From the Jimmy Butler drama to one of the most shocking trades in basketball history, this year’s NBA trade deadline has changed the landscape of many teams in the league.
Let’s examine all of the biggest moves that have turned some teams into championship contenders while other teams seem to be going in on the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.
Luka to the Lakers
Coming into the trade deadline, Luka Doncic seemed to be one of the league’s “untouchables” which makes his trade all the more surprising.
The Dallas Mavericks sent Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.
The Utah Jazz were also involved and received Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round selection.
Doncic is one of the most talented players in the NBA and is coming off a season that saw him lead the Dallas Mavericks to its first Finals appearance in 13 years. The Boston Celtics ended up beating Doncic and the Mavericks in five games but his offensive output cannot be understated.
Doncic averaged 29 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists per game in the Finals.
The problem seemed to be with his effort on defense which Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison credits as the reason for the trade.
The trade was so surprising that Shams Charania, ESPN Senior NBA Insider who broke the news, had to send a follow up post stating that it was in fact a real trade.
The Lakers are currently fifth in the Western Conference, led by LeBron James and first year head coach JJ Redick.
Doncic is averaging 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game this season but hasn’t played since Christmas. He’s been nursing a calf injury but could make his Lakers debut before the All-Star break.
As for the Mavericks, who are eighth in the Western Conference, they’ve been struggling to compete without their star player. Kyrie Irving is the team’s second leading scorer with 24 points per game and is just off the mark for a 50-40-90 season. (50% from the field, 40% from three and 90% from the free throw line)
Anthony Davis will look to make his team debut before the All-Star break as well. Davis hasn’t played since Jan. 28 as he has been dealing with an abdominal strain. With the Lakers, Davis led the team with 25.7 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game. Davis adds a new scoring option for Dallas but also better rim protection, as Davis averages 2 blocks per game.
The move could help both teams but the value that Dallas got back in exchange for one of the best players in the NBA can certainly be questioned.
De’Aaron Fox and Zach Lavine among players to move in three team deal
The San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings and the Chicago Bulls completed a three team trade that moved two big names who spent seven years with their last team.
The Kings received Zach Lavine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks and three second-rounds picks.
The Spurs received De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin.
The Bulls received Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and a 2025 pick.
San Antonio pairs up Fox with the league’s 2024 Rookie of the Year in Victor Wembanyama. Fox averaged 25 points (13th in the NBA), 5 rebounds and 6 assists (16th in the NBA) in 45 games with Sacramento. The Spurs are currently 12th in the Western Conference, looking for a spot in the play-in game with the third youngest team in the league.
The Kings team up Lavine with his former Chicago teammate, Demar Derozan. Lavine averaged 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists per game with Chicago this season.
Sacramento is looking to get back into the playoff race despite firing their head coach earlier this season.
As for Chicago, they get off of Lavine’s hefty contract while also receiving their draft pick back from their deal that sent Derozan to Sacramento.
Jimmy Butler finally gets out of Miami
Jimmy Butler was a part of a four team deal between the Heat, Jazz, Warriors and Pistons.
Butler was traded to Golden State after weeks of speculation that his desired destination was in Phoenix. Shortly after being traded, Butler signed a two-year, $121-million extension.
Golden State finally gets Stephen Curry another star player but comes at the cost of losing Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and Dennis Schroder.
Wiggins played a big part in the Warriors’ 2022 Finals win over the Celtics. Wiggins averaged 18 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2 assists in 6 games in those Finals.
Miami had suspended Butler indefinitely due to conduct detrimental to the team on Jan. 27. He averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists with Miami this season. Butler joins the Warriors who are 11th in the Western Conference on the outside looking in on the playoff race.
Other notable deals
The Milwaukee Bucks sent Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma. Middleton was a big part of the Bucks 2021 Finals win but has struggled with injuries following their championship run.
The Los Angeles Lakers traded rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and 2031 first-round pick in exchange for the Charlotte Hornets’ Mark Williams. The Lakers add some help at center but do get rid of Knecht who was the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The New Orleans Pelicans traded Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick and a second-round pick. Ingram is in his third season where he has missed at least 30 games. He hasn’t played since early December with a left ankle sprain.
The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference made a deal just before the trade deadline. The Cleveland Cavaliers traded away Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three future second-round picks and two future pick swaps to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for De’Andre Hunter.
The Phoenix Suns traded Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-round pick.
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Marcus Smart and a 2025 first-round pick to the Washington Wizards for two second-round picks.