Trae Young to Wizards Ignites Trade Deadline Chaos

Merlin sees the deadline brewing into a possible madhouse. The Trae Young swap, a muddled East with three wins separating seeds, Oklahoma City’s stumble, and teams like the Kings and Nets primed to move pieces all create real incentive to trade. Add movable names such as Zion, Michael Porter Jr., Bam, and Draymond and a roster of clubs dancing near the tax line, and February 5 could flip expectations. Merlin senses equal parts desperation and calculation. Buyers hunting a tilt advantage, tax-conscious clubs trimming payroll, and contenders nervous about the Thunder or Nuggets could combine into unexpected deals. The big ones like Giannis or Anthony Davis may stay, but oddball, season-changing moves feel likelier than usual.