The 2025 NBA trade deadline is officially three days away but unlikely any moves teams make in the hours leading up to the deadline will eclipse the massive, league altering trade that happened this weekend.
Shortly past midnight on the east coast, the Lakers and Mavericks made one of, if not the biggest and most surprising trades in NBA history, with Los Angeles acquiring Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first round pick in the early hours of Sunday morning. The third team involved in the deal was the Utah Jazz, who received Jalen Hood-Schifino, a Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick and the Mavericks 2025 second-round pick, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
From fans, to players around the association and even NFL athletes such as Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes, the reaction on social media was as expected with the jaw dropping news of two of the best players in the NBA getting traded for one another in the middle of the season and notably two weeks before All-Star weekend in San Francisco.
More:Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade grades: Who won deal between Lakers and Mavericks?
The blockbuster deals weren’t done there. Another pair of Western Conference teams — the Kings and Spurs — came to terms on a deal that sent De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin to San Antonio, with Zach Lavine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks (2025 Hornets’ first-round pick, 2027 Spurs’ first-round choice and their own 2028 first-round selection) and three second-round picks to Sacramento, Charania reported on Sunday night.
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This trade also required a third team, with the Chicago Bulls receiving Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and their own 2025 first-round pick.
The biggest takeaway here is that the Spurs’ did not have to part with Stephon Castle in the deal. Castle — the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft — has come into his own lately, scoring 20+ points five times in January.
Fox, who had reportedly been on the trade block over the course of the past week, is a noteworthy star as he’s still only 27 years old and is coming off of a season where he averaged a career-high 26.6 PPG and now gets to create a new dynamic duo with budding young superstar Victor Wembanyama.
The former No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has suited up in 44 of a possible 47 games for Sacramento this season and was the Kings’ leading scorer at 25.1 PPG who’s currently in the middle of the fourth season of a five-year, $163 million contract and is set to become a free agent following the 2025-26 season.
Before the seismic trades this past weekend, all eyes were on the Jimmy Butler situation down in South Beach, as the Miami Heat forward is expected to be one of the biggest names remaining to be moved ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline after being suspended three times this season by the organization.
Butler hasn’t played for the Heat since Jan. 21 and has only appeared in five games since the calendar flipped to the New Year.
The six-time All-Star is in his sixth season with the Heat and has led the franchise to two NBA Finals appearances during his time with Miami in the 2019-20 and 2022-23 season.
Butler is only under contract for the remainder of this season, then with either the Heat or his next team if he is traded has to decide by the June 29, 2025 deadline if they want to pick up his player option for the 2025-26 season at $52.4 million.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2025 NBA trade deadline, including date, time and potential high-profile players on the move to a new organization by Thursday afternoon.
What date, time is 2025 NBA trade deadline?
Date: Thursday, Feb. 6
Time: 3 p.m.
What players could be moved before 2025 NBA trade deadline?
Players listed via USA TODAY’s James H. Williams:
- F Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
- SG Bradley Beal, Phoenix Suns
- C Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
- F Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
- C/F Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers
- F Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
- G Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
- G Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls