Kevin Durant’s blockbuster move from Brooklyn to Phoenix turned the Suns into a major title contender and sparked a flurry of deals at the NBA trade deadline Thursday by roster-boosting rivals. The 34-year-old superstar joins Suns All-Star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker plus Bahamian center DeAndre Ayton, the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, to form what could be the NBA’s strongest lineup. Phoenix sent four first-round NBA draft picks, swingman Mikal Bridges, forwards Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder, and a 2028 pick swap to the Nets in exchange for Durant and forward TJ Warren.
Crowder, who now sits out the 2022-23 season, didn’t stay long with the Nets, reportedly being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for five second-round NBA draft picks on Thursday.
The Suns confirmed their acquisition of Durant, first reported in a tweet Wednesday night, with multiple clubs posting photos and statements welcoming their new players and saying goodbye to those traded.
Durant’s arrival led to a flurry of moves as the balance of power in the Western Conference shifted, and only two clubs, Chicago and Cleveland, chose not to make a deadline move.
Durant’s move spelled an epitaph for the “Big Three” era of the Nets, who sent James Harden to Philadelphia a year ago and traded star guard Kyrie Irving to Dallas earlier this week.
The trio managed to play just 16 games together and win a playoff series after being viewed as title contenders instead of ending up as one of the epic flops in NBA history.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made several moves in hopes of reviving a dismal season by surrounding NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James and star big man Anthony Davis with improved talent.
The 25-30-year-old Lakers sent Russell Westbrook to Utah in a three-team deal that brought Minnesota’s D’Angelo Russell and Utah guard Malik Beasley and forward Jared Vanderbilt.
On Thursday, the Lakers sent Thomas Bryant to Denver for three second-round NBA draft picks and traded guard Patrick Beverley to the Orlando Magic in exchange for 7-foot (2.13 m) center Mo Bamba.
Russell and Beasley add 3-point shooting prowess and outside threat to pair with Davis and James, who recently joined Japanese forward Rui Hachimura in a deal with Washington.
– Warriors get paid –
Defending NBA champion Golden State acquired Gary Payton II from Portland for five second-round NBA draft picks in a multi-team deal that sent Detroit forward Kevin Knox to the Trail Blazers.
The Warriors sent James Wiseman to Detroit in a three-team deal that sent Sadiq Bey to Atlanta and Golden State with the draft pick that brought Payton.
Golden State’s moves will save more than $37 million in luxury tax costs over the next two seasons.
The Los Angeles Clippers acquired center Mason Plumlee from Charlotte for guard Reggie Jackson and sent guard Luke Kennard to Memphis in a three-team deal that also sent Houston guard Eric Gordon to LA and kept John Wall and Danny Green to the Rockets.
The Clippers, who added guard Bones Hyland from Denver for two second-round picks, reportedly will look to sign Westbrook if Utah buys out the former Lakers star’s contract, adding some veteran talent and several newcomers around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
San Antonio sent players to two contenders, guard Josh Richardson to New Orleans for Devonte Graham and four second-round picks and Austrian center Jakob Poeltl to Toronto for Canadian center Khem Birch and three draft picks.
Atlanta sent Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminski to Houston for Bruno Fernando and Garrison Matthews in a cost-cutting move.
Indiana received Milwaukee guard George Hill and a draft pick.
Philadelphia added Charlotte forward Jalen McDaniels in a three-team deal that sent Mattis Thiebul of the 76ers to Portland.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
Topics covered in this article
