Grading the 2021 nba trade deadline
Posted: April 16, 2021
Connor Seuferling, Staff Writer
Here is a look at the 2021 trade deadline. The deadline this year marked an eventful day for many teams, including the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls. Let’s break it down.
Chicago Bulls receive: Nikola Vucevic, Al-Farouq Aminu
Magic receive: Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., 2021 & 2023 first round picks
Bulls: B
The Bulls finally made the move toward contention. After multiple years in the lottery, a new front office led by Artūras Karnišovas decided it was time to move in a new direction. Getting Vucevic was a surprise, as many believed the Magic were content with keeping him. But if anyone could trade for him, in hindsight it was definitely the Bulls. Although Carter, Porter, and two picks isn’t the heftiest price to pay, it sure is one of the best on the market for an All-Star. The upgrade at center on offense will be significant for Chicago, as Vucevic provides a versatile scoring option, from the post and outside the arc. LaVine-Vuc pick & rolls will be dangerous, with both of them being a threat outside, teams will have to make tough choices when committing to their matchups. If the big drops on the screen, LaVine can just pull up for three. If the big steps up, Vucevic has an easy roll to the basket. Not to mention pick & pops as well. The main worry about Vucevic is the dropoff in defense from Carter Jr. Now Vucevic is not nearly the skilled rim protector that Carter is, but he can provide a solid foundation in the paint as he is a bit stronger than his predecessor and can handle his own in the post. The Bulls will go from being good on defense, to just above average. Chicago can mitigate any defensive liabilities that may come with the former Magic center by playing lineups with Thaddeous Young or Patrick Williams at the four spot. Young has already proven himself valuable at small-ball center this year, and Williams has all the potential in the world to be a good defender. I would advise the Bulls to avoid Markkanen-Vucevic frontcourts because of major defensive problems that would have. Sure, Markkanen can space the floor, but he’s slow and is not much of a rim protector. Speaking of Lauri Markkanen, this is the only flaw I see in the price the Bulls paid for Vucevic. Although Carter Jr. may have been stuck behind Vucevic, I believe a frontcourt with the two could’ve worked and Carter’s defense was really important to this team. If they could’ve traded Markkanen instead of Carter I would have liked this slightly better but overall I don’t think they gave up too much. I am also a little worried about the 2021 first rounder because the Vucevic move doesn’t get them in the playoffs this year, they’re kind’ve screwed. The Magic will have a free lottery pick. Besides this, I think Bulls fans are happy to finally be taking a step in the right direction. This move could possibly be short-sighted in the long-term, but there’s no doubt the Bulls are back in business now.
Magic: A-
Just as the Bulls did, Orlando finally picked a direction after years of mediocrity. They chose a rebuild. Some early critics of the trade say they could’ve just kept Vucevic, because it was clear he wasn’t winning them games (they’re the 14th seed) and they could tank with him. I really don’t think it’s a big deal that they got rid of Vucevic. As seen with the rest of their moves during the trade deadline (I’ll touch on this later), the Magic were already intent on clearing house so might as well get what you can for the team’s veteran pieces. I like the return for the Magic a lot, and I think they got as much as they were probably going to get for Vucevic. Starting with Otto Porter Jr, there’s not much to touch on here. He’s mainly in here to match salary, but at the very least he can be a solid rotation player and at the best he can net you a late first on the trade market later on. But where I get the most excited about this haul is Wendell Carter Jr. Now he’s had his ups and downs throughout his career so far, but he’s got so much time ahead of him. For starters he will boost an already impressive Steve Clifford led defense (if they even keep him around). His rim protection ability is toward the top of the league, and he can be the anchor of a top 10 defense in the future. Any improvements he needs to make on defense I’m sure can be cleaned up by Clifford. Clifford has seemed to bring the best out his guys and coaches a well-disciplined style that could work well with him. Gives me Tom Thibodeau vibes. For the Bulls I said this probably wouldn’t end being the biggest loss, mainly because Carter’s offense holds him back. Outside of the paint, he’s not that much of the threat. He hits the occasional three here and there, but besides that he’s not a threat from outside. With a limited sample size, he’s shooting just 24.1% on just 0.7 attempts a game for his career. In other words, not great. He’s not much good from midrange either. The limited sample size is a problem with injuries being a large factor in that. But like I said, he’s got time. He’s only 21. That’s why I’m excited. Former number six overall pick Mo Bamba will hopefully learn some defensive abilities from him as well. This trade is capped off by two first round picks, a good return and an exciting future to look to. The 2021 Bulls pick could be valuable if they don’t make the playoffs and they’re already in the mix for a top 5 pick. A potential lineup could look like Markelle Fultz, 2021 draft pick (Cade Cunningham?), Otto Porter, Jonathan Issac, and Wendell Carter. That’s a lot of potential, not to mention a potential defensive nightmare for the opposing frontcourt. Overall, good trade for Orlando.
Houston Rockets receive: Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and 2022 first round pick swap rights
Miami Heat receive: Victor Oladipo
Rockets: D
The Rockets failed to capitalize on Oladipo’s trade value. There is absolutely nothing exciting about this deal. Avery Bradley is only valuable to a contending team, which the Rockets are not. Same with Kelly Olynyk who has been surprisingly good this season, but is of not much use to Houston. 2022 pick swap? You’re telling you couldn’t get a pick for Oladipo. Where’s Daryl Morey when you need him? Besides, this swap is never actually going to convey. The Heat are not likely to be worse than the Rockets next year. Good golly man. Maybe the market was this dry, but that just doesn’t really seem that plausible. How can a 20 ppg scorer who is at least above average defensively on his best night not be more valuable than this? And if the market was this dry, there’s no real point in trading him. Is it really worth having two extra contracts on your team when you could just let Oladipo’s run out (Olynyk does have a player option this offseason). I don’t know. I feel like they could’ve done better and there really seemed to be no effort. I mean this deal was done at the last minute and was reported after the deadline. The Rockets seemed to not really care. Should’ve kept LeVert originally who’s younger, cheaper, and has better trade value. Houston we have a problem.
Heat: A
It’s hard to give Miami anything other than an A. They gave up pretty much nothing. I would congratulate Pat Riley but there’s not much to congratulate him for. Houston’s front office is just dumb. I do still have some questions about this deal. Kelly Olynyk with Bam Adebayo actually seemed to be Erik Spoelstra’s go-to frontcourt this season with Olynyk having a career year this season all though his box score numbers may not show it. He’s shooting a career best 64% from inside the arc this season and has been a big positive on the court. He is plus 6.4 in net offensive rating compared to last season, him being a minus 0.5 for the team. If they could’ve gotten off Iguodala instead of Olynyk I would like it better, but this probably helped get the deal done and it’s not like Olynyk drastically improves the team. My next question is Oladipo’s fit on the team. The backcourt all of a sudden becomes extremely crowded. Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, and now Oladipo will be fitting minutes there. There is some flexibility here though as either Herro or Robinson can run the three spot and Jimmy can pretty much guard one through four (sometimes even five). Could we see some four guard lineups with Dragic, Herro/Robinson, Oladipo, Butler, and Bam? That could be hard to stop offensively, and could be scary defensively on the wings and in the paint. The Heat luckily have some depth at forward to replace Olynyk with Achuiwa, Iguodala who can play forward, Trevor Ariza, and Njemania Bjelicia. I think Miami gets a little weaker overall at the four spot, but the potential for Oladipo to be yet another scoring threat is too hard to pass up. It’s a little disappointing to not get Kyle Lowry, but I would rather have Oladipo and Herro over Kyle Lowry. Fine I’ll say it: Good job Pat Riley!
Denver receives: Aaron Gordon, Gary Clark
Orlando receives: Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, 2025 first round pick
Nuggets: B
Does this deal get them over the hump in the West? Not really. But does it make them better? Yes. I think Denver gave up just the right amount for Aaron Gordon. Gary Harris was expendable. Sure his defense was valuable, but his offense has fallen off since his breakout 2017-18 campaign in which he scored 17 points a game. The Nuggets have wing depth, and getting off his $19 million salary a year early was nice. If I were the Nuggets I would’ve been hesitant to give up on RJ Hampton. I feel he was a high upside pick at number 24 in the 2020 draft. He has potential to be a high-scoring player off the bench, a Jordan Clarkson type if you will. If they could’ve gotten away with trading someone else like Campazzo, Hartenstein, or even PJ Dozier, that would’ve been preferred. But when you have Nikola Jokic on your team, you’ve got to do what you got to do. The 2025 pick was about the only pick not locked up in protections, so even though it’s a little ways out, it’s all they pretty much had. But in the end it’s probably worth it for Aaron Gordon. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon should be a great pick & roll duo (now Jokic and Gordon pick & rolls, holy moly) with Gordon’s ability as a roll man and athleticism to catch almost any pass can make him a dangerous threat at the rim. Gordon should also be able to utilize his playmaking in Denver’s system. A system utilizes cutters, Gordon can be in the Draymond Green type of roll working out of sets at the top of the key or sitting in the dunker’s spot or wherever he’s needed. Out of the pick & roll we could see something similar to Jokic where he’s able to draw defenders and make a quick pass to the corner. Not to mention more opportunities everywhere with Jokic being the passer he is. This Nuggets team has the potential to be scary on the perimeter on defense. Aaron Gordon is already a good defender and is still getting better. Like Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. has the length and size to be a good defender. Gordon also fits the timeline of this team, being just 25. My only other problem here is that Gordon is not really the guy to push you over the top. Yeah he’s good, he’ll push your defense up a few spots and will make the already dangerous offense better. But outside of that, he’s not going to get many opportunities to work off the dribble. He’s mainly going to be a role player and he’s going to have to accept the fact that this system revolves around Jokic. Even if this system should benefit him, it is up to Gordon to give up his old post isolations for a more passive role.
