I’ll skip the pleasantries and go minimalist for this intro because there’s a lot to cover from this NBA trade deadline, and I also like my editors. Let’s get to it!
Giannis Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee
“Where will Giannis be traded?” elevated into the question pantheon alongside “Why did the chicken cross the road?” and “Why aren’t they texting back?” Like Bitcoin and silver, though, it plummeted after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday that the Bucks would keep Giannis through the trade deadline. In addition, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Milwaukee will deactivate Giannis for the remainder of the season if not traded. In last week’s article, there’s a chart showing the usage rate and stat differences for other Bucks players with Giannis on and off the court.
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Anthony Davis goes to Washington
Wizards receive: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum
Mavericks receive: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley, two first-round picks and three second-round picks
Four more years is a phrase often voiced in the nation’s capital, but with this trade, the question likely to be uttered will be, “Can we just get four games?” Jokes aside, the Wizards now have Trae Young and Anthony Davis on the roster. That’s nuts, but neither will likely play much this season. Dallas gets draft picks and removes D’Angelo Russell from the roster. To be honest, that was probably their primary motivation.
Winners:
- Will Riley — The No. 21 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft entered the rotation in early December. Since then, he’s averaged 19 minutes in 28 games, but over the past three games, he’s averaged 26.7 minutes. With Khris Middleton now in Dallas, Riley likely starts and plays 28+ minutes a night.
- Tristan Vukcevic — Vukcevic will likely soak up all the backup center minutes with Bagley out. He has flashed at times with his athleticism and ability to shoot from downtown. Vukcevic averages a respectable 1.13 fantasy points per minute.
- Jaden Hardy — With Tre Johnson nursing an ankle injury, AJ Johnson played 25.5 minutes over the past two games. Washington is thin in the backcourt with Trae Young sidelined and AJ Johnson now in Dallas.
Losers:
- Khris Middleton — He was starting and averaging 24.3 minutes in Washington. He will now likely come off the bench and see his minutes settle in the high teens.
James Harden-Darius Garland swap
Cavaliers receive: James Harden
Clippers receive: Darius Garland and a second-round pick
Both Harden and Garland are making $39 million this season, so it was a straightforward trade in terms of accounting. Harden is 36 years old, though, while Garland is only 26, but Garland has been dealing with a toe issue all season. He’s played only 26 games. Cleveland is eighth in offensive rating this season. Not bad, but the Cavaliers were first last season by a wide margin. Evan Mobley, who is currently injured, did not take the offensive leap many expected, while Donovan Mitchell has truly been Atlas for Cleveland. Despite the elevated age, Harden is still one of the best bucket-getters and playmakers in the NBA.
Winners:
- Jarrett Allen — Harden will provide so many cheap buckets for Allen. In addition, there should be plenty of opportunities to chase Harden bricks. I’m kidding, not kidding. Harden has shot 41% from the field over the past three seasons.
- Evan Mobley — Same deal for Mobley. He was often asked to be a primary offensive hub, and while he has the potential, he’s not there quite yet. Harden lessens that responsibility for Mobley.
- Kawhi Leonard — Leonard has been fantastic this season, as he’s literally rowing the Clippers back to playoff prominence. The usage rate is 34.5%, but with Harden off the floor, that number spikes to 37.5%. Leonard expanded his game to incorporate more 3-pointers because that’s what the team needed. The heavy workload could cause Leonard to short-circuit at some point, but he’s currently a top-four fantasy player on a per-game basis and will remain so, health permitting.
Losers:
- Ivica Zubac — The inverse Allen/Mobley effect. With Harden off the court this season, Zubac has seen his offensive rating decrease by 3.31 points. His effective field goal percentage is down 7.6%, while points per possession are down 0.07. The sample size of 321 minutes isn’t nothing.
Jaren Jackson to Utah
Jazz receive: Jaren Jackson, Jock Landale (traded to Atlanta), John Konchar and Vince Williams
Grizzlies receive: Walter Clayton, Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three first-round picks
Memphis has clearly hit the reset button and now has a treasure trove of picks. I have read many questioning the trade for Utah, but when a player of Jackson’s caliber becomes available, you take advantage of the opportunity because they don’t come along often. JJJ is entering his prime, is a two-time All-Star and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. Oh, and he’s a career 35% shooter from downtown on 4.9 attempts per game at 6-foot-10 and 242 pounds.
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Winners:
- Santi Aldama — Started 10 of 42 games for Memphis, averaging 14 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 treys in 28 minutes. Memphis is now very thin in the frontcourt as Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey are dealing with injuries. Edey could be back in March, if at all, while Clarke should return in a few weeks. Until then, Aldama should see over 30 minutes per game and still see minutes in the high-20s when Clarke returns to action.
