A former second-round pick, Middleton had been in Milwaukee since 2013 when he arrived as part of the Brandon Knight-Brandon Jennings trade. Over the past decade, Middleton had become a fan favorite for his clutch shot-making, steady play and playoff heroics during the Bucks’ 2021 title run.
Middleton departs with his name littered atop the Bucks’ all-time leaderboards: second in games played (735), third in points (12,586), seventh in rebounds (3,598), third in assists (2,990), fifth in steals (870) and first in 3-pointers (1,382). One day, he could have his No. 22 raised to the rafters inside Fiserv Forum.
For now, though, the Bucks are thinking only of the present and their chance to win a title in the near future. Let’s grade the trade, which reportedly came with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s approval.
Bucks grade: C-
For the past few weeks, the Bucks have widely been described as one of the most desperate teams ahead of the deadline, and for good reason. They’ve won one playoff series since their championship in 2021 and the title window with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and an aging core was closing fast.
Furthermore, even though they’ve bounced back from a brutal start, they haven’t looked like a true contender this season. They’re 0-8 against the top three teams in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, and sit in fifth place at 26-22.
One of the biggest reasons the Bucks are stuck in the middle of the pack is Middleton’s continued injury issues and inconsistent play. He had double ankle surgery over the summer, the latest in a string of procedures dating back to his knee sprain in the 2022 playoffs, and missed the first 21 games of the season.
Since his return, Middleton has been relegated to a bench role and remains on a minutes restriction. There are nights where he looks like his old self, but others where he’s an afterthought. In fact, he’s gone scoreless three times — the only three times in his career where he’s played at least 15 minutes without registering a point.
It makes complete sense that the Bucks were looking for an upgrade on this diminished version of Middleton, which is why they had been linked to the likes of Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine and even Bradley Beal. Those deals were proving difficult, however, namely because of their second-apron restrictions, which did not allow them to aggregate salaries in a trade. LaVine came off the board before the Middleton-for-Kuzma trade, Butler was traded to the Warriors after, and Beal, who has a no-trade clause, seems happy to stay in Phoenix.
Instead of resigning themselves to working on the margins, the Bucks pivoted to Kuzma, which, as Zach Lowe put it, was “quite a vote of no-confidence in Middleton.”
Middleton is one of the best players in franchise history, a champion and a key locker room figure, and the Bucks dumped him and their most recent first-round pick for a guy who is having by far the least-efficient season of his career and ranks last in the league in win shares.
Again, trying to find an upgrade on Middleton is totally understandable. Trading him for this version of Kuzma is not.
Put aside all of the sentimentality aspects — after all, leaning too hard in that direction is how you get left behind in this league — Middleton is a much better shooter and playmaker than Kuzma, as well as a proven playoff performer. Middleton’s teammates rave about his ability to organize their offense, something that has often been an issue since Damian Lillard’s arrival, and he has an innate connection with Antetokounmpo. He also doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be useful on the offensive end.
In terms of youth and athleticism, as well as size on the wing and availability, the Bucks got an upgrade. That’s about all they can point to. Even if you want to make the case that Kuzma will be better once he’s off this awful Wizards team, he does not solve the issues presented by Middleton’s declining defense or inconsistent offensive performances.
If Kuzma was the best the Bucks could do right now, they would have been better off sticking with Middleton and looking for a different move this summer.
Off the court, the salary cap aspect of this deal cannot be overlooked. Everyone assumed the Bucks would try to get under the second apron by dealing someone like Pat Connaughton, but moving Middleton did the trick. They can now combine salaries in trades, and are likely not done dealing.
Wizards grade: B
There’s not really too much analysis to do here for the Wizards, who, despite back-to-back wins, are enduring a historically bad season at 8-41.
On the Kuzma front, he has been terrible this season and is under contract through 2027. They were certainly glad to move off his long-term money (Kuzma is owed roughly $40 million over the next two seasons). Furthermore, his departure will open up more opportunities for their young players.
For however long Middleton stays around, he’ll be a good locker room influence, and even though he’s almost certain to pick up his player option for 2025-26 this summer, the Wizards might be able to re-route him to a contender for more assets. If not, he’ll at least be off the books sooner than Kuzma would have been.
For their trouble, the Wizards get Johnson, who was the No. 23 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He’s barely played for the Bucks this season, but has shown some flashes in the G League and is an incredible athlete. Still just 20 years old, Johnson fits the Wizards’ timeline and is another young talent for them to potentially develop.
The 2028 secondary swap could also provide dividends.
The Milwaukee Bucks shook up their roster in a major way by trading long-time franchise mainstay Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kyle Kuzma. Middleton, who was a key contributor to the Bucks’ championship run in 2021, has been a fan favorite in Milwaukee for years. So, how did both teams fare in this blockbuster trade? Let’s break down the grades:
Bucks: C-
Losing Middleton is a tough blow for the Bucks, as he was a crucial piece of their championship team and a reliable scorer and defender. While Middleton’s contract was quite hefty, it’s still surprising to see the Bucks move on from him so quickly. In return, they get Kyle Kuzma, a young forward with potential but also inconsistency. Kuzma has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, but he has yet to fully live up to his potential. The Bucks will need him to step up and fill Middleton’s shoes if they hope to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.
Wizards: B
On the other hand, the Wizards make out well in this trade by acquiring a proven veteran in Middleton. Middleton will provide a much-needed scoring punch and veteran leadership to a young Wizards team that is looking to make some noise in the Eastern Conference. While they do give up Kuzma, who showed promise last season, Middleton’s presence should more than make up for his departure. Overall, the Wizards come out ahead in this trade.
In conclusion, the Bucks may have taken a step back by trading Middleton, but only time will tell if Kuzma can help fill the void. Meanwhile, the Wizards have added a valuable piece to their roster in Middleton. It will be interesting to see how both teams fare in the upcoming season.
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Jazz receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 second-round pick from Lakers (their pick from the Clippers) and 2025 second-round pick from Mavericks
Lakers: A
By acquiring the 25-year-old Dončić, the Lakers have set themselves up with a franchise superstar for potentially the next decade. Dončić led the league in scoring last season (33.9 points a game) en route to taking the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. It’s highly unusual for a franchise to deal a 25-year-old superstar in the prime of his career, and when the Mavericks approached the Lakers with the willingness to do so, the 17-time NBA champions rightfully jumped at the chance to secure their future.
Make no mistake, losing Davis is a big blow to the Lakers. Davis is one of the most underappreciated superstars in the NBA. He helped the Lakers win a championship alongside James in 2020. He made four All-Star appearances during his five-and-a-half season tenure with the purple and gold. And he has consistently been one of the league’s top defenders, though he glaringly has never won a Defensive Player of the Year award. In the past few years, James has made it clear that Davis is the Lakers’ best player, even if the NBA world refused to anoint him with that title. And this season, Davis has played MVP-caliber basketball at times, helping the Lakers win eight of their last 10 games and climb to fifth place in the Western Conference.
That said, getting Dončić dramatically changes the Lakers’ future, setting them up to be contenders for years to come, long after the 40-year-old LeBron James retires. Dončić is the future of the NBA. And if the Lakers can convince Dončić to sign a supermax extension, expect the team to be competing for its 18th title in the very near future.
Mavericks: C
Acquiring Davis gives the Mavericks a chance to win now. The Mavericks wanted a defensive specialist who is mature and knows what it takes to be a champion. Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson will be a fearsome Big Three, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they were competing in June.
That said, parting ways with Dončić is a bit of a head scratcher. Sure, there were concerns about his conditioning, and defense has always been a weakness of his. But parting ways with a player of his caliber, at his age, is nothing short of shocking.
The Mavericks wanted to make a move before Dončić was up for a supermax contract extension and, if an agreement wasn’t reached, Dončić potentially had the ability to choose to leave in free agency.
With Davis, the Mavericks have a window to win a championship now. But it’s likely a smaller window than they would’ve had if they were able to hold onto Dončić.
Feb. 1: Clippers free up space in four-player swap
Clippers receive: Drew Eubanks, Patty Mills Jazz receive: Mo Bamba, P.J. Tucker, 2030 second-round pick, cash considerations
The Lakers had two holes they wanted to address with this deal: defense and 3-point shooting. Finney-Smith helps fill both of those holes. He’s a 3&D specialist who could help the Lakers improve in two categories they very much need to shore up. Russell had been inconsistent for the Lakers since they reacquired him in 2023, and, though he vowed to be more professional heading into this season, it was clear that he wasn’t happy coming off the bench and playing a lesser role.
Nets: B
Russell is surely happy with this move. After finishing with 23 points and 10 assists against the New York Knicks on Jan. 21, he told reporters, “I’ll never take being able to play free basketball like this for granted again.” A happy DLo could be a good thing for the Nets, though it remains to be seen if they intend to use him for the buyout market. Either way, this move secured the Nets their former All-Star from 2019 and some more draft capital, which is a good thing.
Schröder gives the Warriors a chance for their scoring to not plummet when Steph Curry needs a rest, and he has proven himself to be a strong defender. Making this deal even sweeter for Golden State: The team didn’t have to give up much to get him, just parting ways with Melton, who only played six games this season before suffering an ACL injury.
Nets: B-
The Nets clearly made this deal with their future in mind. They want to stockpile draft picks and give themselves the most flexibility with their rebuild.
Pacers receive: Thomas Bryant Heat receive: 2031 second-round pick swap
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It’s that time of year again – the NBA trade deadline is upon us! Stay tuned here for live updates on all the latest deals and grades as they happen. From blockbuster trades to last-minute deals, we’ve got you covered with all the breaking news and analysis.
Check back frequently for updates on which players are on the move, which teams are making big moves, and which deals are shaping up to be game-changers. Don’t miss out on any of the action – follow along with us as we bring you all the latest news and updates from the 2025 NBA trade deadline.
The 2025 WNBA offseason has been marked by star movement. Four former All-WNBA picks from the past three seasons have already changed teams via trade this offseason, with more potentially to come.
The Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm kicked things off Sunday with a reported three-team trade sending Jewell Loyd to the Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Sparks via sign-and-trade and a package of draft picks headlined by the No. 2 pick in April’s WNBA draft to the Storm.
On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury made a blockbuster deal to land Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun two seasons after she finished as the runner-up in MVP voting. Three days later, the Mercury paired Thomas with Satou Sabally — both All-WNBA first team picks in 2023 — by striking another sign-and-trade deal involving the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever.
Which teams got the better of these deals? How do the moves impact the rest of the WNBA and what else will we see in free agency? ESPN breaks down all the implications in our trade grades.
Despite saying farewell to Brittney Griner (who agreed to sign with the Atlanta Dream earlier this week) and potentially Diana Taurasi (who is weighing retirement), the Mercury will boast one of the WNBA’s most star-studded rosters in 2025.
Having already landed Alyssa Thomas — the best player to change teams this offseason — Phoenix on Friday agreed to another sign-and-trade that adds Satou Sabally. Add in Kahleah Copper, who was traded to Phoenix last offseason, and the Mercury boast three players who were All-WNBA over the past two years, all of them acquired via trade since the franchise hired Nick U’Ren as general manager and Nate Tibbetts as head coach prior to the 2024 season.
Once Sabally chose Phoenix over the New York Liberty, the other team she met with this offseason, the Mercury made a remarkably favorable deal even by the standards of sign-and-trades involving core players. Phoenix gave up guard Tyasha Harris — acquired alongside Thomas in the deal made earlier in the week — forward Sophie Cunningham, the reserved rights to free agent Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and a second-round pick in exchange for a 26-year-old All-Star (Sabally) plus center Kalani Brown and the reserved rights to guard Sevgi Uzun.
Cunningham was tough to give up for the Mercury, who have seen her develop from a second-round pick into a regular starter over the past three seasons. Cunningham was beloved in the Valley, and her $100,000 contract (via HerHoopStats.com salary data) made her a great value. Still, for Phoenix to land Sabally and Thomas while giving up only a first-round pick (No. 12 overall) is a striking contrast to the Los Angeles Sparks swapping down from No. 2 to No. 9 as part of their sign-and-trade deal for Kelsey Plum earlier in the week.
To some extent, the Mercury probably benefited from their lack of tradeable draft picks. Because their 2026 first-round pick is headed to the Chicago Sky in the Copper deal, the Mercury couldn’t trade another first-rounder outright. A swap of picks in 2027 would have had relatively minimal value to the Wings, though it could have been useful for the Fever.
The Mercury nabbing center Kalani Brown in this deal was also impressive. She has one of the WNBA’s best contracts. Guard Lexie Brown (no relation) is the only other veteran player signed through 2026, when the league’s salary cap is expected to jump thanks to new national TV deals and a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). By that point, Brown’s $132,500 contract could be less than the veteran’s minimum.
Although the stars will be different, Phoenix still figures to have a top-heavy payroll in 2025. Pending possible discounts taken by Sabally and Thomas, the Mercury could have three players at the WNBA’s supermax salary, which would take up nearly half of the league’s hard salary cap. Phoenix will have room to offer another max, potentially to Thomas’ fiancée DeWanna Bonner, but in that scenario, the Mercury will be relying on a number of minimum salaries to fill out the bench without the benefit of remaining draft picks.
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The best of Satou Sabally’s 2024 season
Look back at some of Satou Sabally’s best plays of 2024 for the Wings, who have traded her to the Mercury.
Reserved rights to Uzun could be important in that regard. A EuroLeague veteran, Uzun started 19 games as a WNBA rookie at age 26 last season but shot just 42% on 2s and 24% on 3s. If Uzun plays a large role, potentially as Phoenix’s starting point guard depending on how Thomas is used, she’ll have to be more accurate from the field.
Before the Mercury fill out their roster, a lack of depth could make it difficult for them to maximize their star power in 2025. They likely won’t be in the WNBA’s top tier of contenders alongside the Aces, Minnesota Lynx and Liberty. For that to be even a possibility after three consecutive below-.500 finishes is a testament to what Phoenix has done this offseason.
