This year’s trade deadline failed to reach the heights of its IRL counterpart, but how could it? That’s like comparing Beyonce to a 35-year-old soccer mom. Sure, soccer moms can be fun and a little wild. But it’s Beyonce, man.
There were some big names moved, but teams improved around the margins more than anything at the deadline. Many bigger moves were made much earlier in the year. Here, I will focus on breaking down the deadline-adjacent trades, starting with…
Trade 59:
WAS receives: Khris Middleton, Victor Oladipo, Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2026 LAC 2nd
MIL receives: James Harden
Milwaukee: A-
This deal makes a ton of sense for Milwaukee. They’re a middling team at the moment, sitting a hair above the play-in. They have been relying way too much on Oladipo for years and were playing him out of position at point guard. Replacing him with Harden (an actual PG) should do wonders for the Milwaukee offense.
Harden obviously isn’t the player he once was. However, he is still a great playmaker with 12 gold badges. He’s hitting 37% from 3 this season and averaging nearly 8 assists. That is the kind of guy you want next to Giannis. Their pick and roll should be very effective. Milwaukee also has good defenders around Harden, such as Giannis, Kristaps Porzingis, and Quentin Grimes. Middleton is certainly a loss. He was very important to the Bucks for years. However, Harden is a better creator, shot-maker, ball handler, and fits a massive positional need. Does it elevate the Bucks to a championship? Probably not, but they had to do something. Milwaukee did really well getting Harden for cheap.
Washington: B-
Not a super sexy deal for the Wizards brain trust, but an effective one nonetheless. They got off the Harden deal without having to sacrifice anything. The return is minimal (for now; see later in this article), but it is a helpful move given their direction.
Trade 60:
BOS Receives: Jonathan Isaac, ORL 2029 2nd
MIN Receives: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Gabe Vincent
Boston: C+
Boston was dealt a tough hand with KCP. He’s played really poorly IRL since joining Orlando. However, he’s on a really reasonable deal, being paid $14m this year and next. He’s also still really solid on 2k, with good shooting and defensive stats. He’s a NBN career 40% 3 point shooter. He’s a solid player who can easily help many teams. I understand Boston no longer has a need for good veterans since they traded their two All-NBA guys. Maybe the market was really dry for KCP, but I feel like Boston could have marketed him way harder and gotten a better return than a pick that will convey when Orlando is underwater. They did collect another expiring in Isaac. Keep an eye on them in free agency.
Minnesota: B-
Not a super sexy deal for Minnesota, but they got what they wanted. They turned Isaac into a non-expiring contract at a really reasonable price. I do think KCP can contribute for the Wolves, and at worst he is a super useful mid-sized expiring next season to facilitate trades. This doesn’t make the Wolves a whole lot better, but it’s a fine move. Sources tell NBESPN that Sabonis is distraught by Isaac being shipped out, however.
Trade 61:
WAS Receives: Saddiq Bey, Duncan Robinson, 2031 IND 1st
IND Receives: Nikola Vucevic, Jalen Hood-Schifino
Washington: A
Washington getting a better immediate return for Vucevic than Harden is quite funny. Bey and Robinson are not going to do much, but that Indiana pick is a great asset to have. I would compare it to the Suns 2031 1st IRL: sure, we’ll all be dead by then, but the idea of it is awesome. The Pacers could really stink come 2031! This is a great pickup by the Wiz, whether they keep it and take someone who is currently in diapers, or trade it down the line. All for a guy who is 34 years old and a defensive liability.
Indiana: C+
Vucevic has been putting up numbers this year, albeit on a bad Bulls team. He is up to an 86 on 2k. Indiana is very much in win-now mode, so buying an older guy like this makes sense. However, I highly doubt Vucevic changes their fortunes too much. He is definitely an upgrade on Robert Williams, but Indiana still has glaring issues. I understand the move. It is a move that Indiana probably had to make. However, I still can’t grade it highly in earnest.
Trade 62:
GSW receives: Devin Vassell, Jared McCain, 2029 PHI 1st swap, 2031 PHI 1st, Isaac Okoro, Rudy Gobert, 2030 NYK 1st, Kevin Porter Jr., Ayo Dosunmu
DAL receives: Ben Simmons, 2028 CLE 1st, 2025 MEM 2nd, 2027 MIL 2nd
NOP receives: OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, Tim Hardaway Jr.
