2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline Grades
The trade deadline is in the books, and it was surprisingly exciting and busy. After a delay in finalizing these (I was on my honeymoon during the trade deadline and then was trying to write all of them when I got back). The trades are in order by the popularity of the trade in my opinion. Unless otherwise noted, I listed the trades based on reported instead of how they were finalized.
James
Harden for Darius Garland
Cleveland receives: James Harden
L.A. Clippers receive: Darius Garland, 2026 2nd
round pick
Cleveland Grade: B
This is such a strange side for both sides, and while it’s
understandable for Cleveland, it is weird to see a team trade an All-Star guard
who fits well with the team (albeit one who has been injured most of this year)
for a legend having a great year who is 10 years older. On top of that, they had to give up the pick
despite odds being good that Garland (if healthy) will be better than Harden in
3 seasons (Harden will be 39 by then, so who knows what he’ll be at that time,
if he is still active). With all that
said, there have been reports about fears that Donovan Mitchell isn’t happy,
and since he has practiced with Harden in the past, he’s a fair player to
try. While Harden has a reputation for
being ball dominant, he has had success while playing alongside other players
who demand the ball a lot, including Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook (I know that
pair only lasted one season together and was clunky, but they made it out of
the first round of the playoffs), Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (albeit for limited
games with all 3), Joel Embiid, and Kawhi Leonard. I think the Mitchell-Harden pairing can work
well together since Mitchell was more than willing to allow Garland to have his
moments to shine; the question is how willing Harden is able to operate off the
ball. The defense won’t be good from
Harden, but it likely will be a little better than what Garland provided due to
Harden’s size and strength. It’s
possible that the lessened load for Mitchell will allow him to play harder on
defense. Most importantly, Harden will
be better for Cleveland this season, and with no team being a clear Finals team
from the East, it is natural to think that this move could allow Cleveland to
find themselves there.
L.A. Grade: B+
As I implied in the previous grade, this trade is an odd one
for L.A. as well since the Clippers were playing so well after a putrid start,
so trading Harden for Garland, who hasn’t been healthy and has struggled when
he played, is a clear downgrade in a year where they don’t own their first
round pick (incidentally, OKC is a big winner of this trade and the Zubac
trade). That said, I am of the unpopular
belief that a team should consider any traded draft pick a wash and should
either contend or rebuild based on what is the natural progression of their
team rather than force something due to their draft equity. If they are giving up on Harden (with many
reporting due to being on different pages with a contract extension), Garland
is a solid return due to his scoring ability, playmaking, ability off the ball,
and the fact that he is only 26 and on a fair contract for his ability through
2028. If healthy, he can succeed
alongside Kawhi Leonard on offense, and he can also have success as a star in a
post-Kawhi era. He is a worse defender
than Harden due to not being as strong as Harden, but he is at least willing to
try when he isn’t the primary ball handler.
The question with him is his health; he has been hampered by a toe
injury throughout this season while also having bad luck with a variety of
nagging injuries throughout his career.
The most important aspect for the Clippers is to have cap space starting
in 2027, which they still do even with Garland under contract. It’s a good move for the future, but how his
health is will dictate this entire decision; I also think there’s a chance that
L.A. has significantly hampered their playoff chances if Garland can’t get
healthy within 15 games.
Jaren
Jackson Jr.
Utah receives: Jaren Jackson Jr., Vince Williams,
John Konchar, Jock Landale
Memphis receives: Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks,
Walter Clayton Jr., Georges Niang, 2027 1st round pick (LAL, top-4
protected), 2027 1st round pick (best of CLE/MIN/UTA), 2031 1st
round pick (PHX)
Utah Grade: B+
While there was risk involved with this trade, I think that
it made sense for Utah to make this trade.
I’m of the belief that Jackson is underrated at this point since he is
an amazing defender who is a good shooter and scorer. While he might not be best suited as the top
player on a team, I think he can be the second or third best player on a
competitive team with the perfect cast around him, as he was able to show in
Memphis. I am intrigued by the pairing
with Lauri Markkanen due to Markkanen’s shooting off the dribble and off-ball
movement. While Jackson is best suited
as a power forward due to his lack of rebounding, there could be some growing
pains defensively with Markkanen at the 3 (I know he has played the 3 during
his career, but never for a team that is trying to win at a high level). If they can retain Walker Kessler, a core of
Markkanen, Jackson, Keyonte George, Kessler, and whomever they select in the
draft could be an interesting pairing for the future. I don’t expect Williams or Konchar will
contribute a lot, but they could help in a couple games down the stretch. Additionally, Landale was already traded in a
separate trade. While 3 picks may seem
rich, not all picks are created equally, so it’s not the worst price to give up
for Utah, especially since they have a bunch of picks going forward. The Laker’s pick is unlikely to be good as
long as Luka Doncic is with L.A. and is healthy, and the 2027 draft isn’t
expected to be an amazing class, meaning the other pick they gave up (which could
still be a lottery pick, especially if Utah doesn’t avoid the Play-In) isn’t
the worst thing to give up. The 2031
pick could be intriguing, but I think it’s worth the gamble for Utah. As for players they gave up, Hendricks and
Clayton have both been raw, but have some upside (for what it’s worth, I am
lower on both of them, as I don’t see Hendricks being better than an average
3-and-D player and don’t see Clayton being a long-term scoring option, but you
never know), though I think it’s worth giving up on them for Jackson; Anderson
hasn’t played much and Niang has been injured all year, so both of those are
washes. While risky, I am excited for
Utah with this trade as they now have a core going forward without banking on a
high draft pick.
