There was a ton of movement at this year’s NBA trade deadline. The instant winners and losers analysis is fun, but we have a slightly better idea of what these guys will look like in their new situations after a week of play. We also have some buyout players who are already jumping into rotations. Let's take a look at who has jumped out of the gate quickly, and which players still need some time to acclimate.
Looking great
Tyrese Haliburton
Haliburton has shown why he’s the darling of NBA Twitter, and why Kings fans were so upset to lose him.
The NBA should allow teams to get relegated to the G League pic.twitter.com/KZiZ6r8P2C
— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) February 9, 2022
He’s averaging 21 points, 11 assists, three rebounds and two steals in his four games with the Pacers, which are all big increases from his averages with the Kings.
Here’s my video breakdown on what has changed with him:
There are a couple of big differences with Haliburton now. First, he’s not playing in a crowded backcourt with De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell any more. He’s been the primary ball-handler for the Pacers, and he’s flourished in that role.
Haliburton is doing a lot more creation for himself and others, mostly by applying a lot more pressure to the rim. He’s driving about 25 percent more often than he did this season with the Kings. That’s always been the big knock on him, and it looks like he’s made some serious progress there.
The Pacers aren’t winning yet. But they are playing a more fun style of basketball. Their offense has been top 10 since the trade. Haliburton has been begging his teammates to pass the ball in quicker to start their fast break, which is a massive departure from the way coach Rick Carlisle usually has his teams play.
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CJ McCollum
McCollum has always been a pure bucket-getter. That’s been even more true in New Orleans, where he’s had free rein as the No. 1 guy. He’s been averaging 28.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in the five games since getting traded.
The fit with Brandon Ingram hasn’t been perfect so far and his timing has been noticeably off with teammates on some set plays. They also haven’t been winning. But he’s given their offense a massive jolt.
Domantas Sabonis
Sabonis came in and did exactly what everyone expected, averaging a rock-solid 17 pounds, 12 rebounds and six assists per game. He’s been the hub of the Kings’ offense, running a ton of handoffs and setting monster screens to get guys open. He’s injected some beautiful cutting, both from himself and teammates. He’s even brought the ball up to lead their transition attack off rebounds.
The Kings were a bottom-third offense before the trade. They’re right around league-average in the four games they’ve had Sabonis, which is also what his offenses were like during his Pacers tenure.
Sabonis isn’t a great post-up player or 3-point shooter, which limits his offensive impact. He is a terrific passer, though. He’s started to develop some chemistry with De’Aaron Fox, who has had his best stretch of the season with Haliburton gone.
Sabonis is not a shot blocker at all, and the knock on him has been his inability to anchor a good defense. The Kings have been playing him mostly in drop coverage, where he hasn’t really had much impact on guys going downhill against him.
The Kings have for sure gotten better with him. It would help if fellow newcomer Donte DiVincenzo could make a shot. They’ve been 2-2 and are still 3.5 games out of the play-in tournament.
Robert Covington
Where did this version of Covington come from? Long known as a guy who could not put the ball down on the floor at all, he’s been showing way more offensive versatility than anyone expected. He hasn’t shot the ball well from 3, but it looks like the change of scenery has reinvigorated him.
This is Robert Covington's ninth NBA season and I don't think I've ever seen him do this. pic.twitter.com/X0CYTUYjsH
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) February 16, 2022
Seth Curry, Andre Drummond
The Nets had lost 11 straight before Curry and Drummond were injected into the rotation. Now, they’re winners of two out of their past three.
Curry has been arguably the best player on the Nets.
MORE: Hidden Gems: Seth Curry could be the Nets' new glue guy
His shooting has been lights out, he’s been tasked with a lot of the creation responsibilities, and he’s held up well on defense.
Drummond has come in as a serviceable big man who addressed the Nets’ dire needs for rebounding and size. He and Curry also have run a lot of the same pick-and-roll that they were doing in Philadelphia.
These two were thought of mostly as throw-ins, but they’ve been vital with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant missing from the lineup.
Derrick White
White has fit in seamlessly to the Celtics. They’ve been the league’s best defense by a big margin as of late, and White has made them even better. He’s one of the best guard defenders in the league.
White has also given the Celtics a little more playmaking punch and been a great quick-decision ball mover for them. He hasn’t shot it well, but he’s been lauded by coach Ime Udoka for doing “a lot of the little things, as well as some of the big things.”
Josh Hart
Hart has been playing out of his mind in his three games with the Blazers. He’s averaging 24 points, five rebounds and four assists while playing great defense on the other end of the floor. He’s been inserted into the starting lineup and they haven’t lost a game yet. He's on a great contract and is looking like the early steal of the trade deadline.
Looking shaky
Caris LeVert
LeVert has had a very up-and-down four games for the Cavs. He’s been doing basically what he was brought in for, creating offense and putting pressure on the rim. And he had a huge 22 points against the Pacers, carrying the team to a win. But aside from that one strong game, his shot has been wildly inconsistent.
It’s going to take some more time for him to find his footing.
Serge Ibaka
Does Ibaka still have any juice? That was the big question for the Bucks, who needed a backup big to eat up minutes while Brook Lopez continues to recover from injury.
He’s playing a lot and contributing some rebounding. But he doesn't look anything like the same guy defensively. He can’t move on the perimeter. He’s fouling at a career-high rate, he was getting dusted by Haliburton and Buddy Hield in their matchup against the Pacers, and his closeouts to 3-point shooters look like he’s running through molasses.
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As an offensive threat, he’s not a great roll man anymore. He’s mostly picking and popping or staying out at the 3-point line to space the floor, where he is right around league-average for his career.
Ibaka isn’t going to kill the team as a regular-season minutes-eater, but the Bucks really need to hope that Lopez can come back for the playoffs.
Thad Young
Young immediately came into the Raptors’ rotation and has looked like a guy who hasn’t played much this season. He still has his trusty lefty hooks, but his timing has been considerably off. He still had a lot in the tank last year with the Bulls, so it’s possible that he’s just playing himself back into game shape.
Incomplete
Ben Simmons, James Harden
Simmons is still working on his conditioning, and Harden has been out since the trade with a hamstring injury.
Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis was always hurt in Dallas, and he’s starting his Wizards tenure in the same way. He’s been out since the trade with a bone bruise in his knee.
Norman Powell
Powell was playing very well for the Clippers, averaging 21 points on good efficiency in three games. Sadly, he broke his foot and has no timetable for his return.
