Greg Swartz@@CavsGregBRFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 5, 2025

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4. Is the 2025 NBA trade deadline already the most exciting of all time?
5. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Luka Dončić trade “created action elsewhere” in the league, which should be terrifying for other stars who thought they were safe.
6. We’re still waiting for new homes for players like Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram, but what about Kevin Durant, Paul George and other stars we assumed were staying put?
7. With the deadline now roughly 24 hours away, here are some updated predictions following the massive Dončić-Anthony Davis trade.
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11. Jimmy Butler appears to be on a warpath to get to the Phoenix Suns, one of the most difficult destinations given the new second apron restrictions.
12. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Butler has “blocked trade options that would be good fits” for contending teams where he could have potentially gotten extensions because the 35-year-old wants to be in Phoenix so badly.
13. The relationship between Butler and the Miami Heat has deteriorated enough that he will be traded. Unfortunately for the six-time All-Star, it won’t be to the Suns.
14. No contender is going to take on Bradley Beal’s three-year, $161 million contract. Also, Beal isn’t going to waive his no-trade clause to relocate his family and join a rebuilding team that has more future cap flexibility and actually could take him on.
15. Unless the Suns trade Kevin Durant instead of Beal, Butler isn’t coming to Phoenix. Moving Durant and winding up with a new Big Three of Devin Booker, Butler and Beal only makes the Suns worse overall anyways.
16. Both Butler and the Heat will have to accept that a Phoenix trade isn’t happening and move him to a team with less financial hoops to jump through.
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20. Following the Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis blockbuster, the Los Angeles Lakers’ center spot may be the thinnest position in all of basketball with Jaxson Hayes and Trey Jemison III currently holding down the fort.
21. Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged the team’s need for another big at Dončić’s introductory press conference, stating that he wants a center with versatility, mobility, a vertical lob threat and competitiveness, per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
22. Finding all of these traits while keeping their 2031 first-round pick won’t be easy, although a few names stick out.
23. Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets is the dream target, but getting him would almost certainly cost the 2031 pick or rookie Dalton Knecht. Myles Turner would be a strong fit with his rim protection and three-point shooting, while more affordable options include Clint Capela and Robert Williams III.
24. The Lakers will trade for a center. They essentially have to in order to avoid playing LeBron James at the 5 for long stretches.
25. Don’t expect any All-Star-level bigs to be on their way to Los Angeles, but an upgrade over Hayes will be found.
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29. Any hope of the New Orleans Pelicans making a magical playoff run during the second half of the season was essentially laid to rest with the news of starting point guard Dejounte Murray tearing his Achilles.
30. Now, it’s time for the Pelicans to tank.
31. To do so and secure a top spot in a loaded 2025 draft class could require some work, especially if Brandon Ingram makes his way back from an ankle injury soon. Trading one starter may not be enough to keep pace with teams like the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets in the race to the bottom.
32. There’s also financial motivation to move on from a few starters. New Orleans, a franchise that’s never paid the luxury tax, is currently $2.1 million above the line. Fully expect any and all moves that the Pels make to get them back under.
33. Ingram is the obvious choice to be dealt given his expiring contract, and a team like the Detroit Pistons or Golden State Warriors in need of some offensive boost may bite. CJ McCollum is a proven bucket-getter and tremendous locker room presence who’s set to make $30.1 million next year at age 34, and the Pelicans should be fielding all trade calls interested in Zion Williamson.
34. There’s a strong chance that New Orleans will end up with Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey or another potential franchise star this summer. Now is the Pelicans’ chance to completely flip the roster and not be held hostage by Williamson and Ingram’s lack of availability.
35. Expect New Orleans to duck the tax at the deadline while trading multiple starters.
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39. The Philadelphia 76ers agreeing to trade starting forward Caleb Martin to the Dallas Mavericks for Quentin Grimes and a second-round pick could be nothing, or it may signal that Philly is starting to punt on their summer plans after a 19-29 start to the season.
40. It’s also fair for the 76ers to accept that building around two injury-plagued stars in their 30s maybe wasn’t the best idea and that finding a team to take on George’s money while he still has value is the best long-term decision for the franchise.
41. The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Keith Pompey reports that the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks (who recently lost forward Jalen Johnson for the year due to shoulder surgery) have expressed interest in George.
42. The possibility of a return to California and playing alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green while still under his max deal should appeal to George.
43. Philly could push for Jonathan Kuminga in a deal, but in the end should be satisfied with Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski and the financial relief that would come with moving George’s contract.
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47. One of the most interesting teams to watch at the trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors are currently out of the play-in picture in the West but are just three games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 6 seed.
48. There’s plenty of motivation to be buyers, and ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that “the Warriors are legitimately calling about every All-Star player.”
49. At the top of this list? One Kevin Durant.
50. According to Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix, the Warriors are “serious about reuniting with Kevin Durant” now nearly six years after he left the franchise for the Brooklyn Nets in free agency.
51. Unfortunately, this deal isn’t going to happen.
52. The Phoenix Suns and Warriors have identical records this season (25-24). There’s no world where the Suns would want to trade their best player to the team most closely competing with them for a playoff spot.
53. Instead, Golden State could very well land a player like Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram or Paul George, getting Stephen Curry some much-needed help.
54. Durant and the Warriors had an incredible three years together that resulted in a pair of championships. Those days are over, and Golden State’s dreams of a reunion should be too.