A 4-Crew Blockbuster to Shake Up the 2025 NBA Commerce Deadline
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The NBA commerce deadline is quickly approaching, and a number of other groups are keen to enhance their postseason probabilities by February 6.
The Phoenix Suns have been linked to Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanović (H/T Jake Fischer). The Hawks are reportedly desirous about Jusuf Nurkić (H/T Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic). A number of sources have indicated that the Hawks are buying Clint Capela, and the Los Angeles Lakers have been wanting so as to add a middle because the offseason.
Throw within the Washington Wizards, who’re prioritizing lottery place and prospect acquisition, and the next four-team blockbuster is debatable for every franchise.
Full Commerce Particulars
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- Jusuf Nurkić (from Suns)
- Rui Hachimura (from Lakers)
- Christian Wooden (from Lakers)
- Johnny Davis (from Wizards)
- Patrick Baldwin Jr. (from Wizards)
- Bol Bol (from Suns)
- 2025 second-rounder (from Lakers)
- $22.3 million commerce exception (Clint Capela)
- $17.3 million commerce exception (Bogdan Bogdanović)
- Bogdan Bogdanović (from Hawks)
- Anthony Gill (from Wizards)
- Shake Milton (from Lakers)
- $2.1 million commerce exception (Bol Bol)
- $865,000 commerce exception (Jusuf Nurkić)
- Clint Capela (from Hawks)
- Vit Krejčí (from Hawks)
- Mouhamed Gueye (from Hawks)
- Kobe Bufkin (from Hawks)
- David Roddy (from Hawks)
- Jalen Hood-Schifino (from Lakers)
- $5.3 million commerce exception (Johnny Davis)
- $2.4 million commerce exception (Patrick Baldwin Jr.)
- $2.2 million commerce exception (Anthony Gill)
- 2025 second-rounder (by way of the Suns)
- $2.5 million from the Lakers
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Hawks get:
Suns get:
Lakers get:
Wizards get:
Notes: The 2025 second-rounder from the Lakers to the Hawks could be the upper (most favorable) of the LA Clippers and Lakers. The 2025 second-rounder from the Suns is the decrease of the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.
Why the Atlanta Hawks Do It
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The Hawks have sought a alternative for Capela. In the event that they’ve recognized Nurkić as that participant, mission completed. The veteran is below contract via 2025-26 at $19.4 million, which helps Atlanta keep away from a extra vital, long-term funding on the place till it kinds out Trae Younger’s subsequent contract (the purpose guard has a $49 million participant choice earlier than 2026-27).
Hachimura provides the staff a short-term alternative for Jalen Johnson, who’s out for the season with a shoulder harm. Atlanta owes its first-round choose to the San Antonio Spurs, so tanking for draft place is not an choice. Hachimura will earn $18.3 million subsequent season, giving the Hawks flexibility to determine which gamers finest match collectively (Zaccharie Risacher, De’Andre Hunter, Hachimura) alongside Johnson and Younger.
The Hawks will keep below the luxurious tax this season and subsequent, which is a part of their motivation for getting out of Bufkin. Bufkin can also be executed for the 12 months with a shoulder harm and should by no means get correct improvement time with the emergence of Dyson Daniels.
Atlanta maximizes flexibility whereas staying aggressive this season. Together with the 2 vital commerce exceptions (that do not expire till February 2026), Nurkić and Hachimura will likely be on expiring contracts. They need to be comparatively simple to relocate if higher alternatives come up.
The Hawks additionally ship out Krejčí, Roddy and Gueye, however they’re including two starting-caliber gamers. The opposite incoming gamers (Davis, Baldwin, Bol and Wooden) aren’t as vital however are essential to make the deal authorized. Atlanta additionally will get a late second-rounder for its hassle.
Why the Phoenix Suns Do It
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The Suns are chasing Jimmy Butler of the Miami Warmth, and this would not essentially get in the way in which if they will discover a residence for Bradley Beal. After buying Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets, Mason Plumlee in free company and Oso Ighodaro within the draft, Phoenix has moved Nurkić towards the top of the middle depth chart. Changing his wage (for the subsequent two years) into Bogdanović, who’s cheaper over the identical interval (plus a staff choice for 2026-27), would give the Suns one other good-sized combo guard like Grayson Allen.
The fee is gamers the staff would not worth extremely (Nurkić and Bol) and a low 2025 second-round choose. Milton and Gill have low-cost, non-guaranteed salaries subsequent season, which may assist in future strikes below the Suns’ restrictive second-apron standing this 12 months and subsequent (projected).
Why the Los Angeles Lakers Do It
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The Lakers have struggled to discover a heart after giving up D’Angelo Russell’s expiring wage to tackle Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets. The staff badly wants the protection that Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt can present, and neither has vital commerce worth. To get any participant incomes close to a median NBA wage or increased (Nikola Vučević, Robert Williams III, Jonas Valančiūnas) will most likely price Hachimura.
League sources consider the asking value for a less expensive different like Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz is Dalton Knecht and the Lakers’ 2029 and 2031 first-round picks. The Chicago Bulls and Wizards are additionally considered asking for a primary. Williams, of the Portland Path Blazers, has struggled to remain on the courtroom for a lot of the previous few years.
Capela suits the positional want (costing a low second as an alternative of a primary), and the Lakers get a alternative wing in Krejčí, who has a pleasant contract and will earn productive rotation minutes off the bench. The staff can play large with Anthony Davis and LeBron James at ahead or smaller, with Finney Smith changing Hachimura as a starter and Capela off the bench.
Subsequent 12 months, the Lakers can look to re-sign Capela to a team-friendly contract whereas spending its $5.7 million projected taxpayer mid-level exception below the second apron.
Why the Washington Wizards Do It
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The Wizards have the worst staff within the NBA, and rebuilding will take time. Right here, the staff provides youth and a second-round choose as a minor facilitator in a deal that may be executed with out Washington’s participation.
Bufkin (No. 15) and Hood-Schifino (No. 17) had been drafted in 2023; Roddy was No. 23 in 2022. Washington can see if any are value reinvesting in, as solely Bufkin is below contract subsequent season. Hood-Schifino and Roddy’s rookie-scale choices had been declined, simply because the Wizards determined to go on Davis and Baldwin’s choices.
The Wizards additionally get a low second-rounder from the Nuggets (probably within the 50s) and money from the Lakers.