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A lot is going on in the NBA, with the trade deadline buzzer sounding at 3 p.m. ET today. But I am compelled to let you know off the rip that Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes was suspended one game for pushing someone. You might be wondering whom he pushed. It was the Wizards’ mascot G-Wiz, who was running the court with a Wizards flag during pre-game introductions. Seriously.
Also: Tune into our all-day trade deadline extravaganza on “NBA Daily” over on YouTube:
Worst. Trade. Ever.
The Mavs got 29 games of AD in Luka trade
One year and four days ago, the Mavericks traded Luka Dončić (and contract-matching role players) to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a single first-round pick. Yesterday, the Mavericks guaranteed it was the worst trade in NBA history by sending Davis to the Wizards.
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The trade sent Davis with D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy and Dante Exum to Washington for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks and three second-round picks. That means in the last month, the Wizards have traded for Trae Young and Davis. We’ll get to their side in a bit.
Let’s tie a bow on this Luka trade once and for all, but with the context now of this trade of Davis folded in. This is what Dallas did:
- Sent out: Dončić, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris, Hardy, Russell, Exum
- Brought in: Christie, Middleton, Johnson, Branham, Bagley, three first-round picks, three second-round picks, 29 games of Davis.
Yikes! That’s not amazing. Cooper Flagg’s presence is doing the heavy lifting of Atlas with this post-Luka trade, but at least he’s proving to be really good. The first-round picks acquired in this deal might not be, though. One of them is Oklahoma City’s 2026 pick. I’ll pencil that in at 30th in this draft. Legally, it’s a first, though. The other first is a protected 2030 pick from the Warriors. If it lands anywhere from 1-20, it conveys as a second-rounder instead. If it’s 21-30, it goes to the Mavs. “We got two firsts” looks a lot better in the press release than when you dig into the details of it.
What does this AD trade mean for the Wizards? If you told me before the season that the Wizards would have Young and Davis by early February, I would have been extremely confused. Not that either player would get traded, but that they’d end up on the Wizards. What I love about these two trades is that Washington got two All-Star-level players without giving up any of its young core. Corey Kispert and AJ Johnson were the young guys going out in both these deals. That’s it.
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Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson remain in D.C. The question I have is whether we’re going to see Trae or AD in a Wizards uniform this season. We still haven’t seen Young play, and he’s been there nearly a month. He’ll be re-evaluated for the quad injury after All-Star weekend. Davis is out for a couple more weeks with the hand injury. And it wouldn’t shock me if Rich Paul tried to get Davis out of there before the deadline is over.
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The Wizards still have a real chance at the top pick in this draft. Adding a top prospect to this group in a loaded draft and then maybe having Davis and Young on the team next season? That’s a pretty good swing from the rebuild. But we need to see these guys in Wizards uniforms before you can believe it.
Other trades from Wednesday:
- The Thunder traded a 2026 first (via Houston) and three seconds to the 76ers for Jared McCain. It’s a luxury tax move for Philly. My grades: A for OKC, B for Philadelphia.
- The Hornets and Bulls swapped Collin Sexton and Coby White. Is Charlotte going for it? My grades: B for Hornets, B for Bulls.
- Chris Paul was traded to Toronto in a three-team deal. He’s expected to be re-traded or waived.
- Lonzo Ball was sent to Utah and is being waived.
- The Magic sent Tyus Jones and multiple second-round picks to the Hornets for cash. It got Orlando out of the luxury tax.
Don’t forget you can get all of your trade deadline updates in our comprehensive live blog. More trade news after a couple of quick links.
The last 24
🏆 Big Honey back. We saw a major shift in the MVP odds this past week. Nikola Jokić is back on the MVP board.
🗣 Spida speaks. James Harden hasn’t talked since being traded to the Cavs, but Donovan Mitchell says he’s excited for the possibilities.
Stream the NBA on Fubo (try it for free!) and catch out-of-market games on League Pass.
Freed Jonathan Kuminga
Warriors get Porziņģis from Hawks
Steve Kerr has pretty much refused to play Jonathan Kuminga, the seventh pick in the 2021 draft. Over the last season and a half, Kuminga has played 67 games total. Most of those missed games have been DNP-CD’s (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision). Why? Kerr just doesn’t think Kuminga can play the brand of basketball he envisions for the Warriors. To be fair to Kerr, he’s orchestrated four championship runs during his coaching career.
Kuminga has been professional about this playing purgatory Kerr put him in and has shown talent and flashes in the times he has gotten on the court … when Kerr felt like he had no other choice.
The Kuminga saga with the Warriors is finally over. Golden State traded him and Buddy Hield to the Hawks for Kristaps Porziņģis.
In theory, Porziņģis could do a lot of things on both ends of the floor that the Warriors want and need. He protects the rim. He shoots the 3. He can really score. The problem is he’s played even fewer games (59) than Kuminga the past season and a half because of injuries and an illness that he’s had dating back to last season. If he actually gets on the court, it’s a nice move. He’s only played 58.5 percent of the games in his career, though.
My grades: C for Warriors, B for Hawks.
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Trade watch
Names to keep 👀 on today
Reminder: the trade deadline is over at 3 p.m. ET today. Here’s a watch list of players and teams to keep an eye on.
Stars: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Ja Morant (MEM)
Role players: Daniel Gafford (DAL), Chris Paul (TOR), Klay Thompson (DAL)
Expiring contract role players: Bennedict Mathurin (IND), Quentin Grimes (PHI), Cam Thomas (BRK), Anfernee Simons (CHI), Jeremy Sochan (SAS), Jose Alvarado (NOP), Collin Sexton (CHI), Jusuf Nurkić (UTA), Matisse Thybulle (POR), Nick Richards (PHO), Thanasis Antetokounmpo (MIL), Dean Wade (CLE)
Teams barely in the luxury tax: Suns ($766k over), Nuggets ($1.2m over), Timberwolves ($3.8m over), Rockets ($7m over).
Teams barely in the apron thresholds: Cavaliers ($3.8m in the second apron), Warriors ($3.5m under second apron), Knicks ($11.7m in the first apron)
What are the luxury tax aprons? We’ve got the explainer you need.
About last night
Yes, there are still games being played!
Knicks 134, Nuggets 127 (2OT): The Knicks have won eight straight. Jokić must be good after the injury because he played 45 minutes on a back-to-back. He tied Oscar Robertson on the triple-doubles list, putting up 30-14-10. But he was just 1-of-13 from deep.
Jalen Brunson had 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The Knicks (33-18) are a dominant 21-6 at home.
Wolves 128, Raptors 126: The Wolves (32-20) hadn’t won in Toronto since Jan. 21, 2004. Nine days later, the movie “You Got Served” hit theaters. Anthony Edwards made a bunch of clutch playsto end the drought.
Spurs 116, Thunder 106: The Thunder (40-12) didn’t have any of their starters, and they still put up a fight. Victor Wembanyama had 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Cavs 124, Clippers 91: All you want to know is if Harden played for the Cavs and if Darius Garland played for the Clippers. They did not.
Grizzlies 129, Kings 125: Ty Jerome’s 28 points sent the Kings (12-40) to their first 10-game losing streak since 1998