5 Worst Losers from the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline
Ben DiGiacomo
Host · Writer
Toronto Raptors
I don’t get what the Toronto Raptors did yesterday at all. Trading Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby away seemed to signal that they were on the path to a rebuild, but none of their moves, or lack thereof, yesterday signaled that. Bringing in Kelly Olynyk didn’t make sense, and not trading Bruce Brown Jr. baffles me. Regardless, this Raptors team won’t be a legit contender. Still, yesterday’s moves felt like the Raptors accepting mediocrity rather than trying to gain as many assets as possible.
Oklahoma City Thunder
I’m sitting here frustrated with the Oklahoma City Thunder. For anyone who watches the Thunder, one thing screams through the television nightly: their apparent need for another big to help their struggling rebounding. Chet Holmgren is a good player but can’t man the paint alone. This Thunder team is excellent, and they have enough draft capital to throw at a team like the Utah Jazz to make them trade Lauri Markkanen, who would have catapulted the Thunder into actual contender status. If not Markkanen, they could have acquired any available big man they wanted. Sam Presti has built an incredible team that will have the Thunder in contention for the next decade, but at what point do they move off their war chest of draft capital to win? It should have been yesterday, and now, I can’t see the Thunder beating the Nuggets, Suns, or Clippers in seven games. It was a wasted opportunity.
Chicago Bulls
What are the Chicago Bulls trying to accomplish as an organization? I seriously don’t understand it. They had guys like DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Andre Drummond, who could have netted the Bulls several picks. Instead, the Bulls opted to stand pat and hope to “compete.” Seriously, compete for what? Seeing a storied franchise like the Bulls settle for mediocrity is disappointing, but they can’t seem to get out of their own way. Sooner or later, they have to realize it’s time to blow it all up and rebuild this team the right way, but I’m afraid they would have missed their window to trade some decent players while their values are still high.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make any moves yesterday after being linked to nearly every available player on the market for weeks, and I don’t get it. The Lakers are still getting great basketball out of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but it’s been clear all season that the talent around them isn’t good enough. While they don’t have the assets to acquire a star, bringing in new faces would have gone a long way. This could be LeBron’s last season in the purple and gold, and it feels like the Lakers opted to punt on the season rather than compete.
Atlanta Hawks
Why didn’t the Atlanta Hawks trade away Dejounte Murray? It makes no sense. Hasn’t the last year and a half been convincing enough that the tandem of Murray and Trae Young won’t get the Hawks anywhere meaningful? Several rumors were swirling about Young’s potential departure this summer via trade, so trading Murray for assets now to kickstart a much-needed rebuild seemed like the only plausible option. If you aren’t contending, you should rebuild, and I cannot imagine the Hawks doing anything this year.
Toronto Raptors
I don’t get what the Toronto Raptors did yesterday at all. Trading Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby away seemed to signal that they were on the path to a rebuild, but none of their moves, or lack thereof, yesterday signaled that. Bringing in Kelly Olynyk didn’t make sense, and not trading Bruce Brown Jr. baffles me. Regardless, this Raptors team won’t be a legit contender. Still, yesterday’s moves felt like the Raptors accepting mediocrity rather than trying to gain as many assets as possible.
Oklahoma City Thunder
I’m sitting here frustrated with the Oklahoma City Thunder. For anyone who watches the Thunder, one thing screams through the television nightly: their apparent need for another big to help their struggling rebounding. Chet Holmgren is a good player but can’t man the paint alone. This Thunder team is excellent, and they have enough draft capital to throw at a team like the Utah Jazz to make them trade Lauri Markkanen, who would have catapulted the Thunder into actual contender status. If not Markkanen, they could have acquired any available big man they wanted. Sam Presti has built an incredible team that will have the Thunder in contention for the next decade, but at what point do they move off their war chest of draft capital to win? It should have been yesterday, and now, I can’t see the Thunder beating the Nuggets, Suns, or Clippers in seven games. It was a wasted opportunity.
