NBA Trade Deadline 2025 recap: What went down on final day

It’s finally here, the 2025 NBA trade deadline is officially upon us. Hard to keep track of it all? Don’t worry, follow along with the live blog to keep a pulse on the conversation as we inch toward the 3 p.m. ET / noon PT deadline.

Feb 7, 2025 - 01:00
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NBA Trade Deadline 2025 recap: What went down on final day

The 2025 NBA trade deadline is officially behind us.

While arguably nothing will top the blockbuster swap of Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis on Saturday or the Spurs nabbing De’Aaron Fox to pair with Victor Wembanyama on Sunday, there was still plenty of movement leading into Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.

Just look to trade deadline eve for instance. Wednesday began with the Bucks exchanging franchise stalwart Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma. Later, the Warriors added Jimmy Butler in a massive multi-team deal to conclude the drama in South Florida. The Raptors seemingly turned into buyers with their late-night acquisition of former All-Star Brandon Ingram. Then finally, the Lakers swooped in and picked up a starting calibre centre in Mark Williams from the Hornets.

Hard to keep track of it all? Don’t worry, re-live all the action with the trade deadline blog to keep a pulse on all the conversations that took place en route to the cutoff.

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Raptors sneak in one last deal (3:01 p.m. ET)

At the buzzer!

The trade deadline came and went but not before one final reported deal involving Toronto as the Raptors are acquiring former second-overall pick James Wiseman and cash from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a top-55 protected future second-round pick.

Wiseman, 23, is out for the season due to an Achilles tear suffered in the Pacers opener. He also missed all of 2021-22 due to injury. Through 148 career games, the 7-footer averaged 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds on 56 per cent shooting from the field.

He was originally drafted by Golden State in 2020 before getting off-loaded to Detroit and then signing a minimum deal with Indiana. Wiseman is owed $2.5 million next year, but it’s a club option leaving flexibility in the hands of Toronto.

Goodbye to a DPOY (2:55 p.m. ET)

After the day began with rumours of Marcus Smart being sought after by “several” teams, the grizzled vet (pardon the pun) and a first-rounder are reportedly being dealt by Memphis to Washington in a multi-team deal that nets Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis and two second-round picks.

Smart, once a Defensive Player of the Year with the Boston Celtics, has taken on a reserve role with the Grizzlies. The 30-year-old has battled injuries this season as well, playing just 19 games while averaging 8.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists on a lowly 35.8 per cent shooting from the field and 32.2 per cent from distance. He’s inked through 2025-26 and owed $21.5 million next year.

‘Hawkward’ situation in Atlanta (2:20 p.m. ET)

If it wasn’t clear that Atlanta was in fire sale mode when it sent De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland, it should be evident with the reported trade of veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic to the Los Angeles Clippers for Terance Mann, “Bones” Hyland and three second-rounders.

Bogdanovic, 32, has battled knee injuries for much of this season, limiting him to 24 appearances and a career-low 24.9 minutes per contest. He’s averaged 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the year, shooting a career-low 30.1 per cent from beyond the arc. Bogdanovic’s days in Atlanta appeared to be numbered as he was benched in late January and had since missed six consecutive games due to personal reasons.

If that wasn’t awkward enough, how about the fact that the Hawks pivoting off seasoned players like Hunter and Bogdanovic won’t even net a potentially high draft pick? At 23-28, Atlanta has the 10th-best lottery odds for the No. 1 pick but has already relinquished that asset to the San Antonio Spurs in the Dejounte Murray deal in 2022. The rich potentially get richer down south.

So, are the Suns trading KD or not? (2:05 p.m. ET)

For a brief moment, the idea of a Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry reunion in the Bay Area seemed plausible. Rumours swirled that the Warriors and Suns were in talks around the idea, and with Phoenix’s massive payroll and seemingly no way to move Bradley Beal due to a no-trade clause, there was some credence to the notion of moving the 15-time All-Star.

All that momentum shut down once Durant added his two cents, however, as the ex-Warriors star reportedly had “coldness” to a supposed return. With that move snuffed before it even sparked, the Suns seemingly have done an about-face and want to stick things out with the former MVP.

But with a high tax bill, a middling 10th seed and Durant only signed through next season, will owner Mat Ishbia be fine standing pat? Add the factor that the Suns are receiving “aggressive” calls from suitors for KD’s services according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, and the decision gets even more complicated. According to Phoenix-area radio host John Gambadoro, the Suns want a combination of assets and young players in exchange for Durant and are willing to wait till the summer for the right package.