Memphis Grade: A+
It became abundantly clear that the fun core Memphis had
created had run its course, especially after Dillon Brooks was not resigned and
Desmond Bane was traded, so it wasn’t shocking for them to trade Jackson. Despite what I said about it not being a
massive price for Utah to pay, I think Memphis got an optimal return in
exchange for Jackson, especially since I don’t think they would have done
better if they had waited. While it was
annoying to have to give up Landale for not an amazing additional return, it
was the cost of doing business in my opinion, especially since Konchar and
Williams were not having particularly great seasons. As for the return they got, Niang has already
been waived and Anderson is unlikely to play a ton of minutes, so the value is
in the picks, Hendricks, and Clayton. I
don’t think the Lakers’ pick will be all that good, but this pick can be used
to either move up in the draft (especially since they have a few picks going
forward) or to take a player they like later if someone is available. I think the other 2027 pick is interesting;
while I think the value of that pick got lower with Utah receiving Jackson, I
don’t think it’s a lock that Jackson makes the playoffs, meaning they could end
up with a lottery pick (it is worth noting that 2027 isn’t expected to be the
strongest draft, though it’s not surprising to see a solid player end up
available outside of the top-10 in weak drafts). The 2031 pick is very interesting since who
knows what Phoenix will look like by that time.
While I’m lower on Hendricks and Clayton, with Memphis likely starting a
rebuild after this trade, it’s worth taking a shot on them. While streaky on both ends, Hendricks has
some upside to be a 3-and-D player, especially since he is only 22 and has nice
size. Clayton could end up being a bench
scorer, though it’s worth monitoring that the 3 has been much worse than I
expected it would be. While Ja Morant is
still on the team, I expect he will get traded by the deadline next year, which
would give Memphis the opportunity to start a rebuild centered around Cedric
Coward and Zach Edey (even if neither of them become stars, I think they’ll be
very good starters at worst), whatever they get back for Morant, any draft
picks over the next couple years, and a bunch of young players who will get a
bunch of opportunities to grow, even if they are only role players (as a side
note, while stars are the most important part of a rebuild, I think it’s an
amazing first step to have role players, and I think Memphis has multiple young
players who will have a role going forward).
Anthony
Davis
Washington receives: Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell,
Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum
Dallas receives: Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III,
AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, 2026 1st round pick (worst of
HOU/LAC/OKC), 2030 1st round pick (GSW, top-20 protected), 2026 2nd
round pick (PHX), 2027 2nd round pick (CHI), 2029 2nd
round pick (HOU)
Washington Grade: B
This trade didn’t make a ton of sense for the direction and
development of the current Washington Wizards roster (outside of Trae Young,
which we’ll get to next), but the price was so small that they might as well
have done it. What I mean by the price
they gave up was that they gave up two likely late first round picks, 3 second
round picks (only one of them is one I am intrigued by as a top-44 pick), AJ
Johnson (a raw young player with upside, though he can’t crack Washington’s
rotation), Marvin Bagley III (a solid backup big), Khris Middleton (who is
there as salary filler), and Malaki Branham (who wasn’t a big rotation
piece). Davis gives them a big who is
versatile enough to play alongside Alex Sarr, who is an interesting young
player, though I question if he will be a star after his first season and a
half. Additionally, I think that he
could pair well with Trae Young due to his offensive versatility and ability to
make Young’s life easier. It is worth
noting that he is overstated as a shooter, as he has been atrocious from 3 ever
since the 2020-2021 season, but he is still a skilled offensive player. I think he is a better defender than
offensive player, which is why I’m really excited to see him paired with Sarr,
who has made strides on that end; I think Davis, Sarr, and Bilal Coulibaly has
the potential to be a swarming and relentless defensive trio. The two biggest issues for Washington are
Davis’s age and injury concerns, as he is 32 and has only topped 60 games once
since the Lakers won their last championship.
If it doesn’t work out for those two reasons, I think it was worth a
shot due to his upside and fit from a playing style. I also think Jaden Hardy is an interesting
piece for Washington due to his shooting touch and scoring aggressiveness; he
is only 23, so it’s worth a shot even if Dallas never fully trusted him. I have no idea what they’ll get out of
D’Angelo Russell, who fell out of Dallas’s rotation and whose shot has
evaporated over the past two seasons; they waived Exum shortly after the
trade. It’s an odd trade, but I think
the only way they’ll have regrets is if AJ Johnson becomes a star, which might
be a tough thing to bet on given how raw he still is.
Dallas Grade: D+
Dallas made the strange decision to trade Anthony Davis at
his lowest value, but still got back more than I expected he would net (albeit
it wasn’t much). Davis was good when he
played for Dallas, but was injured so much that he wasn’t contributing. In this trade, they also gave up Russell, who
fell out of their rotation, Hardy, who showed glimpses but was never fully
trusted, and Exum, who is out for the season with injury. The pick return they got back is a bit
underwhelming, as the 2026 1st rounder is almost certain to be OKC’s
pick (which would likely be one of the last picks of the first round) and the
2030 pick has limited value due to the protections on it. Out of the 2nd rounders, the one
with the most value is the 2027 pick, which I expect will be valuable due to
Chicago’s clear direction to enter a rebuild, but there is a limited average
value for a second round pick to begin with (I know that people will point to
the stars who were drafted in the second round as evidence for why these picks
can be valuable, but the average second round pick isn’t going to be a major
impact player). As for the players, the
biggest hope has to be that AJ Johnson ends up living up to his potential. He was a first-round pick in just 2024 due to
his athleticism, size, and upside, but he is still so raw that he barely played
for Washington. They also got Bagley,
who is a fine backup big at this point, Middleton, who has deteriorated
significantly due to injuries, though he can still shoot and score, and
Branham, who was promptly traded in a separate deal. I could end up being proven wrong if Johnson
is successful, but I don’t get why they would trade Davis if this was the
return they would get.
Trae
Young
Washington receives: Trae Young
Atlanta receives: CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert
Washington Grade: B
While I have some questions about the fit, this trade can be
summarized by emphasizing how little Washington had to give up to get an
All-Star player who is still 27. While
McCollum and Kispert both were nice for Washington, both were expendable in an
effort to give their young players more time and to acquire Young, who is the
best player in the trade. The other bit
of good news for Washington is that they have a star; while several of their
young players project to be good, there isn’t a guaranteed star (I think Alex
Sarr is the best bet, but this isn’t a lock).
The question is how the fit will go, especially given how much Young has
the ball and doesn’t want to move off the ball.
