Breaking Down Day 60 Trades
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2018 9:37 pm
Usually, these types of articles are saved for the trade deadline. But this might've been the most active day 60 in league history with big move after big move taking place.
BUCKS/JAZZ
Bucks send:
Iman Shumpert
Jazz send:
2022 Jazz First Rounder
8 Points
Breakdown: This was one of 2 moves where we saw the seller get very good value for a guy they signed in the offseason. This was a superb deal for the Bucks, as here's what they got: a future first from a team who isn't guaranteed to be contending, 28 million dollars in cap relief, more than enough to get them out of the luxury tax, a couple of points, and a bump to their own pick as Shumpert was their leading scorer. The Jazz alternatively have, somewhat unexpectedly, walked into a winning record. Despite only using about 70% of the cap space available, the Jazz found themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt at 12-10, and Shumpert looks to be a huge boost to a surprisingly successful team. The one question that remains is: was it worth a first. The Jazz seemingly have solidified their position as a playoff team, but to what heights can Shumpert take them? A playoff series win, just a playoff appearance? And if so, is it worth giving up a first which, even if not good, might have better value down the line? Personally, I like it. The Jazz have missed the playoffs 3 straight years, and it's been 5 seasons since Utah has seen a playoff win. This doesn't put them into the luxury tax; it just makes them a solid team for this year and possibly next.
WOLVES/MAGIC
Wolves send:
Brook Lopez
10 Points
Magic send:
Chris Bosh
Breakdown: Ignore the emotional significance of Chris Bosh, one of the greatest players in Sim League history, coming back to Minnesota where his career began, and this still fits both teams very well. For the Magic, it's as simple as a deal that gains them 10 points with no long-term difference. For the Timberwolves, they get the player they thought they had when they signed Brook Lopez this offseason. With Ish Smith entering free agency after this year, the Wolves are all in this year. Bosh represents an upgrade over Lopez, and JNR gets one last chance to help Chris Bosh that elusive title he deserves.
WARRIORS/PACERS
Warriors send:
LeBron James
Reggie Jackson
Pacers send:
Patrick Patterson
2022 Pacers First Round Pick
Breakdown: This is the other instance where we saw a rebuilding team sign a guy (or guys in this case) and get a first for them 60 days later. For the Warriors, this was just what they were looking for when they handed out contracts to LeBron and Reggie this offseason. They get a first rounder which fits right in with their rebuild. The 14-12 Pacers sit at 6th in the East and become a much more dangerous team adding 2 more weapons to their arsenal. Their guard rotation of Curry, Jackson, and Fredette will be lethal offensively, and the Pacers will be very well served with LeBron taking over all the minutes Judd Williams, James Webster, and Luol Deng were receiving. With that said, the same question for the Jazz stands for the Pacers: is it worth a first when you might not be contending? This is a trickier case than the Jazz because the Pacers' mostly expires in the next 2 years save for Tobias Harris. However, just look at history when you ask if this was worth it. In 29 seasons, the Pacers have finished with under 30 wins just 3 times. Pauly is excellent at keeping his team competitive, and now he has some more weapons to make some noise this postseason.
