LOS ANGELES — Late Wednesday night, in the back hallways of Crypto.com Arena, there was a nervous energy as executives, staffers and players from the Dallas Mavericks and Clippers checked their phones while milling around in the aftermath of Dallas' victory. It was the last night before the NBA's noon Thursday trade deadline, and while the Mavericks' roster had already undergone a radical reshuffling, the Clippers were waiting for their own.
Typically, activity around trade deadlines picks up in the immediate hours beforehand. But with 13 hours remaining, as Paul George was addressing reporters about Kyrie Irving's Dallas debut and the Clippers' defense, those once listening to George began staring at their phones with incredulity at news of Phoenix's late-night strike to acquire Kevin Durant from Brooklyn, and pair him alongside Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
It was, by far, the biggest and most stunning trade of the deadline. But when it had passed, five days of trade activity that began in earnest with Dallas adding Irving had left a clear takeaway.
