That NBA Trade Deadline was WILD. One of the craziest we can remember in recent memory. Some teams made huge splashes to bolster their immediate championship hopes, some made moves to rebuild for the future, some just made you scratch your head, and some teams didn’t do anything at all (We’re looking at you, Rob Pelinka).

The blockbuster deal of the deadline was the Nets and Sixers inevitable swap of James Harden and Ben Simmons, but there were 5 other trades that we feel are worth looking at as well.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the MVP Blog’s NBA Trade Deadline Recap.

Clippers/Trail Blazers
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Norman Powell and Robert Covington
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a 2025 2nd round pick (via the Detroit Pistons)

Ryan: I like this trade much more for the Clippers. Robert Covington is an UFA after this season. Will they resign him to come off the bench next year? Who really knows. Norman Powell, however, is the centerpiece of this trade. The Clippers have somehow managed to stay afloat this season despite Kawhi Leonard not playing a single game and Paul George missing a huge chunk of the season. Their young players have developed incredibly well, and that will only benefit them in the coming years. As a huge Minnesota Gophers fan, I never saw Amir Coffey becoming anything in the NBA. But he is averaging 14/4/3 on 42% shooting from deep since becoming the team’s starting SG. Norman Powell is not a young guy, and the 28 year old scoring specialist signed a 5-year $90 million contract this past offseason, meaning he is under Clippers’ control for 4 more seasons. He’s averaging 19 points and shooting 40% from deep this season. He’s a career 38% 3-point shooter. Their full-strength starting 5 of Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac would be one of the best (if not the best) in the NBA, at least on paper. They’d still have key contributors like Luke Kennard, Terrance Mann and Marcus Morris coming off the bench. Plus, as a team which plays in Los Angeles, they’ll have plenty of options to bolster their team in free agency. The Clippers were already going to contend for a title next season and adding Powell to the mix will only increase their odds.

I don’t love this move for the Blazers, but I also don’t think it is a total loss for them. Eric Bledsoe is well past his prime and Justise Winslow can’t stay healthy (I’d bet that Bledsoe gets bought out anyway). Keon Johnson was the 21st pick in this past year’s draft and has barely seen the floor with the Clippers. In 15 G-league games, he has averaged 16/6/3, but has only shot 39% from the floor and 32% from three. He is just 19 years old, so maybe he could still turn into something. Johnson will get the chance to develop on this Blazers team, but time will tell whether any of these assets will turn into something noteworthy.

Grades: Clippers A-, Blazers C+

Ben: The Portland Trail Blazers continue to defy all logic by deciding to retool their roster rather than to blow it all up and rebuild. They traded one of their standout players in Norman Powell as well as versatile defensive ace Robert Covington for return which includes no promising young players and no first round draft picks. I was baffled by this move when it went down, and I’ll be shocked if the Blazers don’t buy out Eric Bledsoe ASAP. He’s almost as bad as his contract. Justise Winslow is a bust who serves little purpose for any NBA team. Keon Johnson is young, but I don’t see anything there in terms of potential. Congratulations on the 2025 2nd round pick, Portland!

Meanwhile, the Clippers continue to assemble talent to surround Kawhi Leonard and Paul George once they both return from their respective injuries. While they most likely won’t be at full strength until the start of next season, Clippers fans can get excited about this deal. In particular, Norman Powell is a fantastic off-ball scorer who can help take the load off the shoulders of Leonard and George. Covington is a fantastic defender who can potentially play as the small-ball center in their starting lineup. I’m very impressed with the way the Clippers’ front office is constructing their roster for contention.

