A Recap of the 2021 NBA Trade Deadline
The NBA trade deadline day has always been a nerve-wracking day for NBA fans waiting to see whether their favourite players will be traded. For Raptors fans, this year’s trade deadline had the potential to be franchise-altering with the possibility of trading both franchise star and GROAT (Greatest Raptor of All Time) Kyle Lowry and long-time Raptor Norman Powell to rival teams. Although Lowry ended up staying in Toronto, the league has seen the balance shift as several teams gear up for the playoffs. Here’s a look at the most impactful trades that took place at the deadline.
Nikola Vucevic heads to the Chicago Bulls
The Bulls, who are holding onto the Eastern Conference’s final play-in spot (at the time of writing), needed to add another star alongside Zach LaVine to their roster to give them a fighting chance to make it to the playoffs. Considered one of the day’s biggest surprises, the Bulls acquired two-time NBA All-Star Nikola Vucevic and Al-Farouq Aminu from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Otto Porter, Wendall Carter Jr., and two first-round picks.
The move is a huge win for Chicago as they gain a high-calibre All-Star in Vucevic, who is currently averaging a career-high 24.5 points along with 11.8 rebounds and shooting 48.0% from beyond the arc. Paired with Zach LaVine, the Chicago Bulls team has the potential to make it far into the playoffs this season as they prepare to fight for their first playoff spot since the 2016-17 NBA season. With this lineup, I wouldn’t be surprised if they make the playoffs. However, it won’t be easy for this team to vie for the NBA championship without recent playoff experience. In turn, the Orlando Magic gain a promising young centre in Carter Jr., who turns 22 in a few weeks. Currently averaging 10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in his third NBA season, Carter Jr. fits into Orlando’s timeline as the Magic aim to refocus their roster around their young core players.
Aaron Gordon escapes Orlando and joins the Denver Nuggets
With Aaron Gordon demanding to be traded from the Orlando Magic, he got his wish when Orlando traded him and Gary Clark to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and a first-round pick. Gordon, who recently expressed his frustration with Magic management, has been injured during this season but is averaging 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in 25 games.
The Denver Nuggets are in prime position to assert themselves as a top contender for the 2021 NBA playoffs with the move. Adding a gifted defender in Gordon to the Nuggets, which already boasts 3-time All-Star Nikola Jokic and rising star Jamal Murray transforms the Nuggets into a stronger all-around team the upgrade to their overall team defence, which was ranked 20th overall in the league before the trade. I predict that this new Nuggets team will be competitive enough to go all the way to the NBA Finals having kept their core teams and adding strong pieces to contend for the championship. As for the Magic, they continue to add younger players to rebuild their roster as they trade away their veterans to playoff-bound teams.
Victor Oladipo joins the Miami Heat
The trade for Oladipo is the most likely reason why a Kyle Lowry deal between the Raptors and the Heat fell through as the Heat acquired two-time All Star and guard Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a draw swap. The addition of Oladipo provides the Heat with a proven guard with playoff experience with a chance to make a run back to the NBA Finals after the Heat fell in six games during the 2020 NBA Finals. At only 28 years old, Oladipo gives the Miami Heat more time to remain competitive for the next few years. As Oladipo is in the final year of his four-year $84 million deal, the Heat has the opportunity to resign Oladipo in free agency and retain his services for the near future should they move on to the upcoming playoffs.
As for the Houston Rockets, nothing has gone right for them following the James Harden blockbuster earlier this year. Instead of keeping Caris LeVert, a promising young player, the team traded him to the Pacers in exchange for Oladipo, who turned down extension offers and made it clear that he didn’t plan to stick around in Houston. Even though the Rockets landed Olynyk and Bradley from the trade, the Rockets will have a tough time rebuilding their team to become competitive once more.
Rajon Rondo becomes the Clippers’ new point guard
After months of languishing over their point guard troubles, the Clippers finally landed a point guard in Rajon Rondo in a trade that sent Lou Williams, two second-round picks, and cash considerations to the Hawks. With the addition of Rondo, the LA Clippers gets an experienced and top-tier floor general who could help the team go deep into the playoffs after the Clippers were unceremoniously thrown out of the 2020 NBA playoffs in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Having recently won a championship with the Lakers last year, Rondo would be the final piece that the Clippers need to finally get past the second round and push for the Clippers’ first NBA championship. However, at age 35 and in the midst of his career’s worst performance, adding Rondo is a risk, and only time will tell if that risk will pay off.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks, who are currently sitting sixth in the East, receive a former Sixth Man of the Year who can help the Hawks keep their pace towards their first playoff appearance since the 2016-17 NBA season. A team consisting of Bogdanovic, Young, and Williams could be enough to push the Hawks team to the playoffs and help the young team gain more playoff experience. However, I don’t think that this team will get far in the playoffs without an additional proven star to lead the team alongside Trae Young.
Norman Powell goes to the Portland Trail Blazers
While Raptors fans did not have to bid farewell to Lowry, the second-longest tenured Raptor was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood. I will definitely miss Powell, he has been a stable presence on the Raptors since 2015 and has improved significantly since his rookie year. Currently averaging 19.6 points while shooting 49.8 percent from the field, he is among the league’s most efficient scorers. Now that he is on the Trail Blazers, Powell can have the opportunity to help Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers make the final push to return to the playoffs and go further than a first-round exit.
In return, the Raptors receive Trent Jr. and Hood from the Trail Blazers. Gary Trent Jr. is the jewel of the transaction: he is only 22 years old on his rookie contract and has the potential to develop into a strong player similar to Norman Powell. In 41 games this season, he is averaging 15 points per game and shooting 39.7 percent from three-point range. Although he is not at the same level as Powell, it is possible that Trent Jr. can develop into the player that the Raptors need to become playoff contenders in the near future. Hood has shown that he could be a decent 3 and D guy during the 2019-2020 season when he averaged 11 points per game while shooting 49.3% from beyond the arc. However, since his Achilles injury, he averages 4.7 points per game while shooting 29.8 percent from 3 before being traded to the Raptors.