The Mercury are also setting up for 2026 and beyond. As we’ve seen with Nneka Ogwumike re-signing with the Seattle Storm after joining them on a one-year deal in free agency last offseason, there’s a benefit to incumbency even though Sabally and Thomas are likely to be free agents again next year alongside Copper. For now, Phoenix could also use the core designation on Sabally again next offseason, though that’s subject to CBA negotiations.
If you can get Sabally and Thomas without giving up your star player, you do what it takes to make it happen. To their credit, the Mercury pulled that off.
We can think of this as two separate trades by the Wings, one of which I liked a lot more than the other. Getting Cunningham, Harris, the rights to Herbert Harrigan and the No. 19 pick for Brown, Sabally and the rights to Uzun is a weak return for a core trade. Cunningham is significantly more valuable than Natasha Cloud, who went to the Sun with a higher pick (No. 12) for Thomas. Fortunately, Dallas traded Cunningham and the No. 19 pick to Indiana for NaLyssa Smith and the No. 8 pick, making the overall deal far more favorable.
For the Wings, the success of this trade will largely depend on Smith’s development. The No. 2 pick in 2022, Smith finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and averaged 15.5 PPG and 9.2 RPG in Year 2. Smith’s value suffered last season, when her playing time and production dropped alongside Caitlin Clark. Smith averaged just 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds at an age (24 midseason) when she should be improving.
Even before 2024, some of Smith’s value faded when digging beyond her scoring and rebounding averages. Smith isn’t an efficient scorer because she shoots few 3s (14-of-48 last season) and is just a 62% career foul shooter. Of the 107 WNBA players who attempted at least 100 shots in 2024, Smith ranked 28th by shooting 48% from the field but just 49th with a .520 true shooting percentage, which factors in efficiency across all shots.
Smith also hasn’t made a consistent impact at the defensive end. She tripled her steal and block rates last season, going from 0.6 per game combined in 2023 to 1.8, but defensive concerns were the biggest reason Smith logged just 13 total minutes in the Fever’s first-round sweep by the Connecticut Sun.
Besides banking on Smith improving, Dallas might get her some help on the defensive end. Per league sources, the Wings are pursuing Connecticut restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington, Smith’s girlfriend and former teammate at nearby Baylor. Carrington, an All-Defensive first team pick in 2024, would be an enormous help to a Dallas team that finished last in defensive rating.
The Wings might offer the No. 8 pick to the Sun for Carrington, who is likely to move via sign-and-trade because the CBA stipulates that all offer sheets to restricted free agents must be a minimum of two years. Signing a two-year deal would take Carrington out of the running for a bigger raise as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
This trade also brings Harris back to Dallas, where she was drafted in 2020 and played her first three seasons before being traded to Connecticut. Harris blossomed into a starter last season, making 40% of her 3s and averaging a career-high 10.5 points. On a value contract for $100,000 in 2025, Harris could slot in as a backup point guard if the Wings draft either Paige Bueckers or Olivia Miles with the No. 1 pick but is capable of starting if Dallas doesn’t have a rookie at the position.
It’s easy to see the Fever’s logic. Adding Natasha Howard, who reportedly agreed to sign with Indiana earlier Friday, would have moved Smith to a smaller bench role this season. And Cunningham’s shooting and ability to play either forward spot make her an ideal fit for Indiana. Still, I don’t love the value of this trade.
I dislike the Fever trading away what might be their highest first-round pick in a while. If Clark and Aliyah Boston develop as we expect, Indiana will be picking in the bottom handful of spots of the first round, which will expand to 15 picks starting in 2026 with two expansion franchises joining the WNBA. That the Fever had to throw in the No. 8 pick to get Cunningham suggests the rest of the WNBA didn’t value Smith as a quality young player.
Does adding Natasha Howard make the Indiana Fever title contenders? @RebeccaLobo thinks Caitlin Clark and the Fever are now “one piece away” from entering title conversations pic.twitter.com/s2JoXBxGUZ
On the plus side, Cunningham should work well as a running mate for Clark. A 38% 3-point shooter over the past four seasons, Cunningham ranks 13th among all WNBA players in made 3s over that span. Cunningham could compete with Lexie Hull for a starting spot at small forward and also back up Howard as a power forward in smaller lineups with more floor spacing. Cunningham is more dangerous offensively matching up against power forwards, but gives up size and shot-blocking ability at that spot.
Thanks to the rookie contracts for Boston and Clark, Indiana could sign Howard for the max and still have more than $185,000 in cap space to fill the team’s final roster spot. Depending on interest from free agents, the Fever might take that cap room into the season to have the flexibility to add via trade before the deadline.
The 2025 Mercury are going to look much different from what we’ve seen in the Valley.
We’ve seen Phoenix add stars in the past five years, but to complement cornerstone veterans Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. In 2020, that was Skylar Diggins-Smith, who helped the Mercury reach the Finals in 2021 before her relationship with the team deteriorated. Last year, it was Kahleah Copper, who got Phoenix back to the playoffs after a 9-31 finish in 2023 but not back to .500.
Adding Thomas is different. If Griner (who is taking meetings as an unrestricted free agent for the first time) or Taurasi (whose return for a 21st WNBA season is uncertain) remain on the Mercury, they’ll be tasked to fit in around Thomas rather than the opposite.
At surface level, Thomas is an unlikely star for Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts’ offense, which is predicated on floor spacing. During Tibbetts’ first season, the Mercury went from attempting 32% of their shots from 3-point range in 2023 to 39%, third highest in the league.
Thomas hasn’t made a 3-pointer since her rookie season and is 2-for-21 beyond the arc in her WNBA career. But Thomas is near the top of the league when it comes to generating 3-pointers for her teammates. Thomas ranked second in 3s from her passes in 2024, behind only Cloud.
Given that Phoenix GM Nick U’Ren came from the Golden State Warriors, the inevitable comparison for how Thomas could play with the Mercury is prime Draymond Green. Like most versatile posts, Thomas has preferred to play alongside a traditional big, spending most of her Connecticut career first next to Jonquel Jones and then Brionna Jones (and occasionally both).
Lineups with Thomas at center and maximum shooting around her — a la the Warriors’ so-called “Death Lineup” that U’Ren famously suggested to head coach Steve Kerr during the 2015 NBA Finals en route to Golden State’s first title — figure to maximize her impact.
We saw that in 2023, when Brionna Jones sustained an Achilles rupture with the Sun off to a 10-3 start, forcing Thomas to play more in the middle. Connecticut went 17-10 the rest of the way without an All-Star post, and Thomas finished second in MVP voting after averaging 15.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists over the final 27 games.
Defensively, the Death Lineup comp also works. The Mercury switched the second-most on-ball screens in the WNBA last season, per Second Spectrum tracking data, but were limited in that regard by Griner’s need to stay anchored near the paint. According to Second Spectrum, Phoenix switched just 7% of picks when Griner defended the screen setter, compared to 23% overall. Lineups with Thomas at center could allow the Mercury to switch as a base defense.
Who else fills out that lineup remains to be seen. Getting Harris back was key to making this trade work financially for Phoenix, which doesn’t have any players remaining on rookie contracts. (The Mercury, who were in win-now mode throughout Taurasi’s later career, last made and kept a first-round pick in 2019.) At $100,000 in the final season of her contract, Harris won’t make appreciably more than the No. 12 pick, and is a proven starting point guard.
The Mercury are still in pursuit of one of the top other remaining uncommitted free agents, Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings. Like Thomas, Sabally was her team’s core player, meaning Phoenix would have to strike a deal with Dallas if Sabally chooses the Mercury.
With the salaries of Allen and Cloud no longer on the books, Phoenix has enough cap room to give both Sabally and Thomas the supermax and still sign DeWanna Bonner (Thomas’ fiancée who started her career with the Mercury) to a max offer as an unrestricted free agent.
Until Phoenix fills out the roster, it’s tough to say how seriously we should take the Mercury as title contenders. But adding Thomas puts Phoenix back in that conversation for the first time since reaching the 2021 WNBA Finals.
Connecticut Sun: B-
The 2025 Sun are going to look much different from what we’ve seen before. Coaches and teammates have come and gone, with Thomas as the constant as the Sun won at least 60% of their games in all but one season since 2017. (And that one below-.500 season, 2020, saw Thomas drag Connecticut to the semifinals.)
The Sun have done a remarkable job of remaking the roster around Thomas, including shaking off the trade sending former MVP Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty. But losing Thomas and coach Stephanie White, with both Bonner and Brionna Jones unrestricted free agents, heralds the start of a new era in Connecticut.
In particular, Thomas’ departure suggests facilities issues might finally be catching up with the Sun. It’s probably no coincidence that Thomas wanted out not long after lamenting Connecticut sharing the team’s practice court with a child’s birthday party during the playoffs. Like Las Vegas and Seattle, Phoenix has invested in a dedicated practice facility for the Mercury, upping the ante ahead of a 2026 offseason, when virtually every veteran player of note can be a free agent.
The timing of Thomas’ departure isn’t ideal for the Sun, who gave up swap rights on their 2026 first-round pick in the deal to add Marina Mabrey from the Chicago Sky last summer. Incidentally, Chicago can swap a first-round pick from Phoenix — acquired in the Copper trade — with Connecticut’s pick, meaning the Sun might not benefit if they fall into the lottery.
With that in mind, the Sun will surely try to compete in 2025. Allen, Cloud and Mabrey give them three capable starters, and Connecticut also has the rights to restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington. Although Brionna Jones is fully unrestricted after playing two years on the core designation, the Sun can offer her more than any team to re-sign via the supermax.
Getting a first-round pick from the Mercury helps Connecticut replace the team’s own first-rounder, which also went to the Sky in the Mabrey deal. Pending the remainder of free agency, this is a solid package that should allow the Sun to remain competitive. Still, without Thomas as the anchor, the odds are against Connecticut continuing its semifinal streak.
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Kelsey Plum’s top moments from past season
Check out some of Kelsey Plum’s top moments from her last season with the Aces as she has been traded to the Sparks.
Jan. 26: How the Kelsey Plum-Jewell Loyd blockbuster shakes up three teams — and possibly the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes
Aces get: Jewell Loyd, No. 13 pick in 2025 draft Sparks get: Kelsey Plum, No. 9 pick in 2025 draft, 2026 second-round pick Storm get: Li Yueru, No. 2 pick in 2025 draft, 2026 first-round pick
Who won Sunday’s blockbuster WNBA trade involving All-Stars Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum, plus the No. 2 pick of the upcoming draft?
As reported by ESPN, the three-team trade fulfills Loyd’s trade request by sending her to the Las Vegas Aces to replace Plum, who will join the Los Angeles Sparks via sign-and-trade after the Aces used their core designation to take her out of free agency. Meanwhile, the Storm move up from No. 9 to No. 2 in April’s draft — which could facilitate an offer to land the No. 1 pick from the Dallas Wings if top prospect Paige Bueckers of the UConn Huskies prefers not to play in Dallas.
Las Vegas Aces: B+
If Plum wanted out, Loyd was almost certainly the best replacement the Aces could get. There’s great familiarity on both sides. Loyd has teamed with Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young for USA Basketball, winning gold last summer, and she has played more playoff games against Las Vegas than any other opponent — averaging 16.7 points in those games, better than Loyd’s overall playoff average of 15.7 points.
Loyd also shares an agent, Jade-Li English, with her new teammates Gray, Wilson and Young. After the ugly breakup between Loyd and the Storm, which culminated in a trade request last month, those ties can help Las Vegas feel confident Loyd will stay with the Aces beyond the one season remaining on her contract.
From a basketball standpoint, Loyd comes to Las Vegas knowing she won’t be the first option on offense. Loyd’s spot in the pecking order in Seattle after the additions of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike was less clear. Although Loyd remained the Storm’s leader in usage rate (29%), Ogwumike was Seattle’s best player, earning All-WNBA second-team honors as Loyd was shut out.
Part of the issue was Loyd’s adjustment in shot selection after having a bigger offensive role in 2023, when Seattle had just one other double-figure scorer (Ezi Magbegor) and she set a single-season record for points that Wilson broke last year. Loyd’s usage rate went down playing alongside Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike, but she took too many off-balance jumpers early in the shot clock.
Per Second Spectrum tracking, Loyd’s 39.8% quantified shot quality — the effective field goal percentage we’d expect from an average player on the same shots based on location, type and distance to nearby defenders — was the lowest among all players with at least 50 attempts. Plum’s quantified shot quality, by contrast, was 47.5%.
We don’t have Second Spectrum data for Loyd’s time playing alongside Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, who teamed up to win WNBA championships in 2018 and 2020, but Loyd’s efficiency was far better. Loyd shot 38% from 3-point range and had a .541 true shooting percentage from 2017 to 2022, as compared with 27% on 3s and a .497 true shooting percentage in 2024.
By teaming up with another MVP, plus two other Olympians, Loyd is choosing a role similar to the bulk of her Storm career. From 2018 to 2022, Loyd’s usage rate was 26% of Seattle’s plays, in the same ballpark as Plum’s 25% usage last season.
Adding Loyd’s supermax salary ($249,032) will make it more challenging for the Aces to build their roster. Including Plum, Las Vegas’ stars had repeatedly taken below-market extensions, meaning Wilson was previously the Aces’ highest-paid player for 2025 at $200,000, according to salary data from HerHoopStats.com.
Even with the flexibility of non-guaranteed contracts for centers Megan Gustafson and Kiah Stokes, Las Vegas will probably have to choose between adding one more player at max-type money or splitting that salary among multiple veterans. The latter scenario could include bringing back key contributors Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes, both unrestricted free agents.
Flipping a 2026 first-round pick that has a decent chance of being lower in a 15-team league than the second-round pick they’re getting back this year (No. 13 overall) helps the Aces financially because that player will be on a modest rookie contract. Effectively, Las Vegas replaced the team’s 2025 first-round pick that the WNBA rescinded due to impermissible benefits.
Of course, we’ve also seen the Aces get discounts before by virtue of free agents’ desire to play for a championship contender in a first-class facility. If Las Vegas can find a way to add Loyd and a top free agent without sacrificing depth, this grade will bump up to an A.
