Vucevic heads to Bulls on busy deadline day
The trade deadline has come and gone. And now, playoff pushes can really begin.
Miami, Denver, the Clippers, Portland, Dallas, Boston and Atlanta were likely among the teams feeling convinced that they improved on deadline day after a flurry of moves Thursday, though the best player — at least this season — might have been landed by the Chicago Bulls. They got AllStar forward Nikola Vucevic from Orlando, a move that ushered in the start of a bigtime rebuild by the Magic.
Vucevic is the only player from this season’s AllStar Game to be traded at the deadline. It was a steep price; Vucevic and AlFarouq Aminu went to the Bulls for Otto Porter, Wendell Carter Jr. and two firstround selections.
The Magic traded three of their four leading scorers; Evan Fournier was sent to Boston and Aaron Gordon is headed to Denver. Acquiring Gordon was part of a bold day for the Nuggets, who also got
JaVale McGee — part of three of the last four NBA championship teams, two with the Warriors and last year with the Lakers — through a trade with Cleveland.
In other moves: Miami added Victor Oladipo — a twotime AllStar, a 21pointpergame scorer this season and someone only three years removed from AllNBA status — from Houston, in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley and a pick swap in 2022. The Heat also got Nemanja Bjelica from Sacramento for littleused forwards Maurice Harkless and Chris Silva.
Sacramento also got Delon Wright from Detroit for Cory Joseph and a pair of future secondround picks.
The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Rajon Rondo, who was part of the Lakers’ run to the title last season, from Atlanta for Lou Williams.
New Orleans sent JJ Redick to the Dallas Mavericks, along with Nicolo Melli for Wes Iwundu, James Johnson and a secondround pick in this summer’s draft.
Philadelphia acquired George Hill and Ignas Brazdeikis in a threeteam deal in which Oklahoma City got Tony Bradley, Austin Rivers and two secondround picks and New York got Terrance Ferguson, Vincent Poirier and a secondround pick.
Washington acquired center Daniel Gafford and wing Chandler Hutchison in another threeteam deal that sent Daniel Theis, Javonte Green and Troy Brown Jr. to Chicago and centers Luke Kornet and Moe Wagner to Boston.
Toronto sent Norman Powell to Portland for Rodney Hood and Gary Trent Jr.
Thursday’s games
76ers 109, Lakers 101: Danny Green hit eight 3-pointers and scored 28 points against his former team, Seth Curry added 19 and visiting Philadelphia weathered Los Angeles’ late rally for its fourth straight victory.
Trail Blazers 125, Heat 122: CJ McCollum had 35 points and Damian Lillard (22 points) made three free throws with a second remaining and visiting Portland survived a wild finish.
Clippers 98, Spurs 85: Reggie Jackson scored 28 points, Paul George had 24 points and 13 rebounds and visiting Los Angeles won its fourth straight.
Knicks 106, Wizards 102: Alec Burks scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and host New York swept a twogame set.