My hope is that this allows Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bilal Coulibaly
better looks than they could ever have otherwise, though I fear that it will
stifle the on-ball ability of George, Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, and Tre
Johnson. I also am intrigued by how the
Young-Anthony Davis combo will work, especially since Young has never played
with a player quite as good as Davis (while I think Jalen Johnson could be a
special player, I don’t think it’s fair to assume he will ever be as good as
Davis); while Young be willing to play off the ball and let Davis cook? It’s possible we don’t get that answer this
season due to both of their injuries and Washington’s motivation to have a good
draft pick. Additionally, while Davis will
help defensively once healthy, their young players will be pressed hard as soon
as Young takes the court. This also
raises the question of if they will offer an extension to him or Davis, which
could be intriguing. Either way, they
didn’t give up much for a good player, so if it doesn’t work, they can just not
resign him once he is a free agent.
Atlanta Grade: B
At first glimpse, this may seem like a sad return for Young,
but his value was at the worst it ever has been. While I was critical of Dallas for selling
low on Davis, I don’t think Young’s value would have gotten that much higher given
the lack of value in smaller guards due to the defensive weaknesses most
provide. As weird as this sounds given
that Young is a multiple-time All-Star and a prior All-NBA, the biggest wins
out of this are that they didn’t need to give up draft picks and now don’t have
to extend him. I think it would have
been a different story if Young was healthy and playing well, but it wasn’t
like they were getting a haul; the reason that Atlanta traded Dejounte Murray
prior to last season instead of Young was because Murray provided the greater
return (looking back, that was an amazing return since Dyson Daniels has been
the best player in the trade). While
inconsistent, Atlanta has a path forward since Jalen Johnson has developed into
a star. On the plus side for Atlanta’s
return, McCollum is still a really good player who is a good locker room guy
and a steady presence on the court, and Kispert is an intriguing fit since he
is a good shooter, underrated ball mover, and good mover on both ends. It made sense for this partnership to end,
and while they would have hoped for a greater return, I don’t think that would
have been there unless he takes a much smaller contract than anyone expects.
Ivica
Zubac
Indiana receives: Ivica Zubac, Kobe Brown
L.A Clippers receive: Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah
Jackson, 2026 1st round pick (protected top 4, 10-30), 2029 1st
round pick, 2028 2nd round pick (DAL)
Indiana Grade: B-
I’m a bit torn on this trade, as Zubac will be a great fit,
but the cost was so much. It became
clear this season that Indiana didn’t have a center that would be starting
level once Tyrese Haliburton returns from injury now that they have a gap that
Myles Turner left. Zubac is a totally
different player than Turner offensively, as Zubac is not a shooter (while
Turner is an excellent shooter), but I think Zubac will provide some great
screening options for several ball handlers (including Haliburton, Pascal
Siakam, and Andrew Nembhard) while also having potential for some off-ball guys
(especially Aaron Nesmith). He is also a
great rebounder and finisher due to his positioning and strength, the former of
which Turner was not as good at. Zubac
is also a great drop defender as well, and while he isn’t the shot blocker that
Turner is, he is great at challenging shots.
The problem with this trade is what they gave up, especially with the
picks. The pick they gave up is
unprotected if it lands in picks 5-9, which is entirely possible given
Indiana’s struggles this year; this could be an issue given how talented the
top picks of this draft could be (while there is a lot of hype in the top-3, I
think the rest of the top-10 could have some interesting options). If the pick doesn’t convey, it becomes
Indiana’s 2031 1st round pick, which is a risk given how far out
that is. While Mathurin is a talented
player who is having a good year when he plays, he is up for an extension and
was an awkward fit at times with the team, so it isn’t a big deal to move on
from him for Zubac. I thought Jackson
would emerge as a starting center, but he just hasn’t panned out that well. The grade of this trade relies on where the
pick lands, which makes it risky, though Zubac will fit.
L.A. Clippers Grade: A+
As much as I love Zubac, L.A. got a massive return for
him. Getting back 2 first round picks
(especially one that could be between 5-9 this year if it conveys) is huge on
its own, but adding Mathurin is a sneaky good return given his scoring
aggressiveness and shooting ability. I
think it’s worth taking a flyer on him since an aggressive scorer with solid
size is a nice thing to have when competing (they likely still will be as long
as Kawhi Leonard is there, even without James Harden and Zubac) or if rebuilding. I heard that multiple reporters believed that
Zubac was only traded due to the return, which makes sense given how good it
was. It will likely hurt L.A. in the
short term due to how good of a player and fit that Zubac was for L.A., but
they have to evaluate if they really are going to be competitive in the
playoffs; with Harden already traded for Garland, whose health has been not
great this year, the answer was likely no, so this trade made sense for them.
Nikola
Vucevic for Anfernee Simons
Boston receives: Nikola Vucevic, 2027 2nd
round pick (DEN)
Chicago receives: Anfernee Simons, 2026 2nd
round pick (best of MIN/NOP/NYK/POR)
Boston Grade: B
As a Celtics fan, I wasn’t in love with this trade at first
since Simons has been a nice fit for the team off the bench, the guard depth
wasn’t the strongest, and I don’t think Vucevic is the best fit as a starting
big for a competitive team. That said, I
am a little more optimistic about this after learning Boston’s plan of using
him off the bench. Now that he will
likely take the role of Luka Garza as the backup center (who is better suited
as the third big), he can offer more in that role as a stretch big, including
some additional passing. Neemias Queta
is better suited as the starting center due to his defensive ability, so
Vucevic will be able to focus on shooting, finishing, and rebounding while also
having some sneaky passing. On top of
that, they saved a little bit of money, which helped get them under the tax, a
goal of theirs to avoid being a repeater tax team (it is helpful under the
current CBA). The questions I have
relate to if Vucevic can do much in the playoffs given his defensive weaknesses
and how their guard depth is impacted down the stretch. At worst, his contract is expiring and then
he’s no longer with the team, but I think it was a fair price.
Chicago Grade: D
I was a little surprised that Chicago traded Vucevic given
that he was on an expiring contract, likely didn’t have much of a market, and
was an underrated piece on offense for them.
