Which NBA players came out on top after being traded at the 2026 deadline?
James Harden: Traded from the LA Clippers to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Harden is considered the deadline's biggest winner. He joins a contender in the Eastern Conference where he can pair with Donovan Mitchell and potentially secure a lucrative multi-year extension.
- Winner Status: Traded from the LA Clippers to a contending Cleveland Cavaliers team.
- Contract: He is in the second year of a 2-year, $81.5 million deal. He holds a $42.3 million player option for 2026-27 (only $13 million guaranteed), but the move to Cleveland likely leads to a longer extension.
- Current Season: Averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game
Nikola Vučević: Moved from the struggling Chicago Bulls to the Boston Celtics, Vučević joins a top-tier team where he will play meaningful postseason minutes for the first time in several seasons.
- Winner Status: Escapes the struggling Chicago Bulls to join the top-seeded Boston Celtics, providing him his first legitimate chance at a deep playoff run in his 15-year career.
- Current Season: Averaging 16.9 points and 9.0 rebounds on 50.5% shooting.
- Career Milestone: Recently surpassed 17,000 career points and 10,000 career rebounds
Jonathan Kuminga: After a long "saga" in Golden State marked by inconsistent playing time, Kuminga was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. He is expected to receive significantly more minutes as a primary wing option alongside Jalen Johnson.
- Winner Status: Traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Atlanta Hawks, where he is expected to see a significant jump in playing time.
- Contract: Recently signed a 2-year deal worth up to $46.5 million (including team options).
- Performance: Averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game with the Warriors this season
Kristaps Porziņģis: Acquired by the Golden State Warriors, Porziņģis is viewed as an ideal fit for their system as a shot-blocking stretch-5, provided he can remain healthy.
- Winner Status: Acquired by Golden State from Atlanta in a move to provide the Warriors with a "Unicorn" stretch-5 presence.
- Current Season: Averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.29 blocks per game
Donovan Mitchell: While not traded himself, Mitchell is a "winner" for successfully pressuring the Cavaliers' front office to acquire a star playmaker in Harden to maximize their championship window.
Jose Alvarado: The New York native was traded to the New York Knicks, allowing him to return home and play a high-impact role off the bench for a playoff-bound team.
Ayo Dosunmu: Moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dosunmu joins a contender where his improved three-point shooting (45.1%) fills a critical need for bench scoring.
- Winner Status: Moved from Chicago to the Minnesota Timberwolves, joining a contender where his perimeter defense and shooting are highly valued.
- Stat Trend: He has been highly efficient recently, including a 29-point, 5-of-6 from three performance on January 31