Jae Crowder to the New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans get: Jae Crowder
Phoenix Suns get: Jaxon Hayes, Garrett Temple
Crowder is languishing on Phoenix’s bench — waiting for a trade out of the Valley of the Sun. The Pelicans are pushing for a playoff spot, and any bit of experience they can get would be ideal. Crowder is battle-tested — having played SG, SF, and PF throughout his playoff career. He can hit threes, plays with an edge, and offers some intangibles that could be nice for a young team.
Crowder and his energy will be jettisoned from the Suns’ roster — where they add a dependable vet in Temple, and an uber-athletic rim-running project in Hayes.
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Jordan Clarkson to the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks get: Jordan Clarkson
Utah Jazz get: Grayson Allen, George Hill
The Bucks could be motivated by this trade to get a more dynamic scoring option off the bench. We know what Clarkson can do with the ball, as we’ve seen countless time in Cleveland, Los Angeles and in Utah. He can score 15-20 points in a single quarter — something the Bucks don’t really have right now on their bench. As for Utah, this is another salary dump. We’d also love to see Grayson Allen on the Jazz…there’ might not be a more ‘Jazz’ player than Allen.
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Jakob Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors get: Jakob Poeltl
San Antonio Spurs get: Thaddeus Young, first-round pick
The Raptors do like to play fast and with a small ball lineup. However, when the game slows down in the playoffs, they’ll likely want to include more size. In the final year of his contract, Poeltl does that for the Raptors. Adding to their international flair, the Austrian big has shown flashes of being a rather productive center on both ends of the floor. SA would be motivated to do this deal simply by accruing another asset for a guy who’ll likely walk at year’s end.
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Eric Gordon to the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards get: Eric Gordon
Houston Rockets get: Will Barton, Vernon Carey Jr., second-round pick
This trade works for Houston, as Barton’s contract is expiring. The Rockets want a first-round pick for Gordon. However, when looking at his injury history along with his salary, it seems unlikely for the asking price to be met. From Washington’s perspective, Gordon gives the team some real veteran chops. He can function as a sixth man, and also can play alongside Bradley Beal in a pinch. He can still shoot the lights out and score when need be. Washington might not be a great team, but it could use perimeter shooting.
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Derrick Rose to the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons get: Derrick Rose
New York Knicks get: Killian Hayes, Cory Joseph
The Pistons get a big upgrade behind Jaden Ivey with Rose. Being a veteran, he should be able to help the rookie out of Purdue along. He also gives the Pistons a nice pop of scoring off the bench. The Killian Hayes experiment appears to be wrapping up in the Motor City. If he can’t get it working with the Knicks, he might find himself back overseas. For New York, however, it’s a high reward/low risk situation if he can figure some things about.
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Duncan Robinson to the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks get: Duncan Robinson
Miami Heat get: Dorian Finney-Smith, Frank Ntilikina
Miami wants a small-ball four who can defend, switch, and shoot the occasional three. DFS makes a lot of sense here as a Heat-type culture player. As for Dallas, the hope would be that Duncan Robinson could regain his form as one of the top three-point gunners in the league. We have to admit, he could be pretty lethal with the floor spread and Luka Doncic controlling the rock.
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Kyrie Irving to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers get: Kyrie Irving, Joe Harris, Patty Mills
Brooklyn Nets get: Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, first-round pick
It’s clear both the Nets and Lakers are in need of a shake-up. Both teams are off to shaky starts due to a number of reasons. In LA’s case, it’s a roster construction issue that cannot be solved without a few moves. Brooklyn has seemingly been in a funk since losing Game 7 to the Bucks in ’21. Kyrie Irving’s antics have not helped matters, and a change at coach is unlikely to vastly improve matters.
The Lakers are among the small list of teams desperate enough to give up real assets (a potentially valuable pick) for the league’s most volatile star in addition to forfeiting future cap space. Both Westbrook and Beverley are on expiring deals, allowing the Nets to refresh the books following an unforgettable few years.
