The 2023 NBA trade deadline was one of the craziest ever. Let’s look at some teams that came out better after it.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns acquired arguably the best player in the NBA in Kevin Durant. They have to be considered big winners of the deadline as they not only got Durant but they also were able to keep their three best players on the roster as well in Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and DeAndre Ayton. This team went from a possible play-in team to the favorite to win the Western Conference.
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas managed to get another star alongside Luka Doncic when they acquired Kyrie Irving days before the trade deadline. This has made them one of the clear winners as well. Irving could be considered a top-10 player in the NBA. Now the Mavericks went from a dangerous team in the West to a legit candidate to win the conference.
LA Clippers
The Clippers were looking to upgrade their point guard spot. They moved on from a longtime Clipper in Reggie Jackson and acquired a good young point guard in Bones Hyland. They also managed to swap Luke Kennard for an upgraded shooting guard in Eric Gordon and acquire one of the best backup centers now in the NBA, Mason Plumlee. The Clippers may not be done either as they could add Russell Westbrook or another bought out point guard soon.
Photo Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Golden_State_Warriors_Small_Forward_Kevin_Durant.jpg
