The NBA trade deadline is typically wild enough to give Woj and Shams thumb cramps, but the 2024/25 deadline was so explosive that even Adrian Wojnarowski probably had to take a nap afterward. Wrapping up on February 6, this deadline set a new NBA record with 63 players swapped in a frenzy that rivaled a Black Friday sale at Walmart.

In one of the craziest moves in NBA history that made fans double-check if April Fools came early, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers pulled off the trade of the century. Anthony Davis, long-time co-star to LeBron James (and frequent guest on the injury report), packed his bags along with a 2029 first-rounder and headed to Dallas. In return, the Lakers got NBA superstar Luka Dončić, who picks up triple-doubles almost as effortlessly as Charles Barkley makes jokes at Shaq’s expense.

A Record Trade Deadline to Heat Things Up

The 63 players moved during the final week of the 2024/25 NBA trade window marked the record busiest in league history. Sure, there were other massive moves—Andrew Wiggins and Khris Middleton changed zip codes, De’Aaron Fox bolted Sacramento, and Jimmy Butler made his way to the Golden State Warriors. Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-rounders, and three second-rounders going to the Sacramento Kings does look set to play a part in the playoffs, with the Kings .500 as of March 17. It’s the Dončić and Butler moves that are primed to make the biggest impacts, Butler’s been a fan-favorite for years, even after his surprise Heat switch.

Dončić and Butler’s moves are already shaping up as franchise-defining trades. Butler, ever the lovable villain, brings his tough-guy persona to a Warriors team desperate for fresh energy, while Luka’s Hollywood debut with LeBron has fans fantasizing about Showtime 2.0—or at least fewer missed playoffs.

Yet, despite these earth-shattering trades, oddsmakers haven’t exactly sprinted to update their championship predictions. As of March 17, the Lakers (+1200) and Warriors (+1600) remain championship dark horses, trailing far behind the surprising Thunder (+175), Celtics (+200), and Cavs (+500). Who would’ve guessed OKC, of all teams, would look more poised for a parade than LeBron’s Lakers?

Huge moves are made with the aim of refining a team for the playoffs. In the case of the Lakers getting Dončić and the Golden State Warriors acquiring Butler, both had to make significant alterations. For many years, the Anthony Davis and LeBron James relationship has been seen as pivotal to the Lakers and one of the best duos in the league.

Similarly, while Wiggins wasn’t regularly hailed as one of those superstars of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, he played a pivotal role as a secondary scorer and stepped up in a huge way defensively when Klay Thompson was forced off the court. That said, in both instances, the trades are seen as offering hefty upgrades.

With plenty of time to see how these trades have shaken out, the Lakers and Warriors were both just about in the top bracket of the Western Conference. LA’s .621 and the Dubs’ .582 win percentages had them positioned well. However, as of March 17, the NBA betting odds had them both as dark horses for the NBA Championship.

At the time of writing, you’ve got the Oklahoma City Thunder out ahead at +175, the Boston Celtics at +200, and then the Cleveland Cavaliers at +500. The massive trades didn’t do much to move the needle for the 2024/25 season. The Lakers sit significantly back at +1200, while the Warriors remain out at +1600.

How Did the Teams Without Blockbuster Deals Fare?

It cannot be overstated just how well two teams in particular have played this season. Even with James’ scarily consistent performance continuing to be one of the best players in the NBA, he hasn’t been enough to power the Lakers to the levels of his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

At the 2024-25 NBA Trade Deadline, the Thunder opted to trust their players and ride the momentum, not wanting to rock the boat, as it were. They added another second-rounder for gobbling up – and duly waiving – Daniel Theis’ contract, but otherwise held firm in the belief that they’re already the league’s best team.

It was more interesting over in Cleveland. The Cavaliers’ big move was for De’Andre Hunter —a smooth shooter knocking down threes at nearly 40%. The Cavs seem to think Hunter is the missing piece; they’ve played like they’re ready to finally get over that post-LeBron hangover.

According to the TRACR performance normalizer stat line, Golden State has bolstered their expected win line from 40.4 to 47.1 and greatly bolstered their probability of getting to the postseason. It marked a 53.4 percent increase in their playoff probability. The Lakers’ same estimation only rose by 5.8 percent following the deadline.

It was a massive, record-breaking, team-changing deadline for the NBA, and while the Warriors have seen a significant bump in fortunes since getting Butler, we’ll just have to see if the Dončić move will be enough for the Lakers to win the title.