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Kyrie Irving to the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers get: Kyrie Irving
Charlotte Hornets get:Â Robert Covington, Luke Kennard, Reggie Jackson, first-round pick
Irving to the Clippers would make a whole lot of basketball sense. He is a clear upgrade over both Reggie Jackson and John Wall. It’s difficult to imagine any team having enough perimeter defenders to throw at the trio of Irving, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The latter two can also help cover up any defensive lapses from Irving.
While it’s a seemingly perfect match on paper, we aren’t quite sure if the Clippers would be able to stomach such a deal. Pairing Irving with Leonard is bringing together two of the league’s flakiest stars. The two have combined to play less than 50 games over the last two seasons.
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Kevin Durant to Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors get: Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets get: James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, two first-round picks
Wouldn’t this be something? Kevin Durant returning to the Warriors after bolting for Brooklyn nearly four years ago. Apparently, the Warriors have had internal discussions about bringing Durant back into the fold (and Steph Curry reportedly supports such a move). And, we wonder if Golden State’s slow start might accelerate any potential deals. Durant has seemingly pulled back from any trade demands, but that doesn’t mean the Nets wouldn’t accept a deal if given a solid offer.
Getting an All-Star, two former lottery picks, and two future picks for an aging (34-year-old) star is quite the coup. Brooklyn is in dire need of additional assets after trading just about everything away to form the failed Durant-Irving-Harden trio. The Warriors know their window will not be open forever, and adding Durant will make them odds-on favorites to capture at least the next two NBA Championships.
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Myles Turner to the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors get:Â Myles Turner
Indiana Pacers get: James Wiseman, Kevon Looney
If the Warriors want to swing a tad lower, grabbing shot-blocking savant Myles Turner could be a shrewd move. Giving up on James Wiseman — a former No. 2 overall pick — this early into his career does not come without risk. The 21-year-old hasn’t found his footing quite yet, but he boasts immense potential as a two-way player. However, Turner gives the Warriors everything they need to contend for a title right now. His rim protection would be a major boost in addition to his ability to stretch the floor on the offensive end.
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Terry Rozier to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers get: Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward
Charlotte Hornets get:Â Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, two first-round picks
From the Lakers’ perspective, this is among the best hauls they could receive in a potential Russell Westbrook deal. Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward are ideal fits next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis — knockdown shooters who aren’t complete defensive sieves. The pair would instantly become the two best shooters on Los Angeles’ roster. Additionally, both Rozier (6.3 APG) and Hayward (4.1 APG) are quality playmakers who have no trouble creating for others. Health has always been the issue for Hayward, and Rozier is under contract until 2026. However, among the potential Westbrook deals which have floated around, Charlotte’s pair would do the most to improve LA’s chances of turning the current season around.
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Kevin Durant to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics get: Kevin Durant
Brooklyn Nets get: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, two first-round picks
Boston swings for the fences after just coming up short of winning an NBA title last year. Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum would form the league’s most fearsome wing duo, and would be an absolute nightmare for opponents to game plan for. The size and scoring ability of both players would be a sight to behold. Giving up a homegrown talent like Jaylen Brown is never easy, but Durant is a special case. He’s under contract for the next four years and is still one of the league’s five best players. This is a worthwhile risk to cash-in during Tatum’s prime — while not gutting the roster — and pairing him with one the greatest talents in league history.
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Fred VanVleet to the Miami Heat
Miami Heat get:Â Fred VanVleet
Toronto Raptors get:Â Kyle Lowry, Nikola Jovic, three first-round picks
The Heat may already be having buyer’s remorse with Kyle Lowry. The 36-year-old has not looked sharp in ’22, and Miami has struggled as a result. In this case, Lowry’s former team — the Toronto Raptors — could throw a lifeline Miami’s way — at a price. The Raptors send off their All-Star guard — who is up for a new deal this offseason — for a boatload of picks plus the 19-year-old Nikola Jovic. Additionally, Toronto GM Masai Ujiri can sell his fanbase on a franchise legend making his return to the North. It’s a win-win for both parties.
