Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC in the NBA: What players could be moved at the trade deadline?

By Trevor Marks

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center on January 19, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center on January 19, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next

With the Thursday 3 p.m. NBA Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, what former Tar Heels could be on the move?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 27: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat celebrates his shot in the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2019 in New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 27: Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat celebrates his shot in the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2019 in New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Ah, trade season.

That chaotic sliver of the NBA calendar year where players are thrown around to new situations, where front office executives are answering phone call after phone call, where posturing rumors and shady reports are flung strategically and where agents are forcing the hands of executives in order to get their clients dealt to new teams.

Ah, what a beautiful time of year.

Nonsense and tomfoolery aside, the few days leading up to the NBA trade deadline are rarely calm, as buyers and sellers are ramping up calls so that they can make final changes to their rosters before time runs out. The fates of teams and players are at stake, as a string of phone calls and text messages can alter the direction in which a team operates.

Playoff-hopefuls can turn into lottery-darlings quickly; just as quickly, the average playoff team can bloom into a Finals contender if they play their cards right and land key rotation players.

The Tuesday night trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons exemplifies this. The Lakers, having fallen to 27-27 and tenth in the West, were (and still are) in search of either heavy-hitting swings for stars or smaller deals for perimeter shooters to stick alongside LeBron James.

While a franchise-altering deal for a star seems unlikely at this juncture, a deal for a key role player was proven to be quite doable — and quite easy.

According to various reports, Los Angeles is acquiring former Tar Heel sharpshooter Reggie Bullock from Detroit for a package consisting of Svi Mykhailiuk and a second-round draft pick. Bullock, who’s averaging 12.1 points and 2.6 three-pointers per game, is a prime example of the type of impactful role player that could be dealt before the Thursday 3 p.m. deadline.

His move, though, begs the question:

Will he be the only Tar Heel alumnus moved between now and the trade deadline? If not, who else could be be dealt? Who else is on the block?

Home/Tar Heels in the Pros