The Sacramento Kings got creative with their exceptions to add a long-wanted backup for Domantas Sabonis. The Washington Wizards picked up some additional draft capital for moving along a short-term veteran.

Here are the particulars:

Sacramento Kings acquire: Jonas Valanciunas

Washington Wizards acquire: Sidy Cissoko, 2028 Nuggets second-round pick, 2029 Kings second-round pick

Let’s dive in!

Sacramento Kings

Incoming salary: $9.9 million in 2024-25

• Jonas Valanciunas (C, three years, $30.3 million (final season non-guaranteed))

Outgoing salary: $1.9 million in 2024-25

• Sidy Cissoko (SF/PF, two years, $4.1 million (2025-26 non-guaranteed))

The Kings had been searching for a viable backup for Domantas Sabonis for a few years. Alex Len has been serviceable, but is more of a third string center. Trey Lyles does what he can, but he’s a pure stretch four.

Jonas Valanciunas should more than capably fill that backup role. There are even some potential lineups constructions where Valanciunas could play alongside Sabonis in a double-big look.

This season, Valanciunas has adapted well to being a backup on the rebuilding Wizards. The veteran center is still an effective scorer, screener and rebounder. Washington mostly used him as a protector for Alex Sarr and to help set a tone off the bench.

With the Kings, Valanciunas will probably play less than he did with the Wizards. But less may be more, as Valanciunas should be able to play his physical, rugged style without worry of foul trouble or conserving energy for longer minutes.

The mechanism used to acquire Valanciunas saw Sacramento take advantage of the new rules that allowed them to use a portion of their Non-Taxpayer MLE as a Traded Player Exception. That allows the Kings to keep the big $16.8 million TPE that they created in the Kevin Huerter trade whole. Considering the MLE expires at the end of the season, this is solid use of it as a TPE.

Sacramento still has two open roster spots. They’ll have to fill one within the next couple of weeks. The Kings are about $2.5 million under the luxury tax, which will act as a de facto hard cap for the team.

While Sacramento isn’t quite good enough to pay the tax for this group, they have improved their team quite a bit over the last few days. That’s a hard needle to thread when you trade a former franchise player, but the Kings have pulled it off.

Washington Wizards

Incoming salary: $1.9 million in 2024-25

• Sidy Cissoko (SF/PF, two years, $4.1 million (2025-26 non-guaranteed))

Outgoing salary: $9.9 million in 2024-25

• Jonas Valanciunas (C, three years, $30.3 million (final season non-guaranteed))

We aren’t going to focus much on getting Sidy Cissoko for the Wizards. Reports are that he’ll be waived, if he’s not moved in a subsequent trade before the deadline.

This deal for Washington was about adding some additional draft capital. Jonas Valanciunas didn’t turn into a first-round pick, but getting two seconds for him is solid work.

The Wizards are still in the early stages of their rebuild. That means collecting assets. This one came in somewhat unconventional means, as Valanciunas was added via sign-and-trade this past offseason. But that’s the kind of creative, forward-thinking move you have to make when rebuilding.

The time Valanciunas spent in Washington also allowed the team to not have to force Alex Sarr to start at center until he was ready. And going against Valanciunas in practices for a half-season has helped Sarr.

With Valanciunas off the books, the Wizards project to be a cap space team this coming offseason. Effectively, Washington is shedding $10 million off their 2025-26 books by trading Valanciunas, but they’ll likely take on around that much when they complete the trade that swaps Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma.

It wouldn’t be an NBA trade deadline without Sam Presti coming away with at least one future draft pick. That’s exactly what happened, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans linked up in a small deal.

Here are the particulars:

Oklahoma City Thunder acquire: Daniel Theis, less favorable 2031 Pelicans or Magic second-round pick

New Orleans Pelicans acquire: Cash

Let’s dive in!

Oklahoma City Thunder

Incoming salary: $2.1 million in 2024-25

• Daniel Theis (C, one year, $2.1 million)

Outgoing salary: None

This is a pretty simple deal for both teams. The Thunder are using some of their considerable space under the luxury tax to eat Theis’ contract, while adding yet another second-round pick.

Theis will probably stick in Oklahoma City, at least until Chet Holmgren returns. Theis gives the team solid center depth behind Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams.

When Holmgren is back, the Thunder could move on from Theis to free up a roster spot to convert two-way player Ajay Mitchell to a standard contract. Mitchell was in line for the promotion before suffering a turf toe injury. The rookie guard is out for several more weeks, as he recovers from a surgical procedure for the injury.

The pick the Thunder are getting in this trade is so far off, that it’s impossible to know what it will be. But Oklahoma City previously had only their own second-round pick in 2031, and that just couldn’t stand. Now, Sam Presti has the requisite extra pick that he must have in every round of every draft.

New Orleans Pelicans

Incoming salary: None

Outgoing salary: $2.1 million in 2024-25

• Daniel Theis (C, one year, $2.1 million)

The New Orleans Pelicans streak of never paying the luxury tax in franchise history will continue. By moving Theis, and with Dejounte Murray set to miss out on some currently likely bonuses due to missing the rest of the season, the Pelicans will dip below the tax line.

Expect New Orleans to use some of their newfound room beneath the tax to convert Brandon Boston Jr. to a standard contract. Boston has played well for the injury-ravaged Pelicans and they’d like to have him on a longer-term deal.

Paying the price of a second to dodge the tax is worth it for the Pelicans. The team isn’t anywhere near contention this year, and there’s a chance that New Orleans will be expensive down the line. It’s best to put some extra cash, via both this trade and the upcoming luxury tax disbursement, in ownership’s coffers now. Then, if the tax can’t be avoided down the line when the team is back in as a playoff contender, hopefully they’ll have bought some goodwill and the go-ahead to stay over the tax.

Tee Higgins, a 2nd round draft pick out of Clemson back in 2020 could finally find himself on the open market this March. The barely 26-year-old was franchise tagged by the Bengals in 2024, earning $21,816,000 in his 5th NFL season. Spotrac dives into the future contract status for Higgins as the 2025 league year approaches.

The Second Franchise Tag

While the Bengals have big fish to fry this offseason (a record-setting Ja’Marr Chase extension, keeping Trey Hendrickson happy, completely rebuilding the defense, etc…) tagging Higgins for the second straight season isn’t THAT financially crazy.

Franchise tagging a player for the second time comes at a 120% increase of their first tag, or in Higgins’ case, $26,179,200.

The Bengals enter 2025 with $234M of cap allocated for 55/90 contracts, giving them around $49M of Top 51 cap space. A base salary conversion on QB Joe Burrow’s contract can free up another $19.2M, while an extension for WR Ja'Marr Chase will almost certainly lower his current $21.8M cap figure as well. Those two moves alone should be enough to account for a second Higgins tag to begin the league year.

With this said, Higgins and his camp won’t be pleased with the restrictive move, and it’s highly unlikely that the tag is signed at any point in time. The Bengals could look to shop Higgins, seeking a deal that would bring back a bigger return than the single compensatory draft pick that would come from simply letting him walk in free agency this March. This route can be risky, as Higgins will need to sign the franchise tag in order to process the trade, meaning he’ll get to pick/choose his next destination. It also requires teams to have ample cap space to be able to take on the $26.2M tag number.

