Top 10 NBA trades of 2025
This year in the NBA proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions, vibes, and a whole lot of quality. We had teams becoming the darlings of the country only to come crashing down to earth in the play-offs (looking at you, Cleveland Cavaliers), we had teams confound expectations, and, to add to it all, we had a first-time champion, as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers to hold the Larry O’Brien Trophy aloft.
However, 2025 also saw some of the most jaw-dropping, mind-boggling, and league-shattering trades that can alter the landscape of the NBA for years to come. It only goes to show that even franchise cornerstones are expendable if the situation demands it.
With that said, here we look at ten such trades that made the NBA headlines in 2025.
1. Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets
On the face of it, this trade looks like another expensive mistake, given Durant is already 37 years old with a sketchy injury history and part of two failed super-teams in the space of three years. But, dig deeper, and you will recognise that this is probably the best landing spot for “the Slim Reaper”.
“Durantula” still is one of the game’s most feared, effortless, and dangerous scorers, getting to his spot and making mid-range shots with machine-like efficiency. Getting 26 points per game in 18 shots is still brilliant returns from a man who is no longer the same force as before. And the Houston Rockets have a slew of talented players around Durant to help him get the shots at his spots. With the likes of Amen Thomspon, Tari Eason, and Alperen Sengun around him, he has the players to facilitate and do the dirty work for him.
Durant has often been the victim of narratives about him not being the main character in the two championships he won with the Golden State Warriors. His stint at Houston could very well help him change that.
2. Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks
Boston’s loss turned out to be Atlanta’s gain. Set back by the news of their linchpin Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, and the sword of the dreaded second apron looming upon them like a dark cloud, the Celtics set about dismantling their roster, sending Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta.
Acquiring Porzingis gives Atlanta their best shot of making the play-offs after years of play-in mediocrity and underperformance, despite making the Eastern Conference final in 2020/21. The Latvian has his own health concerns, but he was a positive addition in the Celtics side whenever he played. 19.5 PPG, coupled with a fire-breathing 41% accuracy from 3-point attempts in 2024/25, makes him a very handy addition. Add to it his penchant for being a monster on the offensive rebounds, and the Hawks automatically become contenders in an Eastern Conference that has been at its weakest in years.
3. Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently stuck between a rock and a hard place. Their post-season flame-outs are not a secret, and they also have the most expensive roster in the league, well above the second apron as far as the luxury tax goes.
Add to that the injury suffered by starting point guard Darius Garland, and the Cavs have had to find ways to not only keep their contention window going, but also find a member who can seamlessly fit in their side from the first rep. And so, they off-loaded Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls, getting the 2017 No. 2 pick, Lonzo Ball, in his place.
Now, let’s be honest, Ball has had a cursed two years that saw him sit out of the league entirely due to a myriad of knee injuries and complications arising out of it. But, when healthy, he is a savant of a playmaker who can score, shoot, pass, as well as defend. For context, whenever the Bulls had him in the starting five, they went on to outscore every team they faced.
While the regular season will be an opportunity for Ball to manage his minutes as he gets back to full health, his impact will be huge come the play-offs, which is where the Cavs will be judged.
4. Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are your classic throwback to the NBA teams of the 2000s, a team of physical bruisers who pride themselves on their defensive identity and force teams to play and find ways to score that are out of their comfort zone. And while that is well and good, the modern-day NBA will not gain you success unless there is a bit of a 3-point sprinkling thrown in the mix.
Unfortunately, the Magic were the absolute worst in the league last season when it came to 3-point shooting, having just made 31.8% of their 3s. Those are, frankly, diabolical numbers, especially given the fact that this is a side with strong play-off aspirations.
This is why acquiring Desmond Bane in the off-season was a very shrewd decision by the Magic. Bane is a sharpshooter of the highest order, boasting a career 40.8% 3-point percentage, and is coming off a 39.2% 3-point shooting season for the Memphis Grizzlies. Those numbers are more than the entire shooting numbers of the Orlando Magic. In a weakened Eastern Conference, the difference between making the Conference final and missing the play-offs could be Desmond Bane.
5. Deandre Ayton to the Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers’ need for a centre was well documented ever since they let Anthony Davis go to the Dallas Mavericks in that trade (more on that later). And that is exactly what happened. The Lakers went in and brought in the 2018 No. 1 pick, Deandre Ayton.
Ayton at his best is a disrupter who can provide an effortless 18–20 points a game while also being a force on rebounds at both ends. And with the start that Ayton has had in the Purple and Gold so far, his trade has been a positive one, to say the least.
6. Marcus Smart to the Los Angeles Lakers
Here’s another one of the Lakers’ acquisitions that indicates a shift to a much more defence-oriented style of play this season. Marcus Smart is a former winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award who epitomises the hustle play and will put his body on the line to give his side that added possession.
Smart’s presence gives the Lakers a much more rugged and disruptive presence, which is a nice contrast to the maverick attacking qualities of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
7. De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Think back to earlier this year. The Cavs were seemingly unstoppable, pulling off winning streaks as effortlessly as breathing. Yet there were murmurs regarding their need to upgrade their quality of options on the wing, with Caris LeVert blowing hot and cold.
So, off went the Cavs and brought in De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter was amid a career-high season in terms of accuracy from the 3-point line, and given his athletic ability to defend every position, it felt like the Cavs were on to something special. Until the Playoffs burnout, that is.
8. De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs were a tanking team until they got their hands on the phenomenal and otherworldly French pyromancer, Victor Wembanyama. But even he can take the franchise only up to a certain level. He needed a running mate to take the Spurs to the next level, so the franchise went ahead and brought in De’Aaron Fox.
To say Fox is quick is an understatement, because he is lightning quick and can drive to the basket at will. He also can dish well, with close to seven assists a game in his last three seasons. He is the perfect partner for Wembanyama as the Spurs look to get back to dynastic ways.
9. Luka Doncic to Los Angeles Lakers
If there was one trade that changed the landscape of the NBA in an irreversible way, it is this one. Out of nowhere, the Lakers got their hands on arguably the most lethal modern-day scorer who borders on the otherworldly.
In Luka Doncic, the Purple and Gold have got the prince promised to succeed the king, with LeBron James slowly and steadily laying down his weapons to the inevitable Father Time.
Luka is a phenom. He can score, and then he can score some more. It is befuddling that Dallas let him go for next to nothing, and how easily the Lakers got him right in their laps.
10. Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks
In just a flash, the Dallas Mavericks went from being contenders to a team that will fight for the play-in spots.
However, if “the Brow” does play to his all-dominant self, nullifying attacks all by himself like in his New Orleans and earlier Lakers days, Dallas will be a solid force in the West.
