The Super Bowl may be the biggest sporting event in the United States, but for the second time in three years, the NBA dominated the week’s headlines thanks to the trade deadline.
The 2023 trade deadline, highlighted by Kevin Durant’s trade to the Suns, was considered one for the ages. However, 2025 managed to surpass it, as eight different All-Stars were traded in a flurry of moves that shook up the league.
Members of The Lead came together to give their thoughts on the historic deadline and hand out grades to the teams involved in the biggest trades.
The Headliners
Lakers and Mavericks Shock the World
The first major domino to fall was one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. The deal was so unexpected that ESPN’s Shams Charania had to clarify that his social media accounts were not hacked.
The Lakers acquired Luka Dončić in a stunning blockbuster move, securing a superstar for their post-LeBron era. Los Angeles attempted to follow up by acquiring Hornets center Mark Williams, but the deal was rescinded due to a failed physical (which Charlotte looks to contest).
After parting with defensive anchor Anthony Davis, the deal with Charlotte falling through becomes an unfortunate break for Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks reshaped their roster by swapping Quentin Grimes for Caleb Martin in a trade with the 76ers, who also included a 2030 second-round pick due to Martin’s hip injury.
Lakers:
TJ Mabardy: A
Assuming Luka eventually signs a contract extension, LA is set up excellently for a post-LeBron future. The most impressive part of the deal for the Lakers was keeping negotiations under wraps, preventing a bidding war from breaking out. Doncic is their star of the future. Mark Williams was supposed to help fill in some of the defensive capabilities lost with Davis’ departure, but with him no longer coming in, the Lakers are left without a starting-caliber center in a conference with several prominent bigs.
Mac Pham: A
Luka Doncic is going to be the best teammate LeBron James has ever had. The only reason why the Mavericks would trade Doncic is because of some injury only they know about.
Mavericks:
TJ: D
An optimist might say that Davis improves Dallas’ short-term title chances. However, how many championships would it take to justify moving off the city’s most iconic sports figure? The Mavericks are in ‘championship-or-bust’ mode now, having given up most of their long-term assets.
Mac: C
If the Mavericks were concerned about an injury to Doncic that nobody knows about, then props to them. Otherwise, it’s wild to trade your MVP in the middle of his prime and coming off a Finals appearance in 13 seasons. They had finally built a team around Doncic and gave him a co-star, (Kyrie Irving) and players that fit around him (Dereck Lively and PJ Washington).
Fox to the Spurs, LaVine to the Kings, Bulls Stuck in Purgatory
After rumors circulated about De’Aaron Fox wanting out of Sacramento, the Spurs emerged as the frontrunner to land him. San Antonio completed the deal, sending a package of bench players and draft capital to land the All-NBA guard.
The Bulls helped facilitate the trade, sending Zach LaVine to the Kings in return.
Sacramento then made another move, flipping Sidy Cissoko and two second-round picks to acquire Jonas Valančiūnas.
Spurs:
TJ: A-
In his first season with the Spurs, Chris Paul is providing valuable mentorship for Victor Wembanyama. However, at 39 years old, he was never a long-term solution at point guard. Acquiring Fox, an All-NBA talent still in his prime, was a major win, and they did so without giving up key young players.
Mac: A+
The Spurs gave Victor Wembanyama one of the top point guards in only his second season. They didn’t have to give up Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, or Jeremy Sochan. Just amazing work. The Spurs can be a top-six seed next year.
Kings:
TJ: C-
Fox is the better player and asset than LaVine, but the Kings were reportedly not close to signing a contract extension, so they made sure to get something out of him before he hit free agency. The dropoff with LaVine and Valanciunas on the roster should not be too steep, but they are firmly outside championship contention as things stand and probably would have been better off entering a full rebuild.
It was a largely lateral move to acquire some future draft capital, but a return of young building blocks from the Spurs would have been a better return.
Mac: D
They had to get Castle in the deal or another first-round pick for their former franchise player. It’s no man’s land. They have Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis, who are too good to be bottom five and not good enough to be a top eight team. At least they have their lone playoff appearance, where they overachieved with a historic offense.
Bulls:
TJ: D
Bulls fans have been clamoring for the organization to be active in the trade market for years, but they were likely hoping for more than this. They had a chance to start fresh and focus on rebuilding. Still, they remain mediocre, failing to move Nikola Vucevic despite his highest value since his arrival in Chicago.
Mac: D
Why are the Bulls even a part of this trade in the first place? They definitely could have found a better market for Zach LaVine and gotten at least two first-round picks for him.
Warriors’ Acquire Jimmy Butler in Final Effort to Help Steph
After months of one of the most dramatic player-team sagas in recent NBA history, the Jimmy Butler era in Miami has finally ended.
Initially, it was reported that Butler would not sign a contract extension if the Warriors traded for him, but they ultimately agreed on a two-year deal worth $121 million.
Miami followed up by trading for 2021 first-round pick Davion Mitchell.
Warriors:
TJ: B+
With Steph Curry in the twilight of his career, the Warriors needed to get him help. Butler brings toughness and playoff pedigree, though his fit alongside another hot personality in Draymond Green will be something to monitor. The contract extension is hefty, but Golden State managed to retain its young assets and get Curry a legitimate running mate.
Mac: B+
The Warriors are usually more reserved (with Draymond being the exception), and now they have added one of the tougher and more physical players in the game. Not sure about that massive contract extension with Butler, though.
Jimmy “disgruntled” Butler. It’s the same pattern: he wants out, shows great leadership, elevates his game in the playoffs, then causes chaos before he exits.
