NBA franchises can go through long stretches of inactivity before suddenly facing high-stakes decisions.
Last week’s trade deadline brought dramatic shifts across the league, with transactions now on hold until June’s draft. However, for some teams, pressure is already mounting.
Here’s a breakdown of the teams feeling the most heat after a whirlwind trade deadline:
Los Angeles Lakers
Or, as the Charlotte Hornets put it, “the other team,” following the Lakers’ last-minute decision to rescind the Mark Williams trade on Saturday. The Lakers might have received a massive boost by acquiring Luka Doncic, but with great opportunity comes great expectation.
Despite a strong run that has elevated them to the No. 4 seed in the West, they don’t appear to be legitimate title contenders. The midseason overhaul and the failed Williams trade have left them with lingering questions.
This summer, the stakes will be even higher. Doncic will be eligible to sign an extension starting August 2, and the Lakers have until then to convince him to stay. Unlike Dallas, they can’t offer a five-year supermax, which was taken off the table when he was traded.
Then there’s LeBron James, who can enter free agency this summer. While he has consistently stated his desire to finish his career in Los Angeles, his contract situation remains unresolved. Additionally, the Lakers must find a franchise center after Anthony Davis’ departure left a major void.
Phoenix Suns
Since taking ownership of the Suns two years ago, Mat Ishbia has aggressively pursued bold moves.
From acquiring Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to parting ways with coaches Monty Williams and Frank Vogel, the franchise has been in constant motion. However, this trade deadline was noticeably underwhelming.
The Suns spent months chasing Jimmy Butler and even explored trading Durant and Beal, yet no blockbuster deal materialized. Trapped in the second apron of the luxury tax and hovering around .500 with the toughest remaining schedule, Phoenix finds itself in a precarious position. Beal’s no-trade clause makes him difficult to move, and Durant, with just one year left on his contract, could force a showdown if he declines an extension this summer.
The worst-case scenario? Being both underwhelming and financially stuck.
Still, the Suns seem to recognize their predicament. They made a move by trading Jusuf Nurkic along with a first-round pick, shedding $130 million in salary and taxes over the next two years. But tougher decisions lie ahead, particularly regarding Durant’s future. How they handle a potential Durant trade could determine their long-term outlook.
Milwaukee Bucks
The financial burden of the second apron is starting to serve as a cautionary tale for teams, and the Bucks are one of its prime examples.
Like the Suns, Milwaukee is trying to stay competitive despite significant financial constraints. However, unlike Phoenix, the Bucks made a move to upgrade their roster, acquiring Kyle Kuzma in a trade that adds $20 million to their payroll in 2026-27.
The problem? Both Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis will be free agents this summer, and the Bucks may not be able to retain either.
They’ve also depleted their future assets, having traded first-round picks in three of the next five drafts and surrendered three first-round swap rights. Their next fully controlled first-round pick won’t come until 2031, and they’ve also dealt their next six second-round selections.
Currently sitting in fifth place in the East, the Bucks wouldn’t have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The silver lining is that Giannis Antetokounmpo remains committed to the franchise. But he’s well aware of the challenges ahead.
Houston Rockets
Houston is enjoying a promising season, with their rebuild progressing smoothly. Young talents like Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun are developing well, and the team is stocked with future draft assets.
This season is essentially a free opportunity for growth, and regardless of the final outcome, the Rockets have already exceeded expectations.
However…
The team has yet to establish a true superstar, a factor that could become more apparent as competition intensifies. A recent losing streak, combined with an uneventful trade deadline, underscored this issue.
After Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards torched Houston for 41 points last Thursday—16 of them in the fourth quarter—Rockets coach Ime Udoka pointedly remarked, “It’s nice to have a special player that can get buckets at the end.”
General manager Rafael Stone has emphasized patience, but how that message is received this summer will be crucial, especially as expectations for Houston’s next step continue to rise.
Dallas Mavericks
When a franchise’s superstar is weeks away from turning 26 and nearing a contract extension that could define the next stage of his career, the stakes are always high.
That was the Mavericks’ reality last month. This month, however, they face a different challenge.
Anthony Davis, who turns 32 next month, and Kyrie Irving, who will be 33 soon, are under immense scrutiny from a frustrated fan base. The window for a title push is closing rapidly.
The optimism from last year’s Finals run has been overshadowed by the high-risk Doncic trade, putting the Mavericks on the clock to justify their gamble.
With Klay Thompson, who just turned 35, as part of the core, the team is built to win now. However, sitting in play-in territory, they lack momentum. Davis, as expected, got injured in his first game—an unfortunate but familiar pattern for the oft-injured star.
Chemistry remains a work in progress, and time is running out before the playoffs.
This summer, another major decision looms: Irving can opt for free agency. Last time, he had limited leverage and took a pay cut in his prime. Now, with a stronger position, he can demand a significant raise.
If the Mavericks give in, they could find themselves in the second apron just as they enter a “win-now-or-else” mode. That might force them into another major trade.
On one hand, it’s a good problem to have. On the other, it’s a risky one—especially when the Doncic move has the potential to backfire.
