While the NBA trade deadline is a perfect opportunity to improve your team for the stretch run, it also comes with a lot of risk as you have no idea how the new pieces will gel with your current roster. That being said, here were the five riskiest trades made at the 2016 NBA trade deadline.
5. Houston Rockets Deal Donatas Motiejunas And Marcus Thornton To Detroit
Getty ImagesAlthough the Rockets did end up getting a first-round pick in this deal, trading Motiejunas comes along with huge risk. Just last season, the 25-year-old averaged 12 points and 5.9 rebounds which could very easily improve once he gets healthy.
4. Atlanta Hawks Add Kirk Hinrich
Getty ImagesEarlier in the day, the Hawks traded their No. 3 point guard Shelvin Mack to the Utah Jazz for a second-round pick. Later, they used that second-round pick to acquire Kirk Hinrich. Keep in mind, Mack had only played 7.5 minutes per game in 24 games.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers Trade Anderson Varejao
Getty ImagesAdding Channing Frye should give the Cavaliers a little boost, but it comes at the expense of Varejao who has been one of LeBron James' favorite teammates. If the trade doesn't equal a championship, I wonder how James responds after the season.
2. Memphis Grizzlies Add Lance Stephenson
Getty ImagesThe Grizzlies sit at 31-22 and in the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. After losing Marc Gasol to a foot injury, one would've expected them to be looking to add at the deadline. Instead, they traded Jeff Green for Stephenson for some reason.
1. Washington Wizards Trade For Markieff Morris
Getty ImagesAlthough I think he will fit well with John Wall, Morris certainly comes with a lot of risk as he's been a cancer in Phoenix. Just a few weeks ago, he shoved and choked his own teammate, Archie Goodwin, in the huddle.
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