The NBA trade deadline has passed and teams are now locked in for a playoff push. The league’s 30 teams can’t make personnel moves involving another team until the off-season.
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
As usual, there was probably more drama surrounding trades, than actual trades that moved the needle, but that’s what some NBA fans love: The built up dramas. What the moves actually mean for the respective teams involved in the trade sometimes play second fiddle to fan reaction or even moves that weren’t made.
Our focus here is what teams benefited most from the flurry of trades and what teams might be in a worse position than before the deadline passed on Thursday afternoon, February 6.
Three Biggest Winners
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Trade:
The Cavs acquired De’Andre Hunter for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second round NBA Draft picks and a swap of two other picks.
Why Cavs Won
Cleveland gets the No. 4 pick of the 2019 NBA Draft;a player who immediately fills a void on a team that is 41-10 and leading the Eastern Conference while not giving up a player better or any core piece. This type of move is exactly what the trade deadline is intended for: to make a contending team better and Hunter definitely can make the Cavs more potent at the position they need the most help at (small forward).
He’s averaging a career-high 19 ppg and shooting over 39 percent from 3-point range. Hunter is not a defensive stopper by any means, but he fits in on a terrific team with established players at the other four spots on the floor.
The Cavs are on pace for about 64 or 65 wins; they haven’t been able to keep up their earlier 70-win projection, but this move should help their odds of winning the NBA title. After all, this is an offense-oriented league.
2. L.A. Lakers
Key Trade:
Of course, it’s the move that brought Luka Doncic to L.A. for Anthony Davis, who is now with the Mavs. It’s the biggest blockbuster in many years, but keep an eye on the trade that brought Charlotte center Mark Williams to L.A. for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first round NBA Draft pick and a 2030 pick swap
Why Lakers Won
It’s rare that a team can add a top three NBA player in his prime, regardless of what they gave up. And the Lakers didn’t have to give up much in terms of future assets. Sure, there are some rumblings about long-term physical conditioning with Doncic, but he’s six years younger than an often-injured AD.
- The Lakers quickly realized they are weak defensively, so they took a good calculated risk on Williams. Knecht is a highly-regarded piece, but with Luka in the fold, defense and a lob threat is what they needed and now they got that. L.A. will be a big player in the 2026 free agent market and the future looks bright, whenever LeBron James decides to retire or move on.
3. San Antonio Spurs
Key Trade:
DeAaron Fox, a All-NBA pick in 2023 and still only 27 years old, goes to San Antonio along with guard Jordan McLaughlin, while the Kings receive 29-year old Zach Lavine (who is a two-time all-star and playing good ball) Sidy Cissoko, and an array of future NBA Draft choices.
Sacramento gets Chicago’s 2025 first-rounder, Denver’s 2028 first-rounder, and gets back their 2028 first rounder from Chicago. Chicago regains its 2025 first round pick from San Antonio, Zach Collins and Tre Jones. Chicago also gets Kevin Huerter.
Why Spurs Won
San Antonio, which is currently 22-26, is under no serious pressure to win right now, so to add an all-star talent averaging 25 ppg, 6 rpg, and 5 rpg and teaming him with the best asset is the whole league who isn’t going anywhere (Victor Wembanyama) is a major win.
Wemby is getting better, and Fox benefits from the presence of a veteran guard like Chris Paul and is a terrific No. 2 threat on a team building for its future. The kicker is the Spurs didn’t have to give up any key young asset that another team would covet such as Stephon Castle. At some point, Wemby is going to make this team a real playoff threat and Fox will be motivated.
Don’t necessarily look at the Kings as big losers; they were being realistic in their ability to retain Fox long-term. If he wasn’t going to re-sign, the haul they got in exchange for him now is much better than they would get later. Dallas fans are going to have to realize that same at some point with Luka, even though the shock factor of this trade is not nearly the same.
Three Biggest Losers
1. Phoenix Suns
Key Trade:
The Suns acquired Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second round NBA Draft pick from Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first round NBA Draft pick. The big reason why the Suns came up shorter than everyone else is the trades they didn’t make.
Why Suns Lost
The Suns had visions of winning a title with their core of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. After last season, they realized having Booker or Beal at the point guard was a failed experiment. They had optimism in Tyus Jones at the point, but are currently 25-25. Beal has a bad contract for a player his age and caliber.
The Suns couldn’t move him and even entertained the thought of moving Kevin Durant, but he didn’t want to go to the Golden State Warriors or any other team right now. Miami’s Jimmy Butler wanted to play in Phoenix, but nothing could be worked out.
You had a core of players that were probably not championship caliber anyway, even if the chemistry was right on point. Now you have a middle of the pack unit with an awkward locker room dynamic. The Suns are in no-man’s land with Beal, who declined to waive his no-trade clause, and have a superstar in KD who is aging and now is probably questioning what Phoenix is trying to accomplish. The team has a huge payroll, is nowhere near championship caliber and just lost leverage with one of the game’s best players. Ouch.
2. Atlanta Hawks
Key Trade:
The Cavs acquired De’Andre Hunter from ATL for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second round NBA Draft picks and a swap of two other picks.
Why Hawks Lost
The Hawks got a good defender in LeVert, but his contract is up at the end of the season. The picks are nothing that is going to benefit a team unless that team is rebuilding. The Hawks are 23-28, and their roster is not better with Hunter not on it for what they got in return. In addition, if the Hawks don’t do well, the subsequent draft picks (three to be exact) are controlled by San Antonio, not the Hawks.
The Hawks’ moves may be a bit puzzling to even some of their players, but what it signifies is a future where Trae Young as the No. 1 option may not be realistic. Will Atlanta move Young before he wants out? Does he already want out? It’s not easy to understand the line of thinking here unless a complete re-build is coming.
3. Golden State Warriors
Key Trade:
The Dubbs acquired Jimmy Butler from Miami for Andrew Wiggins and a protected first round NBA Draft pick. Dennis Schroder is headed from Golden State to Utah, Kyle Anderson from the Dubbs to Toronto and PJ Tucker from the Jazz to Miami for his second stint with the club (2021-22).
Why Warriors Lost
Wiggins was a valuable piece for the Warriors and they added a disgruntled six-time all-star who is now going on 36. Golden State also gave Butler a two-year, $121 million deal. Butler wanted to go to Phoenix, the Warriors coveted Kevin Durant for a second stint to go alongside 36-year old Steph Curry, but ended up with a player who comes with some baggage and is a heavy financial burden. Butler led Miami to the NBA finals twice, but is he still playing at that level?
It’s a calculated gamble that could backfire because of a short window with Curry in the lineup. If this doesn’t make the Warriors a more realistic NBA title contender, an aging dynasty just got plenty older. Curry is trying to get one more realistic shot at NBA title No. 5, but Father Time is around the corner and not just in the Bay Area after this trade.
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