The NBA’s Atlantic Division is the league’s most interesting in 2020-21…and not necessarily because the Boston Celtics represent it.
You see, the talk of the town in the association has been the rise of two potential powerhouses from the northeast: the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philly’s red-hot start to the season had talking heads wondering if the pieces were finally in place in the City of Brotherly Love to make a title-run. With Tobias Harris upping his efficiency to being more than just a serviceable third option, the Sixers may actually be equipped to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference (more on that in a bit).
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets have arguably the three most lethal offensive weapons in the east all on one team after adding James Harden to the Kyrie Irving-Kevin Durant duo. Another trade is unlikely unless the team decides to dangle Joe Harris in trade talks, but the Nets figure to do plenty of damage on the buyout market.
As for the rest of the Atlantic, we could see the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks selling off their veteran pieces just as easily as both teams making big trades to propel back into the championship conversation.
Danny Ainge may not partake in any deals for the Boston Celtics before the trade deadline but other Atlantic Division foes could.
Here are some potential Atlantic Division blockbusters:
Philadelphia 76ers
Washington WizardsWhy the Philadelphia 76ers do it
This one isn’t rocket science. Philadelphia is arguably a piece away from being a bona fide title contender, and Bradley Beal can easily be that piece for the Sixers–or for about a third of the league, Boston Celtics included.
Why the Washington Wizards do it
Tyrese Maxey is playing his way into being the top trade piece Philly is in possession of. Mattise Thybulle was that target before him, and Shake Milton has proven to be a legitimate rotation player on a playoff team.
Combined with two tradeable assets who will have value at the trade deadline for teams that need shooting (Seth Curry, Danny Green) and two future first-round picks, this deal is as good of a package as Washington can expect given Beal’s seemingly imminent trade request to move to a winner.