This year’s NBA trade deadline will go down in the history books as one of the wildest in North American sports history, if not the most chaotic.
This is, of course, mostly due to the shocking late Saturday transaction that saw Luka Doncic join the Lakers. Still, we saw an NBA record 63 players moved ahead of the deadline, with players like De’Aaron Fox, Jimmy Butler, Khris Middleton, Brandon Ingram, De’Andre Hunter, Kyle Kuzma and Andrew Wiggins among those changing hands.
Only the Magic, Trail Blazers, Timberwolves and Nuggets didn’t make an in-season trade. The Nets wound up staying out of the days leading up to the deadline after completing their major moves earlier in the season. Cameron Johnson is one notable player who was the subject of trade rumors for most of the season but ended up staying in place.
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Outside of that, the Celtics, Pacers and Rockets were among teams who made minor moves on the fringes of their roster.
The five-team deal that saw Butler join the Warriors and Wiggins go to the Heat was one of the biggest moves at the deadline. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Butler’s teammates were sad to see him go, but were happy that he ultimately got what he wanted with a new destination and contract.
While Miami briefly explored trying to acquire Kevin Durant, they pivoted to Wiggins and are happy to have him. Bontemps writes that rival executives like the addition of Wiggins in Miami. Additionally, several of Bontemps’ sources were impressed not only by the return the Heat were able to extract, but also that they were able to stick together through a tumultuous season.
Butler was also a big winner in the eyes of execs after getting his two-year, maximum-salary extension, but Bontemps writes the Warriors have more work to do in terms of spacing the floor. However, at a relatively modest trade price, the Warriors get to bet on their stars meshing and making a deep playoff run as a lower seed, like the Heat have done in the past.
The Warriors winning the Butler sweepstakes ultimately meant that Phoenix missed out on him. For about a month, it was widely reported that there was strong mutual interest between the 35-year-old and the Suns, but Bradley Beal‘s no-trade clause meant a deal was impossible.
That led to the Suns actually taking calls on Durant, though they ultimately kept their three highest-paid players together. The Suns were able to offload Jusuf Nurkic and add two potential rotation guys in Cody Martin and Vasilije Micic, but executives were confused about where Phoenix will go next, according to Bontemps.
After acquiring Doncic ahead of the deadline, the Lakers went all in on adding a big man, sending a first-round pick, a pick swap, and Dalton Knecht to the Hornets for Mark Williams. Los Angeles is taking a massive bet on Williams staying healthy, as they now only have swaps in 2026 and 2028 to send out in trades.
On the other hand, in the wake of the Doncic deal, the Mavericks had a relatively quiet rest of the deadline, acquiring Caleb Martin and sending out Quentin Grimes. “I thought they had more up their sleeve,” a West executive said, per Bontemps.
Both Toronto and Cleveland took big swings in acquiring Ingram and Hunter, respectively. Although the two teams are in much different positions in the conference, those moves showed they both have faith in what they’re building.
The Raptors are likely to try to re-sign Ingram to a multi-year extension, which would add significantly to a payroll that already includes sizable deals for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl. The Cavaliers have the second-best record in the league, so giving anything of value in their rotation is a risk to chemistry. But adding Hunter, who’s in the middle of a breakout season, is a bold move to push the team over the top.
For my money, I like how the Jazz and Pistons operated at the deadline. The Jazz were able to acquire two second-rounders and take back less expiring money than P.J. Tucker‘s $11.4MM contract, rerouting Dennis Schröder to Detroit, who bought him as an asset in the same Miami-Golden State five-team deal.
As for the Pistons, while they maybe could have gotten Schröder for a lower price if they’d negotiated with the Heat, they netted two second-round picks, added a viable contributor in Schröder and added a bench shooter in Lindy Waters III for simply having cap space as an asset.
Additionally, I think the Hornets did well to acquire Knecht and valuable picks by sending out Williams, Martin and Micic. The Wizards also intrigued me by adding several veterans in Middleton, Marcus Smart and Alex Len, and picking up two fliers in AJ Johnson and Colby Jones, if they stick. Washington essentially consolidated picks, added a 2024 first-rounder in Johnson and other assets in exchange for players who weren’t in their future.