Heat:
TJ: C-
Miami was in a no-win situation. Butler’s antics had tanked his value, and the return package of Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson is not great. The two can be rotational pieces for a Heat team currently in the playoff picture. The win for the Heat is that they can finally turn the page on a tumultuous chapter of the franchise’s history and focus on what their future identity looks like.
Mac: C
They just traded one of the best floor-raisers in the league. If Miami didn’t extend the 35-year-old to that massive contract in the first place, they would have gotten back even more in return. Now they have a bunch of second options in their prime (Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins). Even though the timeline didn’t fit, they were best running it back for a few more years with the core of Butler, Adebayo, and Herro.
Other All-Stars On the Move
Bucks Trade Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma
After 12 seasons, three All-Star appearances, and one championship, Khris Middleton’s time in Milwaukee has finally ended.
The Bucks moved on from their veteran forward and a couple of their younger players for Kuzma, Jericho Sims, and Kevin Porter Jr. in a series of trades.
Through a series of deadline deals with the Bucks, Kings, and Grizzlies, the Wizards stockpiled assets, including draft capital and 2024 first-round pick AJ Johnson.
Bucks:
TJ: C-
Milwaukee faced the challenge of upgrading its roster while dealing with the second apron restrictions. Trading Middleton for Kuzma provides roster flexibility, but it is still a major risk. Nobody had better chemistry with Giannis than Middleton, and the Bucks flipped him for Kuzma, who has struggled mightily this season. The deal gets them under the tax threshold, and it is possible Kuzma turns his play around in a winning environment, but the risk remains.
Mac: A
Milwaukee won the 2021 title and were unsatisfied, as they traded away their second and third-best player a few years later (Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard and now Middleton for Kuzma). Kuzma is a healthier player on a better contract— an absolute steal.
Wizards:
TJ: B
Washington took on multiple veterans to accumulate extra draft capital and an intriguing prospect in AJ Johnson. If Middleton exercises his player option this offseason, both he and Marcus Smart will be expiring contracts after this season, making them easier to flip. In the meantime, some veteran presence in a young and inexperienced locker room that will still likely be in the running for Cooper Flagg this summer.
Mac: F
The Wizards cannot flip Khris Middleton unless he exercises his player option this summer, which is highly unlikely. They got a pick swap that will unlikely be conveyed. There’s not much upside in what they got in return.
Raptors Acquire Brandon Ingram from Pelicans
New Orleans made Brandon Ingram available for trade during the 2024 offseason, but the suitors never came— until now.
The Pelicans finally struck a deal, sending him to Toronto in exchange for quality role players and a couple of draft picks.
The Raptors had been looking for a dynamic scoring option since trading Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby last season. Ingram, a former All-Star, provides them with a go-to scorer alongside Scottie Barnes.
Pelicans:
TJ: B-
New Orleans made it clear they were willing to move Ingram, but the market was slow to develop. Given the circumstances, acquiring multiple draft picks, including a first-rounder, is a solid return. Additionally, with this trade and sending Daniel Theis to Oklahoma City, the Pelicans are now under the luxury tax.
Mac: F
This is likely going to be a lose-lose trade. This is simply poor management and relationship building. Your biggest piece from the Anthony Davis trade is gone, and what you have left from that trade is Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy. Davis was there for seven years and Zion Williamson will be in his seventh next season.
Raptors:
TJ: C
Trading away multiple draft picks for a player on an expiring contract is an interesting decision. It clearly signaled their intention to sign Ingram long-term, but that comes with an extensive injury history. Nonetheless, there is some fun potential for a lengthy lineup that includes Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Scottie Barnes.
Mac: C
Toronto was quick to extend Ingram, as the forward was set to be a free agent this off-season. It was a big risk as they traded Kawhi Leonard on an expiring contract, but that paid off. They have numerous wings, so they can make Ingram the primary wing and flip other wings for guards and a big.
Under the Radar Moves
Cavs Acquire De’Andre Hunter
Cavaliers:
TJ: A-
Cleveland has been searching for a legitimate small forward since acquiring Donovan Mitchell, and they may have found one in Hunter. Injuries have stunted his development, but he is averaging career highs in points per game (19) and three-point percentage (39%). Since Boston, their primary Eastern Conference rival, relies on elite wings, adding a strong three-and-D player at minimal cost is a big win.
Mac: A
The Cavs just picked up the front-runner for Sixth Man of the Year. This is a heist. They need a bigger wing to help hide their backcourt’s defensive deficiencies, and they picked up exactly what the doctor ordered.
Hawks:
TJ: C
Hunter’s contract carries risk due to his injury history, but moving him just as he hit his stride is disappointing. However, making space for younger wings like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher makes sense. The return, though, was underwhelming, signaling the Hawks might be leaning into a rebuild.
Mac: C
Not sure what direction the Hawks are going. They have Trae Young, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher, yet are underachieving.
Suns Shed Jusuf Nurkic’s contract
Suns:
TJ: D
This being Phoenix’s only move is disappointing for a team that is not currently a true championship contender. Financial restrictions and Kevin Durant shutting down a trade to Golden State limited their options, but this outcome signals a lost season. Cody Martin and Vasilije Micić could be useful rotation pieces, but they don’t move the needle. The Bradley Beal contract continues to haunt them.
Mac: D
They need an upgrade at the five and they trade for another guard. It’s shocking how much they have underachieved with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Phoenix was better not making a move.
Hornets:
TJ: B+
Charlotte deserves credit for taking on bad contracts and accumulating draft capital. Their asset management over the past two trade deadlines has been solid.
Mac: C
So the Hornets tried to trade Mark Williams and replace him with Jusuf Nurkic? At least they got a first-round pick in return. A random move, but not terrible.
These trades reshaped several teams’ futures, but the true winners and losers will only become clear as the season plays out.
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