On Feb. 6, the National Basketball Association (NBA) Trade Deadline came to a close, and this year delivered surprises, blockbuster moves and endless storylines. Here is a rundown of the trades from least to most shocking.
The biggest rumored name was 13-year NBA veteran Giannis Antetokounmpo, though the Milwaukee Bucks ultimately held firm despite reports of internal tension and massive trade offers for the superstar who averages 28/10/5 (points/rebounds/assists). Washington Wizards’ star Anthony Davis, however, saw his value dip after a hand ligament injury sidelined him until after the All-Star break. Despite strong averages of 20/11/3 and 1.5 blocks in 20 games, concerns over his durability lingered, and only one of these stars ended up staying put.
The least notable move saw Memphis Grizzlies send a 2032 second-round pick and the draft rights of international stand-out Justinian Jessup to Philadelphia for current Sixer Eric Gordon, who was waived two days later. Another small deal sent the South Sudanese-Australian professional Duop Reath and two second-round picks to Atlanta for Czech player Vit Krejčí, whose 42 percent career three-point shooting should help a Portland team that has struggled from beyond the arc.
The Charlotte Hornets acquired Tyus Jones and two second-round picks from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for cash considerations. Later, Oklahoma City Thunder sent Ousmane Dieng and a 2029 second-round pick to Charlotte for center Mason Plumlee. The Cleveland Cavaliers also entered the mix in a three-team trade that moved Lonzo Ball’s contract to Utah, sent Jock Landale to Atlanta and included two future second-round selections.
Other minor trades included Boston Celtics sending Josh Minott to Brooklyn for cash considerations and Xavier Tillman Sr. to Charlotte in exchange for a 2030 second-round pick. Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson Davis and Los Angeles Clippers’ veteran Chris Paul are heading to Toronto, while several late-round pick swaps involved Brooklyn, Denver and the Clippers. OKC also added former 76er Jared McCain from Philadelphia for a 2026 first-round pick and three future second-round picks.
The Los Angeles Lakers addressed their shooting woes by trading Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to Atlanta for Luke Kennard, who is shooting nearly 50 percent from three. Detroit made a major shooting upgrade as well, acquiring Kevin Huerter from the Chicago Bulls and Dario Šarić from the Denver Nuggets, while sending Jaden Ivey to Chicago in a three-team deal that also included a 2026 protected first-round pick swap.
Several players changed hands multiple times throughout the deadline. New York first moved Guerschon Yabusele to Chicago for Dalen Terry, then flipped Terry along with two second-round picks to New Orleans for José Alvarado. Dario Šarić was also on the move again, this time in a three-team deal involving Cleveland, Sacramento and Chicago. Ousmane Dieng proved to be the most well-traveled player of the deadline, being traded three times before ultimately landing in Milwaukee as part of a package that included Mike Conley Jr., Coby White and multiple second-round selections.
The blockbuster portion of the deadline began with Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young being sent to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, signaling a potential reset for the Wizards. Memphis stunned many by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. (JJJ) in a massive deal that brought in five players and three first-round picks, pairing JJJ with Lauri Markkanen in Utah.
Cleveland went all in, sending Darius Garland and a future second-round pick to the Clippers for James Harden. Chicago also stayed busy, trading Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips for Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks in 2026, 2027, 2031 and 2032, before flipping Nikola Vučević for Celtic Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick.
The Clippers made another splash by sending Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to Indiana for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and three picks consisting of a 2026 first round pick, a 2029 first round pick and a 2028 second round pick. The Warriors addressed its need at center by trading Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for Kristaps Porziņģis.
The biggest trade of the year capped off the deadline, as Dallas sent Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to Washington in a three-team deal. The Mavericks received Khris Middleton from the Wizards, AJ Johnson from the Bucks, Tyus Jones from the Orlando Magic, Marvin Bagley III from the Memphis Grizzlies and five picks consisting of a 2026 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick and three future second-round picks.
This year’s trade deadline fundamentally reshaped the league, as contenders went all-in while rebuilding teams loaded up on draft picks and young talent. In total, 28 trades were completed during the deadline window, setting a new NBA record for activity in that span. From quiet role player swaps to franchise-altering blockbusters, these moves will define the playoff race and possibly the NBA’s future for years to come.