2025 NBA Trade Deadline Early Grades: Dissecting blockbuster league altering moves ft. Luka Doncic to Lakers
This 2025 NBA trade deadline still doesn’t feel real and probably won’t. There are grades to write, though, so let’s analyze and grade all of the recent NBA transactions.
2025 NBA Trade Deadline Early Grades
1) LA Clippers Receive: Drew Eubanks, Patty Mills
Utah Jazz Receive: Mo Bamba, PJ Tucker, 2030 2nd round pick, cash
We’re starting strong with this one! Danny Ainge orchestrates the first trade of the deadline shenanigans, which shouldn’t shock anyone, taking on PJ Tucker (more on him later) and a second-round pick for expendable depth.
The Clippers value shedding Tucker’s hefty salary cap hit and Eubanks is a similar caliber rotation big to Bamba and a definite offensive upgrade, which LA can use in any form.
Jazz Grade: B
Clippers Grade: B-
2) LA Lakers Receive: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Anthony Davis, Max Christie LA’s 2029 1st round pick
Utah Jazz Receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2 2025 2nd round picks (LAC, Dallas)
I wrote at length about this unfathomable Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis swap. Ultimately, the Mavericks sold their future for a perceived upgrade in the short term. Anthony Davis is a phenomenal player, but he doesn’t boost winning more than a superstar primary initiator.
The Lakers might take time to mesh and will miss Davis’ presence on both ends, but trading for Mark Williams (more on him later) bolsters an already strong Lakers offense. Securing their long-term future and a player who should never have been available makes this another historical trade heist for the Lakers.
In an on-brand move, Danny Ainge sniped another collection of picks and a prospect
Lakers Grade: A+
Mavericks Grade: F
Jazz Grade: B
3) San Antonio Spurs Receive: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan Mclaughlin
Sacramento Kings Receive: Zach Lavine, Sidy Cissoko, 3 1st round picks (2025 via CHA, 2027 via SAS, 2031 via MIN), 3 2nd round picks (2025 via CHI, 2028 via DEN, 2028 OWN)
Chicago Bulls Receive: Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, 2025 OWN 1st round pick
Victor Wembanyma’s rapid ascent to superstardom has San Antonio as a prime trade target for stars looking for a new home. A rocky Kings season led to Fox’s asking out of Sacramento, marking a drastic shift for a player who helped revive a rudderless Kings franchise. He’ll be Wembanyama’s first true star partner, forming a deadly pick-and-roll duo to boost the Spurs’ offense.
San Antonio’s offense already grades out solidly, ranking 17th (112.9 in offensive rating) largely on the back of Wembanyama. Adding an All-Star caliber lead guard like Fox will make life easier for Wembanyama, especially considering Chris Paul will back him up. His spacing may create roadblocks on offense, especially paired with Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan, but the Spurs landed a 27-year-old star with Wembanyama on a rookie scale contract process and plenty of room to upgrade shortly.
Losing Fox will sting for Sacramento, as they haven’t given Fox as strong a chance to win as he wants. The Kings still feel directionless even with the addition of LaVine, far from the top of a strong Western Conference without many avenues to improve. LaVine is an underrated star, though, and scores on similar volume and higher efficiency than Fox this season. He’ll help the Kings win and maintain in the playoff mix all season.
Chicago shipping out LaVine was all but inevitable but the return is far from stellar. Losing a player as good as LaVine for three fringe rotation players and their own first-round pick in 2025 can’t feel great. The draft compensation matters for the Bulls, as they can use all of the star swings they can get.
Spurs Grade: A
Kings Grade: C-
Bulls Grade: D+
4) Dallas Mavericks Receive: Caleb Martin
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Quentin Grimes, 2025 2nd round pick (via PHX)
Nico Harrison followed up a disastrous trade with another questionable (but far less damaging) decision, shipping out Quentin Grimes and a pick for a slight downgrade in Caleb Martin. Martin is making a decent chunk of change ($35 million over four years) but hasn’t produced offensively, averaging 9 points on 21st percentile efficiency.
Grimes, five years younger than Martin, averaged 10.2 points on strong efficiency, shooting a tick below 40% from deep. Both are solid defenders, but Grimes has been a considerably better player this season. Acquiring him and a second-round pick was excellent work by the 76ers and a confusing move by Dallas.
