Well, it’s been a hectic trading term.
Now that we’ve gotten through the chaos, in this week’s NBA Stock Watch we’ll see which teams have had their ups and downs after all.
Rise: phoenix sun
The Suns immediately became championship contenders when they got Kevin Durant play side by side Booker Devin, Chris Paul And Deandre Ayton.
Is there a better team in the paper league?
I’ve long thought that Durant would be a great fit for the Suns, who always seem to go their separate ways. Durant is not only one of the greatest players in the league, he knows how to win. The two-time champion can finally help Paul and the Suns, 37, get through the tough times.
After taking the lead 2-0 Milwaukee in the 2020 Finals, the Suns’ championship window appears to be closing rapidly. They finished last season with the best record in the league, but then collapsed miserably in the knockout stages, losing to the top team. Dallas Mavericks in game 7 of the second half with an embarrassing 33 points.
Having someone with the experience, know-how and determination like Durant can make all the difference for the Suns in the knockout stages this time around.
Durant is at his best in the big games, as evidenced by his consecutively winning Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018, the years he helped lead the way. golden empire warriors into consecutive rounds.
This is a big change for the new governor of the team Mat Ishbia. Undoubtedly, the Suns had to give up some proven young talent in Mikal . Bridge And Cam Johnson to get Durant, but this is a great move for a team that needs to figure out how to win right now.
fall: Heat Miami
Obviously Jimmy the butler And Bam Adebayo needed some help, but Heat was ahead of the deal deadline, aside from shipping Dewayne Dedmon ARRIVE San Antonio in exchange for cash consideration.
The Eastern Conference is highly competitive right now and most of the top teams have improved their rosters since the summer.
The Heat needed an edge in outside shooting, where they placed 28th in the league. And they definitely need more offensive firepower as they are 26th in attack rating (111.0).
For a team that is just one win away from reaching the Finals last season but has struggled throughout the season, it’s surprising they haven’t been as active.
Rising: Dallas Mavericks
Kyrie Irving was such a wild card that I hesitated to include his new team in this category.
But, to put it simply, Luka Dončić need help since the Mavericks lost Jalen Brunson in free agency. And in Irving, the Mavericks got their hands on one of the league’s top talents.
For the Mavericks, the success of this deal depends on whether Irving learns anything from his past three disastrous seasons with the Mavericks. net.
Will he continue to be the dramatic, injury-prone, controversial superstar who has struggled on the pitch, having played no more than 54 games in a single season for the Nets over the past three seasons?
Or will he put his head down, play basketball and become an eight-time All-Star, an artistic goalscorer and assister?
Irving requested the trade after his relationship with the Nets soured. Now, he has a fresh start. Here’s hoping he learned a thing or two.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks took this risk. They definitely need another superstar to play alongside Dončić, who has the second highest utilization rate in the NBA so far this season at 38.3%.
The Mavericks had to part ways with Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and three shovels, a heavy load. There’s a chance this could be a disaster. But there is also the possibility of great rewards here.
fall: LeBron James
The Lakers get better on and before the trading deadline, adding six new players. Now they have a good shooter and builder in D’Angelo Russell. Both Malik Beasley And Mo Bamba can hit from outside the 3-point line. Jarred Vanderbilt is a solid defender. And Rui Hachimura gave them increased wing length.
That is an improvement. But is it enough?
the Lakers . team maybe entered the play-in when they were in 13th place at the Western Conference, just two games behind 10th place Utah Jazz for the final play-in.
But the fact that this team has a championship squad is highly doubtful, which is a huge shame for LeBron James, who has played MVP-sized basketball at the age of 38 and has recently become a top scorer. the all-time top of the league.
Of course, James pushed hard for the team to get Irving, saying it was a “duh” question when asked if Irving could get them all the way. But after missing out on that deal, the Lakers will have an uphill battle to reach post-season. And, if they do get there, it’s hard to see them competing with some of the teams at the top of the Western Conference.
Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka recently called the deal deadline “pre-agency,” and the moves he’s made could very well put the team well positioned when the free agent arrives in July.
But what about May and June?
Don’t expect to see James and the Lakers make a miraculous comeback to reach the later rounds of the knockout stages. Not with this list.
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She has previously covered the tournament for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, Bay Area News Group and the San Antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter @melissarohlin.
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