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That antsy time of the NBA season is upon us, where we find out who thinks they are contenders and who is packing up and preparing for 2021. With the trade deadline set in stone for March 25, here are five teams that need to buy big time at the deadline.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics should be a no-doubt playoff team that packs a punch come postseason time. But as things currently sit, the Celtics have fluttered this year with a record of 20-19. It seems deflating for a team that has two NBA All-Stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Danny Ainge has been aggressive in wheeling and dealing for trades, so it should come as no surprise that the Celtics find themselves on this list, especially with that $28.5 million trade exception at their disposal.
There is a growing gap developing in the East between the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and everyone else.
A trade for say John Collins or another big available and proven can put the Celtics in that top tier and remove them from the “everyone else” category that they currently rest in. There's no reason Boston shouldn't be a team that makes a push to at least the conference finals; they might just be a piece away.
Miami Heat
Don't look now, but Miami has won 11 of 12 and Jimmy Butler is back, baby.
Butler has been a machine since returning from a lengthy COVID-19 absence, getting the Heat right back into contention after a sluggish start to this NBA season.
Miami has been linked to Trevor Ariza, who is currently parked in Oklahoma City with a couple of other veterans that might be on the move.
You know Pat Riley will be aggressive, and the Heat could use another shooter to put on the perimeter.
If Miami wants to defend its Eastern Conference championship crown. they'll need to turn up the dial during the trade deadline.
Dallas Mavericks
This one might come as somewhat of a surprise, but Mark Cuban is always down for some star hunting.
The Mavericks have been linked to tons of players so far, including John Collins, Aaron Gordon and JJ Redick while also reportedly considering a trade that would send Kristaps Porzingis out.
The Mavs are stuck in NBA purgatory right now. They have a superstar in Luka Doncic but are clinging on to the eighth seed in the west.
Dallas wants to win now but doesn't have the firepower to stay with the top-tier teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers in the West.
A trade for a star at the deadline would shift the perception of the Mavs for not only this season but moving forward as well, assuming that player isn't a rental.
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Los Angeles Lakers
Any team that LeBron James is on is always a team that should buy at the deadline if they have the resources to do so. Los Angeles is once again a title contender as it looks to defend its championship from a year ago.
The Anthony Davis timeline is foggy once again, so the Lakers could use some depth in the frontcourt. Damian Jones has been an admirable fill-in during the absences of Davis and Marc Gasol, but the Lakers could do more at the deadline.
JaVale McGee is a familiar name for Lakers fans to keep tabs on as the deadline inches closer. If the Lakers want to swing bigger, perhaps Myles Turner is on the table?
Either way, look for the Lakers to be active at the deadline to fortify their roster, or they could settle on the buyout market.
Los Angeles Clippers
While the Lakers look to add help in the frontcourt, the Clippers could be eyeballing additions to their backcourt.
Los Angeles is still looking for a point guard to complement Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and names like George Hill and Terry Rozier have popped up.
The Clippers are 26-15, but the record is nothing to worry about. We all know the Clippers will have a say in how the Western Conference takes shape. Adding some shooting or just an upgrade at point guard might be the shot in the arm the Clippers need.
What will be fun to track is which team between the Clippers and Lakers pulls the trigger first on a trade and what the response is. It doesn't seem like a matter of if but a matter of when for the se NBA powerhouses.
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Those that want to buy big at the NBA trade deadline are a blend of teams that know they are title contenders and those trying to become title contenders. The Lakers and Clippers know they have as good a shot as any. The Mavericks, Celtics and Heat aspire to get to that point.
