With all due respect to Jordan Clarkson and Dante Exum, who switched spots back on Dec. 23 in the Cleveland-Utah trade that was the league’s first since the Russell Westbrook-Chris Paul deal back on July 11, the most interesting moves of this sluggish NBA trade season are yet to come. The Feb. 6 deadline is less than a month away, and the action should pick up here once the hopes and dreams of all these would-be playoff contenders are unofficially dashed.



Take a peek out West, where there are six teams vying for the eighth and final playoff spot and are separated by just 2 1/2 games. In any other season, the sub .500 showings that we’re seeing in San Antonio, Memphis, Portland, Sacramento, Minnesota and Phoenix would be good reason for those teams to become “sellers.” Alas, they’re clinging to the edge of that cliff and delaying the inevitable here.



Consider this telling tale of the team that’s even further down the standings than...