The 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline just wrapped, and fantasy basketball rosters are about to look very different. Here’s who’s eating and who’s getting buried in the chaos. But I gotta be honest, there aren’t many waiver wire pickups to make based on the moves that were made by Thursday — sigh.
Let’s get to it.
📈 Fantasy Winners
Jalen Smith, FC – Chicago Bulls
Vooch was shipped to Boston, leaving Smith in an optimal position to take on more frontcourt responsibilities. Here’s my whole take on Smith’s upside, but in summary, I’m projecting he’d be at least a top-60 type of player across formats. The Bulls sold off a few of their key starters, leaving a lot of uncertainty everywhere else — but not for Smith (and Josh Giddey).
Kawhi Leonard, FC – Los Angeles Clippers
Harden’s gone, Garland’s in and Kawhi’s usage is about to detonate. The Clippers just handed him the keys to the offense again. Garland’s a complementary piece — not a co-star, plus he’s out with a toe injury. It’s Kawhi’s show now, and if he stays healthy-ish, we’re looking at top-10 fantasy upside rest of season. It’s undoubtedly an “if” though.
Bennedict Mathurin, G,FC – Los Angeles Clippers
A new home breeds new opportunity. I love this deal for Mathurin’s fantasy value, as he’ll join Kawhi and Garland as the Clippers’ primary scoring options. He’ll likely get a new contract and be given free rein to cook. I doubt he’s available in many leagues, but I’d hold if you have him rostered.
Santi Aldama, FC — Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis traded JJJ and Jock Landale, accelerating the franchise’s development plans. Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke are hurt, leaving Aldama as one of the last frontcourt players left standing for the Grizz. He returned to the court on Wednesday, scoring 12 points with 6 boards in under 25 minutes.
Once the minutes trend back up, he’s a guy I’d want to hold onto for the remainder of the season across formats. Cedric Coward gets a boost here, too, along with Taylor Hendricks, who came over from the Jazz. He’s on my deep league watchlist.
Onyeka Okongwu, FC — Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks added Jock Landale in a minor deal, but Okongwu remains the starting center. Once he gets his teeth fixed, he’ll be squarely in the top-50 conversation the rest of the way.
Russell Westbrook, G – Sacramento Kings
With Schroder joining the Cavs, Russ will continue soaking up a majority of PG minutes for the Kings. He’s had a nice resurgence under Doug Christie, averaging 15-6-7 in under 30 minutes per game. The Kings retained all their vets, so even though the team is terrible, they’re not mailing it in yet.
Other winners:
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Wizards’ young core (Tre Johnson, Justin Champagnie and Bilal Coulibaly)
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Naji Marshall – Dallas Mavericks
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Isaiah Collier – Utah Jazz
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Daniel Gafford – Dallas Mavericks
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Jarace Walker – Indiana Pacers
📉 Fantasy Losers
Jaren Jackson Jr., FC — Utah Jazz
I expanded on it here, but landing in Utah in the midst of vying for a top pick in 2026 isn’t good for JJJ’s fantasy value. I’d look to sell, but most fantasy managers are likely well aware of Utah’s late-season shenanigans.
Anthony Davis, FC — Washington Wizards
I covered the full fallout from Dallas trading AD to the Wizards, but the TL;DR is: a move to Washington is essentially the nail in the coffin for AD this season. I don’t expect him to play much, if at all, for the Wizards. Drop him and move on with no regrets.
Coby White, G — Charlotte Hornets
White goes from a featured, starter role to the presumed sixth man of the Hornets.
He’s still looking for a new deal, so he’ll play well enough for the Hornets to consider keeping him around beyond this season. I wouldn’t drop White in fantasy yet. He’s better than Collin Sexton, and they’ll surely use him as the primary option off the bench and a secondary playmaker in certain lineups.
Nikola Vučević, C — Boston Celtics
I’m anticipating a timeshare for Vooch in Boston. Neemias Queta is the better defender and frankly, Vooch won’t have to do as much offensively for Boston. What he does is provide them with another floor-spacing threat who can rebound and play-make enough to warrant 25-28 minutes a night — essentially the Kristaps Porzingis role from last season. You’re not dropping Vučević, but I’d expect some decline in his raw counting stats in Boston.
Jusuf Nurkić, C — Utah Jazz
Sorry, Nurk, your run is done. Nurk will likely be in and out of the rotation the rest of the season with unpredictable minutes. Once a waiver wire gem, Nurk will be a frustrating hold for fantasy managers across formats.
Bulls Guard Rotation (Sexton/Simons/Ivey)
Chicago’s backcourt is complete chaos after deadline day. It moved Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu out and brought in Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton and Jaden Ivey. Nobody knows who’s starting, closing or getting consistent minutes. Avoid this entire situation until rotations stabilize post-deadline — it’s a headache.
Players on the move — still relevant though
Ivica Zubac, FC – Indiana Pacers
The Pacers made a move to get their big man of the future to pair with Tyrese Haliburton next year. What I don’t know is how much they’ll use him when they’re tanking. Still, he’s an easy double-double no matter the team he plays for.
Ayo Dosunmu, G,FC – Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves made one of the better deals at the deadline. Dosunmu is having a career year, and he’ll step into a Nickeil Alexander-Walker-type role for Minnesota. Ayo is both physical and versatile, and the Wolves will utilize his skill set well. There might be a drop-off in counting stats, but I don’t anticipate it being dramatic enough that he won’t be a fantasy asset. Keep holding.
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