The NBA is set to start its stretch run after the consummation of an All Star Weekend overshadowed by a riveting trade deadline just days after LeBron's monumental setting of the all-time scoring record. 28 of the 30 NBA teams made a trade leading up to the deadline on February 9th, with only Cleveland and Chicago refraining, but that didn't stop them from making roster moves still. We'll take a look at the major moves made and where the East and the West stand as the last six weeks of the regular season commence on Thursday. But first, some glory to the king.
From "Jumping” Joe Fulks (8,003 - total points scored, 1947 - year record achieved) to George Mikan (10,156, 1953) to Dolph Schayes (18,438, 1958) to George Pettit (20,880, 1964) to Wilt (31,419, 1966) then Kareem (38,387, 1984) and now finally LeBron James (38,411, 2023), a veritable who's who of all-time basketball greats have held the all-time scoring record. I suppose an honorable mention must go to Knicks point guard Ossie Schectman who is credited with the first basket in NBA history and thus for a short time held the record as well.
LeBron surpassed Kareem in 150 less games though it should be noted Kareem did play four years in college. When LeBron passed Jordan in points, he did it in over 100 more games played but with 1,300 less shots. Here's the current all-time Top 10 in career scoring in the NBA. First place will likely never be surpassed due to the longevity and consistently high scoring proclivity needed. Kevin Durant, who I consider the greatest singular scorer of all time, lost too many years with injury and likely had the best chance to mount a serious challenge (he's currently 14th with 26,684).
Here's the immortal record-breaking shot:
NBA All Star Weekend came and went with the usual amount of complaining and too much Malone. Warning: terrible pun incoming. Maybe the NBA determined Utah isn't ready for the post-Malone era. Mac McLung saved the Slam Dunk Contest, something that seems to need to happen every few years and he was maybe the only real winner of the weekend. The All-Star Game itself, something I lost interest in watching long ago, seemed to lack more defense then well, last year's game. They didn't even play any near the end of the game. At least make a competitive show of it the last couple minutes fellas. But maybe we can't handle being embarrassed in our rabid social media world. Probably a big reason the stars don't partake in the Dunk contest. Didn't matter this year. These were all-time classics. Stay gold, Mac McLung.
But the biggest news in the NBA this year was Kevin Durant being jettisoned to the Phoenix Suns just an hour into deadline day. Traded along with T.J. Warren for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four unprotected future 1st round draft picks. It was an incredible get for Phoenix and positions them as the title favorite though it's not a foregone conclusion. The NBA timeline leading into the Thursday deadline dominated sports news even during Super Bowl week.
On Friday, February 3rd, less than a week before the trade deadline, the mercurial (and misunderstood) Kyrie Irving asked for a trade yet again. The Lakers, Mavericks, Clippers, and Suns ears perked up at this news according to reports. It had long been rumored that a Kyrie-LeBron reunion would take place in Los Angeles which made the Lakers seem like favorites but it was the other L.A. team that could probably offer the best deal for Brooklyn. But come that Sunday it was neither squad as the Dallas Mavericks made a surprise trade sending Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and a 2029 unprotected first round pick to Brooklyn for a new backcourt mate for franchise player Luka Doncic.
Now all Dallas has to do is hope it all works out between those two so they can re-sign Kyrie long term and hopefully have a real contender on their hands. Rumors came out that Nets owner Joe Tsai, frustrated with Kyrie's team-last conduct, did not want to trade him to his preferred destination of the Lakers. Still, they remain a strong contender to sign him if he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer which would only happen if he and Mark Cuban can't come to a deal beforehand. A risk for Dallas to trade for him sure, but Cuban probably believes he has the moxie to keep Kyrie in Texas long term.
The Lakers made their own major trade two days later sending Russell Westbrook and a 2027 top 4 protected first round pick along with role players Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones to Utah in a three way deal with Minnesota for D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt. The Lakers got back their own former overall 2nd pick in the draft out of Ohio State in D'Angelo Russell and improved their shooting and defense all while getting rid of all the bad vibes and finally separating themselves from the awful Russell Westbrook deal that likely cost them the playoffs last year.
But with the Lakers all of a sudden feeling pretty good about making some noise in the West this year, the Durant news broke after midnight and set the NBA afire. One of the three or four best players in the world had just moved from one contender to another and now all bets were off. By the 3pm deadline the day after, 23 teams had made a trade to position themselves within this new power balance in the NBA. Here's a look at some moves of interest and where contenders currently stand. You can find a complete list here.
The Golden State Warriors saved over $130 million in luxury tax payments by trading former number 2 overall pick James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons. They're currently 29-29 and in 9th place in the West but have Steph Curry out indefinitely with partial ligament tears in his lower leg. With uncertainty surrounding when he can return, the Warriors are in danger of falling out of the play-in spot. A big blow to the defending world champions.back-to-back aspirations though a healthy Warriors team, if they make the playoffs can surely make some noise.
The revamped Lakers face an uphill climb as they're currently in 13th place (out of 15) in the West with a 27-32 record. But they still remain only five games back of the 4th seed with the 4th easiest remaining schedule in the conference. Much to Lakers fans’ delight, that 4th seed, the rival Clippers will be signing a bought out Russell Westbrook. Though Westbrook has been solid off the bench this year, he still can't shoot and commits inopportune turnovers which have left many scratching their heads on why the Clips would bring him on.
The Cavs didn't make any trades but they did buy out Kevin Love and signed Danny Green. A pretty decent pickup if Green can quickly regain past form after returning this month from a torn ACL suffered in May of last year. The Love thing was done out of respect for the 15-year veteran and the loyalty he's shown Cleveland. It's a tough reality in sports as a popular athlete ages out of his prime and wants to play some more but just can't provide what a team contending for a deep playoff run needs. Love will try to get more minutes in balmy Florida after signing with Miami on Monday.
As far as the biggest winners of the NBA trade deadline, the Suns should get Durant back from a sprained knee relatively soon and begin an ascension up the West standings. All eyes will be on Denver, currently leading the West by five games and considered the best threat to thwart an inevitable Suns triumph there.
In the East, the Celtics and Bucks are vying for the top seed with the 76ers and the Cavs not far behind. The Cavs have the best defense in the NBA and are battling the Sixers for the third seed. With Brooklyn losing the rest of their disappointing super team, the East should come down to a final four of Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. These last 25 games or so may really determine which of these teams are in the best position for an Eastern Conference playoff run. The NBA regular season ends on April 9th.
