With the NBA offseason in full swing, here is our annual offseason trade tracker. You will see every trade, no matter how minor, listed below. In keeping with our theme of unfiltered opinion, you will also notice a bit of analysis included in each trade. It’s our goal to give readers the ability to check back here on a consistent basis as the news breaks in real time.
The tracker will be updated as trades happen, so don’t be afraid to bookmark this page. Remember, all trades included here have either been reported by respected NBA insiders or confirmed by the teams themselves. This is not a rumor page.
Check out our NBA page for more-detailed news and opinion throughout the summer months.
| Sixers Get | Kings Get |
| Future First Round Pick | Overseas Assets |
| Carl Landry (F) | |
| Jason Thompson (F) | |
| Nik Stauskas (G) |
Analysis: In yet another cost-cutting move around the NBA, Sacramento yielded a whole bunch to Philadelphia in order to save $16 million against the cap. Landry and Thompson are set to combine $16-plus million against the cap in each of the next two years. In this, Sacramento did good to get rid of those contracts. However, it came at the cost of last year’s top-10 pick and a future first rounder. Philadelphia also possesses the ability to swap first-round picks with Sacramento in 2016 and 2017 should the latter end up with a higher selection.
| Hawks Get | Spurs Get |
| Tiago Splitter (C) | To Be Determined |
Analysis: Clear cost-cutting move for San Antonio to add an upper-echelon player in free agency. The team is sending Splitter and his $8.5 million salary for next season to Atlanta for nothing. You read that right, nothing. Well, there will likely be a couple overseas players moved in this deal. Either way, the Spurs are not taking back and contract for the upcoming season.
In terms of what the Hawks get here. It’s an injury-plagued big man with a ton past success on the defensive end. Splitter, 33, averaged 8.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season. He will now team up with Paul Millsap and Al Horford to form an intimidating inside presence in Atlanta.
| Thunder Get | Raptors Get |
| Trade Exception | Luke Ridnour (G) |
| Tomislav Zubcic (F) |
Analysis: Do we really need to?
| Suns Get | Grizzlies Get |
| Jon Leuer (F) | 2015 Second Round Pick |
Analysis: Told you we would include even the most irrelevant of trades here. Memphis sent a deep reserve in Leuer to a Suns team in need of more bulk for a second-round pick (Andrew Harrison from Kentucky). While Harrison obviously provides more upside down the road, Leuer has at least had some success in the NBA. He put up an average of 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Grizzlies in 2013-14 before seeing those numbers drop this past season.
| Knicks Get | Hawks Get |
| 2015 First Round Pick | Tim Hardaway Jr (G) |
Analysis: New York used the pick acquired in this trade (19th) overall to draft former Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant. It’s a great long-term move for a Knicks squad that hasn’t has anyone of substance run the point in years. Grant averaged 16.5 points and 6.7 assists per game during his college career. He also played four-plus seasons with the Irish, which is an indication he should be able to contribute immediately.
As it relates to what the Hawks acquired here, Hardaway Jr. is more than a decent rotation option. Though, a mid first-round pick might have been a high price to pay here. The third-year player from Michigan averaged a notch above 11 points per game for New York last season.
| Blazers Get | Nets Get |
| Mason Plumlee (G) | Steve Blake (G) |
| 2015 Second Round Pick | 2015 First Round Pick |
Analysis: Plumlee, a first-round pick of the Nets in 2013, started 45 games for the team in 2014-15, recording an average of 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per outing. The Duke product also shot 57 percent from the field. While in no way the caliber player Aldridge has been during his career with Portland, the 6-foot-10 Plumlee possesses starter upside moving forward.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who went to Portland in the deal, is a project player in every sense of the word. It’s hard to believe a player that barely even attempts a shot outside of the paint actually got drafted in the first round, but that happened here. Though, the Arizona product is already among one of the most seasoned defenders in the draft.
| Bucks Get | Raptors Get |
| Greivis Vasquez (G) | 2016 First Round Pick |
| 2015 Second Round Pick |
Analysis: In addition to picking up Vasquez’s $6-plus million salary for the 2015-16 season, Milwaukee actually yielded two picks for the reserve point guard. While the team surely does need some perimeter shooting, this deal made little sense. Vasquez averaged 9.5 points while shooting 38 percent from three-point range last year. In addition to a first-round pick next year (originally from the Clippers), Toronto nabbed a second-round pick in Thursday’s draft, Norman Powell.
