We get to the heart of things as the countdown continues towards the deadline for the trading window, scheduled for Thursday 5 February at 9pm Italian time. And there is anticipation to understand what Giannis Antetokoumpo will do
Jaren Jackson from Memphis to Utah, paid a fortune by the Jazz. The Celtics bring Nikola Vucevic to Boston while sending Anfernee Simons to Chicago. Where Mike Conley and Jaden Ivey also land thanks to a trade that brings Kevin Huerter to Detroit. And Draymond Green is now considered transferable, a counter piece for Golden State to try to get to Giannis Antetokoumpo. The NBA market finally comes to life as the countdown continues towards the deadline for the trade window, scheduled for Thursday 5 February at 9pm Italian time. In addition to the Greek giant, James Harden, Domas Sabonis and Ja Morant could move, the names that serve as a compass to understand what could happen. Meanwhile, here’s what happened in the last few hours.
JACKSON TO JAZZ
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Jaren Jackson, 26, a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies since 2018, moves to the Utah Jazz in a trade involving eight players. Jock Londale, the center, guard John Konchar and winger Vince Williams Jr also end up in Salt Lake City, while in Tennessee, in addition to three first-round picks – two from the 2027 draft and one from 2031 – the freshman Walter Clayton, the veterans Kyle Anderson and Georges Niang and the immature prospect Taylor Hendricks go. Memphis rebuilds, creates a salary exception of 28.8 million dollars, the largest ever, to be reinvested, and starts from the foundations, plans to sell Ja Morant, the genius and reckless director, as soon as possible and to rely on the young Zach Edey and Cedric Coward. The Grizzlies have accumulated 12 first-round picks from the next 7 drafts. Utah pays dearly, a high price, for a player who is still growing and yet already a two-time All Star and defender of the year in 2023. However, he plays in the position of Lauri Markkanen, their best player on the roster so far. The Finn could start or be used as a small forward to launch a gigantic long unit in the future with Walker Kessler at center. Jackson has never reached 7 rebounds per game in his career despite being 208 centimeters tall, but he is a fearsome shot blocker and scores 19.2 points per game.
GREEN ON THE MARKET
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Draymond Green, almost 36 years old, has won four titles as a defensive specialist and vocal leader of the Warriors who, however, seem ready to sacrifice him to try to get to Giannis Antetokounpo now, inserting his contract, instead of that of the injured Jimmy Butler, as the basis of the negotiation with Milwaukee which is obviously also interested in the youngsters of the Dubs and above all in future choices in the next draft. Will it be enough as a package to entice the Bucks? We’ll find out soon. Of course, symbolically putting Green, a four-time All Star, on the market is a significant move regardless of how the negotiations end. A cycle ends in the Californian bay.
CONLEY IN CHICAGO, HUERTER IN DETROIT
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Also interesting is the three-team trade made by Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota. The Bulls get their hands on veteran director Mike Conley and on Jaden Ivey, a super athlete who was sacrificed for playing time in Detroit after returning from injury. The Pistons go to Dario Saric, the Croatian big man, and above all the guard Kevin Huerter who is logical, as a shooter, in that game system. All four players involved are out of contract. The Pistons also receive the exchange (if favorable) of first-round picks in the 2026 draft with Minnesota. The Wolves unload Conley’s salary by reducing the luxury taxes to be paid (from 24 to 3.8 million dollars), dropping below the first restriction gate and creating salary space to try to attack Harden and maybe even Antetokounmpo.
VUCEVIC IN BOSTON
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The Celtics, a revelation of the season, are further strengthened by bringing Montenegrin center Nikola Vucevic to Beantown in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons. Both expiring contracts. There’s also an exchange of second-round picks to complement the trade. Vucevic, 35 years old, 2 times All Star, brings experience, rebounds and game readings, with his arrival Boston drops from 39.5 to 17 million as the amount of luxury taxes to be paid. Simons, guard, 26 years old, is a pure scorer who started from the bench for Boston, as a sixth man capable of producing express points. Now he will do it in a Bulls jersey.
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