Los Angeles Sparks: B-
Adding Plum is a fascinating move for the Sparks that signals their intent to snap a four-year playoff drought by accelerating their rebuild with an upgrade to their backcourt.
We can probably trace the decision to expedite the rebuild to the trade Los Angeles made on the eve of 2024 free agency, acquiring the No. 4 pick (used on Rickea Jackson) from the Storm along with Kia Nurse in exchange for the Sparks’ 2026 first-round pick. Without that pick, Los Angeles wouldn’t benefit from another season in the lottery.
Giving up the No. 2 pick in this deal is painful for the Sparks, who have gone from dreaming of adding Bueckers to their young talent by winning the lottery to having only the No. 9 pick in this year’s first two rounds. Still, given the difficulty of attracting top talent without a dedicated practice facility, I can understand why they wanted to take advantage of Plum’s interest.
Despite going 8-32 in 2024, Los Angeles already has plenty of frontcourt pieces. Dearica Hamby is coming off an All-Star season during which she finished second in most improved player voting, while Jackson was chosen for the All-Rookie team and No. 2 pick Cameron Brink was on track to doing so before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in June. Veteran Azura Stevens is a fourth capable frontcourt starter.
The Sparks’ backcourt was their undoing. Besides those four players, eight of the other 10 Los Angeles regulars — all but Rae Burrell and restricted free agent Aari McDonald — rated worse than replacement level by my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric. Los Angeles hasn’t had an All-Star guard since Gray left for the Aces as an unrestricted free agent before the 2021 season.
Enter Plum, who will likely be the best guard to change teams this offseason. An All-Star each of the past three seasons, she peaked as an All-WNBA first-team pick in 2022, when Las Vegas won the first of its back-to-back titles. Presuming the Sparks re-sign Plum after this season, they’ll have a window to win while she’s still playing at an All-Star level and their 2024 first-round picks are approaching their prime years.
To help Plum, Los Angeles should continue upgrading the backcourt. Plum didn’t miss Gray alongside her in the backcourt despite Plum’s shooting slump to start 2024, but her shot quality improved after Gray’s return from a foot injury. Before Gray’s first start on June 21, Plum’s quantified shot quality was 45%, according to Second Spectrum’s metric, putting her in the 33rd percentile leaguewide. The rest of the season, that improved to a league-average 49%.
It’s possible Julie Allemand could be the playmaker the Sparks need. The Belgian point guard was set to join Los Angeles after a February trade but was sidelined because of an ankle injury that required surgery. Allemand averaged 5.8 assists in her only full WNBA campaign as a starter for the Indiana Fever in 2020. Back healthy after missing the Olympics, Allemand is averaging 7.3 points and a team-high 6.1 assists in EuroLeague play this season for Fenerbahce.
Alternatively, Los Angeles could still add another max player to Plum in free agency. Courtney Vandersloot would be a logical target.
Blockbuster WNBA deal: The Seattle Storm are trading six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a multi-team move that sends three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, sources tell me, @ramonashelburne, @alexaphilippou, @kendra__andrews. pic.twitter.com/OlRb37RKIA
Trading Loyd for a package built around draft picks probably wasn’t Plan A for the Storm, who are expected to re-sign Ogwumike and cored player Gabby Williams to go with Diggins-Smith and Ezi Magbegor as a veteran group hoping to contend.
Swapping Loyd for Plum would have been convenient for Seattle, but Plum evidently wasn’t as interested in returning to the state where she starred at the University of Washington as going back to her native Southern California. The Storm could still trade the No. 2 pick to another team for veteran help — for example, a package built around Ariel Atkins from the rebuilding Washington Mystics — but I think getting that high in the draft changes the equation.
Landing the No. 2 pick suddenly puts Seattle in position to make a run at the No. 1 pick if Bueckers tells the Wings she’d rather return for a sixth year of college eligibility than come to Dallas. Given their year-old practice facility, strong fan support and history with UConn point guards, the Storm would be an attractive landing spot for Bueckers.
Seattle could offer the Wings the No. 2 pick and additional first-rounders — including the Sparks’ 2026 first-rounder, which has upside if Los Angeles misses the playoffs because the WNBA lottery standings reflect the record over the past two seasons combined.
The Storm now have a league-high five first-round picks over the next three years to offer for No. 1. (The Chicago Sky, who pick third, also hold five first-round picks.)
If Bueckers goes No. 1 to Dallas, or another team, Seattle would have its pick of Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Olivia Miles, USC Trojans post Kiki Iriafen and French center Dominique Malonga. None fills an immediate need for the Storm — it’s unclear whether any would start as rookies — but each has the long-term potential to be part of a young core, including Magbegor (25) and Jordan Horston (23) and the pair of 2026 first-rounders.
Replacing Loyd’s supermax salary with the No. 2 pick, set to make $78,331, gives Seattle more cap flexibility. Even if Williams also takes the supermax offer guaranteed by the core designation and Ogwumike signs for the max, the Storm could make another near-max offer to a free agent.
There’s no obvious replacement for Loyd in unrestricted free agency, but Seattle has the flexibility to add a bigger wing such as Clark or Aerial Powers or could try to add another ball handler, with Vandersloot and Natisha Hiedeman as realistic options.
As for Li, she’s an interesting fit on a Storm team with the lithe Magbegor at center. Unrestricted free agent Mercedes Russell, who’s unlikely to return given her friendship with Loyd, matched up against post-up centers the past couple of seasons. Now that role could fall to the 6-foot-7 Li, who received extended minutes last season against the Connecticut Sun (Brionna Jones), Dallas Wings (Teaira McCowan) and Phoenix Mercury (Brittney Griner).
Perhaps best for Seattle, Li is a reserved free agent who is likely to play next season for the league minimum of $66,079. That’s important for a Storm team that will be trying to stretch every dollar filling out its bench.
Barring a trade for Bueckers or a veteran shooting guard, Seattle probably won’t have as strong a roster in 2025 as last season, when the Storm looked like contenders entering the season. But Seattle is in position to win now while also building through the draft for the first time since taking Loyd and Stewart with the No. 1 pick in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
The 2025 WNBA offseason has been full of surprising trades and roster shake-ups. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest moves and grade each team’s performance in these trades.
Winners:
Seattle Storm: The Storm made a splash by acquiring star forward Breanna Stewart from the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a package of draft picks. This move instantly makes Seattle a title contender and gives them a dynamic duo with Stewart and Sue Bird. Grade: A+
Connecticut Sun: The Sun traded for veteran guard Diana Taurasi, giving them a proven scorer and leader to complement their young core. Taurasi’s experience and clutch play will be invaluable to a team looking to make a deep playoff run. Grade: A
Los Angeles Sparks: The Sparks landed talented forward A’ja Wilson in a blockbuster trade with the New York Liberty. Wilson gives LA a dominant presence in the paint and elevates their championship aspirations. Grade: A-
Losers:
Dallas Wings: The Wings traded away star guard Arike Ogunbowale to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for a package of role players and draft picks. While they received some assets in return, losing Ogunbowale significantly weakens their roster. Grade: C-
Chicago Sky: The Sky traded away veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot to the Minnesota Lynx for a package of draft picks. While Vandersloot is nearing the end of her career, her leadership and playmaking will be sorely missed in Chicago. Grade: D+
Overall, the 2025 WNBA offseason saw some teams make bold moves to improve their rosters, while others may have taken a step back. It will be interesting to see how these trades play out once the season begins.
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WNBA offseason trade grades, WNBA trade winners and losers 2025, WNBA trade analysis, WNBA trade rumors, WNBA offseason updates, WNBA trade reviews, WNBA player trades, WNBA team transactions, WNBA trade season 2025
The 2025 WNBA offseason has been marked by star movement. Four former All-WNBA picks from the past three seasons have already changed teams via trade this offseason, with more potentially to come.
The Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm kicked things off Sunday with a reported three-team trade sending Jewell Loyd to the Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Sparks via sign-and-trade and a package of draft picks headlined by the No. 2 pick in April’s WNBA draft to the Storm.
On Tuesday, the Phoenix Mercury made a blockbuster deal to land Alyssa Thomas from the Connecticut Sun two seasons after she finished as the runner-up in MVP voting. Three days later, the Mercury paired Thomas with Satou Sabally — both All-WNBA first team picks in 2023 — by striking another sign-and-trade deal involving the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever.
Which teams got the better of these deals? How do the moves impact the rest of the WNBA and what else will we see in free agency? ESPN breaks down all the implications in our trade grades.
Despite saying farewell to Brittney Griner (who agreed to sign with the Atlanta Dream earlier this week) and potentially Diana Taurasi (who is weighing retirement), the Mercury will boast one of the WNBA’s most star-studded rosters in 2025.
Having already landed Alyssa Thomas — the best player to change teams this offseason — Phoenix on Friday agreed to another sign-and-trade that adds Satou Sabally. Add in Kahleah Copper, who was traded to Phoenix last offseason, and the Mercury boast three players who were All-WNBA over the past two years, all of them acquired via trade since the franchise hired Nick U’Ren as general manager and Nate Tibbetts as head coach prior to the 2024 season.
Once Sabally chose Phoenix over the New York Liberty, the other team she met with this offseason, the Mercury made a remarkably favorable deal even by the standards of sign-and-trades involving core players. Phoenix gave up guard Tyasha Harris — acquired alongside Thomas in the deal made earlier in the week — forward Sophie Cunningham, the reserved rights to free agent Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and a second-round pick in exchange for a 26-year-old All-Star (Sabally) plus center Kalani Brown and the reserved rights to guard Sevgi Uzun.
Cunningham was tough to give up for the Mercury, who have seen her develop from a second-round pick into a regular starter over the past three seasons. Cunningham was beloved in the Valley, and her $100,000 contract (via HerHoopStats.com salary data) made her a great value. Still, for Phoenix to land Sabally and Thomas while giving up only a first-round pick (No. 12 overall) is a striking contrast to the Los Angeles Sparks swapping down from No. 2 to No. 9 as part of their sign-and-trade deal for Kelsey Plum earlier in the week.
To some extent, the Mercury probably benefited from their lack of tradeable draft picks. Because their 2026 first-round pick is headed to the Chicago Sky in the Copper deal, the Mercury couldn’t trade another first-rounder outright. A swap of picks in 2027 would have had relatively minimal value to the Wings, though it could have been useful for the Fever.
The Mercury nabbing center Kalani Brown in this deal was also impressive. She has one of the WNBA’s best contracts. Guard Lexie Brown (no relation) is the only other veteran player signed through 2026, when the league’s salary cap is expected to jump thanks to new national TV deals and a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). By that point, Brown’s $132,500 contract could be less than the veteran’s minimum.
Although the stars will be different, Phoenix still figures to have a top-heavy payroll in 2025. Pending possible discounts taken by Sabally and Thomas, the Mercury could have three players at the WNBA’s supermax salary, which would take up nearly half of the league’s hard salary cap. Phoenix will have room to offer another max, potentially to Thomas’ fiancée DeWanna Bonner, but in that scenario, the Mercury will be relying on a number of minimum salaries to fill out the bench without the benefit of remaining draft picks.
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The best of Satou Sabally’s 2024 season
Look back at some of Satou Sabally’s best plays of 2024 for the Wings, who have traded her to the Mercury.
Reserved rights to Uzun could be important in that regard. A EuroLeague veteran, Uzun started 19 games as a WNBA rookie at age 26 last season but shot just 42% on 2s and 24% on 3s. If Uzun plays a large role, potentially as Phoenix’s starting point guard depending on how Thomas is used, she’ll have to be more accurate from the field.
Before the Mercury fill out their roster, a lack of depth could make it difficult for them to maximize their star power in 2025. They likely won’t be in the WNBA’s top tier of contenders alongside the Aces, Minnesota Lynx and Liberty. For that to be even a possibility after three consecutive below-.500 finishes is a testament to what Phoenix has done this offseason.
The Mercury are also setting up for 2026 and beyond. As we’ve seen with Nneka Ogwumike re-signing with the Seattle Storm after joining them on a one-year deal in free agency last offseason, there’s a benefit to incumbency even though Sabally and Thomas are likely to be free agents again next year alongside Copper. For now, Phoenix could also use the core designation on Sabally again next offseason, though that’s subject to CBA negotiations.
If you can get Sabally and Thomas without giving up your star player, you do what it takes to make it happen. To their credit, the Mercury pulled that off.
We can think of this as two separate trades by the Wings, one of which I liked a lot more than the other. Getting Cunningham, Harris, the rights to Herbert Harrigan and the No. 19 pick for Brown, Sabally and the rights to Uzun is a weak return for a core trade. Cunningham is significantly more valuable than Natasha Cloud, who went to the Sun with a higher pick (No. 12) for Thomas. Fortunately, Dallas traded Cunningham and the No. 19 pick to Indiana for NaLyssa Smith and the No. 8 pick, making the overall deal far more favorable.
For the Wings, the success of this trade will largely depend on Smith’s development. The No. 2 pick in 2022, Smith finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and averaged 15.5 PPG and 9.2 RPG in Year 2. Smith’s value suffered last season, when her playing time and production dropped alongside Caitlin Clark. Smith averaged just 10.7 points and 7.1 rebounds at an age (24 midseason) when she should be improving.
Even before 2024, some of Smith’s value faded when digging beyond her scoring and rebounding averages. Smith isn’t an efficient scorer because she shoots few 3s (14-of-48 last season) and is just a 62% career foul shooter. Of the 107 WNBA players who attempted at least 100 shots in 2024, Smith ranked 28th by shooting 48% from the field but just 49th with a .520 true shooting percentage, which factors in efficiency across all shots.
Smith also hasn’t made a consistent impact at the defensive end. She tripled her steal and block rates last season, going from 0.6 per game combined in 2023 to 1.8, but defensive concerns were the biggest reason Smith logged just 13 total minutes in the Fever’s first-round sweep by the Connecticut Sun.
Besides banking on Smith improving, Dallas might get her some help on the defensive end. Per league sources, the Wings are pursuing Connecticut restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington, Smith’s girlfriend and former teammate at nearby Baylor. Carrington, an All-Defensive first team pick in 2024, would be an enormous help to a Dallas team that finished last in defensive rating.
