Evaluating the 10 most favorable and 10 least favorable NBA transactions since the 2025 offseason
Throughout the year, NBA teams engage in numerous transactions, including trades, free agent signings, and extensions. Some of these moves yield significant success, while others result in notable failures, with many landing somewhere in between.
As the 2025-26 regular season approaches its conclusion, we will reflect on the past year’s transactions, highlighting the most extreme outcomes by ranking the 10 best and 10 worst moves made since the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Finals.
The evaluation of these decisions is based on outcomes rather than processes, utilizing hindsight; some of the most commendable moves may have faced criticism initially, while some of the least favorable may have seemed logical at the time but did not unfold as anticipated.
All net rating and on/off statistics referenced in this article are sourced from databallr, which excludes low-leverage minutes from its analysis. Statistics are current through games played on March 21.
Jump to a move:
Best: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Worst: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Ranking the 10 best moves
10. New York Knicks trade for Jose Alvarado
Why it’s on the list: From the moment he was acquired at the trade deadline for a modest cost of Dalen Terry, two second-round picks, and cash, Alvarado appeared to be an ideal addition for the Knicks, and he has exceeded those expectations in his initial 19 games with the team. The Knicks boast a plus-11.8 net rating with Alvarado on the court, the highest on the roster.
What’s the potential playoff impact? Knicks coach Mike Brown still needs to finalize his playoff rotation, which is already filled with guards even before Miles McBride returns from surgery for a sports hernia. Alvarado may see a reduction in playing time amid the competition.
Nonetheless, he will undoubtedly contribute during the postseason, enhancing New York’s depth, and the Madison Square Garden audience is likely to appreciate his efforts.
play0:52How Kenny Smith feels about Knicks trading for Jose Alvarado
Kenny Smith shares his thoughts on the Knicks’ acquisition of Jose Alvarado from the Pelicans.
9. Golden State Warriors sign De’Anthony Melton
Why it’s on the list: Melton has been a favorite among advanced statistics throughout much of his career, but his 2024-25 season was cut short after just six games due to a torn ACL in his left knee. The Warriors utilized his salary in a midseason trade (for Dennis Schroder, who was subsequently involved in the Jimmy Butler III trade), then re-signed him during the offseason for $3.1 million, with a $3.5 million player option for 2026-27.
Since his return to action on December 4, Melton has quietly emerged as one of the league’s top role players. When he is on the court, Golden State has a plus-6.0 net rating, the second-best on the team, trailing only Butler.
What’s the potential playoff impact? The Warriors’ remaining playoff aspirations hinge on Stephen Curry, who has been sidelined since January 30 due to a persistent knee issue. However, if Curry can make a timely return for the playoffs, Melton will be the ideal two-way backcourt partner for the two-time MVP.
8. San Antonio Spurs sign Luke Kornet
Why it’s on the list: When he is not active on his blog, Kornet exemplifies a reliable backup center. The 2024 NBA champion signed a four-year, $40.7 million contract (with $24 million guaranteed) during free agency and has fit seamlessly behind Victor Wembanyama.
What’s the potential playoff impact? The difference between winning a championship and being eliminated in an early playoff round can hinge on a team’s ability to maintain performance when its star player is resting, or if it falters completely (as seen in many recent Nuggets seasons with Nikola Jokic). Kornet provides the Spurs with stability during Wembanyama’s absence.
In 1,078 minutes with Kornet on the floor and Wembanyama off, the Spurs have a plus-4.3 net rating, which is a significant improvement.
7. Denver Nuggets sign Tim Hardaway Jr.
Why it’s on the list: Only 14 qualified players this season have averaged at least 2.5 3-pointers per game while shooting 40% or better. One is Jamal Murray, and the other is his new Nuggets teammate, Hardaway.
Signed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract last summer — a significant reduction from the four-year, $75 million deal he previously had with the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons — Hardaway has greatly enhanced Denver’s depth, averaging 13.9 points per game with a career-high 41% shooting from beyond the arc.
