Deals change face of Western Conference overnight
Trade deadline day in the NBA arrived Thursday with news of a blockbuster.
The Nets had agreed overnight to deal Kevin Durant to the Suns for a package that included Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder — who later was forwarded to Milwaukee — four first-round picks and a pick swap
A day earlier, the Lakers agreed to send Russell Westbrook to Utah as part of a three-way deal with the Jazz and Timberwolves that brought D’Angelo Russell back to Los Angeles. Minnesota got Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Utah, along with three secondround picks.
“Just like that it’s a war in the West!” Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis II tweeted.
Despite being 13th in the West at 25-30, the Lakers stayed busy until the deadline as they try to build a contender around NBA career scoring leader LeBron James.
They acquired Russell — who began his career with the franchise — from Minnesota in Wednesday’s deal, and guard Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt from the Jazz.
The deal sent Westbrook to Utah after the 2017 MVP never thrived alongside James and Anthony Davis. Utah is expected to buy out Westbrook.
The Lakers on Thursday got former Texas big man Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic for guard Patrick Beverley, a secondround pick and cash, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The Magic aren’t expected to keep Beverley.
San Antonio added more assets to its rebuilding project by trading center Jakob Poeltl back to the Toronto Raptors for center Khem Birch plus a 2024 first-round pick and a pair of second-round selections.
Poeltl was one of the most-wanted centers on the market. He was averaging 12.1 points and a teamhigh 9.0 rebounds for the Spurs, who acquired Poeltl from the Raptors as part of the Kawhi Leonard-DeMar DeRozan trade in 2018.
The Philadelphia 76ers are set to acquire forward Jalen McDaniels from Charlotte and send forward Matisse Thybulle to Portland as part of a multiteam trade that also involves multiple draft picks.
It was the second move in two days for the Blazers, who sent Josh Hart to the New York Knicks on Wednesday for Cam Reddish and a protected firstround pick.
The Hornets also made another deal, sending center Mason Plumlee to the Los Angeles Clippers for point guard Reggie Jackson and a 2028 secondround draft pick.