On this weeks 13 Guidelines: Random NBA Ideas Steve dives into random NBA ideas from Week 16 NBA video games – NBA Commerce Deadline 2026: The Seven Most Fascinating Gamers and Why They Had been Traded. Make sure that to pay attention and add the 13 Guidelines: NBA Random Ideas podcast the Shot Clock Pod to your record!
NBA Commerce Deadline 2026
It appears to be like just like the Jazz have lastly ended their lengthy years of tanking—hopefully after this yr. The Jazz have put collectively a pleasant workforce. Take Jackson and add him to Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, and Ace Bailey, and also you’ve obtained one thing. The Jazz nonetheless have eight draft picks over the subsequent seven years and may get extra assist. Jackson and Kessler give the workforce a defensive presence on the rim. They’ve scorers in George, Markkanen, and Jackson. I don’t assume it’s sufficient to win a title, however after this yr—no extra tanking.
James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Harden pulled what he appears to do each different yr, and it’s all the time over cash. Clearly, the Cavs are going for it now as a result of Harden, nonetheless participant, is thirty-six. Cleveland now appears to be like like a workforce with an honest shot at going to the Finals. The one adverse about all that is—don’t let Harden idiot you—it’s all concerning the subsequent contract. If Harden continues to be this good in two years, he might be trying to transfer on until the Cavs prolong him. This isn’t what followers root for. Followers need to imagine their workforce’s gamers like enjoying for his or her workforce.
The Wizards try to hurry up their rebuilding by buying Davis and Trae Younger in the previous few weeks. The Wizards are placing collectively a pleasant group of younger gamers, together with Keyonte George, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Alexandre Sarr. Sarr and Davis give them stable rebounding, scoring, and rim safety. If Davis stays wholesome, the Wizards might be combating for a playoff spot. The apparent adverse is well being—notably Davis’s well being. This yr he’s performed twenty video games. Earlier than this yr, Davis had missed 206 video games within the final seven seasons. That’s virtually thirty video games a season.
The Pacers made a commerce that provides them the massive they’ve wanted since Myles Turner left for Milwaukee after the Finals. Zubac is an improve over Turner, and he’s signed by means of the 2027–28 season with a median yearly wage of $19.5 million—not an amazing deal for a participant that impactful, however nice for the Pacers, a workforce reluctant to enter the tax. With the return of a wholesome Tyrese Haliburton subsequent yr, the Pacers must be again.
The Celtics obtained one other man who can rating. He can rating from the within and shoot the three as properly—this yr at 38%, averaging 16.9 factors per sport. Although not defender, Vučević additionally provides the Celtics a 3rd large. That is vital as a result of Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, the opposite two bigs, have by no means performed the minutes they’ve performed to date this yr. Making this commerce makes it seem like Jayson Tatum will return this season. If he returns and Vučević performs properly, the Celtics develop into a tricky out within the playoffs.
If for no different cause, we in all probability will study if Kuminga can play at a excessive degree. After his issues getting enjoying time with the Golden State Warriors and his coach, Steve Kerr, hopefully we see Kuminga get prolonged minutes—after which we will decide if Kerr was appropriate.
No one will argue Porziņģis is a really gifted large, however the issue is he can’t keep on the court docket. He has solely performed in twelve video games this season and has missed 147 video games within the 4 earlier seasons. The Warriors took an opportunity on him, and if he doesn’t miss many video games, it makes the Warriors a significantly better workforce. The Warriors needed to take this gamble simply to stay within the playoff dialog.
