Each of the 30 general managers approaches the trade deadline with a different plan.
While some teams will stand pat and not disrupt the chemistry on and off the court, others will feel the pressure to make a short-term trade, just for the sake of sneaking into the playoffs.
As they do with the background work of trade targets, NBA teams also study the trade patterns of their counterparts. This process is invaluable and could determine how far you can push a team into making a deal.
For example, the Warriors and Spurs are known to be conservative at the deadline, and Oklahoma CIty has taken an aggressive approach in February.
Atlanta Hawks: Travis Schlenk
Deadline trades: 0
This is the first trade deadline for the former Warriors assistant GM.
Though a novice, Schlenk was busy in the offseason, making five trades. With the Hawks in a clear rebuild, each transaction has centered on obtaining assets either in draft picks (a Houston first-rounder and multiple seconds) or cash.
Boston Celtics: Danny Ainge
Deadline trades: 12
The All-Star: The last trade Ainge made at the deadline has proved to be one of the highlights of his career. While the Brooklyn trade in the summer of 2013 earned the headlines, the February 2015 acquisition of Isaiah Thomas from Phoenix in exchange for Marcus Thornton and the Cavaliers' 2016 first-round pick catapulted the Celtics back into the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. Thomas would eventually be traded for Kyrie Irving. (Interestingly, the pick sent to Phoenix was acquired from Cleveland as part of several cap-clearing moves to sign LeBron James in 2014.)
The chemistry mulligan: Coming off a Finals loss to the Lakers in 2010, Ainge broke up his starting five when he traded Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder in February 2011. Perkins and Nate Robinson would net Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. The Celtics got younger with the acquisition of Green but lost in five games to the Heat in the second round. Green was traded to Memphis for a 2019 protected first-round pick, a draft asset that has value based on a rebuilding Grizzlies team. The Celtics also acquired a first-round pick from the Thunder (via Clippers) and drafted Fab Melo in 2012.
Brooklyn Nets: Sean Marks
Deadline trades: 2
The expiring contract: Marks debunked the notion that expiring contracts have little value. Buried in the bottom of the standings, Brooklyn sent soon-to-be free agent Bojan Bogdanovic to Washington for the Wizards' 2017 first-round pick and Andrew Nicholson.
The Wizards three-month rental of Bogdanovic would eventually help Brooklyn find two current starters, Jarrett Allen (draft) and Allen Crabbe, acquired from Portland for Nicholson.
Charlotte Hornets: Rich Cho
Deadline trades: 6
The rental: For the short term, acquiring shooting guard Courtney Lee from Memphis in 2016 helped the Hornets back into the playoffs after a two-year absence. The downside is that Lee eventually left in free agency in July, and the three second-round picks sent to the Grizzlies are still outstanding. Two of those picks are projected to be No. 40 and No. 53 in the June draft (the third is the Nets' second-rounder in 2019).
The mulligan: The Lee trade eventually could turn into a mulligan based on which players are selected with the three second-round picks.
Chicago Bulls: John Paxson/Gar Forman
Deadline trades: 5
The highlight: The Tyrus Thomas trade in February 2010 is a bright spot for Forman based on the Bulls acquiring a first-round pick from Charlotte. After two years in the lottery, Charlotte eventually conveyed to Chicago the No. 16 pick in the 2014 draft, and Thomas was out of the league before the pick was acquired. The downside to this trade is that Chicago packaged the Hornets' pick and their own pick (No. 16 and No. 19) to the Nuggets and selected Doug McDermott. Denver drafted Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Harris.
The mulligan: The trade with Oklahoma City last year is one the Bulls would wish to have back. Even with Chicago acquiring a former lottery pick in Cameron Payne, the point guard's injury history should have prevented the Bulls from adding their own 2018 second-round pick. Payne played in 11 games and has missed the entire season because of a recurring right foot injury. In addition to the draft compensation, Chicago also sent the expiring contract of Taj Gibson and McDermott. The Bulls' 2018 second-round pick was eventually sent to the Knicks as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Koby Altman
Deadline trades: 0
Altman, a first-year GM, is not a newcomer to the trade deadline, having served an apprenticeship under David Griffin the past four years.
Since being named GM in July, Altman has made two trades -- the Kyrie Irving blockbuster in August and the salary dump of Richard Jefferson to Atlanta before the season.
