By Mucteba Gokcek
This trading season in the NBA has been one of the craziest in NBA history. It has changed so many teams’ rosters and their plans for this season. Starting with the Thunder, who have absolutely unloaded their roster and absolutely loaded on future first round picks, all the way to the Raptors who made no trades this off-season, this offseason has been nuts for some teams, but very chill for other teams.
Lakers trade Danny Green and 2020 first-round pick to the Thunder for Dennis Schroder:
Beginning with the deal that the Thunder made, the first deal they made was to trade Dennis Schroder for Danny Green and a 2020 FRP from the Lakers. For the Thunder, this deal unloads Schroder’s somewhat big contract, gives them ANOTHER FRP, and gets them Danny Green for which they can flip for even more assets. On the other hand, this deal helps the Lakers by trading for the runner up sixth man of the year and a very good point guard- something the Lakers had a big hole in last season.
Suns recieve Chris Paul from Thunder for Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque
The biggest deal that the Thunder made was trade away Chris Paul and Abdel Nader. In return they got Kelly Oubre Jr. Ricky Rubio, Jalen Lecque, and Ty Jerome from the Phoenix Suns. For the Thunder, this deal gives them two young players in Lecque and Jerome, and two assets for which they already traded away in Rubio and Oubre. For the Suns, however, this deal brings in a hard-nosed veteran and star partner for Devin Booker. Paul would give the Suns leadership and mentor Booker into becoming an even better star than he already is.
Bucks, Thunder, Pelicans, and Nuggets Mega-Trade
The Bucks acquire Holiday and the draft rights to Sam Merrill, the Thunder receive George Hill, Darius Miller, Kenrich Williams, Josh Gray, Zylan Cheatham, the Nuggets’ 2023 first-round pick, and two second round picks, the Nuggets get the draft rights to RJ Hampton, and the Pelicans acquire Adams, Eric Bledsoe, the Bucks’ 2025 first-round pick (unprotected), the Bucks’ 2027 first-round pick (unprotected), and the right to swap first-round picks with the Bucks in 2024 and 2026. This deal gives the Pelicans, who are pushing for the playoffs next season, a very solid rotation player in Bledsoe and a little investment in their future with the FRPs. Additionally, they get an extremely good center in Steven Adams. Meanwhile, the Bucks get a very good perimeter defender and playmaker- which they desperately needed last season- out of Holiday. The Thunder get an asset which they can flip for better assets out of George Hill and MORE picks. Last but not least, the Nuggets get a recently drafted solid, young player out of RJ Hampton.
76ers trade Al Horford, picks to Thunder for Danny Green, Terrance Ferguson
Now to get back to the Thunder, the 76ers traded Al Horford, a FRP, and a second round pick for Danny Green and Terrance Ferguson. This deal gives the Thunder EVEN MORE picks and an asset (Horford) which they can flip for more picks or younger players. For the 76ers, they get a very good three-point shooter in Danny Green and Terrannce Ferguson, who is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Warriors absorb Kelly Oubre Jr. into their trade exception
Another Thunder trade was sending Kelly Oubre to the Warriors for a large trade exception and a FRP. This deal gives the Warriors a player that they have been trying to unsuccessfully acquire for the past several seasons. Oubre gives the Warriors lots of energy, athleticism, and shooting at the three spot.
Rockets Trade Russell Westbrook for John Wall and FRP
This was easily the biggest deal of this offseason. Westbrook pairs up with Bradley Beal in the East, and Wall tries to make his comeback paired up with James Harden, who might get traded soon. The Wizards get a really athletic and fast playmaker out of Westbrook. Although he might not have the shooting skills that Wall had, Westbrook is a safer bet in this trade considering the fact that Wall hasn’t played in nearly two years. For the Rockets, on the other hand, they made a big bet on John Wall and an attempt to bring Harden back into the team. Harden apparently said that he would rather play with Wall than Westbrook, so the Rockets made the deal in order for Harden to rescind his trade request.
