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NBA trade grades: The good, bad and ugly from week's most surprising moves
The professor reserves the right to change final grades. Think of NBA trade deadline assessments as midterm grades.
Teams are judged on what they have done so far – with the caveat that the grade can change with improvement or decline.
So, the Los Angeles Lakers definitely get high marks for acquiring Luka Doncic from Dallas and Mark Williams from Charlotte, and Golden State reinvigorates its season by trading for Jimmy Butler. Dallas has been universally skewered for trading Doncic, but there also has been quiet agreement that the Mavericks made the right move. Will the Mavs end up with a 4.0 GPA or 0.0?
San Antonio can turn that A into an A+ if the acquisition of De’Aaron Fox from Sacramento helps turn Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs into title contenders.
USA TODAY Sports' NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt grades all the big trades:
Luka Doncic to Lakers; Anthony Davis to Mavericks
Mavericks trade grade: B-
Let’s start with this: trading a 25-year-old star, not yet in his prime, who is already a five-time All-NBA selection and led the franchise to the Finals in 2023-24 is bold and risky. The Mavs parted ways with one of the NBA’s most gifted offensive players who finished third in MVP voting last season and is close to being a 30-point per game triple-double player.
There’s a lot riding on this trade for the Mavs. Comments from GM Nico Harrison about defense winning championships suggested the Mavericks didn't think they could win a title with Doncic’s defense. Is Doncic’s defense that bad? Was it worth giving up his offense? Or was there another compelling reason to trade Doncic now? Was it his possible free agency in the summer of 2026 and the idea of losing him without getting much in return?
The Mavericks certainly got a star in return. Davis, who is out for about another week with an abdominal strain, is one of the game’s best two-way big men who can score, rebound, block shots, protect the paint and defend on the perimeter.
Does this move elevate the 26-23 Mavs from eighth place in the Western Conference to title contender? It certainly makes them better defensively and gives them a premier low-post scoring option, and Christie developed into a starter with an improving 3-point game.
Lakers trade grade: A-
The Lakers traded LeBron James’ close friend without James knowing until news of the deal broke. James is no stranger to the business of basketball so whatever sting he feels will disappear with time.
Doncic’s physical conditioning will be scrutinized even more, as will Doncic’s commitment to defense. The Lakers are No. 21 defensively and just got worse with Davis’ departure.
Doncic, who has been out since Christmas with a calf injury and is expected to return this month, gives the Lakers help at the guard position they’ve sought. His offensive skillset is phenomenal, and James and Doncic will create offensive fireworks.
Will that offensive production be enough to compensate for defensive shortcomings, especially in the playoffs? The Lakers are 28-19 and in fifth place in the West, just a half-game behind the Denver Nuggets. They are a hot streak away from challenging Houston and Memphis for second and third place.
Certainly, this was a move made for the present but also the future. The chance to acquire a player of Doncic’s caliber doesn’t come along often. James won’t be around forever. The Lakers are now expecting to have one of the league’s best players for the next decade.
Jazz trade grade: B
The Jazz were mostly innocent bystanders, taking a player and draft picks to help facilitate the surprising portion of the trade. Getting two second-round picks could help facilitate another deal at the trade deadline or in the offseason for the Jazz.
De'Aaron Fox to Spurs; Zach LaVine to Kings
The Spurs are intent on maximizing the 21-year-old Wembanyama, who is one of the league’s best young players and could soon be a top-five player and annual MVP candidate. He is already one of the league’s best defenders and could win the first of many Defensive Player of the Year awards this season.Getting Fox helps that process. He is an All-Star caliber point guard who averages 25 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game this season. He is a two-way player and made the All-Star team in 2023.
San Antonio is 21-25 and in 12th place in the Western Conference — but it is just two games out of the final play-in spot. While the Spurs want to reach the postseason in 2025, this move is about the future, and all indications point to Fox re-signing with the Spurs. This is the beginning of a Wembanyama-Fox partnership.
The Spurs haven't reached the playoffs since 2019 and haven't been beyond the first round since 2017. They last won a title in 2014. They believe this move, with Wembanyama's growth and other additions, can make them a contender for the next decade.