Still, with a weak free agent market for WRs, and a potentially underwhelming draft class for the position as well, the tag & trade scenario could prove fruitful for the Bengals, and a “best of both worlds” endgame for both sides. The last WR to be tag/traded was Davante Adams from Green Bay to Las Vegas back in 2022. The Packers received a 1st & 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft per the move, and 30-year-old Adams secured a 5 year, $140 million contract extension.

If Higgins is tagged, he would have until July 15, 2025 to come to terms on a multi-year extension (with whatever team he happens to be on).

Calculated Market Value

The math hasn’t been kind to Higgins as he approaches his first monster payday. A combination of time missed, drops, and a 4 catch, 65 yards per game average over the past 2 seasons keeps the overall price point somewhat tempered.

At the time of this piece, the calculated value of a Tee Higgins contract according to our system clocks in at 4 years, $102M. Fortunately for Higgins, there are plenty of other factors in play that will certainly amplify these figures.

An Extension to Stay

It’s not inconceivable that the Bengals simply agree to pay both Ja’Marr Chase & Tee Higgins this Spring, however this scenario should be considered highly unlikely for now. Chase has the resume to completely reset this position’s financial market, currently set at $35M per year, $110M guaranteed thanks to Justin Jefferson. So where would Higgins fit in under this?

Two teams have recently locked in their top two wide receivers to big-time contracts: Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle in Miami, A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith in Philadelphia.

While Brown maxed out, Smith secured 9.8% of the cap last year on his $25M per year extension. If we adjust that to a projected $275M league salary cap in 2025, that would mean a deal right around $27M per year for Higgins, or a 4 year, $108M extension. 

Smith also secured 68% of his new money as guaranteed. For Higgins, this would mean $74M, a big number for a “number 2”, but the precedent that one of the best teams in football has now set. Waddle, by the way, secured $76M practically guaranteed on his 3 year, $85M extension in Miami. In other words, a figure around $75M isn’t out of bounds for Tee Higgins going forward.

Is $108M over the next 4 years, $75M practically guaranteed enough to keep Higgins from hitting the open market this March?

A Free Agent Contract

If Higgins is allowed to hit the open market untethered, the sky is seemingly the limit. However: the largest free agent wide receiver contract ever handed out came last year, Calvin Ridley’s 4 year, $92M contract that included $50M guaranteed. Yes, times have changed, the cap has changed, and players of Higgins’ age and ability rarely get to free agency, but there isn’t a precedent for players to “max-out” on the open market like we see in other sports.

With that said, things are lining up nicely for multiple teams (many with quarterbacks on rookie contracts) to step in and generate a bidding war for Higgins’ services. We’ll factor this momentum into our bottom line.

The most likely foundation point for Higgins in a free market is Brandon Aiyuk’s 4 year, $120 million extension with the 49ers. The deal includes $76M guaranteed for practical purposes, $45M fully guaranteed at signing. In direct comparison over the past two seasons (2023-24 for Higgins, 2022-23 for Aiyuk), the numbers are fairly close, with Aiyuk slightly ahead in almost all of these standard receiving categories, holding a sizable lead over him in touchdowns.
At $30M per year, Aiyuk secured 11.7% of the 2024 salary cap on an average basis. If we assume a $275M salary cap in 2025, this represents a $32.1M APY for a WR with similar comparables.

So here’s the million-dollar question: Does the combination of Tee Higgins’ resume PLUS the idea of a free agent bidding war, warrant a cap-adjusted increase of the Brandon Aiyuk contract? Yes. If teams such as New England, Washington, Denver, Atlanta, etc…will all collectively be making offers, it stands to reason that (at least) one will go above and beyond mathematical logic to get their guy.

Using Spotrac’s Free Agent Contract Builder tool, here’s our latest full breakdown projection for Tee Higgins this coming March:


It’s a 4 year, $124 million contract that includes $59.25M fully guaranteed at signing (3rd among WRs). The $31M per year APY would rank him 4th, while a $74.25M practical guarantee over the next 3 seasons would be 9th most.

The deal has a whopping $91M cash built into the first three seasons, 4th most among WRs and WELL ahead of Brandon Aiyuk ($76M). A double-bonus structure ($28.8M signing bonus, $28M 2026 option bonus) plus the use of void years keep the cap hits at bay early on, with conversion possibilities built into 2027 as needed.

It’s a 3 year, $91M contract for practical purposes, a huge upgrade for a player that has never mathematically approached a $30M valuation in our system. But supply, demand, and rookie QB contracts are real, and in cases like this, they can be spectacular too.

The Dallas Mavericks used some of their newly acquired wing depth to make a trade for more size on the perimeter, along with cap-sheet surety. The Philadelphia 76ers picked up a younger player, who fits no matter what direction the team takes at the trade deadline and moving forward.

Here are the particulars:

Dallas Mavericks acquire: Caleb Martin

Philadelphia 76ers acquire: Quentin Grimes, 2025 76ers second-round pick

Let’s dive in!

Dallas Mavericks

Incoming salary: $8.1 million in 2024-25

• Caleb Martin (SF/PF, four years, $35 million (final season player option))

Outgoing salary: $4.3 million in 2024-25

• Quentin Grimes (SG, one year, $4.3 million)

After acquiring Max Christie in the Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis trade, Quentin Grimes was expendable for the Mavericks. Grimes and Christie overlap in position and role, as both are 3&D wings for the Mavericks. The advantage with Christie is that he’s already signed to a team-friendly contract for the next few seasons.

Grimes is a pending restricted free agent. Dallas and Grimes were unable to come to an agreement on a rookie scale extension this past offseason. That left his status up in the air, as Grimes is headed into restricted free agency this offseason.

Valuations for Grimes vary around the NBA. Some teams are worried about his injury history, and inconsistent production. Other teams value his plug-and-play ability as a good shooter that can defend all three perimeter positions. That lands Grimes as an MLE-plus player, in terms of his projected next contract.

That means Grimes could expect a first-year salary between the MLE amount (projected to be just over $14 million for 2025-26) and around $15 million. Given that Christie is signed for just $7.7 million next season, it’s easy to see why Dallas moved on.

The Mavericks have a big contractual item to work out with Kyrie Irving this offseason. That’s in addition to rebuilding the roster around a re-signed Irving and the newly-acquired Davis. That’s where adding Caleb Martin comes in.

Martin and Christie combine to make slightly more than Grimes projects to in 2025-26. In addition, both Martin and Christie are under contract through at least 2026-27. That’s the kind of surety that Dallas wants as they navigate in a post-Doncic world.

On the court, Martin brings more size than Grimes. While Grimes is more of a small wing/combo guard defensively, Martin is a big wing/combo forward. Grimes has been a lights-out shooter this season, only recent dipping below 40% on 4.3 three-point attempts per game. Martin won’t shoot quite that well, or on that kind of volume. Martin is at 38% this year, but that’s a bit above his career average. Martin’s defense has also slipped a bit this season, but he’s still a solid defender.

