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Matthew Adams
Staff Writer
Going into the All-Star break, the National Basketball Association (NBA) trade deadline ended with some game-changing trades.
Although Dec. 15 marked the official start to trade negotiations, many NBA teams waited until the trade deadline on Feb. 9, 2023 to make their moves.
Speculations ran amuck throughout the NBA as teams began to make drastic changes to their team with significant trades.
A trade that had critics talking was the trade of Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns. Durant, a former Brooklyn Nets forward, was traded to the Suns for a multitude of pieces.
The trade package included Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Cameron Johnson, and four unprotected future first-round picks. They will be sent to Brooklyn.
The Phoenix Suns will acquire superstar forward Durant and NBA bubble star T.J. Warren.
Durant and Warren will be joining a star-studded team that contains two multiple-time all-stars, including Chris Paul and Devin Booker. While also being teamed up with a dominant center in Deandre Ayton.
Leaving the Nets, Durant averaged 29.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 6.7 rebounds. With Durant leaving the Nets he was the last of the big three that the Nets front office assembled at the start of Durant’s stint with the Nets.
Jaylen Seymore, a sophomore business entrepreneurship major from Chicago, Ill., feels as if this team will not last with Durant on it.
Seymore states, “I think that the Suns acquiring Durant will not last no longer than 2 seasons. It’s either championship or bust.”
The big three contained James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers), Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks), and Durant who is now on the Phoenix Suns.
With the Nets acquiring Warren, they get a solid bench player who averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.
Another trade that shook up the NBA was the three-team trade that sent D’Angelo Russell back to the Los Angeles Lakers with All-Time Scoring Champ Lebron James.
Russell has been in the trades for a good amount of time and hasn’t found a home yet. Even with him being in trades he is still able to perform at an All-Star level.
The teams that were included in the trade were the Los Angeles Lakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Utah Jazz.
The trade specifics were that the Lakers traded Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz. This trade sends Russell to the Lakers from the Timberwolves. This was a three-team, eight-player trade.
Although Westbrook has been traded, teams are looking to trade him again and there are plenty of teams who want him which include the Chicago Bulls.
Although the acquisition of Russell was significant to a lackluster Lakers team, the Lakers acquired Malik Beasley and Jared Vanderbilt.
The Timberwolves were also able to acquire some pieces that include Mike Conley and Nickiel Alexander-Walker.
By acquiring Russell, the Lakers can gain more talent to pair up with James.
Russell joins the team averaging 17.8 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds.
The Lakers were also able to change their lineup with another acquisition with Mo Bamba who they acquired from the Orlando Magic.
With the trade deadline behind us, these two teams are looking to climb the rankings of their respective conferences.
The Western Conference contains both of these teams and the West has teams that can compete with each of these teams.
Nick Buzzeli, Ph.D., Instructor of Strategic Communication at High Point Univeristy from Pittsburgh, Pa., feels that this trade has the potential to be a grand trade for the Lakers.
Buzzeli stated, “The trade that sent D’Angelo Russell back to the Lakers can be huge for a traditional NBA powerhouse that has struggled immensely during the 2022-23 season.
He also feels that the Lakers needed someone with talent such as Russell.
He stated, “The Lakers were obviously looking for more depth and outside shooting ability from the point guard position — especially since Russell Westbrook has struggled from behind the arc this season. So D’Angelo Russell is an added upgrade at that spot that helps fill the void.”
The Laker’s record before the Russell trade is 26-32 and they are 13th in the West. The Suns are 4th in the West with a record of 32-27.
The final trade that shook the NBA was the Dallas Mavericks, who were able to acquire Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets.
In exchange for Irving, the Nets will receive Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, an unprotected 2029 first-round draft pick, and two future second-round picks.
Irving was the second out of the big three from Brooklyn to get traded and this trade dissipates a promising Nets team.
Irving left the Nets averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. He now looks to be paired up with talents such as Luka Donicic and Christian Wood.
Benard Johnson, a senior business administration major from New Orleans, La., was never the less excited for the trade and hopes for possible contention.
Johnson stated, “I love the fact that [Irving] could possibly win a ring with Luka.”
Joining this team Irving joins a team whose record as of now is on the verge of being a 500 team with a record of 31-29.
The Nets get back Dinwiddie who was the former starting point guard for the Mavericks.
He averaged 17.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds.
Finney Smith was able to make an impact with the Mavericks and now looks to do the same thing with the Nets.
Finney-Smith averaged 9.1 points, 1.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds
These trades around the league look to help to liven the lineup of their respective team and give these teams a better sense of contention moving forward.