WIZARDS/CELTICS
Wizards send:
Deron Williams
Julio De La Rosa
Pete Gause
Jourdain Glorieu
Celtics send:
D'Angelo Russell
Damian Lilliard
Bonifaz Wenniger
Trailblazers 2020 First Rounder
Bucks 2021 Second Rounder
Breakdown: Here it is. The monster. Let's first look at the seller's side, the Boston Celtics. This was THE deal for the Celtics. I'm sure when Boston put Lilliard on the trade block, they weren't expecting a purple potential player in return. The question comes down to: this was a WHOLE LOT to give up... was it worth it? Yes, yes it was. The Celtics probably could've received a first rounder and/or a green potential rookie for expiring Lilliard otherwise. Would you trade a first rounder, the Blazers first rounder, and Russell for De La Rosa? Hell yes, you would. The Celtics get to keep their pick as well so you're looking at a core of De La Rosa, a top 5 pick, Ulis, Karl Anthony Towns, and Jaylen Brown. Pop your champagne Boston. This was perfect. On the Wizards' side, this is not quite as crystal clear. The Wizards clearly came into this season looking to compete, dropping big money on both Deron Williams and Kyle Lowry. With an 11-13 record, things could certainly have started off better for Washington. This is, to my knowledge, the first time a purple potential player has been traded while still on his rookie deal. Now, to give an opinion, De La Rosa doesn't quite live up to the purple potential of some other players in sim league. While having A potentials in inside, 3 point, and perimeter D combined with very good athleticism will turn De La Rosa into a superstar, it doesn't quite seem to live up to the generational talent he was billed to be. Most purple potential players at guard/wing usually have the ability to handle/pass and usually have A STL to go along with their defense. Also, De La Rosa's athleticism is below that of other purple potentials. But the point still stands: De La Rosa has purple potential for a reason. And you just can't let that go in my opinion. This was a surprising move coming from a GM with Xist's history. Like Pauly, the Wizards have seldom put together pathetic teams, only winning fewer than 30 games 4 times. They also own a .500 record and a history of making the playoffs more than missing it. Where the Wizards have struggled is making it to the Final Four in Sim League. Only once in 29 seasons have the Wizards made it past the second round, and they haven't yet captured that championship. With that said, it's surprising to see Xist trade his team's future potential for a higher floor in this season. In fairness, Russell brings a lot of the skills/athleticism De La Rosa presented, albeit in a lesser form. My biggest problem with the trade is I don't personally believe this makes the Wizards a much better team this season. While Lilliard is undoubtedly an upgrade, Deron Williams has been sensational this season, averaging 20 points with a PER over 20. The Wizards certainly look the part of a playoff team after this season, but it is difficult to sign off on this deal because it has likely lowered the ceiling for the future.
KINGS/PELICANS
Kings send:
Isiah Thomas
James Pearsall
Don Houghton
James Nunnally
Kings 2021 First
10 Points
Pelicans send:
Kyrie Irving
Breakdown: Holy crap what a letdown this season has been for New Orleans. After signing the biggest name in free agency away from their bitter rivals, the Pelicans have faceplanted and are staring at a 6-19 record which left GM NickMalone feeling like he had to shake things up. I have two problems with this deal for the Pelicans: first is with the idea of trading Irving now, second is with the return itself. Yes, the Pelicans are 6-19. No, they likely would not make the playoffs with Irving this year. But Irving is a First Team All NBA player who is having one of his best seasons ever. Unless the Pelicans are planning on rebuilding for the next 3-4 years, Irving could've been a prime player to go into next offseason with. And knowing they had Irving, the Pelicans could've regrouped, drafted a good player this year, and surrounded Irving with talent going into 2020. But trading Irving in a vacuum isn't the problem. As is the saying, literally anyone can be had if the price is right. But, this is a lackluster return for a top 5 player. The star of the trade, James Pearsall, appears to be a weak blue upon closer look. Yes that potential looks nice, but breaking it down, he's pretty much hit his potential inside and his rebounding will be good, but nothing about him sticks out except for his strength. To complicate matters, Pearsall will be an RFA going into the offseason. The Pelicans very possibly might've traded Kyrie Irving and his 28 million dollar deal for the right to pay Pearsall 15 million. The Kings first is nice to receive, but the 25-30th pick won't do much for the Pelicans' rebuild. The Pelicans best hope for this deal will be to flip Thomas for a nice piece at the deadline. For the Kings, this is a homerun. The Kings couldn't afford to bring back Pearsall next year on a big deal with 3 young guys all lined up to be max players for the next 10 years. So what'd they do? Trade him for a top 5 player. Isiah Thomas has been fantastic, but the upgrade is crystal clear. The Kings will be able to run Irving's contract right up until Haynes comes up for a max so they will never HAVE to decide which of their new core 4 has to go. The Kings now have a core of Duren, Haynes, Irving, and Small. Good luck to the league for the next 10 years.
