Lowry still Raptor as deadline passes
Kyle Lowry wound up staying with Toronto after all. Victor Oladipo is finally in Miami, a destination he’s eyed in the past. And Rajon Rondo is headed back to Los Angeles, though not with the team he helped win the NBA title last season.
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 convinced they improved on deadline day after a flurry of moves Thursday, though the best player might have been landed by Chicago. They got All-Star forward Nikola Vucevic from Orlando, a move that ushered in the start of a rebuild by the Magic.
“Anytime you trade a player like Nikola, it is a tough decision to make,” Magic President Jeff Weltman said.
Vucevic is the only player from this season’s All-Star 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 future first-round selections.
“Usually, you don’t get too many chances at All-Star-level players,” Bulls executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas said. “And we were fortunate to get it done.”
The Magic traded three of their four leading scorers; in addition to the Vucevic move, 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.
And Toronto made one move of significance, sending Norman Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers for Rodney Hood and Gary Trent Jr. But Lowry — a freeagent-to-be and considered perhaps the biggest prize on this year’s trade market — did not get traded, the Raptors apparently unable to find enough assets to their liking.
Miami was a major pursuer for Lowry, and now simply may try to add him again as a free agent later this year.
But the reigning Eastern Conference champions pivoted in time to add Oladipo — a twotime All-Star, a 21-point-pergame scorer this season and someone only three years removed from All-NBA status — from Houston, in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley and a pick swap in 2022.
The Clippers — who sought point guard help for weeks — got it in Rondo, who was part of the Lakers’ run to the title last season and now returns to L.A. The Clippers gave up Lou Williams in that deal with Atlanta, sending him back to his home state and the team with whom he spent two seasons from 2012 through 2014.
Another veteran joined a Western Conference contender when 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. Redick satisfies Dallas’ want for more shooting and provides a veteran voice to help younger players.
The Heat made another deal prior to the Oladipo one being struck, landing Nemanja Bjelica from Sacramento for forwards Maurice Harkless and Chris Silva.