NBA Trade Deadline 2023: End Time, Latest Rumors and Predictions

The 2023 NBA trade deadline is upon us, but teams aren't waiting until the final buzzer to get the gears turning.

The latest stunner went down overnight, as the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns agreed on a swap sending Kevin Durant to the desert and four first-round picks going the opposite way, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Durant megadeal came hours after his former running mate Kyrie Irving made his Dallas Mavericks debut. That same night, the Los Angeles Lakers, an Irving suitor, finally brokered a Russell Westbrook blockbuster involving the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves, putting D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in Purple and Gold. Jakob Poeltl wound up back with his initial NBA employer, the Toronto Raptors, for a protected first-rounder and two seconds, per Wojnarowski.

Will the league keep churning out head-turners, or will there be calm after this storm of swaps? Based on the latest rumblings, we have a few hunches.

Pistons Keeping Veterans?

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 03: Alec Burks #5 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena on February 03, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Assuming we all know as much about this trade market as we think, there seems to be a limited number of sellers. That puts those teams in an advantageous situation, since demand outweighs supply to such a degree that those few sellers can set exorbitant trade prices and feel realistically optimistic that they'll be met.

The Detroit Pistons could be one of those sellers. Scoring forward Bojan Bogdanović has been highly coveted, and he's not alone. Two-way wing Alec Burks and third-year swingman Saddiq Bey have their suitors, too.

An active deadline could see a slew of assets sent to Detroit, but that possibility might not be reason enough for the Pistons to bite. "It is not a guarantee" that any of the three will be traded, per The Athletic's James L. Edwards III.

Detroit appears eager to take a step forward next season, and keeping this trio could help with that. But why rush? The Pistons are still early enough in their rebuild that it's not at all jarring to see them trudging around the East's worst record. They shouldn't miss this opportunity to brighten their future even further with picks or more young players.

Prediction: Bey stays put, but at least one of Bogdanović or Burks gets traded.

Nearly Double-Digit Suitors for 76ers Stopper?

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 1: Matisse Thybulle #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the Orlando Magic on February 1, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Matisse Thybulle makes the short list of the most interesting restricted free agents to monitor this summer—and the most intriguing trade candidates at the deadline.

The 25-year-old is a brilliant and disruptive defender, but we'd be generous to label his offensive arsenal as limited. How many teams would have interest in a player like that?

Quite a few, apparently. Per Scotto, "nearly a third of the league has expressed exploratory interest" in Thybulle. As tough as his offensive shortcomings could be to stomach come playoff time, defense-needy shoppers are seemingly more interested in his ability to impact the game's less glamorous end.

The Sixers don't have to trade him, but with this level of interest, it's hard to think they won't be able to drum up a worthwhile deal.

Prediction: Thybulle is traded to the offensively explosive, defensively challenged Sacramento Kings.

Sleepy Trade Deadline in South Beach?

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 31: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Miami Heat brings the ball up court during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 31, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

One season removed from pacing the Eastern Conference in wins and advancing to the conference finals, the Miami Heat are struggling to untangle themselves from the conference's middle class.

Even after fending off the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, the sixth-seeded Heat are closer to the No. 9 seed than they are entering the East's top four.

A trade might help Miami find its footing, but it may not have the assets to get anything done.

The Heat haven't sniffed out suitors for Kyle Lowry or Duncan Robinson, per Heavy.com's Sean Deveney, who added they would have to pair either one with "at least one future-first rounder and...a good young player."

A pick and a prospect feels like an awful lot to part with in a salary dump, though maybe one sweetener is for the financial hit and the other would be for a quality player coming back.

It's tough to envision big changes for Miami before this offseason at the earliest, when scoring guard Tyler Herro becomes much easier to move.

Prediction: The deadline comes and goes without a Heat deal.