We want to hear from you. Which teams do you think ended up as the biggest winners after deadline day? Were there any teams that should have done more, or did too much? Who lost the deadline? Which teams had the most underrated moves?
Head to the comments section below to let us know!
Lakers won hands down and I guess good for Miami? Not sure how the warriors will end up and the spurs will be scary next year.
utah only rebuild every years. i hope bring the championship to the city
I agree that the Lakers appear to have won this one. If Luka and Williams stay healthy they have a really scary core. My dubs did what they could, but I’m not convinced that the three olds and three youngs plus Looney are enough to really do anything. I hope I’m wrong, but Lakers look good for years to come.
Biggest losers:
– Warriors: Gave up their second best shooter (they had 2 shooters) and best defender for a non shooting guard that is worse defensively and cant guard big wings. Also Jimmy is 35 and they will pay him 60 MILLION at age 36 and 37.
– Suns: The Nurkic trade was great. I like the versatility that Martin brings and Micic is a nice backup PG. But they absolutely destroyed their relationship with KD. It will be hard to win like that and they will have to trade him in the off season now.
Biggest Winners:
– Hornets: Got a first round pick for Mark Williams? Unprotected? Huge win. He was good but he is very injury prone and his value might never be this high again. They can find a replacement for him easily. Also got a pick for taking in Nurkic. Pretty decent in my opinion, they are building for the future.
I guess thats it. I liked what the Clippers, Hawks and Memphis did but I wouldnt really call them WINNERS.
Hornets need a new GM for those picks to be worth it…
But otherwise I agree with your assesment…
“Gave up their second best shooter” Steph and Buddy are on this team. Wrong. Moody better too. They gave up a consistent underperformer who has more missed “personal reasons” games than anyone in the last 3 years.
“best defender” said on a team with Draymond and GP2 on it, lmao this is cope and hate.
Wiggins is mid, he needs to be carried. He actually is in that situation in Miami, Bam and Tyler are way better players, he becomes a solid 3rd. He was a #2 on GSW and was pathetic with Curry, which shows how low Wiggins ceiling is. GSW kept all their youth core that everyone wants.
On top of that, Jimmy’s salary space can be traded, likely for Giannis in this upcoming offseason.
They didn’t “win” the deadline, that would be the Lakers. You don’t know ball if you think this trade was bad for GSW. They need to shake things up in any way they can, this squad pre-deadline, as-is, was mid, .500. They gotta get over .500, this move proves they are at least trying to. They gotta raid the buyout market before we give their final grade though.
Buddy Hield is shooting 30% from 3 for his past 25 games. I dont know if you “know ball” but thats literally AWFUL. Also Moody is a good shooter but he is nowhere near as consistent as Wiggins and he barely gets minutes for whatever reason (and thats a big part of his inconsistency, inconsistent minutes).
Also, Wiggins was #2 when the Warriors won their last championship so that argument that he isnt good enough to be the #2 is off the window.
Jimmy traded for Giannis? Yeah and the nba will host a game in Mars next season.
The Lakers gave up two unprotected firsts. They have no guarantee that Luke will sign long term there and even if he does the Mavericks missed the play in two seasons ago WITH Luka, so unless they can build a better roster around him, I dont think they really won it.
Also, the best defender thing. Draymond is a team defender and he still is their best team defender (rotating, switching, leading the defense) but when it comes to POA defense, Wiggins was THE guy. Payton is phenomenal but he cant guard Tatum, KD, LeBron etc like Wiggins could (neither can Jimmy).
How did they ruin their relationship with Durant? If that was the case he would be on the Warriors right now. He didn’t want to go there and they did him the solid by not making him go. Makes sense to shop him in the offseason if so many teams came calling for him. Durant is 36 years old if someone wants to overpay for him Phoenix should cash in
As a Warriors fan, I’m okay with the deal primarily being Wiggins for Jimmy. They weren’t using Slomo much anyway (too tall for Kerrs small ball-heavy, outdated rotations), Dennis was so bad for so long and used incorrectly (should have never played with Steph and Dray, only 2 of those 3 can cook together, Kerr played all 3 together too much) and Lindy Waters was always a goner in a Wiggins deal in terms of his money and contract size.