Dallas Mavericks: Donnie Nelson
Deadline trades: 6
The championship blueprint: The cost was steep -- two first-round picks and guard Devin Harris -- but the 2008 trade to acquire future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd helped Dallas to its first NBA championship three years later. Besides the Kidd trade, Nelson also acquired Brendan Haywood, Deshawn Stevenson and Caron Butler in a February 2010 trade with Washington. All three players, along with Kidd, played an integral part in the 2010-11 championship team.
The no-brainer that wasn't: Ask the Mavericks' front office if it would sacrifice two second-round picks for Nerlens Noel, and the answer would be a resounding yes. The February 2017 trade to acquire Noel from Philadelphia was thought to bring Dallas its franchise center for the near future. Instead, Noel has been hampered by injuries and has received sporadic minutes. The Noel trade (for now) doesn't have any major consequences. The 2017 second-rounder sent to Philadelphia was sold to the Clippers for $3.2 million at the draft, with a 2020 second-rounder still outstanding.
Denver Nuggets: Tim Connelly
Deadline trades: 5
The Portland trade, part I: Acquiring two first-round picks for Timofey Mozgov would qualify as a trade deadline highlight for Connelly, but that deal was consummated six weeks before the deadline. Though the Mozgov trade does not really qualify, acquiring Will Barton and a 2016 first-round pick from Portland (eventually Malik Beasley) a month later does. Denver, headed toward the lottery, sent the expiring contract of Arron Afflalo to Portland. Barton eventually re-signed in the offseason to a three-year, $9 million contract and has proven to be one of the top sixth men in the NBA.
Note: The Jusuf Nurkic trade to Portland occurred two weeks before the deadline.
Detroit Pistons: Jeff Bower
Deadline trades: 3
The highlight: It's hard to argue that the February 2016 trade to acquire Tobias Harris from the Magic was not only the highlight of that deadline but also of Bower's short tenure with the Pistons. The acquisition of Harris proved beneficial on the court and from a cost standpoint. Signed to a long-term contract by Orlando in 2015, the 24-year-old Harris was traded for an expiring contract in Brandon Jennings and rotational big Ersan Ilyasova. Harris has been a staple in the Pistons' lineup, starting every game while having an All-Star-type season. Plus, Harris' remaining salary of $16 million and $14.8 million ranks 11th among power forwards.
The failed physical: The Pistons caught a break in 2016 when they voided the trade with Houston over health concerns of Donatas Motiejunas. Had the trade gone through, Detroit would have surrendered the 18th pick in the draft to the Rockets. Motiejunas eventually signed an offer sheet with Brooklyn as a free agent, only to see the Rockets match but eventually withdraw when injury concerns again surfaced.
Golden State Warriors: Bob Myers
Deadline trades: 3
The highlight: Could three consecutive deadlines without making a roster move be considered a highlight for Myers? Yes, considering that Golden State has left a championship roster intact and has not made a single deadline deal since February 2014. After all, why disrupt the on- and off-court chemistry?
The mulligan: Hard to find any blemishes on Golden State, but if we are being picky, the Kent Bazemore trade to the Lakers in 2014 would stand out. To be fair, Bazemore played less than six minutes a night and was set to be a restricted free agent. The Warriors also were in need of a backup point guard as the playoffs approached. Bazemore was sent to the Lakers along with MarShon Brooks for veteran Steve Blake. After playing 21 minutes in a Game 2 loss to the Clippers, Blake would play only 15 minutes in the next four games.
Houston Rockets: Daryl Morey
Deadline trades: 14
The James Harden plan: Morey is best known for hitting singles at the trade deadline. The February 2010 three-team trade with New York and Sacramento turned a single into a home run two years later. Morey took the players in the trade (Kevin Martin and Jordan Hill) and turned them into bigger pieces. Hill was traded to the Lakers the following year for Derek Fisher and a Mavericks 2014 first-rounder. Martin, the 2014 Dallas first-rounder, Jeremy Lamb and a Raptors 2013 first-rounder would eventually be packaged to Oklahoma City for Harden before the start of the 2012-13 season.
Because New York was also trying to clear cap space for the summer of 2010, Houston received the right to swap 2011 first-round picks and a 2012 first-rounder. The swap did not occur, and the Rockets selected Royce White with the No. 16 pick.
The former lottery pick: Ask Morey what trade he would like a mulligan on, and it would be the Terrence Williams deal. Though not a deadline move, Houston acquired the former lottery pick from New Jersey for a 2012 lottery-protected first-rounder. Williams appeared in only 23 games for the Rockets and was waived the following season.
