The NBA trade deadline of 2016 would prove to be one of the most inconsequential in recent years.
At the start of every NBA season, each of the 30 teams would like to believe that they have a shot. As the season progresses, expectations may simmer down and usually, at the trade deadline, there would only be a handful of meaningful championship contenders.
This season, it could be a maximum of only four real teams with realistic title aspirations, but some pundits could actually see just two: The Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.
Their dominance is so blatant, the Golden State Warriors were listed by CBS Sports as winners at the trade deadline even though they did not make a move, or perhaps, not even paying attention.
"No one improved in any regard to at all close the gap between the rest of the league and Golden State," CBS declared. "They are still miles ahead."
The usual trades that happen at the deadline are between a team looking to win now and a team looking towards the future. This is exemplified by playoff teams taking their chances on players with expiring contracts in hopes to use them in the post-season, while the other team looks to gain assets rather than watch their player walk away.
The trade market had big-name players on expiring contracts that were rumored to be in trade talks but were eventually not moved: Dwight Howard, Al Horford, Mike Conley, Pau Gasol to name a few.
There are many factors that contributed to this-the rising salary cap is one of them. But presumably, the underlying question on some team GMs' minds: "Will acquiring this player give me a chance to win a title?" which would also mean "Can I beat the Warriors, or the Spurs if I get this player?"
ESPN Insider declared this on their analysis of the trade deadline, specifically Insider David Thorpe mentioned when asked about his biggest takeaway.
"Golden State and the Spurs are significantly better than anyone else in the league, and no team did anything close to enough to contend with them," Thorpe said. "Whether it takes four, five, six or seven games, I'd say it is more likely than ever that the title will be won by one of the past two champions."
Take the case of the Toronto Raptors. They were the team that needed to improve at the power forward spot to get on the level of the top Eastern Conference team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. They could swing a first round pick and other assets to challenge for the Eastern crown.
However, the team they were chasing (Cavs) also felt the need to trade just to reach the level of the Warriors and the Spurs, who are, despite the Cavs' being fourth best in league, a tier below the two recognized contenders.
The Raptors would have to complicate their future and lose an asset to fill the power forward void (like Thaddeus Young, Ryan Anderson and Markieff Morris to name a few), but will it win them a championship this season? Their inactivity seems to say "no." Most of the other teams seemed to concur.