The 2025 NBA trade deadline was one of the best in recent memory. There were some massive moves leading to Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline, including the Earth-shattering Luka Doncic trade.
That seemed to spark teams to be even more aggressive than usual. What was initially thought to be a quiet trade season exploded with rumors and activity.
We graded them all with instant reactions at Sporting News. Here are all the major trades, along with thoughts on how each team involved did.
SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule
NBA trade deadline grades 2025
Lakers trade Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic
- Lakers receive: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
- Mavericks receive: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 first-round pick
- Jazz receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, two second-round picks
Lakers trade grade: A+
The Lakers pulled off the seemingly impossible, getting the preseason favorite to win the MVP and not even sacrificing any of their best young players in the process. This could go down as one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.
Davis is an All-NBA talent as well, but he’s six years older and realistically never going to be the best player in the league like Doncic very well may be. Players like Doncic are never available in a trade, let alone for the price the Lakers paid.
Mavericks trade grade: F
That the Mavericks didn’t even get both of the Lakers’ first-round picks is inexcusable. They better win a championship with Davis. Otherwise, this move will blow up in their faces. Doncic carried them to the Finals with his offensive production last season. Kyrie Irving is now the only plus-shot creator on the roster. They’ve made a win-now move that makes them worse both in the present and future.
Jazz trade grade: B+
Despite being taken with the 17th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Hood-Schifino isn’t considered much of a prospect anymore. The Jazz had the ability to take him into their cap, and two second-rounders is a nice return for them.
LUKA DONCIC TRADE GRADES: Did the Mavs just make the worst trade in NBA history?
Heat trade Jimmy Butler to Warriors
- Heat receive: Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson (potentially being re-routed), P.J. Tucker, 2025 protected top-10 pick (via Warriors)
- Warriors receive: Jimmy Butler
- Jazz receive: Dennis Schroder
Note: Reporting on this trade is not yet finalized
Heat trade grade: B
The Heat had very little leverage and the potential for disaster if Butler stayed in Miami. They saved a ton of money by trading him, got the win-now veterans they were seeking and got a 2025 pick that will probably land somewhere in the early 20s. That’s not a bad haul for a player who was probably leaving for nothing over the summer.
Warriors trade grade: B
The Warriors immediately extended Butler for two years and $122 million, making this a risky move. He didn’t have much trade value now. What will it be when he’s older and more expensive?
With that downside risk comes a much higher ceiling. It’s easy to forget, but the Warriors looked like championship contenders earlier this season. They might not be that far away. Butler gives them a much-needed reliable second scorer and a killer when the pressure gets high.
Stephen Curry deserves a chance at maximizing his final few years in the league, and the Warriors gave it to him without having to sacrifice their young prospects or all of their draft equity.
MORE: Why did the Warriors trade for Jimmy Butler?
Pelicans trade Brandon Ingram to Raptors
- Pelicans receive: Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Olynyk, 2026 Pacers first-round pick, second-round pick
- Raptors receive: Brandon Ingram
Raptors trade grade: B
The Raptors haven’t been much of a free-agency destination, so getting a talent like Ingram via the trade market makes sense for them. They also barely had to dip into their stash of eight tradeable first-round picks, making this a nice pickup and giving them an opportunity to still trade for a much bigger star down the line.
Toronto will have to pay Ingram this summer when he’s a free agent. The front office cleared up some money to do so by trading away Olynyk’s long-term money. That’s going to make his big number more palatable.
The Raptors need more shot creation and passing, and Ingram can provide that. He’s a great midrange shooter, good in pick-and-rolls and can theoretically fit OK next to Scottie Barnes as a good 3-point shooter (although he is too reluctant to take them).
Pelicans trade grade: B
There wasn’t much demand for Ingram, and he was going to be too expensive for the Pelicans to keep. They’re not a team that has been willing to pay the tax, which would have made retaining him tricky.
Brown is an expiring contract that probably won’t be around next year. Eating Olynyk’s $13.4 million owed next year is painful, but he’s still a useful offensive center who might be able to play some backup minutes after the loss of Daniel Theis.
This was about getting some draft equity. A first-rounder and a second-rounder isn’t what New Orleans was hoping for, but it’s the best offer out there and it was wise to take it.
