2021 NBA Trade Deadline Week Review

After it was unclear all week how much action there would be this week, a flurry of moves actually made this the busiest NBA trade deadline ever, and I've got them all here! All of the details that have been reported so far have been included, and I've gradually added my thoughts on each move as the night went along.

Contract information courtesy of BasketballInsiders.com with non-guaranteed salaries, team options, and player options noted.

Clips shed former 1st rounder (Woj)

Kings receive:

Mfiondu Kabengele

$2,075,880

Hawks 2022 2nd (protected 31-55)

Cash considerations

Clippers receive:

Kings 2022 2nd (likely protected 31-55)

As I tweeted immediately after the news earlier in the week, Kabengele's days were numbered once Los Angeles already declined the team option on the 27th pick in the 2019 rookie contract after just a year. Now this completely clears his salary and provides more room to operate under their hard cap for other trades and/or the buyout market. Neither draft pick is likely to convey, so this is just a matter of Sacramento receiving some cash to cover the big man's contract and maybe take a look at the 23 year old for the rest of the season. Since the small Dewayne Dedmon Trade Exception was about to expire anyway, it's a solid move, and if they do like Kabengele, they can re-sign him for up to the $2,174,880 that was his declined option. (After writing this section earlier in the week, it does now appear that he will simply be waived for the roster spot due to their other trades, according to The Athletic's Jason Jones.)

Kings get an upgrade at backup point guard (Woj)

Kings receive:

Delon Wright

$9,000,000

$8,526,316

Pistons receive:

Cory Joseph

$12,600,000

$12,600,000

Lakers 2021 2nd

Kings 2024 2nd

Although I didn't expect Wright to be among the group of players going for two picks, I've long been a fan going back to his college days at Utah. He's in the midst of a career year with averages of 10.4 points, 5.0 assists against only 1.3 turnovers, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in just 29.2 minutes, and his shooting coming around to a solid 46.4%/34.8%/78.9% line has helped open things up for him. Sacramento doesn't project to be a team with any significant cap room this summer, especially as they look to re-sign starting center Richaun Holmes, so adding the nearly 29 year old on a fair salary and operating as an over the cap team instead is a nice move. At 6'5", Wright is a backup point guard who is easily capable of playing alongside either member of their impressive young backcourt of D'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, and now in the offseason they can focus the Mid-Level Exception on a frontcourt signing.

Joseph only has $2,400,000 guaranteed for next season, so Detroit saves over $6 million this summer as they continue their rebuild. Adding more draft equity for a player who doesn't fit their timeline helps that cause, even if the first pick will likely be in the 50's this year. Trading away a productive player like Wright also could lead to them ensuring that they have top-3 odds in the lottery. Dennis Smith Jr. hasn't been impressive running the point since being acquired and rookie Killian Hayes will likely continue to look raw whenever he finally returns from the hip injury that's limited him to seven games.

Nuggets bring back JaVale McGee (Shams; Woj with terms)

Nuggets receive:

JaVale McGee

$4,200,000

Cavaliers receive:

Isaiah Hartenstein

$1,620,564

$1,762,796

Nuggets 2023 2nd (protected 31-46)

Nuggets 2027 2nd

Two 2nd round picks ended up being a theme for the day, and this deal also continues a theme of reunions between players and former teams from the offseason. Again, it seems like a little high of a price for a bench player like McGee, especially considering some of the buyout guys who are becoming available, but it's a solid move to get a more experienced backup for Nikola Jokic in the playoffs. That role could potentially be filled down the line by Bol Bol or rookie Zeke Nnaji, so it works out that McGee has no future salary commitments. To make the salaries work, Denver had to use part of the Jerami Grant Trade Exception and have $5,325,000 left of it while Cleveland should create one equivalent to McGee's salary.

One of my initial thoughts about the picks attached was that it also covered getting off of Hartenstein's player option for next season, but the 22 year old big man has put up decent production in limited minutes. He wasn't always in the rotation, though, and it would probably be tough to trust a slow footed defender with almost zero playoff experience to play for somewhat of a contender in Denver. Maybe the Cavs can continue to develop him as a backup to Jarrett Allen, but if not, they at least did well to get draft assets out of a pending free agent without really affecting their cap sheet going forward.

