NBA executives are searching the market for true game-changers as the March 25 trade deadline nears, but the anticipation of buyouts could chill the trade market this year. That, plus the relative lack of sellers given the expanded play-in tournament that gives more teams a shot at the postseason, makes for a market much different than usual.
Players to keep an eye on include Kyle Lowry, Andre Drummond, Harrison Barnes, Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon and more. But even though the market is a bit unusual, that doesn’t mean moves won’t be made, or at the very least, discussed. And those talks are certain to heat up in the coming days as teams determine where they fit in the league’s overall landscape.
For deeper analysis of the names that are most likely to be on the move by the deadline, our NBA analysts and experts have put together our 2021 NBA Trade Deadline Big Board (subscription required) where they ranked the players and draft picks that make the most sense to be dealt. Our insiders will also offer analysis, insight and what they’re hearing as the Thursday deadline nears.
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Latest trade deadline news
Monday, March 22
• As first reported by Matt Moore of The Action Network (and confirmed by The Athletic), the Celtics are now considered the front-runners in the Aaron Gordon sweepstakes. A source with knowledge of the Gordon talks said the Celtics have indeed put two first-round picks on the table, and that the framework of the deal would also include Magic guard (and free-agent-to-be) Evan Fournier heading to the Celtics. (You can read additional coverage of a Gordon-to-Boston possibility here.)
In that complex framework, the most likely scenario would then involve Celtics guard and two-time first-team All-Defensive selection Marcus Smart heading to the Magic, Gordon and Fournier being Boston-bound and the Celtics using their $28.5 million trade exception in the process. Because the exception can’t be used with more than one player, it appears the teams would have to find additional teams to make all the math work.
• The LA Clippers have traded Mfiondu Kabengele to the Sacramento Kings, sources tell The Athletic. Sacramento had a small trade exception left over from the Dewayne Dedmon deal that was hours away from expiring, but the Clippers moved Kabengele, the 27th pick in the 2019 draft, into that slot.
• The Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are leaders in the pursuit to acquire Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, sources told The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
• Sources tell The Athletic that Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon asked president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman for a trade through his representative in February. Sources say the Celtics have been among the teams engaged with the Magic about a possible Gordon deal. He has also been at the center of talks with Houston, Minnesota, Denver and Portland, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
• More trade deadline week news in Shams’ latest Inside Pass
Thursday, March 18
The Milwaukee Bucks completed a trade with the Phoenix Suns, sending wing Torrey Craig, whom the Bucks signed this offseason, for cash considerations.
Wednesday, March 17
The Houston Rockets have traded P.J. Tucker and Rodions Kurucs and a 2022 first-round pick previously owned by the Bucks. Houston will receive D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson, a 2023 unprotected first-round pick and the right to swap its 2021 second-round pick with Milwaukee’s first-round pick (top nine protected).
More on this trade:
• Inside two uncomfortable months for P.J. Tucker and the Rockets
• Rockets trading P.J. Tucker to Bucks: Sources
• Why now was the right time for Rockets to move on
• 10 questions from Milwaukee’s point of view
• Our analysts fully evaluate the trade for both teams
• Heat trade Meyers Leonard, draft pick to Thunder for Trevor Ariza
Trade grades
• Heat, Thunder swap Ariza and Leonard
• P.J. Tucker headed to Milwaukee
More insight
• John Hollinger: Eight win-win deadline deals I want to see
• Sam Amick: Why these dozen or so players could be on the move before the deadline
• John Hollinger: A front-office perspective on the trade market’s worst enemy
• Zach Harper: Trade deadline duty for all 30 teams
Team-by-team analysis, trade tiers, primers and more
All players aren’t created equal, and that’s certainly the case with the clock ticking toward the deadline. For most teams, especially those on the cusp of contention or in the midst of a rebuild, some players are nearly untouchable, while others are openly available. A look at how those tiers break down for teams around the NBA:
Cap analyst Danny Leroux: East sellers | West sellers
Names to watch…
LaMarcus Aldridge
• Spurs, Aldridge agree to mutual split
• Aldridge best fits: Blazers return? Perhaps Boston?
• Where would Aldridge fit with Celtics?
Lonzo Ball
• Are Ball and Redick staying or going?
• Lonzo in Atlanta? What a Hawks-Pelicans deal could look like
Bogdan Bogdanovic
• Would a Bogdanovic deal make sense for Golden State?
John Collins
• John Collins’ future, Cam Reddish’s progress and other Hawks second-half storylines
• Hawks-Celtics trade is possible … for the right price
Andre Drummond
• Drummond to Toronto would pose difficult math questions
Evan Fournier
• Trading Fournier would create domino effect Magic can’t ignore
Aaron Gordon
• Will the Celtics trade for Aaron Gordon? Sources say a deal has been discussed
• Will Gordon be heading to Minnesota or Portland?
• Breaking down potential Gordon-to-Houston deal
Devonte’ Graham
• Bill Self on Graham: Tough, a leader and a future All-Star
Kyle Lowry
• Raptors need to make the right call on Lowry
• Toronto should sell at the trade deadline
Victor Oladipo
• Will Oladipo be on the move again?
• Oladipo didn’t want to be a Pacer, so he had to go: Kravitz
Norman Powell
• Is it time for the Raptors to trade Powell?
JJ Redick
• Redick trade fits: Insiders have their say
Nikola Vucevic
• Is Vucevic a fit in Boston?
(Photo of Aaron Gordon: John Raoux / Associated Press)