Indiana Pacers: Kevin Pritchard
Deadline trades: 3*
The top lieutenant to Larry Bird has moved to the main seat. Kevin Pritchard is not a newcomer to working the trade deadline, having spent three seasons as the GM in Portland and working side-by-side with Bird in Indiana for six seasons. Under Bird, Indiana only made one trade at the deadline. The lone trade occurred during the 2013-14 season, when the Pacers acquired Evan Turner. In Portland, Pritchard made three trade deadline deals, including the 2010 trade to acquire Marcus Camby for Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw.
*As GM in Portland
LA Clippers: Lawrence Frank
Deadline trades: 0
The Clippers' restructured front office will be tested with the trade deadline approaching. Like the Chris Paul trade before free agency began, the Clippers are now faced with a decision on All-Star center DeAndre Jordan and guard Lou Williams.
Frank, a former head coach, is now in control of basketball operations and will oversee his first trade deadline. Even with the Clippers snakebit by injuries this season, L.A. has been able to stay in playoff contention, including a 10-4 record over the past month.
Does Frank try to retool the roster as with the Paul trade or make the decision to hit the rebuild button?
Los Angeles Lakers: Magic Johnson/Rob Pelinka
Deadline trades: 1
Hired right before the trade deadline last year, Magic Johnson made the first Lakers deadline deal since 2014, when he shipped Lou Williams to the Rockets for a 2017 first-rounder.
Besides the Williams trade, Lakers management also orchestrated the Brook Lopez trade before the June draft.
This is Pelinka's first trade deadline after being hired in late February of last year.
Memphis Grizzlies: Chris Wallace
Deadline trades: 8
The highlight: The criticism of the 2016 Courtney Lee and Jeff Green trade has turned into a positive for Wallace. In two separate trades, Memphis moved the expiring contracts of Lee (to Charlotte) and Green (to L.A. Clippers). Criticized at the time because both players were starters on a Grizzlies playoff team, Memphis replenished its draft assets that had been depleted from previous trades. When the trade deadline ended, Memphis acquired a future first-rounder for Green and four future second-round picks for Lee. Lee and Green -- both short-term playoff rentals -- signed elsewhere in the offseason.
Note: The Pau Gasol trade to the Lakers for the draft rights to his brother Marc occurred three weeks before the deadline.
The current All-Star: It took seven seasons for All-Star Kyle Lowry to live up to his potential. Unfortunately, that time period was not during his tenure in Memphis. Drafted in 2006, Lowry's minutes became inconsistent once the Grizzlies drafted Mike Conley in 2007. The point guard was traded in the middle of his third season to the Rockets as part of a three-team deal that also involved Orlando. Memphis received Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks and the Magic's 2009 first-rounder (DeMarre Carroll).
Miami Heat: Pat Riley/Andy Elisburg
Deadline trades: 7*
The luxury tax: Besides the Goran Dragic trade that improved the on-court product at the expense of first-round picks, the focus in Miami in recent years at the deadline has been reducing the luxury tax bill. Since 2009, the Heat have made four trades that helped them reduce the tax. In total, Miami has saved $14 million, including $13 million in 2016. The savings pushed Miami under the line and helped it avoid the repeater tax.
*Since 2009
Milwaukee Bucks: Jon Horst
Deadline trades: 0
After an uneventful summer, Horst, the team's new GM, made a big splash in November when he acquired Eric Bledsoe in exchange for a first-round pick and Greg Monroe. The trade not only gave the Bucks a starting point guard for at least the next two years, but also tax relief.
The big addition for the Bucks will not happen at the deadline but when Jabari Parker returns from his injury.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Scott Layden
Deadline trades: 0
Layden is not a novice when it comes to the deadline.
In his second season, Layden has previous experience working in Utah, New York and four seasons with San Antonio. Though Layden's offseason was busy -- including the rookie extension of Andrew Wiggins -- Minnesota has not made a deadline deal during the current regime. Similar to the structure in Detroit, Layden does not have final say in personnel matters. That duty rests with head coach Tom Thibodeau.
It will be up to Thibodeau to trust Layden and his scouting department when it comes to evaluating their roster.