Lakers trade Dalton Knecht for Mark Williams
- Lakers receive: Mark Williams
- Hornets receive: Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, 2031 unprotected first-round pick, 2030 pick swap
Lakers trade grade: B+
The Lakers needed a starting center with high upside. They got one in Williams, who has played extremely well on a bad Hornets team that few are watching.
Williams has broken out this season, averaging 15.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He’s a great lob threat and good passer who will fit extremely well with Doncic. He’s not an elite rim protector like AD was, but he has good athleticism and positioning.
Knecht was a fan favorite, but the truth is that he wasn’t really ready to contribute at a high level this season. JJ Redick expressed frustration at times with his reticence to shoot the ball.
Trading away a 2031 first-round pick is a high price to pay, but Williams is a worthwhile gamble.
Hornets trade grade: B+
The fact that the Hornets got more draft equity for Williams than the Mavericks did for Doncic is pretty funny. That 2031 pick is likely to be better than the 2029 pick when Doncic will still be on the right side of 30.
Knecht may seem like a better prospect than Williams, but he is actually eight months older and has shown significantly less in his NBA minutes. Still, he’s a good shooter with plus athleticism. He should play well next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
MORE: NBA trade deadline winners and losers include Lakers, Warriors, Mavericks
Kings, Spurs, Bulls three-way trade for Zach LaVine and De’Aaron Fox
- Spurs receive: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin
- Kings receive: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, 2025 first-round pick (via Hornets), 2027 first-round pick (via Spurs), 2031 first-round pick (via Wolves), three second-round picks
- Bulls receive: Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, 2025 first-round pick (via Spurs)
Kings trade grade: B+
Zach LaVine is a good player, and the Kings got him for almost nothing. It sounds like De’Aaron Fox was leaving in free agency. Getting two first-round picks and five second-rounders is a good haul for him.
Spurs trade grade: B
Fox is a great young point guard who should pair well with Victor Wembanyama. Those two are going to create havoc defensively, and Fox gives them two great options at the end of games.
Bulls trade grade: C
This is an underwhelming return for LaVine. They had to take on bad long-term contracts in Collins and Huerter. Their reward? Getting their own pick back from the Spurs that may not have ever conveyed.
Bucks trade Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma
- Bucks receive: Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., second-round pick
- Wizards receive: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, 2028 pick swap
Bucks trade grade: B
It’s tough to trade a franchise legend like Middleton, but he was no longer capable of staying healthy and his defense had slipped to the point where he was a liability on the floor. Kuzma hasn’t been very good this season either, looking completely checked out for a horrendous Wizards team. Perhaps a change in scenery motivates him to return to his level of a few years ago.
More importantly, this trade gets the Bucks out of the second apron. They were at risk of having their 2032 first-round pick frozen, and they can now combine players in any future trades.
Wizards trade grade: B
The Wizards didn’t get much of a return for Kuzma. Middleton could rehab his value and bring back an asset next season as an expiring contract. The pick swap they received in 2028 is split three ways and probably won’t be great either. And Johnson is a mediocre prospect who was a reach when he was drafted with the 23rd pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. But getting anything positive back for him helps their future and opens up developmental minutes for their younger players.
MORE: Full Khris Middleton trade grades for Bucks, Wizards
Thunder acquire Daniel Theis
- Thunder receive: Daniel Theis, 2031 second-round pick
- Pelicans receive: Cash considerations
Thunder trade grade: B+
The Thunder could use a backup big man, and Theis is still serviceable until Chet Holmgren returns from injury. This was mostly a financial transaction, though. The trade gets the Pelicans out of the luxury tax, and the Thunder pick up a second-round pick for their trouble.
Pelicans trade grade: B
The Pelicans were bound to give up some sort of asset to shed salary. They’ve never paid the tax in their team’s history. They weren’t about to do it for a non-playoff team. Luckily it only cost them Theis, a second-round pick and some cash.
Grizzlies trade Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia
- Grizzlies receive: Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis, two second-round picks
- Wizards receive: Marcus Smart, 2025 first-round pick
- Kings receive: Jake LaRavia
Reporting from this trade is still coming in. Grades will be updated once the final pieces are announced.
Grizzlies trade grade: Incomplete
Wizards trade grade: Incomplete
Kings trade grade: Incomplete
Clippers trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Clippers receive: Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Hawks receive: Terance Mann, Bones Hyland, three second-round picks
Clippers trade grade: C+
The Clippers have overachieved this season by putting together a terrific defense. Their offense ranks 22nd and needs help.
