Max and Steven’s 2022 NBA Trade Deadline Winners & Losers
The NBA is in the prime seat of the house!
Steven and I drafted and broke down who we think are the top 6 winners and losers of the NBA Trade Deadline. Let’s see who’s accelerating towards the playoffs, and who’s bound to face their mediocre destiny.
Maxwell’s Winners & Losers:
Winners:
Daryl Morey & Patient People
We have barred witness to a legendary 6-month display of perseverance and resilience from Daryl Morey in the GM seat. Terrific. Stood firm, got exactly what he was looking for from day one. This was a wonderful execution by the organization. Ben Simmons did took many options at his plate to hold the 76ers hostage after his destiny changed, all in one forgettable playoff series VS the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 NBA playoffs. The Sixers were able to retain 'The Kids', Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle by surrendering 2 future first round picks (2022 unprotected, 2027 protected), Andre Drummond, Seth Curry and Ben Simmons. James Harden is joining a squad that was already subtracted of Ben Simmons, adding an incredible boost to a lineup that features MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid, whose averaging 29.6PPG / 11.2 RPG / 4.5 APG (4.5 assist from a big man a game is incredible, Joel and Jokic are my favorites). If James Harden continues to press into full form, Philadelphia should have the best 1-2 punch in basketball next to the likes of KD-Kyrie, AD-Bron, etc. I expect to see this team already improve on great chemistry, explode with James Harden point guarding this offense, and reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Anything is possible in the NBA.
Brad Steven & the Nerds
Brad Steven's impact has been felt once again! The young and incredible basketball mind was so adamant about retaining the Jay Brothers that he stepped into office to ensure a trade would not include either of them, particularly Jaylen Brown. Newly acquired vets Derrick White and Daniel Theis aren't world beaters, however they will fill in wonderfully within a core that's been one of the best in basketball since November. Dennis Schroeder and Josh Richardson were not in the long-term future of this team, so finding a way to bolster your roster without losing much? Well done, Brad.
Pacers get their King!
The Pacers get their king! If Tyrese Hailburton is retained by the Pacers for the decade, then they have found their point guard for the future. This won't break the league for the next two years, but Tyrese should develop into a fantastic player. I'm predicting a 20/9 type player, who scorers and Bigs love to play with. You feel bad for the young bull, however. He gave everything in his attempt to rebuild the Kings from the ground up. The Kings will be the Kings, however.
Losers:
Klutch Sports Syndicate
The coalition where the plot to acquire Russell Westbrook was conjured. We could go back and forth all day placing blame on who is at fault for the current status of the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries, poor fit, poor play, it doesn't matter. The truth lies here: That deal has handicapped this Lakers season and potentially the next one as well. It’s handicapped the freedom of play that Anthony Davis and Lebron James as a duo bring. When there are two Uber-talented, HOF players who command so much gravity surrounded by great role players, a championship roster is born. This roster however, has a $44 million dollar wrench to deal with this offseason. Los Angeles sunk its season the moment it landed Westbrook's contract.
Bulls will be Met with Fire
The Bulls are hot, and they're one of the most fun teams to watch this season. Demar Derozan is a true MVP candidate, and deservingly so. He's playing the best basketball of his life, and is leading the Bulls to a potential deep playoff run when the rest of the roster gets healthy. The roster is battling through the adversity of not having Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso or Patrick Williams on the floor currently, while the rest of the East has bolstered their rosters. The 76ers starting 5 will be firing on all cylinders, the Nets have improved, and the Milwaukee Bucks made silent moves that will leave a strong impact In the playoffs, adding Serge Ibaka. The Bulls will have titans to face once the playoffs role around, and it will be incredible to watch the battle of the East, every round.
Why is Eric Gordon Still Here?
Wasn't the entire purpose of playing this talented veteran to display him for the trade market? He's averaging 14PPG, shooting 41.6% from 3PT range and 48.3% from the field. There were offers placed for Eric Gordon, but Houston refused to pull the trigger. He would've been a fantastic contributor on a team contending for the playoffs.