Grades: Clippers A-, Blazers D

Cavaliers/Pacers
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Caris LeVert and a 2022 2nd round pick (via the Miami Heat)
Indiana Pacers Receive: Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected 2022 1st round pick, a 2022 2nd round pick (via the Houston Rockets), and a 2027 2nd round pick (via the Utah Jazz)

Ryan: Caris LeVert is a very good player. I wouldn’t say he is a great player. Regardless, the Pacers could have gotten more for him. Ricky Rubio is a 31-year-old point guard coming off a major injury, and he’s on an expiring contract. It’s very likely that Rubio will never play a game in Indiana. The 2nd round picks they received will most likely be nonfactors in terms of how they rebuild their roster. That 2022 1st round pick is going to be in the 20s. Late first rounder draft picks flame out just as often as they turn into something. If the Pacers don’t hit a relative home run on either draft pick this year, they basically gave away LeVert for nothing. The Cavaliers now get to run out a lineup (when healthy) of Darius Garland, Caris LeVert, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. With guys like Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, Cedi Osman, Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens, and Isaac Okoro adding depth, Cleveland can make a run in the East. This team is young, talented, and really deep. I would not be shocked at all if they sneak into the Eastern Conference Finals.

Grades: Cavaliers A, Pacers C-

Ben: This trade is a statement from the Cavs to the rest of the NBA: Cleveland is legit, and they want to win sooner rather than later. Caris LeVert will fit very well into J.B. Bickerstaff’s starting lineup as a ball-dominant wing who can create his own shot and run the pick and roll with the Cavs’ plethora of high-quality big men. He’s also a young player on a relatively affordable contract – around $18 million per year – which expires at the end of next season, meaning that if he doesn’t live up to the hype in Cleveland, they can cut him loose quickly and easily. They didn’t have to give up a player who contributes to their current roster since Ricky Rubio tore his ACL recently (and presumably won’t play a single game in Indiana as a result of his expiring contract). However, the Pacers were able to obtain significant draft capital given the fact that they’re starting a full rebuild, so I don’t think that this trade was a bad one from their perspective either. Everyone loves a win-win trade!

Grades: Cavaliers A, Pacers B

Pelicans/Trail Blazers
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, a protected 2022 first round pick (via the New Orleans Pelicans), and 2 future second round picks

Ryan: I think people were too quick to judge this trade and overreact to it. Did the Pelicans win this trade? Sure. CJ is definitely the best player in this trade. But did the Blazers get fleeced? Absolutely not. Let’s start with the Pelicans. They get a star guard to compliment Ingram, Valanciunas, and Zion (if he ever plays again). But my oh my, nobody on this team knows how to play defense besides Herbert Jones. I feel bad for him. Tony Snell is a free agent this summer, so I doubt he’ll be in New Orleans at the start of next season, but let me share my favorite fun fact about him: In the last 3 seasons, Tony Snell is 46 for 46 on free throws.

Larry Nance Jr. has one more year of team control. He’s injured right now, but when he returns this year, and for all of next year, he will be a solid role player for the Pelicans. He can play solid defense, rebound the ball, and score a little bit too. I’m not in love with this comparison, but he is kind of a poor man’s version of Draymond Green. Nance was also great for me in fantasy basketball last year, so I have a soft spot for him.

Let’s move on to the Blazers. After trading Norman Powell, they had an immediate need at that 2/3 spot. Josh Hart fills that need. He is having a career year, averaging 13.5/8/4, and he plays solid defense, which Portland needs badly. In Washington and Chicago, Satoransky was a very good backup PG. He has had a horrific season in New Orleans. He is also an UFA this summer, so I doubt the Blazers resign him, unless they can get him for cheap. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has struggled mightily this season, but I still think he has some talent. He just needs a change of scenery and a fresh start (Editor’s Note: NAW has since been traded to the Jazz). I am a huge NBA fan and watch games every night, but I must be honest with you all, I have never in my life heard the name Didi Louzada. The future picks are nice, but here’s the biggest reason I like this trade for the Blazers:

