Woj would be proud.
This year’s NBA Trade Deadline was so wild. Shams ended up looking like Jimmy Butler in The Bubble.
After confirming that the Luka Dončić trade for Anthony Davis was not a hoax, the NBA insider for ESPN had a lot more moves to shake us with.
Jimmy Butler, in particular, has finally fulfilled his wish to take his talents away from South Beach. He will now join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green at Golden State, having been traded for Canadian champion Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and some draft considerations.
Or we could let this guy, who broke the news to the Heat bench, break it down.
Sneaker king P.J. Tucker is also back in Miami after being traded three times in five days. And if you think that’s bad, spare a thought for new Jazz guard Dennis Schröder, who has hit the NBA rainbow, like Shaq, playing for seven teams in four seasons. The World Cup winner deserves better.
Elsewhere, the Toronto Raptors, Canada’s NBA franchise, acquired star Brandon Ingram from the Pelicans, paying the price with Bruce Brown Jr., another of Canada’s favorites, Kelly Olynyk, and future draft picks.
Ingram, ‘Maple Mamba’ R.J. Barrett, and Scottie Barnes running The North? It’s about to feel like 2019 all over again.
After their big blockbuster for the franchise’s future, the Lakers lost some downtown shooting and defense to acquire a seven-footer to fill the gaping hole left by the absence of Anthony Davis.
The Lake Show traded for Charlotte’s Mark Williams, giving up impressive rookie Dalton Knecht, defensive stopper Cam Reddish, and a pick swap for the 2030 draft to the Hornets. Losing their Westside “Knechtion” hurts, as does the loss of Reddish, although he had fallen out of the rotation of late. At least key players like Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and third-star Austin Reaves (who is one year older than Dončić) are safe.
So many moves have been made that you’ll be forgiven for forgetting that former Sacramento King De’Aaron Fox is now a San Antonio Spur, ready to do damage with Wemby in Texas. Never fear, Kings—you now have Zach LaVine after his long-held desire, like Butler’s, to serve elsewhere. Not to mention, you have more draft picks than you could shake a lottery ball at.
The Baby Bulls (again) don’t leave empty-handed either, with Zach Collins, Tre Jones, and Kevin Huerter’s flamethrower for their future.”
Patty Mills is now a Clipper, and Caleb Martin is a Maverick. Joining the Kings is big man Jonas Valančiūnas, too. The Wizards really waved their wands for some spring cleaning by sending Kyle Kuzma to the Milwaukee Bucks for All-Star Khris Middleton. Cream City got a lot smoother with Kuzma’s control.
Atlanta also hawked some players before the deadline passed and the buzzer rang. They sent De’Andre Hunter to the Cavs for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and a pocketful of picks—all before clipping Terance Mann and Bones Hyland from LA for Bogdan Bogdanović and three picks.
Is that everyone? Do you want more? Believe us, as the NBA season enters its endgame, the drama is far from over.
