The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and it was a busy one. The Golden State Warriors have gone from perennial NBA Finals favorites to battling for the number one pick in the draft, and they just improved their future by trading away the biggest name at the deadline. D’Angelo Russell is headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves where he will join fellow young phenom Karl-Anthony Towns to create two stars of their own to build around. Meanwhile the Warriors got an extra 2021 first round pick and the under-performing Andrew Wiggins who, with a fully healthy Warriors team, could actually fit in pretty well.

The Timberwolves were a third team really just watching in another big time deal that has many calling the Miami Heat a legit threat in the East after adding Andre Iguodala along with Solomon Hill and Jae Crowder. The Memphis Grizzlies took the often suspended Dion Waiters off Miami’s hands while also adding big man Gorgui Dieng and quality swing Justice Winslow. The Timberwolves added James Johnson, but that isn’t going to be a memorable piece of the deal.  

The Warriors did not end their dealings with the big trade with Minnesota, they sent Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III for a trio of second round picks.

The Los Angeles Clippers beat out the cross town Lakers to get Marcus Morris, while also adding Isaiah Thomas, by sending of Moe Harkless and a couple picks.

In the head scratcher of the week, Clint Capela seemingly hurt the Rockets chances of contending after he was sent to the Atlanta Hawks along with Nene and they received Robert Covington and Jordan Bell in the deal, who was then sent along to Memphis for Bruno Caboclo. The Timberwolves landed Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Jarred Vanderbilt, and a first rounder while the Nuggets added Gerald Green, Noah Vonley, Keita Bates-Diop, a first rounder, and Shabazz Napier, who was subsequently flipped.

The trade that may have come as the biggest surprise as it was not between contenders was the Cleveland Cavaliers got big man Andre Drummond for just John Henson, Brandon Knight, and a second round pick.

Finally, the Hawks parted with Alex Len and Jabari Parker (another highly touted but underperforming player) to reunite with Dewayne Dedmon and a couple of second rounders.

Overall, the contenders were rather quiet, but ther lower level clubs this season were quite active in setting themselves up for the future.