After this trade, they have opened up as much as $60M to spend this summer. Let me ask you this. When was the last time a team won a Championship without a great big man? Here’s a hint: It doesn’t happen. The Blazers were stuck in complete mediocrity with two great guards and very little else. This move allows them to pair Dame up with a great big man this summer, either by trade or by free agency. Unfortunately, there aren’t many big men free agents this summer. Offering Deandre Ayton a max contract is probably their best bet. He’s an RFA, so the Suns would get a chance to match whatever deal he is offered, but Phoenix showed serious reluctance to pay him the max before this season started, as they failed agree on an extension. Ayton would give Dame something he hasn’t had since LaMarcus Aldridge left town: a truly great big man. I, however, have no confidence in the Blazers front office to use this money wisely. They will probably use most of it to match whatever crazy contract Anfernee Simons is going to get this summer as a restricted free agent. Simons is going to get $20M+, and I am sorry, but Simons is just not worth that kind of money.

Grades: Pelicans B+, Blazers B

Ben: For me, this is the definition of a lose-lose trade. CJ McCollum may already be past his prime, and his injury history is concerning. He doesn’t make the Pelicans that much better especially since his presence on the floor will serve to make their struggling defense even worse. I doubt that McCollum, a score-first guard, will fit alongside other similar minded players in that starting lineup (Graham, McCollum, Ingram, Williamson, Valanciunas) At least Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell can be decent bench pieces for New Orleans if they really want to compete in the West. From the perspective of Portland, it makes sense to deal McCollum, but I am unimpressed by the package they received in return. I think they waited too long to part ways with their aging star, and the only player with any significant value that they managed to acquire in return is Josh Hart, a capable two-way player who occasionally shows flashes of becoming something greater. They were also able to clear cap space with this trade, but Portland shouldn’t be looking to contend, they should be looking to rebuild. I just wish the Blazers would trade Lillard to a winner already. At least they got some draft compensation, I guess.

Grades: Pelicans C-, Blazers C-

Kings/Pacers
Sacramento Kings Receive: Domantas Sabonis, Jeremey Lamb, Justin Holiday, and a 2027 2nd round pick
Indiana Pacers Receive: Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson

Ryan: It was just about a week ago that the Sixers reportedly asked for both De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton in exchange for Ben Simmons. The Kings laughed. Good. It looked like they knew just how valuable Tyrese Haliburton was. Looks can be deceiving. Now they’ve parted ways with their 21-year-old future All-Star guard for… Domantas Sabonis? Now don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Sabonis. He is a star in this league. He has two years left on his contract still and is making less than $20M a year. That’s a very team-friendly contract. But even though he’s just 25 years old, Sabonis is at his ceiling, in my opinion. He isn’t getting any better. A Fox/Sabonis one-two punch is good, but it’s nowhere near good enough to compete with the Suns and the Warriors. If I was the Sacramento Kings, I would’ve have even considered trading Tyrese Haliburton.

Haliburton is just oozing with potential. He has all the ability in the world. In his last 24 games for the Kings, Tyrese has averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 9.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. On top of that, he was shooting the ball very well: 47.1% from the field, 42.9% from three, and 86.7% from the free throw line. YOU JUST DON’T TRADE YOUNG STARS LIKE THIS! The Pacers are entering a rebuild. They moved on from Caris LeVert and Domantas Sabonis. Malcolm Brogdon is never healthy. Rebuilds stink, plain and simple, but Pacers fans should be ecstatic with their centerpiece to build around. Tyrese would be one of my top choices if I had to choose any young player to lead my franchise for the foreseeable future. And on top of getting Tyrese, Myles Turner is staying in Indiana and claims he is now happy to be there. What a development that is for that team. Myles Turner isn’t a star by any means, but he is a very good center. He can shoot the three and is also one of the top shot blockers in the NBA. With a 21 year old stud point guard and a 25 year old stud center, the future is bright in Indiana.

