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Tim Bontemps
Multiple Authors
The NBA trade deadline was anticipated to be uneventful. Up until a week ago, only one trade had occurred all season.
Then things took a turn.
This time, it wasn’t like last season’s shocking move when Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in the wee hours of the morning. but, there was considerable movement throughout the league, much of it quite unexpected.
As notable players like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., James Harden, and Darius Garland changed jerseys, three predominant themes surfaced from the trade deadline’s happenings, starting with the ongoing saga surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo, which seems poised to extend into the summer and perhaps beyond.
Giannis remains a Buck … now what?
Over the past few weeks, virtually every discussion with league sources was punctuated by one burning question:
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo be traded?
even with widespread speculation regarding the two-time MVP changing teams this week, it wasn’t a surprise when the Milwaukee Bucks signaled on Thursday afternoon that they were focusing on different matters.
“It’s not unexpected this was one of the outcomes,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN, “and it was probably more than 50% likely.”
This decision implies that the discourse surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future is set to persist into the summer, as he can sign a contract extension starting October 1. Shortly after the 3 p.m. ET deadline, Antetokounmpo posted a social media update featuring a well-known clip from “The Wolf of Wall Street,” showcasing Leonardo DiCaprio’s character exclaiming, “I’m not f—ing leaving!”
but, as one executive pointed out later on Thursday, “You know, in the film, he actually left.”
Last season, in a similar storyline, the Phoenix Suns contemplated trading Kevin Durant at the deadline but ultimately moved him during the summer. The Boston Celtics did a similar thing with Paul Pierce back in 2013, ultimately trading him and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets in a high-profile deal a few months subsequently.
Even while there was a yearning for Giannis Watch to conclude, the Bucks garnered some commendations for their handling of the situation.
“They are winners for doing nothing,” remarked an Eastern scout. “They gathered as much information as possible and can still pursue a deal later.”
None of the leading contenders — the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks — made any moves at the deadline that would hinder an Antetokounmpo blockbuster transaction this offseason. Other franchises might easily enter the mix as well.
For Milwaukee, holding off posed no opportunity cost; however, there could be uncomfortable discussions in store if Antetokounmpo wishes to return for the final stretch of the season after dealing with a calf injury.
By that time, the Bucks are highly likely to be out of playoff contention, with the team aiming to elevate its draft positioning. (Antetokounmpo has experienced four separate lower leg injuries over the last 18 months, and it is a prime chance for him to rehabilitate, especially without any international commitments this summer.)
Struggling teams are looking ahead
It’s rather astonishing that amid a trade deadline which saw prominent players shuffled around, the only superstar who landed on a current playoff team was Harden. Instead, the prevailing trend was lottery-bound squads like the Utah Jazz (Jackson), Washington Wizards (Davis and Young), and Indiana Pacers (center Ivica Zubac) gearing up to enhance their prospects for the 2026-27 season.
The deals involving the Wizards and Jazz were finalized on Wednesday, while the agreement that sent Zubac from the LA Clippers to the Pacers in exchange for guard Bennedict Mathurin and two first-round picks stands out as one of the more intriguing in recent memory.
One of the two picks that the Clippers will receive includes the Pacers’ unprotected selection in 2029. The other possesses unique protections: if it falls within Nos. 5-9, it goes to the Clippers; if it lands in the top four or Nos. 10-30, it remains with Indiana, and the Clippers will instead receive an unprotected pick for 2031.
This triggered a broad discussion among several sources on Thursday afternoon regarding the Pacers’ strategy for the remainder of the season.
Indiana could opt to maintain a position within the top three lottery odds, granting them a slightly better than 50% chance of retaining their pick. but, this approach comes with the risk of sacrificing a mid-lottery selection in a loaded draft.
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Clippers trading center Ivica Zubac to Indiana Pacers
Shams Charania reports on the Los Angeles Clippers trading center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.
instead, Indiana could aim to win games. With Zubac, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, a strong coach in Rick Carlisle, and several tanking teams nearby in the standings, it’s achievable.
