Jazz acquire Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies
Utah receives: Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr.
Memphis receives: Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round picks
Grade for Utah: C+
With this eight-player trade, the Utah Jazz picked up former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. to pair with sharpshooting forward Lauri Markkanen and 19-year-old rookie wing Ace Bailey.
While the addition of Jackson Jr. looks good on paper, the statistics don’t lie. In 46 games this season with Memphis and Utah, he has averaged just shy of 20 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game, both of which are lower than last season. To land the 6-foot-10 DPOY from Michigan State, it cost the Jazz four players, but more importantly, three future first-round picks.
Grade for Memphis: B
The Grizzlies are in an odd position. They just traded away their defensive star, whom they drafted fourth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, amidst a lot of noise and uncertainty with their multiple-time All-Star guard, Ja Morant. Currently, Memphis is sitting four games out of the Western Conference play-in spot.
The Grizzlies must figure out where to go from here. They have not been a true contender for some time now — they have either missed the playoffs or been a first-round exit in nine of their last 10 seasons. With this trade, they avoided paying Jackson Jr. a massive contract extension this offseason, while also acquiring three crucial future first-round picks to help support a franchise rebuild.
Harden traded to Cavs for Garland
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Darius Garland and a future second-round pick
Cleveland receives: James Harden
Grade for Cleveland: A-
Pairing up a former NBA MVP and three-time Scoring Champ with Donovan Mitchell sets up Cleveland’s path to the Eastern Conference Finals. Moving on from Garland, who has missed nearly half the current season, was a necessary trade to put Cleveland in serious conversations to win the East and potentially the Finals. Harden brings his elite scoring and passing abilities to “The Land” while also providing stout post defense to support power forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen.
Grade for Los Angeles: B
The Clippers started the 2025-26 season flat. Through the first 10 games, they had only won three. A six-game losing streak was not how the Clippers hoped to start the season.
As the season progressed, Los Angeles found a rhythm, recording two separate six-game winning streaks. Garland, when healthy, is a quick guard who can get to the rim. Last season, he played in 75 regular-season games, averaging 20.6 PPG and leading the Cavs’ roster with 6.7 APG. He is not as dominant as Harden offensively, so he will have to find a way to fit in with the new system playing alongside Kawhi Leonard and under head coach Tyronn Lue.
Wizards add 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis
Washington receives: Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Danté Exum
Dallas receives: Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Tyus Jones (via Hornets), Marvin Bagley III, two future first-round picks and three future second-round picks
Charlotte receives: Malaki Branham (via Wizards)
Grade for Washington: A
This is the perfect low-risk, high-reward scenario for the Wizards. Pairing Davis with recently-acquired Trae Young, one of the highest-assisting point guards in the league, as well as a young core of Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George, is a recipe for success.
The Wizards will continue to tank and hopefully accrue a top-four draft pick. Next year, they will want to play more competitively in games with the addition of two stars, as well as to help the development of their young core.
Grade for the Mavericks: B-
Post losing Luka Dončić, the Mavs look to head in a new direction, one headed by “The Maine Event,” Cooper Flagg. This transition is spearheaded by sending off the star big man whom they acquired for Dončić, Anthony Davis. In return, the Mavericks acquire a reliable center in Bagley, who can fill in during Derrick Lively’s absence, a young prospect with a high ceiling in AJ Johnson, and a veteran presence in Khris Middleton. For a team far from returning to the heights of making the NBA finals in 2024, Dallas is taking steps in the right direction to set up the next generation.
Warriors trade Kuminga to Hawks
Golden State receives: Kristaps Porziņģis
Atlanta receives: Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield
Grade for Golden State: C+
Although it should’ve happened sooner, the Kuminga era in Golden State has finally concluded. Head coach Steve Kerr ships away the young prospect, with whom he was never able to see eye to eye, along with a less-than-productive three-and-D guy in Hield. In return, the Warriors gain a much-needed center to help them with spacing, defense and, most importantly, rebounds. Kristaps is a quality player when healthy, which rarely seems to be the case, and I doubt that will change as he ages, having played just 59 games in the past two seasons.
Grade for Atlanta: C-
This is another low-risk, high-reward scenario, which allows Atlanta to get off Porziņģis’s contract while buying low on Kuminga and possibly letting Hield, whose contract expires next year, walk.
A fairly even trade for both sides, the only reason the Hawks grade lower is that we do not see the vision in their product. A team of three-and-D role players can have success, as the league has seen in OKC. But without a meaningful playmaker such as Gilgeous-Alexander or the recently traded Trae Young, a finals push is unlikely. We do not have hope in Jalen Johnson stepping into the number one option on a team.
Kennard to Lakers, Vincent to Hawks
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Luke Kennard
Atlanta receives: Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick
Grade for Los Angeles: B-
The Lakers added a sharpshooting guard in Luke Kennard in exchange for an injury-prone Gabe Vincent. Since acquiring Dončić in February 2025, the Lakers have been an offensive powerhouse. With the addition of Kennard, an established shooter, head coach J.J. Reddick hopes to make a deep playoff run in what could be LeBron James’s final season. Losing Vincent impacts Los Angeles minimally, as he was sidelined due to various injuries at the beginning of the current season.
Grade for Atlanta: B
Atlanta trading for Vincent and a future second-round pick likely is part of a larger franchise rebuild, especially considering they traded away their former All-Stars in Young and Porziņģis. Currently, the Hawks have a strong young core in Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher. Atlanta currently sits in ninth place in the East, 14.5 games behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Knicks add Alvarado in deal with Pelicans
New York receives: Jose Alvarado
New Orleans receives: Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash considerations
Grade for New York: A
The Knicks added a solid backup guard in Jose Alvarado. This trade adds depth and solidifies head coach Mike Brown’s defense. As of Feb. 5, Miles McBride, the Knicks’ fourth-year guard, is set to undergo surgery for a core muscle injury and could miss the remainder of the regular season. Alvarado will fill in while McBride is sidelined and provide support for forwards O.G. Anunoby and Mikal Bridges on the defensive side of the court.
Grade for New Orleans: C
New Orleans gave up a defensive-minded guard while acquiring a role player in Dalen Terry, whom they later waived after the trade deadline. Essentially, the Pelicans lost Alvarado for a couple of second-rounders and cash considerations. They’ve recorded just 14 wins as the All-Star break nears. In addition, New Orleans has a strong youth core but has failed to truly contend for eight seasons, when they lost in the Conference Semifinals to the Stephen Curry-led Golden State Warriors.
Pacers add Zubac in deal with Clippers
Indiana receives: Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two future first-round picks and a future second-round pick
Grade for Los Angeles: B+
Since acquiring Paul George in 2019, the Clippers have experienced steady regression. After reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2021, they missed the playoffs the following season and have since been knocked out in the first round for three consecutive seasons. Zubac has been a consistent center for Los Angeles since he was acquired from the Lakers in 2019. The Clippers add a dynamic young scorer in Bennedict Mathurin, a rebounding role player in Isaiah Jackson and several future draft picks in exchange for a veteran in Ivica Zubac.
Grade for Indiana: B+
While Indiana has not looked like itself this season, this move is a clear sign that they are reloading for a title run next season. The Pacers currently sit in last place in the East and second-to-last in the league overall, largely due to Tyrese Haliburton’s absence while recovering from a torn Achilles. They also have lacked a true center since losing Myles Turner in free agency in 2025. Zubac should fit in well with the Pacers’ fast style of play as he is paired up with forward Pascal Siakam and Haliburton once he returns.
The post Column | Grading the NBA Trade Deadline’s most important trades appeared first on The Pitt News.