The end of the transfer market or trade deadline from nba It is one of those moments marked with fire in the calendar. The previous days are days of high intensity, where rumors fly and it can be difficult to separate the smoke from the information. However, it is an essential and extremely interesting section of the course where each team’s situation, options and capabilities can be analyzed in depth.
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One way to do this is to try to guess who will be the buyers and who the sellersthat is, the teams that want to improve through transfer and those that will offer the pieces in exchange for the corresponding compensation.
It is time to start with the teams that need to improve their teams towards trade deadline 2023, Which teams will be buyers at the close of the NBA market?
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No. 1 – Portland Trail Blazers
When a team that has made dynamic moves to out of season The previous one continues to have the same problems as the previous seasons, it is that it has not put the right solutions. The Blazers moved a lot and made a lot of sense in 2022, but halfway through the current season they are out of the Play-In zone. Not a pleasant situation for a team that has one Damian Lillard at full capacity.
As he commented Matt Moore on Action Networkportland would clearly be alone intact players I will give me Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant, who would have already been presented with a renewal offer. That would mean the Blazers would be open to moving two key names like Jusuf Nurkic and Josh Hart, but also to newcomers such as Gary Payton II or Shaedon Sharpe.
The Oregonians need to improve their defense as soon as possible and the best way is to try to strengthen the interior position. Which is not easy when you consider that Nurkic has 4 seasons left on his contract and his value is negative.
#2 – New York Knicks
On the opposite spectrum are the Knicks who made big moves last season as well. out of season and that they manage to add good results in the Eastern Region. However, the New Yorkers have a fairly limited lineup, which is a consequence of the zero contribution of some substitutes. Players who have a specific market and who could find a new destination if Derrick Rose, Isaiah Hartenstein, Cam Reddish or Obi Toppin.
The line that differentiates being a buyer from a seller at deadline It’s the ultimate goal this team has, and the Knicks want to continue their climb into the playoffs. The main points for improvement are: shooting from three (34.5%) and defense (113.4, 17th); something they can easily find in the market.
In their favor is the fact that they have a wide battery of fine designs with which to satisfy the other negotiating party. In 2023 alone, they have the Pistons, Wizards and Mavs first-rounders in addition to their own, as well as three 2024 second-rounders that can help close any deal.
#3 – Minnesota Timberwolves
There is nothing worse than making one of the most important signings of the last decade and having the team’s results be worse than before the trade. Minnesota has already overcome the impasse after signing Rudy Gobert, and Karl-Anthony Towns’ injury has further complicated matters. There is no way to go back to the previous state, the Timberwolves just have to go ahead.
And how can they do it? By moving to one of its main names such as D’Angelo Russell.
The 26-year-old starter has not finished his work with the team since arriving in 2020, posting his worst numbers since he was with the Lakers. Add to that the fact that his contract expires at the end of this campaign, and D’Angelo has every chance to finish the season in a new destination.
What Minnesota needs is to improve it Stroke, something that makes sense with Russell and Gobert. The options in that sense are limited, but they have contracts like his Taurean Prince (7.2 million) or Kyle Anderson (8.7 million) which can help to square the numbers.
#4 – LA Clippers
Los Angeles is one of those teams you never have to take your eyes off of when the market closes. It is very aggressive management, willing to I take risks and that he is not afraid of what may happen in the future, which should be appreciated given the caution with which the rest of the NBA. And in this deadline They can become protagonists again.
The need to improve in his position base It will lead them to look for a player to fill that role. Reggie Jackson, John Wall and Terrance Mann They haven’t lived up to Ty Lue’s expectations and need someone different to take on that responsibility. However, getting a GM isn’t cheap in the league and the options are pretty limited.
They have options to get someone, at least to balance out the math of the transfer, but making it happen will be more complicated. Despite everything, these Clippers with George in prime form, Kawhi getting better and better, and a talented secondary group have the potential to contend for a ring if they add another piece to their grid.
#5 – Phoenix Suns
From being the reference team to fighting to get directly into the Playoffs. This has been the last 9 months for the Phoenix Suns, which will force them to change their sports strategy and become extremely aggressive in closing the transfer window. Not so much out of desire as out of necessity.
Arizonans must find a way to maximize elite potential for his remaining senior year Chris Paul before his own contract (until 2025) be a joke. To do this they need some features that give them room to maneuver and players with striking ability. However, if this is really their desire, they will have to make complex decisions that could mean the departure of key people such as Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson or Deandre Ayton.
The piece that will make all the dominoes move will be Jae Crowder, part of the team’s dynamics, and this with his salary of 10 million which expires he is called to leave Phoenix sooner rather than later with a new destination. The Suns need to improve as well deadline giving them their last chance before their credit runs out.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
