Fantasy Basketball winners and losers from the 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline
The dust has settled on the busiest trade deadline in NBA history, a frantic 48-hour window that saw a record-breaking 67 players change zip codes. For fantasy basketball managers, the landscape has shifted dramatically. With superstars like James Harden and Jaren Jackson Jr. on the move, the hierarchy of value has been upended just weeks before the fantasy playoffs. Here are the definitive winners and losers following Thursday’s deadline.
Winner: Jalen Smith (Chicago Bulls)
Perhaps the undisputed fantasy MVP of the deadline, Jalen Smith is finally unleashed. With the Bulls clearing out their veteran frontcourt logjam, Smith steps immediately into the starting center role. His per-minute production has always been elite, and now, with a clear path to 30 minutes a night, he projects as a top-60 asset for the remainder of the season. If he is somehow still available in your league, run—don’t walk—to the wire.
Winner: Ivica Zubac (Indiana Pacers)
The Pacers paid a premium to acquire Ivica Zubac from the Clippers, and the fantasy implications are massive. Zubac gets a significant upgrade in playmaker quality, pairing with Tyrese Haliburton in the pick-and-roll. While his raw usage might not skyrocket, his efficiency and easy bucket opportunities will. Expect career-highs in field goal percentage and a solidified double-double average as the anchor of Indiana’s defense.
Winner: Jared McCain (Oklahoma City Thunder)
After falling out of the rotation in Philadelphia behind a crowded backcourt, sophomore guard Jared McCain gets a new life in OKC. The Thunder sent significant draft capital to acquire the sharpshooter, signaling he will play immediately. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander currently sidelined for the next few weeks, McCain offers instant perimeter scoring and streaming value for managers desperate for threes and points.
Loser: Darius Garland (LA Clippers)
The blockbuster swap sending James Harden to Cleveland and Darius Garland to Los Angeles looks messy for the former Cavalier. Garland is currently dealing with an injury, and his arrival in LA puts him on a team with an uncertain identity. Between the lingering health concerns and the adjustment period to a new system, Garland’s fantasy stock takes a significant hit.
Loser: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Utah Jazz)
While the move to Utah makes Jaren Jackson Jr. the undisputed focal point, the Jazz are notorious for "silly season" tanking tactics. Despite his high ceiling, fantasy managers should fear late-season shutdowns or vague "soreness" designations that could limit his availability during the most critical weeks of the fantasy calendar.
Winner: Jalen Smith (Chicago Bulls)
Perhaps the undisputed fantasy MVP of the deadline, Jalen Smith is finally unleashed. With the Bulls clearing out their veteran frontcourt logjam, Smith steps immediately into the starting center role. His per-minute production has always been elite, and now, with a clear path to 30 minutes a night, he projects as a top-60 asset for the remainder of the season. If he is somehow still available in your league, run—don’t walk—to the wire.
Winner: Ivica Zubac (Indiana Pacers)
The Pacers paid a premium to acquire Ivica Zubac from the Clippers, and the fantasy implications are massive. Zubac gets a significant upgrade in playmaker quality, pairing with Tyrese Haliburton in the pick-and-roll. While his raw usage might not skyrocket, his efficiency and easy bucket opportunities will. Expect career-highs in field goal percentage and a solidified double-double average as the anchor of Indiana’s defense.
Winner: Jared McCain (Oklahoma City Thunder)
After falling out of the rotation in Philadelphia behind a crowded backcourt, sophomore guard Jared McCain gets a new life in OKC. The Thunder sent significant draft capital to acquire the sharpshooter, signaling he will play immediately. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander currently sidelined for the next few weeks, McCain offers instant perimeter scoring and streaming value for managers desperate for threes and points.
Loser: Darius Garland (LA Clippers)
The blockbuster swap sending James Harden to Cleveland and Darius Garland to Los Angeles looks messy for the former Cavalier. Garland is currently dealing with an injury, and his arrival in LA puts him on a team with an uncertain identity. Between the lingering health concerns and the adjustment period to a new system, Garland’s fantasy stock takes a significant hit.
Loser: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Utah Jazz)
While the move to Utah makes Jaren Jackson Jr. the undisputed focal point, the Jazz are notorious for "silly season" tanking tactics. Despite his high ceiling, fantasy managers should fear late-season shutdowns or vague "soreness" designations that could limit his availability during the most critical weeks of the fantasy calendar.
