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The NBA closed its transfer window this Thursday with James Harden heading to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Anthony Davis to Washington and the continuity of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee after keeping the league in suspense for weeks.
This year’s market could not match last year’s surprises, when the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, but it has left a good number of operations, mostly to reinforce Eastern teams.
Also the dismantling of the Memphis Grizzlies with the departure of Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz or the Los Angeles Clippers with the transfers of Harden to the Cavaliers and Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.
Most of the operations were closed in the last 72 hours of the market, when it was becoming clear that Antetokounmpo’s transfer would not occur, despite the offers received by Milwaukee from teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Miami Heat.
Trae Young y Anthony Davis a Washington
The Wizards were one of the most aggressive teams in this market, with the arrival of Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for CJ McCollum and Anthony Davis from Dallas for Khris Middleton.
Young’s departure from Atlanta was one of the hot potatoes of the league, while the Mavericks, with a Cooper Flagg that exceeds expectations, decided to turn the page on Doncic’s incomprehensible operation.
Both are injured and are not expected at Capital One Arena this season, so the Wizards hope to have some luck in the draft after another disastrous season.
But with these arrivals, the Wizards seem to conclude their reconstruction, with young promises like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George or Tre Johnson alongside Young and Davis.
Earthquake in the Clippers: Harden and Zubac leave
After a bad start to the season, the Clippers were going through a great moment with a 17-4 record when it emerged that James Harden had asked to be traded to have a real chance of winning the title. Hours later he was a Cleveland player in exchange for Darius Garland.
The veteran point guard will share a team with Donovan Mitchell or Jarrett Allen, seeking to dominate an East in which many teams have strengthened.
In addition to the departure of Harden, almost on the horn, the Clippers also transferred Ivica Zubac, in his case to the Pacers, in a very beneficial operation for the Angelenos who receive Bennedict Mathurin and several first rounds.
The Pacers, for their part, are preparing for another attempt at the title next season, when Tyrese Haliburton returns.
Vucevic a Boston y Chris Paul a Toronto
Boston Celtics also strengthened to fight the battle in the East with the Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic, from the Chicago Bulls, in exchange for Anfernee Simons.
The 35-year-old center is averaging 16.9 points, nine rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in this, his fifteenth season in the NBA.
For their part, the Toronto Raptors received Chris Paul in a three-way agreement with the Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets, an operation that puts an end to the complicated situation of the veteran player in Los Angeles, removed from the squad two months ago.
Paul, 40, had announced days before being sidelined that this was going to be his last season in the NBA, although it is still unclear if he will wear the Raptors jersey.
Before the market closed, the situation of Jonathan Kuminga in the Golden State Warriors, who had been wanting to leave for some time, was also unlocked, with his transfer to the Atlanta Hawks along with Buddy Hield in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis.
For their part, the Grizzlies were unable to move Ja Morant, but they surprised by transferring Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz, completing the dismantling of the roster that began in the summer with the departure of Desmond Bane.
In smaller transactions, the New York Knicks acquired Puerto Rican José Alvarado from the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Lakers acquired three-point shooter Luke Kennard from the Hawks.
The Cavaliers, in addition to the deal with the Clippers for Harden and Garland, traded De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.
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