During the week leading up to the NBA’s trade deadline the league just dives as deeply as possible into transactional chaos. It can be a bit funny in the moment, sure. Seeing the Suns players react to the Luka trade, for example, doesn’t seem like a particularly meaningful or harmful moment.

The Washington Wizards continue to remain busy as the trade deadline nears, adding veteran guard Reggie Jackson from the Philadelphia 76ers. In the swap, the Sixers send Jackson and a 2026 future first-round pick to Washington for four second-round picks and reserve swingman Jared Butler.

The Dallas Mavericks’ shocking trade of 25-year-old superstar Luka Dončić to the Lakers for 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis is one example of the power starting to sway back in the other direction. So was the not-as-stunning-but-still-consequential trade of Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat to the Golden State Warriors.