The trade deadline has come and gone and while there’s always the faint possibility that news of other moves leaks out, two Atlantic Division teams seemingly receptive to making moves have opted against any shakeups.
Per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Sixers did not make any deals today. Similarly, Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania tweets that the Celtics elected to stand pat as well.
Right up until the deadline, it appeared as though the Sixers were in the hunt for a pair of available veterans but didn’t come to terms on either.
Per Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, both Philly and Boston made a strong push for Grizzlies swingman Tyreke Evans but neither deal came through.
Kennedy wrote that Boston and Memphis were in touch in the final minutes leading up to the deadline but a proposed package of two second-rounders and Guerschon Yabusele wasn’t enough to convince Memphis to pull the trigger.
In discussions with Philly previously, the Grizzlies asked for 23-year-old Dario Saric and were shot down.
Evans, of course, is in the midst of a stellar season in Memphis and had drawn considerable trade interest but his injury-riddled history and pending free agency may have limited his value.
The fact that Evans will remain with the Grizz for the duration of the season could imply that the team thinks they’ll be able to retain him as a free agent this summer, Chris Herrington of The Memphis Commercial Appeal says.
Moving away from Evans, another move that Philly looked interested in making but that didn’t eventually pan out was a deal for Hawks two-guard Marco Belinelli.
On Tuesday we wrote that the Hawks had already told the shooting guard that a trade was coming. Nothing, however, appears to have come to fruition. Michael Scotto of The Athletic mentioned that the Sixers were dangling a second-round pick.
The decision not to act at the deadline may well have been the right one for both franchises. Boston, of course, has help coming in the form of Greg Monroe. The free agent big man agreed to join the Celtics but waited until after the deadline in order to sign so that the franchise could retain its flexibility.
Philadelphia, within reach of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, didn’t get an extra shot of veteran support heading into the final stretch of the season but cashing in future assets for short-term gain would have served in stark contrast to the process that’s gotten them to the enviable position that they’re in today.
Are they out of their minds thinking the Sixers would trade Dario for an expiring often hurt Evans contract. If the Sixers really want him they can sign him in the summer on a 1 year deal and over pay like they did for J.J. who I would bring back. Glad the Sixers didn’t do something just for the sake of doing something terrible.
Is this the first year that Daryl Morrey hasn’t made a trade at the deadline?
I don’t see it as a big problem for the C’s I personally don’t think Evans would have worked in are system
I thought the Celtics would make a move as their offense weighs heavily on Irving’s abilities. Also, they’re relying on a lot of young guys to make a playoff push. I don’t know if the young guys will have the legs and stamina for it as they haven’t played a lot of minutes in the previous years.
Moronic move by Memphis. I have no confidence that they wouldn’t completely blow whatever pick they got for Evans, but you gotta get something so you at least have a chance. As well as he’s played this season, why the hell would he come back and spend the next one with us when we’re just gonna suck again?
Memphis is stupid not to get something for Evans before he hits Free Agency,, 2 2nd round picks and a body from the C’s is better than zilch they will recieve after the season is over.
Lol… Memphis asked for Dario? Why not just ask for Embiid or Simmons? And the HC was the problem in Memphis?
Just gear up for 2018 Sixers fans…. LBJ and CP3. Lose Redick, Johnson, Booker, and trade Bayless (they have 4 2nd round picks) – money works at their current contracts. Staggering +19 wins on Trade Machine.
Just saying it could workout, and they could draft quality dual-threat players (Bagley, Jackson, Bridges bros, Carter) and have Korkmaz and Jonah Bolden for 2018. Need front-court depth behind Embiid or Dario, ironically.
C – Embiid / Holmes
PF – Dario / Holmes
SF – LBJ / RoCo / TLC
SG – CP3 / Fultz
PG – Simmons