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A photograph of Luka Doncic, Lakers Guard, staring down Nico Harrison, Mavs GM, after he was traded in a revenge game. (Athlete: Luke Doncic Source: blogdebasket.com Photograph by blogdebasket, Date: October 6th, 2022)
Over a month after the 2025 NBA trade deadline has passed, it is safe to say that it was one of the best in history. Superstars were traded, tanking franchises got worse, and overall the league was shaken up.
Luka Doncic Trade
A trade on the magnitude of the Luka Doncic deal may never happen again. On February 2nd, 2025, the blockbuster 3-team trade happened between the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz.
The trade sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, Anthony Davis, and Max Christie to the Mavericks, and the Jazz received second-round picks. Since the trade occurred, the Lakers have jumped to becoming a top seed in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks will likely miss the playoffs.
Intriguingly, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison did not explore trading Luka with any other teams than the Lakers. As a result, the Mavericks have a dim future since star guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL and Anthony Davis got injured.
Overall, the Lakers won this trade and now have their next star until Luka retires, while the Mavericks will regret this trade for the rest of Luka’s career.
Jimmy Butler Deal to the Warriors
A photograph of Jimmy Butler, Warriors Forward, smiling happily during a game. (Athlete: Jimmy Butler Source: abc7news.com Photograph by abc7news, Date: March 15th, 2025)
At first, many doubted the effectiveness of bringing 35-year-old Jimmy Butler to the aging Golden State Warriors. Many critics were concerned with Butler’s ability to play at a high level and contribute to the same level as his newly signed two-year, $101 million contract.
Overall, the five-team deal consisted mainly of the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors, who swapped Andrew Wiggins for Butler, along with trading away some quality role players like Kyle Anderson. Since the trade, the Warriors have been electric with Butler, going 18-5 and elevating themselves to the sixth seed.
Interestingly, the Warriors have gone 17-2 when Curry and Butler play together, suggesting that they could make a run for the NBA Finals. Ultimately, Butler’s ability to draw free throws gives Curry a natural break in the game..
Butler also commands the bench and can take over games to achieve victory. Still, the most important piece of this trade has not happened yet, and that is playoff Jimmy Butler.
De’aaron Fox Deal to the Spurs
A photograph of De’Aaron Fox, Spurs Guard, smiling happily during a game. (Athlete: De’Aaron Fox Source: sportingnews.com Photograph by sportingnews, Date: March 7th, 2025)
Another massive trade during the 2025 NBA trade deadline was the Kings sending first-round picks and role players for De’aaron Fox, a shifty and outstanding guard to pair with generational superstar Victor Wembanyama. This deal was a three-team trade between the Spurs, Kings, and Bulls.
The Kings received Zach LaVine and multiple first-round picks while the Bulls got their 2025 first-round pick back, along with solid role players. The Kings have seen little improvement since the trade, barely maintaining a play-in spot at the tenth seed in the Western Conference.
The Bulls are also the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference despite having a subpar record. Unfortunately, the Spurs decided to give up on the season after there was news that their star, Victor Webanyama, would miss the rest of 2025 due to developing blood clots.
Ultimately, Webanyama should be able to recover quickly due to his young age and his excellent focus on taking care of his body, illuminating the immense promise the Spurs duo has in the future.
(SportAI Inc TM)
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