At every NBA trade deadline, each team sorts in to one of four categories:

Buyers: Teams that are actively looking to add pieces

Teams that are actively looking to add pieces Sellers: Teams that are actively looking to trade players for future assets

Teams that are actively looking to trade players for future assets Either: Teams that have some pieces to sell, but will buy in the right deal

Teams that have some pieces to sell, but will buy in the right deal Neither: Teams that will just sit out the deadline and do their work in the summer

This year, because the standings have been so compressed, the trade market has been slower to develop than usual for the Feb. 7 deadline (Kristaps Porzingis deal notwithstanding). And until Anthony Davis made his desire known, there were no healthy superstars available via trade, although that could seemingly change any minute. Jimmy Butler also was dealt earlier than we usually see, which removed a little deadline drama.

In addition, half of the NBA projects to have cap space this summer. That means those teams will be reluctant to take on any money beyond this season. Add it all up, and we could see a potentially slow deadline. But teams are all positioned in one of the four categories.

The Knicks moved quickly to trade Kristaps Porzingis. (AP) More

Here’s where each of the 15 Eastern Conference teams sits as the deadline approaches:

Atlanta Hawks

Sellers. They’ve got some great young talent that is really starting to come together, but it’s the veterans we have to watch here. Kent Bazemore, Jeremy Lin and DeWayne Dedmon could return some decent assets. One other thing to watch with the Hawks? They are one of the few rebuilding teams that has made it known they will take on bad 2019-20 money. That combined with a player could get Atlanta a first-round pick.

Boston Celtics

Neither. The Celtics aren’t going to do anything to compromise their pursuit of Anthony Davis in the offseason. Even if Davis is dealt before the deadline, Boston will probably stand pat. It just doesn’t need much at the moment. The team is deep and rounding into form. Should the Jabari Bird situation be resolved and he’s removed from the Celtics’ roster, Boston will be active looking for a veteran on the buyout market.

Brooklyn Nets

Buyers. Brooklyn is probably best termed as a “soft buyer.” The Nets aren’t going to make an all-in trade, but they’re looking for some help. They are a prime team to watch for a point guard, with Spencer Dinwiddie out for a while. They could also add another big, especially one who can stretch the floor. It won’t be a monster move, but expect the Nets to do something around the fringes of the rotation.

Charlotte Hornets

Either. The Hornets are sitting right in the mix for the seventh or eighth seed in the East playoffs. They’re an average team. No more, no less. They could make a move to bring in help, but it would be fairly small. Or they could go the other way and make moves to clear out the cap sheet and hope to rebuild around a re-signed Kemba Walker.

Chicago Bulls

Sellers. Chicago already sold off Justin Holiday to the Memphis Grizzlies. If the Bulls can move Robin Lopez or Jabari Parker for something of value, they’ll do so. The more likely outcome is that Lopez or Parker is bought out after the deadline. And don’t forget they also have Carmelo Anthony. If they can flip him to eat a deal and bring in a pick or some cash, they’ll do so. Otherwise, he’ll be bought out as well.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Sellers. The Cavs are sellers for sure. They’ve already moved George Hill and Kyle Korver. If they can find a trade for J.R. Smith or Tristan Thompson, they’d happily move them as well. Alec Burks and Matthew Dellavedova came back in the Hill and Korver trades, and they could be flipped again. Cleveland would also be thrilled to move Kevin Love, but there doesn’t seem to be a deal there. That’s one to watch for the summer.

Detroit Pistons

Either. Despite some buzz that he wants out, Blake Griffin says he has no such desires. But the Pistons are clunky. They’re in the same spot as the Hornets: a playoff team at the bottom of the East that could miss the postseason entirely. Detroit has made shortsighted moves in the past, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see something like that again. If the Pistons go the other way, they have a lot of vets they could move for small assets.

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