Grades: Pacers A+, Kings F

Ben: It seemed obvious to everybody that the Kings had to move De’Aaron Fox at the deadline to make room in the backcourt for Tyrese Haliburton. While Fox seems to have hit a developmental wall, Haliburton has been showing flashes of true greatness. In his sophomore season in the NBA, he’s already putting up nightly averages of 14.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.7 steals. He’s shooting 41.3% from beyond the arc and 83.7% from the stripe. In his last 5 games, he’s averaging 19/10/2, and his final game in Sacramento was one to remember as he dished out 17 dimes, a new career high. He is one of the few players on that team who WANTED to be a Sacramento King, evidenced by reports that Haliburton cried when he found out he had been traded (unless he was crying tears of joy). Tyrese Haliburton should’ve been untouchable at the deadline. Case closed. So why did the Kings decide to trade him?

The answer is simple: making bad decisions is what the Sacramento Kings do best. This is the same front office who drafted Nik Stauskas over Zach Lavine and Willie Cauley-Stein over Devin Booker. The same front office that traded Demarcus Cousins for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and relatively insignificant draft capital. The same front office who employed Luke Walton to be the team’s head coach for over 2 seasons. The same front office who drafted Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic (yes, that really happened). Simply put, this was the most Sacramento Kings trade the Kings could have possibly made at the deadline. I know this will sound harsh, but as someone who really admires Domantas Sabonis’ game, he is a fringe All-Star who does not impact winning basketball as a star player in the modern NBA. Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday are nonfactors. The Kings didn’t even receive a first round pick from Indiana! I expected a team in “win now” mode to target Sabonis at the deadline to acquire that one missing piece for a championship team. The Kings are struggling to make the play-in game, which is not exactly contending for a championship. Further, Buddy Hield is a consistent bucket getter who thrives off the ball, meaning he’d be the perfect role player for a contending team. SO WHY DID THE KINGS THROW HIM IN THIS DEAL FOR FREE INSTEAD OF TRADING HIM TO A CONTENDER FOR A BETTER DEAL? The answer, as always, is because they’re the Sacramento Kings. Their front office is not sensible. They kill everything they touch. I feel bad for Sabonis, because it seems like the basketball gods just refuse to let him play for a winning team. I hope that Tyrese Haliburton uses his heartbreak as motivation to lead the Indiana Pacers to greatness in the future (we all know they deserve success more than Sacramento anyway). The Indiana Pacers made out like bandits with this deal at the deadline.

Grades: Pacers A+, Kings F

Nets/Sixers
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, a 2022 1st round pick, and a 2027 protected 1st round pick
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: James Harden and Paul Millsap

Ryan: This should be no surprise to anybody. This trade has been inevitable for the better part of 2022, and I think that this trade benefits both teams. However, I really think the Sixers overpaid for Harden. The Harden situation in Brooklyn had gotten out of hand. He didn’t want to be there, and he wasn’t trying to hide it. Last Wednesday, James Harden played his final game for the Nets. He scored 4 points in 37 minutes. I watched that game, and I don’t think I have ever seen a player quit on his team like Harden quit on the Nets that night. Harden hasn’t played since, and the Nets have now lost 9 in a row and have slipped to the 8 seed in the east. Harden needed to go. What happened today is that Daryl Morey fell for Sean Marks bluff. Marks was reportedly claiming that the Nets were okay with keeping Harden. If he watched the Nets play in the past month, he should’ve known how big of a bluff that was from Marks. Brooklyn was never keeping him. Marks would’ve called Morey back at 2:57pm EST and said “give me Simmons and let’s just this thing as a straight up swap deal”. Instead, the Sixers gave up Curry, Drummond, and 2 firsts on top of Simmons. Morey got finessed.

James Harden is a great fit in Philadelphia, you cannot deny that. Like I said earlier, you need a dominant guard and big man to win a title. Philly now has both as they pair up Harden with Embiid. Harden’s offensive game complements Embiid much better than Simmons’ did as. The one thing that will interest me is how Tyrese Maxey will fit alongside Harden. Maxey is averaging 17/4/5 and is shooting 40% from three, but he’s had the ball in his hand to put up those numbers. His touches will definitely decrease from playing alongside James Harden. The other thing that interests me is to see who plays the backup 5 in Philly now that Drummond is gone. They might have to utilize the buyout market.

