For most of the twenty-first century, the trade deadline in sports has been dominated by Major League Baseball (MLB). Their lack of a salary cap, trades that don’t involve draft picks and movement of prospects in the minor leagues make transactions much easier than in any other professional sport. However, this isn’t the case for 2025, a year where many are calling the National Basketball Association (NBA) trade deadline the craziest in league history.
Since Saturday, Feb. 1, there have been eight All-Stars, eight NBA Champions and four All-NBA players who have been traded. There have also been four different trades that involved three or more teams, the most being four in the Jimmy Butler trade.
The only teams that didn’t make a move this trade season were the Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers.
P.J. Tucker’s first destination; from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Utah Jazz (Saturday, Feb. 1)
Clippers acquire: Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills.
Jazz acquire: Tucker, Mo Bamba, the 2030 second overall draft pick and cash.
This deal, according to Bobby Marks via X, puts the Clippers below the luxury tax and the first apron. This allows them to be active in the buyout market by getting out of the $33 million deal that Tucker signed with Philadelphia.
Dallas Mavericks trade Luka Dončić to Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis (Sunday, Feb. 2)
Mavericks acquire: Davis, Max Christie and the 2029 Lakers first-round draft pick.
Lakers acquire: Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
Jazz acquire: Jalen Hood-Schifino, the 2025 Lakers second-round draft pick and the 2025 Dallas first-round draft pick.
Several reports have been released since the trade to give context to Mavericks’ General Manager Nico Harrison’s decision. The Mavericks approached the Lakers “in the shadows,” according to Shams Charania via ESPN. There was speculation around Dončić’s conditioning and weight, where he reportedly “ballooned” to high 260s in weight, as Dave McMenamin reported.
The trade was so shocking to the NBA world that the term “hacked” was trending on X as users assumed that the X account of Charania, an NBA insider, was tampered with in the report. He played along with the trend, putting out a statement where he said, “Yes, this is real,” when releasing the trade details.
San Antonio Spurs land De’Aaron Fox in three-team deal (Sunday, Feb. 2)
Spurs acquire: Fox and Jordan McLaughlin.
Kings acquire: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, the 2025 Charlotte first-round pick, the 2027 San Antonio first-round pick, the 2031 Minnesota first-round pick, the 2025 Chicago second-round pick, the 2028 Denver second-round pick and the 2028 Sacramento second-round pick.
Bulls acquire: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and the 2025 Chicago 1st-round pick (via San Antonio).
The Spurs have been looking to pair Victor Wembanyama with a co-star, and they do so here with Fox. The Kings had opened trade talks for the 27-year-old former All-NBA guard on Jan. 28. Fox reportedly had a preferred trade destination, and, while it wasn’t revealed initially, the Spurs seem to be that destination. If it is San Antonio, Fox will more than likely sign an extension in the future, as he is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Mavericks trade Quentin Grimes for Caleb Martin (Tuesday, Feb. 4)
Philadelphia 76ers acquire: Grimes and the 2025 Philadelphia second-round pick (via Dallas).
Mavericks acquire: Martin.
Although Grimes is four years younger than Martin, Grimes will be a restricted free agent in the offseason. Dallas takes on Martin, who’s under contract for the next four years, giving them a shooter with high-level playoff experience.
Khris Middleton swapped for Kyle Kuzma from Washington Wizards (Wednesday, Feb. 5)
Milwaukee Bucks acquire: Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Jericho Sims, the 2025 Washington second-round pick and Mathias Lessort (draft rights).
Wizards acquire: Middleton, AJ Johnson and a 2028 first-round pick swap.
New York Knicks acquire: Delon Wright, Hugo Besson (draft rights) and cash.
Milwaukee falls under the second apron with this deal, allowing them to build their roster more for the future. Kuzma reduced a portion of the trade bonus as well, which was the main reason for them falling under the apron. The Knicks added Sims later in the deadline, and with the recent play of rookie Ariel Hukporti and Precious Achiuwa, it’s no surprise they’re moving on.
Jaden Springer sent to Houston Rockets (Wednesday, Feb. 5)
Rockets receive: Springer, the 2030 Boston second-round team and a 2027 Boston second-round pick (protected).
Boston Celtics receive: the 2031 Houston second-round pick.
The Celtics tax penalty drops from $65.6 million to $50.2 million according to Bobby Marks on X, which opened two roster spots. The Celtics later signed forward Torrey Craig on Saturday, Feb. 8, with one of those open spots.
Daniel Theis from New Orleans Pelicans to Oklahoma City Thunder (Wednesday, Feb. 5)
Thunder acquire: Theis and the 2031 Orlando second-round pick.
Pelicans acquire: Cash.
The Pelicans are now under the luxury tax with this trade, previously being $1.4 million above. Theis will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and with the Thunder’s center spots being locked up with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, Theis will likely not get much playing time for the remainder of the year.
