In Sept. 2023, Allen came to Phoenix in the three-team Damian Lillard trade. The deal sent former Suns starting big Deandre Ayton and their former second-round pick from that year to Portland, Lillard to Allen's former team Milwaukee, and Phoenix brought in Nurkic.

A few weeks ago, a league executive told me to expect a relatively quiet trade deadline, one without a blockbuster deal. There were too many cap restrictions, more buyers than sellers on the market, and a general pessimism about deals getting done.

But the big trade for this season — you know the one I’m talking about — was a signal that the Lakers, and the NBA, are preparing and beginning to move on from him. Just not in the way you might think.

The Miami Heat traded disgruntled star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors this week, eliciting praise from at least one NBA front office

The Warriors are acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Heat in a four-team trade, per multiple reports. Butler is the focal point of the deal, with Golden State finding trade partners to help alleviate the financial burden of acquiring Butler.