This is virtual ancient history. The year was 2000, before Twitter and, legend says, a few years after man used cave drawings to communicate. The pre-trade deadline NBA rumor mill was revved to fever pitch. No player was safe.

The deadline arrived. And the Hawks traded Anthony Johnson to Orlando for a conditional second-round pick. That was it. So much for rumors.

Already there have been two significant trades approaching Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline: Detroit landed Blake Griffin from the Clippers, and New Orleans traded for Chicago’s Nikola Mirotic. The Nets announced a deal Monday involving lower profiles, with Milwaukee acquiring center Tyler Zeller from the Nets for shooting guard Rashad Vaughn and a protected second-round pick. Additionally, Boston reached an agreement with Greg Monroe, who was let go in Phoenix.

Again, there are enough rumors and speculation to keep bar-room conversation flowing until last call — in 2027. Which deals get done will be known Thursday, but discussions with league scouts, sources and executives supplied some areas where moves should be made.

Cleveland, for example.

“The Cavs have to do something. They’re [bleeping] terrible,” one Western scout said.

OK, what?

The Cavs need youth, athleticism and defense. Clipper DeAndre Jordan has been mentioned, but he provides rim protection, not the on-ball defense the Cavs need. The loss of Kevin Love to a broken hand damages on multiple fronts.

“Love was their guy that they could have made a big deal with,” one rival exec said, noting the other gem on the Cavs’ shelf — the Nets first-rounder acquired through Boston. “They don’t want to come off the Brooklyn pick, but who else would you trade for?”

There are reports the Cavs would trade the Nets’ pick for a solid young stud. But again, the organization wants to hang on to the pick in the event LeBron James leaves in free agency.

One exec suggested deals might come not from top-tier teams trying to power their way to the Finals but from the seven to 10 teams hoping to ensure the playoffs. In the West, no one is beating the Warriors. In the East, the Celtics have replaced the Cavs as the favorite to emerge and lose to the Warriors.

“They’re clearly the front-runner,” once scout said of Boston. “They’ve got great depth. [Terry] Rozier has come on. They add Monroe? It takes Aron Baynes out of the rotation, but he fits their style. You can play through Monroe at the elbows. He was a Princeton offense center at Georgetown.”

Boston has been linked to Memphis’ Tyreke Evans and the Clippers’ Lou Williams, both headed for free agency. The asking price for each includes a first-rounder, and teams simply don’t want to deal picks. Look at the Nets and Boston.

“Boston did it the right way,” the scout said, then joked, “[Ex-Nets GM] Billy King did a great job. Don’t give Danny Ainge all the credit.”

With Rozier’s emergence, Marcus Smart could be available. Denver, with a wealth of young talent, reportedly looked into a possible deal for Smart with Emmanuel Mudiay as one potential trade piece.

Boston reportedly wants a first-rounder for Smart but could use him in an attempt to land Williams or Evans. Cleveland is looking at both and some sources suggest the Raptors might try to add one for bench help. Toronto needs shooting.

But another source discounted the notion. Toronto’s young guys make too little, and the Raptors don’t want to move their bigger names. Still, Williams’ name has surfaced amid Raptors rumors.

“But Williams is a scorer, not a shooter, and if a team needs shooting, he’s not the guy you go after,” one league source said.

While the Raptors might just stand pat and use their 15th roster spot on a bought-out player, one guy who could make sense — but again, what can they give up? — is Jordan Clarkson of the Lakers, who has drawn interest from the Pelicans and Cavs.

Milwaukee had been searching for inside help, and Utah’s Derrick Favors, another expiring contract, had been speculated along with one of the Knicks’ center chips, Kyle O’Quinn, plus Chicago’s Robin Lopez.