A mix of blockbuster deals and overall trades galore made the 2023 NBA trade deadline a historic one.
Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on some of the most important topics around the league.
After trade deadline shuffling, how would you rank the top 4 teams in the West?
1. Denver Nuggets
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Dallas Mavericks
How crazy is the West now, post-trade deadline? The Lakers (25-31) woke up Friday in 13th place in the conference, 13 games behind Denver. Yet they nearly crashed my Top 4 here because of the bunching of the Nuggets and the Grizzlies. Only seven games separated Nos. 3 (Sacramento) and No. 13 with a third of the schedule remaining. With the additions of D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Mo Bamba, the Lakers added shooting and beefed up their bench. They also added by subtracting headstrong Russell Westbrook and irritant Patrick Beverly (though they will miss Thomas Bryant).
Those new toys with a renewed LeBron James and a (fingers crossed) healthy Anthony Davis should get L.A. into the Top 6. But no, not my Top 4.
Why? Denver is the class of the conference, with much to prove by taking the regular season seriously to the end. If Nikola Jokic is going to win a third consecutive Kia MVP, it must show up in the standings now, not just in the analytics, and falling shy of 50 victories yet again wasn’t going to get it done (for this voter, anyway). More than that, though, the Nuggets have continuity, an optimistic medical report and now Bryant as Jokic’s backup.
Are the Lakers in a position to make some noise and rise the West ranks?
The Suns’ overhaul to add Kevin Durant will be enough to vault them into the second seed. Depth and defense took dings, definitely, but the wonders opened up offensively with Chris Paul deploying Durant, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton will make it difficult for anyone to outscore Phoenix. For as big a name/talent as Durant is, he should be a pretty simple plug-and-play given his position and skill set.
Memphis showed it needed two things: more perimeter shooting and to get out of its own way, temperamentally. Luke Kennard coming in from the Clippers checks the first box after shooting 44.8% on 3-pointers over the past three seasons. Now it’s up to the brash, underappreciated-in-their-minds Grizzlies to stop running so hot, flatten out the streakiness and ready themselves to make playoff noise.
My choice of Dallas for the final home-court slot in the first round is simply a matter of, “If the Mavericks were good enough for fourth when Luka Doncic had precious little help, then …” With only 26 games left, noted contrarian and distraction Kyrie Irving might have time enough to impact these guys positively on the floor but not enough to mess them up off it.
1. Phoenix Suns
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Sacramento Kings
4. Dallas Mavericks
Nearly overnight, the Suns evolved from postseason underachiever to championship contender. That’s what happens when Kevin Durant joins your team. That presumes, of course, that Durant, Chris Paul and Devin Booker get healthy after all three have nursed injuries this season. From a chemistry standpoint, though, the Suns should experience a plug-and-play process with their star-studded lineup. The Suns gave up plenty of depth (Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder) and Draft capital (four unprotected first-round picks). But that is well worth the haul for Durant.
Beyond health concerns, however, the Suns will still have their hands full. The Nuggets have the most complete team with the reigning two-time MVP (Nikola Jokic), two healthier complementary players (Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.) and frontcourt help (Aaron Gordon). Denver strengthened its depth by acquiring Thomas Bryant from the Lakers and dealing intriguing-yet-frustrated youngster Bones Hyland to the Clippers.
Sacramento only acquired Kessler Edwards and cash from Brooklyn for David Machineau’s draft rights, but that’s okay. The Kings have already shown they are a potential contender with one of the league’s most talented duos in All-Stars Domantas Sabonis and guard De’Aaron Fox. They also have a solid mix of veteran leadership (Harrison Barnes) and promising young talent (Keegan Murray). Soon enough, the Kings will have to become an elite defensive team that coach Mike Brown typically oversaw in previous coaching stints. Yet Sacramento’s superb offense has been more than enough to light the beam.
The Mavericks may have to follow the same formula and have defensive issues of their own. After acquiring Irving from Brooklyn, the Mavericks could struggle even more on defense. Dallas coach Jason Kidd conceded the team’s defense remains “a work in progress” before lauding its offensive potential. Time will tell whether Irving and Doncic can avoid stepping on each other’s toes. But most signs point to them becoming the NBA’s best backcourt duo. Doncic will still be the primary playmaker, but should welcome a reduced workload. And while Irving remains unpredictable elsewhere, he has a dependable on-court track record of blending his talent well with other star teammates.
