The 2026 NBA trade deadline was a highly anticipated one, and now that Feb. 5th has come and gone, I would say that hype was lived up to for the most part. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies were clearly the two most common names circulating trade rumors, even going back to last season. While it was disappointing to see neither of them traded, their sagas are far from over, and the moves that were made were uber-entertaining nonetheless.
Arguably, the biggest trade, and the one displaying the most immediate impact, is James Harden being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland. Harden, a former MVP and perennial NBA superstar, is out-running father time and posting lofty averages of 25 points and 8.2 assists per game this season at 36 years old.
This trade amplifies Cleveland’s championship aspirations while setting up the Clippers with 26-year-old Garland, who can be a centerpiece of theirs for years.
Harden’s impact has already shone in Cleveland. Since the Feb. 4 acquisition, the Cavaliers are 3-0 with Harden and are now fourth in the Eastern Conference. Harden’s other-worldly playmaking has always elevated his teammates, and now center Jarrett Allen is reaping those benefits. Since Harden took over, Allen’s averages have risen from 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds to 24 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
The Clippers made another big move that suggests they’re pivoting to a more future-focused approach. LA sent star center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two future first-round draft picks.
Zubac has emerged as one of the league’s premier centers, a defensive force who also posts 14.4 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Acquiring the 23-year-old, uber-athletic Mathurin bolsters the Clippers future, while Zubac positions Indiana very nicely to contend next season. They will have a top pick in this summer’s loaded draft, their superstar point guard Tyrese Haliburton will return from a torn Achilles, and Zubac only adds more talent to a squad that was in the NBA Finals just a season ago.
The most surprising trade, to me, was superstar big man Anthony Davis being shipped from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards. The surprise factor comes from the context that Davis was only traded to Dallas one year ago, but a very disappointing Mavericks season makes the deal easier to understand.
I think this is a steal for the Wizards, as they traded four players of little value to acquire the superstar.
Davis, a 32-year-old, isn’t getting any younger and has had his fair share of injury history, including one that could sideline him for the rest of this season. Despite that, the 10-time All-Star and NBA champion can anchor a promising young core in Washington next season, consisting of rising stars Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George.
Another unexpected deal was the Grizzlies sending Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Taylor Hendricks, Walter Clayton Jr. and three future first-round draft picks.
Personally, I love this move for the Grizzlies, as they have now snagged eight future first-round picks between this move and trading away Desmond Bane last June, setting the team up for an exciting future. Also, Jackson Jr., next to Walker Kessler for the Jazz, is a big man duo that’ll be menacing defensively.
Jackson Jr’s former Grizzly teammate, Morant, was at the forefront of trade talks for months leading up to this season’s trade deadline, but Memphis shockingly did a full 180 and chose to send Morant’s co-star on his way instead.
Several other needle-moving trades were made, but only a handful involved true stars. Whether it was a star being moved or small additions made around the margins, almost every NBA team participated in this season’s deadline frenzy.
The NBA trade deadline always comes with a plethora of rumors and big-time trades. This season certainly stands out, though, with its entertainment value and impact on the league’s power balance, both now and in the future.
Jack Muldowney is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Jack Muldowney about their column? Email/tweet them at jm760224@ohio.edu or @JackMuldowney1.
