5 underrated acquisitions from the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline

4. Josh Hart, New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are always looking for hard-nosed defensive players, and they certainly got one in Josh Hart. New York acquired Hart in a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, having sent out Cam Reddish, Svi Mykhailiuk, Ryan Arcidiacono, and a lottery-protected first round pick. Looking at the trade itself, none of those three hardly played, and that pick could very well not convey, which would make it several second rounders instead, so the Knicks won this deal quite easily.

Two of Hart’s most desirable attributes are his defense and rebounding. The 6-foot-5 two-guard can defend multiple positions at a high level, which will help this Knicks team mightily. Meanwhile, he’s also one of the best rebounding guards in the association. Hart could possibly be the perfect complementary piece alongside Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and the rest of this supporting cast as the Knicks look to make a run at the NBA Playoffs.

5. Jae Crowder, Milwaukee Bucks

On paper, the Milwaukee Bucks gave away a lot for Jae Crowder. After all, they moved George Hill, Jordan Nwora, Serge Ibaka, and a whopping five second round picks to acquire his services after a lengthy pursuit that lasted several months. However, those three players were not frequently in Milwaukee’s rotation, and Ibaka had even asked for a trade. As for the picks, the Bucks are all-in on winning now, and they are more than fine with moving them for pieces that can help them now.

The Bucks had been looking for another defensive-minded wing for months, and Crowder was on top of their wish list for a reason. The veteran will bring more toughness and defensive intensity to Milwaukee as the team looks to make another title run. Having a piece like Crowder could be a luxury for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, as he could take on some of the primary defensive assignments, allowing those two prioritize offense. If he can hit some of his 3-pointers consistently, it will help the Milwaukee Bucks out even more.

Crowder is exactly what this team needed, and they didn’t have to give up any of their core pieces to get him on the roster.