Quiet Trade Deadline Puts Austin Reaves On Edge

Silence around the NBA trade deadline can be the loudest warning, an unnamed Lakers player told The Athletic: "Just when it's quiet is when you really need to start looking over your shoulder." Austin Reaves has been attached to countless hypothetical trades, and even a blockbuster like a Luka Dončić/Anthony Davis swap took players by surprise. Teams have until 3 p.m. ET Thursday to make deals, so the calm feels anything but reassuring. Merlin sees agents and front offices moving in whispers, and knows the quiet deals are the ones that sting. Tales like Bronny James sharing the Dončić/AD news in a group chat and Jared Dudley saying "90 percent of the rumors on social media don't happen" remind players to watch the sidelines, not the headlines. Expect nerves to spike as the deadline approaches.