Bogdanovic helps there in theory — he’s been a great shooter and good shot-creator in the past — but this season has been a slog for him. He’s shot a rough 30.1 percent from 3 and 37.1 percent from the field while battling injuries.
If the 32-year-old guard can return to his previous form, this could work out. If he stays at his current level, this is a pretty big overpay.
Hawks trade grade: A-
The Hawks have needed a high-level backup for Trae Young for a long time. They got a good one in Mann, who is a solid two-way player. Hyland at one time showed promise as a great shooter for the Nuggets. He hasn’t seen the floor much for the Clippers over the past few years.
Getting three second-round picks for Bogdanovic, who didn’t fit particularly well next to Young and looked like he was declining, is a great return. The Hawks don’t control their pick in the 2025 draft, so getting playable guys back in both this trade and the Hunter trade is useful.
Hawks trade De’Andre Hunter to Cavs
- Cavs receive: De’Andre Hunter
- Hawks receive: Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, two pick swaps
Cavs trade grade: B+
Hunter was somewhat of a disappointment through his first five years in the league. He had trouble staying healthy and was inconsistent on both ends of the floor. That changed this season.
Hunter has become a much more reliable scorer and shot creator, turning into a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate. He’s still not an amazing defender, but he has good size at 6-8, fits well in the Cavs’ elite defensive scheme and brings even more shooting to the team.
Cleveland has the best record in the East. A recent skid, including a loss to the Celtics two days ago, showed that it still was a tier below the rest of the championship contenders. This trade shores up one of the team’s few weak spots.
Hawks trade grade: B+
The Hawks have been on a recent skid, losing eight of nine. After a season-ending injury to Jalen Johnson, the momentum of their season came to an abrupt halt. Rather than chasing the Play-In Tournament yet again, they’re prioritizing a higher ceiling.
This may seem like an underwhelming haul for Hunter, but there were not many offers for him a season ago. This gives them a chance to build something more sustainable.
Suns trade Jusuf Nurkic to Hornets
- Hornets receive: Jusuf Nurkic, first-round pick
- Suns receive: Cody Martin, Vasilije Micic, second-round pick
Suns trade grade: C-
Nurkic had become unplayable for the Suns, so getting anything for him is helpful. This isn’t much, though. Martin is a good defender, but he’s a shaky shooter and hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Micic has been mostly ineffective in Charlotte.
The big impetus for this trade is the massive savings that the Suns will get, estimated to be over $120 million by cap expert Yossi Gozlan.
Hornets trade grade: B+
The three first-round picks that the Suns had available to trade were all protected and not great assets, but getting anything back for Martin and Micic is a good piece of business. Charlotte now has a playable center after trading away Nick Richards and Mark Williams, although Nurkic is way past his prime.
Mavericks trade Quentin Grimes for Caleb Martin
- Mavericks receive: Caleb Martin
- Sixers receive: Quentin Grimes, 2025 second-round pick
Mavericks trade grade: C-
This is another confusing one for Dallas. It got the worse player in Martin and gave up a second-round pick to do so.
Whenever that’s the case, financial reasons are usually responsible. Grimes is set to be a free agent, and the Mavs likely were worried about paying him. He’s earned a raise with a good year.
Martin does in theory provide more shot creation than Grimes, which the Mavs need after trading away Doncic. But he hasn’t been the Miami version of himself, and he will have to get back to that.
Sixers trade grade: A-
Martin was having a bad season for the Sixers. Like everyone else on the team, he has been injured for a significant portion of the year. Grimes is younger, a better defender and has shot the ball more effectively. What’s not to like?
Kings acquire Jonas Valanciunas
- Kings receive: Jonas Valanciunas
- Wizards receive: Sidy Cissoko, two second-round picks
Kings trade grade: B-
Valanciunas is a weird fit on this Kings team that has already downgraded their defense after acquiring Zach LaVine. The big man is a one-way center whose poor lateral movement limits his playing time.
Still, Valanciunas is a fantastic rebounder and a good scorer, and he has built-in chemistry with DeMar DeRozan from their Raptors days. This wasn’t a huge price to pay, so it’s hard to be too low on a pure talent play.
Wizards trade grade: B+
Cissoko is expected to be waived, so this deal was really about getting the picks out of Valanciunas. It was a good use of the team’s cap space to sign him to a three-year, $30 million deal. Now, they get two second-rounders out of it.
