Chapter 244 Trade

Tang Tian and Kerr had a good relationship, which made him a little embarrassed when D'Antoni asked him for advice this time.

"I know your relationship, but Dinwiddie's progress is faster than expected. If we don't trade Kerr now, we'll lose him for nothing in the summer, and he'll get a good opportunity if he goes to the Lakers."

D'Antoni continued on the phone.

This was the truth. Lin Shuhao's performance with the Lakers wasn't very good. If Kerr went, he might go from being a substitute to a starter.

This was an opportunity he wouldn't have with the Pelicans.

"We don't need the Lakers' draft pick. If the Lakers make the playoffs, it'll be a basically worthless late second-rounder."

Tang Tian said on the phone.

"But that's all he's worth."

Kerr was just a backup-level point guard, and his contract was expiring.

The fact that he had second-round value was because the Lakers were anxious. After all, this season might be Kobe's last season to compete for the playoffs.

"Send me the list of players that each team has put on the market, and I'll see if there are any suitable players."

Tang Tian knew that the trade was inevitable with what D'Antoni said, so he could only try to make it a win-win.

D'Antoni hung up the phone and quickly sent the list over.

Tang Tian saw two familiar names on it.

Will Barton.

Barton was a second-round pick by the Trail Blazers in 2012, and this was his third year. He hadn't improved much.

It was likely that the Trail Blazers would choose not to exercise the final year of his contract in the summer, so it made sense that they would put him on the market now.

Tang Tian knew about Barton. In history, he later became a bench bandit for the Nuggets, a contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

With his current low status in the Trail Blazers, bringing the Lakers in for a three-way trade would definitely be successful.

But the problem was that Barton was a type of slasher, and his role overlapped with Gordon's. He was also thin, didn't play much defense, and his three-pointer was only passable.

Barton was able to improve in history because the Nuggets gave him the opportunity. Even if he was traded to the Pelicans, with Gordon and Morrow ahead of him, it would be difficult for him to break out.

After thinking for a while, Tang Tian passed him up.

He turned his attention to another name on the list.

Bismack Biyombo.

Biyombo was in the same draft class as him, and was selected eighth overall by the Bobcats.

But his growth was far below expectations. After playing for almost four years, he only averaged 4 points and 6 rebounds. The Bobcats definitely wouldn't renew his contract in the summer.

It was similar to Kerr's situation that the Hornets (the Bobcats officially changed their name to the Hornets in May 2014) put him on the market at this time.

Tang Tian also knew about Biyombo. His strength really didn't match his draft position. He was even like Evans, a player who had no offensive skills at all and could only rely on picking up scraps and scoring off of lobs.

But he was a black, rough, and hard player with a strong presence on the defensive end, averaging 1.5 blocks in limited time.

In general, he was a weaker version of Whiteside.

It was still unknown whether Whiteside's contract renewal could be secured next season. Trading for him would be a backup plan.

Moreover, Evans was old, and this was basically the last season of his career. Even if Whiteside successfully renewed his contract, it would be enough for him to be a third-string center.

After making his selection, Tang Tian called D'Antoni.

D'Antoni had previously won the Best General Manager award because of Tang Tian's operation. As long as Tang Tian was willing to give advice, he would definitely listen.

After getting the trade target, he contacted the Hornets to prepare for a three-way trade.

After Tang Tian hung up the phone, Olsen came in wearing a nurse's uniform.

Pregnancy had not yet been successful, comrades still needed to work hard!

…

Time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed. The trades of each team had begun to make progress one after another.

With only a few hours left before the deadline, trades were gradually being completed.

The Suns became the team with the biggest moves.

First, they sent their starting point guard, Dragic, to the Heat for Granger and Justin Hamilton, as well as two first-round picks.

After struggling at the beginning of the season, the Heat performed well under Wade's leadership before the All-Star Game, and still had a chance to make the playoffs in the East.

Riley chose to strengthen the team at this time, which was considered an explanation to the Miami fans who had been constantly criticizing him this season.

After sending away Dragic, the Suns then reached a trade with the Celtics, sending out their sixth man, Isaiah Thomas.

They received Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first-round pick from the Cavaliers in this trade.

Thomas was averaging 15.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.4 rebounds this season.

The Celtics were performing strongly under Stevens' leadership, and were still in the playoff ranks, so this kind of reinforcement was reasonable.

These two moves by the Suns looked like they were giving up on this season, but the next trade shocked everyone.

Brandon Knight, who had performed well for the Bucks this season and helped them return to the playoffs, averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, was sent to the Suns in a three-way trade!

This trade made fans exclaim that they couldn't understand it, and Knight looked blank after being traded.

But that was the NBA, and the fate of most players was in the hands of the management.

In addition to the Suns, as the trade deadline approached, other trades were gradually completed.

The Thunder sent their sixth man, Reggie Jackson, to the Pistons for the Jazz's Kanter and the Pistons' Augustin and Singler.

The Jazz sent out Kanter and received the Thunder's expiring contract of Perkins.

The Pistons got Reggie Jackson.

The Thunder's move was different from using quality rookies to trade for draft picks before. Jackson had some resentment towards Durant last season, and the issue of starting with Westbrook was getting bigger and bigger, which was why the Thunder had to do it.

In addition to the Thunder, the Nuggets and the Trail Blazers made a big trade.

They sent out Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee and acquired Will Barton, Victor Claver, Thomas Robinson, and a future first-round pick from the Trail Blazers.

This was basically a reinforcement trade for the Trail Blazers, and Barton, whom Tang Tian had previously paid attention to, went to the Nuggets as he did in history.

These trades were basically the same as in history.

In fact, before the All-Star Game, the landscape of the East and West had basically been set, and there was not likely to be a big trade.

Just as the trade deadline was approaching, the Pelicans also completed a trade.

They reached a three-way trade with the Lakers and the Hornets.

The Lakers sent out Ronnie Price and a 2015 second-round pick and received Norris Cole.

The Hornets sent out Biyombo and received Price and the 2015 second-round pick.

The Pelicans sent out Norris Cole and received Biyombo.

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