The 2025 NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 6 shocked the world of professional sports with A-list players making headlines. February often marks the season of big changes in the NBA as most major trades happen just before the deadline.
This year was no different when huge moves from postseason-contending teams shook up the scene. The trade that gained the most popularity was a transaction between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. The trade included the Mavericks’ gain of Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick in return for Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris. The Utah Jazz were a third party but had no large impact in the swap.
“I’ve never really paid attention to [the deadline],” junior Nathan Preator said. “But this year it was hard not to notice with all the different moves.”
Many Lakers fans are confused as to why management would trade away such a key piece to their offense and defense such as Anthony Davis. He was after all the first player in basketball history to achieve the “Grand Slam of Basketball” award, claiming an NCAA title, an Olympic gold medal, FIBA World Cup crown, and an NBA ring.
“Initially it’s easy to say the Lakers won [the trade],” Preator said. “But I also think they lost a lot losing Anthony Davis. They won’t have as good a defense.”
On the opposing side, there are questions as to why the Mavericks would trade their franchise player. Since Dončić joined the Mavericks in 2018, he led the team into the playoffs every year but two. In 2024, he took them all the way to the NBA Finals where they lost to the Celtics.
“The trade that surprised me the most was definitely the Lakers and Mavericks.” Preator said. “I thought that Luka was an untouchable. I never thought that [Mavericks] would trade their franchise player.”
Davis has a long history of injury across his career missing weeks at a time each season. In his Maverick debut against the Rockets on Feb. 8, Davis exited the game in the third quarter with an adductor injury. This only supported the doubt of the trade in many Mavericks fan’s eyes.
“I think the Lakers won that trade,” sophomore Kason Sherman said. “Just because of the caliber of a player Luka is and what he could bring to the team.”
Some other significant moves in the league occurred for Dennis Schroeder, the 31-year-old veteran from Germany. Schroeder began his season with the Brooklyn Nets and was traded earlier in the season to the Golden State Warriors.
“The Dennis trades are kinda wild,” Sherman said. “It’s just the amount of teams he was passed around by.”
Come the trade deadline, Schroeder was traded to the Heat. Within the next 24 hours, he was traded to the Utah Jazz, and then to the Pistons where he settled in.
“I think it’s pretty weird that he got traded so many times this season,” sophomore Christian Love said. “And yet somehow he ended up on the Pistons.”
Jimmy Butler was another headline trade, as he had had a controversial season with the Miami Heat. Three recent suspensions for behavior had resulted in Butler’s multiple requests to be traded, similar to his past experiences on other teams.
“I think that the Warriors won that [trade],” Love said. “[Butler] is one of the greatest players of our generation and still has many years to go.”
At the deadline, Butler was a part of a trade to the Golden State Warriors in which the Heat received Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a protected first-round draft pick. Butler is a six-time All-Star, and was a major part of the initial Schroeder trade.
“For the Jimmy trade, I think the Warriors needed another superstar,” Sherman said. “Plus Jimmy wanted out of Miami. I think it will be a good fit for both sides.”
The trade deadline brought the usual big shifts across the league and did not disappoint in terms of drama. The cutoff came to a close at 1:00 pm on Feb. 6.
