With the NBA Trade Deadline passing, many teams were active. There were superstars moved and key role pieces to potential championship contenders. This was one of the more active trade deadlines that I can remember. There were winners, and there were losers. Let’s dive into the winners!
Wizards Pull Off Magic
The Washington Wizards landed the biggest player that was moved at the deadline, or at least the biggest name. They traded a plethora of their team for 32-year-old, 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis. This is an interesting move because the core of the team is now two players who are currently injured, Davis and Trae Young.
Now they are in the Eastern Conference, which is the weaker of the two conferences in the NBA. The team won’t even reap the benefits of the trade until we see Ice Trae and AD on the court together. In terms of the fit, I think it’s one of the best pairings in the NBA. When you have a player like Young on the court, you need a lob threat and someone who can erase whoever drives past him. That is exactly what Davis can do. Watch out for the Wizards next season, they will be a fun team to watch.
The King & Prince Find Their Marksman
The Los Angeles Lakers added one of the best shooters in the NBA this season, Luke Kennard. This is just what the doctor, or the King, drew up. Kennard has been a marksman this season for the Hawks. He’s only averaging 7.9 ppg, but with how efficiently he’s shooting the ball, you can imagine his averages will go up. Kennard is shooting 53.8% from the floor, 49.7% from three, and 91.4% from the free-throw line. No player in NBA history has been this efficient. Get shooters around Luka Dončić and LeBron James, watch what happens.
NBA Trade Deadline Winner – Los Angeles Clippers
Despite being sellers at the NBA trade deadline, I love what the Clippers got in return. They traded 36-year-old James Harden for a 26-year-old Darius Garland, who can be the star of the team after the Kawhi Leonard era is over. Then they traded Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin, an athletic freak of nature who has improved every season in the NBA, and two first-round picks. That is a haul for a good player. However, if you are going to trade Zubac, that is a great return.
Did the trade make them worse moving forward? Yes. However, they are well-positioned for a bright future, given the assets they brought back. With their championship window closing, they looked towards the next few seasons. Most teams continue to squeeze every ounce of juice out of the fruit when you have a superstar. I thought it was an impressive act of self-reflection and getting the most out of their current roster, asset-wise.
Final Thoughts
With so many moving variables, it can be hard to keep up with everything. Now that the trade talk is over, the journey to the NBA Finals begins. What did you make of the trade deadline? Who do you think won? Who do you believe lost? Lastly, what moves did your team make?
As always, thank you so much for checking out my thoughts on the winners of the NBA’s trade deadline. Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! We hope you’re enjoying your day and look forward to seeing you again soon.
