The 2016 NBA trade deadline will be known as the day where everyone was almost traded. The Rockets almost traded Dwight Howard. The Hawks almost traded Al Horford and Jeff Teague. The Cavaliers almost traded Kevin Love, and the Clippers almost traded Blake Griffin. Ultimately, the biggest names in the NBA stayed put, as either GMs were too afraid to make a move or instead thought their teams had what it took to accomplish their goals this season. Nonetheless, a slew of players are still on the move, so let’s break down every deal on (and around) this year’s trade deadline.
Charlotte Hornets receive Courtney Lee
Miami Heat receive Brian Roberts
Memphis Grizzlies receive P.J. Hairston, Chris Andersen, 2 2nd round picks
The Memphis Grizzlies found themselves in a new situation during this year’s trade deadline. They needed frontcourt depth badly and may have started to change courses on their ultimate goals this year with all of the injuries they’ve dealt with. Receiving two second round picks is a good find, and Hairston and Andersen can both help provide defense and depth. If Hairston can find his shot, they could have found something even better than just depth.
Charlotte needed a quick replacement for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who they found out just a week ago would miss the rest of the season. Lee is a solid wing defender who also fits the offensive philosophy in Charlotte, which emphasizes shooting threes. The introduction of Lee could give this team the push it needed to squeak into the playoffs this year.
Miami got exactly what it needed in this deal, which was cap relief. Trading Andersen unloaded $5 million from their books as they looked to get under the luxury tax line. This deal wasn’t the only one that Miami pulled off during this deadline, as they sought to avoid paying the heavy repeater tax.
Detroit Pistons receive Tobias Harris
Orlando Magic receive Brandon Jennings, Ersan Ilyasova
The Pistons struck gold in this deal for Harris, a young hybrid forward who can defend and score from just about anywhere on the floor. He has been somewhat of an enigma in Orlando, and the team couldn’t figure out how he fit in, so they dealt him for what amounts to pennies on the dollar. Detroit now gets another interchangeable piece that makes them more versatile on both ends of the floor. To top it all off, they didn’t even have to throw in a juicy pick to get him.
Orlando’s rationale doesn’t make much sense here. Jennings isn’t the same as he used to be, and the Magic already have two point guards in Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier. It’s possible the team views Jennings as a salary dump, but Ilyasova isn’t enough of a return to offset the loss of Tobias Harris, despite how unpredictable Harris has been. This feels like a panic move for the Magic, and they absolutely didn’t receive enough in return for a potentially premier young player.
New Orleans Pelicans receive Jarnell Stokes, cash
Miami Heat receive protected 2nd round pick
This trade amounts to nothing more than a salary dump for the Heat as they moved closer to getting under that salary cap tax line. The Pelicans can see what they have in Stokes without any real consequence, as Miami is essentially paying for the rest of his contract.
Chicago Bulls receive Justin Holiday, 2nd round pick
Atlanta Hawks receive Kirk Hinrich
Utah Jazz receive Shelvin Mack
Chicago felt that they needed to dump some salary, it seems, but in doing so they rolled the dice on Derrick Rose’s health. This is a risky proposition given his injury history, and now the team would find itself in a tough spot without Hinrich to lean on in his absence.
Atlanta was perhaps the most talked about team at the deadline, but ended up only trading backup guard Shelvin Mack to the Jazz. Atlanta seems confident that they can re-sign their premier players this offseason, and at the very least Hinrich is an upgrade in the rotation.
Utah needed a fill-in point guard for the rest of the season to at least help provide depth. Mack can defend better than Trey Burke or Raul Neto, and is better off the ball as well. The Jazz also needed to get over the salary floor, and Mack’s contract pushes them closer to that point.
Detroit Pistons receive Donatas Motiejunas, Marcus Thornton
Houston Rockets receive Joel Anthony, top-8 protected 1st round pick
I suppose Detroit felt bad that they didn’t have to get rid of their first round pick to the Magic, so they threw it in here instead? The return doesn’t really justify that pick’s inclusion, especially since Motiejunas hasn’t been able to stay healthy, but the Pistons won’t be upset about what they get overall. Thornton is a proven scorer, and Stan Van Gundy coveted D-Mo in the offseason. If he can get healthy and get back on the floor, he’ll pair nicely with Andre Drummond in the new-look Pistons frontcourt.
Meanwhile, Houston should be salivating at that first round pick they just received. Detroit is unlikely to land in the top-8, which means they’ll hand that pick over immediately. Joel Anthony isn’t much, but Houston didn’t have to sacrifice a whole lot to get that pick. They should be happy with this deal as well.