BLAZERS/WARRIORS
Blazers send:
Jayson Tatum
Shaun Livingston
2 points
Warriors send:
Lavar Ball
Breakdown: In a surprising move, the Warriors and Blazers essentially swapped young stars. Debates can be made over which provides more value: Ball provides a more all around game and can play 1-3 with his handling and offensive rebounding. Tatum meanwhile presents absolutely elite athleticism and scoring ability. For the Warriors, this buys them a couple of extra years before having to pay their first max contract. Tatum's age and contract lines up a bit more with their timeline than Ball. At the end of the day, the Warriors decided the difference between the two was negligible, and opted for the youth and athleticism. For the Blazers, this is a bit clearer. This is the Blazers' all-in year as they are 30 million over the cap and have some key bigs expiring at the end of the year. Ball is an immediate borderline all-star level player while Tatum has struggled to see the court. With Rose, McCollum, Ball, Lamb, and Faried, the Blazers burst onto the scene as title contenders and own probably the best team Portland has seen in its 30 year existence.
CELTICS/BOBCATS
Bobcats send:
Rudy Gobert
1 point
Celtics send:
Nikola Vucevic
Isaias Stumpf
Breakdown: This was a pretty simple win-win deal for both sides. The Bobcats without Irving have been simply abysmal offensively. And it says something that despite that, they are 15-6. But, as we've seen before, there are diminishing returns with each additional elite defender. While Jordan and Gobert are a terror defensively, without Irving, the Bobcats have 3 guys who can score some: Thompson, Wall (who's been incredibly inefficient), and Milburn (who is behind Jordan and Gobert on the depth chart). The Bobcats trade Gobert, the lesser of their 2 bigs at this point, and receive 2 guys who can put the ball in the basket. Between Stumpf and Vucevic, the Bobcats are adding guys who are scoring over 25 points per game combined. Vucevic is no sieve defesively, and, with the rest of the team's abilities, Stumpf should be able to hide coming off the bench as a scorer and nothing else. The Bobcats clearly have no care for the regular season as Vucevic is out for 40 days, but why should they? The playoffs are all that matters for this team, and now they're more dangerous. For the Celtics, they traded their 29 year old really good center and 5th/6th man for an elite 27 year old defensive anchor. Gobert will add to that already dangerous core, and the Celtics, who look like the Eastern Conference version of the Kings, look to have a future that should terrify the rest of the league.
BUCKS/JAZZ
Bucks send:
Iman Shumpert
Jazz send:
2022 Jazz First Rounder
8 Points
Breakdown: This was one of 2 moves where we saw the seller get very good value for a guy they signed in the offseason. This was a superb deal for the Bucks, as here's what they got: a future first from a team who isn't guaranteed to be contending, 28 million dollars in cap relief, more than enough to get them out of the luxury tax, a couple of points, and a bump to their own pick as Shumpert was their leading scorer. The Jazz alternatively have, somewhat unexpectedly, walked into a winning record. Despite only using about 70% of the cap space available, the Jazz found themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt at 12-10, and Shumpert looks to be a huge boost to a surprisingly successful team. The one question that remains is: was it worth a first. The Jazz seemingly have solidified their position as a playoff team, but to what heights can Shumpert take them? A playoff series win, just a playoff appearance? And if so, is it worth giving up a first which, even if not good, might have better value down the line? Personally, I like it. The Jazz have missed the playoffs 3 straight years, and it's been 5 seasons since Utah has seen a playoff win. This doesn't put them into the luxury tax; it just makes them a solid team for this year and possibly next.
WOLVES/MAGIC
Wolves send:
Brook Lopez
10 Points
Magic send:
Chris Bosh
Breakdown: Ignore the emotional significance of Chris Bosh, one of the greatest players in Sim League history, coming back to Minnesota where his career began, and this still fits both teams very well. For the Magic, it's as simple as a deal that gains them 10 points with no long-term difference. For the Timberwolves, they get the player they thought they had when they signed Brook Lopez this offseason. With Ish Smith entering free agency after this year, the Wolves are all in this year. Bosh represents an upgrade over Lopez, and JNR gets one last chance to help Chris Bosh that elusive title he deserves.
