Courtesy of Logan Weaver
‘Historic’ does not even begin to describe what transpired in the lead-up to the 2025 NBA trade deadline. As the clock struck three on Thursday, February 6th, the record for most players moved in the week leading up to the deadline was set at 63. In that same week, the league saw eight All-Stars change teams, starting with the blockbuster trade involving Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis. With most of the league making a move before the deadline many top-contenders beefed up their rosters while many struggling teams attempted to acquire future draft capital to contend in the coming years. Being post-All Star Game has given the league a chance to see most of these players in their new threads and we now have the ability to analyze the impacts of 10 of this deadline’s most impactful trades.
Luka Dončić to the Lakers
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, CBS, USA Today)
Los Angeles Lakers: A
-Luka Dončić (PG), Maxi Kleber (PF), Markieff Morris (PF)
Dallas Mavericks: D
-Anthony Davis (C), Max Christie (SG), 2029 1st Round Pick
Utah Jazz: C
-Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG), 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2025 2nd Round Pick
This deadline’s madness kicked off on the morning of February 2nd with the Dallas Mavericks’ trade of their star point guard Luka Dončić. The NBA world was floored by the trade, primarily because it seemed so illogical. The Mavericks had just made it to the NBA Championship this past season and the team was still building chemistry between its young pieces. Luka is a perennial MVP candidate and, because of that, looked like an untouchable piece. The strangeness of the trade also lies in the fact that Dallas did not attempt to shop Luka, instead reaching out to L.A. to propose the trade. The Mavericks justified the trade by stating their displeasure with Dončić’s conditioning and avoiding his upcoming supermax contract. Dallas received an elite big man in Anthony Davis, who is unfortunately already injured, but when healthy provides an elite defensive asset with flexibility to play the 4 or 5.
The Mavericks will have to watch L.A. pair Dončić with Lebron James for the rest of the season and maybe a few years to come. The Lakers now have a new face of the franchise for when Lebron officially retires and a ton of potential to compete this season.
The Utah Jazz also threw their hat into the ring, notching two second-round picks for taking on Jalen Hood-Schifino and his contract. For a rebuilding team lacking much star power, Utah was thrilled to acquire draft capital by simply taking on undesirable contracts.
De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, CBS, USA Today)
San Antonio Spurs: A
-De’Aaron Fox (PG), Jordan McLaughlin (PG)
Sacramento Kings: C-
-Zach LaVine (SG), Sidy Cissoko (SG), 2025 1st Round Pick (Protected), 2027 1st Round Pick, 2031 1st Round Pick, 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2028 2nd Round Pick, 2028 2nd Round Pick
Chicago Bulls: C-
-Kevin Huerter (SG), Zach Collins (C), Tre Jones (PG), 2025 2nd Round Pick
The very next day, the rumors of De’Aaron Fox being traded to San Antonio came true in a three-team deal that also sent the 2x All-Star Zach LaVine to Sacramento. San Antonio was applauded for pairing the All-Star guard with their rising star Victor Wembanyama, an addition that adds a new dimension to their offense. Fox also has the 19th average annual value on his contract for the point guards over the next two years, making his contract incredibly affordable for his production as the Spurs look to load up more talent next season. San Antonio was shockingly able to pull this deal off while maintaining most of their young roster, situating them to be incredibly dangerous in the future.
The Kings were able to bring in a total of six picks and a former elite-level guard who had fallen out of favor in Chicago. The pairing of LaVine and his former Chicago teammate DeMar DeRozan should keep the Kings competitive as they look to possibly contend for a playoff spot this season.
The Bulls brought in some solid talent from Sacramento and San Antonio but no change making players or significant draft assets. Chicago fans may begin preparing for a rebuild and more household names being shipped out in the future, this underwhelming trade is just one of the first steps in that direction.
Jonas Valančiūnas to the Kings
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, The Athletic, Yahoo Sport)
Sacramento Kings: B+
-Jonas Valančiūnas (C)
Washington Wizards: B+
-Sidy Cissoko (SG), 2028 2nd Round Pick, 2029 2nd Round Pick
The Kings took some of the assets they received in the De’Aaron Fox trade and packaged it for Wizards’ center Jonas Valančiūnas. While Valančiūnas struggled in his Wizards tenure, he had been a prime target last offseason for the center position. The Kings acquisition should give them front-court flexibility with their other Lithuanian center, Domantas Sabonis.