How does Kyrie Irving makes the Mavericks more dangerous in the West?
1. Denver Nuggets
2. Phoenix Suns
3. LA Clippers
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Kevin Durant to the Suns is an obvious game-changer for Phoenix. Until the trade, the Suns even with a healthy Devin Booker had seemingly lost their place in line and Chris Paul’s chances at that elusive title appeared slim to none. But in the NBA, more than any professional team sport, one superstar makes all the difference. Expect the Suns to grab an asset or two from the buyout market and the powerhouse makeover will be complete.
The Clippers did well at the deadline by adding Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland and Mason Plumlee for virtually nothing and also will go buyout shopping. Kawhi Leonard, we assume, is fresh after a season of load management.
That said, Denver has the best record (so far) and remains on top in the West for two very compelling reasons: Nikola Jokic is realistically gunning for a third straight MVP and the Nuggets’ core remains unchanged and intact. Unlike the Suns and Clippers, they’ve been together a while. That could make all the difference in a seven-game series.
1. Phoenix Suns
2. Denver Nuggets
3. LA Clippers
4. Memphis Grizzlies
Last season’s Suns were 64-18 and the only team that ranked in the top five on both ends of the floor. Their drop-off this season wasn’t entirely about health, but it was mostly about health. And now they’ve added one of the two best players in the league when he’s been healthy this season. Kevin Durant is having a historically good year, registering the highest true-shooting percentage (67.3%) for any player in NBA history averaging at least 28 points per game, while also playing great defense. Deandre Ayton’s ability to play big will be critical and depth could certainly be an issue (the Suns need Cam Payne and Landry Shamet to get back healthy), but this team now has the ability to have either Durant or Devin Booker on the floor for all 48 minutes.
The Nuggets have obviously been the best team in the West thus far; they have the best player in the league, and they should finish with the No. 1 seed. But they also have some depth issues and will have a tough time defending the Suns. Aaron Gordon can only guard one man at a time and Nikola Jokic will be put in a bevy of pick and rolls, which will either result in open looks for three great mid-range shooters or bend the Denver defense away from an elite scorer.
The Clippers are getting there. They’ve won eight of their last 10 games with both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and seven of those eight wins have been on the road. The Grizzlies (2-8 in their last 10) have obviously slipped a bit, but curiously got some help from the Clippers at the deadline and now have the two best 3-point shooters over the last two seasons.
The Clippers' trade deadline moves were clearly focused on improving their depth.
1. Denver Nuggets
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Dallas Mavericks
After the Kevin Durant trade, you probably expected the Suns to receive top billing. Surprise, surprise — they’ve got to prove it first. Besides, Denver deserves some respect. Many failed to notice, but Jamal Murray is back. He has scored 32 points or more in his last three outings (54.4% overall, 48.6% on 3-pointers) while averaging seven assists as the No. 2 option on the league’s top-rated offense. Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic keeps logging triple-doubles (an NBA-high 19 so far) and the trade deadline brought needed depth and physicality to the bench in the form of Thomas Bryant. The only major concern with Denver is whether it can sufficiently improve its 14th-ranked defense enough for a serious run.
Naturally, the addition of Durant makes the Suns a contender, especially when added to a core that includes veteran Chris Paul, young star Devin Booker and big man Deandre Ayton. The loss of budding talents like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are somewhat concerning. After all, both played key roles on Phoenix’s 2021 NBA Finals team. Booker won’t see near as many double teams as he did in the past with Durant in the fold, but the new starters will need time to come together.
Memphis and Dallas are basically neck and neck for the last two spots. In the Grizzlies’ case, they’ve lost eight of their last 10 and you wonder whether the team’s overall youth and brashness is finally catching up to them. Still, it’s better for Memphis to fight through these doldrums now than in March, and its second-rated defense should carry a struggling offense down the stretch.
The concern regarding Dallas stems from Kyrie Irving’s potential availability due to past volatility, as well as the fact the Mavericks sent away their best perimeter defender in Dorian Finney-Smith to land him. But Irving demonstrated Wednesday the ability to play off the ball, screen for teammates and get them open shots while generating his own, and Josh Green shows promise as a defender. Once Luka Doncic returns to the court, opponents will face the classic pick-your-poison dilemma when deciding which star to double team. Good luck.
> Trending Topics: Who are top 4 teams in East now?