The big thing here is that Dallas now has a clear runway to minutes for Christie. Instead of Christie and Grimes competing for playing time, the new addition can step right into a rotation role. Christie projects to be just as good of a shooter as Grimes, and he has a bit more size. The soon-to-be 22-year-old has also flashed a few on-ball skills too. That will allow Martin to slot into a forward rotation that will feature Davis, Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington, pending any forthcoming trades.

In an uncertain environment moving forward, as Dallas retools from their mega-trade, this deal brings some security to Jason Kidd’s wing rotation. That’s worth something, even if giving up Grimes is tough to swallow.

Philadelphia 76ers

Incoming salary: $4.3 million in 2024-25

• Quentin Grimes (SG, one year, $4.3 million)

Outgoing salary: $8.1 million in 2024-25

• Caleb Martin (SF/PF, four years, $35 million (final season player option))

This is a move that can benefit the Sixers right now, as well as having some staying power for years to come. Philadelphia’s roster could be in transition from this trade deadline through the offseason. With the emergence of Ricky Council IV and Justin Edwards as younger bigger wings, the Sixers didn’t have as much need for Caleb Martin moving forward.

Adding Quentin Grimes’ defense and shooting to the backcourt fills a bigger need for Philadelphia. The Sixers have been light on backcourt defense this season. Tyrese Maxey is carrying such a heavy offensive load, that his defense has slipped a bit. Eric Gordon is on the floor for his shooting and scoring, not his defense. The team’s best backcourt defender has been Kyle Lowry…which says quite a bit at this point.

Grimes will immediately upgrade the perimeter defense. He can guard either backcourt position, plus smaller wings. In addition, Grimes’ shooting is a nice get for Nick Nurse’s rotation.

On the cap sheet, the Sixers should be in position to retain Grimes long-term. He’s young enough to fit if Philadelphia pivots to trading out some veterans ahead of the deadline. He’s also good enough right now to fit if the 76ers pursue upgrades to make a playoff push. Grimes will probably make almost double what Martin was expected to for 2025-26, but the Sixers have enough other money coming off the books to make that palatable. Having Grimes’ restricted free agent rights will also help Philadelphia to control his free agency process.

In addition, this move dropped the Sixers below the first apron. That gives the team a bit of extra flexibility in trades before the deadline. If Philadelphia stays below the first apron, they’ll have the added benefit of being able to pursue any player that hits the buyout market. Remember: apron teams can’t sign a player after a buyout if that player’s previous salary was more than the Non-Taxpayer MLE (approximately $12.8 million).

This is a good move for the Sixers. Martin is a nice player, but his place on the roster was starting to feel pretty tenuous. Grimes is a better bet moving forward, even after factoring in that he needs a new contract. In fact, don’t be surprised if Grimes emerges as the long-term backcourt running mate for Maxey, as their skill-sets mesh quite well.

Luka Doncic is a Los Angeles Laker.

That still seems crazy to read, but here we are.

In the immediate, the Lakers will be figuring out how to incorporate Doncic alongside LeBron James, while trying to add complementary talent around the two stars. But this move was more about the future in Los Angeles than it was about the present.

That future involves Luka Doncic’s next contract. But before we get there, let’s look at what Doncic was in line for with the Dallas Mavericks.

To set the stage, here’s what’s left on Doncic’s current deal:

• 2024-25: $43,031,940
• 2025-26: $45,999,167
• 2026-27: $48,967,380 (player option)

Doncic becomes extension-eligible this summer. The expectation has long been that he’d opt out of his current deal and start a new one in 2026-27. That was expected to be a Designated Veteran Player Extension (DVPE) with the Mavericks. That deal projected to look like this:

• 2026-27: $59,539,200
• 2027-28: $64,302,336
• 2028-29: $69,065,472
• 2029-30: $73,828,608
• 2030-31: $78,591,744
• Total: five years, $345,327,360

That’s a 35% of the cap max with 8% raises. It’s very likely the final season would have included a player option, as someone of Doncic’s status always commands a player option.

Unfortunately, that’s no longer on the table. In order to qualify for the DVPE, a player has to meet awards requirements (All-NBA, MVP or Defensive Player of the Year). No issue for Doncic, as he’s an All-NBA guy without any worry.

However, a player can only get a DVPE in a deal from the team that drafted them, or acquired them while they were still on their rookie scale deal. Having been traded to the Lakers, that’s now out the window for Doncic.

So, where does that leave Doncic and the Lakers? Let’s dive in!

The Veteran Extension

Doncic is eligible to sign a standard Veteran Extension with the Lakers. Let’s assume that he’s still going to opt out for 2026-27, so we’ll start there. Doncic is eligible this summer (after six months have passed from the trade to the Los Angeles) to sign an extension that can start at 140% of his previous salary in the final year of his current contract. That would take him over his max salary. So, he’ll start that deal at the max he’s eligible for. The Veteran Extension for Doncic projects to look like this:

• 2026-27: $51,033,600
• 2027-28: $55,116,288
• 2028-29: $59,198,976
• 2029-30: $63,281,664
• Total: four years, $228,630,528

That’s a 30% of the cap max with 8% raises. Doncic would be limited to signing for just four years, because a Veteran Extension plus what’s remaining on the contract can run for no longer than five total seasons. Like with any deal Doncic is going to sign, he’ll likely have a player option on the final season.

If we do a four-year-to-four-year comparison, Doncic would lose roughly $46 million in this structure vs the DVPE from the Mavericks.

That’s a pretty big chunk of change. But there’s a way Doncic can recoup some of that lost salary, while still locking in security long-term. Let’s go there next.

The “Donovan Mitchell” Extension

When the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Donovan Mitchell, they hoped he’d be happy enough with the team that he’d extend. Like Luka Doncic, Mitchell also lost ability to sign a DVPE when he was traded from the Utah Jazz. However, Mitchell and the Cavs got creative, kind of split the difference and made the best of their now mutual situation.

Instead of locking in for every year and dollar he could on a Veteran Extension, Mitchell signed a shorter-term extension. That deal gives Mitchell the ability to opt out when he has achieved 10 Years of Service. Then, he’s eligible to sign a new deal starting at 35% of the cap.

Here’s what that would look like for Doncic on a shorter-term Veteran Extension with the Lakers. This assumes the same strategy of opting out for the 2026-27 season as the Veteran Extension did:

• 2026-27: $51,033,600
• 2027-28: $55,116,288
• 2028-29: $59,198,976 (player option)
• Total: three years, $165,348,864

Now, here you can see we included the player option on the final season. That’s because that’s the only way this works. For Doncic, after the 2027-28 season completes, he’ll have 10 Years of Service. He could then opt out and sign a five-year deal that would start at 35% of the cap.

It’s a little wonky to look that far out, because we don’t have a great handle on how the cap will continue to grow. But that new deal in 2028-29 projects to look like this:

• 2028-29: $72,042,250
• 2029-30: $77,805,630
• 2030-31: $83,569,010
• 2031-32: $89,332,390
• 2032-33: $95,095,770
• Total: five years, $417,845,050

That’s 35% of the cap max with 8% raises. And, sure, Doncic will probably get a player option and have one more chance to cash in when he’s 33 years old in 2032.

Let’s pause here to say: We have no idea what the cap growth will be by the time we get to 2028-29. That’s the final season of the current CBA, barring something very unexpected. But this is still in the range of what Doncic could sign for, if he did the shorter-term extension like Mitchell.