HOU receives: Bones Hyland, Johnny Davis, Danilo Gallinari, Devonte Graham, 2031 GSW 2nd
PHI receives: Steph Curry, Jordan Walsh, DeAnthony Melton
Golden State: C+
Wooo boy. They finally did it. The Curry era in Golden State is over. Curry’s reputation speaks for itself. This is the guy who brought Golden State to the forefront of the NBA for a decade. He’s unquestionably a top 15 player ever, pushing 10 in my eyes. Trading him is a massive moment for this team. The new Golden State FO felt that the Curry era had run its course, which is honestly fair. They worked hard to try and build around him post-restart, but without much to show for it. Now, they move into the Scottie Barnes era.
Trading both Curry and Anunoby is a lot to do at once. The return, to me, isn’t overwhelming. I am a big Devin Vassell fan, so I love that pickup. I am delusional about Jared McCain because I am a Sixers fan. Getting him in his rookie year after he looked very promising pre-injury is a great move. Outside of that though, the return gets thin fast. Three firsts, Isaac Okoro on a big extension, 32 year old Rudy Gobert, Kevin Porter on a ludicrous deal, and Ayo Dosunmu (who is solid) feels a tad underwhelming for the face of your franchise and one of the most coveted two-way wings in the league. It’s not bad, and the decision to move Curry is probably correct. However, I feel that Golden State should have asked for more, especially from New Orleans.
Dallas: A+++
They get off Kevin Porter AND get a 1st AND two 2nds?? Are you kidding me?
New Orleans: B
I like Anunoby on this Pelicans roster! The fit is not exactly perfect given New Orleans already has Franz and Pascal, but talent is talent. The two picks (‘28 CLE and ‘30 NYK) they gave up could be good, but are more likely to be low. I think I am higher on this deal for the Pels than others, but OG is good and locked up for a long time. You get the talent first, then figure out the fit.
Houston: C-
The only notable thing Houston did in this trade was give up Okoro for virtually nothing. I understand he has had a down year. His contract is long term, and I suppose Houston did not want to have to deal with that. However, Okoro is 24 and a really solid defender. Houston rushed to sell low when they are thinking long-term.
Philadelphia: A
Philly has taken a massive leap forward in the East this year. Karl Anthony Towns has been playing amazing basketball both here and IRL. After years in the NBN gutters, I love seeing Philly take a massive swing. Curry is older but still insanely good. The price was very reasonable. McCain, as good as he is, is worth sacrificing to get a guy of Steph’s caliber. Philly has now catapulted into being one of the favorites to come out of the East, and depending on how well Steph ages, could contend for the next few years. I worry a tad about the defense, but the Sixers offense is going to be really hard to stop.
Trade 63:
POR receives: Jusuf Nurkic, Terrance Mann, Keyonte George, 2025 POR 2nd
SAC receives: John Collins
Portland: B+
Portland gets a really solid return for a guy who was clearly not in their future plans. Terrance Mann is expiring next year, but I guarantee that a contender will pick him up in the offseason to add a spark to their bench. They get their own 2nd back this year as well, which is slated to be high. Keyonte George is the real prize here. He’s definitely overtasked as a lead ball handler in Utah at the moment, but he clearly has talent. He’s an athletic scorer whose passing keeps getting better. I do not know if he will ever be a primary creator, but he has the upside to be a good secondary one. The efficiency is not there yet, but he is 21 and in a really bad team context. It will come. He is absolutely worth Portland betting on.
Sacramento: C-
To be honest, I do not really understand this move for Sacramento. Collins is only signed through next year. His 37m salary will be tough for teams to match, and I do not know which team would want to go through the trouble of doing so for one year of John Collins. He’s been fine IRL. He’s hitting 3s at a high clip. However, I struggle to take too much of his performance seriously given how bad Utah is. Even if you buy him being a winning player, he is awful on 2k. His offensive attributes are fine (97 close shot, 90 offensive consistency, 87 3pt), but his stats are subpar. He is a 32% 3pt shooter in his NBN career. He does not have the size, rebounding, nor defensive prowess to be a full time 5. Essentially, he is a non-shooting 4 who can’t really rebound or defend. That is a tough player to build around for the Kings, who also have Brandon Clarke and Patrick Williams, neither of whom are natural fits with Collins. Trading George isn’t inherently a bad idea. He was buried. This team has a lot of guards, all of whom are better than George. However, he is in his second year. There is no rush to move him, especially if the best return you could find is John Collins.
