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.

A few weeks ago, a league executive told me to expect a relatively quiet trade deadline, one without a blockbuster deal. There were too many cap restrictions, more buyers than sellers on the market, and a general pessimism about deals getting done.