The Wizards add more future draft capital for their rebuild and ship off another sizable contract for future cap flexibility. By sending off Valančiūnas, the Wizards are now giving their young center, Alex Sarr, an opportunity to develop with more minutes under his belt.
Brandon Ingram to the Raptors
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, CBS, USA Today)
Toronto Raptors: B
-Brandon Ingram (SF)
New Orleans Pelicans: B-
-Bruce Brown Jr. (SF), Kelly Olynyk (PF), 2026 1st Round Pick, 2031 2nd Round Pick
Ingram to the Raptors was truly unexpected because the two teams involved in the trade are rebuilding rosters that should be looking for young talent instead of risky veterans. Ingram’s offensive fit and inability to stay healthy made a confusing trade situation as he lost favor in New Orleans. Ingram has yet to play in Toronto as he nurses an ankle injury, and the outlook of the trade is murky at best but when healthy, Ingram can be a mid-range weapon to boost Toronto’s offensive production.
Ingram had virtually forced himself off the Pelicans, leaving the team without leverage in any trade. They were able to get some valuable depth pieces to run the bench unit in Bruce Brown Jr. and Kelly Olynyk, as well as draft capital, which should assist New Orleans in their rebuild.
Jusuf Nurkić to the Hornets
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, Clutch Points, Fansided)
Charlotte Hornets: A-
-Jusuf Nurkić (C), 2026 1st Round Pick
Phoenix Suns: B-
-Cody Martin (SF), Vasilije Micic (PG), 2026 2nd Round Pick
The Hornets made this trade to bear the loss of center Mark Williams, who was meant to be shipped out in a separate trade to the Lakers, that was rescinded due to L.A. failing Williams’ physical. While Charlotte now has two solid center options that may seem redundant, they still received fruitful value in the trade. The Suns were looking desperately to offload Nurkić’s contract and the Hornets were able to get a first-round pick out of Phoenix to do so.
The Suns, on the other hand, are in an interesting situation where the roster has talent but has been unable to get on the court at the same time for much of the season. The Suns are currently outsiders looking in on the playoff picture, and giving up their starting center and a first-round pick for bench pieces and a second-rounder is not the move the franchise needs to make to compete in the loaded western conference.
De’Andre Hunter to the Cavaliers
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, CBS, The Athletic)
Cleveland Cavaliers: A
-De’Andre Hunter (SF)
Atlanta Hawks: D+
-Caris Levert (SG), Georges Niang (PF), 2026 1st Round Pick, 2028 1st Round Pick, 2027 2nd Round Pick, 2029 2nd Round Pick, 2031 2nd Round Pick
This trade was the ultimate example of ‘the rich get richer.’ The first place Cavaliers were able to package some rotational pieces and future draft capital for a top-tier shooter playing the best basketball of his career. As Cleveland prepares to make a championship push, adding another rising star to an already-loaded roster allows the starters to stay fresh while providing more complexity to an already elite offense.
Atlanta effectively showed their hands, admitting their season was over. After multiple seasons of underwhelming play, Atlanta is proving it is ready to blow up the roster and prepare for the future. With the draft compensation they received, the organization is in a solid position to do so; however, they could have received more in return for the quality of the player they shipped off. The other complication for Atlanta is that San Antonio has their first-round pick, so losing out the rest of the season does little for their future outlook.
Bogdan Bogdanović to the Clippers
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, The Athletic, The Sporting News)
Los Angeles Clippers: B+
-Bogdan Bogdanović (SG)
Atlanta Hawks: C+
-Terance Mann (SG), Nah’Shon Hyland (PG), 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2026 2nd Round Pick (Protected), 2027 2nd Round Pick
Atlanta continued their selling spree with the trade of veteran guard Bogdan Bogdanović to the Clippers. This trade was much more palatable to Hawks fans because, unlike Hunter, who was playing his best, Bogdanović is having one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. Bogdanović has been a consistent scoring presence on every team he has played for, but in his 12th season of professional basketball, the tread on his body may explain the loss in efficiency. The three second-round picks are solid compensation and should prove valuable as trade pieces or potential role players in future offseasons.
