The 10 Biggest Regrets Of The NBA Season So Far

As the 2026 NBA season reaches its midpoint, teams across the league are evaluating their off-season decisions with a critical eye. The trade deadline looms, playoff races are heating up, and front offices are beginning to wonder if the moves they made last summer were truly the right ones. With the benefit of hindsight, several franchises may already be regretting key transactions—whether it’s a trade, a signing, or even a missed opportunity.

This feature takes a deep dive into the most consequential and regrettable moves of the season so far, examining what went wrong, what could have been, and how these decisions are shaping the NBA’s competitive landscape.

1. The Clippers’ Norman Powell Gamble Backfires

In the summer of 2025, the Los Angeles Clippers made a bold decision: trading Norman Powell to the Miami Heat in a three-team deal that brought John Collins from the Utah Jazz. The move was motivated by Powell’s impending free agency and the Clippers’ desire to add frontcourt depth and perimeter scoring with Collins and Bradley Beal, who signed a one-plus-one contract after being waived and stretched by Phoenix.

On paper, the deal seemed reasonable. Powell had emerged as a key co-star next to James Harden, especially while Kawhi Leonard missed significant time. He played at an All-Star level, nearly winning Most Improved Player, and was a reliable scoring option. The Clippers, however, opted not to extend him, fearing a costly free agency and hoping to get value before his contract expired.

Fast forward to midseason, and the regret is palpable. Powell is thriving in Miami, averaging 24.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on elite shooting splits—48% from the field and 42% from three. Miami has become a contender in the East, while the Clippers have struggled mightily. Bradley Beal, expected to fill Powell’s shoes, suffered a season-ending hip injury after just six games, averaging only 8.2 points on 37% shooting. The Clippers sit at 12–22, their aging roster unable to generate consistent offense, especially when Kawhi or Harden miss time.

John Collins has been solid but not transformative, and the Clippers’ lack of perimeter firepower has exposed them on a nightly basis. Without their own first-round pick, the Clippers are in a precarious position, far from the 50-win projection they had entering the season. The Norman Powell trade stands as one of the most regrettable moves of the year.

2. Golden State’s Kuminga Conundrum

The Golden State Warriors’ decision to hold onto Jonathan Kuminga in the 2025 offseason is another move under scrutiny. After a promising playoff stretch, Kuminga’s value was arguably at its peak. Rumored offers included Grayson Allen and a first-round pick from Phoenix, Malik Monk and Keon Ellis from Sacramento, and interest from New Orleans and Chicago.

Instead, the Warriors kept Kuminga, signing him to a one-plus-one deal worth $22.5 million this season and $24.3 million (team option) next year. The hope was that Kuminga would continue to develop into a core piece, but injuries and inconsistency have derailed his progress. His scoring is down to 11.8 points, shooting 43%, and he’s received multiple DNPs (coach’s decision). He hasn’t played since December 18th, and his trade value has plummeted.

Now, any potential trade might require the Warriors to attach draft capital just to move his contract. The missed opportunity to sell high—possibly for Lauri Markkanen or another impact player—could haunt Golden State, especially as they look to remain competitive in a rapidly changing Western Conference.

3. Knicks’ Gershan Yabusele Experiment Falters

The New York Knicks’ signing of Gershan Yabusele with their taxpayer exception was intended to shore up their frontcourt depth. Yabusele, coming off a strong year in Philadelphia and a standout Olympic performance for France, signed a one-plus-one deal worth over $5 million per year.

Unfortunately, Yabusele has failed to replicate his previous success. His shooting percentages have dropped, he’s struggled with conditioning, and he’s been in and out of Mike Brown’s rotation—even with injuries to Josh Hart and OG Anunoby. The Knicks have leaned on Landry Shamet, Jordan Clarkson, and rookie Kevin McCuller instead, leaving Yabusele as a seldom-used backup.

For a team with limited frontcourt depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks needed more from their investment. The signing now looks like a misstep, and the Knicks may look to move Yabusele’s contract at the deadline in search of a more consistent contributor.

4. Pelicans’ Unprotected Pick Swap: A Costly Gamble

The New Orleans Pelicans made headlines by trading up to select Derrick Queen, a top-five rookie who has shown promise alongside Jeremiah Fears. However, the price for Queen was steep: an unprotected pick swap with Milwaukee, sent to Atlanta.

The Pelicans, projected to win around 32 games, instead find themselves at 8–29, the second-worst record in the league. Injuries and underperformance have derailed their season, and now they don’t have direct access to their own first-round pick. In hindsight, attaching top-three or top-five protection would have mitigated the risk, but New Orleans gambled and lost.

With Atlanta now holding two chances at a top-four pick in a loaded 2026 draft, the Pelicans’ front office may regret the trade, even if Queen develops into a star. The lesson: in a league where fortunes can change overnight, protecting future assets is essential.

