NBA Trade Deadline: 5 teams who emerged as the biggest winners

Taking a closer look at the five teams that emerged as the biggest winners from the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA Trade Deadline has now come and gone. We can all breathe for the moment. There were plenty of deals done, including some that were trying to clear salary so they can go after the big free agents this upcoming summer.

Let’s examine the big deals made at the NBA Trade Deadline and try to figure out who came out ahead.

Dallas Mavericks 

The Dallas Mavericks hit a home run with the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks. The pairing of Porzingis and rookie guard, Luka Doncic for at least the next five to six years was to much for the Mavericks to turn down. The Mavs sent Dennis Smith, Wesley Matthews, and DeAndre Jordan to the Knicks.

Dallas did have to take on the big contract of Tim Hardaway Jr. which has $37 million left on it for the next two years. Hardaway Jr. does have a player option for the final year of the contract, so it’s fairly certain that he’ll be in Dallas for next couple of years.

Dallas also cleared up more salary room by trading Harrison Barnes to the Sacramento Kings. By clearing Barnes off their books the Mavericks can now afford a player who is almost a max contract player. The Mavericks will be players in the free agent market this summer.