The Brooklyn Nets win this trade. Simmons is a perfect fit for this team, on both ends of the court. Defensively, the Nets currently rank 20th in the NBA in terms of total team defense. That number will instantly improve with the addition of Simmons, one of the best defenders in the NBA. The best part about Simmons’ defense is that he can guard 1-5. He is just so versatile on that end of the court. Offensively, he won’t demand the ball in his hands, but he is a great driver and passer in the open floor. He averages 16 points per game and shoots 56% from the field for his career. If you want to go small, you can absolutely play Simmons at the 5. Ben Simmons is a better all-around basketball player than James Harden. There, I said it. Plus, Simmons is 7 years younger. In addition, the Nets add a fantastic shooter in Curry, a career 44% three-point shooter, a fantastic backup big in Andre Drummond, and get two first round picks for their trouble. The Sixers never should’ve given up all the extra pieces in this deal.

Brooklyn’s projected starting 5 at full strength: Kyrie Irving, Seth Curry, Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons, and LaMarcus Aldridge.

The Nets still have Patty Mills, Joe Harris, Andre Drummond, Nic Claxton, Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown, Kessler Edwards, Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe to be used at Steve Nash’s disposal off the bench. This team is just so deep and so talented when they’re healthy. At the end of the game when the other team needs to foul or when the Nets need a three, Nash can run out a lineup of Irving, Mills, Curry, Harris, and Durant. That’s scary hours. If this team gets healthy, and if they can stay healthy, it’s a wrap for the East.

The Brooklyn Nets just won the NBA trade deadline.

Grades: Nets A+, Sixers B-

Ben: The one we’ve all been waiting for. This is as win-win a trade as they come. Here’s why:

• The Sixers finally get rid of Ben Simmons. He was a locker room cancer in Philadelphia. Embiid clearly hated him. So did Doc Rivers, and it seemed like the rest of the team did too. Simmons’ off-court antics and his lack of confidence on the court prevented the Sixers from being a true contender. Plus, as we all know, Ben Simmons can’t shoot a basketball to save his life.
• The Nets finally get rid of James Harden. I never thought he’d fit in Brooklyn, and I was right (that’s a first). His lack of effort on defense and his reliance on ball-dominant play did not mesh well with the rest of that roster, and it was obvious that he was looking for the exit ever since Durant got hurt. This resulted in the Nets going on a massive losing streak which has damaged their hopes of winning a franchise-first NBA Finals this season.
• The Sixers are now legitimate contenders to win a championship. Maxey, Harden, Thybulle, Harris, and Embiid is probably the most talented starting 5 in the NBA, at least on paper. If they click, which is a big if, there is no reason that they can’t win it all within the next two seasons.
• The Nets add Seth Curry, an elite three-point marksman. Players like Seth Curry are immensely valuable to every team in the NBA.
• If Simmons is unable to return to his best form on both sides of the basketball once he returns to the court, the Nets acquired two first round picks from Philly in this deal as insurance.

Grades: Nets A, Sixers A

Mavericks/Wizards
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans
Washington Wizards Receive: Kristaps Porzingis and a future 2nd round pick

Ryan: I am very okay with them trading Kristaps Porzingis. I was actually hoping that they would. He has 2 years left on a max contract and is guaranteed to miss 25-40 games every single season. He just can’t stay on the court. But even when he plays, he isn’t a superstar. He’s a very good player. That’s about it. Dallas was never winning a championship with him as Luka’s sidekick. But the best return the Mavs were able to acquire for Porzingis is… Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans?! What are the Mavericks doing?!

