The NBA trade deadline has become a major talking point in the past few days. Its relevance has arguably increased over time. The trades made in recent decades have had a much greater impact on the league far more than those in earlier years.
With the 2024 trade deadline approaching, time is running out for teams to make deals. Find out how it could seal the fate of teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Phoenix Suns.
How the NBA Trade Deadline Could Seal the Fate of These Three Teams
The race is heating up for multiple teams at the forefront, with aspiring contenders also making strides to meet the standards. Teams are actively appraising their standing in the league and mulling over whether they should upgrade their roster to enhance their odds of competing for the championship. Each team’s decision in the days ahead will offer a glimpse into their playoff chances.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers need to step up their game on both ends of the court to secure a deep playoff run despite being a potential play-in team. Their tough stretches are also evident from their ranking: 20th in offensive rating, 15th in defensive rating, and 28th in 3-point shooting. They’re practically handing out free points to their opponents and struggling to make stops when it counts.
They should target trades for a two-way player, shooters, and a reliable backup center to make the most of LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing at high levels. Two-way players to improve defensive versatility and shooters for their offensive capabilities, especially from beyond the arc. A reliable backup center is needed to shore up the frontcourt rotation and keep things steady.
The Lakers must also balance LeBron’s short-term game plan with their long-range strategies. Giving too much control to LeBron risks repeating past mistakes like the Russell Westbrook trade. LeBron is almost in his forties. They need to balance their desire to win championships while LeBron is still on the court with their long-term goal of building a team that can remain competitive for a future without him.
Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic has had an exceptional season and currently ranks second in the league in scoring. But Mavericks could still fall short. The team currently sits eighth in the Western Conference with a subpar defensive rating (117.9). It makes their chances of making it to the playoffs even more uncertain.
Despite Doncic playing exceptionally well alongside Kyrie Irving, their defensive deficiencies hampered the team’s playoff hopes. They must add a reliable two-way forward if they want to make a deep playoff run. Otherwise, they risk being sidelined as just postseason spectators. According to rumors, the Mavericks are prioritizing defensive power forwards, like Kyle Kuzma and PJ Washington, over small forwards in trade targets.
Another possible issue for the team is their height, but it could work out with Kuzma standing at 6-foot-9. He is averaging 21.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in his third season, and he could give the team another scoring option. Meanwhile, Washington stands at 6-foot-7 but could bring solid defensive skills.
Phoenix Suns
Adding Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to boost the Suns’ scoring potential was sensible. They add to Devin Booker‘s offensive skills. They can produce a formidable scoring output when they’re all on the court together. However, the team has only clinched the sixth seed in the Western Conference due to injuries that have sidelined its top players.
Integrating younger players into their roster and prioritizing draft picks could sustain the Suns’ success beyond this season. This doesn’t mean abandoning their chase of short-term goals entirely. Instead, it’s about finding a more balanced approach that considers the present and the future.
The Suns have muddled things up for themselves by depleting their future draft resources to improve their present circumstances. This means they will have no control over their first-round picks for the next few years, which is suboptimal.
That said, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement makes it even harder for the Suns to pull off major roster changes after this season. Despite their all-in approach, the modern and fast-paced NBA landscape may not be conducive to their star-driven model as it once was.
