The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
It’s NBA trade deadline day.
The action really kicked off two months before Feb. 6, with the Brooklyn Nets sending Dennis Schröder to the Golden State Warriors, and we’ve been dishing out trade grades on the most notable moves ever since.
Here they all are so far, with many more to potentially come today.
Feb. 5/6: Lakers fill hole at center
Lakers get: Mark Williams
Hornets get: Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, 2030 first-round pick swap and 2031 first-round pick
On the surface, this may seem like a wild overpay for Williams. Though often injured, when he’s played this season, Williams has been great. He should be a solid defensive anchor to protect the rim, and he’s also a perfect pick-and-roll big man for either LeBron James or Luka Dončić. I also love this deal for the Hornets as they continue to rebuild.
Lakers grade: A-
Hornets grade: A
Lakers-Hornets trade grades: Mark Williams heading to L.A. to bolster frontcourt
Feb. 5/6: Ingram heading north
Raptors get: Brandon Ingram
Pelicans get: Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Olynyk, first-round pick and second-round pick
As the Pelicans’ season went off the rails, many wondered whether they would dismantle a once-promising roster. After not being able to figure out a future with Ingram in NOLA, the Pels are finding a new home for a member of their core. When you consider there was no market for Ingram for most of the last year, the haul New Orleans received in this deal was a good one.
Raptors grade: B+
Pelicans grade: B
Brandon Ingram trade grades: Pelicans finally part ways with one-time All-Star
Feb. 5: Butler saga comes to an end
Warriors get: Jimmy Butler
Heat get: Andrew Wiggins, P.J. Tucker, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick
Pistons get: Josh Richardson and Lindy Waters III
Jazz get: Dennis Schröder
We’ve been wondering if Butler could find his way to the Phoenix Suns for weeks now. Instead, he’s headed to a Pacific Division opponent battling them for a Play-In Tournament spot in the Western Conference.
Now Butler will team up with Stephen Curry, with Miami getting Wiggins amid a bounce-back season. The Pistons and Jazz got involved here, too, but Butler is the headliner.
Warriors grade: B
Heat grade: B-
Pistons grade: B-
Jazz grade: C
Feb. 5: Kings bring in Valančiūnas
Kings get: Jonas Valančiūnas
Wizards get: Sidy Cissoko, two second-round picks
On the surface, I’m not certain this trade makes sense for Sacramento, a team that already employs Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len as its big men. But perhaps this goes beyond filling out the rotation. On the other hand, I’m a little shocked at how little Washington received in this deal.
Kings grade: B
Wizards grade: C+
Feb. 5: Middleton era ends
Bucks get: Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round picks
Wizards get: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and a first-round pick swap
This is officially a Milwaukee breakup with Middleton, who helped the Bucks win a championship in 2021. He’s played nearly his entire career with the Bucks and is second all-time in games played and minutes for the franchise. He’s also third in points scored and first in 3-pointers made. But the Bucks are moving on in the hopes that Kuzma brings in a younger, more athletic and reliable physical presence.
Bucks grade: B
Wizards grade: C+
Giannis opens up on ‘brother’ Khris Middleton’s exit as era ends in Milwaukee
Feb. 4: Mavs, Sixers make swap
Sixers get: Quentin Grimes, second-round pick
Mavericks get: Caleb Martin
A few days after shocking the world (as you’ll see below), it looks like the Mavs are aiming for some postseason help on the wing by making a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on the same day the two teams faced each other. I think Grimes has a higher ceiling than Martin, but the Mavs are going with more of a sure thing here while Philly gets a little younger.
Sixers grade: A
Mavericks grade: B+
Feb. 2: Fox, LaVine find new homes
Spurs get: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin
Kings get: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-rounders, three second-rounders
Bulls get: Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Tre Jones, first-round pick
Months of reporting by our own Sam Amick came to fruition recently as the Sacramento Kings became open to trading their franchise point guard, De’Aaron Fox. We all immediately started trying to connect the dots with the whispery rumors of his desire to play with Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. Now, we don’t have to connect those dots any further.
Not only does this deal pair Fox with Wembanyama, but it reunites Zach LaVine with DeMar DeRozan.
Spurs grade: A-
Kings grade: B-
Bulls grade: B
De’Aaron Fox-Zach LaVine trade grades: Reunion in Sacramento; Wemby gets running mate
Feb. 1: Blockbuster of all blockbusters
Lakers get: Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris
Mavericks get: Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick
Jazz get: Jalen Hood-Schifino and two 2025 second-round picks
You know a trade is historic — and completely out of nowhere — when everybody assumes the initial report was because of internet hacking and tomfoolery at its most devious. But all of the headlines and text messages you received about this were, in fact, real. Less than a week later, this is still a stunning moment in the NBA that nobody was prepared to even consider as a possibility.
Lakers grade: A
Mavericks grade: C
Jazz grade: Pass
Luka-AD trade grades: How will Lakers, Mavericks, Jazz fare after blockbuster deal?
Dec. 29: Lakers, Nets make moves
Lakers get: Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton
Nets get: D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks
The Los Angeles Lakers were desperate to add some punch on both sides of the ball, and we’d been wondering if/when Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka would move some pieces to bring in some help for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
For quite a while, Russell has been rumored to be on the move in any potential Lakers swing for a significant player. While Finney-Smith is not a star, and there weren’t any first-round picks heading to Brooklyn in the deal, the Lakers added one of the best 3-and-D role players in the NBA.
Lakers grade (at the time): A-
Nets grade (at the time): C+
Trade grades: Dorian Finney-Smith a far better fit for Lakers than D’Angelo Russell
Dec. 15: Warriors add to backcourt
Warriors get: Dennis Schröder
Nets get: De’Anthony Melton, Reece Beekman and three second-round picks
Trade season officially got underway with this move, with Brooklyn starting an expected teardown as it enters a full rebuild.
Melton was an important signing in the offseason for the Warriors, but he tore his ACL in mid-November, and Golden State needed to bring in another guard to replace him. The Warriors decided Schröder was the guy.
Warriors grade (at the time): A
Nets grade (at the time): B
(Photo of Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