The Wings might offer the No. 8 pick to the Sun for Carrington, who is likely to move via sign-and-trade because the CBA stipulates that all offer sheets to restricted free agents must be a minimum of two years. Signing a two-year deal would take Carrington out of the running for a bigger raise as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
This trade also brings Harris back to Dallas, where she was drafted in 2020 and played her first three seasons before being traded to Connecticut. Harris blossomed into a starter last season, making 40% of her 3s and averaging a career-high 10.5 points. On a value contract for $100,000 in 2025, Harris could slot in as a backup point guard if the Wings draft either Paige Bueckers or Olivia Miles with the No. 1 pick but is capable of starting if Dallas doesn’t have a rookie at the position.
It’s easy to see the Fever’s logic. Adding Natasha Howard, who reportedly agreed to sign with Indiana earlier Friday, would have moved Smith to a smaller bench role this season. And Cunningham’s shooting and ability to play either forward spot make her an ideal fit for Indiana. Still, I don’t love the value of this trade.
I dislike the Fever trading away what might be their highest first-round pick in a while. If Clark and Aliyah Boston develop as we expect, Indiana will be picking in the bottom handful of spots of the first round, which will expand to 15 picks starting in 2026 with two expansion franchises joining the WNBA. That the Fever had to throw in the No. 8 pick to get Cunningham suggests the rest of the WNBA didn’t value Smith as a quality young player.
Does adding Natasha Howard make the Indiana Fever title contenders? @RebeccaLobo thinks Caitlin Clark and the Fever are now “one piece away” from entering title conversations pic.twitter.com/s2JoXBxGUZ
On the plus side, Cunningham should work well as a running mate for Clark. A 38% 3-point shooter over the past four seasons, Cunningham ranks 13th among all WNBA players in made 3s over that span. Cunningham could compete with Lexie Hull for a starting spot at small forward and also back up Howard as a power forward in smaller lineups with more floor spacing. Cunningham is more dangerous offensively matching up against power forwards, but gives up size and shot-blocking ability at that spot.
Thanks to the rookie contracts for Boston and Clark, Indiana could sign Howard for the max and still have more than $185,000 in cap space to fill the team’s final roster spot. Depending on interest from free agents, the Fever might take that cap room into the season to have the flexibility to add via trade before the deadline.
The 2025 Mercury are going to look much different from what we’ve seen in the Valley.
We’ve seen Phoenix add stars in the past five years, but to complement cornerstone veterans Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. In 2020, that was Skylar Diggins-Smith, who helped the Mercury reach the Finals in 2021 before her relationship with the team deteriorated. Last year, it was Kahleah Copper, who got Phoenix back to the playoffs after a 9-31 finish in 2023 but not back to .500.
Adding Thomas is different. If Griner (who is taking meetings as an unrestricted free agent for the first time) or Taurasi (whose return for a 21st WNBA season is uncertain) remain on the Mercury, they’ll be tasked to fit in around Thomas rather than the opposite.
At surface level, Thomas is an unlikely star for Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts’ offense, which is predicated on floor spacing. During Tibbetts’ first season, the Mercury went from attempting 32% of their shots from 3-point range in 2023 to 39%, third highest in the league.
Thomas hasn’t made a 3-pointer since her rookie season and is 2-for-21 beyond the arc in her WNBA career. But Thomas is near the top of the league when it comes to generating 3-pointers for her teammates. Thomas ranked second in 3s from her passes in 2024, behind only Cloud.
Given that Phoenix GM Nick U’Ren came from the Golden State Warriors, the inevitable comparison for how Thomas could play with the Mercury is prime Draymond Green. Like most versatile posts, Thomas has preferred to play alongside a traditional big, spending most of her Connecticut career first next to Jonquel Jones and then Brionna Jones (and occasionally both).
Lineups with Thomas at center and maximum shooting around her — a la the Warriors’ so-called “Death Lineup” that U’Ren famously suggested to head coach Steve Kerr during the 2015 NBA Finals en route to Golden State’s first title — figure to maximize her impact.
We saw that in 2023, when Brionna Jones sustained an Achilles rupture with the Sun off to a 10-3 start, forcing Thomas to play more in the middle. Connecticut went 17-10 the rest of the way without an All-Star post, and Thomas finished second in MVP voting after averaging 15.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists over the final 27 games.
Defensively, the Death Lineup comp also works. The Mercury switched the second-most on-ball screens in the WNBA last season, per Second Spectrum tracking data, but were limited in that regard by Griner’s need to stay anchored near the paint. According to Second Spectrum, Phoenix switched just 7% of picks when Griner defended the screen setter, compared to 23% overall. Lineups with Thomas at center could allow the Mercury to switch as a base defense.
Who else fills out that lineup remains to be seen. Getting Harris back was key to making this trade work financially for Phoenix, which doesn’t have any players remaining on rookie contracts. (The Mercury, who were in win-now mode throughout Taurasi’s later career, last made and kept a first-round pick in 2019.) At $100,000 in the final season of her contract, Harris won’t make appreciably more than the No. 12 pick, and is a proven starting point guard.
The Mercury are still in pursuit of one of the top other remaining uncommitted free agents, Satou Sabally of the Dallas Wings. Like Thomas, Sabally was her team’s core player, meaning Phoenix would have to strike a deal with Dallas if Sabally chooses the Mercury.
With the salaries of Allen and Cloud no longer on the books, Phoenix has enough cap room to give both Sabally and Thomas the supermax and still sign DeWanna Bonner (Thomas’ fiancée who started her career with the Mercury) to a max offer as an unrestricted free agent.
Until Phoenix fills out the roster, it’s tough to say how seriously we should take the Mercury as title contenders. But adding Thomas puts Phoenix back in that conversation for the first time since reaching the 2021 WNBA Finals.
Connecticut Sun: B-
The 2025 Sun are going to look much different from what we’ve seen before. Coaches and teammates have come and gone, with Thomas as the constant as the Sun won at least 60% of their games in all but one season since 2017. (And that one below-.500 season, 2020, saw Thomas drag Connecticut to the semifinals.)
The Sun have done a remarkable job of remaking the roster around Thomas, including shaking off the trade sending former MVP Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty. But losing Thomas and coach Stephanie White, with both Bonner and Brionna Jones unrestricted free agents, heralds the start of a new era in Connecticut.
In particular, Thomas’ departure suggests facilities issues might finally be catching up with the Sun. It’s probably no coincidence that Thomas wanted out not long after lamenting Connecticut sharing the team’s practice court with a child’s birthday party during the playoffs. Like Las Vegas and Seattle, Phoenix has invested in a dedicated practice facility for the Mercury, upping the ante ahead of a 2026 offseason, when virtually every veteran player of note can be a free agent.
The timing of Thomas’ departure isn’t ideal for the Sun, who gave up swap rights on their 2026 first-round pick in the deal to add Marina Mabrey from the Chicago Sky last summer. Incidentally, Chicago can swap a first-round pick from Phoenix — acquired in the Copper trade — with Connecticut’s pick, meaning the Sun might not benefit if they fall into the lottery.
With that in mind, the Sun will surely try to compete in 2025. Allen, Cloud and Mabrey give them three capable starters, and Connecticut also has the rights to restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington. Although Brionna Jones is fully unrestricted after playing two years on the core designation, the Sun can offer her more than any team to re-sign via the supermax.
Getting a first-round pick from the Mercury helps Connecticut replace the team’s own first-rounder, which also went to the Sky in the Mabrey deal. Pending the remainder of free agency, this is a solid package that should allow the Sun to remain competitive. Still, without Thomas as the anchor, the odds are against Connecticut continuing its semifinal streak.
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Kelsey Plum’s top moments from past season
Check out some of Kelsey Plum’s top moments from her last season with the Aces as she has been traded to the Sparks.
Jan. 26: How the Kelsey Plum-Jewell Loyd blockbuster shakes up three teams — and possibly the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes
Aces get: Jewell Loyd, No. 13 pick in 2025 draft Sparks get: Kelsey Plum, No. 9 pick in 2025 draft, 2026 second-round pick Storm get: Li Yueru, No. 2 pick in 2025 draft, 2026 first-round pick
Who won Sunday’s blockbuster WNBA trade involving All-Stars Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum, plus the No. 2 pick of the upcoming draft?
As reported by ESPN, the three-team trade fulfills Loyd’s trade request by sending her to the Las Vegas Aces to replace Plum, who will join the Los Angeles Sparks via sign-and-trade after the Aces used their core designation to take her out of free agency. Meanwhile, the Storm move up from No. 9 to No. 2 in April’s draft — which could facilitate an offer to land the No. 1 pick from the Dallas Wings if top prospect Paige Bueckers of the UConn Huskies prefers not to play in Dallas.
Las Vegas Aces: B+
If Plum wanted out, Loyd was almost certainly the best replacement the Aces could get. There’s great familiarity on both sides. Loyd has teamed with Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young for USA Basketball, winning gold last summer, and she has played more playoff games against Las Vegas than any other opponent — averaging 16.7 points in those games, better than Loyd’s overall playoff average of 15.7 points.
Loyd also shares an agent, Jade-Li English, with her new teammates Gray, Wilson and Young. After the ugly breakup between Loyd and the Storm, which culminated in a trade request last month, those ties can help Las Vegas feel confident Loyd will stay with the Aces beyond the one season remaining on her contract.
From a basketball standpoint, Loyd comes to Las Vegas knowing she won’t be the first option on offense. Loyd’s spot in the pecking order in Seattle after the additions of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike was less clear. Although Loyd remained the Storm’s leader in usage rate (29%), Ogwumike was Seattle’s best player, earning All-WNBA second-team honors as Loyd was shut out.
Part of the issue was Loyd’s adjustment in shot selection after having a bigger offensive role in 2023, when Seattle had just one other double-figure scorer (Ezi Magbegor) and she set a single-season record for points that Wilson broke last year. Loyd’s usage rate went down playing alongside Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike, but she took too many off-balance jumpers early in the shot clock.
Per Second Spectrum tracking, Loyd’s 39.8% quantified shot quality — the effective field goal percentage we’d expect from an average player on the same shots based on location, type and distance to nearby defenders — was the lowest among all players with at least 50 attempts. Plum’s quantified shot quality, by contrast, was 47.5%.
We don’t have Second Spectrum data for Loyd’s time playing alongside Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, who teamed up to win WNBA championships in 2018 and 2020, but Loyd’s efficiency was far better. Loyd shot 38% from 3-point range and had a .541 true shooting percentage from 2017 to 2022, as compared with 27% on 3s and a .497 true shooting percentage in 2024.
By teaming up with another MVP, plus two other Olympians, Loyd is choosing a role similar to the bulk of her Storm career. From 2018 to 2022, Loyd’s usage rate was 26% of Seattle’s plays, in the same ballpark as Plum’s 25% usage last season.
Adding Loyd’s supermax salary ($249,032) will make it more challenging for the Aces to build their roster. Including Plum, Las Vegas’ stars had repeatedly taken below-market extensions, meaning Wilson was previously the Aces’ highest-paid player for 2025 at $200,000, according to salary data from HerHoopStats.com.
Even with the flexibility of non-guaranteed contracts for centers Megan Gustafson and Kiah Stokes, Las Vegas will probably have to choose between adding one more player at max-type money or splitting that salary among multiple veterans. The latter scenario could include bringing back key contributors Alysha Clark and Tiffany Hayes, both unrestricted free agents.
Flipping a 2026 first-round pick that has a decent chance of being lower in a 15-team league than the second-round pick they’re getting back this year (No. 13 overall) helps the Aces financially because that player will be on a modest rookie contract. Effectively, Las Vegas replaced the team’s 2025 first-round pick that the WNBA rescinded due to impermissible benefits.
Of course, we’ve also seen the Aces get discounts before by virtue of free agents’ desire to play for a championship contender in a first-class facility. If Las Vegas can find a way to add Loyd and a top free agent without sacrificing depth, this grade will bump up to an A.
Los Angeles Sparks: B-
Adding Plum is a fascinating move for the Sparks that signals their intent to snap a four-year playoff drought by accelerating their rebuild with an upgrade to their backcourt.
We can probably trace the decision to expedite the rebuild to the trade Los Angeles made on the eve of 2024 free agency, acquiring the No. 4 pick (used on Rickea Jackson) from the Storm along with Kia Nurse in exchange for the Sparks’ 2026 first-round pick. Without that pick, Los Angeles wouldn’t benefit from another season in the lottery.
Giving up the No. 2 pick in this deal is painful for the Sparks, who have gone from dreaming of adding Bueckers to their young talent by winning the lottery to having only the No. 9 pick in this year’s first two rounds. Still, given the difficulty of attracting top talent without a dedicated practice facility, I can understand why they wanted to take advantage of Plum’s interest.
Despite going 8-32 in 2024, Los Angeles already has plenty of frontcourt pieces. Dearica Hamby is coming off an All-Star season during which she finished second in most improved player voting, while Jackson was chosen for the All-Rookie team and No. 2 pick Cameron Brink was on track to doing so before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in June. Veteran Azura Stevens is a fourth capable frontcourt starter.
The Sparks’ backcourt was their undoing. Besides those four players, eight of the other 10 Los Angeles regulars — all but Rae Burrell and restricted free agent Aari McDonald — rated worse than replacement level by my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric. Los Angeles hasn’t had an All-Star guard since Gray left for the Aces as an unrestricted free agent before the 2021 season.
Enter Plum, who will likely be the best guard to change teams this offseason. An All-Star each of the past three seasons, she peaked as an All-WNBA first-team pick in 2022, when Las Vegas won the first of its back-to-back titles. Presuming the Sparks re-sign Plum after this season, they’ll have a window to win while she’s still playing at an All-Star level and their 2024 first-round picks are approaching their prime years.
To help Plum, Los Angeles should continue upgrading the backcourt. Plum didn’t miss Gray alongside her in the backcourt despite Plum’s shooting slump to start 2024, but her shot quality improved after Gray’s return from a foot injury. Before Gray’s first start on June 21, Plum’s quantified shot quality was 45%, according to Second Spectrum’s metric, putting her in the 33rd percentile leaguewide. The rest of the season, that improved to a league-average 49%.
