CHASERS HOPING MOVES CLOSE GAP ON CAVALIERS
The Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors made tradedeadline deals last week. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics did not.
With less than 30 games left in the NBA regular season, where does that leave the balance of power in the Eastern Conference?
The Cavs remain the team to beat, even with forward Kevin Love (knee) and shooting guard J.R. Smith (broken thumb) out until late March. With All-Stars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the Cavs should hold on to first place in the East, even with a tough schedule remaining and with the Celtics right there.
The Wizards and Raptors made improvements, enough that they should challenge the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the East. There should be entertaining competition for seeds two, three and four. Throw the Atlanta Hawks into the mix, too.
What has changed entering the stretch run?
Toronto missed a chance in January to pass Cleveland for first place in the East, and president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri needed to make a bold move if the Raptors wanted another shot at the Cavaliers in the conference finals.
The Raptors acquired forwards Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker in trades with the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns, respectively. Ibaka provides scoring, a stretch four at the three-point line, a rim protector and a rebounder — all qualities the Raptors need.
Tucker isn’t much of a scorer, but that’s OK. Toronto wants his defense and toughness. Both players give coach Dwane Casey lineup flexibility.
The Wizards have been the hottest team in the East but were missing depth. Adding shooter Bojan Bogdanovic, who has played well in big international games, helps the league’s secondlowest scoring bench. He was averaging more than twice as many points (14.2) as any Wizards reserve and shooting 35.7% on three-pointers. Give Bogdanovic, a starter with the Brooklyn Nets, some minutes with All-Star point guard John Wall, and he will get open shots.
Another fact to consider: By trading Andrew Nicholson to Brooklyn and shedding his salary, Washington has the financial flexibility to match a max offer for small forward Otto Porter, a candidate for the league’s most improved player award. Porter leads the NBA in three-point shooting percentage.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge covets his draft picks and is content to take the long view. He told reporters last week after the trade deadline, “Nothing was good enough for us to do.”
Holding on to first-round picks and not acquiring another AllStar to use alongside guard Isaiah Thomas and center Al Horford bothers those who wanted to see the Celtics make a big move. But Ainge has earned enough leeway from ownership and others from the way he constructed this roster.
When the right deal is there, Ainge will make it, and that includes a possible run this summer during free agency at All-Star Gordon Hayward, who played for Celtics coach Brad Stevens at Butler.
The Cavaliers’ big trade was acquiring guard Kyle Korver in early January.
Now, they are active in the buyout market, and they hoped to sign point guard Deron Williams, who was waived by the Dallas Mavericks last Thursday. Williams cleared waivers, and the Cavs would get the backcourt help they want.
Cleveland plans to re-sign forward Derrick Williams for the remainder of the season after his second 10-day contract expires. The Cavaliers also are in the market for a big man. Center Andrew Bogut is likely to hit the buyout market, too, but keep your eye on former NBA player Larry Sanders, who worked out for Cleveland last week.
It will be difficult to dethrone the Cavaliers from the No. 1 seed, but their road to the Finals will be more difficult this season than in the previous two.