As the 2025-26 regular season nears its finish line, ESPN’s Zach Kram reviewed every trade, signing and extension completed after the 2025 NBA Finals and sorted them into two lists: the 10 most successful decisions and the 10 biggest misfires. Using updated production numbers through March 21 and on/off metrics from databallr, Kram scored each transaction strictly by outcome, not by its logic at the time.
Best transactions
1. Charlotte Hornets draft Kon Knueppel (No. 4 overall, 2025)
Knueppel is the Rookie of the Year front-runner, has already broken the rookie three-point record and owns elite efficiency. Charlotte, now tracking for the play-in, secured a long-term cornerstone.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder lock up Ajay Mitchell and add Jared McCain
Mitchell accepted a three-year, $8.7 million extension that never exceeds 2 percent of the cap, while McCain arrived for a late 2026 first and three seconds. Mitchell is scoring 14.2 PPG; McCain is at 22.9 points per 36 minutes on 44 percent from deep.
3. Atlanta Hawks acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade
Signed for four years and $60.6 million, Alexander-Walker has doubled his previous scoring high to 20.3 PPG and recently poured in 41 against Orlando. Atlanta is 12-1 in its last 13 outings.
4. Brooklyn Nets swap Cameron Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first
Porter’s usage has leapt to 30.4 percent without a major drop in efficiency, pushing his average to 24.2 PPG. Brooklyn also pocketed an unprotected future pick.
5. Miami Heat obtain Norman Powell from the Clippers
Powell cost only Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love and is averaging a team-high 22.3 PPG. His future in Miami is unclear because of upcoming Tyler Herro negotiations.
6. Phoenix Suns bring in Dillon Brooks via the Kevin Durant trade
Before breaking his hand on Feb. 21, Brooks was supplying a career-best 20.9 PPG and, by teammates’ accounts, reshaping the club’s work ethic.
7. Denver Nuggets sign Tim Hardaway Jr. for $3.6 million
One of only 14 players hitting at least 2.5 threes per game at 40 percent, Hardaway adds 13.9 PPG and has lifted Denver from 28th to 11th in made threes.
8. San Antonio Spurs ink Luke Kornet (four years, $40.7 million, $24 million guaranteed)
When Victor Wembanyama sits, San Antonio is still +4.3 per 100 possessions with Kornet on the court, giving the Spurs rare backup-center stability.
9. Golden State Warriors re-sign De’Anthony Melton for $3.1 million
Returning from a torn ACL, Melton owns the club’s second-best on-court net rating (+6.0) behind Jimmy Butler.
10. New York Knicks acquire Jose Alvarado at the deadline
Cost: Dalen Terry, two seconds and cash. Result: a team-best +11.8 net rating in his first 19 games at Madison Square Garden.
Worst transactions
1. Milwaukee Bucks waive and stretch Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner
Stretching the remaining $113 million on Lillard’s deal adds $22.5 million in dead money annually through 2029-30. Turner, on a four-year, $108.9 million pact, is posting his lowest PER ever and Milwaukee is headed for its first losing season since 2014-15.
2. New Orleans Pelicans surrender an unprotected 2026 pick to move from No. 23 to 13 in 2025
Atlanta now holds a 10.3 percent chance at the 2026 No. 1 selection and better than 40 percent odds at a top-four slot because of this swap for rookie Derik Queen, whose production has tailed off after the break.
3. Los Angeles Clippers replace Norman Powell with Bradley Beal and Chris Paul
Beal averaged 8.2 PPG in six games before hip surgery; Paul managed 2.9 PPG in 16 outings before being sent home. The anticipated scoring punch never materialized.
4. New Orleans Pelicans sign Kevon Looney and trade for Jordan Poole
Looney has logged only 18 appearances; Poole’s true shooting has dropped to 53 percent and he has fallen out of the rotation, even though he becomes the team’s second-highest-paid player next year.
5. Toronto Raptors hand Jakob Poeltl a three-year, $84.1 million extension
Back issues have limited Poeltl to 32 games, and his scoring has fallen from 14.5 to 10.7 PPG. The contract could complicate future roster moves.
6. Sacramento Kings flip Jonas Valanciunas for Dario Šarić, then attach assets to shed Dennis Schröder
Šarić scored five points in five games; the Kings then spent $44.4 million on Schröder, later attaching Keon Ellis to move him for De’Andre Hunter, who regressed and is due $24.9 million in 2026-27.
7. Houston Rockets sign Dorian Finney-Smith for four years, $53 million
After debuting on Christmas, Finney-Smith is averaging 3.2 PPG and has yet to hit double-figures in any game.
8. New York Knicks add Guerschon Yabusele in free agency
Yabusele’s numbers fell from 11.0 PPG and 38 percent from three in Philadelphia to 2.7 PPG on 29 percent in New York. The Knicks later shipped him out, indirectly turning the misstep into the Alvarado trade.
9. Orlando Magic sign Tyus Jones for one year, $7 million
Jones averaged 3.0 PPG on 34 percent shooting and logged a –11.3 on/off differential before being moved with two seconds as a salary dump.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers trade Isaac Okoro for Lonzo Ball
Ball posted a league-worst true shooting mark (minimum 700 minutes), scoring 4.6 PPG on 30 percent from the floor. Cleveland later attached two second-rounders to unload his contract; Utah waived him.
All statistics are current through games played on March 21.
Source: ESPN
