How busy was the 2023 NBA Trade deadline?
Los Angeles Lakers
Few teams got more of an overhaul of their roster over this week than the Lakers.
There’s always the chance they could move the 2029 one over the summer and add even more.
In looking at what the Lakers are bringing in, each of these players fills a need.
Rui is a nice young stretch four who already has shown some flashes in his brief time in LA.
He helps them with shooting/shot creation/etc.
The massive 3 team deal does a few things, all of which the Lakers needed.
For starters, DLo is an upgrade at the point guard position.
Malik Beasley gives the Lakers some much needed proven shooting.
Is Mo Bamba good?
It’s hard to say.
He’s also only 24 so who knows, maybe a chance of scenary helps.
Did any of us see that help becoming Kyrie Irving?
Probably not, but Cuban said fuck it and is rolling the dice.
With Kyrie on the floor, that’s no longer possible.
This is either going to be a homerun move or a complete disaster with no in between.
The other shocking part of the Mavs deadline is the fact they didn’t move Christian Wood.
What happened to all that smoke around OG/FVV/Siakam?
Or Gary Trent Jr?
It’s my favorite yearly tradition.
Year after year after year…..they do nothing.
Well that’s not true.
They dumped a guy for cash.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets were obviously dealing with a gigantic shit sandwich this deadline.
Normally when teams blow it up like this, they’re lottery bound.
I’m not so sure that’s the case with the Nets.
Why can’t be that be the case this time around too?
Given the age of that roster, those could prove to be pretty damn vaulable.
They may have paid a hefty price, but Kevin Durant is Kevin Durant.
He’s one of those talents that is not only league shifting, but title shifting.
Can we say that about this version of the Suns?
Look, I like Mike Conley but he’s also a billion years old.
What exactly is the vision here?
That feels….backwards.
Poor Wolves fans, I feel like they’ve suffered enough and this deadline didn’t exactly help.
Cam Reddish wasn’t in the rotation, and I like Josh Hart as a player.
He’s your classic glue guy that plays with a ton of energy and just makes shit happen.
Between signing Brunson and this trade, the Knicks front office is actually making smart moves in my opinion.
That has to be refreshing for that fanbase.
This is how you “win now” with Dame?
It’s more than likely all those picks are 2nds.
Where is the direction?
Where is the plan?
Maybe that comes this summer but for right now?
This was a very confusing deadline for them.
It’s not even like their season is over either!
Would you feel confident as a Blazers fan right now?
They’re going after Wemby and this in theory helps them get there.
The good news is you’re free to still probably find that in the buyout market.
In terms of upgrading their roster, the Sixers did that today.
Jalen McDaniels is better than Thybulle.
It’s as simple as that.
you might also add in a 2024 Knicks 2nd round pick, and a Blazers 2029 2nd as well.
Those have been pretty terrible this season and those non-Embiid minutes will always be the Sixers achilles heel.
Imagine this roster with LaMelo Ball on it?
Detroit Pistons
Add the Pistons to the list of teams that have me very confused today.
How many centers do they need exactly?
The Pistons didn’t even get any picks from ATL for that!
Make that make sense.
Reggie Jackson had big playoff moments for them, but you have to give something to get something.
Houston Rockets
This was funny while it lasted for those brief moments after the initial news dropped.
I guess that’s what a rebuilding team should do, so good job I guess?
How many years are we going to do this dance?
Make up your minds already!
Defensively they’re a mess, nobody like Trae Young I guess and they might fire their coach.
Does Saddiq Bey solve all their problems?
No, but he’s still a good player and that should help.
The concern is Crowder is someone who always thinks it’s Jae Crowder time, especially in big games.
We see how it works with Bane, well Kennard is just as good a shooter.
That’ll be important come the playoffs.
OK, I think that’s everything.
Well there’s always next year!
See everyone in 365 days so we can do this all over again.