I figured the return would be disappointing, but I think this is the
epitome of Chicago having traded him two or three years too late (at a time
when they weren’t making the playoffs and he would have netted a return). In exchange for Vucevic, they likely moved up
in the second round and got a player who is younger, but is also on an expiring
contract in Simons. Simons has had a
nice year this year, as he can provide a good scoring punch and, while a poor
defender, provided more of an effort on that end than he ever had. The problem is that Simons is on an expiring
contract, is already 26 and might not make a ton of sense for their timeline,
and is one of their many guards they have after the trade deadline. This grade might be more due to trading a
player at the wrong time and general mismanagement, but it wasn’t great.
Jonathan
Kuminga, Buddy Hield and Kristaps Porzingis
Atlanta receives: Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield
Golden State receives: Kristaps Porzingis
Atlanta Grade: C
This is a sad trade for both teams. For Atlanta’s end, the Porzingis era in
Atlanta ended in disappointment with him barely being able to play due to
illness (after having horrible luck with injuries throughout his entire career),
and they get a return that might be a bit of an odd fit. While Kuminga was never trusted in Golden
State, he has shown potential on both ends and is only 23. If Atlanta is willing to be patient and
develop him (which Golden State clearly didn’t care about), they could have an
interesting talent on their hand, especially if they let him work through his
mistakes and develop as a finisher and defender. There is one problem with all of this: I
don’t know how they plan on playing him a lot, especially since I think it will
be clunky with guys who are not great shooters like Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu,
and Dyson Daniels. On top of that, if
Atlanta has a good start to the season next year and Kuminga is still raw, how
much will they want to force playing him instead of guys who could help them
win? As for Hield, he’s an excellent
shooter who is best off the ball though a poor defender; at worst, he can hit
3’s for them. He is still under contract
for 2 more seasons (the last one is a player option, though I’d be surprised if
he opted out of it), which might not age well, but the contract isn’t that big
and can be moved. It’s a sad trade for
both sides, but Atlanta got something for Porzingis, which is impressive in its
own right.
Golden State Grade: D+
The Kuminga era ends in Golden State in a sad fashion,
especially considering that this trade was the result. The good news for Golden State is that they
received the best player in the trade with Porzingis. Porzingis is a great shooter and finisher in
spacing (though his post-up moves often aren’t as good when the spacing isn’t
as good) while being someone who is okay to not be the top option. On top of that, while not an elite defender,
he is a good shot blocker and rim protector (he is good defensively, but gets
beat outside the paint a bunch and sometimes overextends away from the
rim). Probably most importantly is that
he was a delightful locker room guy in Boston (though he wasn’t as positive
when he was with teams that weren’t as competitive). Now for the bad news: Porzingis has barely played this season due
to illness, so there’s a good chance that they gave up a disgruntled raw player
they couldn’t be bothered to develop, and a good shooter who is fading a bit
and is on a contract that is a bit rich for a guy that might not play a
ton. After drafting Kuminga, who was
obviously raw entering the draft, Golden State couldn’t be bothered to try to
develop him, which is why Kuminga and Hield only could net a guy who is rarely
healthy. It’s good news that Porzingis’
contract is expiring, but that means they viewed this deal as a salary dump.
Ayo
Dosunmu
Minnesota receives: Ayo Dosunmu, Julian Phillips
Chicago receives: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller,
2026 2nd round pick (worst of DEN/GSW), 2027 2nd round
pick (CLE), 2031 2nd round pick (best of GSW/MIN), 2032 2nd
round pick (best of HOU/PHX)
Minnesota Grade: A
Minnesota is trying to win a championship and had issues
with their depth and at the guard spot, so getting Dosunmu made sense due to
his ability to help with both aspects. I
personally like Dosunmu as a combo guard more than as a point guard due to his
playing style and his shooting ability, which I think they’ll utilize him in
that role since Anthony Edwards will also have the ball a bunch (they can also
give the ball to Julius Randle to create as well). Dosunmu is also a solid off-ball mover and a
solid defender, so I think he is an easy fit.
I think he can slide in easily either as a starter or off the bench, so
it shouldn’t be a difficult transition.
I don’t expect Phillips will play much, but he could give a couple
minutes if needed. There is risk
involved with giving up Dillingham and Miller (two players who are projects,
but I was really high on them when they were drafted recently), but they are
still very raw and weren’t playing a ton for Minnesota. Even if the second rounders aren’t great, they
can be nice trade pieces (especially the ones that are later). I could look back and regret this grade if
Dillingham or Miller reach their ceiling, but I think it will help Minnesota be
more of a contender this year.
Chicago Grade: A-
Some will look at my grades and think they lost this trade
compared to Minnesota, but I think they made a great move. With Dosunmu on the last year of his
contract, it made sense to trade him considering their lack of expected
wins. I think that 3-4 second round
picks is about the value I expected, so good for them to get that, even if the
2026 pick isn’t expected to be good. I
like them taking a flyer on both Dillingham and Miller, who are both raw but
are guys I was high on in their draft classes (I had Dillingham 6th
on my board in 2024 and Miller as a top-15 player in 2023). While smaller, Dillingham is an aggressive
scorer who has a nice jumper and is fast, though he needs some more reps to
develop. While Miller is even more raw,
he has all the tools and the size to project as an interesting player if he
pans out (that said, it will take a lot of development). If they’re not trying to win, they might as
well give the two of them minutes to see what they can do and if they can
develop some. It made sense to do this
trade; at best, they get a couple of talented players, and at worst, they have
some 2nd round picks that can be used as future assets.
De’Andre
Hunter, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schröder
Sacramento receives: De’Andre Hunter
Cleveland receives: Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis, Emanuel
Miller
Chicago receives: Dario Saric, 2027 2nd
round pick (DEN), 2029 2nd round pick (worst of DET/MIL/NYK)
Sacramento Grade: F
Why on earth would Sacramento make this trade? In a season where Sacramento is struggling
mightily, how do they reach the point where they determine a solution is a
high-volume scorer who is going to be a clunky fit alongside their other
high-volume scorers? On top of that,
Hunter’s efficiency has cratered since he is struggling mightily from 3 (I’m
not sure what’s going there or if it’s just a flukey stretch, since he’s largely
been league average throughout his career).