The Clippers are taking a gamble that he will be able to find a new home in their system and produce for the middle-of-the-pack offense. L.A. is in the top six of their conference, in large part due to their elite defense. If Bogdanović can recapture his past scoring ability, the Clippers may become a threat on both sides of the ball with the potential to make some noise in the postseason.
Marcus Smart to the Wizards
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, ClutchPoints, SBNation)
Washington Wizards: A-
-Marcus Smart (PG), Alex Len (C), Colby Jones (SG), 2025 1st Round Pick
Memphis Grizzlies: D+
-Marvin Bagley III (PF), Johnny Davis (SG), 2025 2nd Round Pick, 2028 2nd Round Pick
Sacramento Kings: B+
-Jake LaRavia (PF)
Memphis’ trade for Smart can now officially be labeled a disaster. Smart’s time with the Grizzlies was disappointing, and his massive contract had to be offloaded as the franchise looks towards a possible championship run. Memphis had little leverage in this trade and was at the mercy of whatever team was willing to take on the contract, while the Wizards were in the perfect position to sustain the cap hit and get draft capital in return. The first-round pick that came alongside Smart adds to the collection of eight first-round picks in the next six drafts. Smart may also prove to be a solid veteran in the locker room and add a defensive boost on the perimeter.
Jimmy Butler to the Warriors
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, The Athletic, USA Today)
Golden State Warriors: B
-Jimmy Butler (SF)
Miami Heat: B
-Andrew Wiggins (SF), Kyle Anderson (PF), Davion Mitchell (PG), 2025 1st Round Pick
Detroit Piston: A-/B+
-Dennis Schröder (PG), Lindy Waters III (SF), 2031 2nd Round Pick
Utah Jazz: B
-Kenyon Martin Jr. (SF), Josh Richardson (SG), 2028 2nd Round Pick, 2031 2nd Round Pick
Toronto Raptors: C+
-P.J. Tucker (PF), 2026 2nd Round Pick
After months of conflict, Jimmy Butler’s time in Miami has finally come to an end. Butler was incredibly unhappy in Miami, which made it difficult for the Heat to find an adequate trade for the 5x All-NBA veteran. They were able to replace the loss of Butler with the veteran small-forward Andrew Wiggins, power-forward Kyle Anderson, and a first-rounder. Miami’s outlook is quite complicated in a top-heavy eastern conference, but the Herro-era on the shore is officially underway.
This is a desperation trade for the Warriors to keep their championship window with Steph Curry open. Butler’s contract is on a similar timeline as Curry and Draymond Green’s, giving Golden State another two years to squeeze a championship out of their elite veterans before they fall into cap trouble.
The Pistons, Jazz, and Raptors all contributed to the trade by picking up draft capital and depth pieces for their rebuilds to make sure the Warriors and Heat could facilitate their trade.
Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks
Average Grade (Bleacher Report, CBS, The Athletic)
Milwaukee Bucks: C
-Kyle Kuzma (PF), Jericho Sims (C), 2025 2nd Round Pick
Washington Wizards: B
-Khris Middleton (SF), AJ Johnson (PG), Mathias Lessort (SF)
New York Knicks: C
-Delon Wright (PG)
Kyle Kuzma’s time in Washington was quite unpleasant, as the whole NBA community could see the former champion was checked out on both sides of the ball. His defensive ability fell off a cliff with the Wizards and even as a main offensive piece, he did not show spectacular production. Now, on a contending team, the expectation is that Kuzma may buy back in and prove to be a critical member of another championship team. For Milwaukee to get Kuzma, they had to give up an all-time great for the franchise, Khris Middleton, who has struggled to stay healthy in the past couple of seasons. Washington was able to get a quality veteran that, when healthy, may prove to be of value in either a future trade or in developing young pieces.
