Karl-Anthony Towns, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick, says he’s excited about what’s in store on the New York Knicks. He’s on pace to make his first-ever All-NBA team. To say that the Knicks’ path to this point has been smooth would be a colossal understatement. After reaching the Eastern Conference finals a year ago, they’re currently fighting just to stay out of the play-in tournament. Against top-10 offenses, the Wizards ranked 19th in defensive rating, the worst of any of the teams headed to the playoffs. On top of that, their trade for Bridges has left them with few avenues to continue improving.
At the same time, the Golden State Warriors’ efforts to acquire Jimmy Butler III illustrate what can go wrong in trade talks. It’s the Warriors’ blueprint that is the cautionary tale for teams trying to work their way through complicated trades. The Suns faced some hurdles in their pursuit of Butler. They lacked the necessary midsize contracts to do the deal without absolutely losing one of their high salaried stars.
On a more cheery note, the Timberwolves are broke. Though well-deserved, Edwards’ and McDaniels’ extensions will trigger massive luxury tax payments for Minnesota and bring on second apron restrictions. These budgetary stresses hang over them, weighing heavily on their strategic priorities in the years ahead.
The Miami Heat is yet another team sitting on the outside wondering what went wrong with trade decisions. Acquiring Butler back in February would’ve required substantial assets, including matching salaries with use of Dennis Schroder and Anderson. But perhaps the most dangerous thing the Heat ever did was not trading Butler last summer, as they went through a hellish half-season of chaos and drama.
The Cleveland Cavaliers exhibit a contrasting narrative. Even wilder, they’re headed to possibly end up with the best record in franchise history. Their young, successful backcourt trio, including two-time All-Star Darius Garland and four-time Donovan Mitchell, highlights their depth, but security remains their best ally. Unlike some teams, the Cavaliers have not considered exploring Garland’s trade value, opting instead to build upon their current roster’s achievements.
At the same time, in perhaps the most surprising twist, in Dallas, the Mavericks are on a slippery slope themselves. Between fan revolt ignited by the trade of Luka Doncic and the team still reeling with the fallout from a series of injuries sustained earlier this season. Thompson’s sign-and-trade deal adds a hard cap at the first apron. This restriction makes it difficult for them to sign replacement players when they must, concurrently, address injuries.
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