Best moves of the NBA trade deadline 2023

This NBA trade deadline will go down as one of the most hectic in recent memory, with superstars changing course to challenge for the championship and others bolstering their hopes of making the playoffs.

Let's look through some of the best trades that happened over the last week!

Despite joining in separate trades, the Los Angeles Clippers will be happy with their trade business in the past month, acquiring Bones Hyland from Denver and Eric Gordon from Houston.

The Clippers currently sit sixth In the Western Conference and these trades will help bolster their backcourt, relieving some pressure off their injury-prone superstar pair, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

It's no secret that LeBron James and Anthony Davis have had a depleted team ever since they won the NBA Championship in 2020.

Sharpshooter D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt have all joined the Lakers, with Russell Westbrook moving to Utah. The Lakers currently sit 13^th in the West but this trade could be the first step towards challenging for the playoffs.

It may not be the most glamorous trade of the deadline, however, the importance of it for the Denver Nuggets cannot be disputed.

Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has been short of help in the center position, averaging 33.6 minutes a game at 7ft. The addition of Bryant will give cover to Jokic and help the Nuggets massively on the defensive end off the bench.

Luka Doncic has required help to assist him and his Dallas Mavericks to push for an NBA Championship. Luckily for them, superstar Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, giving Mavs owner Mark Cuban the green light to go after support for his team.

Eight-time All-Star Irving is an elite scorer and playmaker, and has the experience of winning a ring. It remains to see if he will be a perfect fit for Doncic, but it still makes them an automatic title threat in the West.

The Phoenix Suns believe their championship window is now, with the addition of 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets.

The Suns sit fifth in the West but with the addition of Durant, they are now betting favorites to get the NBA Finals, according to Yahoo Sports. The Suns will have the best starting five on paper in the league, having all-stars Chris Paul and Devin Booker already on the roster.

Despite the loss of Durant and Irving, the Brooklyn Nets have squeezed every possible asset out of the superstar pair, giving the future a bright prospect.

The Nets have gained five unprotected first-round picks, last year's defensive player of the year runner-up Mikel Bridges, solid role players in Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Spencer Dinwiddie, and two second-round picks.

After being drafted second in the 2020 NBA draft, James Wiseman's time at Golden State was one to forget for both parties. However, the Warriors have managed to ship him out and bring back a former valuable asset, Gary Payton ll.

The reigning champions' defense has been the reason for such a mediocre season, and Payton will have an immediate impact on that end, knowing the team and the system after being a key player off the bench in their title run last year.