Steven’s Winners & Losers:
Winners:
Brooklyn Nets’ Big 2.5
I will be completely honest. I really cannot tell if I selected the Brooklyn Nets with my first pick for them actually being the true winners of the NBA trade deadline, or just because of their comical new “trio” nickname; The Big Two and a Half. All kidding aside, there are some positives and negatives to take away from the Nets’ deadline. The organization took part in the biggest transaction of the deadline, seeing James Harden and Paul Millsap be dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two future first round picks.
Where the Nets come away as victors here is receiving a fresh, young defensive asset in Simmons, two exceptional veteran role players, and a reload on a depleted draft picks chest. Only time will tell if the negatives of not receiving the younger Thybulle and Maxey will come back to bite them.Los Angeles Clippers, Not Flippers
It pains me to not be able to wholeheartedly call the Los Angeles Clippers frauds anymore, as I must admit, the organization has sneakily made some of the best moves in the NBA. The deadline consisted of a decent sized four team deal that brought Rodney Hood, Semi Ojeleye, and a Traded Player Exception (TPE) for Serge Ibaka and cash considerations. This trade would be overshadowed by a shocking move six days prior to it, helping the Clippers acquire 3&D wingers, Robert Covington and Norman Powell from the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson, Justise Winslow, a 2025 second round pick, and a TPE. So basically, two serviceable wings for a bag of chips. Once again, well played by Clippers executive, Jerry West.
Warriors with no War
Sometimes in sports, the best trade is no trade at all, which is something a team like the Los Angeles Lakers are currently learning the hard way from. It is not easy to be complacent as a front office executive, but in the hands of Bob Meyers and his staff, you have to appreciate the standstill on deadline day if you are a Golden State Warriors fan. Sorry for another cliche saying, but the classic, ‘if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it’ fits perfectly in the hearts and minds of Dub Nation. Sitting in a considerably favorable position of second place in the western conference, while Draymond Green’s injury continues to sideline him, the inevitable return of Klay Thompson was the only necessary big acquisition for the team looking to return to their dominant, league altering form.
Losers:
NBA or G-League? Portland Trailblazers
Let us start off with the only bright spot in a grim, desolate Portland Trail Blazers organization; Anfernee Simons is the real deal. Other than that, back to scheduled programming and the Trail Blazers are tanking. The biggest surprise of the deadline was not the questionable, head scratching moves to send C.J. McCollum to New Orleans for Josh Hart and (again) a bag of chips, or the aforementioned deal with the Clippers. The surprise was that Trail Blazers star, Damian Lillard, continued to publicly support the organization for their moves and reassure the world that he wants to remain in Portland. I guess he really is not running from the grind after all. Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers front office are running from him and the playoffs after this trade deadline.
Sacramento Loses Their King
A win-now move made by the win-later jesters of the NBA is one that will almost certainly come back to haunt them. Arguably one the most shocking moves at the deadline left fans and even Indiana Pacers newly acquired guard, Tyrese Haliburton, in complete disgust. No, we are not talking about the parting fan favorite, Buddy Hield or draft bust, Marvin Bagley III, but rather the true glimpse of hope in Sacramento sports, Tyrese Halibirton. A man who publicly stated he wanted to remain in Sacramento to turn things around for the organization and city, as crazy as that may sound. Despite the recent success with the 2x All Star, Domantas Sabonis, the Kings have lost a diamond in search of stones.
Stephen A. Smith and Spike Lee’s Knicks
On the contrary to the New York Knicks being widely regarded as a unanimous loser, post-trade deadline, there is one man in New York who is delighted at the prospect of absolutely zero transactions completed; Knicks Head Coach, Tom Thibodeau. After failing to secure a reported four-team deal that would have seen the New York side land Goran Dragic and a draft pick, the organization opted to stand pat in the final hours of the trade deadline. The Knicks only move of the entire year that brought young guard, Cam Reddish to The Big Apple for Knicks’ fallout forward, Kevin Knox and a lottery-protected first round pick, is being reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post as a move that, “Thibs didn’t want and they did it anyway.” Chaos in New York ensues, as the team has reached an agreement to bench their starting point guard, Kemba Walker, for the remainder of the season. Moral of the story, the Knicks are not the Warriors and sometimes the best trade actually is a trade of any kind.