One trade idea to raise middle-of-the-pack NBA teams' ceilings

The 2024 NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. ET, but several teams have already executed noteworthy deals.

We saw our biggest move of the season so far on Wednesday, with the Indiana Pacers acquiring All-Star forward Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. By adding Siakam, the Pacers may have elevated themselves from a mid-tier playoff team to a potential contender in the Eastern Conference. In light of the Siakam deal, here are moves other middle-of-the-pack teams should make to elevate their ceilings come playoff time. 

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers | Acquire Nets forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith

Despite point guard Darius Garland and forward Evan Mobley missing extensive time, the Cavaliers hold the fourth seed in the East, so they probably don't need a Siakam-level move to solidify themselves as championship contenders. However, they could use some help with three-point shooting since they're hitting just 35.4% of their shots from long range, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA. Johnson (14.2 points per game on 39.3% three-point shooting) and Finney-Smith (9.4 ppg on 40.1% three-point shooting) could provide the necessary spark, with the latter likely to be a perfect fit for Cleveland's defense-first philosophy.

Miami Heat | Acquire Hornets guard Terry Rozier

He's not Damian Lillard, but Rozier could be an excellent option at point guard for the Heat, and he reportedly has a "preference" to play in Miami if he's traded, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer. The nine-year veteran is amidst a stellar season with Charlotte, averaging career highs in points (24) and assists (6.7). Rozier's ability to create shots would ease the burden on Jimmy Butler and be in stark contrast to what Kyle Lowry, whose contract would likely be included in a potential deal, can offer.

New York Knicks | Acquire Jazz guard Collin Sexton

Last month's trade for forward OG Anunoby cost the Knicks their former sixth man, Immanuel Quickley, and his loss has left a noticeable void on the bench in terms of scoring. New York is averaging the fourth-fewest bench points in the NBA since the trade (25.2) and would benefit from bringing in a dynamic scorer like Sexton for the second unit. Sexton -- a former client of CAA, the agency Knicks president Leon Rose ran -- is averaging 16.9 points and 3.9 assists for Utah this season while playing just 23.5 minutes per game.

Orlando Magic | Acquire Bulls guard Zach LaVine 

The Magic have cooled off after an unexpected blistering start to the season, mostly due to their ineffective offense, which ranks 24th in team offensive rating (112.3) and last in three-point percentage (34%). Even so, with a playoff berth still feasible, GM Anthony Parker should add a proven scorer to aid his young core by capitalizing on LaVine's "rough" trade value. The two-time All-Star is averaging his fewest points per game since the 2017-18 season (20), so perhaps a package centered around some first-round picks and Markelle Fultz's expiring contract could pique Chicago's interest. 

Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks | Acquire Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant

After striking out in the Siakam sweepstakes, Dallas must find another versatile forward capable of taking some of the scoring load off guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, which Grant could provide. The 29-year-old is averaging 21.4 points in the first season of his five-year $160M extension with Portland while shooting 45.9% from the field and 41.2% from beyond the arc. Although Fischer recently reported that Portland isn't "expected to seriously entertain offers for Grant," trading with the veteran for draft capital and young talent is the team's best bet to accelerate its rebuild.

Los Angeles Lakers | Acquire Hawks guard Dejounte Murray 

The one-time All-Star isn't the most exciting trade target, but he is the most realistic option for the Lakers to improve their Western Conference standing. While Murray is averaging 21 points and 4.8 assists per game, his defense hasn't lived up to his usual expectations, though a move to Los Angeles could revitalize his defensive tenacity. Even though guard Austin Reaves is a fan favorite, if he's the key to a Murray deal, as Fischer notes, Los Angeles should sell high on the 25-year-old. 

Phoenix Suns | Acquire Bulls guard Alex Caruso and center Andre Drummond

The Suns have enough star power to contend for a title but lack the depth to do so, and with limited assets, GM James Jones should spend this trade deadline hunting for role players. Guard Grayson Allen is Phoenix's best trade chip, and while he has been a pleasant surprise, sacrificing his offensive spark for Caruso's defense and Drummond's rebounding would serve the team better in the long run. Caruso is averaging a career-high 9.8 points this season with 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks, whereas Drummond averages 8.5 rebounds while only playing 16 minutes per game.  

Sacramento Kings | Acquire Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma

Sacramento, another team that was in the mix for Siakam, will have to look elsewhere to find a needle-moving addition, and Kuzma, whom it has long been enamored with, could be the answer. Ideally, Sacramento would like to improve its defensive rating, which ranks 17th in the Association (116.5), and while Kuzma won't help in that department, it would still benefit from acquiring a versatile 6-foot-9 wing. Nevertheless, Kuzma's greatest strength is his scoring ability, and the 22.4 points per game he's averaging this season would be a significant upgrade over the 10.8 points Harrison Barnes provides nightly.