Trading their 2026 first-round pick would have been a sign that the front office fully trusted this current core. They chose not to. As mentioned, there could have been a few reasons for that, but it makes one wonder how much trust the front office really has in the core of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, and most of the pieces around it.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline (Thursday, 3 p.m. ET) is one day away, with a flurry of blockbuster deals already beginning, including James Harden's exit from the LA Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland. While the league and fans wait for another blockbuster deal, the regular season carries on, and teams turn their attention toward the postseason.
