The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and it appears several of the bigger names on the market are staying put, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Domantas Sabonis, and Ja Morant.
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NBA trade deadline 2026: Ja Morant stays with Grizzlies; Bucks don't trade Giannis Antetokounmpo; Clippers send Ivica Zubac to Pacers; Bulls trade Ayo Dosunmu to Wolves
The 2026 trade deadline came and went on Thursday, with plenty of high-profile names in the rumor mill, but only a few on the move. The biggest question was whether Giannis Antetokounmpo would be dealt, which was answered well before the deadline when a report surfaced that the Milwaukee Bucks would keep him for now. Ja Morant, who had also been a top potential target, remained with the Memphis Grizzlies as the deadline passed.
But several other teams were active in the hours leading up to the deadline, with players like Jose Alvarado, Luke Kennard and Ivica Zubac on the move.
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The action began to ramp up on Tuesday, with the headliner being the Clippers’ trade of James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick. Earlier in the day, the Grizzlies, who had fielded offers for Morant, took the first step toward a significant rebuild by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in a massive eight-player deal.
The Bulls were also busy, shipping out Kevin Huerter, Dario Šarić and a 2026 first-round protected pick in one three-team deal, and sending two-time All-Star Nikola Vučević to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. They followed up on Wednesday by reportedly trading Coby White to the Hornets, and on Thursday, reportedly sent Ayo Dosunmu to the Timberwolves in exchange for Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller.
On Wednesday, the Mavericks reportedly traded All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in a massive eight-player swap. Shortly after, the 76ers sent Jared McCain to the Thunder and the Clippers traded Chris Paul to the Raptors after their messy breakup. Later Wednesday, the Warriors swung a trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for veteran center Kristaps Porzingis.
[Check out the NBA trade tracker for full details on every move]
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest news, rumors and updates ahead of Feb. 5’s NBA trade deadline.
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And the deadline passes...
Hornets show 'they're going for it' by trading for Coby White
Steve Kerr explains why Jonathan Kuminga didn't work out in Golden State
The Golden State Warriors finally traded forward Jonathan Kuminga, and they got big man Kristaps Porziņģis in return from a deal that also sent Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks.
Kuminga, whom the Warriors selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, will get a fresh start in Atlanta.
Golden State head coach Steve Kerr was asked about Kuminga’s four-plus-season tenure.
He told ESPN that Kuminga “needed the runway to make more mistakes,” per Anthony Slater.
“For us as a staff, it was tricky trying to develop him while we were trying to win. I think it’s as simple as that.”
Celtics reportedly trade Xavier Tillman to Hornets
The Boston Celtics reportedly traded center Xavier Tillman Sr. to the Charlotte Hornets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
This move gets the Celtics out of the luxury tax. The Celtics also traded Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets and Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, he will reportedly be waived. The Celtics also traded Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic. The Celtics also converted 2025 second-round pick Amari Williams to a standard deal. The Celtics are 33-18 and tied for second in the East.
Tillman gives the Hornets depth at center behind Moussa Diabate and rookie Ryan Kaulkbreener. The Hornets traded Mason Plumlee to OKC on Wednesday, before he was waived. The 23-28 Hornets also added Coby White in a trade with the Chicago Bulls and currently on a seven-game winning streak.
AdvertisementBucks have some fun with Giannis trade chatter
Giannis Antetokounmpo stayed put at Thursday’s trade deadline, and the Bucks’ social media team (and head coach Doc Rivers) decided to have some fun with all the rumors. All-Star weekend is just over a week away, and Antetokounmpo is set to coach ESPN’s Shams Charania in the celebrity game.
Hornets waive PG Mike Conley
The Charlotte Hornets have waived point guard Mike Conley after acquiring him as part of the Coby White deal from Chicago. This now frees up Conley to sign with any NBA team as a free agent.
Hornets EVP Jeff Peterson on why they traded for Coby White
Charlotte Hornets executive vice president of basketball operations sounds quite pleased with the addition of Coby White to the team and spoke about the deal and why they did it on Thursday.
"He's a guy I remember watching in high school... His energy, he plays the game with joy, passion, he's a winner. He loves to compete...He's a dynamic shooter, his offensive skillset is high level"
AdvertisementTrade deadline takeaway: The league can't stop paying James Harden
For a fourth time in five years, James Harden had a trade request granted, this time landing him on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have eyes for championship contention.
