Topline
The NBA landscape changed radically Thursday as team executives rushed to complete deals ahead of the league’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, with a handful of teams coming out big winners in the reshuffling.
Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 4, 2021, … [+]
Key Facts
The final trade day kicked off early Thursday morning with one of the biggest deals in NBA history, as the Brooklyn Nets sent 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for four first-round draft picks, along with forwards Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder—who was later dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Los Angeles Lakers sent guard Patrick Beverley and a second-round draft pick to the Orlando Magic for 7-foot-tall center Mo Bamba, who will beef up a Lakers front line that includes superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon returned to the Los Angeles Clippers—where he started his career—in a three-team deal where the Memphis Grizzlies received three Clippers second-round draft picks and guard Luke Kennard, while the Rockets got the Grizzlies’ Danny Green.
The Golden State Warriors regained guard Gary Payton II—who was a major contributor to their championship-winning team last year—from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for five second-round picks.
The Indiana Pacers acquired veteran guard George Hill and veteran forward Serge Ibaka from the Bucks for at least a second-round pick, though there may be further compensation when more details of the deal become clear.
The Atlanta Hawks traded guard Justin Holiday and forward Frank Kaminsky to the Houston Rockets for guard Garrison Mathews and forward Bruno Fernando.
Key Background
The blockbuster Durant trade significantly alters expectations for the remainder of the season, with the Suns’ championship-winning odds instantly bolting from +1800 to +350, making them the second-favorite to win the title behind the Boston Celtics. The Nets, meanwhile, were the league’s big sellers ahead of the deadline. A mid-season Durant trade was almost unthinkable a week ago, but the dominoes started falling Friday when controversy-prone guard Kyrie Irving unexpectedly demanded a trade from the Nets, even though the team was one of the best in the league when Irving and Durant were in the lineup together. Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, and the Nets subsequently moved to completely revamp their roster by dealing Durant. Brooklyn effectively ended its chance to win a championship this season with the trades, though the five first-round picks the team received in return leaves it with solid assets to build on.
What To Watch For
The NBA All-Star game is set for February 19. The league’s postseason will begin with the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 11.
Further Reading
Kevin Durant Leaves Brooklyn More Than $300 Million—But No Rings—Richer (Forbes)
Brooklyn Nets Superstar (And Conspiracy Theorist) Kyrie Irving Demands Trade (Forbes)
Kyrie Irving Reportedly Traded To Dallas Mavericks From Brooklyn Nets (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/02/09/nbas-biggest-moves-on-trade-deadline-day-durant-to-suns-bamba-to-lakers-and-more/