The NBA trade deadline for 2024 is February 8 at 3 p.m. ET, but several clubs have already made significant moves.
On Wednesday, the Indiana Pacers made their biggest trade of the season, acquiring All-Star forward Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. The Pacers’ addition of Siakam may have transformed them from a mid-tier playoff team to an Eastern Conference contender. In light of the Siakam trade, here are some moves other middle-of-the-pack teams should make to improve their playoff chances.
Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers | Acquire Nets forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith
Despite the fact that point guard Darius Garland and forward Evan Mobley have been out for extended periods of time, the Cavaliers are the fourth seed in the East, so a Siakam-level move is unlikely to help them cement their status as championship contenders. However, they may use some help with three-point shooting, as they are only hitting 35.4% of their long-range shots, ranking sixth in the NBA. Johnson (14.2 points per game on 39.3% three-point shooting) and Finney-Smith (9.4 points per game on 40.1% three-point shooting) could offer the needed spark, with the latter likely to be a perfect fit for Cleveland’s defense-first approach.
Miami Heat | Acquire Hornets guard Terry Rozier
He is hardly Damian Lillard, but Rozier may be an outstanding point guard option for the Heat, and he allegedly has a “preference” to play in Miami if moved, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer. The nine-year veteran is having a great season in Charlotte, averaging career highs in points (24) and assists (6.7). Rozier’s ability to create shots would relieve Jimmy Butler’s workload and contrast sharply with what Kyle Lowry, whose contract is anticipated to be included in a hypothetical deal, can provide.
New York Knicks | Acquire Jazz guard Collin Sexton
Last month’s deal for forward OG Anunoby cost the Knicks their former sixth man, Immanuel Quickley, and his absence has left a notable gap on the bench in terms of scoring ability. Since the deal, New York has averaged the fourth-fewest bench points in the NBA (25.2), and they would benefit from adding a talented scorer like Sexton to the second unit. Sexton, a former client of CAA, the agency run by Knicks president Leon Rose, averages 16.9 points and 3.9 assists for Utah this season while playing only 23.5 minutes per game.
Orlando Magic | Acquire Bulls guard Zach LaVine
The Magic have cooled off following an unexpectedly hot start to the season, owing primarily to their inefficient offense, which ranks 24th in team offensive rating (112.3) and last in three-point percentage (34%). Nonetheless, with a playoff spot still possible, GM Anthony Parker should add a veteran scorer to help his youthful core by capitalizing on LaVine’s “rough” trade value. The two-time All-Star is averaging his fewest points per game since the 2017-18 season (20), but a package centered on some first-round selections and Markelle Fultz’s expiring contract may pique Chicago’s interest. Western Conference
Dallas Mavericks | Acquire Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant
After failing to land Siakam, Dallas needs to find another versatile forward capable of taking part of the scoring load away from guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, which Grant might do. The 29-year-old is averaging 21.4 points in the first season of his five-year, $160 million contract with Portland, shooting 45.9% from the field and 41.2% from outside the arc. Although Fischer recently stated that Portland is not “expected to seriously entertain offers for Grant,” dealing the veteran for draft cash and young players is the team’s greatest chance to hasten its reconstruction.
Los Angeles Lakers | Acquire Hawks guard Dejounte Murray
The one-time All-Star isn’t the most thrilling trade target, but he’s the Lakers’ most viable option for improving their Western Conference ranking. Murray is averaging 21 points and 4.8 assists per game, but his defense hasn’t met expectations, albeit a move to Los Angeles should rejuvenate his defensive toughness. Even though guard Austin Reaves is a fan favorite, if he is the key to a Murray trade, as Fischer suggests, Los Angeles should sell high on the 25-year-old.
Phoenix Suns | Acquire Bulls guard Alex Caruso and center Andre Drummond
The Suns have the star power to compete for a championship, but they lack depth. With limited assets, GM James Jones should spend the trade deadline looking for role players. Guard Grayson Allen is Phoenix’s biggest trade asset, and while he has been a pleasant surprise, giving up his offensive spark for Caruso’s defense and Drummond’s rebounding would be beneficial for the franchise long term. This season, Caruso is averaging a career-high 9.8 points, 1.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks, while Drummond averages 8.5 rebounds while playing only 16 minutes.
Sacramento Kings | Acquire Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma
Sacramento, which was also in the running for Siakam, will have to search elsewhere for a game-changing addition, and Kuzma, whom it has long admired, could be the solution. Sacramento would prefer to enhance its defensive rating, which is currently ranked 17th in the NBA (116.5), and while Kuzma will not help in that regard, signing a versatile 6-foot-9 wing would still be beneficial. Nonetheless, Kuzma’s greatest skill is his scoring ability, and the 22.4 points per game he’s averaging this season are a significant improvement over Harrison Barnes’ 10.8 points per game.
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