Seven big winners and losers

Loser: Boston Celtics

Although Fail Davis's change was in favor of the Celtics, the rest of what happened must worry them. The other three contenders at the Eastern Conference were indicted when Boston moved away from Jabari Bird's deal with the Atlanta Hawks for a spot on the list. The challenge of returning to the East now seems even more daunting for the Celtics, who have also seen the New York Knicks create enough space to sign two free agents to maximize contracts, perhaps even Irving.

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Because of Irving's free will, Boston seems to have more chances to play in this year's playoffs than any other team. Two roads are coming this summer: Irving is signing up again and the Celtics are negotiating with Davis, or Irving is going and this change makes no sense for Boston. It is not certain that there is a middle point between these two extremes.

As if that were not enough, the Clippers' decision to send striker Tobias Harris to the 76ers could have weakened two of the four possible first-round picks. that the Celtics could have this June. The selection that the Clippers owe Boston is protected by the lottery this season and the next, which means that if they leave the race for the playoffs, they retain their selection now and could never send a first round to Celtics.

Meanwhile, a slowing of the Clippers would increase the chances that the Sacramento Kings will reach the playoffs as the eighth-seeded Western Conference, which would hurt the Celtics' selection as this would not be the total number.

To Decide: Los Angeles Lakers

If your view of whether the Lakers are winners or losers depends solely on their ability to move to Davis, there is no doubt that They are losers. Before the deadline, the Lakers were the only realistic destination for Davis and the Pelicans' expectation opened up a potential exchange with Boston, as well as with any team getting first overall pick.

Yes, on the contrary. is the setting that gives the Lakers the best chance of winning a championship, I said that giving up all your young hopes and additional draft picks was not a good idea.

It is quite possible that the Davis Prize will be lower this summer if the Boston bid is hampered by the fear that it will no longer be possible to sign again if Irving is going away, and that a team having no hope of signing again Davis gets first place in the repechage. Before the deadline, the Lakers were bidding against a possible deal with the Celtics. Now, we'll see if the real offer lives up to expectations.

Winner: Milwaukee Bucks

Of the three Eastern contenders who added a key element to the rotation, I appreciated the treatment more. Milwaukee Since the Bucks should have been favored to win the East because of their league point differential and their solid end-to-end performance, they needed less improvement. But they left relatively little to add another quality shooter, Nikola Mirotic, who will make Milwaukee even harder to defend without making a lot of defense sacrifices.

Philadelphia improved with the addition of Harris, but he had more margin for progression, as he was the weakest of these teams unlike points. (With more than 3.2 points per game, the Sixers are still behind the Indiana Pacers by this measure). Philadelphia has doubled with a good starting point with Harris, but will have to hope to add depth to the shopping market after making only modest additions to the bank (James Ennis and Jonathon Simmons).

I liked the Toronto agreement. Marc Gasol, but I'm not sure Gasol is moving the needle at this stage of his career. Mirotic could be a more impactful acquisition and a better fit for his new team.

Loser: West Conference contenders

The top seven teams in the Western Qualifier combined to add three players. through exchanges over the past week: Iman Shumpert (Houston Rockets), Rodney Hood and Skal Labissiere (Portland Trail Blazers). It's incredible considering the power vacuum at the top of the conference as a challenger to the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors.

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At the end of the trading date, we propose a ranking of the most important changes of the 2018-19 season

Each team had different reasons not to make a big move, or any move, from luxury tax concerns (Denver, Houston, Oklahoma City, Portland) to an already deep depth (Denver, San Antonio, Utah) for potentially enter the shopping market (Houston, Oklahoma City) at the price of any larger transactions being simply too high (Utah).

Although they are the last in the group's ranking vying, I think the missed opportunity has been more painful for the Jazz, which has had several expired contracts to use in an exchange and it is unlikely that it's a destination for free agents this summer. An agreement for Mike Conley as well as a favorable schedule could have brought Utah to the advantage of playing at home in the first round of playoffs, and potentially up to the final stages of the tournament. Western Conference.

The inactivity of other candidates makes the difference. Warriors are winners for their chances of returning to the NBA Finals. Unfortunately for Golden State, with contenders in charge, another sweep in the final might not be realistic.

Winner: The Clippers

Unlike the Knicks, the Clippers did not technically do much. to make it easier to find two free agents this summer. The transfer of the $ 2 million guaranteed portion of Avery Bradley's salary for the 2019-2020 period was offset by the negotiation of the Ivica Zubac Center, the maximum limit of which as a restricted free agent will be equivalent. The Clippers were already able to sign a maximum free agent, with routes to add a second. Instead, they are preparing to circle the player or players who sign with a lot of young talent.

Loser: Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies turned the page one of its pillars of franchise in Gasol without getting a first-round selection, or even a second round of consequences. (The Raptors will send their second-round selection to Memphis in 2024, while prospective high school students are already in seventh grade). The young player that the Grizzlies won, Delon Wright, will have to sign again as a restricted free agent this summer.

Simultaneously, Memphis did not move at all with Conley. Perhaps Conley's market will be really better this summer, as the Grizzlies hope, when franchise teams can reach the ceiling without having to return the salary in exchange. But a team that faces Conley will now have two playoffs with him instead of three, and if he plays for the rest of the season, Memphis runs the risk of an injury that destroys his value.