NBA Trade Deadline Grades

The NBA Trade Deadline is behind us and it is now time to dish some grades out. Teams like the Jazz and Wizards made big splashes while teams like the Rockets and Heat didn't do much. After all the talk of Giannis and Ja Morant being traded, neither one was.

The Best Deadline Move:

Thunder Receive:

Jared McCain

76ers Receive:

1st Round Pick

Three 2nd Round Picks

The Thunder got a young guard in McCain who has shown greatness in his career. He is having a down year after returning from injury but the hope for OKC is that he can rebound. The 76ers gave up early on McCain, which they have the right to do after drafting Edgecombe.

The Best Trade for BOTH Sides:

Pacers Receive:

Ivica Zubac

Kobe Brown

Clippers Receive:

Benedict Mathuerin

Isaish Jackson 

Two 1st Round Picks

2nd Round Pick

The Pacers go out and start building their 2027 team early. Pairing Zubac with Haliburton will do incredible things for this Indiana team. The Clippers, although not saying they are rebuilding, do a great job at a soft rebuild with this trade + the Garland trade. Mathuerin, Leonard, Garland and now some picks are an exceptional deadline for them.

The Worst Deadline Trade:

Magic Receive: 

Cash

Hornets Receive:

Tyus Jones

Two 2nd Round Picks

This Magic coaching staff and front office started off with a great vision for the team. Ever since the Desmond Bane trade it has been bad move after bad move. Here they have to give up more of their already depleted draft capital just to move the contract of a player that they signed!

The Top 5 WINNERS of the Deadline:

1. Washington Wizards

2. Los Angeles Clippers

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

   
   

The Wizards keep their young core intact, keep their pick and also get two All-Stars that will hopefully come back healthy in 2027. The Clippers do their best at selling on high contracts and the pieces of the team that aren't working. The Thunder move off some players and acquire pieces that will help them in the Playoffs. The Hornets get active and the Timberwolves bolster their team and move off Dillingham, Miller and others.

The Top 5 LOSERS of the Deadline:

1. Sacramento Kings

2. Miami Heat

3. Orlando Magic

4. Chicago Bulls

5. Toronto Raptors

   
   

The Kings do nothing of value except adding Danielle Hunter which doesn't make any Kings fan excited. They keep their very old core and players who just needed to not be on the roster after the Deadline. The Heat do nothing in a season where they are in desperate need of new players. Miami misses out on yet another star (TWO) as well. The Magic make little moves and don't look promising at all in this up for grabs Eastern Conference. The Bulls go guard heavy and don't look any more like a playoff contender than before. The Raptors hold onto their pieces for the most part and it's the silence that speaks volume.