The 2025 NBA Trade Deadline delivered a series of mind-blowing moves. Blockbuster trades have reshaped team rosters for the remainder of this season. They have also altered the future of many organizations as well. Time will tell which organizations will emerge as winners and losers of these most recent trades. However, let’s analyze which of these moves will have the greatest impact on the upcoming playoff race.
NBA Trade Deadline: Luka Doncic to the Lakers, Anthony Davis to the Mavericks
Los Angeles Lakers = Winners
The Lakers now have a new franchise player who will dawn the purple and gold for the next 10 years. The acquisition of Luca Doncic places the Lakers in the winner’s category. Sure, the deal would have been sweeter if the Mark Williams component was not rescinded. Los Angeles can address the Center position in the future. The bottom line is that the Lakers fleeced Mavs General Manager Nico Harrison out of a generational player. A superstar who is only 25 years old. How are we able to validate a LAL trade victory, take a look at the NBA Championship betting odds.
A Los Angeles Lakers playoff lineup that includes LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura has moved the betting line about 600 points. The NBA odds now have the Lakers at +900 to win the Western Conference and +1200 to win the league championship. Before this trade, the Lakers were a middle-of-the-pack team. They now are the number 4 favorite to win the Championship.
Dallas Mavericks = Losers
Some experts will argue about how the Dallas Mavericks acquisition of Anthony Davis will make the team better over the next 2-3 years. How Luka was a flawed player defensively and that in order for the team to take the next step, a defensive presence like Anthony Davis makes them better. However, if the player who makes you better defensively is not reliable – you do not have the ability to take the next step.
Anthony Davis is a broken player who is unreliable. In recent times, Davis only plays about 44 games per year. That is about half the NBA schedule. To be fair, Luka Doncic also battles the injury bug. The big difference is that Anthony Davis is 31 while Luka Doncic is only 25.
We will also justify our position via the reaction of the Mavs fanbase. Do they seem happy?
NBA Trade Deadline: Khris Middleton to the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks
Washington Wizards = Winners
The Washington Wizards play worse when Kyle Kuzma has been on the floor. He is dreadful in areas of shot selection and is completely detachment on defense, Washington is -21.1 points per 100 possessions when Kuzma plays compared to -9.8 when he doesn’t.
Kuzma averages 15.2 points with a 46.9 effective field-goal percentage that’s 7.2 shy of the NBA league average. Statistically, Kuzma has been one of the poorest rotation players in the league in 2024-25. He is now replaced by Kris Middleton.
Milwaukee Bucks = Losers
We get it, Khris Middleton is 33 and past his prime. He is often injured and was not even cracking the Milwaukee starting 5 lineup. Even with these notable points, it is hard to understand this deal.
Middleton is a much better passer than Kuzma and doubles his 2024-25 assist percentage. He’s a far more dependable (both historically and current) three-point shooter. He is also a Milwaukee Bucks legend. In the franchise’s history, he’s first in threes, second in games, second in minutes, third in points, third in assists, fifth in steals, seventh in rebounds, seventh in wins over replacement players, and eighth in triple-doubles. It is just hard seeing someone like this depart.
NBA Trade Deadline: De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings – Three Way Deal Including Chicago Bulls
San Antonio Spurs = Winners
The Spurs landed an All-Star-level point guard of the future. They did so without sacrificing Stephen Castle, Devin Vassell, or Keldon Johnson, and they retained enough draft picks to make bold moves in the future. That is a San Antonio Victory.
Sacramento Kings = Winners
The Kings would have been OK with re-signing Fox and continuing on its current plan. With this trade, it moved on from Fox without taking multiple steps back. Zach LaVine fills Fox’s playmaker role perfectly. He is having a career year. The team also added six draft picks that can be used in future transactions. Or they can be used to draft good young players.
Chicago Bulls = Winners
It took the Chicago Bulls more than a year to trade Zach LaVine. Most teams interested in LaVine wanted the Bulls to attach a first-round draft pick to the deal. The justification was for the trouble of taking on the two years, $95 million left on Zach’s contract after the 2024-25 season.
The positive for Chicago is they didn’t have to give up a 1st round pick.
NBA Trade Deadline: De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Players & Picks to the Atlanta Hawks
Cleveland Cavaliers = Winners
A 6-foot-8 forward who thrives in shooting, De’Andre Hunter averages 14.8 points for his career and is having his best season as a professional this year at 19 points per game. That success is coming on multiple levels offensively. He is shooting a career-best 39.3% from beyond the arch this year. He is also setting career highs in 2-point field goal percentage and free-throw rate. His defense has been inconsistent as a pro, he has good positional size and should be able to fit in well enough on this talented roster.
Atlanta Hawks = Losers
Atlanta has acquired Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two first-round swaps in the deal.
It just looks like the Atlanta Hawks draft pick is going to get better. Without Hunter, the losing will continue in the immediate future. Atlanta may have been uncomfortable with the two remaining years on Hunter’s contract, but having him around undeniably made them better. The only problem with the better draft position is that the San Antonio Spurs control the selection.
NBA Trade Deadline: Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, Players & Picks to the Miami Heat
Golden State Warriors = Winners
Playoff Jimmy is real! The Goolden State Warriors continue to maintain a win-now approach, as they aim to get the most out of the golden years of both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Butter is the perfect fit for the current DNA of Golden State.
Miami Heat = Winners
Given how Jimmy Butler essentially diminished his own trade value, the Heat got a decent haul for him. Andrew Wiggins is playing well, after a tough season last year. Lindy Waters, Dennis Schröder, Kyle Anderson are solid pickups as well. The protected first-round pick that is also making its way to Miami will also help.