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Pascal Siakam to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls get: Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors get:Â Patrick Williams, Coby White, Lonzo Ball, three first-round picks
If the Raptors are serious about cleaning house, Pascal Siakam could fetch an enormous haul. The 28-year-old was named an All-NBA Third-Team member last season, and looks even better this year. Siakam’s strides as a playmaker have been especially encouraging. If he can continue to develop his passing ability, he could be the ideal swingman to pair with scorers like former teammate DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine. For the Bulls, Ayo Dosunmu’s ascension makes it a bit easier to part with the oft-injured Lonzo Ball. Siakam would slide into Patrick Williams’ role to make Chicago a legitimate threat in the East.
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Bradley Beal to the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies get: Bradley Beal
Washington Wizards get:Â Ziaire Williams, Dillon Brooks, Jake LaRavia, Steven Adams, Danny Green, two first-round picks
Look out for the Grizzlies to make a major move before this year’s trade deadline. They tried kicking the tires on a Kevin Durant deal, and have shown a willingness to make aggressive moves. While the Grizzlies are still a young team, adding an offensive star like Beal would instantly enhance their contender status. They’d essentially be mirroring the Donovan Mitchell trade from the Cavaliers this past offseason — gifting your young point guard an elite backcourt mate. Washington isn’t going anywhere this season with or without Beal. Between Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, and the picks, the Wizards would essentially be adding four first rounders for the two-time All-Star.
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Mike Conley Jr. & Kelly Olynyk to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns get: Mike Conley Jr., Kelly Olynyk
Utah Jazz get: Jae Crowder, Dario Saric, Cameron Payne, Torrey Craig, Bismack Biyombo
The Suns once again look to be a regular season juggernaut, but the team still has a few needs to address. Among potential weaknesses are both the backup point guard and center spots. Phoenix has seen how detrimental it can be to not have serviceable reserves behind Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Grabbing a couple of established veterans from the Utah Jazz could solve both problems. Conley Jr. is a cerebral player akin to Paul, and is a far steadier option than current backup PG Cameron Payne. Olynyk could be the primary backup center, but also has the ability to play alongside Ayton given his three-point shooting ability. Conley Jr. and Olynyk would make the Suns a more complete team come playoff time.
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Harrison Barnes to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers get: Harrison Barnes
Sacramento Kings get: Caris LeVert
Not too often do you see a one-for-one swap in the NBA. Most trades involve several players and/or picks. However, this simple trade makes a ton of sense for both teams and abides by the salary cap rules. The Cavaliers have four locked-in starters, but the fifth and final spot is currently up for grabs. Caris LeVert has assumed the role, but he’s miscast as an off-ball player next to two ball-dominant guards in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Barnes is a more snug fit in Cleveland given his size, shooting ability, and defensive versatility. LeVert would be able to flourish a bit more in Sacramento as perhaps the focal point of the second unit.
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John Collins to the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz get: John Collins, Frank Kaminsky, Aaron Holiday
Atlanta Hawks get: Malik Beasley, Kelly Olynyk, first round-pick
All Atlanta fans read the return and are probably shaking their heads right now. John Collins has been mentioned in trade rumors for several years, but has remained in Atlanta. However, the addition of Dejounte Murray has pushed Collins even further down the pecking order as he is enduring career-low numbers across the board.
A change of scenery could benefit Collins who is under contract until at least 2025. We’ve seen in just a short amount of time how much Lauri Markkanen — who was in a similar spot to Collins prior to this season — has improved since joining the Jazz. In return, the Hawks will gather a pair of excellent shooters to surround the playmaking duo of Murray and Trae Young.
