NBA intel: League insiders on the new normal of superstar trades - ESPN

In June 2023, the Suns acquired Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, a deal that came on the heels of Phoenix landing Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets before that year's trade deadline. After the moves, new owner Mat Ishbia hailed the creation of the NBA's next superteam.

Three months later, the Milwaukee Bucks swapped Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard to add a superstar sidekick for Giannis Antetokounmpo in his chase for a second title. The move impacted the title race, but for the Boston Celtics, who wound up with not just Holiday, but also Kristaps Porzingis as they constructed an elite roster that claimed the franchise's 18th championship.

Those trades rattled the NBA landscape. The league is in a far different place two years later.

«The new [Collective Bargaining Agreement] caused a market correction,» an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. «Teams had to wise up.»

Trade season kicks into gear Monday, when most of the league's players become eligible to be moved. As teams take a closer look at their rosters and as trade buzz builds around Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis, our weekly trip around the Association examines the changing concept of superstar value, why teams are now thinking twice about taking on gigantic deals and what it could mean for the lead-up to the Feb. 5 deadline.

Brian Windhorst: For many years, when teams chased star players via free agency or trade, the more years they had on their contract, the better. Now, as teams consider roster-building and strategy, values seem to be different.

«There are two major shifts happening,» a Western Conference general manager said. «We have everyone being very mindful of the aprons and carefully slotting their players to fit. Then you have the nature