Cavs get in on the fun (1:42 p.m. ET)

While the West’s top squad became stronger today by simply getting healthier, the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be opting for the trade route.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Cavs are acquiring Atlanta Hawks swingman De’Andre Hunter for a package of Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-rounders and two pick swaps. The former fourth overall pick is having a breakout year, averaging 19 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting a career-high 39.3 per cent from distance.

Slotting in another two-way player in Hunter alongside a Cleveland core that’s already off to a 41-10 start should put the rest of the East on notice.

The Hornets’ rebuild within a rebuild is on track (1:23 p.m. ET)

The Suns and Hornets really like making deals for centres it seems.

One day after off-loading its budding big man Williams to L.A., the fire sale in Charlotte continues as the Hornets are reportedly sending wing Cody Martin (two days after his brother Caleb was dealt from Philadelphia to Dallas), Vasilije Micic and a 2026 second-rounder to the Suns in exchange for centre Jusuf Nurkic and a 2026 first.

Charlotte, at 12-36 and on pace for another year stuck between the lottery and Play-In takes its latest attempt at re-tooling the roster. Meanwhile, Phoenix finally gets to unload Nurkic, who’d been out of the rotation even before acquiring ex-Hornets centre Nick Richards last month, by attaching a pick.

Time to say au revoir? (12:39 p.m. ET)

The Raptors may not be done wheeling and dealing just yet.

According to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange, Toronto is looking to make one more move, and it’s “most likely” veteran Chris Boucher. The slender Montreal native has slipped up and down coach Rajakovic’s rotation over the last two seasons but has been a generally reliable sparkplug when on the court. He leads the Raptors in bench scoring this season, averaging 10.5 points off the pine to go with a 37.5 per cent clip from beyond the arc in less than 20 minutes a game.

Boucher is on an expiring deal, owed $10.8 million before unrestricted free agency in the summer. Could the Raptors say goodbye to the final holdover from their 2019 championship to recoup some value? Grange added that the Denver Nuggets are the team to watch, but making the money work is the big swing factor.

‘Off Night’ is off the Raptors (11:30 a.m. ET)

Davion Mitchell’s tenure north of the border appears to be over as the Raptors shifted from buying to the more expected route of selling. Toronto is reportedly sending the 26-year-old to Miami for P.J. Tucker, a 2026 second-round pick and cash.

The soon-to-be-restricted free agent had filled in admirably while starter Immanuel Quickley battled injuries, but with the latter now back and rookie Jamal Shead turning a corner, his role in the rotation was dwindling. The defensive stalwart averaged 6.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 35.9 per cent from deep through 44 appearances with the Raptors.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t appear likely Tucker will stick around with the Raptors but if he does, it would be a third separate stint with the team!

First trade of the day! (10:14 a.m. ET)

As you make that cup of coffee and wipe the gunk out of your eyes, here’s a tidbit on the first deal of deadline day.

A transaction between two Eastern Conference squads as the Sixers are reportedly sending Reggie Jackson and a 2026 first-round pick to the Wizards in exchange for Jared Butler and a haul of four future second-rounders.

Washington gets an extra asset in the near future while Philadelphia boosts its collection of tradeable capital down the road.

The rich get richer (9:28 a.m. ET)

For some non-transactional news to give us a little reprieve from the wheeling and dealing, the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to welcome back third-year standout Chet Holmgren after nearly three months. The 22-year-old has been out since Nov. 10 due to an iliac fracture but is off the injury report as of Thursday and is eyeing a return against the Raptors on Friday.

Holmgren is averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks through his 10 appearances this year. Not a bad addition on deadline day for the NBA-leading Thunder.

Bay Area business (8:13 a.m. ET)

Although the Warriors already made their big splash by acquiring Butler, they may still be eyeing more moves considering the depth they slashed to get the six-time All-Star.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Get Up this morning reported that Golden State “may not be done dealing.” The Warriors have movable expiring contracts and are in the market for a big man in the middle.

Bulls centre Nikola Vucevic has been linked to Golden State previously and might just fit the bill. The dependable 34-year-old has played all but one game for Chicago this year, averaging 19.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting a lights-out 39.4 per cent from distance on nearly five attempts a game. Could he be the final piece in the Warriors’ latest push for another title?