Magic: B+
I’m giving Orlando a slightly better grade here because they didn’t have much to lose from this trade. It was already pretty much inevitable that Aaron Gordon was going to be traded, it was just a matter of when and how much they were getting in return. And again, for a team headed toward a rebuild, I think this deal satisfies what they should be looking for. Gary Harris is whatever in this deal, similar to the Otto Porter trade, he could have some impact as a role player but will probably be gone after the 2021-22 season. Where I think the Magic did well was getting a young asset along with the first round pick in the deal. RJ Hampton has lots of upside to be a good player, and to see the Nuggets give up so early was surprising. I think the Magic were able to pull the best young prospect on that team behind MPJ. There’s not too much to say about Hampton on this team though, he is much more of a wait and see before anyone jumps to further conclusions. Once again the Magic are betting on the future first round pick to be valuable. With the direction of the young Denver team, I don’t think it is likely this pick will be any better than just outside the lottery, but getting that extra first really puts this deal up with the best returns of the trade deadline for Orlando.
Boston Celtics receive: Evan Fournier (use trade exception)
Orlando Magic receive: Two second round picks (and Jeff Teague who will not report)
Celtics: B
The Celtics, who have been disappointing this year, trade for Fournier to try and bring the team around for a final push at a higher seed. First glance at this trade, it doesn’t feel like they had to give up much for Evan Fournier. Two second round picks is nothing to Boston who will look to contend over the next few years. Fournier, who is an expiring contract, will look to provide the Celtics with their new version of Gordon Hayward, or that’s at least what GM Danny Ainge is hoping for. What Fournier adds to this team is yet another scoring option. This team is now filled with talented perimeter players who can put the ball on the floor and create their own shot. This could make for some potentially tough lineups to guard. Unfortunately, Fournier will probably be relegated to a more off-ball role on this team, but this shouldn’t be too much of a problem given Fournier shoots the three-ball at a high rate and makes 39% of his shots from that range. To see his off-the-dribble ability be minimized is not ideal, but there is only one ball, and there are lots of hands that need it. With Fournier’s flexibility comes an interesting dynamic in the backcourt. Brad Stevens will be forced to make a tough decision between him and Marcus Smart when Kemba Walker is healthy, which is not a given. When Walker is out, this backcourt should work with Smart playing the point and Fournier being the two guard. But in late game situations who do you trust more? With Smart you get inconsistent shooting, but great defense. With Fournier you get an efficient shooter with shot-creating ability, who is just average on defense. I think in crunch-time lineups we’ll see a lot more of Smart because of his defensive capability and his leadership skills. This is something the former Magic guard lacks, which is why I question if this deal really gives the “juice” Boston needs. The Celtics have talent, but this team hasn’t been getting anywhere without a real identity. And Fournier doesn’t really add to their identity on defense or offense. What Fournier doesn’t bring to this team is much needed playmaking. No player on this team averages more than 5.3 assists, which is kind’ve pathetic. As a team they rank 28th in assist percentage. What was great about Hayward is he brought more than just scoring to the team, but he could also be valuable without scoring 20 points. Fournier is not valuable outside of his scoring ability, making him a relatively one-dimensional player. I just feel like they could’ve done better with the nearly $30 million trade exception the team had. If he accepts his role as a sixth man I think this can be a good addition, but similar to the Aaron Gordon move, this doesn’t push the Celtics for me from playoff contender to title contender.
Magic: C+
I’ll cut the Magic a little bit of slack because of the other returns they were able to get on the day, but this is simply not enough for a nearly 20 point per game scorer. This slightly contradicts what I said above, but I think Fournier has more value on other teams besides the Celtics. Behind Vucevic, Fournier was arguably the Magic’s second best available trade asset and they traded him for less than Aaron Gordon. I would’ve been looking for at least a first round pick from the Celtics, who have the ability to trade a pick unlike most contending teams. Not much else to say here, the Magic didn’t really get the best they could’ve gotten, but they at least created a $17 million trade exception out of Jeff Teague.
Portland Trailblazers receive: Norman Powell
Toronto Raptors receive: Gary Trent Jr., Rodney Hood
Trailblazers: C
I would’ve rather kept Gary Trent Jr. I’ve seen this pointed out multiple times and I agree: Why trade for someone who’s slightly better than the guy you just had with no guarantee he’s going to stay long-term. I have nothing wrong with Portland going out to get someone they believe that can help them win (which Powell can do), but the thing that bothers me is the means by which they did it. Gary Trent is virtually the same level of shooter as Powell (39% vs. 44%) and is nearly five years younger. Although Trent has yet to reach the shot creation ability of Powell, he is already just five less points with just his three-point shooting (this being the main part of his game). He has shown flashes off the dribble so I would’ve liked to see the Blazers give him more time to develop into that third guy along with Dame and CJ. Not to mention Trent will be easier to bring back this offseason that Powell. Trent is a restricted free agent while Powell is an unrestricted free agent, meaning Powell is free to sign elsewhere while the Blazers would be able to match any salary a team offers to Trent to keep him in Portland. Don’t get me wrong, Powell is a great offensive option, but he doesn’t really benefit this team as much as some may think.