Trade 64:
ORL Receives: Cody Martin, 2026 HOU 2nd
SAS Receives: Vince Williams
Orlando: B-
Williams is a solid player, but Orlando will be happy to get an asset back for him. He’s a bit undersized for what his role is. Plus, it does not seem like he will be getting much run now that the Grizzlies have everyone healthy. He showed real flashes last year on ball. He won’t get the same reps this season, sure. But I think there’s a real player here. Orlando gets another bite at the apple next year with a Houston pick that will likely land at the top of the 2nd round.
San Antonio: B
Williams is definitely an upgrade on Martin. He’s a better shooter and has better defensive attributes on 2k. He is also an RFA after this season, so San Antonio has him under team control for at least another year. The Spurs are contenders. Getting an upgrade AND getting younger is a win, even if the move is on the margins.
Trade 65:
SAC Receives: Stephon Castle, UTA 2026 1st
DAL Receives: DAL 2025 1st, Josh Minott, Jaylon Tyson
Sacramento: B+
Okay, okay, I was wrong about Castle. He looks good. I still stand by the fact that his shooting will limit him, especially in 2k. However, this is a good pickup for Sacramento. He’s only a rookie and playing with Victor Wembanyama. It is only up from here for Castle. The Utah pick will be late, but adding another asset helps. Giving away the Dallas pick would always require a large return. Sacramento did well here.
Dallas: B+
Dallas is bad, so getting their pick back here is massive. They now have an incentive to go all out for Cooper Flagg. Losing Castle hurts, but the Mavs have a chance to get someone even better (even someone like Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey would be a big win for Dallas). You’re already here, might as well have your cake and eat it too. Sneakily like the Tyson pickup for them too; I really liked him coming out of Cal, and the Cavs have been giving him some run.
Trade 66:
MEM Receives: Brandin Podziemski, Naji Marshall, 2025 BKN 1st, Best of 2026 CHI/DET 2nd
SAC Receives: Santi Aldama
ORL Receives: Antonio Reeves, Jabari Walker, Worst of 2026 CHI/DET 2nd
Sacramento: F
Am I missing something here? Why is Sacramento giving up so much for Santi Aldama? He’s been solid this year but he is a bench player. He is also unspectacular on 2k. I get that the Nets pick is bad. I get that Podz has been bad this year. However, I do not think it is worth giving up either for Aldama, let alone both. I would much rather take a shot with a late first and ride it out with Podz who is a sophomore, especially given where Sacramento is in the standings.
Memphis: A
Great return for a guy Memphis did not need. He was not moving any needles for this team. Marshall is really solid. Podz has upside and is more valuable as a trade asset than Aldama. The Brooklyn pick can be used to pickup an older guy who can step in right away or be moved for another rotation piece. They got all this for Santi Aldama, which is excellent business. Full marks for the Grizz.
Orlando: B-
Orlando is just here to facilitate the deal salary-wise. Jabari Walker was moved later, and Reeves does not seem like a real NBA player. Congrats on the 2nd, hkd.
Trade 67:
CLE receives: Max Strus
WAS receives: 29 BOS 2nd
Cleveland: B-
Strus is a solid player. Getting him for cheap to come off the bench for 15 minutes a night is fine. I doubt he moves the needle much, but every little bit helps.
Washington: B+
Got a pick for a minimum guy. Washington does it again.
Trade 68:
UTA receives: Khris Middleton, PJ Hall, Quinten Post
WAS receives: 2031 UTA 1st, Andre Drummond, Mike Conley, Ryan Rollins, Andre Jackson Jr, 2027 LAL 2nd (Conveyed to WAS if pick is 31-50), 2031 LAC 2nd, Charles Bassey
LAC receives: Luka Garza, 2026 LAC 2nd, 2031 WAS 2nd
Utah: B+
This is great value for Utah. It is worth cashing in a pick and some spare parts for player of Middleton’s caliber. Middleton slipped to an 83 on 2k recently but still has all the attributes you would want, from his scoring to his defense. I love his fit around Jimmy Butler and Donovan Mitchell. He can knock down open shots when defenses collapse on the two All-Stars while also being able to create off the dribble late clock or with bench lineups. The only concern I have for Utah is losing Mike Conley. He was not putting up crazy numbers, but he was the best point guard on the roster. Mitchell will slide to PG full time now, a big ask for a guy who does not possess the passing prowess you would want from a true PG. The only other point guard-esque player on this roster is Spencer Dinwiddie. The lack of passing and depth on this roster post-trade hurts the grade, even if the value is excellent.
