As much attention as the NBA trade deadline receives – because it has long and short-term implications throughout the league – how frequently does a move result in a championship that season?
Last season, the Phoenix Suns acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster transaction; unfortunately, the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round. A year after signing Kyrie Irving to play alongside Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks failed to make the playoffs.
Over the last two decades, the trade deadline has resulted in moves that helped a team win a title.
P.J. Tucker helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the 2021 championship; Marc Gasol drove the Toronto Raptors to victory in 2019; and Rasheed Wallace led the Detroit Pistons to victory in 2004.
Teams are driven to make moves for a variety of reasons, and here are six teams that cannot stay pat before the trade deadline:
LA Lakers
December 12, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham and forward LeBron James (23) during the Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Lakers game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports
The Lakers, led by two All-Stars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, are on the verge of making the playoffs. They are not guaranteed to enter the playoffs, but they expected a deep run this season after reaching the Western Conference finals in 2023 and having what appeared to be a successful offseason with the roster. If the Lakers want to capitalize on James’ All-Star performance at 39 years old and Davis’ All-NBA performance, they must strengthen a squad that is average defensively and below-average offensively. It doesn’t help that the Los Angeles Clippers are on fire and the Boston Celtics have the best record in the NBA.
Boston Celtics
Every season, the Celtics want to win a championship. They have appeared in the Eastern Conference finals five times in the last seven seasons and will participate in the Finals in 2022. However, there is no title to show for it with a team led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. With Tatum, Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday, this could be Boston’s best team of the period. And it has the best chance of winning a title if it can sign the proper player, even if he is a reserve.
Oklahoma City Thunder
With a 35-15 record, the young Thunder are ahead of schedule, and it’s natural that they don’t want to disturb cohesion as they aim to construct a long-term club that can compete for a title in the following 7-10 seasons. There’s another line of thought. Championship windows open and close quickly, and the Thunder now have an opportunity with MVP-caliber guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, rising rookie center Chet Holmgren, and superb second-year guard-forward Jalen Williams. If there is a move that will get the Thunder closer to a championship this season, they should make it.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is on the verge of securing a top-five spot, but not the top four. The Suns, who are led by Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, may benefit from scoring support off the bench. Phoenix has the 26th-ranked bench offense, and with rotations shrinking in the playoffs, having a seventh or even eighth player who can offer offense will be beneficial.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have never reached the Finals. They’ve had good teams, and in 2021, they fell to Phoenix in the Western Conference Finals. Adding James Harden and Russell Westbrook to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George has put the Clippers in a strong position to compete for a championship, and there’s a lot to appreciate about this club both offensively and defensively. The Clippers, the league’s top team since December 1, have depth, but they’re also hoping to make a move that will help them compete with Denver, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota in the Western Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks
Do the Bucks have enough, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard? That is a question the front office must answer for a squad that is excellent offensively but average defensively. They recently changed coaches, choosing Doc Rivers to replace Adrian Griffin, who was in the middle of his first season as NBA head coach. If the Bucks locate a perimeter defender, that could be the answer to their second title in four seasons.