New Orleans Pelicans: Dell Demps
Deadline trades: 5
Risk and reward: There is a double-edged sword to the DeMarcus Cousins trade last February. The positive is that the Pelicans have an All-Star in the prime of his career to team up with Anthony Davis. The negative is that an All-NBA selection also comes with a $177 million price tag this summer when Cousins is a free agent. For a team that has little leverage based on its cap situation, New Orleans will have no choice but to sign Cousins. If Cousins is not signed, the cost will be two lottery picks (Buddy Hield and 2018's No. 10 pick, which was turned into two top-20 picks) for a 15-month rental.
New York Knicks: Steve Mills/Scott Perry
This is the first trade deadline since the two joined forces this summer.
Mills worked for Phil Jackson the past four seasons, and their lone trade at the deadline was acquiring Alexey Shved and two second-round picks (2017 and 2018) from Houston in exchange for Pablo Prigioni.
Perry, the assistant GM in Orlando for five seasons, was part of four deadline deals. In a move with an eye toward clearing cap space for the summer of 2016, Orlando moved Channing Frye as part of a three-team trade to Cleveland in exchange for a second-round pick. The trade cleared the $23 million remaining in salary owed to Frye over the next three seasons. Two days before the Frye trade, in a move designed to add veterans, Orlando traded 24-year-old Tobias Harris for the expiring contract of Brandon Jennings and cap-friendly salary of Ersan Ilyasova. Ilyasova was traded (along with Victor Oladipo and the No. 11 pick) the night of the draft in exchange for Serge Ibaka.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Sam Presti
Deadline trades: 12
Turning over the roster: Few teams rely on building a roster through trades more than the Thunder and Presti.
Since taking over in 2007, Presti has made 47 trades, including last February, when Oklahoma City acquired Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and the Bulls' 2018 second-round pick. McDermott and the Bulls' pick -- along with Enes Kanter -- were eventually included in the Carmelo Anthony deal.
Two years earlier, Kanter was acquired from Utah as part of a three-team trade with Detroit. Backup Reggie Jackson went to Detroit, and Oklahoma City sent a 2018 first-rounder to Utah.
Though the Utah and Chicago trades focused on improving the roster, Oklahoma City also put an emphasis in 2016 on reducing its luxury tax. The Thunder reduced their bill by $8.1 million at the expense of Steve Novak, D.J. Augustin, $1.1 million in cash and two 2016 second-round picks.
Orlando Magic: Jeff Weltman/John Hammond
In Orlando, Jeff Weltman (president) and John Hammond (GM) are well-versed when it comes to the deadline.
Though the roles were reversed when the two worked together in Milwaukee, both have been a part of blockbuster trades at the deadline in recent years.
Last season in Toronto, Weltman was part of a team that helped acquire Serge Ibaka in exchange for Terrence Ross and a first-round pick.
In Milwaukee, Hammond made seven trades at the deadline. Perhaps the two big trades in recent memory for Milwaukee occurred with the Bucks in a push to make the playoffs.
In 2013, with Milwaukee hovering at .500, the Bucks acquired sharp-shooter JJ Redick from Orlando in exchange for former first-round pick Tobias Harris. Harris was just 22, and Redick was about to hit free agency. Milwaukee made the playoffs only to be swept by the Heat, and Redick was moved to the Clippers in the offseason as part of a sign-and-trade that would see the Suns land Eric Bledsoe.
Two years later, Milwaukee acquired former Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams along with Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis as part of a three-team trade with Philadelphia and Phoenix. With restricted free agency on the horizon, starting point guard Brandon Knight was moved to the Suns.
Philadelphia 76ers: Bryan Colangelo
Deadline trades: 12*
The Noel trade: There was criticism in Philadelphia last February when Nerlens Noel was traded. After all, how could a former lottery pick who was two months shy of turning 23 nab only two second-round picks and former first-rounder Justin Anderson.
The answer: Noel was set to be a restricted free agent looking for a big payday and was not in the 76ers' plans. After turning down a four-year, $75 million contract from Dallas, Noel signed the $4.4 million qualifying offer and is struggling with playing time and a left thumb injury. Now a year later, the trade of Noel to Dallas looks like the right decision and that the compensation for Philadelphia was not on the low end.
*Includes both Toronto and Philadelphia
Phoenix Suns: Ryan McDonough
Deadline trades: 6
Feb. 19, 2015: Let's start with the positive. The February 2015 trade deadline saw the Suns acquire three first-round picks. Phoenix turned an expiring contract of Goran Dragic into two first-round picks from Miami, one in this year's draft and the other unprotected in 2021. What backfired for Phoenix was undervaluing Isaiah Thomas and overvaluing Brandon Knight.
