The NBA’s off-season will be lightning fast this time around as the league has to adjust draft, free agency, training camp and preseason before the regular season kicks off on December 22nd. The NBA draft is around the corner on November 18, with the free agency starting two days after November 20. While the free agency market won’t be as robust this off-season as the teams prepare for bigger names to become available in 2021, the trading market is expected to be incredibly active.
With the transaction moratorium lifted in the league, trades can now be made official, and teams are starting to swap players and picks to better position themselves for the upcoming season. Here are the latest trades reported in the league.
Knicks purchase No. 23 pick, Ante Tomic from Jazz for the 27th, 38th picks
New York earned a higher pick in the first round than number 8 in Wednesday’s draft. the team announced. The Jazz also sent in the 2008 second round draft Ante Tomic rights, which is not expected to play in the NBA. It is unclear what New York’s plan for its newly acquired range is in the draft. Perhaps it could be part of a larger trading package before or during Wednesday night’s draft.
Bucks acquires Bogdanovic from Kings for DiVincenzo, Ilyasova, Wilson
28-year-old Bogdan Bogdanovic will sign a new contract, the terms of which have not yet been announced. Milwaukee will also get Justin James wings in the deal.
With this step and the previously announced Jrue Holiday deal, the bucks have caused a sensation. Bogdanovic seemed like a logical target since they decided not to sign Malcolm Brogdon again last summer as he puts an engaging combination of shooting and playing on a list that needs both. Milwaukee has had a lack of creators, even if there was Brogdon, and Bogdanovic is about to add some juice to an offense that was almost unstoppable in the regular season but could stagnate in the playoffs.
Bucks acquires Holiday from Pelicans for Bledsoe, Hill, three picks for the first round
30 year old Jrue Holiday is one of the best defenders in the league and one of the best players in the trading market. He’s one of the few guards in the league who doesn’t represent a downgrade from Eric Bledsoe in terms of full-defense, and his size makes him more versatile. More importantly, Holiday is a massive upgrade on the other end of the square. For two consecutive seasons, Milwaukee’s dominant offense has stilted and looked predictable against the defenses of the elite playoffs in regular time. It took more gimmick, and Holiday does just that while only strengthening its defense-centric identity. Last season he averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds for the Pelicans.
Hill was one of the league’s better reserves last season, and the Bucks sacrificed a bit of depth in swapping two rotation players for one. This is an issue that the front office needs to resolve over the course of the off-season, as well as the need for additional filming. Holiday is a decent, but not great, spot-up shooter, which goes without saying on this Milwaukee roster. Hill was an exception – he made an exceptional 46 percent of his threes last season.
Trail Blazers acquire Covington from Rockets for Ariza, two first round picks
Robert Covington will be a welcome addition to the blazers that have been lacking the wing back all of last season following the departure of Al-Farouq Aminu and Moe Harkless. The prototypical modern NBA 3-and-D wing, the 6-7 Covington, is a 36 percent career 3-point shooter who took Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum on an offensive in Portland that last season Took third place in efficiency, should clear the floor at 113.2 points per 100 possessions.
The missiles recapture Ariza, who averaged 12.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 36 percent off the 3-point arc with Houston in four seasons from 2014 to 2018. Ariza may not want to get into Houston real estate yet, however. If the Rockets really commit to rebuilding, he is a strong candidate to be switched to a competitor based on his championship experience.
Suns acquire Paul von Donner for Oubre, Rubio, Hieronymus, Lecque
Phoenix have positioned themselves as a team that could battle for playoff positioning next season after taking on The Athletic’s Chris Paul in exchange for Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome and Jalen Lecque, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic . Paul is reunited with head coach Monty Williams, who coached him in his early days at New Orleans. The Veteran Guard will give the suns the guidance they urgently need. With Paul as the starting point guard, Devin Booker, who may finally reach his full potential under Paul’s guidance, will take some of the offensive load off.
For the Thunder, this is the second trade the franchise has made in the off-season so far, but this time the return of Oubre, Rubio, Jerome and Lecque gives them young pieces for the future.
Lakers swap Green, 2020 in the first round for Schroder for Thunder
After being crowned champion in the NBA bubble, the Lakers are already taking steps to ensure they can defend their crown for the 2020-21 season. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Los Angeles sends Danny Green and the 28th overall victory in the 2020 NBA draft for Dennis Schroder. The Veteran Security Guard gives LA another player to create for himself, which should help strengthen the bank when LeBron James and Anthony Davis need a break. It also supports the Lakers’ backcourt if they don’t re-sign Rajon Rondo, who reportedly turned down his $ 2.6 million option for the next season, making him an unreserved free agent. Schroder’s deal expires after this upcoming season, so LA can be flexible for 2021 as well.
For the Thunder, Schroder’s move signals that this team will be completely rebuilt in the 2020-21 season. Getting a selection back for the first round increases the inventory of draft selection that OKC has accumulated over the past two years, and the Thunder can now switch Green to another competing team for another draft selection or perhaps a young prospect to obtain.
Pistons send Brown to Nets for Musa, 2021 second round pick
The Nets reportedly like the defensive toughness Bruce Brown can bring to their squad while the Pistons will get Dzanan Musa, who was voted 29th overall in the 2018 NBA draft. by Wojnarowski. Musa never found his foothold in the Nets organization, but will have more opportunities to prove himself on a Detroit team that is in the process of rebuilding.
