:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48877451/usa-today-9074276.0.jpg)
Thursday's trade deadline went out with more of a whimper than a bang, but there were a couple of moves that could impact the placement of the Philadelphia 76ers' first-round draft picks in 2016.
Both the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, sitting 9th and 10th respectively in the Eastern Conference, made some of the day's most notable trades as they attempt to push for a playoff spot.
Two days after bringing in talented swingman Tobias Harris, Stan Van Gundy traded Joel Anthony (who eventually landed in Philadelphia) and a top 8 protected first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for power forward Donatas Motiejunas and shooting guard Marcus Thornton. Motiejunas has struggled to get on the floor this season due to a back injury, but he showed last year that he can be a quality floor spacer, making him an apt replacement for Ersan Ilyasova. Thornton gives the Pistons a new perimeter shooting threat on a team that's just 23rd in the league in three-point percentage.
The Washington Wizards acquired disgruntled forward Markieff Morris from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair and a protected 2016 first-round pick. Morris has struggled significantly in Phoenix this year, but he's shown that when his head is on straight he can be a quality scorer and a solid defender.
With the health of Miami's Chris Bosh up in the air right now and Detroit and Washington setting themselves up to strike, the Heat pick could take a bit of a tumble. The Pistons are just 2.5 GB from Miami while the Wizards, who are coming off a 103-89 victory over the Utah Jazz, are 4.5 GB. There's still plenty of basketball to be played.
The Oklahoma City Thunder made a minor move on Thursday, acquiring Randy Foye from the Denver Nuggets for D.J. Augustin, Steve Novak, and two second round picks. Foye is having a pretty bad season, and his acquisition shouldn't really affect much for the Thunder, who currently hold the 28th overall pick. Just .5 GB of Oklahoma City are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who traded for quality three-point shooter Channing Frye.
As it pertains to the Sacramento Kings pick swap, there were reports on Thursday that they were hoping to amend the protections on their 2016 first-round pick in order to complete a trade with the Chicago Bulls for Pau Gasol. However, no deal was ever completed, and the protections on the pick swap will stay as is.