In the final 24 hours of the transfer window, most NBA teams completely overhauled their rosters, thereby redistributing the favorite roles for the playoffs.
The most spectacular move in the final stage: Kevin Durant leaves the Brooklyn Nets and joins the Phoenix Suns. On Wednesday evening, US media reported the “blockbuster trade,” and on Thursday, the teams officially made the reshuffle involving a total of four teams. As a result, the Phoenix Suns, with the trio of Durant, Devin Booker, and Chris Paul, became instant favorites of betting companies to win in the Western Conference.
According to ESPN, 16 trade deals were carried out in the final 24 hours of the NBA transfer period, affecting 49 players and 25 teams. Much of this was triggered by Kyrie Irving’s desire to change teams at the end of last week. Instead of continuing to play with Durant at the Nets, the combative basketball player wanted to leave and signed with the Dallas Mavericks, where he now forms an impressive pair of playmakers with Maxi Kleber of the German national team. On Wednesday evening, Irving impressed with 24 points in a 110-104 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Their city rival, the Los Angeles Lakers with national team captain Dennis Schröder, also overhauled much of their roster. Schröder continues to play alongside NBA record holder LeBron James and second star Anthony Davis. Russell Westbrook, however, also left (to the Utah Jazz), as did Patrick Beverly (to the Orlando Magic) and Thomas Bryant (to the Denver Nuggets). The Lakers will play in the future with, among others, playmaker D’Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves and center Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic.
The Lakers hope to prevent another year without playoff participation with the changed roster. The Suns, on the other hand, are fully focused on winning the title with Durant, Booker, and Paul, having paid a high price for it: three important role players were given up in Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cam Johnson, and the Suns also sacrificed four future first-round picks in the talent draft. Furthermore, Durant is still injured and is expected to be active after the All-Star break in a week and a half.
