NBA market: Celtics promoted, Cavs postponed

Rien goes plus, that’s it. There is no more time to change your mind, for regrets or remorse. The NBA trading market closed at 9pm on Thursday 5 February, Italian time. Giannis Antetokoumpo remained in Milwaukee and Ja Morant in Memphis despite rumors anticipating their move. But there were many illustrious names who changed shirts: James Harden ended up in Cleveland, Anthony Davis in Washington, Kris Porzingis in Golden State, Jaren Jackson in Utah, Nikola Vucevic in Boston, Ivica Zubac in Indianapolis. Report card time, here are the pass and fail according to gazzetta.it. Then, as always, the field will be the definitive judge.

PROMOTED

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Dallas – Doncic had to close the wound, heal it. He did it by sending Anthony Davis to Washington, the counterpart of a year ago for the Slovenian’s farewell. And the home delivery of the almost 33-year-old long NBA champion with the Lakers was paid well: two first-round picks from future drafts and three from the second round. Now he can rebuild around Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick. 1 in the 2025 Draft who is enchanting as a freshman. The Mavs got him an ideal starter, Tyus Jones, the ex-Orlando director who didn’t work out for the Magic, but who boasts an exceptional assist/turnover ratio in his career. He will be able to put Flagg in rhythm, like him a former Duke University.

Los Angeles Clippers – They sold well. They traded 36-year-old James Harden for 26-year-old Darius Garland and also got a second-round pick from the Cavaliers for their trouble. The best Harden is certainly not comparable to Garland, but this twilight version… moreover they didn’t give in when Barba demanded the renewal at exorbitant prices. Lucid. And then they sold the Croatian center Ivica Zubac very well. He’s a great player, ungainly, but damn effective, but getting Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick out of him represents a nice nest egg that can be reinvested in the future.

Boston – The Celtics needed an experienced big man capable of alternating with the athleticism of Queta and the slow pace of Garza. Serve yourself. Nikola Vucevic, the 35-year-old two-time All Star Montenegrin center, arrives in Boston. He is no longer at the peak of his career, but in Chicago he showed that he still knows how to have his say. The expense to bring him to Beantown was relative: Anfernee Simons, the scoring guard who brought express points to the greens coming off the bench, but who was not part of Coach Mazzulla’s long-term technical project. Boston thus becomes even more balanced and if sooner or later the long-term patient Jayson Tatum also returns…

FAILED

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Miami – We were expecting fireworks from Pat Riley and instead from South Beach comes the echo of a deafening silence. Nothing. The Heat did nothing at the trade deadline. Incoming and outgoing. They were aiming for the big target, or rather the tall, very tall one, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they found themselves empty-handed. Just as they are, with the same pre-market look. Those with a 27-25 season record. Disappointing, mediocre.

Cleveland – Are we really sure that Harden is a good idea? Yes of course, we are talking about an 11 time All Star. But if he has changed five teams since 2020, Houston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland and so far it has never worked in terms of team results, is there a reason? He defends a little, scores and provides assists, but doesn’t lead. Then the technical coexistence with Donovan Mitchell remains to be verified and that expiring contract – he has an option to renew for a further season worth over 42 million dollars – is a trap. At that age, how long should it be renewed in terms of figures and annuities? Losing him to zero would turn Garland’s sacrifice into a gift to the Clippers.

Washington – The choice to bring Trae Young to the US capital, which Atlanta had been offering to everyone in vain for some time, had already been questionable. The Wizards have added the burden of an additional eye-rolling signing. Davis was first of all overpaid as a compensation and then he weighs wages for the next two and a half years with a phenomenon’s salary when he no longer gives the slightest guarantee of athletic fitness. Furthermore, the many young people on the staff would have needed veterans with the qualities of a mentor or at least a leader of the pack and instead Young and Davis do not have those qualities.