5 TEAMS THAT VASTLY IMPROVED AT THE TRADE DEADLINE

Taking a closer look at the five teams that vastly improved at the NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, and there were certainly a few fireworks in the last week. Even though we didn’t see “the big name” – which many could assume to be Anthony Davis – moved, there were certainly many other smaller deals that could very well make a real difference by the time this season is over and done with.

Overall, there were more than 20 official trades that went down over the course of the week leading up to the trade deadline. And they varied from teams making moves for the future vs. teams making moves for their upcoming playoff push.

Which of the deals will have the biggest impact during the second half of the season, and into the playoffs? Even though that’s certainly not an easy question to answer – because predicting professional sports never is an east task to accomplish – we attempt to do so with naming the five teams that improved the most after the trade deadline.

And we begin with a team that might’ve won the arms race that took place in the Eastern Conference.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Additions: Nikola Mirotic 

It’s no surprise to see the Milwaukee Bucks on this list. This is a team that has been consistently one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and they currently sit atop the conference standings at the moment.

Even without making a move at the NBA Trade Deadline, the Bucks would still be one of the favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals once the playoffs begin. However, this team managed to add Nikola Mirotic, a sharp-shooting forward at the deadline.

During his time with the New Orleans Pelicans this season, Mirotic has averaged 17 points and seven rebounds on 45 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range. He will come in and automatically help stretch the defense, something the Bucks will definitely have use for come playoff time.

There’s no question that the Bucks got better at the deadline. Question is, was it enough to put this team over the top in the East?

TORONTO RAPTORS

Additions: Marc Gasol 

The Toronto Raptors are another team who participated in the Eastern Conference arms race at the NBA Trade Deadline. The Raptors were red-hot to start the season, but have fallen off pace over the last few weeks.

Even though they are comfortably sitting in the second seed of the East, this is a team that has much to prove – in both the regular season and in the playoffs. Toronto has one of the most talented teams in the NBA, and got better at the deadline by bringing in one of the best overall centers in the league.

Marc Gasol joins the team on the backend of his prime, but is still very much an asset that will help this team as they attempt to breakthrough in a LeBron-less Eastern Conference. This team has drastically changed in the last year, and it’s clear that this franchise is all-in on this season.

Will it pay off?

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Additions: Tobias Harris, James Ennis 

At the NBA Trade Deadline, there was probably not a more active team than the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers added Tobias Harris and James Ennis at the deadline, while cutting loose on Markelle Fultz at the buzzer.

The team is now led by the Big 4 of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and Harris. Talent is no longer an issue, if it ever was, for this team. And that will no longer be something that the team can revert back to when cranking up the excuse machine.

The Sixers might have the most talented roster in the Eastern Conference, and it’s going to be interesting to see if this team can manage to bring it all together and translate it to on-the-court success over the next few weeks and into the playoffs.

Philly is no longer that young, talent team hoping to surprise teams in the playoffs. This team will now have to live up to expectations.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Additions: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. 

There might not be a team that has transformed more since the start of the season than the Dallas Mavericks, who have only one game one starter still on their roster. The Mavs traded Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, DeAndre Jordan and Dennis Smith Jr. all in the matter of a week.

The only starter still standing is Luka Doncic, who has been on a tear this season en route to probably willing the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. The big addition, of course, was the addition of Kristaps Porzingis, who will probably not play at all this season but has all the potential and talent in the world.

Dallas is hoping that the duo of Porzingis and Doncic will be the start of a prolonged dynasty. To top it all off, this is a team that will have a good amount of cap room this summer. Will they be able to attract one big-name away from some of the other big cities?

SACRAMENTO KINGS

Additions: Harrison Barnes, Caleb Swanigan

Perhaps you didn’t expect to see a team like the Sacramento Kings on this list, but this is a team that certainly got better at the NBA Trade Deadline by adding Harrison Barnes, who at the small forward fills a huge hole that this team has had for the majority of the year.

The Kings are tied for the 8th seed in the Western Conference standings, and would qualify for the playoffs should the season end today. However, if they are going to make a real push for the playoffs during the second half of the season, they’re going to have to hold off the Los Angeles Lakers.

And even though the Lakers didn’t make a big move at the NBA’s Trade Deadline, LeBron James has made his way back into the lineup and you can bet that they’re going to make a real move up the standings before the regular season is over and done with.

The addition of Barnes should help the Kings either way. But even if they don’t qualify for the playoffs this season, the future is bright in Sacramento. And there’s a very real chance that Barnes is a part of that.