WARRIORS/PACERS
Warriors send:
LeBron James
Reggie Jackson
Pacers send:
Patrick Patterson
2022 Pacers First Round Pick
Breakdown: This is the other instance where we saw a rebuilding team sign a guy (or guys in this case) and get a first for them 60 days later. For the Warriors, this was just what they were looking for when they handed out contracts to LeBron and Reggie this offseason. They get a first rounder which fits right in with their rebuild. The 14-12 Pacers sit at 6th in the East and become a much more dangerous team adding 2 more weapons to their arsenal. Their guard rotation of Curry, Jackson, and Fredette will be lethal offensively, and the Pacers will be very well served with LeBron taking over all the minutes Judd Williams, James Webster, and Luol Deng were receiving. With that said, the same question for the Jazz stands for the Pacers: is it worth a first when you might not be contending? This is a trickier case than the Jazz because the Pacers' mostly expires in the next 2 years save for Tobias Harris. However, just look at history when you ask if this was worth it. In 29 seasons, the Pacers have finished with under 30 wins just 3 times. Pauly is excellent at keeping his team competitive, and now he has some more weapons to make some noise this postseason.
WIZARDS/CELTICS
Wizards send:
Deron Williams
Julio De La Rosa
Pete Gause
Jourdain Glorieu
Celtics send:
D'Angelo Russell
Damian Lilliard
Bonifaz Wenniger
Trailblazers 2020 First Rounder
Bucks 2021 Second Rounder
Breakdown: Here it is. The monster. Let's first look at the seller's side, the Boston Celtics. This was THE deal for the Celtics. I'm sure when Boston put Lilliard on the trade block, they weren't expecting a purple potential player in return. The question comes down to: this was a WHOLE LOT to give up... was it worth it? Yes, yes it was. The Celtics probably could've received a first rounder and/or a green potential rookie for expiring Lilliard otherwise. Would you trade a first rounder, the Blazers first rounder, and Russell for De La Rosa? Hell yes, you would. The Celtics get to keep their pick as well so you're looking at a core of De La Rosa, a top 5 pick, Ulis, Karl Anthony Towns, and Jaylen Brown. Pop your champagne Boston. This was perfect. On the Wizards' side, this is not quite as crystal clear. The Wizards clearly came into this season looking to compete, dropping big money on both Deron Williams and Kyle Lowry. With an 11-13 record, things could certainly have started off better for Washington. This is, to my knowledge, the first time a purple potential player has been traded while still on his rookie deal. Now, to give an opinion, De La Rosa doesn't quite live up to the purple potential of some other players in sim league. While having A potentials in inside, 3 point, and perimeter D combined with very good athleticism will turn De La Rosa into a superstar, it doesn't quite seem to live up to the generational talent he was billed to be. Most purple potential players at guard/wing usually have the ability to handle/pass and usually have A STL to go along with their defense. Also, De La Rosa's athleticism is below that of other purple potentials. But the point still stands: De La Rosa has purple potential for a reason. And you just can't let that go in my opinion. This was a surprising move coming from a GM with Xist's history. Like Pauly, the Wizards have seldom put together pathetic teams, only winning fewer than 30 games 4 times. They also own a .500 record and a history of making the playoffs more than missing it. Where the Wizards have struggled is making it to the Final Four in Sim League. Only once in 29 seasons have the Wizards made it past the second round, and they haven't yet captured that championship. With that said, it's surprising to see Xist trade his team's future potential for a higher floor in this season. In fairness, Russell brings a lot of the skills/athleticism De La Rosa presented, albeit in a lesser form. My biggest problem with the trade is I don't personally believe this makes the Wizards a much better team this season. While Lilliard is undoubtedly an upgrade, Deron Williams has been sensational this season, averaging 20 points with a PER over 20. The Wizards certainly look the part of a playoff team after this season, but it is difficult to sign off on this deal because it has likely lowered the ceiling for the future.
