Another year, another wild week leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. Enough so that I'm coming out of break on writing about basketball to sort through all of the implications. For now I'm just posting a recap of all the deals, but I will add my thoughts on each move in the coming days.
Hawks, Rockets, Timberwolves, and Nuggets swing massive 12 player deal
Hawks receive:
| Clint Capela | $14,896,552 | $16,000,000 | $17,103,448 | $18,206,896 |
| Nene | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 |
Rockets receive:
| Robert Covington | $11,301,219 | $12,138,345 | $12,975,471 |
Warriors 2024 2nd round pick via the Hawks
Timberwolves receive:
| Juan Hernangomez | $3,321,030 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | $1,416,852 | $1,663,861 |
Nets 2020 1st round pick via the Hawks (protected 1-14 through 2022)
Nuggets receive:
| Keita Bates-Diop | $1,416,852 | $1,663,861 |
Rockets 2020 1st round pick
There's a lot to digest here as this is the largest amount of players involved in one trade
since 2000. I'll start with Atlanta since they're getting arguably the best player in Capela, who is only 25 and on a fair deal for the next three seasons. The addition of Russell Westbrook has iced him out of Houston's offense, but he's still putting up big rebounding and block totals, averaging a career-high 13.8 boards per game to go with 1.8 blocks. Although the fit with John Collins shifting to more minutes at power forward could get a little clunky, Capela becomes a much stronger defensive anchor while still providing a dangerous dive threat for Trae Young pick and rolls. Turning Turner's expiring contract, an extra 1st, and an extra 2nd all the way in 2024 into a core player was the best addition here in my eyes.
Of course, that meant the Rockes no longer viewed him as a foundational piece since they gave up him and their 1st round pick (with essentially two expiring contracts in Nene and Green, who is out for the year) for Covington as they double down on their new small-ball lineup. A recent 4-0 stretch with the 6'5" P.J. Tucker starting at center while Capela has been nursing a heel issue has seemingly reinforced the idea that spreading the floor and having Westbrook as the only poor shooter is their best pathway to success. The shift to more isolation with James Harden and Westbrook means less pick and rolls for Capela, so if that's what they really want to commit to, it makes sense to add a prototype 3-and-D forward like Covington, who ironically started his career in Houston before former Executive Vice President Sam Hinkie plucked him away. His versatile defense and fearlessness bombing away makes for a great addition to any team, but his 6'7" frame will be especially needed now for the Rockets as both an individual and help defender. I have my concerns about their veteran forwards holding up under the heavy duty of playing so much small-ball, and giving up the draft pick in addition to Capela seems like too high of a price upon initial viewing. In theory Bell could provide some bench minutes as a mobile big that can hold his own as a switch defender, but they already dumped him before he could even unpack as seen below. Maybe they add another big in the buyout market to lighten the load on Tucker or they set the league ablaze with their speed and spacing, but this is a dangerous game they're playing.
As much as I like Covington, this is pretty good business for Minnesota to sell high on him since he is now 29, only has two years left on that bargain contract, and has missed a chunk of time with a knee issue. Interestingly, the initial rumors of this trade had them looking for two 1st round picks in return to flip to the Warriors for D'Angelo Russell, but instead they received a solid pick that should end up in the middle of the 1st and re-routed the lower one to Denver (along with the still intriguing Bates-Diop) for two former 1st round picks who are about to hit restricted free agency and a potential sleeper in Vanderbilt. Beasley has had inconsistent minutes due to the Nuggets' litany of talented guards but is only 23 and can really fill it up. He stepped up when injuries struck last season to average 11.3 points in 23 minutes per game with 15.9 PPG in his 18 starts on 55.1%/50%/93.8% shooting. Although his 40.2% shooting from deep has come back down to 36% this season as he's had his minutes reduced again, he shot 38.2% overall across 676 attempts in Denver and has averaged 2.8 makes per 36 minutes, so he should make for a nice option on the wing in a rotation with Josh Okogie and rookie Jarrett Culver. Hernangomez, 24, can fill in at small forward in a pinch, as well, but he's best as a stretch four next to Karl-Anthony Towns. He has even more drastic shooting splits as a starter with a 45.9%/39.6%/75.3% line over 38 career starts (1,163 minutes) to average 10.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 30.6 minutes compared to 40.2%/32.5%/74.5% off the bench (1,763 minutes). At just 20 years old, Vanderbilt provides more upside as a combo forward with a lot of length and athleticism leading to strong rebounding, block, and steal rates between college, summer league, and the G League. It's not a very large sample size due to injuries, particularly a broken foot, that contributed to him falling to the 41st pick in 2018, but if he can improve his shooting, Minnesota might have gotten their new Covington.
Giving up those players might sound like a lot for Denver, but I actually like this move for them, as well. Already right up against the luxury tax this season, they were looking at an expensive summer with all of their free agents, especially if Jerami Grant declines his $9.3 million player option. The acquisition of him and emergence of Michael Porter Jr. now that he is healthy made Hernangomez and Vanderbilt expendable, and they're also getting a look at a similar type of forward in Bates-Diop on a non-guaranteed contract for next season. Losing Beasley as an insurance policy behind Gary Harris, Will Barton, and Torrey Craig on the wing could hurt, but getting a 1st round pick to replace the one they gave up for Grant is a solid move instead of losing these players for nothing in free agency.
Kings send Dedmon back to the Hawks
Hawks receive:
| Dewayne Dedmon | $13,333,334 | $13,333,333 | $13,333,333 |
2020 and 2021 2nd round picks
Kings receive:
| Jabari Parker | $6,500,000 | $6,500,000 |
And there goes yet another failed Sacramento free agent signing. Needing to attach draft assets to a good player you just signed isn't the best look, but apparently that's how bad things are there right now with him already requesting a trade. They do cut some salary for next season to provide plenty of breathing room (over $37 million before accounting for their 1st round pick) below the luxury tax to retain restricted free-agent Bogdan Bogdanovic at least. They also get a look at a younger big man from Atlanta that has been productive at times in Len, who hasn't hit as many 3's this season but is back to rebounding at his usual rate, and it's actually pretty fitting that Parker would end up there given his history as a score first, score only player.
It was surprising that Atlanta, who have been one of the better run teams under Travis Schlenk, gave that much guaranteed money to Parker (on a player option no less!), but this fixes that by getting draft compensation to pay more for Dedmon, who had the best years of his career there. It almost seems like they let him go to let Collins be featured more at center, had plans derailed by Collins' 25 game PED suspension, and now have decided that he doesn't have the defensive chops to be a full time center. Doubling up with Capela and Dedmon combining for nearly $30 million next season might be a bit much, but the latter only has $15 million guaranteed over the next two years and could be in demand by a playoff contender if he gets back on track. They were already swimming in cap space with nearly $77 million in room before these trades, so they're still well positioned with around $55 million sans their 1st rounder's salary.
