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NBA Deadline Day: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook with new teams

2023-02-10T07:02:56.721Z


In the final 24 hours, the transfer phase in the NBA got wild again: After Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets said goodbye to another superstar in Kevin Durant. The Suns have upgraded massively.


Enlarge image

After Kyrie Irving (left, to the Dallas Mavericks), Kevin Durant (to the Phoenix Suns) has also left the Brooklyn Nets

Photo: John Minchillo / dpa

In the last 24 hours of the transfer window, most NBA teams have reshuffled their rosters, redistributing the roles of favorites for the playoffs.

The most spectacular change in the closing stages: Kevin Durant leaves the Brooklyn Nets and joins the Phoenix Suns.

The US media had already reported the "blockbuster trade" the day before, and on the final deadline day, those involved made the castling official with the participation of a total of four teams.

As a result, the Phoenix Suns with the trio of Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul suddenly became the bookmakers' favorite to win the Western Conference.

The Nets lose Irving and Durant

According to ESPN, 16 trades involving 49 players and 25 teams were completed in the final 24 hours of the NBA transition period.

Much of this was triggered by Kyrie Irving's request to change at the end of last week.

Instead of continuing to play with Durant at the Nets, the controversial basketball pro wanted to leave - and signed with the Dallas Mavericks for the German national player Maxi Kleber.

There he now forms an impressive pair of defenders with Luka Dončić.

On Wednesday night's debut, Irving impressed with 24 points in a 110-104 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Chair back at the Lakers

Their city rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers around German national team captain Dennis Schröder, have largely rebuilt the squad.

Schröder continues to play alongside NBA points record holder LeBron James and second star Anthony Davis.

Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, moved away (to the Utah Jazz), as did Patrick Beverly (to the Orlando Magic) and Thomas Bryant (to the Denver Nuggets).

Point guard D'Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves and center Mo Bamba from the Orlando Magic will play in the Lakers jersey in the future.

Phoenix Suns swap present for future

The Lakers are hoping to prevent another year without a playoff appearance with the changed roster.

With Durant, Booker and Paul, the Suns are suddenly even title candidates, but they also had to pay a high price for it: in Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Cam Johnson, three important role players were given up, and the Suns sacrificed four future first-round picks in talent training, dem draft.

In addition, Durant is still injured, and he should only be able to play again after the All-Star break in a week and a half.

mfu/dpa

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2023-02-10

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