Only, with Harden in place of Darius Garland and a second-round draft pick, they appear no closer to a title than their second-round playoff exits from the previous two seasons.
Raise your hand if you think Harden will elevate the Cavaliers from their current standing, fourth place in the Eastern Conference, to a berth in the NBA Finals? We are still waiting and have been since he was a sixth man on the West champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
It has been 15 years since then, and Harden has come no closer. His Houston Rockets did make the 2018 conference finals, largely because he was benched in a Game 6 comeback. He has been no better in Game 7s. We have as much evidence of his playoff failures as we do his successes, if not more, and still the league cannot stop giving him tens of millions.
Giannis' reaction to not getting traded 😂
Nets reportedly waiving Cam Thomas post-trade deadline
The Brooklyn Nets will reportedly waive guard Cam Thomas, according to ESPN Insider Shams Charania reported as the trade deadline passed.
Thomas did not depart with the team before Thursday’s game against the Orlando Magic, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. Thomas was ruled out for personal reasons.
Thomas has averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 assists and 1.9 rebounds on 39.9% from the field. Thomas role has also decreased under Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez. He has only started in eight games and has averaged 24.3 minutes per game. The Nets are 13-36.
AdvertisementGrizzlies stick with Ja Morant ahead of Thursday's deadline after trading Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Memphis Grizzlies will apparently not be moving Ja Morant ahead of the NBA trade deadline, despite reports of a potential trade.
The team reportedly shopped the 26-year-old point guard prior to Thursday’s deadline, but no trade materialized. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, despite the intrigue in talent, no teams were willing to “make a serious offer.”
News that the Grizzlies would be keeping Morant comes just two days after the team traded away Jaren Jackson Jr. in a stunning eight-player swap with the Utah Jazz. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year was sent to the Jazz, along with John Konchar, Vince Williams Jr. and Jock Landale.
In return, the Grizzlies received Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang — along with three future first-round draft picks.
Bulls send Ousmane Dieng to Bucks, while Nick Richards goes to Chicago
Kings hold onto Domantas Sabonis after the deadline
AdvertisementKawhi Leonard will reportedly remain with Clippers as deadline nears
Hornets trade PG Tyus Jones to Mavs for G Malaki Branham
The Charlotte Hornets are trading point guard Tyus Jones to the Dallas Mavericks for guard Malaki Branham, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Charlotte creates a $7 million trade exception with this move.
Clippers reportedly trade starting center Ivica Zubac to Pacers
The Los Angeles Clippers continue to make moves ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, reportedly trading starting center Ivica Zubac and forward Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.
In return, the Clippers will receive Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2026 first-round pick from the Pacers (protected 1-4 and 10-30) and a 2029 unprotected first-rounder from the Pacers, Charnia adds.
The move comes after the team also traded away 11-time All-Star and 17-year veteran James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Zubac has become a solid role player over the past few years for the Clippers. His stock rose even more after his breakthrough season last year, when he was a second-team NBA All-Defensive player for the first time. Zubac also averaged a career high of 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds last season and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
AdvertisementNuggets convert Spencer Jones from two-way contract to standard contract
The Denver Nuggets reportedly converted forward Spencer Jones to a standard contract, according to NBA Insider Chris Haynes. Jones was previously on a two-way contract.
The Nuggets’ roster spot was opened up by trading Hunter Tyson and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. Jones has averaged 6 points, 3.1 rebounds and has started 34 games with Cam Johnson and Christian Braun missing time this season.
Nuggets trade F Hunter Tyson for 2026 draft pick
The Denver Nuggets have traded Hunter Tyson and a second-round pick in 2032 to the Brooklyn Nets for the least favorable of a Clippers/Hawks 2026 second-round pick, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
76ers reportedly trade veteran Eric Gordon to Grizzlies
The Philadelphia 76ers have traded veteran guard Eric Gordon and a 2032 second-round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies, Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko reported Thursday.
AdvertisementCeltics reportedly trading F Josh Minott to Nets
The Boston Celtics are sending forward Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Minott signed with the Celtics last summer after starting his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