All these guys could do with Curry was get him to .500…not good enough, try something new. Mission: half-accomplished. Now getting Ben Simmons would be massive in terms of defense. Simmons-Butler-Draymond-GP2 would be a nightmare to any offense. Also grab Kelly Olynyk, Reggie Jackson and maybe one more big = I’m happy enough with that being the save of a season that started so incredibly, and then immediately fell apart the second Melton got hurt.
I’m ok with this trade, but Warriors aren’t done yet, they still have to fill out the rest of the roster, and adding Ben Simmons for next to nothing changes a lot of things about that team…
The Rockets for keeping their core intact and not taking on old players and their bloated contracts.
Agreed. As OKC they just need to grow together. Plug in one guy perhaps a veteran like OKC Hartenstien, but the rockets have already done that with Dillon Brooks and Van Vleet.
Just grow and mature together and they are right there. Probably passed the wolves on the depth chart in the west.
The problem is Houston got no one like Shai
Another 4th quarter shooting collapse and 5th lose in a row. I get it they’re missing FVV and Jabari Smith but they put up 14 points in the 4th tonight. Rockets have definitely overachieved this season but if they could’ve cashed in all their assets and somehow got say Devin Booker they should have. I don’t think Booker was possible at all just saying IF
We’re going to suck for awhile but Wizards did exactly what they needed to do. Grabbed a couple first round picks and a guy who was just drafted in the first round last year. Freed up more playing time to develop the young core players by dealing away guys who aren’t going to be around for the long term and in one their cases, was not particularly interested in helping the younger players develop.
Lakers, Spurs and Heat huge winners…
Mavs and Warriors huge losers…
Bummed the Nets couldn’t get what they wanted for Cam Johnson. He’s a great complimentary piece on a good team, but doesn’t provide enough value for a rebuilding team to keep. Hoping the Nets can trade him and maybe Clax before the draft to tear it down to the studs and build from there.
Very disappointed in this trade deadline. Silver is trying to hard
Bravo-
Normally I respect your posts, but you’re trying to make a point few, if any, in the basketball world agrees with: that Andrew Wiggins provides more value to the Warriors than Jimmy Butler.
Wiggins is better than Butler at some things, but Butler is by far a better all-around player.
Butler is a better scorer than Wiggins, a better all-around defender, ball-handler and passer. Butler takes more pressure off Steph than Wiggins does
Butler’s availability is likely worse than Wiggins. And Butler’s contract may overpay.
They did what they had to do to keep the Steph window open. Wiggins is a good player, who got a contract based on the 22 playoff run. If he’d continued to play at that level… Jimmy is a better offensive player and will improve their O. But I’m worried about the D. Did you see that collapse in Utah last night? That’s the dubs without Wiggins and an increasingly old Draymond. Who’s gonna guard the big wings? Moody? You gotta get stops.
If getting the best player wins the trade, then getting the best player out of all the trades wins the deadline for the Lakers, yeh?
Lakers obvious winners
I also like the Hawks, Jazz, Bucks and Hornets.
Losers Suns, Brooklyn, Pelicans and Grizzlies
Lakers got Luka and Mark, secures their future and they still maintain being a really good side now.
Hawks trimmed down their bench players for expring contracts and cheap depth after Jalen when down injured.
Jazz just Savy GM work to manage contracts and get picks for doing next to nothing.
Bucks needed to do something and they did. I like Kuz and KPJ for them.
Hornets moved off Williams for Knetch and draft picks. Then replaced him with Nurkic and again added a first.
Suns got 3 firsts for giving up 1. Still didn’t manage to get rid of Beal. Added good guys like Richards, Martin and Micic but also got your star player KD involved in trade rumours.
Brooklyn, had all the expring contracts and draft picks this year to do something and did nothing. Also didn’t cash in on Cam Johnson. Just a tanking season where Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas got worse…
Pelicans got next to nothing for Brandon Ingram. Still not any closer to deciding to tear down and rebuild or try compete…
Grizzlies gave up smart who cost them 2 firsts for nothing and it cost them a first to get rid of him. Only makes them a worse side and why?