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This Thursday marks four weeks since a thrilling trade deadline.
We’re still acclimating to the sight of several star athletes in different jerseys, while they are adjusting to their new teammates and surroundings. However, it’s time to evaluate how some of the players who were traded in February are influencing playoff scenarios in both conferences.
Here are some observations, statistics, and video highlights of key players in their new roles…
The Lakers suffered defeats in two of Dončić’s first three appearances (against the Jazz and Hornets), but they have since reeled off seven consecutive victories, winning the last six with Dončić in the lineup. They currently sit in second place in the Western Conference, boasting the league’s top record (19-4) and holding the best defensive rating (107.9 points allowed per 100 possessions) since January 15.
Key stat: In the nine games with Dončić, the Lakers have taken 50.5% of their shots from beyond the arc, compared to just 39.6% in their 51 games without him.
Video highlight: Since joining the team, Dončić has led the Lakers with 83 attempts from 3-point range, while LeBron James is the leader in makes with 30—11 of which came from Dončić’s assists. James has converted 45.6% of his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers over the last two seasons, an increase from 36.6% over the preceding five.
Dončić excels at driving towards the basket and finding open shooters, but if the opposing big man is up at the perimeter, the weak-side defenders will need to collapse into the paint. Dončić, like James, possesses the size and strength to execute cross-court passes for rhythm shots before those defenders can close out…
The Lakers are one of only two teams with a league-high 22 games remaining in their schedule. They have the second-toughest remaining schedule based on cumulative opponent winning percentages, with 14 of the 22 contests against teams currently holding winning records. So far, they have a 19-12 record (fourth best) against this set of teams.
Their six-game homestand wraps up on Thursday with a game against the Knicks (10 p.m. ET, TNT). After that, they will embark on a four-game road trip starting in Boston on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
The Warriors have gone 9-2 since acquiring Butler (including 9-1 with him on the court), climbing from 11th to sixth place in the Western Conference.
Key stat: Over the 10 games in which Butler has played, the Warriors have averaged 6.7 fewer turnovers than their opponents—a significant improvement from the 0.6 fewer turnovers they averaged in their first 51 games.
Video highlight: With Butler on the court, Curry no longer has to create all the advantages himself and can capitalize on those provided by Butler. This was evident in New York on Tuesday, when Butler isolated against Jalen Brunson, made a strong drive to the left baseline, and attracted a defensive collapse. As a result, Mikal Bridges rotated off Curry, who then converted a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the right wing…
The Warriors will finish a five-game road trip in the Eastern Conference with a matchup against the Nets on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass). Two nights later, they will kick off a seven-game homestand, beginning with an exciting game against the Pistons (8:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass).
The Cavaliers are currently riding a remarkable 12-game win streak, boasting a perfect 10-0 record with Hunter in the lineup.
Key stat: Only 28 (11%) of Hunter’s 256 minutes with the Cavs have featured both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen on the floor together. His primary role has been at the four, and the Cavs have outscored their opponents by 20.1 points per 100 possessions in the 240 minutes he’s played alongside just one of the bigs.
That’s how they’ve successfully sealed three close games over the last six days.
Video highlight: While Hunter has played primarily on the perimeter throughout his career, he demonstrated his comfort operating in the paint against the Heat’s zone on Wednesday, whether it was scoring over a defender or assisting Mobley in the dunker spot…
The Cavaliers will be on the road for most of the upcoming three weeks, facing the Hornets on Friday (7 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass) and the Bucks on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). They hold the best record (11-3) in matchups between the top six teams in the East and will enjoy a rest advantage against Milwaukee.
Kuzma may not have the same impact as Butler or Dončić, and some could argue that he’s in Milwaukee more for financial considerations rather than basketball ones (his contract is cheaper than Khris Middleton’s, who was traded to acquire him). Nonetheless, the Bucks have been performing well lately, winning eight of their last nine games, with the top-ranked defense in that stretch.
Key stat: In his twelve games with Milwaukee, Kuzma has averaged 7.5 points in the paint, which would mark the highest average for a Bucks player (excluding Giannis Antetokounmpo) in the past two seasons.
Video highlight: The Bucks have traditionally struggled to score in the paint when Antetokounmpo isn’t leading the way. While Khris Middleton was a reliable shooter, Kuzma provides additional size on the wing and diversifies their offensive options through cutting and attacking the rim…
The Bucks’ recent victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday launches a stretch where they will play six of their next seven games at home, including important matchups against the fifth-seeded Pacers. Next up is a weekend back-to-back against the Magic and Cavaliers.
Here are some additional updates on players traded around the deadline…
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John Schuhmann serves as a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can reach him via email here, access his archive here, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
