Winners/Losers of the NBA Trade Deadline 2016

The BROS give their take on the quiet Trade Deadline and see which teams came out as big winners and which teams chose to stand pat rather than make a splash. If you follow our Instagram page (@SuperBasketballBros) then you’d know that the BROS were on top of all the trades and rumours to the final minute! Here’s what we think!

Winners:

• Detroit Pistons
  • Gave up an aging player in Ersan Ilyasova and an oft-injured guard coming off major Achilles injury for a quality stretch 4 WITHOUT HAVING TO SURRENDER A DRAFT PICK!!
  • Tobias Harris should fit well with the Pistons, who got A LOT younger and better with the additions of Donatas Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton.
    (Update: Pistons have voided the trade for Motiejunas and Thornton)
  • Starting 5: Drummond – Harris – Morris/Johnson – Caldwell-Pope – Jackson… did I mention that they’re all signed long-term and are under 26 years old!
  • The team fits the mold of the type of offence SVG runs, and he likes his perimeter shooters.
• Miami Heat
  • While the Heat didn’t really make a big splash for a free agent, they were able to move some salaries and now sit under both the hard and soft salary caps.
  • If they had remained over the salary cap, they would’ve been had to pay a hefty tax fine for being a repeat offender.
  • Didn’t have to give up any valuable assets or retain a bad contract to move the salary.
• Washington Wizards
  • Great last minute addition of Markieff Morris and they got rid of players who had fallen out of favour with the Wizards in Kris Humpries and Dajuan Blair.
  • Markieff should excel in Washington with players like Alan Anderson and Jared Dudley to mentor him. I think he’ll fit right in, especially with him having a chance at the playoffs.

 

Losers:

• Orlando Magic:
  • Traded Tobias Harris to the Pistons and in returned received…. No quality assets.
  • Tobias should’ve fetched a first rd pick… but the Magic traded him in a move to save money rather than retain future assets.
  • Wonder if the Raptors should’ve just offered their package of a first rd pick + Patrick Patterson. Harris would’ve fit well in TO, but has a hefty contract.
  • They have now created a timeshare between Elfrid Payton, whom the Magic consider a building block for the future, and Brandon Jennings.
• Brooklyn Nets
  • Hired a GM 4 hours before the NBA trade deadline….
  • One of the teams that HAD TO BE ACTIVE during the deadline!
  • They had the right players to trade for a ton of assets: Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez (potentially).
  • Sean Marks: “I need time to assess the team before making any moves.”
    • Why hire a GM hours before the trade deadline? Why wasn’t this made a priority?
• Toronto Raptors
  • After last year’s EMBARASING first round playoff exit, it would’ve made sense for the Raptors to make a move considering:
    1. The Raptors bench could use another wing defender with DeMarre Carroll and James Johnson out indefinitely without a timeframe.
    2. The Raptors possess FOUR 1^st Rd Draft picks in the next 2 years!
  • Wizards made Dudley available based on a few reports, and with their acquisition of Markieff Morris, I believe they would’ve been more inclined to move Dudley.
  • Raps should’ve pushed hard for a wing player and Dudley would’ve fit nicely with his ability to play the 4.
• Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings
  • Had the assets and players to make a big time splash during the deadline, but decided to stand pat.
  • Jeff Teague and Al Horford were made available by the Hawks while the Celtics were reportedly in talks to acquire Dwight Howard.
  • The Kings had reportedly made Ben McLemore, Marco Belinelli and Omri Casspi available. All 3 would’ve fetched a solid pick in return.
  • All 3 teams, including the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets, chose to stand pat but could be waiting for after the season to make the big move… possibly during the NBA Draft.
    

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-Shrey