There are some really interesting teams near the bottom of the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament that have some big decisions to make over the next couple of weeks regarding what they are going to do at the trade deadline. I wanted to dive into what the Magic, Nets, Raptors, and Hawks will do over the next few weeks.
Magic
At 21-16, the Magic have cooled off since their 14-5 start, going 7-11 over their last 18 games. Over their last 14 games, the Magic have the 27th rated offense in the league and the 13th rated defense. If you can’t score, you can’t win. Zach LaVine, as we know, is available for trade. He is a potential target for Orlando with an offer of Wendell Carter Jr., Jonathan Issac, Gary Harris and Orlando’s first round pick this season, though this seems far-fetched. Speaking of Carter Jr., he is a player who has been in trade rumors and could be moved before the deadline. One fit I like a lot is the Nets but I will get to them later. Combining Carter Jr. and Isaac could get the Magic back a player (or players) who makes around $30.4 million so that is another option to keep an eye on. This is a basketball team that needs scoring and while I would not trade Carter Jr. I think that the Magic should try and add 2 players who provide a scoring punch. Some players who could be options are Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, Malcolm Brogdon, Doug McDerrmott, and Bojan Bogdanovic.
Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are bad. Rated 16th in offense and 24th in defense they are just not a good basketball team. I think they should walk the line of buying and selling, they need to build their roster. I have talked about Dorian Finney-Smith and I definitely think they should move him for a protected first round pick. I would also look into moving Nic Claxton, I think a team like Golden State makes a lot of sense since they need a center. There could be a 3 team trade that sends Jonathan Kuminga, Royce O’Neale, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and a 2026 2nd round pick (from the Warriors via the Hawks) to the Magic, Nic Claxton, Caleb Houstan, and a 2025 lottery protected first round pick (from the Magic via the Nuggets) to the Warriors and Wendell Carter Jr. and Cory Joseph to the Nets. Orlando could look to flip O’Neale and make it a bigger deal but this is a trade that works out for all 3 sides. Orlando gets a young athletic wing and a young athletic center for the future, Golden State gets a rim protector with bird rights when he hits free agency this summer, along with a first round pick, and Brooklyn gets their center of the future. Brooklyn also needs a long term guard for the future but I would not take a big swing right now, unless Donovan Mitchell becomes available.
Raptors
We have talked about Toronto at length but let’s do it again. They are 15-23, are 15th in offense, and 20th in defense. In the 6 games since the additions of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, they are 3-3, 4th in offense, and 27th in defense. They have been playing better but I do not think they are done dealing. The 3 guys to look out for are Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr., and Dennis Schröder. I do not think they’ll trade Schröder as he has a season left on his contract after this one. I am interested to see what Gary Trent Jr. could fetch them. The Magic are a team that needs a player like Trent, would Toronto take Jonathan Isaac and a couple of 2nd round picks? I think they should because they need defense and Isaac can provide that. Trent is a player who I do believe will be moved before the deadline. Pascal Siakam might be the best player on the market. One team I think should make a deal is the Philadelphia 76ers because I just do not think they are good enough to win the championship as constructed. Siakam and Trent to Philly for Tobais Harris, Marcus Morris, the 2029 unprotected Clippers first round pick, and 2 future 2nd round picks is a trade that I think works for both sides. This trade would give the Sixers a 3rd guy to play with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey while keeping their cap space open for next summer. For Toronto it gives them a good future pick while keeping themselves competitive for this season. The Warriors offer of Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga is interesting to me as well. I am not sure where Siakam will be traded and while I would move him I am not sure Toronto will.
Hawks
Just 3 years ago the Atlanta Hawks were in the Eastern Conference Finals with a relatively similar core to what they have now. Now they are 11th in the East with a record of 15-21, with the 6th rated offense and the 27th rated defense in the league. They can’t defend a lick and when you can’t defend, you can’t win. Dejounte Murray is a player I expect to be traded. Acquired in the summer of 2022, the Hawks overpaid, sending 3 future first round picks, 2 unprotected, and a pick swap to the Spurs for Murray. The Lakers are interested in Murray but is one pick enough, I don’t think so, or would the Lakers put Austin Reaves in a deal, I also don’t think so. Murray also just signed a 4-year extension so a lot of teams could be involved in a deal. The Spurs, Jazz, and Pistons are all rebuilding teams that could make a push to add Murray. One team I think that should make a push to acquire Murray is the Miami Heat. An offer of Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jovic, and their 2024 and 2028 first round picks is one that I think could get a deal done. Murray would allow Kyle Lowry to move back to the bench and provide the Heat with a defensive first guard for when they play the likes of Jalen Brunson, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Maxey in the playoffs. The Knicks, Sixers, Kings, Warriors, and Pacers are other teams that could get involved in Murray as well.
The trade deadline is fast approaching and I am excited to see what each team will do.
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