The Players I'm Counting On In My 2021 Bracket

March Madness is officially upon us, and after four enthralling First Four games, the final bracket is now set. I thought about doing a deep dive into how I made my picks, but instead, here's a brief look at the players behind some of my key picks. While there are a ton of amazing prospects to keep an eye on from a draft perspective, these are the ones that I think could drive their teams to strong runs in the tournament.

Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga

You could also put Corey Kispert or Drew Timme in this spot, but I'm going with the most talented player on the hands-on favorite to win it all. The freshman lead guard has shown poise beyond his years and made impressive plays on both ends since the start of the season. In only 28 minutes per game, Suggs averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals with a strong 51.2%/35.4%/73.9% shooting line. Although he hit a bit of a lull during conference play that saw his deep ball shooting drop to 25%, he rose to the occasion during the WCC tournament to make 5 of 10 over two games. That includes 23 points in the tournament final, when the former high school quarterback also made great reads on defense to disrupt BYU and put the game away. Strong guard play led by this likely top-5 pick is why I am picking the Bulldogs to take the title and complete the first undefeated season in 45 years.

Scottie Barnes, Florida State

I feel like Florida State could either make the Final Four or get upset in their first game with a lot of turnovers if Isaiah Miller wreaks havoc for UNC Greensboro. I ended up going with the former due in part to Barnes, who has shown time and again to be a winning player with Gold medals for Team USA at the U16, U17, and U19 levels between 2017 and 2019. Interestingly, the 6'9", 227 lb forward has converted to point guard in a sixth man role as a freshman, leading the team with 4.2 assists per game in just 24.9 minutes. Defense across multiple positions is probably his main calling card, and good things seem to happen for the Seminoles whenever he checks into the game. Ever since ESPN's Kevin Pelton described him as a mix of Ben Simmons and Kyle Anderson, I haven't been able to get that out of my head, and I'm counting on the likely lottery pick's feel for the game to lead a long, tough 4 seed to the last weekend.

Evan Mobley, USC

Maybe I'm relying too much on draft prospects, but USC is actually an underrated team as a 6 seed. KenPom.com even has them a #14 in their rankings, higher than 3rd seeded Kansas (#22) that they'll probably face in their second game. Defeating 2 seed Iowa to make the Elite Eight like I've picked might be asking too much, but if any big man can give Wooden Award candidate Luka Garza trouble, it's Mobley. The #1 pick contender joined Anthony Davis as the only Power 5 athlete to be named his conference's Freshman of the Year, Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year, and he's peaking at the right time with 5 blocks and his career high of 26 points in both of his conference tournament games. I'm a little worried that the Trojans won't have enough offense around him to make this sort of sustained run, but their defense, led by Mobley, is top-notch.

Quick Review of Two Veteran Forwards Dealt Ahead of the Deadline

Bucks receive:

P.J. Tucker

$7,969,537

Rodions Kurucs

$1,780,152

$1,861,068

Their 2022 1st round pick back

Rockets receive:

D.J. Augustin

$6,666,667

$7,000,000

$7,333,333

D.J. Wilson

$4,548,280

Right to swap their 2021 2nd round pick for Bucks 2021 1st round pick (protected 1-9)

Bucks 2023 1st round pick

Suns receive:

Torrey Craig

$1,620,564

I don't think the final deal will officially be a three teamer, but Milwaukee moving Craig is pretty much a direct result of adding another forward in Tucker. It was a bit surprising that he didn't work out as a low-risk signing at the minimum, but taking a look at an experienced wing defender is well worth it for Phoenix, who is essentially getting him for free since they had an open roster spot. Likewise, the cost of an addition wasn't very prohibitive at all for the Bucks, who were able to dump another unsuccessful offseason signing in Augustin. At a base level, the only value they're giving up is moving back from their pick in the late 20's (#25 as of this writing) to Houston's pick in the early 30's (currently #33). Swapping their 2022 1st that they already owed for the 2023 version was necessary due to the Stepien Rule that prevents teams from being without any 1st round picks in consecutive years (2021 and 2022 in this case), and it could possibly allow them to add a helpful piece to their core sooner rather than later.