Predicting 3 big buyers and 3 fire sellers of the 2025 NBA trade deadline
By Dre Gibbs
The addition of NBA Second's apron has caused a lackluster free agency summer, and teams are now focused on training camp and getting ready for the start of the season. By Christmas day, front offices have a big enough sample size to gauge what additions they need to push their team over the hump or if they should pivot and start a rebuild. Below are three buyers and sellers for the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
What qualifies as a buyer?
Whether it's adding more depth, a three-and-D wing, or another scorer, these teams may be a piece or two away from a long postseason run. If the front office feels this way, it will give up young talent and draft capital to seize their championship window.
Last year, the Mavericks were the perfect example, as they traded for Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, who played significant roles in their finals run.
Two years ago, the Lakers traded for D'Angelo Russell, Jared Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley at the deadline, weeks after adding Rui Hachimura. The move helped them reach the Western Conference Finals.
Buyers are usually big market teams with a few stars and an impatient fanbase that can't afford to do everything possible to bolster their roster to compete for a championship.
What qualifies as a seller?
Sellers are franchises trying to gather as many assets as possible to jump-start a rebuild or continue an existing one. They may also be unloading large, unnecessary contracts that don't benefit them in the long run.
Despite being the top seed last year, Oklahoma City Thunder were technically still in a rebuild. At the deadline, the Thunder traded Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, Davis Bertans, and second-round picks to Charlotte for Gordon Hayward in what seemed like a meaningless move.
Hayward didn't see much action with the Thunder, but the trade allowed them to swap three ongoing contracts for an expiring one, freeing up space to sign Isaiah Hartenstein this past offseason. Sellers have more flexibility due to the numerous methods available for acquiring and moving pieces.