Analysing the 2023 NBA trade deadline

The 2023 trade deadline has been one of the craziest in NBA history. Many teams have been reshaping their rosters to make a push for the playoffs or to focus on future prospects. Over 20 players have been involved in trades, with every team looking different than before. Apart from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, here are some of the most notable trades.

Russel Westbrook to the Jazz

Russell Westbrook playing for the LA Lakers (Image: Getty Images)

Russell Westbrook is one of the best point guards of all time, although he has regressed a lot in terms of quality as he reaches his mid-30s. After an unsuccessful spell at the LA Lakers, the Lakers management decided it was time to part ways with him.

What followed was a three-team deal including the Lakers, the Utah Jazz, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers received former all-star D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt. The Jazz received Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Damian Jones as well as a future draft pick. Minnesota received Mike Conley Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Overall, the Lakers look the best coming out of this trade as D’Angelo Russell is having a great season offensively and can bring the quality that Westbrook lacked in his old age. The Jazz will most likely buy out Westbrook's contract and use their new salary space to pick up players in free agency.

Mo Bamba to the Lakers

Mo Bamba playing for the Orlando Magic (Image: Getty Images)

Known mostly for the hit song named after him, Mo Bamba wasn’t the player he was pegged to be by analysts. He is, however, a great defensive centre as his seven-foot build makes him a great interior defender. The Lakers acquired him in exchange for Patrick Beverly who was sent to the Orlando Magic.

The Lakers win this trade by a landslide. They were in desperate need of a centre as they have been lacking any quality players at that position for a few years. Bamba will provide interior defence and great rebounding.

On the other hand, the Magic get slightly worse as they lose a good young centre and gain an ageing point guard. Beverly doesn’t fit the timeline of the Magic as they are mostly a young team whereas Beverly is 34 and is well past his high productive years.

James Wiseman four-team trade

James Wiseman was pegged to be an All-Star level centre when he was drafted to the Golden State Warriors but with his current performances, he is very far from this. After spending time in the Warriors G League team, a trade was overdue. The Warriors put together a trade with the Detroit Pistons, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Portland Trailblazers. This trade sent Wiseman to the Pistons, with the Warriors receiving Gary Payton II, the Hawks receiving Sadiq Bey, and the Trailblazers receiving Kevin Knox.

It is hard not to say that the Hawks were one of the winners of this trade. Sadiq Bey is a great, young small forward as he shoots well from three-point range and plays great defence. He will make a great addition to this Hawks team that already has a young duo in All-Star Trae Young and Dejounte Murray.

The Warriors were also a winner in this trade as they got rid of a disappointing player in Wiseman and picked up a great backup point guard in Payton II, who was crucial in their championship-winning run last season.

The Pistons could make something of Wiseman as he will be playing with other young players meaning he will have more opportunities in comparison to the star-studded Warriors. Judging by his time at the Warriors, he may not develop into a better player.

Kevin Knox is notoriously not a good basketball player and is the punchline of many jokes in the NBA. Based on this, the Blazers get marginally worse as they lose Payton II with nothing really in return.

The NBA looks very different after the past few days. How much will this affect the standings? Fans will have to wait and see.