Another NBA season, another exciting trade deadline. In this year, like many others before it, star players found new homes, contending teams bolstered their rosters with new talent, and tanking franchises gave up big pieces for draft capital. The blockbuster trade sending Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis headlined the action. It wasn’t just the Lakers and Mavericks striking deals, however, the Hawks, Cavs, Bucks, Warriors, Heat, Kings, Spurs, Pelicans, and Raptors all took part in big moves.
With some calling it the most shocking NBA trade in the history of the league, the Luka Doncic move to the Lakers sent true shockwaves through the association. The move was made on the night of February 1st, sending Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks from the Los Angeles Lakers, in exchange for Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris. Reactions to the trade were far from mixed, with most fans thinking that the Lakers won by a mile. “I was just about to go to bed when I saw the notification on my phone,” said senior Noah Salzman. “My first thought: What were the Mavericks thinking!?”
Clearly, the Doncic move set a precedent throughout the league: it was time to get trading. A three-team deal between the Kings, Spurs, and Bulls sending Zach Lavine to the Kings and De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs was the next to go down, with the Spurs giving Wembenyama some more help and sending the Bulls into tank mode. A few days later, on February 5, the Heat sent a disgruntled Jimmy Butler to the Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, fulfilling Butler’s wishes. Fans of the NBA could not get enough of all the action. “It felt like every time I checked my phone, a new move would be announced,” said senior Reis Holzworth.
As the February 6 deadline rapidly approached, more teams got to work. Other big trades include Deandre Hunter to the Cavaliers from the Hawks, Khris Middleton to the Wizards from the Bucks, and Brandon Ingram to the Raptors from the Pelicans.
With the busy week that is the NBA trade deadline all squared away, only time will tell how these moves will turn out. Some players will prove to be great fits on their new squads while others won’t work out. At the end of the day, it’s all in the business of the NBA.
