NBA trade grades: Live analysis for every trade at the 2026 deadline

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NBA trade grades: Live analysis for every trade at the 2026 deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 trade deadline has not disappointed early on. We’re still waiting for the big Giannis Antetokounmpo shoe to drop, but several other big names like James Harden, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis have been moved.

We’re grading them all instantly over at Sporting News, and there have been a lot of them. Check back to see how every team has fared on every move through Thursday at 3pm ET.

NBA trade deadline grades 2026

Mavs trade Anthony Davis to Wizards

Mavs receive: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2026 first round pick (via Thunder), 2030 first round pick (via Warriors)
Wizards receive: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, Dante Exum

Mavs trade grade: C+

This was a paltry return for Davis given that Dallas gave up Luka Doncic in order to get him only a year ago. One of the first round picks will likely be No. 30 in the 2026 draft. The other probably will never convey. But they needed to move on from him and allow a full rebuild around Cooper Flagg. They made the right decision by not wasting any more time.

Wizards trade grade: C-

The prevailing opinion out there is that this was a worthy trade on a top 10 talent given that the Wizards paid next-to-nothing to acquire Davis. But his addition makes very little sense on a rebuilding team. He’s a bad contract, as evidenced by the fact that nobody else could beat this price. Bad teams are supposed to get assets for taking on those deals, not send them out.

The Wizards will be better next season, but this does not help them get closer to their stated goal of building a championship contender. Instead, it drags them towards the dreaded middle that they were trying to avoid.

MORE: Full Anthony Davis trade grade

Clippers trade James Harden for Darius Garland

Clippers receive: Darius Garland, second-round pick
Cavs receive: James Harden

Cavs trade grade: B

Harden has been a better player than Garland over the past several seasons. More importantly, he’s been much healthier. The Cavs have a real shot to make it to the NBA Finals. They needed to make this trade in order to capitalize on what could be a narrow window where the East is wide open.

Clippers trade grade: B-

Garland’s contract doesn’t look great today. He will need to return to his previous All-Star form in order to come close to justifying it. But he’s only 26 years old. The Clippers got 10 years younger in doing this trade, and they also got some draft compensation out of it for a player in Harden that wasn’t in their long-term future.

MORE: Full James Harden trade grade

Grizzlies trade Jaren Jackson Jr. to Jazz

Jazz receive: Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, Vince Williams Jr.
Grizzlies receive: Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang, three first-round picks

Grizzlies trade grade: A

When you look at the market for stars, it’s been hard to get a great return on them. The Grizzlies did it with Bane, and they got another three good first-rounders in trading Jackson.

Give Memphis credit. They could have stayed put and had a pretty good team. They have higher goals though, and they have confidence in what has been a pretty good scouting department that has hit on its picks and free agency signings.

Jazz trade grade: B

Jackson is a 26-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year who should have made an All-NBA team last season (he did make his second All-Star team). The Jazz look like they are finally pivoting away from years of tanking and trying to make some win-now moves.

A core of Jackson, Lauri Markkanen, breakout guard Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, and whoever they draft with a good pick in 2026 sounds pretty nice to build around.

The Jazz had a ton of first-round picks to move. Trading three of them is a hefty price, but they still have plenty of avenues to either draft or trade for more talent. This is a nice step in the right direction for Utah.

Bulls trade Coby White to Hornets

Hornets receive: Coby White, Mike Conley Jr
Bulls receive: Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, three second round picks

Bulls trade grade: C

This is an underwhelming package for White, who was at one time among the best contracts in the league. The second-rounders that the Bulls are getting from the Hornets aren’t particularly good, nor are the players that they’re getting back.

Sexton is a talented scorer, but where does he fit among the plethora of guards already on the roster? Dieng has never averaged more than five points per game over any of his four seasons.

White’s value dipped down because the Bulls waited until he was set to become a free agent this summer before trading him. This trade became somewhat of a necessity after Chicago added Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons to their roster.

