The 2023 NBA Trade Deadline was a day to remember. Many big names like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were moved and many teams retooled their roster. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards were the only teams not to make a trade.
The Bulls had many rumors surrounding their star players but did nothing. The Cavs were in need of a new starting small forward, but never made a move.
Although the Cavs never made a trade, a few former Cavaliers were moved during the deadline. Three in particular were Jae Crowder, George Hill, and Danny Green.
Today, we will look over the deals to see if these players are luckily winners or unfortunate losers.
Jae Crowder started out the 2022-23 season on the Phoenix Suns, but he didn’t seem happy about it. He came to the Suns in the 2020-21 season and was able to make a trip to the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks. Crowder continued his role with the Suns the next season but had a rough Game 7 ending against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Semifinals. Crowder had yet to step on the court for the
Suns this season and wanted to be traded to a contender. Crowder was first involved in a trade that sent Brooklyn Nets Star, Kevin Durant, to the Suns. Brooklyn was looking to start their rebuild process after the KD/Irving Saga. Crowder would be counted as a loser for going to a rebuilding team, but the Nets had a different idea in mind. They moved Crowder to the Bucks in exchange for five second-round picks. Crowder is now a winner at the deadline because he got his wish to go to a contender.
George Hill wasn’t as lucky. George Hill’s role in the NBA has decreased as seasons go by. Hill was moved by the Bucks to the Indiana Pacers. He basically went from a contender to a rebuilding team. It is unknown how many minutes he will have or how much of an impact he will have on the court. He is mostly a loser in the deal because he won’t have a shot at the title.
Danny Green is an unknown case. He hasn’t played much this season due to injury. He started off on the Memphis Grizzlies as he rehabbed his injuries. He was involved in a three-team trade that sent Eric Gordon to the LA Clippers and was sent to the Houston Rockets. This trade is a loss/win for Danny Green.
It was a loss because he was moved to a rebuilding team, but a win because he was bought out by the Rockets. He was able to join any team he wanted but has decided to sign with the Cavaliers. He will have a good impact on the Cavs core as well as be a meaningful bench player and veteran in the locker room.
The deadline had two winners in Crowder and Green, and one loser in Hill.
Hopefully, these players will have a good impact on their teams, but hopefully Green’s choice to sign with the Cavs will have the best impact.