Mavericks Grade: D
76ers Grade: A
5) Detroit Pistons Receive: KJ Martin, 2027 2nd round pick (via MIL), 2031 2nd round pick (via DAL)
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Cash
Philadelphia salary dumped KJ Martin, sacrificing a few picks to avoid the luxury tax. It’s an efficient use of resources, especially given Martin’s value as a play finisher, rebounder and occasional shot blocker.
Pistons Grade: B+
76ers Grade: C-
6) Boston Celtics Receive: 2031 2nd round pick
Houston Rockets Receive: Jaden Springer, 2030 2nd round pick
The Celtics traded Jaden Springer to duck the luxury tax just as their bitter rivals in Philadelphia did. Boston at least received a pick in return, and Springer’s path to rotation minutes on a team with elite guard play wasn’t clear.
Springer has had his moments in the NBA, thriving on defense whenever he sees the floor. He’s a legitimately impactful defender who could earn rotation minutes with any offensive progression, making him a worthwhile swing for Houston.
Rockets Grade: B
Celtics Grade: C-
7) Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: Daniel Theis, 2031 2nd round pick
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Cash
The Pelicans offloaded Daniel Theis’s salary to the Thunder, who acquired their billionth draft pick for good measure. It’s a lost season for the Pelicans at this point but Thies could factor into OKC’s rotation. Theis will strengthen their rebounding and provide another competent body to spell Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein when they miss time.
Oklahoma City Thunder: B
New Orleans Pelicans: C
8) Sacramento Kings Receive: Jonas Valanciunas
Washington Wizards Receive: Sidy Cissoko, 2028 2nd round pick (via DEN), 2029 2nd round pick
The Wizards began their deadline fire sale with a Valanciunas trade, sending him off to a competitive team. Washington has embraced the tank and collecting picks and prospect fliers for older rotation pieces tends to produce value in the long term.
Valanciunas should help a Kings team adapt to a post-De’Aaron Fox world. He won’t help much on the defensive end, but his size will help a team desperately searching for center play to help support Domantas Sabonis. Adding another Lithuanian bruiser on the interior will help Sacramento this season, but shouldn’t move the needle much for a team probably out of the title race.
Kings Grade: C+
Wizards Grade: B
9) Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Jericho Sims, 2nd round pick
Washington Wizards Receive: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, 2028 1st round pick swap
New York Knicks: Delon Wright, Cash
Milwaukee continues its trend of aggressive trades for stars and rotation pieces, parting ways with one of the greatest Bucks of all time. Trading Middleton, who’s still a versatile, efficient scorer and carried Milwaukee in the playoffs last season, doesn’t bode well for his health. He’s appeared in only 23 games this season and 111 total regular season games over the last three seasons, so it’s hard to fault the Bucks for moving on.
Washington continues to make the right moves as a rebuilding team, adding a 2024 first-round pick in AJ Johnson with some slashing and defensive upside as well as a possibly useful spot. It will be strange to see Middleton in a Washington jersey if they don’t trade or buy him out.
This version of Kyle Kuzma isn’t a positive NBA player as one of the NBA’s least efficient scorers (48.7% true shooting, -3.7 Estimated Plus-Minus) on a horrid Washington team. We’ve seen Kuzma score more efficiently and add value as a defender in past seasons.
It’s possible to imagine him adding much-needed defensive help on the interior for a Milwaukee defense heavily reliant on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. He can’t match the star power of some other trade additions but could be a useful piece for a Milwaukee team desperate to maximize Antetokounmpo. His salary sheet isn’t pretty, though, adding some risk to the deal.
The Knicks entered the fray, sending out Jericho Sims (who could help Milwaukee’s interior play in dire moments) and acquiring an always useful defender in Wright (if his shot cooperates).
Bucks Grade: C+
Wizards Grade: B+
Knicks Grade: B-
10) Toronto Raptors Receive: Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, 2026 1st round pick (via IND), 2025 2nd round pick
This is an odd one for several reasons. After years in the trade mill, Brandon Ingram finally left New Orleans to join the Raptors up North. It’s an admittedly strange fit for a complementary star heading to a Toronto team in the thick of their rebuild, but it’s reasonable value for a player of Ingram’s quality.