What’s the potential playoff impact? The Nuggets ranked 28th in 3-point shooting last season, but they have climbed to 11th this year, largely due to Hardaway’s contributions. He is expected to play a crucial role as Denver aims to return to the Finals this spring, and he may even close out playoff games if the team’s injury issues persist or if fellow newcomer Cameron Johnson’s impact remains limited.
6. Phoenix Suns trade for Dillon Brooks
Why it’s on the list: Initially, it appeared that Brooks was included in the Rockets’ trade for Kevin Durant mainly for salary-matching reasons. However, the veteran wing has had a much more significant impact in Phoenix, where he has led the Suns’ transformation from a lottery team in 2024-25 to a playoff contender in 2025-26.
This move earns a spot on the “best” list not only due to Brooks’ on-court performance — averaging a career-high 20.9 points per game — but also because of his influence on the Suns’ culture off the court.
“He’s in the gym more than anyone I know,” Suns guard Collin Gillespie told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon earlier this season. “You see how hard he works, how competitive he is, and you want to not let your teammate down when you see that. He makes you want to work harder. He challenges you to be in the gym with him, challenges you to play harder.”
What’s the potential playoff impact? Brooks has not played since February 21 due to a broken hand, but his estimated four-to-six-week recovery time suggests he could return in time for the playoffs. The Suns will need a healthy Brooks to make an impact in the postseason, as he ranks second on the team in both points and minutes.
5. Miami Heat trade for Norman Powell
Why it’s on the list: Only two 2026 All-Stars switched teams last summer: Durant, from Phoenix to Houston; and Powell, from the Clippers to the Heat. The cost to acquire an All-Star was Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love — two veterans who no longer fit into this Heat roster.
Powell will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and it remains uncertain whether Miami will choose to re-sign him — particularly with Tyler Herro eligible for an extension concurrently. However, even if he only plays one season in Miami, this acquisition was worthwhile.
What’s the potential playoff impact? Powell’s playoff contribution is more ambiguous than his All-Star status might imply. Due to injuries to both players, Powell and Herro have shared the court for only 207 minutes this season, during which the Heat have been outscored. It is noteworthy that Powell missed all of Miami’s recent seven-game winning streak before returning for losses against the Magic, Hornets, and Lakers last week.
Nevertheless, with a team-high 22.3 points per game, Powell is expected to play a significant role as Miami pursues another underdog playoff run.
4. Brooklyn Nets trade for Michael Porter Jr.
Why it’s on the list: Brooklyn traded Cameron Johnson to Denver for Porter and a 2032 first-round pick, and Porter has significantly outperformed Johnson this season. Thus, Brooklyn acquired the superior player in the trade and a future unprotected pick to enhance its asset pool.
Despite a substantial increase in usage rate — Porter ranks 12th among qualified players this season with a 30.4% usage, compared to his previous career high of 22.7% — his efficiency has not declined significantly on a less competitive team. All those additional opportunities have propelled his scoring to a career-high 24.2 points per game, which is 5.2 points above his previous best.
What’s the potential playoff impact? None, as the Nets are focused on the lottery. However, Brooklyn aims to contend in 2026-27, with no control over its own draft pick next year, making Porter potentially more relevant then.
3. Atlanta Hawks add Nickeil Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade
Why it’s on the list: Alexander-Walker was not initially expected to start this season. With the Timberwolves opting to invest in Julius Randle and Naz Reid last summer instead of their backup guard, Atlanta seized the opportunity to acquire Alexander-Walker for four years and $60.6 million. However, he was anticipated to be a role player backing up Trae Young and Dyson Daniels.
Instead, with Young injured and subsequently traded, Alexander-Walker has emerged as Atlanta’s second-best player. The former defensive standout is now achieving career highs in nearly every offensive category: His 20.3 points per game are almost double his previous season high of 11.0, and he ranks 10th among qualified players with 3.1 three-pointers per game.
