Wow!  As always, we had no idea what to expect.  One has to admit, NBA trades and this time of the season is truly unmatched.  The one deal most of us expected between the Lakers and Pelicans, did not materialize.  Unfortunately for Lakers fans, this did not go as planned, at least until the end of the season.  As for the rest of the league, it was definitely eventful!  The trades started about a week ago and kept going right up to the deadline.  Next up, free agency, the waiver wire and the buyout market.

Here’s what happened and who won…

Toronto Raptors get: Marc Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies get: Jonas Valanciunas; Delon Wright; CJ Miles; 2024 second-round pick
Winner:  Raptors! Toronto takes this one by adding a three-time all star and another former Defensive Player of the Year.  This gives the Raptors a formidable starting five of Lowry, Green, Leonard, Siakam (or Ibaka) and Gasol.  Masai Ujiri is definitely all in at this point to make the final four, with even higher hopes in the Spring.  Keep in mind, this trade won’t affect the Raptors cap space in 2020 when most of their current contracts are up. Smart move to play for everything now and also bank on the future.

Orlando Magic get: Markelle Fultz
Philadelphia 76ers get: Jonathon Simmons; First-round pick (via OKC); Second-round pic
Winner: Both! Orlando takes a low risk on a former number one pick who definitely needed a change. Fultz can become that starting point guard that the Magic so desperately need. As for the Sixers, they add depth to their bench and pick up draft picks for the future.

Bucks get: Nikola Mirotic
Pelicans get: Jason Smith; Stanley Johnson; Denver’s 2019 second-round pick; Washington’s 2020 and 2021 second-round picks; Milwaukee’s 2020 second-round picks
Pistons get: Thon Maker
Winner: Bucks! Hands down, the best player in the trade goes to the best team in the trade.  Milwaukee adds depth to their already deep roster.

LA Clippers get: Michael Beasley; Ivica Zubac
Los Angeles Lakers get: Mike Muscala
Winner: Both! Clippers receive an up and coming Center in Zubac and the Lakers add some scoring off the bench.

Washington Wizards get: Wesley Johnson
New Orleans Pelicans get: Markieff Morris; 2023 second-round pick
Winner: Next!

Philadelphia 76ers get: James Ennis
Houston Rockets get: Future second-round swap rights
Winner: Sixers! Adding depth to their bench.

Memphis Grizzlies get: Tyler Dorsey
Atlanta Hawks get: Shelvin Mack; Jabari Bird
Boston Celtics get: Protected second-round pick
Winner: Next!

LA Clippers get: JaMychal Green; Garrett Temple
Memphis Grizzlies get: Avery Bradley
Winner: Even! What appears to now be non-playoff teams trading expiring contracts.

Indiana Pacers get: Nik Stauskas; Wade Baldwin; Second-round pick
Houston Rockets get: Rights to Maarty Luenen
Winner: Pacers!

Brooklyn Nets get: Greg Monroe; Second-round pick
Toronto Raptors get: Cash considerations
Winner: No one! Reason being Raptors lose depth and Nets only gain a second-round draft pick.  They’ll release Monroe, who will then be able to sign with another Team (free agency/buyout market).

Portland Trail Blazers get: Skal Labissiere
Sacramento Kings get: Caleb Swanigan
Winner: Blazers! Slight edge as they get the better young player, who still has some upside

Houston Rockets get: Iman Shumpert; Nik Stauskas; Wade Baldwin
Cleveland Cavaliers get: Brandon Knight; Marquese Chriss; 2019 lottery-protected first-round pick
Sacramento Kings get: Alec Burks; Second-round pick
Winner: Even!  Between the Rockets and the Cavaliers.  Houston adds shooting and the Cavaliers add cap space and more draft picks.  Not sure what the Kings were thinking.

Sixers get: Malachi Richardson; Rights to Emir Preldzic; 2022 second-round pick
Raptors get: Cash considerations
Winner: Sixers! Add depth (expiring contract) and a draft pick.