Ingram and Zion Williamson have ultimately disappointed during their five-and-a-half seasons in New Orleans, with both missing large chunks of time across multiple seasons. He’s been a near All-Star level player at moments, progressing notably as a playmaker and defender over the years.
On the right team, Ingram could add value to complementary scoring and part-time creation if he buys into an off-ball role. The 16-35 Raptors, despite their recent stretch of improved play, aren’t the team that needs and can maximize the value of a 27-year-old complementary star.
Ingram will improve Toronto’s shaky offense with his steadying shotmaking and creation, but the Raptors' path isn’t clear. Scottie Barnes is a near All-Star level player right now, but the rest of Toronto’s young core, headlined by RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter, likely won’t be the atmosphere to extract the best from Ingram. Acquiring a player of his quality for as little as Toronto parted with, though, is hard to fully disagree with.
A lightly protected first-round and a few solid role players that could help facilitate other trades or bolster New Orleans’ rotation isn’t the worst return for Ingram. It doesn’t feel spectacular given the high heights the Pelicans reached over the last half-decade, but they’re choosing a direction and paving the way for Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and whatever young wing talent the team can accumulate.
Raptors Grade: C+
Pelicans Grade: B
11) Golden State Warriors Receive: Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, PJ Tucker, 1st round pick (protected)
Detroit Pistons Get: Lindy Waters, Josh Richardson
Utah Jazz Get: Dennis Schroder
Pat Riley finally granted Butler’s wish to leave Miami in search of new basketball joy. He’s on his way to Golden State in hopes of collecting enough ammo for Steph Curry and Draymond Green for one more playoff push. Butler is still a near All-Star-level contributor at his best, but how high can he push the Warriors?
He’s still an efficient volume scorer who adds playmaking value all over the floor and still thrives defensively when engaged. Butler will add desperately needed creation to a poor Golden State offense while meshing seamlessly with their cutting, motion-heavy offense
And the Warriors doubled down on this investment, signing Butler to a two-year, $121 million deal. The length of the deal somewhat offsets the risk of signing Butler through his age 37 seasons, but Golden State is still, at best, on the outside looking in of the championship race.
Miami, despite their loud and public disagreement with Butler, returns a solid rotation piece in Wiggins who will help Miami remain in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Still, losing an All-Star caliber player without collecting any valuable picks or young players won’t earn high marks and a Tyler Herro-led team probably can’t win multiple playoff series.
The Heat will need Bam Adebayo to return to form and even then, they’re a long shot to make playoff noise. It’s a sour end to a rocky saga for Butler and Miami even if they returned a solid starter with championship experience. But hey, here’s where PJ Tucker ends up!
The Heat rerouted Schroder to the Jazz and tried sending Anderson to Toronto, but he’s still with Miami for the moment. The Pistons add a few depth pieces as well for their troubles.
Warriors Grade: B+
Heat Grade: C
Pistons Grade: C-
Jazz Grade: C-
12) LA Lakers Receive: Mark Williams
Charlotte Hornets: Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, 2030 1st round pick swap, 2031 1st round pick
The Lakers aren’t done after miraculously trading for Luka Doncic, adding a badly-needed center to a now-barren frontcourt. Aside from Anthony Davis, the Lakers have relied on the likes of Jaxson Hayes, Christian Koloko and Trey Jemison as rotation bigs. Even with Doncic and LeBron James, it’s hard to win in the NBA without viable center play.
They paid a fair price, though, parting ways with a promising rookie in Dalton Knecht and an unprotected 1st round pick, even if far in the future. From a pure value perspective, Charlotte made out nicely given how far away they still feel from contention. Knecht will be one of their better players this season and will have plenty of opportunities to put up points.
Williams’ scary injury history is the big asterisk here; he’s appeared in just 23 games this season and 84 games across his three-year career. Lower body injuries zapped some of his mobility, limiting his defensive versatility, but he has room to grow at 23 years old with an upgraded (but still limited) defensive supporting cast.