| Hornets Get | Thunder Get |
| Jeremy Lamb (G) | Luke Ridnour (G) |
Analysis: Ridnour’s trek ends in Oklahoma City (for now). He’ll act as an insurance policy behind All-Star Russell Westbrook. All it really does is give the team some depth. In terms of Lamb moving on to the Hornets, that’s a great move for Michael Jordan and company. The former UCONN standout hasn’t necessarily made a seamless jump from the college ranks, but he provides a solid outside scoring touch for a team that’s been without that for some time now.
| Grizzlies Get | Hornets Get |
| Matt Barnes (F) | Luke Ridnour (G) |
Analysis: For now, Barnes ends up in Memphis. However, Ridnour is being moved from Charlotte for other parts. In terms of what the Grizzlies acquired here, Barnes gives the team a three-point threat on the wing—something it has needed for some time now.
| Blazers Get | Hornets Get |
| Gerald Henderson (G) | Nicolas Batum (F) |
| Noah Vonleh (F) |
Analysis: Solid move for both teams. Portland gets a possible replacement for Arron Afflalo, who opted out of his contract. Henderson, a first-round pick of the Hornets back in 2010, has put up double-digit points in each of the past four seasons. The Duke product is coming off a 2014-15 season that saw him put up an average of 12.1 points while shooting 44 percent from the field. By moving a talented forward in Batum, the Blazers also pick up Charlotte’s first round (ninth overall) pick from a season ago, Noah Vonleh. While the Indiana product barely played as a rookie last season, he boasts tremendous upside.
By virtue of trading Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Hornets had a need for another wing player. Batum brings that and more. The 6-foot-8 forward may have struggled a tad last season, but he’s one of the most underrated two-way players in the NBA, averaging 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during his career.
| Grizzlies Get | Magic Get |
| Luke Ridnour (G) | Janis Timma (F) |
Analysis: About as minor of a trade as you can get. Memphis decided it needed insurance in case backup point guard Nick Calathes departs as a restricted free agent. Ridnour, a first-round pick of the Seattle Sonics in 2003, will be joining his sixth team. The 34-year-old point guard averaged just 4.0 points and 2.0 assists per game for Orlando this past season. Timma was the 30th overall pick of the Grizzlies back in 2013. He he’s currently playing in Europe.
| Hornets Get | Clippers Get |
| Spencer Hawes (C) | Lance Stephenson (F) |
| Matt Barnes (F) |
Analysis: Here’s a trade that seemingly came out of left field. The Clippers just signed Hawes to a four-year, $22.6 million contract less than a year ago, but they apparently soured on him quickly. The former Sacramento Kings lottery pick had the wort season of his eight-year NBA career in 2014-15, going for just 5.8 points per game while shooting 39 percent from the field. Maybe a return to the Eastern Conference will do him some good. After all, the center did average 13.2 points and 8.3 rebounds between Philadelphia and Cleveland in 2013-14. As it relates to Barnes, his stay in Charlotte was brief.
The big domino to fall in this deal was the enigmatic wing man heading to Southern California. Stephenson struggled in his only season with the Hornets, but he gives the Clippers a solid two-way player off the bench. He also has to be seen as an upgrade over Barnes. Stephenson averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for Charlotte last year.
| Bucks | Pistons |
| Caron Butler (F) | Ersan Ilyasova (F) |
| Shawne Williams (F) |
Analysis: Pure cost-cutting move here by the Bucks, who rid themselves of Ilyasova’s $16.3 million salary over the next two seasons for a couple players the team can easily buy out. If not, Milwaukee adds a bit more to its bench. For the Pistons, this move was all about finding a stretch-4 to team up with Andre Drummond up front. It’s also an indication that Detroit is prepared to move on from free agent Greg Monroe. Ilyasova is a good fit in Stan Van Gundy’s offense. He can step out and hit the three from the power forward position (39 percent in 2014-15).
Photo: USA Today Sports