Almost a month ago, the NBA was set ablaze by a flurry of deadline trades like no other we’d ever seen before. Eight percent of the league was traded in just over a matter of hours, and suddenly the landscape of the playoff pictures were changed. Some teams mortgaged the future to win now, while others realized they were going nowhere this season and cashed in on their prized assets. A month later, with the playoffs bearing down on us, let’s take a look at how the deadline deals are working out for all of the teams involved.
Miami Heat receive Goran Dragic, Zoran Dragic
Phoenix Suns receive Danny Granger, John Salmons, 2017 and 2019 1st round picks
New Orleans Pelicans receive Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton, Shawne Williams
Immediately after this trade was completed, everyone focused on how potent the Miami Heat’s starting five had just become. With Dragic running the show alongside Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh, and the up-and-coming Hassan Whiteside, they appeared to be almost unguardable offensively. However, the unfortunate news broke just later that week that Bosh would be lost for the season with a blood clot in his lung. Dragic has played well for Miami regardless, but their ceiling was lowered significantly following the Bosh news. They are still an outside playoff contender, but for what they gave up in the trade, they were undoubtedly looking for more.
The Phoenix end of this trade will not be fully determined until the picks are made in 2017 and 2019. Granger and Salmons both have made no impact, and Phoenix was clearly looking to accumulate assets for the future in this deal.
New Orleans must be pleasantly surprised with its performance in this trade, as Norris Cole has actually been a valuable player for them. With Jrue Holiday injured, Cole has stepped in as a backup point guard and provided valuable, quality minutes. It appears that with the right situation, Cole can be an asset for a playoff contending team. Williams and Hamilton were both waived, but Cole was the real steal here.
Minnesota Timberwolves receive Kevin Garnett
Brooklyn Nets receive Thaddeus Young
This was a relatively minor deal in terms of the actual players exchanged, but it seems both teams have emerged better than before the deal. For the Nets, Young has been a quality big man who came in and instantly formed chemistry with the rest of the team. He helped spark a few big wins, before the Nets collapsed over the last two weeks. He is still young (no pun intended), and it seems he is set on staying in Brooklyn for the long term. Turning an aging KG into an improving Young is one of Billy King’s better moves in the last few years.
Minnesota knew that with this trade they would make little-to-no on-court improvements. The draw here was bringing Garnett “home” where he could mentor the young forwards and (most importantly) bring in large crowds. The Wolves are going nowhere fast, but Garnett has changed the culture in the locker room and brought fans to the arena. Prior to his arrival, neither of those things seemed possible in Minnesota.
Detroit Pistons receive Reggie Jackson
Oklahoma City Thunder receive Enes Kanter, Steve Novak, D.J. Augustin, and Kyle Singler
Utah Jazz receive Grant Jerrett, Kendrick Perkins, 2017 2nd round pick, future 1st round pick, draft rights to Tibor Pleiss
Another major trade involved two teams vying for playoff spots in the Pistons and Thunder, while the Jazz decided to make a commitment to the future. The Thunder have benefited greatly in this trade, as they got rid of the cancer of their locker room. Kevin Durant stated clearly that the only person who didn’t want to be in OKC was Jackson. Kanter has been a reliable post presence, and with Serge Ibaka now injured, he is a great insurance policy. Augustin and Singler have both played well, and are solid rotation players that can contribute off the bench.
The Pistons got a point guard they coveted and he instantly jump-started the offense. However, after the first few games, the Pistons spiraled down the standings in the east. They lost 10 straight and now have a steep hill to climb to make the playoffs. Jackson has played well in his time there, but the lack of success overall casts a dark shadow over this trade.
The Utah Jazz may be surprised at how well they fared in this trade, but they certainly came out on top. By parting with Kanter, the frontcourt of Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert have emerged as a dominant force. Those two have helped Utah’s defense improve tremendously, while providing astounding rebounding numbers as well. Throw in the picks they received as well, and you have a surprise winner in this trade.
Phoenix Suns receive Brandon Knight, Kendall Marshall
Milwaukee Bucks receive Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee
Philadelphia 76ers receive 2015 1st round pick
The Suns made some very bold moves this trade deadline, and were rewarded with a potential new point guard of the future. Knight has had a breakout season in Milwaukee, and could do the same in Phoenix alongside Eric Bledsoe for years to come. They did give up a lot in this deal, and at the deadline overall, and could therefore be on the outside looking in come playoff time.
Milwaukee’s move was risky here, but if anyone can turn a point guard prospect into a star it’s Jason Kidd. MCW struggled initially, but has rebounded and helped lead the Bucks, at least to the level they were playing at before. Ennis and Plumlee have been valuable as well, so it appears Milwaukee got exactly what it was looking for with this deal.
Boston Celtics receive Isaiah Thomas, Jonas Jerebko, Luigi Datome
Detroit Pistons receive Tayshaun Prince
Phoenix Suns receive Marcus Thornton, 2016 1st round pick
Another of the Suns’ departed guards was Thomas, who ended up in Boston, and has promptly become one of the better point guards in the east. Although he isn’t yet an all-around point guard, he can score at will and has helped breathe life into the Celtics’ playoff hopes. Boston had no use for Tayshaun Prince, and Jerebko and Datome have both played important minutes at times. Boston has so far been the winner of this trade.
The Pistons pulled a Minnesota and brought back one of their beloved throwback stars for the fans to enjoy one last time. Tayshaun Prince is well past his prime, but has played reasonably well given the situation. The Pistons clearly saw no more use for Jerebko and Datome, but Prince won’t add much to this team or in the future. Not much to like from their end of this deal.
Portland Trail Blazers receive Arron Afflalo, Alonzo Gee
Denver Nuggets receive Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver, Will Barton, 2016 1st round pick
This trade initially seemed like a decent move from Portland and a cap-clearing move from Denver. However, it now looks like a brilliant move from the Trail Blazers’ end, given the terrible injury to Wesley Matthews. Afflalo moved to the starting lineup when Matthews tore his Achilles tendon, and now is playing huge minutes on a playoff bound team. This now looks like the steal of the trade deadline, and it happened not a minute too soon.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, have used Barton and Claver in their rotations, but their season is long gone. The kicker here will be what they do with the pick in the 2016 draft, but for now this is a fairly mediocre move for Denver.
Houston Rockets receive Pablo Prigioni
New York Knicks receive Alexey Shved, two 2nd round picks
Houston Rockets receive K.J. McDaniels
Philadelphia 76ers receive Isaiah Canaan, 2nd round pick
The Rockets made a pair of minor moves, but they actually have worked out pretty well for all three teams involved. Houston received Prigioni and McDaniels, and while only Prigioni has played significant minutes, McDaniels could be valuable in the future.
The Knicks have actually played better since bringing in Shved, who wasn’t playing much in Houston and has shown his scoring prowess in New York. He has been one of the lone bright spots on a dismal season in the Big Apple.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, may have found its point guard of the future in Canaan. His limited minutes in Houston didn’t allow him to showcase his abilities, but in Philadelphia he has put up some huge numbers and shown he can hang with the best of them.