Most Improved Teams From 2025 NBA Trade Deadline

The 2025 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and plenty of moves have been made that have brought joy and misfortune to fans all across the NBA.

For now, let's focus on the positive and see which NBA teams came out as winners this trade deadline.

Los Angeles Lakers

Is this the most obvious choice? Yes. But sometimes, things are obvious for a reason.

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While everyone is pointing to the Lakers getting Luka Doncic, and rightfully so, attention should also be given to center Mark Williams, who is averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Now, Los Angeles has a dedicated big man who can draw attention away from the likes of LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Doncic. And he still has plenty of room to grow.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat is one of the most divisive moves of the trade deadline, with a ton of people pointing to the controversies Butler had with Miami management.

The fact of the matter is that Butler wants to win, and so do the Warriors. Alongside Stephen Curry, Golden State could become one of the most clutch teams in the NBA this year.

While losing Andrew Wiggins and Dennis Schroder is tough, Butler has the chance to breathe new life into a team that is currently battling for a Play-In spot.

Milwaukee Bucks

This entry is a tough one to write because Khris Middleton is such an important part of the Milwaukee Bucks culture. Not only was he integral in winning the 2021 NBA Championship, but he provided a sense of leadership for the team.

However, Middleton has faced a ton of injury issues and hasn't been as impressive as of late. By trading for Kyle Kuzma, the Bucks get a younger player who fills the same role.

Plus, being on a more competitive team could breathe new life into Kuzma's season. This season, he has averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 total rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.6 steals per game.

Charlotte Hornets

Some teams needed to make trade deadline moves in order to cement playoff contention. Others simply needed to guarantee a chance to build a team for the future. The Charlotte Hornets are definitely the latter.

That being said, they made some excellent moves to guarantee a plethora of NBA Draft picks in the future.

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Additionally, the Hornets have acquired Dalton Knecht from the Lakers, a rookie with a massive upside that could become a star. Charlotte now has a future they can be excited for.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are the worst team in the league with a 9-41 record which means they had plenty of pieces that could be moved at the trade deadline. And boy, did they.

While they lost some excellent talent, the Wizards acquired a ton of NBA Draft picks that will help them build a solid team in the near future.

Washington still won't be competitive this season, that ship has sailed. But now they have the chance to build a franchise. And Middleton will bring a great veteran presence to the locker room.

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