Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
BY: SEAN WALLACE; SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
The National Basketball Association trade deadline passed Feb. 5 at 3 p.m., leaving teams with brighter futures or bleaker outlooks. Here is a breakdown of winners and losers after the deadline.
Winner: Utah Jazz – Utah acquired one of the league’s top two-way players from the Memphis Grizzlies, forward Jaren Jackson Jr., at minimal risk. Utah will not lose sleep over parting with forwards Taylor Hendricks, Kyle Anderson, and Georges Niang, along with guard Walter Clayton Jr. The three first-round picks they traded are also unlikely to be lottery selections. They are likely to re-sign center Walker Kessler this offseason after rejecting an offer of two first-round picks from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Kessler. Their projected starting lineup would feature guard Keyonte George, forwards Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., along with Kessler. All are 26 years old or younger and have yet to reach their ceiling. They also have a chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery in May. Picture the team’s ceiling with the addition of a college standout such as guard Darryn Peterson or forwards Cameron Boozer or A.J. Dybantsa. The fans win too. Utah indicated the rebuild is over. The teardown phase and tanking days have ended, and the team plans to contend next season.
Winner: Los Angeles Clippers – Los Angeles entered the season as the league’s oldest team, with an average age of 33.2, and their age showed. They jumped on the opportunity to swap 36-year-old guard James Harden for 26-year-old guard Darius Garland from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite injury concerns, Garland offers Los Angeles, a team now focused on retooling for a younger, brighter future rather than chasing a championship, a path forward. Center Ivica Zubac was among their younger players, but they dealt him for a younger, promising guard in Bennedict Mathurin from the Indiana Pacers. Indiana also included a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and a potential lottery pick in this year’s talented draft. If the Pacers’ pick lands between spots four and 10 in the lottery, the Clippers will receive it. If the pick does not land between spots four and 10, the Clippers will receive a 2031 unprotected first-round pick. A team without a chance to compete in the Western Conference this season and one of the league’s bleakest outlooks left the trade deadline with youth and a brighter future.
Winner: Memphis Grizzlies – The fans did not win, but the front office did. Pulling the trigger on a rebuild made sense after the team failed to meet expectations over the past couple of seasons. They traded guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic last summer and Jackson Jr. for a total of seven first-round picks. They own 13 first-round picks over the next seven years. Memphis will not win many games anytime soon, but the team is well positioned for the future and on the right track moving forward.
Loser: New Orleans Pelicans – After several unsuccessful seasons, the Pelicans had an opportunity to reset by moving their top assets at peak value, such as forwards Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, or center Yves Missi. They netted two second-round picks from the New York Knicks for the lone player they moved, guard Jose Alvarado. Joe Dumars, president of basketball operations, believes the team can compete in the Western Conference now, even at 15 wins, and in the future. They are 14th in the conference and 11 games behind a play in spot. They do not own their first-round pick in this year’s draft, because they sent it to the Atlanta Hawks for forward Derrick Queen, the 13th overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. The team has two playoff appearances in seven years and no series wins. When will New Orleans realize it is time to start over?
Loser: Orlando Magic – Orlando traded guard Tyus Jones and two second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets. The Magic, who traded four first-round picks for Bane last summer, intended to compete this season. They sit seventh in the Eastern Conference at 28-24 and have not lived up to expectations. Injuries have played a role this season, but they chose to stand pat with their current roster.
Loser: Miami Heat – The three teams that did not make a trade before the deadline were the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat. The Spurs and Rockets can at least compete in the Western Conference with the players they have when the postseason begins. At 28-27 and eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Heat hold a slim chance at a play-in spot. If they reach the playoffs, it will be a short run. Similar to Orlando, injuries have played a role this season, but they failed to take advantage of potential upgrades and settled for mediocrity for the rest of the season. Preserving assets to pursue Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer remains a possibility. They fall into the losers category until then.
**Stats and records as of Feb. 11, 2026**
