The NBA trade deadline was a bit of a dud, but here's a look at who won and who flopped horribly

After last year’s insane trade deadline, which featured Kevin Durant being dealt to the Phoenix Suns, this year brought a bunch of smaller, shrewd moves that moved teams into contention. We have tracked the trades and broken them down by time-tested winners and losers rubric to track how the day went on each side of the spectrum.

The Knicks were one backup playmaker away from real championship contention. They reached contender status by acquiring Alec Burks and Bojan Bogdanović from Detroit for Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono, and two second-round picks. It was another fleece by Leon Rose, who have now acquired Bogdanović, Burks, Precious Achiuwa, and OG Anunoby without giving up a single first-round pick —masterclass stuff. Bojan will provide elite shooting while Julius Randle and Anunoby nurse injuries. Burks gives the team playmaking and continuity, as he has already played with the team during the Tom Thibodeau era. Bojan shoots 40% on catch-and-shoot threes and 47% on pull-up threes. Burks is shooting 41% on catch-and-shoot threes and 38% on pull-up threes. The Knicks are going to the Finals.

The Raptors bolstered their future assets and added shooting and depth up front and at lead guard. Dennis Schroder seems to wear out his welcome everywhere he goes. Dennis Smith Jr. gives the Raptors elite on-ball defense, and Spencer Dinwiddie can be flipped later. It raises some questions on whether the Raptors view recently acquired Immanuel Quickley as a lead guard or better suited as a combo guard at the two or off the bench. Time will tell. The addition of Kelly Olynyk gives the Raptors much-needed stretch shooting they haven’t had since the championship run in 2019 when they had both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka. They had to give up a first-round pick, but the real steal here is the Raptors acquiring Ochai Agbaji from the Utah Jazz. Agbaji is elite at coming off screens as a catch-and-shoot player and should help with spacing when Scottie Barnes enters playmaking mode.

Many haters looked at the Suns’ roster and made obvious observations about their depth. But stat watchers might not know that both Damion Lee and Yuta Watanabe have been injured lately. Once those two return to the rotation, the Suns are nine deep. And after Thursday, they might be better than that. The Suns used three second-round picks to acquire Royce O’Neal from the Brooklyn Nets. O’Neal is an excellent shooter, currently hitting 36.6 percent from three and 39 percent from the corner while guarding the two through four. As part of the three-team deal, they also gave up a pick-swap to bring back big man David Roddy, who gives them legitimate size and rebounding up front, clearing up one of their biggest holes.

Just last week, it looked like the 76ers were on life support when it was announced Joel Embiid had a lateral meniscus in his left knee. But recent reports read he might be back after four weeks. Once he returns, he will have sharpshooter Buddy Hield playing next to him. Hield was brought in from the Indiana Pacers for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz, and three second-round picks. This is great value for one of the league’s best shooters over the past decade. He has shot 40.1 percent from three on 7.7 3PA per game. That’s the definition of lethal. Good luck doubling Embiid.

The Bulls have a roster of overhyped and overpaid vets needing new teams. The attempt to buy a championship failed after that magical DeMar DeRozan MVP campaign two seasons ago. Once Lonzo Ball injured his knee the chances of the Bulls even making the payoffs were cooked. The Bulls have needed to press the reset button since last season when they denied an all-in offer from the New York Knicks for LaVine, who is now out for the season.

The Cavs are floating around the top of the Eastern Conference but lack on-ball scoring depth beyond Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. They addressed their perimeter shooting woes last summer, but still lack any semblance of scoring beyond lobs in the post. Both failed at doing what was necessary to improve their present or future.

With the addition of Gordon Hayward, they gave up Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic, and draft compensation. The Thunder have now needed to fortify their depth and veteran presence for two seasons. With the hoard of picks they own, it’s been mind-boggling that they haven’t cashed in a portion for veteran depth once playoffs hit. Hayward gives them additional on-ball shot creation, but little in terms of rebounding and defense. The Thunder were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves last season because they were too damn small. They have done nothing to rectify this except depend on a healthy Chet Holmgren. With Daniel Gafford on the market, it would have been possible for them to add bench depth with an elite rim-protecting big.

Watch out, Nico Harrison, Troy Weaver is coming for the crown of worst general manager in the game. They cut ties with a former Lottery pick (Killian Hayes) this offseason and got fleeced by the Knicks for Bogdanović and Burks, two of their most tradable assets, and waived a key veteran pick-up in Joe Harris. These aren��t the moves Weaver must make for his 7-43 Pistons. They also acquired guard/forward Danuel House Jr., a 2024 second-round draft pick, and cash considerations from the Philadelphia 76ers, in exchange for a future 2028 second-round draft pick, just to waive House immediately after. Now, that’s what I call LOL roster building.

Only the Mavericks would trade for two centers when their starting center is one of the best rookies in the league. As one of the league’s worst rebounding and shot-blocking teams, the team desperately needed size. But one of the two bigs would have been enough. Giving up one of their few assets in the form of a 2027 first-round pick in the PJ Washington trade was the worst move of the day. Washington is a good stats-on-bad-team guy, but should slot in perfectly as a rim-rolling lob threat next to Luka Dončić, who can turn bums into rotational guys (see Derrick Jones Jr, Dante Exum, Josh Green). The Mavs needed scoring on the wing more than anything, and they didn’t address that with either trade. It cost Nico a first-round pick to unload Grant Williams, the worst signing of last summer, and the washed Seth Curry. They also sent Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first-round pick (via Oklahoma City) to the Wizards for Gafford. That pick should have been used to upgrade their wing depth.