NBA TRADE DEADLINE TRACKER

SportsBeat!

Written by Aaron Cantin

Ahhh, trade deadline day. No matter the sport, trade deadline day brings a different sense of excitement. It brings out the inner general-manager in all of us as we dive into player contracts, luxury taxes, and draft picks, fantasizing about the possibilities of how to dramatically improve your team in one day. Today is NBA trade deadline day, and as always, there are dozens of names being tossed around. Here are the biggest players on the trade block that may be the final piece for the contenders.

Kyle Lowry; Source: Bleacher Report | Photo from Jacob Kupferman/Associated Press

Kyle Lowry - Point Guard, Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry is, without doubt, the biggest name in the trade rumors. The Raptors have had a difficult season. After clawing back to .500, they have since dropped well below that. Masai Ujiri has seen enough and has decided to focus on next season. Lowry is a legend in Toronto and will have the final say if he goes anywhere. Word is Lowry will accept a trade to Miami or his hometown Philadelphia.

The Heat seems to be the most active; however, it has been made clear Toronto wants Tyler Herro in return for any trade involving Lowry. I don't see that happening. The Heat knows what they have in Herro and will not give it up for a point guard on an expiring contract. The 76ers, meanwhile, understandably, will not include Simmons, Embiid, or Harris. They are willing to part with some of their younger core, but I don't see it being enough for the Raptors to pull the trigger.

Pick: Kyle Lowry remains a Toronto Raptor and re-signs in Toronto.

Victor Oladipo - Point Guard, Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are confident they will get a deal done for Oladipo by tomorrow afternoon. It's reported numerous teams are willing to part ways with young assets and first-round pick combinations for the soon-to-be-free-agent. Oladipo has expressed interest in joining the Miami Heat or New York Knicks in free agency this summer which has cooled down interest from both teams as they will take their chances in July.

There has remained some reluctance in the marketplace on Oladipo based on his recent history of injury and missed games. He suffered a ruptured quad injury in January 2019 but has shown his old self in flashes with Indiana and Houston this season. Oladipo has averaged 21.2 points in 20 games with the Rockets.

Pick: After missing out on Kyle Lowry, the Miami Heat shift to plan B and acquire Oladipo at the buzzer of deadline day

Andre Drummond - Center, Cleveland Cavaliers

This is an interesting one. The big man has not played in over a month as Cleveland had unsuccessful trade talks with other organizations. The New York Knicks have appeared as a serious trade candidate. The Knicks have around $17 million in available cap space, making their path to adding Drummond via trade clearer than any other NBA team. They are also desperate for success.

Despite the Knicks emerging as serious contenders, most think that Drummond will play his next basketball game with the Los Angels Lakers. Drummond is fond of the Lakers, for obvious reasons, and many believe the Cavs will buy him out if they fail to trade him, clearing the path for him to sign with Los Angeles. The most difficult part of this may be for Los Angeles to shed enough salary tomorrow to afford the big man.

Pick: Lakers get it done and sign Andre Drummond after the deadline.

Aaron Gordon - Power Forward, Orlando Magic

After a tough loss earlier this week, the Magic big man officially requested a trade. This was a long time coming as Gordon has grown increasingly frustrated with losing. Can anyone really blame him for wanting out? Seven years of losing takes its toll. Although this came as a surprise at the moment, it will not be surprising if the Magic part ways with him. There are reportedly as many as six suitors who are interested in Gordon. That list begins with the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

The Celtics are willing to move on from Tristan Thompson as players on the team are "not fond" of the big man. The Celtics could use an upgrade up the middle, and for the right price, Gordon will more than fill that void. The Nuggets meanwhile, have more to offer and are in the Western Conference. Shipping Gordon out to Denver may be the best possible scenario for both the Magic and Aaron Gordon.

Pick: Aaron Gordon soars a mile-high in Denver Colorado

Normal Powell - Small Forward, Toronto Raptors

Norman Powell is probably the best all-around scorer that is available at the trade deadline. Much like Lowry, due to the Raptors' decline and Powell's expiring contract, the versatile wingman may find himself scoring for a different team after today. Powell has an $11.6 million player option for next season. He is expected to decline that and seek a salary in the neighbourhood of $20 million per year. It's one that he's earned.

Players like Powell just don't become available particularly often. That doesn't make him a superstar, but it makes him the hidden star of the 2021 trade deadline. Some team is going to add the sort of player most of the league doesn't have access to at this point in the season, and if the right team does so, it won't only impact the coming postseason but change the face of a contending roster for years to come. The New York Knicks are one of the teams interested in Powell, though the franchise doesn't appear willing to give up first-round picks for the guard without assurances he would re-sign in New York. The Raptors will certainly be able to attain a first-round pick and then some for Powell.

A sneaky team to watch for could be the Indiana Pacers. Powell can be the perfect just-below-superstardom player the Pacers would dish out close to $20 million-per-season for. The Pacers also have pieces the Raptors need.

Pick: Pacers pull the trigger and send Myles Turner the other way.