2025 NBA Trade Deadline: Biggest Winners and Losers
by Tyler Doty
NBA Trades Shake Up the League
The 2025 NBA trade deadline on February 7 saw significant movement, with eight All-Stars changing teams in a flurry of deals that reshaped the league. The biggest blockbuster, of course, featured the Lakers picking up Luka Doncic ahead of the deadline.
Anthony Davis joining the Dallas Mavericks was also a big deal. Meanwhile, De'Aaron Fox paired up with Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio, and Zach LaVine back with DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento.
Adding to the drama, Jimmy Butler forced his way out of Miami to join the Golden State Warriors, while the Phoenix Suns were left scrambling amid uncertainty surrounding Kevin Durant’s future. Here's a look at some of the top trades from this February and how they may impact your NBA predictions.
The Winners
The biggest winners of the deadline were the Lakers in acquiring Doncic, as pairing him with LeBron James guarantees Los Angeles remains a powerhouse this season but also prepares for the post-LeBron era.
Enter the 25-year-old Doncic, who's already a five-time All-NBA first-team selection. That's generational talent provided to the franchise. The Lakers also picked up young center Mark Williams from Charlotte to further strengthen the roster for Doncic with an athletic big man.
Reinforcements for Surging Cavs
The Cleveland Cavaliers, with a 41-10 record and leading the Eastern Conference, made a smart move by addressing its one major weakness at the wing position. The Cavs added De'Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks, a versatile forward averaging 19.0 points per game while shooting 39.3% from beyond the arc.
Given how efficient Hunter's game is on offense, complemented by strong bench contributions, he fits with Cleveland's style. In return, the Cavs sent over a package of Georges Niang, Caris LeVert, two pick swaps and three second-round picks – highly reasonable considering their title hopes.
But he did force his way out of Miami and into a two-year, $120 million extension out with the Warriors. There was a point when the Suns were rumored to be the next stop, but this move to Golden State puts Butler with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green—players that complement his playing style.
The Warriors' offense, so heavily reliant on ball movement, should enable Butler to thrive, particularly as a cutter and driver. Though the fit with Green could be quite volatile personality-wise, Butler's skill set makes him an ideal addition to Golden State's championship aspirations.
The Losers
The Toronto Raptors made the first somewhat surprising move of deadline season in acquiring Brandon Ingram rather than accumulating draft assets. Ingram is a former All-Star who came over for a 2026 first-round pick via Indiana along with salary filler.
The implication here is that Toronto is building around Scottie Barnes, while also moving into short-term competitiveness mode instead of a rebuild that's for real. Swinging another future first-rounder-for the fourth consecutive year drains a significant portion of any Raptors hope at Cooper Flagg and the other best draft prospects.
If Ingram, who is currently injured, fails to make an impact upon return, this deal could backfire on Toronto’s front office.
Uncertainty in the Windy City
The Chicago Bulls continue to mismanage assets. They finally traded LaVine but received a minimal return, acquiring a single first-round pick and three role players—Zach Collins, Tre Jones, and Kevin Huerter.
Not a single one of those players was flipped for more assets at the deadline, crippling the ability for Chicago to maximize its value off LaVine. The Bulls failed to move Nikola Vucevic despite interest from Golden State and missed the chance to accumulate some future assets in the process. Unable to cash in on major trade pieces, Chicago remains mired in mediocrity.
Burn Out in Phoenix
The Suns had a disastrous trade deadline. The team was favored all along to land Jimmy Butler, but they lost him to the Warriors. The rumors of a possible Butler acquisition caused quite some stir inside, particularly after Kevin Durant reportedly was infuriated by the talks involving him in trades.
Additionally, Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause limited Phoenix’s flexibility, creating what has been described as a toxic locker room situation. The Suns managed only one trade, sending Jusuf Nurkic to the Charlotte Hornets, along with a first-round pick, for Cody Martin and Vasilije Micic.
Considering how well Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara have played since being traded to Portland, Phoenix’s front office continues to face criticism for poor roster management.
The deadline saw teams making bold moves, with some securing future success while others faced internal turmoil.
The Lakers positioned themselves for a deep playoff run, Cleveland fine-tuned its roster, and Butler got what he wanted.
Meanwhile, Phoenix and Chicago mismanaged assets, while Toronto’s decision-making left fans uncertain about the team's long-term vision.
