2023 NBA Trade Deadline Analysis

The 2023 NBA Trade Deadline was one of the craziest and most eventful in recent memory. Some teams made season altering trades and some threw in the towel. Let’s look at some winners and losers from the deadline.

Winner - Los Angeles Lakers

Rob Pelinka had a lot of work to do to completely turn this substandard Lakers team around. The Lakers first dealt Kendrick Nunn and two 2nd round picks for Wizards PF Rui Hachimura. While this wasn’t the splash move Lakers fans were hoping for, it signaled that the Lakers are willing to move pieces to put a better team around Lebron and AD. The Lakers then acquired D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt from Minnesota in a three team deal. They capped off the deadline by trading Patrick Beverly to the Orlando Magic for center Mo Bamba.

Most importantly this ends the Russell Westbrook experiment in Los Angeles. It was becoming evident that he was going to make it impossible for the Lakers to compete for a playoff spot. Bringing in former All Star D’Angelo Russell will rejuvenate this stagnant offense. Beasley and Bamba will provide much improved 3 point shooting, which is needed in a Lebron James offense. As crazy it may sound, the sky is the limit for Los Angeles in this weak Western Conference.

Winner - Phoenix Suns

The biggest trade of the deadline brought Kevin Durant to Phoenix for four first round picks, Mika’s Bridges, and Cam Johnson. Kyrie Irving’s trade to Dallas opened the door for Phoenix and closed an unsuccessful chapter in Brooklyn for Durant. The two time NBA Finals MVP immediately makes the Suns a heavy favorite to win the championship this year. It will be interesting to see how quick he meshes with Devin Booker and Chris Paul but you have to think it won’t be hard for the all stars. A new super team has now emerged in the West and they are coming for it all.

Loser - Minnesota Timberwolves

The Mike Conley era has begun in Minnesota. Yes, you read that right. The Timberwolves acquired the 35 year old point guard in a three team deal that sent D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers. Minnesota felt that Conley would involve Gobert more in their offense that also features all-stars Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. This deal is puzzling for many reasons and it all starts with their acquisition of Gobert last season. Trading a point guard in his prime for an aging point guard so that you can involve your big man who is already limited on the offensive end. This front office has made questionable move after questionable move and it’s starting to look like they don’t really have any sense of direction moving forward.

Loser - Golden State Warriors

You get a second round pick. You get a second round pick. Everybody gets a second round pick! Second round picks were dealt by the handful during the deadline and the Warriors were able to get five of them. Golden State dealt second overall pick James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons in a three team deal. They received back 5 second picks which they sent to Portland for Gary Payton II in a different three team deal. Long story short, the Warriors traded their former second overall pick for Gary Payton II. In a bizarre turn of events, the trade almost fell through when Payton failed a physical the day after the deal.

The deal eventually went through and Payton is a Warrior, again. Wiseman never lived up to the bill of being the second overall pick. It was clear that he made the Warriors a much better team by sitting on the bench. Bob Myers didn’t have much wiggle room at the deadline to acquire better talent due to being extremely over the cap. You finally make the decision to move Wiseman and you cannot get a single first round pick back? Gary Payton II might not be enough to pick up the slack for this weak Warriors bench.