Trades 2023: Early Exchanges

It's still early on in the 2023 season but we've had some intriguing trades already! Let's take a look!

Trade ID#140:

• SCRM receive James Harden, CHMK 2024 RD3
• CHMK receive Evan Mobley, SCRM 2024 RD1

This was a mega-trade that can not be overlooked. We wondered how long James Harden would be for Chunky-land, as the thirty-three year old was now miscast on an up and coming CHMK team. With the season barely underway, GM Evan answered that question by flipping Harden to SCRM for twenty-one year old Evan Mobley! That now gives CHMK an insane defensive frontcourt alongside Bam Adebayo and Robert Williams III—not to mention Nic Claxton. Mobley’s 14.5 PTS, 8.9 REB, and 1.3 BLK can only improve as time goes on but that’s already pretty solid. Rumors are that CHMK is looking for a seven-foot-two French-sized puzzle piece to complete his rebuild.

Note: With Harden gone from CHMK—after thirteen seasons—it now falls to SOUR’s Steph Curry as the longest tenured SlamNation player. Harden was an original draft pick of CHMK, all the way back in 2020 RD11.2 as a fresh-faced rookie. Thanks Beard, you’ll be missed!

SCRM drafted Mobley with their 2022 RD1.3 pick and it looked like he would be a cornerstone to their rebuild for a decade or more. However, with a fast start to the season and the healthy return of Anthony Davis, GM Jordan decided to go all-in on the 2023 season and traded the potential of Mobley for the win-now of Harden. As of now, the Screaming Eagles are undefeated so that confidence from management isn’t unfounded! Adding Harden’s 22.1 PTS, 11.0 AST, 2.8 3PT and numerous free throw attempts makes for a killer backcourt trio with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dejounte Murray. While Mobley will be missed, Davis and Jakob Poeltl are plenty in the middle for SlamNation’s current number one team.

Trade ID#141:

• FJUB receive Lonzo Ball
• MELO receive Gary Trent Jr.

When this trade came through, analysts thought it was LaMelo Ball who was traded for Trent Jr.! Alas, it was Lonzo, which made a lot more sense. The elder Ball hasn’t seen the court this season but fits in with FJUB’s defense-first aesthetic. We’re not sure if he’ll return anytime soon but FJUB can afford to have him sit on IR for now.

As for MELO, they exchanged defense for offense, with Trent Jr. quietly averaging 17.9 PTS and 3.5 3PT in Toronto. Pushing toward their first playoff spot, MELO wanted to get productivity onto the court and Trent fit the bill perfectly. With both these teams battling for playoff seeding, this trade was the type of mid-level move that could help both sides.

Trade ID#142

• TRUO receive Wendell Carter Jr., Christian Wood
• SOUR receive Jimmy Butler, Ivica Zubac

The annual Trieu-Thien trade came early this year! And this one involves Jimmy Butler returning to SOUR. Last time around--in 2018 (Trade ID#83)—Butler went from SOUR to TRUO, with Butler and Damian Lillard being the centerpieces. This time SOUR sends out a pair of big men in Carter Jr. and Wood, to return the thirty-three year old Butler.

With Wood—the return for Zach LaVine—and Carter Jr. gone—part of the Bradley Beal trade--SOUR will have to make do at the center position with Zubac, Isaiah Stewart, Bol Bol, and rookie Jalen Duren. Adding Butler solidifies the shooting guard position immensely though, as SOUR was starting the likes of Josh Hart, Quentin Grimes, or Lonnie Walker IV there. Butler may miss a lot of games but he is still an all-around stats maven when he plays, and swipes 2.1 STL a game.

As for TRUO, who are currently headed toward the bottom of the standings, this signals another on-the-fly rebuild, which meant old man Jimmy was no longer needed on the team. Wood is twenty-seven and Carter Jr. is still only twenty-three. Both are well-rounded fantasy wise and the rare big men who shoot well from the charity stripe. Losing twenty-five year old Zubac won’t be too much of a hit, as his growth potential was limited, and now TROU can look to continue building around Jalen Green and Scottie Barnes with his center positions all set.

Draft Recap: 2023

Heading into the 2023 NBA draft, there were three clear prizes: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jabari Smith Jr., with a drop off afterwards. What would the SlamNation owners make of these rookies? [ 2023 Draft Order  | 2023 RD1 Grades ]

Winning the Toilet Bowl in a year with no clear cut number one pick meant CHMK had to take a gamble and they decided to roll the dice on Jabari Smith Jr., who projects as an incredible two-way player who lands in Houston with plenty of playing time ahead. Still it was a bit of a surprise to see CHMK go this direction, as Paolo Banchero was the NBA’s top selection.

SPDE wasted no time pouncing on Chet Holmgren, who already feels like a Spade, with one year of injury under his belt, before he even hits the floor! That meant Toilet Bowl runner-up ILCN fell into Banchero at number three overall, which could perhaps be another Luka moment if Banchero turns out to be the All-Pro out of the bunch.

The first round was light on rookies actually, with only Keegan Murray (TRUO, RD1.4), Jaden Ivey (FOBS, RD1.6), and Benedict Mathurin (ABCX, RD1.13) joining the party. Rookie Tari Eason was the first pick of round two by SQSQ.

BUFF took high-value Collin Sexton (RD1.5) as the first non-rookie and youngish previous keepers like Kevin Porter Jr. (MELO), D’Angelo Russell (KSKT), and RJ Barrett (TRUO) came off the board in the first half of round one as well.

Let’s take a look at some quick team draft highlights—and lowlights?

• FJUB is going for more win-now, as PJ Washington, Gary Trent Jr., Kelly Olynyk, De’Anthony Melton, Brook Lopez, and TJ McConnell should all be useful rotation players.

• FUNK only had four picks, with none in the first three rounds.

• FOBS enjoyed two first rounders and seven overall picks, grabbing Ivey, Jalen Smith, and Luguentz Dort early.

• SWMP filled out their starting lineup with Marcus Smart and Monte Morris, and then moved to grab super youngsters Aleksej Pokusevski and Joshua Primo.

• MELO got some sneaky great picks in Kevin Porter Jr., Malcolm Brogdon (RD2.16), Lonzo Ball, Chris Duarte, and Norman Powell.

• KSKT had an enviable nine total picks, and their scouting department worked hard, nabbing rookies Jalen Williams (RD5.5), Shaedon Sharpe (RD5.12), and Jeremy Sochan (RD6.12) with their extra picks. Their two first rounders were D’Angelo Russell and Buddy Hield, who should bolster their roster significantly.

• ABCX likely got a steal in rookie Bennedict Mathurin, but they also scooped up RD5.10 Kevin Love, who turned in a very useful season last year.

• BUFF took all the keeper-esque leftovers he could get his hands on in Sexton, Tobias Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Steven Adams. Roger also took a spin on Miles Bridges…shame shame!

• SOUR had an outstanding draft, with Herb Jones, Josh Hart, Isaiah Stewart, rookie Jalen Duren, and Cam Reddish.

• SPDE took two Isaiahs—Jackson (RD3.2) and Hartenstein (RD5.2)

• ILCN got not only Paolo Banchero, but fellow rookie Walker Kessler (RD3.11) and then took injury fliers on Jonathan Isaac, De’Andre Hunter, and Patrick Williams as well.

• SCRM is looking for a win-now composition, as they took Jakob Poeltl, Gordon Hayward, Cam Johnson, Jordan Clarkson, and Aaron Gordon. That’s quite the bench mob!