The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and while there were some moves made, it’s safe to say that none of them have had a significant impact on the championship outlook. The biggest name traded was Buddy Hield, but players like Bojan Bogdanović and Kelly Olynyk also changed teams. These mid-tier names are not exactly game-changers, and now teams will have to rely on the buyout market for roster upgrades.
Teams like the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks all made moves on the margins, but did any of them do enough to close the gap on the title favorites? According to BetMGM, the favorites before the deadline were the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns. After the deadline, the favorites remained relatively unchanged.
The Celtics made some minor additions to their roster, but nothing that will significantly impact their playoff rotation. The Bucks traded Cameron Payne for Patrick Beverley, who brings a defensive presence but has limitations on offense. The Lakers and Cavaliers, on the other hand, stood pat at the deadline. The Lakers, currently in ninth place and three losses away from avoiding the play-in tournament, seem to have given up on LeBron James’ age-39 season and are looking towards the summer to make roster improvements.
The Knicks made some additions to their roster, including Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks, which will help them navigate the rest of the regular season. However, it’s hard to imagine them cracking head coach Tom Thibodeau’s closing lineup, which has been successful so far. The Sixers added Buddy Hield, a consistent 3-point shooter who will expand their offensive arsenal in the postseason. However, Hield has never appeared in the playoffs before, and his limitations on both ends of the floor may leave teams wanting more.
The Heat, who believe they can beat the Celtics with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, made no moves at the deadline after adding Terry Rozier last month. The Celtics, on the other hand, made significant changes to their roster since last season, adding Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. These additions have separated them as favorites in the East.
In the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks made some moves to improve their frontcourt but may still struggle against teams like the Nuggets. The Thunder added Gordon Hayward, who provides veteran leadership and scoring, but his injury history raises concerns about his impact in the playoffs. The Suns and Timberwolves made moves on the margins but did not significantly change their championship prospects.
Overall, no team did enough at the trade deadline to supplant the established title favorites. While there were some minor additions and improvements to rosters, the core contenders remain unchanged. The championship outlook remains in favor of teams like the Celtics, Nuggets, Clippers, Bucks, and Suns.