He has never lived up to expectations on defense (he was expected to be
an elite defender entering the draft in 2019, but that was also such a weird
draft), and I don’t expect it will be better in Sacramento. There’s a case to be made that it was good to
get off Schröder’s contract, but they took back more money than they gave up in
both the short term and long term, which will be awkward when they are
potentially going to be a tax team going forward while being atrocious. I know they didn’t like Ellis for some
strange reason, but he is a nice 3-and-D off-ball guard who made sense with the
team. It’s honestly sad to see what
Sacramento has done ever since they made the playoffs in such a fun season; I
feel bad for the players and fans.
Cleveland Grade: B+
While Hunter was a nice bench player for Cleveland last
year, he was having a tough season, so they took his contract and spread it out
to give more depth while also saving money in their tax bill. I’ve never been the biggest Schröder fan due
to his lack of efficiency, stubbornness about his role (I think he’s such a
good option as a backup guard, which is such an important role in the NBA, but
he really wants to start), and lack of contributions to winning, but it’s worth
a shot trying him as a backup guard after the Lonzo Ball experiment
unfortunately just didn’t work. I think
he is an underrated playmaker, so if he can combine that with off-ball
movement, I think they could have some interesting plays with him out
there. I think Ellis is a real steal
here due to his shooting and ability to defend guards and smaller wings; I
think he could give any guard he is playing alongside a break from a tougher
defensive assignment, which will help since Donovan Mitchell’s effort wanes
defensively at times (though a big part of this is due to his offensive load)
and James Harden isn’t the best defender (he also is better on bigger guys than
faster guards due to his strength).
Miller is on a 2-way deal, so he likely won’t contribute much. They got off Hunter, increased their depth,
and saved money for a 2nd round pick, which is pretty nice; we’ll
see if the players they got back fit, especially what happens with Schröder.
Chicago Grade: A+
In exchange for a 2-way player in Miller and taking on Dario
Saric, Chicago received 2 2nd round picks. Even if they aren’t going to be good picks,
they barely did anything to get those picks.
It’s even funnier to consider the fact that they moved Saric in a
separate trade which helped them get an asset.
Coby
White
Note: Technically I combined two trades here, but I didn’t
want to keep writing about Dieng getting traded since he was traded 3 times at
the deadline.
Charlotte receives: Coby White, Mike Conley, 2029 2nd
round pick (best of ATL/MIA)
Chicago receives: Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, 2031
2nd round pick (NYK), 2031 2nd round pick (DEN) (a 3rd
second round pick that was initially included was removed due to White’s
injury)
Oklahoma City receives: Mason Plumlee
Charlotte Grade: A
Charlotte promptly waived Conley after he had already been
traded to Chicago at the deadline, so this trade was about getting White. While there is risk involved given his injury
and expiring contract, I think he will be beneficial for Charlotte, especially if
they utilize a smaller lineup. While he
is a steady playmaker and shooter who can operate on and off the ball, I think
the aspect he will most help the team with is his ability to drive and finish
at the rim, which Charlotte has been terrible at this year. I think he will be a great fit with the trio
of LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller; while the defense might be a
little rough, I think the shooting, movement, and IQ of them will make the
offense especially impressive. If I knew
they were going to resign White in the offseason, I would raise this to an A+;
I am so excited for this fit once White returns from injury.
Chicago Grade: C+
I know that White is an expiring contract and is
injured. I also know that they likely
would have to sacrifice a pick they would have given up to find someone to take
Mike Conley if they were going to trade him.
That said, how did they benefit more from the Ayo Dosunmu trade than
they did in this trade? Even if they had
received the pick that was removed due to White’s injury, I would still
consider the return a bit disappointing.
They promptly traded Dieng, but Sexton is a good player who is a nice
scoring combo guard off the bench; he is also an underrated playmaker, but he
really can provide value by scoring in bunches until his contract expires at
the end of the season. Despite that,
White’s skillset offensively should have netted a greater return in my opinion.
Oklahoma City Grade: B
OKC clearly did this to dump Dieng and open a roster spot,
especially since they promptly waived Plumlee.
They have so many assets that they can survive giving up a 2nd
round pick. They used this roster spot
to make a trade that will be discussed next.
Jared
McCain
Oklahoma City receives: Jared McCain
Philadelphia receives: 2026 1st round pick
(HOU), 2027 2nd round pick (best of HOU/IND/MIA/OKC), 2028 2nd
round pick, 2028 2nd round pick (MIL)
Oklahoma City Grade: B+
This is a large return to give up for McCain, who hasn’t
looked quite as good as he did prior to his season ending injury last year, but
OKC is the best team to make this type of trade for two reasons. The first reason is because they have so many
draft picks that they wouldn’t be able to use anyways, so they’re able to
overpay and still have a good stash remaining.
The other reason is due to the value McCain’s shooting will provide to
this team. While a deep team, OKC has
dealt with injuries all season, so it makes sense to have someone who can come
in and drill threes, even if the other aspects of his game have been
worse. On top of that, he is on a rookie
contract thourgh 2028, which will especially help as the team gets very
expensive in the coming years. The only
reason I even have this grade as low as it is because the price was a lot, especially
if he only ends up being a limited role, but they are able to pay it.
Philadelphia Grade: B-
I am admittedly a little torn with this trade from Philly’s
standpoint. On one hand, they did get a
huge return for McCain that they were unlikely going to get otherwise since I
don’t believe he is going to be a star (even if this year’s pick isn’t high,
the 3 second rounders on top of that is wild).
Additionally, it does get them under the tax, which will help so they
don’t get limited by repeater tax in the CBA.
