The NBA regular season has reached its mid-point, and many teams in the league are considering trades. The Heat and Pacers have already made a 1-for-1 trade, with the Heat sending Thomas Bryant to the Pacers in exchange for a future second-round draft pick swap. This move aims to free up a roster spot for potential future trades and to convert two-way contracts into official ones. The Heat has been very active in the trade market recently, even openly stating that they would consider trading their star player, Butler. Last season, the Heat's performance was average, with Butler getting older, suffering from injuries, and his average stats gradually declining. There has been no repeat of last year's playoff upset against the Bucks. To ensure better future development for the team, Butler might really be traded away.
Similarly, several top teams are particularly active in the trade market, eager to make significant adjustments to their rosters, with the Los Angeles Lakers being one such team. The Lakers started the season well but faltered as the schedule progressed. James, at 40 years old, is not as capable as he once was, and Davis' dominance in the paint is inconsistent. Crucially, the Lakers' role players are significantly inferior when compared to other strong teams. As a Western Conference scout said, if Reeves can be considered the Lakers' third-best player, it will be difficult for them to compete for the championship. Recently, the Lakers have also been looking for a star player to help them out. They have inquired about the cost of acquiring Cameron Johnson from the Nets and are interested in signing the free agent and number one draft pick, Fultz, to add some competitiveness to the team.
Similar to the Lakers, the Warriors' situation this season is somewhat similar. They started off well and even reached the top of the West at the beginning of the season, but later fell to a mediocre position in the West. After sending away Klay Thompson and Paul, the Warriors' lineup is not as strong, and there are not many star players left. Previously, the Warriors had announced that they would find a star-level assistant for Curry to help alleviate the offensive pressure on him. Soon enough, the Warriors made an important trade, quickly and decisively. According to reporters like Shams Charania and Marc Stein, the Warriors sent out Donte DiVincenzo's expiring contract and three second-round draft picks to the Nets in exchange for Dennis Schroder and a second-round draft pick, which is essentially a 4-for-2 trade.
DiVincenzo is a pretty good player who is currently in his prime. In the past two seasons playing for the 76ers, he averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, excelling both offensively and defensively, with a bit of a 3D player vibe, making him a valuable asset for championship-contending teams. During the summer offseason this year, DiVincenzo signed a one-year deal worth $12.8 million as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors. Upon joining the Warriors, he performed steadily, playing 20.2 minutes per game in the first six games, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals, with a three-point shooting percentage of 37.1%. However, no one could have predicted that after just six games, DiVincenzo suffered a left ACL sprain and would need surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
For the Warriors, this is quite a blow, but fortunately, the Nets helped facilitate this trade. The Nets' "supermarket" is now fully open, aiming to acquire more draft picks and start tanking to rebuild the team completely. Forbes Sports journalist Evan Sider said that the Nets will soon have more trades as they try to secure high draft picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Players like Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are particularly popular among championship-contending teams. Looking at the Warriors' side, Schroder will have to take on a significant role in the backcourt, able to partner with Curry and manage the team's offense when Curry is off the court. The Warriors plan to start Curry and Schroder together, forming a backcourt duo.
Schroder, although he has never been an All-Star, is almost at the level of a star! He is the second-leading scorer for the Nets, averaging 18.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game! This season, in two games, he recorded over 10 assists without any turnovers, ranking first in the league. Previously, Schroder was a candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award and has consistently maintained the level of a star player. However, after joining the Lakers in 2020, he failed to find his place, leading to a drop in efficiency. His performance during that season with the Lakers was poor, causing his value to decrease significantly. Over the next few years, he moved around between multiple teams without regaining his previous form. However, last year at the Men's Basketball World Cup, Schroder led the German team fiercely and eventually won the championship, making him popular again in the NBA. This season, Schroder is experiencing a resurgence, performing well on both offense and defense. What do you think the results would be if Curry and Schroder were to team up?