KINGS/PELICANS
Kings send:
Isiah Thomas
James Pearsall
Don Houghton
James Nunnally
Kings 2021 First
10 Points
Pelicans send:
Kyrie Irving
Breakdown: Holy crap what a letdown this season has been for New Orleans. After signing the biggest name in free agency away from their bitter rivals, the Pelicans have faceplanted and are staring at a 6-19 record which left GM NickMalone feeling like he had to shake things up. I have two problems with this deal for the Pelicans: first is with the idea of trading Irving now, second is with the return itself. Yes, the Pelicans are 6-19. No, they likely would not make the playoffs with Irving this year. But Irving is a First Team All NBA player who is having one of his best seasons ever. Unless the Pelicans are planning on rebuilding for the next 3-4 years, Irving could've been a prime player to go into next offseason with. And knowing they had Irving, the Pelicans could've regrouped, drafted a good player this year, and surrounded Irving with talent going into 2020. But trading Irving in a vacuum isn't the problem. As is the saying, literally anyone can be had if the price is right. But, this is a lackluster return for a top 5 player. The star of the trade, James Pearsall, appears to be a weak blue upon closer look. Yes that potential looks nice, but breaking it down, he's pretty much hit his potential inside and his rebounding will be good, but nothing about him sticks out except for his strength. To complicate matters, Pearsall will be an RFA going into the offseason. The Pelicans very possibly might've traded Kyrie Irving and his 28 million dollar deal for the right to pay Pearsall 15 million. The Kings first is nice to receive, but the 25-30th pick won't do much for the Pelicans' rebuild. The Pelicans best hope for this deal will be to flip Thomas for a nice piece at the deadline. For the Kings, this is a homerun. The Kings couldn't afford to bring back Pearsall next year on a big deal with 3 young guys all lined up to be max players for the next 10 years. So what'd they do? Trade him for a top 5 player. Isiah Thomas has been fantastic, but the upgrade is crystal clear. The Kings will be able to run Irving's contract right up until Haynes comes up for a max so they will never HAVE to decide which of their new core 4 has to go. The Kings now have a core of Duren, Haynes, Irving, and Small. Good luck to the league for the next 10 years.
BLAZERS/WARRIORS
Blazers send:
Jayson Tatum
Shaun Livingston
2 points
Warriors send:
Lavar Ball
Breakdown: In a surprising move, the Warriors and Blazers essentially swapped young stars. Debates can be made over which provides more value: Ball provides a more all around game and can play 1-3 with his handling and offensive rebounding. Tatum meanwhile presents absolutely elite athleticism and scoring ability. For the Warriors, this buys them a couple of extra years before having to pay their first max contract. Tatum's age and contract lines up a bit more with their timeline than Ball. At the end of the day, the Warriors decided the difference between the two was negligible, and opted for the youth and athleticism. For the Blazers, this is a bit clearer. This is the Blazers' all-in year as they are 30 million over the cap and have some key bigs expiring at the end of the year. Ball is an immediate borderline all-star level player while Tatum has struggled to see the court. With Rose, McCollum, Ball, Lamb, and Faried, the Blazers burst onto the scene as title contenders and own probably the best team Portland has seen in its 30 year existence.
CELTICS/BOBCATS
Bobcats send:
Rudy Gobert
1 point
Celtics send:
Nikola Vucevic
Isaias Stumpf
Breakdown: This was a pretty simple win-win deal for both sides. The Bobcats without Irving have been simply abysmal offensively. And it says something that despite that, they are 15-6. But, as we've seen before, there are diminishing returns with each additional elite defender. While Jordan and Gobert are a terror defensively, without Irving, the Bobcats have 3 guys who can score some: Thompson, Wall (who's been incredibly inefficient), and Milburn (who is behind Jordan and Gobert on the depth chart). The Bobcats trade Gobert, the lesser of their 2 bigs at this point, and receive 2 guys who can put the ball in the basket. Between Stumpf and Vucevic, the Bobcats are adding guys who are scoring over 25 points per game combined. Vucevic is no sieve defesively, and, with the rest of the team's abilities, Stumpf should be able to hide coming off the bench as a scorer and nothing else. The Bobcats clearly have no care for the regular season as Vucevic is out for 40 days, but why should they? The playoffs are all that matters for this team, and now they're more dangerous. For the Celtics, they traded their 29 year old really good center and 5th/6th man for an elite 27 year old defensive anchor. Gobert will add to that already dangerous core, and the Celtics, who look like the Eastern Conference version of the Kings, look to have a future that should terrify the rest of the league.