NBA trade deadline winners and losers: bulls, nuggets big swings; Make magic again

The 2021 NBA trade deadline was as much as those deals was not As it was actually completed.

Rappers star Kyle Lowry, considered the most influential player available before Thursday’s deadline, ended up living in Toronto (Kuan, Tampa, but you get it). The Hawks closed John Collins’ conversation long ago. The Pelicans did not move the Lonzo Ball. Andre Drummond and LaMerus Aldridge are venturing into the purchase market.

MORE: Ivan Fornier viciously pranks Celtics fans at trade deadline

Sure, Deadline had a lot of transactions on the day, including a trade that included an All-Star center. But it would be very difficult to say that any deal changed the championship picture.

Does the lack of blockbuster trades mean that we have focused on our annual naming of winners and losers? Not at all let’s do this.

Nba trade deadline winners

Bulls

Chicago made several trades on Thursday, but the reason the Bulls emerged as the winner is Nikola Vusevic. He was supposed to let Otto Porter Jr., Wendell Carter Jr. and two lightly protected first-round picks, but Voevesik gives his offense an entirely new element.

The 30-year-old elder is in the midst of a career year that earned him an All-Star selection. He is able to score in the paint (Third-highest point at post-up in 2020-21), As a roll man on pick-and-roll (League-high 6.1 points per game) And beyond the arc (career-high 40.6 percent on 3-pointers). The Vucevic should be a great fit with the Zach LaVine.

Does Wisewick make the Bulls a true contender in the Eastern Conference? No not really. But it is a winning move for a franchise that has participated in a total of six playoff games in the last five seasons. Everything should not be titled or tank.

Lu williams jokes and magic city

“Lemon Paper Loo” was traded to Atlanta, sparking an avalanche of Twitter jokes. Get that order ready, Magic City!

Nuggets

Aaron Gordon was misunderstood as the No. 1 option for the Magic team, which was in dire need of a superstar. He was always destined to play a specific role player that meets specific needs.

Well, here is his chance. Denver sent a 2025 protected first round pick to acquire Gary Harris, RJ Hampton and Gordon, giving the Nuggets a versatile defender capable of matching the Western Conference top wings. (Nobody can stop people like Lebron James and Qui Leonard, but Gordon is at least made to challenge them)

Gordon should also benefit from playing on the offensive end of MVP candidate Nikola Joki. Imagine a spotting Gordon on the perimeter (43.5 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers this season.) Or find him for easy bucket to rim and slicing.

It’s unclear how Gordon would raise the ceiling for a team with real expectations, but it’s a worthwhile gamble for Denver.

Sam Presti’s passion for draft pics

It would be nice if the general manager of the Thunder loves the flexibility of the future.

This is just crazy.

Twitter account of Terence Ross

Apologies to ESPN’s Adrian Wojrowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania, but these were the best tweets of the day:

Nba trade deadline losers

Danny Anging and the Celtics

Let’s be clear: newly formed shooting guard Ivan Fornier should help Celtic. He averages around 20 points per game and presents Boston with a legitimate producer behind Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum and Kemble Walker.

However, it was yet another deadline that saw the Celtic president of basketball operation Danny Anging Almost Get a game-changer. Boston was recently considered a favorite for Gordon as of Wednesday, yet he went to Denver. The Celtics also moved Daniel Theis in an apparent salary dump without bringing in another quality center.

But hey, at least they can make another trade exception that will help them Almost Later snag someone.

Magic

It is understandable that Orlando wants to go for complete turmoil considering this version of Magic as a full-on punching bag and currently has the second-worst record in the East. Here are some tricky pieces for his creation – Carter, Markelle Fultz, and Jonathan Issac among them.

If you literally lose three of your top four scorers, however, you have to stay in the losing category. This is going to be a tough final stretch for the Magic.

Raptor (probably)

It certainly felt that Laurie played his final game as a Raptor on Wednesday night.

Surprise! The greatest player in franchise history.

On the surface, it feels as if the Raptors missed their chance to get the property back for Laurie, who is set to enter unrestricted free agency this summer. Now there is a chance that he walks for nothing.

So, why keep it? Toronto president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri did not get “a package that compelled him” to trade Lori, and Laurie was “fine” with the idea of ​​playing out of season, According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojrowski. It is possible that Laurie re-signs with the Raptors or agrees to a sign-and-trade scenario at Offsen. The relationship between Laurie and the front office is clearly solid.

We would put the Raptors as temporary losers (because it was annoying to wait a long time for nothing to happen).