The NBA Trade Deadline is on Thursday, March 25th at 3 PM EST. Several teams are looking to make moves in order to affirm themselves as contenders or begin their rebuilds.
Of course, sports bettors can get in on the action.
With news leaking every few minutes around deadline time, there are some smart bets to make based on the rumors.
Let’s break down a few key names that are reportedly on the move.
Kyle Lowry - Toronto Raptors
With Bradley Beal remaining out of trade rumors, Lowry is arguably the most important player on the trading block that can alter the title race.
Reports are suggesting that the Miami Heat are in the lead of the Lowry sweepstakes, and the odds are reflecting just that, as Miami sits as the -175 chalk.
Both Shams Charania and Kevin O’Connor labeled the Heat as ‘leaders’ for the Toronto guard, but also mentioned his hometown Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers as the other two teams with odds.
While the winds seem to be pushing towards a Miami deal, O’Connor’s report at the Ringer makes me hesitant to lay -175 on the Heat.
The Raptors would reportedly require one of either Duncan Robinson or Tyler Herro, as well as salary filler. Robinson and Herro were key pieces to Miami’s NBA Finals run last season and figure to be young foundational pieces. I’m not sure Pat Riley and the Heat want to move them for a free agent to be in Lowry.
Miami is all in, but would they sacrifice key young guards to make a run in a loaded Eastern Conference this season?
A team further up the standings is the team to bet on, the 76ers.
The Sixers have an attractive young prospect in Tyresse Maxey, who has shown flashes of his potential off the bench. Lowry's also said he would be interested in playing for his hometown Sixers.
I think that Lowry ends up staying pat this year and hitting free agency next season, but I see some value in Philadelphia.
I’ll take a shot on Philly, especially since the bet is void if Lowry stays with the Raptors. They are closer to the title picture than Miami and should be more aggressive to get this deal done.
Pick: 76ers +250
Victor Oladipo - Houston Rockets
Oladipo doesn’t appear to be staying with the Rockets for long. The team snapped a 21-game losing streak on Monday, and the recently acquired guard turned down an extension with the club to test unrestricted free agency. Maybe Oladipo stays with the roster and signs a long-term deal this summer, but there’s a ton of smoke around his name.
Several names have been attached to the former No. 2 draft pick, with five teams having odds listed.
The Heat and Knicks are each listed as favorites to attain Oladipo's services at +200 odds.
While those two make sense, I give the edge to Miami here.
I mentioned the haul it would take for the Heat to acquire Lowry, and I don’t see a similar one for Oladipo. Both may be free agents this summer, but Lowry and the Raptors front office are going to try to make a deal work for both him and the team.
‘Dipo isn’t in the same situation. I see Houston moving on from their recently acquired guard at a discount.
Oladipo will likely cost something of value, but Miami should be able to get it done in a move to bolster their playoff prospects without forfeiting too many long-term assets.
Pick: Heat +200
Norman Powell - Toronto Raptors
As I alluded to earlier, the Raptors may be in the midst of a teardown. Lowry and Powell are set to be free agents after this season and Toronto is 17-26, two-and-a-half games out of the play-in game in the East.
It may be best to recoup value for Powell, who is having a career season, before he has the chance to sign elsewhere this summer.
The UCLA alumni is averaging 19 points on over 43% shooting from the three-point line. There are reports that Powell is expected to get a contract worth over $20 million per year, and the Raptors likely won’t retain him with the team potentially transitioning into a rebuild.
Teams would be wise to acquire Powell because of his bird rights, which would allow teams to go above the salary cap to re-sign him this summer.
With that in mind, Dallas is a great fit for him.
The Mavericks have been looking for a secondary playmaker like Powell to slide alongside Luka Doncic. The team acquired Josh Richardson this past offseason in hopes of him being that player, but he doesn’t have the on-ball talent that Powell has showcased this season.
I like Dallas, who have won seven of their last 10 games, to push for a move to continue to build around Doncic in hopes of a postseason run.
Pick: Dallas Mavericks +200