The NBA trade deadline has officially come and gone. Before 3:00 PM ET on Thursday, the market delivered far more big trades than experts originally anticipated, as multi-time All-Stars and future Hall of Famers like Trae Young, James Harden, Anthony Davis, and Jaren Jackson Jr. now find themselves on new teams.
However, the biggest name up for grabs before the NBA trade deadline, Giannis Antetokounmpo, will stick around in Milwaukee for a few more months and wait to find out a new home this summer. With all of that in mind, we run down the biggest winners and losers after the 2026 trade deadline.
Loser: Giannis Antetokounmpo
After months of speculation, Antetokounmpo finally let the Bucks know he was ready for a divorce last week. However, after getting offers from interested suitors, the organization decided they weren’t in love with any of the trade packages and will now instead wait until after the NBA Draft lottery to revisit the idea.
Now the two-time MVP will have to wait it out a few more months, endure a likely losing season, and an even longer trade battle in the offseason.
Winner: Washington Wizards
While most will scoff at the idea of the Washington Wizards‘ unexpected trades for Anthony Davis and Trae Young, the moves are a smart piece of long-term thinking. Neither will make them relevant this season. However, they will play a huge role next season as they work with a nice young core to get the Wizards back in the playoffs for just the second time in this decade.
Furthermore, the pair of veteran stars could also end up playing with a high-potential prospect Washington lands with a top-three pick in June. When considering the long-term vision, the Wizards had a very good NBA trade deadline.
Loser: Golden State Warriors
Just a few days ago, the Golden State Warriors were seen as serious contenders for Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately, a day before the deadline, reports suggested talks had failed. Making matters worse is that the goal of re-signing Jonathan Kuminga in the offseason was to use him in a trade that clearly made them better. Instead, they shipped him off to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal for Kristaps Porzingis.
Golden State was looking to make a move to improve the roster for a playoff run following Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear last month. While they are a better team today, it’s one that will play out the string before being bounced early in the playoffs this spring.
Winner: Indiana Pacers
This is a lost season for the Indiana Pacers. However, ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the team was looking to finally get a suitable replacement after losing Myles Turner in the offseason. They did that just before 3:00 PM ET when they acquired Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac.
While they had to give up two first-round picks and one second in the deal, they get a legit top 10 center to pair with Pascal Siakam and a returning Tyrese Haliburton next season.
Loser & Winner: Milwaukee Bucks
This has been a miserable year for the Bucks, and the Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes made it even more dramatic. It put a dark cloud over an already disappointing season that looks headed to watching the playoffs from home this spring. Furthermore, they will have to deal with an unhappy superstar expecting to eventually be moved in the summer.
However, they probably made the right move by not forcing a deal before the NBA trade deadline. They need to get a huge return in a potential trade. If waiting until the draft brings more suitors into play and better offers, then it’s the right decision. It’s why they are both winners and losers after the deadline.
Winner: Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been one of the big pleasant surprises in the NBA this season, and they have a chance to be a dark horse in the East playoffs even without Jayson Tatum if they improved the center spot. They did that this week with a very nice move for veteran center Nikola Vucevic. While he is only a rental, they didn’t give up much to get him and got notably better in the deal.
Loser: Minnesota Timberwolves
Along with the Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves were reportedly very aggressive in pursuit of an Antetokounmpo trade. Unfortunately, they lacked the trade assets to persuade Milwaukee to make a deal. They have also been linked to a Ja Morant trade for weeks, which would have cost much less, but he also wasn’t moved before the deadline.
To have a real chance in the West, the Wolves needed to make a move to land a major impact piece. Instead, they will go forward with a group that will fight to avoid a play-in game this spring.
Winner & Loser: Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a disappointment this season after having the best record in the East last year. The team needed to shake things up, and they did that when they swapped Darius Garland for James Harden. The move does make them better.
However, after forcing his way off another team, the Cavs get a player with a questionable reputation when it comes to winning and a history of being a letdown in the playoffs. While they are better now, they may not go as far as they think in the spring.
Loser & Winner: Atlanta Hawks
This season, the Hawks realized they have a new franchise star in Jalen Johnson. It made moving Trae Young far more feasible. However, in the deal, they only got back CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. But, in a surprise deal that sent Porzingis to Golden State, they acquired high upside forward Jonathan Kuminga and sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
While they let Young’s value hit a career low and didn’t get as much in a trade as they would have a year ago, they added an intriguing young piece in Kuminga, who could be a great running mate with Johnson the rest of this season and in 2026-27.
Loser & Winner: Memphis Grizzlies
A few years ago, it looked like the Memphis Grizzlies had built a team that could be contenders in the West for the foreseeable future. However, they are now fully involved in a rebuild after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz this week. They also failed in their pursuit to trade the frustrating star Ja Morant. Overall, it will be looked at by fans as a disappointing turning point that could lead to some rough years ahead.
However, on the positive side of things, Memphis now has a massive horde of future first-round picks to rebuild with after the Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane trade this summer. While it will hurt fans, they are set up to form another contender in the years ahead.
Winner: Ja Morant
Speaking of Morant, he is a big winner after the NBA trade deadline. Despite doing all he could to be forced out of town, he actually did not want to be traded. Now he has a few months to prove he deserves to stay and should be the person the organization uses all those first-rounders to build around.
Winner: Utah Jazz
There were rumblings in the summer that the owner of the Utah Jazz wanted the front office to use those trade assets they acquired to finally add talent instead of moving them. They did that this week in a totally unexpected trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.
If they can re-sign Walker Kessler this offseason, which they plan to work hard to do, they have a very strong core for next season featuring the center, Jackson Jr., and current stars Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George.