- Taylor Hendricks — At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, the No. 9 pick in the 2023 draft has the potential to be a good defender given his 7-foot-3 wingspan and ability to switch on defense. In 33 games with Utah, Hendricks shot 34% from downtown on 2.1 attempts in 14.9 minutes per game. He could be in the mix to start at power forward. Even if he doesn’t, an increase in playing time is highly likely.
- GG Jackson — Started three of 28 games for Memphis this season. Like Hendricks, Jackson is 6-foot-9, but he’s more known for getting buckets. He’s only shooting 26% from downtown this season, but converted 35% of his 6.0 deep attempts during his rookie season. Jackson only averaged 17.1 minutes per game this season, but should see an uptick into the 20s now.
- Kyle Anderson — Mr. Anderson was playing 20.1 minutes a night in Utah, albeit in only 20 games. He played four years in Memphis early in his career, so it won’t be a surprise for Grizzlies fans to see him Slow-Mo’ing his way around the court for around 20 minutes a night going forward.
Losers:
- Jaren Jackson — Utah is 15-35, good for 13th in the Western Conference. The Jazz did not trade for JJJ to affect this season. This acquisition is all about the future. Utah still has a protected first-rounder this season, and they will make sure they have an opportunity to select one of the many franchise-altering players at the top of this upcoming draft. As a result, JJJ will be sitting quite often down the stretch.
- Jusuf Nurkic — Nurkic has been great for the Jazz this season, but his playing time will be affected with JJJ in the mix. Sure, JJJ will be sitting often, but that doesn’t mean he will get shut down for the rest of the season. So, when Jackson plays, Nurkic will play less.
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper — He was playing around 20 minutes a night over the last three games, but with the new acquisitions, he will likely disappear down the depth chart rabbit hole.
Ivica Zubac to Indiana
Pacers receive: Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown
Clippers receive: Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and a second-round pick
The Pacers entered the season in center flux, as Myles Turner went to Milwaukee, Isaiah Jackson was coming off an injury, and Jay Huff was signed. Huff has been good, shooting 32% from downtown and leading the league with 99 blocks, but there are reasons why he’s played for five teams in five seasons. The position is no longer in flux, and the trade gives Tyrese Haliburton an excellent big man to work with when he returns from injury next season.
Winners:
- Isaiah Jackson — Jackson finally received 24 minutes in each of the past two games, but he was mired in the single-digits for a few weeks. Barring health, he and Brook Lopez will likely split the center minutes down the middle. There is a chance that Yanic Konan Niederhäuser enters the fray, which would obviously ding Jackson.
Losers:
- Jay Huff — His value won’t plummet because he will still play around 18 minutes a night, especially with Jackson going back to Los Angeles. Zubac is playing over 30 minutes a night, so those high-20s games for Huff will be no more, but there’s a top-four protected pick in the upcoming draft, so that could change the calculus toward the end of the season for Indiana.
- Kobe Sanders — Since mid-January, Sanders has started seven of 11 games and averaged 26.7 minutes. With Mathurin in town, Sanders will return to a reserve role and likely see his minutes sit in the low-teens.
Jonathan Kuminga/Kristaps Porzingis swap
Hawks receive: Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield
Warriors receive: Kristaps Porzingis
Our national Kuminga nightmare is finally over! Porzingis theoretically fits perfectly with the Warriors, but he’s only played 17 games this season and has exceeded 60 games in a season just three times. Porzingis is an unrestricted free agent after this season. The forward combo of Jalen Johnson and Kuminga oozes athleticism.
Winners:
- Kristaps Porzingis — He’s an ideal fit and should get the bulk of the minutes when healthy. That’s a big if, though.
- Jonathan Kuminga — Going from DNPs to actual playing time. I don’t care if it’s 10 minutes. That’s a win!
- Will Richard and Pat Spencer — Should soak up Buddy Hield’s vacated playing time; Hield was averaging 17.5 minutes per game.
- Jock Landale — He was initially a loser after getting traded from Memphis, where he was playing significant minutes, to Utah. But then he was moved again to Atlanta. With Porzingis gone, he will now likely back up Onyeka Okongwu.
Losers:
- Zaccharie Risacher — There have been whispers that Atlanta hasn’t been enamored with Risacher and was willing to trade him in the right scenario. Risacher has started every game he’s played this season, but the presence of Kuminga likely puts a cap on playing time. The worst-case scenario is Risacher being relegated to the second unit — averaging around 20 minutes a game is within the range of outcomes.
Buckle your seat belt because we are taking a road trip to Chicago, where the action was robust. I feel like a tornado chaser.
