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The NBA 2018-19 trade window has come to an end and it has not been disappointing. It has delivered on most of the rumored deals and trade, except the hotly anticipated and conference shaking move of Anthony Davis from the Pelicans.
Still, let us review the best moves of the trade window of 2018-19 seasons.
#5 Mike Muscala to the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers were bound to make a move for a player on deadline day, but instead of Anthony Davis, it turned to be Mike Muscala.
Los Angeles Lakers receive:
Mike Muscala (F)
Los Angeles Clippers receive:
Ivica Zubac (C) and Michael Beasley (F)
Muscala was acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers in a 6 player trade in which Tobias Harris ended up heading to the 76ers. The Clippers then managed to move Muscala to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are looking to compete and grab a playoff spot this season. Muscala is averaging 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.1 minutes this season and makes for a great stretch 4 that can shoot 3s as well.
The Los Angeles Clippers receive a budding star in Ivica Zubac, who is averaging career-highs in points (8.5), rebounds (4.9), field goal percentage (58%) and free-throw percentage (86.4%). It is surprising that the Lakers parted with him for so little but the Clippers must be happy to receive such a young star.
Beasley, is averaging 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds, while shooting 49 percent from the field this season. He has been severely limited in his short span with the Lakers and will probably be waived by the Clippers to allow him to join a contender as he is a sparkplug on offense and can help out any team in need.
#4 Avery Bradley to the Memphis Grizzlies
Avery Bradley must have known that something might be going down on deadline day and if he had, he would have been right. He has been moved on by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis Grizzlies receive:
Avery Bradley (G)
Los Angeles Clippers receive:
JaMychal Green (F), Garett Temple (G)
Avery Bradley has been good for the Los Angeles Clippers this season but factoring in their rebuilding on the fly, along with making space for free agents, the Clippers are doing really well moving Avery Bradley.
Bradley has averaged 8.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists all season for the Clippers. It is a good move for a rebuilding Grizzlies as they get a veteran presence to help mould the budding stars. JaMychal Green has averaged 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds this season for the Grizzlies and Garett Temple has averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.02 steals for the Grizzlies.
Both of the players are expiring contracts that the Clippers wanted to take on so that they will be able to clear out some cap space for signing superstar players they are targeting the offseason.
#3 Markelle Fultz to the Orlando Magic
It is finally done, Markelle Fultz has left the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that took him at #1 in the 2017 NBA draft, over the likes of Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, DeAaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell among others.
Orlando Magic receive:
Markelle Fultz (G)
Philadelphia 76ers receive:
Jonathon Simmons (F), the Oklahoma City Thunder’s top-20-protected 2020 first-round pick and a 2019 Cavaliers second-rounder.
The Philadelphia 76ers played their biggest remaining chip just before Thursday’s deadline, trading former no. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz. Fultz had been a complete flop in his tenure with the Sixers.
He was unable to play through most of his rookie season with a shoulder issue and missed almost all of his sophomore year too with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The Orlando Magic look at this move as a low-risk high reward move for Fultz, if his return from injury really fixes his problems, he has a great chance of being a top player for the Magic.
The Magic gave up Jonathon Simmons, a 29-year-old wing, who brings solid perimeter defense to the Sixers and is averaging 6.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Magic this season.
#2 Nikola Mirotic to the Milwaukee Bucks:
The Milwaukee Bucks managed to get a deal done with the Detroit Pistons and the New Orleans Pelicans in a three team deal, making sure everyone gets what they want.
Detroit Pistons receive:
Thon Maker (F)
Milwaukee Bucks receive:
Nikola Mirotic (F)
New Orleans Pelicans receive:
Jason Smith (F), Stanley Johnson (F), 4 second round picks (via Detroit)
The Milwaukee Bucks landed Nikola Mirotic, a strong role-playing forward that can stretch the floor and shoot the 3, giving the Bucks exactly what they needed in making a strong playoff push.
The 6-foot-10 stretch power forward has battled injuries this season but he’s a perfect fit for Mike Budenholzer’s system in Milwaukee. Mirotic is a dangerous 3-point shooter, a solid defensive rebounder, and a relatively versatile frontcourt defender. He looks like the answer to Milwaukee’s matchup problems in the postseason.
The Detroit Pistons receive Thon Maker, who is a promising talent that has lost his path in the NBA and a change in scenery is probably what is best for him. The potential is there and now the Pistons will look to unlock it.
The New Orleans Pelicans were looking to rebuild and got exactly that. A nice young player in Stanley Johnson, an expiring Jason Smith contract and 4 second round picks, one of the Bucks, plus one from Denver and two from the Wizards. Their rebuild looks to be on track and this deal is a win-win for all parties.
#1 Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors
The trade that the Grizzlies were looking forward to doing in order to finally start their rebuild went through.
Toronto Raptors receive:
Marc Gasol (C)
Memphis Grizzlies receive:
Jonas Valanciunas (C), Delon Wright (G), CJ Miles (G), 2024 second-round pick.
This was by far the biggest trade that went down on the trade deadline, something that was always going to happen before the deadline had passed. The Charlotte Hornets were leading the discussions but in the end, the Toronto Raptors made the best offer.
The Raptors managed to add a big man who is a viable 3-point shooter, knocking down 34.4 percent of his deep tries on 4.2 attempts per game and can both stretch and punish defenses apart from being one of the best playmaking big men ever.
The Memphis Grizzlies ended up landing a seemingly nice center in Valanciunas but he has never gotten a large number of minutes, though has always played well whenever he has been given the opportunity to. Delong Wright and CJ Miles are great rotation players that can help the team out towards their rebuild into the future.