Initially ranked fourth on this list, Alexander-Walker moved up after scoring a career-high 41 points in a significant Hawks victory over Orlando last week.
What’s the potential playoff impact? The Hawks are currently the hottest team in the East, boasting a 12-1 record over their last 13 games. This success has propelled them from ninth to a tie for sixth place in the East, and Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson are making a case for their competitiveness in a relatively open playoff landscape.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder extend Ajay Mitchell and trade for Jared McCain
Why it’s on the list: One of the defending champions’ few weaknesses was their playmaking depth behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as the team often struggled to score without its MVP. However, a couple of astute moves have provided the Thunder with two young, cost-effective scorers under contract for three years.
The first was Mitchell, a second-round pick in 2024 who signed a three-year, $8.7 million extension last summer. Now that Mitchell has emerged with an average of 14.2 points per game on strong efficiency, this deal appears to be a masterstroke for Thunder GM Sam Presti. Mitchell’s salary is just $3 million this year, and he is set to earn $2.85 million next year and another $2.85 million in 2027-28. (The final year is technically a team option, but the Thunder are assured to either exercise that option or leverage it in another extension negotiation.)
In all three seasons, Mitchell’s salary represents less than 2% of the salary cap.
Next was McCain, whom the Thunder acquired for a late 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks. McCain remains on his rookie contract, and in 19 games with his new team, he has averaged 22.9 points per 36 minutes while shooting 44% from three-point range.
What’s the potential playoff impact? Thunder coach Mark Daigneault has so many perimeter options that both Mitchell and McCain could see reduced playing time in the postseason. After all, Mitchell ranked 12th on Oklahoma City in playoff minutes last year, and all 11 players ahead of him are still on the roster.
However, Mitchell has recently entered the starting lineup, and McCain has led the Thunder in scoring in three games since the All-Star break. Both young guards have above-average usage rates, indicating they have earned Daigneault’s confidence.
play0:49Shams: 76ers create roster room by trading Jared McCain
Shams Charania provides details on the 76ers’ trade of Jared McCain to the Thunder.
1. Charlotte Hornets draft Kon Knueppel
Why it’s on the list: The first two selections of the 2025 NBA Draft were largely predictable: Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper were the consensus top two prospects, and the Mavericks and Spurs complied by selecting them first and second, respectively.
The decisions became more challenging thereafter, with a large pool of players vying for the next few picks. Leading that group was Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, who was ranked third on our ESPN Big Board, albeit with concerns regarding his representation. However, Philadelphia opted for VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick, who appears to be a future All-Star.
Next was Charlotte, which made an even more impressive selection with the No. 4 pick, Kon Knueppel. It is safe to say that this was the correct choice: Knueppel is the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, having already shattered the rookie record for three-pointers, and he is among the most efficient scorers in the NBA.
What’s the potential playoff impact?: Charlotte seems poised for the play-in round, so it is unlikely — even with the team’s strong performance since the new year — that Knueppel will advance very far this spring.
However, from a long-term perspective, the Hornets made the most significant and impactful decision of any team over the past year. Knueppel represents a cornerstone for what could be the franchise’s most successful period since its reestablishment as an expansion team in 2004.
Ranking the 10 worst moves
10. Cleveland Cavaliers trade for Lonzo Ball
Why it’s on the list: Cleveland’s offseason trade of Isaac Okoro for Ball appeared logical at the time. Okoro is a capable defender but struggled to secure a spot in Cleveland’s playoff rotation due to his offensive limitations, while Ball was seen as a higher-upside connector for the Cavaliers’ star-studded lineup.
However, Ball’s offensive performance plummeted in Cleveland, where he averaged 4.6 points per game on 30% shooting, recording the lowest true shooting percentage in the league (minimum 700 minutes).
Is there any hope? No. Cleveland used two future second-round picks