Thomas was sent to Boston for a 2017 Cleveland first-rounder and eventually turned into an All-Star. Knight has struggled on the court and is currently recovering from a left ACL tear. The Lakers' pick that was used to acquire Knight as part of a three-team trade with Philadelphia and Milwaukee projects to be in the top six of the June draft.
Portland Trail Blazers: Neil Olshey
Deadline trades: 5
The different paths: Olshey has taken three different approaches in recent years. With a league-low payroll in February 2016, Portland was able to absorb the contracts of Brian Roberts (from Miami) and Anderson Varejao (from Cleveland) in exchange for first- and second-round picks in 2017. The trade got Portland closer to the salary cap floor. Last February, attention was turned to the court, when Portland acquired center Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick. The trade was both financial, with Mason Plumlee set to enter free agency, and it also gave the Trail Blazers a starting center at a low cost, plus a draft asset.
In 2015, Olshey sacrificed a 2016 first-round pick (lottery protected) and reserve Will Barton to Denver in exchange for Arron Afflalo. Although injured in early April, Afflalo gave Portland quality starter minutes when Wesley Matthews was lost for the season because of a torn Achilles in March. The downside is that Afflalo opted out of his $7.5 million contract in the offseason and Barton turned into one of the top sixth men in the NBA.
Sacramento Kings: Vlade Divac
Deadline trades: 1
The Cousins trade: Give Divac credit. Faced with the looming $200 million-plus decision on DeMarcus Cousins this past summer, the Kings could have gone in two different directions, including signing their franchise center to a five-year extension in July that would have averaged $42 million over the course of the contract -- thus making him untradeable -- or rebuilding through the 2017 draft and creating future roster flexibility. Instead of hanging onto Cousins and, at best, facing a future of mediocrity, Kings management thought long term and did not focus on immediate results. The impact of this trade is still to be felt, based on how the Kings develop their young core and how the team manages the salary cap.
San Antonio Spurs: R.C. Buford
Deadline trades: 6
Don't shake the foundation: Similar to Bob Myers at Golden State, Buford has taken a conservative and smart approach when it comes to the deadline. During Buford's tenure, San Antonio has made only six deadline trades, the last in 2014 to acquire Austin Daye from the Raptors.
The first-round picks: Buford went through a stretch from 2005 to 2012 where he traded three first-round picks at the deadline. Two picks in 2005 were sent to New York for backup Nazr Mohammed, who played a role in the Spurs' championship in 2005. Richard Jefferson (and his $30 million in remaining salary) was sent to Golden State in 2012 for Stephen Jackson. The salary dump cost the Spurs a 2012 first-round pick.
Toronto Raptors: Masai Ujiri
Deadline trades: 4*
The Carmelo Anthony trade: Hired in 2013, Ujiri's highlight at the trade deadline before last season's Serge Ibaka deal actually occurred in Denver. Ujiri orchestrated the trade of All-Star Carmelo Anthony to New York in exchange for Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Kosta Koufos, a 2014 first-round pick and the right to swap first-round picks in 2016.
Denver eventually turned parts of the Anthony trade into key players and assets, including Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller and Jamal Murray (pick swap).
Since named Raptors GM in 2013, Ujiri now has two trades at or near the trade deadline: Ibaka and acquiring Nando De Colo in 2014 from the Spurs.
*Includes Denver and Toronto
Utah Jazz: Dennis Lindsey
Deadline trades: 2
Turning Kanter into Rubio: Lindsey has made 18 trades since being named GM in 2012, two at the deadline. The big trade for the Jazz GM was acquiring the Oklahoma City 2018 first-round pick in exchange for Enes Kanter. The trade was part of a three-team deal that saw the Pistons acquire Reggie Jackson from the Thunder. The Oklahoma City pick was eventually traded in June to Minnesota for point guard Ricky Rubio.
Washington Wizards: Ernie Grunfeld
Deadline trades: 9
The risk of a rental: Acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic last February served two purposes for Washington. The trade gave the Wizards shooting off the bench during the stretch run, something they lacked through the first half of the season. The second part is that shedding the $20 million left on Andrew Nicholson's deal gave Washington tax savings for the future. The savings allowed the Wizards to retain Otto Porter Jr. in free agency and sign Jodie Meeks as a free agent. However, trading a first-rounder impacts how Washington can build its depth, especially considering the Wizards will face roster restrictions in the future based on the high payroll.