This year’s trade deadline could be bleak as many of the top contenders are without the assets to make major moves, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com writes.
The Lakers, Clippers, Bucks, and Nets are all hindered in their ability to move future first-rounders and with other clubs like the Heat (without their 2021 first-rounder because of the Goran Dragic trade), Mavs (owe the Knicks 2021 & 2023 first-rounders for Kristaps Porzingis), Jazz (still owe a first-rounder with protections that don’t expire until 2024 to Memphis for Mike Conley) facing restrictions, finding value will be tough for sellers this year.
“For good teams trying to do rentals, those deals will be tough without picks [to trade],” an Eastern Conference executive told Bontemps. “And say you’re Washington, and you’re trying to do a Beal trade. If you want to get three firsts and two swaps, in what seems to be the going rate for these deals, your pool of teams who can do that is way smaller.”
Between COVID-19 issues and the condensed season, it’s hard to figure out which teams are going to be sellers, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Teams are having difficulty evaluating their rosters in the midst of all the extra variables.
“There’s maybe four teams that really don’t think they’ll make the playoffs,” a West executive said. “So who is gonna be selling?”
The Timberwolves reside in the basement of the Western Conference, though with Golden State owning their top-3 protected 2021 first-round pick, Minnesota won’t be particularly motivated to move talent. Of the cluster of Eastern Conference teams that would miss the playoffs if the season ended today, most want to make the playoffs.
How different teams view their financial situation could drive trades, however. Teams like the Warriors are seen as willing to take on money. Other clubs may feel differently and the difference in philosophy could drive some deals.
“Do I think it’s likely that turns into a flurry of deals? No,” another East executive tells Bontemps. “But I do think there’s some situations that, while things might get taken off the table because of all the uncertainty that’s going on, could actually come together because of it.”
