After providing a relatively quiet 2024 trade deadline, NBA teams were nice enough to blow things out of the water in 2025. Not even a week ago, De’Aaron Fox and Jimmy Butler were pretty much the only two notable names on the block.
Not only did both players get moved in blockbuster deals, but superstars like Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine, and others have new homes. LeBron James was subject of serious rumors after the Luka trade, and Kevin Durant had to step in to block a potential return to Golden State.
All in all, it was an excitingly active deadline from a neutral perspective.
With some of the dust finally settling from a raucous few weeks, let’s take a look at the moves each team made. For my purposes, any trade made after Chrstmas counts as a deadline-adjacent transaction.
Boston Celtics 
Acquired: 2031 2nd (Top-55 Protected)
Gave Up: G Jaden Springer, 2030 2nd
Grade: C-
Sue me. I like Jaden Springer! I get that he doesn’t at all fit the Celtics’ “win now” timeline, so I suppose it can be somewhat forgiven. There’s still a chance Springer goes to Houston and is awesome right away.
Brooklyn Nets 
Acquired: G D’Angelo Russell, F Maxwell Lewis, 2027 2nd, 2030 2nd, 2031 2nd
Gave Up: F Dorian Finney-Smith, G Shake Milton
Grade: B-
The Nets want to be horrible, and there may not be a better tank commander in the NBA than D’Angelo Russell. Just give him the ball and let him do what he wants with it. You’ll probably lose more than enough games to be near the top of the lottery odds.
New York Knicks 
Acquired: G Delon Wright
Gave Up: C Jericho Sims
Grade: B+
It’s never a bad idea to turn a reserve center into a versatile guard who can compete at a high level in a playoff series. Where the Knicks are going, they’ll need as many of those guys as they can get.
Philadelphia 76ers 
Acquired: G Jared Butler, G Quentin Grimes, 2025 2nd, 2027 2nd, 2028 2nd, 2030 2nd, 2030 2nd
Gave Up: F Caleb Martin, G Reggie Jackson, F KJ Martin, 2026 1st (Least Favorable of OKC/HOU/LAC), 2027 2nd, 2030 2nd, 2031 2nd
Grade: B
Giving up Martin is a little bit of a pain, but you could argue they got the better player back from Dallas in that trade in Grimes. Butler is a gritty two-way guard but it’s unclear how many minutes he’ll actually get. The draft capital looks nice on paper, but we’re talking about second round picks here. Pretty good, but not amazing.
Toronto Raptors 
Acquired: F Brandon Ingram, F PJ Tucker, C James Wiseman (waived), 2026 2nd
Gave Up: G Davion Mitchell, F Bruce Brown, F Kelly Olynyk, 2026 1st, 2025 2nd, Undisclosed 2nd
Grade: B-
I might be on an island here, but I actually really liked the idea of the Ingram trade for Toronto. You’re not exactly a free agent haven, so why not take the chance? There have been some dark moments for Ingram recently. I’ll give you that. But that was on a middling New Orleans team with no direction. I’m willing top give Ingram a chance to shine in a new city. Having to give up the first rounder is what keeps the Raptors’ deadline at a B-.
Chicago Bulls 
Acquired: F Zach Collins, G Tre Jones, G Kevin Huerter, 2025 1st
Gave Up: G Zach LaVine, 2025 2nd
Grade: D-
The Bulls might want to really start the tank now that they’ve reacquired their own first-round pick this year (LOL), but LaVine was having one of the best years of his career. Turning him into this pile of mush is uninspiring.
Cleveland Cavaliers 
Acquired: F De’Andre Hunter
Gave Up: G Caris LeVert, F Georges Niang, 3 undisclosed 2nd’s, 2 Undisclosed Swaps
Grade: B
Hunter is a quality pickup and a likely upgrade over the LeVert/Okoro mess the Cavs had going on the wing. However, this is really the first year Hunter has proven his worth as a quality piece in a contending rotation. What if he goes back to old Hunter and sucks again?
Detroit Pistons 
Acquired: G Dennis Schroder, G Lindy Waters III
Gave Up: Nothing
Grade: A
You know what they say? No food tastes better than free food. All the Pistons had to do was take some salary to help facilitate trades, and they got two players in return. Schroder should make an immediate impact, and Waters has potential to provide quality minutes.
Indiana Pacers 
Acquired: Undisclosed 2nd
Gave Up: F James Wiseman
Grade: C
I don’t even know what to do with this. Wiseman stinks, and a random second rounder also stinks. Fine.
Milwaukee Bucks 
Acquired: F Kyle Kuzma, G Kevin Porter Jr., F Patrick Baldwin Jr., C Jericho Sims, Undisclosed 2nd
Gave Up: F Khris Middleton, G AJ Johnson, F MarJon Beauchamp, 2028 1st swap
Grade: C-
Is Kevin Kuzma really the answer in Milwaukee? He’s a recognizable name. There’s that at least. He’s been abysmal in Washington, and his lack of willingness to leave previously shows me a serious lack of ambition, and maybe even a fear of winning. Not want you want when you have Giannis breathing down your front office’s neck looking to win more titles.
