The NBA trade deadline has passed once again, allowing fans and players to catch their breath after a week of unprecedented and shocking changes across the NBA landscape. Some teams improved, some may have worsened, and others might regret their decisions or lack thereof in the long run. Several former and current All-Stars have joined new teams, including Luka Doncic, who exchanged places with fellow All-Star Anthony Davis. Other notable players on the move include De'Aaron Fox, Jimmy Butler, and Zach Lavine. With all the moves made, a few in particular turned teams into winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline, potentially impacting the playoff picture.
NBA Trade Deadline Winners
Los Angeles Lakers
It's quite clear that the Lakers are my biggest winners. Trading for arguably the best player in the league, especially at just 25 years old, is a significant achievement. The trade for Luka Doncic enabled the Lakers to accomplish what most teams cannot: positioning themselves to win both now and for the foreseeable future. This trade not only made headlines due to its shocking circumstances but also reset expectations for the Lakers. Even with the trade for Mark Williams not materializing, the Lakers seem poised to make a deep playoff run.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio has started to do what is necessary for a team lucky enough to have a young generational talent to build around. The Wembanyama era is in full effect, and they acquired the ideal counterpart to pair with their franchise cornerstone. De'Aaron Fox's offensive skills relieve much of the pressure on Wembanyama, allowing him to be even more impactful on both ends of the floor. This trade allows the Spurs to potentially become a dangerous play-in team this season and a playoff contender for years to come.
Miami Heat
Arguably the valuable move made at the NBA trade deadline was the Heat's trade of Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Andrew Wiggins. The Miami Heat's situation with Jimmy Butler had become an untenable distraction for the organization along with other players on the team. To not only trade Butler but also get a valuable piece in return was the best-case scenario for the Heat. Wiggins's addition to the Heat brings a comparable skillset to what they had in Butler but also a player who is quietly having an excellent season. The Heat can now move forward with a renewed focus on winning and building chemistry as a team.
NBA Trade Deadline Losers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers have arguably been the most disappointing team in the league this season, and their uninspiring trades are unlikely to help turn their situation around. The aging and injury-prone veteran stars, Joel Embiid and Paul George, have struggled to play together consistently. Even worse, both are having underwhelming seasons compared to their usual standards, with no optimism on the horizon.
Given this, the Sixers may have overlooked the most necessary move: trading either Embiid or George, as their value is likely to decrease further moving forward. The fabled "Process" has run its course, but it seems the Sixers are the only ones yet to accept this reality.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks seem to be facing another season that isn’t progressing as hoped. Currently holding the eighth seed, they are likely to be a play-in team. The trade of Deandre Hunter, who was their second-leading scorer, does little to improve this below-average Hawks team. While they added a promising young player in first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, the return from the Hunter trade isn't significant enough to make a real impact. Trae Young may need to consider whether he still fits into the long-term plans of the Hawks, especially as he enters the prime of his career.
Phoenix Suns
Of all the teams in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns may have been the most affected by trades that did not happen. There were several trade rumors surrounding various players on the Suns, with the primary focus being on Bradley Beal, who was difficult to move due to his no-trade clause. As a result, trade discussions began to shift towards Suns superstar Kevin Durant, who was reportedly blindsided by the rumors.
The constant trade speculation did not help a team that had already been performing well below expectations; currently, they sit outside the playoff picture in the 11th seed in the Western Conference. A proposed trade sending Durant to the Warriors that ultimately fell through may be a sign of what’s to come, as the Suns could be forced to trade him in the offseason. Durant not only has just one year remaining on his contract, but he is also likely the most valuable asset they have to move to recover some of the assets they used to acquire him.
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