Re-signing with the Lakers as a free agent

Let’s say Luka Doncic decides to play out his current contract and then to re-sign on a new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. As unlikely as that path is, here’s what that contract could look like:

• 2026-27: $51,033,600
• 2027-28: $55,116,288
• 2028-29: $59,198,976
• 2029-30: $63,281,664
• 2020-31: $67,364,352
• Total: five years, $295,994,880

This is the same 30% of the cap first-year salary as Doncic could get by signing a Veteran Extension. It also includes 8% raises. The only difference is the addition of a fifth year, which Doncic can only get by re-signing as a free agent with the Lakers. And, say it with me, that final season would likely be a player option.

Signing with another team as a free agent

Let’s say things go completely sideways for Luka Doncic in Los Angeles and he’s on the first plane out of town in 2026. This is probably the second-least likely scenario behind simply re-signing as a free agent with the Lakers, because Doncic is far more likely to extend. But for comparison’s sake, here’s what he could sign for with another team as a free agent:

• 2026-27: $51,033,600
• 2027-28: $53,585,280
• 2028-29: $56,136,960
• 2029-30: $58,688,640
• Total: four years, $219,444,480

The starting salary is the same as extending or re-signing at 30% of the cap. But this deal has only 5% raises and can run for only four seasons. And, you guessed it, the final season would likely be a player option.

Summary

Luka Doncic is going to get paid and paid handsomely on his next contract. It won’t be the so-called supermax, as he’s no longer eligible. But Doncic is still going to sign one of the biggest contracts in NBA history.

We rank the likelihood of each potential deal this way:

1. The “Donovan Mitchell” Extension
2. The Veteran Extension
3. Signing with another team as a free agent
4. Re-signing with the Lakers as a free agent

If we run the 2026-27 through 2029-30 four-year-to-four-year comparisons for each scenario we get:

• The “Donovan Mitchell” Extension: $237,391,114
• The Veteran Extension: $228,630,528
• Signing with another team as a free agent: $219,444,480
• Re-signing with the Lakers as a free agent: $228,630,528

As you can see: The “Donovan Mitchell” Extension is the most lucrative option. In addition, that comes with the added benefit of running through 2033 at a projected final-season salary of over $95 million. A truly mind-bending, yet forthcoming, single-season salary figure.

Doncic can’t really get more money by signing a Veteran Extension with the Lakers, as opposed to re-signing with the Lakers a free agent. This is especially true, when you factor in that he’s likely to opt out of the final year of any deal anyway. By extending, Doncic locks in that security a year early, which is always something players look to do. So, why wait to re-sign vs extending?

And, of course, if Doncic wanted to leave town, he’d be leaving a decent chunk of money on the table. That’s only happening if things really go wrong for him in Los Angeles. At that point, losing some money won’t be all that big of a concern.

Signing a shorter-term “Donovan Mitchell” Extension is what makes the most sense for Luka Doncic. Given that the Los Angeles Lakers have never balked at paying one of their own star players, that’s the best bet on how Doncic and the Lakers move forward. If we get to early-August, when Doncic will be eligible to extend, and we hear that he’s signed a three-year extension worth a projected $165 million, then things are set up for Doncic to really cash in with a five-year 35% of the cap max starting in 2028-29.

Another day, another blockbuster deal in the NBA! The rumored deal of De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs came to fruition, but with a twist that involved the Sacramento Kings getting Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls.

Here are the particulars:

San Antonio Spurs acquire: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin

Sacramento Kings acquire: Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, 2025 Hornets top-14 protected first-round pick (via Spurs), 2027 Spurs first-round pick, 2031 Timberwolves first-round pick (via Spurs), 2025 Bulls second-round pick (via Spurs), 2028 Nuggets top-33 protected second-round pick (via Spurs), 2028 Kings second-round pick (via Bulls)

Chicago Bulls acquire: Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, 2025 Bulls first-round pick (via Spurs)

Let’s dive in!

San Antonio Spurs

Incoming salary: $36.9 million in 2024-25

• De’Aaron Fox (PG, two years, $71.9 million),
• Jordan McLaughlin (PG, one year, $2.1 million)

Outgoing salary: $27.7 million in 2024-25

• Zach Collins (C, two years, $34.8 million),
• Tre Jones (PG, one year, $9.1 million),
• Sidy Cissoko (SF/PF, two years, $4.1 million (final season fully non-guaranteed))

The San Antonio Spurs have been looking for a running mate for Victor Wembanyama since they drafted him. They have that guy now in De’Aaron Fox.

Fox reportedly really wanted to get to San Antonio, so this should be a match made in happiness for both the Spurs and Fox. The veteran point guard gives the team a floor leader who should be in place for years to come. Fox is likely to extend, possibly as soon as this summer. The supermax extension is no longer a possibility, but that was never overly likely to happen anyway. Fox will still get a 30% of the cap max, but the Spurs cap sheet can easily handle that.

In Fox, San Antonio has a guard who will push the pace. That should help the Spurs to take advantage of Wembanyama’s hyper-athletic game. You can already imagine the Fox-Wembanyama duo running the floor, with either one putting pressure on the rim in transition, as others space the floor around them.

There are questions remaining for the Spurs to answer. Will one or more from their large group of young players emerge to fill out the rotation around the two stars? If not, will San Antonio be able to trade them for a veteran who will? Can the front office manage the cap sheet to leave enough flexibility to build a strong roster around Wembanyama and Fox?

Those are all fair and important questions. They’re also more of a long-term thing. In the immediate, San Antonio could get involved in other deals, but that doesn’t seem likely. Yes, they now have both Fox and Chris Paul at point guard. That’s not something the Spurs see as an issue. They love what Paul has brought to their young roster. It’s unlikely he’s going anywhere, despite the overlap with Fox at the lead guard spot. There’s no urgency to make moves with the rest of the roster either. Getting Fox was the big move and it’s now complete. The next big moves will come in the offseason.

As for the price paid to get Fox, the Spurs did well there. By roping in the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio didn’t have to deliver all of the value to the Kings themselves. The Spurs moved on from Tre Jones (who had no place on the roster with Fox in the fold) and Zach Collins (who was carrying an undesirable contract). That means all of the kids (especially Stephon Castle) and the vets (especially Devin Vassell) with real value are still in pace for the rest of this season and into the summer.

Even the draft picks traded by San Antonio are a bit misleading. That 2025 Charlotte Hornets lottery-protected first-round pick? That’s going to be two second-rounders. The 2027 Spurs first should be in the mid- to late-20s, if things go as the should. The 2031 Minnesota Timberwolves first-rounder could be a good one, as we have no idea what they’ll be by then. Somewhat remarkably, the Spurs were able to complete this trade without even giving up their 2031 swap rights with the Kings. That’s potentially huge, given Sacramento’s history of being underwhelming.

Overall, this is a homerun trade for the Spurs. They landed their guy in Fox. Even if he’s a tier below superstar status, he’s still a great fit alongside Wembanyama for the next several seasons. Getting him without giving up all that much is a no-brainer for San Antonio.

