Under Maintenance
We deeply apologize for interrupting your reading but Vendetta is currently undergoing some important maintenance! You may experience some layout shifts, slow loading times and dififculties in navigating.
2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline Winners and Losers
2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline Winners and Losers
Pencils down! The 2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline is officially over–and it was one for the ages! Which teams were the biggest winners and losers? Let’s dive into it!
Winner: Los Angeles Lakers
When you get a top-3 player in the NBA–who nobody thought was available–for just one singular first-round pick, that’s a win. The Lakers were thrown a lifeboat by Nico Harrison with Luka Doncic, resetting their future window after LeBron James retires. Dorian Finney-Smith has been outstanding as a complementary 3-and-D wing while Mark Williams, when healthy, is a very good, athletic big man. It’s hard not to walk away from this deadline and have a huge smile on your face if you’re the Los Angeles Lakers, even though you still may be short a defender or two at the point-of-attack.
Loser: Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have been seeking a star since the summer, missing on Paul George, Lauri Markkanen and, most recently, Kevin Durant. They traded for 35-year-old disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, who immediately agreed to a two-year extension upon being acquired. These are moves made by desperate teams looking for shortsighted outcomes. I think Butler will be extra motivated in the short-term, but it’s too little, too late. Butler will be 36 in September; Stephen Curry will be 37 in March; Draymond Green will be 35 in March. They will account for 90 percent of the cap next season and 88 percent of the cap in 2026-27. Jimmy Butler does tangible impact, but will Mike Dunleavy Jr. conjure together a team palatable enough to compete? That’s the golden (state) question.
Loser: Phoenix Suns
Bradley Beal‘s no-trade clause is a disaster and was never going to be tradeable. Phoenix spent two months trying to find a suitor to acquire Butler and it eventually led them to shopping Durant. That didn’t work, he’s unhappy and now the Phoenix was only able to make marginal improvements in the frontcourt while continuing to lead in payroll. That situation was, is and will continue to be an unmitigated disaster.
Winner: Miami Heat
The Heat turned a disgruntled, “joyless” star, who was oft-suspended and only wanted to go to one team despite wanting to play “anywhere but Miami,” into Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Davion Mitchell and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick. All things considered, that’s a win. I am higher on Wiggins than most, even though Butler still is more impactful than him consistently. Mitchell was born to play with the Miami Heat, while Anderson is a great locker room fit who adds to a young, crowded wing room. Plus, this is a year you want draft capital. Again, given the circumstances, the Heat getting any sort of first-round pick capital with three impact players is a win, even if this next build isn’t as good without Butler.
Loser: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks got much bigger on the frontline with Anthony Davis, one of the best two-way players in the sport. But they traded their franchise superstar … without shopping him … without telling anyone else … while essentially calling him fat. It’s not a good look, and Harrison put his and Jason Kidd‘s careers on the line with this move. Plus, as much as I love Caleb Martin, I don’t think they won the Grimes-Martin swap.
Winner: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs added All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox to pair next to Victor Wembanyama without trading any of their young core in Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan or rookie Stephon Castle, arguably San Antonio’s best asset outside of Wembanyama. They did trade four first-round picks and three seconds, but San Antonio still maintained plenty of pick flexibility to make another move in the future, if necessary. A Fox-Castle-Wembanyama foundation is a great start, however.
Loser: Dennis Schroder:
Schroder was traded in mid-December by the Nets to Golden State. He was then flipped in the Butler trade–one day after making interesting comments about the trade deadline–to multiple different teams before landing in Detroit. That’s not a bad spot for him behind Cade Cunningham, but the uncertainty of not knowing where you would be going is hectic.
Winner: Utah Jazz
The Jazz only traded Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills yet ended up with five second-round picks. It felt like the Jazz were involved in every other trade, and while they’re one of the worst teams in the NBA, they were able to stack assets. Though don’t expect Ainge to trade with the Lakers anytime soon.
Loser: Trey’s mentions
It was a tough day for our don Trey Daubert, who was not pleased with Brad Stevens’ inactivity today. His Twitter mentions were not kind to him.
Not a winner, nor loser: The Cupcake Lady
However, on a more positive note, it looks like we may have a future bakeoff between Trey and Riann! Can I be the blind taste-tester?
***
Click Here for more NBA Content
Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch
Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube
Check out the Vendetta Shop
Check out Vendetta Fantasy Contests
