Who were the 5 biggest winners at the 2023 NBA trade deadline?
With the NBA trade deadline behind us, the hoops community is now able to collectively take a breather and look at how things unfolded.
Going into the deadline, things had been relatively quiet. Despite the LA Lakers trading for Rui Hachimura in late January, there hadn't been word of any blockbuster moves on the horizon. That all changed when Kyrie Irving requested a trade out of Brooklyn on Friday, sparking a series of moves that completely shook the NBA to its core.
Let's take a look back at the five biggest winners at the deadline.
5 biggest winners at the trade deadline
#5: Milwaukee Bucks
As the Milwaukee Bucks look to make run at another NBA title, the team's front office made sure to choose moves carefully. With the team sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics, they added a veteran forward with playoff experience.
While Jae Crowder hasn't played this season as he and the Phoenix Suns worked toward a resolution, he remains one of the league's best 3-and-D players. Although the Bucks had very few needs going into the trade deadline, they made sure to make the most of their time before it.
#4, LA Lakers
As LeBron James and Anthony Davis look to win their second championship together, the front office knew something had to change. In one of the first big moves before the deadline, the team added Rui Hachimura, bringing some youthful energy to the defensive end.
The evening before the deadline, the Lakers were part of a massive three-team deal that saw Russell Westbrook traded to the Utah Jazz. As part of the eight-player trade, D'Angelo Russell landed in LA, marking the young scorer's return to the Lakers franchise.
The team then sent Patrick Beverley to Orlando in exchange for Mo Bamba, making up for their loss of size in the Thomas Bryant trade made on Thursday.
By getting younger and adding an elite scorer like Russell, things are looking up in LA.
#3, Brooklyn Nets
Although the Brooklyn Nets parted ways with both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the team still managed to position itself in a great place. They acquired Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson from the Phoenix Suns, both budding young stars with potential futures as All-Stars.
In addition, in the Kyrie Irving trade, they acquired Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith, adding to their already deep lineup. With the four first-round picks and pick-swap they received for Durant, plus the first-rounder they acquired in the Dallas trade, Brooklyn is looking like OKC.
The team added depth, got younger and positioned itself to dominate the draft for the foreseeable future.
#2, Dallas Mavericks
Nearly the entire NBA community was hoping that Luka Doncic would get a dominant co-star to help him out late-game. Owner Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks front office delivered. Although Kyrie Irving has proven to be a monumental distraction off the court as recently as this week, when he deleted his apology for sharing antisemitic material, he's an elite talent.
Although Irving is on an expiring deal, he brings All-Star play to the Dallas Mavericks roster as they look to make a deep run in the playoffs. With Luka Doncic finally having a superstar alongside him, the future looks bright.
#1, Phoenix Suns
Ahead of the trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns acquired the greatest scorer of his generation, Kevin Durant. While there were expectations of a trade for Jae Crowder or maybe even a trade for Deandre Ayton, nobody could have expected a Kevin Durant trade.
With an underwhelming first half of the season behind them, the team now sees Devin Booker return to the lineup. As they make their late-season push for the playoffs, Durant's return from injury could see them take the Western Conference by storm.