Sacramento Kings

Incoming salary: $44.9 million in 2024-25

• Zach LaVine (SG, three years, $137.9 million (player option for final season),
• Sidy Cissoko (SF/PF, two years, $4.1 million (final season fully non-guaranteed))

Outgoing salary: $53.7 million in 2024-25

• De’Aaron Fox (PG, two years, $71.9 million),
• Kevin Huerter (SG/SF, two years, 34.8 million),
• Jordan McLaughlin (PG, one year, $2.1 million)

When you trade away your franchise player, it’s hard to get commensurate value in return. Either you get a package of picks and young players that resembles a mystery box. Or you get a bunch of middling salary and veterans in return. The Kings managed to land a really good player and some future assets for De’Aaron Fox, who was one of the team’s franchise players. That’s a win in what is regularly a no-win situation.

Zach LaVine is good. Actually, make that really, really good. He’s fully healthy again, with no signs of any lingering issues from his previous injuries. This has been LaVine’s best season. He’s putting up career-best numbers and has done well in the Chicago Bulls new up-tempo system.

Sacramento did well to land LaVine as the centerpiece in the return for Fox. The veteran scoring guard is a killer in the DHO/screen game with a big who can pass, and he’ll be paired with one of the best in Domantas Sabonis. LaVine is also a good passer himself, so you can run the offense with him as your primary creator.

The lack of a traditional point guard may look a bit weird for the Kings. However, LaVine, Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk are all guys you can run the offense through. This also clears a runway for rookie point guard Devin Carter, who has impressed since getting healthy, to see enough minutes.

On the cap sheet, LaVine is another max guy, which gives Sacramento two $40 million-plus players with him and Sabonis. But that’s a workable number. DeRozan has one year left at a fair salary, and Monk’s contract is a great value for the Kings. Given Fox was likely to command a max deal, having LaVine in that salary slot is just fine for the Kings.

Sacramento added some additional draft capital in this deal too. The 2025 Charlotte Hornets first-round pick isn’t going to convey, so write that in as two second-round picks. But adding two first-round picks and five second-round picks, plus LaVine, for a guy who didn’t want to be there is good work. And that 2031 Minnesota Timberwolves pick could be really juicy. The Wolves could be into a rebuild by then, even with Anthony Edwards in place as a young star.

Sidy Cissoko was also an interesting get for Sacramento. He’s still only 20 years old. Cissoko’s NBA experience is limited, but his G League profile is interesting. He’s a worthy flyer, as the Kings can stash him in Stockton and let him develop more in the G League.

Again, it’s hard to get a value return when trading a franchise player. This wasn’t quite a haul for Sacramento, but they did well. LaVine is a lot better than he gets credit for. And the Kings have a lot of optionality immediately and moving forward with how they build out their roster. That’s good work, considering they had to move on from Fox sooner, rather than later.

Chicago Bulls

Incoming salary: $42.7 million in 2024-25

• Zach Collins (C, two years, $34.8 million)
• Kevin Huerter (SG/SF, two years, 34.8 million)
• Tre Jones (PG, one year, $9.1 million)

Outgoing salary: $43.0 million in 2024-25

• Zach LaVine (SG, three years, $137.9 million (player option for final season)
• Note: The Bulls also waived Torrey Craig ($2.8 million) and Chris Duarte ($5.9 million) to complete this trade

The Chicago Bulls have picked a direction…we think. At least, we hope!

By trading Zach LaVine for a collection of somewhat undesirable salaries, the Bulls should be leaning towards rebuilding. They seem to be headed that way, as every veteran on the roster is available in trade talks. That’s a good thing.

Unfortunately, that still doesn’t mean this was enough of a return for LaVine. Essentially, the Bulls provided a large chunk of the value to the Kings so that the Spurs didn’t have to. For a return of your own 2025 first-round pick unencumbered, that’s not enough.

Let’s talk about that pick for a moment…On face value, Chicago getting that pick back without the protected component, seems great. But here’s the thing: the Bulls should have been able to be bad enough to keep that pick anyway. There never really should have been all that much worry of losing it. For that to the primary return in trading away LaVine simply isn’t good enough.

Yes, Chicago got off considerable salary in this deal by moving LaVine. But Collins and Huerter combined are at over $36 million for next season. That’s not great. If either can find their game again in Chicago, then at least having them as individual movable salary has some value.

On the court, it’s hard to really evaluate much here. Kevin Huerter is theoretically a nice fit in the pace-and-space system that Billy Donovan is employing. He gives the Bulls a shooter with size that they don’t really have right now. Most of the Bulls best shooters are guard-sized players.

Zach Collins is a nice backup center. Assuming Nikola Vucevic is moved before the deadline, Collins can team with Jalen Smith to give Chicago 48 minutes of decent play at the five.

Tre Jones is a good backup point guard. The issue there is that Chicago already has so many point guards that Jones is just another body in the mix for right now. A trade moving out some of that depth is a must for the Bulls this week.

It feels like the start of something for the Bulls here. But if they don’t push this forward by moving a handful of other veterans, this will become the worst, directionless roster in the NBA. Chicago has to fully commit now to bottoming out.

They’ve already won too much this year to get in the Cooper Flagg derby, but they can still improve their pick a good amount. Mostly, this about picking a direction and going fully down Rebuild Road. You can’t drive halfway down there, change your mind and decide that’s good enough. But until they actually do it, there’s no way anyone will believe the Bulls will do anything more than going halfway, grabbing a burger for the road and heading back home to the middle.

Super Bowl 59 will feature two familiar foes, as the Kansas City Chiefs & Philadelphia Eagles will meet in New Orleans. The matchup highlights two Top 10 cash spending teams from 2024, with the Eagles ranking 3rd, and the Chiefs 9th this past season. When combining the average salaries of their 53-man rosters, the Eagles stand atop the league, with over $350M allocated. KC drops down to 19th in this regard, thanks to a defense loaded with rookie contracts (for a minute).

Notable Notes

• 4 Kansas City Chiefs players carried the highest average salary at their position in 2024: TE Travis Kelce ($17.1M), C Creed Humphrey ($18M), DT Chris Jones ($31.75M), K Harrison Butker ($6.4M)
• Only 1 Eagles player carried a Top APY in 2024: G Landon Dickerson ($21M)
• Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, & Dallas Goedert combined for $71.6M cash this season. Every single RB, WR, & TE for the Chiefs earned just over $57M combined.
• Both starting QBs have a contract escalator based on the outcome of the Super Bowl
• Both of these teams are Top 3 spenders toward Special Teams, while the Eagles are the most expensive offense in football
• 6 Eagles were named All-Pro in 2024, but only 1 (pending free agent Zack Baun) will be in need of a contract.
• 4 Chiefs were named All-Pro in 2024. Two of them (Joe Thuney, Trent McDuffie) are headed toward contract extensions.

Offense/Defense Cash Ranks

Positional Spending Breakdowns
Kansas City Chiefs
Philadelphia Eagles

Quarterback Futures

Patrick Mahomes has 7 years $315.7M remaining on his massive contract in KC, but, thanks to a recent modification/salary advance, only the next three years ($160M) are really worth considering. The 29-year-old carries a massive $66.2M cap hit in 2025, but a full cap conversion on his salary/roster bonus can lower that down to $28M as needed. Mahomes can add $1.25M to his 2025 salary with a Super Bowl win.

