Bold 2025 NBA Trade Deadline Predictions
The 2025 NBA trade deadline is officially next week, meaning teams are running out of time to improve their rosters or chances at the No. 1 pick in a loaded draft.
All eyes remain on Jimmy Butler, although there's a number of other veterans who could be moved by Thursday as well. We could finally see one NBA champion traded after 12 years with his current franchise, one recently traded three-time All-Star already on the move again and another team desperate to undo its mistakes from this past summer.
With just over a week to go, don't be surprised if these bold trade deadline predictions come true.
Khris Middleton Era Ends in Milwaukee
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Khris Middleton has been a staple of the Milwaukee Bucks' success for the past 12 seasons, making three All-Star Games and helping the franchise win the 2021 NBA championship.
Now at age 33 and battling injuries in recent years, the Bucks could use Middleton and his hefty salary to help execute a big trade at the deadline.
Middleton is making $31.7 million this season (the most of any player outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard) and has a player option for $34 million next season that he'll almost certainly pick up. While he's become a good rotation player off the bench for the Bucks with his scoring and playmaking ability, Middleton is no longer capable of being the third-best player on a championship team.
Since the Bucks are a second-apron team, they may be limited in only taking in players making the same or less than Middleton's $31.7 million contract this season. However, if Milwaukee wanted to pursue a star like Jimmy Butler making over that, they technically could if the trade involved the Bucks sending out enough salary to get them under the second apron (currently $6.5 million above, h/t NBA cap expert Yossi Gozlan).
No matter if the Bucks pursue a blockbuster trade that would land them Butler or settle for a smaller target like Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers or Cameron Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets, Middleton will likely be the player sacrificed in the deal to make the money work.
One of the greatest players in franchise history, Middleton's time in Milwaukee is almost done.
Julius Randle Is Traded by Timberwolves
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After finishing just a game out of first place in the Western Conference last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves 13.5 games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder, now fighting for a spot in the West play-in tournament.
The Julius Randle-Karl-Anthony Towns swap hasn't looked good to this point (although it may have been necessary financially), with Randle's swing rating (minus-0.1, 50th percentile via Cleaning the Glass) not resembling that of a No. 2 option on a team trying to win a title.
Randle's raw numbers have been fine (18.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists a game), although the Wolves' starting lineup with him has been remarkably average (plus-1.8 net rating).
With Randle potentially becoming a free agent this summer ($30.9 million player option), Minnesota may need to see what it can get for the 30-year-old now before committing big money to him or watching him leave for nothing.
The Wolves can shop Randle and his $33.1 million essentially expiring contract now while using the first-round pick acquired from the Knicks (2025 first-rounder via Detroit Pistons, top-13 protected) to bring in a better-fitting power forward or scoring wing to help Anthony Edwards shoulder the offensive load.
Randle is still a good player and can help a lot of teams as a starting power forward, although he no longer looks the part of a No. 2 option now in his 30s. Expect the Wolves to trade their three-time All-Star.
Pelicans Have Serious Trade Discussions Involving Zion Williamson
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Despite a career blemished by injuries, Zion Williamson has largely stayed out of trade talks by the New Orleans Pelicans because of his immense talent level.
Now currently healthy, it's time for the Pels to shop their All-Star forward.
Williamson has played just 10 games this season, yet has looked good in his recent return from a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old forward has averaged 20.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks in just 25.6 minutes over four games in his return, shooting 53.8 percent overall. The Pelicans also improve by a whopping 16.2 points per 100 possessions (99th percentile, via Cleaning the Glass) with Williamson on the floor.
This is precisely why New Orleans needs to discuss Williamson trades now while he's active.
This organization has been far too reliant on his shaky health, going a solid 103-91 in Williamson's games since he was selected No. 1 overall in 2019, yet they have fallen to just 97-143 in contests he misses.
Organizations like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers and others have shown the ability to continue to win despite missing key pieces this season. This Pelicans team has yet to display the same resolve throughout Williamson's career.
It's time the Pels seriously start shopping Williamson, a move that would no longer hold the organization captive and potentially open up future cap space with which to re-sign Brandon Ingram.
Lakers, Warriors Do Nothing at Trade Deadline
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Two of the teams that definitely need to do something at the trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers will be disappointingly silent.
Both franchises have made smaller moves to date, with the Warriors trading for Dennis Schröder and the Lakers swapping D'Angelo Russell and some second-rounders for Dorian Finney-Smith. Neither trade has moved the needle, however, as Golden State has gone just 8-11 with Schröder while Los Angeles is 4-5 when Finney-Smith plays.
A big move for both franchises is needed to get back into championship contention. Neither fanbase should hold their breath, however.
Rob Pelinka and the Lakers have been very protective of their future first-round picks and still have possession of their 2029 and 2031 first-rounders.
Los Angeles has enough assets to land a third star, yet has long seemed more interested in holding on to future picks instead of maximizing the remaining few years of the greatest basketball player in history. Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis have stated that the team has to play perfect basketball in order to win with the current roster, with Davis publicly declaring his desire for the team to trade for a center, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Stephen Curry has stated that he doesn't want the Warriors to make a desperate trade that would deplete the future, although Golden State has six first-round picks they can outright trade or agree to swap, with only a 2030 first-rounder (top-20 protected) owed to the Washington Wizards.
With players like Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine, Cameron Johnson, CJ McCollum, Jerami Grant and others available and All-Stars like LaMelo Ball and Zion Williamson facing questionable futures with their teams, big moves can be found that would really elevate both the Lakers and Warriors.
In the end, nothing will materialize, leaving James, Curry and others fighting just to make the playoffs.
76ers Call Teams to Gauge Interest in Joel Embiid, Paul George
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It should come as no surprise that the four-year, $211.5 million max contract that Paul George signed last offseason with the Philadelphia 76ers already isn't looking good.
What if I told you that George's megadeal at age 34 wasn't the worst move of the Sixers' offseason, however?
In late September, Philly inked Joel Embiid, who was already under contract for two more years (plus a player option), to a new three-year, $192.9 million extension. This brought his total contract to nearly $300 million over the next five years, ending in a $69 million player option during the 2028-29 season when Embiid will turn 35.
The Sixers likely did this to avoid a Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat situation, although it was both unnecessary and extremely risky given Embiid's durability issues.
At 15-27 this season and having lost seven straight games with Embiid once again sidelined, the 76ers need to shift the franchise mindset to building around Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain while testing the market for players like George and Embiid.
George is eligible to be traded at any time (although a return for him won't be great) whereas Embiid can't be moved until this summer since he signed his extension less than six months ago.
Don't be surprised to hear whispers of the 76ers gauging the market for their veteran stars as early as this trade deadline.
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