The NBA trade deadline didn’t disappoint on Thursday with some standout moves taking place right up until its close.
There were 28 trades made in the week leading up to the deadline, the most that the NBA has seen in over that timeframe in the last 20 years – with 18 of those trades getting finalised on Thursday.
The main trade came between the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Indiana, who are having a down year after last season’s run to the NBA Finals, have acquired Clippers centre Ivica Zubac in a move that sees guard Bennedict Mathurin, centre Isaiah Jackson and up to three draft picks go to LA.
In trading for Zubac, the Pacers get one of the league’s top defensive centres – and the post presence they’ve been seeking since long-time centre Myles Turner left them for rivals Milwaukee Bucks in free agency last summer.
One advantage is that Zubac, who turns 29 next month, is signed through the 2027-28 season, meaning he’ll be around when two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton returns from his torn achilles tendon next season.
Mathurin can become a restricted free agent this summer and it was unclear whether the Pacers could afford to re-sign their first-round draft pick from 2022.
Plus, Zubac was a second team all-defensive team selection last year and the Pacers now have nearly half of this season to see how he fits on a roster that won last season’s Eastern Conference title and has most of its key players signed for multiple years.
The Clippers, meanwhile, continue to stockpile draft picks as they overhaul their roster following the earlier deal that sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers – while also adding the skills of Mathurin and Jackson to their roster.
Giannis Antetokounmpo keeping it a Milwaukee Buck
The other notable thing at the NBA trade deadline was Giannis Antetokounmpo remaining at the Milwaukee Bucks.
Antetokounmpo’s future at the 2020-21 NBA champions has been shrouded in doubt with Milwaukee entertaining offers for the two-time MVP and nine-time all-NBA selection.
However, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo will see out the remainder of this season together after no trade materialised.
Like the ‘Greek Freak’, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant was another All-Star who wasn’t traded – despite being linked with a move away.
Morant has spent his entire career in Memphis, but the Grizzlies are 11th in the Western Conference standings and already dealt two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz this week as part of a roster overhaul.
Although he’s a two-time All-Star in his own right, Morant has seen his stock fall lately because of injuries and off-court issues as well as a drop in production.
James Harden, Anthony Davis and other notable NBA trades this week
Most of the biggest names to change teams did so in trades earlier in the week. That list of players included 2018 MVP and 11-time All-Star Harden as well as five-time all-NBA selection Anthony Davis.
The Clippers sent Harden, 36, to the Cavs for two-time All-Star Darius Garland, 26, and a second-round draft pick.
Cleveland also sent guard Lonzo Ball to the Utah Jazz for a pair of second-round draft picks.
Davis is going from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards as part of an eight-player trade. The Wizards are receiving Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum in exchange for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks and three second-round selections.
The Wizards eventually can pair Davis with four-time All-Star guard Trae Young, who came to Washington last month in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Davis and Young are both currently injured.
Atlanta were very active and received Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield from the Golden State Warriors for Kristaps Porzingis.
The Toronto Raptors added a future Hall of Famer in Chris Paul, who will likely never play for them, to get below the luxury tax threshold.
The Raptors traded with the Clippers for Paul, at least on paper. Toronto also sent forward Ochai Agbaji, a future second-round pick and cash to the Nets, the Raptors announced.
Paul, who is expected to retire after this season, was sent home by the Clippers in November but remained on their payroll.
Meanwhile, defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2026 first-round draft pick and three second-round selections.
Also, the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons got Kevin Huerter from the Chicago Bulls as part of a four-team trade.
