But it has certainly been consequential, and I think ESPN analyst Bobby Marks summed it up adequately on the network’s NBA coverage this morning when he said, “The trade deadline is the new free agency.

The final numbers from the trade deadline: no fewer than eight current and past All-Stars, some of them recent All-NBA selections, some among the league's highest scorers and even three Olympic gold medalists,

The Trail Blazers would likely want to make room to have more minutes for Donovan Clingan, who they recently selected early in the 2024 NBA Draft. For the Lakers, meanwhile, Ayton could have at least some tangible valuable as a player who has postseason experience and tremendous size on the inside.