The NBA trade deadline brought unexpected moves and plenty of excitement.
Big trades involving stars like James Harden, Anthony Davis, and Jaren Jackson Jr. made headlines, but some deals raised questions among fans and executives.
Here are five puzzling moves from the 2026 NBA trade deadline:
Lakers’ decision to keep Rob Pelinka
Pelinka has wasted another year of Luka Doncic’s prime and LeBron James’ career. The Lakers are close to being competitive, needing just one athletic wing to make a real impact. Instead, Pelinka traded for shooter Luke Kennard from Atlanta, a solid scorer but less effective in the playoffs due to defensive issues.
With Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have a core that can win a championship. They should never hold back with such talent. The team had valuable assets, including Rui Hachimura, who will be a free agent soon, and a future first-round pick. Why not use them to acquire someone like Ayo Dosunmu from Minnesota or Herb Jones from New Orleans?
This “wait until summer” strategy worked for Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, but new owner Mark Walter should reconsider and replace Pelinka.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mixed signals
Last season, Giannis was one of the most liked players in sports, but now he seems to be sending confusing messages. Instead of asking for a trade from Milwaukee, he has been hesitant to commit verbally while expressing dissatisfaction with the team’s roster through his representatives.
When speaking publicly, he avoids making a clear trade request and instead discusses his legacy. By not being direct, he risks wasting another year in the playoffs.
Bulls’ struggle to get a first-round pick
The Bulls seem unable to secure first-round picks.
Recently, they traded players like Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and others, all of whom are solid talents, without gaining a single first-round pick in return.
It might be time for a significant change in the organization.
Kings’ ongoing issues
If you had a dollar for every time someone questioned the Kings’ decisions during owner Vivek Ranadive’s leadership, you would be quite wealthy. The team, which once featured elite guards like Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox, now has a struggling Russell Westbrook and the league’s worst record (12-40).
This week, the Kings did not trade valuable players like Domantas Sabonis or others, even though they could have secured something in return.
They did make one trade, sending Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to Cleveland for De’Andre Hunter. However, Ellis had more potential than Hunter, whose high salary puts the Kings in a tough financial spot. Why not focus on acquiring draft picks for Ellis?
NBA commissioner Adam Silver may need to step in; the future of one of the 2026 draft class’s stars should not go to this organization.
Pelicans’ untouchable assets
Last summer, the Pelicans traded a valuable 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta to move up in the draft and select Derik Queen. However, failing to protect that pick was a misstep, especially considering they are unlikely to reach the playoffs this season.
This deadline, the Pelicans declared everyone on their roster as untouchable. Players like Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Zion Williamson, and others are talented, but with the team holding one of the worst records (13-40), a playoff spot seems far away.
This raises questions about their decision-making. In a league in need of wings, these players could have fetched valuable draft picks. Murphy alone could have brought in multiple first-rounders, while Jones, Missi, or Williamson could each attract strong offers. Every playoff team would likely want Bey as a useful bench player.
What are the Pelicans thinking?