The NBA trade deadline is one of the craziest days of the season every year, as this is the last chance for teams to decide how they want to build for the future until the offseason. The NBA trade deadline for the 2023–24 season is February 8. By then, most teams will have played about 50 of their 82 games. Over the years, there have been a number of strange deals at the deadline. Last season, the Phoenix Suns made a huge move on deadline day by acquiring Kevin Durant, and one of the other big moves was the LA Lakers trading Russell Westbrook for several depth players.
Deadline Days are the craziest ones
Every year, when deadline day comes near, the teams already get a good idea of where they’re headed. This leads them in one of two possible directions. Some teams are struggling to add a player or two to make the playoffs, while others are trading key players to acquire assets for the future. The NBA trade deadline is the last time teams can swap assets, but it’s not technically the last time they can add players. Once the deadline madness ends, all attention shifts to the buyout market.
Teams get a chance to sign free agents
For various reasons, there are usually some players who are released from their contracts at the deadline. This gives the team a chance to sign them as a free agent for the rest of the year. Under the new CBA, the rules for which teams are able to make buyout signings are stricter. Any team on the second apron is unable to sign any players in the buyout market. These are not star level players, but veterans who can help the team get ready for the postseason. One of the major names to sign in this way is Patrick Beverley, who signed a deal with the Bulls after being purchased from the Orlando Magic. For any player to be eligible to be added to the postseason roster, they must be signed before March 1.
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