If trading rumors are a mystery, February 11 is the day to unveil the mystery, and the arrival of the trading deadline means that when this point in time rings, the door to the trading market will be officially closed for the 2021-22 season.
The last 24 hours, the final sprint, those rumors about the deal, those predictions, will all come to light.
Open low and go high, 285 million trading market
Due to the impact of the epidemic and other factors, this season's trading market started very cold, not only the number is small, the quality is also lacking in heavyweight operation, but as the trading deadline approaches, the market begins to heat up, especially the three major clearance teams of the Pioneers, Pacers and Kings enter the market, setting off waves, and the trading market finally has the heat of previous years.
So far, 15 teams have been traded this season with a total of 33 players, with a combined annual salary of $285 million.
The Cavaliers, Lakers and Knicks traded, the Cavaliers got Rondo, the Lakers got the signing rights of Luis Rabaili, and the Knicks got the signing rights of Valentine, Brad Newley and Wang Zhelin.
The Jazz sent Orney to the Thunder with a second-round pick in 2028, saving wages while freeing up a roster.
The Hawks sent Redish, Solomon Hill and the 2025 second-round pick (from the Nets) to the Knicks in exchange for Knox's 2022 protected first-round pick (from the Hornets).
The Nuggets acquired Forbes from the Spurs through a three-team trade.
The Clippers sent Bledsoe, Winslow, Keion Johnson and the 2025 second-round pick (from the Pistons) to the Blazers in exchange for Covington and Powell.
The Cavaliers sent Rubio, the 2022 first-round pick (lotto protection), the 2022 second-round pick (from the Rockets) and the 2027 second-round pick (from the Jazz) to the Pacers in exchange for Le Ver and the 2022 second-round pick (from the Heat).
The Blazers sent McCollum, Nance Jr. and Snell to the Pelicans in exchange for Josh Hart, Satoransky, Nikiel Alexander Walker, Marcos Lozada Silva, as well as the protected 2022 first-round pick and two future second-round picks.
The Pacers made a deal with the Kings, with the Pacers sending Sabonis Jr., Lamb, Justin Holliday and the 2027 second-round pick, exchanging Halburton, Hield and Tristan Thompson from the Kings.
The Heat sent Octopala to the Thunder for the 2026 second round pick.
Jazz Blazers Spurs three-way deal, Jazz from the Blazers to get Nikil Alexander Walker, from the Spurs to Get Juan Hernangomez, Blazers from the Jazz for Ingles, Elijah Hughes and 2022 second-round picks (from the Grizzlies), Spurs from the Blazers to Satoransky, from the Jazz for the 2027 second round pick.
In the completed deal, the Cavaliers, the top four teams in the East and West, have been relatively involved with the Jazz, mainly because both teams have experienced injuries, especially the Cavaliers, who have more serious injuries in the backcourt and need reinforcements. The Jazz sent Ingles, who was reimbursed for a knee injury season, in exchange for Walker to fill the vacancy, and they saved $11 million in luxury taxes through the deal with Ingles.
Other teams with high records, most of the lineups are relatively stable, the chemical reaction has been formed, and the last 24 hours of small operation may be there, and the chance of big moves is not large.
The most aggressive pacers, blazers, and kings are outside the top ten in the East and West, that is, they can't even play the playoffs, all three teams are rebuilt, the Pacers got the vote for the best rookie last season after "three goals" and Edwards' Halliburton, the Blazers left Lillard, other big sales, to make room for the summer free agent market, the Kings can't send Fox away, simply in exchange for Sa and his inside and outside partner to see the effect.
In the last 24 hours, the Knicks may become the main market force on the whistle day, they do not have any non-sale items, all the players on the team can be used for trading, and they are all on the shelves, and the New York basketball supermarket is "open" for buyers to patronize.
The Nets' choice, the Lakers' dilemma, the Clippers' next move
With a lot of question marks waiting to straighten out in the last 24 hours before the deal close, will the Rockets send Eric Gordon away? Will Collins, who is not satisfied with the allocation of the ball in the Eagles, go? Will Jeramie Grant take off his Pistons shirt and change into another team's jersey? Will the Trail Blazers and Kings sell further, and will Nurkic and Harrison Barnes also change the court?
Among the many questions waiting to be answered, the possible interchange between Harden and Ben Simmons is second, and no other dares to say first. This transaction rumor will be hyped up, naturally it is indispensable to the 76ers' intentional release, the Nets management is also an old jianghu, arranging nash to open a rumor to respond, but the rumors did not subside, but more and more true.
That's because Harden didn't come out to clarify.
Harden's relationship with the 76ers is far closer than the outside world thinks, and former Rockets CEO Ted Brown, who has a good personal relationship with Harden, is now the CE0 of the 76ers, and the 76ers shareholder Michael Rubin is a good friend of Harden.
Harden's recent moves have also made the Nets suspicious, he is looking for an agent, Harden has only one business manager in the past few years because he feels that he only needs to sign a contract is the maximum salary, agents are not necessary, Harden is only dealing with some special matters when temporarily hiring short-term agents, the last time he did this was to entrust Jason Laney and Chaffy Fields to help him solve the problem of leaving the Rockets and get what he wanted, the cooperation between the two sides has ended in March 2021, Harden is now once again thinking of joining agents Combined with his 4-point game with a "trade me" feeling, the Nets can't help but defend.
Simmons has a certain appeal to the Nets, he is 7 years younger than Harden, the contract until 2025, there is no pressure to renew the contract. Simmons can't shoot, but until Joe Harris returns, will the lineup of Durant, Irving, Joe Har, Mills (if Mills isn't traded) need Simmons to provide space? "West Emperor" with four top shooters, this attack has not yet taken off? In addition to the mid-range shooting, other such as attacking the basket, fast down, the score is excellent.
