It�s the most, wonderful time of the year!

The much anticipated, collectively enormous, eight-team mega trade went down in the NSL this week. As Week Nine ticked over, a slew of players who were signed as FAs were legally able to be moved in trade deals. Idle hands are the Devil�s playground. Despite the trade restrictions, with time and motivation, willing managers can get very creative and cooperative when the success of a deal is at stake.

Here is one analysis of the deal affectionately titled, �Mega-Trade�. The winner, Utah, followed by San Antonio (of course). Everything else appears in order, but it would take a positive soul to evaluate the Mavericks� trade exchange as beneficial.


Portland Trailblazers

Received: LeBron James, Joe Ingles, 2023 Milwaukee 2^nd, 2027 San Antonio 2^nd

Traded: James Harden, Khem Birch, Torrey Craig, Keita Bates-Diop

The trade seven months in the making finally comes to fruition, and the Portland GM could not be more indifferent. A lot has changed since July; yes, JMAC still whines all the time about all the injustices that plague his beloved Blazers, but the position restrictions and season�s settings mean they aren�t getting Super Saiyan LeBron. Beloved Harden exits, as do spirted role players Torrey Craig, Khem Birch and Keita Bates-Diop. Due to particular and difficult salary factors, a few extra players had to depart. Joe Ingles makes his way to Portland in the deal, and Portland receives two late seconds for greasing the deal.



San Antonio Spurs

Received: James Harden, Christian Wood, Mike Conley, Malachi Flynn, Facundo Campazzo.

Traded: LeBron James, Marvin Bagley, Justise Winslow, Terrence Ross, Jordan Hall, 2027 Detroit 1st, 2024 OKC 2nd

Brava! The Spurs do a lot of things in the NSL-realm, all of which they do well (except for humility). However, there�s no denying they are elite, creative and persistent traders and this bountiful return supports that notion. They trade the GOAT and get better. The Lebron-Harden deal has paid dividends for San Antonio since July and should continue to do so with a highly-efficient Harden being 2k23�s fancy this season. The real value, however, is in shipping always-injured Marvin Bagley for Christian Wood. The rich get richer. A fantastic team builder, Spurs have taken on Mike Conley to run the second unit. Spurs doing Spurs things, winning.


Memphis Grizzlies

Received: Bradley Beal, Kyle Anderson, 2023 Utah 2^nd, 2026 Portland 2nd

Traded: Mike Conley, Caris Levert, Bruce Brown, 2023 Sacramento 1^st, 2024 LAL 1^st, 2027 Phoenix 1^st

Memphis have gotten the chequebook out and put it all on red, going all in for the first time in their NSL tenure. Imagine adding two extra All-Star players to your team within a month or so � GMOTY numbers. Speaking of numbers, the Grizzlies probably boast the best-rated team in the NSL, while also having the most astronomically high lux-tax fine in NSL history at almost 200 GM points. Rootsey wants to win and knows how to do just that. FA bonus Bruce Brown brings more value back to Memphis in the form of Kyle Anderson, a Memphis favourite. Is this the year for the Grizzlies to take the next step? There is no doubt they gave up a heap for Beal � will the decision be vindicated?



Utah Jazz

Received: Caris Levert, Terrence Ross, 2023 Sacramento 1^st, 2024 LAL 1^st, 2027 Detroit 1^st, 2027 Phoenix 1^st

Traded: Bradley Beal (99 GMS), 2023 Utah 2^nd, 2026 Portland 2^nd

Man, look at that haul. The long shot on FA-day has been a value bonanza for the rebuilding Jazz. Having no need or want to Bradley Beal, they managed to get a fantastic return on Beal, and then some further draft value in moving Conley on to a contender. Utah playing that sweet, sweet victory music. Imagine being Jas when the trade went through!



Sacramento Kings

Received: Bruce Brown, Torrey Craig, Khem Birch

Traded: Kyle Anderson, Joe Ingles, Yuta Watanabe, 2027 San Antonio 2^nd

The Kings combined elements of three separate deals here, cycling through supporting-cast pieces to better balance their team. Yuta Watanabe was from a previous deal with the Knicks. Craig and Birch should move into the Kings� rotation from the get-go, and Bruce Brown might even get some starts. They move on Slo-Mo, who may have disappointed during his time in Sacramento this season. Ingles has just recovered from a major knee injury and was a free swing on FA-day. The Kings stay subtle but refine their bench in the deal.


Dallas Mavericks

Received: Marvin Bagley, Justise Winslow, 2024 OKC 2^nd

Traded: Christian Wood, Malachi Flynn

Damage control continues in Dallas, as they value the length of Bagley�s deal over the unknown future of Christian Wood, despite paying a big price to get him earlier in the season and him being much more talented than Bagley (as it stands). I can�t imagine there was a huge market for Wood, but it does seem like they take a big value hit, here. Not what the Mavs needed during a trying time.

Brooklyn Nets

Received: Keita-Bates Diop, Jordan Hall

Traded: Facundo Campazzo, 2027 San Antonio 2nd

Brooklyn jumps in on the trade late, scooping up a glitchy, underrated forward in Keita Bates-Diop for a very late, very future Spurs 2^nd. No risk move for Nets as they try to add more impact to their lineup.


New York Knicks

Received: Yuta Watanabe

Traded: N/A

Not really anything to see here. Smokey is on the Mt. Rushmore of trading, but this was just tying up loose ends of a previous deal.