NBA trade deadline team grades: Lakers, Cavs, Spurs score high marks for bold moves in action-filled market

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The 2025 NBA trade deadline has officially come and gone, altering everything in its path over the past week.

Here’s an overview that tries to make sense of it. But fair warning, if you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan looking to understand the Luka Dončić trade … our sympathies. It still doesn’t make sense, and perhaps we all need to just accept that it never will.

Yep, these guys were major trade winners. (AP photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Atlanta Hawks: B-

Key additions: Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Terance Mann and Bones Hyland

Key losses: Bogdan Bogdanović and De’Andre Hunter

After years of so-so play, De’Andre Hunter finally figured it out, playing inarguably the best ball of his career this season … only to get deal at the deadline?

Sure, he’s just had a rough January, hitting just 39% of his shots, but come on. Something clearly clicked for him this season, and instead of hanging onto him, or at least waiting to shop him in the summer, the Hawks decided now was apparently the time to pivot off him.

It’s a gamble for the Hawks, who have no control of their own first-round pick this year — or the following two.

They did make up for it a little bit by sending the Clippers veteran shooter Bogdanović, who’s looked out of sorts all year, and securing two first-round swaps in 2026 and 2028 from Cleveland, as well as numerous seconds.

Still, the Hunter loss stings, and Atlanta’s direction looks both confusing and unclear.

Boston Celtics: A+ for ownership, F for fans

The Celtics made a cost-cutting trade, shipping out Jaden Springer and saving themselves on the tax bill.

Fans shouldn’t care about their favorite team saving money, however, and since the Celtics gave up two second-rounders for one — which was the cost of getting off the contract — they’re by definition worse off long term.

Charlotte Hornets: B+

Key additions: Jusuf Nurkić and Dalton Knecht

Key losses: Mark Williams, Cody Martin and Vasilije Micić

The Hornets shuffled around some pieces and picked up multiple picks in the process. Knecht could be a long-term player for them, but Nurkić was a clear salary dump on behalf of Phoenix, and it’s unlikely Charlotte…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-trade-deadline-team-grades-lakers-cavs-spurs-score-high-marks-for-bold-moves-in-action-filled-market-013108593.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-07 01:31:00

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