There have been multiple breaking news stories in the last 24 hours with the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaching. Here at @8pts9secs we aim to keep you up to date on all of the big moves and how they impact our favorite local franchise.
So far, and we emphasize SO FAR, there have been a few major moves leading up to the NBA trade deadline. We will do a complete recap post after the trade deadline is over. But here we go.
Lakers add a piece while getting off of a horrific contract.
The Lakers moved off of the Westbrook contract, and thus, ideas about the Pacers absorbing that in any way are now dead. Additionally, the narrative around Vanderbilt being a fit for the Pacers also seems to be a dead end.
However, the Laker gave away half their draft capital, which may signal, they are willing to move off the other piece given the right opportunity. Perhaps Buddy Hield is someone they are interested in? Only time will really tell.
Toronto adds big man and trades away draft capital
The answer to who would trade for Poeltl was finally answered with the Raptors taking a swing for the big man. However, many were surprised by this given that many anticipated that the Raptors were going to be sellers at the trade deadline.
This may signal that the Raptors are wanting to buy at the deadline, however, we are thinking this may just be a setup move for another move the Raptors are planning to make later today. Given the amount of smoke around players such as OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet, it is probably likelier than not the Raptors make another move and if they do, the Pacers should be on the phone trying to figure out how to make Anunoby to the Pacers work.
The Spurs continue to clear space and make way for some massive drafts in the future, namely setting themselves up as the frontrunner for the Wemby sweepstakes this summer.
The Suns add a generationally great player, which seems to have opened the market.
The Suns are making a push for the championship as shown by this move. Kevin Durant along with Booker and Chris Paul will be a formidable starting lineup. However, the Suns have leveraged nearly the entirety of their future to make a run in the next couple of years.
This impacts the Pacers namely by opening up the trade market for players like OG Anunoby as well as making the east cleaner at the top. There is a more direct pathway to win the east (for now). This may also motivate teams at the top of the eastern conference to make moves to make a run at the championship. The Pacers should look to capitalize on any of these desperate franchises as quickly as possible.
As a sidenote, it is interesting that our old friend TJ Warren is back in Phoenix. Perhaps the Pacers could bring him back in if the Suns aren’t interested in the long term prospects? Last time he moved from the Suns to the Pacers it was a move that really paid off.