. This particular deadline was already destined for the NBA history books with the shocking swap of Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, marking what many agree is the biggest trade in league history. But the seismic move shifted the proverbial tectonic plates of the rest of the league, too, as other teams followed suit with their own dramatic dominos. The annual February musical chairs have never had a more feverish soundtrack, so let’s break down the preliminary assessment of which teams came out ahead, and which ones got left seatless.
Los Angeles Lakers Several teams got markedly better at the deadline. But only one of them pulled off a trade so unbelievable that the entire internet assumed that the reporter who broke the news must have gotten hacked. Players like Luka Dončić just don’t become available via trade, especially not at age 25, but for reasons maybe not ever knowable, he did, and the Lakers were able to capitalize. Yes, losing Anthony Davis and Max Christie stung, but nothing eases the pain of losing your best player and a promising young wing like getting back literally one of the top three best players in the league at the beginning of his prime. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka was able to shake off years-long criticisms that he’s been too inactive and risk-averse by not only executing the splashiest trade in league history, but also basically fully retooling the roster into a bona fide contender between December and February. He swapped rebellious point guard D’Angelo Russell for three-and-D stalwart Dorian Finney-Smith in late December, and then followed up the Dončić acquisition by swapping …
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