Jalen Hurts has 4 years, $195M remaining on his sophomore extension, but a Super Bowl win will escalate all of his remaining salaries by $500,000. A 6-bonus structure on his contract keeps salary cap hits tempered, including a team-friendly $21.7M for 2025.

The Running Back Comparison

Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, & Samaje Perine have combined to be integral pieces to the KC puzzle this year at just a $3.5M price tag. The last time the Chiefs paid a RB more than $5M cash was in 2020, Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s signing bonus season. Before that? Jamaal Charles in 2016. This value isn’t an accident - it’s a plan. Pacheco is on the books at just $1.1M in 2025, the final season of his rookie contract.

After years of paying this position extremely close to the vest (2015 DeMarco Murray was the last $5M+ running back), Philly made one of the bigger offseason splashes in adding Saquon Barkley to the mix. A Super Bowl victory will mean a $15M payout for Barkley in 2024, 3rd most among running backs last season. The almost 28-year-old is fully guaranteed through 2025 at $11M.

The Wide Receiver Comparison

Xavier Worthy’s $7.6M was the biggest payout the Chiefs made to a WR in 2024, which aligned with his WR-team-high 98 targets. KC handed out a little over $26M to its 9 wideouts this past season, despite many of them missing significant time (Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, Marquise Brown). Rice remains in his rookie deal through 2026, Worthy won’t be extension eligible until after the 2026 season, while Brown & DeAndre Hopkins are headed for free agency this March.

Philly paid out over $47M to its 6 wideouts this past season, including $42.6M to A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith alone. 5 of these receivers are under contract in 2025, with Brown guaranteed $62.75M and Smith guaranteed $48.5M through 2027.

2024 Positional Cash Rankings

Where the Chiefs/Eagles ranked in terms of cash spending at each respective position group this past season

Notable Extension Candidates

Chiefs
G Trey Smith
The 6th round pick out of Tennessee has seen his stock explode in recent months. He’ll be considered one of the top available free agents this March if allowed to get there, with a 4 year, $80M projection attached to him in our system.

OL Joe Thuney
The starting left guard for the better of 4 seasons in KC has been filling in admirably at left tackle a bit down the stretch as well. He’s as valuable an offensive lineman as the league currently has, and despite being 32-years-old, should be considered an extension candidate this winter (especially as it will lower his current $27M cap figure). A 2 year, $40M tack-on could be in the cards here.

CB Trent McDuffie
The #21 overall pick back in 2022 is now extension-eligible for the first time, joining a growing list of young defensive backs that should easily reset this market. McDuffie enters 2025 with a 3 year, $66M valuation attached to him.

Eagles
EDGE Josh Sweat
The 27-year-old signed a 1 year, $10M renegotiated contract to remain in Philly, responding with 8 sacks and 41 tackles. He may have priced himself out of the Eagles constraints this time around, projecting toward a 3 year, $45M contract in our system.

LB Zack Baun
The 28-year-old signed a 1 year, $1.6M contract to join Philly last March, and is now a 1st-Team All-Pro linebacker. He’s a near $10M per year player in our system this time around.

C Cam Jurgens
No longer just “Jason Kelce’s replacement”, Jurgens shined in his first season as Jalen Hurts’ center (including a Pro Bowl nod). He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, projecting toward a 3 year, $25 million extension in our system.

Notable Free Agents

Chiefs
Trey Smith is largely considered the most prominent free agent on the open market and could be in line to test Landon Dickerson's $21M per year figure. 

• G Trey Smith
• WR DeAndre Hopkins
• S Justin Reid
• LB Nick Bolton
• WR Marquise Brown
• VIEW ALL

Eagles
Zack Baun turned a 1 year, $3.5M contract into 1st-Team All-Pro. Josh Sweat should be seeking a multi-year guarantee this time around as well after a 1 year, $10M deal in Philly.

• LB Zack Baun
• DE Josh Sweat
• G Mekhi Becton
• VIEW ALL

Rory McIlroy wins AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. McIlroy earns $3.6 million million bringing his 2025 on-course earnings to $3.6 million and his career on-course earnings to $274.2 million. 

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Top 10 Payouts

Full Results

2025 Earnings Leaders Update

Full List

Wow…

Just wow.

In a stunning blockbuster, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks swapped superstars, while the Utah Jazz stepped in as a facilitator.

Here are the particulars:

Los Angeles Lakers acquire: Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris

Dallas Mavericks acquire: Anthony Davis, Max Christie, 2029 Lakers first-round pick

Utah Jazz acquire: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 TBD second-round pick (via Mavericks), 2025 Clippers second-round pick (via Lakers)

Let’s dive in!

Los Angeles Lakers

Incoming salary: $56.1 million in 2024-25

• Luka Doncic (PG, three years, $137.9 million (player option for final season)),
• Maxi Kleber (PF/C, two years, $22 million),
• Markieff Morris (PF/C, one year, $2.1 million)

Outgoing salary: $54.2 million in 2024-25

• Anthony Davis (PF/C, four years, $218.6 million (player option for final season),
• Max Christie (SG/SF, four years, $32 million (player option for final season),
• Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG, one year, $3.9 million)

The Los Angeles Lakers have their post-LeBron James superstar in place. That’s what this trade was about.

James and Doncic are a bit of an odd pairing on the floor. Both are high-usage big ballhandlers. Neither is an elite off-ball player. But that’s something for JJ Redick to sort out over the coming weeks and months.

The defense will take a major hit for Los Angeles. Anthony Davis is still a one-man wrecking crew around the rim. Max Christie was the team’s best perimeter defender.

None of that really matters.

The Lakers got Luka Doncic.

Has Doncic been somewhat injury-prone recently? Are there conditioning issues with Doncic? Is he still immature in his relationships with officials?

Yes. Yes. And, yes.

Doncic is also a perennial MVP candidate. He also only turns 26 years old at the end of February. He’s an established global superstar.

You put up with all the questionable stuff because Doncic is that good. And he has been since he got to the NBA. Don’t overthink this. It’s Luka Doncic.

Moving forward, the Lakers now have the certainty of having a star in place when James eventually moves on. That’s true if James retires or decides he’d like to play elsewhere. (More on that last part in a bit.)

The other sneaky, but enormously important thing to note here: Los Angeles will get Doncic on a relative discount long-term too.

Doncic is no longer eligible to sign a Designated Veteran extension (the so-called supermax) for 35% of the cap. Players can only sign that kind of deal with the team that drafted them, or if they were acquired while still on their rookie scale deal.

That means when it’s time for the Lakers to extend or re-sign Doncic, they’ll get him for 30% of the cap. That’s a projected difference of roughly $8.5 million in first-year salary in 2026-27. That’s huge for Los Angeles, as they’ll be retooling the roster around Doncic at that time.

Speaking of retooling…Rob Pelinka still has work to do this season for the Lakers.

By trading Davis and Christie, the Lakers are severely lacking in defense now. Davis leaves a major hole at center. The only healthy non-two-way center on the roster now is Jaxson Hayes. He’s been fine as a backup, but he’s underwhelming as a starter.

Could Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris help there? Eh, probably not. Kleber is out with a broken foot and will be down for several more weeks. He’s also not really a center, as much as he is a pure four. At this point, Morris’ biggest contributions come in the locker room and in practice.

