For fans who have been impatiently checking their phones at every alert just in case it’s the latest Woj Bomb, you don’t have much longer before the 2021 NBA trade deadline.
On Thursday, March 25, at 3 p.m. Eastern time (2 p.m. Central), the trade deadline will strike.
That means teams have limited time to move players and look for roster or asset upgrades. Contenders are looking for avenues that will boost their chances in a title chase, while sellers will try to move off expiring contracts and players who do not fit into the future of the team.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to be among the latter. They have made two moves as of Tuesday morning, trading Hamidou Diallo to the Detroit Pistons for Svi Mykhailiuk and a second-round pick, and shipping Trevor Ariza to the Miami Heat for Meyers Leonard and a second-round pick.
Thunder players including George Hill, Mike Muscala, Kenrich Williams and Justin Jackson have garnered interest from teams around the league, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Outside Oklahoma City, some of the biggest names on the rumor mill include Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, Lonzo Ball, Norman Powell and Kyle Lowry, among many others.
Some teams are question marks, like the Atlanta Hawks — who have reportedly received calls for players like John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic, but are also competing for a playoff spot. The Boston Celtics have been on the forefront of rumors, with reports of calls being made to teams around the league.
Don’t stop paying attention until after 3 p.m. — trades have been made at the very final second before.
This post originally appeared on OKCThunderWire. Follow us on Facebook!
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