He’s an upgrade on defense for the Lakers at center and is one of the NBA’s better play finishers. Doncic and James have helped great lob finishing centers grow their bank accounts for years now and Williams should be no different. While Williams won’t add much passing or perimeter versatility but his high-level scoring and rebounding will make LA’s offense potentially elite.
The Lakers needed to find another piece to give James and Doncic their best chance to compete this season and found and upgrade despite the cost. Both teams should feel good about this deal.
Lakers Grade: A-
Hornets Grade: A-
13) Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Jared Butler, 4 2nd round picks
Washington Wizards Receive: Reggie Jackson, 2026 1st round pick (least favorable of OKC, HOU, LAC)
The Wizards wrapped up their trade deadline work taking on another first-round pick while the 76ers stockpile second-rounders for the future. Butler has quietly been excellent in his limited minutes this season, scoring 21.2 points per 75 possessions on a 57.4% true shooting clip with a huge 35.3% assist rate.
76ers Grade: C+
Wizards Grade: B-
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14) Miami Heat Receive: Davion Mitchell
Toronto Raptors Receive: PJ Tucker, 2026 2nd round pick (via LAL), Cash
The PJ Tucker carousel continues with his landing in Toronto, which will presumably be, his final stop. Picking up another pick for an expendable role player in Mitchell won’t ever be bad and Mitchell can help fill bench minutes for Miami.
Heat Grade: C
Raptors Grade: C+
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15) Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: De’Andre Hunter
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, 3 2nd round picks
Cleveland got in on the fun before the buzzer, acquiring another wing in De’Andre Hunter for a solid contributor in LeVert. The Cavs wing room hasn’t been strong over the last few seasons and they felt Hunter will sure up that group. Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade have both missed significant time across their careers, making another wing addition necessary.
Hunter, though, has a scary injury history in his own right, missing at least 15 games in each of his last four seasons. He’s an undeniably offensive upgrade over Cleveland’s current wings, adding efficient shooting, off-ball scoring and occasional creation. LeVert is a similarly injury-prone player who’s had a strong season on both ends for Cleveland despite a recent dip.
LeVert should help boost Atlanta’s defense, an area where De’Andre Hunter struggles. He can bump taller wings with his size, which Cleveland likely coveted, but his off-ball defense and rebounding are notable issues.
With a myriad of creators on the roster, Cleveland likely felt comfortable trading LeVert for more size to match up with the likes of Boston in the East. Hunter brings a significant salary hit and some risk given his injury history, but it makes sense for one of the NBA’s title favorites to make aggressive moves.
Atlanta needs creators more than it needs complementary wings and LeVert brings that element. A few second-round picks won’t hurt, either. Solid business for both squads.
Cavs Grade: B+
Hawks Grade: B
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16) Charlotte Hornets Receive: Jusuf Nurkic, 2026 1st round pick.
Phoenix Suns Receive: Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic, 2026 2nd round pick
Phoenix acquired a first-round pick in order to dump Nurkic to Charlotte. The Nurkic era in Phoenix had come to a sharp halt given his decline in play and has become a strong negative asset given his salary. It’s possible the Suns are clearing salary for one more move before the deadline hits.
A rebuilding Charlotte team won’t mind taking on an unwanted salary in exchange for a first-round pick to stockpile more talent in the near future.
Hornets Receive: B-
Suns Receive: C
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17) LA Clippers Receive: Bogdan Bogdanovic, 3 2nd-round picks
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Terance Mann, Bones Hyland
Atlanta makes another last-minute deadline move, shipping off Bogdanovic and a few picks for Terance Mann and Bones Hyland. The Hawks presumably wanted to duck under the luxury tax, swapping Bogdanovic’s higher annual cap hit for another year of Mann’s contract.
Bogdanovic took a significant step back this season, failing to score efficiently or add much defensive value. A deep Clippers team likely won’t need to rely on Bogdanovic and adding extra draft capital won’t hurt.
Mann and Hyland haven’t found consistent rotation slots this year for LA, with Mann especially struggling to score efficiently this season. Atlanta could use Hyland’s bench creation and scoring in the backcourt, but it’s been a while since he’s contributed to winning. This one won’t move the needle much for the Hawks even if they add some possibly intriguing pieces.
Clippers Grade: B+
Hawks Grade: C-