Raptors: B-
For Toronto, this is essentially a swap of Norman Powell for Gary Trent Jr. And I don’t think this is a bad swap either. For a team that has proved disappointing and was looking to trade Kyle Lowry, I think this team could afford to get younger. Trent Jr., just being 22, helps with that. He has the potential to be what Powell was or even better. A great shooter who can also take his defender off the dribble, drive to the basket, work in the pick & roll, or act as a decoy. That’s one handy player to have. This trade is pretty basic, with not much to talk about given the swap. It hurts a little for Toronto to downgrade from what Powell was for them, but Trent is not a bad replacement at all.
Clippers receive: Rajon Rondo
Hawks receive: Lou Williams, two second round picks, cash
Clippers: C
I understand what the Clippers were going for, but not what they were giving up. This team is in dire need of playmaking, ranking 24th in assist percentage. Rondo is not a bad bet to take, but at the expense of the former sixth man of the year and two second round picks of the very few they have left? This is not really worth it. If you’re getting playoff Rondo you get a great playmaker who can hit threes when he’s open and is at least aggressive going to the basket. If you’re getting regular season Rondo, you’re getting an above average playmaker who is very passive and can’t hit his jumpshots. Either way, the amount they gave up for him real doesn’t make sense. Yeah Lou Will is not the same player he used to be, but he’s far more valuable offensively for this team than anything Rondo could do. Rondo will also be around for one more season at around the same cost barring a trade. Given that this team is not necessarily in the greatest cap situation having two max contracts, adding an extra year of salary to the team’s payroll doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. If the Clippers were looking for a playmaker they should’ve eyed someone like Lonzo Ball.
Hawks: B
Getting off Rondo’s contract is nice. The Hawks took a reasonable bet at him for $7.5 million a year for two years, but he hasn’t really done much due to some injuries and just a lack of playing time. Atlanta probably got the best return they were going to get in a trade for Rondo, netting two picks that could be helpful to a young team that’s still growing and someone that should be a lot more useful to the team. Now that the Hawks are in the top 4-8 of the Eastern Conference, they can consider themselves at the buyers at the trade deadline, and rightfully so. This season has turned around since Nate McMillan was hired and the Hawks now hold the fifth seed in the East. Lou Will should fit into the backup PG role behind Trae Young, something he’s already well-accustomed to. Atlanta is kind’ve restricted with what they can do with Williams though, because of lack of defensive ability. Young-Williams backcourts will be atrocious on that end of the court, so it is likely they will never share the court. It’s unfortunate because of the threat offensively, but that’s what comes with having Trae Young on your team. If Williams doesn’t pan out, they can just let him walk in free agency. If he works out, the Hawks surely got a steal of a deal.
Chicago Bulls receive: Nikola Vucevic, Al-Farouq Aminu
Magic receive: Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., 2021 & 2023 first round picks
Bulls: B
The Bulls finally made the move toward contention. After multiple years in the lottery, a new front office led by Artūras Karnišovas decided it was time to move in a new direction. Getting Vucevic was a surprise, as many believed the Magic were content with keeping him. But if anyone could trade for him, in hindsight it was definitely the Bulls. Although Carter, Porter, and two picks isn’t the heftiest price to pay, it sure is one of the best on the market for an All-Star. The upgrade at center on offense will be significant for Chicago, as Vucevic provides a versatile scoring option, from the post and outside the arc. LaVine-Vuc pick & rolls will be dangerous, with both of them being a threat outside, teams will have to make tough choices when committing to their matchups. If the big drops on the screen, LaVine can just pull up for three. If the big steps up, Vucevic has an easy roll to the basket. Not to mention pick & pops as well. The main worry about Vucevic is the dropoff in defense from Carter Jr. Now Vucevic is not nearly the skilled rim protector that Carter is, but he can provide a solid foundation in the paint as he is a bit stronger than his predecessor and can handle his own in the post. The Bulls will go from being good on defense, to just above average. Chicago can mitigate any defensive liabilities that may come with the former Magic center by playing lineups with Thaddeous Young or Patrick Williams at the four spot. Young has already proven himself valuable at small-ball center this year, and Williams has all the potential in the world to be a good defender. I would advise the Bulls to avoid Markkanen-Vucevic frontcourts because of major defensive problems that would have. Sure, Markkanen can space the floor, but he’s slow and is not much of a rim protector. Speaking of Lauri Markkanen, this is the only flaw I see in the price the Bulls paid for Vucevic. Although Carter Jr. may have been stuck behind Vucevic, I believe a frontcourt with the two could’ve worked and Carter’s defense was really important to this team. If they could’ve traded Markkanen instead of Carter I would have liked this slightly better but overall I don’t think they gave up too much. I am also a little worried about the 2021 first rounder because the Vucevic move doesn’t get them in the playoffs this year, they’re kind’ve screwed. The Magic will have a free lottery pick. Besides this, I think Bulls fans are happy to finally be taking a step in the right direction. This move could possibly be short-sighted in the long-term, but there’s no doubt the Bulls are back in business now.
Magic: A-
Just as the Bulls did, Orlando finally picked a direction after years of mediocrity. They chose a rebuild. Some early critics of the trade say they could’ve just kept Vucevic, because it was clear he wasn’t winning them games (they’re the 14th seed) and they could tank with him. I really don’t think it’s a big deal that they got rid of Vucevic. As seen with the rest of their moves during the trade deadline (I’ll touch on this later), the Magic were already intent on clearing house so might as well get what you can for the team’s veteran pieces. I like the return for the Magic a lot, and I think they got as much as they were probably going to get for Vucevic. Starting with Otto Porter Jr, there’s not much to touch on here. He’s mainly in here to match salary, but at the very least he can be a solid rotation player and at the best he can net you a late first on the trade market later on. But where I get the most excited about this haul is Wendell Carter Jr. Now he’s had his ups and downs throughout his career so far, but he’s got so much time ahead of him. For starters he will boost an already impressive Steve Clifford led defense (if they even keep him around). His rim protection ability is toward the top of the league, and he can be the anchor of a top 10 defense in the future. Any improvements he needs to make on defense I’m sure can be cleaned up by Clifford. Clifford has seemed to bring the best out his guys and coaches a well-disciplined style that could work well with him. Gives me Tom Thibodeau vibes. For the Bulls I said this probably wouldn’t end being the biggest loss, mainly because Carter’s offense holds him back. Outside of the paint, he’s not that much of the threat. He hits the occasional three here and there, but besides that he’s not a threat from outside. With a limited sample size, he’s shooting just 24.1% on just 0.7 attempts a game for his career. In other words, not great. He’s not much good from midrange either. The limited sample size is a problem with injuries being a large factor in that. But like I said, he’s got time. He’s only 21. That’s why I’m excited. Former number six overall pick Mo Bamba will hopefully learn some defensive abilities from him as well. This trade is capped off by two first round picks, a good return and an exciting future to look to. The 2021 Bulls pick could be valuable if they don’t make the playoffs and they’re already in the mix for a top 5 pick. A potential lineup could look like Markelle Fultz, 2021 draft pick (Cade Cunningham?), Otto Porter, Jonathan Issac, and Wendell Carter. That’s a lot of potential, not to mention a potential defensive nightmare for the opposing frontcourt. Overall, good trade for Orlando.
Houston Rockets receive: Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and 2022 first round pick swap rights
Miami Heat receive: Victor Oladipo
Rockets: D
The Rockets failed to capitalize on Oladipo’s trade value. There is absolutely nothing exciting about this deal. Avery Bradley is only valuable to a contending team, which the Rockets are not. Same with Kelly Olynyk who has been surprisingly good this season, but is of not much use to Houston. 2022 pick swap? You’re telling you couldn’t get a pick for Oladipo. Where’s Daryl Morey when you need him? Besides, this swap is never actually going to convey. The Heat are not likely to be worse than the Rockets next year. Good golly man. Maybe the market was this dry, but that just doesn’t really seem that plausible. How can a 20 ppg scorer who is at least above average defensively on his best night not be more valuable than this? And if the market was this dry, there’s no real point in trading him. Is it really worth having two extra contracts on your team when you could just let Oladipo’s run out (Olynyk does have a player option this offseason). I don’t know. I feel like they could’ve done better and there really seemed to be no effort. I mean this deal was done at the last minute and was reported after the deadline. The Rockets seemed to not really care. Should’ve kept LeVert originally who’s younger, cheaper, and has better trade value. Houston we have a problem.
Heat: A
It’s hard to give Miami anything other than an A. They gave up pretty much nothing. I would congratulate Pat Riley but there’s not much to congratulate him for. Houston’s front office is just dumb. I do still have some questions about this deal. Kelly Olynyk with Bam Adebayo actually seemed to be Erik Spoelstra’s go-to frontcourt this season with Olynyk having a career year this season all though his box score numbers may not show it. He’s shooting a career best 64% from inside the arc this season and has been a big positive on the court. He is plus 6.4 in net offensive rating compared to last season, him being a minus 0.5 for the team. If they could’ve gotten off Iguodala instead of Olynyk I would like it better, but this probably helped get the deal done and it’s not like Olynyk drastically improves the team. My next question is Oladipo’s fit on the team. The backcourt all of a sudden becomes extremely crowded. Goran Dragic, Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, and now Oladipo will be fitting minutes there. There is some flexibility here though as either Herro or Robinson can run the three spot and Jimmy can pretty much guard one through four (sometimes even five). Could we see some four guard lineups with Dragic, Herro/Robinson, Oladipo, Butler, and Bam? That could be hard to stop offensively, and could be scary defensively on the wings and in the paint. The Heat luckily have some depth at forward to replace Olynyk with Achuiwa, Iguodala who can play forward, Trevor Ariza, and Njemania Bjelicia. I think Miami gets a little weaker overall at the four spot, but the potential for Oladipo to be yet another scoring threat is too hard to pass up. It’s a little disappointing to not get Kyle Lowry, but I would rather have Oladipo and Herro over Kyle Lowry. Fine I’ll say it: Good job Pat Riley!
Denver receives: Aaron Gordon, Gary Clark
Orlando receives: Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, 2025 first round pick
Nuggets: B
Does this deal get them over the hump in the West? Not really. But does it make them better? Yes. I think Denver gave up just the right amount for Aaron Gordon. Gary Harris was expendable. Sure his defense was valuable, but his offense has fallen off since his breakout 2017-18 campaign in which he scored 17 points a game. The Nuggets have wing depth, and getting off his $19 million salary a year early was nice. If I were the Nuggets I would’ve been hesitant to give up on RJ Hampton. I feel he was a high upside pick at number 24 in the 2020 draft. He has potential to be a high-scoring player off the bench, a Jordan Clarkson type if you will. If they could’ve gotten away with trading someone else like Campazzo, Hartenstein, or even PJ Dozier, that would’ve been preferred. But when you have Nikola Jokic on your team, you’ve got to do what you got to do. The 2025 pick was about the only pick not locked up in protections, so even though it’s a little ways out, it’s all they pretty much had. But in the end it’s probably worth it for Aaron Gordon. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon should be a great pick & roll duo (now Jokic and Gordon pick & rolls, holy moly) with Gordon’s ability as a roll man and athleticism to catch almost any pass can make him a dangerous threat at the rim. Gordon should also be able to utilize his playmaking in Denver’s system. A system utilizes cutters, Gordon can be in the Draymond Green type of roll working out of sets at the top of the key or sitting in the dunker’s spot or wherever he’s needed. Out of the pick & roll we could see something similar to Jokic where he’s able to draw defenders and make a quick pass to the corner. Not to mention more opportunities everywhere with Jokic being the passer he is. This Nuggets team has the potential to be scary on the perimeter on defense. Aaron Gordon is already a good defender and is still getting better. Like Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. has the length and size to be a good defender. Gordon also fits the timeline of this team, being just 25. My only other problem here is that Gordon is not really the guy to push you over the top. Yeah he’s good, he’ll push your defense up a few spots and will make the already dangerous offense better. But outside of that, he’s not going to get many opportunities to work off the dribble. He’s mainly going to be a role player and he’s going to have to accept the fact that this system revolves around Jokic. Even if this system should benefit him, it is up to Gordon to give up his old post isolations for a more passive role.
Magic: B+
I’m giving Orlando a slightly better grade here because they didn’t have much to lose from this trade. It was already pretty much inevitable that Aaron Gordon was going to be traded, it was just a matter of when and how much they were getting in return. And again, for a team headed toward a rebuild, I think this deal satisfies what they should be looking for. Gary Harris is whatever in this deal, similar to the Otto Porter trade, he could have some impact as a role player but will probably be gone after the 2021-22 season. Where I think the Magic did well was getting a young asset along with the first round pick in the deal. RJ Hampton has lots of upside to be a good player, and to see the Nuggets give up so early was surprising. I think the Magic were able to pull the best young prospect on that team behind MPJ. There’s not too much to say about Hampton on this team though, he is much more of a wait and see before anyone jumps to further conclusions. Once again the Magic are betting on the future first round pick to be valuable. With the direction of the young Denver team, I don’t think it is likely this pick will be any better than just outside the lottery, but getting that extra first really puts this deal up with the best returns of the trade deadline for Orlando.
Boston Celtics receive: Evan Fournier (use trade exception)
Orlando Magic receive: Two second round picks (and Jeff Teague who will not report)
Celtics: B
The Celtics, who have been disappointing this year, trade for Fournier to try and bring the team around for a final push at a higher seed. First glance at this trade, it doesn’t feel like they had to give up much for Evan Fournier. Two second round picks is nothing to Boston who will look to contend over the next few years. Fournier, who is an expiring contract, will look to provide the Celtics with their new version of Gordon Hayward, or that’s at least what GM Danny Ainge is hoping for. What Fournier adds to this team is yet another scoring option. This team is now filled with talented perimeter players who can put the ball on the floor and create their own shot. This could make for some potentially tough lineups to guard. Unfortunately, Fournier will probably be relegated to a more off-ball role on this team, but this shouldn’t be too much of a problem given Fournier shoots the three-ball at a high rate and makes 39% of his shots from that range. To see his off-the-dribble ability be minimized is not ideal, but there is only one ball, and there are lots of hands that need it. With Fournier’s flexibility comes an interesting dynamic in the backcourt. Brad Stevens will be forced to make a tough decision between him and Marcus Smart when Kemba Walker is healthy, which is not a given. When Walker is out, this backcourt should work with Smart playing the point and Fournier being the two guard. But in late game situations who do you trust more? With Smart you get inconsistent shooting, but great defense. With Fournier you get an efficient shooter with shot-creating ability, who is just average on defense. I think in crunch-time lineups we’ll see a lot more of Smart because of his defensive capability and his leadership skills. This is something the former Magic guard lacks, which is why I question if this deal really gives the “juice” Boston needs. The Celtics have talent, but this team hasn’t been getting anywhere without a real identity. And Fournier doesn’t really add to their identity on defense or offense. What Fournier doesn’t bring to this team is much needed playmaking. No player on this team averages more than 5.3 assists, which is kind’ve pathetic. As a team they rank 28th in assist percentage. What was great about Hayward is he brought more than just scoring to the team, but he could also be valuable without scoring 20 points. Fournier is not valuable outside of his scoring ability, making him a relatively one-dimensional player. I just feel like they could’ve done better with the nearly $30 million trade exception the team had. If he accepts his role as a sixth man I think this can be a good addition, but similar to the Aaron Gordon move, this doesn’t push the Celtics for me from playoff contender to title contender.
Magic: C+
I’ll cut the Magic a little bit of slack because of the other returns they were able to get on the day, but this is simply not enough for a nearly 20 point per game scorer. This slightly contradicts what I said above, but I think Fournier has more value on other teams besides the Celtics. Behind Vucevic, Fournier was arguably the Magic’s second best available trade asset and they traded him for less than Aaron Gordon. I would’ve been looking for at least a first round pick from the Celtics, who have the ability to trade a pick unlike most contending teams. Not much else to say here, the Magic didn’t really get the best they could’ve gotten, but they at least created a $17 million trade exception out of Jeff Teague.
Portland Trailblazers receive: Norman Powell
Toronto Raptors receive: Gary Trent Jr., Rodney Hood
Trailblazers: C
I would’ve rather kept Gary Trent Jr. I’ve seen this pointed out multiple times and I agree: Why trade for someone who’s slightly better than the guy you just had with no guarantee he’s going to stay long-term. I have nothing wrong with Portland going out to get someone they believe that can help them win (which Powell can do), but the thing that bothers me is the means by which they did it. Gary Trent is virtually the same level of shooter as Powell (39% vs. 44%) and is nearly five years younger. Although Trent has yet to reach the shot creation ability of Powell, he is already just five less points with just his three-point shooting (this being the main part of his game). He has shown flashes off the dribble so I would’ve liked to see the Blazers give him more time to develop into that third guy along with Dame and CJ. Not to mention Trent will be easier to bring back this offseason that Powell. Trent is a restricted free agent while Powell is an unrestricted free agent, meaning Powell is free to sign elsewhere while the Blazers would be able to match any salary a team offers to Trent to keep him in Portland. Don’t get me wrong, Powell is a great offensive option, but he doesn’t really benefit this team as much as some may think.
Raptors: B-
For Toronto, this is essentially a swap of Norman Powell for Gary Trent Jr. And I don’t think this is a bad swap either. For a team that has proved disappointing and was looking to trade Kyle Lowry, I think this team could afford to get younger. Trent Jr., just being 22, helps with that. He has the potential to be what Powell was or even better. A great shooter who can also take his defender off the dribble, drive to the basket, work in the pick & roll, or act as a decoy. That’s one handy player to have. This trade is pretty basic, with not much to talk about given the swap. It hurts a little for Toronto to downgrade from what Powell was for them, but Trent is not a bad replacement at all.
Clippers receive: Rajon Rondo
Hawks receive: Lou Williams, two second round picks, cash
Clippers: C
I understand what the Clippers were going for, but not what they were giving up. This team is in dire need of playmaking, ranking 24th in assist percentage. Rondo is not a bad bet to take, but at the expense of the former sixth man of the year and two second round picks of the very few they have left? This is not really worth it. If you’re getting playoff Rondo you get a great playmaker who can hit threes when he’s open and is at least aggressive going to the basket. If you’re getting regular season Rondo, you’re getting an above average playmaker who is very passive and can’t hit his jumpshots. Either way, the amount they gave up for him real doesn’t make sense. Yeah Lou Will is not the same player he used to be, but he’s far more valuable offensively for this team than anything Rondo could do. Rondo will also be around for one more season at around the same cost barring a trade. Given that this team is not necessarily in the greatest cap situation having two max contracts, adding an extra year of salary to the team’s payroll doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. If the Clippers were looking for a playmaker they should’ve eyed someone like Lonzo Ball.
Hawks: B
Getting off Rondo’s contract is nice. The Hawks took a reasonable bet at him for $7.5 million a year for two years, but he hasn’t really done much due to some injuries and just a lack of playing time. Atlanta probably got the best return they were going to get in a trade for Rondo, netting two picks that could be helpful to a young team that’s still growing and someone that should be a lot more useful to the team. Now that the Hawks are in the top 4-8 of the Eastern Conference, they can consider themselves at the buyers at the trade deadline, and rightfully so. This season has turned around since Nate McMillan was hired and the Hawks now hold the fifth seed in the East. Lou Will should fit into the backup PG role behind Trae Young, something he’s already well-accustomed to. Atlanta is kind’ve restricted with what they can do with Williams though, because of lack of defensive ability. Young-Williams backcourts will be atrocious on that end of the court, so it is likely they will never share the court. It’s unfortunate because of the threat offensively, but that’s what comes with having Trae Young on your team. If Williams doesn’t pan out, they can just let him walk in free agency. If he works out, the Hawks surely got a steal of a deal.
September 27th Lhs football game v Juanita high
ezra photias
Even through the harsh storm, Lynnwood still played their hardest; and it paid off.
All-day on September 27th, the weather was a little iffy. It was raining off and on, and the clouds were dark grey. Lynnwood had a game against Juanita Highschool at Woodway, and they faced some serious obstacles.
Lynnwood’s football team started out the game same as any other, with Woodway’s game next. A huge storm broke out shortly after Lynnwood’s play, causing a lot of distress and chaos in the stands, and on the field. There was some lightning and thunder, and as mandatory you must wait about 20 minutes after each strike to continue playing for safety reasons. A few lightning strikes went by, and people had been waiting for about an hour or so with no playing or action whatsoever. Leyon Camantigue, a sophomore at Lynnwood said, “Yeah there were a lot of people running around trying to find some clarity as to what was going on, but overall it was fun. People were just confused as to if the game was canceled or not.” Because a lot of people were confused, it caused a lot of confusion for not just the audience, but for the players and other performers too. Because of these unplanned events, a lot of people were very unsure about what was going on. After about an hour of waiting around in the cold rain, the game finally continued! It was about 7 pm when everything was set to go. Lynnwood's team came running out, strong-willed as ever. Sebastian Willhelm, a sophomore at Lynnwood stated that “through rain or shine, Lynnwood always pulls through. They are a strong team, mentally and physically, and this year especially they've proven to get through countless (random) obstacles.” Lynnwood's football season is still getting through strong this year, and they definitely aren't disappointing us.
The storm itself was pretty hectic. Sophomore Sebastian Willhelm said “I feel like it kind of ruined the game, but at least we were covered. It overall wasn't that bad, just pretty cold.” Although, yes, the game was late, cold, and quite uncoordinated, the Royals still had their big win. Leyon Camantigue also said “the game wasn't ruined at all. I thought it was interesting how Lynnwoods team stuck through it and stayed together even with the freezing weather.” Lynnwood's team has proven that although the cold weather may lead to technicality difficulties, at the end of the day the school spirit and overall determination can really go along ways.
Everyone was cold at the game, not just the audience and students. A lot of the Lynnwood cheerleaders were at the game just standing in the rain, freezing off in the 50-degree weather. Through everything, they stayed hyping up the crowd, soaked and shivering. Bailey Beach, a sophomore at Lynnwood, said “yeah, the cheerleaders really kept Lynnwood going and proud. Lynnwood ended up winning 7-15 against Juanita. Our team was so great, and everyone cheered them on through the storm.” People were excited before, during, and after the game. A lot of our cheerleaders were a big help and kept people going.
Overall, what could have been a huge mess turned out to be a big win. Through the rain, lightning and thunder, our team carried through. From help to the cheerleaders, our great student section, and of course, the football players themselves. Lynnwood's football season has been great this year, and they continue to impress.
All-day on September 27th, the weather was a little iffy. It was raining off and on, and the clouds were dark grey. Lynnwood had a game against Juanita Highschool at Woodway, and they faced some serious obstacles.
Lynnwood’s football team started out the game same as any other, with Woodway’s game next. A huge storm broke out shortly after Lynnwood’s play, causing a lot of distress and chaos in the stands, and on the field. There was some lightning and thunder, and as mandatory you must wait about 20 minutes after each strike to continue playing for safety reasons. A few lightning strikes went by, and people had been waiting for about an hour or so with no playing or action whatsoever. Leyon Camantigue, a sophomore at Lynnwood said, “Yeah there were a lot of people running around trying to find some clarity as to what was going on, but overall it was fun. People were just confused as to if the game was canceled or not.” Because a lot of people were confused, it caused a lot of confusion for not just the audience, but for the players and other performers too. Because of these unplanned events, a lot of people were very unsure about what was going on. After about an hour of waiting around in the cold rain, the game finally continued! It was about 7 pm when everything was set to go. Lynnwood's team came running out, strong-willed as ever. Sebastian Willhelm, a sophomore at Lynnwood stated that “through rain or shine, Lynnwood always pulls through. They are a strong team, mentally and physically, and this year especially they've proven to get through countless (random) obstacles.” Lynnwood's football season is still getting through strong this year, and they definitely aren't disappointing us.
The storm itself was pretty hectic. Sophomore Sebastian Willhelm said “I feel like it kind of ruined the game, but at least we were covered. It overall wasn't that bad, just pretty cold.” Although, yes, the game was late, cold, and quite uncoordinated, the Royals still had their big win. Leyon Camantigue also said “the game wasn't ruined at all. I thought it was interesting how Lynnwoods team stuck through it and stayed together even with the freezing weather.” Lynnwood's team has proven that although the cold weather may lead to technicality difficulties, at the end of the day the school spirit and overall determination can really go along ways.
Everyone was cold at the game, not just the audience and students. A lot of the Lynnwood cheerleaders were at the game just standing in the rain, freezing off in the 50-degree weather. Through everything, they stayed hyping up the crowd, soaked and shivering. Bailey Beach, a sophomore at Lynnwood, said “yeah, the cheerleaders really kept Lynnwood going and proud. Lynnwood ended up winning 7-15 against Juanita. Our team was so great, and everyone cheered them on through the storm.” People were excited before, during, and after the game. A lot of our cheerleaders were a big help and kept people going.
Overall, what could have been a huge mess turned out to be a big win. Through the rain, lightning and thunder, our team carried through. From help to the cheerleaders, our great student section, and of course, the football players themselves. Lynnwood's football season has been great this year, and they continue to impress.