Grading the biggest deals at the trade deadline from Suns’ move for Kevin Durant to Lakers’ reset
The 2023 NBA trade deadline was certainly one for the ages.
Russell Westbrook is no longer a Laker. D’Angelo Russell is a Laker again. And, oh yes, the Suns signed Kevin Durant to increase their chances of an NBA title.
The trades above are just a fraction of what happened at the close.
In response to some of the deals that changed the landscape, NBA staffers at The Sporting News whipped out their red pens to rate the deals for each team involved.
Here’s a look back at how we judged some of Deadline’s biggest deals.
NBA TRADE DEADLINE TRACKER 2023: All players and draft picks have moved
- Get Suns: Kevin Durant, TJ Warren
- Get nets: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks (2023, 2025, 2027, 2029), 2028 pick swap
Commercial Quality of the Sun
The Suns’ championship window appeared to be closing — until they opened it up again with the Durant acquisition.
Before his injury, Durant was firmly in the MVP talk, averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game on super-efficient shot splits of 55.9/37.6/93, 4.
The addition of one of the league’s top scorers to a core of Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton immediately puts them back in the conversation of elite Western Conference teams.
Degree: A+
commercial networks
Considering the inflated trade market we saw in the offseason with Rudy Gobert’s move to Minnesota, the Nets’ haul seems palatable.
Ideally, you want at least one All-Star in exchange for a top-five player. The gem of this deal is Bridges, which has the potential to reach that level in the not too distant future.
Bridges has quickly established himself as one of the top young 3-and-D players in the league. Cam Johnson, a certified marksman, had some bright moments with the Suns and delivered impressive performances en route to the 2021 Finals.
Degree: B-
— Benyam Kidane (@BenyamKidane)
- Lakers receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley
- Timberwolves receive: Mike Conley Jr., Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 2024 second-round pick swaps, 2025 and 2026 second-round picks
- Obtain Jazz: Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones, 2027 First Round Election
Lakers commercial quality
This isn’t the home run trade that many Lakers fans might have been looking for, but the team’s biggest problem was depth. They added three good rotation pieces before the deadline – or four if you count Rui Hachimura.
Is it enough for a championship run? Maybe not, but the Lakers have developed into a much better team without sacrificing too much.
Degree: A-
Commercial quality by Timberwolves
Wolves traded Russell for Andrew Wiggins at the close of trading three years ago. Since then, Wiggins has found a perfect role with the Warriors, and Russell has been more of a mixed bag…
Conley’s best days are behind him. Once a top defender, he’s lost a step. Nevertheless, Conley should give the wolves more stability. They needed someone who could add more organizing principles and Conley can do just that. And the train compensation is a nice bonus.
Degree: B
Jazz trade class
The Jazz gets worse with this trade. As they are currently set up, they are a classic regular season high flyer that would struggle in a playoff environment. They need a star to make some real noise on the next level and they positioned themselves to go and get one…
… With the Lakers’ incoming pick, they have 15 first-round picks over the course of the next seven drafts and will also have up to $60 million in cap space. per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Degree: B
— Stephen Noh (@StephNoh)
MORE: Breakdown of 2023 NBA trade deadline winners and losers
- Warriors get: Gary Payton II
- Pistons obtained: James Wiseman
- Gain Falcon: Saddiq Bey
- Get Trailblazer: Kevin Knox, five future second-round picks over Hawks
Commercial quality pistons
It’s unclear if Wiseman can fulfill his potential, but a new home is a good place to start.
Wiseman has shown lightning in his career and was starting to put things together before tearing his meniscus late in his rookie season. Turning 22 soon, he fits the development timeline of a young core in Detroit that also includes Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart.”
Degree: B-
Merchant class of warriors
Injuries are the main culprits, but this deal effectively serves as Golden State’s admission that the franchise didn’t get it right in the 2020 NBA draft.
Considering the time Golden State also won an NBA title, things could have been a lot worse…
With the knowledge that Payton is back to reprise the role he played last season, this looks more of a win for the Warriors.
Degree: B-
– Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21)
Commercial grade by Hawks
As in most years, Atlanta needed a refresher. Acquiring Bey qualifies as just that…
…Bey, picked midway through the first round in 2020, is making just under $3 million this season and will make $4.6 million next season, making him an added value for Atlanta, which is in aiming to break into the top 6 in the east late in the season .
Degree: B+
Commercial quality Trail Blazers
Knox, 23, was a top-10 pick five years ago but has yet to find the right place in the league. He’s averaging 5.6 points per game this season, which was his first in Detroit…
Not a big risk to get a potentially high reward.
Degree: B
- Raptors receive: Jacob Poeltl
- Get Spurs: Khem Birch, first-round pick 2024 (top-six protected), two future second-round picks
Commercial grade by Raptors
Poeltl has a history with Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Nick Nurse. As long as Siakam and VanVleet are still on the team after the trade deadline, this should make for an easy transition.
If you want a deeper breakdown of Poeltl’s play, click here.
Given how good a fit Poeltl should be and what they’ve given up, it’s a good deal for them — assuming, of course, that the Raptors re-sign him in the offseason. what they claim to intend.
Degree: B+
Commercial quality spores
The Spurs already have one of the worst records in the NBA and some of the best odds to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Trading Poeltl should only add to their chances of landing Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson.
Degree: B
– Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
- Get Trailblazer: Matisse Thybulle
- Receive 76s: Jalen McDaniels, 2024 second-round pick (from Hornets via Knicks), 2029 second-round pick (Trail Blazers)
- Get Hornets: Svi Mykhaliuk, 2027 second-round pick (Trail Blazers)
Commercial quality Trail Blazers
Thybulle’s fullback makes him an important addition for a Portland team ranked 26th in the league on defensive standings, but Thybulle alone won’t be enough to completely transform the defense.
If he can slice and play well off Damian Lillard’s gravity, Thybulle can get back into an offensive groove and be a plus addition for Portland.
Degree: B
Commercial class of the 76s
As Philadelphia looks to perfect its roster before the deadline, it’s adding a young piece that may help this year and beyond, as McDaniels will enter restricted free agency in 2023.
The Sixers can field a player like McDaniels should they be paired with a team like the Celtics or the Bucks this postseason. To have a good run in the playoffs, they have to face one or the other, or both.
Degree: A
Commercial quality of the hornets
If McDaniels wasn’t in the future plans, that’s fine, but he seemed to have much more value than Mykhaliuk and a second-round draft pick in four years…
… That deal could be the precursor to selling Charlotte in a big way by deadline, but it’s a reminder that as a rebuilding team, it shouldn’t sell cheap.
Degree: D+
– McGregor