That means the Lakers need to get a center. The good news? They have the ammo to make that happen, and they can be flexible in the type of five they chase now.

Interior defense and rebounding are definitely concerns. Someone like Clint Capela, Nic Claxton, Robert Williams III, Jakob Poeltl or, yes, Walker Kessler can fill those needs. All are on acquirable contracts, which is key because the Lakers are still working around some tight margins with the aprons.

If the team’s read is that no center that they can acquire is fixing what looks like a leaky perimeter defense, they could go all-in on offense. That would open up the market for guys like Nikola Vucevic, Jonas Valanciunas or Deandre Ayton.

The player who can fill both the offensive and defensive needs best is Myles Turner, but there’s no sense the Pacers would move him for anything but a real haul.

Which brings us to the next question: What do the Lakers still have that they can offer? Picks-wise, Pelinka still has his 2031 first-round pick to offer up in deal. For players, the Lakers can send out Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent, who are a combined $28 million in potential salary-matching, even with each carrying one extra season beyond this one.

The Lakers should also be more open to moving Austin Reaves too. Doncic and Reaves are a terrific offensive combination, but that’s pretty rough duo defensively. It’s asking a lot of everyone else to cover for those two’s flaws on defense.

If Los Angeles is open to moving Reaves, that could up their return considerably. He’s a good player, despite the defensive issues, and Reaves would be another $12.9 million in outgoing salary.

To keep it simple: The Lakers don’t seem done rebuilding this roster. There is work to be done, both for the short- and long-term. It might be bumpy for a bit, because the Doncic-James fit isn’t exactly seamless, plus Los Angeles will likely be incorporating other new players too. But once they find their footing, the Lakers should be fine.

Now, let’s get to the elephant in the room: How does LeBron James feel about all of this?

James only public comments so far, in the immediate hours following the trade, were to dispute a report that he had grown weary of playing with Davis. James shot that down emphatically on social media.

But that shouldn’t be taken as more than anything but James not wanting others to put words in his mouth. There’s been nothing reported yet that he’s happy or upset about this deal. In the past, the Lakers superstar has spoken glowingly of Doncic. James also recruited Davis and won a title with him.

The reality is that the Lakers made this deal to prepare themselves for a post-LeBron James future. Could that come as soon as this week, before the trade deadline? That seems crazy, but this whole thing is crazy already. The Lakers and Golden State Warriors had at least some level of discussion on a trade that would have sent James to northern California a year ago. Could those be rekindled?

It’s important to note here that James has a full no-trade clause. If he’s dealt this week, or at any point, it’ll happen with his approval.

It’s also worth asking what James is going to do after this season. He’s in Year 22. James has talked openly about how the end is near. But only he knows how near it is. James has a player option for 2025-26. Could he opt out and go elsewhere? Could he simply retire and walk away?

The Los Angeles Lakers know their time with LeBron James is short, no matter if they don’t know just how short it is. They weren’t going to go without a superstar after James moves on. Now, with Luka Doncic in the fold, the Lakers have their next star already in the fold.

Dallas Mavericks

Incoming salary: $50.4 million in 2024-25

• Anthony Davis (PF/C, four years, $218.6 million (player option for final season)
• Max Christie (SG/SF, four years, $32 million (player option for final season)

Outgoing salary: $54.2 million in 2024-25

• Luka Doncic (PG, three years, $137.9 million (player option for final season))
• Maxi Kleber (PF/C, two years, $22 million)
• Markieff Morris (PF/C, one year, $2.1 million)

The Mavericks are resetting on the fly. This isn’t a rebuilding trade, nor is it a panic trade. It’s a major gamble, but one that seems to align with their organizational belief on how you build a winner.

Dallas GM Nico Harrison said post-trade reports that he believes you win championships with defense.

Enter Anthony Davis.

Yes, Davis is roughly six years older than Luka Doncic. Yes, Davis is injury prone.

But he’s still an All-NBA level of talent and a one-man defensive system. Davis still has plenty left in tank, and he’s signed long-term.

In the immediate, Davis is a major upgrade for the Mavericks. Doncic hasn’t played for most of the season and Dallas is thin up front at the moment due to injuries. Davis will help them tremendously right away.

Expect the Mavs to fulfill Davis’ long-held desire to play power forward. In the short-term, Davis will likely start next to Daniel Gafford, with P.J. Washington becoming a high-minutes super sub behind them in the frontcourt rotation. When Dereck Lively II is healthy again, he and Davis will team up as the long-term frontcourt pairing in Dallas.

Davis is a fairly plug-and-play guy. He’s awesome defensively and he’s an offensive weapon, without being someone you need to tailor your entire system around. Davis and holdover Mavericks star Kyrie Irving have long talked about playing together. Now, they’ll get to do so in Dallas, of all places.

Cap-wise, acquiring Davis beings some surety to things for the Mavericks. Instead of paying Doncic a supermax (and Doncic would have gotten the supermax or things would have gotten very ugly in Dallas), now the team has Davis locked in for what is less than they were planning for in extending Doncic. It’s not a massive amount, but it’s locked in long-term security with some additional flexibility.

That’s important because Irving can be a free agent this summer. Assuming Irving is happy about the deal (as of this writing, nothing has been reported about how Irving feels), the Mavs can move forward with locking up Irving and Davis as their star duo. There’s a chance that pairing fits just as well as the Irving-Doncic duo did.

It’s worth noting that Davis is waiving his trade bonus to be a part of this deal. That’s important for two reasons: First, it gives the Mavs some much-needed flexibility, both now and moving forward. Second, it’s an indication that Davis is ok with the deal. If he wasn’t, he could have caused issues by insisting upon getting his bonus in full.

Dallas also acquired a 2029 first-round pick in this deal. It’s impossible to know what the Lakers will be four years from now. Even with Doncic in the fold, Los Angeles will be navigating a post-LeBron James world at that point. That range of outcomes for that pick is anywhere in the first round.

Stepping back into the present, the Mavericks had made it known they wanted to upgrade their perimeter defense ahead of the deadline. Max Christie is a major get in that respect. Christie is a solid defender on the wing. He’s also become a fairly consistent shooter too. No one is going to celebrate wildly about Christie being in this deal, but he’s on a terrific value contract and shouldn’t be overlooked. Dallas did well to add him.

All that being said…the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic.

Ouch.

Doncic is a full-blown superstar. Super-duper-star, even. With Doncic, you write him into your roster and game plans in pen, then you figure out the rest. Doncic is a yearly MVP candidate and he’s only turning 26 later this month.

Doncic was also the post-Dirk Nowtizki star in Dallas. He’s a global superstar who made the Mavericks relevant around the world. All of that is hard to move on from.

There’s a lot of spin coming out Dallas right now about Doncic. Concerns over his conditioning, commitment and a tendency to pick up injuries. Those reports also say Dallas was hesitant to give Doncic a supermax deal.

If true, then the Mavericks were right to move on. If you can’t commit to your superstar, you owe it to him and yourselves to make a trade.

But the question then becomes: Why not stage a bidding war?

