Winners and losers at the trade deadline

The deals were all done at the close of the NBA trading deadline with some teams dramatically improving, some going to be favorite whipping boys.  A few players will still be available in the buy-out market.  These trades changed the whole champioship picture. 

The winners

PHOENIX SUNS - with a new and aggressive owner in Mat Ishbia, who took over the franchise last week, the sun could be brightly shining in Phoenix with their own version of a superteam.  The core four of Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, De Andre Ayton and Devin Booker are titlists in the making.  But they badly need effective support in their rotation if they intend to go all the way.

LA LAKERS - LeBron will now have his chance to make a good playoff run with a supporting cast that solidified their rotation.  The acquisition of D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Mo Bamba addressed their shooting and defensive issues.  It’s a bit late to get our hopes up for the championship.  If Pelinka won’t again blow up the current roster, maybe in two years LAL will fight for the NBA title.

DALLAS MAVERICKS - any team that has a Luka Doncic would go places.  Add someone called  Kyrie Irving with controversy as his middle name, then you’ll have a two of best creative scorers in the league.  The Mavs had given Luka the co-star he badly needed.  Until when this honeymoon lasts is wholly dependent on Kyrie who’ll be a free agent at the end of the season.

The losers

BROOKLYN NETS - wishing on stars like KD, Kyrie, and James Harden didn’t make Brooklyn’s dream of multiple NBA titles.  Simply imploding, these stars left one after the other the supposed super team that never was.  It had been a nightmare for the Nets.

UTAH JAZZ - when they said their goodbyes to Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, Utah started to play the blues.  At the trading deadline they sent away Mike Conley, Vanderbilt and Beasley, then it baceme clear that Utah won’t b fighting for a playoff position but rather for a chance to be in the Victor Wembanya lottery.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS - they have the same mindset as that of the Jazz, hoping to grab the 7’5” Wembanyama.  It started when they gave up Dejounte Murray to Atlanta in the off season and followed it up at the deadline, moving big man Jakob Poetl and guard Josh Richardson.  They’re wishing on a rare generational talent who they dream to be the second coming of either David Robinson or Tim Duncan.