5. Mavericks’ Point Guard Void

The Dallas Mavericks entered the season with high hopes, having won the 2025 draft lottery and selected Cooper Flagg, who has impressed as a rookie. But the team failed to adequately address the point guard position, a decision that has haunted them throughout the season.

Kyrie Irving’s absence for the first half forced Flagg into an unnatural lead guard role at just 18 years old. D’Angelo Russell, signed for $11.5 million, has underperformed, often outplayed by undrafted Ryan Nembhard. Neither offers much on defense, and the team has lacked a creative playmaker to complement Flagg and Anthony Davis.

Other available guards—Kevin Porter Jr., Russell Westbrook, Spencer Dinwiddie, Aaron Holiday, Bruce Brown—were more affordable and potentially better fits. The Mavericks’ lack of depth at the position has contributed to their bottom-10 record and may have even played a role in GM Nico Harrison’s departure. The missed opportunity to solidify the backcourt stands as a significant regret.

6. Orlando’s Taius Jones Disappointment

The Orlando Magic’s signing of Taius Jones was intended to add stability to the guard rotation following the Desmond Bane trade. Instead, Jones has struggled, averaging just three points and two assists on poor shooting splits (37% FG, 31% 3PT) in 16 minutes per game.

While it’s true that there’s no such thing as a bad one-year deal, Orlando might prefer to have Ty Jerome—who signed for a similar amount but hasn’t played due to injury—or even D’Angelo Russell, given Jones’s lack of production and defensive impact. Trey Jones, Taius’s brother, has outperformed him, and Orlando’s point guard situation remains a question mark.

7. Hawks’ Luke Kennard Underwhelms

Luke Kennard signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, but hasn’t lived up to expectations. His shooting and playmaking have been inconsistent, and the investment hasn’t yielded the desired impact. While not the most egregious mistake, it’s a reminder that mid-tier contracts can carry significant opportunity cost for teams seeking depth and flexibility.

8. Bulls’ Perpetual Mediocrity

The Chicago Bulls’ biggest regret may be philosophical: not fully committing to a rebuild in the 2025 offseason. At 17–18 and ninth in the East, the Bulls are stuck in NBA purgatory—good enough for the play-in, but unlikely to win a playoff series or land a top draft pick.

Passing on Derrick Queen in the draft, keeping veterans like Nikola Vucevic, and failing to maximize assets have left Chicago in a holding pattern. The Bulls need to follow the lead of teams like Charlotte, Brooklyn, Indiana, and Washington, who have embraced youth and positioned themselves for future success. Without a clear direction, the Bulls risk years of mediocrity and missed opportunities to land a franchise player.

9. Kings’ Offseason Missteps

The Sacramento Kings’ offseason is a case study in compounding regret. Trading a future first for Nick Clifford, extending Keegan Murray prematurely, and moving on from Malik Monk and Keon Ellis have all backfired. The team sits near the bottom of the standings, with little to show for a series of moves that were intended to accelerate the rebuild.

Veterans like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis have lost trade value, and the Kings aren’t playing lottery pick Devin Carter or fully utilizing Dennis Schröder and Russell Westbrook, who was a surprise addition. The result is a roster that lacks cohesion, upside, and a clear path forward.

10. Bucks’ Miles Turner Contract and Dame Lillard Stretch

The Milwaukee Bucks made a splash by signing Miles Turner to a four-year, $108 million deal, but the move required waving and stretching Damian Lillard, who will be paid $20 million annually for five years not to play for Milwaukee. The logic was understandable—Lillard’s Achilles injury left a void, and Turner offered rim protection and floor spacing.

But Turner, while a solid player, has not lived up to the contract. He’s averaging 12 points, five rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 41% shooting—well below his career norms. His three-point shooting is respectable (37.5% on six attempts), but his overall impact hasn’t justified the investment, especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo decides not to sign a long-term extension.

Hindsight suggests the Bucks could have spread the money across multiple free agents to build depth and maintain flexibility, rather than tying up $26 million per year in Turner. The decision may have long-term ramifications if the roster needs to be rebuilt in the post-Giannis era.

Conclusion: The Cost of Hindsight

The NBA is a league of constant change, where fortunes can rise and fall with a single transaction. As teams reach the halfway point of the season, the regrets of the past summer are coming into sharper focus. Whether it’s a trade that didn’t pan out, a signing that failed to deliver, or a missed opportunity to rebuild, the lessons are clear: protect your assets, prioritize fit over flash, and always plan for the future.

For the Clippers, Warriors, Knicks, Pelicans, Mavericks, Magic, Hawks, Bulls, Kings, and Bucks, the trade deadline offers a chance to course-correct. Some will act boldly; others may double down. But all will be judged by the moves they make—and the ones they didn’t.

As the season continues, fans and analysts alike will watch closely, tracking which teams learn from their mistakes and which are doomed to repeat them. In the NBA, the margin for error is small, and the consequences of regret can last for years.