Washington: A
Substitute Middleton’s name for Harden and you get the real return from that trade. That Utah pick will convey when penguins are extinct and our bodies are entirely composed of microplastics, but hey! A first is a first, and I like betting against a team led in part by 34-year-old Jimmy Butler. Andre Jackson Jr. is a fun defender; he needs to take massive leaps offensively, but his defense is good enough for him to get on the floor. He has 41 starts on a Doc Rivers-coached team as a 23-year-old. That is nothing to sneeze at each other.
Trade 69:
CHA receives: Kelly Oubre Jr.,
Scottie Pippen Jr.
CHI receives: Michael Porter Jr.
Charlotte: F
What is Charlotte smoking and where can I get some? This is a horrible return. Even if you are a massive Porter hater, you don’t make this move. Porter is putting up 19 points a game IRL on 52/41/74 splits (62% on 2s, as well!). This is the best he has looked since his second year in the league. At worst, he’s a solid third option who can shoot over anyone. The defense is bad, but you can construct lineups with good defenders around him. His back has always been a talking point, but he played 81 games last season and looked normal. There’s no injury-related urgency to move him at the moment. His contract isn’t awful; 28m each year until 2026-27 where he has a player option. Why the rush to move him? Why is this the return? Scottie Pippen Jr. has been excellent for Memphis, but it is hard to justify moving a starting caliber wing for a reserve point guard. I really do not understand this move at all for Charlotte. You do not just trade young, elite shooting wings who are under contract like this.
CHI: A
I love Porter’s fit here. Remember when I said you can build lineups with good defenders around Porter? This might be the perfect way to do it, at least in the frontcourt. Victor Wembanyama and Jabari Smith Jr. are a top 12 defense unto themselves (I would like Chicago to add better perimeter defenders at some point, however). Porter is big, fits the timeline, and provides valuable spacing for Chicago’s stars to operate inside. Getting him for pennies is amazing business.
Trade 70:
SAS receives: Norman Powell
BOS receives: Brook Lopez,2031 SAS 1st,
2027 SAS/OKC 2nd
San Antonio: B+
Powell is on a heater IRL and could have easily been an All Star. He plugs right into the 2 guard spot in the Spurs’ starting lineup (unless Isaiah Joe throws a fit about his contract guarantees). Brook was redundant with Poeltl and Chet on the roster. Powell will contribute more than Brook with his elite shooting and secondary creation. The Spurs have a lot of shooting and creation on the roster now and look like a real threat to challenge the titans of the West, the Suns.
Boston: B+
I’m grading this as a win/win. 2031 picks are such a gamble because of how far out they are. A lot can happen in six years, except if you are a Frank Ocean fan. Regardless, getting a trade asset for an expiring 31 year old is the type of opportunity Boston should be pouncing on as they kickstart their rebuild.
Trade 71:
PHX receives: 2029 HOU 2nd, 2029 CLE 2nd
HOU receives: Jared Butler
Peter Griffin voice: Oh my god, who. The hell. Cares.
Phoenix: C
Houston: B-
Trade 72:
MEM receives: Cam Spencer, 2027 CHI 2nd, 2028 CHI 2nd
CHI receives: Julian Champagnie
Memphis: C+
Moving from Champagnie to Spencer is a downgrade. Sure, we’re splitting hairs here. The extra seconds are nice to have, too. But I think I would rather have the 23-year-old who has turned himself into a really solid NBA player.
Chicago: B
Not a sexy move here, but I like the upgrade. Spencer has not done much, especially as a 24 year old rookie. Champagnie is playing well on the Spurs and still has room to grow. If you had to pick between these two players, you take Champagnie every time.
Trade 73:
NYK receives: Derrick Jones Jr.
SAS receives: Jabari Walker, 2026 DAL 2nd, 2026 NYK 2nd
ORL receives: Gary Payton II, Rayan Rupert
New York: B+
Jones is having the best season of his career. He is shooting the ball well and playing the best defense he ever has. He is definitely an upgrade on Payton and will contribute in the playoffs. He isn’t going to be the deciding factor in the East playoff race, but he will certainly help New York.
San Antonio: B
They got two extra trade assets for a minimum guy. Solid value.
ORL: B
I am really high on Rupert and have been since the draft two years ago. He has not done much in the league yet, but he’s 20 and Orlando’s timeline grants him patience. He has incredibly long arms and huge hands. His frame and mobility gives him a ton of upside as a wing stopper. He is limited offensively, but, again, Orlando can be patient here. He is worth a shot for a team scouring any avenue available for talent.
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