NBA: 4 teams that improved the most after a chaotic trade deadline
Phoenix Suns
Players acquired: Kevin Durant, T.J. Warren
Everything changed for the Brooklyn Nets when Kyrie Irving demanded a trade. The Nets went from a legit championship contender to a seller at the NBA Trade Deadline mighty quickly. The Nets traded Kyrie to the Mavs and then turned around and moved Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns, who are the biggest winners from the trade deadline.
Even though the Suns had to trade a few key pieces of their team and four unprotected first-round picks, the Suns 100 percent are now the team to beat in the Western Conference. That’s assuming heath. There is not a top 4 of players in the league better than Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Chris Paul.
Instant winners and losers from 2023 NBA trade deadline (updated). dark. Next
The Suns went all-in and clearly believe this is a core that can win a championship. Looking at the rest of the league, it’s hard to not trust the move that this front office made at the deadline. The question is, will it pay off? We shall see.