The CSL

Teams That Should And Shouldn't Make A Deadline Trade

Teams That Should:

1 Sacramento: They have it all. Talent, a great team, a Superstar in Kofi and the draft capital to make a move to secure that one player to supplant Mathiss Thybuille as they build around Kofi Daniels and Johnson.

2 Houston: The Rockets have guard guard and more guard play. If they can get the right big man on that team there will be hell to pay as KW gets the most out of his small ball lineups.

3 New York: As good as they're playing and having a punchers chance to win it all, Luka is gonna be 30 next year. Almost a fossil in the League's eyes.

4 Dallas: Same as above replace Luka's name with Zion but they're losing.

5 Cleveland: They look really good now but Simmons while impactful is at the end and Porter Jr can't Superman this team to a title even with Monk. If he does it'll be the GOAT title imo as he is nearly a one man show!

Teams Who Shouldn't:

1 New Orleans: I was on the fence but they look like with the addition of Quickley they may be onto something so hold onto JJJ and Tatum.

2 Atlanta: I thought for sure ATL was moving Keegan for their 1st back from OKC but it was just a simple swap (duh). Tillman and Perry is a rock solid old school big man duo and I love it.

3 Miami: Though long in the tooth at some spots they are too well run to make a move just to make a move after missing out on Anthony Edwards.

4 Memphis: Andrei just finds a way to get it done, he's got a well oiled machine no matter who is in Memphis. His only hesitation may be due to Culver being a FA and how he plans to go about the offseason.

5 OKC: Patience has been key and you knew they wouldn't be bad for long. It's paid off and Harper Jr is the future.

There's others but will allow that to be up for discussion!

I think we're pretty set with our Hayes/Brown/Lofton frontcourt, but not denying that we threw out a few feelers for upgrades.

Nah ain't trading just because Luka is 29. Lol

Dallas really needs to trade. If they traded QW for tony bradley theyd improve.

Trading Keegan for their own 1st back would be the overpay of the century

Nice article for the deadline!

It will be very hard for me to move Murray, certainly not for my pick. I hope we don't stink that much that one of my picks ends up high lottery with the core still in place.

Before this season I decided to run with the core of Naji, Murray, Perry ... that was probably the moment LaMelo's days were numbered. Hopefully Tillman fits in here.

GreenBear wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 8:25 pm Trading Keegan for their own 1st back would be the overpay of the century

Posted same time

Andrewu91 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 8:05 pm Nah ain't trading just because Luka is 29. Lol

Made the suggestion because you traded all of your picks pretty much. It's Wendell or bust for you. Luka still could snag an excellent player and picks or just a boatload of picks or just straight up for players.

I'm in the same boat pick wise but have some salvageable pieces to move just in case we crash test dummy again. I wasn't gonna be ignorant and hold onto a guy just cause, going back to the Paul George trade once he hit 28 or 29 and the ship be sinkin' he had to go!

Luka and Zion in NY and DAL for 6 seasons and only a punchers chance of winning it each yr is crazy. The teams never had the complementary offensive player to get them over the top.

I remember I wanted to send Lauri to pair with Luka about 3 seasons ago before Lauri was cooked and you declined. They need one reliable offensive player and I think the other contenders would actually see you as a real threat.

It reminds of me of rl CLE in LeBron's early yrs. Selling tickets and jerseys with him fending for himself because he was good enough to get the team to the Finals but not win it all.

Everyone should trade

You mean everybody should be traded

"If he does it'll be he GOAT title imo as he is nearly a one man show!"

Langford 21/8/5
Simmons 17/4/8
Monk 15/3/3

3-1 Without Porter
0-2 WIthout Simmons
0-4 without Langford


LOL 29-13 since trade. That was a hot take

Silogical wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 8:17 pm Dallas really needs to trade. If they traded QW for tony bradley theyd improve.

Interesting. How would that help the Knicks?

I have enough guards/forwards

WillyJakkz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 8:33 pm

Andrewu91 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 8:05 pm Nah ain't trading just because Luka is 29. Lol

Made the suggestion because you traded all of your picks pretty much. It's Wendell or bust for you. Luka still could snag an excellent player and picks or just a boatload of picks or just straight up for players.

I'm in the same boat pick wise but have some salvageable pieces to move just in case we crash test dummy again. I wasn't gonna be ignorant and hold onto a guy just cause, going back to the Paul George trade once he hit 28 or 29 and the ship be sinkin' he had to go!

Luka and Zion in NY and DAL for 6 seasons and only a punchers chance of winning it each yr is crazy. The teams never had the complementary offensive player to get them over the top.

I remember I wanted to send Lauri to pair with Luka about 3 seasons ago before Lauri was cooked and you declined. They need one reliable offensive player and I think the other contenders would actually see you as a real threat.

It reminds of me of rl CLE in LeBron's early yrs. Selling tickets and jerseys with him fending for himself because he was good enough to get the team to the Finals but not win it all.

I love you Willy but focus on your team and let the big boys play.

And post focus will definitely help with LaMelo. Good luck man.

drumr wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 11:16 pm "If he does it'll be he GOAT title imo as he is nearly a one man show!"

Langford 21/8/5
Simmons 17/4/8
Monk 15/3/3

3-1 Without Porter
0-2 WIthout Simmons
0-4 without Langford


LOL 29-13 since trade. That was a hot take

You were struggling prior to the Monk trade, he rallies the bench Porter is by himself Langford gets his cause of MPJ and Ben is a GOAT level player and still impactful just old. No lies told.

Offhand can't think of any champs that didn't do it as a team unless it was a Ben Simmons led team.

Andrewu91 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:19 am let the big boys play.

You're not in the big boys anymore.

It's taking WCJ to save your season in a division where Philly is practically trying to give the division away rebuilding and still a threat while BOS is rebuilding and BK doesn't even have a GM pretty much and TOR is just chugging along until they strike draft gold and Sharpe develops.

Trade Luka before he needs dentures.

WillyJakkz wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 1:25 am

drumr wrote: ↑Wed Jan 28, 2026 11:16 pm "If he does it'll be he GOAT title imo as he is nearly a one man show!"

Langford 21/8/5
Simmons 17/4/8
Monk 15/3/3

3-1 Without Porter
0-2 WIthout Simmons
0-4 without Langford


LOL 29-13 since trade. That was a hot take

You were struggling prior to the Monk trade, he rallies the bench Porter is by himself Langford gets his cause of MPJ and Ben is a GOAT level player and still impactful just old. No lies told.

Offhand can't think of any champs that didn't do it as a team unless it was a Ben Simmons led team.

Andrewu91 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 29, 2026 12:19 am let the big boys play.

You're not in the big boys anymore.

It's taking WCJ to save your season in a division where Philly is practically trying to give the division away rebuilding and still a threat while BOS is rebuilding and BK doesn't even have a GM pretty much and TOR is just chugging along until they strike draft gold and Sharpe develops.

Trade Luka before he needs dentures.

Stop acting like an ex who fumbled the ball with me. I told you when Luka was 3 years younger what I wanted and you bailed.

You kept offering shit deals for years and obviously declined.

Best offer you made was 5 firsts for Luka this year when I improved even more.

I'll trade Luka once you start listening to vets and do the obvious to win.

This explains a lot lol

You're not in the big boys anymore

Whatcha say Willy?