Less than a day for the NBA Trade Deadline to call ‘The End.” And to say this past week has been nothing but a thriller series would be an understatement. Unexpected trades like Luka Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Mavs shook the NBA for sure. Meanwhile, Zach LaVine to the Spurs? Where did that come from? And after a period of silence, the Warriors made their move with Jimmy Butler. Now, another big franchise of the league, the Philadelphia 76ers has taken a step towards sealing a deal just hours away from the deadline!

The Sixers made a trade ahead of the NBA trade deadline. NBA’s veteran insider Marc Stein has given updates on the team’s move. And it looks like they are shaking hands with the Washington Wizards.

Ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the 76ers agreed to trade Reggie Jackson and a 2026 1st round pick to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jared Butler and four 2nd-round picks. This year the 34-year-old Jackson has averaged 4.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 31 appearances. Meanwhile, J. Butler has 6.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in 32 appearances for the Wizards.

It seems like a good deal Philly has struck this time. This could surely boost their game this season as their struggles continue. Meanwhile, ESPN’s millionaire veteran Stephen A. Smith has dropped some ground rules or rather instructions for the media around the blockbuster trades going around in the league.

With the NBA trade deadline here and so much happening around, it seems only natural to have a thousand questions in your mind. But, we already have some answers to why Doncic was taken by the Lakers. Meanwhile, the latest big move by the Warriors with Butler surely brings in more questions. Will the star bolster the team’s dreams and help in redeeming them in the West?

Hours before the NBA trade deadline Stephen A. Smith drops strong message for media

The NBA media has been obsessed with one thing lately—calling a potential Jimmy Butler trade a “mega deal” or a “blockbuster move.” For weeks, it was all just speculation. But on Wednesday night, rumors turned into reality. The Heat star is no longer just the face of Miami. Now, he’s the newest addition to the Golden State Warriors. Undoubtedly it was a big move, that involved a two-year extension and a $121 million deal. Something that the Phoenix Suns were willing to offer the star. However, the question is will this trade make the Warriors a danger in the West?

Stephen A. Smith who isn’t moved by the deal, bluntly commented: “No more dangerous than they were yesterday. That’s no knock against Jimmy Butler, but what we’re not going to do today is call this a mega deal.” But why would he say this? “It is not a mega deal. The fact of the matter is if Jimmy Butler had ended up in Phoenix with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, that would have been a mega deal.” Here’s the thing: with Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause and a looming $50.2 million, it would’ve been most unlikely for the team to acquire Butler. Besides, they would’ve required a third team to help them out with the trade.

SAS further noted that the Dub Nation is accustomed to seeing Stephen Curry with Klay Thompson. But sadly, Butler isn’t a Klay Thompson. Surely he’s an All-Star caliber player who will push himself and the team through to the playoffs and bring up the numbers. However, for the veteran it seems like the 35-year-old star might not be the fit one for the Warriors system, hence he’s not the mega-deal.

However, with the Jimmy Butler deal ahead of the NBA trade deadline the Warriors are “about $19.3 million under the luxury tax. And it’s saving them money. It’s a business deal,” Stephen A. Smith added. At the same time, reports suggest that the relationship between Butler and Mike Dunleavy Jr. helped the front office orchestrate this whole move, thus thrashing the dreams of having Kevin Durant back on the roster.

There is no doubt that the 2025 NBA Trade Deadlines have been a roller-coaster ride. All the franchises went deep into the market to find their finest picks. Some got the best of the best, while others had to settle with agreements to suit their financial flexibilities. At the same time, the Philadelphia 76ers’ latest move with Reggie Jackson and Jared Butler is something that needs to be monitored closely. Who knows which team struck the golden pick and who hasn’t?