Hornets trade grade: A-

White is a good young player who fits well with the high-octane offense that the Hornets have created. He should help Charlotte pass the Bulls in the race for the last Play-In spot. He won’t help with their defensive issues, but he’s a starter-level player that adds a ton of shooting next to LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller.

Thunder acquire Jared McCain from Sixers

Thunder receive: Jared McCain
Sixers receive: 2026 Rockets first round pick, three second round picks

Thunder trade grade: A-

McCain likely would have won Rookie of the Year last season had he not torn his meniscus. His shooting touch and ability to get to the rim haven’t come back this season, and he’s had a rough year. If the talent that he showed last season is real, then this is going to be another heist for Sam Presti. If his promising start was a fluke, then it’s still a low price to pay.

Sixers trade grade: C-

This trade was more about the Sixers ducking the tax than anything else. To give up on a promising young player for financial reasons feels gross. Philadelphia has more information about McCain than we do, so maybe they know something that everyone else doesn’t. From the outside though, this looks like a trade where they gave up on a player too early.

Hawks acquire Jock Landale from Jazz

Hawks receive: Jock Landale
Jazz receive: Cash

Hawks trade grade: B+

The Hawks badly need center depth with Kristaps Porzingis batting a POTS diagnosis and Onyeka Okongwu out with dental surgery. Landale is a serviceable energy big who should stem the tide until Okongwu can get back on the floor.

Cavs trade Lonzo Ball to Jazz

Cavs receive: Tax savings
Jazz receive: Lonzo Ball, two second round picks

Cavs trade grade: C+

A healthy Lonzo Ball was exactly what the Cavs needed last year. Unfortunately, this version of Ball doesn’t look like the one of a few years ago. He wasn’t effective, losing the touch on his jump shot and a step or two defensively after several knee surgeries.

The Cavs had to pay to get off his $10 million salary. They should have kept Isaac Okoro instead. They’ve seen their projected tax bill drop from $120 million to $65 million so far during this deadline, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Jazz trade grade: B

The Jazz are expected to waive Ball, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. This is a straight cash dump for them, and they get two second-rounders in return.

Clippers trade Chris Paul to Raptors in three-team deal

Clippers receive: Rights to Vanja Marinkovic
Nets receive: Ochai Agbaji, 2032 second round pick via Toronto, $3.5 million
Raptors receive: Chris Paul

Raptors trade grade: B

This is a stopping ground for Paul, who will not be required to report to Toronto and is expected to be waived. Per Charania, this trade got the Raptors out of the tax, which seems to be the main impetus for it.

Clippers trade grade: B

This trade was made for financial reasons for the Clippers as well. Per Charania, they saved $7 million off their tax payments and gets them below the first apron.

Nets trade grade: B+

The Nets aren’t going anywhere this year, so it makes sense for them to try and load up on young players. At age 25, Agbaji doesn’t quite fit that description. He is only in his fourth year in the league and was at one time regarded as a good 3-and-D prospect. His shot has disappeared, but he’s a decent reclamation project. More importantly, Brooklyn picks up a second-rounder in this deal and the money to cover his salary.

Hawks trade Trae Young to Wizards

Wizards receive: Trae Young
Hawks receive: CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert

Wizards trade grade: B+

The Wizards didn’t have a starter-caliber point guard on their roster. They got a four-time All-Star basically for free, even getting off Corey Kispert’s negative-value contract in the process.

Young is overpaid as well, but he certainly has talent. His passing is exactly what Washington needed to help its younger players develop. Like Davis, he is overpaid on his deal. But he is an expiring contract next year, and Washington could flip him to take on more draft picks attached to bad money down the line.

Hawks trade grade: B

This unfortunately seemed like all Atlanta could get for Young. They probably waited too long to move him, but it was a different lead executive who made that mistake.

Jalen Johnson’s development as a point forward necessitated moving off Young for McCollum’s expiring salary.