Atlanta Hawks 
Acquired: G Terrance Mann, G Caris LeVert, F Georges Niang, G Bones Hyland, C Cody Zeller, 3 Undisclosed 2nd’s, 2 Undisclosed 1st Swaps
Gave Up: G Bogdan Bogdanovic, F DeAndre Hunter, 2028 2nd, 3 Undisclosed 2nd’s
Grade: B+
The Hawks looked like a fringe contender in the East prior to Jaylen Johnson’s injury, but now that their season is in the fryer, they have no reason to hang onto assets when there is real interest. If you had told me that they would turn Bogdanovic and Hunter into Mann, LeVert, and Niang, I would’ve told you it was a great haul. Mann has shown an ability to carry teams in playoff games, and LeVert and Niang add solid rotational depth for the future. The swaps and other guys are just the not so sweet, kind-of wrinkled cherry on top.
Charlotte Hornets 
Acquired: C Jusuf Nurkic, F Josh Okogie, 2026 1st, 2030 1st Swap, 2026 2nd, 2029 2nd, 2031 2nd, 2031 2nd
Gave Up: C Nick Richards, F Cody Martin, G Vasilije Micic, 2025 2nd, 2026 2nd, 2030 2nd
Grade: C+
I’ve been so lazy about this blog that the Hornets completed a trade and had that entire trade rescinded already. I almost wanted to give them an A for trying to piss on the Lakers’ heads and tell them it was raining, but piss doesn’t pass physicals apparently. Basically, Charlotte is just gonna Charlotte.
Miami Heat 
Acquired: F Andrew Wiggins, F Kyle Anderson, G Davion Mitchell, 2025 1st (Protected)
Gave Up: F Jimmy Butler, G Josh Richardson, 2026 2nd
Grade: A-
Getting rid of Butler in and of itself is a great move for Miami. At least Wiggins will try to play. Even if there’s a good chance the first rounder is low, the haul from Golden State is pretty good when you consider we’re only weeks removed from Butler looking completely untradeable.
Orlando Magic 
Acquired: Nothing
Gave Up: Nothing
Grade: LOL
YOU’RE ALMOST REALLY GOOD! DO SOMETHING, ORLANDO!
Washington Wizards 
Acquired: F Khris Middleton, G Marcus Smart, C Alex Len (waived), G Colby Jones, G AJ Johnson, G Reggie Jackson (waived), F Sidy Cissoko (waived), 2026 1st (Least Favorable of OKC/HOU/LAC), 2028 1st Swap, 2028 2nd, 2029 2nd
Gave Up: F Kyle Kuzma, F Patrick Baldwin Jr., F Marvin Bagley III, G Johnny Davis, C Jonas Valanciunas, G Jared Butler, 2025 2nd, 2027 2nd, 2028 2nd, 2030 2nd, 2030 2nd
Grade: C+
Watch out for the emerging Middleton-Smart combo in the nation’s capital! Seriously, a core of Middleton, Smart, and Jordan Poole is objectively hilarious. It might be a better tank team than Brad Pitt and Logan Lerman in Fury. Cooper Flagg, come on down!
Denver Nuggets 
Acquired: Nothing
Gave Up: Nothing
Grade: LOL
Whatever.
Minnesota Timberwolves 
Acquired: Nothing
Gave Up: Nothing
Grade: LOL
If it’s true that Dallas called and offered Luka for Anthony Edwards, I don’t quite understand why you wouldn’t do that if you’re the Timberwolves.
Oklahoma City Thunder 
Acquired: C Daniel Theis, 2030 2nd, 2031 2nd
Gave Up: 2029 2nd
Grade: B
Maybe the real championship for OKC is the millions of draft picks they’ve picked up along the way. Oh, and they got a decent backup big too.
EDIT: The Thunder bought out Theis. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Portland Trail Blazers 
Acquired: Nothing
Gave Up: Nothing
Grade: LOL
The Trail Blazers are clearly too good to tank!! Hottest team in the NBA, baby!
Utah Jazz 
Acquired: F KJ Martin, F Josh Richardson (waived), C Mo Bamba (waived), G Jalen Hood-Schifino (waived), 2031 1st, 2025 2nd, 2025 2nd, 2030 2nd
Gave Up: C Drew Eubanks, G Patty Mills, 2027/2029,2031 1st’s (All Least Favorable of CLE/MIN/UTA)
Grade: B
The Jazz gave up three nothing-burger firsts for a Phoenix first that might end up being pretty valuable. Other than that, the other stuff is just kind of pointless to me.
Golden State Warriors 
Acquired: F Jimmy Butler
Gave Up: F Andrew Wiggins, F Kyle Anderson, G Dennis Schroder, G Lindy Waters III, 2025 1st (Protected)
Grade: A-
The Warriors have finally had enough of trying to blend eras. When you have an all-time great like Steph, you need to go all out to surround him with high-quality pieces instead of going out of your way to find his successor. Butler gives the Warriors a chance to win right now in a fairly open west. Plus, they were able to keep Jonathan Kuminga out of the deal.
