NBA Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

Credit (Getty Images) The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. Who won and lost?

The NBA trade deadline did not disappoint; sure, nothing came close to last year's mind-boggling move that saw Luka and Anthony trade places. I will say this, some of the trades felt like front office playing too much 2k franchise mode style. Here are the teams and players who made the deadline worthy of discussion.

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Winners

Hall

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland felt like this: we have a nice Honda Accord that gets us around, yet we have a chance to get a high-mileage Ferrari. That is what the Cavs got in James Harden, a future Hall of Famer who is still balling for now. This is a short-term win with long-term consequences. At least James Harden won't be responsible for Cleveland's playoff woes that will fall on Donovan Mitchell. Kudos to the Cavs for getting Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis for basically nothing, and trading Lonzo Ball is clearing cap space at its finest.

LA Clippers

Who would have thought a month ago that this team, one of the hottest in the league, would be trading two good veteran players? That's where we are. Kudos to them for trading James for Darius Garland, getting a young all-star that they can build around in the post-Kawhi Leonard era. They also get bonus points for getting Benedict Mathurin, a young piece to move forward. The only negative you trade big Zubac, one of the most underrated Bigs your franchise center, wow.

OKC Thunder

This front office should write a book on how to build a championship-caliber team, no, seriously. They got Jared McCain, and the rich get richer. This team can do no wrong.

Washington Wizards

This dumpster fire franchise got two all-stars at a discount price. They got two used cars and put some rims on them. Anthony Davis and Trae Young are big-time basketball players playing for the Wizards. Kudos to the front office for finally building a vision they can believe in. They might be in the playoffs next year.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets' moves didn't generate a national headline yet, but this team is the most exciting in years. They have an exciting young core and adding Coby White and Tyus Jones are solid role player moves. Kudos to the front office, especially Jeff Peterson, dude is one of the best young executives in the league.

Nikola V

Finally, get out of the Chicago Bulls wonderland and join a contender in Boston.

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Losers

Giannis & Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks' not trading Giannis is on brand. Do you really think they were going to help a contender at this late in the season? Giannis is a loser for now, waiting too long to request a trade; he should have been gone.

Miami Heat

They must forget it was the trade deadline, no move seriously.

New Orleans Pelicans

They still didn't care about the 2026 lottery pick they don't have stand on business folks.

Golden State Warriors

Their best move was getting Kristaps Porzingis and not Giannis, what a way to do your generational star.

Anthony Davis

Being part of the worst trade in NBA history, to now joining the Wizards, damn. What a fall from grace, yet an opportunity to make a statement. He might well have that's all folks' shirt for the Wizards nation.

Sacramento Kings

As a King's fan, I have no idea what we are doing and neither do they. Why are Domantas Sabonis, Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan still on the roster? You trade Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis for DeAndre Hunter really front office is not even getting some draft capital. The 2023 postseason will forever be highlight because how mighty we have fallen.'

Utah Jazz

I mean, yeah, trading for Jaren Jackson Jr but you are not a contender right now. Don't make sense at all

Chris Paul

The Chris Paul Retirement tour is one of the weirdest in recent memory. One of the greatest point guards to ever play is getting secondhand treatment. From the messy situation with the Clippers to now being traded to the Toronto Raptors. If he stays in Toronto at least, he gets the chance to be in the playoffs. What a shame that Chris Paul's iconic career has hit new lows in his final year in the league. Shame on the NBA for allowing that to happen.