On the other hand, this is an admission that they have created a team
that is not good enough to compete, which is a strange mindset to have in a season
where no team in the East looks like a slam dunk (I personally think Detroit is
the most likely to make it out at this moment, but I have concerns about their
offensive consistency). Paul George is
currently suspended for violating the drug policy (that suspension is
consistent with use of PEDs), so it made sense to think that McCain could fill
the role that George left and provide a little bit of relief; instead, they
decided that he was the best way to save money and open up a roster spot to
convert Dominick Barlow to a full contract (he has been really good this year,
but still). Giving away a role player
for future assets suggests that the goal is not this season, despite them
arguably having the talent to make it out in the event that other teams
struggle. Now the bigger question: if a
team behind them gets hot, will there be the question of whether this move
contributed to them falling into the Play-In?
Mike
Conley, Jaden Ivey, and Kevin Huerter
Chicago receives: Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley
Detroit receives: Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, 2026 1st
round pick swap (MIN, it contains protections though I couldn’t find what they
were)
Minnesota receives: Cash
Chicago Grade: A-
Conley was traded in a separate trade, so this move is
really about Jaden Ivey. I know that
Chicago got so many guards at the trade deadline, but Ivey is one of the
players with the highest upside. Ivey
has shown glimpses of being a great shooter and aggressive scorer, though
issues with fit, injuries, and a previous head coach who didn’t seem to know
what he was doing have resulted in Ivey’s role consistently fluctuating and
being unable to find his potential. With
Chicago, he should have the runway to see what he can do before he enters
restricted free agency this season. It
was obvious that Huerter and the recently acquired Saric were not a part of
their long-term future, so I think this could end up being good value to see
what Ivey could provide.
Detroit Grade: B
Despite the fact that they gave up arguably the best player
in the trade when everything is clicking (Ivey) and that they promptly waived
Saric, I think Huerter could be beneficial going forward. Despite his jumper being streaky over the
last couple seasons, I would assume that it will look more like it normally
does now that he is with one of the best playmakers he has ever played with in
Cade Cunningham. On top of that, Detroit
has several players who are not the best shooters, so any shooting helps,
especially considering that, while not a good defender, Huerter has a few
inches on Ivey, which helps out the defensive end at least a little bit. Like Ivey, Huerter is on an expiring
contract, so they can just let him walk if it doesn’t end up working out. It also helps Detroit a little bit that they
don’t need to make a difficult decision about Ivey after this year regarding
his restricted free agency, especially since there still isn’t an answer as to
whether he should be a part of their long-term plans.
Minnesota Grade: F
Congratulations Minnesota Timberwolves, you saved money and got
off a beloved player who was fading and wasn’t worth his contract at this
point. The good news is that they were
able to sign him again after he was traded a second time. There is one problem: a team that is trying
to compete for a title usually doesn’t prioritize saving money by dumping a
role player. It’s not surprising that
new ownership which was struggling to find the money to get the team wanted to
save some money, but that is a great way to keep morale down in the locker
room, especially with your star player.
On top of that, they really didn’t have a ton of assets, so a pick swap
(even though they’ll likely only move down a few spots) isn’t a wise decision
to throw around.
Jose
Alvarado
New York receives: Jose Alvarado, Draft Rights for
Latavious Williams (48th pick, 2010 Draft)
New Orleans receives: Dalen Terry, 2026 2nd
round pick (unsure of team), 2027 2nd round pick (unsure of team),
Cash
New York Grade: B+
This trade is mainly about Alvarado since Williams is
unlikely to join the NBA considering the fact that he is 36 and currently
playing in Saudi Arabia. While I’m not
sure how much Alvarado will help in the playoffs given his size, he will help
in the regular season due to his intensity, defensive aggressiveness, and
shooting. I think he will be beneficial
off the bench for them given his tenacity and how much he pesters players as
soon as they get the ball. He often is
overmatched when guarding starters in the half court, but he at least makes it
much more difficult for them. He also is
a solid shooter and underrated playmaker, which will help him offensively. I also think that his competitiveness will
help inspire a Knicks teams that has games where they look like they have never
met each other before and want to quit, which has happened a surprising amount
for a team competing for a championship.
The most important value he provides is a temporary replacement for
Miles McBride, who is dealing with an injury and is expected to be out for a
while. While he doesn’t play like McBride
in any way, he at least can fill in as an option as a backup guard, which will
make it so they don’t have to rush McBride back before he’s ready. The value they gave up was fair, so it makes
sense to do it.
New Orleans Grade: B+
Terry was promptly waived after this trade went through, so
this was all about the return for Alvarado.
I know he’s a fan favorite, but he is a reserve guard, so 2 2nd
round picks is a fair value for him. The
truth is that New Orleans isn’t going anywhere this year, so it makes sense to
give more playing time to young players (I know they don’t have their own pick,
but I believe they need to just consider that a wash at this point). This opens up even more opportunities for
Jeremiah Fears, who has shown glimpses of potential during his rookie year,
though he needs some more reps (like almost every young guard needs to make it
in the league). It stinks for fans, but
it was the right move.
Luke
Kennard for Gabe Vincent
L.A. Lakers receive: Luke Kennard
Atlanta receives: Gabe Vincent, 2032 2nd
round pick
L.A. Lakers Grade: A
The Gabe Vincent experience in L.A. ultimately just didn’t
work out, as he had one year that was okay out of 2.5 seasons there (even that
year wasn’t like his last two years in Miami).
Since they were on such similar contracts, they were able to flip him
and a second-round pick for Kennard, who could be a great fit due to his
shooting. It is not an exaggeration to
say that he is one of the best catch-and-shoot wings in the NBA; he literally
has the second highest career 3P%. The
only problem with him offensively is that he will go through stretches where he
has no confidence in his jumper and will seem nervous to shoot; despite that,
at least you can count on him hitting shots consistently, unlike Vincent. On top of that, while Kennard isn’t a good
defender, he is at least bigger than Vincent.
Most importantly, I think having a guy who is more comfortable off the
ball makes more sense with this team given the playmakers that are on the Lakers. Even if it isn’t a slam dunk trade, it can’t
be worse.