It’s possible Julie Allemand could be the playmaker the Sparks need. The Belgian point guard was set to join Los Angeles after a February trade but was sidelined because of an ankle injury that required surgery. Allemand averaged 5.8 assists in her only full WNBA campaign as a starter for the Indiana Fever in 2020. Back healthy after missing the Olympics, Allemand is averaging 7.3 points and a team-high 6.1 assists in EuroLeague play this season for Fenerbahce.
Alternatively, Los Angeles could still add another max player to Plum in free agency. Courtney Vandersloot would be a logical target.
Blockbuster WNBA deal: The Seattle Storm are trading six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a multi-team move that sends three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, sources tell me, @ramonashelburne, @alexaphilippou, @kendra__andrews. pic.twitter.com/OlRb37RKIA
Trading Loyd for a package built around draft picks probably wasn’t Plan A for the Storm, who are expected to re-sign Ogwumike and cored player Gabby Williams to go with Diggins-Smith and Ezi Magbegor as a veteran group hoping to contend.
Swapping Loyd for Plum would have been convenient for Seattle, but Plum evidently wasn’t as interested in returning to the state where she starred at the University of Washington as going back to her native Southern California. The Storm could still trade the No. 2 pick to another team for veteran help — for example, a package built around Ariel Atkins from the rebuilding Washington Mystics — but I think getting that high in the draft changes the equation.
Landing the No. 2 pick suddenly puts Seattle in position to make a run at the No. 1 pick if Bueckers tells the Wings she’d rather return for a sixth year of college eligibility than come to Dallas. Given their year-old practice facility, strong fan support and history with UConn point guards, the Storm would be an attractive landing spot for Bueckers.
Seattle could offer the Wings the No. 2 pick and additional first-rounders — including the Sparks’ 2026 first-rounder, which has upside if Los Angeles misses the playoffs because the WNBA lottery standings reflect the record over the past two seasons combined.
The Storm now have a league-high five first-round picks over the next three years to offer for No. 1. (The Chicago Sky, who pick third, also hold five first-round picks.)
If Bueckers goes No. 1 to Dallas, or another team, Seattle would have its pick of Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Olivia Miles, USC Trojans post Kiki Iriafen and French center Dominique Malonga. None fills an immediate need for the Storm — it’s unclear whether any would start as rookies — but each has the long-term potential to be part of a young core, including Magbegor (25) and Jordan Horston (23) and the pair of 2026 first-rounders.
Replacing Loyd’s supermax salary with the No. 2 pick, set to make $78,331, gives Seattle more cap flexibility. Even if Williams also takes the supermax offer guaranteed by the core designation and Ogwumike signs for the max, the Storm could make another near-max offer to a free agent.
There’s no obvious replacement for Loyd in unrestricted free agency, but Seattle has the flexibility to add a bigger wing such as Clark or Aerial Powers or could try to add another ball handler, with Vandersloot and Natisha Hiedeman as realistic options.
As for Li, she’s an interesting fit on a Storm team with the lithe Magbegor at center. Unrestricted free agent Mercedes Russell, who’s unlikely to return given her friendship with Loyd, matched up against post-up centers the past couple of seasons. Now that role could fall to the 6-foot-7 Li, who received extended minutes last season against the Connecticut Sun (Brionna Jones), Dallas Wings (Teaira McCowan) and Phoenix Mercury (Brittney Griner).
Perhaps best for Seattle, Li is a reserved free agent who is likely to play next season for the league minimum of $66,079. That’s important for a Storm team that will be trying to stretch every dollar filling out its bench.
Barring a trade for Bueckers or a veteran shooting guard, Seattle probably won’t have as strong a roster in 2025 as last season, when the Storm looked like contenders entering the season. But Seattle is in position to win now while also building through the draft for the first time since taking Loyd and Stewart with the No. 1 pick in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
The 2025 WNBA offseason has been full of surprising trades and roster shake-ups. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest moves and grade each team’s performance in these trades.
Winners:
Seattle Storm: The Storm made a splash by acquiring star forward Breanna Stewart from the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a package of draft picks. This move instantly makes Seattle a title contender and gives them a dynamic duo with Stewart and Sue Bird. Grade: A+
Connecticut Sun: The Sun traded for veteran guard Diana Taurasi, giving them a proven scorer and leader to complement their young core. Taurasi’s experience and clutch play will be invaluable to a team looking to make a deep playoff run. Grade: A
Los Angeles Sparks: The Sparks landed talented forward A’ja Wilson in a blockbuster trade with the New York Liberty. Wilson gives LA a dominant presence in the paint and elevates their championship aspirations. Grade: A-
Losers:
Dallas Wings: The Wings traded away star guard Arike Ogunbowale to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for a package of role players and draft picks. While they received some assets in return, losing Ogunbowale significantly weakens their roster. Grade: C-
Chicago Sky: The Sky traded away veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot to the Minnesota Lynx for a package of draft picks. While Vandersloot is nearing the end of her career, her leadership and playmaking will be sorely missed in Chicago. Grade: D+
Overall, the 2025 WNBA offseason saw some teams make bold moves to improve their rosters, while others may have taken a step back. It will be interesting to see how these trades play out once the season begins.
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WNBA offseason trade grades, WNBA trade winners and losers 2025, WNBA trade analysis, WNBA trade rumors, WNBA offseason updates, WNBA trade reviews, WNBA player trades, WNBA team transactions, WNBA trade season 2025
Damian Priest is making enemies quickly at his new home. Priest’s first night on WWE SmackDown put him in The Bloodline’s crosshairs, though he found an unlikely ally in LA Knight.
Priest was immediately thrust into a rivalry after being traded to SmackDown in the company’s talent transfer portal. Priest and Knight collided with Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga in the main event of SmackDown. Though Priest and Knight added a win to their records, they were ultimately left staring at the lights.
SmackDown also featured a war of words between CM Punk and Kevin Owens and a women’s United States championship match. Other notable talent on Friday’s show include Jimmy Uso, Liv Morgan and WWE women’s champion Tiffany Stratton.
CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
From The Judgment Day to The Bloodline
Priest appeared on SmackDown after switching over through the talent transfer portal. The former world heavyweight champion welcomed a fresh start after his fallout with the Judgment Day. Soon after, The Bloodline’s Fatu and Tonga interrupted him. Fatu acknowledged Priest as a fellow street warrior before threatening him. Priest responded kindly by superkicking Tonga. The Bloodline commenced with a two-on-one beatdown cut short by an intervening LA Knight.
Damian Priest and LA Knight def. The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga) via pinfall after Priest hit Tonga with the South of Heaven chokeslam. Priest and Knight came out ahead in a competitive main event. Post-match, Fatu laid out Priest with a superkick, Samoan drop and double jump moonsault. SmackDown went off the air with “The Samoan Werewolf” standing tall.
I’m conflicted about the creative direction of Friday’s main eventers. It’s all positive for Priest, who gets a fresh start on the blue brand. But I’m more worried about The Bloodline and Knight. I’m not sure what The Bloodline’s mission statement is since Solo Sikoa lost his “Tribal Chief” status to Reigns. It’s good to see Knight involved in a storyline but he’s primarily regulated to run-ins. Grade: B+
What else happened on WWE SmackDown?
CM Punk and Kevin Owens smack-talked each other’s chances at the Royal Rumble PPV.
Jimmy Uso def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall with a schoolboy pin.
WWE Women’s Championship — Michin def. Chelsea Green via disqualification after Green hit her with a kendo stick.
Motor City Machine Guns and Los Garza def. #DIY and Pretty Deadly via pinfall after Chris Sabin rolled up Tommaso Ciampa.
Naomi def. Liv Morgan via pinfall with a victory roll.
Andrade def. The Miz via pinfall with a back elbow.
Nia Jax laid out Tiffany Stratton with an An-Nia-lator.
WWE SmackDown Live Results, Recap and Grades: Damian Priest, LA Knight beat The Bloodline in Go-Home Show
In the final episode of SmackDown before the upcoming pay-per-view event, Damian Priest and LA Knight shocked the WWE Universe by defeating The Bloodline in a thrilling tag team match. The tension was high as both teams fought tooth and nail for the victory, but in the end, it was Priest and Knight who emerged victorious.
The match started off with Roman Reigns and Damian Priest facing off in the ring, showcasing their incredible athleticism and skill. The action quickly spilled to the outside as Priest and Reigns brawled around the ring, exchanging powerful strikes and high-flying moves. Meanwhile, LA Knight and Jimmy Uso also showcased their in-ring prowess, with Knight delivering a devastating neckbreaker to Uso.
As the match reached its climax, chaos ensued as all four competitors found themselves in the ring, trading blows and near-falls. In a surprising turn of events, LA Knight managed to hit his finisher on Jimmy Uso, securing the pinfall victory for his team. The Bloodline was left stunned as Priest and Knight celebrated their impressive win.
Overall, this match was a fantastic showcase of the talent and athleticism of all four competitors involved. Damian Priest and LA Knight proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the WWE tag team division, while The Bloodline will surely be looking for revenge in the upcoming pay-per-view event.
Final Grade: A
Stay tuned for more WWE SmackDown live results, recaps and grades as we head into the next exciting chapter of the WWE Universe.
Tags:
WWE SmackDown, SmackDown live results, SmackDown recap, WWE Damian Priest, LA Knight, The Bloodline, SmackDown grades, WWE go-home show
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Eight of the Big Ten’s 18 schools have reached the 10-game halfway point of the 20-game Big Ten men’s basketball season, and the rest will hit it this week.
Hoosiers On SI took a look at where each Big Ten stands as they make the turn for the second half of the Big Ten season and assigned mid-season grades for each school.
Michigan State
Jan 9, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jaden Akins (3) puts a shot off the glass against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. / Dale Young-Imagn Images
• Record: 18-2 overall, 9-0 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 5th. • Current Big Ten position: 1st. • Overview: Last year, Michigan State was supposed to be good because of a flashy backcourt trio. Big Ten title contention wasn’t necessarily expected from the Spartans this season, but when coach Tom Izzo’s teams are counted out? Look out. The Spartans are sound. They manage to score 81.3 points per game without a devastating 3-point attack or a dominant scorer. They’re well put together, they’re unselfish, and they play hard. That will carry you far. • Grade: A+. Izzo defies conventional wisdom by building a team the old-fashioned way – via good high school recruiting, good retention and good player development. Unbeaten in the Big Ten gets an A+.
Purdue
Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Jordan Derkack (0) battles Purdue Boilermakers forward Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) and guard Gicarri Harris (24) for a rebound during the second half at Jersey Mike’s Arena. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
• Record: 16-5 overall, 8-2 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 1st. • Current Big Ten position: 2nd. • Overview: No one thought Purdue was going to go away in the post-Zach Edey era, and they haven’t. That Braden Smith, the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, is playing well is no surprise. That Trey Kaufman-Renn is leading Purdue in scoring is a surprise but shouldn’t be because players get better under coach Matt Painter’s tutelage. An underrated Purdue trait is its guard depth. • Grade: A-. Purdue trails Michigan State by 1 ½ games, the only reason for the minus in the Boilermakers’ grade. Apart from that, it’s the usual steady-as-she-goes in West Lafayette.
Michigan
Michigan Wolverines center Vladislav Goldin (50) shoots the ball against UCLA Bruins guard Lazar Stefanovic (10) in the first half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
• Record: 15-5 overall, 7-2 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 9th. • Current Big Ten position: 3rd. • Overview: First-year coach Dusty May quickly built a fascinating team. Michigan’s 9.7 made threes per game ranks 39th nationally, but with 7-footers Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf the paint is also a danger zone for opponents. Five players average double-digit scoring. It’s a well-balanced team. • Grade: A. May has done an outstanding job. The last four games, two of them losses, have shown some vulnerabilities, but the Wolverines are back after two dreadful seasons.
Wisconsin
Butler Bulldogs forward Jahmyl Telfort (11) defends Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Wisconsin Badgers won 83-74. / Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
• Record: 16-4 overall, 6-3 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: tied for 12th. • Current Big Ten position: 4th. • Overview: It seems to be an annual exercise in expecting decline to begin in Madison for coach Greg Gard, but he continues to defy his skeptics. The maturation of sophomore guard John Blackwell has made him a force. Gard combined solid veterans like Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit and Nolan Winter with an inspired portal pickup in guard John Tonje. The Badgers are averaging 82.5 points per game, nearly eight better than they did in 2024 and their highest average since the early 1970s. • Grade: A. The Badgers are dangerous. Their three Big Ten losses have been by no more than six points.
Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) and Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) celebrate after a play during the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. / Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
• Record: 14-6 overall, 6-4 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 4th. • Current Big Ten position: Three-way tie for 5th. • Overview: Illinois coach Brad Underwood lost nearly everyone from an Elite Eight team, but did a masterful job in putting the puzzle back together. Guard Kasparas Jakucionis is dazzling at times. His flash is a counterpoint to grittier work done by Kylan Boswell and Tomislav Ivisic. On any given night, Illinois can overwhelm teams – ask both Oregon and Indiana – teams the Fighting Illini roasted on their home floors. • Grade: B+. For as powerful as Illinois is at its best, the Illini don’t always show up. A home loss to Southern California was baffling (a subsequent home defeat against Maryland was easier explained due to team sickness) and so was a fade job at Northwestern. That dropped their grade, but on their day, Illinois is as good as any Big Ten team.
Maryland
Maryland Terrapins guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie (0) drives to the basket as Illinois Fighting Illini guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (2) defends during the second half at State Farm Center. / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
• Record: 16-5 overall, 6-4 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 10th. • Current Big Ten position: Three-way tie for 5th. • Overview: Coach Kevin Willard hit the jackpot in both high school recruiting and the portal. Freshman Derik Queen (15.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg) has been great right out of the box, and Belmont transfer point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie (14.6 ppg, 4.7 apg) has been a good fit. The complementary pieces around that pair fit very well. • Grade: B+. Maryland showed me something by winning a pair of road games in its last two games. That was the one knock against the Terps – that they were great at home and faded on the road. If they can continue that trend, they will continue to rise up the Big Ten charts.