Jalen Brunson has been fantastic this season playing alongside Luka. He’s averaging career highs in just about every category: 16/4/5.5 with shooting splits of 51%/35%/81%. So why does Dallas need Dinwiddie? Dinwiddie was having an atrocious season as the lead guard in Washington. He’s averaging 12.6 points on a woeful 37.6% shooting from the floor and 31% from three. He’s been really bad, and I don’t know how he fits into the guard rotation in Dallas unless he comes off the bench. In contrast, I like Bertans. He’s having a down year from beyond the arc, but he is a stretch big who has proven to be a very good shooter. He will space the floor and give Luka another three-point option. Regardless, I don’t think that this trade makes the Mavericks any better. It just gives them 2 players who will actually play in most of their games, which Porzingis couldn’t do.

The Wizards now have a “big 3” of Beal, Kuzma, and Porzingis. They should just tear it all down and rebuild around Beal. They aren’t going anywhere with this current roster. Rui Hachimura and Thomas Bryant have both shown flashes, but neither will become stars. They don’t really have the assets to make any big trades, and they don’t have the money to make any big free agency signings. The Wizards are stuck in mediocrity.

I don’t understand why either team made this deal

Grades: Mavericks D+, Wizards C-

Ben: The Dallas Mavericks have, unsurprisingly, made me very upset at the trade deadline. Let’s get the easy part out of the way first. Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans are not good basketball players. Dinwiddie seems like a great guy and Bertans has shown a history of being a great three-point shooter, but for both of these guys, their best years are well behind them. Dinwiddie cannot shoot the basketball. Why would the Mavs trade assets for a backup point guard when Goran Dragic willing to sign with them once he’s bought out? It defies all logic. Bertans is one of the worst defenders in the NBA at his position. Why would the Mavs trade their best defensive big man (Porzingis) when the replacement we’ve selected is so inept on that side of the court? Dallas’ side of the deal makes absolutely no sense for them. These players don’t fit on the Mavs roster because they don’t provide efficient offense (the Mavs’ biggest weakness this season, especially given Tim Hardaway Jr.’s injury) and they weaken the team’s defense (the Mavs’ biggest strength this season). Even worse, Dinwiddie and Bertans are both ridiculously overpaid, and neither are on deals that expire anytime soon. I feel so bad for Luka Doncic. Even if he wanted Kristaps Porzingis to be traded, there’s no way that he was impressed with the “help” the Mavericks are acquiring in return for him.

Now onto the tricky part of this trade. Kristaps Porzingis is one of the most inconsistent players in the NBA. When he’s healthy and he’s playing well, he is one of the best two-way big men in basketball. When he’s missing long stretches of games or playing poorly, it’s an ugly sight for teammates and fans alike. Further, the way he cycles between these two modes of performance is wildly unpredictable. However, considering the Wizards already have lost star guard Bradley Beal to season ending surgery, there isn’t pressure on Porzingis to immediately perform in Washington. He can focus on getting back to full health and forming chemistry with his new teammates while the Wizards front office can figure out how to build a contender out of their new core (Beal, Kuzma, and now Porzingis). While this is a risky deal from Washington’s perspective, they did receive a second-round pick from Dallas as insurance. This feels like one last roll of the dice from a Wizards front office which desperately wants to catapult the franchise back into contention, and while I’m not at all confident that will happen, this trade could potentially help their cause.

Grades: Mavericks F, Wizards C-

Who were the winners and losers of this year’s trade deadline? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Authors: Ben Pawlak and Ryan Macdonald

Published: 2/7/22 at 6pm EST

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Sources/Works Cited:

Google Images, Google, https://images.google.com/imghp?hl=en.

“NBA.com.” The Official Site of the NBA for the Latest NBA Scores, Stats & News. | NBA.com, https://www.nba.com/.

Sports Reference LLC. Basketball-Reference.com – Basketball Statistics and History. https://www.basketball-reference.com/. 7 February 2022.

StatMuse, https://www.statmuse.com/.