NBA blockbuster trades: Beard & Brow head to the East

Yesterday was the day for blockbuster trades in the NBA league, as the two superstars, James Harden and Anthony Davis, have both changed colours.

The popular "Beard" has begun his (probably) final title charge at the age of 36. His spells at the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Clippers weren't successful, so Harden will look for a lifeline at the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2018 NBA MVP will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most lethal scorers the league has had in the past decade and a half, but winning the championship would round off his career.

On the other hand, the LA franchise received Darius Garland and a second-round pick, as both parties seemed to have got what they wanted: the Clippers a young and promising point guard, and the Cavs a veteran superstar willing to give it all for the ring.

Later that day, another bombastic move was announced: Anthony Davis joined the Washington Wizards as the main element of an eight-player trade between the franchise from the US capital and the Dallas Mavericks.

Alongside the popular "Brow", Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum, and D'Angelo Russell move to Texas, while Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-round picks were sent to Washington.

This way, the Mavs' massive project with Davis, the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft Cooper Flagg, and Kyrie Irving, which started with one of the biggest trades in NBA history, when Dallas got AD and sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, collapsed after only a year.

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During his spell with the Mavericks, Davis had numerous injuries to his groin, thigh, adductor, Achilles, calf, and hand, playing only 31 of the possible 85 games for Dallas (36.5%).

Moreover, although the two were supposed to be a lethal tandem, Davis and Irving played just one game together!

Hence, the Mavs turned to young stars and the future, building a team around Flagg, while the Wizards opted for experience, having brought in the four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks less than a month ago.