UCLA
UCLA Bruins guard Sebastian Mack (12) goes to the basket as Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Jamichael Davis (1) defends during the first half at Jersey Mike’s Arena. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
• Record: 15-6 overall, 6-4 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 3rd. • Current Big Ten position: Three-way tie for 5th. • Overview: A strange Big Ten maiden voyage for the Bruins. They lost four straight at the beginning of January, prompting a rant from coach Mick Cronin on their toughness. They’ve won four in a row since, but all on the West Coast. Apart from being a solid defensive team, especially inside the arc where they limit shots, I still don’t think we know what these Bruins are about yet. • Grade: B-. If Maryland proved something in its recent games, UCLA can’t claim to be a top Big Ten team until it wins east of the Rocky Mountains – something the Bruins have yet to achieve.
Oregon
Oregon Ducks guard Jackson Shelstad (3) attempts to dribble the ball against Ohio State Buckeyes guard Evan Mahaffey (12) and guard Bruce Thornton (2) in the second half at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
• Record: 16-4 overall, 5-4 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 6th. • Current Big Ten position: 8th. • Overview: Resume-wise, Oregon looks great with wins over Texas A&M and Alabama. Within the Big Ten, however, the form has been inconsistent. The Ducks have a weird stack of scores. Wins at Ohio State and Penn State, but three home losses and a defeat at Minnesota. Befitting that trend, Oregon floats near the middle of the Big Ten in nearly every major team statistical category for offense and defense. • Grade: B. The Ducks are basically what we thought they would be – very competitive, but not overwhelming.
Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers center Oumar Ballo (11) controls the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes forward Sean Stewart (13) defends during the first half at Value City Arena. / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
• Record: 14-7 overall, 5-5 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 2nd. • Current Big Ten position: 9th. • Overview: Based on preseason expectations, the Hoosiers are under-performing under coach Mike Woodson. Inconsistency in every facet has defined these Hoosiers. A look at Indiana’s record shows decline could be in the cards. Indiana has not beaten a single team above it in the Big Ten standings. Seven of their remaining 10 games are versus teams above them. • Grade: C-. A segment of Indiana fans will think this grade is way too kind. Another segment will think it’s harsh. The grade would have slipped into D territory, but Indiana has won five league games, so that would be unduly harsh. How much the talent was overrated entering the season, and thus how realistic the expectations were in the first place, is a fair question to ask at this point.
Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Micah Parrish (8) celebrates a three point shot during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena. / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
• Record: 12-8 overall, 4-5 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 8th. • Current Big Ten position: Tied for 10th. • Overview: Point guard Bruce Thornton has been the veteran presence everyone expected. Ohio State’s other scoring standouts – Devin Royal, Micah Parrish and freshman John Mobley – are a bit more surprising given that there were more highly touted players that were Columbus-bound in the portal. • Grade: B-. I don’t trust the Buckeyes. Which means I don’t trust them to win or lose when they’re supposed to! There’s talent here, but they haven’t yet figured out how to harness it to attain consistency.
Southern California
USC Trojans guard Desmond Claude (1) controls the ball as Illinois Fighting Illini forward Morez Johnson Jr. (21) defends during the second half at State Farm Center. / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
• Record: 12-8 overall, 4-5 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 14th. • Current Big Ten position: Tied for 10th. • Overview: Coach Eric Musselman has molded the Trojans into an occasionally dangerous squad – witness road wins at Illinois, Washington and Nebraska. They’re average in almost every way but hit the glass hard, leading the Big Ten in offensive rebounding in conference games. • Grade: B. No one knew what to make of USC entering the season given that it had an almost completely new roster. What we know now is that they’re hard to play against and they share the scoring with five different players averaging double figures. A solid outfit.
Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Josh Dix (4) dribbles the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes forward Devin Royal (21) defends during the first half at Value City Arena. / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
• Record: 13-8 overall, 4-6 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 11th. • Current Big Ten position: 12th. • Overview: Iowa is what it is – a good offensive team that can’t defend consistently. Lately, however, even the offense has fallen off. Iowa has scored more than 10 points below its season scoring average in three of its last four games. • Grade: C. A threat to beat anyone when they’re on, a threat to lose to anyone when they’re not. The definition of average. Hence the grade.
Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli (2) reacts after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
• Record: 12-8 overall, 3-6 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 16th. • Current Big Ten position: Tied for 13th. • Overview: Per usual, coach Chris Collins has crafted his Wildcats well. They’re not deep, but they’re tough and the 1-2-3 scoring punch of Nick Martinelli, Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach can be a chore to defend when they’re on their game. • Grade: B-. Is it ironic that the Big Ten’s most famous academic institution gets graded on a curve? The Wildcats don’t play by the same rules other Big Ten teams do by their own choice, so while they’re in the fight to avoid missing out on the Big Ten Tournament, wins over Illinois, Maryland and Indiana attest to their competitiveness.
Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard/forward Ace Bailey (4) looks to shoot the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions guard Nick Kern Jr (3) defends during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Rutgers 80-72. / Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
• Record: 10-10 overall, 3-6 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 7th. • Current Big Ten position: Tied for 13th. • Overview: Super freshmen Ace Bailey (19.8 ppg) and Dylan Harper (18.6 ppg) have brought the goods as advertised. However, that’s about all the Scarlet Knights have. Rutgers’ defensive mentality, which has defined them under coach Steve Pikiell, has dissipated. The Scarlet Knights are giving away 75.2 points per game, seven points worse than any previous Pikiell-coached Rutgers team. • Grade: C-. The Top 25 preseason ranking Rutgers got seems laughable now, a case study in how everyone gets too caught up in stars over how teams mesh. Seeing Rutgers conceding points in the way that it has is just jarring.
Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Dawson Garcia (3) controls the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes forward Owen Freeman (32) defends during the first half at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. / Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
• Record: 11-10 overall, 3-7 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 18th. • Current Big Ten position: Tied for 15th. • Overview: It was looking hopeless in Minneapolis when the Golden Gophers were 0-6 in league play with no wins against any Power Four schools. However, there is hope at Williams Arena as Minnesota has won three of four, including wins over ranked Michigan and Oregon. • Grade: C+. Let this be the latest article to say that Ben Johnson is a good coach without a good situation at Minnesota in terms of recruiting and NIL. He’s making the best of it, though, and if Minnesota continues to improve? He deserves a standing ovation.
Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions guard Ace Baldwin Jr. (1) dribbles against Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) in the second half at Crisler Center. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
• Record: 13-8 overall, 3-7 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 17th. • Current Big Ten position: Tied for 15th. • Overview: How many fans outside of the Keystone State would know that Penn State has six players averaging double figures? Penn State’s scoring hasn’t been quite as prolific in the Big Ten, and stopping anyone is a problem – Penn State gives up 48.2% from the field and 79.4 points in conference contests. • Grade: B-. Could have gone C+, but I err on the side of being nice. Penn State has settled into its rep as a Hard Team To Play Against in the Big Ten. A compliment, but it also means the Nittany Lions aren’t a likely threat to crack the top half of the league – and that they can be had if your team is on its game.
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) handles the ball during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. / Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
• Record: 12-8 overall, 2-7 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: tied for 12th. • Current Big Ten position: 17th. • Overview: The Cornhuskers are in a freefall having lost six in a row. A big reason is defense. The Huskers are giving up 81.2 points per game. Scoring outside of Brice Williams and Juwan Gary has also been inconsistent. • Grade: C-. While no one thought Nebraska would contend near the top of the league, many thought the Huskers could build on their positive 2024 season and at least maintain their spot near the middle of the Big Ten. A relatively tough remaining schedule won’t make things any easier in Lincoln.
Washington
Washington Huskies forward Great Osobor (1) dribbles against the Oregon Ducks during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena. / Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
• Record: 10-10 overall, 1-8 Big Ten. • Preseason Big Ten prediction: 15th. • Current Big Ten position: 18th. • Overview: Not much was expected from the Huskies, but somehow they seem even worse than anticipated. Forward Great Osobor (15.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg) has performed as expected, but no one else has really stepped up for coach Danny Sprinkle as Washington only averages 65.4 points in Big Ten games. • Grade: D+. A hope for Washington going into the season was that it could protect its home court to tread water, but the Huskies are 1-4 in Big Ten home games, and that’s why their grade is low. Good news for Washington is that all of its remaining home games are against teams eighth or lower in the Big Ten standings.
As we reach the midway point of the Big Ten men’s basketball season, it’s time to evaluate the performance of each team so far. Here are the mid-season grades for each Big Ten team:
Illinois Fighting Illini: A-
Illinois has been one of the top teams in the conference, with key wins over ranked opponents. They have shown great potential and are poised for a strong finish to the season.
Indiana Hoosiers: C
Indiana has had some ups and downs this season, with inconsistent play and some tough losses. They will need to improve in the second half of the season to make a push for the NCAA Tournament.
Iowa Hawkeyes: A+
Iowa has been dominant this season, led by star player Luka Garza. They are a top contender for the Big Ten title and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan Wolverines: B+
Michigan has had a solid season so far, with key wins and a strong showing in conference play. They will need to continue their strong play in the second half of the season.
Michigan State Spartans: C-
Michigan State has struggled this season, with losses to unranked opponents and inconsistent play. They will need to turn things around quickly to salvage their season.
Minnesota Golden Gophers: B
Minnesota has had a solid season, with some key wins and competitive play in the Big Ten. They will need to continue to improve to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State Buckeyes: B-
Ohio State has had a mixed season, with some strong wins and some tough losses. They will need to improve their consistency in the second half of the season.
Wisconsin Badgers: A
Wisconsin has been one of the top teams in the Big Ten, with strong play on both ends of the court. They are a serious contender for the conference title and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, the Big Ten has been highly competitive this season, with several teams vying for the top spot. It will be exciting to see how the rest of the season unfolds and which teams will come out on top.
Saturday Night’s Main Event advertised Rhea Ripley vs. Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s World Championship, Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens in a contract signing moderated by Shawn Michaels and Sheamus vs. Bron Breakker for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Hulk Hogan dropped out of SNME, and WWE doubled down on nostalgia by booking Ted DiBiase.
Last week’s broadcast of SmackDown drew a 2.30 million viewers.
WWE SNME Results On January 25, 2025
Rhea Ripley def. Nia Jax | WWE Women’s World Title
Bron Breakker def. Sheamus | WWE Intercontinental Title
Braun Strowman def. Jacob Fatu by DQ
GUNTHER def. Jey Uso | WWE World Heavyweight Title
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Ticket Sales
WWE SNME Venue: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
WWE SNME Tickets Distributed: 15,493
WWE SNME Tickets Available: 230
WWE SNME Winners And Highlights
Rhea Ripley Def. Nia Jax
Ted DiBiase pulled up, presumably to replace Hulk Hogan, and he was wearing his full Ted DiBiase regalia.
WWE used old-school microphones for the ring introduction, and they even sounded like old-school microphones (in a bad way).
Nia and Rhea pulled off an amazing transition where Nia countered a springboard hurricanrana with a powerbomb attempt. The powerbomb was then countered by a Code Red.
Nia hit Rhea with a second-rope leg drop, which Rhea kicked out of.
Like most matches with monsters, the story was Rhea constantly trying to pick up Rhea Ripley and failing. The same went for attempted submissions.
As Jax went for a second Annihilator, you could literally hear children screaming.
Rhea Ripley won with a Riptide, and WWE made it clear that the loser of this match will compete in the women’s Royal Rumble Match.
Rhea Ripley vs. Nia Jax Grade: B+
Bron Breakker Def. Sheamus
Jesse Ventura made a great Steiner Math joke, where he implied Bron Breakker thinks 2 + 2 = 5. This man has still got it.
Breakker took another wild bump when Sheamus yeeted him over the barricade onto an office chair.
As the trainwreck match continued, Breakker caught Sheamus in midair with an awesome Spear before SNME went to break.
Sheamus was screaming obscenities at Breakker to the point where he had to be bleeped out on live TV.
Sheamus hit a Celtic Cross for a nearfall, and it was accompanied by a great overhead shot.
Ventura spent this whole match calling out the referee and what he thought was slow counting.
Breakker retained with a jumping Spear on Sheamus’ bad ribs.
Somebody had an “HBK is Mid” sign. Michaels laughed it off because he knew what everybody else did: That guy was an idiot.
Cody Rhodes was the clear babyface as he faced off with Owens. KO was wearing a “Cody Sucks Eggs” t-shirt, a nod to the famous “Dusty Sucks Eggs” t-shirt.
After hanging the titles up to descend from the rafters, Owens tried a Package Piledriver on Michaels. This, after a cheapshot on Rhodes. Rhodes saved HBK with a Superkick, and Michaels followed up with a Superkick of his own.
Rhodes-Owens Contract Signing with Shawn Michaels: B
Braun Strowman Def. Jacob Fatu By DQ
After another fire pre-match promo, Michael Cole noted Fatu had been in jail three times. I love how WWE is using Fatu’s real-life backstory to add to his aura, which already projects “real-life badass.”
Surprisingly, Fatu took the first bump seconds into this match. I didn’t think either was going to take a bump for a few minutes. Fatu answered with a Suicide Dive on Strowman before SNME went to break.
Fatu took a fantastic bump when Strowman did the running pounce. Strowman tried another, much slower, trot and Fatu hit the Samoan Drop on a table that didn’t break.
Strowman hit a series of running Butt Bumps, and the referee teased ending the match. Fatu snapped and threw Dan Engler out of the ring. Strowman tends to get out of doing jobs to other monsters, because Bronson Reed never secured any wins over Strowman in their monster matches.
Strowman was bleeding from the mouth, and Fatu continued to beat him down with WWE officials filling the ring. Fans chanted “one more time!” after a double-jump moonsault. Fatu obliged. Fans then chanted “Fatu!”
Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu Grade: A
GUNTHER Def. Jey Uso
The main event entrances started at 6:30 p.m., so they kind of rushed through Jey Uso’s entrance.
