Fresh 2025 Trade Deadline Predictions: Jimmy Butler, Lakers, Warriors, More

In the wake of an all-time blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, everyone's faith in their ability to predict what'll happen at the NBA trade deadline should be shaken.

At least De'Aaron Fox went where everyone thought he would. Maybe that means there are still some outcomes that align with expectations.

Here, we'll do our best to forecast what's ahead as the deadline approaches. The shock of the Dončić trade persists, but we should acknowledge that it created the opportunity for more moves that, perhaps, will be a little less earth-shattering.

Are the Dallas Mavericks done dealing? What about the remade Lakers? Is Jimmy Butler ever going to change teams?

Let's weigh in before another shockwave wrecks everyone's plans.

Jimmy Butler is losing landing spots left and right, which makes the previously unthinkable possibility of him sticking with Miami Heat through the deadline more likely by the minute.

The Memphis Grizzlies got a polite dismissal several days ago, the Golden State Warriors backed off after Butler indicated he wouldn't sign an extension (bullet dodged there, Dubs!), the Chicago Bulls traded Zach LaVine and his hypothetically matching salary to the Sacramento Kings, and Bradley Beal seems no closer to giving up his no-trade clause.

Surprises should be the expectation in the wake of this past weekend's shocking trades. But practicality isn't completely powerless here. Butler has a massive salary, a history of leaving things worse than he found them and the ability to scare off non-preferred suitors by broadcasting his intentions to be a short-timer.

All that's to say we've reached a point where the Heat might have to conclude that holding onto Butler and either re-addressing a trade over the summer or daring him to decline his player option and leave might be the best of bad options.

Unless the New Orleans Pelicans get involved and offer Brandon Ingram in what'd likely be a three-team trade, Butler may be stuck right where he's at.

The Chicago Bulls moved Zach LaVine in what should be the first of several strip-it-down trades, but their return package indicates a pretty chilly market for their available players.

The only first-rounder the Bulls secured in the three-teamer that also sent De'Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs was their own 2025 selection, and they took on the contracts of Zach Collins and Kevin Huerter, which leaves roughly $36 million on the books for next year.

The Golden State Warriors had eyes for LaVine, missed out on Paul George and Lauri Markkanen over the summer and also called it quits on a Butler pursuit. They're the league's unofficial "we almost did something" title-holders for the moment, a fan-irking distinction no franchise wants.

Fortunately for Golden State, Bulls big man Nikola Vučević almost certainly won't command first-round assets—not after LaVine went for just one. The Warriors can cobble together mostly expiring salaries in the form of Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II while offering a couple of second-rounders.

If the Bulls don't take it, well...the Warriors can fall back on the "almost did something" refrain they've recently perfected.

While certainly not the caliber of player who can give Stephen Curry a realistic shot at a top-six seed in the West, Vooch would at least allow the Warriors to say they made an upgrade at the deadline.

The price for Luka Dončić was low enough to eliminate any discussion of what subsequent moves a revamped Los Angeles Lakers roster would need. When offered a 25-year-old five-time All-NBA first-teamer for a player six years his senior and a single first-round pick, you say "yes" immediately, hope it's not a joke and figure everything else out later.

Already in need of frontcourt help, the Lakers' search for a big man is only more urgent with Anthony Davis now in Dallas. The Dončić acquisition is quite clearly a longer-term play, but one imagines L.A. would like to see how far LeBron James and Dončić might advance in the 2025 postseason—if only as a gauge for what to target this summer.

The Lakers certainly don't need to put their lone remaining tradable first-round pick on the table unless something undeniably beneficial comes along (again). But they can attach first-round swaps in 2026, 2028 or 2030 to the mid-tier salaries of Maxi Kleber ($11 million) or Rui Hachimura ($17 million) in potential deals.

Robert Williams III would look pretty good in purple and gold.

Even with Dereck Lively II out for an extended period, the Dallas Mavericks' remade roster is out of whack. With too many bigs and not enough playmakers to support Kyrie Irving, the Mavs don't seem likely to call it quits after their acquisition of Anthony Davis.

Quentin Grimes is ticketed for restricted free agency after this season, and it seems plausible that Dallas will shop him—particularly with new wing Max Christie providing more youth, size and cost control.

The Mavs might prefer to use Christie's $7 million salary (or Naji Marshall's $8.6 million figure) to target more established names, but Grimes feels like the logical piece to move in search of ball-handling and shot creation because he and Dallas were far apart on extension talks prior to the season. Don't rule out Klay Thompson, either.

Because they're under the first apron, the Mavericks can aggregate salaries. If they want to, they can put together a surprisingly good package for a bigger name, especially if they're willing to include either the Lakers pick they acquired for Dončić or what remains of their own draft capital.

Is Anfernee Simons a possibility? What about Collin Sexton?

The particulars are uncertain, but it seems clear Dallas isn't done dealing.

There were probably ways for the Sacramento Kings to bring back more future-focused assets for De'Aaron Fox, but a franchise that reliably thinks in win-now terms stayed on brand by making Zach LaVine the centerpiece of their return.

That fact, the Kings' history of chasing the eighth seed and the hole at point guard Fox's departure created all point to another deal.

Sacramento could go forward with Malik Monk and rookie Devin Carter splitting time at the 1, but it netted a $16 million trade exception in sending out Kevin Huerter as part of the Fox deal and is below the tax. Even if none of the first-rounders they acquired for Fox—Charlotte's top-14 protected 2025, San Antonio's 2027 and Minnesota's 2031—are particularly desirable, the Kings can dangle those and the bevy of additional second-rounders they reeled in.

Not to be forgotten: The Kings have been ridiculously thin up front all year. Domantas Sabonis is indestructible, but his backups have been among the worst in the league. It's possible Sacramento will not only target a point guard, but also a center who can keep deficits from ballooning when Sabonis rests.

Either way, the Kings are ripe for at least one more deal.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.

Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@gt_hughes), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.