Grab Your Popcorn

Trade deadline season is always an exciting time for NBA fans, as each year seems to promise a multitude of blockbuster moves. While this year's biggest dominos have already fallen, with Dallas landing the mercurial Kyrie Irving and the Lakers finally trading Russell Westbrook, there are still moves to come over the next few hours. Let's take a look at what's already happened and what else is in store before 3PM EST 🍿

• The Nets closed shop on the Kyrie-KD era in Brooklyn following Irving's trade request, and Luka finally got his co-star in Dallas

• The squad most desperate to make a trade was the Lakers, who sent Russell Westbrook + others and a first round pick to Utah and received D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. Russ will likely be bought out, and already has interest from a few contenders

• It's safe say LeBron is feeling enthused again, as the league's newly minted all-time leading scorer wasn't too pleased about missing out on Kyrie 😂

The Jazz were correctly expected to be sellers at the deadline, as they are playing the long game in Utah. However, they have been too good for a realistic chance at the highly touted draft prospect Victor Wembenyama, but are still playing the rebuild game by stocking assets and draft picks 🧠

Another team likely to ship out some pieces is Toronto, as many have predicted the struggling Raptors will look to offload some of their veterans. The trade deadline is the prime opportunity for championship hopefuls to pounce on tanking squads and gear up for the postseason, so let's check in on the current title odds 🏆

NBA Championship Odds (subject to change)

• Celtics: +300 (bet $100, win $300)

• Bucks: +450

• Nuggets: +700

• Sixers: +1000

• Grizzlies: +1200

• Warriors: +1300

The Best Fits

While any team in or nearing title contention would clearly love to fill out their roster and add depth, some squads boast far more assets to dangle in front of teams like Toronto, Utah, Detroit and Houston. Two that have been mentioned consistently are the Grizzlies and Pelicans, both of whom reportedly covet a 3-and-D wing like OG Anunoby. The Grizz already look like one of the best teams in the league, while the Pels started the season hot but have fallen off dramatically due to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram's injury woes 📉

• Anunoby is the type of athletic two-way swingman that could fit seamlessly into any contender as an elite role player

• Much of the premiere perimeter talent in Irving, Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie and Mike Conley is already off the market, but guard-needy teams will still be salivating over Fred VanVleet, Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic and Eric Gordon

• Even with the Lakers out of the mix, VanVleet will have no shortage of suitors 👀

It's clear that in the post-Kyrie trade market, most of the names being discussed are high level supporting pieces that could put a contender over the top. There are some legitimate stars who could potentially be dealt, but the return would obviously need to be steep. If the Raptors truly want to blow it up, Pascal Siakam would be a worthwhile prize for a litany of squads — the versatile forward is still only 28 and at the peak of his powers 💪

• The Chicago Bulls have been discussed as a potential seller, but it's hard to see them trading DeMar DeRozan or Zach LaVine for anything less than a king's ransom

• The obvious jewel of this market would be Kevin Durant, if the Nets decide to finally close out this tremendously disappointing era, but all reports go against this happening

• If KD were to enter the trade market, we could see a team like the Suns or Pelicans (or, let's be honest, just about any squad in the league) dole out one of the all-time trade hauls to land him 👀

There will certainly be a few smaller trades today - maybe the Knicks move Rose or Fournier in addition to Reddish?

Either way, today is one of the more entertaining days in basketball. You're going to want to turn on Twitter notifications for Shams and Woj 📲

For My Parlay Gurus

I'd love for the Grizzlies to get Anunoby, a move that will improve their already solid title odds. He just seems like a guy that fits in Memphis. Out in LA, I think the Lakers' long-awaited trade dramatically improves their playoff ceiling, as Russell and Beasley provide the elite shooting that the squad has been sorely missing. With only four games tonight and a lot of players likely out, here's what I'm going with 👇

• Hawks -3.5 vs. Suns: -110

• Bucks -5.5 @ Lakers: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $264 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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