The Cleveland Cavaliers were a preseason favorite in the Eastern Conference, but after a rocky start, they shook up the NBA landscape by acquiring James Harden at the trade deadline. But will the influx of new talent propel them to the NBA Finals, or will team chemistry issues derail their championship aspirations? With several teams making bold moves, let’s dissect who emerged as the biggest winners and losers as the 2026 NBA trade deadline slammed shut.
Key Takeaways
- The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired James Harden, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schroder, shedding Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, and Lonzo Ball, saving approximately $100 million in luxury tax payments.
- The Washington Wizards acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis, signaling a potential shift from tanking to contention, though playoff success remains uncertain.
- The Utah Jazz acquired Jaren Jackson Jr., potentially sacrificing ball movement for increased size and defense, placing more pressure on Keyonte George’s development.
- The Mavericks traded Anthony Davis for a package including Khris Middleton, signaling a significant change in direction after a failed attempt to build around Luka Doncic.
Did the Cavaliers Just Win the Trade Deadline?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are betting that James Harden can be the missing piece to their championship puzzle. Despite a slow start to the season, the Cavs are currently on a hot streak with a 9-2 record since a 22-19 start. By trading Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, and Lonzo Ball, the Cavaliers brought in Harden, Keon Ellis, and Dennis Schroder. The move to acquire Harden, as reported by ESPN, swaps the 26-year-old Garland for the 36-year-old Harden. While this might cost the Cavaliers in future seasons, Harden is undeniably better and healthier than Garland at the moment. He should help reduce the offensive burden on Donovan Mitchell, who’s currently posting a usage rate of 33.2%, his highest since his time with the Utah Jazz. “Harden’s playmaking and scoring ability will open up the floor for Mitchell and allow him to be more efficient,” said NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take.
Cleveland’s other additions should also reinforce the roster. Ellis is considered the best defender in the Cavaliers’ backcourt, while Schroder is a wild card who has shown both incredible productivity and lackluster play in recent stops. Moreover, adding those two players while shedding Hunter and Ball means Cleveland saved approximately $100 million in luxury tax payments, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. It’s not often that a contender gets better and cheaper at the deadline, but Cleveland pulled off that surprising feat.
Why Are Teams Like the Wizards Making Star-Driven Moves?
Several unexpected teams, including the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz, made significant roster upgrades at the trade deadline. The Wizards, Jazz and Pacers are a combined 42-109. Yet that didn’t stop Washington from trading for Trae Young last month and adding Anthony Davis this week. The Wizards are currently near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, with a 17-35 record. Utah splurged for Jaren Jackson Jr. These moves reflect the NBA’s new financial environment, as the harsh penalties of the aprons intersect with a league-wide desire for more youth and depth. As ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote, not many teams are interested in adding borderline All-Stars making around $50 million per season, “unless you have an otherwise clean cap sheet like the Jazz and Wizards do.” “The Wizards are clearly trying to accelerate their rebuild by adding proven stars,” said NBA analyst Zach Lowe on his podcast, The Lowe Post. “But it remains to be seen whether Young and Davis can coexist and lead the team to playoff contention.”
While the Pacers should return to contention with Ivica Zubac right away in 2026-27, the Wizards and Jazz might not have made winning moves, as it’s very plausible that neither Washington nor Utah makes the playoffs with their new All-Stars next season. But as a concept, the surprise star destinations added a fun wrinkle to deadline week.
Winners and Losers: Who Really Came Out Ahead?
The NBA trade deadline is always a whirlwind of activity, and this year was no exception. While some teams made moves that clearly improved their chances of contending for a championship, others seemed to make lateral moves or even take a step backward. The Mavericks traded Anthony Davis for a package including Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, a 2026 first-round pick from the Thunder, a 2030 first-round pick from the Warriors, and three second-rounders. Put another way, the Mavs ended up essentially trading a generational superstar for one rotation player (Max Christie), two bad first-round picks and one as yet unknown first-round pick (from the Lakers in 2029). That’s roughly the same overall value that Memphis received for Jaren Jackson Jr.
On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a shrewd trade, giving up a pick that will likely land in the 20s (via Houston) for Jared McCain, who might have been the Rookie of the Year last season if he’d played more than 23 games. McCain hasn’t been as impressive in his sophomore season as he has returned from knee and thumb surgeries, but the Thunder still acquired a player on a cheap rookie contract with plenty of potential, which could be especially helpful in future seasons as pricey extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren cut into the Thunder’s depth.
Players/Teams Mentioned
- Donovan Mitchell: Averaging 28.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game this season.
- James Harden: Veteran guard, now with the Cavaliers, seeking his first NBA championship at age 36.
- Anthony Davis: Now with the Wizards, averaging 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds this season.
- Jaren Jackson Jr.: Traded to the Jazz, the 26 year old is averaging 22.5 points and 6.9 rebounds.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Currently 31-21, 4th in the Eastern Conference.
What This Means
- For Cavaliers fans: The acquisition of Harden significantly improves their championship odds, moving from +1200 to +800 according to OddsShark, making them a top contender in the East.
- For Wizards fans: The additions of Young and Davis signal a shift towards contention, but their playoff chances remain slim, with TeamRankings giving them only a 15% chance of making the playoffs.
- For Jazz fans: The addition of Jackson Jr. may improve their defense, but it could come at the cost of offensive fluidity, potentially hindering their ability to compete in the stacked Western Conference.
Source: www.espn.com
Disclosure: Trending Society provides sports analysis for entertainment purposes. Not betting or fantasy advice.
