toppin) can bring in another rotation player for this year and beyond, the Pacers should jump on it.

Miami Heat

Approach at the deadline: Neither

The Heat made their move with the Kyle Lowry for Terry Rozier III swap. They don’t have the tradable draft picks, nor the tradable salary to do much else.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Neither

Maybe Miami could find another deal, but at what cost? All of their meaningful salary is tied up in key rotation guys. If there’s a shakeup coming, it’ll come in July, not February.

Milwaukee Bucks

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

The Bucks want another perimeter player, ideally a 3&D option. But they don’t have much to trade. They are out of tradable draft capital, and their best matching salary belongs to rotation players.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

This is similar to the Celtics situation, but without the draft picks to trade. If Milwaukee does anything “big”, it’ll probably involve Pat Connaughton. And that’s only going to get the Bucks so much.

New York Knicks

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

The Knicks are still looking for upgrades to their rotation. They’ve been linked to guards and wings, even after the OG Anunoby deal. The Knicks could also use another center, given injury issues. With the Evan Fournier contract and some drafts picks to dangle, New York could still make another big move.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

This isn’t the final window for New York to do something big. If they have a sense that a better deal might be there in the summer, they could pick up Fournier’s option and roll him over to an expiring contract asset through next season. Don’t expect any other big deals by the deadline, but don’t rule it out either.

Orlando Magic

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

The Magic are best termed as cautious buyers. Their history tells us they will do something. It could be a small move or it could be something big. Jeff Weltman has done something at each deadline that he’s run the team. This time, it’s starting to feel like a bigger upgrade could come, as this team is close to a playoff spot.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

Orlando should be looking to buy. They have sizable expiring contracts in Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris, and a pseudo-expiring deal in Jonathan Isaac. Fultz and Isaac are health risks, and Harris is entrenched as a backup. If the Magic can make a move to solidify the rotation, especially at the guard spot, they should do it. This team is good, but not so good that a playoff spot is guaranteed. Now is the time to make a bigger move to lift the young kids onto the big stage.

Philadelphia 76ers

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

Daryl Morey is going to try to thread a difficult needle at the deadline: Add to the roster, while keeping some flexibility for the summer. Morey has been cautious to maintain the Sixers flexibility. He’s not going to let that go for a marginal upgrade. If there isn’t a big move to made, he’ll stay patient and do his work this offseason.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

Philadelphia is a title contender. Joel Embiid is playing at an incredible level. Tyrese Maxey is really good too. And the 76ers have a bunch of tradable contracts and a few draft picks to trade too. The real question is if Morey can find a deal that makes sense for next few months, but also the next few years. Otherwise, don’t rule out a shuffle of expiring deals for expiring deals that brings the Sixers a rotation upgrade on the wing.

Toronto Raptors

Approach at the deadline: Sellers

The Raptors finally started the resetting process by trading OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam. They won’t give away guys like Bruce Brown, Dennis Schroder, Gary Trent Jr., or a host of big men. But Masai Ujiri isn’t done resetting this roster either. Note: resetting vs rebuilding. There isn’t a full-scale teardown job. It’s a rest around Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

Toronto is finally on a path. They aren’t out of the running for the Play-In Tournament, but they shouldn’t be chasing it either. In fact, if trading some of the vets listed above causes the Raptors to fall down around sixth in the draft order, they’d get to keep their pick this year. That shouldn’t be considered a priority, but let’s call it a happy circumstance.

Washington Wizards

Approach at the deadline: Sellers

Washington finally kicked off a rebuild last offseason. They can keep that moving forward by trading more of their veteran players and leaning even further into a youth movement. That seems to be the Wizards approach.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

It’s been a long time coming, but the Wizards are finally here. No more chasing the eighth seed. If they can find the right moves for guys like Kyle Kuzma, Tyus Jones, Daniel Gafford and maybe even Jordan Poole, Washington should jump on them. Taking on Marvin Bagley’s contract for a couple of second-round picks signaled this is a multi-year rebuild. Lean into that and keep churning the roster in Washington.

 


#nba #nba trade deadline #nba #atlanta hawks #tema-95 #brooklyn nets #charlotte hornets #chicago bulls #cleveland cavaliers #detroit pistons #indiana pacers #miami heat #milwaukee bucks #new york knicks #orlando magic #philadelphia 76ers #toronto raptors #washington wizards
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