Let’s start out by saying, this trade isn’t bad for Dallas. In a rush to declare winners and losers, we often turn it into good and bad. The Mavericks did fine here. Davis is a star in his own right. Christie is a nice role player on a great contract. And Dallas picked up a potentially valuable first-round pick.

But could they have gotten more?

How many picks would the Spurs have given up to pair Doncic with Victor Wembanyama? Could the Nets have given their entire haul to bring Doncic to Brooklyn? Would the Rockets have given up picks and young talent? What about the Jazz? Could the Thunder have shocked the world by emptying their draft pick treasure chest, while also adding in some young talent too?

We’ll never know. And that’s unfortunate, because players of Luka Doncic’s caliber, at his age, are rarely ever actually available.

Instead, the Mavericks worked in silence and to make a win-now play. Again, it’s not bad, per se. It’s just not the kind of overwhelming return we expect in a move like this.

But that’s kind of the thing. There’s no real playbook to work off of here. A super-duper-star getting moved when he’s still in his pre-prime (at worst early-prime) years is unheard of. It’s truly incredible.

Utah Jazz

Incoming salary: $3.9 million in 2024-25

• Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG, one year, $3.9 million)

Outgoing salary: None

• Note: The Jazz will have to waive a player to complete this trade. That player is TBD.

The Jazz have jumped in yet another trade to siphon off some value by acting as a facilitator. This trade doesn’t work without Hood-Schifino going somewhere, so Utah is lending a helping hand, while getting paid two second-round picks to do so.

Hood-Schifino is a decent flyer for Utah to take. He was a former mid-first-round pick. His impact in the NBA has been almost non-existent. Last season, Hood-Schifino played well in the G League in a limited number of games. There’s talent there, even if Hood-Schifino hasn’t figured it out yet.

Basically, Utah will get a look at the young guard when he’s healthy enough to play. The Jazz already have several other young ballhandlers, so Hood-Schifino is really just a flyer. But why not? Might as well take a look, considering that’s where the Jazz are at in the rebuilding process.

Utah will acquire Hood-Schifino using a part of their Room Exception. That’s fine, as the Jazz were never going to sign anyone of note using that exception anyway.

One last note on Hood-Schifino: Let’s say he pops and really plays well for Utah. The Jazz will be limited in what they can re-sign him for. Because the Lakers declined their 2025-26 team option for Hood-Schifino, the Jazz are limited to offering him the amount of that declined option in first-year salary. That’s just over $4 million, so that shouldn’t be any kind of major impediment, should Utah want to re-sign Hood-Schifino as a free agent this summer.

The LA Clippers have been searching for a way to add some frontcourt depth. The Clippers have also been looking for a way to drop under the luxury tax. In one move, LA took care of both of those desires.

Here are the particulars:

LA Clippers acquire: Drew Eubanks, Patty Mills

Utah Jazz acquire: Mo Bamba, P.J. Tucker, future second-round pick

Let’s dive in!

LA Clippers

Incoming salary: $7.1 million in 2024-25

• Drew Eubanks (C, two years, $9.8 million (2025-26 is non-guaranteed)), Patty Mills (PG, one year, $2.1 million)

Outgoing salary: $13.6 million in 2024-25

• Mo Bamba (C, one year, $2.1 million), P.J. Tucker (PF, one-year, $11.5 million)

The Clippers have been trying to find a way to add to their frontcourt. They did that with Drew Eubanks. He’s a different player from Mo Bamba, but Eubanks is a better fit for what LA needs.

Eubanks plays solely around the rim on offense. He’s a play-finisher, in addition to being a solid screener. Eubanks should fit in well with James Harden in the pick-and-roll game when he’s in the game backing up Ivica Zubac.

On defense, Eubanks is more rugged than Bamba. He’s physical on the interior, a good rebounder and a solid rim protector. Eubanks also stays engaged all the way through the possession, while Bamba still has tendency to wander.

On the cap sheet, Eubanks’ deal is non-guaranteed at $4.75 million for 2025-26. If he’s not working out, the Clippers can move on with relative ease. That’s some nice flexibility.

The second upgrade for LA is getting out of the luxury tax. The Clippers will drop about $4.1 million under the tax and over $11 million under their first-apron hard cap. That gives the front office more than enough wiggle room to make an additional move. It also relieves any of the burdens that come with being a tax team, as far as salary-matching goes in trades.

Keep an eye on another frontcourt addition, possibly with Terance Mann (who has lost a lot of minutes as LA has gotten healthier on the wing) as the outgoing salary. Bones Hyland is very available in trades, as well. The Clippers are going to stay active in trade talks right up to the deadline.

Patty Mills’ fate in LA probably won’t be known until after the deadline. The Clippers would like to free up a roster spot to convert Jordan Miller from his two-way contract. In addition, LA wouldn’t mind having a spot to convert Kai Jones too. If the Clippers need a roster spot, Mills (and Hyland if he’s not traded) could be the roster casualty.

The Clippers only had a couple of second-round picks to trade, so this should bring them down to just one second rounder left. More importantly in the immediate, as they’ve now dipped under the tax and well under the apron, LA has no restrictions on the buyout market. The Clippers have $3.3 million left of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, which is a nice chunk to offer a player to sign on for the stretch run.

Finally, LA created a potentially handy $6.5 million traded player exception in this one. That’s big enough to be useful, either at the deadline or in the offseason.

Utah Jazz

Incoming salary: $13.6 million in 2024-25

• Mo Bamba (C, one year, $2.1 million), P.J. Tucker (PF, one-year, $11.5 million)

Outgoing salary: $7.1 million in 2024-25

• Drew Eubanks (C, two years, $9.8 million (2025-26 is non-guaranteed)), Patty Mills (PG, one year, $2.1 million)

The Jazz are miles under the luxury tax line, so this is about using that flexibility to add another asset, while taking a rest-of-season flyer on Mo Bamba. Essentially, Utah bought a future second-round pick for taking on the difference between Drew Eubanks’ and P.J. Tucker’s in salary.

On-court, Bamba should play for the Jazz. They’ve been cycling through frontcourt players all season long. Utah can take a look at Bamba and see what they have over the final 30-plus games. Eubanks was playing a lot, but he wasn’t likely a big part of the future in Utah. The Jazz were going to evaluate Eubanks and his $4.75 million non-guaranteed contract for 2025-26 against the need for a roster spot in the offseason.

P.J. Tucker likely won’t even be required to report to Utah. He’s a contract only for the Jazz. Look for Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik to keep Tucker on the roster through the deadline. If they can re-trade his contract in a deal, they will. If not, Tucker will be waived to open up a roster spot.

That open roster spot could be used to take a look at different players on 10 Day contracts. The Jazz may also look to convert Micah Potter to a standard deal. He’s played well in his opportunities this season and Utah might want to lock him up on a team-friendly deal. Elijah Harkless is another potential conversion candidate for the Jazz too.

This is Utah continuing their process of eating contracts in exchange for draft capital. They’ve facilitated several of these deals over the last couple of seasons, including eating Russell Westbrook’s contract on two different occasions. It’s solid work, given the team is so far under the tax line.

The Jazz probably aren’t done dealing. John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton are all very available in the right moves. Utah won’t give any of them away, but if they find the right trades, any of those veterans could be a part of the continued roster shuffling.