The NBA trade deadline is just eight days away, but the market doesn’t seem particularly active at the moment, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said during an appearance on SportsCenter on Tuesday (link via Mike DePrisco of NBC Sports Washington).
“The one thing you’re not hearing among conversation right now, are not many front-line, significant players [are] on the move,” Wojnarowski said. “That may change next week, but right now it’s a very sluggish, slow trade deadline market.”
Wojnarowski added that one team that’s usually active around the deadline told him it has made and received fewer trade calls this season than it normally does.
While there were plenty of fireworks and roster changes at the start of the 2019 offseason, only five trades have been completed since July 16. A number of the NBA’s top contenders this season lack the assets necessary to make major moves, and teams around the league appear reluctant to make trades that would cut into their projected 2021 cap room. Plus, only three clubs in each conference are more than 4.5 games out of a playoff spot, reducing the number of potential sellers this winter.
On top of all that, the death of Kobe Bryant may put a damper on this year’s trade market. For instance, a year ago, Anthony Davis went public with his trade request on the Monday 10 days before the deadline and that week was dominated by rumors and speculation — Kristaps Porzingis was also moved a week before the deadline. As the league mourns and honors Bryant this week, I can’t imagine front offices are spending as much time on trade calls.
Although the market may not be active for the time being, Wojnarowski did caution during his SportsCenter appearance that things can change quickly, as DePrisco notes. According to Woj, Super Bowl Sunday is generally pretty quiet around the NBA, but talks often heat up on Monday as teams reconvene and regroup. So there’s still a chance we’ll get some action leading up to next Thursday’s deadline.
Timberwolves better trade Dieng and/or Covington
For DLo
Not happening
Between the prospect of landing Giannis in free agency in 2021, the lack of easily swapped contracts, and the ever increasing value of firsts, it’s hard to make deals right now.
This summer? Different story. And if Giannis says he’s going to resign? That will open things up a lot.
Why in the world would he resign?! He’s a young man, one of the best in the league, and he will probably command a huge FA contract. No way he quits now.
Presumably meant re-sign (with Milw.) not resign. A structural language problem.
Yes, not resign but re-sign. My bad.
Very few teams are natural buyers this year, with an alignment win now needs and future assets. Deadline sellers generally have little incentive to sell early.
I can’t see Drummond walking away for nothing. Someone will take a chance on him. I expect contenders are gearing up. Adding right player or 2. Can make a difference.
I’m getting the ominous feeling that Detroit will hang onto Drummond at the deadline. Teams just aren’t willing to pony up anything significant for a rental big man who doesn’t really fit the moderñ NBA, and Detroit won’t want to ship out the face of their franchise for a middling offer, especially considering that Drummond has a player option and has spoken about his desire to remain in Mo-town long term.
I agree Detroit doesn’t want to give Drummond away, but they also don’t want to re-sign him either.
I’m pretty sure there’s a deal out there if Drummond agrees to pickup his option for next season. Otherwise, he could have a hard time getting a deal this summer. Only the Knicks, Raptors, Hawks and Grizzlies will have significant room. Is Drummond a great fit for any of them?
I think Toronto would trade Gasol for Drummond, as long as Drummond opted in for next season. They want max room in 2021, so they won’t offer him a big deal this summer.
Knicks might do a big one year deal. That’s not what Drummond wants – he has that deal now.
Hawks could offer him a deal, as could Memphis, but he’s too old for both teams, and it’s not like he’s going to sell season tickets. So I think those teams low-ball him.
A sign and trade opens up more possibilities, but not many more.
It’s going to be an opt in and trade to Toronto. It makes too much sense.
Of course it is sluggish. Nearly everyone worth much already got traded this offseason. About the only thing left is overpriced deals and/or expiring contracts for bench players. There is an exception or two, but for the most part every name mentioned in trade rumors falls into one of those two categories.
Teams like Memphis keep trying to make a trade but will more than likely get stuck without a trade partner and be forced to make a buyout.
The more rediculous the salary cap situation gets the less trades there will be. The over regulation is absurd. Teams have no real path to improve. Adam silver (worst commissioner of all time) has destroyed the league.
LOL.
First, the owners and the players have the rules during contract negotiations. Silver only enforces the rules.
Second, the small market owners are the reason trades are hard. They want to reduce player movement, because they feel like it benefits the wealthiest teams.
I don’t like the restrictions either, but blaming Silver for them is dumb.
Execs are more sensitive than usual due to the tragedy. The Super Bowl will help stoke hunger, leaving 4 days to deal. Good article.
The salary scale makes young players too popular; they are everyone’s goal.
TJ Warren is a good example of a castoff that worked out.
GMs are so broken up about Kobe they’re going to miss the trade deadline?
???????
No there’s 4 days left after the SB to pull the trigger on a deal. I think GMs are waiting until the last hours anyway to make sure they get the best offer, due to all the attention being paid.
Okay it’s a sensitivity issue, the tragedy, plus– Execs have been bending over backwards in the last 1or2 years to get a player-friendly reputation with the players. Players took it hard.
I think it’ll result in fewer trade discussions than usual this week — it’s possible that won’t affect the number of deals eventually completed next week.