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De’Andre Hunter for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder
Kings receive: De’Andre Hunter
Cavaliers receive: Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder and Emanuel Miller
Bulls receive: Dario Šarić and two second-round picks
Cleveland bolsters the depth in the backcourt while shedding salary. Sacramento gets bigger and hopes a change of scenery rejuvenates a former lottery selection and is the key to lighting the beam once again. When Keegan Murray returns from injury, a Hunter-Murray wing combo will be kind of nice. I just got a flicker from the beam, but now it’s out again.
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Winners:
- De’Andre Hunter — Fell out of favor in Cleveland, as he was relegated to the second unit and averaged only 19 minutes per contest in the past four games. Hunter converted a horrific 30% of his hoists from downtown this season, but he’s a career 36% shooter from beyond the arc. He should slot into the starting lineup in Sacramento and play over 30 minutes a night.
- Dylan Cardwell — With the 2-for-1 trade, Sacramento opened up a roster spot and converted Cardwell from a two-way to a standard contract. Cardwell is only averaging 22.9 minutes over the past nine games, but he’s grabbed 7.9 rebounds while blocking 2.1 shots. His rim protection and energy have been sublime for the Kings.
Losers:
- Nique Clifford — He has played 61% of his minutes at small forward and started four of the past five games, averaging 30.6 minutes per contest. Clifford will now be relegated to the second unit and see his playing time plummet to an average of 20 minutes or less.
- Craig Porter — The third-year guard was an important part of the rotation, appearing in 45 games and averaging 17.8 minutes in a backup role. With Schröder and Ellis now in the mix, playing time will likely be nonexistent. Ellis is a good defender, while Schröder is a 13-year veteran with extensive playoff experience, and this Cavaliers team is in win-now mode.
- Lonzo Ball — Averaged 20.8 minutes per game on the season but only 18.4 minutes over the past five contests. Ball was traded to Utah and is expected to become a free agent.
Coby White to Charlotte
Hornets receive: Coby White and Mike Conley.
Bulls receive: Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng (traded to Milwaukee) and three second-round picks.
Thunder receive: Mason Plumlee
Both White and Sexton are unrestricted free agents after this season. Sexton is making $18.9 million this season, while White is at $12.8 million! Despite all the wheeling and dealing in Chicago, the Bulls still have a glut of guards.
Losers:
- Coby White — I don’t think the fantasy hit will be as severe as I first thought, but White will likely take a slight usage dip from the 28% he was garnering in Chicago. White plays both point guard and shooting guard, so he will likely back up both LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel, making the playing time relatively secure.
- Josh Green — Granted, Green wasn’t playing much, averaging 15.6 minutes a game, but I foresee the playing time shrinking to the single digits if not DNPs.
Jaden Ivey and Kevin Huerter on the move
Bulls receive: Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley
Pistons receive: Kevin Huerter, Dario Šarić and a first-round protected swap
Timberwolves receive: Cash considerations
Ivey was sent to Chicago, while Huerter is now in Detroit. Ivey was only playing 16.8 minutes per game with Detroit as injuries sapped his explosiveness. He was shooting 37% from downtown but on only 3.4 attempts. Huerter was only converting 31% of his 5.1 attempts from downtown with Chicago, but he’s a career 37% shooter from beyond the arc.
Ivey is only 23 years old and is a restricted free agent after this season. The risk/reward ratio seems favorable for Chicago, although he likely won’t make an impact for fantasy this season because Chicago still has a glut of guards.
Huerter was averaging 23.6 minutes with Chicago, and he will likely remain in that range with Detroit. Caris LeVert should be the player most negatively impacted because Huerter is a better shooter and can also play shooting guard and small forward like LeVert.
Nikola Vučević/Anfernee Simons swap
Celtics receive: Nikola Vučević
Bulls receive: Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick
Many thought Boston was in a transition year and would tank for a high draft pick, but the Celtics are 31-18 and tied for second in the Eastern Conference, making them buyers. At least the same people got it correct that Anfernee Simons would likely be traded at the deadline due to his high salary. Both Vučević and Simons are unrestricted free agents after this season.
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Winners:
- Jalen Smith — Smith has always been a solid per-minute contributor for fantasy. Playing time has been the issue. To start this season, his minutes were mired in the low teens, but then Zach Collins suffered an injury in late December, and Smith was elevated up the depth chart. Smith has missed some games due to injury, but in the 14 games he’s played (10 starts), Smith has averaged 12.2 points, 8.9 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.8 treys in 25.8 minutes. This season, he’s averaging a healthy 1.15 fantasy points per minute. With Vučević gone, he should play all the minutes he can handle.
- Anfernee Simons — Chicago played musical chairs at the trade deadline, but with the music stopped, Simons is the most likely to start at shooting guard and possibly play 20+ minutes a night. Ivey and Collin Sexton are there as well, so the path isn’t a runway for takeoff.
