Lakers bore while Knicks soar: Winners and losers from the NBA trade deadline

Hayward is some years removed from his All-Star prime, but he's still a nice upgrade on Davis Bertans. In Bertans, Tre Mann and Serbian rookie Vasilije Micic, the Thunder traded three guys who simply don't really play for them. Oklahoma City simply has a surplus of players, so a three-for-one move is perfect for the team, especially with Hayward's contract expiring.

OKC also made a slick long-term move, trading one of its 2024 first-round picks — they could have as many as four — to Dallas, in exchange for swap rights on the Mavericks' 2028 first-rounder. Once again, the Thunder traded from a huge surplus to take a flyer on a high-upside deal.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have been incredibly creative this year in making trades when they seemingly have nothing to trade. They did it again in adding Royce O'Neale.

O'Neale is a career 38.1 percent three-point shooter who is a perfect addition to Phoenix's roster. He doesn't need the ball, and Phoenix doesn't need scoring alongside Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. He does play both forward spots and make open threes when defense collapse on his teammates. O'Neale also provides enough defense that Phoenix can play supercharged offensive lineups with Durant at center for stretches.

They only gave up four minimum-salary players and a second-round pick. Of course, the real sacrifice was taking David Roddy and his guaranteed $2.8 million next season, as the second-year forward has been a disaster since the Memphis Grizzlies selected him at No. 23 in the 2022 draft. But they don't have to use him in the playoffs, and they'll get a lot out of O'Neale. 

Philadelphia 76ers

If their goal was to clear as much salary off their books by the end of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers were a clear winner at the trade deadline. If their goal was to win games and advance in the playoffs, not so much.

But the moves primarily signal that Joel Embiid's knee injury is serious. He's out for at least the next four weeks, and perhaps much longer. Steve Kerr expressed doubts that Embiid would be ready for the Olympics in July, which means the playoffs in April are probably not going to happen. 

If that's the case, Philadelphia did well to send out Furkan Korkmaz, Jaden Springer, Patrick Beverley, Marcus Morris and Danuel House. They got back Buddy Hield and Cam Payne, but their focus is on this summer. Now they'll have some extra pick and the most cap space possible. It's not what they were hoping for this season, but credit president Daryl Morey for being ruthless instead of being overly hopeful about Embiid's health — or rushing him back early.

Losers

Los Angeles Lakers

After the team was widely proclaimed as free agency "winners," including by this author, the 2023-24 Los Angeles Lakers have been rather ordinary. They're 27-25, are getting outscored by roughly one point per game, with an average defense and a below-average offense. Unlike previous disappointing Lakers seasons, Anthony Davis and LeBron James have been very healthy so far, playing in 48 and 46 of LA's 52 games, respectively.

Perhaps it's simply that the Lakers are always in the middle of trade rumors, but it's a shock that they didn't make any moves at the deadline. They were rumored to pursue Dejounte Murray and Bruce Brown, neither of whom changed teams. Even with Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent out at least another month, the Lakers are banking on James, Davis and Co. flipping the switch when the playoffs arrive. After all, they made the conference finals out of the play-in tournament last year.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs made moves at the trade deadline that could help them, but the main result was to reverse unsuccessful moves they made last summer. The Mavericks gave Grant Williams a four-year, $53M contract and even traded the San Antonio Spurs a pick swap in 2030 to pick up the small forward, who didn't do well in Dallas. They also signed Seth Curry, and took on the contract of Richaun Holmes in a draft-day swap, and he played only 23 games.

Now they're getting an expensive do-over.

Washington is in the first season of a three-year, $46.5M deal and averaging 13.6 points per game. He's the same age as Williams, but he's a better athlete. Perhaps getting out of Charlotte and playing with Luka Doncic will help him. But Washington was a restricted free agent last summer, same as Williams. It's hard not to think they could have simply signed Washington and saved themselves some picks.

The Mavs also flipped Holmes to the Washington Wizards for Daniel Gafford, a defensive-minded center who is seventh in the NBA in blocks per game. He's also signed for two more seasons. This move cost them a pick swap in 2028 as well, the price of getting a 2024 first-round pick from Oklahoma City to send to Washington.

It's a very costly way to cover their mistakes, even if their interior defense was terrible. The 2027 first heading to Washington was the last tradeable first-round pick Dallas had. If the Mavericks falter or Luka Doncic wants to leave town, those pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 might become very regrettable.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are losers just for their work Thursday, not the earlier trade where they nabbed Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors. That was an aggressive, smart gamble on a two-time All-NBA player. Thursday's moves were simply strange.

The Pacers essentially swapped Buddy Hield, their second-best three-point shooter, for Doug McDermott, Furkan Korkmaz and two second-round picks. Indiana traded a second-round pick to Golden State for Joseph and then released him, essentially making the move for cash. It feels like an economical move that won't necessarily pay off on the floor.

Maybe that's good for the future of the franchise, which is likely to give Siakam a huge contract this summer. But it's a little disappointing for fans when the team takes a player who started more than half their games and the main return is simply money.