Prior to the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline, players such as Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, Hassan Whiteside, Ryan Anderson and Al Horford were all being discussed in different trade scenarios. When all was said and done, none of those players ever ended up being dealt as the excitement around the deadline largely flamed out. Here are the winners and losers of the deals that actually happened.
Winner: Detroit Pistons
Getty ImagesThe Pistons were the biggest winners of the deadline as they added Marcus Thornton, Donatas Motiejunas and Tobias Harris for Joel Anthony, Ersan Ilyasova, Brandon Jennings and a first-round pick. They are legit threats in the East now.
Loser: Memphis Grizzlies
Getty ImagesThe Grizzlies traded Courtney Lee and Jeff Green for P.J. Hairston, Chris Andersen, Lance Stephenson and a first-round pick. I have no idea what general manager Chris Wallace was thinking. Expect some negative fireworks in the second half.
Winner: Washington Wizards
Getty ImagesAfter watching the Pistons make two deals to improve their team, the Wizards needed to pull off a deal to have a shot to make the playoffs. They ended up adding Markieff Morris, who should flourish with John Wall.
Loser: Houston Rockets
Getty ImagesThe Rockets weren't able to find a trade partner willing to take Dwight Howard, which was a big negative, but then they also gave Thornton and Motiejunas away to the Pistons. It was a true failure for Daryl Morey.
Winner: Los Angeles Clippers
Getty ImagesGetting rid of Josh Smith a few weeks back was a start, but then convincing the Grizzlies to take Lance Stephenson and getting Jeff Green in return was pure magic by the Clippers.
Loser: Boston Celtics
Getty ImagesThe Celtics had the pieces and draft picks to make a blockbuster trade happen, but Danny Ainge didn't pull the trigger. There's no way the team can take down the Cavaliers as currently constructed, which puts them in the loser category.
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
Getty ImagesAlthough many people won't see it this way, the deal the Thunder made for Randy Foye was solid. D.J. Augustin and Steve Novak weren't getting minutes and Foye could possibly end up playing more than Dion Waiters in the second half.
Loser: Dallas Mavericks
Getty ImagesThe Mavericks sat dormant while a number of teams in the Western Conference playoff race got better. They desperately needed to find some shooting help, but never got a deal together.
Winner: Charlotte Hornets
Getty ImagesAlthough it would've been nice to see them get Howard for Al Jefferson and Spencer Hawes, adding a player of Courtney Lee's caliber to replace the injured Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be huge down the stretch.
Loser: Miami Heat
Getty ImagesThe Heat could potentially lose Chris Bosh for the rest of the season, but were relatively quiet in trade talks other than some chatter early about Howard. Now they won't get anything for Whiteside and could lose Bosh for quite some time.
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