NBA trade deadline 2020: 5 big surprises
Here are the biggest shockers of the NBA's 2020 trade deals.
The NBA’s 3 p.m. EST deadline Thursday for trades to be consummated did not arrive quietly, with a flurry of deals getting struck in the final hour and at least one other notable move falling apart before reaching the finish line.
Most of the top NBA playoff contenders stayed out of the down-to-the-wire frenzy at the trade deadline.
A slew of other teams made moves with short-term finances and long-term ramifications in mind.
It remains possible, and probably even likely, that at least some teams could look to bolster their rosters by adding free agents or when players become available through buyouts in the coming weeks.
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Here are the biggest shockers of the day:
Andre Drummond. (Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports)
ANDRE DRUMMOND
NBA rebounding leader Andre Drummond got moved by Detroit to Cleveland, then took to Twitter to express his dismay with the trade process.
“If there’s one thing I learned about the NBA, there’s no friends or loyalty,” Drummond wrote. “I’ve given my heart and soul to the Pistons, and to be have this happen with no heads up makes me realize even more that this is just a business! I love you Detroit...”
Andrew Wiggins. (David Berding/Getty Images)
ANDREW WIGGINS / D’ANGELO RUSSELL
Deals that included at least 41 players and 15 future draft picks were struck on either Wednesday or Thursday — the biggest move likely being the one Thursday that saw Andrew Wiggins going from Minnesota to the Warriors so D’Angelo Russell could leave Golden State and finally be paired with his good friend Karl-Anthony Towns with the Timberwolves.
D'Angelo Russell. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
The Warriors decided to make the Russell-for-Wiggins move, giving Wiggins a fresh start that he likely needs — the former No. 1 overall pick will get to reap the benefits of playing alongside a healthy and rejuvenated Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green starting next season. And by throwing in a couple extra players, the Warriors also will likely escape the luxury tax this season. That’s not an insignificant point for a team that will go from five straight NBA Finals to the bottom of the Western Conference this season and, it hopes, back to title contention starting next year.
Marcus Morris. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
MARCUS MORRIS
Marcus Morris leaves New York for Los Angeles, going from the woebegone Knicks to the title-hopeful Clippers — who added a piece many teams wanted.
Andre Iguodala. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
ANDRE IGUODALA
Three-time champion Andre Iguodala is ending his exile and going to join the Heat along with Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill, with Miami sending three players who’ve combined to score a mere 254 points this season to Memphis for that trio.
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Miami’s trade with Memphis also lowered the Heat potential tax bill, and Portland made a minor trade with Atlanta with a lower tax in mind as well.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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