Sacramento Kings get Jonas Valančiūnas from Wizards (Wednesday, Feb. 5)
Kings acquire: Valančiūnas.
Wizards acquire: Cissoko, the 2029 Denver second-round and the 2029 Sacramento second-round.
After dealing Fox, just three days prior, Sacramento gets a good offensive big to pair with Domantas Sabonis. Whether they want to bring him off the bench or start him next to Sabonis, he will be an impact player for them for the three years he’s under contract.
Jimmy Butler traded to the Golden State Warriors in four-team deal (Wednesday, Feb. 5)
Warriors acquire: Butler.
Miami Heat acquire: Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Tucker and the 2025 Golden State first-round pick (protected).
Jazz acquire: N/A.
Detroit Pistons acquire: Dennis Schröder, Lindy Waters III and Josh Richardson.
Butler has been advocating to get out of Miami for the past couple of weeks, denying trade destinations that would’ve sent him to sure title contenders. He eventually lands in Golden State next to Stephen Curry to try and make a push for a playoff spot. Currently one spot out of the Play-In Tournament, they’ll look to Butler’s playoff leaps to aid in a potential title run.
Pelicans send Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors (Wednesday, Feb. 5)
Raptors acquire: Ingram.
Pelicans acquire: Bruce Brown Jr, Kelly Olynyk, the 2026 Indiana first-round pick and the 2025 Toronto second-round pick.
The Pelicans are fully committed to a rebuild, dishing one of their leading scorers to the also-rebuilding Raptors. Ingram, who’s played in just 66% (305/462) of games since landing in New Orleans, is joining up with the young core of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Gradey Dick. Although the Raptors aren’t in shape to make the Play-In this year, they’re looking to the future when the rest of the team develops.
Mark Williams’s trade rescinded (Wednesday, Feb. 5)
Lakers acquire: Williams.
Charlotte Hornets: Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, the 2031 Lakers first and the 2030 first-round pick swap.
Los Angeles has desperately been searching for a center, and, before the Dončić trade, Davis publicly asked to be paired next to a center. After the Lakers dished Davis, they were quick to deal for Hornets center Williams; however, due to the Lakers being skeptical about his physical exam and injury history, the trade was rescinded. The Lakers went to the buyout market and signed Alex Len instead.
Hornets trade for Jusuf Nurkić from the Phoenix Suns (Thursday, Feb. 6)
Hornets acquire: Nurkić, the 2026 Pheonix first.
Suns acquire: Cody Martin, Vasilije Micić and the 2026 Charlotte second-round pick.
After initially dealing Williams to the Lakers, the Hornets acquired veteran center Nurkić from the Suns. Nurkić, the pending free agent in 2026, was looking to have the starting spot in Charlotte, but due to the Williams trade getting rescinded, he’ll likely be moved to the bench.
Cleveland Cavaliers get De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks (Thursday, Feb. 6)
Cavaliers acquire: Hunter.
Hawks acquire: Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, a 2026 first-round pick swap, a 2028 first- round pick swap and three second-round picks.
The one position the Cavaliers lacked was a consistent small forward, and they finally got one with Hunter. He’ll be replacing Isaac Okoro while specializing in his perimeter defense. He is shooting just 43% from the field with career lows in points per game and minutes played per game.
Clippers trade Terance Mann and Bones Hyland for Bogdan Bogdanović (Thursday, Feb. 6)
Clippers acquire: Bogdanovic, the 2025 Minnesota second-round draft pick, the 2026 Memphis second-round draft pick and the 2027 Lakers second-round pick.
Hawks acquire: Mann and Hyland.
The Clippers open up a roster spot with this deal as well as both Atlanta and Los Angeles falling below the luxury tax, via Bobby Marks on X.
Memphis Grizzlies deal Marcus Smart to the Wizards (Thursday, Feb. 6)
Wizards acquire: Smart, Colby Jones, Len and the 2025 Memphis first-round draft pick.
Grizzlies acquire: Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis and the 2028 Sacramento second-round draft pick.
Kings acquire: Jake LaRavia.
Smart signed a four-year $76.5 million contract with the Celtics before being dealt to the Grizzlies ahead of the 2024 season. Freeing his $21.6 million cap hit allows the Grizzlies to have a more flexible contract negotiation with Jaren Jackson Jr.
Bucks swap MarJon Beauchamp for Kevin Porter Jr. (Thursday, Feb. 6)
Bucks acquire: Porter Jr.
Clippers acquire: Beauchamp.
Beauchamp was a player that most Bucks fans wanted to see get more playing time, with a lot of comments under Charania’s X post about the deal. Beauchamp’s fourth-year option was declined, so Los Angeles would have to sign him for $4.8 million.
