Eastern Conference Deadline Shakeup Reforms the Playoff Picture

After a quiet start, the East delivered a feverish deadline with Knicks landing Jose Alvarado via a Bulls intermediary, Celtics upgrading with Nikola Vucevic, Cavaliers adding James Harden and reshaping guard depth, Hawks rebooting their timeline with veteran and young talent, and Bulls loading up with multiple guards and draft assets; Wizards and Pacers also swung notable moves as teams chase playoff positioning and future flexibility, signaling a markedly reshaped landscape for the conference heading into the stretch run.