What NBA Trades Were Made Today?

Find out which NBA teams made trades today, including who was traded and what they were traded for.

Kyrie Irving Traded to the Boston Celtics

The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round draft pick. The Nets’ pick is protected for selections 1-to-4. If it falls outside of that range, then the Celtics will instead send the Cavs their own 2019 first-rounder.

What does this mean for the Celtics?

This is a huge trade for the Boston Celtics, as they were able to acquire one of the best young point guards in the league. Kyrie Irving is a four-time All-Star and was the 2016 NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist. The Celtics gave up Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round draft pick in order to get Irving.

This is a big win for the Celtics, as they now have a young star to build around for years to come. Irving is only 25 years old and is under contract through 2019. He will team up with fellow All-Star Gordon Hayward to form a dangerous duo in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics now have one of the best young cores in the NBA and are poised to be a force in the East for years to come.

What does this mean for the Cavaliers?

The Kyrie Irving trade sent shockwaves through the NBA, and left many wondering what this means for the Cavaliers. Irving is one of the best young players in the league, and was a key part of the Cavaliers’ championship team in 2016.

With Irving gone, the Cavaliers will likely turn to LeBron James to be their primary ball-handler and scorer. This could mean more minutes for Dwyane Wade, as well as for point guards Derrick Rose and Jose Calderon.

The Cavaliers will also have to figure out how to replace Irving’s production on the court. Last season, Irving averaged 25.2 points per game and 5.8 assists per game. He was also a superb three-point shooter, making 40.1% of his three-point attempts.

It’s unclear what the Cavaliers will get in return for Irving, but they will surely be looking to add some young talent and draft picks in any trade involving the All-Star point guard.

Jimmy Butler Traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Chicago Bulls have agreed to trade All-Star Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal includes the Wolves sending Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the rights to No. 7 overall pick Lauri Markkanen to the Bulls.

What does this mean for the Timberwolves?

With the addition of All-Star Jimmy Butler, the Minnesota Timberwolves now have one of the best rosters in the Western Conference. They have a young core of players that includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, and they also have a veteran presence in Butler.

The Timberwolves are now a team that can compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. They will most likely be a lower seed in the playoffs, but they have the potential to make some noise in the postseason.

What does this mean for the Bulls?

The reaction to the trade was swift and harsh, with many fans and pundits expressing disbelief that the Bulls would trade one of their best players in recent memory.

Some believe that this move signals a full-fledged rebuild for the Bulls, who have failed to make the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. They will now likely look to rebuild around young players like Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr., as well as veteran guard Zach LaVine.

Others believe that this is simply a move to clear salary cap space, as Butler is set to become a free agent after next season. The Bulls will reportedly receive forward Lauri Markkanen, guard Kris Dunn and the seventh overall pick in Thursday’s draft in return for Butler and the 16th overall pick.

Jahlil Okafor Traded to the Brooklyn Nets

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to trade center Jahlil Okafor to the Brooklyn Nets, according to multiple reports. The Nets will send forward Trevor Booker to the Sixers in return for Okafor, a league source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

What does this mean for the Nets?

The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to trade center Jahlil Okafor, guard Nik Stauskas and a second-round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for forward Trevor Booker, league sources told ESPN.

The Sixers will send Okafor to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Trevor Booker, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Okafor, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, has averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 25 minutes per game during his two injury-plagued seasons with the Sixers.

The 21-year-old big man has fallen out of favor in Philadelphia this season, appearing in just two games while spending most of his time as a healthy scratch.

The Nets will be Okafor’s third team in two seasons. He was drafted by the Sixers and then traded to the Nets last season as part of a package that brought Jimmy Butler to Philadelphia.

What does this mean for the 76ers?

The Philadelphia 76ers have traded big man Jahlil Okafor to the Brooklyn Nets, per Shams Charania of The Vertical. Okafor was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, but he has seen his minutes and role diminish greatly over the past two seasons.

This move indicates that the 76ers are fully committed to their youth movement, as they continue to stockpile assets and clear out veteran players. Okafor was expendable with the emergence of Joel Embiid and Philadelphia will save money by trading him.

As for the Nets, they are acquiring a low-risk, high-upside player in Okafor. If he can stay healthy and regain his form from his rookie season, he could be a valuable piece for Brooklyn as they continue their rebuilding process.