WWE Raw will be in Atlanta this Monday, and between SmackDown and SNME, there was no mention of Roman Reigns’ acknowledgment ceremony or an appearance from Goldberg.
This match received “this is awesome” chants, and while they were chanting, Jey hit GUNTHER with a Spear for a nearfall. A follow-up Uso Splash was also met with the nearfall, but fans bit hard.
GUNTHER countered a third Spear attempt with multiple powerbombs for the win.
GUNTHER vs. Jey Uso Grade: B
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Results, Winners And Grades On January 25, 2025
Last night’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event was a thrilling night of action, with top superstars from Raw and SmackDown putting on an unforgettable show. Here are the results, winners, and grades for the matches that took place on January 25, 2025:
1. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins (Universal Championship Match)
Winner: Roman Reigns
Grade: A+
Roman Reigns continued his dominant run as Universal Champion, defeating Seth Rollins in a hard-fought battle. The two former Shield members put on a classic match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Reigns proved once again why he is the head of the table in WWE.
2. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (SmackDown Women’s Championship Match)
Winner: Sasha Banks
Grade: A
In a highly anticipated match, Sasha Banks emerged victorious over Becky Lynch to capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Both women delivered a stellar performance, showcasing their incredible in-ring skills and athleticism. Banks proved that she is indeed the boss of the women’s division.
3. The New Day vs. The Usos (Raw Tag Team Championship Match)
Winners: The Usos
Grade: B+
The Usos reclaimed the Raw Tag Team Championships in a hard-hitting match against The New Day. The two teams showcased their chemistry and high-flying abilities, delivering an exciting tag team encounter that had the crowd on their feet.
4. Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Grade: B
In a heated rivalry match, Charlotte Flair emerged victorious over Rhea Ripley in a competitive bout. Both women displayed their technical prowess and resilience, but it was Flair who ultimately came out on top with her signature Figure-Eight Leglock.
Overall, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 25, 2025, was a night filled with thrilling matches and unforgettable moments. The superstars delivered top-notch performances, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the WWE landscape.
Tags:
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Results, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Winners, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Grades, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event January 25 2025, WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Recap
The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t have responded much better to their three-game skid. While their competition wasn’t elite, dominant wins over the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat are exactly what the doctor ordered for Cleveland.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
With no Darius Garland tonight — the Cavs needed a throwback performance from Mitchell. He hasn’t been required to control every aspect of the offense since last season. But tonight, Mitchell reminded us why he is such a special talent.
Mitchell was firmly ahead of Miami’s defense all night. He carved them to perfection, pouring on five three-pointers even when the rest of his teammates combined for just seven of their own.
Overall, it’s good the Cavaliers aren’t relying on Mitchell’s one-man army approach this season. Still, it’s fun to watch when it happens.
Mobley knew the Cavaliers would need some scoring from him tonight. In years past, this would have been a tall order. This season? It’s enough said. Mobley was aggressive from the jump and had no issue carrying his share of the offensive load.
The strength and confidence Mobley has gained can’t be overlooked. He worked around Bam Adebayo numerous times to score in the paint. This is something he just wasn’t capable of in previous seasons.
The NBA All-Star reserves are set to be announced tomorrow. With how dominant Mobley has been on both ends of the floor this season, it’s hard to imagine he’s left out.
Allen didn’t set anything ablaze in his 29 minutes but he did all of the things you expect him to do in a Cavs victory. He put a deadbolt on the paint, ran the floor for easy opportunities — and cleaned the offensive glass for a handful of putbacks in the second half. Allen remains the sturdy two-way presence this team benefits from in most of their wins.
Eventually, the Cavs will need Strus to actually hit his shots. But right now? They are riding the wave of this phenomenal two-way play he’s had this week.
Strus was instrumental in defending Cade Cunningham on Tuesday and tonight he accepted the challenge against another potential All-Star guard in Tyler Herro. His perimeter defense has kept the Cavaliers competitive without Dean Wade, Caris LeVert or Isaac Okoro.
Niang shot 1-9 in his previous game, receiving an F grade. This time, he played significantly better on both ends of the floor. His timely three-pointers contributed to the Cavaliers onslaught that helped them pull away during the fourth quarter. And, he even picked up a few hard-fought rebounds.
Jerome has surprised everyone this season. Even after he seemingly crashed down to Earth in December, he has once again sparked the magic that made him one of the most lethal bench players in the NBA this season.
The Cavs bought low on Jerome and have reaped massive rewards. His 20 points and 7 assists off the bench allowed them to coast in a game they were missing Garland. This is the best possible outcome you could have imagined when adding Jerome to the team in 2023.
Grade: A+
Jaylon Tyson
4 points (2-7 shooting), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
The rook got the start tonight. And while he hasn’t found his scoring touch yet — he’s made an impact in every other facet of the game.
Tyson works hard on defense. He’s a physical presence who matches up with multiple positions. The fact that he’s bought into exerting himself defensively while hardly touching the ball on offense is a great sign for his long-term development.
We’d like to see him space the floor a bit better (0-3 from deep). But Tyson is able to break even by being a smart off-ball cutter and a constant threat to grab rebounds. He clawed in three offensive rebounds in 30 minutes tonight.
Porter still faces the same challenges he discovered in the back half of his rookie season. In short, it’s tough being a point guard who can’t shoot from the perimeter in today’s NBA.
Still, Porter was a positive against Miami because of his ability to break free in transition. His best moments came on the break while his presence on the glass makes up for the occasional defensive lapse. At least, it did tonight.
Grade: B-
Player Grades: Cavs at Heat – Donovan Mitchell leads the way
The Cleveland Cavaliers faced off against the Miami Heat in a thrilling matchup that saw Donovan Mitchell shine brightest on the court. The young guard put on a show, leading his team to a hard-fought victory over the Heat.
Here are the player grades from this exciting game:
Donovan Mitchell: A+
Mitchell was simply sensational in this game, scoring 35 points and dishing out 7 assists. He was a scoring machine, hitting clutch shots when his team needed him the most. Mitchell’s performance was the driving force behind the Cavaliers’ victory.
Bam Adebayo: B
Adebayo had a solid game for the Heat, recording a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. He was a force in the paint and provided some much-needed scoring for Miami. However, he struggled defensively against Mitchell, which ultimately hurt his team’s chances of winning.
Collin Sexton: B-
Sexton had a decent game for the Cavaliers, scoring 20 points and adding 4 assists. He was aggressive on the offensive end but struggled with his shot at times. Sexton’s play was solid overall, but he will need to be more consistent moving forward.
Jimmy Butler: C+
Butler had a quiet game for the Heat, scoring 16 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. He was not as aggressive as usual and struggled to find his rhythm offensively. Butler will need to step up his game if the Heat want to compete at a high level.
Overall, it was an exciting game between the Cavaliers and the Heat, with Donovan Mitchell stealing the show with his stellar performance. The Cavaliers will look to build off this win, while the Heat will need to regroup and come back stronger in their next game.
Tags:
NBA player grades, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Donovan Mitchell, basketball analysis, game recap, player performance, NBA highlights
All 30 NBA teams have hit the midpoint of their regular seasons, with the Charlotte Hornets becoming the last team to play their 41st game. So now we return with grades for the second quarter of the NBA season!
In the Week 7 Power Rankings, I handed out first-quarter grades, which are included here. But these grades are not cumulative for the entire first half of the season. Did teams get better? Did they maintain a certain level of play? Did teams slip up somewhere?
Hornets finally played 41st game last night, the last NBA team to do so
So here is the second quarter split (games 21-41) for every team
I am assigning a letter grade for each team considering the context of how that team performed after the second week of December. I’ll also highlight an item that conveys what each team has done well or struggled with over the most recent 25 percent of the season. Only 45 percent of the regular season left!
A reminder: These Power Rankings won’t just rank every team. We will retain the tiers that teams will be promoted into and relegated out of. There will be five tiers every week:
• Top Contenders – Locked at five, these are the class of the league • In a Good Place – Could be one team, could be seven teams • The Bubble – Not to be confused with Walt Disney World. The middle of the pack • Not the Tier to Fear – Not playing the worst ball in the league, but with a lot of work to do • Basement Floor – Bringing up the rear
Let’s dive into Week 14 of The Athletic’s NBA Power Rankings. Win/loss records are through Monday’s games; statistics are through Monday.
Tier 1: Top Contenders
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-8)
Last ranking: 1 In the last week: W vs. UTA, L vs. DAL, W at POR Offensive rating: 116.2 (sixth) Defensive rating: 103.9 (first)
First quarter: A- Second quarter: A
The Thunder were even more well-rounded in the second quarter of the season, as they have complemented their top-ranked defense with a top-five offense. It’s aggravating enough to deal with the Thunder’s pressure defensively, but even when opponents get up 3-pointers, they have only made 32 percent of those 3s since Dec. 6, the lowest accuracy rate in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just as valuable to Oklahoma City defensively as he is offensively.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (37-9)
Last ranking: 2 In the last week: L at HOU, L at PHI, L vs. HOU, W vs. DET Offensive rating: 121.1 (first) Defensive rating: 111.8 (10th)
First quarter: A Second quarter: A
The Cavaliers’ offense got even better over the second quarter of the season. No team has made more 3s per game since Dec. 6 than Cleveland (16.9), which is making them at a 38.6 percent clip. Point guard Darius Garland in particular has been lethal, shooting 41.2 percent from 3 over the last seven weeks while making 3.0 per game.
GO DEEPER
It’s clear now: Cavs, Pistons got what they needed with Kenny Atkinson, J.B. Bickerstaff
Amen Thompson and the Rockets have jumped past Jaylen Brown and the Celtics in the power rankings. (David Butler II / Imagn Images)
3. Houston Rockets (31-14)
Last ranking: 4 In the last week: W vs. CLE, W at CLE, W at BOS Offensive rating: 114.6 (ninth) Defensive rating: 108.6 (fourth)
First quarter: A Second quarter: B
Houston has slipped some defensively, going from the second-best defense over the first seven weeks of the season to the sixth-best. But the Rockets have still been a chore to play against while forcing turnovers and dominating the possession battle. Point guard Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 1.8 steals per game in the second quarter of the season. Houston just had the kind of week that gives reason to believe in it as a real contender, beating the two best teams in the Eastern Conference three times, including two road wins.
GO DEEPER
With game-winner over Celtics, Amen Thompson announces himself as a star
4. Boston Celtics (32-15)
Last ranking: 3 In the last week: W at LAC, L at LAL, W at DAL, L vs. HOU Offensive rating: 118.6 (third) Defensive rating: 109.8 (fifth)
First quarter: A- Second quarter: B-
The Celtics have slipped offensively, going from the second-best offense in the first quarter of the season to the eighth-best in the second quarter. Boston did tighten up its defense in that span, going from 10th-best in the first quarter to third-best in the second quarter while continuing to keep opponents off the free-throw line. None of the Celtics average three personal fouls per game, while minute leader Jayson Tatum averages only 2.1 personal fouls in 36.4 minutes per game over the last seven weeks.
5. New York Knicks (31-16)
Last ranking: 6 In the last week: W at BRK, W vs. SAC, W vs. MEM Offensive rating: 119.6 (second) Defensive rating: 112.7 (14th)
First quarter: B- Second quarter: B+
New York has improved defensively throughout the season, but it is still led by the offense. And while the Knicks haven’t been as powerful scoring the ball as they were to begin the season, the offense has still been quite efficient. Center Karl-Anthony Towns was selected as a starter in the All-Star Game for the first time in his 10-year career, and his 55 percent shooting from the field over the last seven weeks is a major reason why.
GO DEEPER
How good can the Knicks’ defense be? We just found out
Tier 2: In a Good Place
6. Memphis Grizzlies (31-16)
Last ranking: 5 In the last week: W vs. CHA, W vs. NO, W vs. UTA, L at NY Offensive rating: 117.5 (fifth) Defensive rating: 110.5 (seventh)
First quarter: B+ Second quarter: B
The Grizzlies have improved offensively, maintaining a top-five offense throughout the entire season while continuing to dominate the offensive glass. Only the Rockets have averaged more offensive rebounds per game over the last seven weeks than the Grizzlies. Rookie center Zach Edey’s greatest contribution to the Memphis offense has been offensive rebounding, as he grabbed 3.3 of his teammates’ missed shots per game since returning from injury last month.
7. Denver Nuggets (28-18)
Last ranking: 7 In the last week: W vs. PHI, W vs. SAC, L at MIN, L at CHI Offensive rating: 118.0 (fourth) Defensive rating: 113.6 (19th)
First quarter: C Second quarter: B+
Denver has been better defensively over the second quarter of the season, but it has also improved to become the best offense in the Western Conference in that time. Reigning MVP center Nikola Jokić consistently gets great shots for his teammates and himself. Since Dec. 6, Denver is the only NBA team to make at least half of its total field goal attempts (51.7 percent), while Jokić is averaging 30.0 points on 57.9 percent shooting.
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Last ranking: 8 In the last week: W vs. MIA, L at LAC, W at UTA Offensive rating: 114.1 (11th) Defensive rating: 110.8 (eighth)
First quarter: C Second quarter: B+
The Milwaukee offense has been stable through the first half of the season, but the defense was a top-five unit in the second quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo has cleaned up on the defensive glass, where 10.5 of his 12.7 rebounds per game have come from over the last seven weeks. No team has been better at prohibiting offensive rebounds than the Bucks since Dec. 6.
GO DEEPER
Khris Middleton’s lackluster game against the Clippers: Rust, regression or third wheel?
9. Indiana Pacers (25-20)
Last ranking: 10 In the last week: L at SA, W at SA Offensive rating: 114.2 (10th) Defensive rating: 113.7 (20th)
First quarter: D Second quarter: B+
The Pacers were bad on both ends of the floor to start the season. Now, the defense has been more than respectable while the offense ranked sixth in the second quarter of the season, with only the Nuggets putting the ball in the basket at a more efficient rate. Power forward Pascal Siakam has led Indiana with 20.2 points per game on 52.1 percent shooting from the field over the last seven weeks.
If Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers get their offense going, watch out. (Joe Camporeale / Imagn Images)
10. LA Clippers (26-20)
Last ranking: 9 In the last week: L vs. BOS, W vs. WAS, W vs. MIL, L at PHO Offensive rating: 110.8 (21st) Defensive rating: 107.4 (second)
First quarter: B Second quarter: B
LA hasn’t figured out the offense just yet, but the goal for this team was a top-five defense. The Clippers were fifth defensively in the first quarter of the season, then improved to be the second-best defense in the second quarter of the season. Center Ivica Zubac has been the linchpin of the defense while averaging 1.4 blocks per game over the last seven weeks; no team has allowed fewer points in the paint (43.7) than the Clippers in that span.
GO DEEPER
Clippers trade tiers: What to watch with LA before the Feb. 6 deadline
11. Los Angeles Lakers (26-18)
Last ranking: 12 In the last week: W vs. WAS, W vs. BOS, W at GS, W at CHA Offensive rating: 113.4 (13th) Defensive rating: 114.5 (22nd)
First quarter: C+ Second quarter: C
The Lakers offense remains inconsistent, but the defense went from one of the worst in the NBA in the first quarter of the season to a top-10 performance in the second quarter. All five of the Lakers’ 30-minute players average no more than two personal fouls per game, and only the San Antonio Spurs have allowed a lower free-throw-attempt rate over the last seven weeks. Anthony Davis has averaged more blocks (2.6) than fouls in that span.
GO DEEPER
Jarred Vanderbilt gives Lakers defensive versatility as they weigh options ahead of trade deadline
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-21)
Last ranking: 16 In the last week: W at DAL, W vs. DEN, W vs. ATL Offensive rating: 112.4 (14th) Defensive rating: 109.9 (sixth)
First quarter: C- Second quarter: B
Minnesota’s biggest issue is that no team plays more clutch-time games, and only the Hornets have lost more of them this season than the Timberwolves. The other side of this is that Minnesota is much more likely to blow out its opponent than the other way around. Can the Wolves get center Rudy Gobert to be more active in rim protection? Minnesota is 6-2 this season when Gobert has more than two blocks in a game. But last season, the Timberwolves were 22-3 when Gobert had more than two blocks in a game.
GO DEEPER
Rudy Gobert shows what the Timberwolves can be when he is at his best
13. Sacramento Kings (24-22)
Last ranking: 11 In the last week: W vs. GS, L at DEN, L at NY, W at BRK Offensive rating: 115.6 (seventh) Defensive rating: 113.0 (15th)
First quarter: D Second quarter: B
The Kings were one of six teams that had a top-10 offense and defense in the second quarter of the season, and the offense improved to a top-five performance over the last seven weeks. Only Boston turns the ball over less often, even though the Kings start four players who average at least three assists per game. Forward DeMar DeRozan has been particularly careful with the basketball, averaging only 1.1 turnovers per game against 3.1 assists in the second quarter of the season.
14. Miami Heat (23-22)
Last ranking: 13 In the last week: L vs. POR, L at MIL, W at BRK, W vs. ORL Offensive rating: 111.9 (16th) Defensive rating: 111.5 (ninth)
First quarter: C- Second quarter: C
The Heat have sleepwalked through most of this regular season on the court, while dealing with the saga of thrice-suspended star Jimmy Butler. Even without Butler, the Heat prioritize defending without fouling. The issue for Miami is that the Heat haven’t been as dynamic without Butler.
15. Dallas Mavericks (25-22)
Last ranking: 14 In the last week: L vs. MIN, W at OKC, L vs. BOS, W vs. WAS Offensive rating: 115.0 (eighth) Defensive rating: 111.8 (12th)
First quarter: B- Second quarter: C-
Dallas looked like one of the best teams in the league at times in the first quarter of the season. But Luka Dončić’s injury has been crippling to the Mavericks on both ends of the floor. Dončić’s rebounding acumen was a major edge for Dallas, but without him, the Mavs haven’t shown a consistent nose for the ball.
16. Phoenix Suns (24-21)
Last ranking: 20 In the last week: W at BRK, W vs. WAS, W vs. LAC Offensive rating: 114.0 (12th) Defensive rating: 114.7 (23rd)
First quarter: C+ Second quarter: C-
The Suns were a bottom-five defensive rebounding team in the second quarter of the season, with the defense slipping to bottom-10 levels in that span. But their fortunes this season simply come down to whether Kevin Durant is playing. Durant’s rebounding isn’t impressive. But the Suns are 23-12 with Durant playing and 1-9 without him. It’s the difference between a team that matters in the West and one that doesn’t.
Paolo Banchero and the Magic have struggled to put the ball in the basket. (Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)
17. Orlando Magic (24-24)
Last ranking: 17 In the last week: L at TOR, L vs. POR, W vs. DET, L at MIA Offensive rating: 107.3 (29th) Defensive rating: 108.1 (third)
First quarter: B+ Second quarter: C-
Orlando maintained a top-five defense over the first half of the season, but it has the NBA’s worst offense over the second quarter of the season. Since Dec. 6, the Magic are the only team that makes fewer than 11 3s per game and the only team failing to make at least 32 percent of its 3s. None of Orlando’s healthy players have made even 35 percent of their 3s over the last seven weeks.
18. Detroit Pistons (23-23)
Last ranking: 15 In the last week: W at ATL, L at ORL, L at CLE Offensive rating: 111.5 (19th) Defensive rating: 112.7 (13th)
First quarter: C- Second quarter: B+
Detroit started the season with a bad offense and an average defense. Now, coach J.B. Bickerstaff has fostered a Pistons squad that is slightly above average offensively while playing top-10 defense over the second quarter of the season. Only the Bucks have been better on the defensive glass since Dec. 6, with center Jalen Duren grabbing 6.8 of his 10.6 rebounds on the defensive end in that span.
GO DEEPER
Pistons’ lack of a secondary creator next to Cade Cunningham is a glaring problem
Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear
19. Golden State Warriors (22-23)
Last ranking: 19 In the last week: L at SAC, W vs. CHI, L vs. LAL Offensive rating: 111.7 (18th) Defensive rating: 111.8 (11th)
First quarter: B+ Second quarter: D
It’s been a total collapse for the Warriors in the second quarter of the season. What was a top-five defense is now a bottom-10 defense, while the Golden State offense went from good enough to simply bad. Only the Chicago Bulls have a worse free-throw-attempt rate than the Warriors over the last seven weeks, and among the 34 players who average at least 16 field goal attempts a game, no one averages fewer free-throw attempts than Stephen Curry’s 3.2. Curry and the Warriors need more help with shot creation than Dennis Schröder has provided.
20. San Antonio Spurs (20-23)
Last ranking: 21 In the last week: W at IND, L at IND Offensive rating: 111.7 (17th) Defensive rating: 113.6 (18th)
First quarter: B+ Second quarter: D
San Antonio’s defense was above average to begin the season. Despite the presence of phenom Victor Wembanyama, the defense has slipped considerably. No team was worse at forcing turnovers in the last seven weeks of the season, with forward Harrison Barnes averaging only 0.4 steals per game since Dec. 6.
GO DEEPER
Spurs’ Wembanyama gets emotional following France homecoming loss to Pacers
21. Atlanta Hawks (22-24)
Last ranking: 18 In the last week: L vs. DET, L vs. TOR, L vs. TOR, L at MIN Offensive rating: 110.3 (22nd) Defensive rating: 113.0 (16th)
First quarter: C Second quarter: B
Atlanta had a terrible week, dropping under .500 once again. The Hawks are 5-3 this season when point guard Trae Young attempts at least 10 free throws. It’s a tricky balance for the Hawks, as only Cade Cunningham averages more turnovers per game than Young this season.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (17-27)
Last ranking: 23 In the last week: L at DEN, W vs. CLE, W at CHI Offensive rating: 110.2 (24th) Defensive rating: 114.5 (21st)
First quarter: D- Second quarter: C
Philadelphia began the season with an average defense and a terrible offense. The second quarter of the season went better, but now it’s the offense that is average while the defense struggles. The Sixers miss the rim protection Joel Embiid would provide, and it’s leaving Philadelphia as the worst defense at the rim in the league.
GO DEEPER
Hollinger’s Week That Was: What’s next in Philly? Plus, scouting Jase Richardson
23. Chicago Bulls (20-27)
Last ranking: 22 In the last week: L at GS, L vs. PHI, W vs. DEN Offensive rating: 112.0 (15th) Defensive rating: 115.3 (24th)
First quarter: D Second quarter: C
The Bulls have not been good on defense all season, though they have been a little bit better on that end of the floor. Unfortunately, the Bulls average the fewest free-throw attempts in the league over the last seven weeks, and center Nikola Vučević in particular struggles to get to the stripe (15.3 field goal attempts, only 1.9 free-throw attempts since Dec. 6).
GO DEEPER
Vecenie: Lonzo Ball to Detroit and 4 more deals I’d love to see this trade season
24. Toronto Raptors (14-32)
Last ranking: 28 In the last week: W vs. ORL, W at ATL, W at ATL, W vs. NO Offensive rating: 110.3 (23rd) Defensive rating: 115.9 (25th)
First quarter: D+ Second quarter: D
The Raptors are reeling off victories lately, but they had the worst defense in the NBA in the second quarter of the season while allowing the most free-throw attempts in the league. Center Jakob Poeltl has struggled with fouls in particular over the last seven weeks.
GO DEEPER
Scottie Barnes was a winner long before the Raptors started winning
25. Portland Trail Blazers (17-29)
Last ranking: 27 In the last week: W at MIA, W at ORL, W at CHA, L vs. OKC Offensive rating: 108.8 (26th) Defensive rating: 116.1 (26th)
First quarter: D+ Second quarter: D-
Portland has actually outperformed its point differential this season, but that speaks to how terribly the Trail Blazers have been outscored. Only the Grizzlies, Jazz and Nets have turned the ball over more often than Portland has over the second quarter of the season.
Tier 5: Basement Floor
26. Charlotte Hornets (12-31)
Last ranking: 24 In the last week: L at MEM, L vs. POR, W vs. NO, L vs. LAL Offensive rating: 108.4 (28th) Defensive rating: 113.0 (17th)
First quarter: D Second quarter: D-
My apologies to the Hornets fans last week, as I put Brandon Miller in the Rising Stars contest right before Miller underwent season-ending wrist surgery. Before that, Miller showed that he had real work to do to be an efficient second option offensively, averaging only 3.4 free-throw attempts per game in his last nine games before getting injured. It’s going to likely be LaMelo Ball or bust for next month as far as All-Star Weekend representation goes, and Ball leads one of the worst offenses in basketball.
27. Utah Jazz (10-34)
Last ranking: 29 In the last week: L at OKC, L at MEM, L vs. MIL Offensive rating: 110.8 (20th) Defensive rating: 118.1 (29th)
First quarter: F Second quarter: D
The Jazz have actually had a league-average offense over the last seven weeks. But this is a bottom-five defense, with an inability to force turnovers being the biggest problem. The Jazz were the only team in the league in the second quarter of the season that failed to average seven steals per game.
Keon Johnson and the Nets have had trouble hanging onto the ball. (Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
28. Brooklyn Nets (14-33)
Last ranking: 26 In the last week: L vs. NY, L vs. PHO, L vs. MIA, L vs. SAC Offensive rating: 108.5 (27th) Defensive rating: 116.2 (27th)
First quarter: C Second quarter: D-
The Nets were at least average offensively to begin the season, but they have devolved into the second-worst offense in the league in the second quarter. Only the Grizzlies and Jazz average more turnovers per game. While point guard Ben Simmons has led the team with 3.2 turnovers since Dec. 6, small forward Cameron Johnson has averaged more turnovers (3.1) than assists (3.0) over that same span.
29. New Orleans Pelicans (12-35)
Last ranking: 25 In the last week: L at MEM, L at CHA, L at TOR Offensive rating: 109.0 (25th) Defensive rating: 117.5 (28th)
First quarter: F Second quarter: D
The Pelicans have looked fine offensively once their talent returned to the lineup. But this has consistently been one of the very worst defenses in the league, no matter who is available. No team was worse on the boards in the second quarter of the season than New Orleans.
30. Washington Wizards (6-39)
Last ranking: 30 In the last week: L at LAL, L at LAC, L at PHO, L at DAL Offensive rating: 104.8 (30th) Defensive rating: 118.6 (30th)
First quarter: F Second quarter: F
At least the Wizards can say that they had more wins than the 2024 Pistons did through 45 games last season, but that’s about it. This is a rancid basketball team that can only take solace in the fact that it isn’t on pace to be the worst team ever. No team has allowed more second-chance points over the last seven weeks.
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(Top photo of Trae Young and Quin Snyder: Maddie Malhotra / Getty Images)
As we near the halfway point of the NBA season, teams are beginning to separate themselves from the pack and make their mark on the league. The New York Knicks and Houston Rockets have been two of the biggest surprises of the second quarter, as they continue to climb up the power rankings.
The Knicks, led by Julius Randle and rookie sensation Immanuel Quickley, have been on a tear lately, winning 9 of their last 10 games and firmly establishing themselves as a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. Their hard-nosed defense and timely scoring have propelled them to a 4th place ranking in the East, and they show no signs of slowing down.
On the other hand, the Rockets have been on a rollercoaster ride this season, but have found their footing in the second quarter behind the stellar play of Christian Wood and John Wall. Despite dealing with injuries and COVID-19 protocols, the Rockets have managed to string together some impressive wins and are now sitting in the 7th spot in the Western Conference.
As we hand out grades for the second quarter of the season, it’s clear that both the Knicks and Rockets have exceeded expectations and are trending in the right direction. With plenty of basketball still to be played, it will be interesting to see if they can maintain their momentum and continue their climb up the power rankings. Stay tuned for more updates as the NBA season progresses.
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NBA Power Rankings, Knicks, Rockets, second-quarter grades, basketball rankings, NBA teams, sports news, Knicks basketball, Rockets basketball, NBA standings, basketball analysis, NBA updates
