Miami (USA) (EFE).- With the extraordinary incorporation of Kevin Durant, closed this Thursday, the Phoenix Suns became the clear winners in the NBA market and one of the main favorites for the ring.
In the remaining market hours it was difficult to compete in relevance with a transfer of this magnitude, but far from lacking interest, the activity was constant and teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies reinforced their rosters.
A new scenario for the Suns in the NBA
Phoenix is the outright winner of this NBA market close game. They unexpectedly take Durant, one of the best players in the league, capable of revolutionizing balances.
The most commendable thing is that they add Durant’s talent without sacrificing any of their figures, because both Chris Paul, Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton will complete a dream quintet.
The date marked in red on the calendar is now Sunday, March 5, the day the Suns, likely with Durant already playing in fine form, visit the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas.
And it is that the Texan franchise is the other great winner, because although it is in doubt how two stars like Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic will get along on the track, the potential and possibilities of the team at a competitive level have improved.
Even questioning whether Spencer Dinwiddie or Dorian Finney-Smith didn’t have much to add yet on the Mavericks, the truth is that they needed points regularly, and Kyrie Irving guarantees them.
The bet is a ‘win-win’ for Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison, because the experiment with Irving can turn out well and put the team to compete in a conference finals. But if it goes wrong, the point guard ends his contract this coming summer, and not renewing him would be enough.
There is a third team that has not needed large operations to also become a winner at the market close. And it is that the Bucks already had a perfectly armed and balanced team, but the inclusion of Jade Crowder brings more depth, experience and physique.
The Lakers drop ballast
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the great protagonists. After the failed attempt to recruit Irving, Rob Pelinka rolled up his sleeves and put the phone to work.
The motivation of the general manager of the Lakers basically went through two ideas, on the one hand to get rid of players with a performance below expectations such as Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Juan Toscano-Anderson or Kendrick Nunn.
On the other hand, it has sought to reinforce strategic positions that allow quality minutes to rest for its important men. With the arrival of D’Angelo Russell they ensure a much more mature player than the one who left in 2017 in the point guard position, in addition to guaranteeing a replacement for Anthony Davis with a lot of potential with Mo Bamba.
reality check in brooklyn
The Nets must inevitably be included in the list of losers at the end of the NBA market, not because the remaining squad is unable to compete for important challenges, but because in a few days the identity of the project has vanished with the departures of Irving and Durant.
The Nets can be competitive, and Cam Thomas has been in charge of demonstrating it with three consecutive games over forty points, but the reality is that they are already another team.
Immobility in a crazy day in the NBA
Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat had important names with market interest that would have allowed them to reinforce their rosters for higher aspirations. None of these teams was able to close an operation in the last few hours.
It’s probably unfair to put the Miami Heat among the losers in the market, but the inactivity in the offices of Pat Riley and Andy Elisburg is surprising in a way. Spoelstra’s team needed reinforcements to maintain postseason aspirations, but neither a guarantee reserve for Adebayo nor a shooter arrived.
Toronto had one of the jewels in the crown in the figure of OG Anunoby, a player who seemed to want the whole league, and will ultimately remain with the Raptors.
Chicago, with a very discreet and somewhat disappointing campaign, could not strengthen itself to improve its momentum and reach the postseason with some guarantee.
There is no place like home
It is a curious detail the number of players who have signed for teams in which they had already played and who one day had to leave, many of them, because they were then involved in an operation like the one on Thursday.
D’Angelo Russell and the Lakers, Spencer Dinwiddie and the Nets, Gary Payton II and the Warriors, John Wall and the Rockets, as well as Eric Gordon and the Clippers come together again.
Some of them will return to be released in the next few hours and into free agency.