Atlanta Grade: B
While it might seem weird to trade Kennard given his value,
they also acquired Corey Kispert, who can provide close to the value that
Kennard has as a shooter (though not as good, but more confident) and provide a
little more offensively. At that point,
it’s fine to trade him and take a flyer on Vincent. While Vincent has struggled with his
efficiency this year, the hope is that he can provide some combo guard ability
that he provided for Miami. He will certainly
be coming off the bench and not be in a large role, so they can hope that he is
more efficient. At worst, they did get a
second rounder out of it, which could have some value depending on how the
Lakers are that far out.
Vit
Krejci
Portland receives: Vit Krejci
Atlanta receives: Duop Reath, 2027 2nd
round pick (ATL), 2030 2nd round pick (NYK)
Portland grade: A+
I imagine I am in the minority in thinking this is a
brilliant trade for Portland, but I think this is a fair price for Krejci while
also getting a slam dunk of a player. He
is a 6’8 guard who is an amazing shooter.
While he has operated more as an off-ball guard, he can provide some
playmaking at times, though I think he is better off the ball due to his shooting
and finishing ability, especially off the catch. He is also under contract through 2028 (that
season has a team option) and on a minimum deal, so they have acquired a backup
guard who is very talented and very cheap.
While Portland has multiple ball handlers on their roster, Krejci is big
enough to play the two or three as well, making him a seamless fit. Reath wasn’t playing a ton of minutes, so
they managed to improve their depth without giving up much.
Atlanta grade: C
While Atlanta got fair value in their return, my grade is
more questioning why they made this move.
Krejci is under contract through 2028 and is on a cheap contract while
providing enough value to exceed the contract.
While he’s best suited as a backup, he has thrived in that role in Atlanta. I wasn’t expecting much from Reath (he was
waived after the trade), so I question what the importance of saving a tiny bit
of money and getting these two picks is when he provides so much value and is
under contract for a while.
Lonzo
Ball and Jock Landale
Note: While this was two trades, it was initially reported
as one trade, so I am grading it as such.
Atlanta receives: Jock Landale
Utah receives: Lonzo Ball, 2028 2nd round
pick (CLE), 2032 2nd round pick, Cash (unclear if the cash from trading
Jock Landale was the same clash sent to Cleveland)
Cleveland receives: Cash
Atlanta Grade: A+
There were two things that I thought Atlanta could use: a backup big (especially after they traded
Kristaps Porzingis) and more shooting who could fit around their core
lineup. Landale is able to do both, as
he is an intriguing backup stretch big. He
doesn’t do much else besides shoot well and finishing well, but that is nice
value to get for some cash.
Utah Grade: B
Combining the two trades makes Utah have an interesting
grade. I think taking on Ball (who they
waived) to get the picks was a brilliant move, especially since they had the
room. The Landale trade is a little
weird; I’m surprised they couldn’t get a protected second round pick or
anything other than cash. Even if they
valued the open roster spot, it feels weird to just get cash given that bigs
who can shoot have a lot of value.
Cleveland Grade: B
Unfortunately, the Lonzo Ball experience in Cleveland didn’t
work; his shot was broken, he didn’t appear comfortable driving, and he didn’t
look like himself defensively, which is so sad that his injuries resulted in
this. It’s not shocking that they needed
to attach assets, but giving up 2 2nd round picks is worth saving a
ton of money in the tax and opening up another spot. I just feel bad for Lonzo since he looked so
good when healthy in New Orleans and Cleveland.
Nick
Richards and Cole Anthony
Chicago receives: Nick Richards
Phoenix receives: Cole Anthony, Amir Coffey
Milwaukee receives: Ousmane Dieng, Nigel Hayes-Davis
Chicago Grade: A+
I feel like Chicago was in a winning situation here whether
they kept Dieng to give him a shot or if they opted to take back Richards. Even though Richards is 6 years older than
Dieng, Richards has proven to be a decent backup big who can finish and rebound
well while holding up enough defensively against backup bigs. He certainly doesn’t have the upside that
Dieng has, but he will at least provide a level of steadiness on the court,
which will help out Chicago during the rest of the season even if they try to tank. I think he will help the team a lot.
Phoenix Grade: A
Due to the number of bigs and forwards Phoenix has, it was
inevitable that at least one was going to have difficulty finding minutes, and
it was Nick Richards. At that point, it
made sense to try to move him for something else. Cole Anthony has been inconsistent over the
last couple seasons, but he is an aggressive scorer who competes defensively
despite his smaller stature and has a solid jumper. He also has shown glimpses of playmaking
ability, though I think he is best suited as a backup shooting guard or a combo
guard. He really struggled in Milwaukee
and could struggle to find time in Phoenix given their roster, but it might be
worth a shot. As for Coffey, he is a
nice wing to have when he is hitting shots, but this year is the third season
of his 7 year career where he is shooting less than 32% from deep (oddly
enough, he is shooting 38% for his career while fluctuating between hitting
everything on small sample size to hitting nothing). Maybe the 3 comes, which would give them
another option to throw out there. At
worst, both guys are on expiring contracts and aren’t a ton of money anyways.
Milwaukee Grade: A
With Milwaukee struggling this season, they needed to try something,
and it made sense to see if Anthony and Coffey, two struggling rotation guys,
could net anything. While they waived
Hayes-Davis, trying Dieng might be worth a look considering that he has a lot
of skill and is only 22, although he is very raw. A big part of the reason that he didn’t play
much in his career is because Oklahoma City has done such a good job at
development that they just didn’t have the room to fit him into the
rotation. The only concern you might see
is if Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t view this as a winning move and adds to his
frustration, but at this point Milwaukee needs to do what is best for them, not
for Giannis. If it doesn’t work out, Dieng
is a free agent after this year, so they can just let him walk. If it looks like there is a future with him,
he is a restricted free agent.
