Athletic is live coverage of the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
NBA trade deadline.
The action was actually kicked off two months before February 6th, with Brooklynnet sending Dennis Schrader to the Golden State Warriors, distributing trade grades in the most notable move ever since.
Here, they could all come today so far.
February 6th: Lakers fill the hole in the center
Lakers Get: Mark Williams
Hornets Get: Dalton Necht, Cam Red Dish, 2030 First Round Pick Swap, 2031 First Round Pick
On the surface, this may seem like a wild overpayment to Williams. He was often injured, but Williams was great when he played this season. He should be a solid defensive anchor to protect the rims, and he is also a perfect pick-and-roll big name for either LeBron James or Luka Doncic. I also love this deal as the Hornets continue to rebuild.
Lakers Grade: A-
Hornets Grade: a
It’s deeper
Lakers Hornets trade performance: Mark Williams strengthens frontcourt to head to Los Angeles
February 6th: Ingram is heading north
Get birds of prey: Brandon Ingram
Pelicans Get: Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Orinik, 1st round pick, 2nd round pick
When Pelican season went off the rails, I wondered whether it would dismantle the roster that many once recommended. After failing to understand Nora’s future with Ingram, Pell finds a new home for their core members. Considering that there was no market for Ingram for most of last year, New Orleans received on this deal was good.
Raptors Grade: B+
Pelican Grade: b
It’s deeper
Brandon Ingram Trade Grade: Pelican finally breaks up with a one-off All-Star
February 5th: The Battler Saga is over
Warriors Get: Jimmy Butler
Heat Get: Andrew Wiggins, PJ Tucker, Kyle Anderson, Protected 1st Round Pick
Pistons Get: Josh Richardson and Lindy Waters III
Jazz Get: Dennis Schrader
We were wondering if Butler could find a way to the Phoenix Suns for a few weeks. Instead, he heads to his Pacific division opponents and fights them for a play-in tournament spot at the Western Conference.
Butler will work with Stephen Curry as Miami signs Wiggins during the bounce back season. Piston and Jazz also participated here, but Butler is the headliner.
Warriors Grade: b
Thermal grade: B-
Piston grade: B-
Jazz Grade: c
February 5th: King brings Vallanchina
The King Gets: Jonas Vallanche Nass
Wizard Get: Sidy Cissoko, 2 Second Round Picks
On the surface, I’m not sure this trade makes sense for Sacramento, a team that already employs Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len as big men. But perhaps this doesn’t just fill in rotation. On the other hand, I’m a bit shocked at how little Washington is in this deal.
Kings Grade: b
Wizard Grade: C+
February 5th: The Middleton era is over
Backscrew: Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Second Round Pick
Wizard Get: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and 1-round pix swap
This is officially Milwaukee’s farewell with Middleton. Middleton helped the Bucks win the championship in 2021. He played almost the entire Bucks career, the second most played game in the franchise, the highest ever. He is also the first to be made with a 3-pointer in points scored. But the Bucks move in hopes that Kuzma will bring a younger, more athletic and reliable physical presence.
Backs grade: b
Wizard Grade: C+
It’s deeper
Giannis takes the exit of “brother” Fris Middleton when the era ends in Milwaukee
February 4th: Mavs, Sixers swap
Sixers Get: Quenting Rimes, Second Round Pick
Mavericks Get: Caleb Martin
A few days after shocking the world (as shown below), Mavs aims to help Wing in the postseason by signing a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on the same day the two teams face each other. Apparently. I think Grimes has a higher ceiling than Martin, but while Philadelphia gets a little younger, Mavs is doing something more certain here.
Six Grade: a
Mavericks Grade: B+
February 2: Fox, Lavine finds a new home
Spurs Get: De’aaron Fox, Jordan Mclaughlin
Kingsget: Zach Labine, Sidi Sissoko, 3 first round, 3 second round
Bulls Get: Kevin Harter, Zach Collins, Tre Jones, 1st round pick
A few months of reporting by our own Sam Amick has recently come to fruition as the Sacramento Kings have opened up to trade franchise point guard Dearon Fox. We all began to try to connect Dot with whispering rumors of his desire to play with the San Antonio Spurs Victor Wenbanyama. Now we don’t need to connect those dots any more.
The deal not only combines Fox and Wenbanyama, but also reunites Zach Labine with Demar DeRozan.
Spurs Grade: a-
Kings Grade: B-
Bulls Grade: b
It’s deeper
De’aaron Fox-Zach Lavine Trade Grades: Sacramento’s reunion. Wenby runs his mates
February 1st: All the big hits
Lakers Get: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markiev Morris
Mavericks Get: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029’s first round pick
Jazz Get: Jalen Hood-Schifino and two 2025 Second Round Picks
When you think that the first report is because of internet hacking and Tom Fourley’s most illicit, trade is historical and completely out of nowhere. But all the headlines and text messages I received about this were actually real. Less than a week later, this was an incredible moment for the NBA, and no one was ready to consider it as a possibility.
Lakers Grade: a
Mavericks Grade: c
Jazz Grade: Pass
It’s deeper
Luka-Ad Trade Grades: What about jazz fares after the Lakers, Mavericks and blockbusters?
December 29th: Lakers moves the net
Lakers Get: Dorian Finney Smith, Shake Milton
Net GET: D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, 3 Second Round Picks
The Lakers in Los Angeles were eager to add punches to either side of the ball. I was wondering if Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Perinka had driven some of the pieces to help LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
For quite some time, Russell has been rumoured to be moving on the Lakers’ potential swing for key players. Finney Smith wasn’t a star and there was no first-round pick heading to Brooklyn on a contract, but the Lakers added one of the best 3-and-D role players in the NBA.
Lakers Grade (at the time): a-
Net grade (at the time): C+
It’s deeper
Trade Grade: Dorian Finney Smith Suitable for Lakers much better than Dangero Russell
December 15th: Warriors will be added to the backcourt
Warriors Get: Dennis Schrader
Net GET: De’anthony Melton, Reece Beekman, 3 Second Round Picks
With this move, the trade season is officially underway, with Brooklyn beginning a decomposition that is expected to enter into a full reconstruction.
Melton was a key signature in the Warriors’ offseason, but tore the ACL in mid-November, with Golden State having to bring in another security guard to replace him. The Warriors decided that Schrade was a man.
Warriors Grade (at the time): a
Net grade (at the time): b
(Photo of Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