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Anthony Davis to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks get: Anthony Davis
Sacramento Kings get: R.J. Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, five first-round picks
The first of a couple blockbuster trades involving AD. The Lakers are a total mess right now — and there’s little in the way of clearing up the gloomy clouds unless a major move is made. Davis is arguably the one trade chip the team has at this point. A total rebuild — with or without LeBron James — seems likely. As such, why not try to get as much draft capital as one can while also collecting two decent NBA players in the process? This move would allow the Lakers to reposition — whether into a full rebuild or into the offseason where LeBron can held mold a team with trade chips and cap flexibility.
As for the Knicks, a major move is needed to get them out of NBA purgatory (aka the middle of the pack). Davis likely wouldn’t accept moving to a small market, so NYC makes sense on that front. He can pair with Julius Randle up front, and the presence of a real pass-first PG in Jalen Brunson should allow AD to function more freely on the offensive end. It’s a steep price to pay, but it’s the move the Knicks can likely afford to make with the cache of first-round picks they’ve accumulated.
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Buddy Hield & Myles Turner to the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers get: Buddy Hield, Myles Turner
Utah Jazz get: Russell Westbrook, two first-round picks
The worst-kept secret trade that’s been brewing for a while. Myles Turner even went public — essentially campaigning for the Lakers to do the deal. We’re hearing that the main hang-up is the haggling over picks. Indiana wants two first rounders — whereas the Lakers are wanting to give up one. This could be a game of chicken as the season progresses. If the Lakers keep tanking, they could become desperate enough to ultimately take the deal.
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Anthony Davis to the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors get: Anthony Davis
Los Angeles Lakers get: Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Draymond Green, two first-round picks
Now this would be wild. As of early November, the Warriors have not been playing good basketball. Whether it’s the hangover stemming from the Draymond Green/Jordan Poole incident, or the rough start from Klay Thompson, there’s something off about this team.
Imagine the Warriors being able to acquire Davis — still in his prime — where he can play Robin to Steph Curry’s Batman? He’d be a monumental upgrade over Green, and the move could help to revive his game further as a premier player in this game. As it pertains to the Lakers, Moody and Kuminga are immediate building blocks whom can be used immediately. Green likely would come off the books to free cap space after the year is finished.
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LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers get: LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers get: Jarrett Allen, Kevin Love, Isaac Okoro, two first-round picks
The King gets to head home for another crack at a title? This would be a wild trade — and one which would catapult the Cavs into being a title contender. Cleveland would still keep its young core of Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Darius Garland while adding arguably the best player in the history of the game. James’ ability to facilitate and bully in the post would work perfectly with two slashing guards playing off the ball, and a big man who can shoot it from three/protect the rim.
The Lakers would be getting a premier shot-blocking big just entering his prime, a former lottery pick with upside, two valuable picks, and an expiring contract in Kevin Love. We have to say, this could be a very nice deal for both involved.
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Ben Simmons to the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks get: Ben Simmons
Brooklyn Nets get: Christian Wood, Spencer Dinwiddie, first-round pick
There are reports Dallas would be interested in the Ben Simmons project. The former first overall pick is still super young, and there are those in Dallas hoping to unlock his immense potential as a defensive Shawn Marion-esque sidekick to Luka Doncic.
From a salary standpoint, Wood and Dinwiddie make it work. Both are quality players who (in theory) can function next to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The first-round pick would be added on as a sweetener in the deal.
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Anthony Davis to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls get: Anthony Davis
Los Angeles Lakers get: Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams, Dalen Terry, four first-round picks
In this iteration, AD would get to go back home to Chicago. It’s been long rumored he’d want to head back home eventually. This could be the ticket for him, as the Bulls would unload Vucevic’s expiring contract, four firsts, and two former first-round picks. A Davis-LaVine-DeRozan trio would be a lot of fun to watch.
The Lakers would do this trade as a means to obtain cap flexibility. Williams is an interesting player with good defensive skills and high-level athleticism. Whether he turns into a very good player or not remains to be seen — but it’s worth taking a swing on him. The biggest boon in this trade would be the picks.
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