Storylines from the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline: Who Got Better and How the League Changes

The 2025 NBA Trade Deadline is here, and this has been without a doubt one of the most memorable deadlines in a long time. With Luka Doncic to the Lakers, De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs, Jimmy Butler to the Warriors, and more, this year of trades is one basketball fans will remember for a long time. But with all of these trades, how does the current dynamic of the league change?

Luka and the Lakers Shock the World

In what is obviously the biggest story of the trade deadline and one of the biggest trade stories in sports history, the Los Angeles Lakers made international headlines Sunday when they managed to acquire superstar point guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, along with Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick.

With no previous speculation or thought that a player of Doncic’s caliber could be traded midseason, especially after leading the team he was traded from to a Finals appearance the year before, this came out of absolutely nowhere and stunned fans everywhere. The Lakers acquired a top-3 franchise player to succeed LeBron James after he retires, and the Mavs get in return an injury prone aging center and just one first-rounder.

It is speculated that Dallas traded Doncic due to conditioning concerns, which played a big factor amidst discussions of a looming super-max extension. In return, specifically targeting a seasoned veteran in Davis could help the Mavs in complementing similar-aged players like Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, with a focus on defense and a championship push. Still, this move remains a head-scratcher for Dallas as Doncic is one of the best players in the league, and even if they felt they had no choice but to trade him, they could have gotten a much greater return.

Although immediately deemed winners of the trade, trading away Anthony Davis initially left some concern for the Lakers’ defense, which lacked depth following AD’s departure. However, LA just days later landed Mark Williams in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. Williams, a 7-foot-2 center, fits a defensive profile that perfectly complements Doncic, and should thrive in the Lakers’ new starting five.

The Rise of the Fading Warriors

The .500 Warriors are tied at the bottom of the play-in field along with the Suns and the Kings, and are just half a game back on the 8th-place Mavericks. Trading for a seasoned veteran star like Jimmy Butler might be enough to give Golden State the edge they need to pass some crucial teams and secure themselves in play-in, or maybe even get themselves into playoff contention.

It is also important to note that the Mavs are on a three-game skid and just traded their franchise player away to the Lakers, while the Kings just traded their best player, De’Aaron Fox, to the Spurs. With the Warriors arguably getting better and two of the teams closest to them in the standings losing key pieces, it’s reasonable to predict that Golden State may jump ahead a few places.

Everyone knows how it can go when Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are in the playoffs, and adding Jimmy Butler to that mix can be big for Golden State — and dangerous for the rest of the league.

However, there are some obvious concerns with the Warriors trading away several depth pieces and a first-round pick for a problematic 36-year-old that seems to play only when he wants to. But with a dynasty that is coming to a close, Butler might be the best option to complement an aging Curry if Golden State wants to make a push at their own “Last Dance.”

The End of the Khris Middleton Era in Milwaukee

It is clear to the Milwaukee Bucks that Father Time has caught up with Khris Middleton. The 33-year-old no longer has the lateral quickness or the footwork to be an effective defender, and has been averaging just 25.4 minutes per game as the third-highest paid player on the team. The less Middleton played, the more the Bucks risked Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s body by having him overplay in his role.

As a result of these concerns, the Bucks decided on Wednesday to deal Middleton, along with AJ Johnson and a pick swap, to the last-place Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and second-round draft compensation, effectively ending Khris Middleton’s three-time All-Star tenure in Milwaukee.

Kyle Kuzma has struggled this season, in part due to consistent injuries that he has battled through, but it is apparent that a change of scenery was necessary for him. Getting out of Washington and playing for a more competitive team again can be a big factor to help get Kuzma going.

What Can Still Happen?

With time ticking away on the clock, there are still several players that can be moved before the deadline at 3 PM EST. The first player to watch is Nikola Vucevic.

Vucevic has had a surprisingly good age-34 season, averaging 19.9 points and 10.4 rebounds, shooting 55% from the field and 40% from three. Unfortunately, he is a defensive liability playing for one of the worst defensive teams in the league in the Chicago Bulls. With the 10th-place Bulls hanging onto a play-in spot for dear life, it might make sense for them to deal Vucevic to a team in need of an offensive spark in an attempt to improve their D.

The biggest issue with trading Vucevic lies in his contract. At 34 years old, he is being paid $20 million this season and $21.5 million next year. If there’s a team that is willing to pay the price for his shooting, maybe the Bulls can find a landing spot, but there is no guarantee he will stay consistent given his age.

Teams needing offensive depth can inquire about Guerschon Yabusele.

Yabusele has had a great year for the 76ers in what has been an otherwise horrible season for Philly, averaging 51% from the field and 40% from three on a minimum salary. There’s a strong chance the Sixers lose him after this season anyway, and given his minimum salary there is a possibility teams might be interested in adding him as a solid depth piece. There is no reason for teams in a playoff push needing offense to not give Philadelphia a call.

Cameron Johnson is the perfect deadline candidate.

In the middle of a career year, Johnson has made a name for himself as one of the league’s elite shooters. Averaging 19.4 points per game, he’s hit 49.1% from the field and 41.9% from three. His ability to make shots from all kinds of movement makes him incredibly easy to integrate midseason.

The catch, however, is the Nets might not want to trade him. He’s on a reasonably priced contract and is a perfect developmental player to have stick around during a rebuild. Teams will definitely be interested in a player like Johnson, but it all relies on Brooklyn’s willingness to move him.