NBA trade deadline news: Clippers flip Zubac for Mathurin

This exercise could be short. It is the day of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, and the big deals we projected have already been fired off, save for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is still a Milwaukee Buck.

The Phoenix Suns on Thursday traded Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis for Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey in a deal that looped in the Chicago Bulls at the last minute.

But before Thursday hit, the rest of the Western Conference had already been shuffling about.

James Harden is a Cleveland Cavalier after a swap for Darius Garland, a move that keeps the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers competitive as they’ve made a playoff push to get right back in the thick of things.

The big shocker that might not matter this year but could next: Former Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. is a new member of the Jazz, giving Utah one of the most intriguing frontcourts that also includes Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Kyle Filipowski and Jusuf Nurkic. Keyonte George has been sneakily one of the most improved NBA players this year, and if one or more of Cody Williams, Ace Bailey or Isaiah Collier can make a leap — big or small — that is a scary roster.

Memphis’ blowing-things-up path was a thing to watch Thursday if Ja Morant was next out the door, but his market is likely pretty sour in a way that makes us sad, considering he looked like he was that dude a few years ago. Now he is that dude who might have an all-time crashout considering the injuries, loss of athleticism, off-court decisions and on-court distractions created by his attitude.

Trae Young and Anthony Davis are now teaming up on the Washington Wizards, giving them legitimacy but a pair of superstars that will be a curious mix because of Davis’ injury history and the fact that this is a win-now move (the supporting cast around them is kind of intriguing now, however). Congrats to the Dallas Mavericks on getting some draft picks in exchange for an All-Star this time around. Baby steps.

Nikola Vucevic is a Boston Celtic. The Thunder got Jared McCain to add depth. The Warriors finally freed themselves of Jonathan Kuminga to lock Kristaps Porzingis into the Quinten Post starting center role that is perfect for Kristaps Porzingis moreso than Quinten Post.

What’s left to do Thursday before the 1 p.m. MST deadline for the Suns and others? Antetokounmpo is the big name we’re waiting on. Here are the most recent trades on deadline day.

NBA trade deadline live news and updates

Ivica Zubac to Indiana, Bennedict Mathurin to LA

Pacers get (per Shams Charania): C Ivica Zubac, F Kobe Brown

Clippers get: G Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks (protections reported by Jake Fischer), one second-round pick

One of the Clippers’ most dependable players is on the move, a sell-now decision with Zubac not looking tons worse than his career year last season. Zubac is averaging 14.4 points and 11.0 boards per game, shooting 61.3%.

Los Angeles adds perimeter scoring pop next to Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, trying to turn over this roster for some youth. Mathurin is still just 23 years old, and while his efficiency could stand to improve, he’s still a proven third scorer who isn’t a complete offensive black hole.

Getting more out of him defensively will be Ty Lue’s primary objective.

Brook Lopez could stand to take on more than the 17.2 minutes he’s averaged this season and adds a shooting element. The Clippers indeed could go smaller.

Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the 30th overall pick, already got the 25-minute bump in minutes off the bench when Zubac sat out in Los Angeles’ last game. The 22-year-old paid off the risk with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, two blocks and 10 boards.

Suns duck below the tax – and get some dudes

Suns get (per John Gambadoro): G Cole Anthony, G Amir Coffey

Bucks get: C Ousmane Dieng, F Nigel Hayes-Davis

Bulls get: C Nick Richards

The Suns checked an important box here but did add a few questions.

It was written on the wall that Nick Richards was on the move, both for salary reasons and because he fell out of the rotation behind Mark Williams and a surging Oso Ighodaro. No, Phoenix did not get any draft compensation back after they burned two second-round choices to add Richards last year, but the team added some proven rotation guys in Anthony and Coffey.

Do the Suns keep both Anthony and Coffey? They don’t need to release either, and this just makes the bench options more numerous.

Gambadoro believes the Suns are set up to hand out a standard contract to Jamaree Bouyea — they have an open roster spot, still. Anthony has a little more playmaking chops than Bouyea but has never been the most efficient scorer. He is what he is at this point.

Coffey has a little more size and was reliable enough that he started 13 games and averaged near double-figures for the Clippers last season while shooting 40.9% from 3.

In one way, this move could complicate the outlook for Bouyea and Jordan Goodwin. But they’ve been solid to great. Viewed from another lens, however, and it’s just financially motivated. Anthony and Coffey are insurance pieces. Jordan Ott can roll with the rotations as-is until injury or a few chances given to Anthony or Coffey force him to make a change.