LA Clippers 
Acquired: C Drew Eubanks, G Patty Mills, G Bogdan Bogdanovic, F MarJon Beauchamp, 3 Undisclosed 2nd’s
Gave Up: G Terrance Mann, G Bones Hyland, G Kevin Porter Jr., C Mo Bamba, F PJ Tucker, 2030 2nd
Grade: D-
Above all, I feel like that’s a hell of a lot to give up for Bogdan Bogdanovic. I might take Mann over Bogdanovic right now, and there was other stuff going to Atlanta in that trade too. They got Drew Eubanks, though!
Los Angeles Lakers 
Acquired: G Luka Doncic, F Dorian Finney-Smith, F Maxi Kleber, C Alex Len, F Markieff Morris, G Shake Milton
Gave Up: F Anthony Davis, G D’Angelo Russell, G Max Christie, F Maxwell Lewis, 2029 1st, 2030 1st Swap, 2025 2nd, 2027 2nd, 2030 2nd, 2031 2nd
Grade: A+
The Lakers swindled Dallas out of Luka Doncic. That’s an A+ on its own. The DFS acquisition is bigger than people realize and gives them real defensive versatility, which will be desperately needed alongside Luka and LeBron. It seems like they dodged a bullet with the Williams trade as well. Home run deadline for the Lake Show.
Phoenix Suns 
Acquired: C Nick Richards, F Cody Martin, G Vasilije Micic, 2025/2027/2029 1st’s (All Least Favorable of CLE/MIN/UTA), 2025 2nd, 2026 2nd
Gave Up: C Jusuf Nurkic, F Josh Okogie, 2026 1st, 2026 2nd, 2031 2nd, 2031 2nd
Grade: C+
Getting Richards and dumping Nurkic is a solid move for Phoenix. However, giving Utah that potentially coveted 2031 first for three low-level firsts, and then having to turn around and attach one of them to Nurkic to get him out the door, is brutal. Plus, the Bradley Beal contract is so bad that it almost forced them to ship off Kevin Durant. Not great.
Sacramento Kings 
Acquired: G Zach LaVine, C Jonas Valanciunas, F Jake LaRavia, 2025 1st (Protected), 2027 1st, 2031 1st, 2025 2nd, 2028 2nd, 2028 2nd
Gave Up: G De’Aaron Fox, G Jordan McLaughlin, G Kevin Huerter, G Colby Jones, C Alex Len, 2028 2nd, 2029 2nd
Grade: B
Given the circumstances, Sacramento did pretty well to turn Fox into all those picks and Zach LaVine. Plus, Valanciunas and LaRavia will be immediate fixtures in their rotation. Losing Fox stings to be sure, but when you have a guy ask to leave, there’s only so much you can do.
Dallas Mavericks 
Acquired: F Anthony Davis, G Max Christie, F Caleb Martin, 2029 1st
Gave Up: G Luka Doncic, G Quentin Grimes, F Maxi Kleber, F Markieff Morris, 2025 2nd, 2025 2nd
Grade: F—————– (To Infinity)
I spewed my thoughts last week, but the Mavs had the worst trade deadline perhaps of any professional sports team in any sport. And now they’re throwing fans out of games for criticizing the regime for its awful decisions? Is this Hitler’s Berlin, Kim’s Pyongyang, or Harrison’s Dallas?
Houston Rockets 
Acquired: G Jaden Springer, C Cody Zeller, 2028 2nd, 2030 2nd
Gave Up: 2031 2nd (Top-55 Protected)
Grade: A
Springer is a high-potential addition, Zeller is a Zeller, and all you had to do was give up a heavily protected pick? Great moves by Houston.
Memphis Grizzlies 
Acquired: F Marvin Bagley III, G Johnny Davis, 2028 2nd, Undisclosed 2nd
Gave Up: G Marcus Smart, F Jake LaRavia, 2025 1st
Grade: D
Having to attach a first to get off the Smart deal is brutal. Letting LaRavia go for peanuts is just as bad.
New Orleans Pelicans 
Acquired: F Bruce Brown, F Kelly Olynyk, 2026 1st, 2025 2nd
Gave Up: F Brandon Ingram, C Daniel Theis, 2031 2nd
Grade: A-
Getting anything resembling value for Ingram is a good move for New Orleans. A first-round pick and real rotational depth is a home run.
San Antonio Spurs 
Acquired: G De’Aaron Fox, G Jordan McLaughlin
Gave Up: F Zach Collins, G Tre Jones, G Sidy Cissoko, 2025 1st (Protected), 2027 1st, 2031 1st, 2028 2nd, 2028 2nd
Grade: A+
I wrote about it last week, but trading for Fox is too good of a deal to pass up. He is a bona fide top-20 player in the league and tailor-made to play alongside Victor Wembanyama. It may not be this year, but the Spurs will be contending for titles with this duo very soon.
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