MORE: Full Trae Young trade grades

Bulls trade Nikola Vucevic to Celtics

Celtics receive: Nikola Vucevic, 2027 second-round pick (via DEN)
Bulls receive: Anfernee Simons, 2026 second-round pick (via NOP)

Celtics trade grade: B

The Celtics needed frontcourt depth, and they got it in Vucevic. He should fit their 3-point heavy system nicely. He also gives them a different look with his post play. Most importantly, he is a great defensive rebounder, which has been a weakness of theirs.

Losing Simons hurts. He was a good sixth man. The big man depth is more important though.

Bulls trade grade: B

Getting anything for Vucevic at this point was a good move. That 2026 second-round pick should be a good one at the top of the round.

It’s yet to be seen if Simons is a part of Chicago’s long-term future. But he’s an okay flier, and if he doesn’t work out then he is a free agent this summer.

MORE: Full grades for Celtics, Bulls in Nikola Vucevic trade

Pistons trade Jaden Ivey to Bulls

Pistons receive: Kevin Huerter, Dario Saric, 2026 protected swap from Minnesota
Bulls receive: Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley
Wolves receive: Nothing

Pistons trade grade: B

Ivey wasn’t fitting into a very successful team, and Detroit couldn’t agree to terms on an extension with him. It made sense to trade him for win-now help.

Huerter can be that guy. He’s a streaky 3-point shooter who hasn’t been able to hit them this year but is at 37 percent for his career. The Pistons need that type of shooting. Huerter is also a decent playmaker and a high feel player who should be able to contribute to the back end of a playoff rotation.

Bulls trade grade: B

The Bulls should be taking shots on young players whose value has dipped. It’s how they landed Josh Giddey, and they’re doing it now with Ivey. The cost here was extremely low. Huerter wasn’t a part of the team’s long-term plans. Ivey might be.

MORE: The Bulls are making all the right moves: Grading Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, Dario Saric trades

Wolves trade grade: B

The Wolves made this trade to get off Conley’s salary and save money off their tax bill. Conley has been a good soldier for them, but his play had diminished over the past few years. They still need point guard depth, so perhaps another trade is coming.

Cavs trade De’Andre Hunter to Kings

Kings receive: De’Andre Hunter
Cavs receive: Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, Emanuel Miller
Bulls receive: Dario Saric, two second-round picks

Kings trade grade: B-

The idea of Hunter is always more appealing than the actual player. Hunter was traded last deadline, and the Cavs pulled him out of the starting lineup before moving him again. He looks like a 3-and-D player, but he doesn’t do either of those things at an elite level.

Ultimately, the price here isn’t bad. Ellis wasn’t getting a lot of playing time, and Schroder was not the answer at point guard that Sacramento had hoped.

Cavs trade grade: B

Ellis is a good defender and spot up shooter that is extremely limited in creating his own shot. That’s fine, as the Cavs needed a player to fill that simplified role. Schroder doesn’t make a ton of sense on this roster, but he’s a veteran that can pressure up on defense and play adequate backup minutes.

The main impetus for this trade was probably the luxury tax savings. The Cavs saved almost $50 million off their payroll and luxury tax by moving Hunter.

Bulls trade grade: A-

This is the type of trade that the Bulls never do. Credit them for using their space below the luxury tax to essentially buy two second-round picks for $5 million in Saric’s salary.

Hawks trade Vit Krejci to Blazers

Blazers receive: Vit Krejci
Hawks receive: Duop Reath, two second-round picks

Blazers trade grade: A-

Krejci is on a terrific minimum-salaried contract through 2027-28. He’s a good shooter and passer who lacks the strength to hold up in a lot of defensive matchups, but he gives good effort on that end of the floor too. He’s not a starting-level player, but he’s a good value as a first or second guard off the bench.

Hawks trade grade: B

The Hawks already had similar players to Krejci in Luke Kennard and Corey Kispert. Krejci was the victim of too much depth at that position.

Atlanta does have a lack of center depth, which Reath could solve if he wasn’t already out for the season. This trade was more about the two second round picks, which are a nice addition.