What's more, Simmons perfectly fits Nash's unlimited change requirements and is a top-notch undifferentiated defender who can greatly raise the Nets' talent level on the defensive end.
The 76ers are not completely sure about the combination of Harden and Embiid, because "The Great" is not Capela's kind of blocking and dismantling center, and he has not worked with Harden's blocking and dismantling guard before. In addition, Harden's hamstring injuries have been repeated, and it is difficult to say whether he can get the best back.
However, Simmons is determined to go, preferring to be fined nearly 20 million in salary than playing for the 76ers, and the 76ers' current lineup is difficult to compete with Eastern Conference powerhouses such as the Bucks in the playoffs, and if Harden can come, the competitive landscape may change. Former MVPs teaming up with current quasi-MVPs always bring reverie.
The trading initiative is in the hands of the Nets, they have to think about the prospects of the Big Three, which looks beautiful but has only played 16 games together so far, and now this wave of nine consecutive losses, does it mean that it is time to change the core configuration? If the 76ers also have to think about it, if the Nets ask them to add Maxi, Sable, Seth Curry, or take the first-round pick, will the 76ers agree or disagree? Now that rumors are that the 76ers are reluctant to include Maxi in the program, will the 76ers stick to the end?
"Change" for "whole money" is an operation that most management is willing to accept, provided that the "face value" of "whole money" is large enough, and the 76ers also have to consider how many assets the "face value" of the game is worth giving them to exchange for when harden turns 33 in August.
It is not surprising that such a haggling is carried out in such a way that it is known at the last minute before the trading gate is closed.
Speaking of the Big Three, the Lakers have something to say. The Nets are upset that the Big Three are always out of place, and the Lakers are upset that it is harder for the Big Three to win together.
The Lakers have determined that this lineup is difficult to rush to the championship, but it is almost impossible for them to change Wei Shao alone, unless the IQ of a team management suddenly plummets, and the Lakers may still have some hope for a 2027 first-round pick, such as talking to the Knicks who are selling a big sale, and changing kemba Walker, Fournier, Burks and other chips.
However, this kind of operation may not be done now than waiting until the summer.
After July 1, the Lakers' 2029 first-round signing can be used for trading, when Wei Shao's contract is only one year left, worth 47 million expired contracts, 2027 and 2029 two first-round signings, the Lakers can make a better deal around Wei Shao, to Zhan Mei to find a more suitable helper for them.
Tucker's transaction value is more than half discounted than a year ago, he can't basically exchange what, if the Lakers do not move the future first round of signing, the deal deadline will lie flat?
Maybe the Lakers will really spend the trade deadline calmly, they are eager to add 3D players, at least to fill the gaps in the defense line that is now making the coaching staff brain-pain, but what do the Lakers take to exchange?
The Lakers' current strength status is to fight with the weak brigade, and it is very good that the strong team can be lighter, and zhan mei's state is OK, but they can't do the offensive and defensive ends as a father and a mother.
Instead of expecting a deal, wait for the Playoff Qualification Deadline on March 2 to see if you can pick up leaks from the buyout players.
The Lakers' current predicament is rooted in the summer of 2021, and perhaps, only when the summer of 2022 arrives, will there be a fundamental solution.
The Clippers and Lakers are in the play-off area, but the wind evaluation is very different, the Clippers are "pepper" are injured, in the stage of core missing, but the ranking is still one place higher than the Lakers.
The Clippers' trading operations are muffled and rich, and it's hard to imagine how they persuaded the Trail Blazers to make two starters for a large amount of "change." The Clippers can attack and retreat in the trading market, and if they are confident in the "pepper" return this season, the new signings will remain, and if they lack confidence, they can operate further.
Covington's contract expires this summer, he showed a downward trend in the quality of projection and single-player defense during the Blazers, joining the Clippers after playing two games is OK, but can be regarded as a "look at the goods" stage, if the Clippers lack motivation for this summer's renewal of Covington, it is possible to change hands again before the trade deadline.
The Lakers lack the front line that can be thrown and defended, or the Clippers...?
Think about it, I guess there is no drama.
Operated on the last 5-year trading deadline
2021 (March 26, 2021)
16 trades, 22 teams, 46 players involved.
Key trades: Magic sent Vucevic and Aminu to the Bulls in exchange for Otto Porter, Wendel Carter, 2021 and 2023 first-round picks. The Magic sent Aaron Gordon and Gary Clark to the Nuggets in exchange for Hampton, Gary Harris and the 2025 first-round pick.
2020 (February 7, 2020)
11 trades, 16 teams, 30 players involved.
Key deals: The Timberwolves sent Wiggins, the 2021 first-round pick (the Warriors chose Cumminga), and the 2021 second-round picks to the Warriors in exchange for Russell, Jacob Evans and Omari Spelman.
2019 (February 8, 2019)
14 trades, 19 teams, 34 players involved.
Key trades: The Grizzlies sent Gasol Jr. to the Raptors in exchange for C.J. Miles, Valanciunas, Delang Wright and the 2024 second-round pick.
2018 (February 9, 2018)
12 trades, 19 teams, 30 players involved.
Key deal: The Cavaliers sent Wade back to the Heat in exchange for a protected 2024 second-round pick.
2017 (February 24, 2017)
8 trades, 12 teams, 19 players involved.
Key deal: The Lakers sent Luis Williams to the Rockets in exchange for Brewer and a 2017 first-round pick.