Losers:
- Nikola Vučević — Started all 48 games for Chicago and averaged 30.8 minutes per contest. I’m not sure he even starts for Boston because Neemias Queta has played very well and is a better defender. I’m thinking Vučević is essentially an upgrade to Luka Garza, a big who can space the floor when Boston wants to go 5-out on offense. The center minutes could be split right down the middle between the two.
Guerschon Yabusele to Chicago
Bulls receive: Guerschon Yabusele.
Knicks receive: Dalen Terry (traded to New Orleans).
Yabusele was great for Philadelphia last season, but he couldn’t crack the rotation in New York this year, averaging only 8.9 minutes a game. Yabusele will likely soak up the backup power forward minutes for Chicago.
Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota
Timberwolves receive: Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips
Bulls receive: Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks
The Dillingham experiment is finally over. He could never crack the rotation, and Bones Hyland was playing over him. The Timberwolves have done well upgrading the guard position, as Dosunmu has good size, is a good defender and can play both on and off the ball on offense. Dosunmu averaged 26.4 minutes with Chicago, and he will likely be in the same range with Minnesota.
Leonard Miller is an intriguing player since he’s 6-foot-11, and the Bulls don’t have much height now. Miller is only 220 pounds, though, and Patrick Williams and Ousmane Dieng are ahead of him on the depth chart.
Tyus Jones to Dallas (by way of Charlotte)
Hornets receive: Tyus Jones (traded to Dallas), Malaki Branham and two second-round picks
Magic receive: Cash considerations
Mavericks receive: Tyus Jones
The emergence of Anthony Black made Jones expendable. In addition, the Magic must feel somewhat comfortable with Jase Richardson playing if Jalen Suggs succumbs to injury. Jones could get some significant run at point guard. I’m not sure he starts since Jason Kidd is employing the jumbo lineup with Cooper Flagg at point guard, but we will just have to wait and see. Brandon Williams should remain the microwave scorer off the bench, while Ryan Nembhard will get sucked into the black hole depth chart.
Jared McCain to Oklahoma City
Thunder receive: Jared McCain
Sixers receive: First-round pick and three second-round picks
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McCain was brilliant in his rookie season, averaging 25.7 minutes, 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 treys with shooting percentages of 46/38/87. Much of the playing time was a result of injuries, though, so with a healthy 76ers team this season, and the addition of VJ Edgecombe, McCain saw the playing time plummet to 16.8 minutes per contest. The Thunder have a lot of guards, so playing time will still be hard to come by for McCain. That said, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell currently out with injuries, it’s possible McCain gets the keys for the short term due to his ball-handling ability. Most of the other guards on the roster are more defensive or catch-and-shoot players.
Vit Krejčí to Portland
Trail Blazers receive: Vit Krejčí
Hawks receive: Duop Reath and two second-round picks.
Krejčí got pushed down the depth chart in Atlanta after the Hawks acquired CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Krejčí has good size at 6-foot-8 and is a career 40% shooter from downtown. The defense isn’t great, and Portland still has Shaedon Sharpe and Caleb Love ahead of him on the depth chart, but he should see more playing time than in Atlanta.
Luke Kennard to Los Angeles Lakers
Lakers receive: Luke Kennard
Hawks receive: Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick
Vincent shot 36.9% from downtown this season for the Lakers. Kennard is 3 inches taller than Vincent and is shooting a blistering 49.7% from beyond the arc this season. Kennard is a career 44.2% from downtown. He’s not a good defensive player, which is why he rarely plays more than 20 minutes a night, but unlike Vincent, Kennard does have some on-ball prowess. He should slide right in and be a significant part of the Lakers’ rotation.
Nick Richards to Milwaukee (by way of Chicago)
Bucks receive: Ousmane Dieng and Nigel Hayes-Davis
Suns receive: Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey
Bulls receive: Nick Richards
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Phoenix has a ton of guards, so Anthony won’t see much playing time unless a rash of injuries occurs. Richards flashed at moments in Charlotte and even averaged 22.7 minutes last season with Phoenix, but he only appeared in 28 games this season and played 9.1 minutes. Richards should see an uptick in playing time as he will likely be the main backup at center for Jalen Smith. The trade is also a vote of confidence for Oso Ighodaro, who has played well backing up Mark Williams.
Jose Alvarado to New York Knicks
Knicks receive: Jose Alvarado
Pelicans receive: Dalen Terry and two second-round picks
The Knicks needed an on-ball defender, and they got a good one in Alvarado, who is certainly a pest for opposing point guards. He averages 0.9 steals in only 21.9 minutes per game and is shooting 36% from downtown. The acquisition increases in importance with the news that Miles McBride will undergo surgery for a core muscle and will likely be out until the playoffs.