The pulse of NBA teams heading into the trade deadline

The 2018 NBA Trade Deadline is almost here, and that means trade rumors are about to start flying from every corner.

The deadline is one of the most active points of the NBA season. Every team is looking to get better, get worse, or position themselves for a better future. And they want to do it fast.

This season, the storylines have written themselves: Will the Thunder trade Paul George, or watch him walk away at the end of the year? Can the Cavaliers make a trade, and will it even matter? Will the Lakers finally trade Julius Randle? What’s up with Nerlens Noel in Dallas?

In the spirit of the looming trade deadline, some of SB Nation’s team blogs took the pulse of their respective franchises. Some are hard pressed to pull off a trade that’ll secure them for years to come. Others are hard pressed to win now, and just need one piece to put them over the hump.

Boston Celtics: They’re definitely buyers. But probably choosy ones.

Charlotte Hornets: Buyers, but sorry NBA Twitter, Kemba Walker is untouchable.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs, without question, will be buyers.

Detroit Pistons: A team stuck in neutral is searching for a direction.

Miami Heat: They’re buyers this year and Pat Riley is always working on something.

Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks may target small acquisitions to round out the roster fringes.

Orlando Magic: Playoff teams are ready to pick apart Orlando’s roster and use whatever valuable pieces the Magic have to their advantage. Introducing GM John Hammond, the league’s most active salesman.

Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers are in a holding pattern of sorts.

Toronto Raptors: If the Raptors can find a trade for a star, they’ll likely pursue it.

Washington Wizards: The Wizards need a center, and DeAndre Jordan might be available.

Dallas Mavericks: Nerlens Noel should be available imminently.

Denver Nuggets: Both buyers and sellers at the deadline

Golden State Warriors: Yeah ... this team is still too deep.

Los Angeles Clippers: A team with no dream, neither buyer nor seller.

Los Angeles Lakers: The dream trade is Luol Deng for LeBron James, but alas.

Memphis Grizzlies: Sellers. Super sellers. Ultra sellers.

Minnesota Timberwolves: There is no question that the Wolves could use additional wing depth for the stretch run of the season.

New Orleans Pelicans: The biggest obstacle for the front office will be a lack of tradable assets.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns will almost surely be a seller.

Portland Trail Blazers: After Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, things get sketchy fast. (or) If you had just walked through the desert for three weeks, eating nothing but the occasional grasshopper or cactus leaf, and the first thing you saw upon reaching civilization was a KFC, you would still not need wings as badly as the Trail Blazers do.

Utah Jazz: It’s a buyer’s market right now and the Jazz are sellers.