NBA trade deadline logo. (Photo Courtesy New York Post)
The 2023-2024 NBA season has been one of the most interesting seasons in recent years. The league has experienced recent changes with the new In-Season Tournament, younger players growing into stars, and the league's new rules based on load management. However, in the shadows of all glory is the NBA trade deadline on February 8th.
This season, the league has seen trades happen and has even seen some coaches fired. It has gone towards James Harden landing on the Los Angeles Clippers, Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers, Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat, OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, and Doc Rivers becoming the Milwaukee Bucks head coach.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has spoken publicly on how the Lakers should either make changes at the deadline or continue to use the current roster. This season, the Lakers had heightened expectations in the Western Conference. However, the Lakers season has been a struggle due to roster changes, and head coach Darvin Ham losing the Lakers locker room. Going into the trade deadline, the Lakers are the 9th seed in the Western Conference with a 27-25 record.
As standings continue to go back and forth in the Western and Eastern Conferences, several teams are exploring trades to improve. These teams include the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and the Orlando Magic.
Teams that will sell during the deadline are the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and the Toronto Raptors.
Players that are being monitored as the trade deadline approaches are Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic of the Atlanta Hawks, Grant Williams of the Dallas Mavericks, P.J Tucker and Bones Hyland of the Los Angeles Clippers, Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond, and Demar Derozan of the Chicago Bulls, D'Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood, and Taurean Prince of the Los Angeles Lakers, Miles Bridges and P.J Washington of the Charlotte Hornets, Mikal Bridges, and Dorian Vinney –Smith of the Brooklyn Nets, Tyus Jones of the Washington Wizards, Marcus Smart of the Memphis Grizzlies, Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat, Gary Trent Jr and Bruce Brown of the Toronto Raptors, Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers, Bojan Bogdanovic of the Detroit Pistons and Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks.
There is plenty of talent available to be traded by the deadline. Whether it is a team looking to rebuild or strengthen its roster. The next two days will be filled with surprises and anger.
Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion? Let us know. All views are welcomed. Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Editor Dylan Hicks dhicks@student.dean.edu or Dean was Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu