The NBA trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and there is a lot of smoke but little fire right now. The futures of several leading stars are unclear and may not be settled anytime soon, but they’ll loom large over the deadline action of numerous teams. It means there’s no shortage of intrigue as teams explore their options.
Here are eight major storylines that will define Thursday’s trade deadline.
8) The future of the Wizards
John Wall’s brutal injury may well shake up an organization that already seemed to be at a crossroads. It’s unlikely that the Wizards are going to undertake a major course change just because of the Wall injury, but the future of their organization is very murky right now. There’s no guarantee that Wall is the same player in a year when he returns from his injury, and all eyes will shift to Bradley Beal, a talented player who seems to be trapped in an increasingly hopeless situation.
7) Carmelo Anthony’s potential career revival
One player who isn’t currently employed but may be after the deadline is Carmelo Anthony, who was recently waived by the Chicago Bulls. It’s no secret that Anthony wants to restart his career, preferably by latching on to a contender. The forward has to find the right fit — he isn’t much of a defender and mostly exists to shoot — but there are teams in need of shooting. His storyline will likely carry on even after the deadline passes.
6) Tanking for Zion
Which sellers will be the most aggressive? Zion Williamson is one of the most compelling potential No. 1 picks in recent years and a potential franchise-changer, so there are plenty of teams who may be comfortable selling off any decent assets in the hopes of picking up a few extra ping-pong balls in the draft lottery. The New York Knicks, already frontrunners for the top pick, lead the pack here and have already dumped some pieces in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. We’ll see if that continues and if any other teams follow their lead.
5) Enes Kanter’s attempts to escape New York
Few players want to be traded at the deadline more than Enes Kanter, who has pretty much left the Knicks’ rotation at this point. Kanter has been doing everything he publicly can to try to engineer a trade, and the center could certainly help some contenders. The Knicks are kind of wavering, though they have every reason to move the veteran, especially if they’re not going to play him. His is a name to watch before Thursday.
4) Memphis’ teardown efforts
For the first time, the Memphis Grizzlies appear willing to actually trade stars Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, which could set off a serious bidding war before Thursday’s deadline. It’s the beginning of a major rebuild, but it also means two big names who can still be huge contributors will hit the market. Expect the interest in both players to be high, with the Charlotte Hornets heavily pursuing Gasol.
3) Kevin Durant’s possible new home
Kevin Durant obviously is not going anywhere before Thursday. However, his looming free agency could influence a lot of the moves made before the trade deadline. Durant is going to be courted by numerous teams, likely including the New York Knicks, who are continuing to clear cap space in big ways for two potential max players. Other teams may also want a shot at Durant, though it’s unclear how many will have a chance. It’s worth watching what some may do.
2) Kyrie Irving’s unclear offseason plans
Just as Durant’s free agency looms over the trade deadline, Irving’s recent indecision has really shaken things up. Once seemingly committed to Boston, Irving has seemed to waver on that in recent days, and teams like the New York Knicks are dreaming of landing him. That, again, may influence some teams’ thinking this trade deadline. While they don’t seem inclined to do so now, a team like the Knicks landing Anthony Davis would change the dynamic of the upcoming offseason before it even arrives.
This will be the story of the deadline even if Davis doesn’t leave the Pelicans. The Los Angeles Lakers want him, but are at an impasse with the New Orleans Pelicans. The New York Knicks may want him, but don’t seem eager to get involved right now. The Boston Celtics may want him, but can’t move for him until summer. For interested parties, the Davis situation is a chess match right now, but the Pelicans are determined to not give in easily. It could mean he doesn’t move now, but he’s going to move eventually.
