With the Feb. 8
trade deadline coming up, many NBA teams are in a hurry to finalize deals. We've explored what each Western Conference team should pursue regarding their needs; now let's take a look at the moves Eastern Conference teams should consider.
Yardbarker's colleagues have analyzed what each franchise in the East needs. There are teams that absolutely must make a move, like Milwaukee Bucks or Philadelphia 76ers, in order to properly compete for a ring. And there are others like
Miami Heat, that with a small change seems like they could take a giant step in their aspirations.
Honestly, Where can Boston improve? they have the best record in the NBA, they boast the best net rating by more than a point and they dominate on both ends of the court. A versatile power forward off the bench (P.J. Washington from Charlotte?) would be nice, but that would be overly ambitious.
Milwaukee Bucks.
While it seems unlikely that Milwaukee will make a trade after last week's chaos. General manager Jon Horst is still looking for personnel upgrades on the court. Thus, a defensive-minded point guard could strengthen some of the Bucks' defensive weak points, and there are plenty of them. Chicago Bulls shooting guard Alex Caruso could be expensive, but Milwaukee shouldn't worry about giving up draft picks if that's what it takes to get him.
Philadelphia 76ers.
One more shooter. Marcus Morris has had fun moments and Kelly Oubre will randomly score 30 points from time to time, but a consistent scorer off the bench could turn the Sixers into solid contenders, if they aren't already. Think Bogdan Bogdanovic of the
Atlanta Hawks.
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Scoring at small forward position has been a problem in Cleveland for years, and it could be what hinders the Cavs in the playoffs. Gordon Hayward of the Charlotte Hornets is likely available in exchange for two draft picks. He's worth a shot.
Another point guard. Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes are talented and deserve minutes, but for the Knicks to compete this season, a veteran point guard will be necessary. The Knicks should enter the bidding for Malcolm Brogdon of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Miami Heat
Miami probably already made their "flashy" move, bringing Terry Rozier from Charlotte earlier this week. While the Heat seem to think they have solved their point guard issues, acquiring a true number one, considering Rozier is considerably better operating off the ball, could still be in the cards.
Indiana Pacers
Adding Pascal Siakam will eventually translate into wins (Tyrese Haliburton's injury has somewhat ruined Siakam's first few weeks as a Pacer), but why should Indiana pass on deals? They kept most of their young core; Andrew Nembhard, Ben Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith would be great acquisitions for rebuilding teams. Go see what else is out there.
Orlando Magic
Are the Magic surprise candidates to make a big move at the trade deadline? Orlando's rebuild is progressing much faster than expected, but areas of improvement are evident. The Magic are stacked with talented point guards, but none of them are necessarily "pass-first" type. Will some mid-major teams be willing to part with their starters? Would shopping low on Chris Paul from the Golden State Warriors be crazy?
Chicago Bulls
Eliminate the roster. Chicago deserves respect for trying to build a contender a few years ago, but it didn't work. Keeping Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic around any longer is not necessary. Coby White is playing phenomenally, so leave him the keys and look to the future.
Atlanta Hawks.
If they don't want to dive completely into a total rebuild, they have to at least transform this template. It's not working. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray were an awkward combination from day one. Jalen Johnson is a true keeper, but everyone else should be available for trade. Reorganize things around Young.
Brooklyn Nets.
Brooklyn might want to go crazy at the trade deadline. It's not the best option: Cam Johnson is under contract for several years; a Mikal Bridges deal is likely coming, and Brooklyn will always be a popular destination for free agents. Some teams may be willing to overpay for Dorian Finney-Smith or Nic Claxton, and it's fine to make small deals, but Brooklyn shouldn't dismantle things just yet.
Toronto Raptors
The move: Toronto already made them. Trading OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam provided pretty solid returns for the Raptors. Mind you, they still have players that could be of interest to much of the franchises; like Gary Trent Jr. or Bruce Brown.
Charlotte Hornets.
The move: All but LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller can (and probably should) go. Those two are a good solid foundation for the future, so start stockpiling draft picks and aim to surround them with talent. The Terry Rozier trade was a good start. P.J. Washington, Miles Bridges, Nick Richards and Gordon Hayward should be the next to go.
Washington Wizards.
The move: It's hard to say what exactly is happening in Washington. Will a contender take over Jordan Poole's contract? Probably not. Washington might have to sit tight (unintentionally) at the transfer deadline.
The move: Detroit is so bad that "shopping" at the trade deadline shouldn't be ruled out. Why keep postponing the inevitable? Eventually, they should acquire good players. The Pistons should be willing to take on big contracts for veterans who will actually produce quality minutes.