Sacramento Kings: B+
Losing Fox stings, and the Kings were looking at replacements at point guard if they moved Fox in a deal. However, LaVine has been an efficient scorer this season and the Kings accumulated three beneficial first-round picks that they can use themselves or trade to make roster improvements. LaVine is having one of his best seasons, averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game with career-highs in field goal percentage (.511) and 3-point percentage (.446).
The Bulls need to start making decisions about their future. At 21-29, they are in 10th place in the East and in the final play-in spot. But it is not a team that is doing much beyond that. Unloading LaVine might just be the start of a rebuild and the correct decision for the franchise.
Could Nik Vucevic be moved next ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline? If the Bulls can get first-round picks, that’s another step on the long and sometimes painful path to competing for a deep run in the playoffs.
Jimmy Butler to Warriors; Andrew Wiggins to Heat
Golden State: B+
The Warriors get an engaged Butler, and an engaged 35-year-old Butler can still produce offensively and defensively. While getting Butler to Phoenix was a hot topic and perhaps his main objective, Butler never ruled out going to Golden State, which is trying to make another title run with Steph Curry. Plus, the Warriors didn’t give up Jonathan Kuminga in a trade, and are locked into Butler long-term.
This season, Butler had a reduced role with the Heat as Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro become the focal points offensively. Butler still produced solid statistics, averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 54% from the field, 36.1% on 3-pointers and 80.1% on free throws. He will have a larger offensive role with Golden State. And its 19th-ranked offense needs improvement.
Butler will help the Warriors’ No. 9 defense, as well. The 10th-place Warriors are 25-24 and battling for a postseason spot in the West. After a promising 12-3 start, the Warriors are 13-21.
Miami: B+
At the very least, the Heat’s Butler saga is over – they needed it to be over – and now they can focus on the rest of the season, a season in which fourth place in the East is not out of the question for a 25-24 team that is in seventh place. Wiggins is having a solid season at 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
The Heat, which didn’t have a ton of leverage given Butler’s preferred destinations, also got a first-round pick out of it. It’s protected 1-10 in 2025 which means the Heat likely will get to use it in the June draft and depending on how Golden State finishes, it could be a lottery pick.
Miami had a brief chat with Phoenix about trading for Suns star Kevin Durant, but Phoenix still wants to win with Durant on the roster. Short of that kind of deal, the Heat managed to get another wing scorer and defender who can help now and what looks like a top-20 first-round pick in less than ideal circumstances.
Wiggins has two years and $58.3 million remaining on his contract. However, he has a player option on 2026-27 and can become a free agent in the summer of 2026.
Utah and Detroit
There are no grades for Utah and Detroit; both teams helped Miami and Golden State get a deal done. Richardson and Waters are on expiring contracts so the Pistons don’t take on any long-term money, and the Jazz could end up trading Schroder for second-round picks.
Matt Williams to Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers grade: B
Williams is a talented, athletic big man, no question about it. But the 23-year-old in his third NBA season has had injuries, playing in just 43 games his rookie season, 19 last season and he has appeared in 22 games this season, missing time with left knee and foot injuries.
This season, he averages 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks and shoots 58.6% from the field and 78% on free throws. He scored a career-high 38 points (with nine rebounds and five assists) against Memphis on Jan. 22 and delivered a 19-point, 19-rebound performance against Chicago on Jan. 17.
It’s easy to envision him in pick-and-roll situations with James and Doncic. But because of his injury history, it’s a risky trade. The Lakers are now without first-round picks in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031.
Charlotte Hornets grade: B+
It’s tough to trade a player with Williams’ potential. But also a little easier with that injury history. The Hornets are trying to rebuild on the fly under first-year general manager Jeff Peterson and first-year coach Charles Lee.
The Hornets are in possession of their own first-round pick in the next seven drafts, are owed a first-rounder from Miami in either 2027 or 2028, a likely first-round pick from Dallas in 2027 and a first-round pick from the Lakers in 2031.
With draft capital compiled, the Hornets are in position to start adding young talent and/or trade picks to obtain proven players.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA trade grades: Lakers, Warriors, Spurs earn high marks