In this scenario, the Pacers would attempt to reach 10th in the lottery standings, where they would guarantee keeping the pick and have an 11% chance of ascending into the top four, an occurrence that has taken place in two of the previous three years from a position of 10 or lower (Atlanta from 10th in 2023, and Dallas from 11th this past year).
“If it were up to me, I would tank for the best odds at a higher pick,” remarked one Eastern executive. “But if they decide to shoot for 10th, I believe they can.”
There wasn’t much contention about whether Indiana could achieve a 10th place finish — it’s quite the commentary on the forthcoming tank competition, seeing that the Pacers approach Friday’s game in Milwaukee with a 13-38 record. The debate really revolved around whether Indiana would.
Regardless, the addition of Zubac came at a cost, particularly when compared to what Washington sacrificed to acquire Anthony Davis. Washington traded what is expected to be the 30th pick this year, plus a top-20-protected pick from the Warriors in 2030.
The key difference is Zubac’s age, as he is four years younger than Davis, and will earn a total of $40 million over the next two seasons, whereas Davis is set to earn $120 million.
“I don’t fault Washington for the entry cost to acquire Trae and AD; it’s basically negligible,” commented a Western Conference scout. “The quality of the picks matters immensely. You can’t generalize two picks for AD and two picks for Zubac and equate them.”
One lottery-bound team that couldn’t secure the move it desired was Memphis, which managed to retain Ja Morant through the deadline.
While there was mild astonishment throughout the league that Morant remained with the Grizzlies after weeks of speculation, the franchise struggled to finalize a deal they felt confident about. (Miami was mentioned as a potential destination, but sources noted they were not a serious contender.)
“I simply couldn’t see where [Morant] would end up,” noted a Western executive.
Perhaps Morant can elevate his value over the season’s closing months, yet the Grizzlies will be heavily incentivized to join the tanking teams — a segment expected to expand to the point where several sources believe the league may soon implement adjustments to curb the annual race for the bottom.
“This is going to be a brutal, ugly battle,” remarked an Eastern executive. “Numerous top players will be sidelined. … This will be a narrative every single night.”
Top teams largely stayed put
Of the 10 teams holding the best records in the league leading into Thursday, only one traded a first-round pick for a player: the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This isn’t to imply that the NBA’s elite squads were inactive this week. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns all maneuvered to avoid the luxury tax. The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors, who hover just outside the top 10 of the league’s records, did likewise.
besides, Minnesota saved a significant amount by trading Mike Conley and a pick swap. (Conley, however, appears likely to return to Minnesota after being traded and waived on Thursday.)
even so, many top teams lacked trade assets, awaited a potential Antetokounmpo transaction, or found themselves constrained by the luxury tax and its limits.
“These restrictions are tough to navigate,” noted a Western scout. “It implies teams must negotiate more rigorously moving forward.”
so, many of these top teams are entering the postseason essentially as they were when the season began. This inactivity raises questions regarding what will unfold when these teams start falling short of their stated objectives.
In an effort to address worries regarding Donovan Mitchell’s future beyond 2026-27, the last guaranteed year of his contract, Cleveland traded for Harden.
The Conley trade saved Minnesota money as it endeavored to position itself for the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes with limited assets, only to add a solid role player in Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls. but, this deal resulted in parting ways with Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft whom the Wolves had traded up to select.
The Detroit Pistons, who acquired crucial shooting through their trade for Kevin Huerter, are confronted with the restricted free agency of first-time All-Star center Jalen Duren. The Knicks, burdened with hefty expectations after parting ways with coach Tom Thibodeau in the offseason, made only a minor move, replacing the now-injured Miles McBride with guard Jose Alvarado from the New Orleans Pelicans.
These stakes might lead to an unpredictable race toward the Finals. besides, with numerous trade stories still unfolding, perhaps an even more exhilarating summer awaits.
