We’re all just trying to catch our breath, aren’t we?
The whirlwind days leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline have left the league spinning, with monumental moves like the Luka Doncic trade and other significant deals causing ripple effects that we’re still trying to understand.
Want trade grades? Plenty of experts are eager to break those down. Interested in salary cap implications? There are accountants ready to delve into the details for you.
Here at Elevator Doors HQ, though, we’re just talking it out in our own quirky way. Let’s dive into six interesting musings from this dizzying shake-up:
1. Back in 1983, the Boston Celtics faced a dilemma. After four impressive seasons filled with top MVP finishes and a Rookie of the Year award, their star player spent perhaps too much time at the local bars with his buddy Rick Robey. We all imagine Red Auerbach contemplating, “Maybe I should just swap Larry Bird for Artis Gilmore. Defense wins titles, right?” Instead, Auerbach wisely held on to Bird, who got fit and went on to win three more MVP titles. In a masterstroke, Auerbach traded Robey for Dennis Johnson, sealing one of the most lopsided trades in history. So why bring this up now? Oh, no reason at all…
2. We all had a feeling De’Aaron Fox would fit in perfectly with the San Antonio Spurs, but seeing it play out is pure magic. In his debut game with the Spurs, Fox notched 24 points and 13 assists, propelling them to a thrilling 126-125 victory over the Hawks. His dynamic style has transformed their gameplay. And with a player like Victor Wembanyama thriving alongside this new energy, San Antonio is setting up to be formidable once again—just one good offseason from being back in contention in the West.
3. Institutional decay is a tough nut to crack. Teams mired in poor management may cobble together a playoff run or two, but it’s often more of a cover-up than a fix. Bad drafts, burdensome contracts, and baffling trades create long-term damage, often surfacing too late. It’s when a team parts with De’Aaron Fox below his value, or takes on a hefty Zach LaVine contract. These big moves don’t necessarily translate to progress. Perhaps they should call in the experts for a structural audit rather than just papering over the cracks.
4. Jimmy Butler’s situation? A mixed bag. Sure, he’s made his move, secured his payday, and seems ready for playoff action. But while Miami’s ragtag group of underestimated veterans might embody Heat Culture, I doubt Golden State’s current iteration has what it takes for a lengthy playoff run. The storied Warriors now navigate a future tied to an aging core. Yet, here we are, obsessing over what this move means for them.
5. How many second-round picks flew around this week—100? 200? Often, these picks are more about optics than reality. Sure, there are exceptions like Nikola Jokic and Draymond Green, but mostly, second-rounders never see NBA action. However, teams lacking these picks may struggle to maneuver undesirable contracts in the buyout market. Denver’s GM used three second-rounders to clear Reggie Jackson’s contract last summer, making it tough to add value to players like Zeke Nnaji or Dario Saric when they needed flexibility. Small moves can tilt the title race.
6. Finally, one trade that might tip the scales is DeAndre Hunter heading to Cleveland. Hunter’s having a breakout year in Atlanta, scoring 19 points per game and shooting nearly 40% from beyond the arc. If he can bolster Cleveland’s wing rotation, his physical edge against wing-heavy rivals could elevate the Cavs from a regular-season sensation to a legitimate title threat.
And that’s it—a swirl of thoughts as we watch the NBA landscape shift under our feet.
