As the first underwhelming deal of the NBA trade season fell, Jordan Clarkson to the Utah Jazz in return for Dante Exum and a pair of second round picks, the preseason prediction from most NBA analysts that this year’s deadline would be lackluster looked on point.
The barriers within the trade market are clear. There aren’t a lot of available players who can move the needle for teams looking to contend. And on teams looking to contend, it’s difficult for them to make salaries work for those few needle-movers. Plus, teams are wary of adding long-term contracts with the generational talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo could potentially become a free agent in the summer of 2021.