Oklahoma City Thunder receive Randy Foye
Denver Nuggets receive Steve Novak, D.J. Augustin, 2 2nd round picks
Oklahoma City wanted a wing shooter to complement their current style of play. Foye hasn’t shot the ball well this season, but is an above-average shooter throughout his career. Perhaps a move to OKC will give him better looks with more time and space to shoot the ball. The Thunder also saved some money on their tax bill by unloading Novak, and only had to give up a couple of 2nd round picks to do it.
D.J. Augustin had fallen out of the rotation in OKC, and will get minutes in Denver. This trade was more about the 2016 second round picks the team receives, however, as neither of the players they’re getting back are true difference makers.
Cleveland Cavaliers receive Channing Frye
Portland Trail Blazers receive Anderson Varejao, protected 1st round pick
Orlando Magic receive Jared Cunningham, 2nd round pick
Cleveland was looking for a stretch forward/center to create depth and versatility on offense. Channing Frye was their target and they did what they needed to get him. Varejao wasn’t playing much anymore, and despite his close relationship with LeBron James, Cleveland needed to move on. Frye is an above-average shooter who can come off the bench and score, and is also a cheaper option than Varejao. Now, Cleveland can unload salary and receive more bang for its buck as they push towards another title chase.
Portland gets a first round pick that will likely end in the mid to late 20s, but they needed to get closer to the salary floor and got closer by taking on Varejao’s contract. They’ll likely waive him (if they haven’t already by the time this is published), but can still make his money count on their books. They didn’t have to surrender any players, only a second round pick, and got a first rounder back in the process.
Meanwhile, Orlando once again makes a deal where they don’t get a whole lot in return. Perhaps they simply wanted to dump salary, or want to gear towards a future without Frye, but then why trade Tobias Harris? Ersan Ilyasova can replicate some of what Frye provided, but this deal further muddies the strategy we’re seeing out of Orlando.
Washington Wizards receive Markieff Morris
Phoenix Suns receive Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair, protected 1st round pick
This trade is the ultimate coin toss for both teams, though it’s a bigger risk for Washington than it is for Phoenix. The Suns will likely get Washington’s top-9 protected pick in this year’s draft, as the Wizards push towards the playoffs. They also get salary flexibility and were able to pull a first round pick from a player who clearly wanted out. That’s about all you can ask for in this situation, and the Suns got everything they could out of Morris here.
The Wizards, on the other hand, will attempt to backdoor their way into the playoffs with this move. Morris helps add wing scoring and floor spacing, but doesn’t help the team’s already bad defense. Perhaps a change in scenery is what he needs to find his game again, but add in Morris’ already sour attitude and you get a lot to gamble for a team that’s assembling a young, impressionable core.
Los Angeles Clippers receive Jeff Green
Memphis Grizzlies receive Lance Stephenson, 1st round pick
The Grizzlies continued their roster moves by sending away Jeff Green, who just didn’t pan out in Memphis the way they (and every other team before them) had hoped. Green never quite seemed to live up to his potential, but Memphis was able to get a future first round pick out of it. Of course, they also received the enigma that is Lance Stephenson, and it’ll be fascinating to see how he is integrated into both the locker room and the team’s system. Memphis also received a future first round pick, which is nice to have in their back pocket down the road. With almost no future salary implications, this deal is a nice find for Memphis, at least on paper.
Meanwhile, Doc Rivers is taking the chance on Jeff Green again, as he did in Boston several years ago. Green’s role will be a mystery in Los Angeles, but given how much the team spent on him it’s hard to imagine he won’t be involved very much. Whether he comes off the bench or starts, Los Angeles will only see positive returns if they can tap into the potential that only ever seems to come in flashes at a time. It seems like a lot to give up, but then again the team gets a veteran, calm locker room presence, something the Clippers sorely need.
Philadelphia 76ers receive Joel Anthony, 2nd round pick
Houston Rockets receive draft rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum
Try saying that name three times fast. Houston receives draft rights to a former 2011 draft pick who doesn’t seem to be heading to the NBA any time soon. Instead, they unloaded Anthony, whom they received earlier in the day, to avoid going over the luxury tax line.
For Philadelphia, Anthony puts the team over the salary floor, which saves them money this season. They also get another second round pick to add to their shiny collection.
Portland Trail Blazers receive Brian Roberts, 2nd round pick
Miami Heat receive cash considerations
Last but not least, the Heat and Trail Blazers pulled off a trade to help each of their salary concerns. Miami unloaded Roberts and their 2021 2nd round pick to get under the luxury tax line, which saves them money and means they won’t have to pay the repeater tax fine. They also receive cash back in the process, which means they were able to pull off a remarkable feat in just under a few hours.
Meanwhile, Portland made it just shy of the salary floor, but are still going to pay significantly less than if they hadn’t acquired Roberts. Roberts is still a viable backup guard option, and adding a future pick is never a bad thing either. Both teams emerged from this trade victorious, an increasingly rare feat in today’s NBA.