Dallas Mavericks get: Zach Randolph; Justin Jackson
Sacramento Kings get: Harrison Barnes
Winner: Kings! What a great grab by Sacramento. Very talented player, still young and has experience.  Barnes is having a great year and will definitely be an asset to an up and coming, soon to be playoff team. He also plays great defence which can cover multiple positions, the three, four and two.

Chicago Bulls get: Otto Porter Jr.
Washington Wizards get: Jabari Parker; Bobby Portis; 2023 second-round pick
Winner: Even! Not sure why this trade even happened between these two teams.  Bulls gain a decent forward, however his contract doesn’t seem to match what they’re trying to do.  Wizards add some decent pieces, however may not be a factor moving forward.

Phoenix Suns get: Tyler Johnson; Wayne Ellington
Miami Heat get: Ryan Anderson
Winner: Suns! Phoenix adds a decent player in Johnson to their young core. (they plan to waive Ellington)

Milwaukee Bucks get: Stanley Johnson
Detroit Pistons get: Thon Maker
Winner: Even! Bucks add depth to their bench and Pistons are hopeful Maker will be an upgrade for their team.

Philadelphia 76ers get: Tobias Harris; Boban Marjanovic; Mike Scott
LA Clippers get: Landry Shamet; Wilson Chandler; Mike Muscala; 2020 first-round pick; 2021 first-round pick (via Miami); 2021 second-round pick; 2023 second-round pick
Winner: Both! Here’s why… Sixers get the best player in Harris who will join an incredible starting five in Philly of Embiid, Simmons, Butler and Reddick. Not many Teams can match that not named the Warriors.  They also add depth at the center position with Boban and finally fill out the roster and bench/scoring depth with Scott.  Philly will definitely be tough down the stretch and in the playoffs. As for the Clippers, they add a great up and coming point guard in Shamet, two future first round picks (which can be used or facilitate in a trade) and two expiring contracts.  The last part is key as this will now take the Clippers into friendly cap space this off season and make them players in free agency.  They have enough space to go out and sign two max type free agents. Insert almost any two names that would like to play in the second largest market in North America.

Los Angeles Lakers get: Reggie Bullock
Detroit Pistons get: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk; 2021 second-round pick
Winner: Lakers! Simply put, they’re adding depth.

Portland Trail Blazers get: Rodney Hood
Cleveland Cavaliers get: Wade Baldwin IV; Nik Stauskas; 2021 second-round pick; 2023 second-round pick
Winner: Blazers!  Portland like most teams this year adding scoring.  They hope Hood can be more productive in a new environment, which includes positive reinforcement in the form of Lillard, Nurkic and coach Stotts.

Dallas Mavericks get: Kristaps Porzingis; Courtney Lee; Tim Hardaway Jr.; Trey Burke
New York Knicks get: Dennis Smith Jr.; DeAndre Jordan; Wesley Matthews; Two future first-round picks
Winner: Both! Here’s why… New York gets a true young scoring point guard and someone who will definitely play his heart out in the ‘Big Apple.’  Jordan and Matthews have expiring contracts and the two first round picks will add young talent to the roster or be used in future trades.  The expiring contracts are a key part of this deal.  This also allows the Knicks to be big time payers in the free agent market.  They’ll have enough cap space to add two max type free agents and if they continue to play bad, possibly end up with the 2019 first overall pick.  Playing in the largest market in North America, having a young up and coming point guard and the possibility of drafting Zion Williamson (Duke) or RJ Barrett (Duke) may be more than enough for two-star players to join the Knicks.  New York fans may finally have something to cheer about.

Dallas also wins as they add the best player in the deal.  Porzingis is the star and will have to sign a long-term contract in the off season.  Mark Cuban has no doubt this will get done.  The Mavs have big dreams about their future with two young talented players in Porzingis and Luka Doncic.  To put the Mavs over the top, they now also have enough salary cap space to sign at least one max type free agent.  Imagine the decision a free agent can ponder if they think of the talent in Dallas, a great coach in Rick Carlisle, a players-first no expense type owner in Mark Cuban and playing in a tax-free state.  Don’t sleep on Dallas this off season.

*Trade information from the Feb. 7th NBA deadline courtesy of espn.com (unless otherwise cited).