Chris
Paul and Ochai Agbaji
Brooklyn receives: Ochai Agbaji, 2032 2nd
round pick (TOR), Cash
Toronto receives: Chris Paul
L.A. Clippers receive: Draft rights to Vanja
Marinkovic (60th pick, 2019 Draft)
Brooklyn Grade: A+
The reason I am distinguishing this from the other salary
dump trades is because I like Agbaji and think what Brooklyn did was
interesting. Brooklyn had a bunch of cap
room, so they were able to take a chance on Agbaji while also getting a pick
and some cash out of this. Agbaji is a
streaky shooter whose efficiency fluctuates, but he is a nice supporting cast
member when his shot is falling. He isn’t
anywhere near the defender I thought he would be when he was drafted in 2022,
but he’s fine on that end when he’s not taking on the toughest assignment. Ultimately, Brooklyn can give him a chance
for the remainder of the season while they try not to win. At best, they have a supporting cast member;
at worst, they don’t resign him and they got a second round pick and some cash.
Toronto Grade: B
The biggest thing for Toronto is that they got under the
luxury tax, which is ideal since they likely aren’t title contenders and can
avoid repeater tax in the future. While
it stinks to lose Agbaji, he was struggling and was unlikely to be
resigned. Paul was waived after the
trade and ultimately retired.
L.A. Clippers Grade: B
This was a salary dump for L.A. so they could get rid of
Chris Paul’s contract. They aren’t
banking on Marinkovic coming over to the NBA, and they likely will trade his
draft rights at some point.
Tyus
Jones (Part 1): He is Dumped
Charlotte receives: Tyus Jones, 2027 2nd
round pick (worst of BOS/ORL), 2028 2nd round pick
Orlando receives: Cash
Charlotte Grade: A
While this was a standard salary dump, Charlotte managed to get
2 picks to take on a 1-year, $7M contract.
Even though the 2027 pick is unlikely to be good, it’s insane that they
were able to get another pick for a 1-year contract that wasn’t that much. They ended up trading him in the trade listed
next.
Orlando Grade: B
This was a salary dump for Orlando, since Jones just didn’t
work there and struggled mightily. It’s
annoying that they had to include multiple picks, though they did save money by
doing that.
Tyus
Jones (Part 2): He Finds a Home…For This Year
Dallas receives: Tyus Jones
Charlotte receives: Malaki Branham
Dallas Grade: B+
While Dallas is not going anywhere this year, there will be
points where they need a point guard to steady the ship. While both Brandon Williams and Ryan Nembhard
have both been very good for them, I think both are better suited as backups
due to their size and limitations. While
Jones has thrived as a backup, he at least gives them someone who can settle
the offense at times while allowing Williams and Nembhard to settle into backup
roles while also allowing Cooper Flagg to showcase some more ball handling
ability. There also isn’t going to be a
risk of Jones making them too good since I don’t think this team is good enough
to accidentally make the Play-In. Jones
is expiring after this year, so Dallas can reevaluate their future plans at the
position in the offseason.
Charlotte Grade: B-
I understand if Charlotte didn’t want Jones due to his
struggles. I also understand if they
wanted Branham to save a little bit of money, even though they weren’t in the
tax. What I don’t understand is why they
didn’t try to get anything out of the deal if they were just going to waive
Branham. It’s not a big enough deal to
grade lower than a B- in my opinion, though I think Jones could have been
interesting with Charlotte.
Guerschon
Yabusele
Chicago receives: Guerschon Yabusele, Cash
New York receives: Dalen Terry
While this wasn’t quite a dump, this was a version of both
teams dumping a forward that they didn’t want.
Yabusele has struggled this year in New York, so maybe a new environment
will help; it is weird for a tanking Chicago team to take on a 30-year-old, but
it’s not like Terry developed much.
Terry was later traded. Both
teams get a B.
Trayce
Jackson-Davis
Toronto Receives: Trayce Jackson-Davis
Golden State Receives: 2026 2nd round pick
(LAL)
This is a standard salary dump. For whatever reason, Golden State never fully
trusted Jackson-Davis despite proving to be a good third big and occasional
second. While the Lakers have played
well so far, a lot of metrics indicate that they are playing a bit over their
heads (I think they are), so that could have some value. In Toronto’s case, I think he’ll be a solid
backup big for them, especially since they’ve struggled with the position due
to injuries. Both teams get a B.
Josh
Minott
Brooklyn receives: Josh Minott
Boston receives: Cash
As much as I loved Minott for the Celtics, he wasn’t an
essential piece, so they could move him to get under the tax. I’m excited that he’ll get an opportunity in
Brooklyn, since he can be a role player in the league. Both teams get a B.
Hunter
Tyson
Brooklyn receives: Hunter Tyson, 2032 2nd
round pick
Denver receives: 2026 2nd round pick
(worst of ATL/LAC)
This was a salary dump.
Tyson wasn’t as good as expected upon being drafted; Denver ducked the
tax and Brooklyn improved a draft pick.
Brooklyn waved him after. Both
teams get a B.
Eric
Gordon
Memphis receives: Eric Gordon, 2032 2nd
round pick swap
Philadelphia receives: Draft Rights to Justinian
Jessup (51st pick, 2020)
This is a standard salary dump, as Eric Gordon was promptly
waived. Jessup is unlikely to join the
NBA, but he is a good shooter, so it’s worth a shot. The 2nd round swap could be
interesting since it’s 6 years out. Both
teams get a B.
Xavier
Tillman Sr.
Charlotte receives: Xavier Tillman Sr., Cash
Boston receives: 2030 2nd Round Pick
(top-55 protected)
This is a standard salary dump. Unfortunately, Tillman never found his way
into Boston’s rotation. This helped
Boston get under the tax and gives Charlotte another option as a backup
big. Both teams get a B.
Chris
Boucher
Utah receives: Chris Boucher, 2027 2nd round pick
(DEN), Cash
Boston receives: John Tonje
This was a salary dump trade. Unfortunately, Boucher didn’t work in Boston,
and they were able to get back a 2-way player while also getting under the tax. Utah promptly waived Boucher, so at least
they got the cash to do it as well as a pick.
Both teams get a B.
Draft rights movement
Oklahoma City receives: Draft rights to Balsa Koprivica
(57th pick, 2021)
Utah receives: Cash
I’m a little confused by why this trade happened now since
it doesn’t impact much, but it’s honestly fair for both teams. Both teams get a B.
What did you think of the trade deadline? Any trades you liked? Let me know in the comments!
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