NBA fans are gearing up for the postseason push in the second half of the 2024/25 season and nothing is off the table after Luka Doncic‘s dramatic move to the Los Angeles Lakers, so when does the deadline close to end silly season?
Fans were left in shock as the Dallas Mavericks traded their star player to the Los Angeles for Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round pick, despite him inspiring them to the Finals less than a year ago.
The development came after Jimmy Butler was initially expected to be at the center of trade talks in his dramatic fallout with the Miami Heat, before the landscape shifted dramatically when Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox requested a trade.
Then in perhaps the biggest shakeup since LeBron James dropped the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Heat, the Mavericks traded their Slovenian sensation to the California in exchange for Anthony Davis and concessions, with no bidding war for the talented hooper.
With these major moves, the possibilities seem endless-could we see LeBron James or Kevin Durant on the move as well? It’s hard to predict, but with the trade deadline fast approaching, anything is possible.
Key players on the trade market
While the high-profile trades of Doncic and Davis grabbed headlines, there are still a few other notable players on the market who could move and throw a spanner into the plans of the established teams.
For example, Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls has long been rumored to be available for the right deal, as has former All-Star Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans.
Could they head for new adventures?
Interestingly, the Lakers show no signs of slowing down as they “aggressively” hunt a new center to replace Davis and thus secure their defense of the game. That would transform them to NBA Finals contenders overnight.
The official 2025 NBA Trade deadline is set for Thursday, February 6, at 15:00 ET/12:00 PT. After that, no more trades will be allowed for the remainder of the season, making these final days of trading crucial for teams looking to improve their rosters.
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