Richards heads to Chicago after this trade expanded beyond Phoenix and Milwaukee. There, he should receive decent minutes with Nikola Vucevic already traded to Boston.

Tyus Jones heads to Dallas in his second trade this season

Mavs get (per Shams Charania): G Tyus Jones

Hornets get: G Malaki Branham

Jones was acquired by Charlotte, along with a pair of second-rounders, from the Orlando Magic. Like it was in Phoenix, Jones’ pure point guard skills didn’t add enough juice with more athletic defenders and more dynamic playmakers on the Magic’s roster.

Now he could get a shot at decent playing time to steady a churning roster that will need some order to help out rookie Cooper Flagg.

Branham, a 23-year-old in his fourth NBA season, averaged 10.2 points as a rookie back in 2022-23 with the Spurs. There might be something there to build on still.

Eric Gordon traded to the Grizzlies

Grizzlies get (per Shams Charania): G Eric Gordon

76ers get: A roster spot

The 37-year-old hasn’t been much of an impact player this season, with just six games played. His stint with the Suns in 2023-24 was the last time he was a double-figures scorer.

Charania reports the move allows Philadelphia to convert forward Dominick Barlow’s two-way deal into a standard contract. The lanky 6-foot-9 big man is averaging 8.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game and has been a dynamic, switchable defender.

Knicks find a bench ringleader

Knicks get (per Shams Charania): G Jose Alvarado

Bucks get: G Dalen Terry, two second-round picks, cash

The Knicks late Wednesday added Dalen Terry and shipped away big man Guerschon Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately for Terry, the move wasn’t meant for him to supplement New York’s perimeter defense.

The Phoenix-area product was reverted to New Orleans, and it’ll be backcourt instigator Jose Alvarado joining New York’s depth chart.

The Knicks, by the way, have won eight games in a row. A little shorthanded last night, they played Landry Shamet 36 minutes off the bench. Backup point guard Tyler Kolek has had his moments, but he’s just not there yet as a scorer or defender.

Alvarado will have plenty of opportunity and give the streaking Knicks another guy you would not want to meet in the back alley.

Celtics trade Josh Minott to Nets

Jazz get (per Shams Charania): F Josh Minott

Celtics get: Salary cap relief?

Another cap-clearing move for Boston! Minott averaged 5.8 points and 3. rebounds in 33 games (10 starts). He’s an efficient shooter at 50.7% from the floor and 44.2% from deep in limited action this year.

Celtics dump Chris Boucher

Jazz get (per Shams Charania): F Chris Boucher

Celtics get: Salary cap relief?

It’s not clear what Utah sent Boston’s way, but it should help the Celtics offload a small salary.

The Jazz don’t need any more bigs, as discussed in the introduction of this piece. But they might be able to flip more trades involving their bigs today or down the road. And Boucher is just a year removed from being a key bench player for the Raptors.

Luke Kennard gives the Lakers shooting

Lakers get (per Shams Charania): G Luke Kennard

Hawks get: G Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick

Did you know Gabe Vincent was making $11.5 million this year?! He did very little for the Lakers in three years, never averaging more than 6.4 points per game after an overpay following a strong 2022-23 with the Miami Heat.

It’s a nice flip for Los Angeles, getting a proven shooter in Kennard. Over 46 games this year, he is shooting 53.8% from the field and 49.7% from three, taking most of his shots from deep. He does not, however, make an already poor defensive team better there.

Ayo Dosunmu bolsters revamped Timberwolves

T-Wolves get (per Shams Charania): G Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips

Bulls get: G Rob Dillingham, F Leonard Miller and four second-round picks

The Timberwolves moved on from sunsetting veteran point guard Mike Conley earlier this week, and with this move, they clearly didn’t want to wait on Dillingham to play catch-up as the heir apparent. It says a bit that the T-Wolves have given scorer point Bones Hyland the minutes they desperately wanted to be Dillingham’s.

Minnesota’s depth was just not there, and the offseason loss of Nickeil Walker-Alexander put them in a tough spot. I love this move to add Dosunmu, a combo guard who will mix things up on defense but has enough on-ball pop to average 15.0 points and 3.6 assists with shooting splits of 51.4% from the field and 45.1% from 3.

The Bulls? They’re just driving in circles in the Binny’s parking lot like usual. Congrats on spoiling the talent of Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. Chicago earlier this week traded pretty decent scoring guard Coby White for OK scoring guard Collin Sexton.

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